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
the Citie rich and weâ—… descended his parents and kinsmen for the most part being Clarissimo's and Senatorâ—… and all of them Gentlemen of Venice and him Victoryna desires and resolves to makâ—… her husband grounding her chiefest reason and affection on this resolution and foundation that as Souranza was too old for her so Fassino was young enough and therefore fit to bee her husband and shee his wife measuring him wholly by his exterioâ—… personage and not so much as once prying either into his vices or vertues Fassinâ—… who carryed a vicious and pernicious heart under a pleasing gesture and tongue anâ—… loving Victoryna's wealth more then her beauty observing her affection and respect tâ—… him seekes courts and wins her Her Parents understanding hereof as also thâ—… Fassino is a vicious and debosht Gentleman with all their possible power and authoritie they seeke to divert their daughter from him But shee is deafe to their requests and resolved that as shee followed the streame of their commands in her first match so shee will now the current of her owne pleasures and affections in this her second and so to the wonder of Venice and the griefe of all her parents and friends before shee had above ten dayes conferred with Fassino shee marries him But this match shall not succeed according to their desires for Victoryna shall shortly repent it and Fassino assoone rue and smart for it sith it is a maxime that sudden affections proove seldome prosperous for if they have not time to settle and take root they are incident assoone to fade as flourish especially if they are contracted and grounded more for lust then love and more for wealth then vertue The first moneth of this marriage Fassino keepes good correspondence and observance with his wife but thence-foorth hee breakes Pale and rangeth for the truth is although hee were but a young Gentleman yet which is lamentable hee was an old whore-master which lascivious profession of his threatens the ruine not onely of his health but of his fortune and reputation so now when hee should bee at home he is abroad yea not onely by day but by night that upon the whole Victoryna is more a widdow then a wife at which unlook'd and unwish'd for newes shee not onely bites the lip but very often puts finger in her eye and weeps for it gripes grieves her at heart to see her selfe thus slighted neglected and abused by Fassino whom of all the Gallants of the Citie shee had elected and chosen for her husband shee is infinitely grieved hereat and yet her griefe and sorrow infinitely exceeds her jealousie and now as gracelesse as shee is shee thinks God hath purposely sent her this lascivious Fassino for her second husband as a just plague and punishment to revenge her adultery committed against Souranza her first so had shee had more grace and lesse vanitie and impietie she would have made better use of this consideration and not so â—…oone forgotten it and in it her selfe Now as it is the nature of jealousie to haue more eyes then Argus and so to prie and see every where Victoryna her curiositie or rather her malice heerein finds out that her Husband Fassino familiarly frequenteth and useth the company of many Courtezans especially of the Lady Paleriana one of the most famous and reputed beauties of Venice and this newes indeed strikes her at the very gall with sorrow and â—…exation faine shee would reforme and remedy this vice of her husband but how shee knowes not for shee sees little or no hope to reclaime him sith he not onely tenderly loves Paleriana but which is worse shee apparantly sees that for her sake hee â—…ontemnes her selfe and her company for when hee comes home he hath no delight 〈◊〉 her but onely in his Lute or Bookes which is but to passe his melancholly for his Lady Paleriana's absence till hee againe revisit her so as wholly neglected and as I â—…ay truly say almost forsaken of her husband shee knowes not what to doe nor how 〈◊〉 beare her selfe in those furious stormes of her griefe and miserable tempest of her â—…ealousie But of two different courses to reclaime him from this his sinne of whoreâ—…ome shee takes the worst for in stead of counselling and distwading her Husâ—…and shee torments him with a thousand scandalous and injurious speeches but â—…is in stead of quenching doth but onely bring oyle to the flame of his lust for if â—…ee repayred home to her seldome before now hee scarce at all comes neere her 〈◊〉 as shee is a Wife yet no Wife and hath a Husband yet no Husband but this is â—…ot the way to reclaime him for faire speeches and sweet exhortations may prevaile â—…hen choller cannot And now it is that this wretched and execrable Lady againe assumes bloudy resoâ—…ions against her second Husband as shee had formerly done against her first vowing that he shall die ere shee will live to bee thus contemned and abused of him yea her hot love to him is so soone growne cold and her servent affection already so frozen that now shee thinkes on nothing else but how to be revenged and to be rid of him and is so impious and gracelesse as she cares not how nor in what manner soever shee send him from this world to another for the devill hath drawne a resolution from her or rather she from the devill that here he shall not much longer live Good God! what an impious and wretched fury of hell will Victoryna proove her selfe here on Earth for the blood and life of one husband cannot quench the thirst of her lust and revenge but shee must and will imbrue her hands in that of two as if it were not enough for her to trot but that shee will needs gallop and ride post to hell O what pitie is it to see a Lady so wretched and execrable O what an execrable wretchednesse is it to see a Lady so inhumane and so devoyd of pitie But the devill is strong with her because her faith is weake with God therefore she will advance shee will not retire in this her bloody designe and resolution Wherefore wee shall shortly see Fassino his adulterie punished with death by his wife Victoryna's revenge and this murther of hers justy rewarded and revenged with the punishment of her owne the bloodyer our actions are the severer Gods judgements and the sharper his revenge will bee Of all sorts and degrees of inhumane and violent deaths this wretched Lady Victoryna thinks poyson the surest and yet the most secret to dispatch her husband This invention came immediately from the devill and is onely practised by his members of which number shee will desperately and damnably make herselfe one her lust and revenge like miserable Advocates and fatall Orators perswade her to this execrable attempt wherein by cutting off her husbands life she shall find that shee likewise casts away her owne So neither Grace nor Nature prevailing shee sends for
shee seemes to burst with the violence and excesse thereof but this mirth of hers shall be shortly wayted and attended on with misery and mourning But Poligny notwithstanding sees himselfe doubly obliged to la Palaisiere as well for her affection to him as her care of him and so holds himselfe obliged in either of these respects and considerations to requite her with a Letter the which now unknowne to Laurieta hee writes and sends her to this effect POLIGNY to LA PALAISIERE IT is not the least of my joyes that Belluile cannot beare me so much malice as thou dost affection T is true I have not deserved thy love t is more true I have not merited his hatred for that proceeds from heaven as a divine iufluence this from hell as an infernall frenzie 〈◊〉 will not feede thee with hope neither can hee give mee despaire for not to dissemble it iâ—… 〈◊〉 likely I may lâ—…ve â—…hee as impossible I shall feare him he may have the will to do 〈◊〉 hurt I wish 〈◊〉 were in my power to doe thee good neither can hee bee more malicious to performe me that then I will bee ambitious to confirme thee this his malice I entertaine with much contempt thy kinde advice and sincere affection with infinite thankes for when I consider thy Letter I cannot rightly expresse or define whether hee beginne to hate mee or I to love thee more I doubt not but to make his deedes proove wordes to mee and I beseech thee feare not but my wordes shall prove deedes to thee for I am as confident shortly to salute faire la Palaisiere as carelesse when I meet foolish Belluile POLIGNY Having thus dispeeded her his Letter the vanity of his thoughts and the beastlinesse of his concupiscence and sensuality not onely surpriseth his reason but captivates his judgement so as Laurieta's sight defacing Belluiles memory hee thinkes so much on her affection as hee respects not his malice but this Vice and that errour shall cost him deare For whiles hee is feasting his eyes on the daynties and rarities of Laurieta's beauty Belluiles heart hath agreed with the devill to prepare him a bloudy Banquet Grace cannot containe him within her limits therfore Impiety dallies so long with him and hee with Impiety that at last this bloudy sentence is past in the court of his hellish resolutions That Poligny must dye The devills assistance is never wanting in such infernall stratagems for this is an infallible maxime as remarkeable as ruinous That hee allwayes makes us fertile not barren to doe evill never to doe good At first Belluile thinkes on poyson or Pistoll to dispatch Poligny but hee findes the first too difficult to attempt the second too publike to performe Sometimes hee is of opinion to ascend his Chamber and murther him in his bed then to shoot him ouâ—… at window as he passeth the street but to conclude understanding that he often comes very late in the night from Laurieta he thinkes it best to run him thorow with his Rapier as he issueth forth her house And to make short hereon he resolves Now to put the better colour on his villany hee retires himselfe from Avignion and lives privately some sixe dayes in Orenge giving it out that hee was gone to the City of Aix in Provence where at that famous court of Parliament he had a Processe for a title of Land shortly to bee adjudged and so in a darke night taking none but his Lacky with him he being disguised in favour of money passeth the gate of Avignion and giving his horse to his Lackey being secretly informed that Poligny was with Laurieta he goes directly to her doore and there at the corner of a little street stands with his Rapier drawne under his cloake with a revenging and greedy desire of blood to awayt Poligny's comming forth The Clocke striking one the doore is opened and Poligny secretly issueth foorth without candle having purposely sent away his Lackey who had then unwittingly carried away his Masters Rapier with him Hee is no sooner in the street but Bellnile as a murtherous villaine rusheth foorth and so like a limbe of the Devill sheathes his Rapier in his brest when Poligny more hurt then amazed and wanting his Sword but not courage indeavoureth by struggling to close with his assassinate and so cries out for assiâ—…ance but the dead of the night favoureth his butcherly attempt when withdrawing his Sword hee redoubleth his cruelty and so againe runnes him in at the small of the belly thorow the reines whereat hee presently falls downe dead to his feete having the power to groane and crye but not to utter a word Which Belluile espying and knowing him dispatcht runnes to his horse which his Lackey held ready at the corner of the next streete and so rides to the same gate hee entred which was kept ready for him which passing hee with all expedition drives away for Orenge from whence the next morne before day hee takes poast for Aix the better to conceale and o're vaile this damnable Murther of his But this policie of his shall deceive his hopes and returne him a fatall reward and interest For although he can bleare the eyes of men yet he neither can nor shall those of God who in his due time will out of his sacred justice repay and punish him with confusion By this time the streete and neighbours have taken the allarum of this tragicall accident so Candles and Torches come from every where only Laurieta having played the Whore before will see me now though falsely to play the honest woman for she to cover her shame will not discover that her selfe or any of her house are stirring and so although shee understood this newes and privately and bytterly wept thereat yet shee keepes fast her doores and like an ingratefull strumpet will permit none of her servants for a long time to descend The Criminall Iudge and President of the Ciiy is advertised of this Murther The dead Gentleman is knowne to bee Mounsieur Poligny and being beloved hee is exceedingly bewayled of all who knew him and inquiry and search is made of all sides and the Lievtennant Criminall shewes himselfe wise because honest and curious because wise in the perquisition of this bloâ—…dy Murther but as yet time will not or rather God who is the Creator and giver of time is not as yet pleased to bring it to light only Laurieta knew and la Palasiere suspected and all those who were of the counsell of the one or the acquaintance of the other doe likewise both feare and suspect that onely Belluile was the bloody and execrable author thereof but to report or divulge so much although they dare they will not As for la Palasiere her thoughts are taken up and preoccupated with two severall passions for as she grieves at Poligny's death so shee rejoyceth that she hath no hand nor was any way accessary to his Murther rather that if hee had sayled
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
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
husband make great suit to the Iudges that they may for a short time see and speake one with the other but it will not be graunted them When Harcourt being as confident of his owne life as hee was of his wifes death makes secret proffer by some friends of his to the Iudges of all his lands and demaynes to save his wife but they resembling themselves doe so much feare God and reverence and honour the sacred Name of Iustice as they are deafe to his requests The next morning according to her sentence she is brought to the place of her execution but at her earnest and importunate request so early that very few people were present at her death where being ascended the Ladder she there againe cursed the name and execrated the memory of that wretched Villaine Tivoly and wished much prosperity and happinesse to her Husband Harcourt when turning her eye about and seeing a Cosen Germaine of his there present named Monseiur de Pierpont shee cals him to her and is so vaine at this last period as it were of her life as she takes off her glove and bracelet from her right hand and arme and prayes him to deliver it to his Cosin and her Husband Harcourt and to assure him from her that shee dyed his most loving and constant wife which Monseiur Pierponte faithfully promised her to performe then a Subordinate officer of justice being there to see her dye tells her that hee was now commanded by the Iudges his Superiours to tell her that shee being now to leave earth and so ready to ascend into heaven they prayed her in the name and feare of God to declare to all those who were present if her Husband Harcourt yea or no had any hand or were knowing or accessary with her in the poysoning of his first wife La Precoverte and that shee should doe piously and christianly to discover the truth thereof which would undoubtedly tend to Gods glory and the salvation of her owne soule When she solemnely vowed to him and to all the people that her Husband Harcourt never knew nor in thought word or deed was any way accessary knowing or consenting with her or Tivoly in poysoning of his wife and this which shee now spake was the pure truth as she hoped for Heaven And now after a few teares shee most vainely and idely fell praysing and commending of him especially how tenderly and deerely hee loved her with other ridiculous and impertinent speeches tending that way which I hold every way unworthy of my mention and repetition but had not the grace either to looke up to heaven or to God with repentance or the goodnesse to looke downe into her owne heart conscience or soule with contrition and sorrow for all those her foule Adulteries and Murthers Neither to pray to God for her selfe or to request those who were present to pray to God for her And so shee was turned over all wondring and grieving at her bloody crime and therefore some few lamenting or sorrowing for this her infamous death But shee there speakes not a word or the shadow of a word either of her Husband Harcourts pistolling to death of his Brother her first husband Vimory or of her knowledge thereof or consent thereunto Now though Harcourt seemed outwardly very sorrowfull for this shamefull death of his wife Masserina yet hee is inwardly exceeding Ioyfull that her silence at her death of murthering his Brother Vimory hath preserved his life with his reputation and his reputation with his life Whereupon being the same day freed and acquitted by the Iudges of Sens both of his pretended cryme as also of his imprisonment Hee composing his countenance equally betwixt joy and sorrow returnes to his house of Saint Symplician where now thinking himselfe absolutely discharged and cleered of all these his former Adulteries as also of his late cruell murthering of his Brother Hee within two or at most within three moneths after his wife Masserinaes Execution casts of his mourning apparell which he wore for her death and neither thinking of his soule or his conscience or of heaven or hell he â—…antes and froliques it out in brave apparell and because hee is now fortunately arrived to bee chiefe Lord and master of a great Estate both in Lands and money therefore hee thinkes it not his pride but his glory and not his vanity but his generosity to dight and put himselfe now into farre richer apparell then ever formerly hee had done whereof all the Gentlemen his neighbours yea all the Citty of Sens with no little wonder tooke especiall notice therof Yea hee is so farre from once dreaming or thinking either of his murthering of his Brother Vimorye or of the deplorable and untimely ends of his two wives as with much vanity and with farre more haste then discretion or consideration he now speedilyresolves to take and marry a third But his hopes will deceive them because God in his sacred Iustice and Iudgements will deceive his hopes For when he thinkes himselfe secure and safe not onely from the danger but likewise from the suspition of any fatall or disasterous accident which can possibly befall him then the triumphant power of Gods revenge will both suddenly and soundly surprise him His honest man Noell with an observant eye and a Conscionable and sorrowfull heart hath heard of La Precovertes poysoning and of Vimories pistolling to death and hath likewise seene the hanging both of Tivoly and of his last Mistris Masserina In all which severall accidents as one way hee wondereth at the malice of Sathan So another way hee cannot but infinitely admire and applaud the just judgements of the Lords Hee likewise knowes what his Master Harcourt is to him and hee to his master and in the time of his service and attendance under him what different and severall passages of businesse and secrets have past betweene them Hee hath remarked farre more vices then vertues in his Master whereat hee much grieveth but hee was infinitely more enforced then desirous either to see or know them and this againe doth exceedingly rejoyce him Hee well knowes that fidelity is the glory of a servant and yet it is a continuall sensible griefe to his heart and vexation to his soule to see that his Master serves God no better Hee doth not desire to know things which concerne his said Master whereof hee is ignorant but doth wish and pray to God that he were ignorant of many things which hee knowes and of more which he feares and being very often perplexed in his minde with the reluctation of these different causes and their as different effects Hee cannot but in the end satisfie himselfe with this resolution That as Harcourt is his Earthly Master so God is his Heavenly Master But here betides an unexpected and unwished Accident to this Noell which will speedily try of what temper and mettall both himselfe his heart his conscience and his soule is made and what infinite
Dorilla receiving this Letter from Castruchio she puts it into her purse and promiseth him her best care and fidelity for the delivery thereof to Seignior Borlari although she confesseth that she neither knew him nor his house But see here the providence and mercy of God which cleerely resplends and shines in the deportment and action of this beastly old bawd for she meeting with some of her gamesters and gossips in the street though contrary to the custome of Italy away they goe to a taverne where they all swill their head and braines with wine especially Dorilla So the day being farre spent her businesse for Castruchio is ended ere begun for shee forgetting her selfe cannot remember his letter but as fast as her reeling legges will permit her away shee speedes towards her owne house which was some halfe a mile off in the Citty But when she was in the streets and had a little taken the aire then she cals Castruchios letter to minde and her promise to him to deliver it but to whom through her cups she hath quite forgotten for she cannot once hiâ—… on the name Borlari But at last remembring the letter to be in her purse and she by this time in the midst of the Citty she takes it out in her hand seeing a faire yet sorrowfull young Lady to stand at the street doore of her house all in mourning attire and no body neere her after she had done her duty to her she reacheth her the letter and humbly requesteth her to tell her the Gentlemans name to whom it was directed when God out of the profundity of his power and immensity of his pleasure having so ordained and ordered it that this faire young Lady was our sweet Felisanna who for the death of her deere husband Planeze had dighted her selfe al in mourning attire and apparel thereby the better to make it correspond with her heart who reading the superscription therof and finding it directed to Seignior Borlari by some motion or inspiration from heaven her heart could not refrain from sending all the bloudof her body into her face when demanding of this woman from whom this letter came Dorilla as drunke in her fidelity and innocency as shee was guilty of her drunkennesse tels her that the letter came from an Apothecary who lay in prison named Castruchio At the very repetition of which name our Felisanna againe blusheth and then palleth as if God had some newes to reveale her by this Letter because shee remembreth that this Castruchio as we have formerly understood was the very same Apothecary who gave her husband Planeze physicke a little before his death Whereupon she praying Dorilla to come with her into her house because she purposly and politikely affirmed she could not read written hand herselfe but would pray her father to doe it she leaves her in the utter hall and herselfe goes into the next roome where breaking up the seales of this letter she at the very first sight and knowledge that her husband was poysoned and by whom and that God had now miraculously revealed it to her through the ignorance and drunkennesse of this old woman she for meere griefe and sorrow is ready to fall to the ground in a swoone had not her father and some of his servants who over hearing her passionate outcries come speedily to her assistance which yet could not awake Dorilla who had no sooner sate her selfe downe in a chaire in the hall but being top heavy with wine she presently fell a sleepe Miniata rousing up his fainting and sorrowfull daughter brought her againe to herselfe and seeing her in a bitter agonie and passion of sorrow demands of her the cause thereof when the brinish teares trickling downe her virmilion cheekes she crossing her armes and fixing her eyes towards heaven had the will but not the power to speake a word to him but reacheth him the Letter to read Miniata perusing it is as much astonished with griefe as his daughter is afflicted with sorrow at this poysoning of her Husband and his sonne in Law Planeze so enquiring of her who brought her this letter she after many sighes and pauses tels him that it was the mercy and providence of the Lord who sent it her by a drunken woman who was forth in the Hall They both goe to her and finding her fast sleeping and snoring Miniata puls her by the sleeve and wakes her and then demands of her before his daughter and servants where and from whom she had this letter who as drunke as this Baud is she is constant in her first speech and confession to Felisanna that she had it from Castruchio an Apothecary who lay in prison but she had forgotten to whom she was to deliver it and then prayes them both to deliver and give her backe her letter againe But Miniata seeing and knowing that it was the immediate finger of God which thus strangely had revealed this murther of his sonne in Law Planeze he calls in two Gentlewomen his next neighbours to comfort his daughter Felisanna and so leaving Dorilla to the guard of two of his servants he with two other Gentlemen his neighbours takes his Coach and having Castruchio's Letter in his hand he drives away to the State-house where he findes out the Podestate and Prefect of the Citie and shewing them the Letter which revealed the poysoning and poysoners of Planeze his sonne in Law they in honour to justice and out of their respect to the sorrowfull Lady his daughter take their Coaches and returne with Miniata home to his house Where they first examine Felisanna and then Dorilla who is constant in her first deposition Whereat these grave and honourable Personages wondring and admiring that a Gentleman of Barlari his ranke and quality should make himselfe the guilty and bloudy Authour of so foule a Murther they likwise admiring and blessing Gods providence in the detection thereof doe presently send away their Isbieres or Serjeants to apprehend Borlari and so they goe to their Forum or seat of Iustice and speedily send away for Castruchio to be brought from the prison before them Who at the very first newes of their accusation of him and the producing of his Letter to Borlari he curseth the person and name of this old Bawd Dorilla who is the prime Authour of his overthrow and death and then confesseth himselfe to be the Actor and Seignior Borlari to be the Authour cause and Instigator of this his poysoning of Planeze but never puts his hand on his conscience and soule that the strange detection of this lamentable murther came directly from Heaven and from God The Serjeants by order from the Podestate and Prefect finde Borlari in his owne house ruffling in a new rich suit of apparrell of blacke Sattin trimmed with gold buttons which he that day put on and the next was determined to ride to the City of Bergamo to seeke in marriage a very rich young widdow whose Husband lately died
of some eighteene yeares named Madamoyselle De Blancheville very tall and slender of stature and of a wanne and pale complexion and a Coale-blacke haire and eyes browes and of deportment and gesture infinitely proud coy and imperious to whom at one time both these our two Gentlemen Champigny and Beaumarys were importunate Sutors and passionate Rivals to marry her in so much as the one of them could difficultly be absent from the fathers house and daughters company but the other was present which engendred some malice but more emulation betweene them But in the end after a whole yeares research and more as the Willow was destined and reserved for Beaumarays so was the Laurell for Champigny for to his joy Blanchevilles desire and her fathers content he marries her Whereat Beaumarays knowing his birth to be more Noble and his breeding farre more generous than that of Champigny though not in outward shew yet in inward sense was extreamly discontented and sorrowfull but to remedy it he could not In such and the like refusing accidents discretion is ever farre better than passion and contempt than care But Beaumarays cannot or at least will not be of this temper He forsakes reason to flie to choller and so loseth his reall and solid judgement in the Labyrinth of her imaginary beauty For being at Supper in company of some five or six Gentlemen where mention was made of Blancheville hee transported with malice and revenge towards her forgate himselfe so farre as between iest and earnest to let fall these indiscreet and rash words That she was more disdainfull than chaste a speech which hee shall have time enough both to remember and repent The honour of Ladies and Gentlewomen ought still to be deare and precious to all Gentlemen of Honour because their losse thereof can seldome be repaired but never so well or so fully recovered but that there still remaines some staine or blemish thereof This undeserved scandall of Beaumarays to his quondam Mistresse Blancheville fals not to the ground for the iniquity of our times and the depravation of our manners are such as there are few companies without a Foole or a Traytor to their friends and some are accompanied with with both Monsieur Marin a Gentleman of Chartres more vaine than honest will make himselfe one of this last number for he being ambitiously desirous to skrew himselfe into the favour and familiarity of Blancheville whom from her infancie he affected and loved reports and tels her this speech of Beaumarays whereat she is exceedingly incensed and exasperated But for that time as a true woman she dissembles her malice and revenge towards him and so rakes up the memory thereof in the embers of silence but yet with this condition and reservation that hereafter she will take time to make it flame forth towards him with more violence and impetuosity In the meane time there fals out an unexpected and untimely difference betweene her husband and Beaumarays whereat she is so farre from grieving as she rejoyceth Beaumarays quarrelleth with him for his priority and precedency of seats in the Church as being both of one Parish as also for that he takes the holy bread first and goes before him in all Processions as pretending it due to him by his right of extraction and propriety Champigny is of too high a graine to yeeld that to him which he never yeelded and is therefore resolute to justifie his equality of birth and consequently not to wrong his ancestors in himselfe When seing Beaumarays passionately bent to maintaine and preserve that which he had undertaken he flies to Justice and so presently puts him in suit of Law for the same in the Presidiall Court of that Citie Blancheville whose pride in her selfe exceeded her birth and whose malice and revenge towards Beaumarays at the least surmounted her discretion and reason brings no water to quench but oyle to inflame this quarrell betwixt him and her husband when seeing them already entred into a deepe processe of Law she disdaining to see her selfe thus abused and her husband thus wronged by him can reape no truce of her thoughts nor they any peace of her choler before she have written him these lines BLANCHEVILLE to BEAVMARAYS WAs it not enough for thee to have heretofore wronged mine honour in thy false and scandalous speeches to Monsieur Marin and others but thou must now attempt to disgrace my Husband in the Church and because these crimes of thine are so â—…just and odious as they deserve acknowledgement and satisfaction from a farre better Gentleman than thy selfe therefore I speedily expect the performance thereof from thee either by thy Letter or presence which if thou deny us we will make thee know what it is to abuse thy selfe and us in points of these high natures whereof the first cannot the second will not admit of any other excuse or expiation But to write thee now the truth of my minde as thou hast heretofore vented me the malice of thy heart I have not as yet acquainted my Husband herewith or with this my Letter Consider therefore seriously with thy selfe what thou hast to doe herein for the vindication of my honour and thine owne discretion and as soone as I receive thy answer and resolution I will not saile speedily to returne thee mine BLANCHEVILLE Having written this her Letter she is irresolute with her selfe by whom to send it him but at last shee sends it by her Chamber-maid Martha to whom only she entrusteth this great secret and chargeth her to deliver it to Beanmarays his owne hands and to crave his answer thereof Martha being a wiâ—…ty faâ—…re maid of some two and twenty yeares of age goes to Beaumarays house and speaks with a young man of his named Le Valley who tels her that his Master is now busie with two Gentlemen in his study and that she shall immediately speake with him as soone as they depart In the interim his eyes cannot refraine from amorously gazing and ranging upon the excellencie of her blushing beauty and upon her sweet vermillion cheeks great rolling eyes and flaxen haire wherewith his heart at the very first encounter is surprized and ravished Here Le Valley kisseth and re-kisseth Martha and entertaines her with much prattle and many pleasant love speeches yea then and there loves her so dearly as hee vowes she shall remaine his Mistresse and hee her servant till death So some halfe an houre after the two Gentlemen take leave of his Master and then Le Valley brings Martha to him who orderly delivers him her Mistresses Letter and message so he wondring at the last receives the first leaves her in the Hall with his man Le Valley and so steps to his study and with much admiration and more laughture peruseth this Letter Here he accuseth his owne indiscretion in speaking against Blanchevilles chastity and exceedingly condemneth Marins treachery in revealing it to her Once he was of opinion to have returned her
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
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
Bellinda with the aid of her Gentlman Vsher Ferallo poysoneth her Husband De Mora and afterwards she marieth and murthereth her said Husband Ferallo in his bed so shee is burnt alive for this her last murther and her ashes throwne into the aire for the first GODS REVENGE AGAINST THE CRYING AND Execrable sinne of Murther HISTORY XXVI â—…mperia for the love she beares to young Morosini seduceth and causeth him with his two Consorts Astonicus and Donato to stifle to death her old Husband Palmerius in his bed Morosini misfortunately letting fall his gloves in Palmerius his chamber that night which he did it They are found by Richardo the Nephew of Palmerius who knowes them to be Morosinies and doth thereupon accuse him and his Aunt Imperia for the Murther of his Vnkle So they together with their accessaries Astonicus and Donato are all foure of them appehended and hanged for the same THose Intemperate and lascivious affections which savour more of Earth than Heaven are still attended on with shame and repentance and many times followed by misery and confusion For God being our Maker by Creation and our Saviour by Redemption consequently should be of our loves and affections and the true sole object in whom only they should begin and terminate For Nature must be a handmaid not a Mistresse to Grace because God in his Divine decree and creation of man hath made our bodies mortall but our soules immortall And the like Antithesis which there is betweene Lust and Charity the same there is betweene sinfull adultery and sanctified mariage But where our youthfull affections beginne in whoredome and end in murther what can be there expected for an issue but ruine and desolation Crimes no lesse than these doth this ensuing History report and relate A History I confesse so deplorable for the persons their facts and punishments that I had little pleasure to pen it and lesse joy to publish it but that the truth and manner thereof gave a contrary Law to my resolutions in giving it a place among the rest of my Histories That the sight and knowledge of others harmes may the more carefully and conscionably â—…each us to avoid and prevent our owne THe free Estates and Common-weales of Italy more especially the famous Seigniory of Venice which for wealth and power gives place to no other of Christendome holds it no degree of disparagement but rather an happy and honourable vertue in their Nobles and Gentlemen to exercise the faculty aâ—…d pâ—…ofession of Merchants the which they generally performe in Turkie and all other parts of the Levant Seas with as much profit as glory to the admiration of the whole world and the envie of their private and publike enemies Of which number of Venetian Gentlemen Seignior Angelo Morosini is one a young mâ—…n of some twenty foure yeares of age descended of a Noble name and family and if reports be true from whence ours here in England derives their Originall He is tall and slender of stature of a lovely sanguine complection a bright Chestnut-coloured haire but as yet adorned with a small apparition of a beard He is active of body of a sweet carriage and nimble wit and a most pleasing and gracefull speech and hee is not so young but he hath already made two severall voyages to Constantinople and Alexandria in both which he resided some five or six yeares and through his wisdome and industry wonne some wealth but more reputation and fame in so much as his deportments and hopes to the eye and judgement of the world promiseth him a fortune equall if not exceeding his bloud and extraction Holding it therefore rather a shame than a glory as yet to marrie or which is a thousand times worse to passe his time vainly and lasciviously at home among the Ladies and Courtisans of Venice upon whom by the way of a premonition and precaution he saw so many deboshed young Gallants to cast away their Estates and themselves he assumes his former ambition to travell and so undertakes a third voyage tâ—… Constantinople He embarkes himselfe upon a good ship named the Little Saint Marke of Venice and in company of Seignior Astonichus and Seignior Philippo Donato likewise two young Gentlemen Mearchants of Venice of his deare and intimate acquaintance with a pleasant gale and merry wind they set saile from Malanoca the Port of that City and so direct and shape away their course for the Islands of Corfu and Zant where they are to stop and take in some commodities and from thence thorow the Archipelagus by Candy and Cyprus to the Port 〈◊〉 the Greaâ—… Seignior But as men propose and God disposeth of all terrestriall aâ—…ons and accidents so they are overtaken by a storme and with contrary winds put into the Harbour and City of Ancona a rich populous and strong City which belongs to the Pope and which is the Capitall of that Province of the Marâ—… 〈◊〉 from whence it assumes and takes its denomination and wherein there are well neare three thousand Jewes still resident who pay a great yearly Revenue to his Holinesse The wind being as yet contrary for our three Venetian Gallants and they knowing that our Lady of Loretto the greatest and most famous Pilgrimage of the Christian world was but fifteene small miles off in the Countrey whereas yet they had never either of them beene they in meere devotion ride thither their ship now being fast anchored and mored in the Peere of Ancona which stands on the Christian side upon the Adriatique Sea vulgarly tearmed the gulfe of Venice And here it is neither my purpose or desire to write much either of the pretended pietie of this holy Chappell of Loretto which the Romanists say was the very Chamber wherein the Virgin Mary brought up her Sonne our Saviour Iesus Christ or of her Picture which they likewise alleadge was drawne by the hand and pensill of the Apostle Saint Luke and both the one and the other as they affirme miraculously brought over the Seas from Palestine by Angells and first placed by them on the Hills of Recagnati three little miles thence and long since by the said Angels translated and placed here in this small Towne of Loretto But as for my selfe this legend is to weake to passe current with my faith much lesse to esteeme it as an Article of my Creed Only this I will confesse and say That as it was devotion not curiosity which carried our Morisini Astonicus and Donato thither so it was my curiosity not my Devotion which made me to take the sight thereof in my Travells Where in the rich and sumptuous Quire of a stately Cathedrall Church I saw this little old Bricke Chamber now termed the Holy Chappell verie richly adorned with great variety of massie Gold and Silver Lampes and this Picture of the blessed Virgin in a Shrine of Silver most richly decked with Chaines and Robes imbroidered with Gold and Silver and set with pretious Stones of
rape on her former resolution shee is at last contracted and married to him or rather to the calamities and miseries which wee shall shortly see will ensue thereof Heere now then this old dotard Palmerius is married to faire Imperia who esteemes himselfe as happie as shee findes her selfe unfortunate in this match His Age is to old for her Youth and her youth farre to young for his Age Disparity of yeares seldome or never breedes any true content or felicitie in marriage Hee cannot sufficiently estimate much lesse deserve or requite the dainties of her youth so that truth must heere needs implore this dispensation for mee of modesty to affirme that his chiefest power was desire and his best performance but lust towards her for whiles every night as soone as he comes to bed to her he falls to his sleepe so poore young Gentlewoman shee turnes to her repentance wishing from her very heart and soule that her husbands bed were her grave and that her Nuptialls had beene her funerall A thousand times every day and night shee accuseth her Fathers crueltie and with bitter sighes and teares as often condemneth her owne levity and inconstancy for consenting thereunto Shee can neither honour or love her husband or rather not love him because shee so tenderly loves the person and honoureth the memory of Morosini Thus whiles Palmerius retaineth and enjoyeth our Imperia in his bed no lesse doth shee her Morosini in her heart so that the first hath only her body but the second wholy her minde and affection the sorrowfull consideration and remembrance whereof doth so torment her heart and perplexe her minde that shee protesteth publikely to her selfe and privatly to all the world that there is no calamity equall to hers nor no misery comparable to that of a discontented bed Thus being as much a maid as a wife and yet more a Nunne than a maid shee makes spirituall bookes her exercise solitarinesse her pastime her chamber her chappell and her closset her Oratory to pray to God to forgive her Fathers cruelty and her husbands indiscretion towards her as also her owne inconstancy and treachery towards Morosini which foule ingratitude and crime of hers shee cannot remember but with extreame griefe nor once thinke of but with infinite shame sorrow and repentance Although this her old husband Palmerius bee so amorous and kinde to her and so tender of this his faire young wife that hee leaves no cost unbestowed on her aswell in rich apparell as chaines and Iewells wherein the Ladies and Gentlewomen of Italy chiefly pride themselves But this was not the content and felicity which our Imperia desired because deserved because her fresh youth and her husbands feeble and frozen Age cast her heart on other opposite conceits and her minde on other different contemplations Whiles thus Bondino and Palmerius as much rejoyce as Imperia mournes and grieves at this herunequall and discontented match and Morisini confidently relying on the firme affection constancy of his Imperia made his stay in Alepo some 10. months longer than his promise to her He at lastled by the star of her beautie and his owne affection to her leaves Turkie and in company of his constant old friends Astonicus and Donato sets saile for Italy and purposly puts in with their ship into Ancona where they and hee are no sooner arrived but Mercario finding him out entertaines him with the welcome of this sorrowfull newes that his Mistris Imperia is now in this Cittie of Ancona and married to old Signior Palmerius whereat Morosini infinitely grieves and Astonicus and Donato much wonder He is stricken at the heart at this sorrowfull newes and too too soone for him believes it with as much affliction as admiration By this time likewise is Imperia advertised of his and their arrivall whereat she seemes to drowne her selfe in a whole deluge of teares yet not for sorrow but for joy of his arrivall He imployes Mercario to her to grant him a private visit the which most joyfully the next night shee doth in her owne house her old husband being in bed and snoring fast a sleepe At Morisini's first sight and entrance into her chamber where shee all alone privately stayes for him shee throwes her selfe on her knees at his feet and with sighes teares and blushes begges his pardon for her unconstancy in marrying Palmerius the which shee no way attributes to his long stay but rather to her fathers cruelty and her owne misfortune Morosini is as joyfull of her sight as sorrowfull of this her errour and so will not permit her to kneele because hee sees and knowes and also assureth her that she is still the Goddesse of his heart and affection Hee takes her up in his armes and there embraceth and freely pardons her and so they reciprocally speake each to other in the sweet language of love I meane of kisses sighes and teares with the last whereof they againe and againe bedew and wash each others cheekes as if love had made them far more capable to sigh than speake and to weepe than sigh Here their old affections revive and flame forth a new with more violence and impetuositie Shee hath no power to deny him any thing no not her selfe For as he sweares to live her servant so she constantly vowes to live and dye his handmaid and that his will shall ever bee her Law and his requests in all things her commands Heere his heart beates for love and her brest pants for jâ—…y For as he promiseth her that shee shall bee his sole and only love so shee willingly forgets her selfe so farre as solemnly to protest to him that hee shall bee more her Husband than Palmerius when with many embraces and kisses they for that night part The next morning Morosini and his two consorts Astonicus and Donato by the feigned way of a rejoycing complement doe visit his young Mistris Imperia and her old husband Palmerius who more out of his owne goodnesse than their deserts bids them all most kindly and courteously welcome They congratulate with him for this his happy match with Imperia for which old Palmerius respectively thanks them but he knowes not what dangerous snakes lurke under the greene leafes of this their pretended faire courtesie As for his Wife Imperia shee is so reserved in her comportment and so coy in her carriage towards them that according to the custome of Italy her Husband can hardly perswade or cause her to see and salute them the which at last shee faintly and feignedly performes rather with an eye of disdaine than of respect They all see the young Wife with love and pity but looke on her old Husband with contempt and envie yet Morosini then and there in stealth sees Imperia's heart in her eyes when in counterchange she knowes his heart by his enamoured lookes and countenance So Palmerius being as innocent as aged having discoursed with them about their voyage and about Turkie and Constantinople and
Vrsina whom hee ever held to bee more charitable and not so cruell hearted to any one of the world and although hee be poore yet hee is so honest vertuous and religious as hee highly refuseth to distaine his heart or dip his hands in innocent blood for any silver or gold whatsoever So in humble and yet in absolute tearmes hee gives her the deniall and with teares in his eyes prayes her to desist from this her cruell purpose because hee affirmes to her that the end of murther proves most commonly but the beginning of shame repentance misery and confusion to their authors so shee bites her lip and hangs her head for sorrow at this his repulse and refusâ—…ll and yet is so cautious and wary in her actions as shee makes him againe swear secrecy to her in all thinges which now doth othereafter may concerne this businesse the which hee faithfully promiseth her provided that her commands and his seruice bee every way exempt of the effusion of innocent blood and the perpetration of murther to the which hee constantly vowes to her it is impossible for him ever to bee seduced or drawen and so hee takes leave of her and leaves her solitarily alone in the garden to her muses but yet as hee was issuing forth shee againe calls him to her and strictly chargeth him first carefully and curiously to informe himselfe and then hee her of Sanctifiores most frequent haunts and walkes without the cittie the which hee likewise promiseth her to performe Our malitious and revengefull Vrsina is not contented to receive the deniall from her Apothecary Romancy and the repulse from her coachman Sebastiano about the finishing of this deplorable busines but without making any good use of their honest and religious disswasions of her from it or without once looking up to God or thinking of heaven or hell shee as a fatall member and prodigious agent of Sathan is still resolute to proceed therein for he is still so strong with her heart because her faith and soule are so weake with God that shee sees not her selfe so often in her looking glasse with delight as shee both sees and finds Sanctifiore in her heart and mind with detestation for her mallice to him hath quite expelled all reason and banished all charity and piety in her selfe and consequently now made her memorative and capable of nothing but of revenge and blood towards him which takes up every part and usurpes every point both of her time and of her selfe yea and workes so strang I may rather truly say so miserable a metamorphosis in her as if shee were now wholly composed of one or both of these two impious and diabolicall vices so that every moment seemes a yeare and every day an age to her before shee hath dispatched him for heaven she now sees that shee cannot with safety employ any other herein but her selfe and therefore day by day calling upon Sebastiano to know of him where Sanctifiores usuall haunts and walkes were without the cittie hee at last tells her that hee is fullie assured that most mornings and evenings he takes his coach and some times his page but many times alone and so goes a mile out of the cittie beyond the gate which lookes towards Saint Germaines and there in a dainty grove of olives and orenge trees neere a small rivers side hee with his booke in his hand and his spaniell dogge at his heeles passeth an houre or two alone in his private contemplations his coach being sometimes out of sight from him and sometimes returnes to the cittie and so comes and fetcheth him backe againe which report is no sooner heard and understood of Vrsina from her coachman but shee receives it with much joy and entertaines it with infinite content and delectation shee is therefore so cruell in her thoughts and so determinate and bloody in her resolutions as shee will protract no time but shee speedily bethinkes her selfe of a hellish stratagem and policy no lesse strange than cruell which the devill him selfe suggested and found out for her to wreake her inveterate malice and infernall revenge in murthering of Sanctifiore the manner whereof is thus She very secretly provides her selfe of a friers complete weed as a sad ruffer gowne coule with a girdle of a knottie rope woodden sandalls proper to the order of the Bonnes homes which is the reformed one of that of S. Francis with a false negligent old beard and haire for his head sutable to the same and in one of the pockets of this frocke shee puts a small begging box such as those friers use to carry in cittie and country when they crave the charitable almes and devotion of well disposed people as also a new breviary or small masse booke of the last edition and forme of Rome boundup in blew turky leather richly guilt but in the othor pocket thereof shee puts a couple of small short pistolls which shee had secretly purloined out of her father Placedo's armory and had charged each of them with a brace of bullets fast rammed downe with priming powder in the pans and all these fatall trinckets shee with equall silence and treachery packes and tyes up close in the gowne expecting the time and houre to worke this her cruell and lamentable seate on innocent Sanctifiore who little thinkes or dreames what a bloody banquet his old love and now his new enemy Vrsina is preparing for him And here I write with griefe that it was the tuesday after Palme Sunday a time and weeke which the blessed passion of our Saviour Christ Jesus makes sacred and famous and which all true christians in his commemoration ought to keepe holy and not to polute or defile it with barbarous and bloody sacrifices when our masculine monster or rather our femall fury Vrsina being assured by Sebastiano that the Baron of Sanctifiore was that day about three of the clocke after dinner gone out alone in his coach to his aforesaid usuall place of walking a mile off the cittie in the fields shee infinite glad of this desired occasion and longed for opportunity bids Sebastiano make ready his coach and silently to leave him without the posterne gate of her fathers garden and so presently to come up to her chamber to her the which hee as soone performes to whom she now prophanely and treacherously sayes Sebastiano by the favour and mercy of God I have now exchanged my cruelty into courtesie towards the Baron of Sanctifiore and doe therefore presently resolve to give him a merry meeting in the fields whereat before our departure and returne I know thou wilt rejoyce and laugh heartely at the fight hereof the which indeed was very welcome and pleasing newes to Sebastiano to whom shee then gives this little fardell and so purposely leaving her waiting maid behind her shee cheerefully and speedily followes him to the coach wherein being seated and the litle fardell likewise within by her shee bids him drive away withall