father sometyme also excercisinge the indeuor of the nedle A recreacion most conuenient for widowes and all honeste Matrones neuer beinge séene abrode but of holye and great festiuall dayes when she wente in deuoute maner to the churche to here the diuine seruice of God beinge vnhappelye espied for all that of an ALBANOYS Captaine a noble Gentelman thereabout hauynge for the credit of his vertue and valiantnes in Armes the charge of certayne troupes of horsemen who glauneynge at vnwares vppon the glystrynge beames of her beautie became so desyrous eftsones to encounter the same that with the often viewe of her stately personage and generall fame of her many vertues he became so in loue with her that for spedye ease of his present griefe he was dryuen to put his request vpon tearmes makynge fyrste his sighes and sadde countinance his sollitary Complexion of face often gyuen to chaunge his dolorous state and pytifull regardes of the eye when he was in her companye forced nowe and then to abandon the same because he could not kepe hym frome teares his often gretynge her wyth salutations in amorous order courtyng her now then wyth letters dyttyes and presentes of great pryce wyth a thousande other vayne importunityes whych loue dothe ymagine to animate hys Soldiours his chiefest Ministers to bewraye hys intente and solicite his cause whereof the effecte retourned no lesse frustrate then the deuise yt selfe oughte to seame vayne in the eye of all wyfe men for she whose harte coulde not be earste perced wyth the malyce of her former fortune nor be brought to stowpe to the lure of aduersitye thoughte it a greate faulte to let loue or folye make anye breache wher so many hoate assaultes and causes of dispayre had bene valiauntlye resysted and vtterly repulsed for profe wherof beinge wholly wedde as yet to the remembrance of her deade husband she woulde neyther admitt hys clyentes nor gyue audience to his embassadours but dismissed bothe the one and the other with semblable hope whiche broughte the Captayne in suche case that it seamed to hym a harder matter to compasse the good wyll of his Ladye then to gouerne an armye or plante a battrye wyth the aduauntage of the grounde and place neither was he hable to wythdrawe his affection or mortifye the fyer newly burst oute to flame because the remeÌ„braunce of her beautye the often viewe of her vertue enlarged by the generall fame of all men together wyth the noblenes of her race enrolled in the recordes of Antiquitye presented a more desyere in hy n wyth care to obtayne her and aggrauated his griefe in beynge repulsed of that whiche his harte hadde alredye vowed to honor tyll the extreme date of hys dayes neyther had he the face eftefones to attempte her of hym selfe and muche lesse to deâ—yste from the purseute of hys desyere but beynge at the pointe to incurre the hazarde of dispayre beholde loue preferred a newe and moste sewer meane wyllynge hym to craue the assistaunce of her brother who beynge hys deare frende and companion in armes in the seruyce of diuers Princes afore tyme he made no lesse accompte of his furtheraunce then yf he had alredye gotten hys frendshippe wherfore delaying no moment of tyme but plyinge the waxe whilest the water was warme he accoasted the yonge man at a conuenient tyme and roued at hym in thys shorte sorte It is my deare frende and compagnion a vertuous disposition to be readye in well doyng and easye to assiste honeste requestes whiche to your nature hathe bene alwayes no lesse peculiar then to me nowe a courage in so honeste a case to craue youre ayde neyther can the vertue of true frendshippe more lyuelye appeare or thoffice of assured frendes more amplye bee discerned then in makynge the greffe of the one common to bothe and beare the gyfte of tyme and fortune indifferentlye wyth mutuall affection and lyke zeale on bothe partes wherein for my parte I woulde I had as good meane to make declaracion of my true harte towardes you as of longe tyme I haue vowed to be yours to the vttermoste of my power and you no lesse desyer to doo me good then your diligence and assistance of frendshippe is moste hable to stande me in steade in my present case of no lesse importance then the verye sauegarde of my lyfe which laste wordes made the Modonoyse replye with lyke franke offer of mynde protest ynge vnto hym by the fayth of a soldiour that if euer he felte anye mocion in hym selfe to doe hym the least good of the worlde his desyer was double to requite it proferinge here with for a further shewe of his good meaninge and declaration of fayth to racke his powre on his behalfe so farre fourth as eyther lyfe lyuing or honour would beare him but he whose desyer tended not to things impossible nor sought to maintaine warre against the heauens reaposinge muche for him selfe in the offer of his frinde thought the conquest was halfe wone when he had promised his assistaunce and because ther lacked nothing but to vtter his griefe he tolde him that the thynge he desyered woulde bringe aduauncement to them bothe and because saith he I will cleare the doubte whiche seames to trouble you you shall vnderstande that the beautye gyftes of grace and other honest partes in your syster haue so inchaunted my senses that hauyng alredye loste the vse of my former lybertie I can not eftesones be restored with out the spedye assistaunce of her good will neyther haue I other powre of my selfe or consolation in my present extremitye then suche as is deriued of the hope which I haue hereafter to enioye her as my lawfull wyfe for otherwayes I am as voyde of foule meanynge to worke her dishonnor for the seruent loue I beare her as free from intente to procure so greate a spot of infamie to the house whiche norrished you both in so great honour And to be plaine with you the glymerynge glances of her twinklynge eyes together with a princely maicstie which nature hath leute her aboue the rest of the Dames of our dayes hath made my hart more assaltable apte to admitt parley then eyther the noyse of y e canon or terrour of the enemye howe great soeuer they haue appeared haue hertofore feared me whiche makes me thinke that ther is eyther som celestial or deuine mysterie shrowded vnder the vayle of her beautye making me therby yelde her honor in hope of preferment or els by the angry consent of my cursed dostines it is shee that is appointed to paie thintrest of my former lybertie in transformynge my auncient quiet into a thousand anoyes of vneasye tolleracion And albeit I haue hethertd reserued the maydenhed of my affection and lyued no lesse frée from thamarous delites or desyers of women yet being now ouertaken and tyed in the chaines of true affection I had rather become captiue and yelde my self prisoner in the pursute of so
chyefe and principal vertue to withstande the mallice of fortune with magnanimitie of mynd thought it not also the office of a noble hart to yeld to the sentence of aduersitie or geue any place to the iniurie of present time consideringe that in euerye distresse fortune bearethe the greateste swaighe whose mallice is neyther of perpetuitie nor yet to be feared of such as haue their harts armed with assurance in vertue for as she is no lesse vncertaine of her selfe then her doinges full of mutabilitie so accordinge to thaduice of the philosopher she is to be vsed with suche indifferencie of all estates that wee neade neyther laughe whē she smyles nor feare when she threates neither hathe she anye to followe the chariot of her victorie but the caityffe or Towarde and suche as are denied the assistaunce and benifet of trew vertue This gentleman whom mine author termeth by the name of PIERRO BARZO wearie euē nowe with drawinge the heauie yecke of harde erile left the rest of his contrymen and companions of care complaining their mutuall myseries together and retired to the rythe and populous Cytie of MANTVA where his cyuell gouernemente and prudent behauior accompanied with a singuler dexteritie in exploytes of armes and other exercises of the ualrye arguinge thunfayned noblenes of his mynde gaue suche a shewe of his vertue that he was not onlye in shorte tyme intertained of the marques and gouernour there but also made generall of the whole armie of footemen where enioyinge thus the benefyt of his vertue who commonly yeldes no lesse successe to such as imbrace her with true ymytacion and treade the pathe of her loare with semblable sinceretie of mynde he had there with him at the same instante his wyfe beinge also of MODONA deriued of no lesse nobilytie then he and nothinge inferiour in all gyftes of nature and ornamentes of vertue for touching her bewtie seaming of suche wonderfull perfection that it was thoughte nature was dryuen to the ende of her wittes in framinge a pece of so great excellencie they dowted not to geue her therby the tytle of the faire Helene of grece nether was she lesse meritorious for her vertues being blessed therwith so plentifully at the handes of thalmighty that it was doubted to the writers of that tyme whether god or nature deserued the greatest prayes in forminge so perfecte a creature If this were a consolation and singuler contentment of the pore MODONOYSE waighinge earste in the ballance of his vnhappye fortune denied anye more to enioye the fredome of his countrye dryuen by force from the auncient succours and solace of his frendes wandringe in wooddes and deserte places vnknowne and that whiche worse is lefte onely to the mercie of hunger and coulde with exspectation to fall eftesones into the handes of hys enemyes and nowe to bee taken from the malice of all theis myseries and restored to a place of a bode richesse and entertainement sufficient for sustentation to beare office and authoritie amongeste the best and rampierd besydes within thassured good will and opinion of the chiefe gouernor of a countrye I appeale to thopinions of those who earst haue changed their miserable condicion or state of aduersytie with the benefyt goodnes of the lyke fortune or if againe he had cause to reioyce and make sacrifice to his fortune that had gyuen hym a wyfe noted to be the odd Image of the worlde for beautye behauiour courtesey and vprighte dealyng constant wythout cause or argument of dishonesty and that whiche is the chiefest ornement and decoracion of the beautie of a woman to bee of disposition readye to obeye her husbande yeldinge hym suffraintye with a deutifull obedience with other vertues that made her an admiration to the whole multitude and her lyfe a spectacle to the Laoyes of our age to beholde Imitate the like vertues I leaue it to the Iudgemēt of that smal number of happy men who by a speciall grace from aboue are ordeined to enioye the benefyt of so rare and precious a gyfte This couple thus reioysinge the retourne of happy lyfe resigned with all their teares of auncient dule and embraced the gyfte of present time with intent to spend the remainder of their yeres in mutual cōsolacion contertement of mynde wherein they were assisted wyth a second blessyng of God who for the increase of theyr new comfort sent them a doughter who in beautye vertue and all other gyftes of grace dyd nothynge degenerate from the patterne and mould from whence she was deriued wherof she gaue great showes as nature seamed to increase her yeres and conferme her in discrecion But what assuraunce is ther in the pleasure of people seinge the worlde hit selfe is appointed his date whiche he can not passe or why shoulde we repofe a perpetuitye in our worldlye afaires seinge that both theyr continuance and confidence endes wyth the lengthe of tyme And fortune who is alwayes Ielouse of the ease of man and not content to let vs lyue longe in quiet is alwayes laying her ambushe deuisyng howe to interrupte oure felicitie and as she is blinde of her selfe and lesse certeintie in her doinges so she forgettes not to discouer her conspiracies when we leste thinke of her and invade vs when we accompte vs moste sewer of her frendshippe wherof she gaue a manifest declaration in the person of this faire Ladye from whome she toke her deare husband in the flower of his yeres and she not yet confermed in age and discretion hable to beare and withstande thordinarye assaultes of the worlde whiche she founde also of more vneasye tolleracion aswell for the feruent zeale and affiance whiche lawe of kynde dyd bynde her to beare to her late spouse and loyall husbande as also for that she sawe her selfe lefte amongest the handes of straungers farre from her parentes and frendes voyde of refuge in her owne countrye and with oute a heade to defende her from the malice of men whiche commonlye rageth wyth more extremytie againste weake and desolate widowes and pore fatherles orphanes then againste theim that are hable to withstande their malice and represse theyr violence wyth equall power And albeit she was left to her owne lybertye to lyue as she lyste as you haue harde and not yet felynge the burden of xx wynters an age fyt to engender susspicion of the euell diposed yet hauinge no lesse care to preuent the malice of slaunder then to kepe in entyer the small reuenue lefte vnto her by her husbande she toke order wyth her domesticall affaires according to her present fortune and so dismissing her ordinary traine of seruantes retyred to a brother of hers whiche dwelte also in the same towne wher after the funerals of her dead husbande were performed with sufficient teares and dueties appertaynynge she qualifieth somewhat her dule for him that was dead with the dayly view of her yong doughter the lyuelye ymage of her
capteine being one of the traine of the lord Iames TRIVOVLSE a great fauorer of the faction of GEBALYNO in Italye and at that tyme gouernor of the duchie of MILLAYNE vnder y e frenche kinge LOYS the thirde of that name whether it were to make a further proffe of the pacience of his wife or by absence to mortefie and forgett his fonde opinion conceiued without cause retired vpon a soddaine to Neweastel y e court and ordenarie place of abode of y e sayd Lord TRYVOVLSE which albeit was of hard disgestion to the ladie for a time yet beinge not vnaquainted with such chaunces and no pren tise in the practise of her husbande retired to her auncient patience and contentment by force dyssimuling with a new greefe and secrete sorowe this newe discourtesie to th ende that her waspishe husbande should take no excepcions to her in any respect but fynde her in this as the former stormes bent wholly to obey thappetit of his will and not to mislike with that whyche he fyndes necessarye to be don This TRIVOVLSE hadde not spente many monethes in fraunce but there was commenced informacion agaynste him to the king that he was reuolted from the frenche and become frend to the Swytzers and sworne to their seigneurye and faction wherewyth ymediatelye fame the common carier of tales filled all eares of MILAN and the prouince there about with this further â—ddicion that the king for that cause had seÌ„t him headles to his graue albeit as fame is rather a messenger of lyes then a treasure of truthe and ra her to be harde then beleued so this brute beinge not true in the laste did ymporte a certeine credit in the fyrste for TRYVOVLSE not liking to liue in the displeasure of his prince abandoned his charg and came into Lumbardy wher beinge sommoned by the messenger of deathe gaue place to nature and dyed who beinge the onelye maister and meynteynor of the ALBANOYSE capteine whilest bee liued colde not casely be forgotten of him after his death for after his departure was past the general doubte of the people and eche voice resolued that he was laide in hys graue Don Capitaino spado resolued whollye into teares seamed here to pass the mistery of a newe traunce whiche with the freshe remembraunce of his auncient harme and gréene wounde of vnworthie Ielowsye bledynge yet in his minde broughte hym in that case that he neyther desyred to liue nor doubted to die and yet in dispaire of theim both his solace of the daye was conuerted into teares and the howers of the night went awaye in vistons and hollowe dreames he loathed the companye of his frendes and hated the thynges that shoulde susteine nature neither was he contented with the presente nor cared for the chaunce of future tyme which sodaine alteracion in straunge maner driue his carefull wife into no lesse astonishement then she had cause and being ignoraunt of the occasion she was also voide of consolation which doubled her gréefe till tyme opened her at laste a meane to communicate familiarly with hym in this sorte Alas syr sayth she to what ende serue these pininge conceites forcing a generall debilytie thorow al your parts or why do you languishe in griefe without discoueryng the cause of youre sorowe to suche as holde your health no lesse deare then the swéete and pleasant taste of their owne lyfe from whence coÌ„mes this often chaÌ„ge of complexion accoÌ„panied with a dispositioÌ„ of malencolicke dompes arguing your inward fretting care of minde why staye you not in time y e source of your skorching sighes that haue alredye drayned your bodye of his wholsome humours appointed by nature to giue sucke to thintrals and inward partes of you and to what ende serueth this whole riuer of teares flowynge by such abundance froÌ„ your watery eyes almost worne awaye with wéeping is your gréefe growen great by coÌ„tinuance of time or haue you conceiued some mislike of newe Yf your house be out of order in any sorte or that wante of dutie or diligence in me procureth your grudge declare the cause to th ende the faulte maye be reformed in me and you restored to your auÌ„cieÌ„t order of quiet we both enioye a mutual traÌ„quillitie as apperteineth But he that labored of an other disease then is incideÌ„t coÌ„monly to men of good gouernemeÌ„t absolued her of all faultes or other mislikes he founde in the state of his house or other his affaires committed to her order lesse lacke of her diligence to make declaracion of her dutye to thutermoste but alas saith he with a depe sighe deriued of the â—retinge dolour of his minde and doubled twise or thrise within his stomacke afore he coulde vtter it what cause of comfort or consolation hath he to lyue in this world from whom the malice of destenie hath taken the chiefeste pillor of his life or to what ende serueth the fruicion or interest of longer yeres in this vale of vnquietnes when the bodie abhorreth alredie the longe date of his abode heare or why shold not this soma or masse of corrupcion which I receiued of the world bée dismissed to earth and my soule haue leaue to passe into the other worlde to shonne this double passion of present torment whiche I féele by the death of my deare frende Ah my deare Ladye and loyall wyfe my grief is so great that I dye to tell you the cause and yet the veray remembrance presents me with treble torments wherin I must confess vnto you that since the death of the late Lorde Ihon Tryuulso I haue had so lytle desyer to lyue that all my felicitie is in thinking to die neyther can ther be any thinge in the world more acceptable to me then death whose hower and time if they wer as certeine as himselfe is moste sewer to coÌ„me in the ende I could somwhat satisfye the greate desyer I haue to die moderate the rage of my passion in thinking of the shortnes of the dome that should giue ende to my dyeng ghost and vnrulye sorowes together besides waighing thinâ—inite miseries of our time accompanieng vs eueÌ„ from the wombe of concepcion with the reaste and reapose which dead men do finde And knowing withall how muche I am in the debte of him that is dead I can not wishe a more acceptable thinge then the spedie approche and ende of my dayes to th ende that being denied the viewe of his presence here I may folow him in thother world where participating indiferently such good and euil as falleth to his share I may witnes with what duetiful zeale affectioned harte I sought to honor and serue hym in all respectes But the Ladye that sawe as farre into the disease of her husbande as his phizicion into his vryne knowynge well enoughe that he dyd not languishe so muche for the desyer of hym that was dead as the ticklishe humour of Ielowsye troubled hym was content to admit his coollours
to resorte thereunto and learne by othermens misdéeds to direct better his owne doinges and not with th' exchange of the worlde to alter also his minde but rather asmuche as lyeth in hym to ymitate the lyfe and conuersation of theym who haue lyued well before wherein seinge in this worlde the nature of man in all ages althoughe the singler personnes bee chaunged remeineth stil one so also the good fortunes felicities calamities and miseries whyche happen both in publike gouernement and to euerye priuate state tourne alwayes to one effect and are lyke those of tymes paste so that by the benefyt of stories presentinge afore oure eyes a true kallender of things of auncient date by the commendacion of vertuous and valyaunt personnes and actes we be drawen by desyer to treade the stepps of their renowme and on thother syde considering the sinister fortune horrible cases which haue happened to certeine miserable soules we behold both th' extreme points wherunto the fraile condicion of man is subiect by infirmitie and also are thereby toughte by the viewe of other mens harmes to eschew the like inconueniences in our selues wherein righte honorable like as I haue rather touched sleightelye then vsed tearmes of commendacion at large according to the worthynes of so precious a Iewell as the knowledg of histories for that now a dayes euery mans mouth is open to commende the frute distilling from so florishynge a vine â—o for my part beyng more forwarde then hable to discharge my zeale in that behalfe haue bestowed some of my voyed howers whilest I was in the other sides the Sea in forcynge certeyne Tragicall Discourses oute of theyr Frenche tearmes into our Englishe phrase presumyng to commende vnto your Ladishypp the frutes and effecte of my trauayle folowynge therein the order of suche as haue spente tyme in the lyke studye who are wounte to declare theyr good wyll by bestowynge theyr labours wherewithe beinge vnhappelye denyed other frendshypp of fortune to make good my desyer in gyuing an vnfayned showe of the dutye and seruice I owe you and the house whereof you tooke youre begynnynge am here vppon tearmes of humilitye for preferment of this rude and simple dedication of theis forrein reapportes to youre honor to whose vertues as I haue chiefelye respected to gyue due renowme by preferrynge a true purtraict of your conuersation and lyfe in the vertues giftes and ornamentes of the noble ANGELIQVA chaste PAROLYNA constant IVLIA and renowned CARMOSYNA wyth others whose integretye of life hath gyuen theim a crowne of immortalitye wyth a glorious remembrance of theyr names for euer after theyr deathe so my seconde indeuor was bent to obserue the necessitie of the tyme chiefly for that vppon the viewe and examples of oure Auncesters lyues the fraile ympes of this age maye fynde cause of shame in theyr owne abuses wyth desyer to exchaunge their badd condicion and order of lyuynge wyth the studye and desyer to ymitate the vertue of their predecessours whose lyfe and renowme after death argueth the vndoubted rewarde at tendynge as a thynge of course the vertuouse and well disposed where of the contrarye appeare wounderfull tormentes and sharpp pennaunce prouided to plage the abhominable and vicious lyuer Besides it is a principle and chiefe rule in our nature and disposition to bee rather instructed by examples of familyar authorityes then reformed by seueritye of lawes for that the one seames to gouerne vs by awe and commaundement and in the other appeares a consent of oure fancie marchinge alwayes accordynge to the direction of our owne willes for whiche cause the Historians of olde tyme in theyr seuerall recordes of the actes conquestes and noble attemptes of Princes and greate men haue lefte oute nothynge seruynge for the ornamente and institution of mannes lyfe not forgettynge to sett oute also in naturall coollers theyr tyrannye and other vices withe contempte of vertue yf theyr lyues were founde guiltye in any suche offence But when they paynte oute a good kynge a magistrate without touche of partiall or couetous mynde a courtyar loyall and withoute dissimulation A minister of the Churche not smellynge of hypocrysye but searchynge purelye the honor of God A Ladye chaste honeste curteouse a louer of charitye vsynge a deuoute reuerence to God and feare to hys lawes yt is then that they allure by traines of familyaritye euerye succession to embrace and beholde as in a glasse the vndoubted meane that is hable and wylt brynge theym to the lyke perfection in vertue whyche also moued me to vse a speciall discrecion in coollynge oute suche examples as beste aggreed wyth the condicion of the tyme and also were of moste freshe and famylyar memorye to the ende that wyth the delyte in readynge my dedication I maye also leaue to all degrees an appetitt and honeste desyere to honor vertue and holde vice in due detestation And albeit at the firste sighte theis discourses maye importe certeyne vanytyes or fonde practises in loue yet I doubte not to bée absolued of suche intente by the iudgement of the indifferent sorte seinge I haue rather noted diuersitie of examples in sondrye younge men and women approuynge sufficientlye the inconuenience happenynge by the pursute of lycenceous desyer then affected in anye sorte suche vncerteine follyes For heare maye bée séene suche patternes of chastetye and maydes so assured and constant in vertue that they haue not doubted rather to reappose a felicitye in the extreme panges of death then to fall by anye violent force into the daunger of the fleshelye ennemye to theyr honour In lyke sorte appeareth here an experience of wounderfull vertues in men who albeit hadd power to vse and commande the thinge they chieflye desyered yet bridlynge wythe maine hande The humour of theyr inordinate luste vanquished all mocions of sensualytye and became maisters of theym selues by abstaynynge from that whereunto they felte prouocation by nature who desyereth to sée the follye of a foolishe lover passionynge hymselfe vppon creditt the impudencie of a maide or other woman renouncynge the vowe of her fayth or honor due to virginitie the sharpp pennance attendynge the rashe choice of greate Ladyes in séekynge to matche in anye sorte wythe degrées of inferior condicion or who wisheth to bée priuie to th'inconueniences in loue howe he frieth in the flame of the fyrste affection and after groweth not onelye colde of hymselfe but is easelye conuerted into a contrarye shapp and disposition of deadlye hate maye bée heare assisted wyth more then double expeperience touchinge all those euills the curtesie of an enemye on the behalfe of hys aduersarye wythe a wounderfull lyberalitye in the other in retournynge the benefytt receyued is heare set furthe in fuche lyuelye coollers that there seames to lacke nothynge for the ornament and decoracion of suche a wooke And who takes pleasure to beholde the fyttes and panges of a frantique man incensed to synister conceites by the suggestion of frettynge Ielouzye forcynge hym to effectes of absolute desperation
frende PROCRIS The notable Philosopher ACAST hauing thonly Credite for education of the heir apparaunt of his prince and honouring albeit the childe with more then an ordinarye affection yet hunting on a tyme among the deserts of that contreye contrary to the wil of the king for that he was warned by a prophecy of the death and distruction of his sonne in castynge a darte at the boare slewe hym whom hee loued asmuche or more then himselfe besides for a familiar profe of my allegation in this case yt is not yet viij yeres since y e countie Palatine one of y e chiefe princes of GERMANY being lost of hys companye in pursewing the chasse of a fierce boare was ouerthrowen horse and man and in daunger to be deuoured by the furye of the beaste if by good chaunce hys ryder with ij freshe dogges had not ben at hand to preuent his perill so likewise by the hunting of a wilde boare grewe the bloddy quarel betwne theses ij houses for hauing one day by force and pollycie of men and dogges kylled one of the greatest boares About SYENNA in the particular cōmendatiō which euery man gaue to the doughtines of his dogge there began to kindle a kinde of mislike in the hartes of the twoo younge Lordes whiche with the heate of the wine wherein they goolled without regarde after their trauaill and the bloudde beinge chaffed with the presse and nomber of termes of reproche bolked out at laste to cruell blowes whiche without respect of personnes seamed so to occupye the place for the tyme that besides a nomber that were hurte on bothe parts the SALIMBINS hadde the worste for that one of theyr chiefe was lefte for dead in the fielde where with the fraye discontinued for that time and euery man retired the MONTANINS not gladd of the victorye for that theye doubted a reuenge and the SALIMBINS contented by force with theyr present fortune attendynge notwithstandynge thassistaunce of a better tyme to redeme the bloude of theyr kynsman not wyth equall losse of their enemy but with vtter ruine and subuersion of the whole house of their aduerse parte whiche they fayled not accordingly to performe with suche hoate expedicion and power that after diuerse publike skermishes and priuate combats with indecent murders the contrary parte hauinge consumed the moste parte of their rente and reuenewe in meintainynge garrisons to withstande theyr malyce within the compasse of no longe tyme they hadd brought to extreme depopulatiō the whole kindred of the MONTANINS excepte one younge Gentleman named CHARLES who findynge himselfe to weake to resyste any longer the rage of his aduersaries retired to a contentement by force and gaue place to their furie and they also fyndynge the fielde abandonned without any to make head against them dismissed their angrye humor and layde asyde their bluddye weapons beinge dolled with the heauye and mortall blowes vppon theyr conquered enemies This Charles and laste remainder of the house of MONTANINO being appointed by destenie to lyue yet in spite of his enemies stirred not out of the towne of SIENNA where as a solitary man in the presse of his aduersaries he liued without eyther salutyng or hauntynge the place of theyr repaire beinge fauored notwythstandynge of the moste parte of the Cytie for that after so many broyles and horley borleys of warre which with the fiske had conuerted the greatest parte of his porcion and inheritaunce into nothynge he lyued notwithstanding of that lytle whiche fortune had lefte him in honest sorte meintainynge a traine accordynge to the state and condicion of his lyuynge hauynge in the house with hym the companye of his syster whiche the gods seamed to reserue not onelye for his speciall consolation in so greate a calamitie but also in rest oryng theyr house to hys auncient entier and beinge to buylde agayne a newe and perfecte frendshipp vppon the fyrste fondacion and confirme eftesones by her vertue a perpetuitie of indissoluble amitie betwene her brother and the house of his extreame aduersary her name was ANGELIQVA whose speciall ornamentes of nature and peculiar gyftes of God chalenged not onlye an equalytye but a degre aboue the beste and greatest Dames of that Countrey so seamed she iustelye meritorious of that name with cut doinge wronge to anye because her wisdome womanlye behauiour with humble curtesye made suche declaracion of her honestye and vertue that they whyche hated theyr house and detested the remembraunce of their Race could not close their mouthes from her due commendacion nor forbeare to wishe that theyr doughters and children were of semblable disposition suche is the operacion and force of true vertue in the hartes of suche as embrace her with vnfayned sinceritie exposinge in lyke sorte suche frutes as seame wondrous in the eye of worlde and excede the common imaginacion of men by reducinge the confusion of kindreds into an entier of euerlastynge amytie and of a mortall enemy to make a most assured frende whereof they that doubte of the goodnes of so greate a gyfte maye be satisfyed by the present of proffe this Angeliqua who so fedd the eares of the cytie with the generall Brute cōmendacion of her vertue that in one moment he which earst was chiefe and captaine of the warre against theim and seamed inuincible against all the ayde and assistaunce they could procure is nowe become a slaue and most subiect to the viewe and contemplation of her beautie in suche sorte as by litle litle he grew into termes of extreme affection and vndowted zeale towardes her whose name he hated earst no lesse then the Cankered styng of the cruell Cockatrice wherin as the humor of his loue seamed to excede the ordinarie impressions of men in that case So he neyther was hable to resiste the hoate sommaunce of his newe appetit nor kepe warre any tyme with the suggestion of his sodayne desire but as one that felt hymselfe striken with the thonderbolt of his destynie gaue place to his sentence and entred into deuise with himselfe what waye too vse to wynne the encounter of hys fancie The remembraunce of the late wronge he had done theim seamed a great impediment to his purpose neyther had he the meane to demaunde her in mariage Whose teares were skarce drye in bewailyng the desolation he hadd so lately thondred vpon al their house the simple view and recorde wherof preferred iust cause of dispaire to obtaine the good will of her brother wherwith feling a daily increase of his passion with continuall diminution and vnlikelyhod of meanes to releue his tormēt specialy for that he had imprisoned his liberty where no raunsome could serue to redeme it and that loue had bounde hym to so harde a pennaunce that the only pleasure he had in life was to thinke vpon her whome dispaire denied him to reclaime by anye meanes he began to curse thee first cause of the quarell and wyshe the huntyng of the boare hadd neuer ben tollerable in Italy
iustice were closed againste the complaint of innocents neither durst any man inueighe on his behalfe for feare of hym that was thauthor of thact and the ayde of kynsmen is as colde in that countrey as in other places and frendes nowe a dayes resemble the rauen or hungry kyte who neuer flyeth but towardes the place where they hope to fynde some thinge to praye vpon so the frendes of our age be fled so far from the vertue of true frēdshipp that they will not onely refuse to releue hym whome God and nature hath bounde them to susteine but also make no conscience to disclaime the name of a kinsman to the nearest allye they haue and that without any cause onlesse you will impute it to the want of equall welthe wherein mine owne experience moueth me to make a chalenge to some in England if my power were as indifferent to pleade with hym as I haue iuste reason to put hym in remembraunce of his fault albeit that quarels is tollerable which marcheth vnder the flagge of innocency and truth and iuste obiections wil make the guilty blushe but nowe to the sorowful MONTANYN who complayninge the points of his desaster in a darke prison where was no kynd of consolation nor yet the offer of any ECCHO to resounde his dolorous cryes was saluted the nexte daye with a copye of his sentence diffinitiue wherin he was taxed to the some of a M. Florents or losse of lyfe within ix dayes here he founde what it is to haue an euill neyghbour and how greatly they do thurst that destere to drinke of an other mans cupp but chieflye the insatiable longyng of suche as are with child for an other mans liuyng and albeit his conscience was without grudge for any offence or breache of the lawe yet his grief seamed of harde tolleracion because the cursed trayson of a Cankard Clowen shoulde tryumphe ouer hym so farre that to quenche the glot of his couetous rage he shoulde be forced to disinherite himselfe and leaue without succour his deare syster who for her part was so dolorous on the behalf of this newe desaster fallen vpon her brother that she sturred not out of her chamber nor once suffered her eyes to bee dry from teares since the firste newes of that sorowfull accident whiche she complayned with more vehemency because she sawe a present approche of perentory destruction to the little remeinder of the whole house alas saith she is the crueltye of fortune of suche rigorous condicion or her malice of suche perpetuitye that she will graunte no dispense nor admit any oblacion or offer to purchasse her fauor or is ther no sacrafice to satisfye the angry dispositiō of the heauens who ceasse not to thonder whole millions of mishappes vpon this desolate and wretched house of ours with continuaunce of their angrye regards euen vntill thutter dissolution of the same howe much better had it ben for vs fewe which remaine of the dekayed stocke and withered generacion of MONTANYNO to haue passed amongest the rest of our companions by the edge of the sworde of the enemye then in lyuynge to be miserable partakers of the vniuste malice of such as are not onely common enemies to innocency but bearynge a naturall grudge to the veray remembraunce and name of nobility do hunt with open mouth as the rauenyng wolfe to deuoure the discents of noble kynd how can this beare the name of a free cytie or iustely merite the tytle of a state not incident to seruile lawe where the gouernement passeth vnder the conueyghe of a confused multitude whome nature hath ordeined to drawe the yoke of other mens awe and lawe of kynde in their natiuitie framed to be subiect to suche as their rurall force constraines to stoope to the sentence of their dome Ah brother saith she with a freshe supplye of sorowfull teares howe rightely can I conster the cause of thy presente trouble and indifferent vndoing of vs both the example of thy wronge argues sufficiently the detestable disposition of our cursed Senatours who seame more gredye to hunte the chasse of vnlawfull and fylthye gaine then carefull to kepe their conscience wythout spott or grudge of manifest oppression and wronge for yf the desyre of thy litle liuynge in the countrey and glisteringe shewe of thy greate house in the open gaze and eye of the whole worlde passing by the streetes had not sturred vp the couetous humour of that rauenouse marchaunte thou hadst lyued free from care and thy estate farre from anye question in the SENATE house neyther woulde any man haue charged thee with imputacion of a thing which I wold to God thou hadst not onely vndertaken but also broughte to effecte to the ende thou mightest haue bene the author and I the witnes of the iuste reuenge of this villanous crew whose naturall malice more then eyther reason or iustice doth clogge the with this harde imposition of manifest wronge there is no reason that a peltynge marchaunt neuer norished in anye skole of cyuill or curteous education other then in a shoppe amongest prentises and companions of his owne calibre or the son of hym that is a slaue and seruile borne by kynde shoulde eyther beare office in a common welthe and muche lesse sytte in iudgement of theym whose harts by nature abhores to be tryed by the BARBAROVS voice of so vile and base people oh how happy be theis states contreys where hynges gyue lawes and princes vse respect of fauor to suche as resemble them in condicion and vertue neither hath he greate cause to grudge with his dome that hath his cause debated in the presence of his prince and his sentence published by suche as bee of equall honor and Reputatyon where wee alas maye iustlye exclaime againste oure cursed constellacion that hath broughte vs forthe in so vnhappie a tyme and made vs not onely incident but subiect and slaues to a councell more peruerst and partial then corrupcion it selfe I woulde our predecessours or some good fortune of forreine tyme by reducy nge this countrey into a Monarke had established a seat Royall of a Kynge wyth authorititye that only his seede and succession sholde gouerne the whole ▪ rather then by leauing it thus dispersed into diuerse cōfuced liberties to make vs a mutuall praye one to an other for haue we not the Frenchemen at oure backes and the army of the greate Uicare of Rome one the one side with the subtil Florentins ready to inuade vs on the other side in suche sorte as who so is hongry maye boldly praye vppon vs without resistaunce and yet for a more increase of our wrechednes wee mainteine warre with our selues and the best parte subdued and made thrall to suche as are not worthy any waye to be vallet to the worste of vs that feles our selues greued with suche afflictiō but what can satisfy y e couetousnes of man or what benefit can stay hym that is giuen to perfidie or falsehod to what
rather perswaded my deare brother for that the tearmes of thy laste requeste dependinge vpon yssues of extremeties do argue bothe a iustice to performe thy desyer and an incyuilitie in the in makinge so vnreasonable a demaunde the one chalenginge a consente in me by thympression of nature and bonde of dutifull zeale on my behalfe towards the the other charginge the wyth iniquitie for the respecte of that whiche thou wouldest haue me to do But seinge euerye requeste craueth a retorne of aunswere and the greater qualytie or condition the cause is of the greater delyberacion oughte wee to vse â—â—iefelye where it ymportes eyther thabsolute breache or firme confirmation of the league of lyneall consanguynitye I beseche you graunte no lesse patience to the wordes of my replie then I haue bene contented to fauor your vehement protestacion with a dollorous scilence neyther let me any longer inveighe in myne aunswere then I shall seame to preferre good reason to iustefye my iuste complaint the cause wherof doth marche with more alarams of annoye thorow all the partes in me then if I wer presently pinched with the most greuous tormentes of the worlde seing that my life with therposition of the same is nothing in respecte of that which thy ymportunities do labour to set abroche and put in vent for the onely satisfaction of a prodigall liberalitye for if the price of my life woulde suffice for the raunsom of myne honor and appaisement of thy appetit thou couldest no soner ymagyn thy contentement then the same shoulde be exposed on thy behalfe neyther wolde I take halfe the tyme to performe it which I haue vsed in making y t the promise I thought alas the late delyuery of my brother had brought to vs all an vndowted dispense of further trouble and that he had buryed in the pitt of his ymprysonmente all occasions of further disquiette And who wolde haue iudged but in the laste assalte and vniuste offer of vndeserued deathe fortune had spitt the vttermoste of her poysened malice and that in deuestinge herselfe frome the theatrye or throane of rigorous crueltie she had also broken in peces the bloddye arrowes wherewith of so longe time shee hathe persecuted our desolate howse pronounced trewyce at last to the wearye miferies of the wretched state of the MONTANINS But alas vnhappie creature that I am I fynde nowe our destenie is rather deferred then our miserye at an end seing y t that vniuste goddes of vnworthy reuenge and moste cruell stepmother inuadinge mee wythe more fury then affore doth threaten my yonge and tender yeares with more perentorye plages then euer shee thondred vppon any of my former race for if euer shee pursewed oure fathers graundefathers or anye predecessours with mortall affliction or intente of vtter ruyne it is nowe shee hathe chosen her tyme to put to her laste hande to the extreame extirpacion of the miserable reliques and remeyndor of oure pore house eyther by the wilfull losse and perpetuall exile of y e my deare brother or vntymely death of thy dysolate ANGELIQVA who canne not make prostitucion of her chastetye wythout the sacrafyce and oblation of her miserable life what is destenye if this be not the consent and iudgement of the heauens w t resolutioÌ„ to subplaÌ„t y e stock graâ—tes of our house seing y t I a simple girle w tout force voide of assistance of age or experience is constrained to admytt th one of two euils whereof the choise oughte and is hable to amase the moste wise and experienced creature that this day enioyeth the benefytt of mortall life alas my harte faileth me and reason forsaken and flede from me hath lefte my minde ballauncinge in suche confucion and contraryetie of thoughtes that beinge broughte to thertremetye of two distresses of equall perill and indifferente terror I doubte whether to coÌ„mit my life to shorte and sharppe penaunce or prolonge my dayes in pyninge dollor and secrete care of minde for the sentence which thou haste pronounced of both our estates is eyther to make a seperation by extreme exile of my brother who is no lesse deare in my harte then the ten drest part of myne eye and in whom nexte after GOD I haue reposed the whole assuraunce of my hope and consolacion of life or els in conseruinge him I see my selfe at pointe to bee constrained to make marchandise I can not tell in what sorte nor for what price of that precious treasure whiche once loste is not to be reclaimed by any meanes and for the garde wherof al women of vprighte minde honoring vertue or desierous of reputacion oughte rather to expose theimselues to a thousande mortal perilles and hazardes of deathe if nature and life were hable to abide soo manye encownters then to suffer one spotte of infamie to staine or corrupt this precious ornament and gifte of chastitie which as it is the only support and decoration of y e life of an honest woman so for a contrarye she that loseth the possession of so riche a Iewel or deuesteth her selfe of the title and crown of so great a glorye althoughe she seame to liue and kepe place amonge other creatures yet is she dead in effecte and her life recorded in the booke of blacke defame as a witnes againste herselfe in the latter days and in the meane tyme a continual reproch and obiection of shame to such as she leaueth to succede her in kindred or name How can that Lady or gentlewoman marche amongeste the crewe of vertuous dames whose honor is eyther in doubte or reputacion in dekaye by the losse of her honour but that the blod of shamo appearyng in all parts of her face wil not only discouer her faulte but makes her wearye of her lyfe by the remorce or remembrance of so foule a forfaiture How could the doughters of the Emprour AVGVSTVS seame iustly meritorious of the title of true nobilitie or worthely deserue to be called the children of such a father after their sondry villaines and lasciuious trade of lyuing hadd dispoyled them of the giftes and ornamentes of vertue presentyng theim to the eyes of all the world as creatures not worthy to haue the common ayre to breath vpon them what honor hadd FAVSTINA in wearyng the Imperial crowne vpon her head seyng she had loste the crowne and garlande of chastetie by her disordred and dishonest life Sewer she ought not to enioy the breath of lyfe nor participati with the presence or benefitt of the earth that makes lesse stoare of her honestie then of the deareste part belongynge to her soule or bodye neyther is shée worthie to be admitted amongest the felowshipp of vertues Dames that departeth with so precious an ornament at other priceâ— then the exchange or loasse of her lyfe notwithstandynge the writers of former tyme haue done manifest wronge to diuerse simple women whose vertue in preseruinge their honest name with true title of pudicitie deserueth rather an euerlastynge remembrance
of recouerye I was presented with a franke offer of my desyered praye for as it is not vnknowen to you all that sence the departure of viij or ten dayes the Lord MONTANYN here present beinge accused afore the SENATE vppon certeine peinall statutes deuised by our cruell state for the rappeale of banished men was awarded by iudiciall sentence to paye the forfaiture whiche because he coulde on t nottender within the tyme his greadie enemies forced y e law to a more rigour then was necessarie in suche sort as thexecutioner was readie to extende vpon his bodie for want of a supplye of a thosande florents to choake the couetous humour of the magistrates Euen so the view of his extremitie sturred vp such a remorce in my mynde that me thought I was sommoned by dutie to preuent the destruction of him who was brother and thonly comfort of her whom I had alredye proclaimed the soueraigne Ladye and mystres of my hart in whiche good vaine of deuocion I payd the money and procured his delyuerye who for his parte deuinynge I can not tell vpon what occasion that the beautie of his sister did worke theffect of suche a vertue in me hath not onely been thankefull for the benefit but also ouercome me in honeste liberalitie and true noblenes of mynde presenting me in the beginnynge of this eueninge at myne owne howse with a prodigal offer not onely of hymself and al y t he hath but also of his syster whom he lefte with me to vse and dispose at my pleasure wherein for ende I appeale to you all with one requeste that in waighinge rightly the gyfte of the one and offer of the other you will consider of them both and assiste me immediatly wyth your aduise in what sorte I maye yelde a due meede to suche ij precious merites the one a most familiar patterne and precedent of true nobilitie and the other a present of suche price and value that the greatest prince in ITALY coulde do no wronge to his greatnes in yeldynge honor and homage to so rare a thing wherupon he stayed his further discourse gyuinge place to thassistantes for consultacion of the case whiche albeit they knewe imported deliberat aduise afore the resolution of iudgement yet were they in amaze what sentence to gyue because they were neither priuie nor partakers of the determinacion of hym who had sommoned their apparance there rather to witnes the fact then deuide the case or impeshe his resolute intent by a contrarye councell The Ladies his kynswomen were so moued to admiracion wyth the maiestie and other argumentes of vertue in the faire ANGELIQVA that they had passed iudgement on her syde yf they had not feared to be refused of hym who wished their voice that waye and who onely beinge touched aboue the the rest most neare the quicke dismissed their astonishment in reueilyng his owne determination in this sorte Seinge you take so greate a tyme to discusse so small a matter with no lesse doubte to publishe sentence of that whiche is alredye determined let me abridge all arguments of further delaye in decipheryng in playne wordes the thynge whiche hetherunto I haue communicated but by circunstance ou shall vnderstande sayth he in takinge ANGELIQVA by the hande that hauynge the regarde of honor afore myne eyes with desyer to recompense at full the honestye and vertue of the brother I am resolued to take the syster to my deare and lawfull wyfe preferrynge by that meanes a perfect vnitye of that whiche longe tyme hath lyued in separacion and make of twoo bodyes earste and longe disioyned an equall wyll and entyer mynde desyerynge all your consentes in the consommation of this alliance whiche seameth rather the worke of God then an effect of the councell or diligence of man for the lawe of mariage beynge an institution of the highest and the thinge wherin Christ first glorified himself by miracle vpon earth is recorded in thinfallible booke of his foreknowledge to th ende nothynge chaunce whiche is not permitted and forseene by the prouidence of the God of marueils who sewerlye layed his hande vpon the brother MONTANYN in touching the with distresse and perill of lyfe to th ende that my ANGELIQVA being the onely meane of thy delyuerye might also laye an immouable fondacion of a mutuall vnitie betwene our two houses which I hope shall furuiue the length of tyme and not ende but wyth the laste remeinder of eyther of our posterityes This conclusion thus hearde of the parentes and kynsfolkes of SALYMBYNO and canuaised alitle in their seuerall opinions seamed at laste of suche reason and indifferencie to them all that they conuerted their conceites whiche kepte them occupyed for a tyme into a present disposition of wonderfull ioye and gladnes feelynge in theyr intrals and inwarde partes I can not tell by what secret instinct of minde an approche of indissoluble tranquillitie on all partes by the only coniunction of this newe allyance And albeit there was no equalitye of porciō that y e dowere of ANGELIQVA stoode aloff from the reuenues of her newe consort yet the vertue and giftes of grace appearyng in her made her seame hable to counteruaile hym in any respect his frendes with one voice gaue generall commendacion to the goodnes of his fortune for plātyng his affection in so vertuous a soyle wherein sewerly they had good reason for mariage being a law and holye Sacrament giuen vs from God as thonly knott of mutuall tranquillitie betwene man and woman oughte to be embrased for the vertue and sinceritie of the thynge and not abused with a regarde of richesse or other fylthye promocious of the worlde And he that in the choice of his wyfe respectes chieflye her beautie and greatnes of porcion besides a thousand pettie mutynies that fall out in housekeping escapeth seldom without a sprit of grudge or cyuill discension disturbynge hys quiet wyth a continuall humour of frettynge disposition féedynge hys mynde for the glasse of beautie retireth and gyueth place to age whiche also mortifyeth the delite or desyer of further pleasure and on thother syde the woman knowynge her discent more noble and porcion to excede the welthe of her husbande forgetteth not to take hart at grasse and deckynge her garlande wyth all sortes of flowers of pryde and disdayne séekes to gouerne and gett the vpper hande of hym who as he is appointed her heade by the woordes of the scripture and institution of nature So he oughte to kepe a straite hande of the same bridle and Raine of authoritie vsinge it as a chek to restraine the desyer of libertie in her that studieth to haue hym in subiection wherein I wishe all bachilors and younge men vnmaried to be armed againste so greate a mischiefe with the experience of suche theyr frendes as they see touched with the like griefe And for my part I lament the disquiet of them as woulde and can not or rather dare not attempte a simple
reformacion in them who are borne to beare the yoke of awe and commandement of their husbandes retournynge therewyth to the sequeile of SALYMBYNO who workynge the laste effect and consommation of his curtesye gaue the one halfe of his goodes of all sortes in fauour of the mariage adopting at thinstant the MONTANYN as his brother in lawe and assured frende with generall substitution to all his goodes if he chaunced to dye without heire of his bodye and hauyng children he conueighed vnto hym by suche assuraunce in reuercion as the lawe coulde deuise that moytie whiche he gaue in dowerye to his faire ANGELIQVA whome the Sonday folowynge he maried with pompe due to both their estates to the vniuersall contentement of his frendes and speciall quiet of the Citye who had endured longe affliction by the mortalitie and ciuill warre of theis ij houses Suche be the varieties happenyng in the successe of our wordly affaires wherein who wil denye but that aduersitie somtime is necessarie for men seinge she doth not only force a wonderfull remorce and reformacion of lyfe but also workes often tymes an effect of that wherin appeared an absolute impossibilitie of conquest by any other meane And truly the vertue of this example discredites vtterly the commendacion of the auncient ROMAINES amongeste whome as there chaunced diuerse tymes greate enimyties and grudge of mynde so there folowed a spedie reconcilement albeit not by suche meanes as this franke attonement betwene the SALYMBYNS and MONTANYNS but some were reclaymed by the offer of promocion some solicited by the voice of the whole common welth and confirmed by the present gyfte of some notable office and other with a regard to peculyar proffit not one of them all approchynge neare the magnanimitie in the worste of these three whereof the one sommoned by a passion of loue scamed to excede nature in perfourmynge an exploit not hable anye waye els to be wrought to effect And yet there be that cryenge out againste loue paintes hym in cullors of rage follye and frenzye but suche are rather abused wyth theyr owne conceites then hable to consider ryghtelye the vertue of that impression for loue in the noble harte is no other thing then the true subiecte of curtesye the fountaine from whence distilleth the originall of all cyuill and good order the onelye meane that moues vs to moderacion when we are inclined to crueltie or reuenge and the chiefest norsse and preseruer of peace amongest men wherein yf some vile disposition happen to violat or peruert the lawes of so necessarie and auncient institution of nature the vertue and subiect it selfe yet oughte not bee touched wyth the cause of suche faulte nor deserue to be noted of any corruption seinge suche derogation procedes by the abuse of hym that knoweth not the perfection of the thynge which falles out also in experience in diuerse other accidentes who beinge vertues of them selues do loase theyr credit by the malice of suche as abuse them vyllanouslye whervpon the good thynge is often condemned by the folly of suche as are ignoraunt in the perfection of the same in the other appeares a rare disposition of a bountifull mind so farre from the abhominable spot of ingratitude that his lyfe was ready to bee offred for the satisfaction and discharge of the curtesie if the other had required it wherein as you maye see greate effectes of true magnanymitye and wherein a noble mynde oughte not to bee ouercome with the vertue of honeste curtesye so touchynge the price of the victorye I meane whiche of the three is moste meritorious of commendacion and deserueth to weare the garland I referre the iudgement to thindifferencie of suche as wythout passion or parcialitye doe vse to note the chaunces happenynge to men you see a mortall enemye sorowed for the miserie of his aduersarie but solycited thereunto you will saye by the ineuitable force of loue whiche also wroughte his delyuerye the other marched wyth the glorye of a present so rare that the greatest Monarcke of the worlde maye be astonyed with the remembraunce of his prodigall bountie The wonderfull zeale and affection of the syster towardes her brother chalengeth no lesse praise then the reste who albeyt she had séene a proof of the curtesye of her enemye yet had she no assurance of his modestie notwythstandynge to discharge euerye waye her dutye towardes her brother she layde her virginitye vppon the blocke of vyolacion the fyrste claymeth to bee victor because his laste vertue in the mariage excedes his former curtesie but he hath ouerthrowen his enemie and not won the feelde so that he is not to enioye the prayse or price of the victorye The absolute resolution of the younge Ladye to kyll herselfe if she were forced to dishonnour againste her wyll takes awaye all glorie and commendacion from her yf the care to kepe honour and virginitye dyd not preuaile aboue the preseruation of lyfe the brother and thirde of this Crew albeyt this prodigal offer proceded by compulcion of the former bountye of hys frende yet the noblenes of hys mynde was equall to the reste and hys vertue nothynge inferiour to eyther of the other twoo And yet yf it were not the singuler respecte he had to retourne hys benefytt wyth double interest wyth care to bee more then sufficientlye thankefull to his patrone I coulde dyminishe hys glorye wherein because the lamentable tragedye of twoo poore louers sōmones me to discouer theyr misaduenture wyth no lesse reason to furnishe the stage with a declaracion of theyr loyaltye then your Ladyship hath alredye harde the whole discourse of the rare vertues in SYENNA I leaue suche Gentlemen and skilful Dames who take paine to skan this historye to argue the cause at large and resolue iudgement at leasure not doubtynge of your integritye in yeldynge the true tytle of tryumphe and glorie to some one of the three whome you accompte moste worthie to bee crowned with the Lawrel of victorye FINIS The argument THere is nothinge how good and profytable so euer it appeare whereon attendethe not a discommodytie to hym that deales in it wythout discrecion together with a perentorye displeasure in receiuing it contrarye to the consent of good gouernemēt wherin I may be assisted with sufficient confirmation in a daylye experience of the ordynarye meates brothes and other confeccions tollerated by phizicke for the sustentacion of man whiche albeit bee good of theim selues yet being swallowed in glottonous sort they do not only procure a surfeyt with vnsauery indisgestion but also conuerting our aunciente healthe and force of nature into humors of debylytie destillinge thorowe all the partes of the bodye do corrupte the blodde which of it selfe afore was pure and without infection Euen suche is the disposition of loue whose effectes directed by reason whiche oughte to guide euerie accion and doing of man be not suche enemies in deede to the quiet of our lyfe as necessary meanes to reforme the rudenes of our
owne nature accordinge to the authorytie of the poet affirminge that by loue the rudeman is reduced to a cyuilitie the foole learneth wisedom the cowarde becomes valiaunte and the couetouse nigard settes his purse wyde open to hys frende neyther is there any kinde of curtesye wherwith hee that is in loue doth not participat but who makes an experience of the contrarye I meane without aduise or iudgemente will throwe himselfe hedlonge into the golphe of a folishe and ronning phantasye escapes hardly without the rewarde whiche that frantike passion yeldeth ordenarely to suche as are vnhappelye partakers of suche infection neyther is there any thinge more furthereth the ruyne and dekaie of man then suffriuge the eyes of our vnderstandinge to be seeled with suche ymitate to ymate that as a glott of our gredy desyers whiche nature hathe enioyned to all estates to honour and embrace as a speciall vertue And trulye me thinkes that that folishe and infortunat crewe mighte reserue therrours and destructions of others as speciall pattornes and preceptes to restraine the humor of their owne madnes by the whiche or they be aware they are ledd to the brinke of mortall destruction albeit thindiscretion of that miserable sorte seames nothinge vnlike in comparaison to those that hauinge longe vsed the trade of thefte and robberye and seinge their companions passe by the sentence of a corde lacke grace notwithstandinge to disclaime the wickednes wherin they haue bene nozeled so many yeares neyther is their plage or rather iuste punishmente any thinge inferior for they makinge a chiefe glorye of that whiche is moste imperfecte in loue are eyther so subiecte to dispaire or beastely assotted withe the greedye encownter of the pleasure they fynde that procuring by theyr owne folly and want of order the processe of their fatall sommaunce in the entrey to their felycitye are forced to resigne at one instante their lyfe and loathinge contentmente of lesse contynuance then the paines in loue seame greuous to the mynde that hath y e gift to passe theim ouer by reason And like as a vehement and inwarde greffe of the mynd proceding by the malice of a synister fortune is of such force to close the poares and couduictes of the vitall partes of man that cancellinge the commission of lyfe the soule departes leauinge the body without sence like power I saye hath the vehemencie of semblable gladnes which occupienge all the partes with a generall ioye excedinge the strength of nature makes the mynde insufficent of force to withstande so greate a passion whereby strykinge the saile of lyfe the bodye is seene to vanishe as the candle lackinge waxe or weake or other matter assistinge the flame which giueth light to the beholders wherof we haue diuerse authoryties in the histories of antiquitye as one of the doughters in law to the high priest Helye who hearinge of the death of her husbande the takinge of the arke of the lord ended her lyfe with the dollorous reapport the lyke happeninge vnto her father in law for the ouerthrowe of the children of Israell by the infydelles and vncircumcised in like sorte we haue confirmacion in diuerse prophane discourses of such as haue yelded the ghoste in a traunce of vnreasonable ioye and lawghiuge as Dyagore Rhodiotto the philosopher Chilon who vpon the newes that their children had won the prise at the plaies at Olympus embrased their happye fortune with such exceding gladnes that vpon the place and present they yelded againe their tearme of borowed yeres also a folyshe Romaine woman hearing of the death of her son in a battaile fought against thennemy disgested it with great constancy but seing his safe retorne from the field contrary to her expectacion and former newes she was so assailed with superfluity of gladnes that in place to congratulate his deliuery from the perill of war she dyed in embrasing hym as of a passion of dismeasured contentmeÌ„t which argueth sufficiently the folly of them that in any degre bestowe eyther ioy or sorow so neare their harte that besydes the destruction of the body they become thunnatural morderers of their owne soules wherin w t what enamel so euer they seke to guild colour such vices yet can they not be excused of an humour of madnes proceding of a vaine braine exposing frutes according to y e spirit or guide y e possesseth them neyther is ther any coÌ„mendation at al due vnto such as thorow ympacience giue ende to their lyfe by dispaire with what title or sorname of constancy the fond philosophers of olde time do baptyse those accions of meare fury frenecy wherof as the miserable end of these ii louers yeldes sufficient testymonie dieng both in one hower of diuerse accideÌ„ts the one of a dismeasured ioye the other of a passion of desperatte sorowe so because the discourse is of vndowted troth I wishe it might moue credyt to the reador and councell to al men to eschew the like inconuensence deryued of semblable occasion THE LONG AND LOYall Loue betwene Lyuyo and Camylla together with their lamentable death the one dying of a passion of ioye the first night he embraced his mystres in bedde the other passed also the same way as ouercome wyth present sorow for the deathe of him whom she loued no lesse then her selfe ⧠⸫ AT such tyme as ALEXANDER the sixt surnamed BORGIA supplied the papistical seate at rome dwelt in SYSENNA a yong gentleman called LYVYO with his syster CORNELIA neare vnto whome was the house of a knight bering y e name of RENALDO hauing a son called CLAVVDIO with a daughter CAMYLLA which two yong dame selles by reason of neighborehead and contynuall norryture together duringe their infancye reteyned a league of suche mutuall famylyaritie and conuersacioÌ„ y t their socyetye with often entercourse together seamed no lesse then if nature had made theym the children of one father wherein as Râ—NALDO and his wife reioysed not a litle on the behalfe of their doughter for that CORNELIA was accompted to excede the rest of yonge Ladies in honest behauiour and gyftes of vertue So if it had not bene for a froward disposicion in CLAVVDIO who grudged without cause the companye of LYVYO this conuersacion and haunt of the girles had seamed of easier continuance Albeit as his presence gaue often ympedimente to their metinge so his absence restored their enterviewe in such sorte as he was no soner departed to parforme his fathers affaires at Rome or els where but his syster forgat not to visit her deare CORNELIA passinge theyr pettie follyes and recreacions of honest delyte most coÌ„monly at the lodginge of LYVYO for that there was neither awe of father nor other authoritie to controll their exercise which for the most part was every after none to dresse fyne banquetes striuing to excede one an other in curiositye and conning with a thousande other conceytes and merye chaâ— of huswiferie which seamed of no lesse pleasure to theim
so in vnderstandynge the cause I hope you wylexcuse me of effectes of other folly then suche as nature hath enioyned in generaltie to all men and to cut of your suspence and absolue your troubled mynde of all doubte you shall vnderstande that the force of loue depriuinge myne aunciently berty hath also transposed my former quiet solace of mynde into these mournynge and pynynge regardes whiche you note in me neyther can I be restored to the state which you wishe without the assuraunce of that which I desire whiche is the good wyll of her to whome loue hath be gyuen so large power ouer me And as euery medecine is measured by the greatnes of the disease and the lyght hurte is easelye healed without tryinge the exquisite skill of the Phisicion so my gréefe beinge grounded vpon great consequence doth not onely assaile me withall sortes of passions and panges of sorowe but also denyeth to brooke the operacion of other remedie but suche as is distilled from the earbe that first infected me it is not the offer of smal harmes that makes me so hurtefull to my self and hateful to my frendes nor the subiect of tryflynge annoye that sturres vp theis sighes and solytarie disposition in me it is alas for beautye her felfe that I suffer eye the veray patterne and goddesse of all perfection hath made me so forgetfull of my selfe that I seame a straunger to my deare frendes neyther haue I other power of my selfe then suche as is imparted vnto me by her whose picture I cary so lyuely in my minde CORNELIA altogether ignorant in the force of affection and by reason of the gréenes of her yeres voyed of experience in tournynge ouer the volumes of loue coulde not but smyle for the firste at thei argon or discourse of her brother albeit notinge his perpleritie she let fall also certaine teares on the behalfe of his desolate state and seynge hym wholly conuerted into contemplation of a vision iudged it an effecte of pitye to gyue ayde to his distresse whereupon she desired eftsones in mery sorte to knowe the goddesse of his de◠ocions to the ende sayth she that I may yelde her honor for youre sake and seinge you dare not presente her your requeste I maye enter into the office of an intercessour and praye for your delyuerye neyther nede you doubte to disclose her to me nor dispayre of my dilygence and readye indeuour to do you good onles you be so farr spente wyth Ialous passion that you feare I wyll rausshe her from you or preuente the desier of your pleasure in beinge in loue with her my self you abuse y e loyaltye of my meaning and I doe wronge to exacte so farre vpon rour secret imagination I am cōtente sayth he you I est candtake pleasure in the eusll whiche I suffer so that you will performe the effecte of your promisse whiche you maye the rather accomplishe by the credit you haue with her who is the onely cause of my tormente whereof after she had giuen hym a seconde assuraunce by othe and protestation of faythe he tolde her not withoute a freshe supplie of sorowe that it was CAMILLA to whom his libertie was captile and in the ballance of whose compassion wayghed indifferently the lycence of longer life or sentence diffinitiue of presente death desierynge her for ende to make her priuie to the paine he indured and with all to procure spedie moderacion of his gréefe or els to awarde the writte of fatall somonce to hym that is not hable to féede the vaine of lyfe without the foode of her speciall fauour The gyrle delityng still in the amarous discourse of her brother willed hym to take harte at grasse and makynge exchaunge of his solytarle order to a wake out of his dreame of dompes and reuoke his disposition of auncient cherefulnes leaste his mistres loathing his thyn and wearishe lookes be affraide to graunt loue to a Stoane or suffer her selfe to be embrased by one in who me is neither present delite nor likelihod of future pleasur Ah sister saith hee how your libertie of tounge argueth your small experience in cases of loue whose delites consiste in teares sighes and dolorous complaintes wherein as suche as be moste constante of all make declaration also of effecte of suche loyaltie in takinge pleasure to recorde their sorowe with tunes of lamentable note so in exposinge the contrarie we discouer at vnwares the slender affection we beare to the thynge we desier and for my parte I fele no lesse pleasure by ymagination when I see with the eyes of my mynde the beautie and other perfections of my deare CAMILLA then you whiche neuer tasted of the apprehension of this frée constrainte whiche the destenie of loue hath appointed to attend vpon me I am glad saith she to be warned in this sorte to eschewe the lyke euill in my selfe and sorie to note the experience of so great an inconuenience in you but seing you are so sewerly rampired in your folye that thoffer of persuasion is hatefull vnto you I am contente you féede vpon suche ease as you finde and take pleasure in the simple contemplacion of the ymage of your Saint for for my parte I had rather haue an hower of reste disposinge my selfe to slepe assone as my head the pillow be met then lye with mine armes of crosse regardynge the course of the starres and builde castelles in the ayre or be troubled in dremyng of the dissolution of the worlde and then to baptise suche impediments and enemies of reste by the name of the pleasures of loyall louers with addition that it is a peculiar glorie gyuen them frō aboue by the inuisible goddesse it is a pore repaste God knoweth for an emptie stomake to féede only of wishes and satisfye his thurste with drinkinge of an emptie cuppe or restore heate to the benommed partes by a cold chymney or satisfye the desieringe minde with simple contemplacions wherewith she retired with intent to trye the nexte daye whether CAMYLLA had any vaine that stretched to satisfye the desier of her brother whome she lefte with more argument or consolation then afore by reason of the hope he reaposed in her diligence Here was a double offence in LIVIO both to force his syster to an enterprise indecent for her honor and age and also to prefer her to be the DARIOLETTA of his loue opening as it were the way of voluptuous pleasure to al youth y t which is to much enclined that way by the corruptiō of our own nature without that we nede thassistāce of art to supplie our defaultes in so vnhonest an ercercise albeit our blindnes is so great in things of such foly that in respectinge only y e present we neuer feare y e fal of future incōuenience til being serued with y e writ of present penāce we fynde to lytle leasure to repente so greate offences and albeit accordyng to Aristotle it is necessarie to be priuie
helpe in mortall distresse it is tyme nowe good madam to conuerte your Auncient crueltie into an humour of compassion both to defende your self from thymputacion of a tyrant and my lyfe from a wretched ende of miserable dispair ceasse hensfurthe to dissymule thuttermost of your rigour or drop of present grace seinge that both the one and the other hath indiffrent power to releue my distresse eyther by death in denieng me your fauour or contynuance of longer lyfe by impartyng your specialle grace come cruell misters and see thy vnfortunate LIVIO without hart hope or argument of longer breathe yf by a promisse of thy good will thou breathe not an ayre of freshe consolacion and by the sommaunce of thy worde reuoke my dyeng mynde from thys tombe of myserable dispaire where in I feele my self so tormented with thofficers of deathe that nature ceassyng to supplie my weary partes with force I fynd an impossibilitie in my tonge to obey any longer the desyers of my hart wherewith his breath began to drawe short staying the course of further speche yf not that in entryng into hys fatall traunce he exposed certeine dolefull groanes whyche caused bothe the younge Ladies to Ronne in haste to the succour of the patient whome they founde stryuinge with thextremetie of hys laste pange albeit not without some litle perye of breathe whyche he seamed to reserue wyth greate difficultie whereuppon CAMYLLA seynge a prouffe of his constancie euen to the laste moment and hauynge but one meane to releue hys traunce made no conscience to lett fall her rosye and courrall lyppes vppon the mortifyed mouthe of her diynge LIVIO who receyued suche present consolaciō by thys offer of fauour vnloked for that y e force of nature and vitall strengthe ready to depart out of euery vayne of hys bodye retired to theyr auncient places wherewith he vsynge the benefytt of his fortune forgatt not to embrase his Ladye with an infinite of kysses whereof shee restored hym a double interest albeit because he shoulde make no greate proffytt of thys soddayne courtesye and to preuent with all a suspicion of lyghte behauiour in her self she vsed her accustumed wysdome entering into familiar conference in thys sort I hope SEIGNEVR LIVIO you will not conuert thys compassion whych I haue vsed in the rappeale of your mortall farewell into any synister opinion of the diminucion of thintegretie of CAMILLA who as longe as she lyueth will so stande vppon the garde of her honour and honest renowme that no degree shall haue iuste cause to reprehende the leaste fauor shee extendes to any man in whyche conceyte I am also content to impart a credyt to your loyaltie perswadynge the same to bee without fiction whereof I am no lesse glade then I hope the loue whyche youe beare me is chaste and of honest intent respectynge an ende of sinceritie for yf I sawe any lykelyhodd to the contrary and that a dyseordinat wyll did guide your desyer and were the cause of your passion assure your selfe I woulde make lesse conscience to committe me to the mercye of the moste horrible tourmentes in the worlde eye and perill of present deathe then to lease anye parte of that whyche makes me marche without blushynge amongest the beaste of oure contrey in whyche respect wyth full perswacion of a sincere simplicitie in your loue I can not but retourne you a semblable fauour with absolute assuraunce from thys instaunte of such firme affection and zeale as any ladye oughte to impart to hym who seekes her frendshyppe in sorte of honeste and lawfull mariage neyther shall yt dekaye after theffect of desyer be parformed nor dymynishe by any synister accident vntill the fatall sequestracion of our sowle and bodye whereof lette vs vse wisdome in the conueyghe of suche affaires as maye bee taken bothe in good and euyll parte to th ende that the maiestye of the hyghest beyng not offended our honour fall not into the slaunder of the worlde wherein for a first charge to bee comitted to your diligence and with all to prefer an assured effect of the vehemencie of your affection towardes me dispose your self to demaunde me of my Father whose consent you shall fynde me to confirme in such sorte as your selfe shal deuise Arme your selfe then with compfort and retire to healthe at the request of her who takynge no pleasure in solitarie regardes wisheth you to reserue this precious flower of your youth for other exercises then to wast with passions of desperacion no lesse enemies to the strenghte of the bodye then hurtefull to the healthe of the sowle and seynge besides that in the recouery of you consistes the healthe of your syster suspende no longer the consolacion of her and contentement of your selfe and me who in attendynge your expedicion to procure the goodwill of my father will dispose my selfe in the meane while to bee thankefull vnto you any waye wherein myne honour and honestye will iustifie my doynge whiche laste wordes seamed of suche operation in the traunsed mynde of LIVIO that discharged as it were of a perillous vision in a dreame lyfted vp hys eyes and handes towardes heauen yeldyng honour to the goddes for hys happye encounter and kyssynge the white and delycate hande of hys newe mystresse he forgatt not to gyue her suche humble thankes as the greatenes of hys felicitie required whych seamyng to hym to excede the compasse and power of fortune iudged it rather the vertue of a dyuyne miracle then an effect mortall for that in so soddayne amoment he was acquited of so perentory a daunger assuring her that assone as health and strengthe of body woulde assyste the desyer of his mynde he would performe her comaundement in demaundynge her fathers consent wherein he hoped to delay no long time for that he felte a wonderful approche of health by the viewe of her presence in his late last storme of afflictiō I wold do no lesse saith she then yelde you soccours in so great an extremitie both to delyuer my selfe out of payne in seinge you passioned and also to qualifye the greffe of my deare companion your syster to whom you are also bounde in some sorte to be thankeful for my commynge hether For albeit my conscience sommoned me to a compassion of your torment with desier to yelde you the due hyer and consideraciō of the honest loue you beare me yet y e regarde of mine honour deniynge me to visite you seamed an impediment to theffect of that wherunto I was bounde by so many duetifull merites prayinge you for ende to excuse that whiche is past and pardon me for the present in that I can not assiste you with longer companye persuadyng thy selfe my deare LYVIO that althoughe my bodye muste supplye an other place to coullour the trafficque of our loue and preuent suspicion yet thou hasts made suche a stealth of my hart that the same will not fayle to kepe the companye in my absence wherewith takynge her leaue
can afore the sequestration of the earthelye substance from the part of diuinitie whyche wee partycipat with God and what contentement or glorye so euer they reappose in thys monstrous abrydgement of nature reprehendynge theym of destoyaltie whyche do the contrarye yet their acte merites none other name then the title of brutalitie neyther can I thynke but their opynion is guided by some sprite or humor of frantyke follye lyke as yt is not the part of a Christiā as the Appostle affirmeth to prefer the fyckle pleasures of the flesh whych are of shorter moment then the thoughtes of a man afore the feare of God recke of our life and care to present our sowles with out spot afore the troane of mercie in the daye of generall accompte when all thoughtes shal bee deciphered and no falte vnpunyshed the poore girle of the chamber to the dead CAMILLA seynge thys fatall misterye wyth the distresse she was in for that she was a companion of the conspiracye thinkynge to giue ende and playe the laste acte of the tragedy serched about the chāber for some glaue or sword or other thinge apte to make the minister of her blody intent being deceaued that way she had no other meane to playe doble or quit but with impetuosity of dollor wherein she raged with such doleful skryches that the brute of her cōplaint awaked the whole house whereof the first that entred the chamber of funeralles was the tyraunt CLAVDIO whoa albeyt was thenly cause of this dolorous massacre yet in place of confessyng his falte or yelding sorow to the losse of such ij loiall louers he grewe in more rage by the viewe of the dead body of LIVIO wherof as he would willingly haue cōmitted a new morder sauing that he sawe him without respiration or argumēt of lyfe so his anger being torned into wodnes rage into furye he wreaked his collor vpon the poore girle to whome he gaue iij. or iiij estockados with hys dagger thorowe the bodye and slonge ymediatlye oute of the chamber to the greate amaze and terrour of hys vnfortunat father who seynge hys house full of morders and hys sonne committed oppen slaughter in the person of the innocent gyrle coulde not so gouerne his passion of dolour but he seamed more ready to passe that waye then desyrous to enioy longer life albeit beyng kepte from doynge force agaynst himselfe by certaine hys seruauntes that were there he vttered sompart of hys inwaerde gref by open exclamation agaynste hys owne misfortune inveighynge chyeflye agaynste the inordin at will of hys daughter with aduise to all fathers to kepe a steddye eye vppon their slypprye y outhe wherein he comended vnto theym the example of hys owne follye in fauoryng so much the fonde appetit of hys daughter that he gaue leaue to her Libertye to excede the viewe or pursewte of his eye accusynge chieflie the impedyment he gaue to the mariage seynge that in the same appeared the perentory ruine of hys house continuall desolation to hys old yeres and in the ende to leaue hys goodes and lyuynge to straungers for want of an heire of his bodye for that hauynge but ij children the one was already dead and the other no lesse worthe by y e mortal violence he had vsed vpon the innocencie of the mayd who after y e surgeants had somwhat stayed y e bledyng of her woundes confessed the contract and circūstance of the loue whereof you haue harde a particular declaracion whiche rather encreased the dule of tholde man then gaue moderation to his sorowe whyche notwithstandynge by the perswacions of hys neighbours and constraint of necessity whych as a vertue giueth pacience perforce to all extremeties he dysmissed in outeward showe and disposed hymself to the funerall obsequies in as solēne manner as he cold erectynge a tombe of marble in Sainct francys churche wherin were shryned the bodies of the ij louers as dead at one time and by one occasion to the great regreat of the whole towne wherein euerye one was so indifferentlye passioned wyth sorowe that a man should hardly haue hard any other tunes then publike exclamacion against the cruelty of CLAVDIO by whyche generall complaint together with the depositiōs of the mayde who dyed within three dayes after her hurtes DOM RAMYRO CATALANO gouernor of CESENNA vnder CESAR BORGIA began to enter into tearmes of compassion on the behalfe of the ij dead louers and mortall anger against CLAVDIO for that his cruelty only was the cause of the death of the ij only flowers peragōs in Italy wherin he purseued so vehemently y e rigour of his office equity of iustice y t CLAVDYO lost his head secretly within the castel for feare of mutine or tumulte of his frendes This was y e miserable end of y e loue lif of y e ij SISENNOIS wose death and discorse of amarous traffique for y t it doth not exced the remēbrāce of our time I haue preseted as a familiar exāple affore y e eyes of our youth to th end y t euery one respecting y e duty of his own indeuor may vse y e misery of this precedēt as a paterne to preuēt y e like myschief in thē selues wherin also as we may note that loue is but a rage or humor of frātike follye deriued of our selues conuerted to our owne harme by thindiscrecion that is in vs so y e next remedy to withstand that furye is to encounter him vnder thenseigne of raison slee the occasions whyche weaken the mynde wythout trauell and bringe the bodye in the ende to the theatrye of execution wee are also warned here to temper the delites wee possesse with suche measure that forgettynge the blyndenes of LIVIO we maye eschewe the horrour of hys acte with detestation of the folys he vsed in the glott of his vnlawfull pleasure FINIS The argument ACcording to thoppinion of the wise Demosthenes there is no one vertue that hath made more famous the fathers of formèr time thenne the gyft of cyuill curtesy neyther is nature more glorifyed in the ympes of her creation then in that we dispose our selues doings according to the dispocition of the clymat whiche shee hath appointed to gouerne our accions and thoughtes respecting chiefly to refraine from violacion of innocent blodde which in al ages hath restored a name of great clemencie to diuerse Albeit touching other effectes they were ambycius tyrantes and cruell enemyes to their owne common wealthe whiche vnnatural crueltie also as it hath bene is of such detestacion amongest y e rudest companions of the world that the verye barbarians haue alwaies had in horrour the wickednes of suche as pursewed the queste of guiltles blodde and toke awaye the life of him that had not committed offence So they haue alwaies had in honour the vertue of suche as soughte to extirppe the roote of tyranical furies borne for the ruine and destruction of man like as among the romaine emprours
as a blinde guide doth leade them into infynit miseries laborinth of endles annoye where there is no dispense of their follie but losse of libertie perpetual infamie and sometime punishemente by vntimely deathe whyche as they bée worthie rewardes for suche as doat so much in their owne wisedome that they accompte the same hable of it selfe to comprehend the whole globe or compasse the worlde So the wise man affore he entreth into any enterprise of waight beinge carefull for the conueighe of the same dothe not onlye compare the ende wyth the beginning and cast the sequiel and circumstance euerye waye but also entringe as it were into hymselfe he makes a view of that which is in hym and for his better assistance he will not refuce the aduise of his frends by whiche meanes he is sewer to reape the rewarde of his trauell with treble contentmente and seldom is he punished with to late a repentance Herewith also thexample of the wise maryner doth in like sorte aduise vs who comming by fortune or violence of wether vpon an vnknowen coaste doth straight way sounde and trye the depth of the riuer by his plommet and lyne neyther will he let fall his Anker onlesse he be sewer of the fyrmenes of the grounde whiche if it do faile him yet is hee to wythstande the malice of daunger by kepinge the chanell whiche yeldes hym water enoughe So if this wretched ALBANOYS hadde made a view of himselfe his forces afore he became subiect to y e humor of Ialouse suspicion or if he had giuen correction to his falte in tyme and suffred reason to suppresse the rage of his follie afore he was growen to tearmes of madnes he had enioyed his Ladie at pleasure lyued yet in quiet and preuented the fowle note of infamie wherewith the gates and posternes of his house wil be painted till thextreme date of the world and eschewed the peril of dampnable dispair inkilling himselfe with like violacion and bloddie slaughter of his in noceÌ„t lady whose death with y e strauÌ„genes in executioÌ„ being once knoweÌ„ to the multitude it is to be woÌ„dered what generall dule and desolation were in all partes of the citie how al estates and degres of people spared no sortes of teares nor other dollerous tunes bewailinge her misfortune with seueral grudges at the malice of her destinies that in such cruel maner toke froÌ„ amoÌ„gest them y t persoÌ„ of her whose vertues other ornamentes of God nature serued as a special mirror or loking glasse to al ages wherin certeinlie they had great reason for a lady or gentle womaÌ„ equal with her in coÌ„uersacion euexye way I meane chast without argument of dishonestie deuowt and yet hatinge supersticion bowntiful without wasteful prodigalitie wise without vaine vaunting so obediente towardes her husbande as was necessarie and lastlie lackinge the furniture of no good vertue can not be to much honored in her life nor worthely renoumed after her death aswel for y e such rare gifts are no lesse meritorious for the vertues that be in theim then that they serue as special allurementes to prouoke younge ladies and gentlewomen desyrous of like glorye to ymytat thexample and vertues of them whose due fame is hable to excede the length of time and lyue after deathe who hathe no power but ouer our corrupte Soma or masse of fleshe beinge barred to medle wyth the felicitie of the mynde to whome only the title of perpetuity is due wythout exception And as her life and deathe ymporte seuerall vertues and deserue semblable commendation the one for that shee neuer made showe of mislike what wronge soeuer hee wroughte her the other in that shee failed not to honor him til the laste hower of his life So may you also descerne therein .ii. seuerall exaumples the one to warne the lighte and harebrained husbandes not easelie or for smal occasions to enter into suspicion with their wyues whom they ought to loue and honoure no lesse thenne theimselues the other to presente vnto the ladyes of oure tyme the due rewarde of wysedome obedience and chastetie which be the thinges that make this greeke lyue after her deathe beinge worthelye inuested wythe the wreathes of honoure amonge all the ladies of that contreye FINIS The argument BEcause I haue already in diuerse places sufficientlye deciphered the forces of loue and what effectes he exposeth hauing once brued the cuppe of the pleasant poison of our sensual appetyt whereoÌ„ whosoeuer Syppeth swaloweth iustelye the rewarde of suche follies I maye the rather be dispensed wythall eftsones to reitterate in this place that whiche earste hathe bene inferred touchinge the awe whiche that passion hathe ouer the hartes of those whose destenie yeldes theim subiecte to so great an euill Beinge bolde withall to note as a principle or rule of generalitie that that infection procedes rather of the corrupcion of our owne nature then of the perfection of the same Albeit some vaine philosophers are not ashamed to aduowch his beginning of the moste perfect partes that are in the spirite of man wherein I see neyther authoritie to allowe their saing nor reason to confirme their opinion onles they will make it meritorious for thindiscretion and follies whiche appeare in theim that participat with such passion for a familiar testymonie wherof I haue preferred this historie folowing not only affirminge my former protestacion touchinge the disordinat effectes of loue but also to iustefye the opynion of him who makes no difference betwene the deuise of loue and raginge fyttes of frenezy or one posseste with a wicked spirite for here you maye see a gentleman of Myllan to enioye a presence and pleasure of his Laâ—â—â— refuseth not to coÌ„mit himselfe to manifold daungers with diuerse perillous encounters wherof the one seamed no lesse mortal then the other and euerye one threatening the end of his life by present morder albeit his felicitie defended him from harme and the peril passed makes him dread a future plunge SONDRYE PERILLS happeninge to a yonge gentleman of Myllanin the poursewte of his Ladye NOt longe after MAXYMILIANS FORCE by the guide of euill fortune wante of good gouernmente in himselfe hadde lost the state and seigneurye of MILLAN there happened no lesse desolation to the vnhappie faction of the GEBELYNS whoÌ„ the power and pollecie of the great TRIVOLSO did not only abandon their naturall soyle and place of a bode dryuinge theym from the possession of their worldlye porcions but also persecuted their wretched state with suche creweltie that they were readie to yelde to the somonce of dispare if it had not bene for the simple proffer of a certeine hope they reaposed in thassistance of themprour MAXIMILIAN who more willing then hable to restore their desolation pursewed the reuenge of their wronge wyth a puissant armye euen vntill the walls and gates of MILLAN where he receyued suche hoat repulses by the valyaunte encounters of Charles Duke of Burbon
therle neither ignorant in the sollies of women nor voyde of experience to practise suche kinde of creatures preferred a wounderful pacience as his chiefest remedy against the rage of his wyf laying afore her notwithstaÌ„ding in gentle tearmes the dutie and indeuor of a wyfe towardes her husband how much in what sorte she ought to respect the honor of her self and reputacion of mariage and that as no woman oughte to putt in interest her honor or honest name so the greater she is in degrée the more haynous is her offence and a small faulte of a great Ladie is most mortall in the eye of y e multitude who lookes that the lyfe and vertue of greate Ladies shold serue as it were as a torche of cleare flame to gyue lighte to the lesser companions neither is the chastetie of y e mynde saith he sufficient to confirme the perfect renowme of a gentlewoman if the wordes and outewarde hehauior of the bodye do not followe thinwarde vertue of the hart thordynarye hawnte and exercise giue manifest declaracion of that whiche lieth hyd in the secretes of the stomacke and for my part I wolde be loathe to giue you cause of miscontentement seing that in the reapose of you consistes the rest of my self and you beynge oute of quiett I can not escape without greeff seynge that as the mutuall consent of our wills and affections with the like coniunction of mariage hath made you the one halfe and second part of my selfe so I exspect at your handes only a simple accomplishement of that which your publike othe affore God and man in the churche hath bounde you vnto like as also I am readye to performe vnto you thuttermost of any promisse or priuiledge where of at any tyme I haue made protestacion with full assurance froÌ„ this present of euerye part of the same so that you giue me the due respect of a husbande for as the head beyng the chief and principall part of the reste of the members hath as yt were a speciall authority by nature to gouerne the whole masse and remeynder of the bodye so the woman beynge thinferior part of her husbande is subiect to all dutifull obedience on his behalfe bounde to honor hym with no worse tearmes then by the name of Lord and maister for in omittinge your duty towards him you abuse the vertue of your vowe approued by sollemne othe and in inceÌ„sing his dishonor you are guâ—ltie of the violacion and breache of wedlocke one chief ouersighte I note in you is for that vppon smal causes you fordge great complaintes which argueth the rather the ydlenes of your brayne for the mynde that ys occupyed wyth vanitye is forgettfull of all thynges sauynge suche as thynstygacion of pleasure and folly do preferr to her remembraunce where on the contrarye part the sprite affected to vertue exposeth alwayes â—rutes accordynge to so great a gyfte dissimuling her passions with wordes of wisdome and in knowing-much giueth not withstandynge a showe of an honest and moderate ignorance she that laboreth in a passion of particular coÌ„ceites with detestacion of the due respecte of honor can not studie other workes then such as seame to fauor her follye nor open her eares to any voice if the same agrée not to the coÌ„plot and coÌ„tentement of her fancie wherein as I hope you will eyther pardoÌ„ me by iustice or at least excuse my simplicitie for that as you late tearmes of reproche haue forced me to suche a plaines so for ende if you will renounce your trade of former folly and fromhenâ—â—urth retire to an orderly confirmitie of life you shal not only procure a singler pleasure to me but cause an absolute contentement with continuall quiet to your selfe whereof bée careful as you thinke good Here the erle had great reason and double pollecie in seking to reforme thabuses in his wif without thassistance of crueltie or constraint for that suche disposicions are rather reduced by faire intreaity then reclaimed by feare or force of torments according to the nature of diuerse of thinsensible creatures for the fierce Elephant standes not in awe of his keaper by force of any stripes but is made tractable to bende his lardge bodie whilest he mounte vpon his backe by certeine familiar voices and stroakinges of his keper wherewith he ouercometh the naturall rudenes and crueltie of the beaste The Tygre will take foode at the handes of the wildman norished in the caues and desert habitacions amongest theim where no stripes nor other awe of man can moue any moderacton to his wodnes or cruell nature So likewise some women albeyt they are quite deuested of all honor or honestie yet are they founde to reteine some sparkes of ciuil humanitie beinge more easelye broughte to a reformacion by gentle order then reclaimed by the smart of any torture or crueltie wherein not withstandynge this countesse seamed to vse a more extremety and excede y e doinges of any that euer haue bene noted of disorder that waye for neither gentle perswacions colde allure her nor feare nor force reduce her to reconcilement or amendement of life but accordynge to the stone of Scylicia vppon whom the more you beate to bruse or breake yt in peces the greater hardnes is dryuen into it so the greater indeuor therle vsed to persuade his wyfe eyther by allurement or offer of correction the more peruersatie he founde in ber with lesse hope of amendement and as she vsed a malicious scilence during the discourse of his exhorâ—acion so she forced in her selfe for the present a wounderfull patience to th end that with the consent of a more conuenient time she might spitt oute the poyson whiche she shrowded secretly vnder the wynge of her venemous stomacke wherby for a first proofe of her conninge in the parte she mente to plaie she forgat not to dissimule her passion and conterfet the simple ypocrate in suche sorte as a wiser man then therle mighte easelye haue bene taken in the snare of her deceite whiche notwithstandynge she vsed in such couert manner that within shorte time she had not only remoued al conceites of euill from the head of her husband but also brought him to an opinion of a maruelons honesty and assured confidence in her in whyche good vaine for a more declaracion of his good mynde towardes her he obserued her fancie so farfurth as vpon a soddaine he brake vp house in Scauoye and went to Casaliae where laye her inheritance and chiefe possession Yf you marke wel the fetche of this womaÌ„ in procuring her husband to depart his coÌ„trey what a sodaine checke folowed to him with a false bound to y e honor of her selfe you may easely iudge that a woman once bent resolued to do euill hath a wit to ymagine al malice sorts of mischief to be ministers in therecucion of her wickednes that neither feare of punishement imputacion of shame perill nor daunger how
the cause to procede of the sinister subornation of the Countesse Blanche Marie whose lyfe and trade accordyng to the discourse you haue alredy harde he ymparted at large to the DVKE and reste of the councell she beynge aduertised of the whole had tyme and libertie to flee but god whyche is iuste would not that her wickednes shoulde bée assisted with anye longer date seynge that if she had liued her malice woulde also haue raged vppon therle GAIAZO who by good chaunce was at that tyme out of the towne The nexte daye shée was sente into an other prison in the towne to auoyde conference betwene Dom Pierro and her whereof there was more cause of feare then néeded for that vppon the firste examination she confessed the whole conspiracie trustynge belyke in I can not tell howe manye her thousande crownes where with shée hoped to corrupte the gouernour or suche as bare authoritie vnder him wherin her exspectation was no lesse frustrate then her destinies seamed wearie to fauour her with longer lyfe for the offer of her crownes was hatefull to the vpryghte ministers of instice and other meanes of medyacion hadde no place in the senate for that she was iudged to bée taken oute of prison the seconde daye after the morder and loase her head in the place of publicke execution in the meane while the capteines of the armye purchassed the lyfe of the bastarde of CARDONO and sente hym with diuers letters of comendacion to themperour who for the respecte of hys experience and practis in warre aduaunced him to a charge conueniente for his skil And albeit the laste arreste and sentence diffinitiue of the miserable countesse was communicated vnto her to th ende she mighte put her selfe in readines to passe the dreadfull iourney of deathe yet seamynge to repose muche for her selfe in th' assistance of her coffers she neyther dismayed at the newes nor disposed her self any waye toward God vntill the sergeantes criminall taking her out of her dongeon in the castell led her to the fatall theatrie in the market place where was erected a faire skaffolde to playe the laste acte of her tragedye vppon there y e wretched Ladye entred into open confession of her faltes and former lyfe in the hearyng of the multitude desiring God vpon her knées wyth greate effusion of teares not to deale with her according to her deserts but that she mought enioye the benefytt of his mercye and that he woulde not argue agaynste her for yf he iudged her accordinge to her iniquities shée was not hable to abyde it and so desyering the people to preferr their prayers on her behalf for her better assistance of y e spirit of grace in her perillous passage which she had to parforme she renounsed nature by the deadly blow of the sword of execution whiche toke awaye the head from the parnicious bodie of her who in her life neuer founde any wickednes whyche shee dyd not onelye ymbrace but excede wyth ymitation and increase with further vylanye nor was acquaynted with any vertue whyche she dyd not abuse or conuert into an agrauacion of synne a goodlye example suer for the youth in oure tyme seynge that the greatest parte launsynge indifferentlye into the gulphe of all abhominacion are gouerned onelye by the transport of their vaine foolysh conceits without hauing respect to the suÌ„dry mischefes impositions of shame which fayle not to attend the end of suche exercises for yf the Lord of Cardonne hadd not bene rescowed by th' assistance of a good fortune and taken out of the handes of distresse by speciall ayde of thother Captaynes it may be easely iudged what miserie had thundered vpon him by geuinge himselfe in praye to the flatteringe appetit of a lighte and foolishe woman who seamed to yelde him more glée or fauor for the satisfieng of her own lust and to performe her malicious deuise then for any respect of loyaltye or true loue Indiferent care of his honor or honest regard to her own estimation and trewlye as hys misfortune is great that bestoweth his affectioÌ„ vpoÌ„ a whore for that he is incident to a thousande inconueniences So his folye is no lesse that perswades himselfe to be beloued of a common doxie seinge their amytie continueth no longer then they reape eyther pleasure or profit neyther are they so inconstant in loue as voyde of measure in Imaginacion of mischiefes wherin for that our plentiful time yeldes vs choyse of examples and sorte of familyar experience I am content to abridge the Iustification at this tyme for that to maintain continuall argument of morders or affaires full of peril is often hurtful to the quyet mynde desiring somtime a pleasant recreacion from affliction no lesse then the pylot or weary mariner couets a present calme and appeasement of angrye EOLE after they haue bene longe forwearyed in contending against the malice of their fortune amonge the perillous strayghts of thunquiet occean And albeit the corruption of our owne nature is so great that we take more delight to heare a discours or beadroll of folyes then in reportes enterlarded with admonicions full of reason and wysedom yet am I perswaded that suche as haue their mindes typped wyth vertue caÌ„not be so peruaâ—â— nor voyde of good disposition as the other wretches whose lyues bearynge the badge of infamie makes theim also sequestrated from the reste of the good sort wherin we ought to be fullye resolued that there is no Hystorie howe full of pleasant delyte so euer it appeare which yeldes not with all wholsomme Instructions to dyrecte oure lyues neyneyther ought we to be soscrupulous or ful of curiositie As eyther to condemne or mislike the pleasaunt comodye for that it is not painted with y e serenety of the Stoickes seing the volumes of prophaned records scripture it self do note vnto vs the lyues of sundre vicious parsons not for that we shoulde enter into tearmes of grudge againste the reaport of suche auncient antiquitie nor dispose our selues to the imitation of the like vices but rather in vewynge the strange and greuous punishment whiche ordinarily hath ouerwhelmed suche sin to learne and labor to directe our lyues by the contrary of their examples whiche is one respecte that made me put my penne in exercise to prefer this historie to our vulgar tonge to thend also that the frayle youth of our countrie that folowe the damnable path of iniquitie maye sée howe sewer they are to féele the heauye hand of God who blesseth the good sorte wyth a plentyfull gyft of his grace and punisheth the wycked with sundrye sortes of affliction FINIS The argument WE sholde not neede so muche thassistance of foreine recordes nor reporte of aunciente histories excedinge the compase of our age and memorie if we were as carefull to note thaccydentes of our own time as we seame curious in admiracion of rare things whose glorious antiquitie with parcialitie of fame settes a more price of thindeuor of others theÌ„
which durynge the daunce he fayled not too graspe as often as hée durst gaue suche encrese to the warre alredy begon renewinge the combate of his thoughtes with suche fresh supplies of affection that he found himselfe so much to weake to menteine warr with one of the gretest lordes of the world that geuing place to his present fortune he resigned the fortresse of his former quiet and became prisoner to him who wolde not be content with any other ransome then the losse of his libertie duringe his plesure and albeit the poore gentleman felinge to great an extremytie in this first passion woulde gladly haue resigned his preferment not pursewed the sequele or folowe the chase yet whether it were y e smale experience he had in the skole of loue or the angrye dome of hys destinies that wolde not dismisse him without the rewarde of his follie or whether the foggy myste of founde affection hadd so séeled the eyes of his mynde that he sawe hymselfe denied the assistance of any meane to redeme him from the yoke of his newe bondage or what yt was the sequele of his yll fortune maye argue sufficiently hys follie but wel I knowe that for a disease of so straunge disposicion he lacked his necessarye medycine beyng no lesse deceyued in the credite of his owne wytt in sekynge to quenche and mortifie the fyre alredy burst out into flame by geuinge skope to hys eye to féede contynually vppon her whom he knowes to bée the cause of his grefe neyther dyd he other good to him selfe then caste water vppon hoat coales dobling the rage of hys affection by the desire he had to be contynually in her companye he ought rather to haue abandoned the place with the presence of his enemye at the very first alaram and offer of thassault dismissinge the remembrance of her beautie affore it made any breach in his harte for he that is vnhappely fallen into the danger of loue must not kepe war with the remembrance of her that hath enchaunted him nor pur sewe the viewe of her beautye with a continuall gaze or regard of his eye but rather eschewing the place presence of his mystris two cōmon enemies to his quiet seke to subdue the rage of his passion with longe absence and far distance of his aboad wherein he muste seme so precise to cure so strange a disease that yf vnhappely he come within the aier of the place wher she is he stand so suerly vpon his guarde that she once glaunce not vpon him with a glimeryng sommonce of her flattteringe eye consideryng that in the verey eye and looke of a woman doth lurke an infection of suche drawyng vertue that one simple obiect or glance of y e same being sufficient to pearce thorowe y e armour of his resistāce is also hable to bringe him eftesones vnder the yoke of her awe But this foolish Ferrarois rather resolued in his euil and contented with his choise then desierous to retire in time or hable as it semed to shōne the peril of y e losse of his libertye gaue place to his present fortune entred the listes as thrall or captiue to the beauty of Iulya with whō after th end of ii or iij. daunces he began to deuise discourse of loue in this sorte yf the record of diuerse histories of old time together w t the present viewe of sondry familiar exāples at this daie did not so amply describe the power of loue partly instructe me touching his order disposition I sholde seme no lesse amased at the mistery of his traūce then I feele my self vnhappely encountred with the messenger of his behest and iustely me thincke may we commence complaint against nature who framing vs of a brickel delicat mettall made vs rather incident apte to incur euery danger of the fleshe peril of temptaciō then armed vs with choise of meanes to resiste the ordinary assaultes of the world wherof saieth he I may exclaime wyth good aucthoritie aboue the rest seinge that since y e viewe of your presence in this place I am fallen into the prooffe of the like perill for as I haue hetherto enioyed the benefit of a moste pleasant libertye beinge no lesse froo from all assaults of fond affection then voide to desier to commend my seruice to the best Lady of them all So synce my gredye and vnhappye eyes seased with suche assurance vpon your beautye takynge with large viewe the ful measure of al your parts making present report therof to my hart other the inward parts of me I haue susteined suche hoate alarams betwene my libertie desyer to do you seruice that beinge no lenger hable to restore the feighte for want of fresh supplies am here cōme vnder your lée presenting my selfe the prisoner of your beautie wherin albeit I can not by any merite of mine owne craue an expedicion of fauour by iustice yet do I not dispaier that you will suspend my deliuery seing my passion is of no lesse importāce then either thabridgemēt or prolōging of my lif persuading my self with this special comfort that vnder the vaile of so rare a beautie ther can not lurke any disposiciō of lōg crueltie but she detesting no less his pepered persuacions then loathinge to spend longe time in so vaine an argument replied no lesse wyselye then with tearmes of vertue measuring her answer with the shortnes of tyme she ment to deuise wyth him it is hard syr saith she to iudge a difference betwene your vnsemelye discurtesye and the argument of your present follye seinge both the one and the other importe a semblable meaning of dishonestye neyther are they bothe voide of equall reproche to your owne estimacion And albeit your indeuor in suche affaires ought not be answered but with termes of publike exclamaciō to thend the office of infamous sklanders might yealde you the worthie rewarde of youre trauaill yet because the punishement of shame for this one offence shall not take awaye the hope of amendement future grace in you I am content to make counsell of the faulte and dismiss you wyth frée forgeuenes of the facte wherin as the remembraunce of your example shall hensfurth warne me to take hede to the subtyll charmes of other not differynge from you in disposition so let it suffice you that I make scilence of your offence without other rebuke to so greate a disorder wyth this further request that this gentill repulse may rather importe a credit to my vertue than prouoke you eftesones to geue the lyke charge of mine honour whiche I hold no lesse dere then the greatest Lady of our countrey neyther shall you fynde my chastetye lesse pure then my pouertye vertuouse whiche albeit made the galland somewhat amased for the tyme yet as a valyant souldyor that will not leue the assaulte for one repulse gaue a seconde charge wyth these tearmes yf you seame in this sorte to prononce the
sentence of my death saith he and suffer your crueltie to cōmit me to the handes of fatall execucion the worlde wil note you a monster and enemy to nature and God sewer wil cal for a reackonning of so foule and cruel an acte the malice of the worlde saith she is not so greate nor parciall in this respecte as to yelde me infamy in defendynge mine honour nature is abused when we lose so precious a gyfte and touchinge any accompte to make afore God I thincke my soule shall stande in more daunger in condescendyng to your request then yf you wylfullye dye by your owne follye wherefore I aduise you for ende to gyue ouer the pursute of so vaine au enterprise and séeke to bestowe your trauail wher ther is hope of better successe and amongest suche as makyng a cōmon marchandise of their honour will not stick to set it of sale to suche as bid most for it for my part I am no lesse Ielouse of myne honesty then carefull to kepe in entyer the name of my poore parentes neyther shall mine honour be sould for other valewe then the price of my lyfe whiche laste wordes albeit argued to the gentleman a great vnlikelihood to come to the effecte of his desire wyth no less impossibilitie to shake the fortresse of her chastetye or make a breache into a castell of so valyaunt defence yet woulde not he for all that geue place to dispare but retiryng to thassistance of a newe deuise he learned the common haunte of his mystris goinge and comming from the feelde as occasion of her busines did cal her wher he metīg her more oftē thē he was welcome forgott not eftesones to commend vnto her the remēbrance of his cause with a redresse of his grefe hoping with the helpe of his importunitie and assistaunce of tyme to remoue y t stone frō her stomake procure a pleasāt thawe to the frozen harte of this pore cotier wherin he gayned no lesse then if he had spent so much time in nombring the smal sands that couers the deserts of Arabia in so much that she willed him nowe for all to rest cōtēted with that he had don and presse her no further for saith she so longe as my soule and body shal kepe house together I will make such a Iewel of myne honour that there shal neuer friuolous louer haue interest or authoritie to dispose of it neither wil I geue so large a skoape or libertie to my vnruly affections as the pre cious flower of my chastetye shal be a praye or at the disposition of any but such as it shall please thalmightie to ioyne with me in mariage wherfore go open the packe of your tromperie in a market cōuenient for your purpose consider your callynge wyth the profession of your maister who ought to traine you in such sorte as you may rather appeare true patterns and ymages of vertue then ministers of knauery sekyng to seduce poore maides of the contrey who lyuynge in the feare of God with no lesse care of their honest name ought not to listen to the lure of loue or kepe vayne chat with companions lyke to your selfe but folowyng the discipline of vertue to susteine oure honest pouertye wyth the trauaile of oure handes whiche is the porcion appointed to vs by him whome I beseche so mortifie this rage of your follye that hereafter I may lyue in peace and se you restored to the vse of your former sences but he being none other then the slaue of follye disposed whollye to féede vpon the humour of his affections had no other thought then to deuise howe to enioye the firste frutes and pleasant iewiste of the virginity of chaste Iulya who the lesse accōpte she seamed to make of his gréef the greater grewe his desir to pursue her whiche he failed not still to performe with more vehemencie then afore publishyng his affection by the sounde of a nomber of doleful sighes accompanied wyth teares of suche pitiful regarde that they seamed sufficient to pearce a hart wroughte on the forge of flinte or stéele But who is hable to corrupt the chastetie ofher that hath her harte armed with assurance in vertue or what is he that eyther with the smoth stile of his pleasant tounge or suttletye in sleintes and fine deuises or other legerdemeins of folly can make so strong a charme to enchaunt the constancye of a womā resolued in the feare of god w t desire to were a crown of ymortalitie by the renowme of her honest lyfe but it is to be resisted by a speciall confidence in god and assurance in her vertu the pure and holly virgins in time past whose names be registred in the booke of fame haue not they byn strongly assailed wyth semblable assaltes and yet wythout shott or shed of blodde they haue preuailed aboue the malice of theym y t vndertoke to rob them of y e euerlasting glory of their virginitie suerly there is no malyce of mā so great nor deuise so detestable that stands not in awe and stowpes in the presence of true vertu neyther can it pearce and much lesse pos sesse any hart but that which he fyndes vnarmed of a faithe fere in god who wil neyther suffer his seruant to be tempted aboue his power nor see him oppressed long with the malice of y e wicked Here may the slaunderer haue wherwith to stop his mouth and be brought to beleue by famyliar proofe that vertuouse women haue better meanes to resist the veine importunities of loue thē the wicked and euil disposed haue reason to seke to seduce the honor of their chastitie and if by des tenye or ill fortune it happen that some one forget her selfs so far that she falls vnhappely into the daunger of the temptor let her falte and shame be peculiar to herselfe and not staine the rest wyth the reproche of her follye for it is no rea son that when any thinge chaunceth amys all menne become giltie of the falte no more then when one man among a nomber incident to the like desaster becoms a thefe or the worker of some other haynous offence ought to infect other with thinfamy due to him selfe or ympart the penance of the fact amōgest other that himself only deserueth for nature makynge vs all of one mettell hathe geuen vs indifferentlye a semblable perfection wyth speciall decree that euery man shoulde be noted and iudged as he is wyllynge wythall that if anye of her creatures do vnhappely declyne that he alone bere the reproche of his owne facte and not to admitt it for a consequent that the whole nomber sholde be spotted with thimperfection of one besides in the beginning when syn seased first vppon man albeit it is to be supposed that it toke like possession of the woman being made his companion associated vnto him by the will of God yet haue we no reason or meane to persuade that they are eyther inferior
chefest mynister remēbryng with al that the dowtfull mynd ys neuer in quiet and the desiring hart liues alwayes in expectacion protesting vnto you eftesones in the woorde of a gentleman that if your trauaile put me in possession of my praye I shall not bée so gladd to enioye the virgynytie of my deare IVLIA as redy to requite your indeuor in suche sorte as the rewarde of your trauail herein shal be a relefe to you and yours so longe as you liue well well sayeth this olde hagg I will trye your curtesie and your selfe shal be witnes of my diligēce wyshing you no lesse willing to performe but the one halfe of your liberall offer then I dout not to deserue yt with spede for yf euer one woman had power to ouercome an other I make my accompte that she shall not escape my handes till I haue taught her suche a daunce as shée neuer learned in her lyfe wherewith she dismissed y e séely foole of FERARA quarelling with his vnquiet thoughtes and yet in some hope to be holpen by thassistance of hys old Darioletta and broker of bawdry and shée repayred ymediatly to her charge watching her time to execute the same wherin she was furthered by a helpe of fortune who fauored this enterprice so muche that the poore paysant and his wife being one daye abrod at their labor Iulya alone was left at home with whome this lewde messenger after a few familiar gretinges powdred ful of sophisticall hollynes and cursed hipocrisy began to parle in this sorte I meruaile my girle to se thée so forgetful of thy self in abusing so much the precious gyfte of nature and greenes of thy pleasaūt youth that neither respectinge the dewe meritt of the one nor the other lesse worthie to enioye the worst of them both thou hast gotten of late the title of proude cruel doste not thou knowe that the greatest praise to be geuen to a maide of thy age and calling consists cōmes chefly by her curteous behauiour to euery man and that of the contrary parte she is pointed at of the world that seminge to stand altogether vppon her slippers reiectes the honest offers of curtesie and frindshipp arguing by that means her haggard rude disposicion wherin as the chefest point of commendacion of vs women depends vpon certein tearmes of curtesie showes of frendship So are wee chefly bounde to make declaracion of the same on the behalfe of them that seme to honor vs w t semblable professiō beinge boūde therunto by the vertue of their former merits and the leste we can do is to requite thē with the like affectiō God hath not created vs vnder the clymat or constellacion of Mars nor made vs to be ministers of crueltie neither hath he giuen vs the harte of a Lyon or diposiciō of a Tyger but framed vs of a mettal more tractable w t appeares rightly in thintisinge countenaunce of thy flattering face arguing with al that vnder y e vaile of such shinynge beautye ther can not be shrouded a harte of reuenge or disposition of crueltie and as the drawynge regardes of your eyes glauncynge vpon a man with no lesse force then the hot reflection of the Sonne persynge eche thinge vppon earth subiect to his heat doth make him strike saile and seke to be guided by the glymerynge lighte of suche twinkling starres forcing him w t all to pursue your fauour with the frāke offer of his hūble seruice so you are not only bounde to appeare reciprocal in affectiō but also yelde them the dewe mede of so greate a martyrdome deryued of causes in your selfe and not refuse to be courted wyth younge men or mislike their indeuour in sekynge to wyn by their seruice the glory of that whiche the sommonce of your eyes doth halfe promise them wherin althoughe they are partly guided and stirred by nature yet are they chiefly allured and set on fyer by the influence of your beautye our age beside is not void of experience howe diuers maides beinge honored with theyr seruice affection of sundry gentlemē of no small accompte haue semed rather rashely to refuse the profer of suche frindshypp then rightly wayghe the meryt of theyr curtesye and after receyuynge the due sentence of theyr crueltye haue not onely doated vpon such as toke pleasure in theyr gréefe and laughed at theyr follye but also deserued not for any gyfte that was in them to receiue the fauour of one simple regarde of the eye whiche as it is to be noted to procede of y t iust vengeaūce of that God who first stirres in vs the mocions of suche frindshipp So are wee warned in embracynge the contrary to eschewe the perill of semblable accidents And for your parte beinge no lesse fortunat then the best of any age heretofore and honored with no lesse true affection then duetyful seruice of one that is redye to pawne hys lyuynge honor and all that he hath for the interest of your good wyll I meruaile you regard so lyghtlye the rewarde of so greate a vertue and vse so small care in curyng your owne disease which because you dare not declare doth make a secrett martirdome of your florishyng youth albeit for ende yf you wyll willynglye embrace the gyfte of present tyme and vse mine aduise in the pursuete of your pleasure and commodytye I doubte not within lesse then a moment to restore you to treble contentement of mynde relyue the nedefull pouertye of your parents and make you excede the reste of your neyghbours in authoritye and estimation But IVLIA no lesse gladd to here an ende of this pernicious oracion then lothing by good right thimbassing of the detestable and cursed Marmotte whiche she coulde not conceile in suche sorte but the argument of collour in her face bewrayd the iust anger of her mynd replyed vnto her in this sorte I sée quod she the world is no lesse wicked of it selfe then the waye harde to discerne the disposicion of euery people neyther can a man be knowen by his shadow and easyer it is to fall into the danger of the euil then to finde a true paterne of vertue neyther ys pure gold knowen by his glysterynge coollour nor that religiō perfect that smells of supersticion exposyng frutes of execrable corrupcion and sensuall conspiracies ys this the good councell you geue to the youth of GAZOLO is this the example of vertue or instruction of honestie whiche is to be expected in the nomber of your yeres haue you thus longe blayred the eyes of the worlde with a masque of Fained hollynes and now retires to the vomett of your hipocrisie with entente to seduce her who ys no lesse assured in vertue then you vnworthie to enioye the benefyt of life in abusyng your dewtie towarde God and deceyuing the opinnyon and expectacion of all men Albeit my pouertie be great my parents of lesse habilitie to releue me yet hath God so
wrongefull conceyte of suche a villenie dothe troble you whyche shée forgatt no too accompanye with all sortes of syghes and sygnes of dollour entrermedled with suche regardes of dyssembled pitie in all partes of her face that albeyt he was paste all dowte touchynge the trothe of hys owne conceyte yet the teares of hys deceytefull mother moued hym to admitt her excuses with suche compassion of her sorowe that he seamed also to passe the panges of her present passion with protestacion vnder tearmes of greate humilitie that he greued no lesse in that he hadde sayd then shée hadd greate reason to complaine of the wronge he hadd donne to the renowne of her vertue albeyt saythe he wyth a countenance of repentance yf you measure the force of my affection with the cause of my late plaines your discrecion I hope will conster my woordes accordyng to the honeste intent of my hart with excuse to my rashenes whyche you shall sée hereafter so mortefyed in me that I will neyther bée so hastye to accuse nor suspect without better aduise for the whyche shée seamed thankefull vnto hym with a present appeasement from Anger attendyng the offer of oportunitie when she myghte preferr her sōne to a parte in the tragedye whyche her wickednes hadde alredye begon vppon hys late father for shée was doutefull styll of the youngeman and gaue lesse faythe to his wordes wherein certeinely appeareth an experience of an ordinarie custume in the wicked who payseth thinfydelitie of others in the ballance of their owne iniustice and wante of faithe for the tyrant dowteth to whose creditt to comitt the sauetie of himselfe because his crueltie is hated of all men neyther dothe he good to any yf not for the respect of profit or to performe some malicius attempte wherein as they consider thaffexcions of their people by the passions in theimselues soo in passynge theyr owne lyfe in continuall feare they procure lyke terror to suche as bée conuersant with theim makyng the disquiett of others equall to the miserie of theimselues lyke as thys new Megera or tyrannouse monster of oure tyme who no more satiffied with the blood of her husband then glutted or cloyed with y e continual pleasures in whoredome with her detestable Tolonyo determined to rydde the world of her innocent sonne to thend their villanous trade mighte passe with more assurance and lesse cause of feare or suspicion of any for th executiō wherof her wickednes deuised this spedy and necessarie meane There was within the castel a highe gallery borded vnderfote with certeine plankes fastned to rotten planchers where as y e young gentleman vsed his dailye recreacion in walkinge by reason of the delitefull ayre pleasant prospect vppon dyuerse feldes and gardyns so the Tygresse his mother reserued that place as a most chiefe mortal minister in the death of her son for she and her pernicius proccurer one euenyng knocked oute of either ende of diuerse of the plankes the nayles that kepte theime cloase to the plancher in suche sorte that the nexte that happened too make hys walke there shoulde haue no leasure to discouer the traison and much lesse lyue to bring reapport of the hardnes of the rockes growing in the diches vnder the sayd gallerie which chaunced vnhappelie to the sonne of this she wolffe who no more happie in a mother then his father fortunate in a wife renewed the next day his accustumed walkes in the valte wher he had not spent thre or foure tornes but his destynie brought hym to treade vppon the fatall bourd es who hauinge no holde nor staye to rest vpon disioyned theimselues wyth the wayght of thinfortunat gentleman who falling soddeinly vpon the rockes wyth hys heade forwarde was brused to peces beinge dead in dede almost so sone as he felte thapprehencion of death Who wold haue iudged such trayso in a mother to work such an end to her son or noted such wate of pitie in any of y e sect as to soe the séedes sprong in her owne flankes deformed and he wed in peces vpon the edge of sharppe and piked stoanes what mistortune to the sonne and villanie in a mother seinge the title of a sonne ought to be so deare and name of a mother is so delicate and of such vertue that no hart of what mettal soeuer it be made is not mollefyed and doth homage to that dignitie yea euerye one holdeth his blodde so deare that the beastes theimselues by a prouocacion of nature although other wayes insensible haue such affectioned regarde to their fawnes that they feare not to contend against euery peril of death to defende their youngons from daunger what greater felicity hath mā trauelling in the stormy sea of this worlde then to see as it were a regeneracion of hymselfe in hys children wyth a plentifull and gladsome encrease of his séede for whych cause chiefely god ordeyned the holye institucion of mariage not respecting altogether the mortefyeng of the ticklyshe instinctes of our declayning fleshe but rather of regarde as thappostel affirmeth to kepe the societie of man in order making it appear'e pure and aeceptable to the great monarke and syrst founder of so noble a worke But to retorne now to our historie this ympp of th infernall lake and hellish Lady beinge already dispoyled of all affection and dutie required in a woman towardes her husband detested also euery point of charitie and zeale whych nature chalenged in her to the frute flowered wythin the tender partes of her intralls whose fall and miserable deathe as you sée filled ymediatlie euerie corner of the castel with desolacion and teares some weping in the want of their brother other complayned the lacke and misfortune of ther kynsman the viewe of whose dysmembred bodye sturred vp also a freshe sorowe on the behalfe of their late Lorde but all their dollor was nothing to the howlinge and cries of the detestable mordress who entermedled her greffe wyth such argumentes of desperacion that her sorowe seamed sufficient to make the earth tremble and moue the heauens to teares neyther seamed she to make other accompte of the world then a place of most loathsome abode by which masqued semblance of outwarde heauines she couered an inward ioye at her hart and by this pollecie of painted dule she blaired the eyes of the simple multitude who after y e retire of the heate of theyr lamemtable stormes consulted vppon the buyrial wyth general consent in the ende that thinnocent striplinge should be laiede in the tombe of his infortunate father to thend he might participat with hym in the fatal pitt as he was equal to hym touching the malice of his mother And now as this bloddie Lady had in this sort discharged as she thought euery doubt and feare hereafter chiefly for that she stoode no more in awe of any Censor or spie to kepe a kalender of her faltes wherby she vsed lesse care in the conueigh of her beastly traffique wyth her
t which she was no lesse meritorious then imbrased as you sée for her bewtie And drawing y e blod of seamly shame into her face which set such a glass of natural white red of her coÌ„mplexion y t her coollor seamed to be died in the dew of y e fragraÌ„t morning of May retorned his courtsie w t a salutacioÌ„ of seÌ„blable humilitie wherin he reioysed w t more coÌ„teÌ„tmeÌ„t of mind then if y e Quene of Spaine had yelded him fauor to kysse her haÌ„d But what nede he tickle himself to make himself laugh or why did he not eschew y e preseÌ„ce and place of his enemy rather theÌ„ seame so subiect to y e soÌ„monce of his eye to whoÌ„ loue hath giuen the gift of flatterie to deceiue y e rest of y e partes for if at y e first he had corrected y e flickering reaporte of his eyes his hart had bene fre froÌ„ desier he not at the brinke of passion tormentes if at y e biginning he had abaÌ„doned y e place he had also dismissed the remeÌ„brance of that whiche nowe hathe bounde hym to pursewe the queste of hys owne disquiete neyther dothe hee other thynge in visitynge the place where shee is then throwe water vppon hoate ymbers whyche dobleth the heate and forceth the flame with more expedicion for the more he behelde her and the lesse she regarded hym the greater grew his affection geuing treble increase to his desier And albeit she was neither fyne in attire sett out in robes of riche araye nor deckte with apparell for the more decoracion of her naturall beautye yet appeared she no lesse precious in the eye of this gallande then if she had bene trimmed for the nonste in the same order that the Poetes faine of the browne Egypciane when she was broughte to lye wyth the Romaine Capteine Marcus Anthonius He fayled not to reiterate his haunte with an ordinarie trade to the stréets of â—aniquette resoluynge his coÌ„mon abode or place of staye righte ouer againste her lodginge whiche increased her doubte of that misterye till nature that discusseth the darknes of suche doubtes and bringes the moste rude creatures of the worlde to be capable in the argumentes of loue reuealed vnto her the meanynge of that ridle sayinge y t the roundes and often tornes wyth vaylinge of bonnett whiche the proude pirott made afore the dore of her fortresse was no other thynge then the intisynge harmonie of the Syrenes or other stale to allure or make her plyable to thappetite of his will wherin she was the rather resolued for certeinetie for that within shorte tyme passing that waye he ymagined a staye righte ouer againste her house Where féedinge the tyme for the nonste in deuise with one of his frendes gaue skoape to his eyes to peruse with continuall contemplacion the maiestie of his mistres in suche sorte that one of her compagnions exercisynge also the vse of the nedle encountred by chaunce she gredie regardes he caste to Ianiquette to whom sayth she thou arte litle beholding to y e goodnes of fortune that seames so greate an enemye to the merite of thy beautie for if thy condicion or calling wold admit y e aduancemeÌ„t which the present preferment of nature doth offer the no doubte thou sholdest become in short time y e honor decoration of al thy house for touchinge the resolucion of mine eyes iudgemente of my conceite proceding of the deuouring regardes yonder gentlemaÌ„ casteth towardes the he is not only y e bondman of thy beautye but also so addicted to the seruice of the same y t only thou Ianiquette may dispose of him his honor lyfe al that hehath And trulye thou arte not so happie to be the controller of so noble a chaÌ„pion as of litle discretion if thou make small accompte of his seruice whiche the veraye greatest dames of our prouince woulde reserue as a special relique or Iewel neither oughtest thou to make thy beautye of such price as the respect therof shold preuaile aboue the goodnes of so greate an offer seinge that the walles of this towne do inclose a nomber of younge Ladyes and gentlewomen that excedynge the in beautye and bringyng vp wolde not seame curious in admittyng the benefyt of so good a fortune Whereunto the honeste IaniquetteÌ„ that neither tooke pitie of his paynes nor allowed his endeuor lesse liked the perswacions of her companion who peraduenture boarded her so farr to make a prooffe of her honestie replied no lesse wisely then wyth more discretion then comonly we note now a dayes in one of her yeres Yf I were borne quoth she vnder thinfluence of fortune or bounde to abide the sentence of her doome I were not vnlike to performe thexspectation of thy allurementes but seing I am deriued of a contrary coÌ„stellation moostring alwayes vnder the ensigne collours of vertue I haue my salfe conduite at all times to withstaÌ„de thinuasion of such infections with authoritye to defye the malice of any such accident And touching the coÌ„mendacions which you seme to giue to mon Seigneur Luchin both in the title of honor estimacioÌ„ of his publike authoritie in thaffaires of this citye together with his dexteritie in al giftes incidente to a gentlemaÌ„ I saye â—he more plentifully he is considered at the handes of God with a singularitie in suche ornamentes So much the more ought he to studye to seame worthie of so rare a participacion not conuerting the vertue of his talent giuen him from aboue into a sinister entente disposicion of wickednes to seduce the chastetie of simple maides whose faultes if any be he ought rather to reprehende with seueritie theÌ„ minister corrupcion coÌ„trary to the commission of his honor neyther shall be at anye time I hope preuaile so ouer my beautye as the vse of the same shall giue him other contentement then a frendlye â—oniour of the mouth whiche all honeste maides may do without preiudice thinking the frendship of nature of no greater moment in giuyng me the title of faire then the vertue meritorious in preseruing the same accordyng to the merite without spott of infamye or worthye reproche of the worlde for her offence is double afore God sayeth she and treble skandalous in the mouth of the multitude that exchauÌ„geth her beautye being a chiefe signe and argument of grace which God hath painted in the face of a womaÌ„ as the philosopher saith for any other price how greate so euer it appeare then the honeste pawne gage of lawfull matrimonye accordinge to thinstitucion of oure sauiour who allowing chiefly the oblacion of chastetie dothe condemne the coÌ„trary into perentory destruction and what haue we in this worlde that we ought to make so deare accompte of as our honeste name being the thing that yeldes vs not only an admiracion whilste we enioye the vse of lyfe vpon earth but also makes vs liue after our death with a perpetuall
commendacion of our integritye to the remeinder of our race Doste not thou knowe my deare Maryone that in the swete and dewye mornynges of the spring there apperes certeine flowers no lesse delitefull to the beholders then yeldynge an odiferous smell with an inticynge desyer to be gathered so long as their fragrāt and freshe perfumes indures but when the heate of the son perching the gallāds of Aurora shall pearce thorowe bothe boodd and roote and mortifye the liuelye hewe of suche brickle creatures the flower is not only forgotten and loathed whiche earste was so much embraced but the desyer of all men taken awaye as though there neuer had bene any such like wise y e glistering apple growing vpon the high spraies in the pleasant lādes of Angeau semes a thing of great delectacion to the eye of no lesse pleasante taste so long as he is entyer and without corrupcion but after the worme hath eyther made a breach or his gréenes or pleasante maturitie lost his force and conuerted into a rotten ripenesse his bewtie dekaies wyth desier any longer to kepe hym Euen so a mayde what pouertie soeuer oppresse her so longe as she kepes vnspotted her surname and title of chastetie is not only admitted but also may chaleng place amongest the best of a countrye but when the caterpillor hath once cropped the leaffe and deuow red the boodd the trée doth not only die and perish with infamye but the remembrance of such stocke and frute remeines in the recordes of reproche to the opening of the greate booke of general accompt when al faltes shal be reueiled and punished according to their disposicion and qualitie And sewer it is better for a woman of what degrée soeuer she be to dy w t honor and buyrye the bourdē of honest renowm with her bodie in the graue then enioying the fruicion of life to be marked of the multitude with a note of generall rebuke whych as a moothe in a garment will not ceasse to eate and deuour her present estimacion and make notorious besides euery age of her succession by the desert of her disordred life loasing the only cause that makes me ioye in my selfe wyth so great desier to liue wherin because I may the rather per forme theffect of thys last resolucion I will firste wyth an vnfayned hart make inuocation to y e highest for thassistance of his grace to garde me frome thassaltes and peppered prouocations of the fleshe and then cut of all suche occasions as may eftesones aduance the suggestion of the same or seame any way an ympedimente to the vowe I haue presentlie made whych I doubt not wil be armes sufficient enough to repulse y e alarams of Signeur Luchyn raise y e siege which I sée he hath planted agaynst the fortresse of my chastetie wherin she omitted not th execution for from that instante shee kepte her selfe vnsene of anye but her frendes and kinsefolkes comminge lyttle or nothynge abroade and lesse willing to be spied out of windows or stand at the doore leauinge thereby an example worthye of ymitacion to all estates and sortes of women but specially suche gigges and pratlinge houswiues as can not contente theym selues with the ayre of the house nor giue one pricke with the nedle oneless she sit at the doare as though her exercyse were onelye to menteyne chatt wythe the streete walkers or keepe a standynge and make challenge agaynste all commers whyche is the thynge that you mothers and tutours of lytle girles oughte chyefly to respecte in the direction of youre tender charges I meane to bridle and brynge vpp youre pupilles and ympes that haue follye tyed on their backes in the awe of correction yf they transgress the order of good gouernement you must not forgett to offer theym the racke and tormentes of the rodde which you must minister vnto theim in the greenes of their yer es and affore the tendrenes of youthe with wante of discrection wil suffer theim to discerne their owne inclinacion for as the Philosopher tearmeth theym to bée a kinde of cattell more apte to declyne then any other reasonable creature so saith he yf they get once the bit betwene their téethe and crop of the hearbée of ryotus will it is harder to reclayme theym eyther hy awe feare compulsion or gentle intreatie then the wilde haggard or rammish falcon by any connynge or deuise of their keper besides as a maide is a Iewell of no lesse greate price then rarely to be founde so she is a vessell moste bryckle and easye to be broken and being once eyther crackte or corrupted she liueth in none other accompte then in comon wonder of the people and pointed at of all the worlde Wherefore you mothers that in the bringyng vpp of your doughters will giue ashowe of your owne vertue with no lesse care of the honor of your children must forgett to pamper youre younglines with presentes of their willes or dandle theym vppon the lapp of dame folly but féede theym rather with the discipline of good nouriture not sparing the order of due correction leaste you spill the future hope and expectation of their well doynge and better it is to haue a mayde smell of honest simplicitie vsing a temperate scilēce in her toungue and order of talke then ytalianated in legerdemaines of subteltye and pricked full of the fethers of foolyshe pride to haue the tounge of a popingaie bablinge without order or discrecion for that the one is a vertue of it selfe and the veray lyne to leade her to aduauncement and in practisinge the other she procures a discredit to her parentes for their necligence in her education and her selfe but laughte at in the companie of wise and discrete dames and that which worse is led by such guides into the botome les pit of euerlasting infamye Remember thaduise of Marcus Aurelius who writing of the slipper disposition of some women with instruction to abridge the perentory humour which nature hath giuen theim gyues this generall charge to all gouernours of nourceries tutors of litle girles that they stande so sewerly vppon the garde of thonnour of their charges that they neither be sene out of windowes stande as stales at the dore suffred to visit any place of thordynarie hawnte of men called to secrete conference without cōmission or companie of her keapor but also barde thaccesse and presence of all men for that saith he the ill can not be vtterly preuented onelesse the causes that maye procure it bée cleane taken awaie neither is it possibe for a Lady to kepe the reputacion of her honor that makes her selfe incidente to the hawnte of great companies with desier to be a comō feast maker and visit euery banquet and the more she is innested with honor and high callinge the more care is due to the preseruation of so great a title and lesse libertie or licēce is enioyned her to raunge a broade or séeke to satisfie thappetit of
vertue of true loyaltie So he that huntes thappetit of his will and raungeth after chaunge of diot hauing sufficient at hoame standes not onely in hazarde of grace afore god for vyolacion of wedlocke but giuinge occasion to his wyfe to followe hys tracke reapes now and then for rewarde the iuste title and surname of a cockolde bequeathinge besides to the succession of his house a dowry of perpetuall slaunder whyche is skarcely subiect to the expyracion of tyme. Hys wyfe Layd afore hym the whole circumstance of his falte with the generall brute that passed dayly thorowe all the stréetes of IEYNE together with the wronge he did to the reputacion of the poore IANIQVETTA whose honestie saith shée albeit is without iust cause of reprehencion yet haue you broughte it in question amongeste the slaunderous sorte whose iudgementes are alwayes accordinge to the mallice of their disposicion desieringe him for ende in dismissinge his former trade to wythdrawe his accesse least he purchased not the like preferment for himselfe that he sought to procure to an other to whome albeit he could not denye the frendeshippe he bare to IANEQVETTA yet he excused the same not to ymporte any preiudice to the behalfe of his wyfe wyth further protestacion that IANEQVETTA was one of the paragons of honestie that our age did norishe and the respect of her vertue was thonlye cause of his admiracion procuringe chieflye his recourse and desier of her companye for the rest sayth he the bable of the people is rather of custom then of credit and the clerenes of my conscience takes awaye the spott of reproche if any be neyther can the mouthe of the slaunderor preuaile where the integretie of the mynde offers to encounter his malice desieringe her to dismysse the remembrance of her grudge wythe a forgeuenes of the falte promissinge her from thinstante to correcte the humor of his former follie and become suche one on her behalfe as her honest modestie and other vertues deserued wherewyth he closed so sewerly the mouthe of his wyfe that longe after he liued frée from the tumulte of suche quarrells and she not voyde of suspicion dispused her selfe to contentmente by force with exspectacion to sée an ende of the daunce thexpedition wherof exceded her ymagynacion for wythin a shorte tyme after the maryner makynge sayle into Sardynia was incowntred by certeine pirottes and sente prisoner to CALLARIA a towne subiect to the turkishe gouernmente wyth no small desolacion to hys wyfe who as one depriued of her chiefeste stay and comforte and ouercharged wyth a nomber of litle children whose sustentacion depended whollie vppon the trauell of their father is nowe voide of meanes to succor theym and that whyche pinched more greuouslye was the generall darthe y e ouerwhelmed al the Lande in such sorte that a sacke of corne was seldome solde vnder nyne or ten Duckattes whyche arguynge greate distresse to the state of poore IANIQVETTA chiefelye for that shée was denied habylitye to redeme her husbande and also in dispair of meanes to releue her children cryinge contynuallye for meat began to prefer in her a faintnes of corage and y e hart whom the whole assaltes of loue and longe importunityes of Luchyn his greate presentes and proffers with promisses of large price coulde not once stirre or remoue from the seate of constancie feles nowe suche an alteracion of fortune that she is at pointe to surrender of her selfe that whiche neyther power nor pollecie coulde put to vtterance And albeit the extremitie of her case ministred persuaciōs to make an offer of her selfe to hym that of longe had serued her in harte wyth sute for her good wyll yet the grudge of so greate an offence preferrynge argumentes to the contrary wylled her rather to exchaunge her presente lyfe and former reuowme wyth death then liue with the spott of so fowle an acte wherin waighinge thus in the ballance of doubteful ymaginaciōs pinched extremely wyth two of the greatest plages of the world the lamētable noyse of her children cryenge for foode with open mouth as the younge birde in the rooffe complayninge in his kynde vppon hunger till he receiue refreshinge at the beake of his damme ronge of freshe in her eares whiche preferred suche cōpassion to the tender harte of the desolate mother that only their rage and infirmitye forced her to a determinacion of that whiche earste she detested to remember a meruelous force sewer of necessitie who as she is the mistres of artes so her malice importes suche a distresse that it makes vs many tymes abuse the goodnes of our nature in committyng thynges whiche neither honor nor conscience can iustifye for what greater mischiefe coulde she haue thondred vppon this pore woman then in depriuynge her of naturall and womanlȳe shame to compell her to make sale of her honor for the susteine of her selfe and supporte of her miserable children whose doleful tunes exclayming against their wretched mother that had not to satisfye the rage of their hunger restored her eftesones to suche pitie that she addressed her selfe immediately to the lodgynge of Luchin who walkinge all alon in his base courte was no lesse astonyed to see her ther then she ashamed to be at the point to yelde him a villanous homage yf god had not bene the protector of her chastetie And beynge affore him with face and garmentes besprente and dyed with the droppes of her watery eyes she fell flatt at his féete yelding her honor to hys orde vnder thies tearmes Albeit sir saieth she the prince or capteine that hathe often somoned his enemye to surrender his hold and he denienge suche offers dothe merteyne the quarrell euen vntill thextreme sentence of warre which is fyer or famine ys forced at laste to strike saile and hange oute a flagge of submission maye by all lawe of armes put hym to the sworde and his citie to vtter saccage yet the glorye of that conquest will appeare greater and honour the capteine with treble fame if in preferryng compassion affore the rigour of iustice he admitt the captiues to fauour sparing to spill the blood of suche as willinglie yelde their heades to the blocke vnder the stroke and edge of his sworde neither is any man of what degree so euer he be of suche commendacion eyther for hys corage bowntie or other qualities and ornamētes of nature as worthelye honored w t veneration for the gifte of compassion and pitie whiche as it is a vertue excedynge all the reste so by the aduise of the scripture shee is chiesly to be declared on the behalfe of such wretches as fallen into daunger and distresse by offendynge the prince or his people in office haue nothing to preuent the malice of y e lawe and iuste méede of their deserte but thexpectācion and hope in the frutes of so precious a vertue I saye thusmuch sir to sturr vpp your humor of compassion and dismissing the remembrance of all offences paste to extende presente
experience of the disposition of loue and suche as he infecteth with hys frantike poyson tryenge in like sorte the difference betwene the vanities of the worlde and the contemplacion of celistiall thinges or other vertues of diuyne operacion vpon earthe openinge as it were to all degrees of mortalytie an entrey or way to come to the glorye and honor of theuerlastinge Paradise aboue to suche I saye maye I boldely appeale for confirmacioÌ„ of thauncient opynion grounded in the stomakes of men from the beginning that the bewtie and flattering behauiour of a woman is the true and natural Adamant seing that that stoane by a certeine vertue attractiue and speciall gifte by nature hath not such power to force and drawe the heauie yron vnto it as the secret misterie hydden in the eyes and face of a woman are of authoritie to sommon and steale thaffections and hartes of men which hath wrought a resolucion or thinge of most certeintie amongest a nomber of men now a dayes that such charmes and serpentine allurementes were sente a mongeste vs frome aboue aswell to tormente our pleasure as also in soÌ„e sort to geue ease to thafflictioÌ„ of such as are vnhappelie contrybutors to that poysoned participacion wherin as we haue long marueiled why Parys forsoke the delites of Troye to become the thrall of Helene in greece what moued one Hercules to abandon his beauye mase and clubb of conquest to depende whollye vppon the commaundement of his women frende or howe Salomon abused the gifte of his wisedome to commit follie with her who only gouerned him y t guided the whole monarkye so behold I haue to encrease your wonder with a true poâ—rtrayte or picture of a more force in a woman and folly in a man who with out any vse of former or hope of future fauor sauinge to fullfill the fonde appetit of his folishe mistrys habandoned the vse and benefytt of his speche for thre yeres putting on by that meanes the shapp of brutalitie betwene whom and the creatures of vnderstandinge the philosophers conclude an only difference of the vse of reason and speache A case sewer no lesse notorious for the raryâ—tie that waye then declaringe a singuler force of nature in the subiect vpon whom shee seames to bestowe suche prehemiuence aboue all other misteries vppon earth whereof maye serue for sufficiente proofe theffeminate alteration in Hercules the decrease of strengthe in Sampson the losse of wisedom and vnderstandynge in Salomon and the simplicitie of this gentleman whose discourse foloweth THE CRVELTIE OF A Wydowe in enioyninge her woer to a pennance of thre yeres losse of his speache the foolish loyaltie in hym in performinge her commaundemente and the meane vvherby he was reuenged of her rigour ⧠AMongeste the lymytrophall townes con ynynge the borders of Pyemount no man dowtes I thinke that the Citie of THVRYN beinge thonly lanterne to geue light to al the prouinces there about for eiuill orders and integritie of conuersacion is not also a chief rampier and sewer bulwarke to her owne countrey agaynst thincurcion of enemyes neyther is it of lesse estimacion for the naturall scituacion of the place then bewtified greatly by thin dustrius endeuor of man addinge as it seames a more decoratioÌ„ of late to that towne then eyther nature or the slender deuise of men in tymes passed colde ymagyn Somewhat without the suburbes of this riche and populus Citie is planted in a pleasant valley a little village called Montcall worthie euery way to be ioyned in neighbourhead to so great a Citie being inuironed on th one side w t the fragrant ayre of the fertil feldes al to bedewed with the sondry swete smelles of thincense of Aurora on thother side with y e loftie hilles breathing from the mouth of Zephire the ayre of health to refresh in time of nede the drowsie tenants of the valley which amongest other happie influences of the heauens semed also to haue aspecial fauor of the godes to bring furth and norish the most faire verteous curtoyse ladyes y t cold be fouÌ„d in any one corner of Europe amoÌ„gest whoÌ„ not withstaÌ„ding there was not long since a young widow called Zilya who declyning froÌ„ y e dispositioÌ„ of y e clymat and planet of her natiuitie became so hagarde lyke and enclyned to crueltie that she semed rather to take her begining among the desertes and craggie places of Scauoye then too sucke the brestes of the delicat norsses in the pleasante champayn refreshed by the beautifull hande of Erydan sometyme called the father of ryuers and nowe termed by the title of Po whose christall channells and siluer streames deuydynge theym selues into diuers distillinge brokes do not onelye driue men into admiration but also draw theym to become neighbours to alicour of suche delite This disdainefull wydowe and enemye to all curtesie although she hadd asyet skarcely entred into the twentie and fourthe yere of her age yet she perswaded her selfe herafter to abandon vtterly the societie of man whether it were by mariage or otherwaies aduowing to spende the remeynder of her yeres in singlenes of lyfe a resolucion truly bothe godly and commendable yf the tiklishe motions of the fraile fleshe woulde be contente to obey the wholsome exhortacions of the sprite But whereas our declynyng bodyes pampred in all delicacye together with the vnruly appetites ragynge after wilfull desier doo seme to quarrell with our chastetie and vanquishe all resistance the councell of thapostell is to bée followed who willes that we marie in christe to auoyed the daunger of the sowle and common slaunder of the world she also after she had alredie performed the due debte of her dutie to the deade bodye of her husbande whome she accompayned to the graue with abundance of teares and other funerall dule soughte not accordyng to the trade of young wydowes now adayes lefte without controlmente to abuse the benefitte of her libertie or dispose the tyme of her widowehead in other exercise then in augmentacion of the patrimonye lefte to her litle sonne and enryche her selfe by the trauell of her owne handes wherein shée became soo conetouse and gredie of gayne that cuttynge of her ydle traine of loyterers haunting commenly the houses of great men she onely reserued suche for the necessarye members of her houshold as with the sweate of their browes refused not the toile of any honest trauel neither made she conscieÌ„ce to trade vp the delicate trowpe of gentlewomen attendinge vpon her in thaffaires of house keping and other honest exercises of the hande to whom she was alwayes a coÌ„panioÌ„ her selfe thinking nothing so well don as that which passed in the presence of her eye or with thassistance of her owne hande wherin certeynly her vertue was no lesse meritorius then her endeuour commendable For the office of a mother or mystres of families consistes not only in kepyng her seruantes to continuall trauaile or taking accompte of their doings and daies labour
theis solitarye desertes aswell to endure the pennance of myne owne indiscretion as also to continue in secrett prayer to thalmightye for the continual quiet of her who may boldly vaunte to be the mistres of the most loyall seruante that euer mente honor or seruice to Ladie Who doubtes in y e merueilous forces of loue let him be absolued with this example seing that as the impressiō which we cal loue hath power to bringe to an vnitie the mindes that liued in seperation make indissoluble peace with the quarells which seame immortall quallifying the rigour of those hartes whiche without this passion no other pollecie could appaise So when he discouereth the full perfection of his effectes he preferres suche a facilitie in thinges whiche earste seamed impossible that by his onely meane they become neither dangerous to pursewe nor harde to obtaine whych appered rightly in this younge Lady in whom as the sinister conceite of a former Ielowsie her affected zeale contracted to an other with her iust cause of anger for his death had engendred a disdayne to Dom Diego an extreme desier to reuenge her wronge vpon Dom Roderico and by the same meane to ende her owne lyfe So loue remouinge the vaile that blinded the eyes of her vnderstandinge and breakinge thadamante rocke planted in the middeste of her stomake brought her in one instante to beholde with open eyes the constancy patience and perseuerance of her first and moste loyall seruant whose last prayer and intercession on her behalf stirred vp in her more remorce thē al y e seruices of court or pennance in the painfull wildernes wer hable to prefer whereof she exposed a present effect in castinge her armes a bout the necke of the desperat knyght to whom she forbare no sortes of kisses nor amarus embrasinges seamynge no lesse passioned wyth ioy and loue on hys behalfe then earste he seamed plunged in dispair and sorowe ballancing indifferently betwene life and death in his presence neyther was she hable to pronownce any worde vpon the soddayne tyll beyng restored to the vse of her tongue by the discontynuance of her traunce she excused her former rigour wyth tearmes of humylitie and desyeringe pardon of the follies wher wyth she had abused hys patience offred her selfe hereafter to be the slaue and seruant of hys shadow takyng thassistāce of thym perfections in loue to be in some sort contrybutarye to her falte for that sayth she as loue hathe this vice of nature that such as accompte theym selues to sée moste cleare are they whych most often commit greatest faltes by ignorance So besydes the confession of the wronge I haue don you so many wayes Lo I am ready to abide the punishment of your owne iudgemeut without crauing any dispence of iustice or moderacion of pennance for any respecte of fauor And albeit for my parte I haue not escaped wythout passiō but y t the stormes of aduersatie which you haue séene me endure haue driuen me to thuttermost of my patience yet I my selfe happie to haue passed that awaye for thexperience I haue made of two effects of verteous extremities the one of constant loyaltie in you whych only hath right to chaleng y e crowne of glory frō hym that sacrafized himself vpon the blodie body of hys Lady who in dyenge so gaue ende to his annoyes where you haue chosen a kynde of languishynge life of more hard tolleracion a thousād tymes then the sharp arrowes of death the other consistes in the clemencie wher wyth you haue mortefied so well the rage of your aduersaries that I whych earst hated you to death am now so vanquished by your courtesye that I accompte myne honor and lyfe of to small value to requite your merit wherin also I acknowledge a debte to Seigneur Roderico whose wisedome makes me ashamed of my follie in resisting his rightfull demaunde touching the reléeffe of your vndeserued destresse wherunto as he wold haue replied wyth semblable humylitie Dom Roderico preuented hys meanynge in embrasinge theym both with peculiar commendacion to theyr vertues and speciall thankes to the goodnes of their fortune for that w t out peril of honor they had passed that dangerus passage aduising them to retorne w t hym to hys castel frō whēce hée sayde he wolde gyue warning to their mothers to whom he also vndertoke to cooler thaccidente wyth some other circumstance of fayned substance wher vpon they mounted on horsbacke leauing the stately hospitall to the nexte hermyt and vsing easye iorneys they toke away the tediousnes of the way with the pleasant deuises whych passed betwen the two louers embrasing one an other in honest sort as a simple recompense of their longe and weary annoyes till tyme with the consent of the churche gaue authoritie to consommat the rest of their desiers from the house of Roderico was aduertisement giuen to the two Ladye mothers in equall care for the loss of their childrē excusing the secret departure of Geniuera in that she went to sée Dom Diego lyinge sicke in a castell of hys frende Seigneur Roderico where if it pleased theym to giue their consente the mariage sholde be performed wherin there nedes no pithie solycitors to neither of the widowes for that for the more honor of the feaste and contentmente in the allyance they failed not there in parson at the day appointed where the mariage was performed with pompp accordyng to the magnificence of both their houses And so it is to be thought that the stormes and tormentes past endured by theim both yelded thys conclucion of other tast then they whych wythout painful trauaile in the presence of loue possesse the fyrste daye the full of their desiers whose pleasures certeinly as they resemble the condicion of hym who norished al the dayes of hys lyf in deintie fare cannot iudge so well of delite as he that some times findes want of suche delicatie soo also an extreme thruste makes vs fynde the wyne more pleasant and a long fasting giues a better taste to oure meate neyther is loue wythout annoye any other thyng then a cause without an effecte for he that wyll takeawaye the paynfull traueills and longe sute robbes the louer of the prayse of hys constancie and doth wronge to the glory of hys pursewt seyng that he only is worthy to weare the crowne of tryumphe who encountringe all conflictes doth reapose more assurance in the vertue of hys constancie then feare in any sorte the malice of any fortune Let thys be then the mirrour of loyal louers in detestacion of thimpudicitie of suche whych feare not to giue a charge wher they fynde good countenance and readye retire at the first repuise ympartinge also a participacion of worthy rebuke to thothers who to contente the humor of their fonde affection doo accompte it a vertue to exchaunge their former generositie wythe a gloriouse title to be reputed as true and faythfull champions of loue for y t the perfectiō to loue
baude Narcissus doateth vpon his ovvne shadovve Constancie VVomen deriued of the imperfections of men Faith to be obseruedvvhere the desyer is performed Cornelio giueth his laâ—â— aunsvvere to the baude Plaudyna Plaudyna aduertiseth her louer of the departure of her husband Delyo persuadeth Cornelyo not to go to Millan perills be greater in reaport then daungerous in thaduenture Cornelio astonied in the presence of his Ladye Cornelio speketh to his Ladye Lyfe Plaudina replieth to her seruant Her husband Loue makes a man valiant or rather folishe hardie An order not necessarie for a commâ—â— vvealth A woman more readye of vvitt then a man in exeremeties Necessetie geueth corage to the fainte harte The doubtefull mynd is rather apt to beleue the vvorste then credyt thinges that bâ—◠〈◊〉 A discrip cioÌ„ of Naples accordig to the cronicles of tuskan Diuerse englishe gentlemen enterteined there at this daye Loue a common enemy to the ease of man The Abbot vvriteth to his mistres Loue. Thexclamacion of the Abbot His letter BlaÌ„che maria maried to the Viscount hermes The order of a wise husbaÌ„d in repre hendinge the follies of his gyife The vvise aunsvvere of the Viscount thouchynge the gouernement of hys vvife The visecount dieth VVomenne muste avoide asvvel the suspicion as thact of euyll A pollecye of the serpent Alteracyons in a louer in the presence of his ladye The carle vvoethe the vvidovve The Ytalian Ielousie by nature The vvidovves replye A contracte forced is a vyolacion of mariage A litle falte in a great lady is made a mortal offeÌ„ce in the iudgement of the vvorlde A vvoman reformed rather by faire intreatie the force of constraint Phedra She letteth her banke of money â—oÌ„ne in interest at Myllan She rouneth from her husbande The honor of a maÌ„ ought not to be defaced by the deshonestie of his vvife Shame ought to direct the doinges of vvomen Demosthenes refused the companie of Lays for that she held a nightes lodging at to high a price The first vnlavvfull louer of the countesse The order of a curtisan to allure men to affection Th erle valpergo proffereth his seruice to the countesse She graunteth fauor to therle Acteon transformed into a hart by Dyana Fortune dravven in shape and attire of a vvoman The couÌ„tesse vvoeth therle Gaiazo by letter Morder most haâ—nous in the sighte of god She entreateth her second frend to kyll her firste louer She discontinueth her freÌ„dship vvith the Lord Gaiazo Some faultes may be excused that can not be pardoned The barbarians more curious theÌ„ vve in obseruinge their lavves Shame as necessarie for age as avve for yong meÌ„ Death the due revvâ—â—de of morder The sin of the father punished vpon the children The couÌ„tesse to her last louer No morder escapeth vnpunished Ydlenes the mother of mischiefe In doing nothinge men learne to do euill Loue. The geÌ„tlemaÌ„ maketh loue to Iulya Iulya ansvvereth God The dovvtefull mynde is neuer in quiett The bavvde to Iulya VvomeÌ„ ought to be curteus by nature Iulya reprehendeth the baude Money the mynisters of corrupcion The beginning of euery thing seames harde Iulya rauished by force Money the ministers oâ— infection Beautie Iuly a drovvneth her selfe The bible thinfallible booke Dyuine and humaine lavves The Ladye wâ—â—the her procurer vnder a complaint against the vveakne in her husbande The knights slaine by the â—â—â—â—soÌ„ of hys 〈◊〉 The Ladye â—ayneth a sorovv for the death of her husband Death the messenger of the vvill of God The eldeste sonne chargeth his mother vvith incestuose life vvith tolonyo Honor. She replyeth to her sonne Vertue is coÌ„tinualie assailed vvith enuye spite Her eldest sonne slaine by treason Yt is easye to corrupt him vvhich is euil of himselfe Her seconde sonne slaine by her vvickednes The deuill Tolonyo kil leth his vvife Her father in lavve coÌ„plaineth to the iudge criminall The Ladye fleethe to po getto Tolonyo repenteth and praieth to God for forgyuenes of his sinnes Iere .xxxi. Luke .xxii. Tolonyo exe cuted A vvonderful vertue in a romaine Capteine A merueilus contynencie in the great Alexander The order of the hungrye Spanyarde Yt is necessary to feele sometime a chaunge of fortune Beautye VvomeÌ„ seame masquers in painting their faces beautie Mearemaides Ianiquetta aunsvvereth her compaignion The norsse Luchyne vvoeth Ianiquaette Ianiquetta aunsvvereth Luchyn God Loue. Golde and syluer The bavvde vvoeth Ianiquette Riches Ianiquette reprehendethâ— the bavvde Money A maide ought to defend her honestie euen to the laste dropp of her blodde The Shebaud in LondoÌ„ car yeth a basket in her hande the he bavvde a ring in his mouth Vvomen deriued of thim perfection of men Love The frendes of Luchyn persvvade hym to mary age and amendment of life Honor and liuynge Nothing 〈◊〉 sausfye the couetusâ—â—s of man The husbaÌ„d The bable of of the people is rather of custome then of creditt Necessetie forceth Ianiquette to offer her selfe in praie to Luchyn Luchyn abstained from vyolacion of Ianiquetta Luchyn coÌ„pforteth Ianiquetta Luchyn presenteth Ianiquetta to his vvyfe Xenocrates refused a yoÌ„g maid layed in bedd vvith hym GentlevvomeÌ„ oughte to be skilful in houskeping The charge of a mistris or gouernor of housholde Parentes Phillyberto falleth in loue vvith the vvydovve He vvas made â—understande of thinciuili tye of the vvydovve Loue. Seigneur phil liberto vvoeth his neighbor to solicite his loue to zylia The aunsvver of his neyghbour His neighbour makes a second offer of her helpe Philliberto vvriteth to his Ladye The messenger to the vvy dovve Zilia ansvvereth the messenger The coÌ„plaint of Seigneur Philiberto Loue not seuiahle to any order VVomen are borne to bee obedient to men Fleshelie louers coÌ„pared to the Scorpion Zilya repre hendeth her vvoer 1451. 143â— Written in their boke of 〈◊〉 called caâ—alogue des martuis The desier of vnhoâ—eâ—te gaine the fountaine of all euills Crassus fell into the handes of 〈…〉 Zylpa sorovveth her for mer crueltie Honestie the chiefest support of lyfe Vertues in loue Dicesing house Perillo repreheÌ„ded of cer teine his fren des The house of play a store house of all vices Tenaunte by the high vvay side called theaues in plaine englyshe Loue. Riches most respected in mariages novv a dayes Perillo vvriteth to Carmosy na Carmosyna aunsvve rethe the letter of Perillo Mynio denie the to mary his doughter to Perillo The coÌ„plaiÌ„t of perillo Perillo taken prisonner and his goods spoiled The complaint of Peaitllo in prison The Sea Carmosina complayneth the misery of perillo Richeâ— A speciall chalenge The poore man demaunding his almes is the deputie of Christ vvho saithe vvhat vve geue to the nedy vve bestovve vppon hym Perillo redemed from pryson Carmosyna comfortethe Perillo Perillo and Carmosyna maried Perillo his vviffe slaine vvith Athonder oolte Loue. Dom Diego made knyght The first meting vvords betvven Diego and Geniuera A discriptioÌ„ thattiâ—e and beautye of Geniuera Geniuera fal leth in loue vvith Diego Loue procedes of a fond opynion Dom diego passioned vvith loue Slepe the ceremonies of the night Geniuera and her mother at the house of Diego Diego vvoeth Geniuera in a daunse Geniuera auÌ„ svvereth vvith half consent to his request Yt is hard to conceile the passion of loue Mariage Geniuera falleth iÌ„ disdain vvith Diego Geniuera exclaimeth against Diego Geniuera reprocheth Diego by a letter The coÌ„plaint of Diego Death the last and best repose of mise rye His man dissuadeth hym from the pilgrims voiage The most perfect victorie is to make a conquest of our selues Diego begin neth his pilgrymage Diego complaineth his chaunge of estate vpon the vvaye The contentes of Diegos letter to geniuera Deathe the dreadefull messenger The havvke Venice taken and putt to sacke by Pirro Fregos Theues Roderico dis couereth embraseth his frende Dom Diego Diego acknovvledgeth himselfe to Roderico Thoffice of a noble man or one in authoritie Diego excuseth hys departure from his contrey The vvise man vvil neuer comytt councelle to children VVomen coÌ„pared to infates Roderico killeth the biskaine Cupido Roderico to geniuera Geniuera exclameth against Roderico Diego vpon his knees 〈◊〉 ueth pytye Dom Diego being stil prostrate crieth for coÌ„passion to his mistrys Roderico threatneth Geniuera Geniuera be ginneth to shovve arguments of compassion diego sevveth for the lyf of Geniuera Her hart Ge niueâ—a eâ—â—useth her former faiâ—e and folâ—â—e vvich promise of vnfayned fayth to Diego The conclucion of the traÌ„slator vpoÌ„ his volume of tragicall discourses