then he was wont to doe Only because Lent was now newly come in hee made vse of that occasion to liue a little more retyred and not to talke of prophane and idle matters and particularly not of women Thus did things runne along But in regard that I was become the common Table-talke of all the Towne those that waited on my Lord in his Chamber his Pages and other his ordinarie seruants tooke a little more libertie and licence of language vnto them then did well beseeme them For to make themselues merry and to intertaine the time what betweene iest and earnest they did so nip mee with their witty iests and pay mee home with their Satyricall lashes that your Mariners doe not more straine their tacklings in a tempest then they did wrest and wring the very bowels within mee So that now at last neither at home nor abroad had I any place wherein I might rest secure nor any wall where-against to leane and from whence some Eccho did not sound that did voice forth the sinnes that I had done I had now so lost all patience and was so in a manner besides my selfe that one day as I past along the street I was almost inforced to haue committed many fooleries He said well who being ask't in how long a time a wise man might turne foole Answered That is according as the boyes in the street shall flocke about him abuse him and hoote at him This was it that brought the water vp aboue my chinne and was ready to drowne me this was it that made me to for-sweare all sufferance and to renegue my wonted patience Many little children as well as the greater lubbers did persecute mee wheresoeuer I went laughing and scoffing at mee with strange out-cryes and loud showtings making a most hideous noise I tooke vp stones and would haue throwne at them but a yong man of mine owne stature qualitie and yeeres well-behaued but some-what hot and cholericke came running in vpon mee and held my arme so fast that I was not able to moue a finger to doe them any hurt yet did hee deale so honestly with mee as to take part with mee against them all and to defend mee against this their rage and fury drawing in two or three other of his friends that came along in his Company making resistance both in deeds and in words against those Hobber-de-hoyes which like so many Hob-gobblins or little Diuels did haunt me vp and downe from street to street and from house to house And hauing now quieted and laid these vnruly sprites he tooke mee by the hand bringing me himselfe alone home to my lodging leauing his Companions behinde to keepe backe the boyes When he had brought me thus home I would faine haue had him to stay with mee that I might haue fastned some kindnesse vpon him and haue done him all the courtesie and honour the house could afford But could by no meanes get him to accept thereof Then did I intreat him that he would tell mee his name as also vvhere was his lodging that I might come to kisse his hands and giue him thankes for the vn-deserued kindnesse I had receiued from him but hee would neither acquaint mee with the one nor the other promising to returne some other time to visit me Onely he told me that he did beare particular affection as well to my person as my Country for that I was a Spaniard and that hee was as sensible of this disgrace of mine as if it were his owne And with this we tooke leaue each of other I came home with my colour so changed my eyes so inflamed and my vnderstanding so confounded that not considering well what I did comming iust in the nick when dinner vvas a seruing vp I would needs goe vp with the rest of the Pages to wait at his Lordships table But when I was come into the dining roome and found what Gentlemen were there attending on his Excellencie I then saw my simplicitie and saw how egregiously I had playd the foole and would faine haue holpe my selfe by getting forth from amongst them but it was too late for my Master had already perceiued by my countenance what I ayled and without casting my water that all was not well with me and that I was inwardly much troubled Wherevpon he demanded of mee what was the cause of this my perturbation I beeing taken thus on a sudden hauing no leisure to fall then a coyning and hauing neuer a new lye in store went plainely to worke and told him all the whole truth of the businesse and euery particular passage thereof which was all out before I was aware telling that which I was not willing to vtter And this was the first Wine that came out of my Tauerne without water and the first truth that euer I told in my life My Master said nothing to it but those that waited at the boord not beeing able to forbeare laughing one claps mee the couer of the Cup that he held in his hand before his face another the Plate that he held betweene his Thumbs a third the Napkin where-with hee seru'd as Seruer and those that were empty-handed laying one hand on their face and with the other stopping their mouth their hearts being ready to burst in their bellies hy'de them for feare of blurting in my Lords face as fast out of the roome as their legges would carry them And they past so farre therein beyond the bounds of modestie that his Excellency was some-what mooued thereat and call'd out aloud vnto them to be quiet rebuking them with sharper words then euer heretofore he was wont to doe reprehending them for this their ouer-boldnesse in his presence Where-with I was so ashamed and so quite altered from that I was before as if I had been sensible of the tearmes of honour or had some signes thereof still remaining in me O how many things doth Rigour correct which Loue is not able to effect O how much doth it import oftentimes for to take a good fall that a man may the better learne to looke to his feet hereafter and to know how to walke more steddily and more surely Then did I take notice of mine owne deformitie in that glasse did I see euery spot that I had about me and was so quite dasht out of countenance and so confounded in my selfe that for all the Masters and women that were in the world I would neuer more take vpon mee to treat of their Loue-matters nor be a Broker in that kinde for the greatest Prince in Christendome O what a braue resolution was this if it would haue held The storme being now laid my Master remained very sad leaning his cheeke on his hand and his elbow on the boord holding his Pick-tooth in his mouth betweene his teeth beeing much discontented that these things of mine should runne on in that manner that he must be forced to doe that which he neuer thought to
that can be giuen them when it is truly said of them that their noble and renowned actions doe iumpe and concurre with those of their subiects I likewise knew that to be true which Sayavedra had told me about the factions in Court and the crossing and thwarting one another I saw somewhat of that which did exceed in other places as Enuie and Flatterie whereof no Princes Court is free which alwayes raigne there most where is desire of sâ—…our but more especially when they labour to increase it and to keepe themselues in grace with their Soueraigne Which oftentimes turne to the great hurt of both the one and the other They are fine and witty relators of other mens actions and subtle Mathematicians for to delineate and measure out that which other men can doe and sometime that which others cannot But let these things rest without farther entring into them For hauing painted forth vnto you in so great a perfection this illustrious and noble Citie it is not fit that I should blemish it with so foule a blot and dash as it were with a cole that faire commendation that I haue giuen it CHAP. II. Guzman de Alfarache goes to Bologna in pursuit of Alexandro who had stolne his trunkes from him Whither when he was come going about to imprison Alexandro himselfe was clapt vp IN Florence I did eat out that horse which my Lord Embassador had bestowed on me at my departure and made me one morâ—…g a breakfast of his shooes I say To the end I might â—…ell him the better I caused him to be new shod giuing order to Sayavedra to make money of the old ones whereof we made our breakfast If this heretike Necessitie had not kickt me out of Towne and thrust me out by head and shoulders I should neuer while I liu'd of mine owne accord haue gone from thence And this thou maist as certainly beleeue of me as of any one Article of thy Creed For I had now well taken salt and was throughly seasoned and had sounded that Citie to the very bottome yet I know not how my minde might haue altered and what I should haue done hereafter For in conclusion todo lo nueuo aplaze See what is newest that we still like best This rule holding more especially in such as I was who had spiritum ambulatorium a wandring humour of mine owne and was a great louer of nouelties But then I was of that opinion for those many reasons I had on my side For it was my hap to come thither when they were full of their sports and pastimes and other young fellowes of the same yeeres with my selfe led me to these their delightfull pleasures along with them from house to house from feast to feast and from bridall to bridall In one house you might finde them dancing in another playing vpon instruments in a third singing and in a fourth making merry with their friends All was delight and more and more delight still one sets vp his rest at Primera another vyes his game at Tic-Tack some at one game some at another In a word in all places of the Citie wheresoeuer we came we met with nothing but laudable exercises and honest recreations There might a man see many young gallants pompous in apparell and richly clad and many faire Ladies and hansome Gentlewomen who wanted no setting forth for curious and costly dressings with whom these young blouds did dance Whose tyres on their heads were so daintily adorned their gownes on their backs so richly imbroydered and their Chapineâ—…â—…o â—…o their feet so plated with siluer and beset with pretious stones that they did rauish both the eyes and the soules of as many as did looke vpon them I leaue it therefore to thee to consider what kinde of dressings those were that had so much power to moue the beholders See how I haue seasoned this dish that I may not disgrace the goodnesse of the meat Tell me hath it not a good rellish is it not pleasing to thy palate Though I goe not into a Tauerne to drinke yet I take delight to talke of it and to looke vpon it and to peepe in at the doore as I passe by and sometimes slip in to make my selfe merry No man is wise on horsebacke much lesse in the vnbridled yeeres of his youth In a word I was young And as old age is cold and dry so on the contrary youth is hot and moyst Youth hath strength and old age wisdome Thus are these gifts diuided and yet euery one hath that which is fit and necessarie for him And though for the most part we see that all old men turne to be young if not as we say become children againe yet it were a wonder to see young men grow old And I say againe it were as great a wonder to see a young man in yeares to be an old man in discretion as to see a Peare tree to beare fruits in the heart of winter But I speake this in Spanish that some of other Countries whom I know may not finde fault with me And I would haue all men take notice that I alwayes speake according to the vse and fashion of mine owne Country for I doe not know after what manner others dance in theirs But that I may returne to my former discourse it grieued me very much to leaue Florence yet did it much concerne me to be gone flying as it were from my selfe not knowing to what end nor whither to goe nor yet knew I why I should stay any longer there vnlesse it were to spend that poore little store of money that I had yet left me and that chaine which the Lord Embassador my master gaue me at my farewell as a token of his loue and to thinke vpon him as oft as I chanc'd to cast mine eyes vpon 〈◊〉 And I must truly confesse vnto you that he was neuer out of my minde â—…ensoeuer I did thinke vpon that houre wherein I must ere long be forced toâ—…rne it into money And as it was giuen me with a great deale of loue so did it exceedingly grieue me that I must shortly part so vnkindly with it I would if I could haue kept it rather then my life and neuer haue parted from it but there are some such occasions wherein parents may impawne their owne children Patience quoth I to my selfe I will doe the best I can and more I can not And therefore my masters I pray pardon me for he that hath no other meanes to helpe him-selfe and is constrained thereunto out of meere necessitie is driuen many times to commit many a greater error and that shall proue farre more preiudiciall and hartfull I had a great wrestling and strugling with my selfe and my thoughts had a cruell sharpe warre with themselues as well touching this as other the like businesses I considered with my selfe what would now become of me and what course I were
to blush and for very shame could not for the present expresse himselfe as he might and would haue done in his owne excuse Whereupon the Generall perceiuing this his tacite confession caused Ricciâ—…lina to be called forth who by his appointment staid in the next roome and when shee was come he grauely spake in this manner vnto him Signor Conde if we should punish faults with rigour a heauy punishment would light vpon you But we for that we loue your selfe and all other offenders that come before vs as our owne children and taking pity and compassion of your youthfull feruor and those violencies that accompany such yong yeares we doe pardon you that grieuous and most hainous offence of forcing this maiden as farre forth as it may touch your life but withall wee condemne you to pay the double of what you promised her which comes to foure hundred crownes which before you goe from hence wee command that you presently disburse and giue it to Ricciâ—…lina To this the Câ—…nde his bloud now waxing warme which before was frozen with that respect and decency which was fitting for him replyed thus Most Illustrious and Excellent Sir I haue hitherto held my peace it beseeming me so to doe as one that is your most true faithfull and obedient seruant and most ready to submit my selfe to any reproofe or punishment that you shall be pleased to inflict vpon me in case this their accusation were true And if your Excellency out of the greatnesse of your wisdome shall be pleased to diue into the depth of these subtâ—…l womens hearts and search them to the very bottome your Excellencâ—…e will soone discouer how wickedly false these their accusations haue beene against me And though I haue confessed that I haue had conuersation with her it was vpon couenant and agreement betweene vs vpon such a price which I punctually paid giuing her more out of mine owne bounty then she could challenge of me Notwithstanding if it shall seeme good vnto you that I disburse this money I craue no longer time then that I may goe home fetch it wherewith I shall presently returne and put the money into your Excellencies hands to be disposed of as you please but not as in punishment of any such error by me committed The Generall hauing heard what the Conde said replyed vnto him Signor Conde goe fetch the money for I shall stay here till you come And you Ricciolina see you depart not Now whilest the Conde was going home and returning backe againe his Excellency went a farre off asking this and that other question one while of the old woman another of the young and so talking to and fro of diuers things at last he said vnto her Tell me Lena haue you euer carryed a good hand ouer your daughter haue you alwayes lookt narrowly vnto her Yes marry haue I Sir said she And did you neuer replide he againe leaue her all alone by day or by night No Sir quoth she How comes it then to passe said his Excellency that you would suffer your daughter to be forced and deflowred by the Conde Why did not you defend her from that violence And you Ricciolina hauing your mother in your company why would you let him force you and take that from you which vnlesse you should in some sort consent thereunto it were impossible for him to get from you Both of them then weeping said vnto him That the Conde was too strong for them and that they were not able to resist his violence and therefore besought his Excellency that hee would not suffer her daughter to be thus abused and both of them to be left open to such a deale of scorne and reproach but that he would be pleased to doe them iustice By this time the Conde was come and had told out vpon a little table of Iuory foure hundred Crownes which by the Generall were giuen to Ricciolina giuing her this Item withall Take them daughter and looke well vnto them lest they chance to be taken from thee And you Lena haue a care both of her and her money And so God be with you I haue no more to say to you When they were gone his Excellency turning himselfe towards the Conde said vnto him Goe get you after them and see you take their money from them either by loue or force by fayre meanes or by foule And looke that you giue me a true account of the passage of this businesse The Conde hearing this moued with rage and disdaine seeing how basely he had beene vsed by these infamous women not considering the condition imposed vpon him nor to what end it was done made hastily after them nor did he goe alone by him-selfe but made choyse of a seruant of his amongst those many that he had whom he tooke along with him And so walking a good round pace he ouertooke them a little on this side their owne house and comming vnto them after that he had saluted them very kindly and by little and little had insinuated himselfe into them hee continued discoursing with them till he had brought them home Where as soooe as he was come into the house he beganne to demand his money of them And when he saw he could not preuaile with entreaties he assayed to get it by force and went roundly to worke with them But Ricciolina who had put the purse in her bosome stoutly defended both it and her selfe scratching the Conde with her hands and biting him with her teeth who with all the strength that he had could not come so much as to touch much lesse to take the purse from her To make good this quarrell the mother ran in and tooke part with her daughter and they did so help and ayd one another with their nailes and their teeth and by their loud out-cryes and shreekes that although the house were a lone-house farre from neighbors and little frequented yet notwithstanding many people vpon this great noyse and tumult came running thither and amongst the common route one Gentleman who pressing in and seeing the Conde all bloody who fought like a fierce Lyon set vpon by two rather inraged Beares then women what with his words and what with his deeds being assisted by others he parted the one from the other The Conde was so ouercome with choller that hee laid about him like a mad man and had so lost all patience that doubtlesse hee had done much mischiefe if he had not beene restrained by the company He washt his face and his hands and hauing wiped them with his handkercâ—…er he departed thence in company of that Gentleman threatning those women that he would be â—…euenged on them who no lesse offended then the furious Conde made no long tarrying but hasted with all the speed they could to the Generall But the Conde had got the start of them and was there before them hauing fully acquainted his Excellency with all that had passed shewing the scratches and the
the Towne nor in a solitarie place that was free from company the outcryes that shee made were heard by many insomuch that great store of all sorts of people came running in especially boyes and little children besides a great number of dogs barking and bawling as if they had beene mad comming about me as thicke as bees being confounded and ready almost to haue runne out of my wits with that tumultuous hurry and horrible stirre they made And some young lads which fell in with these lesser beagles to make the cry the fuller when they vnderstood of the businesse were ready to swallow me vp aliue from whose power so violently were they bent against me it was impossible for me to scape From that day forward I began to stand in feare of this little frye which heretofore I was neuer afraid of These little minowes were they that by persecuting of me did vndoe me When I heard Sayavedra say so there presently came into my minde a famous drunkard in Madrid who being kickt and spurn'd and mightily abused by the Boyes that had got about him when hee came to the end of the street hee stoopes mee downe and takes vp a couple of stones and holding one in the one hand and the other in the other leaning himselfe against a wall hee said thus vnto them No more no more my good Boyes it is enough stay here stay here sweet Children for it is not fit you should goe any farther And therefore my pretty hearts let mee intreat you to goe backe and not trouble mee or your selues any longer for I am very well satisfied with those courtesies I haue already receiued from you for the which I kindly thanke you Otherwise I haue nothing to returne you in requitall but these stones which I shall freely bestow vpon you though it cost mee the laying on so that some of you I beleeue will be better paid for your paines then you expect Wherevpon they seeing him thus resolute they sneakt away one by one and let the poore man alone who afterward went quietly along about his busines If Sayavedra had taken the like course he might peraduenture haue had the like successe But he continuing his discourse went on and said surely where this rude rabble once bands and lincks it selfe together no good man can doe ought that is good nor any honest man passe in quiet for them I sought now to flye from them as a man would fly from the gallowes and I was in a good way towards it and wanted little of comming thither For by seeking to flye from their hands I fell into those of the Iustice who had now caught me in their net vvhence there vvas no hope to scape When I saw this misfortune vvas fallen vpon me I made no more adoe but sent presently to my Captaine aduising him how the case stood with me who as soone as hee vnderstood of it made all the haste he could vnto mee was with me as they say ere a man could say this and well instructed mee what I should both say and doe Tâ—…at done hee went to the Notarie telling him that hee knew mee to bee well descended that I was honourably borne both by Father and Mother and of as ancient and noble a House as any was in Spaine and that it was not possible nor was it to bee beleeu'd that such a Gentleman as I was would commit so foule a fact But say which cannot sinke into my head that it should be true it is not a thing so much to be wondred at for that he might either doe it out of youthfulnesse which is incident now and then to play such kinde of idle prankes or out of want lacking money and being loath to begge or borrow or forced thereunto out of pure hunger and therefore chose rather to hazard than famish his person Besides it is a matter of no moment a toy a trifle a thing not to be made any reckoning of as well in regard of its small value as also in respect of the Gentlemans qualitie and the noblenesse of his house What with these good words and something else that he did besides within some two houres after I was freed out of Prison and had God beene pleased so to haue it I could haue wisht I might not haue come out then nor three houres after that nay not till darke night but since it was his good will and pleasure that it should succeed as it did with me blessed bee his name for euer good or ill must be welcome from his hand Sinne that Catchpole of Conscience that churlish Porter that keepes account of our actions and has an eye to what wee doe who had still persecuted me at the very thresholds of the dores wherinto I entred was not vnmindful to do the like by me in that of the Prison when I was reaâ—…y to come out for euen as I was putting my foote ouer the threshold who should I meet full butte but Maister Datario who came thither to free a Prisoner As soone as hee saw mee hee presently knew mee and withall pusht me so violently backe that I fell flat vpon my backe to the ground and then comming fiercely vpon mee that hee might hold me while hee had me at this aduantage and calling to the Keeper committed me anew and followed the accusation so hard against me that neither intreaties nor any offers to make him satisfaction for his kirtle were able to make him to surcease his sute Hee was a powerfull man I vsed all possible diligences but neither did my pleading that I was a Gentleman nor the tendernesse of my yeares preuaile so farre as to bring mee fairely off And as if they had done me a deed of charity and bestowed an almes on mee by way of trans-action and agreement as if they had shewed mee all the fauour in the world they gaue mee such a heauy sentence that I shall neuer forget it vvhile I liue I vvent for shirts and they stript mee of mine from my shoulder to my vvaste banishing mee from thence for euer I had my payment but the blockhead had not his Kirtle see how a vvilfull foole such a one as this vvas stood in his owne light being more vvilling to doe me a mischiefe then himselfe a pleasure and to lose his goods rather then to let mee loose vvhich hee might easily haue recouered of me if he vvould haue suffered mee to stay in that City Well I vvas forced to forgoe Naples and vvith it all my old friends and acquaintance I packt vp all my trinkets together and that poore pittance that I had pickt vp by mine owne industry and departed from thence vvandring vp and downe Italy till I came to Bologna where Alessandro receiued me into his seruice who did vsually go out of that City to fetch in some booty or other and hauing sped vvell hee returned home in safety When wee vvere in Rome and came in vnto you when you
obtained what I desired and as though the doores and windowes of the house had of purpose been set open for me to enter in And all the while I was vsing this Courtship and performing this my Loue-exercise she stood me still and did not once offer to wagge from the window Many Gentlemen past that way well clad young able and handsome yet in my iudgement none of them like to me neyther in apparell nor person In euery one of them I could haue found one fault or other but in me there was nothing to be excepted against One came short in the handsome shape and feature of his foot another wanted a well made legge the calfe was too little or the small too big some were too tall and other-some too lowe some too fat and others too leane This went a little limping that awry All had one blemish or other I only was compleat I was I perse I I was like a Rule without exception All in me was in true Mood and Figure In a full and perfect symmetry hauing a iust and euen proportion of euery particular part in respect of the whole frame And being of best both grace and fauor in my person I was graced and fauoured more by her then all the rest for shee did not shew them the like countenance as she did mee Night drew on she left the window but before she with-drew herselfe she turned her eyes towards me and so went in I hyed me home to my lodging being rich in hopes and musing vpon that which in this case was fittest to be done Mine Hoste came to me to keepe me company but because I tooke no content in any thing but my contemplations I intreated him to hold me excused for that I had businesse to goe abroad I supt and taking my sword with me I went out of doores in pursuit of my businesse you shall see how euill is mans inclination For notwithstanding that I had made as you haue heard that discourse with my selfe in fauour of that woman which had cozened mee of a few Royals and had put on a resolution to let it passe and neuer to thinke more of it yet my thoughts were much troubled therewith and like so many Bryez or horse-flyes did make me kick and stampe against my former determination and would not let me be in quiet but that I must needs goe and seeke her out Whereupon I gaue that night a hundred turnes about the very selfe same street hauing a conceit with my selfe that it would be my good hap to light once more luckily vpon her in the same manner as before But not knowing well why for what cause or to what end I did it but walked idly there vp and downe till the houre was come I had waited long and when I saw to what little purpose I thought to make homewards towards my lodging and as I entred into the Cosso by a crosse-way right ouer-against my Mistresses house I might discerne a pretty wayes off two seuerall companies one on t'one side of the street and t'other on the other Thereupon I returned a little backe and stepping into a porch I beganne to thinke with my selfe I am a stranger this Gentle-woman of good ranke and quality well descended and rich withall There is generall notice taken of her worth and meanes This flesh need not to haue beene hung vp vpon the hookes for want of a Cat. No man will say that this was not a woman worth the looking after but rather that there was a great deale of reason that she should be wooed sued vnto and to be serued and obserued by those that had the happinesse to see her These said I to my selfe doe not wait here to giue or receiue an almes I know not who they are nor what they pretend whether they be friends all of one companie or whether any one of them be interessed here if by misfortune I should come amongst them and that they should hedge me in in the midst of them and make a ring about me the would not onely muffle me with their cloakes but make me as full of holes as a Sieue aâ—… pricke mee in the body with their Rapiers points as Bulls are stucke with darts when they are bayted in the market-place and perchance leaue me for dead This Country is dangerous the men bold and insolent their weapons of aduantage they many and I a poore single man And therefore Guzman looke to thy selfe And if they be enemies and haue a mind to goe together by the eares it is not I that can part them I shall neuer be able to make them friends but indanger my selfe and doe no good Goe the world which way it will fall backe or fall edge the best course for me is to get mee home to my lodging I am sure that is the safest way And fitter it were for me to goe to mine Inne and looke to my trunkes and to get me out of Towne as soone as I can For I neither know any nor am knowne by any Besides à quien se muda dios le ayuda God helpes those that alter their euill condition I betooke me to my heeles and came in a trice to my lodging Assoone I came in I presently got me to bed where I rested with much more sleepe and a great deale lesse paine then the night before For indeed there is not any thing that doth sooner thrust these loue toyes out of our heads then to see such kind of visions Whereupon I resolued the next day to leaue the Citie and so I did By little and little I drew towards Madrid And when I come to Alcala dâ—… Henares I abode there eight daies for that it seemed vnto me one of the finest and pleasantest places of any other that I had seene since my comming out of Italy and if the loue of the Court had not clapt wings to my feet I am verily perswaded that I should haue continued there still that I might haue inioyed that fresh and delicate Riuer their plentifull prouision their rare and singular wits and many other good intertainments But because Madrid was patria communis the common mother to vs all and a large field wherein euery man might range at pleasure I thought it no discretion to forgoe the Sea for a Riuer And for lesser things to neglect the greater In fine euery man may there follow that which hee hath most mind to There no man knowes one another no not so much as those that liue within the same doores and lodge in the same house This drew me thither and thither I came The face of the Court as also of the towne was quite changed since I left it There was no Grocer there to be heard of no memory now that there was euer any such man I found the fields peopled with houses children become men young folkes growne ancient the ancient old and the
wood the stones and the ashes euen to the waters themselues in the trenches like vnto that of Elias though they be filled afresh barrell after barrell yet shall all that moysture be licked vp by the fire Know yee then that those are mariages which God ordaineth and such as you enter into onely to shew your selues obedient to his will and haue consulted therewith afore-hand leauing it wholly to him to worke in the rest as he shall thinke fittest for his seruice without seeking after any ill and foule meanes and then though yee should be dung-wet and bucketted a hundred times with the waters of persecutions of hunger of cold of imprisonment and all other troubles and miseries that may befall the life of man it is no matter For fire shall come downe from heauen that is to say the loue of God and his charitie which shall consume and dry vp these their many waters of tribulations This quicke fire makes speedy riddance of all our troubles presenting them as a sacrifice before his diuine Maiestie who will not onely assist vs with his grace in this world but crowne vs with his glory in the world to come And let this serue as an end to this my Sermon Now let vs returne againe to our Mariage which and it had pleas'd God would it had neuer beene I had now seru'd some six yeares in the Mariage-galley in which short time would it had beene lesse I endured I thanke my wife for it a great deale of misery Howbeit for the foure first yeares our wedding loaues I must confesse were fresh and new for as yet it was but hony-moone with vs all was of the finest flowre and the purest wheat But when wee beganne to goe downe the hill and were now fallen halfe in halfe from that height wherein wee were before and wanted money to maintaine vs at that scantling when the cloth-of-gold kirtle which was richly both bordred and imbroydered was to be sold and turn'd into gold and that not any the least thread of it though no bigger then a Spiders escap't the melting-pot and yet past for a reasonable handsome kirtle still as the world went with vs when all our old ends were spent and gone when I could not inch it out any further when I saw that the water was come vp aboue my chinne and that I could not long hold out but must needes sinke for that she would by no meanes consent that I should sell any thing eyther of hers or mine owne and that my credit to furnish my shop would not reach so farre as one farthing-worth of Radishes I found my selfe then in that strait that aduising with my father-in-law I was willing to take some-what a more rigerous course with her God send vs a good night of it She thereupon began to set out so loud a throat as if like a pig I had offered to sticke her or that the matter had beene of more moment then indeed it was insomuch that the neighbours came running in for to helpe her who were so many that the house could not hold them But when they saw the truth of the businesse as God would haue it it was a thing of nothing and when they perceiued I had reason to doe as I did they rested quiet and went their wayes yet for all this did not shee leaue off her lamentations which might very well haue seru'd her turne for a hundred holy-weekes I was inforced that I might not fall further foule with her to let her alone and to leaue her to her self that I might not be bound by hearing her to answer her both with words and deeds I tooke my cloake threw it on my shoulder and got mee out adoores leauing her all alone and giuing her thereby free liberty to say and doe what she would till she should grow weary and could no more This madded her more then all the rest when she saw mee set so light by that which she said and that I seemed to make such little reckning of it And I may truly confesse vnto you that in all that time that I liued with her I cannot accuse my selfe nor did she euer taxe me of any the least iniury that I had done her but vs'd her with all the kindnesse that a husband could vse a wife But when God shall bestow wealth vpon vs or when he pleaseth take it away this alters the case for man cannot then doe withall it lyes not in his hands neyther is it in his power to goe increasing in riches neyther can he stop them in their course no more then a man can the tyde when they are ebbing from him Hee cannot be termed an vnthrift or a bad husband who vseth his best endeuors as others doe for to get where-withall to liue in some good and honest fashion and to prouide as well as hee can for his wife children and family But he is a bad husband who spends his meanes vpon women throwes it away at play wastes it in eating and drinking and prodigally consumes it in pride of apparell and other vices of like excesse Let my young prodigals hearken vnto mee and doe thou to vnderstand this lesson thou that art the onely sonne and heyre of some rich merchant for it is vnto thee that I speake and thou knowest why and wherefore I speake it And I was also about to say farther vnto thee that if thou doe not take heede thy rash and vnaduised courses holpen on by other mens ill counsell will carry thee hence to hell Repent thee therefore betime and haue a care to liue that thou maist not dye So that I say it is neyther good nor bad successe that should cause any separation betwixt Man and wife nor ought marryed folkes to fall out and disagree about the transitory things of this world For a husband hath no more obligation then to vse all his industry and diligence and to doe the best hee can The successe wee must leaue to God Nor is hee to be condemned for a bad husband who keepes his wifes dowry well secured and hath rather augmented then diminisht it without hauing eyther sold or paltred it away Shee without doubt could not confesse so much or if shee did confesse it shee did not speake the truth or if shee did speake it shee did adulterate it in that manner that they might absolue her vpon it Thus poore soule did shee deceiue her-selfe whilest shee thought to cozen her Confessor Likewise there were not some wicked people wanting of base birth who vpon weake grounds and a weaker vnderstanding to flatter and sooth vp this her idle humour did help to further her fooleries fauouring them all that they could not so much as once giuing care vnto mee nor knowing the iustnesse of my cause And these were they that wrought my woe and brought her to hell For she dyed shortly after of a sharpe disease without shewing any tokens of repentance or receiuing the Sacrament In two
guard I did neuer thinke to see the day that I should haue wanted Whilest I had where-withall I alwaies made this account But when I saw to what pouerty I was brought I then knew the error I was in And though I was a naughty man yet I had a desire to be good not out of any true loue to goodnesse it selfe but for the shunning of some greater euill that otherwise might ensue I had throwne aside my vices forgetting them for a while and had applied my selfe to labour and paines-taking I had tridâ—… all the meanes and wayes that might be to work my selfe a fortune and to come forward in the world but not any one of them that thriu'd with me I was an vnfortunate man in all those better courses that I ranne Onely in doing ill was I lucky I had a happy hand in filching and stealing fortune only fauouring me so far as to make me vnhappily-happy This is a cunning tricke which sinne still puts vpon vs to further vs with its counsaile and to helpe those that are her champions to the end that with that heat and warmth they receiue from sinne they may bee the better incouraged and drawne on with the more mettall to commit more heynous crimes and when shee sees that they haue attained to the height of all villany and that they cannot well climbe higher shee tumbles them downe headlong with a witnesse She makes them to mount by the ladder but sends them downe by the rope Differing herein from God who workes after another manner For he neuer sendeth vs any trouble which he doth not accompanie with some blessing or other from our greatest miseries groweth our greater glory leading vs by a narrow path to the broad and spatious way of blisse It seemeth vnto vs that when we are swallowed vp as it were with desperation and that want and pouerty lye heauy vpon vs that hee is forgetfull and vnmindfull of vs when as indeed he is but like vnto that father who for to teach his sonne to goe maketh as if he did loosen his hand from him faigning to let him goe alone by him-selfe and for a while to see how hee will shift his feete stands in some neere distance from him yet not so farre off but that hee still keepes him-selfe close by his side and when walking softly and with trembling steps towards him he sees him ready to fall he runnes in vnto him and catching him in his armes receiues him into them and embraces him not suffering him to fall to the ground But when the father hath no sooner left him to him-selfe but that either he makes too much haste or will not goe at all nor so much as offer to moue a foot or letting goe his hold vnfastning him-selfe from his fathers hands he comes to catch a fall the fault is not in the father but in the sonnes either too much dulnesse or too much haste We are of a naughty and an euill nature wee are not willing to helpe our selues a iot we doe not endeuour to doe our selues good wee will not vse our best diligence nor put to any helping hand of our owne but looke like little children to haue our meat put still in our mouthes being now big lubbers and that all should be put into our laps without any paines or care-taking of ours But God is of that infinit goodnesse that he neuer forgets vs nor forsakes vs Hee knowes very well how to take away from the wicked in a moment many great Lordships and Farmes which they haue beene many yeares a purchasing and to enrich Iob within a little while with double so much wealth and those other good blessings which before he had taken from him I neuer had the grace to be so good but I am sure I was as naked as Iob. For I had nothing to leane my selfe against saue onely the bare walls of my house If when I had plenty I did pamper vp my selfe now I did desire to haue only where-withall to hold life and soule together I was ready to perish for want of food I remember when I was a youth that I had knowne in Madrid a pretty little boy that was very well giuen and for his yeares of good vnderstanding This little Lad was bred vp by a Gentle-woman that was his mother not that shee had borne him but for the loue shee bore him shee gaue him good breeding both for his booke and otherwise shee cloath'd him well and handsomely and for his dyet if there were one bit better then other at the boord he was sure to haue his part of it This childe was bred in Granada where there are certaine little small grapes which are very dainty ones indeed wonderfull pleasant and of an excellent relish which in those parts they call jâ—…ies Now there being none of this kind in Madrid and for that this little boy would not eat any other saue his owne Country grapes when he saw he had none of that sort giuen him seeing your aluillas one day on the boord he askt for some of those little ones as he was wont to doe To whom his mother said Childe Here are no little ones to giue thee We haue none but these To whom the childe answered Then good Mother giue me some of those For I can eat also great ones for a need I likewise could now feed vpon grosse fare no meat came amisse all was sweet and sauourie vnto mee nothing did hurt mee but hunger without meat any thing so as it were a belly full it was all one to me For the alterations of times oblige all and to all and to content our selues with those things which are quite auerse to our nature and no way suting with our disposition I was driuen to doe that which I neuer dreamt to haue done to the end that I might alwayes be able to say That neither selfe-loue made me doubt nor feare dread to aduenture vpon any meanes whatsoeuer that might make for my profit And questionlesse if I had wholly bent my selfe to some one set course or other and had setled my selfe close vnto it and constantly perseuered therein I should haue done some good in it and made it a meanes of no meane aduancement vnto me But I was hot and cholericke I mis-spent my time and my beginnings being bad I failed in the goodnesse of the ends I had often resolued to be good but I was quickly weary of well-doing I was that rolling stone that neuer gathers mosse And because I could not tame my selfe time had now tamed me I saw my selfe abandoned of all humane remedie and had no hope of any other helpe then that onely of my house I began then to consider and say with my selfe What haue I now in the house to stanch my hunger withall Shall I bite vpon a brick-bat that is but tough feeding and somewhat too hard a crust