NISSENA AN EXCELLENT NEW ROMANCE WRITTEN Originally in ITALIAN BY FRANCESCO CARMENI AND Now Englished by an Honorable ANTI-SOCORDIST LONDON Printed for Humphrey Moseley and are to be sold at his Shop at the sign of the Princes Arms in St PAULS Church-yard 165â— NISSENA THOAS King of Cyprus being somewhat aged was much afflicted for that he wanted one to succeed him in his Kingdome having utterly lost all hopes thereof by the death of his wife Almira daughter to the late King of Macedon who died being with child He thought it unbecoming Kingly Majesty to marry a Subject though he wanted not good store of Noble bloud and cry'd up beauty And to ally himselfe with his neighbouring Princes suited not with his politick ends wherefore moved thereunto by his naturall inclination he resolved to take unto him such a wife as might acknowledge her being made partner of the Regall Throne onely to the merit of her beauty Rhodes a neighbouring Island though but of a small circuit was in those dayes so famous for handsome women and did so much abound therein as young Travellers flockt thither from farre distant Provinces onely to feed their greedy and curious eyes with beholding those countenances which multiplied Venus'es on earth and out-did the starres in Heaven Thoas therefore putting on a strange resolution determined to send thither three of the ancientest and wisest Gentlemen of his Court with free liberty to bring her unto him whom of all the Virgins of that Island they should judge to be the fairest that he might make her a Companion both of his Bed and Kingdome to the end that the one might be blessed with issue the other with successors He recommended three qualities to be by them observed in her whom they were to chuse to be his Queen That she should be of Noble Birth Of an excellent Temper And of a befitting Age. And for a fourth he gave them in charge that she should be rarely handsome to witness to the World that he did not marry meerly out of a desire to satisfie his lust The Ambassadors departed with two of the most glorious and best rig'd Gallies which were ever made in the Kings Arsenall attended on with a number of Gentlemen Souldiers and Servants answerable to the decencie and greatness of him that sent them Having had a very prosperous passage they cast Anchor not far from the Haven which on the East is shut in by two strong necks of land thrust out by the Island to rest her self upon The usuall friendly Salute being given by Canon shot they sent Albericus one of the Gentlemen upon the Peere with the Royall Ensignes who made Fermondo the then Prince understand That three Ambassadors from Cyprus desired his good leave to come on shore and to have audience He being full of Civility and a friend to that Crown sent forthwith many of his Gentlemen unto the Haven who went forth in three stately vessels to meet and reverently to receive the Ambassadors When they were come on land and being put into rich Coaches they were waited upon to the Palace by many of the chiefest of the Rhodian Nobility They were met at the stairs head by Fermondo's selfe and after multiplied Embraces and Welcomes they were brought into the Kings lodging they were well pleased to see themselves treated with greater respect and state then they expected or could have imagined Being somewhat weary by reason of those unavoidable troubles which are suffered at Sea were buried in sleep when the Sun was well advanced from the east and when they were awakened by the gladsome sound of Trumpets and the beating of Drums which in warlike wise congratulated the arrivall of such conspicuous personages As soon as they were drest they were invited to Audience by the Prince who very affably meeting them said What is it that is desired by the Ambassadors of King Thoas whom I so love and reverence as I have taken but little rest all the last night out of my desire speediy to execute the commands of so worthy a King With all due reverence and as much eloquence as they were Masters of they delivered their Ambassie desiring that his Highnesse would be pleased that out of all the fairest and best born Maids of Rhodes one may be chosen to make happy by her Marriage and Succession the Bed Bloud Royal of Cyprus The Prince gave way unto their desires saying with a pleasing countenance How fortunate are you the Virgins of Rhodes for whom your propitious Stars and Thoas his goodnesse hath prepared so considerable fortunes Return my acknowledgements unto your King who vouchsafes to chuse a Companion out of my Subjects who though I command over them am yet his humble servant Thankfull Civilities were paid on all sides and in execution of the request publick proclamation was made That all the fairest and best born Virgins of Rhodes should withing a certain prefixt time come to Court where she who should be judged to be the handsomest should be crowned Queen of Cyprus This was soon noysed over the whole Island to the great wonder of every one and to the particular alteration of the hearts not onely of the young Maids but of their Lovers There was no so conceal'd corner in the breasts of all those Maids which was not fild with ambition womanish vainglory the belief which all Lovers have that the object of their affection is the onely true Idoll of beauty did much torment the young men every one of them fearing to lose her whom they thought to be as worthy of a Crown as she appear'd to them to be the Queen of Beauty Some of the Virgins more passionatly in love then the rest would have refused to have appeared at the time and place appointed though a Scepter depended thereupon lest they might lose their Sweet-hearts had not their Parents ambitious hopes forced them to goe The houre and place were appointed which was to be the fatall moment and Capitoll to the Triumph of that Beauty which should happiliest incounter the Genius of those Paris'es who being to be Judges the older they were would be the less passionate in favourably deciding the question wheron the possession not of an Aple but of a Crown did depend 'T was a Spectacle indeed worthy to be seen by the whole world to behold fourscore exceeding handsome and nobly born virgins within one room whose pomp riches quaintness of dress and aparrell added to their prerogatives of Nature made up so pleasing a miracle to the eyes of the lookers on as they doubted whether what they saw was mortall or heavenly 'T was then apparently seen what womens industry can do in inventing rich costly apparell and extravagant dressings to increase by Art the worth of their native beauties whilst what the innocent want of experience in virgins could not doe was by more cunning women by studied Art effected with all their whole might Here did some appeare with hair elaboratly
could not but seem somewhat troubled his blood hastening presently from his heart to his face so as with a panting heart he added I vow unto you upon the vvord of a Prince I know nothing but I beseech you acquaint me quickly with it It vvas not yet two a clock at night said the Baton when one of my Footmen gave me divers letters directed to the Queen vvhich I presently conveyed unto her much time vvas not past vvhen she molested in mind caused her Aunt Eurania to be called unto her and presently afterward those two Gentlemen her Cosen-germans who had accompanied her from Rhodes and having given express order that no one whosoever should be suffered to come in she entertained herselfe a good while in discourse vvith them I vvas afterwards vvilled that by all means possible I should acquaint the King that his humblest servant Nissena did most earnestly desire that his Majesty would immediatly afford her audience I vvas much astonished at the hearing hereof but I had nothing to doe but to obey The King had betane himself to his rest which notwithstanding he gave command that the Queen might be permitted to enter whensover she pleased who accompanied by her Aunt and her two Cousens entred the Kings Chamber and in a reverent but very sad manner kneeld down before his Majesties bed who had raised himself up to welcome her and confounding her words with her tears and sobs she thus exprest her inward sorrow I very well knew since my first coming from Rhodes O Thoas how unworthy I was to be your wife but I knew not nor could I imagin it possible that a King whose fame is so glorious throughout the whole world would go about to abuse a poor silly young Maid who though she be not descended from Kings hath yet in her the blood of the no ignoble house of the Marquiss of Falerno who at all times and upon all occasions have always prefer'd their honour before their lives Such a one was I born as I can very well by my death wash away with my blood any the least shadows of shame which may hitherto have sullied my reputation When I came to Cyprus I came in condition of your Majesties wife not of your Concubine your self knows it full well The Kingdoms of Cyprus and of Rhodes knows it If I have been strangely deceived I am no ways guilty of the deceit I might justly deserve all manner of punishment and might be esteemed guilty if I should tarry any longer here whither being come to live as your servant and consort I am advertised I must live your whore Sir I beg your leave to be gon suffer me O King to return to that Climat where people are born as innocent as here for in case you should not permit me so to do I shall send my soul somewhither else He who had all this while with a confused and troubled aspect patiently listen'd unto her being able to hold no longer cryed out What dreams be these my Queen who is that hath possest you with these apprehensions injurious to my Crown and to your merit since when is it that you have been my Concubine and not my true wife Listen unto me If ever I was possest with thought any ways the least prejudicial to you and if I be any ways conscious or but consenting in very imagination to what you mention let the heavens hurl down thunder upon me let me be punisht by Omnipotency let the earth swallow me up and may hel take me I who have always preserv'd my faith inviolable to all men shall I maculate it to your prejudice who next my Honour are the only object for whom I would yeild up my Kingdom shed my bloud and lose my life Is it I that must betray you have not my past actions sufficiently witnessed to the whole World and to your self which troubles me most the candor and integrity of my soul O if I shall ever know who that wretched villain is that hath plotted these my vexations my revenge shall make him an example to all ages For what remains be of good comfort my Nissena for you shall soon see that you have been deceived in thinking your self deceived by me who honour you Or you shall be Queen of Cyprus or I will lay down the Scepter thereof Reach me pen paper Then calling in for divers Noble men Gentlemen of the Court me amongst the rest he in their presence under-writ a blank paper and signing it with his Regal Seal take this said he my Queen Write in this whatever tyes or agreements you shall think fit to ratifie our marriage and if I do ever deceive Nissena be you all witnesses to the whole world of my infamy and declare me unworthy either to Reigne or live At these lively expressions of true affection and candid Loyalty the Queen for awhile stood immovable then weeping for tenderness she obsequiously took the Kings hand in hers and humbly kissing it said Pardon me Sir for I am betray'd pardon I beseech you the offence which you might justly take at me for suffering my self to be too easily perswaded that you were guilty of a fault which now I see to have been so far from your magnanimous and Princely heart This Sir was that that betraid me and therewithall she gave him a Letter which she had received in the Packet from Rhodes the sence whereof was That a personage much affectionate to her compassionating that misfortune which had carryed her from her fathers house from her country to the end that in her so flourishing age and indow'd with so great beauty and worth she was likely to be grosely abused and deceived by anothers barbarous lust he was resolved through pitty of her misfortunes to adverise her that Thoas feigning by specious ways and pretences to take her to be his wife nourishing her with vain hopes would enjoy her as a whore That he did the rather acquaint her with these proceedings since by doing so he did second the will of Heaven which having till then afflicted the King with sickness shew'd how it did abhor his mischievous machinations but that being now recovered he would not be long in bereaving her of her virginity That she should therefore speedily flie from Cyprus if she would keep that reputation untainted which had for so many ages made famous the House of Falerno or if she desired to render her self glorious for having wisely deluded the lustful ends of a treacherous King Thou art the wicked Traitor who e're thou art cry'd Thoas who possest with I know not what Infernal fury indeavourest to subvert my quiet but if I may ever know who thou art thy head shal justly pay for these thy base and infamous stratagems Then observing the Letter to be without a name or date O Nissena said he you were too easie in crediting the slightness of a Letter written by one who was ashamed to own it if every one
Rhodes by inheritance lawfull Successor of the Crown of Cyprus the which doth as justly belong to me as it hath been by Mintaurus unjustly possest 't is I who beg this of you The kingdom of due belongs to me who wife to the late Thoas was by him in his life time crowned Queen in his death confirmed in the Dominion I as such a one doe both demand and offer peace and being betraid and opprest I flie to you for justice and assistance Let us then unite our forces I beseech you and let us carry the War home to his gates who hath subverted peace Nor will it be without glory to your renowned valor that the Tyrant be by your means punisht and be by you hurld down to his own bloud from his usurped Throne Let us goe for I invite you to peace glory and victory Here she held her peace Nor was there any one in that great and grave Assembly who did not joyfully and humbly offer to expose their own persons to any the greatest danger which might tend to remit her into her just and lawfull possession of the crown In the mean time they strove who should first come with bended knees to shew vvith obsequiousness their duty to her Majesty They placed her in the worthiest and most eminent place whilst they with their hats off stood on foot protesting unto her by the mouths of the best spoken men amongst them their ancient devotion towards the Crown of Cyprus and complaining of that false deceiver who by abusive fraud had necessitated them to take up arms against their King at all other times and upon all other occasions respected and honored by them as became them They thanked her for the proffered peace which they willingly accepted of protesting themselves much bound unto her for that she was pleased to make use of them to recover her Kingdom They offered unto her not onely the publick moneys but even the moneys of their privat purses as much of their Army as was left and finally they acknowledged her and bowed unto her as their lawfull Queen swearing eternall and inviolable allegiance to her Whilst these Welcomes vvere exercised there the Ladies of the Citie were advertised that the exceeding fair Lady who not long before was come thither under a pretence of Ambassie was the Queen Nissena the merit of whose beauty had raised her to the Crown and of whom they had formerly heard Whereupon they to pay their due respects to so great a Princesse and out of curiositie to see whether her beauty did answer to the fame thereof putting on their richest Ornaments and best aparrell they went in guilded Coaches to the Palace to serve and reverence her The newes of the concluded peace vvas this mean while spread abroad amongst the people with which all the Citizens and common people being overjoyed did every where applaud the Queens beauty and wisdome She came forth attended by the Ladies and Senators many whereof waited upon her to the Camp whilst the common people that they might also see a beauty which knew how to merit Kingdoms by the noise of Trumpets and beating up of Drums fild the Heavens with shouts of Jubilee and rejoycing Before 't was night the chief Commanders of the lately before enemies Army came to her Pavillion on the Senats behalf to receive her commands offering themselves to march with their Militia whithersoever she should command them she received them in a grave and courteous manner sending them back presented vvith some little Jevvels vvhich she had carried vvith her vvhen she fled from Nicosia This mean while consultation was had how and in what manner they were to depart and Nissena thinking she had put the means already in a fair way whereby she might repossess her self of her Crown had now nothing to afflict her self with but the thought of her Doralbo of whom hearing no news she could little rejoyce at any other good success which either had or could happen unto her She could not so much conceal this disquiet of her mind but that she gave express command that before the Armies should march towards Nicosia two of the most experienc'd and crafty Soldiers should be sent to learn some news of the Prince and of Theocastro and at the same time to find with what number of Soldiers the Citie was guarded and in what condition of peace and safetie Mintaurus and Melaspus were with the people whether beloved or hated whether they behaved themselves as Lords and Kings or whether but as Officers of the Kingdom VVhen Filarbo and Theocastro as hath been said before saw Doralbo though wounded go from the Camp towards Nicosia they thought it fit to follow him whereupon not many hours after his departure Theocastro took the same way He came to the Citie at that fatal instant when the Prince desperat out of Nissena's believed death having indeavoured to kill Melaspus was committed to Prison So as hearing of his being in hold he thought it good to keep himself conceal'd least he might be thought guilty as complice of the attempted Homicides and that he might the better observe what they resolved to do with the Prince to the end that he might assist him and purchase if it were possible his safetie and libertie though it should cost him his life Getting to this purpose into a friends house on whose fidelitie he might relie he desired to know what urgent occasion had induced Doralbo to so strange and unadvised a resolution and he was informed that being provoked by his exceeding anger at the Queens supposed death he resolved to revenge her whose death was afterwards found to be false but that it was true that she was fled to Rhodes He lamented his Cousins misfortune but much more Doralbo's danger as being more grievous and more imminent he being imprisoned and exposed to the arbitrarie judgment of an unjust severe independent and interressed Magistrate from whom in all probabilitie nothing but cruel resentments could be expected He resolved therefore that very night to discover what Mintaurus his intentions were against the imprisoned Prince and to this purpose he sent to the Lord Chancellor in the name of one of the chief Lords of the Court to know whether sentence were alreadie pronounced against Doralbo or no as being already convinc'd of the Fact so as all process or examination would prove superfluous He could learn nothing from him but that Mintaurus had sent for the chief Marshal and given him some privat directions Theocastro growing hereby more desirous of information would go himself protected by the darkness of the night to know of the chief Marshal who was his familiar friend whether Doralbo were in any eminent danger of death or no This man lived near the Court and from his Lodgings where he his wife and children lived there was a passage through a narrow tarrace to a pair of stairs which landed in a common little yard but not much frequented wherein were the