The moste notable Historie of JOHN Lord MANDOSSE Translated from the Spanish by T. de la Peend 1565. ¶ To the ryght worshipfull syr Thomas Kemp Knyght Ryght worshypfull syr wheÌ„ thankfulnes had presented vnto mine eies the bookes whearein the names of my frends are imprynted I founde you for sundrye causes possessyng an high place thearein Whearfore though it fall not to my fortune presently to acquit discharge my duty yet these as certaine signe of my good will to the vttermost of my small powre may grately you in the meane time Which as they are y e simple frutes of my small Orcheyard the trauayle of my rude Muse I to the iudgment of the learned and dyscreate Readers Wishynge to your worshyppe perfeete felicytye From the mydle Temple Your kydesman to commaund T. Delapeend ¶ To the Reader VNto the Iudgement of the wyse and learned I Submit my paynes to pleasure theÌ„ perswaded thorowlye That with aduisement they will speake and reason ryght Shall rule theyr tongues whearfore vnto syr Momus more dyspyte I gyue these same that he a whyle maye gnawe theron To whet his poysoned raÌ„ckling teth I cast the curre a bone Lest that hee seeke to byte my name behynde my backe To saye that here his verse is lame or here good sence doth lacke For I ofte times haue heard the vyle despysed sorte Blynd ignorantes of worthie bokes to make suche rashe reporte That when in order good they could not read the same They doubted not by slauÌ„derous wordes the aucthors to defame That learned men alowe these same it shall to me Suffyse Of Momes I do not seekâ— commended for to be Let them that no tyme spare to speake all that they maye To mee and I will answere them right sone at eche assaye Theyr brutishe braynes vnfit to iudge of melodye Their blinded wittes sences stopt do vnto them denie The vse of reason so that monsters ryght they be Despised dregges of men to them in shape alone agree Or els ryght 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and currysh whelpes they weare Their iudgementes I do now dispise theyr rage I do not feare The Argument THe mercye of God is merueylous VVhich wheÌ„ it pleaseth him to exteÌ„d On men no wile so mischeuous Can it peruert from perfect end As in this worthye hystorye It by a Duchesse maye appeare VVhich faslye of adulterye Accused is condemned heare For to be burned in a fyre As then the custome did requyre But God which still defendeth ryght From deathe hath her delyuered By prowesle of a Spanishe knyght VVhom afterward she maryed The Historie of Iohn Lorde Mandozze WHeÌ„ Enuy blacke doth breed within the boyling brest When rampynge rage of rancour rules wheare reason it shulde rest Then will doth beare the swaye Wheare wyt shuld haue the waye ¶ Syth men of lyke estate and matches meat in myght Within one countrey dwellyng seld agree Syth that despyte Doothe dwell wyth famous men Syth wealth doth worke the woe And plenty placeth pryde oft tymes It is not straunge that so Debate dyd grow betwene The Mandozzâ—s and eke Tolledoes famylyes Moste auncyent noble gentlemen and cheyfest lynes lykewyes In all the prouince theare By worthy workes theyr fame Was blowen aboute All Europe then it dyd resound the same O noble region Spayne for frutes that fertyle soyle And happy with the golden mines for which most men do toyle O Realme more riche when that these houses did agree O happy soyles whearein such men borne or brought vp they bee Of both these famylyes ryght noble Gentlemen There were but yet the lusty Lord Iohn of Mandossa then Dyd farre excell them all in euery exercyse Most valiant most actyue and ryght polityke lyke wyse He was beloued muche of all the coÌ„mons theare Accepted for hys courtesye with prynces euery wheare As Pallas paynted had his minde with lerned arte Euen so dame Nature then in hym ryght well had wrought her parte His lymmes were fynâ—ly framd hys ioyntes so strongly knyt That as the Simphonye alwayes doth please the eares so it The gasyng eyes of men doth still delyght as muche No paynter for his portrature could pycture any suche The Grekishe paynter myght an hundred graces theare haue seene which erst in soÌ„dry shapes he found not any wheare And as hys shape did shew right semelie to the syght So for his force he was well knowne to be a valiaunt knight In auncyent hystoryes his highe renowmed fame Aduaunced hath vnto the skyes the glorye of his name By space of forty yeares these famylyes betweene For sondry causes then dissention great had beene All stoute of eyther parte they wolde in no wise beare Wrong vnreuenged longe wherfore small skirmishes there weare Betwene them often times Alwaies when they might meate With weapons drawne y â— one did vse the other for to greate But once with Armyes great they met theyr myght to trye By dynt ofswerd they wold discerne theyr matters by and by And so the youthly Lord Mandossa then did beare The rule charge as cheiftain stoute of all hys armye theare Though to Minutyus he might be matched well For corage Yet for counsell did not Fabius hym excell When that his foes he vewes in glistring armour dyght His soldiers in such sorte he doth encorage then to fyght Behole my frendes sayth he the tyme approcheth neare This day we must by maÌ„hode great withstand our enmyes heare Our enemyes sayth hee how simply they be guyded How rage rules them reason vs how well we be prouided Of armour good and men though not so many as they Yet such as do not fear to spend their blood I dare well saye Now now this tyme shall trye if such as we appeare We do acquyt our selues lyke men to fyght with lusty cheare Who wold not rather chuse to dye then liue with shame As dastardes for to be despisd to lose the worthy fame Which with their blood before our auncestores haue wonne Shuld we faint hartes not folow theÌ„ to do as they begonne What bondage is so vyle what yoke so hard to beare As for to stoope vnto the foe and styll to lyue in feare Our auncestours with landes dyd leue vs lybertie Shuld we enthral our selues therfore for feare and doubt to dye To beare the blot of blame For euer in our name ¶ Who lookes to lyue so longe in bondage for to bee Can stomakes stout of manlike men to seruyle yoke agree O happy death that doth exempt from miserye The noble Romayne Captaines dyd not double for faine to dye Are we not able now to kepe the worthy fame that earst by blood was won shal waÌ„t of courage lose the â—aine What wolde our frendes say then and all the men that shall Heare of the shame that shuld by cow wardyse vpon vs fall No man theron wold pâ—tye take But euery one wold vs forsake ¶ Our parenies dead and shut in happy feylâ—os â–ª they will For
should be hapye sure her vayage for to goe In her good companye the Sapnyshe ladye so Perswardes her for to doe and further doth declare The synguler momodyties which in her contreie are How worthy gentle man and Ladyes fayre and free At her Aryuall theare furthwith will cum her grace to see All readie for to bee best seruyce that they can And so your companye sayth she shalbe much honour then To me in pleasant waye how merye we maye be For to perswade her willyng mynd 〈…〉 tteth she It â—â—deth not to hyd hym go that runnes awaye It neadeth not by force to dryue the horse that wold not staye Few wordes maye soone perswade the iudge that is content Euen of his owne accorde vnto the case for to consent The Ladye Isabell perswadeth her to go And she had of longe tyme before be willyng therunto The Duchesse then dyd thynke eche taryaunce longe alwaye And therfore to the Duke her husband on a daye She sayth My Lord I thynke ye knowe the greuous payne And martyrdome which I so longe in sycknes dyd sustayne The vow also I trowe you haue not yet forgott â–ª Which for my health recouered I gladlye made God wott And therfore me suche leue I pray you for to geue ¶ That out of hand I maâ—e dispache this voyage 〈…〉 Hauynge occasyon fyff by thyâ—â— great Ladye as ye know She wolde be glad I thynke that we myght go to gether And it myght be both for myne ease and honour to go with her Thearto the gentle Duke ryght gladly dyd agree The treason lodged long with in her brest he coulde not see Prouisyon beyng made for thinges that they maye neade Lyke Pilgremes then I clothed on theyr Iourney they proceade With manie Ladies fayre and lustie gentlemen Syr Appian and Emelye were not forgotten then Amonge the rest so much by trauayles great they do That past the frosen Alpes hyghe they cummen are into The cuntreye of Roâ—willon and entred in to Spayne The Duchesse seinge y e place so nigh wherof she was so sayne She prayese the Ladye Isabell That bâ—â—the waye she wold not tell ¶ 〈…〉 would be And so in lytle iourneys they Arryue wheare as the lustie Lord Iohn yâ— Mandozze laye The Spanyshe Ladye prayes the Duchesse then that she Maye sende to shew her brother that arryued theare they be The Duchesse is content the messenger is gon And found the Lord Mandozze sone to whom he shewes anon How that the Duchesse is euen now arryued theare And tels y e questions which betwene her and his syster weare And passynge beutye of the Duchesse doth declare Mandozze then right gladly doth hym selfe furthwith prepare With fortie or fyftie of his worthyest gentlemen Ryght brauelye so appointed to receaue the Duchesse then And in his mynde he thought no Pryncesse was so free Or careles of her labour in that age and tyme â—â—at â—â—ee A foote woulde vndertake So great a voyage for to make ¶ But for sume other cause but what therof he maye Conceaue in mind right well he doth dissemble that alwaye So on he rydes tyll that his syster doth espye Him from a farre in fyeldes and so she sheweth by and by Unto the Duchesse how he which coÌ„mes rydynge heare Uppon a Genet whyte as snowe that is her brother deare The rest his subiectes are Mandâ—zze comming nighe Thryse or foure times at least he makes his horse to mount on high And leape into the ayre with flynging feete aloft Or this syde turninge thrise about on thother syde as oft His foote on ground being set with comlie grace streight waye When he had kyste the duchesse hand Madame then dyd he saye I thinke the wandring knightes that 〈◊〉 lonâ—e agoe And â—â—â—ght to wyn immortall fame by valiaunt actes also If they had found suche hap admonge auentures great That w t suche worthie Pylgremes is they might somtime haue met Theyr Speare and Harnes they would soone haue layed syde To beare your burdens in the waye your trauaill to a byde And then the Pryncesse which was well brought vp alwaye And lyued had in ease and ioye vntill that present daie Lest she for shamfast feare should fayle agayne to giue Aunswere to him My Lord she saith if knightes which erst dyd liue Such as you saie they should by greater blysse haue mett With Pilgrimes such as we apeare we must neades hope that yeâ— The blessed saynt to whom I made so solemne vow To honour whom I vndertake this tedyous trauayle now Wold saue vs from theâ—e force or els we should sustayne 〈◊〉 These laboures great in iourâ—â—y long at last to lese our paine And so this fyrst attaynt a waye to loue dyd make More wide TheÌ„ Lord Mandâ—zze sone her by the arme doth take And to his castell leades her furthe with softlye pace Deuysyng talke not tedious to her in anye case He leades the Duchesse fayre Cupido blynd dothe leade Them both As they stil on their way with tender feete doth tread The one the other dothe behoulde with fyxed eyes And both theyr hartes lyke loue doth hold in frendlie hand likewise The poyson left behind from loue his leaden dart She sowe all beuties set in him before her eyes More perfect portrature she thought no paynter could deuyse Though fancie partlye dye perswade her thearunto She was not much deceaud for why the Itaâ—â—an storyes do Ab 〈…〉 his worthye shape and further shew of hym â—ow he did passe the Princes all which lyued in his tyme. But when the Duchesse had by outward gestures toulde The secretes of her hart â–ª oft tymes and comfort neuer could Receaue to satesfie her vncontented mynde And blamyng much within her hart the knyght to be vnkynd Syth for her trauyle shee no better hyre could fynde When at his castelt shee three dayes had taryed so Therfore she doth determyne thence next mornyng for to goe She meanes to gyue the flypp so to deceaue the knyght And when Aurora had remoued the darksum shades of nyght When lyght of dauâ—â—yng daye Had driuen y e goulden starres away ¶ The Duchesse goes vnto the chaumber by and by Whearas the Ladie Isabell within her bed did lye So takynge leaue of her she thankes her hartelye Both for her entertainement theare and all her courtesye The Duchesse now she is departed with her trayne Mandozze vnder standes theareof within and houre or twayne He looketh then about and sorye in his hart He museth much whearfore she shuld so sudaynlye depart And take no leaue of him so troubled muche in minde AmoÌ„g a thousand thinges he thinkes it harde the cause to fynde And thus so longe at last he maruayleth theareat That his vnthankfullnes he knowes te be the cause of that Upon him selfe he sees the blame And is right sory for the same â–ª ¶ Sith she a Pryncesse great dyd cum so farre to see Hym theÌ„ he cold not chuse but thinke him selfe vnkinde to be For that to please her
clewe to bygge dispatche â— dolefull â—estenies Make hast that this your stint weare done shut vp my wofull eyes You mournefull damned spryghtes and Furies systers lad Cum sit w t me my mates most meet in wofell weades iclad Singe to my mourning songe with dreadâ—ull shrekinge crye Syth giltlesse I condemened am a shamefull deathe to dye But now the Duchesse in her dumpes we leaue alone In sondry raginge fyts as she contineweth in her mone Tyll-time may weare her woe and qualifye her greyfe â–ª Or god which doth the trueth well know shall send her sum releife Mandozze now this whyle restes not by nyght or daye But thinketh on the Duchesse and her woefull case alwaye At last him selfe dothe see that hee vnworthy weare The worship of a knight to haue or noble armes to beare If he for feare to helpe the afflycted shoulde denie Especyalye such Ladye fayre whose force alone dothe lye In teares theyr wretchednes alwaies to wepe and wayle And with him selfe by thys at last so much he doth preuaile That he disheryted to dye wolude rather chose In honour then to liue longe tyme and his good name to lose For want of corage so remembringe with the same How that in hys prosperitie to hym the Duchesse came How can I now sayth he forsake her in her woe Ten deathes to dye more lefe had I then once to sayle her so Thus sone he order geâ—es for all thinges neadfull to Defence of such a towne And doth furthwith to Thurin goe With horse and harnesse good as anye man myght neade And so aryued at Thurin he enquyred theare with speade If anye Spanyardes be in towne And so he heares But of one olde relygious man which theare this twenty yeares Had ben An holie man and eke beloued well Of all the Cytezens Whych then without the towne did dwell Alone in cottage lowe that he might so eschew The loue lust of worldly thinges his flesh for to subdew Such is relygious lyfe he lyued not in ease Lyke epycures in houses bye such places as myght please A Prince ryght well as they which sumpteouslye did fare And lyue in rest neade who so lyst they take no kynd of care The myghtie God doth see theyr lothsome lustes at last And Baals prestes prophane he doth from out his temple cast But now the Spanyshe knyght hath learned the nearest waye Unto the ould fathers house to whoÌ„ good man he fyrst doth saye I am a Spanyard borne and cum this countrey into For certaine my affayres wherfore I praye thus much to doe On charitie as heare to let me lodge with you These thre or els foure daies at most desyringe nothinge now But lodginge at your hand my seruaunt which you see All other my necessities He maye prouide for me The good ould man at fyrst dyd gladlye graunt him this And masynge at his semelie shape when that his seruaunt is Gone furthe into the towne to bye Sâ—ch thinges as should theyr neade suply ¶ He asketh him his name and of what shire in spayne He is All which the gentle knight to him confesseth plaine The good ould man with teares that fast fall from his face Doth sate O God I geue the thankes which hast geuen me the grace In this mine ould age now to see before I die Within my house so great a Lord whose seruaunt poore am I. And so this father oulde in longe dyscourse doth tell Of many matters past And how be knew his grandsyre well And further him be doth desyre as bouâ—oâ—â— theare For to coÌ„mâ—and his â—ousâ— as thoughe within his owne he weare So then Mâ—â—dozze tells how that he came from Spayne Entendinge into France to goe a while theare to remaine And how that passinge furthe by Liâ—â—us he did heare Thill fortune of the Duchesse whom if that he wâ—st she weare Ungiltie of the cryme he saith he wold defend Her right Or thearin euery drop of his hart blood to spend But in no wise he wold aduenture anye time His lyfe and soule for to defend an other bodies crime All which the good ould man then lyked verie well And saithe my lord I thinke it sure no one alyue can tell The truth hearem except the Duchesse poore and he Which hath accused her But sure as farre as we could see She hath bene euermore a Princesse good and iust But for the Countie Pancalyer which by our â—oustom must Approue the same by fyght beleue me if you lust But sure methinkes you are to younge his force to abyde His manlike might courage stout hath often tymes ben tryed Of all men heare he is estemed for to be Most hardye and redoubted knyght that is in Lomberdye But yet the victorie in God his handes doth rest And that he wyll dispose alwaies as it shall please him best Euen as by Dauid it appeareth verye plaine Which then a boye Goliah great the Giant fearce hath slaine The knight doth answere him a waie I haue found out To satisfye my conscience and to dissolue my doubt But I heare to small good can doe whearfore I must heare in Be bould to craue some ayde to haue of you eare I begin Under the colour to confesse the Duchesse I The truth maie know and so if you thinke good imediatly I will be polde and haue my beard cleane cut a waie And get me garmentes like to yours for so me thinkes we maie Be suffred sone vnto The Duchesse for to goe ¶ I thinke we should haue lycence sith that the time drawes neare To exorte her styll with pacience her troubles for to beare The good ould father glad to him doth then agre As well for zeale as reuerence to his nobylitie And so prouision made for all thinges fit thearto Like freirs to the castell of the Duchesse streight they goe He that the noble knight attyred so should see Would skantlie then haue taken him so great a Lorde to be What with the iestures sâ—tt which he so well could faine And greyfe for wars at home al with the Duchesse woes againe Made him to looke more like a Pylgrim porely fed Which lyke S. Iohn in wyldernes his lyfe alone had lead Then anie lustie Lord. when to the Castell they Weare cum the good ould man vnto the porter sone doth saye My masters seing that the time doth drawe so nye Wheaâ—in the Duchesse as I heare â—ndemned is to dye We are come now thearfore to exhort her patiently To take her death that she may gain eternall lyfe thearby They to her chamber are admytted to goe in And then Mandozze friâ—r fayre to her doth thus begin The peace of God with you the Duchesse then doth saie Good father why speake you of peace and I in stryfe alwaie Abyde bereft of â—oye gyltlesse condemnde to dye A shamfull cruell death also to heape my myserye Mandozze then which had his youth in learning spent Madame saithe he you knowe right well afflictions all be