THE English Lovers OR A GIRLE Worth Gold BOTH PARTS So often Acted with General Applause now newly formed INTO A ROMANCE By the accurate Pen of I. D. Gent. LONDON Printed for H. Brome at the Gun in Ivy-lane 1662. TO THE Truly Vertuous Lady The Lady ELIZABETH BLOUNDEL Madam T Is not the Ambition I have to let the World know how much I honour your Virtues that emboldens me to make this present Dedication but to let You see that I would in some part correspond with the many obligations those of Your Worthy Family have thrown upon me which lie like so many burthens upon my Soul and make the very Favours themselves a Torment whilst I behold my self to have without merit received them and to bee without Abilities Rightly to acknowledge them I cannot I must confess but blush to bring so poor and unworthy a Gift to kisse your Ladiships fair Hands But I know your Generosity will easily find an excuse for my boldness and not counterpoise my weak Abilities with your superexcellent Worth and deserts If not Madam let me make this excuse for my self That whilest the poorness of my Fortunes struggle with the gratificatory motions of my Soul I remain so oppressed under the weight of those favours that seem to participate Divinity whilest conferred without interest that I should think my self guilty of the blackest injustice and ingratitude if should not at least acknowledg those debts which I cannot discharge This Madam has begot in me that presumption to lay this piece at your feet that I might have opportunity to confess the infinity of those favours I have received to tell both your Ladyship and the whole world that they are ingraven in my heart with an Indelible Character Let your goodness then accept of this poor expression of my thanks which however mean in it self please too look upon as proceeding from a heart desires to be gratefull and excuse me if I enter not into a praise of your Virtues lest I lessen them For certainly nothing can proceed worthy so noble a Person from the Pen of Madam Your Ladyships Most unvvorthy but most obsequious Servant Iohn Dauncey TO THE READER EVery age hath it's several humours and times like men their sundry constitutions That which might be approved of in the blustring Storms of Wars when the contentious Drums and Trumpet sound allarms to the field would seem harsh and displeasant in the calm and gentle quiet of a salutiferous Peace when the pleasant groves are filled not with destructive Arms but the svveet and vvinning embraces of Lovers Yet is there nothing more difficult then in any time to please all men for in the serenest calms there are some turbulent Spirits The World was never nor ever will be free from Criâ—icks whose envenomed Souls will throw dirt upon that which only for humour sake they cannot disaprove what is their arrogance or folly they will have counted their judgement and think themselves wise enough if they can but find fault with any thing of another mans I cannot doubt but this Book will fall under that Epidemical fate but if it do the Author has the confidence to laugh at such carping Momus's as shall to harshly censure it I confess I would not willingly have what was my pastime prove my disgrace yet I must arm my self with the same patience that far more worthy Authors have been forced to make use of If I meet with any ingenious Reader I know they will be so generous as not to censure rashly If with others they will but make themselves the Subject of my scorne and laughter whilest they endeavour to make me so of theirs I. D. To his Worthy Friend the Author upon his Ingenious ROMANCE ANd what in so short time attempt again The several hazards of the dangerous Main Your last brave voyage did bring back the jarrs And various turns of our destructive warrs In this you both your self and us do ease With the Calm pleasures of delightful pease And recreating with your sweet delayes Our pleased fanciea in a harmless Maze That no dire monstrous objects doâ—h contain Like that wherein Creet 's Minotame did raign You with well-worded rational ploâ—â— do show What books should profit and contentement too Sharp-witted Horace did discern he said Both vice and virtue more deciphered Toth ' life by Homer's well advised quil Then by learn'd Cranter or Crissippus skill Wise Heliodorus would not slight fame sayes Or throw aside those well deserved Bayes In his maturer Age which were acquir'd In his young years when him his Muse inspir'd Though the severer Church's misguided zeal Did not it's disaproving thoughts conceal But if hee 'd not disown his youthful trick Threaten'd to take away his Bishoprick Impartial Wits have thought and truly too Heroick Poems and Romances show Resplendent vertue and deformed vice In their most nat'ral Colours make 's dispise Foul Lust adore pure incorrupted Love Do to great actions valiant Spirits move Do by their several rare designs us teil And facitly inform what 's ill what 's well William Smith To his much Respected Friend Mr. Iohn Dauncey in praise of his excellent Romance called the English Lovers RIch Soul of wit and language thy high strains So plunge and puzzel unrefined brain That their illiterate Spirits do not know How much to thy ingenious Pen they owe Should my Presumptuous Muse attempt to raise Trophyes to thee she might as well go blaze Bright Planets with base Colours or display The Worlds Creation in a Puppet play Let this suffice what Calumnies may chance To blur thy fame they spring from Ignorance When old Orpheus drew the Beasts along By Sweet Rhetrick of his learned tongue 'T was Deafness made the Adder sin and this Caus'd him who should have hum'd the Poet hiss L. G. To his Friend the Author upon his excellent Romance called the English Lovers HOw am I struck with wonder and amaez Like one who at some Miracle doth gaze Viewing this piece whose language is so sweet It makes dull prose run in Heroick feete Yet hast not thou like other wits o' th age Robb'd French Italian brought upon the flage Old things new vampt this we may truly call For words and plot thy own Original Had I for this but skill enough to praise I 'le Rob Apollo but thou shouldst have bayes To Crown thy Brows nor should the Sisters nine If from their Heads I snatch't a wreath repine Go on thou Muses darling in this strain And let us meet thy Genious once again In such another And wee 'l debtors be Not to Apollo's self but only thee Iohn Sandys To his Ingenious Friend the Author upon his English Lovers OUr late confused times were much averse To what ingenious was or good perverse Precise illiterate Fools that look't a squint On what had any thing of learning in 't The Muses hung their heads for in those dayes Good Bullets were in more request then bayes But now the
World and you know and see how willingly and undauntedly I would sacrifice my life for so good a friend come Sir cheare up your spirits there may yet be remedies to all these miseries fly and secure your selfe Fly and secure my selfe said he why that is my greatest misery that I must be forced to do so and leave my love behind me That may be but for a short time said I remember that others my selfe have been made subject to the same frownes of adverse fortune let those arguments of yours which were too powerfull for me to gainsay the flying from my deare Mariana now prevaile with you besides said I you have now an occasion offered to make tryall of your Loves fidelity and whether she be worthy those attributes which you are pleased to give her And art thou still doubtfull of her virtue said he raising himselfe from the Bed thou shall see me make such tryall of her constancy as shall make thee declare her worthy not only of mine but of the love of the greatest Prince in Europe but alas continued he how do we feed our selves with fancies how is it possible that we should either speak with or send to her for that trouble not your selfe said I but give me your ring and I will undertake to rid you of that care he immediatly slipt it of his finger and I having before sent his Boy for one Mr. Forset a Gentleman of whose approved fidelity I had often had experience in the Netherlands he just at that instant entred the Chamber to whom I gave a full relation of our sad disaster intreating him first to provide the best Horses he could procure in the Town and having left them at an appointed place in the Roade to Foy a Haven Town in the west of England where one squadron of our Fleet lay under the command of that famous Cavalier Sir Walter Rawleigh to go with that Ring to Besse Bridges and acquaint her with that the owner of it expected her at the place appointed where we would not faile to meet her in the dusk of the evening which then approached He performed all things according to our wish for when we came thither we found Horses ready both for our selves and our men and scarce had we lookt upon them but in came Forset Besse Bridges loaden with gold for so noble a spirit had this virtuous Maid far above her birth and education that she did not only desert her Lover in this his extreame necessity but likewise brought him fifty pieces out of her own stock besides one hundred which he had left in her custody fearing least being far from his Friends and Country he might be surprized and taken before he could send for money to facilitate his escape we left the two Lovers to take their leaves which was done with that affection as those who are true Lovers indeed are only able to be judges of and Spencer having returned her with many applauses of her fidelity and vowes never to be any others then hers both her fifty pound given her the hundred pound she had in custody consigned over to her his Trunks with things of very rich value and allotted her a House in Foy part of his possessions to live in till his return but especially recommending his picture to her which she vow'd to keep during her life and given heâ— a strict charge that as she had hitherto maintained her selfe chast and vertuous in despite of the scandals and to the envy of the World so she would for the future conserve her honour as a jewell more precious then beauty or riches took a sad farewell of her And we immediatly Horsing rad with all speed possible to Foy where we arrived next morning early just at the nick of time that the Fleet had order to saile so immediatly getting aboard the Admirall we to our thinking bid adieu to the English shore for longer time then we were absent from it for we were by an unhappy accident forced again to visit it sooner then we thought for our Squadron having joyned with the rest of the Fleet had scarce got forty leagues from our beloved Country when a hideous and dreadfull tempest from the Northwest assayled us with so much fury that we were not able to beaâ—e up our sayles against it whilst a thick and black mist surrounded us taking away all light but what the terrible flashes of lightning afforded the Sky with horrible thunder and the troubled Sea with boistrous whirling storms beating the billows against the Ship with dreadfull noyse wrought so fearfully for the space of four dayes that the very Marriners themselves were abashed the Souldiers affrighted and the Fleet dispersed not without very great danger recovered the Coast where being come though others were glad of their safety yet Spencer grew melancholly fearing the danger he was in should he be discovered but fortune was so favourable unto us that our Ship could not reach Plimouth so we put into Falmouth the very uttermost part of England yet not very far distant from Foy where Spencer had injoyned his beloved Besse Bridges to reside in an House of his own for no small parcell of his estate lay thereabouts yet though he was so nigh he durst not adventure either to goe or send to her least some sinister accident might discover him for it was given out that he had deserted the Fleet and was fled another way and so his covetise to have but one short sight of her might deprive him both of her and his life together yet she hearing of the Fleet being driven back and that the Ship which only she and Forcet knew he was imbarqued upon was put into Falmouth not being able to restrain her passion was more adventurous then he but withall cautious and therefore recommended to the care of Forcet whom she knew faithfull a few lines to this purpose The Unworthy Bess Bridges To the worthy and Noble SPENCER THough I dare not call that passion which your so often professed affection to me hath made me burn withall Love whilst I know such a disparity of our births and fortunes yet your obligations to me are so great that they enforce me to think my selfe bound to acknowledge it a duty I ow to your worth and goodnesse which no danger or hazard whilst not yours shall restrain me from tendring accept but it and the continual Oraisons by me poured up for your safety as a token of the gratitude I ow your bounties and it shall be not only a satisfaction but a glory to hir whose life and death are in your hand and at your service Forcet having received this Letter from her with further instructions what he should say fled on the wings of friendship to Falmouth and in lesse then a dayes time got aboard our Ship should I tell you noble Spinola with what joy he was received by Spencer or with what affection he enquired after the health of his
for so your celestial beauty and Angelical voice confirm yea pardon my inconsiderate rudeness the childe of my astonishment to look upon so divine a presence that hath permitted you to kneel and beg that which you may command I am no Goddess replied she but a hapless Virgin who here lie prostrate for my brothers life How readily Madam answered Schiarra would I grant your boon but that I fear by it I shall be too soon exiled from the blessing your presence so fully affords me Will you not then let him live replied she Yes Madam said he he must live since you command it and happy thrice happy 't is being vanquished to have so fair a saver would Heaven had made his sword my Conqueror so I might then have deserved so divine a pity Rise Madam rise and receive your brother but let me now beg one boon of you to know vvhat made him my enemy It was said she your lifting up the curtains of our Coach which though you excused he in heat of blood pursued you to seek revenge 'T was a mistake Madam answered Schiarra that made me so discourteous which I will yet redeem with my life when ever you shall please to command it 'T is too great a forfeit Sir answered she for so slight an offence let me now onely beg your help to lift my brother into the Coach which Schiarra readily assented to though with an inward unwillingness because he should thereby be deprived of the sight of his Saint Scarce had he done it and the Coach departed but I arrived at the place where this accident had happened and found Schiarra in the same posture which I represented him in at the first sight of the Lady having on his drawn sword and fixing his eyes upon the ground with a countenance sufficiently demonstrating some strange and unusual melancholy had possest him I wondred to see him stand in that maner and fearing lest my absence might have endangered him I ran to him and pulling him by the arm demanded if he had been assaulted by thieves He was no less startled at his surprize then I was to seâ— him in these dumps and had not his eye been quicker then his hand he had assuredly sheathed his sword in my bosome but seeing it was I who had disturbed his serious thoughts Yes my dear Spinala said he I have met with one who hath robb'd me of one of my choisest Jewels I am undone for ever lost Fie said I this is passion fancy not to your self a misery when none attends you what is it thou hast lost Lost replied he I have lost my self but what is more I have lost you Me said I Hell it self is not capable of robbing me of so high priz'd a friendship dear friend dally not thus with me Alas Alas said he Heaven knows I daâ—ly not and that you may know I am serious too here take my sword and sacrifice me to your just revenge I must be sensible of an injury first said I for I am confident none but your self can accuse you True said he none but my self and this treacherous heart of mine can be witness against me I have forfeited all those Obligations of friendship in which you have bound me these traitorous eyes of mine have ruined me Prethee how said I undeceive thy self this cannot be other then a delusion Would to Heaven said he it were so but let me tell you plainly and then I am confident you will your self without my intreaty be ready to take my sword and make me a just victime to the wrong I have done you Alas said I my dear Schiarra what can it be that can make thee thus to fancy thou hast wronged me thy soul can never contract a guilt so great but I shall be as ready to pardon it as you have been slow in delivering it Talk not of pardon said he for in confidence that you will revenge it with my blood I will impart it 'T is this assume 't is this all those shows of Love which I have made to your virtuous Sister are vanished into Air that bond which should have bound fast our friendships to eternity is broken utterly broken for I now pay my devotions to another Saint He could not have invented a greater affliction to me then these words were I started and stood as amazed as I found him at first I considered the passionate affection which my Sister but few days before expressed to me she bore him and above that the great dishonor would be done to our Family should she be thus slighted but above all how ill my Father would comport such an affront to have his daughter refused because proffered by him that in a rage snatching his offered sword from his willing hand Do but said I again confirm this disloyalty and you shall not need to beg me your Executioner By the hopes I have answered he that you will take a just revenge upon me all that I have told you is true my heart is stollen by another And canst thou perfidious man said I then leave my sister languishing whom thou hast betrayed into so ardent an affection of thee here take thy sword and defend thy self I will receive it said he not to make resistance but in assurance that it will provoke you to make me fall by yours strike then and let out this treacherous blood I could willingly I confess have made him an oblation to my poor Sisters Love and the honor of our Family but the sacred name of friend so often vow'd between us begat a palsie in my blood and withheld my arm so turning from him no false man said I I 'le not become thy butcher Heaven shall work thy ruine for be assured who ever thou now makest thy Spouse will proove a faithless Strumpet At these words I was going away but he called after me crying thou liest return I 'le now fight not in my own defence but hers whom I adore for know she whom I now love is one whom thou oughtst not mention unless with reverence on thy knees one whose heavenly looks would tempt a Hermit who had spent his whole life in contemplation nay for whom Angels would desert their bliss and count it a greater happiness then Heaven to enjoy her return for wert thou arm'd with thunder this sword should reach thee These words gave me assurance that he was irrevocably lost I began to consider that more sisters I had more friends so worthy were not to be found and therefore returning to him come Sir said I sheath your sword and know I pity you and if my service can assist you in gaining your new love command it Alas my dear Spinola said he this is worse then killing me to tantalize me thus for I know thou canst not so much wrong thy self and sister I do think replied I you have never found me faithless by all the Gods by all our vow'd friendship not all my sisters wrongs shall make
me of what I prize above my life the onely remembrance I had of him yet be not you so inhumane as to deny me to take my last farewel of it I do not much care said I if I grant your suit provided you will promise immediately to return it As I am chaste I will replied she and therewithal gave her the picture vvhich having kissed over she began afresh to cry out Oh! thou perfect resemblance of my Love my dearest Love for whose safety I have every morning before the Larks with their sweet Notes saluted bright Aurora and every night when all other humane Creatures were buried in sleep and none but Stars were vvitnesses poured forth Oraisons to Heaven for whose sake I have remained constant and unspotted though he hath been so unkinde with his last words to blast my memory accept yet this and this kiss for my last farewel and here Sir said she since it must be so take this remembrance of my Lord the sight of vvhich hath often made me give alms visit prisoners and lend money to needy Travellers that Heaven might repay it Spencer but with it let me beg one boon that if some few days hence you hear I am expired you will for his sake to whom you were once a friend accompany my corps to the grave I was so extreamly transported vvith this excess of vertue for what else to call it I know not that I was neither able to take the Picture nor to undeceive her but recollecting my self and pulling off my disguise no said I keep both it and withall this Ring from off your Spencers finger nor did his love cease with his life this Will brings you a Legacy of five hundred pound per annum Oh! now you have told me that replied she which makes my losse the greater by how much his love was more superlative But I hope Captain Goodlake continued she you will excuse me for my being so rash with you 't was your disguise caused it I must rather beg excuse replied I that I have been so harsh to you though I doubt not your pardon since said I 't is now in vain to lament Spencers death and that he hath divided his Estate betwixt us let those loves which we severally ought to him be joyned together in us Alas Sir replied she my love is buried in his grave and my resolutions never to enjoy any other sealed with a solemn vow but because you were his friend I will impart to you a secret which none else must know in which I doubt not but you will be partaker with me Willingly said I be it to pass through dangers never undergone by men or devils yet Go then said she and e're you know farther purchase for me that ship which lies for sale in the rode see her well fitted and manned I have mony ready to defray all charges and this done you shall know farther I went according as she desired me though I could not yet imagine what design she intended I soon fitted the Frigat according to her order colouring both the Hull with black and furnishing her with Sable Sails and Colours this done and the Frigat which she would have named the Negro being munitioned with sixteen brass Guns and threescore and twelve stout men I went to acquaint her that she was now in readiness to put to Sea whom I found to have whilest I was taking care about the ship had the same care in sitting her self out for the voyage having setled her Estate in case of miscarriage and bestowed most of it to pious uses being thus prepared we soon set to sea her self vested in mans apparel and having administred an Oath to all in the Ship not to discover her sex upon any disasters whatsoever without her free consent to me she gave the command of the Ship and made Roughman into whom she had by her Magnanimous spirit inspired valor my Lieutenant Mr. Forcett accompanied us as a voluntier we were for many days blessed with prosperous winds steering our course directly towards the Islands within two days sail of which we were encountred by a Spanish Man of War who stoutly attacqued us but found that resistance which he little expected in sum after two hours fight during all which time this Magnanimous Maid behaved her self with a more then manly courage cheering up the soldiers and her self in person ventring amongst the thickest dangers the Spaniard instead of making us his Prize became ours onely with the loss of seven of our best Seamen but that was recompenced by the damage which the enemy fell to wit not onely of ship goods and liberty but the lives of near forty of their men yet such was the generosity that onely distributing some of the riches of the spoil amongst the Mariners and disarming the Vessel she gave those that survived the Ship and sent them away with blessings for her courtesie two days after this encounter we arrived in the Port of Fial where she first discovered to the whole company what she often before had in private told me to wit that her whole intent of coming thither was onely to fetch the body of her beloved Spencer and intomb it in a place where her self might afterwards sleep with him she therefore told them that now she must make the utmost proof of all their affections to her which would best be expressed by their valorous attempting the Town and redeeming out of it the body of her there slain Lover they all seemed ready and willing to accomplish her will and though we were but 65. in number not any mans fears or doubts of ill success appeared in their faces but all were ready to fall on yet I was loath to think that so many good men should be cast away and lost in vain for with so small number to have attaqued a Town then newly and strongly refortified by the Spaniards would have been an act of so great desperation that we should hardly have escaped the censure of being guilty of our own murders I therefore advised that we should first man out our Boat to see if by the taking some stragling Spaniards we might come to know what force was in the Town before we attempted so hazardous an enterprize this counsel after a small deliberation was agreed and assented to and Mr. Forcett with ten men taking the command of the Boat soon brought us in two Spaniards whom their own fears made confess that after the departure of Essex his Fleet the Spaniards were returned and had with a new line begirt the Town that they had received great supplies both of men ammunition and provision from the Spanish Fleet but lately departed thence that the soldiers now in garrison were two Companies of foot besides the inhabitants but all this had not deterred us from pursuing our first intentions of assaulting it had not the Spaniards upon the enquiry of our Virgin owners informed us that the body of Spencer though at first
beloved Mistresse you would think I hyperbolized for it certainly exceeded all passions that the most inâ—nared Lover was ever yet sensible of but being briefly informed by him of all things to his utmost content he addressed himselfe to returne an answer to her Letter which he did in these words SPENCER To the Glory of the West HOW ever worthy I may seem to you yet I find my selfe so much unworthy to be accounted so by so much beauty and vertue that I dare not accept of any such thing as you stile Duty for I shall never live happy till you change that to me harsh dialect and call your passion Wit I find in me to be sincere Love which if you will but once professe to preserve with so assured a constancy as I vow to you I shall not onely think that my Tutelar Angell and Guardian of my safety but esteem my selfe of all men most blessed Having recommended this Letter with innumerable loves to his dear Mistresse to Foreet and taken Conge of him he retired himselfe to to his Cabbin and spent the most part of that night in melancholly cogitations and lamentatitions of his misery that he was forced to depart from one who so much loved him and was so much beloved of him when the next morning those thoughts were broke off by the noyse the Mariners made which gave him and me notice the Fleet was again departing wherefore getting up we found our selves already under sail with a prosperous gale which for some dayes we were favoured with but being come into the Bay of Biscaia were the second time encountred with a violent storm though not so terrible as the first yet by it we lost the main yard of our ship which forced Rawleigh with his Squadron to stay behind the General and thereby loose him the opportunity of burning the Spanish Fleet in Faroll but having mended our yard we made all possible speed we could after Essex who had steered his course to Fiall but coming there before him and being distressed for fresh water perceiving likewise from aboard ship that the inhabitants were packing up their goods to flie and that the Haven was commodious to land in without staying longer for the General we landed four miles from the Town and having routed a party of Spaniards which came thither to oppose us we entered the City which we found destitute of inhabitants I should not trouble you Sir with a relation of this enterprize which was so publickly known if it were not to hint to you that this very action did contribute much to the fall of that Gallant Essex who being seduced by some evill Counsell as to believe that Rawleigh had made this attempt only to rob him of his glory and accused that he had in contempt of him and his authority broken the discipline war by landing without the consent of the Commander in chief which Essex greedy of glory and sensible of ambitious mind and ill affection towards him easily believed and though he were one of the three Commanders of the Fleet publickly checked him and cashired several Captaines his friends and favorites whereby he contracted to himselfe an enemy who had not the least hand in his ruine and destruction This Town we kept neer upon two moneths Spencer beginning by action and absence to shake off his Love Melancholly so that we jovially passed away the dayes till about the time of our departure there happened an accident which of all but one that I ever felt most afflicted me as we were walking together without the walls of the Town we espied two Captains earnestly disputing each challenging the other to have basely rob'd him of his honor got in the skirmish with the Spaniards when my dear friend Spencer perceiving that from words they began to draw their swords ran in unto them and by perswasions endeavoured to draw them from such rash encounters telling them that before they yet went home they might chance â—â—nd enemies enough to imploy their valors on â—nd not destructively weild their swords to one anothers ruine That that which they â—ccounted courage was nothing but a despeâ—ate folly fitter to be practised by Beasts than Men. but they being deaf to all wholsom perswasions and not at all giving ear to what he advised them began desperately to foine at one another when Spencer extending his piety so far as to endeavour the parting of them received a wound to all our apprehensions and his own too mortal I was enâ—â—raged to see that he should so suffer for his too much goodness and was ready to have revenged â—his wrong had he not charged me by all ties of friendship to desist from any such attempt and withall advised the two Captains to take care of their own safety which generous offer of his they having first expressed their sorrow for having unwillingly abused his too noble spirit accepted and left me alone with my to my best apprehension dying friend who I endeavoured by all means to comfort in this his last condition nor was he of himself uncomfortlesse but rather seeming not at all dejected bid welcom to his death which he confessed a just revenge of his having so rashly and suddainly slaine the Gentleman at Plymouth this was the sum of his discourse to himself whilest I was busied in binding up his wound which bled so fast that I was fearfull that if perchance the wound might happen not to be mortal yet the too violent effusion of blood might deprive him of his life and so it almost had for notwithstanding my endeavours which though they were the utmost I could do were but poor in themselves he was in a manner absolutely fainted away before I could get any assistance to help me carry him to the town but at length before he was quite spent there came in three or four Souldiers running not so much to assist him as to seize me for his murder for they no sooner arrived at us but they began violently to lay hands upon me so that to have freed my selfe from their causelesse gripes I had like to have committed that upon some of them which I was falsly supposed to have done upon Spencer and their rudenesse for so I interpreted that had assuredly been the cause of my sending some of them to their eternal mansion had not one who seemed to have some influences over the rest commanded them to desist from further oppressing me and withall told me that my opposing my selfe against their numbers would not only prove a piece of desperation rather than vallor but would likewise increase my guilt I forced him to stop at that word guilt for I wondered I must confesse extreamly what he meant by it and therefore earnestly pressed him to tell me from whence such discourses might proceed from whence said he can you imagine but from the death of that Gentleman pointing to Spencer I was more amazed then before to hear him say so yet had lesse cause for
each other but it was easily discerned by the enamoured Mullisheg whose Rage began to appear in his eyes against his Rival which being perceived both by Spencer and his beautifulâ— Mistress they resolved seeing they were noâ— longer able to conceal their Loves freely toâ— declare to the King knowing that by willâ—â—â— concealment of what was so apparent theâ—â— should but lose themselves nor could they 〈◊〉 more if they revealed their Loves the strangeâ—â—â— misfortunes of which they thought might moveâ— the Moor if he had any sence of Nobleness 〈◊〉 Generosity to grant them the enjoyment 〈◊〉 their long laboured for desires Armed with this Resolution the generoâ—â—â— Spencer taking opportunity when the Moo 〈◊〉 King was seated Gloriously on his Throne which shewed more Replendant by being aâ— do ned with that Paragon of Beauty kneelinâ— down begged a Boon of Mullisheg who having been alwaies hitherto used to grace him for 〈◊〉 faâ—e of his fair Mistress bad him freely askâ— promising upon his Royal word not to deny hiâ— any thing Shew your self then most mightâ— King said he what Fame has Renowned 〈◊〉 for and grant me this fair Virgin whon neitheâ— the envious Fates nor boistrous Seas could 〈◊〉 me of to be my Wife Heavens how did 〈◊〉 Request 〈◊〉 the Sable Mullisheg his fierâ—â— eyes did seem to dart forth Lightning and gnashâ—ing his Ivory Teeth leapt out of his Chair 〈◊〉 State and shaking his Ebon locks drew forth his Scimatar with such violence as if he would have clest assunder the two Poles and made the whole foundation of the Earth sink to its primitive Chaos In summe crying out And dares any insolent slave attempt to deprive me in my own Court and at the foot of my Impeerial Throne of a Jewel I esteem above my Crown Base Caitife thy Request hath spoke thy death and those audacious Accents of thy ill instructed Tongue were the passing Bell to thy deserved Funeral nor will I by Heaven longer defer my Justice His threatning words had been seconded by as hasty a blow upon the head of the worthy Spencer had not the magnnanimous Maid interposed and laying hands upon his Arms cryed out Truce-breaking Mullisheg most undeserving the name of a King who darest thus publickly break and violate those Oaths thou so lately swor'st to what faith can ever hereafter be had in the word of a King if the great Mullisheg who once was famed for the most good and just of any of his belief shall become a perjured Wretch And yet know cruel and unjust Tyrant that if thou persistest in this villany for other I cannot term it thou shalt be yet further from enjoying thy lustful and irregular will upon me for I vow to all the gods I will not outlive him a moment The fierce lookt Mullisheg stood as it were astonished at her Generosity and amazed at the Majesty of her Anger his trembling hand let slip his Sword and falling back into his Throne he fixed his eyes upon the ground and as if he durst not look upon so much offended Beauty sate rather like a sensless Statua then a living Prince But after a small time of revengefull Cogitations though his fury seemed all the while to abate he with a voice scarce demonstrating the least passion commanded his Attendant Guard to seize on the Generous Spencer which they were as ready to effect as he to command had not he resolutely determined knowing what would be the issue of a Moorish Prison rather to sell his life at the dearest rate with his Sword in his hand then be starved to death in a loathsome Dungeon The Guard seeing themselves thus confronted and indeed repulsed by one single man in the presence of their Prince added fury to their Numbers and resolved all at once to suppress him but with such strength and courage did he brandish his death-threatning Sword that like those Rats who were to hang a Bell about the cats neck none durst be the first to approch him In the mean time this worthy and magnanimous Maid snatching from the ground the Morrish Kings Sword thrust her self amongst the thickest of the Guard to assist or defend her generous Lover and at length coming to the place where he was she like a Breast-plate clapt her self before him endeavouring to receive or defend all blows that were made at him but the timerous Guard whether not daring to offend so much Beauty or daunted at her heroick Courage made no further attempt upon her beloved Spencer The falling off of the Guard bred a pity of these two Lovers in the heart of the Sable Mullisheg yet he thought fit at first to make no shew of it but calling them before him with an angry Countenance Is it possible said he that you should yet dare thus to affront me in my own Court whilst it lies in my power to inflict on you the most terrible of Tortures Tortures replyed this magnanimous Maid know base Tyrant the most fell Tortures that ever barbarous Affrica invented can no more make us alter our fixt Resolutions then Kings are able to make the Heavens bow to do them Reverence for know insulting king our Loves are like the Center of the World so strongly seated in our hearts that nothing but a general dissolution can shake them Whilst the King sate still amazed and musing upon the Gallantry of the English Maid the Captain of the Negro who had not been idle all this whiue but shewed sufficient demonstrations of his resolutions to follow the fate of his friends adressing himself to Mullisheg seconded her words with somwhat to this effect I need great King said he urge how infamous you will becom by breaking that faith which you so lately gave Kings are easier incited to action which will add to their former Glory then by words deterred from those would ecclipse He let it suffice that you have now opportunity offered to do an action which will make the great Mullisheg renowned through the world joyn these two lovers hands the story of whose constancy were it but related would move compassion not in you only but in the very senceless Rocks O let not then Sir your intemperate love sway you above your honour but as you have been conquerour of mighty Kingdomes let this action demonstrate to the world that you are victor over your self and over your immoderate desires so shall forraigne Nations that never yet heard your name Chronicle your vertues This speech of the Captaines wrought so effectually with the inclining Mullisheg that â—ising from his Chaire you have said he wakened in me that heroick spirit which can never suffer lust to triumph over vertue Most excellent Virgin whom before we loved for the outward graces but now admire for that inward ornament of thy soul thy loyal constancy accept from my hand thy long hoped for love whose story having heard discourst the greatest riches of my Kingdom shall Solemnize your Nuptials Were but the great Mullisheg answered this
Magnâ—nimous Maid of the Christian faith I should believe him a god on earth but let this action however so celebrate his fame that he may be an eternall patterne to future Kings to account it a greater glory to be conquerours of themselves then of the greatest Empire Many other words passed to the like purport and so the company for the present withdrew to the Kings Pallace where shortly after all imaginable preparations were made for the Solemnization of the Nuptials of these two English lovers but my occasions mighty Duke calling me from thence I could not stay to see the marriage solemnized though I afterwards heard that it was performed with wonderful state and since your Highness tells me that she was cast by shipwrack into your countrey I have reason to beleive that great sorrow which at present overshadowes that nature which used to be civil courteous and debonair is for the loss of her husband who undoubtedly perisht in the all devouring sea The Duke was extreamly delighted with this relation of the Merchant but especially with the hopes he had of the worthy Spencers loss for he thought that might facilitate the enjoyment of his beautious Mistress which he resolved to leave no way unattempted to attain and therefore commanded the Merchant to go and present her with own of his riâ—hest Jewels valued at ten thousand Crowns knowing how much gifts do prevail over the soft and easie natures of women but though her civility taught her to accept the Dukes Jewel yet her honour inclined her to a resolution that not a whole Dukedome should tempt her to a violation of her chastity Scarce was Sig. Iacomo Bonaventuro departed to offer up his rich present to the fair hands of the fairest guest but a messenger arrived to acquaint the Grand Duke of Florence that after the long continued bloody warrs between the two Dukes of Mantua and Ferrara they had concluded a firme and lasting league and were resolved within two daies to visit Florence to make his Highness and his whole Court and Countrey a witness of their late concluded amity The Duke received the Messenger with all honour due to one who came as agent from two such Princes returning them thanks suitable to the honour done him by such a visit and withal giving order that his Court should be made to shine with Gold and Pearls for their more sumptuous entertainment Two daies after the two Princes arrived being met by the grand Duke with an infinite train of Nobility on horseback three miles without the City and so with inexpressible state conducted to the Royal Palace where the Tuscan being seated on his Throne and the two Princes on each side of it he endeavoured to make their welcome grateful by telling of them that the honour they had done him in leaving their Courts to visit him should be recorded as an everlafting Trophy of their loves and an eternal monument of a firm and perfect amity with them both They returned an address suitable to his civility by telling him that having happily composed their two long lasting differences they thought themselves oblieged to make a tender of their united league to his Highness as to greatest and most renowned Prince of Italy selecting him as a Royal witness of their blest union Nor must we continued the Duke of Mantua forget to present unto your Highness this pair of Heroick Englishmen who as they defended us severally with their Armes so they united us in their friendship I have heard indeed long since answered the Tuscan Duke of their Noble deeds of Armes loud fame having blazoned it into most Courts of Christendome but that they have been happy in reconciling two Princes and stopping that issue of blood would in time have overflowed their Countries makes them more glorious then all their acts of Chivalry and herewith he Rose from his chair to salute the two English strangers whom he perceived made their addresses to kiss his hand which he would by no means permit but affectionately embracing them told them that persons of such great worth were not to be received as Subjects but Companions to Princes and though he knew no way to do it according to their deserts yet he should study to find one out they humbly on their knees returned thanks to the Duke for his Noble reception excusing themselves as not deserving any such favour at his hands Your fame hath already sufficiently spoken your deserts answered the grand Duke but if any of these Noble personages will do me the honour to inform me of some of the latter passages of that war I doubt not but your actions will best speak your character 'T was a kind of a pleasant strife to see how the two Dukes hastened which should first satisfie the Thuscan and do right to their Champions which at length being conceded to the Duke of Mantua Ferrara being retired he thus began The continuation of the story of the two Worthies Spencer and Goodlake AFter the fortunate armes of the Duke of Ferrara assisted as himself confesses chiefly by that noble English Gentleman pointing to the gallant Spencer who had hitherâ—o conâ—ealed his name to whom I think deservedly he attributes his whole success had gained that signal victory over my forces on the Plams of Merandola I retreated with a small remainder of my Army unto that strong fortress there to endeavour again to reâ—â—â—ire my shaâ—reted Bâ—igâ—es though with little hopes ever to appear again in the field had not the invinâ—ible arms of the generous Spinola and thrice valient Goodlake forced a victory from the Savoyards and Ferraresses and joyned their forces to mine whereby I not only gained their assistance but other of my Subjects having their hopes revived by their victory came flocking in to offer their service in assistance of my cause which they now accounted nothing less then desparate But the Duke of Ferrara having advice of the great supply which dayly came into my Army as he was incamped before my Metrapolitan City of Mantua thought it the better policy to raise his seige then to be raised from it and I suppose it was then debated in his counsel of War that every delay did but add more strength to my forces that the City was yet well provided with all sorts of provision strengthned with a strong Garrison and therefore not likely to be surrendred or forced in a short time that if he could once more give a general defeat to my forces the City would of it self come in without any resistance that therefore the Duke should immediately raise his seige and if possible provoke me to a battel This last conclusion was made a resolve and such was their expedition in advancing towards us or the negligence of my Scouts that the whole Army of the Duke of Ferrara was scarce half a daies march distant ere I had any advice of their motion which put me at first into some distraction but finding all delays to be so
nothing more Kings may their subjects rule but love Will over them the Tyrant prove 3. No height or greatness can availe Or'gainst the charmes of love prevaile A heart once heightend by desire Doth still advance those sparkes up higher were kindled first at beauties fire And so consumes till gentle ease Come from what first was the disease 4. Then fairest stranger pitty show Let not a Prince in vaine thus wooe You with that soveraigne balme abound That made me sick may make me sound For none but you can salve this wound Oh make me partner of this skill And mix not with such good such ill 5. But I alas do crave in vaine That pitty which you will not deigne Grant but a glance of your faire eyes And that alone will me suffice To crown my thoughts above the skies Kings may their subjects rule but love Will over them the tyrant prove This song made her know that both this and the other were adressed to her and that the grand Duke was the person who had taken the paines to give her this Serenad she therefore thought her self obliged in civility to return him some answer at least to thank him for his profuse endeavours but resolving first to seem not to know him opening her Casement she roughly demanded who it was that presuming to take upon him the person of their Prince durst at that season of the night presume to disturb her rest I am Madam said he the Duke himself come to tender the humblest of my services to you though my forrowes answered she are a degree above what musick can bate yet I must needs consess my self excessively obliged to your Highness that are thus pleased to abase your self for the entertainement of so poor a guess beyond all the degrees of Noble Hospitality Both I and all others answerd the Duke are bound to do Homage to so great beauty and might I but hope to find love a reciprocal to that duty and service that I owe your fair self I should account me of all Princes most happy Is it love then my Lord answered she that prompted you to this paines Alas mighty Sir how much do you debase your greatness to cast an eye upon so mean and unworthy a person as my self yet Noble Prince consider and let the thoughts of my meaness restrain in you those wild desires Thou art all goodness and all beauty answered he and that makes thee greater then I am oh good my Lord answered she dedeceive*** not your self by thinking to gain that from me by your statteties which all the power of men nor Divells shall not force from me desist therefore my Lord from this enterprize which will in the end so much dishonour you and think not my Lord that because you preserved my chastity from the villanous Bandetti that you have any right to violate it at these words she was going in had not the Duke recalled her by saying dear Madam stay and at least grant me this request that your Gentlewoman may relate to me the continuance of your story that if you will not grant me your love yet I may have liberty to admire you In that said she or any thing else I may with honour I am ready to serve your Highness and so departed The Duke remained inwardly vexed for his ill success so that he could hardly rest yet he somewhat comforted himself with hopes of the pleasant story he was to hear next morning therefore no sooner was the Sun mounted an hours course but he sent to his fair Mistress to mind her of her promise who immediatly sent her Gentlewoman to waite upon his Highness who carrying her into an Arbour fit by reason of the privacy of it for such a purpose she thus began The continuation of the story of the Magnanimous Maid YOur Highness having already informed me that you have heard so farr of my Ladies story as arrived to the promise of the Moorish King to unite her hand as she had already fixed her heart with her beloved Spencer I shall not need to make a new recital of it but proceed to what followes The some urgent affaires of State rather then the present season of the year induced Mullisheg some few daies after his Royal promise was past for the marriage of this Noble and Peerless paire of constant Lovers to remove his Court to the famous Sea Port Town of Algiers whether induced as much by their own inclination as the earnest desires of the Moorish King he was accompanied by the generous Spencer and his lovely Spouse whilst the worthy Goodlake took charge of the Frigat to carry her round by Sea to the same Port. The grand Duke seemed to be somwhat transported at the name of Goodlake for he remembered that the Duke of Mantua had given the same demonstration to his Heroick Champion which made him doubt that the other stranger who had done such famous acts on the part of Ferrara which was the gallant Spencer the husband of his beloved guest but for the present smothering his imaginations Maria thus continued Being all arrived in safty at Algiers the Moresco King having dispatched his most important affaires of State was put in minde of his promise to solemnize the Marriage rig hts between these two Noble Lovers which he readily assented to himself in presence with his Queen gracing their Wedding the cerimonies of which were performed by that English Preist whose life my Ladies intercession had saved and costly banquets being prepared at the expence of the Morocco treasure there wanted no magnifience which might indeed befit the marriage of the greatest Princes Many daies did these Lovers in the full enjoyment of conjugall bliss live with all imaginable content in the black Kings Court but fortune which delights in nothing but varieties and changes soon altred the Scene of their happiness overclouded all their joyes by the relapse of King Mullisheg who again bewitched with the love of my beautious Mistress out of hopes that he might now sooner gain his desires on her fell back from that course of vertue which had made him glorious and by a violent passion sought to entrap her honour Nor did perverse chance think it enough that the great Mullisheg thus deviated from all the rules of honour but to make the misery of these two constant Lovers more compleat the Queen of Fesse and Morocco a Lady of a haughty spirit and not enduring an imagined injury whether moved out of a jealousy of her husband or out of a reall affection was inspired with the same unruly passion towards the worthy Spencer as the King her husband was towards this lovly Bride my dear Lady Thus did both these Princes strive to rob two of the most constant and most deserving souls that ever History made mention of of that joy and content which they had yet but enjoyed in the blossome The King who had most power to act and indeed to force what his lust
discomposure commanded the Guard to depart and leave the Prisoner alone with him The Guard readily obeyed the command of their General when he taking opportunity from the Solitude addressed himself to his Prisoner in these generous terms Sir said he though I am a Moor a Nation strange to you Christians yet think that I can be noble but in you I have observed such strange contrarieties that I cannot tell well how to reconcile them for when I consider your mighty actions and late greatness of your Spirit when my men flew before you like dust before the wind I cannot but admire at your present passion and justly wonder why such a small effuse of blood let out by these sleight wounds or the pale-fear of grisly death should draw a tear for such a Noble eye Thou most worthy of thy Nation replyed Spencer do not so much mistake me to think that wounds blood death or all tortures imaginable could force one drop from hence but that I now suffer under as far exceeds all torments that ever the wicked art or wit of Man invented as Hell doth Heaven in pains This it is that like the burning Sun extracts from my declining Soul this dewy and effeminate morsture Sir answered the Bassa if I have yet gained in you an opinion that I dare be noble impart to me your sorrow's and if any thing in my power can assist you though it be with the hazard of my life rest assured I will perform it Your Nobleness most Illustrious Bassa answered Spencer obliges me to relate my misfortune though I must despair of remedy yet if you have a heart not wholly composed of Adamant it must needs melt it to consider my misery and think then Sir if you have ever loved or if ever you loved one so fair so constant so chast as my dear Spouse whether it would not confound you and make whole Oceans of tears flow from your eyes to know that for your sake she was betrayed to a black and remediless-fate I confess answerred the Bassa It would perplex a well-blassed Soul but how can this be your condition were not all your joy 's but lately consummate by uniting your Souls according to your own manner of marriage and were you not but yesterday both honoured in the highest degree by the vertuous Mullisheg 'T is true worthy Bassa replyed Spencer he honoured us at first too much but at length his lust outway'd his honour and as if his Soul had been of a darker Eye then his Face he sought to take away that he had given me and rob me of that Jewel 1 prize far above my Life but the fates were yet happy unto me in that I found means this night to convey my beauteous Spouse the Captain and Lieutenant and others aboard Ship and now my self intended to follow them but missing my way fell amongst your Guard where wonder not that I performed wonders and durst single oppose my self against your multitudes for it was the impression she had left upon my heart made me act things beyond a man But Sir replyed Ioffer since she is safe aboard recal your noble spirits and let not your own fates thus distract you Ah! generous Sir said Spencer the sting of all is yet behind I at her parting from me swore by the honour of a Gentleman and by all the vow 's and loves had ever past between us that if I survived I would visit her aboard before the morning Star appeared which she seconded with a solemn vow that if I did not she should certainly esteem me dead and not Heaven it self should hinder her from following me to the Grave This Great Bassa is it Fear of her safety not my own that drew these tears from a Souldiers eyes 'T was strange what noble pitty this relation bred in the heart of the thrice worthy Moor Noble Sir said he you have indeed told me story would move the very Rocks to pitty and that I may let you know all moral virtues are not wholly and only seated in the hearts of Christians Go freely pass to your Love and preserve her Life I will not desire you to return but if you do not remember this Head of mine goes in exchange for yours which I cannot lay down in a better service My worthy Lord was so startled at this high generosity of the Moors that he knew not what answer to return nor indeed how to accept his so obliging proffer but at length considering it would be the preservation of his dearest Spouse he resolved not to refuse the Courtesy but withall desiring the Bassa to oblige him by some solemn Oath to return at an appointed hour No replyed Ioffer it will be sufficient if you give me your word to return by that time to morrow that the Sun shall be mounted to the Meridian Let God's and Men answered Spencer conspire to make me miserable if I fail one Minute Let me then conduct you said the Bassa past all watches and therewithal himself in Person brought him to the place where the Boat did attend him who received him with an inexpressible joy The Discourse between the Bassa and Spencer had spent the greatest part of the night so that before they arrived at the Boat it was near break of day and before any discovery could be made of them coming towards the Ship day was absolutely broke and the Sun even ready to advance it's head above the Cerulean Confines My dear Lady with infinite impatience had all this while expected the coming of her Spencer according to his promise but finding him not yet appear concluding him dead she began to utter such miserable lamentations as are impossible for me to recite and calling for an Hour-glass resolved as soon as that poor moment of time was spent either to behold her dear Spencer safe or follow him in death The last minutes were now running when with a full mouth of joy one of the say lors calls from the Topmast-head that the Boat was coming towards us and that he did plainly discern the generous Spencer sitting in her stern 't was my good fortune to carry this news first to my Mistress who entertained it with such a rapture that her joy now put her into no less an extasie then her grief before had done but having past over that discomposure which at her first hearing these glad tidings had seized her she issued out of her Cabbin to entertain her Spencer with a joy suitable to the love she bore him 'T is impossible for me mighty Prince to tell you with what joyful and what obliging expressions she entertained him aboard but how soon was all her joy turned into a super-abundant sorrow for he having a great while listned to her loving expressions without having returned any answer at length to her earnest intreaties gave this fatal one Alas my dear Soul now I have seen thee I must again leave thee These Words were like a Thunderbolt which