meritt with the cause of his vniuste tormeÌ„t vsynge with all thaduise of reason he hadde not seamed so symple in his owne blyndnes nor bene so sowne abused by y e foly of a folish girle his man dowting any further tattempt hym with perswacions for feare to procure thuttermost of hys displeasure was forced to an vnwillinge patience greuinge notwithstandynge on the behalfe of the misfortune of his maister who with his euill dyott and worse lodgyng quarrelyng both two with his former order of bringing vp was become so pale and hideuse of regarde that he rather resembled the dryed barke of a withered trée then the shapp of a man bearynge lyfe besides the course of continual teares and skorchyng syghes deriued from the bottome of his stomake had so drained the conduites and vaynes fedynge the partes of his bodie with naturall moisture that his eies sonke into his heade his bearde forked and growen oute of order the heares of his headd starynge lyke a forlorne man or one loathinge the vse of longer lyf hys skyn and face ful of forrowes and wrinkelles procedyng of â—retting thought argued him rather a wilde man borne and bredde vpp al the dayes of his lyfe in the wildernes then the valyante Diego whose fame exceded earste the whole compasse and Circuit of Spaine But here lett vs leaue our amarus hermitt ful of passioÌ„s in hys symple cloyster or cane vnder the earthe and see what followed the deliuery of his letters to his cruell Geniuera to whom the seruante the fourthe daye after his departure accordyng to his charge presented the letters not with oute a greate showe of dutie and reuerence who notwithstanding assone as she perceiued by the direction froÌ„ whence they cam forgatt not to retire into her aunciente disdaine and casting in greate anger the letters vppon the ground vouche safed not once to giue leaue to the messenger to declare the reste of his embassage wherwith her mother some what reprehendyng thinciuilitie of her doughter demaunded to sée the packett for saieth she I am perswaded of thonestie of Diego neyther do I doute any deceyte in his vertue nor you doughter for your parte oughte to seame so curious to tooche theym seynge that yf they ymporte anye poyson your beautie only is to be blamed whiche was the firste baite that infected the knighte and if he putt you in remembraunce of your rigour I sée no wronge he doth you considering the greatnes of his deserte and the slender care you haue of his due consideration in whyche meane tyme a page tooke vpp the letters and gaue theym to tholde Ladie who founde his complaynte in suche or semblable tearmes Seynge good madam myne Innocencie is denyed to worke theffecte of her vertue and iuste excuses confirmed with thautoritie of equitie and reason are altogether voyde of force to make a breach into your harte so hardned against me with vniuste disdaine that the simple remembrance of my name is no lesse hatefull vnto you then the offer of any tormente what tiranny so euer it ymporte I fynd the nexte acceptable seruice I can do you is in mortefyinge whollye the cause of your displeasure and with my punishment to yelde you contentemente to putt suche distance betwene vs that neyther you nor any other shall knowe the place of myne abode and muche lesse the pitte of fattal repose where in I entende to cowche my corrupte bones wherein albeit my contynuall passion procedyng of the viewe of your discourtesie hath bredd suche a generall debilitie thorowe all the â—aynes and places of force within me that I féele my self alredye fallen into the handes of the dreadefull messenger So affore theffecte or execution of the extreme hower I am thus holde hereby with the true toochestone or witnes of myne Innocentie to putt you in remembrance of your vnnaturall rigor not for that I meane to accuse you to the hier of your deserte but that the worlde beynge priuie to my case maie be thindifferent iudge betwene my integrity and your crueltie my loyall affection and the wronge you do to y e rewarde of my seruice assurynge my selfe notwithstandynge that the reaporte of my deathe will bringe a remorse to your conscience with a compassion albeit to late seynge the same shal be thequal ballance to paise my sincere and constante intente with your credulous and rashe iudgement in admittinge for trothe the false suggestion of suche as enuyed the vertue of our honeste loue with a suborned informacion of a frendshypp betwene me and the doughter of the Lorde of Sera yf you will make it good madam vnlawful for a gentleman traded in the disciplines of ciuilitie to receiue the presentes of a Ladye or gentlewoman equall in degrée or honor to hym self wherein will you to consiste the pointes of humanitie howe can we glorie or séeme meritorious of the title of nobilitie yf it be an offence to he thaÌ„kefull to suche as do homage to our honour with thoffer of anye courtesie wherein notwithstandynge I was so curious to offende you that thâ—nly respect or feare of your displeasure forcinge me to abuse y e goodnes of myne owne inclination made me retorne the offer of her frendeshypp with a simple Gram mercy And for your parte if your hate hathe taken suche roote against me and your self so resolued to do wronge to the sacred pitie exspected in al women and shrowded commonly vnder the vaile of suche beautie as nature hathe paynted in your face that neyther the sacrefice whiche I haue made of the cause of your vniuste disdaine my languishing penance nor lawful excuses haue power to perswade you to the contrary of your synyster ymagynation I sée no other choyce then to yelde to the partiall sentence of your iudgemente whyche as an enemye to thequitie of my cause fauoreth wholly the iniustice of your conceite wherein seynge the spottes of your mortall displeasure can not be wiped awaie but by the blodd of my lyfe whyche showeth your contente mente to consiste wholly in my destruction I accompte it a dutie of reason to honour you with the sacrafise of my deathè aswell as I founde cause to auowe vnto you the seruice of my lyfe whiche also I am yet to performe so longe as my sowle dothe kepe her holde by the mortall thred and fraile fillett of my bodye fyndinge this one thynge to increase the miserye of my death passynge as the breath of a pleasant sighe whych shall haue power to dysmiss my soule vnder the sommonce of a softe and shorte pange that myne ynnocencye wil alwaies lyue to accuse you as a cruel mordresse of your moste constant and loyall seruant Dom Diego The tragicall contentes of this letter strick such soddaine dollor into the mynd of thold lady that she seamed to participate w t thaffliction of the pore forrestian hermit albeit dissimuling her passioÌ„ affore her howshold seruaÌ„tes retired into her chaÌ„ber with her doughter only whoÌ„ she failed not
ende alas serue my teares or tunes of dolorous exclamacioÌ„ if not in recordyng the circunstaunce of oure mutual grief to restore a freshe remembraunce of thy peculyar desaster oh deare brother whose destinies I see will not dismisse the rigor of their dome till they haue brought vs both to the brinke of extreme subuercion albeit yf the offer of my bodye in sacrifice or other mortall execution wolde serue to redeme thy libertye and preserue thy possession in entier assure thy selfe that thy pore ANGELIQVA wold be no lesse readye to make exchaunge of her life for the raunsom of thy contentement and quiet then theis wyde mowthed Rokes do seke and gape to deuoure thy honour liuing And as the dolorous Lady was thus in tormeÌ„ts of dule with more passioÌ„ on y e behalfe of her brother theÌ„ care any waie for her self y t pore Montanine staÌ„diÌ„g betwen a hard seÌ„teÌ„ce a most vnhappie fortune considered the laste day of fatall respit to draw faste to his date hauing no choise of meanes to mode â—at y e rigour of the law but by satisfying the whole demauÌ„de of the fiske which also he was not hable to leuye by any credit or assistaunce of his frendes reposed his laste assuraunce and refuge of deliuerye in the sale of his lande as the taste of lyfe is pleasaunte to all men and eche degree by nature is carefull to prolonge it to the laste hower so accordinge to the extreme condicion of his present case he resolued to employe the price of his lyuinge in the raunsom of his presente trouble wheruppon he dispatched immediatlye one of the sergeantes or officers of the gaile to the corrupt money maister that was firste and all the cause of his vndeserued mischief with commission to conclude the bargaine for a thousand Duckats accordynge to the rate of his firste offer But the traiterous wretch and pernicious patterne of iniquitie knowinge the extreme pointes of the pore prisonner who stoode nowe in water vp to the chyn with more likelihode to sinke then assuraunce to recouer the fyrme lande thoughte that his death woulde deliuer him frée possession of his lyuinge without thassistaunce of money wherefore triumphyng already in the glorye of so great a fortune with exspectation to haue the lande by speciall awarde of the fiske SENAT retorned the messenger with aunswere that albeit of â—ate he had desier to enlarge his demayne in the subberbe with a pece of his possession adioynynge yet vpon a further viewe consideration of the grounde he was nowe of minde that his price far exceded the vaiewe neither coulde he make so presente a proffit vpon so small a plat of inheritaunce as with the vse and interest of so greate a summe of money as a M. ducats notwithstaÌ„ding for a supply of his preseÌ„t nede he was coÌ„tented to giue him vij C. floreÌ„ts that more for the relief of his distresse then any respecte of commoditie by the bargain Here maye be noted the vertue operacion of the couetous mynde infected with the desyer of fylthie gaine whose frutes are to thurste after other mens goods glory in the dekaye of their neighbour with a dispositioÌ„ to conuert y e vngracions spoyles of their brethren into a pleasaunt pray to their rauening appetite without regard notwithstaÌ„ding to thexpress inhibicion of God in diuerse places of the Scripture or respect to the dutie of his conscience or burthen of his soule wherin besides y e peynall threates of our Sauiour in the worlde to come he seames also to hyer a tormentor to molest his quiet during his abode here for the more he is in deuise to encrease his welth the faster decreaseth his quiet himselfe so subiect to declinacion according to the wordes of the Apostle that a couetous man taketh more reuenge of himselfe beinge on lyue then h is enemy when he is deade neyther doth he consume the daye in other deuises then in accumulacion of threasor nor yeldes charitie to any but his golden coffers whome he will not deffraye nor once deminishe of a simple denier if it were to redeme the lyfe of hys naturall father you haue hard his former offer of a thousand ducats with no lesse desier to haue it at that price now you see he doth not only refuse it but in a mockerie makes a disdainfull tender of vij C. Florents attending a further benefyt by the deathe of the vnfortunate MONTANIN who no lesse astonyed at the reaport of this resolucion and refusall not loked for then when the iudge published the sentence of his condemnacion began to dispaire of other refuge chiefly for that the awe respect of authoritie of that villaine preuailed so much ouer the rest of the marchauntes cytizens thear that none other durste vndertake the bargaine seing their maister vsurer made difficultie to aduaunce y e value such wer the dispites of his fortune extreme termes which sinister fate with the malice of the wicked had brought him vnto wherin dismissing thexspectacion of all succours gaue sentence of his owne life committed th execution to the rigour of y e law resoluing rather to quench thinsatiable thrust or gredye appetit of his couetous enemy by thoblacion of his innoceÌ„t life into thandes of such vnrighteous iudges theÌ„ in exchaunging the remeinder of his whole inheritance for sasmal a tribute in sufficient also to satisfie y e demauÌ„d of y e fiske to leaue his sister in extreme penurie without al meanes of necessarie susteÌ„tacioÌ„ wherfore reposing much for himself in thinnocencye of his cause at the handes of the highe iudge chiefly for that the natural course of his dayes stode at point to be abridged by the wickednes of other men after hée had preferred certeine vehement inuectiues against the general malice of the world with special exclamacion on the behalfe of his peculiar myshap he desyred respite to examine his life in secret dispose for the health of his soule which resolucioÌ„ of death was furthwith imparted to the faire ANGILIQVA who besides whole riuers of teares distilling froÌ„ her watery eyes with dollorous cryes in dolefull voyce redoubled with an ECCHO of treble dule entred into a mortall war wythe her garmentes and attyre of her head neither forbearing to descheuel her crispy lockes heare exceding the collor of Am ber nor coÌ„mit cruel execution vpon the tender partes of her body giuing free spoke to y e humor of her fury she spared not to imprint with her nayles vppon the precious complexion of her oriente face a pytifull remembrance of the tragicall troble of her desolate brother whome shee coulde not any way perswade to a chaung or alteracion of purpose althoughe she imployed herselfe and councell of her frendes to thuttermoste but I dare auouch thusmuche on the behalf of the deare zeale shee bare hym that yf by the force and malice of the distresse he had gyuen place to nature and
of recouerye I was presented with a franke offer of my desyered praye for as it is not vnknowen to you all that sence the departure of viij or ten dayes the Lord MONTANYN here present beinge accused afore the SENATE vppon certeine peinall statutes deuised by our cruell state for the rappeale of banished men was awarded by iudiciall sentence to paye the forfaiture whiche because he coulde on t nottender within the tyme his greadie enemies forced y e law to a more rigour then was necessarie in suche sort as thexecutioner was readie to extende vpon his bodie for want of a supplye of a thosande florents to choake the couetous humour of the magistrates Euen so the view of his extremitie sturred vp such a remorce in my mynde that me thought I was sommoned by dutie to preuent the destruction of him who was brother and thonly comfort of her whom I had alredye proclaimed the soueraigne Ladye and mystres of my hart in whiche good vaine of deuocion I payd the money and procured his delyuerye who for his parte deuinynge I can not tell vpon what occasion that the beautie of his sister did worke theffect of suche a vertue in me hath not onely been thankefull for the benefit but also ouercome me in honeste liberalitie and true noblenes of mynde presenting me in the beginnynge of this eueninge at myne owne howse with a prodigal offer not onely of hymself and al y t he hath but also of his syster whom he lefte with me to vse and dispose at my pleasure wherein for ende I appeale to you all with one requeste that in waighinge rightly the gyfte of the one and offer of the other you will consider of them both and assiste me immediatly wyth your aduise in what sorte I maye yelde a due meede to suche ij precious merites the one a most familiar patterne and precedent of true nobilitie and the other a present of suche price and value that the greatest prince in ITALY coulde do no wronge to his greatnes in yeldynge honor and homage to so rare a thing wherupon he stayed his further discourse gyuinge place to thassistantes for consultacion of the case whiche albeit they knewe imported deliberat aduise afore the resolution of iudgement yet were they in amaze what sentence to gyue because they were neither priuie nor partakers of the determinacion of hym who had sommoned their apparance there rather to witnes the fact then deuide the case or impeshe his resolute intent by a contrarye councell The Ladies his kynswomen were so moued to admiracion wyth the maiestie and other argumentes of vertue in the faire ANGELIQVA that they had passed iudgement on her syde yf they had not feared to be refused of hym who wished their voice that waye and who onely beinge touched aboue the the rest most neare the quicke dismissed their astonishment in reueilyng his owne determination in this sorte Seinge you take so greate a tyme to discusse so small a matter with no lesse doubte to publishe sentence of that whiche is alredye determined let me abridge all arguments of further delaye in decipheryng in playne wordes the thynge whiche hetherunto I haue communicated but by circunstance ou shall vnderstande sayth he in takinge ANGELIQVA by the hande that hauynge the regarde of honor afore myne eyes with desyer to recompense at full the honestye and vertue of the brother I am resolued to take the syster to my deare and lawfull wyfe preferrynge by that meanes a perfect vnitye of that whiche longe tyme hath lyued in separacion and make of twoo bodyes earste and longe disioyned an equall wyll and entyer mynde desyerynge all your consentes in the consommation of this alliance whiche seameth rather the worke of God then an effect of the councell or diligence of man for the lawe of mariage beynge an institution of the highest and the thinge wherin Christ first glorified himself by miracle vpon earth is recorded in thinfallible booke of his foreknowledge to th ende nothynge chaunce whiche is not permitted and forseene by the prouidence of the God of marueils who sewerlye layed his hande vpon the brother MONTANYN in touching the with distresse and perill of lyfe to th ende that my ANGELIQVA being the onely meane of thy delyuerye might also laye an immouable fondacion of a mutuall vnitie betwene our two houses which I hope shall furuiue the length of tyme and not ende but wyth the laste remeinder of eyther of our posterityes This conclusion thus hearde of the parentes and kynsfolkes of SALYMBYNO and canuaised alitle in their seuerall opinions seamed at laste of suche reason and indifferencie to them all that they conuerted their conceites whiche kepte them occupyed for a tyme into a present disposition of wonderfull ioye and gladnes feelynge in theyr intrals and inwarde partes I can not tell by what secret instinct of minde an approche of indissoluble tranquillitie on all partes by the only coniunction of this newe allyance And albeit there was no equalitye of porciō that y e dowere of ANGELIQVA stoode aloff from the reuenues of her newe consort yet the vertue and giftes of grace appearyng in her made her seame hable to counteruaile hym in any respect his frendes with one voice gaue generall commendacion to the goodnes of his fortune for plātyng his affection in so vertuous a soyle wherein sewerly they had good reason for mariage being a law and holye Sacrament giuen vs from God as thonly knott of mutuall tranquillitie betwene man and woman oughte to be embrased for the vertue and sinceritie of the thynge and not abused with a regarde of richesse or other fylthye promocious of the worlde And he that in the choice of his wyfe respectes chieflye her beautie and greatnes of porcion besides a thousand pettie mutynies that fall out in housekeping escapeth seldom without a sprit of grudge or cyuill discension disturbynge hys quiet wyth a continuall humour of frettynge disposition féedynge hys mynde for the glasse of beautie retireth and gyueth place to age whiche also mortifyeth the delite or desyer of further pleasure and on thother syde the woman knowynge her discent more noble and porcion to excede the welthe of her husbande forgetteth not to take hart at grasse and deckynge her garlande wyth all sortes of flowers of pryde and disdayne séekes to gouerne and gett the vpper hande of hym who as he is appointed her heade by the woordes of the scripture and institution of nature So he oughte to kepe a straite hande of the same bridle and Raine of authoritie vsinge it as a chek to restraine the desyer of libertie in her that studieth to haue hym in subiection wherein I wishe all bachilors and younge men vnmaried to be armed againste so greate a mischiefe with the experience of suche theyr frendes as they see touched with the like griefe And for my part I lament the disquiet of them as woulde and can not or rather dare not attempte a simple
that we seale tharticles of the contract wyth a ful consommation of the secret ceremonies in mariage bothe to take awaye all occasion of offence and also to mortifye the malice of my brother maugre his hart wherin sayth she beinge fully persuaded of youre consente to my proposition and for that in cases of loue delayes and longe consultation bée hurtefull and stâ—rre vp causes of displeasure to the hartes of suche as be striken with the same disease wherof the contrarye the reste of oure humaine affaires require a maturitie of councel to th ende the successe may aunswere therspectation of the parties so I wishe you to attende the benefyt of time this euenynge I meane at the hower of supper when men are gyuen least to suspicion you faile not to come in as secret maner as you can to the gardeine gate wher my woman shal be readye to conueigâ—e you into my chamber to th ende we maye there take aduise of that which we haue to do wherunto LIVIO was not curious in consent and lesse vnmindeful to yelde her the choice of a thousande thankes for offringe the priuiledge which he doubted to demaunde giuyng her assuraunce to vse suche exact wisdome in the conueyghe of so secret a misterie that ARGVS himselfe if he were vpoÌ„ earth shold not descrye his coÌ„ming much lesse any be pryuye to the daunce but such as performed the rounde wherin he was not deceaued for as he was the firste so shee failed hym not at the cloase and bothe theyr miseries of equall qualitie in the ende like as it happenethe often times that those amarous bargaines redoundes to the harmes of suche as bee the parties who albeit do alledge a certaine respect of honestie in theyr doinges by pretence of mariage yet God being the iudge of their offence will not suffer the wronge to the obedience of their parentes in concludyng priuye contractes vnpunished and that wyth suche a penaunce as the remembrance is notorious in all ages But now to our LIVIO who neyther vnmindeful of the hower and lesse forgetfull to kepe appointement attyreth himselfe for the purpose in a nighte gowne girt to hym with a paire of shoes of felte leaste the noyse of his féete shoulde discouer his goinge and for a more honor of his mistres he forgat not his perfumed shyrte spidered with curious braunches accordinge the fansie of his Ladye with his wrought coyffe poudred with diuerse drogues of delicat smell wherewith he stealeth in as secret maner as hée can to the gate of appointement where he founde the guide of his loue whome hee embrased aswell for the seruice he founde in her as also in that she resembled the beautye of his mistres CAMYLLA who after she had taken her nightes leaue of her father and brother with search that euery man was in his place of reste retireth to her chamber with such deuocioÌ„ as commonly they y t fynde themselues in semblable iorneye to worke theffect of such like desir where encountering her infortunat seruant it was concluded to imploye no time in vayne reuerence or idle ceremonies but in a moment they entred their fatal bed together where after certaine amarous threates and other folyes in loue seruyng as a preamble to the part they ment to playe LIVIO entred into the vnhappye pageant of his fatal last pleasure wherin he chaffed hymselfe so in his harnesse and was so gréedie to cooll the firste flower of the virginity of his CAMILLA that whether the passion of ioye preuailynge aboue y e force of the hart and thinner partes smothered with heate coulde not assiste thenterprise accordynge to their office or that he exceded nature in surfettinge vpon his pleasant banquet he founde hymselfe so sharplye assayled wyth shortnes of breath that his vitall forces began to faile him in the middest of the combat like as not longe since it happened to ATTAL VS the cruell king of the HVNES who in y e first nighte of his infortunat mariage in HVNGARYE enforced hymself to so greate a corage in the pleasaunt encounter wyth hys newe wyfe that hys dead bodye founde in her armes the nexte mornynge witnessed his excesse and glottenouse appetit in the skirmyshe of loue whyche also myghte bee the bane of thys LIVIO who respectynge no measure in drinkynge of the delicat wyne no more then yf it had bene but one banquet dressed for hym in the whole course of his lyfe was so ouer charged with desyre in that pleasaunt skirmishe that the conduites of lyfe stoppynge vppon a soddaine barred to adde fourther strengthe to hys gredye appetyt wherevppon he became without m ocion or féelinge in the armes of CAMYLLA who féelynge hym without sence and that he seamed more heauy and rude vppon her then affore dowted a trothe wherin also she was fully satisfyed by the lyght of y e candle which she caused her chamberiere to bringe to the bedde syde where vewinge the dead bodye of him whom she loued no lesse then her self and iudgyng the cause as yt was in deede entred ymedyatly into suche a mortall passion of dollour that albeyt she woulde haue exposed some woordes of compassion on the behalfe of the pytefull accident yet féelyng a generall dymynucion of force thorowe all her partes by thynnundacion or waues of soddaine sorowe she founde her tonge not hable to supplye the desyer of her hart whych wyth the consent of the reste loathynge the vse of longer lyf resigned her borowed tearme to the fates fallynge at thynstant without sence or féelynge vppon the dead body of hym whom shee accompted a dutye to accompanie in the other worlde aswell as she delyted in hys presence durynge their mutuall aboade in thys miserable valey A happye kynde of deathe yf wee had not to consyder the perill whyche attendes suche wretches as hauing no meane to performe theffect of their pleasure but by vnlafull stealthe are so franke for the shortnes of their tyme that in satisfynge the glot of their gredye appetit they make no conscience to sacrifise ther owne lyfe but yf wee passe furthe in the viewe of these offences we shall fynde a derogacion of the honour and integretye of the mynde with a manifest preiudice and hazarde to the healthe of the sowle whyche makes me of opinion that yt is the most miserable ende that maye happen to manne the rather for that the chyefest thynge whyche is regarded in the putsuet of that entreprise is to obeye the sommance of a bestely and vnbridled luste of the fleshe wherein I wyshe oure frantike louers whoe makynge contemplacion vppon causes of loue accomptes yt a vertue to ende their lyues in thys LASCIVIVS bonde of pryuye contract to refrayne that whyche is so indifferent hurtefull bothe to the sowle and body seynge theire death is not onelye without argument of desperation but also their sowles moste sewer to receiue the guerdon of cyuil morder whyche we oughte to feare and eschewe as neare as wee
perils and seame more willyng to embrace the gyfte of present time for there is not so greate consolacion in the recorde of our miserie past as cause of worthie annoye if we seame vnthankefull to the newe offer or gyfte of oure fortune And albeit sayth she some what smilynge that your boldnes was more then deserued praise yet your felicitye you sée hath defended you from perill and the rashnes of the valyaunt is often times tourned into an encrese of his glorye with double contentement not loked for wherwith embracinge her CORNELIO she helped to dissornishe hym of his loathsom attire and after he had purifyed his grymye bodye in ij or iii. perfumed baines made for the purpose by the Chambriere whilest they were in discourse they entred together the lystes in a faire féelde bed readye dressed armed onely with naked weapons where it is no lesse harde for the ignoraunt to iudge theyr encounters then impossible for thabsent to witnes who wan the price of the battayle onelye I leaue the sentence of them both to the resolucion of you my Lordes that haue or wolde bée speciall sticklors in suche a combat but thus muche I maye ymagine without offence that the innocent hornsbye in the castell founde not so muche pleasure in his prison as CORNELIO toke delite beinge the lieutenant of his bedd in daunsinge the maried mans rounde without other musicke then the instrument of his wyfe which both triumphynge indiffyrentlye ouer the infortunat and miserable birde in the cage ratinge the pleasures of the rest of that nighte with an aduauntage of vij or biii. dayes more at what interest they thought good forgat not to dob hym that was absent knighte of the forqued order of Vulcā And albeit fortune shewed heare a maruelous partialitie cōning in the cōueigh of this buysines I meane to aduaunce the attempte of the louer by the oppression and vniust captiuitie of the innocent husbande yet was not her fauor so cleare but there appeared a threatenyng sommāce of spedie change for that the good man being iustifyed with in vj. or vij dayes tryall was redemed from pryson whose delyuerie was not so acceptable to himself as displeasant to his ij corriuals whereof the one féedyng hym wyth the reuercion and leauynge of an other man gaue hym onely the possession of shapp and bodye of a woman wythout a hart And the other wearye or cloyed with the toile of one kinde of exercise or not hable any longer to mainteine the skirmishe without freshe supplies or fearynge peraduenture the torne of his fortune who neuer yeldes vs pleasure without a sharp repentaunce in the ende if we preuent not her dome by discrecion was as willynge to resigne the forte as at the first he scanted desirous to enter the breache wheruppon resoluynge vpon an other time for the further consommacion complot of their felicitie they departed not without signes of secret sorowe appearynge by the teares standing in their eyes the one to her husbande who wearynge by ignorance a forqued garland made of the leaues of the frée wherof an other had coolled and cropped the frute was content with that he founde and reioysed in his happy encounter the other not without great daūger retired to Mantua where takynge more pleasure in the repeticion of his perils passed then desyrous without better aduise to reitterate or vndertake againe the lyke aduenture he discoursed the whole to his frende DELIO who for his parte reioysynge more in the saffe retorne of his frende then commending his wisdom in thattempt of so rashe perillous an enterprise exclaimed against y e detestable rage furie of loue which as al antiquities do affirme to be of more force infection then al the Ruberbe of Alexandria or antycyria is eyther hable to heale or delaie y t least furie of so vncurable a poyson so y e familiar experiēce of this age iustifiyng the protestaciō of former time doth yeld vs such diuersities of exāples touching y e raging dispositiō of that frātike humour y t we ought not only to shon y e aire of such a pestilēt plage no les thē the mariner y t goth a loofe giueth place to the harde rockes in the daungerous Occean but also to stande so sewerlye vpon our guarde that we seame not once to lysten to thintisynge sommance or lewer of so execrable corrupcion who once takynge possession of the sensible parts within vs besides that he ceasseth not to interrupte our quiett wyth continuall torment and passion stretcheth yet his power so farr that he bringes vs in case not only to commit our lyues to manifest perils forgett the dutye of our conscience with breache of the commaundement of God but also to satisfye the appetit of wanton lubricitie he makes vs corrupt the puritie of the soule with the spott of abhominable adulterye a syn most apte of all other to incense the vengeance of God againste vs whereof we haue sewer prooff in the destruction of Sodom and Gomorra wyth diuerse other countreys and common welthes whiche he hath plaged and brought to ruyne for the onely lycencious lyuyng of the people FINIS The argument LIke as all ages from the firste foundacion of the primytiue churche are voide of recorde or remembrance of so greate diuersitie in religion as the wickednes of our presente time doth presente vnto vs So thoppynions at this daye are not so differente one from an other as thabuse of the babylonian or dyabolicall secte of Rome appeares so plainely in their detestable trade of liuinge that their owne villanie and frutes of corruption discouereth to the dymmest eyes that be howe farr they are from the pathe of sincere and true doctrine and yet marching vnworthelie amongeste the troope of the faithful are not ashamed to arrogatt vnto theim selues the title of thanoynted of the Lorde wyth protestacion that they only beare the badge of true christianytie Wherin albeit it agreeth not with the taske I haue taken in hande eyther to axgewe or moue question because bothe the one and the other belonges to the office of the Theologian or deuine of Learninge and authoritie yet seinge a daylye encrease of their disorder wyth a slacke endeuour of suche as hauinge authorytie to expose vnto theym the rodd of reformacion seame rather pertiall on their behalfe thenne readie accordinge to their dutie to yelde due punishment to their detestable errour I maye without offence bowlte out myne opynion touchinge their abhominable trade of lyfe beinge confirmed chieflie therein wyth infynite examples of lasciuious exploites and other inordinat trade of lyuinge in the parsones of such as make semblable profession and truly as we do but righte to yelde a dutifull reuerence to such as be true prelates and pastours of the litle flocke dispersed thorowe the worlde together with a generall zeale to thorder of theim that bee called to the sacred sanctuarie euenso we commit offence in myne opinion in beleuinge that there is anye
honor or commendacion at all due to theim whose liues expose more argumentes and proues of infamie then the moste vile and swearinge ruffyan that euer did seruice to thimpudente curtisan of Rome neither is it a seamlye honor or ornamente for the church of GOD to see a prelatte puffed vpp with vanitie iettinge vp and downe the streetes vppon his footeclothe attended vpon as a satrapas with a traine of dashbucklers or squaringe tospottes and hym selfe pinked and razed in thattire of a yonge bridegrome with hys heare curled by art fallinge in lockes as it were by appointment vppon his forheade with more curyositie then an olde ydoll or ymage of venus perfuming the streetes with the smell of muske and amber whiche he hath conyngely inclosed in the seames of his garmentes besides what example of vertue is it to see one of our reuerend religious fathers and gouernous of couentes more geuen to courte the dames with requestes of sensualitie then to torne ouer the leaues of the new testament or other sacred institucions left vnto vs by christe and his disciples and emploie more studie in deuise to seduce and subborne their neighbors wiues and doughters then to visit their diocesse and defende the sely shepe against the malice of the raueninge wolfe seking to deuoure the few that be left Is he worthy to be admitted to feede the flocke or beare the title of christes shepherd that lyues in more adultery fornycation and dronkenes then he that makes an only profession of suche euil all the daies of his life or how is he hable to reclaime such as be out of the waye to saluacion that detesteth the scripture delites in wickednes and preferres absolute examples of the most perentory synne that can bee whereof thytalyan bandell hath drawen a moste true and lyuelye pattorne in the person of a neapolitaine Abbott whyche I haue accompted of necessitie to prefer amongest my volume of discourses as well to the confucion of hym selfe and such as resemble him in condicion as to geue worthie glorie to the vertue of a pure virgyn who had her honor in such reputacion that she sought rather to end her dayes in the defence of her chastetie thenne to commit the vse of her bodie to the fleshly will of an Abbot more full of villanie thenne perticipatinge with thosfice and dutie of a true christian THE VILLENNIE OF an abbot in sekinge to seduce a mayde by force and her vertue in defendyng her honor against him and his companyons of traison ALl men whose experience by trauaile is a wytnes of the singularities of Italye and spaine are of opinion I am sewer that NAPLES is one of y e most riche pleasante and Populus cities in EVROPE bothe for the beautie and fartilitie of the countreye rounde aboute the magnifical plat and scituacion of the towne prospectinge with open casementes vppon the heyghte of the highe sea TyrenuÌ„ and also the warlyke garrison of gentlemen of al contreis lyenge there for the defence of the frontiers with the ciuill disposicion of the people inhabitynge the sayde paradise There maye you see a plaine and pleasante champaine yeldynge a wonderfull solace wyth her delicate aire breathing vppon suche as vse the feildes for wholsome recreacion and noresheth besides all chases of delite necessarie for thexercise of nobilitie And he that wysheth to be priuie to the pleasure of solitarie places maye see there the wonderfull arte and industrie of nature declared in the conueigh of litle hilles or pendells of the earthe hangynge as it were by a frame of Geometrye beawtified on all partes with an infinitie of orenges lemons and other trees odiferous yeldynge a comoditie and pleasure peculiar to the Towne and generall benefitt to the whole countrey and straungers passynge that waye aswell by thintisinge sauour of that trees as sugred taste of the frute The bottoms of which deliteful groues do discouer certeine valleis no lesse ryche in fruteful graftes and plantes of straung kindes then the chaÌ„pion yeldynge a plentiful increase of corne of al sortes where the meadowe also cladd with his grene garmente at all tymes of the yere is honge continuallie with a tapestrie of all coolors of hearbes and flowers w c other liuerie of dame flora who assystes this heauenly glée in the valleys with the ioystes of sondrie cleare springes yeldynge at all tymes of the daye a temperat dewe to take awaie the vehement heate of the son in suche sorte as the straungers passinge by imparting of the ayre and wholsomnes of the place by the breathe of a milde zephir are drawen thether by delite and forced to repose and refreshe their weary bodyes for a tyme with the solace whereof those places yelde an indifferent plentie to al men besides he that is desierus to be pertaker of the merueiles of nature hidden in thintralles of the earthe let hym take a boate and visit the Ylandes where amoÌ„gest the wonders that Pozzollo bringes furthe he shall see the hott poddells from whence distille the baines so necessarie for the health of man with the pubbling troughe or caue of Sibilla by the which as the poetes fayne ENEAS made his entrey in discendyng into hell to speake with his father There apperes also a remembrance of thartificial laborynth of Dedalus with the sumpteous pallays of the Romaine Lucullus whose lodgyngs with so many crooked turnings windinges euery waye windowes chapells and places of solitarie resorte excedyng accordynge to the poetes the coÌ„putation of man were swallowed in a momente in the deuowrynge throate of TyrenuÌ„ by a soddaine trembling or shakyng of the earth coÌ„monly called an earthequake finally he shal be there presented with the secret and most sure lodgings builded by nature in the belly of the harde rockes with other wonders in such infinite nomber that onely that place yeldes pleasure sufficient to fede the eye and mynde of man with more delite then the whole remainder of Europe is hable to furnish wherin I am chiefly moued to note you a particular discriptioÌ„ of this paradise to th end y t as the places of soleÌ„ne solitary regarde do coÌ„monly mortefie in men all occasions of wanton exercise so the planet that gouerneth those plattes of earthly pleasure pricking forward our effeminate dispocition sturreth vp the humor of Lasciuius luste with an inclinacion more readie to performe the fraile suggestion of the flesh then prouide for the health of the deuyne parte of the mynde which is the sowle neyther is our present age so plentiful of vertue or vertuouse effectes but the view of our auncestors liues past giues vs sufficient cause to blushe and be ashamed in that we are founde so weake in thymyâ—acion of their exploites and exercises of vertue wherin besides an infinitie of examples procedyng of the wickednes of our time I maye be bolde to confirme myne opinion with a familiar experience of an Abbot of Naples whose younge discrecion equall to the grenes of his yeres made hym
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