her up to the upper and of the Hall and placed her in a Chair of State upon her right hand then she assembled all her Nobles and Barons and Privy Councellours both Ladies and Gentlewoman and before them all spake thus to her daughter Then after the Empress had ended her speech all the Lords of the Councel stood up and said Most gracious Empress we do all think our selves happy this day that it hath pleased your most Excellent Majesty to declare so much your will and pleasure unto us far be it from the heart of any of your noble Subjects this day here present to derogate or disanul the least tittle what your Majesties most gracious pleasure is but as willingly do ratifie confirm and establish every word and syllable contained therein as willingly as ever we plac't the Royal Diadem upon your head and we do here unanimously and with a general consent first with your gracious leave and pleâ—sure we do ordain and acknowledge the Princess your Daughter to be our Sovereign Lâ—dy and Empress And furthermore we do ordain and appoint the ninth day of the second Moneth to be Celebrated for the Day of her Coronation And when all things were ready and the day come all the Nobles of the Land appeared that day in their Robes the old Empress rode before upon a pavilion drawn be sir Horses and two led on each side the Pavilion in cloth of State four and twenty Tropbies or Banners were carried before Next came the young elected Empress in an open Chariot drawn by twelve Camels covered with cloth of Silver all in State and the Banner Royal was carried before the Empress Chariot with Trumpets founting and all sorts of Musick plating throughout all the City up to the Palace where the young Empress alighted out of her Chariot and walked up to the Royal Throne guarded by her Nobles and with a rich Canopy bore over her head When she came into the great Hall she ascended up to the Royal Throne then after the Ceremonies were ended the Nobles put the Crown upon her Head and the Scepter in her Hand and before the old Empress swore their Alegiance to the young Empress and then with great Joy and Acclamations the people shoulâ—d and said God save the new Empress Then was the old Empress brought into the Hall where great Ceremonies and Reverence was done to her then she ascended up to the Royal Throne and placed she was by the young Empress upon her left hand and the young Empress began to speak to her mother in this manner Most glorious and loving mother it hath been your will and pleasurs to confer upon me this Royal Dignity before your decease not my Ambition to bestre it but though I fit in the Glorious Chair of this Empire and Govern the People now in your Life-time yet most dear mother the Name and Authority shall not depart from you as long as you live but in all businesses of Consequence that doth belong to the State I mean these great Concernments that be most painful and laborious to ease you thereof I will take the pains in administring all helps and services that in me lieth as it becometh a loyal and faithful Subfra according to my bounden duty When all the Nobles and Privy Councellors heard these worthy and Heroick Expressions of their young eleven Princess they should all again and gave thanks to the Divine Powers for raising them up such a vertuous and able Governour as she who was the Supporter of her mothers hâ—â—nour the tâ—ue Maintainer of the Fundamental Laws and Priviledges and the Glory of all the Realm Where now we will leude her in her full power and Magistracy prosecuting the false Iudge evil Counsellor and persur'd and arrand Traitor Radamentus How Judgement was given upon Radamentus and his Concubine and how they were both put to death NOw when the Empress had Crowned her Daughter and all the great Selemnity ended she called a Councel and assembled there the Nobles the Barons and the Learned Iudges of the Land for the speedy tryal of Radamentus and his notorious Concubins and when they were all met together and assembled in the Iudgement Hall the Empress and her Mother being plac'â— upon the Royal Throne and the Court sate Proclamation was 〈◊〉 and Radamentus sent for where immediately he and his Concubine were brought into the Hall fast bound with cords and commanded to stand before the Bar. Then Sabrina the young Empress stood up and in a most Eloquent and Learned Spéech she said thus as followeth My Lords and Gentlemen of this honourable Senate and also all you most grave and reverend Iudges of the Land you have beard already and are very sensible for what Radamentus and his Concubine both now Prisoners at the Bar of Iustice stand here indicted for They are not brought hither for a Crime laid against them to take away their Lives wrongfully but for a fact which they have committed in the highest degrée of insclency and that you very well all do know And be it known that when I was at School with the Seven Wise Mistrisses I may say of the world and in the full practice of my Learning this Radamentus now prisoner at the Bar being then a very great Councellor to her Grace the Quéen my mother as you all do know did instigate my mother to send for me home to the intent he might learn and finde out a way how to entrap me whereby to take away my life and to effect his horrid Couspiracy he falsly informed my mother the Empress that he saw me in the Palace Garden committing the foul sin of Fornication supposing that I could speak and answer for my self and hereupon he brought seven Examples to my mother the Empress against me and laboured very much for seven dayes together to animate my mother against me And the reason why I did not speak within the time of those seven dayes was because when my mother sent for me through his instigation I saw in the Planets a Fate which did predict a sad omen to me which was that when I came to Court if I did speak a word within seven dayes I should be most miserable and be put to the most shameful death that ever Virgin was Therefore to prevent his wicked intention I did conceal my Spéech for so long in which time my seven Wise Mistrisses by their learned skill and good discretion did labour in my behalf and spake for me each Mistris spake by turn each day and by Providence saved me and the eighth day by the assistance of the Divine Powers I spake and answered for my self confuting all the shamefull and wicked accusations this hellish Monster of mankinde had contrided against me whereby the unjustness of his own cause hath now heaped vengeance upon his own head Moreover the Prisoner at the bar in the time of my accusation and long before did keep a private Concubine instead of a young man
Lady upon a sudden as she was contemplating under the tree who at the presence of Radamentus she began to blush that there appeared in her face such a Crimson dye that the malice of Radamentus was reduced into a venial love and thus he began to court her Gentle Lady give me leave to tell ye that the first time I saw ye there was a fire kindled within my heart and now your beauty begets another which nothing can alay except you vouchsafe me the favour to let me slâ—â—p with you upon this bed of Roses and repose our selves in the bosom of love the Royal Princess turned about and with a scornful gesture gave a repulse to his lâ—scivious demand which caused his countenance to fall and his fancy turned to fury therefore he ran out of the Garden and lockt the door and threw the key in again and cryed out that he saw the Princess with a man under a fâ—g-tree committing the foul siâ— of Fornication as a breach of the Law the shame of her Parents and the destruction of her own soul The Empress hearing this was stâ—â—ck with horrour and amazement to think that her onely daughter and heir to the Empire should prove so unforâ—unate First instead of Arts and Sciences she should have been perfected with she was delivered unto me speechless where I thought she was adorned with vertues she is besotted with vice I would the day of her birth had been the day of her burial so the Empress believed all that the wicked Consul had reported and the Nobles that were present asked where he saw her and he said under a Sickamore-tree but said the man when he perceived me ran away then the Nobles hasted into the Garden and found the Princess walking by her self they asked her what man had been with her there she answered nothing Then the Empress seeing it apparent that she was in the Garden as Radamentus reported believed all as was said therefore in rage and choller she commanded her to be led away and burnt at a stake but the Ladies which came with the Princess and other of the Nobility addressed themselves to the Empress and said Gracious Lady she is your onely Daughter and all you have in the world it is good that she have a little respite and you better consider of the master it may chance to prove but a mistake of the Consul for if you hastily thus put her to death it will accrew to your dishonour and we shall gain reproach of all Nations therefore let a day be appointed and she appear in judgement if she deserve death to be found by twelve men and fairly condemned by the Law At this the Empress bethought her self being something reconciled of her rashness and committed her to safe prison Chap. 6. How Radamentus complained against the young Princess and how he accused her of Fornication being death by the Law RAdamentus finding his accusation took effect no time was omitted for the prosecution thereof for his insatiable spirit would not be satisfied till life and all was gone therefore he came again to the Empress as a man in great sorrow and pain and the Empress said My grave Lord and Counsellour what aileth you to be so heavy O Lady said Radamentus how should I otherwise chuse thinking what stain and defamation will rely upon this our Empire because of your graceless Daughter through her lascivious actions within your Court as a common Whore and if you let her live any longer in this foul sin you will be counted no less your self and rendered odious over all the world for the rumour of people will be upon you saying what need we fear to break the Law since the law-makers do violate it the Daughter of the Empress is both a Whore and a Strumpet and thus through her means we shall have vice supported and vertue oppressed for what néed they care since they have such evil precedents Then said the Empress to prevent all these evils to morrow I shall sit in Iudgement and she shall dye by the Law Then said Radamentus see it be so done lest it happen to you as it did to a Lady in Capadocia of whom an example is mentioned Relate the example said the Empress I shall incontinent said Radamentus The first Example of Radamentus In Capadocia was a Lady who kept a sumptuous Garden in which was one of the vertuousest Wells in the world that whosoever should be bit with any venomous beast wash but in that water they were immediately cured It happened on a day as the Lady was walking in her Garden a gathering of flowers she espied in a corner of the Garden in the side of a little Rock a small prill of water running fair and cristal abundant more clear then the vertuous wel was which caused her to imagine that if the Rock were carved there would issue a water more excellent then the well-water and said unto the Gardiner get me a workman that he may hew this Rock whereby I may have a precious Fountain here and I give you charge over it and to see it done The Gardiner answered your will shall be fulfilled But another time the Lady came into the Garden and viewed the little Spring but it appeared not so strong in running as she thought it would and she said wherefore runs it not betâ—er her man said the original spring was deep in the earth and had two wayes the one to the Weil and the other to the Rock but that to the Well is greater and by its strength draws more water to the well and therefore its stream is so little Then said the Lady destroy the well then for questionless this spring will prove the better water so the Gardener dam'd up the vertuous water that there was no more seen And another day the Lady came again into the Garden to sée her yong Spring and taste the water and it proved very sad and bitter and having its course through a tin mine whatsoever sick person did bathe in it it would putrifie their sore and augment their pain so that all people did curse the Counsellours that did advise the Lady to destroy the vertuous well Then said Radamentus understand you great Lady what I have said yes right well said the Empress then said he I will shew you the meaning thereof The Declaration of the Example The vertuous Well great Lady be tokeneth your self and how that with your Vertuous and wise Iudgements you govern the people with equity that whosoever complaineth to you should have Iustice and their sick cases mitigated and the young Spring so fair and cristal is your graceless luxurious Daughter who will cause your Royal name to be blasted and your vertuous Government despised whose actions are bitter running through a tin mine that is baâ—e and inferiour carrages not in Royalty of a Princely parentage so that quickly she will break your heart and reign after you then all people will curse the Counsellours
neâ—â—e receiv'd thy wicked counsel but since I embraced thy hellish advice with this hand that first handled the cursed King I will be revenged on my self and so took a knife and thrust it into her breast and so ended her life Then said the Mistris to the Empress understand you what I have said Yes right well said the Empress you have shew'd me a good example without doubt this day my Daughter shall not dye Then said the Mistris if you do so you will do wisely and I thank you for sparing your Daughters life this day for my sake The second Complaint of Radamentus When Radamentus understood the Princess had obtain'd Pardon through the means of Hallicuja the wise Mistris he retired to his Chamber and seemed to grieve and lament extraordinary but alas it was nothing but falshood and deceit so that he refused to come to Councel whereat the Empress was much troubled and thereupon sent for him and demanded the cause of his grief and the reason wherefore he did not attend to Councel who answered Great Lady what greater pain can there be to a man then when he is reviled of every vulgar tongue undeservedly for all people know I am you assistant in the Empire and think I am at the helm of Iustice where I do rather more support wickedness then equity and maintain vice where I should tertue since of late there hath béen whoredom and debauchery committed in the very Court and the Empress own Daughter did it what scandal is this that I shall lye under beside your Royal Person will be defamed and the honour of your Kingdom the object of the world for you abstain Iustice from being executed upon that vile wretch your cursed Daughter so that she liveth to the ruine of the Empire therefore it shall happen to you as it did to the Quéen of Pirus and her daughter The Empress said I pray you shew me that Example why said Radamentus let me shew you never so many it availeth not nevertheless I will shew you this which is as followeth The second Example of Radamentus IN Pirus reigned a vertuous Quéen her Husband being dead she had one onely Daughter whom she tendered above her life this Daughter grew apace crafty and cunning and often conversed with Sorcerers to whom she complained there was but one Nobleman which hindered her from hading her will and liberty said the Sorcerer I le teach you a way to betray his life and then you may do well enough with your mother Pray shew me that way said she that I will said the Sorcerer that is this When he is walking in the Garden go you to him and if he sit down sit you by him 't will be a provocation to move his spirit and as he doth precéed then give him incouragement if he refuse you cry out he has ravisht you So this impudent wretch sate by this Nobleman and smiled upon him and smute him with the palm of her hand upon the chéek and said come let us solace our selves in the bosom of love until the dark Evening Then said the Lord Great Lady excuse me for I am not furnisht with so much considence as to deflower the Pearls of our Land At which words this Lady tore her locks down about her shoulders and cryed out alas alas what shall I do The Quéen her Mother being in the Window heard the cry and looking out espied her Daughter in the Garden crying and wringing her hands she sent down her Lords to know the matter and she said this man meaning the harmless Lord hath constrained me by force under yonder trée and he hath dest wrâ—d me of my Virginity The Quéen hearing this said surely he shall dye Then said the Lords it is good that you hear him before you put him to death Nay said the Quéen I have heard my daughter what 〈…〉 anâ— further witness I will believe her testimony above all the worlds and thereupon commanded the Lord to be led away and put to death which accordingly was done This Lord was the uprightest man and greatest Counsellor the Quéen had from this time forth she alwayes sought the destruction of her mother and thus she began Great Princess and Mother through my obedience and diligent care I bear to you I would wish you to speak not unto every mean subject when they come for justice but that I between you and them may deliver their message for too much familiarity will breed contempt therefore the Queen reposing so much confidence in her daughter thought all for good whatsoever she did do and thereupon set forth a Proclamation that all persons whatsoever having business at the Court should address themselves to her Daughter who alwayes sitting in an outward Chamber as people came to her she seemed very milde amiable and courteous so through her cunning and dissimulation all people took affections to her and she would say to them my mother is very rash being ancient but if you will take me for your Sovereign I le do you justice according to the due administration of the law at which words they were all very joyful and promised faithfully to perform it but said she raise your army stand in your own defence and plead your Subsidies and heavy burthens ate too weighty for you to bear this do till you hear from me so the rude multitude did as this Imp had advis'd them Then away she went to her mother and acquâ—inted her there was a factious people had rebell'd and it were good to prevent them in time least they should grow too populous so the Queen gave her the supream Authority in granting Commissions to raise an Army so when she had got the Seal she told her mother she must have a great quantity of Gold to pay them Then the Queen delivered two hundred thousand marks of Gold and having got this money she hasted with it all away to her factious Crew and there paid then all with her mothers own Treasure and gave them Commissions under her own Seal that all the rest of the Subjects were in a maze for seeing their Commissions under the Quéens Seal all lay still and not one moved for the Quéen thinking it had béen no Rebellion At last this new Army advanced towards the Court and being come this wicked Wretch the Quéens Daughter hasted to her mother and told her that she by her fair spéeches had asswaged the fury of the people and brought them there to beg their pardon which she desired the Quéen to grant them which being alwayes betrayed through her subtle words condescended and as she was going out to sign their Pardons and conducted by her daughter she passed over a boarded Alloy where underneath was a Room and Cauldron of boyling Oyl that this wicked Daughter had provided with a board wheron her mother was to tread tilting up the Quéen sell in and thereby was destroy'd And after was this wicked Wretch proclaimed Quéen that through lascivious
shalt dye by 〈◊〉 â—â—aiâ— before thou deest any more mischief O graceless Villain what shame hâ—st shâ—â— brought upon me for having such a wicked childe so she was sentenced to be burnt at a stake and as she was led to execution she confest how she had stole the money and bracelet and laid it where the maid found it so to be accus'd of theft and hang'd unjustly but at last she was burn'd to ashes at a stake and the innocent maid redéemed out of prison Now said Radamentus understand you what I have saids yes right well said the Empress then said Radamentus I will shew you the declaration thereof The Declaration of the Example THen Radamentus said to the Empresse Great Lady I fear this will happen to you and your daughter as it did to this Lady who for the love of her onely daughter set her to School to be instructed in vertuous learning and she was tutored by a Witch in all the arts of Necromancy in the first place she rob'd her mother and caus'd an innocent maid to father the theft secondly in her filthy transformation had she not béen prevented she had cut her mothers throat thirdly her horrid murther in the Mill fourthly the disgrace and shame brought upon her mother and family and fifthly the utter ruins and destruction she brought upon her own soul and in the same manner do you labour to preserve your daughter and suffer her to reign in all her filthy and detestable wayes till such time the truth of all things breaks out then be sure you will receive utter shame and disgrace even to the ruine of your self and the whole Empire therefore I advise you to cut her off while she is in the bud lest she prove in the end to be a hard trée and there is no cutting down of her The Empress said you have shewed me a good Example the Lady giving her Daughter too much liberty afterwards would have cut her mothers throat and turned both witch thief and murther or without doubt my Daughter shall not serve me so and on the morrow she commanded her officers to leâ—d her away to be burnt who obey'd her command in all haste As she was led through the stréets attired in her winding-shéet her Bible under her arm and the trumpets sounding out her doleful knell all the people cry'd out alas alas the onely Daughter of the Empress is leading to execution and as they lead her the third Mistris named Mardula came riding by and as the Princess saw her she bowed her head to her as much as to say remember me all the people cry'd an t saying O good Mistris make haste and by your famous wisdom save your Disciple so away she poasted and came before the Empress doing her reverence and the Empress said O thou ungrateful Traytor thy coming availeth thée nothing for thou shalt dye as bad a death as my wretched Daughter and I long till I be avenged on thée and all thy fellows Then said the Mistris I thought when I came to have béen better treated and not to be upbraided in this kinds as I am The Empress said do you not deserve death when as I delivered you my daughter wel to be instructed in vertuous learning and you have delivered her again unto me dumb and graceless whose lascivious actions sounds all over the Empire thâ—â— said the Mistris in that you say she is dumb I commit that to God for he maketh the dumb to speak and the deaf to hear and as you say she is a lascivious creature I fain would know if the eye of man ever saw or tongue can justifie any such thing therefore gracious Lady if you put your Daughter to death thus hastily for the words of one man it will happen to you as it did to a Knight and his God-son which is mentioned in an Example The Empress said pray shew me that Example and the Mistris said that I shall not do but if you will cause your Daughter to be brought back again from death then shall I gladly shew it you which in time to come you will say 't is a true one Then the Empress commanded her daughter to be brought back and put in prison and the Mistris began as followeth The Example of the third Mistris IT came to pass upon a time that as a Knight was travelling through a strange Countrey he chanced to lose his way in a Wood and could neither discover Churches nor Towns the night being so dark and he a stranger knew not what to do nor whither to go and as he was complaining to himself a Woodman issued through the thickets hearing his complaint and domanded the cause of it O friend said the Knight I am a stranger to the Countrey and I have lost my way and know not whither to go for accommodations for me and my Horse which is almost lost in the Brambles of this Wood. The man said Sir Knight it is far to any Inne and the wayes are bad but if you please to go with me I shall bring you to my Cottage and give you the best accommodation it doth yield The Knight courteously returned him thanks and went along with him and when he came home shewed the Knight a Chamber and provided for his Horse but the Knight through discontent of his Iourney did not go to bed but sate up and about midnight he heard a great cry in the house he being in such a lone house began to fear some danger might ensue and so knocked for to know what that cry did mean and the Maid answered that her Mistrisse was in Travail and the Midwife was with her This Knight being skill'd in Astrology went down to sée how the Planets did serve it being a bright Star-light night and he saw a bad Planet going down and a good one rising signifying if the Childe was been under that his fortune was to be hâ—nged therefore he called the Maid and bid her tell the Midwife to held her hand one quarter of an hour and the Childe would he born to good fortune the Maid came out again and told 〈◊〉 that iâ— could not possibly bâ— then 〈…〉 again and tell the Midwife 〈◊〉 stâ—â— bâ—◠〈◊〉 half quarter of an hour and the 〈◊〉 should be born to goâ—d fortune 〈…〉 again and bren the him word that 〈…〉 was delivered of 〈◊〉 â—â—lly 〈…〉 â—â—â—ver the bad Planet â—hen 〈…〉 and said nothing 〈…〉 the Childe but on the morrow the Father of it came to him saying Sir since you have vouchsafed to lodge in my house all night be pleased to honour me so far as to name my Childe who answered that I shall gladly do And when the day was come he named the Childe and writ in a bit of Parchment his destiny with a charge also that he should pray to God continually to acquit him from that sad fortune so he sealed it up in a piece of wax tyed it about his neck with a Silk String
my sake and so I commit you to God The fifth Complaint of Radamentus RAdamentus hearing the young Princess was not dead forthwith retired into his Chamber sighing and sobbing most bitterly and caused all his apparel and necessaries to be made ready and his Wagons and Horses brought up as though he was just going into his own Countrey The servants perceiving their Lord was departing from the Court acquainted the Empress that Radamentus their Lord was preparing for his own Countrey when the Empress perceived that she basted to his Chamber and said to him O my grave Lord I thought you had been more tender of my safety and the Government of the Empire then to go and leave me thus to which he answered 'T is true I tender your welfare as much as I do my life and you know I have had a care of your reputation and the safety of the Empire but now I sée you are going in the high way to shame me and dishonour your self and ruinâ— the whole Realm the world knowing I am your assistant and do think 't is all my advice in what you do supporting Bawdry and other vices and in the very Court it self had it béen Vertus the world had ne're taken notice on 't but being Vice the tongue of every inferiour fellow do noise it abroad like the breath of a Trumpet or a Herald at arms through all the parts of the world therefore I go from you for I had rather hear of your ruine then sée it you will be ruled by the words of the foolish Mistrisses till at last it will happen to you as it did unto a Roman Lady and her Daughter which Example is mentioned and the Empress said pray shew me that Example for my better understanding And he said though I shall shew you all the Examples in the world and give you all the advice I may imagine you though it tend to the preservation of both Life and Kingdom as indéed it doth yet you would not be ruled by me nor follow my counsel nevertheless I will shew you this Example provided henceforth you do not delight nor hear the Mistrisses whose idâ—â— Fables doth subvert your wise judgement the Example is as followeth The fifth Example of Radamentus SOmetimes in Rome there lived a famous Lady whose worth and renown was spread far and near being beloved of all people for she was vertuous in conversation modest in behaviour gracious to her people and amiable to all and in reference to the poor she was adorned with a frée and bountiful liberality so that she had the prayers of all This Lady had two Daughters both of them very beautiful and comely the eldest she kept at home with her and the youngest she put abroad to be taught and instructed having a motherly carâ— and in process of time this Lady sent for her Daughter home expecting she had learnt much for her edification but when she came home alas she was ne'â—e the better so she grieved very much for her Daughter in regard of the tender love she â—are her and therefore she would kéep her at home being the youngest and set the other abroad which being done this young Girle began to do nothing but play having what liberty she pleased at last she grew to maturity and then she would not go abroad without money therefore her Mother gave her money from time to time at last she had wayes to spend more then her Mother allowed her if it had béen twice as much for she kept a private lover in the City which her mother knew not of and many nights when her Mother was asleep she would rise and take the Keyes from under the Ladies head and go out to her love and towards break of day come in again her mother never perceiving it but towards morning she wondered how her Daughter came so cold and asked her what was the reason she was so cold she said the Cramp had taken her in her leg and being loath to wake her she rose and walked about the Chamber to drive it away so that excuse past for currant The next night she awak't and mist her out of the house and wondering how she got out put up her hand to feel for her Keyes they were gone so when her Daughter came in about break of day again she asked her O Lord Daughter where have you been now Truly said she I had a tooth did ake so grievously that my â—aw I thought would have broke and you bring so sound a sleep I was loath to disturb ye therefore I took the Keyes and went forth to the Chyrurgion to draw it but I could not make him hear me so this second excuse past as currant as the former and her Mother said no more of it Vpon another time she espied her Mothers Key of her Cabinet and she took it and prest it in Clay that it made an impression and from this impression she got another Key made whereby she could go to the Cabinet of money when she pleased and her Mother missing money so off little thought of her own Daughter but sometime fathered the crime upon the Maid sometime upon the Man that the Family was never but in strife and variance and upon a time she went to her Mothers Cabinet for more money and went away and left her Key behinde her in the Cabinet her-Mother séeing a key in her Cabinet and knew she had her own in her Pocket let it alone and watcht behinds the Curtain to sée who would fetch it out by and by in comes her Daughter and snatcht the Key out but her Mother catcht hold of her and said O thou graceless wrecth is it thée that hast robb'd me these two years together now I have found thee out O wicked imp I have béen often cold of thee but I would never believe it till now I do sée it for which thou shalt dye a shameful death but there was living not far off an old woman whom this young imp was wont to take advice of in all her wicked pranks therefore in this time of necessity she did send for her to come and by her craft and cunning to save her life When she came she said O vertuous Lady let not your wrath be so â—uriously bent against her she is your Daughter whom you have bore of your body and gave her suck nine moneths from your breast for we were all guilty of faults in our infancy therefore let her not come to shame for the first time the severâ— Law will give reprieve to the veriest Felon for the first fault much more a natural Mother ought to do for a Childe and if she should thus dye it will acrew great shame to her Family and you will be branded with rebuke for tyranny Vpon these words the good Mother was pacified and pardoned her It happened afterwards as the Lady was walking in the evening in her Garden she espied her Daughter lâ—â—ng with a strange man
came and also verified it then said the Lady alas if he has slain one of the Flock it is but through his foolishness for he is but a whelp and tender and knew not what he did but if we catch him again doing such a trick we will correct him for it and not long after he came into the Flock and slew two and devoured as much as he could the rest that was left a Greyhound of the house found and eat it the Lion being come home first and got to his Couch there was no suspition of him but the poor Greyhound coming home with his chops all bloody was apprehended of the Shepheard and all the blame put upon him wherefore the Lady commanded him to be hang'd therefore according to the old Proverb It is better for some to steal an horse then another to look over the hedge The third time the Lion went to the Flock slew thrée and glutted himself in their 〈◊〉 then the Shepheard complained the 〈◊〉 time but could have no redress the Lady still pardoning him hoping he would mend and the fourth time he fell among the Flock slaying and spoiling above twenty then all people cry'd shame upon the Lady for kéeping a ravenous Beast to destroy so good a Flock yet the Lady would not kill him nor hardly give credit to what they said nevertheless she kept him in her Chamber close for two or thrée dayes and he lay close by the Cradle where her young Son was and it happened one morning one morning that his wrath began to rise and his eyes séemed as red as blood walking up and down the Chamber he smelt to the Cradle where the Infant lay and at last jumpt upon him and fore him all to pieces and eat him before the mothers face then the Lady wrung her hands and curst the time she refused to kill him but that did not satisfie the savage beast but after he had dispatcht the Childe he jumpt upon the Lady and fore her joynt from joynt and when the servants ran up and lookt through the key hole all the Chamber was of a gore blood Then said Radamentus I fear it will happen to you as it did unto this poor Lady in tendering and saving your wicked Daughter so oft that when she comes to have power she will destroy your Subjects the good Sheep and after bring you to a miserable end Then said the Empress surely that shall not be for to morrow my Daughter shall dye then she commanded her Officers to lead her away to the stake arrayed all over in a white rove signifying Death then all the people cry'd out alas and for evermore the Empress Daughter is leading again to dye they much lamented her death Then the sixth Mistris when she heard of it mounted on horseback and hasted to the Empress who was no sooner come but the Empress disdainfully lookt upon her and threatned her sorely that she should dye with her Daughter for bringing her up in such horrid actions that all the world was asham'd of her The Mistris said I have not deserv'd as you say and as for your Daughter you shall know she shall speak within three dayes and all the truth shall come to light but if you put her to death for the words of one man it will surely happen to you as it rid to the Princess of Burgundy who for the love of a foreign Prince and the advice of an evil Counsellour caused her own precious Daughter to be put to death for which after she would have given her own life For the love of God said the Empress shew me that Example that shall I not do said the Mistris except you send for your Daughter back again otherwise she may be dead and then I should talk to you in vain Then the Empress commanded her Daughter to be call'd back again and the Mistris began as followeth The Example of the sixth Mistris SOme time in Burgundy lived a fair Princess of famous worth and great 〈◊〉 this Princess took wonderful great delight in seeing Justs and Turnies where upon a time there came several brave Princes and Nobles to shew their valour before this great Princess and there assembled together seventy and thrée brave Heroes and when the Princess baheld them all she thought the magnificency of the whole world were that day assembled together amongst whom was valiant Brutus one of the Knights of Malts and he behad'd himself so valsantly that all the honour of the day accrewed to him that the Princess was so much enamoured on him that her eye was fixed all day long upon the place where he stood and when the day was over this valiant Brutus came off the Field with honour Tâ—umpets sounding and victorious Trophies bore before him Now the Lady was in the window of her Castlâ— all the while and beheld his worthy acts so that her love burned on him but could not tell how to reveal it Yet afterwards she invited the Knight to a Banquet and sent the massage by her own Steward for which Brutus returned the Princess many thanks and reputed her invitation as a great honour and when the Day was come the Knight appeared before the Princess in such a brave gesture and comely deportment that the Princess was ravisht to see the excellency of his carriage so they went to Dinnex that day and passed away the time in complemental discouries Now this Lady had a Daughter most beaufiful and fair full of modesty and vertue and of comoly seatures and upon her the Knight had a fixed eye but the Princess never minded that for she thought the Knight was more ambitions to Court her then her Daughter being young and of tenver years therefore she was clear of any fealonsie of her Daughter so after they had feasted together for the space of a wéek the Knight most courteously took his leave of the Princess and departed home into his own Countrey promising to come again soon after but failing to come the Lady wondering the Knight did not come she askt her Steward what may be the reason of it he said that he perceived the sight of her little Hound did displease him therefore he would not come now this Princess loved the Hound as she did the greatest Jewel she had nevertheless by the Stewards advice she commanded him to be put to death Now said she I hope I shall please the Knight when he comes soon after the Knight came and courted the Princess very highly but as he was coming through a dark room in the Castle he chanted to stumble and he said to himself I le never come this way again the Princess hearing the Knight say so asked the Steward why he said so quoth he because the Parret was in that room O said the Lady though I prize the Parret as my life yet go and kill it So after they had pessed the time away in all Courtly Delights and Princely Sports for the space of a
whole â—â—â—â—th together the Knight most courteously took his leave of the Princess and went again into his own Countrey for his affections were altogether knit upon the young Lady though he bid it in obscurity the Princess thought it was upon her self so the time passed beyond her expectation in looking for the Knights coming again and admiring at his absence so long asked her Steward what might be the reason of it of whom she alwayes took advice and he said the Knight has more love for the young Lady your Daughter then he has to you for alwayes when he is here she is in his Chamber wantonly playing with him and she does all what she can to conspire your Death and if she live any longer she will prove to be your utter ruins and destruction Then the Princess commanded her to be sacâ—ifiâ—ed upon the Altar to the Oracle of Apollo then there was an Altar erected before the Palace Gate covered all over with black upon which was placed four great War-Candles set in sockets of silver by which was placed a Block of Ebony a Chasing-dish of Coles and a Knite for the Eracutioner These being ready the young Lady was brought upon the Altar attended by twelve Ladies arrayed all in white Vestments then the dying Lady spake to the Princess as followeth Most reverend Mother and dread Princess I am here brought to be sacrificed for things laid to my Charge I know not of and if you put me to death there is a God of all things who knoweth the secrets of all mens hearts that will in one day bring the truth to light to the shame and dishonour of the unjust who are guilty of this my innocent Death And thus having ended her Speech and preparing for the Block Brutus the valiant Knight rushed into the Palace pard who demanded the cause of the multitude and the people said that the Princess Daughter that day was to be sacrificed then the Knight spurred his Stéed and rote among the people making a lane which way he came and rescued the Lady from the Altar and brought her in before her mother again and said to the Princess Madam you had but thrée things in your Palace beside your self which I delighted in and those you would destroy The Princess asked him which were those and the Knight said Your Daughter your Hound and your Parret and the Princess said My Steward informed me the Hermd 〈◊〉 essend you and addised me to kill him and another time told me the Parret displeased you and counselled me to destroy it and thirdly my Daughter had most wickedly conspired my death for which he advised me to sacrifice her to the Oracle of Apollo Then said the Knight call hither the Steward who being come he asked him did I tell thee the Hound offended me he said no he asked him again did I tell thee the Parret displeased me and he said no didst thou ever sée the Lady in my Chamber and he answered nothing but fell down upon his knées and begg'd pardon of the Princess Then said the Princesse O cursed Traytor what hast thou made me to de so slay my Hound I loved so dearly and the Parret as I did my life and to attempt the murther of my onely Daughter through thy treacherous base and wicked Counsel surely thou shalt dys fâ—râ—â— so commanded him to be led to the Gallows and hang'd Thus was the vertuous Lady saved and the unjust Traytor condemned Now said the Mistris understand ye what I have said yes right well said the Empress and it rejoyceth my hâ—â—rt the young Lady was saved therefore my Daughter this day shall not dye Then said the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 you do to you will do well therefore I commend you to God and thank you for sparing yoâ—â— Daughter this day for my sake The seventh Complaint of Radamentus WHen Radamentus beard the young Lady was pardoned again he ran up and down the Garden like a mad man crâ—ing with a loud voice O unhappy man am I that should thus come into this Countrey pretending to execute justice and I am constrained to suffer vice to be supported to the ruine of the Empress and destruction of the Empire and shame and confusion to my own felf I wish I baâ— never come here and the Empress said leave off such talk Iustice shall be done O Lady said Radamentus it will happen to you as it did to the Queen of the Vandals which is mentioned in the Example good my Lord said the Empress shew me that Example that I will gladly do said Radamentus if you with take example by it otherwise it 〈◊〉 â—â—â—th me nothing to tell it you for I have 〈◊〉 you six already and yet you are disâ—â—â—ded from them by six foolish women neâ—ever â—â—â—less I will shew you this one though it be the last I eveâ— shall do The seventh Example of Radamentus THere was a Quéen 〈◊〉 the Vandals upon a time who had a very beautifull Daughter who she tendered very much and loved as she did her own life insomuch that wheresoever she went her Daughter must go along with her and as they were walking upon a time in the fields the young Lady had a Bird in her hand whom she would very fain have to sing and because she could not make him sâ—â—g the pecke out his two eyes with her Bookin and turn'd it loose and the Bird flew back and by accident lichted in the branch of a Vine which grew over the Queens window and there hardented for a while singing very dolefully every morning at the Queens window Then said the Queen O that I knew but what this poor Bird doth so mournfully sing now his eyes be out And then stood up an old man whose name was Mimnon and said if it may not offend the Queen I shall declare the interpretation of the Song then said the Queen speak on and he said Gracious Lady the contents of the song is a warning to you to beware and to cut off The interpretation is to beware that your Daughter peck not out your eyes as she did his and that you cut her off before she come to that maturity as to sit upon your Throne with the Crown upon her head when you are on the pavement on your bare knees And the Quéen answered these are but fables believe them not my dear childe is of no such nature so past it over like the old saying till the time of repentance was too late for she tender'd her Daughter so much that she would make her Queen to rule one your and her self another and did ratifie and confirm by her own hand and Seal that whatsoever her Daughter did enact or do in her Reign it should stand as law for ever established so when her Daughter came to maturity the Quéen would néeds sée how the Crown would become her and made her Daughter Quéen for that year and Crowned her in great pomp when her Daughter had on the Royal
before us so the Empress commanded Radamentus to appear with all his men who immediately came then said the Princess Most dear Mother behold the young Gentleman that standeth there in black who is favourite to Radamentus above all others command him to be stript before us all said the Empress that will be a shame to us nay said the Princess be the shame to these that deserve it and when be was unclothed he was known to be a woman to the admiration of all The Complaint of the Princess against Radamentus THen said the Princess to her Mother behold this Fornicator and this Whore who bath commonly lain with him in his bed committing the foul sin of fornication which thing he would also have committed with me in the Garden and because I would not consent to his filthy lust he ran out crying he had seen me lying with a man under the Fig tree and thereby complained unjustly against me seeking all possible means how to take my life away Therefore most gracious Mother give me leave to reprove him of all his grievous slanders and false accusations word by word and I beséech you to hear me patiently When you sent for 〈◊〉 at his request I beheld the Stars bâ— which I knew that if I should have spoken to you 〈◊〉 any other within seven dayes â—â—â—as heâ—â—eâ—h 〈◊〉 shâ—â—ld are a shameful death for which cause I did forbear to speak until this present When the Empress heard her Daughter so just and learnedly vindicate the tâ—uth she said to Radamentus O wicked wretch was not thy Concubine enough to 〈◊〉 â—hy faul and lecherous apposite but wouldst have had to do with my onely Daughter Then Radamentus fell to the groâ—nd and begg'd pardon but the Empress said O ungratsful Traytor thou dost 〈◊〉 mercy but thou shalt finde none for the law shall be upon thee even unto a shameful death as thou hast deserved Then said the Princess Most gracious Mother it was told you by this wretched Caitiff that I should by the help of my Mistrisses endeavour your destruction and assume the Government to my self Alas I should more rather use all the art and skill I have to help and support you in all your Government about your Empire and repute you my Sovereign since I have from you all my living and maintenance not to deprive you of your Dignity for in your honour do I glory Then said the Empress blessed be Almighty God that I have such a good and learned Daughter that I finde so expert in all Arts and Sciences therefore declare to me one example whereby I may understand thy wisdome perfectly then shall I have ioy of thee and my heart will be satisfied Then said the Princess Gracious Mother Command silence among the people that all may hear me and when I have ended oâ—â—e sentence according to law upon me and Radamentus When the Hall was silenced the Princess began as followeth The Example of Sabrina the Empress Daughter THere was a Queen which had but one Daughter whom she loved as she did her life therefore the Queen delivered her 〈◊〉 a Wise Mistris to be brought up and be instrâ—â—â—â—d in all vertuous Learning and Wisdom and when she had béen with her Mistris a certain while her Mother had a desire to see â—er and sent Letters to the Mistris to bring home her Daughter when she came she appeared to her Mother so expert in learning comely in behaviour and amiable unto all that the Queen rejoyced excéedingly and it happened on a time as she delivered a bowl of Wine to her Mother the Queen looked upon the wall and saw the shadow of a hand which wrote three lines in an unknown tongue and the Quéen began to fear greatly and said happy were that person which could interpret what that writing meant then her Daughter said if it may not offend the Quéen I could give the true interpretation thereof and the Quéen said speak on my good Daughter and the Childe said Most honoured Mother this writing doth signifie that I shall become a mighty Princess and shall be honoured of all people especially my own Mother who shall bring me a Bowl of Wine and bow thrée times and knéel in the delivery of it and the Queen said Thou shalt never be honoured so of me nor have such service therefore she commanded her servants to take her into a Forest far from the Court and there slay her and bring her Heart to shew her that she may know the truth of her death so the servants took her away to the Forest and having compassion on so sweet a Childe said among themselves let us deceive the Queen in this bloody 〈◊〉 and save the Childe and we will put her in this hollow Tree and kill a Lamb of the Mountain and bring the Heart to the Queen which accordingly they did and the Queen believed it was the Heart of her Daughter saying Prophecies sometime prove not true And it chanced that on the morrow after a strange Knight hapned to hunt in the Forest where the Childe was to be slain and his Dogs beyed about the tree where the Queens Daughter was at last the Knight looked in the hollow of the tree and there he espied a young Girle of such incomparable beauty that his eyes never beheld a fairer which made him suspect that she was of some noble race and so he commanded his servants to be careful of her and to bring her into his own countrey where he did bring her up in all learned Arts and with royal attendants till at last her fame began to ring throughout the whole Kingdome for Vertue Beauty and Learning and the Emperour of that Land being very youthful came to that Knights house for so view her And no sooner did he behold her but he was smitten with the inflamation of Love and after dinner he danced with her and in the evening he married her and brought her in great triumph and solemnity home to his own Court. And after that the thrée Eastern Kings hearing of her fame came to see her beauty and to bring her presents thus for thrée years she lived with her husband the Emperour in all joy and happiness and then he dyed leaving the whole Empire unto she who was then called the great Empress of Blodermario When she was thus in the height of all her glory she viewed the Firmament and perceived by her skill in Astrology how her Mother that day was deposed by the Prince of Moravia of Crown and Kingdom and banished out of her countrey and laying to heart the distressed condition her mother was in had compassion on her for pure Nature will never fall away and therefore she raised a brave and mighty Army and marched towards her mothers Countrey which newes did slye before her that it was told the Queen her mother the great Empress of Blodermario was coming to her assistance which made the Queen to rejoyce and wonder greatly knowing