reuealed her whole intent to Gianetta and finding her constancie beyond common comparison acquainted her Lord with all she had done and both consented though much against their mindes to let him enioy her in honourable marriage accounting it better for preseruation of their onely sons life to match him farre inferiour to his degree then by denying his desire to let him pine away and die for her loue After great consultation with kindred and friendes the match was agreed vpon to the no little ioy of Gianetta who deuoutly returned infinite thankes to heauen for so mercifully respecting her deiected poore estate after the bitter passage of so many miseries and neuer tearming her selfe any otherwise but the daughter of a poore Piccard Soone was the yong Gentleman recouered and married no man aliue so well contented as he and setting downe an absolute determination to lead a louing life with his Gianetta Let vs now conuert our lookes to Wales to Perotto being lefte there with the other Lord Marshall who was the President of that Countrey On he grew in yeares choisely respected by his Lord because hee vvas most comely of person and addicted to all valiant attempts so that in Tourneyes Iustes and other actions of Armes his like was not to bee found in all the Island being named onely Perotto the valiant Piccard and so was he famed farre and neere As God had not forgotten his Sister so in mercy he became as mindefull of him for a contagious mortalitie hapning in the Country the greater part of the people perished thereby the rest flying thence into other partes of the Land whereby the whole Prouince became dispeopled and desolate In the time of this plague and dreadful visitation the Lord President his Lady Sonnes Daughters Brothers Nephewes and Kindred dyed none remaining aliue but one onely Daughter marriageable a few of the houshold seruants beside Perotto whom after the sicknesse was more mildly asswaged with counsaile and consent of the Country people the young Lady accepted to be her husband because hee was a man so worthy and valiant and of all the inheritance left by her deceased Father she made him Lord and sole commaunder Within no long while after the King of England vnderstanding that his President of Wales was dead and fame liberally relating the vertues valour and good parts of Perotto the Piccard hee created him to be his President there and to supply the place of his deceased Lord. These faire fortunes within the compasse of so short a time fell to the two innocent children of the Count D'Angiers after they were left by him as lost and forlorne Eighteene yeares were now fully ouer-past since the Count D'Angiers fled from Paris hauing suffered in miserable soâ—t many hard and lamentable aduersities and seeing himselfe now to be growne aged hee was desirous to leaue Ireland and to know if hee might what was become of both his children Hereupon perceiuing his wonted forme to be so altered that such as formerly had conuersed most with him could now not take any knowledge of him feeling his body through long labour and exercise endured in seruice more lusty then in his idle youthfull yeares especially when he left the Court of France hee purposed to proceede in his determination Being very poore and simple in apparell hee departed from the Irish Eare his Maister with whom hee had continued long in seruice to no aduantage or aduancement and crossing ouer into England trauailed to the place in Wales where he left Perotto and where hee found him to be Lord Marshall and President of the Country lusty and in good health a man of goodly feature and most honourably respected and reuerenced of the people Well may you imagine that this was no small comfort to the poore aged Countes heart yet would he not make himselfe knowne to him or any other about him but referred his ioy to a further enlarging or diminishing by sight of the other limme of his life his dearely affected daughter Gianetta denying rest to his body in any place vntill such time as he came to London Making there secret enquiry concerning the Lady with whom he had left his daughter hee vnderstoode that a young Gentlewoman named Gianetta was married to that Ladies onely Son which made a second addition of ioy to his soule accounting all his passed aduersities of no value both his children being liuing and in so high honour Hauing found her dwelling and like a kinde Father being earnestly desirous to see her he dayly resorted neere to the house where Sir Roger Mandauill for so was Gianettaes husband named chauncing to see him being moued to compassion because he was both poore and aged commaunded one of his men to take him into the house and to giue him some foode for Gods sake which accordingly the seruant performed Gianetta had diuers children by her husband the eldest of them being but eight yeares olde yet all of them so faire and comely as could be As the olde Count sate eating his meate in the Hall the children came all about him embracing hugging and making much of him euen as if Nature had truly instructed them that this was their aged though poore Graundfather and hee as louingly receiuing these kinde relations from them wisely and silently kept all to himselfe with sighes teares and ioyes entermixed together So that the children would not part from him though their Tutour and Maister called them often which being tolde to their Mother shee came foorth of the neere adioyning Parlour and threatned to beate them if they would not doe what their Maister commanded them Then the children began to cry saying that they would tarie still by the good olde man because he loued them better then their Maister did whereat both the Lady and the Count began to smile The Count like a poore beggar and not as father to so great a Lady arose and did her humble reuerence because shee was now a Noble woman conceiuing wonderfull ioy in his soule to see her so faire and goodly a creature yet could she take no knowledge of him age want and misery had so mightily altred him his head all white his beard without any comely forme his garments so poore and his face so wrinkled leane and meager that hee seemed rather some Carter then a Count. And Gianetta perceiuing that when her children were fetcht away they returned againe to the olde man and would not leaue him desired their Maister to let them alone While thus the children continued making much of the good olde man Lord Andrew Mandeuile Father to Sir Roger came into the Hall as being so willed to doe by the Childrens Schoolemaister He being a hastie minded man and one that euer despised Gianetta before but much more since her mariage to his sonne angerly said Let them alone with a mischiefe and so befall them their best company ought to be with beggers for so are they bred and borne by the Mothers side and
subiect very rough and stearne to discourse on and so much the rather if we consider that we are come hither to be merry pleasant where sad Tragicall reports are no way suteable especially by reuiuing the teares of others to bedew our owne checkes withall Nor can any such argument be spoken of without mouing compassion both in the reporters and hearers But perhaps it was his highnesse pleasure to moderate the delights which we haue already had Or whatsoeuer else hath prouoked him thereto seeing it is not lawfull for mee to alter or contradict his appointment I will recount an accident very pittifull or rather most vnfortunate and well worthy to bee graced with our teares Tancrede Prince of Salerne which City before the Consulles of Rome held dominion in that part of Italy stoode free and thence perchance tooke the moderne title of a Principality was a very humane Lord and of ingenious nature if in his elder yeares he had not soiled his hands in the blood of Louers especially one of them being both neere and deere vnto him So it fortuned that during the whole life time of this Prince he had but one onely daughter albeit it had bene much better if he had had none at all whom he so choisely loued and esteemed as neuer was any childe more deerely affected of a Father and so farre extended his ouer-curious respect of her as he would sildome admit her to be foorth of his sight neither would he suffer her to marry although she had out-stept by diuers yeares the age meete for marriage Neuerthelesse at length he matched her with the Sonne to the Duke of Capua who liued no long while with her but left her in a widdowed estate and then shee returned home to her father againe This Lady had all the most absolute perfections both of fauour and feature as could be wished in any woman yong queintly disposed and of admirable vnderstanding more perhappes then was requisite in so weake a bodie Continuing thus in Court with the King her Father who loued her beyond all his future hopes like a Lady of great and glorious magnificence she liued in all delights pleasure She well perceiuing that her Father thus exceeding in his affection to her had no mind at all of re-marrying her and holding it most immodest in her to solicite him with any such suite concluded in her mindes priuate consultations to make choise of some one especiall friend or fauorite if Fortune would proue so furtherous to her whom she might acquaint secretly with her sober honest and familiar purposes Her Fathers Court beeing much frequented with plentifull accesse of braue Gentlemen and others of inferiour quality as commonly the Courts of Kings Princes are whose carriage and demeanor she very heedfully obserued There was a yong Gentleman among all the rest a seruant to her Father and named Guiscardo a man not deriued from any great descent by bloode yet much more Noble by vertue and commendable behauiour then appeared in any of the other none pleased her opinion like as he did so that by often noting his parts and perfections her affection being but a glowing sparke at the first grewe like a Bauin to take flame yet kept so closely as possibly she could as Ladies are warie enough in their loue The yong Gentleman though poore being neither blocke nor dullard perceiued what he made no outward shew of and vnderstood himselfe so sufficiently that holding it no meane happinesse to bee affected by her he thought it very base and cowardly in him if he should not expresse the like to her againe So louing mutually yet secretly in this maner and shee coueting nothing more then to haue priuate conference with him yet not daring to trust any one with so important a matter at length she deuised a new cunning stratageme to compasse her longing desire and acquaint him with her priuate purpose which proued to bee in this manner Shee wrote a Letter concerning what was the next day to be done for their secret meeting together and conueying it within the ioynt of an hollow Cane in iesting maner threw it to Guiscardo saying Let your man make vse of this insted of a paire of bellowes when he meaneth to make fire in your chamber Guiscardo taking vp the Cane and considering with himselfe that neither was it giuen or the wordes thus spoken but doubtlesse on some important occasion went vnto his lodging with the Cane where viewing it respectiuely he found it to be cleft and opening it with his knife found there the written Letter enclosed After he had reade it and well considered on the seruice therein concerned he was the most ioyfull man of the world and began to contriue his aptest meanes for meeting with his gracious Mistresse and according as she had giuen him direction In a corner of the Kings Palace it being seated on a rising hill a caue had long beene made in the body of the same hill which receiued no light into it but by a small spiracle or vent-loope made our ingeniously on the hils side And because it hadde not in long time bene frequented by the accesse of any body that ventlight was ouer-growne with briars and bushes which almost engirt it round about No one could descend into this caue or vault but only by a secret paire of staires answering to a lower Chamber of the Palace and very neere to the Princesses lodging as beeing altogether at her command by meanes of a strong barred and defensible doore whereby to mount or descend at her pleasure And both the caue it selfe as also the degrees conducting downe into it were now so quite worne out of memory in regard it had not bene visited by any one in long time before as no man remembred that there was any such thing But Loue from whose bright discerning eies nothing can be so closely concealed but at the length it commeth to light had made this amorous Lady mindefull thereof and because she would not bee discouered in her intention many dayes together her soule became perplexed by what meanes that strong doore might best be opened before shee could compasse to performe it But after that she had found out the way and gone downe her selfe alone into the caue obseruing the loope-light had made it commodious for her purpose shee gaue knowledge thereof to Guiscardo to haue him deuise an apt course for his descent acquainting him truly with the height and how farre it was distant from the ground within After he had found the souspirall in the hils side and giuen it a larger entrance for his safer passage he prouided a Ladder of cords with steppes sufficient for his descending and ascending as also a wearing sute made of leather to keepe his skinne vnscratched of the thornes and to auoide all suspition of his resorting thither In this manner went he to the saide loope-hole the night following and hauing fastened the one end of his corded
descended from the window and the other Ambassadours with him running in among the Sergeants to embrace his Sonne and casting his owne rich Cloake about his whipt body entreating them to forbeare and proceed no further till they heard what command he should returne withall vnto them which very willingly they promised to doe Already by the generall rumour dispersed abroade Phineo had vnderstood the occasion why Pedro was thus punished and sentenced to be hanged wherefore accompanied with his fellow Ambassadours and all their attending traine he went to Signior Conrado and spake thus to him My Lord he whom you haue sent to death as a slaue is a free Gentleman borne and my Sonne able to make her amends whom he hath dishonored by taking her in mariage as his lawfull Wife Let me therefore entreate you to make stay of the execution vntill it may be knowne whether she will accept him as her Husband or no least if she be so pleased you offend directly against your owne Law When Signior Conrado heard that Pedro was Sonne to the Lord Ambassadour he wondered thereat not a little and being somewhat ashamed of his fortunes errour confessed that the claime of Phineo was conformable to Law and ought not to be denied him going presently to the Councell Chamber sending for Signior Amarigo immediately thither and acquainting him fully with the case Amarigo who beleeued that his Daughter and her Child were already dead was the wofullest man in the World for his so rash proceeding knowing very well that if shee were not dead the scandall would easily be wipt away with credit Wherefore he sent in all poast haste to the place where his Daughter lay that if his command were not already executed by no meanes to haue it done at all He who went on this speedy errand found there Signior Amarigoes seruant standing before Violenta with the Cup of poyson in his one hand and the drawne Rapier in the other reproaching herewith very foule and iniurious speeches because shee had delayed the time so long and would not accept the one or other striuing by violence to make her take the one But hearing his Masters command to the contrary he left her and returned backe to him certifying him how the case stood Most highly pleased was Amarigo with these glad newes and going to the Ambassadour Phineo in teares excused himselfe so well as he could for his seuerity and crauing pardon assured him that if Theodoro would accept his Daughter in mariage willingly he would bestow her on him Phineo allowed his excuses to be tollerable and saide beside If my Sonne will not mary your Daughter then let the sentence of death be executed on him Amarigo and Phineo being thus accorded they went to poore Theodoro fearefully looking euery minute when he should die yet ioyfull that he had found his Father who presently moued the question to him Theodoro hearing that Violenta should be his Wife if he would so accept her was ouercome with such exceeding ioy as if he had leapt out of hell into Paradise confessing that no greater felicity could befall him if Violenta her selfe were so well pleased as he The like motion was made to her to vnderstand her disposition in this case who hearing what good hap had befalne Theodoro and now in like manner must happen to her whereas not long before when two such violent deathes were prepared for her and one of them she must needes embrace shee accounted her misery beyond all other womens but shee now thought her selfe aboue all in happinesse if she might be wife to her beloued Theodoro submitting her selfe wholy to her Fathers disposing The mariage being agreed on betweene them it was celebrated with great pompe and sollemnity a generall Feast being made for all the Citizens and the young maried couple nourished vp their sweete Son which grew to be a very comely childe After that the Embassie was dispatched at Rome and Phineo with the rest was returned thither againe Violenta did reuerence him as her owne naturall Father and he was not a little proud of so louely a Daughter beginning a fresh feasting againe and continuing the same a whole moneth together Within some short while after a Galley being fairely furnished for the purpose Phineo his Sonne Daughter and their young Son went aboard sayling away thence to Laiazzo where afterward they liued long in much tranquility Anastasio a Gentleman of the Family of the Honesti by louing the Daughter to Signior Paulo Trauersario lauishly wasted a great part of his substance without receiuing any loue from her againe By perswasion of some of his kindred and friends he went to a Countrey dwelling of his called Chiasso where he saw a Knight desperately pursue a young Damosell whom he slew and afterward gaue her to be deuoured by his Hounds Anastasio inuited his friends and hers also whom he so dearely loued to take part of a dinner with him who likewise saw the same Damosell so torne in peeces which his vnkind Loue perceiuing and fearing least the like ill fortune should happen to her shee accepted Anastasio to be her Husband The eighth Nouell Declaring that Loue not onely makes a man prodigall but also an enemy to himselfe Moreouer aduenture oftentimes bringeth such matters to passe as wit and cunning in man can neuer comprehend SO soone as Madam Lauretta held her peace Madam Philomena by the Queenes command began and saide Louely Ladies as pitty is most highly commended in our Sexe euen so is cruelty in vs as seuerely reuenged oftentimes by diuine ordination Which that you may the better know and learne likewise to shun as a deadly euill I purpose to make apparant by a Nouell no lesse full of compassion then delectable Rauenna being a very ancient City in Romania there dwelt sometime a great number of worthy Gentlemen among whom I am to speake of one more especially named Anastasio descended from the Family of the Honesti who by the death of his Father and an Vnkle of his was left extraordinarily abounding in riches and growing to yeeres fitting for mariage as young Gallants are easily apt enough to doe he became enamoured of a very beautifull Gentlewoman who was Daughter to Signior Paulo Trauersario one of the most ancient and noble Families in all the Countrey Nor made he any doubt but by his meanes and industrious endeuour to deriue affection from her againe for hee carried himselfe like a braue minded Gentleman liberall in his expences honest and affable in all his actions which commonly are the true notes of a good nature and highly to be commended in any man But howsoeuer Fortune became his enemy these laudable parts of manhood did not any way friend him but rather appeared hurtfull to him so cruell vnkind and almost meerely sauage did she shew her selfe to him perhaps in pride of her singular beauty or presuming on her nobility by birth both which are on her blemishes then ornaments in a woman especially when
should both shamefully be put to death The Mother to this regardlesse Daughter hauing heard the angry words of her Husband and how hee would be reuenged on the faultie could not endure that he should be so seuere wherefore although shee was likewise much afflicted in minde and reputed her Daughter worthy for so great an offence of all cruell punishment â—yet shee hasted to her displeased husband who began to entreate that he would not runne on in such a furious spleene now in his aged yeares to be the murtherer of his owne childe and soile his hands in the blood of his seruant Rather he might finde out some milde course for the satisfaction of his Anger by committing them to close imprisonment there to remaine mourne for their follie committed The vertuous and religious Lady alledged so many commendable examples and vsed such plenty of moouing perswasions that she quite altred his minde from putting them to death and he commanded onely that they should separately bee imprisoned with little store of foode and lodging of the vneasiest vntill hee should otherwise determine of them and so it was done What their life now was in captiuity and continuall teares with stricter abstinence then was needefull for them all this I must commit to your consideration Iehannot and Spina remaining in this comfortlesse condition and an whole yeere being now out-worne yet Conrado keeping them thus still imprisoned it came to passe that Don Pedro King of Arragon by the meanes of Messer Iohn de Procida caused the Isle of Sicily to reuolt and tooke it away from King Charles whereat Conrado he being of the Ghibbiline faction not a little reioyced Iehannot hauing intelligence therof by some of them that had him in custody breathing foorth a vehement sigh spake in this manner Alas poore miserable wretch as I am that haue already gone begging through the world aboue fourteene yeares in expectation of nothing else but this opportunity and now it is come must I be in prison to the end that I should neuer more hope for any future happinesse And how can I get forth of this prison except it be by death onely How now replied the Officer of the Guard What doth this businesse of great Kings concerne thee What affaires hast thou in Sicily Once more Iehannot sighed extreamly and returned him this answer Me thinkes my heart quoth hee doth cleaue in sunder when I call to minde the charge which my Father had there for although I was but a little boy when I fled thence yet I can well remember that I sawe him Gouernour there at such time as King Manfred liued The Guard pursuing on still his purpose demanded of him what and who his Father was My Father replyed Iehannot I may now securely speake of him being out of the perill which neerely concerned me if I had beene discouered He was the named and so still if he be liuing Henriet Capece and my name is Geoffrey not Iehannot and I make no doubt but if I vvere free from hence and might be returned home to Sicily I should for his sake be placed in some authority The honest man of the Guard without seeking after any further information so soone as he could compasse the leysure reported all to Messer Conrado who hauing heard these newes albeit he made no shew therof to the reuealer went to Madam Beritola graciously demaunding of her if she had any sonne by her husband who was called Geoffrey The Lady replyed in teares that if her eldest sonne were as yet liuing hee was so named and now aged about two and twenty yeares Conrado hearing this imagined this same to be the man considering further withall that if it fell out to proue so he might haue the better meanes of mercie and closely concealing his daughters shame ioyfully ioyne them in marriage together Hereupon he secretly caused Iehannot to be brought before him examining him particularly of all his passed life and finding by most manifest arguments that his name was truly Geoffrey he the eldest son of Henriet Capece he spake to him alone in this manner Iehannot thou knowest how great the iniuries which thou hast done me my deare daughter gently entreating thee as became a good honest seruant that thou shouldest alwayes haue bin respectiue of mine honor and all that do appertain vnto me There are many noble gentlewomen who sustaining the wrog which thou hast offred me they would haue procured thy shameful death which pitty compassion wil not suffer in me Wherfore seeing as thou informest me that thou art honorably deriued both by father mother I will giue end to all thine anguishes euen when thy self art so pleased releasing thee from the misery captiuity wherein I haue so long time kept thee and in one instant reduce thine honor mine into compleat perfection As thou knowest my Daughter Spina whom thou hast embraced in kindnesse as a friend although farre vnfitting for thee or her is a widow and her mariage is both great and good what her manners and conditions are thou indifferently knowest and art not ignorant of her Father and Mother concerning thine owne estate as now I purpose not to speake any thing Therefore when thou wilt I am so determined that whereas thou hast immodestly affected her she shall become thy honest wife and accepting thee as my Son to remain with me so long as you both please Imprisonment had somewhat mishapen Iehannot in his outward forme but not impaired a iot of that noble spirit really deriued from his famous progenitors much lesse the true loue he bare to his faire friend And although most earnestly he desired that which Conrado now so franckly offered him and was in his power onely to bestow on him yet could he not cloude any part of his greatnesse but with a resolued iudgement thus replied My Lord affectation of rule desire of wealthy possessions or any other matter whatsoeuer could neuer make me a traytor to you or yours but that I haue loued do loue for euer shal loue your beautious daughter if that be treason I freely coÌ„fesse it wil die a thousand deaths before you or any else shal enforce me to denie it for I hold her highly worthy of my loue If I haue bin more vnmaÌ„nerly with her then became me according to the opinion of vulgar iudgment I haue committed but that error which euermore is so attendant vpon youth that to denie it is to denie youth also And if reuerend age would but remember that once he was young measure others offences by his own they would not be thought so great or greeuous as you many more account them to be mine being coÌ„mitted as a friend not as an enemy what you make offer of so willingly to do I haue alwayes desired if I had thought it would haue bin granted long since I had most humbly requested it and so much the more acceptable would it
haue found no mean inducement to loue in regard of my husbands far distance from me medling in the rude vnciuill actions of warre when he should rather be at home in more sweet imployment You see Sir that these Orators aduance themselues here in your presence to acquaint you with the extremity of my ouer-commanding agony and if the same power hath dominion in you which your discretion questionlesse cannot be voide of then let me entreate such aduise from you as may rather helpe then hinder my hopes Beleeue it then for trueth Sir that the long absence of my husband from me the solitary condition wherein I am left ill agreeing with the hot blood running in my veines the temper of my earnest desires haue so preuailed against my strongest resistances that not onely so weake a woman as I am but any man of much more potent might liuing in ease and idlenesse as I doe cannot withstand such continuall assaults hauing no other helpe then flesh and blood Nor am I so ignorant but publique knowledge of such an error in me would be reputed a shrewd taxation of honesty whereas on the other side secret carriage and heedfull managing such amorous affaires may passe for currant without any reproach And let me tell you Noble Counte that I repute Loue highly fauourable to mee by guiding my iudgement with such moderation to make election of a wise worthy and honourable friend fit to enioy the grace of a farre greater Lady then I am and the first letter of his name is the Count D'Angiers For if error haue not misled mine eye as in Loue no Lady can be easily deceiued for person perfections and all parts most to be commended in a man the whole Realme of France containeth not your equall Obserue beside how forward Fortune sheweth her selfe to vs both in this case you to be destitute of a wife as I am of an husband for I count him as dead to me when he denies me the duties belonging to a wife Wherefore in regard of the vnfaigned affection I beare you and compassion which you ought to haue of Royall Princesse euen almost sicke to death for your sake I earnestly entreate you not to denie me your louing society but pittying my youth and fiery afflictions neuer to be quenched but by your kindnesse I may enioy my hearts desire As shee vttered these words the teares streamed aboundantly downe her faire cheekes preuenting her of any further speech so that deiecting her head into her bosome ouercome with the predominance of her passions shee fell vpon the Countes knee whereas else shee had falne vpon the ground When hee like a loyall and most honourable man sharply reprehended her fonde and idle loue and when shee would haue embraced him about the necke hee repulsed her roughly from him protesting vpon his honourable reputation that rather then hee would so wrong his Lord and Maister he would endure a thousand deathes The Lady seeing her desire disappointed and her fond expectation vtterly frustrated grewe instantly forgetfull of her intemperate loue and falling into extremity of rage conuerted her former gentle speeches into this harsh and ruder language Villaine quoth shee shall the longing comforts of my life be abridged by thy base and scornefull deniall Shall my destruction bee wrought by thy currish vnkindnesse and all my hoped ioyes be defeated in a moment Know slaue that I did not so earnestly desire thy sweet embracements before but now as deadly I hate and despise them which either thy death or banishment shall dearely pay for No sooner had shee thus spoken but tearing her haire and renting her garments in pieces shee ranne about like a distracted woman crying out aloude Helpe helpe the Count D'Angiers will forcibly dishonour mee the lustfull Count will violence mine honour D'Angiers seeing this and fearing more the malice of the ouer-credulous Court then either his owne conscience or any dishonourable act by him committed beleeuing likewise that her slanderous accusation would bee credited aboue his true and spotlesse innocency closely he conueyed himselfe out of the Court making what hast hee could home to his owne house which being too weake for warranting his safety vpon such pursuite as would be vsed against him without any further aduice or counsell he seated his two children on horsebacke himselfe also being but meanly mounted thus away thence hee went to Calice Vpon the clamour and noise of the Lady the Courtiers quickly flocked thither and as lies soone winne beleefe in hasty opinions vpon any silly or shallow surmise so did her accusation passe for currant and the Counts aduancement being enuied by many made his honest carriage in this case the more suspected In hast and madding fury they ran to the Counts houses to arrest his person and carry him to prison but when they could not finde him they raced his goodly buildings downe to the ground and vsed all shamefull violence to them Now as il newes sildome wants a speedy Messenger so in lesse space then you will imagine the King and Dolphin heard thereof in the Camp and were therewith so highly offended that the Count had a sodaine and seuere condemnation all his progeny being sentenced with perpetuall exile and promises of great and bountifull rewards to such as could bring his body aliue or dead Thus the innocent Count by his ouer-hasty and sodaine flight made himselfe guilty of this foule imputation and arriuing at Callice with his children their poore and homely habites hid them from being knowne and thence they crossed ouer into England staying no where vntill hee came to London Before he would enter into the City he gaue diuers good aduertisements to his children but especially two precepts aboue all the rest First with patient soules to support the poore condition whereto Fortune without any offence in him or them had thus deiected them Next that they should haue most heedfull care at no time to disclose from whence they came or whose children they were because it extended to the perill of their liues His Sonne being named Lewes and now about nine yeares old his daughter called Violenta and aged seauen yeares did both obserue their fathers direction as afterward it did sufficiently appeare And because they might liue in the safer securitie hee thought it for the best to change their names calling his sonne Perotto and his daughter Gianetta for thus they might best escape vnknowne Being entred into the Citty and in the poore estate of beggers they craued euery bodies mercy and almes It came to passe that standing one morning at the Cathedral Church-doore a great Lady of England being then wife to the Lord high Marshall cōming forth of the Church espied the Count and his children there begging Of him she demanded what Countrey-man he was and whether those children were his owne or no The Count replyed that he was borne in Picardy and for an vnhappy fact committed by his eldest sonne a stripling of more
Magdalena in the still silence of the night Ninetta was conueyed into a sacke and sent in that manner to the House of Folco the Duke following soone after to challenge her promise Magdalena hauing acquainted her Husband with her vertuous intention for preseruing her Sisters life and disappointing the Duke in his wicked desire was as contrary to her true meaning in this case as Ninetta had formerly beene aduerse to Restagnone onely being ouer-ruled likewise by iealousie and perswaded in his rash opinion that the Duke had already dishonoured Magdalena otherwise he would not haue deliuered Ninetta out of prison Mad fury gaue further fire to this vnmanly perswasion and nothing will now quench this violent shame but the life of poore Magdalena suddenly sacrificed in the rescue of her Sisters such a diuell is anger when the vnderstandings bright eye is thereby abused No credit might be giuen to her womanly protestations nor any thing seeme to alter his bloody purpose but hauing slaine Magdalena with his Poniard notwithstanding her teares and humble entreaties hee ran in haste to Ninettaes Chamber shee not dreaming on any such desperate accident and to her he vsed these dissembling speeches Sister quoth he my wife hath aduised that I should speedily conuey you hence as fearing the renewing of the Dukes fury and your falling againe into the hands of Iustice I haue a Barke readily prepared for you and your life being secured it is all that she and I doe most desire Ninetta being fearefull and no way distrusting what he had saide in thankfull allowance of her Sisters care and curteous tender of his so ready seruice departed thence presently with him not taking any farewell of her other Sister and her Husband To the Sea-shore they came very weakely prouided of monies to defray their charges and getting aboard the Barke directed their course themselues knew not whether The amourous Duke in his disguise hauing long daunced attendance at Folcoes doore and no admittance of his entrance angerly returned backe to his Court protesting seuere reuenge on Magdalena if she gaue him not the better satisfaction to cleare her from thus basely abusing him On the morrow morning when Magdalena was found murthered in her Chamber and tidings thereof carried to the Duke present search was made for the bloody offendor but Folco being fled and gone with Ninetta some there were who bearing deadly hatred to Hugnetto incensed the Duke against him and his wife as supposing them to be guilty of Magdalenaes death He being thereto very easily perswaded in regard of his immoderate loue to the slaine Gentlewoman went himselfe in person attended on by his Guard to Hugnettoes House where both he and his wife were seized as prisoners These newes were very strange to them and their imprisonment as vnwelcome and although they were truly innocent either in knowledge of the horrid fact or the departure of Folco with Ninetta yet being vnable to endure the tortures extremity they made themselues culpable by confession and that they had hand with Folco in the murder of Magdalena Vpon this their forced confession and sentence of death pronounced on them by the Duke himselfe before the day appointed for their publike execution by great summes of money which they had closely hid in their House to serue when any vrgent extremitie should happen to them they corrupted their keepers and before any intelligence could be had of their flight they escaped by Sea to Rhodes where they liued afterward in great distresse and misery The iust vengeance of Heauen followed after Folco and Ninetta he for murthering his honest wife and she for poysoning her offending Husband for being beaten a long while on the Seas by tempestuous stormes and weather and not admitted landing in any Port or creeke they were driuen backe on the Coast of Candie againe where being apprehended and brought to the City before the Duke they confessed their seuerall notorious offences and ended their loathed liues in one fire together Thus the idle and loose loue of Restagnone with the franticke rage and iealousie of Ninetta and Folco ouerturned all their long continued happinesse and threw a disastrous ending on them all Gerbino contrary to the former plighted faith of his Grand-father King Gulielmo fought with a Ship at Sea belonging to the King of Thunis to take away his Daughter who was then in the same Ship Shee being slaine by them that had the possession of her he likewise slew them and afterward had his owne head smitten off The fourth Nouell In commendation of Iustice betweene Princes and declaring withall that neither feare dangers nor death it selfe can any way daunt a true and loyall Louer MAdam Lauretta hauing concluded her Nouel and the company complaining on Louers misfortunes some blaming the angry and iealous fury of Ninetta and euery one deliuering their seuerall opinions the King as awaking out of a passionate perplexity exalted his lookes giuing a signe to Madam Elisa that shee should follow next in order whereto she obeying began in this manner I haue heard Gracious Ladies quoth she of many people who are verily perswaded that Loues arrowes neuer wound any body but onely by the eyes lookes and gazes mocking and scorning such as maintaine that men may fall in loue by hearing onely Wherein beleeue me they are greatly deceiued as will appeare by a Nouell which I must now relate vnto you and wherein you shall plainely perceiue that not onely fame or report is as preuailing as sight but also hath conducted diuers to a wretched and miserable ending of their liues Gulielmo the second King of Sicilie according as the Sicilian Chronicles record had two children the one a sonne named Don Rogero and the other a daughter called Madam Constance The saide Rogero died before his Father leauing a sonne behind him named Gerbino who with much care and cost was brought vp by his Grand-father prouing to be a very goodly Prince and wondrously esteemed for his great valour and humanity His fame could not containe it selfe within the bounds or limits of Sicilie onely but being published very prodigally in many parts of the world beside flourished with no meane commendations throughout all Barbarie which in those dayes was tributary to the King of Sicilie Among other persons deseruing most to be respected the renowned vertues and affability of this gallant Prince Gerbino was vnderstood by the beautious Daughter to the King of Thunis who by such as had seene her was reputed to be one of the rarest creatures the best conditioned and of the truest noble spirit that euer Nature framed in her very choycest pride of art Of famous vertuous and worthy men it was continually her cheefest delight to heare and the admired actions of valiant Gerbino reported to her by many singular discoursers such as could best describe him with language answerable to his due deseruings won such honourable entertainment in her vnderstanding soule that they were most affectionately pleasing to her and
her Nouell but Madame Neiphila by the Kings command began to speake in this manner It seemeth to mee Gracious Ladies that there are some such people to be found who imagine themselues to know more then all other else in the world beside and yet indeede doe know nothing at all presuming thorough this arrogant opinion of theirs to imploy and oppose their senselesse vnderstanding against infallible grounded reason yea and to attempt courses not only contrary to the counsell and iudgment of men but also to crosse the nature of diuine ordination Out of which saucy ambitious presumption many mighty harmes haue already had beginning and more are like to ensue vppon such boldnesse because it is the ground of all euils Now in regard that among all other naturall things no one is lesse subiect to take counsell or can bee wrought to contrariety then Loue whose nature is such as rather to run vpon his owne rash consumption then to be ruled by admonitions of the very wisest my memory hath inspired it self with matter incident to this purpose effectually to approue what I haue already said For I am now to speake of a woman who would appeare to haue more wit then either she had indeed or appertained to her by any title The matter also wherein she would needs shew hir studious iudgement and capacity was of much more consequence then she could deserue to meddle withall Yet such was the issue of her fond presuming that in one instant she expelled both loue and the soule of her owne sonne out of his body where doubtlesse it was planted by diuine fauour and appointment In our owne City according to true ancient testimony there dwelt sometime a very worthy and wealthy Merchant named Leonardo Sighiero who by his wife had one onely Sonne called Ieronimo and within a short while after his birth Leonardo being very sicke and hauing setled al his affaires in good order departed out of this wretched life to a better The Tutors and Gouernours of the Childe thought it fittest to let him liue with his Mother where he had his whole education though schooled among many other worthy neighbours children according as in most Cities they vse to do Yong Ieronimo growing on in yeares and frequenting dayly the company of his Schoole-fellowes and others hee would often sport as the rest did with the neighbors and much prety pastime they found together In the harmlesse recreations of youth grauer iudgements haue often obserued that some especiall matter receiued then such original as greater effect hath followed thereon And many times parents and kindred haue bene the occasion although perhaps beyond their expectation of very strange and extraordinary accidents by names of familiarity passing betweene Boyes and Girles as King and Queene sweet heart and sweet heart friend and friend husband and wife and diuers other such like kind tearmes proouing afterwards to be true indeede It fell out so with our yong Ieronimo for among a number of pretty Damosels daughters to men of especiall respect and others of farre inferiour qualitie a Taylors daughter excelling the rest in fauour and feature albeit her Father was but poore Ieronimo most delighted to sport withall and no other titles passed betweene them euen in the hearing of their parents and friendes but wife and husband such was the beginning of their young affection presaging no doubt effectually to follow Nor grew this familiarity as yet any way distasted till by their dayly conuersing together and enterchange of infinite pretty speeches Ieronimo felt a strange alteration in his soule with such enforcing and powerfull afflictions as he was neuer well but in her company nor she enioyed any rest if Ieronimo were absent At the length this being noted by his Mother she beganne to rebuke him yea many times gaue him both threatnings and blowes which prouing to no purpose nor hindering his accesse to her she complained to his Tutors and like one that in regard of her riches thought to plant an Orange vpon a blacke thorne spake as followeth This Sonne of mine Ieronimo being as yet but fourteene years of age is so deeply enamored of a yong Girle named Siluestra daughter vnto a poore Tailor our neere dwelling neighbour that if we do not send him out of her company one day perhaps he may make her his wife and yet without any knowledge of ours which questionlesse would be my death Otherwise he may pine and consume himselfe away if he see vs procure her marriage to some other Wherefore I hold it good that to auoid so great an inconuenience we shold send Ieronimo some far distance hence to remaine where some of our Factors are employed because when he shall be out of her sight and their often meetings vtterly disappointed his affection to her will the sooner ceasse by frustrating his hope for euer enioying her and so we shall haue the better meanes to match him with one of greater quality The Tutors did like well of her aduice not doubting but it would take answerable effect and therefore calling Ieronimo into a priuate Parlor one of them began in this manner Ieronimo you are now growne to an indifferent stature and almost able to take gouernment of your selfe It cannot then seeme any way inconuenient to acquaint you with your deceased Fathers affaires and by what good courses he came to such wealth You are his onely sonne and heire to whom hee hath bequeathed his rich possessions your Mothers moity euermore remembred and trauaile would now seeme fitting for you as well to experience in Traffick and Merchandize as also to let you see the worlds occurrences Your Mother therfore and we haue thought it expedient that you should iourney from hence to Paris there to continue for some such fitting time as may grant you full and free opportunity to suruey what stocke of wealth is there employed for you and to make you vnderstand how your Factors are furtherous to your affayres Beside this is the way to make you a man of more solid apprehension perfect instruction in ciuill courses of life rather then by continuing here to see none but Lords Barons and Gentlemen whereof wee haue too great a number When you are sufficiently qualified there and haue learned what belongeth to a worthy Marchant such as was Leonardo Sighiero your famous Father you may returne home againe at your owne pleasure The youth gaue them attentiue hearing and in few words returned them answer That he would not giue way to any such trauaile because hee knew how to dispose of himselfe in Florence as well as in any other place he should be sent too Which when his Tutors heard they reproued him with many seuere speeches and seeing they could win no other answer from him they made returne thereof to his Mother Shee storming extreamly thereat yet not so much for denying the iourney to Paris as in regard of his violent affection to the Maide gaue him very bitter and
Lord and meet to be a Counseller for a King deliuered his mind in this manner Gracious Lord I wonder not a little at your speeches and so much the greater is my admiratioÌ„ because no maÌ„ els can be subiect to the like in regard I haue knowne you from the time of your infancy euen to this instant houre and alwayes your carriage to bee one and the same I could neuer perceiue in your youthfull dayes when loue should haue the greatest meanes to assaile you any such oppressing passions which is now the more nouell and strange to me to heare it but said that you being old and called the Aged should be growne amorous surely to me it seemeth a miracle And if it appertained to me to reprehend you in this case I know well enough what I could say Considering you haue yet your Armour on your backe in a Kiugdome newly conquered among a Nation not knowne to you full of falsehoods breaches and treasons all which are no meane motiues to care and needfull respect But hauing now wone a little leisure to rest your selfe a while from such serious affaires can you giue way to the idle suggestions of Loue Beleeue me Sir it is no act becomming a magnanimious King but rather the giddy folly of a young braine Moreouer you say which most of all I mislike that you intend to take the two Virgines from the Knight who hath giuen you entertainment in his house beyond his ability and to testifie how much he honoured you he suffered you to haue a sight of them meerely almost in a naked manner witnessing thereby what constant faith he reposed in you beleeuing verily that you were a iust King and not a rauenous Woolfe Haue you so soone forgot that the rapes and violent actions done by King Manfred to harmelesse Ladies made your onely way of entrance into this Kingdome What treason was euer committed more worthy of eternall punishment then this will be in you to take away from him who hath so highly honoured you his chiefest hope and consolation What will be said by all men if you doe it Peraduenture you thinke it will be a sufficient excuse for you to say I did it in regard hee was a Ghihelline Can you imagine this to be iustice in a King that such as get into their possession in this manner whatsoeuer it be ought to vse it in this sort Let me tell you Sir it was a most worthy victory for you to conquer King Manfred but it is farre more famous victory for a man to conâ—uer himselfe You therfore who are ordained to correct vices in 〈◊〉 men learne first to subdue them in your selfe and by brideling this inordinate appetite set not a foule blemish on so faire a fame as will be honour to you to preserue spotlesse These words pierced the heart of the King deepely and so much the more afflicted him because he knew them to be most true wherefore after he had ventred a very vehement sigh thus he replyed Beleeue me noble Count there is not any enemy how strong soeuer he be but I hold him weake and easie to be vanquished by him who is skilfull in the warre where a man may learne to conquere his owne appetite But because he shall find it a laborious taske requiring inestimable strength and courage your words haue so toucht me to the quicke that it becommeth me to let you effectually perceiue and within the compasse of few dayes that as I haue learned to conquer others so I am not ignorant in expressing the like power vpon my selfe Hauing thus spoken within some few dayes after the King being returned to Naples he determined as well to free himself from any the like ensuing follie as also to recompence Signior Neri for the great kindnesse he had shewne to him although it was a difficult thing to let another enioy what he rather desired for himselfe to haue the two Damosels married not as the Daughters of Signior Neri but euen as if they were his owne And by consent of the Father he gaue Geneuera the faire to Signior Maffeo da Palizzi and Isotta the amiable to Signior Gulielmo della Magna two Noble Knights and honourable Barons After he had thus giuen them in marriage in sad mourning he departed thence into Apuglia where by following worthy and honourable actions he so well ouercame all inordinate appetites that shaking off the enthralling fetters of loue he liued free from all passions the rest of his life time and dyed as an honourable King Some perhaps will say it was a small matter for a King to giue away two Damosels in marriage and I confesse it but I maintaine it to be great and more then great if we say that a King being so earnestly enamoured as this King was should giue her away to another whom he so dearely affected himsefe without receiuing in recompence of his affection so much as a leaffe flowre or the least fruit of loue Yet such was the vertue of this magnificent King expressed in so highly recompencing the noble Knights courtesie honouring the two daughters so royally and conquering his owne affections so vertuously Lisana the Daughter of a Florentine Apothecary named Bernardo Puccino being at Palermo and seeing Piero King of Aragon run at the Tilt fell so affectionately enamored of him that she languishâ—â— in an extreame and long sickenesse By her owne deuise and means of a Song sung in the hearing of the King he vouchsafed to visite her and giuing her a kisse terming himselfe also to bee her Knight for euer after hee honourably bestowed her in marriage on a young Gentleman who was called Perdicano and gaue him liberall endowments with her The Seuenth Nouell Wherein is couertly giuen to vnderstand that howsoeuer a Prince may make vse of his absolute power and authority towards Maides or Wiues that are his Subiects yet he ought to deny and reiect all things as shall make him forgetfull of himselfe and his true honour MAdame Fiammetta being come to the end of her Nouell and the great magnificence of King Charles much commended howbeit some of the Company affecting the Ghibelline faction were otherwise minded Madame Pampinea by order giuen from the King began in this manner There is no man of good vnderstanding honourable Ladies but will maintaine what you haue said of victorious Charles except such as cannot wish well to any But because my memory hath instantly informed me of an action perhaps no lesse commendable then this done by an enemy of the said King Charles and to a yong Maiden of our City I am the more willing to relate it vpon your gentle attention vouchsafed as hitherto it hath been courteously granted At such time as the French were driuen out of Sicilie there dwelt at Palermo a Florentine Apothecary named Bernardo Puccino a man of good wealth and reputation who had by his Wife one onely Daughter of marriageable yeares and very beautifull Piero King of
Lady and Mistresse it will ensue to your detriment how much you haue displeased me to take a wife at your request and against mine owne will The Noble men answered that they were well satisfied prouided that he tooke a wife Some indifferent space of time before the beauty manners and well-seeming vertues of a poore Countrie-mans daughter dwelling in no farre distant village had appeared very pleasing to the Lord Marquesse and gaue him full perswasion that with her hee should lead a comfortable life And therefore without any further search or inquisition he absolutely resolued to marry her and hauing conferred with her Father agreed that his daughter should be his wife Whereupon the Marquesse made a generall conuocation Conuocation of all his Lords Barons and other of his especiall friends from all parts of his Dominion and when they were assembled together hee then spake vnto them in manner as followeth Honourable friends it appeared pleasing to you all and yet I thinke you are of the same minde that I should dispose my selfe to take a wife and I thereto condescended more to yeeld you contentment then for any particular desire in my selfe Let mee now remember you of your solemne made promise with full consent to honor and obey her whosoeuer as your Soueraigne Lady and Mistresse that I shall elect to make my wife and now the time is come for my exacting the performance of that promise and which I look you must constantly keepe I haue made choyce of a yong virgine answerable to mine owne heart and liking dwelling not farre off hence whom I intend to make my wife and within few daies to haue her brought home to my Pallace Let your care and diligence then extend so farre as to see that the feast may be sumptuous and her entertainment to bee most honourable to the end that I may receiue as much contentment in your promise performed as you shall perceiue I doe in my choice The Lords and all the rest were wondrously ioyfull to heare him so well inclined expressing no lesse by their shouts and iocund suffrages protesting cordially that she should be welcommed with pompe and maiestie and honoured of them all as their Liege Ladie and Soueraigne Afterward they made preparation for a princely and magnificent feast as the Marquesse did the like for a marriage of extraordinary state and qualitie inuiting all his kinred friends and acquaintance in all parts and Prouinces about him Hee made also readie most riche and costly garments shaped by the body of a comely young Gentlewoman who he knew to be equall in proportion and stature to her of whom hee hade made his election When the appointed nuptiall day was come the Lord Marques about nine of the clocke in the morning mounted on horse-backe as all the rest did who came to attend him honourably and hauing all things in due readinesse with them he said Lords it is time for vs to goe fetch the Bride So on hee rode with his traine to the same poore Village whereas shee dwelt and when hee was come to her Fathers house hee saw the maiden returning very hastily from a Well where shee had beene to fetch a paile of water which shee set downe and stood accompanied with other maidens to see the passage by of the Lord Marquesse and his traine Gualtiero called her by her name which was Grizelda and asked her where her Father was who bashfully answered him and with an humble courtesie saying My gracious Lord hee is in the house Then the Marquesse dismounted from his horse commanding euery one to attend him then all alone hee entred into the poore Cottage where he found the maides father being named Ianiculo and said vnto him God speed good Father I am come to espouse thy daughter Grizelda but first I haue a few demands to make which I will vtter to her in thy presence Then hee turned to the maide and saide Faire Grizelda if I make you my wife will you doe your best endeauour to please me in all things which I shall doe or say will you also be gentle humble and patient with diuers other the like questions whereto she still answered that she would so neere as heauen with grace should enable her Presently he tooke her by the hand so led her forth of the poore homely house and in the presence of all his company with his owne hands he took off her meane wearing garments smocke and all and cloathed her with those Robes of State which he had purposely brought thither for her and plaiting her haire ouer her shoulders hee placed a Crowne of gold on her head whereat euery one standing as amazed and wondring not a little hee said Grizelda wilt thou haue me to thy husband Modestly blushing and kneeling on the ground she answered Yes my gracious Lord if you will accept so poore a maiden to be your wife Yes Grizelda quoth hee with this holy kisse I confirme thee for my wife and so espoused her before them all Then mounting her on a milke-white Palfray brought thither for her shee was thus honourably conducted to her Pallace Now concerning the marriage feast and triumphes they were performed with no lesse pompe then if she had beene daughter to the King of France And the young Bride apparantly declared that with her garments her minde and behauior were quite changed For indeed shee was as it were shame to speake otherwise a rare creature both of person and perfections and not onely was shee absolute for beautie but so sweetely amiable gracious and goodlie as if she were not the daughter of poore Ianiculo and a Countrie Shepheardesse but rather of some Noble Lord whereat euery one wondred that formerly had knowne her Beside all this shee was so obedient to her husband so feruent in all dutifull offices and patient without the very least prouoking as hee held himselfe much more then contented and the onely happy man of the world In like manner towards the subiects of her Lord and Husband she shewed her selfe alwayes so benigne and gracious as there was not any one but the more they lookt on her the better they loued her honouring her voluntarily and praying to the heauens for her health dignity and well-faâ—â— long continuance Speaking now quite contrary to their former opinion of the Marquesse honourably and worthily that he had shewne him selfe a singular wise man in the election of his Wife which few else but he in the world would haue done because their iudgement might fall farre short of discerning those great and precious vertues veiled vnder a homely habite and obscured in a poore Countrey cottage To be briefe in very short time not onely the Marquisate it selfe but all neighbouring Prouinces round about had no other common talke but of her rare course of life deuotion charity and all good actions else quite quailing all sinister Instructions of her Husband before he receiued her in marriage About foure or fiue yeeres after the
both returned to great estate and credite 7. Nouell THe Soldane of Babylon sent one of his Daughters to be ioyned in marriage with the King of Cholcos who by diuers accidents in the space of foure yeares happened into the custodie of nine men and in sundry places At length being restored backe to her Father she went to the said king of Cholcos as a Maide and as at first she was intended to be his Wife 8. Nouell COunt D'Angiers being falsely accused was banished out of France and left his two children in England in diuers places Returning afterward vnknowne thorough Scotland hee found them aduanced vnto great dignity Then repairing in the habit of a Seruitor into the King of Fraunce his army and his innocency made publikely knowen he was reseated in his former honorable degree 9. Nouell BErnardo a Merchant of Geneway being deceiued by another Merchant named Ambrosio lost a great part of his goods and commanding his innocent wife to be murthered she escaped and in the habit of a man became seruant to the Soldan The deceiuer being found at last she coÌ„passed such means that her husband Bernardo came into Alexandria and there after due punishment inflicted on the false deceiuer she resumed the garments againe of a woman and returned home with her Husband to Geneway 10. Nouell PAgamino da Monaco a rouing Pyrate on the feas caried away the faire Wife of Signieur Ricciardo di Chiâ—zica who vnderstanding where shee was went thâ—ther and falling into friendship with Pagamino demanded his wife of him wherto be yeelded prouided that she would willingly go away with him shee denied to part thence with her husband and 〈◊〉 Ricciardo dying shee became the wife of Pagamino The third day gouerned by Madame Neiphila 1. Nouell MAssetto di Lamporechio by counterfetting himselfe dumbe became a Gardiner in a Monastery of Nuns where he had familiar conuersation with them all 2. Nouell A Querry of the stable belonging to Agilulffo K of the Lombards found the meanes of accesse to the Queenes bedde without any knowledge or consent in her This beeing secretly discouered by the King and the party knowne hee gaue him a marke by shearing the haire of his head Whereuppon hee that was so shorne sheared likewise the heads of all his fellowes in the lodging and so escaped the punishment intended towards him 3. Nouell VNder colour of confession and of a most pure coÌ„science a faire yong Gentlewoman being amorously affected to an honest man induced a deuout and solemne religious Friar to aduise her in the meanes without his suspition or perceiuing how to enioy the benefit of her friend and bring her desires to their full effect 4. Nouell A Yong scholler named Felice enstructed Puccio di Rinieri how to become rich in a very short time While Puccio made experience of the instructions taught him Felice obtained the fauour of his daughter 5. Nouell RIcciardo surnamed the Magnifico gaue a horse to signior Francesco Vergillisi vpon condition that by his leaue and license he might speak to his wife in his presence which he did and she not returning him any answer made answer to himself on her behalfe and according to his answer so the effect followed 6. Nouell RIcciardo Minutolo fel in loue with the Wife of Philippello Fighinolfi and knowing her to bee very iealous of her husband gaue her to vnderstand that he was greatly enamored of his Wife and had appointed to meete her priuatly in a bathing house on the next day following where shee hoping to take him tardy with his close compacted Mistresse found her selfe to be deceiued by the said Ricciardo 7. Nouelâ— THebaldo Elisei hauing receiued an vnkinde repulse by his beloued departed from Florence returning thither againe a long while after in the habit of a pilgrime hee spake with her and made his wrongs knowne vnto her Hee deliuered her husband from the danger of death because it was proued that he had slaine Thebaldo he made peace with his brethren and in the end wisely enioyed his hearts desire 8. Nouell FErando by drinking a certaine kind of pouder was buried for dead by the Abbot who was enamored of his wife was taken out of his graue and put into a darke prison where they made him beleeue that he was in purgatory afterward wheÌ„ time came that he should be raised to life againe he was made to keepe a childe which the Abbot had got by his wife 9. Nouell IVliet of Narbona cured the King of France of a dangerous Fistula in recompence wherof she requested to enioy as her husband in mariage Bertrand the Count of Roussilion He hauing maried her against his wil as vtterly despising her went to Florence where he made loue to a yong Gentlewoman Iuliet by a queint and cunning policy compassed the meanes insted of his chosen friend to lye with her owne husband by whom shee had two sonnes which being afterward made knowne vnto the Count hee accepted her into his fauor againe and loued her as his loyall and honourable wife 10. Nouell THe wonderfull and chaste resolued continencie of faire Serictha daughter to Siwalde King of Denmarke who beeing sought and sued vnto by many worthy persons that did affect her dearely would not looke any man in the face vntill such time as she was maried The Fourth Day gouerned by Philostratus 1. Nouell TAncrede Prince of Salern caused the amorous friend of his daughter to be slaine and sent her his heart in a cup of Golde which afterward she steeped in an impoysoned water then drinking it so dyed 2. Nouell FRiar Albert made a yong Venetian Gentlewoman beleeue that God Cupid was falne in loue with her and he resorted oftentimes vnto her in disguise of the same God afterward being frighted by the Gentlewomans kindred and friends hee cast himselfe out of her chamber window and was hidden in a poore mans house On the day following in the shape of a wilde or sauage man he was brought vpon the Rialto of S. Mark being ther publikely knowne by the Brethren of his Order he was committed to prison 3. Nouell THree yong Gentlemen affecting three Sisters fled with them into Canâ—â—e The eldest of them through iealousie becommeth the death of her Louer The second by consenting to the Duke of 〈◊〉 request is the meanes of sauing her life Afterward her owne friend killeth her thence flyeth away with the elder sister The third couple both man and woman are charged with her death and being committed to prison they coÌ„fesse the fact and fearing death by corruption of money they preuaile with their â—eepers escaping froÌ„ thence to Rhodes where they died in great pouerty 4. Nouell GErbino contrarie to the former plighted faith of his Grandfather King Gulielmo foughte with a ship at sea belonging to the King of Thunis to take away hi daughter who was then in the same ship She being slaine by them that had the possession of her he likewise slew
them and afterwarâ— had his owne head smitten off 5. Nouell THe three Brethren to Isabella slew a Gentleman that secretly loued her His ghost appeared to her in her sleepe and shewed her in what place they had buried his body She in silent maner brought away his head and putting it into a put of earth such as Flowers Basile or other sweet herbes are vsually set in she watered it a long while with her teares whereof her Brethren hauing intelligence soone after she died with meere conceite of sorow 6. Nouell A Beautifull yong virgin named Andreana became enamored of a young Gentleman called Gabriello In conference together shee declared a dreame of hers to him and he another of his vnto her whereupon Gabriello fell down sodainly dead She and her Chamber-maid were apprehended by the Officers be oâ—ging vnto the Seigneury as they were carrying Gabriello to lay them before his owne doore The Potestate offering violence to the virgin and she resisting him vertuously it came to the vnderstanding of her Father who approued the innocence of his daughter and compassed her deliuerance But she afterward being wearie of all worldly felicities entred into Religion became a Nun. 7. Nouell FAire Simonida affecting Pasquino and walking with him in a pleasant garden it fortuned that Pasquino rubbed his teeth with a leafe of Sage and immediately fell downe dead Simonida being brought before the bench of Iustice and charged with the death of Pasquino she rubbed her teeth likewise with one of the leaues of the same Sage as declaring what she saw him do thereon she dyed also in the same manner 8. Nouell IEronimo affecting a yong Mayden named Syluestra was constrained by the earnest importunity of his Mother to take a iourney to Paris At his returne home from thence againe he found his loue Siluestra maried By secret meanes he got entrance into her house and dyed vpon the bed lying by her Afterward his body being caried vnto the Church to receiue buriall shee likewise died there instantly vpon his coarse 9. Nouell MEsser Guiglielmo of Rossiglione hauing slaine Messer Guiglielmo Guardastagno whom he imagined to loue his wife gaue her his hart to eat Which she knowing afterward threw her self out of an high window to the ground and being dead was then buried with her friend 10. Nouell A Physitians wife laid a Louer of her maids supposing him to be dead in a chest by reason that he had drunke water which vsually was giuen to procure a sleepy entrancing Two Lombard Vsurers stealing the chest in hope of a rich booty caried it into their owne house where afterwardes the man awaking was apprehended for a Theefe The Chamber-maid to the Physitians wife going before the bench of Iustice accuseth her self for putting the imagined dead body into the chest wherby he escaped hanging and the Theeues which stole away the chest were condemned to pay a very great summe of money The Fift day Gouerned by Madame Fiammetta 1. Nouell CHynon by falling in loue became wise and by force of Armes winning his faire Ladye Iphigema on the seas was afterward imprisoned at Rhodes Being deliuered by one name Lisimachus with him he recouered his Iphigenia againe and faire Cassandra euen in the middest of their mariage They fled with them into Candye where after they had maried them they wer called home to their owne dwelling 2. Nouell FAire Constance of Liparis fell in Loue with Martuccio Gonâ—â—to and hearing that hee was dead dâ—sperately she entred into a Barke which being transported by the winds to Susa in Barbary from thence she went to Thunis where she fouÌ„d him to be liuing There she made her selfe knowne to him and he being in great authority as a priuy Counsellor to the King he maried the saide Constance and returned richly home to her to the Island of Liparis 3. Nouell PEdro Bocamazzo escaping away with a yong Damosel which he loued named Angelina met with Theeues in his iourney The Damoseâ— flying fearfully into a Forest by chaunce commeth to a Castle Pedro being taken by the theeues hapning afterward to escape from them accidentally came to the same Castle where Angelina waâ— marying her they then returned home to Rome 4. Nouell RIcciardo Manardy was found by Messer Lizio da Valbonna as he sat fast asleep at his daughters chamber window hauing his hand fast in hirs and sleeping in the same manner Wherupon they were ioyned together in mariage and their long loyall loue mutually recompenced 5. Nouell GVidotto of Cremona departing out of this mortall life left a daughter of his with Iacomino of Pauia Giouanni di Seuerino and Menghino da Minghole fel both in loue with the yong Maiden and fought for her who being afterward knowne to be the sister to Giouanni shee was giuen in mariage to Menghino 6. Nouell GVion di Procida being found familiarly conuersing with a yong Damosel which he loued and had bene giuen formerly to Frederigo King of Sicily was bound to a stake to bee consumed with fire From which danger neuerthelesse hee escaped being knowne by Don Rogiero de Oria Lorde Admirall of Sicily and afterward marryed the Damosel 7. Nouelâ— THeodoro falling in loue with Violenta the daughter to his Master named Amarige and she conceyuing with childe by him was condemnd to be hanged As they were leading him vnto the gallowes beating and misusing him all the way hee happened to bee knowne by his owne Father whereupon he was released and afterward inioyed Violent a in mariage 8. Nouell ANastasio a Gentleman of the Family of the Honesti by louing the daughter to signior Pauâ—o Trauersario lauishly wasted a great part of his substance without receiuing any loue from her againe By perswasion of some of his kindred and friends he went to a countrey dwelling of his called Chiasso where hee saw a Knight desperately pursue a yong Damosell whom he slew afterward gaue her to be deuoured by his hounds A tastasio inuited his friends and herâ— also whom he so â—eâ—â—rly loued to take part of a dinner with him who likewise sawe the sâ—â—e Damosell so torne in peeces which his vnkind loue perceiuing fearing least the like ill fortune should happen to her she accepted Anastasio to bee her husband 9. Nouell FRederigo of the Alberighi Family loued a Gentlewoman and was not requited with like loue againe By bountiful expences and ouer liberal inuitations hee wasted and consumed all his lands and goods hauing nothing lefte him but a Hawke or Faulcon His vnkinde Mistresse happeneth to come visit him and he not hauing any other food for her dinner made a dainty dish of his Faulcon for her to feed on Being conquered by this his exceeding kinde courtesie she changed her former hatred towards him accepting him as her husband in marriage and made him a man of wealthy possessions 10. Nouell PEdro di Vinciolo went to sup at a friends house in the City His wife in the meane while had a
I would not haue you to be any way doubtfull of me neither that you shold receiue the least damage by me I haue heard what you haue said and am certaine that it will happen according to your words if matters should fall out as you conceite but I am minded to deale otherwise I haue committed so many offences against our Lord God in the vvhole current of my life that now I intend one action at the hour of my death which I trust will make amends for all Procure therefore I pray you that the most holy and religious man that is to be found if there bee any one at all may come vnto me and referre the case then to me for I will deale in such sort for you and my selfe that all shall be well and you no way discontented The two Brethren although they had no great hope in his speeches went yet to a Monastery of Gray-Friars and requested that some one holy and learned man might come to heare the confession of a Lombard that lay verie weake and sicke in their house And one was granted vnto them beeing an aged religious Frier a great read master in the sacred Scriptures a very venerable person who beeing of good and sanctified life all the Citizens held him in great respect esteem and on he went with thē to their house When he was come vp into the Chamber wher Master Chappelet lay and being there seated downe by him he beganne first to comfort him very louingly demanding also of him howe many times he had bin at confession Whereto master Chappelet who neuer had bin shriuen in all his life time thus replied Holy Father I alwayes vsed as a common custome to bee confessed once at the least euery weeke albeit sometimes much more often but true it is that being faln into this sicknesse now eight dayes since I haue not bene confest so violent hath bene the extremity of my weaknesse My sonne answered the good old man thou hast done well and so keep thee still hereafter in that minde but I plainly perceiue seeing thou hast so often confessed thy selfe that I shall take the lesse labour in vrging questions to thee Master Chappelet replied Say not so good Father for albeit I haue bene so oftentimes confessed yet am I willing now to make a generall confession euen of all sinnes comming to my remembrance from the very day of my birth vntil this instant houre of my shrift And therefore I intreate you holy Father to make a particular demand of euery thing euen as if I had neuer bene confessed at al and to make no respect of my sicknesse for I had rather be offensiue to mine owne flesh then by fauoring or allowing it ease to hazard the perdition of my soule which my Redeemer bought with so precious a price These words were highly pleasing to the holy Frier and seemed to him as an argument of a good conscience Wherefore after hee had much commended this forwardnesse in him he began to demand of him if he had neuer offended with any Woman Whereunto master Chappelet breathing foorth a great sigh answered Holy Father I am halfe ashamed to tell you the truth in this case as fearing least I should sinne in vaine-glory Whereto the Confessor replyed Speake boldly Sonne and feare not for in telling the truth be it in confession or otherwise a man can neuer sinne Then sayde Maister Chappelet Father seeing you giue me so good an assurance I wil resolue you faithfully heerein I am so true a Virgin-man in this matter euen as when I issued forth of my Mothers wombe O Sonne quoth the Frier how happie and blessed of God art thou Well hast thou liued and therein hast not meanly merited hauing hadde so much libertie to doo the contrary if thou wouldst wherein very few of vs can so answer for our selues Afterward he demanded of him how much displeasing to God hee had beene in the sinne of Gluttony When sighing againe greatly he answered Too much and too often good Father For ouer and beside the Fasts of our Lent season which euerie yeare ought to bee dulie obserued by deuout people I brought my selfe to such a customarie vse that I could fast three dayes in euery Weeke with Bread and Water But indeede holy Father I confesse that I haue drunke water with such a pleasing appetite and delight especially in praying or walking on pilgrimages euen as greedy drunkards do in drinking good Wine And many times I haue desired such Sallades of small hearbes as Women gather abroad in the open fields and feeding onely vpon them without coueting after any other kinde of sustenance hath seemed much more pleasing to me then I thought to agree with the nature of Fasting especially when as it swerueth from deuotion or is not done as it ought to bee Sonne Sonne replied the Confessour these sinnes are naturall and very light and therefore I would not haue thee to charge thy conscience with them more then is needfull It happeneth to euery man how holy soeuer he be that after he hath fasted ouer-long feeding will be welcome to him and drinking good drinke after his trauaile O Sir said Maister Chappelet neuer tell me this to comfort me for well you know and I am not ignorant therein that such things as are done for the seruice of God ought all to be performed purely and without any blemish of the minde what otherwise is done sauoureth of sinne The Friar being well contented with his words said It is not amisse that thou vnderstandest it in this manner and thy conscience thus purely cleared is no little comfort to me But tell me now concerning Auarice hast thou sinned therein by desiring more then was reasonable or withholding from others such things as thou oughtst not to detaine whereto Maister Chappelet answered Good Father I would not haue you to imagine because you see me lodged here in the house of two vsurers that therefore I am of any such disposition No truly Sir I came hither to no other end but onely to chastise and admonish them in friendly manner to cleanse their mindes from such abhominable profit And assuredly I should haue preuailed therein had not this violently sicknesse hindered mine intention But vnderstand holy Father that my parents left me a rich man and immediatly after my fathers death the greater part of his goods I gaue away for Gods sake and then to sustaine mine ownelife and to helpe the poore members of Iesus Christ I betooke my selfe to a meane estate of Merchandise desiring none other then honest gaine thereby and euermore whatsoeuer benefit came to me I imparted halfe thereof to the poore conuerting mine owne small portion about my necessary affaires which that other part would scarsely serue to supply yet alwayes God gaue thereto such a mercifull blessing that my businesse dayly thriued more and more arising still from good to better Well hast thou done therein good Sonne said the Confessour but how
often times hast thou beene angry Oh Sir said Maister Chappelet therein I assure yee I haue often transgressed And what man is able to forbeare it beholding the dayly actions of men to be so dishonest No care of keeping Gods commaundements nor any feare of his dreadfull iudgements Many times in a day I haue rather wished my selfe dead then liuing beholding youth pursuing idle vanities to sweare and forsweare themselues tipling in Tauernes and neuer haunting Churches but rather affecting the worlds follies then any such duties as they owe to God Alas Sonne quoth the Friar this is a good and holy anger and I can impose no penance on thee for it But tell me hath not rage or furie at any time so ouer-ruled thee as to commit murther or manslaughter or to speake euill of any man or to doe any other such kinde of iniurie Oh Father answered Maister Chappelet you that seeme to be a man of God how dare you vse any such vile words If I had had the very least thought to doe any such act as you speake doe you thinke that God would haue suffered me to liue These are deedes of darknesse fit for villaines and wicked liuers of which hellish crue when at any time I haue happened to meete with some one of them I haue said Goe God conuert thee Worthy and charitable words replied the Friar but tell me Sonne Didst thou euer beare false witnesse against any man or hast spoken falsly or taken ought from any one contrary to the will of the owner Yes indeede Father said Maister Chappelet I haue spoken ill of another because I haue sometime seene one of my neighbours who with no meane shame of the world would doe nothing else but beate his wife and of him once I complained to the poore mans parents saying that he neuer did it but when he was ouercome with drinke Those were no ill words quoth the Friar but I remember you said that you were a Merchant Did you euer deceiue any as some Merchants vse to doe Truly Father answered Maister Chappelet I thinke not any except one man who one day brought me money which he owed me for a certaine piece of cloath I solde him and I put it into a purse without accounting it about a moneth afterward I found that there were foure small pence more then was due to me And neuer happening to meete with the man againe after I had kept them the space of a whole yeare I then gaue them away to foure poore people for Gods sake A small matter said the Friar truly payed back again to the owner in bestowing them vpon the poore Many other questions hee demaunded of him whereto still he answered in the same manner but before he proceeded to absolution Maister Chappelet spake thus I haue yet one sinne more which I haue not reuealed to you when being vrged by the Friar to confesse it he said I remember that I should afford one day in the weeke to cleanse the house of my soule for better entertainement to my Lord and Sauiour and yet I haue done no such reuerence to the Sunday or Sabaoth as I ought to haue done A small fault Sonne replied the Friar O no quoth Maister Chappelet doe not terme it a small fault because Sunday being a holy day is highly to be reuerenced for as on that day our blessed Lord arose from death to life But quoth the Confessour hast thou done nothing else on that day Yes said he being forgetfull of my selfe once I did spet in Gods Church The Friar smiling said Alas Sonne that is a matter of no moment for wee that are Religious persons doe vse to spet there euery day The more is your shame answered Maister Chappelet for no place ought to be kept more pure and cleane then the sacred Temple wherein our dayly sacrifices are offered vp to God In this manner he held on an houre and more vttering the like transgressions as these and at last began to sigh very passionately and to shed a few teares as one that was skilfull enough in such dissembling prankes whereat the Confessour being much mooued said Alas Sonne what aylest thou Oh Father quoth Chappelet there remaineth yet one sinne more vpon my conscience whereof I neuer at any time made confession so shamefull it appeareth to me to disclose it and I am partly perswaded that God will neuer pardon me for that sinne How now Sonne said the Friar neuer say so for if all the sinnes that euer were committed by men or shall be committed so long as the World endureth were onely in one man and he repenting them and being so contrite for them as I see thou art the grace and mercy of God is so great that vpon penitent confession he will freely pardon him and therefore spare not to speak it boldly Alas Father said Chappelet still in pretended weeping this sinne of mine is so great that I can hardly beleeue if your earnest prayers doe not assist me that euer I shall obtaine remission for it Speake it Sonne said the Friar and feare not I promise that I will pray to God for thee Master Chappelet still wept and sighed and continued silent notwithstanding all the Confessors comfortable perswasions but after hee had helde him a long while in suspence breathing forth a sighe euen as if his very heart would haue broken he saide Holy Father seeing you promise to pray to God for me I will reueale it to you Know then that when I was a little boy I did once curse my Mother which he had no sooner spoken but he wrung his hands and greeued extraordinarily Oh good Son saide the Friar doth that seeme so great a sinne to thee Why men doe daily blaspheme our Lord God and yet neuerthelesse vpon their hearty repentance he is alwayes ready to forgiue them and wilt not thou beleeue to obtaine remission for a sinne so ignorantly committed Weepe no more deare Sonne but comfort thy selfe and rest resolued that if thou wert one of them who nayled our blessed Sauiour to his Crosse yet being so truly repentant as I see thou art he would freely forgiue thee Say you so Father quoth Chappelet What mine owne deare Mother that bare me in her wombe nine moneths day and night and afterwards fed me with her breasts a thousand times can I be pardoned for cursing her Oh no it is too haynous a sinne and except you pray to God very instantly for me he will not forgiue me When the religious man perceiued that nothing more was to be confessed by Master Chappelet he gaue him absolution and his owne benediction beside reputing him to be a most holy man as verily beleeuing all that he had said And who would not haue done the like hearing a man to speake in that manner and being vpon the very point of death Afterward he saide vnto him Master Chappelet by Gods grace you may be soone restored to health but if it so come to passe
redound to his no meane danger thus he replied My Lord the question propounded by you is faire and worthy to answer mine opinion truly threof doth necessarily require some time of consideration if it might stand with your liking to allow it but if not let me first make entrance to my reply with a pretty tale and well worth the hearing I haue oftentimes heard it reported that long since there was a very wealthy man who among other precious Iewels of his owne had a goodly Ring of great valew the beauty and estimation whereof made him earnestly desirous to leaue it as a perpetuall memory and honour to his successors Whereupon he willed and ordained that he among his male children with whom this Ring being left by the Father should be found in custody after his death hee and none other was to bee reputed his heire and to be honoured and reuerenced by all the rest as being the prime and worthiest person That Sonne to whom this Ring was left by him kept the same course to his posterity dealing in all respects as his predecessor had done so that in short time the Ring from hand to hand had many owners by Legacie At length it came to the hand of one who had three sonnes all of them goodly and vertuous persons and verie obedient to their Father in which regard he affected them all equally without any difference or partiall respect The custome of this ring being knowne to them each one of them coueting to beare esteeme aboue the other desired as hee could best make his meanes his father that in regard he was now grown very old he would leaue that Ring to him whereby he should bee acknowledged for his heire The good man who loued no one of them more then the other knew not how to make his choise nor to which of them he should leaue the Ring yet hauing past his promise to them seuerally he studied by what meanes to satisfie them all three Wherfore secretly hauing conferred with a curious and excellent Goldsmith hee caused two other Rings to bee made so really resembling the first made Ring that himself when he had them in his hand could not distinguish which was the right one Lying vpon his death-bed and his Sonnes then plying him by their best opportunities he gaue to each of them a Ring And they after his death presuming seuerally vpon their right to the inheritance honor grew to great contradiction and square each man producing then his Ring which were so truly all alike in resemblance as no one could know the right Ring from the other And therefore suite in Law to distinguish the true heire to his Father continued long time and so it dooth yet to this very day In like manner my good Lord concerning those three Lawes giuen by God the Father to three such people as you haue propounded each of them do imagine that they haue the heritage of God and his true Law and also duely to performe his Commandements but which of them do so indeede the question as of the three Ringes is yet remaining Saladine well perceyuing that the Iew was too cunning to be caught in his snare and had answered so well that to doe him further violence would redound vnto his perpetuall dishonour 〈◊〉 to reueale his neede and extremity and try if he would therein friendly sted him Hauing disclosed the matter and how he purposed to haue dealt with him if he had not returned so wise an answer the Iew lent him so great a sum of money as hee demanded and Saladine repayed it againe to him iustly giuing him other great gifts beside respecting him as his especiall frend and maintaining him in very honourable condition neere vnto his owne person A Monke hauing committed an offence deseruing to be very grieuously punished freede himselfe from the paine to be inflicted on him by wittily reprehending his Abbot with the very same fault The fourth Nouell Wherein may be noted that such men as will reproue those errors in others which remaine in themselues commonly are the Authors of their owne reprehension SO ceased Madam Philomena after the conclusion of her Tale when Dioneus sitting next vnto her without tarrying for any other command from the Queene knowing by the order formerly begunne that he was to follow in the same course spake in this manner Gracious Ladies if I faile not in vnderstanding your generall intention we are purposely assembled here to tell Tales and especially such as may please our selues In whith respect because nothing should be done disorderly I hold it lawfull for euery one as our Queene decreed before her dignity to relate such a nouelty as in their owne iudgement may cause most contentment Wherefore hauing heard that by the good admonitions of Iehannot de Cheuigny Abraham the Iew was aduised to the saluation of his soule and Melchisedech by his witty vnderstanding defended his riches from the traines of Saladine I now purpose to tell you in a few plaine words without feare of receiuing any reprehension how cunningly a Monke compassed his deliuerance from a punishment intended towards him There was in the Country of Lunigiana which is not farre distant from our owne a Monastery which sometime was better furnished with holinesse and Religion then now adayes they are wherein liued among diuers other a young nouice Monke whose hot and lusty disposition being in the vigour of his yeeres was such as neither fastes nor prayers had any great power ouer him It chanced on a fasting day about high noone when all the other Monkes were asleepe in their Dormitaries or Dorters this frolicke Friar was walking alone in their Church which stood in a very solitary place where ruminating on many matters by himselfe hee espied a pretty hansome wench some Husbandmans daughter in the Countrey that had beene gathering rootes and hearbes in the field vppon her knees before an Altar whom he had no sooner seene but immediately hee felt effeminate temptations and such as ill fitted with his profession Lasciuious desire and no religious deuotion made him draw neere her and whether vnder shift the onely cloake to compasse carnall affections or some other as close conference to as pernicious and vile a purpose I know not but so farre he preuailed vpon her frailety and such a bargaine passed betweene them that from the Church he wonne her to his Chamber before any person could perceiue it Now while this yong lusty Monke transported with ouer-fond affection was more carelesse of his dalliance then he should haue beene the Lord Abbot being newly arisen from sleepe and walking softly about the Cloyster came to the Monkes Daughters doore where hearing what noyse was made between them and a feminine voyce more strange then hee was wont to heare he layed his eare close to the Chamber doore and plainly perceiued that a woman was within Wherewith being much moued he intended suddenly to make him open the doore but vpon better
sitting next to Philostratus considering that her discourse must follow in order and thinking on what shee was to say the Queene had no sooner sent out her command but shee being no lesse faire then forward beganne in this manner Ladies of great respect the more we conferre on the accidents of Fortune so much the more remaineth to consider on her mutabilities wherein there is no need of wonder if discreetly we obserue that all such things as we fondly tearme to be our owne are in her power and so consequently change from one to another without any stay or arrest according to her concealed iudgement or setled order at least that can bee knowne to vs. Now although these things appeare thus daily to vs euen apparantly in all occasions and as hath beene discerned by some of our precedent discourses yet notwithstanding seeing it pleaseth the Queene that our arguments should ayme at these ends I will adde to the former tales another of my owne perhaps not vnprofitable for the hearers nor vnpleasing in obseruation Sometime heeretofore there dwelt in our Citie a Knight named Signior Thebaldo who according as some report issued from the Family of Lamberti but others deriue him of the Agolanti guiding perhaps their opinion heerein more from the traine of children belonging to the saide Thebaldo euermore equall to that of the Agolanti then any other matter else But setting aside from which of these two houses he came I say that in his time he was a very welthy Knight had three Sonnes the first being named Lamberto the second Thebaldo the third Agolanto all goodly and gracefull youths howbeit the eldest had not compleated eighteene yeares when Signior Thebaldo the father deceased who left them all his goods and inheritances And they seeing them selues rich in readâ—e monies and reuennewes without any other gouernment then their owne voluntary disposition kept no restraint vpon their expences but maintained many seruants and store of vnvalewable horses beside Hawkes and Hounds with open house for all commers and not onely all delights else fit for Gentlemen but what vanities beside best agreed with their wanton and youthfull appetites Not long had they run on this race but the treasures lefte them by their Father began greatly to diminish and their reuennewes suffised not to support such lauish expences as they had begun but they fell to engaging and pawning their inheritances selling one to day and another to morrow so that they saw themselues quickly come to nothing and then pouerty opened their eyes which prodigality had before closed vp Heereupon Lamberto on a day calling his Brethren to him shewed them what the honors of their Father had beene to what height his wealth amounted and now to what an ebbe of pouerty it was falne onely thorow their inordinate expences Wherefore hee counselled them as best he could before further misery insulted ouer them to make sale of the small remainder that was left and then to betake themselues vnto some other abiding where fairer Fortune might chance to shine vppon them This aduice preuailed with them and so without taking leaue of any body or other solemnity then closest secrecy they departed from Florence not tarrying in any place vntill they were arriued in England Comming to the City of London and taking there a small house vpon yearly rent liuing on so little charge as possible might be they began to lend out money at vse wherein Fortune was so fauourable to them that in few yeares they had gathered a great summe of mony by means whereof it came to passe that one while one of them and afterward another returned backe againe to Florence where with those summes a great part of their inheritances were redeemed and many other bought beside Linking themselues in marriage and yet continuing their vsances in England they sent a Nephew of theirs thither named Alessandro a yong man and of faire demeanor to maintaine their stocke in employment while they three remained still at Florence and growing forgetful of their former misery fell againe into as vnreasonable expences as euer neuer respecting their houshold charges because they had good credite among the Merchants and the monies still sent from Alessandro supported their expences diuers yeares The dealings of Alessandro in England grew very great for hee lent out much money to many Gentlemen Lords and Barons of the Land vpon engagement of their Manours Castles and other reuennues from whence he deriued immeasurable benefite While the three Brethren held on in their lauish expences borrowing moneys when they wanted vntill their supplyes came from England whereon indeede was their onely dependance it fortuned that contrary to the opinion of al men warre happened betweene the King of England and one of his sonnes which occasioned much trouble in the whole Countrey by taking part on either side some with the Sonne and other with the Father In regard whereof those Castles and places pawned to Alessandro were sodainely seized from him nothing then remaining that returned him any profit But liuing in hope day by day that peace would be concluded betweene the Father and the Sonne he neuer doubted but all things then should be restored to him both the principall and interest therfore he would not depart out of the Country The three Brethren at Florence bounding within no limites their disordered spending borrowed daily more and more And after some few yeares the Creditors seeing no effect of their hopes to com from them all credit being lost with them and no repayment of promised dues they were imprisoned their landes and all they had not suffising to pay the moity of debts but their bodies remained in prison for the rest theyr Wiues and yong children being sent thence some to one village some to another so that nothing now was to be expected but pouerty misery of life for euer As for honest Alessandro who had awaited long time for peace in England perceyuing there was no likelyhood of it and considering also that beside his tarrying there in vaine to recouer his dues he was in danger of his life without any further deferring hee set away for Italy It came to passe that as he issued foorth of Bruges hee saw a yong Abbot also iourneying thence being cloathed in white accompanied with diuers Monkes and a great traine before conducting the needefull carriage Two ancient Knights Kinsmen to the King followed after with whom Alessandro acquainted himselfe as hauing formerly known them and was kindly accepted into their company Alessandro riding along with them courteously requested to know what those Monks were that rode before and such a traine attending on them Whereto one of the Knights thus answered He that rideth before is a yong Gentleman and our Kinsman who is newly elected Abbot of one of the best Abbeyes in England because he is more yong in yeares then the decrees for such a dignity doe allow we trauaile with him to Rome to entreat
before which and calling him to witnesse that suffered such bitter and cruell torments on his Crosse putting a Ring vpon his finger there she faithfully espoused him refusing all the World to be onely his which being on either side confirmed solemnely by an holy vow and chaste kisses shee commanded him backe to his Chamber and shee returned to her bed againe sufficiently satisfied with her Loues acceptation and so they iournied on till they came to Rome When they had rested themselues there for some few dayes the supposed Abbot with the two Knights and none else in company but Alessandro went before the Pope and hauing done him such reuerence as beseemed the Abbot began to speake in this manner Holy Father as you know much better then any other euery one that desireth to liue well and vertuously ought to shunne so farre as in them lieth all occasions that may induce to the contrary To the ende therefore that I who desire nothing more then to liue within the compasse of a vertuous conuersation may perfect my hopes in this behalfe I haue fled from my Fathers Court and am come hither in this habite as you see to craue therein your holy and fatherly furtherance I am daughter to the King of England and haue sufficiently furnished my selfe with some of his treasures that your holinesse may bestow me in marriage because mine vnkind Father neuer regarding my youth and beauty inferior to few in my natiue Country would marry me to the King of Northwales an aged impotent and sickly man Yet let me tell your sanctity that his age and weakenesse hath not so much occasioned my flight as feare of mine owne youth and frailety when being married to him instead of loyall and vnstained life lewd and dishonest desires might make me to wander by breaking the diuine Lawes of wedlocke and abusing the royall blood of my Father As I trauailed hither with this vertuous intention our Lord who onely knoweth perfectly what is best fitting for all his creatures presented mine eyes no doubt in his meere mercy and goodnesse with a man meete to be my husband which pointing to Alessandro is this young Gentleman standing by me whose honest vertuous and ciuill demeanour deserueth a Lady of farre greater worth although perhaps nobility in blood be denied him and may make him seeme not so excellent as one deriued from Royall discent Holy and religious vowes haue past betweene vs both and the Ring on his finger is the firme pledge of my faith and constancie neuer to accept any other man in marriage but him onely although my Father or any else doe dislike it Wherefore holy Father the principall cause of my comming hither being already effectually concluded on I desire to compleat the rest of my pilgrimage by visiting the sanctified places in this City whereof there are great plenty And also that sacred marriage being contracted in the presence of God onely betweene Alessandro and my selfe may by you be publiquely confirmed and in an open congregation For seeing God hath so appointed it and our soules haue so solemnely vowed it that no disaster whatsoeuer can alter it you being Gods vicar here on earth I hope will not gaine-say but confirme it with your fatherly benediction that wee may liue in Gods feare and dye in his fauour Perswade your selues faire Ladies that Alessandro was in no meane admiration when hee heard that his wife was daughter to the King of England vnspeakeable ioy questionlesse wholly ouercame him but the two Knights were not a little troubled and offended at such a strange and vnexpected accident yea so violent were their passions that had they beene any where else then in the Popes presence Alessandro had felt their fury and perhaps the Princesse her selfe too On the other side the Pope was much amazed at the habite she went disguised in and likewise at the election of her husband but perceiuing there was no resistance to be made against it hee yeelded the more willingly to satisfie her desire And therefore hauing first comforted the two Knights and made peace betweene them the Princesse and Alessandro he gaue order for the rest that was to be done When the appointed day for the solemnity was come hee caused the Princesse cloathed in most rich and royall garments to appeare before all the Cardinals and many other great persons then in presence who were come to this worthy Feast which hee had caused purposely to be prepared where she seemed so faire goodly a Lady that euery eye was highly delighted to behold her commending her with no mean admiration In like manner was Alessandro greatly honored by the two Knights being most sumptuous in appearance and not like a man that had lent money to vsury but rather of very royall quality the Pope himselfe celebrating the marriage betweene them which being finished with the most magnificent pompe that could be deuised hee gaue them his benediction and licenced their departure thence Alessandro his Princesse and her traine thus leauing Rome they would needes visite Florence where the newes of this accident was long before noysed and they receiued by the Citizens in royall manner There did shee deliuer the three brethren out of prison hauing first payed all their debts and reseated them againe with their wiues in their former inheritances and possessions Afterward departing from Florence and Agolanto one of the Vncles trauailing with them to Paris they were there also most honourably entertained by the King of France From whence the two Knights went before for England and preuailed so succesfully with the King that hee receiued his daughter into grace and fauour as also his Sonne in law her husband to whom hee gaue the order of Knighthoode and for his greater dignitie created him Earle of Cornewall And such was the noble spirit of Alessandro that he pacified the troubles betweene the King and his sonne whereon ensued great comfort to the Kingdome winning the loue and fauour of all the people and Agolanto by the meanes of Alessandro recouered all that was due to him and his brethren in England returning richly home to Florence Counte Alessandro his kinsman hauing first dubd him Knight Long time hee liued in peace and tranquility with the faire Princesse his wife prouing to be so absolute in wisedome and so famous a Souldier that as some report by assistance of his Father in law hee conquered the Realme of Ireland and was crowned King thereof Landolpho Ruffolo falling into pouerty became a Pirate on the Seas and being taken by the Genewayes hardly escaped drowning Which yet neuerthelesse he did vpon a little Chest or Coffer full of very rich Iewels being caried thereon to Corfu where he was well entertained by a good woman And afterward returned richly home to his owne house The fourth Nouell Whereby may be discerned into how many dangers a man may fall through a couetous desire to enrich himselfe MAdame Lauretta sitting next to Madame Pampinea and seeing
making him promise that shee would come and drinke with him at his lodging So breaking off further speeches for that time shee returned to her young Cammerado and Andrea went about buying his horses still cheapning good store but did not buy any all that morning The Punke that had taken notice of Adreaes purse vpon the olde womans comming backe to her hauing formerly studied how shee might get all the gold or the greater part thereof cunningly questioned with her what the man was whence hee came and the occasion of his businesse there wherein she fully informed her particularly and in as ample manner as himselfe could haue done That shee had long time dwelt in Sicily with his Father and afterward at Perouse recounting also at what time she came thence and the cause which now had drawne him to Naples The witty young housewife being thorowly instructed concerning the Parents and kindred of Andrea their names quality and all other circumstances thereto leading began to frame the foundation of her purpose thereupon setting her resolution downe constantly that the purse and gold was already more then halfe her owne Being come home to her owne house away shee sent the olde Pandresse about other businesse which might hold her time long enough of employment and hinder her returning to Andrea according to promise purposing not to trust her in this serious piece of seruice Calling a young crafty Girle to her whom she had well tutoured in the like ambassages when euening drew on she sent her to Andreas lodging where by good fortune she found him sitting alone at the dore and demanding of him if he knew an honest Gentleman lodging there whose name was Signior Andrea de Piero he made her answere that himselfe was the man Then taking him aside shee said Sir there is a worthy Gentlewoman of this Citie that would gladly speake with you if you pleased to vouchsafe her so much fauour Andrea hearing such a kinde of salutation and from a Gentlewoman named of worth began to grow proud in his owne imaginations and to make no meane estimation of himselfe As vndoubtedly that he was an hansome proper man and of such cariage and perfections as had attracted the amorous eye of this Gentlewoman and induced her to like and loue him beyond all other Naples not contayning a man of better merit Whereupon he answered the Mayde that he was ready to attend her Mistresse desiring to know when it should be and where the Gentlewoman would speake with him So soone as you please Sir replied the Damosell for she tarieth your comming in her owne house Instantly Andrea without leauing any direction of his departure in his lodging or when he intended to returne againe said to the Girle Goe before and I will follow This little Chamber-commodity conducted him to her Mistresses dwelling which was in a streete named Naupertuis a title manifesting sufficiently the streetes honesty but hee hauing no such knowledge thereof neither suspecting any harme at all but that he went to a most honest house and to a Gentlewoman of good respect entred boldly the Mayde going in before and guiding him vp a faire payre of stayres which he hauing more then halfe ascended the cunning young Queane gaue a call to her Mistresse saying Signtor Andrea is come already whereupon she appeared at the stayres-head as if she had stayed there purposely to entertaine him She was young very beautifull comely of person and rich in adornements which Andrea well obseruing seeing her descend two or three steps with open armes to embrace him catching fast hold about his neck he stood as a man confounded with admiration and she contained a cunning kinde of silence euen as if she were vnable to vtter one word seeming hindered by extremity of ioy at his presence and to make him effectually admire her extraordinary kindnesse hauing teares plenteously at commaund intermixed with sighes and broken speeches at last thus she spake Signior Andrea you are the most welcom friend to me in all the world sealing this salutation with infinite sweet kisses and embraces whereat in wonderfull amazement he being strangely transported replied Madame you honour me beyond all compasse of merit Then taking him by the hand shee guided him thorow a goodly Hall into her owne Chamber which was delicately embalmed with Roses Orenge-flowres and all other pleasing smelles and a costly bed in the middest curtained round about very artificiall Pictures beautifying the walles with many other embellishments such as those Countries are liberally stored withall He being meerely a nouice in these kinds of wanton carriages of the World and free from any base or degenerate conceit firmely perswaded himselfe that questionlesse shee was a Lady of no meane esteeme and he more then happy to be thus respected and honoured by her They both being seated on a curious Chest at the Beds feete teares cunningly trickling downe her cheekes and sighes intermedled with inward sobbings breathed forth in sad but very seemely manner thus shee beganne I am sure Andrea that you greatly maruell at me in gracing you with this solemne and kinde entertainment and why I should so melt my selfe in sighes and teares at a man that hath no knowledge of me or perhaps sildome or neuer heard any speeches of me but you shall instantly receiue from mee matter to augment your greater maruell meeting heere with your owne sister beyond all hope or expectation in either of vs both But seeing that Heauen hath beene so gracious to me to let mee see one of my brethren before I die though gladly I would haue seene them all which is some addition of comfort to me and that which happily thou hast neuer heard before in plaine and truest manner I will reueale vnto thee Piero my Father and thine dwelt long time as thou canst not chuse but to haue vnderstood in Palermo where through the bounty and other gracious good parts remaining in him he was much renowned and to this day is no doubt remembred by many of his louing friends and well-willers Among them that most intimately affected Piero my mother who was a Gentlewoman and at that time a widow did dearest of all other loue him so that forgetting the feare of her Father brethren yea and her owne honour they became so priuately acquainted that I was begotten and am here now such as thou seest me Afterward occasions so befalling our Father to abandon Palermo and returne to Perouse he left my mother and me his little daughter neuer after for ought that I could learne once remembring either her or me so that if he had not beene my Father I could haue much condemned him in regard of his ingratitude to my Mother and loue which hee ought to haue shewne me as his childe being borne of no Chamber-maide neither of a City sinner albeit I must needes say that shee was blame-worthy without any further knowledge of him moued onely thereto by most loyal affection to commit
checkt back his hounds they preuailed so much by earnest intreaties to know what she was and the reason of her liuing there that she intirely related her quality vnfortunate accidents and strange determination for liuing there Which when the Gentleman had heard who very well knew her husband compassion forced teares from his eyes and earnestly he laboured by kinde perswasions to alter so cruel a deliberation making an honourable offer for conducting her home to his owne dwelling where shee should remaine with him in noble respect as if she were his owne sister without parting from him till Fortune should smile as fairely on her as euer she had done before When these gentle offers could not preuaile with her the Gentleman left his wife in her company saying that he would go fetch some foode for her and because her garments were all rent and torne hee woulde bring her other of his wiues not doubting but to winne her thence with them His wife abode there with Beritola very much bemoaning her great disasters and when both viands and garments were brought by extremity of intercession they caused her to put them on and also to feede with them albeit she protested that shee would not part thence into any place where any knowledge should be taken of her In the end they perswaded her to go with them into Lunigiana carrying also with her the two yong Goats and their damme which were then in the Caue altogether prettily playing before Beritola to the great admiration of Conrado and his wife as also the seruants attending on them When the windes and weather grew fauourable for them Madam Beritola went aboard with Conrado and his wife being followed by the two young Goates and his Damme and because her name should bee knowne to none but Conrado and his wife onely shee would be stiled no otherwise but the Goatherdesse Merrily yet gently blew the gale which brought them to enter the Riuer of Macra where going on shore and into their owne Castell Beritola kept company with the wife of Conrado but in a mourning habite and a wayting Gentlewoman of hers honest humble and very dutifull the Goates alwayes familiarly keeping them company Returne wee now to the Pyrates which at Ponzo seized on the small Barke wherein Madam Beritola was brought thither and carried thence away without any sight or knowledge of her With such other spoiles as they had taken they shaped their course for Geneway and there by consent of the Patrones of the Galley made a diuision of their booties It came to passe that among other things the Nurse that attended on Beritola and the two with her Children fell to the share of one Messer Gasparino d'Oria who sent them together to his owne House there to be employed in seruice as seruants The Nurse weeping beyond measure for the losse of her Lady and bemoaning her owne miserable fortune whereinto shee was now fallen with the two young Laddes after long lamenting which shee found vtterly fruitlesse and to none effect though she was vsed as a seruant with them and being but a very poore woman yet was shee wise and discreetly aduised Wherefore comforting both her selfe and them so well as she could and considering the depth of their disaster shee conceited thus that if the Children should be knowne it might redounde to their greater danger and shee be no way aduantaged thereby Hereupon hoping that Fortune early or late would alter her stearne malice and that they might if they liued regaine once more their former condition shee would not disclose them to any one whatsoeuer till shee should see the time aptly disposed for it Being thus determined to all such as questioned her concerning them she answered that they were her owne Children naming the eldest not Geoffrey but Iehannot de Procida As for the youngest shee cared not greatly for changing his name and therefore wisely enformed Geoffrey vpon what reason shee had altered his name and what danger be might fall into if he should otherwise be discouered being not satisfied with thus telling him once but remembring him thereof very often which the gentle youth being so well instructed by the wise and carefull Nurse did very warily obserue The two young Laddes very poorely garmented but much worse hosed and shodde continued thus in the house of Gasparino where both they and the Nurse were long time imployed about very base and drudging Offices which yet they endured with admirable patience But Iehannot aged already about sixteene yeeres hauing a loftier spirit then belonged to a slauish seruant despising the basenesse of his seruile condition departed from the drudgery of Messer Gasparino and going aboard the Gallies which were bound for Alexandria fortuned into many places yet none of them affoording him any aduancement In the ende about three or foure houres after his departure from Gasparino being now a braue young man and of very goodly forme he vnderstood that his Father whom he supposed to be dead was as yet liuing but in captiuity and prisoner to King Charles Wherefore despairing of any successefull fortune hee wandred here and there till he came to Lunigiana and there by strange accident he became seruant to Messer Conrado Malespina where the seruice proued well liking to them both Very sildome times hee had a sight of his Mother because shee alwayes kept company with Conradoes wife and yet when they came within view of each other shee knew not him nor he her so much yeeres had altered them both from what they were wont to be and when they saw each other last Iehannot being thus in the seruice of Messer Conrado it fortuned that a daughter of his named Spina being the Widdow of one Messer Nicolas Grignan returned home to her Fathers House Very beautifull and amiable shee was young likewise aged but little aboue sixteene growing wonderously amorous of Iehannot and he of her in extraordinary and most feruent manner which loue was not long without full effect continuing many moâ—eths before any person could perceiue it which making them to build on the more assurance they began to carrie their meanes with lesse discretion then is required in such nice cases and which cannot be too prouidently managed Vpon a day he and shee walking to a goodly wood plentifully furnished with spreading Trees hauing out-gone the rest of their company they made choise of a pleasant place very daintily shaded and beautified with all sorts of floures There they spent sometime in amorous discourse beside some other sweete embraces which though it seemed ouer-short to them yet was it so vnaduisedly prolonged that they were on a sudden surprized first by the Mother and next by Messer Conrado himselfe who greeuing beyond measure to be thus trecherously dealt withall caused them to be apprehended by three of his seruants and without telling them any reason why ledde bound to another Castle of his and fretting with extremity of rage concluded in his minde that they
haue bin to me by how much the further off it stood from my hopes But if you be so forward as your words doe witnesse then feede mee not with any further fruitlesse expectation but rather send me backe to prison and lay as many afflictions on mee as you please for my endeared loue to your Daughter Spina maketh mee to loue you the more for her sake how hardly soeuer you entreate me bindeth me in the greater reuerence to you as being the father of my fairest friend Messer Conrado hearing these words stood as one confounded with admiration reputing him to be a man of lofty spirit and his affection most feruent to his Daughter which was as a little to his liking Wherefore embracing him and kissing his cheeke without any longer dallying hee sent in like manner for his Daughter Her restraint in prison had made her lookes me ager pale and wanne and very weake was shee also of her person farre differing from the woman shee was wont to be before her affection to Iehannot there in presence of her Father and with free consent of either they were contracted as man and wife and the espousals agreed on according to custome Some few dayes after without any ones knowledge of that which was done hauing furnished them with all things fit for the purpose and time aptly seruing that the Mothers should be partakers in this ioy he called his wife and Madam Beritola to whom first he spake in this manner What will you say Madam if I cause you to see your eldest Son not long since married to one of my Daughters whereunto Beritola thus replied My Lord I can say nothing else vnto you but that I shall be much more obliged to you then already I am and so much the rather because you will let me see the thing which is dearer to me then mine owne life and rendring it vnto mee in such manner as you speake of you will recall backe some part of my former lost hopes and with these words the teares streamed aboundantly from her eyes Then turning to his wife he saide And you deare Loue if I shew you such a Sonne in Law what will you thinke of it Sir quoth shee what pleaseth you must and shall satisfie me be he Gentleman or a beggar Well said Madam answered Messer Conrado I hope within few dayes to make you both ioyfull So when the amorous couple had recouered their former feature and honourable garments were prepared for them priuately thus he said to Geoffrey Beyond the ioy which already thou art inriched withall how would it please thee to meet with thine owne Mother here I cannot beleeue Sir replied Geoffrey that her greeuous misfortunes haue suffered her to liue so long yet notwithstanding if Heauen hath beene so merciful to her my ioyes were incomparable for by her gracious counsell I might well hope to recouer no meane happinesse in Sicilie Within a while after both the Mothers were sent for who were transported with vnspeakable ioyes when they beheld the so lately maried couple being also much amazed when they could not guesse what inspiration had guided Conrado to this extraordinary benignity ioyning Iehannot in mariage with Spina Hereupon Madam Beritola remembring the speeches between her and Conrado began to obserue him very aduisedly and by a hidden vertue which long had silently slept in her and now with ioy of spirit awaked calling to minde the lineatures of her Sonnes Infancy without awaiting for any other demonstrations shee folded him in her armes with earnest affection Motherly ioy and pitty now contended so violently together that shee was not able to vtter one word the sensitiue vertues being so closely combined that euen as dead shee fell downe in the armes of her Sonne And he wondering greatly thereat making a better recollection of his thoughts did well remember that he had often before seene her in the Castell without any other knowledge of her Neuerthelesse by meere instinct of Nature whose power in such actions declares it selfe to be highly predominant his very soule assured him that shee was his Mother and blaming his vnderstanding that he had not before beene better aduised he threw his armes about her and wept exceedingly Afterward by the louing paines of Conradoes wife as also her daughter Spina Madam Beritola being recouered from her passionate trance and her vitall spirits executing their Offices againe fell once more to the embracing of her Sonne kissing him infinite times with teares and speeches of motherly kindnesse he likewise expressing the same dutifull humanity to her Which ceremonious courtesies being passed ouer and ouer to no little ioy in all the beholders beside repetition of their seuerall misfortunes Messer Conrado made all knowne to his friends who were very glad of this new alliance made by him which was honoured with many solemn magnificent feastings Which being all concluded Geoffrey hauing found out fit place and opportunity for conference with his new created Father without any sinister opposition began as followeth Honourable Father you haue raised my contentment to the highest degree and haue heaped also many gracious fauours on my noble Mother but now in the finall conclusion that nothing may remaine vneffected which consisteth in your power to performe I would humbly entreate you to honour my Mother with your company at a Feast of my making where I would gladly also haue my Brother present Messer Gasparino d' Oria as I haue once heretofore told you questing as a common Pyrate on the Seas tooke vs and sent vs home to his house as slaues where as yet he detaineth him I would haue you likewise send one into Sicilie who informing himselfe more amply in the state of the Country may vnderstand what is become of Henriet my Father and whether he be liuing or no. If he remaine aliue to know in what condition he is and being secretly instructed in all things then to returne backe againe to you This motion made by Geoffrey was so pleasing to Conrado that without any reference to further leysure hee dispatched thence two discreete persons the one to Geneway and the other to Sicilie he which went for Geneway hauing met with Gasparino earnestly entreated him on the behalfe of Conrado to send him the Poore expelled and his Nurse recounting euery thing in order which Conrado had tolde him concerning Geoffrey and his Mother when Gasparino had heard the whole discourse he maruelled greatly thereat and saide True it is that I will doe any thing for Messer Conrado which may be to his loue and liking prouided that it lie in my power to performe and about some foureteene yeeres since I brought such a Lad as you seeke for with his Mother home to my house whom I will gladly send vnto him But you may tell him from me that I aduise him from ouer-rash crediting the fables of Iehannot that now tearmes himselfe by the name of Geoffrey because hee is a more wicked boy then he
taketh him to be and so did I find him Hauing thus spoken and giuing kinde welcome to the Messenger secretly he called the Nurse vnto him whom he heedfully examined concerning this case Shee hauing heard the rebellion in the Kingdome of Sicilie and vnderstanding withall that Henriet was yet liuing ioyfully threw off all her former feare relating euery thing to him orderly and the reasons mouing her to conceale the whole businesse in such manner as shee had done Gasparino well perceiuing that the report of the Nurse and the message receiued from Conrado varied not in any one circumstance beganne the better to credit her wordes And being a man most ingenious making further inquisition into the businesse by all the possible meanes he could deuise and finding euery thing to yeeld vndoubted assurance ashamed of the vile and base vsage wherein hee had so long time kept the Ladde and desiring by his best meanes to make him amends he had a faire Daughter aged about thirteene yeeres and knowing what manner of man he was his father Henriet also yet liuing he gaue her to him in marriage with a very bountifull and honourable dowry The iouiall dayes of feasting being past he went aboard a Galley with the Poore expelled his Daughter the Ambassadour and the Nurse departing thence to Lericy where they were nobly welcommed by Messer Conrado and his Castle being not farre from thence with an honourable traine they were conducted thither and entertained with all possible kindnesse Now concerning the comfort of the Mother meeting so happily with both her Sonnes the ioy of the Brethren and Mother together hauing also found the faithfull Nurse Gasparino and his Daughter in company now with Conrado and his Wife friends familiars and all generally in a Iubilee of reioycing it exceedeth capacity in me to expresse it and therefore I referre it to your more able imagination In the time of this mutuall contentment to the ende that nothing might be wanting to compleat and perfect this vniuersall ioy our Lord a most aboundant bestower where he beginneth added long wished tydings concerning the life and good estate of Henriet Capece For euen as they were feasting and the concourse great of worthy guests both of Lords and Ladies the first seruice was scarcely set on the Tables but the Ambassador which was sent to Sicilie arriued there before them Among many other important matters he spake of Henriet who being so long a time detained in prison by King Charles when the commotion arose in the City against the King the people grudging at Henriets long imprisonment slew the Guards and set him at liberty Then as capitall enemy to King Charles he was created Captaine generall following the chase and killing the French By meanes whereof he grew great in the grace of King Pedro who replanted him in all the goods and honours which he had before with very high and eminent authority Hereunto the Ambassadour added that he was entertained with extraordinary grace and deliuery of publike ioy and exaltation when his Wife and Sonne were knowne to be liuing of whom no tydings had at any time beene heard since the houre of his surprizall Moreouer that a swift winged Barke was now sent thither vpon the happy hearing of this newes well furnished with noble Gentlemen to attend till their returning backe We neede to make no doubt concerning the tydings brought by this Ambassadour nor of the Gentlemens welcome thus sent to Madam Beritola and Geoffrey who before they would sit downe at the Table saluted Messer Conrado and his kinde Lady on the behalfe of Henriet for all the great graces extended to her and her Sonne with promise of any thing lying in the power of Henriet to rest continually at their command The like they did to Signior Gasparino whose liberall fauours came vnlooked for with certaine assurance that when Henriet should vnderstand what hee had done for his other Sonne the Poore expelled there would be no defailance of riciprocall courtesies As the longest ioyes haue no perpetuity of lasting so all these gracefull ceremonies had their conclusion with as many sighes and teares at parting as ioyes abounded at their first encountring Imagine then that you see such aboard as were to haue here no longer abiding Madam Beritola and Geoffrey with the rest as the Poore expelled the so late married Wiues and the faithfull Nurse bearing them company With prosperous windes they arriued in Sicilie where the Wife Sonnes and Daughters were ioyfully met by Henriet at Palermo and with such honourable pompe as a case so important equally deserued The Histories make further mention that there they liued a long while after in much felicity with thankfull hearts no doubt to Heauen in acknowledgement of so many great mercies receiued The Soldan of Babylon sent one of his Daughters to be ioyned in marriage with the King of Cholcos who by diuers accidents in the space of foure yeeres happened into the custody of nine men and in sundry places At length being restored backe to her Father shee went to the saide King of Cholcos as a Maide and as at first shee was intended to be his wife The seauenth Nouell Aliuely demonstration that the beauty of a Woman oftentimes is very hurtfull to her selfe and the occasion of many euils yea and of death to diuers men PEraduenture the Nouell related by Madam Aemilia did not extend it selfe so farre in length as it moued compassion in the Ladies mindes hearing the hard fortunes of Beritola and her Children which had incited them to weeping but that it pleased the Queene vpon the Tales conclusion to command Pamphilus to follow next in order with his discourse and hee being thereto very obedient beganne in this manner It is a matter of no meane difficulty vertuous Ladies for vs to take intire knowledge of euery thing we doe because as oftentimes hath beene obserued many men imagining if they were rich they should liue securely and without any cares And therefore not onely haue their prayers and intercessions aimed at that end but also their studies and daily endeauours without refusall of any paines or perils haue not meanely expressed their hourely solicitude And although it hath happened accordingly to them and their couetous desires fully accomplished yet at length they haue met with such kinde of people who likewise thirsting after their wealthy possessions haue bereft them of life being their kinde and intimate friends before they attained to such riches Some other being of low and base condition by aduenturing in many skirmishes and foughten battels trampling in the bloud of their brethren and friends haue beene mounted to the soueraigne dignity of Kingdomes beleeuing that therein consisted the truest happinesse but bought with the dearest price of their liues For beside their infinite cares and feares wherewith such greatnesse is continually attended at their royall Tables they haue drunke poyson in a golden pot Many other in like manner with most earnest appetite haue coueted
knowing otherwise but that shee was his wife indeede Now it fortuned that there arriued also at the same Baffa about some especiall occasions of his a Gentleman whose name was Antigonus well stept into yeares and better stored with wisedome then wealth because by medling in many matters while hee followed the seruice of the King of Cyprus Fortune had beene very aduerse to him This ancient Gentleman passing on a day by the house where the Lady lay and the Merchant being gone about his businesse into Armenia hee chanced to see the Lady at a window of the house and because shee was very beautifull he obserued her the more aduisedly recollecting his sences together that doubtlesse he had seene her before but in what place hee could not remember The Lady her selfe likewise who had so long time beene Fortunes tennis ball and the terme of her many miseries drawing now neere ending began to conceiue vpon the very first sight of Antigonus that she had formerly seene him in Alexandria seruing her Father in place of great degree Hereupon a suddaine hope perswaded her that by the aduice and furtherance of this Gentleman she should recouer her wonted Royall condition and opportunity now aptly fitting her by the absence of her pretended Merchant husband she sent for him requesting to haue a few words with him When he was come into the house she bashfully demanded of him if he was not named Antigonus of Famagosta because shee knew one like him so called Hee answered that he was so named saying moreouer Madame me thinkes that I should know you but I cannot remember where I haue seene you wherefore I would entreate if it might stand with your good liking that my memory might be quickned with better knowledge of you The Lady perceiuing him to be the man indeede weeping incessantly she threw her armes about his necke and soone after asked Antigonus who stood as one confounded with meruaile if hee had neuer seene her in Alexandria Vpon these words Antigonus knew her immediately to be Alathiella daughter to the great Soldane who was supposed long since to be drowned in the Sea and offering to doe her such reuerence as became him she would not permit him but desired that he would be assistant to her and willed him also to sit downe a while by her A goodly Chaire being brought him in very humble manner he demanded of her what had become of her in so long a time because it was verily beleeued throughout all Egypt that shee was drowned in the Sea I would it had bin so answered the Lady rather then to leade such a life as I haue done and I thinke my Father himselfe would wish it so if euer he should come to the knowledge thereof With these words the teares rained downe her faire cheekes wherefore Antigonus thus spake vnto her Madame discomfort not your selfe before you haue occasion but if you be so pleased relate your passed accidents to mee and what the course of your life hath bene perhaps I shall giue you such friendly aduice as may stand you in sted and no way be iniurious to you Fetching a sigh euen as if her heart would haue split in sunder thus she replyed Ah Antigonus me thinkes when I looke on thee I seeme to behold my royall Father and therefore mooued with the like religious zeale and charitable loue as in duty I owe vnto him I will make knowne to thee what I rather ought to conceale and hide from any person liuing I know thee to bee honourable discreete and truely wise though I am a fraile simple and weake woman therefore I dare discouer to thee rather then any other that I know by what straunge and vnexpected misfortunes I haue liued so long obscurely in the world And if in thy great and graue iudgement after the hearing of my many miseries thou canst any way restore me to my former estate I pray thee do it but if thou perceiue it impossible to bee done as earnestly likewise I entreate thee neuer to reueale to any liuing person that either thou hast seene me or heard any speech of me After these words the teares still streaming from her faire eyes shee recounted the whole passage of her rare mishaps euen from her shipwracke in the Sea of Maiorica vntil that very instant houre speaking them in such harsh manner as they hapned and not sparing any iot of them Antigonus being mooued to much compassion declared how hee pitied her by his teares and hauing bene silent an indifferent while as considering in this case what was best to be done thus he began Madam seeing you haue past through such a multitude of misfortunes yet vndiscouered what and who you are I will render you as blamelesse to your Father and estate you as fairely in his loue as at the hour when you parted from him and afterward make you wife to the King of Cholcos She demanding of him by what meanes possibly this could be accomplished breefely he made it knowne to her how and in what manner hee would performe it To cut off futther tedious circumstances forthwith he returned to Famagosta and going before the King of the country thus he spake to him Sir you may if so you will be pleased in an instant do me an exceeding honor who haue bene impouerished by your seruice and also a deed of great renowne to your selfe without any much matter of expence and cost The King demanding how Antigonus thus answered The fayre daughter of the Soldane so generally reported to be drowned is arriued at Baffa and to preserue her honour from blemishing hath suffered many crosses and calamities being at this instant in very poore estate yet desirous to re-visite her father If you please to send her home vnder my conduct it will be great honour to you and no meane benefite to mee which kindnesse will for euer be thankfully remembred by the Soldan The King in royall magnificence replied sodainly that he was highly pleased with these good tydings hauing sent honourably for her from Baffa with great pompe she was conducted to Famagosta and there most graciously welcommed both by the King and Queene with solemne triumphes bankets and reuelling performed in most Maiesticke manner Being questioned by the King and Queene concerning so large a time of strange misfortunes according as Antigonus had formerly enstructed her so did she shape the forme of her answers and satisfied with honor all their demands So within few dayes after vpon her earnest instant request with an honourable traine of Lords and Ladies shee was sent thence and conducted all the way by Antigonus vntill she came vnto the Soldans Court. After some few dayes of her reposing there the Soldan was desirous to vnderstand how she could possibly liue so long in any Kingdome or Prouince whatsoeuer and yet no knowledge to bee taken of her The Lady who perfectly retained by heart and had all her lessons at her fingers ends by the warie
hopefull expectation then proued hee was enforced with those his two other children to forsake his country The Lady being by nature very pittiful looking aduisedly on the yong Girle beganne to grow in good liking of her because indeede she was amiable gentle and beautifull whereupon shee saide Honest man thy daughter hath a pleasing countenance and perhaps her inward disposition may prooue answerable to hir outward goods parts if therefore thou canst bee content to leaue her with me I will giue her entertainment and vpon her dutifull carriage and behauiour if she liue to such yeares as may require it I wil haue her honestly bestowne in marriage This motion was verie pleasing to the Count who readily declared his willing consent thereto and with the teares trickling downe his cheekes in thankfull manner he deliuered his prettie daughter to the Lady Shee being thus happily bestowne hee minded to tarry no longer in London but in his wonted begging manner trauailing thorough the Country with his sonne Perotto at length hee came into Wales but not without much weary paine and trauell being neuer vsed before to iourney so far on foote There dwelt another Lord in office of Marshalship to the King of England whose power extended ouer those partes a man of very great authority keeping a most noble and bountifull house which they termed the President of Wales his Court whereto the Count and his son oftentimes resorted as finding there good releefe and comfort On a day one of the Presidents sons accompanied with diuers other Gentlemens children were performing certaine youthfull sports pastimes as running leaping and such like wherein Perotto presumed to make one among them excelling all the rest in such commendable manner as none of them caâ—e any thing nere him Diuers times the President had taken notice thereof and was so vvell pleased with the Lads behauiour that he enquired of whence he was Answer vvas made that hee vvas a poore mans son that euery day came for an almes to his gate The President being desirous to make the boy his the Count whose dayly prayers were to the same purpose frankly gaue his son to the Nobleman albeit naturall and fatherly affection vrged some vnwillingnesse to part so with him yet necessity and discretion found it to bee for the benefit of them both Being thus eased of care for his son and daughter and they though in different places yet vnder good and woorthie gouernment the Count would continue no longer in England but as best he could procure the meanes passed ouer into Ireland and being arriued at a place called Stanford became seruant to an Earle of that Country a Gentleman professing Armes on whom he attended as a seruing man liued a long while in that estate very painfully His daughter Violenta clouded vnder the borrowed name of Gianetta dwelling with the Lady at London grew so in yeares beauty comlinesse of person and was so gracefull in the fauour of her Lord and Lady yea of euery one in the house beside that it was wonderfull to behold Such as but obserued her vsuall carriage and what modesty shined clearely in her eyes reputed her vvell vvorthy of honourable preferment in which regard the Lady that had receiued her of her Father not knowing of whence or what shee was but as himselfe had made report intended to match her in honourable mariage according as her vertues worthily deserued But God the iust rewarder of all good endeauours knowing her to be noble by birth and causelesse to suffer for the sinnes of another disposed otherwise of her and that so worthy a Virgin might be no mate for a man of ill conditions no doubt ordained what was to be done according to his owne good pleasure The noble Lady with whom poore Gianetta dwelt had but one onely Sonne by her Husband and he most deerely affected of them both as well in regard hee was to be their heire as also for his vertues and commendable qualities wherein he excelled many young Gentlemen Endued he was with heroycal valour compleate in all perfections of person and his mind euery way answerable to his outward behauiour exceeding Gianetta about sixe yeeres in age Hee perceiuing her to be a faire and comely Maiden grew to affect her so entirely that all things else he held contemptible and nothing pleasing in his eye but shee Now in regard her parentage was reputed poore hee kept his loue concealâ—d from his Parents not daring to desire her in marriage for both hee was to loose their fauour by disclosing the vehemency of his afflictions which proued a greater torment to him then if it had beene openly knowne It came to passe that loue ouer-awed him in such sort as he fell into a violent sicknesse and store of Physicions were sent for to saue him from death if possibly it might be Their iudgements obseruing the course of his sicknesse yet not reaching to the cause of the disease made a doubtfull question of his recouery which was so displeasing to his parents that their griefe and sorrow grew beyond measure Many earnest entreaties they moued to him to know the occasion of his sicknesse whereto he returned no other answer but heart-breaking sighes and incessant teares which drew him more and more into weakenesse of body It chanced on a day a Physicion was brought vnto him being young in yeeres but well experienced in his practise and as hee made triall of his pulse Gianetta who by his Mothers command attended on him very diligently vpon some especial occasion entred into the Chamber which when the young Gentleman perceiued and that shee neither spake word nor so much as looked towards him his heart grew great in amorous desire and his pulse did beate beyond the compasse of ordinary custome whereof the Physicion made good obseruation to note how long that fit would continue No sooner was Gianetta gone forth of the Chamber but the pulse immediately gaue ouer beating which perswaded the Physicion that some part of the disease had now discouered it selfe apparantly Within a while after pretending to haue some speech with Gianetta and holding the Gentleman still by the arme the Physicion caused her to be sent for and immediately shee came Vpon her very entrance into the Chamber the pulse began to beate againe extreamely and when shee departed it presently ceased Now was he thorowly perswaded that hee had found the true effect of his sicknesse when taking the Father and mother aside thus he spake to them If you be desirous of your Sons health it consisteth not either in Physicion or physicke but in the mercy of your faire Maide Gianetta for manifest signes haue made it knowne to me and he loueth the Damosell very dearely yet for ought I can perceiue the Maide doth not know it now if you haue respect of his life you know in this case what is to be done The Nobleman and his Wife hearing this became somewhat satisfied because there remained a remedy
therefore it is no meruaile if like will to like a beggers brats to keepe company with beggers The Count hearing these contemptible words was not a little greeued thereat and although his courage was greater then his poore condition would permit him to expresse yet clouding all iniuries with noble patience hanging downe his head and shedding many a salt teare endured this reproach as hee had done many both before and after But honourable Sir Roger perceiuing what delight his children tooke in the poore mans company albeit he was offended at his Fathers harsh words by holding his wife in such base respect yet fauoured the poore Count so much the more and seeing him weepe did greatly compassionate his case saying to the poore man that if hee would accept of his seruice he willingly would entertaine him Whereto the Count replied that very gladly he would embrace his kinde offer but hee was capable of no other seruice saue onely to be an horse-keeper wherein he had imployed the most part of his time Heereupon more for pleasure and pitty then any necessity of his seruice he was appointed to the keeping of one Horse which was onely for his Daughters saddle and daily after he had done his diligence about the Horse he did nothing else but play with the children While Fortune pleased thus to dally with the poore Count D'Angiers his children it came to passe that the King of France after diuers leagues of truces passed between him the Germaines died and next after him his Son the dolphin was crowned King and it was his wife that wrongfully caused the Counts banishment After expiration of the last league with the Germains the warres began to grow much more fierce and sharpe and the King of England vpon request made to him by his new brother of France sent him very honourable supplies of his people vnder the conduct of Perotto his lately elected President of Wales and Sir Roger Mandeuile Son to his other Lord high Marshall with whom also the poore Count went and continued a long while in the Campe as a common Souldier where yet like a valiant Gentleman as indeed he was no lesse both in aduice and actions he accomplished many more notable matters then was expected to come from him It so fell out that in the continuance of this warre the Queen of France fell into a grieuous sicknes and perceiuing her selfe to be at the point of death shee became very penitently sorrowfull for all her sinnes earnestly desiring that shee might be confessed by the Archbishop of Roane who was reputed to be an holy and vertuous man In the repetition of her other offences she reuealed what great wrong she had done to the Count D'Angiers resting not so satisfied with disclosing the whole matter to him alone but also confessed the same before many other worthy persons and of great honour entreating them to worke so with the King that if the Count were yet liuing or any of his Children they might be restored to their former honour againe It was not long after but the Queene left this life and was most royally enterred when her confession being disclosed to the King after much sorrow for so iniuriously wronging a man of so great valour and honour Proclamation was made throughout the Camp and in many other parts of France beside that whosoeuer could produce the Count D'Angiers or any of his Children should richly be rewarded for each one of them in regard he was innocent of the foule imputation by the Queenes owne confession and for his wrongfull exile so long he should be exalted to his former honour with farre greater fauours which the King franckely would bestow vpon him When the Count who walked vp and downe in the habite of a common seruitor heard this Proclamation forth-with he went to his Master Sir Roger Mandeuile requesting his speedy repaire to Lord Perotto that being both assembled together he would acquaint them with a serious matter concerning the late Proclamation published by the King Being by themselues alone in the Tent the Count spake in this māner to Perotto Sir S. Roger Mādeuile here your equal competitor in this military seruice is the husband to your naturall sister hauings yet neuer receiued any dowry with her but her inherent vnblemishable vertue honor Now because she may not stil remain destitute of a competent Dowry I desire that Sir Roger and none other may enioy the royall reward promised by the King You Lord Perotto whose true name is Lewes manifest your selfe to be nobly borne and sonne to the wrongfull banished Count D'Angiers auouch moreouer that Violenta shadowed vnder the borrowed name of Gianetta is your owne Sister and deliuer me vp as your Father the long exiled Count D'Angiers Perotto hearing this beheld him more aduisedly and began to know him then the tears flowing abundantly from his eyes he fell at his feete and often embracing him saide My deere and noble Father a thousand times more deerely welcome to your Sonne Lewes Sir Roger Mandeuile hearing first what the Count had said and seeing what Perotto afterward performed became surprized with such extraordinary ioy and admiration that he knew not how to carry himselfe in this case Neuerthelesse giuing credite to his words and being somewhat ashamed that he had not vsed the Count in more respectiue manner remembring beside the vnkinde language of his furious Father to him he kneeled downe humbly crauing pardon both for his fathers rudenes and his owne which was courteously granted by the Count embracing him louingly in his armes When they had a while discoursed their seuerall fortunes sometime in teares and then againe in ioy Perotto and Sir Roger would haue the Count to be garmented in better manner but in no wise he would suffer it for it was his onely desire that Sir Roger should be assured of the promised reward by presenting him in the Kings presence and in the homely habit which he did then weare to touch him with the more sensible shame for his rash beleefe and iniurious proceeding Then Sir Roger Mandeuile guiding the Count by the hand and Perotto following after came before the King offering to present the Count and his children if the reward promised in the Proclamation might be performed The king immediately commanded that a reward of inestimable valew should be produced desiring Sir Roger vppon the sight thereof to make good his offer for forthwith presenting the Count and his children Which hee made no longer delay of but turning himselfe about deliuered the aged Count by the title of his seruant and presenting Perotto next said Sir heere I deliuer you the Father and his Son his daughter who is my wife cannot so conueniently be heere now but shortly by the permission of heauen your Maiesty shall haue a sight of her When the King heard this stedfastly he looked on the Count and notwithstanding his wonderfull alteration both from his wonted feature and forme yet after
and because he had no other Art or exercise hee vsed often to frequent the market place And in regard he was but a weake witted man and a gourmand or grosse feeder his language was the more harsh and rude like to our common Porters or loutish men and his carriage also absurd boore-like and clownish His daughter being named Monna Isabetta aged not aboue eight and twenty or thirty yeers was a fresh indifferent faire plumpe round woman cherry cheekt like a Queene-Apple and to please her Father fed not so sparingly as otherwise she wold haue done but when she communed or iested with any body she would talke of nothing but onely concerning the great vertue in Alchimy extolling it aboue all other Arts. Much about this season of the yeare there returned a young Scholler from Paris named Felice faire of complexion comely of person ingeniously witted and skilfully learned who soone after grew into familiarity with Puccio now because he could resolue him in many doubts depending on his profession of Alchimy himselfe hauing onely practise but no great learning he vsed many questions to him shewed him very especiall matters of secrecy entertaining him often to dinners and suppers whensoeuer he pleased to come and conuerse with him and his daughter likewise perceiuing with what fauour her Father respected him became the more familiar with him allowing him good regard and reuerence The young man continuing his resort to the House of Puccio and obseruing the widow to be faire fresh and prettily formall he began to consider with himselfe what those things might be wherein shee was most wanting and if he could to saue anothers labour supply them by his best endeauours Thus not alwayes carrying his eyes before him but vsing many backe and circumspect regards he proceeded so farre in his wylie apprehensions that by a few sparkes close kept together he kindled part of the same fire in her which began to flame apparantly in him And he very wittily obseruing the same as occasion first smiled on him and allowed him fauourable opportunity so did hee impart his intention to her Now albeit he found her plyant enough to gaine physick for her owne griefe as soone as his yet the meanes and manner were as yet quite out of all apprehension For shee in no other part of the World would trust her selfe in the young mans company but onely in her Fathers house and that was a place out of all possibility because Puccio by a long continued custome vsed to watch well neere all the night as commonly he did each night after other neuer stirring foorth of the roomes which much abated the edge of the young mans appetite After infinite intricate reuoluings wheeling about his busied braine he thought it not altogether an Herculian taske to enioy his happinesse in the house and without any suspition albeit Puccio kept still within doores and watched as hee was wont to doe Vpon a day as he sate in familiar conference with Puccio he began to speake vnto him in this manner I haue many times noted kinde friend Puccio that all thy desire and endeauour is by what meanes thou mayest become very rich wherein me thinkes thou takest too wide a course when there is a much neere and shorter way which Mighell Scotus and other his associates very diligently obserued and followed yet were neuer willing to instruct other men therein whereby the misterie might be drowned in obliuion and prosecuted by none but onely great Lords that are able to vndergoe it But because thou art mine especiall friend and I haue receiued from thee infinite kind fauours whereas I neuer intended that any man by me should be acquainted with so rare a secret if thou wilt imitate the course as I shall shew thee I purpose to teach it thee in full perfection Puccio being very earnestly desirous to vnderstand the speediest way to so singular a mysterie first began to entreat him with no meane instance to acquaint him with the rules of so rich a Science and afterward sware vnto him neuer to disclose it to any person except hee gaue his consent thereto affirming beside that it was a rarity not easie to be comprehended by very apprehensiue iudgements Well quoth Felice seeing thou hast made me such a sound and solemne promise I will make it knowne vnto thee Know then friend Puccio the Philosophers do hold that such as couet to become rich indeed must vnderstand how to make the Stone as I will tell thee how but marke the manner very heedfully I do not say that after the Stone is obtained thou shalt be euen as rich as now thou art but thou shalt plainly perceiue that the very grosest substances which hitherto thou hast seene all of them shal be made pure golde and such as afterward thou makest shall be more certaine then to go or come with Aqua fortis as now they do Most expedient is it therefore that when a man will go diligently about this businesse and purposeth to prosecute such a singular labour which will and must continue for the space of 40. nights must giue very carefull attendance wholly abstaining from sleepe slumbering or so much as nodding all that while Moreouer in some apt and conuenient place of thy house there must be a forge or furnace erected framed in decent and formall fashion and neere it a large table placed ordered in such sort as standing vpright on thy feete and leaning the reines of thy backe against it thou must stande stedfastly in that maner euery night without the least motion or stirring vntill the breake of day appeareth and thine eyes still vppon the Furnace fixed to keepe euer in memory the true order which I haue prescribed So soone as the morning is seene thou mayst if thou wilt walke or rest a little vpon thy bed and afterward go about thy businesse if thou haue any Then go to dinner attending readily till the euenings approch preparing such things as I will readily set thee downe in writing vvithout which there is not any thing to bee done and then returne to the same taske againe not varying a iot from the course directed Before the time be fully expired thou shalt perceiue many apparant signes that the stone is still in absolute forwardnesse but it will bee vtterly lost if thou fayle in the least of all the obseruances And when the experience hath crowned thy labour thou art sure to haue the Philosophers stone and thereby shalt be able to enrich all and worke wonders beside Puccio instantly replied Now trust me Sir there is a great difficultie in this labour neither doth it require any extraordinary length of time but it may very easily be followed and performed and by your friendly fauour in helping to direct the Furnace and Table according as you imagine most conuenient on Sunday at night next I will begin my task The Scholler being gone he went to his daughter and tolde her all the matter and what he
had determined to do which shee immediately vnderstood sufficiently and what would ensue on his nightly watching in that manner returning him answer that whatsoeuer he liked and allowed of it became not her any way to mislike Thus they continued in this kinde concordance till Sunday night came When Puccio was to begin his experience and Felice to set forward vpon his aduenture Concluded it was that euery night the Scholler must come to Supper partly to bee a witnesse of his constant performance but more especially for his owne aduantage The place which Puccio had chosen for his hopefull attaining to the Philosophers Stone was close to the Chamber where his daughter lay hauing no other separation or diuision but an old ruinous tottring wall So that when the Scholler was playing his prize Puccio heard an vnwonted noise in the house which he had neuer obserued before neither knew the wall to haue any such motion wherefore not daring to stirre from his standing least all should be marrd in the very beginning he called to his daughter demanding what busie labour she was about The widdow being much addicted to frumping according as questions were demanded of her and perhaps forgetting who spake to her pleasantly replied Whoop Sir where are we now Are the Spirits of Alchimy walking in the house that we cannot lye quietly in our beds Puccio meruailing at this answer knowing she neuer gaue him the like before demanded againe what she did The subtle wench remembring that she had not answered as became her said Pardon mee Father my wits were not mine owne when you demanded such a sodaine question and I haue heard you say an hundred times that when folke go supperles to bed either they walke in their sleepe or being awake talke very idely as no doubt you haue discernde by me Nay daughter quoth he it may be that I was in a waking dreame and thought I heard the olde wall totter but I see I was deceiued for now it is quiet and still enough Talke no more good Father saide she least you stirre from your place and hinder your labour take no care for mee I am able enough to haue care of my selfe To preuent any more of these mighty disturbances they went to lodge in another part of the house where they continued out the time of Puccioes paines with equall contentment to them both which made her diuers times say to Felice You teach my father the cheefe grounds of Alchimy while we helpe to waste away his treasure Thus the Scholler being but poore yet well forwarded in Learning made vse of Puccioes folly and found benefit thereby to keepe him out of wants which is the bane and ouerthrow of numberlesse good wits And Puccio dying before the date of his limitted time because hee failed of the Philosophers Stone Isabetta ioyned in marriage with Felice to make him amends for enstructing her father by which meanes he came to be her husband Ricciardo surnamed the Magnifico gaue a Horse to Signior Francesco Vergellisi vpon condition that by his leaue and lisence he might speake to his Wife in his presence which he did and shee not returning him any answere made answer to himselfe on her behalfe and according to his answer so the effect followed The fifth Nouell Wherein is described the frailety of some Women and folly of such Husbands as leaue them alone to their owne disposition PAmphilus hauing ended the Nouell of Puccio the Alchimist the Queene fixing her eye on Madam Eliza gaue order that shee should succeede with hers next When shee asking somewhat more austerely then any of the rest not in any spleen but as it was her vsuall manner thus began The World containeth some particular people who doe beleeue because themselues know something that others are ignorant in all things who for the most part while they intend to make a scorne of other men vpon the proofe doe findâ— themselues to carry away the scorne And therefore I account it no meane follie in them who vpon no occasion will tempt the power of another mans wit or experience But because all men and women perhaps are not of mine opinion I meane that you shall perceiue it more apparantly by an accident happening to a Knight of Pistoia as you shall heare by me related In the Towne of Pistoia bordering vpon Florence there liued not long since a Knight named Signior Francesco descended of the linage or family of the Vergellisi a man very rich wise and in many things prouident but gripple couetous and too close handed without respect to his vvorth and reputation He being called to the Office of Podesta in the City of Millaine furnished himselfe with all things in honourable manner beseeming such a charge only a comely horse for his owne saddle excepted vvhich he knew not by any meanes how to compasse so loath he vvas to lay out money albeit his credit much depended thereon At the same time there liued in Pistoya likewise a young man named Ricciardo deriued of meane birth but very wealthy quicke witted and of commendable person alwayes going so neate fine and formall in his apparrell that he was generally tearmed the Magnifico who had long time affected yea and closely courted though without any aduantage or successe the Lady and Wife of Signior Francesco who was very beautifull vertuous and chaste It so chanced that this Magnifico had the very choysest and goodliest ambling Gelding in all Tuscanie which he loued dearely for his faire forme and other good parts Vpon a flying rumor throughout Pistoria that he daily made loue to the fore-said Lady some busie body put it into the head of Signior Francesco that if he pleased to request the Gelding the Magnifico would frankly giue it him in regard of the loue he bare to his Wife The base minded Knight coueting to haue the Horse and yet not to part with any money sent for the Magnifico desiring to buy his faire Gelding of him because he hoped to haue him of free gift The Magnifico hearing his request was not a little ioyfull hereof and thus answered Sir if you would giue me all the wealth which you possesse in this World I will not sell you my Horse rather I will bestow him on you as a Gentlemanly gift but yet vpon this condition that before you haue him deliuered I may with your lisence and in your presence speake a few words to your vertuous Ladie and so farre off in distance from you as I may not be heard by any but onely her selfe Signior Francesco wholly conducted by his base auaricious desire and meaning to make a scorne at the Magnifico made answere that he was well contented to let him speake with her when he would and leauing him in the great Hall of the house he went to his Wiues Chamber and told her how easily he might enioy the House commanding her forth-with to come and heare what he could say to her onely shee should abstaine
entertained But hauing well obserued all your seuerall relations grounded on graue worthy examples especially the last so notably deliuered by the Queene I cannot but commend faire Iuliet of Narbona in perfourming two such strange impossibilities and conquering the vnkindnesse of so cruel a husband If my Tale come short of the precedent excellency or giue not such content as you perhaps expect accept my good will and let me stand engaged for a better heereafter The Annales of Denmarke do make mention that the King of the said country who was first set downe as Prince contrary to the ancient custom and lawes obserued among the Danes namely Hunguinus had a son called Siwalde who succeeded him in the estates and kingdome belonging to his famous predecessors That age and the Court of that Royall Prince was verie highly renowned by the honour of faire Serictha Daughter to the sayde Siwalde who beside her generall repute of being a myracle of Nature in perfection of beautie and most compleate in all that the heart of man could desire to note in a body full of grace gentlenesse and whatsoeuer else to attract the eyes of euerie one to beholde her was also so chaste modest and bashfull as it was meerely impossible to preuaile so farre with her that any man should come to speake with her For in those dayes marriages were pursued and sought by valour and by the onely opinion which stoute Warriours conceiued of the vertuous qualities of a Ladie Notwithstanding neuer could any man make his vaunt that she had giuen him so much as a looke or euer any one attained to the fauour to whisper a word in her eare Because both the custome and will of Parents then very respectiuely kept in those Northerne parts of the world of hearing such speak as desired their daughters in marriage grew from offering them some worthy seruices and thereby compassed meanes to yeeld their contentation by some gracious and kinde answers But she who was farre off from the desire of any such follies referring her selfe wholly to the wil and disposition of the King her Lord and Father was so contrary to giue any liuing man an answer that her eye neuer looked on any one speaking to her appearing as sparing in vouchsafing a glance as her heart was free from a thought of affection For she had no other imagination but that Maides both in their choise will ought to haue any other disposition but such as should bee pleasing to their parents either to graunt or denie according as they were guided by their graue iudgement In like manner so well had shee brideled her sensuall appetites with the curbe of Reason Wisedome and Prouidence setting such a seuere and constant restraint on the twinkling or motions of her eyes in absolute obedience to her Father as neuer was she seene to turne her head aside to lend one looke on any man of her age A worthy sight it was to behold Knights errant passing repassing to Denmarke and backe againe labouring to conquer those setled eyes to win the least signe of grace and fauour from her whom they so dutiously pursued to steale but a silly glimpse or glance and would haue thought it a kind of honorable theft But this immouable rock of beauty although she knew the disseignes of them which thus frequented the Court of the King her Father and could not pretend ignorance of their endeuour ayming onely at obtaining her in marriage yet did she not lend aâ—y look of her eye yeelding the least signall of the hearts motion in affecting any thing whatsoeuer but what it pleased her Father she should do Serictha liuing in this strange and vnvsuall manner it mooued manie Princes and great Lords to come and court her contending both by signes and words to change her from this seuere constancie and make knowne if possible it might be whether a woman would or could be so resolute as to vse no respect at all towards them coming from so manie strange countries to honor her in the Courts of the King her father But in these dayes of ours if such a number of gallant spirits should come to aske but one looke of some of our beauties I am halfe affraide that they should finde the eyes of many of our dainty darlings not so sparing of their glances as those of Serictha were Considering that our Courtiers of these times are this way emulous one of another and women are so forward in offering themselues that they performe the office of suters as fearing lest they should not be solicited yea though it bee in honest manner The King who knew well enough that a daughter was a treasure of some danger to keepe and growing doubtfull withall least in the end this so obstinate seuerity would be shaken if once it came to passe that his daughter should feele the piercing apprehensions of loue whereof as yet she neuer had any experience he determined to vse some remedy for this great concourse of louers and strange kinde of carriage in the Princesse his daughter For hee apparently perceiued that such excelling beauty as was in Serictha with those good and commendable customes and other ornaments of his daughters mind could neuer attaine to such an height of perfection but yet there would be found some men so wittily accute and ingenious as to conuert and humor a maid according to their will and make a mockery of them who were before of most high esteeme Beside among so great a troope of Lords as daily made tender of their amorous seruice some one or other would proue so happy as at the last she should be his Mistresse And therefore forbearing what otherwhise he had intended as a finall conclusion of all such follies calling his daughter alone to himselâ—e in his Chamber and standing cleere from all other attention hee vsed to her this or the like Language I know not faire daughter what reason may moue you to shew your selfe so disdainfull towards so many Noble and worthy men as come to visite you and honour my Court with their presence offering me their loue and loyall seruice vnder this onely pretence as I perceiue of obtaining you and compassing the happinesse as it appeareth in plaine strife among them one day to winne the prize you being the maine issue of all their hope If it be bashfull modesty which indeede ought to attend on all virgins of your yeares and so veyles your eyes as with honour you cannot looke on any thing but what is your owne or may not iustly vouchsafe to see I commeÌ„d your maidenly continencie which yet neuerthelesse I would not haue to bee so seuere as at length your youth falling into mislike thereof it may be the occasion of some great misfortune either to you or me or else to vs both together considering what rapes are ordinarily committed in these quarters and of Ladies equall euery way to your selfe which happening would presently be the cause of my death
If it be in regard of some vow which you haue consecrated to virginity and to some one of our Gods I seeke not therein to hinder your disseignes neither will bereaue the celestiall powers of whatsoeuer appertaineth to them Albeit I could wish that it should bee kept in a place more straited and separate from the resort of men to the end that so bright a beauty as yours is should cause no discords among amorous suters neither my Court proue a Campe destinied vnto the conclusion of such quarrels or you be the occasion of ruining so many whose seruice would beseeme a much more needfull place then to dye heere by fond and foolish opinion of enioying a vaine pleasure yet remaining in the power of another bodie to grant If therefore I shall perceiue that these behauiours in you do proceede from pride or contempt of them who endeuour to do you both honor and seruice and in sted of granting them a gracious looke in arrogancie you keepe from them making them enemies to your folly and my sufferance I sweare to you by our greatest God that I will take such due order as shall make you feele the hand of an offended Father and teach you hencefoorth to bee much more affable Wherefore deere daughter you shall do me a singular pleasure freely to acquaint me with your minde and the reasons of your so stricte seuerity promising you vpon the word and faith of a King nay more of a louing and kinde Father that if I finde the cause to bee iust and reasonable I will desist so farre from hindering your intent as you shal rather perceiue my fatherly furtherance and rest truly resolued of my help and fauour Wherefore faire daughter neither blush or dismay or feare to let me vnderstand your will for euidently I see that meere virgin shame hath made a rapture of your soule beeing nothing else but those true splendors of vertue deriued from your Auncestors and shining in you most gloriously gracing you with a much richer embellishing thē those beauties bestowed on you by Nature Speake therefore boldly to your Father because there is no law to prohibit your speech to him for when he commandeth he ought to bee obeyed promising vppon mine oath once againe that if your reasons are such as they ought to be I will not faile to accommodate your fancy The wise and vertuous Princesse hearing the King to alledge such gracious reasons and to lay so kinde a command on her making him most lowe and humble reuerence in signe of dutifull accepting such fauour thus she answered Royall Lord and Father seeing that in your Princely Court I haue gathered whatsoeuer may be termed vertuous in me you being the principall instructer of my life from whom I haue learned those lessons how maides of my age ought to gouerne and maintaine themselues you shall apparantly perceiue that neither gazing lookes which I ought not to yeelde without your consent nor pride or arrogancie neuer taughr me by you or the Queene my most honourable Lady and Mother are any occasion of my cariage towards them which come to make ostentation of their folly in your Court as if a meere look of Serictha were sufficient to yeeld assurance effectually of their desires victory Nothing my most Royall Lord and Father induceth mee to this kinde of behauiour but onely due respect of your honour mine owne and to the end it may not be thought that I belye my selfe in not eying the affectionate offers of amorous pursuers or haue any other priuate reserued meaning then what may best please King Siwalde my Father let it suffice Sir that it remaineth in your power onely to make an apt election and choice for me for I neither ought nor will allowe the acceptance of any suters kindnesse so much as by a looke much lesse then by words vntill your Highnesse shall nominate the man to be a meete husband for Serictha It is onely you then my Lord that beares the true life-blood of our Ancestors It is the vntainted life of the Queene my Mother that sets a chaste and strict restraint on mine eyes from estranging my heart to the idle amorous enticements of young giddy-headed Gentlemen and haue sealed vp my soule with an absolute determination rather to make choise of death then any way to alter this my warrantable seuerity You being a wise King and the worthie Father of Serictha it is in you to mediate counsell and effect what best shall beseeme the desseignes of your daughter because it is the vertue of children yea and their eternall glory and renowne to illustrate the liues and memories of their parents It consisteth in you either to grant honest license to such Lords as desire me or to oppose them with such discreete conditions as both your selfe may sit free from any further afflicting and they rest defeated of dangerous dissentions according as you foresee what may ensue Which yet neuerthelesse I hold as a matter impossible if their discord should be grounded on the sole apprehension of their soules and the onely preuention therof is not to yeeld any signe glance of the eie or so much as a word more to one man then another for such is the setled disposition of your daughters soule and which shee humbly entreateth may so be still suffered Many meanes there are whereby to winne the grace of the greatest King by employing their paines in worthy occasions answerable vnto their yeeres and vertue if any such sparkes of honour doe shine in their soules rather then by gaining heere any matter of so meane moment by endeauouring to shake the simplicity of a bashfull maide Let them cleare the Kings high-wayes of Theeues who make the passages difficult or let them expell Pirates from off the Seas which make our Danish coasts euery way inaccessible These are such Noble meanes to merit as may throw deserued recompence vppon them and much more worthily then making Idols of Ladies lookes or gazing for babies in their wanton eyes So may you bestowe on them what is your owne granting Serictha to behold none but him who you shall please to giue her for otherwise you know her absolute resolue neuer to looke any liuing man in the face but onely you my gracious Lord and Father The King hearing this wise and modest answer of his daughter could not choose but commend her in his heart and smiling at the counsell which she gaue him returned her this answer Vnderstand me wel faire daughter neither am I minded to breake your determination wholly nor yet to gouerne my selfe according to your fancie I stand indifferently contented that vntill I haue otherwise purposed you shall continue the nature of your ancient custome yet conditionally that when I command an alteration of your carriage you faile not therin to declare your obedience What else remaineth beside for so silly a thing as a Woman is and for the priuate pleasing of so many great Princes and Lords
I will not endanger any of their liues because their parents and friends being sensible of such losses may seeke reuenge perhaps to their owne ruine and some following scourge to my indiscretion For I consider daughter that I haue neighbours who scarsely loue me and of whom in time I may right my selfe hauing receiued by their meanes great wrongs iniuries Also I make no doubt but to manage your loue-sute with discretion and set such a pleasing proceednig betweene them as neyther shall beget any hatred in them towards me nor yet offend them in their affections pursuite till fortune may smile so fauourably vpon some one man to reach the height of both your wished desires Siwalde was thus determinately resolued to let his daughter liue at her owne discretion without any alteration of her continued seueritie perceiuing day by day that many came still to request her in mariage he could not giue her to them all nor make his choise of any one least all the rest should become his enemies and fall in quarrell one with another Onely this therefore was his ordination that among such a number of amorous suters he onely should weare the Lawrell wreath of victory who could obtaine such fauour of Serictha as but to looke him in the face This condition seemed to bee of no meane difficulty yea and so impossible that many gaue ouer their amorous enterprize whereof Serictha was wondrouslie ioyfull seeing her selfe eased of such tedious importunitie dulling her eares with their proffered seruices and foppish allegations of fantasticke seruitude such as ydle-headed Louers do vse to protest before their Mistresses wherein they may beleeue them if they list Among all them that were thus forward in their heate of affection there was a young Danish Lord named Ocharus the sonne of a Pirate called Hebonius the same man who hauing stolne the Sister vnto King Hunguinus and Sister to Siwalde affiancing himselfe to her was slaine by King Haldune and by thus killing him enioyed both the Lady and the kingdome of the Gothes also as her inheritance This Ocharus relying much on his comelinesse of person wealth power and valour but aboue all the rest on his excellent and eloquent speaking bestowed his best endeauour to obtaine Serictha notwithstanding the contemptible carriage of the rest towards him whereupon preuailing for his accesse to the Princesse and admitted to speake as all the other did he reasoned with her in this manner Whence may it proceede Madam that you being the fairest and wisest Princesse liuing at this day in all the Northerne parts should make so smal account of your selfe as to denie that which with honour you mâ—y yeeld to them as seeke to doe you most humble seruice and forgetting the rank you hold doe refuse to deigne them recompence in any manner whatsoeuer seeking onely to enioy you in honourable marriage Perhaps you are of opinion that the gods should become slaues to youâ— beauty in which respect men are vtterly vnworthy to craue any such acquaintance of you If it be so I confesse my selfe conquered But if the gods seeke no such association with women and since they forsooke the World they left this legacy to vs men I thinke you couet after none but such as are extracted of their blood or may make vaunt of their neere kindred and alliance to them I know that many haue wished and doe desire you I know also that as many haue requested you of the King your Father but the choyce remaineth in your power and you being ordained the Iudge to distinguish the merit of all your Sutors me thinkes you doe wrong to the office of a Iudge in not regarding the parties which are in suite to sentence the deseâ—t of the best and brauest and so to delay them with no more lingering I cannot thinke Madam that you are so farre out of your selfe and so chill cold in your affection but desire of occasions equall to your vertue and singular beauty doe sometime touch you feelingly and make you to wish for such a man answerable to the greatnesse of your excellency And if it should be otherwise as I imagine it to be impossible yet you ought to breake such an obstinate designe onely to satisfie the King your Father who can desire nothing more then to haue a Sonne in Law to reuenge him on the Tyrant of Swetia who as you well know was sometime the murtherer of your Grand-father Hunguinus and also of his Father If you please to vouchsafe me so much grace and fauour as to make me the man whom your heart hath chosen to be your Husband I sweare vnto you by the honour of a Souldier that I will vndergoe such seruice as the King shall be reuenged you royally satisfied and my selfe aduanced to no meane happinesse by being the onely fortunate man of the World Gentle Princesse the most beautifull daughter to a King open that indurate heart and so soften it that the sweete impressions of loue may be engrauen therein see there the loyall pursuite of your Ocharus who to saue his life cannot so much as winne one looke from his diuine Mistresse This nicenesse is almost meerely barbarous that I wishing to aduenture my life prodigally in your seruice you are so cruell as not to deigne recompence to this duty of mine with the least signe of kindnesse that can be imagined Faire Serictha if you desire the death of your friendly seruant Ocharus there are many other meanes whereby to performe it without consuming him in so small a fire and suffering him there to languish without any answere If you will not looke vpon me if my face be so vnworthy that one beame of your bright Sunnes may not shine vpon it If a word of your mouth be too precious for me make a signe with your hand either of my happinesse or disaster If your hand be enuious of mine ease let one of your women be shee to pronounce the sentence of life oâ— death because if my life be hatefull to you this hand of mine may satisfie your will and sacrifice it to the rigour of your disdaine But if as I am rather perswaded the ruine of your seruants be against your more mercifull wishes deale so that I may perceiue it and expresse what compassion you haue of your Ocharus who coueteth nothing more then your daily hearts ease and contentment with a priuiledge of honour aboue other Ladies All this discourse was heard by Serictha but so little was shee moued therewith as shee was farre enough off from returning him any answer neither did any of the Gentlewomen attending on her euer heare her vse the very least word to any of her amorous sollicitors nor did shee know any one of them but by speech onely which droue them all into an vtter despaire perceiuing no possible meanes whereby to conquer her The Histories of the Northeâ—ne 〈…〉 deâ—â—are that in those times the rapes of women were not much 〈…〉 and such
behold Madam whether Ocharus be a true louer of Sericthaes vertues or no and your knowledge fully resolued at what end his affection aimeth as also how farre his honest desert extendeth for you both to loue him and to recompence the loyall respect he hath vsed towards you Neuer looke on the villaines face who stroue to shame the King your Fathers Court by violation of theeuery the chasest Princesse on the Earth but regard Ocharus who is readie to sacrifice himselfe if you take as much pleasure in his ruine as he thinketh hee hath giuen you contentment by deliuering you from this Traytor Doth it not appeare vnto you Madam that I haue as yet done enough whereby to be thought a worthy Husband for the royall Daughter of Denmarke Haue I not satisfied the Kings owne Ordinance by deliuering his Daughter as already I haue done Will Serictha be so constant in her cruelty as not to turne her eye towards him who exposed his life to no meane perill and daunger onely in the defence of her Chastity Then I plainely perceiue that the wages of my deuoire is ranked amongest those precedent seruices which I haue performed for so hurtfull a beautie Yet gentle Princesse let me tell you my carriage hath bin of more importance then all the others can be and my merit no way to be compared with theirs at least if you pleased to make account of him who is an vnfeigned louer of your modesty and deuoutly honoureth your vertuous behauiour And yet Madame shall I haue none other answere from you but your perpetuall silence Can you continue so obstinate in your opinion in making your selfe still as strange to your Ocharus as to the rest who haue no other affection but onely to the bare outside of beauty Why then Royall Ladie seeing at this instant time all my labour is but lost and your heart seemeth much more hardned in acknowledging any of my honest seruices at least yet let me bee so happy as to conduct you backe to the Palace and restore you to that sacred safetie which will be my soules best comfort to behold No outward signe of kinde acceptation did any way expresse it selfe in her but rather as fearing lest the commodiousnesse of the place shold incite this young Lord to forget all honest respect and imitate the other in like basenesse But he who rather wished a thousand deathes then any way to displease his Mistresse as if hee were halfe doubtfull of her suspition made offer of guiding her backe to the place from whence shee had before bene stolne where she found her company still staying as not daring to stirre thence to let the King know his daughters ill fortune but when they saw her returne and in the company of so worthie a Knight they grew resolued that no violence had bene done vnto her The Princesse sharpely rebuking her women for leauing her so basely as they had done gaue charge to one of them because she would not seeme altogether negligent discourteous that she being gon thence she should not faile to thanke Ocharus for the honest and faithfull seruice he had done vnto her which she would continually remember and recompence as it lay in her power Neuerthelesse shee aduised him withall not to hope of any more aduantage thereby then reason should require For if it were the will of the Gods that she should be his wife neither she or any other could let or hinder it but if her destiny reserued her for another all his seruices would auaile to no purpose but rather to make her the more rigorous towards him This gracious answer thus giuen him by her Gentlewoman althogh it gaue some small contentment to the poore languishing louer yet hee saw no assured signe whereon to settle his resolue but his hopes vanished away in smoake as fast as opinion bred them in his braine And gladly he would haue giuen ouer all further amorous solicitings but by some priuate perswasions of her message sent him which in time might so aduance his seruices done for her sake as would deriue far greater fauours from her Whereupon he omitted no time or place but as occasion gaue him any gracious permission still plied her memorie with his manly rescuing her from the rauisher sufficient to pleade his merite to her Father and that in equity she ought to bee his wife by right both of Honour and Armes no man being able to deserue her as he had done So long he pursued her in this maner that his speeches seemed hatefull to her and deuising how to be free from his daily importunities at length in the habite of a poore Chamber-maide she secretly departed out of the Court wandering into the solitary parts of the country where she entered into seruice and had the charge of keeping Sheepe It may seeme strange that a Kings onely daughter should stray in such sort and despising Courtly life betake her selfe to paines and seruility but such was her resolution and women delighting altogether in extremes spare no attempts to compasse their owne wils All the Court was in an vprore for the Ladies losse the Father in no meane affliction the Louers well-nere beside their wits and euery one else most greeuously tormented that a Lady of such worth should so sodainly be gone and all pursuit made after her gaine no knowledge of her In this high tide of sorrow and disaster what shall we say of the gentle Lord Ocharus What iudgement can sound the depth of his wofull extreamity Fearing least some other theefe had now made a second stealth of his diuine Goddesse he must needs follow her againe seeking quite throughout the world neuer more rerurning backe to the Court nor to the place of his owne abiding vntill hee heard tidings of his Mistresse or ended his dayes in the search of her No Village Town Cottage Caste or any place else of note or name did hee leaue vnsought but diligently he searched for Serictha striuing to get knowledge vnder what habit she liued thus concealed but all his labour was to no effect which made him leaue the places so much frequented and visite the solitary desert shades entering into all Caues and rusticke habitations whereon hee could fasten his eye to seeke for the lost Treasure of his soule On a day as hee wandred along in a spacious valley seated betweene two pleasant hilles taking delight to heare the gentle murmure of the riuers running by the sides of two neighbouring rockes planted with all kinde of trees and very thickely spred with mosse hee espied a flocke of Sheepe feeding on the grasse and not farre off from them sate a Maide spinning on her Distaffe who hauing got a sight of him presently couered her face with a veile Loue who sate as Sentinell both in the heart and eye of the gentle Norwegian Lord as quickly discouered the subtilty of the faire Shephearddesse enstructing the soule of Ocharus that thus she hid her face as coueting not
as loath to continue so long in his aâ—mes but rather euident signes of hearty contentment yet in very bashfull and modest manner willing enough to accept his louing kindnesse yet not wandring from her wonted chaste carriage He being fauourably excused for the outward expression of his amourous behauiour to her and certified withall that since the time of freeing her from the wretch who sought the violating of her chastity shee had entirely respected him albeit to shun suspition of lightnesse and to win more assurance of what shee credited sufficiently already shee continued her stiffe opinion against him yet alwayes this resolution was set downe in her soule neuer with her will to haue any other Husband but Ocharus who aboue all other had best deserued her by his generosity vertue manly courage and valiancy whereof he might the better assure himselfe because of her owne voâ—untary disposition shee followed to find him out not for any other occasion but to reuenge her selfe by this honest Office for all that he had done or vndertaken to winne the grace and loue of the King of Denmarkes Daughter to whom he presented such dutifull seruice Ocharus who would not loose this happinesse to be made King of all the Northerne Ilands with more then a thankfull heart accepted all her gracious excuses And being desirous to waste no longer time in vaine lest Fortune should raise some new stragatem against him to dispossesse him of so faire a felicity left off his counterfet intended marriage and effected this in good earnest and was wedded to his most esteemed Serictha Not long had these louers liued in the lawfull and sacred rites of marriage but King Siwalde was aduertised that his Daughter had giuen her consent to Ocharus and receiued him as her noble Husband The party was not a iot displeasing to him hee thought him to be a worthy Son in Law and the condition did sufficiently excuse the match onely herein lay the errour and offence that the marriage was sollemnized without his knowledge and consent he being not called thereto or so much as acquainting him therewith which made him condemne Ocharus of ouerbold arrogancy he being such a great and powerfull King to be so lightly respected by his Subiect and especially in the marriage of his Daughter But Serictha who was now metamorphosed from a maide to a wife and had lyen a few nights by the side of a Soldiour was become much more valiant and aduenturous then she was before She took the matter in hand went to her Father who welcommed her most louingly and so pleasing were her speeches carried with such wit and womanly discretion that nothing wanted to approue what she had done Matters which he had neuer knowne or so much as heard of were now openly reuealed how Ocharus had deliuered her from the rauisher what worthie respect he then vsed towards her and what honour he extended to her in the deserts where she tended her flocke as a Shephearddesse with manie other honourable actions beside that the Kings anger became mildely qualified and so farre he entred into affection that he would not do any thing thence-forward without the counsell and aduise of his Sonne in Law whom so highly he esteemed and liked so respectiuely of him and his race that his Queene dying hee married with the Sister to Ocharus going hand in hand with the gentle and modest Princesse Serictha This Nouell of Dioneus was commended by all the company and so much the rather because it was free from all folly and obscoennesse And the Queene perceiuing that as the Tale was ended so her dignitie must now be expired she tooke the Crowne of Laurell from off her head graciously placed it on the head of Philostratus saying The worthy Discourse of Dioncus being out of his wonted wanton element causeth mee at the resignation of mine Authority to make choise of him as our next Commander who is best able to order and enstruct vs all and so I yeeld both my place and honour to Philostratus I hope with the good liking of all our assistants as plainly appeareth by their instant carriage towards him with all their heartiest loue and sufferages Whereupon Philostratus beginning to consider on the charge committed to his care called the Maister of the houshold to knowe in what estate all matters were because where any defect appeared euerie thing might be the sooner remedied for the better satisfaction of the company during the time of his authority Then returning backe to the assembly thus he began Louely Ladies I would haue you to knowe that since the time of ability in me to distinguish betweene good and euill I haue alwayes bene subiect perhaps by the meanes of some beautie heere among vs to the proud and imperious dominion of loue with expression of all duty humility and most intimate desire to please yet all hath prooued to no purpose but still I haue bin reiected for some other wherby my condition hath falne from ill to worse and so still it is likely euen to the houre of my death In which respect it best pleaseth me that our conferences to morrow shal extend to no other argument but only such casesas are most conformable to my calamity namely of such whose loue hath had vnhappy ending because I await no other issue of mine nor willingly would I be called by any other name but onely the miserable and vnfortunate Louer Hauing thus spoken he arose againe granting leaue to the rest to recreate themselues till supper time The Garden was very faire and spacious affoording large limits for their seuerall walkes the Sun being already so low descended that it could not be offensiue to any one the Connies Kids and young Hindes skipping euery where about them to their no meane pleasure and contentment Dioneus Fiammetta sate singiâ—g together of Messire Guiglielmo and the Lady of Vertue Philomena and Pamphilus playing at the Chesse all sporting themselues as best they pleased But the houre of Supper being come and the Tables couered about the faire fountaine they sate downe and supt in most louing manner Then Philostratus not to swerue from the course which had beene obserued by the Queenes before him so soone as the Tables were taken away gaue command that Madam Lauretta should beginne the dance and likewise to sing a Song My gracious Lord quoth shee I can skill of no other Songs but onely a peece of mine owne which I haue already learned by heart may well beseeme this faire assembly if you please to allow of that I am ready to performe it with all obedience Lady replyed the King you your selfe being so faire and louely so needs must be whatsoeuer commeth from you therefore let vs heare such as you haue Madam Lauretta giuing enstruction to the Chorus prepared and began in this manner The Song NO soule so comfortlesse Hath more cause to expresse Like woe and heauinesse As I poore amorous Maide He that did forme
from the company which he most esteemed he determined also to separate himselfe from the world addicting al his endeuours to the seruice of God and applying his yong sonne likewise to the same holy exercises Hauing giuen away all his goods for Gods sake he departed to the Mountaine Asinaio where he made him a small Cell and liued there with his little sonne onely vpon charitable almes in abstinence and prayer forbearing to speak of any worldly occasions or letting the Lad see any vaine sight but conferred with him continually on the glories of eternall life of God and his Saints and teaching him nothing else but deuout prayers leading this kinde of life for many yeares together not permitting him euer to goe forth of the Cell or shewing him any other but himselfe The good old man vsed diuers times to go to Florence where hauing receiued according to his opportunities the almes of diuers well disposed people he returned backe againe to his hermitage It fortuned that the boy being now about eighteene yeeres olde and his Father growne very aged he demanded of him one day whether hee went Wherein the old man truly resolued him whereuppon the youth thus spake vnto him Father you are now growne very aged and hardly can endure such painfull trauell why do you not let me go to Florence that by making me knowne to your well disposed friends such as are deuoutly addicted both to God and you I who am young and better able to endure trauaile then you are may go thither to supply our necessities and you take your ease in the mean while The aged man perceiuing the great growth of his Sonne and thinking him to be so well instructed in Gods seruice as no wordly vanities could easily allure him from it did not dislike the Lads honest motion but when he went next to Florence tooke him thither along with him When he was there and had seene the goodly Palaces Houses and Churches with all other sights to be seene in so populous a Cittie hee began greatly to wonder at them as one that had neuer seene them before at least within the compasse of his remembrance demanding many things of his Father both what they were and how they were named wherein the old man still resolued him The answers seemed to content him highly and caused him to proceede on in further questionings according still as they found fresh occasions till at the last they met with a troope of very beautifull women going on in seemely manner together as returning backe from a Wedding No sooner did the youth behold them but he demanded of his Father what things they were wherto the olde man replyed thus Sonne cast downe thy lookes vnto the ground and do not seeme to see them at all because they are bad things to behold Bad things Father answered the Lad How do you call them The good olde man not to quicken any concupiscible appetite in the young boy or any inclinable desire to ought but goodnesse would not terme them by their proper name of Women but tolde him that they were called young Gozlings Heere grew a matter of no meane meruaile that hee who had neuer seene any women before now appeared not to respect the faire Churches Palaces goodly horses Golde Siluer or any thing else which he had seene but as fixing his affection onely vpon this sight sodainly said to the old man Good Father do so much for me as to let me haue one of these Gozlings Alas Sonne replyed the Father holde thy peace I pray thee and do not desire any such naughty thing Then by way of demand he thus proceeded saying Father are these naughty things made of themselues Yes Sonne answered the old man I know not Father quoth the Lad what you meane by naughtinesse nor why these goodly things should be so badly termed but in my iudgement I haue not seene any thing so faire and pleasing in mine eye as these are who excell those painted Angels which heere in the Churches you haue shewn me And therefore Father if either you loue me or haue any care of me let mee haue one of thse Gozlings home to our Cell where we can make means sufficient for her feeding I will not said the Father be so much thine enemy because neither thou or I can rightly skill of their feeding Perceiuing presently that Nature had farre greater power then his Sonnes capacity and vnderstanding which made him repent for fondly bringing his sonne to Florence Hauing gone so farre in this fragment of a Tale I am content to pause heere and will returne againe to them of whom I spake before I meane my enuious deprauers such as haue saide faire Ladies that I am double blame-worthy in seeking to please you and that you are also ouer-pleasing to me which freely I confesse before all the world that you are singularly pleasing to me and I haue strouen how to please you effectually I would demand of them if they seeme so much amazed heereat considering I neuer knew what belonged to true-loue kisses amorous embraces and their delectable fruition so often receiued from your graces but onely that I haue seene and do yet daily behold your commendable conditions admired beauties noble adornments by nature and aboue all the rest your womenly and honest conuersation If hee that was nourished bred and educated on a sauage solitary Mountain within the confines of a poore small Cell hauing no other company then his Father If such a one I say vppon the very first sight of your sexe could so constantly confesse that women were onely worthy of affection and the obiect which aboue all things else he most desired why should these contumelious spirits so murmure against me teare my credite with their teeth and wound my reputation to the death because your vertues are pleasing to mee and I endeauour likewise to please you with my vtmost paines Neuer had the auspitious heauens allowed me life but onely to loue you and from my very infancie mine intentions haue alwaies bene that way bent feeling what vertue flowed from your faire eies vnderstanding the mellifluous accents of your speech whereto the enkindled flames of your sighes gaue no meane grace But remembring especially that nothing could so please an Hermite as your diuine perfections an vnnurtured Lad without vnderstanding and little differing from a meere brutish beast vndoubtedly whosoeuer loueth not women and desireth to be affected of them againe may well be ranked among these women-haters speaking out of cankred spleene and vtterly ignorant of the sacred power as also the vertue of naturall affection whereof they seeming so carelesse the like am I of their deprauing Concerning them that touch me with mine age Do not they know that although Leeks haue white heads yet the blades of them are alwaies greene But referring them to their flouts and taunts I answer that I shal neuer hold it any disparagement to mee so long as my life endureth to delight
wealth hurries it into horrible confusions Many Kings and great Princes haue heretofore beene poore when diuers of them that haue delued into the Earth and kept Flockes in the Feld haue beene aduanced to riches and exceeded the other in wealth Now as concerning your last doubt which most of all afflicteth you namely how you shall deale with me boldly rid your braine of any such disturbance for if you haue resolued now in your extremity of yeeres to doe that which your younger dayes euermore despised I meane to become cruell vse your vtmost cruelty against me for I will neuer entreate you to the contrary because I am the sole occasion of this offence if it doe deserue the name of an offence And this I dare assure you that if you deale not with me as you haue done already or intend to Guiscardo mine owne hands shall act as much and therefore giue ouer your teares to women and if you purpose to be cruel let him and me in death drinke both of one cup at least if you imagine that we haue deserued it The King knew well enough the high spirit of his Daughter but yet neuerthelesse he did not beleeue that her words would proue actions or shee doe as shee saide And therefore parting from her and without intent of vsing any cruelty to her concluded by quenching the heate of another to coole the fiery rage of her distemper commanding two of his followers who had the custody of Guiscardo that without any rumour or noyse at all they should strangle him the night ensuing and taking the heart forth of his body to bring it to him which they performed according to their charge On the next day the King called for a goodly standing Cup of Gold wherein he put the heart of Guiscardo sending it by one of his most familiar seruants to his Daughter with command also to vse these words to her Thy Father hath sent thee this present to comfort thee with that thing which most of all thou affectest euen as thou hast comforted him with that which he most hated Ghismonda nothing altered from her cruell deliberation after her Father was departed from her caused certaine poysonous rootes hearbs to be brought her which shee by distillation made a water of to drinke suddenly whensoeuer any crosse accident should come from her Father whereupon when the messenger from her Father had deliuered her the present and vttered the words as he was commanded shee tooke the Cup and looking into it with a setled countenance by sight of the heart and effect of the message shee knew certainly that it was the heart of Guiscardo then looking stearnely on the seruant thus she spake vnto him My honest friend it is no more then right and iustice that so worthy a heart as this is should haue any worser graue then gold wherein my Father hath dealt most wisely So lifting the heart vp to her mouth and sweetly kissing it shee proceeded thus In all things euen till this instant being the vtmost period of my life I haue euermore found my Fathers loue most effectuall to me but now it appeareth farre greater then at any time heretofore and therefore from my mouth thou must deliuer him the latest thankes that euer I shall giue him for sending me such an honourable present These words being ended holding the Cup fast in her hand and looking seriously vpon the heart shee began againe in this manner Thou sweete entertainer of all my dearest delights accursed be his cruelty that causeth me thus to see thee with my corporall eyes it being sufficient enough for me alwayes to behold thee with the sight of my soule Thou hast runne thy race and as Fortune ordained so are thy dayes finished for as all flesh hath an ending so hast thou concluded albeit too soone and before thy due time The trauailes and miseries of this World haue now no more to meddle with thee and thy very heauiest enemy hath bestowed such a graue on thee as thy greatnesse in vertue worthily deserueth now nothing else is wanting wherewith to beautifie thy Funerall but onely her sighes teares that was so deare vnto thee in thy life time And because thou mightest the more freely enioy them see how my mercilesse Father on his owne meere motion hath sent thee to me and truly I will bestow them frankly on thee though once I had resolued to die with drie eyes and not shedding one teare dreadlesse of their vtmost malice towards me And when I haue giuen thee the due oblation of my teares my soule which sometime thou hast kept most carefully shall come to make a sweete coniunction with thine for in what company else can I trauaile more contentedly and to those vnfrequented silent shades but onely in thine As yet I am sure it is present here in this Cup sent me by my Father as hauing a prouident respect to the place for possession of our equall and mutuall pleasures because thy soule affecting mine so truely cannot walke alone without his deare companion Hauing thus finished her complaint euen as if her head had been conuerted into a well-spring of water so did teares abundantly flow from her faire eyes kissing the heart of Guiscardo infinite times All which while her women standing by her neither knew what heart it was nor to what effect her speeches tended but being moued to compassionate teares they often demanded albeit in vaine the occasion of her sad complaining comforting her to their vtmost power When shee was not able to weepe any longer wiping her eyes and lifting vp her head without any signe of the least dismay thus shee spake to the heart Deare heart all my duty is performed to thee and nothing now remaineth vneffected but onely breathing my last to let my ghost accompany thine Then calling for the glasse of water which shee had readily prepared the day before and powring it vpon the heart lying in the Cup couragiously aduancing it to her mouth shee dranke it vp euery drop which being done shee lay downe vpon her bed holding her Louers heart fast in her hand and laying it so neere to her owne as she could Now although her women knew not what water it was yet when they had seene her to quaffe it off in that manner they sent word to the King who much suspecting what had happened went in all haste to his Daughters chamber entring at the very instant when shee was laide vpon her bed beholding her in such passionate pangs with teares streaming downe his reuerend beard he vsed many kinde words to comfort her when boldly thus shee spake vnto him Father quoth she well may you spare these teares because they are vnfitting for you and not any way desired by me who but your selfe hath seene any man to mourne for his owne wilfull offence Neuerthelesse if but the least iot of that loue doe yet abide in you whereof you haue made such liberall profession to me let me
lamented Being deliuered out of the Court it was carried to buriall not like a Burgesse or ordinary Citizen but with such pompe as beseemed a Lord Baron and on the shoulders of very noble Gentlemen with very especiall honor and reuerence Within some few dayes after the Potestate pursuing his former motion of marriage and the Father mouing it to his daughter she wold not by any meanes listen thereto And he being desirous to giue her contentment deliuered her and her Chamber-maid into a Religious Abbey very famous for deuotion and sanctity where afterwardes they ended their liues Faire Simonida affecting Pasquino and walking with him in a pleasant garden it fortuned that Pasquino rubbed his teeth with a leafe of Sage and immediately fell downe dead Simonida being brought before the bench of Iustice and charged with the death of Pasquino she rubbed her teeth likewise with one of the leaues of the same Sage as declaring what shee saw him do and thereon she dyed also in the same manner The seauenth Nouell Whereby is giuen to vnderstand that Loue Death do vse their power equally alike as well vpon poore and meane persons as on them that are rich and Noble PAmphilus hauing ended his Tale the King declaring an outward shew of compassion in regard of Andreanaes disastrous Fortune fixed his eye on Madam Emillia and gaue her such an apparant signe as expressed his pleasure for her next succeeding in discourse which being sufficient for her vnderstanding thus she began Faire assembly the Nouel so lately deliuered by Pamphilus maketh me willing to report another to you varying from it in any kinde of resemblance onely this excepted that as Andreana lost her louer in a Garden euen so did shee of whome I am now to speake And being brought before the seate of Iustice according as Andreana was freed her selfe from the power of the Law yet neither by force or her owne vertue but by her sodaine and inopinate death And although the nature of Loue is such according as wee haue oftentimes heeretofore maintained to make his abiding in the houses of the Noblest persons yet men and women of poore and farre inferiour quality do not alwayes sit out of his reach though enclosed in their meanest Cottages declaring himselfe sometimes as powerfull a commaunder in those humble places as he doth in the richest and most imperious Palaces As will plainly appeare vnto you either in all or a great part of my Nouell whereto our Citie pleadeth some title though by the diuersity of our discourses talking of so many seuerall accidents we haue wandred into many other parts of the world to make all answerable to our owne liking It is not any long time since when there liued in our City of Florence a young and beautifull Damosell yet according to the nature of hir condition because she was the Daughter of a poore Father and called by the name of Simonida Now albeit shee was not supplied by any better meanes then to maintaine her selfe by her owne painfull trauell earne her bread before shee could eate it by carding and spinning to such as employed her yet was she not of so base or deiected a spirit but had both courage and sufficient vertue to vnderstand the secret solicitings of loue and to distinguish the parts of well deseruing both by priuate behauiour and outward ceremony As naturall instinct was her first tutor thereto so wanted she not a second maine and vrging motion a chip hewed out of the like Timber one no better in birth then her selfe a proper young springall named Pasquino whose generous behauiour and gracefull actions in bringing her daily wooll to spin by reason his master was a Clothier preuailed vpon her liking and affection Nor was he negligent in the obseruation of her amorous regards but the Tinder tooke and his soule flamed with the selfe-same fire making him as desirous of her louing acceptance as possibly she could bee of his so that the commanding power of loue could not easily be distinguished in which of them it had the greater predominance For euerie day as he brought her fresh supply of woolles and found her seriously busied at hir wheele her soule would vent forth many deepe sighes and those sighes fetch floods of teares from her eyes thorough the singular good opinion she had conceyued of him and earnest desire to enioy him Pasquino on the other side as leysure gaue him leaue for the least conuersing with her his disease was euery way answerable to her for teares stood in his eyes sighes flew abroad to ease the poore hearts afflicting oppressions which though he was vnable to conceale yet would hee seeme to clowd them cleanly by entreating her that his masters worke might be nearly performed and with such speed as time would permit her intermixing infinite praises of her artificiall spinning and affirming withall that the Quilles of Yearne receiued from her were the choisest beauty of the whole peece so that when other worke-women played Simonida was sure to want no employment Heereupon the one soliciting and the other taking delight in beeing solicited it came to passe that often accesse bred the bolder courage ouer-much bashfulnesse became abandoned yet no immodestie passing betweene them but affection grew the better setled in them both by interchangeable vowes of constant perseuerance so that death onely but no disaster else had power to diuide them Their mutuall delight continuing on in this manner with more forcible encreasing of their Loues equall flame it fortuned that Pasquino sitting by Simonida tolde her of a goodly Garden whereto hee was desirous to bring her to the end that they might the more safely conuerse together without the suspition of enuious eyes Simonida gaue answer of her well-liking the motion and acquainting her Father therewith he gaue her leaue on the Sunday following after dinner to go ferch the pardon of S. Gallo and afterwards to visit the Garden A modest yong maiden named Lagina following the same profession and being an intimate familiar friend Simonida tooke along in her company and came to the Garden appointed by Pasquino where shee found him readily expecting her comming and another friend also with him called Puccino albeit more vsually tearmed Strambo a secret well-willer to Lagina whose loue became the more furthered by this friendly meeting Each Louer delighting in his hearts chosen Mistresse caused them to walke alone by themselues as the spaciousnesse of the Garden gaue them ample liberty Puccino with his Lagina in one part Pasquino with his Simonida in another The walke which they had made choise of was by a long and goodly bed of Sage turning and returning by the same bed as their conference ministred occasion and as they pleased to recreate themselues affecting rather to continue still there then in any part of the Garden One while they would sit downe by the Sage bed and afterward rise to walke againe as ease or wearinesse seemed to inuite
but that she perceiued it and grew in as good liking of him Many times he had an earnest desire to haue conference with her which yet still he deferred as fearing to displease her till at the length he lighted on an apt opportunity and boldly spake to her in this manner Faire Catharina I hope thou wilt not let me die for thy loue Signior Ricciardo replyed shee suddenly againe I hope you will extend the like mercy to me as you desire that I should shew to you This answere was so pleasing to Messer Ricciardo that presently he saide Alas deare Loue I haue dedicated all my fairest fortunes onely to thy seruice so that it remaineth soly in thy power to dispose of me as best shall please thee and to appoint such times of priuate conuersation as may yeeld more comfort to my poore afflicted soule Catharina standing musing a while at last returned him this answere Signior Ricciardo quoth shee you see what a restraint is set on my liberty how short I am kept from coÌ„uersing with any one that I hold this our enterparlance now almost miraculous But if you could deuise any conuenient meanes to admit vs more familiar freedome without any preiudice to mine honour or the least distaste of my Parents doe but enstruct it and I will aduenture it Ricciardo hauing considered on many wayes and meanes thought one to be the fittest of all and therefore thus replyed Catharina quoth he the onely place for our more priuate talking together I conceiue to be the Gallery ouer your Fathers Garden If you can winne your Mother to let you lodge there I will make meanes to climbe ouer the wall and at the goodly gazing window we may discourse so long as we please Now trust me deare Loue answered Catharina no place can be more conuenient for our purpose there shall we heare the sweete Birds sing especially the Nightingale which I haue heard singing there all the night long I will breake the matter to my Mother and how I speede you shall heare further from me So with diuers parting kisses they brake off conference till their next meeting On the day following which was towards the ending of the moneth of May Catharina began to complaine to her Mother that the season was ouer-hot and tedious to be still lodged in her Mothers Chamber because it was an hinderance to her sleeping and wanting rest it would be an empairing of her health Why Daughter quoth the Mother the weather as yet is not so hot but in my minde you may very well endure it Alas Mother said shee aged people as you and my Father are doe not feele the heates of youthfull bloud by reason of your farre colder complexion which is not to be measured by younger yeeres I know that well Daughter replyed the Mother but is it in my power to make the weather warme or coole as thou perhaps wouldst haue it Seasons are to be suffered according to their seuerall qualities and though the last night might seeme hot this next ensuing may be cooler and then thy rest will be the better No Mother quoth Catharina that cannot be for as Summer proceedeth on so the heate encreaseth and no expectation can be of temperate weather vntill it groweth to Winter againe Why Daughter saide the Mother what wouldest thou haue me to doe Mother quoth shee if it might stand with my Fathers good liking and yours I would be spared from in the Garden Gallery which is a great deale more coole and temperate There shall I heare the sweete Nightingale sing as euery night shee vseth to doe and many other pretty Birds beside which I cannot doe lodging in your Chamber The Mother louing her Daughter dearely as being some-what ouer-fond of her and very willing to giue her contentment promised to impart her minde to her Father not doubting but to compasse what shee requested When shee had moued the matter to Messer Lizio whose age made him somewhat froward and teasty angerly he said to his wife Why how now woman Cannot our Daughter sleepe except shee heare the Nightingale sing Let there be a bed made for her in the Ouen and there let the Crickets make her melody When Catharina heard this answere from her Father and saw her desire to be disappointed not onely could shee take any rest the night following but also complained more of the heate then before not suffering her Mother to take any rest which made her goe angerly to her Husband in the morning saying Why Husband haue we but one onely Daughter whom you pretend to loue right dearely and yet can you be so carelesse of her as to denie her a request which is no more then reason What matter is it to you or me to let her lodge in the Garden Gallery Is her young bloud to be compared with ours Can our weake and crazie bodies feele the frolicke temper of hers Alas shee is hardy as yet out of her childish yeeres and Children haue many desires farre differing from ours the singing of Birds is rare musicke to them and chiefly the Nightingale whose sweete notes will prouoke them to rest when neither art or physicke can doe it Is it euen so Wife answered Messer Lizio Must your will and mine be gouerned by our Daughter Well be it so then let her bed be made in the Garden Gallerie but I will haue the keeping of the key both to locke her in at night and set her at libertie euery morning Woman woman young wenches are wily many wanton crochets are busie in their braines and to vs that are aged they sing like Lapwings telling vs one thing and intending another talking of Nightingales when their mindes run on Cocke-Sparrowes Seeing Wife shee must needes haue her minde let yet your care and mine extend so farre to keepe her chastity vncorrupted and our credulity from being abused Catharina hauing thus preuailed with her Mother her bed made in the Garden Gallery and sectet intelligence giuen to Ricciardo for preparing his meanes of accesse to her window old prouident Lizio lockes the doore to bed-ward and giues her liberty to come forth in the morning for his owne lodging was neere to the same Gallery In the dead and silent time of night when all but Louers take their rest Ricciardo hauing prouided a Ladder of Ropes with grapling hookes to take hold aboue and below according as he had occasion to vse it By helpe thereof first he mounted ouer the Garden wall and then climbde vp to the Gallery window before which as is euery wheâ—e in Italie was a little round engâ—â—ting Tarras onely for a man to stand vpon for making cleane the window or otherwise repairing it Many nights in this manner enioyed they their meetings entermixing their amorous conference with infinite kisses and kinde embraces as the window gaue leaue he sitting in the Tarras and departing alwayes before breake of day for feare of being discouered by any But as excesse of delight is
in mine owne Countrey as now I am in yours I would as forwardly confesse my selfe your friend as here I must needes fall short of any such seruice but euen as you shall please to command me But plainely and without all further ceremonious complement I must agree to whatsoeuer you can request as thinking you to be more iniured by me then any great wrong that I haue sustained Concerning the young Damosell remaining in my House shee is not as many haue imagined either of Cremona or Pauia but borne a Faentine here in this Cirie albeit neither my selfe shee or he of whom I had her did euer know it or yet could learne whose Daughter shee was Wherefore the suite you make to me should rather in duty be mine to you for shee is a natiue of your owne doe right to her and then you can doe no wrong vnto mee When the Gentlemen vnderstood that the Mayden was borne in Faenza they maruelled thereat and after they had thanked Iacomino for his curteous answer they desired him to let them know by what meanes the Damosell came into his custody and how he knew her to be borne in Faenza when he perceiuing them attentiue to heare him began in this manner Vnderstand worthy Gentlemen that Guidotto of Cremona was my companion and deare friend who growing neere to his death tolde me that when this City was surprized by the Emperour Frederigo and all things committed to sacke and spoile he and certaine of his confederates entred into a House which they found to be well furnished with goods but vtterly forsaken of the dwellers onely this poore Mayden excepted being then aged but two yeeres or thereabout As hee mounted vp the steps with intent to depart from the House she called him Father which word moued him so compassionately that he went backe againe brought her away with him and all things of worth which were in the House going thence afterward to Fano and there deceasing he left her and all his goods to my charge conditionally that I should see her maried when due time required and bestow on her the wealth which he had left her Now very true it is although her yeeres are conuenient for mariage yet I could neuer find any one to bestow her on at least that I thought fitting for her howbeit I will listen thereto much more respectiuely before any other such accident shall happen It came to passe that in the reporting of this discourse there was then a Gentleman in the company named Guillemino da Medicina who at the surprizal of the City was present with Guidotto of Cremona and knew well the House which he had ransacked the owner whereof was also present with him wherefore taking him aside he saide to him Bernardino hearest thou what Iacomino hath related yes very wel replyed Bernardino and remember withall that in that dismall bloody combustion I lost a little Daughter about the age as Iacomino spake he Questionlesse then replied Guillemino shee must needes be the same young Mayden for I was there at the same time and in the House whence Guidotto did bring both the girle and goods and I doe perfectly remember that it was thy House I pray thee call to minde if euer thou sawest any scarre or marke about her which may reuiue thy former knowledge of her for my minde perswades me that the Maide is thy Daughter Bernardino musing a while with himselfe remembred that vnder her left care shee had a scarre in the forme of a little crosse which happened by the byting of a Wolfe and but a small while before the spoyle was made Wherefore without deferring it to any further time he stept to Iacomino who as yet staied there and entreated him to fetch the Mayden from his house because shee might be knowne to some in the company whereto right willingly he condiscended and there presented the Maide before them So soone as Bernardino beheld her he began to be much inwardly moued for the perfect character of her Mothers countenance was really figured in her sweete face onely that her beauty was somewhat more excelling Yet not herewith satisfied he desired Iacomino to be so pleased as to lift vp a little the lockes of haire depending ouer her left eare Iacomino did it presently albeit with a modest blushing in the maide and Bernardino looking aduisedly on it knew it to be the selfe same crosse which confirmed her constantly to be his Daughter Ouercome with excesse of ioy which made the teares to trickle downe his cheekes he proffered to embrace and kisse the Maide but she refusing his kindnesse because as yet shee knew no reason for it he turned himselfe to Iacomino saying My deare brother and friend this Maide is my Daughter and my House was the same which Guidotto spoyled in the generall hauocke of our City and thence he carried this child of mine forgotten in the fury by my Wife her Mother But happy was the houre of his becomming her Father and carrying her away with him for else she had perished in the fire because the House was instantly burnt downe to the ground The Mayden hearing his words obseruing him also to be a man of yeeres and grauity shee beleeued what he saide and humbly submitted her selfe to his kisses embraces euen as instructed thereto by instinct of nature Bernardino instantly sent for his wife her owne mother his daughters sonnes and kindred who being acquainted with this admirable accident gaue her most gracious and kind welcome he receiuing her from Iacomino as his childe and the legacies which Guidotto had left her When the Captaine of the City being a very wise and worthy Gentleman heard these tydings and knowing that Giouanni then his prisoner was the Son to Bernardino and naturall Brother to the newly recouered Maide he bethought himselfe how best he might qualifie the fault committed by him And entring into the Hall among them handled the matter so discreetly that a louing league of peace was confirmed betweene Giouanni and Menghino to whom with free and full consent on all sides the faire Maide named Agatha was giuen in marriage with a more honourable enlargement of her dowry and Grinello with the rest deliuered out of prison which for their tumultuous riot they had iustly deserued Menghino and Agatha had their wedding worthily sollemnized with all due honours belonging thereto and long time after they liued in Faenza highly beloued and graciously esteemed Guion di Procida being found familiarly conuersing with a young Damosell which he loued and had beene giuen formerly to Frederigo King of Sicilie was bound to a stake to be consumed with fire From which danger neuerthelesse he escaped being knowne by Don Rogiero de Oria Lord Admirall of Sicilie and afterward married the Damosell The sixth Nouell Wherein is manifested that loue can leade a man into numberlesse perils out of which he escapeth with no meane difficulty THe Nouell of Madam Neiphila being ended which
be knit in vnity of soule the like he did by marrying them sollemnly together and bestowing many rich gifts and presents on them sent them honourably attented home to Ischia where they were with much ioy and comfort receiued and liued long after in great felicity Theodoro falling in loue with Violenta the Daughter to his Master named Amarigo and shee conceiuing with childe by him was condemned to be hanged As they were leading him to the Gallowes beating and misusing him all the way he happened to be knowne by his owne Father whereupon hee was released and afterward enioyed Violenta in marriage The seuenth Nouell Wherein is declared the sundry trauels and perillous accidents occasioned by those two powerfull Commanders Loue and Fortune the insulting Tyrants ouer humaine life GReatly were the Ladies minds perplexed when they heard that the two poore Louers were in danger to be burned but hearing afterward of their happy deliuerance for which they were as ioyfull againe vpon the concluding of the Nouell the Queene looked on Madam Lauretta enioyning her to tell the next Tale which willingly she vndertooke to doe and thus began Faire Ladies at such time as the good King William reigned in Sicily there liued within the same Dominions a young Gentleman named Signior Amarigo Abbot of Trapani who among his other worldly blessings commonly termed the goods of Fortune was not vnfurnished of children and therefore hauing neede of seruants he made his prouision of them as best he might At that time certaine Gallies of Geneway Pyrates comming from the Easterne parts which coasting along Armenia had taken diuers children he bought some of them thinking that they were Turkes They all resembling clownish Peazants yet there was one among them who seemed to be of more tractable and gentle nature yea and of a more affable countenance then any of the rest being named Theodoro who growing on in yeeres albeit he liued in the condition of a seruant was educated among Amarigoes Children and as enstructed rather by nature then accident his conditions were very much commended as also the feature of his body which proued so highly pleasing to his Master Amarigo that he made him a free man and imagining him to be a Turke caused him to be baptized and named Pedro creating him superintendent of all his affaires and reposing his chiefest trust in him As the other Children of Signior Amarigo grew in yeeres and stature so did a Daughter of his named Violenta a very goodly and beautifull Damosell somewhat ouer-long kept from marriage by her Fathers couetousnesse and casting an eye of good liking on poore Pedro. Now albeit shee loued him very dearely and all his behauiour was most pleasing to her yet maiden modesty forbad her to reueale it till Loue too long concealed must needes disclose it selfe Which Pedro at the length tooke notice of and grew so forward towards her in equality of affection as the very sight of her was his onely happinesse Yet very fearefull he was least it should be noted either by any of the House or the Maiden her selfe who yet well obserued it and to her no meane contentment as it appeared no lesse on the other side to honest Pedro. While thus they loued together meerely in dumbe shewes not daring to speake to each other though nothing more desired to find some ease in this their oppressing passions Fortune euen as if shee pittied their so long languishing enstructed them how to find out a way whereby they might both better releeue themselues Signior Amarigo about some two or three miles distance from Trapani had a Countrey-House or Farme whereto his Wife with her Daughter and some other women vsed oftentimes to make their resort as it were in sportfull recreation Pedro alwayes being diligent to man them thither One time among the rest it came to passe as often it falleth out in the Summer season that the faire Skie became suddenly ouer-clouded euen as they were returning home towards Trapani threatning a storme of raine to ouertake them except they made the speedier haste Pedro who was young and likewise Violenta went farre more lightly then her Mother and her company as much perhaps prouoked by loue as feare of the sudden raine falling and paced on so fast before them that they were wholly out of sight After many flashes of lightning and a few dreadfull clappes of thunder there fell such a tempestuous shower of hayle as compelled the Mother and her traine to shelter themselues in a poore Countrey-mans Cottage Pedro and Violenta hauing no other refuge ranne likewise into a poore Sheepe-coate so ouer ruined as it was in danger to fall on their heads for no body dwelt in it neither stood any other house neere it and it was scarcely any shelter for them howbeit necessity enforceth to make shift with the meanest The storme encreasing more more and they coueting to auoide it so well as they could sighes and drie hemmes were often inter-uented as dumbly before they were wont to doe when willingly they could affoord another kind of speaking At last Pedro tooke heart and saide I would this shower would neuer cease that I might be alwayes where I am The like could I wish answered Violenta so we were in a better place of safety These wishes drew on other gentle language with modest kisses and embraces the onely ease to poore Louers soules so that the raine ceased not till they had taken order for their oftner conuersing and absolute plighting of their faithes together By this time the storme was fairely ouer blowne and they attending on the way till the Mother and the rest were come with whom they returned to Trapani where by wise and prouident meanes they often conferred in priuate together and enioyed the benefit of their amorous desires yet free from any ill surmise or suspition But as Louers felicities are sildome permanent without one encountring crosse or other so these stolne pleasures of Pedro and Violenta met with as sowre a sauce in the farewell For shee proued to be conceiued with childe then which could befall them no heauier affliction and Pedro fearing to loose his life therefore determined immediate flight and reuealed his purpose to Violenta Which when she heard she told him plainly that if he fled forth-with shee would kill her selfe Alas deare Loue quoth Pedro with what reason can you wish my tarrying here This conception of yours doth discouer our offence which a Fathers pity may easily pardon in you but I being his seruant and vassall shall be punished both for your sinne and mine because he will haue no mercy on me Content thy selfe Pedro replyed Violenta I will take such order for mine owne offence by the discreete counsell of my louing Mother that no blame shall any way be laide on thee or so much as a surmise except thou wilt fondly betray thy selfe If you can doe so answered Pedro and constantly maintaine your promise I will not depart but see that you
proue to be so good as your word Violenta who had concealed her amisse so long as shee could and saw no other remedy but now at last it must needes be discouered went priuately to her Mother and in teares reuealed her infirmity humbly crauing her pardon and furtherance in hiding it from her Father The Mother being extraordinarily displeased chiding her with many sharpe and angry speeches would needes know with whom shee had thus offended The Daughter to keepe Pedro from any detection forged a Tale of her owne braine farre from any truth indeede which her Mother verily beleeuing and willing to preserue her Daughter from shame as also the fierce anger of her Husband he being a man of very implacable nature conueyed her to the Countrey-Farme whither Signior Amarigo sildome or neuer resorted intending vnder the shadow of sicknesse to let her lie in there without the least suspition of any in Trapani Sinne and shame can neuer be so closely carried or clouded with the greatest cunning but truth hath a loop-light whereby to discouer it euen when it supposeth it selfe in the surest safety For on the very day of her deliuerance at such time as the Mother and some few friends sworne to secrecy were about the businesse Signior Amarigo hauing beene in company of other Gentlemen to flye his Hawke at the Riuer vpon a sudden but very vnfortunately albeit he was alone by himselfe stept into his Farme house euen to the next roome where the women were and heard the new-borne Babe to cry whereat maruelling not a little he called for his Wife to know what young childe cryed in his House The Mother amazed at his so strange comming thither which neuer before he had vsed to doe and pittying the wofull distresse of her Daughter which now could be no longer couered reuealed what happened to Violenta But he being nothing so rash in beliefe as his Wife was made answere that it was impossible for his Daughter to be conceiued with childe because he neuer obserued the least signe of loue in her to any man whatsoeuer and therefore he would be satisfied in the truth as shee expected any fauour from him for else there was no other way but death The Mother laboured by all meanes shee could deuise to pacifie her Husbands fury which proued all in vaine for being thus impatiently incensed he drew foorth his Sword and stepping with it drawne into the Chamber where she had been deliuered of a goodly Sonne he said vnto her Either tell me who is the Father of this Bastard or thou and it shall perish both together Poore Violenta lesse respecting her owne life then she did the childes forgot her sollemne promise made to Pedro and discouered all Which when Amarigo had heard he grew so desperately enraged that hardly he could forbeare from killing her But after he had spoken what his fury enstructed him hee mounted on Horse-backe againe ryding backe to Trapani where he disclosed the iniury which Pedro had done him to a noble Gentleman named Signior Conrado who was Captaine for the King ouer the City Before poore Pedro could haue any intelligence or so much as suspected any treachery against him he was suddenly apprehended and being called in question stood not on any deniall but confessed truly what he had done whereupon within some few dayes after he was condemned by the Captaine to be whipt to the place of execution and afterward to be hanged by the necke Signior Amarigo because he would cut off at one and the same time not onely the liues of the two poore Louers but their childe 's also as a franticke man violently carried from all sense of compassion euen when Pedro was led and whipt to his death he mingled strong poyson in a Cup of wine deliuering it to a trusty seruant of his owne and a naked Rapier withall speaking to him in this manner Goe carry these two presents to my late Daughter Violenta and tell her from me that in this instant houre two seuerall kinds of death are offered vnto her and one of them she must make choyce of either to drinke the poyson and so die or to run her body on this Rapiers point which if she denie to doe she shall be haled to the publike market place and presently be burned in the sight of her lewd companion according as shee hath worthily deserued When thou hast deliuered her this message take her bastard brat so lately since borne and dash his braines out against the walles and afterward throw him to my Dogges to feede on When the Father had giuen this cruell sentence both against his own Daughter and her young Sonne the seruant readier to doe euill then any good went to the place where his Daughter was kept Poore condemned Pedro as you haue heard was ledde whipt to the lybbet and passing as it pleased the Captaines Officers to guide him by a faire Inne at the same time were lodged there three chiefe persons of Armenia whom the King of the Countrey had sent to Rome as Ambassadours to the Popes Holinesse to negociate about an important businesse neerely concerning the King and State Reposing there for some few dayes as being much wearied with their iourney and highly honoured by the Gentlemen of Trapani especially Signior Amarigo these Ambassadours standing in their Chamber window heard the wofull lamentations of Pedro in his passage by Pedro was naked from the middle vpward and his hands bound fast behind him but being well obserued by one of the Ambassadours a man aged and of great authority named Phineo he espied a great red spot vppon his breast not painted or procured by his punishment but naturally imprinted in the flesh which women in these parts terme the Rose Vppon the sight hereof he suddenly remembred a Sonne of his owne which was stolne from him about fifteene yeeres before by Pyrates on the Sea-coast of Laiazzo neuer hearing any tydings of him afterward Vpon further consideration and compairing his Sonnes age with the likelyhood of this poore wretched mans thus he conferred with his owne thoughts If my Sonne quoth he be liuing his age is equall to this mans time and by the redde blemish on his brest it plainely speakes him for to be my Sonne Moreouer thus he conceiued that if it were he he could not but remember his owne name his Fathers and the Armenian Language wherefore when hee was iust opposite before the window hee called aloud to him saying Theodoro Pedro hearing the voyce presently lifted vp his head and Phineo speaking Armenian saide Of whence art thou and what is thy Fathers name The Sergeants in reuerence to the Lord Ambassadour stayed a while till Pedro had returned his answer who saide I am an Armenian borne Sonne to one Phineo and was brought hither I cannot tell by whom Phineo hearing this knew then assuredly that this was the same Sonne which he had lost wherefore the teares standing in his eyes with conceite of ioy downe he
of the wise he iustly deseruing thereby to be tearmed one of the Florentines most glorious lights And so much the rather because he performed all his actions in the true and lowly spirit of humility for while he liued and was a Master in his Art aboue all other Painters yet he refused any such title which shined the more maiestically in him as appeared by such who knew much lesse then he or his Schollers either yet his knowledge was extreamly coueted among them Now notwithstanding all this admirable excellency in him he was not thereby a iot the handsommer man either in person or countenance then was our fore-named Lawyer Messer Forese and therefore my Nouell concerneth them both Vnderstand then faire Assemblie that the possessions and inheritanees of Messer Forese and Giotto lay in Mugello wherefore when Holy-dayes were celebrated by Order of Court and in the Sommer time vpon the admittance of so apt a vacation Forese rode thither vpon a very vnsightly Iade such as a man can can sildome meet with worse The like did Giotto the Painter as ill fitted euery way as the other and hauing dispatched their busines there they both returned backe towards Florence neither of them being able to boast which was the best mounted Riding on a faire and softly pace because their Horses could goe no faster and they being well entred into yeeres it fortuned as oftentimes the like befalleth in Sommer that a sodaine showre of raine ouer-tooke them for auoyding whereof they made all possible haste to a poore Countrey-mans Cottage familiarly knowne to them both Hauing continued there an indifferent while and the raine vnlikely to cease to preuent all further protraction of time and to arriue at Florence in due season they borrowed t woold cloakes of the poore man of ouer-worn and ragged Country gray as also two hoodes of the like Complexion because the poore man had no better which did more misâ—ape them then their owne vgly deformity and made them notoriously flouted and scorned by all that met or ouertooke them After they had ridden some distance of ground much moyled and bemyred with their shuffling Iades flinging the dirt euery way about them that well they might be termed two filthy companions the raine gaue ouer and the euening looking somwhat cleare they began to confer familiarly together Messer Forese riding a lofty French trot euerie step being ready to hoise him out of his saddle hearing Giottos discreete answers to euery ydle question he made for indeede he was a very elegant speaker began to peruse and surueigh him euen from the foote to the head as we vse to say And perceiuing him to be so greatly deformed as no man could be worse in his opinion without any consideration of his owne mishaping as bad or rather more vnsightly then hee in a scoffing laughing humour hee saide Giotto doest thou imagine that a stranger who had neuer seene thee before and should now happen into our companie would beleeue thee to bee the best Painter in the world as indeede thou art Presently Giotto without any further meditation returned him this answere Signior Forese I think he might then beleeue it when beholding you hee could imagine that you had learned your A. B. C. Which when Forese heard he knew his owne error and saw his payment returned in such Coine as he sold his Wares for A yong and ingenious Scholler being vnkindly reuiled and smitten by his ignorant Father and through the procurement of an vnlearned Vicare afterward attained to be doubly reuenged on him The Sixth Nouell Seruing as an aduertisement to vnlearned Parents not to bee ouer-rash in censuring on Schollers perfections through any badde or vnbeseeming perswasions THE Ladies smiled very heartily at the ready answer of Giotto vntill the Queene charged Madam Fiammetta that shee should next succeed in order whereupon thus she began The verie greatest infelicity that can happen to a man and most insupportable of all other is Ignorance a word I say which hath bin so general as vnder it is comprehended all imperfections whatsoeuer Yet notwithstanding whosoeuer can cull graine by graine the defects incident to humane race will and must confesse that wee are not all borne to knowledge but onely such whom the heauens illuminating by their bright radiance wherein consisteth the sourse and well-spring of all science by little little do bestow the influence of their bounty on such and so manie as they please who are to expresse themselues the more thankfull for such a blessing And although this grace doth lessen the misfortune of many which were ouer-mighty to bee in all yet some there are who by sawcie presuming on themselues doe bewray their ignorance by theyr owne speeches setting such behauiour on each matter and soothing euery thing with such grauity euen as if they would make comparison or to speake more properly durst encounter in the Listes with great Salomon or Socrates But let vs leaue them and come to the matter of our purposed Nouell In a certaine Village of Piccardie there liued a Priest or Vicar who beeing meerely an ignorant blocke had yet such a peremptorie presuming spirite as though it was sufficiently discerned yet hee beguiled many thereby vntill at last he deceyued himselfe and with due chastisement to his folly A plaine Husbandman dwelling in the same Village possessed of much Land and Liuing but verie grosse and dull in vnderstanding by the entreaty of diuers his Friends and Well-willers some-thing more intelligable then himselfe became incited or rather prouoked to send a Sonne of his to the Vniuersity of Paris to study there as was fitting for a Scholler To the end quoth they that hauing but this Son onely and Fortunes blessings abounding in store for him hee might likewise haue the riches of the minde which are those true treasures indeede that Aristippus giueth vs aduice to be furnished withall His Friends perswasions hauing preuailed and hee continued at for the space of three yeares what with the documents he had attayned to before his going thither and by meanes of a happie memory in the time of his being there wherewith no young man was more singularly endued in so short a while he attained and performed the greater part of his Studies Now as oftentimes it commeth to passe the loue of a Father surmounting all other affections in man made the olde Farmer desirous to see his Sonne which caused his sending for him with all conuenient speede and obedience vrged his as forward willingnesse thereto The good olde man not a little ioyfull to see him in so good condition and health and encreased so much in stature since his parting thence familiarly told him that he earnestly desired to know if his minde and body had attained to a competent and equall growth which within three or foure dayes he would put in practise No other helpe had he silly simple man but Master Vicar must bee the questioner and poser of his son wherein
the Priest was very vnwilling to meddle for feare of discouering his owne ignorance which passed vnder better opinion then he deserued But the Farmer beeing imimportunate and the Vicar many wayes beholding to him durst not returne deniall but vndertooke it very formally as if he had bene an able man indeede But see how Fooles are borne to be fortunate and where they least hope there they find the best successe the simplicitie of the Father must be the meanes for abusing his Schollerly Son and a skreene to stand betweene the Priest and his ignorance Earnest is the olde man to know what and how farre his Sonne had profited at Schoole and by what note he might best take vnderstanding of his answeres which iumping fit with the Vicars vanity and a warrantable cloake to couer his knauery he appoints him but one word onely namely Nescio wherewith if he answered to any of his demands it was an euident token that hee vnderstood nothing As thus they were walking and conferring in the Church the Farmer very carefull to remember the word Nescio it came to passe vpon a sodaine that the young man entred into them to the great contentment of his Father who prayed Master Vicar to make approbation of his Sonne whether he were learned or no and how hee had benefited at the Vniuersity After the time of the daies salutations had past betweene them the Vicar being subtle and crafty as they walked along by one of the tombs in the Church pointing with his finger to the Tombe the Priest vttered these words to the Scholler Quis hic est sepultus The yong Scholler by reason it was erected since his departure and finding no inscription whereby to informe him answered as well hee might Nescio Immediately the Father keeping the word perfectly in his memorie grewe verie angerly passionate and desiring to heare no more demaunds gaue him three or foure boxes on the cares with many harsh and iniurious speeches tearming him an Asse and Villaine and that he had not learned any thing His Sonne was pacienâ— and returned no answer but plainly perceiued that this was a tricke intended against him by the malicious treachery of the Priest on whom in time he might be reuenged Within a short while after the Suffragane of those parts vnder whom the Priest was but a Deputy holding the benefice of him with no great charge to his conscience being abroad in his visitation sent word to the Vicar that he intended to preach there on the next Sunday and hee to prepare in a readinesse Bonum Commodum because hee would haue nothing else to his dinner Heereat Master Vicar was greatly amazed because he had neuer heard such words before neither could hee finde them in all his Breuiarie Hereupon he went to the yong scholler whom he had so lately before abused and crying him mercy with many impudent and shallow excuses desired him to reueale the meaning of those words and what he should vnderstand by Bonum Commodum The Scholler with a sober and modest countenance made answere That he had bin ouer-much abused which neuerthelesse he tooke not so impaciently but hee had already both forgot and forgiuen it with promise of comfort in this his extraordinary distraction and greefe of minde When he had perused the Suffraganes Letter well obseruing the blushlesse ignorance of the Priest seeming by outward appearance to take it strangely he cryed out alowd saying In the name of Vertue what may be this mans meaning How quoth the Priest What maner of demand do you make Alas replyed the Scholler you haue but one poore Asse which I know you loue deerely and yet you must stew his genitories very daintily for your Patron will haue no other meat to his dinner The genitories of mine Asse answered the Priest Passion of me who then shall carrie my Corne to the Mill There is no remedie sayde the Scholler for he hath so set it downe for an absolute resolution After that the Priest had considered thereon a while by himselfe remembring the yearely reuennewes which clearely hee put vp into his purse to be ten times of farre greater worth then his Asse he concluded to haue him gelded what danger soeuer should ensue thereon preparing them in readinesse against his comming So soone as the Suffragan was there arriued heauily hee complained to him for his Asse which kinde of Language he not vnderstanding knew not what he meant nor how he should answer But beeing by the Scholler acquainted with the whole History he laughed heartily at the Priests ignorant folly wishing that all such bold Bayards from time to time might be so serued Likewise that all ignorant Priests Vicars and other Grashoppers of Townes or Villages who sometimes haue onely seene Partes â—â—ationis quod sunt not to stand ouer-much on their owne sufficiency grounded soly vpon their Grammar but to beware whom they iest withall without out medling with Schollers who take not iniuries as dullards doe least they proue infamous by then disputations Madam Phillippa being accused by her Husband Rinaldo de Puglieâ—e because he tooke her in Adulterie with a yong Gentleman named Lazarâ—no de Guazzagliotri caused her to bee cited before the Iudge From whom she deliuered her selfe by a sodaine witty and pleasant answer and moderated a seuere strict Statute formerly made against women The Seuenth Nouell Wherein is declared of what worth it is to confesse a trueth with a facetious and witty excuse AFter that Madame Fiammetta had giuen ouer speaking and all the Auditory had sufficiently applauded the Schollers honest reuenge the Queene enioyned Philostratus to proceede on next with his Nouell which caused him to begin thus Beleeue me Ladies it is an excellent most commendable thing to speak well and to all purposes but I hold it a matter of much greater worth to know how to do it and when necessity doth most require it Which a Gentlewoman of whom I am now to speake was so well enstructed in as not onely it yeelded the hearers mirthfull contentment but likewise deliuered her from the danger of death as in few words you shal heare related In the Citie of Pirato there was an Edict or Statute no lesse blame-worthy to speake vprightly then most seuere and cruell which without making any distinction gaue strict command That euerie Woman should be burned with fire whose husband found her in the acte of Adultery with any secret or familiar friend as one deseruing to bee thus abandoned like such as prostituted their bodies to publike sale or hire During the continuance of this sharpe Edict it fortuned that a Gentlewoman who was named Phillippa was found in her Chamber one night in the armes of a yong Gentleman of the same City named Lazarino de Guazzagliotori and by her owne husband called Rinaldo de Pugliese shee louing the young Gallant as her owne life because hee was most compleate in all perfections and euery way as deerely addicted to her This
cloth into her Garden that had a passage to it without entering into the house and where shee had diuers times supt with Frederigo She further willed the Maide to set all those things vnder a Peach tree which adioyned to the fields side but so angry she was at her husbands vnexpected comming that shee for got to bid her tarrie there till Frederigoes comming and to tell him of Iohns being there as also to take what he found prepared readie for his Supper Iohn and she being gone to bed together and the Maide likewise it was not long after before Frederigo came and knocking once softly at the doore which was very neere to their lodging Chamber Iohn heard the noise and so did his wife But to the end that Iohn might not haue the least scruple of suspition she seemed to be fast asleepe and Frederigo pausing a while according to the order directed knockt againe the second time Iohn wondering thereat very much iogd his wife a litle and saide to her Tessa hearest thou nothing Me thinkes one knocketh at our doore Monna Tessa who was better acquainted with the knocke then plaine honest meaning Iohn was dissembling as if shee awaked our of a drowsie dreame saide Alas Husband dost thou know what this is In the name of our blessed Ladie be not affraid this is but the Spirit which haunts our Countrey houses whereof I haue often told thee and it hath many times much dismayed me liuing heere alone without thy comfort Nay such hath bin my feare that in diuers nights past so soone as I heard the knockes I was feigne to hide my selfe in the bedde ouer-head and eares as we vsually say neuer daring to be so bold as to looke out vntill it was broad open day Arise good wife quoth Iohn and if it be such a Spirit of the Countrey as thou talkest of neuer be affraid for before we went to bed I said the Telucis the Intemerata with many other good prayers beside Moreouer I made the signe of the signe of the Crosse at euery corner of our bed in the name of the Father Son and holy Ghost so that no doubt at all needs to be made of any power it can haue to hurt or touch vs. Monna Tessa because perhaps Frederigo might receiue some other suspition and so enter into distaste of her by anger or offence determined to arise indeede and to let him couertly vnderstand that Iohn was there and therefore saide to her husband Beleeue me Iohn thy counsell is good and euery one of thy words hath wisedome in it but I hold it best for our owne safety thou being heere that wee should coniure him quite away to the end he may neuer more haunt our hovse Coniure him Wife Quoth Iohn By what meanes and how Bee patient good man quoth Tessa and I will enstruct thee I haue learned an excellent kinde of coniuration for the last weeke when I went to procure the pardons at Fiesola one of the holy recluse Nuns who indeede Iohn is my indeered Sister and Friend and the most sanctimonius in life of them all perceiuing me to be troubled and terrified by Spirits taught me a wholsome and holy prayer and protested withall that shee had often made experiment thereof before she became a Recluse found it alwayes a present helpe to her Yet neuer durst I aduenture to essay it liuing heere by my selfe all alone but honest Iohn seeing thou art heere with me we will go both together and coniure this Spirit Iohn replyed that he was very willing and being both vp they went fayre and softly to the doore where Frederigo stoode still without and was growne somewhat suspitious of his long attendance When they were come to the doore Monna Tessa said to Iohn Thou must cough and spet at such time as I shall bid thee Well quoth Iohn I will not faile you Immediately she beganne her prayer in this manner Spirit that walkst thus in the night Poore Countrey people to affright Thou hast mistane thy marke and ayme The head stood right but Iohn home came And therefore thou must packe away For I haue nothing else to say But to my Garden get the gone Vnder the Peach-tree stands alone There shalt thou finde two Capons drest And Egges laide in mine owne Hennes nest Bread and a Bottle of good Wine All wrapt vp in a cloath most fine Is not this good Goblins fare Packe and say you haue your share Not doing harme to Iohn or me Who this night keepes me companie No sooner had she ended her deuoute coniuring prayer but she saide to her husband Now Iohn cough and spet which Iohn accordingly did And Frederigo being all this while without hearing her witty coniuration of a Spirit which he himselfe was supposed to be being ridde of his former iealous suspition in the middst of all his melancholy could very hardly refraine from laughing the iest appeared so pleasing to him But when Iohn cought and spet softly he said to himselfe When next thou spetst spet out all thy teeth The woman hauing three seuerall times coniured the Spirite in such manner as you haue already heard returned to bed againe with her husband and Frederigo who came as perswaded to sup with her being supperlesse all this while directed by the words of Monna Tessa in hir praier went into the Garden At the foot of the Peach-tree there he found the linnen cloth with the two hot Capons Bread Egges and a Bottle of Wine in it all which he carried away with him and went to Supper at better leysure Oftentimes afterward vpon other meetings of Frederigo and she together they laughed heartily at her enchantment and the honest beleefe of silly Iohn I cannot deny but that some do affirme that the Woman had turned the face of the Asses head towards Fiesola and a Country Trauailer passing by the Vine hauing a long piked staffe on his necke the staffe by chance touched the head and made it turne diuers times-about in the end faced Florence which being the cal for Frederigoes comming by this meanes he was disappointed In like maner some say that Monna Tessaes prayer for coniuring the Spirit was in this order Spirit Spirit go thy way And come againe some other day It was not I that turnd the head But some other In our Bed Are Iohn and I Go from our dore And see thou trouble vs no more So that Frederigo departed thence both with the losse of his lahour supper But a neighbour of mine who is a woman of good yeares told me that both the one and other were true as she her selfe heard when she was a little Girle And concerning the latter accident it was not to Iohn of Lorrayne but to another named Iohn de Nello that dwelt at S. Peters Gate and of the same profession as Iohn of Lorrayne was Wherefore faire Ladies it remaineth in your owne choice to entertain which of the two prayers you please or both
and this last passing among them with indifferent commendations vpon a generall silence commanded the Queene gaue order to Pamphilus that hee should follow next as indeed he did beginning thus Praise-worthy Ladies the name of Nicoletta so fondly affected by Calandrino putteth mee in minde of a Nouell concerning another Nicoletta of whom I purpose to speake to the ende you may obserue how by a sudden wary fore-sight a discreet woman compassed the meanes to auoyde a notorious scandall On the plaine of Mugnone neere to Florence dwelt not long since an honest meane man who kept a poore Inne or Ostery for trauellers where they might haue some slender entertainement for their money As he was but a poore man so his house affoorded but very small receit of guests not lodging any but on necessity and such as he had some knowledge of This honest poore hoste had a woman sufficiently faire to his wife by whom hee had also two children the one a comely young maiden aged about fifteene yeares and the other a sonne not fully as yet a yeare old and sucking on the mothers brest A comely youthfull Gentleman of our City became amorously affected to the Damosell resorting thither diuers times as hee trauelled on the way to expresse how much he did respect her And she accounting her fortune none of the meanest to bee beloued by so youthfull a Gallant declared such vertuous and modest demeanour as might deserue his best opinion of her so that their loue grew to an equall simpathy and mutuall contentment of them both in expectation of further effects he being named Panuccio and she Nicholletta The heate of affection thus encreasing day by day Panuccio grew exceedingly desirous to enioy the fruits of his long continued liking and diuers deuises mustred in his braine how he might compasse one nights lodging in her fathers house whereof hee knew euery part and parcell as not doubting to effect what hee desired yet vndiscouered by any but the maide her selfe According as his intention aymed so he longed to put it in execution and hauing imparted his mind to an honest loyall friend named Adriano who was acquainted with the course of his loue hyring two horses and hauing Portmantues behind them filled with matters of no moment they departed from Florence as if they had some great iourney to ride Hauing spent the day time where themselues best pleased darke night being entred they arriued on the plaine of Mugnone where as if they were come from the parts of Romanio they rode directly to this poore Inne and knocking at the doore the honest Hoste being familiar and friendly to all commers opened the doore when Panuccio spake in this manner to him Good man we must request one nights lodging with you for we thought to haue reached so farre as Florence but dark night preuenting vs you see at what a late houre wee are come hither Signior Panuccio answered the hoste it is not vnknowne to you how vnfiting my poore house is for entertaining such guests as you are Neuerthelesse seeing you are ouertaken by so vnseasonable an houre and no other place is neere for your receite I will gladly lodge you so well as I can When they were dismounted from their horses and entred into the simple Inne hauing taken order for feeding their horses they accepted such prouision as the place and time afforded requesting the Hoste to suppe with them Now I am to tell you that there was but one small Chamber in the house wherin stood three beds as best the Hoste had deuised to place them two of them standing by the walles side and the third fronting them both but with such close and narrow passage as very hardly could one step betweene them The best of these three beds was appointed for the Gentlemen and therein they l lay them down to rest but sleepe they could not albeit they dissembled it very formally In the second Bed was Nicholetta the daughter lodged by her selfe and the father and mother in the third and because she was to giue the child sucke in the night time the Cradle wherein it lay stood close by their beds side because the childes crying or any other occasion concerning it should not disquiet the Gentlemen Panuccio hauing subtily obserued all this and in what manner they went to bed after such a space of time as he imagined them to be all fast asleepe he arose very softly and stealing to the bed of Nicholetta lay downe gently by her And albeit she seemed somewhat afraid at the first yet when she perceiued who it was shee rather bad him welcome then shewed her selfe any way discontented Now while Panuccio continued thus with the maide it fortuned that a Cat threw down somewhat in the house the noise wherof awaked the wife and fearing greater harme then indeed had hapned she arose without a Candle and went groping in the darke towards the place where shee heard the noyse Adriano who had no other meaning but well found occasion also to rise about some naturall necessity and making his passage in the darke stumbled on the childes Cradle in the way where the woman had set it and being vnable to passe by without remouing it from the place tooke and set it by his owne beds side and hauing done the businesse for which he rose returned to his bed againe neuer remembring to set the Cradle where first he found it The Wife hauing found the thing throwne downe being of no value or moment cared not for lighting any candle but rating the Cat returned backe feeling for the bed where her Husband lay but finding not the Cradle there she said to her selfe What a foolish woman am I that cannot well tell my selfe what I doe Instead of my Husbands bed I am going to both my guests So stepping on a little further she found the childes Cradle and laid her selfe downe by Adriano thinking shee had gone right to her Husband Adriano being not yet falne asleepe feeling the hostesse in bed with him tooke aduantage of so faire an occasion offered and what he did is no businesse of mine as I heard neither found the woman any fault Matters comming to passe in this strange manner and Panuccio fearing lest sleepe seazing on him he might disgrace the maides reputation taking his kinde farewell of her with many kisses and sweet imbraces returned againe to his owne Bed but meeting with the Cradle in his way and thinking it stood by the hostes Bed as truely it did so at the first went backe from the Cradle and stept into the hostes Bed indeed who awaked vpon his very entrance albeit he slept very soundly before Panuccio supposing that he was laid downe by his louing friend Adriano merrily said to the Hoste I protest to thee as I am a Gentleman Nicholetta is a dainty delicate wench and worthy to be a very good mans wife this night shee hath giuen mee the sweetest entertainement as the best Prince in the
night ensuing The newes was very welcome to Signior Neri who took order in costly maner for all things to bee done entertaining the King most ioyfully into his beautifull Garden When the King had suruayed all and the house likewise he commended it beyond all other comparison and the Tables being placed by the Ponds side he washed his hands therin then sat down at the table commanding the Count Sir Guy de Montforte who was one of them which came in his company to sitte downe by him and Signior Neri on his other side As for the other three of the traine hee commaunded them to attend on his seruice as Signior Neri had giuen order There wanted no exquisite Viandes and excellent Wines all performed in most decent manner and without the least noise or disturbance wherein the King tooke no little delight Feeding thus in this contented manner and facying the solitude of the place sodainly entred into the garden two yong Damosels each aged about some fifteene yeares their haire resembling wyars of Gold and curiously curled hauing Chaplets made like prouinciall Crownes on their heades and their delicate faces expressing them to be rather Angels then mortall creatures such was the appearance of their admired beauty Their vnder-garments were of costly Silke yet white as the finest snow framed from the girdle vpward close to their bodies but spreading largely downward like the extendure of a Pauillion and so descending to the feet She that first came in sight caried on her shoulder a couple of fishing Netts which she held fast with her left-hand and in the right she carryed a long staffe The other following her had on her left shoulder a Frying-pan and vnder the same arme a small Faggot of woodde with a Treuit in her hand and in the other hand a pot of Oyle as also a brand of fire flaming No sooner did the King behold them but he greatly wondered what they should be and without vttering one word attended to listen what they wold say Both the yong damosels when they were come before the King with modest and bashfull gesture they performed very humble reuerence to him and going to the place of entrance into the Pond she who held the Treuit set it downe on the ground with the other things also and taking the staffe which the other Damosell carried they both went into the Pond the water whereof reached so high as to their bosomes One of the Seruants to Signior Neri presently kindled the fire setting the Treuit ouer it and putting Oyle into the Frying-panne held it vppon the Treuit awaiting vntill the Damosels should cast him vppe Fish One of them did beate a place with the staffe where she was assured of the Fishes resort and the other hadde lodged the Nets so conueniently as they quickly caught great store of Fish to the Kings high contentment who obserued their behauiour very respectiuely As the Fishes were throwne vp to the seruant aliue as they were he tooke the best and fairest of them and brought them to the Table where they skipt and mounted before the King Count Guy de Montfort and the Father some leaping from the Table into the Pond againe and others the King in a pleasing humour voluntarily threw backe to the Damosels Iesting and sporting in this manner till the seruant had drest diuers of them in exquisite order and serued them to the Table according as Signior Neri had ordained When the Damosels saw the Fishes seruice performed and perceiued that they had fished sufficiently they came forth of the water their garments then being wet hanging close about them euen as if they hid no part of their bodies Each hauing taken those things againe which at first they brought with them and saluting the king in like humility as they did before returned home to the mansion house The King and Count likewise as also the other attending Gentlemen hauing duely considered the behauior of the Damosels commended extraordinarily their beauty and faire feature with those other perfections of Nature so gloriously shining in them But beyond all the rest the King was boundlesse in his praises giuen of them hauing obserued their going into the water the equall carriage there of them both their comming forth and gracious demeanor at their departing yet neither knowing of whence or what they were he felt his affection very violently flamed and grew into such an amourous desire to them both not knowing which of them pleased him most they so choisely resembled one another in all things But after he had dwelt long enough vpon these thoughts he turned him selfe to Signior Neri and demanded of him what Damosels they were Sir answered Neri they are my Daughters both brought into the world at one birth and Twinnes the one being named Geneuera the faire and the other Isotta the amiable The King began againe to commend them both and gaue him aduise to get them both married wherein he excused himselfe alleadging that he wanted power to doe it At the same time instant no other seruice remaining to be brought to the table except Fruit and Cheese the two Damosels returned againe attyred in goodly Roabes of Carnation Sattin formed after the Turkish fashion carrying two fayre Siluer dishes in their hands filled with diuers delicate Fruies such as the season then afforded setting them on the Table before the King Which being done they retyred a little backeward and with sweet melodious voyces sung a ditty beginning in this manner Where Loue presumeth into place Let no one sing in Loues disgrace So sweet and pleasing seemed the Song to the King who tooke no small delight both to heare and behold the Damosels euen as if all the Hirarchies of Angels were descended from the Heauens to sing before him No sooner was the Song ended but humbly on their knees they craued fauour of the King for their departing Now although their departure was greatly grieuing to him yet in outward appearance he seemed willing to grant it When Supper was concluded and the King and his Company remounted on horsebacke thankefully departing from Signior Neri the King returned to his lodging concealing there closely his affection to himselfe and whatsoeuer important affaires happened yet he could not forget the beauty gracious behauiour of Geneuera the faire for whose sake he loued her Sister likewise but became so linked to her in vehement maner as he had no power to think on any thing else Pretending other vrgent occasions he fell into great familiarity with Signior Neri visiting very often his goodly Garden onely to see his faire Daughter Geneuera the Adamant which drew him thither When he felt his amourous assaults to exceed all power of longer sufferance he resolued determinately with himselfe being vnprouided of any better meanes to take her away from her Father and not onely she but her Sister also discouering both his loue and intent to Count Guy de Montforte who being a very worthy and vertuous
they scorne them for full well they know They were not bred to prey so base and low Aloft they look to make their flight more faire And yet his sight would lend me life a while Grant it great loue mine anguish to beguile Goe loue and tell the torments c. If sight shall be denyed then tell them plaine His high triumphall day procurd my death The Launce that won him Honour hath me slaine For instantly it did bereaue my breath That speake I could not nor durst be so bold To make the Ayre acquainted with my woe Alas I lookt so high and doing so Iustly deserue by death to be controld Yet mercies sight would lend me life a while Grant it great loue mine anguish to beguile Goe loue and tell the torments I endure Say to my Soueraigne Lord that I must die Except he come some comfort to procure For tell I may not what I feele and why The lines contained in this Ditty Manutio fitted with noates so moouing and singularly musicall that euery word had the sensible motion of life in it where the King being as yet not risen from the Table he commanded him to vse both his Lute and voyce This seemed a happy opportunity to Manutio to sing the dittie so purposely done and deuised which hee deliuered in such excellent manner the voice and Instrument concording so extraordinary pleasing that all the persons then in the Presence seemed rather Statues then liuing men so strangely they were wrapt with admiration and the King himselfe farre beyond all the rest transported with a rare kinde of alteration When Manutio had ended the Song the King demanded of him whence this Song came because he had neuer heard it before My gracious Lord answered Manutio it must needes seeme straunge to your Maiesty because it is not fully three dayes since it was inuented made and set to the note Then the King asked whom it concerned Sir quoth Manutio I dare not disclose that to any but onely your selfe Which answer made the King much more desirous and being risen from the Table he tooke him into his Bed-chamber where Manutio related all at large to him according to the trust reposed in him Wherwith the King was wonderfully well pleased greatly commending the courage of the Maide and said that a Virgin of such a valiant spirit did well deserue to haue her case commiserated and commanded him also to goe as sent from him and comfort her with promise that the very same day in the euening he would not faile to come and see her Manutio more then contented to carry such glad tydings to Lisana without staying in any place and taking his Lute also with him went to the Apothecaries house where speaking alone with the Maide he told her what he had done and afterward sung the song to her in as excellent manner as he had done before wherein Lisana conceiued such ioy and contentment as euen in the very same moment it was obserued by apparant signes that the violence of her fits forsooke her and health began to get the vpper hand of them So without suffering any one in the house to know it or by the least meanes to suspect it she comforted her selfe till the euening in expectation of her Soueraignes arriuall Piero being a Prince of most liberall and benigne nature hauing afterward diuers times considered on the matters which Manutio had reuealed to him knowing also the yong Maiden to bee both beautifull and vertuous was so much moued with pitty of her extremitie as mounting on horse backe in the euening and seeming as if he rode abroad for his priuate recreation he went directly to the Apothecaries house where desiring to see a goodly garden appertaining then to the Apothecarie he dismounted from his horse Walking into the garden he began to question with Bernardo demaunding him for his Daughter and whether he had as yet marryed her or no My Gracious Lord answered Bernardo as yet shee is not marryed neither likely to bee in regard shee hath had a long and tedious sickenesse but since Dinner time she is indifferently eased of her former violent paine which we could not discerne the like alteration in her a long while before The King vnderstood immediately the reason of this so sudden alteration and said In good faith Bernardo the world would sustaine a great maine imperfection by the losse of thy faire daughter wherefore we will goe our selfe in person to visite her So with two of his Lords onely and the Father he ascended to the Maides Chamber being entred he went to the Beds side where she sate somewhat raised in expectation of his comming and taking her by the hand he said Faire Lisana how commeth this to passe You being so faire a Virgin yong and in the delicacy of your daies which should be the chiefest comfort to you will you suffer your selfe to be ouer-awed with sickenesse Let vs intreat you that for our sake you will be of good comfort and thereby recouer your health the sooner especially when it is requested by a King who is sorry to see so bright a beauty sicke and would helpe it if it consisted in his power Lisana feeling the touch of his hand whom she loued aboue all things else in the world although a bashfull blush mounted vp into her cheekes yet her heart was seazed with such a rapture of pleasure that she thought her selfe translated into Paradise and so well as she could thus she replyed Great King by opposing my feeble strength against a burden of ouer-ponderous weight it became the occasion of this grieuous sickenesse but I hope that the violence thereof is almost already kild onely by this soueraigne mercy in you and doubtlesse it will cause my speedy deliuerance The King did best vnderstand this so well palliated answere of Lisana which as he did much commend in regard of her high aduenturing so he did againe as greatly condemne Fortune for not making her more happy in her birth So after he had stayed there a good while and giuen her many comfortable speeches he returned backe to the Court This humanity in the King was reputed a great honour to the Apothecary and his daughter who in her owne mind receiued as much ioy and contentment thereby as euer any wife could haue of her owne Husband And being assisted by better hopes within a short while after she became recouered and farre more beautifull in common iudgment then euer she was before Lisana being now in perfect health the King consulted with his Queene what meete recompence he should gratifie her withall for louing and affecting him in such feruent manner Vpon a day determined the King mounting on horsebacke accompanied with many of his cheefest Lords and Barons he rode to the Apothecaries house where walking in his beautifull Garden hee called for Bernardo and his daughter Lisana In the meane space the Queene also came thither Royally attended on by her Ladies and Lisana
of two worthy friends At such time as Octauius Caesar not as yet named Augustus but only in the office called Triumueri gouerned the Romane Empire there dwelt in Rome a Gentleman named Publius Quintus Fuluius a man of singular vnderstanding who hauing one son called Titus Quintus Fuluius of towardly yeares and apprehension sent him to Athens to learne Philosophy but with letters of familiar commendations to a Noble Athenian Gentleman named Chremes being his ancient friend of long acquaintance This Gentleman lodged Titus in his owne house as companion to his son named Gisippus both of them studying together vnder the tutoring of a Philosopher called Aristippus These two yong Gentlemen liuing thus in one Citty House and Schoole it bred betweene them such a brother-hoode and amity as they could not be seuered from one another but only by the accident of death nor could either of them enioy any content but when they were both together in company Being each of them endued with gentle spirits and hauing begun their studies together they arose by degrees to the glorious height of Philosophy to their much admired fame and commendation In this manner they liued to the no meane comfort of Chremes hardly distinguishing the one from the other for his Son thus the Schollers continued the space of three yeares At the ending wherof as it hapneth in al things else Chremes died whereat both the young Gentlemen conceiued such hearty griefe as if he had bin their common father nor could the kinred of Chremes discerne which of the two had most need of comfort the losse touched them so equally It chanced within some few months after that the kinred of Gisippus came to â—ee him and before Titus auised him to marriage and with a yong Gentlewoman of singular beauty deriued from a most noble house in Athens and she named Sophronia aged about fifteen years This mariage drawing neere Gisippus on a day intreated Titus to walk along with him thither because as yet he had not seene her Comming to the house and she sitting in the midst betweene them Titus making himselfe a considerator of beauty especially on his friends behalfe began to obserue her very iudicially euery part of her seemed so pleasing in his eie that giuing them al a priuat praise yet answerable to their due deseruing he becam so enflamed with affection to her as neuer any louer could bee more violentlie surprized so sodainly doth beauty beguile our best senses After they had sate an indifferent while with her they returned home to their lodging where Titus being alone in his chamber began to bethink himselfe on her whose perfections had so powerfully pleased him and the more he entred into this consideration the fiercer he felt his desires enflamed which being vnable to quench by any reasonable perswasions after hee had vented foorth infinite sighes thus he questioned with himselfe Most vnhappie Titus as thou art whether doost thou transport thine vnderstanding loue and hope Dooest thou not know as well by the honourable fauours which thou hast receiued of Chremes and his house as also the intire amity betweene thee and Gisippus vnto whom faire Sophronia is the affianced friend that thou shouldst holde her in the like reuerent respect as if shee were thy true borne Sister Darest thou presume to fancie her Whether shall beguiling Loue allure thee and vaine immaging hopes carrie thee Open the eyes of thy better vnderstanding and acknowledge thy selfe to bee a most miserable man Giue way to reason bridle thine in temperate appetites reforme all irregulare desires and guide thy fancy to a place of better direction Resist thy wanton and lasciuioâ—s will in the beginning and be master of thy selfe while thou hast opportunity for that which thou aimest at is neyther reasonable nor honest And if thou wert assured to preuaile vpon this pursuite yet thou oughtst to auoide it if thou hast any regard of true friendship and the duty therein iustly required What wilt thou do then Titus Fly from this inordinate affection if thou wilt be reputed to be a man of sensible iudgement After he had thus discoursed with himselfe remembring Sophronia and conuerting his former allegations into a quite contrarie sense in vtter detestation of them and guided by his idle appetite thus he began againe The lawes of loue are of greater force then any other whatsoeuer they not only breake the bands of friendship but euen those also of more diuine consequence How many times hath it bin noted the father to affect his own daughter the brother his sister and the step mother her son in law matters far more monstrous then to see one friend loue the wife of another a case happening continually Moreouer I am yong and youth is wholly subiected to the passions of Loue is it reasonable then that those should be bard from me which are fitting and pleasing to Loue Honest things belong to men of more years and maturity then I am troubled withall and I can couet none but onely those wherein Loue is directer The beauty of Sophronia is worthy of generall loue and if I that am a yongman do loue her what man liuing can iustly reproue me for it Shold not I loue her because she is affianced to Gisippus That is no matter to me I ought to loue her because she is a womaÌ„ and women were created for no other occasion but to bee Loued Fortune had sinned in this case and not I in directing my frends affection to her rather then any other and if she ought to be loued as her perfections do challenge Gisippus vnderstanding that I affect her may be the better contented that it is I rather then any other With these and the like crosse entercourses he often mockt himselfe falling into the contrary and then to this againe and from the contrary into another kind of alteration wasting and consuming himselfe not only this day and the night following but many more afterward til he lost both his feeding sleepe so that through debility of body he was constrained to keepe his bed Gisippus who had diuers dayes noted his melancholly disposition and now his falling into extreamitie of sicknesse was very sorry to behold it and with all meanes and inuentions he could deuise to vse hee both questioned the cause of this straunge alteration and essayed euerie way how hee might best comfort him neuer ceassing to demaunde a reason why he should become thus sad and sickely But Titus after infinite importuning which still he answered with idle and friuolous excuses farre from the truth indeede and to the no meane affliction of his friend when he was able to vse no more contradictions at length in sighes and teares thus he replyed Gisippus were the Gods so wel pleased I could more gladly yeild to dye then continue any longer in this wretched life considering that Fortune hath brought mee to such an extremity as proofe is now to be made of
she started and throwing downe the Table before her cried out aloud This is my Lord and Husband this truely is my Lord Thorello So running to the Table where he sate without regard of all the riches thereon down she threw it likewise and clasping her armes about his necke hung so mainly on him weeping sobbing and kissing him as she could not be taken off by any of the company nor shewed any moderation in this excesse of passion till Thorello spake and entreated her to be more patient because this extremity was ouer-dangerous for her Thus was the solemnitie much troubled but euery one there very glad and ioyfull for the recouery of such a famous and worthy Knight who intreated them all to vouchsafe him silence and so related all his fortunes to them from the time of his departure to the instant houre Concluding withall that hee was no way offended with the new Bride-groome who vpon the so constant report of his death deserued no blame in making election of his wife The Bridegroome albeit his countenance was somewhat cloudie to see his hope thus disappointed yet granted freely that Adalietto was Thorello's wife in equitie and hee could not iustly lay any claime to her She also resigned the Crown and Rings which she had so lately receiued of her new Spouse and put that on her finger which she found in the Cup and that Crowne was set vpon her head in honor sent her from great Saladine In which triumphant manner she left the new Bridegrooms abiding and repayred home to Thorello's house with such pompe and magnificence as neuer had the like been seene in Pauia before all the Citizens esteeming it as a miracle that they had so happily recouered Signior Thorello againe Some part of the Iewells he gaue to him who had beene at cost with the marriage feasting and some to his Vncle the Abbot beside a bountie bestowed on the Monkes Then he sent a messenger to Saladine with Letters of his whole successe and confessing himselfe for euer his obliged seruant liuing many yeeres after with his wife Adalietta and vsing greater curtesies to strangers then euer before he had done In this manner ended the troubles of Signior Thorello and the afflictions of his dearely affected Lady with due recompence to their honest and ready courtesies Many striue in outward shew to doe the like who although they are sufficiently able doe performe it so basely as it rather redoundeth to their shame then honour And therefore if no merit ensue thereon but onely such disgrace as iustly should follow let them lay the blame vpon themselues The Marquesse of Saluzzo named Gualtiero being constrained by the importunate solliciting of his Lords and other inferiour people to ioyne himselfe in marriage tooke a woman according to his owne liking called Grizelda she being the daughter of a poore Countriman named Ianiculo by whom he had two children which he pretended to be secretly murdered Afterward they being grown to yeres of more stature and making shew of taking in marriage another wife more worthy of his high degree and Calling made a seeming publique liking of his owne daughter expulsing his wife Grizelda poorely from him But finding her incomparable patience more dearely then before hee receiued her into fauour againe brought her home to his owne Pallace where with her children hee caused her and them to be respectiuely honoured in despight of all her aduerse enemies The Tenth Nouell Set downe as an example or warning to all wealthie men how to haue care of marrying themselues And likewise to poore and meane women to be patient in their fortunes and obedient to their husbands QVestionlesse the Kings Nouell did not so much exceed the rest in length but it proued as pleasing to the whole assembly past with their generall approbation till Dioneus in a merry iesting humour said The plaine honest simple man that stood holding the Candle to see the setting on of his Mules tayle deserued two penny-worth of more praise then all our applauding of Signior Thorello And knowing himselfe to bee left for the last speaker thus he began Milde modest Ladies for ought I can perceiue to the contrary this day was dedicated to none but Kings Soldanes and great Potentates not in fauour of any inferiour or meaner persons And therefore because I would be loth to dis-ranke my selfe from the rest I purpose to speake of a Lord Marquesse not any matter of great magnificence but rather in a more humble nature and sorted to an honest end which yet I will not aduise any to immitate because perhaps they cannot so well digest it as they did whom my Nouell concerneth thus then I begin It is a great while since when among those that were Lord Marquesses of Saluzzo the very greatest and worthiest man of them al was a young Noble Lord named Gualtiero who hauing neyther wife nor childe spent his time in nothing else but hawking hunting nor had he any minde of marriage or to enioy the benefit of children wherein many did repute him the wiser But this being distastfull to his subiects they very often earnestly solicited him to match himselfe with a wife to the end that hee might not decease without an heire nor they be left destitute of a succeeding Lord offering themselues to prouide him of such a one so well descended by Father and Mother as not only should confirm their hope but also yeeld him high contentment whereto the Lord Marquess thus answered Worthie friends you would constraine me to the thing wherewith I neuer had any intent to meddle considering how difficult a case it is to meet with such a woman who can agree with a man in all his conditions and how great the number is of them who daily happen on the contrarie but most and worst of all the rest how wretched and miserable prooues the life of man who is bound to liue with a wife not fit for him And in saying you can learn to vnderstand the custome and qualities of children by behauiour of the fathers and mothers and so to prouide mee of a wife it is a meere argument of folly for neither shall I comprehend or you either the secret inclinations of parents I meane of the Father and much lesse the complexion of the mother But admitte it were within compasse of power to know them yet it is a frequent sight and obserued euery day that daughters doe resemble neither father nor mother but that they are naturally gouerned by their owne instinct But because you are so desirous to haue me fettered in the chains of wedlocke I am contented to grant what you request And because I would haue no complaint made of any but my selfe if matters should not happen answerable to expectation I will make mine owne eyes my electors and not see by any others sight Giuing you this assurance before that if she whom I shall make choice of be not of you honoured and respected as your
poore Countrey Clowne and their blood and mine notoriously imbased by my marriage with thee I intend to haue thee no longer my Wife but will returne thee home to thy Fathers house with all the rich Dowry thou broughtest me and then I wil take another Wife with whom I am already contracted better beseeming my birth and farre more contenting and pleasing to my people The Lady hearing these words not without much paine and difficulty restrayned her teares quite contrary to the naturall inclination of women and thus answered Great Marquesse I neuer was so empty of discretion but did alwayes acknowledge that my base and humble condition could not in any manner sute with your high blood and Nobility and my being with you I euer acknowledged to proceed from heauen and you not any merit of mine but onely as a fauour lent me which you being now pleased to recall backe againe I ought to be pleased and so am that it bee restored Here is the Ring wherewith you Espoused me here in all humility I deliuer it to you You command me to carry home the marriage Dowry which I brought with me there is no need of a Treasurer to repay it me neither any new purse to carry it in much lesse any Sumpter to be laden with it For Noble Lord it it was neuer out of my memory that you tooke me starke naked and if it shall seeme sightly to you that this body which hath borne two children and be gotten by you must againe be seene naked willingly must I depart hence naked But I humbly beg of your Excellency in recompence of my Virginity which I brought you blamelesse so much as in thought that I may haue but one of my wedding Smocks onely to conceale the shame of nakednesse and then I depart rich enough The Marquesse whose heart wept bloody teares as his eyes would likewise gladly haue yeelded their naturall tribute couered all with a dissembled angry countenance and starting vp said Goe giue her a Smocke onely and so send her gadding All there present about him entreated him to let her haue a petticote because it might not be said that she who had been his Wife thirteene yeares and more was sent away so poorely in her Smocke but all their perswasions preuailed not with him Naked in her Smocke without hose or shooes bareheaded and not so much as a Cloth about her necke to the great griefe and mourning of all that saw her she went home to her old fathers house And he good man neuer beleeuing that the Marquesse would long keepe his daughter as his Wife but rather expected daily what now had happened safely laid vp the garments whereof the Marquesse despoyled her the same morning when he espoused her Wherefore he deliuered them to her and she fell to her fathers houshold businesse according as formerly she had done sustayning with a great and vnconquerable spirit all the cruell assaults of her enemy Fortune About such time after as suted with his owne disposition the Marquesse made publiquely knowne to his subsects that he meant to ioyne in marriage again with the daughter to one of the Counts of Panago and causing preparation to be made for a sumptuous wedding he sent for Grizelda and she being come thus he spake to her The Wife that I haue made the new election of iâ—to arriue here within very few dayes and at her first comming I would haue her to be most honourably entertained Thou knowest I haue no women in my house that can decke vp the Chambers and set all requisite things in due order befitting for so solemne a Feast and therefore I sent for thee who knowing better then any other all the partes prouision and goods in the house set euery thing in such order as thou shalt thinke necessary Inuite such Ladies and Gentlewomen as thou wilt and giue them welcome euen as if thou wert the Lady of the house and when the marriage is ended returne then home to thy father againe Although these words pierced like wounding daggers the heart of poore but Noble patient Grizelda as being vnable to forget the vnequal'd loue she bare to the Marquesse though the dignitie of her former fortune more easily slipt out of her remembrance yet neuerthelesse thus she answered My Gracious Lord I am glad I can doe you any seruice wherein you shall find mee both willing and ready In the same poore garments as she came from her fathers house although shee was turned out in her Smocke she began to sweep and make cleane the Chambers rubbe the stooles and benches in the Hall and ordered things in the Kitchin as if she were the worst maide in al the house neuer ceasing or giuing ouer till all things were in due and decent order as best beseemed in such a case After all which was done the Marquesse hauing inuited all the Ladies of the Countrey to be present at so great a Feast when the marriage day came Grizelda in her gowne of Countrey gray gaue them welcome in honourable manner and graced them all with very cheerefull countenance Gualtiero the Marquesse who had caused his two children to be nobly nourished at Bologna with a neere kinswoman of his who had married with one of the Counts of Panago his daughter being now aged twelue yeares old and some-what more as also the Son about sixe or seuen He sent a Gentleman expresly to his kindred to haue them come and visite him at Saluzza bringing his daughter and Sonne with them attended in very honourable manner and publishing euery where as they came along that the young Virgin knowne to none but himselfe and them should be the Wife to the Marquesse and that onely was the cause of her comming The Gentleman was not slacke in the execution of the trust reposed in him but hauing made conuenient preparation with the kindred Sonne daughter and a worthy company attending on them arriued at Saluzza about dinner time where wanted no resort from all neighbouring parts round about to see the comming of the Lord Marquesses new Spouse By the Lords and Ladies she was ioyfully entertained and comming into the great Hall where the Tables were readily couered Grizelda in her homely Country habite humbled her selfe before her saying Gracious welcome to the new elected Spouse of the Lord Marquesse All the Ladies there present who had very earnestly importuned Gualtiero but in vaine that Grizelda might either be shut vp in some Chamber or else to lend her the wearing of any other garments which formerly had been her owne because she should not be so poorely seene among strangers being seated at the Tables she waited on them very seruiceably The yong Virgin was obserued by euery one who spared not to say that the Marquesse had made an excellent change but aboue them all Grizelda did most commend her and so did her brother likewise as young as he was yet not knowing her to be his Sister Now was the Marquesse
birth of her daughter shee conceiued with child againe and at the limitted houre of deliuerance had a goodly Sonne to the no little liking of the Marquesse Afterward a strange humour entred into his braine namely that by a long continued experience and courses of intollerable quality he would needes make proofe of his faire Wiues patience First he began to prouoke her by iniurious speeches shewing fierce and frowning lookes to her intimating that his people grew displeased with him in regard of his Wiues base birth and education and so much the rather because she was likely to bring children who by her blood were no better then beggers and murmured at the daughter already borne Which words when Grizelda heard without any alteration of countenance for the least distemperature in any appearing action she said My honourable and gracious Lord dispose of me as you thinke best for your owne dignity and contentment for I shall therewith be well pleased as she that knowes her selfe farre inferiour to the meanest of your people much lesse worthy of the honour whereto you liked to aduance me This answere was very welcome to the Marquesse as apparantly perceiuing hereby that the dignity whereto hee had exalted her or any particular fauours beside could not infect her with any pride coynesse or disdaine Not long after hauing told her in plaine and open speeches that his subiects could not endure her so late borne daughter he called a trusty seruant of his and hauing instructed him what he should doe sent him to Grizelda and he being alone with her looking very sadde and much perplexed in mind he saide Madame except I intend to loose mine owne life I must accomplish what my Lord hath strictly enioyned me which is to take this your yong daughter and then I must So breaking off abruptly the Lady hearing his words and noting his frowning lookes remembring also what the Marquesse himselfe had formerly said she presently imagined that he had commanded his seruant to kill the childe Suddenly therefore she tooke it out of the Cradle and hauing sweetly kissed and bestowne her blessing on it albeit her heart throbbed with the inward affection of a Mother without any alteration of countenance she tenderly laid it in the seruants armes and said Here friend take it and doe with it as thy Lord and mine hath commanded thee but leaue it in no rude place where birds or sauage beasts may deuoure it except it be his will to haue it so The seruant departing from her with the child and reporting to the Marquesse what his Lady had said he wondered at her incomparable constancy Then he sent it by the same seruant to Bologna to an honourable Lady his kinsewoman requesting her without reuealing whose child it was to see it both nobly and carefully educated At time conuenient afterward being with child againe and deliuered of a Princely Sonne then which nothing could be more ioyfull to the Marquesse yet all this was not sufficient for him but with farre ruder language then before and lookes expressing harsh intentions he said vnto her Grizelda though thou pleasest me wonderfully by the birth of this Princely Boy yet my subiects are not therewith contented but blunder abroad maliciously that the grand-child of Ianiculo a poore countrey pezant when I am dead and gone must be their Soueraigne Lord and Master Which makes me stand in feare of their expulsion and to preuent that I must be rid of this childe as well as the other and then send thee away from hence that I may take another wife more pleasing to them Grizelda with a patient sufferent soule hearing what he had said returned no other answere but this Most Gracious and Honourable Lord satisfie and please your owne Royall minde and neuer vse any respect of me for nothing is precious or pleasing to mee but what may agree with your good liking Within a while after the Noble Marquesse in the like manner as he did before for the Daughter so he sent the same seruant for the Sonne and seeming as if he had sent it to haue been slaine conueighed it to be nursed at Bologna in company of his sweete Sister Whereat the Lady shewed no other discontentment in any kinde then formerly she had done for her Daughter to the no meane maruell of the Marquesse who protested in his soule that the like woman was not in all the world beside And were it not for his heedfull obseruation how louing and carefull she was of her children prizing them as dearely as her owne life rash opinion might haue perswaded him that she had no more in her then a carnall affection not caring how many she had so shee might thus easily be rid of them but he knew her to be a truely vertuous mother and wisely liable to endure his seuerest impositions His Subiects beleeuing that he had caused the children to bee slaine blamed him greatly thought him to be a most cruell man and did highly compassionate the Ladies case who when shee came in company of other Gentlewomen which mourned for their deceassed children would answere nothing else but that they could not be more pleasing to her then they were to the father that begot them Within certaine yeares after the birth of these children the Marquesse purposed with himselfe to make his last and finall proofe of faire Grizeldaes patience and said to some neere about him that he could no longer endure to keepe Grizelda as hi wife confessing he had done foolishly and according to a young giddie braine when he was so rash in the marriage of her Wherfore he would send to the Pope and purchase a dispensation from him to repudiate Grizelda and take another Wife Wherein although they greatly reproued him yet he told them plainely that it must needes be so The Lady hearing these newes and thinking she must returne againe to her poore fathers house and perhaps to her old occupation of keeping sheepe as in her yonger dayes she had done vnderstanding withall that another woman must enioy him whom shee dearely loued and honoured you may well thinke worthy Ladies that her patience was now put to the maine proofe indeede Neuerthelesse as with an inuincible true vertuous courage she had outstood all the other iniuries of Fortune so did she constantly settle her soule to beare this with an vndaunted countenance and behauiour At such time as was prefixed for the purpose counterfeit Letters came to the Marquesse as sent from Rome which he caused to be publikely read in the hearing of his subiects that the Pope had dispensed with him to leaue Grizelda and marry with another Wife wherefore sending for her immediatly in presence of them all thus he spake to her Woman by concession sent me from the Pope he hath dispensed with me to make choyce of another Wife and to free my selfe from thee And because my predecessors haue beene Noblemen and great Lords in this Country thou being the daughter of a