No man can tell its power till he hath tryed it and no man that hath tryed is fit to describe it Henry de Lorraine the Husband of Theresia of Castile and Prince of the Conquests in Portugal being of a Family to which life and Generosity were connatural with great sorrow understood the distraction of the Royal House of Castile Any body but he would have made his advantage of them the displeasure of the Father against two of his Daughters must needs be of great importance to the third But the Princes of his Race are not capable of so mean a thing as private interest He departed from Lisbon immediately went directly to his Father-in-law the King of Castile and undertook to mediate betwixt his two Brothers-in-law But for as much as new Acquisitions are more tottering and uncertain than what are anciently establisht Henry apprehending his absence might give opportunity to new Commotions he kept his Journey very close and leaving Fernandez Paw a Portugal to assist his Wife in the Government of that Kingdom he departed so suddenly for Castile that Theresia had scarce time to write two lines to her Father But for the making the occurrences at Castile at the Arrival of Prince Henry perspicuous it will not be amiss if we insert what passed in Portugal before he set out This Fernandez Paw whom he had left chief Counsellor to the Princess in his absence had long since possest himself of that Character in her heart Henry was a young Prince more enamoured of the Quality than the Person of Theresia This Paw admired her for both and it is a great satisfaction to a Woman to have her Dominion founded upon her own Excellence Paw therefore had got an intimacy with the Princess upon that score and having managed it very discreetly Prince Henry had gotten no notice of it Paw served his Prince so well in his Foreign Affairs he was not the least suspected at home Theresia carried herself with as much modesty as could be expected but by misfortune the day before Henry was to depart there had been some Letters past betwixt Theresia and Paw the Princess was subject to some Christian reflexions which had put her Gallant into some confusion He had writ to her upon that subject and Theresia was so prest by her Husband to close up her Pacquet to Castile that she sealed up Paws Letter instead of one to her Father This mistake was not discovered till three or four hours after the Prince was departed They had been imployed all that time in instructions pro and con But when the Princess was alone and had a mind to read Paws Letter which she believed she had left sealed upon the Table she was much surprized to find the Letter she had writ to her Father Alphonso in its place That she sigh 't and wept and tore her hair is no great difficulty to imagine Nothing could serve but she must dye Fernandez could not comfort her and to speak truth he himself wanted no little consolation But there was no remedy but patience The Example of her other Sisters gave his some relaxation she could not do worse than they had done before her In the mean time Henry arrived at Burgos with Paws Letter instead of his Fathers The good Alphonso was much revived at the sight of his dear Son-in-law and looking now upon Theresia as the sole Inheritrix of that Love of which Elvira and Vrraca had rendred themselves unworthy he observed the tears drop down his venerable Cheeks at the sight of the Letter the Prince presented him from her He opened the Pacquet with great joy and supposing there was nothing in the heart of his Daughter to which her Husband might not be privy he began to read it aloud but recollecting immediately that it was not Theresia's hand he stopt at the first line and then looking upon the Superscription to see how it was directed he found it For the King of Castile and that the Superscription was written by Theresia her self he concluded then that she might have some reasons which he did not know to make use of a Secretary and then stepping to the Window he read these Lines which to accommodate our selves to all sorts of Readers we have taken the pains to translate our of Spanish Ah my dear Princess how insupportable are you grown with your remorses have I not told you a thousand times that there is nothing owing to Husbands but the conservation of their Honours That the great discretion lyes in chusing a friend who by the prudenee of his Conduct would keep them from scandal and these Formalities being observed there is no more due from you to Prince Henry Courage Madam overcome this unseasonable compunction and that it may be nipt in the bud permit that I may wait upon you this night with new Arguments against it Never was any man so surprized as Alphonso at the reading of this Letter It was to be his common custom to see his Daughters disloyal Elvira had taken that liberty in private Vrraca did it publickly and the old King of Castile was so good a Father as to impute all to the imprudence of his Sons-in-law He could not believe it was their temperament or natural inclination which disposed them to so unnatural actions The one was debaucht by the Jealousie of her Husband the other by her desire of Revenge but for Theresia he had nothing to say in her defence Henry was accomplisht in himself he had setled the French oeconomy in his Family and Theresia lived at Lisbon as she would have done at Paris He was liberal frank and faithful so that Alphonso was so much transported at the injury done to this Prince that he could not master his first resentments However it had been but prudence in him to conceal the exorbitance of his Daughter but the good man was so transported with choler that he threw the Letter upon the ground cast up his eyes to heaven as a person under some eminent affliction and answering his own thoughts as it had been his Daughter he cryed out You shall dye unhappy Child you shall dye if your Husband should be so merciful to forgive you I would tear you in pieces with mine own trembling hands rather than your infidelity should go unpunisht The Prince of Portugal had like to have swounded at this transport he could not conceive the Contents of the Letter nor the cause of Alphonso's disorder and asking him in his surprise what infidelity it was he charged upon Theresia the King took up the Letter again and delivering it into his hand here says he see what reason I have to be disturbed and confess I have brought Monsters not Daughters into the World Henry took Paws Letter from the King he knew the hand and reading it half out was so astonisht at the Contents he could scarce tell whether he was waking or asleep His conversation in the World had not been so small but he
barricadoed himself in the Inn resolved to perish before he would surrender The persons sent after him having express Orders to bring him dead or alive never stood upon Complements they prest him so close there was no possibility of escaping and those who are far gone in Stoicism being not far from Barbarity the Count took up a resolution suitable to the fierceness of his own Nature and his hatred for Amedy He killed the fair Countess and stab'd himself when he had done Let the Reader imagine if he pleases the transport the Duke was in at this horrible News He said and he did things very inconsistent with his Dignity but that which gave the highest tincture to his despair was to understand that it was his dear Favourite the Marquess of Savona had given him this bob The Count reproaching the Countess by the way had let fall some words which assured her of the truth which words she had writ down in her Table-book found in her Pocket after she was dead with design to send them by the first opportunity to the Duke The Prince finding himself betrayed to satisfie his Revenge used all the means a just indignation and an absolute power could invent He caused the Marquess to be stab'd he confiscated the Count de la Morienes Estate and annext it to his demeasness and not being able ever after to be reconciled to the World he resigned the Government into the hands of his Son Charles whom he married to the Princess of Cyprus and retiring to his solitude of Ripaille he remained there till he was made Anti-Pope During this recess he composed his Memoires out of which we have taken this Relation The general History says only this that Amady retired upon some secret discontent but gives no account of particulars Our Annals of Love supply that defect as they have done several other and could have carried their disquisition much further if they might have been permitted An Anti-pope of the Dukes humour is very proper to furnish us with Rarities but the Italian Proverb tells us Al negocio del Cielo Se bastava gli Angeli Let Angels sing the things above They are too high for Tales of Love We are in an humour of speaking of the strange Effects of Love Agnes de Castro and must satisfie the Capricio of our Genius Don Pedro Prince of Portugal Son to Don Alphonso was almost contemporary with Amedy the King his Father had a second Wife who governed him absolutely The Prince obtained no favour from the King but what he ought to his Complacence for the Queen and as the highest excess of her Tyranny she would constrain him to marry a Daughter of hers called Leonora which she had had by her first Husband James of Arragon The Lady was handsom and had not Don Pedro been under a necessity of loving her it is possible he would have loved her well enough but Love is hardly to be obtruded upon a generous Soul Don Pedro's natural inclinations were great his Courage-high he could not truckle to the Orders of the Queen and the more eager she was to force his affection for the Princess he was the more obstinate and averse He had a Nurse widow to the Marquess de Castro who had an influence upon him In all the Countries on that side the Mountains the Nurses are chosen as chosen as much by their Extraction as any other Qualification whatever They have an opinion that the inclinations of ordinary Women are transfused with their milk and I am not certain whether it be altogether irrational The Queen accumultated her Caresses and Presents upon this Lady and conjured her to imploy the utmost of her interest to dispose the young Prince to what she desired but who is it but knows how much Fortune delights to defeat the designs of humane Prudence The way the Queen proposed to make her project successful proved the greatest and most effectual obstruction This Marquesses Lady had a Daughter named Agnes a sprightly and handsom young Lady The Prince had seen her without any Concernment whilst he had viewed her en passant but the Commission her Mother had received from the Queen giving him more frequent occasions of entertaining her the Prince became enamour'd at last What he had suckt from the breast of her Mother fermented in his heart in favour to the Daughter and the Love which was produced from so natural a Sympathy was violent from its very beginning The Prince was not able to suffer without declaring it The Terms in which he did it were not displeasing to the young Castro and being a handsom man in his person it cost him no great trouble to insinuate into her affection the greatest discouragement she had was their uncertainty of her Mother She was a Woman entirely devoted to the Interest of the Royal Family she would not see her own Daughter advanced to the Throne at the expence of the least difference betwixt the King and his Son and being not of a Temper to be easily deluded Agnes was perswaded she would not endure the passion of the Prince She represented her Judgment to him and though of her self she could have heard them eternally yet she conjured him for those reasons to give over that discourse But those kind of Conjurations are always in vain a Lover is never so furious as where reasons are introduced to perswade him to the contrary The Princes passion was augmented by this difficulty but to accommodate with the prudence of Anges which he could not deny to be upon very good grounds he resolved to counterfeit an affection for the Princess of Arragon but with this contrivance that whatever he should be forced to say to Leonora should be received by Agnes as intended to her and the progresses he made upon the heart of the one should be constantly placed upon the account of the other This resolution being taken and the Conditions agreed Don Pedro pretended to comply with his Nurses advice The King and the Queen overjoy'd with this change advanced the whole Family of the Marchioness and made a thousand Presents to Agnes It was a rare thing and very much to the Reputation of Love of Lovers of that Age to delude the Dagacity of two wise and interested Women and a King accomplished in all the Mysteries of Government but that which was most pleasant of all was the blindness of the Princess of Arragon who knowing her self handsom enough to be beloved and receiving the same-expressions which the Prince if he durst would have made to the young Castro made many acknowledgments to her Rival for her assistance without suspecting the least One night when in the presence of Agnes the Prince beg'd a kiss of Leonora so earnestly he was in a fair way to have prevailed Not so fast Madam if you pleased cryed the young Castro you do not consider what you are about to do there are more persons concerned in your conduct than perhaps you
more affairs to treat with her than I have and who chuses such private places for your transactions may if you please make your advantage of this and giving him the Ticket he bade him look where it was The Marquess was named in it so the Count made no scruple to deliver it to him Ha! truly said the Marquess smiling when he had read it this Adventure is pretty the Princess I preceive would not leave us any thing wherewith to reproach one another and I should have had the advantage too much should I have given you the Letter she writ to you unless you had had the same Present for me Having said those words he thrust it into his hands The Count read it and going on afterwards in his Discourse The Princess said he takes more pains than she needs I am too wise to do her any injury and too incredulous to be deceived But Sir said he to the Marquess may I ask you how long is it since you have been in possession of the Princesses favours for knowing so much as I do I suppose you will not be desirous to make it a secret I believe Sir we are both guilty of the same indiscretion replied the Marquess I am no more ignorant of your affairs than you are of mine and I think the Princess is not worthy of your Cautions when we reflect upon the way she hath treated us The two Lovers being strangely irritated but possess with a passion too indifferent to produce any Tragical effects entred into an entire intimacy upon the score of their Adventures and resolved to be revenged by defeating her Marriage with either of the Princes from whom they were imployed But they had not the pleasure of that revenge Alphonso and the Count de Guyenne dying about the same time and the King of Castille following not long after the Princesses Destiny conducted her into Portugal where she failed not without doubt to put her old Maxims in practice But I could never get the true Memoires of the rest of her Intrigues All I could learn was only this that after several Adventures a Ray of Grace confined her to a Monastery of Saint Clares where she ended her life with most exemplary devotion The Count de Boulogne who knowing her humour lookt upon her retirement but as some amorous discontent communicated his thoughts to so many people that the Tradition is come down as far as us and I have related as I received it and thus finding the third Tome of our Annals sufficiently large I make haste to acquit my self of my fourth THE ANNALS OF LOVE THE SEVENTH PART ISmael who by Usurpation had wrested the Persian Empire out of the hands of Prince Imerse Grand-child to Vsun-Cassan had two Sons which were Twins the eldest was called Scach-Caly and the other Chasan-Helif the Sophy designed the first of these two Princes for a Sister of Imerses named Imerselle to whom from her Infancy he had given Education suitable to his design and this Marriage being like to corroborate his Usurpations he resolved it in one of his Royal Feasts so famous in that Country where it is reckoned a crime no less than mortal to appeal from the Decrees pronounced at such times The Grandees of that Empire having been long prepared for that Alliance had approved it before and the pain annext to the infringement of that Law transcending any repugnancy the Princess could conserve against the Family of that Tyrant there was nothing expected but the Conclusion of that Negotiation and the delivering up certain Provinces which as yet remained faithful to their lawful Prince but in such cases the suffrage of the people is not so nenessary as a concurrence of Love Which admitting no Laws but its own Prince Caly understood those of his Country in vain and could not bring his heart to a compliance therewith He was desperately enamour'd of a Kinswoman of his called Zuria and his passion being secret was the more violent He did what he could to resist this inclination but finding it grow higher by depression he sent for his Brother and made him his Confident both of his Love and despair Nor indeed could he have chosen one more sincere for besides the perfect amity betwixt them Chasan had an ardent affection for Imerselle he never durst declare it to her because he thought her too worthy of the Empire and so too high for any Subject to marry besides he knew the Order of Nature had designed her for his Brother How Sir said he when the Prince told him he could not love Imerselle is the Princess of Persia offered to you and you will not accept I know her Excellencies well enough replied the Prince but I am obliged by so strong ligaments to Zuria that I am not able to break them I must confess Imerselle is beautiful I must confess she is vertuous and I know in prudence I should look no further But dear Brother I have no sooner made this reflexion but I find I know not what ebullition in my mind that opposes it immediately My mind will not be subdued by the dictates of my reason the Beauty of Imerselle affects my Eye but makes no impression at my heart and whatever I endeavour for her to no purpose I feel naturally for Zuria without any constraint Ha! Sir replied Chasan you shall find more people with the same passion for Imerselle which you have for Zuria than you shall find on the contrary Nothing in this World is so perfect as Imerselle nor nothing in this World so desirable Ha! dear Brother cryed the Prince embracing him if I be not mistaken I discern you you love Imerselle without doubt and though Fortune hath done me a displeasure I see she hath provided me a remedy Is it possible that in robbing my self of a thing I abhor I should be serviceable to a Brother I love so entirely It is but too possible that I love Imerselle replied Chasan for my passion for her is as ancient as my reason But Sir which way will that be a remedy to you you must resolve to dye or marry the Princess Our Father is severe he apprehends the Revolt of a people he hath conquered who do still retain an inclination to their natural Prince He will never encourage their disobedience by dispensing with yours and I cannot speak it but with horrour I have too much reason to believe he will punish it in you as severely as in the meanest of his Subjects What advantage to you then if I admire Imerselle will my misfortune be a diminution to yours and will you think your self the less miserable for my being so too We must try what we can to be neither of us so replied Scach Caly the Sophy is old and I cannot think will make over-much haste to consummate our Marriage He hath a troublesom War upon his hands will give him impediment for a while let us make use of the present and leave futurity
the Bank of the River Mucazen which runs along by the Plain where the Battel was fought Having got him so far she examined his wounds bound them up as well as she could and sending Laura to a house she discryed not far from the River she caused people to come and help to carry him to some place of security Indeed there were but few of that Nature in that Kingdom for the success of that Battel gave Abdelmelec possession of all his pretensions and the Engagement of Don Sebastian with his Enemy Muley rendred his death necessary to that new Kings repose Xerina was as well fearful of the life of her Lover as of his liberty if he fell into the hands of the Conqueror She put him therefore into a Bark and rowing down with him to the mouth of the River which was not very far she landed him in a little Island where there were some few habitations She had many Jewels about her the Ladies of her Quality among the Mores are usually covered with them she distributed some of them amongst those who had assisted and conjuring them to fetch her Chirurgions from some of the neighbouring Towns they brought her such relief as his condition required His wounds being searcht were not found to be dangerous their greatest apprehension was from his great loss of blood the sight of what was done for him surprised him exceedingly he saw himself lamented and relieved by one of the fairest persons in the World whose Quality was proclaimed by her Habit but could not satisfie himself for what reason a Lady he had never seen before to his knowledge should concern her self so far in his recovery He would have inquired but she stopt his mouth telling him in Portuguese which she had learnt to please Don Sebastian that he was not yet strong enough for a discourse and that she would give him an account of all when his health did permit These cares augmented his astonishment more and more and he called out many times to have his Destiny cleared The first moment it might be done without danger Xerina sate down by his Pillow and told him At length Sir I begin to conceive hopes of your recovery the Heavens would not deprive the Portugals of their King and have been pleased to make use of the Ministry of your Xerina for the preservation of the life of her dear Don Sebastian The wounded person found the Princesses mistake by her discourse but thought it no prudence to convert her on the contrary he used all his Art to confirm it he foresaw too many good consequences to manage them ill He returned a thousand passionate acknowledgments to the Princess and conjured her to tell him which way it was possible she should get him off the field She gave him an account and by that account he discovered Xerinas Birth and ingagements with the King of Portugal He did his utmost to personate Don Sebastian and he might do it the more securely because the people whom Xerina had sent out in quest of Don Sebastian had brought her word that endeavouring to save himself by swimming the River he was drowned and his body not to be found She believed this truth to be an errour as confidently as her own errour to be a truth and promising no less to her self than in a short time to be made Queen of Portugal there was no care nor no promise but in her opinion she ought to so just a pretension The wounded Portugal had Courage and Wit enough to make his advantage of his Fortune He learnt by the Princesses discourse that Muley Boabdelin a Prince of the Blood Royal of Morocco had had particular friendship with the true King of Portugal She caused advertisement to be sent to him that her Friend Don Sebastian was not dead according to Report but that if he pleased to repair to the Isle of Mucazen he should hear further Muley departed with all speed from the remotest part of the Province of Hoscore whither he was retired from the Tyranny of Abdelmelec and causing himself to be conducted by Xerinas Envoy to the place where he assured he should find him he was deceived by the resemblance as Xerina had been before him In the Histories of all Ages and all Countries there is nothing more strange than the perfection of this resemblance It extended even to the natural marks Don Sebastian had in certain places of his body Muley not doubting therefore but the person he saw was the true King of Portugal he exprest extreme joy at his preservation and acquainted him that his Uncle Henry Cardinal of Portugal and Brother to Don John who died last was by the consent of the people chosen to succeed him This news startled the ambition of our counterfeit Sebastian he was afraid it would be no easie matter to dispossess Henry of a Throne he was establisht in already Muley was of his opinion it was agreed they should negotiate with some of the principal of that Kingdom to assert the Interest of their Monarch and not suffer it to be invaded by the artifice of an upstart King Muley offered Xerina and her Lover a retreat in the mean time into his Province of Hoscore where he was too well fortified to apprehend a pursuit They concluded amongst them that it should not be publisht Don Sebastian was alive till he should be in a condition to be restored to the Crown but to authorize what kindness the Princess had shown him Muley acquainted them that above all things it would be necessary for him to marry Xerina immediately This was one of the effects of that resemblance of which the false Sebastian hoped to reap the benefit He was inamour'd of the Princesses Beauty and Behaviour he satisfied Muley's desires with as much joy as readiness and till his possession had master'd his appetite reckoned himself among the happiest of his Sex but when once he was married and had quencht the ardour of his desires the private Negotiation in Portugal began to go on but slowly no body was vigorous enough in his affairs and nothing would serve but he must go over and manage them himself Poor Xerina disswaded him from that resolution with the most fervent Caresses Love could possibly inspire I love you as well without your Crown said she to him as with it and why then is it necessary let it be your felicity to be beloved by me as it is mine to be beloved by you and you will have no need of such hazardous desires Why Madam replied the false Monarch do you think it possible for a Prince born to wear a Crown and who hath already tasted the sweetness of Dominion to condescend and debase himself to the condition of a private person Ha! Madam either you have not considered what it is to be a King or you have not any regard to my satisfaction seeing the Propositions you make are so unacceptable to me Pardon Sir what is past replied Xerina
and I shall disoblige you no more in that nature I must acknowledge your soul to be too large to be bounded with ordinary imployments But let mine have the same Justice suffer me to contribute my assistance towards the recovery of your Crown and vouchsafe me my share in all the difficulties you shall meet Africa Asia Europe and all places are alike to me in your Company refuse me not then that pleasure of following you which you owe to my Love and were I so unhappy to find any thing more potent upon your soul than that passion yet it ought to be my glory to cooperate towards the establishment of an Authority to which you have no pretension but for me These kind considerations past for reproaches in the Spirit of the disgusted Sebastian he was offended therewith and his Capricio provokt Xerina as much They fell into some extravagant expressions and those pretences furnisht him with his desired pretence Xerina had news he was preparing for Europe and she made Verses to disswade him so kind and importunate nothing but a satiated Lover could have read them without being moved He scarce vouchsafed to cast an eye upon them and some of them were not opened till he came into Portugal He had found Love so favourable to him in Africk he presumed it would be his Conductor in all his other Enterprises He understood the secrets of Sebastian as well as he had been he That Prince had discovered all to Xerina and this false Sebastian had wheedled them artificially out of the Princess in pretending to take delight in the relations she made of the expressions of his Love Tell me I beseech you Madam said he what was it you were most affected with in all my proceedings I would willingly know what it was satisfied you most that I might do the same thing often which I did before with such success The Princess ingenuously confessed the thing by which she thought her self most obliged was his desertion of Mary of Portugal and that the rather said she because that Princess is fair loved you very well and as you told me your self was beloved entirely by you before your acquaintance with me And Madam the secrets of State which I imparted to you replied the Impostor were not you well pleased with them that piece of confidence is the highest and most obliging a Monarch can express Xerina acknowledged her ingagement for them also and then falling into a recapitulation of whatever Don Sebastian had told her that was of importance she discovered to her false Prince all the Intrigues of that State Furnisht with a precaution so necessary he took his Journey for Italy as knowing the Princess of Portugal contracted to Don Sebastian was married since his death to Alexander Farnese Duke of Parma and was at that time a Widow Persons of the Quality he pretended are not ignorant of those kind of affairs He arrived at Parma and having caused the Dutchess to be acquainted there was a Portugal Gentleman which had brought her tidings he could not communicate to any but her self he was by her order introduced into her Closet By an Express from Lisbon she had lately received news that Cardinal Henry was dead and was preparing her Claim to the Crown for Ranuccio Farnese her Son who being by the Mother side descended from Prince Edward derived his Original from Emanuel the Chief of that Royal Line Several other Pretenders did the same Catharine the Sister of Mary set up the Interest of Theodor de Braganza her Son Emanuel Philbert Duke of Savoy pretended to it in right of his Mother Beatrix of Portugal and so large was the Competition Catharine de Medicis though of a Branch far remoter than the rest was not wanting with her Claim but above all Paul IV. was most sollicitous pretending that Crown to be a Fief to the Papal See and endeavouring zealously in his own person to defeat the pretences of his Competitors To regulate so great a difference the States of that Kingdom were conven'd and the Dutchess of Parma having her head full of those affairs lookt upon her false Sebastian as the Ghost of her true one came on purpose at that time to direct her in her distractions She fetcht a great skreek as soon as she saw him and running to the other end of the Closet in an amaze she told her new King she took him for a Spirit How Madam said he without any visible commotion does Don Sebastian fright you he expected a better reception for the pains he hath suffered coming in to see you The Dutchesses trouble increased at the hearing of his voice so as she could neither speak nor stir out of her place Dear Cousin continued her false Sebastian in a most passionate tone I am no Phantosm I am the same Don Sebastian you formerly honoured with your favour and I am returned as full of your fair Idea as when I went first into Africk The Dutchess recovered her self a little and permitting Don Sebastian to come nearer she put forth her hand though tremblingly towards the hand of the Monarch she toucht him she considered him and her senses assured her that what she saw and what she felt was certainly Don Sebastian Ha! Sir said she with a most pitiful voice whence do you come where have you hid your self thus long by what miracle are you returned When you shall be in a condition to hear me replied Sebastian I will give you an account in the mean time recollect your self from your fright believe me the real King of Portugal and if you do not know me by my shape my voice or the features of my face at least owne me by the impression of Love you cannot but discover in my Eyes I am fully recollected replied the Dutchess calling for a Chair for him and sitting by him her self I confess the first sight of you put me into a confusion I could not suddenly master but now Sir it is dissipated and gone Tell me therefore I beseech you and do not delay me to what miracle is it we owe both your life and return To love Madam replied Sebastian a passion that was able to affect your heart could not be less favourable than to defend me against all other accidents Then he gave her a relation how he had been taken from amongst the dead by Xerina how for some time he had continued in the Isle of Mucazen and afterwards in Hoscore but he concealed very carefully from the Dutchess that ever Sebastian was in Love with Xerina before the Battel He told her that Princess was in Love with him indeed but without any expectation I had no inclination in the world to have her so much as think so continued he for having past my Parole to you I would have dyed before I would have broken it He told her that by the assistance of Muley Boabdelin a Prince of the Royal Blood of Morocco Xerina had given him all imaginable
the least spark of kindness in your Eyes Tell me I beseech you is it enough for a Lover that they be sparkling without kindness or do you think they have acquitted themselves of their duty when they have dazled a poor Creature I must see Love in them or renounce their Empire and when mine declare I love more than ever I expect yours should make answer And I 'le assure you there 's no Love lost If that be all replied the Ambassadress rather than the Duke shall want his Lesson I 'le look upon you as you please Do I look well now continued she fixing her Eye upon him with as much tenderness as she could Ha! I know you dear Eyes said the Sultan I see now you are disposed to hear me and then he ran out into a thousand amorous expressions but the Duke of Mantua who took no recreation in that kind of divertisement interrupted him by departing hastily out of room Jacaya observed his Physiognomy so changed he was afraid he had been ill and desired the Ambassadress she would permit him to follow him which he did but could not overtake him till he came to his Lodgings The Prince of Turkie desired to know what it was obliged him to retire so abruptly and assured him the Ambassadress was very unquiet till she could be satisfied of his health The Duke being brim full of passion answered not the Sultans Complement but looking fiercely upon him with his Eyes in which grief and rage were both livelily delineated Actum est it is decreed cryed he I love her my Love hath not been thus long constrained but to break out with the greatest violence and I will perish a thousand times before I will endure my Rival shall be beloved Jacaya thought him in a Phrensie and taking him by the Arm to feel his Pulse What do you talk of a Mistress and a Rival you are in a burning Feaver do you remember who it is that speaks to you Yes Prince replied the Duke with somewhat more moderation I know you too well you are the Ambassadresses Darling but you must resolve to take away my life or renounce those addresses Why Sir said the Sultan in a great surprise do you love the Ambassadress To say I love her replied the Duke is too mean I admire I adore her and either you must resign or one of us must dye Jacaya confounded at this Alarm as may well be imagined fell down upon the Chair that was next him and leaning his Elbow upon the Table fell into a contemplation of his Destiny He loved the Ambassadress entirely and though his passion was begun in sport and continued in a Frolick yet at the bottom he was most absolutely serious He was of an amorous Complexion much subject to Love and in that respect it was no easie matter for him to renounce it on the other side he had been infinitely obliged to the friendship of the Duke he had protected him against the Conspiracies of the Strozzi he had given him all necessary supplies and he had never been admitted in France but by his means Love Ha cruel Love cryed he with a sigh will you be always mine Enemy Alas Sir said he addressing himself to the Duke I foresaw the misery is befallen me and had you left me in that liberty I desired I had never pulled it down upon me Had you no other way of breaking with me than by making me your Rival I suppose my friendship hath tryed you and I do not admire it the unfortunate are often tedious to their friends but had it not been enough to let me have known so without adding the consequences of an infructuous passion Do not call me to an account said the Duke for what I have done I knew nothing of it my self and would have sworn I should never have been in Love with the Ambassadress The very moment before I knew she had a kindness for you my Love began to declare by the approaches of my Jealousie the news of your being in Love set me also on fire and that fire having been a long time deprest secretly in my heart that part of it which appears but its beginning is indeed the utmost extremity It is not that I am weary of your friendship and I offer you mine as pure as you have found it But dear Sultan shew me your compassion by your compliance Ladies are unconstant and perhaps you will do that of your self one day either out of weariness or revenge that I conjure you to do now in kindness to me The Turkish Prince could not relish that Proposition all that his obligations and Policy could get from him was only a promise to endeavour to master himself In order to which he absented himself for some time and pretending a Curiosity to see the Kings Houses and other Palaces about Paris he had several Entertainments with several Lords of the Court. Whether in some of those Entertainments the Duke of Mantua laid any design for him or whether the consideration of his misfortune in his Love exstimulated him to retire into some unknown part of the World where that passion was a stranger is not known but certain it is he disappeared in an instant and could never afterwards be heard on The Duke of Mantua was not much happier for the Ambassadour dying in France and his Lady returning into Savoy the Dukes Affairs called him into Italy and gave him no leisure to abandon himself to the desires of his passion A TABLE of all the Histories contained in these Eight Parts THe Countess of Castile page 1 The Pilgrim page 4 Alfreda of England page 14 Don Garcias of Spain page 30 The Duke and Dutchess of Modena page 37 The three Princesses of Castile page 53 Constance the fair Nun. page 81 James King of Arragon page 106 The Fraticelles page 113 Dulcinus King of Lombardy page 156 Nogaret and Mariana page 163 Don Pedro King of Castile page 185 John Paleogolus Emperour of Greece page 205 Amedy Duke of Savoy page 223 Agnes de Castro page 251 The Countess of Pontieuvre page 262 Feliciane page 286 Jane supposed of Castile page 310 The Persian Princes page 325 Don Sebastian King of Portugal page 355 Jacaya a Turkish Prince page 380 FINIS A Catalogue of Books Printed for John Starkey Booker-seller at the Mitre in Fleetstreet near Temple-Bar Divinity Folio's THirty six Sermons preached by the Right Reverend Father in God Robert Sanderson late Lord Bishop of Lincoln the fifth Edition corrected price bound 18 s. 2. The Jesuits Morals collected by a Doctor of the Colledge of Sorbon in Paris who hath faithfully extracted them out of the Jesuits own Books which are Printed by the permission and approbation of the Superiors of their Society Written in French and exactly translated into English price bound 10 s. Quarto 3. Tetrachordon Expositions upon the four chief places in Scripture which treat of Marriage or nullities in Marriage Wherein the Doctrine and
knew a Womans vertue was not to be warranted without good counter-security He understood the Sex by experience and was not ignorant that the best friends are usually they which disparage the Husband But to consider that he should be the Porter of that unfortunate Letter was a Pill he could not swallow nor digest His misfortune was too common to be incredible but the Circumstance with which it was accompanied was beyond all belief and it was not so much Paws Letter that affected him as that it was his Destincy to deliver it This consideration stownded him for some time and the transportation of his Father-in-law added fuel to his fire but at last the storm was blown over In that Age as it is in this the Tilte of Cuckold was so common it was scarce any trouble to be so The disgrace lyes only where it is known when a Womans inconstancy is publick nothing is greater dishonour to her Husband where it is managed with secrecy nothing is so trivial Henry lookt upon it as no point of discretion to publish the infirmities of his Wife and therefore gave himself some few days to digest his resentment But the Examples of his Brother-in-law having learnt him some Wit he came one morning to the Kings Chamber and said to him You see Sir by the Letter I have brought you that your Daughters have no reason to upbraid one another They were born under the same Constellation and if any thing discriminated me from the Prince of Galicia and the Count of Tholouse it is this that their unhappiness is known and mine is a secret I have no inclination to publish it and if you please you may conceal the Letter you shewed me Send word to your Daughter that you kept it from me and I will never convince her of her errour In giving me Theresia your Majesty gave me also a Province which I hope in time to improve into a Kingdom I have Children already which may succeed me hereafter There is no necessity the Portugals should suspect whether they be mine or Paws Conceal the dishonour of your Daughter with as much care as I and by the Example of your Family we will demonstrate that it is the discretion of the Husbands which makes the difference betwixt the Women which are prudent in appearance and those which are really irregular The King of Castile took this Proposition very kindly He began to repent himself of what he had done insomuch that magnifying the Generosity he had exprest he seconded his Counsels with several Examples and most irrefragable Arguments and the troubles in Castile being appeased by the death of the Count of Tholouse and the interpostion of the King of France Henry returned into Portugal without any mark or token of that he knew The truth is he found out a pretence to send Paw out of the World and I have been told he had another to make his Wife more obsequious for the future But as he presaged very judiciously his Posterity have reigned several years in Portugal whereas the younger Sons of the Royal Family of Castile have always disputed the Crown with the Children of Vrraca MAXIME V This I 'le affirm let things to how they can The marri'd's really the happiest man Let her be what she will I 'le lay my life His owns more faithful than this Neighbours Wife But shall we never have done with these Daughters does no other condition of life but the married afford matter for our Annals Yes certainly History is so fertile in amourous accidnets she supplies us with variety About the same time while things were in this agitation in Spain Love which had laid about him so in the Royal Family of Castile was not idle in the Court of the Emperour of the West This Empire was then under the Dominion of Frderick Barberossa a valiant and ambitious Prince He had signalized the beginning of his Reign by remarkable Victories so that there was nothing discoursed of in all Europe so much as his Power and Greatness He kept his ordinary Residence in Rome as well because the Climate agreed with his body as upon certain secret Designs he had upon the Lands of the Church and because his remoteness from the heart of his Empire caused him to apprehend some Mutiny in the Towns of Germany he obliged Prince Henry his Son to continue in that Province the greatest part of the year This young Prince was extremely hopeful the people of the Empire loved him entirely So that his Father conceiving some Jealousie lousie thereupon took the pretence of his Coronation to recal him to Rome They past the Winter very lovingly together and the Emperour having a mind to pry into the Conduct of Alexander the Third who was then Pope and in possession os the Patrimony of S. Peter he ordered his Son to visit him frequently The Prince in obedience to his Father waited upon him as often as he was visible He attended him in all his devitions and among other places to a Monastery of Nuns where his Holiness had a Niece he loved most entirely She was descended from the Blood Royal of Si ily and her Uncle the Disposer of all Ecclesiatical preferments but as yet she was not of years to be an Abbess and therefore at Rome was known by no other name but Madam Gonstance She was as handsom as was possible to wish and besides several other good qualities she had a good voice and sung incomparably well at one of the Solemnities of that Covent the Prince heard her one day and being a great Lover of Musick he had a great ambition to see her the dignity of her relation to the Pope authorizing his desire he askt leave to see Constance when the Ceremony was ended He was much transported at the sight of her and had never seen so many graces in one Assembly before Till that day he was free his soul was his own and he seemed born for Mars's not Venus Wars But he was not the first man hath become a Captive to the simplicity of a Nun. There is a sort of people not to be captivated but in this shape and there have been Letters seen in our days which have taught us that of all people in the World none make Love with that confidence and freedom as the Nuns The Monastical Gallantry hath its Laws and Rubricks apart There are no elegant Entertainments no Assiduities nor publick Attendances all things within the Cloister are so carried privately and with discretion nevertheless their Religious Civility is so great they will not discourage any mans affection and there is but few which attempt them but they arrive at their designs The Imperial Prince was a handsom Person and a fine Gentleman Constance had taken a Monastick life upon her more in obedience than choice and in vows of this Nature there is something always reserved to direct the intention Thus have we brought them into Cupids High-way The Prince seconded his
her air the sound of her voice the quickness of her Eye and the Pleasantness of her Wit All of them were as charming in appearance as they were in effect and flattering his imagination with a thousand fantastical Chimera's he took his leave of her the most enamoured Person in the World Prince Henry discovered this new passion at the very first he observed the Emperour stick to her as he had been retained by Inchantment He bad the Courtiers especially his Favourites to take notice of that Lady of her Presence and bonne Mine and believing her unknown to the Prince he called him to him two or three times to inquire his opinion about her The Prince was at first well pleased with his Curiosity but considering the violence of his Fathers humour better he apprehended what might follow He made signs to the Conducter of the Masquerades to retire with them immediately and he being intelligent enough took his direction and making use of an opportunity when the Emperour was speaking to a French Embassadour which was there and just come into the Garden he withdrew Constance out of the Crowd and re-conducted her to her Covent All the time they were passing in the Coach betwixt the Garden and the Nunnery they imployed in changing their Habits as they had done as they came They were just got to the Gate they were to go in at when day began to break as if it had attended their coming back before it durst appear but who could imagine the misfortune that befel them She of the Party which carried the Key had been so much taken up with the contemplation of what she had seen that she had forgot where she had laid it She examined her Gallants Habit and she examined her Religious gropt up and down the Coach turned over her Papers but no Key The hour they rise in the Monastery approached The people which brought Commodities to the Market began to appear in the streets and not one of the poor Sisters could imagine by what Miracle they should be conveyed out of the Coach where they were into the Cells where they ought to have been No wonder if they invoked their good Genius and made millions of promises never to run themselves into the like errour again There was not a Saint nor a Protector belonging to their Covent but they promised a Wax-canle though by the tediousness of their delivery they did not seem to be accepted But at length length their Destiny was merciful and their Key found in the fold of her sleeve where she had put it her self and where according to the common accident in such cases she had searcht twenty times and could not find it They gave great thanks for so seasonalbe a discovery they opened the Gates as easily as they could and stole to their Quarters without any noise and in the morning one was troubled with the Colick another with the Head-ach every one had her distemper to excuse their lying in bed the next day The Emperour in the mean time prest by his curiosity was as impatient till the hour os the Rendez-vous came as she was indifferent He got up earlier in the morning than his setting up the night before did seem to permit but all that time he could take no rest though Constance slept very sweetly Scarce was the heat of the day over but the Emperour was at his assignation he took some turns about the Garden before the Ladies which were used to walk there could get into a condition to appear but at length the walking hour approaching he see four or five the handsomest Courtisans in Rome enter amongst whom he imagined his unknown Mistress was one He accosted them and laid her particularly aboard with a Complement upon her good Air her excellent Shape and the Majesty of her Walk The Damoisel was mighty well pleased with his Judgment she bridled she strutted and strained as much as was possible to deserve it she bit her lips to make them look red and put her Eyes into the best posture she could but she might have let them alone as well The Emperour found his mistake and that she had neither the Shape Eyes nor Voice which he lookt for The conversation of this Woman was tedious to him when he compared her with Constance and so leaving and throwing his eyes up and down the Garden he continued there till night but no Nun nor no body to supply the place she had gotten in his heart This disappointment went very near him he could not think of it without indignation and his Choler fermenting with his Love he retired into his Palace so agitated and disturbed one would have thought he had been to fight some great Battel or had the Conquest of all Turkey in his head Whilst he was consuming in his Melancholy and fruitless desires the Prince and Constance did but laugh at his misery he understood by the person he sent home with them of the meeting she had appointed with Frederick and of her resolution to fail and being told that afternoon by some of the Emperours Servants that the Emperour was gone into the Walks He thought that a fit opportunity to visit the Popes Niece to see how she liked the Magnificence of the Solemnity she had seen and to droll with her about the Emperours credulity Thus we may see the advantage youth hath over age and how successful a man is like to be in his Career when his own Son runs against him The abused Frederick having to the motions of a violent curiosity added the impulses of shame and indignation his life became so uneasie and melancholy he was scarce to be known He went from Church to Church from one Company to another searching of a person he did not know when he saw and inquiring after one whose name he could not tell Those who pretend great penetration into matters of Policy attribute that to the Ambition of this Prince which was indeed due to his Love The unquiet air which was visible in his Countenance portended some secret design The frequent Visits he made in quest of his Mistress to the chief Families in Rome presaged some fatal Revolution in the Ecclesiastical State Those who where faithful to his Holiness ceased not to put him in mind of the turbulency of Fredericks Spirit and that he had some evil designs or other in his head which unless carefully prevented would be mature immediately Upon which ad vertisement Siena as a Town like to be the first object of his Ambition was fortified forthwith all his Holinesses Troops had order to march down towards Milan which was lookt upon as inclining to the Emperour The Emperour having notice of what past thought it high time to look to himself His new Love had laid his Ambition asleep but his anger had waked it again and therefore it was necessary he should do something to divert his imagination from the Object that affected him He drew together what
Troops he had in Italy and quarter'd them as close as the Country would bear To excuse these proceedings he pretended a necessity of relieveing Vladislaus King of Bohemia his near Kinsman and Ally against the Polander who was become jealous of his Kingdom In the Imperial Court nothing was talkt of but Musters and Preparations for War Prince Henry who by his imployments was hindred from visiting Constance as he had been used and who foreseeing the Emperours Affairs must of necessity send him packing into Germany began to suspect his Father might make some advantage of his absence and signified his apprehensions by Letters to his most incomparable Nun. Having observed one day in one of her Answers a Curiosity to know what the Emperour thought of his it stirred up Jealousie and not able to satisfie her in person being to draw some Troops some few miles from Rome he sent her his Answer in a Letter Constance had no paper ready to return him an Answer and the Princes Messenger pressing her to write because his Master requested it she did it and writ her mind in the blancks betwixt the Lines of his Letter and then sealing it up sent it back again to the Prince containing both the Letter and the Answer The Prince was on Horse-back when he received it and the Presence of the Emperour not allowing him time to read it he put it up as he thought safe in his Pocket But whether the trouble which was upon him hindred him from putting it right in or that it was the inevitable Destiny of all Lovers to have their Secrets discovered by their Letters this from Constance fell down and was observed by the Emperour he made signs to one of his Servants to take it up and give it to him and was mightily well pleased that it was in his power to understand any of his Sons affairs he opened it as soon as he was got where he might do it secretly He was surprised at first to see the two different hands he could not imagine the reason of that Novelty but at last perceiving one of them to be the Princes he began with that and found these words exprest therein Madam You are too much concerned at what is thought of you not to rejoyce when it is to your advantage I am not to give Laws to your Curiosity yet believe me Madam it does a little discompose me lest to your desire of knowing what the Emperour thinks of you you should add a readiness to inform him what you thing of himself The word Emperour started him a little but he did not conceive at first it was meant of him There was at that time three or four other Emperours in being Henry had been a long time at the Court of the Emperour of the East and he had Intelligence with the Emperour of Trebisond He might therefore have had some amorous Intrigue where the name of those Princes might be concerned but he was not long in this doubt for this was the return Constance had made Sir Your apprehension is a Chimaera my assurances might have dispelled I love you you know and you know likewise you deserve to be beloved But though you can forget your own merits and my kindness remember at least that you are in the Spring of your Youth and Frederick in the Winter of his Age. This Letter opened the Emperours eyes he perceived clearly now that he was the man and knowing within himself that he had not had any Frolick with a Lady for several years besides what past lately with the Lady in Mascarade he concluded it must be there and that his Son was his Rival It would be a hard thing to determine which was most violent in his soul the pleasure he conceived at the news of the unknown Lady or his displeasure to find his Son was like to be his Rival His first resolution was to send immediately for his Son to conjure him to tell him where she lived and her name and afterwards to forbid him any Converse with her for the future under pain of his indignation But judging upon second thoughts that in affairs of any standing or settlement open resistence doth commonly more mischief than good he altered his mind and concluded the best way to try what might be done by artifice before he came to violence He set Spies upon his Son he understood he went abroad every night he imployed people to dog him and at leagth discovered he went into the Covent to Constance and to compleat the discovery he saw another Letter of hers under the same hand lying upon the Popes Table to whom she had addrest it He knew the hand was the same with the Ticket he had From whence he inferred that Constance must needs be his Sons mistress but he was not certain she was the disguised Lady The dignity of Constance the reputation of her Vertue in Rome and the Profession she had embraced all these I say agreed so little with her being in Mascarade that he had no sooner formed a suspicion of what was too true but these reasons confuted it At leagth considering with himself that a Nun when she forgets the Religious duties of her Profession so far as to love a man more than she ought she might as well forget her self quite and see spectacles as well as other people He thought Constance had nor perhaps found so much difficulty to accommodate her Disguise with her Profession as he had himself He called for his Coach and away he went to her to the Covent to consult the opinion of his own senses in so extraordinary an Intrigue and scarce had Constance opened her mough to give him thanks for that honour but he found it was the same voice he had heard in his Dialogue with the disguised Lady he peept thorow her Habit and observed the same shape and Majesty which had so far transported him at the Masque Her Eyes had the same fire with which the Heart of Frederick was inflamed and though her Monastical modesty would not permit her to use the same Wit and Vivacity as she had done before yet he found she had the same quickness of apprehension as then He had seen her several times at the Ceremonies of Saint Peter he knew she was handsom and sung very well but looking upon her as a Religious whose Talent was to be lockt up from the World he did not trouble himself so far as to consider each particular of her Graces See him then at this time the most loving and the most jealous Creature alive Love in a young man is but a youthful efflorescence which reason and time tempers by degrees But when it seizes upon a man that ought to have more wit when setled and experienced reason is not able to oppose it self against its first impulse time doth but increase it for never was any man cured of a folly which took him at an age when other people grow wise This first Conversation of the
indignation and to that an irreconciliable disunion The Prince deserted him and went to the Pope who having interdicted Frederick for his Attempts against the Ecclesiastical See offered Henry to make him Emperour though his Father was still living and certainly the Condition he required was but reasonable it was only that he should marry Constance of Sicily his Niece he told him that without that security he could not relye upon the word of the Prince But in short the Intrigues of his Niece were come to his knowledge and he found it troublesom to conceal them and as certain it is Henry would been have glad if the Popes Generosity had been entire without terms He loved Constance most passionately but every one knows MAXIME VIII Howe're one loves before the very name Of Wedding mentioned gravely does rebate His edge no doubt checks his consuming flame And brings the Martyr to his former state The thought of Marriage to a thoughtful mind Opens his nerve and shows'em he was blind But his Holiness was not affrighted at this Doctrine and less at the difficulty of granting a Dispensation for her who had been four years a Professor But Prince Henry was under a necessity of submitting however to comfort himself by the consideration of having Companions he proposed to the three persons who were Gallants to Constances three Confidents to follow his Example They had made Love as furiously as he he promised them considerable advantages and the Pope was in so good an humour at that time he would have given Dispensations to the whole Covent if his Niece had desired it But they who were his Camarades in his Amours would by no means bear him Company in his Marriage They told him that if they were as accomplisht as he they might undertake any thing upon confidence of their Merit but for them who had not been so great Favourites of Nature they could not but fear the Laws of Wedlock might be as casily violated as the Rules of a Covent That in so tender a point one could not be too cautious and that if the worst happened that could be and they must marry they desired to do it upon his terms and have an equivalence to the Empire of the West for their Wives Portion The Prince did not think it convenient for his Chaity to the Nuns to renounce his possession of the Empire He left them unkindly in their Monastery to deplore the ingratitude of the Gallants and launcht himself alone into that Gulf in which his Associats had represented so many difficulties He married Constance and was crowned Emperour by the Name of Henry the Fourth A famous Abbot in those times who dyed not long after and left a great Reputation of his Sanctity behind him declaimed bitterly against this Marriage and indeed the misfortunes which followed turned his Imprecations into a Prophesie But let him say what he please Those ways which lead a man to the chief place in the World are always counted the best paths one can walk in And now let us take our leave of our new Emperour and Empress and take a fresh turn about the World to see if we can find any new Adventure in that Age that may be fit to close up our Annals of this year James King of Arragon indued with much natural Chastity and as much Experience as sixteen years of age could confer was married to Eleoner of Castile Aunt to the King which reigned in that Kingdom at that time who for the number of her years and her own inclination was as well skilled in matters of Love as her young Husband was ignorant This Princess had an Amour with a Castilian Lord whom she loved most passionately She had past her Faith to him and attended it with so many oaths and imprecations she might justly fear the Justice of Heaven would follow her if she transgressed For this reason she did what she could not to marry the King of Arragon She cast her self a thousand times at the King of Castiles feet though he was but her Nephew She wept she sob'd she threatned to starve her self but her tears and her prayers were to as little purpose as her threats The Marriage was concluded by the Counsels both of Castile and Arragon to be advantagious to both Nations Eleonor used her utmost to prevent it But Princesses of her Quality are as so many Sacrifices to the Policy of their Countries and never to be disposed of by their own inclinations The new Queen seeing her self forced upon a Match which gave her so many scruples she considered of a way by which she might like a constant Mistress continue faithful to her Gallants She suborned an ancient Physician to insinuate into her young Husband that he could not marry Eleonor that there were invincible obstacles in the way which opposed its Consummation The young Monarch who was scarce got out of his Infancy had never seen Woman as it were but his Queen Mother his Governesses and Nurses and had been always told that Eleonor was a sprightly Princess believed what was told him very honestly and remembring that he had heard it wisht several times that he would provide Successors for the Crown he understood it a great shame and misfortune for him to be unable to satisfie the desires of his Subjects This consideration rendred him so melancholy he could not indure the sight of any body He shut himself up whole days together in his Closet if he went walking it must be alone and having read in the Histories of that Kingdom what sorrow some of his Predecessors had conceived for want of Issue and what ill Consequences had followed the default of Heirs in several Kingdoms the good Prince who had an apprehension above his Age began to look upon himself already as the object of his Subjects hatred and contempt Those who had the care of his Person perceiving his humour and Complexion changed intreated him many times to tell the reason of his Melancholy but he answered with nothing but sighs and the Queen confirming him daily in the Errour he was plunged he proposed it himself that Eleonor should take her own liberty The Queen had in her Train a young Lady called Theresia de Bidaura witty and handsom and to whom the Person of the King was not so indifferent as to the Queen She was originally of Castile and brought along with the Princess Eleonor out of Arragon This Lady finding the young Monarch exactly according to her mind had studied all his actions and took all the care she could possibly to please him She invented sundry Dances and other Pastimes with her Companions on purpose to divert him If he did her the honour to speak to her at any time she would be sure to make him smile with the wittiness of her answer and kindness producing usually the like Bidanra became by degrees as dear to the King of Arragon as the King of Arragon had appeared amiable to Bidaura The first
necessary to guard it Elvira went to this Closet every night attended only by one person which lighted her and was well paid for his pains It was known her custom was to read when she was there so that her Women were not affrighted if she staid sometimes an hour longer than ordinary As soon as the door was shut she took down the Grate and receiving the Prince who leapt plum into the Window without the help of a Ladder they past the time very happily without any discovery Besides this they had found another Expedient There was a Covent of Nuns at Burgos to which the Countess made her Visits very frequently She carried few of her Friends or Servants with her pretending unwilling to incommode the young Damoisells in their Retirement The Prince of Galicia had corrupted the Porter so far as to suffer him to enter the Monastery in the habit of a Gardiner he met the Countess still in the most obscure part of the Garden and it was at these Enter-views they agreed where and when they were to meet next This convenience of private meetings excused the Prince from all formal Visitations he sees the Countess in publick but very seldom and the Count of Tholouse judging of their Amours by the frequency of his Visits was grown to that pass he could sleep pretty well But nothing is so close but time will discover let one manage his affairs with never so much prudence something or other falls out still to detect it Upon a night as the Count was passing from the King of Castiles Lodgings the door of one of the Terrasses of Communication being shut he past by the private way the Closet-Window opened in to no body but the Count of Tholouse himself durst have taken that liberty for that being the usual Walk for the Countess and her Maids it was kept as sacred from all other persons as he was going by the Count perceived a light at the Window he went softly to it and commanded his Servants to keep back By disaster the Countess opened the Grill at the same instant to let out the Prince and observing the Flambeau which attended her Husband she not only clapt the Grill to again but put out her Candle in such haste that the great light which was there and the sudden putting it out gave him occasion to suspect he ran up directly into his Wifes Appartment to see what was the matter But he found no Prince for he had had time to save himself but with so much precipitation he left his Gloves behind him The Count knew at first sight who was their Master He fell into great agonies and imprecations he caused her Lodgings to be searcht and threatned fire and faggots to every one that came near to and calling for his Flambeau to examine the Lattice he lookt about it so narrowly that at length he found which way it was to be opened Had he found his Countess in that fury he had doubtless been transported to some violence against her but she had the discretion to run immediately to the Kings Chamber and the fright she was in had produced so much compassion in the good man that when the Count followed her with complaints against the ill conduct of his Daughter the old King received him with no other Ceremony than threats and reproach Not liking that kind of Entertainment he retired secretly from Burgos and left his Wife to her Destiny His first thoughts were to have gone into France to have raised Forces there and to have demanded reparation with his Sword in his hand but remembring himself that he had heard Vrraca was an imperious and high-spirited Princess he conceived she might probably be made so sensible of her Husbands insidelity that she might contribute considerably to his Revenge He took his way therefore towards Compostella and indeed to do the Prince of Galicia a mischief it was the best course he could steer The Princess was of a very sensible complexion the long absence of the Prince began already to disturb her The Count of Tholouse was a very handsom Person and a French-man by birth which is a Nation so acceptable in Foreign parts that the very name of a French-man is enough to startle the severest of the Ladies and mollifie the most unmalleable obduracy amongst them Vrraca no sooner saw her Brother-in-law the Count but she felt the force of the French Constellation she promised him whatever he askt she gave him absolute Command over the Town of Compostella but these were but Complements and Formalities as yet Vrraca was not so beautiful as Elvira but Elvira was the Count of Tholouses Wife and convict of infidelity In this posture were our two Brothers-in-law preparing for reprisal Raymond de Burgogne lent nothing to the Count of Tholouse in Castile but the Count repaid very punctually in Galicias and some say with interest for the Intrigue betwixt Raymond and Elvira being private nothing was known of it but what her Husband had been pleased to divulge but that betwixt Vrraca and the Count was so publick at first dash there was not any friend the Prince had in Galicia which had not given him advertisement This is an offence in which a man generally considers himself more than any body else Whether the Wife be beloved or whether she be not her inconstancy is always abominable to her Husband Raymond repairs with all diligence to Galicia He was of opinion he need but shew himself to dissipate that storm but he was mistaken and kept out at the Gates of Compostella the new Governour sending him word in a Military way he had found in the Astrologers Book that he ought to be Vrraca's Gallant as Raymond had been Gallant to Elvira It is easie to imagine this Complement appeared something strange to the Prince of Galicia He was conscious of having been the Example but he had kept within the bounds of outward Civility There was none but the Count knew any thing of his Amours and he had done his utmost to conceal it from him but to see the Gallant of his Wife refuse him entrance publickly into his own house was a thing he had never seen practised before Raymond being highly incensed at the outrage forgot nothing that might revenge it He dispatcht a Messenger to Castile to demand of King Alphonso possession of the Principality he had promised him upon Marriage He sent into France for Supplies from his Father the Duke of Bourgondy and all the rest of the Allies The Count of Tholouse seeing him take that way followed his Example he complained to the King of Castile of the injury he had received by his Daughter He writ to Lewis le Gros King of France to desire his Protection In this manner all Castile was in an Uproar The Province of Galicia like to become the Seat of a bloody War and all for the impertinence of Love Love is so seditious it works it self into all Plots and all Parties