made reckoning that their coâ—fortes were rifling their prise and desirous to haue part of what they should finde stood not demaunding questionâ—s but boorded them also in the entering of which Andrugio â—lew their Captaine to the terrour of his enemies which looked for no resistance But all in vains was their proceediâ—gs for his men with blowing the powder were either fore hurt or slaine so that perforce he was compelled to yâ—â—lde himselfe These 〈◊〉 nowe being maister of this weather beaten Barque and saw what spoke those small companie had made their companions were grieuously vexed and greatly threatened Andrugio with bitter tormentes for his valour shewed against them and especially for the death of those Captaines their gouernours Andrugio thus in the handes of those people of whom he earnestly beâ—ought fauour could hardly be permitted life such was their crueltie in reuenge of their Captaines death whom they lost in boording Andrugio his Barque yea they had examined to be the cause of their resistance was more then for all the rest yet as greate as their furie was behold when as many tormenting deathes and most bitter were called to minde and none thought bitter enough for him pitie mooued the hearte of one gratious fellow of some account amongst them to compassâ—on who noting the milde countenance of Andrugio and considering his valour earnestly besought his company for his sake to forbeare the execution of their crueltie towardes him in bereauing the life of this yoong prince which with much adoo was granted him Thus at the intercession of thos◠〈◊〉 wâ—s Andrugio his life preserued to greater extremities for sweeter had death bene vnto him if they had shewed their crueltie then life for that he was marked in his byrth vnfortunats as the storie shall shew you Well those cursed true hauing most violently handled such as remained aliue in the ship commanded Andrugio to be as hardly intreated as might be oppressing his body with cruell afflictions toomuch for any to enduce yet could his noble mind neuer 〈◊〉 to intreat for pardon albeit they should haue carued his flesh from his 〈◊〉 with their meate kniâ—es or with 〈…〉 haue nippeâ— the same away To which his 〈◊〉 courage his ancient friend that had saued his life gaue good notice and â—ued his case but could not redresse him neither shew any more fauour vnto the Gentleman then he did yet as opportunitie was offer â—â— when his â—acking 〈◊〉 were at play or otherwise busied he would vifite him and comfort him as well as hee could But so long continued this good theefe his familiaritie towardes him that in the ende Andrugio confessed vnto him of what parentage he was descended and how fortune in this time of his youth had continually dealt with him omitting nothing whiche lamentable oration of his ouer-heard with promise made when God should to send them to any harbor to release him It was presently carried to such as was chiefest amongst them in commission for as yet they had appoynted no captaines of their ships The reporter of this newes had skarsly finished his tale when furiously and in great rage they commaunded Andrugio and his friendes to be brought vnto them the miscreantes deâ—canting the meane while of such crueltie as they should both receaue No soner came these vnhappie men before those mercilesse bloudsuckers bent to begin their tormentes they caused them to be hoisted to the yard arme and so drencht in the seas at which their misseries they tooke exceeding delight By this this time to aggrauat their misery they had deuised to strip them naked and euery man with a cordes end as they passe them turning round the capstone to deale such strokes vpon their bare carkasses as they could with pitie of heart either for crueltie of encreasing their paine bestow on them or of compassion fauour them But the Gods that yeeld comfort in extremite looking on those afflicted persons preserued them from this punishment For behold as they were in stripping them they espied a fleet of Gallies at sea which in the calme made such speede to them as they might not escape by any meanes wherefore they commanded Andrugio with his companion to the bilbowes themselues to determine for defence against their enemies whom they might easily perceiue now pretending to haue some saieng to them and to repay their bloody tyrannie vsed with the like Time hath brought those discried fleet within litle more then a league so that they might easilie discerne them to be Gallies belonging to the gouernours of Trypolie of which place those villaines had wronged many and therefore their feare began the more to encrease doubting that if they fell into their handes as they did not know howe to withstande them their crueltie vsed to others would be repaied wherfore like friends that in many mischiefes had ventured together they resolutely determine to die and liue together and so preparing themselues with those fewe Andrugio had lift them to be in readinesse ordering their fightes with the best pollicie they could they scantly had finished what they would haue done when a cannon shot comming froÌ„ one of those Gallies stroke their maine mast by the boord and so beat their ship with shot with the losse of diuers of their companie that in vaine they resisted wherefore spreading their flag of truce in their missen top They committed themselues to mercie of those with whome there is no mercie at all When the smoke of the peeces was cleared and that they saw there came no more shot from the ship thinking before they had lost her espying their slag of truce the Captaine of the Viz-admyrall commanded the Helms-man to fal too and boord her where finding those braue mates that had spoiled many now in this conflict to stand as mute as silly sheepe before a woolfe intreating hardly for their liues which could not be granted them yet bound backe to backe they left them lying on the hatches vntill they had ransacked the Shippe searching in euerie corner and tooke the spoile VVhere finding our comfortlesse ANDRVGIO and his pitifull companion miserablie wronged in those yron Fetters taking them to bee prisoners to those cruell and bloody Pyrates and such as had bene wronged by them commaunded that they should be released from their captiuitie and to be brought before the Admirall which was presently done Andrugio for all the tormentes hee had bene afflicted with could not bee compelled to make himself knowen but being by the Admyrall examined what he was and how hee fell into their handes told him that hee was a passenger in a small Barque whom they had spoiled both of goodes and men and that none of his companie remianed aliue but himselfe only The Admyrall noting the courage of the prince commanded that he should be brought with his fellow prisoner aboord his owne Gallie requiting the crueltie of the rest as they had deserued for beeing bound backe to backe heaued ouerboord ending their liues in blood as
gained so the loue of all the people that none of the retinue of his Lord was helde in such account of all estates as well of Nobles and Gentlemen of the countrie as the inferiour sort It fortuned this Lord Ieronymie hauing one onely sister wise beautifull and well gouerned hearing such generall commendation of Andrugio and amongst the rest her brother so highly to commend him in all places and at all times so that his common talke was euer to the credite of Andrugio which noted in the yoong ladie Messeliua for so was she called her affection began to encrease towards him in such wise that from a small sparke the fire of fancie began to grow to a great flame and her chiefe and onely delight was in beholding of her best beloued Andrugio yea her thoughtes were so setled vpon him that in the night she dreamed of him and in the day he was neuer out of her remembrance in so much that this passion increasing she began to growe into great extremities euermore deuising what meanes she might best worke to make her loue knowne vnto him now casting this doubt then another so that in no sort shee might settle her thoughtes how to bring her desires to effect in such maner as she might be void of suspition to the world and acquaint Andrugio with her secrete loues towardes him hauing not any friend of familiaritie to bee aduised by but her wayting woman of whose trust and fidelitie in such a waightie cause shee was not assured of Yet notwithstanding arming her selfe with hope the only comfort of the distressed she resolueth with her selfe a litle while longer to beare it out hoping that time and her courtesie vsed towards him might cause him to craue that which she could willingly and with all her heart offer him Andrugio on the top of his pleasure leading a life free from all incumbrances of body yet could not forget the loue he bare his Susania which howe often he called to minde the more began his sorrow yea such desire he had to see his best beloued that his whole studie and continuall care was how to accomplish the same in doubt of euerie occasion that might hinder his determination Thus betweene doubtfulnesse and dispaire liued this yoong prince discontented that he tooke no pleasure in keeping anie kinde of companie at all Such was his honourable minde with duetifull allegiance tied by the lincke of faith vnto his Lord who had freed him that he durst not for feare of deniall make any request for his fauour therein and to goe of his free-will he thought it villanie to requite with such ingratitude so honourable a man that loued him as his owne Well so long continued those passions abiding such grieuous tormentes of minde that his liuely collour began to waxe pale and wanne yea his bloud which was fresh and well beseeming dried and his bodie growne with continuall griefe into a faine sicknesse insomuch that his alteration was noted of all lamented of many that did know him but especiallie of the noble Lord Ieronimie and his sister Messalina who continually noted euerie sight and woulde oftentimes demand the cause of his sorrowe whiche by no meanes they could vse he would discouer But Lord Ieronimie as one carefull of his well doing woulde neuer be satisfied with such answeres as Andrugio would giue nor allow his excuses for trueth wherefore taking him one day into the fields of purpose to solace they spent their time in walking pleasantly discoursing vntill the Lord Ieronimie comming to a pleasant medowe bedecked with natures ornamentes as much as they had seene which viewing they both censured of the bewtie of the field one commending the delightful smell of floures the other the situation of the place which was most excellent neere vnto the edge of one side running a most pleasant christall streame which bubling ouer the round Poples gaue a sweete noyse to the hearers vpon the side whereof was growing a rowe of moste exceeding fine poplar trees which ouershadowed the place as it was most pleasant This place aboue the rest that they had chanced on Lord Ieronimie those to solace himself in as also fit for his purpose wherefore commanding Andrugio to sit down by him like a louing kind Lord hee began to participate with Andrugio in this wise Andrugio mine owne Andrugio I haue long sought fit opportunitie to haue secret conference with thee and hauing found place and time for the same be not moued that I growe into those speaches which I haue to vse considering that they bespoken of loue and not maliciously First my Andrugio whiche I haue to say vnto thee is this I haue since our comming from the mariage of my liege the Emperours daughter noted many a sad and heauie countenance in thee which I knowe argueth a discontented mind proceeding as my coÌ„iecture assureth me of loue now Andrugio as I freed thee from the bondage of y e turks vnknowne if there be anie such cause feare not to make it known vnto me I haue vowed to pleasure thee al y t I may stand not therfore on nise tearms but let me know y e dame whom thou hast made choyse of to gouerne thy affections and if I seeke not all possible meanes for thy heartes content accuse me euer of dishonour and holde me the moste wretched vile creature on the earth Andrugio hearing this discourse of his Lordes which he least looked for could not well on the sodaine tell how to answere for that he was not assured whether he spake vpon surmise or that he had some secret knowledge of his loue to Susania yet thinking to hasard his credite with Lord Ieronimie he answereth My gracious Lord what humble thanks my heart rendereth for so great fauours my toonge cannot declare But gracious Lord where fortune hath placed an extraordinarie want their wil shal supplie the defects of wealth loyaltie performe that whiche my meane abilitie can neuer put in practise The tree that bringeth foorth no fruite is good for fuell and stones are not to be valued by an outward view but an inward vertue Prometheus did consture wel of the workes of Lycias and I hope my gratious Lord will not misconsture the will of Andrugio but rather to cast an eye to my secret willingnesse then to looke for merites which I cannot manifest what I finde noble Lord by experience the time and place forbids me to participate least I be accused of flatterie yet what I conceiue I leaue to your honourable coniecture which I cannot any way discipâ—er onely this alwaies accompt Andrugio is your duetifull and loyall seruaunt vntill death which hee hath vowed by the true band of friendship neuer to violate Thus finding in my selfe a will that shall neuer wauer a faith vnfained and a life vowed to perpetuall loyaltie Hoping that as Protagenes was excused for his vnperfect pictures by doing what he could so also shall I finde your Lordshippes fauour since I
all kinde of sinne which maketh vs inheritours of hys curse both of sinne and death yet so dull is our vnderstanding that dayly we fal into this crime of ingratitude which we ought to hate in great measure and to flie from it more then death it selfe by reason of the euils whiche it hath brought vppon vs but yet alas wee see amongest vs too many vngrateful persons who betraye them soonest by whome they receaue all their liuing and aduancement And if vnthankfulnesse be familiar with the meaner sorte let vs not thinke it farther off from those of higher calling for vppon euerie light occasion especially if a man frame not himselfe to that vice which they haue in greatest commendation they easily forget all the seruice that hath bene done vnto them by reason of some new come guest who will shâ—we himself a seruiceable minister of their pleasures this hapneth sonest wheÌ„ men grow in greatnes because coÌ„monly as their calling increase not being instructed in vertue they wax worse and worse in behauiour but let them take this for an infallible rule that an vnthankfull person cannot long retaine in his seruice an honest faithfull good seruant The ancient said not without good cause that impudencie was the companion of ingratitude for if no beast as they say is so shamelesse as an impudent who is he that may be said to haue lesse shame theÌ„ an vnthankful body for this cause of ingratitude Among the sawes of Draco established among the Athenians there was this that if any man had receiued a benefit of his neighbor it were prooued against him that he had not bene thankful for it it was death to the offendor Alexander the greatest for bountie and Caesar for pardoning iniuries renowmed in all the histories of them both it is saide that when Alexander had knowledge of an vnthankfull person he neuer gaue him any thing nor Caesar neuer forgaue such So grieuously haue vertuous men hated ingratitude Yt is reported of the Storke that she neuer bringeth foorth yoong ones but shee casteth one out of the nest for the hier of the house where she lodgeth But barbarous is that ingratitude in him that hath bene borne bred fostered and serued and all with the sweate of another mans browes in the end to seke the spoile of al that is therin euen the honor and oftimes the life of the Host Wonderfull are the mischiefes that happen to the vnthankfull many be the examples of the sorrowes and punishents that haue followed ingratitude Now if we desire to shunne this vile sinne and to imitate the vertues of the noble minded to our vtmost power this is our help if we alwaies esteeme the benefit which we receiue of another greater then it is repute that we giue for lesse then the worth neither let vs as proud and vaine glorious men doo who vaunt that they stand in need of none disdayn to receiue a pleasure of our friends although they be of lesse calling then we when they desire our friendship for if it be an honest thing to doo good to all that cannot be dishonest at all for in requitall of friendship a receiuer is as requisite as a giuer Furthermore this one other poynt to banish this vilde sinne from amongst men if we requite double the good turne wee receiue one of another Lastlie let vs recompence double and reward without reckoning those good turnes which we receiue of others rather fearing least we should be ouercome in Benificence then in worldly reputation and glory But wretched Andrugio the more thou enterest into those grieuous calamities of the world the more thou callest to mind thy hard hap and more greeuest to thinke of thy sweete Susania and her tender babes then of thine own penurie But God which is iust will with vengeance reward those traiterous reprobates which haue depriued their lawfull prince from his seat of iustice and maiestie compelling him to seeke curtesie wher he may best get it but worse shall befal them then that traiterous prince Iustinian who selling for lucar of the kingdom the famous city of constantinople was crowned there and after three daies had his head cut off pasanias a Captaine of Lacedemon hauing receiued fiue hundred duckets to betray the citie of Sparta was by his father pursued to a church whether he fled for sanctuarie who commanded the walles to be closed and so famished him and afterwards his mother cast his body to the dogs Brutus cassius that would haue betraied Rome was in the same maner serued Darius king of Persia caused his sonne AariabarzaÌ„ his head to be cut off because he sought to betray his army to Alexander Brutus did the like to his châ—ldreÌ„ who had conspired against their countrie that king Tarquinius might reenter If those noble Princes rewarded treason by the deaths of their children and most fauoured then thinke not but your liues will be shortened for your conspiracie against me yea assure you that the righteous iudge of men wil punish it in you as he hath done in many others The remeÌ„brance of your crimes with the thoughtes of iust iudgment to bee inflicted vpon you driueth my oppessed heart into a world of griefe but if I had searched so narrowly into the thoughts of you accursed Traitors I had bene happy in this my vnhappines but wise men haue taught mee that miserie is necessarie That man saith the wise man Bias is able to beare miserie which hath bene trained in the same from his youth And Dyonisius the elder said that man that hath learned from his youth to be vnhappie shal bear his yoke the better which hath ben subiect to it in times past Demetrius said that he iudged none more vnhappy theÌ„ he which neuer tasted of aduersitie And Cicero iudgeth him most happy that thinketh no miserie how grieuous soeuer it be or intollerable or dooth any way discourage him Nothing saith plutarch is euill that is necessarie by which word necessary Cicero vnderstandeth whatsoeuer hapneth a man by destinie is necessarie and we ought to beare it with patience as that can not bee auoided Socrates speaking with a deuine spirit said y t when we shal be deliuered from this body wherein the soule is as an oyster in y t shel we may then be happy but not sooner and that felicitie can not be obtained in this life but that we must hope to enioy it perfectly in an other life Yf death be the happines of men how happie had I bene if in my cradle I had paide the due I owe vnto death the ioies which follow death if our fraile nature could conceiue and allow were such comfort to al as wel to the happy as the miserable that none would desire life for my owne part hauing tried the happines of worldly men riches of couetousnesse so called and consider the frailtie of it and the abuse of men I chose in these deserts to abandon me from al humaine fellowship costly
desires to see the maners and gouernment of other countries But too soone alas hath this naturall Father yeelded to the desire of so greene a head whose yeares doo scarsly require the raine to be left in his owne hand as you shall heare Fortune mutable vnconstant dame desirous to shewe what she could doo hauing brought this yoongling to the top of his desires began now to checke him with such a bit as might well serue a colte of elder yearâ—s for beeing void of all doubtes of any mischaunce to betide him or his companions such miseries was he oppressed with as are most lamentable to be remembred For vnderstand after his departure from the Court of his Father traueiling by guides as the maner of the country is thorow vncoth places enuyroned with wooddes and hanted with multitudes of wilde beastes a noble man of Italy banished from his countrie for a most hainous treason conspired against the prince of the land ranged continually those desartes where he with his companions became most cruell manslears and spoylers of as many as fell into their hands without feare of God or respect of christianity Neuer was there any tyrant of what name or condition soeuer so cruel as this mischieuous Gonsala Ieriomanim for so was he called Earnest trauell within small time hath brought this youth Andrugio with his companie within the precinct of this cursed murtherer where he kept his residence lodged in caues and holdes of their own framing Of whose scouts Andrugio was no sooner espied but with al possible speed they prouide to meete them armed in all partes as if they should encounter their professed enemies in the field Andrugio void of all feare tooke great pleasure in this iourney passing in pleasant discourses the time to beguile their trauell But alas in midst of these pleasures befel them most vnhappie fortune euen as the sillie lambes skipping by the side of their tender damme is by the rauening Woolfe bereaued of life So fares it with Andrugio who no sooner came to the place wher these reprobats lay in ambush attending their comming But Gonsala stern fierce of courage with his followers resolued to be their deathes furiously assailed them and in small time taking them at aduantage ouercame them leauing not one to breath as they supposed bathing their murdering blades in the blood of these Gentils taking spoyle of their treasure and other prouision they leaue their bodies couered with mosse and loose leaues speeding them to their places of refuge reioicing with the spoile of those poore innocents whom mâ—st traiterously they had slaine Now beholde the vnspeakeable goodnesse of God vnto this Lord Andrugio whose woundes being not so deep as the rest of his friendes after a litle trance began to recouer when breathing with a piteous grone he striued to recouer his feet to stand but the blood being cold about his wounds caused such a â—â—ifnesse that impossible it was for him to mooue with taking cold after his long bleeding yet by the permission of the highest vnto whose holy will al creaturâ—s bend in short time he recouered reasonable memorie when viewing round about him the slaine carkasses of his followers and friends with piteous schriches and lamentable plaints complameth his misfortune on this wise Andrugio what cruell starres guided thy byrthday or what cursed hag bewitched thee to motion a suit vnto thy noble father so greatly displeasing the Gods who noting thy follies haue appointed these vnmercifull murderers to daunger thine owne life and bereaue thee of thy friends appointed by thy carefull father for a comfort vnto thee O that the heauens had neuer condescended vnto my natiuitie or that in my cradle I had like Hercules bene assailed by some poysoned scrpents which might haue abridged my life But like Mydas wish I for that that displeaseth the Gods Andrugio vnhappie Andrugio and most vnfortunate in being sonne vnto so noble a Duke whose life must end in these accursed desartes and no man to make report vnto thy aged father what is become of thee or thy companions whose deathes by following thee in thy follie is thus befallen them cursed therefore Andrugio whose desires haue robbed so noble gentlemen of their sonnes gallant ladies and faire gentlewomen of their loues and thy renowmed father of an heire to succeede him in his Dukedome O heauens might your furie with my life haue bene appeased how happie had I bene that the wrath of him whom I haue prouoked to ire might haue fallen vpon mine owne head then noble friends should you haue enioied life to haue reported my tragedy which now are left void of all comfort to be a pray to the rauening beastes of this Desart and to the foules of the aire Yet kind Gods whose pitifull condition is not to punish at ful the witkednes of your creatures Heare with the eares of mercy my last petition and sende thy messenger Ziperus to blow into the eares of our comfootlesse Parentes and friendes our vntimely tragedies that they knowing the place where our mangled bodies lie may entomb vs with our ancestors and reuenge our deaths on those most cursed homicides whose bloody handes haue bene our confusions Scarsly could he finish his sorrowfull speach when beeing faint with the losse of blood issuing from his wounds and ouercharged with sorrow for his friends lieng slain by him he gaue so heauie a sigh as might haue mooued a hart of flint to pitie his estate In this extremitie behold a comfort for loe a poore labouring man seruant vnto a miller dwelling two miles distant from the place where he receiued his wounds searching for the straied beastes of his saide maister Miller happened by great chance to ouerheare this wofull complaint which ended standing halfe amased to heare so sweet a voice casting many waies in his simple minde the daungers and subtilties of spoiling miscreants supposed verily that it had bin a deuise of some villaine lurking there abouts of purpose to betray traueilers and to bring them within their compasse to rob them Thus many wayes misdoubting the worst not yet resolued whether to depart or to see what he was that made such a piteous mone at length taking vnto him the hart of Sampson he boldly stepped ouer the hedge into the groue whereas this wounded Andrugio lay No sooner was he entred this groue but viewing round the place like a good Pilate for feare of rocks glancing his eies eftsoons to the ground then els where hee chaunced to espie great store of blood which when he had with no smal admiration beheld putting on his holyday countenance like an hardie squire he marched on following the tracke of the blood vntil he came vnto that place whereas all those dead carkasses lay when he had recouered the sight of these wounded men his hart trembled with griefe was worse mooued at the discouering of them then euer in his life before standing thus in his dumpes deuising whether it were best to touch them or
thou offend the Gods and endanger thy selfe Can beautie be resisted which made the Gods to bowe Cupid himselfe loued Phiches and thinkest thou to bee of greater force But what fondnes is this in thee Andrugio to dandle thy selfe in such follies Thou didst at thy comming from thy father pretend study in the famous citie of Siena and doest thou now forget that the benefite is great which learning bringeth Educacion is more meete for thee than loue Foolish boy how can the states of thy couÌ„trie thinke thee sufficient to gouerne them that canst not rule thy selfe Yt will be to much for thee to take so great a charge which canst not maister thy affectâ—ons Yet Andrugio if thou wilt needes loue vse it as men vse the seeing of Comedies on a stage for recreation where when thou art weary thou mayest depart at thy pleasure Then leaue to loue but in this sort subdue thine affections be maister of thy mind so maist thou laugh at Cupid and his fondlings and say thou wast in loue what then He had scarsly finished these wordes with a sorrowfull sigh when Fortune that blind Goddesse and his sworne enemie hath brought Elanicus a yoong Noble of Saxonie to the house of the Mister bound by the commaund of the Duke to the citie of Siena to seeke Andrugio of whome there came no newes at all to the court of his Father since his departure This Elanicus posting thorow the desartes was warned by a swain whoÌ„ he met to shun the way wherin he rode for that night approched recountring vnto theÌ„ a most cruell murder committed there by vpon certaine Gentlemen not passing three moÌ„nethes before This newes appaled the heart of Elanicus For about the same time Andrugio with his companie departed for which cause he entered farther talke with the swaine demaunding if he sawe the dead carkasses of the slaine men if he did to recount vnto him their feature as neere as he might with their apparell To whom this swaine accomplishing his request in rude maner describing at large to all his demandes the hearing of which so grieued Elanicus that starsly might he breath But remooued from his dumps he enquired how he came to the knowledge of this he had deliuered Sir quath he dwelling not far hence a neighbor of mine came 〈◊〉 vnto the place where the murderers had left them where by his paines he recouered one proper Gentâ—â—man the rest being buried as well as we could Friend queth Elanicus sith it hath pleased thee to acquaint me of friendship with these tidinges and withall warâ—ed me from falling into the hands of those â—aitifes I giue thee thanks And if I may not be tedious vnto thee that thou vouch safe to bring me where this recouered man resteth I will so satisfie thee as thou shalt haue no cause to complaine of loosing so much labour Thus agreeing the Swaine conducted him and his companie vnto the Miller where Andrugio rested Elanicus hauing well rewarded the Swaine bad him farewell whose sodaine entring the horsse put Andrugio out of Loues cogitation Elanicus meeting first with Susania saluted her as the maner of his countrey with courteous congies beseeching the mayden of so great fauour being a trauailer and night growing on for his mony to to haue entertainement To whome Susania whose womanly conditions more giuen by nature then education aunswered Gentleman what you are I knowe not But I vnderstand good sir the owner of this filly cottage my father being from home I may not boldly presume to giue entertainment to anie how willing soeuer I were to the same for many causes and especially for that I doubt me greatly you with your accoÌ„plices are they which most vnchristianlike slaughtered the Gentlemen of Saxon as they trauelled those desertes Wherefore whether you be the same or whatsoeuer you be take not discourteously the words of a sillie mayden but while you haue time I beseeche you depart elswhere to prouide you Elanicus doubting to haue the repulse began to glorie with the mayden beeing loth to depart without farther knowledge of Andrugio and his companie and therefore besought her to take pâ—tie on his wearie carcase worn with hard trauaile in searching for such Gentlemen of Saxon as by her talke seemed to be dead protesting vnto her in most vehement oathes that he was a stranger and born in Saxonie Andrugio who had listened to their talke hearing Elanicus to name Saxonie was so rauished with suddaine ioy as he might not stand recouering himselfe could not forbeare the presence of his louing countriman and companion with whose speach he was sometime acquainted but leauing his chamber came to see him Andrugio no sooner entring the place where Elanicus sate parlieng gently with the maiden who might not in any cause be intreated to entertaine him But being espied of Elanicus his speach sodainly failed and his tongue failtred in his mouth he fell mainly on the shoulders of Andrugio when passed his trance he cried out Ah my Lord my louing Lord what destinies haue brought you and your companie to these extremities Are the Gods so vniust that they will suffer your noble blood innocently shead to goe vnreuenged Little knoweth the Duke your father of your hard mishap yet doubting the worst hath sent me to Siena to know what mooued you to keepe the tydings of your happy artiual to the place of your desire w tout writing vnto him But I see the Gods haue preuented your noble intent by suffering your body grieuously to bee wounded and your friends to rest in death Accursed Fortune who hath noâ— better prouided for you than thus in the spring-time of your flouring yeares to be thus masacred Yet thankes to the Gods that gaue you life and thankes to your good Phisition whosoeuer hee bee whome if I might knowe I will in some sort requite as I may though not as I would Thankes Elanicus for thy kindnesse quoth Andrugio But happie had I bene if my life might haue accompanied my good friendes which it had done if this my sweete Phisition taking Susania by the hand had not bin whose cares as they haue bene great to restore me to health so will I neuer forget them if the Goddes permit me life But my Lord quoth Elanicus what is your Lordshippes pleasure to doo Dooth your strength serue you to bestride a horse or shall wee make some prouision of coatch to conueigh you to the Court of your renowmed father Ah no my sweete Elanicus answered hee if thou loue me as thy paines employed in aduenturing thy selfe for my safetie sufficiently witnesseth counsell mee not to returne to my Fathers Court vntill I haue spent some time in the famous Citie of Siena to perfourme there what my heart did desire long time before I obtained licence for the same Therefore cease to take further cares for me onely employ me with money for my necessarie vses and returne with what speede you may to the Duke my father This night
shedding of tears but standing mute a long time as one in a trance on the suddaine comming to himselfe he inquyred the cause of her death and how it came to passe whereof none in the companie could aduertise him wherefore accusing his owne follies and light beleefe hee supposed that his bytter wordes vsed in disgrace and slander of her honest life to be the causâ— thereof But dissembling his griefe he presently departed to his owne house and sending for those two Gentlemen which had made the complaint vnto him of his sister and Andrugio taking them into his chamber as if he had in secrete to impart vnto them he stabbed them both to the end they should not in like sort as they had to him acquaint others with the slander of his sister and Andrugio Taking order for Madam Melissina her buriall according to her estate he kept his chamber long time and would not be seene or spoken to of any body whatsoeuer in the midst of these sorrowes he often thought of Andrugio who lay in most pitifull miserie almost starued for want of foode by his owne command which when hee considered dreading the punishment of God for his light beleefe and massacring those he had slaine besides his sisters death more neere vnto him then all the rest he commaunded Andrugio to be dispossest from all the substance he had and to bee clothed in such base apparell as he found him in beeing prisoner in the Turkes Gallies and sent him into freesland to a friend of his a Nobleman whome in his letters he earnestly desired to inflict some grieuous torment vppon Andrugio This Noble man not knowing any cause but at Ieronymie his request kept him as a drudge in his kitchin to doo his slauerie and for all kind of cariage for the prouision of his house he made him to drawe home like a horse vppon fleids shooing him of purpose in wooden shooes with long calkes of yron for slyding on the yse in this miserie liued Andrugio the tearme of two yeares with greate penurie still accusing Fortune that would not as wel commaund his life to be taken from him and so end his calamities as to aggrauate his paines dayly to inflict new punishmentes on him too much for a man to indure and enough for a beast Traueiling thus with his â—leids from place to place there chaunced a countrie man of his a traueiler wanting in the towne where Andrugio was a common â—leid which caried passengers he requested Andrugio whom hee vnderderstood dwelled within a mile or two where his businesse lay that he might passe with him Andrugio vnderstanstanding by his speech that he either was of Saxonie or neere there bordering tooke him in and curteously entertained him and passing on their iourney enquired from whence he was who answered he was of Saxonie This word began to renue a liuely collour in the face of miserable Andrugio who thought now to heare the certaine newes how all things did stand of the health of his father the duke wherefore he began as a straunger that did know little to enquire of the gouernment of the country which the stranger curteously tolde him adding withall the death of the Duke with their sorrowe for the losse of so noble a Prince These wordes caused Andrugio to shead teares most piteously which was noted of his passenger which demaunded the cause of his suddaine heauines Andrugio excusing the matter said that he could not choose but lament their losse who shoulde want so good a Iusticer as hee reported that Duke to be demaunded further if hee left no children behind him to succeede him and how the countrie was gouerned My friend quoth the Saxon but that griefe will not permit me to discours it I could tel thee as lameÌ„table a historie as euer thy eares haue heard but answering thy demandes I beseech thee of friendship to pardon mee the rest Trueth is my friend our Duke hauing one sonne of wit pregnanâ— in learning forward and of personage for his time peerelesse This yoong prince in wofull time we may all say that liue in this grieued countrie of Saxonie desirous to learne knowledge craued licence to study at the Vniuersitie of Siena whether he had leaue to goe accompanied with diuers yoong Nobles of our country and Gentlemen of great name who most vntimely lost their liues as they traueiled thorow Germany and he only left aliue yet in great danger but recouering his health he departed to Siena and from thence no man knoweth whether nor none can tell whether he liue or no yet hath there bene great inquirie made for him in many countries His Dukedome in his absence is gouerned by sixe lordes of the countrie in very good order vnto whome not long since there came a braue Gallant from the Vniuersitie of Siena to enquire of the good health of our Dukes sonne named Andrugio for that as the report showeth they were bedfellowes and sworne friendes in Siena But when he found not my Lord Andrugio and was truely aduertised that they had not seene him since his being at Siena with great griefe he lamented his absence and vowed neuer to leaue trauell vntill hee found him or had some certaine newes of him so leauing his name which as I can remember was Galastio sonne vnto the Duke of millaine hee departed to the great sorrow of our Nobles who perswaded him earnestly to leaue the hazard of so bad a match Andrugio who had with no litle grief harkened to this could not forbeare the shedding of teares most aboundantlie which the traueiler pitied to se least doubting that which afterwards happened Andrugio with much a doo drieng vp the conduites of his weeping eies vnto the talke of the traueiler thus answered Then good my friend quoth hee if your dwelling bee within the Dukedome of Saxonie as you make report tell me I beseech you how you came by the knowledge of this that you haue made relation I wil requite you if I may Yea quoth the traueiler I was borne in â—he Dukedome and from my childbyrth brought vp y e citie where the Duke kept his court What I say is full well knowen vnto mee My father a Gentleman of his Graces retinue while he liuen whome I haue daily seene with teares to bewaile the death of this good Duke and with no litle sorrow lament his sonnes absence Tell me then friend how if it shoulde be thy chance to meet the dukes sonne what fauour wouldst thou doe him if his want were great couldst thou anie way relieue him or in what sorce wouldest thou deale with hym Sir quoth hee if my hope were suche to finde him I were the happiest creature of my whole progenie and so shoulde repute my selfe and great fauour should I gaine in my country if I might but bring certain newes of his life or death to whome I would willingly as my dutie and leache Lord impart what I haue or can by my acquaintance marchantes of our