formerly thought fables of the antient Hero's might be truths and that some of their noble souls might be transmugrated into this mans body Heavens how did our best Commanders yield up their souls when ever his sword was pleased to command them the valiant Lorenzo that famous soldier Petruchio Horatio Alonzo and the too young and too valiant Schiarra were all made dead Trophies of his living valor And is Schiarra then dead said Spinola interrupting him he is said the messenger and with him dead all our hopes of courage or goodness He was indeed a person said Spinola turning to Captain Goodlake to whom the graces seem'd to strive which should be most prodigal of their bounties a youth beloved both of Gods and men affable courteous noble generous valiant and no way deserving so hard a fate but how did the noble Duke escape said he to the messenger or is he dead or rather fallen into the hands of his triumphantenemies tell us that we may hear all our miseries together The Gods have yet preserved the noble Duke replied the messenger yet to trie the fortune of another day if he can but again rally up his scattered forces which we have some hopes may be done for as yet the whole left wing of our horse remains entire who onely now watch an opportunity to joyn again to the rest of his scattered Army and though the slaughter was great on our side yet was not the victory cheap on the enemies for the greatest part of their right wing was cut off or taken prisoners and no small number fell in their Main battel our Musters at present in Mirandola amounnt to about seven thousand foot and two thousand horse so that were your Army joyned with ours and our left wing come up we might presume notwithstanding their conjunction with the Savoyards again to take the field At these words there came in one of the Scouts to acquaint the General that the Savoyards strengthened with two thousand Ferrarese were now within three leagues of him and made all possible speed to arrive him before night whereupon laying aside all other affairs he immediately called a Counsel of War to consult what was fittest to be done some advised that the best course was to make a swift retreat to the Castle of the Flaminii and there strongly encamp themselves till they could get relief it being impossible that with half the number of their enemies for they were no more they should be able to stand out an encounter but both the generous Spinola and Captain Goodlake were of a contrary judgement and rather inclined to fight them which opinion of theirs being seconded by the valiant soldiery who filled the skies with loud exclamations that they would never flie them were they thrice as many that they would never doubt of victory whilest their valiant General and Lieutenant General were with them and that therefore they should not stay their coming but advance these Ecchoes I say of the soldiers to the votes of Spinola and Goodlake made those who before were for a retreat quickly change their mindes and consent to a battel so the Army dislodged and about the time that the Sun had made two hours descent towards the Western Ocean attacqued their enemies who confident in their numbers and looking upon this encounter of the Genoueses as an act rather of furie and desperation then wisdom and valor assured themselves of an absolute victory and had already divided among themselves the Genouese Nobles and proportioned their Ransoms but had they not been so confident of a conquest they might perhaps have conquered whilest their thoughts of its certainty utterly lost it for both the Commanders and common Soldiers assured in their numbers neglecting their orders ran themselves into inevitable ruine which yet they perceived not till they saw themselves utterly deserted by their horse whom the valiant Goodlake on the one side and the Illustrious Pallavicini on the other for the gallant Iustiniano lost his life at the first charge had utterly routed when the main body of Infantry drew up closer together resolving either to gain the victory or to sell their lives at a dear rate in recompence of their folly this last indeed they effected for they maintained the fight till near Sun-set though galled on both sides by the enemies horse with an infinite slaughter of their enemies to whose swords they were no less made sacrifices till at length wearied out and hemmed in on all sides tow thousand three hundred the remains of four thousand Infantry yielded themselves to the mercy of the Conquerors This Victory put the Mantuan affairs again into a gallant posture the news of it much rejoiced the Duke who was then anew compleating his before-broken Army at Mirandola but more was he rejoiced at the arrival of the generous Spinola there whom he received withal imaginable pomp and splendor and he having first presented the prisoners taken in the last conflict next recommended unto him his valiant Lieutenant General Goodlake as a person to whom though a stranger he ought all his present happiness the Duke amazed at his great Obligations to one whom he had never yet seen immediately sent for him and he as readily obeyed his summons when being come into the presence where the Duke sat in his Chair of Estate having made his obeisance he kneeled down but his Highness not permitting that Ceremony fit onely for Subjects to one to whom he acknowledged himself beholding both for his life and Dukedom rising from his Chair and taking him into his embraces told him that he understood by the generous Spinola that he was the person to whose gallantry he was indebted for all his good Fortunes that his Obligations were so much the greater by how much they proceeded from a person whom he had no way obliged that for the future he would endeavor with all possible address to quit the score of his debts which were so many and so great that it was impossible that a short time should finde out a proportionable recompence that he would therefore make it his future study and that now he did not doubt to vie Forces and valor to his enemy of Ferrara since as well as he had a Stranger and a valiant Stranger to be his Champion Captain Goodlake endeavored to return a suitable answer to his over-civil reception of him for so he stiled it by telling him that the Noble Spinola had wronged both himself and him the first by robbing himself of that honor which was onely due to his worth and the second by attributing to him things far above his deserts that if he had done any acceptable service to his Highness 't was sufficiently recompenced in being accepted that he should alwayes account it the greatest honor could accrue to him to spend his life in so just a cause as his Many complements of the like nature passed till such time as the Duke thought it fit time to conduct these two
though Mariana was whilst living your only comfort what comfort will it be to you to follow her in death where you can have no further hopes of conversing whilst her constant and innocent soule is fled to Heaven when yours blackt with that hideous crime of selfe murder must necessarily be hurried to a blacker region Live live and live so that since the fates have denyed you to enjoy each other here you may enjoy eternal Society hereafter I could not tell how or what to answer him but throwing my selfe into the Bed I lay there and Spencer by me for he would not trust me alone lamenting my misery in such sort that before morning I had contracted a most violent burning Feaver which I wished heartily might have carried me to my grave and it had answered my hopes notwithstanding all the care of Physitians had not the sweet converse of the generous Spencer been more effectuall then all their Potions here it was during my sicknesse that he and I contracted an indissoluble knot of friendship so firme that nothing but a most cruell and perverse fate could have ever parted us Just at those words came a servant to acquaint Spinola that a Messenger from the Senate attended to speak with him which he desired to do with all speed the businesse as he said being of great importance He therefore craving excuse of Captain Goodlake for his forced alâ—â— sence with promise immediatly to return weâ—â— into his Palace where in the great Hall he found the Messenger attending him who brought him not only letters but an expresse command to repaire immediatly to Genoua having dispatched the Messenger and perused his letters he returnes into the Arbour to Captaln Goodlake whom he findes sitting with his eyes fixed on the ground according to his accustomary melancholy posture but raising himselfe up at his approach was about to continue his story when he was stopt by Spinola's telling him that at the earnest entreaty of the Mantuan Embassadors the Duke and Senate of Genoua had granted one thousand Horse and two thousand Foot to the Duke of Mantua to assist him in his present wars against his too potent enemy the Duke of Ferrara whereof they had thought fit for what deserts of his he knew not to nominate him General to which charge he was ordered immediatly to repaire That though he durst not presume to desire his Company in those Wars yet he would willingly to gain it could he be dispenced with by the Senate surrender to him his place of Generall and accompany him in what inferiour rank he should think him worthy of but since the place of General was conferred on him by the Senate who used not to entrust any strangers with the chiefe command of their Forces and could not therefore be disposed of by him yet he desired that if his spirit inclined him yet to the Wars he would be pleased to accept of being Lieutenant Generall of his Horse and next Person in command to himselfe The offer was so generous that Captain Goodlake could not refuse it though he would not at first seem to accept it but rather desired he might attend him as a private Person till overcome by Spinola's importunities he undertook the charge though as he told him that being a stranger he could not but expect the envy and hatred of many gallant Persons of his Nation who might themselves justly aspire to that employment and think themselves wronged if a stranger were therein preferred before them To which Spinola replyed that he doubted not but to find such gallant behaviour in him as would make him above the envy of the proudest Genouese Goodlake thanked him for his good opinion of him but the businesse requiring hast they left off farther complements and the Captain being furnished with Horse and attendants by the generous Spinola they set forward together towards Genoua but in their way and not halfe a mile from the City they might see their small Army both Horse and Foot ready drawn up to attend the coming of their Commander who having first well viewed them and then recommended Goodlake as a Person whom he had thought fit to appoint their Lieutenant Generall and they upon his commendations received him with great applause he ordered them to march and take up their quarters towards the borders of Mantua's Country and himselfe in two dayes time following them overtook them at Friuli a little Town in that Dukes Territory not ten miles from which between four and five thousand Savoyards who were come to the assistance of the Duke of Ferrara and had by treachery taken a Castle belonging to the Flaminij a noble Family of the Mantovess were encamped upon these by the advice of Goodlake the noble Spinola resolves to give the first assault and therefore advancing from Friuli in the dark of the night lodges his Army within a mile of the enemy intending about break of day to fall in upon them at unawares but they having advice by their Scouts had drawn out into an advantagious ground ready to receive them yet that not at all abated Spinola's courage but having given the charge of the right wing of Horse to Goodlake and of the left to Segr. Alexandro Iustiniani himselfe commanding the body began the fight about break of day which continued doubtfull the Savoyards being more in number then the Genoveses for about two houres till Captain Goodlake first and after him Iustiniani having broken both the wings of Horse the battell clearly showed it selfe on the Genoveses side for Captain Goodlake having left sufficient numbers to pursue the enemies scattered left wing and make good what he had gained with a select party of Horse came flying to the succour of the noble Spinola who was somewhat oppressed for the Savoy infantry being both more numerous and better experienced Souldiers then the Genovese had gained ground of them from the very beginning of the fight and were now ready to put them to a totall rout when Captain Goodlake falling into the reare of the enemies infantry turned the scale so that those who before were ready to fly were now pursuers for the Savoyards Seeing themselves deserted by their own Horse on both sides were no longer able to bear the brunt but confusedly breaking their ranks either ran away or yeilded themselves to mercy Yet a small party of them resolutely maintained the Field till Iustiniani coming in likewise with a party of Horse and they now seeing nothing but the visage of ghastly deaths presented threw down their armes and cryed for quarter Thus was the whole force of Savoy which came to the assistance of the Duke of Ferrara either totally dispersed or taken Prisoners and the generous Spinola having loaded Captain Goodlake and Iustiniani with the honour of that dayes victory to pursue his good fortune immediatly advanced with his Army to the Seige of the Castle of Flaminii a place accounted almost impregnable both for its situation and
not accept of the price where she could not make good the bargain expected love Nay so generous was she that contrary to the common humour of that Sex who love not only to have many Suitors but to lull them still on in hopes of their desires she not permitting the poor Gentleman to languish in vain expectations of what he could never obtain he had no sooner discovered his passion but she plainly told him that her love was not hers to give being already disposed to one with whom should she break her faith she had just reason to suspect she should not only be abhorred by all Persons whatsoever but especially by him who so earnestly solicited her to it yet this answer did not at all satisfy my young Gallant who with no lesse eagerness then before stil pursued his suite till finding by her continuall repulses there was left no hopes of victory he resolved upon travell as the fittest cure for his lovesick mind should I said Forset give you a particular account of all her Suitors I should make the relation tedious and spend as much time in it as there was spent in their severall actions I shall therefore only particularize two more But as Captain Goodlake was going forward in this story came a Messenger in whose countenance betrayed the hast of what he had to deliver yet so much breath had he lost by his violent running mixt with feare that a good while it was before the illustrious Spinola could make him deliver his message which at length they understood to be caused by a suddain incursion of about five thousand Savoyards upon the Camp for the Duke of Savoy incensed at the last defeat of his Forces had with all possible speed raised another Army and commanded them to march night and day till they revenged their rout and regained the honour lost by their Countrymen these expresse Orders joyned with the vigilancy of their Generall made them fly with such speed that they even like Caesar outwent the report of their coming and still in their way recruting themselves with such as either fled from the other Battell or whom the charity of Spinola at Captain Goodlake's request had released at the storm of the Castle they were come within view of the Genovese Camp before they had such was their security and the negligence of the Scouts any notice or advice of their coming which suddain surprize had so much disordered them that without speedy help they must necessarily fall into an inevitable ruine this news extreamly stratled the two valiant Captaines but not at all abated their wonted courage nor lessened in them the care to assist their distressed Camp wherefore Spinola drawing out a selected party of Foot out of the Garrison and Goodlake the like of Horse they seemed to fly to the assistance of their friends spurred on not only by their own innate valour but by the earnest desire they had still to maintain and keep alive that honour which by the last Campagna they had so happily given birth to Scarce were they come within sight of their almost scattered Troops but their Souldiers having advice that their Generals were posting to their reliefe began to encourage their fellows and gathering together into severall close battalious first put a stand to the pursuing fury of the Savoyards this unexpected sight made their Commanders spur on more eagerly to the reliefe of those Souldiers who so valiantly maintained their grounds and their Countrys honour whilst the Savoyards angry to see a stop put to their full hopes and almost assurance of an absolute victory pressed with more fury upon their Enemies whose present valour they accounted but like the blaze of a dying Taper before its extinction and indeed so it had proved notwithstanding the great care and valour of Iustiniano who resolutely adventured his Person amongst the thickest and most daring of his enemies thereby to double the courage of his almost wearied Souldiers had not Spinola and Goodlake come in with their opportune assistance the first that arrived was Goodlake who having wheeled about fell into the Enemies Flank with such a brave resolution that at the first charge he put them into disorder but such was their courage that notwithstanding his advantage here and that Spinola with his fresh supply of gallant infantry the Savoyards were forced to give some ground spurred on with their confidence of victory that rather renewing then abating their fury they continued the battell till the darknesse of the night parted both Armies and forced them to an unvoluntary retreat on both sides the Genoveses being forced notwithstanding their gallant resistance to yeild so much of the victory to their enemies as to give them leave to passe freely into the Territorie of the Duke of Mantua and joyne with the Ferrarian Forces which more grieved the generous Spinola valiant Goodlake and the noble Iustinino then the wounds they had received in the battell but finding it in vain to repine at their ill fortune they thought it fitter to retire to the Castle to consult of Deeds then to rest there by helplesse words to bemoane their ill successe THE END Of the First Part of the First Book THE ENGLISH LOVERS A ROMANCE The Second Book STrange was the passion that possessed the generous Spinola for the last days oversight and willingly would he have thrown by all thoughts of redressing it to have prosecuted his revenge on those by whose neglect it sprung had not Goodlake perswaded him that it was now no time to think of punishments but rather to consult of some means to redeem not the loss of honor for he was sensible of no such thing whilest though the enemy had gained the pass they yet stood upon equal terms with them but the regaining the advantage they had got which might by a speedy pursuit easily be done and they yet either driven out of the Mantouse Territories or utterly cut off that the whole Army seemed to him guilty of the yesterdays neglect and though some might seem more concerned then others and according to the strict rule of Martial discipline might deserve a severe punishment yet in this pinch of necessary service required from them it would seem a great deal better to pass it by they now wanting rather encouragements to spur them on then punishments of some few to damp the courage of the rest That he might easily discern by the Armies courage and resolute endeavors by force to regain what by want of care they had lost that they were so really sorry for their negligence that they were willing to expiate that crime with their bloods That therefore he should lay aside all thoughts of rigor and only by some words making them ashamed of their fault by a free pardon beget in them in a desire of amendment Though the worthy Spinola was very sensible that this advice of his Lieutenant Generals was most seasonable yet whether swayed by his passion or out of
inbred hate to that family he would not rest satisfied till a Captain of the house of the Grimaldi's who having that night the charge of the watch was therefore thought most culpable was called to answer the surprize and assuredly his death had onely sufficed to expiate his neglect had not those great services he had often performed the murmurs of the Soldiers and Goodlakes perswasions overswaied Spinola's intentions who finding that his death would probably breed a mutiny or worse discontents in the Army though it would better suit with his honor and Grandezza to give that life freely which he could not take away with safety and therefore having first at large laid down the penalties due to those neglects whereof he had confessed himself guilty he concluded that though the world might very well believe that the enmities between their families might make him rejoyce at so just an occasion offered to take away the life of one of the Grimaldi's yet no thoughts of private enmity or revenge could restrain him from giving due honor and respect to his very enemies that his former services sounded so loud in his ears that for their sake he was content to remit the present forfeit of his life not doubting but he would by future services so redeem the fault that his Country should think him deserving of the pardon The Captain returned him a thankful answer but in such doubtful terms that he might easily guess that he thought his life more due to the love of the Soldiery then to Spinola's curtefie concluding his Speech more clearly by telling him that he hoped his Country should never have occasion to think either him or any of his Family unworthy of life whilest though they never had the happiness to arrive to that height of command which some of other Familes perhaps less worthy had been entrusted with yet none should be more ready then they to sacrifice their utmost abilities to its service Spinola though he knew these words were levell'd at him yet so brideled his passion that returning him no other answer then that he did not doubt but the Duke and Senate were well satisfied with the worth of those whom they employed that though they could not advance every man who deserved it to a supream command yet their favor would shine no less clear upon that Captain who faithfully discharged his trust as upon their General himself that it argued some thing of self-guiltiness at least self-conceit to arrogate to ones self a reward of imagined merits that for his he wished they might prove so clear that the Senate might think him fit to confer upon him the Generalship of their Army which when so he should willingly resign it and therewith dismissing him to his charge he gave order that the Army should immediately be put in a posture to pursue their enemy and if possibly hinder their conjunction with the Forces of Ferrara his commands were immediately obeyed and the whole body both of horse and foot were in very few hours upon their march after their foes but with very small hopes of reaching them for finding their Army extreamly broken they adventured not to stand another shock but in the dead of the night were marched away with an incredible speed intending to joyn with the Duke of Ferrara who then with a potent Army faced the Mantouese their flight more animated the generous Spinola and his whole Army who now looking upon then as conquered and pursued fied with the wings of revenge to arrive at an easie slaughter but they were deceived in their expectations for after two days march they had advice that the enemies Army being increased with the addition of two thousand Ferrareses was turning back to encounter them nor long had they received this news but a messenger arrived who all bloody and trembling related to them the cause of their enemies advance towards them which they were before almost incredible of his very countenance betrayed the ill news he brought nor need Spinola ask him what it was for with a kinde of stammering he began to tell him That the Armies of the two Dukes having several days faced each other the soldiers of either side by continual skirmishes still provoking their enemies to the battel at length by a joynt consent drew out their forces and on the spacious plains of Miraneula began so terrible a battel that the Sun though but newly risen from his warry bed not daring to look upon such ghastly deaths as each side strove to give the other crouded himself under the blackest and most dismal clouds whilest the two hosts with various fortune disputed the victory till about the time when the Sun having arrived to his greatest height began again to decline Fortune seemed most to favor us for the right wing of the enemy was absolutely defeated and their main battel began to give ground so that we were in a maner assured of victory our shouts of joy ecchoing our confidence to the skies but alas Fortune did onely flatter us for what we gained on one side we lost on the other for our right wing began apparently to give ground and by the valor of one sole stranger was in a maner defeated Gods with what fury did he pierce our Squadrons his victorious sword like an overthrowing thunderbolt tumbling down all before it how did he make our greatest spirits bow as if death and destruction had been entailed on his arm yet could not touch his body In sum notwithstanding the valiant Lorenzo posted with a fresh supply of horse to the assistance of our all-most scattered wing as if his indefatigable arm knew no weariness he flew like lightning amongst our bravest troops and seconded by a select party and who would refuse to follow so gallant a Commander quickly forced them to accompany their before-wearied fellows in a shameful flight This success put a new courage into their Main battel so that again regaining their ground they maintained a sharp fight with us yet something doubtful till the valiant stranger having left sufficient numbers to pursue our defeated right wing attacqued us with his Troops which struck such a pannick fear into the coward heart of our soldiers that if hell with all its terrors had affaulted them it could not more have appaled their dastard spirits for as if they knew no resistance for his victorious arm they immediately threw down their Arms and with alâ—speed fled towards Mirandola the victorious enemy spurred on by revenge still pursuing and sacrificing to Bellona thousands of their coward-souls Captain Goodlake all the while the messenger was making this relation was meditating who this mirror of courage should be and no longer able to restrain his desire of knowing him here interrupted him by demanding if he knew of what Country the valiant stranger was Sir answered the messenger I know him no farther then by the effects of his valor which were so prodigious that it makes me believe those which I
many presenting perils I immediately called a Counsel of War where it was with one voice advised and assented to that I should with all speed draw out my whole forces and give my then Enemy Battel Thus were the plains of Merandola the second time to be made the stage whereon we were to act a bloody Scene for we had advice that the enemy not much above four leagues off was entring upon them nor was that large Champayne above half a League distant from our Camp The Sun had about two houres declined towards the Western Horizon when our whole Army consisting of about five thousand horse and twelve thousand foot advanced and somewhat before sunset faced the Duke of Ferrara's Camp who with about the same number of horse and foot had seated himself with their backs directly opposing the morning sun 'T was strange that two so great Armies should lie so close together with so little noise neither being guilty of the least excursion during the whole night though I must confess I was advised by some and that not without reason to have immediately fallen upon Ferrara's Forces whilst I had the advantage of the setting sun which darted i'ts rayes just into the faces of my Enemies besides it was urged that the Feraresses having had many long tedious marches without intermission must needs be very weary and so easily be overcome by a fresh Army but all those arguments were opposed by the generous Goodlake bravely encouraging me to scorn to take the least advantage of a foe whose numbers exceeded not mine The next day before the sun had displayed it's Golden Rayes upon the Parched earth the Drums and Trumpets Alarum'd both Armies to their bloody work my right wing of Horse I committed to the charge of the thrice Noble Spinola and the gallant Goodlake the left wing was committed to the charge of that worthy Souldier your Highness Subject Signior Alonzo Tristamara my self in person Commanded the main body of the Army and as if it were by joynt consent the Duke of Ferrara had ordered his Forces in the same manner as I had done mine the English stranger Commanding the â—ight wing of Horse Signior Piemonteseâ—hat â—hat approved veteran the left wing and the Duke himsself having charge of the maine â—attel The Peales of Ordnance like so many funeâ—al Knells having rung out a fierce Alarum to both parties and the Drums and Trumpets â—ounded an encouraging charge our armies joyâ—ed just about the time when the sun shewed â—is dewy locks above the Caerulian Sea and â—here as 't were stood still to behold the gallant â—ctions of these two noble strangers who most â—esolvedly charging in the heads of their troops â—n few hours time with an infinite slaughter inâ—erchangeably put to flight their opposites whilst the main Battalias faught with equal sucâ—ess or indeed scarce at all but amazedly beheld â—he incredible actions of the two English men Gods How like flaming Comets did their â—rightned swords peirce through the Helmets of â—heir enemies the left wing of the Duke of Ferrara's Army was forced to yield to the unconquerable Arme of Goodlake nor did ours find a milder fate in endeavouring to resist against that of the other invincible but yet unknown stranger when at last Goodlake leaving Spinola still to pursue the routed Ferraresse in the left wing came to the assistance of ours with a ful resolution to meet that gallant stranger who had wrought such wonders against us But it hapned that at the same time that Goodlake with a gallant party came in to the assistance of our left wing his other magnanimous Countryman though then unknown of him to be so was gon with a select Brigade of Horse to repair the ruines on the Duke of Ferrara's part Heavens how soon did their presence alter the Scene of affairs those who before were persuers were now persued the gallant Spinola charging in the head of his troops became a sacrifice to the sword of Ferrara's Champion on the other side those troops which his presence had before made victorious now fled as fast as they before pursued before my valient Commander In this variety of fortune did the battel continue on both sides for the whole day those two noble strangers seeming as it were the soules of the two Armies which moved those great bodies at their pleasure till after Sun-set the approaching darkness of the night rather then any other cause made us both willingly sound a retreat as well to rest our wearied bodies as to computeâ— our losses 'T is almost incredible worthy Prince what infinite slaughter this day made those vast and wide-stretching plains seemed covered with the bodies of the dead nor could either Army boast above half the number which they had that morning seen alive and well Strange fury of men worse then that of wild beasts for these are never ravenous upon those of their own brood but we ambitiously strive to destroy one another The next mornings light called up the two Armies again to put a final peâ—iod to this bloody Tragedy the Trumpets and Drums had sounded the alarum and now onely attended to change their note to that of another fell and dreadful charge when a Herald from the Duke of Ferrara's Army brought me the ensuing Letter To the Puissant Duke of Mantova THough we have no reason at all to doubt the strength or courage of our Army or to think our cause so bad as not to venture our Subjects bloods once more in a fatal conflict yet when we consider that the blood which has been shed in this unhappy contrast would not only have watered but overflowed those lands we contend for we cannot but with tears lament that vast effusion of humane gore and with that some happy remedy might be found out to give a Period to these unhappy discords rather then by further hazarding our Subjects lives increase both the score and the enmity Think not hereby that we mean to forgoe the left of our right but this we promise upon the word of a Prince that if for preventing further Tradegies your Highness will make choice of a Champion to combate ours we will willingly hazard the loss of that which we think we may justly call our own upon his single person being content that the conquest of either shall end all differences between us D. Ferrara This Challenge which I may in some regard call pious as I understood afterwards from the Duke of Ferrara proceeds wholly from the generous intreaties of that worthy stranger who moved out of a noble pitty to see too neighbour Princes in that cruel manner sacrifice their Subjects lives to either their disdain or ambition for a thing scarce worth the contention freely offered his blood to end the difference which Ferrara confident of his valour as readily accepted Nor can I tell you mighty Prince with what joy I received his offer though I was doubtful when I least had need who to make choice of