hell to earth purposely to erraise them from Earth to Heaven and so religiously to give and consecrate both them and our selves and soules from sinne to righteousnesse and consequently with as much felicitie as glorie from Satan to God THere dwelt in the Citie of Avero in Portugall an ancient Nobleman termed Don Gasper de Vilarezo rich in either qualitie of earthly greatnesse as well of blood as revenewes who was neerely allied to the Marquesse of Denia in Spaine as marrying a Neece of his named Dona Alphanta a Lady exquisitely endued with the ornaments of Nature and the perfections of Grace for she was both faire and vertuous that adding lustre to these and these returning and reflecting embellishment to that which made her infinitely beloved of her husband Vilarezo and exceedingly honoured of all those who had the honour to know her and to crowne the felicitie of their affections and marriage they had three hopefull children one sonne and two daughters he termed Don Sebastiano and they the Donas Catalina and Berinthia Hee having attained his fifteenth yeare was by his Father made Page to Count Manriques de Lopez and continually followed him at Court and they from their tenth to their thirteenth yeares lived sometimes at Coimbra otherwhiles at Lisbone but commonly at Avero with their Parents who so carefully trained them up in those qualities and perfections requisite for Ladies of their ranke as they were no sooner seene but admired of all who saw them But before wee make a farther progression in this Historie thereby the better to unfold and anatomize it I hold it rather necessarie then impertinent that wee take a cursory though not a curious survey of both these young Ladies perfections and imperfections of their vices and vertues their beautie and deformitie that as objects are best knowne by the opposition of their contraries so by the way of comparison wee may distinguish how to know and know how to distinguish of the disparitie of these two sisters in their inclinations affections and delineations Catalina was somewhat short of stature but corpulent of body Berinthia tall but slender Catalina was of taint and complexion more browne then faire Berinthia not browne but sweetly faire or fairely sweet Catalina had a disdainefull Berinthia a gracious eye Catalina was proud Berinthia humble In a word Catalina was of humour extreamely imperious ambitious and revengefull and Berinthia modestly courteous gracious and religious So these two young Ladies growing now to bee capable of marriage many gallant Cavaliers of Avero become Servants and Suiters to them as well in respect of their Fathers Nobilitie and wealth as for their owne beauties and vertues yea their fame is generally so spread that from Lisbone and most of the chiefest Cities of Portugall divers Nobles and Knights resort to their Father Don Vilarezo's house to proffer up their affections to the dignitie and merits of his daughters But his age finding their youth too young to bee acquainted with the secrets and mysteries of marriage puts them all off either in generall termes or honourable excuses as holding the matching of his daughters of so eminent and important consideration as hee thinkes it fit hee should advisedly consult and not rashly conclude them which affection and care of Parents to their Children is still as honourable as commendable Don Sebastiano their brother being often both at Madrid Vallidolyd and Lisbone becomes very intimately and singularly acquainted with Don Antonio de Rivereâ—… a noble and rich young Cavalier by birth likewise a Portugall of the Citie of Elvas who was first and chiefe Gentleman to the Duke of Bragansa and the better to unite and perpetuate their familiaritie hee proffers him his eldest sister in marriage and prayes him at his first conveniencie to ride over to Avero to see her offering himselfe to accompany him in this journey and to second him in that enterprize as well towards his father as sister Don Antonio very kindly and thankfully listeneth to Don Sebastiano's courteous and affectionate proffer and knowing it so farre from the least disparagement as it was a great happinesse and honour for him to match himselfe in so noble a Family they assigne a day for that journey against when Don Antonio makes readie his preparatives and traine in all respects answerable to his ranke and generositie They arrive at Avero where Don Gasper de Vilarezo for his owne worth and his sonnes report receives Don Antonio honourably and entertaines him courteously he visiteth and saluteth first the mother then the two young Ladies her daughters and although hee cannot dislike Catalina yet so precious and amiable is sweet Berâ—…nthia in 〈◊〉 eye as hee no sooner sees but loves her yea her piercing eye her vermillion châ—…ke and delicate stature act such wonders in his heart as hee secretly proclaimes himselfe her Servant and publikely shee his Mistresse to which end hee takes time and opportunitie at advantage and so reveales her so much in termes that intimate the servencie of his zeale and endeare the zeale of his affection and constancy Berinthia entertaines his motion and speeches with many blushes which now and then cast a rosiat vaile ore the milke-white lillies of her complexion and to speake truth if Antonio bee inamoured of Berinthia no lesse is shee of him so as not only their eyes but their contempâ—…tions and hearts seeme already to sympathize and burne in the flame of an equall affection In a word by stealth hee courts her often And not â—…o deâ—…aine my Reader in the intricate Labyrinth of the whole passages of their loves Antonio for this time finds Berinthia in this resolution that as she hath not the will to grant so she hath not the power to deny his suit the rest time will produce But so powerfully doe the beautie and vertues of sweet Berinthia worke in 〈◊〉 his affections that impatient of delayes hee findes out her father and mother and in due termes requisite for him to give and they receive demaunds their daughter Berinthia in marriage Vilarezo thanking Antonio for this honour replies that of his two daughters hee thinkes Berinthia his younger as unworthy of him as Catalina his eldest worthily bestowed on him Antonio answeres that as he cannot deny but Catalina is faire yet hee must confesse that Berinthia is more beautifull to his eye and more pleasing to his thoughts Vilarezo lastly replies that he will first match Catalina ere Berinthia and that he is as content to give him the first as not as yet resolved to dispose of the second and so for this time they on these termes depart Vilarezo taking Antonio and his sonne Sebastiano with him to hunt a Stag whereof his adjacent Forrest hath plentie But whiles Antonio his body pursues the Stag his thoughts are flying after the beautie of his deare and faire Berinthia who as the Paragon of Beautie and Nature sits Empresse and Queene-Regent in the Court of his contemplations and affections hee is wounded at
odious in the sight of God and man that he acknowledged hee no longer deserved to tread on the face of the earth or to looke up to Heaven That he knew not justly whereunto to attribute this infamy and misery of his but to his continuall neglect and omission of prayer whereby he banished himselfe from God and thereby gave the Devill too great an interest over his body and soule that he desired God to forgive him these his two soule and bloody crimes of Murther as also that of his neglect of Prayer and so with teares in his eyes besought all who were there present likewise to pray unto God for him When againe beseeching the vertuous young Lady Eleanora to forgive him the murther of her good old Vncle Cassino hee often making the signe of the Crosse and recommending himselfe into the hands of his Redeemer bad the Executioner doe his office who presently with his sword severed his head from his body and both were immediatly burnt and the ashes throwen into the River of Ticino without the wals of Vercelie although his Iudges were once of opinion to send his said head and body to Cassall for the Iudges of that place to doe their pleasure therewith for there poysoning of his owne Mother the Lady Sophia And thus was the miserable and yet deserved death and end of this bloody and execrable Gentleman Alphonso and in this sort did the judgements and punishments of God befall him for these his two most inhumane and deplorable Murthers May God of his infinit grace and mercie still fortifie and confirme our faith by constant and continuall prayer the want whereof was the fatall Rocke whereon hee perished that so we may secure our selves in this world and our soules in that to come GODS REVENGE AGAINST THE CRYING AND EXECRAble Sinne of Murther HISTORIE XXIV Pont Chausey kils La Roche in a Duell Quatbrisson causeth Moncallier an Apothecary to poyson his owne Brother Valfontaine Moncallier after fals and breakes his necke from a paire of staires Quatbrisson likewise causeth his Fathers Mâ—…er 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 murther and strangle Marieta in her Bed and to throw her body into his Mill-Pond Pierot the Miller is broken alive on a wheele and Quatbrisson first beheaded then burnt for the same WEe may truely affirme that the world is in her wane when Murther is become the practice of Christians which indeed is the proper office of the Devill and how frequently those wofnll accidents happen wee cannot thinke of but with much horrour nor remember but with grieâ—…e of mind and compassion of heart For is it not to mâ—…ke our selves wilfull Traitors and Rebels to God to violate his Divine Majestie in spoiling his true Image and resemblance yea is it not the high-way of Hell But that this age of ours produceth such Monsters of nature reade we but this ensuing Historie and it will informe us of much innocent blood shed we know not whether more wilfully or wickedly IT is not unknowne that the Province of little Britaine was long since annexed and united to the flourishing Kingdome of France by the marriage of Charles the Eighth with Anne the young Dutchesse thereof notwithstanding that she weâ—…e formerly contracted to Maximilian Arch-duke of Austria where we shall understand that in the Citie of Vannes formerly the Court and Residence of those British Dukes thereof late yeares dwelt a noble Gentleman of rich Demaines and Revenues termed Monsieur de Caerstaing who by his wife Madamoyselle de la Ville Blanche had two Sonnes the eldest named by his title Monsieur de Quatbrisson and the youngest Monsieur de Valfontaine The first aged of twenty foure yeares being short and corpulent the second of twentie being tall and slender both of them brave and hopefull Gentlemen as well in their outward personages as in the â—…ward perfections and endowments of their minds For in all respects the care and affection of their Parents had made their education answerable to their births Valfontaine for the most part lived in the Citie of Nantes the second of that Dutchie with an Vncle of his named Monsieur de Massie being President of the Kings Chamber of Accounts which is kept there who frequenting the Bals or publike Dancings whereunto the youth of France are generally adicted amongst many other excellent beauties wherewith that Citie is graced and those pastimes and meetings honoured he sees a young Gentlewoman being a stranger and newly come to the Citie so infinitly rich in the excellencies of nature and the treasure of lovelinesse and beauty as with a kind of imperious commanding power shee atracts all mens eyes to behold to admire to affect her So as although Valfontaines youthfull heart and yeaâ—…es had never as yet stooped or sacrificed to Love yet at the very first sight of this sweet young Gentlewoman whose name wee shall not goe farre to know hee cannot retaine his enamored eyes from gadding on the Roses and ranging on the Lillies of her sweet complexion nor his resolutions from enquiring what her name and her selfe was when being informed that she was the onely daughter and heire of a rich and noble Gentleman a Widdower termed Monsieur de Pennelle of the Parish of Saint Aignaw fower leagues from the Citie and her name Madamoyselle la Pratiere of the age of some seventeene hee at the very first sight likes her so well and loves her so deerely that if her interiour vertues come not too fhort of her exteriour beauty and feature he vowes he will be her Sutor and Servant and so he attempts to court and seeke her for his wife To which end he more like a Tutor then a Pupill in the Art and Schoole of love is so farre from neglecting any as he curiously and carefully seekes all opportunities and occasions to enjoy the felicity of her company and so for the most part hee conducts her to and from the dauncings sits and talkes with her in her lodgings meets her at Church where as well at Vespers as Masse he accompanies and prayes with her and briefly shee can difficultly be present any where where he is long absent from her For by this time which is scarce a moneth since he first saw her her peerelesse beauty and unparalell'd vertues and discourse have acted such amorous wonders in his heart as hee vowes hee must either live her Husband or die her Martyr But see the providence and pleasure of God for if Valfontaine tenderly love our sweet and faire La Pratiere no lesse doth shee him for knowing him to be the Sonne of his Father and therefore a Gentleman of noble extraction and worth and seeing him to bee wise discreet and proper as also remembring and marking that he fervently and infinitly affects her shee is so delighted with his neat feature and personage and ravished with the melodie of his discourse as albeit at first her tongue bee so civill and modest to conceale her affection from him yet her eyes the Ambassadors of
and counsell and to send it him by the ordinary Carrier of Tholouse which was then in that Cittie bound thither from Paris his letter spake thus 〈◊〉 to DE SALEZ IT is out of a fatherly and as I may say a religious care of thy good that I now send thee these few ensuing lines for thy Youth cannot see that which my Age knowes how many miseries are subject to wait and attend on Vice and how many blessings on Vertue if La Frange be not faire yet she is comely not contemptible but sith her defects of Nature are so richly recompensed with the Ornaments of Fortune and the excellencies of Grace why should thy affection preferre La Hay before her who hath nothing but a painted face to overvaile the deformity of her other vices If thou wilâ—… leave a Saint to marry a strumpet then take La Hay and forsake La Frange but if thou wilt forsake a strumpet to take a Saint then marry La Frange and leave La Hay for looke what difference there is betweene their births thou shalt finde ten times more betweene the chastity of the one and the levity of the other If thou espouse the first thou shalt find Content and Honour if the second shame and repentance â—…or I know not whether La Frange will bring thee more happinesse or La Hay misery This letter shall serve as a witnesse betwixt God myselfe and thee that if thou performe me not thy promise and oath I will deny thee my blessing and deprieve thee of my lands ARGENTIER De Salez having received this his fathers letter in Tholouse exceedingly grieves to see him disgrace his mistresse by the scandalous name of a strumpet which hee knowes she is not and therefore will never beleeve it yea he vowes that if it were any other in the world who had offered him that intollerable affront hee would revenge it though with the price and perill of his life La Hay perceives this discontent and alteration of mirth in him but from what point of the Compasse this wind proceeds she neither knowes nor as yet can conceive but withall determineth to make the discovery thereof her greatest Ambition and not her least Care which she now well knowes it behooves her to doe sith she finds De Salez lesse free and more reserved and pensive in her speeches than accustomed But when in vaine she had hereunto used many smiles and feâ—…ches loâ—… here falls out an unlook't for accident which bewrayes her the very pith and quintescence of the Mistery For on a time when hee lay slumbering on the table shee as accustomed diving into his pockets for sweet meats or rather for gold of both which he many times went well furnished she finds his fathers aforesaid letter which she knew by the direction and so flying into another chamber and bolting the doore after her she there reads it both with griefe and choller when stunge to the quicke and bitten to the heart and gall to see her reputation and Honour thus traduced and scandalized by the father of her pretended husband she with teares and interjected sighes and grones flies backe to De Salez and holding the letter in her hand like a dissembling and impious strumpet as she was there shewes it him takes Heaven and Earth to beare witnesse of her innocency and of the irreparable and extreame wrong his father hath offered her in seeking to ecclips the Glory of her chastity which she sweares she will beare pure and unspotted not onely to his bed but to her owne grave But Alas alas these are the effects and passions of dissimulation not of truth of her prophanenesse not of her piety which time will make apparent to De Salez though now her beauty and teares be so predominate with his judgement and folly as he cannot because he will not see it So being still as constant in his â—…ottishnesse as she in her hypocrisie he gives her many sweet kisses and with a Catalogue of sugred words seekes to appease and comfort her whom he hath farre more reason to excerate and curse But for her part her heart is not so afflicted for remembring her selfe still her â—…its are her owne and so remembring the conclusion of the letter and fearing that De Salâ—…z his promise and oath to his father might infringe and contradict his to her she tels him that her love is so fervent and infinite towards him as shee can give no intermission nor truce to her teares before he reveale her his oath and promise which his fathers letter informed her he had formerly made him De Salez seeing himselfe put to so strict an exigent and push doth both blush for shame and againe looke pale for anger when for a small time irresolute how to beare himselfe in a matter of this different Nature wherein hee must either violate his obedience to his father or infringe his fidelity and honour to his mistris hee at last consenting with folly not with discretion and with Vanity nor with Iudgement doth so adore her beauty and commiserate her teares as he sottishly reveales her his oath given his father Verbatim as we have formerly understood it adding withall that she hath far more reason to rejoyce than grieve hereat That a little time shall cancell his said late promise and oath to his father and confirme his former to her For sweet La Hay quoth he come what come will two moneths shall never passe ere I marry thee when sealing his speaches with many kisses our hypocriticall afflicted Gentlewoman is presently againe come to her selfe and in all outward appearance her discontents are removed her choller pacified her teares exhaled and her sighes evaporated and blowne away But all this is false like her selfe and treacherous like her beauty For this letter of Argentier to his sonne and his promise and oath to his father hath acted such wonders in her heart and imprinted such extravagancies in her thoughts as she cannot easily remove or supplant it nor difficultly forget or deface it whatsoever she speake or make shew of to the contrary for thus she reasoneth with her selfe That 〈◊〉 whoredomes are already revealed to Argentier and for any thing she knowes â—…y likewise be discovered to his son how closely soever she either act or conceale them That La Franges descent wealth and vertues will in the end overprise and weigh downe her meane extraction poverty and beauty and in the end that the wisdome of the father will infallibly triumph ore the folly of the sonne except her pollicy interpose and her vigilency prevent it which to prevent and effect she sees no other obstacle to her content nor barre to her preâ—…erment but only La Frange for quoth she if La Frange shine in the firmament of De Salez affection La Hay must set or if La Hay will shine La Frange must set againe if she fall not I cannot stand and if she stand I must needs fall and as the skie is
their resolutions So from the matter of their agreement they proceed to the manner how to effect it To which end her father and mother single their daughter apart and in milde and faire tearmes demand her what hath past betwixt her and Baretano and whether she be so simple and inconsiderate to take so poore a Gentleman for her husband whose estate is so weake and small as it cannot well maintaine himselfe much lesse her Clara already prepared and armed by her affection to receive these or the like speeches from her Parents having twice or thrice metamorphosed the Lillies of her cheekes into Roses very temperately and modestly returnes them this discreet and respective answer That as she must needs affirme she is confident of Baretano's affection to her so she must as truly denie that asyet he had ever motioned her for marriage which if he had considering that his birth meanes and vertues were such as every way deserved not onely her equall but her superiour she is enforced to reveale them that she loves him so tenderly and deerely as if her will and pleasure be not contradicted by theirs it will be not onely her joy but her felicity to accept and take him for her husband before all others of the world But this modest answer of hers they hold too peremptory for a child to give and Parents to receive as if it savoured more of irregular zeale to Baretano than of due respect and obedience to themselves yet the sooner to devert her from her owne desires and resolutions to make her flexible to theirs they as yet hold it fit rather to continue mild than imperious towards her and so by depraving the deserts and debasing the merits of Baretano to seeke to extoll and magnifie those of Albemare as if the first were only a foyle and the second a rich Diamond worthy of her affection and wearing and indeed so exquisite and excellent a Cavalier they depaint him to her in the richest frame and pomp of all his praises aswell of the endowments of mind as of those of Fortune that they leave no insinuating Oratory unessayed nor perswasive attempt unattempted to make her shake hands with Baretano and consequently to extend her armes and heart to receive and retaine Albemare But although she were yong in yeeres and experience yet love in this fragrant and flourishing spring of her youth had so refined her judgement and indoctrinated and prompted her tongue that her thoughts commanded and marshalled by her heart and both by her desires and affection to Baretano she confusedly intermixing and interrupting her words with many far fetched broken sighes againe returnes her Parents this reply If your age will not yet my youth or rather my heart informes me that Baretano as far exceeds Albemare in the priviledges of the mind and body as Albemare doth him in those of Fortune but that my resolutions and answers may answer and correspond with my obedience although I love Baretano yet I will never hate rather honour Albemare but to make him my husband or myselfe his wife if Earth have I hope Heaven hath not decreed it And I humbly beseech yee that this may â—…est your Resolution as I assuredly thinke it shall and will remaine mine Capello and Castiana like discreet parents seeing their daughter Clara wholly wedded in a maner to the singularitie of her owne will they yet conceive it to bee farre more requisite to revert her reasons by fairre meanes than refute and refell them by force sith love and discretion hath still reference to that and this relation still to choller many times to repentance whereupon minding her of the blessings which infallibly attend filiall obedience and the miseries and curses which individually wayt on contempt and disobedience hoping that time will effect that which Importunitie cannot they as then leave her to her thoughts and she them to their care careing for nothing so much nay I may wel say for nothing else than to see her affection divorced from Baretano and contracted and wedded to Albemare who having curious correspondence and intelligence with them he is ever and anon acertained not onely what hath but what doth passe betwixt them and their daughter and withall is advised by them to delay no time but to frequent and haunt her as her Ghost and shaddow 〈◊〉 yea and no more to conceale his affection and suite from her but to acquaint Millan therewith sith it was no disparagement but rather an equall honour for him to match with Clara and Clara with him Which concluded betwixt Capello and Castiana Albemare is so farre from rejecting this advise and counsell as hee embraceth it with much joy and delectation and vowes though with the perill of his life to persevere and pursue her in marriage To which end authorized as well by his owne affection as their authority Clara is neither abroad nor at home but he meets her gives away all time from himselfe to give himselfe to her so as it seemes to the eye of the world that Capello's house is now become his and that his daughter Clara likewise shortly shall be yea he addes such curiosity to his care and such care to his affection in courting her as shee cannot bee either at Masse or Vespres but he is either with her or neere her and when in solemne pompe or zeale shee visits the Domo or Cathedrall Church of that Citie and in it the Shrine of the new Saint Charles then hee waits and attends on her at the Porch staires sometimes with his Coach but many times as the custome of Millan is on his Foot-cloth and prancing Barbarie horse to conduct her home yea and not to faile in any Complement of an accomplished Lover besides the harmony of his owne insinuation and solicitation he greets her with rich presents and salutes her with all variety of mellodious Musicke and mellistuous voyces but all this notwithstanding although hee every way use his best art and industry and her father and mother their best skill to make her flexible to his desires and their pleasure yet shee as having her thoughts fully bent and fixed on her deare and sweet Baretano lookes haggard and averse on Albemare giving him such generall answers and cold entertainment as hee seeth hee hath farre more reason to despaire than hope to obtaine her Whereupon doubting of her affection hee hath againe recourse to her parents love who to confirme and seale it him seeing faire meanes will not prevaile with their daughter they resolve to vse force and so to adde threats to their requests and choller to their perswasions to make her abandon Baretano and embrace Albemare But if the first prevaile not with her the second cannot for she now tels them plainly that she neither can not will affect any man for her husband but Baretano and yet she is so farre from any determinate resolution to marry him as shee affirmes that their will shall bee her law and their pleasure
live alone in Millan without thee and he alone in Modena with thee which makes that I know not whether I more envy his joy or lament and pitty mine owne sorrowes and afflictions But if I have any sense or shadow of comfort in this my calamity it only consists in this that as thou carriedst away my heart with thee so thou wile vouchsafe to returne me thine in thy letter by a reciprocall requitall and exchange For if thou neither bring me thy selfe nor send me that I may be sought in Millan but found no where but in heaven were I priviledged by thy consent much more authorized by thy command I would speedily rather flie than post to thee for Faire and Deere Clara as thou art my sole Ioy and Soveraigne felicity so whiles I breath this aire of life thy will shall be my law thy command my Compasse and thy pleasure my resolution BARETANO Her answer returned by the Frier to Baretano at Millan was to this effect CLARA to BARETANO IT is for none but our selves to judge how equall wee participate and share of misery in being deprived of each others presence Thou tearmest mine abscence either thy purgatory â—…rthy hell and my afflictions and torments for thine are so great and withall so infinit as I have all the equity and reason of the world to repute them not onely one but both Thou art mistaken in the point of my thraldome for whiles Albemare vowes himselfe my captive I disdaine to bee his and both vow and triumph to bee onely Baretanos I know not whether I have brought thy heart with me to Modena but sure I am I left mine with thee in Millan If my Parents seeme now pleasing and propitious to him I am yet so far from dispaire as I confidently hope the Fates will not prove cruell or inexorable to thee and in thee to myselfe but rather that a little time will change their resolutions and decrees Sith they cannot our affections and constancy If Clara be thy sole joy and Soveraign felicity no lesse it Baretano hers and albeit I could wish either thou here with my selfe in Modena or I there with thee in Millan Yet such is my aunt Emelias care and Albemares jelousâ—… 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that werâ—… thou in this City thou couldest difficultly see me but impossibly speake with me wherefore refraine a whiles and let thy Iourney hither to me be ended ere began yeâ—… with this proviso and condition that the cause thereof thy affection to me be began never to be ended and thinke that my stay and exile here shall be as short as either my best Art in my selfe can invent or truest zeale to thee suggest In which Interim let us solace our selves and visit each other by the Ambassadors of our hearts I meane our letters And this resolve my deare Baretano that during our abscence whiles thou doest feast on my Idaea I will not faile to surfeit on thine CLARA Baretano's other letter sent Clara to Modena by the Pilgrime was couched and penned in these tearmes BARETANO to CLARA HAd not thy requests in thy last letter granted out a Prohibition against my desires and wishes I had long since left Millan to have seene Modena and in it thy selfe my sweet and deere Lady but I speake it to my present comfort and future consolation and joy that it is excesse not want of affection which infuseth this provident care and carefull providence to thy resolutions to the end that thy returne make us as joyfull as thy departure sorrowfull and consequently that the last prove as sweet unto our hearts and thoughts as the first was bitter And yet beleeve me deere Clara that my affection is so intire and fervent to thee because I know thine is reciprocally so to my selfe that I deeme it not only capable to make difficult things easie but which is more impossibilities possible For for thy sake what would I not attempt and to enjoy thy sight and presence what would I leave unperformed But if thou wilt not permit me to come to thee to Modena nor yet speedily resolve to returne to mee to Millan Sorrow will then prevent my Joy and Dispaire my Hope For if thou hasten not thy arrivall and our interview sickenesse will be my death wert thou as kinde as faire or as affectionate as I am fervent in affection thou wilt thâ—… rather suffer me to live with thee than to die for thee for in this rest confident that if thou deny me that request I cannot Nature this tribute my affection this homage or thy beauty this sacrifice BARETANO And Clara her answer hereunto returned to Millan to Baretano by the foresaid Pilgrime was traced in these words CLARA to BARETANO THe last command of my Parents and the first resolution of my aunt Emelia and my sutor Albemare have now reduced me to so strict a Sequestration or rather captivitie as onely my thoughts hardly my pen hath the freedome and power to signifie thee so much But as calmes ensue tempests and sun-shine showres so I beseech thee to brook it with as much patience as I doe with griefe and not onely hope but resolve that violence is never permanent and all extreames subject to revolution and change Wherefore my deare Baretano consider and thinke with thy selfe that my stay from Millan and thy prohibition from Modena hath this two-fold excuse that is in my will but not as yet in my power to performe and this will rather hinder than any way advance the accomplishing of our desires Sith a little time may effect that with my parents which I feare importunity will never neither can thy heart so much long for my sight or wish for my presence as my soule doth for thine Sith to give thee but one word for all thy selfe and onely thy selfe art both the life of my joy and the joy of my life A thousand times a day I wish Modena were Millan and againe as often that Albemare were metamorphosed into Baretano Therefore I am so farre from preventing thy joy as though at the price of my death I am ready to sacrifice my life for the preservation of thine as also for the banishing of thy dispaire Write me not then of thy sickenesse least thou as scone heare of my death and I knew not what request to deny thee sith I have already granted and given thee my selfe which is all that either I can give or thou desire cherish thy selfe for my sake and I will thy remembrance for mine CLARA By these loving Letters of these our Lovers the Reader may observe and remark what a firme league and strict and constant friendship there was contracted and setled betwixt them and what a hell their abscence was each to others thoughts and contemplations In the meane time whiles Baretano entertaines Clara with Letters Albemare doth with words wherein he useth his best Rhetoricke and Oratory to draw her to his desires and withall to listen and espie out if there
Widdowes and Wives to beware by her mournful and execrable example her flames and prayers made expiation for the offence of her body and her soule mounted and fled to Heaven to crave remission and pardon of God who was the only Creator of the one and Redeemer of the other And such were the deplorable yet deserved ends of this bloody and wretched couple La Vasselay and La Villette for so cruelly murthering harmelesse Gratiana and innocent De Merson And thus did Gods all-seeing and sacred Justice justly triumph ore these their crying and execrable crimes O that their examples may engender and propagate our reformation and that the reading of this their lamentable History may teach us not only how to meditate thereon but also how to amend thereby GODS REVENGE AGAINST THE CRYING AND Execrable Sinne of Murther HISTORY XIV Fidelia and Caelestina cause Carpi and Monteleone with their two Laquayes Lorenzo and Anselmo to murther their Father Captaine Benevente which they performe Monteleone and his Laquay Anfelmo are drowned Fidelia hangs her selfe Lorenzo is hanged for a robbery and on the gallowes confesseth the murthering of Benevente Carpi hath his right hand then his head cut off Caelestina is beheadeâ—… and her body burnt OUr best parts being our Vertues and our chiefe and Soveraigne Vertue the purity and sanctity of our selves how can we neglect those or not regard this except we resolve to see our selves miserable in this life and our soules wretched in that to come and as charity is the cyment of our other vertues so envie her opposite is the subversion of this our charity from whence flowes rage revenge and many times murther her frequent and almost her inseperable companions but of all degrees of malice and envie can there be any so inhumane and diabolicall â—…s for two gracelesse daughters to plot the death of their owne father and to seduce and obtaine their two lovers to act and performe it whereof in this insuing History we shall see a most barbarous and bloody president as also their condigne punishâ—…nts afflicted on them for the same In the reading whereof O that we may have the grace by the sight of these their 〈◊〉 crimes and punishments to reforme and prevent our owne that wee may looke on their cruelty with charity on their rage with reaâ—…on on their errors with compassion on their desperation with pitty and on their 〈◊〉 wiâ—…h pâ—… that the meditation and contemplation thereof may terrifie ouâ—… 〈◊〉 quâ—…ch both the fire of our lust and the flames of our revenge so shall our faiths be fortified our passions reformed our affections purified and our actions eternally both blessed and sanctified to which end I have written and divulged it So Christian Reader if thou make this thy end in perusing it thou wilt then not faile to receive comfort thereby and therefore faile not to give God the Glory MAny yeeres since the Duke of Ossuna under the command of Spaine was made Viceroy of the Noble Kingdome of Naples the which hee governed with much reputation and honour although his fortunes or actions how justly or unjustly I know not have since suffered and received an Eclipse In the City of Otranto within the Province of Apulia there dwelt an ancient rich and valiant Gentleman nobly descended tearmed Captaine Benevente who by his deceased Lady Sophia Eliaâ—…ora Niece to the Duke of Piombinâ—… had left him two daughters and a sonne he tearmed Seignior Richardo Alcasero they two the Ladies Fidelia and Caelestina names indeed which they will no way deserve but from whom they will solely dissent and derogate through their hellish vices and inhumane dispositions to blood and murther wee may grace our names but our names cannot grace us Alcasero lives not at home with his father but for the most part at Naples as a chiefe Gentleman retayning to the Viceroy where he profiteth so well in riding and tilting a noble vertue and exercise beyond all other Italians naturall and hereditary to the Neopolitans that he purchased the name of a bold and brave Cavalier but for Fidelia and Caelestina the clockes of their youth having stroke twenty and eighteene the Captaine their father thinking it dangerous to have Ladies of their yeeres and descent farre from him keepes them at home that his care might provide them good husbands and his eye prevent them from matching with others It is as great a blessing in children to have loving Parents as for them to have obedient children and had their obedience answered his affection and their duty his providence wee had not seene the Theatre of this their History so be sprinckled and gored with such great effusion of blood This Captaine Benevente their father for his blood wealth and generosity was beloved and honoured of all the Nobility of Apulia and for his many services both by sea and land was held in so great esteeme in Otranto that his house was an Academie where all the Gallants both of City and Country resorted to backe great Horses to run at the Ring and to practise other such Courtly and Martiall Exercises whereunto this old Captaine as well in his age as youth was exceedingly addicted so as the beauty of his two daughters Fidelia and Caelestina could not be long either unseene or unadmired for they grew so perfectly faire of so sweet complexions and proper statures that they were justly reputed and held to be the Paragons of Beautie not only of Apulia but of Italy so as beauty being the Gold and Diamonds of Nature this of theirs so sweet in its influence and so excellent and delicious in that sweetnesse drew all mens eyes to love them many mens hearts to adore them so had they beene as rich in Vertue as in Beauty they had lived more fortunate and neither their friends nor enemies should have lived to have seene them die so miserably for now that proves their ruine which might have beene their glory They are both of them sought in marriage by many Barons and Caviliers as well at home as abroad but the Captaine their father will not give care nor hearken to any nor once permit that such motion be moved him They are so immodest as they grieve hereat and are so extreamly sorrowfull to see that a few yeares past away makes their Beauties rather fade than flourish where Vertue graceth not Beauty as well as Beauty Vertue it is often 〈◊〉 presage and fore-runner of a fortune as fatall as miserable But as their thoughts were too impatient and immodest to give way to such incontinent and irrigular conceits so on the other side the Captaine their father was too severe and withall too unkind I may say cruell to hinder them from Marriage sith their beauty and age had long since made them both meritorious and capable of it It was in them immodesty in him unkindenesse to propose such ends to their desires and resolutions for as hee hath authority to exact obedience from them
hee will die his faithfull servant But wee shall see him have more grace than to keepe so gracelesse a promise Carpi flattering himselfe with the fidelity and affection of his Laquay resolves to stay in the City but hee shall shortly repent his confidence Hee was formerly betrayed by Fiesco which mee thinks should have made him more cautious and wise and not so simple to entrust and repose his life on the incertaine mercy of Lorenzo's tongue but Gods Revenge drawes neare him and consequently he neare his end for he neither can nor shall avoid the judgement of Heaven Lorenzo on the gallowes will not charge his soule with this foule and execrable sinne of murther but Grace now operating with his soule as much as formerly Satan did with his heart hee confesseth that hee and the Baron of Carpi his Master together with the Knight Monte-leone and his Laquay Anselmo murthered the Captaine Benevente and his man Fiamento and threw them into the Quarrie the which hee takes to his death is true and so using some Christian-like speeches of repentance and sorrow he is hanged Lorenzo is no sooner turned over but the Criminall Iudges advertised of his speeches delivered at his death they command the Baron of Carpi his lodging to be beleagred where he is found in his study and so apprehended and committed prisoner where feare makes him looke pale so as the Peacocks plumes both of his pride and courage strike saile He is againe put to the Racke and now the second time hee reveales his foule and bloudy murther and in every point acknowledgeth Lorenzoes accusation of him to be true So he is condemned first to have his right hand cut off and then his head notwithstanding that many great friends of his sue to the Viceroy for his pardon The night before he was to die the next morne one of his Judges was sent to him to prison to perswade him to discover all his complices in that murther besides Monte-leone and his Laquay Anselmo yea there are likewise some Divines present who with many religious exhortations perswade him to it So Grace prevailes with Nature and Righteousnesse with Impiety and sinne in him that he is now no longer himselfe for contrition and repentance hath reformed him hee will rather disrespect Caelestina than displease God whereupon he affirmes that she and her deceased sister Fidelia drew him and Monte-leone to murther their father and his man Fiamento and that if it had not beene for their allurements and requests they had never attempted either the beginning or end of so bloudy a businesse and thus making himselfe ready for Heaven and grieving at nothing on Earth but at the remembrance of his foule fact he in the sight of many thousand people doth now lose his head This Tragedy is no sooner acted and finished in Naples but the Judges of this City send away poast to those of Otranto to seize on the Lady Caelestina who in the absence of her husband for the most part lived there A Lady whom I could pitie for her youth and beauty did not the foulenesse of her fact so foulely disparage and blemish it She is at that instant at a Noblemans house at the solemnitie of his daughters marriage where she is apprehended imprisoned and accused to bee the authour and plotter of the Captaine her fathers death neither can her teares or prayers exempt her from this affliction and misery She was once of opinion to deny it but understanding that the Baron of Carpi and his Laquay Lorenzo were already executed for the same in Naples shee with a world of teares freely confesseth it and confirmes as much as Carpi affirmed whereupon in expiation of this her inhumane Paracide she is condemned to have her head cut off her body burnt and her ashes throwne into the ayre for a milder death and a lesse punishment the Lord will not out of his Justice inflict vpon her for this her horrible crime and barbarous cruelty committed on the person of her owne father or at least seducing and occasioning it to be committed on him and it is not in her husbands possible power to exempt or free her hereof Being sent backe that night to prison she passeth it over or in very truth the greatest part thereof in prayer still grieving for her sinnes and mourning for this her bloudy offence and crime and the next morne being brought to her execution when she ascended the scaffold she was very humble sorrowfull and repentant and with many showres of teares requested her brother Alcasero and all her kinsfolkes to forgive her for occasioning and consenting to her fathers death and generally all the world to pray for her when her sighs and teares so sorrowfully interrupted and silenced her tongue as she recommending her soule into the hands of her Redeâ—…mer whom she had so heynously offended shee with great humility and contrition kneeling on her knees and lifting up her eyes and hands towards heaven the Executioner with his sword made a double divorce betwixt her head and her body her body and her soule and then the fire as if incensed at so fiery a spirit consumed her to ashes and her ashes were throwne into the ayre to teach her and all the world by her example that so inhumane and bloudy a daughter deserved not either to tread on the face of this Earth or to breathe this ayre of life She was lamented of all who either knew or saw her not that she should die but that she should first deserve then suffer so shamefull and wretched a death and yet shee was farre happier than her sister Fidelia for shee despaired and this confidently hoped for remission and salvation Thus albeit this wretched and execrable young Gentlewoman lived impiously yet she died Christianly wherefore let vs thinke on that with detestation and on this with charity And here wee see how severely the murther of Captaine Benevente was by Gods just revenge punished not onely in his two daughters who plotted it but also in the two Noblemen and their two Laquayes who acted it Such attempts and crimes deserve such ends and punishments and infallibly finde them The onely way therefore for Christians to avoid the one and contemne the other is with sanctified hearts and unpolluted hands still to pray to God for his Grace continually to affect prayer and incessantly to practise piety in our thoughts and godlinesse in our resolutions and actions the which if wee be carefull and conscionable to performe God will then shrowd us under the wings of his favour and so preserve and protect us with his mercy and providence as we shall have no cause to feare either Hell or Satan GODS REVENGE AGAINST THE CRYING AND Execrable Sinne of Murther HISTORY XV. Maurice like a bloudy villaine and damnable sonne throwes his Mother Christina into a Well and drownes her the same hand and arme of his wherewith he did it rots away from his body aad being discrased of
solemnely contracted each to other He there in meere reuenge to her and in malice and disdaine to her Mistris puls off her head attire and very basely and violently cuts away all her haire and throwes it into the fire notwithstanding that Radegonda first fell on her knees and with infinite teares and praâ—…s besought him to the contrary But as he hath made it an act of his reveâ—… to Radegonda and of his disdaine to her lady his unkinde mistris Felisanna so hee now likewise resolves to make it one of his justifications to the world Poore Radegonda is all in teares and choller at this her disgracefull accident received of Borlari and no lesse but rather farre more is her younge Lady and Mistris Felisanna the griefe of the one engendring the choller of the other yea this ignoble and malicious fact of his doth so deepely sticke in her heart and minde and so extreamely exasperateth her against him as shee makes her lover Planeze acquainted therewith who notwithstanding her fathers prohibition was then descended his Coach and assended the Parlor to visit her Planeze wondreth and grieves at this incivill and base indignity of Borlari towards Radegonda which hee every way sees can no way but reflect on the other part of himselfe Felisanna and so consequently on himselfe When being in her presence the passions of his affection and the fumes of his revenge so farre ecclipse and transport his Judgement as hee freely profereth her his sword and selfe to right Radegondaes wrong on the person and life of Borlari the which courtesie and noble affection and respect of his Felisanna takes most lovingly and kindely of him but yet loves him so tenderly and deerely that by no meanes she will permit him to ingage muchlesse to hazard himselfe in this triviall quarrell which being as she affirmed more feminine then masculine did therefore more properly belong to her owne deciding and requitall the which in that regard she prayed him wholly to leave and referre to herselfe Borlari by some of Miniataes domestique servants whom in favour of money he hath made to be his friendly Spies and intelligencers heares hereof and especially takes notice of Planezes forwardnesse to fight with him for the quarrell of a poore chamber-maid so seeing that hee could hope for nothing but for dispaire in his affection from Felisanna hee takes this so ill from Planeze who although hee bee his rivall and competitor yet being in a manner but a stranger to him that he cannot he will not be outbraved by this Mantovesse in any point of courage or valour and therefore to prevent his insulting and daring Generosity and to give him a touch and taste of his owne Hee the next morning by his laquey Romea sends him this challenge BORLARY to PLANEZE IN Regard thou couldest not content thy selfe to bereave me of the Lady Felisanna whose sweat beauty and vertues are by farre more deere and pretious to me then my life but that with much ostentation and malice thou likewise makest it thy Trophees and Glory to offer her the sacrifice of my death onely for the triviall respect of her Chambermaids haire Therefore because thou makest so small an esteeme of my life My reputation invites and mine honour conjures mee to see what care thou wilt have for the defence and preservation of thine owne Towhich end I pray thee to meet mee to morrow betwixt five and sixe of the clocke in the afternoone with thy single rapier without seconds in the first meadow without the Vinsensa gate of this City where I will attend thy arrivall with much zeale and impatiency Thou art Noble enongh to bee so generous and I generous enough to trie if thou wilt appeare and approve thy selfe so Noble BORLARY The Lady Felisanna well knowing Romeo to be Borlari his laquey and seeing him deliver a letter to her lover Planeze which sâ—…areth to be some challeng she thereat adorning and beautifying her lilly cheekes with a Roseat blush prayes him to tell her what Borlari his letter contained When his owne hohonour getting the supremacy of his affection towards her he tels her that Borlari therein onely requested him to meet him the next day in the Domo which is the Cathedrall Church of that City dedicated to Saint Athanasius the which he is now going to grant him in his answer But Felisanna still jealous and fearefull prayes him to shew her those two letters which hee pleasantly puts off with some kisses and yet her bloud and heart so freezeth within her with feare as she useth the best power of her Art and the chiefest Art of her affection to conjure him not to fall out muchlesse to fight with Borlary at there meeting in the Church Planeze tells her hee is too religious to bee so prophane to distaine and pollute that sacred place with the effusion of Christian bloud because it is the temple of prayer the house of God and therefore every way fitter for a peacefull attonement and reconciliation then for a contentious quarrell now as the malice of men are finite but of women infinite Felisanna seeing her Planeze going to write his letter revenge and choller being then extravagantly predominant in her lookes and resolutions shee hastily steps downe into a chamber next to the garden where she sends for Borlaries laquey Romea and causeth three of her groomes whom she had purposely placed there by force and violence to cut off his right eare which they presently doe notwithstanding that he used a thousand intreaties and prayers to her to divert her from this her unworthy and malitious fact and then hastily departing from him shee spake this to him Tell thy Master Borlari that I have caused thine eare to be cut off to requite the affront and disgrace which he offered me in cutting off my chambermaid Radegondaes haire Planeze having secretly to himselfe reade Borlari his challenge Hee thinkes so honourably of himselfe and so disgracefully of him as he not a little wondereth to see that he hath the courage to write to him muchlesse the resolution to fight with him When grieving that hee cannot now have the felicity and honour to make tryall of his valour to himselfe and affection to his mistris upon a more generous spirit and nobler personage then Borlari hee accepts his challenge and in this answer promiseth him to meet him and performe it the which hee honourably conceales from Felisannaes feare and jealousie and so sealing up his letter hee goes downe to deliver it to Borlary his Laquey and resolves to dispeede and hasten his returne but contrary to his expectation he findes this laquey Romeo bitterly storming and weeping and so demanding the cause thereof hee then and there by a Gentleman his servant is first informed of the Laqueys disgrace and of the manner thereof as we have understood Planeze is wonderfully grieved at this disasterous accident but love prescribes so powerfull a law to his discretion as he is inforced to
hearing no answer of either of them they instantly cause the doore to bee forced open where contrary to their expectation they finde the Lady Babtistyna dead and well neere cold in her bed and causing her body to bee secretly searched by some Chirurgians and neighbor Gentlewomen they all are of opinion that shee is undoubtedly stifled in her bed and her face very much blacke and swolne with struggling for life against death They are amazed and her Father Streni almost drowned in his sorrowfull teares at the fight of this deplorable accident and mournefull spectacle and therefore what to say or how to beare himselfe herein hee knowes not But the Iudges upon farther knowledge and consideration of the flight of Pierya the death of Bernardo and the promised Annuity of Amarantha upon their marriage as it were prompted by God doe vehemently suspect and believe that they all three were undoubtedly consenting guilty of Babtistyna's death notwithstanding that the Key of her Chamber was found thrown in within side So they presently leave this sorrowfull Father to his teares and betaking themselves to their Seat of Iustice doe instantly cause all the Gates of the City to be shut and a strict and curious search to be made in all parts thereof for the apprehension of Pierya which in their zeale and honour to sacred justice they performe with so much care and speed as within three houres after shee is found out and apprehended in an Aunts house of hers who was a poore woman and a Laundresse of that City named Eleanora Fracasa The Iudges being presently advertised hereof convent her before them and by vertue of this Annuity charge both her and her lover Bernardo to bee the actors and Amarantha to bee at least the accessary if not the authour with them of murthering Babtistyna shee can hardly speake for teares at this her examination because her sighes still cut her words in pieces and yet she is so farre from grace and repentance as at first shee stoutly denyes all and boldly affirmes that both Amarantha Bernardo and her selfe were every way innocent of attempting any thing against Babtistyna's life and that if shee were dead shee dyed onely of a naturall death by the appoyntment of God and no otherwise and to this Answer of hers the Devill had made her so strong as shee added many fearfull oaths and deprecations both for her owne and their justification but yet notwithstanding this her Apologie these grave and cleere-fighted Iudges are so farre from diminishing as they augment their suspition both of her and them and so commit her to prison and forthwith to the racke At the pronouncing of which Sentence Pierya is much daunted seemes to let fall some of her former fortitude and constancie and to burst forth into many passionate teares sighs and exclamations But they will nothing availe her for seeing her pretended Husband Bernardo dead in whom lived the imaginary joyes of her heart shee so fainted as at the very first sight of the Racke with some teares and more deep fetch'd sighes shee confessed to her Iudges that shee and Bernardo had stifled her Lady Babtistyna in her bed but still constantly affirmed that her sister Amarantha was wholly innocent thereof flattering her selfe with this hope that for thus her cleering of her Lady Amarantha from this crime and danger shee in requitall thereof could doe no lesse then bee a meanes to procure a pardon for her life But these hopes of hers will deceive her and flie as fast from her hereafter as ever shee formerly did from God So the Iudges in detestation of this her foule and bloudy crime adjudge her to bee hanged for the same but first they send her backe to prison and the very next morning before breake of day they secretly send away three of their Isbieres or Sergeants to Cardura to fetch the Lady Amarantha to Florence being very confident notwithstanding Pierya's denyall that shee likewise had a deepe finger and share in her Sister Babtistyna's murther Amarantha not dreaming in Cardura what had betided in Florence to 〈◊〉 and Pierya but flattering her selfe with much hope and joy that by this time they had undoubtedly made away her Sister Babtistyna and consequently that she should shortly revisite Florence and there domineere alone and obtaine some gallant Cavallier of her Father for her husband shee in expectance of her servant Bernardo's returne and of his pleasing newes had that day as it were in a bravery and triumph purposely dighted her selfe up in her best attire and richest apparell and so betaking her selfe to her Chamber and to that window which looked towards Florence shee with a longing desire expecteth ev'ry minute when he will arrive when about ten of the clocke before dinner contrary to her expectation shee sees three men to enter into the house apparelled as Florentines whereat shee much museth and wondereth as not knowing what they or their comming should import These three Sergeants having entred the house they are brought to the Governesse Malevola who brings them to her young Lady Amarantha in her Chamber to whom with a dissembling confidence they report to her That Seâ—…gnior Streni her Father hath sent them to conduct and accompany her speedily to Florence Amarantha inquires of them for her Fathers Letters to that effect whereunto one of the subtlest of them makes answer very slylie and artificially to her that her Fathers haste and her preferment would not permit him to write to her for that hee perfectly knew from him hee was now upon matching her to a rich and noble Husband Her Governesse Malevola likewise demands of them if hee had not written to her selfe they answer no but that hee bad them tell her that he will'd her without delay to bring away his Daughter Amarantha with her and themselves to Florence by Coach and onely one Foot-boy The Pupill and Governesse consult hereon and the very name of a Husband makes the first as willing as the second is discontented to goe to Florence without a Letter but the policie of the Sergeants so prevaile with the simplicity of this young Lady and old Gentlewoman that they speedily packe up their Trunkes so dine and then take Coach and horse and away for Florence during which short journey although the mirth and joy of Amarantha bee great yet shee findes so many different reluctations and extravagant thoughts in her minde at the absence and silence of her man Bernardo as shee cannot possibly againe refraine from musing and wondering thereat They all arrive at Florâ—…nce where these Sergeants having learnt their parts well and acting them better in stead of Amarantha's Fathers house doe clap her up close prisoner in the Common Goale of that City notwithstanding all her prayers and cries sighes and teares to the contrary and then send her Governesse Malevola home to her said Father to advertise him hereof who tearing the snow-white haire of his head and beard at this sad newes and
and may well be called the Fortresse of Christian piety against the tentations of Sathan so by the contrary wee expose and lay open our selves to the treacherous lures and malice of the Devill For if by Faith wee doe not first beleeve then pray unto God for our owne preservation it will bee no hard matter for him to tempt us in our choller to quarrell with our best friends and in our malice and revenge to murther even our neerest and dearest Kindred O Faith the true foundation of our soveraigne felicitie O Prayer the sweet preservative and sacred Manna of our soules how blessed doe you make those who embrace and retaine you and contrariwise how miserable and wretched are they who contemne and reject you Of which last number this insuing Historie will produce us one who by his debauched life and corrupt conversation trampled those two heavenly Vertues and Graces under his feet without thinking of God or regarding much lesse fearing his judgements But how God in the end requited him for the same this Historie will likewise shew us May we therefore reade it to Gods glory and to our owne instruction IN the Citie of Verceli after Turin one of the chiefest of Piedmont bordering neere to the Estate and Dutchy of Millan there lately dwelt a rich Cannon of that Cathedrall Church named Alosius Cassino who had a daintie sweet young Gentlewoman to his Neece named Dona Eleanora whose mother being sister to Cassino named Dona Isabella Caelia lately died and left this her onely daughter and â—…ild her heire very rich both in demeanes and moneys when her Vncle Cassino â—…eing neerest her in blood takes Eleanora and her Estate into his protection and â—…ardship and is as tender of her breeding and education and as curious of her â—…omportment and cariage as if shee were his owne daughter for there is no sweet â—…alitie nor exquisite perfection requisite in a young Gentlewoman of her ranke and extraction but he caused her to become not superficiall but artificiall therein as in Dancing Musicke Singing Painting Writing Needling and the like wherof all the Nobility and Gentry of Verceli take exact notice and knowledge yea her beautie grew up so deliciously with her yeares that she was and was justly reputed to be the prime Flower and Phenix of the Citie Cassino considering that his house was destiâ—…te of a Matron to accompany and oversee this his Neece Eleanora that his age was too Stoicall for her youth and that his Ecclesiasticall profession and function called him often to preach and pray hee therefore deeming it very unfit and unseemely in the Interims of his absence to leave her to her selfe and to be ruled and governed by her owne fancy and pleasure shee being now arrived to twelve yeares of age He therefore provides her new apparell and other pertinent necessaries and giving her a wayting-mayd and a man of his owne to attend her hee sends her in his Coach to the Citie of Cassall in the Marquisat of Montferrat to the Lady Marguerita Sophia a widdow Gentlewoman lâ—…ft by her deceased husband but indifferently rich but endowed with all those ornaments of Art and Honour which made her famous not onely in Piedmont and Lombardie but also to all Italy and to her he therefore writes this ensuing Letter to accompany his Neece and chargeth his man with the delivery thereof to her CASSINO to SOPHIA TO satisfie your courteous Requests and my former promise I now send you my Neece Eleanora to Cassall whom I heartily pray thee to use as thy daughter and to command as thy Hand-maid She hath no other Vncle but mee nor I any other acquaintance but thy selfe with whom I would entrust her for her Education and recommend her for her Instruction Shee is not inclined to any vice that I know of except to those imperfections wherein her youth excuseth her ignorance and it is both my order and charge to her that she carefully and curiously adorne her selfe with vertues in thy example and imitation without which the privileges of Nature and Fortune as Beauty and Wealth are but only obscure shadowes and no true substances because there is as much difference betwixt those and these as betweene the puritie of the soule and the corruption of the bodie or betweene the dignitie and excellencie of Heaven and the invaliditie and basenesse of Earth I am content to lena her to you for a few moneths but doe infinitely desire to give her to thy Vertues for ever In which my voluntary transaction and donation thou wilt conferre much happinesse to her and honour to mee and consequently for ever bind both her Youth and my Age to thee in a strict obligation of thanks and debt What apparell or other necessaries thou deemest her to want thy will shall be mine God ever blesse her in his feare and you both to his glory CASSINO The Lady Sophia receives this sweet young Virgin with much content and joy yea shee sees her tender yeares already adorned with such excellent beautie and that beautie with such exquisite vertues that it breeds not only admiration but affection in her towards her whom shee entertaineth with much respect and care as well for her owne sake as also for her Vncle Cassino's whose letter shee againe and againe reads over highly applauding his vertuous and honourable care of this his Neece whom in few yeares she hopes will prove a most accomplished gracious Gentlewoman when Cassino's Coach-man after a dayes stay deeming it high time for him to returne to Verceli to his Master he takes his leave of his young Mistris Elianora who out of her few yeares and tender affection and dutie to her Vncle with teares in her eyes prayes him to remember her best service to him at his comming home and the Lady Sophia by him likewise returnes and sends him this letter in answere of his SOPHIA to CASSINO I Know not whether you have made mee more proud or joyfull by sending me Eleanora wherein you have given mee farre more honour than I deserve though farre lesse than she meriteth and who henceforth shall be as much my Daughter in affection as shee is your Neece by Nature and if I have any Art in Nature or Iudgement in Inclinations her vertues and beautie doe already anticipate her yeares for as the one is emulous of Fame and the other of Glory so as friendly Rivals and yet honourable friends they already seeme to strive and contend in her for supremacie to the last of which as being indeed the most precious and soveraigne if my poore capacitie or weake endeavors may adde any thing I will esteeme it my ambition for your sake and my felicitie for hers But if you resolve not rather to give her to mee for some yeares than to lend her to mee for a few moneths you will then kill my hopes in their buds and my joyes in their blossomes and so make me as unfortunate in her absence as I shall