in the eyes wyth euery other signe of counterfeyte dule in the face when the ynner partes laughyng at suche fained showes are in the myddest of theyr banquet for pleasure what offence is it to plage theim in earnest who seke to blaire the eyes of all the worlds wyth charmes of painted substance or rather why shoulde they bee suffred to lyue whose villanous lyues and doynges were hable to deface the glory of the whole feminyne secte yf the vertue of so manye chaste Ladyes were not of force to aunswere the combat of all synister reproche and conquer the infamous chalengers of theyr renowme But now the funeralls performed to the dead Lorde of Chabrye the Ladye albeit she dismissed by lytle and lytle the greatnes of her dollor yet she ceassed not her diligence in the searche of the morderer nor forgat to promisse large hyer to suche as coulde bringe her the ministers of the fact there was publike informacion and secrett inquirye wyth euery point and circumstance so Syfted to the quicke that there lackte nothyng but the confession of him that was dead whiche was impossible to bée had or the testimonys of the bloddie parties whiche were the commissioners appointed to enquire of the morder whose handes smelled of the bloud of the dead innocent whereuppon the matter was husht for a tyme in whiche TOLONIO was not ydle to ransicke euery secret corner in the house not forgettynge I thynke to visytt the treasore he chiefly affected and for a simple pleasure of the whiche he had bene so prodigall of his conscience who yet not satisfyed with the sacrifyze of innocent lyfe stirred vp desyer of greater synne for this tyrannouse wyddow had iiij sonnes whereof as ij of theim were continuallye in the house so the eldest Ialowse not without cause of the famyliaritye betwene his mother and her doctor whose haunte he iudged to excede the compasse of his commission and lymittes of honor colde not so conceile nor disgeste the conceite of that whiche persuaded a staine of infamye in the forheade or forefronte of his house but that he thought to belonge to his dutie to ymparte vnto her y e cause of his suspicion with perswacion in humble sorte to be indiffrently carefull to kepe her former glorie of vertuous life and curious to defend the remeindor of her yeres from worthie cryme or spot of foule ymputacion wherein thincrease of amarus glée betwene the aduocat and her procured a more expediciō then he thought so that hauing one day thassistance of a fyt time and place in a gallerie voide of all company he preferred hys opinion in this sorte not wythout an indiffrent medley of shame and disdaine appearing in all partes of his face if it bée a thinge vnseamly that a kinge shoulde be disobeyed of his subiects it is no lesse necessarie in myne opynion that the prince avoyde oppression of his people by power for that a greate falte in the one is none offence at all by reason of his authoritie and the other sometime is exacted without iuste cause of blame but if it bée a vertue in the maiestie royall to be indiffrent betwene the force of his power geuen hym by god and the compleintes of righte in his vassalls why shoulde it be an offence that the maister or magistrate bée put in remembrance or made tunderstande the pointes wherein hée offendeth seing he hath no greater reason to yelde iustice to such as deserue punishmente then bounde in doble sort to a wōderful care of integretie in lyuing in himselfe so as hys authoritie effectes of vpright cōuersaciō may serue as a lyne to lead the meaner sort seruing vnder his awe to be in loué w c his vertues commended for semblable sinceretie and purytie of life But for my parte good Madame were it not the remorse of an equall respect to your reputacion and honor to al our house and that my conscience hereafter wold accuse me of want of corage and care to make good the vertuous renowme of my dead father I should hardely be forced to the tearmes of my present intent nor my beyng in thys place geue you such cause of amaze doubt of my meaninge for the dutie which nature bindeth me to owe to y e place you hold on my behalf and the law of obedience geuen by god to all chyldren towardes suche as made theyme the members of this worlde makes me as often cloase my mouthe against the discouerie of the longe grudge of my mynde as I haue greate reason to ympart the cause to your ladishipp who is tooched more neare then any other that I wolde too god the thinge wherof my mynde hath giuen a iudgement of assurance were as vntrue as I wishe yt bothe farre from myne opynion and voyde of a trothe then sewerlye sholde my hart rest discharged of disquiett and I dismyssed from thoffice of an oratour whiche also I wolde refuce to performe if thymportance of the cause did nor force my wil in that respect Albeit as the passions of the mynde bée free and the sprite of man howe so euer the bodie bée distressed with captiuitie hathe a pryuyledge of libertie touchyng opynyons or conceites so I hope your wisdome with the iustice of my cause and clearenes of entent are sufficient pillours too supporte that whyche the vertue of naturall zeale to your selfe and dutifull regarde to the honour of my auncestors moues me to communicate with you chieflye for that the best badge of your owne life and bloodd of your late Lorde and husbande my father bée distressed as I am perswaded by the secret haunte and vnsemelie glée of fauour betwene the proccurer Tolonio and you whome God and nature haue made a mother of suche children that neyther deserue suche lewde abuse in you nor can brooke his villany in corruptyng the noble blood wherewith they participate without vengance due to the greatnes of his poysoned malice wherein good madame as my deare affection to you wardes hathe made me so franke in warnynge you of the euill so yf you giue not order hensfurthe for the redresse of that whiche I accompte alredie past euerye cause of dowte you will come too shorte to couer that can bée no longer conceiled when also small compassion wilbée vsed in the reuenge of thiniurye neyther can you in any sort complaine rightelie of me in whose harte is alredye kindled a grudge of the wronge you haue don to y e nobilitie of vs al loathing with all the simple remēbrance of so foule a falte protesting vnto you for ende that yf herafter you become as careles of the honour of your children as heretofore you haue bene voiede of regarde to your owne reputation the worlde shall punishe the abuse of your old yeres with open exclamacion against your lasciuius order of lyfe deuesting you of all titles of highe degrée and thies handes onely shall sende maister doctor to visytt his processe in th infernall senatt
be taken awaye from the dolourous regarde of suche wretched desolation to th ende that I alon mighte not liue as the od relike or vttermost reste of our subuerted house And albeit we may chalēge the first place in the beadrol of vnhappy wretches seinge our fortune hath exchaunged oure auncient felicitie for a present lyfe of extreme miserye yet yf there be anye cause of consolation in aduersitie we haue raison to ioye in the condicion of our state chefly for that we are not iustely to be charged with imputacion of euil or dishonest trade any waie and that notwithstanding the raging malice of our fortune with the force of pouertie pinchynge extremely the discourse of our lyues hath so confirmed the generositie of our auncestors that we kepe the consent of al voices to be nothing inferior to the best of them in any respect of vertue or showe of true nobilitie For I haue alwaie indeuored to obserue this one rule discipline of the re nowmed Emperour captaine MARCVS ANTHONIVS who persuadeth that as the heyght of estate ought not to alter the goodnes of nature So the frowarde disposition of fortune oughte not to take awaye or diminishe the constancie of the mynde with this addicion that he beareth her malice best that hydes his myserye moste Besides thusmuche dare I aduouche of my selfe that as I was neuer presented with the offer of any good tourne whiche I haue not thankefullie requited to thuttermoste So I haue not bene a nigarde of anye thinge I haue on the nedefull behalfe of my frende or other companion detestynge alwayes that anye iote of ingratitude shold staine the reputatiō wherin I haue lyued hytherunto For as amongest a nomber of vices in men nowe a dayes the note of vnthanfulnes is no lesse detestable then anye of the reste So for my parte I wishe the rigour of THATHENYANS lawe vpon hym who seames eyther forgetfull of the benefyt passed or vnthankefull to the frendship of hym that brought succours to his necessitie when he dispaired of relief wherin my deare sister albeit you maye happelye imagine the cause of this longe circunstaunce yet can you giue no certeine iudgement of the ende or conclusion nor diuine ryghtely the meanynge of the misterye whiche I purpose to reueale vnto you The threatnynge perill whiche earste houered to cut in sonder the fyllet of my lyfe is of so late a tyme that I am sewer youre minde hath not yet dismissed the remembraunce of so fearefull a tragedye neyther haue you forgotten I knowe howe as it were by speciall miracle I was boughte out of the handes of the executioner of iustice and redemed from the rigorus sentence of the partiall senatt without thassistance of any my parentes or alyes by eyther simple offer of worde or effect wherin as I am warned by this experience not onlye to putt small confidence in anye of my kynsmen hereafter but also to reappose no assurance at all in their flatteringe show of fained face so I haue tasted of so great a pleasure at the handes of hym who neuer deserued well of mee nor I cause to ymagyne any one droppe of humanitye in hym on my behalfe that yf I do ryght to his vertue I haue reason to admitt hym not onlye amonge the felowshippe but also the firste and chiefe of my deare frendes for beinge pressed so muche wyth the iniquitte of the tyme wyth freshe assaltes of newe afflictions and forsaken with all of my nearest frendes I had reason to ymagyne and cause to feare that thonly malice of oure mortall enemyes for the extirpation of the whole stocke and roote of oure race had bene the workers of my laste trouble and daunger of deathe But good syster in this distruste I haue abused the vertue of our late aduersary deseruynge to indure pennance for entringe into conceites of conspiracye agaynste hym whose late benefyte excedinge the ymaginacion of all men hath made me bounde to honor the remembrance of his name with a debte of dutie so longe as nature shall phan in mee the breathe of lyfe for in place where I feared most daunger I founde moste sauetie and where I exspected least sewertye I encowntred moste assurance And that hande whiche I attended only to giue the fatal blowe of my destruction hath not only remoued all occasions or offers of present perill but become the chiefest pillor and proppe of mine honour and lyfe hereafter wherin because you shal be partaker of the playnnesse of my tale aswell as you haue vsed patience in the hearinge of the circumstance yt is ANSEAMO SALYMBYNO the son and heir of our aunciente persecutours who hath made so manyfeste a declaration of his affected zeale towardes our howse that in taking your brother owte of the handes of thunrighteous senate present daunger of perentorye destruction he hath seamed so lauishe of his liberal mynde that in place of vii C florentes he hath paide a thousande Duckattes for the ransom of hym who iudged hym the moste crewell enemye of the worlde what argumente of noble harte is this or howe seldom dothe a man encounter suche rare frutes of vertue frendes knitt together by a speciall league of amytie or mutuall vowe of frendeshippe do oftentymes make the worlde wonder of the sondry frutes and effectes of constancie which appeareth betwene theime but where the mortall enemie beinge neyther reconciled nor required nor demaundinge any assuraunce for the pleasure he dothe paieth not only the debte of his aduersarye but restoreth his state when hee is at pointe to performe the last of his fatal somaunce I thinke it excedes all the consideration of suche as vse to discourse vppon the doinges of menne I knowe not what title to geue to the acte of SALYMBYNO nor howe to tearme this his curtesye yf not that his doinges deserue a better meede thenne the renowne of DAYMON and PITHIAS or other moste loyall frendes whome the writters doo fauor wyth suche surnames of glorye but as I am a chiefe witnes of hys vertue so the example of hys presente honestie hathe sturred vppe suche an affected humor wythin me that eyther I wyll dye in thindeuor or els I wylbe equall yf not hable to excede hym in the retourne of hys liberalitie wherein beinge iustelye bownde to engage the beste parte in me for the recompense of that good torne whiche gaue increase to my lyfe I am to craue a special assistance of you Syster for the complotte of the deuise whyche I haue alreadye ymagyned and fullye resolued to performe to th end I maye bee onelye bownde to you for thacquitaunce of the liberalytye of SALIMBINO by whose helxe you that earste Lamented the losse of libertye and lyfe of youre brother maye nowe congratulate hys healthe and happye delyuerye where wyth the faire ANGELIQVA fully resolued by this laste report of her brother that it was SALEMBINO whyche hadde surmounted all her parentes and frendes in the delyuerye of her onelye confort
thy will gyuynge the ful commission to dispose of this pore carkasse at thy pleasure make a present of it to suche as thou accomptes thy selfe so greatly indebted vnto only I am to warne the of one thing wherin thou canst not note me of any mislike by iustice because y e integritie vertue of my intent defends me froÌ„ imputacion y t waye which asso I giue the absolute assurance to performe that is being once discharged of thy authoritie thou shalt vse no more power to restraine me froÌ„ doinge the thing which my minde hath alredye decreed protesting vnto the by the right hande of hym that gouerneth the vniuersal globe that as no man shal touch ANGELIQVA but in sorte order of mariage so if I be committed to a further force thou al the worlde shal perceiue that I haue a hart wil enharden thies handes to make a sacrifice of my life to the chastetie of those noble Ladyes whiche heretofore haue rather desyred to dye then liue with a note of infamie or dishonour for as my soule shal neuer stande in hazarde of grace by the villany of any acte which my bodye shal commit by free consent euen so if this carkasse be forced to violacion I doubte not but the integritie of my minde wil purchasse a priuiledg againste all purgatorie of my soule witnessing in the other worlde myne innocencie and inuincible hart wherewith she renewed the alaram of her sorowe with a freshe supplie of sodaine teares with suche abundaunce and impetuositie of dule that a man woulde haue thoughte that the whole humour and moyste partes of her braine had bene drained and dried vp by the surges of continuall teares whiche ceassed not to fal froÌ„ her waterie eyes her brother for his part albeit he greued with the desolation of his chaste syster yet the â—oye he conceiued in her present consent to his demaunde toke awaye the passion of that sorowe felynge as it were some secret instinct or fore warnyng of the happye successe effect of the liberal offer of ANGELIQVA to whom he excused his importunitie in some sorte after this maner I was neuer so gredie of life saith he but I could be content rather to renounce nature and dye then to solicite the in any respect whiche mighte bringe thy honor or reputacion in peril of infamous interest neyther would I lyue to se and muche lesse be partaker of the thinge that anye waye seames to tourne thee to displeasure whiche thou shouldest alwayes haue founde by effect and touche of finger if this liberall curtesye of our enemye had not procured me to wrest the to that which honestie denieth the to graunt I vnhable to demaunde without great wronge to thy vertue no lesse preiudice to mine owne honor And as the feare I haue to be noted of ingratitude hath taken away al respects of honor or honestie to vs both so the vertue noble hart of ANSEAMO doth not only offer an assured argumeÌ„t of hope but also presentes absolute cause of firme belefe that the only displeasure thou shalte finde in this enterprise will appeare when thou art firste presented vnto him For it is not possible he shold vse villany on the behalfe of her the onely regarde of whose loue hath made him make no coÌ„science to hazarde the displeasure of his parents chief frendes not refusing withall without sute or importunitie to delyuer him whome he hated had power to put to what vengeauÌ„ce he wold Here may be noted thoperacion of two extremities of seueral dispositions natural zeale fraternal dutie quarellinge wyth womanly shame raison mentaining coÌ„tencion with in her self ANGELIQVA knewe coÌ„fessed that her brother dyd no more then he oughte that she was also leuiable to the same bond obligation of dutie and on the other part thestimacioÌ„ of her honor with regard to defende her chastetie supplaÌ„ted such dutifull respectes of nature forced her to an integritie of iudgement in that which she accompted both vniust vnlawful wherupon resoluing to obserue both the one and the other seame chiefly to be thankeful to the demande of her brother determined to discharge him of the debte towardes his long enemy late frend with intent notwithstaÌ„ding rather to die by the stroake of her owne handes then villanously to loase the flower of that which made her lyue famous of greater renowme then the moste part of the ladies of that citie But the vertue of this SALYMBINO is of more rare singularitie deserueth a greater coÌ„mendacion then the continencie of CYRVS sometime king of PERSIA who â—ering a force of inâ—ysement to lorke vnder the flattering beautie of the faire and common PANTEA wold neuer suffer her to be brought to his presence leaste her wanton regardes shoulde make him abuse the renowme of his auncieÌ„t honor breake the sacred deuocioÌ„ which all men ought to vse in mariage w t violacion of his faith confirmed by former vowe to his wyfe For ANSEAMO enioyeng the presence with free coÌ„mandement ouer her whom he loued no lesse then his owne life did not only abstaine to abuse the bountiful gifte of his fortune but also declared an effect of more nobilitie vertue of mind then y e saied CYRVS as you may note in the next acte of this historie atteÌ„ding his present discouerie for as the Montanyn his sister had deuided their deliberacioÌ„ into certaine points with abrigement at laste of their longe discourse that the faire ANGELIQVA had staied the source of her teares with expectatioÌ„ of the ende of that which they had but nowe begoÌ„ ANSEAMO repaires from the contrey to his pallais in the towne wherof at viij of the cloke in the euening Don Charles receiued aduertisement and without delaye of further time willed his sister to attire her selfe in the best order she could with whom and onely one man to cary a lanterne of slender lighte they went to the lodging of SALIMBYNO whose seruant by chaunce encountred them at the pallais gate of his maister not without astonishment to see them there with desier to speake with Seigneur Salymbyno who vnderstaÌ„ding what companie the MONTANYN brought with hym was not forgetful for his part to discende with expedicioÌ„ hauiÌ„g caried afore him .ij. stafftorches geuing light til he came euen to the gate where omitting no kinde of curtesye in receauing y e brother he was barred as it seamed to expose any shew of seruice on the behalfe of her whom he chiefly desiered to honor but standing as it were a maÌ„ enchaunted or some Hermit in expectation to heare the aunswere of his oracle was no lesse astonied with the viewe of his newe gestes then if he had sodainly dropped out of the cloudes which coÌ„fusion trouble of mind was immediatly espyed of DON CHARLES who as he imagined without great studie that the presence beautie of his sister sturred vp y e perplexitie
serue as a secretorye in affaires of suche secret importance whereof you maye conster the meaninge without great studie only ymagyn that fortune is not such a nigarde of her frendship as spitefullyf her offer be refuced time so disdaineful that she 〈◊〉 tarye a moment aboue her stynte Yours without change Plaudgna Yf thies newes were welcome to CORNELIO I leaue yt to the iudgement of that amarus crewe who seame so resolute and simple in their loue that their lyfe is onely prolonged by a desyred daye but when they see an approche of their liberty with licence to quenche their hungry myndes with the fode they chieflye wishe to feede vppon god knoweth the small regarde they haue to honor and lesse respect to the dutie of their conscience and with what slender aduise and lesse time they make the poore husbande a rampier of hornes to defend his forhead from the shott of thennemie wherein sewer their delite is not so great and glorie of so foule a conquest of suche comendacion as she worthie of treble tormentes who for the glott of her fylthie desyer and satisfyenge their founde ymportunities dothe make no conscience to defile the mariage bedd of her husbande take awaye the renowne of her former estimacioÌ„ deface the glorie of her auncestors and leaue besides a title of villanous reproche vppon her children and posteritie of whose reputacion shee oughte to bee more carefull then myndefull to satisfie the greedye appetit of her owne pleasure or folyshe pursuete of their filthie loue and from this fountaine of execrable abuse distilleth also the sondrie sortes of vnnaturall diuisions happening at this day between noble houses and men of meaner discentes the children detestynge the Father and the father abhorringe theim whom he thinkes to bee none of his and one brother persecutinge an other with no lesse mortality of hate then if they were coÌ„mon enemies of forreine contreys for the bed being once stained the blod mixed and the law of mariage abused yt muste nedes follow that the frute procedynge of suche seedes can neyther degenerate nor bee without corruption neyther can the son yelde honor or dutie to him whom nature denieth to bee his Father wherein albeit I haue somewhat exceded the compasse of my coÌ„mission yet I am so persuaded of thindifferencie of those fewe Ladyes whiche fele theimselues toched with this shorte dygression that they will not grudge with this parable of their falte seinge truthe marcheth vnder oure enseygne readye to aduoche and witnes the circunstance of my allegacions which like as I inferred rather to aduise you to eschew the lyke euil then for any derogacion of your honor so yt maye lyke you al to excuse my reasons by thintegrety of the cause and pardon me by iustice retiringe now with semblable pacience to the sequeile of our CORNELIO who construinge the wordes of the letter accordyng to the meaning of the writer ymagined by and by thimportance of thaffaires she had too communicate with hym wherein albeit loue moued hym on the one side to performe the desier of hys ladye yet reason on the other part required hym to be careful of his owne sauetie and not to buy a taste of his flypper pleasure with the price of his lyfe for saith shee if you go to MYLLAN and he discouered by anye of the frenche race or frendes of theyr faction your daunger wil be to great to escape and you shal come to too late a repentance of your follie wherefore ballacinge indifferently betwene doute and feare with desier to vse this occasion leaste he myghte seame vnthankefull to the good will and requeste of his mistres he imparted the whole circunstance to one DELIO a deare frende of hys of whom beyng pryuye from the begynnynge to his amarus practise he demaunded earnestly a speciall assistance of good councell touchynge thabsolution of his present doute thys DELIO hauing â—rodden alredy the whole laborinth of loue and knewe by experience what an â—lne of suche follies was worthe gaue as ryghte a iudgement of the disease of hys frende as yf he had felte the mouynge of his polses or tried the disposition of his water againste the son in an vrynall wherein he failed not to discharge thoffice of a true frend in assaynge to remoue thoccasion and mortefye the yll with thies perswations Like as sayth he small sâ—ares require slender medecins and great greues are want to try thutter moste of the arte of Phizicke and that the wise and experienced Phizision afore he vndertake to cure the disease of hys patient or giue certeine iudgement of his recouerye doth not only examine thoccasion of his greif but makes also his firste indeuour to take awaye and mortifye the cause afore he disclose the skil and hidden mistories of his arte So the maladie of loue being nothing inferior to the ragyng oppressioÌ„ of the burnyng feuer who desyereth alwayes thinges that be hurtefull and esche weth the necessarie preseruatiues of health is neyther to bée cured nor delte with all in any sorte onlesse the pacient wil suffer the circumstance of his disease to be Syfted to thuttermost and abide an incisyon of the soare euen to the quicke to th ende that by thoperacion of the Cataplame whiche shal be ministred to you you dispayre not of recouerye althoughe there appeare diuerse lykelihodes of daunger nor I brought to aunswer for my frendshipp whiche I proteste to be without spot of dishonest inteÌ„t And as it is no lesse necessarie for hym that is sicke to reapose a speciall crecredit in his Phisicion then the minister of medecins to bee of exquisite skyll for that the opinion and conceite of his connynge importes a greate consolation to the mynde of hym that is sicke so you muste neyther denie the vertue of my medecine to worke his force nor doubte of any thing I meane to tell you for the tale can woorke small effects where the reaporter is of slender credit therfore afore I Sifte you any further I requeste you onely of one thing as moste chief and necessarye to preuent the present peril whiche attendes you I meane that in chaungynge your affection you wyll also dismisse and breake the resolucion whyche I knowe youre harte hath alredye determined The disposicion and exterior apparance of youre countenaunce argue a wonderfull deuocion you haue to visitte your oracle and saint at MILLAN whiche also I coulde well admitte if I sawe not in the ende of that vayne pilgrymage a harde pennance accompanied with more perils then euer happened to the son of AVCHISâ—S vndertakynge to visitt th infernall valleyes by the guide of his SYâ—ILLA You knowe well enough your banyshment from MILLAN proceded of rebellion and that your offence is so haynous in the conceite of the maiestie theare that onelye the price of your heade can make the attonement and quenche the rage of his wrath and seinge the sleighte of your enemies and malice of fortune haue dogged you and your doinges
therle neither ignorant in the sollies of women nor voyde of experience to practise suche kinde of creatures preferred a wounderful pacience as his chiefest remedy against the rage of his wyf laying afore her notwithstaÌ„ding in gentle tearmes the dutie and indeuor of a wyfe towardes her husband how much in what sorte she ought to respect the honor of her self and reputacion of mariage and that as no woman oughte to putt in interest her honor or honest name so the greater she is in degrée the more haynous is her offence and a small faulte of a great Ladie is most mortall in the eye of y e multitude who lookes that the lyfe and vertue of greate Ladies shold serue as it were as a torche of cleare flame to gyue lighte to the lesser companions neither is the chastetie of y e mynde saith he sufficient to confirme the perfect renowme of a gentlewoman if the wordes and outewarde hehauior of the bodye do not followe thinwarde vertue of the hart thordynarye hawnte and exercise giue manifest declaracion of that whiche lieth hyd in the secretes of the stomacke and for my part I wolde be loathe to giue you cause of miscontentement seing that in the reapose of you consistes the rest of my self and you beynge oute of quiett I can not escape without greeff seynge that as the mutuall consent of our wills and affections with the like coniunction of mariage hath made you the one halfe and second part of my selfe so I exspect at your handes only a simple accomplishement of that which your publike othe affore God and man in the churche hath bounde you vnto like as also I am readye to performe vnto you thuttermost of any promisse or priuiledge where of at any tyme I haue made protestacion with full assurance froÌ„ this present of euerye part of the same so that you giue me the due respect of a husbande for as the head beyng the chief and principall part of the reste of the members hath as yt were a speciall authority by nature to gouerne the whole masse and remeynder of the bodye so the woman beynge thinferior part of her husbande is subiect to all dutifull obedience on his behalfe bounde to honor hym with no worse tearmes then by the name of Lord and maister for in omittinge your duty towards him you abuse the vertue of your vowe approued by sollemne othe and in inceÌ„sing his dishonor you are guâ—ltie of the violacion and breache of wedlocke one chief ouersighte I note in you is for that vppon smal causes you fordge great complaintes which argueth the rather the ydlenes of your brayne for the mynde that ys occupyed wyth vanitye is forgettfull of all thynges sauynge suche as thynstygacion of pleasure and folly do preferr to her remembraunce where on the contrarye part the sprite affected to vertue exposeth alwayes â—rutes accordynge to so great a gyfte dissimuling her passions with wordes of wisdome and in knowing-much giueth not withstandynge a showe of an honest and moderate ignorance she that laboreth in a passion of particular coÌ„ceites with detestacion of the due respecte of honor can not studie other workes then such as seame to fauor her follye nor open her eares to any voice if the same agrée not to the coÌ„plot and coÌ„tentement of her fancie wherein as I hope you will eyther pardoÌ„ me by iustice or at least excuse my simplicitie for that as you late tearmes of reproche haue forced me to suche a plaines so for ende if you will renounce your trade of former folly and fromhenâ—â—urth retire to an orderly confirmitie of life you shal not only procure a singler pleasure to me but cause an absolute contentement with continuall quiet to your selfe whereof bée careful as you thinke good Here the erle had great reason and double pollecie in seking to reforme thabuses in his wif without thassistance of crueltie or constraint for that suche disposicions are rather reduced by faire intreaity then reclaimed by feare or force of torments according to the nature of diuerse of thinsensible creatures for the fierce Elephant standes not in awe of his keaper by force of any stripes but is made tractable to bende his lardge bodie whilest he mounte vpon his backe by certeine familiar voices and stroakinges of his keper wherewith he ouercometh the naturall rudenes and crueltie of the beaste The Tygre will take foode at the handes of the wildman norished in the caues and desert habitacions amongest theim where no stripes nor other awe of man can moue any moderacton to his wodnes or cruell nature So likewise some women albeyt they are quite deuested of all honor or honestie yet are they founde to reteine some sparkes of ciuil humanitie beinge more easelye broughte to a reformacion by gentle order then reclaimed by the smart of any torture or crueltie wherein not withstandynge this countesse seamed to vse a more extremety and excede y e doinges of any that euer haue bene noted of disorder that waye for neither gentle perswacions colde allure her nor feare nor force reduce her to reconcilement or amendement of life but accordynge to the stone of Scylicia vppon whom the more you beate to bruse or breake yt in peces the greater hardnes is dryuen into it so the greater indeuor therle vsed to persuade his wyfe eyther by allurement or offer of correction the more peruersatie he founde in ber with lesse hope of amendement and as she vsed a malicious scilence during the discourse of his exhorâ—acion so she forced in her selfe for the present a wounderfull patience to th end that with the consent of a more conuenient time she might spitt oute the poyson whiche she shrowded secretly vnder the wynge of her venemous stomacke wherby for a first proofe of her conninge in the parte she mente to plaie she forgat not to dissimule her passion and conterfet the simple ypocrate in suche sorte as a wiser man then therle mighte easelye haue bene taken in the snare of her deceite whiche notwithstandynge she vsed in such couert manner that within shorte time she had not only remoued al conceites of euill from the head of her husband but also brought him to an opinion of a maruelons honesty and assured confidence in her in whyche good vaine for a more declaracion of his good mynde towardes her he obserued her fancie so farfurth as vpon a soddaine he brake vp house in Scauoye and went to Casaliae where laye her inheritance and chiefe possession Yf you marke wel the fetche of this womaÌ„ in procuring her husband to depart his coÌ„trey what a sodaine checke folowed to him with a false bound to y e honor of her selfe you may easely iudge that a woman once bent resolued to do euill hath a wit to ymagine al malice sorts of mischief to be ministers in therecucion of her wickednes that neither feare of punishement imputacion of shame perill nor daunger how
preache in other pulpitt then the hyghest theatrye within the castell of Chabrye whiche laste threates argued a more mortalitie by his terrible regardes of countenance with broken wordes in his mouthe declaring sufficientlie the vehemencie of his passion all which as they perswaded the ladie to dread a spedie execucion of his anger wherin her Tolonyo shold bée chieflie distressed so being voied of remedie in any feare shée cold preferr shée retired to the pollecie of femenine complaintes sekyng to moderate the furye of his iuste collor by certeine suborned teares and other dissembled argumētes of dollor wherwith shée seamed to fil eche synowe and vaine about her continuing some space in that sorowful contemplacion with her face vppon the grounde castynge duste and ashes vppon her head accordinge to the desperat Persyans when they receiued any lamentable newes and rysinge at last as oute of a qualme of heauye passions replied to thexclamacion of her son with thies or such like tearmes of counterfaite compassion were yt not that ynnocencie is a vertue sufficiēt of it selfe to aunswere all cōbats of vniust ymputacion I should sewer doubte of assystance in the defence of my cause and muche lesse bée hable too cleare the sentence of your synister conceite againste me neyther had I reason to argue with you and lesse cause to enter into tearmes to iustyfye my selfe yf in myne owne integretie appeared not thabsolute wronge you do to my presēt honor and yet do I féele my selfe indiffrentlye passioned betwene doute and feare for that your present coller Quarrelyngwith al offers of defence on my syde seameth also curious to admitt any creditt at all in what so euer I shall preferr to approue my guilteles lyfe for yf yt bée a vertue to bée credulus in euery reapport you haue reason to continue your grudge or yf the viewe of your owne eye had broughte you to the sighte of that wherein you presume a trothe but by ymagination you were suffycientlye absolued yf you hadd alredie performed the ende of your mortall enterprise but where your eyes argue agaynste you as partakers at no tyme of the likelyhodd of any suche euill you haue presently ymagined your selfe voied of other witnes thē thinformacion of your owne pertial conceite let straungers be iudges betwene the causes of your suspicion and the hard sentence you haue passed of myne honor and all the worlde that was pryuie to the course of my youthe when you were vnder the yoke and yeres of discrecion accuse the wronge you doo to the vertue of myne age whose hoarie haires crye out of your present crueltie Alas what is he that dare vndertake the defence of this desolate widowe yf myne owne children séeke to set abroache my dishonnor what state or degre may bée boolde to reappose creditt with assurance in myne honestie when the fruts congealed of the substance of my self seameth dowtefull of my vprighte dealinge what expectacion of faithe loyaltie or good opynion is in anye sorte of straungers when the blood and blossomes of our owne intralls enter into conspiracie againste vs oh miserable condicion and vnhappie secte of ours subiect moste as yt seameth to straunge wretchednes when wee accompte oure selues paste the feare and malice of fortune who now I sée beginneth her troblesome warr when wee reappose moste felicitie and assurance in reste yt is nowe alas that I fynde an experience of the common voice of the vulgare sorte cōfirmed also by consent of thauncient crewe of the learned that vertue is contynuallie assailed with spite enuie and false ymposicion of crymes neyther am I alone persecuted with the malice of all those myschieues althoughe I onlye am oppressed with a present villanye whereof I neuer thoughte and muche lesse performed any effect how longe alas my sonne haue you ioyned in opynion with that fonde secte whose rashenes in iudgement hathe made theme oftentimes repente the sentence of their follie synce when haue you bene so lightly perswaded of the reputacion constancie and vertue of dames of honor do you measure their dispocicion by the vanitie in your selfe and villanie of such as creditt only thinstinct of their malicius braine no no yt is not thindeuor of ladyes of my regarde to practise in sensualitie nor studye in the vaine delites of the fleshe and for my part me thinkes discrecion shold perswade you that the time and nomber of my yeares are not conuenient to the follies whereof I felte no mocion in the veraye flame and burninge sommer of my youthe you greue with the famyliaritie betwene Tolonyo and me but chieflye because we vse conference now and then in my chamber do not you knowe yt is he by whose counsell are guyded the whole affaires of the house or do you sée his libertie enlarged since the deathe of your father in whose time he practised in sorte as he doth nowe and yet was he neuer Ieleouse of his accesse hether at any hower had he not eyes to discerne as farr of as you and his eares weare as open to al reapportes as yours albeyt he vsed discrecion in iudgement neyther colde his harte I am sewer disgeste halfe the villenie you haue alledged yf hys sormise hadd bene confirmed with a trothe But here alas appere the pointes of my wretchednes to fall into the daunger of suspicion with hym in whom I haue reaposed y e quiet of my olde yeres and for thincrease of whose welth and patrymonie I am in contynuall traueile bothe of mynde and bodye wherein as the poore Tolonyo no lesse infortunate then I for that your grudge seameth moste haynous on his behalfe hathe equall care to aduance you by hys aduyse and trauelle So besides your abuse to me whom God and nature bindes you to honor with all dutie you do doble wrong to hys faith and zeleus intent towardes you in retornynge his honest care with threates of no lesse mortalitie thē shamefull and cruell deathe whyche yf yt come in question by your rashenes what dowte brynge you of hys honestye where now his name is of credytt with the beste of the contreye and for hys part yf you giue hym the leaste ynkling in the worlde of your displeasure I warrante you hys presence shall no more offende you in the house nor elswhere and then shall you knowe whether the fauour hée fyndes at my handes ymportes a meanyng for your proffit or to satisfye the pleasure of my vile and aged fleshe besides the order of your affaires bothe at hoame and in the senatt will trye the diffrence betwene the commoditie of his presence and hyndrance that is sewer too happen by hys restrainte of cominge hether when my sonne will also appere the care of your deare mother whose diligence alas deserueth better consideracion then to bee charged wyth the note of incontynencie whyche I proteste affore God wyth stretched handes and harte to the heauens to haue in no lesse contempte for the vilenes of the synne then I sée the
wrongefull conceyte of suche a villenie dothe troble you whyche shée forgatt no too accompanye with all sortes of syghes and sygnes of dollour entrermedled with suche regardes of dyssembled pitie in all partes of her face that albeyt he was paste all dowte touchynge the trothe of hys owne conceyte yet the teares of hys deceytefull mother moued hym to admitt her excuses with suche compassion of her sorowe that he seamed also to passe the panges of her present passion with protestacion vnder tearmes of greate humilitie that he greued no lesse in that he hadde sayd then shée hadd greate reason to complaine of the wronge he hadd donne to the renowne of her vertue albeyt saythe he wyth a countenance of repentance yf you measure the force of my affection with the cause of my late plaines your discrecion I hope will conster my woordes accordyng to the honeste intent of my hart with excuse to my rashenes whyche you shall sée hereafter so mortefyed in me that I will neyther bée so hastye to accuse nor suspect without better aduise for the whyche shée seamed thankefull vnto hym with a present appeasement from Anger attendyng the offer of oportunitie when she myghte preferr her sōne to a parte in the tragedye whyche her wickednes hadde alredye begon vppon hys late father for shée was doutefull styll of the youngeman and gaue lesse faythe to his wordes wherein certeinely appeareth an experience of an ordinarie custume in the wicked who payseth thinfydelitie of others in the ballance of their owne iniustice and wante of faithe for the tyrant dowteth to whose creditt to comitt the sauetie of himselfe because his crueltie is hated of all men neyther dothe he good to any yf not for the respect of profit or to performe some malicius attempte wherein as they consider thaffexcions of their people by the passions in theimselues soo in passynge theyr owne lyfe in continuall feare they procure lyke terror to suche as bée conuersant with theim makyng the disquiett of others equall to the miserie of theimselues lyke as thys new Megera or tyrannouse monster of oure tyme who no more satiffied with the blood of her husband then glutted or cloyed with y e continual pleasures in whoredome with her detestable Tolonyo determined to rydde the world of her innocent sonne to thend their villanous trade mighte passe with more assurance and lesse cause of feare or suspicion of any for th executiō wherof her wickednes deuised this spedy and necessarie meane There was within the castel a highe gallery borded vnderfote with certeine plankes fastned to rotten planchers where as y e young gentleman vsed his dailye recreacion in walkinge by reason of the delitefull ayre pleasant prospect vppon dyuerse feldes and gardyns so the Tygresse his mother reserued that place as a most chiefe mortal minister in the death of her son for she and her pernicius proccurer one euenyng knocked oute of either ende of diuerse of the plankes the nayles that kepte theime cloase to the plancher in suche sorte that the nexte that happened too make hys walke there shoulde haue no leasure to discouer the traison and much lesse lyue to bring reapport of the hardnes of the rockes growing in the diches vnder the sayd gallerie which chaunced vnhappelie to the sonne of this she wolffe who no more happie in a mother then his father fortunate in a wife renewed the next day his accustumed walkes in the valte wher he had not spent thre or foure tornes but his destynie brought hym to treade vppon the fatall bourd es who hauinge no holde nor staye to rest vpon disioyned theimselues wyth the wayght of thinfortunat gentleman who falling soddeinly vpon the rockes wyth hys heade forwarde was brused to peces beinge dead in dede almost so sone as he felte thapprehencion of death Who wold haue iudged such trayso in a mother to work such an end to her son or noted such wate of pitie in any of y e sect as to soe the séedes sprong in her owne flankes deformed and he wed in peces vpon the edge of sharppe and piked stoanes what mistortune to the sonne and villanie in a mother seinge the title of a sonne ought to be so deare and name of a mother is so delicate and of such vertue that no hart of what mettal soeuer it be made is not mollefyed and doth homage to that dignitie yea euerye one holdeth his blodde so deare that the beastes theimselues by a prouocacion of nature although other wayes insensible haue such affectioned regarde to their fawnes that they feare not to contend against euery peril of death to defende their youngons from daunger what greater felicity hath mā trauelling in the stormy sea of this worlde then to see as it were a regeneracion of hymselfe in hys children wyth a plentifull and gladsome encrease of his séede for whych cause chiefely god ordeyned the holye institucion of mariage not respecting altogether the mortefyeng of the ticklyshe instinctes of our declayning fleshe but rather of regarde as thappostel affirmeth to kepe the societie of man in order making it appear'e pure and aeceptable to the great monarke and syrst founder of so noble a worke But to retorne now to our historie this ympp of th infernall lake and hellish Lady beinge already dispoyled of all affection and dutie required in a woman towardes her husband detested also euery point of charitie and zeale whych nature chalenged in her to the frute flowered wythin the tender partes of her intralls whose fall and miserable deathe as you sée filled ymediatlie euerie corner of the castel with desolacion and teares some weping in the want of their brother other complayned the lacke and misfortune of ther kynsman the viewe of whose dysmembred bodye sturred vp also a freshe sorowe on the behalfe of their late Lorde but all their dollor was nothing to the howlinge and cries of the detestable mordress who entermedled her greffe wyth such argumentes of desperacion that her sorowe seamed sufficient to make the earth tremble and moue the heauens to teares neyther seamed she to make other accompte of the world then a place of most loathsome abode by which masqued semblance of outwarde heauines she couered an inward ioye at her hart and by this pollecie of painted dule she blaired the eyes of the simple multitude who after y e retire of the heate of theyr lamemtable stormes consulted vppon the buyrial wyth general consent in the ende that thinnocent striplinge should be laiede in the tombe of his infortunate father to thend he might participat with hym in the fatal pitt as he was equal to hym touching the malice of his mother And now as this bloddie Lady had in this sort discharged as she thought euery doubt and feare hereafter chiefly for that she stoode no more in awe of any Censor or spie to kepe a kalender of her faltes wherby she vsed lesse care in the conueigh of her beastly traffique wyth her
guyded me and whose beames of longe haue taken roote in my harte what cause haue I to complaine of thy iniustice whiche yeldes me falshood for faith and tormente for true constancie of mynde if this be the hier of loyaltie why beareste thou the tytle of iuste the pennance I endure dischargeth the of the name of mercifull or if thou deale so seuerly wyth thy true serseruantes Why kepest thou the course amongest the orient planettes of the heauen Albeit yf I abuselthy honor in blasphemyng the maiestie of thy godheade I sewe for no fauor seinge I fele alredye the ful weighte of thy heauye hande neyther haste thou any punishement in store wherof I taste not the force in this my vnworthie affliction whiche seinge it procedes by thinfluence of the starr whiche gouerneth me dispatche at once the messenger of thy determinacion to th ende that by my death my distresse may receiue ende and my cruell mistres performe her glorious triumphe in the victorye of my pynynge lyfe His complaintes coulde not so staye the swifte course of tyme but or he was ware the heighte of the son showed the declining of the daye whiche moued hym to increase his pase leauing the common wayes to folowe the pathes leaste acquainted with traueile wherein they continued withoute intermission till the cloasinge of the euenyng when the wearynes of their horsses forced theim to discend and take harbor within a litle village farre from the ordinary waye from whence after some litle reléeff to their horsses and lesse rest to theim selues they departed wandring in that sorte by the space of thrée or foure dayes and nightes th ende whereof broughte theim at laste to the foote of a large mountaine inhabited onely with sauage beastes and creatures vnreasonable discoueringe rounde about a platt or soile of pleasame prospecte and moste proper to shroode the solitarie life of the wandrynge knyghte for if he delyted in the shade he hadd there the benefytt of a nomber of pleasante trées whiche nature seamed to lende hym as a speciall solace in that wyldernes When his sorowe desyered the vse of a more open prospecte the plaine forrestes and chases wyth theyr wholle heardes of deare of all fortes offred to giue hym skoape to recorde his gréeffe and for chaunge of recreation he mighte viewe there the hideus and highe rockes whose stéepnes and craggie scituation albeit moued a terrour to the beholders yet were they not without cause of greate delite by reason of the pleasant grene garnished with the tappissery of diuerse flowers spreadyng theim selues all a onge the heighte of the sayde mountes but that whiche moued moste his affection to that place was a merueilous faire and rowmey caue enuironed on all sides with béeche cypres pyneaple and ceder trées wyth other braunches yeldynge frutes of diuerse kindes righte afore the mouth or openyng of the which tendyng to the valley appered a nomber of pleasante graftes whose rootes receiuing moisture by a cleare streame passing wyth softe noyse all alonge the dore of the caue gaue suche bountifull norryture to the twigges tender branches that thonly topps bowed downe and dipped theim selues as vppon dutie in a fountaine of wonderfull clearenes fedyng continuallye the saide streame all whiche seamed to offer suche solace to the solytarye intent of Diego that without further aduise he determined to performe there the penance he wente to doo and to conuerte that house builded by nature to the monasterye of his profession wherein he mente to ende the voyage of his deuocions commandynge his man to alight who vnsadlinge their horses gaue theim the keye of the wilde forestes whereof hetherto they harde no newes Touchinge their saddells with the harnesse and other furniture of their horsses they bestowed within a litle cell or corner in their caue where also leauing their ordinarye apparell they putt on theyr habittes of pilgrim there his man made prouision accordynge to the condicion of their state and necessitye of the place dyggynge for his firste indeuor certeine soddes and lomppes of claye wherewith he entrenched and rampierd their felden shopp to defende theym againste the furye of wilde beastes who otherwayes myghte oppresse theym in the nyghte he made also twoo beddes or lytle couches of softe mosse wyth a testure and sides of wodde which he hewde in no lesse fyne proporcion then yf the skill of the Carpenter had assisted the worke they hadd no other reléeffe or foode for longe tyme then of the frute whiche the wilde trees did yelde theym one lesse sometime for a chaunge of dyot they were gladd to feede of rawe rootes whiche they digged out of thintrailles of the earth vntill extreme hunger preferred a meane to supplie their thinne fare whiche was that his man made a crosbowe with the whiche they killed often times the hare and conie fedynge at reléeff some time they beguiled the wilde goate in the mountaines and were often the bane of a greater beaste in the forreste whose blood they pressed betwene twoo peces of woode made for the nonst deuidynge theim into morsells whiche they rosted wyth the heatte of the son and so furnished in sober manner their leane table disgestynge theyr rude and vnholsome dyelt wyth a cuppe of colde water whereof they had no lesse plentye with no more charges then when they commaunded ouer whole cellers of delicate wyne in the pallayes of Dom Diego who increased the dweile of his presente miserye wyth teares of continuall complainte inueighynge againste the malice of his fortune wherein he vsed as a common exercise to walke all alone in the moste daungerous places of the desertes enterteynyng his solytarye thoughtes or rather of intente to offer hym selfe a praye to the Iawes of some Lyon or Tygre or merciles beare discendynge from the mountaines but the seruante-doubtynge the resolucion of his maister preuented theffecte of desperation wyth his contynuall presence exclamynge as farre as he durste againste suche vanities and actes of frennezie wherein if by chaunce he lett escape anye worde reprehendynge the crueltye or wronge don vnto hym by his mystres yt was a pastyme to see the alteration of Diego srorminge againste the prelumptuouse audacitye in hys man in suche sorte as continuinge eftesones to accuse her discourtesie he wolde not stike to threaten hym so farre that if it were not for the respecte of the loyaltie he hadd heretofore founde in hym he woulde make hym fele ▪ how neare it tooched hym at the harte to heare with patience any blasphemy against her who hadd no lesse righte to punishe hym in thys sorte then he reason to endure the penance for her sake without cause of iuste complaint agaynste her seueritie wherein as he showed an vndowted experience of the contagius dispocision of loue for that suche as be infected with the corruption of that ayre take no pleasure but to gull and glutt their thirste with the brothe of that pestiferous poyson So if he had ryghtlie measured his owne