his errour they returned afresh to their teares and imbracements And whilest this was in doing there appeared to their view in the sayd Valley a great number of armed men both on foot and horseback which came to side with their severall Lords and to abet and maintaine their quarrell But when they came and saw them imbracing those Pilgrims and teares standing in their eyes they allighted and wondring what this should meane they stood like men amazed untill such time as Don Henrique briefely delivered unto them that which his daughter Leocadia had recounted to himselfe Hereupon all of them went to imbrace these Pilgrims with such showes and tokens of content as cannot bee enough endeared Don Rafael hee likewise related unto them with that brevitie as the time required all the whole successe of his love and how he came to bee marryed to Leocadia and his sister Theodosia to Marco Antonio his father there offering to celebrate these their Nuptialls at his house And this being agreed upon they brake up and departed And some of them that were there present hasted away before to aske Albricias of the kinsfolke and friends of those married couples Don Rafael and Marco Antonio in their way homewards as they went talking along came to know the cause of this their strife and difference which was as you shall heare The fathers of Theodosia and Leocadia had chalenged Marco Antonio's father charging him that he was consenting and privy to these deceits of his sonne And both of them being come into the field and finding him all alone without any second they would not fight with him upon that oddes and advantage but singly one to one as became gentlemen to doe which quarrell must have ended in the death of one or both if they had not come in so luckily as they did The foure Pilgrims rendred thankes unto God for this happy successe And so the next day after their arrivall with royall and splendide magnificence and sumptuous expence the father of Marco Antonio solemnized the Nuptialls of his sonne and Theodosia and those of Don Rafael and Leocadia who lived many and happy yeares in the company of their dearely beloved wives leaving behinde them a noble stocke and descent from father to sonne which continueth even to this day in those two places which are numbred amongst the best of Andaluzia And if I doe not name them here unto you it is for that I desire to keepe good decorum with those two Damsells whom peradventure tongues eyther wickedly malicious or foolishly scrupulous might taxe of lightnesse in their desires and that sodaine changing of their habits Whom I shall intreate that they will not goe about to blame such the like liberties and exercises till they looke back into themselves and examine their owne hearts whether they have not at one time or other beene touched with Cupids arrowes for Love is in effect a force pardon the exorbitancy of the word that is unresistable so strong a warre is that which the appetite wageth against reason Calvete the Muletere rested well contented with the reward Don Rafael sent him home to Salamanca and many other gifts bestowed on him by the rest of those that were newly marryed And the Poets of those times tooke occasion for the imploying of their pens in extolling the beauty and exaggerating the successe of those two adventurous but most honest Damsells being the principall subject of this strange story The end of the first Booke THE LADY CORNELIA THE SECOND BOOK DOn Antonio de Ysunca and Don Iuan de Gamboa principall Gentlemen both of one age very discreete and great friends being students in Salamanca resolved to leave their studies and to goe for Flanders carryed thither by the heate of their youthfull blood and by the desire which they had as we usually say to see the world And because it seemed unto them that the exercise of Armes though it suteth well with all yet it hath its principall seate and residence and in much better sorteth with those that are well borne and of noble blood They came then to Flanders but at such a time that things were in peace and quietnesse or upon treatie and agreement of being quickly so setled They received in Antwerpe Letters from their fathers wherein they writ and signified unto them the great displeasure and discontentment which they had received for that they had left their studies without advising them thereof to the end that they might have come so fitted and accommodated for Planders as their birth and qualitie required In conclusion they knowing how this course of theirs grieved their parents determined to returne back againe to Spaine since that they saw there was nothing for them to doe in Flanders Yet before they would returne they were very desirous to see all the famousest Cities of Italy and having seene all of them they setled themselves in Bolinia and admiring the studies of that famous Vniversitie they were willing therein to prosecute theirs They gave notice of their intention to their fathers who were wonderfully glad of it and they expressed how well they were pleased therewith by magnificently providing for them and in such a noble manner that they might show in their fashion and carriage who they were and of what house they came And from the very first day that they visited the schooles all tooke notice of them and acknowledged them to bee gallant discreete and well bred gentlemen Don Antonio might be about some twenty foure yeares of age and Don Iuan not above twenty six and they did adrone this good age of theirs by being very brave Gentlemen good Musitians better Poets and very active and valiant parts that procured them much love and made the best wishes of all those that conversed with them to waite upon them They had in a very short time wonne unto them many friends as well Spanish students there being very many of them commonly in that Vniversitie as also of those of that Citie and of strangers They shewed themselves towards all liberall and bountifull kinde and loving and farre from that pride and arrogancy an ordinary faulte whereof the Spaniards generally use to bee taxed And for that they were young men and full of jollitie and jocundarinesse it was not unpleasing unto them to take notice of the best beauties of that Citie and albeit there were many Gentlewomen both maidens and married wives that had a good report of being both faire and honest yet above all the Lady Cornelia Bentivogli bore the bell being of the ancient and noble family of the Bentivogli's who were sometimes Lords of Bolonia Cornelia was extremely fayre and beautifull and was under the guard and protection of Lorenzo Bentivogli her brother a most honorable and valiant gentleman being both fatherlesse and motherlesse And although they left them thus all alone yet did they leave them exceeding rich And riches to Orphaneship is a great ease and comfort so great was Cornelia's
wish that shee would speake whom she imagined might be her Mother for peradventure her cares would put her out of that doubt whereinto her cies had put her The Queene willed Isabella that she should speake Spainish to that woman and that man and they should tell her what was the cause that moved them not to accept and enioy that their libertie which Ricaredo had given them being that libertie is a thing above all other the dearest and best beloved not onely of reasonable creatures but of those that want it All this Isabella demanded of her Mother who without returning her any one word suddenly and halfe stumbling for haste came unto Isabella and without regarding respect feare or the Courtiers looking on her with her hand she lifted up Isabella's right eare and having there discovered a black mole which marke confirmed her suspition and plainely perceiving that it was her Daughter Isabella she could no longer containe her selfe but embracing her cried out aloud saying Oh Daughter of my heartâ— Oh deare pledge of my soule and not being able to utter a word more her speech fayling she fainted and fell into a swound in Isabella's 〈◊〉 Her Father no lesse tender then prudent gave manifest signes how sensible he was of all this but with no other words then a silent shedding of teares which softly trickling downe bedewed both his checkes and beard Isabella layd her face to that of her Mother and turning her eyes towards 〈◊〉 Father in such a hinde of manner looked 〈…〉 that theâ—…hy shee gave him to understand the pleasure and contentment her soule tooke in seeing them 〈◊〉 The Queene wondering at this so â—are and strange an 〈◊〉 sayd to Ricaredo I 〈◊〉 Ricaredo that this 〈…〉 discretion but I must tell you I know not whether you did well in so doing For we see by experience that a sudden joy as soon kills as a sudden sorrow And having said this she turned her selfe to Isabella and tooke her apart from her Mother who having a little water sprinkled in her face came again to her selfe and calling her wits a little better about her humbling her selfe on her knees before the Queene shee sayd unto her I beseech your Majestie to pardon my boldnes for it is no mervaile that I should forget my selfe and lose my sences with the over much joy I have received in the finding out this my beloved pledge The Queene made answer that she had a great deale of reason on her side making use of an Interpreter that she might the better understand her Isabella came in this manner as I told you before to the knowledge of her Parents and her Parents of her whom the Queene commanded to reside in the Court to the end that 〈◊〉 might with the better leisure both see and talke with their Daughter and rejoyce and make merry with her Wherewith Ricaredo was wonderfull well pleased and craved anew of the Queene that she would be pleased to make good her promise by bestowing Isabella upon him in case hee did deserve her and if not hee humbly besought her Majestie that shee would bee pleased presently to put him upon some other employment that might make himselfe worthie of obtaining that which he so earnestly desired The Queene understood very well that Ricaredo rested well satisfied of himselfe and of his great valour insomuch that there needed not onely new prooses for to qualifie him And therefore told him that foure dayes from that present being fully ended she would deliver Isabella unto him doing both of them all the grace and honour she possible could Vpon this answer Ricaredo tooke his leave being the most joyfull and most contented man in the world transported with that nâ—…re hope which hee now had of having Isabella in his power without any feare of losing 〈◊〉 which is the last and 〈◊〉 most desire of Lovers Time range but 〈…〉 light and â—…able foot as hee wiâ—…ed For 〈…〉 by the hope of promise to come doe ever 〈…〉 that time doth not flye with wings swart enough but that he hath lead tyed to his heeles and treads the 〈◊〉 of slothfulnesse it selfe Well at last came that desired day 〈…〉 Ricaredo thought to put an end to 〈…〉 finde in Isabella new graces which might 〈…〉 her the more if more he could then he did 〈…〉 that short time when as he thought the 〈…〉 good fortune sayled with a prosper 〈…〉 desired Port a contrary chance and 〈…〉 up in this calme sea such a tempestuous 〈…〉 feared a thousand times to see it 〈…〉 The case then is this 〈…〉 chamber Ladie to the Queene to whose 〈…〉 committed had a Sonne of the age of 〈…〉 called the Farle of Arnesto The greatnesse of his 〈…〉 of his bloud and the great favour which his 〈…〉 held with the Queene made him 〈…〉 things which did not become him and to breake 〈◊〉 into excesses but also made him arrogant proud haughtie and confident of himselfe This Arnesto then was onâ—moured of Isabella and so enflamedly that his very soule did burne in the sparkeling light of Isabella's eyes And albeit in that time that Ricaredo was absent he had by some signes discovered his desires 〈◊〉 was he never admitted by Isabella or received any the 〈…〉 And how 〈◊〉 that repugnancie and 〈…〉 loves infancie are wont to make lovers to desist 〈◊〉 their enter prize yet in Arnesto the many and 〈…〉 which Isabella shewed him wrought the cleane contrary for hee was set on fire with his owne jealousies and burned with desire to attempt her honestie And for that he saw that Ricaredo in the Queens opinion had deserved Isabella and that within so little a while she was to be given unto him for Wife he was ready to runne into despaire and to offer violence to himselfe But before that he would goe about to use so infamous and cowardly a remedie hee brake with his Mother entreating her that she would speake unto the Queens to give him Isabella to bee his Wife which if shee did not bring to passe that he would then have her to know and assuredly beleeve that death stood knocking at the doores of his life The Mother wondred to heare such words fall from her Sonne and for that she knew the roughnesse of his harsh nature and head-strong condition and the fastnesse wherewith these desires did cleave unto his soule she was afrayd that this his love would end in some sinister successe and unhappie issue yet not withstanding as a Mother to whom it is naturall to desite and procure the good of her Children shee promised to preferre his pretension to the Queene though not with any hope to obtaine such an impossibilitie of her as the breaking of her Princely word but that shee might not omit to try in so desperate a case the utmost remedie And hIsabella being that morning apparrelled by order from the Queene so richly that my Penne dares not presume to deliver the manner thereof unto you and the Queene
saying My brother Gentlemen my brother it is hee it is hee doubtlesse hee hath had notice of my being here and is come purposely hither to take away my life Helpe mee Gentlemen good Gentlemen helpe mee succour and protect a poore distressed Gentlewoman and suffer her not to be murthered in your presence Quiet your selfe Lady sayd Don Antonio content your selfe and bee still for you are in such a place and in the power of such a one who will not suffer any the least wrong in the world to be done unto you Goe you forth Don Iuan and see what this gentleman will have and I will stay here to make good this place if neede shall require in the behalfe of Cornelia Don Iuan without any alteration or change of countenance went downe And Don Antonio caused presently a brace of pistolls that were ready charged to be brought him and commanded the Pages that they should take unto them their swords and be prepared to prevent any affront that should bee offred The woman perceiving these preventions trembled And Cornelia fearefull of some ill successe shaked and quivered much more Onely Don Antonio and Don Iuan were themselves and very well appointed and resolved on that which they were to doe At the doore that opened to the streete Don Iuan found Don Lorenzo who had no sooner seene Don Iuan but hee sayd unto him I beseech you Sir for this is the fashion and courtesie of Italy that you will doe mee the favour to goe along with me to that Church which is there right over against us for I have a businesse to impart unto you which imports no lesse then my life and my honour With a very good will replyed Don Iuan Come Sir let us goe whether you please Having sayd this they walked hand in hand to the Church and sitting downe on a forme and in place apart where they might not bee heard Lorenzo spake first and sayd I noble Spaniard am Lorenzo Bentivogli if not one of the richest yet one of the chiefest of this City This truth being so notorious may serve to excuse this my speaking in mine owne praise I have some yeares since continued an Orphane and there remayned in my power a sister of mine my onely sister so fayre and so beautifull that were shee not so neare unto me I should in such lively colours set it forth that no indearing should be wanting for to tell you truly there is not that beauty take it altogether that can truly match it Now for that I am honorably descended and shee young and faire it made mee to be very solicitous and carefull in the safe keeping of so rich a jewell But the headstrong will of my sister Cornelia for that is her name hath defrauded all my preventions and diligences In a word for to cut of that not to weary you which would be too long a story to tell I shall shut up all in this That the Duke of Ferrara Alfonso de Este with Lynx his eyes overcame those of Argos overthrew my vigilancie and triumphed over my industry by subduing my Sister carrying her away by night and taking her out of our kinswomans house and as they say being but newly delivered it was night ere I knew it and this very night I went to seek him out and I thinke that I met with him and gave him something that hee cannot brag of but he was succoured by some Angel who would not give way that I should wash out the staine of my dishonour with his blood My kinswoman told mee for I had all this from her that the Duke had deceived my sister under the promise of taking her to be his wife Which I believe not by reason of the inequalitie in the match in regard of the goods of fortune though there bee no disparitie in those of nature and of blood since that the qualitie of the Bentivogli of Bologna is well knowne to the world That which I beleeve is that the Duke as all great and powerfull persons use to doe who seeke to tread under their feete the honour of a timorous and wary Damsell setting before her eyes the sweet name of husband making her beleeve that for certaine respects hee could not with conveniencie presently marry her lies carrying appearance of truths but false and ill intended But be it what it will be I am sure I see my selfe without a sister and without mine honour though all this untill now I have lockt up in my bosome under the key of silence and was not willing to make any acquainted with this my wrong till I could see whether I could be able to remedy it or in some sort receive satisfation For it is better that infamies be presumed and suspected then that they should be certainly and distinctly knowne for betwixt the yea and nay the affirmation and negation of a doubt every one may leane and incline to that part which he best liketh and every one shall have them abettors In conclusion I resolved to goe to Ferrara and to require of the Duke himselfe satisfaction of my affront and if hee shall deny it me to defie him and challenge him the field upon the case now in hand but this not to be performed by squadrons and troopes of men for these I can neither make nor maintaine but man to man In which businesse I would crave the assistance of your person and that you would be pleased to accompany mee in this my journey being confident of your sufficiencie and good performance in what you undertake for that you are a Spaniard and a Gentleman as I have already beene informed Nor am I willing to acquaint therewith any kinseman or friend of mine from whom I expect nothing but counsailes and diswasions and from you I may expect those that are good and honorable though they breake through any dangers and difficulties whatsoever You Sir I must intreate to doe me the favour to goe along with mee for having a Spaniard by my side and such a one as you seeme unto me to be I shall make account that I carry with me in my defence the Armies of Xerxes It is a great courtesie that I crave of you but the debt of corresponding with that which fame proclaymeth of your nation obliegeth you to much more No more Senior Lorenzo at this time said Don Iuan for hitherto without interrupting you I have hearkned to every word of yours no more I say for henceforth I constitute my selfe your defender and adviser and take to my charge either satisfaction or revenge of your wrong And this not onely as I am a Spanyard but as I am a gentleman and that you are so principall a person as you have voiced your selfe to be and as I my selfe and all the world knowes Now Sir it remaineth that you resolve upon the time of our going hence And as I conceive the sooner the better for the Iron is to bee wrought whilest it is hot and the
he had knit a knot upon his tongue But within a very little while before that any other spake recollecting himselfe he said Oh Heavens how do pinching troubles disturbe the understanding I gentlemen out of the desire which I have to doe good have not weighed well what I sayd For it is not possible that a man should shew himself liberall of that which is anothers not his owne What jurisdiction or power have I in Leonisa for to give her unto another or how can I make offer of that which is so farre from being mine Leonisa is his and so much his that were her Parents dead but long may they live her affection would finde no opposition And if there may stand perhaps in her way those obligations which being as she is discreet she ought to thinke she owes me from this day forward I disclaime them cancell them and acknowledge them to be wholy voyd and of none effect and therefore unsay what I sayd before I give then to Cornelio nothing because I cannot onely I confirme the grant of my goods made to Leonisa without desiring or looking for any other recompence save that shee esteeme for true my honest thoughts and that she will have this beliefe of them that they were never directed nor looked towards any other point save that which stood with her incomparable honestie her great worth and infinite beauty And here Ricardo ended his speech Whereunto Leonisa answered in this manner if any favours oh Ricardo you imagine I did Cornelio when as you were enamoured and jealous of mee imagine likewise that it was both meete and honest as being guided by the will and order of my Parents who intending to make a match betweene us laid their command upon me to do him those favours If you rest satisfied with this well may you satisfie your selfe with that which experience hath made knowne unto you of my honestie and reservednes I speake this for to give you Ricardo to understand that my will was alwaies subject to anothers will to wit my Parents whom I now most humbly as is meet beseech and earnestly entreat that they will give me leave and libertie freely to dispose of that which your valour and Liberalitie hath bestowed on mee Her Parents with a very good will gave her their leave so to do relying on her discretion that she would make use thereof in such sort as should redound alwaies to her owne honour and their profit Having obtained this licence discreet Leonisa proceeded thus I shall entreate you as many as be here present that you will beare me witnesse that I had rather incurre the censure of lightnesse and inconstancie which none of you all can or shall ever be able to charge me therewith then to bee taxed which is hatefull both in the sight of God and man of unthankfulnesse and ingratitude And therefore oh valiant Ricardo my good will and affection hitherto so reserved so perplexed and doubtfull shall now declare it selfe in your favour To the end that you men may know that all women are not ingratefull by my expressing of my thankfulnesse to you I am thine Ricardo and will bee thine till death if some better knowledge move thee not to deny me thy hand for I desire nothing more then to have thee to be my Husband Ricardo hearing these words was so transported with joy and in a manner so besides himselfe that hee neither knew how nor could not answer Leonisa in any other language then humbling himselfe on his knees before her and kissing her hands which hee held fast by force bathing them often with his tender and loving teares Cornelio did shed teares too but of griefe and sorrow so did Leonisa's Parents but of joy and gladnesse and of admiration and contentment all the standers by The Bishop of that Citie was then there present and with his Benediction and Licence brought them to the Cathedrall Church and dispensing with the time instantly married them The joyfull newes of this wedding was quickly spread over all Trapana and that very night in token of rejoycing infinite lights were set up and great bonfires made accompanied with ringing of bells and divers loud musicall instruments And for many daies after there were Maskings Commedies sporting with Canes running of Bulls and solemne invitations and feastings made by the Parents of Ricardo and Leonisa Mahamut and Halima were reconciled to the Church who impossibilited of fulfilling her desire in being Ricardo's wife contented her selfe in matching with Mahamut To Halima's Parents and kinsmen Ricardo gave liberally of those spoyles which he had taken wherewith they might be enabled to live not onely sufficiently but plentifully In conclusion all of them remained fully contented and satisfied and the fame of Ricardo going beyond the bounds of Sicily spread it selfe through all the parts of Italy and many other places under the name of the Liberall Lover And even to this very day continueth fresh in those many Children which he had by Leonisa who was a rare example of discretion honestie reservednesse thankfulnesse and beautie The end of the third Booke THE FORCE OF BLOOD THE FOVRTH BOOKE IN a hot summers night there returned from recreating themselues at the river of Toledo an ancient gentleman accompanied with his Wife a little young sonne a daughter of the age of 17. yeares and a maid-servant The night was cleare and bright the houre eleven the way open and their pace slow that they might not loose through wearines those pleasures which the meadowes lying along the river side of Toledo did afford them And relying on the security which the strict course of Iustice and the well disposed people of that City did promise the good old gentleman went walking leasurely along with his small family farre from any thought of the least disaster that might befall them But forasmuch as misfortunes commonly then come when wee least thinke on them contrary wholly to his thought and quite beyond all imagination there happened one which disturbed their present pleasure and gave them occasion to weepe many yeares after There was a gentleman of that City about the age of 22. whom his great wealth his noblenes of blood his depraved disposition his too much assumed liberty and the loose and licentious company that hee kept made him to doe such insolent and extravagant actions as did ill beseeme his quality and gave him the attribute of impudent and insolent This gentleman then whose name for good respects wee shall conceale and call Rodolpho with foure other friends of his all young men full of iollitie and aboue all exceeding insolent was comming downe the same hill which the old gentleman was going up These two companies met each other that of the sheepe with that of the wolves and in a most uncivill kind of manner voyde of all shame and honestie covering their owne faces they discovered those of the mother daughter and Mayd the old man and I cannot blame him was somewhat