not any part or parcell but onely a Ladie for whose sake I haue vndertaken these Armes and freely giue you all the rest contained in the shippe Let vs set on them Gentlemen and my dearest friends couragiously let vs assaile the ship you see how the wind fauors vs and questionlesse in so good an action Fortune will not faile vs. Gerbino needed not to haue spoken so much in perswading them to seize so rich a booty because the men of Messina were naturally addicted to spoile and rapine and before the Prince began his Oration they had concluded to make the ship their purchase Wherefore giuing a lowde shout according to their Countrey manner and commaunding their Trumpets to sound chearefully they rowed on amain with their Oares and in meere despight set vpon the ship But before the Gallies could come neere her they that had the charge and managing of her perceyuing with what speede they made towards them and no likely meanes of escaping from them resoluedly they stood vppon their best defence for now it was no time to be slothfull The Prince being come neere to the Ship commanded that the Patrones should come to him except they would aduenture the fight When the Sarazines were thereof aduertised and vnderstood also what he demanded they returned answer That their motion and proceeding in this manner was both against Law and plighted faith which was promised by the King of Sicily for their safe passage thorow his Sea by no meanes to be mollested or assailed In testimony whereof they shewed his Gloue auouching moreouer that neyther by force or otherwise they would yeelde or deliuer him any thing which they had aboorde their Ship Gerbino espying his gracious Mistresse on the Ships decke and she appearing to be farre more beautifull then Fame had made relation of her being much more enflamed now then formerly he had bin replyed thus when they shewed the Gloue Wee haue quoth he no Faulcon heere now to be humbled at the sight of your Gloue and therefore if you wil not deliuer the Lady prepare your selues for fight for we must haue her whether you will or no. Hereupon they began to let flie on both sides their Darts and arrowes with stones sent in violent sort from their slings thus continuing the fight a long while to very great harme on either side At the length Gerbino perceyuing that small benefite would redound to him if he did not vndertake some other kinde of course he tooke a smal Pinnace which purposely he brought with him from Sardignia and setting it on a flaming fire conueyd it by the Gallies help close to the ship The Sarazines much amazed thereat and euidently perceiuing that eyther they must yeeld or dy brought their Kings daughter vpon the prow of the ship most greeuously weeping and wringing her hands Then calling Gerbino to let him behold their resolution there they slew hir before his face and afterward throwing her body into the Sea said Take her there we giue her to thee according to our bounden duty and as thy periury hath iustly deserued This sight was not a little greeuous to the Prince Gerbino who madded now with this their monstrous cruelty and not caring what became of his owne life hauing lost her for whom hee onely desired to liue not dreading their Darts Arrowes slinged stones or what violence els they could vse against him he leapt aboord their ship in despight of all that durst resist him behauing himself there like a hunger-starued Lyon when he enters among a heard of beastes tearing their carkasses in pieces both with his teeth and pawes Such was the extreme fury of the poor Prince not sparing the like of any one that durst appeare in his presence so that what with the bloody slaughter and violence of the fires encreasing in the Ship the Mariners got such wealth as possibly they could saue and suffering the Sea to swallow the rest Gerbino returned vnto his Gallies againe nothing proud of this so ill-gotten victory Afterward hauing recouered the Princesses dead body out of the Sea and enbalmed it with sighes and teares hee returned backe into Sicilie where he caused it to be most honourably buried in a little Island named Vstica face to face confronting Trapanum The King of Thunis hearing these disastrous Newes sent his Ambassadors habited in sad mourning to the aged King of Sicily complaining of his faith broken with him and how the accident had falne out Age being sodainly incited to anger and the King extreamly offended at this iniury seeing no way whereby to deny him iustice it being vrged so instantly by the Ambassadours caused Gerbino to be apprehended and hee himselfe in regard that none of his Lords and Barons would therein assist him but laboured to diuert them by their earnest importunity pronounced the sentence of death on the Prince and commanded to haue him beheaded in his presence affecting rather to dye without an heire then to be thought a King void of iustice So these two vnfortunate Louers neuer enioying the very least benefite of their long wished desires ended both their liues in violent manner The three Brethren to Isabella slew a Gentleman that secretly loued her His ghost appeared to her in her sleepe and shewed her in what place they had buried his body She in silent manner brought away his head and putting it into a pot of earth such as Flowers Basile or other sweet hearbes are vsually set in she watered it a long while with her teares Whereof her Brethren hauing intelligence soone after she dyed with meere conceite of sorrow The fift Nouell Wherein is plainly proued that Loue cannot be rooted vppe by any humane power or prouidence especially in such a soule where it hath bene really apprehended THE Nouell of Madame Eliza being finished and some-what commended by the King in regard of the Tragicall conclusion Philomena was enioyned to proceede next with her discourse She beeing ouercome with much compassion for the hard Fortunes of Noble Gerbino and his beautifull Princesse after an extreme and vehement sighe thus she spake My tale worthy Ladies extendeth not to persons of so high birth or quality as they were of whom Madame Eliza gaue you relation yet peraduenture it may prooue to be no lesse pittifull And now I remember my selfe Messina so lately spoken of is the place where this accident also happened In Messina there dwelt three yong men Brethren and Merchants by their common profession who becoming very rich by the death of theyr Father liued in very good fame and repute Their Father was of San Gemignano and they had a Sister named Isabella young beautifull and well conditioued who vpon some occasion as yet remained vnmaried A proper youth being a Gentleman borne in Pisa and named Lorenzo as a trusty factor or seruant had the managing of the Brethrens businesse and affaires This Lorenzo being of comely personage affable and excellent in his behauiour grew so gracious in the
in it in the presence of Saladine was inuisibly carried thence and while he sate conferring with his Baschaes the bed Signior Thorello and all the rich Iewells about him was transported and set in the Church of San Pietro in Ciel d' Ore in Pauia according to his own request and soundly sleeping being placed directly before the high Altar Afterward when the bells rung to Mattines the Sexton entring the Church with a light in his hand where hee beheld a light of greater splendor and suddenly espied the sumptuous bedde there standing not only was he smitten into admiration but hee ranne away also very fearefully When the Abbot and the Monkes mette him thus running into the Cloyster they became amazed and demanded the reason why he ranne in such haste which the Sexton told them How quoth the Abbot thou art no childe or a new-come hither to be so easilie affrighted in our holy Church where Spirits can haue no power to walke God and Saint Peter wee hope are stronger for vs then so wherefore turne backe with vs and let vs see the cause of thy feare Hauing lighted many Torches the Abbot and his Monkes entred with the Sexton into the Church where they beheld the wonderfull riche bedde and the Knight lying fast a-sleepe in it While they stood all in amazement not daring to approach neere the bedde whereon lay such costly Iewells it chanced that Signior Thorello awaked and breathed forth a vehement sigh The Monkes and the Abbot seeing him to stirre ranne all away in feare crying aloud God and S. Peter defend vs. By this time Thorello had opened his eyes and looking round about him perceiued that hee was in the place of Saladines promise whereof hee was not a little ioyfull Wherefore sitting vp in the bedde and particularly obseruing all the things about him albeit he knew sufficiently the magnificence of Saladine yet now it appeared far greater to him and imagined more largely thereof then hee could doe before But yet without any other ceremony seeing the flight of the Monkes hearing their cry and perceiuing the reason he called the Abbot by his name desiring him not to be afraid for he was his Nephew Thorello and no other When the Abbot heard this hee was ten times worse affrighted then before because by publique fame hee had beene so many moneths dead and buried but receiuing by true arguments better assurance of him and hearing him still call him by his name blessing himselfe with the signe of the Crosse hee went somewhat neerer to the bed when Thorello said My louing Vncle and religious holy Father wherof are you afraid I am your louing Nephew newly returned from beyond the Seas The Abbot seeing his beard to be grown long and his habit after the Arabian fashion did yet collect some resemblance of his former countenance and being better perswaded of him tooke him by the hand saying Sonne thou art happily returned yet there is not any man in our Citie but doth verily beleeue thee to bee dead and therefore doe not much wonder at our feare Moreouer I dare assure thee that thy Wife Adalietta being conquered by the controuling command and threatnings of her kinred but much against her owne minde is this very morning to be married to a new husband and the marriage feast is solemnly prepared in honour of this second nuptialls Thorello arising out of the bedde gaue gracious salutations to the Abbot and his Monkes intreating earnestly of them all that no word might be spoken of his returne vntill he had compleated an important businesse Afterward hauing safely secured the bedde and all the rich Iewells he fully acquainted the Abbot with all his passed fortunes whereof he was immeasurably ioyfully hauing satisfied him concerning the new elected husband Thorello said vnto the Abbot Vnckle before any rumour of my returne I would gladly see my wiues behauior at this new briding feast although men of religion are seldome seene at such Iouiall meetings yet for my sake doe you so order the matter that I as an Arabian strange◠may be a guest vnder your prorection wherto the Abbot very gladly condescended In the morning he sent to the Bridegroom and aduertised him that he with a stranger newly arriued intented to dine with him which the Gentleman accepted in thankefull manner And when dinner time came Thorello in his strange disguise went with the Abbot to the Bridegroomes house where he was lookt on with admiration of all the guests but not knowne or suspected by any one because the Abbot reported him to be a Sarracine and sent by the Soldane in Ambassage to the King of France Thorello was seated at a by-table but directly opposite to the new Bride whom hee much delighted to looke on and easily collected by her sad countenance that shee was scarcely well pleased with this new nuptialls She likewise beheld him very often not in regard of any knowlege she took of him for the bushiness of his beard strangeness of habit but most of all firm beleefe of his death was the maine preuentiō At such time as Thorello thought it conuenient to approue how farre he was falne out of her remembrance he took the ring which she gaue him at his departure and calling a young Page that waited on none but the Bride said to him in Italian Faire youth goe to the Bride and saluting her from me tell her it is a custome obserued in my Country that when any Stranger as I am heere sitteth before a new married Bride as now shee is in signe that hee is welcome to her feast she sendeth the same Cup wherein she drinketh her selfe full of the best wine and when the stranger hath drunke so much as him pleaseth the Bride then pledgeth him with all the rest The Page deliuered the message to the Bride who being a woman of honourable disposition and reputing him to be a Noble Gentleman to testifie that his presence there was very acceptable to her shee commanded a faire Cuppe of gold which stood directlie before her to bee neately washed and when it was filled with excellent Wine caused it to bee carried to the stranger and so it was done Thorello hauing drunke a heartie draught to the Bride conueyed the Ring into the Cuppe before any person could perceiue it and hauing left but small store of Wine in it couered the Cuppe and sent it againe to the Bride who receiued it very graciously and to honour the Stranger in his Countries custome dranke vp the rest of the Wine and espying the Ring shee tooke it forth vndescried by any Knowing it to be the same Ring which shee gaue Signior Thorello at his parting from her she fixed her eyes often on it as often on him whom she thought to be a stranger the cheerfull bloud mounting vp into her cheeks and returning againe with remembrance to her heart that howsoeuer thus disguised he only was her husband Like one o◠Bacchus Froes vp furiously
should both shamefully be put to death The Mother to this regardlesse Daughter hauing heard the angry words of her Husband and how hee would be reuenged on the faultie could not endure that he should be so seuere wherefore although shee was likewise much afflicted in minde and reputed her Daughter worthy for so great an offence of all cruell punishment â—yet shee hasted to her displeased husband who began to entreate that he would not runne on in such a furious spleene now in his aged yeares to be the murtherer of his owne childe and soile his hands in the blood of his seruant Rather he might finde out some milde course for the satisfaction of his Anger by committing them to close imprisonment there to remaine mourne for their follie committed The vertuous and religious Lady alledged so many commendable examples and vsed such plenty of moouing perswasions that she quite altred his minde from putting them to death and he commanded onely that they should separately bee imprisoned with little store of foode and lodging of the vneasiest vntill hee should otherwise determine of them and so it was done What their life now was in captiuity and continuall teares with stricter abstinence then was needefull for them all this I must commit to your consideration Iehannot and Spina remaining in this comfortlesse condition and an whole yeere being now out-worne yet Conrado keeping them thus still imprisoned it came to passe that Don Pedro King of Arragon by the meanes of Messer Iohn de Procida caused the Isle of Sicily to reuolt and tooke it away from King Charles whereat Conrado he being of the Ghibbiline faction not a little reioyced Iehannot hauing intelligence therof by some of them that had him in custody breathing foorth a vehement sigh spake in this manner Alas poore miserable wretch as I am that haue already gone begging through the world aboue fourteene yeares in expectation of nothing else but this opportunity and now it is come must I be in prison to the end that I should neuer more hope for any future happinesse And how can I get forth of this prison except it be by death onely How now replied the Officer of the Guard What doth this businesse of great Kings concerne thee What affaires hast thou in Sicily Once more Iehannot sighed extreamly and returned him this answer Me thinkes my heart quoth hee doth cleaue in sunder when I call to minde the charge which my Father had there for although I was but a little boy when I fled thence yet I can well remember that I sawe him Gouernour there at such time as King Manfred liued The Guard pursuing on still his purpose demanded of him what and who his Father was My Father replyed Iehannot I may now securely speake of him being out of the perill which neerely concerned me if I had beene discouered He was the named and so still if he be liuing Henriet Capece and my name is Geoffrey not Iehannot and I make no doubt but if I vvere free from hence and might be returned home to Sicily I should for his sake be placed in some authority The honest man of the Guard without seeking after any further information so soone as he could compasse the leysure reported all to Messer Conrado who hauing heard these newes albeit he made no shew therof to the reuealer went to Madam Beritola graciously demaunding of her if she had any sonne by her husband who was called Geoffrey The Lady replyed in teares that if her eldest sonne were as yet liuing hee was so named and now aged about two and twenty yeares Conrado hearing this imagined this same to be the man considering further withall that if it fell out to proue so he might haue the better meanes of mercie and closely concealing his daughters shame ioyfully ioyne them in marriage together Hereupon he secretly caused Iehannot to be brought before him examining him particularly of all his passed life and finding by most manifest arguments that his name was truly Geoffrey he the eldest son of Henriet Capece he spake to him alone in this manner Iehannot thou knowest how great the iniuries which thou hast done me my deare daughter gently entreating thee as became a good honest seruant that thou shouldest alwayes haue bin respectiue of mine honor and all that do appertain vnto me There are many noble gentlewomen who sustaining the wrog which thou hast offred me they would haue procured thy shameful death which pitty compassion wil not suffer in me Wherfore seeing as thou informest me that thou art honorably deriued both by father mother I will giue end to all thine anguishes euen when thy self art so pleased releasing thee from the misery captiuity wherein I haue so long time kept thee and in one instant reduce thine honor mine into compleat perfection As thou knowest my Daughter Spina whom thou hast embraced in kindnesse as a friend although farre vnfitting for thee or her is a widow and her mariage is both great and good what her manners and conditions are thou indifferently knowest and art not ignorant of her Father and Mother concerning thine owne estate as now I purpose not to speake any thing Therefore when thou wilt I am so determined that whereas thou hast immodestly affected her she shall become thy honest wife and accepting thee as my Son to remain with me so long as you both please Imprisonment had somewhat mishapen Iehannot in his outward forme but not impaired a iot of that noble spirit really deriued from his famous progenitors much lesse the true loue he bare to his faire friend And although most earnestly he desired that which Conrado now so franckly offered him and was in his power onely to bestow on him yet could he not cloude any part of his greatnesse but with a resolued iudgement thus replied My Lord affectation of rule desire of wealthy possessions or any other matter whatsoeuer could neuer make me a traytor to you or yours but that I haue loued do loue for euer shal loue your beautious daughter if that be treason I freely coÌ„fesse it wil die a thousand deaths before you or any else shal enforce me to denie it for I hold her highly worthy of my loue If I haue bin more vnmaÌ„nerly with her then became me according to the opinion of vulgar iudgment I haue committed but that error which euermore is so attendant vpon youth that to denie it is to denie youth also And if reuerend age would but remember that once he was young measure others offences by his own they would not be thought so great or greeuous as you many more account them to be mine being coÌ„mitted as a friend not as an enemy what you make offer of so willingly to do I haue alwayes desired if I had thought it would haue bin granted long since I had most humbly requested it and so much the more acceptable would it
haue found no mean inducement to loue in regard of my husbands far distance from me medling in the rude vnciuill actions of warre when he should rather be at home in more sweet imployment You see Sir that these Orators aduance themselues here in your presence to acquaint you with the extremity of my ouer-commanding agony and if the same power hath dominion in you which your discretion questionlesse cannot be voide of then let me entreate such aduise from you as may rather helpe then hinder my hopes Beleeue it then for trueth Sir that the long absence of my husband from me the solitary condition wherein I am left ill agreeing with the hot blood running in my veines the temper of my earnest desires haue so preuailed against my strongest resistances that not onely so weake a woman as I am but any man of much more potent might liuing in ease and idlenesse as I doe cannot withstand such continuall assaults hauing no other helpe then flesh and blood Nor am I so ignorant but publique knowledge of such an error in me would be reputed a shrewd taxation of honesty whereas on the other side secret carriage and heedfull managing such amorous affaires may passe for currant without any reproach And let me tell you Noble Counte that I repute Loue highly fauourable to mee by guiding my iudgement with such moderation to make election of a wise worthy and honourable friend fit to enioy the grace of a farre greater Lady then I am and the first letter of his name is the Count D'Angiers For if error haue not misled mine eye as in Loue no Lady can be easily deceiued for person perfections and all parts most to be commended in a man the whole Realme of France containeth not your equall Obserue beside how forward Fortune sheweth her selfe to vs both in this case you to be destitute of a wife as I am of an husband for I count him as dead to me when he denies me the duties belonging to a wife Wherefore in regard of the vnfaigned affection I beare you and compassion which you ought to haue of Royall Princesse euen almost sicke to death for your sake I earnestly entreate you not to denie me your louing society but pittying my youth and fiery afflictions neuer to be quenched but by your kindnesse I may enioy my hearts desire As shee vttered these words the teares streamed aboundantly downe her faire cheekes preuenting her of any further speech so that deiecting her head into her bosome ouercome with the predominance of her passions shee fell vpon the Countes knee whereas else shee had falne vpon the ground When hee like a loyall and most honourable man sharply reprehended her fonde and idle loue and when shee would haue embraced him about the necke hee repulsed her roughly from him protesting vpon his honourable reputation that rather then hee would so wrong his Lord and Maister he would endure a thousand deathes The Lady seeing her desire disappointed and her fond expectation vtterly frustrated grewe instantly forgetfull of her intemperate loue and falling into extremity of rage conuerted her former gentle speeches into this harsh and ruder language Villaine quoth shee shall the longing comforts of my life be abridged by thy base and scornefull deniall Shall my destruction bee wrought by thy currish vnkindnesse and all my hoped ioyes be defeated in a moment Know slaue that I did not so earnestly desire thy sweet embracements before but now as deadly I hate and despise them which either thy death or banishment shall dearely pay for No sooner had shee thus spoken but tearing her haire and renting her garments in pieces shee ranne about like a distracted woman crying out aloude Helpe helpe the Count D'Angiers will forcibly dishonour mee the lustfull Count will violence mine honour D'Angiers seeing this and fearing more the malice of the ouer-credulous Court then either his owne conscience or any dishonourable act by him committed beleeuing likewise that her slanderous accusation would bee credited aboue his true and spotlesse innocency closely he conueyed himselfe out of the Court making what hast hee could home to his owne house which being too weake for warranting his safety vpon such pursuite as would be vsed against him without any further aduice or counsell he seated his two children on horsebacke himselfe also being but meanly mounted thus away thence hee went to Calice Vpon the clamour and noise of the Lady the Courtiers quickly flocked thither and as lies soone winne beleefe in hasty opinions vpon any silly or shallow surmise so did her accusation passe for currant and the Counts aduancement being enuied by many made his honest carriage in this case the more suspected In hast and madding fury they ran to the Counts houses to arrest his person and carry him to prison but when they could not finde him they raced his goodly buildings downe to the ground and vsed all shamefull violence to them Now as il newes sildome wants a speedy Messenger so in lesse space then you will imagine the King and Dolphin heard thereof in the Camp and were therewith so highly offended that the Count had a sodaine and seuere condemnation all his progeny being sentenced with perpetuall exile and promises of great and bountifull rewards to such as could bring his body aliue or dead Thus the innocent Count by his ouer-hasty and sodaine flight made himselfe guilty of this foule imputation and arriuing at Callice with his children their poore and homely habites hid them from being knowne and thence they crossed ouer into England staying no where vntill hee came to London Before he would enter into the City he gaue diuers good aduertisements to his children but especially two precepts aboue all the rest First with patient soules to support the poore condition whereto Fortune without any offence in him or them had thus deiected them Next that they should haue most heedfull care at no time to disclose from whence they came or whose children they were because it extended to the perill of their liues His Sonne being named Lewes and now about nine yeares old his daughter called Violenta and aged seauen yeares did both obserue their fathers direction as afterward it did sufficiently appeare And because they might liue in the safer securitie hee thought it for the best to change their names calling his sonne Perotto and his daughter Gianetta for thus they might best escape vnknowne Being entred into the Citty and in the poore estate of beggers they craued euery bodies mercy and almes It came to passe that standing one morning at the Cathedral Church-doore a great Lady of England being then wife to the Lord high Marshall cōming forth of the Church espied the Count and his children there begging Of him she demanded what Countrey-man he was and whether those children were his owne or no The Count replyed that he was borne in Picardy and for an vnhappy fact committed by his eldest sonne a stripling of more
one who not by any accident hapning lifted vp her head to look about her neither intended euer to doe Now it came to passe that as the boate was driuen to the shore a poore woman stood at the Sea side washing certaine Fishermens Nets and seeing the boate comming towards her vnder saile without any person appearing in it she wondred thereat not a little It being close at the shore and she thinking the Fishermen to be asleepe therein stept boldly and looked into the boate where she saw not any body but onely the poore distressed Damosell whose sorowes hauing broght her now into a sound sleepe the woman gaue many cals before she could awake her which at the length she did and looked very strangely about her The poore woman perceyuing by her habite that she was a Christian demanded of her in speaking Latine how it was possible for her beeing all alone in the boate to arriue there in this manner When Constance heard her speake the Latine tongue she began to doubt least some contrary wiâ—de had turned her backe to Liparis againe and starting vp sodainly to looke with better aduice about her shee saw her selfe at Land and not knowing the Countrey demanded of the poore woman where she was Daughter quoth she you are heere hard by Susa in Barbarie Which Constance hearing and plainly perceyuing that death had denied to end her miseries fearing least she should receiue some dishonour in such a barbarous vnkinde Country and not knowing what shold now become of her she sate downe by the boates side wringing her hands weeping bitterly The good Woman did greatly compassionate her case and preuailed so well by gentle speeches that shee conducted her into her owne poore habitation where at length she vnderstoode by what meanes shee hapned thither so strangely And perceyuing her to be fasting shee set such homely bread as she had before her a few small Fishes and a Crewse of Water praying her for to accept of that poore entertainement which meere necessity compelled her to do and shewed her selfe very thankefull for it Constance hearing that she spake the Latine language so well desired to know what she was Whereto the olde woman thus answered Gentlewoman quoth she I am of Trapanum named Carapresa and am a seruant in this Countrey to certaine Christian Fishermen The yong Maiden albeit she was very full of sorow hearing her name to be Carapresa conceiued it as a good augury to her selfe that she had heard the name before although shee knew not what occasion should moue her thus to do Now began her hopes to quicken againe and yet shee could not tell vpon what ground nor was she so desirous of death as before but made more precious estimation of her life and without any further declaration of her selfe or countrey she entreated the good woman euen for charities sake to take pitty on her youth and help her with such good aduice to preuent all iniuries which might happen to her in such a solitary wofull condition Carapresa hauing heard her request like a good woman as shee was left Constance in her poore Cottage and went hastily to leaue her nets in safety which being done she returned backe againe and couering Constance with her Mantle led her on to Susa with her where being arriued the good woman began in this manner Constance I will bring thee to the house of a very worthy Sarazin Lady to whome I haue done manie honest seruices according as she pleased to command me She is an ancient woman full of charity and to her I will commend thee as best I may for I am well assured that shee will gladly entertaine thee and vse thee as if thou wert her owne daughter Now let it be thy part during thy time of remaining with her to employ thy vtmost diligence in pleasing her by deseruing and gaining her grace till heauen shall blesse thee with better fortune And as she promised so she performed The Sarazine Lady being well stept into yeares vpon the commendable speeches deliuered by Carapresa did the more seriously fasten her eye on Constance and compassion prouoking her to teares she tooke her by the hand and in louing manner kissed her fore-head So she led her further into her house where dwelt diuers other women but not one man all exercising themselues in seuerall labours as working in all sorts of silke with Imbroideries of Gold and Siluer and sundry other excellent Arts beside which in short time were verie familiar to Constance and so pleasing grew her behauiour to the old Lady and all the rest beside that they loued and delighted in her wonderfully and by little and little she attained to the speaking of their language although it were verie harsh and difficult Constance continuing thus in the old Ladies seruice at Susa thought to be dead or lost in her owne Fathers house it fortuned that one reigning then as King of Thunis who named himselfe Mariabdela there was a young Lord of great birth and very powerfull who liued as then in Granada and pleaded that the Kingdome of Thunis belonged to him In which respect he mustred together a mighty Army and came to assault the King as hoping to expell him These newes comming to the eare of Martuccio Gomito who spake the Barbarian Language perfectly and hearing it reported that the King of Thunis made no meane preparation for his owne defence he conferred with one of his keepers who had the custody of him and the rest taken with him saying If quoth hee I could haue meanes to speake with the King and he were pleased to allow of my counsell I can enstruct him in such a course as shall assure him to win the honor of the field The Guard reported these speeches to his master who presently acquainted the King therewith and Martuccio being sent for he was commanded to speake his minde Whereupon he began in this manner My gracious Lord during the time that I haue frequented your countrey I haue heedfully obserued that the Militarie Discipline vsed in your fights and battailes dependeth more vpon your Archers then any other men imployed in your warre And therefore if it could bee so ordered that this kinde of Artillery might fayle in your enemies Campe yours be sufficiently furnished therewith you neede make no doubt of winning the battaile whereto the King thus replyed Doubtlesse if such an acte were possible to be done it would giue great hope of successefull preuailing Sir said Martuccio if you please it may bee done and I can quickly resolue you how Let the strings of your Archers Bowes bee made more soft and gentle then those which heretofore they haue formerly vsed and next let the nockes of the Arrowes be so prouided as not to receiue any other then those pliant gentle strings But this must be done so secretly that your enemies may haue no knowledge therof least they should prouide themselues in the â—ame manner Now the reason
do offend any other For iealous husbands are meere insidiators of their Wiues liues and most diligent pursuers of their deaths being lockt vp in their houses all the Weeke long imployed in nothing but domesticke drudging affayres which makes them desirous of high Festiuall dayes to receiue some litle comfort abroad by an honest recreation or pastime as Husbandmen in the fields Artizans in our Citie or Gouernours in our iudiciall Courtes yea or as our Lord himselfe who rested the seauenth day from all his trauailes In like manner it is so willed and ordained by the Lawes as well diuine as humane which haue regard to the glory of God and for the common good of euery one making distinction betweene those dayes appointed for labour and the other determined for rest Whereto iealous persons in no case will giue consent but all those dayes which for other women are pleasing and delightfull vnto such ouer whom they command are most irksome sadde and sorrowful because then they are lockt vp and very strictly restrained And if question wer vrged how many good women do liue and consume away in this torturing hel of affliction I can make no other answere but such as feele it are best able to discouer it Wherefore to conclude the proheme to my present purpose let none be ouer rash in condemning women for what they do to their husbands being iealous without occasion but rather commend their wit and prouidence Somtime faire Ladies there liued in Arimino a Merchant very rich in wealth and worldly possessions who hauing a beautifull Gentlewoman to his wife he became extreamly ielous of her And he had no other reason for this foolish conceit but like as he loued hir dearly and found her to be very absolutely faire euen so he imagined that althogh she deuised by her best meanes to giue him content yet others would grow enamored of her because she appeared so amiable to al. In which respect time might tutor her to affect some other beside himselfe the onely common argument of euery bad minded man being weake and shallow in his owne vnderstanding This ielous humor increasing in him more and more he kept her in such narrow restraint that many persons condemned to death haue enioyed larger libertie in their imprisonment For she might not bee present at Feasts Weddings nor goe to Church or so much as to be seen at her doore Nay she durst not stand in her Window nor looke out of her house for any occasion whatsoeuer By means whereof life seemed most tedious and offensiue to her and she supported it the more impatiently because shee knew her selfe not any way faulty Seeing her husband still persist in this shamefull course towards her she studied how she might best comfort her selfe in this desolate case by deuising some one meane or other if any at all were to bee founde wherby he might be requited in his kind and wear that badge of shame whereof he was now but onely affraid And because she could not gain so small a permission as to be seene at any window where happily she might haue obserued some one passing by in the street discerning a litle parcell of her loue she remembred at length that in the next house to her Husbands they both ioyning close together there dwelt a comely yong proper Gentleman whose perfections carried correspondencie with her desires She also considered with her selfe that if there were any partition wall such a chinke or cranny might easily be made therein by which at one time or other she should gaine a sight of the young Gentleman and finde an houre so fitting as to conferre with him and bestow her louely fauour on him if he pleased to accept it If successe in this case proued answerable to her hope then thus she resolued to out-run the rest of her wearisome dayes except the frensie of iealousie did finish her husbands loathed life before Walking from one roome to another thorough euery part of the house and no wall escaping without diligent surueying on a day when her Husband was absent from home she espyed in a corner very secret an indifferent cleft in the Wall which though it yeelded no full view on the other side yet she plainly perceiued it to be an handsome Chamber and grew more then halfe perswaded that either it might be the Chamber of Philippo for so was the neighbouring yong Gentleman named or else a passage guiding thereto A Chambermaid of hers who compassioned her case very much made such obseruance by her Mistresses direction that she found it to be Philippoes bed Chamber and where alwayes he vsed to lodge alone By often visiting this rift or chinke in the Wall especially when the Gentleman was there and by throwing in little stones flowers and such like things which fell still in his way as he walked so farre she preuailed that he stepping to the chinke to know from whence they came shee called softly to him who knowing her voyce there they had such priuate conference together as was not any way displeasing to either So that the chinke being made a little larger yet so as it could not be easily discerned their mouthes might meete with kisses together and their hands folded each in other but nothing else to be performed for continuall feare of her ielous husband Now the Feast of Christmasse drawing neere the Gentlewoman said to her Husband that if it stood with his liking she would do such duty as fitted with so solemne a time by going earely in a morning vnto Church there to be confessed and receiue her Sauiour as other Christians did How now replied the iealous Asse what sinnes haue you committed that should neede confession How Husband quoth she what do you thinke me to be a Saint Who knoweth not I pray you that I am as subiect to sinne as any other Woman liuing in the world But my sins are not to be reuealed to you because you are no Priest These words enflamed his iealousie more violently then before and needes must he know what sinnes she had committed hauing resolued what to do in this case made her answer That hee was contented with her motion alwaies prouided that she went to no other Church then vnto their owne Chappel betimes in a morning and their own Chaplaine to confesse her or some other Priest by him appointed but not any other and then she to returne home presently againe She being a woman of acute apprehension presently collected his whole intention but seeming to take no knowledge thereof replyed that she would not swerue from his direction When the appointed day was come she arose very earely and being prepared answerable to her owne liking to the Chappell shee went as her Husband had appointed where her iealous Husband being much earlier risen then she attended for her comming hauing so ordred the matter with his Chaplaine that he was cloathed in his Cowle with a large Hood hanging ouer his eyes that she
the chearful blood mounted vp into hir cheekes and thus she replyed Neuer make you any doubt Sir but that I can sufficiently performe whatsoeuer you haue said and am prouided of the onely place in the world where such a weighty businesse is to be effected For I haue a Farme or dairy house neere adioyning to the vale of Arno closely bordering vpon the same Riuer It beeing now the moneth of Iuly the most conuenientest time of all the yeare to bathe in I can bee the easier induced thereunto Moreouer there is hard by the Riuers side a smal Tower or Turret vninhabited whereinto few people do sildome enter but onely Heardsmen or Flocke-keepers who ascend vppe by the helpe of a wodden Ladder to a Tarrasse on the top of the saide Tower to looke all about for their beasts when they are wandred astray it standing in a solitary place and out of the common way or resort There dare I boldly aduenture to mount vp and with the inuincible courage of a wronged Lady not fearing to looke death himself in the face do al that you haue prescribed yea and much more to recouer my deare lost Louer againe whom I value equal with my owne Life Reniero who perfectly knew both the Dairy Farme and the old smal Turret not a little ioyful to heare how forward shee vvas to shame her selfe answered in this manner Madame I was neuer in those parts of the Country albeit they are so neere to our City therfore I must needs be ignorant not onely of your Farme but the Turret also But if they stand in such conuenient manner as you haue described all the vvorld could not yeelde the like elsewhere so apt and sutable to your purpose wherefore vvith such expedition as possibly I can vse I will make the Image and send it you as also the charme verie fairely written But let me entreate you that vvhen you haue obtayned your hearts desire and are able to iudge truely of my loue and seruice not to be vnmindfull of me but at your best leysure to performe what you haue with such protestations promised which shee gaue him her haâ—d and faith to do without any impeach or hinderance and so parting she returned home to her house Our ouer-ioyed Scholler applauding his happy Starres for furthering him with so faire a way to his reuenge immagining that it was already halfe executed made the Image in due forme wrote an old Fable insted of a Charme both which he sent to the Lady so soone as he thought the time to be fitting and this admonition withall that the Moone being entering into the full without any longer delay she might venter on the businesse the next night following and remaine assured to repossesse her friend Afterward for the better pleasing of himselfe he went secretly attended onely by his seruant to the house of a trusty frend of his who dwelt somwhat neere to the Turret there to expect the issue of this Lady-like enterprize And Madam Helena accompanied with none but Ancilla walked on to her dairy Farme where the night ensuing pretending to take her rest sooner then formerly she vsed to doe she commanded Ancilla to go to bed referring her selfe to her best liking After she had slept her first sleepe according to the Schollers direction departing softly out of her chamber she went on towards the ancient Tower standing hard by the riuer of Arno looking euery way heedfully about hir least she should be spied by any person But perceiuing hir selfe to be so secure as she could desire putting off all her garments she hid them in a small brake of bushes afterward holding the Image in hir hand seuen times she bathd hir body in the riuer and then returned back with it to the Tower The Scholler who at the nights closing vp of day had hid himselfe among the willowes other trees which grew very thick about the Tower saw both hir going and returning from the Riuer and as she passed thus naked by him he plainly perceyued that the nights obscurity could not cloud the delicate whitenes of hir body but made the Starres themselues to gaze amorously on her euen as if they were proud to behold her bathing and like so many twinkling Tapers shewed hir in emulation of another Diana Now what conflicts this sight caused in the mind of our Scholler one while quenching his hatefull spleen towards hir al coueting to imbrace a piece of such perfection another while thinking it a purchase fit for one of Cupids soldiers to seize and surprize hir vppon so faire an aduantage none being neere to yeild her rescue in the fiery triall of such temptations I am not able to iudge or to say what resistance flesh and blood could make being opposed with such a sweet enemy But he well considering what she was the greatnes of his iniury as also how and for whom he forgot all wanton allurements of Loue scorning to entertaine a thought of compassion continuing constant in his resolution to let her suffer as he himselfe had done So Helena being mounted vp on the Turret and turning her face towards the North she repeated those idle friuolous words composed in the nature of a charme which shee had receiued from the Scholler Afterward by soft and stealing steps hee went into the old Tower and tooke away the Ladder whereby she ascended to the Tarras staying and listening how shee proceeded in her amorous exorcisme Seuen times she rehearsed the charme to the Image looking still when the two Ladies would appeare in their likenesse and so long she held on her imprecations feeling greater cold then willinglie she would haue done that breake of day began to shew it selfe and halfe despairing of the Ladies comming according as the Scholler had promised she said to her selfe I much misdoubt that Reniero hath quitted me with such another peece of night-seruice as it vvas my lucke to bestow on him but if he haue done it in that respect hee was but ill aduised in his reuenge because the night wants now three parts of the length as then it had and the cold which he suffered was far superior in quality to mine albeit it is more sharp now in the morning then all the time of night it hath bin And because day-light should not discouer her on the Tarrasse she went to make her descent downe againe but finding the Ladder to be taken away thinking how her publike shame was now ineuitable her heart dismayed and shee fell downe in a swoune on the Tarras yet recouering her senses afterward her greefe and sorow exceeded all capacity of vtterance For now she became fully perswaded that this proceeded from the Schollers malice repenting for her vnkinde vsage towards him but much more condemning her selfe for reposing any trust in him who stood bound by good reason to be her enemy Continuing long in this extreame affliction and surueighing all likely meanes about her whereby she might descend from