the workman Howsoeuer then the ablenesse or perfection hereof 〈◊〉 shall content or particularly displease the Boke craueth milde construction for imployed paines And yet the same liking or lothing the licorous diet and curious expectation of some shall beare regarde with those that more delight in holsome viandes voide of varietie than in the confused mixture of foren drugges fetched farre of Who no dout will supply with fauorable brute default of ablenesse and riper skill in the mysteries of sorren speche Which is the guerdon besides publique benefit after which I gaze and the best stipende that eche well willing mynde as I suppose aspireth for their trauell And briefly to touche what comoditie thou shalt reape of these succeding Histories I deme it not vnapt for thine instruction to vnfolde what pithe and substance resteth vnder the context of their discourse ¶ In the Nouell of the AMAZONES is displaied a strange and miraculous porte to our present skill of womens gouernment what states they subdued what increase of kingdome what combats and conflicts they durst attempt contrairie to the nature of that sexe ¶ In ALEXANDRE the great what ought to be the gratitude and curtesie in a 〈◊〉 Prince toward his slaue and captiue and to what perilous plundge he slippeth by exchange of vice for vertue ¶ In TIMOCLIA and THEOXENA the stoutnesse of two noble Dames to auoide the beastly lust and raging furie of Tyrants ¶ ARIOBARZANES telleth the duetie of a Subiect to his Prince and how he ought not to contend with his soueraine in maters of curtesie at length also the condition of Courting flaterers and the poyson of the Monster Enuie ¶ ARISTOTIMVS disgarboileth the iutrails of Tyrannie describing the end whereunto Tyrants do atteine and how that vice plageth their posteritie ¶ The two Romane Queenes do point as it were with their fingers the natures of Ambition and Crueltie and the gredy lust hidden in that feble sexe of soueraintie ¶ SOPHONISBA reporteth the force of beautie and what poison distilleth from that licorous sappe to inuenim the harts of valiant 〈◊〉 ¶ The Gentlewoman of HYDRVSA the sicklenesse of Fortune ¶ The Empresse FAVSTINA and the Countesse of Celant what 〈◊〉 blome of whorish life and what fruites thereof be culled ¶ The Letters of the Emperor TRAIANE do paint a right shape of vertue a good state of gouernment and the comely forme of obedience ¶ Three Amorous Dames 〈◊〉 the sleightes of loue the redinesse of Nobles to be baited with that amorous hooke and what desire such infamous Strumpets haue to be honored ¶ Queene ZENOBIA what the noble Gentlewomen whom the fates ordaino to rule ought to do how farre their magnanimitie ought to stretch and in what boundes to conteine their soueraintie ¶ EVPHIMIA a Kings daughter of Corinthe and the vnfortunate Duchesse of Malfi what matche of mariage Ladies of renowme and Dames of Princcly houses ought to choose ¶ Mistresse DIANORA MITHRIDANES and NATHAN KATHERINE of Bologna and SALADINE the mutual 〈◊〉 of noble and gentle personages and for what respectes ¶ Queene ANNE of Hungarie the good nature and liberalitie of a Queene and with what industrie Gentlewomen of priuie chaumbre ought to preferre the sutes of the valiant and of such as haue well serued the Common welth ¶ ALEXANDRE de Medices a Duke of Florence the iustice of a Prince and Gouernour to the wronged partie what 〈◊〉 ought to shine in Courtiers and with what temperance their insolence is to be repressed ¶ IVLIETTA and RHOMEO disclose the hartie affections of two incomparable louers what secret sleightes of loue what danger either sort incurre which mary without the aduise of Parentes ¶ Two Gentlewomen of Venice the wisdom and policie of wiues to 〈◊〉 and restraine the follies of Husbands and the stoutnesse they ought to vse in their defense ¶ The Lord of Virle and the widow ZILIA giue lessons to Louers to auoide the immoderate pangs of loue they pronosticate the indiscretion of promised penance they warne to beware all vnsemely hestes lest the penalties of couetise and 〈◊〉 glory be incurred ¶ The Lady of Boeme schooleth two noble Barons that with great boast assured themselues to impaire hir honor ¶ DOM DIEGO and GINEVRA recorde the crueltie of women bent to hate and the voluntarie vow performed by a passionate knight with the perfect frendship of a true 〈◊〉 in redresse of a frendes missehap ¶ SALIMBENE ANGELICA the kindnesse of a gentleman in deliuerie of his enimie and the constant mynde of a chaste and vertuous mayden ¶ Mistresse HELENA of Florence discouereth what lothsom lustes do lurke vnder the barke of fading beautie what stench of filthie affection fumeth from the smoldring gulf of dishonest Loue what prankes such Dames do plaie for deceite of other and shame of themselues ¶ CAMIOLA reproueth the mobilitie of youth such chiefly as for noble anncestrie regarded riches more than vertue She like a Mistresse of constancie lessoneth hir equalles from wauering myndes and not to aduenture vpon vnstedie contracts with those that care not vnder what pretence they come by riches ¶ The Lords of Nocera foretell the hazards of whordom the rage of 〈◊〉 the difference of 〈◊〉 betwene Prince and subiect the fructes of a Rebell the endes of Traiteric and Tiranny and what monstrous successe such vices do attaine ¶ The King of Marocco describeth the good nature of the homely and loiall subiect the matuelous loue of a true and simple Cuntry man toward his liege soueraigne Lord the bountie of a curetous prince vpō those that vnder rude attire be 〈◊〉 with the floures of vertue To be short the contēts of these Nouels from degree of highest Emperor from the state of greatest Queene and Ladie to the homely 〈◊〉 peasant and rudest vilage girle may conduce profit for instruction pleasure for delight They offer rules for auoiding of vice and imitation of vertue to all estates This boke is a very Court Palace for all sorts to fixe their cies therein to view the deuoires of the Noblest the vertues of the gentlest and the dueties of the meanest Yt is a Stage and Theatre for shew of true Nobilitie for proofe of passing loialtie and for triall of their contraries Wherefore as in this I haue continued what erst I partly promised in the first So vpon intelligence of the second signe of thy good will a Third by Gods assistance shall come forth Farewell ¶ Authorities from whence these Nouels be collected and in the same auouched Strabo Plinie Quintus Curtius Plutarche Titus Liuius Dionysius Halcarnasoeus Appianus Alexandrinus Ouide Horace Propertius Cicero Valerius Max. Tribelius Pollio Xenephon Homere Virgilius Baptista Campofulgosus Bandello Bocaccio Gyraldi Cynthio Belleforrest Boustuau Pietro di Seuiglia Antonio di Gueuarra THE SECOND TOME of the Palace of Pleasure The Amazones ¶ The hardinesse and conquests of diuers stout and 〈◊〉 women called AMAZONES the beginning and continuance of their reigne and of the greate
master Philippo whō for his good condiciōs experience they had sent vnto him in that ambassage Upon a day the king moued by the lord chācelor caused master Philippo to com before him to whō 〈◊〉 before his maiesty the king said these wordes The testimonie report so honorably made of you by the two 〈◊〉 frō whom you brought vs letters the hope which we haue to find you a faithful profitable seruant and to be correspondent in effect to the tenor of those letters moueth vs to accepte you into the numbre of one of our Secretaries wherein before our presence you shall sweare vnto vs to be faithfull and true Master Philippo that expected for no such dignitie maruelled at the Kings wordes and there by othe ministred vnto him by the lorde Chauncelour was receiued into his seruice exercised that office in singular fauor of the King to the great satisfactiō of al men And after 〈◊〉 King Charles was elected Emperor knowing the experiēce that master Philippo had in the affaires of Italie and specially in Lombardie he cōmitted vnto him al maters touching the state of that region which so happily came to passe to master Philippo as besides the ornaments of vertue wisedom he acquired greate riches and yet he continually serued and worshipped the Quéene as his noble patronesse and worthy mistresse Tell me now ye faire Ladies and gentlewomen What shall we 〈◊〉 of the princely behauiour and noble disposition of this Quene Truly in my iudgement she deserueth that praise and commendation that may be attributed to the moste excellente Ladie of the worlde who neuer gaue ouer hir faithfull seruaunt tyll she had bountifully with hir owne handes and commendation rendred vnto him a most Princely reward And as the sunne in beautie and brightnesse doeth surmounte the other furniture of the 〈◊〉 euen so magnificence and liberalitie in eche Ladie doth excell al other vertues specially in those personages that kéepe the state of Princes But to conclude méete and requisite it is that ye beautifie this most curteous and liberall Quéene with due praises For surely in my iudgement yf all women would conferre theyr heades and wittes together and deuise Hymnes and Sonnets of Liberalitie they can neuer sufficiently be able to celebrate the praise and glorie of this Quéene Alexander de Medices Duke of Florence ¶ The gentle and iust acte of ALEXANDER de MEDICES the first Duke of FLORENCE vpon a Gentleman whome he fauoured who hauing rauished the daughter of a poore Myller caused him to marie hir for the greater honour and celebration wherof he appointed hir a riche and honourable dowrie The. xxij Nouell IF the force of Uertue were not apparant at the sighte of eye it would be demed to be of lesse value than the greatnesse therof deserueth for sūdry causes rising in the myndes of men and that by performing the little which rested for that entier perfectiō of hir whole vnited glorie Now bicause that hir effectes be diuerse and that diuersly they be vsed the examples also of such diuersitie doe variate and make diuerse that affections of men some to folow that qualitie other that part proceding from the whole and perfect body of vertue which hath caused some to winne the price of modestie and temperance in their dedes other ful of magnanimite not familiar to many haue resisted the assaultes of Fortune Many other haue embraced that only honor which is the 〈◊〉 of ech good act wherby they haue well ruled the state of frée cities or guided the armies of mightie Monarchs And such whilom the cities of Rome Athenes Sparta and the ancient monarchs of the Medes the Persians and Assyrians did sée I will omit a good companie of those sage and wise men which haue 〈◊〉 the troubles of Cities the inquietations of Palaces the cries of Iudgement seates the dissimulation and deceiptfull flatteries of Courtes the carefull courtes which the housholder by gouernement of his house and familie doth susteine and féele of purpose more frankly to retire to the studie of sapience which alone is able to make a man happie worthy to be partaker of the diuinitie But aboue al I wil praise him which not subiect to the law liueth neuerthelesse like him that is most thrall thervnto or without respect of bloud or frendship shall exercise Iustice vpon his dearest and beste beloued as in olde tyme Manlius and Torquatus at Rome the people of Athenes towardes one Tinnagoras who beyond the duetie of an Ambassador of a franke citie fell downe on his knées and worshipped the Persian King And in oure time the Marquize of Ferrara by doing to death his owne sonne for adulterie committed with his mother in law And yet Iustice may redounde and sauour of some crueltie which rather turneth to shame than praise as Iohn Maria Visconte Duke of Milan when he caused a couetous priest to be buried quick with the corps of him whom he had refused to put into the grounde without money the historie wherof is hereafter remembred So as mediocritie of punishment ought to be yoked with the rigor of the law for that mitigation of the same And beholde wherfore the great Dictator Iulius Caesar loued better to gain the hart of his enimies with mercie than vanquish bring them to obediēce with massy manacles giues of iron Moreouer in our age Alphonsus of Aragon the true sampler of a iust righteous prince did not he estéeme when he straightly besieged Gaiette the victorie to be more glorious better gotten which is done by cōposition and gentlenesse than the bloody conquest colored with the teares and blood of a poore simple people And truly princes great lordes specially they which newly without succession receiued from their ancestors ariue to the gouernement of some cōmon welth ought continually to haue before their eyes an honest seueritie for the holinesse of the law a graue mildnesse to moderate the rigor of their formen dutie For by that meanes right is mainteined the heart of mā is won so wel as by violēce the state of gouernmēt taketh so good footing as the wind of no seditiō afterwards can remoue the same being foūded vpon a sure stone framed vpon a rock durable for a lōg time Wherof we haue an exāple of fresh memorie of a kind act ful both of wisedom gentle soueritie in a prince of our time who without effusion of bloud punished with rigor enough a trespasse cōmitted and swetely remitted the paine vpon him which merited grieuous nay mortal punishment as at large youshall sée by the discourse that foloweth Alexander de Medices fauored by the Church of Rome and armed with the Papall standard was he that fyrst with great actiuitie and wisedome inueyed the seniorie of Florence immediately vsurpyng the name title and prerogatiues of Duke The same albeit vpon the prime face hée was 〈◊〉 to the people of Florence wroth for losing of their
of such a pleasant prisoner exchanged loue for golde But note hereby what force the puritie of minde vnwilling of beastly 〈◊〉 doth carie in it self A simple woman voide of helpe not backed with defence of husbandes aide doeth bring a mightie captaine a strong and loftie lubber to enter into a caue and when she sawe hir best aduauntage thacked him with stones vntill he groned forth his 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Suche is the might and prowesse of chastitie No charge too burdenous or weightie for such a vertue no enterprise too harde for a mynde so pure and cleane Ariobarzanes ¶ ARIOBARZANES great Stuarde to 〈◊〉 king of Persia goth about to excede his soueraine Lord and maister in curtesie wherin be conteined many notable and pleasaunt chaunces besides the greate pacience and loyaltic naturally planted in the sayd ARIOBARZANES The fourth Nouell AQuestion is moued many times among learned men and Gentlemen addicted to the seruice of the Courte whether cōmendable déede or curteous and gentle fact done by the gentlemā or courtier towardes his soueraigne lord ought to be called Liberalitie Curtesie or rather Bād and Duetie Which question is not proponed without greate reason For so much as eche man doth know that a seruant doe what he can for his maister or lette him imploye the vttermoste of his indeuour all the labour and trauaile he bestoweth all trouble and daunger which he susteineth is too litle yea and the same his verie bounden duetie Haue wée not red of many and knowen the lyke that to gratifie their prince and maister haue into a thousand dangers and like numbre of deaths aduentured their owne proper liues Marcus Antonius that notable orator being accused of incest and brought to the iudgement seat his accusers required that his seruant shoulde be called for bicause he bare the candell before his maister when he went to do the dede who séeing his maisters life death to depend vpon his euidence vtterly denied the fact and notwithstanding that he was whipped racked suffred other cruel torments would rather haue lost his life than accuse betray his maister I could alleage and bryng forth in place the example of Mycithus the seruant of one Anaxilaus Messenius the fidelitie of the seruantes of Plotinus Plancus the faithful maiden called Pythias that waited vpon Octauia the chast Empresse and wife of that Monster Nero with diuers other but that I thinke they bée to the learned well knowen and of the simple the vertue of seruants fidelitie is greatly liked and commended But if the faithfull seruant knowe that his deserts do gain the grace and fauor of his maister 〈◊〉 trauailes what pains ought he to suffer to maintain his reputation and to increase the fauour obtained For as the common 〈◊〉 and wise saying reporteth That the vertue is no lesse to conserue Frendship gotten than the wisedome was great to get and winne the same Other there be which do contrarily contend and with very strong arguments do force to proue that al which the seruant doth besides his duetie and beyonde the obligation wherin he is bounde to his maister is and oughte to be termed Liberalitie whiche is a matter to prouoke his patrone and maister to deuise new benefites for his seruant And that at all times when a man doth his duetie and seruice appointed by his mayster executing the same with all diligence and industrie requisite ther vnto that then he 〈◊〉 to be rewarded Which is not to be discommended For no true and honest seruaunt will refuse any trauaile for commoditie of his maister 〈◊〉 yet discrete and wise maister will leaue the same 〈◊〉 according to that porcion of abilitie wherwith he is possessed But leauing questions and disputation aside procéede we to that which this Nouell purposeth I say then that there was in the kyngdome of Persia a kyng called Artaxerxes a man of moste noble minde and of great prowesse in armes This was he which first being a priuate man of armes not hauing as yet obteined any degrée in the field killed Artabanus the last king of the Arsacides whose souldier he was recouered the Persian kingdom which was then in the Macedonians 〈◊〉 on by the deth of Darius which was vanquished by Alexander the great the space of 538. yeares This noble gētleman hauing deliuered al Persia created King kept a princely court wherin were many magnificent facts and vertuous déedes exercised and done and he himself most noble in all his affaires besides the titles which he worthily wanne in many bloudie battels was estéemed thoroughout the east part of the worlde to be the most liberall and magnanimous prince that in any age euer raigned In feastes and bankets he was an other Lucullus royally intertaining strangers that repaired to his court This king had in his court a Senescall or stewarde named Ariobarzanes whose office was that when the king made any pompous or publike feast to mount vpon a white Courser with a Mace of golde in his hand and to ride before the Esquiers Sewers for the Kings owne mouthe and those that bare the Kings meate in vessell of golde couered with fine naperie wrought and purled with most beautiful workmanship of silk golde This office of Senescall was highly estemed and cōmonly wont to be giuen to one of the chiefest Barons of the Realme Wherfore this Ariobarzanes besides that he was of moste noble Lignage and incomparable riches was the most curteous and liberall knight that frequented the Court whose immoderate expence was such as leauing the mean wherin al vertue consisteth by reason of his outrage which many times he vsed he fell into the vice of prodigalitie Whereby he séemed not only in curteous déedes to compare with the King but also contended to excéede and surpasse him One day the King for his disport and recreation called for the Chesseborde requiring Ariobarzanes to kéepe him companie Which game in those days amongs the Persians was in greate vse and estimation in such wise as a cunning gamster at that pastime was no lesse commended and honored than among vs in these dayes an excellent Drator or famous learned man Yea and the very same game in cōmon vse in the Courte and noble mens houses of oure tune no doubt very commendable and mete to be practised by all states degrées The King and Ariobarzanes being set down at a table in the great hall of the Palace one right against an other accōpanied with a great number of noble personages and Gentlemen looking vpon them and marking their play with great silence they began to encountre one an other with the Chessemen Ariobarzanes whether it was that he played better than the king or whether the king 〈◊〉 no héede to his game or what soeuer the occasion was he coursed the King to such a narrow straight as he could not auoide but within ii or iij. draughts he muste be forced to receiue the Checkemate whiche the King perceiuing and considering
toke the poysoned cuppe and said vnto the messanger Giue the king thy maister right humble thankes in my behalfe and say vnto him that I receiue and drinke this poyson with a will so good as if he had commaunded me to enter in triumph with Laurell garlande ouer mine ennimies For a better gift a husband can not giue to wife than accomplishment of assured faith the funeralls whereof shall be done with present obsequie And saying nothing else vnto the Messanger she toke the cuppe and myngling well together the poyson within she vnfearfully 〈◊〉 it vp And 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 had dronke the same she deliuered the messanger his cuppe againe and layed hir selfe vpon hir bed commaūding hir Gentlewomen in comely wise to couer hir with clothes and without lamentation or signe of Feminine minde shée stoutly waighted for approching death The Gentlewomen which waited vpon hir bewaited the rufull state of their 〈◊〉 esse whose plaints and schriches were heard throughout the palace wherof the brute and rumor was great But the good Quéene vanquished with the strong force of the poyson remained not long before she died The Messanger returned these heauie newes vnto Massinissa who sorowfully complained the losse of his beloned wife in such wise as many tymes hée was like to kill him selfe that his soule might haue accompanied the ghost of hir which was beloued of hym aboue all the deerest things of the worlde The valiaunt and wise captaine Scipio vnderstanding hereof to the intent Massinissa shoulde not commit any crueltie against himselfe or perpetrate other vncomely déede called hym before him and comforted him with the swéetest wordes he could deuise and friendly reproued him for the little faith and trust that he had in him The next day in the 〈◊〉 of all the arinie he highly commended him and rewarded him with the Kingdome of Numidia giuing hym many rich iewels and treasures and brought him in great estimation amōgs that Romans which the Senate and people of Rome very well approned and cōfirmed with most ample priuileges attributing vnto him the title of King of Numidia and frend of the Romanes Such was the eude of the vnhappie loue of kyng 〈◊〉 and the faire and unluckie Quéene Sophonisba Poris and Theoxena ¶ The crueltie of a King of 〈◊〉 who forced a Gentlewomā called THEOXENA to persuade hir children to kill and poison them selues after which facte she and hir husband PORIS ended their life by drovvning The. viij Nouell BUt sith wée haue begon to treat of the stoutnesse of certaine noble Quéenes I will not let also to recite the Historie of a like vnfearefull dame of Thessalian lande called Theoxena of right noble race the daughter of Herodicus prince of that cūtrey in the time that Philip the sonne of Demetrius was king of Macedone tolde also by Titus Liuius as two of the former be This lady Theoxena first was a notable exāple of 〈◊〉 vertue afterwardes of rigorous crueltie For the said King Philip hauing through his wickednesse first murdred Herodicus and by succession of time cruelly done to death also the husbands of Theoxena and of Archo hir natural sister vnto either of them being widowes remaining a sonne afterwardes Archo beyng maried againe to one of the principall of their countrey named Poris of him she had many childrē But when she was dead that sayd ladie Theoxena hir sister who was of heart more cōstant and stoute than the other stil refused the second mariage although sued vnto by many great lordes and princes at length pitying hir nephewes state for scare they shold fal into the handes of some cruell stepdame or that their father would not bring them vp with such diligence as till that time they were was contented to be espoused again to Poris no lawe that time knowen to defend the same to the intent she might traine vp hir sisters children as hir owne That done she began as if they wer hir own to intreate and vse them louingly with great care and 〈◊〉 wherby it 〈◊〉 appeared that she was not 〈◊〉 againe to Poris for hir own commoditie and pleasure but 〈◊〉 for the welth and gouernement of those hir sisters children Afterwards Philip king of Macedon an vnquiete Prince determining to make new warres vpon the Romanes then throughout the worlde famous and 〈◊〉 for their 〈◊〉 fortune 〈◊〉 not onely the chief and noble men but almost all the auncient inhabi 〈◊〉 of the Cities along the sea coast of Thessalia and their whole and entier families into Peonia afterwards called Emathia a countrey farre distant from the sea giuing their voided cities for the Thracians to inhabite as most propre and faithfull for the Romains warres which he intended to make and hearing also the 〈◊〉 maledictions pronoūced against him by the banished people and vniuersally by all other thoughte hée was in no good suretie if he caused not likewise all the sonnes of them whome a little before he had 〈◊〉 to be put to death Wherfore he commaunded them to be taken and holden vnder good garde inprison not to do them all to be 〈◊〉 at once but at times now one and then an other as 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Theoxena vnderstanding the 〈◊〉 of this wicked and cruell King and well remembring the death of hir husband and of him that was husband to hir sister knew wel that hir sonne and nephew 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 be demaunded and greatly 〈◊〉 the Kings wrath and the rigour of his Guarde if once they fell into their handes to defende them from shame and crueltie sodeinly applied hir minde vnto a straunge deuice For shée durst to say vnto hir husband their fathers sace that sooner 〈◊〉 would kill them with hir owne handes if otherwise she coulde not warraunt 〈◊〉 than suffer them to bée at the will and power of King Philip. By reason wherof Poris abhorring 〈◊〉 erecrable crueltie to comforte his wife and to saue his children promised hir secretely to transporte them from thence and caried them himselfe to certain of his faithful friends at Athenes which done without long delay he made as though he would go from Thessalonica to Aenias to be at the 〈◊〉 of certaine sacrifices which yearely at an appointed time was done with great ceremonies to the honour of Aenêas the 〈◊〉 of that citie where spending the time amongs other in solemne bankets the. iij. watch of the night when euery mā was a slepe as though he woulde haue returned home to his countrey with his wife children priuily he embarketh him selfe and them in a shyppe hired of purpose to passe into Euboea and not to 〈◊〉 to Thessalonica But his entent was cleane altered chaunged for his shippe was no sooner vnder saile but at that instant a contrarie winde and tempest rose that brought him backe againe in despite of their labour and all the endeuour they were able to doe And when daye light appeared the Kyngs garrison descried that shippe and manned out a boate to bring in the same
custodie and sodainly assailed the Palace of Acharisto And finding the Gates open he entred the citie crying out vpon the wickednesse and treason of Acharisto At which words the whole Citie began to rise to helpe Philon in his enterprise For there was no state or degrée but abhorred the vnkind order of that variet towards the noble woman their Quéene Philon aided with the people assaulted the Palace and in short space inuaded the same and the Uarlet béeing apprehended was put to death The Corinthians séeing the noble minde of Philon and the loue which he bare to Euphimia and knowing that their late Kyng was disposed to haue matched hir with Philon were very willing to haue him to be their king and that Euphimia shold be his wife supposing that vnder the gouernement of a Prince so gentle and valiant they might liue very happily and ioyefully Execution done vpon that moste 〈◊〉 varlet Philon caused the Ladie to be conueyed home into hir royall Pallace And the people with humble submission began to persuade hir to marie with that yong Prince Philon. But shée which had lodged hir thoughts and fixed hir minde vpon that caytife who vnnaturally had abused hir would by no meanes consent to take a new husband saying that the seconde mariage was not to bée allowed in any woman And albeit that she knew howe greately she was bounde to Philon as during life not able to recompence his louing kindnesse and baliant exployte performed for hir safegarde yet for all hir vnhappie fortune shée was minded still to remayne a widowe and well contented that Philon shoulde possesse hir whole domynion and kingdome and she pleased to liue his subiecte Whiche state she sayd did like hir best Philon that not for desire of the Kingdome but for loue of the ladie had attempted that worthie and honourable enterprise sayd vnto hir Euphimia it was onely for youre sake that I aduentured this dangerous indeuor to ridde you from the slander that might haue ensued youre innocent death and out of the cruell hands of him whome unworthily you did so dearely loue No desire of kingdome or worldely glorie induced me herevnto No care that I had to enlarge the boundes of my countrey soile pricked the courage of my minde that is altogether emptie of ambition but the passion of carelesse loue whiche this long time I haue borne you in your happie fathers dayes to whome I made incessant sute and to your selfe I was so long a suter vntil I receiued extreme repulse For which I vowed a perpetuall single life vntill this occasion was offred the brute wherof when I heard first so stirred the minde of your most louing knight that drousie sléepe or gréedie hunger could not force this restlesse bodie to tarrie at home vntill I reuenged my self vpon that vilaine borne which went about with roasting flames to consume the innocent flesh of hir whom I loued best And therfore mustred together my men of armes and in secret sort imbarked our selues and arriued here Where wée haue accomplished the thyng we came for and haue settled you in quiet raigne frée from perill of traiterous mindes crauing for this my fact nought else of you but willing minde to be my wife which 〈◊〉 you do refuse I passe not for rule of your kyngdome ne yet for abode in Corinth but meane to leaue you to youre choise For satisfied am I that I haue manifested to the world the greatnesse of my loue which was so ample as euer King could beare to vertuous Quéene And so fare well At which wordes he made a signe to his people that they should shippe them selues for returne to Poloponessus But the Senatours and al the people of Corinth seing the curtesie of Philon how greatly their Quéene was bound vnto him fel downe vpon their knées and with ioyned hands befought hir to take him to husband neuer ceasing from teares and supplication vntill shée had consented to their request Then the mariage was solemnised with great ioy and triumphe and the whole Citie after that time lyued in great felicitie quiet so long as nature lengthened the dayes of those two noble Princes The Marchionisse of Monferrato ¶ The Marchionisse of MONFERRATO with a banket of hennes and certaine pleasant wordes repressed the fonde loue of PHILIP the French King The. xvj Nouel GOod Euphimia as you haue heard did fondly applie hir loue vpon a seruile mā who though bred vp in Court wher trayuyng and vse doth cōmonly alter the rude condicions of suche as bée interteyned there yet voyde of all gentlenesse and frustrate of natures swéetenesse in that curteous kinde as not exchaungyng natiue 〈◊〉 for noble aduauncement returned to his hoggish soile and walowed in the durtie filthe of Inhumanitie whose nature myght well with Forke or Staffe bee expelled but home againe it would haue come as Horace pleadeth in his Epistles O noble Gentlewoman that mildly suffred the displeasure of the good King hir father who woulde faine haue dissuaded hir from that vnséemely matche to ioyne with a yong Prince a King a Gentleman of great perfection And O pestilent Carle being beloued of so honourable a pucell that for treason discharged thy head frō the block of a donghill slaue preferred thée to be a King wouldest for those deserts in the ende frame 〈◊〉 matter to consume hir With iust hatred then did the noble Emperor Claudius Caesar prosecute those of bonde seruile kinde that were matched with the frée and noble Right well knew he that some tast of egrenesse wold rest in such sauage frute therfore made a law that the issue of them shold not haue like libertie and preheminence as other had which agréeably did couple What harme such mariage hath inferred to dyuers states and persons to auoide other exāples the former Nouel teacheth Wherfore to ende the same with bewailing of Euphimia for hir vnluckie lot begin we now to glad our selues with the wise and stoute aunswere of a chaste Marquesse a Gentlewoman of singular beautie and discretion made to the fond demaunde of a mightie Monarch that fondly fell in loue with hir and made a reckenyng of that which was doubtfull to recouer This King by louing hir whome he neuer saw fared like the man that in his sléepe dreamed that hée had in holde the thing furthest from him For the King neuer saw hir before he heard hir praised and when he hearde hir praised for purpose to winne hir he trauailed out of his way so sure to enioy hir as if he had neuer séene hir This historie although briefe yet sheweth light to noble dames that be pursued by Princes teacheth them with what regard they ought to interteine such suters The Marquesse then of Monferrato a citie in Italie beyng a Gentlemā of great prowesse and valiance was appointed to transfrete the Seas in a generall passage made by the christians with an huge Armie and great furniture And as it chaunced vpon
purpose he was not able to remoue but rather the more difficult and daungerous his enterprise séemed to be the more grew desire to prosecute and obiect him selfe to all dangers If peraduenture the Quéenes for their disport and pastime were disposed to walke into the fieldes or gardens of the Citie of Hispurge he failed not in company of other Courtiers to make one of the troupe being no houre at rest and 〈◊〉 if he were not in the sight of Quéene Anne or néere that place where she was At that time there were many Gentlemen departed from Lombardie to Hispurge which for the most parte followed the Lord Francesco Sforza the second by whom they hoped when the Duchie of Milane was recouered to be restored to their Countrey There was also Chamberlain to the said Lord Francesco one master Girolamo Borgo of Verona betwene whome and master Philippo was very néere friendship familiaritie And bicause it chauncethvery seldome that seruent loue can be kept so secrete and couert but in some part it will discouer it selfe master Borgo easily did perceiue the passion wherwith master Philippo was inflamed And one master Philippo Baldo many times being in the company of master Borgo and Philippo did marke and perceiue his loue yet was ignorant of the truthe or voide of coniecture with what Gentlewoman he was inamored But séeing him contrary to wonted custome altered from vsual mirth transported fetching many sighes strainings from his stomake and marking how many times he wold steale from the cōpany he was in withdraw him self alone to muse vpon hys thoughts brought thereby into a melancholy and meane estate hauing lost his sléepe and 〈◊〉 of eating meat iudged that the amorous wormes of 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 bitterly gnawe and teare his heart wyth the nebs of their forked heads They three then being vpon a time togither debating of diuers things amōgs them selues chaunced to fall in argument of loue and 〈◊〉 Baldo Borgo the other gentlemen said to master Philippo how they were well assured that he was straūgely attached with that passion by marking and considering the new life which lately he led contrary to former vse intreating him very earnestly that he would manifest his loue to them that were his déere and faithful frends telling him that as in weightie matters otherwise hée was alredy sure what they were euē so in this he might hardily repose his hope and confidence promising him all their helpe and fauoure if therein their indeuor and trauaile might minister ayde and comfort He then like one raised from a traunce or lately reuiued from an 〈◊〉 after he hadde composed his countenaunce and gesture with teares and multitude of sobbes began to say these woordes My welbeloued friendes and trusty companiens being right well assured that ye whose sidelitie I haue already proued whose secrete mouthes be recómmended amongs the wise and vertuous will kéepe close and couert the thing which you shall heare me vtter as of such importaunce that if the yong 〈◊〉 Gentleman Papyrius had bene héere for all hys silence of graue matters required by hys mother I would vnnethes haue disclosed the same vnto hym In déede I cannot deny but must néedes consesse that I am in loue and that very ardently which I cannot in suche wise conceale but that the blinde must néedes clearely and euidently perceiue And although my mouth would 〈◊〉 kéepe close in what plight my passions doe constraine my inwarde affections yet my face and straunge manner of life which for a certayne time and space I haue led doe witnesse that I am not the man I was 〈◊〉 to be So that if shortly I doe not amend I trust to arriue to that ende whereunto euery Creature is borne and that my bitter and paynefull life shall take ende if I may call it a life and not rather a liuyng death I was resolued and throughly determined neuer to discouer to any man the cause of my cruell torment being not able to manifest the same to hir whome I doe only loue thinking better by conceling it through loue to make humble sute to Lady Atropos that shée would cutte of the thréede of my dolorous lyfe Neuerthelesse to you from whome I ought to kéepe nothyng secrete I will disgarboile and 〈◊〉 the very secretes of my minde not for that I hope to finde comfort and reliefe or that my passions by declaration of them wil lessen and diminishe but that ye knowing the occasion of my death may make reporte thereof to hir that is the only mistresse of my life that she vnderstanding the extréeme panges of the truest louer that euer liued may mourne and waile his losse which thing if my séely ghost may know no doubt where so euer it doe wander shall receiue great ioy and comforte Be it knowne vnto you therefore the first daye that mine eyes beheld the diuine beautie and incomparable sauer of that superexcellent Lady Quéene Anne of Hungarie that I more than wisdom required did meditate and consider the singular behauior and notable 〈◊〉 and other innumerable gifts wherwith she is indued the same beyònde measure did so inflame my heart that impossible it was for me to quenche the feruent loue or extinguish the least parte of my conceiued torment I haue done what I can to macerate and mortifie my vnbridled desire but all in vayne My force and puissaunce is to weake to matche wyth so mightye an 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 I knowe what ye wyll obiecte against me ye will say that mine ignobilitie my birth and stocke be no méete matches for such a personage and that my loue is to highly placed to sucke relief And the same I do 〈◊〉 so well as you I doe acknowledge my condition state too base I confesse that my loue nay rather I may terme it folly doth presume beyond the bounds of order For the first time that I felt my selfe wrapped in those snares I knew hir to beare the port amōgs the chiefest Quéenes to be the 〈◊〉 princesse of Christendom Againe I knew my selfe the poorest Gentleman of the world and the most miserable exile I thought moreouer it to be very vnséemely for me to direct my minde vpon a wight so honorable and of so great estate But who can raine the bridle or prescribe lawes to loue What is he that in loue hath frée will and choyse Truely I beleue no man bicause loue the more it doth séeme to accord in pleasure and delight the further from the marke he shooteth his bolte hauing no respect to degrée or state Haue not many excellent and worthy personages yea Dukes Emperours and Kings bene inflamed wyth the loue of Ladies and women of base and vile degrée Haue not most honorable dames and women of greatest renoume despised the honor of their states abandoned the companie of their husbāds and neglected the loue of their children for the ardent loue that they haue borne to men of inferiour sort All Histories
be full of examples of that purpose The memories of our auncestors be yet in fresh remembraunce whereof if they were ignorant vnto you that be of great experience I could adnouche assured testimony Yet thus much I say vnto you that it séeme no new thing for a man to be ouercome by his owne affection It is not the Nobilitie of hir state or for that she is a Quéene it is not the consideration of one parte or other that moued me first hereunto But loue it is that is of greater force than we our selues be of which many tymes maketh that to séeme lawfull which altogether is tymes and by subduing reason maketh the great potentate and lorde tributarie to his wil pleasure whose force is farre greater than the lawes of Nature And albeit that I neuer hope to attayne to prosperous ende of this 〈◊〉 and stately loue which more more doth seme infortunate yet I can not for my life else where applie that same or alter it to other place And consuming still through faithfull feruent loue borne to the Quéene I haue forced cōstrained my self by al possible meanes to gyue ouer that fond foolish enterprise and to place my minde else where but mine endeuour and all my labour and resistance is employed in vaine Yea and if it were not for feare of eternall damnation and the losse of my poore afflicted soule which God forbid mine owne handes before this time had ended my desires I am therfore determined sith that I can attaine to no successe of loue and that god doth suffer me to be inspired with that most honourable and curteous Ladie beyond al order and estimation to content my selfe with the sight of those hir faire glistring eyes farre excelling that sparcling glimpse of the Diamonde or Saphire and to serue loue and honour hir so long as life doth last within this féeble corps Upon whose radiant and excelling beautie my hope shal continually féede and yet I am not so farre voyde of vnderstanding but that I do most euidently know none other to be the guide of this vnmeasurable loue but follie most extreme Upon the ende of those wordes he let fall many teares and stayed with sobbes and sighes was able to speake no more And in very déede he that had séene him wold haue thought that his heart had bene tormented with most bitter and painefull passions Nowe they being very attentiue to his pitiful oration were attached with incredible sorow thinking thei had ben in a 〈◊〉 by hering of this discourse stode stil a while one loking vpon an other without speaking word Afterwards comming to themselues distraught almost for the greatadmiration and wonder to heare him speake those words master Girolamo and Baldo with suasible arguments went about to persuade him to withdraw his 〈◊〉 and foolishe mind praying him to place the same elsewhere shewing him the impossibilitie of his enterprise the great perill that might succéede therof But they spake to a man that séemed to be deafe who replied that he neither coulde or would giue ouer his loue that had alreadie made too depe impression what so euer came of it Notwithstandyng they ceased not stil with sharp 〈◊〉 to beate into his head the fond beginning of his foolish loue not only at that time but continually when they were together they did their best by oft repetition of his vaine conceipt to let him vnderstand his manifest error but their labor and friendly lessons were to no purpose Wherfore master Borgo master Baldo determined to giue him ouer and to attende what wold succede therof Master Philippo continuing his pursute neuer failing to be at church when he knew the Quéenes to be there at length it chanced that they begā to espie his loue for that both of them did mark his order gesture and demeanure and did note his oft frequētation of the places where they continually haunted and his maner in placing himselfe at the church directly ouer against them and his common vse in beholding and loking vpon their faces iudgyng thereby that without doubte he was in loue with one of them or at least with some Gentlewoman in their companie wherof the two Quéenes began to vse some talk although not certaine vpon whome his loue was 〈◊〉 Neuer thelesse they were desirous to know the truth expected 〈◊〉 somtime to dissolue that doubt In the meane while master Philippo thought by gazing on their beauty to remoue the fire that miserably did consume the sucke marow of his bones séeking comfort and reliefe for his afflicted heart the more I say he sought for ease the greater he felt his pain And truly al they that feruently do loue aspire to that which otherwise they wold eschue by sight of them whom they do loue not remembring that the more they doe contemplate the beloued beautie the more increaseth desire and with desire 〈◊〉 and bitter smart Master Philippo then lost no occasiō or time stil to behold Madame the Quéene were it in the church or court or wer she disposed for disport recreation to walke abrode It chaūced now while things wer at this point the ladies very desirous to know vpon whō master Philippo did expēd his loue the fortune opened vnto thē a meane to vnderstād the same It was then about that time of the yere wherin all floures roses were by Titans force constrained to 〈◊〉 deck eche gardens place of pleasure with their fragrant smells odors to scent the same In the moneth of May it was when the Twinnes were disposed to shroud themselues amōgs the hawthorn boughes honysuckles that yeld to euery wight gretest store of delights at what time roses other floures at their first budding be verie rare and scant sauing in Kings Courts and princes palaces where such rarieties by art and industrie be most abundant and all men haue delight to present such nouelties to the best and principall ladies Upon a day Quéene Anne had in hir hands certaine floures in due order couched in a Nosegay and for hir disport walked vp down a very faire gorgeous garden in the company of quene Mary other Ladies gentlewomen about that time of the day that the Sun werie of trauaile went to hide him self in the back side of the western moūtains where amōgs other of the Court was maister Philippo Quéene Anne when she had espied hym determined to make proufe with what ladie amongs them all maister Philippo was in loue and sporting hir selfe with softe walkes vp and downe the garden pleasantly iesting with diuerse there attendante as the maner is of like ladies with trimme and pleasant talke at length happed vpon master Philippo who although he was in cōmunication with certain Italian Gentlemen neuerthelesse his mynde and eyes were fired vpon the Quéene that when 〈◊〉 she appered before him his eyes and sace were so firmely bent vpon hir as
sorowfull husband gaue sufficient witnesse of hir paine and grief And if none had heard hir I thinke hir playntes woulde haue well expressed hir inwarde smarte of minde But like a wise Ladie séeing the alleaged reasons of hir husband licensed him although against hir minde not without vtterance of these few words before hée went out of hir Chamber Deare husband if I were so well assured of the affection of my brethren as I am of my maides fidelitie I would entreat you not to leaue me alone specially in the case I am being with childe But knowing that to be iust true which you haue sayd I am content to force my wil for a certaine time that hereafter we may liue at rest together ioyning our selues in the companie of our children and familie voide of those troubles which great Courts ordinarily beare within the compasse of their Palaces Of one thing I must intreat you that so oftē as you can by trustie messenger you send me woord intelligence of your health and state bicause the same shal bryng vnto me greater pleasure contentation than the welfare of mine owne and bicause also vpon such occurrentes as shall chaunce I may prouyde for mine owne affaires the suretie of my self and of our childrē In saying so she embraced him very amorously and he kissed hir wyth so great sorrow and grief of heart as the soule thought in that extasie out of his body to take hir flight sorowful beyōd mesure so to leue hir whome he loued for the great curtesies and honor which he had receiued at hir hands In the end fearing that the Aragon espials wold come and perceiue them in those priuities Bologna tooke his leaue and bad hys Ladie and spouse Farewell And thus was the second Acte of this Tragicall Historie to sée a fugitife husband secretely to mary especially hir vpon whom he ought not so much as to loke but with feare and reuerence Beholde here O ye foolish louers a Glasse of your lightnesse and ye women the course of your fonde behauior It behoueth not the wise sodainly to execute their first motiōs and desires of their heart for so much as they may be assured that pleasure is pursued so neare with a repentāce so sharp to be suffred and hard to be digested as their voluptuausnesse shall vtterly discontent them True it is that mariages be done in Heauen and performed in earth but that saying may not be applied to fooles which gouerne themselues by carnall desires whose scope is but pleasure the reward many times equal to their follie Shall I be of opinion that a housholde seruaunt ought to sollicite nay rather suborne the daughter of his Lord without punishment or that a vile and abiect person dare to mount vpon a Princes bed No no pollicie requireth order in all and eche wight ought to be matched according to their qualitie without making a pastime of it to couer our follies know not of what force loue and desteny be except the same be resisted A goodly thing it is to loue but where reason loseth his place loue is without his effect and the sequele rage madnesse Leaue we that discourse of those which beleue that they be constrained to folowe the force of their minde and may easily subdue themselues to the lawes of vertue and honesty like one that thrusteth his head into a sack and thinks he can not get out such people do please themselues in their losse and think all well that is noisom to their health daily folowing their cōtrarie Come we againe then to sir Bologna who after he had left his wife in hir Castell went to Naples and hauing sessed a rent vpon his landes and leuied a good summe of money he repaired to Ancona a Citie of the patrimonie of the Romane Church whither he caried his two children which he had of the Duchesse causing the same to be brought vp with such diligēce and care as is to be thought a father wel affectioned to his wife would doe and who delighted to sée a braunche of the trée that to him was the best beloued fruit of the world There he hired a house for his train and for those that waited vpon his wife who in the meane time was in great care could not tell of what woode to make hir arowes perceiuing that hir belly began to 〈◊〉 and grow to the time of hir deliuerie séeing that from day to day hir brothers seruaunts were at hir back 〈◊〉 of councel and aduise if one euening she had not spokē to the Gentlewoman of hir chāber touching the douts and peril wherin she was not knowing how she might be deliuered from the same That maiden was gentle of a good minde and stomake and loued hir mistresse very derely séeing hir so amazed and tormenting hir self to death minding to fray hir no further ne to reproue hir of hir fault which could not be amended but rather to prouide for the daunger wherunto she had hedlong cast hir self gaue hir this aduise How now Madame said she is that wisdom which from your childhode hath bene so familiar in you dislodged from your brest in time when it ought chiefly to rest for incountring of those mishaps that are cōming vpon vs Thinke you to auoid the dangers by thus tormenting your self except you set your hands to the work thereby to giue the repulse to aduerse fortune I haue heard you many times speake of the constancie force of minde which ought to shine in the dedes of Princesses more clerely than amōgs those dames of baser house which ought to make thē appere like the sunne amid that litle starres And yet I sée you now astonned as though you had neuer forséene that aduersitie chaunceth so wel to catch the great within his clouches as that base simple sort Is it but now that you haue called to remembraunce that which might insue your mariage with sir Bologna Did hys only presence assure you against the waits of fortune was it the thought of paines feares frights which now turmoileth your dolorous mind Ought you thus to vexe your self when nede it is to think how to saue both your honor and the frute within your 〈◊〉 If your sorow be so great ouer sir Bologna and if you feare your childbed wil be descried why séeke you not meanes to attempt some voyage for couering of the sad to 〈◊〉 the eyes of them which so diligently do watch you Doth your heart faile you in that matter Whereof do you dreame Why sweat and freat you before you make me answer Ah swéete heart answered the Duchesse if thou feltest the paine which I do suffer thy tongue wold not be so much at will as thou shewest it now to be for reprofe of my smal cōstancie I do sorow specially for that causes which thou alleagest and aboue all for that I know wel that if my brethrē had neuer so litle intelligence of