there is no doubt to be made but that felicity doth necessarily as a shaddow follow the solide body of vertue and honesty since that to be vertuous and honourable is the highest point of felicity whereunto an honest man can aspire and although vertue be unto it selfe a more then sufficient recompence he being unworthy thereof that seeks rewards for it any where but in it selfe for the greatest price of vertuous actions is to have done them yet so it is that accessarily sooner or later either in this world or in the next the acknowledgement therof cannot faile for Gods goodnesse and justice is such that he will render every man according to his workes It is true that ordinarily fortune seems an enemy to vertue prodigally bestowing her favours not only upon the unworthy but most commonly upon vitious persons so that recompence flying from desert it seemes that by vertues contrary one may arrive soonest to prosperity But let us consult with the said Scriptures and wee shall find that these felicities of the wicked passe soone away as the wind and smoake or as the leafe of a tree And that he who was yesterday exalted as high as the Cedars of Lebanon to day is no more then yea not so much as a low shrub of the field not the least image of his greatnesse appeares to them that seeke after him whereas the vertuous man is happy even in the greatest mishap his vertues growing more and more perfect in adversity and in fine drawing profit out of his harmes and lâ—ssâ—s he constraines fortune to doe him homage and to become tributary unto his merit And to say the truth amongst the humane Events which I carefully observe I alwayes have a speciall attention and a particular regard unto those wherein I see vertue triumphant over fortune Neither are there any pictures which more delight me nor about which I more willingly apply my pensill in the delineation then those which represent fortune at the feet of vertue It is most certaine and assured by holy writ as I have before shewed you that either in this life or in the next no vertuous action shall passe unrewarded since an account is kept thereof even to a glasse of cold water like as vitious acts shall be punished even to idle words And wheras here I set the good fortune of honour or honesty which will appeare in this history which I am preparing for your view wherein I study to accommodate my selfe to the cleere seeing eyes of the vulgar who esteeme felicity as pieces of Gold which weighes most that is to say when they are most materiall and sensible not making any account of the spirituall so much the more worthy estimation as the soule is more worthy then the body and the body then the cloathing and moreover to say the truth it is in this our age a singular thing and worthy admiration to see vertue accompanied with good fortune yea a remarkeable rariety and as it were a kind of monster I have extended my selfe more then I intended but the merit of the subject hath driven me thereunto and I will confirme it in this History which I shall make so much the shorter that I may not passe the limits of brevity in which I study to contain my selfe in all these my Events The vanity of Spaniards is so great that all their grandes thinke themselves Princes by reason wherof they call their landes and Lordships their states as if they were Soueraignes from thence growes the proverbe among them that grandes in Spaine are little Kinges in in their demaines and indeed divers of them have some reason three fore being descended from those royall houses of Arragon of Valence of Leon of Navarre as much as what we call Provinces in France are kingdomes in Spaine whereunto may be added their Dukes and others to whom they attribute great titles who have some image of Soveraignty in their jurisdictions because in criminall causes there is no appeale from the judgement of their Courts and as for civill matters they may judge without appeale also to a certain period limited them This I speak therby to shew the absolute power they have over their subjects with which they beare great authority amongst those people that are under their jurisdictions and this power will serve as a ground and foundation unto what I shall represent In Arragon one of those whom they call titled I am not certaine whether he were of the number of the grandes or no lived in his Marquisate with the aforesaid power and authority no lesse feared by his vassalls for his humour both Arragonian and arrogant then beloved for his magnificence and liberality which pierced the eyes of the people and made him commendable And because his daily care was that the poore should be assisted and helped with his meanes which was exceeding much whether it were to the end to maintaine his credit and reputation or through charity which I had rather beleeve it cannot be expressed in what good esteeme he lived He had beene married but his wife dyed in childbed having lived with him but three or foure yeeres and had left him but one sonne for a pledge of their love living in this his widdowhood as a man that aspired to other nuptialls and who would not spend the rest of his daies in melancholy no wonder if he were assaulted by those soft temptations whilest he expected fortune to offer him a second match like unto that which death had taken from him and conformable to his estate and birth In this ease and idlenesse of life gorged with wealth he was hit as the Elephant of Antiochus in that part of him which was weakest Those that call incontinency the sinne of great persons do ground themselves upon the proverbe which sayes sine Cerere Baecho friget Venus Ceres and Bacchus are harbingers to the goddesse Venus Amidst the honours and pleasures wherein he lived it had bin a wonder if voluptuousnesse should not have presented it selfe unto him and filled his mind with illusions and his soule with sundry desires Seeking then a subject to appease his concupiscence he casts his eye on a maid that was one of his subjects she was poore in worldly wealth but so rich in honesty and honour that her chastity triumphed over bad fortune and left her good hap even unto her posterity her poverty made the Marquesse imagine the conquest to be easie according to the words of that ancient who saith that some courages are driven unto dishonourable acts through necessity who otherwise would never stoope thereunto yet he found in this creature an exception unto that maxime of Alexander the greats Father who boasted to make a Mule loaden with gold enter into any Fortresse whatsoever Ctesiphon so will we call this Lord wanted not some to second him in his bad designe great persons find but too many furtherers of their pleasures and unruly passions but all his Engineers lost
only deposition of Megatime who was both a party and witnesse for as much as Gelases man died presently after his master this poor gentleman was condemned to loose his head Wherevpon execution day being come hee was brought upon the scaffold and although he protested publikely not to be the author of this murther having contrariwise bin miserably assaulted by Megatime and Gelase yet the executioner was preparing to cut of his head when as behold here comes Leobell thrusting through the throng and with an admirable courage crying out to the executioner to let loose the innocent and to turne his sword on him who was not only guilty but true author of the murther of Gelase and his man then with a cleere and distinct voice and a countenance which out braved death he declared unto the Magistrate who was there present to see the execution how all had passed in the same manner as we have related concluding that if a man shall dye for defending his owne life he was there ready to yeeld his head unto the stroake upon condition that his friend might be set at liberty All the company was struck with admiration to se this generous act and the people beginning to grow to a mutiny cryed out pardon pardon resolving to kill all rather then suffer this execution to passe on any further This tumult became so great that nether Octauian who would faine have spoke nor the magistrate could be heard only the iustice commanded that all should be ended and that Leobell yeilding himselfe prisoner the case should be heard againe and iudged according to equity they had much adoe to leade the two freinds into prison because the people being in an vprore would have broken their bands and by maine force have delivered them The Palatine of Vilne for Lithuania is ruled by Palatinats or governements as Polonia is having heard of this incomparable generosity of Leobell went himselfe in person to the prison for to visit the two freinds who both contested before him each to dye for his fellow he heard the history of the two lovers Octavian and Pauline the threats and act of Gelase to hinder his affection Megatime was examined face to face and confronted who by the death of the man the master was constrained by the force of truth to acknowledge the ambuscado that they were three aganst two and that Leobell alone did kill Gelase and his man Wherevpon Leobell taking occasion to speake pleaded the cause of his owne death declaring to the Palatine that he only ought to loose his head since he only had killd if for killing in his own deffence and to saue his freind from violence were a a cause deserving punishment nay rather glory and recompence said the Palatine and thereupon presently tooke them both out of prison and gave them pardon according to the power of Palatines who are as it were Pettie Soveraignes in their Palatinates as well in Lithuania as in Polonia Megatime like a base and treacherous man was put in their place and had on a skaffold beene a spectacle unto the people if his parents and friends by their credit and intreaties had not gotten his punishment by death to be changed into a banishment only for some yeeres The Palatine not content only to have saved the lives of these two friends would yet that Octavian should be satisfied in his love causing him to bee married unto Pauline and further he procured a wife for Leobell a Gentlewoman who was neere allyed unto himselfe intreating these two friends to receive him as a third in their incomparable friendship which being come to the eares of the King in favour of the Palatine they had brave imployments and were both honourably advanced according to their condition A rare example of freenesse of friendship and of generosity which made Leobell so freely expose his life unto the death yea unto a shamefull death to save his friend but his renowne arose out of the infamy wherunto he was hastning his name adorned with honour his life being saved by the same gate through which he was running to death hereupon we may conclude that it is good to follow vertue seeing whosoever imbraces her she ever honours with Crownes of glory EVILL COVNSELL PVNISHED The Ninth Event BAd counsell saith the ancient proverbe is oft times pernitions to him that gives it yea sometimes worse then to him that takes it And to say the truth if effects are the children of their causes as the tree drawes it's blossomes leaves and fruits from it's root the malignity of an action ought to be attributed to the counsell that bred it and it is commonly seene that there is more malice in those who counsell to doe naughtinesse then in those that put it in execution So the Scripture seemes more to blame the malice of Achitophell then the levity of Absalon because the one failed deliberately the other rashly O how happy is the man sath the Psalmist who hath not followed the counesls of the wicked because the counsell of such shall perish and shall cause the ruine of the authors therof and of those that shall follow it all these verityes will appeare in this Event which I am preparing to recite where you shall see that the wickednesse of a malefactor remaining unpunished the chastisement thereof lighted on the head of him which had counselled it It is no new thing to say that the counsels of women especially of those that are bad are dangerous In the first creation of the world the first of all men failed by the counsell of his wife and we who are his children daily pay the interest of this bad counsell by the which we may say that sinne first came into the world He that is truly wise will neither trust his secrets with this sexe so curious and so tatling nor beleeve it's counsell If Palinure had kept this maxime he had not fallen into the dangers wherein we shall see him and from which he owes his deliverance to his good fortune or to the pitty that was taken on the inconsideracies of his youth rather then of his innocency In a City of Sicilia which is not named in the Italian relation a Gentlewoman whom wee will call Demetry was in her tender yeeres given in marriage to an old man whose jealousie weaknesse and craftinesse deprived her of all manner of pleasure in wedlocke wherein she accounted the dayes as yeeres of captivity After much sufferance death cut this band otherwise indissoluble and drawing her from this yoake set her being yet young in the liberty of widowhood The difference of these two states appeared unto her as extreame as the day seemes bright unto him that hath a long time beene closed up in a dark dungeon but what she held to be the greatest happines of her life to wit her freedome liberty proved the heaping up of her disgrace and misery because inebriating her selfe with her own conceit she betooke her selfe so
of this kind of bandiliers may somtimes issue a good theefe who may deserve an almes as you shall heare Cyran going through the streets in the City of Tours which appeares a flower in the midst of the garden of France met with a poore souldier who being but in bad array had notwithstanding a good aspect begged an almes of him with such a grace that he felt himselfe moved to give but extraordinarily moved he put his hand into his pocket and thinking to draw out a Sol which is little more then an English penny and gave it him with a good wil and with words of honour and consolation wished him a happy returne into his owne Country and a better trade then warre where most commonly is nothing to be gotten but blowes and lice the souldier in a modest and civill manner answered him Sir God make mee able to do you some good service and confirme me in the desire I have so to do you bestow a liberality on me in my pressing necessitie which shall never die in my memory you do little lesse then if you gave me life after these words of complement they parted and a while after Cyran having ended his affaires at Tours tooke leave of his friend and returned towards his owne Countrey as hee was crossing a Wood there steps forth of a Coppice three theeves whereof one layes hold on the bridle of his Horse and the other holding his sword at his throat commands him to alight and follow them into the thicket of the Forrest when they were farr enough in they search him and take from him all the mony that he had which was about a hundred French crownes with his cloake and best thinges after this they begin to deliberate whether they should kill him or no let us kill him saide one I know by his tongue that he is of this Countrie and may discover us or cause us to be pursued you say right saide another if such had killd him whom they robd they should not now hang on gibbets making mouthes at passengers the third which was he unto whom Cyran some dayes before had given the almes of sixpence in Tours said fellowes what good will his life do us his blood will crie vengeance against us lowder then his voice thou playest the preacher said one of the other two those that use our trade shut their eies unto such considerations which are good onely for old wives and children The dead bite not nor speake not the voyce of bloud hath no sound hee will bee quite rotâ—en before hee bee found in this place My friends replied the good theef I beg his life of you and will rather give you my part of what hath bin taken from him he is a gallant man pray let us not kill him I will teach you a good way both to save his life and to provide for our safety Let us binde him to some tree and leave him to the protection of God lest we should be spotted with his bloud This counsell was followed Cyran was bound to a tree with the bridle of his horse and his garters and the theeves tooke his horse and his things and left him there The good theefe as he was binding of him sayd in his eare Friend take courage this night will I come and unbinde thee I have not forgotten thy almes deed Cyran remained in this case all the rest of the day hoping still in the mercy of God and in the promise of the good Theefe But towards night hee entered into terrours of death when as it began to be darke and hee heard the Wolves howling in the Forrest whereof hee saw two passe close by him and were a good while looking on his countenance For besides the cruelty of this beast he is likewise so extreame crafty and distrustfull that even when a traine is layd for him yet is he hard to be taken and is afraid of all things hee shunnes snares hee lookes hee hearkens he considers he watches Already they began to approach nearer for to smell him and that they might set on him in a troup and eate him up they called their fellowes together by howling wherewithall the forrest did ring and the ecchoes multiplying their voyces made Cyrans eares beleeve that there was a legion of Wolves comming to devoure him Surely if the good theeves helpe had stayd a little longer it is likely that it had come too late and out of season and had found poore Cyran torne to pieces by Wolves But God who helpes in tribulation and whose assistance comes in fit time made him arrive at the very instant which was needfull to deliver Cyran not onely from the feare of death but from the death of feare for terrour had almost borne away his soule I leave to your consideration with what words he thanked the good theefe who had twice in one day saved his life first in drawing him forth out of the jawes of Lions which were the other two theeves and then of Wolves which are Theeves that live but by rapine he profered the Souldier to use him as his brother and to give him such part of his meanes as hee should therewith bee content if hee would go with him and leave this wicked course of life which could not leade him but to a shamefull end To give ouer this theeving life said the souldier that is a thing that I am resolved to do having long since conceived such a horror thereof that it seemeth to me a hell My intent is to be a religious man to repent for so many evils which I have done in this unlucky trade it is true that I did never kill but I have beene present at many murthers I began to robbe pressed by necessitie but I have continued by a certaine malignant delight that therein is to be taken seeing it serves to maintaine wickednes finding not safety enough in France where I should ever thinke justice to be at my heeles I doe entreat you to pray to God for me that he may continue in me his good inspiration and may give me grace to put this good designe in execution there is the part which I have had of the hundred crowns that were taken from you I restore it you with a good will in so saying he would have put a hundred Franks into his hands Yet Cyran would never take them backe againe but gave them him in almes to helpe him in his pilgrimage offering to give him yet more if hee would goe with him to the next City The penitent souldier for I should make a conscience to call him theefe after such a change thanked him and having mutually embraced each other and mixt their teares together Cyran tooke his journey one way and the souldier the other whom hee never saw since but the other two he did for about some three moneths after being discovered by the Cloake and horse of Cyran and accused of some other thefts they fell into the hands of the Provost Marshal who did them good and speedy justice and so they were fastened unto an unlucky tree called a gybbet from whence they came down by hangham The good fortune of Almesdeeds shines in this relation with such splendour that although there were were no other motive to use liberality towards miserable persons this were argument sufficient to draw it forth of the hands even of Avarice it selfe FINIS Errata PAge 1 line 9 reade abaseth p 9 l 5 r. rinde p 10 l 25 râ—unties p 11 l 32 r. with p 15 l 3 r. fury and. p 17 l 26 r. wrong p 25 l 7 r. made p 33 l 11 his health r. Enemond p 54 l 2 r. to make â—er hold p 67 l 6 r. seeing p 97 l 31 r. hâ—d p 100 l 32 r. him take p 102 l 3 r. but Octavian p 110 l 3 r this p 116 l 15 r. neerely pag 144 l 15 r. distrustfull p 146 l 4 r. many p 161 l 3 r. reâ—ecting l 18 r. protection pag 163 l 4 râ—t is not l 29 r. shoot p 171 l 5 r lightly p 173 l 30 r. he is brought to p 177 l 30 r. made me lose p 179 l 12 r his p 184 l 7 r. grace l 8 r. soever a maid l 18 r. summe page 186 l. 30 r counsels p 192 l 3 r lines p 196 l 1 r then p 200 l 2 r person pag 201 l 4 r. on to l 21 r matter p 205 l 9 r not done p 214 l 3 r. all bid p 218 l 28 r. he p 221 l 2 r. that it is p 222 l 10 r imprudence p 225 l 2 r. this p 227 l 3 r. to suavity l 25 r. she did even l 27 r. no other p 231 l 16 r. darkest nâ—ghts like r. life p 234 l 24 r. to oppose p 236 l 18 r crowned l 20 r. thought l 30 r her p 239 l 26 r meditating p 240 l 1 r. this l 16 r. misdoubting p. 246 l 19 r. with p. 252 l 11 r for p 253 l 14 r master pa. 254 l 23 r. felt l 25 r. boy whose p 259 l 29 r kinswom in p 265 l 8 r contemp which p 268 l 8 r faithfull l 10 r to flye what p 269 l 11 â— behaves p 270 l 21 r is able p 280 l 4 r expired p 299 l 20 r â—â—ppening l 23 1 pretentions p 310 l 7 r Maid p 312 l 9 r of l 15 r two l 28 â—holler p 315 l 29 r reject p 316 l 22 r Baloon p 319 l 16â— hâ—r p 322 l 2 r with p 324 l 19 r ardor p 325 l 17 r had p 326 â— involve p 329 l 13 r no witnesse p 332 l 31 r than to p 333 l 8 r factions p 336 30 r had
ought to be put among incurable maladies let me intreat you to cast away that needlesse care which you take to cure me and let me passe away under your protection my small remainder of life as well I feele that sorrow and grieâ—e for my fault doe undermine it by degrees and will not let me long survive him without whom the fairest dayes are to me as darkest and like a lingring death in saying this Geronce let fall from his eyes teares resembling those drops of raine which the ardent heat of the Sunne doth squeeze out in the fairest dayes of summer but so farre was Fursees curious desire from being quenched that this water resembled that which Smiths put on their cinders whereby the fire is increased and not put out therefore extraordinarily pressing Geronce to disclose unto her his adventures he was constrained to content her but not without extreme striving and having dryed up his eyes and obtained a truce from his sighs began in this manner I am of Austrasiâ— daughter to a Gentleman one of those who are called of the ancient knighthood his name is Gaudence he hath divers children and I am the second of his daughters and the cause of this dishonour and trouble of his house Baptisme named me Saturnine which was the name of my mother who died when I was but sixe yeares of age it must be granted that daughters lose all when they lose their mothers in such tender years they are ships without North-starre Rudder or ancâ—or and what diligence soever widowed fathers use to finde out good governants they never finde aâ—â— whose eyes be so vigilant over their daughters as their mothers and besides their power is so weak that the contempt of their commands is the gate of liberty through which at last maids go astray My sisters and I shooke off the yoake of ours to follow the desires of our own hearts and walke after our owne giddy humours Love assailed us and took us yet there was none but I surprised after the manner that you shall understand My eldest sister loved a yong gentleman whom she wedded not but to obey the will of our father she wedded an old gentleman whom she never affected she made me such strange complaints of being tyed to a man whom she loved not that it seemed she endured the torment which that tyrant inflicted who fastned dead bodies to the living till they died in this cruell languishing manner I mistake for she described unto me her torment to bee equall unto that which is suffered in hell And indeed such may one call a marriage wherein the parties doe neither agree in the wills of the heart nor the delights of the body this misery which I considered in her made me resolve to avoid the like how deare soever it cost me But alas to shunne one gulfe I cast my selfe into another and I may say if my sisters marriage were a hell the â—uries caried the torches at myne and conducted mee to a disâ—ster worse than hell Volusian a young Gentleman but a younger brother of our neighbourhood had my first and shall have my last affection we lived some yeares in so perfect a correspondency that if my father would have matched us together the Elysian fields could never have equalled our felicity But that unlucky temporal respect that cut-throat of so many pure affections was the hangman unto ours For because this young man was not rich enough my father would never yeeld his consent unto our union but I fearing a lot like unto my sisters would needs spin my destinies with my own hands and so have I fashioned the cord which hath drag'd me to the misfortune wherein I am Volusian ever behaved himselfe towards me with an incomparable modesty so that it was not so much by his solicitation as by my owne proper inclination that wee made reciprocall promises of marriage accompanied with so many solemne oathes and such horrible execrations against the party that should violate the same that if I had had but the least thought of breaking I should not have beleeved heaven sufficiently furnished with thunders to strike me according to desert We must confesse that oathes writings promises frequentation liberty and facilitie are strange baits to lead blinded youth to its ruine to lay coles to the fire with a will not to have them kindle is to desire impossibility the body beeing but the accessarie of the heart and in marriage the sensible union beeing but a sollower of the will you may imâ—gine if I easily yeelded unto the desires of him who possest all myne and if I could thinke my selfe to be lost by casting my selfe into my beloveds armes We then consummated our Clandestine marriage and resolved whensoever I should finde my selfe loaden with the fruits of Lucina to take flight with my husband rather than to undergo the thunder of Gaudences anger This happened not but a more terrible tempest overtooke us which brought me to the wrack wherein you see me Minard a Gentleman of Austria who had beene in marriage but three years and was not above thirty five years of age found I know not what in my face that liked him He was a match so advantagious that to see me to desire me to ask me of Gaudence and obtaine me were all such sudden blowes that I had neither time to foresee them nor to shield my selfe from them My father without consulting my will told me he had given me to Minard and that I must dispose my selfe to receive him for my husband within few dayes If a thunder-bolt had fallen at my heeles I should not have been more astonished I made no answer to my father for what could I have said that would have pleased him and oppose cold excuses to his resolutions had been as to make bullets of snow against the Sunne beames I resolved suddenly to make effects speake and that was all that I could in so pressing a necessity Gaudence tooke my silence for a consent Next day my amorous Widower came to see me and after the complements of a first interview he would have offered me his service under the allowance sayd he of my father My father said I hath not willed me to receive your service but your commands obliging me to behold you as a Master this proceeding is to be admired thus to give away free persons without their owne consent I am borne his daughter and not his slave howsoever I declare unto you that I belong to a greater master having made a vow to him that hath made heaven earth never to be any bodies but his If it had pleased you to have seene me before you had spoken to my father I had saved you the labour of asking a thing which you cannot lawfully get nor possesse without sacriledge Never was any man more amazed than Minard when by this free declaration hee saw his hopes undermined to the very foundation He feared God and therefore I could not oppose
he was dishonoured by his wife Immediatly then how to reveng it at full he makes shew of lying forth and by the helpe of Leobarde hides himselfe in a closet neere the chamber of â—ursee this woman who tooke great delight in conversing with Geronce and in makeing him him relate perticularities of his house and Country of his love and fortune fayled not to make him come at night for to put him into his discourse and to fall a sleepe thereon but whilst she is in bed and Geronce sitting at her beds head talking to her Marcel is preparing fire and sword to reveng the injurie which he belieues to be but too apparant he starts forth of his ambuscado and comes with his pistoll in hand crying with full mouth ha accurfed woman now is the time that thou shalt wash my spoted honour in thy blood and that thou and thy adulterer shall both of you pay interest for the wrongs you have done me and without hearing any answere shoots off his Pistoll thinking to pash out Fursees braines but she turning her head a little the shot went into the feathers without any other effect but onely that it burned the cheeke of this poore Lady who in this trouble misdoubted the cause of her husbands wrath had no more leasure but to cry out O Sir Geronce is a woman whereat Marcel whose sword was already drawne to end therewith what the fire had spared as if a flash of lightning had dasled his eies stood in suspence at these words when Geronce more dead then alive cast her selfe at his feet and with the discovering of her breasts assured him that Fursees words were but too true presently to cleere his understanding of so many confusions wherewith his soule was troubled Geronce though trembling related unto him the whole history as you have heard of her miffortune and pittifull adventure which drew teares from the eies of Marcel and made him infinitely repent what he had done meane time remedies were applyed to the burne on Fursees face which besides the paine threatned her with a great deformity but whether it were the inflamation that redoubled or through the extreame terror which she had felt in hearing a Pistoll thunder in her eare and see her selfe nere loosing her life she fell into a strong fever which in three daies laid her in the grave Marcel lamented much for her both because he truely loved her and for that he saw himselfe to be the cause of her death he had almost discharged the burthen of his wrath on Leobarde and sacrificed her to the Manes of her Mistris but when hee knew that shee her selfe had been first deceived and that the conjectures of the evill had been so strong he was contented only to drive her away from his house Meane time Geronce hauing changed her habit and being become Saturnine appeared so faire in the eies of Marcel that loue being entred into his soule by the two gates of beauty and pitty he resolved to marry her as being a Gentlewoman of a good descent and the widdow of a Gentleman Saturnine seeing her fortune to bee desperate if shee with open armes received not this occasion laide hold on her foretop and consented to Marcels will by a solemne marriage and since Gaudence Father to Saturnine being dead Marcel had that part of the inheritance that fell to her thereby which amounted to as good a portion as hee could have had with a wife chosen out of his owne Countrey thus in the secular or civill life the harme of the one is the profit of the other as in the naturall the corruption of one body is the ingendering of another so the misfortune of inconsiderate Saturnine was by divine providence changed into a good fortune and that moment of time intended for her death was to her a beginning of a happier life it may be that the patience which she shewed in that extreame adversity of the losse of Volusian and her wise carriage and behaviour in the governement of Marcels sonne brought her to this felicity not without great wonder to little Sulpice who saw his tutor in a short time changed his mother in law THE IMPVDENT ATTEMPT The seventh Relation NOt pride onely but also temerity ever mounts there be men who cannot play foolish prancks but they must extend them to the uttermost poynt of impertinency impudence elevating them so much the higher by how much the lower she meanes to cast them downe doing by them as the Eagle by the Tortoise which she carries up into the ayre but onely to let her fall on the point of some rocke to breake her in pieces and then devoure her Speusippe a Gentleman of the Province of Aquitaine will shew us here the image of an impudent traytor whose attempt unworthy of a man of honour was punished by heavens permission when he had thought to take his prey in his hand and to triumph insolently in the honour of another This man in the warres had entred in friendship with another Gentleman of the same Province named Liberat and this friendship was grown so great that they called brothers and the one had nothing but what was the others Peace being returned to France by the victorious hand of great Henry sent every man backe under his owne figge-tree and under his owne Vine and changed swords into Sythes and head-pieces into hives these two friends with drew themselves to their houses which were not so far asunder but that they saw each other often enough living with a freedome and familiarity wholly fraternall Liberat took a desire to marry and wedded a faire and vertuous Gentlewoman whom we will call by the name of Mela for the honeyed sweetnesse of her disposition her conversation being wholly without bitternsse it was a Dove without gall but a chast Dove having no eyes but for her mate Speusippe failed not to expresse at this wedding how much it joyed him to see his brother of alliance so well matched he called Mela sister and this young Lady who saw but through the eyes of her husband knowing how much he esteemed Speusippe could do no lesse then hold him in estimation as the best friend Liberat had in the world shee called him likewise brother and cherished him in the same manner as if she had indeed been his sister It is to be beleeved that the first moneths of this marriage passed with much innocence on Speusippes part and that he thought onely to honour Mela as his sister of alliance but trayterous love who blindeth all and surpriseth even the most wary and is so good an Archer that he hits none but hearts setting himself in ambuscado in Melas eyes hit the heart of Speusippe with a mortall strâ—ke Now though all that Liberat had were in his power excepting his wife yet he desired what was prohibited and despised what was permitted this stinking flame burned not long ere he made the blacknesse and smoake thereof appeare to Mela
dayes of his life and I will so well provide for your daughter that both she and you yea and all yours shall bee glad thereof This newes was carried by Bonit to Metran who poore young man receaved it as the sentence of his death and indeed to rende so strong a love from his heart was no lesse then to teare his soule from his body hee cannot answer but with teares like to the Stag when hee stands at a bay Bonit pressing him to an answer hee fell presently in a swoune shewing thereby that hee could not grant so hard a request but by death here pitty gave new assaults to the soule of his Father and truly hee had beene very barbarous if hee had not beene touched with compassion seeing his daughter so extremly beloved of him whom he had chosen to be his son in law then goes he to his daughter to try her mind who had no other answer but sighs and sobs at last amongst many interruptions hee learned that her will was in the hands of Metran and that having given herselfe unto him shee could noe more dispose of herselfe her Father having left her shee opened the â—â—â—dgatâ— of her teares tore her haire had almost spoyled that faire complexion which nature had set on her face so much did she hate that beauty which seemed pleasing to any other then Metranâ— eies then Bonit returns to this yong man who having with incredible convulsions of mind digested the bitter thought of the ruine of his love which he saw to be evident tooke at last a couragious resolution and such an one as taken contrary to the true intent may seeme blame-worthy but understood aright shall appeare excellent Philosophers distinguish betweene loues say that that which is perfect hath no other end but the good of the person beloved and that which is imperfect tends to thee utility of the person that loveth Metran would shew the perfectioÌ„ of his love to his deare Valeria and seeing the Marriage so evidently advantageous for her freely tooke the bit out of his owne mouth to put it into Armentaires this was the sum of the answere he made to Bonit who tenderly imbraced him and mixing their teares together hee promised ever to account him as much the raiser of his house as the Earle being that herein Armentaire sought nothing but his owne content and on the contrary Metran deprived himselfe of his only in consideration of Valerias good this newes was presently carried by Bonit to his daughter who incredulous desires to here it from her beloveds owne mouth whereupon Metran being come into the presence of Valeria could hardly endure her lookes which seemed to upâ—raidâ— him with disloyalty so to forsake her and to give â—â—â— over unto another and before they could speake both of them fainting fell to the ground palenesse seizing on their faces their lips were forsaken by their naturall colour and they were thought to be yeelding up their lives but at length being a little recovered and come to themselves Metran made it well and sufficiently appeare unto Valeria that she deceived her selfe in accounting that for basenesse of heart and disloyalty which was the greatest act of magnanimity that his heart could shew to renounce its owne proper interests and pleasure in favour of the thing beloved Valeria could not at first conceive this subtilty her soule being united unto the soule of Metran that shee beleeved death it selfe could not divide them what said she hath caused thee so easily to forsake me and so willingly to give mee unto another Ah Metran Metran call you that loving and perfectly loving as for my part I should not onely have preferred you before an Earle but before a King also for I esteeme not men for their wealth and their greatnesse but for their own proper merits Deare Valeria replyed Metran the affection I beare you being as strong at death workes now in mee the same effect since it seperates me from you my vehement desire of your greatnesse makes mee deprive my selfe of the greatest contentment that I could have wished and without which my life hence forward shall be but a death live then great honoured happy rich most deare Valeria and by marrying with Armentaire become the glory of your kindred whilst I goe miserable poore unhappy and forlorne Metran spinning out the remainder of my sad dayes amongst the lovers of solitude much adoe they had to plucke these lovers from each others presence a heart as hard as Adamant could not but have relented at so hard a separation The words of betrothing being rendred backe the very next morrow Valeria is promised to Armentaire who in few dayes makes her a Countesse and withall becomes so idolatrous of her that both his eyes were not enough for him to view her withall meane while Metran who could rather have dyed then indured to see his Mistresse in the armes of another went his way wandring through Italy for the space of some few yeares often changing place but never heart nor affection Armentarie had but one sonne and hee was married but had no childe and that was partly the cause why the Earle did marry againe to get issue but age and the gowt opposed themselves to his desire Moreover it was generally reported that hee was so charmed by the love of a Courtezan that he disdained his lawfull wife but as the kinde of bad women resemble the materia prima which is never satisfied with formes what expence soever Hilaire was at for to stay the covetousnesse of this creature she still flew out and daily bred new distractions in his brain so that on a time being throughly vexed at her he used her like a woman of her trade and marked her face with the slash of a sharpe Rasor which they there call Coustillade This lewd creature seeing her selfe deprived of that little beauty which made her to be esteemed grew so desperate that she caused Halaire to be murthered by another of her lovers with whom she imbarked and got into the Venetian Territories a receptacle for such sort of wares This his sonnes death unmeasurably afflicted the Earle seeing himself deprived of heires and out of all hope of having any children yet the love he bare to his young wife was a charme to all his griefes But indeed this praise must onely be attributed to the vertuous discretion and carriage of Valeria that shee could so well frame herselfe to his humours and so win his heart that he had been insensible if hee had not acknowledged her respects the gowt by little and little wasting the Earles naturall vigour brought him to the threshold of his â—om be and what could he then doe better in the acknowledgement of the service received from his prudent mate then to make her his heir as he did by his solemne will and testament and after that he went the way of all flesh which is the way to the grave so long as he lived
by Taddees confession and held for innocent being that only in their owne defence and without any other designe they had committed this murther Androgeo absented himselfe for a time but by change of aire he changed not his evill manners nor the malice he conceived against the two brothers of his Step-mother but on the contrary being doubly animated by the death of his brother and thinking it a dishonour if he revenged it not he resolved to dispatch them to take them both together he had at his owne cost experienced how dangerous it was therefore he determined with his complices to take them asunder and rid them one after the other Returning backe secretly into the City and having divers times watched his adversaries hee at length met with Willerme going alone in the street thinking on nothing lesse then on the misfortune which happened unto him for he lost his life having not so much time as to lay hand on his sword it was by a pistoll shot wherewith Androgeo hit him in the head and dasht his braines about the pavement an infamous act unworthy not onely of a Christian buâ— of any man that hath never so little honour before his eyes upon this he betakes himselfe to flight therby to save himselfe for had he fallen thereby to save himselfe for had he fallen into the hands of justice nothing could have prevailed towards the saving of his life pardons being never granted for such deeds notwithstanding it was presently knowne that he was the man that had done this filthy action whereof Sostene was no lesse sorrowfull than his new wife for the losse of her brother The other brother which was Tibere sweares by all the Starres that Heaven containes hee will bee righted either by way of justice or by force the bloud of his brother calling on him daily to seeke revenge but time the Physitian of all the wounds of the mind moderated a little his fury so that hee slackned the pursuite of justice Sostene deprived of his eldest sonne by death and his other sonne by exile sees now though too late that his indiscreete passion and unseasonable love were the grounds of all these mischiefes yet will he not cast the helve after the hatchet nor let that sparke of his race goe out which only remained in Androgeo and to conjure this tempest hee makes use of his wifes wit who moderated the boyling anger of her brother and in fine for his better satisfaction Sostene gave him his eldest daughter in marriage with such a competent portion that Tibere had no reason to thinke ill of any thing that had past all matters where hereupon accommodated and mercy taking the place of justice Androgeo by an abolishment of his former malice reenters into his estate But what agreement soever was made it was never possible to reunite the devided hartes of these two brothers in law nether the alliance by their two sisters nor the thought of the misery past nether the entreaties of freinds nor the teares of the poore old man could ever recall the fury of Androgeo he lookes awry sowrely and doggedly at Willerme who seeing this could not but do as much for being no lesse haughty minded than he by the like despisalls hee mockt his arrogancy from these lightnings of looks proceeded thunders of threats and from the thunder of wordes tempests ofdeeds For behold in mid-day meeting in open street they quarrell draw and Willerme receiving a hurt in the shoulder repaid Androgeo with two others the second whereof laid him dead on the ground although this was done by incounter in combatâ— and in heate of bloud yet Willerme got away chusing rather to justifie himselfe a farre off then neer Imagine now the poore old mans sorrowes when he beheld his last sonne lye wallowing in bloud and dead before his eyes and moreover kild by him that was his brother in law and son in law Let us leave his teares and despaires as a disease contagious because perhaps his griefe may passe into those who have the reading of these lines more for recreation then to procure pensivenes he now sees himselfe without heires male and his inheritance like to passe into the hands of strangers yea even of those who are imbrued in the bloud of his children O what a heart breaking was this too late did the scales fall from his eyes whereby he saw and felt that his foolish love had beene the spring and originall of all these deplorable Events at length being cast downe with languor and overwhelmed in sorrow and discontent a sicknesse seased on him which in few dayes layd him in his grave whereunto this griefe accompanied him to see all his house turned topsie turvie as we may say his estate disordered his second wife taking what she could get his two younger daughters unprovided his sonnes killd and his eldest daughter married unto a fugitive O old men learne hereby to overcome and moderate your doting passions and endeavour to become so prudent and wary as to avoyd any occasion which may induce such fooleries both dishonouring you shortning your life and hastning your body into the grave trust not too much unto the Snow of your head the Ice of your blood nor the coldnesse of your stomacke The flesh is a domesticall enemy which ceaseth not to molest us untill death The flesh is that enemy who lyeth in ambush for the heele that is to say to the extremities of our life so long as one breath is in our lips so long there is a spark of that fire still in our bones moreover it is a very ridiculous thing and no waies pardonable to see an old man foolishly passionate and who thinketh of a marriage bed when he had more need thinke on his grave THE GOOD FORTVNE OF HONESTIE The Seventh Event THE Romans in times past built two Temples the one they consecrated to Honour the other to Vertue These were so joyned and contrived together that none could enter the former but they must goe through the latter this served as an Embleme to shew that there can be no progresse to honour but by vertue And that glory is a perfume fit to smoake no where but before the Altar of vertue and indeed doe but marke what cleere lustre and bright sparkling you see in a Diamond or what light comes from a great fire the same is honour in vertuous actions which are of themselves so resplendent that they produce rayes of esteeme and praise to reflect on those out of whom they issue The Psalmist goes further and will not only have glory to accompany the just man but also riches to enter into his house and to remaine there from age to age in his posterity so that if the ancients had had any knowledge of this doctrin they would surely have added a third Temple unto the two former which they would have dedicated unto good hap or good fortune which should have beene entred through that of honour for
him and thither retire her selfe and live on her dowry this proffer she accepted and taking her daughter whom she meant to bring up with her away shee went Then Saebinian tooke the husband of Heraclee into his house who from his fathers officer was become his father in law and put in his custody all his affaires he gave also unto Heraclee his mother in law the guide and conduct of all his house reserving no other care unto himselfe but to passe his time in hunting and other pleasures with his faire and vertuous wife Thus did Heraclee see her goe forth of the Castle that had formerly driven her forth thereat and she entred the place of government and managing of all the young Marquesses estate He advanced his father in law and all the children of Heraclee Patacule brought him five children which were the survivers of his name and possessors of his estate O how faire and illustrious is the race of chast and honourable persons the memory whereof shall last for ever Thus you may see how great a good it is to be enrolled under the Standard or Ensigne of vertue for on that side the victory cannot be doubted of Behold unto what height of good fortune she hath elevated the honesty and constancy of Heraclee and then cry out with the Psalmist O Lord thou wilt not deprive them of any good that walke before thee in innocency and righteousnesse but on the contrary thou wilt heape blessings on them aboundantly O God of vertues how happy is that soule that placeth all it's hope and confidence in thee alone THE GENEROVS FRIEND The Eight Event IF that a man spend all that hee have that is to say all the goods that fortune hath lent him in expressing his love to his friend he will esteeme it as nothing providing that his friendship be true but when he comes so farre as to expose himselfe to an assured death for a friend this is the highest point whereunto friendship can reach well do we see dayly the rage of Duells which diminisheth the fairest and noblest bloud of France where friends expose their lives to the hazard of combate in maintaining the quarrells of those they love the hope also to remaine victorious and have a share in the honour of armes makes them the bolder in these enterprises but in cold bloud to present himselfe to an undoubted death for a friend is a thing so rarely seene that antiquity furnisheth us with no example thereof but that of Pillades and Orestes and Poets tell with admiratioÌ„ Castor his sharing of immortality with his brother Pollux And yet one of our French Historians in his description of Polonia relates the memorable example of a generous friendship which preserved the life of both the friends who eagerly contended to die each for other The singularity of this Event hath made me place it here with few ornaments or addition of fine words the splendor of the action setting it selfe out sufficiently with it's owne beauty Octavian and Leobell two young Gentlemen of Lithuania in their tendrest youth had such an inclination each to other that by these beginnings it was judged that if their friendship encreased with their age it would attaine vnto such a degree of perfection which would dimme the lustre of those that ancient historians doe highly commend unto vs. Their parents were good friends and neighbours dwelling in the same City of Vilne the principall of Lithuania but their friendship was common and vulgar in comparison of that of their children whereof they rejoyced leaving them at their owne liberty to improve it by their familiar conversation this ordinary frequentation bred in their minds such a mutuall correspondency that their wills seemed to be one and that both hâ—d but one soule parted into two bodies they had not any the least thought from each other and no sooner had the one any designe just and reasonable but the other would profer him his assistance therein and if he thought it not lawfull he laboured to turne him from it which the other would not refuse to doe as well for the love of vertue which was the cement or gluten of their friendship as for feare of grieving his friend who thus brought him back unto what was honest and convenient They learned together in the Academy all the excercises befitting their birth and condition wherein by a praise worthy emulation they surpassed all theire fellowes the passions which most agitate youth are quarrells and love in both these stormes they vpheld each other with so inviolable fidelity that the interest of the one was the others without suffering the least sprig of jealousy to cast it's thorny rootes of suspition into their hearts At length it hapned that Octavian set his affection on a subject so full of honour that it could not be attained vnto but by the Rites of holy church I meane that he could not without impudency intend any thing thereto but by way of marriage Love is naturally blind and although it be first taken by the eyes yet are they hood-winkt vnto many circumstances which would hinder it's birth and growth if they were iudiciously foreseene it was the faire face of Pauline one of the compleatest Gentlewomen of the City which stole away his heart besides her beauty she was a match very considerable for estate so that this his determination was not with out difficulty to be followed and that which made it yet lesse accessible was that Gelase sonne to one of the principall citizens of Vilne was a suitor to this maide and had obtained the good will both of his and her parents to proceed in his suite so that he was in a good forwardnes on both those sides though not on Paulines who by a naturall Antipathy had a secret aversion from his humour which she could not by any meanes endure he was proud and haughty arrogant both in gesture and words and in liew of winning love by submission he made himselfe odious to Pauline by his vanities and bravadoes and to say thus much by the way it must be granted that vanity is a thing so odious that as Amber will draw unto it any manner of strawes except of the hearb Basill so the heart of a humane creature can apply it selfe to love all sorts of people how miserable soever except they be vaine and proud contrariwise humility mildnesse and modesty are such charming qualities that there is no soule so churlish but will in the end be wonne by them and this was the way by which Octavian insinuated himselfe into the affection of Pauline besides the other gifts of nature which made him commendable a Marchant distasted in selling by his first chapman is halfe agreed with the second the paine Pauline suffered to endure the approach and conversation of Gelase made her to be presently taken with the Gentlenesse and submission of Octavian who with so much grace wrought himselfe into her good will that the offer of his
he verified what is commonly reported that punishments light not alwayes on the guilty but sometimes on the unfortunate and if we shall reflect on that which led him into the mishap of this murther there is no doubt to be made but Demetry was more criminall then he since he but lent his arme to the execution of that vengeance which she had inspired him withall Youth may here learn to avoyde evill counsells as rocks stained with thousands of shipwracks and to withdraw themselves from the unfortunate acquaintance and familiarity of these shamelesse women who not contented to fill those with scandall who are spectators of their disordered lives led those that follow them unto brutish and inhumane actions not only of the flesh but also of blood whereof antiquity furnisheth us with a thousand examples amongst which the judicious reader may see if this that I have now related may not be placed THE LONG Vengeance The Tenth Event AS the least follyes are the most commendable so is the least continuance of anger Those revenges which are executed in the heate of choller when the bloud is boyling although not excuseable forasmuch as we ought neither to excuse a vice nor flatter a passion which should be subdued by reason yet are they lesse to be blamed then those which are taken in cold blood and whose continuance shewes a black and diabolicall malice the French are subject to violent passions whose suddenesse and fury proves very dangerous but those people that live beyond the mountaines are possessed with hereditary hatred and as if vengeance were one of the sweetest things belonging to life they lengthen and continue it as much as they can when they have once gotten their adversaries in their power making them endure many torments whose prolongation is worse then a thousand deaths which made that cruell Emperour Domitian say that hee would cause those whom he tormented to feele themselves dye and being petitioned by one of them that he might be quickly dispatcht by death since when answered he is this man entred into favour againe with me Although death be the last of all worldly paines yet some deaths are farre worse then others and which by their lingring length multiplye deaths and therein doth consist the tyranny of those vengeances which preserve life but only to lengthen paine Ceraste a Gentleman of Millaine continued a suite for many yeers with Trophime a Lord of great note and also bearing the title of Earle because the said Ceraste would not acknowledge to owe him fealty at length by the decree of the Senate of Millaine he was acquitted from this homage and his land declared free it was but little and lying within the County and Earledome of Trophime whose great courage could not there suffer a fellow wherefore what he could not obtaine by law which was to make Ceraste his vassall he thought fit by violence to take revenge thereof Now this Ceraste was growne something ancient and either by the intemperancy of his youth or by issuing from a gowty generation for this disease is said to be hereditary he was so afflicted with the gowt that he could hardly goe besides hee was so indebted that if the gowt decayed his body creditors did no lesse to his purse whether it were that ill husbādry had caused it or else along continued quarrel which he had had with a neighbouring Gentleman whose name was Procore so it is that he felt himselfe extreamely diminished in his estate but he was delivered out of all these miseries by an extraordinary meanes as you shall here in the sequell Vpon a day being mounted on a little mule as he was taking the aire about his groūds Trophime who watched for him as a vulture for his prey came well accompained and suddainly surprised him Ceraste who thought no other but that his throat should presently be cut for to move Trophime to compassion cried him mercy and begged for life Thou shalt have life answered Trophime because thou doest begge it but thou shalt not have death when thou wouldest this being said he caused him to be led vnto his house and cast into a darke prison where he made him endure paines lesse sufferable then death Cerastes mule was found grasing in the feild but as for tidings of him none could be heard his wife and two children caused all the enquiry and search to be made that possibly they could but never were able to discouer what was become of him upon the quarrell that he had had with Procore many conjectured that he had killd him On these weake surmises the Iustice seases on Procore and a lusty fellow who ordinarily waighted on him armed with sword and dagger for want of witnesses they are both put upon the wracke where the vehemency of torments made them confesse what they never did accusing themselves to have murdered Ceraste wherevpon Precore was beheaded and his man hanged not long after this Trophime caused miserable Ceraste to be led by night vnto a strong castle which he had on the bankes of the lake Maior and therto be locked vp in the bottome of a tower where he sawe no other light but through a little hole at the top and was fedde by the house keeper with nothing save bread and water the ground being his bed and the roofe for his couerled in these obscurityes and miseryes he often desires them to put him to death but he that tooke delight in his paine would not grant him this cruell favor he remanied there vntill the death of Trophime which was about thirteene or foureteene yeares after his taking who left this hatred and vengeance for an inheritance unto his sonne Castalio who succeeding his father in cruelty prolonged the imprisonment and bad vsage of Ceraste During this time Cerastes wife dyed and his two sonnes hauing devided the estate made away the best parte thereof to pay his dets thinking themselves to have lost their Father also when behold the power of heaven whose eies are ever waking on miserable creatures and who suffers not the rod of the wicked to continue on the heads of innocent persons by an vnexpected meanes opened a way unto the liberty of Ceraste Castalio being in mind to repaire some ruines about the castle wherein Ceraste was rather buried alive then imprisoned it hapned that the Masons working thereat digged so deep about the foundations of the tower that they made a little trench therein through the which they perceived this miserable man who at the first affrighted them but at last hee moved so much pitty in them that having heard the History of his disaster they made him a passage for to escape away this hapned after nineteene yeeres imprisonment Presently he repaires to his owne house meager pale and in the worst case that can be imagined where no body at the first knew him at last he was knowne by his children unto whom he related the time aad manner of his taking and his long continuance
in that miserable prison whereupon a great suite is framed against Castalio who for such a barbarisme begun by his father and continued by him was condemned to pay all the debts of Ceraste who by this meanes re-entred into all the lands which his sonnes had sold and became master of that Castle wherein hee had so long been a captive and where by the benefit of hunger and A good remedy against the gowt misery hee became cured of the paines of the gowte Hee lived some few yeers after his deliverance free from creditors and without Physitians An admirable spectacle whereby to behold the omnipotency of the divine providence which doth not only help in calamity but also drawes profit out of tribulation An Italian Bishop in his pleasant and curious discourses whereunto he hath added the title of Caniculary dayes relates this Event which he assures to be true as having learned it from the owne mouth of Ceraste who was then delivered from his so long imprisonment and from debts no lesse troublesome then the gowt was painefull THE VNLVCKY WORD The Eleventh Event LIfe and death are in the power of the tongue the mouth which tells a lye killeth the soule much more when it blaspemeth or speaketh rash words out of a desperate hastinesse from which the Prophet prayed God that hee would preserve him This makes St. Iames compare the tongue unto fire whose least sparke being scattered by carelesnesse causeth great burning and consuming he calls it likewise an universall iniquity as being a thing that defiles the whole body and soule like a tunne full of must or new unrefined wine which foules it selfe with it's owne foame he addes moreover that it is harder to be tamed then the fiercest beasts yea worse then Serpents Tygers or Lyons an unquiet evill full of deadly poyson and the place from whence proceed cursings and blessings indeed as there is nothing so light and slippery so there is no faculty in us whereunto we ought to take more heed seeing the greatest part of sinnes come from thence for very often doth it happen that men utter so many and inconsiderate speeches that they are taken at their word and they remaine punished for the same before they can have so much time as to crave repentance therefore The history I am about to relate will shew you that the predictions of the wicked do often turne to their owne ruine In a City of Swisse which the relation nameth not a Surgeon as expert in healing of bodyes as he was ignorant in curing his owne soule of the wounds of vice although he had a faire and very honest wife not content to quench his concupiscence with her alone had still some giddy passion or other in his soule which stole away his heart from her who only had the lawfull right to possesse both it and his body he led a most dissolute and deboist life which abandoned his health bringing it unto shamefull maladies and his reputation for a prey unto tongues his wife perceiving his evill courses laboured at first by all the gentlest and most convenient meanes she could devise to withdraw him from those bottomlesse pits wherein he was sinking both soule body and estate yet his untractable mind amended not by all these remedies but on the contrary as sweet things according to the Aphorisme be most easily converted into choller and as oyle feeds the fire which is quenched by other liquors so her sweet admonitions made him more chollerick and the gentler he was handled the worse did he sting Patience leauing this woman whose head was troubled with a just jealousie she fell to reproaches and threates which more vexed her froward husband who replyed with sharpe words seconded with such heavy blowes that the poore woman was halfe brained thereby This harsh usage made her complaine to her parents who made their moane unto the Magistrate he finding himselfe obliged to redresse this disorder caused the Chirurgion to be cited before him and ratled him with so good a lesson and withall caused him to pay such a fine that he amended him if not in effect yet at least in shew and commanded him on paine of imprisonment to leave of his accustomed haunting of such suspitious houses where if ever hee were knowne to goe againe hee would cause him to bee punished as an adulterer Here now becomes the sinner humbled and he who rejoyced in his evill and gloryed in his fault endeavoured to hide his dissolutenesse to avoyde scandall murmur and the punishment wherewith the Iudge threatned him yet could he not long abstaine for since the wicked hath cast downe his eyes from beholding heaven and is fallen to the very bottome of the Abyssus he despiseth all humane advertisements having played bankrout with his salvation but now he finds other tricks he makes his journeyes by night and by stealth And to his jealous wife who had over him as many eyes as Argus he finds out thousands of lyes And like another Mercury pipes her asleep with a flattering tongue and counterfeit kindnesses neverthelesse she still mistrusts him knowing that as the Ethiopian cannot leave his blacknesse nor a Leopard the spots of his skin howsoever they are washed so it is likewise hard for him that hath taken a habit of evill to leave of his vitious customes Hereupon she sets divers spies but the malicious man multiplies his deceits and findes more inventions to cast himselfe away then his good carefull wife hath to saue him yea he so jndustriously doth hide his naughtines that although he minded nothing else yet his neighbours thinke him to be reformed and if his wife complaine they mocke her suspitions and accuse her of causlâ—sse jealousie At length having gathered together his affections rather having setled his infections on a lost creature whose only frequentation had beene sufficient to defame those that resorted unto her being one that made an infamous trafficke of her selfe he made his hearte and his body one with this woman This stinking fire could not be kept so secret but that it shewed it self by it's smoke and blacknes his wife had already gotten some small knowledge of this matter and already did the neighbours about the place where he haunted begin to perceiue it and what veiles soever he invented to couer himselfe withall were meerly as spiders webs which discovered him in covering him One of his most probable excuses was to frame some journeyes out of towne whereupon getting upon a Mule which he kept he would ride forth of the City come late in the night unto the adulteresse whom he frequented this craft being discovered by continuance his wife reproved him for it and threatned to certifie the Iudge that he still continued his lewd courses to the end that feare of punishment might cause him to refraine but he being altogether obstinate in his vice and as it were fallen into a reprobate sense jested at her admonitions and with blasphemous oathes and horrible
speeches constrained Tharsis to reply in this manner She is neitherthy leavings nor mine but deserves a better then thou art and if thou wert wise thou wouldst keepe thy word never any honest man broke it nor never any man of honour wronged a gentlewoman so cruelly The protection which I owe her as a Knight and the just pretention I have to Aldegond makes me wish to see thee and I together with our swords in hand that I might wash the honour off the one in thy bloud and make thee with the losse of thy life lose the hope of the other and it shall be when and where thou wilt that we shall meet Furious Epolon could not heare out the end of this discourse without laying hand on his weapon Tharsis failed not to reply in the same accent and before Philapian and Victor could separate them Tharsis had runne the old man into the body presently they were parted but it was too late for Epolon had received a wound which left him but one dayes life Victor being an intimate friend to Tharsis helpt him away who knowing he could never get his pardon fled into Germany where he died in the Emperours Army Epolon lived untill the next day Heaven having lent him so much time as to call him to account and to make satisfaction for the wrong he had don Barsimee to repaire her honour he gave her his land in signe of marriage but such a marriage whereof death soone unloosed the bond The same day it was assuredly known that Aldegond rather followed Metel than that he had stollen her and that if it were a Rape it was done by her consent Philapian overcome with so many disorders whether of griefe or of an apoplexy which as was thought seized on him dyed suddenly Not long after Metel having married Aldegond in Germany brought all to a good passe again and wrought his peace with the mother who tenderly loved her daughter and disswaded her sonne Victor from attempting to right these affronts by the force of Armes Here the folly of Barsimee and the disloyaltie of Epolon serve to elevate or to make the loyalty and constancy of Metel and Aldegond shew the fairer In briefe the variety of accidents which happened in this rape doe shew unto a good judgement the sundry lusters of good and evill even as the necke of a Dove being exposed before the beams of the Sun doth shew in its feathers sundry transparences THE IVST RECOMPENCE The eleventh Relation ALthough the Maxime of this wicked world be contrary yet such is the beleefe and opinion of the wisest men that it is the nature and property of a base abject courage not to be able to suffer a wrong without some evident revenge The same wise men also teach us that the greatest courages are the most prone unto acknowledgement and that it is as difficult for them to endure a good turne without requitall as for a base minde to put up a wrong without revenging it to the uttermost Which made the Tuscane Poet say That love doth never dispense with not loving the person that loveth From thence comes the common saying love that thou mayst be beloved but with a stronger tone when a man hath given all his goods and all his substance for love hee still thinks he hath not done so much as hee ought so precious a thing is love you shall see the effects of this verity in the relation that I am about to describe In Ascoly a city of Poville a Province of the Kingdome of Naples an honest Marchants sonne whom wee will call Metran fell in love with a Citizens daughter named Valeria who bore away the palme of beauty frō al the Maids of that city now as there was much equality in wealth betweene the parents of both parties so there hapned yet to be a greater concordance of humours dispositions so that the match seemed to bee framed in Heaven even from their births but as many accidents happen betwixt the cup and the lip so these two lovers were like unto those ships which lying at Ankor in the roade and staying but only for the tide to bring them into the desired haven see themselves unawares by a wind from the land driven farre into the sea and in short space at a great distance each from other The Father of Valeria was much obliged to an Earle that dwelt in the City whom wee will conceale under the name of Armentaire this Citizen was under the particular Protection of this Nobleman who on divers occasions had shewed him much assistance which was the cause that amongst those that the Father of Valeria invited at the betroathing of his Daughter he entreated the Earle as his good Lord and Patron to be there whereunto Armentaire condescended as willing to honor this Citizen whom he entirely loved the assembly was come together with much pompe and magnificence and there Metran promised unto Valeria and Valeria unto Metrau to take each other in the face of the Church on the day that it should bee agreed upon betwixt their parents now wanted nothing but only to proceed upon the solemnities and consummation of this Marriage the tearme of few dayes was prescribed to prepare and end it the content of these parties had exceeded had not the adjourning of the day wherein they should have beene united put water into their wine and moderated their joy by ensuing troubles for here comes an unexpected tempest to crosse their quiet navigation whether it were that Valeria had added unto her natural beauty the art of ornaments which made her exceed all the company or whether the Earles eyes were more open that day then they were formerly so it fell out that the flash of this faire face dazled him so that hee lost both judgement and knowledge of himselfe he was very ancient and beside extreamely troubled with the Gout whether it were that he had it as inheritance or that it proceeded from his former intemperancies all this ought to have dispensed him from inrouling himselfe under the Standards of Cupid where the old and gouty are scarce welcome old fooles are reckoned amongst things unfit for use of which Armentaire shewes himselfe to bee one by the foolish part hee playes After hee had made a weake resistance unto the assault made by this innocent beauty he yeelds resolving to cure himselfe of this importunate desire by Marriage hereupon hee goes forthwith to Bonit the Father of this faire conqueresse and weeping like a chlid represents his griefe unto him in such a manner that this good Citizen his ancient freind tooke pitty thereof counted it a great honour and grace that hee should request to have his daughter in marriage but my Lord said he you know shee is betrothed to another and this promise cannot bee broke but by the consent of both parties I shall replyed the Earle deale so bountifully with Metran that in obliging mee hee shall be the better all the
and mummings every day some assemblie was made where Eleusipe with her brightnesse dimmed the lustre of those beauties which were in the City Iule and Adiute left no occasion of seeing her which much vexed Audifax but he could not remedy it because they saw her not in Fabians house but in such placesas where hee could not forbid them to come Some affaires forced Adiute to an absence for some few dayes during which time Iule invented a mask in favour of Eleusipe and caused her to be invited to a friends house of his where being masked hee might entertaine her at will Among those whom he entreated to be maskers with him was one Fluriel young man who danced exceeding well and had formerly beene page to Adiute the Masque goes on it is not for me to relate the invention it sufficeth for my history to say that it was don with the admiration of all the spectators although they were ignorant both who was the principall author and for whom it was made so secret had Iule been in his enterprise Audifax was there present being come in that company where he knew Eleusipe was to be In masques the liberty of Masquers is very great by reason of their disguise they may as long as they please entertain with discourse those whom they chuse out and it were a grosse incivility to interrupt them in their conversation they beeing not bound so much as to answer any one that speaks to them except they please that so they may not bee knowne by their speech The masque being ended Iule made use of the priviledge and having taken Eleusipe aside talked with her in secret so long till jealous Audifax was offended thereat Hee had stil kept both his eies upon the actions of this Masquer who was talking to Eleusipe with the countenance of a passionate man which put Audifax into a fume and for to breake off their discourse he bethinkes himself to pray Eleusipe to dance she excuseth herselfe in that she cannot without the Masquers permission who seemed to be unwilling This provoked Audifax and was the cause that thrusting the Masquer and calling him importunate man would have taken Eleusipe from him the masquer counterfeiting his speech sayd that hee made use of the maskes lawes without any importunity but that he for his part did violate them with as much indiscretion as incivility Audifax stung with these words and more yet by his jealousie presently layd hand on his sword but Iule was not without defence for he made a Pistol ring in his eare which had shot him through the head had he not stopped it The other Masquers bestirred themselves likewise so that there was an horrible confusion Iule was in the house of his friend who helpt him at need Audifax was slightly hurt but evill fortune would that as the Masquers were retyring poore Fleurid got a thrust with a sword in the backe whereby he fell dead on the staires Being unmaskt and knowne Audifax made no doubt but that this maske had been made by Adiute in consideration of Eleusipe The reason of this conjecture was that Fluriel had beene his Page and that commonly he had made use of him when he would make any masque The absence of Adiute since some dayes shewed the contrary but the jealousie of Audifax made him beleeve that it was but feigned and that it was so given out the better to cover the mumming Thereupon Audifax resolved to challenge Adiute who beeing returned to towne saw himselfe saluted by a letter of defiance which marked him out the houre and the place where he should come with a second to make satisfaction for the affront which Audifax pretended to have received from him Adiute who would willingly have payd deare for a good cause of quarrel against Audifax receiveth this challenge with a free courage asking no better than to decide by combat which of them should have Eleusipe Further being netled by the death of his Page he resolves to fight both for his Love and for his revenge two strong spurres to animate a spirit Hee goes into the field with a second where before they went to it he protests by great oathes unto Audifax that hee had not made the masque but that he was two dayes journey from thence when it was made that he knew not what satisfaction Audifax would draw from a wrong that was not done by him that he had courage enough to accoast Eleusipe openly without hiding himselfe under a masque This replied Audifax is the language of a coward who to avoyd strokes frames frivolous excuses wee are not come hither to stand and doe nothing I am but too certaine that it was thee who didst make the Masque entertain my mistres notwithstanding that thou wert forbidden so to do the death of thy page hath been the beginning and thine shall bee the end of my revenge trifle not out time thus wee must fight The wrong thou even now didst mee replied Adiute in giving me the name of coward which belongeth not unto me would make me lose a thousand lives rather than want the washing of its spot in thy bloud the bloud of my page killed treacherously askes this vengeance the love of my mistres commands me to punish thy temerity and my own honour obliges me to make thee lie This said they went to it and it appeared in three bouts that the greatâ—st talkers are not the greatest fencers because that Adiute extraordinarily provoked pressed Audifax so lively and strongly that he never made thrust but hit so that without having the least hurt himselfe he layd him on the ground at the third making his soule passe out at a large wound and presently goes to helpe his second who had reduced his man to bad tearmes They made him yeeld up his weapons and so left him in the field from whence being brought backe he died the next day Adiutes Second having but a flight wound in the arme Audifax was of so great parentage that after this it behooved Adiute to take flight towards the Pyrenean mountaines and to seeke shelter in the territories of Spaine from the justice of France although he went unto this duell being challenged and had been provoked against reason and unmeasurably wronged in the field and that his act was rather a defence of his honour and his life than an assault yet the power of Audifax parents made him feele the rigor of the edicts which oft times falls rather on the least fortunate than on the most culpable he was be headed in efsigie his goods were confiscate and he was constrained to change his native country for a strange land Thus is Iule rid of both his Rivals and might have sayd as the Raven in the Fable who seeing the wolfe and the dog fight on which side soever the victory fals the profit shall be myne hee had a new permission to be a suiter to Eleusipe whome hee had much a doe to comfort on the losse of Audifax and
had courage but his valour was as yet like unto a green and tart fruit which time might both have ripened and seasoned he was a good horse man and very good at fencing As soone as he came hee begun to rowle up and down from house to house and to visit the neighbourhood as the manner is among Gentlemen in the Country he came to Proiects house without any other designe then to salute this old Knight and to render him the devoirs which youth oweth to the auncient he was there welcommed and as yong folk delight not much to be among old because they are too serious and too grave for them Vincent past on presently to the yong Gentlewoman where he meets with this beauty of Callinice which gave him a check and soone mute-strucken with this lustre as with a thunder-clap he remained quite astonished and hee whose tongue before giddied all companies became now mute as a fish all the faculties of his soule being as it were gathered together in his eyes the more amply to contemplate so many wonders being now in the number of the vanquished he ceaseth to sing his owne victories in briefe being yong and full of ardor he in an instant becomes a passionate lover having not the judgement nor the discretion to moderate the flame and to hide his designe he made it knowne to Callinice who so farre rejected him that he was therat wholly amazed and in truth this Gentlewoman had bin very ill advised if being not onely promised but also ingaged in affection to Thyrse shee had never so little â—ent eare to the new complements of this giddy braâ—â—â— but he looseth not courage for this repulse but continues his pursuit at last learnes that Thyrses woing having preceded his had preocupated the minde of Callinice and that she could not have inclination to him as long as Thyrse was on foot Iudge a little on the violent humour of this youth who would have all yeeld to him faith to be broken Thyrse to leave him the place and all to make way for his desires who like a furious torrent cannot suffer banks yet let us see if he have wherewithall to counter-ballance the meanes of Thyrse no such matter for a yonger brother and poore withall are too inseparable qualities Hee hath nothing but his sword and his hope which is Alexanders part and herewith hee would passe for a brave fellow and because he makes himselfe skilfull and understanding hee would have every one thinke hee hath much merit Proiect had been ill advised if he had given his daughter to this Gallant for to put two poverties together had not that beene a marriage to have begotten necessity therefore they make him understand that he looses his labour that the place is taken and that he is come too late and that he shall doe well to retire Hee that beleeves that Maids are to be disputed for like the towns of Holland at the sword point turnes this unjust colour against Thyrse begins to talke ill of him taxeth his coldnesse with unablenesse his moderation with pusillanimity his prudence with cowardize and because he had some gray hayres on his head hee cals him old man a name hard to be borne by one that aspireth to marriage Notwithstanding that all these insolencies come to the eares of wise Thyrse hee dissembles them with prudence and receives these nips as comming from the hand of a childe holding himselfe no whit hurt thereby and casting all the fault thereof on the weaknesse of age and force of love hee sends this tendrell to schoole againe in fine this furious youth seeing them prepare for publieke betroathing and that the marriage was going on resolves to venture his rest and without any other cause then for the possession of Callinice he challenges Thyrse to decyde by the losse of his life or of his rivals unto whom the faire Maid should remaine hee sends him a letter of defiance so outragious that even snow would have been heat thereby Thyrse goes unto the place assigned to chastiâ—e the insolency of this novice and make him feele the strokes of a Master but outragious fortune enemy to vertue is not commonly on the best side This yong Gallant was so nimble and could so well handle his weapons that hee hits Thyrse where hee list and uses him like a Quintaine-bagge flowting him as he lards him sometimes in the armes sometimes in the thighes at last weary with paying him in jest he begins to fall on in earnest and with such fierce assaults that Thyrse having two thrusts in the body fell on the ground weakened by the losse of his bloud and was faine to yeeld up his armes and beg life of this yonker who for an addition of victory made him sweare to seeke no more after Callinice and yeeld up all his pretentions to him Thyrse having a ponyard held at his throat was forced also to passe through this extreamity Hereupon proud Vincent retires bearing away the bloud the armes and the faith of his rivall could hee have desired a more ample victory Thyrse being carryed home a Surgeon dressed his wounds which were not found â—o be mortall but the griefe and shame to have been subdued by a childe to have begged life to have yeelded up his armes to have renounced the possession of his faire Mistresse did so torture him that if hee had not dreaded eternall torments he had like another Cato torne his wounds and received death by his owne hands how many times did hee wish that hee had suffered himselfe to be kild in the field rather then so shamefully to owe his life unto his adversary whose insolent triumph representing it selfe before his eyes hee resolved to flye to the furthest part of the world rather then to endure the sight of it and in effect as soone as he could get out of his bed having gotten up a good summe of money hee stole away from the Castle whereunto he had caused himselfe to be carried and in the obscurity of the night hee tooke the first way that he met with it was not likely that any should know where he was gone for hee knew not himselfe whether he was going at last being come to knowledge of himselfe he went into Germany and from thence through Bavaria hee came and descended into the state of the Venetians and being at Venice he imbarked himselfe in the first ship that set up sayle for Constantinople let us leave him sayling in full sea to come and see what Vincent is doing he wheels about like a Peacocke but hee shall soone be forced to close up his tayle and hide his beautifull feathers Thyrse appearing no more and Vincent boasting that he had vanquished him in a duell that he had had his bloud and his armes that he had made him beg life and renounce his pretentions of Callinice in stead of applauding this boaster it was presently thought that he had murthered him treacherously and that having cast
honour and eminencie Charmed by these illusions she begins to witnes by evident signes unto Adelard that if hee suffered for her shee indured not lesse for him she lends an eare unto his complements and makes him affected answers shee inflames him by attractiue lookes and favorable entertainements in briefe shee attributes to her side all that Adelard could have wished for to undo her unto this new affection for Adelard succeeded a cooling of good will for Leopert a humane heart is too little to lodge two vehement passions at one time Adelard helped much thereunto for judging that hee could never make himselfe Master of her will if he brought her not to despise her husband he neglected not to put this contempt into her soule and moreover to breed therein a hatred and such a hatred as arrived unto this last point to desire his death ungrateful womaÌ„ whofor so much love as this man had shewed her recompences him with such an aversion she notwithstanding mannaged the passages of Adelard in such manner that without giving him any advantage on her pudicitie she retained him in the desire of marrying her giving him no hope of injoying her but through that gate som would counsell Adelard in the crime of poysoning Leopert which this furie for what other name can I give to this cruell woman did with so much cuning that the ground covered her fault before the justice of men could discover her treacherie Leopert being dead some moneths after for she stayed not the revolution of the yeare of mourning shee married Adelard and by this meanes mounted up to the top of that greatnesse which she had so much desired but if the delights which shee had tasted with Leopert had seemed light unto her these honours seemed unto her but as smoke and shee learned by experience the truth of this sacred sentence that all that is here beneath is but vanitie and affliction of spirit some time after Adelard considering that hee slept by a serpent who might one day as cuningly give him his death as she had done to Leopert began to enter into distrust of this woman and not to hold himselfe in assurance neere her Arduine finding some coldnesse in the love of Adelard labours by divers blandishments and wanton tricks to rekindle his fire and to melt his Ice but this increaseth the suspition of Adelard who knowes that dangerous Women cover their treacheries with their imbraces by litle little this suspition changed into belief this belief into indignatioÌ„ this indignatioÌ„ burst out into reproches threats in fine they were constrained to come unto a seperation of bodies Adelard being not able to live in quiet neare this creature of whom hee stood in feare as of a fury hee sends her into one of his houses in the country where Arduine seeing her selfe in a profound solitude had no other company but her griefes which made her detest the blindnesse of ambition that had borne her to make away so good a husband as was Leopert for to marry with this second who contemnes her among so many sundry sorts of thoughts wherwith her spirit was tossed she gave way to this one which hath lost many imprudent Women and that was to breed jealousie in Adelard for to recall him to her againe among the gentlemen of that neighbour-hood shee chose out one capable to make a hammering in Adelards braine she invites him to see her often which Melin holds for a great favour and not knowing the design of this traiteresse this poore bird following the call of her pratlings runnes into the net of a violent love attracted by the bait of hope hee beleeves that this Lady ill used by her husband seeks in him revenge which hee desires but Arduine who wolâ—make use of him but as of a lure to bring backe Adelard to her fist held his beake to water and obliging him but with common and apparant favours fed him with smoake and vaine expectation meane time shee was so farre from hiding her kind usage of him that it being done only to appeare she made a shew farre worse then the deed resembling those that having Lions Elephants and other strange beasts to be seene hang out pictures farre more extravagant then the beasts themselves to allure in those that behold them Adelard having notice of what passed betwixt Melin and his wife presently beleeved that shee was false to him and that shee that could commit a murder would make no conscience of adultery hee sought many times to catch both together this true amorist and this counterfeiting Woman but the evill being not arrived unto the effect he was not likely to find out the occasion thereof meane time he feared that this perfidious Woman should by some subtile poyson send him to keepe company with Leopert for to injoy her new Medor at will having then in his opinion gathered witnesses sufficient to convince her of adultery he puts her in suit to have her condemned he causeth Melin to be seised on who is put into one prison and Arduine into another not to lay abroad the proceedings of a suite I will only say that it was easie for Arduine and Melin to cleare themselves of a crime which they had not committed but the divine justice which leaveth nothing unpunished permitted the tongue of Arduine to bee converted into a sword which cut her owne throat for making her plaints in the prison against the malice and ingratitude of Adelard shee hapned to say that hee had perswaded her to poyson her first husband and that for to bury that wickednesse in oblivion he wished to see her dead such like words fall not to the ground in prisons there are Echoes which say them over againe and which bring them to the eares of the Iudges whereof God makes use for to execute his vengeance against those that have provoked his wrath she is examined hereupon varies in first her answer being pressed further she acknowledgeth it in her second in fine truth manifested it selfe through her mouth against her will ther being a witnes that Adelard had perswaded her hee easily purged himselfe thereof casting all the crime on Arduine alone an moreover that the greatnesse of Adelard gave him so much credit both at Court and before the Magistrates that it was easie for him to over turne all the misery on the head of his accusatrix which made her loose her life by sentence not as an adulteresse For Melin was cleared but as the murderesse of her first husband leaving a memorable example unto posterity that punishment as a shadow followes in all places the body of this crime and that early or late he cannot faile of chastisement who hath committed such an offence behold whereunto ambition elevated this Woman and see the precipice wherein she cast herselfe a lesson for ambitious persons not to mount up unto honours by crimes if they will not descend by shame THE AMAZON The sixteenth Relation IT was
in the time of Alexander Farnese Prince of Parma that the Marquesse de Varambon Knight of the golden Fleece one of the greatest Noblemen of the County of Burgoigne and who for his courage and experience had at that time faire imployments in the armies received commandement to besiege Bliemberg a very strong little town and neer Rhinberg This brave Captain made his approches and without making here a long description of this siege which I leave unto these that have at large written the history of the troubles of the Low-Countries it sufficeth me to say that well assaulted and wel defended the place was battered the breach being reasonable a general assault was given so furiously that the assailants repulsed divers times at last launched themselves with so much violence through the blows the bodies of the dead and of the hurt that they forced downe the defendants and entred into the towne which taken in this sort suffered all the insolencies and outrages which victors were wont to practise upon the vanquished who have bin subdued with their weapons in hand Let us adde moreover that the place had so obstinatly held out that those within would never hearken unto any composition but resolved to dye rather than to yeeld unto the Spaniard it sufficeth to say that it was entirely sackt and that they pardoned neither age nor sexe nor honour nor riches all was desolate when the Marquesse made himselfe absolute master thereof and that order was given to bury the dead for feare that the infection should corrupt the aire and overthrow health two souldiers were found on the breach so streightly embraced that even in this state which hath no more strength it was hard to part them The vanquishers ardent after prey and booty for to have the spoils of these two who were reasonably well cloathed stripped them quite naked one of them as white as snow and of a wonderfull beauty was found to be a woman Presently amazement ranne through all the troupes and curiosity laboured to know the successe of this memorable adventure it came unto the eares of the Marquis and as a man that made much account of valour and of love hearing talke of the death of this armed Venus who had beene found fastned with her Mars Hee passionately desired to know who were these two lovers for to honour the memory of their courage and of their fidelitie A souldier who had made proofes of an incomparable generosity and who being wounded in divers places had yeelded himselfe under the faith of a Burguignon Captaine who in favour of his vertue took care to have him drest sayd that he was alone in the City and it may be in the Countrey that could satisfie the curiositie of the Marquisse and of so many others who had an extreame desire to know the truth of this amorous and warlike history This hurt prisoner beeing not able to stirre the Surgeons having but an ill opinion of his wounds the Marquisse went to see him accompanied by divers Captaines for to learne from his mouth the particulars of this event The sicke man resuming an extraordinary vigour made the discourse therof in this manner in his naturall tongue which was high Dutch and which the Marquesse and most of those that were about him understood very well My Lord sayd he I render thankes unto heaven that hath given me but so much life as I wish for to yeeld in so honourable a company the glorious testimony which I owe to my love and to my friendship which done thinke it not strange if I die for the causes that made me live being no more it were a cruelty and not humanity for to dresse my wounds and the way to prolong my death rather to preserve my life I can no more live without friendship than enjoy the light of dayes without eyes and without sunne even from my birth I have had an inclination to love but an inclination so strong that I remember not to have ever lived without some particular affections but I had never any stronger than for these two lovers my friend and my mistresse which have been found dead and embraced on the breach O happy couple why must the order of warie have separated our affections and make me fight in another place how freely for to save you from death would I have suffered my selfe to have beene hewed in a thousand pieces or at leastwise I had beene your companion inseparable in death as I have beene in life but you have out-stript me of a small time Stay for mee deare soules and I shall soone be at you Alas the desire to see you rather than to preserve my life made me yeeld my armes unto this young man in whom my courage hath bred pitty but being you are no more in the number of the living I will bee blotted out from thence and remaine there no longer time than needs must for to consigne unto mens remembrance the memory of our friendship Hee made this fine speech with so many sighes sobbes and teares and with so great a voyce that falling suddenly into faintnesse they thought he was expiring his last This was attributed unto the paines of the wounds of his body but it may be those of his heart were rather the cause thereof Yet so it is that the Marquisse for feare this disturbance should kil him retyred into another chamber resolving to put off this matter untill he might be stronger but when he was come to himselfe againe and that hee saw no more this faire troupe which had appeared about his bed hee entred into such sorrowes and plaints for that he could not dis-burthen his minde as moved so much compassion that the Marquesse being pierced therewith came backe to see him who after he had with opportunity craved favor to be heard proceeded in a more stayd manner and with a grave and hardy countenance sayd thus My name is Aleran my birth noble my country is the Lantgraviat of Hessen the place that saw my entrance into the world is Melsignam neer unto Cassel the seat of my Prince being in his Court I bound my selfe in so straight a friendship with Incmar a gentleman Native of Rottenburgh who had beene bred up as page unto the Lantgrave that wee were commonly called the Inseparable those impatiences which lovers feel when they are from their mistresse we felt when we lost sight one of another being together dayes were unto us houres and houres were moneths when we were asunder a moment was unto us an age even in sleeping sleepe which is a benumming of the powers was unto us tedious if we were severed by reason whereof wee commonly made but one bed we had but one purse and one table one and the same house the same servants the same Livories the same retinue and when any of our servants were asked unto whom they did belong they answered Vnto the two friends if those that are but one may be called two Wee went
noblenesse of humour both she and Incmar gave me leave to call her my mistresse and she called mee her servant and there was all the favors that ever I had of her besides that of sometimes kissing her no lesse valiant than fair hand She had a beauty of face annexed unto such a majesty that if the one inflamed me with love the other freezed me with feare and I may say that the friendship of my friend and the love of this chast mistresse reigned in my heart with such an equall counterpoise that to die I would not have done any thing to the prejudice of either And that was it that did sweepe away from my spirit all the unjust thoughts that since might have there encreased in revolting it self against reason To tell you something of what passed in our Countrey after our flight wee heard by some secret friends unto our parents that the prince unmeasurably incensed against us ordained that the law should proceed as against ravishers we were condemned to lose our heads but it was in effigie our goods were confiscate in briefe we were there used with all rigor so that having no hope on that side we setled it all on our owne valour and committed our fortune to the hazard of armes Incmar and I had done therein upon occasions all that souldiers can doe which venture all and brave Roland hath in all places shewen that love which gave her courage â—aised her strength beyond the vigour not only of her sex but of men After many encounters we shut our selves up in Bliemberg resolving to shew in this siege the proofes of a couragious valour in extream events where there hath happened what you have seene military command having separated me from them they have been killed on the breach as it may be thought Incmar being first dead Yoland being not willing to survive him hath been killed on his body and expiring embracing him As for me I would have died in the forefront of the combat if the brave but too pittiful Captain who would not suffer me to be made an end of had not caused me to be brought where I am the losse of my bloud having layed mee among the dead Now that I have satisfied both your curiositie and my desire I will no longer live bereaved of the light of myne eyes those twinne starres my Freind and my Mistresse Aleran thus ended his discourse and had like the same time to have ended his life so extremely did greife oppresse his heart but the Marquesse pitying his great courage gave order unto his doctor and his Chyrurgeon to labour in this cure with all the industrie which their science could dictâ—te unto them yet was art and cure overcome for whether through the extremitie of his sorrow or of his wounds poor Aleran died within two dayes after and was by command of the Marquesse interred with honour by Incmar and his wife under a Tombe bearing this inscription the three Lovers inseperable in life and death Many remarkable morrals may bee drawne from this history first how ill Fathers doe in destinating their daughters unto young men which they abhorre next whereunto despaire carries amorous and unhappy soules then whereupon love raiseth the courage of the weakest sex its fire being no lesse admirable in its effects then that of thunder In Aleran is seene the image of a faithfull friend and of a lover imparalelled who makes known the victory of friendship over love this tragicall end discovers an admirable valour and the generositie of the Marquesse honoring of the memory of these whom hee had vanquished serves for a ground which graceth or setteth out the glosse of all the other colours of this picture THE HAPPIE Almes-deed The Seventeenth Relation STudying the law in the Vniversitie of Orleans I learned of a Tourengean scholler this following history which he had from the mouth of the selfe same person unto whom this event had happened A young man of Poictou called Cyran the sonne of a Marchant was by his Father sent to Tours about some negotiation which concerned his commerce this young man by nature pittifull and from his youth prone to give Almes without distinction of persons it is true that the honour of the King of glory which is advanced by good workes ought to bee tryed by judgment for discretioÌ„ is the golden rule of human actions and it is not enough to do good but it must be done fitly Almes being one of the most illustrious acts which can bee done by those unto whom God hath given meanes it must be done also with a judicious distribution Otherwise it were rather a dissipation theÌ„ a distribution unto such might do many give almes who do as it were put a sword into a mad mans hand and give him meanes to commit excesse it is true that vertues are in a middle equally distant from vicious extreamities and as to give blindly is rather a profuse wasting then a liberality so to take heed unto so many circumstances when one gives an Almes is rather niggardlines then judgement wee must not search so narrowly into the quality of those persons unto whom we bestow our charity so we must not wholy shut our eyes theron and among these uncertainties wee must raise up the intention and not looke what the right hand doth give nor unto whom we give but unto God alone for whom we give and who hath said whatsoever you shall doe unto the least of the poore I will keepe a just accompt thereof even unto a glasse of cold water There be hearts so hard and so close fisted that they find some fault with most part of the poore miserable persons which aske Almes of them this one is strong and able to get his living that other is a shifting fellow the other is not so old the other is vicious the other is a rascall all in their opinion are unworthy of an Almes and it is only to save their purses that mettle whereof they make their Idoll without purchasing the blame of avarice there are others whole hands are bored and more for honour then through pity or more for pity then with judgment give indifferently unto all commers without considering that it is the way to maintaine the idlenesse of many beggers who have more needs of a spirituall almes by a good reprehension then of a temporall which they abuse in dissolute courses strange deboisnes but who can have this spirit of so just decerning since there is nothing in he world so deceitfull as appearances as for example about the streets in Cities and up and downe the Countries there goes so many vagabonds who under the name of poore souldiers returning from warres into their owne Countrie aske somthing to carrie them home and somtimes they are theeues who in begging seeke but occasion to commit theft murders and rogueries those people have God in their mouthes and the divell in their harts and yet out of the middest
be in the weaker sex it is but of glasse and breakes at the first stroke I will not stand to describe by particulars the confusions the troubles the shames and the contradictions of this troubled mind nor to represent by what meanes she made Geronce know that which shee had so often tryed to stifle by silence the brevity which I prescribed to my selfe in these relations permits me not to extend my selfe unto these particularities I will onely say that which I cannot omit without blotting out the principall features of this picture to wit that having need of a confident person to guide this businesse unto the end she desired she made choyce of one of her maids named Leobard and having with such shamefacednesse as cannot well be represented made known to her with what disease she was infected and how she was forced to seeke remedy from the Serpent that had bit her she hapned so unluckily that even as the Bird who maketh the Lyme which fowlers use afterwards to catch him withall for this Maid was struck with the same dart then may you imagine if to trust her rivall with her secret were not in a manner as to thrust a knife into her owne bosome Leobarde to weave her treason with more facility promiseth all manner of assistance unto Fursee although her thought were quite contrary to what her mouth uttered and thinking to have found out a meanes so to oblige Geronce that he should no longer continue the disdaine wherewith he had hitherto repayed her love she declared unto him the passion and affection of Fursee towards him Geronce who had divers times shewen unto Leobarde that those discourses were horrid unto him rejected this also Leobarde seeing then that she could not obtaine credence in his minde counselled her Mistresse to speake her selfe if she would be understood this froward youth having no eares for her perswasions what griefe felt Fursee to see that she had in vain declared her selfe unto this Maid whose answer was a sad presage of the small hopes she might have to bend Geronce to her desire what new paines took she to pul this thorn out of her soule but at the first sight of this faire object all these indeavours vanish into smoake and new fires took possession of her heart It is not without reâ—son that those who write of the cure of maladies of the minde say that not to avoyd the occasions is to be still in the disease for so he that is not in the City is in the suburbs and to present a person that loves with the object that sets him on fire is as to approach the flâ—me unto a smoaking Torch this youth was one of Fursees domesticals alas how could she have healed up a wound that opened again as often times as she opened her eyes there is nothing so much inflames the hurts of the body as to apply honey thereunto nor those that any affectionate passion makes in the heart as honeyed words O you Lovers flye both the sight and speech of your beloved if you will recover your former health ah Fursees what doe you the ranckling of your wounds will increase by the remedies which you apply she talkes to Geronce and with troubles and stuttering like unto those of a guilty person before a Iudge she labours to make him susceptible of her torment Leobard had brought them together and to give her Mistresse scope retired her selfe into another chamber which almost amazed faire Geronce to see himself alone without any witnesse by a woman which uttered unto him such language as he could not heare without extreame perplexity the different changes of his colour sufficiently witnessed by his face the alterations of his minde his eyes bending to the ground his silence and his immoveable countenance gave unto Fursee an answer which was not favourable Her presents were spread her promises large her intreaties unseemely her sighes vehement her teares in abundance but these windes and these waters were as stormes against a rocke Geronce appeared insensible like the statue Pigmalion fell in love withall the heat of love pierced by a bloudy contempt commonly turnes into a furious wrath Fursee was upon the point of this change when Geronce to conjure his tempest and cut out the root of this disease at its first breeding resolves to unmaske the counterfeit and cause pitty of himselfe in her who craved it of him Madame said he unbuttoning his doublet behold these Breasts and aske no answer except you will see me dye at your feet with shame men are not better known by the Beard then women by their Breasts this sight left no manner of doubt in the soule of Fursee but that Geronce was a woman and as it is said that thunder falling upon a Serpent in lieu of taking away life doth but take away his venome so this sudden clap rooting out of this womans heart all the poyson of her bad desires tooke not away her love to Geronce but left it there with pitty and this pitty bred a desire to know the fortune of this man Mayd that she might seeke to yeeld her some assistance in her disaster and with this intent said seeing heaven hath made me fortunate by this knowledge and changed the rocke whereon I would have made shipwracke into a Haven of safety for mine honour I doe promise you for your freenesse towards me to conceale your sexe as long as you please and if you desire any helpe you may as freely discover the cause of your being in this state assuring you that you shall finde in me all the assistance which you can expect from a woman desirous of the preservation both of your honour and your person Madame replyed Geronce mischiefes are so contagious that the very recitall of them doth ever breed some alteration even in the calmest spirits Let mee therfore grone under the burthen of my misfortunes and suffer not your felicity to be troubled by the hearing of them rest contented to take pitty on a poore Mayd who puts her honour and her life into your protection this evasion did but whet in Fursee that curiosity so naturall in women and gave her occasion to reply thus as Physitians heale no diseases but those they know so likewise cannot I assist you in your misfortunes if you discover not unto me the cause thereof to the end that knowing who you are and in what manner you came to be in this disguise I may behave my selfe towards you as I ought and fince there is a remedy for all things but death strive to re-establish your selfe in the degree from whence it seemes fortune hath made you fall for you have a ray of Nobility on your brow shâ—nes through the clouds of your present condition and makes it appear even to the weakest understanding that you have not been bred after a common manner Madame replyed Geronce my woes are past recovery since they proceed from a death and therefore being my miseries