sitting next to Philostratus considering that her discourse must follow in order and thinking on what shee was to say the Queene had no sooner sent out her command but shee being no lesse faire then forward beganne in this manner Ladies of great respect the more we conferre on the accidents of Fortune so much the more remaineth to consider on her mutabilities wherein there is no need of wonder if discreetly we obserue that all such things as we fondly tearme to be our owne are in her power and so consequently change from one to another without any stay or arrest according to her concealed iudgement or setled order at least that can bee knowne to vs. Now although these things appeare thus daily to vs euen apparantly in all occasions and as hath beene discerned by some of our precedent discourses yet notwithstanding seeing it pleaseth the Queene that our arguments should ayme at these ends I will adde to the former tales another of my owne perhaps not vnprofitable for the hearers nor vnpleasing in obseruation Sometime heeretofore there dwelt in our Citie a Knight named Signior Thebaldo who according as some report issued from the Family of Lamberti but others deriue him of the Agolanti guiding perhaps their opinion heerein more from the traine of children belonging to the saide Thebaldo euermore equall to that of the Agolanti then any other matter else But setting aside from which of these two houses he came I say that in his time he was a very welthy Knight had three Sonnes the first being named Lamberto the second Thebaldo the third Agolanto all goodly and gracefull youths howbeit the eldest had not compleated eighteene yeares when Signior Thebaldo the father deceased who left them all his goods and inheritances And they seeing them selues rich in readâ—e monies and reuennewes without any other gouernment then their owne voluntary disposition kept no restraint vpon their expences but maintained many seruants and store of vnvalewable horses beside Hawkes and Hounds with open house for all commers and not onely all delights else fit for Gentlemen but what vanities beside best agreed with their wanton and youthfull appetites Not long had they run on this race but the treasures lefte them by their Father began greatly to diminish and their reuennewes suffised not to support such lauish expences as they had begun but they fell to engaging and pawning their inheritances selling one to day and another to morrow so that they saw themselues quickly come to nothing and then pouerty opened their eyes which prodigality had before closed vp Heereupon Lamberto on a day calling his Brethren to him shewed them what the honors of their Father had beene to what height his wealth amounted and now to what an ebbe of pouerty it was falne onely thorow their inordinate expences Wherefore hee counselled them as best he could before further misery insulted ouer them to make sale of the small remainder that was left and then to betake themselues vnto some other abiding where fairer Fortune might chance to shine vppon them This aduice preuailed with them and so without taking leaue of any body or other solemnity then closest secrecy they departed from Florence not tarrying in any place vntill they were arriued in England Comming to the City of London and taking there a small house vpon yearly rent liuing on so little charge as possible might be they began to lend out money at vse wherein Fortune was so fauourable to them that in few yeares they had gathered a great summe of mony by means whereof it came to passe that one while one of them and afterward another returned backe againe to Florence where with those summes a great part of their inheritances were redeemed and many other bought beside Linking themselues in marriage and yet continuing their vsances in England they sent a Nephew of theirs thither named Alessandro a yong man and of faire demeanor to maintaine their stocke in employment while they three remained still at Florence and growing forgetful of their former misery fell againe into as vnreasonable expences as euer neuer respecting their houshold charges because they had good credite among the Merchants and the monies still sent from Alessandro supported their expences diuers yeares The dealings of Alessandro in England grew very great for hee lent out much money to many Gentlemen Lords and Barons of the Land vpon engagement of their Manours Castles and other reuennues from whence he deriued immeasurable benefite While the three Brethren held on in their lauish expences borrowing moneys when they wanted vntill their supplyes came from England whereon indeede was their onely dependance it fortuned that contrary to the opinion of al men warre happened betweene the King of England and one of his sonnes which occasioned much trouble in the whole Countrey by taking part on either side some with the Sonne and other with the Father In regard whereof those Castles and places pawned to Alessandro were sodainely seized from him nothing then remaining that returned him any profit But liuing in hope day by day that peace would be concluded betweene the Father and the Sonne he neuer doubted but all things then should be restored to him both the principall and interest therfore he would not depart out of the Country The three Brethren at Florence bounding within no limites their disordered spending borrowed daily more and more And after some few yeares the Creditors seeing no effect of their hopes to com from them all credit being lost with them and no repayment of promised dues they were imprisoned their landes and all they had not suffising to pay the moity of debts but their bodies remained in prison for the rest theyr Wiues and yong children being sent thence some to one village some to another so that nothing now was to be expected but pouerty misery of life for euer As for honest Alessandro who had awaited long time for peace in England perceyuing there was no likelyhood of it and considering also that beside his tarrying there in vaine to recouer his dues he was in danger of his life without any further deferring hee set away for Italy It came to passe that as he issued foorth of Bruges hee saw a yong Abbot also iourneying thence being cloathed in white accompanied with diuers Monkes and a great traine before conducting the needefull carriage Two ancient Knights Kinsmen to the King followed after with whom Alessandro acquainted himselfe as hauing formerly known them and was kindly accepted into their company Alessandro riding along with them courteously requested to know what those Monks were that rode before and such a traine attending on them Whereto one of the Knights thus answered He that rideth before is a yong Gentleman and our Kinsman who is newly elected Abbot of one of the best Abbeyes in England because he is more yong in yeares then the decrees for such a dignity doe allow we trauaile with him to Rome to entreat
our Holy Father that his youth may be dispensed withall and he confirmed in the sayd dignity but hee is not to speake a word to any person On rode this new Abbot sometimes before his traine and other whiles after as we see great Lords vse to do when they ride vpon the High-wayes It chanced on a day that Alessandro rode somewhat neere to the Abbot who stedfastly beholding him perceiued that he was a verie comely young man so affable louely and gracious that euen in this first encounter he hadde neuer seene any man before that better pleased him Calling him a little closer he began to conferre familiarly with him demanding what he was whence he came and whether he trauelled Alessandro imparted freely to him all his affaires in euery thing satisfying his demands and offering although his power was small to doe him all the seruice he could When the Abbot had heard his gentle answers so wisely discreetly deliuered considering also more particularly his commendable cariage he tooke him to be at the least a well-borne Gentleman and far differing from his owne logger-headed traine Wherfore taking compassion on his great misfortunes he comforted him very kindly wishing him to liue alwayes in good hope For if hee were vertuous and honest he should surely attaine to the seate from whence Fortune had throwne him or rather much higher Entreating him also that seeing he iournied towards Tuscany as he himselfe did the like to continue stil if he pleased in his company Alessandro most humbly thanked him for such gracious comfort protesting that he would be alwaies ready to doe whatsoeuer he commanded The Abbot riding on with newer crochets in his braine then hee had before the sight of Alessandro it fortuned that after diuers dayes of trauaile they came to a small countrey Village which affoorded little store of lodging and yet the Abbot would needs lye there Alessandro being well acquainted with the Host of the house willed him to prouide for the Abbot and his people and then to lodge him where hee thought meetest Now before the Abbots comming thither the Harbinger that marshalled all such matters had prouided for his traine in the Village some in one place and others elsewhere in the best maner that the Towne could yeelde But when the Abbot had supt a great part of the night being spent and euery one else at his rest Alessandro demaunded of the Host what prouision he had made for him and how hee should be lodged that night In good sadnesse Sir quoth the Host you see that my house is full of Guests so that I and my people must gladly sleepe on the tables benches Neuerthelesse next adioyning to my Lord Abbots Chamber there are certaine Corn-lofts whether I can closely bring you and making shift there with a slender Pallet-bed it may serue for one night insted of a better But mine Host quoth Alessandro how can I passe thorow my Lords Chamber which is so little as it would not allowe Lodging for any of his Monkes If I had remembred so much said the Host before the Curtaines were drawne I could haue lodgd his Monkes in those Corn-lofts and then both you and I might haue slept where now they do But feare you not my Lords Curtaines are close drawne hee sleepeth no doubt soundly and I can conueigh you thither quietly enough without the least disturbance to him and a Pallet-bed shal be fitted there for you Alessandro perceyuing that all this might bee easilie done and no disease offered to the Abbot accepted it willingly went thither without any noyse at all My Lord Abbot whose thoughtes were so busied about amorous desires that no sleepe at all could enter his eyes heard all this talke betweene the Host and Alessandro and also where hee was appointed to lodge wherefore he sayd to himselfe Seeing Fortune hath fitted me with a propitious time to compasse the happines of my hearts desire I know no reason why I should refuse it Perhaps I shall neuer haue the like offer againe or euer be enabled with such an opportunity So being fully determined to prosecute his intention and perswading himselfe also that the silence of night had bestowed sleepe on all the rest with a lowe and trembling voyce he called Alessandro aduising him to come and lye downe by him which after some few faint excuses he did and putting off his cloaths lay downe by the Abbot being not a little prowde of so gracious a fauour The Abbot laying his arme ouer the others body began to imbrace and hugge him euen as amorous friends prouoked by earnest affection vse to do Whereat Alessandro very much maruayling and being an Italian himselfe fearing least this folly in the Abbot would conuert to foule and dishonest action shrunk modestly from him Which the Abbot perceiuing and doubting least Alessandro would depart and leaue him pleasantly smiling and with bashfull behauiour baring his stomack he tooke Alessandroes hand and laying it thereon saide Alessandro let all bad thoughts of bestiall abuse be farre off from thee and feele here to resolue thee from all such feare Alessandro feeling the Abbots brest found there two pretty little mountainets round plumpe and smooth appearing as if they had beene of polished Iuory whereby he perceiued that the Abbot was a woman which setting an edge on his youthfull desires made him fall to embracing and immediately he offered to kisse her but shee somewhat rudely repulsing him as halfe offended saide Alessandro forbeare such boldnesse vpon thy liues perill and before thou further presume to touch me vnderstand what I shall tell thee I am as thou perceiuest no man but a woman and departing a Virgin from my Fathers House am trauelling towards the Popes holinesse to the end that he should bestow me in mariage But the other day when first I beheld thee whether it proceeded from thy happinesse in fortune or the fatall houre of my owne infelicity for euer I know not I conceiued such an effectuall kinde of liking towards thee as neuer did woman loue a man more truly then I doe thee hauing sworne within my soule to make thee my Husband before any other and if thou wilt not accept mee as thy wife set a locke vpon thy lippes concerning what thou hast heard and depart hence to thine owne bed againe No doubt but that these were strange newes to Alessandro and seemed meerely as a miracle to him What shee was he knew not but in regard of her traine and company hee reputed her to be both noble and rich as also shee was wonderfull faire and beautifull His owne fortunes stood out of future expectation by his kinsmens ouerthrow and his great losses in England wherefore vpon an opportunity so fairely offered hee held it no wisedome to returne refusall but accepted her gracious motion and referred all to her disposing Shee arising out of her bed called him to a little Table standing by where hung a faire Crucifix vpon the wall
before which and calling him to witnesse that suffered such bitter and cruell torments on his Crosse putting a Ring vpon his finger there she faithfully espoused him refusing all the World to be onely his which being on either side confirmed solemnely by an holy vow and chaste kisses shee commanded him backe to his Chamber and shee returned to her bed againe sufficiently satisfied with her Loues acceptation and so they iournied on till they came to Rome When they had rested themselues there for some few dayes the supposed Abbot with the two Knights and none else in company but Alessandro went before the Pope and hauing done him such reuerence as beseemed the Abbot began to speake in this manner Holy Father as you know much better then any other euery one that desireth to liue well and vertuously ought to shunne so farre as in them lieth all occasions that may induce to the contrary To the ende therefore that I who desire nothing more then to liue within the compasse of a vertuous conuersation may perfect my hopes in this behalfe I haue fled from my Fathers Court and am come hither in this habite as you see to craue therein your holy and fatherly furtherance I am daughter to the King of England and haue sufficiently furnished my selfe with some of his treasures that your holinesse may bestow me in marriage because mine vnkind Father neuer regarding my youth and beauty inferior to few in my natiue Country would marry me to the King of Northwales an aged impotent and sickly man Yet let me tell your sanctity that his age and weakenesse hath not so much occasioned my flight as feare of mine owne youth and frailety when being married to him instead of loyall and vnstained life lewd and dishonest desires might make me to wander by breaking the diuine Lawes of wedlocke and abusing the royall blood of my Father As I trauailed hither with this vertuous intention our Lord who onely knoweth perfectly what is best fitting for all his creatures presented mine eyes no doubt in his meere mercy and goodnesse with a man meete to be my husband which pointing to Alessandro is this young Gentleman standing by me whose honest vertuous and ciuill demeanour deserueth a Lady of farre greater worth although perhaps nobility in blood be denied him and may make him seeme not so excellent as one deriued from Royall discent Holy and religious vowes haue past betweene vs both and the Ring on his finger is the firme pledge of my faith and constancie neuer to accept any other man in marriage but him onely although my Father or any else doe dislike it Wherefore holy Father the principall cause of my comming hither being already effectually concluded on I desire to compleat the rest of my pilgrimage by visiting the sanctified places in this City whereof there are great plenty And also that sacred marriage being contracted in the presence of God onely betweene Alessandro and my selfe may by you be publiquely confirmed and in an open congregation For seeing God hath so appointed it and our soules haue so solemnely vowed it that no disaster whatsoeuer can alter it you being Gods vicar here on earth I hope will not gaine-say but confirme it with your fatherly benediction that wee may liue in Gods feare and dye in his fauour Perswade your selues faire Ladies that Alessandro was in no meane admiration when hee heard that his wife was daughter to the King of England vnspeakeable ioy questionlesse wholly ouercame him but the two Knights were not a little troubled and offended at such a strange and vnexpected accident yea so violent were their passions that had they beene any where else then in the Popes presence Alessandro had felt their fury and perhaps the Princesse her selfe too On the other side the Pope was much amazed at the habite she went disguised in and likewise at the election of her husband but perceiuing there was no resistance to be made against it hee yeelded the more willingly to satisfie her desire And therefore hauing first comforted the two Knights and made peace betweene them the Princesse and Alessandro he gaue order for the rest that was to be done When the appointed day for the solemnity was come hee caused the Princesse cloathed in most rich and royall garments to appeare before all the Cardinals and many other great persons then in presence who were come to this worthy Feast which hee had caused purposely to be prepared where she seemed so faire goodly a Lady that euery eye was highly delighted to behold her commending her with no mean admiration In like manner was Alessandro greatly honored by the two Knights being most sumptuous in appearance and not like a man that had lent money to vsury but rather of very royall quality the Pope himselfe celebrating the marriage betweene them which being finished with the most magnificent pompe that could be deuised hee gaue them his benediction and licenced their departure thence Alessandro his Princesse and her traine thus leauing Rome they would needes visite Florence where the newes of this accident was long before noysed and they receiued by the Citizens in royall manner There did shee deliuer the three brethren out of prison hauing first payed all their debts and reseated them againe with their wiues in their former inheritances and possessions Afterward departing from Florence and Agolanto one of the Vncles trauailing with them to Paris they were there also most honourably entertained by the King of France From whence the two Knights went before for England and preuailed so succesfully with the King that hee receiued his daughter into grace and fauour as also his Sonne in law her husband to whom hee gaue the order of Knighthoode and for his greater dignitie created him Earle of Cornewall And such was the noble spirit of Alessandro that he pacified the troubles betweene the King and his sonne whereon ensued great comfort to the Kingdome winning the loue and fauour of all the people and Agolanto by the meanes of Alessandro recouered all that was due to him and his brethren in England returning richly home to Florence Counte Alessandro his kinsman hauing first dubd him Knight Long time hee liued in peace and tranquility with the faire Princesse his wife prouing to be so absolute in wisedome and so famous a Souldier that as some report by assistance of his Father in law hee conquered the Realme of Ireland and was crowned King thereof Landolpho Ruffolo falling into pouerty became a Pirate on the Seas and being taken by the Genewayes hardly escaped drowning Which yet neuerthelesse he did vpon a little Chest or Coffer full of very rich Iewels being caried thereon to Corfu where he was well entertained by a good woman And afterward returned richly home to his owne house The fourth Nouell Whereby may be discerned into how many dangers a man may fall through a couetous desire to enrich himselfe MAdame Lauretta sitting next to Madame Pampinea and seeing
haue found no mean inducement to loue in regard of my husbands far distance from me medling in the rude vnciuill actions of warre when he should rather be at home in more sweet imployment You see Sir that these Orators aduance themselues here in your presence to acquaint you with the extremity of my ouer-commanding agony and if the same power hath dominion in you which your discretion questionlesse cannot be voide of then let me entreate such aduise from you as may rather helpe then hinder my hopes Beleeue it then for trueth Sir that the long absence of my husband from me the solitary condition wherein I am left ill agreeing with the hot blood running in my veines the temper of my earnest desires haue so preuailed against my strongest resistances that not onely so weake a woman as I am but any man of much more potent might liuing in ease and idlenesse as I doe cannot withstand such continuall assaults hauing no other helpe then flesh and blood Nor am I so ignorant but publique knowledge of such an error in me would be reputed a shrewd taxation of honesty whereas on the other side secret carriage and heedfull managing such amorous affaires may passe for currant without any reproach And let me tell you Noble Counte that I repute Loue highly fauourable to mee by guiding my iudgement with such moderation to make election of a wise worthy and honourable friend fit to enioy the grace of a farre greater Lady then I am and the first letter of his name is the Count D'Angiers For if error haue not misled mine eye as in Loue no Lady can be easily deceiued for person perfections and all parts most to be commended in a man the whole Realme of France containeth not your equall Obserue beside how forward Fortune sheweth her selfe to vs both in this case you to be destitute of a wife as I am of an husband for I count him as dead to me when he denies me the duties belonging to a wife Wherefore in regard of the vnfaigned affection I beare you and compassion which you ought to haue of Royall Princesse euen almost sicke to death for your sake I earnestly entreate you not to denie me your louing society but pittying my youth and fiery afflictions neuer to be quenched but by your kindnesse I may enioy my hearts desire As shee vttered these words the teares streamed aboundantly downe her faire cheekes preuenting her of any further speech so that deiecting her head into her bosome ouercome with the predominance of her passions shee fell vpon the Countes knee whereas else shee had falne vpon the ground When hee like a loyall and most honourable man sharply reprehended her fonde and idle loue and when shee would haue embraced him about the necke hee repulsed her roughly from him protesting vpon his honourable reputation that rather then hee would so wrong his Lord and Maister he would endure a thousand deathes The Lady seeing her desire disappointed and her fond expectation vtterly frustrated grewe instantly forgetfull of her intemperate loue and falling into extremity of rage conuerted her former gentle speeches into this harsh and ruder language Villaine quoth shee shall the longing comforts of my life be abridged by thy base and scornefull deniall Shall my destruction bee wrought by thy currish vnkindnesse and all my hoped ioyes be defeated in a moment Know slaue that I did not so earnestly desire thy sweet embracements before but now as deadly I hate and despise them which either thy death or banishment shall dearely pay for No sooner had shee thus spoken but tearing her haire and renting her garments in pieces shee ranne about like a distracted woman crying out aloude Helpe helpe the Count D'Angiers will forcibly dishonour mee the lustfull Count will violence mine honour D'Angiers seeing this and fearing more the malice of the ouer-credulous Court then either his owne conscience or any dishonourable act by him committed beleeuing likewise that her slanderous accusation would bee credited aboue his true and spotlesse innocency closely he conueyed himselfe out of the Court making what hast hee could home to his owne house which being too weake for warranting his safety vpon such pursuite as would be vsed against him without any further aduice or counsell he seated his two children on horsebacke himselfe also being but meanly mounted thus away thence hee went to Calice Vpon the clamour and noise of the Lady the Courtiers quickly flocked thither and as lies soone winne beleefe in hasty opinions vpon any silly or shallow surmise so did her accusation passe for currant and the Counts aduancement being enuied by many made his honest carriage in this case the more suspected In hast and madding fury they ran to the Counts houses to arrest his person and carry him to prison but when they could not finde him they raced his goodly buildings downe to the ground and vsed all shamefull violence to them Now as il newes sildome wants a speedy Messenger so in lesse space then you will imagine the King and Dolphin heard thereof in the Camp and were therewith so highly offended that the Count had a sodaine and seuere condemnation all his progeny being sentenced with perpetuall exile and promises of great and bountifull rewards to such as could bring his body aliue or dead Thus the innocent Count by his ouer-hasty and sodaine flight made himselfe guilty of this foule imputation and arriuing at Callice with his children their poore and homely habites hid them from being knowne and thence they crossed ouer into England staying no where vntill hee came to London Before he would enter into the City he gaue diuers good aduertisements to his children but especially two precepts aboue all the rest First with patient soules to support the poore condition whereto Fortune without any offence in him or them had thus deiected them Next that they should haue most heedfull care at no time to disclose from whence they came or whose children they were because it extended to the perill of their liues His Sonne being named Lewes and now about nine yeares old his daughter called Violenta and aged seauen yeares did both obserue their fathers direction as afterward it did sufficiently appeare And because they might liue in the safer securitie hee thought it for the best to change their names calling his sonne Perotto and his daughter Gianetta for thus they might best escape vnknowne Being entred into the Citty and in the poore estate of beggers they craued euery bodies mercy and almes It came to passe that standing one morning at the Cathedral Church-doore a great Lady of England being then wife to the Lord high Marshall cōming forth of the Church espied the Count and his children there begging Of him she demanded what Countrey-man he was and whether those children were his owne or no The Count replyed that he was borne in Picardy and for an vnhappy fact committed by his eldest sonne a stripling of more