him when he made his Visitations as if he had the King himself which at first he refused but at last arriving to five and fifty years of age he began to like very well of and esteeming himself to be the publick assertor of all religion he desired to preserve his health better than he had been accustomed to doe And although his Rule prescribed him never to eat flesh yet he dispensed with himself which he would not do with any other saying that upon him alone lay all the burden of religion wherefore he feasted himself so much that of a lean Monk he became a fat Prior and the change of his heart did follow the change of his life insomuch that now he began to look upon beautifull faces of which before he made a great conscience and observing the beauties of the Nuns whose veils made them more desirable he begun to be very covetous of them and to satisfie his salt and wanton appetite he studied so many artifices that instead of doing the office of a Pastor he became a wolf insomuch that in diverse Religious houses if there were any one found more weak than another he never failed to deceive her And having for certain years continued this wicked course of life the Divine goodnesse which had compassion on the poor misguided sheep would no longer indure the ravening of this treacherous Fox For one day going to visit a Covent not far from Paris called Gif it fell out that in confessing all the holy Nuns he took an especial notice of one Sister called Mary Herouet whose language was so pleasant agreeable to him that it promised her face and her heart would be the same Wherefore but to hear her speak only he was struck with such a feaver of love that it surpassed all passions which he ever had for any other of these religious women and speaking to her he held down his head very low that the better he might observe her and perceiving her lip to be plump and red he could not forbear to lift up her vail to see if her eyes were the Companions of those beauties that were about them which he found to be true whereupon his heart was filled with so violent a heat that he forgot to eat and drink and suddenly lost his complexion although he dissembled the occasion of it Being returned to his Priory he could take no rest wherefore in great perplexity he passed away the days and nights searching out the means by which he might arrive to his desires and make of her as he had made of diverse others this he found difficult to be performed because he found her wise in all her answers and of a subtil spirit and on the other side being above threescore years of age he found himself so old and so wrizled that he resolved with himself not to speak to her at all but to make an attempt to gain her by fear Wherefore not long afterwards he returned to the said Monastery of Gif in which place he shewed himself more severe than ever before he was accustomed to do he grew angry with all the Religious Women reproving one for not wearing her veil low enough another for holding up her head too high a third for not making her Courtesie with that Reverence as she ought to do and in these small trifles he shewed himself so severe that they stood in the greatest fear of him that could be Having don this he travelled to visit the other places of Regulation and about the hour of Vespers he came again to the Dormitory where these Nuns were The Abbesse said unto him Reverend Father It is time to go to Vespers To whom he answered Go Mother go for I am so weary that I will stay here not so much to rest my self as to speak to Sister Mary of whom I have heard a very bad Report for I am told That she goes up and down and prattles as if she were one of the wide world The Abbesse who was neer of Kin to her Mother did desire him to school her well for it and left her alone with him save only a little Girl who being very young was newly entred into the Religion and stood at the furthest door When he found himself all alone with Sister Mary he did begin to take off her veil and commanded her to look upon him She made answer that her Rule did forbid her to look on any Man It is true my Child said the Prior but you ought not to think that we who are men of Religion are to be comprehended in that Rule Whereupon Sister Mary fearing to commit a fault by disobedience did look in the face of him which she saw so extremely warped and ill-favoured that she thought with her self she did rather Penance than commit a Sin to behold him The Prior having held her in a long discourse of the Love he did bear unto her did offer to put his hand upon her Brests but she did thrust it back as she ought to do and grew so impatient that he said unto her What And will not the Nuns be known that they have Brests She made answer to him I know I have and am resolved with my self that neither you nor any one else shall touch them for I am not so young nor ignorant but I understand well enough what is sin and what is not When he found he could not gain her that way he attempted another and said unto her Alas my Daughter I am put to that distresse that I must declare unto you my Necessity which is that I have an infirmity which the Physicians do all of them find to be incurable unlesse I do delight my self and play with a Woman whom I love very well For my self I had rather die than commit any mortal sin but if I must venture so far I know that Fornication and the sins of Lust are no wayes to be compared to the sin of Man-slaughter Wherefore if you love my life you may both save it and save your Conscience also from the stain of cruelty She demanded of him What kind of play it was that he did mean He told her That it was to put his Conscience upon hers and that she should do nothing in which he would not joyn with her in the accomplishment thereof And to shew her the beginning of the Pastime which he demanded he did imbrace her and endeavoured to throw her on one of the Beds in the Dormitory She perceiving his wicked Intention did so well defend her self by the softnes of her words and the strength of her Arms that he could touch nothing of her but her cloaths The Prior when he beheld all his designes and the force he used to be frustrated like a man possessed with a fury and as much besides his Reason as his Conscience did put his hands under her Coates and whatsoever he could touch with his fingers he scratched with his nails with so much violence that
in whatsoever they do say or do to supplant our female simplicity would find themselves a great way off from their Hope I pray you Nomerfide said Guebron let me give you my voice that we may hear from you some Account to that purpose I will rehearse unto you one said Nomerfide as much to the commendation of true Lovers as yours have been to the dispraise of foolish Women Of two Lovers who subtilly did enjoy their Loves and of the happy issue thereof The fourth Novell IN the City of Paris there were two Citizens of a considerable Estate the one a Lawyer the other a Mercer who for a long time did bear a great affection to one another by the means whereof the Son of the Lawyer called James a young Man and a fine Companion did oftentimes frequent the Mercers house in pretence of the Love that was shewed to his Father but it was indeed in love to the fair Daughter of the Mercer whose Name was Frances And James did make his addresses so effectual to her that he knew he was no less beloved than he did love But in the time of this Courtship the War began in Provence by reason of the Invasion of Charls of Austria and James was enforced to follow the War to serve according to the Estate in which he was In the beginning of these Wars his Father dyed the News whereof did convey a double affliction to him the one was for the loss of his Father the other was for the inconvenience which that losse brought with it which was that on his return he should be deprived of the opportunity of seeing his Sweet-heart so often as he hoped to have done Neverthelesse in a short process of time the one was forgotten and the other increased for as Death is a thing natural and more natural to the Father than to the Children so grief by little and little of it self doth wear away But Love instead of conveying death unto us doth bring us life by the propagation of Children who doe render us immortal which is one of the most principal motives to increase our desires James being returned to Paris had no other thought or care than to put himself again into the train and the vulgar frequentation of the Mercers house where under the umbrage of his former love he might traffick with his dearest merchandise On the other side during his absence Frances was sollicited and courted by diverse as well for her beauty as for her wit and understanding and also because she was fully marriageable although her Father was not forward to seek out a Husband for her whether it were through covetousnesse or a provident desire to have her richly placed she being his only Daughter And this conduced nothing at all unto her Honour for tongues now a days are proâ—e to slander and detraction when no occasion is administred and especially if it be upon any thing which concerns the Chastity of Maid or Woman This her Father understood who was neither blind nor deaf to the vulgar chat nor would he be like those Fathers who instead of censuring Vice in their Wives or Children do provoke them to it for he did keep her so short that even those who came unto her as Suters only could hardly be admitted to see her although she was always in hâ—r Mothers Company I need not to ask you if this were not very grievous to James to endure being not able in his understanding to resolve himself what was the reason that she was guarded with so much severity and finding no occasion for it he could not tell what certainly to conclude upon but did waver betwixt Love and Jealousie At the last he was resolved with himself come what would of it he would know the reason But first of all to understand if she were of the same affection as she was before he did so often goe and come where she used to resort that one Morning hearing Masse in the Church and being very near unto her he perceived by her countenance that she was no lesse glad to see him than he was to see her and knowing also that her Mother was not so strict over her as her Father he took one day the boldnesse as it were unexpectedly seeing them goe from their House unto the Church to accost them with a familiar and vulgar complement and not too expressely to declare himself that he might better arrive to the end of his Design The end of the year approaching in which his Father died he determined with himself to leave off his mourning and to put himself into such a habit as might become the honour of his Ancestors and acquainted his Mother with it who did like it very well desiring with all her heart to see him well married because she had no more Sons and but one Daughter who was already married and very richly and moreover she did inure her heart to the Love of virtue by the infinite Examples of other young Gentlewomen of her age who either did advance themselves or at least shewed themselves worthy of the Family from whence they were descended There was nothing more to doe but to consider in what shop they might best provide themselves His Mother said unto him James I think it most expedient to goe to my Husbands Compeeire Master Peters who was the Father of Frances for said she he it one of our Friends and will not deceive us That word much pleased her Son and he greedily swallowed it neverthelesse he said unto his Mother we will buy it there where we can find our best Market but because he was an acquaintance of my Fathers I am content to goe thither in the first place The Agreement was made and one morning the Mother and the Son did go to Mr. Peters house who received them with many expressions of respect as you know few Shop-keepers are unprovided in that kind A great variety of whole pieces of Silks were laid open upon the board and they might chuse what they pleased but they could not agree upon the price which James did on purpose because he could not see the Mother of his Sweet-heart and at last they were going without buying any thing at all to try what they could do in another place But James did like nothing so well as what he cheapned at his Sweet-hearts Fathers house whither some hours afterwards they returned They found then her Mother within who did give them the best welcom in the world and after the words of course which are accustomed in such shops the Wife of the Mercer being more hard to deal with than the Mercer himself James said unto her You are grown Lady very hard see what it is to lose a good Father Now we cannot be known here and with that he made an apparence as if he wept and wiped his eys in the remembrance of the dear Father which he lost but this was only to play his own cards the better The
doing wrong to either sex I may be allowed to speak the truth both of Men and women and to affirm that there is nothing good at all either in the one or the other But this Man said Parlament was marvellously deceitfull for on the one side he cousened his Maid and on the other side his Wife You do not well understand the story I perceive said Hircan for that saith that he did content them both on one morning and not deceive them which I look upon as a great Act of Virtue both of body and of mind as well by deeds as by words to give content unto two divers persons In that said Parlament he is doubly to be blamed in satisfying the simplicity of the one by Dissimulation and and the longings of the other by Lust but I understand well enough that such Sins as these being brought before such a Judge as you will find an easie pardon You may assure your self said Hircan to please two at once is no easie task and for my own part I will never undertake so great and difficult an enterprise I have given you my Account already and think herein I have not ill imployed my days work If a mutual Love said Parlament cannot content the heart I know no other thing in the world that can give content unto it To speak the truth said Simontault I do believe that there is not a greater punishment in the world than to love and not to be beloved again I do believe you said Oysilla and to that purpose I do remember a Story which indeed doth not deserve to be numbred on the file of good ones but because it is for the present purpose I am content to declare it to you Of a Frier whose Custom it was to bring his complaints to several Husbands which was the occasion that they did beat their Wives The sixth Novell IN the City of Angoulesm where Count Charls the Father of King Francis had oftentimes his residence there was a Frier called De Valles a very knowing Man and so great a Preacher that upon all Sundays in the Advents he preached in the City before the Count by means whereof his Reputation was much increased It so fell out that during the Advent a lusty young fellow of the City having married a handsom young Wench did not desist for all that to ramble up and down and to live as dissolutely if not more than those who were unmarried of which the young Woman being advertised could not hold her peace so that following him up and down and exclaiming on him she received such tokens from him as she would not willingly have and neverthelesse for all that she did not forbear to continue her exclamations and oftentimes would speak very high words and most passionately rail against him The young Man being much incited at it did begin to lay about him and to leave on her shoulders the marks of his displeasure whereat she began to cry out far louder than before and her Neighbours also that knew the occasion of it would inveigh against him and making a great noise in the streets would cry out Now fie on all such Husbands Let them go all to the Devil The Frier De Valles passing by that way and understanding the noise and the occasion of it did determine with himself to speak one word of it in his next dayes Sermon which accordingly he did for speaking of marriage and of the love which ought to be betwixt the Husband and the Wife he did highly praise it and blamed those that did go about to violate it and making a comparison betwixt conjugal and paternal Love he said amongst other things That it was a greater danger and a more grievous punishment for a Husband to beat his Wife than to beat his Father or his Mother for said he if you beat your Father or your Mother you are sent to Rome to do penance but if you beat your Wife both she and all her Neighbours will fall a cursing of you and send you immediately to the Devil that is to say to Hell You are to observe now said he what a difference there is betwixt these two penances for from Rome they do ordinarily come back again but from Hell-Oh There is no teturning Nulla est redemptio Not long after that Sermon he was advertised that Women made their boasts of that which he preached and that their Husbands could live in no quiet for them for which in his next Sermon he did resolve to prescribe an Order for the redresse of that inconvenience And in some part of it he compared Women unto Devils and said that they two were the greatest Enemies that Man had for they did always tempt Man without any intermission and he could never get rid of them especially of the Woman for the Devils he said will fly away if they be but shewed the Crosse but Women clean contrary to them will cleave the faster to them being the greatest cross themselves that can be to their Husbands And this doth make them so to run and to go and doth throw them into such an infinity of passions But good people be ruled by me and I will tell you what you shall do When you do find that your Wives do torment you in this manner without cease as I have said they are accustomed to do take off the handle from your crucisix and with that handle drive them as far from you as you can Do as I bid you and vigorously make experience of it three or four times and you shall find the good that will come of it you shall find that in the same manner that you doe chase away the Devil by the virtue of the Crosse you shall also chase away and make your Wives to hold their peace by the Virtue of the handle of the Crosse and they will no more presume to come too near unto you Loe here some part of the Preachments of that venerable de Valles of whose life I will make here no larger a recital but I can tell you whatsoever appearance he made to the contrary for I knew the man very well yet in his heart he took the Womens parts more than the Mens Madem said Parlament he did not shew it in that last Sermon in which he gave instructions unto Men to beat their Wives You do not understand his drift in it said Hircan had you been exercized in the discipline and the Stratagems of War you would have found that one of the greatest policies that is required is to make a Civil sedition in the Camp of the Enemy because it is then most easie to overcomâ— him In the like manner this Monk the Master of his Arts did understand well enough that the Anger and the Hatred betwixt the Husband and the Wife is the Cause oftentimes that makes the Wife to let loose the reigns of her honesty which being governed no more by virtue doth fall into the hands of
to the Father for the charges of the Processe The said Aignan residing in England seeing that by Justice he was but a dead man in France did so prevail there by his service to many of the Nobility and by the savour of the Kindred of his Wife that the K. of England did make a request to the King of France to vouchsafe him a Pardon and to repossesse him in his Goods and Honors but the King having understood the villanous and horrid Act did send the Processe to the King of England and desired him to consider if such a case deserved pardon or not adding besides that the Duke of Alençon had in his Kingdome the only privilege to grant pardons for offences committed in his own Dutchy But for all these excuses the King of England desisted not but pursued his request with such importunity that in the end the Proctor obtained a pardon and teturned to his own house where to compleat his iniquity he acquainted himself with a Sorcerer whose name was Gallery hoping by his Art that he should be exempted from paying the fifteen hundred Crowns to the Father of the young Man that was murthered To this end he came to Paris and his wife with him being both disguised His Wife observing that every day he locked himself up in a Chamber with the said Gallery that he not acquainted her with the reason of it one morning she watched him and observed that the said Gallery did shew him five Images of wood three of them had their hands banging down and two of them had their hands lifted up and speaking to the Proctor he said we are to make in wax such Images as these are those who have their Arms hanging down shall be those that shall die and those who do lift up their hands shall be those whose favour and countenance we desire The Proctor said unto him This shall be then for the King by whom I desire to be favoured and this shall be for Monseiur Brinon the Chancellor of Alençon Gallery said unto him we must put these Images under the Altar at what time they are hearing Masse and you shall utter some words which at that instant I will teach you to speak And proceeding their discourse concerning those Images which held down their hands the Proctor told him that one of them was for Monseiur Giller du Mestrill the father of the young Man that was killed for he sufficiently understood that so long as he lived he would not cease to pursue him And one of the women who had their hands hanging down was for Madam the Dutchesse of Alençon Sister to the King because she stood so well affected to her old Servant Du Mestrill and in many other things had so perfect a knowledge of the wickednesse of the Proctor that if she died not he could not live The second woman that had her Arms hanging down was for his own wife who was the cause of all his troubles and who he was sure enough would never amend her wicked life When his wife saw all this through the Crevis of the Door and understood that he had ranked her amongst the number of the dead she resolvd with her self that she would be before hand with him under pretence of borrowing some moneys of her Uncle who was master of requests to the Duke of Alençon she repaired to him to give him an account of what she had seen and heard from her Husband Her Uncle as became a good old Servant did addresse himself to the Chancellor of Alençon and repeated the whole story to him and because the Duke and the Dutchesse of Alençon were not that day at the Court the said Chancellor repaired to Madam the Queen Regent the Mother of the King and to the Dutchesse to give them an account of it who immediately sent for the Provost of Paris called Battre who used such diligence that he apprehended the Proctor and Gallery the Conjurer who without rack or constraint did freely confesse the fact and their Processe was made and brought unto the King Some of the Court being willing to have their lives saved pleaded for them and told the King that in their inchantments they desired only to have his favour But the King who esteemed his Sisters life as dear unto him as his own did command that the Sentence of Death should be given as if they had made an attainder upon his own Person Neverthelesse his Sister the Dutchesse of Alençon did so supplicate to have the life of the Proctor saved and the sentence of his death to be turned into some other grievous and corporal punishment that it was at last condiscended to and he and Gallery were both condemned and sent to Marseilles to serve in the Galleys of Saint Blanquart where they finished their days in great captivity and had the leisure to acknowledge the grievousnesse of their offences The wicked woman in the absence of her Husband did continue her transgressions more than ever before and died lamentably Lades I do besecsh you to observe what evill doth proceed from wicked women How many sorrows did this one produce You shall find that ever since Eve caused Adam to sin all Women have made it their profession to torment to kill and to damn Men. As for my self I have such experience of their cruelty that I think to die no otherwise but only by the Despair into which one of them has thrown me and yet I am so foolish that I must confesse that this Hell is more pleasing to me comming from her hand than Paradise could be comming from the hand of another Parlament seeming not to understand that she was the Subject on whom those words reflected did reply unto him If Hell be so pleasant as you express it you need not to fear the Devil who hath put you there He made answer to her in Choler If my Devil had been as black as scornfull he would put this Company into as great a fear as I take pleasure to behold it But the Fire of Love doth make me to forget that of this Hell And to speak no more of it I do give my voice to Madam Oysilla being assured that if she would but speak of Women what she knoweth she would favour my opinion Immediatly the whole Company turned towards her intreating her that she would be pleased to begin which she accepted of and smiling began thus to speak Ladies It doth appear to me that he who hath given me his voice hath spoken so much ill of Women though in the true story of a most wicked one that I ought to run back over all my old years to find out one whose virtue might give a check to this bad opinion And because already I have thought of one not worthy to be forgotten I will give you an account of her The Lamentable and Chast Death of the Wife of one of the Keepers of the Mules of the Queen of Navarre The second
you have married her yes Sir said the Bastard but by words and a contract only and if you please the full period will be put unto it The King did hold down his head and without speaking any word returned directly unto the Castle and when he came neer unto it he called the Captain of the Guard and commanded him to take the Bastard prisoner Immediatly one of his friends who observed the countenance of the King did advise the Bastard to absent himself and to withdraw into a house of his not far from thence and if the King commanded him to be sought out as he suspected he would that immediatly he should have notice of it that he might provide for his own safety by his slight out of the Kingdom but if the King seemed not to be displeased he would send him word to return to the Court The Bastard did believe him and his diligence made such dispatch that the Captain of the Guard could not find him The King and the Queen did take counsel together what they should do with Rolandine who had the honour to be their Kinswoman and by the counsel of the Queen it was concluded that she should be sent unto her Father to whom the whole truth of the businesse was to be declared But before she did goe it was ordered that diverse of the Kings Counsel and some also of the Church should represent unto her that as yet there had passed nothing in her marriage but her word only and that she might easily recall herself if both one of them and the other would alter their opinions and their loves and disclaiming all interests make the contract of no effect This the King desired that she would do to preserve the honout of the house of which she was but she made answer that in all other things she was both obliged and ready to obey the King but in this only which so nearly concern'd her conscience she desired to be excused alleging that those whom God had put together ought not to be separated by men and desired that she might not be tempted to so unreasonable a thing for if love and good will grounded on the fear of God is the true and sure tye of Marriage she was tyed so fast that neither Steel nor Fire nor Water could either break or consume that bond but death only to whom alone and to none else she was resolved to surrender her oath and her ring beseeching them not to urge her to the contrary for she was so firm in her resolution that she had rather perish keeping her saith than live having infringed it Those who were deputed by the King made the report unto him of her constancy and when they saw they could provide no remedy to cause her to renounce her husband they carried her to her Father in that pitiful manner that wheresoever she passed they did all fall on weeping to behold her and although she had her failings in this contract yet so great was her punishment and so strong her constancy that she made her fault to be esteemed a virtue Her Father hearing this unwelcom news would not see her but sent her to a Castle of his in a Forrest which he had builded for another occasion worthy to be declared after this Novel He kept her there a long time in prison and sent her word oftentimes that if she would forsake her Husband he would account her for his daughter and set her at liberty Neverthelesse she always did hold firm in her determination loved better the place of her prison and the miseries she endured for her Husband than all the liberty of the world without him and it seemed to those who did behold her that all her punishments were but pleasant recreations because she suffered them for him whom so intirely she affected What shall I say in this place of men The Bastard who as you have heard was so much obliged to her did fly into Germany where he had many friends and shewed by his Inconstancy that not Truth and perfect Love but Avarice and Ambition did perswade him to the marriage of Rolandine Insomuch that in a short time after he grew so amorous of a German Lady that by his Letters he did forget to visit her who sustained so many tribulations for him For Fortune as rigorous as she was unto them did never take from them the means to write to one another but the heart of Rolandine had of its self the first apprehension of the foolish love into which the Bastard was fall'n so that she could not take any rest for she observed that the language in his Letters was so cold and so much altered that they nothing resembled those hearty expressions which she was accustomed to receive from him she therefore truly did suspect that some new love had diverted her Husband from her and when all the punishments and the torments she endured could nor work the least change in her at all and because her perfect love would not allow that she should ground her judgement upon a suspition she did contrive a way to send privatly a servant of hers in whom she trusted not to speak unto him or bring any Letters from him but strictly to observe him and to relate the truth He being returned from his Journey told her that for certain he found the Bastard passionatly amorous of a German Lady and the report was that he did court her in way of marriage for she was very rich This news did convey so extreme a grief to the heart of poor Rolandine that being unable to endure it she fell grievously sick Those who understood the occasion did acquaint her that since she perceived the great inconstancy of the Bastard she might now justly abandon him and did the uttermost they could to perswade her to it but notwithstanding she was thus tormented to the last they could find no means to make her change her resolution And in this last temptation to the great commendation of her virtue she did manifest the absolute love which she did bear him For as love did diminish on his side so it did increase on hers and did continue firm when he had no intire nor perfect love for love which failed on his side did turn on her side and when she knew that the love was intire in her alone which before was divided betwixt them both she resolved to preserve it to her death both for him and her self Wherefore the Divine bounty who is perfect charity and true love had pity on her griefs and did regard her patience insomuch that after a few days the Bastard dyed in pursute of another woman she being well advertised of his death by those who saw him laid in the earth did send unto her Father to beseech him that he would be pleased to come unto her who having not spoken to her since the time of her imprisonment did immediatly repair unto her and having all along understood
times Three Murders committed in one House that is to say of the Gentleman who was Master of it of his Wife and his Child occasioned by the wickednesse of a Frier The Third Novell IN the County of Perigord there was a Gentleman who had such a Devotion to St. Francis that it seemed to him that all those who did wear that habit ought to be like unto that good Saint In the honour of whom he had caused to be made in his house a Chamber on purpose and a Wardrobe to entertain them and after their counsel he managed all his affairs even almost to the Government of his menial Servants conceiving with himself that both he and they walked surely in treading in the paths of their counsels It so fell out that the Wife of this Gentleman who was fair and no lesse wise than virtuous was brought to Bed of a Son whereby the love which her Husband did bear unto her was doubly augmented And a Feast being prepared the Brother-in-law was sent for The Hour of Supper being come there arrived a Frier whose Name I will conceal for the honour I bear unto Religion The Gentleman was very glad to see his spiritual Father there from whom he did conceal no secret And after much discourse betwixt his Brother-in-law his Wife and himself they did sit down to Supper during which time the young Gentleman looking on his Wife who had a great gracefulnesse with her and beauty enough to render her desirable did speak aloud unto the Frier and propounded the Question to him Father Is it true that a Man sins mortally to lye with his Wife during the moneth that she lyeth in The Frier who had a Countenance and a Tongue contrary to his heart did make answer to him Sir without all controversy it is one of the greatest sins that can be committed in Marriage And this may appear by the Example of the blessed Virgin Mary who would not come into the Temple until after the day of her Purification although she had no need of being purified As much ought you to abstain from a little pleasure seeing to obey the Law the blessed Virgin abstained to enter into the Temple where was all her Consolation Moreover the Doctors of Physick do affirm that there is great danger of the Issue that may ensue thereby When the Gentleman heard those words he was much troubled for he well hoped that his Confessor would have been so far indulgent to him but giving ear unto his counsel he did speak no more unto him The Confessor during this Discourse having drunk a little deeper than was expedient for him and beheld the young Gentlewoman he debated and concluded with himself that if he were her Husband he would not ask the advice of any one whosoever he were when he should lie with his own Wife And as the Fire by little and little doth kindle and encrease its flames until at the last it doth set the whole house on fire so this poor Frier did begin to burn in such a Concupiscence that incontinently he resolved with himself to arrive to the end of that Desire which for above three years together he had carried covered and glowing in his heart After the Table-cloath was taken away he took the Gentleman by the hand and leading him near unto the Bed of his Wife he said unto him before her Sir Because I am assured of the great love that is betwixt you and this young Lady your Wife which together with the heat and lustinesse of your youth doth so much sollicit you I must confesse I have great compassion of you and therefore I will acquaint you with a secret of our Theology which is that the Law how rigorous soever is be by reason of the abuse of indiscreet Husbands will not permit that those who are of a good Conscience as your self should be frustrated of their honest Desires Wherefore Sir in the presence of your People I have laid down before you the Ordinance and seveverity of the Law but from you who are a virtuous Man I will not conceal the sweetnesse of it For know my Son as there are Women and Women so there are Men and Men. In the first place therefore you must demand of the young Lady your Wife that seeing there are but three weeks since she was brought to bed If her flux of blood be yet ceased to which the young Lady made answer That for certain it was and that she was clean Why then said the Frier My Son I give you leave to lie with her without any scruple but you must first promise me two things which the Gentleman did most willingly consent unto The First is said the Confessor That you must not speak the least word but come with all privacie unto her the other is That you approach not to her untill two hours after Midnight that the Digestion of the young Lady be not troubled by your Familiarities The Gentleman did promise to observe this and did swear unto it so solemnly that he who knew him to be a greater Fool than a Lyar was assured in himself that he would keep his word After much variety of Discourse the Frier retired himself into his Chamber bidding them both Good-night and giving them a great Benediction The Gentleman withdrawing himself his Wife took him by the hand and said unto him Without doubt then you will come and will not make your poor Wife to wake any longer The Gentleman kissing her said unto her Sweet-heart Leave your door open which words the Frier heard very well and so they all retired into their own chambers The Frier as soon as he was come into his did take no thought either for sleep or rest but as soon as ever he heard all things quiet in the house it being much about the hour in which he was accustomed to go to Mattens repaired directly and softly to the Chamber where the Gentleman was expected and having found the door half open he finely and suddenly did put out the Candle and lay as close unto his Wife as possibly he could without speaking any word The young Lady thinking it was her Husband did say unto him Sweet-heart you have kept your promise but ill which last night you made unto our Confessor which was that you would not come unto me till two of the clock But the Frier being more intentive to the life that was active than contemplative and withall being afraid that he should be discovered did think more to satisfie his desires which for a long time had impoysoned his heart than to make any answer to her The young Lady was much astonied at it and the Frier finding the hour to approach in which her Husband was to come he did rise from the young Lady and returned suddenly into his own Chamber and as the Fury of his Concupiscence had before taken away all sleep from him so now the guilt of his Fear which always followeth wickednesse would
fear he had to lose her love if she should understand his Intents did cause him to hold his peace and to think where to place his affections somewhere elfe In this resolution he did address himself to a young Lady not far from Pampelone who had a house also in that City and was newly married to a young man who above all things did love horses and doggs and hawks For the love of her Signior D' Avanes began to make a thousand pastimes as Turnaments Horse-races Masks Feasts and other sports at all which this young Lady would be alwayes present But because her Husband was very phantastical her Father and Mother being jealous of her honour because they knew her to be beautiful and of a frolick disposition did keep her so close that Signior D' Avanes could have nothing of her but now and then some few words when they danced together although in a small time he did easily perceive that to the compleating of their loves there was nothing wanting but Time and place Wherefore he came to his good Father the rich Man and told him that he had a great Devotion to go visit our Lady of Mont-serral desiring him till his return to take into his House all his servants because he had a desire to travel alone to which the Gentleman consented But his Wife who had in her heart that great Prophet called Love did incontinently suspect the truth of the voyage and could not contain her self from speaking to him and said Monsieur the Lady which you are going to adore is not out of the walls of this City wherefore above all things I do beseech you to have a care of your health especially of the health of your soul He who did both fear and love her did blush so much to hear those words that without speaking any thing his cheeks did confesse the truth thereof unto her and upon that he departed and having bought two gallant Spanish Jennets he disguized himself in the habite of a Hors-keeper and so discoloured his face that none could know him The Gentleman who was Husband to this foolish Lady who above all things loved Horses having beheld those two which Signior D' Avanes had brought with him did incontinently buy them and having well looked upon the Horsekeeper that did bring them he demanded of him if he had a mind to serve him Signior D' Avanes made answer Yes and told him That he was a poor young Man that had no other way to live but only by dressing and looking to Horses in which he could so well acquit himself that he was most consident that he would rest content The Gentleman being very glad of it did give him the charge of all his Horses and entring into his house he told his Wife That being to go unto the Castle he did recommend his Horses and his Horsman to her The young Lady as well to please her Husband as having no other recreation did go unto the Stable and looked upon the Horses and observed the new Horsekeeper who seemed to her to be a very handsome young Man but she had not the least knowledge of him He when he perceived that he was not known by her did approach to make his reverence to her after the manner of Spain and having taken her by the hand he kissed it and kissing of it did lock her hand so fast in his that presently she knew him for in dancing with her heretofore he oftentimes would use the same From that time the young Lady ceased not to seek out some place where she might discourse with him by her self which she did the very same Evening for being invited forth to a Feast whither her Husband would have her to go with him she feigned that she was sick and not able to go Her Husband who would not disappoint his friends did say unto her Sweet-heart Since you are not pleased to go with me I pray have a care of my Dogs and my Horses and see that they want nothing The young Lady found this Commission very agreeable unto her and without making any other apparence she said unto him That seeing he would not imploy her in any better business she would make him understand in the meanest services how much she desired to be complacent to him Her Husband was no sooner out of the Gate but she came down into the Stable where she found divers faults and to redresse them she imployed all her Grooms on so many errands that she remained alone with the Master Horsekeeper And for fear that any one should interrupt her she said unto him Go into the Garden and stay a little in the Cabinet which is at the end of the Allee Which he so readily performed that he had not the leisure to thank her and after she had given orders to all the Grooms of the Stables she did go to see the Doggs taking the like care that they might want nothing sitting for Doggs to have insomuch that of a Mistresse she was become a servant-maid Returning to her Chamber she sound her self so weary that immediately she did go to bed saying that she would take a little rest and all her women left her excepring one whom she trusted to whom she said Go into the Garden and bring him hither to me whom you shall find at the end of the Allee The Chamber-maid did go thither where she found the Master Horse-keeper whom she brought immediately to the Lady who commanded the Maid to go forth and watch when her Husband did come Signior D' Avanes seeing himself alone with the Lady did despoil himself of the habiliments of a Horse-keeper he took off his false Nose and his false beard and not as a fearful Horse-keeper but as a gallant young Signior without demanding any leave of the Lady he did leap boldly into the bed to her where he was received as the bravest young man that was in those days by the most wanton of all the Ladies of that Country and he continued with her until such time as her Husband did return of which having timely notice he did put on his disguises and forsook the pleasures which by subtilty he usurped The Gentleman coming into the Court did understand the diligence which his Wife had used to obey him and gave her many thanks for it Sweet-heart said the Lady I have but only done my duty but it is true that if a narrow eye be not had over those naughty boys you will not have a Horse but will be lean nor a Dog but will be mangy But since I understand their sloth and your good will they shall be better look'd unto than they were ever heretofore The Gentleman who thought he had got the best Horse-keeper in the World demanded of her what she thought of him I assure you Sir said she that he understands himself as well as any Servant you could have chosen but he had need to be followed and rouzed up for he is one
that according to my imperfection I will not cease to bear you that affection which shall become a Woman fearing God and her own Honour but this affection can never be fully made known unto you until your Heart be capable of the patience which a virtuous Love doth command And for the present Sir I do know what Language I am to hold with you Howsoever you may assure your self that you love not so well your own Good Person or Honour as I do love it Signior Avanes being daunted did make a little pause and taking new Courage he did humbly beseech her That to give him an assurance of what she spake she would be pleased to kiss him But she refused it affirming that for so vain a thing she would not break the Custom of her Countrey As they were in this Debate her Husband did come in to whom Signior D' Avanes said My Father I do perceive my self to be so much obliged to you to your good Wife that I must beseech you that for ever you will repute me to be your Son which the good Man most willingly did consent unto And in the assurance of this love I do intreat you said Signior D' Avanes that I might kisse you Immediately the good Man kissed him and Signior Avanes said unto him If it were not for fear to offend the Law and Custome of the Country I would do as much to my Mother your Wife The Husband hearing that did command his Wife to kisse him which she did without making any appearance to be either willing or unwilling because her Husband did command her Immediatly the fire which her words before did begin to kindle in the heart of the poor Signior did vehemently increase by her kisse so much desired and at first so cruelly refused This being done Signior D' Avanes repaired to the King his Brother in the Castle where he told many fine stories of his Voyage to Montserrat and understood that the King his Brother was preparing to go to Olly and Tassares and considering with himself that the Journey would be long he was surprized with a great sadnesse which constrained him to resolve before his departure to make an essay whether this virtuous Lady did bear him more good will than she seemed to do wherupon he took up his lodgings in a house of the City and in the same street where she lived The house being old ruinous and made of Wood about midnight he did set it on fire whereupon the Cry was so great throughout the City that it came to the house of the rich man who comming to the window demanded what the businesse was it was answered to him that there was a great fire at the House of Signior D' Avanes He immediatly repaired thither with all his people and found the young Signior in the middle of the street in his shirt having pity on him he took him in his Armes and covered him with his Gown and conveying him to his house with all the speed that possibly he could he said to his Wife who was in bed Sweetheart I give you here this prisoner to keep use him as you would use my self And as soon as ever he was departed Signior D' Avanes who would willingly be intreated by her as if he were her Husband did lightly leap into the bed hoping that the occasion and the place would aler the resolution of that virtuous Woman but he found it otherwise for as soon that on one fide he leapt into the bed she made hast out of it on the other and throwing her night Gown on her she came up to the head of the bed and said unto him How now Monsieur do you believe that any opportunities can alter a chast heart You may assure your self that as Gold is proved in the furnace so is a chast heart in the midest of all temptations by which oftentimes it is proved to be more strong and virtuous and doth grow more cold by being assaulted by the most violent hears Wherefore rest your self assured that if I had any other will than what I have represented to you I could not fail to find means to make you know the injury you would doe me which not desiring to use I doe account them nothing But I must desire you if you would have me to continue the affection which I do bear unto you that you would remove far from you not only the will but also the very thought to find me otherwise than I am During this Discourse her Maids came in to whom she gave a command to bring her a Collation of all manner of Confects But he at that time was sensible neither of hunger or thirst with such a desperation was he possessed that he had failed in his enterprise he was afraid that the demonstration which he had made unto her of his passionate love might be an occasion to deprive him of all familiarities with her for the time to come Her Husband having given order for the extinguishing of the Fire was now returned and intreated Monsieur D' Avanes that he would stay in his House for that night which he consented to But the night was passed away in such a manner that his Eyes were more exercised in weeping than in sleeping And early in the morning he came to their bedside to bid them Farewell and kissing the Lady he readily found that she had more pity of him than ill will towards him for his offence and this was a new coal which over and above was added to the fire of his Love After Dinner he did set forth with the King to Trassares but before he took Horse he did once more repair to the House of his Father and Mother to bid them Adieu who after the first Commandement of her Husband did make no more difficulty to kisse him than if he had been her own Son But you may be sure that the more that Virtue did forbid her to reveal her hidden flame by her eyes and by her countenance the more it did increase and become insupportable insomuch that being no longer able to endure the War which Love and Honour had made in her Heart which neverthelesse she had determined with her self never to demonstrate having lost the comfort both of seeing and hearing him for whom she lived she was surprized by so violent a Feaver occasioned by a continual melancholly that the outward parts of her body became cold although she burned incessantly within The Physicians in whose hands the health of men doe always depend did begin to doubt of her recovery by reason of her great oppilation which did render her so melancholy and counselled her Husband to advise her to make her peace with the Physician of her Soul The poor Husband who most intirely loved his Wife was oppressed with so extream a sorrow by reason of those words that to comfort himself he did write to Signior D' Avanes beseeching him to take the pains to come
him with her misfortune but she did not confesse unto him who was the Father of the Fault and did beseech him to be carefull to preserve her Honour which accordingly he did Some few dayes before she was brought to bed he counselled her to change the air and to make use of his House where she might better recover her health than in her own She repaired thither with a very small Retinue and found a Midwife prepared for her who was sent for under a pretence to come unto her Brothers Wife this Midwife one night without knowing who was the Mother of it did receive the Infant which was a very pretty Girl The Gentleman did deliver it to a Nurse and caused her to bring it up as if it had been his own child The Lady having continued there the space of one moneth did return into her own house where she lived more austerely than before observing dayes of abstinence and all manner of religious discipline But when her Son came unto age and found that at present there was no warre in Italy he sent to his Mother to beseech her that he might return to her House She fearing to sall again into her former Evil would not permit him but in the end he so far importuned her that in reason she could not refuse him Neverthelesse she commanded him That he should not come before her unlesse he were married to some Gentlewoman whom he loved very well and sent him word withall that she did not look after any great Fortune but if she were a Gentlewoman of good Education it was sufficient During this time her Brother the Bastard seeing the Girl of which he had the charge to grow into years and to be accomplished with perfections he determined with himself to send her to a House at some distance from him where she should be unknown and by the Counsel of her own Mother he did give her unto the Queen of Navarre This Girl whose name was Katherine was then thirteen years of age and had her beauties accompanied with such a gracefulnesse that the Queen of Navarre did love her very well and had a great desire to marry her to some personage of Honour but because she had no portion that was considerable she had many servants but no Husband It fell out one day that the Gentleman who was her Father unknown returning into this side of the Alpes did addresse himself unto the Court of the Queen of Navar where whenever he observed this young Maid he was very amorous of her and because he had leave of his Mother to marry whom he pleased he only inquired If she were a Gentlewoman and understanding that she was he desired the Queen that she would be pleased to give her in marriage to him who most willingly did consent unto it for she knew well enough that the Gentleman was very rich and with his riches that he was handsom and honest This Marriage being consummated the Gentleman did write unto his Mother imparting That for the time to come she ought not to shut her door any more against him because he had brought with him as accomplished a young Gentlewoman as could possibly be desired The Lady his Mother who inquired to what allyance he was married did find that it was the Daughter of her own Son and of her self by reason whereof she entered into so great a sorrow that she thought she should forthwith have dyed finding that the more checks and hinderances she did endeavour to give to her Misfortune the more she was the meanes whereby it was increased Not knowing what to do she repaired to the Legat of Avignon to whom she confessed the enormity of her Sin demanding his Counsel how she should demean her self The Legat to satisfie her Conscience did send for divers Doctors of Divinity to whom he did communicate the affair without naming the persons and their Counsel was That the Lady should never speak any thing of it before her Children who by reason of their Ignorance were to be excused from the sin but she ought to repent of it during the whole Course of her life and be carefull to commit the same folly no more And so the poor Lady returned to her own house where not long afterwards her Son and her fair Daughter did arrive who loved one another with such an intire affection that it was never seen that Man or Wife did better agree together for she was his Daughter his Sister and his Wife and he was her Father her Brother and her Husband In this love they flourished and continued all the days of their lives and the poor Lady did continue in her penitence for she never saw them to make much of one another but it was an Occasion of Grief unto her Ladies Here you may observe how they may be deceived who think by the force of their Virtues to overcome both Love and Nature with all the powers wherewith with God hath armed them It is beâ—ter by slight to overcome these Enemies than by Invasion and to say with the Psalmist Make thou O Lord an answer for me It is not possible said Oysilla to hear the account of a stranger story and it appears to me that every Man and Woman ought to stoop and to submit themselves unto the will and the fear of God seeing that under a presumption to do well so many Evils did fall out We may understand also said Parlament that every step that a Man advanceth forward in the Confidence of himself he doth go as many backwards from the Confidence which he ought to have in God He is wise said Guebron who knoweth that he hath no greater Enemies than himself and who whatsoever appearance of goodnesse or of holinesse there be in him doth alwayes suspect his own will and counsels There can be no apparence so great of Good to ensue thereby said Longaren as ought to make a wise Woman to venture to lie with a Man be he never so near of blood for the fire once stopped will break forth with the greater violence Without all doubt said Emarsuite she is some glorious fool who doth think her self so holy that she cannot sin as some will perswade and make the Ignorant to believe that we can do good and refrain from Evil of our selves which is a great Error Is it possible said Oyfilla that there are such fools as to believe that opinion They do a great deal worse said Longaren for they say they can habituate themselves to the virtue of Chastity to prove their strength they discourse with the most handsom creatures that can be found whom they love the best in the world and with kisses and touchings of their hands they make tryal if their flesh be mortified or no And when by such pleasure they find any carnal motions they separat themselves from one another fast and disciplin themselves with the greatest severity And when they have brought their flesh to such
he would keep him in prison during his life The poor Page to receive good and to escape punishment did shew him the Letters which his Mistcesse had wrote unto the Preacher whereat her Husband was as much astonished and grieved as he was before assured of her loyalty having never before received the least discontent from her But he who was wise did dissemble his choler and to know the farther intentions of his Wife did return an answer by writing to her Letter as if the Preacher had thanked her for her good will and declared to her that he for his own part did bear as much true affection unto her The Page having sworn unto his Master to carry on this businesse with all silence and discretion did return unto his Mistresse to whom he delived that counterfeit Letter whereat she was surprized with so much joy that her Husband did easily perceive it by the change of her countenance for instead of contrition and making her self lean with abstinence she did look more fresh more fair and more lovely than before that Lent did begin It was now middle-lent yet this Lady neither for the holiness of the season nor the approach of the Passion did alter her accustomed manner but continued by Letters to declare unto the Preacher her furious fantasie and it seemed to her poor Lady that when he turned his eyes on that side where she sat it was only to look on her and as often as he did speak of the love of God she did apply it to herself and thought in her interpretation of it that it was spoken altogether for the love of her and as much as her eyes could shew what she thought she spared not to return in glances to him her Husband in his Letter failed not to send her like answers After Easter was passed he did write unto her in the name of the Preacher and did intreat her to instruct him what means he should use to come unto her She who thought every hour a year until she had returned an answer to that Letter did counsell her Husband to take a journey into the Country to survay some lands which he had there which he promised her to doe and concealed himself in the house of one of his friends The Lady failed not to write unto the Preacher on what hour he might have his opportunity to come and see her for her Husband was gone forth The Gentleman desiring to make trial of the love of his Wife even to the last did repair unto the Preacher and for the honour of God desired him that he would be pleased to lend him his habit The Preacher who was a very righteous man did assure him that it was against the Rules of their order and that he would not for any thing lend it to have it brought upon the Stage The Gentleman did protest unto him that he would only use it for his own pleasure and in a businesse that was necessary for the good both of Soul and Body The Frier knowing him to be an honest man and fearing God did lend it to him and with this habit which covered the greatest part of his face insomuch that she could not see his eyes he took a false beard and a false nose and near in resemblance to the Preachers and he did put a Rise into his shooes that he might be just of his height Thus habited he did come in the Evening into the Chamber of his Wife who did attend him with great devotion and poor Gentlewoman could not forbeat till he came to her but as a Woman out of her senses she did run to meet him and embraced him He who held his head down into his bosome for fear of being discovered did begin to make the sign of the crosse and to fly from her and to cry out aloud Temptation Temptation The Lady said unto him alas my dear Father you have reason for it for there is no more violent temptation than that which doth proceed from Love to which you have promised to give me a remedy beseeching you that now having time and leisure you will have pity on me and speaking those words she did enforce her self to embrace him but he running from her round about the Chamber and making many and great signs of the Crosse did continually cry out Temptation Temptation but perceiving that she came up close unto him and to examine some where about him too familiarly he took a good cudgel which he did carry under his mantle and did give her so many and such effectuall blowes that he made her to forsake and forget the Temptation and being not discovered by her he repaired immediately to the Preacher and restored him his habit assuring him that he had received an especial favour by it The next morning pretending that he had returned from a long Journey he came into his house where he found his Wife sick in bed and as if he was ignorant of what had passed he enquired of her the cause of her disease She made answer that it was a cold she had taken which was so violent upon her that she could not stir either hand or foot Her Husband who had a good desire to laugh did pretend to be extremely sorry and to administer some comfort to her did acquaint her that on that Evening he had invited the holy man the Preacher unto Supper She immediately made answer far be it from you Sweet-heart to invite any of that Tribe for they do bring ill luck with them into all the houses wheresoever they doe come How my dear Sweet-heart said her Husband have you so much praised this man unto me and doe you make no more reckoning of him As for my own part I doe verily believe that if there be a holy man in the world it is verily he His Wife made answer to him they are good in the Church and in their Pulpits but in our houses they are very Anti-christs I must beseech you Sir if he doth come that I may not see him for it will be enough with the sicknesse that already I have on me to kill me outright Her Husband said unto her because you have no mind unto it you shall not see him and therefore he shall sup with me in the Parlor She made answer to him doe what you please but I pray let not me see him for in my own house I doe hate such people as I hate the Devil Her Husband after he had supped with his Ghostly Father did say unto him My Father I doe esteem you to be so beloved of God that he will deny you no just Petition I do beseech you therefore to have pity on my poor Wife who for these eight days hath been possessed with an evil spirit insomuch that she biteth and scratcheth all the World there is neither crossing nor holy-water of which she maketh any reckoning at all I do believe that if you shall but put your hand upon her that the
History but to Parlament only but if they had not I should have given it her before any other because from her we do always learn something that is both gratefull and remarkable Since I must put an end to the discourse of this Afternoon said Parlament and that I promised yesterday to give you the reason wherefore the Father of Rolandine did build that Castle in the Forest where so long a time he did keep her a prisoner I will in this place give you an Account thereof The Excellent Relation of a Lord who caused his Brother-in-law to be put to death not knowing the nearness of the Allyance The tenth Novell THe Lord who was the Father of Rolandine had many Sisters some whereof were married very richly others of them were Religious Votaries and one of them who lived in his own house was beyond comparison more beautifull than the rest Her Brother did love her so intirely that he preferred her above his Wife and Children She was demanded in Marriage by many gallant personages but because he would not have her removed from him or peradventure because he loved his wealth too well he would not seem to understand it which was the Cause that she lived the greatest part of her age unmarried leading a most virtuous life in her Brothers House in which there was bred up with her a gallant young Gentleman who as he increased in age so he increased in beauty and was so esteemed for his virtue that he governed all things in his Masters house insomuch that when he desired his Sister to doe any thing he imployed this Gentleman to deliver his mind unto her This authority was the occasion of a great familiarity which by sending him both early and late unto her was by their dayly frequentation much increased But the young Lady fearing her Honour and the Gentleman his life if he should offend his Master they received no other pleasure by their love but only the content to converse together At the last her Brother told her how much he was obliged to this young Guntleman who was in the same house with her and that he never saw any man whom he desired more to his Brother in law than this Gentleman He so often expressed these words unto her that she having communicated them to this Gentleman they presumed that if they should marry he would give them an easie pardon And Love which willingly believeth that which it desireth did prompt them to conceive that if they should marry nothing but good would come of it In this assurance therefore they did conclude and accomplish their marriage there being no man that knew of it but the Priest only and some few Women And having lived certain years in that pleasure which a married man and woman ought mutually to enjoy as being the most accomplished couple at that time and the truest Lovers that were in Cristendom Fortune envying to behold two persons to live in so great a happinesse would not vouchsafe to grant a continuance to it but stirred up an Enemy to them who observing this Lady did take notice of her great happinesse not knowing of her marriage Whereupon she came unto her Brother and informed him that this Gentleman in whom he reposed so great a trust had recourse too often to his Sister in her Chamber and in such hours when entrance ought not to be admitted This report was not believed the first time so much he trusted to his Sister and this Gentleman but the woman brought in against them so many informations pretending that it was for the honour she did bear unto his house that he so narowly did watch them that these two parties thinking no ill were surprized fast asleep in one anothers Arms. Her Brother having one Evening received advertisement that the Gentleman was gone into his Sisters Chamber he immediatly repaired thither and found them both blinded with love and asleep together The indignation which possessed him at the sight thereof did take away the utterance of his words and drawing his sword he did run after the Gentleman to kill him but he being very nimble of body did fly away in his shirt and being not able to escape out of the door did leap out of the window into the Garden The poor Lady his Sister being in her smock did on both her knees kneel down to her Brother and said unto him Sir Save the life of my Husband for I am espoused to him and if he hath offended punish me only for what he hath done hath been at my request Her Brother being outragious made no answer at all but only said And if he were your Husband a hundred thousand times yet will I punish him as an unfaithfull Servant who hath both deceived and disgraced me And speaking those words he did put his head out of the Window and commanded aloud that they should kill him without mercy which was suddenly put in execution before his own eyes and his Sisters who beholding this lamentable spectacle which no prayers of hers could remedy did talk unto her Brother as a woman out of her senses Brother said she I have neither Father nor Mother alive and I am at that age that I may marry whom I will at my own pleasure I have chosen that Gentleman concerning whom you your self have oftentimes spoke unto me and assured me that it was your desire that I should marry him and for my obedience to your Counsel although for what I have done I could justifie my self by Law without you you have killed that Man whom you your self loved the best in all the world Since it is so that my prayers could not preserve him from Death I do beseech you by all the love that you have born unto me that at this present you will make me the Companion of his Death as I have been in the fortunes of his Life Doing this you shall both satisfie your cruel and most unjust choler and give rest unto her Soul and Body who neither can nor will live without him Her Brother notwithstanding he was so transported that he had even lost all Reason yet he was touched with such a compassion at his Sisters words that without granting or denying her Request he did leave her alone to her self and having considered what he had done and understood in earnest that the Gentleman had married his Sister he wished with all his heart that he had never committed so rash a deed and he was possessed with so strong a fear that his Sister would demand either Justice or Vengeance that he caused a great Castle to be builded in the midst of a Forest into which he did put her and did forbid that any one should speak unto her Some years afterwards to satisfie his Conscience he did assay to gain her and did imploy some persons of trust to commune with her concerning a second Marriage but she sent him word That he had given her already so bad a Dinner
that she would have no Supper of such Viands again and that she resolved to live in such a manner that he should not be the Butcher of her second Husband for she could hardly be induced to believe that he would pardon another having shewed himself so mercilesse to him whom he loved best in the world And although she was but weak and unable to revenge her own Cause yet her Hope was in HIM who is the true Judge and who will suffer no Sin to passe unpunished to whose only love she would devote her self during her life in that Hermitage which she did accordingly for she never departed thence until the day of her Death untill her Soul departed from her Body living with such patience and austerity that after her Death every one did run thither as to the Seat of a Saint and so great a Ruine did fall upon her Brothers House that of six Sons which he had not one remained alive but all of them dyed most miserably and in the end the Inheritance was devolved as you heard in my other Account upon his Daughter Rolâ—ndine who succeeded in the Prison which was made for her Aunt Ladies I pray to God that this Example may be prefitable to you that none of you may have a desire to marry for your own pleasure without the consent of those â—o whom you do ow obedience for Marriage is an Estate of so long a Continuance that it ought not lightly to be undertaken nor without the Consent of our best Friends and Kinred And it cannot at the best be so well managed but it will undoubtedly bring with iâ— as much pain as pleasure In good faith said Oysilla if there were neither God nor Law to teach fools to be wise this Example is sufficient enough to instruct them to bear more reverence to their Parents and Kinred than to marry at their own pleasure Madam It is so said Nomerfide that she who hath one good day in a year is not unfortunate throughout all her life She had a long time the pleasure to see and to discourse with him whom she loved better than she loved her self and after that she had the delight of the Marriage-bed without any trouble or remorse of Conscience And I esteem that Contentment to be so great that it seems to me it doth exceed the sorrow it brought with it You will say then said Saffredant that Women do receive more pleasures to ly with their Husbands than they do receive grief to to see them killed before their eyes That is not my in tention said Nomerfide for I should then speak against the Experience which I have of married Women but I conceive that so great and extraordinary a pleasure as to marry that man whom we love best in the world is more greatly to be esteemed than to lose him by death which is a common calamity So it is said Guebron if it were by a natural death but this here spoken of was too cruel for it is very strange to me seeing this Signior was neither her Father nor her Husband but her Brother only and moreover that she was of full age and that the Laws doe permit the Daughters to marry whom they please how he durst execute such a cruelty I do find it not strange at all said Hircan for he killed not his Sister whom so perfectly he did love but the young Gentleman whom he cherished and brought up as his own Son and loved as his own Brother and having preferred him and inriched him in his Service the Gentleman ought to have been content and not to have sought his Sister in marriage which nothing at all did pertain unto him The Honour and pleasure said Nomerfide is not usual for a Gentleman who is but a Servant to marry a Lady of so great a Family And if the death be strange the pleasure must be new also and so much the greater that it hath the opinion of all wise men to affirm it and the contentment of a heart full of love to aid it and the repose of the Soul to attend it which is a quiet Conscience seeing God is not offended with it And as for that death which you say was cruel it seems to me that it being inevitable the speediest death is the best for we all know that of necessity we must passe through Nature to eternity And I esteem them most happy who stay not any long time in the Suburbs and from the felicity which only in this world can be so called do in an instaet fly unto that which is eternal What do you call the Suburbs of death said Simontault Those said Nomerfide who have had many tribulations in Spirit those who have been a long time sick those who by the extremity of corporal or Spiritual griefs are come so far as to despise death and to complain that their last hour comes too slowly These are they who have already passed through the Suburbs of Death and have lodged in those Inns in which there is more noise than rest It was impossible but that this Lady must lose her Husband by death but in losing him by the choler of her Brother being exempted from seeing him sick or bedrid and exchanging the joy she had to be with him into the love and the service of God she might well call her self happy Do you make no reckoning said Longaren of the disgrace which she received and of her tedious imprisonment I do believe said Nomerfide that a Man or Woman who absolutely doe love according to the Commandment of God do know neither shame nor dishonour but when they alter or diminish from the perfection of their love for the glory to love truly doth not know nor is it capable of disgrace And as for the imprisonment of the Body I do believe this Lady had such an inlargement of her Soul which was united to God and to her Husband that she was hardly sensible where she was but esteemed her solitude to be the greatest liberty for they who cannot behold that which they love have no other happinesse but incessantly to think upon iâ— And that confinement is never streight where the Soul is free and the thoughts can exercise themselves at their own preasure There is nothing more true said Simontault than that which Nomerfide doth declare but he who by his fury made that separation may truly be called guilty and unhappy for he at one and the same time offended both God and Love and Honour In good earnest said Guebron I do much wonder at the different loves of women and do well observe that those who have the most love have the most virtue and that those who have the least do indeavour by dissimulation to counterfeit themselves to be virtuous It is true said Parlament that a Heart honest to God and Men doth love more sincerely than that which is vicious for it feareth not that we may sound the depth of its intention I have
you an Account of one concerning whom I my self may serve for Witnesse and I have often heard it affirmed that how much the more that Virtue in a weak and seeble subject is assaulâ—ed by a strong and powerful Contrary by so much she is the more admirable and doth shew her self more clearly to be such as indeed she is for it is no wonder at all that the strong Man doth defend himself from the strong but that the feeble hath the Victory is the greatest glory in the world To understand aright the persons of whom I am to speak I shall peradventure do some little wrong to the truth as also that I shall cloath their story in so poor a Dresse that none will regard it Howsoever the Accomplishments of the young Maid by whom such worthy things were done do inforce me to declare them The Continence of a young Maid against the obstinate and amorous Sute of one of the greatest Lords of France and the happy Successe which the Damsell did obtain The second Novel IN one of the greatest Towns of Tourain there did dwell a Lord of a great and honourable house who had there his education from his Infancy I will make no mention in this place of the perfections the grace and beauty and the great virtues of this young Prince I shall only exhibite to you that France had not his equal Being at fifteen years of age he took more pleasure to ride and to hunt than to behold the beauties of Ladies One day when he was at Church he fixed his eyes upon a young Maid who in her Infancy had been brought up in the Castle where he lived and after the death of her Mother her Father did remove to another place whereupon she did goe to Poictou with her Brother This Maid whose name was Frances had a Bastard Sister whom her Father loved very well and married her to the chief Butler of this young Prince who did esteem as well of her as of any in his House The Father died and left unto Frances for her portion all the demeans and houses which he had in this great Town Wherefore after her Fathers death she removed from Poictou unto this place where her Estate was and because she was but 16 years of age unmarried she would not live alone in her own house but agreed for her bord with her Sister who was the Butlers Wife The young Prince observing this Maid to be very lovely being of a brown hair but of a clear complexion and having a carriage that did transcend her Estate for she seemed rather a Princesse than the Daughter of a Citizen he a long time with a stedfast eye did look upon her and being never in love before did find in his heart an unaccustomed heat and retiring into his Chamber he did enquire after her whom he saw in the Church and remembred that it was she who in her infancy was accustomed to come unto the Castle to play with his Sister and acquainted his Sister with it His Sister did send for her and made her very welcom desiring her that she would take the pains to come often to her which she did as often as there were any Marriages or publick Meetings where the young Prince would behold her with such a greedy eye that he did begin to love her intirely and because he knew shew was but of mean parentage he hoped easily to obtain that which he desired but having not the means to speak unto her he sent unto her a Gentleman of his Chamber to sollicite her for him But she who was as wife as she was young and feared God did allege unto him that she could not believe that his Master who was so gallant and so accomplished a Prince would so undervalue himself as to look upon a Creature so imperfect as her self especially seeing in the Castle where he had his residence there were so many great and beautiful Ladies she therefore conceived that what he did speak was from himself and not from the commandment of his Master When the young Prince had understood this answer Love which always doth grow more strong where it finds most resistance did make him more hotly to pursue his enterprise Whereupon he did write a Letter to her desiring her that she would believe that whatsoever this Messenger did say unto her did proceed from himself She who very well could both read write did read the Letter all over to which whatsoever entreaty the Gentleman did make she would return no answer at all affirming that it did not belong to a Person of so base a condition as her self to write unto such a Prince as he was but did beseech him not to suppose her so weak as to believe that he had so good an opinion of her as to bear any love unto her and if he thought by reason of her poor estate to have her at hs pleasure he did much deceive himself for she had as honest a heart as the greatest Princesse in Christendom and esteemed no treasure in the World comparable to her Honour and her Conscience She humbly besought him that he would not hinder her to preserve that treasure for should she die she would never alter her resolution The young Prince did not find this answer to be agreeable unto him neverthelesse he continued passionately to love her and failed not every day to be present at the Masse in that Church to which she repaired and all the while that Masse was saying he perpetually addressed the Devotion of his eyes to that fair image which when she perceived she changed her place and repaired to another Church not to avoid the sight of him for she had not been a reasonable creature if she had not taken pleasure to look upon him but she was afraid to be seen by him for since she conceived her self not worthy to be beloved by him in the way of Honour and Marriage she would not that it should be by the way of folly and of pleasure and whenever she saw any place in the Church where she might seat her self the Prince would fit as close by her as possibly he could which made her to goe from Church to Church to hear Masse dayly and to the furthest Churches that possibly she could and when any great marriages were solemnized at the Castle she did forbear to be present at them and although the Sister of the Prince did invite her she would always excuse her self by some indisposition or other The Prince perceiving that he could not have that accesse nor speak unto her as he desired did aid himself by his Butler and promised him many great rewards if he would assist him in this affair The Butler did promise to doe the utmost of his indeavour as well to please his Master as for the profit which he hoped to receive from him and every day he did give an account unto the Prince of what she both said and did and
to Toby to procure an accomplished Husband for your Daughter for I dare assure you that I have now in hand one of the most honest young Gentlemen in all Italy who hath somewhere seen your Daughter and is so much taken with her that this day being in Prayer God did send him to me and of his own accord he declared unto me the passionate desire he had unto this marriage I who doe well know his Family and his Kinred and what is the conversation of his own life did promise him to acquaint you with it True it is there is one inconvenience in it and it is all which I doe know that ingaging himself to assist one of his friends whom another would have killed he did draw his Sword thinking to part them but it so fell out that his friend did kill his Enemy wherefore he although he did strike no blow at all was constrained to fly out of the Town because he was present at the Man-slaughter and by the counsel of his Parents he is come to this Town in the Habit of a Scholar where he doth live unknown until his Parents doe give satisfaction unto Justice which he hopeth will be in a very few days For this cause the marriage ought to be as private as possibly you can and you must be content to have him goe every day to the publick Lectures and every night he may come home to Supper and lie in your house The Lady being over-joyed did say unto him Sir in that which you speak I doe find a great advantage for by this means I shall have him near unto me and every night in my house which I desire above any thing in the world To accomplish this the Frier brought him to her in a very good Habit having on a Crimzen Satten doublet at which she was very glad After he was come the preparations for the Wedding immediatly began and when ever the midnight was passed Masse was said and the young couple were married and afterwards did goe to bed together About the break of day the Bridegroom said unto the Bride that because he must not be missing at the Lecture he was constrained to goe unto the College and having put on his doublet of Crimson Satten and his Scholars Gown not forgetting his square Cap he came to bid his Bride good morrow who was in bed and assured her that in the Evening he would come to Supper to her but at dinner he desired her that she would not expect him and so having kissed her he took his leave of his Wife who thought her self to be the happiest Woman in the World having got so good a Husband And the young married Frier returned to his old Father to whom he brought the two thousand Duckets accordingly as they had covenanted between themselves at the agreement of the mariage and at Evening he failed not to return to Supper unto her who did believe he was her Husband who preserved himself so well in hers and her Mâ—thers love that they would not have changed him for the greatest Prince in the World This life continued a certain time but as God hath pity on those who out of the simplicity of a good intent are deceived it so fell out that one morning this young Gentlewoman and her Mother had a great Devotion to hear Masse at the Covent of St Francis and to give a visit to their Father the Confessor by whose means they were so well provided the one with a Son-in-law and the other with an Husband and by fortune not finding their Confessor nor any other of their acquaintance they were resolved to hear high Masse which was then beginning expecting the coming of their Confessor The young Gentlewoman being attentive to the Divine Service and the Mysteries therein contained when the Priest turned towards the common people to say Dominus Vobiscum was struck with a sudden amazement for she thought with her self that it was her Husband or one very like him but she would not speak one word but attended until he turned once more towards them when she looked upon him more advisedly with the sharpest discretion of her eye and she did then assure her self that it was he wherefore she took her Mother by the Arm who was in a great contemplation and said unto her Woe is me Madam Who is that whom I see yonder Her Mother being startled at it said Who She replyed unto her it is my own Husband who says Masse it is impossible that any one in the world should so much resemble him Her Mother who had not well observed him did say unto her Daughter I pray you suffer not such a thought to invade your fancy for it is a thing absolutely impossible that those who are religious and holy men should be guilty of such a trompery you doe greatly Sin against God to believe such an opinion Neverthelesse her Mother did more stedfastly fasten her eyes upon him And when he turned again to say Ite Missa est she confessed that truly never two Brothers that came out of one Belly were more like for all this she was so innocent that lifting up her eyes she said My God assist me that I may not believe what I see but because it so much concerned her Daughter she determined to examin the businesse further and to be resolved in her self of the truth thereof When the Evening came her Husband who did not see them at Masse did return according to his Custom and the Mother coming to the Daughter said unto her We may now know the truth if you will whether he who said Masse be your Husband or no For as soon as he shall be in bed I will come to you and he not thinking of it you shall pluck his Cap from off his head and we shall both see if he hath such a Crown as he had who said Masse this day This resolution being taken was accordingly put in execution for as soon as the ungracious Husband was in bed the old Woman came into the Chamher and taking him by both his hands as it were in sport her Daugher pulled off his Cap and beheld his shaven Crown whereat they were so much astonished that it is impossible to be more And immediatly they called their Servants who did take him and bind him until it were morning the many excuses and the fair words he made being all in vain The morning appearing the Lady sent to seek her Confessor pretending that she had a great Secret to impart to him who immediatly did come unto her and she caused him to be taken and bound as was the younger Frier reproaching them for the horrible abuse they had committed And presently afterwards she delivered them unto Justice into whose hands she did commit them both where you may judge if any of understanding be present to judge that they did not goe unpunished Here Ladies by demonstration you may find that all those who do vow poverty