of two worthy friends At such time as Octauius Caesar not as yet named Augustus but only in the office called Triumueri gouerned the Romane Empire there dwelt in Rome a Gentleman named Publius Quintus Fuluius a man of singular vnderstanding who hauing one son called Titus Quintus Fuluius of towardly yeares and apprehension sent him to Athens to learne Philosophy but with letters of familiar commendations to a Noble Athenian Gentleman named Chremes being his ancient friend of long acquaintance This Gentleman lodged Titus in his owne house as companion to his son named Gisippus both of them studying together vnder the tutoring of a Philosopher called Aristippus These two yong Gentlemen liuing thus in one Citty House and Schoole it bred betweene them such a brother-hoode and amity as they could not be seuered from one another but only by the accident of death nor could either of them enioy any content but when they were both together in company Being each of them endued with gentle spirits and hauing begun their studies together they arose by degrees to the glorious height of Philosophy to their much admired fame and commendation In this manner they liued to the no meane comfort of Chremes hardly distinguishing the one from the other for his Son thus the Schollers continued the space of three yeares At the ending wherof as it hapneth in al things else Chremes died whereat both the young Gentlemen conceiued such hearty griefe as if he had bin their common father nor could the kinred of Chremes discerne which of the two had most need of comfort the losse touched them so equally It chanced within some few months after that the kinred of Gisippus came to â—ee him and before Titus auised him to marriage and with a yong Gentlewoman of singular beauty deriued from a most noble house in Athens and she named Sophronia aged about fifteen years This mariage drawing neere Gisippus on a day intreated Titus to walk along with him thither because as yet he had not seene her Comming to the house and she sitting in the midst betweene them Titus making himselfe a considerator of beauty especially on his friends behalfe began to obserue her very iudicially euery part of her seemed so pleasing in his eie that giuing them al a priuat praise yet answerable to their due deseruing he becam so enflamed with affection to her as neuer any louer could bee more violentlie surprized so sodainly doth beauty beguile our best senses After they had sate an indifferent while with her they returned home to their lodging where Titus being alone in his chamber began to bethink himselfe on her whose perfections had so powerfully pleased him and the more he entred into this consideration the fiercer he felt his desires enflamed which being vnable to quench by any reasonable perswasions after hee had vented foorth infinite sighes thus he questioned with himselfe Most vnhappie Titus as thou art whether doost thou transport thine vnderstanding loue and hope Dooest thou not know as well by the honourable fauours which thou hast receiued of Chremes and his house as also the intire amity betweene thee and Gisippus vnto whom faire Sophronia is the affianced friend that thou shouldst holde her in the like reuerent respect as if shee were thy true borne Sister Darest thou presume to fancie her Whether shall beguiling Loue allure thee and vaine immaging hopes carrie thee Open the eyes of thy better vnderstanding and acknowledge thy selfe to bee a most miserable man Giue way to reason bridle thine in temperate appetites reforme all irregulare desires and guide thy fancy to a place of better direction Resist thy wanton and lasciuioâ—s will in the beginning and be master of thy selfe while thou hast opportunity for that which thou aimest at is neyther reasonable nor honest And if thou wert assured to preuaile vpon this pursuite yet thou oughtst to auoide it if thou hast any regard of true friendship and the duty therein iustly required What wilt thou do then Titus Fly from this inordinate affection if thou wilt be reputed to be a man of sensible iudgement After he had thus discoursed with himselfe remembring Sophronia and conuerting his former allegations into a quite contrarie sense in vtter detestation of them and guided by his idle appetite thus he began againe The lawes of loue are of greater force then any other whatsoeuer they not only breake the bands of friendship but euen those also of more diuine consequence How many times hath it bin noted the father to affect his own daughter the brother his sister and the step mother her son in law matters far more monstrous then to see one friend loue the wife of another a case happening continually Moreouer I am yong and youth is wholly subiected to the passions of Loue is it reasonable then that those should be bard from me which are fitting and pleasing to Loue Honest things belong to men of more years and maturity then I am troubled withall and I can couet none but onely those wherein Loue is directer The beauty of Sophronia is worthy of generall loue and if I that am a yongman do loue her what man liuing can iustly reproue me for it Shold not I loue her because she is affianced to Gisippus That is no matter to me I ought to loue her because she is a womaÌ„ and women were created for no other occasion but to bee Loued Fortune had sinned in this case and not I in directing my frends affection to her rather then any other and if she ought to be loued as her perfections do challenge Gisippus vnderstanding that I affect her may be the better contented that it is I rather then any other With these and the like crosse entercourses he often mockt himselfe falling into the contrary and then to this againe and from the contrary into another kind of alteration wasting and consuming himselfe not only this day and the night following but many more afterward til he lost both his feeding sleepe so that through debility of body he was constrained to keepe his bed Gisippus who had diuers dayes noted his melancholly disposition and now his falling into extreamitie of sicknesse was very sorry to behold it and with all meanes and inuentions he could deuise to vse hee both questioned the cause of this straunge alteration and essayed euerie way how hee might best comfort him neuer ceassing to demaunde a reason why he should become thus sad and sickely But Titus after infinite importuning which still he answered with idle and friuolous excuses farre from the truth indeede and to the no meane affliction of his friend when he was able to vse no more contradictions at length in sighes and teares thus he replyed Gisippus were the Gods so wel pleased I could more gladly yeild to dye then continue any longer in this wretched life considering that Fortune hath brought mee to such an extremity as proofe is now to be made of
haue found no mean inducement to loue in regard of my husbands far distance from me medling in the rude vnciuill actions of warre when he should rather be at home in more sweet imployment You see Sir that these Orators aduance themselues here in your presence to acquaint you with the extremity of my ouer-commanding agony and if the same power hath dominion in you which your discretion questionlesse cannot be voide of then let me entreate such aduise from you as may rather helpe then hinder my hopes Beleeue it then for trueth Sir that the long absence of my husband from me the solitary condition wherein I am left ill agreeing with the hot blood running in my veines the temper of my earnest desires haue so preuailed against my strongest resistances that not onely so weake a woman as I am but any man of much more potent might liuing in ease and idlenesse as I doe cannot withstand such continuall assaults hauing no other helpe then flesh and blood Nor am I so ignorant but publique knowledge of such an error in me would be reputed a shrewd taxation of honesty whereas on the other side secret carriage and heedfull managing such amorous affaires may passe for currant without any reproach And let me tell you Noble Counte that I repute Loue highly fauourable to mee by guiding my iudgement with such moderation to make election of a wise worthy and honourable friend fit to enioy the grace of a farre greater Lady then I am and the first letter of his name is the Count D'Angiers For if error haue not misled mine eye as in Loue no Lady can be easily deceiued for person perfections and all parts most to be commended in a man the whole Realme of France containeth not your equall Obserue beside how forward Fortune sheweth her selfe to vs both in this case you to be destitute of a wife as I am of an husband for I count him as dead to me when he denies me the duties belonging to a wife Wherefore in regard of the vnfaigned affection I beare you and compassion which you ought to haue of Royall Princesse euen almost sicke to death for your sake I earnestly entreate you not to denie me your louing society but pittying my youth and fiery afflictions neuer to be quenched but by your kindnesse I may enioy my hearts desire As shee vttered these words the teares streamed aboundantly downe her faire cheekes preuenting her of any further speech so that deiecting her head into her bosome ouercome with the predominance of her passions shee fell vpon the Countes knee whereas else shee had falne vpon the ground When hee like a loyall and most honourable man sharply reprehended her fonde and idle loue and when shee would haue embraced him about the necke hee repulsed her roughly from him protesting vpon his honourable reputation that rather then hee would so wrong his Lord and Maister he would endure a thousand deathes The Lady seeing her desire disappointed and her fond expectation vtterly frustrated grewe instantly forgetfull of her intemperate loue and falling into extremity of rage conuerted her former gentle speeches into this harsh and ruder language Villaine quoth shee shall the longing comforts of my life be abridged by thy base and scornefull deniall Shall my destruction bee wrought by thy currish vnkindnesse and all my hoped ioyes be defeated in a moment Know slaue that I did not so earnestly desire thy sweet embracements before but now as deadly I hate and despise them which either thy death or banishment shall dearely pay for No sooner had shee thus spoken but tearing her haire and renting her garments in pieces shee ranne about like a distracted woman crying out aloude Helpe helpe the Count D'Angiers will forcibly dishonour mee the lustfull Count will violence mine honour D'Angiers seeing this and fearing more the malice of the ouer-credulous Court then either his owne conscience or any dishonourable act by him committed beleeuing likewise that her slanderous accusation would bee credited aboue his true and spotlesse innocency closely he conueyed himselfe out of the Court making what hast hee could home to his owne house which being too weake for warranting his safety vpon such pursuite as would be vsed against him without any further aduice or counsell he seated his two children on horsebacke himselfe also being but meanly mounted thus away thence hee went to Calice Vpon the clamour and noise of the Lady the Courtiers quickly flocked thither and as lies soone winne beleefe in hasty opinions vpon any silly or shallow surmise so did her accusation passe for currant and the Counts aduancement being enuied by many made his honest carriage in this case the more suspected In hast and madding fury they ran to the Counts houses to arrest his person and carry him to prison but when they could not finde him they raced his goodly buildings downe to the ground and vsed all shamefull violence to them Now as il newes sildome wants a speedy Messenger so in lesse space then you will imagine the King and Dolphin heard thereof in the Camp and were therewith so highly offended that the Count had a sodaine and seuere condemnation all his progeny being sentenced with perpetuall exile and promises of great and bountifull rewards to such as could bring his body aliue or dead Thus the innocent Count by his ouer-hasty and sodaine flight made himselfe guilty of this foule imputation and arriuing at Callice with his children their poore and homely habites hid them from being knowne and thence they crossed ouer into England staying no where vntill hee came to London Before he would enter into the City he gaue diuers good aduertisements to his children but especially two precepts aboue all the rest First with patient soules to support the poore condition whereto Fortune without any offence in him or them had thus deiected them Next that they should haue most heedfull care at no time to disclose from whence they came or whose children they were because it extended to the perill of their liues His Sonne being named Lewes and now about nine yeares old his daughter called Violenta and aged seauen yeares did both obserue their fathers direction as afterward it did sufficiently appeare And because they might liue in the safer securitie hee thought it for the best to change their names calling his sonne Perotto and his daughter Gianetta for thus they might best escape vnknowne Being entred into the Citty and in the poore estate of beggers they craued euery bodies mercy and almes It came to passe that standing one morning at the Cathedral Church-doore a great Lady of England being then wife to the Lord high Marshall cōming forth of the Church espied the Count and his children there begging Of him she demanded what Countrey-man he was and whether those children were his owne or no The Count replyed that he was borne in Picardy and for an vnhappy fact committed by his eldest sonne a stripling of more
therefore it is no meruaile if like will to like a beggers brats to keepe company with beggers The Count hearing these contemptible words was not a little greeued thereat and although his courage was greater then his poore condition would permit him to expresse yet clouding all iniuries with noble patience hanging downe his head and shedding many a salt teare endured this reproach as hee had done many both before and after But honourable Sir Roger perceiuing what delight his children tooke in the poore mans company albeit he was offended at his Fathers harsh words by holding his wife in such base respect yet fauoured the poore Count so much the more and seeing him weepe did greatly compassionate his case saying to the poore man that if hee would accept of his seruice he willingly would entertaine him Whereto the Count replied that very gladly he would embrace his kinde offer but hee was capable of no other seruice saue onely to be an horse-keeper wherein he had imployed the most part of his time Heereupon more for pleasure and pitty then any necessity of his seruice he was appointed to the keeping of one Horse which was onely for his Daughters saddle and daily after he had done his diligence about the Horse he did nothing else but play with the children While Fortune pleased thus to dally with the poore Count D'Angiers his children it came to passe that the King of France after diuers leagues of truces passed between him the Germaines died and next after him his Son the dolphin was crowned King and it was his wife that wrongfully caused the Counts banishment After expiration of the last league with the Germains the warres began to grow much more fierce and sharpe and the King of England vpon request made to him by his new brother of France sent him very honourable supplies of his people vnder the conduct of Perotto his lately elected President of Wales and Sir Roger Mandeuile Son to his other Lord high Marshall with whom also the poore Count went and continued a long while in the Campe as a common Souldier where yet like a valiant Gentleman as indeed he was no lesse both in aduice and actions he accomplished many more notable matters then was expected to come from him It so fell out that in the continuance of this warre the Queen of France fell into a grieuous sicknes and perceiuing her selfe to be at the point of death shee became very penitently sorrowfull for all her sinnes earnestly desiring that shee might be confessed by the Archbishop of Roane who was reputed to be an holy and vertuous man In the repetition of her other offences she reuealed what great wrong she had done to the Count D'Angiers resting not so satisfied with disclosing the whole matter to him alone but also confessed the same before many other worthy persons and of great honour entreating them to worke so with the King that if the Count were yet liuing or any of his Children they might be restored to their former honour againe It was not long after but the Queene left this life and was most royally enterred when her confession being disclosed to the King after much sorrow for so iniuriously wronging a man of so great valour and honour Proclamation was made throughout the Camp and in many other parts of France beside that whosoeuer could produce the Count D'Angiers or any of his Children should richly be rewarded for each one of them in regard he was innocent of the foule imputation by the Queenes owne confession and for his wrongfull exile so long he should be exalted to his former honour with farre greater fauours which the King franckely would bestow vpon him When the Count who walked vp and downe in the habite of a common seruitor heard this Proclamation forth-with he went to his Master Sir Roger Mandeuile requesting his speedy repaire to Lord Perotto that being both assembled together he would acquaint them with a serious matter concerning the late Proclamation published by the King Being by themselues alone in the Tent the Count spake in this māner to Perotto Sir S. Roger Mādeuile here your equal competitor in this military seruice is the husband to your naturall sister hauings yet neuer receiued any dowry with her but her inherent vnblemishable vertue honor Now because she may not stil remain destitute of a competent Dowry I desire that Sir Roger and none other may enioy the royall reward promised by the King You Lord Perotto whose true name is Lewes manifest your selfe to be nobly borne and sonne to the wrongfull banished Count D'Angiers auouch moreouer that Violenta shadowed vnder the borrowed name of Gianetta is your owne Sister and deliuer me vp as your Father the long exiled Count D'Angiers Perotto hearing this beheld him more aduisedly and began to know him then the tears flowing abundantly from his eyes he fell at his feete and often embracing him saide My deere and noble Father a thousand times more deerely welcome to your Sonne Lewes Sir Roger Mandeuile hearing first what the Count had said and seeing what Perotto afterward performed became surprized with such extraordinary ioy and admiration that he knew not how to carry himselfe in this case Neuerthelesse giuing credite to his words and being somewhat ashamed that he had not vsed the Count in more respectiue manner remembring beside the vnkinde language of his furious Father to him he kneeled downe humbly crauing pardon both for his fathers rudenes and his owne which was courteously granted by the Count embracing him louingly in his armes When they had a while discoursed their seuerall fortunes sometime in teares and then againe in ioy Perotto and Sir Roger would haue the Count to be garmented in better manner but in no wise he would suffer it for it was his onely desire that Sir Roger should be assured of the promised reward by presenting him in the Kings presence and in the homely habit which he did then weare to touch him with the more sensible shame for his rash beleefe and iniurious proceeding Then Sir Roger Mandeuile guiding the Count by the hand and Perotto following after came before the King offering to present the Count and his children if the reward promised in the Proclamation might be performed The king immediately commanded that a reward of inestimable valew should be produced desiring Sir Roger vppon the sight thereof to make good his offer for forthwith presenting the Count and his children Which hee made no longer delay of but turning himselfe about deliuered the aged Count by the title of his seruant and presenting Perotto next said Sir heere I deliuer you the Father and his Son his daughter who is my wife cannot so conueniently be heere now but shortly by the permission of heauen your Maiesty shall haue a sight of her When the King heard this stedfastly he looked on the Count and notwithstanding his wonderfull alteration both from his wonted feature and forme yet after
as loath to continue so long in his aâ—mes but rather euident signes of hearty contentment yet in very bashfull and modest manner willing enough to accept his louing kindnesse yet not wandring from her wonted chaste carriage He being fauourably excused for the outward expression of his amourous behauiour to her and certified withall that since the time of freeing her from the wretch who sought the violating of her chastity shee had entirely respected him albeit to shun suspition of lightnesse and to win more assurance of what shee credited sufficiently already shee continued her stiffe opinion against him yet alwayes this resolution was set downe in her soule neuer with her will to haue any other Husband but Ocharus who aboue all other had best deserued her by his generosity vertue manly courage and valiancy whereof he might the better assure himselfe because of her owne voâ—untary disposition shee followed to find him out not for any other occasion but to reuenge her selfe by this honest Office for all that he had done or vndertaken to winne the grace and loue of the King of Denmarkes Daughter to whom he presented such dutifull seruice Ocharus who would not loose this happinesse to be made King of all the Northerne Ilands with more then a thankfull heart accepted all her gracious excuses And being desirous to waste no longer time in vaine lest Fortune should raise some new stragatem against him to dispossesse him of so faire a felicity left off his counterfet intended marriage and effected this in good earnest and was wedded to his most esteemed Serictha Not long had these louers liued in the lawfull and sacred rites of marriage but King Siwalde was aduertised that his Daughter had giuen her consent to Ocharus and receiued him as her noble Husband The party was not a iot displeasing to him hee thought him to be a worthy Son in Law and the condition did sufficiently excuse the match onely herein lay the errour and offence that the marriage was sollemnized without his knowledge and consent he being not called thereto or so much as acquainting him therewith which made him condemne Ocharus of ouerbold arrogancy he being such a great and powerfull King to be so lightly respected by his Subiect and especially in the marriage of his Daughter But Serictha who was now metamorphosed from a maide to a wife and had lyen a few nights by the side of a Soldiour was become much more valiant and aduenturous then she was before She took the matter in hand went to her Father who welcommed her most louingly and so pleasing were her speeches carried with such wit and womanly discretion that nothing wanted to approue what she had done Matters which he had neuer knowne or so much as heard of were now openly reuealed how Ocharus had deliuered her from the rauisher what worthie respect he then vsed towards her and what honour he extended to her in the deserts where she tended her flocke as a Shephearddesse with manie other honourable actions beside that the Kings anger became mildely qualified and so farre he entred into affection that he would not do any thing thence-forward without the counsell and aduise of his Sonne in Law whom so highly he esteemed and liked so respectiuely of him and his race that his Queene dying hee married with the Sister to Ocharus going hand in hand with the gentle and modest Princesse Serictha This Nouell of Dioneus was commended by all the company and so much the rather because it was free from all folly and obscoennesse And the Queene perceiuing that as the Tale was ended so her dignitie must now be expired she tooke the Crowne of Laurell from off her head graciously placed it on the head of Philostratus saying The worthy Discourse of Dioncus being out of his wonted wanton element causeth mee at the resignation of mine Authority to make choise of him as our next Commander who is best able to order and enstruct vs all and so I yeeld both my place and honour to Philostratus I hope with the good liking of all our assistants as plainly appeareth by their instant carriage towards him with all their heartiest loue and sufferages Whereupon Philostratus beginning to consider on the charge committed to his care called the Maister of the houshold to knowe in what estate all matters were because where any defect appeared euerie thing might be the sooner remedied for the better satisfaction of the company during the time of his authority Then returning backe to the assembly thus he began Louely Ladies I would haue you to knowe that since the time of ability in me to distinguish betweene good and euill I haue alwayes bene subiect perhaps by the meanes of some beautie heere among vs to the proud and imperious dominion of loue with expression of all duty humility and most intimate desire to please yet all hath prooued to no purpose but still I haue bin reiected for some other wherby my condition hath falne from ill to worse and so still it is likely euen to the houre of my death In which respect it best pleaseth me that our conferences to morrow shal extend to no other argument but only such casesas are most conformable to my calamity namely of such whose loue hath had vnhappy ending because I await no other issue of mine nor willingly would I be called by any other name but onely the miserable and vnfortunate Louer Hauing thus spoken he arose againe granting leaue to the rest to recreate themselues till supper time The Garden was very faire and spacious affoording large limits for their seuerall walkes the Sun being already so low descended that it could not be offensiue to any one the Connies Kids and young Hindes skipping euery where about them to their no meane pleasure and contentment Dioneus Fiammetta sate singiâ—g together of Messire Guiglielmo and the Lady of Vertue Philomena and Pamphilus playing at the Chesse all sporting themselues as best they pleased But the houre of Supper being come and the Tables couered about the faire fountaine they sate downe and supt in most louing manner Then Philostratus not to swerue from the course which had beene obserued by the Queenes before him so soone as the Tables were taken away gaue command that Madam Lauretta should beginne the dance and likewise to sing a Song My gracious Lord quoth shee I can skill of no other Songs but onely a peece of mine owne which I haue already learned by heart may well beseeme this faire assembly if you please to allow of that I am ready to performe it with all obedience Lady replyed the King you your selfe being so faire and louely so needs must be whatsoeuer commeth from you therefore let vs heare such as you haue Madam Lauretta giuing enstruction to the Chorus prepared and began in this manner The Song NO soule so comfortlesse Hath more cause to expresse Like woe and heauinesse As I poore amorous Maide He that did forme
fire euen of his owne nature taketh hold on such things as are light and tender much sooner then it can on hard and weighty substances and some of vs women let men take no offence at my words are farre more soft and delicate then they be and therefore more fraile In which regard seeing we are naturally enclined hereto and considering also how much our affability and gentlenesse doe shew themselues pleasing and full of content to those men with whom we are to liue and likewise how anger and fury are compacted of extraordinary perils I purpose because we may be the more valiant in our courage to outstand the fierce assaults of wrath and rage to shew you by mine ensuing Nouel how the loues of three young Gentlemen and of as many Gentlewomen came to fatall and vnfortunate successe by the tempestuous anger of one among them according as I haue formerly related vnto you Marseilles as you are not now to learne is in Prouence seated on the Sea and is also a very ancient and most noble City which hath beene heretofore inhabited with farre richer and more wealthy Merchants then at this instant time it is Among whom there was one named Narnaldo Ciuada a man but of meane condition yet cleare in faith and reputation and in lands goods and ready monies immeasurably rich Many children he had by his Wife among whom were three Daughters which exceeded his Sonnes in yeeres Two of them being twinnes and borne of one body were counted to be fifteene yeares old the third was foureteene and nothing hindered marriage in their Parents owne expectation but the returne home of Narnaldo who was then abroade in Spaine with his Merchandises The eldest of these Sisters was named Ninetta the second Magdalena and the third Bertella A Gentleman albeit but poore in fortunes and called Restagnone was so extraordinarily enamoured of Ninetta as no man possibly could be more and shee likewise as earnest in affection towards him yet both carrying their loues proceeding with such secresie as long time they enioyed their hearts sweete contentment yet vndiscouered by any eye It came to passe that two other young Gallants the one named Folco and the other Hugnetto who had attained to incredible wealth by the decease of their Father were also as farre in loue the one with Magdalena and the other with Bertella When Restagnone had intelligence thereof by the meanes of his faire friend Ninetta he purposed to releeue his pouerty by friendly furthering both their loue and his owne and growing into familiarity with them one while he would walke abroade with Folco and then againe with Hugnetto but oftner with them both together to visite their Mistresses and continue worthy friendship On a day when hee saw the time sutable to his intent and that hee had inuited the two Gentlemen home to his House hee fell into this like conference with them Kind friends quoth he the honest familiarity which hath past betweene vs may render you some certaine assurance of the constant loue I beare to you both being as willing to worke any meanes that may tend to your good as I desire to compasse mine owne And because the truth of mine affection cannot conceale it selfe to you I meane to acquaint you with an intention wherewith my braine hath a long while trauelled and now may soone be deliuered of if it may passe with your liking and approbation Let me then tell you that except your speeches sauour of vntruth and your actions carry a double vnderstanding in common behauiour both by night and day you appeare to pine and consume away in the cordiall loue you beare to two of the Sisters as I suffer the same afflictions for the third with reciprocall requitall of their dearest affection to vs. Now to qualifie the heate of our tormenting flames if you will condescend to such a course as I shall aduise you the remedy will yeeld them equall ease to ours and we may safely enioy the benefit of contentment As wealth aboundeth with you both so doth want most extremely tyrannize ouer me but if one banke might be made of both your rich substances I embraced therein as a third partaker and some quarter of the World dissigned out by vs where to liue at hearts ease vpon your possessions I durst engage my credite that all the Sisters not meanly stored with their Fathers treasure shall beare vs company to what place soeuer we please There each man freely enioying his owne dearest loue we may liue like three brerhren without any hinderance to our mutuall contentment it remaineth now in you Gentlemen to accept this comfortable offer or to refuse it The two Brothers whose passions exceeded their best meanes for support perceiuing some hope how to enioy their loues desired no long time of deliberation or greatly disputed with their thoughts what was best to be done but readily replyed that let happen any danger whatsoeuer they would ioyne with him in this determination aud he should partake with them in their wealthiest fortunes After Restagnone had heard their answer within some few dayes following he went to conferre with Ninetta which was no easie matter for him to compasse Neuerthelesse opportunity proued so fauourable to him that meeting with her at a priuate place appointed he discoursed at large what had passed betweene him and the other two young Gentlemen maintaining the same with many good reasons to haue her like and allow of the enterprize Which although for a while he could very hardly doe yet in regard shee had more desire then power without suspition to be daily in his company she franckly thus answered My hearts chosen friend I cannot any way mislike your aduise and will take such order with my Sisters that they shall agree to our resolution let it therefore be your charge that you and the rest make euery thing ready to depart from hence so soone as with best conuenient meanes we may be enabled Restagnone being returned to Folco and Hugnetto who thought euery houre a yeere to heare what would succeed vpon the promise past betweene them he told them in plaine termes that their Ladies were as free in consent as they and nothing wanted now but furnishment for their sudden departing Hauing concluded that Candye should be their harbour for entertainment they made sale of some few inheritances which lay the readiest for their purpose as also the goods in their Houses and then vnder colour of venting Merchandises abroade they bought a nimble Pinnace fortified with good strength and preparation and waited but for a conuenient wind On the other side Ninetta who was sufficiently acquainted with the forwardnesse of her Sisters desires and her owne had so substantially preuailed with them that a good voyage now was the sole expectation Whereupon the same night when they should set away they opened a strong barred Chest of their Fathers whence they tooke great store of gold and costly Iewels wherewith escaping secretly out
Magdalena in the still silence of the night Ninetta was conueyed into a sacke and sent in that manner to the House of Folco the Duke following soone after to challenge her promise Magdalena hauing acquainted her Husband with her vertuous intention for preseruing her Sisters life and disappointing the Duke in his wicked desire was as contrary to her true meaning in this case as Ninetta had formerly beene aduerse to Restagnone onely being ouer-ruled likewise by iealousie and perswaded in his rash opinion that the Duke had already dishonoured Magdalena otherwise he would not haue deliuered Ninetta out of prison Mad fury gaue further fire to this vnmanly perswasion and nothing will now quench this violent shame but the life of poore Magdalena suddenly sacrificed in the rescue of her Sisters such a diuell is anger when the vnderstandings bright eye is thereby abused No credit might be giuen to her womanly protestations nor any thing seeme to alter his bloody purpose but hauing slaine Magdalena with his Poniard notwithstanding her teares and humble entreaties hee ran in haste to Ninettaes Chamber shee not dreaming on any such desperate accident and to her he vsed these dissembling speeches Sister quoth he my wife hath aduised that I should speedily conuey you hence as fearing the renewing of the Dukes fury and your falling againe into the hands of Iustice I haue a Barke readily prepared for you and your life being secured it is all that she and I doe most desire Ninetta being fearefull and no way distrusting what he had saide in thankfull allowance of her Sisters care and curteous tender of his so ready seruice departed thence presently with him not taking any farewell of her other Sister and her Husband To the Sea-shore they came very weakely prouided of monies to defray their charges and getting aboard the Barke directed their course themselues knew not whether The amourous Duke in his disguise hauing long daunced attendance at Folcoes doore and no admittance of his entrance angerly returned backe to his Court protesting seuere reuenge on Magdalena if she gaue him not the better satisfaction to cleare her from thus basely abusing him On the morrow morning when Magdalena was found murthered in her Chamber and tidings thereof carried to the Duke present search was made for the bloody offendor but Folco being fled and gone with Ninetta some there were who bearing deadly hatred to Hugnetto incensed the Duke against him and his wife as supposing them to be guilty of Magdalenaes death He being thereto very easily perswaded in regard of his immoderate loue to the slaine Gentlewoman went himselfe in person attended on by his Guard to Hugnettoes House where both he and his wife were seized as prisoners These newes were very strange to them and their imprisonment as vnwelcome and although they were truly innocent either in knowledge of the horrid fact or the departure of Folco with Ninetta yet being vnable to endure the tortures extremity they made themselues culpable by confession and that they had hand with Folco in the murder of Magdalena Vpon this their forced confession and sentence of death pronounced on them by the Duke himselfe before the day appointed for their publike execution by great summes of money which they had closely hid in their House to serue when any vrgent extremitie should happen to them they corrupted their keepers and before any intelligence could be had of their flight they escaped by Sea to Rhodes where they liued afterward in great distresse and misery The iust vengeance of Heauen followed after Folco and Ninetta he for murthering his honest wife and she for poysoning her offending Husband for being beaten a long while on the Seas by tempestuous stormes and weather and not admitted landing in any Port or creeke they were driuen backe on the Coast of Candie againe where being apprehended and brought to the City before the Duke they confessed their seuerall notorious offences and ended their loathed liues in one fire together Thus the idle and loose loue of Restagnone with the franticke rage and iealousie of Ninetta and Folco ouerturned all their long continued happinesse and threw a disastrous ending on them all Gerbino contrary to the former plighted faith of his Grand-father King Gulielmo fought with a Ship at Sea belonging to the King of Thunis to take away his Daughter who was then in the same Ship Shee being slaine by them that had the possession of her he likewise slew them and afterward had his owne head smitten off The fourth Nouell In commendation of Iustice betweene Princes and declaring withall that neither feare dangers nor death it selfe can any way daunt a true and loyall Louer MAdam Lauretta hauing concluded her Nouel and the company complaining on Louers misfortunes some blaming the angry and iealous fury of Ninetta and euery one deliuering their seuerall opinions the King as awaking out of a passionate perplexity exalted his lookes giuing a signe to Madam Elisa that shee should follow next in order whereto she obeying began in this manner I haue heard Gracious Ladies quoth she of many people who are verily perswaded that Loues arrowes neuer wound any body but onely by the eyes lookes and gazes mocking and scorning such as maintaine that men may fall in loue by hearing onely Wherein beleeue me they are greatly deceiued as will appeare by a Nouell which I must now relate vnto you and wherein you shall plainely perceiue that not onely fame or report is as preuailing as sight but also hath conducted diuers to a wretched and miserable ending of their liues Gulielmo the second King of Sicilie according as the Sicilian Chronicles record had two children the one a sonne named Don Rogero and the other a daughter called Madam Constance The saide Rogero died before his Father leauing a sonne behind him named Gerbino who with much care and cost was brought vp by his Grand-father prouing to be a very goodly Prince and wondrously esteemed for his great valour and humanity His fame could not containe it selfe within the bounds or limits of Sicilie onely but being published very prodigally in many parts of the world beside flourished with no meane commendations throughout all Barbarie which in those dayes was tributary to the King of Sicilie Among other persons deseruing most to be respected the renowned vertues and affability of this gallant Prince Gerbino was vnderstood by the beautious Daughter to the King of Thunis who by such as had seene her was reputed to be one of the rarest creatures the best conditioned and of the truest noble spirit that euer Nature framed in her very choycest pride of art Of famous vertuous and worthy men it was continually her cheefest delight to heare and the admired actions of valiant Gerbino reported to her by many singular discoursers such as could best describe him with language answerable to his due deseruings won such honourable entertainment in her vnderstanding soule that they were most affectionately pleasing to her and
proue to be so good as your word Violenta who had concealed her amisse so long as shee could and saw no other remedy but now at last it must needes be discouered went priuately to her Mother and in teares reuealed her infirmity humbly crauing her pardon and furtherance in hiding it from her Father The Mother being extraordinarily displeased chiding her with many sharpe and angry speeches would needes know with whom shee had thus offended The Daughter to keepe Pedro from any detection forged a Tale of her owne braine farre from any truth indeede which her Mother verily beleeuing and willing to preserue her Daughter from shame as also the fierce anger of her Husband he being a man of very implacable nature conueyed her to the Countrey-Farme whither Signior Amarigo sildome or neuer resorted intending vnder the shadow of sicknesse to let her lie in there without the least suspition of any in Trapani Sinne and shame can neuer be so closely carried or clouded with the greatest cunning but truth hath a loop-light whereby to discouer it euen when it supposeth it selfe in the surest safety For on the very day of her deliuerance at such time as the Mother and some few friends sworne to secrecy were about the businesse Signior Amarigo hauing beene in company of other Gentlemen to flye his Hawke at the Riuer vpon a sudden but very vnfortunately albeit he was alone by himselfe stept into his Farme house euen to the next roome where the women were and heard the new-borne Babe to cry whereat maruelling not a little he called for his Wife to know what young childe cryed in his House The Mother amazed at his so strange comming thither which neuer before he had vsed to doe and pittying the wofull distresse of her Daughter which now could be no longer couered reuealed what happened to Violenta But he being nothing so rash in beliefe as his Wife was made answere that it was impossible for his Daughter to be conceiued with childe because he neuer obserued the least signe of loue in her to any man whatsoeuer and therefore he would be satisfied in the truth as shee expected any fauour from him for else there was no other way but death The Mother laboured by all meanes shee could deuise to pacifie her Husbands fury which proued all in vaine for being thus impatiently incensed he drew foorth his Sword and stepping with it drawne into the Chamber where she had been deliuered of a goodly Sonne he said vnto her Either tell me who is the Father of this Bastard or thou and it shall perish both together Poore Violenta lesse respecting her owne life then she did the childes forgot her sollemne promise made to Pedro and discouered all Which when Amarigo had heard he grew so desperately enraged that hardly he could forbeare from killing her But after he had spoken what his fury enstructed him hee mounted on Horse-backe againe ryding backe to Trapani where he disclosed the iniury which Pedro had done him to a noble Gentleman named Signior Conrado who was Captaine for the King ouer the City Before poore Pedro could haue any intelligence or so much as suspected any treachery against him he was suddenly apprehended and being called in question stood not on any deniall but confessed truly what he had done whereupon within some few dayes after he was condemned by the Captaine to be whipt to the place of execution and afterward to be hanged by the necke Signior Amarigo because he would cut off at one and the same time not onely the liues of the two poore Louers but their childe 's also as a franticke man violently carried from all sense of compassion euen when Pedro was led and whipt to his death he mingled strong poyson in a Cup of wine deliuering it to a trusty seruant of his owne and a naked Rapier withall speaking to him in this manner Goe carry these two presents to my late Daughter Violenta and tell her from me that in this instant houre two seuerall kinds of death are offered vnto her and one of them she must make choyce of either to drinke the poyson and so die or to run her body on this Rapiers point which if she denie to doe she shall be haled to the publike market place and presently be burned in the sight of her lewd companion according as shee hath worthily deserued When thou hast deliuered her this message take her bastard brat so lately since borne and dash his braines out against the walles and afterward throw him to my Dogges to feede on When the Father had giuen this cruell sentence both against his own Daughter and her young Sonne the seruant readier to doe euill then any good went to the place where his Daughter was kept Poore condemned Pedro as you haue heard was ledde whipt to the lybbet and passing as it pleased the Captaines Officers to guide him by a faire Inne at the same time were lodged there three chiefe persons of Armenia whom the King of the Countrey had sent to Rome as Ambassadours to the Popes Holinesse to negociate about an important businesse neerely concerning the King and State Reposing there for some few dayes as being much wearied with their iourney and highly honoured by the Gentlemen of Trapani especially Signior Amarigo these Ambassadours standing in their Chamber window heard the wofull lamentations of Pedro in his passage by Pedro was naked from the middle vpward and his hands bound fast behind him but being well obserued by one of the Ambassadours a man aged and of great authority named Phineo he espied a great red spot vppon his breast not painted or procured by his punishment but naturally imprinted in the flesh which women in these parts terme the Rose Vppon the sight hereof he suddenly remembred a Sonne of his owne which was stolne from him about fifteene yeeres before by Pyrates on the Sea-coast of Laiazzo neuer hearing any tydings of him afterward Vpon further consideration and compairing his Sonnes age with the likelyhood of this poore wretched mans thus he conferred with his owne thoughts If my Sonne quoth he be liuing his age is equall to this mans time and by the redde blemish on his brest it plainely speakes him for to be my Sonne Moreouer thus he conceiued that if it were he he could not but remember his owne name his Fathers and the Armenian Language wherefore when hee was iust opposite before the window hee called aloud to him saying Theodoro Pedro hearing the voyce presently lifted vp his head and Phineo speaking Armenian saide Of whence art thou and what is thy Fathers name The Sergeants in reuerence to the Lord Ambassadour stayed a while till Pedro had returned his answer who saide I am an Armenian borne Sonne to one Phineo and was brought hither I cannot tell by whom Phineo hearing this knew then assuredly that this was the same Sonne which he had lost wherefore the teares standing in his eyes with conceite of ioy downe he
descended from the window and the other Ambassadours with him running in among the Sergeants to embrace his Sonne and casting his owne rich Cloake about his whipt body entreating them to forbeare and proceed no further till they heard what command he should returne withall vnto them which very willingly they promised to doe Already by the generall rumour dispersed abroade Phineo had vnderstood the occasion why Pedro was thus punished and sentenced to be hanged wherefore accompanied with his fellow Ambassadours and all their attending traine he went to Signior Conrado and spake thus to him My Lord he whom you haue sent to death as a slaue is a free Gentleman borne and my Sonne able to make her amends whom he hath dishonored by taking her in mariage as his lawfull Wife Let me therefore entreate you to make stay of the execution vntill it may be knowne whether she will accept him as her Husband or no least if she be so pleased you offend directly against your owne Law When Signior Conrado heard that Pedro was Sonne to the Lord Ambassadour he wondered thereat not a little and being somewhat ashamed of his fortunes errour confessed that the claime of Phineo was conformable to Law and ought not to be denied him going presently to the Councell Chamber sending for Signior Amarigo immediately thither and acquainting him fully with the case Amarigo who beleeued that his Daughter and her Child were already dead was the wofullest man in the World for his so rash proceeding knowing very well that if shee were not dead the scandall would easily be wipt away with credit Wherefore he sent in all poast haste to the place where his Daughter lay that if his command were not already executed by no meanes to haue it done at all He who went on this speedy errand found there Signior Amarigoes seruant standing before Violenta with the Cup of poyson in his one hand and the drawne Rapier in the other reproaching herewith very foule and iniurious speeches because shee had delayed the time so long and would not accept the one or other striuing by violence to make her take the one But hearing his Masters command to the contrary he left her and returned backe to him certifying him how the case stood Most highly pleased was Amarigo with these glad newes and going to the Ambassadour Phineo in teares excused himselfe so well as he could for his seuerity and crauing pardon assured him that if Theodoro would accept his Daughter in mariage willingly he would bestow her on him Phineo allowed his excuses to be tollerable and saide beside If my Sonne will not mary your Daughter then let the sentence of death be executed on him Amarigo and Phineo being thus accorded they went to poore Theodoro fearefully looking euery minute when he should die yet ioyfull that he had found his Father who presently moued the question to him Theodoro hearing that Violenta should be his Wife if he would so accept her was ouercome with such exceeding ioy as if he had leapt out of hell into Paradise confessing that no greater felicity could befall him if Violenta her selfe were so well pleased as he The like motion was made to her to vnderstand her disposition in this case who hearing what good hap had befalne Theodoro and now in like manner must happen to her whereas not long before when two such violent deathes were prepared for her and one of them she must needes embrace shee accounted her misery beyond all other womens but shee now thought her selfe aboue all in happinesse if she might be wife to her beloued Theodoro submitting her selfe wholy to her Fathers disposing The mariage being agreed on betweene them it was celebrated with great pompe and sollemnity a generall Feast being made for all the Citizens and the young maried couple nourished vp their sweete Son which grew to be a very comely childe After that the Embassie was dispatched at Rome and Phineo with the rest was returned thither againe Violenta did reuerence him as her owne naturall Father and he was not a little proud of so louely a Daughter beginning a fresh feasting againe and continuing the same a whole moneth together Within some short while after a Galley being fairely furnished for the purpose Phineo his Sonne Daughter and their young Son went aboard sayling away thence to Laiazzo where afterward they liued long in much tranquility Anastasio a Gentleman of the Family of the Honesti by louing the Daughter to Signior Paulo Trauersario lauishly wasted a great part of his substance without receiuing any loue from her againe By perswasion of some of his kindred and friends he went to a Countrey dwelling of his called Chiasso where he saw a Knight desperately pursue a young Damosell whom he slew and afterward gaue her to be deuoured by his Hounds Anastasio inuited his friends and hers also whom he so dearely loued to take part of a dinner with him who likewise saw the same Damosell so torne in peeces which his vnkind Loue perceiuing and fearing least the like ill fortune should happen to her shee accepted Anastasio to be her Husband The eighth Nouell Declaring that Loue not onely makes a man prodigall but also an enemy to himselfe Moreouer aduenture oftentimes bringeth such matters to passe as wit and cunning in man can neuer comprehend SO soone as Madam Lauretta held her peace Madam Philomena by the Queenes command began and saide Louely Ladies as pitty is most highly commended in our Sexe euen so is cruelty in vs as seuerely reuenged oftentimes by diuine ordination Which that you may the better know and learne likewise to shun as a deadly euill I purpose to make apparant by a Nouell no lesse full of compassion then delectable Rauenna being a very ancient City in Romania there dwelt sometime a great number of worthy Gentlemen among whom I am to speake of one more especially named Anastasio descended from the Family of the Honesti who by the death of his Father and an Vnkle of his was left extraordinarily abounding in riches and growing to yeeres fitting for mariage as young Gallants are easily apt enough to doe he became enamoured of a very beautifull Gentlewoman who was Daughter to Signior Paulo Trauersario one of the most ancient and noble Families in all the Countrey Nor made he any doubt but by his meanes and industrious endeuour to deriue affection from her againe for hee carried himselfe like a braue minded Gentleman liberall in his expences honest and affable in all his actions which commonly are the true notes of a good nature and highly to be commended in any man But howsoeuer Fortune became his enemy these laudable parts of manhood did not any way friend him but rather appeared hurtfull to him so cruell vnkind and almost meerely sauage did she shew her selfe to him perhaps in pride of her singular beauty or presuming on her nobility by birth both which are on her blemishes then ornaments in a woman especially when
birth of her daughter shee conceiued with child againe and at the limitted houre of deliuerance had a goodly Sonne to the no little liking of the Marquesse Afterward a strange humour entred into his braine namely that by a long continued experience and courses of intollerable quality he would needes make proofe of his faire Wiues patience First he began to prouoke her by iniurious speeches shewing fierce and frowning lookes to her intimating that his people grew displeased with him in regard of his Wiues base birth and education and so much the rather because she was likely to bring children who by her blood were no better then beggers and murmured at the daughter already borne Which words when Grizelda heard without any alteration of countenance for the least distemperature in any appearing action she said My honourable and gracious Lord dispose of me as you thinke best for your owne dignity and contentment for I shall therewith be well pleased as she that knowes her selfe farre inferiour to the meanest of your people much lesse worthy of the honour whereto you liked to aduance me This answere was very welcome to the Marquesse as apparantly perceiuing hereby that the dignity whereto hee had exalted her or any particular fauours beside could not infect her with any pride coynesse or disdaine Not long after hauing told her in plaine and open speeches that his subiects could not endure her so late borne daughter he called a trusty seruant of his and hauing instructed him what he should doe sent him to Grizelda and he being alone with her looking very sadde and much perplexed in mind he saide Madame except I intend to loose mine owne life I must accomplish what my Lord hath strictly enioyned me which is to take this your yong daughter and then I must So breaking off abruptly the Lady hearing his words and noting his frowning lookes remembring also what the Marquesse himselfe had formerly said she presently imagined that he had commanded his seruant to kill the childe Suddenly therefore she tooke it out of the Cradle and hauing sweetly kissed and bestowne her blessing on it albeit her heart throbbed with the inward affection of a Mother without any alteration of countenance she tenderly laid it in the seruants armes and said Here friend take it and doe with it as thy Lord and mine hath commanded thee but leaue it in no rude place where birds or sauage beasts may deuoure it except it be his will to haue it so The seruant departing from her with the child and reporting to the Marquesse what his Lady had said he wondered at her incomparable constancy Then he sent it by the same seruant to Bologna to an honourable Lady his kinsewoman requesting her without reuealing whose child it was to see it both nobly and carefully educated At time conuenient afterward being with child againe and deliuered of a Princely Sonne then which nothing could be more ioyfull to the Marquesse yet all this was not sufficient for him but with farre ruder language then before and lookes expressing harsh intentions he said vnto her Grizelda though thou pleasest me wonderfully by the birth of this Princely Boy yet my subiects are not therewith contented but blunder abroad maliciously that the grand-child of Ianiculo a poore countrey pezant when I am dead and gone must be their Soueraigne Lord and Master Which makes me stand in feare of their expulsion and to preuent that I must be rid of this childe as well as the other and then send thee away from hence that I may take another wife more pleasing to them Grizelda with a patient sufferent soule hearing what he had said returned no other answere but this Most Gracious and Honourable Lord satisfie and please your owne Royall minde and neuer vse any respect of me for nothing is precious or pleasing to mee but what may agree with your good liking Within a while after the Noble Marquesse in the like manner as he did before for the Daughter so he sent the same seruant for the Sonne and seeming as if he had sent it to haue been slaine conueighed it to be nursed at Bologna in company of his sweete Sister Whereat the Lady shewed no other discontentment in any kinde then formerly she had done for her Daughter to the no meane maruell of the Marquesse who protested in his soule that the like woman was not in all the world beside And were it not for his heedfull obseruation how louing and carefull she was of her children prizing them as dearely as her owne life rash opinion might haue perswaded him that she had no more in her then a carnall affection not caring how many she had so shee might thus easily be rid of them but he knew her to be a truely vertuous mother and wisely liable to endure his seuerest impositions His Subiects beleeuing that he had caused the children to bee slaine blamed him greatly thought him to be a most cruell man and did highly compassionate the Ladies case who when shee came in company of other Gentlewomen which mourned for their deceassed children would answere nothing else but that they could not be more pleasing to her then they were to the father that begot them Within certaine yeares after the birth of these children the Marquesse purposed with himselfe to make his last and finall proofe of faire Grizeldaes patience and said to some neere about him that he could no longer endure to keepe Grizelda as hi wife confessing he had done foolishly and according to a young giddie braine when he was so rash in the marriage of her Wherfore he would send to the Pope and purchase a dispensation from him to repudiate Grizelda and take another Wife Wherein although they greatly reproued him yet he told them plainely that it must needes be so The Lady hearing these newes and thinking she must returne againe to her poore fathers house and perhaps to her old occupation of keeping sheepe as in her yonger dayes she had done vnderstanding withall that another woman must enioy him whom shee dearely loued and honoured you may well thinke worthy Ladies that her patience was now put to the maine proofe indeede Neuerthelesse as with an inuincible true vertuous courage she had outstood all the other iniuries of Fortune so did she constantly settle her soule to beare this with an vndaunted countenance and behauiour At such time as was prefixed for the purpose counterfeit Letters came to the Marquesse as sent from Rome which he caused to be publikely read in the hearing of his subiects that the Pope had dispensed with him to leaue Grizelda and marry with another Wife wherefore sending for her immediatly in presence of them all thus he spake to her Woman by concession sent me from the Pope he hath dispensed with me to make choyce of another Wife and to free my selfe from thee And because my predecessors haue beene Noblemen and great Lords in this Country thou being the daughter of a
that my comfort may some way or other auaile the common needie yet methinkes where greefe is greatest and calamity most insulteth there ought to be our paines soundly imployed and our grauest instructions and aduise wholly administred And who can deny but that it is much more conuenient to commisserate the distresse of Ladies and Gentlewomen then the more able condition of men They as being naturally bashfull and timorous haue their soft and gentle soules often enflamed with amorous afflictions which lie there closely concealed as they can best relate the power of them that haue bin subiect to the greatest proofe Moreouer they being restrained from their wils and desires by the seuerity of Fathers Mothers Bretheren and Husbands are shut vp most part of their time in their Chambers where constrainedly sitting idle diuersity of straunge cogitations wheele vp and downe their braines forging as many seuerall imaginations which cannot be alwayes pleasant and contenting If melancholly incited by some amorous or louely apprehension oppresse their weake and vnresisting hearts they must be glad to beare it patiently til by better Fortune such occasions happen as may ouercome so proud an vsurpation Moreouer we cannot but confesse that they are lesse able then men to support such oppressions for if men grow affectionate wee plainely perceiue when any melancholly troublesome thoughts or what greefes else can any way concerne them their soules are not subiect to the like sufferings But admit they should fall into such necessity they can come and go whither they will heare and see many singular sights hawk hunt fish fowle ride or saile on the Seas all which exercises haue a particular power in themselues to withdraw amorous passions and appropriate the will to the pleasing appetite either by alteration of ayre distance of place or protraction of time to kill sorrow and quicken delight Wherefore somewhat to amend this error in humane condition and where least strength is as we see to bee in you most gracious Ladies and Gentlewomen further off then men from all fraile felicities for such as feele the weighty insultations of proud and imprious loue and therby are most in neede of comfort and not they that can handle the Needle Wheele and Distaffe I haue prouided an hundred Nouelles Tales Fables or Histories with iudicious moralles belonging to them for your more delight and queinter exercise In a faire and worthy assembly of seuen Honourable Ladies and three Noble Gentlemen they were recounted within the compasse of ten dayes during the wofull time of our so late dangerous sicknesse with apt Sonnets or Canzons for the conclusion of each seuerall day In which pleasing Nouels may be obserued many strange accidents of Loue and other notable aduentures happening as well in our times as those of grauer antiquity by reading whereof you may receyue both pleasure and profitable counsell because in them you shal perceiue both the sin to be shunned and the vertue to be embraced which as I wholly hate the one so I do and euer will honor the others aduancement The Table The First Day Gouerned by Madam Pampinea  MEssire Chappelet du Prat by making a false confession beguiled an holy religious man and after dyed And hauing during his life time bene a very bad man at his death was reputed to be a Saint and called S. Chappelet 2. Nouell ABraham a Iew beeing admonished or aduised by a friend of his named Iehannot de Cheuigny trauailed from Paris vnto Rome And beholding there the wicked behauiour of men in the Church returned to Paris againe where neuerthelesse he became a Christian 3. Nouell MElchisedech a Iewe by recounting a tale of three Rings to the great Soldan named Saladine preuented a great danger which was prepared for him 4. Nouell A Monke hauing committed an offence deseruing to be very greeuously punished freed himselfe from the paine to be inflicted on him by wittily reprehending his Abbot with the very same fault 5. Nouell LAdy Marquesse of Montferrat with a Banket of Hens and diuers other gracious speeches beside repressed the fond loue of the King of France 6. Nouell AN honest plaine meaning man simply conscionably reprehended the malignity hypocrisie and misdemeanor of many religious persons 7. Nouell BErgamino by telling a Tale of a skilfull man named Primasso and of an Abbot of Clugni honestly checked a new kinde of couetousnesse in Master Can de la Scala 8. Nouell GVillaume Boursieur with a few quaint familiar word checkt the miserable couetousnesse of Signior Herminio de Grimaldi 9. Nouell HOw the King of Cyprus was wittily reprehended by the words of a Gentlewoman of Gascoignie and became vertuously altered from his vicious disposition 10. Nouell MAster Albert of Bullen honestly made a Lady to blush that thought to haue done asmuch to him because she perceiued him to be amorously affected towardes her The second Day gouerned by Madam Philomena 1. Nouell MArtellino counterfetting to bee lame of his members caused himselfe to bee set on the body of Saint Arriguo where hee made shew of his sodaine recouery 〈◊〉 but when his dissiâ—ulation was discouered he was well beaten being afterward taken prisoner and in great 〈◊〉 of being hanged and strangled by the necke and yet escaped in the end 2. Nouell RInaldo de Este after he was rolled by theeues arriued at Chasteau 〈◊〉 where he was friendly lodged by a faire Widow and recompenced likewise for all his losses returning afterward safe and well home vnto his owne house 3. Nouell OF three yong Gentlemen being Brethren and hauing spent all their Landes and possessionâ— vainly became poore A Nephew of theirs falling almost into as desperate a condition became acquainted with an Abbot whom hee afterward found to be the King of Englands Daughter and made him her Husband in marriage recompencing all his Vnckles losses and seating them again in good estate 4. Nouell LAndolpho Ruffolo falling into pouerty became a Pirate on the Seas and beeing taken by the Genewayes hardly escaped drowning Which yet neuerthelesse he did vpon a little chest or coffer full of very rich Iewels beeing carried thereon to Corfu where he was well entertained by a good woman and afterward returned richly home to his owne house 5. Nouell ANdrea de Piero trauelling from Perouse vnto Naples to buy Horses was in the space of one night surprized by three admirable accidents out of all which he fortunately escaped and with a rich Ring returned home to his owne house 6. Nouell MAdame Beritola Caracalla was found in an Island with two Goates hauing lost her two sons and thence trauailed into Lunigianaâ— where one of her Sonnes became seruant to the Lord therof and was â—ound some-what ouer-familiar with his Maisters daughter who therefore caused him to be imprisoned Afterward when the Country of Sicily rebelled against King Charles the aforesaid Sonne chanced to be known by his Mother was married to his Masters daughter And his brother being found likewise they
before which and calling him to witnesse that suffered such bitter and cruell torments on his Crosse putting a Ring vpon his finger there she faithfully espoused him refusing all the World to be onely his which being on either side confirmed solemnely by an holy vow and chaste kisses shee commanded him backe to his Chamber and shee returned to her bed againe sufficiently satisfied with her Loues acceptation and so they iournied on till they came to Rome When they had rested themselues there for some few dayes the supposed Abbot with the two Knights and none else in company but Alessandro went before the Pope and hauing done him such reuerence as beseemed the Abbot began to speake in this manner Holy Father as you know much better then any other euery one that desireth to liue well and vertuously ought to shunne so farre as in them lieth all occasions that may induce to the contrary To the ende therefore that I who desire nothing more then to liue within the compasse of a vertuous conuersation may perfect my hopes in this behalfe I haue fled from my Fathers Court and am come hither in this habite as you see to craue therein your holy and fatherly furtherance I am daughter to the King of England and haue sufficiently furnished my selfe with some of his treasures that your holinesse may bestow me in marriage because mine vnkind Father neuer regarding my youth and beauty inferior to few in my natiue Country would marry me to the King of Northwales an aged impotent and sickly man Yet let me tell your sanctity that his age and weakenesse hath not so much occasioned my flight as feare of mine owne youth and frailety when being married to him instead of loyall and vnstained life lewd and dishonest desires might make me to wander by breaking the diuine Lawes of wedlocke and abusing the royall blood of my Father As I trauailed hither with this vertuous intention our Lord who onely knoweth perfectly what is best fitting for all his creatures presented mine eyes no doubt in his meere mercy and goodnesse with a man meete to be my husband which pointing to Alessandro is this young Gentleman standing by me whose honest vertuous and ciuill demeanour deserueth a Lady of farre greater worth although perhaps nobility in blood be denied him and may make him seeme not so excellent as one deriued from Royall discent Holy and religious vowes haue past betweene vs both and the Ring on his finger is the firme pledge of my faith and constancie neuer to accept any other man in marriage but him onely although my Father or any else doe dislike it Wherefore holy Father the principall cause of my comming hither being already effectually concluded on I desire to compleat the rest of my pilgrimage by visiting the sanctified places in this City whereof there are great plenty And also that sacred marriage being contracted in the presence of God onely betweene Alessandro and my selfe may by you be publiquely confirmed and in an open congregation For seeing God hath so appointed it and our soules haue so solemnely vowed it that no disaster whatsoeuer can alter it you being Gods vicar here on earth I hope will not gaine-say but confirme it with your fatherly benediction that wee may liue in Gods feare and dye in his fauour Perswade your selues faire Ladies that Alessandro was in no meane admiration when hee heard that his wife was daughter to the King of England vnspeakeable ioy questionlesse wholly ouercame him but the two Knights were not a little troubled and offended at such a strange and vnexpected accident yea so violent were their passions that had they beene any where else then in the Popes presence Alessandro had felt their fury and perhaps the Princesse her selfe too On the other side the Pope was much amazed at the habite she went disguised in and likewise at the election of her husband but perceiuing there was no resistance to be made against it hee yeelded the more willingly to satisfie her desire And therefore hauing first comforted the two Knights and made peace betweene them the Princesse and Alessandro he gaue order for the rest that was to be done When the appointed day for the solemnity was come hee caused the Princesse cloathed in most rich and royall garments to appeare before all the Cardinals and many other great persons then in presence who were come to this worthy Feast which hee had caused purposely to be prepared where she seemed so faire goodly a Lady that euery eye was highly delighted to behold her commending her with no mean admiration In like manner was Alessandro greatly honored by the two Knights being most sumptuous in appearance and not like a man that had lent money to vsury but rather of very royall quality the Pope himselfe celebrating the marriage betweene them which being finished with the most magnificent pompe that could be deuised hee gaue them his benediction and licenced their departure thence Alessandro his Princesse and her traine thus leauing Rome they would needes visite Florence where the newes of this accident was long before noysed and they receiued by the Citizens in royall manner There did shee deliuer the three brethren out of prison hauing first payed all their debts and reseated them againe with their wiues in their former inheritances and possessions Afterward departing from Florence and Agolanto one of the Vncles trauailing with them to Paris they were there also most honourably entertained by the King of France From whence the two Knights went before for England and preuailed so succesfully with the King that hee receiued his daughter into grace and fauour as also his Sonne in law her husband to whom hee gaue the order of Knighthoode and for his greater dignitie created him Earle of Cornewall And such was the noble spirit of Alessandro that he pacified the troubles betweene the King and his sonne whereon ensued great comfort to the Kingdome winning the loue and fauour of all the people and Agolanto by the meanes of Alessandro recouered all that was due to him and his brethren in England returning richly home to Florence Counte Alessandro his kinsman hauing first dubd him Knight Long time hee liued in peace and tranquility with the faire Princesse his wife prouing to be so absolute in wisedome and so famous a Souldier that as some report by assistance of his Father in law hee conquered the Realme of Ireland and was crowned King thereof Landolpho Ruffolo falling into pouerty became a Pirate on the Seas and being taken by the Genewayes hardly escaped drowning Which yet neuerthelesse he did vpon a little Chest or Coffer full of very rich Iewels being caried thereon to Corfu where he was well entertained by a good woman And afterward returned richly home to his owne house The fourth Nouell Whereby may be discerned into how many dangers a man may fall through a couetous desire to enrich himselfe MAdame Lauretta sitting next to Madame Pampinea and seeing
Church where finding their entrance to be easie they approached neere the Tombe which was very great being all of Marble and the couer-stone weighty yet with crowes of yron and other helps they raised it so high that a man might without perill passe into it Now began they to question one another which of the three should enter into the Tombe Not I said the first so said the second No nor I answered Andrea Which when the other two heard they caught fast hold of him saying Wilt not thou goe into the Tombe Be aduised what thou sayest for if thou wilt not goe in we will so beat thee with one of these yron crowes that thou shalt neuer goe out of this Church aliue Thus poore Andrea is still made a property and Fortune this fatall night will haue no other foole but he as delighting in his hourly disasters Feare of their fury makes him obedient into the graue he goes and being within thus consults with himselfe These cunning companions suppose me to be simple make me enter the Tombe hauing an absolute intention to deceiue me For when I haue giuen them all the riches that I finde here and am ready to come forth for mine equall portion away will they runne for their owne safety and leauing me here not onely shall I loose my right among them but must remaine to what danger may follow after Hauing thus meditated he resolued to make sure of his owne share first and remembring the rich Ring whereof they had tolde him forthwith hee tooke it from the Archbishops finger finding it indifferently fitte for his owne Afterward hee tooke the Crosse Miter rich garments Gloues and all leauing him nothing but his shirt giuing them all these seuerall parcels protesting that there was nothing else Stil they pressed vpon him affirming that there was a Ring beside vrging him to search diligently for it yet still he answered that hee could not finde it and for their longer tarying with him seemed as if he serched very carefully but all appeared to no purpose The other two fellowes as cunning in craft as the third could be still willed him to search and watching their aptest opportunity tooke away the props that supported the Tombe-stone and running thence with their got booty left poore Andrea mewed vp in the graue Which when he perceiued and saw this misery to exceede all the rest it is farre easier for you to guesse at his greefe then I am any way able to expresse it His head shoulders yea all his vtmost strength he employeth to remoue that ouer-heauy hinderer of his liberty but all his labour beeing spent in vaine sorrow threw him in a swoond vpon the Byshoppes dead body where if both of them might at that instant haue bene obserued the Arch-byshops dead body and Andrea in greefe dying very hardly had bene distinguished But his senses regaining their former offices among his silent complaints consideration presented him with choyse of these two vnauoydable extremities Dye staruing must he in the tombe with putrifaction of the dead body or if any man came to open the Graue then must he be apprehended as a sacrilegious Theefe and so be hanged according to the lawes in that case prouided As he continued in these strange afflictions of minde sodainely hee heard a noise in the Church of diuers men who as he imagined came about the like businesse as hee and his fellowes had vndertaken before wherein he was not a iot deceiued albeit his feare the more augmented Hauing opened the Tombe and supported the stone they varied also among themselues for entrance and an indiffrent while contended about it At length a Priest being one in the company boldly said Why how now you white-liuer'd Rascals What are you affraid of Do you thinke he will eate you Dead men cannot bite and therefore I my selfe will go in Hauing thus spoken he prepared his entrance to the Tombe in such order that he thrust in his feete before for his easier descending downe into it Andrea sitting vpright in the Tombe and desiring to make vse of this happy opportunity caught the Priest fast by one of his legges making shew as if he meant to dragge him downe Which when the Priest felt he cryed out aloud getting out with all the hast he could make and all his companions being well neere frighted out of their wits ranne away amaine as if they had bene followed by a thousand diuelsâ— Andrea little dreaming on such fortunate successe made meanes to get out of the graue and afterward forth of the Church at the very same place where he entred Now began day-light to appeare when hee hauing the rich Ring on his finger wandred on hee knew not whether till comming to the Sea-side he found the way directing to his Inne where all his company were with his Host who had bene very carefull for him Hauing related his manifold mischances his Hoste friendly aduised him with speede to get him out of Naples As instantly he did returning home to Perouse hauing aduentured his fiue hundred Crownes on a Ring where-with hee purposed to haue bought Horses according to the intent of his iourney thither Madame Beritola Caracalla was found in an Island with two Goates hauing lost her two Sonnes and thence trauailed into Lunigiana where one of her Sonnes became seruant to the Lord thereof and was found somewhat ouer-familiar with his Masters daughter who therefore caused him to bee imprisoned Afterward when the Country of Sicily rebelled against K. Charles the aforesaid Sonne chanced to be knowne by his Mother and was married to his Masters daughter And his Brother being found likewise they both returned to great estate and credit The sixt Nouell Heerein all men are admonished neuer to distrust the powerfull hand of Heauen when Fortune seemeth to be most aduerse against them THe Ladies and Gentlemen also hauing smiled sufficiently at the seuerall accidents which did befall the poore Traueller Andrea reported at large by Madame Fiametta the Lady Aemillia seeing her tale to be fully concluded began by commandement of the Queene to speake in this manner The diuersitie of changes and alterations in Fortune as they are great so must they needs be greeuous and as often as we take occasion to talk of them as often do they awake and quicken our vnderstandings auouching that it is no easie matter to depend vpon her flatteries And I am of opinion that to heare them recounted ought not any way to offend vs be it of men wretched or fortunate because as they instrust the one with good aduise so they animate the other with comfort And therefore although great occasions haue beene already related yet I purpose to tell a Tale no lesse true then lamentable which albeit it sorted to a successefull ending yet notwithstanding such and so many were the bitter thwartings as hardly can I beleeue that euer any sorrow was more ioyfully sweetened You must vnderstand then most gracious Ladies
should both shamefully be put to death The Mother to this regardlesse Daughter hauing heard the angry words of her Husband and how hee would be reuenged on the faultie could not endure that he should be so seuere wherefore although shee was likewise much afflicted in minde and reputed her Daughter worthy for so great an offence of all cruell punishment â—yet shee hasted to her displeased husband who began to entreate that he would not runne on in such a furious spleene now in his aged yeares to be the murtherer of his owne childe and soile his hands in the blood of his seruant Rather he might finde out some milde course for the satisfaction of his Anger by committing them to close imprisonment there to remaine mourne for their follie committed The vertuous and religious Lady alledged so many commendable examples and vsed such plenty of moouing perswasions that she quite altred his minde from putting them to death and he commanded onely that they should separately bee imprisoned with little store of foode and lodging of the vneasiest vntill hee should otherwise determine of them and so it was done What their life now was in captiuity and continuall teares with stricter abstinence then was needefull for them all this I must commit to your consideration Iehannot and Spina remaining in this comfortlesse condition and an whole yeere being now out-worne yet Conrado keeping them thus still imprisoned it came to passe that Don Pedro King of Arragon by the meanes of Messer Iohn de Procida caused the Isle of Sicily to reuolt and tooke it away from King Charles whereat Conrado he being of the Ghibbiline faction not a little reioyced Iehannot hauing intelligence therof by some of them that had him in custody breathing foorth a vehement sigh spake in this manner Alas poore miserable wretch as I am that haue already gone begging through the world aboue fourteene yeares in expectation of nothing else but this opportunity and now it is come must I be in prison to the end that I should neuer more hope for any future happinesse And how can I get forth of this prison except it be by death onely How now replied the Officer of the Guard What doth this businesse of great Kings concerne thee What affaires hast thou in Sicily Once more Iehannot sighed extreamly and returned him this answer Me thinkes my heart quoth hee doth cleaue in sunder when I call to minde the charge which my Father had there for although I was but a little boy when I fled thence yet I can well remember that I sawe him Gouernour there at such time as King Manfred liued The Guard pursuing on still his purpose demanded of him what and who his Father was My Father replyed Iehannot I may now securely speake of him being out of the perill which neerely concerned me if I had beene discouered He was the named and so still if he be liuing Henriet Capece and my name is Geoffrey not Iehannot and I make no doubt but if I vvere free from hence and might be returned home to Sicily I should for his sake be placed in some authority The honest man of the Guard without seeking after any further information so soone as he could compasse the leysure reported all to Messer Conrado who hauing heard these newes albeit he made no shew therof to the reuealer went to Madam Beritola graciously demaunding of her if she had any sonne by her husband who was called Geoffrey The Lady replyed in teares that if her eldest sonne were as yet liuing hee was so named and now aged about two and twenty yeares Conrado hearing this imagined this same to be the man considering further withall that if it fell out to proue so he might haue the better meanes of mercie and closely concealing his daughters shame ioyfully ioyne them in marriage together Hereupon he secretly caused Iehannot to be brought before him examining him particularly of all his passed life and finding by most manifest arguments that his name was truly Geoffrey he the eldest son of Henriet Capece he spake to him alone in this manner Iehannot thou knowest how great the iniuries which thou hast done me my deare daughter gently entreating thee as became a good honest seruant that thou shouldest alwayes haue bin respectiue of mine honor and all that do appertain vnto me There are many noble gentlewomen who sustaining the wrog which thou hast offred me they would haue procured thy shameful death which pitty compassion wil not suffer in me Wherfore seeing as thou informest me that thou art honorably deriued both by father mother I will giue end to all thine anguishes euen when thy self art so pleased releasing thee from the misery captiuity wherein I haue so long time kept thee and in one instant reduce thine honor mine into compleat perfection As thou knowest my Daughter Spina whom thou hast embraced in kindnesse as a friend although farre vnfitting for thee or her is a widow and her mariage is both great and good what her manners and conditions are thou indifferently knowest and art not ignorant of her Father and Mother concerning thine owne estate as now I purpose not to speake any thing Therefore when thou wilt I am so determined that whereas thou hast immodestly affected her she shall become thy honest wife and accepting thee as my Son to remain with me so long as you both please Imprisonment had somewhat mishapen Iehannot in his outward forme but not impaired a iot of that noble spirit really deriued from his famous progenitors much lesse the true loue he bare to his faire friend And although most earnestly he desired that which Conrado now so franckly offered him and was in his power onely to bestow on him yet could he not cloude any part of his greatnesse but with a resolued iudgement thus replied My Lord affectation of rule desire of wealthy possessions or any other matter whatsoeuer could neuer make me a traytor to you or yours but that I haue loued do loue for euer shal loue your beautious daughter if that be treason I freely coÌ„fesse it wil die a thousand deaths before you or any else shal enforce me to denie it for I hold her highly worthy of my loue If I haue bin more vnmaÌ„nerly with her then became me according to the opinion of vulgar iudgment I haue committed but that error which euermore is so attendant vpon youth that to denie it is to denie youth also And if reuerend age would but remember that once he was young measure others offences by his own they would not be thought so great or greeuous as you many more account them to be mine being coÌ„mitted as a friend not as an enemy what you make offer of so willingly to do I haue alwayes desired if I had thought it would haue bin granted long since I had most humbly requested it and so much the more acceptable would it
haue bin to me by how much the further off it stood from my hopes But if you be so forward as your words doe witnesse then feede mee not with any further fruitlesse expectation but rather send me backe to prison and lay as many afflictions on mee as you please for my endeared loue to your Daughter Spina maketh mee to loue you the more for her sake how hardly soeuer you entreate me bindeth me in the greater reuerence to you as being the father of my fairest friend Messer Conrado hearing these words stood as one confounded with admiration reputing him to be a man of lofty spirit and his affection most feruent to his Daughter which was as a little to his liking Wherefore embracing him and kissing his cheeke without any longer dallying hee sent in like manner for his Daughter Her restraint in prison had made her lookes me ager pale and wanne and very weake was shee also of her person farre differing from the woman shee was wont to be before her affection to Iehannot there in presence of her Father and with free consent of either they were contracted as man and wife and the espousals agreed on according to custome Some few dayes after without any ones knowledge of that which was done hauing furnished them with all things fit for the purpose and time aptly seruing that the Mothers should be partakers in this ioy he called his wife and Madam Beritola to whom first he spake in this manner What will you say Madam if I cause you to see your eldest Son not long since married to one of my Daughters whereunto Beritola thus replied My Lord I can say nothing else vnto you but that I shall be much more obliged to you then already I am and so much the rather because you will let me see the thing which is dearer to me then mine owne life and rendring it vnto mee in such manner as you speake of you will recall backe some part of my former lost hopes and with these words the teares streamed aboundantly from her eyes Then turning to his wife he saide And you deare Loue if I shew you such a Sonne in Law what will you thinke of it Sir quoth shee what pleaseth you must and shall satisfie me be he Gentleman or a beggar Well said Madam answered Messer Conrado I hope within few dayes to make you both ioyfull So when the amorous couple had recouered their former feature and honourable garments were prepared for them priuately thus he said to Geoffrey Beyond the ioy which already thou art inriched withall how would it please thee to meet with thine owne Mother here I cannot beleeue Sir replied Geoffrey that her greeuous misfortunes haue suffered her to liue so long yet notwithstanding if Heauen hath beene so merciful to her my ioyes were incomparable for by her gracious counsell I might well hope to recouer no meane happinesse in Sicilie Within a while after both the Mothers were sent for who were transported with vnspeakable ioyes when they beheld the so lately maried couple being also much amazed when they could not guesse what inspiration had guided Conrado to this extraordinary benignity ioyning Iehannot in mariage with Spina Hereupon Madam Beritola remembring the speeches between her and Conrado began to obserue him very aduisedly and by a hidden vertue which long had silently slept in her and now with ioy of spirit awaked calling to minde the lineatures of her Sonnes Infancy without awaiting for any other demonstrations shee folded him in her armes with earnest affection Motherly ioy and pitty now contended so violently together that shee was not able to vtter one word the sensitiue vertues being so closely combined that euen as dead shee fell downe in the armes of her Sonne And he wondering greatly thereat making a better recollection of his thoughts did well remember that he had often before seene her in the Castell without any other knowledge of her Neuerthelesse by meere instinct of Nature whose power in such actions declares it selfe to be highly predominant his very soule assured him that shee was his Mother and blaming his vnderstanding that he had not before beene better aduised he threw his armes about her and wept exceedingly Afterward by the louing paines of Conradoes wife as also her daughter Spina Madam Beritola being recouered from her passionate trance and her vitall spirits executing their Offices againe fell once more to the embracing of her Sonne kissing him infinite times with teares and speeches of motherly kindnesse he likewise expressing the same dutifull humanity to her Which ceremonious courtesies being passed ouer and ouer to no little ioy in all the beholders beside repetition of their seuerall misfortunes Messer Conrado made all knowne to his friends who were very glad of this new alliance made by him which was honoured with many solemn magnificent feastings Which being all concluded Geoffrey hauing found out fit place and opportunity for conference with his new created Father without any sinister opposition began as followeth Honourable Father you haue raised my contentment to the highest degree and haue heaped also many gracious fauours on my noble Mother but now in the finall conclusion that nothing may remaine vneffected which consisteth in your power to performe I would humbly entreate you to honour my Mother with your company at a Feast of my making where I would gladly also haue my Brother present Messer Gasparino d' Oria as I haue once heretofore told you questing as a common Pyrate on the Seas tooke vs and sent vs home to his house as slaues where as yet he detaineth him I would haue you likewise send one into Sicilie who informing himselfe more amply in the state of the Country may vnderstand what is become of Henriet my Father and whether he be liuing or no. If he remaine aliue to know in what condition he is and being secretly instructed in all things then to returne backe againe to you This motion made by Geoffrey was so pleasing to Conrado that without any reference to further leysure hee dispatched thence two discreete persons the one to Geneway and the other to Sicilie he which went for Geneway hauing met with Gasparino earnestly entreated him on the behalfe of Conrado to send him the Poore expelled and his Nurse recounting euery thing in order which Conrado had tolde him concerning Geoffrey and his Mother when Gasparino had heard the whole discourse he maruelled greatly thereat and saide True it is that I will doe any thing for Messer Conrado which may be to his loue and liking prouided that it lie in my power to performe and about some foureteene yeeres since I brought such a Lad as you seeke for with his Mother home to my house whom I will gladly send vnto him But you may tell him from me that I aduise him from ouer-rash crediting the fables of Iehannot that now tearmes himselfe by the name of Geoffrey because hee is a more wicked boy then he
Emperor of Constantinople sent his Sonne Constantine attended on by his Nephew Emanuell with troopes of faire and towardly horse who were most honourably welcommed and entertained by the Duke but much more by the Dutchesse because she was their sister in law Military prouision thus proceeding on daily more and more the Dutches making choise of a fit and conuenient houre took these two Princes with her to a with-drawing Chamber and there in flouds of teares flowing from her eyes wringing her hands and sighing incessantly shee recounted the whole History occasion of the warre and how dishonourably the Duke had dealt with her about this strange woman whom he purposed to keepe in despight of her as thinking that she knew nothing therof and complaining very earnestly vnto them entreated that for the Dukes honour and her comfort they would giue their best assistance in this case The two young Lords knew all this matter before shee thus reported it to them and therefore without staying to listen her any longer but comforting her so wel as they could with promise of their best employed paines being informed by her in what place the Lady was so closely kept they tooke their leaue and parted from her Often they had heard the Lady much commended and her incomparable beauty highly extolled yea euen by the Duke himselfe which made them the more desirous to see her wherefore earnestly they solicited him to let them haue a sight of her and he forgetting what happened to the Prince by shewing her so vnaduisedly to him made them promise to grant their request Causing a magnificent dinner to be prepared in a goodly garden at the Castle where the Lady was kept on the morrow morning attended on by a smal train away they rode to dine with her Constantine being seated at the Table he began as one confounded with admiration to obserue her iudiciously affirming secretly to his soule that he had neuer seene so compleat a woman before and allowing it for iustice that the Duke or any other whosoeuer if to enioy so rare a beauty they had committed treason or any mischiefe else beside yet in reason they ought to be held excused Nor did he bestow so many lookes vpon her but his prayses infinitely surpassed them as thinking that he could not sufficiently commend her following the Duke step by step in affection for being now growne amorous of her and remembrance of the intended warre vtterly abandoned no other thoughts could come neerer him but how to bereaue the Duke of her yet concealing his loue and not imparting it to any one While his fancies were thus amorously set on fire the time came that they must make head against the Prince who already was marching within the Dukes Dominions wherfore the Duke Constantine and all the rest according to a counsell held among them went to defend certaine of the frontiers to the end that the Prince might passe no further Remaining there diuers dayes together Constantine who could thinke on nothing else but the beautiful Lady considered with himselfe that while the Duke was not so far off from her it was an easie matter to compasse his intent hereupon the better to colour his present returne to Athens he seemed to be surprized with a sudden extreame sicknesse in regard whereof by the Dukes free lisence and leauing all his power to his Cousen Emanuel forthwith he iourneyed backe to Athens After some conference bad with his sister concerning her dishonorable wrongs endured at his hands only by the Lady he solemnly protested that if shee were so pleased he would aide her powerfully in the matter by taking her from the place where she was and neuer more afterward to be seene in that Countrey any more The Dutchesse being faithfully perswaded that he would doe this onely for her sake and not in any affection he bare to the Lady made answer that it highly pleased her alwayes prouided that it might be performed in such sort as the Duke her Husband should neuer vnderstand that euer shee gaue any consent thereto which Constantine sware vnto her by many deep oathes whereby she referred all to his owne disposition Constanstine hereupon secretly prepared in readinesse a subtill Barke sending it in an euening neere to the garden where the Lady resorted hauing first informed the people which were in it fully in the businesse that was to be done Afterward accompanied with some other of his attendants hee went to the Palace to the Lady where he was gladly entertained not only by such as waited on her but also by the Lady her selfe Leading her along by the arme towards the Garden attended on by two of her seruants and two of his owne seeming as if he was sent from the Duke to conferre with her they walked alone to a Port opening on the Sea which standing ready open vpon a signe giuen by him to one of his complices the Barke was brought close to the shore and the Lady being suddenly seized on was immediately conueyed into it and he returning backe to her people with his sword drawne in his hand saide Let no man stirâ—e or speake a word except he be willing to loose his life for I intend not to rob the Duke of his faire friend but to expel the shame and dishonour which he hath offered to my Sister no one being so hardy as to returne him any answer Aboard went Constantine with his consorts and sitting neer to the Lady who wrung her hands and wept bitterly he commanded the Marriners to launch forth flying away on the wings of the wind till about the breake of day following they arriued at Melasso There they tooke landing and reposed on shore for some few dayes Constantine labouring to comfort the Lady euen as if shee had been his owne Sister shee hauing good cause to curse her infortunate beauty Going aboard the Barke againe within few dayes they came to Setalia and there fearing the reprehension of his Father and least the Ladie should be taken from him it pleased Constantine to make his stay as in a place of no meane security And as before after much kinde behauiour vsed towards the Lady without any meanes in her selfe to redresse the least of all these great extremities shee became more milde and affable for discontentment did not a iot quaile her While occurrences passed on in this manner it fortuned that Osbech the King of Turky who was in continuall war with the Emperour came by accident to Laiazzo and hearing there how lasciuiously Constantine spent his time in Setalia with a Lady which he had stolne being but weake and slenderly guarded in the night with certaine well prouided ships his men he entred the Towne surprized many people in their beds before they knew of their enemies coÌ„ming killing such as stood vpon their defence against them among whom was Constantine and burning the whole Towne brought their booty and prisoners aboard their ships wherewith they returned backe to
hopefull expectation then proued hee was enforced with those his two other children to forsake his country The Lady being by nature very pittiful looking aduisedly on the yong Girle beganne to grow in good liking of her because indeede she was amiable gentle and beautifull whereupon shee saide Honest man thy daughter hath a pleasing countenance and perhaps her inward disposition may prooue answerable to hir outward goods parts if therefore thou canst bee content to leaue her with me I will giue her entertainment and vpon her dutifull carriage and behauiour if she liue to such yeares as may require it I wil haue her honestly bestowne in marriage This motion was verie pleasing to the Count who readily declared his willing consent thereto and with the teares trickling downe his cheekes in thankfull manner he deliuered his prettie daughter to the Lady Shee being thus happily bestowne hee minded to tarry no longer in London but in his wonted begging manner trauailing thorough the Country with his sonne Perotto at length hee came into Wales but not without much weary paine and trauell being neuer vsed before to iourney so far on foote There dwelt another Lord in office of Marshalship to the King of England whose power extended ouer those partes a man of very great authority keeping a most noble and bountifull house which they termed the President of Wales his Court whereto the Count and his son oftentimes resorted as finding there good releefe and comfort On a day one of the Presidents sons accompanied with diuers other Gentlemens children were performing certaine youthfull sports pastimes as running leaping and such like wherein Perotto presumed to make one among them excelling all the rest in such commendable manner as none of them caâ—e any thing nere him Diuers times the President had taken notice thereof and was so vvell pleased with the Lads behauiour that he enquired of whence he was Answer vvas made that hee vvas a poore mans son that euery day came for an almes to his gate The President being desirous to make the boy his the Count whose dayly prayers were to the same purpose frankly gaue his son to the Nobleman albeit naturall and fatherly affection vrged some vnwillingnesse to part so with him yet necessity and discretion found it to bee for the benefit of them both Being thus eased of care for his son and daughter and they though in different places yet vnder good and woorthie gouernment the Count would continue no longer in England but as best he could procure the meanes passed ouer into Ireland and being arriued at a place called Stanford became seruant to an Earle of that Country a Gentleman professing Armes on whom he attended as a seruing man liued a long while in that estate very painfully His daughter Violenta clouded vnder the borrowed name of Gianetta dwelling with the Lady at London grew so in yeares beauty comlinesse of person and was so gracefull in the fauour of her Lord and Lady yea of euery one in the house beside that it was wonderfull to behold Such as but obserued her vsuall carriage and what modesty shined clearely in her eyes reputed her vvell vvorthy of honourable preferment in which regard the Lady that had receiued her of her Father not knowing of whence or what shee was but as himselfe had made report intended to match her in honourable mariage according as her vertues worthily deserued But God the iust rewarder of all good endeauours knowing her to be noble by birth and causelesse to suffer for the sinnes of another disposed otherwise of her and that so worthy a Virgin might be no mate for a man of ill conditions no doubt ordained what was to be done according to his owne good pleasure The noble Lady with whom poore Gianetta dwelt had but one onely Sonne by her Husband and he most deerely affected of them both as well in regard hee was to be their heire as also for his vertues and commendable qualities wherein he excelled many young Gentlemen Endued he was with heroycal valour compleate in all perfections of person and his mind euery way answerable to his outward behauiour exceeding Gianetta about sixe yeeres in age Hee perceiuing her to be a faire and comely Maiden grew to affect her so entirely that all things else he held contemptible and nothing pleasing in his eye but shee Now in regard her parentage was reputed poore hee kept his loue concealâ—d from his Parents not daring to desire her in marriage for both hee was to loose their fauour by disclosing the vehemency of his afflictions which proued a greater torment to him then if it had beene openly knowne It came to passe that loue ouer-awed him in such sort as he fell into a violent sicknesse and store of Physicions were sent for to saue him from death if possibly it might be Their iudgements obseruing the course of his sicknesse yet not reaching to the cause of the disease made a doubtfull question of his recouery which was so displeasing to his parents that their griefe and sorrow grew beyond measure Many earnest entreaties they moued to him to know the occasion of his sicknesse whereto he returned no other answer but heart-breaking sighes and incessant teares which drew him more and more into weakenesse of body It chanced on a day a Physicion was brought vnto him being young in yeeres but well experienced in his practise and as hee made triall of his pulse Gianetta who by his Mothers command attended on him very diligently vpon some especial occasion entred into the Chamber which when the young Gentleman perceiued and that shee neither spake word nor so much as looked towards him his heart grew great in amorous desire and his pulse did beate beyond the compasse of ordinary custome whereof the Physicion made good obseruation to note how long that fit would continue No sooner was Gianetta gone forth of the Chamber but the pulse immediately gaue ouer beating which perswaded the Physicion that some part of the disease had now discouered it selfe apparantly Within a while after pretending to haue some speech with Gianetta and holding the Gentleman still by the arme the Physicion caused her to be sent for and immediately shee came Vpon her very entrance into the Chamber the pulse began to beate againe extreamely and when shee departed it presently ceased Now was he thorowly perswaded that hee had found the true effect of his sicknesse when taking the Father and mother aside thus he spake to them If you be desirous of your Sons health it consisteth not either in Physicion or physicke but in the mercy of your faire Maide Gianetta for manifest signes haue made it knowne to me and he loueth the Damosell very dearely yet for ought I can perceiue the Maide doth not know it now if you haue respect of his life you know in this case what is to be done The Nobleman and his Wife hearing this became somewhat satisfied because there remained a remedy
reuealed her whole intent to Gianetta and finding her constancie beyond common comparison acquainted her Lord with all she had done and both consented though much against their mindes to let him enioy her in honourable marriage accounting it better for preseruation of their onely sons life to match him farre inferiour to his degree then by denying his desire to let him pine away and die for her loue After great consultation with kindred and friendes the match was agreed vpon to the no little ioy of Gianetta who deuoutly returned infinite thankes to heauen for so mercifully respecting her deiected poore estate after the bitter passage of so many miseries and neuer tearming her selfe any otherwise but the daughter of a poore Piccard Soone was the yong Gentleman recouered and married no man aliue so well contented as he and setting downe an absolute determination to lead a louing life with his Gianetta Let vs now conuert our lookes to Wales to Perotto being lefte there with the other Lord Marshall who was the President of that Countrey On he grew in yeares choisely respected by his Lord because hee vvas most comely of person and addicted to all valiant attempts so that in Tourneyes Iustes and other actions of Armes his like was not to bee found in all the Island being named onely Perotto the valiant Piccard and so was he famed farre and neere As God had not forgotten his Sister so in mercy he became as mindefull of him for a contagious mortalitie hapning in the Country the greater part of the people perished thereby the rest flying thence into other partes of the Land whereby the whole Prouince became dispeopled and desolate In the time of this plague and dreadful visitation the Lord President his Lady Sonnes Daughters Brothers Nephewes and Kindred dyed none remaining aliue but one onely Daughter marriageable a few of the houshold seruants beside Perotto whom after the sicknesse was more mildly asswaged with counsaile and consent of the Country people the young Lady accepted to be her husband because hee was a man so worthy and valiant and of all the inheritance left by her deceased Father she made him Lord and sole commaunder Within no long while after the King of England vnderstanding that his President of Wales was dead and fame liberally relating the vertues valour and good parts of Perotto the Piccard hee created him to be his President there and to supply the place of his deceased Lord. These faire fortunes within the compasse of so short a time fell to the two innocent children of the Count D'Angiers after they were left by him as lost and forlorne Eighteene yeares were now fully ouer-past since the Count D'Angiers fled from Paris hauing suffered in miserable soâ—t many hard and lamentable aduersities and seeing himselfe now to be growne aged hee was desirous to leaue Ireland and to know if hee might what was become of both his children Hereupon perceiuing his wonted forme to be so altered that such as formerly had conuersed most with him could now not take any knowledge of him feeling his body through long labour and exercise endured in seruice more lusty then in his idle youthfull yeares especially when he left the Court of France hee purposed to proceede in his determination Being very poore and simple in apparell hee departed from the Irish Eare his Maister with whom hee had continued long in seruice to no aduantage or aduancement and crossing ouer into England trauailed to the place in Wales where he left Perotto and where hee found him to be Lord Marshall and President of the Country lusty and in good health a man of goodly feature and most honourably respected and reuerenced of the people Well may you imagine that this was no small comfort to the poore aged Countes heart yet would he not make himselfe knowne to him or any other about him but referred his ioy to a further enlarging or diminishing by sight of the other limme of his life his dearely affected daughter Gianetta denying rest to his body in any place vntill such time as he came to London Making there secret enquiry concerning the Lady with whom he had left his daughter hee vnderstoode that a young Gentlewoman named Gianetta was married to that Ladies onely Son which made a second addition of ioy to his soule accounting all his passed aduersities of no value both his children being liuing and in so high honour Hauing found her dwelling and like a kinde Father being earnestly desirous to see her he dayly resorted neere to the house where Sir Roger Mandauill for so was Gianettaes husband named chauncing to see him being moued to compassion because he was both poore and aged commaunded one of his men to take him into the house and to giue him some foode for Gods sake which accordingly the seruant performed Gianetta had diuers children by her husband the eldest of them being but eight yeares olde yet all of them so faire and comely as could be As the olde Count sate eating his meate in the Hall the children came all about him embracing hugging and making much of him euen as if Nature had truly instructed them that this was their aged though poore Graundfather and hee as louingly receiuing these kinde relations from them wisely and silently kept all to himselfe with sighes teares and ioyes entermixed together So that the children would not part from him though their Tutour and Maister called them often which being tolde to their Mother shee came foorth of the neere adioyning Parlour and threatned to beate them if they would not doe what their Maister commanded them Then the children began to cry saying that they would tarie still by the good olde man because he loued them better then their Maister did whereat both the Lady and the Count began to smile The Count like a poore beggar and not as father to so great a Lady arose and did her humble reuerence because shee was now a Noble woman conceiuing wonderfull ioy in his soule to see her so faire and goodly a creature yet could she take no knowledge of him age want and misery had so mightily altred him his head all white his beard without any comely forme his garments so poore and his face so wrinkled leane and meager that hee seemed rather some Carter then a Count. And Gianetta perceiuing that when her children were fetcht away they returned againe to the olde man and would not leaue him desired their Maister to let them alone While thus the children continued making much of the good olde man Lord Andrew Mandeuile Father to Sir Roger came into the Hall as being so willed to doe by the Childrens Schoolemaister He being a hastie minded man and one that euer despised Gianetta before but much more since her mariage to his sonne angerly said Let them alone with a mischiefe and so befall them their best company ought to be with beggers for so are they bred and borne by the Mothers side and
her in trauaile not acquainting any one whether she went In no place stayed she vntill she was arriued at Florence where happening into a poore Widdowes house like a poore Pilgrim she seemed well contented therewith And desiring to heare some tydings of the Count the next day she saw him passe by the house on horse-backe with his company Now albeit shee knew him well enough yet she demanded of the good old Widdow what Gentleman he was She made answer that be was a stranger there yet a Nobleman called Count Bertrand of Roussillion a verie courteous Knight beloued and much respected in the City Moreouer that he was farre in loue with a neighbour of hers a yong Gentlewoman but verie poore and meane in substance yet of honest life vertuous and neuer taxed with any euill report onely her pouertie was the maine imbarment of her marriage dwelling in house with her mother who was a wise honest and worthy Lady The Countesse hauing wel obserued her words and considered theron from point to point debated soberly with her owne thoughts in such a doubtfull case what was best to be done When she had vnderstood which was the house the ancient Ladies name and likewise her daughters to whom her husband was now so affectionately deuoted she made choise of a fit and conuenient time when in her Pilgrims habit secretly she went to the house There she found the mother and daughter in poore condition and with as poore a family whom after she had ceremoniously saluted she told the old Lady that shee requested but a little conference with her The Ladie arose and giuing her courteous entertainment they went together into a withdrawing chamber where being both set downe the Countesse began in this manner Madame in my poore opinion you are not free from the frownes of Fortune no more then I my selfe am but if you were so well pleased there is no one that can comfort both our calamities in such manner as you are able to do And beleeue me answered the Lady there is nothing in the world that can bee so welcome to mee as honest comfort The Countesse proceeding on in her former speeches said I haue now need good Madame both of your trust and fidelity whereon if I should rely and you faile me it will be your owne vndooing as well as mine Speake then boldly replied the olde Ladie and remaine constantly assured that you shall no way be deceiued by me Heereupon the Countesse declared the whole course of her loue from the verie originall to the instant reuealing also what she was and the occasion of her comming thither relating euery thing so perfectly that the Ladie verily beleeued her by some reports which she had formerly heard and which mooued her the more to compassion Now when all circumstances were at full discouered thus spake the Countesse Among my other miseries and misfortunes which hath halfe broken my heart in the meere repetition beside the sad and afflicting sufferance two things there are which if I cannot compasse to haue all hope is quite frustrate for euer of gaining the grace of my Lord and Husband Yet those two things may I obtaine by your helpe if all be true which I haue heard and you can therein best resolue mee Since my comming to this City it hath credibly bene told me that the Count my husband is deeply in loue with your daughter If the Count quoth the Ladie loue my daughter and haue a wife of his owne he must thinke and so shall surely finde it that his greatnesse is no priuiledge for him whereby to worke dishonour vpon her pouerty But indeed some apparances there are and such a matter as you speake of may be so presumed yet so farre from a very thought of entertaining in her or me as whatsoeuer I am able to do to yeeld you any comfort and content you shall find me therein both willing and ready for I prize my daughters spotles pouerty as at high a rate as he can do the pride of his honor Madam quoth the Countesse most heartily I thanke you But before I presume any further on your kindnesse let me first tell you what faithfully I intend to do for you if I can bring my purpose to effect I see that your daughter is beautifull and of sufficient yeares for mariage and is debarred thereof as I haue heard onely by lack of a competent dowry Wherefore Madame in recompence of the fauour I expect from you I will enrich her with so much ready money as you shall thinke sufficient to match her in the degree of honor Pouerty made the poore Lady very well to like of such a bountifull offer and hauing a noble heart she said Great Countesse say wherein am I able to do you any seruice as can deserue such a gracious offer If the action bee honest without blame or scandall to my poore yet vndetected reputation gladly I will do it and it being accomplished let the requitall rest in your owne noble nature Obserue me then Madam replyed the Countesse It is most conuenient for my purpose that by some trusty and faithfull messenger you should aduertise the Count my husband that your daughter is and shall be at his command but because she may remain absolutely assured that his loue is constant to her and aboue all other shee must entreate him to send her as a testimony thereof the Ring which he weareth vpon his little finger albeit she hath heard that he loueth it dearly If he send the Ring you shal giue it me afterward send him word that your daughter is readie to accomplish his pleasure but for the more safety and secrecie he must repaire hither to your house where I being in bed insted of your daughter faire Fortune may so fauour mee that vnknowne to him I may conceiue with childe Vppon which good successe when time shall serue hauing the Ring on my finger and a child in my armes begotten by him his loue and liking may bee recouered and by your meanes I continue with my Husband as euerie vertuous Wife ought to doe The good old Ladie imagined that this was a matter somewhat difficult and might lay a blamefull imputation on her daughter Neuerthelesse considering what an honest office it was in her to bee the meanes whereby so worthy a Countesse should recouer an vnkinde husband led altogether by lust and not a iot of cordiall loue she knew the intent to be honest the Countesse vertuous and her promise religious and therefore vndertooke to effect it Within few dayes after verie ingeniously and according to the instructed order the Ring was obtayned albeit much against the Counts will and the Countesse in sted of the Ladies vertuous daughter was embraced by him in bed the houre prouing so auspicious and Iuno being Lady of the ascendent conioyned with the witty Mercury she conceiued of two goodly Sonnes and her deliuerance agreed correspondently with the iust time Thus the old Lady
I will not endanger any of their liues because their parents and friends being sensible of such losses may seeke reuenge perhaps to their owne ruine and some following scourge to my indiscretion For I consider daughter that I haue neighbours who scarsely loue me and of whom in time I may right my selfe hauing receiued by their meanes great wrongs iniuries Also I make no doubt but to manage your loue-sute with discretion and set such a pleasing proceednig betweene them as neyther shall beget any hatred in them towards me nor yet offend them in their affections pursuite till fortune may smile so fauourably vpon some one man to reach the height of both your wished desires Siwalde was thus determinately resolued to let his daughter liue at her owne discretion without any alteration of her continued seueritie perceiuing day by day that many came still to request her in mariage he could not giue her to them all nor make his choise of any one least all the rest should become his enemies and fall in quarrell one with another Onely this therefore was his ordination that among such a number of amorous suters he onely should weare the Lawrell wreath of victory who could obtaine such fauour of Serictha as but to looke him in the face This condition seemed to bee of no meane difficulty yea and so impossible that many gaue ouer their amorous enterprize whereof Serictha was wondrouslie ioyfull seeing her selfe eased of such tedious importunitie dulling her eares with their proffered seruices and foppish allegations of fantasticke seruitude such as ydle-headed Louers do vse to protest before their Mistresses wherein they may beleeue them if they list Among all them that were thus forward in their heate of affection there was a young Danish Lord named Ocharus the sonne of a Pirate called Hebonius the same man who hauing stolne the Sister vnto King Hunguinus and Sister to Siwalde affiancing himselfe to her was slaine by King Haldune and by thus killing him enioyed both the Lady and the kingdome of the Gothes also as her inheritance This Ocharus relying much on his comelinesse of person wealth power and valour but aboue all the rest on his excellent and eloquent speaking bestowed his best endeauour to obtaine Serictha notwithstanding the contemptible carriage of the rest towards him whereupon preuailing for his accesse to the Princesse and admitted to speake as all the other did he reasoned with her in this manner Whence may it proceede Madam that you being the fairest and wisest Princesse liuing at this day in all the Northerne parts should make so smal account of your selfe as to denie that which with honour you mâ—y yeeld to them as seeke to doe you most humble seruice and forgetting the rank you hold doe refuse to deigne them recompence in any manner whatsoeuer seeking onely to enioy you in honourable marriage Perhaps you are of opinion that the gods should become slaues to youâ— beauty in which respect men are vtterly vnworthy to craue any such acquaintance of you If it be so I confesse my selfe conquered But if the gods seeke no such association with women and since they forsooke the World they left this legacy to vs men I thinke you couet after none but such as are extracted of their blood or may make vaunt of their neere kindred and alliance to them I know that many haue wished and doe desire you I know also that as many haue requested you of the King your Father but the choyce remaineth in your power and you being ordained the Iudge to distinguish the merit of all your Sutors me thinkes you doe wrong to the office of a Iudge in not regarding the parties which are in suite to sentence the deseâ—t of the best and brauest and so to delay them with no more lingering I cannot thinke Madam that you are so farre out of your selfe and so chill cold in your affection but desire of occasions equall to your vertue and singular beauty doe sometime touch you feelingly and make you to wish for such a man answerable to the greatnesse of your excellency And if it should be otherwise as I imagine it to be impossible yet you ought to breake such an obstinate designe onely to satisfie the King your Father who can desire nothing more then to haue a Sonne in Law to reuenge him on the Tyrant of Swetia who as you well know was sometime the murtherer of your Grand-father Hunguinus and also of his Father If you please to vouchsafe me so much grace and fauour as to make me the man whom your heart hath chosen to be your Husband I sweare vnto you by the honour of a Souldier that I will vndergoe such seruice as the King shall be reuenged you royally satisfied and my selfe aduanced to no meane happinesse by being the onely fortunate man of the World Gentle Princesse the most beautifull daughter to a King open that indurate heart and so soften it that the sweete impressions of loue may be engrauen therein see there the loyall pursuite of your Ocharus who to saue his life cannot so much as winne one looke from his diuine Mistresse This nicenesse is almost meerely barbarous that I wishing to aduenture my life prodigally in your seruice you are so cruell as not to deigne recompence to this duty of mine with the least signe of kindnesse that can be imagined Faire Serictha if you desire the death of your friendly seruant Ocharus there are many other meanes whereby to performe it without consuming him in so small a fire and suffering him there to languish without any answere If you will not looke vpon me if my face be so vnworthy that one beame of your bright Sunnes may not shine vpon it If a word of your mouth be too precious for me make a signe with your hand either of my happinesse or disaster If your hand be enuious of mine ease let one of your women be shee to pronounce the sentence of life oâ— death because if my life be hatefull to you this hand of mine may satisfie your will and sacrifice it to the rigour of your disdaine But if as I am rather perswaded the ruine of your seruants be against your more mercifull wishes deale so that I may perceiue it and expresse what compassion you haue of your Ocharus who coueteth nothing more then your daily hearts ease and contentment with a priuiledge of honour aboue other Ladies All this discourse was heard by Serictha but so little was shee moued therewith as shee was farre enough off from returning him any answer neither did any of the Gentlewomen attending on her euer heare her vse the very least word to any of her amorous sollicitors nor did shee know any one of them but by speech onely which droue them all into an vtter despaire perceiuing no possible meanes whereby to conquer her The Histories of the Northeâ—ne 〈…〉 deâ—â—are that in those times the rapes of women were not much 〈…〉 and such
to be knowne whereupon he gathered that doubtlesse this was shee for whom he hadde sought with such tedious trauaile and therefore going directly vnto her thus hee spake Gentle Princesse wherefore do you thus hide your selfe from mee Why do you haunt these retreats and desolate abodes hauing power to commaund ouer infinite men that cannot liue but by your presence What hath moued you Madame to flye from company to dwel among desert Rockes and serue as a slaue to such as are no way worthy of your seruice Why do you forsake a potent King whose onely daughter and hope you are leauing your countrey and royall traine of Ladies and so farre abasing your selfe to liue in the deiected state of a seruant and to some rusticke clowne or peazant What reason haue you to despise so many worthy Lords that dearely loue and honor you but aboue them all your poore slaue Ocharus who hath no spare of his owne life for the safety of yours and also for the defence of your honor Royal maid I am the same man that deliuered you from the villaine who would haue violated your faire chastity and since then haue not spared any payne or trauell in your search for whose losse King Siwalde is in extreme anguish the Danes in mourning habites and Ocharus euen at the doore of death being no way able to endure your absence Are you of the minde worthy Madame that I haue not hitherto deserued so much as one good looke or glance of your eye in recompence of so many good loyall seruices If Alas I am neither rauisher nor demander of any vniust requests or else inciuill in my motions I may merit one regard of my Mistresse I require onely so silly a fauour that her eyes may pay me the wages for all which I haue hitherto done in her seruice What would you do Madam if I were an importunate solicitor and requested farre greater matters of you in iust recompence of my labours I do not desire that you should embrace me I am not so bold as to request a kisse of Sericthaes more then immortall lips Nor doe I couet that she should any otherwise entreate mee then with such seuerity as beseemeth so great a Princesse I aske no more but onely to eleuate your chaste eyes and grace me with one little looke as being the man who for his vertue and loyall affection hath deserued more then that fauour yea a much greater and excellent recompence Can you then be so cruell as to denie me so small a thing without regarde of the maine debt wherein you stand engaged to your Ocharus The Princesse perceiuing that it auailed nothing to conceale hir selfe being by him so apparantly discouered began now to speake which she had neuer done before either to him or any other of her amorous suters answering him in this manner Lord Orharus it might suffice you that your importunity made me forsake my Fathers Court and causeth me to liue in this abased condition which I purpose to prosecute all my life time or so long at the least as you and such as you are pursue me so fondly as you haue presumed to do For I am resolued neuer to fauour you any otherwise then hitherto I haue done desiring you therfore that Serictha wanting an Interpreter to tell you her wil you would now receiue it from her owne mouth determining sooner to dye then alter a iot of her intended purpose Ocharus hearing this vnwelcome answer was euen vpon the point to haue slaine himselfe but yet not to lose the name of a valiant man or to be thought of an effeminate or cowardly spirite that a Woman should force him to an acte so farre vnfitting for a man of his ranke hee tooke his leaue of her solemnly promising not to forget her further pursuite but at all times to obey her so long as he liued although her commaund was very hard for him to endure So hee departed thence not vnto the Court she being not there that had the power to enioyne his presence but home to his owne house where he was no sooner arriued but he began to waxe wearie of his former folly accusing himselfe of great indiscretion for spending so much time in vaine and in her seruice who vtterly despised him and all his endeuours which he vndertooke He began to accuse her of great ingratitude laying ouer-much respect vppon her vertue to haue no feeling at all of his loyall sufferings but meerely made a mockery of his martyrdome Heereupon he concluded to giue ouer all further affection to languish no longer for her sake that hated him and all his actions While he continued in these melancholly passions the Princesse who all this while had persisted in such strict seuerity as astonished the courages of her stoutest seruants considering more deliberately on the sincere affection of Ocharus and that vertue onely made him the friend to her modesty and not wanton or lasciuious appetite she felt a willing readinesse in her soule to gratifie him in some worthy manner and to recompence some part of his trauailes Which to effect she resolued to follow him in some counterfeite habite euen to the place of his own abiding to try if easily he could take knowledge of her whom so lately he saw in the garments of a Shephearddesse Being thus minded shee went to her Mistresse whom she serued and who had likewise seen Lord Ocharus of whom she had perfect knowledge when hee conferred with the Shephearddesse and enquiring the cause why hee resorted in that manner to her Serictha returned her this answer Mistresse I make no doubt but you will be somewhat amazed and perhaps can hardly credit when you heare that she who now serueth you in the poore degree of Shephearddesse is the onely daughter to Siwalde King of the Danes for whose loue so many great Lords haue continually laboured and that I onely attracted hither Ocharus the Noble Sonne of valiant Hebonius to wander in these solitary deserts to finde out her that fled from him and helde him in as high disdaine as I did all the rest of his fellow riuals But if my words may not heerein sufficiently assure you I would aduise you to send where Ocharus dwelleth there make further enquiry of him to the end that you may not imagine me a lyar If my speeches do otherwise preuaile with you and you remain assured that I am she whom your Noble neighbour so deerely affecteth albeit I neuer made any account at all of him then I do earnestly intreat you so much to stand my friend as to prouide some conuenient means for me whereby I may passe vnknowne to the Castle of Ocharus to reuenge my selfe on his ciuill honesty smile at him hereafter if he proue not so cleerely sighted as to know her being neere him whom he vaunteth to loue aboue all women else The good Countrey-woman hearing these wordes and perceyuing that she had the Princesse in her house of whose
in mine owne Countrey as now I am in yours I would as forwardly confesse my selfe your friend as here I must needes fall short of any such seruice but euen as you shall please to command me But plainely and without all further ceremonious complement I must agree to whatsoeuer you can request as thinking you to be more iniured by me then any great wrong that I haue sustained Concerning the young Damosell remaining in my House shee is not as many haue imagined either of Cremona or Pauia but borne a Faentine here in this Cirie albeit neither my selfe shee or he of whom I had her did euer know it or yet could learne whose Daughter shee was Wherefore the suite you make to me should rather in duty be mine to you for shee is a natiue of your owne doe right to her and then you can doe no wrong vnto mee When the Gentlemen vnderstood that the Mayden was borne in Faenza they maruelled thereat and after they had thanked Iacomino for his curteous answer they desired him to let them know by what meanes the Damosell came into his custody and how he knew her to be borne in Faenza when he perceiuing them attentiue to heare him began in this manner Vnderstand worthy Gentlemen that Guidotto of Cremona was my companion and deare friend who growing neere to his death tolde me that when this City was surprized by the Emperour Frederigo and all things committed to sacke and spoile he and certaine of his confederates entred into a House which they found to be well furnished with goods but vtterly forsaken of the dwellers onely this poore Mayden excepted being then aged but two yeeres or thereabout As hee mounted vp the steps with intent to depart from the House she called him Father which word moued him so compassionately that he went backe againe brought her away with him and all things of worth which were in the House going thence afterward to Fano and there deceasing he left her and all his goods to my charge conditionally that I should see her maried when due time required and bestow on her the wealth which he had left her Now very true it is although her yeeres are conuenient for mariage yet I could neuer find any one to bestow her on at least that I thought fitting for her howbeit I will listen thereto much more respectiuely before any other such accident shall happen It came to passe that in the reporting of this discourse there was then a Gentleman in the company named Guillemino da Medicina who at the surprizal of the City was present with Guidotto of Cremona and knew well the House which he had ransacked the owner whereof was also present with him wherefore taking him aside he saide to him Bernardino hearest thou what Iacomino hath related yes very wel replyed Bernardino and remember withall that in that dismall bloody combustion I lost a little Daughter about the age as Iacomino spake he Questionlesse then replied Guillemino shee must needes be the same young Mayden for I was there at the same time and in the House whence Guidotto did bring both the girle and goods and I doe perfectly remember that it was thy House I pray thee call to minde if euer thou sawest any scarre or marke about her which may reuiue thy former knowledge of her for my minde perswades me that the Maide is thy Daughter Bernardino musing a while with himselfe remembred that vnder her left care shee had a scarre in the forme of a little crosse which happened by the byting of a Wolfe and but a small while before the spoyle was made Wherefore without deferring it to any further time he stept to Iacomino who as yet staied there and entreated him to fetch the Mayden from his house because shee might be knowne to some in the company whereto right willingly he condiscended and there presented the Maide before them So soone as Bernardino beheld her he began to be much inwardly moued for the perfect character of her Mothers countenance was really figured in her sweete face onely that her beauty was somewhat more excelling Yet not herewith satisfied he desired Iacomino to be so pleased as to lift vp a little the lockes of haire depending ouer her left eare Iacomino did it presently albeit with a modest blushing in the maide and Bernardino looking aduisedly on it knew it to be the selfe same crosse which confirmed her constantly to be his Daughter Ouercome with excesse of ioy which made the teares to trickle downe his cheekes he proffered to embrace and kisse the Maide but she refusing his kindnesse because as yet shee knew no reason for it he turned himselfe to Iacomino saying My deare brother and friend this Maide is my Daughter and my House was the same which Guidotto spoyled in the generall hauocke of our City and thence he carried this child of mine forgotten in the fury by my Wife her Mother But happy was the houre of his becomming her Father and carrying her away with him for else she had perished in the fire because the House was instantly burnt downe to the ground The Mayden hearing his words obseruing him also to be a man of yeeres and grauity shee beleeued what he saide and humbly submitted her selfe to his kisses embraces euen as instructed thereto by instinct of nature Bernardino instantly sent for his wife her owne mother his daughters sonnes and kindred who being acquainted with this admirable accident gaue her most gracious and kind welcome he receiuing her from Iacomino as his childe and the legacies which Guidotto had left her When the Captaine of the City being a very wise and worthy Gentleman heard these tydings and knowing that Giouanni then his prisoner was the Son to Bernardino and naturall Brother to the newly recouered Maide he bethought himselfe how best he might qualifie the fault committed by him And entring into the Hall among them handled the matter so discreetly that a louing league of peace was confirmed betweene Giouanni and Menghino to whom with free and full consent on all sides the faire Maide named Agatha was giuen in marriage with a more honourable enlargement of her dowry and Grinello with the rest deliuered out of prison which for their tumultuous riot they had iustly deserued Menghino and Agatha had their wedding worthily sollemnized with all due honours belonging thereto and long time after they liued in Faenza highly beloued and graciously esteemed Guion di Procida being found familiarly conuersing with a young Damosell which he loued and had beene giuen formerly to Frederigo King of Sicilie was bound to a stake to be consumed with fire From which danger neuerthelesse he escaped being knowne by Don Rogiero de Oria Lord Admirall of Sicilie and afterward married the Damosell The sixth Nouell Wherein is manifested that loue can leade a man into numberlesse perils out of which he escapeth with no meane difficulty THe Nouell of Madam Neiphila being ended which
miracles to me Now was Arriguccio ten times more mad in his minde then before saying Diuell and no woman did wee not this night goe both together to bed Did not I cut this thred from thy great toe tyed it to mine and found the craftie compact betweene thee and thy Minnion Did not I follow and fight with him in the streets Came I not backe againe and beate thee as a Strumpet should be And are not these the locks of haire which I my selfe did cut from thy head Alas Sir quoth she where haue you been doe you know what you say you did not lodge in this house this night neither did I see you all the whole day and night till now But leauing this and come to the matter now in question because I haue no other testimony then mine owne words You say that you did beate me and cut those lockes of haire from my head Alas Sir why should you slander your selfe In all your life time you did neuer strike me And to appoue the truth of my speeches doe you your selfe and all else heere present looke on me aduisedly if any signe of blow or beating is to be seene on me Nor were it an easie matter for you to doe either to smite or so much as lay your hand in anger on me it would cost dearer then you thinke for And whereas you say that you did cut those lockes of haire from my head it is more then either I know or felt nor are they in colour like to mine but because my Mother and brethren shall be my witnesses therein and whether you did it without my knowledge you shall all see if they be cut or no. So taking off her head attyre she displayed her hayre ouer her shoulders which had suffered no violence neither seemed to bee so much as vnciuilly or rudely handled When the mother and brethren saw this they began to murmure against Arriguccio saying What thinke you of this Sir you tell vs of strange matters which you haue done and all prouing falfe we wonder how you can make good the rest Arriguccio looked wilde and confusedly striuing still to maintaine his accusation but seeing euery thing to bee flatly against him he durst not attempt to speake one word Simonida tooke aduantage of this distraction in him and turning to her brethren saide I see now the marke whereat he aymeth to make me doe what I neuer meante Namely that I should acquaint you with his vile qualities and what a wretched life I leade with him which seeing hee will needes haue me to reueale beare with me if I doe it vpon compulsion Mother and Brethren I am verily perswaded that those accidents which be disclosed to you hath doubtlesse in the same manner happened to him and you shall heare how Very true it is that this seeming honest man to whom in a lucklesse houre you married me stileth himselfe by the name of a Merchant coueting to be so accounted and credited as holy in outward appearance as a Religious Monke and as demure in lookes as the modestest Maide like a notorious common drunkard is a Tauerne hunter where making his luxurius matches one while with one Whore then againe with another hee causeth mee euery night to sit tarrying for him euen in the same sort as you found me sometimes till midnight and otherwhiles till broad day light in the morning And questionlesse being in his wounted drunken humour hee hath lyen with one of his sweet Consorts about whose toe he found the thred and finding her as false to him as he hath alwayes been to me Did not onely beat her but also cut the haire from her head And hauing not yet recouered his sences is verily perswaded and cannot be altered from it but that hee performed all this villany to me And if you doe but aduisedly obserue his countenance he appeareth yet to be more then halfe drunke But whatsoeuer he hath said concerning me I make no account at all thereof because he spake it in his drunkennesse and as freely as I forgiue him euen so good Mother and kinde Brethren let mee entreate you to do the like When the Mother had heard these words and confidently beleeued her Daughter she began to torment her selfe with anger saying By the faith of my body Daughter this vnkindnesse is not be endured but rather let the dogge be hanged that his qualities may be knowne he being vtterly vnworthy to haue so good a woman to his wife as thou art What could he haue done more if he had taken thee in the open streete and in company of some wanton Gallants In an vnfortunate houre wast thou married to him base iealous Coxecombe as he is and it is quite against sense or reason that thou shouldest be subiect to his fooleries What was hee but a Merchant of Eale-skinnes or Orenges bred in some paltry countrey village taken from Hogge-rubbing clothed in Sheepes-Sattin with Clownish Startops Leather stockings and Caddies garters His whole habite not worth three shillings And ye he must haue afaire Gentle Woman to his Wife of honest fame riches and reputation when comparing his pedegree with hers hee is farre vnfit to wipe her shooes Oh my deare sonnes I would you had followed my counsell and permitted her to math in the honourable family of Count Guido which was much mooued and seriously pursued But you would needs bestow her on this goodly Iewell who although shee is one of the choysest beauties in Florence chaste honest and truely vertuous Is not ashamed at midnight to proclaime her for a common whore as if we had no better knowledge of her But by the blessed mother of Saint Iohn if you would be ruled by mine aduise our law should make him dearely smart for it Alas my sonnes did I not tell you at home in our owne house that his words were no way likely to proue true Haue not your eyes obserued his vnmannerly behauiour to your Sister If I were as you are hearing what he hath said and noting his drunken carriage beside I should neuer giue ouer as long as he had any life left in him And were I a man as I am a woman none other then my selfe should reuenge her wrongs making him a publike spectacle to all drabbing drunkards When the brethren had heard and obserued all these occurrences in most bitter manner they railed on Arriguccio bestowing some good bastinadoes on him beside concluding thus with him in the end Quoth one of them Wee will pardon this shamefull abusing of our Sister because thou art a notoriom drunkard but looke to it on perill of thy life that we haue no more such newes hereafter for beleeue it vnfainedly if any such impudent rumours happen to our eares or so much as a flying fame thereof thou shalt surely be paide for both faults together So home againe went they and Arriguccio stood like one that had neither life or motion not knowing whether what he had done
poore Countrey Clowne and their blood and mine notoriously imbased by my marriage with thee I intend to haue thee no longer my Wife but will returne thee home to thy Fathers house with all the rich Dowry thou broughtest me and then I wil take another Wife with whom I am already contracted better beseeming my birth and farre more contenting and pleasing to my people The Lady hearing these words not without much paine and difficulty restrayned her teares quite contrary to the naturall inclination of women and thus answered Great Marquesse I neuer was so empty of discretion but did alwayes acknowledge that my base and humble condition could not in any manner sute with your high blood and Nobility and my being with you I euer acknowledged to proceed from heauen and you not any merit of mine but onely as a fauour lent me which you being now pleased to recall backe againe I ought to be pleased and so am that it bee restored Here is the Ring wherewith you Espoused me here in all humility I deliuer it to you You command me to carry home the marriage Dowry which I brought with me there is no need of a Treasurer to repay it me neither any new purse to carry it in much lesse any Sumpter to be laden with it For Noble Lord it it was neuer out of my memory that you tooke me starke naked and if it shall seeme sightly to you that this body which hath borne two children and be gotten by you must againe be seene naked willingly must I depart hence naked But I humbly beg of your Excellency in recompence of my Virginity which I brought you blamelesse so much as in thought that I may haue but one of my wedding Smocks onely to conceale the shame of nakednesse and then I depart rich enough The Marquesse whose heart wept bloody teares as his eyes would likewise gladly haue yeelded their naturall tribute couered all with a dissembled angry countenance and starting vp said Goe giue her a Smocke onely and so send her gadding All there present about him entreated him to let her haue a petticote because it might not be said that she who had been his Wife thirteene yeares and more was sent away so poorely in her Smocke but all their perswasions preuailed not with him Naked in her Smocke without hose or shooes bareheaded and not so much as a Cloth about her necke to the great griefe and mourning of all that saw her she went home to her old fathers house And he good man neuer beleeuing that the Marquesse would long keepe his daughter as his Wife but rather expected daily what now had happened safely laid vp the garments whereof the Marquesse despoyled her the same morning when he espoused her Wherefore he deliuered them to her and she fell to her fathers houshold businesse according as formerly she had done sustayning with a great and vnconquerable spirit all the cruell assaults of her enemy Fortune About such time after as suted with his owne disposition the Marquesse made publiquely knowne to his subsects that he meant to ioyne in marriage again with the daughter to one of the Counts of Panago and causing preparation to be made for a sumptuous wedding he sent for Grizelda and she being come thus he spake to her The Wife that I haue made the new election of iâ—to arriue here within very few dayes and at her first comming I would haue her to be most honourably entertained Thou knowest I haue no women in my house that can decke vp the Chambers and set all requisite things in due order befitting for so solemne a Feast and therefore I sent for thee who knowing better then any other all the partes prouision and goods in the house set euery thing in such order as thou shalt thinke necessary Inuite such Ladies and Gentlewomen as thou wilt and giue them welcome euen as if thou wert the Lady of the house and when the marriage is ended returne then home to thy father againe Although these words pierced like wounding daggers the heart of poore but Noble patient Grizelda as being vnable to forget the vnequal'd loue she bare to the Marquesse though the dignitie of her former fortune more easily slipt out of her remembrance yet neuerthelesse thus she answered My Gracious Lord I am glad I can doe you any seruice wherein you shall find mee both willing and ready In the same poore garments as she came from her fathers house although shee was turned out in her Smocke she began to sweep and make cleane the Chambers rubbe the stooles and benches in the Hall and ordered things in the Kitchin as if she were the worst maide in al the house neuer ceasing or giuing ouer till all things were in due and decent order as best beseemed in such a case After all which was done the Marquesse hauing inuited all the Ladies of the Countrey to be present at so great a Feast when the marriage day came Grizelda in her gowne of Countrey gray gaue them welcome in honourable manner and graced them all with very cheerefull countenance Gualtiero the Marquesse who had caused his two children to be nobly nourished at Bologna with a neere kinswoman of his who had married with one of the Counts of Panago his daughter being now aged twelue yeares old and some-what more as also the Son about sixe or seuen He sent a Gentleman expresly to his kindred to haue them come and visite him at Saluzza bringing his daughter and Sonne with them attended in very honourable manner and publishing euery where as they came along that the young Virgin knowne to none but himselfe and them should be the Wife to the Marquesse and that onely was the cause of her comming The Gentleman was not slacke in the execution of the trust reposed in him but hauing made conuenient preparation with the kindred Sonne daughter and a worthy company attending on them arriued at Saluzza about dinner time where wanted no resort from all neighbouring parts round about to see the comming of the Lord Marquesses new Spouse By the Lords and Ladies she was ioyfully entertained and comming into the great Hall where the Tables were readily couered Grizelda in her homely Country habite humbled her selfe before her saying Gracious welcome to the new elected Spouse of the Lord Marquesse All the Ladies there present who had very earnestly importuned Gualtiero but in vaine that Grizelda might either be shut vp in some Chamber or else to lend her the wearing of any other garments which formerly had been her owne because she should not be so poorely seene among strangers being seated at the Tables she waited on them very seruiceably The yong Virgin was obserued by euery one who spared not to say that the Marquesse had made an excellent change but aboue them all Grizelda did most commend her and so did her brother likewise as young as he was yet not knowing her to be his Sister Now was the Marquesse