chanced by the way to fall sick of a Feaver and lying in such a desperate condition without hopes of recovery he considered more the education of his young Daughter then the state and condition of his whole Empire in reference to the innocency and weakness of her age and therefore it induced him to write unto his Empress this following Letter Dear Lady my Journey hath proved very illsuccessful to me for by the way I am taken sick with a most sad and grievous Feaver therefore pray make haste unto me that we may provide for the education of our young Daughter Sabrina and the State and settlement of our Empire for I am without hopes of recovery and if you make not great speed you are never like to see me alive The messenger posted away to the Empress and finding her walking in the Garden expecting every hour news from her beloved husband he did reverence unto her and delivered the Letter the Empress broke it up and reading what condition her Lord was in fell in a swound to the astonishment of all her Ladies but as soon as she had recovered life she caused her Chariot and Horses to be made ready incontinent and halted both night and day till she came to her Lord the King who she found almost dead and she fell upon his breast and kissed his clay cold lips he rising half up in his bed with snowres of fears betwixt each face he to her spake thus O my dear Lady it joyes me that you are come where with you I may impart all my troubled minde I am possest withall since I may not escape this infirmity the natural love and care I bear unto you and your young Daughter Sabrina makes me sue unto you thus First that you cause her to be brought up with the best experienced and wisest Matron in all the Realm whereby she might be tutored and well educated in all Arts and Sciences befitting a Princess so nobly descended and after that she hath attained unto all those Vertues I will that you take her home to your Royal Palace and to have recourse to your honourable Councel whereby she may perfect her self in all State and Temporal Affairs And thirdly that after your decease she may enjoy the Empire and wear the Royal Diadem And you my dear Lady considering you are old add well stricken in years I will that you chuse by the advise of your Honourable Councel a wise and grave Senator to assist your Royal person in all things appertaining to the affairs of the Empire and Guardian to your young Daughter Sabrina till she come to Maturity The grieved Empress answered My dear Lord all these things shall be performed and done according to your will and request then kissing each other the King turned himself upon his Pillow and gave up the ghost afterwards conveighed into his own Countrey and his doleful Funeral solemnized he was honourably interred in his own Chappel Chap. 1. How the Empress and her Councel committed the charge of her Daughter Sabrina to seven Wise Mistrisses for her Education in all Arts and Sciences IT happened upon a time as the Empress was solitary walking in her Garden she bethought her solâ— of the death of her late Husband and musing in her heart of the words he spake unto her at his last breath concerning the State of his Empire and especially his young Daughter Sabrina whose onely delight in all the world she was muttered in her heart and said Now my dear Lord and Husband is dead and gone there is but one in the world whom I take pleasure in and that is my onely Daughter Sabrina the dory stower and glory of all other Virgins and but she alive to inherit my Realm after me it is good whiles she is yong that she be set unto some wise experienced Matron who is a bâ—ly and devout Virgin to learn understanding and to resolve Reasons when time might require her upon the Iudgement Seat Thereupon the Empress assembled all the Lords of her Councel before her and demanded every one his advice concerning her young daughter Sabrina and some of them gave their advice that the Empress should build a Tower within her own Câ—stle and cause to be put in there the young Lady with fide devout and wise Virgins to attend her and two Philosopers which then lived in Rome to instruct her in natural Philosophy and other arts and scices but the other Lords of the Councel would not agrée thereto and flood up and said to the Empress thus Most Sovereign Lady this is not expedient that she should be in such a tower nor in such a way instructed for thrée things First if she be in such a tower your Nobles and Ladies that frequent your Palace by too often visiting her will make her minde more the pleasures of the Court then to practice in her learning Secondly Men tutors are not méet for such a Princess so incomparable in beauty as she is for through too much familiarity and weakness of her tender years great injuries may ensue and her Princely Vertues stained Thirdly for her Attendants being but five weak Ladies and consequently not over skilful might for hopes of future advancement to please the young Lady give her too much liberty in yielding to her fancies and thereby destroy the best time of her studience But gracious Lady there is living not far from this City in a fair and stately Cloister seven Wise Mistrisses most cunning and expert in wisdom answering all Reasons and Questions and for their famous skill and learning excelleth all women in the world the Empress hearing this accorded to their advice and sent her Letter of Summons unto them upon great penalties to appear before her Majesty They anon came and the Empress demanded the cause of their coming they answered we shall resolve you the cause for we have seen it in a dream which was this We saw a high and mighty trée whose branches covered all the Realm under whose leaves the beasts of the earth did shelter without number and in an instant we sawit fall dissolve that nothing but the roots remained obvious The Empress said shew me the meaning thereof they said the trée which we saw was our Sovereign Lord the King the sproading branches signified his power extending over all his Empire when the trée falling it signified our Lord died out of whose roots is sprung up a young Cien who shall rule the Empire with equity and honour whose learning and education you will commit to our charge You have said right answered the Empress for my Lord is dead and I have but one onely Daughter in all the world who I commit unto you to instruct and conform in all good wayes and vertues learning so that by your skill and wisdom she may attain to all good things appertaining to so great and noble a Patronage c. The first Mistris named Halicuja said great Lady commit the education of your
her thereupon she wrote Letters signed with her privy Signet and Messengers to the seven Wise Mistrisses for to hasten away to the Court of Rome again such a day and bring Sabrina the young Princess with them Chap. 3. How the seven Wise Mistrisses after sight of the Empress Letters by their powerful skill went to search the Planets by which they understood the Design of Radamentus WHen the Mistrisses had received the Empress Letter and understood the Contents thereof they fell to their books and fathomed their skill directing their Figures and marking the Planets if the cause of their going might be fortunate or no. And they found a great contageon among the signes from whence they did predict that when they presented the young Lady if she should answer any more words then one her enemies would have power over her to betray her to the shamefullest death that may be so they were very heavy and mourned all the day loâ—â— about the evening tide came down the young Lady Sabrina to delight her self upon the Musick and seeing all the seven Mistrisses very sâ—d she demanded the cause of their grief who answereâ—â— O Lady this mâ—rning we have received Letters from the Empress that we forthwith to â—aste to Court and bring you along with us and we have seen a Star that your journey will prove fatal if you speak any more words then one which is Justice that you shall say and no more for the space of seven dayes and this is the thing which grieves us that since we have nourished you for so many years should now at the last be reduced to such a hazard Then said the young Lady being full of vertuous learning I have viewed the Firmament my self and marked the motions of the lesser Stars and found your saying true but if you will hear my counsel and receive my advice without doubt my vertue shall overtop their vice and my cunning wisdom shall excéed their crafty treachery Then said the Mistrisses speak on your doctrine we will hearken to it and she said I shall be accus'd of an evil person and unjustly condemned but if every of you seven can speak to my mother the Empress each one her day for seven dayes together in my behalf I shall escape my life the Mistrisses hearing this they all accorded in a joyful harmony and said among themselves what joy is come to us surely she will be an Empress of great fame and wisdom so they cloathed her 〈◊〉 cloth of gold and rich ornaments and provided a Chariot of Azure colour drawn by four white Stéeds who gently pac'c the ground like as they trod by some directed steps in the air so with a train of pure Virgins she was accompanied to the Empress Chap. 4. How the Empress hearing her Daughter was coming on the way rode in great triumph with all her Princes and Barons to meet her WHen the Empress heard that the seven wise Mistrisses of Rome were coming with her young Daughter Sabrina she caused all her Chariots to be made ready and with her Heraulds Trophies and Banners accompanied with all her Nobles rode on the way to meet them but said the Mistrisses to Sabrina it were good for us to depart and go into the City some other way and diligently watch the Planets in their several motions for the safeguard of your life and the preservation of us to this the young Lady willingly condescended but remember me in my necessity she said so they departed and the young Lady rode on her way but when the Empress saw her she took her in her arms and kissed her saying O my dear Daughter the onely delight I have in the world whom God doth preserve for future blessings how is it with you now I hope you will be to me the flower of my external happiness being conformed in all vertues learning the fitter to sit upon my Iudgement Seat after me the young Lady bowed and did reverence unto the Empress but spake not a word When the Empress saw this for blushed with very fear some evil had befallen her that she spak◠〈◊〉 and yet she thought in her self that being out of the Countrey so many years learning strange Arts she might forget her natural language and a thousand other things came in her minde And anon she asked her again what she had learnt so many years with the wise Mistrisses of Rome she answered Justice so bowed her self and spake not one word more Then the Empress acquainted her Lords how and in what condidition her daughter was in and said for the evil the Mistrisses had wrought with her they should dye the most shameful death that could be thought of and when she came to the Palace she took her by the hand and led her into the great Hall out of thence into the Garden and plac'd her by her in the Arbour upon her own seat and said My good Daughter declare unto me the reason by some certain sign why you will not speak or else here is a pen and paper write to me your minde she took the pen in her hand and wrote these lines Through Learning which doth me adorn I very plainly see The Star where under I was born proves fatal now to me And I in bed have lately dream'd what after will ensue That I three times shall be condemn'd in Judgement-seat by you When the Empress saw these lines she was astonisht and wondered greatly for she knew not the meaning thereof how that she should give Iudgement thrée times on her own Daughter she wrung her hands and mourned greatly then came Radamentus the great Consul and said unto the Empress is this your Daughter which hath béen brought up with the seven wise Mistrisses of Rome the Empress answered this is my Daughter and onely Heir to the Empire but she now has no expression with her tongue Radamentus stood still and beheld her and saw her countenance so pleasant and of such incomparable beauty that the like was not in all the world he burned inwardly with lust and deceitfully said to the Empress deliver her to me and by often perswasion without doubt I le make her declare to me her whole studience this did he not onely for love and honour he bore to her but rather to satisfie his insatiate lustful appetite and after conspire her destruction which was the main thing ho aimed at but God infused in the heart of the Princess not to go with him Chap. 5. How Radamentus watched his opportunity how he might surprize the Princess in the Garden and how he conspired to take away her life RAdamentus after this being in his chamber window espied the Princess going into the Garden to walk under the Sickamore-trees without any body with her and it happened that she left the key in the door on the inside and forgot to shut it The old Consul came down and entered the Garden locking the door and taking the key out he came to the
that advised you to let her live therefore great Lady I counsel you while it is time to cut her off and destroy her lest the curse of the Empire follow you Then said the Empress all that shall not happen for to morrow I shall sit in Iudgement and she shall dye without fail When the day was come the Empress sate in Iudgement and commanded her Officers to lead her away to be burnt at a stake and as we was led through the City in a long smock of Lawn and a branch of Rosemary in her hand and the Trumpets sounding her doleful Funeral all the people ran out and wept crying alas alas the onely Daughter of the Empress is leading to death Then came Debora the first Mistris passing by as the young Lady saw her she bowed der head as if she said remember me when you come before my Mother and when she came to the Empress and did reverence the Empress said unto her with a storn countenance Thou ungrateful and vile woman how hast thou tutozed my childs I delivered her to thee well and hopeful and now she is become the viceousest creature that ever a woman bare surely thou shalt dye as strange a death as may be thought on Then said the Mistris gracious Lady the cause why she speaketh not the divine powers know and without cause it is not and as for the sin of Fornication we all can testifie that for the space of these seven years we never saw the least motion neither in thought word nor déed therefore gracious Lady if you do put her to death onely for the accusation of Radamentus it will happen to you as it did unto the Queen of Syra who poisoned her husband through the perswaston of one wicked person Then said the Empress shew me that example Nay said the Mistris except you send for your Daughter back otherwise she may be dead before I make an end then will it be in vain upon which words the Empress sent for her Daughter again and committed her to prison then the Mistris began as followeth The Example of the first Mistriss In Syra lived a Quéen of great renown and of such excellent beauty that a fairer woman was not in all the world for which many Kings and Princes of Noble Blood came a suiting to her each man confident she should be his This Queen delighted much in seeing Iusts and Turneys therefore it was a day appointed and they all assembled together to shew their valour before the Quéen amongst whom was Crassus a most valiant Prince and of such incomparable features and beauty that his like was not among men Vpon this Prince the Queen fixed her eye all that part of the day in whose sight he did such worthy acts that deserved perpetual memory and to be brief he had the day of all the Kings Princes and Barons that were there whereby he came off the Field with Trumpets souning and victorious Trophies bore before him On the morrow after the Queen sent for him and when be came he kneeled before her to have kist her hand but she refused and in a comely deportment tendered her lips The Prince being somewhat bashful the Queen gave him farther encouragement so that by little and little they grew in a wonderful familiarity and soon after the Queen took him for her Husband and made him joynt King of Syra with her He was a wise and gracious Prince and beloved of all his Subjects all people joyed at his presence the whole land sorrowed in his absence never no Queen loved King better nor never was Queen more beloved of a King and it came to pass afterwards that the King of the Parthians lay very sick whose Son this King was and he received a Letter from his Father to make haste unto him that after his death he shâ—uld take possession of the Realm and after a while he was gone an evil Counsellour in his Court being in love with the Queen intercepted all the Kings Letters that passed betwéen him and his Queen and informed the Quéen he had married another Lady in his own Countrey which raised such jealousis in the Quéen that she tore the ornaments of her head wringing her hands saying O my dear Lord what evil have I done what word have I misplaâ—â— wherein have I offended you that another should reap the Consolation of your Love The King in the mean time wondering be could never receive any Letter from the Queen lamented saying O my Dear wherein have I offended I can never hear how you do nor how the affairs of our Kingdom standeth All this while the wicked Counsellor intercepted their Letters on both sides to work the destruction of the King and at last he indented a strong Person and carried the same to the Queen and told her it was of such a Vertue that if the would cause a King to be made hollow and put a little of this vertue in it and sond it to the King as a taken and as oft as ever the King old loâ—â— upon it â—would cause him to forsake all other women and haste home unto her so the Quéen believed his wicked counsel and was very glad and without the advice of any other she caused a King to be made as he had said and put therein this poison and sent it away to her Husband When the messenger came before him he did him reverence and presented the King to him the harmless King joyfully put it on saying â—was the swéetest present he ever received soon after his finger began to swell and he sent for his Physicians who said his finger was venomed with the strongest poyson in the world and said he must cut it off else 't would venome his whole body Then said the King cut it off which accordingly was done then his arm began to swell and in like manner that was cut off to preserve his life Then the good King groaned out this complaint O thou vile woman why hast thou done this to him who thou wert as dear to as his own soul thou hast attempted that by poyson which the stoutest Champion durst not do by arms I that hath won thée the greatest glory that ever came to Syra hast thou now destroyed with inferiour poyson for which thou wilt gain reproach of all Nations and be reviled of all women for returning me malicious poyson for pure in flamed love but all as I can say is ingratitude is the grandest insolency in the world O woman why hast thou done this Thereupon he sunk down in his Chair and gave up the ghost The messenger hasted home and told the Queen what had happened by the King and that all the Counsellor had fold her of the King was false then the Quéen fell a wéeping and wringing her hands saying O what hade I done what have I done I have by the advice of an evil Counsellor slain my dear Husband the King O cursed Traytor would to God I had
Lady upon a sudden as she was contemplating under the tree who at the presence of Radamentus she began to blush that there appeared in her face such a Crimson dye that the malice of Radamentus was reduced into a venial love and thus he began to court her Gentle Lady give me leave to tell ye that the first time I saw ye there was a fire kindled within my heart and now your beauty begets another which nothing can alay except you vouchsafe me the favour to let me slâ—â—p with you upon this bed of Roses and repose our selves in the bosom of love the Royal Princess turned about and with a scornful gesture gave a repulse to his lâ—scivious demand which caused his countenance to fall and his fancy turned to fury therefore he ran out of the Garden and lockt the door and threw the key in again and cryed out that he saw the Princess with a man under a fâ—g-tree committing the foul siâ— of Fornication as a breach of the Law the shame of her Parents and the destruction of her own soul The Empress hearing this was stâ—â—ck with horrour and amazement to think that her onely daughter and heir to the Empire should prove so unforâ—unate First instead of Arts and Sciences she should have been perfected with she was delivered unto me speechless where I thought she was adorned with vertues she is besotted with vice I would the day of her birth had been the day of her burial so the Empress believed all that the wicked Consul had reported and the Nobles that were present asked where he saw her and he said under a Sickamore-tree but said the man when he perceived me ran away then the Nobles hasted into the Garden and found the Princess walking by her self they asked her what man had been with her there she answered nothing Then the Empress seeing it apparent that she was in the Garden as Radamentus reported believed all as was said therefore in rage and choller she commanded her to be led away and burnt at a stake but the Ladies which came with the Princess and other of the Nobility addressed themselves to the Empress and said Gracious Lady she is your onely Daughter and all you have in the world it is good that she have a little respite and you better consider of the master it may chance to prove but a mistake of the Consul for if you hastily thus put her to death it will accrew to your dishonour and we shall gain reproach of all Nations therefore let a day be appointed and she appear in judgement if she deserve death to be found by twelve men and fairly condemned by the Law At this the Empress bethought her self being something reconciled of her rashness and committed her to safe prison Chap. 6. How Radamentus complained against the young Princess and how he accused her of Fornication being death by the Law RAdamentus finding his accusation took effect no time was omitted for the prosecution thereof for his insatiable spirit would not be satisfied till life and all was gone therefore he came again to the Empress as a man in great sorrow and pain and the Empress said My grave Lord and Counsellour what aileth you to be so heavy O Lady said Radamentus how should I otherwise chuse thinking what stain and defamation will rely upon this our Empire because of your graceless Daughter through her lascivious actions within your Court as a common Whore and if you let her live any longer in this foul sin you will be counted no less your self and rendered odious over all the world for the rumour of people will be upon you saying what need we fear to break the Law since the law-makers do violate it the Daughter of the Empress is both a Whore and a Strumpet and thus through her means we shall have vice supported and vertue oppressed for what néed they care since they have such evil precedents Then said the Empress to prevent all these evils to morrow I shall sit in Iudgement and she shall dye by the Law Then said Radamentus see it be so done lest it happen to you as it did to a Lady in Capadocia of whom an example is mentioned Relate the example said the Empress I shall incontinent said Radamentus The first Example of Radamentus In Capadocia was a Lady who kept a sumptuous Garden in which was one of the vertuousest Wells in the world that whosoever should be bit with any venomous beast wash but in that water they were immediately cured It happened on a day as the Lady was walking in her Garden a gathering of flowers she espied in a corner of the Garden in the side of a little Rock a small prill of water running fair and cristal abundant more clear then the vertuous wel was which caused her to imagine that if the Rock were carved there would issue a water more excellent then the well-water and said unto the Gardiner get me a workman that he may hew this Rock whereby I may have a precious Fountain here and I give you charge over it and to see it done The Gardiner answered your will shall be fulfilled But another time the Lady came into the Garden and viewed the little Spring but it appeared not so strong in running as she thought it would and she said wherefore runs it not betâ—er her man said the original spring was deep in the earth and had two wayes the one to the Weil and the other to the Rock but that to the Well is greater and by its strength draws more water to the well and therefore its stream is so little Then said the Lady destroy the well then for questionless this spring will prove the better water so the Gardener dam'd up the vertuous water that there was no more seen And another day the Lady came again into the Garden to sée her yong Spring and taste the water and it proved very sad and bitter and having its course through a tin mine whatsoever sick person did bathe in it it would putrifie their sore and augment their pain so that all people did curse the Counsellours that did advise the Lady to destroy the vertuous well Then said Radamentus understand you great Lady what I have said yes right well said the Empress then said he I will shew you the meaning thereof The Declaration of the Example The vertuous Well great Lady be tokeneth your self and how that with your Vertuous and wise Iudgements you govern the people with equity that whosoever complaineth to you should have Iustice and their sick cases mitigated and the young Spring so fair and cristal is your graceless luxurious Daughter who will cause your Royal name to be blasted and your vertuous Government despised whose actions are bitter running through a tin mine that is baâ—e and inferiour carrages not in Royalty of a Princely parentage so that quickly she will break your heart and reign after you then all people will curse the Counsellours
all that a Déer in two or thrée nights was constantly lost and still the Lady wondered how this might be and the Wolf-dog watching too so she put a man to watch all night in a trée to espy out what beast came to vestry her Déer and by the light of the Moon he discovered the Wolf-dog upon a lusty Buck having tore his throat when the morning came the Lady sent for him to know what he had seen and be said I have séen what it is that kills the Déer now declare said the Lady what it is and he said it is even your own Wolf-dog whom you put to watch them then the Lady looked sad in the face and began to complain greatly saying Alas have I destroy'd the Shepheard and put a Wolf in his stead have I then through the wicked advice of yonder foolish women hang'd my good and trusty Hound which looked to my Herd and preserv'd them from the ravenous wolves the bravest Courser and flower of all Dogs in Thesaly and have here put a ravenous murtherer of my Deer to keep the Park and with these words she struck the Dog three or four blows with her Cane and the masterless Cur grumbled as if it had béen a Lyon and then said the Lady how now Déer-killer and smote him again but before she struck the fifth blow he rear'd upon her breast and slew her before the eyes of her servants Then all people cursed the Counsellours which advised the Lady to kéep that evil Dog and to kill the good Hound Then said Radamentus understand you what I have said yes right well said the Empress then said he I will shew you the Declaration thereof The Declaration of the Example THe Lady delightful in hunting signifieth your self in all vertuous recreation so that all Kings of the Earth do hear of your same as the King of Egypt did of her Game the large and spacious Park is your Empire and the Déer therein are your subjects the good Hound watching them is your wise and good discretion defending them from ravenous wolves in kéeping us in peace and safety from the bloody hands of cruel Tyrants the fair and masterlesse Wolf-dog is your stubborn and gracelesse Daughter who by her ill examples and bad precedents will delude your good Subjects and in the end destroy them as the Dog did the Deer the foolish women that counselled the Lady to kill the good Hound and let the Wolf-dog live is your seven wise Mistrisses which daily labour to advise you to suppress your vigilancy and wise care of your Subjects and let your filthy lascivious Daughter live whereby she may reign in bloody tyranny and glut her self with the flesh of your people the man in the Tree that discovered the Dog in killing the Déer was my self in my Chamber window espying your Daughter that shameless wretch in the Garden under a trée something obscure with a man committing the foul sin of fornication and all other beastly behaviour for which detestable and abominable act she ought to dye according to the Law for if she live she will by her ill wayes give base examples and destroy many others if then you correct her for it she will like unto the Wolf-dog leap upon your breast and cut your throat Then said the Empress that Dog the Lady loved so dearly cut her throat at last but my Daughter shall not do so Then she commanded her Officers to lead her away to the stake and as she was led through the streets with trumpets sounding her doleful funeral all the people ran out making a sad noise crying alas alas the Empress onely Daughter is led again to the Stake Then the fourth Mistris leapt upon her horse and hasted away to the Empress and did obeysance to the Empress who said O thou cursed old wretch little thanks shalt thou have for thy ill instructing my Daughter and bringing her to what she is now gone to I delivered her to you finely taught modest and well mannered and you delivered her again to me ill taught full of vice and dumb and a shameless whore for which this day she is to dye to the disparagement of the Empire and disgrace of all her lineage I would the day of her birth had been the day of her burial O gracious Lady then said the Mistris I little thought of this entertainment surely I have not deserved the least of this your displeasure and for why your Daughter speaketh not I commit the cause to God and in short time you shall know the reason but the time is not come yet she is accus'd she hath committed the soul sin of fornication that is false and is not to be proved therefore you ought not to put your onely Daughter to death for the words of one single person though it were Iustice and if you puâ— her to death for one mans saying it shall be worse to you then to the Queen who for putting too much confidenceâ—â— Counsellours had her onely Daughter cut in pieces before the Altar and her self after stoned to death Then said the Empress declare that Example for my learning that I shall not do said the Mistris unless you send for your Daughter back again otherwise she may be deâ—d before I make an end then should I talk to you in vain Then the Empress commanded her Daughter to be brought back again and puâ— in prison while the mistris spake as followeth The Example of the fourth Mistris SOme time there lived in the Kingdom of Thracia a famous Queen named Hicuba who built a strong City of defence double wall'd and moated round she was a peaceable Queen and at variance with none save onely the King of Lycia being a quarrelsome Prince and be came against her with an invincible Army and besseged her round wherefore she call'd before her in Councel her two Counsellors named Anthinor and Eneus and they assembled all the noble Citizens to advise how to preserve their City and give their enemies battel and when they had fortified their walls and planted their Guards Anthinor issued out with ten thousand men and made a great slaughter among his enemies and so returned back into the City then their enemies recruited again and fell on to scale the walls but were driven back by the Citizens then Eneus went out and sought with great valour but lost many men and so return'd into the Town At last Anthinor addressed himself to the Queen and told her it were good to conclude peace with the enemies for they had lost many noble persons of honour among whom were the Queens two Sons for which they made great moan and therefore he advised the Queen to conclude a peace that the Enemies may depart without destroying the City for they could not maintain it against such an invincible power though the City was well fortified and strength enough to have beaten twice as many yet the Queen believed these two evil Counsellors which proved arrand
my sake and so I commit you to God The fifth Complaint of Radamentus RAdamentus hearing the young Princess was not dead forthwith retired into his Chamber sighing and sobbing most bitterly and caused all his apparel and necessaries to be made ready and his Wagons and Horses brought up as though he was just going into his own Countrey The servants perceiving their Lord was departing from the Court acquainted the Empress that Radamentus their Lord was preparing for his own Countrey when the Empress perceived that she basted to his Chamber and said to him O my grave Lord I thought you had been more tender of my safety and the Government of the Empire then to go and leave me thus to which he answered 'T is true I tender your welfare as much as I do my life and you know I have had a care of your reputation and the safety of the Empire but now I sée you are going in the high way to shame me and dishonour your self and ruinâ— the whole Realm the world knowing I am your assistant and do think 't is all my advice in what you do supporting Bawdry and other vices and in the very Court it self had it béen Vertus the world had ne're taken notice on 't but being Vice the tongue of every inferiour fellow do noise it abroad like the breath of a Trumpet or a Herald at arms through all the parts of the world therefore I go from you for I had rather hear of your ruine then sée it you will be ruled by the words of the foolish Mistrisses till at last it will happen to you as it did unto a Roman Lady and her Daughter which Example is mentioned and the Empress said pray shew me that Example for my better understanding And he said though I shall shew you all the Examples in the world and give you all the advice I may imagine you though it tend to the preservation of both Life and Kingdom as indéed it doth yet you would not be ruled by me nor follow my counsel nevertheless I will shew you this Example provided henceforth you do not delight nor hear the Mistrisses whose idâ—â— Fables doth subvert your wise judgement the Example is as followeth The fifth Example of Radamentus SOmetimes in Rome there lived a famous Lady whose worth and renown was spread far and near being beloved of all people for she was vertuous in conversation modest in behaviour gracious to her people and amiable to all and in reference to the poor she was adorned with a frée and bountiful liberality so that she had the prayers of all This Lady had two Daughters both of them very beautiful and comely the eldest she kept at home with her and the youngest she put abroad to be taught and instructed having a motherly carâ— and in process of time this Lady sent for her Daughter home expecting she had learnt much for her edification but when she came home alas she was ne'â—e the better so she grieved very much for her Daughter in regard of the tender love she â—are her and therefore she would kéep her at home being the youngest and set the other abroad which being done this young Girle began to do nothing but play having what liberty she pleased at last she grew to maturity and then she would not go abroad without money therefore her Mother gave her money from time to time at last she had wayes to spend more then her Mother allowed her if it had béen twice as much for she kept a private lover in the City which her mother knew not of and many nights when her Mother was asleep she would rise and take the Keyes from under the Ladies head and go out to her love and towards break of day come in again her mother never perceiving it but towards morning she wondered how her Daughter came so cold and asked her what was the reason she was so cold she said the Cramp had taken her in her leg and being loath to wake her she rose and walked about the Chamber to drive it away so that excuse past for currant The next night she awak't and mist her out of the house and wondering how she got out put up her hand to feel for her Keyes they were gone so when her Daughter came in about break of day again she asked her O Lord Daughter where have you been now Truly said she I had a tooth did ake so grievously that my â—aw I thought would have broke and you bring so sound a sleep I was loath to disturb ye therefore I took the Keyes and went forth to the Chyrurgion to draw it but I could not make him hear me so this second excuse past as currant as the former and her Mother said no more of it Vpon another time she espied her Mothers Key of her Cabinet and she took it and prest it in Clay that it made an impression and from this impression she got another Key made whereby she could go to the Cabinet of money when she pleased and her Mother missing money so off little thought of her own Daughter but sometime fathered the crime upon the Maid sometime upon the Man that the Family was never but in strife and variance and upon a time she went to her Mothers Cabinet for more money and went away and left her Key behinde her in the Cabinet her-Mother séeing a key in her Cabinet and knew she had her own in her Pocket let it alone and watcht behinds the Curtain to sée who would fetch it out by and by in comes her Daughter and snatcht the Key out but her Mother catcht hold of her and said O thou graceless wrecth is it thée that hast robb'd me these two years together now I have found thee out O wicked imp I have béen often cold of thee but I would never believe it till now I do sée it for which thou shalt dye a shameful death but there was living not far off an old woman whom this young imp was wont to take advice of in all her wicked pranks therefore in this time of necessity she did send for her to come and by her craft and cunning to save her life When she came she said O vertuous Lady let not your wrath be so â—uriously bent against her she is your Daughter whom you have bore of your body and gave her suck nine moneths from your breast for we were all guilty of faults in our infancy therefore let her not come to shame for the first time the severâ— Law will give reprieve to the veriest Felon for the first fault much more a natural Mother ought to do for a Childe and if she should thus dye it will acrew great shame to her Family and you will be branded with rebuke for tyranny Vpon these words the good Mother was pacified and pardoned her It happened afterwards as the Lady was walking in the evening in her Garden she espied her Daughter lâ—â—ng with a strange man
came and also verified it then said the Lady alas if he has slain one of the Flock it is but through his foolishness for he is but a whelp and tender and knew not what he did but if we catch him again doing such a trick we will correct him for it and not long after he came into the Flock and slew two and devoured as much as he could the rest that was left a Greyhound of the house found and eat it the Lion being come home first and got to his Couch there was no suspition of him but the poor Greyhound coming home with his chops all bloody was apprehended of the Shepheard and all the blame put upon him wherefore the Lady commanded him to be hang'd therefore according to the old Proverb It is better for some to steal an horse then another to look over the hedge The third time the Lion went to the Flock slew thrée and glutted himself in their 〈◊〉 then the Shepheard complained the 〈◊〉 time but could have no redress the Lady still pardoning him hoping he would mend and the fourth time he fell among the Flock slaying and spoiling above twenty then all people cry'd shame upon the Lady for kéeping a ravenous Beast to destroy so good a Flock yet the Lady would not kill him nor hardly give credit to what they said nevertheless she kept him in her Chamber close for two or thrée dayes and he lay close by the Cradle where her young Son was and it happened one morning one morning that his wrath began to rise and his eyes séemed as red as blood walking up and down the Chamber he smelt to the Cradle where the Infant lay and at last jumpt upon him and fore him all to pieces and eat him before the mothers face then the Lady wrung her hands and curst the time she refused to kill him but that did not satisfie the savage beast but after he had dispatcht the Childe he jumpt upon the Lady and fore her joynt from joynt and when the servants ran up and lookt through the key hole all the Chamber was of a gore blood Then said Radamentus I fear it will happen to you as it did unto this poor Lady in tendering and saving your wicked Daughter so oft that when she comes to have power she will destroy your Subjects the good Sheep and after bring you to a miserable end Then said the Empress surely that shall not be for to morrow my Daughter shall dye then she commanded her Officers to lead her away to the stake arrayed all over in a white rove signifying Death then all the people cry'd out alas and for evermore the Empress Daughter is leading again to dye they much lamented her death Then the sixth Mistris when she heard of it mounted on horseback and hasted to the Empress who was no sooner come but the Empress disdainfully lookt upon her and threatned her sorely that she should dye with her Daughter for bringing her up in such horrid actions that all the world was asham'd of her The Mistris said I have not deserv'd as you say and as for your Daughter you shall know she shall speak within three dayes and all the truth shall come to light but if you put her to death for the words of one man it will surely happen to you as it rid to the Princess of Burgundy who for the love of a foreign Prince and the advice of an evil Counsellour caused her own precious Daughter to be put to death for which after she would have given her own life For the love of God said the Empress shew me that Example that shall I not do said the Mistris except you send for your Daughter back again otherwise she may be dead and then I should talk to you in vain Then the Empress commanded her Daughter to be call'd back again and the Mistris began as followeth The Example of the sixth Mistris SOme time in Burgundy lived a fair Princess of famous worth and great 〈◊〉 this Princess took wonderful great delight in seeing Justs and Turnies where upon a time there came several brave Princes and Nobles to shew their valour before this great Princess and there assembled together seventy and thrée brave Heroes and when the Princess baheld them all she thought the magnificency of the whole world were that day assembled together amongst whom was valiant Brutus one of the Knights of Malts and he behad'd himself so valsantly that all the honour of the day accrewed to him that the Princess was so much enamoured on him that her eye was fixed all day long upon the place where he stood and when the day was over this valiant Brutus came off the Field with honour Tâ—umpets sounding and victorious Trophies bore before him Now the Lady was in the window of her Castlâ— all the while and beheld his worthy acts so that her love burned on him but could not tell how to reveal it Yet afterwards she invited the Knight to a Banquet and sent the massage by her own Steward for which Brutus returned the Princess many thanks and reputed her invitation as a great honour and when the Day was come the Knight appeared before the Princess in such a brave gesture and comely deportment that the Princess was ravisht to see the excellency of his carriage so they went to Dinnex that day and passed away the time in complemental discouries Now this Lady had a Daughter most beaufiful and fair full of modesty and vertue and of comoly seatures and upon her the Knight had a fixed eye but the Princess never minded that for she thought the Knight was more ambitions to Court her then her Daughter being young and of tenver years therefore she was clear of any fealonsie of her Daughter so after they had feasted together for the space of a wéek the Knight most courteously took his leave of the Princess and departed home into his own Countrey promising to come again soon after but failing to come the Lady wondering the Knight did not come she askt her Steward what may be the reason of it he said that he perceived the sight of her little Hound did displease him therefore he would not come now this Princess loved the Hound as she did the greatest Jewel she had nevertheless by the Stewards advice she commanded him to be put to death Now said she I hope I shall please the Knight when he comes soon after the Knight came and courted the Princess very highly but as he was coming through a dark room in the Castle he chanted to stumble and he said to himself I le never come this way again the Princess hearing the Knight say so asked the Steward why he said so quoth he because the Parret was in that room O said the Lady though I prize the Parret as my life yet go and kill it So after they had pessed the time away in all Courtly Delights and Princely Sports for the space of a
before us so the Empress commanded Radamentus to appear with all his men who immediately came then said the Princess Most dear Mother behold the young Gentleman that standeth there in black who is favourite to Radamentus above all others command him to be stript before us all said the Empress that will be a shame to us nay said the Princess be the shame to these that deserve it and when be was unclothed he was known to be a woman to the admiration of all The Complaint of the Princess against Radamentus THen said the Princess to her Mother behold this Fornicator and this Whore who bath commonly lain with him in his bed committing the foul sin of fornication which thing he would also have committed with me in the Garden and because I would not consent to his filthy lust he ran out crying he had seen me lying with a man under the Fig tree and thereby complained unjustly against me seeking all possible means how to take my life away Therefore most gracious Mother give me leave to reprove him of all his grievous slanders and false accusations word by word and I beséech you to hear me patiently When you sent for 〈◊〉 at his request I beheld the Stars bâ— which I knew that if I should have spoken to you 〈◊〉 any other within seven dayes â—â—â—as heâ—â—eâ—h 〈◊〉 shâ—â—ld are a shameful death for which cause I did forbear to speak until this present When the Empress heard her Daughter so just and learnedly vindicate the tâ—uth she said to Radamentus O wicked wretch was not thy Concubine enough to 〈◊〉 â—hy faul and lecherous apposite but wouldst have had to do with my onely Daughter Then Radamentus fell to the groâ—nd and begg'd pardon but the Empress said O ungratsful Traytor thou dost 〈◊〉 mercy but thou shalt finde none for the law shall be upon thee even unto a shameful death as thou hast deserved Then said the Princess Most gracious Mother it was told you by this wretched Caitiff that I should by the help of my Mistrisses endeavour your destruction and assume the Government to my self Alas I should more rather use all the art and skill I have to help and support you in all your Government about your Empire and repute you my Sovereign since I have from you all my living and maintenance not to deprive you of your Dignity for in your honour do I glory Then said the Empress blessed be Almighty God that I have such a good and learned Daughter that I finde so expert in all Arts and Sciences therefore declare to me one example whereby I may understand thy wisdome perfectly then shall I have ioy of thee and my heart will be satisfied Then said the Princess Gracious Mother Command silence among the people that all may hear me and when I have ended oâ—â—e sentence according to law upon me and Radamentus When the Hall was silenced the Princess began as followeth The Example of Sabrina the Empress Daughter THere was a Queen which had but one Daughter whom she loved as she did her life therefore the Queen delivered her 〈◊〉 a Wise Mistris to be brought up and be instrâ—â—â—â—d in all vertuous Learning and Wisdom and when she had béen with her Mistris a certain while her Mother had a desire to see â—er and sent Letters to the Mistris to bring home her Daughter when she came she appeared to her Mother so expert in learning comely in behaviour and amiable unto all that the Queen rejoyced excéedingly and it happened on a time as she delivered a bowl of Wine to her Mother the Queen looked upon the wall and saw the shadow of a hand which wrote three lines in an unknown tongue and the Quéen began to fear greatly and said happy were that person which could interpret what that writing meant then her Daughter said if it may not offend the Quéen I could give the true interpretation thereof and the Quéen said speak on my good Daughter and the Childe said Most honoured Mother this writing doth signifie that I shall become a mighty Princess and shall be honoured of all people especially my own Mother who shall bring me a Bowl of Wine and bow thrée times and knéel in the delivery of it and the Queen said Thou shalt never be honoured so of me nor have such service therefore she commanded her servants to take her into a Forest far from the Court and there slay her and bring her Heart to shew her that she may know the truth of her death so the servants took her away to the Forest and having compassion on so sweet a Childe said among themselves let us deceive the Queen in this bloody 〈◊〉 and save the Childe and we will put her in this hollow Tree and kill a Lamb of the Mountain and bring the Heart to the Queen which accordingly they did and the Queen believed it was the Heart of her Daughter saying Prophecies sometime prove not true And it chanced that on the morrow after a strange Knight hapned to hunt in the Forest where the Childe was to be slain and his Dogs beyed about the tree where the Queens Daughter was at last the Knight looked in the hollow of the tree and there he espied a young Girle of such incomparable beauty that his eyes never beheld a fairer which made him suspect that she was of some noble race and so he commanded his servants to be careful of her and to bring her into his own countrey where he did bring her up in all learned Arts and with royal attendants till at last her fame began to ring throughout the whole Kingdome for Vertue Beauty and Learning and the Emperour of that Land being very youthful came to that Knights house for so view her And no sooner did he behold her but he was smitten with the inflamation of Love and after dinner he danced with her and in the evening he married her and brought her in great triumph and solemnity home to his own Court. And after that the thrée Eastern Kings hearing of her fame came to see her beauty and to bring her presents thus for thrée years she lived with her husband the Emperour in all joy and happiness and then he dyed leaving the whole Empire unto she who was then called the great Empress of Blodermario When she was thus in the height of all her glory she viewed the Firmament and perceived by her skill in Astrology how her Mother that day was deposed by the Prince of Moravia of Crown and Kingdom and banished out of her countrey and laying to heart the distressed condition her mother was in had compassion on her for pure Nature will never fall away and therefore she raised a brave and mighty Army and marched towards her mothers Countrey which newes did slye before her that it was told the Queen her mother the great Empress of Blodermario was coming to her assistance which made the Queen to rejoyce and wonder greatly knowing
her up to the upper and of the Hall and placed her in a Chair of State upon her right hand then she assembled all her Nobles and Barons and Privy Councellours both Ladies and Gentlewoman and before them all spake thus to her daughter Then after the Empress had ended her speech all the Lords of the Councel stood up and said Most gracious Empress we do all think our selves happy this day that it hath pleased your most Excellent Majesty to declare so much your will and pleasure unto us far be it from the heart of any of your noble Subjects this day here present to derogate or disanul the least tittle what your Majesties most gracious pleasure is but as willingly do ratifie confirm and establish every word and syllable contained therein as willingly as ever we plac't the Royal Diadem upon your head and we do here unanimously and with a general consent first with your gracious leave and pleâ—sure we do ordain and acknowledge the Princess your Daughter to be our Sovereign Lâ—dy and Empress And furthermore we do ordain and appoint the ninth day of the second Moneth to be Celebrated for the Day of her Coronation And when all things were ready and the day come all the Nobles of the Land appeared that day in their Robes the old Empress rode before upon a pavilion drawn be sir Horses and two led on each side the Pavilion in cloth of State four and twenty Tropbies or Banners were carried before Next came the young elected Empress in an open Chariot drawn by twelve Camels covered with cloth of Silver all in State and the Banner Royal was carried before the Empress Chariot with Trumpets founting and all sorts of Musick plating throughout all the City up to the Palace where the young Empress alighted out of her Chariot and walked up to the Royal Throne guarded by her Nobles and with a rich Canopy bore over her head When she came into the great Hall she ascended up to the Royal Throne then after the Ceremonies were ended the Nobles put the Crown upon her Head and the Scepter in her Hand and before the old Empress swore their Alegiance to the young Empress and then with great Joy and Acclamations the people shoulâ—d and said God save the new Empress Then was the old Empress brought into the Hall where great Ceremonies and Reverence was done to her then she ascended up to the Royal Throne and placed she was by the young Empress upon her left hand and the young Empress began to speak to her mother in this manner Most glorious and loving mother it hath been your will and pleasurs to confer upon me this Royal Dignity before your decease not my Ambition to bestre it but though I fit in the Glorious Chair of this Empire and Govern the People now in your Life-time yet most dear mother the Name and Authority shall not depart from you as long as you live but in all businesses of Consequence that doth belong to the State I mean these great Concernments that be most painful and laborious to ease you thereof I will take the pains in administring all helps and services that in me lieth as it becometh a loyal and faithful Subfra according to my bounden duty When all the Nobles and Privy Councellors heard these worthy and Heroick Expressions of their young eleven Princess they should all again and gave thanks to the Divine Powers for raising them up such a vertuous and able Governour as she who was the Supporter of her mothers hâ—â—nour the tâ—ue Maintainer of the Fundamental Laws and Priviledges and the Glory of all the Realm Where now we will leude her in her full power and Magistracy prosecuting the false Iudge evil Counsellor and persur'd and arrand Traitor Radamentus How Judgement was given upon Radamentus and his Concubine and how they were both put to death NOw when the Empress had Crowned her Daughter and all the great Selemnity ended she called a Councel and assembled there the Nobles the Barons and the Learned Iudges of the Land for the speedy tryal of Radamentus and his notorious Concubins and when they were all met together and assembled in the Iudgement Hall the Empress and her Mother being plac'â— upon the Royal Throne and the Court sate Proclamation was 〈◊〉 and Radamentus sent for where immediately he and his Concubine were brought into the Hall fast bound with cords and commanded to stand before the Bar. Then Sabrina the young Empress stood up and in a most Eloquent and Learned Spéech she said thus as followeth My Lords and Gentlemen of this honourable Senate and also all you most grave and reverend Iudges of the Land you have beard already and are very sensible for what Radamentus and his Concubine both now Prisoners at the Bar of Iustice stand here indicted for They are not brought hither for a Crime laid against them to take away their Lives wrongfully but for a fact which they have committed in the highest degrée of insclency and that you very well all do know And be it known that when I was at School with the Seven Wise Mistrisses I may say of the world and in the full practice of my Learning this Radamentus now prisoner at the Bar being then a very great Councellor to her Grace the Quéen my mother as you all do know did instigate my mother to send for me home to the intent he might learn and finde out a way how to entrap me whereby to take away my life and to effect his horrid Couspiracy he falsly informed my mother the Empress that he saw me in the Palace Garden committing the foul sin of Fornication supposing that I could speak and answer for my self and hereupon he brought seven Examples to my mother the Empress against me and laboured very much for seven dayes together to animate my mother against me And the reason why I did not speak within the time of those seven dayes was because when my mother sent for me through his instigation I saw in the Planets a Fate which did predict a sad omen to me which was that when I came to Court if I did speak a word within seven dayes I should be most miserable and be put to the most shameful death that ever Virgin was Therefore to prevent his wicked intention I did conceal my Spéech for so long in which time my seven Wise Mistrisses by their learned skill and good discretion did labour in my behalf and spake for me each Mistris spake by turn each day and by Providence saved me and the eighth day by the assistance of the Divine Powers I spake and answered for my self confuting all the shamefull and wicked accusations this hellish Monster of mankinde had contrided against me whereby the unjustness of his own cause hath now heaped vengeance upon his own head Moreover the Prisoner at the bar in the time of my accusation and long before did keep a private Concubine instead of a young man