of whom we rose from the table and after a little ordinary courtesie leauing euery one to his friend or his Mistrisse I with my mistris tooke a turne in the garden where in very much kindnes we fell to this conference Seruant quoth my Mistris to feed you with vaine hopes might argue much indiscretion in my cariage so breed som tuch in my reputation and not to regard your worthines might be a disgrace to mine vnderstanding therfore if you can conceiue me right you shal do your self no wrong mistris qd I far be it from my good to wish your hurt do with me what you wil for I am but as you wil your direction shall be my course in the due care of your commademeÌ„t my hopes cannot be vain that feed on the honor of your vertue in your regard of my vnworthines shall be the height of my worlds happines well seruant I will now altar your Title for you haue made a conquest of your Mistris and therefore must now be called my master therfore now master since your seruant hath no doubt of your honorable emploiment let me see to what good office you will preferre the care of my seruice oh Mistris quoth I I can not so soone forget my duetie but yet to satisfie your will I will thus far take your fauour that since you will bee at my commaund I command you the office of a most kind and true friend that you will in your loue commaund my life in your wisedome aduise my will and so frame my affection to your discretion that my heart beeing in your hands you may worke it to your pleasure and therefore since the effecting of my felicity resteth onlie in your fauour in the title of a friend carie all things to your contentment wel seruant quoth she in your humblenes I see such noblenes that were I a Princesse you should be no beggar but as I am let this suffice for thy comfort That I haue often seen thee desired to know thee heard well of thee and now haue seene that in thee that wherein I can honour thee bee sure I wil not faile thee and in token of that trueth that shall neuer deceiue thee with the loue of my heart my hand heere I giue thee but to bleare the eies of aduersaries to our fortunes if discontentments should be taken let vs go in as friends and remaine louers it shall not be long before you shall heare of me to your comfort with this speeche being rauished as one founding in delight as a full hart could speake I made her this answer to your hand I giue my heart with a more happy then worthie hand your sight of me was my blisse your speeche to me my comfort your regard of me my honour and your fauor my felicitie but for your loue what a ioie it is to my life I shall leaue it to your better iudgement then my speeche and therefore if I passe a point of your direction let me lose the dial of my comfort With which words we went in and seeming more strange then before after manie pleasing passages among the merrie company the next daye bâ—â—ing the breaking vpp of the feast till the next time of our meeting wee tooke a kind of strange leaue eache one of other Ar. But tell me what followed now she was Lady of thy hart how camest thou to be Lord of her house or what was the issue of thy fortune Tid Good I assure you but yet came news of as you shall heare within few daies after my comming home to my lodging where I laie in a Citie not far distante from her habitation which I had before acquainted her with sodenlie in a morning comes a letter vnto me by a footman brought me from my Mistrisse the superscription wherof was this To my assured louing friend Tidero with speed The contents whereof were in brief as followeth As a friend I request you as a Seruant I command you and as a Master I entreate you without answer of excuse presently to make your appearaÌ„ce at my house there to vnderstand what shall happen much is conceiued by a little in which I rest Yours as you know Lamina I thanked the messenger and with as much speede as I could returned him with this answer To my best and onely beloued friende the Lady Lamina FAir Mistrisse kind seruant and deere friend excuse shall be abuse where there is possibilitie of performance If I could flie I woulde vse wings for wordes in the assuraunce of my happines ioyful of what shal happen so til I come comming I rest in the loue a seruant your kinde master and euer bounden friende Tidero This letter was no sooner sealed vp and sent awaie but I hasted all I could to be at the heeles of it ere it came at home but it was receiued perused and tricks Inuented and put in practise and all erâ—l coulde come there where with such attendants as I thought fit I was entertained at the gate with a young damsell very beautiful ritchlie attired and Eloquently spoken who after the passage of ordinarie curteous demeanour leading me along a base Court into a Gardame and so a gallary fell by the waie to court me with these wordes Sir my cosen the Ladie of this house hath this daie performed a kind part with me I praye you pardon me if in the passion of Loue I passe the care of modesty Shee hath but supplied my place and for mee hath pleaded in your affectioÌ„ she hath told me of your worthynes and I hope hath made you hers whom before you knew her was wholly yours I know you wise and honourable and therefore hope you will no lesse conceale my disgrace then deuise my comforte Shee is gon from hence and left me heere for that purpose what you see howse land or wealth whatsoeuer is at my will and in your will at my commaund be pleased therefore I beseech you with my suite and work not my ruine in youre deniall for in the one you maie haue both a seruaÌ„t and a friend in the other a stranger and an Enemie Lady quoth I if I could be false to fauour but faith feares no fortune my resolution beeing setled in the fixing of affection I will rather haue patience with the vnkindnes of a friend then deserue the rage of an enemy It is nether house laÌ„d nor wealth that can corrupt me beauty nor words that can bewich me nor the threats of fortune that can affright mee Lamia is the day light of my loue let the starrs giue their light where they list to her haue I auowed my seruice and in her loue will I run the course of my life this one honor for her sake I will doe you bury your words in obliuion and take leaue to returne to my discomforte no quoth the Lady that must not bee here is nothing intended you but pleasure and therefore feare nothing may befall you
your horses are stabled your seruants shall be merry and their Master not malcontent returne you must not till you heare from your Mistrisse for such was her commaund and therefore I pray you haue patience my mistrisse apparelled like a young man but with a Periwigge and a false Bearde comes vppon the soddaine as wee were entering into the greate Chamber and presentes mee with a Letter from my Mistrisse the superscription in this manner To my trusty seruant my louing Master and approoued friend Tidero with speede pardon mee to perswade you to that may perhappes displease you to lacke my presence for your better benefite for I leaue you a hearte that deerelie loues you and a hand of honour I saie that in her fauoure maie grace you shee is another and not my selfe beleeue her trust her and Loue her and I will thanke you for her for her seruant is my friend consider of these contents and in her command make my contentment so till I see you which shall be I know not when in hope of your kindnes to my friend I will rest euer Your very louing friend Lamia This Letter when I had read and knew it to bee her hand what tricke soeuer was in her head I presently tooke a pen and inke and returned the messenger with this answer To my gratious Mistris my louing seruant and faithfull friend the Lady Lamia with speede LAdy is it the part of a friend to perswade falshood in Loue your presence is the Sun of my daylight your absence the darknes of delight I seeke no benefite but your loue nor can loue other then your only selfe disgrace be all worlds grace but in your eies nor will I honour a heart but in your hands your self vvithout an other I serue and you only and no other can I loue and therefore hovvsoeuer you account of a friend I vvill neuer be false to my affection so till I see you vvhich if it be neuer yet vvhile you liue vvill I loue you euer and so rest Your faithfull friend Tidero This letter sealed deliuered avvay goes the messenger vvhispering vvith the yong Lady a vvord or two to entertain me with a little talke till shee were gotten in and new attired which was not long a dooing for by the time that we had heard a little musique of a prettie lad that did plaie vpon a base violl and sing to it the song was scarce ended but in comes my loue my Mistrisse attired like a horse woman that had bin new dismounted and with a prety smile after shee had saluted many at last comes to me with what Friend in truth you are welcom did you not receiue a letter from me yes good friend quoth I a couple In deed friend quoth she you are beholding to me for had it not bin discurtesie to bid a friende to dinner and not giue him entertainment I had not come againe so soone but if I had not com you should haue had no great cause to mislike of your company but I hope it is wel in trueth you are welcom you shall stay with me to night to morrow go as soon as you wil good friend quoth I I thank you you shall command a greater matter in my seruice So after a few complimēts we sate down to dinner where there wanted no part of comfort that might be found in Table kindnes as welcome caruing and drinking and so forth But after dinner was done Ar. Yea now you com to the matter that I long to heare of Tid I will tell you after the cloath was taken away my Mistris began to entertain the company vvith these vvords In generall hoh you are all vvelcome you that come from a feast can better beare vvith a lesse pittāce but vvhat lacks in meat let vs fill out in mirth and first quoth she to her Page Sirra take your viole and plaie and sing the song that was taught you of Loue which commanded was soon obeied and thus performed the Boy taking his instrument fell to play sing this ditty which I will recite vnto you for I got it out of his book Of all Conceites which is the best Loue. Yet what is that is thought a iest Loue. What thought is that giues smallest rest Loue. Yet in the end makes reason blest Loue. What wound is that is hardly healed Loue. What deed is that is surest sealed Loue. What thought is sweetest best concealed Loue. What comfort kindest best reuealed Loue. What word is sweetest to be heard Loue. What soundly made can not be mard Loue. What seruice merits most reward Loue. What grace is worthy most regard Loue. What Loue most constant in a friend Where Loue is louely without end Well said Boie quoth she now goe your waies to dinner Let vs alone and now my masters quoth she doe but imagine ye are at a Bridall and let vs bee as merrie as we were there let vs fall to some sport or other play maie be costlie musique we shall haue enough anon therefore let vs spend a little time in some pleasing exercise I will begin to you whereto euery one giuing a willing consent she began thus we haue been at yeas and noes griefes and ioies let vs now goe to Buts one propound another answer the Third giue the reason Beautie is a blessed hue 2 But 3 it workes manie cursed actions then another monie is a good thing 2 But 3 it brings many to miserie Again vertue is honourable 2 But 3 somtime she wants mony Againe Loue is pretious 2 But 3 if it be right Againe kindnesse is the ioye of loue 2 But 3 in constancy then qd I loue is the ioy of life 2 But quoth the second in a true friend quoth my Mistris Again patience is a vertue 2 But 3 a poor one another hope is comfortable 2 But 3 when it is happy Content is a kingdome 2 But 3 in conceite As we were going on with our Buts comes in a gallant youth wel accompanied and attended who as it afterwards fell out was a Suter to the young Lady that to trie my constancie came about me with a trick of loue or rather wit indeed to find out the trueth or falshood of a louer wherupon the company rose and after al obseruances of due compliments he with his yong Lady and I with my Mistris fell to such parlee as we thought best for our purpose he in the Parlour and wee in the garden where what followed you shall heare Ar. Good I doubt not Tid Good indeed and better to for after that we had walked a turne or two shee reuealing of her deuise to try the constancy of my affection tooke all thinges so well and requited them so kindly as honour could desire that Loue might enioye but by the waie among other talke I praie thee friend quoth Shee do me this kindnesse for to lend me your little Table book in your poeket for I did a little ouerlooke
sequestring my selfe from the woemen to chewe the cud of this kindnesse I fell or at lest was falen vpon by a young gallant in shewe but indeed a companion for a dogge rather then for any better condition Yet to bleer the eies of fools he could plaie the knoue with setting on the face of an honest man this youth in a basket with a face of Brasse vpon a little acquaintance for a little would serue his turne comes to me with this salutation by your leaue sir It seemes you are a straunger in these partes but if you can awaie with our countrie sports will you make one at bowles for a rubber or two we wil play no great game and yet would hee cheat for a shilling No good sir quoth I I thank you I am not acquainted with your groūd should but pul down a side therfore I pray you nowe pardon mee will you then sir quoth hee haue a reste at Primero or a game or two at tables it is the worst thing in the world to stand idle true sir quoth I but it is as good be Idle as ill exercised and to tell truth I am no gamster besides indeede vnder the shadowe of iesting I did not like he should iest awaie my mony Indeed Sir to saie the truth you do the better it is the worst spent mony at plaie that can bee for recreation among good company a little mony is not ill ventered but I pray you sir what news abroad hear you nothing from the Court nor from beyonde the Seas now I knowing his condition and desirous to bee ridde of his Company told him that I heard no late newes from the court but from beyonde the Seas I heard some letters read in which I saw no matter of Import but one I pray you sir quoth hee Rowsing vp his rascall humour in hope to hear of some matter for his purpose let me be holding to hear it for we in the Country liue so farre off from al good places that news com to vs like fishes neuer till it bee stale and and yet ther too are we glad of it why sir quoth I thus it is I read that there was a notable knaue vnder the shadow of a fool vsed to great mēs howses wher with a bold face railing vpon one to please an other he would abuse both and euer chiefly following the best cheere the deepest purses and shallowest wits thus somtime with a gull and otherwhile with a white pigeon one while with a Gander an other while with his grey goose it fell out that there was diuers mischiefes wrought by his villany The Chamber maid was poisoned in her sleep wherevpon shee fel into a timpany my young master lost much money at play and tales went betwixt friendes to set neighbours together by the Eares with theese and many other such Trickes this customer with all his confederates being founde one daie together aboute some wicked consultation were by a generall consent taken suddenly together whipte all out of the citty and banished the Country vpon pain of death neuer to returne Is it possible quoth hee strange newes in deede I thank you for it wel Sir you will not walke abroad I will leaue you for a while and com to you anon but I heard no more of him for that time Ar. It is no matter if you neuer hear more of him nor any of his condition for if there he one honest man of them he is out of the waie from al his companie but I praie thee tell me what became of the wench didst thou see her no more nether Tid Yes that I did I saw her I spake with her and with much adoe obtained fauor at her hand but if it might not be tedious I will tell you a little of the circumstance that passed betwixt vs ere we came to the chief pointe Ar. Which pointe was that the buske pointe or the gaskin pointe Tid Tush a pinne for those points our thoughtes were carried in a higher course of contentment I will tell yow shee was faire which made me not foolish she was kinde which made not me careles shee was wise which made not me wilfull and shee was vertuous which made not me vnhappy but while I thus commend her I saie nothing of our conference which was as I will tell you The next daie beeing fair many Ladies and gentlewomen willing to take the aire hand in hand euery one singling out his mistresse leading them along vpon a fayr green conuersing as they thought conuenient my selfe not willing to bee lefte alone and moste willing to haue so good a friende tooke out my Mistrisse by entreaty to take a little patience with my trouble with whome hauing trod a step or two I fel aboord with in this manner Sweet mistris though idle heads make a fiction of Cupid yet better Iudging heartes know that Loue can neuer bee blinded for the eies of Loue looking into the hearte of vertue sweare the seruice of Reason to the honour of Beautye Seruante quoth shee since you will needes haue it so Let mee tell you yet that there is no golde pure vntill it bee refined nor any ringe but it hath two endes till they bee both ioyned in one so faith is not knowne till it be prooued nor endlesse but in the knot of Loue But as it is a greate Arte to refine golde and no lesse cunning to caste it into a Ring so is it a greate proofe of Witte to find out the purenesse of faith and no lesse happinesse to make vse of it in Loue but as good mindes will euer construe good things vnto the best so for to doubte the worse is not amisse in the best meaning Lady quoth I a causelesse suspition breedes a needelesse iealousie and where all good is intended why shoulde any be misconstrued the refining of gold is in the fire and the sitting of the Ring in the hande so is the trying of faith in the care of affection but the knitting of Loue is in the content of the heart Where if feare bee a hinderaunce vnto happinesse reason must want a part of his perfection In deede quoth she hope is a prety humour but it is not alwayes followed with felicity but for that I would neither hide the Sunne in a cloude nor make daye light of Mooneshine I will leaue to your owne discretion to consider what is best to bee conceiued and for that all eyes are not in one head nor all thoughtes in one heart let mee intreate you to bee wise for your selfe and I shall bee the gladder of your vvell dooing Lady quoth I I shall do well in nothing but your gladnesse neyther shall I bee glad of any thing but in that you shall well allowe of for to be wise in your will shall stand the happinesse of my witt and to passe the course of your contentment shall bee the imperfection of my discretion and therefore let eies looke how they