drowning himselfe as it were in pleasure and security without so much as once thinking of his poysoning of Planeze or how he was revealed to be the Authour thereof by Castruchio his Letter sent unto him by Dorilla He is amazed and astonished at this his apprehension now beating his brest and then repenting when it was too late that ever he embrewed his hands in the innocent bloud of Planeze So both himselfe and Castruchio are brought to the State house where the Podestate and Prefect first examine them a part and then confront them each with other Where finding that neither of them deny but both of them to confesse themselves guilty of this foule murther they pronounce sentence of death against them and condemne Borlary to have his head cut off and then his body to be burnt and Castruchio to be hanged and his body to be throwne into the River of Addice whereon he was first taken the which the next morning was accordingly executed All Verona is as it were but one tongue to talke and prattle of this foule and lamentable murther and especially of Gods miraculous detection thereof by this drunken Bawd Dorilla who having heretofore often brought Castruchio to whores willingly now at last she brings him to the gallowes against her will The morning they are brought to their execution where there flocke and resort a world of spectators from all parts of the City And although the charity of their Judges send them Priests and Fryers to direct their soules for heaven yet this miserable wretch Castruchio seeming no way repentant or sorrowfull for this his foule fact uttered a short prayer to himselfe and so caused the top-man to turne him over which he did and within two houres after his body was throwne into the River But for Borlary he came to the scaffold better resolved and prepared for with griefe in his lookes and teares in his eyes hee there delivered this short and religious speech That he grieved in heart and was sorrowfull in soule for this lamentable murther of his committed on the person of Planeze as also for seducing of Castruchio to effect it by poyson for whose death he affirmed he was likewise exceedingly afflicted and sorrowfull That it was the temptations of the flesh and the devill who first drew him lustfully to affect the faire chaste and vertuous Lady Felisanna and consequently to murther her husband in full hope afterwards to obtaine her for his Wife or for his Curtesan That he was infinitely sorrowfull for all these his enormous crimes for the which he religiously asked forgivenesse first of God and then of the Lady Felisanna and likewise prayed all those who were there present to pray unto God for his soule that he was more carefull of his reputation towards men than of his salvation towards God and that his neglect of prayer and of the participation of the blessed Sacrament of the Eucharist was the originall cause of this his misery So againe commending himselfe to the prayers and recommending his sinfull yet sorrowfull soule into the hands of his Redeemer the sword of the Executioner at one blow made a perpetuall divorce betweene his soule and his body which pious and Christian speech of his was as great a consolation to the vertuous as his death as that of Castruchio was a terrour to the vitious spectators and Auditors So to confirme the sentence the dead body of Borlary is presently burnt And thus was the bloudy lives and deserved deaths of these three irreligious and unfortunate persons Of Romeo the Laquey Of Borlary the Gentleman and of Castruchio the Apothecary And in this manner did the justice of the Lord of Hosts in due time justly triumph o're their execrable crimes in their sharp punishments and shamefull ends Pray we that we may reade this their History with feare and as religious and godly Christians remember these their lamentable Murthers with horror and detestation GODS REVENGE AGAINST THE CRYING AND Execrable sinne of Murther Beaumarays and his brother Montagne kill Cahmpigny and Marin his Second in a Duell Blancheville the widdow of Champigny in revenge thereof hireth Le Valley servant to Beaumarays to murther his said Master with a Pistoll which he doth for the which Le Valley is broken on the wheele and Blancheville hanged for the same LEt all Religious Christians examine their hearts and soules with what face we can tread on Earth or looke up to Heaven when we stab at the Majestie of God in killing and murthering man his image a bloudy crime so repugnant to nature as reason abhorres it a scarlet and crying sinne so opposite to grace as God and his Angels detest it And yet if ever Europe were stained or submerged with it now it is for as a swift current or rather as a furious torrent it now flowes and overflowes in most Kingdomes Countries and Cities thereof in so much as in dispight of divine and humane Lawes it is now almost generally growne to a wretched custome and that almost to a second nature A fatall example whereof this ensuing History will report and relate us Wherein Gods Iustice hath so sharply and severely punished the perpetrators thereof that if we either acknowledge God for our Father or our selves for his children and servants it will teach us to be lesse revengfull and more charitable by their unfortunate ends and deplorable judgement I Will now relate a sad and bloudy History which betided in the faire Citie of Chartres the Capitall of the fertile Countrey of Beausse so famous for her sumptuous Cathedrall Church dedicated to the blessed Virgin Mary as also for that Henry the fourth that great King and unparalleld Captaine of France during the combustions of the league was despight of the league crowned therein In which faire and pleasant City as there still dwell some Noblemen and many Gentlemen in respect of the sweet aire and goodly Champaigne Countrey thereabouts second for that to no other in France So of late yeares there resided two rich and brave young Gentlemen well descended being both of them heires to their two deceased fathers The one of them named Monsieur De Champigny and the other Monsieur De Beaumarays and their Demaines and Lands lay within seven leagues of this City in the way towards Vendosme Now the better to see them in their true and naturall Characters They were both of them tall and slender and of faire and sanguine complexions and very neere of an age For Champigny was twenty six yeares old and Beaumarays twenty foure and yet the last had a beard and the first none and of the two Champigny was by farre the richer but Beaumarays the Nobler descended Now to lay this History upon its proper seat and naturall foundation we must understand that there was a very rich Counsellour of the Presidiall Court of Chartres named Monsieur De Rosaire whose wife being dead left him no other childe but one faire young daughter of the age
saw or knew them May wee reade this their History first to the honour of God and then to our owne Instruction and reformation That the sight and remembrance of these their punishments may deterre us from the impiety and inhumanity of perpetrating the like bloudy crimes Amen GODS REVENGE AGAINST THE CRYING AND Execrable sinne of Murther Lorenzo murthereth his wife Fermia Hee some twenty yeares after as altogether unknowne robbeth his and her sonne Thomaso who likewise not knowing Lorenzo to be his father doth accuse him for that robbery for which he is hanged THose who by the pernitious instigation and fatall temptation of Sathan doe wilfully imbrue their hands in innocent bloud and so make themselves guilty of murther are no longer men but have prodigiously metamorphosed themselves into the nature and quality of devils And as after this their crime they are worthy of all true christians detestation so most commonly without Gods saving grace and mercy their hearts are so obdurated with impenitency of security and their soules seared up and abandoned to all kinds of atheisticall prophannesse and impiety that they are so far from thinking of God as they beleeve there is no God and so far from fearing of his judgements and punishments as they are desperately confident they have not deserved any But because their hearts and actions are as transparent to Gods eyes and knowledge as Gods decrees and resolution are invisible to theirs therefore despight this their blindnesse and the devils malice and subtilty to obscure and conceale it this world will affoord them no true peace nor this life produce them any perfect tranquility But wheresoever they goe or live their guilty thoughts and consciences as so many hellish bloudhounds will incessantly persue and follow them till in the end they drag them to condigne shame misery and confusion for the same which this subsequent history will verifie and make good to us in a wretched and execrable personage whom it mournefully presents to our view and consideration Let us read it in the feare of God that we may weigh that benefit by it which becomes good Christians to make IT is not the meannesse of the personages but the greatnesse and eminence of Gods Judgements which hath prevailed with me to give this History a place among my others The which to draw from the head-spring and originall we must understand that in Italy the Garden of Europe as Europe is that of the whole world and in the City of Genova seated upon the Mediterranean Sea which the Italians for the sumptuousnesse and statelinesse of her buildings doe justly stile and entitle proud Genova neare unto the Arsenall upon the Key there dwelt of late yeares a proper tall young man of a coale blacke haire some twenty five yeares old named Andrea Lorenzo who by his trade was a Baker and was now become Master of his profession and kept forth his Oven and shop for himselfe wherein he was so industrious and provident that in a short time he became one of the prime Bakers of that City and wrought to many Ships and Galleyes of this Estate and Seigniory He in few yeares grew rich was proffered many wives of the daughters of many wealthy Bakers and other Artificers of Genova but he was still covetous and so addicted to the world as he could fancy none nor as yet be resolved or perswaded to seeke any maid or widdow in marriage sith hee knew it to be one of the greatest and most important actions of our life and which infallibly drawes with it either our chiefest earthly felicity or misery But as marriages are made in heaven before consummated on earth So Lorenzo going on a time to the City of Savona which both by Sea and Land is some twenty little miles from Genova and heretofore was a free City and Estate of it selfe but now swallowed up in the power and opulencie of that of Genova he there fell in love with a rich Vintners daughter her father named Iuan Baptista Moron and shee Firmia Moron who was a lovely and beautifull young maiden of some eighteene yeares of age being tall and slender of a pale complection and a bright yellow haire but exceedingly vertuous and religious and endowed with many sweet qualities and perfections who althouhh she were sought in marriage by divers rich young men of very good families of that City with the worst of whom either for estate or extraction Lorenzo might no way compare yet shee could fancie none but him and hee above all the men of the world she secretly in her heart and minde desired might be her Husband Lorenzo with order and discretion seeks Fermia in mariage of her father Moron who is too strong of purse and to high of humour to match his daughter to a Baker or to any other of a mechanicall profession and so gives him a flat and peremptory deniall But Lorenzo finds his daughter more courteous and kinde to his desires for she being as deeply enamoured of his personage as he was of her beauty and vertues after a journey or two which he had made to her at at Savona she consents and yeelds to him to be his wife conditionally that hee can obtaine her fathers good will thereunto but not otherwise which Lorenzo yet feared and doubted would prove a difficult taske for him to compasse and procure for her father knowing Fermia to be his owne and onely childe and daughter and that her beautie and vertuous education together with the consideration of his owne wealth and estate made her every way capable of a farre better husband than Lorenzo As also that his daughter in reason and religion and by the lawes of heaven and earth was bound to yeeld him all duty and obedience because of him she had formerly received both life and being therefore he was resolute that Lorenzo should not have his daughter to wife neither would he ever hearken to accept or consent to take him for his sonne in Law Lorenzo having thus obtained the heart and purchased the affection of his sweet and deare Fermia he now out of his fervent desire and zeale to see her made his wife and himselfe her husband makes it both his ambition and care according to her order to drawher father Moron to consent thereunto wherein the more importunate humble and dutifull he both by himselfe friends is to Moron the more imperious averse and obstinate is he to Lorenzo as disdaining any farther to heare of this his suit and motion for his daughter But Lorenzo loves the daughter too tenderly and dearly thus to be put off with the first repulse and deniall of her father and so notwithstanding hee againe persevereth in his suit towards him with equall humility and resolution Hee requesteth his consent to their affections with prayers and his daughter Fermia having formerly acquainted her father with her deare and inviolable love to Lorenzo she now prayes him thereto with teares But as one who
Charybdis of Murther for they found the fruits and end of their beastly pleasures farre more bitter then their beginning was sweet yea and because at first they would not looke on repentance at last shame lookes on them and they when it is too late both on a miserable shame and a shamefull misery May we all reade it to Gods glory and consequently to the reformation of our lives and the consolation and salvation of our owne soules IN the beautifull Citie of Avignion seated in the Kingdome of France and in the Province of Provence being the Capitall of the Dutchie of Venissa belonging to the Pope and wherein for the terme of welneere eightie yeeres they held their Pontificall See there dwelt a young Gentlewoman of some twentie yeeres of age tearmed Madamoyselle Laurieta whose father and mother being dead was left alone to her selfe their onely childe and heire being richer in beautie then lands and indued with many excellent qualities and perfections which gave grace and lustre to her beautie as her beautie did to them For shee spake the Latine and Italian tongue perfect was very expert and excellent in singing dancing musicke painting and the like which made her famous in that Citie But as there needs but one vice to eclipse and drowne many vertues so this faire Laurieta was more beautifull then chaste and not halfe so modest as lascivious It is as great a happinesse for children to enjoy their Parents as a miserie to want them For Laurieta's Father and Mother had been infinitely carefull and curious to traine her up in the Schoole of Vertue and Pietie and wherein her youth had during the terme of their lives made a happie entrance and as I may say a fortunate and glorious progression But when God the great Moderator and soveraigne Iudge of the world had in his eternall Decree and sacred Providence taken them out of this world then Laurieta was left to the wide world and to the vanitie thereof without guide or governour exposed to the varietie of the fortunes or rather the misfortunes of the times as a Ship without Pilot â—…r Helme subject to the mercy of every mercilesse winde and wave of the Sea yea and then it was that shee forgot her former modestie and chastitie and now began to adore the Shrines of Venus and Cupid by polluting and prostituting her body to the beastly pleasures of lust and forâ—…cation wherein it grieves mee to relate shee tooke a great delight and felicitie But shee shall pay deare for this bitter-sweet vice of hers yea and though it seeme to begin in content and pleasure yet wee shall assuredly see it end in shame repentance and misery for this sinne of Whoredome betrayes when it seemes to delight us and strangleth when it makes greatest shew to imbrace us so sweet and pure vertues are modestie and chastitie so foule and fatall vices are concupiscence and lust But hee with whom shee was most familiar and to whom shee imparted the greatest part of her favours was to one Monsieur de Belluile a proper yong Gentleman dwelling neere the Citie of Arles by birth and extraction noble but otherwise more rich then wise who comming to Avignion no sooner saw Laurieta but hee both gloried in the sight of her singular and triumphed in the contemplation of her exquisite and incomparable beautie making that his best content and this his sweetest felicitie that his soveraigne good and this his heaven upon earth so as losing himselfe in the labyrinth of her beautie and as it were drowning his thoughts in the sea of his concupiscence and sensualitie hee spends not onely his whole time but a great part of his wealth in wantonizing and entertaining her a vicious and foule fault not onely peculiar to Belluile but incident and fatall to too many Gallants as well of most parts of Christendome in generall as of France in particular it being indeed a disasterous and dangerous rocke whereon many inconsiderate and wretched Gentlemen have suffered shipwrack not only of their reputations healths and estates but many times of theiâ—… lives In the meane time Laurieta more jealous of her same then carefull to preserve her chastitie is advertised that Belluile is not content to cull the dainties of her beautie and youth but hee forgets himselfe and his discretion so farre as to vaunt thereof by letting fall some speeches tending to the blemish and disparagement of her honour so as vaine and lascivious as shee is yet the touching of this string affords her harsh and distastfull melodie For shee will seeke to cover her shame by her hypocrisie and so resolves to make him know the foulenesse of his offence in that of his basenesse and ingratitude To which end at her first interview and meeting of him shee not onely checks him for it but forbids and banisheth him her company which indeed had been a just cause and opportunitie for him to have converted his lust into chastitie and his folly into repentance But hee is too dissolute and vicious to bee so happily reclaimed from Laurieta and therefore hee is resolved not onely to justifie his innocencie but thereby also to persevere in his sinne Hee is acquainted with many Gentlemen who forgetting themselves conceive a felicitie and glory to erect the trophees of their vanities upon the disparagement of Ladies honours yea he seemes to be so farre from being guiltie of this errour as hee taxeth and condemnes others in being guiltie or accessary thereunto So although his Mistresse Laurieta remaine still coy strange and haggard to him yet hee persevereth in his affection to her who at last judging of his innocencie by his constancie and of that by his many letters and presents which hee still sent her as also observing that she had no firme grounds nor could produce any pregnant or valable witnesses of this report shee againe exchangeth her frownes into smiles and so receives and intertaines him into her favour onely with this premonition and caution That if ever heereafter shee heard of his folly or ingratitude in this kinde shee would never looke him in the face except with contempt and detestation So these their dis-joynted affections as well by oathes as protestations are againe confirmed and cimented but such lustfull contracts and lascivious familiarities and sympathies seldome or never make prosperous ends Now to give forme and life to this Historie Not long after a brave young Gentleman of Mompillier named Monsieur de Poligny having some occasion comes to Avignion who frequenting their publike Balles or Dancings no sooner saw our faire and beautifull Laurieta but hee falls in love with her and salutes and courts her and from thencefoorth deemes her so fayre as hee useth all meanes to become her servant but not in the way of honour and Marriage rather with a purpose to make her his Courtezan then his Wife But hee sees himselfe deceived in the irregular passion of his affection for Laurieta is averse and will not bee
to murther him in a Wood and then marries him in requitall The said La Villete a yeere after riding thorow the same Wood his Horse falles with him and almost kills him when hee confesseth the murther of his master De Merson and accuseth his wife La Vasselay to be the cause thereof So for these their bloody crimes he is hanged and she burnt alive 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 Anselmo 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 beheaded and her body burnt History XV. Maurice like a bloody villaine and domnable 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 and being discrazed of his wits in Prison hee there confesseth this foule and inhumane murther for the which he is hanged GODS REVENGE AGAINST THE CRYING AND Execrable Sinne of Murder History XI De Salez killeth Vaumartin in a Duell La Hay causeth Michaelle to poison La Frange De Salez loves La Hay and because his father Argentier will not consent that he marry her stifleth him in his bed and then takes her to his wife she turns Strumpet and cuts his throat as he is dying he accuseth her of this bloudy fact and himselfe for murthering his father Argentier so his dead body is hang'd to the gallowes then burnt La Hay confesseth this murther and likewise that she caused Michaelle to poison La Frange shee hath her right hand cut off and is then burnt alive Michaelle is broken on the wheele and his dead body throwne into the River ALthough our perverse Nature and rebellious thoughts may for a while make us esteeme Envie to be no Vice and Murder a Vertue yet if we wil erect the eyes of our Faith and so looke from our selves to our soules from Earth to Heaven and from Satan to God we shall then assuredly finde that hating our Christian Brother wee hate Christ who made us Brothers and murdering him that we maliciously and presumptuously attempt to recrucifie Christ by whom we must without whom we cannot be saved But if we will turne Atheists and beleeve there is a Heaven but no God or Devils and say there is a God but no Heaven then that uncharitable Tenent of Envie may be held lawfull and this bloudy position of Murder practised because privileged else not Wherefore let us who are Christians resend this devillish doctrine and doctrine of Devils to Hell from whence it first came and to the Devill himselfe who first broached and invented it sith we cannot professe it without making our selves Agents nor perpetrate it without becomming his very limbs and members in regard they will infallibly prove the wofull fore-runners of our misery and the wretched Heralds of our perdition as the bloudy Actors of this ensuing mournfull History will make good and instance to us in themselves when the severe judgements and punishments of God befell them so suddenly as it was too late for them either to revoke or bewaile the enormitie of these their foule and infernall crimes THolouse as well for greatnesse as state the third citie and Court of Parliament of France is the place wherein we shall understand there was lately committed and perpetrated a tragicall History which hath many mournfull and bloody dependances the which to branch forth and depaint in their naked colours we must understand that therein lived a Councellour of that famous Court being a rich Gentleman well descended tearmed Monsieur de Argentier whose wife being deceased left him father only to one hopefull sonne of the age of two and twenty yeeres tearmed Monsieur de Salez who being wholly addicted to the warres from which martiall Profession it was impossible for his old father to divert and withdraw him he procured him an Ensignes place under Monsieur de Roquelaure whom he served in the Adriaticke Sea under the Noble and Generous Venetians who then stood rather jealous than fearefull of the power and greatnesse of Spaine but the Chymera of that warre after the terme of three or foure yeeres being vanished and blowen away and consequently betwixt those two mighty Estates a new Peace contracted and concluded although the old had not beene actually broken and delacerated home returnes Monsieur de Roquelaure for Gascogny and with him De Salez for Langâ—…edoc and Tholouse where he is received of his father with much content and joy not that hee was contented to see his sonne professe these Militarie courses which onely affords the smoake of Honour and not the solidity of profit but rather that hee exceedingly rejoyced to see him returne therefrom and from whence if he cannot hope that his requests will solely divert him yet hee is resolved and assured that his Commands both will and shall To which end as any humour is soonest subject to be expelled and defaced by its contrary so the old Councellour having as much Iudgement and Providence in his head as his sonne hath Vanity in his thoughts and Rashnesse in his resolutions doth both request and command him to leave the warre for Peace Armes for Love the Campe for the Citie and his Captaine for a Wife and so no longer to march and fight under the Banners of Mars and Bellona but under the Standarts of Venus and Hymeneus to which effect he profers him the choyce of many rich and faire young Gentlewomen of the Countrey to his wife but especially and with farre more earnestnesse than any other to an exceeding rich match in the Citie which was a young Gentlewoman tearmed La Frange being the onely child of Monsieur de Clugny one of the most famous and richest Presidents of that Court young of yeeres as being but sixteene or seventeene but withall deformed both in favour and body for shee was of a browne and sowre complexion and not onely a Dwarfe in stature but also exceedingly crooke-back'd and yet beyond measure very amorous and desirous of a Husband onely the endowments of her minde most richly recompenced and made satisfaction for the defects of her body for shee had an active and nimble wit a sweet and sugred tongue a rich Memorie and a powerfull and happy Iudgement and was indeed an excellent Dauncer and Singer and withall a most perfect and exquisite Musician But as yet De Salez warlike and generous resolution could not be so soone made flexible to embrace the motion of a wife and so he returnes his deniall in stead of his consent but his wise old father Argentier being therefore the more curious of his sonne De Salez his prosperity and welfare because hee apparantly saw he no way regarded but every way neglected it himselfe his sonnes exorbitant
at life see what bitter fruits and sharpe ends ever attend upon Whoredome and Murther it is a lively Example for all kinde of Empericks and Drugstâ—…rs whatsoever to consider how severely God doth infallibly revenge and punish the poysoning of his Saints and children In a word it is a Lesson and Caveat for all people and for all degrees of people but especially of Christians who professe the Gospell of Christ not only to detest these foule sins of Revenge and Murther in others but to hate and abhor them in their selves which that all may endeavour to practice and performe grant good God who indeed art the only giver of all goodnesse GODS REVENGE AGAINST THE CRYING AND Execrable Sinne of Murther HISTORY XII Albemare causeth Pedro and Leonardo to murther Baretano and hee after marriah Clara whom Baretano first sought to marry Hee causeth his man Valereo to poyson Pedro in Prison and by a letter which Leonardo sent him Clara perceives that hâ—… husband Albemare had hired and caused Pedro and Leonardo to murther her first Baretano which letter she reveales to the Iudge so he is hanged and likewise Valerio and Leonardo for these their blody crimes WIth what face can we presume to tread on the face of Earth or dare lift up our eyes to that of Heaven when our thoughts are so rebellious to conspire and our hearts and resolutions so cruell to embrue our hands in the innocent blood of our harmelesse and Christian brethren Thoughts they are which in seeming to please our senses poyson our hearts and doe therefore truely poyson our soules because they so falsly please our senses Resolutions they are which we cannot conceive or attempt with more inhumanity than finish with misery Sith in thinking to send them to their untimely graves wee assuredly send our selves to our owne miserable and infamous ends whereof in this ensuing History we shall find many wofull Presidents and mournefull examples in divers unfortunate and wretched persons who were borne to happinesse not to infamy to prosperity not to misery If they had so much Grace to secure their lives as Vanity and Impiety to ruine them It is a History purposely pâ—…duced and penned for our detestation not for our imitation Sith it is a point of true and happy wisdome in all men to beware by other mens harmes Read it then with a full intent to profit thy selfe thereby and so thou mayest boldly and safely rest assured that the sight of their sinnes and punishments will prove the reformation of thine owne FRuitfull and faire Lombardy is the Countrey and the great populous and rich City of Millan the Capitall of that Dutchie the place where the Scene of this mournefull and Tragicall History is layen where perpetrated The which to refetch from its first spring and Originall thereby the more truely to informe our curiosity and instruct our knowledge We must then understand that long since the Duke of Feria succeeded the Count De Fuentes as Vice-roy of that potent and flourishing Dutchie for King Philip the third of Spaine his master There was native and resident in that City an ancient Nobleman tearmed Seignior Leonardo Capello who in his younger yeares had married a Spanish Lady and brought her from Spaine to Millan tearmed Dona Maria de Castiana He exceeding rich and noble and shee as noble and faire he by his fathers side allied to Cardinall Charles Barromeo since Sainted by Pope Paul V. she by her mother to the present Duke of Albucurque hee infinitly honoured for his extraction and wealth shee no lesse beloved and respected for her beautie and vertues and although there are but few marriages contracted between the Millaneses and Spaniards and those very seldome prove successefull and prosperous in respect of the antipathy which for the most part is hereditary betwixt the commands of the Spaniards and the subjection of the Millaneses yet it seemed that this of Capello and Castiana was first instituted in heaven ere consummated on earth for so sweetly did their yeeres humours and affections conjoyne and sympathize as although thy were two persons yet I may truely affirme and say they had but one heart affection and desire which was mutually to please and reciprocally to affect and love each other And as Marriages cannot bee reputed truly happy and fortunate if they be not blessed and crowned with the blessings of children which indeed is not onely the sweetest life of humane content but also the best and sweetest content of our humane life so they had not beene long married ere God honoured them and their nuptiall bed with a beautifull and delicate and young daughter tearmed Dona Clara the onely childe of their loynes and heire of their lands and vertues being indeed the true picture of themselves and the joyfull pledge and seale of their intire and involuable affections who having overpast her infancy and obtained the eighteenth yeare of her age she was so exquisitely adorned with beauty and so excellently endued and enriched with vertues as distinctly for either or joyntly for both she was and was truely reputed the Paragon of Nature the pride of Beauty the wonder of Millan the glory of her Sex and the Phenix of her Time And because the purity and perfection of her beauty deserves to be seene through this dimme Perspective and the dignity of her vertues knowne of the Reader in this my impollished relation For the first she was of stature indifferently tall but exceeding streight and slender her haire either of a deepe Chesnut colour or rather of a light blacke But to which most adhearing and inclyning fancy mought but curiosity could difficultly distinguish her complexion and tincture rather of an amorous and lovely browne than of a Roseat and Lilly die but yet so sweetly pure and purely sweet and withall rather fat than leane that no earthly object could more delight and please the eye or ravish the sense And for her cies those two relucent lamps and startes of love they were so blacke and piercing that they had a secret and imperious influence to draw all other eyes to gaze and doe homage to hers as if all were bound to love her and shee so modest as if purposely framed to love none but her selfe Neither did her Front Lippes Necke or Paps any way detract but every way to adde to the perfection of her other excellencies of Nature For the first seemed to be the Promâ—…ntory of the Graces the second the Residence of delight and pleasure The third the Pyramides of State and Majesty And the fourth the Hills and Valley of love But leave we the dainties of her body now to speake of the rarities and excellencies of her mind which I cannot rightly define whether the curiositie and care of her parents in her education or her owne ingenious and apt inclination to Vertue and Honour were more predominant in her for in either or rather in both she was so exquisite and excellent that in Languages Singing
meanes and such a one as indeed Masserina holdes every way a fit agent and instrument for her turne and purpose She is glad of this advertisement and will neither give nor receive any truce from her heart or her heart from her revenge before she have seene and spoken with Tivoly The which to effect shee to Harcourt pretends a sodaine ach in her right arme and so upon good advise tells him that she is very desirous to goe to the Bathes of Pougges by Nevers there to stay some fifteene or twenty dayes at farthest Harcourt no way once dreaming of her inveterate malice and farre lesse of her revengefull and bloody intents towards the safety and life of his wife La Precoverte approves of her resolution and journey but intreats her to be wonderfull carefull of her selfe her health and safety and proffereth to accompany her himselfe she with many kisses deerely thankes him for his care of her and affection to her herein answereth him that his stay in Lyons will make her journey the more safe short so she accepts of the man for the master and only takes Noell along with her who respects her so well as he cares not for her sight much lesse for her company She arrives at Nevers and impatient of all delay the next morning findes out Tivoly at Pougges being a very tall man of a cole blacke beard and of a wanne and sullen countenance shee by his Phisiognomie judgeth that her hopes will not be deceived of him The second day she breakes with him about het hellish businesse and findes him tractable to her devillish intents They proceed to this lamentable bargaine and shee is to give him one hundred Crownes in hand and a faithfull promise of a hundred and fiftie more when he hath effected it as also fiftie Crownes for the Charge of his journey the which she limits at fifteene dayes so having settled this her businesse she now names the party to Tivoly whom she will have him to poyson La Precoverte to be the woman who resides and dwels with her Father Monseiur La Vaquery a poore Gentleman in the Citie of Troyes in Champagne and shee a young Gentlewoman of some twentie yeares of age of a flaxen haire and very sickly When giving him a small Saphir Ring from her Finger she therewith sweares him both to the performance and to the secrecie of this murther the which armed by the Divell hee doth When being exceeding glad of this his bloody imployment which brings him store of gold the which hee esteemes the Elixar of his heart and the felicitie and glory of his life and which indeed was the maine businesse that brought him on this side the Alpes from Italy to France Thus without any feare of God or thought of Heaven or Hell these murtherous and damnable miscreants have concluded and shut up this their bloody bargaine Our poore sweet La Precoverte having received her Husbands Letter from Geneâ—… and considering the contents thereof as also that of her Sister in Law Masserina she knowes not what to thinke either of their Letters or of themselves she sees her letter to promise much zeale and devotion to God and his much affection to her and yet remembring his former unkindenesse I may say crueltie towards her as also the manner of their base and clandestine departure then she thinks the first to be false and the second feigned and rherfore conceives she hath far more reasons to dispaire than to hope either of their Innocencie or their returne But this is her resolution Harcourt is her Husband therefore shee will still love him dearely She is his wife and therefore shee will for ever pray for him and his prosperitie religiouslie Thus hoping and many times with many heavie sighes and bitter teares wishing and desiring his happy returne and vertuous reformation she in his absence lives pensively and sorrowfully with her Father rather as a widdow than a wife and such is her miserable Estate and poore and sorrowsull fortune that she well knowes not whether she may more grieve or reioyce that God hitherto hath given her no Childe For ah me she is so invironed with afflictions so incompassed with calamities so assaulted with sicknesse and so weighed downe with sadnesse and disconsolation as shee reputes her life worse than death and either wisheth her Husband athome with her or her selfe in Heaven with God But Alas alas deere sweet young Gentlewoman little doest thou thinke or dreame now thou desirest death what a hellish plot there is contrived and intended against thy life by these two bloody Factors and Agents of the Devill Tivoly and thy Sister Masserina O Masserina Masserina the disgrace of thy name the infamy of thy family the shame of thy time and the scandal of thy sexe O how I want words not teares to condemne thy cruell rage and to execrate thy infernall malice and fury thus to resolve to imbrue thy guilty hands in the innocent blood of thy chast and vertuous Sister in Law La Precoverte for was it not sinne and lust enough for thee to have heretofore bereaved her of the love and presence of her Husband but that thou wilt now be so wretched and inhumane as likewise to rob her of her life O griefe O shame O pittie that thou shouldest once dare to thinke thereof much lesse to attempt it I meane so lamentable a crime and so bloody a fact which assure thy selfe as there is a God in Heaven will never goe long unpunished in Earth But I must proceed in this our sad and mournefull History and rherefore with an unwilling and trembling resolution I am enforced to declare that this limbe of the Divell Tivoly rides away to Troyes where he speedily and secretly makes profession of his Empery When understanding that Monseiur de la Vaquery is constantly in the Citie he with an Italian impudence and policy soone skrewes and insinuates himselfe into his Company And as it is the vanitie of our times and the weakenesse and imbecility of our Iudgements in any profession whatsoever still to preferre and respect strangers before our owne Countreymen so Monseiur de la Vaquery hearing this Italian to devoure Latine at his pleasure and rather to vomit than utter forth whole Catalogues of phisicall phrases which hee had stollen not learnt from Aristotle Galen and Parecellsus His ignorance beleeves him to be very learned and therefore hee holdes him a most fit Phisitian to cure his Daughter La Precoverte of her consumption whereinto as before she was deeply and dangerouslie fallen by the unparalleld griefes and sorrowes which she conceived for her husbands former unkindnesse to her but more especially for his present absence and flight with his lascivious Sister Masserina So in a most unhappie hower Her Father La Vaquery mentioneth it to Tivoly Which being the only occasion and opportunitie hee gaped for he freely promiseth him his best art and skill for her recovery and the next
the World where the whole Nobilitie and Gentrie make all their aboad and residence the which indeed is one of the maine poynts and essentiall reasons why their Cities are so rich populous and fayre Thus we see Streni and his three Daughters by this time come to Florence and dwel as I have formerly said neere the Monastery of the Dominican Fryers where his wealth birth and port cause him to be visited and frequented of the best and noblest sort of that Citie and as the time of his residence so the number of his acquaintance encreaseth for vertue is capable to purchase friends every where and his wealth and Daughters beauties like so many powerfull Lures and Adamants draw many young gallant Gentleman to his house to see and serve them Where although Babtistyna and Amarantha are beloved and sought in marriage of many yet their Father is resolute to marry their eldest Sister Iaquinta first wherefore when any noblemen or Gentlemen come to his house she is to be seene and courted but Babtistyna and Amarantha are mewed and fast locked up in a Chamber They grieve hereat but they can neither alter nor remedy this their Fathers resolution for his word must bee their Oracle and his will their Law Now before I proceed farther in the dilation of this History as I one way commend Streni his resolution to marry his eldest daughter first so yet in approving his discretion for her preferment I must neverthelesse taxe his want of affection in hindring that of his two youngest daughters For as it was a courtesie of him to have Iaquinta seene of Suters so it was a degree of dis-respect I may say of cruelty in him to confine Babtistyna and Amarantha as prisoners to their Chambers when divers of them came purposely and honorably to his house both to see and seeke them in marriage But Iaquinta armed with her fathers love and authority growes extremely imperious and stately She triumpheth in conceit to see her selfe preferred of her father before her Sisters Shee sees her two sisters Babtistyna and Amarantha are sued and sought for in marriage by divers Cavalliers and the very consideration hereof grieves and the remembrance afflicts her but withall shee observes that they dare not disobey or contradict their fathers command to affect or speake with any and therefore the very knowledge and remembrance hereof againe rejoyceth her As it is a happinesse for us to purchase friends so it is a misery to lose them Her Sisters love her but she loves not them they are as unworthy of her hatred as she is of their affection Nature indeed hath given her the prerogative and priviledge but yet she should consider that they are her Sisters and not her Servants and that their bloud is hers and hers theirs It is an argument both of indiscretion and insolencie for one Brother or Sister to thinke themselves better then another But many Gentlewomen who are Sisters esteeme pride a second beauty or at least an excellent Grace and Ornament to them and therefore to preferre and elevate themselves they care not how they disparage and deiect others The beauty of Babtistyna and Amarantha is an eye-sore to Iaquinta The tree of malice never produceth good fruit It is still a happy vertue for us to checke and vanquish our owne vices She knowes that many Gentlemen love them but sees and observes with griefe that none affect her Her desire to marry is so immodestly licentious and boundlesse as she could willingly resolve to accept of any Gentleman for her husband that would be content to take her for his wife but Incontinencie prooves still a pernicious counsellor to young Ladies and Gentlewomen Now as Cantharides flie still to the fayrest flowers so shee sees and indeede infinitely bites the lip and grieves to see that all Lovers and Sutors flie to one of these her two Sisters and wholly abandon and forsake her selfe but being a woman she wants not an invention to apply a present remedy to this her discontent and choller Shee must have her Sisters beauties and braveries eclipsed that hers may appeare more bright and resplend and shine with more lustre and glory She knowes that Christall seemes precious when Diamonds are not in place to which end shee very passionately and yet subtilly workes upon the affections of her Father and obtaines of him that as her yeares so her apparell may excell and exceede that of her Sisters the which hee inconsiderately grants her and this shee receives and conceives to bee a step to her advancement and an obstacle to theirs So if they formerly grieved to see themselves imprisoned in a chamber whiles shee to her content and pleasure rejoyceth both to see and bee seene of Gentlemen So now their discontent thereof growes into choller and their choller into rage to see this their elder sister Iaquinta not onely to step some degrees beyond them but likewise many beyond her selfe in her apparell It is ever a wise and discreet vertue in Parents to distribute their favours and affections equally to their Children or if they chance to affect one better then others at least that they bee so reserved and cautious as to conceale it secretly to themselves that the rest may neither perceive nor know it That Streni sought to marry Iaquinta before Babtistyna and Amarantha as I formerly have sayd he did well but yet to make them lose when they might find and gaine a fortune was withall to be indiscreet if not unnaturall Mens fancies and affections in marriage are many times counselled and led by the eye as the eye is by the heart Some will prise and affect beauty without vertue others vertue without beauty but where both meete and concurre it doth not onely please but delight and so joyntly sympathize to make each other excellent Many of the best and noblest Cavalliers of Florence love Babtistyna and Amarantha but not Iaquinta or if they seeme to court Iaquinta it is but with a reserved hope and intent to injoy the sight and company of Babtistyna and Amarantha but as Iealousy and Malice have alwayes foure eyes in stead of two so it is at least a torment if not many deaths to Iaquinta to see her two Sisters to live and be beloved of all Sutors and her selfe of none the which to prevent and so to stop the progresse of their triumphs and consequently of her owne discontent and affliction she not desirous to have two such starres of beauty to appeare and shine together in the firmament of her Fathers house in Florence doth so secretly undermine and so cunningly prevail with him as her two sisters when they least dream or think thereof are by his order and command suddenly sent away by Coach to his Countrey house of Cardura neere Pistoia whereof wee have already made mention notwithstanding all their requests sighes and teares to the contrary and there by his appoyntment to be privately and disconsolately shut up from any
hereat but how to remedy it she knowes not For his discontent hath made him so vicious his vices so obstinate and his obstinacie so outragious and violent as his Mother surfets with his Love-sute to Eleanora and will no more entermeddle with it Hee prayes and reprayes her to make one Iourney more for him to Vercelie to see what alterations time may have wrought in the hearts of Cassino and Eleanora but shee is as averse and wilfull as he is obstinate and peremptory and therefore constantly vowes neither to write nor ever to conferre more with them herein But this resolute answer of the Mother breeds bad blood in the Sonne yea it makes a Mutiny in his thoughts a Civill warre in his heart and a flat Rebellion in his resolutions against her for the same to which the Devill the Arch-enemy and Incendiary of our soules blowes the Coles For he who hereâ—…ofore looked on his Mother with obedience and affection cannot or at least will not see her now but with contempt and malice yea hee is so devoid of Grace and so exempt of Goodnesse that hee lookes from Charitie to wrath from Religion to Revenge from Heaven to Hell and so resolves to murther her thinking with himselfe that if hee had once dispatcht her he should then be sole Lord of all her wealth and that then this his great and absolute estate would soone induce Cassino and Eleanora to accept of his affection But he reckons without his soule and without God and therefore no marvell if these his bloody hopes deceive and betray him his Religion and Conscience cannot prevaile with him neither hath his Soule either grace or power enough to divert him from this fatall busines and execrable resolution for he will be so infernall a Monster of nature as to act her death of whom he received his life He consults with himselfe and the Devill with him whether hee should stab or poyson her but he holds it farre more safe and lesse dangerous to use the Drug then the Dagger and so concludes upon poyson to which â—…nd he being resolute in his rage thus to make away his Mother he as an execrable Villaine or indeed rather as a Devill provides himselfe of poyson the which hee still carries about him waiting for an opportunitie to give an end to this deplorable busines the which the Devill very shortly administreth him The manner thus This refusall of Cassino to her Sonne Alphonso and his miserable relapse to whoredome drunkennesse and neglect of prayer doth exceedingly distemper the Lady Sophia his Mothers spirits and they her body so that she is three dayes sicke of a Burning feaver when to allay the fervor of that unaccustomed heate shee causeth some Almond-milke to bee made her the which shee compoundeth with many coole herbes and other wholesome Ingredients of that nature and quality which she takes three times each day morning after dinner and before shee goes to bed So the third day of her sicknesse walking in the afternoone in one of the shaddowed Allies of her Garden with her Sonne and there with her best advice rectifying and directing his resolutions from Vice to Vertue she is unexpectedly surprised with the Symptome of her Feaver when sitting downe and causing her waiting Maid to hold her head in one of the Arbours she prayes her Sonne Alphonso to runne to her Chamber and to bring her a small wicker Bottle of Almond milke the which he doth but bloody Villaine that he is nothing can withhold him but his heart being tempered with inhumanitie and crueltie hee first poures in his poyson therein and then gives it her who good Lady drinkes two great draughts thereof when a sweat presently over spreading her face and shee beginning to looke pale he as a wretched Hypocrite makes a loud outcry from the Garden to the house and calling there Servants to her assistance hee likewise cals for a Chaire so she is brought to her Chamber and laid in her bed and within few houres after as a vertuous Lady and innocent Saint she forsakes this life and this world for a better and the ignorance of her Servants and her bloody Sonne drench'd as it were in the rivolets of his fained teares together with his excessive lamentations doe coffin her dead body up somewhat privately and speedily so that there is no thought nor suspicion of poyson and thus was the lamentable Murther and deplorable end of this wise and religious Lady Sophia committed by her owne wretched and infernall Sonne Now this Devill Alphonso to set the better luster on his forrowes and the better varnish and colour on his mourning for the death of his Mother gives her a stately Funerall the pompe and cost whereof not only equalized but exceeded their ranke and quality For he left no Gentleman or Lady in or about Cassall uninvited to be at her buriall and his Feast and dighted himselfe and all his Kinsfolkes and Servants in mourning attire thereby the better to carry off the least reflexion or shaddow of suspicion from him of this his foule and inhumane Murther The newes of the Lady Sophia's death runs from Cassall to Vercelie where Cassino and his Neece Eleanora understanding thereof they both of them exceedingly lament and sorrow for it in regard she was a very Honourable Wise and Religious Lady and to whom the tender youth of Eleanora was infinitly beholding and indebted for many of her sweet vertues and perfections so that as her Vncle honoured her so this his Neece held her selfe bound to reverence her as making her eminent and singular vertues the mould and patterne whereon shee framed all her terrestriall comportments and actions which in few moneths after were so many and so excellent that as she was knowne to bee one of the most beautifull so shee was likewise justly reported to be one of the wisest young Ladies of all that Citie and Countrie which together with her owne great Estate as also that of her Vncle Cassino's to the full enjoying whereof in contemplation of her vertues and consanguinity he had justly both designed and adopted her his sole heire the which made her to be sought in marriage by divers young Gallants of very noble and chiefe houses most whereof were superiour to Alphonso both in blood and wealth When her Vncle at last with her owne free affection and consent privately marries her to Signior Hieronymo Brasciano a rich and brave young Gentleman of Vercelie who was Nephew and Heire to the Bishop of that Citie but he being likewise very young the tendernesse of both their ages dispenced them from as yet lying together and both the Bishop and her Vncle Cassino for some important reasons best knowne to themselves caused this their marriage as yet to bee concealed from all the world with great privacie and secrecie hee for the most part living with the Bishop his Vncle at the Citie of Turin which is the Court of the Duke of Savoy and she in Vercelie
all the streets and corners of Granado that almost all the people of that Citie flocke the next morning to the place of execution to see this cruell Mistresse and her bloudy Chamber-maid take their last farewell of this world for the Lady Dominica must likewise die notwithstanding her Mother Cervantella's teares and her Husband Andrada's importunate requests and passionate praiers to her Judges to the contrary And first Denisa is caused to ascend the Ladder who was a tall and comely young woman to whom God was so mercifull to her soule that there with many bitter sighs and teares she was wonderfull sorrowfull for these her two foule murthers especially for that of her poore Infant babe whom she had almost as so one dispatched out as she brought into the world She earnestly besought all her auditors and spectators to pray unto God to forgive her and to bee mercifull to her soule shee affirmed that her Lady Dominica's enticements and Gold first drew her to be accessary to the poysoning of her Master Roderigo the which againe and againe from her heart and soule shee prayed God to pardon her when entreating all young people especially all young women to be more wise and religious and lesse prophane and bloudy minded by her example and now recommending her soule into the hands of her Saviour and Redeemer she is turned over When immediately after this our wretched Lady Dominica is likewise brought to her execution whom the vanity of her heart and the impurity and prophanenesse of her soule had purposely dighted in her best dresse and richest apparell which was a purple wrought Velvet Gowne and a curious great laced Ruffe with all things else sutable to it but which is lamentable to see and fearefull to consider she was as carelesse of her soule as curious of her body for the Priests and Friers in her prison could not abate or beat down her impiety but as there so here on the Ladder she enters into many deepe execrations and curses as well against her second Husband Andrada as against her Chamber-maid Denisa who she said was now rather gone to the Devill than to God but no spark of grace no shew of sorrow or signe of repentance could appeare in her looks or bee heard in her speeches for poysoning of her first Husband Roderigo but with much choller and vehemencie shee there uttered many other lewd and lascivious speeches the which grieved her Christian Auditours to heare and therefore I will not defile my pen or offend the Readers religious and chast hearts with the knowledg thereof so this miserable and wretched Lady was turned over the Ladder who made her death answerable to the foulnesse and enormity of her life being not so happy in her death as her bloudy Chamber-maid Denisa and I feare me as exempt of grace and goodnesse as the Devill could wish her But God is the Lord of Justice and father of mercy to whom I leave her They youth and beauty of this cruell and inhumane Lady Dominica was pitied of many but her foule fact abhorred and detested of all who were present at her death may we who reade her History cherish our Vertues by the sight and knowledge of her Vices and fortifie our soules with Religion and Piety as she ruined hers by the neglect and want thereof Amen GODS REVENGE AGAINST THE CRYING AND Execrable Sinne of Murther HISTORY XXIX Sanctifiore upon promise of mariage gets Ursina with child and then afterwards very ingratefully and treacherously rejecteth her and marieth Bertranna Ursina being sensible of this her disgrace disguiseth her selfe in a Fryers habit and with a case of Pistolls kills Sanctifiore as he is walking in the fields for the which shee is hanged IT is a poore profit a wretched pleasure for the satisfaction of choler and revenge to imbrue our hands in the innocent blood of our neere kindred sith in seeking to wound him wee more properly kill our selves in soule and body striking him who is the figurative image of God wee presumptuously stab at the Majesty of God himselfe by whom our soules must without whom they can never bee saved Therefore if wee will not know as wee are men yet wee ought firmly both to know and beleeve as wee are Christians that revenge and murther are the two prodigious twins of Sathan the last being engendered and propagated of the first and both from Hell For revenge is nothalfe so sweet in the beginning as bitter in the end nor murther by many degrees so pleasing as it proves pernitious to her Authors as this ensuing History will verifie and make apparant unto us LEt your thoughts be carried over those high hills of Europe the Alpes and Appenins to the noble and famous citie of Naples the head and capitall of that flourishing kingdome and from whence it receives and derives its denomination a city exceeding rich populous and faire and graced and adorned with more Nobilitie and Gentrie of both sexes than any other of Italy whatsoever Wherein of very late yeares when the Duke of Ossuna was Viceroy thereof there dwelt two rich and beautifull young gentlewomen the one named Dona Vrsina Placedo the onely daughter and child of Seignior Agustino Placedo the other Dona Bertranna de Tores likewise the only child and daughter of Seignior Thomaso de Tores the first native of Ferenzolo in Pulia and the second of Materana in Calabria both of them being exceeding rich and well descended Gentlemen who with their wives and daughters for the most part built up their residence in Naples but especially all the winter time Now because these two young gentlewomen whom henceforth wee will tearme by their Christian and not by their Surnames are two of the chiefest personages which give life to this History therefore I hold it not impertinent for mee superficially to give the Reader their different caracters and delineations Vrsina was past the twentieth yeare of her age and Bertranna entring into her eighteenth Vrsina was tall and slender Bertranna short and somewhat crook-backed Vrsina was the fairer of the two but Bertranna by far the subtiller and wiser Vrsina was of a deepe Amber hayre but Bertranna of a coale blacke to conclude this point Vrsina was affable and courteous but Bertranna coy proud and malitious The truth and order of this History must here informe us that although these two rich young Gentlewomen had divers brave Gallants who were sutors to them for marriage yet none of them so dearely and passionatly loved Vrsina as the Baron of Sanctifiore of Capua a verie rich young Nobleman but far more proper than wise and withall far more lascivious than rich nor did or could Bertranna in her heart and mind affect any other but the said Baron neither was it possible for her father De Tores to perswade or draw her to desire any other Nobleman or Gentleman for her husband than him Thus wee see Sanctifiore deeply to love Vrsina and Bertranna him
will assailes us with Wealth Riches Dignities Honours Preferments Sumptuous houses perfumed Beds Vessels of gold and silver Pompous Apparell Delicious fare variety of sweet Musick Dancing Maskes and Stage-playes delicate Horses rich Coaches and infinite Attendants with a thousand other inticements and allurements The Flesh presents us with Youth Beauty The lust of the eye and the pride of life with inordinate affection and lascivious desires with a piercing eye a vermillion cheeke golden haire and a slender waste and although it discover us not all these perfections of nature in one personage yet he shewes us most of them in divers and then if any thing want to captivate our affections wee shall heare them marry their Syren voices to their owne Lutes and Vialls or their dancing feete to those of others or if this will not suffice then Perfuming Powdering Crisping Painting Amorous kisses Sweet smiles Suggered speeches Wanton embracings and Lascivious dalliance will uudertake to play a World in love On the other side Strength Nimblenesse Agility of body Sloth Luxurie Gluttonie Intemperancie Drunkennesse Voluptuousnesse and Sensuality will cast us out so faire I meane so treacherous a lure as if we stoope thereto we shall buy our pleasure with repentance and our delight therein will prove our ruine and destruction And now if neither the World nor the flesh can intangle or insnare our hearts Then comes the Devill that roaring Lyon who waâ—…tes about seeking whom he may devoure that mortall enemy and Arch-traytor to our soules that Prince of darkenesse whose subtilty is the more dangerous and malice the more fatall in that he transformes himselfe into 〈◊〉 Angell of light thereby to make us heires and slaves of his obscure kingdome yea he will proffer us more then either our tongues can demand or our hearts desire for all the pompe treasure and pleasures of the World yea all that is in the World and the world it selfe hee will prostrate and give us if we will consent to obey him and promise to fall downe and adore him and for a pledge of his infernall bounty and liberality hee will puffe us up with Pride Arrogancie Ambition Vaine-glory Ostentation Disdaine Covetousnesse Singularitie Affectation Confidence Security and if all these allurements will not prevaile to subdue us hee hath yet reserved Troopes and Forces and another string to his Bow for then exchanging his smiles into frownes and his calmes to stormes hee will give us Pensivenesse Griefe of mind and body Affliction Sorrow Discontent Choler Envie Indignation Despaire Revenge and the like Yea he will watch us at every turne and waite on us at every occasion for are we bent to revenge hee will blow the coales to our choler are wee given to sorrow and discontent hee will thrust and hale us on to Despaire are wee inclined to Wantonnesse and Lasciviousnesse he will fit us with meanes and opportunity to accomplish our carnall desires or are wee addicted to covetousnesse and honours hee will either cause us to breake our hearts or our necks to obtaine it for it is indifferent to him either how or in what manner we inlarge and fill up the empty roomes of his vast and infernall kingdome Thus wee see how powerfull our three capitall enemies are yea what a cloud nay what a world of subordinate meanes and instruments they have not onely to insnare but to destroy us yea not onely to conquer our hearts but which is worse to make ship-wracke of our soules And from hence comes our misery yea from these three fatall trees we gather the bitter fruit of our perdition But against all these temptations and dangers against all these our professed enemies in generall and each of them in particular We may swimme in the Ocean of the world without drowning and pilgrimage upon the face of the earth without terrour or destruction if we will consider and in considering remember that God is our Creator Christ our Saviour and the Holy Ghost our Sanctifier and Comforter that wee are honoured with the resemblance of God whose stampe and character we beare and inriched with immortall and living soules which sacred priviledges and divine prerogatives lift us up by many degrees of excellencie above the rest of all his creatures whom hee hath made for our service and we onely to serve and glorifie him That he hath made the world for a thorow-fare and us as Passengers That we have no abiding Citie here but must seeke one in the World to come That the World is ours but for a season and Heaven our patrimony and inheritance for ever That the pompe and pleasures thereof are but transitory and temporary and that the vanity thereof passeth away as dust or smoake before the wind whereas those of Heaven are both immortall and eternall That our flesh is but like flowers that fade and grasse that withereth but a masse of corruption a tabernacle of clay and a coffin of dust and ashes that the best of its beauty is but vanity and deformity and the end of its bravery but rottennesse and putrifaction If I say wee spurne at the vanity of the world contemne the pleasures of the flesh and scoffe at the temptations of Sathan using the first as if we vsed it not making the second the Temple of the Holy Ghost and not the members of a harlot and that we are so farre from fearing as we defie the third Setting our affections on things that are above and not on things of the earth for if we will be heires of the Church triumphant wee must bee first souldiers of the Militant and so following the advice and direction of the Apostle stand against all these our enemies Having the whole spirituall Armour girt about us as the girdle of Truth the Brest-plate of Righteousnesse the Shield of Faith the Helmet of Salvation and the Sword of the spirit not to catch at these allurements or to be caught by them not to strike sayle or stoope to these afflictions or to hang downe our heads as if wee gave way to them or were contented that our weakenesse should yeeld to their strength or our joyes to their afflictions rather to stand up couragiously and to expell and resist manfully considering that wee are not onely heires but coheires with Iesus Christ in the participation and felicity of that heavenly Hierusalem whose joyes are infinite and glory eternall I deny not but afflictions and temptations may befall us yea I acknowledge they are subject and incident to the best and dearest of Gods children whom hee will try in the fire to see whether they will prove silver or drosse yea hee will come with his Fan and winnow them to see whether they are Wheat or Chaffe Corne of Darnell But the Children of God should rejoyce in tribulations and account it exceeding joy when they are tempted yea they must consider that God tempteth no man with
killed his Wife Mermanda with his jealousy that hee held her to bee the Baron of Betanford's strumpet with whom for the same cause he had fought at Brie-count Robert and which was more it was shrewdly suspected he had poysoned her the which she once thought for ever to have concealed but that she knew her husband was and ought to be nâ—…rer to her then her brother Good God how far will the malice of this wretched woman extend or to what a monstrous height will it grow De Malleray grieved to the heart for this heart-killing newes because hee ever loved his Sister as dearely as his owne life without considering and weighing whether his wifes words were drosse or gold believes her and so resolves very secretly to acquâ—… the President his father herewith thereby thinking and presuming that hee would by order of Law call Grand Pre in question for the fact But old Cressonville having as well his head in his eyes as his eyes in his head seeing that this suspition and accusation had no firme grounds that it was an intricate businesse to finde out that it would breed a scandall to his family and especially to his deceased daughters reputation sith it is the nature of calumnie to ayme at the most vertuous persons as Cantharides doe at the fairest flowers that it would rake up the dust of her tombe and withall breed him an infinite number of potent and powerfull enemies Therefore grounding his judgement upon these reasons and his resolutions upon this his judgement he holds it best to smother it in silence and so to brooke his daughters death as patiently as he may De Malleray seeing his father so cold in this businesse began to bee all in fire himselfe vowing that hee would maintaine the honour and revenge the death of his onely Sister Mermanda and his wife Hautefelia with her impetuous and implacable malice blowes the coales and sets an edge to this his resolution when that very instant understanding his brother Grand Pre was that Evening arrived at Dijon he consulting with Nature but not with Grace by a Gentleman of his familiar acquaintance sends him this Challenge DE MALLERAY to GRAND PRE. I should degenerate both from my honour and bloud if I were not sensible of those wrongs and disgraces you haue offered your Wife and my Sister they are of that nature that I know not whether her innocencie deserue more pitie or your jealousie contempt and revenge her death and your conscience make me as justly challenge you as you haue unjustly done the Baron of Betanford Therefore to morrow at fiue of the clocke after dinner at the foot of Talon for t in the meadoâ—… ranked with Wallnut trees bring either a single Rapier or Rapier and Ponyard and I will meet you without Seconds the equitie of my cause and the unjustice of yours make mee confident in this hope that as you lost your blood neere Brie-count Robert you shall now leaue your life in the sight of Dijon Iudge how earnestly I desire to trie the temper of your heart and sword sith already I not onely count houres but minutes DE MALLERAY Grand Pre though newly recovered of his late wounds accepts this Challenge but not without extreame wonder to see De Malleray so passionate and resolute he makes choice of single Rapier and so they meet where without any other ceremony they throw off their dublets and giue them to their Chirurgions whom they command to stay without the next hedge and not stirre from thence till the death of the one proclaime the other victor The Sunne that great and glorious lampe of heaven swiftly poasts away from our Horizon to the Antipodes of purpose not to see or bee accessary to this bloody Tragedie when our Champions unsheath their swords and dispose themselves to fight both with judgement and resolution De Malleray comes up fairely proffers the first thrust and gives Grand Pre a wound in his left thigh and in exchange receives another from him in the necke which he aymed fully at the brest but that hee bore it up with his Rapier Grand Pre at first gives backe but seeing de Malleray insult and presse on him he resolutely advanceth and runnes him thorow the side but the wound was so favourable as though it caused much bloud yet it brought no danger They make a stand and take breath and so they very resolutely to it againe de Malleray having hitherto the worst doth now resolve to manage his busines with lesse violence and more judgement when Grand Pre driving home to him hee wardes bravely and taking time at advantage thrusts him in the left shoulder with a wide and deepe wound but himselfe is hurt in the left arme with a wound which ranne from his wrest to his elbow By this time their shirts are deepely besprinkled and gored with their bloud but this will not appease their courages they will try againe for they never thinke enough as long as they can stand and this encounter proves as fortunate for Grand Pre as fatall for De Malleray for he receives a deepe wound under his left pap which carries his life and soule from this world to another so as without speaking one word he falls dead to the ground Grand Pre seeing De Malleray dead gives thankes to God for his victory and so mounts on horse-backe and with his Chirurgion poasts towards Dole a Parliament City of the free County belonging now to the Arch Duke Albertus leaving De Malleray's Chirurgion not to cure but to bury his Master or at least to convey his dead body to Dijon for President Cressonville his father to performe that office Who is no sooner advertised of his sonnes death but with teares hee gives the Parliament to understand thereof and craves justice for the Murther The Parliament decrees a power to apprehend Grand Pre but hee is not desirous to lose his head on a Scaffold for by this time hee hath recovered Dole where having stayed some three moneths his parents and friends by the favour of that generous and true noble Gallant Mounsieur le Grand his Majesties Lievetennant of that Province of Burgundy procured and sent him his pardon But in this meane time come wee to his sister Hautefelia the disgrace of her sexe and the fire-brand of Hell who no sooner understood the death of her husband and the flight of her brother shee having hardly the patience to see him layd in his grave and resolving rather to breake her necke with malice then her heart with sorrow being sure of her Dowry packes up her Iewells Plate and chiefest Baggage and so leaves Dijon and goes home to her father neere Auxone where during the age of her father and mother and the absence of her brother she most imperiously swayes and commands all But this her authority lasteth not long for now home comes Grand Pre from Dole at whose returne she findes
Devill was by ambition covetousnesse malice and revenge to seduce and perswade Hautefelia and La Fresnay to commit these Murthers and also how just God was in the detection and punishment thereof that the feare of the one may terrifie us from imbracing and attempting the other to the end that as they lived in sinne and dyed in shame so wee may live in righteousnes and dye in peace thereby to live in eternall felicity and glory GODS REVENGE AGAINST THE CRYING AND EXEcrable sinne of Murther HISTORIE II. Pisani betrayeth Gasparino of his Mistresse Christeneta Gasparino challengeth Pisani for this disgrace and kills him in the field hee after continueth his suite to Christeneta shee dissembles her malice for Pisani his death shee appoynts Gasparino to meete her in a Garden and there causeth Bianco and Brindoli to murther him they are all three taken and executed for the same WHere Affection hath Reason for guide and Vertue for object it is approved of Earth and applauded of Heaven but where it exceeds the bounds of Charity and the lists of Religion Men pitty it Angels lament it and God himselfe contemnes it for if we are crossed in our love why should discontent make us desperate or to what end should we flie Reason to follow Rage except we desire to ride poast to Hell and to end our dayes on a shamefull and infamous Scaffold here on earth It is an excellent felicity to grow from Vertue to Vertue and a fatall misery to runne from Vice to Vice Love and Charity are alwayes the true marks of a Christian and Malice and Revenge those of an Infidell or rather of a Devill but to imbrue our hands in innocent bloud and to seeke the death of others is to deprive our selves of our owne life as the sequell of this History will declare which I relate with pitty and compassion sith I see the Stage whereon these Tragedies are acted and represented not only sprinkled but goared with great variety and effusion of bloud In Pavia the second City of the Dutchy of Millan the very last yeare that Count Fuentes under the King of Spaine was Viceroy of that State Signior Thomaso Vituri a noble Gentleman of that City had one onely child a daughter of the age of fifteene yeares named Dona Christeneta who was exceeding faire and beautifull and indued with many excellent qualities perfections requisite in a Gentlewoman of her ranke she was sought in marriage by many Gallants of the City but a Cavalier of Cremona must beare her away or at least her affection The History is thus Signiour Emanuel Gasparino a noble young Gentleman of Cremona hearing of Vituri his wealth and of his daughter Christeneta's Beauty and Vertues the Adamants and Load-stones to drawe mens affections resolveth with himselfe to seeke her for his wife he acquaints none herewith but an intimate deare friend of his a young Gentleman of the same City named Signior Ludovicus Pisani by descent a Venetian whom hee prayes to assist and accompany him to Pavia in seeking and courting the faire Christeneta his Mistresse Pisani tearmes himselfe much honoured and obliged to Gasparino and very willingly grants his request and so they prepare for their journy They come to Pavia Vituri bids Gasparino welcome and entertaines him respectfully and courteously as also Pisani he thankes Gasparino for the honour he doth him in seeking his daughter and like a carefull father takes time to consult hereon but for Christeneta she looks not so pleasing nor pleasantly on him as he expecteth he is deeply in love both with her beauty and other perfections but he finds her cold in her discourse and answers and very melancholly and pensive he courts her often and after the Italian fashion with variety of Musicke Ditties and ayres but still he findes her averse and contrary to his desires as if her thoughts were otherwise fixed Gasparino knowes not how to winne her affection nor how to beare himselfe herein he consults with Pisani and prayes him to conferre with Christeneta and to sound her affection But it proves often dangerous still indiscretion to trust a friend in this case Pisani promiseth to performe the office of a friend and to conferre effectually with Christeneta he seekes opportunity and place and findes both he sets out to her Gasparino's merits and paints foorth his praises and in a word leaves nothing untouched which hee thinkes may any way advance his friends content and affection but hee findes Christeneta's minde perplexed and troubled for shee often changeth colours now red then pale and then pale now red againe yet hee observes that her eyes are still stedfastly fixed on him hee prayes her that she will returne a pleasing answer for him to carry to his friend and her lover Gasparino Christeneta would willingly speake but cannot for her heart and paps beat and pant and her fighes very confusedly interrupt her words but at last dying her Lilly cheekes with a Vermillian blush shee tells him that she is not ignorant of Gasparino's merits who deserves farre her better but that shee cannot consent to love him in respect she hath fixed but not ingaged her affection on another Pisani still extolleth his friend Gasparino to the skie and for all honourable parts preferres him before any Gentleman of Lombardy and withall with much industry and insinuation endeavours to request and draw Christeneta to name him her servant which she once thought to have done had not Modesty the sweetest and most precious ornament of a Virgin for that time with-held her when after two or three deepe sighes the outward Heralds of her inward passions she told him thus Pisani it is a deare and neare friend of yours who is the first that I have and the last that I will affect but I will not at present name him onely if you please to meet me secretly to morrow at eight of the clocke in the morne in the Nunnes garden at Saint Clare I will there informe you who it is but in the meane time and ever forbeare to sollicite me any more for Gasparino sith he shall not be my servant nor will I be his Mistresse and so for that time they part and he confidently promiseth to meet her Gasparino demands Pisani how hee findes his Mistresse Christeneta Hee answeres faithfully according as shee told him but conceales their appoynted meeting in the Nunnes garden and now because hee seeth it labour lost to research Christeneta hee will not be obstinate in his suit but will give a law to his passions and affections rather then they shall prescribe any to him and so resolves to take leave of her because as well by her selfe as by her father and mother and now chiefely by Pisani he sees shee is otherwise bent and affected to which end he leaves Pavia and returnes to Cremona Leave we therfore Gasparino to his thoughts and come we to those of Pisani and Christeneta to see what their garden conference will bring forth
searched they at last in their hookes bring up some pieces of wrought blacke Taffeta which by the Lackey was affirmed and knowne to be the same his Master Gasparino wore the last time he saw him whereat they were more eagerly encouraged to search againe most exactly which they doe and at last bring up the dead body of Gasparino when stripping off his cloths they find his body pierced with thirteene severall wonuds at the mournefull sight whereof the whole assembly but especially his Lackey cannot refraine from teares and yet all glorify God for finding of his body as also for the discovery of the Murtherers who now they confidently believe are Bianco and Brindoli But see the farther mercies of God for Bianco and Brindoli are but the hands which executed this Murther and not the head which plotted it therefore the Magistrates being sure of them doe now resolve to hye to Prison and to give them double torment thereby to discover out of what Quiver the first arrow of this Murther came But behold the mercy and justice of God! they are eased of this labour and the name of the malefactour brought them by a most miraculous and unheard of accident for when the Magistrates and whole company had often visited Gasparino's naked body and seene nothing but wounds a little boy standing by of some ten yeares of age espyed a linnen cloth in his mouth which hee shewed the company which the Prefect causing to be pulled out found it to be a Cambricke Handkercher and withall a name in red silke Letters in one corner which was the very true name of Christeneta See see the goodnesse O let us stand amazed and wonder at the mercies of God to see what meanes and instruments hee ordayneth for the discovery of Murthers The Prefect and Provost send away speedily to apprehend her shee is taken in the midst of her pleasures and pastimes yea from the arme of her Mother and feete of her Father to whom shee fled for safety but in vaine for shee is instantly committed close Prisoner from whence wee shall not see her come foorth till she come to her condigne punishment on a shamefull Scaffold for this her horrible offence of Murther And now the Prefect and Provost goe themselves to the prison where Bianco and Brindoli are they accuse them peremptorily for the Murther of Gasparino whose body they informe them they have taken up out of the Well but they againe denye it They give them double torment and conjure them to reveale this their Murther but they are so strong of courage or rather the devill is so strong in them as they denye all and neither accuse themselves nor any other The Prefect and Provost although they saw all circumstances concurre that undoubtedly Christeneta had a deepe hand in this Murther yet they examine her fairely and promise her much favour and their best friendship and assistance if shee will reveale it but she as her two confederates denyes all They adjudge her to the Racke whereunto she very patiently permits her selfe to bee fastened but her dainty body and delicate limbes cannot indure the cruelty of this torment and so shee confesseth all that in revenge of Pisani's death shee had caused Bianco and Brindoli to murther him in the Nunnes garden as we have formerly understood And now comes Gods sentence from heaven pronounced against these Murtherers by the mouth of his Magistrates on earth who for reparation and expiation of their horrible crimes of Murther committed on Gasparino adjudge Bianco and Brindoli to have their right handes cut off then to bee hanged and their bodies throwne into the River Po And Christeneta notwithstanding all the sollicitation which her father and friends made for her to be first hanged then burned and her ashes throwne into the ayre Which to the full satisfaction of Iustice before an infinite number of Spectators who assisted at their mournefull ends was accordingly executed who yet could not refraine from teares but as much approved and applauded Christeneta's affection to Pisani as they detested and abhorred her inhumane and bloody revenge to Gasparino Bianco and Brindoli as they lived unrighteously so they dyed desperately and could not be drawn to repent themselves of this their bloudy fact But as I have understood Christeneta was extreamely sorrowfull for her sinnes but especially for this murther whereof at her last breath shee infinitely and exceedingly repented her selfe yea I have beene informed that shee delivered a godly and religious speech upon the Ladder but I was not so fortunate to recover it May all true Christians reade this History with profit and profit in reading it that so God may receive the glory and their soules the eternall comfort and consolation Amen GODS REVENGE AGAINST THE CRYING AND EXEcrable sinne of Murther HISTORIE III. Mortaigne under promise of marriage gets Iosselina with child and after converting his love into hatred causeth his Lackey La Verdure and La Palma to murther both her and her young sonne the jealousy of Isabella to her husband La Palma is the cause of the discovery hereof they are all three taken and executed for the same IT is a just reward for the vanity of our thoughts and a true recompence for the errours of our youth that wee buy pleasure with repentance and the sweetnesse of sinne with the bitternesse of affliction but if wee violate the Lawes of Christianity and abandon our selves to lust and fornication then we shall see with shame that men will not pitty us and finde with griefe that God will punish us It is an excellent vertue in Maydens not to listen to the lewd temptations of men and in men not to hearken to the sugered charmes of the devil for commonly that folly gives the one shame and this madnesse brings the other destruction but if we first forget our selves and then our God by adding and heaping sinne upon sinne as first to perpetrate fornication and after Murther then assuredly our estate is so miserably wretched and so wretchedly miserable as we have no hope left for better fortunes nor place for worse And because Example is both pleasing to our memory and profitable to our judgement this mournefull ensuing History shall make good and confirme it to us therefore let us shut the doore of our thoughts against the power of sinne and that of our hearts against the malice of Hell and wee shall not onely make our fortunes immoveable in this World but our felicity eternall in that to come In the South-east part of France within a dayes journey of the famous City of Lyons at the foote of the Mountaine of Tarara upon the border and bosome of that sweet River Lignon so famoused by the Minion of honour and the darling of the Muses the Marquesse of Vrse in his beautifull and divine Astrea neere Durency a certaine small Village there dwelt a poore Country Farmer named Andrew Mollard who of late burying his Wife had one only child left
Iosselina but likewise that of her infant sonne whom hee first strangled and then threw into the River Lignon and this said he he did at the request of his Master Mortaigne of whom for his part and labour he received one hundred Frankes Wee have here found two of these Murtherers and now what resteth there but that the third who is the Authour and as it were the capitall great wheele of these bloody Tragedies bee produced and brought to this Arraignement The Procurer and Lievtennant repaire againe to the Prison and charge Mortaigne with these two bloody Murthers hee knowes it is in vaine to denye it sith hee is sure his two execrable agents have already revealed it therefore he ashamed at the remembrance of his cruell and unnatural crimes doth with many teares very sorrowfully and penitently confesse all It is a happinesse for him to repent these Murthers but it had beene a farre greater if hee had never contrived and committed them yea the Iudges are amazed to heare the cruelty hereof and the people to know it and both send their prayses and thankefulnesse to God that hee hath thus detected and brought them to light on earth And now comes the Catastrophe of their owne Tragedies wherein every one of these Malefactors receives condigne punishment for their severall offences La Palma is condemned to bee hanged and burnt La Verdure to bee broken on the Wheele and his body to bee throwne into the River Lignon and Mortaigne though the last in ranke yet the first in offence to be broken on the Wheele his body burnt and his ashes throwne into the aire which Sentence in the sight of a great multitude of Spectators was on a Market day accordingly executed and performed in La Palisse And this was the bloody end of Mortaigne and his two hellish instruments for murthering innocent Iosselina and her silly and tender infant May all Maydens learne by her example to preserve their chastities and men by La Verdures and La Palma's not to be drawne to shed innocent blood for the lucre of wealth and money and by Mortaignes to bee lesse lascivious inhumane and bloody thereby to prevent so execrable a life and so infamous a death One thing I may not omit La Palma on the Ladder extreamely cursed the malice of his wife Isabella who he said was the author of his death and no lesse did La Verdure on the Wheele by his Master Mortaigne but both of them were so desperately irreligious as neither of them considered that it was their former sinnes and the malice of the Devill to whom they gave too much eare that was the cause thereof And for Mortaigne after he had informed the world that hee extreamely grieved that his Iudges had not given him the death of a Gentleman which was to haue beene beheaded he with many teares bewayled his infinite ingratitude cruelty and unnaturalnesse both towards Iosselina as also his and her young sonne yet he prayed the world in generall to pray that God would forgive it him and likewise requested the Executioner to dispatch him quickely out of this life because hee confessed hee was unworthy to live longer Now let us glorifie our Creatour and Redeemer who continually makes a strict inquisition for blood and a curious and miraculous inquiry for Murther yea let us both feare him with love and love him with feare sith hee is as impartiall in his justice as in distributing his mercies GODS REVENGE AGAINST THE CRYING AND EXEcrable sinne of Murther HISTORIE IV. Beatrice-Ioana to marry Alsemero causeth de Flores to murther Alonso Piracquo who was a sutter to her Alsemero marries her and finding de Flores and her in adultery kills them both Tomaso Piracquo Challengeth Alsemero for his Brothers death Alsemero kills him treacherously in the field and is beheaded for the same and his body throwne into the Sea At his execution hee confesseth that his wife and de Flores Murthered Alonso Piracquo their bodies are taken up out of their graves then burnt and their ashes throwne into the ayre SIth in the day of Iudgement we shall answer at Gods great Tribunall for every lewd thought our hearts conceive and idle words our tongues utter how then shall we dare appeare much lesse thinke to scape when we defile our bodies with the pollution of adultery and taint our soules with the innocent bloud of our Christian brethren when I say with beastly lust and adultery we unsanctifie our sanctified bodies who are the receptacles and Temples of the holy Ghost and with high and presumptuous hands stabbe at the Majesty of God by Murthering of man who is his Image This is not the Ladder to scale heaven but the shortest way to ride poast to hell for how can we give our selves to God when in the heat of lust and fume of Revenge we sell our hearts to the Devill But did we ever love God for his Mercy or feare him for his Iustice we would then not onely hate these sinnes in our selves but detest them in others for these are crying and capitall offences seene in heaven and by the Sword of his Magistrates brought forth and punished here on earth A lamentable and mournefull example whereof I here produce to your view but not to your imitation may wee all read it to the reformation of our lives to the comfort of our soules and to the eternall glory of the most Sacred and Individuall Trinity IN Valentia an ancient and famous City of Spaine there dwelt one Don Pedro de Alsemero a Noble young Cavallier whose father Don Ivan Alsemero being slaine by the Hollanders in the Sea fight at Gibralter hee resolved to addict himselfe to Navall and sea actions thereby to make himselfe capeable to revenge his fathers death a brave resolution worthy the affection of a sonne and the Generosity of a Gentleman To which end hee makes two voyages to the West-Indies from whence he returnes flourishing and rich which so spread the sayles of his Ambition and hoysted his fame from top to top gallant that his courage growing with his yeares he thought no attempt dangerous enough if honourable nor no honour enough glorious except atchieved and purchased by danger In the actions of Alarache and Mamora he shewed many noble proofes and testimonies of his valour and prowesse the which he confirmed and made good by the receit of eleven severall wounds which as markes and Trophees of Honour made him famous in Castile Boyling thus in the heate of his youthfull bloud and contemplating often on the death of his father he resolves to goe to Validolyd and to imply some Grando either to the King or to the Duke of Lerma his great favorite to procure him a Captaines place and a company under the Arch-Duke Albertus who at that time made bloudy warres against the Netherlanders thereby to draw them to obedience But as hee beganne this sute a generall truce of both sides laid aside Armes which by the mediation of England
ignorant and cowardly to bee put off with her first repulse and refusall but rather seeing that the perfections of her minde corresponded with those of her beauty hee resolves now to make triall of his wit and tongue as heretofore hee had done of his courage and sword and so joynes with her thus It is a pretty Ambition in you sweet Lady to disparage your beauty that thereby it may seeme the fairer as the Sunne who appeares brighter by reason of the nights obscurity and all things are best and more perfectly discerned by their contraries but I cannot commend and therefore not excuse your policy or rather your disrespect to slight and poast me over from your selfe whom I love to those Ladies I neither know nor desire which in effect is to give mee a cloud for Iuno No no it is onely to you and to no other that I present and dedicate my service and therefore it will be an ingratitude as unworthy my receiving as your giving that I should be the object of your discourtesie sith you are that of my affection To these speeches of Alsemero Beatrice Ioana returnes this reply It is not for poore Gentlewomen of my ranke and complexion either to bee ambitious or politike except it bee to keepe themselves from the snares of such Caviliers as your selfe who for the most part under colour of affection ayme to erect the trophees of your desires upon the tombs of our dishonours onely I so much hate ingratitude as you being to mee a stranger charity and common courtesie commands me to thanke you for the proffer of your service the which I can no other way either deserve or requite except in my devotions and prayers to God for your glory and prosperity on earth As shee had ended this her speech the Priest ends his Masse when Alsemero arising advanced to lift her up from kneeling and so with his hat in his hand sequestring her from the crowd of people who now began to depart the Church he speaks to her to this effect Faire Ladie as I know you to bee the Ladie Beatrice-Ioana daughter to the noble Knight Don Diego de Vermanderos Captaine of the Castle of this Citie so I being a stranger to you I admire that you offer so voluntary an injurie to your judgement and my intents as to pervert my affection and speeches to a contrary sense but my innocencie hath this consolation that my heart is pledge for my tongue and my deeds shall make my wordes reall In the meane time sith you will give mee no place in your heart I beseech you lend me one in your Coach and be at least so courteous as to honour me in accepting my company to conduct you home to your fathers Castle Beatrice-Ioana calling to minde the freenesse of her speeches and the sharpnesse of his answer not blushing for joy but now looking pale for sorrow repents her selfe of her errour the which shee salves up the best she could in this Reply Noble Sir when I am acquainted as well with your heart as with your speeches I shall then not onely repent but recant mine errour in judging your selfe by others in the meane time if I haue any way wronged your merits and vertues to give you some part of satisfaction if you please to grace mee with your company to the Castle although it be not the custome of Alicant I doe most kindly and thankfully accept therof when Alsemero giving her many thankes and kissing his hand hee takes her by the arme and so conducts her from the Church to her Coach It is both a griefe and a scandall to any true Christians heart that the Church or-ordained for thankes giving and prayer unto God should bee made a Stewes or at least a place for men to meet and court Ladies but in all parts of the Christian world where the Romane religion reigneth this sinfull custome is frequently practised especially in Italy and Spaine where for the most part men love their Curtizans better then their God and it were a happinesse for France if her popish Churches were freed of thisabomination and her people of this impiety But againe to our History Wee will purposely omit the conference which Alsemero and Beatrice-Ioana had in the Coach and allow them by this time arrived to the Castle where first her selfe then the Captaine her father thanke him for his honour and courtesie in requitall whereof hee shewed him the rarities and strength of his Castle and after some speeches and complements betweene them hee was so happy as to kisse Beatrice-Ioana but had not the felicity to entertaine her and so he departs his Lackey attending him with his Gennet to the counter-scarfe So home hee rides to his lodging where whiles the winde holds contrary wee will a little leave him to his thoughts and they to resolve in what sort hee might contrive his sute for the obtayning of his new and faire Mistresse Beatrice Ioana and likewise her selfe to muse upon the speeches and extraordinarie courtesie which this unknowne Cavallier afforded her and begin to speake of Don Alonso Pâ—…racquo a rich Cavallier of the Citie who unknowne to Alsemero was his rivall and competitor in likewise seeking and courting Boatrice-Ioana for his Mistresse and wife This Piracquo being rich both in lands and money and descended of one of the chiefest and noblest Families of Alicant by Profession a Courtier and indeed to give him his due a Cavallier indued with many brave qualities and perfections was so highly beloved respected and esteemed in that Citie as the very fayrest and noblest young Ladies were with much respect and affection proffered him in marriage by their parents but there was none either so precious or pleasing to his eye as was our Beatrice Ioana whom hee observed for beauty to excell others and for Majestie and grace to surpasse her selfe and indeed hee could not refraine from loving her nor bee perswaded or drawne to affect any other so as hee setled his resolution either to have her to his wife or not to bee the husband of any Yea hee is so earnest in his sute as scarce any one day passeth but hee is at the Castle Vermandero thinkes himselfe much honoured of him in seeking his daughter yea hee receives him lovingly and entertaines him courteously as knowing it greatly for her preferment and advancement and so gives Piracquo many testimonies of his favour and many hopes that hee shall prevaile and obtaine his Mistresse But Beatrice-Ioana stands not so affected to him rather shee receives him coldly and when hee begins his sute to her shee turnes the deafe eare and never answereth him but in generall tearmes onely not peremptorily to disobey her parents shee seemes to bee pleased with his company and yet secretly in her heart wisheth him farther from her But Piracquo flattering himselfe in his hope and as much doating on Beatrice-Ioana's beauty as hee relyes on her fathers constant affection to him hee is so farre from
prevaile with his daughter his commands shall But hee shall misse of his ayme There is not so great distance from Briamata to Alicant but some of the noblest of the citie are advertised thereof and one among the rest in great zeale and affection to Piracquo secretly acquaints Don Thomaso Piracquo his younger brother therewith being then in the citie of Alicant who hearing of this newes whereof he imagined his brother was ignorant loath that he should any longer persever in his present errour and to prevent his future disgrace he like a faithfull and honest brother takes occasion from Alicant to write him this ensuing letter to Briamata THOMASO to ALONSO PIRACQVO BEing more jealous of your prosperitie then of mine owne and knowing it many times falls out that Lovers lose the clearenesse and soliditie of their judgement in gazing and contemplating on the Roses and Lillies of their Mistresses beauties I desirous to prevent your disgrace thought my selfe bound to signifie you that I here understand by the report of those whose speeches beare their perswasions with them that your suite to Beatrice-Ioana is in vaine and shee unworthie of your affection because shee hath already contracted her selfe to Alsemero your Rivall I am as sorry to bee the Herald of this newes as glad and confident that as shee hath matched your inferious so you are reserved for her better Wherefore Sir recall your thoughts tempt not impossibilities but consider that the shortest errours are best and though you love her well yet thinke that at your pleasure you may finde varietie of Beauties whereunto hers deserves not the honour to doe homage I could give no truce to my thoughts till I had advertised you heereof and I hope either the name of a brother or your owne generositie will easily procure pardon for my presumption THOMASO PIRACQVO Piracquo notwithstanding this his Brothers Letter of counsell and advice is so farre from retyring in his sute as hee rather advanceth with more violence and zeale and as many mens judgements are dazled and obscured a little before their danger and misfortune when indeed they have most need to have them sound and cleare so hee is not capable to bee disswaded from re-searching his Mistresse but rather resembleth those Saylors who are resolute to endure a storme in hope of faire weather but he had found more security and lesse danger if he had imbraced and followed the counsell that his brother gave him For Beatrice-Ioana seeing she could not obtaine her desire in marying Alsemero e're Piracquo were removed doth now confirme that which formerly shee had resolved on to make him away in what manner or at what rate soever And now after shee had ruminated and runne over many bloodie designes the devill who never flies from those that follow him proffers her an invention as execrable as damnable There is a gallant young Gentleman of the Garison of the Castle who followes her father that to her knowledge doth deeply honour and dearely affect her yea shee knowes that at her request he will not sticke to murther Piracquo his name is Signiour Antonio de Flores shee is resolute in her rage and approves him to be a fit instrument to execute her will Now as soone as Vermandero understands of Alsemero's departure to Valentia hee with his daughter and Piracquo returnes from Briamata to Alicant where within three dayes of their arrivall Beatrice-Ioana boyling still in her revenge to Piracquo which neither the ayre of the Countrey nor Citie could quench or wipe off shee sends for de Flores and with many flattering smiles and sugred speeches acquaints him with her purpose and desire making him many promises of kindnesse and courtesies if he will performe it De Flores having a long time loved Beatrice-Ioaua is exceeding glad of this newes yea feeding his hopes with the ayre of her promises he is so caught and intangled in the snares of her beautie that hee freely promiseth to dispatch Piracquo and so they first consult and then agree upon the manner how which forth-with wee shall see performed to which end de Flores insinuates himselfe fairely into Piracquo's company and familiaritie as hee comes to the castle where watching his hellish opportunitie he one day hearing Piracquo commend the thicknesse and strength of the Walles told him that the strength of that Castle consisted not in the Walles but in the Casemates that were stored with good Ordnance to scoure the ditches Piracquo very courteously prayes de Flores to be a meanes that he may goe downe and see the Casemates De Flores like a bloudy Faukner seeing Piracquo already come to his lure tells him it is now dinner time and the bell upon ringing but if he please hee himselfe will after dinner accompany him and shew him all the strength and rarities of the Castle Hee thankes de Flores for this courtesie and accepts heereof with promise to goe So hee hies in to dinner and de Flores pretending some businesse walkes in the Court. Whiles Piracquo is at dinner with Vermandero de Flores is providing him of a bloody banquet in the East Casmate where of purpose hee goes and hides a naked sword and ponyard behinde the doore Now dinner being ended Piracquo finds out de Flores and summons him of his promise who tells him he is ready to wayt on him so away they goe from the Walles to the Ravellins Sconces and Bulwarkes and from thence by a Posterne to the Ditches and so in againe to the Casemates whereof they have already viewed three and are now going to the last which is the Theater whereon wee shall presently see acted a mournefull and bloudy Tragedy At the descent hereof De Flores puts off his Rapier and leaves it behinde him treacherously informing Piracquo thar the descent is narrow and craggy See here the policie and villany of this devillish and treacherous miscreant Piracquo not doubting nor dreaming of any treason followes his example and so casts off his Rapier De Flores leades the way and hee followes him but alas poore Gentleman hee shall never returne with his life they enter the Vault of the Casemate De Flores opens the doore and throwes it backe thereby to hide his sword and Poniard Hee stoopes and lookes thorow a Port-hole and tells him that that Peece doth thorowly scowre the Ditch Piracquo stoopes likewise downe to view it when O griefe to thinke thereon De Flores steps for his Weapons and with his Poniard stabs him thorow the backe and swiftly redoubling blow upon blow kills him dead at his feete and without going farther buries him there right under the ruines of an old wall whereof that Casemate was built Loe here the first part of this mournefull and bloudy Tragedie De Flores like a gracelesse villaine having dispatched this sorrowfull businesse speedily acquaints Beatrice-Ioana herewith who miserable wretch doth hereat infinitely rejoyce and thankes him with many kisses and the better to conceale this their vild and bloudy Murther
purposes and intents that way as so many lines that runne to their Center yea so strongly hath the devill possessed him with these hellish designes and bloody resolutions as his love to Philatea defacing his respect to Merilla hee sees her a blocke in his way and a stop to his preferment and so concludes that shee must hee remooved and dispatched to which effect to draw his sinfull contemplation into bloudy action hee rides over to Spreare to her and under colour of tender love and affection hee in Milke Wine and rosted Apples gives her poyson when seeing it would not worke his desired effect hee after takes an occasion purposely to quarrell with her and so very lamentably in presence of their daughter Emelia reviles and beates her and returnes to Brescia still hoping that the poyson yet might operate and disperse it selfe in her veines and that shortly hee should heare newes of her death Loe here Alibius his first attempt in seeking to murther his Wife In this meane time hee layes close siedge to Philatea's Chastity who not so honest as faire is soone drawne to sinne and prostitutes her selfe to his beastly pleasure and having no regard to her reputation conscience or soule consents to this bitter-sweet sinne of Adultery the which lascivious familiarity is so long continued betwixt them till at last Philatea's straight Bodies become too small and her Apron too short for her when seeing it high time to provide for her fame shee acquaints Alibius herewith and askes his advice whether shee shall marry with one of her servants Alibius meaning to keepe the Farme for himselfe whereof hee had already taken possession bids her not to take care for a husband but to bee of good comfort and that farre within her time hee would provide a place for her to lay downe her great belly yea so secret as her owne heart could either wish or desire But if our miserable Alibius were before resolved to murther his poore harmelesse Wife Merilla this newes and these speeches of Philatea sets him all on fire and so having consulted with the Devill hee vowes she shall not live to which end he provides himselfe of stronger poyson and in a darke night when as he flatters himselfe with hope that the Heavens were so unjust and inhumane to conspire with him in the Murther of his Wife he takes horse in the East Suburbe of Brescia and so rides toward Spreare But see the justice and withall the providence and mercie of our indulgent God! who vouchsafed and yet resolved to restraine and divert him from this his bloudy enterprise by an accident as strange as true for a mile out of Brescia as Alibius rides by the common place of execution his Horse stumbles and falls under him right against it with which fall his shoulder is out of joynt Oh what a caveat was this for Alibius if hee had had the least sparke of grace to have made good use hereof But the Devill had bewitched his understanding and judgement for hee could see by no other eyes but by those of revenge and bloud Arriving at his house at Spreare hee contrary to his hopes findes his daughter Emelia with her mother who by this time was marryed likewise to a poore Countrey man of Spreare whose sight and presence was for that time a stop to the execution of her fathers poysoning designe on her mother for hee feared that she had formerly discovered and suspected this his purpose and resolution as indeed shee had wherefore hee forbore to administer it onely because hee would not lose all his labour hee againe quarrells with his Wife and after hee had reviled her with many scandalous and contumelious speeches hee in the presence of his mournefull daughter doth exceedingly beate her who weeping to see her mother weepe infinitely grieved to be an eye-witnesse of this inhumane and barbarous cruelty of her father And so for that time Alibius againe permitted his Wife to live But this will prove no pardon but onely a short reprivall for her Returning againe to Brescia it is not long before Philatea doth againe importune him to provide for the concealing and salving of her shame alleadging that her time drew on and that it was more then time to provide her a husband Alibius at these her second assummons beginnes to looke about and resolves at what rate or in what manner soever now to send his Wife into another world yet as I thinke or ever understood conceales his purpose from Philatea Miserable wretch had he not participated more of the nature of a Tyger then a man or of a Devill then a Tyger hee would never have layd violent hands on his owne Wife whom earth and heaven had made flesh of his flesh and of two bodies one yea or had hee had so much grace to have considered that the silver wand he bore before the Podestate was for the scourging and punishing of sinne Me thinks it should have made him more charitable and not so bloudy to attempt it But what will not lust enterprise and Revenge execute if wee neither feare God with our heartes nor love him with our soules Preseverance in Grace and vertue is excellent but in sinne lamentable Alibius hath had yeares and time enough to wipe away his cruelty towards his wife but the longer hee lives the deeper roote it takes in him yea hee will neither give the flower of his youth nor the branne of his age to God but that to pleasure this to Revenge and Murther and both to the devill for now hee is resolute to finish this mournefull and bloudy Tragedy that hee hath so long desired and so often attempted and now indeed the fatall time approacheth wherein innocent Merilla by the Murtherous hand of her husband must be sent out of this World to see a better Alibius having waited on the Podestate to supper takes horse a little before the gates of the City were shut and having his former poyson in his pocket away hee rides to Spreare but to act his villany with the greater secrecy he masketh and disguiseth himselfe approaching his house he in the next Meddow ties up his horse to a tree and so knockes at doore Poore Merilla his wife was in bed and a sleepe with a little Girle her Grandchild named Pomerea the daughter of her daughter Emelia whom without a Candle shee sends downe to open the doore assuring her selfe as indeed it proved too true for her that it was her husband Alibius Pomereâ—… opening the doore lets one in but whom shee knows not and then for feare retires to the kitchin which shee shuts fast on her So Alibius mounts to his wives Chamber and after some words gives her a potion some say of milke bitterly sugred with poyson and forceth it downe her who poore soule is amazed hereat and with her weake strength cryes out for helpe but in vaine Hee being divellishly resolved now to make sure worke takes a billet out of the
Chimney and so dispatcheth and kils her in her bed without giving her any time to commend her soule unto God and so very hastily rusheth forth the doore Pomerea fearing that which was happened lights a candle and ascends up the Chamber where shee sees the lamentable spectacle of her Murthered Grand-Mother hot reeking and smoaking in her bed whereat shee is amazed and makes most wofull cries and mournefull lamentations when wringing her hands and bitterly sighing and weeping shee knowes not what to doe or what not to doe in this her bitter and wretched perplexity in which meane time Alibius going for his horse findes onely the halter for his horse is grazing in the Meddow hee diligently seekes him but cannot a long time set sight of him which indeed doth much astonish and amaze him but at last hee findes him and so gallops away to Brescia where the better to delude the World and to cast a mist before their eyes hee is againe dy sixe of the Clocke in the morning waiting upon the Podestate and conducting him to the Domo or Cathedrall Church of that City But this policy of his shall not prevent his detection and punishment In this meane time Pomerea runnes to the neerest neighbours and divulgeth the Murther of her Grandmother Many of the neighbours flock thither to see this bloudy and woefull spectacle the Corrigadors of Spreare are acquainted herewith they send for Chirurgions who visit the dead body and report shee is both poisoned and beaten to death they examine poore Pomerea who relates what shee sees and knowes theâ—… send every where to search for the Murtherer By this time the newes hereof comes to Brescia Alibius like a counterfet miscreant is all in teares yea hee sheweth such living affection to the memory of his dead wife as hee sends every where to find out the Murtherer But God will not have him escape for in due time wee shall see him brought forth and appeare to the world in his colours Alibius notwithstanding his teares in his eyes having still a hell in his conscience is afrayd least Emelia his daughter measuring the subsequent by the antecedent hold him to bee her mothers Murtherer and because the Corrigadors of Spreare suspecting her have taken sureties for her apparance he the better to insinuate with her useth her with more then wonted courtesie and affabillity imagining that if her mouth were stopped he needed not feare any others tongue But this politike sleight of his shall not prevaile Now by little and little Time the consumer of all things beginnes to were away the crying rumor of this Murther and so Alibius thinking himselfe secure e're three moneths be fully expired forgetting Merilla takes Philatea to his second wife which being knowne in Brescia many curious heads of that City though not upon any substantiall ground but onely out of presumptive circumstances vehemently suspect that Alibius had a deepe hand in the Murther of his late wife Merilla but they dare not speake it alowd because hee was well beloved both of the Podestate himselfe for that yeere being and generally of all the Senators But as Murther pierceth the Cloudes and cryes for revenge from Heaven so wee shall see this of Alibius miraculously discovered and e're long severely punished for when hee thought the storme past and saw the Skies cleere when I say hee imagined that all rumours and tongues were hushed up in silence and that hee thought on nothing else but to passe his time sweetly and voluptuously with his new and faire wife Philatea then when all other meanes and instruments wanted to bring this his obscure and bloudy fact to light Lo by the Divine providence of God we shall see Alibius himselfe be the cause and instrument of his owne discovery For after hee had married Philatea which I take to bee the first light of suspecting him of his wife Merilla's Murther if my information bee true as I confidently beleeve it is this is the second Alibius under the pretext of other businesse sends for one Bernardo of the parish of Spreare to come to him to Brescia Now for our better light and information herein as also for the more orderly contriving of this History we must understand that this Bernardo was an old associate and dissolute companion of Alibius whom as it is well knowne by those who knew them hee had many times used and made his stickler and agent in many of his former lewde courses and enterprises not that I any way thinke hee had any hand in the present Murther of Merilla for then I know such is the Candour and Wisedome of the Corrigadors of Spreare and such is the cleere judgement and zeale of the Senators of Brescia to justice that hee had never escaped but had beene apprehended and brought to his tryall Wee must farther understand that this Bernardo was likewise a companion of Emelia's husband yea scarce any one day past but they were knowne and seene together in tippling houses and other such lewd and vicious places whereas drinke was still a most treacherous and unsecret Secretary It may bee that what Merilla told her husband privately hee discovered it publikely to Bernardo who comming as wee have formerly heard to Brescia after his conference with Alibius hee fell to his old vaine of tippling and carowsing and there without the North gate of Brescia which lookes towards Bergamo having more money then wit and more wine then money in the middest of his cups told hee was a Contadyne or Countreyman of Spreare that hee knew Alibius as great as now hee bore himselfe and that hee Murthered his poore wife in the Countrey to have this fine one in the City Which speeches of his hee reiterated and repeated often yea so often as they fell not to the ground but some of his â—…ewd companions tooke notice thereof and one amongst the rest being inwardly acquainted with Alibius went and secretly advertised him hereof who under-hand sends away for Bernardo where hee was and wrought so with him as since that time he was never seene in Brescia But this report of his remained behind him A second light which Alibius gave to the discovery of this his Murther was that thinking the way cleere and all suspicion vanished he converted his affection into contempt and his courtesie to disrespect and unkindnesse towards his daughter Emelia by taking away the greatest part of that small meanes hee gave her towards her maintenance which uncharitable and unnaturall part of his threw this poore woman into so bitter a perplexitie as knowing in her conscience that her father was her Mothers Murtherer shee exceedingly apprehended and feared lest hee would attempt to dispatch her likewise the which shee farre the more doubted because her father had bayled her but not as yet freed her from her appearance before the Corrigadors of Spreare But here as simple as shee was shee enters into many considerations with her selfe that to accuse her father would be as great
to a greater honour nor desire a sweeter felicity And so recommending this my imperfect Pamphlet to your favour my unworthy selfe to your pardon and your Honour your Noble Countesse and the sweet young Lady your Daughter to Gods best favours and mercies I will assume the confidence and constancie to remaine Your Honours in all humility and service IOHN REYNOLDS THE GROVNDS AND CONTENTS OF these HISTORIES HISTORIE VI. Victorina causeth Sypontus to stabbe and murther her first Husband Souranza and shee her selfe poysoneth Fassino her second so they both being miraculously detected and convicted of these their cruell Murthers hee is beheaded and shee hang'd and burnt for the same HISTORIE VII Catalina causeth her Wayting Mayd Ausilva two severall times attempt to poyson her owne Sister Berinthia wherein fayling shee afterwards makes an Empericke termed Sarmiata poyson her said Mayd Ansilva Catalina is killed with a Thunder bolt and Sarmiata hang'd for poysoning Ansilva Antonio steales Berinthia away by her owne consent whereupon her Brother Sebastiano fights with Antonio and kills him in a Duell Berinthia in revenge hereof afterwards murthereth her Brother Sebastiano she is adjudged to be immured betwixt two Walls and there languisheth and dyes HISTORIE VIII Belluile treacherously murthereth Poligny in the street Laurieta Poligny's Mistris betrayeth Belluile to her Chamber and there in revenge shoots him thorow the body with ae Pistoll when assisted by her Wayting-Mayd Lucilla they likewise give him many wounds with a Ponyard and so murther him Lucilla flying for this fact is drowned in a Lake and Laurieta is taken and hang'd and burnt for the same HISTORIE IX Iacomo de Castelnovo lustfully falls in love with his daughter in law Perina his owne sonne Francisco de Castelnovo's Wife whom to injoy he causeth Ierantha first to poyson his owne Lady Fidelia and then his said sonne Francisco de Castelnovo in revenge whereof Perina treacherously murthereth him in his bed Ierantha ready to dye in travell of child confesseth her two Murthers for the which she is hang'd and burnt Perina hath her right hand cut off and is condemned to perpetuall imprisonment where she sorrowfully dyes HISTORIE X. Bertolini seekes Paulina in marriage but she loves Sturio and not himselfe hee prayes her Brother Brellati his deare friend to sollicite her for him which he doth but cannot prevaile whereupon Bertolini lets fall some disgracefull speeches both against her honour and his reputation for which Brellati challengeth the Field of him where Bertolini kills him and hee flies for the same Sturio seekes to marry her but his father will not consent there â—…nto and conveyes him away secretly for which two disasters Paulina dyes for sorrow Sturio findes out Bertolini and sends him a Challenge and having him at his mercie gives him his life at his request hee afterwards very treacherously kills Sturio with a Petroneâ—… in the Street from a Window he is taken for this second Murther his two hands cut off theâ—… beheaded and his body throwne into the River THE TRIVMPHS OF GODS REVENGE AGAINST THE CRYING AND EXECRABLE sinne of Murther HISTORIE VI. Victorina causeth Sypontus to stabbe and murther her first Husband Souranza and shee her selfe poysoneth Fassino her second so they both being miraculously detected and convicted of these their cruell Murthers hee is beheaded and shee hang'd and burnt for the same WHere Lust takes up our desires and Revenge and Murther seizeth on our resolutions it is the true way to make us wretched in this life and our soules miserable in that to come for if Chastity and Charity the two precious Vertues and ornaments of a Christian steere not our actions on Earth how shall nay how can we hope to arrive to the harbour of Heaven or if wee aband on these celestiall Vertues to follow and imbrace those infernall Vices what doe wee but take our selves from felicity to misery and consequently give our selves from God to Satan But did wee seriously and not trivially consider that there is a Heaven to reward the Righteous and a hell to punish the ungodly wee would neither defile our hearts nor pollute our soules with the thought much lesse with the action of such beastly and inhumane crimes but in this sinnefull age of ours the number is but too great of lascivious and impious Christians who delight in the affection and practice thereof among whom I here represent the History of an execrable Gentlewoman and her wretched and unfortunate Lover who were both borne to honour and not to infamy had they had as much grace to secure their lives as vanity and impiety to ruine them The History is bloudy and therefore mournefull but if we detest their crimes we need not feare their punishments for God is as gracious and propitious to protect the innocent as just and severe to chastise the guilty IN Italy the beauty of Europe and in the City of Venice the glory of Italy the Nymph of the Sea and the pearle and diamond of the world in the latter yeares of the raigne of noble Leonardo Donato who as Duke sate to the helme of that potent and powerfull Estate so famous for banishing the Iesuits and for opposing himself against the intrusion and fulminations of Pope Paulus Quintus in the just defence and maintenance of the prerogatives and priviledges of the Seignory There was at that time a gentleman a younger brother yet of well neere fifty yeares old of the noble Fa mily of the Beraldi named Signior Iacomo Beraldi who dwelt above the Rialto Bridge that famous Master piece of Architecture upon the Canalla Grando who in the Aprill of his youth tooke to Wife the Dona Lucia daughter to Seignior Lorenzo Bursso a Gentleman of Padua by whom hee had seven Children foure Sonnes and three Daughters so as his Wife and he esteeming themselves happy in their Issue past away their time in much content and felicity but God for some secret and sacred reasons to his Divine Majesty best knowne converting his smiles into frownes within the space of seven yeares takes away sixe of their Children so as their eldest daughter onely remained living being a young Gentlewoman of some eighteene yeares old named Dona Victoryna This young Gentlewoman being noble rich and faire three powerfull and attractive Adamants to draw the affections of many Cavaliers according to her desert had divers Gallants who sought her in Marriage but she was of nature proud chollericke disdainfull and malicious Vices enow to ruine both a beauty and a fortune but of all her sutors and servants he whom she best loved and affected was one Seignior Sypontus a Gentleman of the City who was more noble then rich and yet more debosht and vicious then noble but otherwise a very proper young Gallant but the perfections of the body are nothing to bee compared to the excellent qualities and indowments of the minde for those are but the varnishes and shaddowes of a meete men but these the perfections and excellencies of a
to his prison to prepare himselfe to dye Sypontus is no sooner departed from them but they consult on Victoryna whether shee were guilty or innocent of her husband Souranza's Murther but they differ in opinion some would likewise have her Racked but others of them more advised and modest reply that Sypontus his Letter intimated onely his affection to Victoryna but no way her malice to her dead husband Souranza nor that shee was any way guilty or accessary to his Murther so they resolve to forbeare her and not to put her to the torment except Sypontus accuse her at his execution Now the very night that hee was to die the next morne hee infinitely desires his Iaylor to permit him to conferre with Victoryna and to take his last leave of her which is denyed him as having received command from authority to the contrary whereat extreamely grieving hee is called away by some Divines whom the charity of that grave Senate send him to prepare and direct his soule in her passage and transmigration to Heaven So passing the night in teares and prayers for the foulenesse of his crime the morne being come and nine of the clock strucken hee is brought to the scaffold where a world of people concurre and flock from all parts of the City to see this wretched and unfortunate Gentleman act the last Sceane and part of his life upon this infamous Theater Heere Sypontus freely confesseth his foule Murther of Souranza but is yet so vaine and wretched as hee takes it to his death that Victoryna is absolutely innocent hereof hee seemes to bee very repentant and sorrowfull for all his sinnes in generall and for this Murther in particular For expiation and reward hereof his head is severed from his body a just recompence and punishment for so vicious and bloudy a Gentleman who adhering to adultery more then chastity to revenge then charity and to the devill then God forgot himselfe so farre as to commit this execrable and lamentable Murther Now the order and Decorum of our History leades us from dead Sypontus to living Victoryna who I know not whether more grieve at his death or rejoyce that on the Racke and scaffold hee hath acquitted her of her husbands Murther In a word it is remarkeable to behold the vanity and inconstancy of this female Monster for contrary to her vowes and repugnant to her Letters and teares Sypontus is no sooner dead but her affection towards him dyes with him yea his bloud is scarce fo soone cold as her zeale and friendship for shee now holds it a pure folly to cast away her youth and life if shee may preserve the one and save the other and therefore resolves to try her best art and wit to make her innocencie passe currant with her Iudges yea so desirous and ambitious is shee to live as her female heart hath drawne on this masculine fortitude and generosity that if occasion present shee will constantly both out-dare and out-brave the torments of the Racke thereby to prevent her death Some three daies after Sypontus was executed the Iudges againe sit and consult on Victoryna but finding no evidence nor witnesse to accuse her they at first are of opinion to discharge and free her onely they deeme it requisite to terrifie but not to torment her with the Racke before they give her her liberty whereunto they all agree So they send for her and threaten her with the Racke but shee vowes that all the torments of the world shall never inforce her to confesse an untruth and that shee never had the least suspicion that Sypontus was guilty of this execrable Murther of her husband her Iudges will not yet beleeve her so they cause her to be carryed to the Racke whereunto shee very cheerefully and patiently permits her selfe to bee fastened bidding the Executioner doe his worst which constancie of hers her Iudges seeing and hearing they in pitty and commiseration as well of her youth and beauty as to her descent and the teares and prayers of venerable old Beraldi her father cause her to bee loosed and so in open Court acquit and discharge her Here wee see this wretched Courtizans Victoryna acquitted of her Iudges for her husbands Murther so as triumphing more in her good fortune then her innocencie shee now thinkes the storme of her punishment past and ore-blowne and that no fuâ—…e can possibly bee reserved for her or shee for it but her hopes will deceive her for although shee have made her peace with Earth yet shee hath not with Heaven and although she have deluded the eyes of her Iudges yet she shall not those of God but when his appoynted houre and her due time is come then her crimes and sins her adultery and Murther shall draw down vengeance from heaven to her confusion In the meane time wee shall see this Monster and disgrace of her sexe make such bad use of her former danger as shee will againe adde bloud to bloud and Murther to Murther but God will reserve not onely the rod of his wrath for her correction but the full viols of his indignation for her confusion as the sequell will shew thee Sixe moneths are scarce past since the Murther of her husband Souranza and the execution of her Enamorata Sypontus but shee hath already quite forgotten these two mournefull ard tragicall accidents and which is more shee is so frolike and youthfull as shee hath throwne off her mourning attire and drawne on her rich apparell and glittering jewels whereof the curiosity of the nobler sort of Gentlemen and Ladies of the Citie take exact observation and although Beraldi and Lucia her fatheâ—… and mother herein taxe her of indiscretion and immodesty yet shee thinkes heâ—… selfe exempt of their commands and therefore will doe it out of the ambitious priviledge of her owne uncontrolable authority and wilfulnesse Besides her thought are so youthfull and her carriage so light as notwithstanding shee came as it were but now from burying of her first husband yet shee is resolved without delay tâ—… have a second her father and mother checke her of levity and incivility in imbracing this resolution but in vaine for her impudencie returnes them this immodest answer that shee will not trifle away her time but marry They advize her to bee cautious and to doe nothing rashly in this her second match that the misfortune anâ—… scandall of her first may no more reflect on her But shee will make choyce for heâ—… selfe by the eyes of her youth and not by those of their age by those of her ownâ—… fancie and not by these of their election Her husband Souranza dyed rich both 〈◊〉 lands and monies and his Widdow Victoryna without any opposition injoyeth all 〈◊〉 shee needs not looke out for Suters for there are Gallants enow who sue and seekâ—… her but of them all hee whom shee best and chiefly affecteth is one Seignior Loudvicus Fassino a very neat and proper young Gentleman of
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
aboue his right pap and hee him cleane thorow the body of a large and dangerous wound whence issued foorth abundance of blood so they divide themselves and take breath They againe fall to it and at this third close Sebastiano repayes Antonio with a mournfull and fatall interest for hee runnes him thorow the body on the left side a little below the heart whereof staggering he falls and so Sebastiano dispatcheth him and nailes him to the ground starke dead Villandras congratulates with him for his victory which Sebastiano with much modestie ascribes to the power and providence of God and not to the weaknesse of his owne arme Bellasco is no way daunted with the misfortune and death of his Principall but rather like a generous Gentleman and valiant Second resolves to sell it dearely to Villandras They are not long unsheathing of their Rapiers for as soone as Bellasco hath covered up Antonio with his cloake they approach at their very first meeting Bellasco slightly hurts Villandras in the right shoulder and Villandras him thorow the bodie and reynes with a fatall wound wherewith his sword fell from him and hee to the ground when fearing and presaging his death he with a faint language begs his life of Villandras who at the sight and hearing hereof throwes away his owne Rapier and stoupes to assist him But in vaine for it is not in his power to give him his life for by this time hee is dead and his soule departed to another world This tragicall newes is soone knowne and bruited in Elvas whereof the Criminall Iudges of that Citie remit Sebastiano with as much ease as Villandras with difficultie in favour of money and friends and obtaine their pardons And now the newes hereof likewise flies to Antonio's Castle where his dead body and that of Bellasco are speedily conveyed and brought to the griefe and sorrow of all those of the Castle who bitterly weepe for the disaster of their Lord and Master But all these teares are nothing to those of Antonio's two sisters nor theirs any thing in comparison of these of our sweet Berinthia who is no sooner advertised hereof but shee falls to the ground with sorrow and there wrings her hands beats her breast and teares off her haire in such mournfull and pitifull sort that Crueltie her selfe could not refraine from teares to see the numberlesse infinitie of hers Counsell advice perswasion cannot perswade her to give a moderation to her mourning or limits to her sorrowes for they are so violent as their extremitie exceeds all excesse Shee will see the dead body of her deare Antonio all those of the Castle are not capable to divert her eyes from this wofull and pitifull object at the sight whereof shee falles to the ground on her knees and gives his breathlesse body a thousand kisses yea shee washeth his sweet cheekes with a whole deluge and inundation of her salt teares shee cannot speake for sighing nor utter a word for weeping onely wringing her hands shee at last breathed foorth these mournfull and passionate speeches O my deare Antonio my sweet and deare Antonio Antonio would God my death had ransomed and preventhine O my Antonio my Antonio Leave we Berinthia to her passionate sorrowes and sorrowfull passions from which her brother Sebastiano will soone awake her who by this time as Victor and Conqueror is come to the Castle gate and demaunds her where he sees himselfe refused and the draw-bridges and approaches drawne up and rampired with Barricadoes he craves ayd of the Criminall Iudges who send the Provost with an armed company of Souldiers so they force the Castle gate with a Petard where sorrowfull Berinthia is delivered into the handes of her joyfull and rejoycing brother Sebastiano who with sweet perswasions and advice seeks to exhale and dry up her teares but her affection is so great as she is not capable of consolation In a word shee cannot looke on her Brother with the eye of affection but of revenge and indignation yea shee wisheth her selfe metamorphosed from a Virgine to a man that shee might bee revenged of her Brother for the death of her deare Lover Antonio Sebastiano leaving the dead bodies of Antonio and Belasco to their Graves takes Coach with his incensed and sorrowfull Sister Berinthia and so leaves Elvs and returnes towards Avero where his Father Vilarezo and his Mother Alphanta welcome him home with prayse and their Daughter Berinthia with checkes and frownes who the best she may smothers her discontents but yet vowes to be revenged of her Brother for killing the life of her joy and joy of her life Antonio But all vowes of this bloudy nature and quality are better broken then kept which if Berinthia had had the grace to have considered and made good use of doubtlesse her hand had proved more joyfull and not so fatall and miserable Come we now to Catalina who seeing the object of her affection Antonio dead and her Sister Berinthia returned who for his sake was that of her living malice she secretly confesseth her fault to her sister in seeking formerly twice to have poysoned her by Ansilva craves pardon of her vowing henceforth to convert her malice to affection and so reconciles her selfe to her whereunto her Sister Berinthia willingly condescendeth Catalina hath made her peace with her Sister but shee hath not contracted and concluded it with God for Ansilva's death Earth may forget this Murther but Heaven will not Gods judgements are as just as secret and as true as wonderfull for hee hath a thousand meanes to punish us when wee thinke our selves safe and furthest from punishment which our wretched Catalina and her execrable Empericke Sarmiata shall see verifyed in themselves For the smoke of this their bloudy Crime of Murther hath pierced the Vaultes and Windowes of Heaven and is ascended to the Nostrells of the Lord who hath now bent his Bowe and made ready his Arrowes to revenge and punish them The manner is thus A Sister of Ansilva's named Isabella is to be marryed in Avero who invites the Ladies Catalina and Berinthia to her Wedding Berinthia is too sorrowfull to bee so merry as desirous rather to goe to her owne Grave then to any others Nuptialls so shee stayes at home onely her Sister Catalina takes Coach with an intent to accompany the Bride-woman to Church but see the Providence and Iustice of God how it surpriseth and overtakes this wtetched Gentlewoman Catalina for as shee was in her way the Sunne is instantly eclipsed and the Skyes overcast and so a terrible and fearefull Thunder-bolt pierceth her thorow the brest and layes her neere dead in her Coach her Wayting-mayds and Coach-man having no hurt are yet amazed at this strange and dismall accident so they thinke it fit to returne Catalina is for a time speechlesse he Parents are as it were dead with griefe and sorrow hereat shee is committed to her bed and searched and all her body above her wast is found
either tractable or flexible to his desires so as his suite is vaine and shee so deafe to his requests as neither his prayers sighs Letters nor Presents are capable to purchase her favour Poligny infinitely grieves heereat which notwithstanding makes the flame of his lust rather increase then diminish so as after much pensivenesse hee begins to beat his witts and to awaken his invention how hee may crowne his desires by enjoying Laurieta when loe an occasion presenteth it selfe to him unexpected Madamoyselle la Palaisiere a rich young Gentlewoman neere Pont Saint Esprit living in Avignion and seeing Poligny at the dauncing doth exceedingly fall in loue with him yea â—…hee so admires the sweetnesse of his favour and the excellencie of his personage as shee rejoyceth in nothing so much and to write the truth in nothing else but in his company so as had not modestie with-held her shee would have prooved her owne Advocate and have informed him thereof her selfe Poligny receives so many secret signes and testimonies of her affection by private glances and the like as hee cannot bee ignorant thereof but his love or rather his lust to Laurieta hath so absolutely taken up his heart and thoughts as it hath left no place nor corner for la Palaisiere so as here wee may observe and remarke a different commixture and disparitie of affections Poligny loves Laurieta and not shee him la Palaisiere affects Poligny and not hee her what these passions and occurrences will produce wee shall shortly see La Palaisiere having her heart pierced thorow with the love of Poligny knowing him to bee Laurieta's servant and shee the Mistresse of Belluile either out of her affection or jealousie or both resolves at next meeting to acquaint Poligny with it therby purposely to withdraw his affection from her to her selfe The occasion is proffered and opportunitie seemes to favour and second her desires Some three dayes after the Iesuites who as the Mountebanks and Panders of Kingdomes and Estates leave no invention nor Ceremony unattempted to seduce and bewitch the affections of the world cause their Schollers to act a Comedie in their Colledge in this Citie whereat all the Nobilitie and Gentrie of the Citie and adjacent Countrey assemble and meet Thither comes Poligny hoping to see Laurieta and la Palaisiere to see Poligny but Laurieta that day is sicke and Belluile stayes with her to comfort her So first comes Poligny and seeing hee could not see his Laurieta sits downe pensively then comes la Palaisiere and seeing Poligny a farre off prayes her brother who conducted her to place her neere him Poligny can doe no lesse then salute her and shee triumphing in her good fortune takes the advantage of this occasion and in sweet and sugered termes after many pauses sighs and blushes gives him to understand that shee knew his affection to Laurieta and withall that Belluile and no other was her servant and favourite This speech of hers strikes Poligny to the quicke so as thereat hee not onely bites the lip but hangs his head yea this unexpected newes as also Beâ—…uile and Laurieta's absence so nettle him and frame such a Chymera of extravagant passions in his heart and thoughts as hee could not have the patience to sit ouâ—… the Comedy but feigning himselfe sicke departs to his Chamber where a thousand jealousies ingendered of his affection perplexe and torment him when remembring la Palaisieres speeches and being infinitely desirous to know the truth of Belluile his affection to Laurieta and of hers to him hee sees no meanes nor person so fit to reveale the same as Lucilla Laurieta's Wayting-mayd This Lucilla Poligny winns with gold in consideration whereof shee reveales him all how Belluile was her chiefest Minion and Favourite and yet for some words hee the other day in ignorance or Wine let fall to the prejudice of her honour shee was like to casheere and discard him Lucilla having thus forgotten her owne fidelitie in bewraying the dishonour of her Mistresse Poligny understanding Belluile to bee a coward of his hands though not of his tongue and in a word not to bee so compleate a Gallant as hee supposed him hee of a subtill and malicious invention resolves to worke on him and so conceives a plot which wee shall see presently put in execution and acted hee very politikely puts a good face on all his discontents and passions and although Laurieta would not see him yet hee fairely intrudes himselfe into Belluile's company and of purpose becomes familiar with him So they very often meet for they sence dance ride vault and hunt together so as at last none are so great Consorts and Cammerades as they But Poligny thinking every houre a yeere before hee had played his prize makes a partie at Tennis with Belluile for a collation and beats him and so taking two Gentlemen La Fontaine and Borelles his friends with them away they goâ—… all foure to a Taverne Poligny as secret as malicious in this his plot in the middest of their mirth speakes thus to Belluile Sir quoth hee I am sorry for your losse of this Collation but if it please you to honour mee with your company to morrow to Orenge a Citie which I much desire to see I will pay you the dinner in requitall thereof Belluile very readily and willingly consents hereunto and La Fontaine and Borellâ—… vow they will likewise have their share both of the journey and dinner So the next morne they all take horse for Orenge but first Belluile gives his Mistresse Laurieta the good morrow and acquaints her with his journey They view this old Citie the ancient patrimony and Principalitie of the Illustrious Princes of Orenge from whence they derive their name where Poligny having given order for the dinner away they goe visite the Castle and salute the deputed Governour thereof Monsieur â—…osberghe they see the part of the Amphitheatre yet standing the Cathedrall Church the double Wall of the Citie and the old Romane Arch not farre off with all other remarkable objects and monuments and by this time the Cooke and their stomackes taxe them of their long stay So they returne to their Inne fall to their Viands and like frolike Gentlemen wash them downe with store of Claret and now Poligny as malâ—…cious in heart as pleasant in countenance and conversation heere casts foorth his lure and snare to surprize and intangle Belluile O quoth hee how happie the Gentlemen of Italy are to us of France sith after dinner every one goes freely to his Courtizan without controulment I know not quoth la Fontaine what Orenge is but I thinke Avignion is not destitute of good fellow Wâ—…nches who make Venus their queene and Cupid their god Surely no replies Belluile for I am confident that for Iewes and Courtizans for the greatnesse of it it may compare with the best Citie of Italy for from the Lady to the Kitchin-mayd I dare say they 'l all proove tractable Nay quoth
she but fifteen but more in qualities and conditions for he was by nature perverse and chollericke but she milde courteous and gracious Againe they differed much in the lineaments and proportion of their bodies for Alexandro like his Father was short crook-backt and hard-favour'd and Perina resembling her mother tall straight-wasted and faire so as it being a principle and Maxime in Nature that parents for the most part love those Children best who best resemble them as the mother Eleanora preferr'd Perina in her affection before Alexandro so contrariwise their father Arconeto did Alexandro before Perina But as God had called Eleanora out of this life and left her husband Arconeto to survive her so Alexandro's joy prov'd his sister Perina's miseâ—…y and affliction for he was so happy to see himself tenderly cherished and affected and she so unfortunate to perceive her selfe slighted and disrespected of her father wherein as I praise Arconeto's intimate love to his sonne so I cannot but discommend and withall pitty his immerited and unnatural neglect to his daughter wherein as Alexandro triumphed in the one judge judicious Reader if Perina had not cause enough to grieve and lament at the other But as the drift and scope of this History looks another way so for my part who have uâ—…dertaken to pen it it is the least of my intent 〈◊〉 purpose to give instructions and direction how parents should beare themselves in their affections towards their children onely because I may not here too palpably bewray mine ignorance in my silence I hope nay I am confident that with as much truth aâ—… safety I may conclude it is a happinesse both for parens and children where parents beare their affâ—…ctions equally to their children for loving one and hating another the joy of the one proves oftentimes the others sorrow and in giving that too mucâ—… hope we many times administer this too much cause of despaire or if the inclinations and affâ—…ctions of parents be more narrowly tyed and strictly linked to preferre and love one child above the other yet sith they are the equall issue of their loynes and wee the onely parents of their youth wee should bee as well cautious in the distribution of our favors a in the demonstration of our disrespects towards them But enough of this digression and now againe to our Hâ—…story As Alexandro growes up in yeares so he doth in ambition and ostentation for if he play the Bravâ—…sho abroad among Gentlemen and Ladies so authorizd by his fathers hatred of his sister he at home becomes a petty tyrant to her yea his carriage is so sterne and imperious towards her as if she were rather his slave then his sister or his laundres and hand-mayd then any part of himselfe which notwithstanding it was both a daily griefe to her heart and a continuall torment to her thoughts yet Perina's sweet perfections and gracious vertues and behavior make her digest and brook all with wonderfull constancie and an admirable patience for wel she knowes that if she should complain 〈◊〉 her father of her brothers unkindnes towards her she should thereby reape no other remedy and redresse but this that the one would laugh and the other triumph thereat and that the issue therof would proove her complaints to be the May game of the one and mocking-stock of the other But God hath ordayned briefly to ease her of a great part of her undeserved discontents and afflictions for lo her brother Alexandro debauching and surfeting at a Banquet at Susa returnes home surprised of a hot pestilent Fever which notwithstanding the care of his Father or the art of his expertest Physicians hee in three dayes is taken out of this life And now guided by the light of nature and the instinct of common sense and reason who would not surmise or thinke but that Arconeto having buryed his sonne Alexandro should now love his onely daughter and child Perina farre dearer and tenderer then before But alas nothing lesse for hee is not so kinde and therefore shee cannot be so happy yea which is worse although his words be her commands and his pleasure her law yet hee contemnes both her and her obedience and never lookes on her with love and affection but still with disdaine and envie yea in a word his distast is so extreame and bitter against her as hee is never best pleased then when shee is furthest from him so as her absence may delight and content him but her presence cannot Which unnaturall disrespect and unjust cruelty of her father towards her doth so nip the joyes of her youth and the blossomes of her health and beauty as poore young Gentlewoman she becomes infinite melancholly and extreme weake and sickly which being observed and pittyed of all her kinsfolkes and friends as being her Fathers onely child and heire to all his Lands and Riches an Aunt of hers being her mothers sister and likewise her God-mother termed the Lady Dominica a Widow-woman of the same City workes so with her brother in law Arconeto that hee is content to permit his daughter Perina to reside and dwell with her whereat as the Aunt is not a little glad so the Neece beyond measure infinitely rejoyceth and triumphs thereat both hoping that her absence may and will procure her fathers affection which her presence could not and that having more liberty and lesse bondage shee might againe in a short time recover her former health and content or else that God out of his divine providence and pleasure in heaven might call and allot her out some gallant Husband here on earth with whom in the contents and pleasures of Marriage shee might end her future dayes in as much tranquillity and felicity as she had formerly lived in discontent and affliction and indeed the events though not in the first yet in the two last poynts answereth their expectations The Lady Dominica hath formerly contracted a Daughter of hers named Dona Bertha to a Cavallier of the City of Nice termed Seignior Bartholomeâ—… Spelassi by descent noble and of good revennues and wealth And now the appoynted time is come for their Marriage to which end up comes Spelassi from Nice to Saint Iohn de Mauriene assisted and followed by many gallant young Gentlemen of his kinsfolks and friends and in a word with a Trayne well befitting his ranke and quality where these Nuptialls are solemnized with great variety of pompe and pleasure as Feasting Dancing Masks Running at the Ring and the like for in these amorous and Court-like Revels the Savoyards as participating both of the French and Italian humours take a singular delight and felicity But as many times one Wedding occasioneth and produceth another so Fortune or to speake more properly and truely God ordayned that the Lady Dominica appoynted her Neece Perina to conduct the Bride-groome her Sonne in law Spelassi to the Church and hee had allotted one of the noblest and eminent Cavalliers that came with him named
Seignior Francisco de Castelnovo to performe the same ceremonie to his Bride the Dona Bertha being a Knight of Malta native of the City of Nice and son and heire to Seignior Iacomo de Castelâ—…o a very anâ—… feâ—…t and rich Baron of Savoy Now as Perina was a most beautifull and â—…aire young Lady so was our young Castelnovo a very proper and gallant Cavallier and sith the occasion of this Marriage and the fortunacie and opportunity of their united office by a kinde of destinated and happy priviledge authorized each to be familiar in the others company and presence so as Lovers beginne to court first in jest then in earnest the hearts and brests of this sweet young couple are in the end equally surprised with the flame of affection yea his personage and dancing and her beauty and singing mutually inkindle this fire of love in their thoughts and contemplations which either imagineth and both perceive and understand by the dumbe Oratorie and silent Rhetoricke of their eyes Which Castelnovo knowing her descent and quality answerable to his hee intends to seeke her in Marriage When not any longer to surpresse or conceale their affections they after dinner dancing in company of divers others in the garden he singleth the Lady Perina his new Mistresse apart in a Bower closely overvail'd with Vines Cicamores and Cypres Trees and there 'twixt sighs and words reveales his deepe affection to her But to avoyd the prolixious relation of this their Garden enteâ—…view and conference although at first Perina's modesty the sweetest ornament and vertue of a Lady was such as shee not onely kept her selfe but likewise her affections to her selfe yet her courteous and thankefull answeres wayted and seconded by many delicious blushes and amorous sighes although not publikely yet privately inform'd her I over Castelnovo that shee likewise loved him so as during the tearme of fifteene dayes which Spelassi and hee remayned in Saint Iohn de Mauriene hee never lâ—…ft courting her till hee had obtayned her affection and consent to bee his wife drawne thereunto by these two attractive and seducing reasons First that Castelnovo was a gallant and proper Cavallier as also her equall in descent and meanes and then that shee should live in Nice with a Husband who dearely loved her and no longer in Saint Iohn de Mauriene with a Father who extremely hated her Neither can these our young Lovers beare their affections so secret but the whole company especially the Lady Dominica her Aunt perceives it and deeming it a fit Match for her Neece rejoyceth thereat Castelnovo secretly acquaints her therewith and intreates her best assistance therein towards her brother Arconeto which shee promiseth and forthwith attempteth when Castelnovo taking time at advantage seconds her in his suite for the Daughter to her old Father Now her Father Arconeto degenerating from the naturall affection of a Father towards his Daughter is so willing to depart with her to any Husband that hee may no more see her nor bee troubled with her presence as thinking a farre worse Match good enough hee thinkes this infinitely too good for her and so at the least shaddow of the very first motion consents thereunto which not onely banisheth Perina's old griefe but confirmeth Castelnovo's new joyes yea they like two sweete and vertuous Lovers so extremely rejoyce and triumph thereat as he riding home poast to Nice to acquaint his owne Father Seignior Iacomo de Castelnovo therewith and swiftly returning againe to Saint Iohn de Mauriene with his consent and approbation this Marriage of Castelnovo and Perina is there almost as soone solemnized as that of Spelassi and Bertha though indeed more obscure and with farre lesse pompe and bravery in respâ—…ct of the perversenesse and distast of her froward old Father Arconeto So fifteene dayes being expired since Spelassi and Castelnovo their first departure from Nice they leave Saint Iohn de Mauriene to returne and conduct their Brides home to Nice robbing that to inrich this City with two such beautifull and gallant Ladies as were Bertha and Perina Now the better to adde life and forme to this History or rather to approch the more materiall and essentiall parts thereof we must here leave to speake of Spelassi and Bertha and wholly tye our thoughts and curiosity to Castelnovo and Perina two principall and unfortunate Personatours who both have mournefull parts to act upon the Stage and Theater of Nice for this Marriage of theirs is not begunne with the tenth part of so many joyes as wee shall shortly see it wayted and attended on yea dissolved and finished both with teares and bloud Castelnovo having brought home his faire and deare Perina to Nice she is very honourably welcomed and courteously received and entertayned of his old Father Seignior Iacomo de Castelnovo and of the Lady Fidelia his Mother and so are all her kinsfolkes and friends who accompany her yea there wants no feasting nor revelling in Nice to testifie how much they congratulate and rejoyce at their sonnes good fortune and happines And for Castelnovo and Perina themselves why they are so ravished in the content and drowned in the joyes and delights of Marriage as though they have two bodies yet they have but oâ—…e heart desire and affection yea they are so extreamely in love each with other as they believe there is no Heaven upon earth to that of each others presence But they shall be deceived herein for there are Tragicall stormes arising to trouble the serenity of this Marriage and the felicity and tranquillity of these affections For it is both with griefe and shame that I must bee so immodest and therefore unfortunate to relate that the old Baron Iacomo de Castelnovo aged of some threescore and eight yeares hath so farre forgotten his God and himselfe his conscience and his soule grace and nature religion and humanity as gazing on the fresh and delicious beauty of our sweete Lady Perina his owne sonnes wife hee gives the reignes both of his obscene desires and inordinate affections to lust after her O how my heart trembles to thinke how he that is white with the snow of a venerable age should now lasciviously idolatrize to beauty how he that hath as it were one foot in his grave should lustfully desire to have the other in his Sonnes bed how hee that hath his veines dryed up and withered and nothing living in him but desire should yet of all the beauties of the world desire onely to enjoy that of his Sonnes wife how hee that hath scarce any time left him to bee repentant and sorrowfull for his old sinnes will now anew make himselfe guiltie of these foule sinnes of Adultery and I may in a manner say of Incest how hee that hath not given the flower of his youth will yet still lasciviously and wilfully refuse to bestow the branne of his age on his God! Alas miserable Castelnovo wrerched old man or rather lubritious and beastly Lecher thus to
second letter in hope it may effect and procure his returne which her first could not and so calling for pen and paper she traceth thereon these few lines PERINA to CASTELNOVO SIth thou wilt not leave Malta to see Nice for my sake I have left Nice to live or rather to dye in Saint Iohn de Mauriene for thine 't is true my affection hath desired thy returne which thou hast not granted mee 't is as true that one to whom Nature hath given a prime and singular interest in thee and thee in him hath sought the defloration of mine honour which my heart and dutie have denied him Thou art confident of my affection to thee if thiâ—… had beene so faithfull and sâ—…rvent to my selfe neither sea nor land had had power to seperate 〈◊〉 If any prefermens bee dearer to thee then my life stay in Malta or if my life be dearer theâ—… it then returne to Saint Iohn de Mauriene where thou mayest finde mee for in Nice I will not bee found of thee Hadst thou not purposely mistaken the cause for the pretext in my importunitie of thy returne I would have digested it with farre more content and lesse affliction but sith neither â—…y â—…tion or honour hath power to â—…ffect it at least let the regard of my life sith that will not accompany mee if thou any longer absent thy selfe from mee make therfore haste to see thy Peâ—…ina if ever thou thinke to see her againe and let her beare this one content to her grave that shee may disclose thee a secret which but to thy selfe shee will conceale from all the world PERINA Whiles Sabia is againe speeding toward Malta with Perina's second Letter to her husband Castelnovo wee will a little speake of old Castelnovo the father who seeing his daughter in law Perina fled and consequently his hopes with her hee is extremely perplexed and afflicted hereat All the house and City is sought for her and hee himselfe breakes off the lockes of her Chamber doore where hee findes the nest but the bird flowne away her bed but not her selfe so as his thoughts doubly torment and astonish him first to be frustrated of his hopes and desires to injoy her then because shee will bewray his lascivious suite and affection to her Husband his sonne which of all sides will procure him not onely shame but infamy yea now it is although before he would not that he sees his errour and vanity in attempting to make shipwrack of her honour and chastity which is the Glory and should be the Palladium of Ladies but it is too late to recover her againe And therefore although hee know how to repent yet he is ignorant how to remedy or redeeme it sith his attempt and enterprise was not onely odious to God but infamous to men opposite to Grace and repugnant and contradictory to Nature Besides this his lustfull folly proceeding from himselfe lookes two wayes and hath a double reflection first on Perina the wife then on Castelnovo her husband and his owne sonne who he is assured will bee all fire hereat yea this crime of his is of so high and so beastly a nature as hee knowes not what to say to him or how to looke him in the face when he shall arrive from Malta which his guilty conscience tells him will bee shortly neither doth the Calculation or Arithmetick of his feare deceive him for by this time is Sabia againe arrived at Malta where hee delivers Castelnovo his wife's second Letter the which doth so nettle and sting his heart to the quicke at the bitter and unexpected newes it relates as hee esteemes himselfe no longer himselfe because hee is not with his deare wife who is the one halfe yea the greatest part of himselfe Wherefore admiring who in Nice yea in his fathers house should bee so impudently laseivious to seeke to blemish his honour in that of his Ladies hee making her sighes and teares his with all expedition and haste provides for his departure from Malta and yet his love his feare or both conducing and concurring in one makes him instantly resolve to dispatch and returne Sabia as the harbinger to proclaime his comming the which he doth and chargeth him with this Letter to his faire wife and deare Lady Perina CASTELNOVO to PERINA THy sudden departure from Nice to Saint Iohn de Mauriene doth equally afflict and amaze mee I burne with desire to know as well the Authour as the Cause thereof that I â—…ay likewise know how to right thee in revenging my selfe of him I have thought it fit to reâ—…rne Seignior Sabia againe to thee as soone as hee arrived to mee being ready within two dayes to imbarke as timely as himselfe so that if winde and Sea hate me not too much in more â—…ving and favouring him I am confident to bring and deliver thee my selfe as soone as hee shall bee this my Letter and judge whether I speake it from my heart and soule sith the estimation â—…f thy love and the preservation of thine honour make mee already deeme minutes moneths â—…nd houres yeares till my presence bee made happy with thine I come faire Perina sweet wife â—…nd deare Lady I come and if Heaven proove propitious to my most religious prayers and â—…sires here on Earth â—…ur meeting shall bee shortly as sweete and happy as our parting was bitter â—…d sorrowfull CASTELNOVO So according to this his Letter as first Sabia imbarkes from Malta to Nice before him so he likewise arrives at Genoua the day after he did at Nice from whence poasting o're the Mountaines hee arrives at Saint Iohn de Mauriene where at his father in law Arconeto's house he findes his deare and sweet Lady Perina who every minute of time with much impatient longing and desire expected his arrivall as having the night before received his second and last Letter by Sabia which advertised her thereof so like true and faithfull Turtle Doves esteeming each others presence their most soveraigne felicitie they fall to their billing and kisses to informe themselves how sweet this their happy meeting was each to other And here our Knight Castelnovo cannot bee so curious or hasty to inquire as his Lady Perina was to relate the cause of her sudden departure from Nice to Saint Iohn de Mauriene occasioned by the unnaturall lust and lasciviousnesse of his Father as wee have formerly understood the which with many sighs and teares shee depaints forth to him in all its circumstances and colours Hee is amazed at this strange and unexpected newes and farre the more to think that his owne father should in the winter of his age attempt or seeke to defile his honour and bed in the person of this his faire and chast Lady Perina he wondereth to see so little grace in so many yeares and that if Nature had not yet Religion should have had power to banish these lascivious thoughts from his heart and memory so with out-spred armes he tenderly
not affect La Frange we may yet observe and discover which way hee intends to shape the course of his affections and resolutions For albeit he had formerly addicted himselfe and resolutions to be a professed Souldier yet Peace calling him home now to Pleasure and that to effeminacy a fatall and dangerous vice which in the iniquity of these our times and depraved manners not onely most insensibly creepes into common Souldiers and Commanders but also into all Armies and into many Estates and Kingdomes still to the disparagement of their glory and sometime to the price of their ruine and perill of their subversion he began to let his Colours hang dustie and his Pike and Parâ—…zan râ—…stie by the walls and to frequent the company of Ladies which the old Counsellor his father observes with joy hoping that in the end he shall draw him to affect and marry La Frange but these hopes of his will proove vaine and this hiâ—… joy will soone bee exchanged into sorrow and metamorphosed into affliction and misery for that his sonne is partly resolved to marry t is true but as true it is that he is fully resolved never to love much lesse to marry La Frange Now wee must understand that in Tholouse there dwelt a Merchant of Silks or as wee in England say a Silk-man termed Monsieur de Soulange rather reputed rich of others than knowne so of himselfe and yet being an old widower to the end the sooner to get him a new wife he puts a good face on his estate and maintaines himselfe familie and house with great pompe and expences having no son but three faire daughters all marriageable yet out of ambition and in emulation of the Gentry severally knowne and stiled by their titles not by their names as Mesdamoyselles de Marsy La pre Verte and La Hay all famous for their beauties and indeed for the purenesse and excellencie thereof justly reputed held the prime Birds of the citie and yet the youngest of them La Hay was the Phenix of all the three for she was so sweetly faire and fairly sweet of complexion as she drew all eyes to doe homage to hers so as it was almost impossible for any man to looke on her without loving her or to gaze on her without desiring her for her body was so strait and slender and the roses of her cheekes so deliciously gracing the lilies and the lilies the roses that the greatest Gallant either of the Citie or Country held himselfe not only happy but honoured with the felicitie of her presence and company But in one word to give these three sisters their true characters de Marsy and la Pre-verte were far more vertuous than La Hay though La Hay were far fairer than they for as Religion and Pietie was their chiefest delight and exercise as more desirous to embelish their soules than their bodies so wanton pleasure and vaine lasciviousnesse was hers as rather delighting to please and adorne her body than her soule they being more vertuous than faire shee more faire than vertuous different inclinations and resolutions these as happy and blessed as hers wretched and impious their actions might have beene a President yea a Pilot to have conducted her fame as well to the Temple of Honour as to the harbour of immortall glory of glorious immortalitie but she vowes she will prove a President to her selfe and her pleasure shall be a Pilot to her will although she misse the Temple of Honour to find out that of beastly concupiscence and the harbour of immortall glory to suffer shipwrack vpon the shelves of ingloâ—…ious infamie and the rocks of infamous perdition To this Monsieur de Soulanges house the beauties of his three daughters but especially that of La Hay and withall her pleasing and tractable affabilitie invites many young Gentlemen and the eminentst Citizens who there passe their time in courting and conversing in dancing singing and the like whereunto the Youth of France more than any other people of the world are most licentiously addicted and as things are best discerned and distinguished by their contraries so the vertues of De Marsy and La Preverte were made more apparant by La Hayes vices and her lust and whoredomes were more palpably notorious in their chastitie O that so sweet a creature should be subject to so foule a sinne and that Beautie the best gift and as I may say the gold of Nature should be thus vilified and polluteâ—… with the beastly pleasures of carnall concupiscence and obscene sensualitie For aye mee I write it with as much griefe to my selfe as shame to her she was too prodigall of her favours for she imparted them liberally unto some for love but unto most for money not caring to whom she prostituted her body so they filled her purse thereby to support her pride and maintaine the excesse and vanitie of her braverie and yet she was so subtill and cautious therein that although she were a professed Courtisan she would neverthelesse publikely seeme a pure and unspotted Virgin and the better to fortifie her fame and to make the reputation of her Chastitie passe currant with the world she would sweare all those to conceale her favours on whomsoever she imparted and bestowed them but if this lascivious subtiltie of hers have power to bleare the eyes of the world how can this her beastly sin of fornication be unseene of God when the windowes walls and beames of her chamber yea her very bed whereon she hath acted her whoredomes shall one day give in evidence and serve as witnesses against her yea and be petitioners on earth that God will requite and reward them with vengeance and confusion from Heaven Now among the rest of those deboshed Gentlemen who devoted their lascivious service and sacrificed their fond affections to La Hays beautie in comes our De Salez to inroule himselfe one who feasting and surfetting his eyes on the delicacies of her fresh and sweet complexion leaves his owne fathers house to frequent hers yea his desires are so lustfully inflamed with her beautie as with his best art and policie he lies close siege to her chastitie and with many gifts requests and oathes seekes to endeere her to his desires and pleasure But see the subtiltie of this lascivious young Courtisan for knowing De Salez deeply in love with her and to be the only childe of his father and he one of the richest Councellors of Tholouse she conceives a plot in her head to goe a fishing to make him her husband and so beares her selfe wonderfull modest and coy casting a cloake and veile of chastitie over her unchaste desires and actions as if she were now a virgin yea a Saint to him though heretofore she had many times played the Strumpet with others but her deniall doth rather inflame than quench the fire of his lust so as making many assaults to raze downe the defences of her refusall that he may enter and
not capable of two suns so both of us cannot shine in the Horison of his heart and thoughts at once except thus that La Hay may live to see La Frange his wife and her selfe his strumpet when burning with false zeale to De Salez and true inveterate malice to La Frange she forgetting God swaps a bargaine with the devill that La Frange must first goe to her grave ere La Hay come to his bed and soe resolves to sacrifice her as a Victime to her malice and jealousie and to send her out of this world in an untimely and bloody Coffin Hellish Aphorisâ—…es Infernall Posâ—…ions odious to Earth and execrable to Heaven For wretched and impious strumpet wilt thou needs not onely gallop but fly to hell and so redouble thy crimes purposely to redouble thy torments as first of whoredome then of murther Wretched yea thrice wretched woman how darest thou see earth or thinke of heaven when thy acted crimes are so odious and thy pretended ones so monstrous as thou deservest to be shut foorth of the one and spewed out of the other For alas consider what this poore Gentlewoman hath done to thee that thou shouldest doe this to her She beares the image of God and wilt thou therefore beare that of the devill to destroy her Ah me where is thy religion thy conscience thy soule that thou wilt thus hellishly imbathe thy hands in her blood and imbrue thy heart in her murther If it be not that her vertues cry fie on thy Vices thou hast no reason in Nature and lesse in Grace to attempt a deed so Tragicall an act so inhumane and execrable But rest assured that if thou proceed and finish this infernall and bloody stratagem of thine although thou chance goe unpunished of men yet the Lord in his due time will find thee out and both severely scourge and sharpely revenge and chastice thee The effects of malice and revenge in men are finite in women infinite theirs may have bounds and ends but these none or at least seldome and difficultly for having once conceived these two monsters in their fantasies and braines they long till they are delivered and disburthened of them and so to bring their abortive issue to perfection they for the most part are sharpe and severe in their designes and sudden and malicious in their executions hating all delayes so it be not to do evil So this our bloody and viâ—…ious Strumpet La Hay is resolute to advance and not to retyre in this dyabolicall businesse of hers Of all kind of violent deaths she thinks none either so sure and secret as poyson whether she consider the manner or the matter If the Devill himselfe had not invented this unparaleld cruelty his agents and members had never knowne how to have administred and practised it But having resolved on the drug and ingredient she now bethinks herselfe of some hellish Empericke or Factor of Hell to apply and give it her and her inveterate and implacable hatred making her curious in the research and inquiry thereof she is at last advertised that there is an old Italian Empericke in Mompellier tearmed S. Brnardâ—… Michaele who is his Arts master in that infernall profession when wholly concealing this mystery and businesse from De Salez she by a second meanes with promise of store of gold sends away for Michaele from Mompellier who in hope thereof packs up his drugs and trinkets and within three dayes arrives at Tholouse where she thinkes no where so fit and secret as the Church to consult and resolve on this bloody busines the houre is eight the next morne and the place the Cordeliers or Gray Friâ—…s Church appointed and agreed on betwixt them where they both meet but she the better to disguise her selfe and to bleare the eyes of the world wraps her selfe about in a great furred cloake and muffles her selfe up with a large coyfe of velvet and a rich taffata scarfe over it as if she were some grave and reverend old Matron so being brought to each others presence they being both on their knees he to his Booke and she to her Beads she proposeth him the poysoning of La Frange daughter to the President de Clugny for the which she promiseth to give him three hundred crownes of the Sunne to performe it whereof he shall now have one in hand and the other two when he hath dispatched her Michaele like a limbe of the Devill being deepely in love and allured with this gold undertakes it when swearing secrecy and withall to performe it within ten daies she gives him the hundred crownes tyed up in her handkercher and so for that time they part Good God what prophane Christians what monsters of Nature and Devils incarnate by profession are these thus to pollute and defile the Church ordain'd for prayer with the price and sale of innocent blood a most prodigious and hellish impiety since there is no sinne so odious or execrable to God as that which is masked with piety and overvayled with the cloke of sanctity And what a damnable young strumpet and old villaine are they in so holy a place to treate and conclude so hellish a businesse But beware for the sword and arrow of Gods just revenge and revenging Justice threatens yee with no lesse then utter confusion and destruction La Hay infinitely glad of this agreement returns from the Church and Michaele as glad of her gold being informed of La Franges deformity and to lose no time trips away towards President de Clugny his house taking that for a fit occasion to assay to make his daughter become his Patient and he her Empericke who fleeringly insinuating and skrewing himselfe into his knowledge and acquaintance in which profession the Empericks and Mountebanks of Italy come no way short but rather exceed all other Nations of the world he proffers him his best service and skill to redresse and reforme the body of the young Lady his daughter adding withall thereby to adde the more beleefe and credit to his speeches that hee is so farre from dispairing or doubting as hee is very confident thereof and in the phraises and mysteries of his profession gives him in outward appearance many inward and plausible reasons to induce him to beleeve it The good old President who preferring the cure of his daughter before any other earthly respect having heard of Michaâ—…les fame begins to relish his reasons and yet not ignorant that the Mountebankes and Charletans of Italy are Cousin Germans to the Alcumists of France who promise to make gold of drosse and yet only bring forth drosse for gold hee holds it fit to take a consultation of the learnedst Physicians and expert Chirurgions of the City whereunto Michaele willingly consents so they sit being six in number Michaele delivers them his reasons to redresse the deformity of this young Ladies body the President her father being present whose reasons are heard and controverted of all sides betwixt them the
shee throwes her selfe on the floore and weepes and sighs so mournfully as the most obduratest and flintiest heart could not chuse but relent into pitie to see her for sometimes shee lookt up to heaven and then againe dejecting her eyes to earth now wringing her hands and then crossing her armes in such disconsolate and afflicted manner as Adriana could not likewise refraine from teares to behold her when after a deepe and profound silence she bandying and evaporating many volleyes of farre fetched sighs into the ayre shee commanding Adriana forth the doore shut with the two extremities of passion and sorrow shee alone utters these mournfull speeches to her selfe And shall Clara live to understand that her Baretano was murthered for her sake and by her unfortunate husband Albemare and shall she any more lie in bed with him who so inhumanely hath layen him in his untimely and bloudy grave And Clara Clara wilt thou prove so ungratefull to his memory and to the tender affection he bore thee as not to lament not to seeke to revenge this his diastrous and cruell end when againe her teares interrupting her words and her sighs her teares she entring into a further consultation with her thoughts and conscience her heart and her soule at last cotinues her speech in this manner O but unfortunate and wretched Clara what speakest thou of revenge for consider with thy selfe yea forget not to consider Baretano was but thy friend Albemare is thy husband the first loved thee in hope to marry thee but thou art married to the second and therefore thou must love him and although his ingratitude and infidelity towards thee make him unworthy of thy affection yet yee two are but one flesh and therefore consider that malice is a bad advocate and revenge a worse Judge But here againe remembring what a foule and odious crime murther was in the sight of the Lord that the discovery thereof infinitely tended to his glory and honour and that the poore Foole was doubtlesse inspired from heaven to affirme that God sent the Letter she knowes that her bonds of conscience to her Saviour must exceed and give a law to those of her duty towards her husband and therefore preferring Heaven before Earth and God before her Husband shee immediately cals for her Coach and goes directly to Baretano's Vnkle Seignior Giovan de Montefiore and with sighs and teares shewes him the letter who formerly though in vaine had most curiously exactly hunted to discover the murtherers of his Nephew Montefiore first reads the letter with tears then with joy and then turning towards â—…he Lady Clara he commends her zeale and Christian fortitude towards God in shewing her how much the discovery of this murther tended to his glory and so presently sends away for the President Criminell who immediately repairing thither he acquaints him therewith shewes him the Letter and prayes him to examine the Lady Clara thereon which with much modesty and equity he doth and then returne with her to her house and there likewise examineth the Foole where he had the Letter who out of his incivilitie and simplicity takes the President by the hand and bringing him to the Cupboard tels him Here God sent the Letter and here I found him when Valerio being present and imagining by his Ladies heavie and sorrowfull countenance that this Letter had perhaps brought her into some affliction and danger he looking on the direction of the Letter as also on the Seale he reveales both to the President and his Lady that hee received that Letter from one whom hee knew not and that hee left it purposely on the Cupboard for his Master against his comming The President being fully satisfied herein admires at Gods providence revealed in the simplicity of this poore harmlesse Foole in bringing this Letter which brought the murther of Baretâ—… to light when knowing thâ—… God doth many times raise up the foolish and weake to confound the wise and mighty things of the world hee presently grâ—… out a Commission to apprehend â—…lbemare who being then found in bed with Mâ—…ina one of the most famous Beauties and reputed Curtezans of Millan Hee both astonished and amazed by the just judgements of God is drawne from his beastly pleasures and adulteries to prison where being charged to have hired Pedro and 〈◊〉 to have 〈◊〉 thered Baretano he stoutly denies it But Leonardo's Letter being read him 〈◊〉 theâ—… adjudged to the Racke his Soule and Conscience ringing him â—…ny 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 of terrour â—…ee there at large 〈◊〉 it when for this 〈◊〉 and bloudy fact of his he the same afternoone is condemned to be hanged the next morning at the common place of Execution which administreth matter of talke and admiration throwout all Millan when Serjeants are likewise sent away to Pavia to bring Leonardo to Millan who not so much as once dreamt or thought that ever this his letter would have produced him this danger and misery And now Albemare advertised of the manner how this letter of Leonardo was brought to light without looking up to Heaven from whence this vengeance justly befell him for his sinnes hee curseth the cruelty of his wife the simplicity of the foole but most bitterly exclaimeth against the remisnesse and carelesnesse of his servant Valerio in not retaining and keeping that letter which is the onely cause of his death yea he is so farre transported with choller against him as although he have but a few houres to live yet hee vowes he will assuredly cry quittance with him ere he die Now the charity of his Judges send him Divines that night in prison to prepare and cleare his conscience and to confirme and fortifie his soule against the morne in his last conflict with the world and her flight and transmigration to heaven who powerfully and religiously admonishing him that if he have committed any other notorious offence or crime hee should now doe well to reveale it He likewise there and then confesseth how hee had caused his man Valerio to poyson Pedro with wine in prison the verynight before he was executed whereupon this bloudy and execrable wretch according to his hellish deserts is likewise apprehended and imprisoned And now Gods mercy and justice brings this unfortunate because irreligious Gentleman Albemare to receive condigne punishment for those his two horrible murthers which he had caused to bee committed on the persons of Baretano and Pedro who ascending the ladder in presence of a world of spectators who flocked from all parts of the City to see him take his last farewell of the world The sight and remembrance of his foule crimes having now made him not onely sorrowfull but repentant he briefly delivered these few words He confessed that hee had hired Pedro and Leonardo to kill Baretano in the street and seduced his servant Valerio to poyson Pedro in prison whereof with much griefe and contrition he heartily repented himselfe and besought the Lord to forgive it him he likewise
Mother in the defence of Pont de Sey assaulted and taken by the King her sonne Now although this old widdow La Vasselay in respect of her Age was farre more fit to seeke God in the Church than a new Husband in her bed yet shee is weary of a single life although it be not fully six moneths since shee hath buried her second husband for the Reader must understand she had formerly buried her first at least five and twenty yeares before and is now againe resolved to take a third and albeit she knew that the civility of the widdowes in France was such that they seldome marrie but almost never within the tearme of a whole yeare yet her conceit and fancie thinks it not onely lawfull but fit to breake this too austere custome and therefore she peremptorily resolves to live a wife and not to die a widdow But this resolution of hers were shee either in the Summer or the Autumne of her yeares had beene as excusable and praise-worthy as now it savoured of undecencie and inconstancie sith she was in the Winter thereof For Age despight of her Youth and youthfull desires had throwne snow on her head and new dyed the colour of her haire from blacke to white yea shee was so farre from retaining any signes or reliques of an indifferent beauty as the furrowes of her face could not justly shew any ruines or demolitions thereof and yet forsooth she will marry againe Now her Birth and wealth rather than her Vertues and personage invite many old Widdowers and some rich Gentlemen and Counsellours of the famous Presidiall Court of that City to seeke her in marriage and indeed both for lands and money none her inferiours but all at least her equals and some her betters But in vaine for the vanity of her thought suggest her that either shee is too young for them or they too old for her and therfore she will have none of them yea her lust seemes so youthfully to give a law to her age and the lye to her yeares as she casts off her mourning attire decks her selfe up in gay apparell powders her haire paints her face with a resolution forsooth to have no old Dotard but a young Gallant to her husband as if therein she wholly placed not onely her content but her felicity But wee many times see such irregular desires and such incontinent designes met with unexpected misery and unthought of repentance Now during the time that the vaine carriage and deportment of this old Gentlewoman and widdow La Vasselay made her selfe the laughter and by-word of all Mans home comes a young Gentleman of this Countrey of Maine termed Monsier De Merson from his travell in Italy whose father dwelt betwixt La Vall and Gravelle tearmed Monsier De Manfrelle being a Gentleman well descended and rich and to whom De Merson was second sonne who in a yeares absence in Italy being purposely sent thither by his father to enrich his experience and capacity which is the true essence and glory of a traveller thereby to bee the more capable to serve his Prince and Countrey as also to be a comfort to his age and a second prop to his house and linage he had made such poore and unprofitable use of his travels as forgetting the obtaining of the language and all generous exercises perfections and qualities so requisite and gracefull in Gentlemen he delighted in nothing so much nay in nothing else but to passe his time with Curtisans and strumpets especially in Venice Rome and Naples where for their sakes and his lascivious pleasures hee built up the greatest part of his Residence where he so prodigally spent and exceeded his fathers exhibition as he returnes into France not loaden with Vertues and Experience but with Vices and Debts being otherwise ignorant in all things which he should know and knowing nothing but that wherein he should be ignorant Onely to the end he might thereby set the better counterfeit tincture on himselfe and false lustre on his Endowments and Proficiencie he superficially brought away or rather borrowed some Italian Phrases and complements which hee thought would not onely passe currant with the Gentlemen and Ladies of France but also draw them into admiration as well of himselfe as them When immediately upon his arrivall that he might the better see and make himselfe seene of the world hee flaunts it out in brave apparell both in L'avall Angiers and Mans Yea there is scarce any great feast or marriage in all those parts but if he be not invited yet hee purposely invites himselfe thereat thereby to make himselfe the more conspicuous and apparant to the eyes of the world especially of the Ladies and Gentlewomen in whose acquaintance and favour he not onely endevours to initiate but strives to ingraft himselfe But his old father Manfrelle judiciously observing the vaine behaviour and light deportment and carriage of this his son he exceedingly grieves thereat because he had well hoped that his travels would have returned him as capable and discreet as now he finds him ignorant and which is worse debosh'd sith he well knew that either of these two vices was enough sufficient and powerfull not onely to ruine his reputation but his fortunes Againe to adde more sorrowes to his griefe and more discontent to his sorrowes for the vanity and levity of this his sonne every weeke nay almost every day brings him in new bills of his debts a third falling in upon the necke of first and second and a fourth on the third which being greater than his estate or at least his pleasure would permit him to pay hee takes his sonne De Merson aside and very sharply checks him for his old and new prodigalities vowes that hee will neither sell nor morgage his lands to discharge his foolish debts and therefore hee bids him looke to satisfie them for that hee is resolved not to see much lesse to speake with any of his Creditors how great or small soever the summes bee he owes them This cooling card of Manfrelles makes his sonne De Merson not onely bite his lips for sorrow but hang his head for anger and vexation yea his folly doth so eclipse and overvaile his judgement herein as in stead of making good use hereof hee takes a contrary resolution and so resolves to embrace and follow the worst for whereas hee should have made his pride and prodigality strike saile and now rather seeke to reintegrate himselfe into his fathers favours than any way futurely attempt to incense or exasperate him against him he onely taking counsell of his Youth Passions and Choller which as false and treacherous guides most commonly lead us to misery and repentance againe precipitates and ingulphs himselfe afresh in new debts both with his Vsurer Mercer and Taylor and no longer able to digest his fathers checks and frownes hee very inconsiderately and raâ—…ly packs up his baggage leaves his house rides to Mans and there resolves to
passe his time that Winter partly hoping that his father will discharge his debts in his absence but more especially to become acquainted with the beauties of that City thereby to obtaine some rich young heire or old widdow for his wife whose estate and wealth might support his pride and maintaine his excessive prodigality and voluptuousnesse and indeed although the two former of these his hopes deceive him yet he shall shortly finde and see that the third and last will not Living thus in Mans the bravery of his apparell and equipage the freenesse of his expences his comely talke personage blacke beard and sanguine complexion makes him as soone acquainted and affected as knowne of many Ladies and Gentlewomen and farre the more because they know his father De Manfrelle to bee a very ancient and rich Gentleman of that Countrey of Maine and although hee is not his heire yet in regard hee is his second sonne as also a Traveller he was the more honoured and respected of all those he frequented so that the very fame and name of Monsier de Merson beganne to bee already divulged and knowne in the City yea and because hee was a great Balladine or Dancer there was no solemne assembly either publike or private but still De Merson made one and there was not a reputed beauty or supposed courteous Lady in Mans or thereabouts but such was his vanity as hee soone wrought and insinuated himselfe into her acquaintance and familiarity the which he made not onely his delight but his glory And although that in a small time the wiser sort of the Gentlemen and Ladies of the Citie found his wit and experience to come infinitely short of his brave apparell yet the more illiterate ignorant of them who esteeme all men by their lustre not by their brave worth as preferring gay apparell and the comelinesse of the body before the exquisite endowments and perfections of the mind they hold him in so high a repute esteeme as they thinke him to be the most absolute Gallant not onely of Mans but of all the Country of Maine so easie it is to captivate the conceits and judgements of those who onely build their judgements in their conceits and not their conceits in judgement And of this ranke and number was our old widow La Vasselay who having many times heard of De Mersons fame and comely personage and seene him once at a Sermon and twice at two severall Nuptiall feasts where his skill and agility proved him to be one of the prime dancers she is so farre in love with him as in her thoughts and heart she wisheth she had given halfe her estate dowrie conditionally that she were his wife and he her husband yea she is so ravished with the comelinesse of his feature and the sweetnesse of his complexion and countenance as all the world is not halfe so deare to her as De Merson nor any man whatsoever by many thousand degrees so delicious to her eye and pleasing to her heart and soule as himselfe And although she be in the frozen Zone of her age yet her intemperate lust makes her desires so youthfully intemperate as forgetting reason and modestle that the best vertue of our soule and this the chiefest ornament of our body she a thousand times wisheth that either De Merson were impalled in her armes or she incloystred in his But doting yea I may well neere truly say dying old Gentlewoman is this a time for thee to thinke of a young husband when one of thy old feet is as it were in thy grave 〈◊〉 being in thy 〈◊〉 yeare of threescore and three art thou yet so fraughted with levity and exempt of continency as thou wilt needs seeke to marrie one of five and twenty Foolish La Vasselay if it be not now time yea high time for thee to sacrifice thy desires to continencie when will it be if ever be Didst thou resolve to wed a husband neere of thine owne age and so to end the remainder of thy dayes with him in chaste and holy wedlocke that resolution of thine were as excusable as this in desiring so young a one is worthy not onely of blame but of reprehension and I may say of pitie Consider consider with thy selfe what a preposterous attempt and enterprise is this of thine that when thou shouldest finish thy dayes in devotion and prayer thou then delightest to begin them in concupiscence and lust O La Vasselay mocke at those rebellious and treacherous pleasures of the flesh which seeme to mocke at thee yea to betray thee and if there be yet any sparke of thy youth which lies burning under the embers of thy age why if thy chaste thoughts cannot yet let modesty or at least piety extinguish them God hath already given thee two husbands is it not now therfore time yea more than time for thee to prepare to give thy selfe to God Hitherto the chastity of thy youth hath made thee happy and wilt thou now permit that the lust of thine age make thee unfortunate or peradventure miserable and that the purity and candeur of that be distained and polluted by the foulnesse and obscenity of this Alas alas incontinent inconsiderate Gentlewoman of a grave Matron become not a youthfull Gigglet or if thou wilt not suffer the eyes of thy body at least permit those of thy soule to look from thy painted cheeks to thy snow-white haire who can informe and tell thee that thou art far fitter for Heaven than earth sith those pleasures are transitory and these eternall for God than a husband sith he onely can make thee blessed whereas in reward of thy lascivious lust this peradventure may be reserved to make thee both unfortunate and wretched But the vanity of this old Gentlewomans thoughts and desires doe so violently fix and terminate on the youth beauty of young and as she immodestly tearms him faire De Merson as the only consideration of her delight and pleasure weighes downe all other respects so that neither reason nor modesty advice nor perswasion can prevaile with her resolution to divert her affection from him but love him she doth and which is repugnant as well to the instinct of Nature as to the influence of modesty and rules of civility seeke him for her husband shee will yea she is already become so sottish in her affection and so lasciviously fervent in her desires towards him that her heart thinks of him by day her soule by night that admires him as the very life of her felicity and thus adores him as the onely content and glory of her life shee will not see the greatnesse of her owne estate and wealth nor consider the smallnesse of his meanes and hopes in that he is not an heire but a second brother she will not enquire after his debts and vices to know what those may be what these are she will not thinke what a preposterous disparity there is betwixt the
fire of his youth and the ice of her age nor what a world of discontents and afflictions are incident to proceed thereof shee will not consider that in endowing him with all her wealth that shee thereby impoverisheth many as well of her owne kindred as of those of her two former husbands to whom in the right of Nature it more justly and properly belongs and to conclude and shut up this point she will not imagine or dreame to how many laughters and scandals of the world she exposeth her selfe who will not onely call her discretion but her modesty in question for matching with so young a Gentleman as De Merson to whom for age she may not only well be mother but which is more grandmother But contrariwise this foolish old Gentlewoman having sent her wits a wooll-gathering on his sweet and comely personage his youth and her affection like two impetuous torrents and furious inundations beare downe all other respects and considerations before them yea they so submerge her reason and quite drown her discretion as she hath no eies unshut to see the one nor eares unstopped to heare the other so that if she desire any thing in the world it is as formerly is observed that shee live to see De Merson her husband and her selfe his wife which to effect and accomplish she knowes no better nor fitter Agent to employ herein than one Mounseir de Pruneau an ancient Councellor of the Presidiall Court of that City who was the onely Councellor both to her last husband and her selfe and of whose discretion integrity and fidelity she had all the reasons of the world to rest confident and assured Now although the Wisdome and Experience of De Pruneau suggested him what an extreame inequality there was betwixt De Mersons youth and La Vasselayes age which he could not more pertinently parallel and compare than to Winter and Summer the Spring and the Harvest and therefore how many afflictions and miseries were subject to attend and wait on such preposterous marriages whereof he had formerly seene divers lamentable examples and wofull instances as well of men as women who had suffered shipwracke upon that Sylla and this Charibdis he like an honest man and indeed a truer friend to her than she was to her selfe produceth some of the former alleaged reasons to her consideration thereby to divert the streame of her ill grounded affection from De Merson and in generall tearmes to convey and conduct it to some elder personage whose yeares and therefore their dispositions and affections might the better agree and sympathize But when he sees that her love to De Merson was so firmly and immoveably setled as that it not only appeared to him to be her griefe but her torment to be any way crossed or contradicted therin then he changeth his language and because she will not hearken to his advice he therefore gives way to her resolution promising her his utmost power and best endevours speedily to effect compasse her desires when taking leave each of other at last La Vasselay remembring she had forgotten something cals him againe and prayes him that if De Merson be inquisitive to know her direct age that he substract away at least ten yeares thereof so that whereas she is sixty three to affirme that she is very little above fifty whereunto she her selfe blushing De Pruneau not able likewise to refraine from smiling promiseth her to be very mindfull thereof To which end he with the first conveniencie finds out De Merson acquaints him how much he is obliged to Madamoyselle La Vasselay for her affection to him layes before him the Nobility of her descent and bloud the greatnesse of her Estate and meanes as also the excellency of her vertues that fifty yeares is the most of her age and that she is not by farre so old as pleasing and lovely that she affects him above all the men in the world yea and desires no man of the world for her husband but himselfe and that when he pleaseth she desires the honour of his company to her house with many other intimations and insinuations conducing that way De Merson having formerly understood of La Vasselayes rich Estate and Dowrie as also of the truth of her age he likes the first well and although he distaste yet he will dissemble the second he thanks De Pruneau for his paines and La Vasselay for her love toward him promiseth to requite the first and if her wealth and vertues correspond with his relation to deserve the second alleaging further that although there be a great inequality in their age yet sith he is no heire but a second brother that it is rather likely than impossible for it to be a match betwixt them and in the meane time to requite part of her affection hee promiseth to Sup with her the night following at her house where hee onely desires his company and assistance that they may the more effectually and secretly consult of this businesse which he hopes will so much import as well her good and his content as her content and his good and so for that time they part De Pruneau having received this pleasing and discreet answer from De Merson hee returnes with the relation and repetition thereof to La Vasselay vowes that his exteriour feature is no way answerable but comes farre short of his interiour Vertues and discretion and that by all which hee either can collect from his speeches or gather from his deportment and behaviour hee is in his conceit the most accomplished Gentleman not only of Maine but of France and so bids her prepare her Supper and her selfe to entertaine him the next night Which answer of De Mersons and relation of De Pruneau is so pleasing to her heart and thoughts as her age seemes to be already ravished with joy at the conceit of his Youth when thinking every minute a moneth and every houre a yeare before shee bee made happy and her house blessed with his presence shee leaves no cost unspared or unspent to make his Entertainement answerable to his welcome whereof whiles shee is not onely carefull but curious in providing let us cursorily speake a word or two how De Merson entertaines and digesteth this unexpected motion and affection of La Vasselay He laughes in his sleeue to see her youthfull affections so flourishing in this Atumne nay in this Winter of her age as to desire and seeke so young a Gentleman as himselfe for her husband but hee understands she is exceeding rich and therefore resolves that this vertue is capable to overvalue and ransome that defect and error of hers He sees that his father will not pay his debts and that hee of himselfe cannot that they growing more clamorous will shortly become scandalous which will not onely directly prevent but infallibly ruine his fortunes He considereth how displeasing her age will bee to his youth as also that there is no hell comparable
consummared far within the tearm of six moneths after For the curious wits of these Citties and Countryes considering what a preposterous course and resolution thiâ—… was for her to marry her husbands man and withall so soone as also that there was none other present but himselfe when his Master De Merson was murthered it is umbragious and leaves a spice of feare and sting of suspition in their heads that there was more in the wind then was yet knowne and therefore knowing no more they deferre the detection thereof to the providence and pleasure of God who best yea who only knowes in Heaven how to conduct and mannage the actions here below on Earth and now indeed the very time is come that the Lord will no longer permit these their cruell and bloody murthers to bee concealed but will bring them foorth to receiue condigne punishment and for want of other evidence and witnesses they themselves shall be witnesses against themselves And although La Vaâ—…elay's poysoning of Gratiana and La Villette pistolling of his master De Merson were cunningly contrived and secretly perpetrated yet we shall see the last of these bloody murthers occasion the discovery and detection of the first and both of them most severely and sharpely punished for these their bloody crimes and horrible offences The manner is thus These two execrable wretches La Villette and La Vasselay have not lived married above some seaven or eight monthes but he being deepely in Law with Mounsieur De Manfrelle his Predecessors father for the detention of some lands and writings hee takes an occasion to ride home to his house of Manfrelle to him to conferre of the differences and by the way falls into the company of some Merchants of Lavall and Vittry who were returning from the faire of Chartres when riding together for the space of almost a whole dayes journey the secret providence and sacred pleasure of God had so ordained that La Viâ—…ettes horse who bore him quietly and safely before on a Sunday first goes back-wards in despight of his spur or swich and then â—…anding an end on his two hind legges falls quite backe with him and almost breakes the bulke and trunke of his body when having hardly the power to speake his breath fayling him and hec seeing no way but death for him and the hideous image thereof apparantly before his eyes the Spirit of God doth so operate with his sinnefell soule as hee there confesseth how his wicked wife La Vasselay had caused him to murther his master De Merson whom he shot to death with his Pistoll that shee first seduced him with a thousand Crownes to performe it which he refused but then her consent to marry him made him not onely attempt but finish that bloody businesse whereof now from his very heart and soule he repented himselfe and beseeched the Lord to forgive it him But here before the Readers curiosity carry him further let me in the name and feare of God both request and conjure him to stand amazed and wonder with me at his sacred providence and inscrutable wisdome and judgement which most miraculously concurres and shines in this accident and especially in three essentiall and most apparant circumstances thereof For it was on the very same horse the same day twelve moneth and in the very same wood and place where this execrable wretch La Villette formerly murthered his master De Merson Famous and notorious circumstances which deserve to be observed and remarked of all the children of God yea and to be imprinted and ingraven in their hearts and memories thereby to deter vs from the like crimes of murther Now these honest Merchants of Lavall and Vittry as much in charity to La Villettes life as in execration of that confessed murther of his Master De Merson convey him to an Inne in Sâ—…int Gorges when expecting every minute that he would dye in their hands they send away post to advertise the Presidiall Court of Mans hereof within whose Iurisdiction Saint Gorges was who speedily command La Villette to 〈◊〉 â—…ght thither to them alive or dead But God reserved him from that natural to 〈◊〉 more infamous death and made him live till he came thither where againe he confesseth this his foule murther of his master De Merson and likewise accuseth La Vasselay to bee the sole instigator thereof as we have formerly heard and understood Whereupon he is no sooner examined but this bloody old Hagge is likewise imprisoned who with many asseverations and teares denies and retorts this foule crime from her selfe to him But her Iudges are too wise to beleeve the weakenesse and invalidity of this her foolish justification So whiles they are consulting on her De Breâ—… having notice of all these accidents but especially of La Vasselay's imprisonment he still apprehending and fearing that she undoubtedly was the death of his daughter Gratioâ—…a takes Poste from Nogent to Mans where hee accuseth her thereof to the Cryminell Iudges of the Presidiall Court who upon these her double accusation adjudge her to the Racke when at the very first torment thereof shee at last preferring the life of her soule before that of her body confesseth her selfe to be the Actor of her first crime of Murther and the Author of the second when and whereupon the Iudges resembling themselves in detestation and for expiation of these her foule crimes condemne him to be hangd and she to be burnt alive which the next day at the common place of execution neere the Halles in Mans is accordingly executed in the presence and to the content of a world of people of that City who as much abhorre the enormity of these their bloody crimes as they rejoyce â—…nd glorifie God for this their not so severe as deserved punishments As for La Villette he like an impious Christian said little else but that which he had formerly spoken and delivered in the wood at the receiving of his fall onely hee said That he had well hoped that his great wealth which hee had with La Vasselay would have sheltred and preserved him from this infamous death for murthering her Husband and his master De Merson But as for this bloody Beldam and wretched old Fury La Vasselay she was content to grieve at Gratiana's death though not to lament or pity that of her Husband De Mersons yea and although she seemed to blame her jealousie towards her yet her age was so wretchedly instructed in piety as she could not find in her heart either to make an Apologie or any way to seeme repentant for her inhumane cruelty towards him For as she demanded pardon of De Bremay for poysoning his daughterso she spake not a word tending that way to Manfrelle for causing his sonne 〈◊〉 pistoll'd only in particular tearmes she re quested God to forgive the vanity of her youth and in generall ones the world to forget the offences and crimes of her age And so conjuring all old
one way to bring us into this world but death hath infinite to take us from it and what is this buâ—… true argument reason of Gods glory and our miserie of his power and of our frailty and weaknesse and therefore because wee are as repleat of sinne as he is of sanctity and as subject to imperfections as all perfections are both properly co-incident and subject to him It will be an act of morall wisdome and of religious piety in us rather to glorifie than examine his sacred Providence and rather to admire than pry into his divine Decrees and resolutions And because his correction and punishment of all sinnes especially of this crying and scarlet sinne of Murther is as Just as secret and as inscrutable as Just therefore to 〈◊〉 towards the period of this deplorable History God is first pleased to exercise and beginne his Judgements on miserable Marsillia and then to finish it in wretched Idiaques But his divine Majestie is likewise pleased and resolved both to impose and make as great a difference in their punishments as he found a parity and conformity in their crimes It is Marsillia's pleasure or to say more truly the providence and pleasure of God that she rides from Santarem to Coimbra to visit a sicke Gentlewoman her Cousin German who dwelt there being only accompanied with her maâ—… 〈◊〉 on horse-backe and her foot boy Piscator to attend her and as shee comes within a small halfe league of that towne having sent away her man Andrea before and her foot boy Piscator being a very little distance behinde her there suddenly staâ—…s up a Hare betweene or close to her horse legges which so amazed her horse which was as hot and proud as the Gentlewoman his Mistresse whom he bore as comming off with all foure he throwes her to the ground and kicking her with his hinde feet at her fall hee strikes her in the fore-head and so dasheth out her brains God so ordaining that she had not the power to speake a word much lesse the grace or happinesse to repent her of her horrible sinnes A dultery Incest and Murther And thus was the lamentable and fearfull end which God gave to this gracelesse young Lady the which I cannot as yet passe over without annexing and remembring one remarkable point and circumstance therein in which the Justice and Mercy of God to both sexes and all ages and degrees of people doth miraculously resplend and shine forth for that very horse which threw and killed her was the verie same which shee formerly lent to her Brother De Perez and whereon he rid to Saint Sauiours when he by her instigation killed her waiting maid Mathurina Good God how just and wonderfull are thy decrees Deere Lord how immense and sacred is thy Iustice. But this is but the forerunner and as it were but the enterance into a further progression of this History For as her foote boy Piscator extreamely wept and bitterly cryed at the sight of this mournefull and tragicall death of his Lady and Mistris God had so decreed and provided that the next that passed by and who were sorrowfull spectators thereof were two Corigadors or Officers of Iustice of the Citie of Coimbra riding that way in their Coach to take the aire Whoâ—… compassion of the deplorable death of this faire unknowen young Gentlewoman they descend their Coach and having enquired and understood of her sorrowfull Foote boy what shee was they then with much respect and humanity cause 〈◊〉 dead Corps to be decently layd into their Coach which they shut and so mounting their Servants Horses they returne againe to Coimbra From whence they send her Man Andrea in all possible post hast to Santarem to acquaint his Master and her Father in law Don Idiaques with this lamentable death of his daughter in Law Marsillia and to pray him to repayre speedily thither to them to take order for her Buriall Andrea is no sooner departed for his Master but these two Corigadors consult on the fatality of this accident and very profitably consider for themselves that the horse who killed her and all her apparell and jewels by the custome and royalty of their City were devolved and forfeited to their jurisdiction to which effect they cause her rings chaines and bracelets to be taken from her and then her pockets likewise to bee carefully searcht for gold and jewels so as murther cannot belong concealed or underected wee may therefore here behold the wonderfull Providence and singular Justice of God for in one of her pockets they finde folded up in a rich cut-worke handkerchiefe the last Letter which her Husband Don Ivan had written and sent her from Madrid at the sight of this Letter one of these Corigadors is desirous to have it read publikely but the other being more humane and respective to the concealing of Ladies secrets which many times prove that of their honours hee contradicts it till at last God enlighâ—…ing their judgements and prompting and inspiring their hearts that the perusall of this Letter might peradventure import and report something which might teâ—…d to his service and conduce to his glory they fall then on a 〈◊〉 â—…wixt both their 〈◊〉 and so withdrawing themselves to a priâ—… chamber they there secretly oâ—…-reade this Letter where in with admiration and amazement they understand of the obscene Adultery and Incest of Don Idiaques with this his daughter in law Marsillia which was the cause of her Husband Don Ivan his absence from her in Spaine But at length when they proceed farther therein and so fall upon these words of Don Ivan to her in this his Letter I doe as much grieve as I both doubt and feare thou rejoycest at thy hand maid Mathurina's death and as I am ignorant of the manner so if my father and thy selfe have beene the cause thereof you have then all the reasons of the world to beleeve that God will in the end punish it to your confusion then led by the spirit of God they both concurre in one opinion that this their Adultery and this Murther of Mathâ—…rina did not only firmly reflect but equally take hold both on Idiaques and Marsillia and therefore that this her late deplorable and disasterous end was only a blow from God and the very true fore-runner and undoubted Harbinger of his owne to come When resolving to seize and imprison Idiaques as soone as he should arrive thither to Coimbria They hushing up this Letter and businesse in their owne bosomes doe then hold it fit to send for Marsillia's foot-man Piscator to come to them which he speedily doth They carefully enquire of him if his dead Lady had not sometimes a waiting Gentlewoman named Mathurina hee answered them yes and that she was lately murthered in the streets of Saint Saviours and that her murtherers were as yet unknowne They demand of him againe whose daughter she was hee informes them that her father is a Gentleman who dwels in
chiefest Mannor house with eight hundred Crownes of yearely Revenew and all his Goods and Chattels To Hautemont his second son he gave his second Mannor house worth foure hundred Crownes yearely and fifteene hundred Crownes in his purse by his Testament Estates which though it came short of their bloud yet it exceeded that of most of the Gentlemen their neighbours and is held in France at least the double if not the triple of as much here with us in England So having neither the happinesse or the care to be accompanied with any sister or other brothers they interchangeably sweare a strict league of brotherly love and deare affection each to other which by their Vertues and Honours they sweare shall never receive end but with the end of their lives They many times consult together for the conduction and improving of their Estates which they promise to manage with more frugality than lustre and with more solide discretion than vaine ostentation or superfluity and not to live in Paris or to follow the Court but to build up their residence in the Countrey To which end they cut off many unprofitable mouths both of servants horses and hounds which their father kept They likewise vow each to other to bee wonderfull charie and carefull in their mariages as well fore-seeing and knowing it to be the greatest part of their earthly felicity or misery So here we may see and observe many faire promises rich designes and resolutions and many sweet covenants voluntarily drawne up betweene these two brothers which if they make good and performe no doubt but the end thereof will bee successefull and prosperous unto them or if otherwise the contrary But before I wade farther in the streame and current of this History I must first declare that by the death of Vimory the father and by the custome of France we must now wholly abandon and take away the title of Hautemont from the second brother futurely to give him that of Harcourt the eldest and that from Harcourt the eldest to give him that of Vimory their father for by the right and vertue of the premised reasons these are now become their proper names and appellations which the Reader is prayed to observe and remember A yeare and halfe is not fully expired and past away since their father past from Earth to Heaven but the eldest brother Monseiur De Vimory being extreamly ambitious and covetous of wealth and understanding that a rich Counsellour of the Court of Parliament of Dijon named Monseiur De Basigni was dead and had left a very rich widow of some forty yeares of age named Madamoyselle Masserina he earnestly seekes her in marriage Shee is of short stature corpulent and fat of a coale-blacke haire and if fame towards her bee a true and not a tatling goddesse she hath and still is a lover of Veâ—…s and a Votaresse who often sacrificeth to Cupids lascivious Altars and Shrines Harcourt is very averse and bitter against this match for his brother They have many serious consultations hereon Hee alleageth him the inequality of her age and birth in comparison of his her corpulency the ill getting of her Husbands goods who was held a corrupt Lawyer and as the voyce of the world went who gained his wealth by the teares and curses of many of his ruined and decayed Clients and when he saw that nothing would prevaile to disswade his brother from her he rounds him in his eare that it was spoken and bruted in Diion that she was not as chaste as rich nor so continent as covetous Vimory is all enraged hereat and chargeth Harcourt his brother to name the reporters of this foule scandall vomited forth quoth he against the vertues and honour of chaste Masserina Harcourt replies that hee speakes it wholly upon fame no way upon knowledge much lesse upon beleefe so Vimory being wilfully deafe to his brothers advice and requests and preferring Masserina's wealth to her honesty hee marries her But shee is so wise for her selfe as first both by promise and contract shee ties him to this condition that he shall receive all her rents which are some twelve hundred Crownes per Annum she to put her ready money to Use into whose hands she pleaseth and he also to have the one halfe of the interest money but the principall still to remaine in her owne right propriety and possession and as well in her life as death to be wholly at her owne disposing Not long after Harcourt being at a great wedding of a Gentleman his Cousin Germaine at the City of Troyes in Champagne he there at the balles or publike dancing espies a most sweet and beautifull young Gentlewoman whom he presently fancieth and affects for his wife He enquires what shee is and findes her to be named Madamoyselle La Precoverte daughter to an aged Gentleman of that City tearmed Monseiur de la Vaquery Harcourt courts the daughter seeks the father finds the first willing and the second desirous but at last he plainly and honestly informes Harcourt that his daughters chiefest wealth are her vertues and beautie that he hath not much land and lesse mony that hee hath two great suits of Law for store of Lands depending in the Parliament of Diion which promise him store of money and that he will futurely impart a great part thereof to him if he will marrie his daughter the which for the present he tels him he is content to make good confirme to him both by bond contract Harcourt loves his faire young Mistresse La Precoverte so tenderly and dearly as he is ready to espouse her on those tearmes but he will first acquaint his brother Vimory therewith and take his advice therein Vimory informes his brother Harcourt that he knowes Monseiur De Vaquery of Troyes to be a very poore Gentleman that most of his lands are morgaged out and in great danger never to be redeemed that his law suits are as uncertaine as the following thereof chargeable Harcourt extols the beauty of La Precoverte to him to the skie Vimory replies that beauty fades and withers with a small time and that those who preferre it to wealth are many times enforced to feed on repentance in stead of content and joy and to looke poverty in the face in stead of prosperity But Harcourt having deeply setled his affection on La Precoverte he rejecteth this true and whole sâ—…ne counsell of his brother and so marries her When forgetting his former promise to his brother hee in a small time turnes a great Prodigall abandoneth himselfe to all filthy vices and beastly course of life and as a most deboshed and gracelesse Husband within one yeare hee for no cause quarrelleth very often with this his faire and deare wife then whom neither Champagne nor Burgundie had a more beautifull or vertuous young Gentlewoman shee was of stature tall and slender of a bright flaxen haire a gratious eye a modest countenance a pure
nor make vp the mony and great â—…eaches of his former prodigalities neither will a few kisses and embraces of that â—…ustfull Dame his Sister Masserina appease his unchaste appetite or satisfie his insatiable lust and lascivious desires Wherefore at one time and cast to set nature and honour at stake and so commanding his heart and thoughts to trample on both of them without any respect or regard to either he contrives and assumes this vitious and treacherous resolution that having already taken the actuall possession of her body hee should then likewise doe so of her gold yea of all her whole Estate and so flye away with her whose Estate through his long dishonest familiarity with her hee now knowes to bee great yea farre greater then his Brother Vimorye her husband either ever knew or dreamt of Wherefore with much superficiall affection and artificiall flattery and insinuation he no sooner breakes this motion to her but her lustfull heart corresponding with his and her lascivious desires likewise ayâ—…ing and intending that way she freely gives him her consent thereunto and to that end shee very secretly drawes in all her monies and gold together with all her plate Rings and Iewels most carefully and privatly packes it up and so they flye away together In a morning when her Husband and his Brother was with his servants gone forth a hawking and hunting for all that day he without ever making his wife or she her husband once acquainted therewith Vimorye is amazed and La Precoverte extreamely perplexed and afflicted at the strangenesse of their undreaâ—…t of base clandestine departure And although in regard of his affection to his wife â—…e were once resolved to send and make after them for their stay and apprehension yet at last to avoid the vniversall scandall of the world which thereby insteed of stopping one tongue would assuredly let loose many hee leaves the successe of this treacherous Accident to Time and the due reward and true punishment the reof to God Now the first place of safety and shelter which Harcourt and Masserina flye unto is the strong citty of Geneva which depends not of France or Savoye but of God and it selfe where they take two chambers and live together having no servant at all to attend or follow them but only Noell who for many â—…eares before had beene and still was his man But to live here in Geneva with the more privacy and assurance because they observe it to be a Citty exceeding politiquely vertuously and religiously governed they finde out this excuse for their stay that hee is heire to some lands which by the death of an vnkle of his is devolved and fallen to him in the estate and dutchy of Millan betwixt Pavia and Alexandria whether hee goes to sell it away in regard as he falsly alleageth that both this Gentlewoman whom hee resolves to leave there and presently upon his returne to marry and himselfe are Protestants and for a moneth or six weakes this false glosse and true imposture passeth current with those of Geneva whom all that time they freely permit and suffer to enjoy the lawes and previledges of Hospitality in their city and the sooner and with far lesse suspition doubt because they observe that they very often frequent their Sermons and Churches although in their hearts and devotions God knowes they both are directly Roman Catholiques But at the end of this small time understanding that the two Syndicks and the rest of the Magistrates of that City beganne to pry more narrowly into their stay and more neetely inâ—… their actions Then they thinking to mocke with God and their soules and so to make Religion onely to be a cloake to overvaile their villany he then and there resolves to marry her before he goe to Millan which indeed affords sweet musicke â—…o the heart and melody to the thoughts and minde of this lascivious dame Masseriâ—… the which shee esteemed to be the chiefest felicity she could desire upon earth excusing the alteration of this his resolution upon her sickenesse and indispositiâ—… which also was as false and counterfeit as the pretence of their protestant Religion was feigned and hipocriticall and to that end he acquaints the Ministers and the Ancients of the Church therewith But they being as regular in their actions as hee was exorbitant and as pious in their intentions as he was prophane in his question him to shew some authenticall certificat from that Protestant Church or Churches in Poictou where they aver they formerly dwelt that they were both of them Protestants by religion and that their marriage was honourable and no way clandestine affirming to him that it was against the rules of their religion the Constitutions of their Church and the lawes of their City to doe otherwise either to them or to any strangers whatsoever Which Harcourt well perceiving He now comes too short in his arithmeticke and having none to shew them in that nature hee sweats under the saddle and so slackes his importunacy therein and puts it off with a specious excused dilatory delay When acquainting his Masserina therewith they both are equally afflicted and grieved thus to see their hopes nipt and their expectations and desires of marriage frustrated and blasted in the very bud and blossomes and now they see that their abode and stay in Geneva neither can nor must belong But here betides them another unlooked for accident which will speedily transport them thence It is the pleasure and mercy of God that Noell Harcourts man is not a little grieved in heart and afflicted in mind to see his master guilty of this foule and treacherous crime in stealing away Masserina his Brothers wife and entertaining and using her as his owne Hee knowes how infinitely this their adultery is displeasing to God and odious to men and how opposite and repugnant it is to Grace and Nature Wherefore holding it a trouble to his minde a vexation to his heart and a scruple to his conscience any longer to attend and follow them because he is assured that the divine Justice and vengeance of God will never permit them to goe long either undetected or unpunished He calling to his remembrance the sweet vertues and chastity of his Mistris La Precoverte and by opposition and Antitheses comparing them to the foule vices and whoredomes of Masserina hee out of his duty to the first and detestation to the second though a bad Servant to his Master yet was a good Christian to God gives his Mistres La Precoverte very secretintelligence of his masters lascivious residing and living here in Geneva with Masserina whereof he sends her word he is a very sorrowfull and unwilling eye witnesse and so leaves the reformation thereof first to God and then to her selfe Our vertuous sweet Gentlewoman La Precoverte is wonderfully afflicted and grieved at this foule crime of adultery betwixt her Husband and his Sister Masserina whereat her chaste heart towards him and her
of our soule but our whole soule For in matters of his divine worship and service which consists in that of our faith and of his glory he will not admit of any Rivall or Competitor nor bee served in any other manner than as he hath taught us by his sacred Word and Commandements and instructed us by his holy Prophets and blessed Apostles But againe to Harcourt and Masserina whose lascivious hearts and lewd consciences not permitting them to rest in assurance or reside in security any where the very day after they had dispatched the messenger with their Letters to La Precoverte holding Geneva no place for them nor they for Geneva they trusse up baggage and so with much secrecie leave it and direct their course to the great and famous Citie of Lyons some two and twenty leagues thence and which is the frontier Towne of France and there they thinke to shrowd themselves among that great affluence and confluence of people which inhabite and aboord there from divers parts and they make choice to live in this frontier Citie because it is neere to Savoy where if any danger should chance to betide or befall them they might speedily and safely retire themselves there and so lay hold on the law and priviledge of Nations which is inviolable throughout all the world At their arrivall at Lyons they take their chambers and residence neere the Arsenall though for the two first nights they lie in Flanders-street They have not beene in Lyons fifteene dayes but there befell them an accident very worthy both of our observation and of their remembrance which was thus A Gentleman of the City of Tholouse named Monseiur De Blaise having some five dayes before treacherously killed his elder brother Monseiur De Barry in the high way as they travelled together upon a quarrell which fell out betweene them for having deboshed and clandestine stollen away his said elder brother De Barry's wife from him and conveyed and transported her away with them There was a privie search then made in Lyons when that same night Harcourt and Masserina were upon suspition apprehended for them and laid in sure keeping But the next morning before the Seneschall and Procureur Fiscall they justified their innocencie by many who knew De Blaise and so were cleared but yet it gave them both a hot Camisado and fearfull Alarum and left an ominous impression in their hearts and minds whereof for the conformity of the circumstances of this action with their owne had they had the grace to have made good use they had not hereafter made themselves so famously infamous nor consequently this their History so prodigiously deplorable Harcourt and Masserina whiles they stay here in Lyons as guilt is still accompanied with feare doe seldome goe forth their lodgings and when they doe they for their better safety disguise themselves in different apparell and for her part shee goes still close masked and muffled up in her Taffeta coyffe Yea both of them make it their practise to frequent the fields often but the Churches and streets seldome as if their foule crime of Adultery had made them unworthy the communion of Gods Saints and consequently all good company too worthy for them He exceedingly feares his brother Vimory's silence and revenge and she highly envieth and disdaineth her sister in law La Precovertes jelousie and still that disgracefull word of Strumpet which she upbraided her with and obtruded to her in her Letter strikes sincks deeply in her heart and remembrance in such sort that it so possesseth her thoughts with malice and takes up her minde with choller fierce indignation as she vowes to her selfe not thus to let it passe in silence or to vanish and die away in oblivion quite contrary to that which her late Letter to her sister La Precoverte promised and spake And here it is that the devill first begins to take possession of her heart and by degrees to seize upon her soule and to make her wholly to forsake God For knowing La Precoverte to be wife to her brother in law and lover Harcourt whom she affects a thousand times dearer than her owne Husband yea than her owne life shee is therefore so great a beame to hereye so sharpe a thorne to her heart and so bitter a corrasive to her content as shee not onely assumes bad thoughts but bad bloud against her For vowing that none shall share with her in his affection shee forgetting her Conscience and Soule Heaven and God is speedily resolved to cause her to be poysoned her inraged malice being capable of no other excuse or reason but this that it is impossible she can reape any perfect felicity or content in earth till she have dispatch't and sent her to Heaven To which end she insinuates her selfe into the acquaintance of two Apothecaries of that City and deales with them severally and secretly to effect this hellish businesse for the which she promised either of them a hundred crownes of the summe in hand and as much more when they have effected it and fifty more to defray the charge of their journey But the devill hath made her so crafty and subtile as she still retaines from them the name Masserina and the place Troyes where the party dwelt There are good and bad men of all countryes faculties and professions these two Apothecaries are as honest as she is wretched and as religious and charitable as shee is prophane and bloody so the one denies her request with disdaine and choller and the other with charity and compassion alleaging her many pious considerations and reasons to divert and disswade her from this foule and bloody act the execution whereof though tacitely yet infallibly threatneth saies hee no lesse than the utter subversion of her fortunes and the ruine and confusion of her life in this world if not likewise of her soule in that to come So shee being hereat a little galled and stung in Conscience to see that this great City of Lyons affoords poyson but no poysoners to act and finish this her bloody project The devill hath yet notwithstanding made her so curious in her malice and so industrious and resolute in her revenge as enquiring whether there were any Italian Empericke or Mountebancke in that City whom she thought might bee made fit and flexible to her bloody desires and intents she is advertised that there departed one hence some eight daies since who is gone to reside this spring of the yeare at the Bathes at Pougges a mile from the city of Nevers his name being Signior Baptista Tivoly whom I conjecture may derive his surname from that pleasant small towne of Tivoly some twenty small miles from Rome wherein there are many Cardinalls country Pallaces or houses of pleasure being very skilfull in Mineralls and in attracting the spirits and quintessence of divers other vegitives Of a vaine glorious and ambitious humour and disposition and yet of a very poore estate and
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
happinesse to you as I your sorrwfull daughter and his poore mother see my selfe borne to affliction and misery God will requite this your charity to him and thereby I shall the sooner forget your unnaturall unkindnesse and cruelty towards my selfe And so may you live in as much prosperity as I feare I shall shortly die in extreame indigence and misery FERMIA Her father Moron receiveth and peruseth this third Letter of his daughter Fermia whereat being yet nothing moved in charity or touched in compassion towards her but onely towards her young sonne and his grand childe Thomaso he returnes her this short answer MORON to FERMIA I See thou art both wilfull and obstinate in disobeying my commands with thy Letters wherein I beleeve thou takest more glory than either I conceive griefe at the relation of thy wants or sorrow at the repetition of thy miseries the which I am so farre from releeving as I onely pitie it that I am thy father but not as thou art my daughter And yet because thy young sonne Thomaso is as innocent as thou art guilty of my displeasure and indignation therefore give him to this bearer whom I have purposely sent to receive hiâ—… of thee and I will see whether it be the pleasure of God that I shall be as happy in hiâ—… as I am unfortunate in thy selfe and if in his sacred providence he hath ordained and decreed that he prove as great a comfort to thy age as thou art a crosse and calamity to â—…ine which if it prove so then give God the onely praise and glory which is the best use and requitall which thou canst make or I desire MORON Our poore and desolate Fermia having received and over-read her fathers letter although she be wonderfull sorrowfull at the perseverance of his cruelty towards her selfe yet she is infinitely glad and joyfull at his compassion and kindnesse towards her young son who apparelling the very best that possibly she could which God knowes is ragged meane and poore she with a thousand sighs teares prayers blessings and kisses gives him to her fathers messenger and to whose affection and education as also to Gods gracious protection and preservation shee religiously recommends him when to her exceeding griefe and sensible affliction she sees it out of her possible power once to perswade her husband Lorenzo either to kisse or see him at his departure as if it were no part of his affection to blesse it or of his duty to pray to God to blesse it much lesse to kisse it at parting A most unkinde and unnaturall part of a father to his sweet and pretty young sonne Which strange and discourteous ingratitude of his it is not impossible for us to see God as strangely both to requite and revenge Sorrowfull Fermia having thus sent away her little sonne Thomaso to her father Moron at Savona she the very same night dreames in her poore bed and house in Genova that she shall never be so happy to see him againe when being awaked and remembring this her sorrowfull dreame she for meere griefe bitterly weeps thereat and although she would yet she cannot possibly forget or suppresse the remembrance thereof or once put it out of her minde so that thinking her selfe fortunate in placing this her little sonne with her father and his Grandfather shee is now very pensive and sorrowfull for his absence because she can no longer see him play with him and kisse him and is infinitely disconsolate and mournfull when she thinks of her dreame of him In the meane time her lewd husband growes from bad to worse so that her cohabitation is but a bondage with him and her mariage and wedlocke but an Indenture of slavery and a contract of misery under him Such is her incomparable griefe such her unparalleld afflictions and calamities Five yeares our disconsolate Fermia lives in this rich misery and miserable poverty with her husband and yet all the whole world cannot perswade her father Moron to take her home to him and maintaine her She hath no consolation left her but prayers nor remedy but enforced patience so shee armes her selfe with the last and adorneth her selfe with the first She was contented to begge for the maintenance of her little sonne Thomaso but now being eased of that burthen she will give it over so she works hard to get her hard and poore living which yet she cannot get so fast as her husband spends it prodigally and lasciviously Her care and vertues make her the pitie as his lewdnesse and vices make him the scorne and contempt of all their neighbours So whiles she sits at home close at her needle in poore apparell he idlely wanders and gads abroad untill he have brought his apparell to ragges and himselfe almost to nakednesse And here it is that her wretched husband Lorenzo now first beginnes to hearken to the devill yea to prove a very devill himselfe towards this his deare and vertuous wife for he enters into a consultation with himselfe that if he were once rid of his wife Fermia he might marry some other with a good portion to maintaine him and so againe set up his trade of baking which now had forsaken him because he had vitiously and unthriftily forsaken it When his faith being as weake with God as his infamous life and vices were odious to the world he assumes a bloudy and damnable resolution to murther her and hereunto the Devill is still at his elbow to provoke and egge him onward and continually blowes the coales to this his malice and indignation against her So neither his minde or heart his conscience or soule can divert him from this fearfull enterprize and lamentable and bloudy businesse The which to performe and perpetrate he on a great holiday which was the purification of the blessed Virgin Mary takes her with him into a Vineyard some halfe a mile from the City of Genova under colour to recreate themselves and to take the aire which God knowes she poore soule takes for a great because an unaccustomed favour and courtesie at his hands where she most lovingly and willingly goes with him and there feigning himselfe fast a sleep and she innocent harmlesse young woman then thereslept soundly and every way being as devoid of feare as he was of grace he with a barbarous and diabolicall cruelty seeing the coast cleare softly riseth up and cuts her throat without giving her the power time or happinesse to utter one word before her death Where leaving her weltring and goring in her bloud he speedily and politikely enters Genova by a contrary gate thereby to avoid all suspition of this his bloudy and damnable fact The very same night this her breathlesse murthered body is found out by some of Genova who accidentally walked that way and they causing it to be brought to the City it is knowne by some of Lorenzo's neighbours to bee his wife Fermia whereat to adde the better cloke to his knavery and shadow
and affirmed they now in expiation of this her cruell murther adjudge her likewise to bee hanged the next day at the common place of execution in company of Pierya although her aged sorrowfull Father Seignior Strent being well nigh weighed down to his grave with the extreme grief and sorrow of these his misfortunes and calamities profered the Iudges and the great Duke the greatest part of his estate and lands to save this his youngest and now his only Daughter Amarantha But his labor proved lost and his care and affection vaine in this his sute and solicitation because those learned Iudges and this prudent and noble Duke grounded their resolutions and pleasures upon this wholsom and true Maxime That Iustice is one of the greatest Colossus and strongest columns of kingdoms and common-weales and the truest way and means to preserve them in florishing prosperity and glory and consequently that all wilfull and premeditated murtherers cannot bee either too soone exterminated or too severely punished and cut off from the world So Amar antha with more choller then sorrow and Pierya with more feare then choller are now both sent backe to their prisons and that night Streni sends his Daughter and the Iudges send Pierya some Fryers and Nunnes to prepare their soules for heaven but in honour of the truth I must affirme with equall griefe and pitty that both these two female monsters had their hearts so sealed and their soules so seared up with impiety that neither of them could there be perswaded or drawne either to thinke of repentance or of God Whiles thus Florence resounds of these their foule and inhumane crimes as also of their just condemnations the next morning about ten of the clocke they are brought to the destin'd place of execution there to receive their condigne punishments for the same Pierya first mounts the Ladder who made a short speech at her death to this effect That her desire to obtaine Bernardo for her husband had chiefely drawne her to commit this murther on her Lady Babtistyna and that it was farre more her Sister Amarantha's malice to her then her owne which seduced her to this bloudy resolution and that this her owne shamefull death was not halfe so grievous to her as the unfortunate end of her lover Bernardo whom shee there affirmed to the world and tooke it to her death that shee loved a thousand times dearer then her owne life with many other vaine and ridiculous speeches tending that way and which savoured more of her fond affection to him then of any zeale or devotion to God and therefore I hold them every way more worthy of my silence then of my relation and so shee was turned over To second whose unfortunate and shamefull end now our bloudy and execrable Amarantha with farre more beauty then contrition and bravery then repentance ascends the Ladder who to make her infamy the more famous had purposly dighted and apparelled her selfe in a plaine blacke Sattin gowne with silver lace and a deepe-laced Cambricke Ruffe of a very large Set with her hayre unvailed and decked with many roses of filver Ribband At her ascent her extraction beauty and youth begate as much pitty as her bloudy and unnaturall crime did detestation in the eyes and hearts of all her spectatours When after a pause or two shee vainely composing her countenance more with contempt then feare of death there to a world of people who flocked from all parts of the City and Countrey to see her dye with a wondrous boldnesse confessed That shee had not onely caused her Sister Babtistyna to bee stifled in her bed by Bernardo and Pierya but that her sayd Sister Babtistyna and her selfe had formerly poysoned their elder Sister Iaquinta and that it was onely their imperiousnesse and pride towards her which drew her to this resolution and revenge against them both the which shee affirmed shee could now as little repent as heretofore remedy and â—…hat shee more sensibly lamented and grieved for the sorrowes of her Fathers â—…fe then for the shame and infamy of her owne death when without any shew â—…f repentance without any speech of God or which is lesse without so much as once looking up towards heaven or inviting or praying her spectatours to pray to God for her soule shee with a gracelesse resolution and prophane boldnesse conjured her Executioner speedily to performe his office and duety which by the command of the Magistrate he-forthwith did So this wretched Amarantha was hanged for her second murther and then by a second decree and sentence of the Criminall Iudges her body is after dinner burnt to ashes for her first who likewise in honour to Iustice and to the glory of God doe also cause the dead body of Bernardo for two whole dayes to bee hanged by his feet in his shirt to the same Gallowes and then to bee cast into the River of Arno. And here the Iudges also to shew themselves themselves were once of opinion to have unburyed Babtistyna and likewise to have given her dead body some opprobrious punishment for being accessary with her Sister Amarantha to poyson their elder Sister Iaquinta but having no other evidence or proofe hereof but onely the tessimony of her condemned dying Sister Amarantha whom it was more probable then impossible shee might speake it more out of malice then truth as also that God had already afflicted a deplorable end and punishment to her they therefore omitted it And thus was the deserved ends and condigne punishments of these wretched and execrable murtherers and in this manner did the just revenge and sacred justice of God meete and triumph over them and their bloudy crimes And now here fully to conclude and shut up this History in all its circumstances The griefes and sorrowes of this unfortunate old Father was so great and infinite for the untimely and deplorable deaths of all these his three onely Daughters and Children that although piety and religion had formerly taught him that the afflictions of this life are the joyes of that to come yet being wholly vanquished and depressed with all these his different bitter crosses and calamities hee left Florence and retired himselfe to a solitary life in Cardura where hee not long survived them but dyed very pensively and mournfully GODS REVENGE AGAINST THE CRYING AND EXECRAble Sinne of Murther HISTORIE XXII Martino poysoneth his Brother Pedro and murthereth Monfredo in the streete He afterwards growes mad and in confession reveales both these his murthers to Father Thomas his Ghostly Father who afterwards dying reveales it by his Letter to Cecilliana who was Widdow to Monfredo and Sister to Pedro and Martino Martino hath first his right hand cut off and then is hanged for the same AS it is a dangerous wickednesse to contrive and plot murther So much more it is a wretched and execrable one to finish and perpetrate it for to kill our Christian Brother who figuratively beares the image of God is an act
so odious as Nature cannot excuse and so diabolicall as no Clemencie can pardon And yet this age and this world is but too plentifull and fertile of such bloudy Tigers and inhumane Monsters and Butchers of mankinde as if they had not a Conscience within them to accuse them a God above them to condemne them and a Hell below them to punish them or as if they had not the sacred Oracles of Gods eternall Word I meane the Law and the Gospell and the blessed Precepts and Doctrine of the holy Prophets and Apostles yea of Christ Iesus himselfe the great Shepherd and sacred Bishop of our soules to teach us the rules of Mercie Meekenesse and Long-suffering whiles wee live in this vale of misery here below and that wee must imbrace and follow Peace and Charity with all men if ever wee thinke to participate of the true felicity and joyes of Heaven above But neverthelesse yea directly contrary hereunto this insuing History will produce us one who though sufficiently instructed in the rules of Piety and Charity yet hee wilfully abandoned the first and contemned the second by cruelly and unnaturally imbruing his hands in innocent bloud for the which wee shall see that hee in the end suffereth a severe and shamefull death May we reade this History to the glory of God and the instruction of our selves THe Scene of this History is layd in Spayne in the famous Province of old Castile and in the faire and ancient City of Burgos where lately dwelt a noble and rich old Gentlewoman termed Dona Catherina Aâ—…z a Sirname much knowne and famous in that City Province and Kingdome who had by her deceased Husband Don Roderigo de Ricaldo two sonnes Don Pedro and Don Martino and one Daughter named Dona Cecilliana Her eldest sonne Don Pedro was a gallant Cavallier of some eight and twenty yeares of age tall and well-timbred by complexion and hayre blacke and of a swart and martiall countenance who for the space of seven yeares served as a voluntary Gentleman under that wise and valiant Commander Don Gonsalez de Cordova in Germany and against the Lords States of the Netherlands and since in the Voltoline and Millane against the Grisons and French In both which warres he left behind him many memorable testimonies of his prowesse and purchased divers honorable trophees of true valour and generosity but for any other intellectuall endowments of the minde hee was no scholler and but of an indifferent capacity yet very honest courteous and affable particularly to his friends and generally to all the world His Brother Don Martino was of some foure and twenty yeares of age short of stature very slender but crooke-back'd of an Aubrun hayre a withered face a squint eye of inclination extreamely sullen and of disposition and nature envious and revengefull as desirous rather to entertaine a night-quarrell in the street then a day-combate in the Field but as God is many times pleased to countervaile and reward the defects of nature in the body with some rich gifts and perfections of the mind so though not by profession yet by education he was an excellent Scholler of an active and sharpe wit a fluent tongue and singularly able either to allure or divert to perswade or disswade according as the streame of his different passions and affections led him Vertues enough relucent and excellent to build a fame and sufficient to rayse an eminent fortune if his former vices doe not too fatally eclipse the one and deface the other Their Sister Cecilliana aged of some twenty yeares was of an indifferent height but growing to corpulencie and fatnesse of a blacke hayre an amiable browne complexion a big rolling eye and the ayre of her countenance rather beautifully amorous then modestly beautifull Shee was of a nimble wit of humour pleasant and facetious yet so reserved in the externall demonstration thereof that through her Mothers pious and austere education of her shee in all outward semblance seemed rather to bee fit for a Nunnery then a Husband and more proper to make a Saint then a Wife but as the face proves not still a true Index of the heart nor our lookes and speeches still a true Sybile of our soules so how retired soever her Mother kept her from the company of men yet her wanton eye conspiring with her lascivious heart made her the more desirous thereof and farre the more licentiously in regard shee was strictly forbidden it so as not to contradict or dissemble the truth I am here inforced to relate and affirme that shee imparteth her favours upon two or three young Gentlemen of that Citie of her private acquaintance and is more familiar with them then modesty can well warrant or chastity allow of But there is a young Gallant of this City likewise more noble by birth then rich in estate and meanes named Don Balthazar de Monfredo who deeming Cecilliana as famous for her chastity as for her beauty beares a singular affection to her yea his heart and thoughts are so fervently intangled in the snares of her delicious beauty that in publicke and private in his desires and wishes and in his speech and actions he proclaimes her to bee his Mistresse and himselfe her servant and if hee affect and desire Cecilliana for his Wife no lesse doth shee Monfredo for her Husband so that they many times by stealth meet and conferre privately in remote Churches and Chappell 's it being rather a prophane then a religious custome of Spaine wherein Heaven is too much made to stoope to Earth and Religion to Impiety for men to court their intended wives and which is worse many times their Courtizans and Strumpets Cecilliana oftentimes warranted by her Mothers indisposition can no sooner take Coach to injoy the pleasure and benefit of the fresh ayre abroad in the fragrant fields but Monfredo assuredly meets her where leaping from his Coach into hers and leaving his Page to accompany her Wayting-gentle woman in his own they at first familiarly kisse and confer and in a few of these meetings at last effectually resolve to give themselves each to other in the sacred bonds of marriage so he gives her a rich Diamond ring and she reciprocally returnes him a paire of Gold bracelets in token of marriage and they then and there calling God to witnes very solemnly contract themselves man and wife yet for some solid reasons and important considerations which conduce to the better accomplishing of their desires they for a time conclude to beare it secretly and silently from all the world and it is concluded and agreed betweene them that a moneth after and not before hee shall attempt to seeke her publikely in marriage both of her Mother the Lady Catherina as also of her two Brothers Don Pedro and Don Martino So when this moneth is past over which to these out two Lovers seemes to be many ages Monfredo very fairely and orderly seekes her of her Mother in marriage and
and may well be called the Fortresse of Christian piety against the tentations of Sathan so by the contrary wee expose and lay open our selves to the treacherous lures and malice of the Devill For if by Faith wee doe not first beleeve then pray unto God for our owne preservation it will bee no hard matter for him to tempt us in our choller to quarrell with our best friends and in our malice and revenge to murther even our neerest and dearest Kindred O Faith the true foundation of our soveraigne felicitie O Prayer the sweet preservative and sacred Manna of our soules how blessed doe you make those who embrace and retaine you and contrariwise how miserable and wretched are they who contemne and reject you Of which last number this insuing Historie will produce us one who by his debauched life and corrupt conversation trampled those two heavenly Vertues and Graces under his feet without thinking of God or regarding much lesse fearing his judgements But how God in the end requited him for the same this Historie will likewise shew us May we therefore reade it to Gods glory and to our owne instruction IN the Citie of Verceli after Turin one of the chiefest of Piedmont bordering neere to the Estate and Dutchy of Millan there lately dwelt a rich Cannon of that Cathedrall Church named Alosius Cassino who had a daintie sweet young Gentlewoman to his Neece named Dona Eleanora whose mother being sister to Cassino named Dona Isabella Caelia lately died and left this her onely daughter and â—…ild her heire very rich both in demeanes and moneys when her Vncle Cassino â—…eing neerest her in blood takes Eleanora and her Estate into his protection and â—…ardship and is as tender of her breeding and education and as curious of her â—…omportment and cariage as if shee were his owne daughter for there is no sweet â—…alitie nor exquisite perfection requisite in a young Gentlewoman of her ranke and extraction but he caused her to become not superficiall but artificiall therein as in Dancing Musicke Singing Painting Writing Needling and the like wherof all the Nobility and Gentry of Verceli take exact notice and knowledge yea her beautie grew up so deliciously with her yeares that she was and was justly reputed to be the prime Flower and Phenix of the Citie Cassino considering that his house was destiâ—…te of a Matron to accompany and oversee this his Neece Eleanora that his age was too Stoicall for her youth and that his Ecclesiasticall profession and function called him often to preach and pray hee therefore deeming it very unfit and unseemely in the Interims of his absence to leave her to her selfe and to be ruled and governed by her owne fancy and pleasure shee being now arrived to twelve yeares of age He therefore provides her new apparell and other pertinent necessaries and giving her a wayting-mayd and a man of his owne to attend her hee sends her in his Coach to the Citie of Cassall in the Marquisat of Montferrat to the Lady Marguerita Sophia a widdow Gentlewoman lâ—…ft by her deceased husband but indifferently rich but endowed with all those ornaments of Art and Honour which made her famous not onely in Piedmont and Lombardie but also to all Italy and to her he therefore writes this ensuing Letter to accompany his Neece and chargeth his man with the delivery thereof to her CASSINO to SOPHIA TO satisfie your courteous Requests and my former promise I now send you my Neece Eleanora to Cassall whom I heartily pray thee to use as thy daughter and to command as thy Hand-maid She hath no other Vncle but mee nor I any other acquaintance but thy selfe with whom I would entrust her for her Education and recommend her for her Instruction Shee is not inclined to any vice that I know of except to those imperfections wherein her youth excuseth her ignorance and it is both my order and charge to her that she carefully and curiously adorne her selfe with vertues in thy example and imitation without which the privileges of Nature and Fortune as Beauty and Wealth are but only obscure shadowes and no true substances because there is as much difference betwixt those and these as betweene the puritie of the soule and the corruption of the bodie or betweene the dignitie and excellencie of Heaven and the invaliditie and basenesse of Earth I am content to lena her to you for a few moneths but doe infinitely desire to give her to thy Vertues for ever In which my voluntary transaction and donation thou wilt conferre much happinesse to her and honour to mee and consequently for ever bind both her Youth and my Age to thee in a strict obligation of thanks and debt What apparell or other necessaries thou deemest her to want thy will shall be mine God ever blesse her in his feare and you both to his glory CASSINO The Lady Sophia receives this sweet young Virgin with much content and joy yea shee sees her tender yeares already adorned with such excellent beautie and that beautie with such exquisite vertues that it breeds not only admiration but affection in her towards her whom shee entertaineth with much respect and care as well for her owne sake as also for her Vncle Cassino's whose letter shee againe and againe reads over highly applauding his vertuous and honourable care of this his Neece whom in few yeares she hopes will prove a most accomplished gracious Gentlewoman when Cassino's Coach-man after a dayes stay deeming it high time for him to returne to Verceli to his Master he takes his leave of his young Mistris Elianora who out of her few yeares and tender affection and dutie to her Vncle with teares in her eyes prayes him to remember her best service to him at his comming home and the Lady Sophia by him likewise returnes and sends him this letter in answere of his SOPHIA to CASSINO I Know not whether you have made mee more proud or joyfull by sending me Eleanora wherein you have given mee farre more honour than I deserve though farre lesse than she meriteth and who henceforth shall be as much my Daughter in affection as shee is your Neece by Nature and if I have any Art in Nature or Iudgement in Inclinations her vertues and beautie doe already anticipate her yeares for as the one is emulous of Fame and the other of Glory so as friendly Rivals and yet honourable friends they already seeme to strive and contend in her for supremacie to the last of which as being indeed the most precious and soveraigne if my poore capacitie or weake endeavors may adde any thing I will esteeme it my ambition for your sake and my felicitie for hers But if you resolve not rather to give her to mee for some yeares than to lend her to mee for a few moneths you will then kill my hopes in their buds and my joyes in their blossomes and so make me as unfortunate in her absence as I shall
odious in the sight of God and man that he acknowledged hee no longer deserved to tread on the face of the earth or to looke up to Heaven That he knew not justly whereunto to attribute this infamy and misery of his but to his continuall neglect and omission of prayer whereby he banished himselfe from God and thereby gave the Devill too great an interest over his body and soule that he desired God to forgive him these his two soule and bloody crimes of Murther as also that of his neglect of Prayer and so with teares in his eyes besought all who were there present likewise to pray unto God for him When againe beseeching the vertuous young Lady Eleanora to forgive him the murther of her good old Vncle Cassino hee often making the signe of the Crosse and recommending himselfe into the hands of his Redeemer bad the Executioner doe his office who presently with his sword severed his head from his body and both were immediatly burnt and the ashes throwen into the River of Ticino without the wals of Vercelie although his Iudges were once of opinion to send his said head and body to Cassall for the Iudges of that place to doe their pleasure therewith for there poysoning of his owne Mother the Lady Sophia And thus was the miserable and yet deserved death and end of this bloody and execrable Gentleman Alphonso and in this sort did the judgements and punishments of God befall him for these his two most inhumane and deplorable Murthers May God of his infinit grace and mercie still fortifie and confirme our faith by constant and continuall prayer the want whereof was the fatall Rocke whereon hee perished that so we may secure our selves in this world and our soules in that to come GODS REVENGE AGAINST THE CRYING AND EXECRAble Sinne of Murther HISTORIE XXIV Pont Chausey kils La Roche in a Duell Quatbrisson causeth Moncallier an Apothecary to poyson his owne Brother Valfontaine Moncallier after fals and breakes his necke from a paire of staires Quatbrisson likewise causeth his Fathers Mâ—…er 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 murther and strangle Marieta in her Bed and to throw her body into his Mill-Pond Pierot the Miller is broken alive on a wheele and Quatbrisson first beheaded then burnt for the same WEe may truely affirme that the world is in her wane when Murther is become the practice of Christians which indeed is the proper office of the Devill and how frequently those wofnll accidents happen wee cannot thinke of but with much horrour nor remember but with grieâ—…e of mind and compassion of heart For is it not to mâ—…ke our selves wilfull Traitors and Rebels to God to violate his Divine Majestie in spoiling his true Image and resemblance yea is it not the high-way of Hell But that this age of ours produceth such Monsters of nature reade we but this ensuing Historie and it will informe us of much innocent blood shed we know not whether more wilfully or wickedly IT is not unknowne that the Province of little Britaine was long since annexed and united to the flourishing Kingdome of France by the marriage of Charles the Eighth with Anne the young Dutchesse thereof notwithstanding that she weâ—…e formerly contracted to Maximilian Arch-duke of Austria where we shall understand that in the Citie of Vannes formerly the Court and Residence of those British Dukes thereof late yeares dwelt a noble Gentleman of rich Demaines and Revenues termed Monsieur de Caerstaing who by his wife Madamoyselle de la Ville Blanche had two Sonnes the eldest named by his title Monsieur de Quatbrisson and the youngest Monsieur de Valfontaine The first aged of twenty foure yeares being short and corpulent the second of twentie being tall and slender both of them brave and hopefull Gentlemen as well in their outward personages as in the â—…ward perfections and endowments of their minds For in all respects the care and affection of their Parents had made their education answerable to their births Valfontaine for the most part lived in the Citie of Nantes the second of that Dutchie with an Vncle of his named Monsieur de Massie being President of the Kings Chamber of Accounts which is kept there who frequenting the Bals or publike Dancings whereunto the youth of France are generally adicted amongst many other excellent beauties wherewith that Citie is graced and those pastimes and meetings honoured he sees a young Gentlewoman being a stranger and newly come to the Citie so infinitly rich in the excellencies of nature and the treasure of lovelinesse and beauty as with a kind of imperious commanding power shee atracts all mens eyes to behold to admire to affect her So as although Valfontaines youthfull heart and yeaâ—…es had never as yet stooped or sacrificed to Love yet at the very first sight of this sweet young Gentlewoman whose name wee shall not goe farre to know hee cannot retaine his enamored eyes from gadding on the Roses and ranging on the Lillies of her sweet complexion nor his resolutions from enquiring what her name and her selfe was when being informed that she was the onely daughter and heire of a rich and noble Gentleman a Widdower termed Monsieur de Pennelle of the Parish of Saint Aignaw fower leagues from the Citie and her name Madamoyselle la Pratiere of the age of some seventeene hee at the very first sight likes her so well and loves her so deerely that if her interiour vertues come not too fhort of her exteriour beauty and feature he vowes he will be her Sutor and Servant and so he attempts to court and seeke her for his wife To which end he more like a Tutor then a Pupill in the Art and Schoole of love is so farre from neglecting any as he curiously and carefully seekes all opportunities and occasions to enjoy the felicity of her company and so for the most part hee conducts her to and from the dauncings sits and talkes with her in her lodgings meets her at Church where as well at Vespers as Masse he accompanies and prayes with her and briefly shee can difficultly be present any where where he is long absent from her For by this time which is scarce a moneth since he first saw her her peerelesse beauty and unparalell'd vertues and discourse have acted such amorous wonders in his heart as hee vowes hee must either live her Husband or die her Martyr But see the providence and pleasure of God for if Valfontaine tenderly love our sweet and faire La Pratiere no lesse doth shee him for knowing him to be the Sonne of his Father and therefore a Gentleman of noble extraction and worth and seeing him to bee wise discreet and proper as also remembring and marking that he fervently and infinitly affects her shee is so delighted with his neat feature and personage and ravished with the melodie of his discourse as albeit at first her tongue bee so civill and modest to conceale her affection from him yet her eyes the Ambassadors of
and number lamented and pittied that so proper and noble a Gentleman should first deserve and then receive so untimely a death When after the Priests and Friers have here prepared and directed his soule hee aseending the Scaffold with some what a low voice and dejected and sorrowfull countenance he delivered this short speech That in regard hee knowes that now when he is to take his last leave of this life to charge his conscience with the concealing of any capitall crime is the direct and true way to send his soule to hell in stead of heaven hee will now therefore reveale that hee is yet more execrable and bloudy then his Iudges thinke or know or his spectatours imagine for that he not only hired Pierot his Fathers Miller to murther Marieta but also the Apothecary Moncallier to poyson his owne brother Valfontaine of both which foule and bloudy crimes of his he now freely confesseth himselfe guilty and now from his heart and soule sorrowfully lamenteth and repenteth them that his filthy lust and inordinate affection to women was the first cause and his neglect of prayer to God the second which hath justly brought him to this shamefull end and confusion that therefore he beseecheth all who are present to bee seriously forewarned of the like by his wofull Example and that in Christian charity they will now joyne their devout prayers with his to God for his soule When on the Scaffold praying a little whiles silently to himselfe kneeling and then putting off his Doublet hee commits himselfe to the Executioner who at one blow severed his head from his shoulders But this punishment and death of Quatbrisson suffiseth not now to give full content and satisfaction to his Iudges who by his owne confession considering his inhumane and deplorable poysoning of his owne brother Valfontaine they as soone as hee is dead and before he be cold adjudge his body to bee taken downe and there burnt to Ashes at the foot of the Gibbet which accordingly is performed And here our thoughts and curiosity must now returne poast from Rennes to Vannes and from wretched Quatbrisson to the base and bloudy Miller Pierot whom God and his Iudges have now ordayned shall likewise smart for this his lamentable murther on poore and harmelesse Marieta Hee is brought to the Gallowes in his old dusty mealy Suite of Canvas where a Priest preparing him to dye hee either out of impiety or ignorance or both delivereth this idle speech to the people That because Marieta was young and faire hee is now heartily sorry that he had not married her and that if he had beene as wise as covetous the two hundred Crownes or the Lease of his Mill which his yong master Monsieur Quatbrisson profered him might have made him winke at her dishonesty and that although she were not a true Mayd to her selfe yet that she might have proved a true and honest wife to him with many other frivolous words and lewd speeches tending that way which I purposely omit and resolve to passe over in silence as holding them unworthy either of my relation or the Readers knowledge when not having the grace once to name God to speake of his soule to desire heaven or to seeme to bee any way repentant and sorrowfull for this his bloody offence hee is stripped naked having onely his shirt fastned about his waste and with an Iron barre hath his legs thighes armes and brest broken alive and there his miserable body is left naked and bloudy on the Wheele for the space of two dayes thereby to terrifie and deterre the beholders from attempting the like wretched crime And the Iudges of Vannes being certifyed from the Court of Parliament at Rennes that Quatbrisson at his death charged the Apothecary Moncallier to have at his hiring and instigation poysoned his brother Valfontaine they hold the Church to be too holy a place for the body and buriall of so prophane and bloudy a Villaine When after well neere a whole yeares time that he was buried in Saint Francis Church in that Towne they cause his Coffin to be taken up and both his body and it to bee burnt by the common Hang-man and his Ashes to bee throwne into the aire Which to the Ioy of all the Spectators is accordingly performed GODS REVENGE AGAINST THE CRYING AND EXECRAble Sinne of Murther HISTORIE XXV Vasti first murthereth his Sonne George and next poysoneth his owne Wife Hester and being afterwards almost killed by a mad Bull in the Fields hee revealeth these his two murthers for the which he is first hanged and then burnt TO religious hearts there can nothing be so distastfull as Sinne nor any Sinne so odious and execrable as Murther for it being contrary to Nature and Grace the very thought much more the act thereof strikes horrour to their hearts and consciences Wherefore if this foule and bloudy Sinne bee so displeasing to godly men how infinitely more detestable is it then to God himselfe who made all living creatures to serve Man and onely created Man purposely to serve Himselfe But as Choller and Malice proceede from the passions of men so doth Murther from the Deuill for else wee should not so often and frequently see it perpetrated in most Countryes and Cities of the World as we doe A mournefull Example whereof I here produce to your view and serious consideration THe place of this History is Fribourg an antient city of Switzerland which gives name to one of the Divisions or Cantons of that famous and warlike country Wherein of fresh memory dwelt a rich Burger named Peter Vasti who had to his wife a modest discreet and vertuous woman named Hester by whom he had one only child a Sonne called George Vasti whom God sent them the latter end of the first yeare of their marriage and for the tearme of some ten yeares following this marryed couple lived in most kinde and loving sort each with other yea their hearts and inclinations so sympathized in mutuall and interchangeable affection as they held and reputed none of their Neighbours so rich in content as themselves for she was carefull of her Family and he very diligent and industrious to maintaine it both of them being chaste and continent in themselves very religious towards God and exceeding charitable affable and courteous to all their Neighbours and Acquaintance onely they are so temperate in their drinking as â—…ee would not and shee could not bee tainted with that beastly Vice of Drunkenâ—…esse whereunto that Countrey and the greatest part of that People are but too excessively addicted and subject So that had Vasti still imbraced and followed those Vertues in the course and conduction of his life hee had not then defiled this History with the profusion of so many sinnes nor besprinckled it with the effusion of so much innocent bloud nor consequently have administred so much sorrow to the Reader in perusing and knowing it but as contrary Causes produce contrary Effects so