low earth that 's placed Hath not so many ioyfull dayes But one mishap hath them defaced And vnto whome hath not Fortune assigned For euery ioy a hundereth greefes to taste Why should I then my selfe so sore annoy And shead so many teares day and night in waste The Pleasure which my nourishment doth giue And cake my weary troubled mynde doth case That only ioy which should my lyfe sustayne Is fled away to shorten now my dayes Alas O God alas what meaneth this chaunce That of myne ende so sure a sygne to be As cake a token playne of greefe for to ensue Of much vnrest and great mischaunce to me What must I see of him the cruell death By whome my perfectnesse doth come O God O God that all things doest behold Thy holy will for euermore be done And cause thou me vnperfect wight To see thy gloryous throne in highest Skye Syth euery one alyke by death shall ende And hyest State on earth that lyues must dye AS soone as the poore Lady atchieued the end the Marshall of the Houshold vsing the same ambassage to her as before to the Prince carried her Prisoner vnto another tower a good space from that wherin the Prince was inclosed The Marques during this styrre beholding all the worlde astonyed to see a thyng of so much maruayle and a Spectacle so cruell as the imprysonment of hys sonne that shoulde one daye suceeede him and of hys wife whom he had so derely loued because men should not accounte hys facte vnlawfull or cruell Tyranny he procured sylence to be commaunded and before a great company of his Barrons and houshold Gentlemen with a graue Maiesty that exteryously gaue euident token of his interyour greefe After he had spent an infynite number of teares accompanyed with sorrowfull sighes he began to say What one amoÌ„gst you all my good and louing friends can well brooke that whyche is lately done by mee both vppon my Sonne and vpon the Marchyoues for that you know not the true occasyon and by that meanes you esteeme mee an vnkynde husbande and a Father seuere and cruell agaynst all right and reason and would it might please God that your playntes were lawfull and that I had done wrong in thys truelye then my deare friendes I should haue no occasyon to make you partakers of my heauynesse nor of the sheddyng of those teares that you see runne downe along the face of hym that wythout them cannot expresse vnto you the iuste cause of hys dule and also the greate reason of hys so sodayne crueltye if it oughte not to be named equitye that neuer heretofore hath shewed any effecte of hys mallyce towardes anye man that lyues if fyrste hee haue not gyuen hym the occasyon for it is no lesse prayse worthye in a Prynce to gouerne hys people wyth gentlenesse equytye and clemencye then to punishe the sedicious and disquyetors of the peace because that such pacience shewed to one should not bee the common ruyne of all the whole people Thys is it wherevnto he oughte to extende all hys force no lesse to chasten the temerritye of the foolyshe then to recompence the fydelitie of them whyche hath serued hym faythfully shewing all the offyce of obedience towardes their Lordes What if the law doe inioyne this duety in the Vassall and subiecte â–ª towards the naturall and liege Lorde nature conioyned with the lawe doe constrayne and more streightly bynde the infants which owe to their Parents honour obedience piety al good succours not only of that whiche is exteriour but also of the interyour it selfe which is the good will and perfect amitye by which the harte of the Sonne ought to be vnyted wyth the pleasure and wil of the Father But O immortall God what Father would be so pittious and merciful that seing the Knyfe of hys sonne vpon his owne throate and coulde staye him would suffer him to depryue hym of lyfe But what lyfe oughte to be equall to honour for the atchieuing and attayning whereof all the noble and gentle myndes haue once despyced and yet do despyse their lyues Alas my friends the complaynt which I make before you is against my sonne wyfe the forgetfulnesse of whome is extended euen vnto the defacyng of myne honoure wherin both I and my predecessors haue passed our age I wyll bring you no other wytnesse then myne owne eyes that haue seene one of the moste abhominable and wicked facts that a man can think it is that which I cannot speake withoute an vnmeasurable greefe and without hanging my countenaunce for the shame hee hath done me That is the County Hugnes hath defyled the nuptiall bed of the Marques of Ferrarya his Father and the soueraign Lord of you all it is he that hath polluted the house that is counted in the raygne of the moste noble in all Europe this is he that incestyously hath vyolated the secretes and pruâ—ties the entrance whereof were lawfully permitted to none but me alone To whome shall I complayne and who shall reuenge me of thys iniurye Alas my harte breaketh my sences fayle me and my forces are weakned only there remaines a desyre to do Iustice not that it might be condign to the abhomination of the faulte but that I might thereby take awaye this blot from my stocke and moderate a little the greefe that prickes me and whiche yet serueth for the repentance of them that haue offended the Maiesty deuyne so greououslye that their doyngs haue giuen cause to them that come after to blase abroade the follye of their youth and in saying so his speech fayled him and ouercome wyth sorrow and the unpacience of his cholor he founded in the armes of his GentlemeÌ„ who carryed him into his chamber greatly abashed of the wickednesse of the two offeÌ„ders which they beleeued as wel for the reuerences of him that did wytnesse to haue seene it as for the remembraunces of the impudent lookes and lasciuious toyes of the Marchiones towardes the Countye that made them thinke it was she that made the pit wherein both she and the Countye were intrapped as sone as the Marques was come to himself there was no man so bolde that durst say any word vnto him but depending wholye of the wyll of their Lorde were of that aduyse that the processe should be quickly dispatched and that Iustyce should be done to the two Patientes as well for their comfortes as to gyue some contentmente to a Father rightly duspleased agaynste his sonne and as a husband deadlye hating the Palyardyse of his wyfe towardes whome he sente one of his Counsellers wyth two good Father Fryers men well lyked of the people both for their lyfe and learning the one to carrye the heauy and sorrowfull newes of his death and the others to mooue hym to repentance of his synnes and to pray to God to haue mercye on hys soule As soone as they were come before the yong Prynce who seeing the Counceller and
desyres of our concupisence for otherwise it were great pitty to behold the faults which we commit euery houre This vnhappye man blynded in his sin forsaking God neyther acknowledged his Iustice nor his mercy experimēteth also the fruits of his infidelity wickednesse obstynacy leauing behynd him the memory of his deeds as wel for the aduertisemēt of al men as for the imitation deterring not only of the aged but of all ages to auoyde the plagues and diuilishnesse of whoredom which do bewytch and take away the sences of men the end whereof is death and punishment in the infernall lake The newes hereof were disperced incontynent throughout al the house so that the rybawd which had adrest this deuise hauing heard and seene the whole mooued by her owne offence the witnesse which her mynd did beare of her sinne fearing she should haue Iustyce if she dyd not immytate the illustryous fact of her detestable louer so that all afrayd she runneth to a pit into which she leapeth headlong and wherin shee was myserably drowned a death truly althogh it was furious yet to good for the punishment of the detestable mallice of a woman so wicked as shee was which merited to haue all the paynes togythers that euer were inuented by men for the scourge of euil liuers Thē there was word sent to Milain to y Maiestrate to inform him who hauing in examinatiō the chamber maid that was the ayder of the desperate Palyard made her to confesse all the facte wherefore she was hāged and her body giuen to be meat to the foules of the ayre and no lesse was done to the carcases of the two louers which agaynst all right both deuyne and humayne had vyolently come to their ende and as for the yong man he was buryed wyth such pompe as hys vertue did well deserue was bewayled of al estates for the modesty that did apeare in him by which he hath semed to immitate the Scipions and Fabions who once liuing with such temperance haue caused their glorious names to remayne euen to this daye So always the death of the well lyuer is fortunate for besides that he passeth to the lyfe whych hath no end and goeth to inioy the holy and Godly companye of the blessed soules hee doeth glorify his memory by the knowledge that the posteritye haue of his vertue which is so grauen and imprynted in the harts of their children that neyther Death nor tyme hath power to deface it Vppon the Tombe of this yong example of chastity some good Poet of that tyme made this Epitaph which insueth to show that such as he was ought to be praysed with such Eglogs and not any of them which haue defyled their lyues wyth a thousande mischiefes LOue and Ielosy the Vertue and the vyce This yong and tender lambe haue caused A fathers wrath vniustly for to feele By outwarde show of mallice false deceyued And eake who was by foolish raging yre And cruell daungerous vice of wilfulnesse procured Whose soule to Heauen and body to the graue To Heauen and earth are now by death assured Thus hath he chaunged his lyfe and is not dead But liueth with God reioycing in his glory That caused him the hauty Skyes t'assend And happy to haue before him of vertue the memory Thus being dead he lyueth without sorrow or greefe Therefore thou that passest by thy teares refrayne If enuye doe not cause thee to bewayle the ioy And happy state wherein the dead remayne ¶ Such is the ende commonly of them that louing vertue auoyde the contrarye syth the vycyous can haue no greater hart breach then to see one that will not bee infected with their unperfection Marke wherfore all wrytinges are so full of deceites addrest by the wicked agaynst the good but to the end the vertuous should know on whome to repose themselues which is the good God that will not suffer any of his to perrishe although for a certayne tyme he semeth to haue forgotten them wheron the contrary parte the wicked doe prosper and flourish as they desyre vntil the Lord wery of their wickednesse doth so ouerthrow their doinges that they which to fore appeared hauty prowde and stately is conuerted into derysyon and despysed or else so well weakened that the very tractes scarcely appeare FINIS ¶ A Mahometan slaue reuengeth the death of his Lord vpon his son that was the Homecyde and rendered the principalitie being chosen of the people to him to whome by righte of Lynage and succession it did appertayne ABout the yere of our saluatiō 1494. After that Christopher Colombe wyth the Nauye of the catholick King Ferdinand sonne of Iohn Aragon did dicouer the West Ilandes not before discouered that can bee founde remembered by the wryting of any Hystory eyther auncyent or new Lewys Bartheny Bolognois as he himself recoumpteth in the ij Boke of his Nauigations in coasting by this countrey for that he would haue knowledge of the naturall things the maner of the liuing of those straunge nations and also to get some profyte in passing by Ethiope he arested in an I le the Capytall town whereof is called Orme not distaunte from the forme Lande aboue twelue myles where he behelde this pittifull Hystory ensuing of an execrable sonne and of his crueltye agaynst his aged father and vpon his bretheren yet in their infancy in this citty Then a little before the sayd Bartheny came thyther the Soulden there was a Lord of the secte of Mahomet a man very vertuous and gentle for a More and Infydell almost an hundered yeares olde he besydes that he was rych in Golde and pearles syth in that quarter there were found the most exquysyth and fayre Pearles that one shoulde see esteemeth his age happye to see himselfe the Father of a leuen sonnes all lawfullye begotten the yongest wherof had better fortune by murther then good chaunce as you maye see by this which followeth for the eldest contrary to the rest was craftye subtle and malicyous the most dessembling Palyard that was in all the countrey who studyed wyth himselfe dyuers tymes how to become imperious ouer his bretheren after the decease of his father But the Souldan had two bondmen that were of that Land of that rich famous Monarch of the Indyans that mē cal Prester Iean these two Indian slaues were so well affectioned to the doings of their Lorde that he had made them as rich as any of his Vassals and they had so well got the good will of the people by their natyue bounty excellente vertue that euery one doth adorate and prayse them as much or more as the Prince himself thus they going about to do good to all men to displese none made no report to y Prince of that which afterwards was cause of the ruine of some of his subiectes these two by their prudence did keepe sylent the doinges of their ambicious yong Lorde not for that the Galland did thereby lose the
also that the Offycer had talked vnto her so gentlye aunswereth him in thys sorte Alas Syr beholde there the deade bodye of my Husbande which the Prieste of thys Parrishe hath refused to burye for that I haue not wherewith to satisfye him for his payne and to content him for the Funerals This is the occasyon why I torment my selfe not knowing how I maye interre the deade Corpes the onely memorye whereof hath made mee so full of sorrowe and dule and to showe before your eyes this outrage The Duke which this space attended to know the occasyon of this crye vnto whome his man being retourned sayth My Lorde in this house before you is a poore woman inuyroned wyth small Chyldren whose Husbande thys morning being dead hath desyred the Priest to burye the bodye of the deade but hee vnlesse shee will paye the interrage and the accustomed Funeralles hath vtterlye denyed her to goe aboute it wherefore shee maketh this noyse not hauing wherewith to doe it and furthermore if shee shoulde sell her mooueables shee hath not wherewyth then to bring vp her small Infantes Iohn Maria hearing him tell of a Facte so Vylonyous and of a couetousnesse so detestable began to laugh whose laughter was a prognostication of the teares of some man Then tourning to them of hys Trayne hee sayth Truely this mayster Curate is very vncharitable and greatly giuen to his owne profyte so to denye his helpe to them that requyre him syth that it is his duety and hee is hyred to doe it Therefore it is good that I shewe him the waye and excercyse our Charitye in this causing this body to be intombed and then to extende our almes to this woman that lamenteth as well for her owne losse as for that shee beholdeth her selfe charged wyth Infantes and not knowing howe to keepe them shoulde not this be well done sayeth he to his Gentlemen Truely my Lorde aunswereth one of the trayne this acte would bee as greatly praysed as any good deede that you can doe in this worlde and especially for that your excellencye in forgetting your Nobillity shall so much abase your selfe as to accompany the most pore to the earth and to succour their widdowes although they neuer did you anye seruyce Let vs go then sayth the Duke the Priest as it may be will doe his duetye to this partye at my desyre wherefore I will giue him such a Salary for his paynes as all hys lyfe after he shall not haue cause to complaine He sayth this thinking so well to chasten the Priest that from thence forth he shoulde make no more such refusals commanding then that he which had bene first at the house of the widdowe should go for the Curate to come talke with the Duke for a matter of great importaunce The mayster Chaplen which thought of nothing lesse then the fault which he had done and remembred not at all of the dead the corpes of whome remayned without Sepulture came sodaynly to the Dukes presence whome after the Duke had wel beholden and seeing him fat grosse in euery poynt and cloathed in rich Apparell was not abashed at all of the refusal that he had made to the pore woman as well for his well lyking whereby hee shewed that one hower of pleasure was an hundered tymes more agreable vnto him then a thousand yeres of seruitude and that also to nourish such a belly it was needefull to haue more gaynes then rose of his cure hauing his Vysage more lyke the picture of some swollen Bacchus then of one professing the studye of diuinitie fynally this Priest did not vary at all from the moste parte of them that at this daye to the great domage of all Christendome haue entered into the Ministery who thinke that they haue done their duety in making a feast or dinner to their equalles without remembring the rest of their office neyther to visyte the poore nor to succour them according to the statutes and ordinaunces of the holy Canons ordayned by the generall and sacred counsels but are become feeders of their owne bellyes and dumme dogges so that the onely name of Priesthood ought to shadowe them and suffyce as they imagyne wythout necessitie to put their hand to the worke and to satisfye by effect that for which they be called Our Curate then bolde and assured presenteth hymself to Iohn Maria saying My Lord it hath pleased your excellency to commaunde mee to come before you may it also please you to shew me the thing wherein you wyll imploy me in which I will obey you as he that desireth nothing but to serue and please you The wyly and subtle Lord seeyng the fayned curtesy and pleasant words of the syr Iohn begaÌ„ to laugh and to mocke him with his glory and to detest his impudent auaryce answering him I haue sent for you to the ende you should cause to bee brought to the earth that poore man which is one of your parishioners I will giue you the rewarde and Salary that you merite for it is neyther iust nor meete that such a man as you should be imployed without recompence Pardone mee my Lord sayth the Priest your only commandement deth suffyce your grace holdeth the place of al satysfaction Wel wel sayeth the Duke I accept all that you haue sayd and beleeue that you woulde doe more for mee then this syth at this tyme I see you so preste to doe your duety in this afayre therefore goe prepare your selfe for I will assist you at the obsequies assuring you that you shal be recompenced before I depart as I intend and according to your desartes Now the Chaplayne which thought that he was already placed in the office of the Dukes Almoner verye pleasaunte and merrye departeth towardes his Church where hee setteth all thinges in order and sendeth for a good companye of Priestes and others whych serued ordinarilye in the Churches because hee would with more greater pompe and honour accompany the Corpes for which the Duke had so desyred him But the myserable Priest sawe not that was the Trayne whyche Fortune had ordayned for him and howe neare the hower dyd approache in which he must paye the arrâ—rages of his afore passed lyfe and aboue all that great and vyle synne of cruell Auaryce by an other crueltye the moste straunge that hath beene hearde of and I am abashed howe he should be so far beside his wyt that seeing the fault which he had committed knowing the nature of his Lord himself hearing him speake so doubtfully and with wordes smelling more of his choller then gentlenesse how he durste retourne and represent himselfe agayne before the furyous face of his Prince But what he was so blynded with Auaryce and led withthe desyre of Money that euerye looke seemed vnto hym curteous and euery word pleasaunte syth the talke of gayne and recompence marched therewyth The vnhappye Prieste had â—orgotten that the Duke for the leaste occasyon that myghte bee caused to
calleth hee to the others that they shoulde dispatch that the good Synger should not trouble him any more with his prayers theÌ„ all at once they began to laye downe the two bodyes to couer them with earth when as the Priest cryed Alas my Lorde if you haue no pitty of the bodye yet haue compassyon of the saluation of the soule as much as is in your power and suffer me not to dye without confessing my faultes before some Minister of God according to the institution of the church Go go sayth the Duke thou hadst more neede to appease the Porter of Hell with thy Orations synce thou canst not get a Priest at thys present they be all fled away from thee seeing thee already conuerted into a nightspright to afray Children in the Churchyarde and therfore thou shalte be put into the earth with the absolucyon that thou haste geue him whom thou imbracest that may serue for the alegeance of the heape of all thy offences Wyth such rayling the inhumayn Prince caused the two bodyes to be cast into the pit with no lesse abashment of al men then as a thing that they had neuer seene done before which thoughte not that the Duke so vnaduysedly and of such a beastly maner would haue put men to deth but his lyfe was no lesse detestable then the lyfe of the Emperour Macryne who vsed lyke manners and punished more cruelly then he did syth the Prieste was prest and choked as well by the smell of the dead bodye as by the earth that was cast vppon him the graue being verye deepe whereas the Emperour wythout pyttye caused such as hee had condemned to bee bounde lykewyse to the deade carcases that putrifyed the Ayre not suffering them to be buryed but let them so remayne till that eyther by fayntnesse or stinche of the dead body and the multitude of Vermyn they cruelly departed out of this lyfe Nor more curteous was Maximiniam who caused such as he hated to be thrust into the empty belly of an Oxe vnto the head where they ended their misery by y blood that ran out of the beast but the barbarous tyme doth excuse these GallaÌ„ts that being Panims and without knowledge of God which are not so much to be maruailed at if they did their workes acording to the desyre of the deuill that was their guyde who is a murderer from the beginning but a christyan Prynce come of a good stocke broughte vp amongest men of learning and dwelling in so ciuill a Countrey ought to make the case more straunge syth that the earth once cryed vengeaunce to GOD vppon Cayne for that hee had vyolated the Bright of kynred in sleaing that iust Abell his Brother I beleeue that within a little tyme after Iohn Maria for so pernicious a cryme was slayne by his owne Cittizens and I thinke that in our tyme there be some that haue made sacryfyce of heads other members who lyke Diomedes haue caused their Horses to eate the bodyes of men But I beleeue that God will not leaue suche crueltyes vnpunished although for a whyle he attendeth and is pacyent in his doinges yet in the end he wil cause theÌ„ to feele the strength of his arme and to feele the inuytable yre of his iust displeasure Now to retourne to the matter the Duke hauing accomplyshed these Tragical and sorrowful Funerals he dispatched sodenly one of his men to the house of the Priest from wheÌ„ce he caused all his moueables to be caryed and giuen to the poore wyddow the wyfe of hym that was dead with whome the Priest was companyon in the graue This last sentence was as iust as the fyrst was vniust cruell and horrible syth it was good reason that he should be punished in hys goods that for Aâ—aryce and desyre of Money had forgotten hymselfe and the duety requysyte in a publique man such a one as is the Pastoure of a Churche bee not offended you that beare the Ecclesyasticall Offyces of that whyche I haue sayde but take Example by the myserable ende of one of your estate thinking that the persecutions and the euill that God hath seÌ„t you procedeth of your ambicion auaryce ignorance and whoredome I tel you truly I am sorry for that the aduersarye of the Church suppresseth the good men throweth down them that ought to be honored wheras the foolish the slow bellyes the ignorant the whoremoÌ„gers feele no such scourges but God which is iust hath by these meanes called you to repentaunce because you should acknowledge your faultes and lyue more Godly then the Abbot Guensaldo and this myserable Myser intreated so cruelly by the moste detestable tyraunt that euer was seene in Italy synce the Lombardes gaue the name to that Lande ⸫ FINIS ¶ A Gentleman Myllinois beeing amorous at the very end of his age for the extreame Ielosy of his Concubyne was cause of the death of his Sonne and of himselfe and lastly of the vnhappy ende of the Harlot whiche was cause of all AT the time when the french armies were discouered throughout Italy for the Conquest of Myllayne causing all the state of the Venetians to tremble â–ª when Lewis the seuenth had brought his affayres in such readynes that he pitched his Campe euen in the sight of their next Citie breaking down their walles and ouerthrowing with the force of his Canons their Towers of defence that Venis neuer felte any greater or more mightyer force The Venetians not knowing howe or by what meanes to quyet their bondes and to appease the displeasure of a King iustly incensed agaynste their infydelitie and arrogancie about that tyme I saye there was a Gentleman Milinois which for the troubles coÌ„ming doth conuay himselfe to a Castle that hee had before Monse as lykewyse did the moste parte of them that coulde not brooke the chaunging of their Lord or who as it might bee were not able to indure the insolencye and crueltye of the French Souldyers This Gentleman of whome I intreate was a Wyddower to whome there was remayning onely two chyldren the one of the Age of seuen or eyghte yeares the other approaching neare to the age of twentye the olde man seeing hymselfe wythoute a wyfe although hee hadde almoste passed the age of threescore yeares neyther hauing regarde to hys Age nor to hys approaching death doeth become amorous of a gyrle the Daughter of a Messenger both fayre and well fauoured of whome hee had his pleasure by the meanes of the onely Father of the Gyrle which solde her vnto him This is a marke very certayne to bewayle any man which we see in his age to become a Father whose youth hath geuen him no sygne thereof yet thys is moste detestable that Chrystyans beare the iniquitie of Fathers and Mothers so impudente and euill as to sell prostytute and corrupte their owne Daughters and commonly the Maiestrates of our tyme wyll see nothing the Kinges shutte their eyes they that fayne them selues to be most
holy of all the rest take some Golden gyfte to heare the Chastitye soulde â—or bargayned sommes and there is not one amongest them all which punisheth this marchandyse of bodyes washed by the bloud of him that through the pryce of hys lyfe hath redeemed vs out of the handes of hym whyche helde vs in bondage wherefore the Gentiles and Infydels of tyme paste doe exceede and vanquish vs in Iustice and polliticke doinges more right then oures that they haue thereby attayned the glory of punishing faults whyche we behold endure and approue and as executers therof do glory and prayse them Vnhappy surely is the world where vyce beres the name of Iustyce and Iniquitye is praysed as a vertue infortunate is the place where such fauoure is shewed to the wicked that their infamye is sustayned and approoued by the moste mightye But the wycked doe not remember at all that GOD is in Heauen regarding and beholding the deedes of men for to doe Iustice one daye by the strength of his hande and the inuytable force of his scourges by whyche wythout exceptynge of persons hee indyfferentlye doeth punishe both the faulte of the offender and of him that fayleth to execute the aucthoritye and the sworde that God hath put into his handes But nowe to retourne to our former matter thys verye lybydynous and wanton olde man keeping this Gyrle at bed and boorde in his Castle lying ordinarily with her and chafeth the cold vnhappy fleshe of the vyle Mountayn Satyre that seketh to contynue that whiche nature doeth deny him and assayeth to ouercome his own force The eldest sonne seeing the dishonesty of his father was sad beyonde all measure vsing neuerthelesse such a modestye and vertuous dissimulation because he would not make sorrowfull his father that hee shewed a better countenaunce to the Palyarde then he coulde well whome he hated to the death as well for that she was such a one as for that he knewe she would be the ruine and shortning of the life of the vnhappy olde man and also for that hee saw her so fonde and vnshamefast that one mighte easilye iudge by her she would not refuse the intertayning of another Captayne which might furnish her somewhat better for the old man doth serue onely for the increasing and prouocation of her sensualitie without power at anye tyme to contente the immoderate wantonnesse that burned within her mynde and therfore she thinketh to practyse a combate more lustye and of better hope which she did because the olde man was not able to suffice her Ah insaciable desyres and depth not to be fylled that is the wantonnesse of an harlot what detestable euils haue chaunced by these loues to them that without all shame haue put all their glory and pleasure in the delightes and flatteryes of the worlde onely Sampson Salomon and Hercules may giue sure testimony Now this gyrle as we sayd before feeling the dimissing of the forces of her louer doth deliberate to pursue another pray therefore she impudently casteth her lookes on the sonne of the Gentleman and in becoÌ„ming Amorous shee purposeth if it be possyble to make him the Liefetenaunt and ayde of hys Father and this she doth not for anye curtesy that was hid vnder the Haggard and rustick nature and bringing vp of the rude countrey but for that she saw the yong man fayre well proporcyoned of his members and for that she iudgeth him apte to performe the Chase in which his father was able to giue but symple attemptes sodaynly shee seaseth from her enterpryse as do the yong Louers not experte or able ynough to detayne their pray by and by agayne she goeth about to shew him al friendship and familiaritie that she coulde and often tymes she seeketh hym fynding him at his boke where she sheweth euidently the desyres that cause her to pursue him But the good chyld neuer thought of such a wickednesse as well to be chaste of his nature as for the feare of God and offending of his father and for that as yet hee had neuer bene kyndled wyth loue nor taken in the trap of worldlye follyes But the Concubyne perceyuing that shee trauayled in vayn thinking to make him vnderstand her desyres by sygnes doeth deliberate as soone as occasyon shoulde be offered to manyfest it vnto him by worde which she dyd one day his Father being gone to see one of his neighboures and before she would assaulte the yong man shee doeth instructe in that myschiefe a Chambermayd her Cosen to the end that when her perswasyons should fayle the other myghte supplye her wante as soone as these eloquente Ieayes hadde prepared themselues they wente to seeke the Gentleman whome they founde recreatyng himselfe in the myddest of a great Chamber the fayre Forrest Nymphe assysted wyth the keeper of her bed began to saye vnto him I knowe not syr what to thynke of you or to make of your doinges whiche loued and desyred of any doe not accoumpte it your parte to recompence them with lyke affections whyche desyre your acquayntaunce I thinke surely that you are not so colde that your hart is not to be attached with any amorous passyon nor I esteeme you so frowarde that if any fayre dame of what state soeuer she were would geue you power to coÌ„mand you would be able to abandon and refuse her To what purpose saye you this aunswereth hâ— haue you seene in mee any sygne of rudenesse or discourtesye towardes any woman that lyues I sweare vnto you that if vnwittingly I haue committed this faulte for a faulte requyres but amendes She which thoughte to haue holy gayned and to imbrace him already within her armes began to weepe verye tenderly in saying Alas syr I know one that would think her the most hapy woman that lyues if you would amend the wrong which you haue done her in not making accoumpte of the signes by which she hath assayed to cause you to vnderstande her griefe I knowe not a woman vnder heauen sayeth he of whom I haue had such acquayntaunce to know anye signe that shoulde show me her priuie affection And would you haue her dispayre of that sayeth she which she seeth also mistaken you not willing to see any thing in so playne a thing and not to perceyue at all wherevnto thinges are offered so openlye to the sences of him that is so vnsensible that hee can not comprehende the meanes and deuyses of the passyonate and which tasteth not the vyands purposed to be discouered I vnderstande not thys talke sayeth hee if you expresse it not otherwyse Thys is then sayeth the Chambermayd that my Cosyn is so amorous of you that if you haue not pittye of her she is in daunger to end her lyfe myserablye Amorous of me sayeth the chaste yong man is it possyble that a daughter of her age should be so vnshamfast and impudeÌ„t as to solocite the sonne after she hath bene deflowred by the father Auaunte you strumpets loue such as you be
and go excercise your tromperyes with the Deuils that may furbisse you according to the heates that so molest you you shew well the place of your byrth which was neuer otherwyse then infamous and beastly for who is so foolish to think that an euill tree of it selfe can bring forth good or delicious fruite â–ª Thinkest thou infamous creature and vyle Pallyarde that I will be so wicked as so vnshamefastly to vyolate the bed of my Lorde and Father how vnlawfull and coÌ„mon soeuer she be No no I haue I thank God the Heauen before myne eyes towarde the which when I addresse my sight I behold one God which doeth vysyte the iniquities of the wicked and payeth to euery one according to his Iustice and demerytes I haue regarde to the reuerence that I owe to my father for else long agone I woulde haue sente thee towardes thy father which was y Butcher and the infamous Minister of thy chastitie get thee away then from hence and talke no more to mee of this else I assure thee I shall cause my Father to know it to the ende that he shall holde no longer in his companye an infection so contagyous as thou which arte lyke to bee the ouerthrow and ruine of all his house Hauing sayde so the good yong man almoste besyde himselfe and greatly abashed departeth out of the Chamber leauing the two Flatterers as much ashamed and abashed as he was angry for their impudent request Nowe this wanton Concubyne loseth not her stomacke but day by day shee importunately sueth vnto him by her Cosyn But he remayneth fyrme in his opynyon and although he had no desyre to reporte it to his Father yet hee threatneth them so well that they feared he would doe as he sayd and therefore they addrest such a treason as you shall heare The detestable Palyarde beholding herselfe so often refused beginneth by lyttle and little to conuerte the loue that shee bare to this yong Gentleman into a fury and deadly hate and this inraged enemy increased and tooke such deepe roote in her harte that she wyth the Chambermayde her Cosyn doth deuyse the vtter ruine of him that had so folishly dispysed her so they consulte togythers she should complayne to the Father that his sonne woulde with force haue vyolated and taken his pleasure vpon her which being thus concluded betweene these two abhominable Furyes was shortly executed For a certayne tyme after as sone as the old man was gone to see his lands lying thereaboutes these vnhappy women seing him retourne euen then began to chaunge their vysage not ceasing to weepe sygh and lament wythout anye will to departe out of the chamber The infortunate Gentleman aryued came into the Chamber of hys Mynion whome he founde all be wept accompanyed wyth her counseller who for her parte shewed well that it was for some greate matter that they were so sorrowfull He whyche loued this euill woman more then himselfe wylling to knowe what thys mente prayeth her to comforte her selfe and imbraceth her so gentlely that the false Crocodile as constrayned to doe so began to weepe more bitterlye then before declaring a long Fable that myghte serue to gyue some couloure to her accusation in the ende she sayth O would God my Lorde that death had taken me awaye the hower before yee wente hence for I would not by any meanes haue bene the occasyon of that euill whych I see prepared in accoumpting to you the truth of that whyche you so much desyre to know but what wyll it auayle to dissemble that which in the end will manifest it selfe I am vnfortunate woman the meâ—keâ—y of euery one despysed of all for that I am the pleasure of your age but is not this ynough if he doe not assay to conuert thys simple sinne into a vyce incestious execrable this is your eldest sonne my Lord that forgetting the honour whych he oweth to your age to the reuerence wherof he is bound by the power whych you haue ouer him hath ofteÌ„times requyred me of loue within this thre months but what shall I say more Alas sayth she wâ—ping bytterly hee hath sponne a fayre webbe for this morning as soone as you were in the fyeldes the Rybawde pardon me syr if so I call him came hyther wyth such a fury that I feared hee woulde haue put mee to death but hee pursued vppon mee a thing more noysome then Death so that as hee was in stryuing to force me and had done it my forces so fayled to defende my selfe if this gyrle had not come by chaunce the presence of whome caused him to forsake his enterpryse The olde man hearing such pittifull newes remayned so troubled and astonyed that for a good tyme he spake neuer a worde then breaking his sylence he sayth And is this possible that he whom I haue more dearely loued then myne owne lyfe hath so much mistaken hys gentlenesse that he would dishonour the loue of his father Ah infortunate chylde and I a father greatly to be lamented syth I am tormented by myne owne bloud of whome I thought to haue had some greater ioy â–ª then he helde his tongue and sate downe casting his lokes here there with such countenance that a man might iudge the greefe of his mynde to be more excessyue then his strength was able to suffer yet sayth he to the Rybawde I pray thee my friend tell me the veritie of this fact to the ende I shall not doe any thing that may hereafter cause me to late to repente Ah poore and caytyfe woman that I am sayeth the shamelesse Pallyard I see well that if this trompery of your sonne had not bene discouered by me but that by some other it had come to your knowledge you would haue done such Iustice that men shoulde haue taken example by me in tyme to come and nowe syth I haue shewed my selfe so faythfull towardes you you doubt of my fayth and esteeme my words for boordes and mockeryes inquyre you syr of this Gyrle which hath seene all the mysterye and then doe with me as you shal think good for I know not well how to liue anye longer here where men giue such synister intertaynmeÌ„t to them which serue them faythfully The olde man examyneth the chambermayd who playde her part better then her Mistresse and and incenseth the Father so sharpely agaynste the sonne that he purposeth to punishe him so greeuously as the lyke hath neuer bene hearde of rauished then in this extasye of anger hee speaketh a thousand follies and was changed into suche a choler by the impoysoning of the dangerouse venime Ielosy as one distraught and frantick and remayned in the chamber a great space rulling his eyes in whytenesse grynding his teeth and saying the dogges paternoster inraged agaynst him of whome he thought he had receyued such an vnworthy outrage which during the tyme that this tempest boyled within the stomack of his Ieleous father lyke as some say there
them that retyre thyther to conserue their lyfe and to defende them from the seuere rygor of the law in which place then of their deuotions was this pore chyld and yong Prynce remayning as the future Reuenger of this tyranny crying wyth a high voyce and withoâ—t intermissyon O good Lorde good Lord beholdest thou not at all how my Brother hath chaunged himselfe into a Dyuell the Father of all wyckednesse and hath taken vppon him the manners of the enimy of all humanitye Alas wylte thou suffer the bloude of my Parentes and Bretheren to be shed innocently and that the sonne shall remayne without vengeaunce â–ª Hath not the flame and the smoke stopt and taken away the voyce of them that requyred thee of Iustice for the greeuousnesse of their torments Behold O mighty God and visyte the synfull lyfe of this Tyraunt who dispysing thee hath depryued them of lyfe by whome thou gauest him his owne in this world and surely the iust color of the yong Prince against the furyes of his Brother had no lesse taken awaye his sences then was once the chylde wanting his speech or the sonne of the Lidian Cressus beholding his father in daunger of death during the sacke of the Towne by the great army and souldyars of the Monarch of the Meades But the mesure of the iniquities of this Paracyde was not yet come to the fulnesse and ende which during these things made the people to vnderstande the death of the murthered pronouncing moreouer that if they wente aboute to refuse to obay him hee knew well how to proceede to compell them The people seeing him wel accompanyed and that he was wholy seased of all the fortresses craftely and wittingly submitted themselues willingly to his obedience O Beast of manye heads thou shewest well that in the foule fantasy of such a multitude reason equity or prudence can haue no place and surely the contynuall waues that cause the Seas to ebbe and flow haue not so many motions and troubles as the counsel and opinion of a multitude hath deliberations for there needes but the interposityon of one day and the rest of one nighte to ouerthrow all that hath bene afore concluded and all the choyse of opynyons wil be cast to the ground by the blast of a simple sedition and folly of the people the counsell of whome are more gouerned by temeritie sodayn motion then by reason and sage forsight of that which may come after neyther the constrayned obedience of this multitude nor the force of his Souldyors that were wholy weary of his prowde and cruell Tyranny nor yet the inexpugnable strength of his fortresses could impeche that which the diuine prouidence had ordayned for the punishmente of the factes of this wicked creature who loued better to raygne one Month alone then a long time after the decease of his father reuerenced of the people beloued and serued of his bretheren and not punishable by the iustyce of men beholding nor feeling his mynde guiltye before GOD by the conscience of his owne misdeeds Mark how he himselfe made the Net wherein he was intangled and whetteth the knyfe whereon he myserably ended his lyfe You haue hearde how the two Indian â—laues were retourned into their owne houses after that the fury of this Afrycan Nero had shed forth his poyson and that his brother lyued with the Priests of their law bewayling continually both his Parents and his misfortune to see himselfe so weake and vnfauoured that he could not reuenge the death of them that being dead caused his sorrowfull lyfe and the absence of whome made him so vnprofytable in all thinges and so vnhappy in all his deuyses The Tyraunt then as it might be or as it is more true wearye of hys lyfe coulde no longer auoyde that whiche the heauens had ordayned for the iuste punishmente of hys vniustyce and demerytes delyberatyng now wyth hymselfe to take away the light from the eyes of the two aged Indian slaues which he could not commodyously do as well for the reuerence that the Souldyers bare to this lincked couple as for that he knewe they were wel beloued and cherished of the people wherfore he purposeth a new treason to bring his desyre to passe wythout any slaunder and without incurring the euill will of the people and of his great armye that is in practisyng the one to be the murtherer of his companyon and afterwardes to punish y murtherer according to the law his deserts therfore he causeth the more ancyent of theÌ„ named Mahometh to be called vnto him who being come to the presence of the SouldaÌ„ saith vnto him It hath pleasâ—d your noble maiesty my Lord to cause me to be commaunded to come before you to whome I am obedient being here readye to imploye my selfe to any iust acte wherin it shall please you to vse my dilligence and loyaltye which I haue so well shewed with such integritye during the lyfe of the former Souldan your Lorde and father whome the great Prâ—phet Mahometh feedeth this daye with delicious Vyands in Heauen that there iâ— no man which can reproche me in any thing that maye in anye wyse deâ—grate my naâ—ie That is the onely cause sayeth the Tyraunte wherefore I haue caused thee to come before me assuring my selfe that thou wilt be no lesse at my commandement then thou hast bene obedient to the pleasure and wil of my predecessor I will that thou â—iâ—erstande further that if thou shall serue me faythfully in that wherein I will imploy thee thou shalte not repente thee of the deede for besydes the pleasure I shall receyue of thy seruyce and indeuour thou shalte obtayne a Prince so much thy friend as thou canst or wouldest desyre My Lord sayth the slaue not for any hope of ryches being so terrestyall a thing so vayne and of so small duraunce I will go aboute to attempte anye thing neyther to see my self exalted to honours and dignityes syth this is the Chayre wherein men are most daungeroasâ—y placed but you shall beholde me ready prepared to execute all your honest deuyses onely for the reuerence I owe you as to my Lorde and Prince whyche I trust will not commaunde anye thing that without stayning myne honour and blemyshing of my conscience I cannot execute Then the slaue thought that the Tyraunte woulde haue geuen him in charge to haue fetched the yong Prince out of the Mosque to the end to cause him feâ—le his crueltye whiche the good man woulde not haue done for feare of death nor to haue bene Emperour of all Africa as he afterwardes sheweth by effecte Be as it may be sayth the cruel SouldaÌ„ it is that I would haue thee put to death Caime for so was the other Slaue called syth he hath done me such a displeasure that if I see not his death my spirite cannot liue in rest or contentment Ah my Lorde sayeth Mahometh commaunde me any other thing if it please you for my harte will
you Madame if euer I haue done any thing in your seruice that meriteth recompence to do me this pleasure honor to tel me y occasion of your disquietnes to the end that if this power that is in me may do any thing for your conteÌ„tment I wil imploy it with the life that I haue vowed so long time to be obedient to your commandments Alas my friend sayth the Marchiones I am ashamed being such a one as I am so to tormeÌ„t my self beholding me so conteÌ„ned of my Lord y Marques I assure thee that if the hope of some allegeance did not comfort me thou shouldst behold what sacryfyce I would make of my life to the crueltys of him that hath made more accoumpt of one of these common despised women then of me that am his wyfe not inferiour in bewty to any of them What Madame answereth y Damsell haue you no other cause to disquiet your self then the foolish loue of my Lord the Marques truly this is a very small occasyon a cause more then fryuolous to vex your selfe lay away al this from you assay to liue ioyfully with them that loue esteme you attending til time shal cole his ardeÌ„t desyres cause him change his affectioÌ„ take good heede that he haue no cause of miscoÌ„tentment for to quite him of his passions apprehensions vnsemely companyes in the meane time ioy you only of y which is yours not vsing such foly as to stain your honor by vnlawful acquaintance with any other then of him which is giuen you for Lord Espouse with shortning of your life for suche a foolishe mistrust proceeding of that euill â–ª Ielosy O God sayth the Marchyones all bedewed wyth teares howe true is that which euery one speaketh in a common Prouerbe the whole caÌ„ easily giue councel to them that be sick Ah my friend if you felt the disquietues that wil not suffer me to take any rest in my mynd the cause of the bitternesse y doeth bereue me of my sences I am assured that hauing pittye of me thou wouldest councell mee of an other sorte or else helpe to execute that which shoulde serue for the intyre solace and contentmente of my spirite the Marques hath led this lyfe a long tyme and it is vnpossible that hee shoulde chaunge but by death or extreme age and in the meane tyme I passe my tyme in vayn accompanyed without comforts that procures me to ouerpasse the night with teares in steede of rest and the daye agaynst my will I am merry to contente hym that shewes me no pleasure no not that which he oughte by the sacred rightes of those bands which haue coÌ„ioyned vs togyther would God death had takeÌ„ away my lyfe in the Cradle to the end that not remayning vnto this present I should not haue felt of what force is the despighte of an honest Ladye being deceyued by her husbande Alas howe happye are they of base condicion that may wythout great conscieÌ„ce inaculate their blood that doth redound but to the shame of a fewe Ah honor and Nobillitie howe tyrannously doe you brydle the Ladyes that how much the preferment is before men the estate of all should not be alyke to the end that the people should not shadow our brightnesse more then the reâ—own of the common sorte of men and women which dye with the memory of their deedes that are buryed in the same tombe wyth their bodyes or if the Lawes did as well punishe the disloyaltye of the husband as the symple women that by a naturall vyce are sometymes forced to forget themselues euen till they bee ouercome by the appetytes of the flesh how ioyfully woulde I reuenge my selfe of the iniury which that periured and vnlouing husband hath done to me because that euery couple should equallye receyue the payne and punishmente according to their demerites But after the Lawes were made they were Tyrauntes ouer vs the inquyetors of our rest and the common Ennymyes of oâ—â— perfectioÌ„ who did authoryse them without the â—yde helpe or consente of any of vs After that she exclaymeth as one halfe inraged saying wyth a voyce that declared the vehemencye of her torment and the mutacyon of her mynd But syth I must dye a thousand tymes if so be I let this paâ—se without punishmente I would he wel knew it that I intend not to lyue wyth such griefe and sorrow as he hath geuen me cause a good tyme and then let chaunce what may for this is a torment great ynough as I beleeue to abyde such a Tyranny and to feele the puissaunte prickes of loue the better whereof is no lesse to bee wyshed then death hauing sayde so the Marchiones holdeth her tongue attending the aunswere of the Damsell who hauing a long tyme bethought her selfe aunswereth in this sorte Madame as yet I neuer had experyence of what might the force of loue is and by that meanes I haue neuer felt what is the disdayn and sorrow of them that perceyue themselues deceyued of him of whome she oughte to bee the intyre and onely beloued yet I beleeue neuerthelesse that the passion both of the one and the other is so great and vnmeasurable that the surplusage of the alterations that trouble greeue the spirite are nothing in respect of this inexplicable distresse The argument of this I take of you Madame the Constaucye of whome is so troubled by the outrage and fury of Ielosy that heretofore hath â—â—uer giuen suspition of chaunge or miscontentmente of harte But O God I beholde and perceaue the imbecillity of humayn mynds how well they are disquyeted of dyuers vnlawfull desyres which take rest no more in the stomack thoughts â–ª then the sea Sandes instate with a whyrle wynde in an extreame hote daye Ah Madame where is the great Chastity y made you once renowned before al the Ladies of Italy I beseech you assay to contayn your selfe in that honest reputation wherin hytheâ—to you haue lyued to the great contente of your Parents friends What if reason haue so little force in you that you deliberate to followe the vyce of wantonesse and to search another for the accomplishment of your desyres then the Marques your husband by all meanes do the thing so secretly that the house wherof you are come receyue no dishonour and your selfe merite infamy greuous punishment The Marchiones answereth nothing to the sage admonition of the wyse Damsel beginning to think with herselfe not by what meanes she mighte wythdraw her husband from the disordered wanton lyfe that he led but rather howe shee might reuenge her selfe and with whome shee might giue him y counter change in punishing him by the same faulte But reason doeth not extend herselfe to this end that sinne and vertue should be placed alyke for vertue is the superlatiue aboue her contrary which is put vnder her as a subiect for the instruction of anye that knowes not what
her chamber attending with good deuotyon as I beleeue to communicate vnto you a thing that hitherto hath not bene knowne deuysed or perused by you The Prince taking no regarde to the wordes of the Messenger but guyded by hys mishap goeth to the Chamber of the Marchiones During this the Damsell that wente to seeke the Countye knowing well that the inormitie of the case that she imagyned doeth withhold her to goe agayne to her Mistresse because she would not impeach the ioy of her whose lyfe she had seene led â—yth so much sorrow reâ—yreth into a wardrope where she presaging the misfortune of the faire couple being confounded with teares in the end agreuaded wyth sorrowe and set vppon by slumbring through wearynesse fell on sleepe Then the County being entered into the Chamber of his fayre mother she comming towardes him to receyue him very courteouslye taketh him by the hand and causeth him to syt down by her But when it came to the poynt that the fayre Lady would haue addrest her trayne her hart beginnes to leape within her belly her sences do denye to fulfyll the offyce of the exteryoure members for her tongue was mute her eyes deiecte and her vysage chaunged into suche a Vermillyon that she would haue abashed the vant corrour of the Sonne and surely this chaunge was caused of two contraryes that is to wit loue and shame the one woulde haue her shew forth her greefe the other direct contrary by naturall wyll and inclynation but in the end the more vnperfect and lesse puissaunt in the good cause became victoryous for the Lady after she had syghed a good space with out speaking any worde wearye of her vndiscreete sylence as shee thoughte it in the ende breakyng her sylence wyth a looke whyche was suffycyente to enter into the depth of hys harte suche was her cunning to mooue hym to compassyon hauing her voyce tremblyng and euill assured for the contynuaunce of that whych she felte in her mynde and sustayning dyuers affections that mooued her spirite she tooke the yong Prynce delicately by the fayre hande saying vnto him My Lorde if I had not manye occasyons to addresse my lamentations and iust complaynts you may beleeue if it please you y I am not so vnshamfaste as to deceyue your eares and by myne own meanes to manifest before you a thing that although as it may be you shal thinke it very straunge yet it doth touch you so neare that for the loue which I beare you that are more deare vnto me then you thinke I cannot nor am able to keepe it from you for in so doing I shoulde wilfully betray you should doe both against my conscience and the duty of her towardes you that holdeth the place wherein I am I know you are not ignoraunte of the lyfe that the Marques your Father hath ledde synce the death of her of good memory your Ladye and mother and what troupe of Bastardes euery one seeth at this day in your house which if God doe not otherwyse prouyde shall vse no lesse inhumanitye one day towards you then your father did once towards his Cosyn the lawfull inheritour of this countrey whome he expulsed sent in exile into Candy for I see as well the small account they make of you as of me which haue wished a hundered tunes y I had neuer come into this country not only for the greefs that I haue felt but also for that I forsee the mischiefs that are prepared for you if you doe not wysely preuent theÌ„ I neither do nor would haue you think that I counsell you to fil your hands with the blood life of him of whom you had your beginning but I would haue you vnderstand that I giue you this aduyse that you open the eye of your intendmeÌ„t to forsee to what end these things may turne and as for mee there is nothing in my power wherwith I will fayle to succour you sith it is euen you to say the truth saith she imbrasing kissing him my deare friend whom I loue esteme more then any man that liues which if it please you â–ª I wil cause you know by experieÌ„ce O would to God that the hower of my alyaÌ„s had succeded after my mind truely no other should haue inioyd the daughter of y Lord Maletest then the County Hugnes for when my Lord Father did intreate with me for the mariage of the Lorde of Ferraria it was you whome he talked with me of not the Marques God pardon the folly of him that so fouly deceyued me syth y vnyon of vs two had bene far better denysed theÌ„ with your Father the age equal the coÌ„fyrmity of maners y might haue conioyned vs with a perpetual band which now am bound against my wil to him y despiseth me who it is that loueth cherisheth y mothers of them that one day as it may chance shall depryue you both of your honour lyfe then thinke my Lord what sorrow it should be to me in that I had lost the meanes to bee perpetually yours and consyder what should be my lyfe to come louing you as I doe if I should see the ruine and destructyon of your estate Alas God is my wytnesse wyth what anguyshe I open these my secretes vnto you for the desyre that I haue that you mighte be wholy myne as I am yours is so ingrafted in my harte that only death must make the seperation in saying so she kysseth and imbraseth him of an other fashyon then a chaste woman doth imbrace her Parentes and familliars and then she retourneth to her former purposes saying Therfore my Lorde and greatly beloued friend bee not you the occasyon of the death of her that seketh to increase your honour and thereby doth render her selfe of a most vnhappy the fortunates Lady that liues at this day haue pittie of her which so liberally and prodigallye offereth her selfe vnto you but if crueltye haue more place in you then the prayers I make vnto you and the synguler loue that I beare you kill kill I say my Lord thys miserable Lady the which if you refuse shaâ—l not cease to execute that vpon her selfe whereof you made the refusall whych will be the occasyon both of your dishonour and the losse of the best and moste loyall louer that yoâ— had in this world The County no lesse abashed of the words then of the wanton imbrasinges of his fayre mother was so far besyde himselfe that without aunswering or hauing power to departe from her remayned no lesse immoueable then was once the wyfe of Lot tourned into a piller and Rocke of Salte The Marchyones who was excellent fayre yong tender and delycate and whose lokes were so fyne and gracious that I beleeue if the most wylfull and abstinent of the Philosophers of former tyme had felte the temptation of an obiect so fayre and celestyall they would haue quyte lefte forsaken and forgotten the contemplacyon
of naturall causes to haue geuen themselues to execute the very effectes of nature I thinke also if the Daughter of Mynos had bene of like bâ—wty good graces attemptes and intysementes as was this Lady I doubt not at al. But that her Hypolite although he were frowarde or lunetyque woulde haue enioyed and cherished her and lefte Diana to haue sowne his seedes in the Garden of her that with such instaunce requyred him of mercy Thys fayre Temptaresse then seeing her louer in such alterations and so surprised with shamefastenesse also because he had not showne any semblaunce of displeasure with any thing she had done she purposeth to passe further and to stryke whyles the Yron was whoâ—e to the ende that the yong Prince during his dyners thoughtes shoulde not measure with reason the greatnesse of his misdeedes the abhomination of the sin which he committed against his father in vsing the person of her in whom the blood of his had bene mingled Likewise because he should not discouer the great perrill danger wherinto he cast himselfe headlong in taking the vnhapy counsel of y wanton couÌ„seller Therfore she cast her arme ouer y necke of the Prince kissing imbracing him in suche sort y at the last the pore County yelded to y assault who being once intised by her vnseemely pronocations wicked doings not only fulfilled y which she s on aughtily desyred but was so inflamed with that rage impoysoned with the venim that loue had spread ouer the coralyâ—e cheekes of this new Phedra that begiâ—ning to set apart the duty that he owes to 〈◊〉 father and to the honour of the Nuptial bed the vyolating whereof hath euer broughte with it the ruyne dishonour of the violaters he was so far estraunged from his former modestye that he kisseth the mouth lippes â—yes as also the whyte delicate necke of the Marchyones then passing further he extendeth his hand ouer her two round Dugs that by their equall and lyke quantitie cause two little hils eleuate a little aboue the stomacke of the fayre Lady at the entrye of which there breatheth a wynde that makes thâ—â—n fynely â–ª ryâ—e and fall according to the passyons that mooue wythin the center of her harte he then beholding hys lyceâ—ce to touch any place of his pleasaunt ennemy putteth his hand to the place most desyred and in which louers seeke to obtayne the mercy of loue then feeling her â—elly that was round hard and more whyte theÌ„ the top of the Aâ—lpes after that the wynter had whyted the with frost she then shrinking away from him perceyuing that she had ouercome him so fynely shutteth her eyes fayning a pleasaunte and no great displeasure that did well declare her desyres sayth vâ—to him Alas my deare friend that cause my death oh that you would quench this fyre that consumeth my lyfe and whereof I am â—ure you feele the quick sparks at which wordâ—s the Princâ— was so chafed in his Harneys that without vsing his former reuâ—â—ences he taketh that parte in Musicke whych he neuer tofore had cryed and found the accords so sweet and so correspoÌ„dent to his pleasures he purposeth to continue theÌ„ if in case it should seeme good to his mistresse which was not so vnplesant but that hauing found the beginning so well done by the measure and freedome of hym shee easilye gaue her consente Mark and behold here the second Acte of the Tragedy that thou mayst see if the ioyes and pleasures of men may be pertual if it be not more a doe for the Nobles to keepe secrete their â—olies then for the meane sort to manifest them and surely they are a great deale sooner espyed in the chiefe of the common weale then in the members that are more weake and of lesse puissaunce for where the heade is troubled it is vnpossible that the members shoulde not feele some apprehensyon of their mishappe and sorrowe This is the cause why men intreate alwayes of Prynces and make so small accoumpte of the doinges of the pleban sorte the memory of whome vanisheth away so soons as the wynde But for that these two coulde not well deuyse all thinges themselues wythout hauing a thyrde person they intende to imparte their affayres to the Damsell that was sent to seeke the County and which doubted of that whiche they had done togythers To her then after the County was departed the Chamber enamoured and inflamed of his louing mother the Marchyones addresâ—e her wyth a countenaunce more gay then accustomed saying My deare friend you haue seene in what ease I haue passed my tyme hytherto and the small ioy I receiued during the presence of the Marques but GOD hath so prouyded that hee is absent for certayne dayes to the ende that I should make prouysyon for the tyme to come of that which I stand in neede of and by this his absence might get my selfe that goodnesse which should ende all my euils I haue chosen me such a louer as nature cannot shape a more perfect eyther in bewty liberallitye courtesy or worthynesse and so nâ—ole that he is the seconde in goodnesse to Nobillitie herself which I imparte vnto you for that I haue knowne you hytherto both wyse and faythfull to keepe my secretes in such sort as they oughte to bee also you are she that hath heard the communycations of my former affections and the symple obiections for the appreheÌ„ding of my loue reasoÌ„ would also I should manifest vnto you to what ende all this tendeth and that whych followeth trusting onely in your vertue and honest discretion that you wyll keepe secrete this facte as the persons whome it toucheth doe deserue and as the good and affectionate amitie whych I haue borne you requyreth And as she would haue coÌ„tinued her purpose the Damsell impacyent to be sollicited sayeth vnto her Would that God Madame had cut of the threade of my yeares when I fyrst set my foote in this vnhappye house for by that meanes I shoulde haue auoyded two euils wherevnto my misfortune doeth throwe mee headlong without which I might otherwyse haue lyued for all his Daughters whose I am it shall be a great dishonestye to vse a seruice so vnseemely both for my age and estate and which shall fall out in the ende consydering the abhomination of the facte that I thinke that I muste see an offence that will cause the totall ruine both of you and him for whome you addresse this foolish and naughty deuysed aduyse not for that I am she whych inteâ—d to defanie you for death shall be more agreeable vnto mee as God shall receyue mee then to see an accidente so preiudiciall both to your age and honoure But alas the iudgementes of GOD are so righte and so equall in the Ballaunce of hys Iustyce that there is nothyng done there in vayne I knowe and GOD seeth sayth â—he feâ—â—hing a sygh from the bottome of her harâ— wyth what anguyshe I lameâ—â—e this that
not suffer mee to see his death much lesse to kil him whome I loue as myne owne lyfe and wyth whome I haue bene brought vp euen from my byrth if hee hath done any fault agaynst you Lordship let hym be accused publiquelye according to the custome of the countrey to the ende hee may receyue punishment according to hys desertes The Souldan dissembling his despyte and cholor aunswereth him very courteously I am glad that I haue such a seruaunte in my power as thou art I thank thee for thy good aduertisement thou hast giuen me concerning my duty to iustice Moreouer think that all this that I haue sayd vnto thee is to no other ende but to assaye thy constancye and make a profe of thy fydelitye thou mayest therefore departe when thou shalte thinke it good and hereafter I will unploye thee in some better thing and of greater importaunce The slaue whiche knewe the venyme of the Serpente and how deadly it was fayled not after hee was reâ—yred to garde hymself from the bushments and treasons of the Tyraunt perswading him selfe that he would assaye that agaynste him wherin he had fayled agaynst his companion and in that his opynyon deceyued him not for as sone as he was departed from the presence of the Souldan the Tyraunt inraged and invenimed sent to seke Cayme y other slaue vnto whom he vseth like wordes as to the first perswadeth him so wel that the wycked Moore sweareth vnto him to kyll his companyon in what sort he could Behold whervnto the execrable mallice of men doth exteÌ„d that through the appetyte of a pernicious Tyraunt the one friend hath coniured agaynst the lyfe of him that a little before had refused to make hym to lose his owne But alwayes the wicked what frawde so euer he doth excogitate falleth into the pit that he hath prepared agaynst him that doubteth nothing of his treason and corrupted harte This venerable slaue then hauing the commandment of the Souldan he departeth mâ—â—â—ding to murther Mahometh to gratifye hys Lord who moued by the couetousnesse of that which the Suborner doth promyse him by the obedieÌ„ce which the subiect oweth to his soueraygn without thinking what is the nature of the tyrant who pleased with discords searcheth nothing but to imbrue himselfe with the bloud of his Citizens and who in the ende excerciseth his cruelty vppon them that haue bene the ministers of his misdeedes Cayme then without feeling any remorâ—e of Conscience that might haue withdrawn him from his purpose came towardes Mahometh his Companyon who had not so little aduysement but in his hart he perceiued the matter began to doubt of that which was true and hee helde himselfe more assured when as hee behelde the murtherer more nearely whyche by the couler of his vysage gaue sufficient apparence of an acte not common that he would commit for all the passions and motions of the spirite I know not howe by some naturall meanes arâ— euidently knowne eyther by the face voyce or exteriour gestures for the face is the porte of the harte manifesting the will and secrete desyres that one would assay to keepe secrete therefore Mahometh adressing himselfe towardes him sayth Ah false murderer and disloyall traytor what â–ª wilte thou goe about to execute that whych the Tyraunt hath wickedly commaunded thee and thou haste lyghtly agreed vnto â–ª nowe I wil take such reuenge of thy Corpes as I haue bene requyred tofore that men a long tyme hereafter shall speake of it through all these Ilands Cayme that knew the humor of his companyon addresseth himselfe towardes him as well for that he knew him to be a valyaunt and hardy souldyor as for that he would not auow anye matter agaynst him he casteth himselfe at his feete rendring into his hands his sword praying him to pardon this faulte that he had attempted more for feare that the tyrant would haue slayne him then for any desyre of hurte or euill will that he bare to Mahometh who aunswereth him Wherof thy fault proceedeth I am not ignoraunt but thou couldest not by any thing haue better shewed or more euideâ—ly manyfested thy dissoyaltye whiche if it had taken such deepe roote in my spirite as thou hâ—st receyued and taken it â–ª into thy periured harte thou mayest assure thy selfe that long agone thou hadest bene dead the Tyraunt satisfyed and I without a companyon and as it might haue bene without lyfe syth this Tyrant in pursuing the death of the one desyreth the total ruine of vs both togithers but it hath pleaseth God that no treason should enter into the mynde of Mahometh and that he shoulde finish the course of his age without reuenging the death of his Lord and likewyse the wrong that without his desertes hath bene purposed agaynst him therefore Caym go towarde the Souldan and tell him that thou hast executed that which he commaunded thee and for the rest let me alone for I will prouyde such a remedy that in tyme to come the lyfe of the vertuous shall be in more assuraunce then nowe they be in perrill vnder the tyranicall gouernment of this Dyuell whome by Gods help I will punish for his wickednesse and reuenge with a priuie iniury the wrong that he hath done to all the inhabitaunts of this I le Cayme hauing escaped from such a daunger promyseth hym to doe all that it should please him to giue charge to execute whyche was to hys great preiudyce for after that he had tolde the Tyraunt how he had bathed his sworde in the blood of Mahometh his companyon The Tyraunte full of ease and contentmente began to showe hymselfe verye familyer then comming chearefully to imbrace him his comming was no more ioyfull to the pore slaue then was that of Ioab to the two Princes of the great Hebrue Armyes Abner and Aâ—asa syth he holding his lefte arme imbraced and infolden about his necke taketh into his other a short Dagger wherewith hee stobbeth the pore slaue so far into the syde that he tombleth starke dead at the feete of y false and trayterous Lorde This is the happye ende of the wicked that cannot at all escape the strength of Gods hande eyther by the mynistery of meÌ„ or by the cruelty of wyld beasts and somtymes by thinges without lyfe or seâ—ces prepared neuerthelesse for the exployte of such punishmente as once the tree was the â—â—ourge of Abâ—aâ—on whereon he was hanged by the horsemen and slayne by the handes of Ioab But now the Souldan thinking to reioyce himselfe for the death of the two slaues whom he so much feared not hauing well put vp his gleue and returned to his seat Behold Mahoâ—â—â—â—â—th very well accompanyed and armed at aâ—poyntes commeth in at whose arryuall the moste parte of the Souldyors began to be in a fury the others laying a way the right of armes rendered them to his mercye but he which sought the chiefe made no staye or great accoumpt of them Thus entring into