pastimes incidente to younge gentlemen who fyndinge the care of the worlde hurtfull to their younge and tender inclynacion and hauing wherwith to susteine their prodigall vaine do passe the shorte tyme of their greene yeres in the only ymytacion of pleasure wherin this younge heire of VYVALDO tooke such large penny worthes and was assisted wyth so long a tyme that he seamed to lacke nothing to make hym appeare happie in thys worlde but a dispence from aboue to defende hym from the daungerous snares and prison of loue who albeit is blinde and of smal force yet is he ordeined to interrupte the ease of men with a speciall grudge and common hatred to thexcesse of felicitie in our youth And because there is nothinge on earth that is contynual ly happie and that it is necessarie to knowe the causes why we are of the world I meane to be touched sometime wyth a change of our fortune and passion of hard disgestion aswel as wée séeke to tast of the delicates of ease and wallowe in contynual pleasure So I thinke that euen as couetousnes and gredie desier is thordynarie torment and contynual bourreau that trobles the mynd of thold man Euenso loue is an impression of disquiet which nature hath sowen in the harts of younge men both to restraine in tyme the raginge follie of youth and accordinge to the order of the pinchinge frost killinge the buddes of certeine trees and flowers that appeare duringe the violence of his tyme to chasten the abuse of their long pleasure wyth a rebuke of no lesse sharpe disposicion then almost insupportable for the tendernes of their discretion whiche loue beinge blinde of hymselfe seames also to 〈◊〉 smal regard in y e disposition of his affaires with lesse discrâ—â—â—oÌ„ in knitting thaffectioÌ„s of those vnhappie wretches whiche he bringes to drawe vnder the yoke of his awe whereof our age swarmes with examples whiche I am contente to dismisse for this time by reason of y e superfluitie of the same referr you to the sequile of this Luchin who dandled as it were vpon the lappe offollye and serued with nothinge but dishes of delit â—â—â—â—â—are could not beare so euen a hand vpoÌ„ the bridle of his affectioÌ„s but or he wiste he let slipp the steddie raigne of his libertie became extremely in loue with a simple maide whose beautie he accompted of more price then her selfe or parentes noble by discente or other speciall assistance of fortune And albeit his personage and liuyng with thestimation of other gyftes whiche nature had lente him aboue the reste seamed sufficiently hable to make hym meritorious of fauor of the beste Ladie of a countrey yet loue hauyng neither respecte to his race nor regarding his greatnes did close his eyes from the viewe of such as were hable to answere him in equalitye of discente vertue and conuerted his harte and affection to the contemplacion of a simple maide whose name albeit is not of such veneration as Camylle and Lucretia whose high titles onlye do importe a certeine semblance and creditt of honestie in the person of a publike curtisan yet her chastetie with womanly gouernement deserueth no lesse coÌ„mendacion then the most approued of auncient time for being the doughter of a pore man she grudged not with the porcion of pouertie but thought it a principall vertue to embrace the lott of her state with thankeful contentement be carefull to releue the harde condicon of her parentes with the honest endeuor of her handes she made not her beautye a looking glasse for the worlde but studied to be worthie of so precious a Iewell she woulde not suffer her bodie to be pampred with delicacye leaste her mynde sholde be subiecte to thinfection of euil nor giue any place to thalarmes of the fleshe leaste the same should preuale aboue her resistance being of the age of fyftene or sixtene yeres her modestie was of no lesse admiracion seruing as a lanterne to light all the ladies of Ieyne then her beautie without a seconde hable to allure the best assured of a countrey whose firste viewe and simple regarde brought suche suddaine astonishement to the loftie minde of this Luchyn that after he had conferred the secrett misterie which nature had hiddeÌ„ in her face with the special gifte of seamely behauior bestowed vppon her by God his harte seamed enchaunted eyes as lymed with the glaunce of her lookes not hable to wythdrawe their regardes from the contemplacion of so perfecte a beautie whiche was not set out to the sale by any artifyciall meanes of paintynge or assistance of pouder or other vaine experience of diuers of oure counterfaite masquers nowe a dayes neyther did she seame to preferr any suborned brauerie for th aduancement of so precious a dowrye either by superfluous frizilation of the heare twincklinge of the eye wrynginge the lip or wrestinge the chyn minsynge or measurynge her pace as thoughe her ioyntes were oute of tune or tyed together wyth pointes or other lewde Iestures deuised by the curtisan and practised as a principle and chiefe grace at this daye by diuers of our delicatt and wanton dames who not waighing the due merite of so precious an ornameÌ„t lesse worthie to weare so rare a badge of nature do abuse the goodnes of theim both in conuertting the onely gifte of God into a detestable meane to agrauate synne And receiuing thus the first somoÌ„ce of loue whose arrowes being fethered with the wing of infection do leaue the harte wounded with a burnyng desier to pursue thinstigacion of our appetit he founde himselfe to weake to abide any more alarams albeit striuing a litle at the first to defende his libertie with y e intent to aunswere appeale to thuttermost of his forces he brewed the broth of his owne â—ale renewed y e torment of his passioÌ„ in such sort y t there were fewe dayes in y t wherin he performed not his pale walke afore the lodging of his faire Ianiquette whom if by any aduenture his roauing eyes did spie at y e doare he forgatt not to salute with no lesse humylitie then if she had bene one of the greateste ladies in Ieane courting her besides with a low reuerence other offices of dutiful ciuilitie in no lesse reuerend maner then if he had presented his seruice to the greatest princesse of Italy whiche also driue the girle into some amaze as one not exsperienced in the order of such amarus gretinges and lesse vsed to be saluted by any gentleman equall in callinge or coÌ„dicioÌ„ to Siegneur Luchyn whose fame as it was great both by y e authoritie he bare in y e Citie reputacion of his liuing wyth other giftes and ornamentes of nature So it driue her into doble astonishment to conster the meaning of his newe courtesie albeit leauing y e diuinacioÌ„ of his intent to a time of more leasure she retired to the vertue of her good norriture for y
thornaments of nature and giftes of grace and yelding hym besides suche honor and honest loue as was necessary for the state of mariage yet notwithstandinge was he so vnthankefull to all these benefites that after he had called the flower of her beautye and forced her to passe an assuraunce of her goods and lynynge to his vse hee committed secret execution washed his handes in the blod of thâ—infortunate Ladye contrarye to all ciuilytie or lawe of nature if he I saye seame iustly meritorious of reproche we maye worthely imparte treble prayse to a barbarous Turke and admirall of the countrey of Arabia who being ouerthrowen in y e bataile foughten in that countrey by Bandwin king of Ierusalem him selfe and wife prisoners with his treasure and municion of warre at the disposition of the sayde kinge and beinge dismissed frely without exaction or raunsom and his wife restored withoute violacion or force of her bodye iudged it a vertu not to be ouercome in magnificence and liberalitye and a mortal vice to beare the title of an vnthankefull Prince whereof he made declaracion for that not longe after the sayde Bawdwine beinge beseged of the infidels and by distresse of warre at point to fal into their mercy the sayde admyral not vumindefull of the compassion he showed vpon his misery brake into him by nighte and withe certeine assistantes of horsemen preuented his present perill and set him safelye vppon his waye from al offer or feare of daunger All whiche I haue coated in this introduction for that my historye importes ii examples of semblable substance the one exposinge a wonderfull effecte of frendshipp on the behalf of his ennemie and the other retorninge his liberalitye withe suche ample consideration that there is no degre in any Corner ofchristendom-but may se an experience of vertue in the doings of theÌ„ both Wherein I wishe chiefly a perticipacion of the fruite of such examples to all sortes of our contriemen in englande to th ende wee maye forme our lyues vpon y e verteous presedents of such strangers as preferringe vertue afore vice haue bene more curious to get a true renoume of reputacion then carefull of a vaine gloriouse or folyshe pomppe of the world A WONDERFVL VERtue in a gentlman of Syenna on the behalfe of his ennemye whoÌ„ he delyuered from Death and the other to retorne his courtesye vvith equall frendshyp presented him with his sister whom he knew hee loued entierlye IN the â—ecewles or Comentories of tuskan I find a special Remembraunce of a mortall grudge betwene ij of the moste noble houses in SYENNA called Salimbino and Montanino whereof as bothe the one and other were of semblable Reputation for honour and height of estate so were they of equall Rule authoritie in the gouernement of their publike weale whose parentes allbeit and predecessours were of singler commendation by the vertue of mutuall societye whiche appeared so entyer and indissoluble betwene theim by manye discentes that the writers in that age douted not to tearme theym no lesse true myrrroers patterns of perfect frendship then either HORESTES or PYLLADAS which y e Romain oratour Makes so famous by peculiar commendation yet according to the opinion of Aristotle as children commonly do Rather excede their fathers in vice then Resemble them in vertue so the posteretyes of these noble houses in place to perseuer in the vertue of their parentes or treade in the steppes of their aunciente amytie in the verie entrey of their florishing time when al men were in exspectacion of verteous frutes like to their fathers withe hope to confirme the league of their long frendeshippe they embrased sinister occasions of ciuil mutines grouÌ„ding great quarrels vpon slender or smal substance with a dispocition and equall desyre the one to pursewe the other wyth such fatal hate and vnnatural tyranny that as the one was almost brought euen to the brinke of vtter desolation of hys house and Reuenue so the other triumphing allbeit in the Conquest of his enemye escaped not only with out perentory perill of him selfe losse of A nomber of his deare kinsmen and Companions of Race but also was enioyned to so harde A penance that he lyued alwayes after in the contynuall grudge and desdaine of the people the viewe of whose malice preferring A wonderful remorce of conscience with Remembrance of the fowlenes of the facte passed pursewed hym with alarams of vnnaturall and frettinge disquiet of minde euen vntill the last separation of his soule and body And here if you conferre the quarrell with the cause and waighe in indiffrent ballance the mischiues morders with infinit inconueniences deriued of so small occassions you nede not doubt to ioyne in opinion with Paulus Iouius other writes worthy of no lesse Credyte then of greate fame for learning and skil who amongest other generall discriptioÌ„s of Italy geueth her this peculiar CommendacioÌ„ that beyng subiect to thinfluence of a crabbed Clymate and quarrelus coÌ„stellacion termes her to be of al the world the only store-house for percialites and Ciuill faccions and market place of Tumultes suborned trobles which I colde also iustefie by thautority of the warres betwene the florentynes and the Syennoys with other frée states in y e contreye besids the eiuil discencioÌ„ among the nobility w t vnnaturall persecutions of families kinreds sauing y t the discourse wold seame more tedius then necessarye and kepe me to longe from the principal points of my history which calles me now to perform my promisse and satisfye the expectacion of the rearder No man Douteth I am sewer that aswel antiquity as people of present being haue not had in general regard peculiar delyte the noble exercise of hunting diuers kynds of chases no lesse for the respect of pleasure then euitacioÌ„ of diuers disco modities happenyng oftentymes to the husbandmen by the wilde boare and wolfe with other beasts of equall fercenes and like annoye wherin albeit besides the contentment of the mynde ther is to be coolled a necessarye fruite of double commoditie the one to sturre vp the ydle crewe of delicate persons hauntyng the houses of great men to the exercise and ymitation of honest traueill the other representyng the very sleyghtes and pollecies in warre instructes the young gentlemen not hable as yet to endure the hardnes and experience of the fyelde to discerne the aduauntage of the place the subtelty in dressing his ambushe for beynge discouered his tyme to dysplaie the same to the disaduantage of the enemy the order howe and when to geue the charge with an enforcynge of corage to pursewe the chasse so farre as good gouernement wil giue leaue yet is not thys pleasaunt skirmishe and necessary recreation for youth wythout some agument of great and almoste absolute assurance of diuerse sortes of misfortunes for wee reade that MELEAGER loste his lyfe in killing the wilde boare of CALIDONA Cephale for the lyke respect kylled hys deare
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
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
mockerye in the ende that they sticke not to discribe their vaine and fonde humor vppon publike stage in the hearinge of all the worlde yet am I of opynion that as the garmente that is fyt for euery man is well framed for no man so the harte that is as apte to declyne as the appetit is readie to sommon is neyther meritorious of fauor in any sort nor meete to kepe place in the rancke of the vertues chieflye where hee refuseth thobiecte of his owne choice neyther is it possible that two sonnes geue lighte to y e world at one instante nor once conueniente for the mynde of one man to embrace thymage or figure of more then one saint wherein thexample of CORNELIO callinge vs to thymytacion of the like vertue serues also to confute thopposicions of certeine couetous Ladies now a daies who rather gredie of glorie thenne hable to deserue it do not sticke to whet their wittes and inueighe synisterly against thinconstancie of men transporting the whole title and honor of true loyaltie to themselues as though there remained no sparke nor showe of that vertue in the hartes of men who as they were the firste partakers of that gifte so the constante order of their doinges and lyues beinge founde for the moste parte the longeste in breath do argue them no lesse worthy of that perfection then hable to excede that flatteringe crew of flickeringe creatures who in robbinge vs of that which we deserue by iuste title doo seame to bewtifye theimselues wyth the merite of other mens vertues But because the eares of al women can not brooke the hearinge of a troth and that the pursewte of this quarrell arguinge a more daunger in thaduenture then gaine in the victorye mighte set abroache the faltes of some of our contreywomen I am contente to geue theim that they will haue by force and retiringe to the place of my historie declare vnto you the aunswer of CORNELIO to the messenger I am sorye saieth he the large honor and liberall offer whyche you seame to presente vnto me on the behalfe of your Lady and mystrys is of a more highe momente thenne eyther I am worthys to possesse or hable to requite wyth equall merite wherein because the harde condition of my presente state seames my chiefeste enemye to soo greate a prefermente I doubte howe to seame thankefull to her and satisfye the tyme both together albeit as thinges ympossible are not to bee pursewed and offences forced of necessitie are moste meritorious of pardon so beynge not hable to aunswere her exspectacion in counterchaunge of affection I am onlye to racke the litle tallent that is lefte me to so highe a pyn that onlye shee shall dispose of my honor and lyfe wyth all that I haue in the worlde at her pleasure whyche it maye like her to vse as a supplie of y e presēt dutie and seruice she demaundes at my hand onelye being at this presente not the maister of my selfe nor the vse of my harte in mine owne possession my sute is that shee rather blame the wronge whiche time offreth to vs bothe then note me of any disdayne in refusing the frendshippe of her who merites more then I am hable to performe for if my harte were as frée from forreine and former bondes as shée deserueth to be serued and that my affections did not excede thordenary ympressions whiche assaile the mynde of man assure youre selfe shee shoulde not lyue longe vnsatysfyed to her contentmente and muche lesse haue cause to enter into suspection of Ieleous disdaine in me for retorning the offer of that which maye serue for a present to the greatest prince in ITALY neyther will I so much abuse the proffer of her acquaintance or cause of your cōming as eyther her liberal offer or vehemēcie of your importunities on her behalf shal moue me to resolue a worseopynion or more slēder credyt on y e honor or honestie of her y t sente you desyeringe you for end to preferr my excuse accordinge to thintegretie of the same with this further addicion and humble requeste that she bee as bolde to employe me in any other respecte no lesse amplye and so far furthe as my honor and lyfe will extende more honestlie saithe the messenger colde you not refuce the offer of that whyche earste was neuer presented to any and muche lesse so neare the poynte to make a price of so precious amarchandise neyther do I thinke you worthie of the title of that courtesye whereof you are commended nor yet am I of mynde that youre harte is capable of the noble vertue of loue seynge y e renowne honor of her whose bewty only hath the greatest princes of Italye in awe canne make no breache nor enter And who woulde seame of so slender iudgemente onlesse hee hadde quite disclaimed the order of reason that beinge proffered frelie that whiche princes can not get by any sute and not onely desired but pursewed wyth greate instance wolde let slippe the gyft of so good a fortune and make chippes of the frendshippe of so faire and curteons a Ladye wyth what face dare you visyt hereafter th assemblies of greate dames hauynge committed so greate a falte on the behalfe of her whose goodwill you do not deserue if her curtesye did not call you to that prefermēt are you of opynion that the merite of your bewtie and other proporcion excedes the honore and heighte of her that woeth you ymagyn the same to bee of suche force that it is hable to drawe Ladyes to doate of you euen vnto deathe woulde you become so harde harted as to encrease your glorye wyth thexployt of so great a crueltie If you bee subiecte to soo fonde an humor you muste nedes bee incydente to the iuste reuenge which the god of loue is readie to thonder vpon such as seame to hold his loare in skornful contempte whereof as I haue harde mo examples then my skill is hable to reueile in good order being neuer trained in the torning ouer of volumes histories So I wishe chieflie the plage of NARCISSVS maye put you in remembrance of your present ouersighte leaste in disdaininge the frendshippe of such as excell your selfe euery way you doate vppon thymage of your owne shadowe and by that meanes yelde treble vsurye to the wronge you offer her whose loyall affection deserueth a better rewarde then the retorne of a repulse of so small ymportance wherwith CORNELIO cuttinge of the reste of her waspishe discourse desyered her to presse him wyth no greater ymputacion then his offence deserued for saieth he in tearminge me vnworthie of the title of curtesye and that my hart is to harde to admit the impression of loue you rather slaunder me by ignorance then accuse me by iustice seinge the onlye force of loue hath forced alreadie a vowe of my affection and harte to a Ladie of MILLAN whose presence albeit thiniquitie of fate hath taken from me for a
answere the combate agaynste the wicked chalengors of the vndefiled honor of the sacred sect femynyne so the discourse is able to moue compassion to the hartes of men participatiug with nobilitie and set abroach the conduites of teares in the eyes of such Ladyes and gentlewomen as take more pleasure to preserue in eutyer the Iewel of their honor then to open their eares to y e charme of the vaine Louer passioned as be fayneth for a bewtye that passeth with the morning dewe importinge also more cause of admiracion as the person in whom thaccident is veryfied is of simple estate for that the higher she is in degre the more care ought she to haue of her honor exposing arguments and effects of vertu to the meaner sort lyke as the torch or Hemispher starr geueth lyght to the lytle candel and element of lesse substance I wish the young ladies and damesells of our countrye would painte this table in their harts and with the vertue and ymytacion of her chastity fortesye them selues agaynst the pepred allurmēts of the crafty souler who makes warr against their honor vnder thensigne of the blind captein Cupid and directed by y e guide of folly and not by example of her deathe to force an vntymely and vnnaturall destynie or end of their dayes IVLYA DROVVNETH her selfe for that her bodye was abused by force YT nede not seme doubtfuli to anye at this day that GaZolo is percel of the duke dom of Mantua planted in a most plesāt solie right ouer agaynst the father of floddes sometime called Iryden and nowe beringe the name of PO. whose sundry brookes deuided into diuerse streames and pleasant chanells norisheth by their moistures the whole contrey of Italy like as also it is of no lesse credite that wythin our time and memorie ther was borne and bred vpp in the same towne a mayde called Iulya whome if fortune had preferred to the title of a princes or greate Ladye whereby her vertues mighte haue bone brought in reputacion by authoritie of high estate like as her godly order and chast conuersacion of lyfe made her name famous she might haue serued no doubt as y e only lanterne to geue lyght to al degres of youthe in our age her father was not made of so meane a molde for hys birthe as attended vpon with continuall pouerty hauinge only for his porcion the assistance and trauaile of his hands to susteine himself famylie wherin albeit necessitie being y e most greuouse scourge of mans lyfe pincheth cōmōly so extremelie that she makes vs manye tymes forget both honor honestie and good order Ye and abuse the goodnes of our nature yet shall you fynd some so whollie resolued in vertue stād so sewerly vpon the guarde of their honest name That rather then the hungry rage of pouertie or gnawing worme of necessitie haue power to induse them to do y e thing that their honor and honestie cānot iustify they wil not stick to resigne the hard and extreme condiciō of their state into y e hands of the miserable world by som glorious death whych is the only and chief repose of mysery and vndoubted consolaciō of such as are alwayes persecuted w t y e malice of aduer sitie wherof you may note a famyliar proofe in the sequele of this Iulya who notwithstanding the pouertie of her parentes had won by her owne industrie such a general commendaciō of good gouernment and chaste conuersacion of lyfe that excedinge therin all the rest that were but her matches in equalitie of birthe and calling she brought also a decoracion of state and encrease of glory to the obscure name and pettegre of her poore auncestors neither was shee of lesse fame for the prayse of her bewtie and semely shape of body wherin nature semed to aduance her wyth such assistance of her comming that she appered amongest the rest of her companions as the glorious rose in the fragrant and pleasante morning of may she had also such a speciall gyfte and order in spekinge with a staied countenance duringe her conference with any together wyth a wonderful grace in geuing to euerye one the due reuerence of his callinge that notwythstandyuge the simplicitie of her house wyth the small assistance of discrecion not yet confirmed wyth the nomber of xvi yeres her womanly and wyse order mighte serue to instruct some Ladyes of highe callynge and make blushe a nomber of greate dames that accompte theymselues withoute comparison in dyuerse courtes in Italy and els where Albeit as all these vertues and rare gyftes serued rather to encrease her prayse and commendacion among the people then anye suer meane to supplye the pouertie of her parentes or releue the hardenes of her owne state soo her father forgate not to imploye her in the trade of honeste toyle and teache her to treade the steppes of hys trauayle sometyme framynge her to the vse of the wede hooke to torne vppe the earthe wythe a spade in the gardeine and as occasion serued to taste nowe and then of the husband mans toile in attendynge the ploughe wyth other exercises of payne alwayes incidente to the poore man as his only porcion to defende hym frome the violence of hunger and extreme myserye whych two harde enemyes wyth the seuere diligence of the father seamed so whollye to pursue thys younglinge that ther was no exercise of profite or honest trauaile of the hand wherein shee dyd not excede or do aswel as the best being withall soo wholly resolued to preuente the malice of fortune with the sweate of her brows that she was not sene to suffer the least moment of tyme to passe wythout the dispatch of some honest labor perswading herselfe that as ydlenes is ryghtlye termed y e roote of sin and mother of mischief and special ennemye to seduce and corrupt the chastitie of women so she is chieflye to be wythstanded wyth the armor of honest indeuor beinge denied to inuade the hartes of such as kepe their bodyes accompanied wyth contynual trauayle neither doth that detestable vice expose other frutes then fylthye ymagynacions and conceytes of mischiefe according to thauctorytie of PLATO who affirmeth that in doynge nothyng men lerne to doo euill wherein he is iustefied also by dyuerse textes of the scriptures willinge vs nor to be ydle leaste wee fall into the daunger of the temptor whyche Salomon in lyke sorte dothe aduowe saynge the deuyll is alwayes in ambushe to enter in them whose harts he fyndes occupied with vayne thoughtes and their bodyes absteyning from honeste labor and trulye me thinkes the true christian can not stand too sewerlye vppon hys guarde in avoydynge the penalcyes of ydlenes seyng the terrible threates of the gospel somonynge vs by the very wordes of our sauioure to render accompte afore the throne of the highest of euery ydle worde and worke we ymagyn or doo during oure aboade in thys transitorye vale whereof thys faire MANTVA fearinge no lesse to
fall into the daunger of that euill then careful to preuent all occasions of the same wold not admit any dispense or abstinence of trauaile sauynge of the hollydaies which she vsed as seasons of honest recreaciō in the open feldes amongest other her cōpagniōs detestyng vnlauful haunts and secret chattinge with men in corners the chefest meane to bryng their name and doynge in question for she that abandoneth the companie of her companions forsakinge the place of publike assembly to retire into the desolate and darke corners of the chamber doth not only bryng her doyngs in doute but also settes the sclanderer of worke to forge a thousand informacions against her former title name of honestie how clere and strong so euer it seamed in the iudgment of all the world and what other opiniō ys to be had of her that delites in secret conference hatyng to haue her sayngs procede in publike then that shée treates of other affayers then she may wel iustifie for if she liued as she ought vsed none other tearmes then were to be aduouched she neade neither feare y e creaking of y e dore nor vse obscure darke vaults as only witnesses of her talke wherof I could enlarg the proff with authoritie of antiquitie yf the misery of our present time did not prefer examples sufficiēt which I wish may so instructe y e careles mothers of Englād that keping their doughters within the awe of correction they make thē also subiecte to the lawe order of good gouernemēt least both the one the other become the wōder of y e multitude cause of folysh enterluds deuised on publicke stage by the like occasions but now to our Iulya whose chast vpright order of lyuing being yet fresh within the memorie of our age not to be defaced with the lengthe of tyme serues also as a line to lead you yong Ladies to direct your liues as nere as you can by the dyall of her vertues for she treading thus both the stepps of honest traueile traded in the path of true perfection of life deuided the wéeke into dailie exercises of toile and necessary affayers of her father spending the holy dayes only in honest recreacion amonge semely companie in the churche yarde or other conuenient place of publicke assemblie wher being vnhappely spied of a detestable palliard common enemy of the honor of women was sodenly sōmoned by the sentence of her destines fell by no lesse misfortune into y e dāger of a fleshly louer for at y e same instant the noble Loys gonsaga thē byshop of the douchy of Mantua kept his residence at Gazolo where amongest hys traine of houshold gentlemen ther was one who seruyng the byshop in the office of a vallet of his chamber hadd bene no lesse worthye of the credite of that rowmthe then of greter preferment at the hāds of his maister if he had not byn vnhappely encoūtered by the desaster which this history pre sēts vnto you but what a small spot staines a faier garmēt and one vice that is detestable darkneth the credit of a nōber of vertues it is to be noted as I haue said y t in Italye y e méeting of youth daunsing is tollerable so it be in the viewe eye of the people but whatsoeuer other men do thincke of y e art of daunsing I am perswaded that it is rather a discipline deuised within the scoole of Sathan then an exercyse mete to encourage youth to thimitaciō of vertue wherin I appeale to iustifie my opinion to the frute effectes appearing daily in that lasciuius trade leuing a parte the inuectiues and infinite examples which the histories on both partes do infer in detestacion of that wantō allurment or prouocation to sin I thought it sufficiēt to confirme my aduise only w t the authoritie of the Romaine who diswading al men from the exercise of daunsing saith that the countenaunce gestes and other behauyors of a daunser do nothinge differ from the order disposicion of a foole here this valet of chaūber to y e byshop being vnhappelie presēt in an assēbly of youth espied by the like milfortune the order behauior of Iulia who albeit she was y e porest of the cōpanie yet was she nothing inferior to y e best in semely grace and womanly order appearing in her during y e time of the daunce which infectyng alredy the eies of the gallād of FERRARA moued him also w t present desier to go nere take a better view of her beautie which he was not hable to cōsider w t such iudgmēt assured stay of him self but the glymering complexion of her face dyed w t a natural coolor of white and red made suche a breache into his harte that wearing the picture of her beautie in the botome of the same proclaimed her without further aduise y t soueraygne Lady of hys lyfe and only mysters and ruler of hys thoughtes and aduowing herew t to yeald her the whole honor of his seruice protested in secrett to himselfe with lyke vowe and ceremonye of vayne conceyte not to leue the pursute of suche a praye till he had made a conquest of that he ymagined and encountred theffect of his desyre by wearyng the garland of the flower and firste frutes of the maidenhedd of IVLYA whom because he stode on thornes til he had presented the firste ernest penie of his seruice he requested too daunce whyche not knowynge the cause of hys courtesye she refused not to doe as one no lesse redy too performe all requests and affayres of cyuilitie and good bringing vp accordynge to her callynge then excellyng all the reste of her tyme in beautie and other vertues without exception but yf this fonde younglynge and pupill of CVPIDO dyd féele afore the symple mocions of loue beginnyng too tickle him but with desyre onelye to vewe her at large yt is nowe that he resygned hymselfe wholy into the daunger of hym who as a subtill serpent lyeth in wayte to inuade them whome he fyndes vnarmed with vertue laughynge afterwarde to hym selfe at oure redynes to lysten to the lure of hys bayte and ronne hedlonge into the laborynthe of endles dysquyet and that whyche brought more oyle to hys matche and kyndled in hys harte the present sparkes of hoat affection was when he felt the tendernes of her hande whiche albeit was euery daye dipped in dyuers vnholsom confections and alwayes bare tabide the violence of the wether not refrayninge the hardnes or hard labour of any toyle reteyned suche a dilicate softnes and naturall hewe of it selfe that it seamed equall for the fynes smothnes of skyn to some Ladyes which I know are assisted with the helpe of waters and lée made for the nonce and other legerdemeins deuised by the potticarye to preserue their handes in a continual moysture with a fyne whyte pleasant show The plesant reflection of her ladylike hand
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
truellie cōsistes not in passion or pyning cares much lesse cometh he to the ful of his desier by sighes dollorus regardes or lamentable exclamaciōs accordīge to the Spanyard nor so lemne vowes to visitt far places for her sake or childishe feares as the amarus Italyan to whom also we may ad this barceloniā Diego who thought thorow his desperat penānce in the desertes of Pireneus to reclayme the goodwill of his mystres seing that as in al our affayres we ought not excede the institucion of vertue so she chiefly is to beare a swaighe in y e knot of this indissoluble amytie besids we se heare that the diligence of a perfect frende is of more force in those cases then all the passions panges letters of pithie perswacion orother ymportunyties whatsoeuer tollerated in matters of loue neither can a man iudge what a treasor it is to haue an assured frende tyll eyther the want of suche a Iewell or experience of his frendshipp make hym tast the benefit of so great and rare a gift seyng that a true frende beinge the second part or one moyetie of our selues is alwayes so guided by a natural Sympathya of affection towardes hym whō he loueth that he reioyseth in the pleasure and commodytie of hys frende and is readye to participat with hys aduersaty when fortune is disposed to plaie any part of her accustomed mobilitie whereof albeit we fynde not at thys daye so many thorowly perfect in that vertue as the whole worlde on all partes swarmes withe infynitye of the contrarye faction whych the Grecian philosopher calleth Microphilos That is a demye or halfe frende accordynge to thinglishe phrase Yet am I moued by diuerse occasions to passe ouer suche discourse contentinge my selfe that the diuersatye of my histories gyue recreaciō to the reader wythout stayinge to infer authorities whych may touche or sift the conscience of any And obseruing chiefly as nere as I colde an order of truth my seconde respecte was to prefer suche examples as myghte best serue to instruct our youthe who as they maye sée heare the faltes of fragilitie punished with shame losse of honor cruell deathe and perpetual infamie to their posteritie So haue they also of the contrarye speciall patternes of vertue alluringe theym to ymytacion of semblable honestye wyth diuersitie of authorities prouinge the reward of vertue and vertuouse lyuinge whereof lett all degrées make their proffit as they thinke good accordinge to the flée in the milke fedinge of the good and vertuous frute and leaue the reste as poison and bitter dregges to such as are wholly drowned in the desiers of the fleshe and buryed in a pitt of worldly filthe and as I haue seamed in some places to enterlarde this profane traslation with certeyne testimonies oute of sacred recordes So I hope the same will the rather defende th'integritie of myne intente againste all obiections consideringe that the most parte of the simple and ignoraunte sorte are rather moued with suche examples then reduced with the seuere sentences of somme great philosopher or reformed theologyan Besydes in theis discourses of loue th' adulteror is putt in remembrance of his faulte the morderer séeth the rewarde of his iniquitie he that yeldes to the sommonce of fowle cōcupiscence is sewer to be touched with the marke of infamie and suche as passioneth him selfe vpon creadit maye beholde heare the méede of his follye wherein for my parte as I greue that the worlde at this presente swarmeth with so greate a nomber of insensed men readye to dye for a pleasure of so small momente as the contentemente of the bodie So I wishe that as in writynge thies tragicall affaires I haue founde the falte of mine owne life that also the reste of the younglinges of our countrey in reding my indeuor maye breake the slepe of their longe follye and retire at laste to amendement of lyfe leaste in remeyninge still in the laborinth of sensuallitie they serue not hereafter as a fable and stage playe to the posteritye of a multitude for ende I exspecte no other hier of my traueile then that my diligence maye seame thankefull to her to whose honor and goodnesse I owe no lesse then all that I haue FINIS The Table A Wounderful vertue in a Gentleman of SIENNA on the behalfe of his enemie whome he deliuered from death and the other to retorne his courtesye with equall frendshipp presented hym wyth his syster whome he knewe he loued entierelie Histo 1. Fol. 4. The longe and loyal loue betwene LYVIO and Camylla together wyth theyr lamentable death the one dyenge of a passion of ioye the firste nighte he embraced his mistrys in bedd the other passed also the same waye as ouercome with present sorowe for the death of him whome she loued no lesse then her selfe Histo 2. fol. 39. A younge Ladye in Myllan after she had longe abused the vertue of her youth and honor of mariage with an vnlawfull haunte of diuerse yonge Gentlemen becomes an vnnaturall morderor of the frute of her wombe for that she was forsaken of him who gatt her with childe Histo 3. Fol. 62. An Albanoise Captayne beynge at the point to dye killed his wyf because no man sholde enioye her beautie after his death Histo 4. Fol. 80. Sondrye perills happenyng to a younge Gentleman of Myllan in the pursute of his Ladie Histo 5. Fol. 95. The villanie of an Abbot in séeking to seduce a mayde by force and her vertue in defending her honor against him and his companions of trayson Histo 6. fol. 124. The disordered lyfe of the Countesse of Celant who lyuynge long in adulterie and after she had procured diuerse morders receyued the hyer of her wickednes by shamefull death Histo 7. Fol. 136. IVLYA drowneth her selfe for that her bodye was abused by force Histo 8. Fol. 170. The impudent loue of the Ladye of Chabrie with her procurer Tolonyo together with the detestable morders committed betwene theim Histo 9. Fol. 188. LVCHIN is longe in loue wyth a simple maide whom he woeth and can not wyn by anye passion he endureth at laste necessitie yeldeth her into his handes when he dothe not onelye refuce to abuse her bodie but also takes order to susteine her and supplie her wantes no lesse amplie then yf she had bene his syster Histo 10. Fol. 208. The crueltye of a wydowe in enioynynge her woer to a pennance of thre yeres losse of his spéeche the folishe loyaltye in hym in performynge her commaundement and the meane whereby he was reuenged of her rigour Histo 11. Fol. 226. PERYLLO suffreth muche for the loue of Carmosyna marying her in the ende were both two stricken to death with a thonderbolte the first nighte of theyr infortunat mariage Histo 12. Fol. 252. A wonderful constancie in Dom Diego who for the respect of Geniuera la Blunde vndertooke a harde pennaunce vpon the mountes Pyreney where he led the lyfe of an Hermitt til he was founde out by chaunce by
one of his frendes by whose helpe he recouered both fauor and mariage of his cruel mistrys Histo 13. Fol. 265. The ende of the Table A vvitnes or cronicler of tymes a caÌ„dle to the trothe the life of the memorie the maister of a mans life and the reaporter of all antiquityes Iucundi acti labores Nescire quid antequam natus sis acciderit est semper esse puerum Lyuye Histories a librarie or store house of knovvledg Executed for religion in Fraunce by the Emperor Seuerus in the yere 178. Hannyball forced a passage for his armi through the Alpes Ingratitude the chiefeste ennemy to the honor of nobilitye Children do commonly rather excede their fathers in vice then resemble them in ver 〈◊〉 â–ª Ytaly a store house for mutinies Thexercise of hunting is both pleasant and profitable The proffit in huntinge The daunger of a prince in Iermanye in hunting A courte of peynall forfeitures or coÌ„demnatioÌ„ for money The frutes which true vertue exposeth All things are subiect to chaunge Deathe the due hyer of vnnaturall conspiracye A kinde of curtesye or amarus gretiÌ„g in Italye Hope is a chiefe comforte in affliction An vngodlie Lavve The taste of life pleasante to all men The couetous minde is neuer in quiet according to the vvordes of thappostle God the highe iudge Salymbyno debateth vvith himself touching the deliuerye of his ennemie Yt is more easye to conquer by clemencie then by crueltie Parentâ—s The noble harte soonest enclined to loue Montanyno seketh to re quit the good torne of his enemye Fortune not to be holden against her vvil and god is bound to no time Height of estate ought not to alter the goodnes of nature The Athenians punished vnthaÌ„kfulnes by death The ansvver of Augelyqua to her brother Loue hathe povver to vvorke a facilitie in that vvhiche all men thinke ympossible Venus Angeliqua falleth into a sound Angeliqua consenteth to her brothers requeste Montanyn to Seigneur Salymbyno Fortune accordinge to the poetes is the change and alteration of the vvorld ly affayres Salymbyn to his frendes so the mariage of Angeliqua Vertue firme and not subiect to chaÌ„ge The noble mynde inuincible agaynst fortune King Cyrunorished and brought vp in the contreye Romulus brought vp amonge shepherdes Of vnlavvfull vvinning of the father coÌ„mes iust losse to the sonne The romains respected more the vertuous pouertie then allovved the rich man conuerted into vice Loue make vs more apte to desier then hable to attaine Mariage the first thing vvherin christ glorified himself by miracle In the choice of our vvife vvee ought to respect the vertue and gyftes of the mind and not the riches or exterior beautye Aduersitie is necessary for that it makes vs parfect The vertues in loue in a noble minde Sondry vertues in loue Loâ—e is an humor of infecâ—â—on deriued of the corrupte partes in our selues Loue. VVords haue force to further the effecte of anye thinge Desert soyles be harbors mete for solitary persons The coÌ„plaint of Lyuyo The Cameleon is norished by the breath of the ayre Cicero Cornelya to her brother The ansvver of Cornelyo to his sister Ho bearethe his misery beste that hideth it most It is necessary to knowe the impersectious of the worlde 〈◊〉 the true messengers of the dollor of the harte The disease of Loue contrary to the disposition of other griues The coÌ„plaint of Camylla Liuio at the poiÌ„t of death speaketh to his misters Quintus Scipio The complainte of Camilla Loue is naked and vvith out eyes Brutus vvarned of his ouerthrovve in his sleepe Lyuyo vvriteth to Câ—mil lâ— The propertie of the svvan beinge neare her deathe Delaies be hurtefull in cases of loue The kinge of the hunes died in the excesse of pleasure vvith his vvife the first night of their mariage Livyo died of the like in the armes of his Camilla Badde argumeÌ„t in a yong vvoman Her parentes Money is hable to batter the strongest fortresse vnder heauen The order of a fearefull louer in disclosing his affection Slaunder Her bevvtie Parthonope vvritteth to Pandora Of true loue Pandora allovveth the requeste of her louer Companion of bed or lieu tenaunt VVhoremonger Marcyano disvvadeth his frende from Pandora Callinge Pandora vvriteth to partho nope Pandora exclaimeth Herselfe and the child vvith in her Nedea and Circe 2 great enchannteresses PaÌ„dora seÌ„des her mayd to practise vvith the vvitches of the vale Net her certaintie nor assuraÌ„ce in the art of enchaÌ„tyng God suffred the magicions of Egypte to vvorke vvonders in the sight of Pharao The studye of scripture ought to bee thexercise of the religions Abbaies the chiefest pillors that men teine superstion and ydolatrye Abbayes and Nonries tenementes of Babylon Freares bee couetous Suggestion of the fleshe makes vs sonest forget God A deuelish of deuise of Pandora The euill is but light vvhere councell takes place Paris Whoremaâ— â–ª mâ—â—ster Ielosye excedes al the tormentes in the vvorlde Hunger and colde 2. coÌ„moÌ„ enemies attendinge the campe of miserie In euery mischiefe fortune beareth the greatest svvaighe No maÌ„ vvith in the daunger of fortune but suche as lake assurance in vertue Vertue yeldes good frutes to such as embrace her vnfaynedly The chiefest vertue in a vvise is to be obedient to her husband Fortune is alvvayes Ialouse of the ease of man The malice of the vvorld rageth moste vpoÌ„ vvidovvs and fatherles children The vse of the nedle a conuenient exercise for any degree of vvomen The Captain to his frend Thoffice of true frendship vvhere in it consistes Touchinge dyuynacion of the mynd The propertie of a she ape in embrasing her younge on s Fiue vertue vvill alvvayes yeldes frutes according to the goodnes of the thing 〈◊〉 the coÌ„mon catyer of tales Albeit death is most certeine yet the hovver and time of his coÌ„ming is not knovven The Ladye comfortes her husbande Death the messenger minister of God The graue is the house of reste A ceremonie amongest the barbarians to sacrifise theÌ„selues vppon the tombes of their deade frâ—ndes The captaine riseth to fetche his dagger to kyll his vvyfe Here he killeth his vvyf A comparisoÌ„ deriued of the pollicie vvhiche the vvise mariner or shipmaister doth vse Giftes vvhich ought to appeare in an honest vvoman Deathe hath no povver but ouer our bodye Loue Procedes of the corrupcion of our ovvne nature Secret solicitors of the invvard affection of the harte Cornelio vvriteth to plaudyna The eyes be the secret signes and mesengers of loue Plaudyna aunsvvereth the letter of her seruant Portune a blind goddes The 〈◊〉 her bodye Plaudina menteth the absence of her freÌ„d vvith complaint 〈◊〉 gainste her ovvne misfortune Loue estemeth no dauÌ„ger The desyerous harte is seldom at rest and doubtefull mindes dreede alvvayes deceite The complaint of Cornelyo beinge in exile His mistres The order of a desolate louer The desier of a desperat louer The firste metinge of the baude vvith Cornelio Men more constant then vvomen Cornelyo aunsvverethe the