any beast He it is who contrary to his oath and promise hath revealed the happy life which without any prejudice to any we have a long time lived O my friend my friend whose only love is entred into my heart with whose life my own hath been woven must it now come to passe that in declaring you my mortal Enemy my Honour must be carryed away by the winds my body crumble into ashes and my Soul for ever depart to its last place of residence What was the beauty of the Dutchess so inchanting that it hath had the power to transform you as somtimes had that of Circe Hath she made you of virtuous to become vicious of good wicked of a Man a Beast a cruel Beast O my Friend my Friend although you have failed in your promise made to me yet I will keep my promise made to you which is that I will never see you again after the divulgation of our Love and being no longer able to live without your presence I do willingly accord to the extreme sorrow which I feel and for which I will provide no remedy neither by Reason nor Physick for Death only shall put an end to it which shall be more pleasant to me than to continue in the World without a Friend without Honour and without Contentment Neither Death nor the War hath deprived me of my Friend neither Lust nor Rage have taken from me my Honour neither Deviation nor Demerit of my own hath made me to lose my Contentment but the cruelty of treachery which hath caused the most obliged of all Men to become the most ingratefull Alas Madam the Dutchesse What pleasure was it unto you when by mockery you did upbraid me with my little Dogg Go on as you have begun and continue to delight your self with that happinesse which doth belong to me alone You make your sport at her who by wisely concealing and who by virtuously loving did promise to her self to be exempted from all mockery O how hath this word contracted my heart How hath it made me to look red with shame and pale with jealousie Wo is me my heart my heart I do feel you can hold out no longer Love unadvisedly or treacherously made known doth consume you with Fire Jealousie and the Injury you have received do freez you with Ice and with Grief and Indignation kils you not permitting the least consolation to arrive Alas for thee O my Soul who by too much adoring the Creature hast forgot the Creator Thou must return again into the hands of him from whom vain Love hath ravished thee Take Confidence O my Soul thou shalt find God a better Father than thou hast found him a Friend for whom thou so often hast forgot God O my God my Creator who art the true and only Friend by whose Grace the love which I have born unto my Friend hath been stained with no Vice unlesse by too much loving him I beseech thee of thy infinite mercy to receive the Soul and Spirit of her who doth truly repent that she hath so much disobeyed thy first and most just Commandement And for the merit of him whose Love is incomprehensible be pleased to excuse that fault which too much love hath caused me to commit for in Thee alone I have perfect Confidence And adieu my false Friend whose Name without the Effect hath broken my Heart Having spoke those words she did fall down from the Bed upon the Ground and her colour waxed pale and her lips blew and an universal coldnesse seized on every part of her Body At that instant the Gentleman who did love her came into the hall and seeing the Dutchesse dancing with the other Ladies looked every where up and down where his Mistresse was and not finding her he did repair into the Chamber of the Dutchesse near unto which he found the Duke walking in the Gallery who conjecturing what his thoughts were did whisper him in the ear and said Your Sweet-heart is gone into yonder Wardrobe I am afraid she is not well The Gentleman demanded of him that he would be pleased to give him leave to wait upon her to which the Duke was easily intreated As soon as he was entred into the Wardrobe he found that she was even ready to breath forth the last breath of her life and falling down on his knees he imbraced her and said unto her O my dear Love How do you do What will you forsake me The poor Lady hearing the voice which so well she knew did begin a little to recover her colour and opening her eyes she looked stedfastly on him who was the occasion of her Death But so looking on him Love and Despite did so violently increase upon her that with a pittifull sigh she rendred her Soul to God The Gentleman more dead than she that was dead did demand of the Damosel How that Extremity seized upon her who all along did account unto him the words which she had heard her speak whereupon he immediately perceived that the Duke had revealed the Secret to the Dutchesse and was transported with so great a fury that imbracing the Body of his Sweet-heart he did along time bedew it with his tears and at last said Wo is me the most treacherous most wicked and the most unfortunate Man in the world How is it come to passe that the punishment of my Treason is not fallen on my self but on her who is innocent O why did Heaven spare me Why did not Thunder check my Tongue in that hour when I first revealed our most secret and most virtuous Love Why did not the Earth open her self Why did it not devour this unadvised Breaker of his Faith Be thou punished O my tongue as was the tongue of the rich Glutton in Hell O my heart be thou perpetually torn in pieces by Eagles as was the heart of Titius O Dear Sweet-heart the most unfortunate misfortune of all misfortunes is befallen me Thinking to have preserved you I have lost you thinking to see you live a long time with content I imbrace you discontented and dead O thou the most loyal and the most faithfull Woman that ever was I shall by all be condemned to be the most inconstant disloyal and the most unfaithful man in the world I might complain of the Duke in whose promise I so much trusted hoping by that to give a longer continuance to our happy life but alas I might know that no man could keep my secret better than my self The Duke had more reason to impart it unto his Wife than I to impart it unto him I can accuse none but my self of the greatest disloyalty that ever was committed by a Lover I had better by far be thrown into the River accordingly as the Duke did threaten that thou my dear friend mightst be preserved alive and I gloriously might have died in observing the laws which true love commandeth but breaking them I remain alive and thou who most perfectly
bring And having spoke these words she took her leave of him Her Mother who observed her Countenance knew not what to judge of it but after that time she perceived plainly that her Daughter did no more affect Amadour and concluded thereupon that she was of a crosse disposition and hated all those things which she loved and from that hour did carry her self so strangely to her that she spoke not one word to her in seven years together unlesse it were to chide her and all this was at the request of Amadour During this time Florinda turned the fear which she had to be with her Husband into a desire to be never from him only thereby to avoid the rigour of her Mother But seeing that nothing would prevail she resolved with her self to be even with Amadour and for two or three dayes together looking upon him with a more pleasing countenance she counselled him to hold discourse of love with a Lady who she said had spoken very liberally of theirs This Lady was in the Court of the Queen of Spain and was called Loretta she was proudly glad to have obtained such a Servant as Amadour and so great were the familiarities betwixt them that the report thereof was noised every where and the Countesse of Arand being at Court did her self perceive it wherefore afterwards she did not so much torment Florinda as she had been accustomed to do Florinda one day understood that the Captain the Husband of Loretta was possessed with so great a Jealousie that he was resolved by one means or other to kill Amadour Florinda who for all her dissembled countenance could carry no ill will in her heart to Amadour did immediately advertise him of it but he who was most easie to be drawn into his first train did make answer to her That if she pleased to entertain him but three hours in a day he would never speak to Loretta more which she would not consent unto Whereupon Amadour said unto her Since you will not have me to live wherefore do you deny me to dye unlesse you hope to give me more punishments by life than a thousand Deaths can afflict upon me But although Death doth flie me I will never leave looking after it untill I have found it for in Death onely I shall have Rest Whiles they were in this Conference news was received that the King of Granada had begun a most cruel War against the King of Spain insomuch that the King had sent thither the Prince his Son and with him the Constable of Castile and the Duke of Alba as two Adjunct of great trust and experience Whereupon the Duke of Cardona and the Earl of Arand would not stay behind and besought the King to assign them some charge in the Army which he did according to their Houses and appointed Amadour to be their Guide who during the War was so famous for his atchievments that they seemed rather to proceed from a desperat rashnesse than a well-grounded resolution and to give you the intention of my account I must inform you that his great Courage was approved to his Death For the Moors pretending that they would give battel to the Army of the Christians having better observed how it was marshalled and how great it was did make as though they fled and the Spaniards did follow them in the pursute but the old Constable and the Duke of Alba suspecting the Stratagem of the Moors with much importunity did withhold the Prince of Spain that he passed not the River which notwithstanding the Orders to the contrary the Count of Arand and the Duke of Cardona did and when the Moors saw that they were followed with so unconsiderable a number they did return upon them and with one blow of a Scemiter did Iay the Duke of Cardona dead upon the place and so wounded the Count of Arand that he fell to the Ground Upon this Defeat Amadour arrived so furious and enraged that with great slaughter he did break through the Army of the Moors and commanded the two Bodies of the Duke and of the Count to be taken up and to be brought into the Princes Camp who did so much lament their deaths as they had been his own Brothers But in beholding their wounds he found the Count of Arand yet living who was sent in a Litter to his own house where he continued a long time sick and on the other side the body of the young Duke was brought unto Cardona Amadour having done his endeavour to bring off these two Dukes did think so little of himself that he was suddenly invironed with a great number of the Moors and he who would no more be taken having lost his Mistress falsified not his faith which he made unto God her knowing That if he should be brought to the King of Granada that either he should cruelly die or renounce his Christianity he did resolve with himself to adde Glory to his Death and kissing the Crosse on the hilt of his sword rendring his Soul and Body to his Creator he did give himself so mortal a blow that there needed not a Second to dispatch him So dyed the poor Amadour and was as much lamented as his Virtues deserved The News thereof was immediately carried through all Spain insomuch that Florinda who was at Barcelona where her Husband was interred after that she had honourably performed the Funerals without speaking either to her own Mother or her Mother-in-Law or any other did render her self a Votaress in the Monastery of Jesus taking him for her Husband and her Friend who had delivered her from a love so vehement as that of Amadour and from a persecution so grievous as was the Company of her Husband She imployed all her affections to the love of God and that so perfectly that having lived a long time a religious life she surrendred her Soul to God with so much joy as the Espoused doth go to behold her Spouse Ladies I know that this long History doth prove tedious unto you all but if I should have satisfied him who first of all gave me the account I should have yet made it longer I must beseech you Ladies that in following the Example of the Virtues of Florinda you would abate a little of her cruelty and not at the first to believe so much Good of Men as by the acknowledgment of it to give them afterwards a cruel Death and to your selves a sorrowfull life After that Parlament had spoke so long she turning to Hircan said unto him It appeareth now plainly to you that this Lady was sollicited and importuned to the last and that most virtuousty she resisted No said Hircan For a woman cannot make the least resistance but by crying out and if she had been in a place where she could not be heard I know not what would have become of her And if Amadour had been more amorous and lesse fearfull he had not for so little have left off
History but to Parlament only but if they had not I should have given it her before any other because from her we do always learn something that is both gratefull and remarkable Since I must put an end to the discourse of this Afternoon said Parlament and that I promised yesterday to give you the reason wherefore the Father of Rolandine did build that Castle in the Forest where so long a time he did keep her a prisoner I will in this place give you an Account thereof The Excellent Relation of a Lord who caused his Brother-in-law to be put to death not knowing the nearness of the Allyance The tenth Novell THe Lord who was the Father of Rolandine had many Sisters some whereof were married very richly others of them were Religious Votaries and one of them who lived in his own house was beyond comparison more beautifull than the rest Her Brother did love her so intirely that he preferred her above his Wife and Children She was demanded in Marriage by many gallant personages but because he would not have her removed from him or peradventure because he loved his wealth too well he would not seem to understand it which was the Cause that she lived the greatest part of her age unmarried leading a most virtuous life in her Brothers House in which there was bred up with her a gallant young Gentleman who as he increased in age so he increased in beauty and was so esteemed for his virtue that he governed all things in his Masters house insomuch that when he desired his Sister to doe any thing he imployed this Gentleman to deliver his mind unto her This authority was the occasion of a great familiarity which by sending him both early and late unto her was by their dayly frequentation much increased But the young Lady fearing her Honour and the Gentleman his life if he should offend his Master they received no other pleasure by their love but only the content to converse together At the last her Brother told her how much he was obliged to this young Guntleman who was in the same house with her and that he never saw any man whom he desired more to his Brother in law than this Gentleman He so often expressed these words unto her that she having communicated them to this Gentleman they presumed that if they should marry he would give them an easie pardon And Love which willingly believeth that which it desireth did prompt them to conceive that if they should marry nothing but good would come of it In this assurance therefore they did conclude and accomplish their marriage there being no man that knew of it but the Priest only and some few Women And having lived certain years in that pleasure which a married man and woman ought mutually to enjoy as being the most accomplished couple at that time and the truest Lovers that were in Cristendom Fortune envying to behold two persons to live in so great a happinesse would not vouchsafe to grant a continuance to it but stirred up an Enemy to them who observing this Lady did take notice of her great happinesse not knowing of her marriage Whereupon she came unto her Brother and informed him that this Gentleman in whom he reposed so great a trust had recourse too often to his Sister in her Chamber and in such hours when entrance ought not to be admitted This report was not believed the first time so much he trusted to his Sister and this Gentleman but the woman brought in against them so many informations pretending that it was for the honour she did bear unto his house that he so narowly did watch them that these two parties thinking no ill were surprized fast asleep in one anothers Arms. Her Brother having one Evening received advertisement that the Gentleman was gone into his Sisters Chamber he immediatly repaired thither and found them both blinded with love and asleep together The indignation which possessed him at the sight thereof did take away the utterance of his words and drawing his sword he did run after the Gentleman to kill him but he being very nimble of body did fly away in his shirt and being not able to escape out of the door did leap out of the window into the Garden The poor Lady his Sister being in her smock did on both her knees kneel down to her Brother and said unto him Sir Save the life of my Husband for I am espoused to him and if he hath offended punish me only for what he hath done hath been at my request Her Brother being outragious made no answer at all but only said And if he were your Husband a hundred thousand times yet will I punish him as an unfaithfull Servant who hath both deceived and disgraced me And speaking those words he did put his head out of the Window and commanded aloud that they should kill him without mercy which was suddenly put in execution before his own eyes and his Sisters who beholding this lamentable spectacle which no prayers of hers could remedy did talk unto her Brother as a woman out of her senses Brother said she I have neither Father nor Mother alive and I am at that age that I may marry whom I will at my own pleasure I have chosen that Gentleman concerning whom you your self have oftentimes spoke unto me and assured me that it was your desire that I should marry him and for my obedience to your Counsel although for what I have done I could justifie my self by Law without you you have killed that Man whom you your self loved the best in all the world Since it is so that my prayers could not preserve him from Death I do beseech you by all the love that you have born unto me that at this present you will make me the Companion of his Death as I have been in the fortunes of his Life Doing this you shall both satisfie your cruel and most unjust choler and give rest unto her Soul and Body who neither can nor will live without him Her Brother notwithstanding he was so transported that he had even lost all Reason yet he was touched with such a compassion at his Sisters words that without granting or denying her Request he did leave her alone to her self and having considered what he had done and understood in earnest that the Gentleman had married his Sister he wished with all his heart that he had never committed so rash a deed and he was possessed with so strong a fear that his Sister would demand either Justice or Vengeance that he caused a great Castle to be builded in the midst of a Forest into which he did put her and did forbid that any one should speak unto her Some years afterwards to satisfie his Conscience he did assay to gain her and did imploy some persons of trust to commune with her concerning a second Marriage but she sent him word That he had given her already so bad a Dinner
was but whatsoever prayer she could make or reasons she could allege nothing would mollifie his heart nor overcome the heady resolution he had taken with himself to be revenged on her for without answering his Wife one Word he withdrew himself from her as fast as he could and forgetting God and the honour of his House without any form of Justice he most cruelly caused the Maid to be apprehended I will not in this place undertake to describe unto you the perplexity of the Dutchesse which was such that a Lady of Honour and of a good spirit ought to have who on the obligation of her faith did see her to die whom she desired to preserve But much lesse may the lamentations of the poor Gentleman be represented who was his Servant and failed not to use the utof his endeavour as much as it was possible for him to doe to save the life of the Maid offering to lose his own life for her but it would not be accepted and no pity could touch the heart of the Duke who knew no other felicity but to revenge himself of those whom he hated In this manner was the innocent Maid put to death by this cruel Duke against all Law of honesty to the great grief of all those who knew her See here Ladies what are the effects of malice when power is joyned unto it I have heard it spoken said Longaren that the greatest part of the Italians I say the greatest part for no doubt there are some honest men amongst them as in all other Nations are subject to their Vices in which none do exceed them but I though that Vengeance and Cruelty had not been so predominant as upon every small occasion to give so cruel a death Saffredant smiling did say unto her Longaren you have given us a true Account of one of the three Vices I would fain know what are the other two If you do not know them already said Longaren I will tell them you but I am confident you are not to learn what they are By your words said Saffredant you would make me a very vicious Man Not by deeds said Longaren but in knowing the filthinesse of Vice you can better than another know how to avoid it Wonder not said Simontault at their cruelty for those who have travelled into Italy will tell you such incredible things of them that this in the comparison will appear but a little Sin or no Sin at all Believe me said Guebron when Rivoli was taken by the French there was an Italian Captain who was esteemed to be a Gentleman who seeing one dead who was not his Enemy in particular but only took part against the Gibelins did tear his heart out of his belly and rosting it upon the Coals did greedily devour it and some present demanding of him what tast it had he made answer that he never did eat a sweeter or a more voluptuous morsel And not content with this goodly Act he killed the Wife of the Dead Man and tearing her young child out of her belly being almost ready to be delivered did dash it into pieces against the walls and afterwards filled the two Bodys of the Husband and Wise with Oats and threw them to his Horses to seed on How do you think he would have used this Girl whom he had suspected to have done him a displeasure It might well be affirmed said Emarsuite that the Duke was very much afraid that his Son should have married poorly and that was the reason that he would not suffer him to have a Wife according to his own mind You are not to doubt said Simontault that the Nature of them is to love that more than Nature which was only created for the use of Nature Behold said Longaren the second Sin which I would have represented to you for we all know well enough that to love money beyond the use of it for which it serves which is only to aid us in our necessities is to make an Idol of it Parlament added that Saint Paul had not forgot their Vices nor the vices of those men who think they do surpasse and excell all others in wisdom and humane reason in which they do confound themselves because they render not to God the glory which is due unto him Therefore God who is jealous of his Honour hath renderd them more insensible than Beasts who believed they had more sense than all other men and by their lusts against Nature they do show that they are delivered up to a reprobate sense Longaren interupted her in her discourse and said this is the third Sin to which the greatest part of the Italians are subject In good earnest said Nomerfide I take an extraordinary delight to hear this discourse for since those Spirits which we esteem to be the most subtle and the greatest Discoverers do endure such a punishment as to be more sencelesse than beasts We ought to conclude that those who are humble and dejected in their beauty as I my self am shall be filled with the wisdom of Angels and with the grace of God I assure you answered Oysilla I am not far from your opinion for no man is more ignorant than he who thinks he knows something I never said Guebron saw a mocker but he was mocked nor a deceiver but he was deceived nor a vain glorious person but he was humbled You do make me to remember an Imposture said Simontault which if it had been an honest one I would willingly have recited It is no great matter said Oysilla for since we are met here to speak the truth be it of what quality it will I do give you my voice to speak it Since the place is given to me said Simontault I must take it and will give you an Account thereof The Slovenly Breakfast prepared by an Apothecaries man for an Advocate and a Gentleman The second Novel IN the City of Alençon in the time of Charles the last there was an Advocate named Anthony Bachet an honest man and a great Lover of a good Breakfast in a Winters morning One day sitting very early at his door he observed a Gentleman to passe by who was called Monsieur de Tyrelier who by reason of the great Frost which was that morning was come a foot from his own house into the City to dispatch some businesse and he had put on a long Coat furred with Fox-skins When he beheld the Advocate who was of his own complexion he told him that he had been in the Town almost two hours and already done all his businesse and that nothing remained but to goe to some place of resort to find out a good Breakfast The Advocate made answer to him that the Breakfast was easily to be found but then he must pay for it And taking him by the Arm he said unto him Let us goe my Companion we may possibly find one fool or another who will pay the shot for us both By fortune there was
themselves The Gentleman demanded of her wherefore she did laugh so and desired her that she would make him a partaker of her joy She made answer to him Sweet-heart I am such a fool that I laugh at my own shade and for all the intreaties he could make or use he could never get any other answer from her This is that story which you did cause me to remember when you made mention of that great Lady who loved the Sweet-heart of her Husband In good troth said Emarsuite If my Chambermaid should have served me so I would have rose and stung the Candle in her face You speak too terribly said Hircan but what would you think if your Husband and the Chambermaid should have set themselves against you and should have beaten you soundly for you should make no reckoning of a kisse Howsoever his wife might have done better to have made no noise at all but have let them take their recreation together It might peradventure have cured him of his Malady No said Parlament she was afraid that the end of that Recreation would have made him more weak than he was before She was none of those said Oysilla of whom our Saviour speaks We have made our lamentation unto you but you have not weeped We have sung but you have not danced for when her Husband was sick she wept and when he was joyful she laughed And so all women of worth and honour ought to partake both of the Good and of the Evil and the joys and the sorrows of their Husbands and to love obey and serve them as the Church doth Jesus Christ It were requisite then said Parlament that our Husbands were to us as Jesus Christ is towards his Church So we are said Saffredant and if it were possible we would endure as much for Jesus Christ died but once for his Church and we die every day for our Wives Die said Longaren In my opinion you and the other good Husbands who are here do not look as if you were such dying men I can give you a reason for that said Saffredant It is because our Valour is tryed which our shoulders do feel having so often born the Corslet If you were put to it said Emarsuite to wear arms but one moneth and to lie on the cold and the hard Ground you would have a good desire to return to the beds of your own wives and to make much of that of which you do now complain But I have heard it spoken that all things can be endured but ease and we know not what Repose is until we have lost it The good Woman said Oysilla who laughed when her Husband was joyous had much to do I warrant her to go thorough with it I do believe said Longaren that she loved her own ease better than she loved her Husband for it seemeth she took not any thing to heart whatsoever he did No for with a good heart she took that said Parlament which might have been prejudicial to the health and the Conscience of her Husband When you speak in this place of Conscience said Simontault you do make me laugh for he would not have done what he did if he thought his wife would have taken it to heart and I do not see which way the Conscience can be much prejudiced for a kisse It would not be amisse said Nomerfide that you had such a wife as he had who after her Husbands death did manifest that she loved his Money better than her Conscience I do desire you said Saffredant that you would rehearse unto us that Novel for which I do give you my voice I did not determine said Nomerfide to account unto you so short a History but because it hath relation to the subject on which we have discoursed I will recite it to you The Subtilty of a Spanish woman to defraud the Friers of the last Testament of her Husband The fifth Novel IN the City of Saragossa there lived a Merchant who seeing his death to approach and that he could no longer keep the Goods which he had gotten it may be with a bad Conscience he thought to satisfie his sin by giving away all to the poor without any regard that after his decease his Wife and his Children should die with hunger and when he had ordered all things in his House he said it was his last Will that a good Spanish Jennet which he had and was indeed all his goods that were worth any thing should be sold at the greatest rate that could be and that the Money should be distributed unto the begging Friers desiring his Wife that when ever the breath were out of his Body she would not fail to sell the Horse and distribute the Money according to his Will The burial being past and the first tears wept his Wife who was no more a fool than the Spaniards are accustomed to be did repair unto her Servant who as well as her self did understand the last Will of her Husband and said unto him It seems to me that I have lost too much already in losing my Hushand whom so much I loved without losing any more of my goods but so it is that I would not be disobedient to his charge but doe the best I can to satisfie his will according to his intention For the poor Man who in his life as you know well enough would not so much as spare one Crown for the greatest necessity hath after his death given a round sum to the poor Friers thinking it to be a Sacrifice that will be acceptable to God wherefore I am advised to doe that which at his death he did bequeath and which is more than he could give himself if he had lived but fifteen days longer and by so doing I will provide for the necessities of my Children But I must so carry it that none in the World shall know any thing of it And when her Servant had faithfully promised to keep secret what was to be done she said unto him You must go sell his Horse and if any shall ask you what is the price of it you shall say one Ducket but I have a good Cat an excellent Mouser which you shall sell let me see I for ninety nine Duckets and so the Cat and the Horse shall make in all just one hundred Duckets at which price my Husband would have sold the Horse alone The Servant did readily accomplish the commands of his Mistresse and walked the Horse up and down the Market holding the demure Cat under his arms A Gentleman who had seen the Horse before and had a great mind to buy him passing that way demanded of the Servant at one word to give him the price of him The Servant made answer one Ducket Do not mock me honest friend said the Gentleman I assure you Sir said the Servant you shall give me for it one Ducket and no more But Sir I must tell you that you must buy the Cat with it
are not exempt from being tempted with avarice which is the occasion of so many Evils Nay rather of so much goods said Saffredant for the two thousand Duckets which the old Woman gave the Friers out of her Treasury were goods enough to make them merry And the poor Girl her Daughter who had so long stayed for one Husband might now by this means have two and be better enabled to dispute the truth of all Complexions You entertain always the worst thoughts that may be said Oysilla for in your own opinion all women are of your own temper Madam by your leave said Saffredant I did not care if they were provided they were as easie to be contented as we Men are You speak against the Truth said Oysilla for I am consident there is not a woman here amongst us but knows the contrary and moreover you speak directly against the sense of the Account just now rehearsed which was to shew the ignorance of poor woman and the subtilty and the sin of those whom we do commonly believe to be better Men than all others for you shall find that neither the good Woman nor her Daughter did any thing of their own heads but submitted their desires unto the Counsel of their Confessor Howsoever there are some women so difficult to please said Longaren that in their own opinions they do deserve to have Angels for their Husbands and that is the reason said Simontault that so oftentimes they do find Devils especially those Women who not relying on the Grace of God do trust altogether to their own apprehensions or are slattered to a conceit by others to find in this world that felicity which is not given nor can come from any but from God only How now Simontault said Oysilla I thought you had not known so much Madam said Simontault I am sorry that you conceive me to be no better experienced for through my defect of knowledge I perceive that you entertain a bad opinion of me but for all that by your leave why may not I perform the office of a Frier since a Frier hath performed the office of such a Man as I am Fy fy Do you call it an office said Parlament to deceive Women in doing so out of your own mouth you judg your self If I should deceive a hundred thousand of them said Simontault I should not be reveng'd for the torments which but from one of them I have received I know well enough said Parlament that oftentimes you do make your complaint against Ladies yet neverthelesse we see you jocund and in so good liking that we cannot believe you suffer so much as you say you do But the Author of the fair Lady doth affirm that from bad promises no good can be expected to ensue You do allege a notable Doctor said Simontault who is not only stubborn and churlish himself but also makes them all to be so who do read and follow his Doctrine So it is said Parlament that his Doctrine is more profitable to young Women than any Doctrine that I know But said Simontault If Ladies were without mercy we might set up our Horses in our Stables and let our Armor rust upon our walls and think on nothing but our Country affairs I pray tell me if it be for the honour of a Lady to have the Name to be without pity without Charity without Mercy Without Love and Charity said Parlament she must not be but the word of Mercy doth sound so strangely in the ears of Ladies that they cannot use it without some offence unto their Honours for Mercy properly is to grant that favour which is demanded and we know well enough what is the favour which Men do desire Be not displeased Madam said Simontault there are some Men so reasonable that they desire only but good words You cause me now said Parlament to remember him who did content himself with a Glove I would fain know said Hircan who was that gracious Servant and for that cause I do give you my voice It will be a pleasure to me said Parlament to repeat it to you for the story is full of Honesty A ridiculous account of a Lord of England who on his Habiliments did wear the Glove of a Lady The Seventh Novell KIng Lewis the eleventh did send the Earl of Montmorancy as his Ambassador into England who was there so well entertained that the King and all his Nobility did love and highly esteem him and many of them did communicate unto him their private affairs to have his Counsel therein Being one day at a Banquet which the King had made there sate next unto him a Lord descended of most noble Parentage who did wear a Ladies Glove made fast on his Brest as if it were for a Favour it was wrought all over with gold and on the joynts of the fingers there were many rich Diamonds Rubies Emraulds and Pearls insomuch that the Glove was valued at a very great price The Earl of Montmorancy did so often look upon it that my Lord perceived that he had a desire to know the reason wherfore he was in so gallant an equipage and because he conceived that it would conduce much to his honour he began to speak unto him I do perceive you do find it strange that I have so gorgeously accoutred a poor glove I have a great desire to acquaint you with the occasion of it for I conceive you to be so worthy a Man â—nd so knowing what the passion of Love is that if I have done well I know you will praise me if not you will excuse Love who doth carry a great Command over all noble hearts You must understand That during all my life I have loved a Lady that I do love her and will love her after my death And because my heart had more boldnesse to addresse it self on a time and place unto her than my tongue had to speak unto her I stayed seven years without daring to make any semblance at all unto her knowing that if she perceived it I should lose both the means which I had so often to frequent the place where she was by the reason whereof I entertained as much fear as love But one day being in the field and looking on her such a beating of my heart did take me that I lost both my Colour and all my Countenance which she very well perceived and asked me How I did I made answer to her That it was an insupportable Grief of my heart She who thought that it was a Malady of another sort than Love did shew her self to have pity on me which made me to beseech her to put her hand upon my heart to see how violently it did beat which she did more for charity than for love And puting her hand which was gloved upon my heart my heart did so beat and torment iâ— self that she perceived I did speak the Truth Immediatly I did press her hand as close as I could
who brought you to this place The poor Nun who did not know her did make answer Woe is me my friend my misfortune is so great that I have no recourse but unto God only whom I doe beseech to vouchsafe unto me the means that I may speak to Madam the Dutchesse of Alençon for to her alone will I declare my business being confident that if there be any redress for such a miserable Creature as my self she will grant it to me Friend said the Dutchess to her you may speak as confidently unto me as unto her I am one of her gratest friends Pardon me said the Nun none but her self only shall understand my secret Whereupon the Dutchesse said unto her that she might speak freely for she had found her whom she demanded The poor Nun did prostrate her self at her feet and having wept a long time she gave her the whole account of what already I have expressed unto you whereupon the Dutchesse did comfort her so well that exhorting her to repentance for her misdeed she took from her quite the resolution of going to Rome and sent her back to the Prioresse with a strict charge to entertain her and with Letters to the Bishop of that place to take order for the expulsion of that scandalous Monk who having abused the Body of the Nun did afterwards most petulantly upbraid her and caused her to depart the Covent I received this Acount from the Dutchesse her self by which Ladies you may understand that the Rule of Nomerfide is not proper to all sorts of Persons for these two both touching aed burying the dead were neverthelesse at the same time touched and overcome with infirmities This was an invention said Hircan which I believe was never practised before to speak of death and at the same instant to do the works of life It is not said Oysilla any work of life to sin for we all know well enough that sin produceth death You may believe said Sassredant that at that time neither the Monk nor the Nun had the least thought of that Divinity but as the Daughters of Lot having made their Father drunk did think by that means to preserve human Nature so this Monk and the Nun would repair that which death had destroyed by making of a new Body Therefore I cannot but reflect again upon the tears of tho Nun who always wept and always returned to the cause of her weeping I have seen too many of those said Hircan who at the same time bewailed their sins and yet kept their pleasures I do much doubt said Parlament by whom you do speak those words wherefore it seems to me that their laughter hath lasted long enough it would be now time that weeping should begin Hold your peace said Hircan The Tragedy is not yet finished which doth begin with laughter But to change the Subject of our discourse said Parlament it seems to me that Dagoucin hath wandred from our first determination which was that the Accounts of this day should be all pleasant and this hath been a sad one You made a motion said Dagoucin that we should not forget to give an Account of the greatest follies and in that I am sure I have not failed but to hear one that is more pleasant I do give my voice to Nomerfide hoping that she will mend my fault She made answer I have an Account ready for you and one which is worthy to follow yours for it speaks of Religious persons and of death also Give ear unto it if you please The End of the Accounts of the Novels of the late Queen of Navarr which are all that can be recovered of them A Table of the Summary of the Novells of the Queen of Navarre The first Journal AN Advocats Wife of Alençon had two Friends one of them for pleasure and the other for profit she caused that man of her two Lovers to be slain who first discovered her wanton life for which murder she begged pardon both for her self and for her sagitive Husband who afterwards to save a sum of money did repair to a Negromancer and their Enterprize was discovered and punished Novel 1. Fol. 1. The chast and lamentable Death of the Wife of one of the Mule-keepers of the Queen of Navarre Nov. 2. f. 11. A King of Naples abusing the Wife of a young Gentlewoman did at last wear the horn himself Nov. 3. f. 15. The rash Enterprise of a Gentleman to incounter with a Princess and the shame and disgrace which he received Nov. 4. f. 22. A Ferry-woman escaped from two Friers who would have forced her and did deport her self so wisely that their sinne was discovered to all the world Nov. 5. f. 30. The subtilty of a woman who shewed her friend a way to escape when her Husband who had but one eye thought to have surprized them Nov. 6. f. 34. A Merchant of Paris deceived the Mother of his Sweet-heart to conceal their fault Nov. 7. f. 37. A certain man having lain with his own Wife instead of his Chambermaid did send his Neighbour to her who made him a Cuckold without his Wives knowledge Nov. 8. f. 40. The sad death of a Gentleman in love having received comfort too late from her whom he loved Nov. 9. f. 47. The Loves of Amadour and Florinda in which are contained many subtilties and Inventions and the most commendable chastity of Florinda Nov. 10. f. 52. The Second Journal The petulant Discourses of a Frier in his Easter-Sermons at Amboise Nov. 1. f. 93. The Incontinence of a Duke and his Impudence to arrive at his Designs with his just punishment Nov. 2. f. 97. A Captain of the Galleys under the shaddow of Devotion did fall in love with a Lady and what insued thereon Nov. 3. f. 106. The subtilty of a Lover who under the pretence of the right Friend did reap from a Lady of Millan the fruits of what so long he had desired Nov. 4. f. 117. A Lady of the Court seeing her self disdained by her Husband who made love elsewhere did revenge her self by the like practice Nov. 5. f. 125. A Lady of Millan approved the Courage and the Resolution of her Friend whereupon she afterwards loved him with all her heart Nov. 6. f. 141. King Francis shewed his generous resolution to Count William who would have killed the King Nov. 7. f. 148. A fair young Lady made tryal of the fidelity of a young Scholar before she would admit him to intrench too farr upon her honour Nov. 8. f. 152. Two Lovers despairing to be marryed did enter themselves into two Religions houses the Man into a Covent of Saint Francis and the Female into the Nunnery of Saint Clare Nov. 9. f. 159. A Gentleman suddenly cured of the malady of Love finding his rigorous Lady in the arms of her Horseman Nov. 10. f. 169. The Third Journal The wonderful and honest love betwixt a Lady of honourable birth and a Bastard and the check which the
Novell IN the City of Ambois there dwelled a Keeper of Mules who served the Queen of Navarre Sister to King Francis the First of that Name who was brought to Bed of a Son at Blois to which place the Keeper of the Mules repaired to be payed for his Quarters service His Wife continued still at Ambois and lodged not far from the Bridge Her Husband had a servant who for a long time did love her so desperately that one day he could not contain froÌ„ speaking to her but she who was a most virtuous Woman did reprove him so severely threatning that her Husband should beat him and put him away that after that time he durst not speak to her any more nor make any countenance of Love but kept that fire concealed in his heart Untill that on a time his Master was gon out of Town and his Mistresse was at the Vespers at St. Florentines a Church belonging to the Castle of the City and a great way from her own house Being alone it came into his head to enjoy that by force which by no prayer or service he could obtain whereupon he did break down a board which was the partition betwixt his Mistresse Chamber and that wherein he lay but because there was a hanging cloath neer to the Bed of his Master and Mistresse which did cover the walls so well that the rupture which he made could not be perceived his malice and treachery was not discovered untill that his Mistresse was in bed with a Girl she kept of about twelve years of age As the poor woman was in her first sleep her servant came in his shirt only into her bed through the whole made in the wall and had a sword drawn in his hand But as soon as she perceived him to draw near unto her she leaped out of the Bed and used all tho reasons and perswasions to him as it was possible for a good Woman to deliver but he who was transported with a Bestial desire and did understand better the language of Mules than her honest Remonstrances did shew himself more brutish than the Beasts with whom so long time he conversed for observing that she did run round the Table and that he could not take hold of her and withall that she was so strong that twice together she got off from him growing into a despair ever to enjoy her alive he gave her with his sword a great blow upon the back conceiving to himself if neither fear nor force could make her to yeeld that pain should effect it But it proved contrary to his expectation for as a gallant Soldier seeing his blood is more inflamed to revenge himself on his Enemies and to purchase honour so her chast heart did doubly inforce her to run and to flie from the hands of this wicked villain and oftentimes at some distance she would hold him in the best discourse she could to see if by any means she could reduce him to the acknowledgement of his offence but he was inflam'd with such a furie that there was no place in him to receive good counsell insomuch that he gave the poor Woman many wounds more which to avoyd she always ran from him as long as her leggs were able to carry her and when by the great effusion of her blood she found that Death approached joyning her hands together and lifting her eyes to Heaven she gave thanks unto God the God of Power Virtue Patience and Chastity and besought him to accept of her blood which by his appointment was shed in reverence and obedience to that of his Sons in whom she most assuredly did beleeve that all her sins were washed and wiped away from the Memory of his Anger And speaking Lord receive my Soul which by thy mercy hath been redeemed shee fell on her face upon the Earth where the bloody Miscreant did still print more wounds on her body and when she had lost both her speech and the strength of her body the Villain seised upon her by force who no longer could defend her self and having satisfied his reprobate concupiscence he fled away so hastily that for all the Hue and Cryes that did follow him he could never be heard of more The young Girle who lay with this poor woman being overcome with fear did hide her self under the bed but when she saw that the Man was gone she came unto her Mistresse and found her without speech or motion whereupon she cryed to the neighbors out of the window to come to her assistance They who did love and as much respect her as any woman in the City did immediatly come to her and brought with them two Chirurgions who found that she had on her body five and twenty mortal wounds they did what they could to keep that little life that was left in her but it was impossible Yet she continued languishing away for the Space of a whole hour without speaking any word making signs with her eyes and hands by which she shewed that she had not lost her understanding Being asked by a Church-man of the Faith in which she dyed and of her Salvation she made answer by signs so evident that her words could not more manifestly declare that her confidence was in the Death of Jesus Christ whom she hoped to behold in his coelestial City and thus with a joyfull countenance lifting up her eyes to heaven she surrendred her chast Body to the Earth and her Soul to her Creâ—tor Being taken up and a shrowd cast on her her Body was no sooner brought down to the Door of her house attending the coming of the Company to her burial but behold her poor Husband did arrive who first saw the dead Body of his wife at the Door of his house before he had heard the melancholy news of her death And having understood the occasion of it he had double reason to lament which he did in such a manner that he almost had lost his life Thus this Martyr of Chastity was carried to her burial into the Church of Saint Florencin where all the good women of the City did not fail in their endeavours to accompany her and did honour her as much as possibly they could esteeming themselves most happy to be of that City in which so virtuous a woman lived The foolish and light Huswives beholding the honour that was done unto her did resolve with them selves to change their wanton lives You have heard Ladies a true History which ought to make our hearts more circumspest to guard this honorable Virtue of Chastity And we that are descended of noble Families ought even to die for shame to find in our hearts that sensuality to avoid which a poor Mule-Keepers wife did not fear so cruell a Death Alas How many are there who esteem themselves good women and yet never understood what it is to resest unto Bloud Wherefore we ought to exercise our selves with repentance and humility for the Graces of God are not given
opening the trap-door which was so fitly made and covered with cloath that it made not the least crack he went up into the Ladies Chamber between the bed and the wall and without any regard to the obligation which he made her nor to the illustrious family of which she was descended and without demanding any leave or making reverence to her he lay down close unto her who sooner found her self in his arms then perceived his comming But she being a lusty woman did wrest her self out of his arms and asking him who he was began to strike and bite and scratch him insomuch that he was constrained for fear she should cry out to stop her mouth with the coverlet which was impossible for him to doe for when she saw that he spared nothing of all his strength to procure her shame she spared nothing of her own to defend her self and as lowd as she could she called for her Lady of Honour an antient and wise Woman who lay in her Chamber who presently in her Smock made hast unto her Mistresse when the Gentleman found that he was discovered he had so great a fear to be known who he was that as fast as he could he went down the same way he came up and as great as his hope was before and desire to be entertained so great a grief and despair possessed him to find himself return'd in that sad condition He found his Glasse and the Candle upon the table and looking on his face bleeding with the scratches which she had given him and the blood dropping on his short which had discoloured the gold he began to say O beauty thou hast now well rewarded me according to my merit for through thy vain promises I have attempted a thing which is impossible and which it may be instead of augmenting my contentments may be the doubling of all my sorrows being assured that if she should know that against the promise I have made her I have enterprised this folly I should lose all the respect and familiar frequentation which no man hath with her more than my self To gain the love of her heart I should not by force have attempted to have surprized her fair body but by my service and humble patience have attended untill that Love became victorious for without it all the virtue and force of Man have no power at all In this manner he passed away the night in complaints tears and sighs which cannot be number'd In the Morning beholding his face so torn he counterfeited that he was sick and not able to endure the light untill the Princes were gone from his House The Lady who remained victorious being confident that there was not a man in her Brothers Court who durst have attempted so lewd an enterprise but he only who assumed the boldnesse to declare his love unto her did assure her self that it was he who endeavoured so much to work her shame and with her Lady of Honor sought every place and corner of the Chamber to find which way it could be and when she could not discover any thing she spoke unto her in a great choler Assure your self that it can be no other but the Master of the house and in the morning I will make such a complaint to my Brother of him that his head shall be the witnesse of my Chastity Her Lady of Honour seeing her in this resolution spake unto her Madam I am very sensible of the Love which you have unto your Honor to increase which you will not spare the life of one who hath too much hazarded it through the force of that love he bears you but oftentimes we think to increase that which we diminish Wherefore I beseech you Madam that you would vouchsafe to represent unto me the truth of the fact and when the Lady had given her an account of it all along her Lady of Honor said unto her You assure me then that he received nothing but blows and scratches from you The Lady made answer Nothing else I dare assure you and if he meet not with a good Chirurgion I do beleeve that on to morrow the marks will be apparent Madam since it iâ—slo said her Lady of Honour it seems to me that you have more occasion to praise God than to resolve with you self to be revenged of him for you ought to beleeve since he hath so great a heart to make such an enterprise the despite he hath to have failed in it is more grievous to him than any Death that you can give him If you desire to be revenged on him let him alone to Love and Shame which know better how to torment him than you or any Instigations of your Honor. Take heed Madam to fall into an Inconvenience such as is his own for instead of enjoying the greatest pleasure that possibly he could desire he hath received the greatest shame that possibly a Gentleman can indure So you Madam thinking to increase your Honour do go the next way to diminish it For if you will make a complaint you will make that publick which now no Man knows for you may be sure that for his part he will not reveal it unto any And whe Monsieur your Brother shall perform that Justice which you demand and the poor Gentleman shall come to suffer death the Report will run that he would have to doe with you according to his pleasure and the greatest part will say That it is a strange thing for a Gentleman to make such an enterprise if the Lady had not given him some great occasion her self You are fair and young and merry in all Company there is not any in this Court who doth not observe the daily respects of Love which you vouchsafe this Gentleman you suspect who will not judge that if he hath made such an attempt it is not without some fault on your side And your Honour which untill now hath always gone with an advanced head shall be disputed of in every place where this story shall be repeated The Lady understanding the good reasons of her Lady of Honour did apprehend that she spake the truth and that justly she should be blamed especially by reason of the familiar love that she was pleased to shew unto him She therefore demanded of her Lady of Honour what she should do who said unto her Madam since you are pleased to receive my counsell and do observe the affection from whence it comes it seems to me that you ought to entertain a perfect joy in your heart that the most handsom and most accomplished Gentleman that I have seen knew neither by love nor force to dispossesse you of your Chastity And for this Madam you ought to humble your self before God and to acknowledge that this is not by your virtue for many great Ladies who have led a life more austere than your self have been humbled by Men lesse worthy to be loved than himself And moreover you ought to take heed to
was so absolute and perfect that he did chuse rather to die than to desire any one thing which might tend to her dishonor and seeing himself in so low a condition in comparison of her he could not entertain the least hope to espouse her Wherefore his love was grounded on no other end but only with all his power to love her as perfectly as possibly he could of which at last she had some Intelligence And seeing the honest affection which he did bear unto her so full of virtue and civility she thought her self happy to be beloved by so worthy a personage and made so much of him that he who could not have wished for more was greatly contented at it But Malice the Enemy to all Quiet could not long suffer the continuance of a life so happy For some Informers whispered in the Mothers ear That they much wondred that this Gentleman was of such power in her house and that they suspected the beauty of her Daughter to be the only occasion of it with whom they oftentimes observed him to hold discourse The Mother who no wayes doubted the honesty of the Gentleman of whom she was as much assured as of any of her own Children was very forry that there was spread abroad such an uncharitable opinion of him but fearing that some scandall might arise by the malice of bad tongues she intreated him at last that for a certain time he would not come so often to her house as he was accustomed to do This was hard of digestion to him knowing that the civil discourse which he held always with her Daughter did not deserve that restraint Neverthelesse to stop the report of all ill tongues he retired for a time untill that report was silenced afterwards returned as he had been accustomed to do His absence had no ways diminished his affection Being in the house he understood that the young Lady was to be married to a Gentleman who in his opinion was not of that great Estate but that his own service might be as well entertained and be as acceptable as his He therefore began to take heart to imploy his friends to speak on his behalf supposing that if the choice were offered to the young Lady that she would prefer him unto the other Neverthelesse the Mother of the Daughter and her Kinred did make choice of the other because he was far more rich whereat the Gentleman was extremely melancholly knowing that his Mistresse would lose thereby as much contentment as himself Whereupon by little and little without any other Sicknesse he did begin to consume away and in a short time was so much changed that it seemed he had covered the beauty of his countenance with the Mask of Death to which day succeeding day and hour following hour he did joyfully repair So it was that he could not sometimes forbear from speaking to her whom he loved so intirely But at last his strength failed him and he was inforced to keep his Bed of which he would not advise her whom he loved because he was unwilling that she should partake in his affliction And suffering himself to sink into despair he at last could neither eat nor drink nor sleep nor take any rest insomuch that it was impossible to know him by reason of his leanenesse and the strange and sharp countenance which he had Some there were who advertised the Mother of his Mistresse of it who was a Woman full of pity and loved the Gentleman so well that if all her Kinred and Confidents had been of the same opinion as her self was and her Daughter they had preferred his Honesty and fair Deportment above all the Fortunes of the other but the Kinred who were on the Fathers side would not understand it Neverthelesse she resorted with her Daughter to visit the poor Gentleman whom they found rather dead than alive And perceiving that the end of his life did approach he sent for the Priest and having made his Confession he received the holy Sacrament thinking to have died without seeing any one But being ready to descend unto the sleep of Death and unexpectedly beholding her who was both his Life and Resurrection he found himself so fortified that he did arise up in his Bed and said unto the old Lady Some occasion hath brought you hithâ—â— Madam to give a visit unto him who hath already one foot in his Grave and of whose Death you are the occasion The Lady made answer How can that be possible that he whom we do love so well can receive his Death by our neglect Tell me I pray you upon what account of Reason do you speak these words Madam said he Although as much as it was possible for me I have dissembled the love which I most faithfully have born unto Madamoiselle your Daughter so it is that my friends speaking of the Marriage betwixt her and me have been more hot upon it than I desired seeing thereby I have received this Misfortune to lose all my hopes neither doth it so much afflict me for my particular but for that I am confident she can never be so well intreated by any other nor will be so well beloved as by me The observation which I make that she shall lose the most best and most affectionate friend and servant that she hath in the world doth more afflict me than the losse of my own life which onely for her alone I would preserve but because I find it cannot be serviceable any wayes unto her it is a gain unto me to lose it The Mother and the Daughter hearing these words did do the best they could to comfort him The Mother said unto him Take courage my Friend and I promise you upon my faith that if God shall restore you unto your health my Daughter shall have no other Husband but your self Behold she stands here before you and I command her upon the obligation of her Duty to make the same promise to you Her Daughter melting into tears did the best that she could to give him an assurance of that which her Mother had promised But he apprehending that if he were recovered he should not enjoy his Mistresse and that the good words that were given him were onely by degrees to restore him unto his lost health did say unto them That if these words had been spoken to him but three Moneths agoe he had been the most healthfull and the most happy Man in all France but this Relief came so late unto him that it could neither be believed nor hoped And when he observed that they did indeavour to inforce a belief into him of what they promised he said unto them Since so faithfully you have promised that great happinesse which can never arrive unto me though now your selves would have it so by reason of the great weaknesse in which I am I shall crave a far lesse favour which as yet I have not had the boldnesse to demand Immediatly they did both
she deliberated with her self to bring some profit by that Ring to the Conscience of the Captain and immediatly dispatched one of her servants to the disconsolate wife of the Captain pretending her self to be a religious woman of Tarasco and did write unto her in these words Madam Monsieur your Husband passed this way a little before he took shipping and after he had confessed and received the Sacrament as a good Christian ought to do he declared unto me one fault which lay heavy upon his Conscience which was the grief that he had not loved you so much as he ought to have done and prayed and conjured me at his departure to sead you this Letter with this Diamond which he desireth you to keep for the Love you bear him assuring you That if God shall return him in safety there was never any woman better used by a Husband than you shall be by him and this Diamond for the performance of it shall be a firm pledge unto you of the assurance of his faith I beseech you to recommend him to God in your prayers and he shall not want of mine during my life This Letter made up and sealed in the name of one of the Nuns of Tarasco was sent by the Gentlewoman to the Captains Wife when the old woman beheld the Letter and the Ring you need not demand how she wept for joy and grief to be so beloved and esteemed of her Husband of the sight of whom she saw her self deprived And kissing the Ring a thousand times she did bedew it with her tears blessing God that at the end of her Dayes he had restored the love of her Husband to her which she held to be lost for a long time She also much thanked the Nun that was the Cause of her Good To whom she sent the best answer that she could which the Messenger reported to his Mistresse who could neither read nor hear what her servant brought unto her from her without laughing very heartily and was well contented to be rid of the Diamond to procure so great a good as to establish the Love betwixt the Husband and the Wife in doing which she thought to her self she had gained a Kingdom Not long after there arrived the News of the Defeat and Death of the poor Captain and how he was abandoned by those who ought to succour him and that his Enterprise was betrayed by the Rhodians who most of all should have kept it secret insomuch that himself and those who landed with him who were about the number of four and twenty were killed upon the place amongst whom was a Gentleman called John and a Turk whom the Gentleman above-specified had answered for at the Fount both whom she had given to the Captain to attend upon him in his voyage one whereof died with him and the Turk being wounded with five arrows did save himself by swimming to the French ships by whom alone the Truth of this Defeat was understood For a Gentleman whom the poor Captain had taken for a Friend and a Companion and had advanced him into the favour of the King and the greatest of the Nobility of France as soon as ever he saw the Captain landed did retire back with the Ships into the Sea The Captain seeing his Enterprize discovered and above Four thousand Turks comming down upon him would have retreated to the ships as he ought to have done but the Gentleman in whom he did repose his onely Confidence knowing that in his Death the Charge and Command of the whole Army would be devolved upon himself did declare unto the Gentlemen and others that were on ship-board That they ought not to hazard the Vessels of the King nor so many good Souldiers that were in the ships to save a few persons only By this perswasion they who of themselves wanted Courage did agree in opinion with him The Captain observing that the more he called upon them the more they drew back towards the Main and removed themselves from his succour did return towards the Turks being in Sands up to the knees where he made such demonstrations of his Valour and of his knowledge in Arms that it seemed that he alone was able to defeat all the numbers of his Enemies by reason whereof his treacherous Companion entertained a greater fear than a desire of his Victory At the last whatsoever defence he could make he received so many wounds by arrows from those who durst not approach near unto him that he began to lose much bloud and the Turks perceiving the weakness of these poor Christians and scorning their unconsiderable numbers did fall in upon them and charged them with their Scemiters which made deep cuts in their bodies but as long as God gave them strength and life they defended themselves but that failing the Captain called unto him the Gentleman whose Name was John whom the Gentlewoman gave unto him and the Turk and sticking the point of his Sword on the Sands falling on his knees he kissed and kissed again the Crosse upon the hilts thereof saying Lord Take into thy mercy the Soul of him who hath not spared his life to exalt thy name The Gentleman whose name was John perceiving that his life ended with those words embraced him and the Crosse on the hilt of the Sword which he had thinking to have assisted him but a Turk behind him did give him a mortal blow with his Scemiter who crying aloud Let us go Captain Let us go into Paradise to see him for whom we die he was made the Companion of the Death as he had been of the life of the poor Captain The Turk seeing he could neither serve or fave either one or the other of them being hurt himself with five arrows did flie to the ships and demanding to be received although he was the only person that escaped of four and twenty yet it was refused by the traiterous Companion of the Captain But he who could swim well enough did throw himself into the Sea and at last prevailed so far that he was received into a small Vessel and in a few dayes cured of his wounds And by this poor Stranger the truth of this Act was perfectly known to the Honour of the Captain and the Infamy of his Companion whose offence the King and all those who ever heard of him did judge to be so great both against God and Men that there was no death so grievous but they thought he most justly did deserve it Howsoever at his return to Court he made so many pretences and excuses and gave such great Presents that he was not only saved from punishment but had the Command of the Captain conferred on him whose Groom he was not worthy to be When this News was first brought unto the Court Madam the Regent Mother who highly did esteem him did wonderfully lament him so did also the King and all the personages of Honour about the Court And she whom too well he loved
that Order upon him that every one thought she had forgotten him she resolved with her self to put her Design in Execution which was to render their loves alike in habit form and in condition of life as it was when they lived in one house under one Master and Mistresse And because that fourteen Months before she had given order for all things that were necessary for her to enter into a Religious house she one morning demanded leave of the Marchionesse to goe to hear Masse at the Covent of St. Clare which she granted being ignorant wherefore she did ask it and passing by the Grey Friers she intreated the Warden of the Covent to give her leave to see one of the Friers whom she called her Kinsman When she saw him in the Chapel by himself she said unto him If my Honour had permitted me to put my self into a Religious House as soon as you did I would not have attended untill this time but having by my patience broken through the opinions of those who are more apt to judge Evil than Good I have determined with my self to take upon me the same Condition Robe and Life which I see you have done without inquiring what it is for if you find any Good I shall have my part therein and if you find any thing that is grievous I will not be exempt from it for by what way you go into Paradise in the same I will follow you being assured that he who is the true perfect and the most worthy to be called LOVE hath drawn us to his service by a chast and virtuous love which by his holy Spirit he will convert to our advantage beseeching him That my self as well as you may forget the Body that perisheth and the tincture of the old Adam to receive and put on him who is our Spouse Jesus Christ Her religious Servant the Frier was so well contented and so glad to hear her holy Resolution that with weeping tears of Joy he fortified her in her opinion as much as possibly he could saying Since he could have nothing of her in this world but words only and was hardly permitted to have those also that he thought himself very happy to have now the means daily to see her and that she was of the same mind with him that neither the one nor the other did care which of them were the happiest living in one estate of Love of one heart and of one spirit being perswaded and conducted by the bounty of God whom he besought to keep them both in his hand where none could take them from him And speaking those words and weeping with tears of love and joy he kissed her hands and she stooped her down unto his hand and in true charity did give it the holy kisse of Dilection And thus in a great content Paulina departed and entred into the Covent where she was received and veiled Which afterwards she sent word of to Madam the Marchionesse who hardly could be induced to believe it Wherefore the next morning she repaired to the Monastery to see her and to disswade her from her resolution and if words would not prevail to add force unto her words but Paulina did assure her that if she had the power to take from her a Husband of flesh a man whom she loved best in this world she ought to content her self without attempting to divorce her from him who is immortal and invisible for he was not in her power nor under any power in the world The Marchionesse observing her resolution did kisse her and full of sorrow did take her leave of her After that time Paulina and her servant did live so holily and so devoutly in their places of observance that we ought not to doubt but that he the end of whose Law is charity did in the end of their lives say unto them as unto Mary Magdalen that their sins were all pardoned because they had loved much and that in peace he brought them to a place where their recompence doth surpasse all the merits of men and their good deeds are crown'd with an incomprehensible reward Ladies you cannot be ignorant that never any man did shew a greater love or which so perfectly was returned to him by her whom he loved that I could wish that all those in their condition of love were as well recompenced There would be then said Hircan more he-Fools and she-Fools than were ever yet seen in the world Do you call it folly said Oysilla to love honestly in our youth and afterwards to convert all that love unto the love of God Hircan laughing made answer to her if melancholy and despair be virtues I will confesse that Paulina and her servant are most worthy to be praised So it is said Guebron that God hath many means to draw us to him the beginnings whereof may seem to be unpleasant but their end is good I am of opinion said Parlament that a man can never love God perfectly until first he hath perfectly loved some Creature in this World What do you call it to love perfectly said Saffredant Do you esteem those to be perfect lovers who are in a rapsody at the sight of their Mistresse and kneel down before them at a great distance without daring to declare their affections to them Parlament made answer I call those perfect lovers who do seek for some perfection in those they love whether it be goodnesse beauty or gracefulnesse or whatsoever it be that is always tending unto virtue and who have a heart so high and honest that they will rather by their deaths put an end to all corrupt desires than that their honours or their consciences should suffer For the Soul which is not created but to return unto its soveraign good hath as long as it is even in this Body a desire to arrive unto it But by reason that the understanding by which it should learn the way is obscure and carnal by the sin of our first Father it cannot represent any thing unto it but things visible and which only do approach unto perfection after which the Soul doth run thinking to find in a visible grace and in moral virtues the Soveraign beauty and the Soveraign Grace and Virtue But when she hath examined and proved them and found that it is not that which perfectly she loveth she throws them by goes on further like an infant who in its first infancy loveth apples and pears and puppets and the fairest things that can be presented to the eye and doth esteem it great riches to heap small stones together afterwards growing into age it loveth living creatures and to amasse those precious stones and treasures which are necessary for the life of man But when by grave experience it knoweth that in transitory things there is no perfection nor felicity it desireth to search after true happinesse and the Giver who is the Fountain of it Neverthelesse if God should not open unto us the
ey of Faith we are in danger from being Ignorants to become unbelieving Philosophers For Faith only doth represent unto us causeth us to receive that Good which a carnal man cannot apprehend See you not said Longaren that the Ground not husbanded doth produce many herbs and trees although they are unprofitable which sheweth unto us the good desire of it and the promise it doth make that it will bring forth good fruits when it shall be sowed and weeded So the heart of Man which hath no other understanding but by things visible will never arrive unto the love of God but only by the sowings of his holy word in the heart for the Ground of the heart is of it self barren and cold and almost lost to all hope And this is the Cause said Saffredant that the greatest part of Men are deceived who look not but only on exterior things and despise that which is most pretious and is lodged within If I could speak Latin well said Simontault I would allege unto you what St. John saith That He who loveth not his Brother whom he hath seen how can he love God whom he hath not seen for by things visible we are drawn to the love of things invisible Shew us the Man said Emarsuite that is so perfect in that love Et laudabimus eum There are some said Dagoucin who love so purely and so perfectly that they had rather die than to think one thought against the Honours or the Consciences of their Mistresses and would so carry it that neither their Mistresses themselves nor any other should perceive it They said Saffredant are of the Nature of the Cameleon who lives on the Air. For I am of a belief that there is not a Man in the world who doth not desire to declare his Love and to be assured that he is beloved and there is no Feaver of Love so violent but suddenly will slack when we come to know the contrary I will speak it of my self I have seen such Miracles made evident I beseech you said Emarsuite to take my place and to give us an account of some one who hath been raised from Death to Life by finding his Mistress to act contrary to that which he desired I am so afraid said Saffredant to displease Ladies to whom I have been and ever shall be a Servant that without their expresse Command I durst not give any account unto them of their Imperfections but to shew my obedience I will not conceal the truth A Gentleman unexpectedly is recovered of the malady of Love finding his Mistresse too severe unto him in the Arms of her Horse-Keeper The Tenth Novell IN the Country of Dauphine was a Gentleman called Signior de Ryant who belonged to the House of King Francis the first of that Name and was as honest and as fine a Gentleman as could be looked on He was a long time servant to a Lady that was a Widdow whom he so much loved and reverenced that for the fear he had to lose her favour he durst not importune her for that which he so much desired And being handsom himself and worthy to be beloved he firmly believed that which she had often sworn unto him which was that she loved him better than all the Gentlemen in the world and if she were put to it to do a Gentleman a courtesie it should be for him onely as being the most accomplished Man that she knew and did entreat him to rest himself contented with it without transgressing that honest love assuring him That if she knew that he pretended to any thing more and would not be contented with reason that he should lose her Love and all The poor Gentleman not onely contented himself with it but conceived himself to be a happy Man to have gained the heart of that Lady whom he believed to be so virtuous It will appear tedious unto you to repeat the discourse of their love and the long frequentation which he had with her and the voyages which he made to see her But in the conclusion this poor Martyr being in so pleasant a Fire that the more he burn'd the more he would burn did search after all means to augment his Martyrdom One morning a fancy did possesse him to take Post to see her whom he loved better than himself and esteemed above all the Women in the world Being arrived he entred into the Court and demanded where she was answer was made That she was but just come from Vespers and was gon into the Garden to compleat her Devotions whereupon he alighted from his Horse and took his course directly to the Garden where it was told him that she was In the way he did meet with some other of her servants who informed him That she was walking all alone in a long Allee in the Garden wherupon he began more than ever to hope that he should meet with some happy Fortune and as leisurely as possibly he could he pursued his design thinking to find her in most private Retirements And being come to a long Arbor of plashed Trees it being the most pleasant and most delightful place that Art or Nature ever did contrive he suddenly entred in as one who thought long till he had seen her whom he loved At his first Entrance he found her in the Arms of the Horse-keeper of the House as loathsom and as nasty a fellow as she her self was fair and lovely I will not in this place undertake to declare unto you the Indignation that poffessed him which was so great that in one moment it had power to quench the fire which so long had burned And being filled with as much despite as he was before with love he said unto her Madam Much good do 't you This day for your discovered Incontinence I am recovered and delivered from a perpetual perplexity occasioned by the rare Honesty which I conceived to be in you And without any other Farewell he departed from her with greater speed than he came The poor Woman made no other answer to him but only covered her face with her hands It was fit indeed that because she could not cover her shame she should cover her eyes that she might not see him who saw her now too clearly notwithstanding her long dissimulation Wherefore I beseech you Ladies if you have not a desire to love perfectly do not dissemble with an honest man nor seek to displease him for your own glory for Hypocrites are payed in their own Coin and God doth favour those who do love intirely It is well said Oysilla you have given us a good one for the conclusion of this dayes work And were it not that we have sworn to speak the Truth I could not believe that a woman of Estate as she was could be so wicked as to forsake an honest Gentleman for such an ugly Varlet Alas Madam said Hircan If you knew the difference betwixt a Gentleman who all his life-time hath born arms
you have married her yes Sir said the Bastard but by words and a contract only and if you please the full period will be put unto it The King did hold down his head and without speaking any word returned directly unto the Castle and when he came neer unto it he called the Captain of the Guard and commanded him to take the Bastard prisoner Immediatly one of his friends who observed the countenance of the King did advise the Bastard to absent himself and to withdraw into a house of his not far from thence and if the King commanded him to be sought out as he suspected he would that immediatly he should have notice of it that he might provide for his own safety by his slight out of the Kingdom but if the King seemed not to be displeased he would send him word to return to the Court The Bastard did believe him and his diligence made such dispatch that the Captain of the Guard could not find him The King and the Queen did take counsel together what they should do with Rolandine who had the honour to be their Kinswoman and by the counsel of the Queen it was concluded that she should be sent unto her Father to whom the whole truth of the businesse was to be declared But before she did goe it was ordered that diverse of the Kings Counsel and some also of the Church should represent unto her that as yet there had passed nothing in her marriage but her word only and that she might easily recall herself if both one of them and the other would alter their opinions and their loves and disclaiming all interests make the contract of no effect This the King desired that she would do to preserve the honout of the house of which she was but she made answer that in all other things she was both obliged and ready to obey the King but in this only which so nearly concern'd her conscience she desired to be excused alleging that those whom God had put together ought not to be separated by men and desired that she might not be tempted to so unreasonable a thing for if love and good will grounded on the fear of God is the true and sure tye of Marriage she was tyed so fast that neither Steel nor Fire nor Water could either break or consume that bond but death only to whom alone and to none else she was resolved to surrender her oath and her ring beseeching them not to urge her to the contrary for she was so firm in her resolution that she had rather perish keeping her saith than live having infringed it Those who were deputed by the King made the report unto him of her constancy and when they saw they could provide no remedy to cause her to renounce her husband they carried her to her Father in that pitiful manner that wheresoever she passed they did all fall on weeping to behold her and although she had her failings in this contract yet so great was her punishment and so strong her constancy that she made her fault to be esteemed a virtue Her Father hearing this unwelcom news would not see her but sent her to a Castle of his in a Forrest which he had builded for another occasion worthy to be declared after this Novel He kept her there a long time in prison and sent her word oftentimes that if she would forsake her Husband he would account her for his daughter and set her at liberty Neverthelesse she always did hold firm in her determination loved better the place of her prison and the miseries she endured for her Husband than all the liberty of the world without him and it seemed to those who did behold her that all her punishments were but pleasant recreations because she suffered them for him whom so intirely she affected What shall I say in this place of men The Bastard who as you have heard was so much obliged to her did fly into Germany where he had many friends and shewed by his Inconstancy that not Truth and perfect Love but Avarice and Ambition did perswade him to the marriage of Rolandine Insomuch that in a short time after he grew so amorous of a German Lady that by his Letters he did forget to visit her who sustained so many tribulations for him For Fortune as rigorous as she was unto them did never take from them the means to write to one another but the heart of Rolandine had of its self the first apprehension of the foolish love into which the Bastard was fall'n so that she could not take any rest for she observed that the language in his Letters was so cold and so much altered that they nothing resembled those hearty expressions which she was accustomed to receive from him she therefore truly did suspect that some new love had diverted her Husband from her and when all the punishments and the torments she endured could nor work the least change in her at all and because her perfect love would not allow that she should ground her judgement upon a suspition she did contrive a way to send privatly a servant of hers in whom she trusted not to speak unto him or bring any Letters from him but strictly to observe him and to relate the truth He being returned from his Journey told her that for certain he found the Bastard passionatly amorous of a German Lady and the report was that he did court her in way of marriage for she was very rich This news did convey so extreme a grief to the heart of poor Rolandine that being unable to endure it she fell grievously sick Those who understood the occasion did acquaint her that since she perceived the great inconstancy of the Bastard she might now justly abandon him and did the uttermost they could to perswade her to it but notwithstanding she was thus tormented to the last they could find no means to make her change her resolution And in this last temptation to the great commendation of her virtue she did manifest the absolute love which she did bear him For as love did diminish on his side so it did increase on hers and did continue firm when he had no intire nor perfect love for love which failed on his side did turn on her side and when she knew that the love was intire in her alone which before was divided betwixt them both she resolved to preserve it to her death both for him and her self Wherefore the Divine bounty who is perfect charity and true love had pity on her griefs and did regard her patience insomuch that after a few days the Bastard dyed in pursute of another woman she being well advertised of his death by those who saw him laid in the earth did send unto her Father to beseech him that he would be pleased to come unto her who having not spoken to her since the time of her imprisonment did immediatly repair unto her and having all along understood
and see him hoping also that his sight would conduce something to the health of his Wife Signior D' Avanes having received the Letter did make no delay at all and came in Post to the House of his Father At the entrance into the house he found the Men servants and the Maid servants making so great a lamentation as the losse of so good a Mistresse did deserve whereat the Signior was so amazed that he stayed at the door like a man in a trance the good old man his Father seeing him did make hast to imbrace him and began to weep so abundantly that he was not able to speak one word He brought him into the Chamber where his Wife was who turning her languishing eyes towards him did give him her hand and drawing him with it towards her with all the strength she had she imbraced him and kissing him again and again did make a marvellous complaint and said unto him O Sir the hour is now come that all dissimulation must cease and that I must confesse the truth which I have so much indeavoured to conceal from you It is that if you for your part have born any love to me you may believe that my love hath been altogether as great as yours but my affliction hath surpassed yours because I have taken such pains to conceal it against my own heart For Sir you are to understand that God and my Honour did not permit me to declare it to you fearing that I should add that unto you which I had a desire to diminish But know Sir that the word of Denyal which I have so often spoke unto you hath done me so much prejudice to pronounce it that it is the occasion of my death with which I am well contented since God hath made me so happy that neither the violence nor the excesse of my love hath blemished at all my conscience or reputation For with a far lesse Fire than is mine there hath been far greater and more noble structures ruined But now I shall depart contented that before I die I shall declare my affection to you to be equal unto yours nothing excepted but that the honour of men and women are not alike I shall desire you Sir for the time to come that you will enforce your self to make no addresses but to the most noble and most virtuous Ladies for in their hearts do dwell the strongest passions and are alwayes most wisely managed and the Grace Beauty and Civility which is in you will not permit that you shall be fruitlesse And I beseech you so to remember me and to think of my constancy as that you will not impute that unto cruelty which is to be attributed to Honour Conscience and Virtue which ought a thousand times to be more dear unto us than life it self Now Sir I shall bid you farewell and commend you to the good man whom you vouchsafe to call Father and who is my Husband to whom I must beseech you to declare the truth what you know of me that he might throughly understand how much I have loved God and himself and I must beseech you to forbear to come any more before my eyes for the few hours I have to live I will altogether imploy them in the meditation of the promises which God hath made unto me before the Creation of the World and speaking these words she gave him the last kisse and imbraced him with all the force of her feeble arms Signior D' Avanes who had his heart within him as surprized with compassion as was hers with the Agony of Death being not able to speak one word unto her did withdraw himself from before her and threw himself upon a Bed which was in the next Chamber where oftentimes he swouned away Not long after the Lady called for her Husband and having made many honest remonstrances unto him she did recommend unto him the care of Signior D' Avanes assuring him that next unto himself he was the person whom she best loved in the World And kissing her Husband she did bid him adiew Immediatly afterwards she commanded that the Sacrament of the Altar should be brought unto her and after that the Unction which she received with great joy as being assured of her Salvation And finding that her eyes began to grow dim and all her strength to fail her she did speak aloud her In manus At that Cry Signior D' Avanes did rise from the bed and looking compassionatly on her he came in a sweet sigh to render his Soul unto her as she was rendring her Soul unto God to whom she was going and when he perceived that she was dead he did run to the dead body to which being alive he durst not approach but in fear and imbraced it and kissed it in such a manner that with much difficulty they did take her from between his Arms her Husband was much astonied at it for he never perceived that he did bear such an affection to her and saying to him Sir It is too much they both retired from her And having made a long lamentation the one for the Death of his Wife the other for the Death of his Friend Monsieur D' Avanes did give him an account at large of the whole course of his Love and that to her Death she never made any signe unto him but what did expresse Severity and an obstinate Chastnesse whereat her Husband being more contented than ever did double his grief for the losse of her and continued all his life afterwards in doing good services to Signior D' Avanes who was then not above eighteen years of Age. After this he departed to the Court where he continued divers years without seeing or speaking to any Woman in the world and he did wear mourning apparel two years together for her Ladies you may here observe the difference betwixt a wise woman and a foolish who do shew distinctly by themselves the different effects of love by which one of them received a death commendable and glorious and the other did lead a life loose and infamous For as the Death of a holy Man or Woman is pretious before God so the Death of a Sinner is as displeasing Truly Saffredant said Oysilla you have rehearsed to us as pleasant a History as I have ever heard and he who knew the persons as well as my self would find it yet more pleasant for I have never seen a braver Gentleman nor of a greater Gracefulness than the said Signior D' Avanes Do you think said Saffredant that a wise and a young Woman to dissemble her love which the counsel of Nature doth admit that she should bear to so desireable a Gentleman should ever suffer her self to dy for denying her self that pleasure of which so violently she desired the content covertly and he openly If she had such a desire said Parlament she had place and occasion enough to declare it to him but her Virtue was so great that she would
that those whom God keeps are well kept In my opinion said Parlament the punishment is but reasonable and as just as moy be for as the offence was worse than death so was the punishment worse than death I am not of your opinion said Emarsuite for I had rather all my life time behold the bones of dead Servants in my Cabinet than indure to die for them there is no crime so great which cannot be amended but after death there is no amendment at all How is that said Longaren can you amend your Honour you know I am sure that after such a misfortune whatsoever a Woman can doe she can never recover her honour Tell me I pray you said Emarsuite if Mary Magdalen hath not more honour now amongst men than her Sister who was a Virgin I must confesse said Longarine that we do praise her more but it is for the great love which she did bear our Saviour and for her repentance for if you doe observe it the title of a Sinner doth continue with her still I care not said Emarsuite what name men give unto me for if God doth pardon me and my Husband to boot there is nothing that I know of for which I would die Although that Gentlewoman did not love her Husband as she ought said Dagoucin yet I doe wonder that she did not die for grief to behold the bones of him whose death she occasioned by her own offence Say you so Dagoucin said Simontault are you yet to understand that Women are capable neither of grief nor love Yes said he and that is the reason that I never dare to tempt their loves for fear I should find lesse than I desire You live then said Nomerfide like a Plover of the Wind upon Faith and Hope we may seed you at a cheap rate I am contented said he with the love which I doe find in my self and the hope I have in the heart of one Lady which if I know to be such as I hope it is the extream content thereof would so transport me that I should not endure it without death Nay be wise said Guebron and take heed of that Plague for it is a dangerous malady I dare assure you But I would know to whom Madam Oysilla will give her voice I doe give it said she to Simontault who I do know will not spare any You praise me so highly said Simontault that you doe almost call me a Detractor Howsoever I will not forbear to represent unto you that those whom they call Detractors have spoken the truth And Ladies I am confident ye are not so foolish to believe that in all these Novells which have been spoken whatsoever appearance they may have of truth yet if they were brought to the triall the proof is not so great but they may be a sufficient Subject for the Sceptick nay oftentimes we find a great abuse under the pretence of a miracle and therefore I have a desire io give you an account of one which will be no lesse to the honour of a faithfull Prince than to the Dishonour of a wicked Minister of the Church The abhomination of an incestuous Priest whose Sister under the pretence of a holy life was great with child by him and of the punishment that did follow thereupon The third Novell COunt Charles of Angoulesm Father to King Francis the first of that name a virtuous Prince and fearing God being at Coignac intelligence was brought unto him that in a Village not far from thence called Chernes there was a Vigin lived so austere a life that it was admirable yet neverthelesse she was great with Child which she no ways dissembled but was proud of it and assured all the people that came to behold her that she never knew man and that she could not conceive which way she conceived it if it were not by the adumbration of the Holy Ghost which the people easily believed and did repute her to be a second Virgin Mary Every one that knew her did affirm that from her Infancy she was so precise that there never appeared the least sign of any worldlinesse in her She fasted not only the Fasts commanded by the Church but many days in the week she made Fast-days for her private Devotion and as song as any service was said in the Church she never stirred from it wherefore her life was so much esteemed by all the people that every one did come on purpose to look upon her as a wonder and happy was he who could but touch her garment The Curat of the Parish was her Brother a man of about fifty years of age and of a very austere life and accounted by his Parishioners to be a very holy Man who to outward appearance did intreat his Sister so roughly that he did in a House keep her shut up as in a prison at which the people were very much displeased and the report of this miracle was so great that the news thereof was brought to the Ears of the Count who perceiving the abuse with which all the world was possest did desire to take it away wherefore he sent the Master of the Requests and his Almoner two very accomplished personages to understand the truth thereof who repaired to the place and to be informed as diligently as possibly they could they did addresse themselves to the Curat who seemed to be much amazed at the affair and besought them both to assist him in the attestation of it which he said he hoped would give satisfaction to the World The next morning the said Curat did sing Masse in the Church at which his Sister did assist him on her knees being very big with Child At the end of the Masse the Curat did take into his hand Corpus Domini and in the presence of all the Assembly did speak unto his Sister Wicked and Blasphemous as thou art accused to be Behold here him who hath suffered death and who was crucified for thee before whom I demand if thou art a Virgin as thou hast always assured me She boldly and without the least Impression of fear made answer to him Yes And how then is it possible said he that thou shouldest be great with Child and yet remain a Virgin She answered I can give no other cause thereof but that it is only by the Grace of the Holy Spirit who doth in me that which he pleaseth Howsoever I ought not to deny the grace which God hath vouchsafed to me which is to preserve my Virginity for I had never the least desire to a Husband Her Brother then said unto her I give thee here the precious Body of Jesus Christ which thou shalt receive to thy own Damnation if it be otherwise than thou allegest of which these Honourable personages who are sent hither from the Count shall be the Witnesses whereupon his Sister who was about thirty years of age did take this following Oath I take the Body of my Lord here present to
that she would have no Supper of such Viands again and that she resolved to live in such a manner that he should not be the Butcher of her second Husband for she could hardly be induced to believe that he would pardon another having shewed himself so mercilesse to him whom he loved best in the world And although she was but weak and unable to revenge her own Cause yet her Hope was in HIM who is the true Judge and who will suffer no Sin to passe unpunished to whose only love she would devote her self during her life in that Hermitage which she did accordingly for she never departed thence until the day of her Death untill her Soul departed from her Body living with such patience and austerity that after her Death every one did run thither as to the Seat of a Saint and so great a Ruine did fall upon her Brothers House that of six Sons which he had not one remained alive but all of them dyed most miserably and in the end the Inheritance was devolved as you heard in my other Account upon his Daughter Rolâ—ndine who succeeded in the Prison which was made for her Aunt Ladies I pray to God that this Example may be prefitable to you that none of you may have a desire to marry for your own pleasure without the consent of those â—o whom you do ow obedience for Marriage is an Estate of so long a Continuance that it ought not lightly to be undertaken nor without the Consent of our best Friends and Kinred And it cannot at the best be so well managed but it will undoubtedly bring with iâ— as much pain as pleasure In good faith said Oysilla if there were neither God nor Law to teach fools to be wise this Example is sufficient enough to instruct them to bear more reverence to their Parents and Kinred than to marry at their own pleasure Madam It is so said Nomerfide that she who hath one good day in a year is not unfortunate throughout all her life She had a long time the pleasure to see and to discourse with him whom she loved better than she loved her self and after that she had the delight of the Marriage-bed without any trouble or remorse of Conscience And I esteem that Contentment to be so great that it seems to me it doth exceed the sorrow it brought with it You will say then said Saffredant that Women do receive more pleasures to ly with their Husbands than they do receive grief to to see them killed before their eyes That is not my in tention said Nomerfide for I should then speak against the Experience which I have of married Women but I conceive that so great and extraordinary a pleasure as to marry that man whom we love best in the world is more greatly to be esteemed than to lose him by death which is a common calamity So it is said Guebron if it were by a natural death but this here spoken of was too cruel for it is very strange to me seeing this Signior was neither her Father nor her Husband but her Brother only and moreover that she was of full age and that the Laws doe permit the Daughters to marry whom they please how he durst execute such a cruelty I do find it not strange at all said Hircan for he killed not his Sister whom so perfectly he did love but the young Gentleman whom he cherished and brought up as his own Son and loved as his own Brother and having preferred him and inriched him in his Service the Gentleman ought to have been content and not to have sought his Sister in marriage which nothing at all did pertain unto him The Honour and pleasure said Nomerfide is not usual for a Gentleman who is but a Servant to marry a Lady of so great a Family And if the death be strange the pleasure must be new also and so much the greater that it hath the opinion of all wise men to affirm it and the contentment of a heart full of love to aid it and the repose of the Soul to attend it which is a quiet Conscience seeing God is not offended with it And as for that death which you say was cruel it seems to me that it being inevitable the speediest death is the best for we all know that of necessity we must passe through Nature to eternity And I esteem them most happy who stay not any long time in the Suburbs and from the felicity which only in this world can be so called do in an instaet fly unto that which is eternal What do you call the Suburbs of death said Simontault Those said Nomerfide who have had many tribulations in Spirit those who have been a long time sick those who by the extremity of corporal or Spiritual griefs are come so far as to despise death and to complain that their last hour comes too slowly These are they who have already passed through the Suburbs of Death and have lodged in those Inns in which there is more noise than rest It was impossible but that this Lady must lose her Husband by death but in losing him by the choler of her Brother being exempted from seeing him sick or bedrid and exchanging the joy she had to be with him into the love and the service of God she might well call her self happy Do you make no reckoning said Longaren of the disgrace which she received and of her tedious imprisonment I do believe said Nomerfide that a Man or Woman who absolutely doe love according to the Commandment of God do know neither shame nor dishonour but when they alter or diminish from the perfection of their love for the glory to love truly doth not know nor is it capable of disgrace And as for the imprisonment of the Body I do believe this Lady had such an inlargement of her Soul which was united to God and to her Husband that she was hardly sensible where she was but esteemed her solitude to be the greatest liberty for they who cannot behold that which they love have no other happinesse but incessantly to think upon iâ— And that confinement is never streight where the Soul is free and the thoughts can exercise themselves at their own preasure There is nothing more true said Simontault than that which Nomerfide doth declare but he who by his fury made that separation may truly be called guilty and unhappy for he at one and the same time offended both God and Love and Honour In good earnest said Guebron I do much wonder at the different loves of women and do well observe that those who have the most love have the most virtue and that those who have the least do indeavour by dissimulation to counterfeit themselves to be virtuous It is true said Parlament that a Heart honest to God and Men doth love more sincerely than that which is vicious for it feareth not that we may sound the depth of its intention I have
and happinesse It is true that the Honour you have done me will make me the more to be esteemed amongst People of my condition but what Man is there after I have seen you that I shall take care to look upon And by this means my heart shall be in a perpetual liberty but only for the obligation with which it always shall be charged to pray to God for you for there is no other service which I can doe you The young Prince observing this honest answer although it was not according to his desire did not esteem lesse of her than he did before and used the utmost of all his art and eloquence to perswade her to a belief that he would never love any other Woman but her self but she was so discret that so unreasonable a thing could never enter into her understanding During this discourse although it was often represented to him that his Cloaths were brought from the Castle yet he took such a delight to hear her that he caused it to be reported that he was asleep until the hour of Supper was come at which he durst not but be present by reason of his Mother who was one of the wisest Ladies in the world And thus this young Prince departed from the house of his Butler and mote highly than ever esteemed of the honesty of this Maid He oftentimes discoursed of her to the Gentleman that did lie in his Chamber who conceiting that money would prevail more than love did counsell him to offer her a round sum of money to condescend unto his will But the young Prince whose Mother was his Treasuresse had no large allowances for such petty pleasures howsoever he did take up all he could borrow and made up a sum of five hundred Crowns which he did send unto her by his Gentleman desiring her to alter her resolution But she when ever she did behold the present did say unto the Gentleman I pray Sir tell your Master that I have a heart so upright and honest that if I must obey him in that which he commands me the beauties and the graces that are in him had already overcome me to it but if they have not prevailed upon my honour all the money in the world can never corrupt me to it wherefore I pray you to return it back unto him for I preferr an honest poverty above all the Goods that can be desired The Gentleman seeing her obstinatenesse had recourse unto thoughts of Cruelty and did proceed so far that he did threaten her with the power and the Authority of his Master But she smiling did reply unto him Make those afraid with that who do not understand it for I know well enough that he is so wise and so virtuous that such words cannot proceed from him and I am most confident that he will disavow them when you shall repeat them to him But if it should be as you say there is neither Torment nor Death so cruel that shall make me to alter my resolution for as I have told you since Love cannot turn my heart not all the Good nor all the Evil that in this world can arrive unto me shall ever be able to divert me from the fastness of my Counsels The Gentleman who had made a Promise to his Master that he would gain her for him did with a marvellous despite bring back this answer to him and did perswade him to use all means possible to obtain his Desires of her telling him that it was not for his Honour to be denyed by a Maid of her Condition But the young Prince who would use no other means but what Honesty did command fearing also the report that might ensue thereon if it were brought to his Mothers ear who being a very austere Lady would be very angry with him did not dare to undertake it But his Gentleman at last contrived a way so easie for him that he did think he had her already in his Arms and to put it in execution he did speak unto the Butler who resolving with himself to serve his Master in any way whatsoever it were did one dey desire his Wife and his Sister-in-law to go with him to a House which he had near unto a Forest to see his Vineyard there which they both promised to do When the Day was come he did acquaint the young Prince with it who determined with himself to go thither without any Companion at all but his Gentleman who lodged in his Chamber and gave order to have his Mule in readinesse on the appointed hour But God so pleased that on that day his Mother did accouter a marvelous rich Cabinet which she had made and to assist her in it she had all her Children with her where amongst the rest the young Prince was busied until the appointed hour was passed Being with-held by his Mother the young Prince could not keep his word with his Butler who had taken his Sister-in-law on horseback behind him and advised his Wife to counterfeit her self sick so that when they were ready to set forth there came one to tell him that she was fallen ill on the sudden and could not go with them When the Butler was at his Farm in the Country and saw that the hour was passed in which he expected the young Prince he said unto his Sister-in-law It is in vain to stay any longer we will return from whence we came His Sister asked him who it was he stayed for I did expect the young Prince here said the Butler who did promise to give me a meeting When his Sister-in-law did understand that wickednesse she said unto him Make no stay at all my Brother for his occasions at the Court are so importunate that on this day I doe know he cannot come Her Brother did believe her and did ride back to the City with her When she was come back she told her Brother in the height of her choler that he was the Varlet of the Devil and did more than he was commanded by the Prince for she was assured that this design of carrying her abroad was an invention of his own and of the Gentlemans and not of the Princes whose money he had rather gain to encourage him in his follies than perform the office of a good Servant and because she had found him to be such a man she would stay no longer in his house and immediately she departed from her Sister and did goe to her own inheritance The chief Butler having failed in his enterprise did repair unto the Castle to understand the reason why the Prince did not come according to his promise and in the way he found him on his Mule and none with him but the Gentleman in whom so much he trusted The Prince said unto him what now is she there The Butler declared every thing to him according as it fell out The young Prince was heartily sorry that he performed not his promise and the rather because he
fashion of a Collar they came to attend the Countesse as she was going to Church who when she beheld them so strangely accoutred began to laugh and said unto them From whence come these dolorous people Madam said Astillon We your poor slaves and prisoners are come to do you service The Countess making a semblance as if she knew nothing at all did say unto them You are not my prisoners neither can I understand what occasion you have to do service to me more than to any other whereupon Valtebron advanced himself more near unto her and said Since we have fed so long on your Bread we should be ungratefull Madam if we should not do you service She did put so good a countenance upon it pretending to understand nothing at all that she thought with her bold dissimulation to have amazed them but they followed their process so closely that she perceived that the businesse was discovered Wherefore incontinently she did find an expedient to deceive them for she who had lost her honour and her Conscience would not receive the shame which they thought to have brought upon her who but as one who preferred her pleasure above all the honour of the world did make nothing of what they said and did not alter her Countenance at all at which they were all astonished seeing that they had brought upon themselves that shame which they thought to have done to her Ladies If you find not this History able enough to make you understand that there are Women as subtle and as wicked as Men I will look out some others for you Howsoever it seems to me to be sufficient to demonstrate to you that a Woman having lost her shame is a hundred times more bold and more ready to do evil than a Man There was not a Woman in all the Company who heard this History but made as many signes of the Cross as if at that present before their eyes they had seen all their Enemies in Hell But Oysilla said Ladies Let us humble our selves when we do hear of such horrible things for a Woman forsaken by God doth render her self like unto him with whom she joyneth For as they who do adhere to God have his Spirit with them So they who adhere unto the Devil have always with them the temptations of the Prince of Darkness And there is nothing so Bestial as a Woman destitute of the Spirit of God Why what had this poor Lady done said Emarsuite I can find nothing I only hear a story of Men who vaunted of their prison I am of opinion said Longaren that it is no lesse pain and trouble for a man in this kind to conceal his good fortune than it is for them to obtain it for there is no hunter but sounds his horn at the fall of the Game nor Lover but doth glory having gained the Victory over his Mistresse Loe here an opinion said Simontault which before the inquisition it self I will maintain to be heretical for there are more men by far than Women that can keep Secrecies and I do know very well that there may be some found who had rather have no good cheer at all than that any body should understand it And the Church as a good Mother hath ordained Priests who are men to be Confessors and not Women because they can conceal no secrets It is not for that occasion said Oysilla but because Women are so great Enemies to Vice that they would not so easily give absolution as Men and would be far more austere in their injunctions of penance If they would be as severe in their penances said Dagoucin as they are in their answers they would make Sinners rather to despair than they would lead them to Salvation Wherefore the Church hath provived well in all things Howsoever I cannot excuse those Gentlemen who did boast so much of their Prison for there was never any Man that received honour by speaking ill of Women Because the Act was common amongst them all said Hircan in my opinion they did well to comfort one another But they ought not to have confessed it said Guebron for their own honour for the Books of the Round Table do teach us that it is no point of honour in Chivallry to beat one who is not worth any thing I do much wonder said Longaren that this poor Lady did not die for shame before these Prisoners Those who have once lost it said Oysilla do hardly or never recover it again unlesse it be those whom a violent Love hath made to forget it and I have seen many of those to recover their lost shame I believe said Hircan that you have seen those to return who have never set foot forward for an entire love in a VVoman is very hard to find I am not of your opinion said Longaren for I know there have been some who have loved until death I have such a desire to hear that Novelty said Hircan that I doe give you my voice to find that Love in Women which I thought had never been But when you have heard it said Longaren you will believe it and confesse that there is no passion so violent as that of Love And as it makes us to undertake things almost impossible to purchase a little contentment in this life so more than any other passion it inforceth Him or Her who have lost the hope of their desire as it will appear unto you by this History One in love having been let blood received the gift of Mercy by which he died and his Sweet-heart killed her self for the losse of him The tenth Novel IT is not yet a full year since there was a Gentleman in the City of Cremona named Monsieur John Peter who a long time had loved a Lady who lived near unto his house but in the purchase which he made did not receive the Answer he desired although she did love him with all her heart At which the poor Gentleman was so perplexed that he retired into his own Chamber and determined with himself no more in vain to seek after that the pursuit whereof did consume his life and indeavouring to divert his fancy and affection he did keep within some dayes without seeing the Lady whom he loved by reason whereof he did fall into so extreme a melancholy that it quite altered his Complexion His Kinsman caused the Physicians to come unto him who finding his complexion to be turned yellow did judge it to be an opilation of the Liver and did prescribe him Medicines for his Recovery The Lady who had been so rigorous unto him knowing well enough that his Disease came only by her denials did send unto him an old Woman in whom she trusted and did command her to acquaint him from her that since she found by experience that his love was true and not counterfeit she was resolved to accord unto him in all those things which for so long a time she had refused She had found
with so great a sorrow and anguish of mind that she was almost dead with the extremity thereof And if it were possible her conscience and honour being preserved she would willingly have dissembled her fortune But that was impossible For the Rumor thereof being spread abroad the Church did begin to look after them and gave order at first that the good Man and his Wife should live asunder until the truth of the fact was more fully known Whereupon the poor Man to his great grief was constrained to abandon his good Wife to seek after his bad one and came to Bloys a little after that King Francis the first of that Name was made King in which City he found Qu. Claudia and Madam the Regent before whom he made his complaint demanding her whom with all his heart he desired not to have seen but it must be so whether he would or no for which he had the pity of all the Inhabitants And when his Wife was presented to him she a long time would maintain that it was not her Husband but some Impostor which he also if possibly he could would have believed with all his heart She being more sorrowful than ashamed did professe openly That she had rather die than return to Paris with him at which he was much discontented But the Ladies before whom she did express her self so boldly did so much condemn her that she returned with him and they so preached to the Chanter and followed what they preached with so many uses of Reproof and Terror that he was constrained to advise his Sweet-heart to go home with her Husband and to assure him that he would visit her no more And thus being discountenanced on all sides the poor unfortunate Woman was constrained to go with her Husband by whom she was far better used than she deserved Ladies You may observe from hence that if at first this Husband had been but vigilant of his Wife he had never been robbed of her for a purchase well guarded is hardly lost and it is abundance that makes a Thief It is a strange thing said Hircan that Love should be so strong where it is most unreasonable I have heard it spoken said Simontault that it is easier to dissolve a thousand Marriages than to separate the Loves of a Priest and his Lemman I do easily believe it said Emarsuite for they who so often doâ—ty others in Mariage do know of themselves so well to tamper with the kuott that nothing but they and Death can dissolve it And since the Doctors do affirm that the spiritual language is the most excellent of all it doth by consequence fall out that the spiritual Love also doth surpasse all other Loves It is a thing said Dagoucin which I know not how to pardon in Ladies to forsake an honest Husband or a Friend for a Priest be he never so handsom or so civil I must beseech you said Hircan that you would forbear to speak or to censure our Mother the Church but to believe that it is a great pleasure to Women fearful and secret to sin with those who when ever they have don can absolve them of them sins for there are divers who are more ashamed to confess a sin than to commit it You speak of those only said Oysilla who have not the fear of God and who believe that secret things shall not one day be revealed before the Angels in Heaven But I have this opinion of those Women that they desire not so much Confession as the Confessours for the Enemy hath so blinded them that they seek rather to be in a place most covert and secure than to be absolved of their Evil of which they are not touched with the least Remorse Nay said Saffredant they are so far from Remorse that they conceive themselves to be more holy than other Women and I am confident there are some who think themselves much honour'd to persevere in such Loves You speak of some only said Oysilla and it appears that you know something of them Wherefore I shall desire you that to begin our Journal to morrow you would inform us of something which you know of this Subject for this is the last time that the Bell doth tole and hark the Saints Bell doth now ring in all to Vespers You might also have observed that at the end of the sixth Novell of this day the Religious men did all depart from the shade of yonder hedge and left us to our selves to compleat our Histories Having spoke those words all the Company did rise and repaired to the Church where they found that the Monks did attend their coming and having heard Vespers they supped altogether entertaining one another with excellent discourse Supper being ended they delighted themselves with walking in the meadow according to their custome and afterwards every one did go to rest in their several lodgings to have the better Memory for the next day The end of the sixth Days Work of the Novels of the Queen of Navarr The Seventh Days VVork of the Novells of the Queen of NAVARRE The Preface IN the Morning Madam Oysilla failed not to administer to them the saving food of their Soules which she had gleaned in reading of the Acts and Virtuous Deeds of the glorious Martyrs and Apostles of Jesus Christ as they are declared by Saint Luke telling them That what she read there did inflame her with a devout desire to see the happy condition of those times and to lament the Iniquity of these And when she had sufficiently read and expounded the beginning of that excellent Book she desired them to repair to the Church with her in the same Vnion as the Apostles did make their prayers and to demand Grace of God which is never refused to those who do in faith desire it This holy Counsel was well approved by all and they came into the Church just as the Mass of the holy Spirit did begin which seemed to conduce much to their present purpose which made them to give ear unto it with more than ordinary devotion and afterwards at Dinner all their Discourse was concerning the happy lives of the Apostles in those Primitive times in which they took so much delight that it seems they had forgot what they had been accustomed to do in the Afternoon of which Nomerfide being the youngest did advise them and said Madam Oysilla hath so long deteyned us with Discourses of Devotion that we have let pass the accustomed hour to retire us for the preparation of our Novells Her words were the occasion that all the Company presently did arise and having made a little stay in their Chambers they failed not to meet all together in the Meadow as they had done on the dayes before And being set one by one Madam Oysilla said to Saffredant Although I am assured that you will speak nothing that shall tend to the advantage of Women yet I must desire you that you will rehearse that
were by Death did goe both to bed also to sleep out their fill And when she heard them to sleep so soundly that they did snort again she did rise in her Smock and did goe out of the Chamber listning if she could hear any noise about the House but being assured that all was quiet she took a Staff in her hand and did goe out at a little Garden door which was not shut and all that night in her Smock only she travelled bare foot towards Autun to her Saint that did preserve her from death But because the way was long she could not reach to the end of her journey before the break of day Not long afterwards she looked behind her and observed two Horsemen in a full gallop riding towards Autun and suspecting that it was her Husband who did ride in the pursute of her she did hide her self in the Fens hard by and covered her head with the Rushes and her Husband in full speed passing clole by she heard him to speak unto his Man as if he were in some great perplexity O wretched Woman who would have thought that under the covert of the holy Sacraments of the Church she would cover so wicked and so abhominable a design His Servant said unto him Sir Judas who was one of the Apostles taking such a Morsel did not fear to betray his Master think not the treachery of a Woman to be so strange and speaking those words her Husband passed by and his Wife continued amongst the rushes more joyfull that she had deceived him than she was at home in a bed of down in Slavery Her poor Husband searched over the whole City of Autun and found for certain that she was not there Wherefore he returned by the same way which he came and did nothing but complain of her all the way he did ride and of the losse which he received threatning her with death without mercy if ever he should find her again of which she had no more fear in her Soul than she felt cold in her body although the season of the year and the place wherein she covered her self might give her just reason to complain of her cold and melancholy voyage And by the imagination only how the fire of Hell doth burn those who are punished therein we may conceive the wonder how this poor wretch coming out of a Warm bed could be able to continue a whole day together in that extremity of cold Howsoever she lost not her resolution or her way for as soon as ever night appeared she did begin her journey again and in the dusk of the Evening when the Gate of the City was about to be shut this poor pilgrim arrived and failed not to goe directly to the place where her Saint lived who was so amazed at the sight that he could hardly believe that it was she but having diligently examined her with his eye and found by his hand that she had flesh and bones which a Spirit hath not he did rest himself assur'd that it was no Apparition and immediately did comply so well with her that she after wards did continue with him fifteen years together Having concealed her self for a certain time at the last she lost all fear and modesty and which is worse she took such a glory that she had such a friend that she shewed her self openly at the Church before the greatest part of the Ladies of that City and before the Magistrates the Officers and others and had many children by the Canon and amongst others a Daughter who was married to a very rich Merchant and so gorgeously apparelled at her Wedding day that all the good women of the City did murmur very greatly at it but it was not in their power to give any redresse unto it It so came to pass that in those dayes Queen Claudia Wife to the late King Francis travelling that way did lodge in that City and had in her Company Madam the Regent Mother to the King and the Dutchesse of Alençon who was her Daughter A Gentlewoman of the Chamber named Peretta did come unto the Dutchess and said unto her Madam I must beseech you to hear me you may peradventure do a greater work than if this day you had heard the Masses in all the Churches of France The Dutchess stayed very willingly to give ear unto her knowing that from her nothing but good Counsels could proceed Peretta immediately declared to her That she had taken a little Girl to assist her in the Queens Landry and having asked of her what was the Newes in the City she acquainted her with the Indignation of a great many Ladies and Gentlewomen of that City to see the Canons Lemman to be so impudent as to take the wall of them and informed her of a great part of her incontinent life The Dutchesse immediatly repaired to the Queen and to Madam the Regent and repeated the story unto her and they without any form of processe at all did send to seek out this ungracious Woman who did not conceal her self from them for she had turned her shame and her infamy into a glory to be the Mistresse of the house of so reverend and so rich a Man And being nothing dismayed she came without the least alteration of her Countenance to present her self before the Ladies who were so amazed at her Impudence that on the sudden they knew not what to say unto her And after that Madam the Regent had made such Demonstrations to her that they would have fetched tears from the eyes of any Woman that was of a modest understanding she stood before them without the least apprehension at all and with an extreme confidence did say unto them I must beseech you Ladies to take care that my Honour may not be brought into Question for God be praised I have lived with Monseiur the Canon so well and vertuously that there is neither man nor woman living that can reprove me neither ought any one to think but that I live after the will of God for it is now full three years since the Canon hath had any carnal knowledge of me and we do live as chastly and in as great love as two Angels there being not betwixt him and me the least crosse word or contrariety of disposition And they who shall go about to part us shall commit a great sin for the good Man who is almost fourscore years of age will never endure to live without me who am my self five and forty yeers of age You may conceive with your selves that these Ladies could not forbear to speak unto her as she deserved and what were the Remonstrances which every one of them did make unto her seeing her obstinatenesse which could not be molified by the words which they did speak unto her nor by the consideration of her own Age nor by the presence of those honourable personages Wherefore to humble her they did send for the Archdeacon who did condemn her