also that the Offycer had talked vnto her so gentlye aunswereth him in thys sorte Alas Syr beholde there the deade bodye of my Husbande which the Prieste of thys Parrishe hath refused to burye for that I haue not wherewith to satisfye him for his payne and to content him for the Funerals This is the occasyon why I torment my selfe not knowing how I maye interre the deade Corpes the onely memorye whereof hath made mee so full of sorrowe and dule and to showe before your eyes this outrage The Duke which this space attended to know the occasyon of this crye vnto whome his man being retourned sayth My Lorde in this house before you is a poore woman inuyroned wyth small Chyldren whose Husbande thys morning being dead hath desyred the Priest to burye the bodye of the deade but hee vnlesse shee will paye the interrage and the accustomed Funeralles hath vtterlye denyed her to goe aboute it wherefore shee maketh this noyse not hauing wherewith to doe it and furthermore if shee shoulde sell her mooueables shee hath not wherewyth then to bring vp her small Infantes Iohn Maria hearing him tell of a Facte so Vylonyous and of a couetousnesse so detestable began to laugh whose laughter was a prognostication of the teares of some man Then tourning to them of hys Trayne hee sayth Truely this mayster Curate is very vncharitable and greatly giuen to his owne profyte so to denye his helpe to them that requyre him syth that it is his duety and hee is hyred to doe it Therefore it is good that I shewe him the waye and excercyse our Charitye in this causing this body to be intombed and then to extende our almes to this woman that lamenteth as well for her owne losse as for that shee beholdeth her selfe charged wyth Infantes and not knowing howe to keepe them shoulde not this be well done sayeth he to his Gentlemen Truely my Lorde aunswereth one of the trayne this acte would bee as greatly praysed as any good deede that you can doe in this worlde and especially for that your excellencye in forgetting your Nobillity shall so much abase your selfe as to accompany the most pore to the earth and to succour their widdowes although they neuer did you anye seruyce Let vs go then sayth the Duke the Priest as it may be will doe his duetye to this partye at my desyre wherefore I will giue him such a Salary for his paynes as all hys lyfe after he shall not haue cause to complaine He sayth this thinking so well to chasten the Priest that from thence forth he shoulde make no more such refusals commanding then that he which had bene first at the house of the widdowe should go for the Curate to come talke with the Duke for a matter of great importaunce The mayster Chaplen which thought of nothing lesse then the fault which he had done and remembred not at all of the dead the corpes of whome remayned without Sepulture came sodaynly to the Dukes presence whome after the Duke had wel beholden and seeing him fat grosse in euery poynt and cloathed in rich Apparell was not abashed at all of the refusal that he had made to the pore woman as well for his well lyking whereby hee shewed that one hower of pleasure was an hundered tymes more agreable vnto him then a thousand yeres of seruitude and that also to nourish such a belly it was needefull to haue more gaynes then rose of his cure hauing his Vysage more lyke the picture of some swollen Bacchus then of one professing the studye of diuinitie fynally this Priest did not vary at all from the moste parte of them that at this daye to the great domage of all Christendome haue entered into the Ministery who thinke that they haue done their duety in making a feast or dinner to their equalles without remembring the rest of their office neyther to visyte the poore nor to succour them according to the statutes and ordinaunces of the holy Canons ordayned by the generall and sacred counsels but are become feeders of their owne bellyes and dumme dogges so that the onely name of Priesthood ought to shadowe them and suffyce as they imagyne wythout necessitie to put their hand to the worke and to satisfye by effect that for which they be called Our Curate then bolde and assured presenteth hymself to Iohn Maria saying My Lord it hath pleased your excellency to commaunde mee to come before you may it also please you to shew me the thing wherein you wyll imploy me in which I will obey you as he that desireth nothing but to serue and please you The wyly and subtle Lord seeyng the fayned curtesy and pleasant words of the syr Iohn begaÌ„ to laugh and to mocke him with his glory and to detest his impudent auaryce answering him I haue sent for you to the ende you should cause to bee brought to the earth that poore man which is one of your parishioners I will giue you the rewarde and Salary that you merite for it is neyther iust nor meete that such a man as you should be imployed without recompence Pardone mee my Lord sayth the Priest your only commandement deth suffyce your grace holdeth the place of al satysfaction Wel wel sayeth the Duke I accept all that you haue sayd and beleeue that you woulde doe more for mee then this syth at this tyme I see you so preste to doe your duety in this afayre therefore goe prepare your selfe for I will assist you at the obsequies assuring you that you shal be recompenced before I depart as I intend and according to your desartes Now the Chaplayne which thought that he was already placed in the office of the Dukes Almoner verye pleasaunte and merrye departeth towardes his Church where hee setteth all thinges in order and sendeth for a good companye of Priestes and others whych serued ordinarilye in the Churches because hee would with more greater pompe and honour accompany the Corpes for which the Duke had so desyred him But the myserable Priest sawe not that was the Trayne whyche Fortune had ordayned for him and howe neare the hower dyd approache in which he must paye the arrâ—rages of his afore passed lyfe and aboue all that great and vyle synne of cruell Auaryce by an other crueltye the moste straunge that hath beene hearde of and I am abashed howe he should be so far beside his wyt that seeing the fault which he had committed knowing the nature of his Lord himself hearing him speake so doubtfully and with wordes smelling more of his choller then gentlenesse how he durste retourne and represent himselfe agayne before the furyous face of his Prince But what he was so blynded with Auaryce and led withthe desyre of Money that euerye looke seemed vnto hym curteous and euery word pleasaunte syth the talke of gayne and recompence marched therewyth The vnhappye Prieste had â—orgotten that the Duke for the leaste occasyon that myghte bee caused to
desyres of our concupisence for otherwise it were great pitty to behold the faults which we commit euery houre This vnhappye man blynded in his sin forsaking God neyther acknowledged his Iustice nor his mercy experimēteth also the fruits of his infidelity wickednesse obstynacy leauing behynd him the memory of his deeds as wel for the aduertisemēt of al men as for the imitation deterring not only of the aged but of all ages to auoyde the plagues and diuilishnesse of whoredom which do bewytch and take away the sences of men the end whereof is death and punishment in the infernall lake The newes hereof were disperced incontynent throughout al the house so that the rybawd which had adrest this deuise hauing heard and seene the whole mooued by her owne offence the witnesse which her mynd did beare of her sinne fearing she should haue Iustyce if she dyd not immytate the illustryous fact of her detestable louer so that all afrayd she runneth to a pit into which she leapeth headlong and wherin shee was myserably drowned a death truly althogh it was furious yet to good for the punishment of the detestable mallice of a woman so wicked as shee was which merited to haue all the paynes togythers that euer were inuented by men for the scourge of euil liuers Thē there was word sent to Milain to y Maiestrate to inform him who hauing in examinatiō the chamber maid that was the ayder of the desperate Palyard made her to confesse all the facte wherefore she was hāged and her body giuen to be meat to the foules of the ayre and no lesse was done to the carcases of the two louers which agaynst all right both deuyne and humayne had vyolently come to their ende and as for the yong man he was buryed wyth such pompe as hys vertue did well deserue was bewayled of al estates for the modesty that did apeare in him by which he hath semed to immitate the Scipions and Fabions who once liuing with such temperance haue caused their glorious names to remayne euen to this daye So always the death of the well lyuer is fortunate for besides that he passeth to the lyfe whych hath no end and goeth to inioy the holy and Godly companye of the blessed soules hee doeth glorify his memory by the knowledge that the posteritye haue of his vertue which is so grauen and imprynted in the harts of their children that neyther Death nor tyme hath power to deface it Vppon the Tombe of this yong example of chastity some good Poet of that tyme made this Epitaph which insueth to show that such as he was ought to be praysed with such Eglogs and not any of them which haue defyled their lyues wyth a thousande mischiefes LOue and Ielosy the Vertue and the vyce This yong and tender lambe haue caused A fathers wrath vniustly for to feele By outwarde show of mallice false deceyued And eake who was by foolish raging yre And cruell daungerous vice of wilfulnesse procured Whose soule to Heauen and body to the graue To Heauen and earth are now by death assured Thus hath he chaunged his lyfe and is not dead But liueth with God reioycing in his glory That caused him the hauty Skyes t'assend And happy to haue before him of vertue the memory Thus being dead he lyueth without sorrow or greefe Therefore thou that passest by thy teares refrayne If enuye doe not cause thee to bewayle the ioy And happy state wherein the dead remayne ¶ Such is the ende commonly of them that louing vertue auoyde the contrarye syth the vycyous can haue no greater hart breach then to see one that will not bee infected with their unperfection Marke wherfore all wrytinges are so full of deceites addrest by the wicked agaynst the good but to the end the vertuous should know on whome to repose themselues which is the good God that will not suffer any of his to perrishe although for a certayne tyme he semeth to haue forgotten them wheron the contrary parte the wicked doe prosper and flourish as they desyre vntil the Lord wery of their wickednesse doth so ouerthrow their doinges that they which to fore appeared hauty prowde and stately is conuerted into derysyon and despysed or else so well weakened that the very tractes scarcely appeare FINIS ¶ A Mahometan slaue reuengeth the death of his Lord vpon his son that was the Homecyde and rendered the principalitie being chosen of the people to him to whome by righte of Lynage and succession it did appertayne ABout the yere of our saluatiō 1494. After that Christopher Colombe wyth the Nauye of the catholick King Ferdinand sonne of Iohn Aragon did dicouer the West Ilandes not before discouered that can bee founde remembered by the wryting of any Hystory eyther auncyent or new Lewys Bartheny Bolognois as he himself recoumpteth in the ij Boke of his Nauigations in coasting by this countrey for that he would haue knowledge of the naturall things the maner of the liuing of those straunge nations and also to get some profyte in passing by Ethiope he arested in an I le the Capytall town whereof is called Orme not distaunte from the forme Lande aboue twelue myles where he behelde this pittifull Hystory ensuing of an execrable sonne and of his crueltye agaynst his aged father and vpon his bretheren yet in their infancy in this citty Then a little before the sayd Bartheny came thyther the Soulden there was a Lord of the secte of Mahomet a man very vertuous and gentle for a More and Infydell almost an hundered yeares olde he besydes that he was rych in Golde and pearles syth in that quarter there were found the most exquysyth and fayre Pearles that one shoulde see esteemeth his age happye to see himselfe the Father of a leuen sonnes all lawfullye begotten the yongest wherof had better fortune by murther then good chaunce as you maye see by this which followeth for the eldest contrary to the rest was craftye subtle and malicyous the most dessembling Palyard that was in all the countrey who studyed wyth himselfe dyuers tymes how to become imperious ouer his bretheren after the decease of his father But the Souldan had two bondmen that were of that Land of that rich famous Monarch of the Indyans that mē cal Prester Iean these two Indian slaues were so well affectioned to the doings of their Lorde that he had made them as rich as any of his Vassals and they had so well got the good will of the people by their natyue bounty excellente vertue that euery one doth adorate and prayse them as much or more as the Prince himself thus they going about to do good to all men to displese none made no report to y Prince of that which afterwards was cause of the ruine of some of his subiectes these two by their prudence did keepe sylent the doinges of their ambicious yong Lorde not for that the Galland did thereby lose the
not suffer mee to see his death much lesse to kil him whome I loue as myne owne lyfe and wyth whome I haue bene brought vp euen from my byrth if hee hath done any fault agaynst you Lordship let hym be accused publiquelye according to the custome of the countrey to the ende hee may receyue punishment according to hys desertes The Souldan dissembling his despyte and cholor aunswereth him very courteously I am glad that I haue such a seruaunte in my power as thou art I thank thee for thy good aduertisement thou hast giuen me concerning my duty to iustice Moreouer think that all this that I haue sayd vnto thee is to no other ende but to assaye thy constancye and make a profe of thy fydelitye thou mayest therefore departe when thou shalte thinke it good and hereafter I will unploye thee in some better thing and of greater importaunce The slaue whiche knewe the venyme of the Serpente and how deadly it was fayled not after hee was reâ—yred to garde hymself from the bushments and treasons of the Tyraunt perswading him selfe that he would assaye that agaynste him wherin he had fayled agaynst his companion and in that his opynyon deceyued him not for as sone as he was departed from the presence of the Souldan the Tyraunt inraged and invenimed sent to seke Cayme y other slaue vnto whom he vseth like wordes as to the first perswadeth him so wel that the wycked Moore sweareth vnto him to kyll his companyon in what sort he could Behold whervnto the execrable mallice of men doth exteÌ„d that through the appetyte of a pernicious Tyraunt the one friend hath coniured agaynst the lyfe of him that a little before had refused to make hym to lose his owne But alwayes the wicked what frawde so euer he doth excogitate falleth into the pit that he hath prepared agaynst him that doubteth nothing of his treason and corrupted harte This venerable slaue then hauing the commandment of the Souldan he departeth mâ—â—â—ding to murther Mahometh to gratifye hys Lord who moued by the couetousnesse of that which the Suborner doth promyse him by the obedieÌ„ce which the subiect oweth to his soueraygn without thinking what is the nature of the tyrant who pleased with discords searcheth nothing but to imbrue himselfe with the bloud of his Citizens and who in the ende excerciseth his cruelty vppon them that haue bene the ministers of his misdeedes Cayme then without feeling any remorâ—e of Conscience that might haue withdrawn him from his purpose came towardes Mahometh his Companyon who had not so little aduysement but in his hart he perceiued the matter began to doubt of that which was true and hee helde himselfe more assured when as hee behelde the murtherer more nearely whyche by the couler of his vysage gaue sufficient apparence of an acte not common that he would commit for all the passions and motions of the spirite I know not howe by some naturall meanes arâ— euidently knowne eyther by the face voyce or exteriour gestures for the face is the porte of the harte manifesting the will and secrete desyres that one would assay to keepe secrete therefore Mahometh adressing himselfe towardes him sayth Ah false murderer and disloyall traytor what â–ª wilte thou goe about to execute that whych the Tyraunt hath wickedly commaunded thee and thou haste lyghtly agreed vnto â–ª nowe I wil take such reuenge of thy Corpes as I haue bene requyred tofore that men a long tyme hereafter shall speake of it through all these Ilands Cayme that knew the humor of his companyon addresseth himselfe towardes him as well for that he knew him to be a valyaunt and hardy souldyor as for that he would not auow anye matter agaynst him he casteth himselfe at his feete rendring into his hands his sword praying him to pardon this faulte that he had attempted more for feare that the tyrant would haue slayne him then for any desyre of hurte or euill will that he bare to Mahometh who aunswereth him Wherof thy fault proceedeth I am not ignoraunt but thou couldest not by any thing haue better shewed or more euideâ—ly manyfested thy dissoyaltye whiche if it had taken such deepe roote in my spirite as thou hâ—st receyued and taken it â–ª into thy periured harte thou mayest assure thy selfe that long agone thou hadest bene dead the Tyraunt satisfyed and I without a companyon and as it might haue bene without lyfe syth this Tyrant in pursuing the death of the one desyreth the total ruine of vs both togithers but it hath pleaseth God that no treason should enter into the mynde of Mahometh and that he shoulde finish the course of his age without reuenging the death of his Lord and likewyse the wrong that without his desertes hath bene purposed agaynst him therefore Caym go towarde the Souldan and tell him that thou hast executed that which he commaunded thee and for the rest let me alone for I will prouyde such a remedy that in tyme to come the lyfe of the vertuous shall be in more assuraunce then nowe they be in perrill vnder the tyranicall gouernment of this Dyuell whome by Gods help I will punish for his wickednesse and reuenge with a priuie iniury the wrong that he hath done to all the inhabitaunts of this I le Cayme hauing escaped from such a daunger promyseth hym to doe all that it should please him to giue charge to execute whyche was to hys great preiudyce for after that he had tolde the Tyraunt how he had bathed his sworde in the blood of Mahometh his companyon The Tyraunte full of ease and contentmente began to showe hymselfe verye familyer then comming chearefully to imbrace him his comming was no more ioyfull to the pore slaue then was that of Ioab to the two Princes of the great Hebrue Armyes Abner and Aâ—asa syth he holding his lefte arme imbraced and infolden about his necke taketh into his other a short Dagger wherewith hee stobbeth the pore slaue so far into the syde that he tombleth starke dead at the feete of y false and trayterous Lorde This is the happye ende of the wicked that cannot at all escape the strength of Gods hande eyther by the mynistery of meÌ„ or by the cruelty of wyld beasts and somtymes by thinges without lyfe or seâ—ces prepared neuerthelesse for the exployte of such punishmente as once the tree was the â—â—ourge of Abâ—aâ—on whereon he was hanged by the horsemen and slayne by the handes of Ioab But now the Souldan thinking to reioyce himselfe for the death of the two slaues whom he so much feared not hauing well put vp his gleue and returned to his seat Behold Mahoâ—â—â—â—â—th very well accompanyed and armed at aâ—poyntes commeth in at whose arryuall the moste parte of the Souldyors began to be in a fury the others laying a way the right of armes rendered them to his mercye but he which sought the chiefe made no staye or great accoumpt of them Thus entring into
you Madame if euer I haue done any thing in your seruice that meriteth recompence to do me this pleasure honor to tel me y occasion of your disquietnes to the end that if this power that is in me may do any thing for your conteÌ„tment I wil imploy it with the life that I haue vowed so long time to be obedient to your commandments Alas my friend sayth the Marchiones I am ashamed being such a one as I am so to tormeÌ„t my self beholding me so conteÌ„ned of my Lord y Marques I assure thee that if the hope of some allegeance did not comfort me thou shouldst behold what sacryfyce I would make of my life to the crueltys of him that hath made more accoumpt of one of these common despised women then of me that am his wyfe not inferiour in bewty to any of them What Madame answereth y Damsell haue you no other cause to disquiet your self then the foolish loue of my Lord the Marques truly this is a very small occasyon a cause more then fryuolous to vex your selfe lay away al this from you assay to liue ioyfully with them that loue esteme you attending til time shal cole his ardeÌ„t desyres cause him change his affectioÌ„ take good heede that he haue no cause of miscoÌ„tentment for to quite him of his passions apprehensions vnsemely companyes in the meane time ioy you only of y which is yours not vsing such foly as to stain your honor by vnlawful acquaintance with any other then of him which is giuen you for Lord Espouse with shortning of your life for suche a foolishe mistrust proceeding of that euill â–ª Ielosy O God sayth the Marchyones all bedewed wyth teares howe true is that which euery one speaketh in a common Prouerbe the whole caÌ„ easily giue councel to them that be sick Ah my friend if you felt the disquietues that wil not suffer me to take any rest in my mynd the cause of the bitternesse y doeth bereue me of my sences I am assured that hauing pittye of me thou wouldest councell mee of an other sorte or else helpe to execute that which shoulde serue for the intyre solace and contentmente of my spirite the Marques hath led this lyfe a long tyme and it is vnpossible that hee shoulde chaunge but by death or extreme age and in the meane tyme I passe my tyme in vayn accompanyed without comforts that procures me to ouerpasse the night with teares in steede of rest and the daye agaynst my will I am merry to contente hym that shewes me no pleasure no not that which he oughte by the sacred rightes of those bands which haue coÌ„ioyned vs togyther would God death had takeÌ„ away my lyfe in the Cradle to the end that not remayning vnto this present I should not haue felt of what force is the despighte of an honest Ladye being deceyued by her husbande Alas howe happye are they of base condicion that may wythout great conscieÌ„ce inaculate their blood that doth redound but to the shame of a fewe Ah honor and Nobillitie howe tyrannously doe you brydle the Ladyes that how much the preferment is before men the estate of all should not be alyke to the end that the people should not shadow our brightnesse more then the reâ—own of the common sorte of men and women which dye with the memory of their deedes that are buryed in the same tombe wyth their bodyes or if the Lawes did as well punishe the disloyaltye of the husband as the symple women that by a naturall vyce are sometymes forced to forget themselues euen till they bee ouercome by the appetytes of the flesh how ioyfully woulde I reuenge my selfe of the iniury which that periured and vnlouing husband hath done to me because that euery couple should equallye receyue the payne and punishmente according to their demerites But after the Lawes were made they were Tyrauntes ouer vs the inquyetors of our rest and the common Ennymyes of oâ—â— perfectioÌ„ who did authoryse them without the â—yde helpe or consente of any of vs After that she exclaymeth as one halfe inraged saying wyth a voyce that declared the vehemencye of her torment and the mutacyon of her mynd But syth I must dye a thousand tymes if so be I let this paâ—se without punishmente I would he wel knew it that I intend not to lyue wyth such griefe and sorrow as he hath geuen me cause a good tyme and then let chaunce what may for this is a torment great ynough as I beleeue to abyde such a Tyranny and to feele the puissaunte prickes of loue the better whereof is no lesse to bee wyshed then death hauing sayde so the Marchiones holdeth her tongue attending the aunswere of the Damsell who hauing a long tyme bethought her selfe aunswereth in this sorte Madame as yet I neuer had experyence of what might the force of loue is and by that meanes I haue neuer felt what is the disdayn and sorrow of them that perceyue themselues deceyued of him of whome she oughte to bee the intyre and onely beloued yet I beleeue neuerthelesse that the passion both of the one and the other is so great and vnmeasurable that the surplusage of the alterations that trouble greeue the spirite are nothing in respect of this inexplicable distresse The argument of this I take of you Madame the Constaucye of whome is so troubled by the outrage and fury of Ielosy that heretofore hath â—â—uer giuen suspition of chaunge or miscontentmente of harte But O God I beholde and perceaue the imbecillity of humayn mynds how well they are disquyeted of dyuers vnlawfull desyres which take rest no more in the stomack thoughts â–ª then the sea Sandes instate with a whyrle wynde in an extreame hote daye Ah Madame where is the great Chastity y made you once renowned before al the Ladies of Italy I beseech you assay to contayn your selfe in that honest reputation wherin hytheâ—to you haue lyued to the great contente of your Parents friends What if reason haue so little force in you that you deliberate to followe the vyce of wantonesse and to search another for the accomplishment of your desyres then the Marques your husband by all meanes do the thing so secretly that the house wherof you are come receyue no dishonour and your selfe merite infamy greuous punishment The Marchiones answereth nothing to the sage admonition of the wyse Damsel beginning to think with herselfe not by what meanes she mighte wythdraw her husband from the disordered wanton lyfe that he led but rather howe shee might reuenge her selfe and with whome shee might giue him y counter change in punishing him by the same faulte But reason doeth not extend herselfe to this end that sinne and vertue should be placed alyke for vertue is the superlatiue aboue her contrary which is put vnder her as a subiect for the instruction of anye that knowes not what
low earth that 's placed Hath not so many ioyfull dayes But one mishap hath them defaced And vnto whome hath not Fortune assigned For euery ioy a hundereth greefes to taste Why should I then my selfe so sore annoy And shead so many teares day and night in waste The Pleasure which my nourishment doth giue And cake my weary troubled mynde doth case That only ioy which should my lyfe sustayne Is fled away to shorten now my dayes Alas O God alas what meaneth this chaunce That of myne ende so sure a sygne to be As cake a token playne of greefe for to ensue Of much vnrest and great mischaunce to me What must I see of him the cruell death By whome my perfectnesse doth come O God O God that all things doest behold Thy holy will for euermore be done And cause thou me vnperfect wight To see thy gloryous throne in highest Skye Syth euery one alyke by death shall ende And hyest State on earth that lyues must dye AS soone as the poore Lady atchieued the end the Marshall of the Houshold vsing the same ambassage to her as before to the Prince carried her Prisoner vnto another tower a good space from that wherin the Prince was inclosed The Marques during this styrre beholding all the worlde astonyed to see a thyng of so much maruayle and a Spectacle so cruell as the imprysonment of hys sonne that shoulde one daye suceeede him and of hys wife whom he had so derely loued because men should not accounte hys facte vnlawfull or cruell Tyranny he procured sylence to be commaunded and before a great company of his Barrons and houshold Gentlemen with a graue Maiesty that exteryously gaue euident token of his interyour greefe After he had spent an infynite number of teares accompanyed with sorrowfull sighes he began to say What one amoÌ„gst you all my good and louing friends can well brooke that whyche is lately done by mee both vppon my Sonne and vpon the Marchyoues for that you know not the true occasyon and by that meanes you esteeme mee an vnkynde husbande and a Father seuere and cruell agaynst all right and reason and would it might please God that your playntes were lawfull and that I had done wrong in thys truelye then my deare friendes I should haue no occasyon to make you partakers of my heauynesse nor of the sheddyng of those teares that you see runne downe along the face of hym that wythout them cannot expresse vnto you the iuste cause of hys dule and also the greate reason of hys so sodayne crueltye if it oughte not to be named equitye that neuer heretofore hath shewed any effecte of hys mallyce towardes anye man that lyues if fyrste hee haue not gyuen hym the occasyon for it is no lesse prayse worthye in a Prynce to gouerne hys people wyth gentlenesse equytye and clemencye then to punishe the sedicious and disquyetors of the peace because that such pacience shewed to one should not bee the common ruyne of all the whole people Thys is it wherevnto he oughte to extende all hys force no lesse to chasten the temerritye of the foolyshe then to recompence the fydelitie of them whyche hath serued hym faythfully shewing all the offyce of obedience towardes their Lordes What if the law doe inioyne this duety in the Vassall and subiecte â–ª towards the naturall and liege Lorde nature conioyned with the lawe doe constrayne and more streightly bynde the infants which owe to their Parents honour obedience piety al good succours not only of that whiche is exteriour but also of the interyour it selfe which is the good will and perfect amitye by which the harte of the Sonne ought to be vnyted wyth the pleasure and wil of the Father But O immortall God what Father would be so pittious and merciful that seing the Knyfe of hys sonne vpon his owne throate and coulde staye him would suffer him to depryue hym of lyfe But what lyfe oughte to be equall to honour for the atchieuing and attayning whereof all the noble and gentle myndes haue once despyced and yet do despyse their lyues Alas my friends the complaynt which I make before you is against my sonne wyfe the forgetfulnesse of whome is extended euen vnto the defacyng of myne honoure wherin both I and my predecessors haue passed our age I wyll bring you no other wytnesse then myne owne eyes that haue seene one of the moste abhominable and wicked facts that a man can think it is that which I cannot speake withoute an vnmeasurable greefe and without hanging my countenaunce for the shame hee hath done me That is the County Hugnes hath defyled the nuptiall bed of the Marques of Ferrarya his Father and the soueraign Lord of you all it is he that hath polluted the house that is counted in the raygne of the moste noble in all Europe this is he that incestyously hath vyolated the secretes and pruâ—ties the entrance whereof were lawfully permitted to none but me alone To whome shall I complayne and who shall reuenge me of thys iniurye Alas my harte breaketh my sences fayle me and my forces are weakned only there remaines a desyre to do Iustice not that it might be condign to the abhomination of the faulte but that I might thereby take awaye this blot from my stocke and moderate a little the greefe that prickes me and whiche yet serueth for the repentance of them that haue offended the Maiesty deuyne so greououslye that their doyngs haue giuen cause to them that come after to blase abroade the follye of their youth and in saying so his speech fayled him and ouercome wyth sorrow and the unpacience of his cholor he founded in the armes of his GentlemeÌ„ who carryed him into his chamber greatly abashed of the wickednesse of the two offeÌ„ders which they beleeued as wel for the reuerences of him that did wytnesse to haue seene it as for the remembraunces of the impudent lookes and lasciuious toyes of the Marchiones towardes the Countye that made them thinke it was she that made the pit wherein both she and the Countye were intrapped as sone as the Marques was come to himself there was no man so bolde that durst say any word vnto him but depending wholye of the wyll of their Lorde were of that aduyse that the processe should be quickly dispatched and that Iustyce should be done to the two Patientes as well for their comfortes as to gyue some contentmente to a Father rightly duspleased agaynste his sonne and as a husband deadlye hating the Palyardyse of his wyfe towardes whome he sente one of his Counsellers wyth two good Father Fryers men well lyked of the people both for their lyfe and learning the one to carrye the heauy and sorrowfull newes of his death and the others to mooue hym to repentance of his synnes and to pray to God to haue mercye on hys soule As soone as they were come before the yong Prynce who seeing the Counceller and
hearing the sentence of his death hee began to say weeping very tenderly Ah vnhappye flesh and fylthye desyres it is for thy pleasures that I must dye this daye O vnhappye wretche that I am not for that I dye but because I am the procurer of his choler cause of his dule for that I haue set such trouble in his house as shall not so well so sone be forgotten as I would wysh Alas my Lord father pardon this detestable offeÌ„ce of him that hath vsed himself otherwise toward you then the chyld ought towards y father I coÌ„fesse I am the most myserable that euer was born of a mother the most detestable that the Sunne shyneth on this daye Alas good Lorde suffer not my soule to be punished seruing for the pasture of that vyle serpent deuouring Lyon that doth nothing but go about to deceiue and invyron vs cause vs to fall into his lake O Lord haue mercy haue mercy on me suffer not the bloud of thy sonne to be shed in vayne for me Alas I must dye not for the confessing of the fayth and glorifying of thy name before men but for my owne wickednesse the multitude of my demerites that which next after the great wickednesse committed against thy dyuyne maiesty doth greeue me most is the sorrowe of him that doth and will redounde to my mischiefe dishonour But O my God I beseech thee to comfort him giue me streÌ„gth pacientlye to abyde this infamous cruell punishment that I see euen redy before my eyes The Counseller seeing the repentaunce of the Prince moued with coÌ„passyon begaÌ„ to wepe departed out of the pryson went to make report thereof to the Marques who aunswered him it is not now time to become a good christyan syth he caÌ„not escape the iust vengeance of God by the mynister of his humain iustyce and I beseech God that hee will pardon hys synnes receyue him amongst the number of his elect saying so left of not able to beare the sorrow which did greeue him for the remembraunce of the approching death of his sonne wherfore it was ordayned that they should be quickly dispatched one in the sight of the other and this was done for that the Marques would here no admonition for he heard the sentence was extended as well vppon the Countye as vpon her that had made no sute for her lyfe because she saw they had coÌ„demned the county then in the end seing she had done the faulte she appoynteth with her self to receyue death in as good part as she could which was giueÌ„ to euery of them in their tower within a mynute of an houre not without an infynite nuÌ„ber of teares shead and besprent as well by the Marques which could not dissemble hys affection as by al theÌ„ of his house that vniuersally loued the fayre couple of infortunate Louers y vertue of whom this vlot except could well haue no comparison but a lyttle Leuen as sayeth the Apostle doth easyly rayse season and sower a great peece of dow likewyse a vyce so slaunderous doeth obfuscate all the brightnesse of the former vertues and impoysoneth the good sauour of all the forpassed life These two Patients being executed whylst men were preparing of rych and accustomable Funerals they were broughte into the base Court of the Pallas to the ende all the world should see and beholde the cause of their death that yet renewed the teares and complaynts of men as well for the one as for the other bewayling the one for hys worthynesse the other for her curtesye and them both for their great bewtye and youth wherein they were for as yet the more aged of them had not attayned the age of two and twenty yeares After this the Marques caused to bee prepared a rych and sumptuous furnyture for their funerals and with such pompe as their greatnesse did requyre their bodyes were broughte to be buryed in the couent of Saynt Frances and there was erected a Tomb to be the common bed of the bodyes of them whose hartes had bene surely conioyned togythers when they were alyue so these two myserable creatures had a small ease for the induring of so great a punishment and for all the contentment and satisfaction of their desyres they had this only good that by one kynd of death they both should ende and haue their bones enioy one Sepulcure togither Here it is good to be aduysed how and wyth what counsels men ought to forsee thinges and their accurrenses before they be executed here maye you gather also what is the nature and condition of synne which once ingrafted in the harts of men spreadeth his rootes so broade that by great payne it cannot be exterped but by the disolucyon and death of the subiect whereby they are cheefe cause of their owne ruyne A good example certaynelye for the youth of this age which without aduysement of the daungers that the flesh the Prynce of this worlde doe prepare for them to their great shame vse pryuate companye wyth them that be of their kyndred wythout aduysemente that the moste sage haue once fayled in these doinges and haue perpetrated the thinges that are vnworthy to be thought and punishable only by death in them that commytte them FINIS A cruell custome of the Duke of Millayne Horâ—â—ble waâ—â—â—ease vpon dead bodyes The Hystory of whome is already set forth excellently by Mayster Fenton A monsterous and most cruell 〈◊〉 The wyckâ—d Tyrauntes alwayes in feare full of suspicion God the reuenger of al wrong and iniquitie The Oration of Mahometh ⧠IMPRINTED AT London in Fleetestreate beneath the Conduite at the Sygne of S. Iohn Euaungelist by Hugh Iackson Anno. 1577.
calleth hee to the others that they shoulde dispatch that the good Synger should not trouble him any more with his prayers theÌ„ all at once they began to laye downe the two bodyes to couer them with earth when as the Priest cryed Alas my Lorde if you haue no pitty of the bodye yet haue compassyon of the saluation of the soule as much as is in your power and suffer me not to dye without confessing my faultes before some Minister of God according to the institution of the church Go go sayth the Duke thou hadst more neede to appease the Porter of Hell with thy Orations synce thou canst not get a Priest at thys present they be all fled away from thee seeing thee already conuerted into a nightspright to afray Children in the Churchyarde and therfore thou shalte be put into the earth with the absolucyon that thou haste geue him whom thou imbracest that may serue for the alegeance of the heape of all thy offences Wyth such rayling the inhumayn Prince caused the two bodyes to be cast into the pit with no lesse abashment of al men then as a thing that they had neuer seene done before which thoughte not that the Duke so vnaduysedly and of such a beastly maner would haue put men to deth but his lyfe was no lesse detestable then the lyfe of the Emperour Macryne who vsed lyke manners and punished more cruelly then he did syth the Prieste was prest and choked as well by the smell of the dead bodye as by the earth that was cast vppon him the graue being verye deepe whereas the Emperour wythout pyttye caused such as hee had condemned to bee bounde lykewyse to the deade carcases that putrifyed the Ayre not suffering them to be buryed but let them so remayne till that eyther by fayntnesse or stinche of the dead body and the multitude of Vermyn they cruelly departed out of this lyfe Nor more curteous was Maximiniam who caused such as he hated to be thrust into the empty belly of an Oxe vnto the head where they ended their misery by y blood that ran out of the beast but the barbarous tyme doth excuse these GallaÌ„ts that being Panims and without knowledge of God which are not so much to be maruailed at if they did their workes acording to the desyre of the deuill that was their guyde who is a murderer from the beginning but a christyan Prynce come of a good stocke broughte vp amongest men of learning and dwelling in so ciuill a Countrey ought to make the case more straunge syth that the earth once cryed vengeaunce to GOD vppon Cayne for that hee had vyolated the Bright of kynred in sleaing that iust Abell his Brother I beleeue that within a little tyme after Iohn Maria for so pernicious a cryme was slayne by his owne Cittizens and I thinke that in our tyme there be some that haue made sacryfyce of heads other members who lyke Diomedes haue caused their Horses to eate the bodyes of men But I beleeue that God will not leaue suche crueltyes vnpunished although for a whyle he attendeth and is pacyent in his doinges yet in the end he wil cause theÌ„ to feele the strength of his arme and to feele the inuytable yre of his iust displeasure Now to retourne to the matter the Duke hauing accomplyshed these Tragical and sorrowful Funerals he dispatched sodenly one of his men to the house of the Priest from wheÌ„ce he caused all his moueables to be caryed and giuen to the poore wyddow the wyfe of hym that was dead with whome the Priest was companyon in the graue This last sentence was as iust as the fyrst was vniust cruell and horrible syth it was good reason that he should be punished in hys goods that for Aâ—aryce and desyre of Money had forgotten hymselfe and the duety requysyte in a publique man such a one as is the Pastoure of a Churche bee not offended you that beare the Ecclesyasticall Offyces of that whyche I haue sayde but take Example by the myserable ende of one of your estate thinking that the persecutions and the euill that God hath seÌ„t you procedeth of your ambicion auaryce ignorance and whoredome I tel you truly I am sorry for that the aduersarye of the Church suppresseth the good men throweth down them that ought to be honored wheras the foolish the slow bellyes the ignorant the whoremoÌ„gers feele no such scourges but God which is iust hath by these meanes called you to repentaunce because you should acknowledge your faultes and lyue more Godly then the Abbot Guensaldo and this myserable Myser intreated so cruelly by the moste detestable tyraunt that euer was seene in Italy synce the Lombardes gaue the name to that Lande ⸫ FINIS ¶ A Gentleman Myllinois beeing amorous at the very end of his age for the extreame Ielosy of his Concubyne was cause of the death of his Sonne and of himselfe and lastly of the vnhappy ende of the Harlot whiche was cause of all AT the time when the french armies were discouered throughout Italy for the Conquest of Myllayne causing all the state of the Venetians to tremble â–ª when Lewis the seuenth had brought his affayres in such readynes that he pitched his Campe euen in the sight of their next Citie breaking down their walles and ouerthrowing with the force of his Canons their Towers of defence that Venis neuer felte any greater or more mightyer force The Venetians not knowing howe or by what meanes to quyet their bondes and to appease the displeasure of a King iustly incensed agaynste their infydelitie and arrogancie about that tyme I saye there was a Gentleman Milinois which for the troubles coÌ„ming doth conuay himselfe to a Castle that hee had before Monse as lykewyse did the moste parte of them that coulde not brooke the chaunging of their Lord or who as it might bee were not able to indure the insolencye and crueltye of the French Souldyers This Gentleman of whome I intreate was a Wyddower to whome there was remayning onely two chyldren the one of the Age of seuen or eyghte yeares the other approaching neare to the age of twentye the olde man seeing hymselfe wythoute a wyfe although hee hadde almoste passed the age of threescore yeares neyther hauing regarde to hys Age nor to hys approaching death doeth become amorous of a gyrle the Daughter of a Messenger both fayre and well fauoured of whome hee had his pleasure by the meanes of the onely Father of the Gyrle which solde her vnto him This is a marke very certayne to bewayle any man which we see in his age to become a Father whose youth hath geuen him no sygne thereof yet thys is moste detestable that Chrystyans beare the iniquitie of Fathers and Mothers so impudente and euill as to sell prostytute and corrupte their owne Daughters and commonly the Maiestrates of our tyme wyll see nothing the Kinges shutte their eyes they that fayne them selues to be most
raigning in Fraunce Charles the seuenth that good King which chased the Englishe men out of Normandye the moste excellente and myghtye Prince Nicholas of East the thirde Marques of Ferraria he that for his singuler wysdome had bene sente so often as Arbitrator to determyne the controuersyes that chaunced amongest the Princes of Italy made warre agaynste hys owne Cosyn called Azzo of East which with the ayde of the Venetians Florenâ—ynes and Bolongnoys although he were a bastard did chese the sayd Azzo lawful and iust successour of the MarquisdoÌ„ out of Italy constrayned him to ende his dayes in exyle in the I le of Candy aunciently called Create he because Ferraria was obedyent vnto him as vnto an vniust vsurper doth gouern them so politickly and trayn the people so gently that neuer any of his predicessors liued more quyetly he being confyrmed in his estate espouseth in his fyrste maryage the daughter of the Lorde Frauncis of Cararya after y Lord of Padue by whom he had one sonne which at his christning was called Hugnes the bewty phisâ—omy of whom did promise some future dexterity excellency in him this is he of whom I intend most to intreate as chiefe cause of the discription of this history he was surnamed by the pleasure and wil of the Father the County of Rouigo and kept with such care dilligence study of them that had the charge ouer him as did appertain to the Chyld of such a Lord as be which commanded ouer Ferraria Certayne dayes after the birth of this yong Prince the Marchioues his mother departed this lyfe to y great greefe of her husband which loued her no lesse theÌ„ his own self â–ª to the displeasure of all his subiects that wholy had tryed such curtesy gentlnesse liberallity to be in her as whose lyke memorye hath not left ingrauen in the harts of y posterity this yong Prince as he growes in yeres giueth such testimony of his future vertue wisdome that a man should fynd a few Lordes of such a raxe in all Italy that did excell him so much are they in fault that suffer theÌ„selues to be ouercome if that fortune had not giuen him such a foile as the processe of his yeres did forbid it in him whych had giuen such a beginning to his honor But what if the affectyons of men doe ebbe and flow and neuer continue in one state as the vnquyet mouing of the sea it is no otherwyse of the iudgementes and ordinaunces of God whereof there is not one left vndone without coming to the end ordained by the presence of him for the ende of the county could not be euil as euery one thought by the coniecture of the vertue of his yong yeares but beholde the ende This Marques Nicholas being very yong lusty after the death of his wyfe deliberating with himselfe not to marry agayn beginning so well as he that had the euill will of none of his neighbours â–ª to take his ease and to passe his tyme in such delightes that euery nighte he chaungeth his pasture and continuing his wantonesse doth his indeuour so wel that the troupe of his Bastardes were not inferiour in number to them â–ª that were begotteÌ„ by the old Priam of Troy a litle before y Greeks did beseege it and to the end that the hystory shal not waÌ„t any thing which should serue for the succes of that I wil seâ— forth touching the misfortune of y county of 〈◊〉 the sonne of Nicolas There was remaining to y said Marques no other child to succede him lawfully begotteÌ„ but Lionel y eldest of the Bâ—â—cards after whoÌ„ was that famous and renowned Lord Borze the sonne of a Damsell Senoyis of the house of Tolomey This Borze for his vertue and for that he had done some seruice to the Romayne church was created and erected in the Dukedome of Ferraria by Paule the second of that name Bishop of Roome then raigning in France Lewis the leuenth and Frederick of Austryge holding the imperiall Crowne by whome afterwardes the sayde Borze was proclaymed and made Duke of Rege and Modena But retourning to our purpose the Marques hauing now long tyme lyued wythoute a lawfull wyfe was desyred as it myghte be of some of his subiectes to perswade himselfe to â—emarrye who practiseth so well that he taketh to Wyfe the Daughter of the Lorde Charles Maletest which because hee was puissaunt of great Lands might command ouer many Cittyes and Villages of the Marches and Romaynes who had the name to be one of the moste braue and sage Captaynes amongest all them that professe the Arte of war in Italy in his tyme A little after the Marques who although his wyfe were very â—ewtifull yonâ— eâ—elye of seuentâ—â—nâ— or eyghteene yeare olde lefte not to haunâ—e lighte women abroade that it was thoughte hee had taken a wyfe more to satisfye his friendes or to couer his wanton and effemynate will then for to chasten himself and to increase and multiplye his rase which was the cause that God for his punishment sent such a slander into his house worthy surely to be noted as well as it is strange possible if the memory thereof were not fresh it woulde seeme after incredible for the pacience of God is such that he attendeth the conuersyon of the synner but seeing hym indurate in his wickednesse doth punishe hym so sharpely that the generations ensuing doe beholde the sharpenesse of the punishmente and marke wherefore that good Christ second to none in pacience doth so dilligently set forth examples to shewe that there shal be no sinne lefte vnpunished in the presence of the Lorde for what greater ruine can come to the house of any Prince then the dishonour of him or his What greater sorrow theÌ„ to see the shedding of his owne bloud and it is alwayes the Iustyce of GOD to practise that vpon them whych contynue their disobedience accumylate euill vpon euill and prouoke the Lorde by their wyckednesse as did this Marques the wyfe of whome seeing herselfe so despysed as shee that presumed ouermuche of her bewtye could not so greatly command her constancy nor so well moderate her affections but that she did complayne her to a Damsell whome she had brought with her forth of her country and whome shee trusted very well who being one day in the chamber of her mistresse seeing that in secrete she was sad beyond measure that dayly shee waxeth worse worse was so bold to say these or lyke wordes vnto her Madame I beseech you think it not strange if the desyre that I haue to do you seruice doe make me so bold to demand of you the cause of so sodayn change that I perceyue in you whiche had wont to be the only solace of the anguishes sorrowes of my Lord your father by your plesantnes if perchance there happened vnto him any greefe now you do nothing but sorrow sigh complayn I beseech
her chamber attending with good deuotyon as I beleeue to communicate vnto you a thing that hitherto hath not bene knowne deuysed or perused by you The Prince taking no regarde to the wordes of the Messenger but guyded by hys mishap goeth to the Chamber of the Marchiones During this the Damsell that wente to seeke the Countye knowing well that the inormitie of the case that she imagyned doeth withhold her to goe agayne to her Mistresse because she would not impeach the ioy of her whose lyfe she had seene led â—yth so much sorrow reâ—yreth into a wardrope where she presaging the misfortune of the faire couple being confounded with teares in the end agreuaded wyth sorrowe and set vppon by slumbring through wearynesse fell on sleepe Then the County being entered into the Chamber of his fayre mother she comming towardes him to receyue him very courteouslye taketh him by the hand and causeth him to syt down by her But when it came to the poynt that the fayre Lady would haue addrest her trayne her hart beginnes to leape within her belly her sences do denye to fulfyll the offyce of the exteryoure members for her tongue was mute her eyes deiecte and her vysage chaunged into suche a Vermillyon that she would haue abashed the vant corrour of the Sonne and surely this chaunge was caused of two contraryes that is to wit loue and shame the one woulde haue her shew forth her greefe the other direct contrary by naturall wyll and inclynation but in the end the more vnperfect and lesse puissaunt in the good cause became victoryous for the Lady after she had syghed a good space with out speaking any worde wearye of her vndiscreete sylence as shee thoughte it in the ende breakyng her sylence wyth a looke whyche was suffycyente to enter into the depth of hys harte suche was her cunning to mooue hym to compassyon hauing her voyce tremblyng and euill assured for the contynuaunce of that whych she felte in her mynde and sustayning dyuers affections that mooued her spirite she tooke the yong Prynce delicately by the fayre hande saying vnto him My Lorde if I had not manye occasyons to addresse my lamentations and iust complaynts you may beleeue if it please you y I am not so vnshamfaste as to deceyue your eares and by myne own meanes to manifest before you a thing that although as it may be you shal thinke it very straunge yet it doth touch you so neare that for the loue which I beare you that are more deare vnto me then you thinke I cannot nor am able to keepe it from you for in so doing I shoulde wilfully betray you should doe both against my conscience and the duty of her towardes you that holdeth the place wherein I am I know you are not ignoraunte of the lyfe that the Marques your Father hath ledde synce the death of her of good memory your Ladye and mother and what troupe of Bastardes euery one seeth at this day in your house which if God doe not otherwyse prouyde shall vse no lesse inhumanitye one day towards you then your father did once towards his Cosyn the lawfull inheritour of this countrey whome he expulsed sent in exile into Candy for I see as well the small account they make of you as of me which haue wished a hundered tunes y I had neuer come into this country not only for the greefs that I haue felt but also for that I forsee the mischiefs that are prepared for you if you doe not wysely preuent theÌ„ I neither do nor would haue you think that I counsell you to fil your hands with the blood life of him of whom you had your beginning but I would haue you vnderstand that I giue you this aduyse that you open the eye of your intendmeÌ„t to forsee to what end these things may turne and as for mee there is nothing in my power wherwith I will fayle to succour you sith it is euen you to say the truth saith she imbrasing kissing him my deare friend whom I loue esteme more then any man that liues which if it please you â–ª I wil cause you know by experieÌ„ce O would to God that the hower of my alyaÌ„s had succeded after my mind truely no other should haue inioyd the daughter of y Lord Maletest then the County Hugnes for when my Lord Father did intreate with me for the mariage of the Lorde of Ferraria it was you whome he talked with me of not the Marques God pardon the folly of him that so fouly deceyued me syth y vnyon of vs two had bene far better denysed theÌ„ with your Father the age equal the coÌ„fyrmity of maners y might haue conioyned vs with a perpetual band which now am bound against my wil to him y despiseth me who it is that loueth cherisheth y mothers of them that one day as it may chance shall depryue you both of your honour lyfe then thinke my Lord what sorrow it should be to me in that I had lost the meanes to bee perpetually yours and consyder what should be my lyfe to come louing you as I doe if I should see the ruine and destructyon of your estate Alas God is my wytnesse wyth what anguyshe I open these my secretes vnto you for the desyre that I haue that you mighte be wholy myne as I am yours is so ingrafted in my harte that only death must make the seperation in saying so she kysseth and imbraseth him of an other fashyon then a chaste woman doth imbrace her Parentes and familliars and then she retourneth to her former purposes saying Therfore my Lorde and greatly beloued friend bee not you the occasyon of the death of her that seketh to increase your honour and thereby doth render her selfe of a most vnhappy the fortunates Lady that liues at this day haue pittie of her which so liberally and prodigallye offereth her selfe vnto you but if crueltye haue more place in you then the prayers I make vnto you and the synguler loue that I beare you kill kill I say my Lord thys miserable Lady the which if you refuse shaâ—l not cease to execute that vpon her selfe whereof you made the refusall whych will be the occasyon both of your dishonour and the losse of the best and moste loyall louer that yoâ— had in this world The County no lesse abashed of the words then of the wanton imbrasinges of his fayre mother was so far besyde himselfe that without aunswering or hauing power to departe from her remayned no lesse immoueable then was once the wyfe of Lot tourned into a piller and Rocke of Salte The Marchyones who was excellent fayre yong tender and delycate and whose lokes were so fyne and gracious that I beleeue if the most wylfull and abstinent of the Philosophers of former tyme had felte the temptation of an obiect so fayre and celestyall they would haue quyte lefte forsaken and forgotten the contemplacyon