she who thought then to have attained the end of her intentions redoubled her blandishments with so much unseemelinesse that no patience was able any longer to suffer them But when Basian perceived that shee did play these pranks more to spight him then for any evill she committed with this Child hee resolved to punish her by a Faining or Counterfeiting likewise and to scare her so that she should loose the custome of seeing these things which passed not without some kind of scandall Hee buyes one of these Poyniards which Players use to comit fained murthers in their tragedies and to deceive the eyes of the beholders the blade hides it selfe in the handle when the point leanes against the stomacke so that the spectators thinke that it enters into the body he put a little bladder of bloud at the end of the haft and one night as his wife beganne more licenciously then ever to hug kisse and make much of her Adonis hee comes to her with his Dagger in his hand as if he had beene transported with anger strikes this page three or foure blowes therewith and made the blood of the bladder spurt on his wifes sace then throwing by the child comes to her and giues her so many stabs on the brest and on the head that this pore woman believing herselfe to be runne through on all sides though she were not at all conceaved such feare that without any manner of wound or hurt she fell starke dead at his feete presently the report fled all over the Cittie that Basian had stabd his wife having taken her in adultery with her faire Page if Basian were amazed to see his faining bring so unfortunate a conclusion you may judge the Magistrates came to enquire of the fact and he declares the trueth according as I have related it he shewes the poignard and the bloud which he had put to it Ephese is visited and found without any manner of wound and so is the child likewise who being not capable of so much feare had no harme at all notwithstanding the first impression that ranne about the world of this murther was so strong that it was impossible to blot it out every one held Ephese for an infamous adulteresse neither considering the age of the child uncapable of comitting it nor receving the trueth as Basian declared it diuers being of opinion that it was so saide for to save the honor of the children and kindred the world being full of malignity ever takes actions in the worst part and if it gives a bad interpretation to the best what will it give to those that have in them some shew of evill meane time the matter stayed not there for although the Magistrates grounding their judgements upon very probable conjectures left Basian without punishment the Physitians attributing the cause of Epheses death to the force of imagination which had given her the stroke of it whereof they alleadged divers examples Euloge brother unto this Lady a Gentleman of greate courage and who through some secret hatred had formerly opposed this marriage when Basian was a Suiter being not able to suffer that his dead sister should be defamed by detracting tongues nor that Basians Faining should remaine without a true chastisment he challenges him And not withstanding that Basian made shew unto him of much sorrowe and affliction for the death of Ephese and that he published her to have beene an honest woman worthy of honour and prayse yet nothing would satisfie Euloge but Basians blood which he drew out of his body together with his soule cooling in this manner the immoderate heate of his affection to Leonille whom it was thought he should marry it may be these adulterate affections drew on him the hand of God by Euloges sword which verifies this that the unjust deceiptfull man shall be overtaken by an unluckie end THE DOVBLE FRATRICIDE The ninth Relation IT is not thirty yeares since one of the most famous Cities of France was the stage whereon the tragicall accident which I am going to relate was acted If the love of wealth could arm bloud against bloud as we have seene in the relation of the treacherous Brother in law that if sensualitie breeds here a reciprocall fratricide the scandall whereof I will hide under borrowed names without losing the utility of the example Widowes who in the use of mariage have learned wayes to allure men doe doubtlesse cast forth more dangerous attractions than doth the simplicity of maids These neat mourning weeds wherewith they curiously adorne themselves are nothing behind the finest ornaments wherewith those do deck themselves that either have or desire to have husbands Contrariwise even as the Sunne comming from under a cloud casts forth its raies the more ardent and as the coles are quicker and brighter that come from under the ashes so likewise those lookes or rather darts that are cast from under the Cypres or veiles wherewith Widowes cover themselves with more desire to see and be seene than to hide themselves doe make in mens hearts impressions that are not slight I advance all this in regard of Permene a young Widow who having bin but three yeares under the yoke of marriage and having not yet attained but unto the twentieth of her age bred more desire of her new conquest in those who considered her beauty under so many blacke attyres than pitty of her widowhood and to say truth her sparkling eyes her ruddy cheeks her studdied countenance her pleasing speeches and her ordinary conversing among companies sufficiently witnessed that she was not of those right widowes separated from men both in body and heart but that her frequentation was not so much a diverting from soâ—row as a desire to find a rock whereon in the bands of Hymen to make a second wracke of her libertie It is true that as soone as she was a widow going into a monastery to receive some consolation from a kinsman she had therein shee received there as it were a kinde of prediction that she should no more bee married A thing which she scoffed at in her heart when shee had resolved the quite contrary as she testified since by her demeanours This Widow being the North starre of many who in respect of her imbarked themselves on the tempestuous sea of love yet was by none adored with so much submission nor more loved than by Prelidian who was a gentleman of thirty yeares of age having neither father nor mother and beeing in full possession of his estate had both matcht his sister according to her quality and discharged the part of Babilas his younger brother who was in the six and twentieth yeare of his age and according to his boyling courage was gon to seeke occasions to make himselfe knowne in the Armies of Flanders the Theatre of warre for the space of these threescore years Whilst Babilas is in the rough exercises of Mars Prelidian is amongst the tents or rather amongst the attends of Love
he verified what is commonly reported that punishments light not alwayes on the guilty but sometimes on the unfortunate and if we shall reflect on that which led him into the mishap of this murther there is no doubt to be made but Demetry was more criminall then he since he but lent his arme to the execution of that vengeance which she had inspired him withall Youth may here learn to avoyde evill counsells as rocks stained with thousands of shipwracks and to withdraw themselves from the unfortunate acquaintance and familiarity of these shamelesse women who not contented to fill those with scandall who are spectators of their disordered lives led those that follow them unto brutish and inhumane actions not only of the flesh but also of blood whereof antiquity furnisheth us with a thousand examples amongst which the judicious reader may see if this that I have now related may not be placed THE LONG Vengeance The Tenth Event AS the least follyes are the most commendable so is the least continuance of anger Those revenges which are executed in the heate of choller when the bloud is boyling although not excuseable forasmuch as we ought neither to excuse a vice nor flatter a passion which should be subdued by reason yet are they lesse to be blamed then those which are taken in cold blood and whose continuance shewes a black and diabolicall malice the French are subject to violent passions whose suddenesse and fury proves very dangerous but those people that live beyond the mountaines are possessed with hereditary hatred and as if vengeance were one of the sweetest things belonging to life they lengthen and continue it as much as they can when they have once gotten their adversaries in their power making them endure many torments whose prolongation is worse then a thousand deaths which made that cruell Emperour Domitian say that hee would cause those whom he tormented to feele themselves dye and being petitioned by one of them that he might be quickly dispatcht by death since when answered he is this man entred into favour againe with me Although death be the last of all worldly paines yet some deaths are farre worse then others and which by their lingring length multiplye deaths and therein doth consist the tyranny of those vengeances which preserve life but only to lengthen paine Ceraste a Gentleman of Millaine continued a suite for many yeers with Trophime a Lord of great note and also bearing the title of Earle because the said Ceraste would not acknowledge to owe him fealty at length by the decree of the Senate of Millaine he was acquitted from this homage and his land declared free it was but little and lying within the County and Earledome of Trophime whose great courage could not there suffer a fellow wherefore what he could not obtaine by law which was to make Ceraste his vassall he thought fit by violence to take revenge thereof Now this Ceraste was growne something ancient and either by the intemperancy of his youth or by issuing from a gowty generation for this disease is said to be hereditary he was so afflicted with the gowt that he could hardly goe besides hee was so indebted that if the gowt decayed his body creditors did no lesse to his purse whether it were that ill husbādry had caused it or else along continued quarrel which he had had with a neighbouring Gentleman whose name was Procore so it is that he felt himselfe extreamely diminished in his estate but he was delivered out of all these miseries by an extraordinary meanes as you shall here in the sequell Vpon a day being mounted on a little mule as he was taking the aire about his groūds Trophime who watched for him as a vulture for his prey came well accompained and suddainly surprised him Ceraste who thought no other but that his throat should presently be cut for to move Trophime to compassion cried him mercy and begged for life Thou shalt have life answered Trophime because thou doest begge it but thou shalt not have death when thou wouldest this being said he caused him to be led vnto his house and cast into a darke prison where he made him endure paines lesse sufferable then death Cerastes mule was found grasing in the feild but as for tidings of him none could be heard his wife and two children caused all the enquiry and search to be made that possibly they could but never were able to discouer what was become of him upon the quarrell that he had had with Procore many conjectured that he had killd him On these weake surmises the Iustice seases on Procore and a lusty fellow who ordinarily waighted on him armed with sword and dagger for want of witnesses they are both put upon the wracke where the vehemency of torments made them confesse what they never did accusing themselves to have murdered Ceraste wherevpon Precore was beheaded and his man hanged not long after this Trophime caused miserable Ceraste to be led by night vnto a strong castle which he had on the bankes of the lake Maior and therto be locked vp in the bottome of a tower where he sawe no other light but through a little hole at the top and was fedde by the house keeper with nothing save bread and water the ground being his bed and the roofe for his couerled in these obscurityes and miseryes he often desires them to put him to death but he that tooke delight in his paine would not grant him this cruell favor he remanied there vntill the death of Trophime which was about thirteene or foureteene yeares after his taking who left this hatred and vengeance for an inheritance unto his sonne Castalio who succeeding his father in cruelty prolonged the imprisonment and bad vsage of Ceraste During this time Cerastes wife dyed and his two sonnes hauing devided the estate made away the best parte thereof to pay his dets thinking themselves to have lost their Father also when behold the power of heaven whose eies are ever waking on miserable creatures and who suffers not the rod of the wicked to continue on the heads of innocent persons by an vnexpected meanes opened a way unto the liberty of Ceraste Castalio being in mind to repaire some ruines about the castle wherein Ceraste was rather buried alive then imprisoned it hapned that the Masons working thereat digged so deep about the foundations of the tower that they made a little trench therein through the which they perceived this miserable man who at the first affrighted them but at last hee moved so much pitty in them that having heard the History of his disaster they made him a passage for to escape away this hapned after nineteene yeeres imprisonment Presently he repaires to his owne house meager pale and in the worst case that can be imagined where no body at the first knew him at last he was knowne by his children unto whom he related the time aad manner of his taking and his long continuance
that he meant to cast oyle on the fire of this Ladies inflamed heart he said unto the Messenger that he feared a surprisall and that this hand being easie to be counterfeited it was perhaps a lure to call and a snare to intrap and undoe him Leuffroy was at the point of being angry at this mistrust which seemed to taxe him with treachery but considering with himselfe the just cause that Fleuriall had to suspect and besides that his Ladyes intent was not to vexe him he moderated his choller and turning it into a merriment he said verily faire sir you marvellously feare your skinne and you seeme very nice in an occasion for which a thousand knights would hazard the losse of a thousand lives a piece it is said Fleuriall neither my life nor my skinne that I seeke to put in safety being ready to expose both the one and the other unto all manner of paines and death for the service of so noble a Lady but I feare that her honour which is dearer to me then all that concernes my selfe should become interessed or wronged and then if her children should never so little perceive this businesse what corner of the earth were able to shelter me from their wrath or what power could make me escape the cruelty of their vengeance Discreet Leuffroy having by this discourse understood the motions of this Gentlemans soule who was held backe from seconding the intentions of the Countesse onely by feare of her children made it all knowne unto her whereupon Crisolite resolved not to waste her selfe away in that manner by concealment of her affection from her children being to her as unprofitable as it was troublesome but before them to declare her passions and intentions Having then on a morning caused them all foure to come into her chamber two wit the two sonnes Maximillian and Septimus and the two daughters Anicete and Catherine She said thus unto them my good children for the cares I have had in your bringing up and for the endeavours of a good mother which I have ever yeelded unto you I beleeve none of you but will confesse how tenderly and heartily I have loved you during the time that heaven permitted me to live with your now deceased father I have behaved my selfe toward him with all the submission modesty and fidelity which a wife owes unto her husband but in fine cruell death hath taken him from me and parted us and he hath left me in an age not yet so great that it should freeze the blood in my veines nor interdict me to thinke of a second marriage I have done all that I can to put this idle fantasie out of my head but my nature is so repugnant unto this holy vertue of continency which heaven doth not grant to every one that I beleeve I ought rather to marry then to burne and that is the thing I am determined to doe but because I am not of a common condition matches conformable to my birth and quality are not easily found therefore I have cast mine eyes and fixed my heart on a Gentleman with whom I hope to have more contentment then if he were of greater degree and whose alliance will be lesse prejudiciall unto you then if I tooke another of higher birth I know the lawes of the Nobility of this Countrey very well but I know also that the lawes of nature are more ancient and those of love more strong you know what great revenewes I have brought to this house which if it were transsported into the hands of another husband your inheritance would be much diminished I have found a way with which I shall rest well contented our honour shall be sheltered and your meanes shall not be lessened nor impoverished I will secretly marry this Gentleman whom I shall name unto you he shall dwell in my house as a domesticall servant none shall know that I have mismatcht my selfe and if any children shall issue from him and me they shall be brought up secretly and they may be provided for with indifferent meanes In this manner without any prejudice to you I shall be satisfied I speake freely and roundly to you as to my children from whom I hope for as much love respect and consent as the goodnesse of your nature doth promise me another it may be more haughty and more imperious would have done whatsoever her passion had dictated unto her without your counsell and it may be also that another having lesse feare of God and lesse respect to honour would have remedied her incontinency by meanes as dishonourable as unlawfull but I had rather dye a thousand deaths then to set such a spot on my blood and posterity knowing this that a woman without honesty of what quality soever she be is but as it were a laistall finally I doe intreate you not to speake any thing to disswade me from this my resolution being I have declared unto you that it is absolutely necessary for my contentment only judge whether the way by me proposed be not reasonable and fitting as well to set my conscience at rest and my honour at shelter as to preserve the meanes which I brought into your Fathers house If these foure children were not amazed at this proposition is not a question to be asked but at last seeing they must make use not of consultation but of resolution in a businesse determine they make a vertue of that necessity which is not subject to any lawes and imbracing obedience and discretion inclined themselves to the will of their mother whom they saw to be as carefull of their good as of her owne contentment whereupon the eldest speaking for all the rest answered her with all dutifull respect and modesty that although their common desires could it may be more wish to see her in a glorious widdowhood then in a disadvantagious marriage neverthelesse they were so many wayes obliged to her both for their lives and for the meanes which they held of her and also for the great paines shee had taken in their education that they had rather renounce themselves and their owne judgements then to contradict her in any one point that she was their Mother their Lady and their Mistresse that she might dispose of their bodyes their lives their meanes and their wills according to her good pleasure it belonging not unto them to resiâ—â— any of her intentions and that the only glory of obeying her as their mother was the fairest lot in their heritage and seeing that they had hitherto beene ruled and governed by her without any contradiction in what concerned themselves they could not with reason disapprove what she should doe for her selfe that they would honour and respect him that she should chuse for her husband after what manner soever shee would command and that she might be onely pleased to appoint and she should find in them a perfect obedience Chrisolite saw that these were not so much words of complement as of
his hand such as they use to rub horses withall Opile said he thou hast threatned to rubbe me before I should curry thee I will have thee to be as good as thy word therefore take this wispe and rub me at thy pleasure Opile refusing so to doe Anaclete and those that accompanyed him setting poyniards and pistolls to his throat forced him to take the wispe and passe it over the back of Anaclete which he did very gently then they asked him if he were contented therewith and if he had rubd him well to his mind you have constrained me to it said he And I will also constraine thee replyed Anaclete to let me curry thee at my will for it is now my turne Then they fastned this poore naked body to the foure posts of the bed as one extended upon the wheele and Anaclete taking an iron curry combe which he had caused to be made with long teeth began to curry this gallant so furiously that hee flaid him alive tearing away his nose eyes and all that made him a man in briefe leaving no parcell of his skinne untoucht he stretches his good wife on the same racke and curryed her in the same manner casting their miserable bodyes on the floore which had neither face nor skinne and left them there panting and wallowing in their blood this exploit of cruell vengeance thus acted he retired himselfe into a place of safety Day being come the Magistrates enter the house where they behold this horrible spectacle These unfortunate creatures lived a while after to confesse their faults and aske God forgivenesse for them Opile dyed before night the woman lived untill the next day both in torments which can hardly be imagined The lawes forgave Anaclete this murder but because of the cruelty of the action he was constrained wholly to forsake the City and to change his dwelling ever since it hath remained as a proverbe in that place when they see any one courting another mans wife they bid him take heed of the curry-combe Certainly they are quite voyde of humanity who detest not the cruelty of this revenge more worthy to be abhorred then imitated and besides those lawes which permits husbands to kill the adulterers when they surprize them are contrary unto the lawes divine neverthelesse they were stoned to death in the ancient law providing that it were done in the way of publicke justice and by the ordinary course But who doth not see in this history the just judgement of God on the insolence of this souldier and this dishonest woman The punishment of a fault seemes the greater yea redoubled when as it is either shamefull or ridiculous And amongst delinquents whom justice sends to execution there are many that grieve more to suffer by the hands of the hangman and to serve for a spectacle to the people then for the losse of their life If those who defile themselves by adultery had such curriers before their eyes they would not neigh for to speak with the Scripture as Stalions after their neighbours wives THE VVAKING Mans dreame The Fifth Event THE Greek proverbe saith that a man is but the dreame of a shaddow or the shaddow of a dreame is there then any thing more vaine then a shadow which is nothing in it selfe being but a privation of light framed by the opposition of a thicke body unto a luminous is there any thing more frivolous then a dreame which hath no subsistence but in the hollownesse of a sleeping braine and which to speake properly is nothing but a meere gathering together of Chimericall Images and this is it which makes an ancient say that we are but dust and shadow our life is compared unto those who sleeping dreame that they eate and waking find themselves empty and hungry and who is he that doth not find this experimented in himselfe as often as he revolves in his memory the time which is past who can in these passages of this world distinguish the things which have beene done from those that have beene dreamed vanities delights riches pleasures and all are past and gone are they not dreames what hath our pride and pompe availed us say those poore miserable soules shut up in the infernall prisons where is our bravery become and the glorious shew of our magnificence all these things are passed like a flying shadow or as a post who hastens to his journeyes end This is it which caused the ancient Comicke Poet to say that the world was nothing but an universall Comedy because all the passages thereof serves but to make thâ— wisest laugh and according to the opinion of Democritus all that is acted on this great Theater of the whole world when it is ended differs in nothing from what hath bin acted on a Players stage the mirrour which I will heere set before your eyes will so lively expresse all these verities and so truly shew the vanities of the greatnesse and opulencies of the earth That although in these Events I gather not either examples not farre distant from our times or that have beene published by any other writer yet I beleeve that the serious pleasantnesse of this one will supply it's want of novelty and that it's repetition will neither bee unfruitfull nor unpleasing In the time that Phillip Duke of Burgundy who by the gentlenesse and curteousnesse of his carriage purchaste the name of good guided the reines of the country of Flanders This Prince who was of an humour pleasing and full of judicious goodnesse rather then silly simplicity used pastimes which for their singularity are commonly called the pleasures of Princes after this manner he no lesse shewed the quaintnsse of his wit then his prudence Being in Bruxelles with all his Court and having at his table discoursed amply enough of the vanities and greatnesse of this world he let each one say his pleasure on this subject whereon was alleadged grave sentences and rare examples walking towards the evening in the Towne his head full of divers thoughts he found a Tradesman lying in a corner sleeping very soundly the fumes of Bacchus having surcharged his braine I describe this mans drunkennesse in as good manner as I can to the credit of the party This vice is so common in both the superiour and inferiour Germany that divers making glory and vaunting of their dexterity in this art encrease their praise thereby and hold it for a brave act The good Duke to give his followers an example of the vanity of all the magnificence with which he was invironed devised a meanes farre lesse dangerous then that which Dionysius the Tyrant used towards Democles and which in pleasantnesse beares a marveâ—lous utility He caused his men to carry away this sleeper with whom as with a blocke they might doe what they would without awaking him he caused them to carry him into one of the sumptuosest parts of his Pallace into a chamber most state-like furnished and makes them lay him in a rich bed
there is no doubt to be made but that felicity doth necessarily as a shaddow follow the solide body of vertue and honesty since that to be vertuous and honourable is the highest point of felicity whereunto an honest man can aspire and although vertue be unto it selfe a more then sufficient recompence he being unworthy thereof that seeks rewards for it any where but in it selfe for the greatest price of vertuous actions is to have done them yet so it is that accessarily sooner or later either in this world or in the next the acknowledgement therof cannot faile for Gods goodnesse and justice is such that he will render every man according to his workes It is true that ordinarily fortune seems an enemy to vertue prodigally bestowing her favours not only upon the unworthy but most commonly upon vitious persons so that recompence flying from desert it seemes that by vertues contrary one may arrive soonest to prosperity But let us consult with the said Scriptures and wee shall find that these felicities of the wicked passe soone away as the wind and smoake or as the leafe of a tree And that he who was yesterday exalted as high as the Cedars of Lebanon to day is no more then yea not so much as a low shrub of the field not the least image of his greatnesse appeares to them that seeke after him whereas the vertuous man is happy even in the greatest mishap his vertues growing more and more perfect in adversity and in fine drawing profit out of his harmes and lâ—ssâ—s he constraines fortune to doe him homage and to become tributary unto his merit And to say the truth amongst the humane Events which I carefully observe I alwayes have a speciall attention and a particular regard unto those wherein I see vertue triumphant over fortune Neither are there any pictures which more delight me nor about which I more willingly apply my pensill in the delineation then those which represent fortune at the feet of vertue It is most certaine and assured by holy writ as I have before shewed you that either in this life or in the next no vertuous action shall passe unrewarded since an account is kept thereof even to a glasse of cold water like as vitious acts shall be punished even to idle words And wheras here I set the good fortune of honour or honesty which will appeare in this history which I am preparing for your view wherein I study to accommodate my selfe to the cleere seeing eyes of the vulgar who esteeme felicity as pieces of Gold which weighes most that is to say when they are most materiall and sensible not making any account of the spirituall so much the more worthy estimation as the soule is more worthy then the body and the body then the cloathing and moreover to say the truth it is in this our age a singular thing and worthy admiration to see vertue accompanied with good fortune yea a remarkeable rariety and as it were a kind of monster I have extended my selfe more then I intended but the merit of the subject hath driven me thereunto and I will confirme it in this History which I shall make so much the shorter that I may not passe the limits of brevity in which I study to contain my selfe in all these my Events The vanity of Spaniards is so great that all their grandes thinke themselves Princes by reason wherof they call their landes and Lordships their states as if they were Soueraignes from thence growes the proverbe among them that grandes in Spaine are little Kinges in in their demaines and indeed divers of them have some reason three fore being descended from those royall houses of Arragon of Valence of Leon of Navarre as much as what we call Provinces in France are kingdomes in Spaine whereunto may be added their Dukes and others to whom they attribute great titles who have some image of Soveraignty in their jurisdictions because in criminall causes there is no appeale from the judgement of their Courts and as for civill matters they may judge without appeale also to a certain period limited them This I speak therby to shew the absolute power they have over their subjects with which they beare great authority amongst those people that are under their jurisdictions and this power will serve as a ground and foundation unto what I shall represent In Arragon one of those whom they call titled I am not certaine whether he were of the number of the grandes or no lived in his Marquisate with the aforesaid power and authority no lesse feared by his vassalls for his humour both Arragonian and arrogant then beloved for his magnificence and liberality which pierced the eyes of the people and made him commendable And because his daily care was that the poore should be assisted and helped with his meanes which was exceeding much whether it were to the end to maintaine his credit and reputation or through charity which I had rather beleeve it cannot be expressed in what good esteeme he lived He had beene married but his wife dyed in childbed having lived with him but three or foure yeeres and had left him but one sonne for a pledge of their love living in this his widdowhood as a man that aspired to other nuptialls and who would not spend the rest of his daies in melancholy no wonder if he were assaulted by those soft temptations whilest he expected fortune to offer him a second match like unto that which death had taken from him and conformable to his estate and birth In this ease and idlenesse of life gorged with wealth he was hit as the Elephant of Antiochus in that part of him which was weakest Those that call incontinency the sinne of great persons do ground themselves upon the proverbe which sayes sine Cerere Baecho friget Venus Ceres and Bacchus are harbingers to the goddesse Venus Amidst the honours and pleasures wherein he lived it had bin a wonder if voluptuousnesse should not have presented it selfe unto him and filled his mind with illusions and his soule with sundry desires Seeking then a subject to appease his concupiscence he casts his eye on a maid that was one of his subjects she was poore in worldly wealth but so rich in honesty and honour that her chastity triumphed over bad fortune and left her good hap even unto her posterity her poverty made the Marquesse imagine the conquest to be easie according to the words of that ancient who saith that some courages are driven unto dishonourable acts through necessity who otherwise would never stoope thereunto yet he found in this creature an exception unto that maxime of Alexander the greats Father who boasted to make a Mule loaden with gold enter into any Fortresse whatsoever Ctesiphon so will we call this Lord wanted not some to second him in his bad designe great persons find but too many furtherers of their pleasures and unruly passions but all his Engineers lost
vertue he sent unto Heraclee the double of that portion which he had before caused to be proffered unto her when he laboured to winne her to his will but here behold another great act of this maides vertuous mind she refused this money for feare lest it should be thought to be the shamefull price of her integrity At length the Marquesse caused her to be married unto one of his officers who received this portion from the hand of his Lord and also a maide who with a little blemish but a glorious blemish of her former beauty brought him vertues far more worthy estimation This is yet but the first Trophe of Heraclees victory over fortune there is another farre beyond this which you shall see in the sequell of this history Not long after the Marquesse entred againe into wedlocke marrying a Catalonian Gentlewomen of a great and illustrious house she being come into the house of Ctesiphon could not long be ignorant of the history of chaste Heraclee whose husband as officer to the Marquesse was commonly with his Lord his wife also was often there to doe her duty to her Lady this face whose honourable markes made themselves as remarkable as her beauty which made her commendable became suspected by the Marchionesse who seeing her selfe not so well advantaged by nature as this faire subject feared lest the former flames of Ctesiphon should rekindle at the presence of this object iâ— fine not to extend my selfe in this relation she became jealous and gave such evident signes thereof that it was perceived by the Marquesse who knowing himselfe cleare from any such thought was willing to augment these thoughts in his wifes head taking a delight to see her in this pleasant humour and would alwaies seeme more merry and jocond neere Heraclee then he was wont by this his behaviour increasing the suspitions of Anastacy so was the Marchionesse called he brought upon her such a melancholy that he had much adoe to disswade her from the thought of what he was not she proceeded so farre one day that she endeavoured to drive Heraclee out of her Castle and to forbid her the entrance thereof with bitter threats and injurious words as farre wide from truth as she was full of passion Heraclee suffered all this with an incredible patience and modesty knowing that in remitting vengance to the power will of Almighty God he would at lenght repay it in more exemplary manner then she her selfe was able during this her disgrace she made her husband the father of divers fine children amongst the rest of one daughter unto whom heaven had rendred with interest the beauty which Heraclee had sacrificed to the preservation of her chastity The Marchionesse had children also but she could never bring up any of them save one daughter At last her suspitions dispersed themselves and she knew that shee had done Heraclee wrong in conceiving so many bad thoughts of honesty and in signe of the pacifying of her wrath she tooke unto her the eldest daughter of Heraclee which was but a child for to keepe company with her in those sports and playes which are ordinarie amongst children This little child whose name was Patacule had so many springing graces appearing in her face that she promised ere long to be a Paragon of beauty whereunto if you adde her fine wit and wonderfull modesty you shall find her full perfection I have already shewed you that Ctesiphon had a sonne of his first marriage named Sabinian who was but three or foure yeeres elder then Patacule being then brought up together this young Marquisin addicted himselfe so extreamely by delight unto the humours of Patacule that he loved her by sympathy ere he knew what love was wonderfully was the love of these two children talked of for Patacule had no lesse inclination to him then he to her and Ctesiphon calling to mind his former passions tooke an extreame delight to consider the reciprocall motions of these two innocent minds Their love increased with ther age untill such time as malice opening their eyes they became more reserved in their entertainments at last knowledge being growne in them they must be severed according to the rigorous lawes of the Country Sabinian was by his Father sent unto the Court as well to learne Court fashions as also to make himselfe known and Patacule remained in the service of the Marchionesse Hee was bred up as Page unto Philip the second whose death is so uncertainly spoken of and in short time he purchast many friends and great credit there and among other great favours he obtained a Crosse of Calatrane which afterward got him a command of much revenue He came often to Arragon to see his father who loving him as his only sonne and heire rejoyced infinitely to see him grow so well in vertue and reputation The first impression in the heart is a great matter so many faire faces so many licentious companies which are at Madrid could not blot out of his imagination the Idea of his Patacule he still persevered in good will to her but this was guided with so much discretion and dissimulation that the father could not observe therein any more then a common and well-beseeming curtesie Going and comming thus from his fathers house to the Court and being at Madrid he received the unwelcome newes of his fathers extreame sickenesse whereupon he presently takes post but he could not get home soone enough to see him alive he was not then above two or three and twenty yeeres old when he lost his father after which he passed some yeers in his house being their retained by the care of his domesticall affaires in the managing whereof he shewed himselfe as frugall a husband as his father had beene a great spender yet not prodigall every one wished him a wife fitting his estate and quality for his perfect establishment but the love of Patacule had rooted it selfe so deâ—pe in his heart and his soule was so filled with this object that there was no place voyde for any other he loved her sought her in marriage and what resistance soever both she and her mother Heraclee made unto this match seeing the extreame unequality thereof what oppositions soever his kindred shewed what counsell soever his friends gave him to divert him from it how terribly soever the Marchionesse his mother in law stormed being not able to yeeld that she who had bin her servant should be her fellow and that she who had served her daughter should be wife unto her sonne in law and heire of all yet never would he give over this his intent but more and more regarding the vertues of Patacule then riches and nobility he married her and set her at his side The Dowager Anastacy being not able to endure this intended to retire her selfe into Catalognia to her friends there which Sabinian was willing unto except shee would rather make choice of some other of the lands which appertained unto
only deposition of Megatime who was both a party and witnesse for as much as Gelases man died presently after his master this poor gentleman was condemned to loose his head Wherevpon execution day being come hee was brought upon the scaffold and although he protested publikely not to be the author of this murther having contrariwise bin miserably assaulted by Megatime and Gelase yet the executioner was preparing to cut of his head when as behold here comes Leobell thrusting through the throng and with an admirable courage crying out to the executioner to let loose the innocent and to turne his sword on him who was not only guilty but true author of the murther of Gelase and his man then with a cleere and distinct voice and a countenance which out braved death he declared unto the Magistrate who was there present to see the execution how all had passed in the same manner as we have related concluding that if a man shall dye for defending his owne life he was there ready to yeeld his head unto the stroake upon condition that his friend might be set at liberty All the company was struck with admiration to se this generous act and the people beginning to grow to a mutiny cryed out pardon pardon resolving to kill all rather then suffer this execution to passe on any further This tumult became so great that nether Octauian who would faine have spoke nor the magistrate could be heard only the iustice commanded that all should be ended and that Leobell yeilding himselfe prisoner the case should be heard againe and iudged according to equity they had much adoe to leade the two freinds into prison because the people being in an vprore would have broken their bands and by maine force have delivered them The Palatine of Vilne for Lithuania is ruled by Palatinats or governements as Polonia is having heard of this incomparable generosity of Leobell went himselfe in person to the prison for to visit the two freinds who both contested before him each to dye for his fellow he heard the history of the two lovers Octavian and Pauline the threats and act of Gelase to hinder his affection Megatime was examined face to face and confronted who by the death of the man the master was constrained by the force of truth to acknowledge the ambuscado that they were three aganst two and that Leobell alone did kill Gelase and his man Wherevpon Leobell taking occasion to speake pleaded the cause of his owne death declaring to the Palatine that he only ought to loose his head since he only had killd if for killing in his own deffence and to saue his freind from violence were a a cause deserving punishment nay rather glory and recompence said the Palatine and thereupon presently tooke them both out of prison and gave them pardon according to the power of Palatines who are as it were Pettie Soveraignes in their Palatinates as well in Lithuania as in Polonia Megatime like a base and treacherous man was put in their place and had on a skaffold beene a spectacle unto the people if his parents and friends by their credit and intreaties had not gotten his punishment by death to be changed into a banishment only for some yeeres The Palatine not content only to have saved the lives of these two friends would yet that Octavian should be satisfied in his love causing him to bee married unto Pauline and further he procured a wife for Leobell a Gentlewoman who was neere allyed unto himselfe intreating these two friends to receive him as a third in their incomparable friendship which being come to the eares of the King in favour of the Palatine they had brave imployments and were both honourably advanced according to their condition A rare example of freenesse of friendship and of generosity which made Leobell so freely expose his life unto the death yea unto a shamefull death to save his friend but his renowne arose out of the infamy wherunto he was hastning his name adorned with honour his life being saved by the same gate through which he was running to death hereupon we may conclude that it is good to follow vertue seeing whosoever imbraces her she ever honours with Crownes of glory EVILL COVNSELL PVNISHED The Ninth Event BAd counsell saith the ancient proverbe is oft times pernitions to him that gives it yea sometimes worse then to him that takes it And to say the truth if effects are the children of their causes as the tree drawes it's blossomes leaves and fruits from it's root the malignity of an action ought to be attributed to the counsell that bred it and it is commonly seene that there is more malice in those who counsell to doe naughtinesse then in those that put it in execution So the Scripture seemes more to blame the malice of Achitophell then the levity of Absalon because the one failed deliberately the other rashly O how happy is the man sath the Psalmist who hath not followed the counesls of the wicked because the counsell of such shall perish and shall cause the ruine of the authors therof and of those that shall follow it all these verityes will appeare in this Event which I am preparing to recite where you shall see that the wickednesse of a malefactor remaining unpunished the chastisement thereof lighted on the head of him which had counselled it It is no new thing to say that the counsels of women especially of those that are bad are dangerous In the first creation of the world the first of all men failed by the counsell of his wife and we who are his children daily pay the interest of this bad counsell by the which we may say that sinne first came into the world He that is truly wise will neither trust his secrets with this sexe so curious and so tatling nor beleeve it's counsell If Palinure had kept this maxime he had not fallen into the dangers wherein we shall see him and from which he owes his deliverance to his good fortune or to the pitty that was taken on the inconsideracies of his youth rather then of his innocency In a City of Sicilia which is not named in the Italian relation a Gentlewoman whom wee will call Demetry was in her tender yeeres given in marriage to an old man whose jealousie weaknesse and craftinesse deprived her of all manner of pleasure in wedlocke wherein she accounted the dayes as yeeres of captivity After much sufferance death cut this band otherwise indissoluble and drawing her from this yoake set her being yet young in the liberty of widowhood The difference of these two states appeared unto her as extreame as the day seemes bright unto him that hath a long time beene closed up in a dark dungeon but what she held to be the greatest happines of her life to wit her freedome liberty proved the heaping up of her disgrace and misery because inebriating her selfe with her own conceit she betooke her selfe so
he was dishonoured by his wife Immediatly then how to reveng it at full he makes shew of lying forth and by the helpe of Leobarde hides himselfe in a closet neere the chamber of â—ursee this woman who tooke great delight in conversing with Geronce and in makeing him him relate perticularities of his house and Country of his love and fortune fayled not to make him come at night for to put him into his discourse and to fall a sleepe thereon but whilst she is in bed and Geronce sitting at her beds head talking to her Marcel is preparing fire and sword to reveng the injurie which he belieues to be but too apparant he starts forth of his ambuscado and comes with his pistoll in hand crying with full mouth ha accurfed woman now is the time that thou shalt wash my spoted honour in thy blood and that thou and thy adulterer shall both of you pay interest for the wrongs you have done me and without hearing any answere shoots off his Pistoll thinking to pash out Fursees braines but she turning her head a little the shot went into the feathers without any other effect but onely that it burned the cheeke of this poore Lady who in this trouble misdoubted the cause of her husbands wrath had no more leasure but to cry out O Sir Geronce is a woman whereat Marcel whose sword was already drawne to end therewith what the fire had spared as if a flash of lightning had dasled his eies stood in suspence at these words when Geronce more dead then alive cast her selfe at his feet and with the discovering of her breasts assured him that Fursees words were but too true presently to cleere his understanding of so many confusions wherewith his soule was troubled Geronce though trembling related unto him the whole history as you have heard of her miffortune and pittifull adventure which drew teares from the eies of Marcel and made him infinitely repent what he had done meane time remedies were applyed to the burne on Fursees face which besides the paine threatned her with a great deformity but whether it were the inflamation that redoubled or through the extreame terror which she had felt in hearing a Pistoll thunder in her eare and see her selfe nere loosing her life she fell into a strong fever which in three daies laid her in the grave Marcel lamented much for her both because he truely loved her and for that he saw himselfe to be the cause of her death he had almost discharged the burthen of his wrath on Leobarde and sacrificed her to the Manes of her Mistris but when hee knew that shee her selfe had been first deceived and that the conjectures of the evill had been so strong he was contented only to drive her away from his house Meane time Geronce hauing changed her habit and being become Saturnine appeared so faire in the eies of Marcel that loue being entred into his soule by the two gates of beauty and pitty he resolved to marry her as being a Gentlewoman of a good descent and the widdow of a Gentleman Saturnine seeing her fortune to bee desperate if shee with open armes received not this occasion laide hold on her foretop and consented to Marcels will by a solemne marriage and since Gaudence Father to Saturnine being dead Marcel had that part of the inheritance that fell to her thereby which amounted to as good a portion as hee could have had with a wife chosen out of his owne Countrey thus in the secular or civill life the harme of the one is the profit of the other as in the naturall the corruption of one body is the ingendering of another so the misfortune of inconsiderate Saturnine was by divine providence changed into a good fortune and that moment of time intended for her death was to her a beginning of a happier life it may be that the patience which she shewed in that extreame adversity of the losse of Volusian and her wise carriage and behaviour in the governement of Marcels sonne brought her to this felicity not without great wonder to little Sulpice who saw his tutor in a short time changed his mother in law THE IMPVDENT ATTEMPT The seventh Relation NOt pride onely but also temerity ever mounts there be men who cannot play foolish prancks but they must extend them to the uttermost poynt of impertinency impudence elevating them so much the higher by how much the lower she meanes to cast them downe doing by them as the Eagle by the Tortoise which she carries up into the ayre but onely to let her fall on the point of some rocke to breake her in pieces and then devoure her Speusippe a Gentleman of the Province of Aquitaine will shew us here the image of an impudent traytor whose attempt unworthy of a man of honour was punished by heavens permission when he had thought to take his prey in his hand and to triumph insolently in the honour of another This man in the warres had entred in friendship with another Gentleman of the same Province named Liberat and this friendship was grown so great that they called brothers and the one had nothing but what was the others Peace being returned to France by the victorious hand of great Henry sent every man backe under his owne figge-tree and under his owne Vine and changed swords into Sythes and head-pieces into hives these two friends with drew themselves to their houses which were not so far asunder but that they saw each other often enough living with a freedome and familiarity wholly fraternall Liberat took a desire to marry and wedded a faire and vertuous Gentlewoman whom we will call by the name of Mela for the honeyed sweetnesse of her disposition her conversation being wholly without bitternsse it was a Dove without gall but a chast Dove having no eyes but for her mate Speusippe failed not to expresse at this wedding how much it joyed him to see his brother of alliance so well matched he called Mela sister and this young Lady who saw but through the eyes of her husband knowing how much he esteemed Speusippe could do no lesse then hold him in estimation as the best friend Liberat had in the world shee called him likewise brother and cherished him in the same manner as if she had indeed been his sister It is to be beleeved that the first moneths of this marriage passed with much innocence on Speusippes part and that he thought onely to honour Mela as his sister of alliance but trayterous love who blindeth all and surpriseth even the most wary and is so good an Archer that he hits none but hearts setting himself in ambuscado in Melas eyes hit the heart of Speusippe with a mortall strâ—ke Now though all that Liberat had were in his power excepting his wife yet he desired what was prohibited and despised what was permitted this stinking flame burned not long ere he made the blacknesse and smoake thereof appeare to Mela
sorrow even as an enclosed ardour doth continually augment and encrease If Philapian had but never so little perceived that Metell had been so foole-hardy as to have raised his thoughts towards his daughter or if he had had the least suspition that Aldegond had bowed downe her minde so low as this Gentleman doubtlesse hee would soone have made an end of the businesse a banishment for ever must have deprived Metell of a sight dearer to him then the day and for which alone he preserved his affections and yet to dye through a hidden languishment without hope of remedy was a thing whereunto these yong spirits could hardly frame themselves for who can hide quicke coales in his bosome and not be forced to discover them but as they are in this state like a ship at sea wanting wiâ—de and so becalmed that it cannot goe either backward or forward they finde no better remedy then paâ—ience and by a sweet and gentle conversation they moderate the violence of their wishes but the world is a Sea which remaines not long quiet and here comes a boysterous blast that will trouble that little calme which they have Epolon an old Lord os the same Province whose warlike humour could not long be at rost had beene to seek the theater of Mars amongst the rebels of the Belgicke Provinces and weary of this exercise some what ill befitting his age which then required nought save good cheere and tranquility he came backe unto his owne house where he was in great ease and magnificence by reason of his large possessions This man had been some few yeares a widdower and had children which might seeme to oblige him not to enter any more into marriage but single life agreed not with his inclination which was no lesse amorous then martiall whereof here is a sufficient testimony Some little time before his voyage into Holland he was ensnared by the beauty of Barsimâ—e a yong widdow who flattered by the ambitious desire of being a great Lady had given eare unto this old mans suit which began three moneths after the death of her husband even when shee was yet in her great mourning Epolon pressed by the heat of his affection like dry straw which is as soon consumed as kindled desired to have this marriage forth with solemnized but Barsimee retained by a certaine shamefastnesse and by the consideration of publicke decency would by no meanes yeeld to marry before the yeare of her mourning was expired but the old man could not suffer so long delay and Barsimee was also unwilling to loose so good a fortune at length her foolish imagination dictated unto her a meanes to accord these contrarieties which was to permit unto Epolon what he desired upon a promise which hee made unto her to marry her as soone as the yeare of mourning was consumed Truely in this occasion she shewed but little discretion in not foreseeing that this restlesse heat of the old man would presently be quenched by enjoying and that being powerfull as he was It would be very difficult for her to constraine him to hold his bargaine the souldierly humour being commonly bruitish and capricious The good mans appeâ—ite was soone satisfied and his warlike fantasie returning he went into Holland as well to content his minde in warre as to rid himselfe of this widdow whose facility and ambition caused her since to be despised and mocked a faire looking-glasse for foolish iâ—considerate women who venture their honour which should be dearer to them then their life since life without honour is a living death upon the vaine promise or oath of a lover Well Epolon returns from his military affaires but no more remembring Barsimee then the sinnes of his youth and no sooner saw he Aldegond in a company wherein hee also was but he felt himselfe taken with her beauty and so stung to the quicke that his life seemed to depend in that object but he was not alone wounded by that dart for Tharsis a Gentleman of that neighbour-hood favoured by a wealthy fortune advantageous enough to aspire unto the conquest of Aldegond had wholly set his affections on this Mâ—id he was also an intimate friend of Victor brother to this Gentlewoman who passionately desired to have him for his brother in law and had wrought the matter that he had caused Philapian to like thereof but as the greater light dimmes the lesser so as soone as Epolon appeared in the lists whose quality and wealth farre surpassed those of Tharsis and the golden rule by which all things are measured made Philapian prefer him before yong Tharsis whereupon the â—â—â—â—â—ment is soone made between Epolon and the 〈◊〉 of Aldegond because this amorous old man yeelâ—ed to all conditions whatsoever he propounded Philapian hereupon speakes to his daughter of this businesse who assures him that Tharsis and Epolon are alike indifferent to her and when her father would have excused the age of Epolon thereby to make her swallow the bitternesse os this pill by guilding it over with the consideration of so great wealth Sir said Aldegond the youth of Tharsis doth not tempt me nor the age of Epolon distast me I will let you treat according to your pleasure with either of them both which you shall best like The father taking this for a perfect obedience in his daughter praised her much for shewing her selfe so tractable but he found afterwards how this sexe can so well faine that what is in their lips is commonly very farre from their heart Now Tharsis seeing himselfe cast off by Philapian went presently unto his deare friend Victor who being vext that his father should breake his word and that an old man charged with children should enjoy his sister yeelded unto the desire of Tharsis which was to steale her away making no question but he should be able to make his peace when the action was done and could not be irrevocated being it was grounded on a commission given him by Philapian to be a sutor to Aldegond but whilst they prepare themselves for this designe let ut look backe to another Mine that is in digging The widow Barsimee having intelligence of the marriage that was intended to be betweene her perfideous Epolon and faire Aldegond went on a day to this Gentlewoman and having first obtained liberty of telling her some matters of consequence in private she freely declared unto her under the protestations of secrecy all that had passed betwixt Epolon and her selfe upon the promise of marriage which she likewise shewed her Aldegond who desired nothing so much as to meet with some lawfull occasion whereby to breake off the propositions of marriage as well of Epolon as of Tharsis by reason of her deare Metell to whom she intended to prove constant counselled Barsimee to make an opposition by vertue of Epolons promise but this widdow who feared the formalities of justice and the credit of Epolon could not resolve with her selfe to doe that but she
dayes of his life and I will so well provide for your daughter that both she and you yea and all yours shall bee glad thereof This newes was carried by Bonit to Metran who poore young man receaved it as the sentence of his death and indeed to rende so strong a love from his heart was no lesse then to teare his soule from his body hee cannot answer but with teares like to the Stag when hee stands at a bay Bonit pressing him to an answer hee fell presently in a swoune shewing thereby that hee could not grant so hard a request but by death here pitty gave new assaults to the soule of his Father and truly hee had beene very barbarous if hee had not beene touched with compassion seeing his daughter so extremly beloved of him whom he had chosen to be his son in law then goes he to his daughter to try her mind who had no other answer but sighs and sobs at last amongst many interruptions hee learned that her will was in the hands of Metran and that having given herselfe unto him shee could noe more dispose of herselfe her Father having left her shee opened the â—â—â—dgatâ— of her teares tore her haire had almost spoyled that faire complexion which nature had set on her face so much did she hate that beauty which seemed pleasing to any other then Metranâ— eies then Bonit returns to this yong man who having with incredible convulsions of mind digested the bitter thought of the ruine of his love which he saw to be evident tooke at last a couragious resolution and such an one as taken contrary to the true intent may seeme blame-worthy but understood aright shall appeare excellent Philosophers distinguish betweene loues say that that which is perfect hath no other end but the good of the person beloved and that which is imperfect tends to thee utility of the person that loveth Metran would shew the perfectioÌ„ of his love to his deare Valeria and seeing the Marriage so evidently advantageous for her freely tooke the bit out of his owne mouth to put it into Armentaires this was the sum of the answere he made to Bonit who tenderly imbraced him and mixing their teares together hee promised ever to account him as much the raiser of his house as the Earle being that herein Armentaire sought nothing but his owne content and on the contrary Metran deprived himselfe of his only in consideration of Valerias good this newes was presently carried by Bonit to his daughter who incredulous desires to here it from her beloveds owne mouth whereupon Metran being come into the presence of Valeria could hardly endure her lookes which seemed to upâ—raidâ— him with disloyalty so to forsake her and to give â—â—â— over unto another and before they could speake both of them fainting fell to the ground palenesse seizing on their faces their lips were forsaken by their naturall colour and they were thought to be yeelding up their lives but at length being a little recovered and come to themselves Metran made it well and sufficiently appeare unto Valeria that she deceived her selfe in accounting that for basenesse of heart and disloyalty which was the greatest act of magnanimity that his heart could shew to renounce its owne proper interests and pleasure in favour of the thing beloved Valeria could not at first conceive this subtilty her soule being united unto the soule of Metran that shee beleeved death it selfe could not divide them what said she hath caused thee so easily to forsake me and so willingly to give mee unto another Ah Metran Metran call you that loving and perfectly loving as for my part I should not onely have preferred you before an Earle but before a King also for I esteeme not men for their wealth and their greatnesse but for their own proper merits Deare Valeria replyed Metran the affection I beare you being as strong at death workes now in mee the same effect since it seperates me from you my vehement desire of your greatnesse makes mee deprive my selfe of the greatest contentment that I could have wished and without which my life hence forward shall be but a death live then great honoured happy rich most deare Valeria and by marrying with Armentaire become the glory of your kindred whilst I goe miserable poore unhappy and forlorne Metran spinning out the remainder of my sad dayes amongst the lovers of solitude much adoe they had to plucke these lovers from each others presence a heart as hard as Adamant could not but have relented at so hard a separation The words of betrothing being rendred backe the very next morrow Valeria is promised to Armentaire who in few dayes makes her a Countesse and withall becomes so idolatrous of her that both his eyes were not enough for him to view her withall meane while Metran who could rather have dyed then indured to see his Mistresse in the armes of another went his way wandring through Italy for the space of some few yeares often changing place but never heart nor affection Armentarie had but one sonne and hee was married but had no childe and that was partly the cause why the Earle did marry againe to get issue but age and the gowt opposed themselves to his desire Moreover it was generally reported that hee was so charmed by the love of a Courtezan that he disdained his lawfull wife but as the kinde of bad women resemble the materia prima which is never satisfied with formes what expence soever Hilaire was at for to stay the covetousnesse of this creature she still flew out and daily bred new distractions in his brain so that on a time being throughly vexed at her he used her like a woman of her trade and marked her face with the slash of a sharpe Rasor which they there call Coustillade This lewd creature seeing her selfe deprived of that little beauty which made her to be esteemed grew so desperate that she caused Halaire to be murthered by another of her lovers with whom she imbarked and got into the Venetian Territories a receptacle for such sort of wares This his sonnes death unmeasurably afflicted the Earle seeing himself deprived of heires and out of all hope of having any children yet the love he bare to his young wife was a charme to all his griefes But indeed this praise must onely be attributed to the vertuous discretion and carriage of Valeria that shee could so well frame herselfe to his humours and so win his heart that he had been insensible if hee had not acknowledged her respects the gowt by little and little wasting the Earles naturall vigour brought him to the threshold of his â—om be and what could he then doe better in the acknowledgement of the service received from his prudent mate then to make her his heir as he did by his solemne will and testament and after that he went the way of all flesh which is the way to the grave so long as he lived
Valeria strove all that shee might against the Ideas of her first love which she had borne to Metran but when death had broken her bands and set her at liberty to make her owne choyce even then resumed she her first flames and resolved to shew Metran an example of her constancy and loyalty hereupon she sends to the father of this young man and prayes him to acquaint his sonne with the death of the Earle and to cause him to returne home again with assurance that she would communicate something unto him that should give him content Metran was then at Genues labouring to divert his melancholy amongst so many stately Palaces and delights wherewith this beautifull coast of Liguria doth so abound but neither the sweetnesse of this ayre where Spring lasts all the yeare nor so much wealth and magnificence wherein this opulent City triumphs were not charmes strong enough to sweeten his sorrow he continually catries the shaft about him that hurtes him but this newes of the Earles death was a forcible dittany to drive this arrow out of the wound and hee beganne to hope well of his fortune this obstacle being taken away forthwith he returnes to Ascoli where hee was so courteously welcommed by Valeria that he well perceived honours had not changed manners in this woman and that her love had beene true seeing it was so constant she then tells Metran that because he so generously yeelded her to another whereby shee became a rich Countesse she would therefore render him the like by a mutuall reciprocall friendship which was to make him partaker of her fortune hereupon shee promises to marry him after the yeare of mourning should bee expired because shee would not infringe the lawes and customes of civill decency at the end of which tearme shee performed her promise and as Metron by going away had made Valeria a Countesse so she by recalling him had made him an Earle preferring him by a just recompence before so many suitors who profered to augment her riches and honours THE VVEAKE CONIECTVRE The Twelfth Relation FOolish is the Gamster that on aweake Card venters all hee is worth and more foolish hee who on a weake conjecture blindly hazardeth his life as we shall see in this Relation but what if love be strong as death jealousie is a rage as horrid as hell and incessantly and without hope torments those that are in its flames so jealousie drives into furie and despaire those whom it over takes with violence at foote of those high mountaines which take their names from the faire Pyrenea and which serve as abarricado to France against the arrogance of Spaniards a-Gentleman one whom we will conceale under the name of Fabian had a daughter that was one of the fairest of the countrey she was the cause of envy in many of her sex and of desire in many Suitors and also of a jealousie which will give occasion unto the murthers wherewith this tragicall relation shall be bloudied of all those that loved her and sought to have her Iule Audifax and Adiute were strucken most to the quicke at least wise if by the effects we will penetrate unto the force of the cause Iules fortune was inferiour unto Eleusipes but yet was the best beloved Adiute was a party equall and sutable unto her but Audifax as much exceeded these two in birth and meanes as a cipres tree exceeds little bushes in height Fabian who according to the common desire of parents hath nothing so much in heart as to see his daughter richly and honourably provided for wishes nothing more then to see her great by matching with Audifax the very humour of that Nation being neare enough neighbouring to the Spaniard participats in the vanity which raigneth universally beyond the Pyreneans it had been good and had not raised so many troubles if these three competitors hoping to come all at one time this Father had made choise of the greatest to bestow his daughter on but the diversitie of times making diversitie of pretenders each of them had his particuler reasons not to yeeld his suit unto any Iule the first in date had so possessed the affections of Eleusipe that there was no place left therein to receive neyther the merits of Adiute nor yet the greatnes of Audifax and this love was not growne without the approbation of parrents for Fabian had beene willing that Iule should bee sutor to his daughter his wife was so content therewith that shee favored him above all others which was no small prop unto Iule's cause Adiute came since to wooe borne thereunto by his owne proper merit and besides by a great man who had great power over Fabian Audifax the first in greatnesse and the last in i me came with such asplendour as Fabians eyes â—were so dazeled thereby that he forgot all the permissions which he had given and all the promises which he had made unto others These breaches of word were bad examples in a gentleman and from thence came the original of all debates for Audifax of a lofty and jealous humour beeing not able to suffer that the others should approch her whom he wooed caused Fabian to dismisse them But he not able to get his daughter to doe the like by reason of the affection she bore to Iule forged some cold excuses wherewith as with false coyn he sought to pay these two gentlemen The love they bore to the daughter and the quality of the father of their common mistresse which they respected in Fabian stayed them from quarrelling with him each retyred without any stir intending not to give over their designe but to thwarâ— the desires of Audifax as much as possible they could Iule as wee have already sayd had taken such possession of Fabricies good liking that shee gave him permission and also opportunity sometimes to see her daughter whose inclination shee knew to â—end wholly towards this gentleman Adde thereunto that the arrogancie of Audifax displeased her extreamely for already under the name of servant he usurped the authority of a master and tooke a command in the house of Fabian as if he had beene in his owne Besides he was so jealous of Eleusipe that he glossed on all her words on her lookes on her countenance and on the smallest of her actions a torture unsufferable unto this young gentlewoman who complained thereof unto her mother and the mother tooke pitty of her It was in the depth of Winter and in that season which covers all the mountaines with snow and which invites the Nobility of the Countrey to take up their abode in cities Fabian with his wife and daughter went to passe their Shrovety de in a city neer the principality of Bearn the three lovers were the heliotrophes or turne-soles whose sun was Eleusipe Audifax onely accompanied her openly thither but the other two arrived in the town by several waies The time invited to feasts to good cheere to conversations to dancing maskings
and mummings every day some assemblie was made where Eleusipe with her brightnesse dimmed the lustre of those beauties which were in the City Iule and Adiute left no occasion of seeing her which much vexed Audifax but he could not remedy it because they saw her not in Fabians house but in such placesas where hee could not forbid them to come Some affaires forced Adiute to an absence for some few dayes during which time Iule invented a mask in favour of Eleusipe and caused her to be invited to a friends house of his where being masked hee might entertaine her at will Among those whom he entreated to be maskers with him was one Fluriel young man who danced exceeding well and had formerly beene page to Adiute the Masque goes on it is not for me to relate the invention it sufficeth for my history to say that it was don with the admiration of all the spectators although they were ignorant both who was the principall author and for whom it was made so secret had Iule been in his enterprise Audifax was there present being come in that company where he knew Eleusipe was to be In masques the liberty of Masquers is very great by reason of their disguise they may as long as they please entertain with discourse those whom they chuse out and it were a grosse incivility to interrupt them in their conversation they beeing not bound so much as to answer any one that speaks to them except they please that so they may not bee knowne by their speech The masque being ended Iule made use of the priviledge and having taken Eleusipe aside talked with her in secret so long till jealous Audifax was offended thereat Hee had stil kept both his eies upon the actions of this Masquer who was talking to Eleusipe with the countenance of a passionate man which put Audifax into a fume and for to breake off their discourse he bethinkes himself to pray Eleusipe to dance she excuseth herselfe in that she cannot without the Masquers permission who seemed to be unwilling This provoked Audifax and was the cause that thrusting the Masquer and calling him importunate man would have taken Eleusipe from him the masquer counterfeiting his speech sayd that hee made use of the maskes lawes without any importunity but that he for his part did violate them with as much indiscretion as incivility Audifax stung with these words and more yet by his jealousie presently layd hand on his sword but Iule was not without defence for he made a Pistol ring in his eare which had shot him through the head had he not stopped it The other Masquers bestirred themselves likewise so that there was an horrible confusion Iule was in the house of his friend who helpt him at need Audifax was slightly hurt but evill fortune would that as the Masquers were retyring poore Fleurid got a thrust with a sword in the backe whereby he fell dead on the staires Being unmaskt and knowne Audifax made no doubt but that this maske had been made by Adiute in consideration of Eleusipe The reason of this conjecture was that Fluriel had beene his Page and that commonly he had made use of him when he would make any masque The absence of Adiute since some dayes shewed the contrary but the jealousie of Audifax made him beleeve that it was but feigned and that it was so given out the better to cover the mumming Thereupon Audifax resolved to challenge Adiute who beeing returned to towne saw himselfe saluted by a letter of defiance which marked him out the houre and the place where he should come with a second to make satisfaction for the affront which Audifax pretended to have received from him Adiute who would willingly have payd deare for a good cause of quarrel against Audifax receiveth this challenge with a free courage asking no better than to decide by combat which of them should have Eleusipe Further being netled by the death of his Page he resolves to fight both for his Love and for his revenge two strong spurres to animate a spirit Hee goes into the field with a second where before they went to it he protests by great oathes unto Audifax that hee had not made the masque but that he was two dayes journey from thence when it was made that he knew not what satisfaction Audifax would draw from a wrong that was not done by him that he had courage enough to accoast Eleusipe openly without hiding himselfe under a masque This replied Audifax is the language of a coward who to avoyd strokes frames frivolous excuses wee are not come hither to stand and doe nothing I am but too certaine that it was thee who didst make the Masque entertain my mistres notwithstanding that thou wert forbidden so to do the death of thy page hath been the beginning and thine shall bee the end of my revenge trifle not out time thus wee must fight The wrong thou even now didst mee replied Adiute in giving me the name of coward which belongeth not unto me would make me lose a thousand lives rather than want the washing of its spot in thy bloud the bloud of my page killed treacherously askes this vengeance the love of my mistres commands me to punish thy temerity and my own honour obliges me to make thee lie This said they went to it and it appeared in three bouts that the greatâ—st talkers are not the greatest fencers because that Adiute extraordinarily provoked pressed Audifax so lively and strongly that he never made thrust but hit so that without having the least hurt himselfe he layd him on the ground at the third making his soule passe out at a large wound and presently goes to helpe his second who had reduced his man to bad tearmes They made him yeeld up his weapons and so left him in the field from whence being brought backe he died the next day Adiutes Second having but a flight wound in the arme Audifax was of so great parentage that after this it behooved Adiute to take flight towards the Pyrenean mountaines and to seeke shelter in the territories of Spaine from the justice of France although he went unto this duell being challenged and had been provoked against reason and unmeasurably wronged in the field and that his act was rather a defence of his honour and his life than an assault yet the power of Audifax parents made him feele the rigor of the edicts which oft times falls rather on the least fortunate than on the most culpable he was be headed in efsigie his goods were confiscate and he was constrained to change his native country for a strange land Thus is Iule rid of both his Rivals and might have sayd as the Raven in the Fable who seeing the wolfe and the dog fight on which side soever the victory fals the profit shall be myne hee had a new permission to be a suiter to Eleusipe whome hee had much a doe to comfort on the losse of Audifax and
his body into some secret place his vanity thus triumphed on his reputation The conjecture is strong he had Thyrsis weapons which he shewed and his owne stained in his bloud as hee sayd if he be not dead where is he then that hee should be gone to hide himselfe for shame there is small likelyhood of that for the law of duels is such that armes beeing hazardous and uncertaine the honour of the vanquished is washed in his own bloud whether he dye or dye not Vincent who beleeves that praises are perfumes which should bee burnt but onely upon the altar of his merit goes all about holding up his head as conqueror of Thyrse Meane time the brothers and sisters of this absent man thinke him to be dead and divide among them his inheritance whereof they would have thought themselves unworthy if by way of justice they should not seeke to avenge his bloud Vincent who knew that he had not killed Thyrse hides not himselfe but shewes himselfe in companies yea and he appeares even before Callinice who respects him and abhorres him as the murtherer of her lover at last in a faire morning he saw himselfe seised upon in his bed by the Provost who was set on by the heirs of Thyrsis Now is he in prison where he yet continues his bravadoes and boastings his parents labour to get him forth but he gets not so easily out of the hands of justice the formalities goe on hee answeres the Iudges with assurance that hee hath fought with Thyrse and gotten from him what advantages he desired he shewes his weapons denies to have killed him but that hee made him beg life and renounce his right to Callinice the cause of their combat he acknowledges to have wounded him in divers places and knowes not whether he bee dead of those hurts or no. Thyrse is so farre off that he is not like to appeare the suit goes on and is brought to a hearing the Iudges declare Vincent criminall for that he had challenged fought hurt and probably killed Thyrse and they condemned him as having violated the Edicts to lose his head This sentence pronounced in the morning was executed ere night and our triumphant Yonker saw himselfe led in a cart accompanied by the hangman unto the place of execution where his head ful of wine made as many rebounds as a Baboon there was the triumph of his vanitie and of his folly Thyrse stayed two years in his voyage of Levant and in the end time having moderated his displeasures and beginning to wax weary of his aboad among Infidels hee resolved to returne backe into Christendome hee arrived in Sicilia and thence he came to Rome from whence he made knowne unto his brother and sisters that he was not yet dead entreating them to have a care of his meanes and to send him a certaine summe of money This newes was reported to Proiect and Callinice who thereby resuscitated their hopes Thyrse soon received what he had sent for together with relation what had past in the punishment of Vincent he also had Letters from Callinice which made him know the constancie and fidelity of this maid and wherein she recalled him from his long exile and conjured himto come and end their marriage Thyrse beeing returned to his better sences and judging that hee had done in his combat as much as a valiant man could have done flattered a new by the Idea of Callinices beauty and by that so naturall love of the country which cannot die but with us tooke his way againe towards France by Lorette and from thence by Bologne Millaine Swisse and Lorraine he came into Campagne where he was received by his friends as a man risen from death Short time after he married Callinice with unspeakable contentments So the Vanquished bore away the cause of the combat for a trophy and shame and death remained for the conqueror THE IDEA The fourteenth Relation ALL the Idea's which passe thorow our mindes are not alwaies so frivolous as some thinke I will beleeve that the imagination which is a very light faculty of the soule and as it were the ship of a thousand Chimera's doth forge a quantity of vaine and shallow ones and which have subsistence but onely in the vast or rather in the voyd roome of extravagancie as blind men shooting may hit the marke without seeing it even so dreames which are but species and images altered by the shadowes of the night often serve us as presages I here propose unto you an Idea which you will finde very strange and which some will attribute unto some consultation of a Soothsayer or to some invention But it happened unto so honest a man of my acquaintance and I will say more mine allye that on his word I feare not to set it downe as a certain truth for I know he is a person who hates falsitie as death and whose piety and purity are capable of greater revelations Salviat let us cal him so being left an Orphan very young remained untill his full majority under the power of his tutors beeing come unto the time which by the law put him into government of his owne meanes he tooke it in hand and for to be assisted therein by the fidelitie of a person interessed he tooke into his house one of his sisters a maid of government and judgement the confidence he had in his wisedome as much as in her bloud was the cause hee concealed none of his affaires from her and that he left her the free mannaging of all that belonged unto him a desire tooke him to see Italy in an age ripe enough to make profit there of the good qualities of Italians and to keepe himselfe from the contagions of the bad ones as he was in the Court of Rome esteemed to be a very wise and discreet man He had left his sister in one of the principall Cities of France in the house that had been their fathers and in the mannaging of all his revenues Moreover hee had had by inheritance exceeding faire houshold stuffe and especially plate which amounted unto a great summe In great cities the great robberies are committed as in great rivers the greatest fishes are taken some prying fellowes having espied that there was store of faire goods and plate in the house which was inhabited onely by maids and some little lacquiâ—s beleeved that if they could enter by night they might get a great booty hereof they failed not and having before under colour of shewing some mercery wares to sell spied out and marked the wayes and places of the house they got in by night and besmooted their faces that they might not be knowne and seised on this gentlewoman and her dismayed maids which were easie to be terrified they locked them up in a chamber threatning to cut their throats if they cried never so little meane while they open all chuse out the fairest and best make up their packes and go their way at pleasure The