the greate loue that her housbande did beare her when he had staied hym self from talke with glad and merie countenaunce aunswered in this wise Ah Siluanus the exampler of all vertue and gentlenesse let death and fortune doe what thei list for I coumpt my selâ— more then satisfied of all that is past by the onely enioiyng of your presence contentyng my self to bee a partaker of your misfortunes and haue no doubt but that I can so moderat my affections that duryng my life I will rest better contented with that which your abilitie wil permit be it neuer so meane then otherwise to be honoured with names and titles of nobilitie in Princely state or porte hauing not your presence Disquiet not your self therefore but perseuer in your determination and that sorowe whiche shall assaile me by reason of your absence I will sweeten and lenefie with contentation to see your commendable desire appeased and the pleasaunt memorie of your valiant factes shal beguile my pensiue thoughtes hoping that our next meetyng shall be more ioyfull and glad then this our partyng shall be either heauie or sad The Ladies aunswere did wonderfully quiet the mynd of Siluanus and callyng his Hoste the Sexten vnto hym whom he had made partaker of his determinations he departed leauyng his wife suche money and Iewelles as thei had remainyng And commyng to the Courte of the Emperour Claudius he was very well entertained and the rather for that the Emperour had greate neede of men to supplie his Armie whiche had sustained sondrie conflictes and diuers ouerthrowes for the Turke did wonderfully incroche vpon the Emperour and had taken sondrie Cities Tounes and Castelles from hym and was like still euery daie more to preuaile then other that now the Emperour beganne to repent him of the slender accoumpte he had made of Souldiours in the tyme of peace for that he had too few that were sufficient to serue him in his Warres For in steede of Experience Valiaunce and Policie whiche three ought to be gouernours commaunders and cheef officers in a Campe he was glad to preferre Vainglorie Foolishhardinesse and Rashnesse Simple sottes that were more fitter to waite in Gentlewomans chambers then to be made Captaines or leaders in the Warres The Emperour now standyng in greate distresse for want of men for those that he had made greatest accompt of in the tyme of peace were now able to stande him in no steede in the tyme of warres and those that had braued it vp and doune the Courte in the newe cuttes straunge fashions their haire friâ—â—led lookyng with suche grisly and terrible countenaunces enough to make a wiseman beleeue thei were cleane out of their wittes now in the tyme of Warres were glad to runne vnder a Gentlewomans Farthyng all to hide them The Emperour I saie beeyng thus perplexed called to his remembrauÌ„ce the iniurie that he had doen Sappho whom he had banished onely to satisfie the willes of those that were about him whiche he knewe did hate him more of spight then for any occasion the Duke had giuen Without any farther delaie therefore the Emperour sent sondrie messengers into euery parte of Christendome to make inquirie that who so euer could finde the Duke should bee worthily recompenced and those Proclamations were spread through euery Region in Citie Towne and Village In so muche that in this Parishe where the Duke remained Sexten as you haue heard the Priest made inquirie on Sondaie in the Churche as the custome is that where as about fourteene or fifteene yeres sithence the Duke of Mantona was banished by the Emperor whiche was procured rather by enuie then for any deserte as now it was proued who so euer therfore could giue any intelligence of the same Duke should be very liberally recompensed by the Emperour The Sexten now hearyng these newes did thinke it more better to liue still in his Sextens roome where he remained without enuie then to become againe the Duke of Mantona subiecte to the spite of hatefull persones But callyng to his mynde his wife and daughter which he thought remained yet aliue although he knewe not where and for the greate loue that he bare to Siluanus whose wife remained in his house as you heard seyng that Fortune offered him so good oportunitie to pleasure them onely for their sakes resolued hymself to goe to the Emperour But first comfortyng his gest Valerya whom for a time he should leaue in his house onely with suche seruauntes as her self had about her he tolde her that he was well assured where to finde this Duke that was so muche inquired after and that he doubted not if it were but in respect of his good newes he should worke Siluanus her housbande into some credite with the Duke who might likewise procure his better preferment with the Emperour And thus the Sexten departed and with all conuenience came to the Courte of the Emperour to whom when he had made hymself knowne he was most honourably receiued and greate ioye and gladnesse was made throughout the whole Court the Emperour now in consideration of the iniurie he had doen hym did not onely restore hym to his former roome and dignitie but also aduaunced hym in honour and estimation to be preferred before all other next vnto hymself Thus after many benefites receiued of the Emperour the Duke prepared hymself accompanied with many his freendes to goe to the Emperours Campe of the whiche he was made Generall where he knewe well how to behaue hymself and giuyng out new ordinaunces he appointed certaine such as he hymself knewe worthie and gaue them charge amongest the rest seeyng Siluanus who all this while remained in the Campe whom the Duke did very well knowe although Siluanus did little suspecte that a poore Sexten of a Parishe should become a Generall to an Emperours Armie The Duke perceiuyng hymself to be vnknowne to Siluanus was coÌ„tented so to remaine for a tyme but yet desirous to sée what was in hym he gaue hym the leadyng of certaine Horsemen with the whiche Siluanus serued so valiauntly and there with all had so happie successe that euery man extolled vp to the heauens the worthinesse of Siluanus This pleased the Duke passyng well and the Duke hauyng now sondrie tymes incountred with the power of the Turkes and had giuen them many ouerthrowes he was now preparyng a greate force for the recouerie of the Citie of Cayoe the whiche the Turkes had taken before from the Emperour And callyng Siluanus vnto hym he saied God graunt yong Gentleman that your ende agree with your good beginnyng then makyng Siluanus to kneele he dubbed hym knight and made hym Colonell of twentie Ensignes Siluanus after he had dooen his reuerence thanked the Duke of the honour and fauour whiche it had pleased hym to dooe hym promisyng to dooe so well in tyme to come as he should not bee deceiued in his conceiued opinion whereof he gaue assured testimonie at the assaulte that was giuen to the Citie
before mentioned where he behaued hymself so valiantly as he was the first that mounted vppon the walles and by his dexteritie and inuincible force made waie to the Souldiours in the breach whereby thei entered and tooke the Citie killyng and driuyng out their enemies before them In many suche like attemptes Siluanus still shewed hym self so noble and valiaunt that his praise and renowne was sounded in euery place The Duke now hauing recouered againe al suche Cities Townes and other Fortes whiche the Turke had before taken from the Emperour and there with all had banished the Turkes from out the boundes and borders of the Empire and a League agreed vppon betweene the Emperour and the Turke The Armie beeyng broken vp and Souldiours discharched euery man well recompensed for his seruice accordyng as he had deserued Siluanus likewise who by his worthinesse hauing not onely made himself famous to the world but also had well lined his purse with good store of golde bethinkyng hym now of his faire Ladie came to the Duke to haue takeÌ„ his leaue but the Duke mindyng now to performe the good that he ment to Siluanus was resolued in his mynd that Siluanus with his wife should bee his gestes as well at Mantona where he was Duke as thei had been before where he was but a Sexten saied to Siluanus as followeth Sir Knight what hast is this that you would so sodainly withdrawe your self from out my companie belike you haue some faire wife to whom you make suche speede to bee gone but sir content your self to beare me companie to the Emperours Courte where I doubte not but you shall receiue some better recompence for your seruice so happely begunne for it is not requisite but that the vertue of valiaunce ought to bee rewarded and cherished by Princes that bee aided in their necessitie with the diligence of suche vertuous and noble Gentlemen as your self Siluanus greatly coÌ„forted with these wâ—â—â—des of the Duke was well pleased to waite vpon hym Thus thei tooke their iourney towardes the greate Citie of Cherona whiche was in the vttermoste borders of the Emperours Dominions there the Duke purposed to staie a while to recreate hymself with the rest of his companie Now it fortuned that the valiaunt actes and hautie enterprises of Siluanus were so renowmed and spread that the fame therefore came to the eares of the Duke of Vasconya that was father to Valerya the wife of Siluanus who with all possible speede made suche haste that he came to Cherona where he found Siluanus in the companie of the Duke of Mantona to whom turnyng hymself he saied as followeth Sir Duke the onely hope that I haue that you will not let to extende Iustice vpon the mischeeuous and vngracious actes of wicked men doeth let me at this instaunt to forbeare with myne owne handes to auenge the wrong that I assure my self to haue receiued of this Traitour Siluanus The companie were wonderfully abashed with these wordes but especially the Duke of Mantona who loued Siluanus more dearely then any other But the other goyng still forwardes in his tale saied if the harte breake that afflicteth the soule of a wofull father whose house is made desolate by loosyng his childe by the mischeeuous inticementes of a Theefe if this president I saie moue you not to minister suche speedie reuenge as the Lawe doeth prescribe I suppose that all impunitie of vice and sinne hath place on your behalf And there withall staiyng his talke but yet by his gesture and countenaunce so inraged that he seemed like a man that were besides hymself The Duke of Mantona now perceiuyng the matter that Valerya was the daughter of the Duke of Vasconia whom he supposed to haue been of some meane birth and parentage was wonderfully sorie for Siluanus whose fact by the Lawe deserued death and seyng the Duke in suche a furie he wiste not by what meanes to worke Siluanus safetie for to intreate the Duke he thought it but vaine and to bryng Siluanus to aunswere the fact he knewe the Lawe would condemne him and therefore knowyng where Valeria did remaine whom he knewe did loue Siluanus as her owne life and thinkyng that her teares might lenifie and soften the hardened harte of the Duke her father He therefore priuely sent for her to bee brought immediatly to the Citie of Cherona in the meane tyme he committed Siluanus into safe custodie and desired the Duke at his request to staie himself a while and he should haue suche Iustice on Siluanus as hymself would require Matters beeyng thus pacified for a while I will in like case let them rest for a time and will now discourse how it befell to the Duchesse Messilina with her daughter Phylene You haue heard before how by constraint of weather at the Sea thei were driuen to this Citie of Cherona where the Duke now remained and at her first comming fallyng to her woorke as before she had doen at Taryffa a riche Marchaunt that dwelt in the Towne takyng the vewe of this new come workewoman fell into so great a likyng with her that onely to haue accesse to come into her companie he bestowed more money in cloath to make hym Shirtes and Handcarchifes in one weeke then he was able to weare out in three yeares after whiche he put to her to make whereby he became something well acquainted with her but to the ende that she might thinke her self somethyng the better beholdyng vnto hym he proffered her a more conuenient house then that she was in whiche he would furnishe with all maner of housholde stuffe for a reasonable rent She beeyng very glad of so good an offer became his Tenaunt The Marchaunt now perceiuyng his tyme did so well serue hym without any greate circumstaunce declared vnto her the great good will he bare her but Messilina so delaied hym with suche wise and reasonable aunswers that from tyme to tyme the Marchaunt hymself could not importunatly craue that whiche with suche modestie she so honestly denaied hym Now there laie in this Citie of Cherona the old Dutches of Petrona who hauing inteligence of Messilina to be so good a workewoman she sent for her to whom she put sondrie parcelles of worke whiche she so well finished to the liking of the Dutches that from tyme to tyme she still plide her with the like whereby Messilina with her daughter Phylene had continuall recourse to the Pallas of the Dutches where Arabianus the onely sonne of the Dutches of Petrona and inheritour of the Dukedome but that he was vnder age did marke and beholde the beautie and good grace of this yong Seamester Phylene was so clogged and fettered in the bandes of loue that all other thoughtes seemed lothsome vnto hym and euery other ioye displeasaunt in respect of the pleasure that he suffered by thinkyng of his faire Phylene wherefore baityng himself with hope and tickled onely by loue he determined what soeuer happened to loue her Whiche beeyng
diligent in his Maisters affaires that then he would bee contented to receiue hym into his seruice and would rewarde hym accordyngly as he was able to deserue The Duke all ashamed to bee knowne what he was reuerently made aunswere that he was borne in the Countrey of Achaia and that he had been trained vp in seruice with sonderie Noble men and woud bee very well contented to doe his best indeuour to serue hym with the best seruice he could doe Thus the poore Duke became a Seruyngman whom we will leaue with his Maister and returne to his wife who was left in Hucsters handelyng as you haue heard remained in the house with this Verlette who sought by sondrie assaies to satisfie his villanous lust and like an experte Souldier when 〈◊〉 commeth to besiege a holde first sendeth his Herauldes to summon the Forte proferyng many large conditions if they will quietly surrender but if defiaunce be made then presentâ—ly he placeth his Batterie thunderyng forthe his Canon shot against the walles whiche if thei bee so well Rampered that there will no breache be made yet he ceaseth not with giftes and bribes to corrupte the Warders not caryng how he conquereth so he maie haue the spoyle This vilaine in likewise sought first with piteous sighes whiche saust with sugred woordes did serue in steede of Harauldes to perswade her to yeeld vp the keyes of the fortresse that with peaceable entrie he might take possessioÌ„ at his pleasure but beyng by her repulsed and the Flagge of defiaunce displaied vpon the Bulwarke then with thunderyng threates he thinketh to make his Batterie proferyng to cast her into prison for the debt whiche was owing hym for her housbande and her self Other whiles againe he would tempt her and trie her with giftes thinkyng that for the necessitie she was driuen into she would haue made sale of that whiche she preferred before her owne life This noble Dame perceiuyng her self so hardly beset on euery side fearyng in the ende the Verlet would woorke her some greater despight so inforced her self with Phyleno her little daughter to fall to worke that with weauyng and knittyng of laces and otherwise with their needles thei had gained so muche money as she was able to set her self free from out a knaues debt And thinkyng with her self that her housbande had remained about the Citie of Cayre to the whiche he purposed to iourney when he departed from her she determined with all conuenient speede to repaire thether as well to comforte her self with the companie of her Lorde and housbande as otherwise with her yearnynges to helpe to releeue hym but for that she had vnderstandyng that the passage by lande was not onely troublesome but also very inconuenient for her to trauaile by reason it lay through Woodes and Dâ—â—sertes she gate inteligence of a small Barke that was bouâ—â— thether by Sea whiche onely staied but for a winde to serâ—â— her turne herevpon she discharged her self from the Towâ—â— of Taryffa and when wether serued agreeyng with the Maister for her passage her self with her daughter repaired aborde the Barke whiche beyng put to Sea was forced by the extremitie of a contrarie winde to put them selues romer for the safetie of their liues to a cleane contrarie place And where thei ment to haue sailed to the Citie of Cayre they were now ariued at the Citie of Cherona where the Ladie commyng a shore she ioyed nothyng so muche in the narrowe escape she had made with life by reason of the tempest as she sorrowed for beyng so farre driuen from her housbande whose fellowshippe she more desired then either wealthe or worldly treasure But for asmuche as both her self and her daughter were very euill at ease and greatly infeebled with sicknesse at the Sea and bad liyng in the Shippe she determined to make her abode still at Cherona till she might conuaie letters to Taryffa that should certifie her housbande of all that had happened In the meane tyme her housbande hauing receiued some small beneuolence of his Lorde and Maister who had conceiued some good likyng of hym by reason of the skill that he had in the ridyng of Horse very desirous to render his wife some portion of his good fortunes who had been so long tyme partaker of his euill happes crauyng leaue of his Lorde for a tyme came to Taryffa where when he missed his wife whose letters were not yet come from Cherona and therefore could get no inteligence but that she was gone to Cayre of purpose to seeke hym in a greate perplexitie he traueiled towardes Cayre where makyng greate inquirie could learne nothyng of her from thence he posted from place to place from Citie to Citie from Towne to Towne but beyng neuer the neare his purpose he then began to double his dolours and with bitter words to curse the celestiall Signes and Planets which raigned at the daie of his Natiuitie and howre of his birthe contented to yeeld hym self a captiue to mishappe and to surrender hymself a subiect to Fortunes frowarde frumpes Beyng thus turmoyled with greate anguishe of mynde wanderyng to and fro he was brought so lowe and bare that he was readie to begge an almes from doore to doore and coÌ„myng to a poore Countrey Village his penurie was suche that he was glad to become a seruaunt to hym that was the Sexten of the Parishe whom he had not serued long but the olde Sexten his maister died and for that he had now learned to ryng Belles and had some cunnyng in the keepyng of a Clocke the Parishoners were contented to place hym in his Maisters rome the Duke thinkyng hymself more then thrise happie to gett so greate preferment thanked Ladie Fortune that had so freendly dealt with hym resoluyng hymself to coÌ„tinue the office while he liued but Fortune findyng hym so thankfull for a little dealt more freendly with hym as after you shall heart But I will first declare how it happened with his soonne Aurelianus who was taken vp in the woodes by the Duke of Vasconya as before you haue heard But here I muste firste remember you that the Duke chaunged his name from Aurelianus to Siluanus whiche name he gaue hym of purpose for that he was founde in the Woodes Siluanus now hauyng been trained vp at Schoole was come to mans estate and besides that he had the knowledge of good letters he was comely in his personage and of very good proportion and in all maner of actiuities appertainyng to a Gentleman he exceeded euery other that was in the Courte besides in his demeanours he was so courteous and gentle that he gained the good will and likyng bothe of one and other but especially of the Duke hym self who alowed hym suche large expenses whereby to maintaine hymself as braue as the best Now this noble Duke hauyng no other children but one onely daughter whose name was Valeria in whom it seemed that bothe Vertue and Beautie had heelde some greate contention
perceiued by his Mother she began very sharpely to rate hym blamyng hym that would so indiscretly place his loue not waiyng his estate and birthe as come of Princely race and now would make hym self a fable to the worlde to like of suche a one so farre vnworthie his degree Arabianus fallyng doune vppon his knees moste humbly desired his Mother to beare with all that was paste and although it were truth that she had saied that he deemed her for her birthe to bee vnworthie his degree yet she deserued for her beautie to bee compared to the greatest Dame and brauest Minion els where And whereas other girles by artificiall meanes and trumperies doe inforce that whiche the heauens haue denaied them yet Phylene had no other ornament then that whiche Nature had inlarged in her and otherwise for her vertue wisedome and modestie he knewe it to be suche by reporte of many as she might bee a Lanterne to the greatest Dame that liued Notwithstandyng Madame for so muche as you doe take my facte in so ill parte consideryng the reuerence that I owe to the place whiche you holde on my behalfe and the duetie and obedience that God will and hath commaunded that children should beare to those that haue begotten and borne them if it please you to pardon me of this that is past I protest that from henceforth I will be more wise and better aduised how I enter into any thyng that might turne to any suche consequence or any maner of waies to offende you The Dutches knowyng all to bee true that her sonne had saied very well pleased with his speeches remained satisfied thinkyng in her mynde in deede that if Phylene had bin the Daughter but of some meane Gentleman her sonne should neuer haue sought farther for a wife From this tyme forwards although Arabianus by the perswasion of his Mother had vowed to reuolt and let slippe the loue that he bare to Phylene yet he could not so clearely loose his likyng but that he did manifest some part of his good wil by giftes and good countenaunces whiche still he bestowed vpon Phylene causing his Mother likewise to bestowe many liberall rewardes vppon Messilina thus the Mother and the Daughter perceiued them selues a thousande tymes beholdyng to the olde Dutches and her sonne In this meane space the Marchaunt before mentioned had buried his wife and knowyng no other but that Mâ—ssilina his Tenaunt had been a widowe he began now a freshe sute and with greate importunitie requested her in the waie of Mariage and so hardly he laied vnto her that Messilina not knowyng otherwise how to rid hym coâ—fessed vnto hym that she had a housbande aliue and therefore might not marie The Marchaunt thinkyng these to be but delaies to shift hym of came to this point that if hereafter he could proue her by her owne confession to bee a widowe that then before witnesse she would take hym for her lawfull housbande and till that tyme he would no farther trouble her till he had made his proofe she beeyng glad to bee at rest thinkyng that he should woorke very wisely to make her confesse her self to bee a widowe agreed to his request and witnesse was had in the matter The Marchaunt now lettyng his matter rest a tyme for his better purpose in the ende comming vnto her he told her that although she were so discourteous to forsake his freendshippe in euery respect first in the waie of good fellowshippe and after in the waie of Marriage whereby he was driuen to goe seeke farther but now hauyng found a wife in the Countrey to whom he was assured and ment presently to bee married yet for the old freendshippe that he bare her consideryng that he would presently remaine in the Countrie altogether and forsake the Citie therefore for her better securitie and assuraunce of her dwellyng he would make her a Lease of the house that she dwelt in for one and twentie yeres if it might doe her any pleasure without paiyng any penie Income Messilina giuyng hym greate thankes tooke his offer verie courteously and the Lease was put to making whiche the Marchaunt signed and deliuered and herewithall desired her single Obligation for the performaunce of some small rente were it neuer so little that she might acknowledge hym to be her Landlorde the whiche she neuer denaied to giue The Obligation was made in this maner Knowe all meÌ„ by these presentes that I Messilina Widowe and so forthe with wordes in maner and forme of euery Obligation This Obligation thus made was signed and deliuered by Messilina to the Marchaunte who had now gotten that so long he had sought for and by vertue of this Obligation craued Messilina to bee his wife she denaiyng his demaunde but what could that preuaile when he had her owne hande and seale to shewe whereby she confessed her self a Widowe and then by her owne agrement as you haue heard before she must yeeld her self to be his wife This matter was long in fendyng prouyng in so muche that the Duke beyng now in the Toune ministeryng of Iustice to suche as would craue it the Marchaunte brought the matter before the Duke who hearyng the maner of the Bargaine and so many witnesses to affirme the same gaue Sentence that the Marchaunte ought in deede to haue her But Messilina fallyng at the feete of the Duke desiring him with teares to deferre his Iudgement the Duke now takyng better vewe of the woman knowyng her bothe by her voice and also by lookyng well on her face perceiued assuredlie that it was his owne wife he called againe to the Marchaunt to see obligation whiche wheÌ„ he had receiued he said in this maner Maister Marchaunt this obligation whiche you haue deliuered me now I haue perused with better aduise I finde it to bee neither sufficient nor lawfull for this woman that you would make a Widowe without doubt is Married and hath a housebande now she beeyng vnder couert barne you Obligation is vnpleadable and I knowe not whom you should blame whether your self or the Scriuener And here withall beyng replete with great ioye and gladnesse taking his wife vp in his armes verie louinglie imbraced her he saied Ah my deare and louing Wife how muche am I bounde to render innumerable thankes to the almightie GOD that when all hope was paste haue yet againe recouered my greatest hope and comfort Messilina likewise perceiuyng her lord and housebande clasping her handes aboute his necke was not able to speake a woorde for ioye and contentation The companie that stoode by amazed to see this sodaine happe were likewise verie ioyfull to see this freendly meeting The Marchaunt seeyng how he had been deceiued tare his Obligation and departed all ashamed The Duke now desirous to see his Daughter Philene caused her Mother to sende for her who not knowyng her Father otherwise then by report fell doune on her knees to craue his blessyng The Duke taking her vp kissing her with Fatherlie
will and so long as it shall please me will keepe you for mine owne store there shall be no man able to defende you nor yet to perswade me from that I haue determined Silla with these wordes beyng stroke into a greate feare did thinke it now too late to rewe her rashe attempte determined rather to dye with her owne handes then to suffer her self to be abused in suche sorte therefore she moste humbly desired the Captaine so muche as he could to saue her credite and seyng that she must needes be at his will and disposition that for that present he would depart and suffer her till night when in the darke he might take his pleasure without any maner of suspition to the residue of his companie The Captaine thinkyng now the goole to bee more then halfe wonne was contented so farre to satisfie her request and departed out leauyng her alone in his Cabin Silla beeyng alone by her self drue out her knife readie to strike her self to the harte and fallyng vpon her knees desired God to receiue her soule as an acceptable sacrifice for her follies whiche she had so wilfully committed crauyng pardon for her sinnes and so forthe continuyng a long and pitifull reconciliation to GOD in the middest whereof there sodainly fell a wonderfull storme the terrour whereof was suche that there was no man but did thinke the Seas would presently haue swallowed them the Billowes so sodainly arose with the rage of the winde that thei were al glad to fall to heauing out of water for otherwise their feeble Gallie had neuer bin able to haue brooked the Seas this storme continued all that daie and the next night and thei beeyng driuen to put romer before the winde to keepe the Gallie ahed the Billowe were driuen vppon the maine Shore where the Gallie brake all is peeces there was euery man prouiding to saue his owne life some gate vpon Hatches Boordes and Casks and were driuen with the waues to and fro but the greatest nomber were drouned amongest the whiche Pedro was one but Silla her self beeyng in the Cabin as you haue heard tooke holde of a Chest that was the Captaines the whiche by the onely prouidence of GOD brought her safe to the Shore the whiche when she had recouered not knowyng that was become of Pedro her man she deemed that bothe he and all the rest had been drouned for that she sawe no bodie vppon the Shore but her self wherefore when she had a while made greate lamentations complainyng her mishappes she beganne in the ende to comforte her self with the hope that she had to see her Apolonius and found suche meanes that she brake open the Chest that brought her to land wherin she found good store of coine and sondrie sutes of Apparell that were the Captaines and now to preuent a nomber of iniuries that might be proffered to a woman that was left in her case she determined to leaue her owne Apparell and to sorte her self into some of those sutes that beeyng taken for a man she might passe through the Countrey in the better safetie and as she chaunged her apparell she thought it likewise conuenient to chaunge her name wherefore not readily happenyng of any other she called her self Siluio by the name of ther owne brother whom you haue heard spoken of before In this maner she trauailed to Constantinople where she inquired out the Pallace of the Duke Apolonius and thinkyng her self now to be both fit and able to plaie the seruyng man she presented her self to the Duke crauyng his seruice the Duke very willyng to giue succour vnto straungers perceiuyng hym to be a proper smouge yong man gaue hym entertainment Silla thought her self now more then satisfied for all the casualties that had happened vnto her in her Iourney that she might at her pleasure take but the vewe of the Duke Apolonius and aboue the rest of his seruaunts was very diligent and attendaunt vppon hym the whiche the Duke perceiuyng began likewise to growe into good likyng with the diligence of his man and therefore made hym one of his Chamber who but Siluio then was most neate about hym in helpyng of hym to make hym readie in a mornyng in the setting of his ruffes in the keeping of his Chamber Siluio pleased his Maister so well that aboue all the rest of his seruaunts about him he had the greatest credite and the Duke put him moste in trust At this very instaunt there was remainyng in the Citie a noble Dame a widowe whose housbande was but lately deceased one of the noblest men that were in the partes of Grecia who left his Ladie and wife large possessions and greate liuynges This Ladies name was called Iulina who besides the aboundance of her wealth and the greatnesse of her reuenues had likewise the soueraigntie of all the Dames of Constantinople for her beautie To this Ladie Iulina Apolonius became an earnest suter and accordyng to y e maner of woers besides faire woordes sorrowfull sighes and piteous countenaunces there must bee sendyng of louyng letters Chaines Bracelettes Brouches Rynges Tablets Gemmes Iuels and presentes I knowe not what So my Duke who in the tyme that he remained in the Ile of Cypres had no skill at all in the arte of Loue although it were more then half proffered vnto him was now become a scholler in Loues Schoole and had alreadie learned his first lesson that is to speake pitifully to looke ruthfully to promise largely to serue diligently and to please carefully Now he was learnyng his seconde lesson that is to rewarde liberally to giue bountifully to present willingly and to write louingly Thus Apolonius was so busied in his newe studie that I warrant you there was no man that could chalenge hym for plaiyng the truant he followed his profession with so good a will And who must bee the messenger to carrie the tokens and letters to the Ladie Iulina but Siluio his man in hym the Duke reposed his onely confidence to goe betweene hym and his Ladie New Gentlewomen doe you think there could haue been a greater torment deuised wherewith to afflicte the harte of Silla then her self to bee made the Instrument to woorke her owne mishapp and to plaie the Atturney in a cause that made so muche against her self But Silla altogether desirous to please her Maister cared nothyng at all to offend her self followed his businesse with so good a will as if it had been in her owne preferment Iulina now hauyng many tymes taken the gaze of this yong youth Siluio perceiuyng hym to bee of suche excellent perfecte grace was so intangled with the often sight of this sweete temptation that she fell into as great a likyng with the man as the Maister was with her self And on a tyme Siluio beyng sent from his Maister with a message to the Ladie Iulina as he beganne very earnestly to solicet in his Maisters behalfe Iulina interruptyng hym in his tale saied Siluio it is enough
that you haue saied for your Maister from henceforth either speake for your self or saie nothyng at all Silla abashed to heare these wordes began in her minde to accuse the blindnesse of Loue that Iulina neglecting the good will of so noble a Duke would preferre her loue vnto suche a one as Nature it self had denaied to recompence her likyng And now for a tyme leauyng matters dependyng as you haue heard it fel out that the right Siluio in deede whom you haue heard spoken of before the brother of Silla was come to his Fathers Courte into the Ile of Cypres where vnderstanding that his sister was departed in maner as you haue heard coniectured that the very occasion did proceed of some liking had betweene Pedro her man that was missing with her and her self but Siluio who loued his sister as dearly as his owne life and her rather for that as she was his naturall sister bothe by Father and Mother so the one of them was so like the other in countenaunce and fauour that there was no man able to descerne the one from the other by their faces sauyng by their apparell the one beyng a man the other a woman Siluio therefore vowed to his Father not onely to seeke but his sister Silla but also to reuenge the villanie whiche he conceiued in Sedro for the carriyng awaie of his sister and thus departyng hauyng trauailed through many Cities and Townes without hearyng any maner of newes of those he went to seeke for at the fast be arriued at Constantinople where as he was walking in an euenyng for his owne recreation on a pleasaunt greene yarde without the walles of the Citie he fortuned to meete with the Ladie Iulina who likewise had been abroade to take the aire and as she sodainly cast her eyes vppon Siluio thinkyng hym to bee her olde acquaintaunce by reason they were so like one an other as you haue heard before saied vnto hym sir Siluio if your haste be not the greater I praie you let me haue a little talke with you seyng I haue so luckely met you in this place Siluio wonderyng to heare hymself so rightly named beeyng but a straunger not of aboue two daies continuaunce in the Citie very courteously came towardes her desirous to heare what she would saie Iulina commaunding her traine something to stand backe saied as followeth Seyng my good will and freendly loue hath been the onely cause to make me so prodigal to offer that I see is so lightly reiected it maketh me to thinke that men be of this condition rather to desire those thinges whiche thei can not come by then to esteeme or value of that whiche both largely and liberally is offered vnto them but if the liberalitie of my proffer hath made to seme lesse the value of the thing that I ment to present it is but in your owne cōceipt considering how many noble men there hath been here before and be yet at this present whiche hath bothe serued sued and moste humbly intreated to attaine to that whiche to you of my self I haue freely offred and I perceiue is dispised or at the least very lightly regarded Siluio wonderyng at these woordes but more amazed that she could so rightly call hym by his name could not tell what to make of her speeches assuring hym self that she was deceiued and did mistake hym did thinke notwithstandyng it had been a poinct of greate simplicitie if he should forsake that whiche Fortune had so fauourably proffered vnto hym perceiuyng by her traine that she was some Ladie of greate honour and vewing the perfection of her beautie and the excellencie of her grace and countenaunce did thinke it vnpossible that she should be despised and therefore aunswered thus Madame if before this tyme I haue seemed to forget my self in neglecting your courtesie whiche so liberally you haue ment vnto me please it you to pardon what is past and from this daie forwardes Siluio remaineth readie prest to make suche reasonable amendes as his abilitie may any waies permit or as it shall please you to commaunde Iulina the gladdest woman that might bee to heare these ioyfull newes saied Then my Siluio see you faile not to Morowe at night to suppe with me at my owne house where I will discourse farther with you what amendes you shal make me to whiche request Siluio gaue his glad consent and thus thei departed very well pleased And as Iulina did thinke the tyme very long till she had reapt the fruite of her desire So Siluio he wisht for Haruest before Corne could growe thinkyng the tyme as long till he sawe how matters would fall out but not knowyng what Ladie she might bee he presently before Iulina was out of sight demaunded of one that was walkyng by what she was and how she was called who satisfied Siluio in euery poinct and also in what parte of the toune her house did stande whereby he might enquire it out Siluio thus departing to his lodging passed the night with very vnquiet sleapes and the next Mornyng his mynd ranne so muche of his Supper that he neuer cared neither for his Breakfast nor Dinner and the daie to his seemyng passed awaie so slowlie that he had thought the statelie Steedes had been tired that drawe the Chariot of the Sunne or els some other Iosua had commaunded them againe to stande and wished that Phaeton had been there with a whippe Iulina on the other side she had thought the Clocke setter had plaied the knaue the daie came no faster forwardes but sixe a clocke beyng once stroken recouered comforte to bothe parties and Siluio hastening himself to the Pallace of Iulina where by her he was frendly welcomed and a sumpteous supper beeyng made readie furnished with sondrie sortes of delicate dishes thei satte them doune passyng the Supper tyme with amourous lookes louyng countenaunces and secrete glaunces conueighed from the one to the other whiche did better satisfie them then the feedyng of their daintie dishes Supper tyme beeyng thus spent Iulina did thinke it very vnfitly if she should tourne Siluio to goe seeke his lodging in an euenyng desired him therefore that he would take a bedde in her house for that night and bryngyng hym vp into a faire Chamber that was very richly furnished she found such meanes that when all the rest of her housholde seruauntes were a bedde and quiet she came her self to beare Siluio companie where concludyng vpon conditions that were in question betweene them thei passed the night with suche ioy and contentation as might in that conuenient tyme bee wished for but onely that Iulina feedyng too muche of some one dishe aboue the rest receiued a surfett whereof she could not bee cured in fourtie weekes after a naturall inclination in all Women whiche are subiect to longyng and want the reason to vse a moderation in their diet but the mornyng approching Iulina tooke her leaue and conueighed her self into her owne chamber and when it was
Ladies liuyng in pleasure and in the middest of delightes would so prodigally aduenture your self neither fearing mishapps nor misliking to take suche paines as I knowe you haue not been accustomed vnto O liberalitie neuer heard of before O facte that can neuer be sufficiently rewarded O true Loue most pure and vnfained Here with all sendyng for the most artificiall woorkmen he prouided for her sondrie sutes of sumpteous Apparell and the Marriage daie appointed whiche was celebrated with greate triumphe through the whole Citie of Constantinople euery one praising the noblenesse of the Duke but so many as did behold the excellent beautie of Silla gaue her the praise aboue all the rest of the Ladies in the troupe The matter seemed so wonderfull and straunge that the brute was spreade throughout all the partes of Grecia in so muche that it came to the hearyng of Siluio who as you haue heard remained in those partes to enquire of his sister he being the gladdest man in the worlde hasted to Constantinople where commyng to his Sister he was ioyfully receiued and moste louingly welcomed and entertained of the Duke his brother in Lawe After he had remained there two or three dayes the Duke reuealed vnto Siluio the whole discourse how it happened betwéene his sister and the Ladie Iulina and how his sister was chalenged for gettyng a woman with childe Siluio blushyng with these wordes was striken with great remorse to make Iulina amendes vnderstandyng her to be a noble Ladie and was left defamed to the worlde through his deâ—ault he therefore bewraied the whole circumstaunce to the Duke whereof y e Duke being very ioyful immediatly repaired with Siluio to the house of Iulina whom thei founde in her Chamber in greate lamentation and mournyng To whom the Duke saied take courage Madame for beholde here a Gentleman that will not sticke both to father your child and to take you for his wife no inferiour person but the sonne and heire of a noble Duke worthie of your estate and dignitie Iulina seing Siluio in place did know very well that he was the father of her childe and was for rauished with ioye that she knewe not whether she were awake or in some dreame Siluio imbracyng her in his armes crauyng forgiuenesse of all that past concluded with her the mariage daie which was presently accomplished with greate ioye and contentation to al parties And thus Siluio hauyng attained a noble wife and Silla his sister her desired housbande thei passed the residue of their daies with suche delight as those that haue accomplished the perfection of their felicities FINIS Of Nicander and Lucilla The Argument of the third Historie ¶ Lucilla a yong maiden endued with singuler beautie for want of a conuent dowrie was restrained from mariyng her beloued Nicander in the ende through the greate magnificence of the courteous yong prince Don Hercules the onely sonne and heire of Alfonso duke of Ferrara she was releeued with the somme of 2000 Crounes the whiche money beyng receiued by the father of Nicander the mariage was performed to the greate contentation of the noble yong prince but especially to the twoo yong louers Nicander and Lucilla IN the tyme that Alfonso firste 〈◊〉 that name and third Duke of Ferrara goutâ—â—ed that state there was in the Citee of Ferrara a gentle yong gentlewoman named Lucilla borne of a noble Familie but by the frowardnesse of blind Fortune reduced to great pouertie then her vertues did deserue whose beautie appeared to bee suche in the prime and flower of her yeres as it filled with meruaile all those that caste their eyes vpon her Of this Gentlewoman was feruently enamoured a gallant yong Gentleman whose name was Nicander and in like sort borne of noble blood And desired nothyng more then to bee ioyned with her in Matrimonie But she beyng as it is saied poore though of noble Parentage and endued with singular vertues The Father of the yong Gentleman disdained her who as for the moste part we see old men naturally enclined to coueâ—ise regarding rather the wealth that their daughters in lawe are to bring into their families then either birthe vertue or giftes of the minde could in no wise bee perswaded or intreated to content his sonne in that behalf and to suffer him to enioye his Loue by takyng her to wife alledgyng that the first thing that was to be considered in mariage was the dowrie and the woman For that the vertues of the women dooe not enriche the houses wherein thei came saied he but the qualitie of goodes and wealthe that thei brought with them The coueteous disposition of the father of Nicander was cause that these two yong folke languished in miserable loue For although their flames were of equall force and heaâ—e yet the yong gentlewoman beyng of a verie honest minde nor the yong gentleman neuer thinking vpoÌ„ any other meanâ—â— then honestly to enioye his desire without touche or breache of her honor and the obstinate wilfulnesse of the old man beyng cast as a barre or blocke betweene the vnitie and concorde of their twoo mindes thei liued in greate tormente eche consumyng and as it wer melting awaie with desire for loue of eche other Whilest their mutuall loue continued in this sorte eche daie with lesse hope then other through the obstinacie of the â—ldâ—tarle it happened that Don Hercules the Dukes onely sonne and heire beyng then in the freshest time of his youth passing by the streate where this gentlewoman dwelt sawe her standing in her doore apparailed in White whiche kinde of attire encreased greatly her naturall beautie And considering somwhat curioustie the comelinesse and excellencie of her personage together with her perfectioÌ„ of beautie he receiued with suche force into his imagination the firste impression of them bothe that from thence forward her liuely Image semed continuallie to bee before his eyes by the consideration whereof he grewe by degrees to conceiue so vehement a desire to enioye the singularitie whiche he sawe in her that he thought it impossible for him to liue if he did not attaine it And ofte times discoursyng to himself thereof he would saie what iniurie hath Fortune dooen vnto this faire Gentlewoman that as Nature hath been liberall in bestowyng of beautie vpon her meete for any greate Princes she hath not likewise caused her to be borne of some king or mightie prince whiche if she were I would neuer cease till I had founde the meanes to gett her to bee my wife and so enioye her as myne owne with the safetie of her honour and with the satisfaction and contentment of my Father But in the ende although he sawe her degree to bee farre vnequall to his to wishe or to procure any suche matche Yet ceased he not by all the meanes he could to win her good will and now by one deuise and now by an other to induce her to loue him and to yeeld to his feruent desire But all in vaine For where
the cheef and Soueraigne Iudge your self she repliyng saied Seeing you haue constituted me to giue Sentence at my pleasure it is not thâ— office of a good Iusticer to be parciall in his owne cause and therefore this is the hope you shal looke for at my handes that if hereafter in your deedes I shall see as plaine proofe of perfecte good will as your woordes by pretence importe likelyhood of earnest Loue you shall finde me ready to render suche recompence as shall fall out to your owne contentation and likyng This comfortable aunswere very well pleased hym and within a very little space after he so handeled the matter that he had entered his action in her Common place Thus what betweene Maister Doctor on the one side who was still ministryng of Phisicke vnto her so long as there were any Drugges remainyng in his Storehouse and the Lawyer on the other side who sufficiently enstructed her with his Lawe thei vsed suche hauÌ„t vnto this Gentlewomans companie that the one beganne to growe suspicious on the other and eche of them desirous to haue her seuerall to hymself beganne in the ende to enuaigh the one against the other the Doctor against the Lawier and the Lawier against the Doctor and to tel her to her face what thei suspected the one against the other But Mistres Doritie beeyng very angrie with them bothe that would so narrowlie looke into her doynges did thinke it had been sufficient for reasonable men that she had receiued them into her fauor and as often as it had pleased them to come she welcomed them as themselues did desire and what can a man desire any more then to drinke so often as he shall be a thirst But with faire speeches she contented them bothe for a tyme but she thought in the end to finde a remedie for that mischief And thus it fell out that a Souldiour who was lately retourned from the warres I gesse aboute the same tyme that Kyng Henry the fift was retourned from the winnyng of Agincourt feelde this Souldiour I saie brauyng it out about the streates of the Citie as commonly the custome of Souldiours is to spend more in a moneth then thei get in a yere as he roomed to and fro and fortuned to espie this blasing starre lookyng out at a windowe was sodainly stroken into a great maze to seâ—â—his Lampe of light then euer he had been in the feelde to see the Ensignes of his enemies and was so farre euercharged with her loue that but for feare to haue been marked by the passers by he would haue stoode still gazyng and lookyng vpon her but learnyng in the ende that she was the Mistres of the house he began to deuise how he might make her vnderstande the feruencie of his Loue on whiche he determined to write vnto her But then he knewe not how to beginne his Letter because Souldiours are very seldome accustomed to endite especially any of these louyng lines And to speake vnto her he was likewise to learne how to vse his tearmes neither wiste he how to come into her presence but you shall see Fortune fauoured hym For in an Euenyng as he passed through the streate she was sittyng alone in her doore to take the aire and commyng vnto her not knowyng for his life how to begin his tale In the ende Mistres ê™ he I praie you is your housbande within No surely sir ê™ she he is abroade in the Toune but I knowe not where And I would gladly haue spoken with hym ê™ the Souldiour if he had bin within Beleeue me sir he is not within ê™ she but if it please you to leaue your arrande with me at his commyng home I will shew hym your minde In faith Mistres ê™ the soldiour my arrande is not greate I would but haue craued his helpe in chusyng me a wife because I perceiue he hath some experieÌ„ce in the facultie or els I think he could neuer haue chosen so well for hymself If your arrande be no other then this ê™ Mistres Doritie you may at your owne leisure come and doe it your self and as for my housbandes experience that you speake of although peraduenture it bee not fittyng to your fancie yet I am well assured that he hath made his choyce of suche a one as he himself very well liketh I beleue it wel ê™ the Souldiour and if without offence I might speake it I sweare so God help me I like his choise so wel that I would thinke my self more then a thousand times happie if I might bee his halfe or if my vnworthinesse deserued not so greate a pâ—â—â—on I would craue no more then your self would willingly bestowe on me accordingly as you should see me able to deserue it Why sir ê™ Mistres Doritie I doe not vnderstande wherevnto your speeches doeth tende neither what parte you would haue me to giue you when I haue alreadie bestowed of my housbande bothe my hande my harte my minde and good will Alas Gentlewoman ê™ the Souldiour these bee none of them that I would craue there is yet an ouerplus whiche you haue not yet spoken of whiche if you please to bestow of a Souldiour I should think my self the happiest man aliue whose loue and good likyng towards you is suche that I trust in tyme to come your self will iudge me worthie for my well deseruyng zeale to haue deserued hire Souldiours are seldome seene ê™ Mistres Doritie to marche vnder the banner of Venus but what so euer you bee doe you thinke to ouerthrowe my vertues with the assault of your wanton perswasions or would you make me beleeue that you loue me as you say wheÌ„ you haue no more respect to the hurt of my soule Gentlewoman ê™ the Souldiour I am not able to encounter you with wordes because it hath not been my profession nor trainyng vp but if you doubte of my loue and good likyng Please it you to make triall commaund any thyng that your self shall thinke requisite whiche if I doe not performe to the vttermost then esteeme my loue in deede to be but feined and where you thinke that I goe aboute to seeke the preiudice or hurte of your soule beleeue me I neuer ment it Mistres Doritie who had been wel acquainted before with many suiters had neuer been apposed with suche a rough hewen fellow that was so bluÌ„t and plaine aswell in his gesture as in his tearmes Began to think with her self that he might well be a Souldiour for she knewe that thei had little skill in the courting of Gentlewomen yet she perceiued by his countenaunce the vehemencie of his loue he bare vnto her and perceiuing his plainnesse she began to thinke him more fitter for her diet then either Maister Doctor or Maister Lawier that could not be contented the one with the other when she gaue them bothe so muche as thei could craue and therefore thinkyng with her self that to loose any longer tyme were but a poinct of folly takyng the
to the Gallowes ê™ the Doctor so I had escaped this scouryng but I perceiue this banquet was prepared for vs bothe and here withall with muche adoe he got of the Porters coate and makyng hymself knowne to the Lawyer eache of them conferred with the other how cunningly thei had been dealt withall and did think it not best for them any farther to deale in the matter for feare of farther mischeefe but with muche adoe got them home where the Lawyer kept his bedde very long after But the Doctor tooke Sparmaceti and such like thinges that be good for a bruse and recouered hymself in a shorte space Now it fell out afterwardes that this Souldiour who liued in greate credite with Mistres Doritie as he had well deserued was imployed in the Kynges warres against forraine fooes with a greate number of others where he spent his life in his Princes quarrell Mistres Doritie sorrowyng a long tyme the losse of so faithfull a freende seeyng the diuersitie of men that she had made her choise amongst three and had fouÌ„d but one honest feared to fall into any further infamie contented herself to liue orderly and faithfully with her housbande all the rest of her life and her housband who neuer vnderstood any of these actions loued her dearely to his diyng daie And now to saie somethyng of the other brother and his wife which as you haue heard was suche a notable scold that her housbande could neuer enioy good daie nor merie houre She was suche a deuill of her tongue and would so crossebite hym with suche tauntes and spightfull quippes as if at any tyme he had been merrie in her companie she would tell hym his mirthe proceeded rather in the remembraunce of that she had brought hym then for any loue that he had to her self if he were â—adde it was for greefe she was not dead that he might enioye that she had If he vsed to goe abroad then he had been spendyng of that he neuer gott hymself If he taried at home she would saie it was happie he had gotten suche a wife that was able to keepe hym so idely If he made any prouision for good cheare or to fare well in his house she would bid hym spende that whiche he hymself had brought If he shewed hym self to be sparyng then she would not be pincht of that whiche was her owne Thus doe what he could all that euer he did was taken in the worst parte And seyng that by no maner of faire meanes he was able to reclaime her in the ende he deuised this waie hymself with a trustie freende that he made of his counsaile got and pinioned her armes so fast that she was not able to vndoe them and then puttyng her into an old Peticoate whiche he rent and tattered in peeces of purpose and shakyng her heire loose about her eyes tare her Smock sleeues that her armes were all bare and scratchyng them all ouer with a Bramble that the bloud followed with a greate chaine about her legge wherwith he tied her in a darke house that was on his Backside and then calling his neighbours about her he would seeme with greate sorrowe to lament his wiues distresse tellyng them that she was sodainly become Lunatique whereas by his geasture he tooke so great greefe as though he would likewise haue runne madd for companie But his wife as he had attired her seemed in deede not to be well in her wittes but seyng her housbandes maners shewed her self in her conditions to bee a right Bedlem she vsed no other wordes but Cursynges and Bannynges criyng for the Plague and the Pestilence and that the Deuill would teare her housbande in peeces the companie that were aboute her thei would exhorte her good neighbour forget these idle speeches whiche doeth so muche distemper you and cal vpon God and he will surely helpe you Call vpon God for helpe ê™ the other wherein should he helpe me vnlesse he would consume this wretch with fire brimstone other helpe I haue no neede neede of Her housbande he desired his neighbours for Gods that thei would helpe him to praie for her and thus altogether kneelyng in her presence he began to saie Miserere whiche al thei saied after him but this did so spight and vexe her that she neuer gaue ouer her railing and ragyng against them all But in the ende her housband who by this shame had thought to haue reclaimed her made her to become from euil to worse and was glad hymself in the ende cleane to leaue and to get hym self from her into a straunge Countrey where he consumed the rest of his life Thus to conclude besides the matter that I meane to proue Men maie gather example here when thei goe a Wiuyng not to choose for beautie without vertue nor for riches without good conditions There bee other examples if thei be well marked worth the learnyng bothe for men and women whiche I leaue to the discretion of the reader FINIS Of Gonsales and his vertuous wife Agatha The Argument of the sixt Historie ¶ Gonsales pretending to poison his verteous wife for the loue of a Courtisane craued the help of Alonso a Scholer somethyng practised in Physicke who in the steade of poyson gaue hym a pouder whiche did but bryng her into a sounde sleepe duryng certaine houres but Gonsales iudging in deede that his wife had been dead caused her immediatly to be buried The Scholer againe knowyng the operation of his Poulder for the greate loue he bare to Agatha went to the Vault where she was entombed aboute the hower that he knowe she should awake When after some speeches vsed betweene them he carried her home to his owne house where she remained for a space in the meane tyme Gonsales beyng married to his Courtisane was by her accused to the Gouernour for the poisonyng of his first wife whereof beeyng apprehended he confessed the fact and was therefore iudged to dye whiche beyng knowne to Agatha she came to the Iudge and clearyng her housbande of the crime thei liued together in perfect peace and amitie THere was sometyme in the Citie of Siuill in Spaine a Gentleman named Gonsales who though he were a man of yeres sufficient to be staied and to giue ouer the waÌ„ton pranckes of youthfull follie Yet was he by nature so enclined to followe his lustes and withall so variable and so vnconstant that he suffered hymself to be ruled wholy by his passioÌ„s and measured all his doyng rather by his delightes and pleasures theÌ„ by sounde discourse and rule of reason This Gentleman fallyng in loue with a Gentlewoman of the same Citie whose name was Agatha sought all the meanes he could to haue her to wife And her freendes although thei were wel enough enformed of the disposition of Gonsales whereby thei might haue feared the entreatie of their kinswoman for that thei knewe hym very riche and her dowrie not to be very greate thei were well content to
preferred to charge whiche he gouerned with so great discretion and still conducted with suche celeritie and sleight that who but Aramanthus and his companie had the onely name throughout the Turkes cāpe and where there was any attempt to bee giuen where valiancie should bee showne Aramanthus he must giue the charge and where any policie must be put in practise Aramanthus he must laie the platte that to be shorte he grewe into suche credite with the greate Turke hymself that Aramanthus onely gaue hym counsaill in all his affaires and there with all had so good successe that his practises still preuailed and came to happie end that the Turke by his aduise had doen wonderfull spoyles vpon the Christians and had taken from them many Cities Tounes and Prouinces And thus leauyng them in the warres for a season I will conuaie my tale againe to Isabell Queene and wife to Rodericke who was now the second time knowne to be with child whereat the Duke of Caria beeyng wonderfullie wrothe pretendyng to finde a quicke dispatche for all together he secretlie accused the Queene of Adulterie to the King his brother and with suche allegations and false witnesses as he had prouided so informed the King that his tale was credited and the rather for that the king knowing his Queene to be with child did thinke himself too farre spent in yeres to do suche a deede And yet the King was replenished with so greate pitee that he could not indure to heare of her death He therefore by a messenger commaunded her presentlie to depart the Court and in paine of her life neuer after to come in his presence These newes did wonderfullie amaze the Queene who with many piteous intercessions desired to knowe her accusers and that she might but speake for her self before his Maiestie and then as he should finde her to vse her according to her desertes But all in vaine for the Duke had so throughlie incensed the King that he would neither abide to see nor heare her The duke vnderstanding how matters had passed came to the Queene and semed muche to lament her case perswading her to hold her self contented for a little season not doubtyng but in tyme that he hymself would so perswade with his brother that she should bee heard to speake in her owne defence in the meane season if it pleased her to vse his house in the Countrie he would prouide for her all maner of necessaries what soeuer she should wante and for her better comforte if she had any assured freend whose companie she desired that she might secretelie sende for them to holde her fellowship and to passe the tyme and that he hymself would many tymes visite her and daiely informe her how matters did passe in her behalfe with the King his brother The poore Queene thinkyng all had to proceede of good will whiche this Traitor had proffered gaue him more then a thousand thankes reposing her self and the innocencie of her cause onely in this Iudas who practized nothyng els but her death and the death of that she went withall The next daie he prouided a couple of Ruffians suche as he knewe were for his purpose whiche should haue secretelie conueighed her to the Dukes houses as she had thought but as the Duke had willed them as thei rode ouer a Forest whē thei came to the side of a woode thei tooke her from her horse spoyled her of suche thynges as were aboute her and mynded to haue killed her and throwne her in some Bushe But it fell out that there were certaine banished menne in the Woode whiche liued in that desarte in maner of Outlawes and hearyng the piteous complainte of the Queene thei came to her rescue but the villaines that would haue slain her perceiuing them fledde and lefte the Queene where these Outlawes came vnto her vnto whom from poinct to poinct she declared euery thing how it was happened vnto her the Outlawes hauing greate compassion whē thei knewe her to be the Quene for that thei had euer heard her to bee Noblie reported on brought her with theim to their Caue where thei ministered suche releef to her distresse as menne might doe that were in their estates The Queene thinkyng that God had preserued her life to some better purpose contented her self for a season to remaine emongest theim Where she learned to plaie the Cooke and to dresse their meate suche as thei brought in or could prouide for in the Forest And thus leauyng the Quene with these Outlawes I will retourne againe to speake of Aramanthus who was now deuisyng to frame a plotte how he might betraie the Citee of Tolosia whereof his Father was Kyng as you haue heard For the Turke hauyng intelligence of the pleasauntnesse of this Citee and of the wonderfull wealthe and riches wherwith it did abounde and therewithall had learned that it was of suche force and inuinsible strengthe that there was no maner of hope how it might be subdued whereat the Turke was verie sorowfull and sadde But my yong Fisherman Aramanthus whose cunnyng neuer failed where courage could net help caused the Turke with his whole armie by sea to come before this Citee which is situate fast vpon the sea side and there to come to an anker where Aramanthus hymself as a messenger appoincted from the Turke came to the kyng of Tolosia to whom he told this tale That the Turke his Maister hauyng been in diues partes of Christendome where he had made warres a long space and vpon diuers considerations mindyng to departe with his Armie into his owne Countrey for a season and beyng vpon the Seas one night as he was liyng vpon his bedde behold a vision appeared vnto hym in a Dreame whiche shewed hym how greeuouslie he had offended the God of the Christians in the persecutyng spoilyng and the murtheryng of them as he had doen in this iourney and for that he should know that the Christian God was the moste high and Almightie God in deede whom with his tyrannie he had so displeased he should bee creepled of al◠his limmes from that tyme forthe till his diyng daie whiche should verie shortly followe with this he awaked and giuyng a piteous grone suche as was about hym commyng vnto hym found hym in a wonderfull maze and so benummed in all his partes that he was not able to stir hande nor foote The nexte daie callyng his Counsailers and Captaines about hym not able of hymself to come forthe emongst theim but as he was brought out of his Cabbin on mennes backes he declared vnto them the whole circumstaunce of the premisses and beyng striken with a wonderfull remorse in cōscience he determined to saile backe againe not mindyng to depart frō out those partes of Christendome till he had made satisfaction of all suche spoiles and outrages as he had committed against the Christians and hymself with his whole armie to become Christened and there to bee instructed in the true and perfect faith
also from any other Realmes Cities Tounes or territories beyng within the Emperours Dominions There resteth now for the Duke to make such poore prouision for his furnishyng as his habilitie might any waies serue hym the whiche GOD knoweth fell out so meane and skante as it scarcely serueth hym to defraie his charges to carrie hym from out those places from whence he was prohibited and takyng his course towardes the partes of â—â—acedonia after a long and wearie iourney he arriued at a Towne called Tariffa where beeyng lodged in a meane and simple house his money now being at the last cast wherewith to beare his charges his poore Wife and children altogether wearied with their long and troublesome trauaile and hym self all ashamed to be knowne what he was Now it fell out that the Hoste of the house many tymes vewyng and castyng his eyes vpon the Duchesse of Messilina who notwithstaÌ„ding she dissembled her estate and degree coÌ„tented to leaue her honourable dignitie and to perticipate such equall fortune with her housbande and children as their hard happes had conducted them vnto yet her beautie whiche could not be blemished with meane and homely garmentes had so entangled her arrant Hoste that he could not be merie when he was out of her â—weete sight and now though he perceiued his ghest beganne 〈◊〉 waxe slacke in his paiment and not able to disburse for his â—â—â—inarie expences yet for the loue he bare to his wife he was 〈◊〉 â—ntented to chalke vp the charges behinde the doore hoping 〈◊〉 end to haue cleared the skores to his better content and as time and conuenience might serue him he spared not 〈◊〉 the Duchesse vnderstande his great likyng towardes her aâ—suryng her that the courtesie that he vsed towardes her housbande was onely for her sake and that if he were assured his good will might bee acceptable in her sight she might assure her self of suche a freend of him as would be as carefull of her as her housbande to whom she was maried This Ladie now hauyng well pondered the woordes of her amourous Hoste who would not thinke but that she was muche perplexed in her mynd that she who had been borne of honourable Parentage espoused to a noble Duke whose dignitie in tymes past surmounted all the rest whose trainyng vp had euer béen amongst those of the highest degrée and now that her honourable estate was not onely eclipsed by crooked Destinie but also to haue her Chastitie assailed by suche a simple coisterell whom she durst not so sharpely shake of as her harte would very well haue serued for that she knewe 〈◊〉 Duke her housbande was runne in his debt neither could 〈◊〉 tel by what meanes he was able to discharge it she was 〈◊〉 fore constrained with faire speeches to shift him of from 〈◊〉 to tyme the whiche the knaue perceiuing very well began 〈◊〉 to thinke with hymself that it was but her housbandes prâ—â—sence that hindered hym of his purpose and therefore determined to finde a present remedie And now commyng to his ghest beganne to recken with hym and to call hym to accoumpt for the charges wherein he was behinde tellying hym that at that very instaunt he had occasion to occupie money which made him not onely to seek vp suche small sommes as were due vnto hym but also to trie his freendes otherwise to serue his tourne and that helpyng hym now at his present neede he might then begin againe 〈◊〉 newe score and would beare with hym a muche longer tymeâ—â— The poore Duke then inforced to seeke out an old 〈◊〉 for an newe Sore whiche is to praie when he was not 〈◊〉 paie with very courteous speeches desired his Hoste to be 〈◊〉 with his inabilitie assuring him that when time should 〈◊〉 he would so throughly recompence hym as he should 〈◊〉 〈…〉 to holde hym well contented But what praiers maie preuaile where pitie is cleane exiâ—â—d or what gentlenesse is to be looked for to come from such 〈◊〉 vngentle chorle whose mynde was onely set vppon Rape and Rauine who had premeditated before the drift whiche as he presupposed was now sorted out as he looked for Wherefore as it were half in a furie he vttered forth these wordes My freend content your self and take this for a resolute aunswere the money whiche now resteth in your hands although I might very ill forbeare it as my case standeth yet for that it is not myne ease to runne into any farther charges without a better assuraunce then either woordes or promises I am notwistandyng contented to beare with you for that which is alreadie past myndyng from this daie forwards to giue no further credite and for that you are altogether a straunger vnto me vnknowne both what you are froÌ„ whence you come whether you will and where I should finde you I purpose therefore for my better securitie and the rather to 〈…〉 by that you alreadie doe owe me to keepe your wife in â—â—aune whom I know is so dearely beloued vnto you that for â—â—er sake I shall the sooner heare from you againe otherwise I knowe not where to inquire after you nor how to come by that is my due whiche I am not well able to forbeare neither doe I mynde clearely to lose The poore afflicted Duke hauyng neuer falne before into cutthrotes handes perswaded in deede that the tenour of this Varlettes woordes and the keepyng of his wife tended to no other end but for his better assuraunce to come by his money was constrained to make a vertue of necessitie and was so â—nuche the better pleased for that his wife might still remaine free from farther trauaile and thinkyng in tyme to settle him â—elf and to recouer his wife and children about hym with this â—esolution he began to relate vnto his wife with what salutaâ—â—ons his gentle Host had greeted him withall desiring her to â—â—mfort her self for a season assuring to doe his best indeuour 〈◊〉 so set vp his sailes to the prosperous gales of Fortune 〈◊〉 his good Ladie hearyng her housbandes discourse vncertaine what to doe wept bitterly as well for greefe to 〈◊〉 his presence as for that she should bee left in the house of â—â—arrant knaue her Hoste but like a wise Ladie hearyng the aâ—â—leadged reasons of her Lorde and housbande did thinke it not for the best to encrease his olde sorowe with a new greef contented her self vtteryng these wordes Deare housbande knowyng all that you haue saied to be very iust and true I am contented for a certaine tyme to force my will in hope that hereafter we maie liue together ioiyng our selues in the companie of our children and this I would desire you that so often as you can by conuenient and trustie messengers to sende me word and intelligence of your health and estate because the same should bryng greater contentation vnto me then the welfare of myne owne self This saied she imbracyng hym very louingly and he kissing her with greate sorrowe and greefe tooke
his leaue and badd his Ladie and spouse hartely farewell leauyng with her Phylene her deare daughter Thus hymself with Aurelianus his little sonne 〈…〉 from Tariffa towards the famous Citie of Cayre and 〈…〉 passed through a Wildernesse hauyng lost their waie â—â—â—dering two or three daies without any maner of foode sauing Hippes Hawes and Slowes suche as thei could gather in the Desert the poore childe being ouer come with faintnesse not longer able to trauaile beganne to complaine to his afflicted Father desiryng hym to sitte downe to rest hym self a tyme the wofull Father tormented in his mynde to see his poore distressed childe sat hym doune vnder a Tree where after a while recountyng to hymself his sonderie misfortunes beyng oppressed and wearied with trauaile he fell into a souÌ„d sleepe the Childe after he had a while rested hymself leauyng his Father a sleepe beganne to seeke about for somethyng to sâ—ake his hunger and as he was straiyng thus about the wooâ—â—des it fortuned the Duke of Vasconia hauyng lost his comâ—panie in the pursute of a Stag where he had been a huntyâ—â— and as he was crossyng the nexte waie to goe to the Citie 〈◊〉 Messyna where he helde his Courte hauyng in his compâ—â—◠〈◊〉 the Lorde of Sura with three or fower seruing men he fortuned to espie the childe runnyng in the bushes all alone and callyng the childe vnto hym he saied alas my little boy what makest thou in this place art thou here alone or how camest thou hether I praie thee tell me Forsothe Godfather ê™ the childe I came hether with my Father who lyes a sleepe here by and I was seekyng somethyng to eate for by my trothe I am so a hongered that I could eate worse meate then a peece of a rosted Pigge and that with all my harte The Duke greatly pleasuryng to heare the pretie aunswere of the childe replied in this wise How saiest thou my little knaue wilt thou bee my boye and dwell with me and I will giue thee good meate thy belly full how saiest thou wilt thou goe with me Yea forsooth Godfather ê™ the Childe on that condition you will giue me rost meate enough I will goe with you for I thinke I did not eate my bellie full of roste meate this moneth and more 〈◊〉 The Duke then commaunded one of his men to take vp the Childe whom he caried awaie with hym and now perceiuyng it to be bothe well fauoured quicke witted and very apt to learning he brought it vp at Schoole where he proued not onely wise and learned but also in many other exercises conuenient and fitt for Gentlemen he commonly excelled euery other man and thus leauyng him at Schoole I will conuert my tale to his wofull Father who when he was awaked and missed his pretie sonne beganne to prie about in euery bushe seekyng and callyng what Aurelianus Aurelianus where be you Aurelianus But in the end when he could no where finde hym thinkyng assuredly that he had beene deuoured by some wild Beast beganne with pitifull exclamation to crie out O Fortune Fortune more then fickle who in a moment hoiste a man vp to the highest degree and by and by in lesse space then in the twincklyng of an eye she throweth hym doune againe 〈◊〉 lowe as more miserie is prepared for hym in one daie then â—he aduaunced hym in an hundred yeres whiche I now proue â—nd haue experience in my self so muche the more the greater is my greef who haue been nourished delicately amongâ—â— my freends maintained stil in most prosperous estate hoping for the full perfection of my felicities by Marriyng a Noble Dame with whom I pretended to spende the residue of my life accordyng to the scope and lott appointed by the almightie God but now beholde all my enterprizes be quite pluckt backe and my purposes tourned cleane topse torue in suche wise that from honourable estate I am driuen to wander like a Vacabonde driuen from Poste to Piller from Countrie to Countrie froÌ„ Region to Region to sequestrate my self from amongest my freendes without any assured place where to make my abode Oh frowarde fate how canst thou bee so hard harted and voyde of pitie still to prosecute thy cruell pursute first to depriue me of my honourable dignities then to banish me from amongest my louyng freendes thirdly to seperate me from Messilina my well beloued wife more deare vnto me then the balles of my vnhappie eyes and not yet contented but now to bereue me of my sweete Infant my onely hope of comforte in my olde age O Death Death the 〈…〉 â—â—rowes and the beginner of felicities now make sharpe thy Darte and giue no longer delaie of life dispatche dispatch at once the most infortunate man that liues this day on earth for what auailes my life if in the gulfe af sorrowe and greefe I droune the pleasures of the same But ah I see right well thou preseruest the same of purpose but to delight in my gréeues and to triumph ouer my aduersities And here withall the brinishe teares so streamed doune his chéekes that he was not farther able to speake one woorde but runnyng vp and doune the Woodes sighing and sobbing in great anguish of mynd and his bodie muche infeebled for want of foode and sustenaunce He fortuned to meete certain labouryng men that dwelt in a poore Village not farre from the place who perceiuing by his geasture that he was passionated in his thoughts thei beganne with suche courtesie as thei had learned in the Countrie to demaunde the occasion of his greefe But he knowing very well how farre thei were vnable tâ— minister releefe to the least of his afflictions could render 〈◊〉 other aunswere then piteous sighes and sobbes but the poore Pesaunts when thei had better behelde the talnesse of his stature the seemelinesse of his countenance and the comelinesse of his personage were greatly mooued with compassion towardes hym and with suche badde eloquence as their skill would permit beganne to perswade hym to walke with them to their Cabbins where he might refresh hymself with suche homely Iunckettes as was prouided for their owne suppers The Duke contented to yeelde to their requestes walked along with them where he remained all the night very pensiue and heauie in his harte and beganne to thinke with hymself that there was no more hope left for him to heare of his sonne and therefore beganne to imagine how he might render some reléef to his poore wife and daughter whom he had left as you before haue heard Now there was dwellyng hard by the place a noble man that was Lorde of the Village who hauyng intelligence of this distressed Straunger caused hym to bee sent for before whom when the Duke was presented after many questions debated betweene them the Noble man demaunded of the Duke what Countrey man he was and how he had béen trained vp then if he could be contented to plaie the Seruyngman and would bee carefull and