〈◊〉 of one of their Queenes called THALESTRIS to visit ALEXANDER the great and the cause of hir 〈◊〉 The first Nouel WHere the first boke began with a Cōbate foughte and tried betwene two mighty cities for principalitie and gouernment the one hight Rome after called the heade of the world as some thinke by reason of a mans head foūd in the place where the Capitole did stand the other Alba. To which Combat 〈◊〉 gentlemen of either citie wer appointed and the victorie chaunced to the Romaine side In this second parte in the forefront and first Nouel of the same is described the beginning continuaunce and ende of a Womans Common wealth an Hystorie 〈◊〉 and straunge to the vnlearned ignorant of the 〈◊〉 fickle ruled stay which contended with mighty Princes and puissant Potentates for defense of their kingdome no lesse than the Carthaginians and Romaines did for theirs But as it is no wōder to the skilful that a whole Monarche and kingdom should be inticrly peopled with that Sexe so to the not wel trained in Hystories this may seme miraculous Wherfore not to stay thée from the discourse of those straunge and Aduenturous women diuers be of diuers opinions for the Etimologie of the word wher of amonges the Grecians 〈◊〉 diuerse iudgementes These Amazones were moste excellent warriers very valiant and without mannes aduise did conquer mighty Countreyes famous Cities and notable Kingdomes continuing of long time in one Seigniorie and gouernment These people occupied and enioyed a great part of Asia Some writers deuide them into two Prouinces one in Scithia in the North parte of Asia other by the hill Imaus which at this day is called the Tartarian Scithia different from that which is in Europa the other sort of the Amazones were in Libia a prouince of Africa But bicause the common sort of Authors doe vnderstand the Amazones to be those of Asia I meane to leaue off the differēce The Scithians were a warlike people and at the beginning of theyr kingdome had two kings by whome they were gouerned Notwithstanding the nature of dominion being of it self ambicious cannot abide any companion or equal Which caused these two Kinges to beat variance and afterwardes the matter grew to ciuill warres wherein the one being Uictory two of the principal 〈◊〉 of the contrary faction called Plinius and Scolopithos were banished with a great number of their 〈◊〉 all which did withdraw themselues to the limites of Cappadocia in the lesser Asia in despite of the Countrey Pesantes dwelled alonges the riuer of Thermodon which entreth into the sea Euxinum otherwise called Pontus And they being made Lordes of the countrey of the places adioyning raigned for certain yeres vntill the peasantes and their confederates made a conspiracie against them and assembling by policie ouercame them and slewe them all The newes of their deathe knowen to their wiues dwelling in their countrey caused them to cōceiue great heauinesse and dolor extreme And although they were womē yet did they put on māly courage and determined to reuenge the death of their husbandes by putting their handes to weapons wherwithall they did exercise themselues very ofte And that they might all be equal their sorow commō they murdred certain of their husbands which remained there after the other were banished Afterward being all together they made a great army and forsoke their dwelling places refusing the mariage of many suters And arriuing in the land of their enimies that made smal accōpt therof although foretolde of their approache they sodenly came vpon them vnprouided and put them all to the sword This being done the women toke the gouernāce of the Countrey inhabiting at the beginning along the Riuer of Thermodon where their husbands wer stain And although many Authors do differ in the situaciō of the place where the Amazones did dwel yet the truth is that the beginning of their kingdome and of their habitacion was vpon that Riuer But of their manifolde conquestes be engendred diuers opinions declared by Strabo and others They fortified them selues in those places and wanne other countries adioyning chosing among them two Quenes the one named Martesia and and the other Lampedo Those two louyngly deuided the armie and men of warre in two parts either of them defending with great hardinesse the Lands which they had conquered and to make them selues more dreadfull such was the credite and vanitie of men that time they fained themselues to be that daughters of Mars Afterward these miraculous womē liuing after this maner in peace iustice considered that by succession of time for wante of daughters that might succéede warres and time wold extinguishe their race For this cause they treated mariage with their neighbors named Gargarians as Plinie sayeth with condition that vpon certaine times of the yeare their husbands shold assemble together in some appointed place and vse them for certaine dayes vntill they were with childe which being done and knowen they shoulde returne home againe to their owne houses If they brought forth daughters they norished and trained them vp in armes and other manlyke exercises and to ride great horsse They taught them to run at base to follow the chace If they were deliuered of males they sent them to their fathers And if by chaunce they kept any backe they murdred them or else brake their armes and leggs in suche wyse as they had no power to beare weapons and serued for nothing else but to spin twist and to doe other feminine labour And for as much as these Amazones defēded themselues so valiantly in the warres with Bowe and Arrowes and perceiued that their breasts did verie much impech the vse of that weapon and other exercises of armes they seared vp the righte breastes of their yong daughters for which cause they were named Amazones which signifieth in the Gréeke tong without breasts although that some other do giue vnto that name an other Etimologie Afterwardes increasing by course of time in numbre force they made great preparation of weapons and other 〈◊〉 for the warres and leauing their coūtrey which they thought was very small in the keping of some whom they specially trusted the rest marched abrode cōquering subduing all those which they foūd rebellious And hauing passed the riuer of Tanais they entred Europa where they vanquished many countreys directing their way towardes Thracia from whence they returned a whyle after with great spoile and victorie and comming again into Asia they brought many prouinces vnder their subiection proceding euen to Mare Caspium They edified and peopled an infinite numbre of good cities amōgs which according to the opinion of diuers was the famous Citie of Ephesus the same béeing the chiefe of all their Empire and the principal place that stoode vpon Thermodon They defended them selues in warres with certaine Tergats made in fashion of a half Moone and entring into battaile vsed a certaine kinde of flutes to giue the people corage to
toke the poysoned cuppe and said vnto the messanger Giue the king thy maister right humble thankes in my behalfe and say vnto him that I receiue and drinke this poyson with a will so good as if he had commaunded me to enter in triumph with Laurell garlande ouer mine ennimies For a better gift a husband can not giue to wife than accomplishment of assured faith the funeralls whereof shall be done with present obsequie And saying nothing else vnto the Messanger she toke the cuppe and myngling well together the poyson within she vnfearfully 〈◊〉 it vp And 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 had dronke the same she deliuered the messanger his cuppe againe and layed hir selfe vpon hir bed commaūding hir Gentlewomen in comely wise to couer hir with clothes and without lamentation or signe of Feminine minde shée stoutly waighted for approching death The Gentlewomen which waited vpon hir bewaited the rufull state of their 〈◊〉 esse whose plaints and schriches were heard throughout the palace wherof the brute and rumor was great But the good Quéene vanquished with the strong force of the poyson remained not long before she died The Messanger returned these heauie newes vnto Massinissa who sorowfully complained the losse of his beloned wife in such wise as many tymes hée was like to kill him selfe that his soule might haue accompanied the ghost of hir which was beloued of hym aboue all the deerest things of the worlde The valiaunt and wise captaine Scipio vnderstanding hereof to the intent Massinissa shoulde not commit any crueltie against himselfe or perpetrate other vncomely déede called hym before him and comforted him with the swéetest wordes he could deuise and friendly reproued him for the little faith and trust that he had in him The next day in the 〈◊〉 of all the arinie he highly commended him and rewarded him with the Kingdome of Numidia giuing hym many rich iewels and treasures and brought him in great estimation amōgs that Romans which the Senate and people of Rome very well approned and cōfirmed with most ample priuileges attributing vnto him the title of King of Numidia and frend of the Romanes Such was the eude of the vnhappie loue of kyng 〈◊〉 and the faire and unluckie Quéene Sophonisba Poris and Theoxena ¶ The crueltie of a King of 〈◊〉 who forced a Gentlewomā called THEOXENA to persuade hir children to kill and poison them selues after which facte she and hir husband PORIS ended their life by drovvning The. viij Nouell BUt sith wée haue begon to treat of the stoutnesse of certaine noble Quéenes I will not let also to recite the Historie of a like vnfearefull dame of Thessalian lande called Theoxena of right noble race the daughter of Herodicus prince of that cūtrey in the time that Philip the sonne of Demetrius was king of Macedone tolde also by Titus Liuius as two of the former be This lady Theoxena first was a notable exāple of 〈◊〉 vertue afterwardes of rigorous crueltie For the said King Philip hauing through his wickednesse first murdred Herodicus and by succession of time cruelly done to death also the husbands of Theoxena and of Archo hir natural sister vnto either of them being widowes remaining a sonne afterwardes Archo beyng maried againe to one of the principall of their countrey named Poris of him she had many childrē But when she was dead that sayd ladie Theoxena hir sister who was of heart more cōstant and stoute than the other stil refused the second mariage although sued vnto by many great lordes and princes at length pitying hir nephewes state for scare they shold fal into the handes of some cruell stepdame or that their father would not bring them vp with such diligence as till that time they were was contented to be espoused again to Poris no lawe that time knowen to defend the same to the intent she might traine vp hir sisters children as hir owne That done she began as if they wer hir own to intreate and vse them louingly with great care and 〈◊〉 wherby it 〈◊〉 appeared that she was not 〈◊〉 againe to Poris for hir own commoditie and pleasure but 〈◊〉 for the welth and gouernement of those hir sisters children Afterwards Philip king of Macedon an vnquiete Prince determining to make new warres vpon the Romanes then throughout the worlde famous and 〈◊〉 for their 〈◊〉 fortune 〈◊〉 not onely the chief and noble men but almost all the auncient inhabi 〈◊〉 of the Cities along the sea coast of Thessalia and their whole and entier families into Peonia afterwards called Emathia a countrey farre distant from the sea giuing their voided cities for the Thracians to inhabite as most propre and faithfull for the Romains warres which he intended to make and hearing also the 〈◊〉 maledictions pronoūced against him by the banished people and vniuersally by all other thoughte hée was in no good suretie if he caused not likewise all the sonnes of them whome a little before he had 〈◊〉 to be put to death Wherfore he commaunded them to be taken and holden vnder good garde inprison not to do them all to be 〈◊〉 at once but at times now one and then an other as 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Theoxena vnderstanding the 〈◊〉 of this wicked and cruell King and well remembring the death of hir husband and of him that was husband to hir sister knew wel that hir sonne and nephew 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 be demaunded and greatly 〈◊〉 the Kings wrath and the rigour of his Guarde if once they fell into their handes to defende them from shame and crueltie sodeinly applied hir minde vnto a straunge deuice For shée durst to say vnto hir husband their fathers sace that sooner 〈◊〉 would kill them with hir owne handes if otherwise she coulde not warraunt 〈◊〉 than suffer them to bée at the will and power of King Philip. By reason wherof Poris abhorring 〈◊〉 erecrable crueltie to comforte his wife and to saue his children promised hir secretely to transporte them from thence and caried them himselfe to certain of his faithful friends at Athenes which done without long delay he made as though he would go from Thessalonica to Aenias to be at the 〈◊〉 of certaine sacrifices which yearely at an appointed time was done with great ceremonies to the honour of Aenêas the 〈◊〉 of that citie where spending the time amongs other in solemne bankets the. iij. watch of the night when euery mā was a slepe as though he woulde haue returned home to his countrey with his wife children priuily he embarketh him selfe and them in a shyppe hired of purpose to passe into Euboea and not to 〈◊〉 to Thessalonica But his entent was cleane altered chaunged for his shippe was no sooner vnder saile but at that instant a contrarie winde and tempest rose that brought him backe againe in despite of their labour and all the endeuour they were able to doe And when daye light appeared the Kyngs garrison descried that shippe and manned out a boate to bring in the same
the rare excellencies wherewith the Citie is furnished there is none more famous than the monument of Rhomeo Iulietta Two Gentlewomen of Venice ¶ Two Gentlemen of VENICE were honourably deceiued of their wiues whose notable practises and secrete cōference for archieuing their desire occasioned diuers accidentes and ingendred double benefite wherin also is recited an eloquent oration made by one of them pronounced before the Duke and state of that Citie with other chaunces and actes concerning the same The. xxvj Nouel HEre haue I thoughte good to summon y. gentlewomen of Venice to apeare in place and to mount on stage amonges other Italian dames to shewe cause of their bold incountrie against the follie of their two husbandes that vncharitably against order of neighbourhode wente about to assayle the honestie of eythers wife and wéening they had enioyed others felicitie by the womens prudence foresyghte and ware gouernement were bothe deceiued and yet attayned the chiefest benefite that mariage state doth looke for so that yf searche bée made amonges antiquities it is to be doubted whether greater chastitie and better policie coulde bée founde for 〈◊〉 of an intended purpose Many dedes haue bene done by women for sauegarde of their husbands liues as that of Minyae a sorte of women whose husbands wer imprisoned at Lacedaemon for treason cōdemned who to saue their husbāds entred into prison the night before they shold die by exchange of apparell deliuered them and remained there to suffre for them Hipsicratea also the Quene wife of 〈◊〉 king of Pontus spared not hir noble beautie and golden lockes to manure hir self in the vse of armes to kéepe hir husbād company in perils and daungers and being ouercome by Pompeius and flying away neuer left him vnaccōpanied ne forsoke such trauel as he him self sustained The like also of Aemilia Turia 〈◊〉 Portia other Romane dames But that such haue preuēted their husbands follie seldome we reade sauing of Quéene Marie the wife of Don Pietro king of Arragon who marking the folie of hir husband and sorie for his disordred life honest iealousie opening hir cōtinēt eyes forced hir to seke meanes to remoue his wanton acts or at lestwise by policie wise foresight to make him husband culture his own soile that for want of seasonable tillage was barren voide of fruite Wherefore consulting with the lorde Chamberlain who of custome brought whom the King liked best was in place of his woman bestowed in his bed and of hir that night begate the yong Prince Giacomo that afterwardes proued a valiaunt and wise King These passyng good policies of women many times abolish the frantik lecherous fits of husbands giuen to superfluous lustes when first by their chast behauior womāly pacience they 〈◊〉 that whiche they bée lothe to sée or heare of and then demaunding counsell of sobrietie and wisedome excogitate sleightes to shunne follie and expell discurtesie by husbandes carelesse vse Suche practyses and deuises these two Gentlewomen whome I now bring forth disclose in this discourse ensuing In the Citie of Venice whiche for riches and faire women excelleth al other within the region of Italie in the time that Francesco Foscari a very wise Prince did gouerne the state there were two yong gentlemē the one called Girolamo Bembo and the other Anselmo Barbadico betwene whome as many times chaunceth amongs other grew such great hatred and cruel hostilitie as eche of them by secrete and al possible means deuised to do other shame and displeasure which kindled to such out rage as it was thought impossible to be pacified It chaunced that at one time both of them did marie two noble yong Gentlewomen excellēt faire both brought vp vnder one nurse and loued eche other like two sisters and as though they had ben both born of one bodie The wyse of Anselmo called Isotta was the daughter of Messer 〈◊〉 Gradenigo a mā of great estimation in that citie one of the procuratours of San Marco whereof there were not so greate numbre in those dayes as there be now bicause the wisest men best approued of life were chosen to that great and noble dignitie none allotted therevnto by bribe or ambition The wife of Girolamo Bembo was called Lucia that daughter of Messer Gian Francesco Valerio Caualiere a Gentleman very well learned and many times sent by the State ambassador into diuers countreyes and after he had bene Drator with the Pope for his wisedome in the execution of the same was in great estima tion with the whole citie The two Gentlewomen after they were maried heard of the hatred betwene their husbandes were very sorowfull and pensiue bicause they thought the friendshyppe and loue betwene them twaine continued from their tender yeres could not be but with great difficulty kept or else altogither dissolued broken Not withstāding being discrete and wise for auoiding occasion of their husbands offēce determined to cease their accustomed conuersation louing familiaritie not to frequent eche others cōpany but at places times conuenient To whome Fortune was so fauorable as not only their houses were néere together but also ioyning in the backsides wherof their gardens also cōfined seperated only with a litle hedge that euery day they might sée one another many times talke togither Moreouer the seruāts people of either houses were friendly familiar which did greatly cōtent the two louing Gētlewomen bicause they also in the absence of their husbāds might at pleasure in their gardens disport thēselues And continuing this order that space of iij. yeres neither of thē both were with childe In which space Anselmo many times vicwing and casting his eyes vpō Madonna Lucia fel earnestly in loue with hir was not that day wel at ease wherin he had not beholden hir excellēt beautie 〈◊〉 that was of sprite and wit subtil marked the lokes maner of Anselmo who neither for 〈◊〉 ne other cause did render like lokes on him but to sée to what end his louing chéere countenāce wold 〈◊〉 Not 〈◊〉 she séemed rather 〈◊〉 to behold him thā elswher to imploy hir lokes On the other side the good 〈◊〉 the wise order and pleasant beautie of Madonna Isotta was so excellent plausible in the sight of master Girolamo as no louer in the world was better pleased with his Ladie than 〈◊〉 with hir who not able to liue without the swete sight of Isotta that was a crafty wily wēch was 〈◊〉 hir quickly perceiued She being right honest wise and louing hir husband very dearly did beare that 〈◊〉 to Girolamo that she generally did to any of the 〈◊〉 or to other stranger that she neuer saw before But hir 〈◊〉 more more inflamed hauing lost that liberty of him self wounded pierced with the amorous arowes of Loue could not conuert his minde to any other 〈◊〉 to mistresse Lucia These two womē wonted to heare seruice euery day ordinarily at the church
well trained vp in other things A case so straunge as declaring the singular force of nature in that matter wherin the séemeth to haue giuen the prefermēnt aboue all things in earth Examples hereof is the effemination of Hercules the depriuation of Samsons strength the losse of sense and the idolatrie of the famous and wise king Salomon and the simplicitie of a warelesse and vncircumspect Gentleman of whom ye shal reade the Historie Thurin as is well knowne to them that haue trauelled Piedmont is the ornament bulwarke of al the countrey so well for the naturall site of the place as for the artificial and industrious worke of mans hand which hath instaured and furnished with great magnificence that which nature had indifferently enriched for the rudenesse and litle knowledge of the time past Now besides this stately strong citie there standeth a litle town named Montcall a place no lesse strong and of good defense than well plāted in a faire and rich soyle In this towne there dwelt a Gentlewoman a widowe called Zilia beautifull amongs the most excellent faire Gentlewomen of the countrey which countrey besides the other happie heuenly influences semeth to be specially fauoured for hauing the most fairest and curteous Gentlewomē aboue any other within the compasse of Europa Notwithstanding this faire Zilia degenerating frō the nature of hir climate was so haggarde and cruell as it might haue ben thoughte she had bene rather nourished and brought vp amidde the most desert mountains of Sauoy than in the pleasant and rich champayn countrey watered and moistned with Eridanus the father of riuers at this day called the Pau the largenesse whereof doth make men to maruel and the fertilitie allureth euery man to be desirous to inhabite vpon the same This faire rebellious widow albeit that she was not aboue xxiiij or xxv yeres of age yet protested neuer more to be subiecte to man by mariage or otherwise thinking hir self wel able to liue in single life A minde truly very holy and cōmendable if the pricks of that flesh do obey the first motions and adhortations of the spirite but where youth pleasure and multitude of suters do addresse their endeuour against that chastitie lightly enterprised the Apostles counsell ought to be followed who willeth yong widowes to marie in Christ to auoide the temptations of the flesh and to flée offensiue slaunder and dishonor before men Now mistresse Zilia hir husbād being dead only bent hir selfe to enrich hir house and to amplifie the possession of a litle infant which she had by hir late departed husbande After whose death she became so couetous as hauing remoued and almoste cut off quite the wonted port she vsed in hir husbandes dayes imployed hir maids in houshold affairs thinking nothing to be well done that passed not through hir owne handes A thing truely more praise worthy than to sée a sorte of effeminate fine and daintie fingred dames which thinke their honor diminished if they holde but their nose ouer their housholde matters where theyr hande and diligence were more requisite for so much as the mistresse of the house is not placed the chiefe to heare only the reasons of them that labor but therunto to put hir hands for hir present eye séemeth to giue a certaine perfection to the worke which the seruauntes do by hir commaundement Which caused the historians in times past to describe vnto the posterity a gentlewoman called Lucretia not babbling amongs yong folish girles or running to feastes and Maigames or Masking in the night without any regard of the honor and dignitie of hir race and house but in hir Chamber sowing spinning and carding amids the troupe of hir maiden seruants wherin our mistresse Zilia passed the most parte of hir time spending no minute of the day without some honest exercise which she did for that she liked not to be séen at feasts and bankets or to be gadding vp and downe the streats wandring to gardeins or places of pleasure although to suche places youth sometimes may haue honest repaire to refreshe their wearied bodies with some vertuous recreation therby to reioyce the heauinesse of the minde But this Gētlewoman was so seuere in following the rigorous and constrained maners of our auncients that impossible it was to sée hir abrode except it were when she went to Mattens or other deuine seruice This Gentlewoman séemed to haue studied the diuinitie of the Egiptians which paint Venus holding a key before hir mouth setting hir foote vpon a Tortus signifying vnto vs therby that duety of a chast woman whose tong ought to be locked that she speake not but in time and place and hir féete not straying or wādering but to kéepe hir self within the limits of hir owne house except it be to serue God and sometimes to render our bounden duty to them which haue brought vs into light Moreouer Zilia was so religious I wil not say superstitious and rigorous to obserue customs as she made it very squeimish and straunge to kisse Gentlemen that met hir a ciuilitie which of long time hath bene obserued and yet remaineth in the most part of the world that Gentlewomen doe welcome straungers and guestes into their houses with an honest and chaste kisse Notwithding the institution and profession of this widow had wiped away and deferred this poynt of hir youthe whither it were for that she estéemed hir self so faire as all men were vnworthy to touche the vtter partes of so rare and precious a vessell or that hir great and inimitable chastitie made hir so strange to refuse that which hir duetie and honor would haue permitted hir to graunt There chaunced about this time that a gentleman of the Countrey called Sir Philiberto of Virle estéemed to be one of the most valiant Gentlemen in those partes repaired vpon an holy day to Montcall whose house was not very farre off the Towne and being at diuine seruice in place of occupying his sense and minde in heauenly things and attending the holy woords of a Preacher which that day declared the woorde of God vnto the people hée gaue himselfe to contemplate the excellent beautie of Zilia who hadde put off for a while hir mourning vaile that she might the better beholde the good father that preached and receiue a little aire bicause the day was extreame hotte The Gentleman at the first blushe when hée sawe that swéete temptation before his eyes thought hym selfe rapt aboue the third heauen and not able to withdraw his looke he fed hymselfe with the venome which by litle and litle so seased vpon the soundest partes of his minde as afterwards béeing liuely rooted in heart the Gentleman was in daunger still to remaine there for a guage without any hope of ease or comforte as more amply this folowyng discourse shall giue you to vnderstande Thus all the mornyng hée behelde the Gentlewoman who made no more accompt of them that with great admiration did beholde hir
tourne but his greatest fame rose of his clemencie and curtesie In such wise as he shewed hym selfe to be gentle and fauourable euen to them whome he knewe not to loue him otherwise than if he had bene their mortal enimie His successors as Augustus Vespasianus Titus Marcus Aurelius Flauius were worthily noted for clemencie Notwithstandyng I sée not one drawe néere to great courage and gentlenesse ioyned with the singular curtesie of Dom Roderigo Viuario the Spaniarde surnamed Cid towarde Kyng Pietro of Aragon that hyndred his expedition againste the Mores at Grenadoe For hauyng vanquished the 〈◊〉 King and taken hym in battell not only remitted the reuenge of his wrong but also suffered hym to goe without raunsome and toke not from him so much as one forte estéeming it to be a better exploite to winne such a king with curtesie than beare the name of cruell in putting hym to death or seazing vpon his lande But bicause acknowledging of the poore and enriching the small is more cōmendable in a Prince than when he sheweth himselfe gentle to his like I haue collected thys discourse and facte of Kyng Mansor of Marocco whose children by subtile and fained religion Cherif succéeded the sonne of whome at this day inioyeth the kingdoms of Su Marocco and the most part of the 〈◊〉 confinyng vpon Aethiopia This historie was told by an Italian called Nicholoso Baciadonne who vpon this accident was in Affrica and in trafike of marchandise in the land of Oran situated vpon the coast of that South seas and where the Geneuois and Spaniards vse great entercourse bicause the countrey is faire wel peopled and where the inhabitaunts although the soile be barbarous lyue indifferent ciuilly vsing greate curtesie to straungers and largely departyng their goodes to the poore towards whome they be so earnestly bente and louing as for their liberalitie and pitifull alinesse they shame vs Christians They mainteyne a greate numbre of Hospitalls to receyue and intertaine the poore and néedie which they doe more charitably than they that be bounde by the lawe of Iesus Christe to vse charitie towardes their brethren wyth that curtesie and humaine myldnesse These Oraniens delight also to recorde in writing the successe of things that chaunce in their tyme and carefully reserue the same in memorie whiche was the cause that hauyng registred in theyr Chronicles which be in the Arabie letters as the moste parte of the Countreys do vse thys present historie they imparted the same to the Geneuois marchauntes of whome the Italian Author confesseth 〈◊〉 haue receyued the Copie The cause why that Geneuois marchaunt was so diligent to make that enquirie was by reason of a citie of that prouince built through the chaunce of this Historie and which was called in theyr tongue Caesar Elcabir so much to say as A great Palace And bycause I am assured that curteous mynds will delight in déedes of curtesie I haue amongs other the Nouells of Bandello chosen by Francois de Belleforest and my selfe discoursed thys albeit the matter be not of great importance and greater thyngs and more notorious curtesies haue bene done by our owne kings and Princes As of Henry the eyght a Prince of notable memorie in his progresse in to the Northe the xxxiij yeare of his raigne when he disdained not a pore Millers house being stragled from his traine busily pursuing the Hart and there vnknown of the Miller was welcomed with homely chere as his mealy house was able for the time to minister and afterwards for acknowledging his willing minde recompenced him with dainties of the Courte and a Princely rewarde Of Edward the thirde whose Royall nature was not displeased pleasauntly to vse a 〈◊〉 Tanner when deuided from his company he mette him by the way not farre from Tomworth in Staffordshire and by cheapening of his welfare stéede for stedinesse sure and able to cary him so farre as the stable dore grewe to a price and for exchaunge the Tanner craued 〈◊〉 shillings to boote betwene the Kings and his And whē the King satisfied with disport desired to shew himself by sounding his warning blast assembled al his train And to the great amaze of the pore Tanner when he was guarded with that 〈◊〉 he well guerdoned his good pastime and familiare dealing with the order of 〈◊〉 and reasonable reuenue for the maintenaunce of the same The like examples our Chronicles memory and report plentifully doe auouche and witnesse But what this History is the more rare and worthy of noting for respect of the people and Countrey where seldome or neuer curtesie haunteth or findeth harboroughe and where Nature doth bring forth greater store of monsters than things worthy of praise This great King Mansor then was not onely the temporall Lord of the Countrey of Oran and Moracco but also as is saide of Prete Iean Bishop of his law and the Mahomet priest as he is at this day that 〈◊〉 in Feze Sus and Marocco Now this Prince aboue all other pleasure 〈◊〉 the game of Hunting And he so muche delighted in that passetime as sometime he would cause his Tentes in the midde of the desertes to be erected to lie there all night to the ende that the next day he might renewe his game and 〈◊〉 his men of idlenesse and the wilde beastes of rest And this manner of life he vsed still after he had done iustice and hearkened the complaintes for which his subiectes came to disclose thereby their griefes Wherin also he toke so great pleasure as some of our Magistrates doe seke their profite whereof they be so squeymishe as they be desirous to satisfie the place whereunto they be called and render all men their right due vnto them For with their bribery and sacred golden hunger Kings and Princes in these dayes be yll serued the people wronged and the wicked out of feare There is none offense almost how villanous so euer it be but is washed in the water of bribery and clensed in the holly drop wherewith the Poetes faine Iupiter to corrupt the daughter of Acrisius faste closed within the brasen Toure And who is able to resist that which hath subdued the highest powers Now returne we from our wanderings This great King Mansor on a day 〈◊〉 his people to hunt in the not marish fenny Countrey which in elder age was farre off from the Citie of Asela which the Portugalles holde at this present to make the way more frée into the Isles of Molncca of the most parte whereof their King is Lord. As he was attentife in folowing a Bear his passe-time at the best the Elementes began to darke and a great tempest rose such as with the storme violent wind scattred the train far of from the King who not knowing what way to take nor into what 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 retire to auiode the tempest the greatest the he felt in all his life would wyth a good wyl haue ben accōpanied as the Troiane 〈◊〉 was
singuler vertue hauing dispersed and broken the armes and malice of all his enimies if before he were curteous and liberall after these so stout aduentures he became more than Princely in his déedes and if somtimes he had done one curteous act now he doubled the same But such was his Magnanimitie so noble were his indeuours tempred with such measure and equanimitie as the whole worlde clearely might discerne that not to contende with his soueraigne Lorde but to honour him to expresse the Maiestie of his Prince he imployed the goods and liuing which the King and Fortune had boūtifully bestowed vpon him Who vntill his dying day famously mainteined him selfe in the good grace and fauour of his Prince in such wise as the King more clerely than the shining Sunnebeames knew Ariobarzanes to be framed of Nature for a christalline mirrour of curtesie and Liberalitie and that more easie it was to berieue the fire of heate and the Sunne of light than despoile Ariobarzanes of his glorious déedes Wherefore he ceassed not continually to honour exalte and enriche him that he might vse the greater liberalitie And to say the truthe although these two vertues of 〈◊〉 and Liberalitie be commendable in all persons without the which a man truly is not he wherof he bereth the name yet very sitting and mete it is for euery riche and welthie subiect to beware howe he doth compare in those noble vertues with Princes and great men whiche béeing right noble and péerelesse vpon earth can abide no comparisons which according to the Prouerbe be odious and hateful Aristotimus the Tyrant ¶ LVCIVS one of the Garde to ARISTOTIMVS the Tirant of the Citie of 〈◊〉 fell in loue with a faire maiden called MICCA the daughter of one 〈◊〉 and his crueltie done vpon hir The stoutnesse also of a noble Matrone named MEGISTONA in defence of hir husbande and the common wealth from the tyrannie of the sayd ARISTOTIMVS and of other actes done by the subiects vpon that Tyrant The fifth Nouell YOu haue heard or as it were in a manner you haue beholden the right images curteous conditions of two well conditioned persons mutually eche towards other obserued In the one a Princely mind towards a noble Gentleman his subiecte In the other a dutiefull obedience of a louing vassall to his soueraigne Lorde and Maister In both of them the true figure of Liberalitie in liuely orient colours described Now a contrary plotte yll grounded vpon extreme tyrannie is offred to the viewe done by one Aristotimus and his clawbacks against his humble subiects of the citie of Elis standyng in Peloponessus a countrey of Achaia which at this day we call Morea This Aristotimus of nature was fierce and passing cruell who by 〈◊〉 of king Antigonus was made Tyran of that Citie And like a Tyran gouerned his Countrie by abuse of his authoritie with newe wrongs and straunge cruelties vering and afflicting the poore Citizens and all his people Which chaunced not so much for that of himself he was cruel and tyrannous as for that his Counsellours and chief about him were barbarous and vicious men to whom he committed the charge of his kingdom the guarde of his person But amongs al his mischiefes wrongfully done by him which were innumerable one committed against Philodemus the same which afterwardes was the cause of the depriuation of his life and kingdom is speciallie remembred This Philodemus had a daughter called Micca that not onelie for hir right chast and honest qualities and condicions which 〈◊〉 florished in hir but for hir extreame goodlie beautie was in that Citie of passing 〈◊〉 and admiration With this fair maiden one of the Tyrants guard called Lucius fell in loue if it deserue to be called loue and not rather as the end full well declared a most filthie and heastlie lust This Lucius was derelie beloued of Aristotimus for the flendish resemblāce and wicked 〈◊〉 of his vile abhominable condicions and therefore feared and obeyed as the Tyrants owne person For which cause this Lucius sent one of the 〈◊〉 of the kings chambre to 〈◊〉 Philodemus at an appointed houre al excuses set apart to bring his daughter vnto him The parents of the maiden hearing this sodain and fearefull message constrained by Tyrants force and fatall necessitie after many teares and 〈◊〉 sighes began to persuade their daughter to be contented to goe with hym declaring vnto hir the rigour of the magistrate that had sent for hir the 〈◊〉 that would be executed that there was no other remedie but to obey Alas how sore against their willes with what trembling gessure with what 〈◊〉 the good parents of this 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 were affected to consider the purpose of that dreadfull message all dere fathers and naturall mothers can tell But this gētle maiden 〈◊〉 which was of nature stout 〈◊〉 lessoned with sundrie right good and holsome instructions from hir infantes age was determined rather to die than to suffer hir self to be defloured This 〈◊〉 maiden fell downe prostrate at hir fathers féete and clasping him fast about the knées louingly did pray him and pitifully besought him not to suffer hir to be haled to so 〈◊〉 and vile an office but rather with the piercing blade of a two edged sword to kill hir that thereby she might be rid from the violation of those fleshlie and 〈◊〉 varlets saying that if hir virginitie were taken from hir she should liue in eternall reproche and shame As the father and daughter were in these termes Lucius for the long tariance and 〈◊〉 dronke with the wine 〈◊〉 lechery made impacient and furious with 〈◊〉 spéede posted to the house of Philodemus and finding the maiden prostrate at hir fathers féete wéeping hir head in 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 with taunting voice and threatning woordes commaunded presentlie without longer delaie she should rise and goe with him She refusing his hastie request and crying out for fathers help who God wot durst not resist stoode still and would not goe Lucius séeing hir 〈◊〉 full of furie and proud disdnine began furiously to hale hir by the garments vpon whose struggling he fare hir 〈◊〉 and furnitures off hir head and shoulders that hir alablaster necke and bosome appeared naked without compassion tare and whipt hir flesh on euery side as the bloud ranne downe beating that tendre flesh of hirs with manifold and grenous blowes O 〈◊〉 tirant more 〈◊〉 and sauage than the desert beast or mountaine 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Could crueltie be so déepelie rooted in the hart of man which by nature is affected with reasons instinct as with out pitie to lay handes and violontly to hurt the tendre bodie of a 〈◊〉 Maiden Can such inhumanitie harbor in any that beareth about him the shape of man But what did this martyred maidē for al this force Did 〈◊〉 yeld to violence or rendre hir self to the disposition of this mercilesse man No surelie But with so great stoutnesse of minde she suffred those impressed woundes
that no one worde sounding of sorrow or womanly shrieche was heard to 〈◊〉 from hir delicate mouth Howbeit the poore father and miserable mother at that ruefull and lamentable sight moued with inward 〈◊〉 and naturall pitie cried out aloude But when they saw that neither plaint nor faire spéeche could deliuer their daughter out of the hands of that cruel monster they began with open cries and horrible exclamation to implore helpe and succour at the hands of the immortall Gods thinking that they were vnworthely plaged and tormented Then the proud and most barbarous wretch moued and 〈◊〉 by cholers rage and fume of chasing wine sodainely catched the most constant virgin by the haire of the hed and in hir fathers lappe did cut hir white and tender throte O 〈◊〉 fact right worthie of 〈◊〉 reuenge But what did this vnfaithful and cruell Tyrant Aristotimus when by the blustering bruite of peoples rage he hearde of this vengeable murder not only he shewed himself contented with the fact but had him in greater regard than before and towards them which made complaint hereof greater crueltie and mischief was done and executed For in open streat like beastes in the shambles they were 〈◊〉 and hewed in pieces which séemed to 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 at this 〈◊〉 and vnlawfull acte the rest were banished and expelled the Citie Eight hundred of these exiled persons 〈◊〉 into Etolia a prouince adioyning to Epirus which nowe is called Albania Those people so banished out of they countrie made instant sute to Aristotimus to suffer their wiues children to repaire to them but theyr sute was in vaine their peticions and supplications séemed to be made to the deafe and dispersed into the windes Notwithstanding within few dayes after he caused by sound of trumpet to be openly proclaimed that it should be lawfull for the wiues children of the banished to passe with their baggage and furniture to their husbands in Etolia This Proclamation was exceding ioyfull to all the women whose husbands were exiled which at the leaste by common report were the numbre of vj. hundreds And for more credite of that Proclamation the wicked tyrant did ordaine that all the companie should depart vpon a 〈◊〉 daie In the meane time the ioyfull wiues glad to visite their poore husbands prepared horse and wagon to carie their prouisions The appointed day of their departure out of the Citie being come all of them assembled at a certaine gate assigned for their repaire who that time togither resorted with their little children in their hands bearing vpon their heads their garmēts and furnitures some on horsebacke and some bestowed in the wagons according as eche of their states required when al things were in readinesse to depart and the gate of the Citie opened they begā to issue forth They were no 〈◊〉 gone out of the Citie walles and had left behind them the soile of their natiuitie but the Tyrants gard and Sergeants brake vpon them and before they were approched they 〈◊〉 out to stay and goe no further vpon paine of their liues So the poore amazed women contrarie to the promise of the Tyrant were 〈◊〉 to retire Which sodaine countremaund was sorrowfull and wofull vnto that 〈◊〉 flocke But there was no remedie for procéede they could not Then those Termagants and villains caught their horse by the bridles and droue backe againe their wagons pricking the poore oxen and beastes with their speares and Iauelyns that horrible it is to report the tyrannie vsed towards man and beast in such wise as the poore miserable women God wot contrarie to their desires were forced in dispite of their téeth to retourne Some alacke fell off their horse with their little babes in their lappes and were miserablie troden vnder horse féete and ouerrunne with the whéeles of the wagons their braines and guts gushing out through the weight and comberance of the cariage and which was most pitiful one of them not able to helpe an other and muche lesse to rescue their yong and tendre sucking babes the vile sergeāts forcing eche wight with their staues wepons maugre their desirous mindes to réentre the Citie Many died by that cōstrained meanes out of hand many were troden vnder the horseféete and many gasping betwéene life and death but the greatest part of the little infants were slain out of hand and crusht in pieces those which remained aliue were committed to prison the goods which they caried with them altogether seased upō by the Tyrant This most wicked and cruell fact was most intollerable and greuous vnto the Citizens of Elis Whervpon the holy dames consecrated to the God Bacchus adorned garnished with their priestly garments and bearing in their handes the sacred mysteries of their God as Aristotimus was passing through the strete garded with his Souldiers and men of warre went in procession to finde him out The sergeants for the reuerence of those religious women disclosed themselues and gaue them place to enter in before the Tyrant He séeing those women apparelled in that guise and bearing in their hands the sacred Bachanal mysteries stoode stil and with silence heard what they could say But when he knew the cause of their approch that they wer come to make sute for the poore imprisoned women sodainly possessed with a diuelish rage with horible hurly burly bitterly reprehended his garrison for suffering of those women to come so neare him Then hée commaunded that they should be expelled from that place without respect and condemned euery of them for their presuming to intreat for such caitiue prisoners in y. 〈◊〉 a piece After these mischiefs 〈◊〉 by the tyrāt Hellanicus one of the principal best estéemed persōs of the Citie although that he was decrepite and for age very weake and féeble cared not yet to aduenture any attempt what soeuer so it might extend to the deliuerie of his countrey from the vnspeakable tyrannie of most cruell Aristotimus To this gray haired person bicause he was of aged yeares voide of children which were dead this tyrant gaue no great hede ne yet employed any care thinking that he was not able to raise any mutine or 〈◊〉 in the Citie In the mean space the Citizens which as I haue sayd before were banished into Etolia practised amongs them selues to proue their Fortune and to séeke all meanes for recouerie of their countrey and the death of Aristotimus Wherfore hauing leuied and assembled certain bands of Souldiers they marched forth from their banished seat and neuer rested till they had gotten a place hard adioyning to their Citie where they might safely lodge and with great 〈◊〉 and aduantage besiege the same and erpel the tyrant Aristotimus As the banished were 〈◊〉 in that place many citizens of Elis 〈◊〉 fled forth and ioyned with them by reason of which auriliaries and dayly assemblies they grew to the full numbre of an armie Aristotimus certified hereof by his espials was brought into a great chafe and furie and
caused the other dames to bury those two bodies in one graue O how happy famous had these two sisters ben if they had not bene the daughters of so wicked and cruell a father But parentes offence on Childrens trespasse oughte not to deface the vertuous déedes of their posteritie Two Romane Queenes ¶ The maruellous courage and ambition of a Gentlevvoman called TANAQVIL the Quene wife of TARQVINVSPRISCVS the fifth Romane King with hir persuasions and pollicie to hir husbande for his aduauncement to the kingdome hir like encouragement of SIRVIVSTVLLIVS wherin also is described the ambition of one of the. ij daughters of SERVIVSTVLLIVS the sixt Romane King and hir crueltie towards hir ovvne naturall father with other accidents chaunced in the nevv erected common welth of Rome specially of the last Romane Kyng TARQVINVS SVPERBVS who with murder atteined the kingdom with murder mainteined it and by the murder and insolent life of his sonne was with all his progenie banished The sixt Nouell ANcus Marcius being that fourth King after Romulus the first builder of that Citie there came to dwell in Rome one Lucumo a lustie gentleman rich and desirous of honour who determined to continewe his habitation there Thesame Lucumo was the sonne of one Demaratê° a Corinthian who for sedition fled his owne countrie dwelt in 〈◊〉 amongs the stock of the Tarquines and after he was maried he begat two sonnes one of them was this Lucumo and the other was called Arnus Lucumo was heire to his father for that Arnus died before leauing his wife gret with childe The father not knowing that his daughter in lawe was with childe gaue nothing in his will to his Nephewe for which cause the childe was called Arnus Egerius Lucumo being the sole heire of his father maried a noble woman named Tanaquil and bicause the Thuscans could not abide to sée a straunger growe to abundance of welth and authoritie she despised hir owne country rather than she would suffer hir husband in any wise to be dishonoured Wherfore she deuised to forsake the Tarquinians to dwel at Rome where she thought among that honorable sorte and newe rerected state that hir husband being stout and valiant should attaine some place of resiance For she called to remembraunce that Tatius the Sabine Numa borne of the stock of Curetes and Ancus brought forth by a Sabine woman all strangers did raigne and became noble and mightie Thus ambition and desire of honour easily doeth persuade any deuise Wherfore carrying with theÌ„ al their substance they repaired to Rome It chaunced when they came to Ianiculum as he and his wife were sitting in a Wagon an Eagle hoouering hir wings ouer Lucumo sodenly toke away his cappe which done she soared ouer the wagon with great force then she retourned againe as though she had bene commaunded by some celestiall prouidence aptly placed his cappe againe vpon his head and then soared away vp into the element Tanaquil conceiuing this act to be some Augurie or Prophecie being cunning in that knowledge as commonly all the people of Hetruria be imbraced hir husband and willed him to be of good chere and to expect great honour And as they were ymagining and consulting vpon these euents they entred the Citie and when they had gotten a house for him and his familie he was called Tarquinins Priscus His riches and great wealth made him a noble man amongs the Romanes and through his gentle entertainement and curteous behauiour he wanne the good willes of many in so much as his fame and good report was bruted throughout the palace At leÌ„gth he grew in acquaintance with the King him selfe who séeing his liberall demeanor and duetifull seruice estéemed him as one of his familiar and nere srends and both in his warres and also at home he imparted to him the secrets of his counsell and hauing good experience of his wisedom by his last will and testament appointed him to be tutour of his children Ancus raigned xxiiii yeres a man in peace and warre in policie and valiance with any of his predecessours comparable His children were very yong and for that cause Tarquinius was more instant to summon a parliament for creation of a king When the day was come he sente the yong children abroade a hunting and then ambiciously presumed to demaunde the kingdome being the first that euer attempted the like For the better conciation and obteining of the peoples good will he vttered this Oration I doe not presume to require a straunge or newe thyng that was neuer before put in practise nor yet am the first but the third straÌ„ger and foraine borne that affected and aspired to this gouernmeÌ„t For which consideration there is no cause why any man ought to muse or maruell more than behoueth It is euidently knowen that Tatius not onely being a stranger but also an ennimie was made Kyng Numa also was made King being altogether a foraine stranger borne not through his owne request but rather voluntarily accited and called therevnto by the Romanes but for my parte after I was able to gouerne my self I repaired to dwell at Rome with my wyfe my children and all my substance where I haue spent the chiefest porcion of my life specially after it was mature and able to execute ciuile magisterie which I chose rather to bestow at Rome than at home in myne owne countrey I haue lerned the Romane rites and lawes as wel such as be mete to serne abroade in the warres as also necessarie to bée practised at home at the hands of mine olde maister Ancus Martius your late king a maister right worthie and famous in all pointes to bée followed I shewed my selfe an humble and obedient subiecte to the King and in friendeship and familiaritie towarde others I contended with the Kyng him selfe When hée had spoken those wordes which in déede were very true with the whole consent of the people hée was saluted King And as all things succéeded his Noble requeste euen so after hée was settled in his Kyngdome hée gaue hym selfe to 〈◊〉 the common wealth Hée chose an hundred graue persons whiche he called the Fathers of the lesser countries He warred firste with the Latines and 〈◊〉 the Citie of Appiolas who bryngyng from thence a greater spoyle and bootie than was looked for ordeined richer and more gorgeous Playes than any of hys predecessoures Hée builded certayne Galleries and other places of assemblie aboute the Forum hée walled the Citie rounde about with stone And as he was doing these things the Sabines interuented him vpon the 〈◊〉 in so much as they were passed the Kyuer of Anienes before the Romane hoste was in a redinesse Whiche was an occasion of greate feare and stirre at Rome In the 〈◊〉 after the battailes were ioyned betwéene them bothe a cruell and blouddie slaughter was committed the victorie fallyng to neyther parte Then the Romanes sought meanes to renue their force by addyng to their armie a further
was séene in that countrey which afterwards he caused to be furnished with all things necessarie honourably to entertaine eche Gentleman that passed that way and with a greate traine of seruauntes hée welcomed and accepted suche as iourneyed too and fro And in this commēdable custome he perseuered so long as bothe in the East and West parts report was bruted of his renoume and fame and being come to auncient yeres not for all that weary of his liberalitie it chaunced that his fame flewe to the eares of a yong Gentleman called Mithridanes who in a Countrie not farre of from his had his abode and resiance Mithridanes knowing himself to be so rich as Nathan enuious of his vertue and liberalitie purposed by some meanes or other to defame and obscure the same And hauing builded a Palace like to that which Nathan did possesse began to vse curtesies to those which passed too and fro in outragious and disordered sort in such wise as in little time be purchased great fame Now it chaunced vpon a day as Mithridanes was alone in the courte of his Palace a poore woman entring in at one of the gates of the same craued almes and had it and so successiuely euen to the twelfth and thirtenth time also she retourned againe which Mithridanes perceiuing said vnto hir Good wife you come hither very often And yet he denied not hir almes The old woman hearing those words said O how maruellous is the liberalitie of Nathan whose Palace hath 〈◊〉 entries by seuerall gates so greate as this and daily begging almes there neuer made 〈◊〉 as though he knew me and yet the same was neuer denied me and being come hither but 〈◊〉 times I haue bene perceiued and reproued and saying so she went hir way and neuer after came thither againe Mithridanes hearing these wordes to procéede from the olde woman fell into a great rage déeming the fame reported of Nathan to be a duninution of his owne said Ah wretch when shal I be able to attaine the liberalitie of Nathans greatest things And why then goe I about to excell him when in little matters I am not able to come neare him Uerily I labour all in vaine if I my self do not rid him out of this world sithe croked age is not disposed to dispatch him I must therfore do the same with mine own hands And in that fury making no mā priuy to his intent he rode forth with a small traine and in thrée daies arriued where Nathan dwelt and then cōmaunded his men in any wise not to be knowen that they came with him and likewise that they knewe him not but to prouide lodging for themselues vntill suche time as they had further newes from him Mithridanes then being arriued about euening all alone found Nathan walking vp and downe before his faire Palace without other companie then himself who in simple attire and garment went forth to méete him Of whome Mithridanes bicause he knew not Nathan demaunded 〈◊〉 he could tell him where Nathan dwelt Nathan pleasantly made him answere My sonne there is no man in these quarters that can better tell thée than I and therefore if thou please I will bring thée thither Mithridanes said that he should doe him a very great pleasure but he would not if it were possible be séene or knowen of Nathan And that can I very well doe said Nathan nowe that I know your minde Being then lighted of from his horse he went with Nathan who by and by interteined him with diuersitie of talke to his faire Palace And Nathan incontinently caused one of his seruaunts to take Mithridanes horse and saide vnto him in his eare that he should wyth all spéede giue order to his housholde that none should tell the yong man that he was Nathan which accordingly was done But after they were in the Palace Nathan brought Mithridanes into a verye faire chambre that none might sée him excepte suche as he hadde appoyncted to serue hym and causing great honour to be done vnto him he hymselfe kepte him companie As they two were together Mithridanes asked him to whom he vsed conuenable reuerence as to his father what he was whome 〈◊〉 answered I am one of Nathans poore scruants that 〈◊〉 the time of my youth haue bene brought vp with him and neuer aduaunced me to any thing but to that which you sée Wherefore although euery man greately praiseth him yet haue I no cause to commende hym These wordes gaue some hope to Mithridanes by better aduise and suretie to execute his wicked intente And Nathan asked him very 〈◊〉 what hée was and for what businesse he was come thither offering him helpe and counsel in that he was able to do Mithridanes then paused a while before he would make him answere and in the ende purposing to put his trust in him required with great circumstance of words his faith and after that his counsell and ayde Then hée wholly discouered what hée was wherfore he was come and the cause that moued hym Nathan hearyng those woordes and the mischeuous determination of Mithridanes was chaunged and troubled in mynde notwithstandyng without making any countenance of displesure answered him with bold countenance Mithridanes thy father was a Gentleman and of stoute stomacke from whome so farre as I sée thou wilt not degenerate by attempting so great an enterprise as thou hast done I intende to be liberall to eche man and praise greately the enuie whiche thou 〈◊〉 to the vertue of Nathan bycause if there were many suche the worlde whyche is nowe myserable would shortly become prosperous and happie and doe make thée promise that the intent thou goest about shal be kept secreate wherunto I can sooner giue counsell than any great helpe and mine aduise is this 〈◊〉 may sée from the place where 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 be a litle 〈◊〉 about a 〈◊〉 of a mile hence whervnto Nathan in a maner walketh euery morning and tarieth there a long time there you may 〈◊〉 finde him and doe your pleasure And if you kill him you may goe to the intent without daunger you may returne home to your owne house not that way you came but by that you sée on the lefte hand leade out of the woodde which although it be not so common as the other yet is the nearest way home and safest for you to passe When Mithridanes was thus informed and that Nathan departed from him he caused worde secretely to be sent to his men which likewise lodged there in what place they shold waight for him the next day And when the day was come Nathan not altering from the coūsell be gaue to Mithridanes ne chaunging any parte of the same went all alone into a little woodde to receiue his death When Mithridanes was vp and taken his bowe and sweard for he had none other weapons he mounted vpon his horse and rode to the little woodde where a farre of 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Nathan cōming thitherward all alone and determining before he
〈◊〉 loued and a newe borne childe bothe supposed to be dead by hir friendes and therefore intombed in graue The other chaunce a singular desire of a gentlewoman by hūble sute for conseruation of hir honour although long time pursued by a gentleman that reuiued hir almost frō 〈◊〉 and thought vtterly to 〈◊〉 voide of life To praise the one and to leaue the other not magnified it were a part of discurtesie but to extoll bothe with shoutes and acclamations of infinite praise no dout but very commēdable If comparisons may be made with Princes of elder yeres and not to note those of later truely Maister Gentil by that his fact 〈◊〉 not much inferior to Scipio Affricanus for sparing the wife of Indibilis ne yet to king Cyrus for Panthea the 〈◊〉 of Abradatas although both of them not in equal state of loue as wholy 〈◊〉 from that passion like to master Gentil who in dede for subduing that griefe and motion deserueth greater praise For sooner is that torment auoided at the first assault and pinche than when it is suffred long to flame raigne in that yelding portion of man the heart which once fed with the 〈◊〉 of loue is seldome or neuer loosed To do at large to vnderstand the proofe of those most 〈◊〉 persones thus beginneth the historie At Bologna a very notable Citie of Lombardie there was a Knight of very great respect for his vertue named maister Gentil Carissendi who in his youthe fell in loue with a gentlewoman called mistresse Katherine the wife of one maister Nicholas Chasennemie And bicause during that loue he receiued a very yll coūterchange for his affection that he bare vnto that gentlewoman he went away like one desperate to be the iudge potestate of Modena wherunto he was called About that time the husband being out of Bologna and the gentlewomā at 〈◊〉 Manor in the country about a mile a halfe from the Citie whither she went to remaine bicause she was with childe it chaunced 〈◊〉 she was 〈◊〉 surprised with a sicknesse which was such and of so great force as there was no token of life in hir but rather iudged by all Phisitians to be a dead woman And bicause that hir 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 sayd that they heard hir say that she could not be so long time with childe 〈◊〉 that the infant must be perfect and ready to be 〈◊〉 and therefore 〈◊〉 wyth some other disease and 〈◊〉 that would bring hir to hir end as a 〈◊〉 or other swelling rising of grosse humors they thought hir a dead woman and past recouerie wherfore vpō a time she falling into a 〈◊〉 was verily supposed and left for dead Who after they had mourned hir death bewailed the 〈◊〉 expiration of 〈◊〉 soul caused hir to be buried wtout 〈◊〉 of recouery euen as she was in that extasie in a graue of a church adioyning harde by the house where she dwelt Which thing 〈◊〉 was aduertised master Gentil by one of his frēds who although he was not likely as he thought to attaine hir fauor in vtter dispaire therof yet it grieued him very muche that no better héede was taken vnto hir thinking by diligence and time she would haue come to hir self againe saying thus in the end vnto him self How now 〈◊〉 Katherin that death hath wrought his will with you and I could neuer obtein during your life one simple looke frō those your glistering eies which lately I beheld to my great ouerthrow and decay wherfore now when you cānot defend your self I may be bold you being dead to steale from you some desired kisse When he had said so being already night and hauyng taken order that none should know of his departure he 〈◊〉 vpon his horse accompanied with one only seruaūt without tarying any where arriued at the place wher his Lady was buried and opening the graue forthwith he entred in and laying him self down bisides hir he approched 〈◊〉 hir face and many times kissed hir pouring forthe great abundance of teares But as we sée the appetite of man not to be content except it procéede further specially of such as be in loue being determined to tarye no longer there and to departe he sayd Ah God why should I goe no further why should I not touche hir why shold I not proue whither she be aliue or dead 〈◊〉 then with that motion he felt hir 〈◊〉 and holding his hand there for a certeine time perceiued hir heart as it were to pant thereby some life remaining in hir Wherefore so softly as he could with the helpe of his man he raised hir out of the graue and setting hir vpon his horsse before him secretely caried hir home to his house at Bologna The mother of maister Gentil dwelled there which was a graue and vertuous gentlewoman who vnderstanding by hir sonne the whole effect of that chaunce moued with compassion vnknowne to any man placing hir before a great fire and cōforting hir with bathe prepared for the purpose she recouered life in the gentlewoman that was supposed to be deade who so soone as she was come to hir selfe threwe forth a great sigh and said Alas where am I now To whom the good olde woman 〈◊〉 Be of good chéere swete hart ye be in a good place The gentlewoman hauing wholly recouered hir senses and looking roūd about hir not yet well knowing where she was and séeing 〈◊〉 Gentil before hir prayed his mother to tell hir howe she came 〈◊〉 To whome maister Gentil declared in order what he had done for hir and what meanes he vsed to bring hir thither Whereof making hir complaint and lamenting the little regard and negligence of hir frends she rendred vnto hym innumerable thankes Then she prayed him for the loue which at other times he bare hir and for his 〈◊〉 that she might not receiue in hys house any thing that should be dishonorable to hir person ne yet to hir husband but so soone as it was daye 〈◊〉 suffer hir to goe home to hir owne house wherunto 〈◊〉 Gentil answered Madame what so euer I haue desired in time 〈◊〉 nowe I purpose neuer to demaunde of you any thing or to do here in this place or in any other 〈◊〉 but that I would to mine 〈◊〉 sister sith it hath pleased God to doe me suche pleasure 〈◊〉 from death to life to render you to me in consideration 〈◊〉 the loue that I haue borne you heretofore But this good woorke which this nyght I haue done for you well deferueth some recompence Wherfore my desire is that you deny me not the pleasure which I shall demaund whome the gentlewoman curteously answered that she was very redy so the same were honest in bi r power to doe Then said maister Gentil Mystresse all 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and all they of Bologna doe beleue for a trouthe that you be deade wherfore there is none that loketh for you at home and the pleasure then which I demaund is
what he was disposed Afterwards placing all his rich Iewels in suretie and sauegard he discoursed vnto his vncle what had chaunced vnto him till that time The Abbot ioyful for his fortune gaue thankes to God Then master Thorello demaūded of his vncle what he was that was betrouthed to hys wife The Abbot tolde him To whome master Thorello sayd Before my returne be knowne I am desirous to sée what countenance my wife wil make at the mariage And therefore albeit that the religious doe not vse to repaire to such feasses yet I pray you for my sake take paine to goe thither The Abbot answered that he wold willingly doe so And so soone as it was day he sent woord to the bridegrome that he and a frend of his wold be at the mariage wherunto the gentleman answered that he was very glad thereof When dinner time was come master Thorello in the habite and apparel wherin he was went with the Lord Abbot to the wedding dinner where euery of them that saw him did maruellously beholde him but no man knew him bicause the Abbot answered them that inquired that he was a Sarazene sent Ambassador from the Souldan to the French king Master Thorello was then placed at a table which was right ouer against his wife whome he beheld with great pleasure and delight and perceiued very wel by hir face that she was not well content with that mariage She likewise beheld him sometimes not for any knowledge she had of him for his great beard and straunge attire the firme credite and generall opinion also that he was dead chiefly hindred that But when master Thorello thought time to proue whether she had any remembrance of him be secretely conueyed into his hand the ring which she gaue him at his departure and called a litle boy that wayted vpon hir and sayd vnto him Goe tell the bride in my behalfe that the custome of my countrey is that when any Straunger as I am here is hydden by any newe maried woman as she is now for a token of his welcome she sendeth vnto him the cup wherein she drinketh full of wine wherof after the stranger hath dronke what pleaseth him he couereth the cup againe and sendeth the same to the bryde who drinketh the rest that remaineth The page did his message vnto the bride who like a wise Gentlewoman well brought vp thinking he had ben some great personage to declare that he was welcome commaunded a standing cup all gilt standing before hir to be washed cleane to be filled full of wine caried to the Gentleman which accordingly was done Master Thorello hauing put into his mouthe the aforesaid ring secretely let fal the same into the cup as he was drinking not perceiued of any mā to the intent that she drinking the latter draught might espy the ring When he had dronke he returned the cup vnto the bride who thankfully receiued the same And for that the manner of his countrey might bée accomplished when the cup was deliuered vnto hir she vncouered the same pledging the rest of the wine beheld the ring without speaking any woord well viewed the same and knowing that it was the very ring which she had giuen to master Thorello when he departed tooke it out And 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 marke and looke vpon him whome she supposed to be a straunger already knowing him tried out as though she had bene straught of hir wittes throwing downe the Table before hir this is my Lord and husband this is of trouth Master Thorello and running to the Table where he sate without respect to his apparell of cloth of golde or to any thing that was vpon the table preassing so néere him as she could imbraced him very harde not able to remoue hir hands from about his necke for any thing-that could be sayd or done by the companie that was there vntill Master Thorello required hir to forbeare for that present for so much as shée should haue leysur inough to vse hir further imbracements Then she left him and contented hir selfe for the time but the 〈◊〉 and mariage was wholly troubled and appalled for that sodain chaunce the most part of the guests excéedingly reioysed for the returne of that Noble knight Then the company being intreated to sit still and not to remoue Master Thorello rehearsed in open audience what had chaunced vnto him from the day of his departure vntill that time concluding with a petition to the Bridegrome that had newly espoused his wife that he would not be displeased if he tooke hir againe The newe maried Gentleman albeit it grieued him very sore and thought him selfe to be mocked answered liberally and like a friend that it was in his power to doe with his owne what he thought best The Gentlewoman drawing of the rings and garland which she had receyued of hir new husband did put vpon hir finger the ring which she found within the cup and likewise the Crowne that was sent vnto hir by Saladine And the whole troupe and assemblie leauing the house where they were went home with master Thorello and his wife and there the kin and friends and all the Citizens which haunted the same and regarded it for a myracle were with long feasting and great cheare in great ioy and triumph Master Thorello departing some of his precious Iewels to him that had bene at the cost of the marriage likewise to the Lord Abbot and diuerse others and hauing done Saladine to vnderstād his happy repaire home to his 〈◊〉 recommending him selfe for euer to his commaundement liued with his wife afterwardes many prosperous yeres vsing the vertue of curtesie more than euer he did before Such was the end of the troubles of master Thorello and his welbeloued wife and the recompence of their franke and honest curtesies Anne the Queene of Hungarie ¶ A Gentleman of meane calling and reputation dothe fall in loue with ANNs the Queene of HVNGARIS whom she 〈◊〉 royally and liberally requited The. xxj Nouel FOlowing the preceding argumentes treated in certain of that former Nouels I wil now discourse the princely kindnesse curtesie done to a poore Gentleman by a Ladie of later dayes Anne the Quene of Hungarie whiche Gentleman though beyōd his reach to catch what he aspired fell in loue with that bountiful and vertuous Gentlewoman thinking bylike that she in end would haue abased hir Maiestie to recline to his vain and doting trauaile But she like a Quéene not despising the poore mans loue vouchsafed by familiar spéeche to poure some drops of comfort into his louing minde and once to proue on whome hée fixed his fansie reached him a nosegay and prayed him to bestowe it vpon whome he liked best All which familiar dealings she vsed to kepe the poore pacient from dispaire that so highly had placed him selfe But in end perceiuing his continuance wold not reiect and giue him ouer or with scornes and floutes contemne the amorous gentleman and that
Prince or Lord which in times passed did commaund or rule the Common wealthe in all the Countrey of Thuscan In this wise that modestie made him worthy of the Principalitie which almost against all right hée had vsurped and of a praise which shall no lesse continue than the memorie of man is able to extende the same from one generation to an other and which Couetous of the praise of a Prince so vertuous iust and modest shall not cease to illustrate and gloriously aduance him in open euidence to the end that hys like exercise the same in like things or of greater consequence for not sufferyng venemous and vnprofitable herbes to grow in their Common wealth Within the Garden wherof a little nuldew or vntimely raine is able to marre and corrupt all the good séedes plants sowen and grifted before Considering that wycked wéedes and daungerous impes take déeper roote than those that beare a good and sauorous frute for the conseruation whereof the diligent husbandman imployeth almost all the seasons of the yeare The Duchesse of Malfi ¶ The Infortunate mariage of a Gentleman called ANTONIO BOLOGNA with the Duchesse of MALFI and the pitifull death of them bothe The. xxiij Nouel THe greater Honor and authoritie men haue in this world the greater their estimation is the more sensible notorious are the faultes by them committed the greater is their 〈◊〉 In lyke manner more difficult it is for that man to tolerate and sustaine Fortune which all the dayes of his life hathe liued at his 〈◊〉 if 〈◊〉 chaunce hée fall into any great necessitie than for hym which ncuer felt but woe mishappe and aduersitie Dyonisius the Tyrant of Sicilia felte greater payne when hée was expelled his kingdome than Milo did being vanished from Rome For so muche as the one was a Soueraigne Lord the sonne of a King a Iusticiarie on earth and the other but a simple Citizen of a Citie wherein the people had Lawes and the lawes of Magistrates had in reuerence So likewyse the fall of a high and loftie Trée maketh a greater noyse than that whiche is lowe and little Highe Towers and stately Palaces of Princes be séene further off than the poore Cabans and hontely shephierds Shéepecotes The Walles of loftie Cities salute the viewers of the same farther of than the simple caues which the poore doe dig belowe the Mountaine rocks Wherefore it behoueth the Noble and such as haue charge of Common wealth to liue an honest lyfe and beare their port vpryght that none haue cause to take ill example vpon dyscourse of their déedes and naughtie life And aboue all that modestie ought to be kept by women whome as their race Noble birth authoritie and name maketh them more famous euē so their vertue honestie chastitie and continencie more praise worthy And behouefull it is that like as they wishe to be honoured aboue all other so their life do make them worthy of that honour without disgracing their name by déede or woorde or blemishing that brightnesse which may commende the same I greatly feare that all the Princely factes the exploits and conquests done by the Babylonian Quéene Semyramis neuer was recōmended with such praise as hir vice had shame in records by those which left remēbrāce of ancient acts Thus I say bicause a woman being as it were the Image of swéetenesse curtesie shame fastnesse so soone as she steppeth out of the right trade and leaueth the smel of hir duetie and modestie bisides the denigration of hir honor thrusteth hir self into infinite troubles and causeth the ruine of such which should be honored and praised if womens allurement solicited them not to follie I wil not here indeuor my self to séeke for examples of Samson Salomon or other which suffred thē selues fondly to be abused by women and who by meane of them be tumbled into great faults and haue incurred greater perils Contenting my self to recite a right pitifull Historie done almost in our time when the French vnder the leading of that notable 〈◊〉 Gaston de Foix vanquished the force of Spaine and Naples at the iourney of Rauenna in the time of the French king called Levves the twelfth who married the Lady Marie daughter to king Henry the seuenth and sister to the victorious Prince of worthy memory king Henry the eight wife after the death of the sayd Levves to the puissant Gentleman Charles late Duke of Suffolke In that very time then liued a Gentleman of Naples called Antonio Bologna who hauing bene Master of houshold to Federicke of Aragon sometime King of Naples after the French had expelled those of Aragon out of that Citie the sayde Bologna retired into Fraunce thereby recouered the goods which hée possessed in his countrey The Gentleman bisides that he was valiant of his persone a good man of warre wel estemed amongs the best had a passing numbre of good graces which made him to be beloued cherished of euery wight for riding managing of great horse he had not his fellow in Italy he could also play excéeding well and trim vpon the Lute whose faining voyce so well agréed therunto that the most melancholike persons wold forget their heauinesse vpon hearing of his heauenly noise and bisides these qualities hée was of personage comely and of good proportion To be short Nature hauing trauailed and dispoyled hir Treasure house for inriching of him he had by Arte gotten that which made him most happy worthy of praise which was the knowledge of good letters wherin hée was so well trained as by talke and dispute thereof he made those to blushe that were of that state and profession Antonio Bologna hauing left Federicke of Aragon in Fraunce who expulsed out of Naples was retired to king Levves went home to his house to liue at rest and to auoyd trouble forgetting the delicates of Courtes and houses of great men to be the only husband of his owne reuenue But what It is impossible to eschue that which the heauēs haue determined vpon vs and lesse the vnhappe whych séemeth to followe vs as it were naturally procéeding from our mothers wombe In such wise as many times he which séemeth the wisest man guided by misfortune hasteth himself wyth stouping head to fall headlong into his deathe ruine Euen so it chaūced to this Neapolitane Gentleman for in the very same place where he attained his aduācement he receiued also his diminution and decay and by that house which preferred hym to what he had he was depriued both of his estate and life the discourse whereof you shall vnderstand I haue tolde you already that this Gentleman was Maister of the King of Naples houshold being a gentle person a good Courtier wel trained vp and wise for gouernment of himself in the Court and in the seruice of Princes the Duchesse of Malfi thought to intreat him that hée would serue hir in that office which he serued the king This Duchesse
euidence and the law which condemned him He was sent to prison sentence was pronounced against him with such expedition as he had no leisure to consider his affaires There was no man for feare to incurre the displeasures of the Magistrates that durst opē his mouth to speake or make sute for his deliueraunce Like as that most part of friends in these dayes resembling that crow that flieth not but after carrion to gorge his rauenous 〈◊〉 and such friends doe visite the house of the friend but for profit reuerencing him so long as he is in prosperitie according to the Poets complaint Like as the purest golde in fiery flame is tried Euen so is faith of friends in hard estate descried If hard mischap doth thee affray Eche of thy friends do flee away And he which erst full friendly semde to thee A friend no more to thy pore state is hee And simple wights ought not to be afraid and think amisse if friends doe flée away sith Princes and great Lords incurre such hap and fortune The great leader of the Romaine armies Pompeius the honor of the people and senate of Rome what companion had he to flée with him Which of his auncient friends toke paine to rescue and deliuer him from his enimies handes which did pursue him A king of Egipt which had knowne and found this good Romane Prince a kinde gentle frend was he that killed him and sent his head to his 〈◊〉 and vnsatiable gredie gutte Iulius Caesar falsifying his promised faith and forgetting his receiued pleasures Amongs all the comfortes which this pore Siena Gentleman found although but a curssed traitor was this vnfaithfull and pestiferous Camaeleon who came and offred him all the pleasure and kindenesse he was able to do But the varlet attended conuenient time to make him taste his poison and to let him sée by 〈◊〉 how daūgerous a thing it is to be ill neighbored hoping after the condempnation of Montanine he should at pleasure purchase the Lordship after which with so open mouth he gaped Ouer whome he had his will for two or 〈◊〉 dayes after the recitall of the enditement and giuing of the euidence Charles was condempned his fine sessed at M. Florins to be paid within xv dayes vntil which 〈◊〉 to remaine in prison And for default of suche paiment to lose his head bicause he had infringed the lawes and broken the statutes of the Senate This sentence was very difficult for pore Montanine to digest who saw all his goods like to be despoiled and confiscate cōplaining specially the fortune of fair Angelica his sister which all the time of the imprisonment of hir deare brother neuer went out of the house ne ceased to wepe lament the hard fortune wherinto their family was like to fal by that new mischaūce Alas said that fair curteous damsel wil the heauens neuer be appeased but continually extēd their wrath vpon that deplored family shal our missehaps neuer cease Had it not bene more tollerable for our cōsumed bloud that the dissentiōs past had ben tried by dent of sword than to sée that presēt innocency of the yong gentleman my brother in daūger to be guiltlesly accused put to death through that vniustice of those which bear mortal malice to noble bloud glory in depriuation of the whole remēbraūce of the same O dampnable state that must hale the guiltlesse to the gibet irreuocable iugemēt of those iudges remaining in a city which men cal frée albeit a cōsused multitude hath the vpper hād may so be that nature hath produced them to tread vnder fote noble wights for their offenses Ah deare brother I sée wel what is the cause if thou hadst not that little Lordship in the Countrey stately house in the city no mā wold haue enuied thine estate or could haue charged thée with any crime which I wold to God thou hadst not only enterprised but also brought to passe to the intent thou mightst haue bene reuenged of the wrong which these cankred carles ordinarily doe vnto thy Noble bloud But what reason is it that marchants artificers or the sonnes of villains shuld rule a cōmon wealth O happy Countreis where kings giue lawes Princes sée by proued sight those persons which resemble them in their places bear the sway And O vnhappy we that be the slaues of a waiwarde state peruerted by corruption Why did our predecessors mind to stablish any liberty at al to thrust the same into the confused gouernement of the commons of our countrey We haue stil the Frenchmen at our taile or that people of our highest bishop or else those crafty Florentines we be the cōmon pray of al those that list to folow the haunt and that which is our extremest misery we make our selues the very 〈◊〉 of them that of right ought to be reputed that 〈◊〉 amongs vs all Ah dere brother that thy wretched time is come the only hope of our decaied family Thou hadst neuer bene cōmitted to warde had not thy false assured foes bene sure of witnesse to condempne thee Ah that my life might raunsome thine redeme again thine estate succor thou shouldest be sure that forthwith Angelica wold prepare hirself to be the praie of those hungry rauening wolues which bleat and bellow after thy lands life While this faire damsell of Siena in this sort did torment hir self pore Montanine séeing that he was brought to the last extremitie of his desired hope as eche man naturally doth seeke meanes to prolong his life knowing that all other help failed for his deliueraunce except he sold his land aswel to satisfy the fine as to preuaile in the rest of his affaires sent one of the gailers to that worshipful vsurer the cause of his calamitie to offer him his land for that price and sum of a M. Ducates The pernicious 〈◊〉 villain seeing that Montanine was at his mercy stode in the water vp to the very throte and knew no more what to do as if already he had triumphed of his life and lande so greatly coueted answeared him in this manner My friend thou shalt say to Charles Montanine that not long agoe I would willingly haue giuen him a good sum of money for his ferme but sithens that time I haue imployed my money to some better profit and albeit I was in minde to buy it I wold be loth to giue aboue 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Florins being assured that it can not be 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 as my money is able to bring yerely gain into my 〈◊〉 See how Auarice is the pickpurse of secrete and 〈◊〉 gaine the very whirlepoole of honestie 〈◊〉 coueting nought else but by vnrighteous pray 〈◊〉 other mennes goods to accumulate and heap togither The aboundance wherof bringeth no greater good 〈◊〉 vnto the gluttonous owner but rather the minde 〈◊〉 such is more miserable and carieth there withall more decrease of quiet than increase of filthy muck The