and she being come began to relate to her his adventure in such thunder-thumping vvords that the furious battel between the Centaures and Lapithites contained not more horror then he expressed this vvith Had you said he seen two tilling Meteors justle in the middle Region you vvould have made it an apt simile to that force and fury vvith vvhich vve encountred Briarius's self with his hundred Giant hands could not have dealt blows thicker and more fierce then this brave Trojan yet vvere they all by the force of this invincible arm able to repel thunder-bolts put by and on his head redoubled Alas said this Magnanimous Maid I fear me this too much valour of yours will make you one 〈◊〉 subject to the law if it have not already I tremble to think what became of your enemy You may tremble said he to think of the fury of our fight but I so hackt and hewed him that if he be not past all fear and trembling I 'le never more put trust in this good sword But if he be in such danger replied she why flie you not and so escape the clutches of the Law The Law said he I fear it not for I vvas once told by a Conjurer I should never die for murder He knew thy constitution very well replied she that told thee so and I dare believe her come hither Bragadochio and tell me was not this Gyant with whom thou didst encounter a youth and of my pitch Deny it if thou darest or if thou hast the impudence to do it see here is not this the Sute he wore this is the very shooe thou stoopedst to unty and this the leg that did bestrid thee whilest thou like a beastly Coward layest along this hand returned again thy sword which thou yieldedst up at my first demand deny but this and in this womans habit I will force it from thee You cannot imagine said Forcett that I could contain my self and not burst into laughter to see how gallantly she carried this Affair whilest our high-flown Rhodomontado in as low a stile as he could invent confessed that all she had said was true begging of her not to make his shame publick Redeem it then said she and I shall not be backward with as much civility as I can affâ—rd to grace you as much as you have now disgraced your self You have wakened me replied he and kindled in me that fire of valor which clouded by some coward thoughts hath so long layen asleep and made me prize my fameless then my blood you have I say awaked me and if I deferre by some valiant deed to repair my wounded honor you will do but justly to make me the scorn and reproach of boys and children nor was he more slack in performance then he had been in promising for quite leaving of his bragging humor he became truly and worthily valiant and now deserves the commendation of all deserving personages so great a cure had this Magnamious Maid wrought These are said Forcett some particular passages of her life in your absence to which the Generals have been so correspondent that should I strive to applaud her vertues truly I should but whisper to you what her Fame blazons forth to the world I was both affected and afflicted continued Goodlake at this relation of Forcetts and I must needs confess that I was never so nigh to have swerved from the course of vertue as I was now for the estate which my dear friend Spancer had left to her I thought unworthily bestowed and could more willingly have hearkned to a Story of her inconstancy and incontinency that I might have enjoyed the other moyety of his lands then thus to have heard the whole world applaud her vertue nay so much was I transported that whether it was out of covetize in my self or a real sence of the unreasonableness of the gift to one of so mean birth that I was tempted to make a trial of this so fained piece of chastity and vertue which at length I resolved to do and in a disguise for some days frequented her house attempting her by all allurements of courtship and promises of rewards such as would in my thoughts have tempted an Angel but I found her still lamenting the death of her Spencer which she had heard of by some Gentlemen that came over in the same ship with me and resolutely bent that since she had not the fortune to enjoy him as her Love she would never enjoy any one day above the rest I pressed into her privacy where I found her lamenting over the Picture of her beloved Spencer I stood some time aside listning when I might hear her say It cannot sure be true that thou art dead my Spencer death could not be so cruel to take thee in thy prime but if he hath how happy is that earth that doth contain thy breathless corps how do the cold clay incircling thy tomb rejoyce that it 's a neighbor to so noble corps Oh! that I were so happy to lye by thee but since that cannot be I 'le study how to dye that though our bodies lie at this vast distance our souls may meet and safely harbor together and yet why should I be so cruel to my self to whom thou vvast so unkinde as not to leave me some few commands before thy death this Picture which is thy lively representation is more courteous 't will not deny me twenty thousand kisses since the fates deny me thee it shall be my husband for here I vow never to marry other At those words I stepped to her and snatching away the Picture would have departed with it had not she taking hold of my cloaths stopped me and falling down on her knees cried out Oh Sir for goodness sake deprive me not of that Jewel which I prize above the wealth of both the Indies rather let me beg you to possess your self of all I have and leave me onely that You beg in vain said I nor must you think that bribes vvill make me so much wrong my friend as to leave his will unperformed What was that friend said she 'T was one said I loved you too well nor did deserve such inconstancy as you have been guilty of which made him charge and command me when his soul was now ready to expire to come hither and force from thee this Picture unfit to grace a Strumpets chamber Suspend not my fear Sir replied she but let me know the name of this cruel friend of yours Spencer said I Villain said she starting up thou liest and so much more damned is thy lie by how much thou wrongest by it the dead soul of him who whilest living would have pulled out that treacherous soul that durst have wronged that chastity which I have so intirely preserved for him and will for his memory Nay said I if you will be angry vent your passions alone farewell Oh! stay cried she and though my Spencer could be cruel as to deprive
I now supposed that the two Captains fearing least I should not be so generous as to make good my Spencers promise to them and ingagement of me not to reveal them had resolved hoping him absolutely dead by this stratagem to take away my life and so the better acqâ—it themselves in which imaginations I had almost broken that tie of friendship wherein Spencer had bound me not to disclose them and revealed them as the actors of that Tragedy but recollecting my self and observing that the Gentleman had taken notice of my discomposure and still expected what answer I would make to his charge I told him That by what he had said I might easily guesse that they were come thither to apprehend me for the supposed murder of that Gentleman that I was very well content to yeild my selfe his prisoner though I were innocent of the least thought of such an action which without the prosecution of the Law I should sufficiently demonstrate by putting in execution my resolve not long to out-live him That I had yet some hopes that his wound was not mortal but that the great effusion of blood had brought him into that weak condition out of which some care might perhaps bring him at least for so long time as that he might clear me for though said I I am resolved to follow him in death I would not willingly do it with the aspersion of being his murderer and therefore I craved the assistance of some of those that attended him to carry the body of my dear friend into the town where we might have the help of some Surgion not only to bring him again to those senses which he had lost with excesse of bleeding but likewise to give judgment upon the wound and if pssible effect his cure The Gentleman very readily assented to what I desired and having commanded some of those that were there to take up the body with all tendernesse possible and others to guard me though I tould him it was unnecessary for I would not flie from the body of my so dear friend unlesse it were to find out some death we soon reached the town and as soon after by the help of a Chyrurgion belonging to a Merchants ship then in the Road my dear friend recovered his senses and lifting up his eyes not knowing well where he was he was a good while silent till espying me And art thou there my dear Goodlake said he have the fates been so happy then as to permit me once again to see thee before I die then are my joyes compleat and I shall willingly yeild my selfe into the jaws of death if that cruell Tyrant will but give me so much time as to lay some commands upon you which I shall injoyn you to be true to these words and his relation that endeavouring to part two persons strangers to him he by chance from one of their swords received that fatal wound acquitted me in all mens judgements so the guard was dismissed but the Gentleman who commanded them would have stayed longer had not there at that instant come in a messenger who acquainted him that al persons whatsoever belonging to the Fleet were by the General commanded immediately to repair to their several ships upon pain of death for the Fleet was even ready to set sail whereupon having wished me all happinesse and Spencer the recovery of his health he took his leave and I having waited on him forth and returned him a due thanks for his civility made hast in again to enjoy alone the company of my dear friend whom I found in a manner even ready to give up the ghost his faintnesse having again seized him yet at sight of me he seemed somwhat comforted and rearing himselfe up in the bed told me that he had several commands to lay upon me which he would conjure me by all the ties of friendship by all the obligations he had upon me by his last dying words punctually to obey O Lord sir said I think not that I have or can have any power to obey any command whatsoever except it be to follow you in death but why should I talk of death since there is yet hopes that you may live and I live happy in the enjoyment of your friendship flatter not your selfe said he with any such vain thoughts for I find death to have even already seazed me but let me command you live that since I must die I may rest in peace since then repli'd I you think my life necessary to the quiet and rest of your soul I shall endeavour to live if it be but so long as till I fulfilled your injunctions which be they what they will I here protest by those indissoluble bonds of friendship which have been so often confirmed betwixt us inviolably to perform here I stopped expecting what he would enjoyn me but he first desired me to take out of his pocket a bundle of Papers wrapt up in a scroule of parchment in which sayes he you will find my last Will and Testament I according to his desire took out the bundle and having found it out what is your further command concerning this said I That Will said he I confirme my last therein thou wilt find that I have divided my whole estate between thee my dear friend and my beloved Bess Bridges but with this proviso that if thou shalt find her in the least tainted or to have falsified that faith wherewith she made her self mine that five hundred pound per annum which I had resolved to estate her in let me beg of thee likewise to accept and in requital of it to obey these easie commands First That thou wilt restone this Ring to my beloved Besse the last pledge she gave me of her faith which if she have kept intire will rejoyce her heart and ease it somewhat of griefe for my death if not 't will be a strong witnesse against her to condemn her as the most light inconftant and very woman in the world secondly That if thou-shalt find that she hath either broke her faith or forfeited her honour thou wilt not fail to take from her my picture which how unworthy soever is too good to be enjoyed or breathed on by one unchast and thirdly that thou wouldest make what hast possible thou canst to the ship least thou lose the opportunity of this passage and leave me to my fate farewell Farewell said I O ye Heavens and is Spencer then so unkind as to command me from him this command doth more afflict me then when he bid me live for without his presence I am but dead in my own conceit but to be forced from him when he is even ready to render his soul to heaven is worse then death either said I command me not from you or command me not to live If said Spencer the peace of my mind were not concerned in your absence I should be as unwilling to be deprived of you as you seem willing
likewise loose my dearest friend he was content to desist but withall telling me that she did not doubt but the justnesse of my quarrell would make me able of my selfe to revenge such damned infidelity that though he knew Hatton to be sufficiently valiant yet his treachery would cowardize his soul and therefore I should not feare to attempt him single that he had for many yeares been an intimate friend of Hatton's but never knew him guilty of any falceness till now which he as well as I had the charity to believe proceeded rather from the inticements of Mariana's Unkle then his own spirit hardly had he finished to speak to me when Hatton stept into the Chamber but seeing me there before him retired with as much hast as he had entred with only saying as he past out that he wondred he had received no answer from me which I told him he should not much longer wait for nor did he for immediately I took Pen Ink and Paper and by Spencer's advice writ him as followeth For Mr. George Hatton SIR THough I am now become your enemy for what reasons I know not yet our former friendship might have engaged you to have declared in more civil language I know not what pretences you may have to the beauteous Mariana but you cannot but know that she is mine by Contract nor have I I think given you any occasion to believe that I will let what Heaven hath bestowed upon me be snatched away without indangering of my life or forcing that Person be he who he wil that shall treacherously endeavour to deprive me of my only Happinesse I shall not faile therefore Sir to meet you at the appointed place though without a second for I am unwilling to engage friends in a businesse in which none but my self is concerned though I could wish you would rather disclaime your unjust pursuite and let us meet as we used to doe friends Goodlake This having sealed I posted away to him by Mr. Spencer's Page who immediately returned with an answer that he was content to meet me single and withall brought along with him a Ribband which we guessed to be the length of his sword and I found it to be the just measure of mine That night Spencer engaged me by all the loves between us not to depart from him till the morning I went to fight so we passed away the most part of the night in discourses of Hatton's basenesse but concluding that the greatnesse of his estate had moved Mariana's Unkle to proffer her in marriage to him and that her beauty and riches had been the motives to make him accept of the proffer In the morning about five a clock I took a solemne leave of my deare friend not knowing but it might be the last though that misery was reserved to a more unfortunate hour who having poured forth his prayers for my good successe which sayes he I doe not doubt will attend the justnesse of your cause bid me adieu and I fearing least I had overslipped some minutes of the time made hast to the appointed place where I found my adversary ready to receive me We both without speaking began to strip of our Doublets and being now ready to encounter each other he first broke silence telling me that if I would resigne up to him my interest in the beauteous Mariana and set her free from all promises and contracts I might live otherwise his sword should force her from my heart to which I replyed That he could not but know that I prized the enjoyment of my deare Mariana for mine said I I will in despight of you call her far above my life and therefore any proposition of parting with her rather then may dearest blood was vaine and irrational that I might with more reason perswade him to relinquish pursuite of that to which he had nor could pretend any right to To this he made no other reply but that we came not then thither to talk but doe and therewith made a desperate passe at me but it was my fortune to put by his point and before he could recover himselfe to give him a mortal thrust into the right side at which he fell saying no more then goe now and enjoy the price of my blood they Mari-a-na I must confesse I was sorry when I saw him fall for I would not willingly have killed kim hoping he might yet have been perswaded to desist further pursuite of his love and have proved as true a friend as at first he had been but seeing that his wound was past remedy 't was in vaine for me to stay and lament him but rather study my own safety having therefore wrapped his body in his Cloake I took my Horse from the hedge where I had tyed him and with all speed galloped to tell Spencer what I had done he at first expressed a great deale of sorrow for the so suddaine death of one that was once his friend but you tell me no more sayes he then what I expected and think he deserved so that we have more reason to lament his folly then his death but however continued he the strict Lawes lately made against duelling will hardly admit of such defensory excuses and though he might fall justly by your sword yet the power of his friends will endanger your life let me therefore advise you to make all possible speed out of England and because I know not how your slender fortunes may have furnisht you let me beg of you to accept this taking down a little Cabinet from the Beds head and giving it me as token of my love which if I live and have the happinesse to know where you reside I shall be most highly obliged if you admit me to supply farther otherwise if I dye I shall dedicate some of my last breath to the remembrance of our friendship I could not tell what to answer to so noble and generous a friend but distilling some teares out of griefe that I was forced to depart from him I let him by those silent showres know how much I prized his goodnesse and that the gratitude of my soule was greater then my tongue could expresse having therefore kissed him again and againe and poured forth ten thousand Prayers for his health as he did for my good successe we sorrowfully bid farewell and I taking Horse rid with all speed possible to the Sea Coast where finding a Ship going with fresh supplyes of provisions to the English-Souldiers in Holland I embarqued my selfe on her and in seven days we came to Vlishing whence I travel'd to the Hague and there changing my name to Love-ill listed my selfe a Souldier to recount to you Noble Spinola any passages of this war were but to give you a dark and blind repetition of a thing which your selfe already know most perfectly I confessed said Spinola I have from my Father and other friends besides some smal experience of my own received an exact relation of
though Mariana was whilst living your only comfort what comfort will it be to you to follow her in death where you can have no further hopes of conversing whilst her constant and innocent soule is fled to Heaven when yours blackt with that hideous crime of selfe murder must necessarily be hurried to a blacker region Live live and live so that since the fates have denyed you to enjoy each other here you may enjoy eternal Society hereafter I could not tell how or what to answer him but throwing my selfe into the Bed I lay there and Spencer by me for he would not trust me alone lamenting my misery in such sort that before morning I had contracted a most violent burning Feaver which I wished heartily might have carried me to my grave and it had answered my hopes notwithstanding all the care of Physitians had not the sweet converse of the generous Spencer been more effectuall then all their Potions here it was during my sicknesse that he and I contracted an indissoluble knot of friendship so firme that nothing but a most cruell and perverse fate could have ever parted us Just at those words came a servant to acquaint Spinola that a Messenger from the Senate attended to speak with him which he desired to do with all speed the businesse as he said being of great importance He therefore craving excuse of Captain Goodlake for his forced alâ—â— sence with promise immediatly to return weâ—â— into his Palace where in the great Hall he found the Messenger attending him who brought him not only letters but an expresse command to repaire immediatly to Genoua having dispatched the Messenger and perused his letters he returnes into the Arbour to Captaln Goodlake whom he findes sitting with his eyes fixed on the ground according to his accustomary melancholy posture but raising himselfe up at his approach was about to continue his story when he was stopt by Spinola's telling him that at the earnest entreaty of the Mantuan Embassadors the Duke and Senate of Genoua had granted one thousand Horse and two thousand Foot to the Duke of Mantua to assist him in his present wars against his too potent enemy the Duke of Ferrara whereof they had thought fit for what deserts of his he knew not to nominate him General to which charge he was ordered immediatly to repaire That though he durst not presume to desire his Company in those Wars yet he would willingly to gain it could he be dispenced with by the Senate surrender to him his place of Generall and accompany him in what inferiour rank he should think him worthy of but since the place of General was conferred on him by the Senate who used not to entrust any strangers with the chiefe command of their Forces and could not therefore be disposed of by him yet he desired that if his spirit inclined him yet to the Wars he would be pleased to accept of being Lieutenant Generall of his Horse and next Person in command to himselfe The offer was so generous that Captain Goodlake could not refuse it though he would not at first seem to accept it but rather desired he might attend him as a private Person till overcome by Spinola's importunities he undertook the charge though as he told him that being a stranger he could not but expect the envy and hatred of many gallant Persons of his Nation who might themselves justly aspire to that employment and think themselves wronged if a stranger were therein preferred before them To which Spinola replyed that he doubted not but to find such gallant behaviour in him as would make him above the envy of the proudest Genouese Goodlake thanked him for his good opinion of him but the businesse requiring hast they left off farther complements and the Captain being furnished with Horse and attendants by the generous Spinola they set forward together towards Genoua but in their way and not halfe a mile from the City they might see their small Army both Horse and Foot ready drawn up to attend the coming of their Commander who having first well viewed them and then recommended Goodlake as a Person whom he had thought fit to appoint their Lieutenant Generall and they upon his commendations received him with great applause he ordered them to march and take up their quarters towards the borders of Mantua's Country and himselfe in two dayes time following them overtook them at Friuli a little Town in that Dukes Territory not ten miles from which between four and five thousand Savoyards who were come to the assistance of the Duke of Ferrara and had by treachery taken a Castle belonging to the Flaminij a noble Family of the Mantovess were encamped upon these by the advice of Goodlake the noble Spinola resolves to give the first assault and therefore advancing from Friuli in the dark of the night lodges his Army within a mile of the enemy intending about break of day to fall in upon them at unawares but they having advice by their Scouts had drawn out into an advantagious ground ready to receive them yet that not at all abated Spinola's courage but having given the charge of the right wing of Horse to Goodlake and of the left to Segr. Alexandro Iustiniani himselfe commanding the body began the fight about break of day which continued doubtfull the Savoyards being more in number then the Genoveses for about two houres till Captain Goodlake first and after him Iustiniani having broken both the wings of Horse the battell clearly showed it selfe on the Genoveses side for Captain Goodlake having left sufficient numbers to pursue the enemies scattered left wing and make good what he had gained with a select party of Horse came flying to the succour of the noble Spinola who was somewhat oppressed for the Savoy infantry being both more numerous and better experienced Souldiers then the Genovese had gained ground of them from the very beginning of the fight and were now ready to put them to a totall rout when Captain Goodlake falling into the reare of the enemies infantry turned the scale so that those who before were ready to fly were now pursuers for the Savoyards Seeing themselves deserted by their own Horse on both sides were no longer able to bear the brunt but confusedly breaking their ranks either ran away or yeilded themselves to mercy Yet a small party of them resolutely maintained the Field till Iustiniani coming in likewise with a party of Horse and they now seeing nothing but the visage of ghastly deaths presented threw down their armes and cryed for quarter Thus was the whole force of Savoy which came to the assistance of the Duke of Ferrara either totally dispersed or taken Prisoners and the generous Spinola having loaded Captain Goodlake and Iustiniani with the honour of that dayes victory to pursue his good fortune immediatly advanced with his Army to the Seige of the Castle of Flaminii a place accounted almost impregnable both for its situation and
satisfied by the noble Spencer which made these two worthy friends resolve now to use their utmost art and power for the delivery of those two loyal Lovers Goodlake in the first place therefore desires the King that an appartment might be of purpose appointed as a thing necessary for the bringing his desires to pass withall assuring him that he had gained the absolute consent of my beautous Mistress to entertain him in her embraces the night following but that she desired that to cover her blushes that he would be pleased to approach her in the dark when she would not fail to entertain his Majesty with the greatest caresses of love In the mean time Ruffman had acquainted the Queen that by reason of the suddain change of Lodgings where with the two Lovers were yet unacquainted he would bring her Majesty into the Chamber where she should all night lye linked in the Arms of the generous Spencer and he receive her as his beloved Bride This lascicious pair were both highly contented in the expectation of their next nights enjoyment which being approached Ruffman silently conducts the Queen into the Chamber where the King expected to find his beauteoâ—s Guest and she being disrobed and lying â—â—pecting the renowned Spencer the King 〈◊〉 by Goodlake conducted in thither who 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 means satisfied them with an 〈…〉 â—â—â—faction of their desires and yet 〈…〉 bodies chast These two thus lodged there yet remained the hardest part to act to avert the dependent Tragedy The curious eyes of Alcade-Beigh like those of another Argo's still waited so exactly upon the generous Spencer or upon his fair Bride that it was impossible for them to pass the gates together nor could the worthy Spencer at first perswade my lovely Mistress to leave him to his better starrs and go with Captain Goodlake Ruffman and the rest to secure her own Person But at length overpowred with Arguments That it must be the only way to procure all their safeties she vowing that if by the next morning he came not safe aboard-ship she accounting him slain would assuredly follow him in death consented to go Captain Goodlake having got the Kings privy Signet and the Military Word for that night under pretence of passing up and down from lodging to lodging for the better accomodating of the lustful Mullisheg with my fair Lady we easily with them passed the Court Gates and so securely to the Sea-side where we found a worthy Gentleman Mr. Forcet with the Boat well-manned and armed ready to waft us aboard whether being happily come our selves we hastned it back in hopes it might return laden with the generous Spencer whose presence we now only wanted But long did we in vain expect what we so earnestly desired and much longer it seemed by how much more we did desire it for after our departure the noble Spencer found himself so haunted by Alcade-Beigh that he could not possibly pass any venny of the Court which so enraged him that he was once resolved with the suddain death of the Beigh to rid himself of so burdensome a Companion but the great danger in this having for sometime restrained him he at length thought of a slight which much better served his purpose for knowing that Alcade-Beigh was not ignorant that the King his Master had lately attempted alwayes possible to enjoy his lovely Guest and that he had the promises of Goodlake to effect it he resolved to dissemble a passion as if he then really had her in his lustful embraces The Beigh who had heard him utter somewhat to this purpose not only left him to his own guard but freely proffered him passage through the Court Gates Fondly imagining that his absence would make the King rest more securely with his Spouse But Spencer being passed those Gates there yet attended him a more unluckly fate for missing his way to the Sea on that side the Town where our Boat waited for him he unadvisedly ran upon the other which lying open to a small Cittadel ingarrisoned by Spaniards not far distant makes the Moors constantly keep a strong Guard both of Horse and Foot there a party of about forty Foot were usually set upon a Bridge not above two hundred paces from the Town amongst these Spencers unhappy stars first led him by whom he was commanded to stand and show a reason of his being there so late but he now first sensible of his error would have returned without returning any answer which they perceiving about eight or ten in number swiftly pursued him who was resolved upon no conditions to yield himself Prisoner and therefore with his Sword in his hand turned upon them resolving dearly to sacrifice his Life or to force a passage through them to his Spouse But the slaughter of half of that number which first pursued this thrice valliant Hero making the remaining part to cry out for more assitance the whole Guard was allarum'd and great numbers both of Horse and Foot came thunding in upon this single Gallant who yet endeavoured to make an obstinate resistance several of the faint-hearted Moors being forced to fall under the power of his revengeful arm in the presence of their Captain Ioffer-Bassa who stood admiring at the noble courage of this Person whom yet he knew not But at length encompassed on all sides the worthy Spencer wearied with dealing wounds was surprized by his enemies But he was yet happy in being thus a Prisoner for being brought before Ioffer-Bassa a Person truly generous he was accosted by him with all possible civility the Bassa as if he had been bred in civil Europe and nor in barbaâ—ous Africa Telling him that though he could not but wonder at his noble deeds yet he must be infore'd to perform the office of a Subject by keeping him his Prisoner though he could rather have wish't fortune to have laid open some way for his escape and not rendred him a Captive to him who could only love and honour him but not help him By this nobleness answered Spencer I am confirmed you are Ioffer chief Bashaw to the Great Mullisheg whom I have alwayes found full of worthy and gallant thoughts And I now know you answered the Bassa for that brave Englishman so highly graced in the Court of the mighty King of Fesse and Morocco My Master which makes me the more admire that in requital of his favours you should thus slaughter his beloved Subjects by which you have made a double forfeit of your life for the outrage committed against his Guard at the dead of night is death in it self but those you have slain in the conflict makes it exceed all bounds of Pardon For death answered the Gallant Spencer it does not at all trouble me but I have some private thoughts torment me more then ten thousand tortures could and herewith this brave Soul fetching a sigh could not restrain some tears which the thoughts of his beloved Spouse made gush out When the noble Bassa seeing his
discomposure commanded the Guard to depart and leave the Prisoner alone with him The Guard readily obeyed the command of their General when he taking opportunity from the Solitude addressed himself to his Prisoner in these generous terms Sir said he though I am a Moor a Nation strange to you Christians yet think that I can be noble but in you I have observed such strange contrarieties that I cannot tell well how to reconcile them for when I consider your mighty actions and late greatness of your Spirit when my men flew before you like dust before the wind I cannot but admire at your present passion and justly wonder why such a small effuse of blood let out by these sleight wounds or the pale-fear of grisly death should draw a tear for such a Noble eye Thou most worthy of thy Nation replyed Spencer do not so much mistake me to think that wounds blood death or all tortures imaginable could force one drop from hence but that I now suffer under as far exceeds all torments that ever the wicked art or wit of Man invented as Hell doth Heaven in pains This it is that like the burning Sun extracts from my declining Soul this dewy and effeminate morsture Sir answered the Bassa if I have yet gained in you an opinion that I dare be noble impart to me your sorrow's and if any thing in my power can assist you though it be with the hazard of my life rest assured I will perform it Your Nobleness most Illustrious Bassa answered Spencer obliges me to relate my misfortune though I must despair of remedy yet if you have a heart not wholly composed of Adamant it must needs melt it to consider my misery and think then Sir if you have ever loved or if ever you loved one so fair so constant so chast as my dear Spouse whether it would not confound you and make whole Oceans of tears flow from your eyes to know that for your sake she was betrayed to a black and remediless-fate I confess answerred the Bassa It would perplex a well-blassed Soul but how can this be your condition were not all your joy 's but lately consummate by uniting your Souls according to your own manner of marriage and were you not but yesterday both honoured in the highest degree by the vertuous Mullisheg 'T is true worthy Bassa replyed Spencer he honoured us at first too much but at length his lust outway'd his honour and as if his Soul had been of a darker Eye then his Face he sought to take away that he had given me and rob me of that Jewel 1 prize far above my Life but the fates were yet happy unto me in that I found means this night to convey my beauteous Spouse the Captain and Lieutenant and others aboard Ship and now my self intended to follow them but missing my way fell amongst your Guard where wonder not that I performed wonders and durst single oppose my self against your multitudes for it was the impression she had left upon my heart made me act things beyond a man But Sir replyed Ioffer since she is safe aboard recal your noble spirits and let not your own fates thus distract you Ah! generous Sir said Spencer the sting of all is yet behind I at her parting from me swore by the honour of a Gentleman and by all the vow 's and loves had ever past between us that if I survived I would visit her aboard before the morning Star appeared which she seconded with a solemn vow that if I did not she should certainly esteem me dead and not Heaven it self should hinder her from following me to the Grave This Great Bassa is it Fear of her safety not my own that drew these tears from a Souldiers eyes 'T was strange what noble pitty this relation bred in the heart of the thrice worthy Moor Noble Sir said he you have indeed told me story would move the very Rocks to pitty and that I may let you know all moral virtues are not wholly and only seated in the hearts of Christians Go freely pass to your Love and preserve her Life I will not desire you to return but if you do not remember this Head of mine goes in exchange for yours which I cannot lay down in a better service My worthy Lord was so startled at this high generosity of the Moors that he knew not what answer to return nor indeed how to accept his so obliging proffer but at length considering it would be the preservation of his dearest Spouse he resolved not to refuse the Courtesy but withall desiring the Bassa to oblige him by some solemn Oath to return at an appointed hour No replyed Ioffer it will be sufficient if you give me your word to return by that time to morrow that the Sun shall be mounted to the Meridian Let God's and Men answered Spencer conspire to make me miserable if I fail one Minute Let me then conduct you said the Bassa past all watches and therewithal himself in Person brought him to the place where the Boat did attend him who received him with an inexpressible joy The Discourse between the Bassa and Spencer had spent the greatest part of the night so that before they arrived at the Boat it was near break of day and before any discovery could be made of them coming towards the Ship day was absolutely broke and the Sun even ready to advance it's head above the Cerulean Confines My dear Lady with infinite impatience had all this while expected the coming of her Spencer according to his promise but finding him not yet appear concluding him dead she began to utter such miserable lamentations as are impossible for me to recite and calling for an Hour-glass resolved as soon as that poor moment of time was spent either to behold her dear Spencer safe or follow him in death The last minutes were now running when with a full mouth of joy one of the say lors calls from the Topmast-head that the Boat was coming towards us and that he did plainly discern the generous Spencer sitting in her stern 't was my good fortune to carry this news first to my Mistress who entertained it with such a rapture that her joy now put her into no less an extasie then her grief before had done but having past over that discomposure which at her first hearing these glad tidings had seized her she issued out of her Cabbin to entertain her Spencer with a joy suitable to the love she bore him 'T is impossible for me mighty Prince to tell you with what joyful and what obliging expressions she entertained him aboard but how soon was all her joy turned into a super-abundant sorrow for he having a great while listned to her loving expressions without having returned any answer at length to her earnest intreaties gave this fatal one Alas my dear Soul now I have seen thee I must again leave thee These Words were like a Thunderbolt which
soon brought him under the power of my sword Heavens How did the great Mullisheg embrace me when I presented him at his feet As for him he caused his head to be immediately cut off and being set upon a lance to be carried up and down the Army which struck such a terror into the Rebels that they immediately threw down their Arms and yielded or else trusted to their heels for their safety Muley Hamet with three thousand horse escaped the fury of the field and fled towards the plains but so totally was the Army routed that he had little hopes of rallying them for to try another encounter I am ashamed to tell you Mighty Prince those obliging Expressions with which Mullisheg entertained me after the Battel he called me his Better Genius One sent from the prophet to aâ—â—st his Right the Soul of his Empire with many other such strange Epethites too tedious to relate withal giving me the Command of five thousand Horse and desiring me with all speed posible to pursue the Rebel Muly Hamet for you said he I know will bring him back I would willingly have bin excused from this Employment by reason of my being unacquainted in the Countrey but he told me he had provided me sufficient guides We overtook this unfortunate Prince on the utmost bounds of those vast Plains of Mombaza accompanied with not above forty on fifty horse at most the rest having either fallen into our hands or deserted him and to procure their own safety fled into the deserts or by-ways he no sooner perceiving us pursuing him with so great a power but hoping to escape into a Wood not far distant he struck out of the way from the rest towards it he was easily known by those Guides that accompanied me who told me that if he gained that Wood it would be impossible to finde him out This made me put spurs to my Courser which being swifter than his I overtook him just at the entrance into the Wood and he seeing no possibility of escaping me faced about and opening his breast Generous Soldier said he what ever by nature 〈◊〉 art yet show thy self now noble transfix this unfortunate brest with thy sword and make me not a scorn to my tyrannous Brother I was about to tell him that I had strict command from Mullisheg to bring him alive when he guessing by my delays that I would not answer his desires with his own sword pierced his heart I could not but both pity and commend the resolution of this generous Prince and was standing amazed at the Magnanimity and Gallantry of the Action when the whole body of Horse came up the chief Commanders of which advised me to carry his body to the King to assure him of his death which I gave order to be done and the Moorish King having first embraced me and given me a million of thanks and withal put a very rich Jewel about my neck seemed somewhat to lament his death giving order for his being buried like a Prince which made me believe that he would have saved his life the rather because he was drawn into this Rebellion more by cunning Artifices of his brother than by any inclination of his own The Mighty Mullisheg strove still to load me with new Honors making me often ride by his left hand and at our arival at Mamorah whither he went to keep Court and to settle his Kingdom which now enjoyed a firm Peace by the death of his two brothers made me one of his Bassa's and of his Privy-Council often using to tell me that at his first sight of me he had perceived in my countenance somewhatâ— more than ordinary But all those Honors he conferred upon me were envied by old Muly Mustapha who presuming upon his being Uncle to the King endeavored by all means possible to bring me into some disgrace But the King favor to me out-lasted his life for he died soon after and still rather increased than decayed till such time I was made Viceroy of Argiers for all the Circumstances during my Brothers being there I shall omit presuming your Highness to be already acquainted with them as far as they concerned him and for the reasons of my not discovering my self to him they are palpable enough to all for had but the King had the least knowledge of my being a Christian I had forfeited both my Honors and my Life and feign I was lest my whiteness should be discovered to renew my tincture with the Juyce taught me by Iosina which I never did but her untimely end came fresh to my memory For all my Honors and the Glories of the Moorish Court could not blot out of my heart that love I had entertained for her and often would I take times solitarily to lament her misfortune which as I was once in my Chamber very melancholy considering of and repining at the injustice of the gods to deprive me of her as soon as I loved her a strange person entred my Chamber at which I was somewhat amazed wondring how he durst be so bold as to press into my privacies when addressing himself to me in an humble manner Sir said he I have often waited an opportunity to deliver something to you which may perhaps content you but not finding any convenience I have made bold now to press into your Chamber and therewithal delivered me a Letter which I hastily opened and found therein to this effect To the Mighty BASSA JOFFER THough your Greatness may justly cause You not to deign the sacrificing one idle thought to the memory of the unfortunate IOSINA yet she dares let you know that through all the splendor of your Glories and the change of your Name she can espy that person who hath captivated her heart I cannot believe that your honors have instilled into you such a cruelty as will exceed that of the wilde beasts in the Forest of Alemquel or that I who by a strange providence was preserved from theirs should now perish by yours Ambition to share in your Greatness prompts me not to this but onely our former Loves makes me desire you sometimes to remember what hath for your sake been suffered by the miserable Josina I was so overjoyed at the reading of this Letter that I could not for a good while return any Answer to the Messenger but at length turning to him And is my Dear Iosina still safe said I have the gods yet preserved her Blessed heavens how am I bound to your goodness She is Sir both safe said the Messenger and at present in Argiers What need I then said I return any Answer to her Letter when I may in person see her Alas Sir said the Messenger she would think it too much an honor for her to receive a Visit from so great a Person An honor said I 't will rather be an honor to me if she admit me Go said I to my Dear Iosina and having begg'd her leave come in the dusk of