the reputation of that to a certain Water he made which covered what he writ when he had a mind to it and being exposed to the rays of the Sun went away again it self and left the Character entire By the help of this Secret my Lord said the Astrologer I write down in my Book whatever I know of any persons Intrigues When I have done that I wash over what I have writ with the aforesaid Composition and then laying it in the Sun I make it appear according as it is necessary for my Fortune or Reputation But said the Prince then you but seldom hit right for it is impossible you should know all the Intrigues in the World My Lord replied the Astrologer I put so great a price upon the Predictions of my Book that the Common-people are not able to go so high it is only Soveraign Princes and Persons of eminent Quality can reach the recompence I require and for those of that Character their most secret Intrigues are known and so it is they come to think my knowledge infallible The Prince of Galicia was very much satisfied with the integrity of the Astrologer and inferring from his fidelity in this he might be trusted in greater matters he resolved to make use of him for the discovery of his passion to the Countess of Tholouse He gave him so magnificent a Present that he might promise himself the utmost of his assistance and passing from thence to the Countesses Appartment he was so fortunate as to find her alone He began his converse by the praise of the Astrologer protested he had told him such things as he could not have learnt but by Miracle and having understood by Elvira that she had not seen that Prodigy as yet he offered to attend her to him when she pleased to command Alas Sir replied the innocent Elvira I would willingly accept your offer but the King is so perswaded of the mans communication with the Devil that he hath injoyned me to the contrary How injoyned you Madam replied the Prince is it for a Person of your Quality to have any thing forbidden you were you a Child or had not the wit or discretion which is requisite at your age the King might use his Authority but for you Madam one of the most ingenious and prudent persons alive to be interdicted so indifferent a Curiosity believe me Madam you will deserve that usage if you endure it without regret and were it not but to instruct his Majesty in what manner you are to be treated I would perswade you to see this Astrologer and I do not doubt but to justifie your disobedience This discourse jumpt exceedingly with the vanity of Elvira she had desired a long time to be rid of Alphonso's Tuition and have the management of her own Affairs but she had a habit of awe upon her that hindred her from shaking off the yoke For some time she resisted the Princes Proposition He saw well enough she had a desire to be with him but she durst not follow her own inclinations Sometimes she said she had no faith for such kind of things sometimes that she had nothing upon her heart about which she needed to consult an Astrologer and as the last Argument of all she told him she did not know how far it might dissatisfie her Husband He was a passionate man and she durst not enterprise a thing of that importance without his permission Upon this Article Raymond de Burgogne began to show his Rhetorick He told Elvira that for her Husband to take cognizance of such particular actions was Tyranny that Persons of her Vertue and Quality were to be left to their own Conduct and proposing to her the Example of Vrraca whom he had left absolute Mistress both of her own actions and all his Estate he brought her at length to a resolution of seeing the Astrologer they agreed upon the next day The King and the Count being to give Audience to certain Deputies from Tholouse and that Ceremony being to take them up all that afternoon the Countess had full liberty to see the Astrologer without danger of surprize The bargain being made in this manner the Prince returned to his Chamber sent immediately for his Astrologer which we shall call Abdemelec and having received him with a long story and a thousand pretences of kindness to him he told him he had a design to put a Trick upon the Countess of Tholouse and he would intreat his assistance The Astrologer offered his service freely he had had too great experience of his liberality to neglect any occasion of receiving the fruits of it he wished with all his heart he was as necessary in all the Princes Affairs and never desired so much knowledge in his profession as at that time Raymond perceiving him so well disposed perswaded him that he would pretend Love to his Sister-in-law and guilded over his intention with whatever he thought might make it appear innocent He told him it was by agreement betwixt the Countess and he and that it was to be done upon a Wager Abdemelec understood very well what he had to suspect he had Judgment and Experience and had seldom observed a Person of any Parts enter upon a design without some end or other He promised the Prince therefore to discharge himself faithfully of his Trust he put one of his blank Books into his hands which the ignorant look upon as a Devil The Prince writ in it what he desired the Countess should find there and the Astrologer ingaging to remember the rest he left Raymond in great impatience of receiving the fruits of his contrivance The History doth not mention how he slept the night before this declaration was to be but I dare affirm not apprehend to be thought rash it was not without interruption The long wisht for hour being come Raymond fetcht Abdemelec to his Lodgings and carried him from thence to the Countesses Appartment they shut themselves all three up in her Closet and the Astrologer being Master of his Trade began to ask Elvira about her Nativity he examined her Physiognomy inquired after the principal accidents of her life and judging he had done enough to give her an advantagious impression of his skill he began to produce the Book the Prince of Galicia had told her of Elvira trembled as soon as she saw it she had endured the sight and examination of the Conjuror with very good courage but when he mentioned the Book of which she had heard so many Miracles and which Alphonso had assured her was no less than the body of Magick in little her resolution began to forsake her The Prince confirmed her as much as he could he shewed her the leaves of the Book in which there was no writing to be seen The Countess having turned them over the Astrologer took it out of her hand and going aside to the Window under pretence of looking out he laid his Book in the Sun and
apparition of his Love was in little confidences only as in discovering to her his thoughts and Characters of the great Lords in his Court. From these trifles he past higher and at length told her the secret of his Marriage and that he was Eleonor Husband only by name Bidaura was exceedingly surprised at a discourse so little understood She lookt earnestly upon the King as if by so doing she could discover the truth of what he said in his eyes and not perceiving any thing in his person but what seemed to accuse him of equivocating she ventured to tell him That he had bin abused and that what they had perswaded him was nothing but a Chimaera Alas replied the young King very sadly this Chimaera is too real for my repose one of the most famous Physicians of our Kingdom hath sworn it and Eleonor her self confirms me that it is true What advantage would it be to her to put such a fallacy upon me she would rather convince me if it were otherwise Bidaura ruminating upon what the King had told her desired to know the Physicians name who had perswaded him of that impotency and understanding it was a Castilian who she knew was entirely at the Queens disposal she stood still for some time as recollecting her memory when starting out on a sudden and clapping her hands together Courage Sir said she to the King you shall be cured very suddenly now the cause of your distemper is known After which words she fell into a discourse of the intimacy betwixt Eleonor and the Castillian Lord That all Castile believed they had been privately married and recollecting that the Physician which upon the Queens perswasion had put that Errour into the head of the King had all his life long been a Creature of Eleonors Gallant she represented to his Majesty how probably it was that this might be a design to preserve the Queen of Arragon to her secret Husband The King was much satisfied at the likelihood of what Bidaura had said and he would have given half his Kingdom to have been cured so well He went imme drately to Eleonor and charging her positively with what Bidaura but suspected supposing he had made some further discovery she confest is without much ado But it was with such strong protestations that she could use him no otherwise without violence to all Law both humane and divine and with such instant supplication that he would protect her against the indignation of her Nephew That the young Prince was so far from reproaching her for abusing his Credulity and small Experience that he commended her fidelity to her first Love and promised her protection In the mean time Bidaura began to add Ambition to her Love at first she aspired only to be his Mistress but finding the Queenship of Arragon vacant she fancied it might fall to her share to supply it She drest and made her self as lovely as possible she redoubled her diligence and Complacences and having brought the King to a Condition of making tryal of his recovery she knew so well how to keep her self within the bounds of Civility she put him upon the first motions of Matrimony The Marriage of Eleonor and the King was not quite nulled The truth is it had never been consummated and the Counsel of Arragon had sent to Castile and to Rome to press an absolute dissolution but Affairs betwixt Kings and Queens are not so easily dispatcht The passion of Eleonor for her Paramour might decline by degrees if ambition or solid reason should take the place of her Love it would have been more casie to break her pretended Marriage with her Castillian Lord than her publick Contract with the King of Arragon We may say then that Eleonor was the Wife of James till further Order from his Holiness But the King prest by Bidaura's Charms could not with patience believe those Formalities were to be prefer'd before the desires of his heart He married Bidaura privately and this Marriage being as blameable as it was unequal he made it in his Conditions that she should not discover it This Proposition was not at all pleasing to Theresia and she did what she could possibly to divert him but finding the King obstinate and inexorable she thought it good to be a Queen upon what terms soever it might be And these were some of the Articles agreed on betwixt themselves which perhaps may be of some use to the Reader if he be in the same predicament The Private Articles of their Marriage We who subscribe these Articles design As our Love is our Marriage Clandestine Next the word duty shall be laid aside No Sover aignty in Bridegroom or in Bride In case of difference both shall comply And neither be too humble nor too high If Husband sins the Woman must connive If she the man dispenses with the Wife All must be one one Love one lofe one joy And what does one must both of us destroy These Terms we marry on but reasons bid Conceal the Marriage and let it be hid With this severe condition ' cause good Wives Love tattling gen'rally as they love their lives If mine discovers 't is agreed by this The Marriage's void and farewel gentle Miss These Articles were observed very religiously by the King His private Marriage was every was as pleasant as his private Amours and pleasanter in this that there was no occasion for remorse and though his Marriage with Eleonor was solemnly dissolved and she left to be his Wife to whom she had been formerly ingaged yet Theresia de Bedaura could never obtain liberty of the King to appear publickly upon the Throne she had this satisfaction that it was not possest by another and she brought Children into the World who stood fair one day to govern the Kingdom of Arragon but for all this she could never work upon the Kings resolution He had been so much dissatisfied with his publick Marriage before that he could not be won to renounce the pleasure of his private Bidaura she had got the Ministers to her side and all the Religious in the Kingdom were her Sollicitors but the King answered them all with this Article If mine discovers 't is agreed by this The Marriage's void and farewel gentle Miss But we do ill to imploy so much leisure upon so barren a Story Our Chronology leads us insensibly to a far better History and it is time now to bring Love upon the Stage in better form than as yet it hath appeared THE ANNALS OF LOVE THE THIRD PART IT is the Universal Confession of the whole World that Constraint creates an appetite of Liberty we desire nothing so ardently as what is prohibited and yet some Husbands there are which cannot be cured of restraining their Wives The Italians be the Husbands in the World the most lyable to this kind of madness and are by consequence most subject to the ill Accidents which follow They tell stories of their revenge upon their
man being unwilling to be the Messenger of so unwelcome Intelligence At length an ancient Officer of the Counts more familiar with him somthing than the rest undertook the design he took â—is advantage one night staid in the Counts Chamâ—er when the rest were gone out and having premised some unprofitable morsels of Morality he desired Don Garcias to proceed no further in his Jourmey for said he it is not in the Road to Compostella your Lady is to be sought it is easie to be imagined whether the Count was surprised at that word He had often supposed that the convenience of this Pilgrimage might deliver the two Cousins from the scruple of Incest pretended but he could not believe the Countess could carry it on farther than some few false oaths of conjugal fidelity He questioned the old Domestick and the more questions he askt the more he was informed and yet not being able to convince himself of so incredible a thing he could not without great difficulty believe what he saw He dispatcht new Scouts upon the heels of the old he gave order for pursuing the Pilgrims not only where he judged they might possible be but in such places likewise where he was assured they were not These Hue and Crys confirmed him in what had been told him he received attestations from all the Inns where the devout Lovers had reposed betwixt Burgos and Bayonne and of the liberty they used Don Garcias understood so many particularities of their Travels that he doubted noâ— but he was a Cuckold That Title disquieted him more than any thing else it was an appellation he always reckoned amongst the most insupportable in the World But he must be patient in spight oâ— his teeth he was not the only man had practised that vertue for whilst he was making the best of a bad Market and meditating revenge suitable to his injury Cupid was taking care to provide him Companions that the fellow-feeling of one anothers calamities might be an alleviation to them all The Star that was so fatal to the Husband this year had not confined its influence to the Climate of Castile the cold as well as hot Countries felt the force of that Constellation Earl Ethelwold a Favourite to Edgar King of England had gained so far upon the affections of his Majesty that he governed both his Subjects and desires as absolutely as himself This King acted nothing but by his Counsels saw nothing but by his Eyes and as if he had been to love nothing but with his heart he intrusted him to go and view a young Lady called Alfreda Daughter and Heir to the Duke of Devonshire one of the greatest Lords in that Kingdom of whom he had heard so well that if his Favourite sound her as she was represented he resolved to make her his Wife Besides her Beauty her Fortune was so great it was no Policy in the King to commit the choice of her to Ethelwold The Duke of Devonshire had been the cause of great troubles during the Reign of the precedent King for which he was confined to his own Territory and that was the reason Alfreda had never appeared in the Court â—f England In this manner was this Favourite qualified with a Commission to furnish the King with a Wife and the Throne of England with a Queen This Conjuncture seemed very consonant with his designs he flattered the King in his desires â—f marrying Alfreda and though intending nothing less than that she should be his Queen the â—eparted with absolute power to conclude or break â—ff the Marriage as he judged convenient MAXIME I. He that with too much power imploys his Friend In Love Intrigues runs greater hazard far Example tells than he 's perhaps aware Vnbounded power whate're it may pretend But seldom answers the expected end For if by chance unfaithful one does prove And who will strive against his own desire His very trust provokes him to aspire He that can once for 's friend with freedom move Takes greater freedom and fr ' himself makes Love â—thelwold being arrived in Devon-shire and the priâ—ate Article of his Commission being the examination of her Beauty he resoved to see her before he â—â—ade any Proposals He pretended he had taken â—â—at Journey to set the Duke right once more with â—â—e Crown of England and this good office deserâ—ing all the Civility could be shewed him the Daughter was called down to bear a part in the acknowledgments Never did old Story speak of any Lady with so much advantage as the English Chronicle does of Alfreda the description made of her therein relishes more of Romance than veritable Narration and yet the effects her Beauty produced were so strange and so great they seem to justifie the Elogy they gave her The Count was dazled at the very first glance and this surprise was presently converted into a violent passion and that into a resolution never to put her into the arms of his Master He proceeded presently to a Treaty but it was for himself thereby teaching Posterity that in matters of Love they should never give their Agents so absolute a power as may tempt them to abuse it There being no person in the Court of England so great as Ethelwold the Duke of Devon-shire took the Proposition as a very great Honour and granted it without any demur so that all things being concluded and nothing wanting to consummate all but the Nuptial Benediction Ethelwold gave the Duke to understand that in duty he was obliged to let his Majesty know of it before under which pretence he took his leave of the Duke for some time and returned presently to Court where he gave Edgar a description of Alfreda quite contrary to what he had already conceived True it is Sir said the Count to the King Alfreda has all things about her requisite to the making a Lady handsom and yet with all those ingredients she is far from it her self She has an ill Meen which discredits her shape she has a red Lip but without any sweetness her Eyes are large grey and well set but she has a way of opening them which renders them abominable her looks are so childish and silly they take much from the excellence of her Complexion in short Sir the features and proportions of this Lady are not made for one another they are so hudled together their confusion spoils their retail and never was there person before the Duke of Devon-shires Daughter that had so much hard favourdness and so much Beauty together To this extravagant Character Ethelwold added certain pretended reasons of his own as that since the Duke of Devon-shire had been banisht the Court he had contracted great debts and ingaged a considerable part of his Country to the Earls and Dukes that were his Neighbours that he was odious to the English that his Journey into Devon-shire having given some Alarm and suspicion the people began already to declaim against the Match and in
she found it when she came in The Duke knowing the Emperours hand very well cryed out What by consent both in one day this is too much After which words he stood still for some time overcharged with reflections which thronged upon his Spirits and perhaps troubled he had said so much A Person of Honour cannot but blush to have confessed any overture of Love from a fair Lady let it be in what manner it will Insomuch that the Duke being conscious of the same practice from the Empress had no sooner let these words slip but he wisht they had been unspoken again but it was then too late to repent The Dutchess being quick and apprehensive what both and what consent do you mean Sir said she have you been sollicited by the Empress as I have been by the Emperour The Duke would fain have dissembled it and endeavoured to give his words another explication but perceiving the Dutchess could not be put off so and that by her silence she conceived an invincible suspicion in her soul which he would willingly have illuded he confessed the truth and told her that the Empress had indeed signified an affection for him I had said he some apprehensions of it before but a man of Honour ought not to believe his own sentiments in such an affair I observed she had great inclinations to my Company and Discourse and more than I thought could proceed from a simple Civility She looked upon me as I fancied like one that was in Love and she commended me above the rate of common respect but I had rather give esteem more than belongs to it then to grant that to Love which I knew was its due In this consideration I waited many times upon the Empress upon the least of her Commands and many times I prevented them and attended her without for I had a suspicion that by denying her passion indifferent compliance I might provoke it to demands more particular and considerable Upon this score it was I went to her Court this afternoon as I had done many times before I found her alone with her Daughters all of them imployed in stringing of Pearl By misfortune a rich Picture-case of a very great value fell out of the lap of one of the young Ladies as she was rising to salute me I ran presently to take it up and having presented it to her who let it fall I was making some Complement for the disorder I put them to But the Empress coming up to me and whispering me in the ear said Keep the Box my Lord your power is too great over the Original not to have the Copy at your absolute Command I opened the Case and I found what I expected the Picture of the Empress I pretended to understand her discourse no otherwise than as a tryal of my respect and presenting the Box with great reverence No no Madam said I do not suspect me of Sacriledge I am so Religious an observer of my duty that the very Copy of this Original is too sacred a thing for me Be not so modest replied the Empress and made signs to me follow her to the Window Sometimes it is more criminal to refuse favours that are offered than to force them where they are refused and then her passion having vanquisht all opposition the inconsiderate Princess told things so plain and her Eyes insinuated the rest that I could have wisht I had lost the exercise of my senses that I might not have been privy to a thing so derogatory to the Imperial Family The Dutchess of Modena heard her Husbands relation with a concernment that was visible in her face and looking upon him with tears in her Eyes Ah my Lord said she when he had done I see the Heavens do envy my Felicity I should have been to happy for a mortal Creature could I have loved you and been beloved by you without interruption but I was not born to so much good Fortune and the Empress has reason to disturb it In what is it that the disturbs it replied the Duke something hastily have I complied with her affection have I concealed it from you or do you find I love her better than you No Sir replied the Dutchess and I give you thanks that you have not but I fear what the Empresses Charms were not able to compass the ingratitude of the Emperour may possibly procure you lookt upon that Princess as the Wife of your Master and thought it your duty to the goodness of Otho to make a generous opposition to the infidelity of his Consort But alas now the case is alter'd and the same Otho become the greatest of your Enemies what is there left to secure your affection from a young Princess which loves you so entirely and is the first person of her Sex in the World Your Charms Madam replied the Duke interrupting her are so powerful and so rigorously adored by me that they will infallibly secure my faith for your self Rest you contented in that and do not imagine that my desire to be revenged of the Emperour obliges me to give him a pretence to take his vengeance on me The Empress would be too dear a purchase if I should gain her by the loss of you and you would have reason to rejoyce at your losses if I my self should shew you the way to repair them This excellent Pair satisfied one another so amply against all the suspicions that conjuncture represented That Cupid knowing well he should not have such opportunities every day to make his puissance known upon Lovers of their Character resolved to make this Example as famous as it was rare The Duke resisted the kindness of the Empress with so constant a firmness it lookt almost like contempt and the Dutchess received all the attapues of the Emperour with the same resolution but 't is dangerous sometimes to push things too far The Emperour made a Treat one day in a Garden of his not far from the Town upon the Bank of a River which runs by it was not long the Trees in it had been planted nad so gove not much shade but that defect was supplied by certain Arbours or Cabanes covered over with a sort of Leaves which put forth sooner than ordinary Part of the Cabanes were made into the form of a Labyrinth some were double some single and all of several fashious Into one of these Cabanes Otho had conducted the Dutchess of Modena and the Empress pretending her self weary was retired with the Duke who had the honour to lead her into another It is to be supposed that neither the one Lover nor the other would lose that convenience of complaining of their Destiny The Emperour begged and sighed and perhaps wept The Empress the more impetuous of the two when fair words would not do began to threaten revenge The coldness wherewith the Duke entertained the Empress was more intolerable than that with which the Dutchess received to Empress It is an Honour to
counterfeiting my self mightily jealous have a better care of your Love-Letters another time So here is one fell out of your Pocket in very good Company and it is not like a person of your discretion suffer such Letters as these to run up and down the World Nogaret blusht at the sight of that Letter but the Trick he had plaid supplied him readily with an excuse I 'le lay my life says he this is one of the Letters have been so slyly stollen into all the Pockets at Court and then opening it as he had never seen it before he read these words Yes Brave Sir I believe I may be beloved my Beauty is sufficient to convince me of that without other Arguments my Charms I am better acquainted with than you and therefore cannot but doubt whether one can love what he hath never seen As for you it is no extraordinary thing that I should love you I know who you are I see you undisguised every day but how can you tell but that which is concealed by my Mask may put you out of conceit again with all you have seen Women are the greatest Impostures in the World and perhaps in the same moment you love me so ardently without knowing me I may become the Person the most indifferent to you of all the Sex if you did know me Without dissembling Madam cryed Nogaret after he had read it this is a pleasant Letter and whether it be real or counterfeit the Person who writ it hath a great deal of Wit I had like to have burst out a laughing at Nogarets Character but not being as yet weary of so pretty a Divertisement I forced my self and replied without any emotion What is it you see so extraordinary in this Letter What is it do you ask replied my Husband why is it all Madam the sense the model the expression the neatness of the thoughts Certainly said I with as much eagerness as he I see nothing in it but very common I do not pretend to be an excellent Secretary yet I dare lay a Wager I will write as well as that when I please Nogaret lookt upon me with a disdain had like to have put me out of Countenance and lifting up his eyes and shoulders as if he pitied my vanity he judged it so idle that I had said he vouchsafed me not an Answer He went forth immediately without speaking a word in quest of his dear Colonna to give him an account of what had past I had many of these Regales from him while the Carnaval lasted but that growing near to an end Nogaret pressing daily for some ease of his Martyrdom as he called it I resolved to put an end to this Comedy and give him a sight of me I appointed him a meeting at a Country-house about a League out of the City where I told him I had got leave of my Husband to retire for some days He had like to have dyed with Joy at the News he gript my hand with so great transportation he forgot he hurt me and from the night in which I gave him that assignation to the day he was to meet he took so little rest I began to pity him He was in a perpetual trouble changed his place every quarter of an hour and I understood by his Servants he slept not a wink but at length the desired day arrived Nogaret by agreement was not to come to the Rendez-vous till after Sun-set and yet he came into my Chamber in the morning before day ready drest I pretended to admire his diligence and askt him what might be the cause He told me he was to receive an Order from the King to be executed by him and that in expectation of that he was to be ready all day This invention made me smile and being willing to put my Prevaricator to it as much as I could I askt him Will this Order hinder you from supping to night with a certain Friend of ours to whose House I have ingaged to bring you along with me Yes doubtless replied Nogaret a little hastily it will hinder me for perhaps it will be night before I can execute it Alas said I and how comes it to pass you dress your self before day for an Affair which you believe cannot be dispatcht before night You know my exactness replied my Dissembler in what relates to my duty to my Master I had rather be ready twelve hours too soon than have his business stay for me one moment Good my Lord replied I taking him by the hand be of my Company to night let me conjure you I do not often trouble you with importunities but I must needs tell you you will disoblige me exceedingly if you refuse me this time Nogaret had always carried himself with great respect towards me when under the name of the Country Lawyers Wife I desired to know his opinion of his own he still stopt my mouth and told me that was Sacred and not to be discovered I confess I have no great passion for her my self but I have so much esteem for her I would dye a thousand deaths before any body should speak ill of her and for me to speak well of her I suppose is none of your design This moderate Husband of mine having denied me a thing I had so instantly requested he disguised his refusal with the best reasons he could think on but all that would not discourage me I kissed him I caressed him I upbraided him and desired this Compliance as the only thing I would ever ask him again Alas I expected not he should promise me I knew as well as he what obliged him to the contrary but it pleased me not a little to give him this disquiet as a punishment for his contempt of me To be short in spight of my Complaints in spight of my Reproaches away he went in order to his assignation and that no man might take notice of his Journey he would not have a Horse of his own but took a Hackney in a by-place of the City and without any of his Servants with him away he went towards the House where I had appointed him to meet I was got thither some hours before him for besides that he was not to come before night and I went from home presently after Dinner he had an unluckly Accident by the way which gave him a stop He was very ill mounted and the hopes he was in imploying his thoughts so much he regarded not which way his Horse went it was late as I have observed and about the beginning of Lent so that the darkness and dust concurring his Horse lead him fairly into a Slough from whence he had much ado to disengage himself Had this Accident happened to an ordinary Lover there had been no great matter in it Love takes delight many times to sport it self with the impatience of Lovers but to have it happen to a Husband going to an Appointment with his own Wife and this
no Rank or Quality so high to which Hope may not justly aspire The trouble which was but too visible in the face of Metzala whilst she was reading this Letter she gave the disguised Prince sufficient conviction how she was agitated within She changed colour every time and her heart forcing her to desire what her reason hindred her to hope she was preparing for great questions but had not leisure to propose them for a Lady of remarkable Quality came into her Chamber at the same time She composed her self as well she could and passing out of the Balcony to meet the Lady You may tell your Master said she to Jacaya when I have examined the Diamond his Letter speaks of I will give him my opinion as far as I have yet perceived it doth not answer his Character That Madam replied Jacaya is no wonder the stone is ill set and the Merchant said as perhaps you may have observed you must look further than ordinary to give it the true value Well we will see what it is replied Metzala making him a sign to be gone I shall not be abroad all day to morrow bring it to me again after dinner Jacaya withdrew after this Conference and the Polish Lady which came in being acquainted with the Amours betwixt the Ambassadour and Metzala she concluded the Diamond they talkt of was some new Present from him She took no notice of her stispicion to Metzala the friendishp betwixt them was not arrived at so high a confidence Their discourse were of the fashions of the times and such indifferent things but as the greatest part of that Sex are less frank and open among themselves than among men she was not so reserved with the Ambassadour as she was with his Mistress she went that very day to a Walk where she met with him she caused her Coach to drive as near him as she could and thrusting her self out of the Boot What do you do here said she smiling you are expected to recompense your late liberality Your Turkish Officer hath done his best to make her prize it had he been the Merchant himself he could not have said more of the Diamond The Polish Lord could make nothing of that Aenigma he would fain have had her explained it but several Coaches having interposed he could get to her no more He drove immediately to Metzala to inquire of her and very earnest he was to be resolved The Transilvanian smiled at his request pretending greater tranquillity than in justice he ought This Droll Hope brought me one of your Letters after dinner he makes always the pleasantest sport when he speaks of your passion he said your heart is a precious Stone with which a Queen would think her self honoured This Lady came just in as he was in the Panegyrick and heard that expression See I beseech you how fools may put wiser people into disorder and how unhappy we are that are forced to entertain them But the Polish Lord was not to be coak'st he did not take this shift of Metzala's as she expected it was a long time since he had been displeased with her courtesie to his man Hope I beg of you Madam said he do not use that Boy to so much familiarity Those kind of people are not born to be the objects of so much Generosity and what among us is but a natural Civility passes among them for a preference will make them insolent How can you admit such a Fellow as he into the particulars of your affairs If he brings you my Letters and returns your Answers I have taken care he shall do that faithfully but do not you Madam inlarge his Commission Metzala could not hear him speak so contemptibly of a person for whom she began to have a kindness without saying something in his defence She told the Ambassadour he did not know the treasure he had in Hope that he was a Servant he could not value sufficiently This discourse confirmed the suspicion of her Gallant and he could not conceal it for his heart Metzala found him injurious in his language his conversation anger'd her and some smart Reparties did pass betwixt the Lovers The Ambassadour was an old Fornicator had had more than one Love-quarrel in his time he understood the difference betwixt Choler and Choler He doubted not but Metzala's anger had a touch of infidelity in it He turned away Hope when he came home and caused it to be told him by way of charitable advice that if ever he came within Metzala's doors again he would meet with very ill Complements before he went away This way the true course to fortifie the inclination of Metzala's She apprehended by an excuse Jacaya fent her for not waiting on her any more what the Jealousie of the Ambassadour had done and what would otherwise have been a blameable condescension becoming now but a laudable compassion she was forced to make use of an undecent hour to inquire into affairs He was brought privately into her Chamber when she thought all her Family was in bed There was not an obliging word but her kindness dictated it to her Generosity she was in bed and Women which are naturally handsom are much better in that posture than drest Jacaya was importuned to explain what Metzala found obscure in her Letter he told her his Birth his Love to her and the desires of his Soul in words extremely suitable to his passion but his narration was interrupted when it was just at the best The jealous Polander had conceived shrewd suspicions of the truth All Metzala's Servants were at his disposition he caused them to be informed what it was he desired of their zeal Those who were thought fastest asleep were broadest awake and scarce was Jacaya got into the Chamber of his Mistress but the Ambassadour had notice and ran immediately with two or three of his Servants whither the Alarm invited At the sight of all that Company Metzala was strangely surprised she demanded of the Polander what it was gave him the confidence to come to her at that time a night and how long he had been accustomed to such Visits as those Do not you justifie your self to your new Gallant replied the Ambassadour with a tone of contempt my design is not to let him see your gate is open to me at all hours in the night I scorn to boast of a Conquest in which my Valet participates At that word he ordered those who came along with him to seize upon Jacaya whom he took for no better than his man Hope but he proved to be Mahomets own Son For catching hold of the Polanders Cimeterre wresting it out of the Scabbard and putting himself upon his guard he satisfied his Master it would be no easie matter to have his Orders obeyed Metzala affrighted at the action and apprehending for a man whose Extraction excused her resentment she leapt in a rage out of bed and cryed out for help An Envoy from
indignation and to that an irreconciliable disunion The Prince deserted him and went to the Pope who having interdicted Frederick for his Attempts against the Ecclesiastical See offered Henry to make him Emperour though his Father was still living and certainly the Condition he required was but reasonable it was only that he should marry Constance of Sicily his Niece he told him that without that security he could not relye upon the word of the Prince But in short the Intrigues of his Niece were come to his knowledge and he found it troublesom to conceal them and as certain it is Henry would been have glad if the Popes Generosity had been entire without terms He loved Constance most passionately but every one knows MAXIME VIII Howe're one loves before the very name Of Wedding mentioned gravely does rebate His edge no doubt checks his consuming flame And brings the Martyr to his former state The thought of Marriage to a thoughtful mind Opens his nerve and shows'em he was blind But his Holiness was not affrighted at this Doctrine and less at the difficulty of granting a Dispensation for her who had been four years a Professor But Prince Henry was under a necessity of submitting however to comfort himself by the consideration of having Companions he proposed to the three persons who were Gallants to Constances three Confidents to follow his Example They had made Love as furiously as he he promised them considerable advantages and the Pope was in so good an humour at that time he would have given Dispensations to the whole Covent if his Niece had desired it But they who were his Camarades in his Amours would by no means bear him Company in his Marriage They told him that if they were as accomplisht as he they might undertake any thing upon confidence of their Merit but for them who had not been so great Favourites of Nature they could not but fear the Laws of Wedlock might be as casily violated as the Rules of a Covent That in so tender a point one could not be too cautious and that if the worst happened that could be and they must marry they desired to do it upon his terms and have an equivalence to the Empire of the West for their Wives Portion The Prince did not think it convenient for his Chaity to the Nuns to renounce his possession of the Empire He left them unkindly in their Monastery to deplore the ingratitude of the Gallants and launcht himself alone into that Gulf in which his Associats had represented so many difficulties He married Constance and was crowned Emperour by the Name of Henry the Fourth A famous Abbot in those times who dyed not long after and left a great Reputation of his Sanctity behind him declaimed bitterly against this Marriage and indeed the misfortunes which followed turned his Imprecations into a Prophesie But let him say what he please Those ways which lead a man to the chief place in the World are always counted the best paths one can walk in And now let us take our leave of our new Emperour and Empress and take a fresh turn about the World to see if we can find any new Adventure in that Age that may be fit to close up our Annals of this year James King of Arragon indued with much natural Chastity and as much Experience as sixteen years of age could confer was married to Eleoner of Castile Aunt to the King which reigned in that Kingdom at that time who for the number of her years and her own inclination was as well skilled in matters of Love as her young Husband was ignorant This Princess had an Amour with a Castilian Lord whom she loved most passionately She had past her Faith to him and attended it with so many oaths and imprecations she might justly fear the Justice of Heaven would follow her if she transgressed For this reason she did what she could not to marry the King of Arragon She cast her self a thousand times at the King of Castiles feet though he was but her Nephew She wept she sob'd she threatned to starve her self but her tears and her prayers were to as little purpose as her threats The Marriage was concluded by the Counsels both of Castile and Arragon to be advantagious to both Nations Eleonor used her utmost to prevent it But Princesses of her Quality are as so many Sacrifices to the Policy of their Countries and never to be disposed of by their own inclinations The new Queen seeing her self forced upon a Match which gave her so many scruples she considered of a way by which she might like a constant Mistress continue faithful to her Gallants She suborned an ancient Physician to insinuate into her young Husband that he could not marry Eleonor that there were invincible obstacles in the way which opposed its Consummation The young Monarch who was scarce got out of his Infancy had never seen Woman as it were but his Queen Mother his Governesses and Nurses and had been always told that Eleonor was a sprightly Princess believed what was told him very honestly and remembring that he had heard it wisht several times that he would provide Successors for the Crown he understood it a great shame and misfortune for him to be unable to satisfie the desires of his Subjects This consideration rendred him so melancholy he could not indure the sight of any body He shut himself up whole days together in his Closet if he went walking it must be alone and having read in the Histories of that Kingdom what sorrow some of his Predecessors had conceived for want of Issue and what ill Consequences had followed the default of Heirs in several Kingdoms the good Prince who had an apprehension above his Age began to look upon himself already as the object of his Subjects hatred and contempt Those who had the care of his Person perceiving his humour and Complexion changed intreated him many times to tell the reason of his Melancholy but he answered with nothing but sighs and the Queen confirming him daily in the Errour he was plunged he proposed it himself that Eleonor should take her own liberty The Queen had in her Train a young Lady called Theresia de Bidaura witty and handsom and to whom the Person of the King was not so indifferent as to the Queen She was originally of Castile and brought along with the Princess Eleonor out of Arragon This Lady finding the young Monarch exactly according to her mind had studied all his actions and took all the care she could possibly to please him She invented sundry Dances and other Pastimes with her Companions on purpose to divert him If he did her the honour to speak to her at any time she would be sure to make him smile with the wittiness of her answer and kindness producing usually the like Bidanra became by degrees as dear to the King of Arragon as the King of Arragon had appeared amiable to Bidaura The first