in whatsoever they do say or do to supplant our female simplicity would find themselves a great way off from their Hope I pray you Nomerfide said Guebron let me give you my voice that we may hear from you some Account to that purpose I will rehearse unto you one said Nomerfide as much to the commendation of true Lovers as yours have been to the dispraise of foolish Women Of two Lovers who subtilly did enjoy their Loves and of the happy issue thereof The fourth Novell IN the City of Paris there were two Citizens of a considerable Estate the one a Lawyer the other a Mercer who for a long time did bear a great affection to one another by the means whereof the Son of the Lawyer called James a young Man and a fine Companion did oftentimes frequent the Mercers house in pretence of the Love that was shewed to his Father but it was indeed in love to the fair Daughter of the Mercer whose Name was Frances And James did make his addresses so effectual to her that he knew he was no less beloved than he did love But in the time of this Courtship the War began in Provence by reason of the Invasion of Charls of Austria and James was enforced to follow the War to serve according to the Estate in which he was In the beginning of these Wars his Father dyed the News whereof did convey a double affliction to him the one was for the loss of his Father the other was for the inconvenience which that losse brought with it which was that on his return he should be deprived of the opportunity of seeing his Sweet-heart so often as he hoped to have done Neverthelesse in a short process of time the one was forgotten and the other increased for as Death is a thing natural and more natural to the Father than to the Children so grief by little and little of it self doth wear away But Love instead of conveying death unto us doth bring us life by the propagation of Children who doe render us immortal which is one of the most principal motives to increase our desires James being returned to Paris had no other thought or care than to put himself again into the train and the vulgar frequentation of the Mercers house where under the umbrage of his former love he might traffick with his dearest merchandise On the other side during his absence Frances was sollicited and courted by diverse as well for her beauty as for her wit and understanding and also because she was fully marriageable although her Father was not forward to seek out a Husband for her whether it were through covetousnesse or a provident desire to have her richly placed she being his only Daughter And this conduced nothing at all unto her Honour for tongues now a days are proâ—e to slander and detraction when no occasion is administred and especially if it be upon any thing which concerns the Chastity of Maid or Woman This her Father understood who was neither blind nor deaf to the vulgar chat nor would he be like those Fathers who instead of censuring Vice in their Wives or Children do provoke them to it for he did keep her so short that even those who came unto her as Suters only could hardly be admitted to see her although she was always in hâ—r Mothers Company I need not to ask you if this were not very grievous to James to endure being not able in his understanding to resolve himself what was the reason that she was guarded with so much severity and finding no occasion for it he could not tell what certainly to conclude upon but did waver betwixt Love and Jealousie At the last he was resolved with himself come what would of it he would know the reason But first of all to understand if she were of the same affection as she was before he did so often goe and come where she used to resort that one Morning hearing Masse in the Church and being very near unto her he perceived by her countenance that she was no lesse glad to see him than he was to see her and knowing also that her Mother was not so strict over her as her Father he took one day the boldnesse as it were unexpectedly seeing them goe from their House unto the Church to accost them with a familiar and vulgar complement and not too expressely to declare himself that he might better arrive to the end of his Design The end of the year approaching in which his Father died he determined with himself to leave off his mourning and to put himself into such a habit as might become the honour of his Ancestors and acquainted his Mother with it who did like it very well desiring with all her heart to see him well married because she had no more Sons and but one Daughter who was already married and very richly and moreover she did inure her heart to the Love of virtue by the infinite Examples of other young Gentlewomen of her age who either did advance themselves or at least shewed themselves worthy of the Family from whence they were descended There was nothing more to doe but to consider in what shop they might best provide themselves His Mother said unto him James I think it most expedient to goe to my Husbands Compeeire Master Peters who was the Father of Frances for said she he it one of our Friends and will not deceive us That word much pleased her Son and he greedily swallowed it neverthelesse he said unto his Mother we will buy it there where we can find our best Market but because he was an acquaintance of my Fathers I am content to goe thither in the first place The Agreement was made and one morning the Mother and the Son did go to Mr. Peters house who received them with many expressions of respect as you know few Shop-keepers are unprovided in that kind A great variety of whole pieces of Silks were laid open upon the board and they might chuse what they pleased but they could not agree upon the price which James did on purpose because he could not see the Mother of his Sweet-heart and at last they were going without buying any thing at all to try what they could do in another place But James did like nothing so well as what he cheapned at his Sweet-hearts Fathers house whither some hours afterwards they returned They found then her Mother within who did give them the best welcom in the world and after the words of course which are accustomed in such shops the Wife of the Mercer being more hard to deal with than the Mercer himself James said unto her You are grown Lady very hard see what it is to lose a good Father Now we cannot be known here and with that he made an apparence as if he wept and wiped his eys in the remembrance of the dear Father which he lost but this was only to play his own cards the better The
but instead of beholding her from whom he hoped to have the preservation of his life he beheld the precipitation of his death which was a drawn sword which the Gentleman had in his hand with which he struck at the Duke with all his force who was in his shirt and being without arms but not without heart defended the blow with the Bed-cloaths and taking hold of the Gentleman about the body said unto him Is this the fulfilling of the promise which you made me And seeing he had no other weapon but his teeth and nails he did bite the Gentleman on the pulse of his hands and with the strength of his arms did so long defend himself that they both fell down between the Wall and the Bed The Gentleman who began to be overborn by him called to his servant who sinding the Duke and his Master so tyed together that he knew not which of them to choose did dragg them both by the feet into the middle of the Room and with his Poynard did cut the throat of the Duke who defended himself until the losse of bloud did render him so feeble that he could make no more opposition Then the Gentleman and his Servant did carry him into the bed where with many blows and thrusts of the Ponyard they did over-act their Murder Afterwards having drawn close the Curtains they did both depart and shut up the dead Body in the Chamber When the Gentleman saw himself victorious over his Enemy by whose death he thought to procure the Liberty of the Publick he conceived that his work was imperfect if he did not as much to five or six more of those who were next in power to the Duke And to put his hand to the work he told his Servant that he should go for them one after another and do with them as he had done with the Duke But his Servant who was not of any great heart or courage said unto him Sir Methinks you have done well enough already for one time and that you should rather think of saving your own life than of taking more lives away from others for if we should stay to do as much to every one of them as we have done unto the Duke the day would discover our enrerprize before we should have put any period to it although we should have found them all without defence The Gentleman whose evill conscience did render him fearful did beleeve his Servant and taking him along with him he addressed himself to the Bishop in whose Custody were the charge of the Keys of the City and the Command of the Post-horses The Gent. said unto him I have this Evening received News that my Brother is on the point of Death I have been to demand leave of the Duke to go unto him who hath granted it Wherefore I desire you to command the Posts to let me have two good horses and the Porter of the City to open the Gates unto me The Bishop who esteemed his intreaty no lesse than the Commandement of the Duke with whom he knew he was most gracious did give him incontinently a Ticket by virtue whereof both the Gates of the City were opened to him and the Post-horses suddenly provided accordingly as he desired And instead of seeing his Brother he took his way directly to Venice where he caused the bitings which the Duke had given him to be healed and not long after he travelled into Turkey In the Morning the Servants of the Duke found it very long before he came forth and did attend his return for they suspected that he was gone to see some Lady But seeing the morning far spent and they could hear nothing of him they began to look for him in every place The poor Dutchesse who began to affect him most intirely understanding that they could not hear any News of him waâ— in a great perplexity But when the Gentleman whom so well he loved could be heard of no more than himself they resorted to his house to seek him our and finding some drops of bloud at his Chamber door they did enter into his Chamber and found not any there to give them the least Intelligence but their suspition increasing they followed the tracts of the bloud and came to the Door of the Chamber where the Duke was which they found locked and having broken open the Door they found the place full of bloud and drawing the Curtains they found the body in the Bed asleep to wake no more You may imagine what Lamentation his poor Servants made who carryed his dead body into the Palace whither the Bishop came and informed them how in the time of night the Gentleman in great diligence departed under pretence to see his Brother By which it most clearly did appear that it was hewho did commit that Murther And it was also proved That his poor Sister did never hear the least word of any thing who although she was astonished at the sad news she heard yet it increased her love unto her Brother who had delivered her from so cruel a Prince the Enemy of her Chastity by the apparent hazard of his own life And continuing more and more her Progresse in all virtues although she was poor for her House and all her goods were confiscated she found good friends rich Kinred in Italy by whom being assisted she lived a long time in great and good reputation Ladies here you see what may make you fear that little God who taketh delight to torment Princes as well as Beggars and the mighty as well as the feeble and who doth render them so blind that they lose God and their Conscience and at last their own lives And Princes and those who are in authority may well be afraid how they displease those who are inferiours to them for there is none so weak but he can do hurt when God will take vengeance upon a sinner nor so great that can guard himself from his Enemy when he is under his power This History was much listned to by all the Company but it produced great diversities of Judgement for some maintained that the Gentleman had done his duty in saving his own life and the honour of his Sister as also in delivering his Country from a Tyrant Others were of another mind and affirmed that it was a great Ingratitude in the Gentleman to put him to death who had bestowed upon him so many benefits and honours The Ladies said that he was a good Brother and a virtuous Citizen The Men professed the contrary and that he was a Traitor and a wicked Servant It would be requisite in this place to allege the reasons on both sides but the Ladies according to their Custom did speak as much by passion as by reason assirming that the Duke was worthy of Death and that happy was the hand that did give the blow wherefore Dagoucin perceiving the great contestation that he had made amongst them did say unto them For Gods sake
him too late both by his laughter and his voice was strook into an amazement with the shame she had brought upon her self and called him a thousand times wicked Traytor and Impostor and would have thrown her self out of the Bed to look out a knife to have killed her self because she was so unfortunate to have lost her Honour with one whom she loved not and who to be revenged of her might divulge her shame throughout the world But he held her in his arms and by sweet words did assure her That he loved her more than he did whom she loved and that he would conceal that which touched her Honour that she never should receive the least discredit which the poor Lady believed and understanding the Invention which he had contrived to obtain her and the difficulties he went through to accomplish it she did swear unto him That she did love him better than the other who knew not how to conceal a Secret And moreover whereas there was a false report raised on the French she now knew to the contrary and that they were more wise constant and discreet than the Italians wherefore she would now differ from the opinion of her own Nation to comply with them But she did heartily entreat him that for a time he would forbear to appear at any Feast or Meeting where she was unlesse it were a Mask only for she knew well enough that she should have so many blushes upon her cheeks that her Countenance would declare it to all the world This he promised to perform and also entreated her That when his Friend should come about two hours hence that she would make him good cheer and by little and little withdraw her self from him Of which she made a great difficulty but because it was his desire she at last consented to it And taking his Farewel of her he did leave her so satisfied that she could have been well contented to have had him to have stayed longer with her After that he rose and had dressed himself he made hast out of the Chamber and left the door half shut and half open as he found it And because it was almost two a-clock after midnight he entertained a fear that he should find the Gentleman in the way he retired himself a little into a private corner on the top of the stairs where not long afterwards he observed the Gentleman to passe by and to enter into the Ladies Chamber whereupon he himself repaired directly to his own Lodging to take some repose after his nights travels which he did and did not rise untill it was past nine of the clock in the morning at what time the Gentleman came to him who never failed to give him an account of his Fortune which was not now so good as he hoped it would have proved For he told him That when he came into the Chamber of the Lady he found her out of Bed and in her Night-gown having a great Feaver on her her pulse beating very violently her face all on fire and a great sweat running down her face wherefore she did immediatly intreat him to return from whence he came for fear that she should be inforced to call unto her Maids to come to her assistance so violent was her distemper insomuch she said that she had more need to think of Death than Love and to talk rather of God than of Cupid Howsoever she was very sorry for the hazard into which he had put himself for the love of her because she had no power to make him in this world any requital for his true love being ready to be gone into another At this he was so sad and so astonished that his Fire and his Joy were converted into Ice and Sorrow and so immediatly he departed In the morning on the break of Day he sent to be more surely informed of her health and found for certain that she was in an extreme Indisposition and multiplying his complaints for her he wept so abundantly that it seemed his Soul was comming out with his tears Boninet who had as great a desire to laugh as the other to weep did comfort him the best that possibly he could and told him That things of a long continuance did alwayes meet with an untoward beginning and that Love did a little draw back but to come on with the greater force and to make the Delight more gratefull And on these words they departed The Lady for a certain time did keep her Bed and on the recovery of her health she bid Adieu to her first Servant and grounded it on the fear which she had of Death and the Remorse of her Conscience and continued her familiarities with Signior Boninet the continuation of whose Love according to the Custom was as the Beauty of the Flowers of the Fields It seems to me my Ladies that the subtilties of this Gentleman did equal the hypocrisie of the Lady who having so long counterfeited her self a virtuous woman did at the last declare her self a Fool. You may speak what you will of women said Emarsuite but that Gentleman acted a wicked part for suppose the Lady had a Friend must another circumvent him by his policy You may assure your self said Guebron that such Merchandises can never be better sold but to those that offer most and to those Buyers who come last and give the greatest price Never believe that those who in this nature do court Ladies do endure any great pain for the love of them No no it is only for the love of themselves and for their own pleasures On my credit said Longaren I do believe you for to declare the truth unto you all those Gentlemen which ever yet courted me began all their Complements on my behalf pretending to desire my Life my Good my Honor but the end was only for themselves and for their own pleasure and their own glory therefore it is the safest course to take leave of them at the first part of their Sermon for when we come to the second it is not so much honour to refuse them seeing that Vice when it is once known is refusable of it self It behooveth then said Emarsuite that as soon as ever a Man doth begin to open his mouth we must refuse him without knowing what he would say Parlament answered My Companions you must not understand it so for you know well that at the first words a Lady should not seem to understand any thing neither after he hath declared himself should she much lesse believe him but when he comes to swear and adde oath unto oath it seems to me that it is the best course for a Lady to forsake him then at his climbing of the Hill before he hath have to come down unto the Valley Shall we believe 〈◊〉 said Nomerfide that they love all for ill Is it not a sin to judge our Neighbor You may believe as you will said Oysilla but you ought to be in fear
that Order upon him that every one thought she had forgotten him she resolved with her self to put her Design in Execution which was to render their loves alike in habit form and in condition of life as it was when they lived in one house under one Master and Mistresse And because that fourteen Months before she had given order for all things that were necessary for her to enter into a Religious house she one morning demanded leave of the Marchionesse to goe to hear Masse at the Covent of St. Clare which she granted being ignorant wherefore she did ask it and passing by the Grey Friers she intreated the Warden of the Covent to give her leave to see one of the Friers whom she called her Kinsman When she saw him in the Chapel by himself she said unto him If my Honour had permitted me to put my self into a Religious House as soon as you did I would not have attended untill this time but having by my patience broken through the opinions of those who are more apt to judge Evil than Good I have determined with my self to take upon me the same Condition Robe and Life which I see you have done without inquiring what it is for if you find any Good I shall have my part therein and if you find any thing that is grievous I will not be exempt from it for by what way you go into Paradise in the same I will follow you being assured that he who is the true perfect and the most worthy to be called LOVE hath drawn us to his service by a chast and virtuous love which by his holy Spirit he will convert to our advantage beseeching him That my self as well as you may forget the Body that perisheth and the tincture of the old Adam to receive and put on him who is our Spouse Jesus Christ Her religious Servant the Frier was so well contented and so glad to hear her holy Resolution that with weeping tears of Joy he fortified her in her opinion as much as possibly he could saying Since he could have nothing of her in this world but words only and was hardly permitted to have those also that he thought himself very happy to have now the means daily to see her and that she was of the same mind with him that neither the one nor the other did care which of them were the happiest living in one estate of Love of one heart and of one spirit being perswaded and conducted by the bounty of God whom he besought to keep them both in his hand where none could take them from him And speaking those words and weeping with tears of love and joy he kissed her hands and she stooped her down unto his hand and in true charity did give it the holy kisse of Dilection And thus in a great content Paulina departed and entred into the Covent where she was received and veiled Which afterwards she sent word of to Madam the Marchionesse who hardly could be induced to believe it Wherefore the next morning she repaired to the Monastery to see her and to disswade her from her resolution and if words would not prevail to add force unto her words but Paulina did assure her that if she had the power to take from her a Husband of flesh a man whom she loved best in this world she ought to content her self without attempting to divorce her from him who is immortal and invisible for he was not in her power nor under any power in the world The Marchionesse observing her resolution did kisse her and full of sorrow did take her leave of her After that time Paulina and her servant did live so holily and so devoutly in their places of observance that we ought not to doubt but that he the end of whose Law is charity did in the end of their lives say unto them as unto Mary Magdalen that their sins were all pardoned because they had loved much and that in peace he brought them to a place where their recompence doth surpasse all the merits of men and their good deeds are crown'd with an incomprehensible reward Ladies you cannot be ignorant that never any man did shew a greater love or which so perfectly was returned to him by her whom he loved that I could wish that all those in their condition of love were as well recompenced There would be then said Hircan more he-Fools and she-Fools than were ever yet seen in the world Do you call it folly said Oysilla to love honestly in our youth and afterwards to convert all that love unto the love of God Hircan laughing made answer to her if melancholy and despair be virtues I will confesse that Paulina and her servant are most worthy to be praised So it is said Guebron that God hath many means to draw us to him the beginnings whereof may seem to be unpleasant but their end is good I am of opinion said Parlament that a man can never love God perfectly until first he hath perfectly loved some Creature in this World What do you call it to love perfectly said Saffredant Do you esteem those to be perfect lovers who are in a rapsody at the sight of their Mistresse and kneel down before them at a great distance without daring to declare their affections to them Parlament made answer I call those perfect lovers who do seek for some perfection in those they love whether it be goodnesse beauty or gracefulnesse or whatsoever it be that is always tending unto virtue and who have a heart so high and honest that they will rather by their deaths put an end to all corrupt desires than that their honours or their consciences should suffer For the Soul which is not created but to return unto its soveraign good hath as long as it is even in this Body a desire to arrive unto it But by reason that the understanding by which it should learn the way is obscure and carnal by the sin of our first Father it cannot represent any thing unto it but things visible and which only do approach unto perfection after which the Soul doth run thinking to find in a visible grace and in moral virtues the Soveraign beauty and the Soveraign Grace and Virtue But when she hath examined and proved them and found that it is not that which perfectly she loveth she throws them by goes on further like an infant who in its first infancy loveth apples and pears and puppets and the fairest things that can be presented to the eye and doth esteem it great riches to heap small stones together afterwards growing into age it loveth living creatures and to amasse those precious stones and treasures which are necessary for the life of man But when by grave experience it knoweth that in transitory things there is no perfection nor felicity it desireth to search after true happinesse and the Giver who is the Fountain of it Neverthelesse if God should not open unto us the
her Husband did give him many wounds with the poynado so that the Frier desired pardon and confessed the Truth of all his wickednesse The Gentleman although he might would not kill him but intreated his Wife to go home to his House and bring some of his servants to him and to bring a little Wagon with them to convey himself to his House with more ease which she did The Frier being despoyled of his habit which he had polluted with so much blood and lust did run in his shirt and his shorn head towards his own Covent But the servants of the Gentleman did overtake him as they were going to their Master to assist him to bring away the Wolf which he had taken and did dragg him to his house who did cause him to be brought before the Justice of the Emperor in Flanders before which Court he confessed his villany and it being found by his Confession and proof made by the Commissaries there present that a great number of Gentlewomen and beautifull Maids had been brought into that Monastery by the same Art as this Frier would have brought this Gentlewoman It was ordered That the said Monastery should be examined and despoyled of those beautiful Larcenies and that in the perpetual memory of this Crime the Monks should be all shut up and be burned with the Monastery By this it may appear that there is nothing more cruel than Love when it is grounded upon Vice as there is nothing again more commen dable than Love when it doth dwell in a virtuous heart Ladies I am very sorry that the truth of these Accounts doth not lead us as much to the commendations of Friers as it doth unto their prejudice for it would be a great pleasure to me in the respect of the love which I do bear unto their Order to know any one of them who would give me a just cause to praise them But we have sworn so much to speak the truth that after the report of Men so worthy to be believed I am constrained not to conceal it assuring you that when the Friers of these times shall do any act worthy of memory I will endeavour to set it forth far better to their Glory than I have given you the account of this Truth unto their Infamy In good carnest Guebron said Oysilla Behold here a Love which ought to be called Cruelty I doe wonder said Simonâ—ault how this Frier had the patience seeing this Gentlewoman in her smock and in a place where he himself was Master that he did not take her by force He had not so sudden a stomack said Saffredant but was a true Gormandizer for through the desire which he had to be-glut him self with her all day long he would not make any stay â—ow to take a tast of her It is not so said Parlament for you are to understand that every Man who is furious is also timorous and the fear which surprized him that his prey should be taken from him did cause him to take away that Lamb as a Wolf doth a sheep to seed upon it with more appetite at his own leisure I cannot believe said Dagouâ—in that he did bear any love unto her or that Love could ever inhabit in a heart so barbarous However it was said Oysilla I do beseech God that as he was punished so the like enterprizes may alwayes meet with the like chastisement But to whom will you give your voice To you Lady said Guebron for you will be sure to give us some good Account Since it comes to my turn said Oysilla I will give you a memorable account which happened in our times and of which she her self was an ey-witnesse who did acquaint me with it I am sure that you are not ignorant that Death is the end of all our Miseries and therfore putting an end unto our miseries it may be called our Felicity and sure Repose for the greatest misery that a man can have is to desire Death and to be deprived of it and of the means to enjoy it The greatest punishment which can be given to a Malefactor is not Death but to afflict him with a perpetual torment so great it makes him to desire it and so little that he cannot obtain it just as a Husband did deal by his Wife as you shall hear by this following story The punishment more rigorous than Death which a Husband inflicted on his Wife having taken her in Adultery The second Novell KIng Charls the Eighth of that Name did send into Germany a Gentleman called Bernage Lord of Cyure neer unto Ambois whose diligence was so remarkable in his Masters service that he travelled both day and night One evening he arrived very late at the Castle of a Gentleman where he demanded lodging which with great difficulty was at last granted Neverthelesse when the Gentleman understood that he was the Servant of so great a King he did go forth to meet him and did beseech him not to be discontented at the rudenesse of his people for by reason of some kinred of his Wives who intended ill unto him he was enforced to keep his Gate shut Immediately Bernage acquainted him with the occasion of his Legation in which the Gentleman did offer him all service that possibly he could in the behalf of the King his Master and brought him into his House where he did lodge him and gave him honourable entertainment The hour of Supper being come the Gentleman did lead him into a Parlor hung round with very rich tapestry where as soon as the meat was upon the Table he did behold a Lady of a most excellent beauty to come forth from behind the Arras her head was shaven all over and the rest of her body cloathed with Blacks of Almaign After the Gentleman had washed with Monsieur Bernage water was brought to the said Lady who having washed her hands did sit down at the end of the Table and spake not to any one nor any one to her Signior Bernage did often look upon her and she seemed to him to be the most beautiful Lady that ever he beheld but only that she looked pale and withall was very sad After she had eaten a little she demanded Drink which a Servant did bring her in a wonderful vessel for it was the scull of a dead Man the edge whereof was round about tipped with silver The Lady did drink twice or thrice in it and after she had supped and washed her hands she made a low Reverence â—o the Master of the House and returned again from whence she came without speaking any word Bernage was so amazed to see a thing so strange that he became very sad and pensive The Gentleman perceived it and said unto him I observe very well that you are astonished at what you have seen at this Table but because of the civility which I have found in you I will not conceal from you the occasion of it that if in me there be
that those whom God keeps are well kept In my opinion said Parlament the punishment is but reasonable and as just as moy be for as the offence was worse than death so was the punishment worse than death I am not of your opinion said Emarsuite for I had rather all my life time behold the bones of dead Servants in my Cabinet than indure to die for them there is no crime so great which cannot be amended but after death there is no amendment at all How is that said Longaren can you amend your Honour you know I am sure that after such a misfortune whatsoever a Woman can doe she can never recover her honour Tell me I pray you said Emarsuite if Mary Magdalen hath not more honour now amongst men than her Sister who was a Virgin I must confesse said Longarine that we do praise her more but it is for the great love which she did bear our Saviour and for her repentance for if you doe observe it the title of a Sinner doth continue with her still I care not said Emarsuite what name men give unto me for if God doth pardon me and my Husband to boot there is nothing that I know of for which I would die Although that Gentlewoman did not love her Husband as she ought said Dagoucin yet I doe wonder that she did not die for grief to behold the bones of him whose death she occasioned by her own offence Say you so Dagoucin said Simontault are you yet to understand that Women are capable neither of grief nor love Yes said he and that is the reason that I never dare to tempt their loves for fear I should find lesse than I desire You live then said Nomerfide like a Plover of the Wind upon Faith and Hope we may seed you at a cheap rate I am contented said he with the love which I doe find in my self and the hope I have in the heart of one Lady which if I know to be such as I hope it is the extream content thereof would so transport me that I should not endure it without death Nay be wise said Guebron and take heed of that Plague for it is a dangerous malady I dare assure you But I would know to whom Madam Oysilla will give her voice I doe give it said she to Simontault who I do know will not spare any You praise me so highly said Simontault that you doe almost call me a Detractor Howsoever I will not forbear to represent unto you that those whom they call Detractors have spoken the truth And Ladies I am confident ye are not so foolish to believe that in all these Novells which have been spoken whatsoever appearance they may have of truth yet if they were brought to the triall the proof is not so great but they may be a sufficient Subject for the Sceptick nay oftentimes we find a great abuse under the pretence of a miracle and therefore I have a desire io give you an account of one which will be no lesse to the honour of a faithfull Prince than to the Dishonour of a wicked Minister of the Church The abhomination of an incestuous Priest whose Sister under the pretence of a holy life was great with child by him and of the punishment that did follow thereupon The third Novell COunt Charles of Angoulesm Father to King Francis the first of that name a virtuous Prince and fearing God being at Coignac intelligence was brought unto him that in a Village not far from thence called Chernes there was a Vigin lived so austere a life that it was admirable yet neverthelesse she was great with Child which she no ways dissembled but was proud of it and assured all the people that came to behold her that she never knew man and that she could not conceive which way she conceived it if it were not by the adumbration of the Holy Ghost which the people easily believed and did repute her to be a second Virgin Mary Every one that knew her did affirm that from her Infancy she was so precise that there never appeared the least sign of any worldlinesse in her She fasted not only the Fasts commanded by the Church but many days in the week she made Fast-days for her private Devotion and as song as any service was said in the Church she never stirred from it wherefore her life was so much esteemed by all the people that every one did come on purpose to look upon her as a wonder and happy was he who could but touch her garment The Curat of the Parish was her Brother a man of about fifty years of age and of a very austere life and accounted by his Parishioners to be a very holy Man who to outward appearance did intreat his Sister so roughly that he did in a House keep her shut up as in a prison at which the people were very much displeased and the report of this miracle was so great that the news thereof was brought to the Ears of the Count who perceiving the abuse with which all the world was possest did desire to take it away wherefore he sent the Master of the Requests and his Almoner two very accomplished personages to understand the truth thereof who repaired to the place and to be informed as diligently as possibly they could they did addresse themselves to the Curat who seemed to be much amazed at the affair and besought them both to assist him in the attestation of it which he said he hoped would give satisfaction to the World The next morning the said Curat did sing Masse in the Church at which his Sister did assist him on her knees being very big with Child At the end of the Masse the Curat did take into his hand Corpus Domini and in the presence of all the Assembly did speak unto his Sister Wicked and Blasphemous as thou art accused to be Behold here him who hath suffered death and who was crucified for thee before whom I demand if thou art a Virgin as thou hast always assured me She boldly and without the least Impression of fear made answer to him Yes And how then is it possible said he that thou shouldest be great with Child and yet remain a Virgin She answered I can give no other cause thereof but that it is only by the Grace of the Holy Spirit who doth in me that which he pleaseth Howsoever I ought not to deny the grace which God hath vouchsafed to me which is to preserve my Virginity for I had never the least desire to a Husband Her Brother then said unto her I give thee here the precious Body of Jesus Christ which thou shalt receive to thy own Damnation if it be otherwise than thou allegest of which these Honourable personages who are sent hither from the Count shall be the Witnesses whereupon his Sister who was about thirty years of age did take this following Oath I take the Body of my Lord here present to
good Woman the Widdow who was James his Mother being present did comply with him and said I in good troth since his Death we are no more visited than if we had never seen one another and this is all the reckoning that is made of poor Widdows Hereupon they did grow into new Indearments and the Mercers Wife did promise to visit her more often than ever And as they were speaking those words there came in other Customers whom the Master did lead into another Shop And the young Man taking his opportunity said unto his Mother I would forsooth that she would be pleased to come to us upon some Festival days to visit the holy places which are about us and especially the Religious if she would vouchsafe sometimes as she passeth by to take a Cup of wine it would be a great pleasure and an honour to us The Mercers Wife who thought no evill made answer to them that a fortnight ago she had determined with her self to walk abroad to see her friends and that if the Sunday following was a fair day she would take her pleasure then and as she passed by she would give a visit to her This being agreed upon the agreement followed for the price of the pieces of silk for James thought it was not requisite for the value of a litttle silver to lose so fair an opportunity The plot being laid and the Merchandise carryed away James perceiving that he alone was not able to carry on the enterprize was constrained to declare himself unto a faithfull Friend and they both did lay their heads so well together that there wanted nothing but the performance On the Sunday following the Mercers Wife and her Daughter on their return from their Devotions did not fail to call at the Widdows house where they found her with a good Woman a Neighbour of hers talking together in the gallery belonging to the Garden there was also the Daughter of the Widdow James his Sister who was walking up and down the Allees of the Garden with her Brother and Oliver James when he beheld his Sweet-heart did so compose his countenance that he did not reveal the least sign of Joy and in that grave garb did address himself both to the Mother and the Daughter And as it is ordinary that the Old do always keep company with the Old the three Women did sit upon a Bank which was so made that they were inforced to turn their backs towards the Garden into which by degrees the two lovers entred and walked untill they came unto the place where Oliver and his Sister were where some Salutations and Complements being passed they did walk again in the Allees of the Garden where the young Man did so well declare his intire affection to Frances that she could not but have compassion on him and did not altogether refuse that which her friend demanded so that he perceived that she was comming on and according to his expectation But you are to understand that during the time they were in this Communication they oftentimes walked up and down by the Bank where the good Women sate to take away suspition from them talking sometimes aloud of vulgar and familiar Subjects and sometimes making an apparence as if they were in a great Contestation And in this manner they passed up and down not far from the good Women for the space of half an hour at which time James made a sign to Oliver who played his part also vellâ—ry we with the other Maid whom he discoursed with insomuch that it could not be perceived when the two Lovers entred into a green plat shadowed with Cherry trees and enclosed with Goosberry Bushes and Roses where they pretended to goe to beat down Almonds in one corner thereof but it was indeed to gather Plumbs Here James instead of giving his Sweet-heart a Green Gown did give her a Red one for her blood did flush into her cheeks to find her self surprised before she was aware They had so readily gathered their plumbs because they were ripe that Oliver could not believe it were it not that he beheld the Maid to hold her head down towards the ground as if she had been ashamed which gave unto him a token of the Truth for before as she walked she did hold up her head without any fear that the vein in her eye which ought to be red should be seen to have taken the Azure colour which James perceiving with Remonstrances necessary to that purpose did endeavour to restore it to its first complexion and walking afterwards three or four turns in the Garden it was 〈◊〉 without tears and sighs Frances saying oftentimes unto him Wo is me Was it for this that you did love me Good God And if I had but thought on it What shall I doe you have undone me for ever In what Fame shall I now live What shall become of me I assure my self that you will make no more reckoning of me especially if you are in the number of those who do only love for pleasure Alas the time that ever I was born or being born that I had not died before I fell into this error These words were not uttered without abundance of tears But James did so comfort her with so many solemn Promises and Oaths that after they had walked three or four turns in the Garden more and he had made a sign to his Companion they ented again into the Grasseplat by another way where James did not behave himself so unmanly but she received far more pleasure at the giving of the second Green Gown than at the first and moreover did like so well of it that they entred into a consultation how they might see one another more often and more to their delight In which a young Woman a Neigbour of the Merchants and one of James his Kinswomen and one who was a very good Friend to Frances did very much assist them In this condition of life for ought that I can understand they continued without scandal until the consummation of their marriage which was a very rich one for the Daughter of a Mercer in regard she was the only child he had True enough it is that James a long time stayed for the death of the Father who was so locked up to himself that it seemed to him what he held fast in one hand the other would steal from it Ladies you may here behold a Love well begun well continued and best of all concluded for although it is a common thing with you Men to disdain a Maid or Woman who hath been too liberal to you of that which you most seek of her so it is that this Gentleman being possessed with a true and sincere Love and having known that in his Sweet-heart which every Husband desireth in her whom he hath espoused and finding her also wise and well descended would not forsake her he himself being the occasion of the fault that was committed neither would he
any beast He it is who contrary to his oath and promise hath revealed the happy life which without any prejudice to any we have a long time lived O my friend my friend whose only love is entred into my heart with whose life my own hath been woven must it now come to passe that in declaring you my mortal Enemy my Honour must be carryed away by the winds my body crumble into ashes and my Soul for ever depart to its last place of residence What was the beauty of the Dutchess so inchanting that it hath had the power to transform you as somtimes had that of Circe Hath she made you of virtuous to become vicious of good wicked of a Man a Beast a cruel Beast O my Friend my Friend although you have failed in your promise made to me yet I will keep my promise made to you which is that I will never see you again after the divulgation of our Love and being no longer able to live without your presence I do willingly accord to the extreme sorrow which I feel and for which I will provide no remedy neither by Reason nor Physick for Death only shall put an end to it which shall be more pleasant to me than to continue in the World without a Friend without Honour and without Contentment Neither Death nor the War hath deprived me of my Friend neither Lust nor Rage have taken from me my Honour neither Deviation nor Demerit of my own hath made me to lose my Contentment but the cruelty of treachery which hath caused the most obliged of all Men to become the most ingratefull Alas Madam the Dutchesse What pleasure was it unto you when by mockery you did upbraid me with my little Dogg Go on as you have begun and continue to delight your self with that happinesse which doth belong to me alone You make your sport at her who by wisely concealing and who by virtuously loving did promise to her self to be exempted from all mockery O how hath this word contracted my heart How hath it made me to look red with shame and pale with jealousie Wo is me my heart my heart I do feel you can hold out no longer Love unadvisedly or treacherously made known doth consume you with Fire Jealousie and the Injury you have received do freez you with Ice and with Grief and Indignation kils you not permitting the least consolation to arrive Alas for thee O my Soul who by too much adoring the Creature hast forgot the Creator Thou must return again into the hands of him from whom vain Love hath ravished thee Take Confidence O my Soul thou shalt find God a better Father than thou hast found him a Friend for whom thou so often hast forgot God O my God my Creator who art the true and only Friend by whose Grace the love which I have born unto my Friend hath been stained with no Vice unlesse by too much loving him I beseech thee of thy infinite mercy to receive the Soul and Spirit of her who doth truly repent that she hath so much disobeyed thy first and most just Commandement And for the merit of him whose Love is incomprehensible be pleased to excuse that fault which too much love hath caused me to commit for in Thee alone I have perfect Confidence And adieu my false Friend whose Name without the Effect hath broken my Heart Having spoke those words she did fall down from the Bed upon the Ground and her colour waxed pale and her lips blew and an universal coldnesse seized on every part of her Body At that instant the Gentleman who did love her came into the hall and seeing the Dutchesse dancing with the other Ladies looked every where up and down where his Mistresse was and not finding her he did repair into the Chamber of the Dutchesse near unto which he found the Duke walking in the Gallery who conjecturing what his thoughts were did whisper him in the ear and said Your Sweet-heart is gone into yonder Wardrobe I am afraid she is not well The Gentleman demanded of him that he would be pleased to give him leave to wait upon her to which the Duke was easily intreated As soon as he was entred into the Wardrobe he found that she was even ready to breath forth the last breath of her life and falling down on his knees he imbraced her and said unto her O my dear Love How do you do What will you forsake me The poor Lady hearing the voice which so well she knew did begin a little to recover her colour and opening her eyes she looked stedfastly on him who was the occasion of her Death But so looking on him Love and Despite did so violently increase upon her that with a pittifull sigh she rendred her Soul to God The Gentleman more dead than she that was dead did demand of the Damosel How that Extremity seized upon her who all along did account unto him the words which she had heard her speak whereupon he immediately perceived that the Duke had revealed the Secret to the Dutchesse and was transported with so great a fury that imbracing the Body of his Sweet-heart he did along time bedew it with his tears and at last said Wo is me the most treacherous most wicked and the most unfortunate Man in the world How is it come to passe that the punishment of my Treason is not fallen on my self but on her who is innocent O why did Heaven spare me Why did not Thunder check my Tongue in that hour when I first revealed our most secret and most virtuous Love Why did not the Earth open her self Why did it not devour this unadvised Breaker of his Faith Be thou punished O my tongue as was the tongue of the rich Glutton in Hell O my heart be thou perpetually torn in pieces by Eagles as was the heart of Titius O Dear Sweet-heart the most unfortunate misfortune of all misfortunes is befallen me Thinking to have preserved you I have lost you thinking to see you live a long time with content I imbrace you discontented and dead O thou the most loyal and the most faithfull Woman that ever was I shall by all be condemned to be the most inconstant disloyal and the most unfaithful man in the world I might complain of the Duke in whose promise I so much trusted hoping by that to give a longer continuance to our happy life but alas I might know that no man could keep my secret better than my self The Duke had more reason to impart it unto his Wife than I to impart it unto him I can accuse none but my self of the greatest disloyalty that ever was committed by a Lover I had better by far be thrown into the River accordingly as the Duke did threaten that thou my dear friend mightst be preserved alive and I gloriously might have died in observing the laws which true love commandeth but breaking them I remain alive and thou who most perfectly
did love art dead Thy heart so pure and undefiled could not without death endure to understand the Vice which was in me your friend O my God wherefore didst thou create me a Man having a love so light and a heart so ignorant Why didst not thou rather create me a little dogg who so faithfully did know to serve his Mistresse Alas little Dog the joy which thy barking brought unto me is now turned into perpetual mourning because by my means another was admitted to hear thy voice But so it is dear friend that neither the Love of the Dutchesse nor of any Woman in the World hath caused me to change my affections although she oftentimes hath importuned me to it But ignorance overcame me thinking for ever to preserve your Love but this ignorance cannot excuse me for I have revealed the secret of my friend I have falsified my promise which is the only cause that I see you dead before my eyes Shall death be lesse cruel to me than to your self who only for Love have put an end to your innocent life I must believe shall I believe that death will not vouchsafe to touch my unfaithful and accursed heart for a dishonourable life and the memory of my losse through my own default is more insupportable than ten thousand deaths Woe is me my friend If any one either through malice â—r misfortune had been so cruel as to kill you I should readily have put my hand upon my Sword to have revenged you It is no reason therefore that I should pardon the murtherer who was the occasion of your death and by a more unrighteous act than to have killed you with a Sword If I knew any more wicked Executioner than my self I would desire him to see Justice performed on your treacherous friend O Love By the ignorance of loving I have offended thee and wilt not thou relieve me as thou didst her who inviolately did keep all thy Laws Is it nor reason that by the like honest means I doe end my life It is and most reasonable it is that it be done by my own hand and since with my tears I have bathed your face and with my Tongue I have required pardon of you nothing now remains but that with my own hand I doe render my body like unto yours and that my Soul do follow wheresoever yours is gone before me knowing that a virtuous and an honest love can have no end either in this world or in the World to come And immediately rising from the body as a man transported and out of his sense he drew his Sword and fixing the pummel of it against the Wall and the point of it against his Brest he with great violence did drive it quite through his body and falling down he took his Sweet-heart in his arms and did kisse and imbace her with such affection that he seemed to be more surprized by love than by death The Damosel observing him to draw his Sword did immediately run forth to cry out for help The Duke hearing the cry and doubting some sad accident had befallen those whom he most intirely loved was the first that came into the Wardrop and beholding this lamentable spectacle he endeavoured to take off the Gentleman from the body of the dead Lady if it were possible to save him but he held his Sweet-heart so fast in his arms that he could not sever him from her with all the strength he had until he was quite dead himself Neverthelesse understanding that the Duke did speak unto him and demanded who was the occasion of it he did lift up his head and looking furiously upon him he made answer Your Tongue Sir and my own and bowing down his head again he immediately dyed his face being close joyned to that of his Friends The Duke desiring to be thoroughly informed with all the particulars of this Tragedy did command the Damosel to declare at large unto him whatsoever she had seen or heard which she did all along without sparing any thing whereupon the Duke perceiving that he was the Original of all this Evil did throw himself upon the two dead Lovers and with great Lamentation craving pardon of them for his offence he oftentimes did kiss them rising from them in a fury he drew out the sword froÌ„ the dead body of the Gentleman And as a wild Boar being wounded by a Lance doth run with resistlesse violence at him who made the thrust so the Duke did addresse himself to her who had wounded him quite through his Soul He found her dancing in the Hall and more frolick by farr than she was accustomed to be conceiving that in some measure she had revenged her self upon the Niece of the Duke In the middle of the Dance the Duke did lay hold on her and said unto her you promised not to reveal the Secret upon the forfeit of your life And your life shall answer for your trespasse and speaking those words he took her by her Headgeer and sheathed the sword in her Body at which all the Company were so amazed that they conceiv'd the Duke was bereaved of his Senses Having thus put a violent period to the Life of his Dutchesse he called together his Friends and his Servants and did declare unto them the lamentable and most virtuous story of his Niece and the great Injury that his Wife had done her which caused many tears in all the standers by The Duke afterwards commanded that his Wife should be buried in an Abbey which he had founded and caused a fair Sepulcher to be builded where the bodies of his Niece and of the Gentleman were interred together and an Epitaph was laid upon the Monument declaring the History of their loves and their Tragical Deaths The Duke afterwards did undertake a Voyage against the Turks and God so prospered him that he atchieved great honours and gained large Revenues And on his Return finding his eldest Son able to manage the Government of his Estate he did put on the habit of Religion in the same Abbey where his Wife and the two Lovers were buried where devoutly he passed away the Remainder of his life Ladies this is the History which you have intreated me to declare unto you and which I perceive by your eyes that you have not received without compassion From hence methinks we ought to take an Example to have a care not to fix too much our affections on men For how honest and virtuous soever the love may seem to be in the beginning yet for the most part it goes off with an unpleasing Farewell And moreover you may read that Saint Paul would not that married people should set altogether their affections on one another for by how much the more our hearts are ingaged in a terrestrial Love by so much the lesse they are addicted to the Love of Heaven and spiritual things and the more noble and the more virtuous the Love is the more difficult it is to break
before they began to distrust that on this day they were not so well able to discharge their tasks wherefore the better to prepare themselves they did every one retire into their own Chambers untill the hour came that they were to go from their Chamber into the Fields to deliver one by one their accounts there upon the green carpets of the grasse where already they found that the Monks were come and behind the neighbouring hedge had taken their places in the expectation of them When every one of them were sat It was demanded amongst them Who should begin Saffredant said You have given me the honour to begin two Journals It appears to me that we should wrong the Ladies if one of them should not begin this Madam Oysilla replyed we are like then to stay long enough for ought that I can see before we can agree upon the person for my part said Dagoucin if the question had been propounded to me I should have given my voice again to Saffredant And I said Nomerfide should have given mine to Parlament for I am so much accustomed to obey that I know not how to command All the Company did agree to what Nomerfide did say and Parlament did thus begin Ladies Our Accounts hitherto delivered have been so full of gravity that I could wish the Accounts of this day might be as full of delight to which they all gave consent and Parlament did begin THE NOVELLS Of Queen MARGARET A woman being sick and at the point of death did grow into such a passion seeing her Husband did kiss her Chambermaid that by the Extremity of her Rage she was restored to her health The first Novel of the Eighth dayes Account IN the City of Amboise there lived a Sadler whose name was Borihaudier who was Sadler to the Queen of Navarre He was a Man of whose Nature if one might judge by the complexion of his face that he was a greater Servant to Bacchus than to the Priests of Diana He had espoused a Woman of good fortunes and good reputation and who governed her Family and Children very discreetly whereat her Husband was much contented One day it was told him that his Wife was fall'n very sick on the sudden and was in great danger of Death whereat he seemed to be as sorrowfull as possibly a man might be and in great diligence did make hast to her relief he found her in that desperate condition that she had more need of the Priest to confesse her than of the Physician to cure her and therefore he made for her the greatest lamentation in the world And the better to represent it he spake faintly and with a hollow accent in the throat as did the dying woman his Wife and that Painter must be a good workman who could lively set forth the sadness of his look and countenance After that he had done her all the services that possibly he could she commanded that a Crucifex should be brought unto her which the good man perceiving he did cast himself upon the bed thinking his Wife past all hopes of Recovery he cryed out and fumbling with his tongue did expostulate O God! what shall I do I shall lose my poor Wife what shall become of me wretched and unhappy man with divers other complaints At the last when he perceived that there was no body in the Chamber but his dying Wife and a young Chambermaid beautiful enough and in good liking he called her softly to him and said unto her Sweet-heart I am even dying my self to see thy Mistresse to be a dying Woman I know not well what to say or what to do but onely to recommend my self to thee and to desire thee to take care of my house and Children Here take the keys which are hanging by my side and look well to my Houshold for I shall not be able to look after them any more The poor Girl being touched with compassion to hear those words did comfort him what she could and did beseech him that he would not fall into so great a Despair for if she must lose her Mistresse she hoped she should not lose her good Master also He made answer to her Sweet-heart it is impossible for I find my self to be but a dying Man See how the cold sweat stands upon my Brow put your Cheek unto mine and your Lip to my Lip And speaking those words he did thrust his hand into her Brest whereat the Maid begun to make some difficulty but he desired her to put away all fear for if she hoped for his recovery she must come nearer to him and with those words he did take her in his Arms and did throw her on the bed His Wife who had no other Company but the Crucifix and the Holy water and had not spoken in two days before did begin with her weak voice to cry out as loud as possibly she could Ah Ha! what do you doe I am not dead as yet and threatning them with her hand she said unto them You wicked Creatures I am not yet dead Her Husband and the Chambermaid hearing of her voice did immediately rise but she was so extremely incensed against them that her choler consumed all the moisture of her Catarrhe by the abundance whereof she before ratled in the throat not colud speak a word but now she did give them all the opprobrious terms that possibly she could devise And from that minute she began to recover and perpetually afterwards did reproach her Husband for the little love he did bear unto her By this Ladies you may observe the Hypocrifie of Men and that for a little pleasure they will forget all the pains and the sorrows that their Wives endure What will you say said Hircan if he heard it spoken that is was the only remedy that his Wife could possibly have for her recovery for seeing that by his good usage he could not mend her he would make an experience if the contrary could do any good upon her of which it appears he made an excellent proof And I do much wonder that you being a Woman should be so unadvised as to declare against the Condition of your Sex who amend more by spite than love Without all doubt said Longaren such a despite would cause me not only to come out of my Bed but of my Grave also to be revenged on such a Husband What wrong said Saffredant did he do her to comfort himself a little after he thought that she was dead For it is known well enough that the bond of Matrimony doth continue no longer than life and the knot is then untyed But how untyed said Oysilla the obligation of the Oath is of no effect any more but a good heart would always preserve the obligation of love He had quickly enough laid aside his mourning who could not attend until his Wife had passed away her last breath But that which I find most strange said Nomerfide is that seeing both