moderacion in his pleasures the tyran and morderor moued to compassion touching the cause of thin nocent and the vnthrift reclaymed to an honest staie of lif whiche makes me of opynion that this passion giuen vs by nature albeit it be an infection of it selfe yet it serues also as a contrepoison to driue out another venym according to the propertie of the Scorpion which of her selfe and in herself carieth the sting of mortal hurte and oyntmeÌ„t of spedie remedie thoccasioÌ„ of preseÌ„t death and meane to preserue life not meaning for all this to perswade that it is of necessitie we make our selues subiect altogether to this humor of good and euill disposicioÌ„ nor allow them that willingly incurr the perill of such fre ymprisonment but placinge it for this tyme amongest thinges of indifferent tolleracion because he neither seamed blind nor void of discrecioÌ„ on the behalf of those whose eraÌ„ples I meane to prefarr in this historie I maye boldlie aduoche that which we call affection to be a passion resembling in som respect the condicion of true amytie and yet not muche vnlike for the moste parte the generall euill whiche the Grecians â—al Philautia and we tearme by the title of loue or vaine flatterie of our selues chiefly when we see any so frently to his desiers that to satisfye the inordinat thruste or glot of his gredie appetit he forgettes hothe honor and honestie with the respect and duetie of his conscience besides what ymages of vertue curtesie or bowntiful dispocision soeuer our louers do ymagyn in theim whom they serue dymming the eyes of the worlde wyth a miste of dissembled substance as thoughe the cause of their liberall offer of seruice were deriued of an intent of honest frendshippe yet their trauailes that way concludes we se with other end for that they hunt only the chase of pleasure procedinge of the viewe of an exterior bewtie wherin their meaninge is sufficiently manifeste in the sugred oracions discourses of eloquent stile which those amarus orators seme to prefer when their mindes occupied whollie in the contemplacion of their mistresses do commit the praise of the perfection in their Ladies to the filed fordge of their fine tongue in which what other thing do they more chiefly commend then a deuyn misterie or conninge worke of nature painted with a dy of white or redd in her face A delicate tongue to dilate of matters of fancie an entysinge countenance with a grace and behauiour equal with the maiestie of a princes al which as they argewe the vanitie of him that reapose delite in such fondnes differinge altogether from the true ornamentes of the soule or pattorne wherby the perfectioÌ„ of vertue is discerned by thunfayned workes and absolute accion So dismissing this fond philosophie not coÌ„tending greatly whether loue be a natural corrupcion or a thing perticipating with vertue we may be bold to aduouche his power to preauile in things which seame of ympossibilitie to thother passions that be common vnto vs for what thinge can be of greater force in a man then that which constrainynge an alteracion of custome and breach of that which by contynuance hath taken rote within vs doth make as it were A new body and the mynd a meare straunger to her former cogitacions which I neither inferr without cause nor menteyne this argument without great reasoÌ„ for that as of al the vices which spot the lif of maÌ„ ther is none except y e excecrable syn of whoredom which makes vs soner forget god good order then the detestable exercise of vnlawful game neither are we so hardly reclaymed froÌ„ any thing as that cutthrote delite for that it is almost as possible to conuert the crueltie of a she wolffe or lyones into a present mekenes as to mortefie the desier of plaie in him which hath bene norrished and nozelled therin froÌ„ the beginning of his yeres Euen so notwithstanding the force of loue wrought such a misterie in an vnthrist of Naples that of the mo ste prodigall and ryotous spendor that hath bene noted in any age hee made a most staide and sparing gentlemaÌ„ that Italy hath brought furth of many yeres since or afore his time Albeit euen vpon the point and beginning of his new fondacion beinge redie w t all to expose frutes of his happye chang frome euill to good trade he was encowntred wyth the malice of his destinies which abridged hys felicytie and life in one moment wherof you maye discerne a manifeste profe in the sequeile of the historie folowing PERILLO SVFFRETH muche for the loue of Carmosyna and marienge her in the ende vvere both tvvo striken to deathe with a thonderbolte the firste nighte of their vnfortunat mariage IT happened not long synce in the riche and populus Citie of NAPLES who norrisheth ordinarylie an infinitie of youth of all degrees that amongest the rest of the wantons broughte vpp there at that tyme there was one named Anthonio Perillo who enioyenge a libertye more then was necessarye to one of so younge yeres and greene vnderstandyng made absolute declaracion affore the race of youthe did stopp in hym what it is to passe the yeres of correction without the awe of parentes tutour or controller for his father hauyng performed his Jornaye whiche nature appointed hym in this woorlde resigned hys bodie to earthe and his goodes and possessions to his sonne who fyndyng so manye golden cotters and chestes full of treasure to assiste his prodigal and wanton dispocision forgat not ymediatly to enter into the trade of a licencius life Wherein he founde no staye nor ympedyment to his will for that the necligence of his father had lefte hym withoute the awe or authoritie of any And albeit in the life of his father he was a continuall hawnter of the Berlea or common house of vnthriftie exercises where for wante of sufficient demers to furnishe his desier with skill in casting the three deceitfull companions of blacke and white vppon a square table he was forced often tymes to forbeare to playe and learne conynge in lokyng vppon yet tyme with his owne diligence made hym so artificiall that beyng but a cryer of awme there were fewe hable to excede his sleyghte in castinge twelue affore sixe of two dyce or tooke halfe so good accomte or regarde to the course of the cardes and yet notwithstanding he was not so wel grownded in the principles of his arte but often tymes his conyng beguilyng hym he was preuented with a contrarie sleighte and onelye his purse paide the charge of the whole companye whiche was not vnmarked of some two or three of the famyliars of hys father the respect of whose frendship and vertue with sondrie argumentes of ymynent destructioÌ„ to his sonne moued theym to enter into tearmes of admonicion layinge affore him the circumstance of his sondrie faltes but chiefly reprehendinge the greate wronge he did to his owne estimacion for that the waye to atteyne to renowne
such indeuor to make declaration of the dutifull zeale he bare her that she shoulde fynde hym nothing inferior to any gentilman that euer made profession of loue or other seruice to his Ladye nor haue cause any way to mislike her choise for y t he wold neuer be so rash in promise as redie to expose an effect nor she so willyng to require as he twyse diligent to parforme thuttermost of her cōmaundements she felyng her selfe clawed in y t place that ytched most replyed with a smyling countenance that ther perience of the often breache of promisse in suche as vse to court vs simple Ladyes wyth the marchandise of loue doth argue so much thincōstancye of men saith she that for my part if I sawe a present effect of true loyaltye before myne eyes yet could I hardlye he brought to repose eyther credit or assurance in any promise seing men them selues nowe a dayes are infected wyth the ayre of such fragility that they neyther respect the honestye of their word nor the vertue in parformyng the least effect of a thousand liberal offers they make at vnwares Albeit as he y t chargeth the guyltles with the offence of the murderer doth wrong to his innocencye so I haue learned that it is a speciall vertue to be persiall in opinion toward straūgers and iudge the best of euery man wherfore for your part syr if you will enlarge the offer of your fyrst faith with this addicion that I may be bold to imploye you in one spectall affaire of mine at suche time as I shall sommon you therunto I am content not onely to put you in possession of your request But also to bynd my selfe to no lesse loyaltye on your behalfe then euer appeared in any Ladye to wards her faythful seruant The captayne that would willyngly haue sacrifised hym selfe for the raunsome of her fauor stoode not to examine what charge she would enioyne him vnto but cōfirmed an assurance with sundry sorts of othes being no lesse rashe in y e promise of euel thē hastie to performe th executiō as herafter you shal heare Here was brewed the broth or preparatyue of the fatall obsequies of her former loue the earnest penny gyuē of the blodie bargayn death of Seigneur Valpergo for she by the too liberall vnhoneste vent of her honor made him the Borreau vnnatural executioner of noble blod defacinge by y e same meanes the gentrie of his house which he ought to haue preserued til the last drop of blood in his body And remaining there al that night she made him so pleasant a bāquet of delicat kysses other exercises of y e bed that the more he tasted of y e pleasure the more he thrusted with desyre to cōtinue y e sport y e subtil Cirses for her part semed so vehemēt in loue with dissimuled arguments of vnfayned affection that in persuading himselfe of the victorye of her good wyl he thought he had made a conquest of the whole easte parte of the worlde seming so drowned in the deuocion of his new Sainte charmed with the enchauntmentes of her art which peraduenture lente her some power or assistance of legierdemain to force his humor of earnest zeale that if she had sayd the worde he had made no conscience to haue committed the whole Citye of Myllan to the mercie of fyre and gunpowder lyke as Blouse de Cume was redye to put fyer into all partes of the cytie of Rome if the Sedicius Tyberyus Gracchus had geuen it hym in charge suche is the rage and frantyke folye of youth when they suffer their amarous transport to excede the caryr of reason or discression and from this fountayn haue distilled heretofore many destructions of Realmes with subuerciōs and alteracions of monarchies wherin also may be noted a maruelous corrupt and vaine disposicion in such as wyl rather affect and haunte the companye of a publike curtysan then honor the vertue of a chast lady although she were his lawful wyfe and companion of bedd and yet those gallandes wyll not sticke to Ieste and point at the maried man gouerned sometime by the sage aduice of his lawful wife wher they seme readye at the commaundemente of a strompet or arrand whoare not only to hazarde the price of their honor but also in fauoring thinstygaciō of her wickednes to make their testament vpon a skafolde layinge their heades vnder the edge of the sworde of Iustice wherin I nede not torne ouer many bokes for copy of exāples seing you may be sufficiently satisfyed wyth y e view of the folye of this bastarde of Cardonne in performinge the suggestion and malice of this mordering corntesse who seinge her captayne sufficientlye framed to the postey of her wyll thoughte it was now time to put him in remembrance of his promise and somon him to the reuenge of them that thought no more of her cōspiracyes nor traynes of treason wherin as the howre approched that her Lasciuious trade of life shoulde be enioyned to open pennance and the wrong violacion of faith to her husbād with her pernicious intentes effectes of murders receyue theire due hyre and punishment and that the rage of destenie woulde not be appeased tyll som man weare committed to execution so for a more expedicion of the fatall ende of her miserable lyfe she entised her bastard louer into a close arbor in the gardin where only y e byrdes weare witnes of their discours and brake with hym in this sorte Yf nature Sir hath gyuen to euery one a speciall care to holde the vse of lyfe moste deare with a peculyar desyer to fauor the cours of our dayes wyth so lōg a tearme as we can how much more are we bounde to embrace and be carefull of that whiche causeth vs to lyue wyth a singuler renome from amongst the rest of the baser sort of people who lyenge alwaye in watch to marke oure order of lyuing are no lesse glad to haue an occasion of slaunder then redye to impart it to all the worlde with such percialitye of vnworthie bruit y t the greater we seame in degrée the more hainous they make our offence and mortal fautes not only scarse noted but also tollerable in meaner personages wherin as we women are most incident to the awe of that malicious clymat of people both for that they Sift vs and our doings more narrolye thē the rest and because we beinge the weaker companye are not armed with sufficient force to resiste their rage so the indifferēt sorte ought not to be rashe in iudgement on their sydes nor gyue sentence of discredit or dishonesty againste vs the rather by a sinister suggestion of suche a vulgar and barbarous crewe neyther ought we to spare or feare anye sort of reuenge whiche maye aduaunce the recouerye of that wherof we are wrongfully deuested Thus much I haue inferred syr as a preamble to the request I meane to make which I take
their diligence doings deserue by iustice like as the grekes and romans painting with an exquisitedexteritie of y e pen their pollicy in warr the valiantnes of their Captaines their wonderfull fortune and good successe in all enterprises with other discourses of their vertues do argue them more glorious in their owne acts then meritorious in deade of true commendacion for that in arrogatinge vnto themselues the only title and name of all knowledge they make our time seme naked of all vertue sauinge such as is deriued from theim and ymytacion of their doings Albeit we maye obiect with the spartayne agaynste thathenians that those lippwise soldiours or scoole orators had a more facilitie in discouering then facylitie in execucion of noble effects not for that I meane to do such wrong to their estimacion as not to yelde to theim a title of singularitie in all perfections yet I may also be bould to preferr the benefit of oure time which participating wyth their golden age in any respect of honest gift or qualitie is hable to preseÌ„t a furniture of as many examples and authorities of vertue as we rede were found in the politike state of Rome when Cato Camilla or Scipio gouerned that proude Citye or when on Pericles Themistocles or Aristides bare authoritie in the florishinge Acadimia of Athens for if we go about to discourse of the valyantnes in armes or stody to be pryuy to y e sleightes and pollecy in warr we nede not thassistance of one Hannybal discipline of Marius pellecy of Pompeius nor corage of Cesar or Alexander seing our fertile Evropa brings furth such store of excellent captaines that if those great couqwerours and subuertors of whole countries amongs the Grekes and Romains wer now in the feilde with their invincible force they should not finde a mettellus orgalozs without armes nor encounter a company of effemynate Persyans or haue to do with serfull Italyans but they shold buckle wyth the valiant cauelery and gendarmy of fraunce fele the force of the couragious englishmen make a proofe of the puisance of the mightie Almaine and make heade agaynst the armes of the loftie Spanyarde wherein as the shortnes of time denieth me to yelde to euerye captein and souldiour his peculyar commendacion so my endeuor could not escape without ympu tacion of superfluitie if I shold enterlard my Catalogue of the gracious gifts of our tyme withe the due glorye of the fathers of iustice deuising wonderful pollicyes and necessarye Lawes for regarde of the publike weale in the senate wherein our world I thinke oweth nothinge to antiquitie neyther neede I preferr the singularitie and exquisite skil of oure payntors or forgers of curious ymages whose arte at this daye contendes wythe the aunciente conninge of Appelles Albeit vppon the commendacions of these dexterities in armes and arts coÌ„cerning y e hands I find attendinge a worthie cause of generall complaynte agaynst the slowthfulnes of our tyme geuinge wyth al the title of iuste prayse to the diligence of thauncyentes who preseruing the memory of such as deserued reuowme amoÌ„genst them for any vertue hath left vs cause to blush in our owne abuses and be ashamed of the negligence we vse in recording the rarietyes of our time or perfections of suche as are iustly meritorious of prayse and albeit of long time thiniquitie of the bad sort of men haue so much preuailed ouer the worthie renowne of vertuous women that they haue not sticked to whet their malicious tongues with diuerse blasphemous reproches agaynst such as by misfortune haue geuen som salfe bownd to their honor yet ought we not to be vnthanckful to the chastetie and honest conuersacion of the rest who rather then they wold departe wyth the badge of their pudycitie haue bene sene with their bodyes full of wounds and faces died with blode and sometime passed the panges of painfull death in resistinge the force and fleshely vylanye of the wicked corrupters of the virginitie wherin if the Goekes â—aue geuen such great comendacion to the faire Hippo who being made a pray amongest other spoyles of y e countrey to a barbarous pirott on the sea with present daunger to depart wyth the badge of her honor chused rather to bury her body in the belly of some fyshe and consecrat her integrytie to the waues then suffer an insydell pallyard to hurt her soule to the deathe in depryuinge her of that which all the worlde are not able to restore or make good if the Boecyans haue not forgot to engraue in pillors of eternetye the memorye of a Ladye in Thebes who forced to the vyolacion of her bodye by a rude souldiour oft he Kynge of the macedonions dissimuled for the time her dystres wyth fayned showes that she delyted in the pleasure til encountringe at laste a conuenient occasion she reuenged the wronge done to her honor with the death of him that had vsed such force agaynst her where also herself loathing the vse of longer yeares hauing already lost the onlye ioye and felicitie in lyfe gaue place to nature and at thinstanct made a blody sacryfice of herself by her own hands And if the Romains haue had alwayes in their mouthe the prayse of Lucrese whose chastetie they haue placed in the theatrye or circle of Mars and geuen her a chiefe place amonges the trains of the chast Diana if all these I say haue bene so thankfull to the vertuouse womeÌ„ of their time that by their diligence the memorye of their vertue remaineth in recorde to the posteritie of all ages what worthie cause of rebuke haue we who lyuyng vnder a better clymat and constellacion enioying more pure lawes and aspiring nerer thymage or semblaunce of dyuynitie will not erpose the noble frutes of our tyme whyche yeldes not onely example of sembla ble vertue to thauncientes but excedes them in contynent lyuinge and chast disposicion wherof we haue an example of Yphygenne doughter of y e kyng of Ethiopia who hauyng already vowed her vyrginitie to the spouse of oure soules accepted rather the offer of present deathe then to be ioyned in Mariage to a wanton younge prince prouyded for her by her father with a nomber of lyke authorities which I colde infer to proue the sinceritie of womeÌ„ who at the beginning when our religion was first founded did lay the cornerstone of puretie without hauing y e knowledge of man neyther is our age so voide of examples of contynency nor the roote of vertue so cleane extirped from amongest vs but we maye se at this day sundry pattorns of pudycitye in the persons of all degres of women aswel noble as of meaner condicion exceding the vertue of such as antiquitie hath in so great veneraion wherin for a familiar reuenge of our Ladyes now a dayes touching the synyster ympositions of dyuers euil tongues inveighinge agaynst the whole sect I haue presented hereupoÌ„ the stage this historie taken out of Italyon whose authoritie as it is sufficient to
this detestable mord eror my sonne in lawe behold sir how the signes and markes of morder do aduouche his villenie and witnes the extreme panges she endured affore he hadd wrought the full force of his execrable acte besides the whole housholde are to iustefye her state of perfect healthe in the begynnyng of the eueninge when shée wente to bedd to hym whyche with other circunstance argue alas an vndouted trothe in theffect neyther hadd shée other Rhume catarre or disease then the violant handes of her husbande who bothe brued the broth and ministred the cupp of suffocacion to my deare doughter on whose behalfe beholde the teares of pitie in my withered face whyche shall neuer bee drye nor ceasse to distill till the sworde of your iustice sir haue giuen the blowe of reuenge to her wronge and desolacion of me her wretched father Staie not sir to take awaye a contynuall calamitie in my house and purge the whole contrey of an infection of generall slaunder in the crueltie of thys husbande more barbarus towardes hys chaste wyfe then the Tyrannye of the TYGRESSE or SHEVVOLF on the behalfe of theyr mates or youngeons perswade your selfe alas that GOD ys readye with the rewarde of your acte in hys hande yf you doo reason too thys oppression where yf you refuce too yelde iustice too my ryghtefulle requeste request behold howe the heauens discloase themselues too raine the shower of vengance vppon you and your posteritye neyther had thies handes refrained so longe the dismēbringe of his cursed partes yf the vertue in your othe and office hadd not béene my warrante to haue iustice by you whereuppon followed suche sighes and passions of sorowe that they preuailed aboue y e force of further spéeche mouing the iudge to such remorce on the behalfe of the morder that what with the scilence and other drowpinge argumentes of guiltie conscience in Tolonyo who albeyt was an oratour of sufficient eloquence in the Senatt yet he made no one simple offer of confutacion to the olde mans complaint and resolucion of Phizicions who gaue sentence againste hym with iudgement that her lyfe was forced to leaue her by the maine strengthe of man he caused the sergeantes to apprehende hym sendinge hym furthe with to embrace the bottom of a dongeon in place of his pretended mariage with the wydowe of Chabrye whom he thought to make Lieutenant of his bede in the absence of his wyfe whose corpse the next daye was layed in the place of publyke viewe not without great dollor in euerie degrée of men who yf they cursed to the déepest pit in hel the Author minister in the death of so vertuouse a gētle woman yt is no néede to moue question of the general desolacion amongest y e women who knowing her husband to be thonlie worker of y e villanie grudged y t he had the fauor of an ymprisonement with generall cryes to the Senat to comit him to thextremety of euery torture with out respect of compassion The bodie was caried with funerall pomppe to the colledge churche there and layed in her tombe with such sacrafyze and ceremonies of sorowe that who hadd séene their order euery waye wold haue thought yt hadd bene the obsequies of the common mother of their citie in whiche meane while her father pursewed hys processe with suche diligence that the prisonner was hard who confessinge without question the circunstance and effecte of the morder was sent by reason of the horror and straungenes of the fact to the courte of parlyament of Aix afore whom the case was debated at large whiche beynge imparted to the Lady of Chabrye who only was pryuie to her owne conscience and knew her selfe guiltye of al began to feare that whiche fel ymediatlie I meane that Tolonyo wold aswell discouer their longe practise together in luste whith the sondrie morders in her house as he had willingelie confessed thoppression of his wyfe whereuppon thinking yt sufficient to bée warned by the threatninge of a storme of thapproche of a tempest and withall that yt was a point of wisdome to preuent the mischief affore the euill dyd fall gathered vpp asmuche money as the shortnes of time wold giue her leaue to recouer with suche Iewells as were of lyghte cariage and trudged in soddaine and secret manner to the castel of Pogetto belonging to the duchie of SCAVOYE whilest the poore Tolonyo was pynyoned and trussed with coardes and sente to the noble citie of AIX whyche bare longe tyme the name of her founder called Sextius a Romaine gētleman and tearmed of the Latins by reason of the baynes of hoat waters there Aque sextiae where he aduowched eftesoones the pointes of his former confession with the discouerie of his incesteouse trade with the Lady of Chabrye the abhominable morders thoccasions of the same and the names of theim that assisted the blodye execucion wheruppon the sentence of that courte dismyssed hym to Lagrassa to bee pinched with thextremetie of euery torture and racke appointed to torment offenders from whence he was restored to the place of his natyuitie where beynge in pryson and knowinge what iudgement the lawe had giuen of hys lyfe began to acknowleadge hys former abuses with teares and other argumentes of repentance appealynge vppon hys knees to the maiestie and mercie of the highest with this lamentable inuocation The view of my former offences oh heauenly father quarrellinge with my present remorce perswades small hope of absolution at thy handes yf in the benefytt of thy mercie appeared not absolute assurance of the forgiuenes of my sinnes neither doo I dispaire in the vertue of my humble submission consideryng thou haste affirmed by the mouthe of thapostle that no repentance can bée offred so late whyche thou wilte not thankefullye accepte so that yt procéede of the humilitie of the spryte and bée armed with true contricion of hart and albeyt oh mercifull god the whole course of my wicked daies hetherto hathe passed without either care of thy comaundementes or feare of thy lawes yet seing yt is now thy pleasure to stopp the race of nature and fragilitie in me yt maye also please the to putt me in the nomber of those to whome thou haste promised forgiuenes of their faltes at what hower so euer they mourne and lament their synnes suffer me oh lorde to participate with the compfort of the theff hanginge on thy righte hande who albeit neuer acknowledged his wickednes till y e last hower yet his repentance was allowed of the in that when he sayed Lorde remember me when thou commest in thy kingdome thou made hym a fellow cytysen with thy selfe in the ioyfull paradise and as thy bowntie and goodnes excedethe the greatnes of any offence so I beseche thée suffer thy mercie to wype away the wickednes of me moste miserable and wretched sinner for the loue of thy deare sonne my only sauiour whose bodye passed the tormentes of mortall affliction vppon
t which she was no lesse meritorious then imbrased as you sée for her bewtie And drawing y e blod of seamly shame into her face which set such a glass of natural white red of her coÌ„mplexion y t her coollor seamed to be died in the dew of y e fragraÌ„t morning of May retorned his courtsie w t a salutacioÌ„ of seÌ„blable humilitie wherin he reioysed w t more coÌ„teÌ„tmeÌ„t of mind then if y e Quene of Spaine had yelded him fauor to kysse her haÌ„d But what nede he tickle himself to make himself laugh or why did he not eschew y e preseÌ„ce and place of his enemy rather theÌ„ seame so subiect to y e soÌ„monce of his eye to whoÌ„ loue hath giuen the gift of flatterie to deceiue y e rest of y e partes for if at y e first he had corrected y e flickering reaporte of his eyes his hart had bene fre froÌ„ desier he not at the brinke of passion tormentes if at y e biginning he had abaÌ„doned y e place he had also dismissed the remeÌ„brance of that whiche nowe hathe bounde hym to pursewe the queste of hys owne disquiete neyther dothe hee other thynge in visitynge the place where shee is then throwe water vppon hoate ymbers whyche dobleth the heate and forceth the flame with more expedicion for the more he behelde her and the lesse she regarded hym the greater grew his affection geuing treble increase to his desier And albeit she was neither fyne in attire sett out in robes of riche araye nor deckte with apparell for the more decoracion of her naturall beautye yet appeared she no lesse precious in the eye of this gallande then if she had bene trimmed for the nonste in the same order that the Poetes faine of the browne Egypciane when she was broughte to lye wyth the Romaine Capteine Marcus Anthonius He fayled not to reiterate his haunte with an ordinarie trade to the stréets of â—aniquette resoluynge his coÌ„mon abode or place of staye righte ouer againste her lodginge whiche increased her doubte of that misterye till nature that discusseth the darknes of suche doubtes and bringes the moste rude creatures of the worlde to be capable in the argumentes of loue reuealed vnto her the meanynge of that ridle sayinge y t the roundes and often tornes wyth vaylinge of bonnett whiche the proude pirott made afore the dore of her fortresse was no other thynge then the intisynge harmonie of the Syrenes or other stale to allure or make her plyable to thappetite of his will wherin she was the rather resolued for certeinetie for that within shorte tyme passing that waye he ymagined a staye righte ouer againste her house Where féedinge the tyme for the nonste in deuise with one of his frendes gaue skoape to his eyes to peruse with continuall contemplacion the maiestie of his mistres in suche sorte that one of her compagnions exercisynge also the vse of the nedle encountred by chaunce she gredie regardes he caste to Ianiquette to whom sayth she thou arte litle beholding to y e goodnes of fortune that seames so greate an enemye to the merite of thy beautie for if thy condicion or calling wold admit y e aduancemeÌ„t which the present preferment of nature doth offer the no doubte thou sholdest become in short time y e honor decoration of al thy house for touchinge the resolucion of mine eyes iudgemente of my conceite proceding of the deuouring regardes yonder gentlemaÌ„ casteth towardes the he is not only y e bondman of thy beautye but also so addicted to the seruice of the same y t only thou Ianiquette may dispose of him his honor lyfe al that hehath And trulye thou arte not so happie to be the controller of so noble a chaÌ„pion as of litle discretion if thou make small accompte of his seruice whiche the veraye greatest dames of our prouince woulde reserue as a special relique or Iewel neither oughtest thou to make thy beautye of such price as the respect therof shold preuaile aboue the goodnes of so greate an offer seinge that the walles of this towne do inclose a nomber of younge Ladyes and gentlewomen that excedynge the in beautye and bringyng vp wolde not seame curious in admittyng the benefyt of so good a fortune Whereunto the honeste IaniquetteÌ„ that neither tooke pitie of his paynes nor allowed his endeuor lesse liked the perswacions of her companion who peraduenture boarded her so farr to make a prooffe of her honestie replied no lesse wisely then wyth more discretion then comonly we note now a dayes in one of her yeres Yf I were borne quoth she vnder thinfluence of fortune or bounde to abide the sentence of her doome I were not vnlike to performe thexspectation of thy allurementes but seing I am deriued of a contrary coÌ„stellation moostring alwayes vnder the ensigne collours of vertue I haue my salfe conduite at all times to withstaÌ„de thinuasion of such infections with authoritye to defye the malice of any such accident And touching the coÌ„mendacions which you seme to giue to mon Seigneur Luchin both in the title of honor estimacioÌ„ of his publike authoritie in thaffaires of this citye together with his dexteritie in al giftes incidente to a gentlemaÌ„ I saye â—he more plentifully he is considered at the handes of God with a singularitie in suche ornamentes So much the more ought he to studye to seame worthie of so rare a participacion not conuerting the vertue of his talent giuen him from aboue into a sinister entente disposicion of wickednes to seduce the chastetie of simple maides whose faultes if any be he ought rather to reprehende with seueritie theÌ„ minister corrupcion coÌ„trary to the commission of his honor neyther shall be at anye time I hope preuaile so ouer my beautye as the vse of the same shall giue him other contentement then a frendlye â—oniour of the mouth whiche all honeste maides may do without preiudice thinking the frendship of nature of no greater moment in giuyng me the title of faire then the vertue meritorious in preseruing the same accordyng to the merite without spott of infamye or worthye reproche of the worlde for her offence is double afore God sayeth she and treble skandalous in the mouth of the multitude that exchauÌ„geth her beautye being a chiefe signe and argument of grace which God hath painted in the face of a womaÌ„ as the philosopher saith for any other price how greate so euer it appeare then the honeste pawne gage of lawfull matrimonye accordinge to thinstitucion of oure sauiour who allowing chiefly the oblacion of chastetie dothe condemne the coÌ„trary into perentory destruction and what haue we in this worlde that we ought to make so deare accompte of as our honeste name being the thing that yeldes vs not only an admiracion whilste we enioye the vse of lyfe vpon earth but also makes vs liue after our death with a perpetuall
experience of the disposition of loue and suche as he infecteth with hys frantike poyson tryenge in like sorte the difference betwene the vanities of the worlde and the contemplacion of celistiall thinges or other vertues of diuyne operacion vpon earthe openinge as it were to all degrees of mortalytie an entrey or way to come to the glorye and honor of theuerlastinge Paradise aboue to suche I saye maye I boldely appeale for confirmacioÌ„ of thauncient opynion grounded in the stomakes of men from the beginning that the bewtie and flattering behauiour of a woman is the true and natural Adamant seing that that stoane by a certeine vertue attractiue and speciall gifte by nature hath not such power to force and drawe the heauie yron vnto it as the secret misterie hydden in the eyes and face of a woman are of authoritie to sommon and steale thaffections and hartes of men which hath wrought a resolucion or thinge of most certeintie amongest a nomber of men now a dayes that such charmes and serpentine allurementes were sente a mongeste vs frome aboue aswell to tormente our pleasure as also in soÌ„e sort to geue ease to thafflictioÌ„ of such as are vnhappelie contrybutors to that poysoned participacion wherin as we haue long marueiled why Parys forsoke the delites of Troye to become the thrall of Helene in greece what moued one Hercules to abandon his beauye mase and clubb of conquest to depende whollye vppon the commaundement of his women frende or howe Salomon abused the gifte of his wisedome to commit follie with her who only gouerned him y t guided the whole monarkye so behold I haue to encrease your wonder with a true poâ—rtrayte or picture of a more force in a woman and folly in a man who with out any vse of former or hope of future fauor sauinge to fullfill the fonde appetit of his folishe mistrys habandoned the vse and benefytt of his speche for thre yeres putting on by that meanes the shapp of brutalitie betwene whom and the creatures of vnderstandinge the philosophers conclude an only difference of the vse of reason and speache A case sewer no lesse notorious for the raryâ—tie that waye then declaringe a singuler force of nature in the subiect vpon whom shee seames to bestowe suche prehemiuence aboue all other misteries vppon earth whereof maye serue for sufficiente proofe theffeminate alteration in Hercules the decrease of strengthe in Sampson the losse of wisedom and vnderstandynge in Salomon and the simplicitie of this gentleman whose discourse foloweth THE CRVELTIE OF A Wydowe in enioyninge her woer to a pennance of thre yeres losse of his speache the foolish loyaltie in hym in performinge her commaundemente and the meane vvherby he was reuenged of her rigour ⧠AMongeste the lymytrophall townes con ynynge the borders of Pyemount no man dowtes I thinke that the Citie of THVRYN beinge thonly lanterne to geue light to al the prouinces there about for eiuill orders and integritie of conuersacion is not also a chief rampier and sewer bulwarke to her owne countrey agaynst thincurcion of enemyes neyther is it of lesse estimacion for the naturall scituacion of the place then bewtified greatly by thin dustrius endeuor of man addinge as it seames a more decoratioÌ„ of late to that towne then eyther nature or the slender deuise of men in tymes passed colde ymagyn Somewhat without the suburbes of this riche and populus Citie is planted in a pleasant valley a little village called Montcall worthie euery way to be ioyned in neighbourhead to so great a Citie being inuironed on th one side w t the fragrant ayre of the fertil feldes al to bedewed with the sondry swete smelles of thincense of Aurora on thother side with y e loftie hilles breathing from the mouth of Zephire the ayre of health to refresh in time of nede the drowsie tenants of the valley which amongest other happie influences of the heauens semed also to haue aspecial fauor of the godes to bring furth and norish the most faire verteous curtoyse ladyes y t cold be fouÌ„d in any one corner of Europe amoÌ„gest whoÌ„ not withstaÌ„ding there was not long since a young widow called Zilya who declyning froÌ„ y e dispositioÌ„ of y e clymat and planet of her natiuitie became so hagarde lyke and enclyned to crueltie that she semed rather to take her begining among the desertes and craggie places of Scauoye then too sucke the brestes of the delicat norsses in the pleasante champayn refreshed by the beautifull hande of Erydan sometyme called the father of ryuers and nowe termed by the title of Po whose christall channells and siluer streames deuydynge theym selues into diuers distillinge brokes do not onelye driue men into admiration but also draw theym to become neighbours to alicour of suche delite This disdainefull wydowe and enemye to all curtesie although she hadd asyet skarcely entred into the twentie and fourthe yere of her age yet she perswaded her selfe herafter to abandon vtterly the societie of man whether it were by mariage or otherwaies aduowing to spende the remeynder of her yeres in singlenes of lyfe a resolucion truly bothe godly and commendable yf the tiklishe motions of the fraile fleshe woulde be contente to obey the wholsome exhortacions of the sprite But whereas our declynyng bodyes pampred in all delicacye together with the vnruly appetites ragynge after wilfull desier doo seme to quarrell with our chastetie and vanquishe all resistance the councell of thapostell is to bée followed who willes that we marie in christe to auoyed the daunger of the sowle and common slaunder of the world she also after she had alredie performed the due debte of her dutie to the deade bodye of her husbande whome she accompayned to the graue with abundance of teares and other funerall dule soughte not accordyng to the trade of young wydowes now adayes lefte without controlmente to abuse the benefitte of her libertie or dispose the tyme of her widowehead in other exercise then in augmentacion of the patrimonye lefte to her litle sonne and enryche her selfe by the trauell of her owne handes wherein shée became soo conetouse and gredie of gayne that cuttynge of her ydle traine of loyterers haunting commenly the houses of great men she onely reserued suche for the necessarye members of her houshold as with the sweate of their browes refused not the toile of any honest trauel neither made she conscieÌ„ce to trade vp the delicate trowpe of gentlewomen attendinge vpon her in thaffaires of house keping and other honest exercises of the hande to whom she was alwayes a coÌ„panioÌ„ her selfe thinking nothing so well don as that which passed in the presence of her eye or with thassistance of her owne hande wherin certeynly her vertue was no lesse meritorius then her endeuour commendable For the office of a mother or mystres of families consistes not only in kepyng her seruantes to continuall trauaile or taking accompte of their doings and daies labour
a wretched and stinkinge dongeon here maye be noted one chiefe frute of couetous desier and an effecte of filthie gaine when the gredie mynde in goinge about to glott thappetit of his coffers leaueth an example of his wretched follie to all ages Oh howe happie be they who contented with the gifte of a meane fortune do not seke to loade shippes and remeine from hower to hower within thrée inches of death either to be buried in the bellies of the monsters in the Sea or beinge caste vppon some deserte shoare to serue as praye to the deuouring Iawes of wilde beastes was it not sufficiente alas to be touched with the experience of a repulse in loue but y t I must fele the heauye hande mobilitie of fortune in an element more incoÌ„stante then the variable course of the moone Ah Carmosyna what wroÌ„g dost thou to my misery if thy teares do not helpe to lament my distress seing y t in seking to haue the to my wyfe I am maryed to a heauie burden of boltes and shackells of yron and in place of my mariage bedde with the my destenies haue appoynted me a pillowe of carthe in a darke and filthie hoale where notwithstanding yf there were any offer of hope eftesones to enioye thy presence I coulde easely disgeste the Symptomes of my martirdome and in attenâ—â—ng the happie consent of such good fortune to make a plaiâ—ante exercyse of my presente and paynefull ymprisonment By this tyme fame had ymparted the desolacion of our venturers to the whole Citie of Naples not withoute the generall sorowe of all men and speciall teares of such as were contributarie to the losse albeit makyng of necessitie a vertue tyme gaue ende to their dollor and dismissed theym all with desier to redeme his captif frend but Carmosyna knowyng her PERILLO to be one of the miserable nomber and waighing the circumstance of his mishapp whiche stode vppon tearmes of more extremitie then all the reste bothe for that by the losse of his porcion she douted to set him on foote againe and muche more dispaired of meanes to paye hys raunson entred into suche presente rage that she was redy to vse force againste herself whereunto she hadd putt an effect if it had not bene for her gouernesse who reprehending sharply her wilfull follie appeased at laste with greate raison her desperatt intente conuertynge the furious humor of the desolate mayde into a riuer of teares distillynge a mayne downe her reasie chekes complayninge notwithstandynge with tearmes of gréef the misfortune of her frende but chiefly for that her selfe was the principall cause of his ruynous estate and that the rude aunswere of her father forced him to abandon his countrey for the gaine of a contynuall captiuitie Ah infortunat girle saieth she and insatiable couetusnes in the old age of my father who in refusing the honest request of Perillo respected more the masse of filthie treasure then the vertues or good disposicion in the younge man Why wolde not he consider that the manners of men do chaunge of a prodigall youthe procedes a sparing olde man neither oughte we to dispaire of his recouerie who fynding y e falte of his owne follie disposeth him selfe to amendment of life what cause of care hathe he either of the pouertie or richâ—â—â— of his children after his death seynge the remembrance of the worlde dekayeth with the loss of lyfe can he carie with hym any care of our aduauncement seynge he is forced to leaue behynde hym the thynge whyche is more deare vnto hym then the prosperetie or healthe of hys children yf he presente me with a husbande and porcion of a kingdom the offer of no millions shall mortefie in me the loue I beare my PERILLO neither is it a vertue to sell affection for the price of monie and muche lesse to seame to loue hym whom my harte can not brooke for there is neyther pleasure nor contententent where the mynde is not in quiett No no lett hym vse the skoape of hys crabbed age and do what he thynkes good for my parte I will not be desloyall on the behalfe of hym who I knowe honoreth me with sincere affection neyther shall he lye longe in prison nor contynue any tyme the sonne of pouertie for I knowe wher be a companie of duckattes whyche sawe no lyghte since I hadde the vse of discrecion whyche I doute not will bothe pawne his deliuerie and furnyshe hym wyth a seconde trade more fortunate I hope then the firste and for my parte the gréenes of my age gyueth me leaue to suspend certeine yeres without any haste to marie wherein she demaunded thassistance of her gouernes who gaue her not onely a firme assurance of her ayde but also promised a supply of monie towardes the furniture of her expedicion desieringe her for the reste to do awaye all argumentes of dollar leaste the same discouered her passion to her father wherein as they consumed certeine monethes in beauise to deliuer PERILLO with secrett practisses in leuienge the price of his raunsom so fortune began to enter into tearmes of pitie towardes hym and preuented the meanyng of his mystris by takyng hym oute of prison in sorte as you shall heare Wherein albeit she exceded the mayde with spede in excucion yet oughte wee to gyue the title of worthie thankes to Carmosyna whose example of vertue in this case I wishe maie soÌ„mon a remorce to our lighte and inconstante dames nowe a dayes who are so incerteine in true affection that the respecte of presente pleasure takes awaye the remembrance of their absente frende and maketh theim vnmyndfull of the faith of their former promisse wherin I am not prouided to enter into argument at this presente bothe for that I doâ—t to gaine displeasure in discoueryng a truth and also suche discourse is without the compasse of my comissioÌ„ whiche is nowe to recompte vnto you the deliuerie of pore Antonio Olde Minyo the father of Carmosyna had ioyned with hys richesse and desyer of worldly gaine certeine vertues and commendable giftes as veraye deuote in visiting the churches and places of prayer of a charitable disposicion in releuing the distresse of thafflicted and so full of compassion on the behalf of the nedie that seldome any pore man departed from hym emptie handed besides he extended amerueilus charitie and acte of pitie to the desolate captiues amongeste the Moares in suche sorte as making euery yere a voyage into Barbaria he made an ordinarie to redeme and bring awaie with hym ten or twelue christian prisoners of whome such as were hable restored the price of their raunson whithout any interest thinkinge the gaine sufficient in that he was the cause of their deliuerie but the reste he sente frelie into their countrey exspectynge the méede of that vertue at the handes of god with this onely charge that in remeÌ„brance of the benefit they wold not forget him in their priuat praiers The gifte of
battaill or combatt of experienced knyghtes then an exercise of delicate youth not yet accustomed to beare the burden of armour and lesse acquainted with the trauell of warr wherewith aswell inconsideracion of the present towardnes in the wydowes son with corage to contynue hys trade so well begon as also to féede the hope and showe of his future vertue he was admitted the nexte mornynge into the order of knigthode inuested with the coller of sainte Andrewe and other ceremonies of spaine by the hande of the sayde Philipp who after he had fulfilled the date of his aboue at Barcelonia pursewed his iorney towardes Castile leauyng our newe knyghte Dom Diego reioysinge not a litle in his presente honor ymparted vnto him by his prince retiring with the newes of his good fortune to his owne possession and liuing more to performe tharrerages of his dutie to his mother whom the hadd not sene of longe tyme then with intente to make longe staye there or enter into delite with the pleasures y t be in the contrey wherof notwithstanding he receiued so sewer a taste that his captiuitye in the ende exceded euerye waye in greatnes of greff the restrainte of libertie or other mislike or impedimente he founde at any tyme in the Citye like as also the Poetes haue ymagined that loue pitchinge his tentes in deserte places not apte to discouerye dothe discharge his dartes and arrowes in the thicket of woddes and forestes vppon the borde of the Sea or shaded fountaines and some tyme vppon the heighte of the highest hilles in the pursewte of the Nimphes of all sortes iudginge therby a libertie and moste sewer waye to treate vppon matters of loue without suspicion Ielousye enuie false reaporte synister opinion or common crye of the people to be in the wide and open feldes where they maie be bolde to communicate their mutuall passion without feare of witnesses enioyinge also the pleasures of all kinde of chasses whiche the champion doth norrishe with participacion of the chirpinge harmonie and naturall musicke of birdes and somtime the delitefull noise of sondrye pleasante chanels and siluer streames qualyfyinge in their kinde the vehemencie of their languishinge greeffe and recordinge also with greate ceremonie the firste place of their amarus enteruiew or acquaintance arguynge thereby treble felicitie to suche as abandonynge the sondrie annoyes attendynge continuall abode in the Citie do resort to the pleasant lawndes in the contrey to yelde tribute of their studies to the muse wherunto they be most affected So Dom Diego beinge at hoame loued enterely of his mother serued with all dutifull obedience of his subiectes and seruantes after his ordinarie howers of studie were passed vsed his chief pleasure in thexercise of y e felde I meane some tyme to dislodge the great and loftie hart to dresse the toiles to entrapp the wilde boare and some tyme to trye the goodnes of his hawke with the mayne winge of the hearon or fearefull partridge in the stuble feldes or valleys inuyroned with huge hills wherein one daie amoÌ„gest the rest hunting the wilde goate whiche he had forced from his habitation of the high and craggie rockes he sawe launsing afore hym a harte whiche his dogges had rozed and so hoatly purse wed that to his iudgemente he seamed more then halfe spente wherewith aswell for the pleasure whiche the pastyme it selfe did offer hym as also to ease the traueile of his howndes he putt spurres to his horse forcinge hym to a mayne gallopp wherein he continued till his houndes loasynge the tracke of theyr praye were at defalte and hym selfe without the sighte and hearyng of all hys men wyth suche ignorance of the coste where he was that he knewe no readie waye of retourne to his companie and muche lesse the place where his fortune had put hym greuynge moste in this perplexitie that his horse beinge oute of breath refuced for wante of force to carye hym anye further wherfore after he hadd blowen diuers calls for his men without other aunswere then an Eccho of the woddes and waters he deuided his distresse into two pointes the one to demounte and ease the wearines of his horse the other to retire backe by the same path whyche broughte hym thither wherin his expectation was no lesse frustrate then hym selfe deceiued by the malice of his fortune for that meanyng to take the next way to his castell he mett with a contrarye pathe whiche after he had trauelled the moste parte of the afternoone broughte hym in the ende within the viewe of a stately house builded vppon the side of a hill whiche by certeine markes appearinge on thuttermoste partes of the house albeit argued the contrarie of his intente yet hearinge the bable of certeine hunters ymagininge the same to be his people drewe neare the place whiche discouered aboue his exspectacion A companie of strangers beinge certeine seruantes of the mother of GENIVERA whiche attended their mistres wyth a brase of younge greyhownds that had newlye â—â—â—â—ne a hare to deathe and beinge thus rencountred with this seconde misfortune he grewe also into tearmes of greater destresse then afore for that â—happroche of the nighte begynninge to expose shadoes of darknes vppon the earth by the departure of the son toke from hym all hope of other harbor then the offer of some hollowe trée or greene bedd vppon the grounde when lo thauncient Ladye discernynge betwene the viewe of her eye and regardes of the clowdes whiche hadd not yet cloased in the lyghte of the firmamente the shadowe of a man discendynge from the vppermost parte of a hil wyth his horse in his hande seamynge by his maiestie marching with the semblance of a prince to be some degrée of honor sente one of her men to knowe what he was who reatorned with aunswere accordynge to his demaunde wheruppon the Ladye wydowe with her faire doughter indifferently gladd of thapproche of theyr neyghbour whome albeit they neuer sawe yet fame had made theim partakers of his vertue renowme wente in solemne order to mete hym forgettynge no kynde of curteyse gretyng that belonged to the honor and estate of so noble a personage wherevnto he replied with thankes accordinge to the greatnes of the benefytt with addition that he founde hym selfe greatly in the fauor of fortune for that his painefull trauelle in wandryng so many howers had giuen hym at laste so fit an occasion to visitt the house whereunto he doubted not for his parte to confirme the league of frendshipp begon and happelye continued of longe time by his parentes and predecessours the Ladye whose longe absence from the courte had not diminished her grace in courtelike conference aunswered that if they haue greatest cause of contentements that gaineth the moste or if large benefittes require ample consideration it is she that ought to offer to fortune the sacrafize of thankesgeuinge for that she hadd brought her a guest no lesse deare then the life of her selfe and as welcome