considered as might have fully secured mee of enjoying of that without disturbance which hath cost me so much and that shee should have made it her studie not to have given me any the least occasion of letting any kinde of jealous feare to enter into my thought But because the chasticement cannot bee prevented by humane diligence which the divine will of Heaven is willing to inflict on those who doe not wholy place therein their desires and hopes it is no marvell that I remaine defrauded in mine And that I my selfe have beene the Confectioner of that poyson which now goes shortning and taking away my life But because I perceiue the suspension wherein all of you stand upon these words proceeding from my mouth I will conclude the long preambles of this my discourse with telling you in one word that which is not possible to bee uttered in many thousands I tell you then my noble friends that all that which I have sayd and done ends in this that this woman I found borne into the world for the disturbing of my quiet and losse of my life poynting to his wife in the armes of a lusty young man which is now secretly shut up in the lodging of this pestiferous Governesse Scarce had Carrizales ended these words when as Leonora having her heart suddenly clouded fell into a swound betweene her husbands knees Marialonso lost her colour and look't as pale as ashes and Leonora's Parents had such a knot knit athwart their throats that it would not give them leave to speake one word But Carrizales going on where hee left sayd the revenge which I purpose to take for this foule affront is not nor shall be such as ordinarily in the like cases are wont to bee taken And therefore I will that as I was extreame in that which I did so likewise shall bee the vengeance which I will take by taking it on my selfe as most culpable in this offence For I should and ought to have considered with my selfe that ill could agree and sort together the fifteene yeares of this young Woman with the almost fourescore of mine I was he who like the Silke-worme wrought the house wherein I must dye Nor doe I blame thee ill advised young soule and in saying this he bowed downe his head and kissed the cheeke of Leonora I doe not blame thee I say because the perswasions of subtill old Beldames and the love-trickes of amorous young men easily overcome and triumph over that little wit which thy few yeares afford But because all the world may see and know the worth value of that good will and affection wherewith I ever lov'd thee in this last passage of my life I will shew it in such sort that it may remaine in the world for an example if not of goodnesse yet at least of such simplicitie of heart as was never heretofore heard of or seene And therefore I will that a Scrivener be presently sent for to make a new my last Will and Testament wherein I will double Leonora's Dworie and shall entreat her after my dayes are ended which will bee but a few that shee dispose her will since that shee may then doe it without enforcing to marry with that young man whom the grey haires of this unfortunate old man never offended And so shall shee see that if living I did never goe one jot from that which I thought might give her content now dying I am desirous to doe the like that she may take that felicitie with him whom shee seemeth to love so dearely And to you kinde Father and Mother I will have a great care to leave you so well and so rich that you shall live plentifully during both your lives The rest of my wealth shall goe to godly and pious uses Cause the Scrivener to come presently unto mee for the passion which hath alreadie taken hold of me doth so oppresse and torment my heart that it goes encreasing and will in a very short time cut off the thread of my life Having sayd this hee fell into a worse swounding then the former and fell downe so neere to Leonora that their faces were joyned each to other A strange and sad spectacle for those her Parents who with mournefull heart and eies looked on their beloved Daughter and their kinde Sonne in Law The naughty Governesse would not stay to receive the rebukes and the reprehensions which she thought Leonora's Parents would bestow upon her and therefore shee got her out of the lodging and went to advertise Loaysa of all what had passed advising him to get him instantly out of the house and that shee would take care to certifie him by the Negro of the successe of this businesse since that now there were no doores nor keyes to hinder his passage Loaysa was wonder-strucken with this strange newes and following her counsell returned to put on his old ragges like a poore beggar and hastned to give an account to his frieds of the successe of his love In the interim that those two were thus transported with their severall passions Leonora's Father sent to call a Scrivener an inward friend of his who came just at that time that his Daughter and Son in Law were come againe to themselves Carrizales made his Will in that forme and manner as wee told you before without declaring Leonora's errour more then that for some good respects hee earnestly besought and entreated her that she would marry in case he dyed with that young man whom he had told her of in secret When Leonora heard this shee fell downe at her Husbands feet and her heart panting within her breast shee sayd unto him Live my deare husband and my chiefest blisse live many many yeares For albeit you are not bound to beleeve me in ought that I shall say unto you know that I have not offended you save onely in thought and beginning to excuse her selfe and to recount at large the truth of the case shee could not move her tongue to speake a word more but fell a new into a swound Being in this dismayment her grieved Husband embraced her her loving Parents imbraced her and all of them wept so bitterly that they obliged and even in a manner inforced the Scrivener to accompanie them in their teares who made the Testament Wherein he left sufficient maintenance to all his houshold-servants hee manumitted and set at libertie his women-slaves together with the Negro but to false Marialonso he bequeathed no more but her bare wages Having thus settled his estate the seventh day following he was borne to his grave Leonora remained a very sad and mournfull Widow but was left very rich And when as Loaysa well hoped that shee would cumply with that whereof he was not ignorant which her Husband had recommended unto her in his Testament but afterward saw that within a seven-night after his death she became a Nunne and was admitted into one of the strictest Monasteries of all the Citie being frustrated of his hopes and ashamed to shew his face lest hee should be made a laughing-stock and by-word to all that knew him he left Sevill and went for the Indyes Leonora's Parents were full of sorow and heavines though somewhat comforted with that which their kind sonne in law had left them in his last Will and Testament The Maid-servants cheered themselves as well as they could with the liberall Legacies he had given them And those his shee-slaves together with Luys the Negro rested the better satisfied with their infranchisement and freedome But that wicked and accursed Governesse shee was left as she well deserved very poore and defrauded of all her evill thoughts and lewd purposes And I my selfe rest very well pleased that I am now come to the end of this successe Example and Mirrour of the little confidence which is to be put in Keyes Locks Tornells and Walls when as the will continueth free and at libertie And how much lesse we are to trust and relye on greene and 〈◊〉 yâ—…es when are exhibited to their eares the exhortations and perswasions of such ill-disposed Governesses whose habit and attyre is grave and Matron-like but their tongâ—es and hearts full of deceit and mischiefe Only I doe not know what was the reason that Leonora did not expresse her selfe more at large in excusing her selfe and in giving her jealous Husband to understand how cleare and unspotted shee was and how cleare from doing him any wrong in that kind but perturbation it should seeme had knit a knot on her tongue and the haste her Husband made to dye did not give her time enough to make her just excuse FINIS
whom you have exercised the utmost of your charitie is your true Grandchild it was Gods will and the permission of Heaven that the Horse ran over him to the end that by his being brought to your house that I should finde that therein which I hope to finde and if not the remedie which is most convenient for the curing of my misfortunes yet at least the meanes which may helpe me to beare it the better Having sayd this she fell downe in a swound in Dona Estefania's armes who like a noble Gentlewoman in whom compassion and pittie is as naturall as crueltie in men had scarce perceived Leocadia's swounding but shee joyned her cheekes to hers shedding thereon so many teares that there was no need of sprinkling any other water in her face to bring her againe to her selfe These two being thus glutd each to other it was Dona Estefania's Husbands hap to come into the roome bringing Luisico in with him leading him by the hand and seeing Estefania weepe and Leocadia lying in a swound he was very hasty in inquiring what might bee the cause thereof and whence it proceeded The Child embraced his Mother as his Cosen and his Grandmother as his benefactresse and did likewise aske why they did weepe Great and strange things Sir I have to tell you sayd Estefania to her Husband the whole summe whereof shall end in telling you that I must assure you that this gentlewoman who fell into a swound is your Daughter and this pretty boy your grandchilde This truth which I tell you was delivered unto mee by this good gentlewoman and the countenance of this sweet Child hath confirmed it wherein we have both of us beheld as in a glasse our owne Son If you tell mee no more then this Wife replied her Husband I doe not understand you By this time Leocadia was come to her selfe and holding fast still the Crucifix shee seemed to bee turned into a sea of teares All which had put the gentleman into a great confusion and amazement from which he was freed by his Wifes recounting unto him all that which Leocadia had imparted unto her and he by the Divine permission of Heaven did beleeve it as verily as if it had been proved and made good by many substantiall and true witnesses Hee comforted and embraced Leocadia and kissed his grandchilde Luisico and that very day dispatched a Post to Naples advising his Son to come home with all possible speed because he had concluded a marriage for him with a marvellous faire and beautifull gentlewoman and such a one as was most fit and convenient for him Nor would they by any meanes consent and give way that Leocadia or her Childe should backe againe to her Fathers house who resting beyond measure contented with this good successe of their Daughter gave infinite thankes therefore unto God The Post returned from Naples and Rodolfo out of greedinesse to enjoy so faire a Wife as his Father had signified unto him within two dayes after that hee had received his Fathers letters occasion of passage being offered unto him for his comming into Spayne taking hold thereof he embarqued himselfe with his two Comrades who had never left him and with a prosperous wind in 12. daies he arrived at Barcelona and from thence taking Post-horses in 7. more he came to Tolledo and entered into his fathers house in such a brave and gallant fashion as did exceed for in him were met together the extreames of both His Parents were very much joyed with the welfare and arrivall of their Sonne Leocadia who unseene from a private place had a full view and sight of him that she might not transgresse the order given her by Dona Estefania was in a quandarie and in great doubt and suspension what would bee the issue of this businesse Rodolfo's Comrades would needes goe presently home to their owne houses but Estefania would by no meanes let them because she had need of them for the effecting of her designe It was neere night when Rodolfo arrived and whilest that supper was making readie Estefania called her Sons Comrades aside being verily perswaded that these must needes be two of those three who as Leocadia had told her accompanied Rodolfo that night when they stole her away and with great and earnest entreaties shee besought them that they would tell her whether they did not or no remember that their Son on such a night so many yeares since stole away such a Woman For to know the truth thereof much concerned the honour and peace of not onely his Parents but of all their Alliance and kindred And with such and so great endearments she knew how to crave this courtesie of them and in such sort to assure them that from the discovering of this stealth there should no dammage follow thereupon that in conclusion they held it fit to confesse the truth and so told her that they two and another friend of Rodolfo's on a Summers night the very same which she had named unto them had stollen away a young gentlewoman and that Rodolfo carried her away with him whilest they detained the rest of their company who without cries sought to defend her from that violence And that the next day following Rodolfo told them that he carried her to his lodging and that this was all that they could say in answer to her demand The confession of those two was the key which opened the doore to all the deubts which in such a case could offer themselves and therefore she resolved with herself to bring that good purpose which she had entertained to a good end which was this A little before that they were to sit downe to supper Rodolfo's Mother went apart with her Sonne into a by-roome and putting a picture into his hands she sayd withall unto him Sonne Rodolfo I will give you a very savoury and pleasing supper in shewing thee thy Spouse This is her true picture but I must tell you and would have you to thinke well upon it that what is wanting unto her in beautie is superabundantly supplied with her vertues She is noble and discreet and indifferently rich and since that your Father and my selfe have made choice of her for you assure your selfe that she is such a one as is fitting for you Rodolfo viewed the picture with a searching and judicious eye and after hee had done looking upon it he said if Painters who commonly are wont to bee prodigall of their bestowing of beauty on those faces which they draw have dealt so likewise with this I dare bee bold to say it and verily beleeve it that the origin all to this counterfeit must needes bee foulenesse it selfe In good faith Ladie Mother it is just and meete that Children should obey their Parents in all that they shall command them but withall it is likewise convenient and much more fitting that Parents should put their Children into such an estate and condition 〈◊〉 shall give them content and
attend him seeing her all alone with a low voyce and a troubled tongue he spake unto her after this manner Faire Isabella thy much worth thy great vertue and exceeding beautie not to be equalled by any have brought me to that exteamitie wherein you see me and therefore if you will that I should leave my life in the hands of the greatest extreamitie that may bee imagined let thy good desire be answerable unto mine which is no other then to receive thee for my Spouse But this must bee carried closely and kept hid from my Parents of whom I am afraid who because they know that which I know thy great deservingnesse that they will denie mee that good which doth so much concerne mee If thou wilt give me thy word to bee mine I shall forthwith passe mine as a true Christian to be thine And put case that I should never come to enjoy thee as I will not till that I have the Churches benediction and my Parents good will yet with this my imagining that thou wilt be assuredly mine it will be sufficient to recover me my health and to make me live merrily and contented till that happie and desired time shall come Whilest that Ricaredo discoursed thus with her Isabella stood hearkening unto him with downe cast eyes shewing in that her modest and sober looke that her honestie did equall her beautie and her circumspection her great discretion And seeing that Ricaredo had made an end of speaking and was silent this honest faire and discreet Damosell made him this answer Since that the rigour or clemency of Heaven for I know not to which of these extreames I may attribute it would Signior Ricaredo quit me of my Parents and give me unto yours thankefully acknowledging the infinite favours they have done me I resolved with my selfe that my will should never be any other then theirs and therefore without it the inestimable grace and favour which you are willing to doe mee I should not hold it a happinesse but a miserie not a good but a bad fortune But if they being made acquainted therewith I might bee so happie as to deserve you from this day forward I offer unto you that will and consent which they shall give mee And in the meane while that this shall be or deferred or not at all effected let your desires entertaine themselves with this that mine shall bee eternall and pure in wishing you all that good which Heaven can give you Here did Isabella put a period to her honest and discreet words and there began Ricaredo's recoverie And now began to bee revived those hopes of his Parents which in this his sicknesse were almost quite dead These two modest Lovers with a gseat deale of courtesie and kindnesse tooke leave each of other he with tears in his eyes shee with admiration in her soule to see that Ricaredo should render up his love to hers Who being raysed from his bed to his Parents seeming by miracle hee would not now any longer conceale his thoughts and therefore one day he manifested them to his Mother telling her in the end of his discourse that if they did not Marrie him to Isabella that to denie him her and give him his death it was one and the same thing With such words and with such endearings Ricaredo did extoll to the Heavens the vertues of Isabella that it seemed to his Mother that Isabella had not wrought upon her Son to win him to be her Husband She did put her Son in good hope so to dispose his Father that he might like as well thereof as she did And it so fell out that repeating to her Husband word by word what her Son had sayd unto her he was easily moved to give way to that which his Son so earnestly desired framing excuses to hinder that Marriage which was in a manner agreed upon for the Northern Damosell When this was in agitation Isabella was 14. yeares of age and Ricaredo 20. And in these their so green and flourishing years their great discretion and knowne prudence made them ancient There were but foure dayes wanting to come which being accomplished Ricaredo his Parents were willing that their Sonne should enter into the state of Matrimonie holding themselves both wise and happie in having chosen their prisoner to be their Daughter esteeming more the do wrie of her vertues then the great store of wealth that was offered with the Northerne Damosell The wedding clothes were already made their kinsfolk and friends invited thereunto and there was no other thing wanting save making the Queene acquainted with Marriage because without her good will and consent the amongst those of noble bloud not any Marriage is effected but they doubted not of her good leave and licence and therefore had so long deferred the craving of it I say then that all things standing in this estate when there wanted but foure dayes till that of the wedding one evening gave disturbance to all this their joy A servant of the Queenes came and brought a message to Clotaldo with expresse command from her Majestie that the next morning he should bring to her Presence his Spanish Prisoner that he brought from Cadiz Clotaldo returned answer that her Majesties pleasure should most willingly bee obeyed The Gentleman having delivered his message and received his answer went his way leaving the hearts of all the whole house full of passion perturbations and feares Aye me sayd the Ladie Catalina if it bee come to the Queenes knowledge that I have bred up this Childe in the Christian religion and shall from thence inferre that all we of this Familie are Christians Besides if the Queene shall aske her what she hath learned in eight yeares since that she was our prisoner what can the poore harmlesse soule answer which shall not notwithstanding all her discretion condemne us Which Isabella hearing spake thus unto her Let not deare Ladie this feare give you any trouble at all for my trust is in God that he will put words into my mouth at that instant out of his Divine Mercie towards me that shall not onely not condemne you but that shall much redound to your good Ricaredo was much startled therewith as divining therby some ill successe Clotaldo sought out meanes that might give some courage to his great feare but found none save in the great considence which he had in God and in the wisedome of Isabella who earnestly entreated her that by all the wayes she possibly could devise she should excuse her condemning of them to be Christians for though in spirit they were readie to receive Martyrdome yet notwithstanding the flesh was weake and were loth to drinke of that bitter cup. Not once but often Isabella assured them to rest assured that for her cause or any default of hers that should not succeed which they feared and suspected For albeit she then knew not what answer to make to those Interrogatories and questions which in such a case as this
it the greater he intreated Calvete their Muâ—tere to lend him his cloake till that they should which they would do the first towne they came at buy another for this pretty gentile youth Calvete gave it him and Theodoro covered therewith the youth asking him whence he was whence hee came and whither he would At all this Don Rafael was present and the youth answered that hee was of Andaluzia and of such a place which in naming of it made them to know it was but two leagues distant from their owne habitation hee told them that hee came from Sevill and that his designe was to goe for Italy to try his fortune in the exercise of Armes and to be trayned up in the schoole of honour as many other Spaniards daily used to doe But that his chance was unfortunate by that his ill incounter with those Out-lawes and Robbes who tooke a good quantity of money from him and such cloathes that hee could not buy the like for 300. Crownes yet notwithstanding all this he was resolved to prosecute his course because hee came of such a race that the first evill successe that befell him should not coole the heate of his fervent desire The good discourse and language of the youth together with their having heard that hee was so neare a neighbour unto them and more especially for that Letter of recommendation which was writ in his forehead wrought a loving affection in both the brothers to favour him in all they were able And so sharing amongst those which to their seeming had most need some monies more particularly amongst the Fryers and Churchmen which were to the number of eight They made the youth to get up upon Calvetes Mule and without further stay in short space they arrived at Yqualada where they came to learne that the Galleyes had put into Barcelona the day before and that within those two dayes they were to be gone if foule weather did not hinder them This newes made them to rise early in the morning before the Sunne was up though all that night they slept but broken sleepe The occasion of this suddaine passion and inquietude in the two brothers grew upon this occasion they sitting at board and with the youth whom they had unbound Theodoro fixed his eyes very wishly on his face and beholding somewhat curiously with a prying looke hee perceived that hee had holes boared through the tippes of his cares and as well by this and by that mayden blush and modest countenance which hee showed his minde gave him that shee must needes bee a woman and sate upon thornes all supper time wishing that it were ended that taking him aside he might the better certifie himselfe of this his suspition And whilst they were at supper Don Rafael demanded of him whose sonne hee was because hee knew all the principall persons thereabouts and if he had named the place aright he could not chuse but know his condition and qualitie Whereunto the youth answered that he was the sonne of Don Henrique de Cardenas a Gentleman well knowne to all hereunto Don Rafael replyed that hee very well knew Don Henrique de Cardenas but withall knew and was well assured of it that he had no sonne at all but conceived that he told him so because hee was loath to discover his parents and because it did not import him to know whether it were so or no he would not presse that point any further nor had any purpose to question him any more of it it is true answered the youth that Don Henrique hath no sonnes but a brother of his called Don Sancho Nay quoth Don Rafael that is not so he hath no sonnes neither but one onely daughter and it is sayd of her that shee is the fairest Damsell that is in all Andaluzia but this I know no otherwise then by the fames and generall report that goes of her For though I have beene often there where shee lives yet it was never my good happe to see her All that you say Sir is true replyed the youth for Don Sancho indeede hath no more but one daughter but not so fayre as fame reports her And if I told you that I was sonne to Don Henrique I spoke it Gentlemen onely to this end that you might holde me in the better esteeme but ingeniously to confesse the truth I am not the sonne of Don Henrique but of the Steward to Don Sancho who hath served him these many yeares and I was borne in his house and upon a certaine distaste which I had given my father having taken good store of money with mee I was willing as I told you to make for Italy and to follow the wars by which course I have seene many of meane birth and obscure parents come to be noble and rise to the highest places of honour and command All these reasons and the manner of delivering them Theodoro attentively noted and still went more and more confirming the suspition hee had entertayned Now by this time supper was ended and all taken away and while Don Rafael was making himselfe unready Theodore having told him the conceived suspition he had of the youth with his good leave and liking he tooke the youth aside to a broad bay window which looked out towards the streete and they two standing both close brest to brest Theodoro began to breake the Ice and to speake to the youth in this insuing manner I could wish Sennor Francisco for so did he stile himselfe that it had beene in my power to have done you so many good offices that they might have obliged you not to deny me any thing whatsoever that I eyther could or would aske of you but that little time which hath brought you to my knowledge hath not given way thereunto it may be that in that which is to come you shall come to know that which my desire deserveth from you And if to that which I now have at this prosent you shall not be pleased to give satisfaction yet for all this shall I not cease to be your servant as I now profes my self truly to be And before that I discover my conception unto you I would have you to know that although my yeares be as few as yours yet have I had more experience of the things of this world then they promise And thereby have I come to suspect that you are not a man as your habit showes you to be but a woman and likewise so borne as your beauty publisheth you to bee and peradventure so unfortunate as this changing of your apparell presents it to our understanding since that such kinde of disguizing as these are never good for the party that put them on if that which I suspect be true deale plainely with mee for I sweare and vow unto you by the faith of a gentleman that I will assist and serve you in all that I am able Now that you are not a woman you cannot possibly deny it for
could distinguish and difference their snowy whitenesse In fine after that shee had vented many sighes and after that shee had procured the easing somewhat of her breast with somewhat a sorrowfull and troubled voyce shee spake thus Gentlemen I am shee whom doubtlesse you have often heard named in this Citie because there are very few tongues which have not published the fame of my beauty such as it is In a word I am Cornelia Bentivogli sister to Lorenzo Bentivogli and in saying this I shall happily have sayd two truths The one of my noblenesse of birth the other of my beautie Being very young I was left fatherelesse and motherlesse in the power of my brother who from my childhood put upon me for my guard warinesse and circumspection it selfe though that hee did more rely upon my honest and honorable condition then on that solicitude and heedefulnesse which hee had taken in guarding me In conclusion confined within walls and solitudes accompanied with no other save my maide-servants I went increasing in yeares and growth and together with mee went increasing the fame of my propernesse of person beautie and comelinesse proclaymed in publicke by some of my men-servants and by those who privately treated with me and by a picture which my brother caused to be drawne by a famous Painter to the end that as he sayd the world should not remaine without mee if heaven should take me here to a better life But all this had beene but the least part of hastning my perdition had not the Duke of Ferrara come to a Kinswomans wedding of mine being invited to doe her the honour to give her in Church whither my brother carried mee with a good intention and for to grace this my kinswoman There I saw and was seene there I conceive I tooke hearts captive and made them doe vassalage and homage to my will There I perceived that I was well pleased with their prayles though they were given me by flattering tongues there lastly I saw the Duke and he saw me from which interview I am now brought to see my selfe in that state wherein you now see I am I will not gentlemen relate unto you for that were but to make my discourse infinite the devices the plots and the meanes whereby the Duke and my selfe came at the end of two yeares to obtaine those desires which had their birth at the wedding For neither guardings nor watchings nor brotherly admonitions nor any other humane dilligences were sufficient for to hinder our secret meetings and injoying each other But before I would yeeld unto his pleasure he gave me his faithfull word and promise for to marry me and make me his wife for without this plighting of his troth unto mee it had beene impossible for him to have made me render and yeelde up the forte of my virginitie upon dishonourable tearmes I spake unto him a thousand times and more that hee would move my brother in publick for me being that it was not possible that he would deny him me and that the Duke needed not to excuse himselfe to the vulgar if they should chance to taxe him with the inequalitie and disparitie of the marriage as somewhat to meane for him since that the noblenesse of the Linage of the Bentivogli's was no whit inferiour to that of the house of Este To this proposition of mine he answered me with excuses intreating me that I would approve of them as sufficient and necessary and I giving credit unto them having already rendred up my selfe unto him I did as one that was in love beleeve the best and prest him no further but submitted my will wholly unto his at the intercession of a maide-servant of mine who by the Dukes large gifts and promises was as plyable as wax not regarding as she ought to have done the truth and confidence which my brother had of her fidelitie In conclusion within a few dayes after I found my selfe with childe and before that my cloaths should manifest my liberties that I may not give it any other name I feigned my selfe sicke and melancholly and wrought my brother to bring mee to that my kinswomans house whom the Duke gave in marriage There did I make known in what case I was the danger that did threaten me and the small assurance that I had of my life because I was jealous that my brother suspected my loosenesse it was agreed upon betweene the Duke my selfe that when I was upon my last moneth I should advise him of it and that hee with other of his friends would come for mee and carry mee with him to Ferrara where in the time by him expected he would marry mee in publicke This very night was that concluded on for his comming and this very night wayting and looking for him I heard my brother passe by with many other men to my seeming armed by the clattering of their armes by reason of which suddaine unexpected feare passion prevailed so far with me that my throwes came upon me and instantly brought forth a faire son That maid-servant of mine who was privie to my actions and the Dukes solicitresse seeing her selfe now prevented by this sodaine chance wrapt the babe in other cloaths then those the child had which was laid at your doore And going to the doore that opened to the street shee gave it as shee told mee to a servant of the Dukes I within a little while after accommodating my selfe the best I could according to my present necessitie got me out of the house verily beleeving that the Duke was in the street which indeed I ought not to have done til he had come to the doore But the feare which that armed troope of my brother had put mee into thinking that hee was now brandishing his sword over my neck it did not give me leave to make any better discourse and so unadvisedly and foolishly I went forth where that has befallen me which you now see And albeit I see my selfe without a son without a husband and with feare of worse succes yet doe I give thanks unto heaven for having brought me into your hands from which I promise all that unto my selfe which Spanish courtesie can promise me more particularly yours which for that you are so noble as you seeme to be you know the better how and where to extend it Having sayd this shee suffered her selfe to sinke downe from the toppe of the bed and the two gentlemen drawing neare unto her to see whether she were fainting and falling into a swound they saw it was not so but onely that she wept bitterly Whereupon Don Iuan sayd unto her If hitherto faire Lady my selfe and Don Antonio my friend and companion have had compassion of you and pittied your case as you were a woman now that we know your quality that pitty and compassion comes to bee a precise obligation binding us to serve you Be of good cheere be not dismayd and though you have
was famous for his skill having dressed him with a gentle hand and as a Master of his facultie told them that the wound was not so mortall as at first he feared it had beene When hee was halfe drest Luisicos memorie came to him which untill then had left him and was very glad and cheerie in seeing his Grandfather and Grandmother there who with teares in their eyes asked him how hee did He answered well save that he was much pained in his bodie and his head The Surgeon advised them that they should not speake unto him but that they would give him leave to take his rest They did so and then his Grandfather beganne to give the Master of the House thankes for that his great charitie which he had extended towards his Nephew Whereunto the gentleman replied that he needed not to thanke him giving him to understand that when the Childe fell and was over-borne by the Horse it seemed unto him that hee saw the face of a Sonne of his owne whom hee tenderly loved and that this moved him to take him up in his armes and bring him home to his owne house where hee would that hee should continue till hee were fully cured and that hee should not want cherishing nor any thing else that the house could afford that was needfull and necessarie for him His Wife who was a noble Ladie sayd the phrase a little varied in effect the very same words and did somewhat more amplifie and endeare her promises The grandfather and grandmother of the Childe did much wonder at and admire this their great Christianitie And the Mother much more for her troubled spirit being somewhat quieted by the Surgeons cofortable words she diligently observed the lodging where her Son lay and by apparant signes and tokens clearely knew that that was the roome where her honour had it's end and her misfortune it's beginning And though it were not now hung and adorned with Damaske as then it was she knew the forme and fashion of it shee saw the window with the yron barres which looked into a Garden and though it were shut that the Ayre might not offend the wounded Child she did aske whether that window did Butt or no upon some garden and it was told her it did but that which she most certainly knew was that that was the very same bed which had beene the Tombe-stone to her grave And moreover that that very Cabinet whereon stood the Crucifix which she ccarrieed away with her remained still in the selfe same place Lastly the stayres brought to light the truth of all her suspitions which she had numbered and counted when she was led out of the lodging blinde-fold I say those stayres which were from her going out thence to the street which with discreet advisement shee had told And when she came home having taken leave of her Son she fell to counting of them againe and found the number of them to fall out right and just and comparing some signes with other some shee was fully perswaded that this her imagination was undoubtedly true Whereof she gave a large account unto her Mother who like a discreet woman informed her selfe whether this Gentleman where her Nephew now was had any Son or no And she found that he whom we call Rodolso was his Son and that he was in Italy And casting up the time which as it was told them hee had beene absent from Spayne they saw that they jumped just with the same yeers of the Child Shee gave notice of all this to her Husband and betwixt them two and their Daughter they agreed to expect how God would dispose of the wounded Child who within fifteene dayes was out of danger of his received hurt and at the end of thirtie was upon his feet and able to walke up and downe the chamber In all which time he was visited by his Mother and Grandmother and made as much of by the owners of the house as if hee had beene their owne Child And now and then Dona Estefania for so was the Gentlemans wife called talking with Leocadia told her that this Child did so well refemble a Son of hers who was in Italy that shee never look't upon him but that it seemed unto her that she had her own Son in her eye From these words of hers Leocadia tooke occasion on a time to tell her when shee was all alone with her such things as had before beene debated and agreed upon by her Parents to signifie unto her which were these or the like That day Madam wherein my Parents heard that their Nephew was so grievously hurt they beleeved and verily thought that Heaven had beene shut against them and that all the World had fallen upon them they imagined that they had lost the light of their eyes whom they loved so dearely and in such an extraordinary kinde of māner that by many degrees it exceeded that which Parents commonly beare to their owne Children But as we usually say that when God gives the wound hee likewise gives the medicine to cure it This Child hath found it in this house and I likewise therein call to minde some things which I shall never forget the longest day of my life I deare Lady am noble because my Parents are so and so have beene all my Auncestours who with a mediocricie of the goods of fortune have happily upheld their honour and reputation wheresoever they lived Dona Estefania was strucken both with wonder and suspension heakening to Leocadia's discourse and how feelingly her words came from her and could not beleeve though she saw it that so much discretion could bee comprehended in so few yeares judging her to be but some 20. years of age little more or lesse and without saying any thing unto her or replying so much as one word she stood expecting to heare what she would furthermore say which was sufficient enough for the informing her of her Sons waggishnesse and wantonesse and of her own disgrace and dishonour of his stealing and carrying her away by force of his blind-folding of her eyes of his bringing her to that very lodging and telling her the signes and tokens whereby she certainely knew that the same was the roome which so strongly confirmed her suspitition For further confirmation whereof she tooke from out her bosome the Image of the Crucifix which shee had taken thence and spake thus Thou Lord who wast a witnesse of the force that was offered me doe thou judge my cause and make mee that amends and reparation of my honour as of right is due unto me From the top of that Cabinet I tooke this Crucifix with a purpose onely to put me still in minde of the wrong I received but not to crave vengeance thereof for I pretend no such thing onely I shall entreat and begge of thee that thou wilt give me some comfort whereby I may the better bee enabled to beare this my disgrace with patience This Child Ladie on
Hay loft with a lodging chamber joyning close to it where he was to lye and make his abode who had the charge thereof being an old Negro and an Eunuch He raysed up his walls to a great heigâ—h leaving the roofe open so that he whosoever hee were that enured into the house must behold Heaven by a direct line without being able to see ought else Hee made a Torâ—… such as your Nuâ—mes have in their Monasteries which from the Casapuerta or open Portall did butt upon the inner Court He had bought very rich houshold-stuffe wherewithall to adorne his house so that for hangings Carpets Canopies Chaires Stooles and all other utensills all was Lord like costly and substantiall He bough likewise foure white female slaves and burned them with a hot yron in their chockes and forehead setting 〈◊〉 make upon them and other two Blache Moore she slaves who knew no other language but their owne 〈…〉 Spanish He covenanted with a certaine 〈◊〉 to â—ay and bâ—ing him in his 〈◊〉 provision so 〈◊〉 yea 〈◊〉 with this condition thâ—…e should not lodge in the house nor enter thereinto no further then the Tornill where hee was to deliver in what hee brought His 〈…〉 he put out part of his moneys to use in 〈…〉 and part of it in 〈◊〉 reserving a 〈…〉 lyestill 〈◊〉 by him upon all occasâ—… 〈…〉 should offer themselves unto him He 〈◊〉 〈…〉 to be maâ—… 〈◊〉 the 〈◊〉 and 〈…〉 all thâ—… wheresoever he 〈◊〉 huy in 〈…〉 of thâ—… 〈◊〉 yeare And having thus ordered and disposed all things according to his owne minde he went to his Father in lawes house and demanded his wife Her Parents delivered her up unto him not with a few teares because it seemed unto them that they carried her to her grave Tender hearted Leonora both in heart and yeares knew not as yet what had happened unto her and so weeping for companie with her Parents she craved their blessing and taking her leave of them attended by her slaves and servants her Husband lending her his arme led her home to his house Whereinto he was no sooner entred but Carrizales made a speech unto all his servants recommending the guard of Leonora to their charge willing them that in no hand they should admit any one to enter within the second doore no not the Negro though an Eunuch And she to whom more especially he recoÌ„monded the keeping and cherishing of Leonora was a Beldame of much prudence and gravitie whom he had entertained to be as it were a governesse to Leonora and a superintendent or over seer of all whatsoever was to be done in the house and to have command over the slaves and other two Damosells of Leonora's age to the end that she might entertaine herselfe with those of her owne yeares whom he had made choice of for that purpose He promised that he would treate and use them well and that he would regular them all in such some giving them such good content that they should not risent this their retyrednesse And that on festivall dayes they should without fayle goe to heare Masse but that was so early in the morning that the light could scarce come to see them His servants and slaves promised him that they would doe whatsoever hee should be pleased to command them without any the least â—…pining with a very 〈◊〉 and willing minde And the new married wife â—…nking up her shoulders and bowing downe her 〈◊〉 sayd that she 〈◊〉 other will save that of her Husband and Lord whereunto she would ever be obedient This prevention being made and good Carrizales now fully setled in his owne house he began to enjoy as well poore man as he could the fruits of matrimonie Thus did she passe away the time with her Governesse Damosells and Slaves and they that they might passe it over the better pampred up themselves with good cheere and few dayes past over their heads wherein they did not make a thousand Quâ—…-choses whereunto their honey and their Sugar which they had in most plentifull manner gave a very daintie and delicate relish There was no lacke of any thing that was needfull they had enough and more then enough and their master was willing that it should be so opinionating with himselfe that by this his liberall and large allowance he should keep them entertained and occupied without having cause given them whereby to call to minde or so much as once thinke of this their close imprisonment Leonora looke what her servants did the same did shee she 〈◊〉 other companie and was therfore forced to entertain 〈◊〉 with luch entertainments as they thought 〈◊〉 Nay such was her simplicitie that she fell to making of babies and other the like childish things which shewed the plainesse and harmlessenesse of her disposition 〈…〉 of her yeares All which gave exceeding great signification to her jealous 〈◊〉 it seeming with him that he had â—…right in chosing the best kinde of life that 〈◊〉 possibly devise or imagine and that by 〈…〉 either humane industry or mallice 〈…〉 quriet and 〈…〉 onely studie 〈…〉 to being home 〈◊〉 and dainties 〈…〉 coment his 〈…〉 â—ating her that what 〈…〉 a mind to she would acquaint him with it 〈…〉 whatsoever of him holding noâ—…ing 〈…〉 wod 〈…〉 Those dayes wherein she went to Masse which was as hath beene sayd betweene the two lights her Parents came and there in the Church talked with their Daughter but still before her husband that he might be an eare-witnesse of what they sayd who gave them so many gifte that although they did much pittie their Daughter and inwardly grieve at that restraint wherein she lived yet did they dissemble this their distaste and bare their sorrow the more patiently by reason of those many great gifts and favours which their liberall Son in Law Carrizales continually conferred on them He used to rise betimes in the morning staying within till the Dispensero came whom over night by a scroll or bill which he left in the Tornell advised him what he should bring the next day And as soone as the Dispensero was come and and dismissed Carrizales instantly got him out of doores and for the most part a foot leaving those two doores towards the street shut and that in the middle and betweene both remained the Negro He went abroad about his businesses which being few were soone dispatcht so that he quickly returned home againe and shutting up himselfe he retained himselfe in regalating and making much of his wife and in cheering up his servants who lov'd him very well and wisht him all happinesse because his carriage was plaine an pleasing as also for that towards all of them he was so liberall and bountifull Thus had they now passed one whole yeare of their Noviciation or Probationer shippe and now made profession of that kinde of life having resolved with themselves to continue therein till the end of his and peradventure would have made good this their determination if
finde him still snoring And when they saw him lying on the bed and not a word come from him they did verily beleeve that the oyntment continued its working fince that he slept and with great rejoycing Leonora and Marialonso embraced each other Anon after Leonora drew nigher and nigher to her husband and taking hold of one of his armes she turn'd him from the one side to the other to try whether hee would awake without putting her to the paines to wash him with vinegar as she had beene told was needfull to bring him againe to himselfe But with that tumbling and tossing of him too and fro Carrizales returned from out his swounding and fetching a deepe sigh sayd with a lamentable weake voyce Oh miserable and unfortunate man that I am to what bad tearmes hath my fortune brought me Leonora did not well understand what her husband said but as soon as she perceived that he was awake and that he spake wondring to set that the vertue of the oyntment did not last so long as was signified unto them she came unto him and laying her face to his muching him with strickt embracements shee sayd unto him What ayl'st thou sweet-heart me thinkes I heare you complaine as if you were not well The good old man heard the voice of his sweet enemie and opening his eies in a wilde kinde of fashion like one amazed and startled out of some fearefull dreame he fixed them on her with great earnestnesse and without moving the least haire of his eye-lids he looked wissely and steadily on her a great while and then at last he sayd unto her Let me entreat thee my deare that you presently out of hand send for your father and mother to come hither to mee for I feele I know not what in my heart which does paine me exceedingly and I feare it will speedily shorten my life and I would feigne see them before I die Doubtlesse Leonora did certainely beleeve that what her husband sayd was true thinking that rather the strength of the oyntment then that which hee had seene had put him into this trance And telling him what he commanded should be done She sent away Luys the Negro willing him that he should forthwith goto her Parents and hasten their speedy comming hither for that the businesse required much haste and their personall presence Having dispatch◠the messenger she came to her Husband embraced him kissed him and used towards him greater expressions of kindnesse then ever she had made show of heretofore asking him how he did where his griefe lay and that with such tender and loving words as if he had beene the onely thing in the world which she most loved and esteemed He looked on her in the same kinde of wilde manner before mentioned every word that she uttered and every muching which she made of him being a lance that 〈…〉 the heart and a sword that wounded his 〈◊〉 soule In this meane while the governesse had acquainted the servants of the house and Loaysa with her Masters sicknes indearing unto them that it would quickly make an end of him since that he had forgotten to command the doors towards the street to be shut when the Negro went forth to call her Mistris Parents wondring withall why they should be sent for in such post-haste since that neither of them had put their foot within that house since they first married their Daughter In a word they were all of them very silent and knew not well what to make of it none of them lighting on the true cause of their Masters sicknesse who ever and anone did fetch such deepe and dolefull sighes as if every sigh would have broken his heart-strings and rent up his soule by the roots from his bodie Leonora wept to see him sigh in such sort and he smiled to himselfe like one that was not well pleased considering the falshood of her teares Now by this time Leonora's Parents were come and for that they found the doore to the street and that to the inward Court open and the house buried in silence and no bodie to be seene they wondred at it and could not tell what to thinke of it no small feares possessing their mindes severall passions housing themselves in their distracted imaginations Thus troubled they went to their Sonne in Law 's lodging and found him as already hath beene delivered with his eies nailed to his wife whom he held fast by the hand both of them shedding many teares She on no other occasion save seeing her husband shed them and he to see how feignedly his wife did let them fall As soone as her Parents were entred within the chamber Carrizales saluted them and sayd I pray sit you down and let all the rest voyd the roome onely I will that the governesse Marialonso stay here they did so And onely these five remaining there without expecting that any body else should speake in a low and soft vocye wiping first his eyes Carrizales spake unto them after this manner I am well assured dearest father and mother that it shall not be needfull to bring any withesses for to make you beleeve a truth which I shall deliver unto you You may very well remember for it is not possible it should slippe out of your memory with how much love and with how great tendernesse a yeare now since one moneth five dayes and nine houres you delivered up unto me your beloved Daughter to bee my lawfull wife Yee likewise know what a great dowrie I made her which was such and in so liberall a manner that three or foure of the same qualitie as her selfe might therewith have beene married with the opinion of rich Yee may also call to minde the care and diligence I tooke in apparelling her and adorning her with all that shee can desire or imagine or that I could come to know was most fitting and convenient for her In like manner my very good friends yee have seene how carried away by mine owne naturall condition and fearefull of that ill which doubtlesse will bee my death and experienced by reason of my great age in the strange and various accidents of the world I was desirous to keepe this Iewell which I had made choice of and yee gave mee with the greatest charinesse and warinesse as was possible for mee to doe I raised up the walls of this house to a great heigth I tooke away the sight and light from the windowes towards the streete I made double lockes to the doores I made such a Tornell as they have at your Monasteries I banished perpetually therefro all that which had but the shadow or name of man or male-kinde I gave her servants and slaves to attend her person nor did I denie them or her ought that they did aske of mee I made her my equall I communicated with her my most secret thoughts and made her Mistris of all my wealth and meanes All these were such workes being rightly and duely