especially those Gent. who savor more of honor than vanity If therfore I have any way wronged mine owne judgment in suspecting or not acknowledging your merits I know I am yet as worthy of your excuse as of your reprehension And because I understand by you that you are a stranger to this place though not to this Country as also that you seeme to be so importunatly desirous and willing to conduct me to my Fathers house I will therefore give a contrarie Law to my owne will and now make civillitie dispence with my discretion by accepting of this your kinde proffer and you shall not accompany mee thither to him with so much respect and zeale as I will you with observance and thankes Which kind speech she had no sooner delivered and Morosini received but he againe closed with her thus Moros Sweet Lady this courtesie of yours seconding your beautie shall eternally oblige mee to your service and in requitall thereof I will ever esteeme it my best happinesse to receive your Fathers commands and my chiefest felicity and glory to execute yours When reciprocally exchanging salutes hee takes her by the hand and arme and very gracefully conducts her to her Fathers house not farre off from this sumptuous Church and by the wayth ther among other speeches and complements he gathers from herthat her Fathers name is Signior Hierome Bondino and hers Donna Imperia his only Daughter Wherein hee for the former fame of his wealth and the present sight of her Beautie doth both delight and glory as dreaming of a future felicity which hee shall enioy in her sight and company whereof for the time present hee hath farre more reason to flatter than to assure himselfe Now wee must heere understand that this Seignior Bondino her Father is a Gentleman of an ancient house and noble descent and of a verie great estate both in lands and meanes and withall he was exceeding covetous as glorying more in his wealth than in his generositie and more in his faire and beautifull Daughter Imperia then in any other of his Children Heere Morisini brings Imperia home and shee presents him and his courtesie to her Father who receives him respectfully and kindly thankes him for this his observance and honour to his daughter who led by the lustre of her eyes and the delicacie of her beautie was so extreamly inflamed with affection towards her as at that very instant he proclaimed himselfe her Servant and shee the Lady Regent of his heart and desires and then it was that hee first acquainted her with his name and quality with his intended voyage to Constantinople but chiefely with his constant desire and resolution to seeke her in marriage both of her selfe and her father Wherefore to contract this History into a narrow Volumne I will passe over his often courtings and visits of her as also those sweet speeches and amorous discourses and conferences which past betweene them during the space of three weekes wherein the winde proving contrary to his voyage proved therefore propitious to this his sute and affection In which time hee proved himselfe so expert a Scholler or rather a Master in the Art of Love that hee exchanged hearts with her obtained her affection and consent to bee his Wife upon his first returne from Constantinople but yet it was wholly impossible either for he or her to draw her fathers consent hereunto although many times hee sought it of him with prayers and shee with teares For hee making wealth to bee the verie image and idol of his devotion and gathering that Morosini's birth farre exceeded his estate and meanes as also that in his opinion that his estate was yet farre greater than his capacitie or judgement hee would never hearken to him much lesse give way that hee should bee his Sonne in Law but with much obstinacie and resolution vowed that hee would first rather see his Daughter married to her grave than to him the which froward and harsh resolution of his makes our two lovers exceedingly to grieve and lament thereat But how to remedie it they know not Morosini now acquaints his two consorts Astonicus and Donâ—…to with his affection to Imperia and brings them the next morning to see her who highly commend his choice and extoll her beautie and vertues to the skies They in Morosini's behalfe deale effectually with Bondino to draw his consent to this match mount his praises and merits as high as Heaven and in a word they leave no friendly office or reasons unatempted to perswade and induce him hereunto but they speake either to the winde or to a deafe man for his will is his Law and therefore they finde it a worke not only of extreame difficultie but of meere impossibilitie to effect it for neither they nor Morosini can so much pray and exhort Bondini to this match as hee with sharpe words and bitter threates seekes to divert his Daughter from it which pierceth and galleth these two Lovers to their verie soules For by this time their affections and hearts are so strongly and firmely united that Imperia loves Morosini a thousand times deerer than her owne life and hee her no lesse So when they thinke of their seperation and departure each from other the verie conceit and thought there of drawes even droppes of blood from their hearts and an Ocean of teares from their eyes But because they are more amorous then superstitious in their devotion and affection each to other and that in their thoughts and desires they sacrifice more to the Altars of Venus then to that of the Virgin Marie Therefore Fortune more envying then pittying them and therefore resolving to separate their bodies as farre assunder as their hearts are neerely linked and combined together the winde comes faire and the Master of their Shippe sends speedily from Ancona to them to Loretto to come away for that he is resolute to omit no time but with all expedition to weigh Anchor and set saile for Corfu Morosini receives this newes with infinite sorrow and Imperia with extreame griefe and amazement so as if grace had not prevailed with nature and her obedience to her Father vanquished and given a law to her affection towards Morosini shee could then and there have found in her heart to have left Italy and to accompanyed him in his voyage to Turkie and Constantinople so sweet was his sight and presence and so bitter was the verie thought of his abscence to her heart and minde Here Morosini comes againe with his hat in his hand and Imperia on her knees with teares to her father that hee will grant they may contract themselves each to other before his departure but he is deare to his requests and inexorable to her teares and prayers For hee vowes hee cannot and sweares hee will not consent thereunto And therefore heere the Reader must conceive for it is impossible for mee to expresse the thousand part of the sighes which hee and the teares
vowes there is no musicke to the rattling of the Drumme and Trumpet and to the thundring of the Musket and Canon but this warlike and martiall humour of his shall not last long Wherin wee may observe the vanity of our thoughts the inconstancy of our delights and the alteration and mutability of our resolutions for now we shal shortly see Grand Pre hate that he loved love that he hated yea we shall see him so plunge and drown himselfe in the beauty of a faire sweet Gentlewoman as he shall leave Holland for Burgundy Warre for peace Armes for Love and Enemies for a Mistris but time must worke this alteration and Metamorphosis The old Gentleman his father seeing Grand Pre's martiall disposition feares lest this ambitious and generous humour of his will induce him to seeke warres abroad sith he findes none at home and therefore desirous of his company and presence in that it will sweeten his former afflictions and give life to his future hopes and content he proffers him the choice of many rich and faire young Gentlewomen for his wife of the best and most ancient families in and neare Auxone but Grand Pre is deafe to these requests and motions thinkes it a disparagement and blemish to his valour if hee should any way listen or give eare thereto the which his father perceiving and understanding he bethinkes himselfe of a further invention and so resolves at Winter to leave the Countrey and to reside in the City of Dijon famous for the ancient seate of the Dukes of Burgundie and for the present Court of Parliament hoping that there amongst the multitude of sweet Ladies Gentlewomen wherwith that City is adorned his sonne Grand Pre might at last espye some Paragon of Nature whose beauty might have power to subdue and captivate his affections and indeed as the sequell will shew the event answereth his expectation For on a Sunday morning in Lent as Grand Pre went to the royall Chappell to heare Father Iustinian a Capuchin Fryer preach he opposite to him espies a most delicat and beautiful yong Lady slender of body tall of stature fair of taynt complexion having a quick gracious eye with pure and delicate haire of a flaxen colour being infinitely rich in Apparell yet farre richer in the perfections and excellencies of a true and perfit beauty in a word she was so amiable and so lovely so sweet and so pleasing to his eyes as at her very first sight Grand Pre could not refraine from blushing as being ravished with the sweetnesse of so sweet an object so as his heart panted and beat within him as being not accustomed to encounter with such beauties or with such sudden passions and alterations Now by this time this young gentlewoman whose name we shall anon know could not but perceive with what earnestnesse and delight Grand Pre beheld her and seeing him to be a proper young Gallant and richly apparelled and followed shee could not refraine from dying her Lilly cheekes with a Vermillian blush which gave such grace to her beauty and so inflamed our poore Grand Pre as he could no longer resist the influence of such amorous assaults and now it is that his thoughts strike sayle to affection and his heart doth homage to beauty so as he revokes his former opinion conceiv'd against the power and dignity of Love which he now holds erronious and in his heart vowes that there is no such felicity in the world as to enjoy the Lady of his desires whom his eyes and soule chiefely honour and adore But if he be insnared and imprisoned in the fetters of her beauty no lesse is she in those of his personage only she is more coy and precise in the exterior demonstration there of for as hee cannot keepe his eyes from gazing on her so shee seemes but to looke on him by stealth or if she transgresse that Decorum she immediately in outward apparance checks her eyes from ranging beyond the lists of modesty and discretion But by this time to the griefe of our new Lovers the Sermon is ended and all prepare to depart so their eyes with much discontent and unwillingnesse for that time take leave each of other and here Grand Pre making a turne or two in the Church is doubly tormented and perplexed first with griefe that he is deprived of his Mistris sight and then with sorrow that hee neither knowes her nor her name But as Love refines our wits and gives an edge to our intentions so he shewes her to his Page and sends him to make secret enquiry what shee is His Page speedily returnes and informes him that she is Madamoyselle Mermanda eldest daughter to Mounsieur de Cressonuille one of the chiefest Presidents of tthe Court of Parliament Grand Pre extreamely rejoyceth to know what she was and farre the more in respect hee sees it no disparagement either to himselfe or his house to marry her and therefore omitting all other designes and resolutions and bidding farewell to the Warres he resolves to seeke her in marriage to which end the next day hee of set purpose with a Gentleman or two of his â—…mate and familiar friends insinuates himselfe into her Fathers house who being absent whiles they entertaine the Mother hee under colour of other conference courts the Daughter yea now his affection to her is by many degrees redoubled because he sees the excellency of her minde is answerable to that of her person and now shee comming likewise to know him is as it were wrapt up in the contemplation of a thousand sweete contents which so worke on her affection or rather on her heart as if he thinkes himselfe happy in seeking such a Mistresse she esteemes her selfe blest in finding such a servant Grand Pre findes his first entertainment from Mermanda to bee respective and pleasing and so authorized by her curtesy and advice he taking time at advantage goes to the old President her father and bewrayes him his affection to his daughter and the desire he hath to obtaine her for his wife so having begunne his suit he leaves his father Grandmont to finish it and continually frequents the companion of his beautifull Mistresse Mermanda Her father Cressonville dislikes not this match but deemes it both agreeable and honourable onely hee knowes that Grandmont hath likewise one only daughter and himselfe one onely sonne so he infinitely desires to make this a double match thereby to contract a more firme and stricter league betwixt their two houses this is proposed and debated as well betweene the young folkes as the old Parents and at last it takes effect so as purposely omitting first the conference then the letters sent from Grand Pre to Mermanda and from Mermanda to Grand Pre from De Malleray Cressonvilles sonne to Hautefelia and from Hautefelia to De Malleray because the inserting thereof would make this briefe History swell into an ample volume These Marriages to
his Could time reconcile these difficulties with my reputation my heart would iâ—…stantly command my pen 〈◊〉 signify you that I desire to give you hope and to take away your despaire and withall that Pavia is more pleasing to mee then Cremona sith Christeneta lives in it and Pisani in her I was never heretofore cruell to any neither doe I resolve to bee unkind to you for how can I â—…th I as truely vow to honour you as you professe to love me Live you in this assurance and I will dye in the same PISANI Time with a swift foot vanisheth and passeth away but Christeneta's affection to Pisani cannot she in his Letter perceives a glimmering light of hope breake forth thorow the obscure clouds of her despaire but feare doth as soone eclipse and strangle as propagate and produce it onely despight all apprehension and opposition her thoughts doe still gaze and looke on Pisani as the Needle of the compasse doth to the North so as she can rest in no true tranquillity of minde before she writes to him againe the which some fifteene dayes after she doth to this effect CHRISTENETA to PISANI I May passe the bounds of discretion but will not exceede those of honour I have ever learn'd to retaiue this Maxime that affection which receives end had never beginning If then I live I must breath the ayre of your love as well as this of my life sith it is the prime and sole cause thereof as the Sunne is of the light Your Letter I finde so full of doubts and ambiguities as I know not wherefore to hope or why not to despaire could you dive as deepely into my heart as I have into your merits if nature doe not pitty would informe you that you ought to preferre the love of a Lady before the respect of a Gentleman especially sith he may carry his heart from you and I desire to bring and present mine to you and how can your absence either rejoyce or comfort mee sith your presence will not Thinke what you please either of me or of your selfe onely give me leave to tell you that I finde doubt a step and degree to despaire as despaire is to death I write rather with teares then Inke If you will not live my Saint I must dye your Martyr CHRISTENETA At the receipt of this second Letter which was so sweetly pleasing and pleasingly sweet to his thoughts he found the Bulwarkes and defences of his respect to Gasparino razed and beaten downe and a faire breach made and layd open for Christeneta to enter and take possession of the Castle of his heart so now at one instant hee performes two severall attempts for the farther hee flies from his friend Gasparino the neerer hee approacheth to his Mistresse Christeneta and therefore now wholly imparadising his thoughts in the garden of her pure beauty and taking the chiefest light of his content and felicity from the relucent lustre of her eyes he thinkes it high time no longer to beare out his Flag of defiance but to strike sayle and doe homage to the soveraigne of his thoughts the which he doth in this Letter that he purposely sends her in answer of hers by his Page PISANI to CHRISTENETA YOur vertue and beauty is enough powerfull to prevaile with mee but your affection which addes grace to either and either to it makes me forget my respect to Gasparino to remember my love to Christeneta but that which gives life to this my resolution is that it is impossible for him to hate me as much as you love me and in this hope I both rejoyce and triumph that you shall not be my Martyr but my Mistresse and I will be both your Saint and your servant for as you desire to live in my favour so my chiefest ambition and zeale is to dye in your affection that which heaven makes me affirme earth shall not inforce me denye I will shortly follow and second this my Letter till when you can never so much lament my absence as I desire your presence Let this be your true consolation sith it is my sole delight and chiefest felicity PISANI If Pisani his first Letter overthrew Christeneta's despaire this his second revives and confirmes her hopes so that whereas heretofore she condemned her presumption in writing to Pisani she now not only applauds her resolution therein but also blesseth the houre that she attempted it yea she buildeth such castles of delight and content in her heart and her heart in her soule to thinke that shee should be his Wife and hee her Husband that shee anticipateth the houres and blames the dayes for not presenting her with the sight and presence of her sweet Pisani whom above all earthly contents she chiefely desireth Now if Christeneta were thus perplexed with the absence of her Pisani no lesse is hee with that of his Christeneta for remembring the freshnesse of her youth and the sweetnesse of her beauty hee in conceipt hateth Cremona which before hee loved and now loveth Pavia which before hee hated it is as great a griefe to him to bee with his other affaires without her as it would rejoyce him to bee with her without them yea she runnes so deepely in his thoughts and they on her beauty as if it were not immodesty hee either wisheth himselfe impaled in her armes or shee incloystered in his And now to performe as much as his Letter hath promised hee without thinking or respecting of his old friend Gasparino prepares all things ready to goe see his new Mistresse Christeneta Hee comes to Pavia accompanied with three or foure of his neerest and dearest friends visiteth Christeneta whom hee saluteth and courteth with all kinde of honourable and amorous complements Shee is joyfull yea ravished with his arrivall he doth assure her of his perpetuall affection and reciprocally himselfe of hers yea she so infinitely delights in his presence and he so extreamely in hers that shee now freely gives her selfe to Pisani and he in exchange as absolutely takes himselfe from Gasparino to give himselfe to Christeneta so as she rejoycing in her purchase and he triumphing in his victory they attend the time wherein heaven and earth hath ordayned of two bodies to make them one But it is not enough for Pisani to be possessed of Christeneta's favour for he must likewise obtaine that of her parents before either hee can enjoy his wishes or she her desires and so he goes honourably and secretly to worke with them but he findes them not so tractable as Christeneta hoped or himselfe desired for old Vituri her father preferring wealth before honour and riches before vertues dislikes this motion alledging that Pisani's father dyed exceedingly in debt that his chiefest Lands were ingaged and morgaged that hee had many great Legacies to pay to his sisters but which was worst of all that Pisani himselfe loved the Court better then the Country and that in his expences and apparell hee was extreamely prodigall
either tractable or flexible to his desires so as his suite is vaine and shee so deafe to his requests as neither his prayers sighs Letters nor Presents are capable to purchase her favour Poligny infinitely grieves heereat which notwithstanding makes the flame of his lust rather increase then diminish so as after much pensivenesse hee begins to beat his witts and to awaken his invention how hee may crowne his desires by enjoying Laurieta when loe an occasion presenteth it selfe to him unexpected Madamoyselle la Palaisiere a rich young Gentlewoman neere Pont Saint Esprit living in Avignion and seeing Poligny at the dauncing doth exceedingly fall in loue with him yea â—…hee so admires the sweetnesse of his favour and the excellencie of his personage as shee rejoyceth in nothing so much and to write the truth in nothing else but in his company so as had not modestie with-held her shee would have prooved her owne Advocate and have informed him thereof her selfe Poligny receives so many secret signes and testimonies of her affection by private glances and the like as hee cannot bee ignorant thereof but his love or rather his lust to Laurieta hath so absolutely taken up his heart and thoughts as it hath left no place nor corner for la Palaisiere so as here wee may observe and remarke a different commixture and disparitie of affections Poligny loves Laurieta and not shee him la Palaisiere affects Poligny and not hee her what these passions and occurrences will produce wee shall shortly see La Palaisiere having her heart pierced thorow with the love of Poligny knowing him to bee Laurieta's servant and shee the Mistresse of Belluile either out of her affection or jealousie or both resolves at next meeting to acquaint Poligny with it therby purposely to withdraw his affection from her to her selfe The occasion is proffered and opportunitie seemes to favour and second her desires Some three dayes after the Iesuites who as the Mountebanks and Panders of Kingdomes and Estates leave no invention nor Ceremony unattempted to seduce and bewitch the affections of the world cause their Schollers to act a Comedie in their Colledge in this Citie whereat all the Nobilitie and Gentrie of the Citie and adjacent Countrey assemble and meet Thither comes Poligny hoping to see Laurieta and la Palaisiere to see Poligny but Laurieta that day is sicke and Belluile stayes with her to comfort her So first comes Poligny and seeing hee could not see his Laurieta sits downe pensively then comes la Palaisiere and seeing Poligny a farre off prayes her brother who conducted her to place her neere him Poligny can doe no lesse then salute her and shee triumphing in her good fortune takes the advantage of this occasion and in sweet and sugered termes after many pauses sighs and blushes gives him to understand that shee knew his affection to Laurieta and withall that Belluile and no other was her servant and favourite This speech of hers strikes Poligny to the quicke so as thereat hee not onely bites the lip but hangs his head yea this unexpected newes as also Beâ—…uile and Laurieta's absence so nettle him and frame such a Chymera of extravagant passions in his heart and thoughts as hee could not have the patience to sit ouâ—… the Comedy but feigning himselfe sicke departs to his Chamber where a thousand jealousies ingendered of his affection perplexe and torment him when remembring la Palaisieres speeches and being infinitely desirous to know the truth of Belluile his affection to Laurieta and of hers to him hee sees no meanes nor person so fit to reveale the same as Lucilla Laurieta's Wayting-mayd This Lucilla Poligny winns with gold in consideration whereof shee reveales him all how Belluile was her chiefest Minion and Favourite and yet for some words hee the other day in ignorance or Wine let fall to the prejudice of her honour shee was like to casheere and discard him Lucilla having thus forgotten her owne fidelitie in bewraying the dishonour of her Mistresse Poligny understanding Belluile to bee a coward of his hands though not of his tongue and in a word not to bee so compleate a Gallant as hee supposed him hee of a subtill and malicious invention resolves to worke on him and so conceives a plot which wee shall see presently put in execution and acted hee very politikely puts a good face on all his discontents and passions and although Laurieta would not see him yet hee fairely intrudes himselfe into Belluile's company and of purpose becomes familiar with him So they very often meet for they sence dance ride vault and hunt together so as at last none are so great Consorts and Cammerades as they But Poligny thinking every houre a yeere before hee had played his prize makes a partie at Tennis with Belluile for a collation and beats him and so taking two Gentlemen La Fontaine and Borelles his friends with them away they goâ—… all foure to a Taverne Poligny as secret as malicious in this his plot in the middest of their mirth speakes thus to Belluile Sir quoth hee I am sorry for your losse of this Collation but if it please you to honour mee with your company to morrow to Orenge a Citie which I much desire to see I will pay you the dinner in requitall thereof Belluile very readily and willingly consents hereunto and La Fontaine and Borellâ—… vow they will likewise have their share both of the journey and dinner So the next morne they all take horse for Orenge but first Belluile gives his Mistresse Laurieta the good morrow and acquaints her with his journey They view this old Citie the ancient patrimony and Principalitie of the Illustrious Princes of Orenge from whence they derive their name where Poligny having given order for the dinner away they goe visite the Castle and salute the deputed Governour thereof Monsieur â—…osberghe they see the part of the Amphitheatre yet standing the Cathedrall Church the double Wall of the Citie and the old Romane Arch not farre off with all other remarkable objects and monuments and by this time the Cooke and their stomackes taxe them of their long stay So they returne to their Inne fall to their Viands and like frolike Gentlemen wash them downe with store of Claret and now Poligny as malâ—…cious in heart as pleasant in countenance and conversation heere casts foorth his lure and snare to surprize and intangle Belluile O quoth hee how happie the Gentlemen of Italy are to us of France sith after dinner every one goes freely to his Courtizan without controulment I know not quoth la Fontaine what Orenge is but I thinke Avignion is not destitute of good fellow Wâ—…nches who make Venus their queene and Cupid their god Surely no replies Belluile for I am confident that for Iewes and Courtizans for the greatnesse of it it may compare with the best Citie of Italy for from the Lady to the Kitchin-mayd I dare say they 'l all proove tractable Nay quoth
a law from Religion to give to his Envy but rather takes one from his Envy to give to his Religion and so very prophanely and rashly by his Lackey La Rose sends De Salez this Challenge VAVMARTIN to DE SALEZ IF thou seeke the cause of my malice thou mayest find it in the Lady La Franges affection to thee and hatred to my selfe wherefore hold it not strange that I now command my pen to invite thee and thy sword to meet me to morrow on horse-backe without Seconds 'twixt five and six in the morning behinde the Iacobins garden Love and Valour thou knowest are never capable of much expostulation as desirous rather to be tryed in action than seene in words Could that sweet Lady who will not be mine because thou arâ—… hers have affected me more or thee lesâ—…e wee might have proved as true friends as now our reputations conjure us either to live or dye Honourable Enemies VAVMARTIN De Salez having received and read this Challenge doth not a little wonder at the Baron of Vaumartins strange passion and resolution in sending it him especially sith he knowes that the motives and grounds of his malice were so unjust and frivolous so how to answer him as yet he knowes not for as his Generosity one way invites him to fight so his discretion another way perswades him from it But considering the poore esteeme he makes either of the Lady La Frange or her affection thinking it folly to fight without cause and to hazard his life without reason he calls for pen and paper and as a wise yet valiant Gentleman by his owne Lackey returnes the Baron of Vaumartin this answer DE SALEZ to VAVMARTIN I Have seene many Challenges but none of the Nature of thine now sent me for tâ—… write thee the truth the grounds and foundations thereof are unjust false or both for bring but the eies of thy Iudgement and not of thy passion to be Iudge and Vmpier betwixt us and thou shalt both see and find that I not onely disclaime the Lady La Franges affection but her selfe sith I appertaine to another and she shall never to me I heere shew thee my love through this true Prospective of my heart which if it will not satisfie thy malice then know that my weake Valour is neither capable nor desirous of further expostulation than that my Sword is as willing to bring thee deeds as thy Pen was to send mee words for either single or with Second either on foot or horsebacke I will still be ready to give reason to those who will not relish nor receive any but their owne and in this resolution of mine I know I shall either live with Reputation or dye with Honour DE SALEZ Vaumartin having received and perused this letter of refusall from De Salez he out of the heat of his passion and height of his folly reputes it rather to cowardise than discretion in him and so his courage and revenge the more insulting and inflam'd thereat hee bending his browes as if Contempt and Envy sate wreath'd in the furrowes thereof very speedily againe returnes him his Lackey with this rash answer VAVMARTIN to DE SALEZ THy Answer gives me no satisfaction sith I know that to deny thy affection to the Lady la Frange is to deny the light of the Sunne in his brightest and hottest Meridian neither are the grounds or foundations of my Challenge either unjust or false as thou in thy false Prospective endeavourest to make me see or beleeve for being ignorant who is thy Mistris I know thou resolvest to make no Lady of the world thy wife but La Frange so as I cannot rightly define whether thy proceeding with mee be more subtill or malicious or to what end thou shouldest attempt the one or practise the other towards me unlesse out of a premeditated resolution and purpose thereby to make thy glory the more apparent and conspicuous in my shame Wherefore sith thy friendship is false to me I must nay I will see if thy valour will prove true to thy selfe and whether the effects of thy Sword bee as great in substance as the vanity of thy Pen depaints them in shew and ostentation So my Challenge is still my Resolution and the performance thereof must be thine except thou resolve to live with as much Infamy as the conclusion of thy Letter promiseth thou art ready to die with reputation and Honour VAVMARTIN De Salez having received and runne over this Letter and seeing that Vaumartin was still wilfull and resolute to fight thinks that he should degenerate from himselfe his Blood and Profession if hee did not now accept and answer this his Challenge wherefore calling for Vaumartins Lackey hee rounds him thus in his eare Tell thy Master that if I live I will not faile to breake fast with him timely in the morning according to his expectation Thus wee see these two inconsiderate Gentlemen agreed their match concluded and nothing but the night to hinder them from fighting as if their glory consisted in their shame and as if Nature had never taught them how to preserve their lives nor Grace their soules So the Morne peeping forth through the windowes of Heaven as soone as the Sunne with his glistering beames began to salute the woods and mountaines our two resolute Champions bravely mounted with each his Chirurgion are in the field at the assignd Rendevoâ—…s and first comes Vaumartin and then immediately De Salez when their Chirurgions performing the dutie and office of Seconds being some hundred paces distant they give spurres to their Steeds and so drawing their swords swiftly part like two flashes of lightning each towards other At their first meeting de Salez gives Vaumartin the first hurt in the right shoulder and he de Salez another in requitall in the right side of the necke when being both good Cavaliers and well neere as equall in yeeres as courages they turne short and then fall to it againe with bravery and resolution when againe Vaumartin runs de Salez through his left arme of a deepe and wide wound and he onely sleightly cuts his shirt upon his ribbes giving him onely a raze or scarre but as yet both free from any danger of death so they mutually consent to breath but their ambitions and courages of both sides are so exasperated and inflamed as although they are all bloody yet this will not suffice so they fall to it againe and in this close de Salez his horse stumbles with him whereat Vaumartin though a dwarfe in stature yet not in Valour and Pollicy taking the advantage of this accident gives him first a licke ore his pate and then runnes him at the short ribbes but de Salez rayning up his horse prooved favourable to him for by that meanes Vaumartins sword met and glanced on a rib without doing him any farther hurt De Salez seeing the redoubling of his wounds beginnes to redouble his courage and disdaining thus to be outbraved
her resolution Whiles thus Albemare in the way of marriage seekes our faire and sweet Clara publikely no lesse doth Baretano privately and although with lesse vanity and ostentation yet hee hopes with farre more fortunacie and successe as grounding his hopes upon these reasons That in heart and soule Clara is onely his as both in soule and heart he is hers so hee entertaines her many times with his Letters and yet not to shew himselfe a novice in discretion or a coward in affection hee makingher content his commands as shee did his desires her felicity hee in remote Churches and Chappels for whose number Millan exceeds Rome hath both the happinesse and honour privately to meet her where if they violate the sanctity of the place in conferring and cherishing their affections yet they sanctifie thir affections in desiring that some Church or Chappell might invest and crowne them with the religions honour and holy dignitie of marriage For having jested of Love heretofore now like true Lovers they henceforth resolve to love not in jest but in earnest and as of their two hearts they have already made one so now they meane and intend to dispose of their bodies thereby to make one of two And this is their sole desire and this and onely this is their chiefe delight and most pleasing'st desires and wishes But as it is the nature of Love for Lovers to desire to see none but themselves and yet are seene of many so this their familiarity and frequent meeting is againe reported to her father and mother whereat they murmure with griefe and grieve with discontent and affliction and now not to substract but to adde to their vexation it is resolved betweene our two yong amorous Turtle Doves Baretano and his faire Clara that he should publikely motion them for her in marriage which he in wonderfull faire tearmes and orderly Decorum as well by his friends as himselfe performeth When contrary to his wishes but not his expectation they give him so cold entertainment and his suite such poore and sharpe acceptance as they in affection and zeale to Albemare not onely deny him their daughter but their house an answer so incivill and therfore so injust as might give a testimony of some way of their care yet no way of their discretion to themselves or affection to their daughter And here I must confesse that I can difficultly define whether this resolution and answer of Capello and Castiana more delighted Albemare discontented Baretano or afflicted Clara who although in the entrance of their Loves their hopes seem'd to be nipt and their desires crost by the frownes of their parents yet they love each other so tenderly and dearly as these discontents notwithstanding they will not retire but are resolute to advance in the progresse of this their chast and servent affections and although their commands endevour to give a law to her obedience in not permitting her to be frequented of Baretano yet her obedience is so inforced to take a more stronger of her affection as dispight her parents malice and jelosie towards them when they are sweetly sleeping in their beds then is their daughter Clara waking with Baretano and he with her oftentimes walking and talking in the Arboures and many times kissing and billing in the close galleries of the garden which they cannot conceale or beare so closely but her father and mother have exact notice and intelligence thereof by some of their trusty servants whom they had purposely appointed as Sentinels to espie and discover their meetings Whereupon as much in hatred to Baretano as in affection to Albemare knowing that if the cause be once removed the effect is subject soone to follow and ensue they very suddenly and privately send away their daughter from Millan to Modena by Coach there to be mewed and pent up with the Lady Emelia her Aunt and besides her waiting Gentlewoman Adriana none to accompany and conduct her but only Albemare hoping that a small time his presence and importunate solitations would deface the memorie of Baretano to engrave his owne in the heart and thoughts of his sweet Clara. Who poore soule seing her selfe exiled and banished from the society of her Baretano's sight and company wherein under heaven shee chiefly and onely delighted she hereat doth as it were drowne her selfe in the Ocean of her teares storming as well at the cruelty of her parents as at her owne affliction and misfortune and no lesse doth her Baretano for the absence of his sweet Saint and deare Lady Clara for as their affection so their afflictions is equall now mourning as much at each others absence as formerly they rejoyced and triumphed in their presence But although the jealousie of Capello and Castiana were very carefull to watch and observe Baretano in Millan and the zeale and affection of Albemares safety to guard and sweetly to attend on Clara and Modena Yet as fire surpressed flames forth with more violence and rivers stopped overflow with more impetuosity so despight of the ones vigilancie and the others jealousie though Baretano cannot be so happy and blessed to ride over to Modena to see and salute his Clara yet love which is the refiner of inventions and wit and the polisher of judgement cannot yet deraine him from visiting her with his letters the which in respect of the hard accesse and difficult passage to her hee is enforced to send her by subtill meanes and secret messengers and the better to overshadow the curiosity of his Arts and the Art of his affection herein hee among many others makesuse of a Frier and a Hermite for the conveyance of two letters to Modena to his Lady which as fit agents for such amorous employments they with more cunning and fidelity than zeale and Religion safely delivered her and likewise returned him her answers thereof And because the servency of their affections and constancies each to other are more lively depainted and represented in these two than in any other of their letters therefore I thought my selfe in a manner bound here to insert them to the end to give the better spirit and Grace to their History and the fuller satisfaction and content to the curiosity of the Reader That which Baretano sent Clara upon her departure from Millan to Modena by the Frier spake thus BARETANO to CLARA HOw justly may I tearme my selfe unfortunate Sith I am enforced to bee miserable before I know what belongs to happinesse For if ever I found any content or Heaven upon Earth it was onely in thy sweet presence which thy sudden abscence and unexpected exile hath now made at least my Purgatory if not my Hell Faire Clara judge of thy Baretano by thy selfe what a matchlesse griefe it is to my heart and a heart-killing terrour to my thoughts to see thee made captive to my rivall and that the Fates and thy Parents seeme to bee so propitious to his desires and so inexorable and cruell to mine That I must
them informe me and both assure me that the freenesse and fervency of my affection towards thee deserved not so cruell but a farre more courteous requitall If my Age be any way displeasing to thy youth yet deprive me not of the felicity of thy sight and presence wherein I not only delight but glory And although I can be content that thou surfet with my wealth yet make me not so miserable as to starve both in and for thy presence If any have given thee any sinister or false impressions either of my selfe or actions why if thy affection to mee will not deface them at least let thy pitty Yea returne my sweet and deare Husband and what errors or faults soever thou saiest I have committed I will not onely redeeme them with kisses but with teares LA VASSELAY De Merson hauing received this his wives Letter it workes such poore effects in his affection as he doth rather rejoyce then commiserate her estate and sorrowes yea he so sleights her and her remembrance as once he hadthought to have answered her Letter with silence but at last he some eight daies after returnes her this answer DE MERSON to LA VASSELAY VVHat hope can I have of thy Affection when I see thou art inviolably constant to thy Iealousie and if the Scruteny of thy thoughts and soule be as true as thou pretendest yet I feare that this Iealousie of thine is not the greatest but the least of thy crimes Thou writest to me that I give a cruell requitall to thy affection but pray God thou have not given a more sharpe and inhumane one to Gratiana's service and Chastity Neither is it thy Age but thy Imperfections and Vices which are both displeasing and o dious to my youth for I could brooke that with as much patience as I can digest these with impossibilities If thou want meanes I will grant thee more but for my presence I have many reasons to deny thee I know none but thy selfe which hath given me any impressions of thy actions and if those were false they would prove thy true happinesse as now they doe thy misery which my affection doth pitty though cannot redresse It is but in vaine for thee either to expect or hope for my returne and sith thy faults and errors are best knowne to thy selfe let thy repentance redeeme them towards God for neither thy kisses nor teares can or shall to me DE MERSON This Letter of De Merson to his wife La Vasselay is so farre from comforting as it doth most extreamely afflict her And although his discontents be such as she sees it almost impossible to reconcile and reclaime him yet being exceedingly perplexed and grieved with this her solitary and discontented life she yet hopes that a second Letter may obtaine that of him which her first could not when six moneths time being now slipt away since his departure shee faigning herselfe sicke writes unto him againe to this effect LA VASSELAY to DE MERSON THy absence hath so deprived my joyes and engendred my sorrowes that Sicknesse threatens my life to bee neere her period So among a world of discontents let mee yet beare this one Content to my grave that I may once more see thee whom so tenderly I both desire and long to see and if I cannot bee so happy as to live at the least make mee so fortunate as to dye in thine Armes which I know not whether it be a greater Charity foâ—… thee to grant or a Cruelty to deny mee this request of mine For my Deare De Merson if thou wilt not bee pleased to be my Husband yet bee not offended to remember that I am thy Wife and withall that as I desire thy returne so that I have not deserved thy departure But if thou wilt still be inexorable to my requests these Lines of mine which I write thee rather with Teares then Inke shall beare witnesse betwixt thy selfe and me of my Kindnesse of thy Cruelty and how my Life sought thy Affection though my Death could neither finde nor obtaine it LA VASSELAY De Merson reades this Letter with laughter yea hee is so insensible of her Lines Requests and Teares as if another had sent him newes of her Death as shee her selfe did of her Sickenesse it had beene farre more pleasing and better welcome to him But thinking how to gall her to the quicke to the end he might henceforth save her the labour to write him any more Letters and himselfe to receive and peruse them hee returnes her this sharpe and bitter answer DE MERSON to LA VASSELAY IT is thy Errour not my Absence which hath exchanged thy Ioyes into Sorrowes and if thy life draw neare her period they cannot bee farre from theirs My sight is a poore content for thee to beare to thy grave sith as a Christian thou shouldest delight to see none but thy Saviour nor bee Ambitious to live in any armes but his and if thou hold not this to be Charity I know others cannot repute it Cruelty That I am thy Husband I graunt and that thou art my Wife I not deny But yet I feare thy heart knowes though thy Pen affirmes the contrary that I have farre more reason for my departure then thou to desire my returne And if thou wilt yet know more if the Inke wherewith thou writest thy Letter be Teares pray God thou diddest not bedeawe Gratiana's Winding-sheete and Coffin both with her Teares and Blood for haddest thou not beene cruell yea inhumane to her I would never have beene unkinde to thee And to conclude live as happy as I feare her death will make thee dye miserable DE MERSON The receit and perusall of this Letter doth not only grieve but afflict and torment La Vasselay for the very remembrance of De Merson his suspition and apprehension that she had a hand in the death of Gratiana doth as it were pierce her heart as well with feare as sorrow for as her poverty lay before at his mercy so now shee knowes doth her life and that sith hee will not love her hee may chance so maligne und hate her as to reveale it Whereupon to secure her feare and to warrant the safety of her life she soone exchangeth her love into hatred and her affection and jealousie into envy towards him yea her inraged and incensed thoughts engender and imprint such bloody designes of revenge in her heart as abandoning the feare and grace of God she impiously concludes a match with the Devill to dispatch and murther him and from which bloody and damnable designe no regard of God or her Soule nor respect of Heaven or Hell can or shall divert her when overpassing a small parcell of time wherein shee ruminated and pondered how shee should send him from this life to another at last her malicious curiosity makes her thoughts fall on La Villette being his Gentleman who still followed him as holding him a fit Agent to attempt and instrument
off with peremptory refusals and in vertuous and modest tearmes checks his age for this his lascivious suit and motion to her But he is as constant in his affection to her as she is disdainfull to him for his heart is so insnared and intangled in the fetters of her fresh and delicate beautie that although shee refuse him yet he will not forsake her but after many pursuits and visits she at last well perceiving that he loved her tenderly and dearly and that hee still most importunately frequented her house and company she as a subtill and cunning young Gentlewoman tels him plainly and privately that she will acquaint him with a secret of her heart and a request of her minde and affection which if hee will cause to be performed shee then vowes she will for ever be at his disposing and command Idiaques thinking that she will crave some summe of money of him or some yearely pension or annuity he constantly promiseth to grant and performe her request so she taking time at advantage and first swearing him to secrecie then with many smiles and blushes shee tels him that if ever he thinke to enjoy her love and her selfe hee must use the meanes to marry his sonne Don Ivan to her which being effected shee with much pretended shew of piety and affection religiously sweares to him that shee will never have the power or will to deny him any thing but that his requests shall bee to her as so many commands and but onely for himselfe if his sonne Don Ivan bee her Husband shee with many imprecations and asseverations sweares that shee will sacrifice her best bloud and life rather than distaine his bed or offer him the least shadow of any scandall or dishonour whatsoever Idiaques wondreth with admiration and admires with wonder at this her strange proposition the which hee findes so knotty and intricate as measuring Grace by Nature his Judgement by his Lust and Concupiscence and his Soule by his Affections hee knowes not what to say or doe herein so hee answereth her with more love than wisdome and for that time leaves her in generall tearme Hee goes homes walkes pensively in his Garden and there consults Pro and Con on this businesse faine hee would preserve his sonnes honour and keepe the honour of his bed immaculate but then the sweet Roses and Lillies of Marsillia's youth and beauty act wonders in his heart and beares downe all other reasons and considerations before it Hee visits her againe and againe but hee findes her inviolably constant in her former resolution All the favour and courtesie which he can gaine from her are a few extorted kisses which so inflame and set on fire his aged heart and affections as at last like a gracelesse father hee faithfully promiseth her to use his best art and power to procure his sonne to marrie her To which end hee takes him aside and in the softest and sweetest tearmes hee can devise paints out Marsillia's praises and Vertues to him in the purest and rarest colours adding withall that although shee bee not exceeding rich yet that her personage is so exquisite and her perfections so excellent as that shee every way meriteth to bee wife to a Prince Don Ivan by what fatall fortune I know not relisheth this motion of his father to seeke the Lady Marsillia for his wife with much delight and joy and farre the more and the sooner in regard hee in divers companies hath formerly heard the fame of her beauty extolled and the glory of her Vertues advanced to the Skie so hee takes time of his father to consider hereof and rides over sometimes with him to Saint Estiene to visit her Hee findes her wonderfull faire and beautifull and wonderfull coy of a very sweet and Majesticall carriage and of a delicate and curious speech fit baits to ensnare the heart and to betray the judgement of a more solide understanding than that of Don Ivan Shee acts her part as wisely as he doth amarously and passionately For the more she makes shew to retire and conceale her affection from him the more he is provoked to advance and discover his to her but he cannot be so much enamoured of her beauty as shee is with the great Estate of Lands and Demaines whereunto God and his father have made him heire Whiles thus the father privately and the sonne publikely are seeking to make Marsillia his wife the old Lady Honoria the mother by many strong reasons seeks to divert him from her Shee hath perfect notice of her husbands long and often frequenting of Marsillia's house and company and therefore fearing the vanity of his age and doubting the frailty of her youth and chastity her jelousie and judgement at last findes out and concludes that his familiarity with her is farre greater than honour can warrant or honesty allow of Upon which foundation shee in her discontented lookes and silence bewrayes unto her sonne Don Ivan her constant and resolute aversnesse from him to marry her the which she peremptorily and religiously forbids him upon her blessing adding withall that if he marry her there will infallibly more miseries and calamities attend their nuptials than as yet it is possible for him either to know or conceive the which shee prayes him to read in her lookes and silence to remember it when he sees her not and to take it as the truest advise and securest Counsell of a deere Mother to her onely Sonne Don Ivan ruminates on these speeches and advise of his Mother as if there were some deepe abstruse mysterie or ambiguous Oracle contained and hidden therein the which because he hath equall reason as well to feare that this match of his with Marsillia may prove fatall as to hope and beleeve that it may prove fortunate he makes a stand thereat as vowing to proceed therein with advisement and not with temeritie and precipitation and so forbeares for a month or two to visit her But the more the Sonne flyes off in his affection from Marsillia the more doth shee doe the like from his father in requitall whereat he grieves with discontent and shee seemes to bite her lippe with sorrow Idiaques chargeth his son to tell him from whence this his sudden strangenesse and unkindnesse towards Marsillia proceedeth the which hee answereth with a modest excuse as favouring more of discretion than disobedience but yet wholly concealeth his Mothets counsell and advise to him from his Father the which notwithstanding hee vehemently suspecteth it proceeds from her and her Jealousie Marsillia is enraged to see her selfe deprived of Don Ivan whom in her ambitious thoughts hopes and wishes shee had already made her Husband and howsoever Idiaques his Father seekes to conceale and palliate this businesse towards her yet shee beleeves it is his fault and not his Sonnes Shee layes it to his charge and knitting her browes shee conjureth him to tell her from whence his Sons unkindnesse to her proceeds He tels her he is
day goes home to his house with him visiteth his daughter He findes her to be weake leane and pale the which serves the better for his turne to coulour out this his bloody purpose to her When if there had been any humanity in his thoughts any Grace in his heart or any sparke of religion or pietie in his Soule the very sight of this sweet this harmelesse this beautifull young Gentlewoman would have moved him to compassion and not with hellish crueltie to resolve to poyson her But his sinnefull heart his seared Conscience and his ulcerated and virulent soule had in favour of gold made this compact with the Divell and therfore hee will advance and not retire in this his infernall resolution Hee feeles her pulse casts her estate in an Vrinall receives thirty Crownes of her Father for her cure and so bidding her to be of good comfort he administreth her two pills three mornings following whereof harmelesse sweet Gentlewoman within three dayes after shee sodainly dyes in her bed by night Tivoly affirming to her sorrowfull Father and Friends that before hee came to her the violency and inveteracy of her consumption had turned all her blood into water and exhausted and extenuated all the radicall humours of her life which opinion of this base and bloody Italian Mountebanke past current with the simplicitie of his beliefe and their Iudgements So he burieth his daughter and with her his chiefest earthly delight and ioy Within three daies after that this sorrowful and lamentable tragedy was acted This monster this Divell incarnate Tivoly leaves Troyes and poasts away to Nevers where he ravisheth Masserina's heart with the joyfull newes and assurance of La Precovertes death and buriall of whom he receives his other hundred and fifty Crownes the which according to her promise shee failes not presently to pay him downe And heere againe they solemnely sweare secrecie each to other of this their bloody fact Wretched Masserina feasting her heart with joy and surfeiting her thoughts with content to see the rivall and competitor in her loves La Precoverte thus dispatched and sent for heaven Shee now thinking to domineere alone in her Harcourts heart and affection esteemes her selfe a degree neerer to him in marriage that so of his Sister shee may become his Wife For this is the felicity and content whereat her heart aymeth and the delectation and ioy wherein her desires and wishes terminate But her Husband Vimories life doth dash these ioyes of hers in peeces as soone as she conceives them and strangles them if not in their birth yet in their cradle She finds Nevers to bee a pleasant Citie and Pougges a delightfull little place to live in and when the Spring is past and the great confluence of people retired and gone home to bee a place of farre more safety for them than Lyons Yea and shee affects and loves it farre the better because here it was she first heard and understood of La Precovertes death which as yet for a time she closely conceales to her selfe Wherefore shee sends Noell her man to Lyons to his Master and by her letter prayes him speedily to come and live with her at Nevers which shee affirmes to him is a pleasant City and that there she attends his arrivall and company with much affection and impatiencie Harcourt to please his Sweet-heart-Sister Masserina leaves Lyons and comes to her at Nevers where with thankes and kisses she ioyfully wellcomes him telling him that these bathes of Pougges have perfectly freed her of her ache but in her heart and mind shee well knowes it is the death of La Precoverte and not those bathes which hath both cured her doubts and secured her feares They have not lived in Nevers and Pougges above three weekes since his arrivall untill they there but by what meanes I know not understand of La Precovertes death whereat hee seemes nothing sorrowfull but she extreamly glad and ioyfull And by this time which is at least a whole yeare since their flight and departure from Saint Simplician and Sens they in their Travells and other gifts and expenses have consumed â—…nd expended a prettie Summe of their money In all which time wee must understand that Vimory hates his wife and Brother so exceedingly as hee in contempt of their crymes and detestation of their trecherous ingratitude scornes either to looke or send after them but the only revenge which he useth towards him in his absence he pretends a great Summe of money to bee due to him from him and in compensation thereof seizeth upon the remainder of his lands and by Order of Iustice gathereth up and collects his rents from his Tenants to his owne use and behoofe Which extreamely grieves Harcourt and afflicts Masserina who by this time seeing in what obscurity and considering in what continuall feare and eminent danger they live in As their lascivious affections so their irregular desires and irreligious resolutions looke one and the same way which is to send her Husband and his Brother Vimory to Heaven after his wife La Precoverte yea so resolute are they in this their bloody intentions and desires as they wish and pray for it with zeale and desire it with passion impatiency And now their malice is growen so resolute and their resolution so gracelesse in the contemplation and conceiving of this bloody 〈◊〉 as they bewray it each to other Masserina vowes to him that she can reape no true content either in her life or conscience before of his sister he make her his wife Nor I replies Harcourt before my brother Vimorie be in Heaven and I marry thee be thy husband here in earth When as a bloody Courtisan and Strumpet she gives him many thanks and kisses for this his affection to her and malice to his Brother Vimory for her sake when working upon the advantage of time occasion and opportunity Shee tells him that in her opinion the shortest and surest way is to dispatch him by poison Harcourt dislikes her judgement and plot as holding it no way safe in taking away his brothers life to entrust and hazard his owne at the coâ—…rtesie of a stranger at which speech of his shee blusheth and palleth as being conscious and memorative of what she had lately caused to be perpetrated by Tivoly Therfore he thinks to acquaint and imploy his owne man Noell in this bloudy businesse and proâ—… him two hundred Crownes and fortie more of yeerely pension during his life if hee will pistoll his Brother Vimory to death as he iâ—… walking in the fields But Noell is too honest a man and too good a Chriâ—… to stabbe at the majesty of God iâ—…â—…ling man his creature and Image and so absolutely denies his Master and although he be a poore man yet he rejects his offer as resolving never to purchase wealth or preferment at so deere a rate as the price of innocent blood whereat his Master bites his lip for discontent and
joy as hee transported himselfe from thee with bitter teares and unfained sorrows in the meane time my hopes and heart tell mee that thy affection to mee shall surmount thy Fathers tyranny to thy selfe and that thy beaâ—…y and meritt are so incomparably resplendent that though Palmerius â—…ee the fayle yet Morisini shall live and dye the Diamond of thy love and the Love of thy Heart as God iâ—… of thy Soule O then my deere and sweet Imperia repute it 〈◊〉 ingratitude much lesse a oâ—…ime in mee to send thee this letter of excuse in steed of bringing thee my selfe for I spâ—…ke it in presence of God and his Angels that as thou art my other halfe so I am wholly thine and that thou canst not bee the thousand part so sorrowfull aâ—… I am â—…serable in this our short yet too long sequestâ—…tion â—…well 〈◊〉 the only Saâ—… of my heart and Goddesse of my affections and assure thy selfe that no mortall man whatsoeuer is or can bee so much thy faithfull Servant and Slave as MOROSINI Our Imperia kisseth this Letter a thousand times for her Morisini's sake who wrote and sent it her and againe as often weepes to see that hee loved Honor and profit better then her selfe and Turkie better than Italy so whereas shee formerly hoped now shee begins to despaire of his speedy returne and esteemes herselfe as miserable without him as shee thought to have beene happy with him Shee reades over his Letter againe and againe and then weepes as fast as shee reades at the very perusall and consideration thereof shee would faine draw comfort from any part or branch of it but then his intended stay affords her nothing but disconsolation and sorrow in stead thereof Shee blames her owne misfortune as much as his unkindnesse and then againe imputes this impatiencie of hers more to her fathers crueltie than to Morosini's discourtesie shee loves him as much as shee hates Palmerius and hates her selfe because Morosini will not love her more and Palmerius lesse But Morosini is so firmly seated and enthronized in her heart that she is constantly resolved to stay his returne and rather to dy his victim and martyr than to live Palmerius his wife And here her affection acts a great part in passion as this passion doth in Love she cannot refraine from enquiring of Mercario how Morisini lives and how he looks who performes the part of a friend to his friend and tells her that hee lives in great pompe and reputation and is the properest and bravest young Gallant either of Venice or Italâ—… which hee saw in Constantinople at the report whereof shee could not refraine from blushing and smiling as if her delight and ioy thereof were such as shee could not receive or heare it without these publike expressions and testimonies of her private zeale and interiour affection to him But all this notwithstanding wheresoever shee goes or turnes her selfe her Father as her shadow and Palmerius as her spirit are never from her but still follow her in all times and places without intermission It is a wonder to see and consider their obstinacy to make it a match and her resolution and refusall against it as if they were wholly composed and made of commands and shee of denialls In which interchangeable comportment and different carriage of theirs Wee must allow sixe moneths time more past and slidden away where in despight of Palmerius his importunities and her fathers power shee still remaines inflexible to them constant to her Morosini and true to her promise But at last this old lustfull Lover Palmerius who was fitter to kisse an image in the Church then so sweet and faire a yong Lady as Imperia in her bed seeing that hee had consumed and spent so long time in vaine by courting her and that shee sleighted him and his sute as much if not more now than when hee first meant and intended it to her hee bethinkes himselfe of a new poâ—…icy and proposition to gaine her which love can not so much excuse as discretion iustly condemne in him Hee goes tâ—… her father Bondino and proffers him that if his daughter will become his wife that he will infeoffe and endow her with the one halfe of his lands and give all the rest of his Estate and wealth into his hands and custody for him to purchase her more Which great and unexpected proffer of his doth solely and fully weigh downe her covetous father to Palmerius his will and desire as hee constantly tells him that in lieu of this his great affection and bounty to his daughter hee will speedily use all his power and authority with her fullâ—… to dispose her to aâ—…ect and content him To which end Bondino goes to his daughter Imperia acquaints her with this great gift and voluntary proffer of Palmerius to her if shee will marry him Hee lyes before her how infinitly it will import his content and her owne good and reputation and that few Gentlewoman of Loretto or Ladies of the whole Marca of Anconitana doe enioy such rich Fortunes that his wisdome and wealth is farre to be preferred to the vanitie and prodigallity of Morosini and that the first will assuredly bring her much content and prosperitie but the second nothing else but poverty ruine and misery and therefore hee most importunately conjures and commands her to cut and cast off all delayes and so forthwith to dispose her selfe to love and marry Palmerius or else hee vowes for ever to renounce her for his Daughter and no more to acknowledge him selfe for her Father A crueltie which in my opinion and judgement ought to bee admired with pittie and pittied with admiration and not to serve for a precedent and Example to other Parents because this of Bondino's was grounded on farre more passion than reason and covetousnesse than vertue and which Nature hath all the reasons of the world rather than to tearme tyranny then Providence or fatherly affection in him Our Imperia is as it were strucke dead with griefe and sorrow at the thunderbolt of these her Fathers cruell speeches towards her so that shee cannot speake nor yet weepe for sighing and sobbing but at last encouraged by her owne Vertue as much as shee was daunted and dismayed by her fathers severitie and crueltie towards her shee casting her selfe at his feete with a trembling heart and faltering voice returnes her heart and minde to him in these tearmes Honoured Sir although my afflictions and sorrowes are such and so infinit that I am farre more capable to weepe and sigh then to breathe or speake them forth to you yet I hold it my dutie not my disobedience to acquaint you that because marriages are first made in heaven before contracted or consummated in Earth therefore being so happie first to love Morosini before I was so unfortunate as to see Seignior Palmerius I hope it is the pleasure of God that hee hath ordained the first to bee my Husband and consequently
but not hee her and wee shall not goe far till we likewise see what effects these their different affections will produce Whiles Vrsina is assured of Sanctifiores love to her Bertranna contrariwise by her selfe and her friends makes it her chiefest care and ambition to perswade and draw him to forsake Vrsina and to love and marry herselfe but shee will find more opposition and difficulty therein than shee expects True it is that although the Baron of Sanctifiore doe continually frequent Placedos house and his daughter Bertrannas company yet understanding and considering with himselfe that Vrsina honoured him with her constant love and affection hee therefore held himselfe in a manner bound sometimes to see and visit her although indeed it was every way more to content and please her than himselfe where albeit that her policy to her selfe and her affection to him gives him many quips and jerkes of his Mistris Vrsina yet his reputation and discretion makes him comport his actions and speeches so equally towards Bertranna that although hee give her little cause to hope yet he gives her none to despaier of his love and affection to her in requitall of hers to him and upon these and no other tearmes stand Sanctifiore and Bertranna But as for Vrsina her hopes and heart of Sanctifiores affection to her sayls on with a more pleasing and joyfull gale of wind for shee loving him as deeply as hee doth her dearly she accounts her selfe his and he hers as we may the more particularly and perfectly perceive by foure love-letters of theirs which secretly and interchangeably past betweene them the which for the Readers better satisfaction I thought good here to insert and publish whereof his first to her spake thus SANCTIFIORE to VRSINA THe Sweetnes of thy beauty and the excellencie of thy Vertues have so fully taken up my thoughts and so firmely surprised and vanquished my heart that I am so much thine hoth by conquest and duty as I know not whether I doe more affect or honour or more admire or adore thee Wherefore if thou art as courteous as faire and as loving to me as I am faithfull to thy selfe then returne mee thy heart as I now give and send thee mine and assure thy selfe that my affection is so infinite and entire to thee that I love and desire theeâ—… thousand times more than mine owne life and will esteeme my death both sweet and happy if thou wilt henceforth live mine by Purchase as I am now thine by Promise Thy will shall be my law and as there is a God in Heaven so Vrsina hath not so fervent a lover or constant a servant on earth as her SANCTIFIORE Vrsinas answer hereunto was couched in these tearmes VRSINA to SANCTIFIORE IF thy heart be as full of affection as thy letter is of flattery to mee I should then have as just cause thankfully to beleeve that as now I have to suspect and feare this For the iniquity of our times and the misery of many former examples doe prompt and tell mee that most men love more with their tongues than with their hearts and that they all know far better how to professe than preserve their affections and fidelities to their Mistresses As for mee judge with thy selfe how courteous and loving I am to thee for if I perfectly knew that thy Letter were the true Ambassadour and unfeigned Eccho of thy heart I would both say and promise thee that I would love thee and none but thee Make my selfe thy wife when and as soone as thou wilt please to bee my Husband for in life and death I here now promise thee to bee more thine than mine owne Resolve mee of this doubt and free mee of this feare and then manage this affection and favour of mine with discretion and requite it with fidelitie to thy VRSINA The Baron of Sanctifiores second letter to her contayned this language SANCTIFIORE to VRSINA AS I am not guilty so I am not answerable for other mens crimes of infidelity but doe as justly detest and scorne as you unjustly feare them in mee That my affection is pure and sacred and shall bee inviolable to thee bee God my Iudge and my heart and conscience my witnesses Therefore to resolve thy doubt and to free thy feare thereof I vow by the purenesse of thy beauty and by the dignity of thy vertues that both my former letter and also this are the true Ambassadours and Ecchoes of my heart and which is more of my soule I will shortly kisse thee for thy love to mee then love thee for thy kisses and after embrace and thanke thee for both and when I faile of my affection and fidelity to thee may God then faile of his Grace and mercy to my selfe I will make my selfe thy deere Husband and thee my sweet wife when thou pleasest to crowne and honour mee with that sweet joy and to ravish my heart with this desired felicity SANCTIFIORE Vrsinas answer hereunto was traced in these tearmes VRSINA to SANCTIFIORE RElying on the Purity of thy affection and the preservation and performance of thy constancy to mee for the which thou hast invoked God for Iudge and thy heart and Conscience as witnesses thereof I now freely acknowledge my selfe to bee thy wife by Purchase and thou to bee my Husband by Promise and doe therefore wholly take me from my selfe eternally to give my selfe to thee I desire the enjoyance of thy company and presence with as much impatiency as thou longest for mine and thou shalt find that I will make it my chiefest care and ambition to love thee and my greatest glory to honour and obey thee and let both of us beware of infidelity each to other for God will assuredly punish it with justice requite it with revenge and revenge it with misery on the Delinquents and Offenders VRSINA By the perusall and consideration of these foure precedent Letters wee may plainly perceive what a firme promise and secret contract there was past betweene the Baron of Sanctifiore and the Lady Vrsina and how servently and sweetly they had given themselves each to other in the promise and assurance of mariage so not contented to have gotten the Daughters good will hee in very honourable fashion and tearmes likewise seekes her Father Seignior Placedos consent thereto whom though for some few Monethes hee found to bee averse and opposit to his desires therein yet upon Sanctifiores importunate intreaties and his Daughter Vrsinas frequent teares hee at last consenteth to this their mariage only he delayed the consummation thereof for some secret reasons and considerations best knowne to himselfe the which I cannot publish because I could never gather or understand them Whiles thus the Baron of Sanctifiore remaines in Naples his long stay great trayne prodigall expenses there and his absence from Capua where his lands and meanes lay made him bee in some distresse and want of mony and not knowing how to procure it
next to Palura's sight and presence was the chiefest joy of her heart and the sweetest felicity and content of her mind the which considering she therefore absolutely beleeves that the detection and perusall of this letter was the sole cause of her Lord and husbands jealousie as that was of her sweet Palura's death wherein indeed shee is nothing deceived for some six weekes after hee feturnes home to her from Lisbone where in favour of his Noble birth and discent of his many great friends and of a huge some of money hee in absence of the Viceroy had obtained his pardon from the chamber of that cittie and the very first salutations that hee gave his Lady Bellinda the which I know not whether hee delivered to her with more contempt or choler was thus Minion quoth hee how many prayers and oraysons hast thou said for the soule of thy Ruffion and adulterer Palura when she being exceedingly galled to the heart with these his scandalous speeches she yet to justifie her owne honour and innocency dissembles her griefe for Palura's death as much as her jealous husband triumphes and insults thereat and so frames him this short reply that Palara was not her adulterer but a Gentleman of honour and therefore shee besought God to forgive him his owne heynous sinne and execrable crime for so fouly basely murthering of him De Mora nettled with this his Ladies apologie and justification which hee knew to bee as false as her and Palura's crime of adultery was true hee produceth this letter to her then reads it her and in a great rage and fury immediately teres and burnes it before her face now although the sight and knowledge of this letter as also her husbands burning thereof doe exceedingly vex and perplex our Lady Bellinda yet shee was herewith no way daunted but againe very boldly tels him that she cannot prevent any Gentleman to write and send her a letter and although in the conclusion of this his letter to her had simply and sinisterly mentioned kisses and embraces yet shee peremptorily vowed and swore to him that the first had not exceeded the bounds of civility nor the last violated the lawes and rules of honour so wise and politicke was she in her answers so false and hyppocriticall in her justification towards her husband The which he well observing and understanding as also with what a pleasing grace shee spake it his owne lustfull age yet still doting on the freshnes of the youth and beauty of this his young wife seeing that Palura who was the cause and object of his jealousie was now removed and dead he therefore for the preservation of his owne honour and reputation in that of his Ladies doth content himselfe so fat as to bury the greatest part of his discontent and jealousie against her in the dust of oblivion or in that of Palura's grave and to that end he afords her his table still and his bed sometimes as if that obligation of courtesie would reclaime her lascivious thoughts and againe call home her wanton desires to chastity and honour neverthelesse the better to effect and compasse it hee much restraines her of her former liberty and debars her the company and sight of all Gentlemen whatsoever that come to his house A peevish custome which the husbands of Spaine Portugall and Italy tirannically use towards their Ladies whereas contrariwise the Ladies and Gentlewomen of England and France are far more happie because more chaste and honourable towards their husbands in using and not abusing this their liberty and freedome Bellinda with a watchfull eye and a wanton heart observes these passages and comportments of her husband De Mora towards her and in observing laughes at them but because her lascivious mind incessantly tels her that there is no hell to that of a discontented bed therefore hating his age as much as hee loves her youth her Paluro being dead she forth with resolves to make choice of another lover and at what rate soever not to trifle away her time and her youth idly but to passe it a way in the amorous delights of carnall voluptuousnes and sensuality To which effect missing of other Gentlemen and therefore enforced to make a vertue of necessitie she forgetting her selfe her honour makes choice of Ferallo her owne Gentleman-usher a man every way as proper as shee is faire and as well timbred as shee is beautifull and neere of her owne yeares which as yet had not exceeded one and twenty to Ferallo therefore shee freely imparts her affections and favours who as freely receives and as joyfully and amorously entertaines both her them so that to write the best of truth and modesty I must here affirme that as hee was formerly his Ladies usher now hee makes himselfe his Lords follower unknowen to him very often ties her shooc-strings and takes up her maske and gloves for her and many times when the old Nobleman is a sleepe then this ignoble couple of unchaste lovers are waking to their obscoene pleasures and secretly sacrificing up their lascivious desires to wanton Cupid the sonne and to lustfull Venus the mother but they shall find wormewood intermixed in this honey and gall in this sugar For three moneths together our Bellinda the mistris and Ferallo the man drowne themselves in the impietie of these their carnall delights and pleasuâ—…es as if they made it their â—…elicity and glory to continue the practise and profession thereof but at the end and expiration of this time as close as they beare this their adulterous familiarity from De Mora it comes to his knowledge by an unexpected accident and meanes for the reader must understand that Ferallo was heretofore dishonestly familiar with his Lady Bellinda's waiting Gentlewoman named Herodia whom under pretext and colour of marriage hee had many times used at his lascivious pleasure so that Herodia seeing that Ferallo's affections were now wholly transported from her selfe to her Lady Bellinda and that hee sleighted and disdained her to embrace and adore the other she is so inraged with jealousie at the knowledge and consideration thereof as she cals a counsell in her heart and thoughts what to doe herein how to prevent it and againe how to reclaime regaine Ferallo and his affection from her Lady to her selfe and shee is so inflamed with jealousie towards them as shee can reape no peace by day of her mind nor rest by night of her heart before shee have effected it to which end having ranne over a whole world of remedies and expedients shee at last resolves on this to acquaint her Lord and master De Mora with this unchaste and obscoene familiarity betweene his Lady Bellinda and her lover Ferallo and her rage is so outragious as with infinite malice and celerity she performes it At which unexpected and unwell-comed newes our old Lord De Mora hath now his heart a new set on fire with jealousie and malice both towards his Lady
Pisani cannot imagine what friend of his it should be that Christeneta loveth but she knowes enough for them both and it may be too much for her selfe she knowes it at least an immodest if not a bold part for her to court Pisani who ought rather to court her but she thinkes it both wisedome and duety to give way to that which she cannot avoyd and prevent and so preferres the zeale of her affection before the respect of her modesty but that which makes her so resolute in the execution of this her amorous attempt is to see that Gasparino hath found Pisani to sollicite for him to her and shee can finde none but her selfe to sollicite for her selfe to Pisani therfore bold in this her resolution she beares so deep and so deare an affection to Pisani that she thinkes every moment an houre and every houre an age before she see Pisani that one person of the World whom she loves more deare then all the world Thus wishing night day her house the Nunnery and her chamber the garden shee with much impatient patiency awayts the houre of eight which shee knowes will bring her her joy or her torment her felicity or her misery her life or her death The Clocke strikes eight Christeneta takes her Prayer-booke and her Wayting-mayd and so trips away to the Nunnery but she doth now dispense with her devotion to give content to her eyes or rather to her heart in seeing and injoying the desired company of Pisani whom she esteemes the life of her content and the content of her life and so forsakes the Church to goe to the Garden Pisani who never failed of his houre and promise to men doth now disdaine to misse thereof to a Lady for Christeneta hath scarce made three paces in the walkes of the Garden but ere the fourth be finished shee sees Pisani enter shee blushes at his sight and hee growes pale at her blushes he findes her in a bower of Sycamors Cypresses and Vines decked within with Roses Lillies and Gilly-flowers hee gives her the good-morrow and the salute the which with a modest and sweet courtesy she receives and returnes he tells her he is come to performe his promise and if it please her to receive hers shee would faine answer him but her cheekes give blushes where her tongue should words but at last darting a sweet looke on him which was the Embassadour and Herald of her heart she discovereth her selfe to him thus The person Pisani on whom I have fixed and settled my affection doth exceedingly resemble you is of your owne blood and of your neerest and dearest acquaintance Pisani presseth her to know his name when after many glances sighes and blushes shee tells him his name is Pisani and himselfe the man prayes him to pardon her boldnesse and to give an honourable interpretation and construction to her affection 〈◊〉 withall that when she first saw him shee loved him and now prayes him to be 〈◊〉 that Christeneta may be a sollicitor for her selfe to Pisani and not Pisani to Christeneta for Gasparino yea she confirmes her words with many sighes and againe her sighs with many teares which trickle downe her beautifull cheekes like pearled drops of deaw upon blushing damaske Roses Pisani wonders at this unexpected newes and knowes not how to beare himselfe in a businesse of this nature hee sees that her beauty deserves love and her descent and vertues respect but withall he is not so dishonourable to betray his friend he wonders at her affection and is not ignorant that she deserves a more noble husband then himselfe but seeing her languish for an answer he returnes her thus Although I acknowledge my selfe infinitely bound to you for that affection of yours wherewith you please to honour mee yet as honour is to be preferred before affection so Christeneta must excuse Pisani sith hee cannot bee a servant to her but he must bee a traytor to Gasparino and that respect excepted in requitall of your favour I will esteeme my selfe happy if I may lose my life for your service Yet hee is not so unkinde but gives her a kisse or two at farewell which as much delights Christeneta as his refusall doth afflict her so they part The rest time must bring forth Now although Gasparino have left Pavia yet he cannot forsake his affection to Christeneta but cherisheth her memory and in heart adoreth her Idaea yea he loves her deepely and dearely and indeed her perfections and beauty deserve love but such is Christeneta's affection to Pisani as she can take no truce of her thoughts but despight of discretion and modesty which perswade and counsell her to the contrary she within ten dayes after purposely sends a confident Messenger to him to Cremona with this Letter CHRISTENETA to PISANI FInde it not strange that I second my last speech with this my first Letter and thinke that were not my affection intire and constant I should not thus attempt to reveale it you in lines which blush not as my cheekes doe when I write them I should offer too palpable violence and injury to the truth if I tell you not that it is impossible for Christeneta to love any but Pisani whom I no sooner saw but deepely admir'd and dearely affected Now sith my zeale to you is begunne in vertue and shall be continued in honour it makes me flatter my selfe with hope that you will not enforce me to despaire for if I am not so happy to be yours I must bee so unfortunate never to bee mine owne Iudge what your absence is to me sith your presence is my chiefest felicity which makes me both desire and wish that either you were in Pavia or I in Cremona I can prefixe and give bounds to my Letter though not to my affection Hate not her who loves you dearely otherwise whatsoever you thinke I know your unkindnesse to mee will bee meere cruelty CHRISTENETA 〈◊〉 Pisani receiveth this Letter he wonders at her affection and now consults betwixt Christeneta's love to him and his respect to Gasparino hee at first holds it incivility not to answer her Letter and yet is very unwilling in doing her right to wrong his friend but at last perusing her Letter againe hee findes it so kinde as hee deemes it not only ingratitude but a degree of inhumanity for him not to returne her an answer and therefote taking Pen and Paper he writes to her thus PISANI to CHRISTENETA YOu discover mee as much affection as I should treachery to my friend either to accept or â—…equite it and were it not for that consideration which must tend as well to mine owne honour as to your content I would not sticke to say that Pisani loves Christeneta because shee deserves to be beloved onely give mee leave to informe you that as you are too faire to be refused so I am too honest to betray my friend especially such a one who is as confident of my fidelity as I assured of
and France was shortly followed by a peace as a Mother by the daughter Which was concluded at the Hage by his Excellency of Nassaw and Marquis Spinola being chiefe Commissioners of either party Alsemero seeing his hopes frustrated that the keyes of peace had now shut up the Temple of Warre and that Muskets Pikes and corslets that were wont to grace the fields where now rusting by the walls he is irresolute what course to take resembling those fishes who delight to live in cataracts and troubled waters but die in those that are still and quiet For hee spurnes at the pleasures of the Court and refuseth to haunt and frequent the companies of Ladies And so not affecting but rather disdaining the pompe bravery and vanity of Courtiers hee withdrawes himselfe from Validolyd to Valentia with a noble and generous intent to seeke warres abroad sith hee could find none at home where being arived although hee were often invited into the companies of the most noble and honorable Ladies both of the City and Country Yet his thoughts ranne still on the warres in which Heroike and illustrious profession he conceived his chiefest delight and felicity and so taking order for his lands and affaires he resolves to see Malta that inexpugnable Rampier of Mars the glory of Christendome and the terrour of Turky to see if hee could gaine any place of command and honour either in that Iland or in their Gallies or if not he would from thence into Transilvania Hungary and Germany to inrich his judgement and experience by remarking the strength of their Castles and Cities their orders and discipline in warre the Potency of their Princes the nature of their Lawes and customes and all other matters worthy the observation both of a Travellour and a Souldier and so building many castles in the ayre he comes to Alicant hoping to find passage there for Naples and from thence to ship himselfe upon the Neapolitan Gallies for Malta There is nothing so vaine as our thoughts nor so uncertaine as our hopes for commonly they deceive us or rather wee our selves in relying on them not that God is any way unjust for to thinke so were impiety but that our hopes take false objects and have no true foundation and to imagine the contrary were folly the which Alsemero finds true for here the winde doth oppose him his thoughts fight and vanquish themselves yea the providence of God doth crosse him in his intended purposes and gives way to that hee least intendeth For comming one morning to our Ladies Church at Masse and being on his knees in his devotion he espies a young Gentlewoman likewise on hers next to him who being young tender and faire hee thorow her thinne vaile discovered all the perfections of a delicate and sweet beauty shee espies him feasting on the dainties of her pure and fresh cheekes and tilting with the invisible lances of his eyes to hers he is instantly ravished and vanquished with the pleasing object of this Angelicall countenance and now hee can no more resist either the power or passion of love This Gentlewoman whose name as yet wee know not is young and faire and cannot refraine from blushing and admiring to see him admire and blush at her Alsemero dies in conceit with impatiency that hee cannot enjoy the happinesse and meanes to speake with her but hee sees it in vaine to attempt it because shee is ingaged in the company of many Ladies and hee of many Cavaliers But Masse being ended hee enquires of a good fellow Priest who walked by what shee was and whether she frequented that Church and at what houre The Priest informes him that shee is Don Diego de Vermandero's daughter hee beeing Captaine of the Castle of that Citie that her name was Dona Beatrice-Ioana and that shee is every morning in that Church and Place and neere about the same houre Alsemero hath the sweetnesse of her beauty so deepely ingraven in his thoughts and imprinted in his heart that hee vowes Beatrice-Ioana is his Mistresse and hee her servant yea here his warlike resolutions have end and strike sayle And now hee leaves Bellona to adore Venus and forsakes Mars to follow Cupid yea so fervent is his flame and so violent is his passion as hee can neither give nor take truce of his thoughts till hee bee againe made happy with her sight and blessed with her presence The next morne as Lovers love not much rest Alsemero is stirring very timely and hoping to find his Mistresse no other Church will please him but our Ladies nor place but where hee first and last saw her but shee is more zealous then himselfe For shee is first in the Church and on her knees to her devotion whom Alsemero gladly espying hee kneeles next to her and having hardly the patience to let passe one poore quarter of an houre hee resolving as yet to conceale his name like a fond Lover whose greatest glory is in complements and Courting his Mistresse hee boards her thus Faire Lady it seemes that these two mornings my devotions have beene more powerfull and acceptable then heeretofore sith I have had the felicitie to bee placed next so faire and so sweet a Nymph as your selfe whose excellent beauty hath so sodainely captivated mine eyes and so secretly ravished my heart that hee which heretofore rejected cannot now resist the power of love and therefore having ended my devotion I beseech you excuse mee if I begin to pray you to take pittie of mee sith my flame is so fervent and my affection is so passionate as either I must live yours or not dye mine owne Beatrice-Ioana could not refraine from blushing under her vaile to see an unknowne Cavalier board her in these tearmes in the Church and as shee gave attentive eare to his speech so shee could not for a while refraine from glancing her eye upon the sprucenesse of his person and the sumptuousnesse of his apparell but at last accusing her owne silence because shee would give him no cause to condemne it shee with a modest grace and a gracefull modesty returnes him this answer Sir as your devotions can neither bee pleasing to God nor profitable to your soule if in this place you account it a felicity to enjoy the sight of so meane a Gentlewoman as my selfe so I cannot repute it to affection but flattery that this poore beauty of mine which you unjustly paint forth in rich prayses should have power either to captivate the eyes or which is more to ravish the heart of so noble a Cavalier as your selfe Such victories are reserved for those Ladies who are as much your equall as I your inferiour and therefore directing your zeale to them if they find your affection such as you professe to mee no doubt but regarding your many vertues and merits they will in honour grant you that favour which I in modesty am constrained to deny you Alsemero though a novice in the art of Love was not so
ignorant and cowardly to bee put off with her first repulse and refusall but rather seeing that the perfections of her minde corresponded with those of her beauty hee resolves now to make triall of his wit and tongue as heretofore hee had done of his courage and sword and so joynes with her thus It is a pretty Ambition in you sweet Lady to disparage your beauty that thereby it may seeme the fairer as the Sunne who appeares brighter by reason of the nights obscurity and all things are best and more perfectly discerned by their contraries but I cannot commend and therefore not excuse your policy or rather your disrespect to slight and poast me over from your selfe whom I love to those Ladies I neither know nor desire which in effect is to give mee a cloud for Iuno No no it is onely to you and to no other that I present and dedicate my service and therefore it will be an ingratitude as unworthy my receiving as your giving that I should be the object of your discourtesie sith you are that of my affection To these speeches of Alsemero Beatrice Ioana returnes this reply It is not for poore Gentlewomen of my ranke and complexion either to bee ambitious or politike except it bee to keepe themselves from the snares of such Caviliers as your selfe who for the most part under colour of affection ayme to erect the trophees of your desires upon the tombs of our dishonours onely I so much hate ingratitude as you being to mee a stranger charity and common courtesie commands me to thanke you for the proffer of your service the which I can no other way either deserve or requite except in my devotions and prayers to God for your glory and prosperity on earth As shee had ended this her speech the Priest ends his Masse when Alsemero arising advanced to lift her up from kneeling and so with his hat in his hand sequestring her from the crowd of people who now began to depart the Church he speaks to her to this effect Faire Ladie as I know you to bee the Ladie Beatrice-Ioana daughter to the noble Knight Don Diego de Vermanderos Captaine of the Castle of this Citie so I being a stranger to you I admire that you offer so voluntary an injurie to your judgement and my intents as to pervert my affection and speeches to a contrary sense but my innocencie hath this consolation that my heart is pledge for my tongue and my deeds shall make my wordes reall In the meane time sith you will give mee no place in your heart I beseech you lend me one in your Coach and be at least so courteous as to honour me in accepting my company to conduct you home to your fathers Castle Beatrice-Ioana calling to minde the freenesse of her speeches and the sharpnesse of his answer not blushing for joy but now looking pale for sorrow repents her selfe of her errour the which shee salves up the best she could in this Reply Noble Sir when I am acquainted as well with your heart as with your speeches I shall then not onely repent but recant mine errour in judging your selfe by others in the meane time if I haue any way wronged your merits and vertues to give you some part of satisfaction if you please to grace mee with your company to the Castle although it be not the custome of Alicant I doe most kindly and thankfully accept therof when Alsemero giving her many thankes and kissing his hand hee takes her by the arme and so conducts her from the Church to her Coach It is both a griefe and a scandall to any true Christians heart that the Church or-ordained for thankes giving and prayer unto God should bee made a Stewes or at least a place for men to meet and court Ladies but in all parts of the Christian world where the Romane religion reigneth this sinfull custome is frequently practised especially in Italy and Spaine where for the most part men love their Curtizans better then their God and it were a happinesse for France if her popish Churches were freed of thisabomination and her people of this impiety But againe to our History Wee will purposely omit the conference which Alsemero and Beatrice-Ioana had in the Coach and allow them by this time arrived to the Castle where first her selfe then the Captaine her father thanke him for his honour and courtesie in requitall whereof hee shewed him the rarities and strength of his Castle and after some speeches and complements betweene them hee was so happy as to kisse Beatrice-Ioana but had not the felicity to entertaine her and so he departs his Lackey attending him with his Gennet to the counter-scarfe So home hee rides to his lodging where whiles the winde holds contrary wee will a little leave him to his thoughts and they to resolve in what sort hee might contrive his sute for the obtayning of his new and faire Mistresse Beatrice Ioana and likewise her selfe to muse upon the speeches and extraordinarie courtesie which this unknowne Cavallier afforded her and begin to speake of Don Alonso Pâ—…racquo a rich Cavallier of the Citie who unknowne to Alsemero was his rivall and competitor in likewise seeking and courting Boatrice-Ioana for his Mistresse and wife This Piracquo being rich both in lands and money and descended of one of the chiefest and noblest Families of Alicant by Profession a Courtier and indeed to give him his due a Cavallier indued with many brave qualities and perfections was so highly beloved respected and esteemed in that Citie as the very fayrest and noblest young Ladies were with much respect and affection proffered him in marriage by their parents but there was none either so precious or pleasing to his eye as was our Beatrice Ioana whom hee observed for beauty to excell others and for Majestie and grace to surpasse her selfe and indeed hee could not refraine from loving her nor bee perswaded or drawne to affect any other so as hee setled his resolution either to have her to his wife or not to bee the husband of any Yea hee is so earnest in his sute as scarce any one day passeth but hee is at the Castle Vermandero thinkes himselfe much honoured of him in seeking his daughter yea hee receives him lovingly and entertaines him courteously as knowing it greatly for her preferment and advancement and so gives Piracquo many testimonies of his favour and many hopes that hee shall prevaile and obtaine his Mistresse But Beatrice-Ioana stands not so affected to him rather shee receives him coldly and when hee begins his sute to her shee turnes the deafe eare and never answereth him but in generall tearmes onely not peremptorily to disobey her parents shee seemes to bee pleased with his company and yet secretly in her heart wisheth him farther from her But Piracquo flattering himselfe in his hope and as much doating on Beatrice-Ioana's beauty as hee relyes on her fathers constant affection to him hee is so farre from
giving over his sute to her as hee continueth it with more earnestnesse and importunity and vowes that hee will forsake his life ere his Mistresse but sometimes wee speake true when wee thinke wee jest yet hee findes her one and the same for although shee were not yet acquainted with Alsemero yet shee made it the thirteenth Article of her Creed that the supreame power had ordained her another husband and not Piracquo yea at that very instant the remembrance of Alsemero quite defaced that of Piracquo so that shee wholly refus'd her heart to the last of purpose to reserve and give it to the first as the sequell will shew Now by this time Vermandero had notice and was secretly informed of Alsemero's affection to his daughter and withall that shee liked him farre better then Piracquo which newes was indeed very distastefull and displeasing to him because hee perfectly knew that Piracquo's meanes farre exceed that of Alsemero Whereupon considering that hee had given his consent and in a manner ingaged his promise to Piracquo hee to prevent the hopes and to frustrate the attempts of Alsemero leaves his Castle to the command of Don Hugo de Valmarino his son and taking his daughter Beatrice-Ioana with him hee in his Coach very sodainely and secretly goes to Briamata a faire house of his tenne leagues from Alicant where hee meanes to sojourne untill hee had concluded and solemnized the match betwixt them But hee shall never bee so happy as to see it effected At the newes of Beatrice-Ioana's departure Alsemero is extreamely perplexed and sorrowfull knowing not whether it proceed from her selfe her father or both yea this his griefe is augmented when hee thinkes on the suddennesse thereof which hee feares may bee performed for his respect and consideration the small acquaintance and familiari y hee hath had with her makes that hee cannot condemne her of unkindnesse yet sith hee was not thought worthy to have notice of her departure hee againe hath no reason to hope much lesse to assure himselfe of her affection towards him hee knowes not how to resolve these doubts nor what to thinke or doe in a matter of this nature and importance for thus hee reasoneth with himselfe if hee ride to Briamata he may perchance offend the father if he stay at Alicant displease the daughter and although he be rather willing to run the hazzard of his envy then of her affection yet hee holds it safer to bee authorised by her pleasure and to steere his course by the compasse of her commands Hee therefore bethinkes himselfe of a meanes to avoyd these extreames and so findes out a Channell to passe free betwixt that Sylla and this Carybdis which is to visit her by letters hee sees more reason to embrace then to reject this invention and so providing himselfe of a confident messenger his heart commands his pen to signifie her these few lines ALSEMERO to BEATRICE-IOANA AS long as you were in Alicant I deemed it a beaven upon earth and being bound for Malta a thousand times blessed that contrary winde which kept mee from embarking and sayling from you yea so sweetly did I affect and so dearely honour your beauty as I entered into a resâ—…lution with my selfe to end my voyage e're I beganne it and to beginne another which I feare will end mee If you demand or desire to know what this second voyage is know faire Mistressâ—… that my thoughts are so honourable and my affection so religious that it is the seeking of your favour and the obtayning of your selfe to my wife whereon not onely my fortunes but my life depends But how shall I hope for this honour or flatter my selfe with the obtaining of so great a felicity when I see you have not onely left mee but which is worse as I understand the City for my sake Fâ—…ire Beatrice-Ioana if your cruelty will make me thus miserable I have no other consolation left me to sweeten the bitternesse of my griefe and misfortune but a confident hope that death will as speedily deprive mee of my dayes as you have of my joyes ALSEMERO I know not whether it more grieved Beatrice-Ioana to leave Alicant without taking her leave of Alsemero then shee doth now rejoyce to receive this his Letter for as that plunged her thoughts in the hell of discontent so this raiseth them to the heaven of joy and as then shee had cause to doubt of his affection so now she hath not not onely reason to flatter but to assure her selfe thereof and therefore though shee will not seeme at first to grant him his desire yet shee is resolved to returne him an answere that may give as well life to his hopes as praise to her modestie Her Letter is thus BEATRICE-IOANA to ALSEMERO AS I have many reasons to bee incredulous and not one to induce mee to beleeve that so poore a beautie of mine should have power to stop so brave a Cavallier as your selfe from ending so honourable a Voyage as your first or to perswade you to one so simple as your second so I cannot but admire that you in your Letter seeke mee for your Wife when in your heart I presume you least desire it and whereas you alledge your life and fortunes depend on my favour I thinke you write it purposely either to make tryall of your owne wit or of my indiscretion by endeavoring to see whether I will beleeve that which exceeds all beliefe now as it true that I haue left Alicant so it is as true that I left it not any way to afflict you but rather to obey my father for this I pray beleeve that although I cannot be kinde yet I will never bee cruell to you Live therefore your owne friend and I will never dye your enemy BEATRICE-IOANA This Letter of Beatrice Ioana gives Alsemero much dispaire and little hope yet though hee have reason to condemne her unkindnesse hee cannot but approve her modestie and discretion which doth as much comfort as that afflict him so his thoughts are irresolute and withall so variable as hee knowes not whether hee should advance his hand or withdraw his penne againe to write to his Mistresse But at last knowing that the excellencie of her Beautie and the dignitie of her Vertues deserve a second Letter he hoping it may obtaine and effect that which his first could not calls for paper and thereon traceth these few lines ALSEMERO to BEATRICE-IOANA YOu have as much reason to assure your selfe of my affection as I to doubt of yours and if Words and Letters Teares and Vowes are not capable to make you beleeve the sinceritie of my zeale and the honour of my affection what resteth but that I wish you could dive as deeply into my heart as my heart hath into your beautie to the end you might bee both Witnesse and Iudge if under heaven I desire any thing so much on earth as to bee crowned with the felicitie to see Beatrice-Ioana my
wife and Alsemero her husband But why should I strive to perswade that which you resolve not to beleeve or flatter my selfe with any hope sith I see I must bee so unfortunate to despaire I will therefore hencefoorth cease to write but never to love and sith it is impossible for mee to live I will prepare my selfe to die that the World may know I haue lost a most faire Mistresse in you and you a most faithfull and constant Servant in mee ALSEMERO Beatrice-Ioana seeing Alsemero's constant affection holds it now rather discretion then immodestie to accept both his service and selfe yea her heart so delights in the greeablenesse of his person and triumphs in the contemplation of his vertues that shee either wisheth her selfe in Alicant with him or hee in Briamata with her but considering her affection to Alsemero by her Fathers hatred and her hatred to Piracquo by his affection shee thinkes it high time to informe Alsemero with what impatiencie they both indeavour to obtaine her favour and consent hoping that his discretion will interpose and finde meanes to stop the progresse of these their importunities and to withdraw her fathers inclination from Piracquo to bestow it on himselfe but all this while she thinkes her silence is an injury to Alsemero and therefore no longer to bee uncourteous to him who is so kinde to her shee very secretly conveyes him this Letter BEATRICE-IOANA to ALSEMERO AS it is not for Earth to resist Heaven nor for our wills to contradict Gods providence so I cannot denye but now acknowledge that if ever I affected any man it is your selfe for your Letters protestations and vowes but chiefely your merits and the hope or rather the assurance of your fidelity hath wonne my heart from myselfe to give it you but there are some important considerations and reasons that inforce mee to crave your secrecie herein and to request you as soone as conveniently you may to come privately hither to me for I shall never give content to my thoughts nor satisfaction to my minde till I am made joyfull with your sight and happy with your presence In the meane time mannage this affection of mine with care and discretion and whiles you resolve to make Alicant your Malta I will expect and attend your comming with much longing and impatiencie To Briamata BEATRICE-IOANA It is for no others but for Lovers to judge how welcome this Letter was to Alsemero who a thousand times kissed it and as often blest the hand that wrote it he had as wee have formerly understood beene twice in the Indies but now in his conceipt hee hath found a farre richer treasure in Spaine I meane his Beatrice-Ioana whom hee esteemes the joy of his life and the life of his joy but she will not prove so He is so inamoured of her beauty and so desirous to have the felicity of her presence as the Winde comming good the Ship sets sayle for Malta and hee to give a colour for his stay feignes himselfe sicke fetcheth backe his Trunkes and remaineth in Alicant and so burning with desire to see his sweetly deare and dearely sweet Mistresse he dispatched away his confident Messenger to Briamata in the morning to advertise her that hee will not faile to be with her that night at eleven of the clocke Beatrice Ioana is ravished with the joy of this newes and so provides for his comming Alsemero takes the benefit of the night and she gives him the advantage of a Posterne doore which answers to a Garden where Diaphanta her Wayting-gentlewoman attends his arrivall He comes shee conducts him secretly thorow a private Gallery into Beatrice-Ioana's Chamber where richly apparelled shee very courteously and respectfully receives him At the beginning of their meeting they want no kisses which they second with complements and many loving conferences wherein she relates him Piracquo's importunate sute to her and her fathers earnestnesse yea in a manner his constraint to see the Match concluded betwixt them hee being for that purpose there in her fathers house Againe after she hath alleadged and showne him the intirenesse of her affection to himselfe with whom she is resolved to live and dye shee lets fall some darke and ambiguous speeches tending to this effect that before Piracquo be in another world there is no hope for Alsemero to injoy her for his wife in this Lo here the first plot and designe of a lamentable and execrable murther which we shall shortly see acted and committed There needes but halfe a word to a sharpe and quicke understanding Alsemero knowes it is the violence of her affection to him that leades her to this disrespect and hatred to Piracquo and because her content is his yea rather it is for his sake that shee will forsake Piracquo to live and die with him Passion and affection blinding his judgement and beautie triumphing and giving a law to his Conscience hee freely proffereth himselfe to his Mistris vowing that hee will shortly send him a Challenge and fight with him yea had hee a thousand lives as hee hath but one hee is ready if shee please to expose and sacrifice them all at her command and service Beatrice-Ioana thankes him kindly for his affection and zeale the which shee saith shee holds redoubled by the freenesse of his proffer but being loath that hee should hazard his owne life in seeking that of another shee conjures him by all the love hee beares her neither directly nor indirectly to intermeddle with Piracquo but that he repose and build upon her affection and constancie not doubting but shee will so prevaile with her father that hee shall shortly change his opinion and no more perswade her to affect Piracquo whom shee resolutely affirmes neither life nor death shall enforce her to marry And to conclude although shee affirme his presence is dearer to her then her life yet the better and sooner to compasse their desires shee prayes him to leave Alicant and for a while to returne to Valentia not doubting but time may worke that which perchance haste or importunitie may never Thus passing over their kisses and the rest of their amorous conference hee assured of her love and shee of his affection hee returnes for Alicant packes up his baggage which hee sends before and within lesse then foure dayes takes his journey for Valentia where wee will leave him a while to relate other accidents and occurrences which like Rivers into the Ocean fall within the compasse of this Historie This meeting and part of Alsemero's and Beatrice-Ioana's conference at her fathers house of Briamata was not so secretly carried and concealed but some curious or treacherous person neere him or her over-heare and reveale it which makes her father Vermandero fume and bite the lip but hee conceales it from Piracquo and they still continue their intelligence and familiaritie Vermandero telling him plainely that a little more time shall worke and finish his desire and that sith his request cannot
purposes and intents that way as so many lines that runne to their Center yea so strongly hath the devill possessed him with these hellish designes and bloody resolutions as his love to Philatea defacing his respect to Merilla hee sees her a blocke in his way and a stop to his preferment and so concludes that shee must hee remooved and dispatched to which effect to draw his sinfull contemplation into bloudy action hee rides over to Spreare to her and under colour of tender love and affection hee in Milke Wine and rosted Apples gives her poyson when seeing it would not worke his desired effect hee after takes an occasion purposely to quarrell with her and so very lamentably in presence of their daughter Emelia reviles and beates her and returnes to Brescia still hoping that the poyson yet might operate and disperse it selfe in her veines and that shortly hee should heare newes of her death Loe here Alibius his first attempt in seeking to murther his Wife In this meane time hee layes close siedge to Philatea's Chastity who not so honest as faire is soone drawne to sinne and prostitutes her selfe to his beastly pleasure and having no regard to her reputation conscience or soule consents to this bitter-sweet sinne of Adultery the which lascivious familiarity is so long continued betwixt them till at last Philatea's straight Bodies become too small and her Apron too short for her when seeing it high time to provide for her fame shee acquaints Alibius herewith and askes his advice whether shee shall marry with one of her servants Alibius meaning to keepe the Farme for himselfe whereof hee had already taken possession bids her not to take care for a husband but to bee of good comfort and that farre within her time hee would provide a place for her to lay downe her great belly yea so secret as her owne heart could either wish or desire But if our miserable Alibius were before resolved to murther his poore harmelesse Wife Merilla this newes and these speeches of Philatea sets him all on fire and so having consulted with the Devill hee vowes she shall not live to which end he provides himselfe of stronger poyson and in a darke night when as he flatters himselfe with hope that the Heavens were so unjust and inhumane to conspire with him in the Murther of his Wife he takes horse in the East Suburbe of Brescia and so rides toward Spreare But see the justice and withall the providence and mercie of our indulgent God! who vouchsafed and yet resolved to restraine and divert him from this his bloudy enterprise by an accident as strange as true for a mile out of Brescia as Alibius rides by the common place of execution his Horse stumbles and falls under him right against it with which fall his shoulder is out of joynt Oh what a caveat was this for Alibius if hee had had the least sparke of grace to have made good use hereof But the Devill had bewitched his understanding and judgement for hee could see by no other eyes but by those of revenge and bloud Arriving at his house at Spreare hee contrary to his hopes findes his daughter Emelia with her mother who by this time was marryed likewise to a poore Countrey man of Spreare whose sight and presence was for that time a stop to the execution of her fathers poysoning designe on her mother for hee feared that she had formerly discovered and suspected this his purpose and resolution as indeed shee had wherefore hee forbore to administer it onely because hee would not lose all his labour hee againe quarrells with his Wife and after hee had reviled her with many scandalous and contumelious speeches hee in the presence of his mournefull daughter doth exceedingly beate her who weeping to see her mother weepe infinitely grieved to be an eye-witnesse of this inhumane and barbarous cruelty of her father And so for that time Alibius againe permitted his Wife to live But this will prove no pardon but onely a short reprivall for her Returning againe to Brescia it is not long before Philatea doth againe importune him to provide for the concealing and salving of her shame alleadging that her time drew on and that it was more then time to provide her a husband Alibius at these her second assummons beginnes to looke about and resolves at what rate or in what manner soever now to send his Wife into another world yet as I thinke or ever understood conceales his purpose from Philatea Miserable wretch had he not participated more of the nature of a Tyger then a man or of a Devill then a Tyger hee would never have layd violent hands on his owne Wife whom earth and heaven had made flesh of his flesh and of two bodies one yea or had hee had so much grace to have considered that the silver wand he bore before the Podestate was for the scourging and punishing of sinne Me thinks it should have made him more charitable and not so bloudy to attempt it But what will not lust enterprise and Revenge execute if wee neither feare God with our heartes nor love him with our soules Preseverance in Grace and vertue is excellent but in sinne lamentable Alibius hath had yeares and time enough to wipe away his cruelty towards his wife but the longer hee lives the deeper roote it takes in him yea hee will neither give the flower of his youth nor the branne of his age to God but that to pleasure this to Revenge and Murther and both to the devill for now hee is resolute to finish this mournefull and bloudy Tragedy that hee hath so long desired and so often attempted and now indeed the fatall time approacheth wherein innocent Merilla by the Murtherous hand of her husband must be sent out of this World to see a better Alibius having waited on the Podestate to supper takes horse a little before the gates of the City were shut and having his former poyson in his pocket away hee rides to Spreare but to act his villany with the greater secrecy he masketh and disguiseth himselfe approaching his house he in the next Meddow ties up his horse to a tree and so knockes at doore Poore Merilla his wife was in bed and a sleepe with a little Girle her Grandchild named Pomerea the daughter of her daughter Emelia whom without a Candle shee sends downe to open the doore assuring her selfe as indeed it proved too true for her that it was her husband Alibius Pomereâ—… opening the doore lets one in but whom shee knows not and then for feare retires to the kitchin which shee shuts fast on her So Alibius mounts to his wives Chamber and after some words gives her a potion some say of milke bitterly sugred with poyson and forceth it downe her who poore soule is amazed hereat and with her weake strength cryes out for helpe but in vaine Hee being divellishly resolved now to make sure worke takes a billet out of the
the heart with Vilarezo his answere and Berinthia to the gall when he certified her of her fathers resolution onely modestie that sweet companion and precious ornament of Virgins to the extremitie of her power endeavored to keepe Aâ—…tonio from perceiving or suspecting so much Antonio prayes his deare friend Sebastiano to perswade his father to give him his sister Berinthia to wife hee performes the true part of a true friend and a Gentleman but in vaine for his father Vilarezo is resolute first to marry Catalina when Antonio not of power so soone to leave the sight and presence of his sweet Berinthia must invent some matter for his stay And indeed as Love is the whetstone of wit to give an edge to Invention so Antonio to inâ—…oy the presence of his faire Berinthia is inforced to make shew that hee neglects her and affeâ—…teth Catalina and so converseth often with her but still in generall termes whereaâ—… hee builds many castles of hope and content in the ayre of her thoughts For iâ—… Berinthia loved Antonio no lesse doth Catalina strange effects of affection where two sisters deeply and dearely love one Gentleman and when but one and peradventure neither of them shall enjoy him But as Catalina is the pretext so Berinthia is both the sole object and cause of Antonio's stay whom hee courts and layeth close siege to as often as opportunitie makes him happie in the desired happinesse and felicitie of her company Shee gives him blushes for his sighes and sometimes although a man the fervencie of his affection was such as hee cannot refraine from returning her teares for her blushes when albeit love perswades him to stay longer in Avero yet discretion calls and commaunds him away to Lisbone and all the fruit of his journey that he shall carry thither with him is this that for injoying of faire Berinthia to his wife hee conceives farre more reason to hope then to despaire Next death there is no second affliction so grievous or bitter to Lovers as seperation and parting this Berinthia feeles but will not acknowledge and this Antonio acknowledgeth because feeles After Supper taking her to a window hee secretly prayes her to honour him with the acceptance of a poore Scarfe and plaine paire of Gloves which notwithstanding were infinitely rich and wonderfully faire in token of his affection and she the morne of his departure by Diego his Page sends him a Handkerchiefe curiously wrought with hearts and flames of silke and gold in signe of her thankfulnesse he promiseth Berinthia to write and see her shortly and Catalina intreats him to be no stranger to Avero To Catalina hee gives many words but few kisses to Berinthia many kisses but more teares His departure makes Berinthia sad as grieving at his absence and Catalina joyfull as hoping of his returne Catalina triumphs for joy hoping that Antonio shall be her husband and Berinthia now begins to looke pale with sorrow fearing shee shall not bee so happy to bee his wife By this time breakfast is served in when Sebastiano comes takes Antonio and his two sisters and carries them to the Parlour where Vilarezo and his wife Alphanta attend Antonio's comming They all sit downe and although their fare bee curious yet Antonio's eyes feed and feast upon more curious dainties as the sparkling eyes flaxen haire and vermillion cheekes of Berinthia's incomparable beautie which is observed of all parts except of Berinthia who is so secret and cautious in her carriage as although her affection yet her discretion will not permit her modestie either to observe or see it Breakfast ended Antonio taking Vilarezo and his wife Alphanta apart first gives them infinite thankes for his honourable and courteous entertainment and then very earnestly againe prayes them not to reject his suit for their daughter Berinthia Vilarezo and his wife pray Antonio to excuse his bad reception which they know comes many wayes short of his deserts and merits and also request him to imbrace their motion for their daughter Catalina Thus after many other complements he takes his conge of Vilarezo kisseth his wife and two daughters first Catalina then Berinthia who though last in yeares yet is the first Lady in his desires and thoughts and the onely Queene of his affections So they are as it were inforced to make a vertue of necessitie and to take a short farewell in stead of a more solemne which either of them wished and both desired but their eyes dictate to their hearts what their tongues cannot expresse and so Antonio and Sebastiano take Coach and away for Lisbone Antonio as much triumphing in the beautie of his faire Berinthia as his friend Sebastiano grieves that of his two Sisters Antonio would not accept of Catalina nor his father consent to give him Berinthia for his wife notwithstanding they confirme their familiaritie and friendship with many interchangeable and reciprocall protestations that sith they cannot be brothers they will live and die deare and intimate friends but I feare the contrary Being arrived at Lisbone Antonio feeles strange alterations in his thoughts and passions For now hee is so intangled in the fetters of Berinthia's beautie and vertues that hee will see no other object but her Idea nor almost speake of any Lady but of her selfe and in these his amorous contemplations hee both rejoyceth and triumpheth but againe remembring the assurance of Vilarezo his refusall and the incertaintie of Berinthia's affection and consent his hopes are nipt in their blossomes and his joyes as soone fade as flourish he wisheth that Avero were Lisbone and either himselfe in Avero with Berinthia or shee in Lisbone with him To attempt the one hee holds it as great a folly as a vanitie to wish the other But hee bethinkes himselfe of a remedie for this his perplexitie and reputes himselfe obliged in the bonds as well of respect as love to write to his faire Berinthia and then againe hee feares that it will find a difficult passage and accesse to her because of her Fathers distaste and Sisters jealousie but the Sunne of his affection doth soone dispell and dissipate these doubts or rather disperse them as clouds before the winde and now to prevent those who might attempt to intercept his Letters hee bethinkes himselfe of an invention as worthy as commendable in a Lover hee writes Berinthia a letter and accompanying it with a rich Diamond sends it her by Diego his owne Page to Avero whom purposely and feignedly hee causeth to arme himselfe with this pretext and colour that he is in love with Ansilva the Lady Catalina's wayting Gentlewoman and hath now gotten leave of his Master to come to Avero to seeke her in marriage where after some fifteene dayes he arrives and very secretly delivers his Masters Ring and Letter to Berinthia who sweet Lady was then tost with the winde of feare and the waves of sorrow that in all this time shee heard not from Antonio doubting indeed lest the change of ayre
cole-blacke the best Physicians and Chirurgians are sent for they see her death-strooken with that Planet and therfore adjudge their skill but vaine her strength and senses fall from her which Catalina having the happinesse to perceive and grace to feele will no longer be seduced with the devils temptations The Divines prepare her soule for Heaven and now shee will no longer dissemble with man or God shee will not charge her conscience with so foule a Crime as Murther the which shee knowes will prove a stop to the fruition of her felicity She confesseth shee twice procured her Wayting-gentlewoman Ansilva to poyson her Sister Berinthia and since that she hath given Sarmiata one hundred Duckets to poyson the said Ansilva which he performed and whereof shee humbly begs pardon of all the world and religiously of God whom shee beseecheth to bee mercifull to her soule and so though shee lived prophanely and impiously yet shee dyed repentantly and religiously Vilarezo and Alphanta her old parents grieve and storme at her death but more extreamely at the manner thereof and especially at the confession of her bloudy crimes as well towards living Berinthia as dead Ansilva onely their Daughter Berinthia is silent hereat glad that shee is freed of an enemy sorrowfull to have lost a Sister they are infinitely vexed to publish their daughter Catalina's crimes yet they are inforced to it that thereby this Sarmiata this Agent of Hell may receive condigne punishment for his bloudy offence here on earth So they acquaint the Criminall Iudges hereof who decree order and power for his apprehension Sarmiata is revelling and feasting at Isabella's wedding to which hee is appoynted and requested to furnish the Sweet-meats for the Banquets but hee little thinkes what sowre sawce there is providing for him Wee are never neerest danger then when wee thinke our selves furthest from it and although his sinnefull security was such as the Devill had made him forget his murther of Ansilva yet God will and doth remember it and lo here comes his storme here his apprehension and presently his punishment By this time the newes of Catalina's suddaine death but not of her secret confession is published in Avero and arrived at the Bride-house which gives both astonishment and griefe to all the world but especially to Sarmiata whose heart and conscience now rings him many thundering peales of feare terrour and despaire his bloudy thoughts pursue him like so many bloudhounds and because he hath forsaken God therfore the devill will not forsake him he counselleth him to flie and to provide for his safety but what safety so unsecure dangerous or miserable for a Christian as to throw himselfe into the Devills protection Sarmiata hereon fearing that Catalina had revealed his poysoning of Ansilva very secretly steales away his Cloake and so slips downe to a Posterne doore of the little Court hoping to escape but hee is deceived of his hopes for the eye of Gods providence findes him out The House is beleaguerd for him by Officers who apprehend him as hee is issuing forth and so commit him close prisoner In the afternoone the Iudges examine him upon the poysoning of Ansilva and the receipt of one hundred Duckets to effect it from Catalina which shee at her death confessed Hee addes sinne to sinne and denyes it with many impious oathes and fearefull imprecations but they availe him nothing his Iudges censure him to the Racke where upon the first torment hee confesseth it but with so gracelesse an impudencie as he rather rejoyceth then grieves hereat where we may observe how strongly the Devill stickes to him and how closely hee is bewitched to the Devill so for reparation of this foule crime of his hee is condemned to be hanged which the next morne is performed right against Vilarezo his house at a Gallowes purposely erected and which is worse then all the rest as this lewd villaine Sarmiata liv'd prophanely so hee dy'd as desperately without repenting his bloudy fact or imploring pardon or mercy of God for the same O miserable example O fearefull end O bloudy and damnable miscreant Wee have seene the Theater of this History gored with great variety of bloud the mournefull and lamentable spectacle whereof is capable to make any Christian heart relent into pitty compassion and teares But this is not all wee shall yet see more not that it any way increaseth our terrour but rather our consolation sith thereby wee may observe that Murther comes from Sathan and its punishment from God Catalina's confession and death is not capable to deface or wash away Berinthia's malice and revenge to her brother Sebastiano for killing of her deare and sweet Love Antonio Other Tragedies are past but this as yet not acted but to come Lo now at last though indeed too too soone it comes on the Stage The remembrance of Antonio and his affection is still fresh in her youthfull thoughts and contemplations yea his dead Idea is alwayes present and living in her heart and brest 't is true Sebastiano is her brother 't is as true she saith that if hee had not kill'd Antonio Antonio had beene her husband Againe shee considereth that as Antonio's life preserved hers from death so her life hath beene the cause of his and as hee lost his life for her sake why should not she likewise leave hers for his or rather why should shee permit him to live who hath bereaved her of him But her living affection to her dead friend is so violent and withall so prejudicate and revengefull as shee neither can nor will see her Brother who kill'd him but with malice and indignation In stead of consulting with nature and grace shee onely converseth with choller and passion yea she is so miserably transported in her rage and so outragiously wilfull in her resolution as she shuts the doore of her heart to the two former vertues to whom she should open it and openeth it to the two latter vices 'gainst whom shee should shut it A misery equally ominous and fatall where Reason is not the Mistresse of our Passions and Religion the Queene of our Reason Shee sees this bloudy attempt of hers whereinto shee is entring is sinfull and impious and yet her faith is so weake towards God and the Devill so strong with her as shee is constant to advance and resolute not to retire therein Oh that Berinthia's former Vertues should bee disgraced with so foule a Vice and oh that a face so sweetly faire should bee accompanyed and linked with a heart so cruelly barbarous so bloudily inhumane for what can shee hope from this aâ—…mpt in killing her brother but likewise to ruine her selfe nay had shee had any sparke of wit or grace left her shee should consider that for this foule offence her body shall receive punishment in this world and her soule without repentance in that to come but shee cannot erect her eyes to heaven shee is all set on revenge so the Devill hath plotted the
Borelles except still our holy Sisters the Nunns Not I faith quoth hee nor my Mistresse neither Indeed replies Poligny if I knew you had a Mistresse of that complexion I would adventure a glasse of Claret to her health When Belluile out of a phantastick French humour affirmed he had a Mistris whose beauty was so excellent as he knew hee could not receive shame to name her and if you please to honour her selfe and mee with her health I proclaime that Madamoyselle Laurieta is my Mistresse and my selfe her servant Of wise and Christian Gentlemen what prophane speeches and debosht table-talke are these they use heere as if their glory consisted in their shame or their best vertues were to bee discovered in the worst of vices For howsoever the Viands they did eate may preserve the health of their bodies yet this dissolute communication of theirs must needs poyson and destroy that of their soules for as they should praise God in the receit of the one so contrariwise they incense and displease his sacred Majestie in giving him the other yea this is so farre from Christianitie and heaven as it is the high and true way to Atheisme and hell for whores and healths instead of prayer and thankesgiving are the prodigious and certaine forerunners of a seared conscience and the dangerous and execrable symptoms of a leprous soule Birds are taken by their feet and men by their tongues Belluile having so basely and sottishly abused himselfe in the disparaging of his Mistresse Laurieta Poligny hath his errand for which hee purposely came to Orenge So dinner ended they very pleasantly returne for Avignion That night Poligny cannot sleepe for joy or rather for revenge For now hee presumes to know how to worke himselfe into Laurieta's favour by unhorsing Belluile It is a dishonest and base part to betray our friend and under the cloake of friendship and familiarity to harbour and retaine malice against them but this irregular and violent passion of love in young and unstayed judgements many times beares downe all other respects and considerations For if Religion and Conscience bee contemned what hope is there that either honesty bee regarded or friendship observed sith it is the onely ciment and sinewes thereof But Poligny is as resolute as malicious in his purpose and therefore the next morne by his Lackey sends the Lady Laurieta this Letter POLIGNY to LAVRIETA IT is out of syncere affection to thee and not out of premeditated malice to Belluile that I presâ—…me to signifie thee how lately in my presence at Orenge his tongue let fall some words that tended to the prejudice and disparagement of thine honour whereof I know it is not onely the part but the duetie of a true Gentleman to bee rather curious in preserving then any way ingrateâ—…ll in revealing thereof Neither doe I attempt to send thee this newes thereby to insiâ—…ate for draw thee to affect mee the more or him the lesse onely sith it is contrary to my complexion and nature to permit any Lady to bee wronged in my presence how much lesse thy selfe tâ—… whom I not owe my service but my life If thou wilt not approve my zeale yet thou hast all the reason of the world to pardon my presumption and to make my letter reall what my pen affirmes to Laurieta my sword is ready to confirme to Belluile POLIGNY In the extremitie and excesse of those three different passions griefe choller and astonishment Laurieta receives and reads this Letter and like a dissolute Gentlewoman being more carefull of her reputation to the world then of her soule towards God shee knowes not whether shee have more cause and reason either to approve Poligny's affection or to condemne Belluiles folly it grieves her to the heart to have bestowed her favours on so base and ingratefull a Gentleman as Belluile vowes shee will make him repent it and is resolute that this vanity and folly of his shall cost him deare yea shee is so impatient in these her fumes of griefe and revenge that shee thought once with all expedition to have sent for Belluile to make him as well see the fruits of his owne ingratitude as to taste the effects of her revenge and indignation but shee holds it requisite and fit and her selfe in a manner bound first to thanke Poligny for his courtesie by returning him a Letter in answer of his which shee speedily dispatcheth him by his owne Lackey to this effect LAVRIETA to POLIGNY I Know not whether thou hast shewed me a truer testimonie of thy discretion and affection then Belluile of his envie and folly But as I rest infinitely obliged to thee for thy care of my reputation so I resolve shortly to make him know what hee deserves in attempting to eclipse and disparage it Now as I grieve not so I must confesse I cannot refraine from sorrowing at this his undeserved slaunder for as mine innocencie defends me from the first so my sexe cannot exempt me from the second and look what disparity there is betwixt thy generosity and his basenes so much there is betwixt the whitenesse of my chastity and the foulenesse of hâ—… aspersion I rest so confident of the truth of thy pen as I desire no confirmation of thy Sword and I flatter not rather assure my selfe that sith Belluile was so indiscreet to wrong me he will neither have the wit or courage to right himselfe I returne thee many hearty thanks for this kind office and curtesy of thine the which though I cannot requite yet I will not only indeavour but strive to deserve LAVRIETA Whiles Poligny receives Laureta's Letter with much content and many kisses as triumphing to see how hee hath baffled Belluile by working him out and consequently himselfe into her favour wee will for a while leave him to consider whether the end of his treachery to Belluile will proove as fortunate and pleasing to him as the beginning promiseth And in the meane time we will a little speake of Laurieta to see what course and resolution shee meanes to hold and observe with Belluile It is not enough that shee hath written Poligny a Letter but her envy and contempt towards Belluile is so implacable as shee with much hast and secrecie sends for him her requests to him are commands yea hee needes no other spurres but those of his lust and of her beauty to make him rather flye then poast to her presence when not so much as once dreâ—…ing of his former foolish speeches delivered against his Mistresse Laurieta mucâ—…â—…se of Boligny's treason conspired and acted against him hee thinkes to kisse her â—…om so often hee hath formerly kissed but his hopes and her disdaine deceive hiâ—… for she peremptorily slights him when having fire in her lookes and thunder in her speeches shee chargeth him with this scandall delivered by him at Oâ—…nge in presence of Poligâ—…y against her honour and chastity And is this quoth she the reward a Lady shall deserve and
shee seemes to burst with the violence and excesse thereof but this mirth of hers shall be shortly wayted and attended on with misery and mourning But Poligny notwithstanding sees himselfe doubly obliged to la Palaisiere as well for her affection to him as her care of him and so holds himselfe obliged in either of these respects and considerations to requite her with a Letter the which now unknowne to Laurieta hee writes and sends her to this effect POLIGNY to LA PALAISIERE IT is not the least of my joyes that Belluile cannot beare me so much malice as thou dost affection T is true I have not deserved thy love t is more true I have not merited his hatred for that proceeds from heaven as a divine iufluence this from hell as an infernall frenzie 〈◊〉 will not feede thee with hope neither can hee give mee despaire for not to dissemble it iâ—… 〈◊〉 likely I may lâ—…ve â—…hee as impossible I shall feare him he may have the will to do 〈◊〉 hurt I wish 〈◊〉 were in my power to doe thee good neither can hee bee more malicious to performe me that then I will bee ambitious to confirme thee this his malice I entertaine with much contempt thy kinde advice and sincere affection with infinite thankes for when I consider thy Letter I cannot rightly expresse or define whether hee beginne to hate mee or I to love thee more I doubt not but to make his deedes proove wordes to mee and I beseech thee feare not but my wordes shall prove deedes to thee for I am as confident shortly to salute faire la Palaisiere as carelesse when I meet foolish Belluile POLIGNY Having thus dispeeded her his Letter the vanity of his thoughts and the beastlinesse of his concupiscence and sensuality not onely surpriseth his reason but captivates his judgement so as Laurieta's sight defacing Belluiles memory hee thinkes so much on her affection as hee respects not his malice but this Vice and that errour shall cost him deare For whiles hee is feasting his eyes on the daynties and rarities of Laurieta's beauty Belluiles heart hath agreed with the devill to prepare him a bloudy Banquet Grace cannot containe him within her limits therfore Impiety dallies so long with him and hee with Impiety that at last this bloudy sentence is past in the court of his hellish resolutions That Poligny must dye The devills assistance is never wanting in such infernall stratagems for this is an infallible maxime as remarkeable as ruinous That hee allwayes makes us fertile not barren to doe evill never to doe good At first Belluile thinkes on poyson or Pistoll to dispatch Poligny but hee findes the first too difficult to attempt the second too publike to performe Sometimes hee is of opinion to ascend his Chamber and murther him in his bed then to shoot him ouâ—… at window as he passeth the street but to conclude understanding that he often comes very late in the night from Laurieta he thinkes it best to run him thorow with his Rapier as he issueth forth her house And to make short hereon he resolves Now to put the better colour on his villany hee retires himselfe from Avignion and lives privately some sixe dayes in Orenge giving it out that hee was gone to the City of Aix in Provence where at that famous court of Parliament he had a Processe for a title of Land shortly to bee adjudged and so in a darke night taking none but his Lacky with him he being disguised in favour of money passeth the gate of Avignion and giving his horse to his Lackey being secretly informed that Poligny was with Laurieta he goes directly to her doore and there at the corner of a little street stands with his Rapier drawne under his cloake with a revenging and greedy desire of blood to awayt Poligny's comming forth The Clocke striking one the doore is opened and Poligny secretly issueth foorth without candle having purposely sent away his Lackey who had then unwittingly carried away his Masters Rapier with him Hee is no sooner in the street but Bellnile as a murtherous villaine rusheth foorth and so like a limbe of the Devill sheathes his Rapier in his brest when Poligny more hurt then amazed and wanting his Sword but not courage indeavoureth by struggling to close with his assassinate and so cries out for assiâ—…ance but the dead of the night favoureth his butcherly attempt when withdrawing his Sword hee redoubleth his cruelty and so againe runnes him in at the small of the belly thorow the reines whereat hee presently falls downe dead to his feete having the power to groane and crye but not to utter a word Which Belluile espying and knowing him dispatcht runnes to his horse which his Lackey held ready at the corner of the next streete and so rides to the same gate hee entred which was kept ready for him which passing hee with all expedition drives away for Orenge from whence the next morne before day hee takes poast for Aix the better to conceale and o're vaile this damnable Murther of his But this policie of his shall deceive his hopes and returne him a fatall reward and interest For although he can bleare the eyes of men yet he neither can nor shall those of God who in his due time will out of his sacred justice repay and punish him with confusion By this time the streete and neighbours have taken the allarum of this tragicall accident so Candles and Torches come from every where only Laurieta having played the Whore before will see me now though falsely to play the honest woman for she to cover her shame will not discover that her selfe or any of her house are stirring and so although shee understood this newes and privately and bytterly wept thereat yet shee keepes fast her doores and like an ingratefull strumpet will permit none of her servants for a long time to descend The Criminall Iudge and President of the Ciiy is advertised of this Murther The dead Gentleman is knowne to bee Mounsieur Poligny and being beloved hee is exceedingly bewayled of all who knew him and inquiry and search is made of all sides and the Lievtennant Criminall shewes himselfe wise because honest and curious because wise in the perquisition of this bloâ—…dy Murther but as yet time will not or rather God who is the Creator and giver of time is not as yet pleased to bring it to light only Laurieta knew and la Palasiere suspected and all those who were of the counsell of the one or the acquaintance of the other doe likewise both feare and suspect that onely Belluile was the bloody and execrable author thereof but to report or divulge so much although they dare they will not As for la Palasiere her thoughts are taken up and preoccupated with two severall passions for as she grieves at Poligny's death so shee rejoyceth that she hath no hand nor was any way accessary to his Murther rather that if hee had sayled
Seignior Francisco de Castelnovo to performe the same ceremonie to his Bride the Dona Bertha being a Knight of Malta native of the City of Nice and son and heire to Seignior Iacomo de Castelâ—…o a very anâ—… feâ—…t and rich Baron of Savoy Now as Perina was a most beautifull and â—…aire young Lady so was our young Castelnovo a very proper and gallant Cavallier and sith the occasion of this Marriage and the fortunacie and opportunity of their united office by a kinde of destinated and happy priviledge authorized each to be familiar in the others company and presence so as Lovers beginne to court first in jest then in earnest the hearts and brests of this sweet young couple are in the end equally surprised with the flame of affection yea his personage and dancing and her beauty and singing mutually inkindle this fire of love in their thoughts and contemplations which either imagineth and both perceive and understand by the dumbe Oratorie and silent Rhetoricke of their eyes Which Castelnovo knowing her descent and quality answerable to his hee intends to seeke her in Marriage When not any longer to surpresse or conceale their affections they after dinner dancing in company of divers others in the garden he singleth the Lady Perina his new Mistresse apart in a Bower closely overvail'd with Vines Cicamores and Cypres Trees and there 'twixt sighs and words reveales his deepe affection to her But to avoyd the prolixious relation of this their Garden enteâ—…view and conference although at first Perina's modesty the sweetest ornament and vertue of a Lady was such as shee not onely kept her selfe but likewise her affections to her selfe yet her courteous and thankefull answeres wayted and seconded by many delicious blushes and amorous sighes although not publikely yet privately inform'd her I over Castelnovo that shee likewise loved him so as during the tearme of fifteene dayes which Spelassi and hee remayned in Saint Iohn de Mauriene hee never lâ—…ft courting her till hee had obtayned her affection and consent to bee his wife drawne thereunto by these two attractive and seducing reasons First that Castelnovo was a gallant and proper Cavallier as also her equall in descent and meanes and then that shee should live in Nice with a Husband who dearely loved her and no longer in Saint Iohn de Mauriene with a Father who extremely hated her Neither can these our young Lovers beare their affections so secret but the whole company especially the Lady Dominica her Aunt perceives it and deeming it a fit Match for her Neece rejoyceth thereat Castelnovo secretly acquaints her therewith and intreates her best assistance therein towards her brother Arconeto which shee promiseth and forthwith attempteth when Castelnovo taking time at advantage seconds her in his suite for the Daughter to her old Father Now her Father Arconeto degenerating from the naturall affection of a Father towards his Daughter is so willing to depart with her to any Husband that hee may no more see her nor bee troubled with her presence as thinking a farre worse Match good enough hee thinkes this infinitely too good for her and so at the least shaddow of the very first motion consents thereunto which not onely banisheth Perina's old griefe but confirmeth Castelnovo's new joyes yea they like two sweete and vertuous Lovers so extremely rejoyce and triumph thereat as he riding home poast to Nice to acquaint his owne Father Seignior Iacomo de Castelnovo therewith and swiftly returning againe to Saint Iohn de Mauriene with his consent and approbation this Marriage of Castelnovo and Perina is there almost as soone solemnized as that of Spelassi and Bertha though indeed more obscure and with farre lesse pompe and bravery in respâ—…ct of the perversenesse and distast of her froward old Father Arconeto So fifteene dayes being expired since Spelassi and Castelnovo their first departure from Nice they leave Saint Iohn de Mauriene to returne and conduct their Brides home to Nice robbing that to inrich this City with two such beautifull and gallant Ladies as were Bertha and Perina Now the better to adde life and forme to this History or rather to approch the more materiall and essentiall parts thereof we must here leave to speake of Spelassi and Bertha and wholly tye our thoughts and curiosity to Castelnovo and Perina two principall and unfortunate Personatours who both have mournefull parts to act upon the Stage and Theater of Nice for this Marriage of theirs is not begunne with the tenth part of so many joyes as wee shall shortly see it wayted and attended on yea dissolved and finished both with teares and bloud Castelnovo having brought home his faire and deare Perina to Nice she is very honourably welcomed and courteously received and entertayned of his old Father Seignior Iacomo de Castelnovo and of the Lady Fidelia his Mother and so are all her kinsfolkes and friends who accompany her yea there wants no feasting nor revelling in Nice to testifie how much they congratulate and rejoyce at their sonnes good fortune and happines And for Castelnovo and Perina themselves why they are so ravished in the content and drowned in the joyes and delights of Marriage as though they have two bodies yet they have but oâ—…e heart desire and affection yea they are so extreamely in love each with other as they believe there is no Heaven upon earth to that of each others presence But they shall be deceived herein for there are Tragicall stormes arising to trouble the serenity of this Marriage and the felicity and tranquillity of these affections For it is both with griefe and shame that I must bee so immodest and therefore unfortunate to relate that the old Baron Iacomo de Castelnovo aged of some threescore and eight yeares hath so farre forgotten his God and himselfe his conscience and his soule grace and nature religion and humanity as gazing on the fresh and delicious beauty of our sweete Lady Perina his owne sonnes wife hee gives the reignes both of his obscene desires and inordinate affections to lust after her O how my heart trembles to thinke how he that is white with the snow of a venerable age should now lasciviously idolatrize to beauty how he that hath as it were one foot in his grave should lustfully desire to have the other in his Sonnes bed how hee that hath his veines dryed up and withered and nothing living in him but desire should yet of all the beauties of the world desire onely to enjoy that of his Sonnes wife how hee that hath scarce any time left him to bee repentant and sorrowfull for his old sinnes will now anew make himselfe guiltie of these foule sinnes of Adultery and I may in a manner say of Incest how hee that hath not given the flower of his youth will yet still lasciviously and wilfully refuse to bestow the branne of his age on his God! Alas miserable Castelnovo wrerched old man or rather lubritious and beastly Lecher thus to
discretion and to hate and disdaine jealousic she beares this as patiently as shee may till at last seeking and finding out a fit opportunity shee both with teares in her eyes and griefe in her speeches very secretly checks him for these his inordinate and lascivious desires towards the young Lady Perina their Daughter in law But as it is the nature of sinne so to betray and inveagle our judgements that wee flatter our selves with a false conceit none can perceive it in us so this old lecher her Husband thinking that hee had danced in a net from the jealousie and suspicion of all the world in thus affecting his Sonnes wife hee like a lewd and wretched old varlet is so farre from rellishing these his old wifes speeches and exhortations or from being reclaymed thereby as hee disdayneth both them and her and from henceforth is so imperious and withall bitter to her as hee never lookes on her with affection but envie which neverthelesse she as a modest wife and grave Matrone holds it a part not onely of her love but of her duety by sweete speeches and soft meanes of perswasion to divert him from this fond and lascivious humour of his But observe the vanity of his lasciviousnesse and the impiety of his thoughts and resolutions for all her prayers and perswasions serve only rather to set then rebate the edge of his lust and rather bring oyle to increase then water to quench the flame of his immodest and irregular affection so as seeing that she stood in the way of obtayning his beastly pleasures he like a prophane and barbarous Husband termes her no more his wife but his Medea and which is worse hee out of the heat both of his lust and choller vowes he will soone remove her from this world to another And here the devill ambitious and desirous of nothing so much as to fill up the emyty roomes of his vast and infernall kingdome by miserable and execrable degrees takes possession first of his thoughts then of his heart and lastly of his soule so as being constant in his indignation and choller and resolute in this his impious and bloudy revenge hee meanes to dispatch and murther her who for the terme of forty two yeares had beene his most loving wife and faithfull bed-fellow but withall hee will act it so privately as not having as yet discovered his affection to his daughter Perina hee will therefore conceale both from her and all the world the Murther of this his wife Fidelia except only to those gracelesse and execrable Agents he meant imploy in this mournefull and bloudy businesse To which end with a hellish ratiocination ruminating and revolving on the manner thereof hee having runne over the circumstances of many violent and tragicall deaths at last resolves to poyson her and deemes none so fit to undertake it as her owne Wayting-gentlewoman Ierantha the which authorized by his former lascivious dalliance with her as also in favour of five hundred Ducats that he will give her hee is confident shee will undertake and finish neither doth hee faile in his bloudy hopes For what with the honey of his flattering speches and the sugar of his Gold she like an infernall Fury and a very Monster of her sexe most ingratefully and inhumanely consents thereunto so as putting poyson into Whitebroth which some mornings she was accustomed to make and give her Lady it spreading into her veines and exhaling the radicall humour of her life and strength within eight dayes carries this aged and vertuous Matrone to her Grave and her soule to Heaven But her Murtherers shall pay deare for this her untimely end The Lady Perina and all the Lady Fidelia's kinsfolkes and friends infinitely lament and bewayle her death and indeed so doth the whole City of Nice where for her descent and vertues shee is infinitely beloved and affected but all these teares of theirs are nothing in comparison of those of her wicked and execrable Husband Castelnovo who although he inwardly rejoyce yet he outwardly seemes to bee exceedingly afflicted and dejected But as hee hath heretofore acted the part of a Murtherer and now of an hypocrite yet have we but a little patience and we shall see that detected this unmasked and both panished Whiles this mournefull Tragedy is acted in Nice the mediation of the French King and Pope reconcile the differences give end to the Warres and conclude peace betwixt Spaine and Savoy So home returnes the Duke of Feria to Millan the noble Duke of Savoy and the generous Princes his Sonnes to Turin the Marshall de Desdiguieres and the Baron of Termes into France and consequently home comes our Knight Castelnovo to Nice where thinking to rejoyce with his young wife hee is so unfortunate to mourne for the death of his old mother but God knowes that neither of them know the least sparke or shadow of her cruell and untimely Murther and lesse the cause thereof Now for his lascivious and bloudy father albeit to cast a vaile before his thoughts and his intents and actions hee publikely mournes for his wifes death and rejoyceth for his Sonnes returne yet contrariwise hee privately mournes for this and rejoyceth for that But to leave the remembrance of Fidelia to assume that of our Perina I know not whether shee grieved more at her Husbands absence or rejoyce at his presence sith her affection to him was so tender and fervent as in her heart and soule shee esteemed that as much her hell as this her heaven upon earth but these joyes of hers are but fires of straw or flattering Sun-shines which are suddenly either washed away with a showre or eclipsed and banished by a Tempest for whiles her hopes flatter her beliefe of her Husbands continuall stay and residence with her her Father in lawes lust to her foreseeing and considering that it was impossible to thinke to obtaine her at home e're her Husband his Sonne were againe imployed and sent abroad makes all his thoughts aime and care and industry tend that way as if time had no power to make him repent the former murther of his wife or Grace influence to renounce the future defiling and dishonouring of his Daughter in law But hee is as constant in his lust to her as resolute in his dispatching and sending away of him onely hee must finde out some pregnant vertuous and honourable pretext and colour for the effecting of his designe and resolution because he well knowes his Sonne Castelnovo is as wise and generous in himselfe as amorous of his beautifull young Lady Perina but his lust which is the cause of his resolution or rather his vanity which is the authour of his lust at one time suggests him these two severall imployments for his Sonne either to send him into France with the Prince Major who was larely contracted and shortly to espouse MadameChristiene the Kings second Sister or else under the insinuation of some great Pensions and Offices that were shortly to
second letter in hope it may effect and procure his returne which her first could not and so calling for pen and paper she traceth thereon these few lines PERINA to CASTELNOVO SIth thou wilt not leave Malta to see Nice for my sake I have left Nice to live or rather to dye in Saint Iohn de Mauriene for thine 't is true my affection hath desired thy returne which thou hast not granted mee 't is as true that one to whom Nature hath given a prime and singular interest in thee and thee in him hath sought the defloration of mine honour which my heart and dutie have denied him Thou art confident of my affection to thee if thiâ—… had beene so faithfull and sâ—…rvent to my selfe neither sea nor land had had power to seperate 〈◊〉 If any prefermens bee dearer to thee then my life stay in Malta or if my life be dearer theâ—… it then returne to Saint Iohn de Mauriene where thou mayest finde mee for in Nice I will not bee found of thee Hadst thou not purposely mistaken the cause for the pretext in my importunitie of thy returne I would have digested it with farre more content and lesse affliction but sith neither â—…y â—…tion or honour hath power to â—…ffect it at least let the regard of my life sith that will not accompany mee if thou any longer absent thy selfe from mee make therfore haste to see thy Peâ—…ina if ever thou thinke to see her againe and let her beare this one content to her grave that shee may disclose thee a secret which but to thy selfe shee will conceale from all the world PERINA Whiles Sabia is againe speeding toward Malta with Perina's second Letter to her husband Castelnovo wee will a little speake of old Castelnovo the father who seeing his daughter in law Perina fled and consequently his hopes with her hee is extremely perplexed and afflicted hereat All the house and City is sought for her and hee himselfe breakes off the lockes of her Chamber doore where hee findes the nest but the bird flowne away her bed but not her selfe so as his thoughts doubly torment and astonish him first to be frustrated of his hopes and desires to injoy her then because shee will bewray his lascivious suite and affection to her Husband his sonne which of all sides will procure him not onely shame but infamy yea now it is although before he would not that he sees his errour and vanity in attempting to make shipwrack of her honour and chastity which is the Glory and should be the Palladium of Ladies but it is too late to recover her againe And therefore although hee know how to repent yet he is ignorant how to remedy or redeeme it sith his attempt and enterprise was not onely odious to God but infamous to men opposite to Grace and repugnant and contradictory to Nature Besides this his lustfull folly proceeding from himselfe lookes two wayes and hath a double reflection first on Perina the wife then on Castelnovo her husband and his owne sonne who he is assured will bee all fire hereat yea this crime of his is of so high and so beastly a nature as hee knowes not what to say to him or how to looke him in the face when he shall arrive from Malta which his guilty conscience tells him will bee shortly neither doth the Calculation or Arithmetick of his feare deceive him for by this time is Sabia againe arrived at Malta where hee delivers Castelnovo his wife's second Letter the which doth so nettle and sting his heart to the quicke at the bitter and unexpected newes it relates as hee esteemes himselfe no longer himselfe because hee is not with his deare wife who is the one halfe yea the greatest part of himselfe Wherefore admiring who in Nice yea in his fathers house should bee so impudently laseivious to seeke to blemish his honour in that of his Ladies hee making her sighes and teares his with all expedition and haste provides for his departure from Malta and yet his love his feare or both conducing and concurring in one makes him instantly resolve to dispatch and returne Sabia as the harbinger to proclaime his comming the which he doth and chargeth him with this Letter to his faire wife and deare Lady Perina CASTELNOVO to PERINA THy sudden departure from Nice to Saint Iohn de Mauriene doth equally afflict and amaze mee I burne with desire to know as well the Authour as the Cause thereof that I â—…ay likewise know how to right thee in revenging my selfe of him I have thought it fit to reâ—…rne Seignior Sabia againe to thee as soone as hee arrived to mee being ready within two dayes to imbarke as timely as himselfe so that if winde and Sea hate me not too much in more â—…ving and favouring him I am confident to bring and deliver thee my selfe as soone as hee shall bee this my Letter and judge whether I speake it from my heart and soule sith the estimation â—…f thy love and the preservation of thine honour make mee already deeme minutes moneths â—…nd houres yeares till my presence bee made happy with thine I come faire Perina sweet wife â—…nd deare Lady I come and if Heaven proove propitious to my most religious prayers and â—…sires here on Earth â—…ur meeting shall bee shortly as sweete and happy as our parting was bitter â—…d sorrowfull CASTELNOVO So according to this his Letter as first Sabia imbarkes from Malta to Nice before him so he likewise arrives at Genoua the day after he did at Nice from whence poasting o're the Mountaines hee arrives at Saint Iohn de Mauriene where at his father in law Arconeto's house he findes his deare and sweet Lady Perina who every minute of time with much impatient longing and desire expected his arrivall as having the night before received his second and last Letter by Sabia which advertised her thereof so like true and faithfull Turtle Doves esteeming each others presence their most soveraigne felicitie they fall to their billing and kisses to informe themselves how sweet this their happy meeting was each to other And here our Knight Castelnovo cannot bee so curious or hasty to inquire as his Lady Perina was to relate the cause of her sudden departure from Nice to Saint Iohn de Mauriene occasioned by the unnaturall lust and lasciviousnesse of his Father as wee have formerly understood the which with many sighs and teares shee depaints forth to him in all its circumstances and colours Hee is amazed at this strange and unexpected newes and farre the more to think that his owne father should in the winter of his age attempt or seeke to defile his honour and bed in the person of this his faire and chast Lady Perina he wondereth to see so little grace in so many yeares and that if Nature had not yet Religion should have had power to banish these lascivious thoughts from his heart and memory so with out-spred armes he tenderly
in the very centre of his heart and thoughts hee beginnes to make his private affection to her publike and so having already wonne her heart from her selfe hee now endeavoureth to winne her from her friends and then to marry her But old Seignior Sturio his father is no sooner advertised of Brellati his death of Bertolini's flight and of his sonnes affection and intent to take Paulina to wife but disdayning hee should match so low and withall so poore as also fearing that this might likewise ingage his sonne in some quarrell betwixt him and Bertolini hee resolves privately to convey him away out of Rome in some retired or obscure place from whence hee should not returne till his absence had cooled and extenuated the heat of his affection to Paulina and of his malice and Revenge to Bertolini to which end three weekes are scarce past but taking his sonne with him in his Coach under colour to take the ayre in the fields of Rome beyond Saint Pauls Church hee having given the Coach man his lesson commands him to drive away and having two Braves or Ruffians with him they dispose or rather inforce the humour of his son Sturio to patience as despight him selfe they carry him to Naples where a Brigantine being purposely prepared hee shippeth over his sonne for the Iland of Capri or Caprea where long since Seiarâ—… his ambition caused Tiberius to sojourne whiles hee played the pettie King and domineered as Emperour at Rome in his absence and gives him to the keeping and guard of Seignior Alphonsus Drissa Captaine of that Iland with request and charge not to permit him to returne for the maine for the terme of one whole yeere without his expresse order to the contrary It is for none but for Lovers to Iudge â—…ow tenderly Sturio and his sweet Lady Paulina grieve at the newes of this their sudden and unexpected separation yea their sighes and teares are so infinite for this their disaster as all the words of the world are not capable to expresse them As for Paulina shee had so long and so bitterly wept for her brothers death as it was a meere cruelty of sorrow to inforce her to play any farther part in sorrow for the departure and captivitie of her Lover Sturio but her afflictions falling in each on the necke of other in imitation of the waves of the sea occasioned by the breath and blast of Boreas threaten her not onely with present sicknesse but with approaching death Againe she understands of Bertolini's safety and prosperity in Cicilia where hee triumphs in his victory for killing her brother Brellati and like a base Gentleman continually erects his Trophees of detraction upon the ruines and tombe of her honour and these considerations like reserved afflictions againe newly afflict and torment her so as having lost her jewell and her joy her brother and her Lover Brellati and Sturio shee beginnes to bee extreame sicke weake and faint yea the Roses of her cheekes are transformed to Lillies the relucent lustre of her eyes to dimnesse and obscurity and to use but a word not onely her heart but her tongue beginnes to faile and to strike saile to immoderate sorrow and disconsolation Her parents and friends grieve hereat and farre the more in respect they know not how to remedy it and for her selfe if shee enjoy any comfort in this life it is onely in hope that shee shall shortly leave it to enjoy that of a better Thus whiles sorrow â—…tion and sicknesse make haste to spâ—… out the thred and webbe of her life if her griefes are extreme and insupportable in Rome no lesse are those of her Lover Sturio in Caprea for it â—…rets him to the heart and gall to see how his father hath bereaved and betrayed him of his Mistris Paulina's presence the onely content and felicity which this life or earth could afford him a thousand times hee wisheth himselfe with her and as often kisseth her remembrance and Idea and then as their affections so their malice concurring and sympathizing hee againe wisheth that hee may bee so happy to fight with Bertolini for the disgrace of his Lady Paulina and shee for the death of her brother Brellati and in that affection and this revenge hee with much affliction and no comfort passeth away many bitter dayes and torments in the misery of this his inforced exile and banishment and although his curiosity affection or subtilty could never crowne him with the happinesse or felicity to free himselfe of his guards and captivity and so to steale away from that Iland in some Foist or Galley for the maine yet understanding that two dayes after there was one bound for the Port of Civita Vetcha hee to testifie his affection constancie and torments to his deare and faire Paulina takes occasion to write her a Letter to Rome the which that it might come the safer to her owne hands he incloseth in another to an intimate deare friend of his The tenour of his Letter was thus STVRIO to PAVLINA I Know not whether I more grieve at my absence from thee then at the manner thereof yet sure I am that both conjoyn'd make me in this Iland of Caprea feele the torments not of a feigned Purgatory but of a true Hell It was my purpose to condole with thee for the untimely death of thy Brother it is now not onely my resolution but my practice to mourne with my selfe for thy banishment or rather with thee for mine and when my sorrowes have most neede of consolation then againe that consolation findes most cause of sorrow for thinking of Bertolini me thinkes I see thy false disparagement on his malicious tongue and thy Brother Brellati his true death on his bloudy Sword and yet have neither the honour or happinesse to revenge either and which is worse not bee permitted to know where hee is that I may revenge them but I wish I were onely incident and obliged tosupport this affliction conditionally then wert exempt thereof or that I might know the limits and period of our absence thereby to hope for an end and remedy thereof which now I can finde no motives to know nor cause to hope O that I have often envyed Leanders happinesse And if Love could make impossibilities possible the Mediterranean Sea should long since have beene my Hellespont my Body my Barke my armes my â—…res to have wafied me from my Abidos to thy Sestos from my Caprea to thy Rome to thee sweet Paulina my onely fayre and deare Hero And although the constancie and fervencie of my love to thee suggest me many inventions to escape the misery of my exile yet the Argus eyes of my Fathers malice in that of my Guardians jealousie cannot bee inchanted or lulled asleâ—…e with the melody of so unfortunate a Mercury as my selfe but time shall shortly act and finish that which impatience cannot till when deare and sweet Paulina retaine mee in thy thoughts as I doe thee in my heart
take possession of her heart and favour his best Art and Oratorie proves vaine for she outwardly retires her affection thereby the better inwardly to advance and finish her purposes so this repulse of hers makes him hang his head and become pensive and melancholie the true signes and symptomes of a foolish and fantasticall lover as in effect wee shall shortly see de Salez will prove himselfe for the colder shee is in affection to him the hotter is hee in lust with her forgetting the warres yea his discretion himselfe and all to crowne his desires in enjoying her the which she well observing begins to triumph in her good fortune as thinking him already fairly come to the hooke and so hopes that if the line of his folly and her good fortune and wit hold shee will soone make him her husband and her selfe his wife For having formerly met with many knaves in others shee now begins to rest confident either to finde or make a foole of him thereby to serve as a veile to over-veile her whoredomes He pleads hard to her for love she replies it is impossible to finde love in lust He vowes he will die her servant she sweares she will never live his strumpet He protesteth that shee shall share of his estate shee tells him plainly that shee had rather live a poore Wife than die a rich Courtesan He replies that he adores her beautie she answers that she knowes no other but that he only seekes to prophane and defile it And here with more facilitie to make him swallow either a Gull a Gudgin or both she by stealth permits him to cull some kisses as well from the cherries of her lips as the roses of her cheekes and in the Interim like an hypocriticall and dissembling queane reads him many lectures on the purenesse of Chastitie and the foulenesse of Lust on the blessednesse of Marriage and the wretched estate of Fornication Prophane and impious giglet whose speeches are perfumed with Vertue and yet her actions stinke and are polluted and infected with Vice dissembling Syrene who casts forth bitter sweet inchanting tunes and charmes to please the sense and yet purposely to poison the soule pills of worme-wood candid in sugar hony to the palate but gall to the stomack A fatall rock whereon many inconsiderate and deboshed young Gentlemen have unfortunately suffered shipwrack a wretched Gulph and Labyrinth which containes all varietie of endlesse miseries and calamities whereunto whosoever enters with pleasure is sure to retire with teares curses and repentance A plague sent us from heaven in our age for a just guerdon and recompense of the sinnes and folly of our youth And into this intrâ—…cate Laborinth and bottomlesse Gulph of miserie and calamitie is our rash and lustfull yong Gallant cheerefully entring and steering his course without either the Starre of hope or compasse of felicitie and saftie bearing out toppe and toppe Gallant yea as I may say with all the sayles of his folly bearing and with the Flagge Ensigne and Pendants of his obscaene and lacivious desires playing and dalying in the Aire of La Hayes fatall and infectious beautie which hath so solely surprised his judgement captivated his thoughts and eclipsed his descretion as in her abscence and presence hee extolls aswell her Vertues as her beautie to the Skies vowing that shee is so faire a Nymph and so pure a Virgine as she deserves rather to bee his wife than his Strumpet or rather not his strumpet but his wife And so two moneths being past since hee first frequented her and sought to seduce and obtaine her to his lacivious desires and seeing desembling queane as shee is that therein shee bore her selfe infinitely chaste and modest and that it was impossible for him to observe or remarke any other inclination or testimony either in her word or carriage his wits are so besotted and in tangled in the fetters of her beautie that hee preferres her sweet feature and complexion a thousand times before La Franges deformed and vowes that hee had rather die La Hayes slave than ever live to bee La Franges husband But this folly of his in the end shall cost him deare and so leade him to another farre more unnaturall and as I may justly say damnable But wee must proceed orderly in this History and doe therefore reserve that part till anon By this time the slie subtiltie seeming chast behaviour of La Hay hath acted wonders in De Salez heart so as she now hopes confidently and shortly to play her prise in surprising him for he is extreamely amorous besotted and as I may say drunke with the love of her selfe and beautie so on a Sunday as shee returned from Vespres he repaires â—…o her fathers house to see her whom he finds in her chamber alone waiting and attending him having porposely dighted her selfe in a rich new Gowne and Petticote and trimmed and adorned her selfe in her gayest and most curious attier thereby with more ease and facilitie to draw him to her lure So as her beautie being both seconded and graced by her apparell she so ravished his heart and delighted his sences as he cannot refraine from kissing her but this hony of her lippes will in the end prove poyson to his heart And here againe he layes close siege to her chastitie but still she gives him the repulse and refusall as if she were a Diana and no Venus He vowes hee doth affect and will ever honour her And she that if he honour her will still affect him In the way of Love quoth hee I am wholly yours and quoth shee in that Honour I will not bee mine owne but yours I will quoth hee in all affection both live and die your servant and replies she In all chastity I will live to die your handmaid Hee affirmes hee cannot bee more hers in heart than hee is nor I quoth shee lesse yours in lust than I am It is quoth hee my Love which makes me report so much and quoth shee it is my Feare which makes mee affirme no lesse Why quoth hee should my love procure your Feare My feare quoth she is wholly ingendred and derived from your lust but not from your Love I pray expresse your selfe quoth hee she replies my blushes may but my tongue dares not Quoth hee did your affection equalize mine La Hay would accept of De Salez and not refuse him Nay quoth shee did De Salez know how infinite mine exceeds his hee would not refuse La Hay but accept of her Why quoth he de Salez desires none but La Hay Nor quoth shee La Hay any in the world but de Salez Whereupon de Salez being provoked with his owne lust and animated and encouraged by her sweet speeches he very joyfully yet falsly flattering himselfe with the conquest of her favour and consent â—…huts the doore like amost lacivious and disolute Gentleman takes her in his armes strives to convey her to the bed resolving there to
but he vowes and sweares to her that neither his father nor the whole world shall make him marry any other than her selfe and so after many embraces and kisses he takes horse and leaves Tholouse Being arrived at Paris his father very joyfully bids him welcome and referres to conferre with him till the next morning but such is De Salez rashnesse and folly as hee hath no sooner supped in company of his father but hee prayes to speake with him When the servants voyding the chamber he earnestly and humbly beseeching him sith that La Frange is dead hee will now be pleased that hee may marry La Hay whom quoth he I onely affect and love before all the maides of the world His father exceedingly incensed hereat vowes that he had rather see him fairely buried in his grave and that of all the females of the world he shall not marry La Hay and so for that night they betake themselves to their beds the father grieves with his sonnes folly the sonne with his fathers aversenesse The next morne Argentier calls for his sonne When the doores shut hee bids him shut his eyes to his foolish familiarity with La Hay and now to open them to the preferment he hath purchased him and so relates him how hee hath procured him the honour of a Captaines place in the Regiments of the Kings Guard as also a very faire young Gentlewoman for his wife tearmed Madamoyselle de Plessis the eldest daughter of Monsieur de Brianson one of the richest Counsellours of Paris But De Salez having his eyes and thoughts wholly fixed on La Hay with a discontented looke returnes his father this perverse and disobedient replie That he will not accept of the Captaines place nor once see De Plessis but that hee is constantly resolved either to wed La Hay or his grave whereat his father is so extreamely incensed as with much passion and choller he commands him henceforth not to dare so much as to name him La Hay swearing by his Saviour that if hee for his obstinacy and disobedience hee will disinherite him as indeed hee might having himselfe purchased three parts of his lands and revenewes through his care and industry in his profession and so much discontent and cholleâ—… leaves in his Coleagues of Tholouse who are already wayting and attending his comming De Salez is all on fire at this his fathers bitter resolution against him and stormes and fumes not only beyond the bonds of reason religion and humanity but also beyond himselfe For sith La Hay is his sole delight and joy and that his father hath vowed he shall never marry her his affection to her makes him resolve to dispatch his father yea his head conceives such murtherous thoughts and his heart atracts and assumes such degenerate and devillish blood against him that like an execrable wretch and a hellish sonne disdayning to take Counsell from God and therefore taking it from the devill his bloody Tutor and Abettor he vowes he will forthwith rid his hands of his father and that he will therfore send him into another world because he would give him no content in this Oh wretched monster of Nature Limbe of the devill nay a very devill thy selfe thus to resolve to take his life from him that gave thee thine Foule staine of mankind bloody Paracydious miscreant can no respect either of thy naturall and filliall obedience to thy kind and deere father or of his white haires and venerable old age restraine thee or no consideration of thy consceince or thy soule of heaven or hell deterre thee from this bloody inhumane and damnable designe of thine in laying violent hands on him O me where are thy thoughts where thy senses where thy heart thy soule to act so execrable and infernall a Tragidie on him with whom thou hadst not been on thy father whom by the laws of Heaven and Earth thou oughtest both to love honour reverence and obey But De Salez being resolute in this inhumane rage and implacable malice and furie watcheth how he may take time at advantage to effect and finish this his bloody businesse and one a night after supper hearing his old father complaine that he found himselfe not well and commanding his Clarke De Buissie very earely in the next morning to carry his water to Doctor Salepin a famous Physician whose chamber was farre off in the place Maubert he himselfe lying in Grennelles street De Salez thinks this a fit opportunity to dispatch his father the which O a thousand griefes and pitties to speake off he accordingly performeth For the morne appearing his father having sent away his Clarke with his water and betaking himselfe to sleepe till his returne His watchfull and murtherous sonne having purposely made himselfe ready and through the key hole and cranies of his Chamber doore espying his father sleeping he intends that this shall be his last sleepe When softly stealing into his Chamber he incouraged and animated by the divell and approaching his bed as exempt of feare or grace without any more delay or circumstance stifles his father betwixt tow pillowes when leaving him breathlesse in his bed his face exposed to the ayre and the doore shut goes downe gives the master of the house the good morrow and so trips away as fast as he can to the signe of the swan within Saint Honnoryes Gate and from thence rides away to Saint Clow two leagues distant from Paris to see Gondyes gardens fountaines and house wherein that execrable and damnable Iacabine Frier Iaques Clement murthered Henry the third king of France but with an intent to returne to his fathers lodging immediatly after dinner and to plead ignorance of the fact and withall if occasion serve to stand upon his innocency and justification as indeed he did Now his fathers Clarke De Buissye returning in the morning from Doctor Salepin entering his masters chamber finds him starke dead and almost cold in his bed whereat he makes many bitter outcries and grievous exclamations the man of the house hereat ascends the chamber infinitly laments grieves at this sorrowfull accident and spectacle Vowes to De â—…uissye that hee saw none whosoever in his house much lesse in his masters chamber and that his sonne Mounsieur De Salez departed assoone as he himselfe they search his body and find it no way wounded so they beleeve and resove that some angue hath carried him away Yet they hold it rather wisedome than folly to acquaint the Lievtenant Cryminall therewith fearing lest hee might after suspect either violence or poyson So hee comes conferres with his sonne De Salez with his Clarke De Buissye and with the man of the house hee visites the deadbody findes onely his head somwhat swollen which his Physicions affirme may be his striving and strugling with death When the Lievtenant out of his zeale and integrity to Justice having informed himselfe of Doctor Salepin of De Buissyes being with him as also from
at life see what bitter fruits and sharpe ends ever attend upon Whoredome and Murther it is a lively Example for all kinde of Empericks and Drugstâ—…rs whatsoever to consider how severely God doth infallibly revenge and punish the poysoning of his Saints and children In a word it is a Lesson and Caveat for all people and for all degrees of people but especially of Christians who professe the Gospell of Christ not only to detest these foule sins of Revenge and Murther in others but to hate and abhor them in their selves which that all may endeavour to practice and performe grant good God who indeed art the only giver of all goodnesse GODS REVENGE AGAINST THE CRYING AND Execrable Sinne of Murther HISTORY XII Albemare causeth Pedro and Leonardo to murther Baretano and hee after marriah Clara whom Baretano first sought to marry Hee causeth his man Valereo to poyson Pedro in Prison and by a letter which Leonardo sent him Clara perceives that hâ—… husband Albemare had hired and caused Pedro and Leonardo to murther her first Baretano which letter she reveales to the Iudge so he is hanged and likewise Valerio and Leonardo for these their blody crimes WIth what face can we presume to tread on the face of Earth or dare lift up our eyes to that of Heaven when our thoughts are so rebellious to conspire and our hearts and resolutions so cruell to embrue our hands in the innocent blood of our harmelesse and Christian brethren Thoughts they are which in seeming to please our senses poyson our hearts and doe therefore truely poyson our soules because they so falsly please our senses Resolutions they are which we cannot conceive or attempt with more inhumanity than finish with misery Sith in thinking to send them to their untimely graves wee assuredly send our selves to our owne miserable and infamous ends whereof in this ensuing History we shall find many wofull Presidents and mournefull examples in divers unfortunate and wretched persons who were borne to happinesse not to infamy to prosperity not to misery If they had so much Grace to secure their lives as Vanity and Impiety to ruine them It is a History purposely pâ—…duced and penned for our detestation not for our imitation Sith it is a point of true and happy wisdome in all men to beware by other mens harmes Read it then with a full intent to profit thy selfe thereby and so thou mayest boldly and safely rest assured that the sight of their sinnes and punishments will prove the reformation of thine owne FRuitfull and faire Lombardy is the Countrey and the great populous and rich City of Millan the Capitall of that Dutchie the place where the Scene of this mournefull and Tragicall History is layen where perpetrated The which to refetch from its first spring and Originall thereby the more truely to informe our curiosity and instruct our knowledge We must then understand that long since the Duke of Feria succeeded the Count De Fuentes as Vice-roy of that potent and flourishing Dutchie for King Philip the third of Spaine his master There was native and resident in that City an ancient Nobleman tearmed Seignior Leonardo Capello who in his younger yeares had married a Spanish Lady and brought her from Spaine to Millan tearmed Dona Maria de Castiana He exceeding rich and noble and shee as noble and faire he by his fathers side allied to Cardinall Charles Barromeo since Sainted by Pope Paul V. she by her mother to the present Duke of Albucurque hee infinitly honoured for his extraction and wealth shee no lesse beloved and respected for her beautie and vertues and although there are but few marriages contracted between the Millaneses and Spaniards and those very seldome prove successefull and prosperous in respect of the antipathy which for the most part is hereditary betwixt the commands of the Spaniards and the subjection of the Millaneses yet it seemed that this of Capello and Castiana was first instituted in heaven ere consummated on earth for so sweetly did their yeeres humours and affections conjoyne and sympathize as although thy were two persons yet I may truely affirme and say they had but one heart affection and desire which was mutually to please and reciprocally to affect and love each other And as Marriages cannot bee reputed truly happy and fortunate if they be not blessed and crowned with the blessings of children which indeed is not onely the sweetest life of humane content but also the best and sweetest content of our humane life so they had not beene long married ere God honoured them and their nuptiall bed with a beautifull and delicate and young daughter tearmed Dona Clara the onely childe of their loynes and heire of their lands and vertues being indeed the true picture of themselves and the joyfull pledge and seale of their intire and involuable affections who having overpast her infancy and obtained the eighteenth yeare of her age she was so exquisitely adorned with beauty and so excellently endued and enriched with vertues as distinctly for either or joyntly for both she was and was truely reputed the Paragon of Nature the pride of Beauty the wonder of Millan the glory of her Sex and the Phenix of her Time And because the purity and perfection of her beauty deserves to be seene through this dimme Perspective and the dignity of her vertues knowne of the Reader in this my impollished relation For the first she was of stature indifferently tall but exceeding streight and slender her haire either of a deepe Chesnut colour or rather of a light blacke But to which most adhearing and inclyning fancy mought but curiosity could difficultly distinguish her complexion and tincture rather of an amorous and lovely browne than of a Roseat and Lilly die but yet so sweetly pure and purely sweet and withall rather fat than leane that no earthly object could more delight and please the eye or ravish the sense And for her cies those two relucent lamps and startes of love they were so blacke and piercing that they had a secret and imperious influence to draw all other eyes to gaze and doe homage to hers as if all were bound to love her and shee so modest as if purposely framed to love none but her selfe Neither did her Front Lippes Necke or Paps any way detract but every way to adde to the perfection of her other excellencies of Nature For the first seemed to be the Promâ—…ntory of the Graces the second the Residence of delight and pleasure The third the Pyramides of State and Majesty And the fourth the Hills and Valley of love But leave we the dainties of her body now to speake of the rarities and excellencies of her mind which I cannot rightly define whether the curiositie and care of her parents in her education or her owne ingenious and apt inclination to Vertue and Honour were more predominant in her for in either or rather in both she was so exquisite and excellent that in Languages Singing
Musicke Dancing Wisdome Temperance and Modestie she was so fully compleat and rare that to give her her due and no more she could not be paraleld by any young Lady of Lombardy or Italy nor equalliz'd but by her selfe Thus if her noble extraction and fathers wealth made her surmount others and her delicious sweet beauty and vertues excell her selfe no marvell if those Adamants and these excellencies draw divers of the best Cavaliers and chiefest Gallants both of Milan and Lombardy to effect and seeke her in marriage and indeed although shee be sought by divers of them with much respect and honour answerable in all regard to her ranke and quality yet nether her parents or selfe are so much importuned by any as by Signior Giouani Albemare a young noble Gentleman of the citie who was adorned and fortified whith these humane priviledges to be well descended rich and of some twenty five yeeres old a match in the eye and censure of the world yea and in all outward appearance correspondent and equivalent if his generous persections and vertues had paralleld hers or if the candure and sinceritie of her affection had not justly transported her thoughts and heart from him because she had formerly fixed and setled them on another Gentleman younger of yeeres than Albemare but in all other respects as well of Nature as Fortune every way his superiour named Signior Alphonsus Baretano a young Gentleman of one of the noblest families of Millan of some eighteene yeeres old whose father was lately deceased and had left him sole heire to many rich lands and possessions but withall exceedingly intangled in Law and ingaged in many debts and morgages where into the vanity and prodigality of his youth had deepely precipitated and ingulphed him which consequently reflecting and falling on his sonne we shall see will prove a hinderance to his marriage and an obstacle to his content and preferment But to observe some order and decorum in the conduction and delation of this History wee must briefly be informed that as of all the Beauties of Lombardy Albemare onely chiefly affected and loved Clara so of all the Cavaliers of the world Clara affected and loved no other but Baretano for as conformity of yeeres manners and inclinations breed a sympathy in affections so they in their tender youth often frequented one the others company sometimes at the Dancing and Musicke Masters but many times at Weddings Feastes and noble assemblies being well neere as equall in age as in complection and stature Againe the vicinity of their residence added much to the combining and inflaming of their affections for they were opposite in nothing but in their mansion houses from whose galleries windowes many times publikely but more often by stealth their eyes could not refrain to tilt at each other with the invisible launces of love affection which bred such a habit and that habit so powerfull a second Nature that it was now becom impossible for them not to gaze each on other so as if the innocency of their purilitie made them delight in each others sight and company with desire so now their more riper yeres inforce them to desire it with delectation for when as yet they were so yong as they knew not the instinct and influence of Nature which cannot be taught by amore powerful or ingenious Tuâ—…ix then her selfe yet they never met but kissed nor kissed but as if their heart and thoughts checke their lippes for taking such short farewells each of other But now when their yeeres had proclamed them both very capable to march under the Standard of Hymenaeus This Venus and that Adonis for so her fresh beauty and his flourishing youth with as much right as fame in Milan generally intituled them They felt some pleasure wanting which as yet they couldnot finde and therefore no marvaile if they desired to find that which they wanted So as burning in affection each to other Clara hearing spoken of a husband infinitly wished that Baretano were hers and when hee heard of a wife hee ardently longed and fervently desired that Clara were his Neither can I rightly say whether he were more affectionate in his constancy to her or shee constant and resolute in her affection to him so that as heretofore they hardly knew the way to kisse now time running on in her swift careere had taught them to desire to marry and that whereas formerly Baretano only tearmed Clara his sweet Maid and she him her deare Friend Now love had suggested and given them new desires and therefore new Epithites for sometimes as well in earnest as in jest he could not refraine to tearme her his sweet wife nor she him her deare husband and herein there tongues were onely but the outward Heralds of their inward hearts as their hearts were of their more secret and retired desires And as fervent love and true discretion very seldome concurre and meet so although affection made them rich in inventing new inventions to meet and kisse yet they were so poore or rather so blind in discretion as they could not beare their affections in secrisie and silence but by this time they are bewrayed to their Parents and divulged to their acquaintance but if any grieve and storme at this unexpected newes it is first Albemare then Capello and Castiana betwixt whom there was a secret promise and verball contract that hee and no other should marry their daughter Thus we see that Albemare and Baretano are become Competitors and Rivalls in their affections for either of them affect Clara as the mistris of their thoughts and both adore her as the Queene Regent of their desires But as they simpathize in their hopes to purchase her to their wife So they differ in the meanes and progresse of their resolutions how to obtaine her For whiles Baretano sues the daughter before her Parents so doth Albemare the Parents before their daughter but what effects and ends these beginnings will produce ye shall shortly see and they themselves very soone both feele and find Capello and Castiana as wee have formerly said with much affliction and griefe understanding of their daughters affection to Baretano and reciprocally of his to her they with much impatience and passion relate it to Albemare whose affection to Clara hath made him so subtill towards them as although his heart knowes this newes yet he makes his tongue deny the knowledge thereof when protesting of his intire and fervent affection to her and that he must either wed her or his grave they consult on their important businesse how they may Dethronize Baretano and inthronize Albemare in the chaire and choice of Clara's affection As for Capello and Castiana they so highly affect Albemares great and free estate and so disdainefully hate the intricate incombrances of Baretano's as they vow there resolutions shall Sayle by thecompasse of his desires and he in exchange that his affections and desires shall still steere their course by that of
their resolutions So from the matter of their agreement they proceed to the manner how to effect it To which end her father and mother single their daughter apart and in milde and faire tearmes demand her what hath past betwixt her and Baretano and whether she be so simple and inconsiderate to take so poore a Gentleman for her husband whose estate is so weake and small as it cannot well maintaine himselfe much lesse her Clara already prepared and armed by her affection to receive these or the like speeches from her Parents having twice or thrice metamorphosed the Lillies of her cheekes into Roses very temperately and modestly returnes them this discreet and respective answer That as she must needs affirme she is confident of Baretano's affection to her so she must as truly denie that asyet he had ever motioned her for marriage which if he had considering that his birth meanes and vertues were such as every way deserved not onely her equall but her superiour she is enforced to reveale them that she loves him so tenderly and deerely as if her will and pleasure be not contradicted by theirs it will be not onely her joy but her felicity to accept and take him for her husband before all others of the world But this modest answer of hers they hold too peremptory for a child to give and Parents to receive as if it savoured more of irregular zeale to Baretano than of due respect and obedience to themselves yet the sooner to devert her from her owne desires and resolutions to make her flexible to theirs they as yet hold it fit rather to continue mild than imperious towards her and so by depraving the deserts and debasing the merits of Baretano to seeke to extoll and magnifie those of Albemare as if the first were only a foyle and the second a rich Diamond worthy of her affection and wearing and indeed so exquisite and excellent a Cavalier they depaint him to her in the richest frame and pomp of all his praises aswell of the endowments of mind as of those of Fortune that they leave no insinuating Oratory unessayed nor perswasive attempt unattempted to make her shake hands with Baretano and consequently to extend her armes and heart to receive and retaine Albemare But although she were yong in yeeres and experience yet love in this fragrant and flourishing spring of her youth had so refined her judgement and indoctrinated and prompted her tongue that her thoughts commanded and marshalled by her heart and both by her desires and affection to Baretano she confusedly intermixing and interrupting her words with many far fetched broken sighes againe returnes her Parents this reply If your age will not yet my youth or rather my heart informes me that Baretano as far exceeds Albemare in the priviledges of the mind and body as Albemare doth him in those of Fortune but that my resolutions and answers may answer and correspond with my obedience although I love Baretano yet I will never hate rather honour Albemare but to make him my husband or myselfe his wife if Earth have I hope Heaven hath not decreed it And I humbly beseech yee that this may â—…est your Resolution as I assuredly thinke it shall and will remaine mine Capello and Castiana like discreet parents seeing their daughter Clara wholly wedded in a maner to the singularitie of her owne will they yet conceive it to bee farre more requisite to revert her reasons by fairre meanes than refute and refell them by force sith love and discretion hath still reference to that and this relation still to choller many times to repentance whereupon minding her of the blessings which infallibly attend filiall obedience and the miseries and curses which individually wayt on contempt and disobedience hoping that time will effect that which Importunitie cannot they as then leave her to her thoughts and she them to their care careing for nothing so much nay I may wel say for nothing else than to see her affection divorced from Baretano and contracted and wedded to Albemare who having curious correspondence and intelligence with them he is ever and anon acertained not onely what hath but what doth passe betwixt them and their daughter and withall is advised by them to delay no time but to frequent and haunt her as her Ghost and shaddow 〈◊〉 yea and no more to conceale his affection and suite from her but to acquaint Millan therewith sith it was no disparagement but rather an equall honour for him to match with Clara and Clara with him Which concluded betwixt Capello and Castiana Albemare is so farre from rejecting this advise and counsell as hee embraceth it with much joy and delectation and vowes though with the perill of his life to persevere and pursue her in marriage To which end authorized as well by his owne affection as their authority Clara is neither abroad nor at home but he meets her gives away all time from himselfe to give himselfe to her so as it seemes to the eye of the world that Capello's house is now become his and that his daughter Clara likewise shortly shall be yea he addes such curiosity to his care and such care to his affection in courting her as shee cannot bee either at Masse or Vespres but he is either with her or neere her and when in solemne pompe or zeale shee visits the Domo or Cathedrall Church of that Citie and in it the Shrine of the new Saint Charles then hee waits and attends on her at the Porch staires sometimes with his Coach but many times as the custome of Millan is on his Foot-cloth and prancing Barbarie horse to conduct her home yea and not to faile in any Complement of an accomplished Lover besides the harmony of his owne insinuation and solicitation he greets her with rich presents and salutes her with all variety of mellodious Musicke and mellistuous voyces but all this notwithstanding although hee every way use his best art and industry and her father and mother their best skill to make her flexible to his desires and their pleasure yet shee as having her thoughts fully bent and fixed on her deare and sweet Baretano lookes haggard and averse on Albemare giving him such generall answers and cold entertainment as hee seeth hee hath farre more reason to despaire than hope to obtaine her Whereupon doubting of her affection hee hath againe recourse to her parents love who to confirme and seale it him seeing faire meanes will not prevaile with their daughter they resolve to vse force and so to adde threats to their requests and choller to their perswasions to make her abandon Baretano and embrace Albemare But if the first prevaile not with her the second cannot for she now tels them plainly that she neither can not will affect any man for her husband but Baretano and yet she is so farre from any determinate resolution to marry him as shee affirmes that their will shall bee her law and their pleasure
live alone in Millan without thee and he alone in Modena with thee which makes that I know not whether I more envy his joy or lament and pitty mine owne sorrowes and afflictions But if I have any sense or shadow of comfort in this my calamity it only consists in this that as thou carriedst away my heart with thee so thou wile vouchsafe to returne me thine in thy letter by a reciprocall requitall and exchange For if thou neither bring me thy selfe nor send me that I may be sought in Millan but found no where but in heaven were I priviledged by thy consent much more authorized by thy command I would speedily rather flie than post to thee for Faire and Deere Clara as thou art my sole Ioy and Soveraigne felicity so whiles I breath this aire of life thy will shall be my law thy command my Compasse and thy pleasure my resolution BARETANO Her answer returned by the Frier to Baretano at Millan was to this effect CLARA to BARETANO IT is for none but our selves to judge how equall wee participate and share of misery in being deprived of each others presence Thou tearmest mine abscence either thy purgatory â—…rthy hell and my afflictions and torments for thine are so great and withall so infinit as I have all the equity and reason of the world to repute them not onely one but both Thou art mistaken in the point of my thraldome for whiles Albemare vowes himselfe my captive I disdaine to bee his and both vow and triumph to bee onely Baretanos I know not whether I have brought thy heart with me to Modena but sure I am I left mine with thee in Millan If my Parents seeme now pleasing and propitious to him I am yet so far from dispaire as I confidently hope the Fates will not prove cruell or inexorable to thee and in thee to myselfe but rather that a little time will change their resolutions and decrees Sith they cannot our affections and constancy If Clara be thy sole joy and Soveraign felicity no lesse it Baretano hers and albeit I could wish either thou here with my selfe in Modena or I there with thee in Millan Yet such is my aunt Emelias care and Albemares jelousâ—… 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that werâ—… thou in this City thou couldest difficultly see me but impossibly speake with me wherefore refraine a whiles and let thy Iourney hither to me be ended ere began yeâ—… with this proviso and condition that the cause thereof thy affection to me be began never to be ended and thinke that my stay and exile here shall be as short as either my best Art in my selfe can invent or truest zeale to thee suggest In which Interim let us solace our selves and visit each other by the Ambassadors of our hearts I meane our letters And this resolve my deare Baretano that during our abscence whiles thou doest feast on my Idaea I will not faile to surfeit on thine CLARA Baretano's other letter sent Clara to Modena by the Pilgrime was couched and penned in these tearmes BARETANO to CLARA HAd not thy requests in thy last letter granted out a Prohibition against my desires and wishes I had long since left Millan to have seene Modena and in it thy selfe my sweet and deere Lady but I speake it to my present comfort and future consolation and joy that it is excesse not want of affection which infuseth this provident care and carefull providence to thy resolutions to the end that thy returne make us as joyfull as thy departure sorrowfull and consequently that the last prove as sweet unto our hearts and thoughts as the first was bitter And yet beleeve me deere Clara that my affection is so intire and fervent to thee because I know thine is reciprocally so to my selfe that I deeme it not only capable to make difficult things easie but which is more impossibilities possible For for thy sake what would I not attempt and to enjoy thy sight and presence what would I leave unperformed But if thou wilt not permit me to come to thee to Modena nor yet speedily resolve to returne to mee to Millan Sorrow will then prevent my Joy and Dispaire my Hope For if thou hasten not thy arrivall and our interview sickenesse will be my death wert thou as kinde as faire or as affectionate as I am fervent in affection thou wilt thâ—… rather suffer me to live with thee than to die for thee for in this rest confident that if thou deny me that request I cannot Nature this tribute my affection this homage or thy beauty this sacrifice BARETANO And Clara her answer hereunto returned to Millan to Baretano by the foresaid Pilgrime was traced in these words CLARA to BARETANO THe last command of my Parents and the first resolution of my aunt Emelia and my sutor Albemare have now reduced me to so strict a Sequestration or rather captivitie as onely my thoughts hardly my pen hath the freedome and power to signifie thee so much But as calmes ensue tempests and sun-shine showres so I beseech thee to brook it with as much patience as I doe with griefe and not onely hope but resolve that violence is never permanent and all extreames subject to revolution and change Wherefore my deare Baretano consider and thinke with thy selfe that my stay from Millan and thy prohibition from Modena hath this two-fold excuse that is in my will but not as yet in my power to performe and this will rather hinder than any way advance the accomplishing of our desires Sith a little time may effect that with my parents which I feare importunity will never neither can thy heart so much long for my sight or wish for my presence as my soule doth for thine Sith to give thee but one word for all thy selfe and onely thy selfe art both the life of my joy and the joy of my life A thousand times a day I wish Modena were Millan and againe as often that Albemare were metamorphosed into Baretano Therefore I am so farre from preventing thy joy as though at the price of my death I am ready to sacrifice my life for the preservation of thine as also for the banishing of thy dispaire Write me not then of thy sickenesse least thou as scone heare of my death and I knew not what request to deny thee sith I have already granted and given thee my selfe which is all that either I can give or thou desire cherish thy selfe for my sake and I will thy remembrance for mine CLARA By these loving Letters of these our Lovers the Reader may observe and remark what a firme league and strict and constant friendship there was contracted and setled betwixt them and what a hell their abscence was each to others thoughts and contemplations In the meane time whiles Baretano entertaines Clara with Letters Albemare doth with words wherein he useth his best Rhetoricke and Oratory to draw her to his desires and withall to listen and espie out if there
well say that Clara and Albemare betake themselves to their beds but I am sure not to their rest For griefe and love so violently acte their severall parts in their hearts and thoughts as sigh they doe but sleepe they cannot Yea their passionsand sorrowes are as different as their desires for as Albemare now grives that he hath found these letters so doth Clara that she hath lost them and as he vowes not to restore her them so shee neither dares and yet disdayneth to demand them of him Yea againe which is more as their sorrowes are different so are their pretended consolations at least if I may properly and truely rearme them consolations For as Clara although she have lost her Baretano's letters doth yet rejoyce that she still retaines the writer and Authour thereof ingraven and caractered in her heart so doth Albemare that now fully knowing Baretano to be his rivall and who by all probability is like to beare his mistris from him he hath as he injustly conceives a just reason to be revenged and a true occasion to fight with him but as Clara's comfort and consolation herein proceeds from true affection so doth the vanitie and impiety of this resolution of Albemares from hellish malice and devillish indignation yea although the night doth or should bring counsell yet as Clara passeth it over onely with sighes so doth Albemare with fumes of reveng against Baretano vowing that he will in the morne towards Millan and there trie his fortune either to kill him or to bee killed of him in a Duell to which end he is no sooner ready but he acquaints the Lady Emelia with his intended journey but not with his resolution to fight with Baretano and the same he doth to the Empresse of his thoughts and Queene of his desires Clara demaunding her if she please to command him any service for Millan who both blushing and paling hereat her affection to Baretano having now made her expert in the subtilties of love she well knowes what wind drives Albemare to Millan and therefore guided by discretion and not by passion she returnes him this answer That having neither reason nor desire to command him she onely prayes him to remember her humble duty to her Father and mother and so wisheth his journey prosperous which answer of hers being indeed no other than Albemare expected he yet advanceth to kisse her at parting which her civility though not her affection granted him not so much as once dreaming or suspecting that he conceived the least thought or intent to fight with her sweet Baretano and so he takes horse having onely one servant with him Albemare being arrived at Saint Remie a small Towne within fifteene miles of Millan he resolves to dine there which he doth and to avoid the heate of the day then betakes himselfe to sleepe an houre or two being awaked he commands his man to make ready his horse and seeing the host of the house in his chamber inquires of him if there were any Gentelmenin the house riding for Millan who as soone turnes him this unlooke for and unexspected answer that there was a brave Gentleman in the house named Signior Baretano who was to ride thither some two houers hence Albemare no sooner heares the name of Baretano but his very heart blood flasheth up in his face when demanding him again what manner of gētleman was he told him he was a tall slender young Gentleman with never a haire on his face and out of this window quoth he you may now see him walking in the garden when Albemare looking forth sees indeed that it was his very rival Baretano when enquiring further of the Host what followers he had with him he told him that then he had none but sometimes when he came thither either to take the ayre or breath his horse he was attendedby two or three and so the Hoast leaves him not once suspecting of any difference between them Albemare seeing his enemy because his rivall brought to him whom he formerly resolved to seeke and find out assumes a base and a bloody resolution to set upon him in the high way disguised and there to ve◅ his owne life to deprive him of his which to effect he will have no eye witnesses of this his ignoble and trecherous businesse and therefore purposely sends away his man to Millan before him and so slipping into the towne provides himselfe of a maske or visard then takes his horse and rather like a theefe than a Gentleman lurkes behind a Grove some three miles from Saint Remy attending Baratano's comming who poore harmelesse yong Gentleman harbouring and breathing no other thoughts and wishes than charitie to all the world and pure and fervent affection to his fare and deare Clara likewise takes his horse and drawes home ward toward Millan when being arrived to the place where Albemare secretly lay in ambush for him he furiously and suddenly rusheth foorth and with his Rapier drawen in his hand runnes Baretano into his right arme who feeling the wound almost as soone as he saw his enemy who gave it him he is at first as it were amazed hereat when thinking him by his maske to be a Bandetti who were then very busie in Lombardy but especially in that Dutchie of Millan he told him that all the coyne he had which was some ten double Pistolsin gold and two Duckats in silver were at his service but to fight in his defence he would not Not quoth he that he was any way a Coward but that he affirmed he was latly affianced and ingaged to a yong Lady so that he perfecty knew that her affection was so deare and tender towards him as either the losse or preservation of his life would be that of hers Albemare galled and touch't to the quicke with this his heart killing answere to him is wholly inflamed with choller against him when rushing towards him he delivers him these words Villaine it is not thy gold but thy life which I seeke and then strayning himselfe to runne Baretano thorow loe the string of his Maske breakes where Boretano apparently sees it is his Rivall Albemare whereat such is his tender affection to his sweete and fayre Clara that he who before turned craven and would not fight for his owne sake is now cheerefully resolved not onely to fight but if occasion require to dye for hers and so returning the villaine to Albemares throat he instantly drawes and joynes with him and if Albermare be resolute in fighting no lesse valiant and couragious is Baretano for the remembrance of his Clara's sweet Idea and fresh delicious beauty infuseth such life to his valour and such generositie and animositie to his courage as he deales his blowes roundly and his thrusts freely making Albemare know that his Rapier is of an excelent temper and yet his heart of a better And Albemare seeing hee must buy his victory dearer than hee expected and disdaining to be out-braved and beaten by a
his death On the other side Clara grieves as much at her Baretano's wounds as shee rejoyceth at his safety and recovery yea so tender is her affection to him as she a thousand times wishes that the blood he lost had streamed from her owne heart Againe knowing his wounds free from danger she cannot but smile and delight to see his deare and true affection to her in remembring that he would not fight for his owne sake and yet was ready yea and valiantly hazarded to loose his life for hers and in these amourous conceites and contemplations shee pensively drives away the time admiring and wondring that all this while she heares not from her Baretano But alas alas she shall heare too too soone of him though indeed never more from him for these execrable wretches Pedro and Leonardo some foure daies after Albemares departure to Modena they according to their promise and oath given him like two most bloody and butcherly villaines cruelly assault and murther this harmelesse and innocent yong Gentleman Baretano in the streetes of Millan be night with no lesse than seven severall wounds whereof foure were cleane thorow his body and so gives it out as it was formerly concluded that he was murthered by some Spaniards of the Vice-royes Guard when the same night they repaire to Valerio acquaint him therewith receive their other hundred Duckatons and so provide for their safety in the city but that bloody mony and this cruell murther will in the end cost them dearer than either they imagine or dreame of Whiles Millan ratleth with the newes of Baretano's bloody and untimely end as his owne friends infinitly lament and grieve so Capello and his wife Castiana cannot refraine from rejoying the reat as now assuring themselves that Albemare shall shortly be their sonne in law and for Valerio he with all possible speed writes away thereof to Modena to his Master who entertaines this newes with infinite joy and delectation and presently acquaints the Lady Emelia there with whereat shee rejoyceth and he triumphes but they 〈◊〉 resolve as yet to concâ—…le it from Clara because they know she will even dissolve and melt into teares thereat But foure daies after are not fully expired but her father and mother advertise their daughter Clara their sister Emelia and Albemare thereof by a Gentleman a servant of theirs whom they purposely send to Modena to bring backe Clara and Albemare to Millan But it is for none but Lovers to conceive or judge with what extreame excesse of griefe and immoderate sorrow our poore Clara understands this heart-piercing newes of her Baretano's mournefull and sorrowfull death for she is no sooner advertised thereof but she throws off her attyre teares her haire and twice following falls to the ground in a swound so as Emelia Albemare Adriana and her fathers Gentleman can hardly referch and keepe life in her but being come againe to her senses and selfe and faintly opening her cloudy eyes to the beames of the Sunne who enamoured of her beauty as well in pitty as love came to comfort and revive her shee wringing her hands then crossing her armes and lastly looking up towards Heaven betwixt sighing and speaking breaths forth these mournefull passionate and affectionate speeches O my Baretano my sweet and deare Barenano and shall thy wretched Clara live thou being dead when the violence of her affection and sorrow making her forget her selfe and her God she secretly unsheathes her knife and then and there would have stabbed her selfe to death had not Albemare and her Aunt Emelia speedily stept to her assistance and prevented her by wresting it from her when conducting her to the Garden to take the aire she praies Albemare to leave her and in his abscence often againe repeating the name of her deare Baretano shee a thousand times wisheth that her life had ransomed his vowing that although she were a woman yet if she knew his murtherers shee would flie to their eyes and teare out their hearts in meere revenge of this inhumane and cruell death when her sorrowes are so infinite and her griefe so unsupportable as she cannot long remaine in one place but withdrawes herselfe from the garden to her chamber whither her Aunt Emelia carefully accompanies her lies with her that night to comfort her who poore afflicted young Lady neither can nor will be comforted so as the next morning had not her Aunt powerfully prevented and stopped her she had then undoubtedly entred the Nunnery of her owne name Saint Clara and in that retyred and obscure life there ended her daies in Modena resolving in true affection and zeale to her dead Baretano never thenceforth either to see her parents or Millan but being diverted and comforted by some Divines and many Ladies of that Citty she brooking her sorrowes as patiently as she may with much solicitation after ten dayes permits herself to be conveyed home to Millan where although she were very cheerefully received and joyfully entertained of her father and mother yet shee likewise went neere to have their mewed her selfe up a spirituall sister in the Nunnery of the Annunciation but that againe she was prevented whereat grieving she yet takes on mourning attire and vowes to weare it a whole yeare for his sake when to make her selfe as she was both a true Lover and a true mourner to the memory of her dead Baretano shee oftentimes steals into Saint Euphemias Church where he was buried and there bedewes his tombe with teares living so pensively and disconsolately that although shee live in the world yet it seemes shee neither is nor long will be of the world But as women are but women and as a Time is a soveraigne remedy for all diseases and sorrowes so about some ten moneths after the incessant importunity of her father and mother and the continuall tender respect and observant courtesie of Albemare towards her make her somewhat neglect and forget the memory of Baretano and now to looke on him with a more pleasing and favourable eye than before But here againe a consideration makes her afection die towards Albemare almost as soone as it begins to live For why quoth she should she affect or love him who at Saint Remy gave her Baretano three severall wounds But then Love againe steps in and thus pleads with her for Albemare That hee received five wounds and gave Baretano but three which made him lose farre more bloud than Baretano and yet that this attempt of his was onely occasioned through his affection to her and onely for her sake as loving her dearer than his owne life which againe gave her thoughts such satisfaction as weighed downe and vanquished as well by the power and prayers of her parents as also by the endlesse sighs letters and presents of Albemare the yeare is no sooner expired and her mourning weeds and attire done away but to their owne hearts content and the unspeakable joy of their parents they in Millan with great pompe and
shee throwes her selfe on the floore and weepes and sighs so mournfully as the most obduratest and flintiest heart could not chuse but relent into pitie to see her for sometimes shee lookt up to heaven and then againe dejecting her eyes to earth now wringing her hands and then crossing her armes in such disconsolate and afflicted manner as Adriana could not likewise refraine from teares to behold her when after a deepe and profound silence she bandying and evaporating many volleyes of farre fetched sighs into the ayre shee commanding Adriana forth the doore shut with the two extremities of passion and sorrow shee alone utters these mournfull speeches to her selfe And shall Clara live to understand that her Baretano was murthered for her sake and by her unfortunate husband Albemare and shall she any more lie in bed with him who so inhumanely hath layen him in his untimely and bloudy grave And Clara Clara wilt thou prove so ungratefull to his memory and to the tender affection he bore thee as not to lament not to seeke to revenge this his diastrous and cruell end when againe her teares interrupting her words and her sighs her teares she entring into a further consultation with her thoughts and conscience her heart and her soule at last cotinues her speech in this manner O but unfortunate and wretched Clara what speakest thou of revenge for consider with thy selfe yea forget not to consider Baretano was but thy friend Albemare is thy husband the first loved thee in hope to marry thee but thou art married to the second and therefore thou must love him and although his ingratitude and infidelity towards thee make him unworthy of thy affection yet yee two are but one flesh and therefore consider that malice is a bad advocate and revenge a worse Judge But here againe remembring what a foule and odious crime murther was in the sight of the Lord that the discovery thereof infinitely tended to his glory and honour and that the poore Foole was doubtlesse inspired from heaven to affirme that God sent the Letter she knowes that her bonds of conscience to her Saviour must exceed and give a law to those of her duty towards her husband and therefore preferring Heaven before Earth and God before her Husband shee immediately cals for her Coach and goes directly to Baretano's Vnkle Seignior Giovan de Montefiore and with sighs and teares shewes him the letter who formerly though in vaine had most curiously exactly hunted to discover the murtherers of his Nephew Montefiore first reads the letter with tears then with joy and then turning towards â—…he Lady Clara he commends her zeale and Christian fortitude towards God in shewing her how much the discovery of this murther tended to his glory and so presently sends away for the President Criminell who immediately repairing thither he acquaints him therewith shewes him the Letter and prayes him to examine the Lady Clara thereon which with much modesty and equity he doth and then returne with her to her house and there likewise examineth the Foole where he had the Letter who out of his incivilitie and simplicity takes the President by the hand and bringing him to the Cupboard tels him Here God sent the Letter and here I found him when Valerio being present and imagining by his Ladies heavie and sorrowfull countenance that this Letter had perhaps brought her into some affliction and danger he looking on the direction of the Letter as also on the Seale he reveales both to the President and his Lady that hee received that Letter from one whom hee knew not and that hee left it purposely on the Cupboard for his Master against his comming The President being fully satisfied herein admires at Gods providence revealed in the simplicity of this poore harmlesse Foole in bringing this Letter which brought the murther of Baretâ—… to light when knowing thâ—… God doth many times raise up the foolish and weake to confound the wise and mighty things of the world hee presently grâ—… out a Commission to apprehend â—…lbemare who being then found in bed with Mâ—…ina one of the most famous Beauties and reputed Curtezans of Millan Hee both astonished and amazed by the just judgements of God is drawne from his beastly pleasures and adulteries to prison where being charged to have hired Pedro and 〈◊〉 to have 〈◊〉 thered Baretano he stoutly denies it But Leonardo's Letter being read him 〈◊〉 theâ—… adjudged to the Racke his Soule and Conscience ringing him â—…ny 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 of terrour â—…ee there at large 〈◊〉 it when for this 〈◊〉 and bloudy fact of his he the same afternoone is condemned to be hanged the next morning at the common place of Execution which administreth matter of talke and admiration throwout all Millan when Serjeants are likewise sent away to Pavia to bring Leonardo to Millan who not so much as once dreamt or thought that ever this his letter would have produced him this danger and misery And now Albemare advertised of the manner how this letter of Leonardo was brought to light without looking up to Heaven from whence this vengeance justly befell him for his sinnes hee curseth the cruelty of his wife the simplicity of the foole but most bitterly exclaimeth against the remisnesse and carelesnesse of his servant Valerio in not retaining and keeping that letter which is the onely cause of his death yea he is so farre transported with choller against him as although he have but a few houres to live yet hee vowes he will assuredly cry quittance with him ere he die Now the charity of his Judges send him Divines that night in prison to prepare and cleare his conscience and to confirme and fortifie his soule against the morne in his last conflict with the world and her flight and transmigration to heaven who powerfully and religiously admonishing him that if he have committed any other notorious offence or crime hee should now doe well to reveale it He likewise there and then confesseth how hee had caused his man Valerio to poyson Pedro with wine in prison the verynight before he was executed whereupon this bloudy and execrable wretch according to his hellish deserts is likewise apprehended and imprisoned And now Gods mercy and justice brings this unfortunate because irreligious Gentleman Albemare to receive condigne punishment for those his two horrible murthers which he had caused to bee committed on the persons of Baretano and Pedro who ascending the ladder in presence of a world of spectators who flocked from all parts of the City to see him take his last farewell of the world The sight and remembrance of his foule crimes having now made him not onely sorrowfull but repentant he briefly delivered these few words He confessed that hee had hired Pedro and Leonardo to kill Baretano in the street and seduced his servant Valerio to poyson Pedro in prison whereof with much griefe and contrition he heartily repented himselfe and besought the Lord to forgive it him he likewise
passe his time that Winter partly hoping that his father will discharge his debts in his absence but more especially to become acquainted with the beauties of that City thereby to obtaine some rich young heire or old widdow for his wife whose estate and wealth might support his pride and maintaine his excessive prodigality and voluptuousnesse and indeed although the two former of these his hopes deceive him yet he shall shortly finde and see that the third and last will not Living thus in Mans the bravery of his apparell and equipage the freenesse of his expences his comely talke personage blacke beard and sanguine complexion makes him as soone acquainted and affected as knowne of many Ladies and Gentlewomen and farre the more because they know his father De Manfrelle to bee a very ancient and rich Gentleman of that Countrey of Maine and although hee is not his heire yet in regard hee is his second sonne as also a Traveller he was the more honoured and respected of all those he frequented so that the very fame and name of Monsier de Merson beganne to bee already divulged and knowne in the City yea and because hee was a great Balladine or Dancer there was no solemne assembly either publike or private but still De Merson made one and there was not a reputed beauty or supposed courteous Lady in Mans or thereabouts but such was his vanity as hee soone wrought and insinuated himselfe into her acquaintance and familiarity the which he made not onely his delight but his glory And although that in a small time the wiser sort of the Gentlemen and Ladies of the Citie found his wit and experience to come infinitely short of his brave apparell yet the more illiterate ignorant of them who esteeme all men by their lustre not by their brave worth as preferring gay apparell and the comelinesse of the body before the exquisite endowments and perfections of the mind they hold him in so high a repute esteeme as they thinke him to be the most absolute Gallant not onely of Mans but of all the Country of Maine so easie it is to captivate the conceits and judgements of those who onely build their judgements in their conceits and not their conceits in judgement And of this ranke and number was our old widow La Vasselay who having many times heard of De Mersons fame and comely personage and seene him once at a Sermon and twice at two severall Nuptiall feasts where his skill and agility proved him to be one of the prime dancers she is so farre in love with him as in her thoughts and heart she wisheth she had given halfe her estate dowrie conditionally that she were his wife and he her husband yea she is so ravished with the comelinesse of his feature and the sweetnesse of his complexion and countenance as all the world is not halfe so deare to her as De Merson nor any man whatsoever by many thousand degrees so delicious to her eye and pleasing to her heart and soule as himselfe And although she be in the frozen Zone of her age yet her intemperate lust makes her desires so youthfully intemperate as forgetting reason and modestle that the best vertue of our soule and this the chiefest ornament of our body she a thousand times wisheth that either De Merson were impalled in her armes or she incloystred in his But doting yea I may well neere truly say dying old Gentlewoman is this a time for thee to thinke of a young husband when one of thy old feet is as it were in thy grave 〈◊〉 being in thy 〈◊〉 yeare of threescore and three art thou yet so fraughted with levity and exempt of continency as thou wilt needs seeke to marrie one of five and twenty Foolish La Vasselay if it be not now time yea high time for thee to sacrifice thy desires to continencie when will it be if ever be Didst thou resolve to wed a husband neere of thine owne age and so to end the remainder of thy dayes with him in chaste and holy wedlocke that resolution of thine were as excusable as this in desiring so young a one is worthy not onely of blame but of reprehension and I may say of pitie Consider consider with thy selfe what a preposterous attempt and enterprise is this of thine that when thou shouldest finish thy dayes in devotion and prayer thou then delightest to begin them in concupiscence and lust O La Vasselay mocke at those rebellious and treacherous pleasures of the flesh which seeme to mocke at thee yea to betray thee and if there be yet any sparke of thy youth which lies burning under the embers of thy age why if thy chaste thoughts cannot yet let modesty or at least piety extinguish them God hath already given thee two husbands is it not now therfore time yea more than time for thee to prepare to give thy selfe to God Hitherto the chastity of thy youth hath made thee happy and wilt thou now permit that the lust of thine age make thee unfortunate or peradventure miserable and that the purity and candeur of that be distained and polluted by the foulnesse and obscenity of this Alas alas incontinent inconsiderate Gentlewoman of a grave Matron become not a youthfull Gigglet or if thou wilt not suffer the eyes of thy body at least permit those of thy soule to look from thy painted cheeks to thy snow-white haire who can informe and tell thee that thou art far fitter for Heaven than earth sith those pleasures are transitory and these eternall for God than a husband sith he onely can make thee blessed whereas in reward of thy lascivious lust this peradventure may be reserved to make thee both unfortunate and wretched But the vanity of this old Gentlewomans thoughts and desires doe so violently fix and terminate on the youth beauty of young and as she immodestly tearms him faire De Merson as the only consideration of her delight and pleasure weighes downe all other respects so that neither reason nor modesty advice nor perswasion can prevaile with her resolution to divert her affection from him but love him she doth and which is repugnant as well to the instinct of Nature as to the influence of modesty and rules of civility seeke him for her husband shee will yea she is already become so sottish in her affection and so lasciviously fervent in her desires towards him that her heart thinks of him by day her soule by night that admires him as the very life of her felicity and thus adores him as the onely content and glory of her life shee will not see the greatnesse of her owne estate and wealth nor consider the smallnesse of his meanes and hopes in that he is not an heire but a second brother she will not enquire after his debts and vices to know what those may be what these are she will not thinke what a preposterous disparity there is betwixt the
so have they likewise reason to expect fatherly affection and care from him But hee is more affected and addicted to his wealth and covetousnesse then inclined to regard his daughters content and therefore is fully resolved not as yet to marry them which is a resolution better left then imbraced and infringed then kept of him sith it may bring foorth effects contrary both to his hopes and desires It is commonly dangerous for Parents to content themselves with their childrens discontents for where Nature is crossed it many times degenerates and prooves unnaturall as the Cataracts of Niluâ—… make it submerge and wash Egypt with her inundation But Fidelia and Caelestina will make triall of one invention and conclusion more before they will give way to their distaste or strike saile to their choller or revenge They see their father is resolute and severe in nipping their hopes and crossing their desires of marriage and yet they hope that although they cannot prevaile with him that their brother Alcasero may to which end the sooner to obtaine and crowne their desires with content they consult together and so by a confident friend of theirs send him this Letter to Naples FIDELIA and CAELESTINA to 〈◊〉 DIspayring of our Fathers resolution to marry vs we have no other refuge or recourse but to thy selfe and thy affection in requesting thee powerfully to solicite him herein that hee may not preferre his gold before our content and consequently his hopes before our despaire neither could our hearts or thoughts perswade vs â—…ither to imploy or acquaint any other but thy selfe with these our desires which Modesty would have suppressed but that Truth contradicted and opposed it for his severity and cruelty is such towards us that although wee are sought in marriage by divers Cavaliers our Superiours yet he will 〈◊〉 permit us to be seene much lesse to bee wedded of any Ioyne then thy power to our wishes and prayers and thy affection to the procuring of our contents and we then doubt â—…ot but to be as happy in a Brother as otherwise we feare we shall see our selves unfortunate yea miserable in a Father and as thou canst not forget our descent and Blood so we zealously pray and beseech thee to remember if not our Beauty our Touth FIDELIA CAELESTINA Their Brother receives this their Letter he is too brave generous and courteous to be unkind to any especially to young Ladies most especially to his siâ—…ers whose content he makes and reputes his owne He comes to Otranto deales effectually with the Captaine his father herein who gives them this answer That he hath provided the Baron of Carpi for Fidelia and the Knight Bartholomeo Monte-leonâ—… for Caelestina and that within fifteene dayes they are to come to Otranto to see them which newes doth exceedingly rejoyce first himselfe then his sisters but their joy shall not last long but be buried as soone as borne Within the prefixed time these two Noble men come but they are hatefull and not pleasing to Fidelia and Caelestina for the Baron of Carpi is crook-backt and squint-eyed and Monte-leone is â—…ame of one leg These Ladies valew their beauty at too high a rate to bestow it on such deformed husbands and although Venus accepteth of Vulcan yet they will have none of these because they deeme no hell to that of a discontented bed heretofore they wished for Sutors and now they wish they were well ridde of these and so sacrificing to their owne contents they set up this resolution in their hearts and soules that they will rather dye maidens then live to see themselves wives to such husbands Their father receives Carpi and Monte-leone curteously and entertaines them nobly according to their ranke and merits he tells his daughters plainely that they shall marry these and none others Thus the Barke of these their resolutions are surprisd and beaten with two cantrary winds he will bee obeyed of his daughters and they will be commanded of their father in all things but not in this of their Marriage It is never good for parents to force the affections of their children in their marriages sith it is a businesse which not only lives but dies with them but withall their owne wills must neither be their law nor their guide for their Parents have or at least should have more experience and judgement then they to see who are and who are not fit matches for them But where authority opposeth affection or affection reason there such marriages are still ushered on with discontent and wayted and attended on with misery Likewise there is a great respect and consideration to be observed by Parents in the inclinations and natures of their children for some will be perswaded or reproved with a word whereas others will become more head-strong and rebellious with menaces and threats Had this Captaine attempted and practised the first and not the second towards these two Ladies his daughters peradventure they had never leapt from reason to rage from obedience to contempt nor from hope to despaire yea I dare presume to averre with truth and safety that wee should have seene them all as happy as I now feare wee shall see them miserable But to proceed with their History they are pressed by the Captaine their father and importuned by the two noble men their Sutors to finish and confirme these contracts But Fidelia and Caelestina with a true semblance of distaste and yet a false shew of curtesie give the deniall to their father in particular tearmes and to them in generall He stormes at their disobedience and they impute this excuse of theirs to modesty rather than unkindnesse They flatter themselves with this hope that sith they are faire they must be courteous and cannot be cruell or if the contrary that the Captaine their father will so manage his daughters affections as all things shall sort to their desires and expectations but they shall come too short of their hopes for they are neither reserved for the Ladies nor the Ladies for them but whiles thus they are busie in advancing the processe of their affections Fidelia and Caelestina attempt a contrary enterprise for they with teares and prayers request their brother Alcasero importunately to solicite their Father in their behalfe that he will not enforce them to marry those whom they cannot affect much lesse obey which like a noble and deare brother hee performes with much zeale and perswasion but he cannot prevaile with him nor bring them any other answer then that they must and shall marry them and onely them Had this resolution of their father beene more courteous and lesse rigorous towards his daughters this History of theirs had not deserved so much pitty and compassion nor would have drawen so many sighes from the hearers or teares from the Readers for now seeing their father cruelly resolved to offer violence to their affections they begin to hate him because he will not better love them And here
one sent and directed from him to his Father the other to his wife Marsillia That to his Father spake thus DON IVAN to IDIAQVES WAs there no other woman of the whole world for you to abuse but my wife and was your faith so weake with God or you so strong with the Devill that you must therefore make her your Strumpet because shee was my wife If Nature would not informe you that I am your Son yet you are my Father and it should have taught you to have beene more naturall to â—…se more honourable to the world more respectfull to your selfe and more religious to God and not to have made your selfe guilty of these foule crimes of Adultery and Incest with her the least whereof is so odious to God and so detestable to men that I want tearmes not teares to expresse it For hereby as you have made my shame infinite so likewise you have made your owne infamie eternall the consideration whereof gives me so much griefe and the remembrance sorrow that holding you for ever unworthy of my sight and she of my company I have therefore left Portugall for Spaine and forsaken Santarem to live and die here in Madrid And when hereafter God shall be so mercifull to your soule to let you see that the Winter of your age makes you fitter for your grave than for my bed and for your winding-sheet than for my wife you will then hâ—…ld this resolution and proceeding of mine towards you as honourable as this your crime to me is unnaturall the which if you henceforth redeeme not with an Ocean of bitter teares and a world of repentant and religious Prayers to God I rather feare than doubt that his Divine Majestywill make you as miserable as you have made me unfortunate DON IVAN His Letter to his Wife spake this language DON IVAN to MARSILLIA WHat Devill possessed thy heart with lust and thy soule with impiety to make thee violate thy vow which thou gavest me in marriage by committing those damâ—…able sinnes of Adultery and Incest with my naturall father And if the consideration that I was thy Husband could not in Grace deterre thee from it yet me thinks the remembrance that hee was my father should in Nature have made thee both to abhorre and detest it And although my tender affection to thee and filiall obedience to him made mee expect more goodnesse from thy youth and Grace from his age yet God is a just Iudge and your hearts are true witnesses of these your unnaturall crimes and foule ingratitude towards me which hath cast so great a blemish and scandall on mine honour and dashed my joyes with so many untimely afflictions and immerited sorrowes that I have abandoned Portugall and Santarem for thy sake and betakeâ—… myselfe to live and die in Madrid in Spaine for mine where I will strive to make my selfe as contented as discontent can make mee and so leave this thy enormous crime and the punishment thereof to God in whom thou mayest bee happy but without whom thou wilt assuredly be miserable And thinke to what just calamities and miseries thine inordinate lusts and lascivious desires and delights have already deservedly reduced and exposed thee Sith henceforth I will no more esteeme thee my Wife or myselfe thy Husband and that God will assuredly lookâ—… on thee with an eye of indignation and the world of contempt DON IVAN Idiaques having read and perused that Letter of his sonne and Marsillia this of her Husband Don Ivan they are therewith so touched in heart with shame and stung in conscience with sorrow for their foule crimes of Adultery and Incest that they blush each at other and both of them most bitterly curse the name and memory of Mathurina who was the first authour of this report to him and which so suddenly incensed him and occasioned his departure So to beare up their reputations to the world and their fames to him they resolve without either asking leave or pardon of God to justifie their innocencie hereof to him and so to pursue and solicite his returne To which effect they write and returne him by his owne servant their two severall Letters in answer of his whereof that of Idiaques his father carried this message IDIAQVES to DON IVAN THou doest wrong thy selfe and the truth God and thy Conscience and thy wife and me in so basely taxing us of those foule sinnes of Iâ—…eest and Adultery whereof we are as truly innocent as thou falsely and malitiously deemest us guilty For I have not abused her nor made her my Strumpet although not God but the Devill in the slanderous tongue of Mathurina hath made thee to beleeve so For Nature hath taught mee more Grace and goodnesse not so little impiety for that I know they are sinnes more â—…dious to God and detestable to the world than either thy sorrowes can expresse or thy anger depaint me Neither have I made thy shame infinite or canst thou make my infamy visible much lesse eternall although herein thou shew me thy indignation together with thy disobedience by leaving Portugall for Spaine and Santarem for Madrid whereof because thou wilt not make thy duty I will content my selfe to make thy discretion Iudge betwixt us If thou have not done me more wrong than either thy selfe and the truth right herein and offered a scandall likewise to thy Wives honour who made thy company her chiefest joy as now shee doth thy absence her sharpest miserie and affliction How then can I goe to my grave with content when thou for sakest her bed with malice and my house with disdaine My innocencie in thy accusation hath no way irritated or offended God and if therefore with teares and Prayers thou wilt resolve to 〈◊〉 God thy Wife and me forgivenesse for this thy foule crime and monstrâ—… ingratitude towards us then mine armes shall bee as open as â—…ver they have beene to receive and my house to welcome thee and therein thou shalt make thy selfe as truly happy as thou falsly and uncharitably thinkest that God will make mee miserable IDIAQVES The answer of his wife Marsillia to him was couched in these tearmes MARSILLIA to DON IVAN IT 〈◊〉 neither Lust nor the Devill which can make me infringe or violate my Vow given thee in marriage although thou art as far from the truth as from God to beleeve it But how shall I hope that thy tongue will excuse me of these thy pretended foule crimes of Adultery and Incest when to my astonishment and griefe I see thou likewise condemnest thy old father to be guilty thereof with me And if this be any way affection to me or obedience to him let all other Husbands judge and all Sons define and determine But to returne thee truth for thy falshood His age expected and deserved more grace and my youth and Vertues more affection and goodnesse from thee than to have beleeved those false calumnies and impostures upon the bare report and malitious
this world that so her scandall and wrongs might die with him and for ever bee raked up in the dust of his grave and buried with him in eternall oblivion and silence Don Perez in heart and minde is so much his sisters as he is no more himselfe when making his affection doe homage to her beauty and his judgement and resolution to pay tribute to his affection he prayes her to referre this charge and businesse to the care of his discharge when giving her many kisses and willing her to read his heart in his eyes he gives her the good night and the next morning being impatient of all delayes he takes one Seignior Gaspar Lopez a noble Gentleman and a valiant intimate friend of his with him and relating him his intent to fight with his brother Don Ivan and the cause thereof They undertake this journey of Spaine and so arrive at Madrid where Lopez prayes Perez to make him his Second in that Duell De Perez thanks him for this his affection but tels him hee will hazard himselfe but not his friend so writing a Challenge to Don Ivan hee seales it up and requesteth Lopez to deliver it to him and the same night to returne him his answer Lopez accordingly findes out Don Ivan in his owne chamber and gives it to him in faire and discreet tearmes who wondring it came from his brother in law De Perez but farre more to understand that he was now in Madrid he no way dreaming of a Challenge but rather thinking that his wife his sister had sent him thither to him to worke her reconciliation and consequently his returne to her to Santarem he hastily breakes up the seales thereof findes it charged with this language DE PEâ—…EZ to DON IVAN I Have seene thy inveterate malice to thy Wife my sister in thy false and scandalous Letters to her and Portugall hath read it in thy sudden and chollericke departure from her into Spaine wherefore considering what she is to thee and I to her I hold my selfe bound both in Honour and Bloud to make her wrongs and quarrels mine To which end I have left Santarem to finde thee out here in Madrid purposely to pray thee to meet me to morrow betwixt six and seven in the morning at the farthest West end of the Prado with thy Rapier a confident Gentleman of thy friends and thy Chirurgeon without a Second where thou shalt finde me to attend thy comming and relying upon the equity of my cause and the ingratitude and infamy of thine I make no doubt but to teach Don Ivan what it is for him without ground or truth to cast a base aspersion and wrongfull blemish upon the lustre of his Wife and my Sister the Lady Marsillia's honour whose descent and extraction is as good as thine and her education and Vertues farre more sublime and excellent Thy generosity obligeth thee to the honourable performance hereof and mine honour reciprocally to performe this Obligation DE PEREZ Don Ivan having received and perused this Challenge of his brother in law De Perez and finding his furious resolution to exceed his judgement hee knowing himselfe innocent his cause good and his courage and valour every way to bee superiour to the others highly disdaining to bee out-braved by any Nobleman or Gentleman breathing in the point of Honour and generosity hee with a cheerefull countenance returnes Lopez to his brother Dâ—… Perez with this accepting answer DON IVAN to DE PEREZ Mr hatred to Marsillia and departure from her was justly occasioned through her treachery and infidelity to mee and therefore my Letters to her to that effect are as true as she is false in denying it notwithstanding sith she is thy sister and my wife I as much approve of thy affection to her as I condemne thy temerity to me and thy indiscretion to thy selfe in making her quarrell thine and by forsaking Santarem to fight with me here in Madrid And because thou shalt see and finde that I have as much courage as innocency I therefore accept of thy Challenge and am so farre from learning anypoint of valour of De Perez as to his shame and my glory I hope to teach him that I have no way cast a false aspersion or blemish on the lustre of her reputation but she on herselfe and consequently that I will neither affect her nor feare thee For God lending me life I will to morrow breake fast with thee at thine owne time and place appointed where my honour and generosity invites me to come and thine to meet me DON IVAN These two inconsiderate Gentlemen having thus embarqued themselves in the strong resolution of this weake quarrell and rash Duell which earthly honour cannot as justly approve and allow of as divine Religion and Christian Piety and charity disavow and execrate Their malice and revenge each to other is so violent and impetuous that without any thought either of God or their Soules or of Heaven or Hell they passe over the night if not in watchfulnesse yet in broken and distracted slumbers yea the morne no sooner peeped from Heaven through their windowes to their chambers but they leape from their beds to the Prado where De Perez with his friend Lopez come first on horse-backe and immediately after them Don Ivan in his Coach with a young Gentleman his friend tearmed Don Richardo De Valdona So these two Duelists disdaining to be tainted with the least spice of dishonour or shadow of cowardise they at first sight of each other throw off their doublets and in their silke stockings and pumps with their Rapiers drawne they without any further complement or expostulation approach each other But here before they beginne to reduce malitious contemplation into bloudy action I hold it fit to informe my Reader with a circumstance that now past betweene them wherein doubtlesse the Providence of God was most conspicuous and apparant For as by the Law and custome both of Spaine and Portugall all Rapiers should bee of one length yet De Perez curiously casting his vigilant eye upon that of Don Ivan either his feare or his judgement or both informe him that that Rapier is longer than his whereat Don Ivan grieves farre more than De Perez can possible either rejoyce or wonder for he is so farre from any way blemishing his honour with this or with any other point or shadow of dishonour as now he gives his Rapier to measure and to write the truth his is found one inch longer than that of De Perez when biting his lip for anger he resembling himselfe proffers to fight with that either of Lopez or Valdona which was sufficient reason for one Gentleman of Honour to give and for another to take but when he sees that this proffer of his will neither secure De Perez feare nor confirme his content then as a Noble and generous Gallant he freely exchangeth Rapiers with him gives De Perez the longer and contents himselfe to fight with
nor make vp the mony and great â—…eaches of his former prodigalities neither will a few kisses and embraces of that â—…ustfull Dame his Sister Masserina appease his unchaste appetite or satisfie his insatiable lust and lascivious desires Wherefore at one time and cast to set nature and honour at stake and so commanding his heart and thoughts to trample on both of them without any respect or regard to either he contrives and assumes this vitious and treacherous resolution that having already taken the actuall possession of her body hee should then likewise doe so of her gold yea of all her whole Estate and so flye away with her whose Estate through his long dishonest familiarity with her hee now knowes to bee great yea farre greater then his Brother Vimorye her husband either ever knew or dreamt of Wherefore with much superficiall affection and artificiall flattery and insinuation he no sooner breakes this motion to her but her lustfull heart corresponding with his and her lascivious desires likewise ayâ—…ing and intending that way she freely gives him her consent thereunto and to that end shee very secretly drawes in all her monies and gold together with all her plate Rings and Iewels most carefully and privatly packes it up and so they flye away together In a morning when her Husband and his Brother was with his servants gone forth a hawking and hunting for all that day he without ever making his wife or she her husband once acquainted therewith Vimorye is amazed and La Precoverte extreamely perplexed and afflicted at the strangenesse of their undreaâ—…t of base clandestine departure And although in regard of his affection to his wife â—…e were once resolved to send and make after them for their stay and apprehension yet at last to avoid the vniversall scandall of the world which thereby insteed of stopping one tongue would assuredly let loose many hee leaves the successe of this treacherous Accident to Time and the due reward and true punishment the reof to God Now the first place of safety and shelter which Harcourt and Masserina flye unto is the strong citty of Geneva which depends not of France or Savoye but of God and it selfe where they take two chambers and live together having no servant at all to attend or follow them but only Noell who for many â—…eares before had beene and still was his man But to live here in Geneva with the more privacy and assurance because they observe it to be a Citty exceeding politiquely vertuously and religiously governed they finde out this excuse for their stay that hee is heire to some lands which by the death of an vnkle of his is devolved and fallen to him in the estate and dutchy of Millan betwixt Pavia and Alexandria whether hee goes to sell it away in regard as he falsly alleageth that both this Gentlewoman whom hee resolves to leave there and presently upon his returne to marry and himselfe are Protestants and for a moneth or six weakes this false glosse and true imposture passeth current with those of Geneva whom all that time they freely permit and suffer to enjoy the lawes and previledges of Hospitality in their city and the sooner and with far lesse suspition doubt because they observe that they very often frequent their Sermons and Churches although in their hearts and devotions God knowes they both are directly Roman Catholiques But at the end of this small time understanding that the two Syndicks and the rest of the Magistrates of that City beganne to pry more narrowly into their stay and more neetely inâ—… their actions Then they thinking to mocke with God and their soules and so to make Religion onely to be a cloake to overvaile their villany he then and there resolves to marry her before he goe to Millan which indeed affords sweet musicke â—…o the heart and melody to the thoughts and minde of this lascivious dame Masseriâ—… the which shee esteemed to be the chiefest felicity she could desire upon earth excusing the alteration of this his resolution upon her sickenesse and indispositiâ—… which also was as false and counterfeit as the pretence of their protestant Religion was feigned and hipocriticall and to that end he acquaints the Ministers and the Ancients of the Church therewith But they being as regular in their actions as hee was exorbitant and as pious in their intentions as he was prophane in his question him to shew some authenticall certificat from that Protestant Church or Churches in Poictou where they aver they formerly dwelt that they were both of them Protestants by religion and that their marriage was honourable and no way clandestine affirming to him that it was against the rules of their religion the Constitutions of their Church and the lawes of their City to doe otherwise either to them or to any strangers whatsoever Which Harcourt well perceiving He now comes too short in his arithmeticke and having none to shew them in that nature hee sweats under the saddle and so slackes his importunacy therein and puts it off with a specious excused dilatory delay When acquainting his Masserina therewith they both are equally afflicted and grieved thus to see their hopes nipt and their expectations and desires of marriage frustrated and blasted in the very bud and blossomes and now they see that their abode and stay in Geneva neither can nor must belong But here betides them another unlooked for accident which will speedily transport them thence It is the pleasure and mercy of God that Noell Harcourts man is not a little grieved in heart and afflicted in mind to see his master guilty of this foule and treacherous crime in stealing away Masserina his Brothers wife and entertaining and using her as his owne Hee knowes how infinitely this their adultery is displeasing to God and odious to men and how opposite and repugnant it is to Grace and Nature Wherefore holding it a trouble to his minde a vexation to his heart and a scruple to his conscience any longer to attend and follow them because he is assured that the divine Justice and vengeance of God will never permit them to goe long either undetected or unpunished He calling to his remembrance the sweet vertues and chastity of his Mistris La Precoverte and by opposition and Antitheses comparing them to the foule vices and whoredomes of Masserina hee out of his duty to the first and detestation to the second though a bad Servant to his Master yet was a good Christian to God gives his Mistres La Precoverte very secretintelligence of his masters lascivious residing and living here in Geneva with Masserina whereof he sends her word he is a very sorrowfull and unwilling eye witnesse and so leaves the reformation thereof first to God and then to her selfe Our vertuous sweet Gentlewoman La Precoverte is wonderfully afflicted and grieved at this foule crime of adultery betwixt her Husband and his Sister Masserina whereat her chaste heart towards him and her
and fidelity towards her which shee would never forget nor leave unrecompenced and yet all this while neither Harcourt nor Masserina were any way suspitious that it was their man Noell which gave La Precoverte intelligence of their residence in Geneva Harcourts Letter to his wife was in these tearmes HARCOVRT to LA PRECOVERTE DOe not rashly and unjustly torment thy selfe with jealousie at my absence for thou shalt finde as much joy thereof at my returne as now thou beleevest and fearest the contrary I have vowed to accompany my sister in law Masserina to our Lady of Loreto which is the best Saint of the best Countrey of the world Italy where we are now setting forwards from this towne of Geneva to which holy Lady and blessed Saint her Oraisons for her Husband and mine for thee are and shall be as repleat of pure affection and pietie as thou imaginest they are of iniquity and prophanesse True it is I committed an errour in not acquainting thee with my departure which I perceive thou esteemest a crime but when shortly I shall be so happy to enjoy thy sweet company and presence then my just reasons will justly enforce thee both to know and acknowledge that that pretended crime of mine is lesse than an errour and this errour lesse than nothing And if thou wilt yet be farther inquisitive why or from whence our journey was first derived I pray let these generall tearmes content thy feare and satisfie thy jealousie that it was her devotion and conscience to God not my desire or affection to her which gave life and birth to it therefore I hold it rather an unmerited cruelty than a condign penance either for my heart to be tied to aske forgivenesse of thee or my soule of God for this thy pretended crime of mine whereof I am as innocent as thy feare and jealousie deemes me guilty Therfore I allow of thy piely I accept of thy prayers yea and I rejoyce in thy affection to entertaine and thy resolution to welcome me home with thy smiles and kisses when I come the which shall be if not so shortly as thou expectest or I desire yet as soone as reputation and good speed shal permit HARCOVRT Masserina's Letter to her sister in law carried these lines MASSERINA to LA PRECOVERTE MY departure and absence hath neither wronged mine owne Husband nor abused thine for it is my pure zeale to God and not any lascivious lust in my selfe which drew me to this devotion to see Loretto and him through his goodnesse to the resolution honourably to accompany me thither and therefore my heart defies that foule sinne of Adultery and my soule detests that odious one of Incest whereof I am farre more innocent than thou thinkest me guiltie I am sorry for thy griefe and I grieve for thy affliction and am so farre from triumphing in the one or glorying in the other as I have given that to my thoughts with passion and this to my minde with compassion although I confesse I have small reason to place it so neere me in regard thy jealousie is the sole authour and my fidelity and chastity no way the cause thereof wherefore I am so farre from fearing as I love Gods justice because as in other sinnes I have offended his Divine Majestie so I am sure that in this I have noway incurred or merited his indignation and doe most freely referre my fortunes and reputation to his sacred pleasure but not to thy secret discontent and ill grounded choller from which by the plea of a just proviso I have all the reasons of the world to appeale as also from that foule scandall and infamous Epithite of a Strumpet which I thought thee too vertuous once to conceive much lesse to name but least of all for one sister in law without cause or reason to give to another But thou art La Precoverte therefore I forget this ingratefull crime of thine and I am Masserina therefore I freely and absolutely forgive it and to doe thee as much right as thou hast done me wrong I will silence it in eternall obscurity and oblivion MASSERINA And is it not worthy of our observation or rather of our detestation to see how impiously these prophane wretches deny this their Adultery towards God and also to La Precoverte whom they have so hainously offended therewith and which to Heaven and Earth to God and his Angels and to their owne hearts and consciences are neverthelesse as apparant as the Sunne in his brightest Meridian yea had they not wilfully fled from God and presumptuously abandoned themselves to Satan to contrive such irreligious excuses and to frame such ungodly Apologies for these their foule crimes and offences and so to make Hypocrisie the veile of their Adultery and the cloake to cover it from the light and sight of the world And is it not a resolution worthy of a halter in this world and of Hell fire in that to come to attempt mariage when the wife of the one and the Husband of the other are in perfect strength and full of life and health especially Masserina's Husband Vimory as but right now to theit shame not to their glory they understand by La Precovertes Letters to them To the Magistrates of Geneva they are firme Protestants and as they pretended so they then as they constantly affirmed intended to live and die To La Precoverte in their Letters they are sound Roman Catholikes and in the sublimity and singularity of their zeale travelling towards the Lady of Loreto in devotion O wretched Christians or indeed rather O miserable wretches thus with your hypocrisie to think to deceive God when therein you onely deceive your owne selves and soules For can there be a greater misery found by us on earth or sent us by the devill from hell to make Religion which of it selfe is a precious and soveraigne Antidote to become a fatall drugge and a pernitious ingredient to poyson not to preserve our soules and so only to delight our earthly humours and affections and to please our carnall desires and concupiscences Of all sorts of men after the Atheist and the murtherer the Hypocrite is the veriest devill upon earth and hee is so much the more wretched and execrable in that he guilds over his speeches life and actions with the seeming shew of piety and devotion when God and his ulcerated conscience know that he is nothing lesse To be lukewarme in religion is to bee prophane not religious And as wine mixt with water is neither wine nor water so he that is of two religions is of neither For God who is still jealous of his owne honour and of our salvation will not onely have our soules but our hearts to serve him and not only our hearts but also our tongues to glorifie him that is to say all our actions and all our affections not a peece of our heart but he will have our whole heart and not an angle or corner
and constantly avoid it in our selves THe foundation of this History is layd in the faire and famous City of Verona anciently a great Colony of the Romans since a free estate of it selfe but now dependant and subject to the Estate and Seignory of Venice wherein their lately dwelt an old Gentleman being a widdower and one of the chiefest and noblest families of that City named Seignior Fabritius Miniata who was rich in lands but exceeding wealthy in money whereof he had put a great and remarkeable Sum in the bank of Venice he had one only Childe a daughter of some eighteene yeares of age named Dona Felisanna who was wonderfull faire and a most lovely sweet Creature tall and slender of stature of yellow golden haire and sanguine damaske Rose Complexion Now as her beautie was every way answerable to her birth and extraction no lesse were her singular vertues and sweet perfections to her beautie and as wealth beautie and vertue concurring and meeting together are three powerful lures and attractiue Adamants to draw the desires and affections of many Noble gentlemen to seeke her in mariage So two of her chiefe Suitors and who cheifly flattered their hopes to enioy this sweet and pretious Jewell of nature and who stood in best possibility to beare away her affection and her selfe was Seignior Thomas Planeze a brave young gentleman of the neighbour citie of Mantova of a sweet presence and proper comely feature of some twentie five yeares old not verie rich yet indued with competent meanes to maintaine himselfe like himselfe but infinitly well bred and adorned and honored with all those generous parts and endowments which are requisit to make the gallants of our times compleat and the other Seignior Inan de Borlari a verie rich Gentleman of the same citie of Verona a proper man of countenance but of personage some what crooke backed and much Camber leggd and drawing towards fortie yeares of age but of education conditions and qualities so ignorant and inciuill as hee seemed to bee rather a Citizen then a Gentleman or indeed more a clowne then a citizen and yet otherwise of mettall and courage enough And that we may the more apparantly see and perfectly know upon what tearmes they both stand aswell in the opinion of the Father as the affection of the Daughter Miniata is infinitly desirous of Borlari for his Sonne in law but not of Planeze and Felisanna is excedingly affected to take Planeze for her Husband but not Borlari which they both perceiving whiles Borlari intends to seeke the affection and cosent of the Father before that of the Daughter Planeze shapes a contrary course resolues to seeke and prefer that of the daughter before the Father the regard of Borlari his wealth and of Planezes poverty with covetous Miniata like a furious stream or impetuous Torrent beares downe all other regardes and considerations before it But the consideration and respect of Borlari his deformed personage and then that of Planezes sweet feature and deportment with amorous Felisanna as a delicious charme and heart-ravishing extasy sweepes away all other regards and respects whatsoever The Father bids Borlari to be couragious and cheerfull and then hee shall not faile to have his daughter for his wife But the daughter wills Planeze to be descreet and constant and then she will not faile to take him for her Husband Miniata to shew his love to Borlari forbids Planeze his his house and the company of his daughter Felisanna to reveale her deere and fervent affection to Planeze assureth â—…m he shall often enjoy both her sight and company but confidently if not peremptorily prohibits Borlari to approach her presence Thus whiles Borlari often frequenteth and converseth with the Father publikely no lesse or indeed farre oftner doth Planeze privatly and whiles the first hath more cause to despaire than reason to hope of her affection and consent to be his wife the second hath all the reasons and causes of the world not onely to hope but to assure himselfe thereof But the patience of a little time will shortly resolve our curiositie whereunto these different affections will tend and what the event and issue will bee of these their opposite intentions and resolutions But because the ambition and wisdome of Borlari will make it conspicuous and apparant to his Mistris That there is as much difference betwixt him and Planeze as there is betweene her selfe and her Chamber-Maid Radegonda Hee therefore seeing that he cannot hitherto gaine her by the perswasion of her Father now hopes and attempts it by this her maids solicitation as holding her to be a fit instrument for the compassing of his desires and a proper Agent for the perfecting and crowning of his wishes because his best genius and intelligence informe him that shee hath a great power and beares a great stroake and sway with her Mistres But we shall shortly see and he too soone finde the contrary and that these his ill grounded hopes and undervalewing attempt of his will both deceive his ambition and betray his wisdome and judgement Now to gaine this her chambermaide Radegonda to his will that thereby with the more facility and cheerefullnesse shee may obtaine him her Mistris her favour and affection Hee bribes her with silver and Gold and many other gifts if not too costly for his giving yet I am sure too rich for her receiving and in requitall thereof she with her tongue promiseth him her best power and assistance towards her Mistris but in her heart intendes the contrary which is directed to betray him He sends likewise by her to his love and her Mistris divers curious rich presents and two Letters and prays her to take time at advantage and so to deliver them to her from him the which likewise shee faithfully promiseth but yet intends nothing lesse so she holds it rather a vertue than a vice to keep these presents for her selfe and to give the letters to his Corrivall Planeze to whom by solemne oath she had formerly ingaged her best art and power and her chiefest assistance Which policy or rather which fallacy of hers is not so secretly borne betwixt Planeze and herselfe but Borlari by some sinister accidental meanes hath perfect notice therof which he takes so unkindely at Radegondaes hands as consulting more with passion then reason his heart is so inflamed with Choller and his resolution with revenge against her that impatient of all delaies he sends for her one afternoone to meet him at the Amphitheatre and from thence goes with her to the next street to a friends house of his where ascending a chamber and bolting the doore withinside to him he with choller and threats chargeth her with this her ingratefull infidelity and treachery towards him when drawing all the truth from her by making herselfe a witnesse against her selfe aswell of the delivery of his letters to Planeze as also of keeping her presents for her selfe and that her Mistris and he are
in his resolutions that his lust ecclipsing his judgement and outbraving his disdiscretion he cannot he will not refraine to trie if he can yet procure and get her to be his friend though not his wife and so futurely to obtaine that curtesie from her by the eye which formerly he knew it impossible for him to get by the maine To which end his affection or rather his folly giving no truce to his thoughts nor peace to his minde because both the one and the other were still ranging and ruminating on Felisannaes sweet Idea and delitious feature Hee enters into a consideration and consultation with himselfe whether hee should bewray his amorous flame to her by himselfe or by some other or either by his penne or his tongue when after hee had proposed and exchanged many poore reasons and triviall Motives Pro and Con hee at last resolves on the last which is to doe it by letters when hying himselfe to his closet he traceth her these lines which by a confident friend of his he forth with sends her BORLARY to FELISANNA I Will crave no other witnesse but thy selfe of my fervent love and constant affection to thee for none can better testifie how I alwaies made it my chiefest Care and Ambition to make the dignity of my zeale answerable to that of thy beauty and that this mought be as truely Immortall as that is devinely rare and rarely excellent which to confirme I have sealed it with some bloud but with more teares so that although thou hast given thy affection from mee to Planeze yet my heart and soule tells me it is impossible to give mine to any but to the Lady Felisanna And because thou canst not bee my wife therefore I pray be pleased to resolve to live my friend as in requitall I doe dye thy Servant I confesse I am not worthy of thy affection much lesse to enjoy the sweet fruit thereof thy sweet selfe yet because I cannot be more thine then I am therefore I pray thee make thy selfe as much mine as thou mayest be Thy heart shall not be a truer Secretary to our affections then my tongue and for the times and places of our meetings I wholly referre it to thy will and pleasure which mine shall ever carefully attend and religiously obey I send the my whole heart inclosed in this Letter and if thou vouchsafe to returne me a peice of thine in exchange Heaven may but Earth cannnot crosse our affection BORLARY The Lady Flisanna receives this letter with much wonder and ore reades it with more Contempt and Choller for if she disdained Borlari and his affection when she was a maid much more doth shee now when God and her Husband have made her a wife Once shee was of opinion to have throwne this his Letter into the fire and have answered it with disdaine and silence But then againe considering the vainity of his thoughts and the obscaenity of his desireâ—…â—…hee conceived he mought peradventure repute her silence to a degree of consent and therefore though not in affection to him yet in discretion and love to her honour she resolves to returne him an answer when knitting her browes with anger dipping her pen in gall and vinegar and setting a sharp edge of contempt and Choller on her resolutions she hastily frame her Letter and gives it to his owne Messenger to deliver it to Borlari whose heart steering his course betwixt hope and feare till hee receive it he first kissing it and then hastily breaking up the seales thereof findes that it speakes this language FELISANNA to BORLARY IF thou want any witnesses of thy folly not of thy affection thy obstinate and vaine perseverance herein of one makes me capable to serve for many And if thou hadst beene as truely carefull and ambitious of thine owne honour as thou falsâ—… pretendest to be of my poore beauty thou wouldest not so often have sacrificed thy shame to my glory nor so sottishly have cast away thy bloud or teares on my contempt How thou intendest to dispose of thy self I neither desire to know nor care to understand But as I have given my soule to God so God hath given my heart to my husband Planeze from whom neither the malice of Sathan or power of hell shall withdraw it and therefore as I am Felisanna I detest thy lustfull sute and as Planezes wife I deâ—…ie both it and thy selfe And thus to bee thy friend thou shalt finde mee thy friend but for such servants as thy selfe I leave them to their owne proper Infamy and Repentance I make God the Secretary of my â—…ctions and my husband of my affections therefore it shall please me well when I understand that thy tongue wil recant thy folly I repent thy indiscretion towards me in seeking to erect the Trophees of thy lascivious lust upon the ruines of my pure and candid honour And I assure thee that if hereafter thou inspire and fortifie not thy heart with more religious and lesse sinfull desires and affections that Earth can and Heaven will make thee as truely miserable as now thou falsly thinkest thy selfe fortunate FELISANNA Borlari at the reading of this Letter of Felisanna is so galled with griefeand netled with sorrow to see his refusall sent him in her disdaine as he knows not to what passion to betake himselfe for ease or to what Saint for comfort for the consideration of her coynesse and cruelty makes his dispaire to gaine so much on his hopes that once he was minded absolutely to forsake her and to court her affection no more but then againe his lustfull heart and desires remembring the freshnesse of her beauty and the sweetnesse of her youth hee held himselfe a coward every way unworthy to enjoy so faire a Lady and so sweet an Angell if hee retyred upon her first denyall especially because as those Citties and Castles so those Ladies and Gentlewomen who entertaine a pearle are already halfe wonne In which consideration because it many times proves an errour in Nature but still in judgement to flatter our selves most with that which we most hope for and desire He therefore once more resolves to hazard another letter to her as having some reasons to beleive that his second may perchance obtaine that from her which his first could not for that he knowes that most ladies and gentlewomen pride themselves with this felicity to be often sought and importunately sued unto by their lovers wherfore resolving once more to try his fortune and her courtesie hee by his former messenger greets her with these lines BORLARY to FELISANNA THy sweet and excellent beautie hath enkindled so fervent a flame in my heart that thy late disrespect and contempt of me in thy Letter is not sufficiently prevalent to make mee or so soone or so sleightly forsake thee For although thou terme my loue folly and my affection obstinacy yet untill thou cease to bee faire finde it â—…t strange if it be impossible for
of his sweetest Joy which is his wifes affection and shee of her most pretious Iewell her chastity And although both in reason and religion he had farre more cause to rejoyce then to grieve at this accident in regard hee was both assured and confident that his wifes chastity triumphed ore Borlaries lust and her glory was apparant in his shame for as objects so actions being best distinguished by their contraries therefore through the obscure clouds of Borlari his obscaene concupiscence that of Felisâ—…as Angelicall chastity as a bright relucent Sunne shined forth most radiâ—…tly and sweetly with farre more vigour and glory yet Planeze being a man composed of corrupt flesh and bloud and therefore subject to passions and those passions to errours and imperfections So he takes a course and resolution herein contrary to all Iudgement and to all reason yea diametrically opposite to the rules of Nature and precepts of Grace For although his heart bee upright in the opinion of his wifes chastity and honour yet as the deerest and purest affections cannot be exempted of some shadow or spice of feare so although his heart looked directly on Borlari with malice hee cannot possibly â—…aine nor retaine his thoughts from glancing squint-eyed on his wife with â—…lousie And although he knowes it to be a most ignoble ingratitude and irreligious impiety in him thus to call her honour in question on in the best â—…ce to revoke it to doubt by making any puplike shew of suspition or 〈◊〉 to her or by seeking any private revenge on Borlari yet because her beauty and vertue is a thousand times deerer to him then his life and the puâ—…ty and integrity of her affection to him as deere as his soule Hee therefore thinkes she shall not prophane his good opinion of her noâ—… offer her merits 〈◊〉 his owne reputation any wrong if he resolve to right both her and himselfe on Borlari when consulting not with reason or charity but with their opposites malice and revenge hee will not bee at peace with his heart nor at â—…ce with his thoughts before he have fought with Borlari albeit indeed his â—…lict and offence towards him more deserved his scorne then his Care and was every way farre more worthy of his oblivion then of his remembrance To which end by a Chirurgion which he had made choice of he sends him this challenge PLANEZE to BORLARY THy crime is so foule and so apparent to mee in seeking by thy two lascivious Letters to distaine my honour in that of my wifes chastity as nothing but thy life is capable to expiate it or 〈◊〉 to desace and forget it wherefore if thou have 〈◊〉 much courage 〈◊〉 thou wantest grace bring thy self â—… thy â—…upier and thy Chirurgion with thee to morrow at six a clocke in the morning in the City Ditch without the utter Gate which lookes towards Brescia and there my selfe and my Chirurgion who is the bearer hereof will silently and honourably wait for thee And if thy obscene heart retaine yet any sparke of generosity or thy vitious braine of judgement thou wilt resolve to performe this my request and to excuse my resolution herein sith it is wholly derived from thy lasciviousnesse and receives its life and birth from thy treachery PLANEZE Borlary receiving and perusing this Challenge of Planeze he is much grieved and sorrowfull to see that Felisanna had so little discretion for her felfe and so much hatred against him to shew her husband these his Letters and except she meant to make her selfe the present authour and the cause of her future affliction and misery he knowes not else what she intends hereby But for Planeze his spleene and resolution against him Borlaâ—…y knowes it to be both just and well grounded in the best sense and in the worst to be yet a requitall of that Challenge and Duell which he formerly sent and presented him Onely he doth a little admire if not wonder that he should now againe make triall of his valour and courage whereof he so lately had experience and tasted And although he had farre more reason to rest assured than doubtfull that this second Duell of theirs would not prove so fortunate as their first but would rather terminate in one if not in both of their lives He yet loves Felisanna so dearly albeit she hate him extreamly that he will by no meanes refuse to fight with her husband once againe for her sake yea and to kill him for his owne if possible he can the devill making him strong in the vanitie of this beleefe and confidence that if it prove now his good fortune to kill Planâ—… that he can then requite and limit his victory with the reward of no lesse happinesse and felicity by his death to obtaine his widdow for his owne wife But this is to write upon the water and to build Castles of vaine hopes in the ayre which the least breath of Gods mouth or wind of his nostrils will easily reverse and blow away For this is to consult and resolve with Satan and not with God and therefore no marvell if he see his lascivious desires to come too short of his ridiculous hopes and both his hopes and desires herein to end in as much true misery as they beganne in false hope of felicity and joy So Borlari having made a turne or two in his Garden to resolve upon this businesse which so much imported both his honour and life Hee at last with joy in his lookes and courage in his countenance turnes to Planeze his Chirurgâ—…on whom after he used respectfully and courteously hee secretly rounds him thus in his eare Tell Seignior Planeze from me that I will not faile to meet him to morrow morning according to his request and expectation and so he dismisseth him who as soone returnes this answer of Borlari to Planeze whom he now findes staying for him in the Church of the Augustine Fryers but God knowes with no intent or devotion to pray or to invoke his Divine and Sacred Majestie to divert him from this his intended bloudy enterprize but rather to reconduct home the Lady Felisanna his wife who harmlesse sweet Gentlewoman was there in that Church upon the Altar of her heart proffering up the most religious prayers and zealous Orisons of her soule unto God without once surmising or thinking what a mournfull and dangerous part her husband was resolved to act the next morning to the prejudice of her content if not to the utter dissolution and ruine of her Matrimoniall joy and felicity But her husband Planeze beares this businesse and these his intentions so secretly from his wife as it was impossible for her to have any suspition much lesse knowledge of this his next dayes intended Duell The night which brings rest to others hath not power to give it to our two inflamed Duelists For the consideration of their honours and their lives of their quarrell and the cause thereof doth equally possesse their braines
never committed any act unworthy either of their honour or of themselves That for their vertues and generosity they were beloved of all their Countrey and acquaintance That they had formerly received many wounds in his Majesties warres and that their valour and courage was such that in these times which threatned more troubles than promised peace they would undoubtedly prove happy and necessary members for his service with many other prevailing motives and reasons conducing that way which at last so weigh downe the heart and minde of the King that he freely conceded and gave them their pardons under his great Seale the which to make the more authenticall they caused them to be enregistred and confirmed by the Court of Parliament of Paris and thereupon both the Marquesse and Bishop joyntly and speedily writ to them thereof from Paris And after some five moneths of their stay in London they send them over these their Pardons which are delivered to them by the Earle of Tillieres then ordinary Ambassadour there for this present French King Lewis xiij the which they receive with infinite honour content and joy This good newes of theirs makes them now like the aire of France better than that of England So they speedily packe up their baggage leave London and with all celerity poast away Dover Callais and Paris Where being arrived the first thing they doe they finde out the Marquis of Bellay and the Bishop of Chartres to whom they owe their peace as they doe their lives to the King To whom they expresse a thousand demonstrations of thankfulnesse for this their honour and favour shewed them They likewise burne with desire to testifie so much to the King when the Marquis seconded by the Bishop present them to his Majestie who falling to his feet hee gives them his Royall hand to kisse They can better expresse their thankfulnesse in deeds than words to him and in language of their swords than in that of their tongues Onely they tell his Majestie that having received their lives of his meere clemencie and Royall favour they most humbly therefore implore him to grâ—…t them the favour and honour that they may spend and end them in his service He allowes of their zeale and humility and to redouble his favour he gives them againe his hand to kisse adding farther to them that it is rather likely than impossible that he shall shortly have occasion to use their swords and service and so dismisseth them These our two brothers remaine a moneth in Paris wherein almost daily they tender their thankfull respects and service to the Marquis and Bishop at the end wherof leaving their duties and receiving their commands they take horse and returne home for Chartres from which by reason of their disaster they have beene so long absent where all their kinsfolks and friends welcome them home with infinite delight and joy yea almost all Chartres and the Gentlemen thereabouts exceedingly rejoyce of their fortunate and safe returnes Onely the Parents of Marin doe envie Montagne deeply and Blancheville the sorrowfull and incensed widdow of Champigny hate Beaumarays deadly As for Montagne he makes such good meanes and friends that in lesse than two moneths he obtaines a perfect reconciliation of the first but although Beaumarays have made many faire overtures and proffers of attonement by his friends to the second yet in six moneths he sees it is wholly impossible for him to procure it of her and which is worse she is still so outragious and revengefull towards him that he thinks he never shall for shee disdaines to see him and scornes to heare of him and still her malice and indignation against him makes her constant in her former hellish and bloudy resolution that by one meanes or other she will ere long murther him as he hath her Husband A fearfull and most execrable resolution every way unworthy the heart of a Gentlewoman and farre more the soule of a Christian. In the former part of this History we have understood the affection of Le Valley Beaumarays his man to Martha Blanchevilles Chambermaid In the middle thereof we have remarked and seene the implacable intended malice and revenge of Blancheville towards Beaumarays And wee shall nor goe farre before the end hereof will enforme us what mournfull fruits and deplorable effects these different accidents and persons will procure us As there is no love to that of a man so I am of opinion that there is no malice comparable to that of a woman and if the truth deceive not my judgement herein I beleeve wee shall shortly see the Antitheses of this position made good and verified in the persons of Le Valley and Blancheville For whiles Le Valley is lovingly thinking and inventing all possible meanes how hee may marrie Martha so is Blancheville malitiously pondering and ruminating with her selfe how or by what meanes or agents she may murther Beaumarays Thus we see that the heart of the first is as full of kindnesse and courtesie as the mind and resolutions of the second is of cruelty and bloud Now the Reader for his better information will I hope remember that in all this time of two yeares and upwards since Le Valley first saw and spake with his sweet heart Martha in his Masters house that there hath past many love tokens betweene them but as yet he could never draw her consent to marry him for still shee tels him that she loves her Mistresse so dearly that she will not depart from her service nor wed any man without her free consent and therefore that they have farre more reason to doubt than to hope of this match betweene them considering the lamentable accident disaster which hath past between their Masters Le Valley seeing he must first winne the Mistresse before he can wed the maid with his sweet hearts advise resolves to seeke Blanchevilles consent therereto the which hee doth in faire and orderly tearmes Blancheville who had formerly heard an inkling how dearly Le Valley affected her maid Martha in the way of mariage now by this his motion thereof to herselfe she is fully confirmed thereof When observing more passion than judgement as well in his affection to her maid as in his speeches to her selfe she presently being industrious in her malice and vigilant in her revenge towards Beaumarays forgets God and all goodnesse abandoneth all Christianity and humanity and so the devill brings her a plot or else her owne heart and head fetcht it from hell She thinks that this poore servant Le Valley is a fit agent and instrument for her either to poyson or pistoll his Master Beaumarays to death and that his love to her maid Martha and his consideration of her fresh youth and beauty is a sufficient bait and powerfull lure to make him undertake and performe it and hereon she settles up her bloudy resolution To which end Blancheville having already sufficiently woven this treachery in her heart and closely and finely
that she was eâ—…ry way as Innocent as himselfe and Blancheville her mistris were guilty thereof The Iudges of this Court speedily send sergeants away to apprehend Blanâ—…ville who is so farre from the apprehension or feare of any danger as shee dreames not thereof They finde her in her owne house playing on her lute â—…d singing in company of many Gentlemen and Gentlewoman her friends The Serjeants seize on her and tels her accusation and crime whereat she is amazed and weepes exceedingly and no lesse doe those who are with her She is brought before her Iudges who strongly accuse her for being the Author of this cruell murther of Beaumarais and acquaint her with Le Valleyes full and free confession thereof as we have formerly understood When here sometime with teares and then againe with passion and choller she tels the Iudges that Le Valley is a devill and a villaine thus to accuse her falsely That she never gave him a ring or three hundred crownes to doe it and takes God to witnesse that shee is wholly innocent of that murther But this poore and passionate Apologie of hers will not passe current with her Lyncee-eyed Iudges who cause her to be confronted with Le Valley who stands firme to his former accusation against her and yet her faith is so weake with God and so strong with sathan as with many cryes and curses she againe and againe cryes out and protesteth of her Innocency They produce her her ring and part of gold but she boldly denies and stoutly forsweares both So they presently adjudge her to the racke whereto with much constancy she permits herselfe to be fastened But at the very first touch and wrench thereof her dainety delicate limbs not able to brooke those exquisite torments God was pleased to be so gratious mercifull to her soule as she presently with many teares cries out that shee was the guilty Author of this horrible murther and so in all points and circumstances concurres and agrees with Le Valleis deposition and accusation against her Here her Iudges againe demand of her if her maid Martha were never accessary or consenting with her and Le Valley in this their bloudy â—…ct but shee vowes to them that upon perill of her soule she was absolutely innocent thereof so hereupon this our inhumane Lady Blancheville is againe loosed from her racke and brought away to the Tribunall of Iustice and so likewise is Le Valley where Montagne and the Kings attourney presently crave judgement of the presidents against these two murtherers who after a long and a religious speech which they made both to them and to all who were present upon this bloudy fact and crime of theirs They conclude and adjudge Le Valley the very next day to be broken on the wheele alive and Blancheville then likewise to be hanged which gave matter of Vniversall speech and admiration to all Chartres and Beausse We have seene the perpetration and detection of this inhumane and lamen table murther committed by these two unfortunate wretches Le Valley and Blancheville And now by the mercy and Iustice of God we are come to see the triumphes of his revenge to fight against them in their condigne punishments for the same They by their Iudges are that afternoone returned againe to their prisons and the same night are there effectually dealt with by Divines who out of Christian charity direct and prepare their soules for Heaven So the next morning about ten of the clocke they are brought to the common place of execution in Chartres where a world of people attend to be spectators of these their unfortunate ends and deplorable tragedies And first Le Valley ascends the scaffold who is sad and pensive and saies little els 〈◊〉 effect but this that it was partly Blanchevilles gold but chiefely his love to her maid his wife Martha who first drew him to murther his deere master Beaumarays whereof hee affirmed he was now heartely repentant and sorrowfull and besought the Lord to pardon him He here tooke it to his death that his said wife Martha was every way innocent of this murther and therefore beseeched Monsieiur Mantagne to bee good and charitable to her after his death whom he likewise prayed to forgive him when uttering a few Ave Maries to himselfe and often marking himselfe with the signe of the crosse He was by his Executioner presently broken on the wheele whereof he immediatly dyed Le Valley was no sooner dispatched but up comes our Female monster Blancheville on the Ladder whose youth beauty drew pitty from the hearts and teares from the eyes of most of her spectators in her countenance shee was very sad and mournefull and yet I am enforced to confesse this truth of her that in this last Scene and act of her life her pride and Vanity so farre usurped on her judgement her piety and her soule that she came here to take her last leave of the world apparelled in a rich blacke razed sattin gowne a crimson damaske pettie coate laâ—…d with white sattin guards a rich cutworke falling band her haire all strewed with sweet powder decked with white ribban knots and roses and a snow white paire of gloves on her handes so she there craves leave of the people to speake a few words before she dyes which with a well composed countenance and behaviour shee doth in these tearmes She said that her deere and tender affection to her husband Champigny occasioned her deadly hatred and malice to Beaumarays and that as soone as she had slayne him in the field she in revenge thereof instantly resolved and vowed to send him to heaven after him she affirmed that she was now sorrowfull from her heart and soule that she had caused Le Valley to kill this his master also that shee was so unfortunate and miserable as now to see him dye for her sake and service in requitall whereof shee gave all her apparell and some of her plate and Iewels to her old maid now his new wife Martha whom she affirmed in presence of God and his angels was no way guilty or consenting to this lamentable murther which she beseeched the Lord to pardon and forgive her she likewise besought Montagne and Martha to forgive her and entreated all who were present to pray to God for her Souleshe conjured al Ladies and Gentlewoman who were sorrowful eyewitnesses of her untimely death to beware by her unfortunate example and so to hate malice and revenge in themselves as much as shee loved it When againe praying all her spectators to pray to God for her shee after a few pater-nosters and Auc-maries was turned over And thus was this lamentable and yet deserved deaths of these two bloudy wretches Le Valley and Blancheville and in this sharpe manner did God justly revenge and punish this their horrible crime of murther Whose untimely and unfortunate deathes left much griefe to their living parents and friends and generally to all who either
the World where the whole Nobilitie and Gentrie make all their aboad and residence the which indeed is one of the maine poynts and essentiall reasons why their Cities are so rich populous and fayre Thus we see Streni and his three Daughters by this time come to Florence and dwel as I have formerly said neere the Monastery of the Dominican Fryers where his wealth birth and port cause him to be visited and frequented of the best and noblest sort of that Citie and as the time of his residence so the number of his acquaintance encreaseth for vertue is capable to purchase friends every where and his wealth and Daughters beauties like so many powerfull Lures and Adamants draw many young gallant Gentleman to his house to see and serve them Where although Babtistyna and Amarantha are beloved and sought in marriage of many yet their Father is resolute to marry their eldest Sister Iaquinta first wherefore when any noblemen or Gentlemen come to his house she is to be seene and courted but Babtistyna and Amarantha are mewed and fast locked up in a Chamber They grieve hereat but they can neither alter nor remedy this their Fathers resolution for his word must bee their Oracle and his will their Law Now before I proceed farther in the dilation of this History as I one way commend Streni his resolution to marry his eldest daughter first so yet in approving his discretion for her preferment I must neverthelesse taxe his want of affection in hindring that of his two youngest daughters For as it was a courtesie of him to have Iaquinta seene of Suters so it was a degree of dis-respect I may say of cruelty in him to confine Babtistyna and Amarantha as prisoners to their Chambers when divers of them came purposely and honorably to his house both to see and seeke them in marriage But Iaquinta armed with her fathers love and authority growes extremely imperious and stately She triumpheth in conceit to see her selfe preferred of her father before her Sisters Shee sees her two sisters Babtistyna and Amarantha are sued and sought for in marriage by divers Cavalliers and the very consideration hereof grieves and the remembrance afflicts her but withall shee observes that they dare not disobey or contradict their fathers command to affect or speake with any and therefore the very knowledge and remembrance hereof againe rejoyceth her As it is a happinesse for us to purchase friends so it is a misery to lose them Her Sisters love her but she loves not them they are as unworthy of her hatred as she is of their affection Nature indeed hath given her the prerogative and priviledge but yet she should consider that they are her Sisters and not her Servants and that their bloud is hers and hers theirs It is an argument both of indiscretion and insolencie for one Brother or Sister to thinke themselves better then another But many Gentlewomen who are Sisters esteeme pride a second beauty or at least an excellent Grace and Ornament to them and therefore to preferre and elevate themselves they care not how they disparage and deiect others The beauty of Babtistyna and Amarantha is an eye-sore to Iaquinta The tree of malice never produceth good fruit It is still a happy vertue for us to checke and vanquish our owne vices She knowes that many Gentlemen love them but sees and observes with griefe that none affect her Her desire to marry is so immodestly licentious and boundlesse as she could willingly resolve to accept of any Gentleman for her husband that would be content to take her for his wife but Incontinencie prooves still a pernicious counsellor to young Ladies and Gentlewomen Now as Cantharides flie still to the fayrest flowers so shee sees and indeede infinitely bites the lip and grieves to see that all Lovers and Sutors flie to one of these her two Sisters and wholly abandon and forsake her selfe but being a woman she wants not an invention to apply a present remedy to this her discontent and choller Shee must have her Sisters beauties and braveries eclipsed that hers may appeare more bright and resplend and shine with more lustre and glory She knowes that Christall seemes precious when Diamonds are not in place to which end shee very passionately and yet subtilly workes upon the affections of her Father and obtaines of him that as her yeares so her apparell may excell and exceede that of her Sisters the which hee inconsiderately grants her and this shee receives and conceives to bee a step to her advancement and an obstacle to theirs So if they formerly grieved to see themselves imprisoned in a chamber whiles shee to her content and pleasure rejoyceth both to see and bee seene of Gentlemen So now their discontent thereof growes into choller and their choller into rage to see this their elder sister Iaquinta not onely to step some degrees beyond them but likewise many beyond her selfe in her apparell It is ever a wise and discreet vertue in Parents to distribute their favours and affections equally to their Children or if they chance to affect one better then others at least that they bee so reserved and cautious as to conceale it secretly to themselves that the rest may neither perceive nor know it That Streni sought to marry Iaquinta before Babtistyna and Amarantha as I formerly have sayd he did well but yet to make them lose when they might find and gaine a fortune was withall to be indiscreet if not unnaturall Mens fancies and affections in marriage are many times counselled and led by the eye as the eye is by the heart Some will prise and affect beauty without vertue others vertue without beauty but where both meete and concurre it doth not onely please but delight and so joyntly sympathize to make each other excellent Many of the best and noblest Cavalliers of Florence love Babtistyna and Amarantha but not Iaquinta or if they seeme to court Iaquinta it is but with a reserved hope and intent to injoy the sight and company of Babtistyna and Amarantha but as Iealousy and Malice have alwayes foure eyes in stead of two so it is at least a torment if not many deaths to Iaquinta to see her two Sisters to live and be beloved of all Sutors and her selfe of none the which to prevent and so to stop the progresse of their triumphs and consequently of her owne discontent and affliction she not desirous to have two such starres of beauty to appeare and shine together in the firmament of her Fathers house in Florence doth so secretly undermine and so cunningly prevail with him as her two sisters when they least dream or think thereof are by his order and command suddenly sent away by Coach to his Countrey house of Cardura neere Pistoia whereof wee have already made mention notwithstanding all their requests sighes and teares to the contrary and there by his appoyntment to be privately and disconsolately shut up from any
so odious as Nature cannot excuse and so diabolicall as no Clemencie can pardon And yet this age and this world is but too plentifull and fertile of such bloudy Tigers and inhumane Monsters and Butchers of mankinde as if they had not a Conscience within them to accuse them a God above them to condemne them and a Hell below them to punish them or as if they had not the sacred Oracles of Gods eternall Word I meane the Law and the Gospell and the blessed Precepts and Doctrine of the holy Prophets and Apostles yea of Christ Iesus himselfe the great Shepherd and sacred Bishop of our soules to teach us the rules of Mercie Meekenesse and Long-suffering whiles wee live in this vale of misery here below and that wee must imbrace and follow Peace and Charity with all men if ever wee thinke to participate of the true felicity and joyes of Heaven above But neverthelesse yea directly contrary hereunto this insuing History will produce us one who though sufficiently instructed in the rules of Piety and Charity yet hee wilfully abandoned the first and contemned the second by cruelly and unnaturally imbruing his hands in innocent bloud for the which wee shall see that hee in the end suffereth a severe and shamefull death May we reade this History to the glory of God and the instruction of our selves THe Scene of this History is layd in Spayne in the famous Province of old Castile and in the faire and ancient City of Burgos where lately dwelt a noble and rich old Gentlewoman termed Dona Catherina Aâ—…z a Sirname much knowne and famous in that City Province and Kingdome who had by her deceased Husband Don Roderigo de Ricaldo two sonnes Don Pedro and Don Martino and one Daughter named Dona Cecilliana Her eldest sonne Don Pedro was a gallant Cavallier of some eight and twenty yeares of age tall and well-timbred by complexion and hayre blacke and of a swart and martiall countenance who for the space of seven yeares served as a voluntary Gentleman under that wise and valiant Commander Don Gonsalez de Cordova in Germany and against the Lords States of the Netherlands and since in the Voltoline and Millane against the Grisons and French In both which warres he left behind him many memorable testimonies of his prowesse and purchased divers honorable trophees of true valour and generosity but for any other intellectuall endowments of the minde hee was no scholler and but of an indifferent capacity yet very honest courteous and affable particularly to his friends and generally to all the world His Brother Don Martino was of some foure and twenty yeares of age short of stature very slender but crooke-back'd of an Aubrun hayre a withered face a squint eye of inclination extreamely sullen and of disposition and nature envious and revengefull as desirous rather to entertaine a night-quarrell in the street then a day-combate in the Field but as God is many times pleased to countervaile and reward the defects of nature in the body with some rich gifts and perfections of the mind so though not by profession yet by education he was an excellent Scholler of an active and sharpe wit a fluent tongue and singularly able either to allure or divert to perswade or disswade according as the streame of his different passions and affections led him Vertues enough relucent and excellent to build a fame and sufficient to rayse an eminent fortune if his former vices doe not too fatally eclipse the one and deface the other Their Sister Cecilliana aged of some twenty yeares was of an indifferent height but growing to corpulencie and fatnesse of a blacke hayre an amiable browne complexion a big rolling eye and the ayre of her countenance rather beautifully amorous then modestly beautifull Shee was of a nimble wit of humour pleasant and facetious yet so reserved in the externall demonstration thereof that through her Mothers pious and austere education of her shee in all outward semblance seemed rather to bee fit for a Nunnery then a Husband and more proper to make a Saint then a Wife but as the face proves not still a true Index of the heart nor our lookes and speeches still a true Sybile of our soules so how retired soever her Mother kept her from the company of men yet her wanton eye conspiring with her lascivious heart made her the more desirous thereof and farre the more licentiously in regard shee was strictly forbidden it so as not to contradict or dissemble the truth I am here inforced to relate and affirme that shee imparteth her favours upon two or three young Gentlemen of that Citie of her private acquaintance and is more familiar with them then modesty can well warrant or chastity allow of But there is a young Gallant of this City likewise more noble by birth then rich in estate and meanes named Don Balthazar de Monfredo who deeming Cecilliana as famous for her chastity as for her beauty beares a singular affection to her yea his heart and thoughts are so fervently intangled in the snares of her delicious beauty that in publicke and private in his desires and wishes and in his speech and actions he proclaimes her to bee his Mistresse and himselfe her servant and if hee affect and desire Cecilliana for his Wife no lesse doth shee Monfredo for her Husband so that they many times by stealth meet and conferre privately in remote Churches and Chappell 's it being rather a prophane then a religious custome of Spaine wherein Heaven is too much made to stoope to Earth and Religion to Impiety for men to court their intended wives and which is worse many times their Courtizans and Strumpets Cecilliana oftentimes warranted by her Mothers indisposition can no sooner take Coach to injoy the pleasure and benefit of the fresh ayre abroad in the fragrant fields but Monfredo assuredly meets her where leaping from his Coach into hers and leaving his Page to accompany her Wayting-gentle woman in his own they at first familiarly kisse and confer and in a few of these meetings at last effectually resolve to give themselves each to other in the sacred bonds of marriage so he gives her a rich Diamond ring and she reciprocally returnes him a paire of Gold bracelets in token of marriage and they then and there calling God to witnes very solemnly contract themselves man and wife yet for some solid reasons and important considerations which conduce to the better accomplishing of their desires they for a time conclude to beare it secretly and silently from all the world and it is concluded and agreed betweene them that a moneth after and not before hee shall attempt to seeke her publikely in marriage both of her Mother the Lady Catherina as also of her two Brothers Don Pedro and Don Martino So when this moneth is past over which to these out two Lovers seemes to be many ages Monfredo very fairely and orderly seekes her of her Mother in marriage and
likewise in tearmes fit for him to give and them to receive acquaints her two Brothers with his sute and affection to their Sister and with his best art and eloquence indeavoureth on honorable tearmes to gaine and purchase their consents thereunto As for her Mother she preferring wealth to honour and riches to content considering the weakenesse of Monfredo's estate the death of his parents whereby shee sees him deprived of all future hope to raise his fortunes doth absolutely denye to bestow her Daughter on him in marriage and the more to bewray her extreame distaste of this his sute and dislike of himselfe shee with much obstinacie and choller forbids him her Daughters company and with more incivility and indignation conjures him to leave and forbeare her house telling him shee hath already firmely ingaged her word and promise to Don Alonso Delrio that hee shall shortly espouse and marry her Now although this sharpe answer of hers seeme to nip Monfredo's hopes and desires in their blossomes yet relying more on the affection and constancie of the Daughter then on the power or resolution of the Mother hee againe and againe with a most respective and honourable importunity solliciteth her consent but he sees it lost labour because shee is resolute that her first shall bee her last answer to him herein As for her Brother Don Pedro he loves his Sister so perfectly and her content so dearely that hee findes him to stand well affected to their affections and in regard of his love to her and respect to him that hee utterly contemnes the motion and mention of Delrio and therfore faithfully promiseth Monfredo his best assistance towards his Mother for the effecting of their desires But for her yonger Brother Don Martino he findes a contrary nature and disposition in him for he never loved but hated his Sister Cecilliana and therfore hates Monfredo for her sake â—…nd loves Delrio because he heares she hates him and so animates his Mother against them and thus hee gives Monfredo cold answers and the sooner and betâ—…r to convert his hope into despaire tells him plainely that Delrio must and shall â—…arry his Sister and none but hee Thus Monfredo departs as glad of Don Peâ—… his love as hee is sorrowfull for his Mother and Brother Don Martino's hatred And here to observe the better order in this History and likewise to give the curiâ—…sity of the Reader the fuller satisfaction it will not be improper rather pertinent â—…or us to understand that Don Delrio was a well descended Gentleman likewise of â—…e same city of Burgos rich in lands and monyes but at least fifty five yeares old having a white head and beard of a hard and soure favoure and exceedingly baker-legged yet as old as hee was hee was so passionately inamoured of the fresh and sweet beauty of Cecilliana that hee thought her not too young to bee his wife nor himselfe too old to bee her husband but led more by his lust then his judgement and incouraged by Dona Catherina her Mother for that his great lands and wealth wholly inclined and weighed downe her affection towards him hee often visiteth her Daughter Cecilliana and with his best oratory and power seeks and courts her affection in the way of marriage but shee having her heart fixed on Monfredo's youth and comely feature shee highly slights Delrio's frozen age as disdayning to make her selfe a May to this December because shee apparantly knew and perfectly believed that hee was every way fitter for his grave then for her bed for it was Monfredo and onely Monfredo whom her heart had elected and chosen for her second selfe and Husband And suppose quoth she that Monfredo bee not so rich as Delrio yet all Castile yea all Spayne well knowes that by descent and generosity hee is farre more noble and that there is as great an Antithesis and disparity betweene the vertues of the first and the defects and imperfections of the last as there is betweene a Clowne and a Captaine and a Peasant and a Prince therefore let my Mother say whar she will Delrio what he can or my Brother Martino what he dare yet they shall see and the world know that I will bee wife to none but Monfredo and that either hee or my Grave shall bee my Husband But the Lady Catherina her Mother notwithstanding her Daughters aversnesse and obstinacie layes her charge and blessing upon her to forsake Monfredo and take Delrio urging to her the poverty of the one and the wealth of the other what delights and contentments the last will give her and what afflictions and misery the first doth threaten her but the affection of Cecilliana is still so firmely fixed and strongly setled and cymented on her Monfredo that she is deafe to these requests and blinde to these reasons of her Mother in seeking to disswade her from him and in consenting and perswading her to accept of Delrio for her Husband and although her Mother follow her in all places as her shadow and haunt her at all times as her Ghost to draw her hereunto yet shee still findes her Daughter as resolute to denye as shee is importunate to request it of her vowing that shee will rather wed her selfe to a Nunnery then to Delrio whom shee sayth shee cannot affect and therefore peremptorily disdayneth to marry Her Mother seeing her daughter thus constantly and wilfully to persevere in her obstinacy against her desires shee with much choller and griefe relates from poynt to poynt to her Sonne Don Martino what had past betweene them whom shee knew did as much love Delrio and hate Monfredo as her eldest Sonne Don Pedro hated Delrio and loved Monfredo for their Sister in marriage Martino takes advantage of thiâ—… occasion and oportunity and thinking to give two blowes with one stone bâ—… crossing his Sister in her affection and his Brother in his designes and wishes dotâ—… now more then ever incense his Mother against her alledging that it would bee 〈◊〉 farre greater honour and lesse scandall to their Name and House that shee werâ—… rather marryed to a Nunnery then a Beggar and with many powerfull reasons and artificiall perswasions strives to make her incliâ—…able to this project and flexâ—… ble to this resolution of his as indeed in a little time she doth For the Mothâ—… being thus wedded to her will and therein now confirmed by the slie policiâ—… and fortifyed by the subtile insinuation of her Sonne Don Martino shee hereupâ—… constantly resolves to betake and give her Daughter to God and the Church 〈◊〉 firming that shee shall never reape any true content in her thoughts nor peace her heart before she see her cloystered up and espoused to a Nunnery But this compact of theirs is not so closely carryed betweene them but the vigilancie of Don Pedro whose affection and care aymes to give Monfredo and his Sister content hath perfect notice and intelligence hereof the which for a time hee holds fit to conceale from
his Lady Dona Catherina and her sonne Don Martino and then privately the other to the young Lady Cecilliana according to his promise and Don Delrio's request As for the mother she grieves to see that Delrio will not bee reclaymed but hath quite forsaken her Daughter But for her Sonne don Martino hee is exceeding joyfull hereof for now he is confident that according to his plot his mother upon Delrio's refufall will in meere malice to Monfredo assuredly commit his sister to a Nunnery Thus if hee obtayne his ends and desires hee cares not who misse theirs As for Cecilliana shee doth not a little rejoyce at Delrio's Letter to her and at his constant resolution to leave and commit her to Monfredo yea shee reputes his advise to her concerning her mother and her brother don Martino's intended discourtesie towards her to much respect and honour She acquaints her brother don Pedro and her Monfredo with this Letter of Delrio who now plainely see their mother and brothers former resolution confirmed in ayming and intending to make Cecilliana a holy Sister whereat they againe laugh and jest at her and shee to them for in their hearts and thoughts they all know and resolve to prevent it But they cannot but highly approve of Delrio's noble respect and true discretion in being so constant to give over his sute to her and yet so courteous and honest towards them all in this his kind and respectfull Letter to Cecilliana the which above the other two shee cheerefully receives and joyfully welcomes that shee resolves shee can in honour doe no lesse then returne his complement and answer his Letter with one of her owne to him the which shee doth in these tearmes CECILLIANA to DELRIO WHat my brother don Pedro informed you concerning Monfredo and my selfe was the very truth and sincerity of those affections wherewith God hath inspired â—…r hearts and setled our resolutions each to other As I was never doubtfull of your well-wishes and love so now I am not a little thankefull to you for your deare respect towards mee in approoving my choyce and in praying to God to make it prosperous whereas the obstinacie of my Lady mother and the malice of my brother don Martino without ground or reason affirme it must needes proove ruinous I have heeretofore beene advertised and 〈◊〉 by your care of mee and respect to mee which clearely resplends and shines in your Lâ—…tter anâ—… fully confirmed that my said mother and brother have some undeserved designe against mee and my content and although my poore beauty and silly wit no way deserve those excellent prayses of your pen yet my heart shall consult with don Pedro how to beare my selfe in this so weighty and important a businesse whereon although the cause be malice and the pretext religion I know depends either my future content or affliction my happinesse or my misery in the meane time I will pray for those who vitiously hate mee and honour these 〈◊〉 vertuously affect and honour mee Of which last number I ingenuously and gratefully acknowledge that your generosity not my merits hath condignely made you one CECILLIANA When shee had dispatched this Letter to Delrio then Monfredo by her consent and the advice of her brother don Pedro holds it very requisite now once againe to sound the affection and to feele the pulse of their mother dona Catherina's resolâ—…tion towards him to see whether yea or no shee will please to give him her daughter in marriage and it is agreed of all sides betweene them that at the very time and houre which he goes there that shee and her brother don Pedro will purposely absent themselves and ride abroad in their Coach to take the aire which they doe To this effect Monfredo takes his Coach and goes directly to the Lady Catherina's house and sends up his name to her as desiring to have the honour to salute her and kisse her hand but shee is so inraged and transporâ—…ed with choller at his arrivall and message as shee sends him downe a flat and â—…eremptory denyall that shee will not see him and as formerly shee prayed so â—…ow shee commands him to depart and ever hereafter to forbeare her house An â—…swer so unkinde and uncivill that Monfredo well knowes not whether hee have â—…cason to digest it with more choller or laughter so returning her answer by her â—…ayting-gentlewoman that hee will obey her commands and no more trouâ—… either her house or her patience yet that hee will still remaine her most humâ—… servant and although shee refuse to see him that hee will ever pray for her long life and prosperity don Martino is now at home and laughs in his sleeve as a Gipsie to see what brave entertainment his mother gives Monfredo he expecteth also that hee should visite him but because his mothers stomacke is so high therefore his cannot descend so low as owing him no such duety and service and so takes Coach and away and knowing where don Pedro and his Mistresse Cecilliana were in the fields hee drives away presently to them and very pleasantly relates them the whole long storie of their mothers short entertainment to him which administreth matter of laughter to them all and farre the more in regard neither of them expected lesse so Monfredo staying an houre or two with them in the fields and then bringing them to the gates of the City they for that time take their leave each of other and all appoynt to meet the next day after dinner in the Garden of the Augustine Fryers and there to provide and resolve for their affaires against the discontent of their mother and the malice of their brother don Martino The next morning the Lady Catherina storming at Monfredo's yesterdayes presumption and boldnesse sends for her daughter Cecilliana into the Garden to her as being fully resolved to deale effectually with her for ever to forsake Monfredo or if shee cannot then to commit her to a Nunnery Shee comes when in great privacie and efficacie shee layes before her the poverty of Monfredo the which shee affirmes will bring her to more misery then shee can expect or thinke of or indeed which shee deserves at least if shee bee not so wilfull to ruine her selfe and her fortunes as shee is to preserve them Cecilliana now seeing her mother bent to play her prize against the merits and honour of her Monfredo and therefore against the content and felicity which shee expects to injoy by injoying him shee no longer able to brooke or digest it cuts her off with this reply that her duety excepted it is in vaine for her either to seeke to disparage Monfredo or any way of the world to attempt to withdraw her affection from him and therefore with much observance and respect prayes her to affect and honour him if not for his owne sake yet for hers Her Lady mother weeps to see her daughter thus obstinate shee might have sayd thus constant in her
amorous sighes regards and kisses take their leave of her they returning to Cassall and she driving away to her Vncle Cassino at Vercelie who receives her with much joy and welcomes her with infinit gladnesse and humanity to whom she delivering the Lady Sophia's Letter he hastily breaking up the seales thereof finds therein this language SOPHIA to CASSINO BEfore I was so happy to answere your first Letter your second which now cals home your Neece from me makes me againe double unfortunate Neither doe I hold it your resolutiâ—…n but rather your pleasure or at least your policie in thinking to make me beleeve you have formerly contracted her to another I will not say but that she deserves my Sonnes betters in mrriage but thus much I will speake for him out of my knowledge of his affection and â—…fidence of his zeale towards her that in heart and soule hee is a perfect honourer of her Vertues and a true Admirer of her Beauty Yea and no way to exceed or stray from the truth I have many pregnant reasons for this beliefe of mine that he is a Servant to the first and a Slave to the second and that his flame is so fervent towards her that he would thinke himselfe honoured to prostrate his life at her feet and esteeme himselfe blessed to receive his Death at her commands Thinke not then so slightly of him who thinkes so seriously and sincerely of her and this assure your selfe that if you will give her to him in marriage I will give nothing which I enjoyâ—… the world from him In obedience to your request and order I 〈◊〉 send you your Neece and I am sure that her proficiencie as her stay hath bin so small with 〈◊〉 in Cassall as it neither deserves her debt or your obligation your requitall or her remembrance My Sonne was desirous to have visited you with his Letter but that I commanâ—…d his pen and resolution herein to silence And notwithstanding all your prayers for his pâ—…erity I am assured he is more your reall Servant then you as yet are his intended friend God blesse your selfe and my Sonne and your Neece and my selfe and make us all the Lovers if his Grace and the heires of his glory SOPHIA Cassino upon the perusall of this Letter perceiving that the Lady Sophia and her Sonne Alphonso were so farre from giving over of their sute to his Neece Eleanora as they now prosecuted it with more importunity and violence then before hee not onely cals her respect toward him but her discretion in her selfe likewise in question to see that she is incredulous that he hath precontracted her or that his former Letters to her in that behalfe are not worthy of her beliefe and confidence Whereupon being sensible of a kind of disrespect and wrong whereof she had voluntarily made her selfe guilty towards him in the passage of this busines and absolutely refusing to hearken to or to entertaine any other parley and so to cast away his Neece on the vices and prodigalities of her Sonne He arming his pen with Discontent and Choller returnes her this peremptory answer which he covenanteth and resolves with himselfe shall be the very last that hee will either write or send to her in this nature CASSINO to SOPHIA I Had well hop'd and thought that your affection and judgement would have deemed my former Letters to you in contracting my Neece to bee currant not counterfeit yea to bee the pure truth and therefore no way my policie to informe you of the contrary for such proâ—…edings to any one especially to your selfe whom I so much respect for your Birth and honour 〈◊〉 your Vertues are as unworthy of me as I am and will be ignorant of them As for your Sonne his zeale to my Neece or his affection to her service in the way of marriage if it bee 〈◊〉 pure and fervent as you affirme it shee is the more bound to him but I notwithstanding â—…e lesse to your selfe in that you endeavour to make me an enemy to my selfe and to mine owne â—…nour which next to my soule is the best part of my selfe in perswading mee to take her from a Gentleman to whom by faith and promise I have solemnly given her and as this was my first so it shall be my last resolution and answer to you which I assure you I write not slightly but to use your owne words seriously and sincerely Therefore I thanke you for imposing silence to your Sonnes pen and if you will henceforth likewise prescribe the same Law to your owne herein I will take it both for a courtesie and a respect from you only inâ—… other matter whatsoever that you shall thinke me capable to sleed him or serve you your will and pleasure shall be my Law and your Letters shall receive many respects and kisses from me I have received my Neece and her tongue and mine eye and care informe me how much we both are bound to you for your care and her proficiencie in Cassall the which my Age and her Youth will expose to Vsury before I have the honour to pay you the Principall and she the Interest thereof God ever blesse you and your Sonne Alphonso and give you no lesse Ioy and Honour of him then I hope and desire to find in mine owne Neece Eleanora CASSINO The Lady Sophia grieves and her Sonne Alphonso stormes at the receipt of this unkind Letter from Cassino whereby they see their hopes of his Neece Eleanora reversed and frustrated and although this his flat refusall made her of opinion no more to stirre or enter-meddle herein yet as Lovers are impatient of denials and delayes some three weekes after hee prayes his Mother to ride over to Vercelie againe to prove Cassino and likewise to againe motion and solicit it to Eleanora hoping that her presence may purchase that which her Letters cannot procure and he is very desirous and willing to accompany her himselfe His Mother Sophis grants both his requests they arrive to Vercelie where the Mother courts the Vncle and the Sonne the Neece and although they find exceeding great Cheere and noble Entertainment yet in the point of their busines which is Alphonso's marriage to Eleanora they find themselves lost and their sute in vaine and so they are enforced to returne to Cassall with their definitive sentence of deniall which makes her bite the lip and infinitly grieves and exasperates her Sonne so now he againe casts off the Cloake of vertue and farre worse then ever flies to his old vices and sinnes which his Mother with her sweet perswasions and remonstrances can no longer retaine or conceale especially from his Whoring and Drunkennesse yea and which is most lamentable and deplorable hee will no longer serve God either abroad or at home for he forsakes the Church and wholly abandoneth that sweet and Heavenly Vertue of Prayer which is the spirituall food and life of the soule His Mother Sophia exceedingly weeps and grieves
her heart cannot but in dumbe Eloquence and silent Rhetorike bewray it him So as to omit the gifts presents and especially the letters which interchangeably past betweene them and which indeed powerfully assisted to the sympathising and cimenting of their youthfull affections it sufficeth that we take notice and knowledge that Valfontaines presence was La Pratiere's delight and the enjoying of her company his felicity and glory and that she in life and death would remaine his obedient and faithfull Wife and he her faithfull and loving Husband Onely she prayes him carefully and respectfully to conceale her affection to him and so likewise to observe her Father in seeking his consent to their marriage the which hee promiseth her shortly to performe For as soone as La Pratiere hath left Nantes and purposely retired her selfe home to her Fathers house at Saint Aignaw Valfontaine is not many dayes behind her where hee acquaints her Father Pennelle with his affection to his daughter seekes her in marriage requesteth his consent and with many reasons fairely and discreetly endeavoreth to induce him thereunto where for three or foure dayes hee takes up his lodging and residence under pretence to court the Daughter whom we know he hath already won but his sute is no way pleasing but distastfull to Pennelle who although he know that Monsieur de Caerstainge his Father as well for lands as blood is every way rather his Superiour then his Equall yet because his Daughter La Pratiere is his only child and heire and Valfontaine but a Cadet or younger Brother therefore covetousnesse makes him assume this resolution that hee will have none of him for his Sonne in Law but this reason and conclusion hee conceales to himselfe and so in generall termes gives Valfontaine a cold and averse answere little better in effect then a flat deniall and thus for his first Iourney Valfontaine takes leave of his sweet La Pratiere no way doubting but that his second to her will prove lesse distastfull and more fortunate he leaves Nantes and rides home to Vannes Being arrived at Vannes he acquaints his Father and Mother with his affection and sute to Madamoyselle La Pratiere the onely daughter and heire as we have heard of Monsieur de Pennelle of Saint Aignaw whereunto because they know him to bee rich and noble and his Daughter faire and vertuous they give good approbation and allowance when Valfontaine praying his Father to ride over to Monsieur de Pennelle to conferre with him about this busines whose presence hee hopeth will effect that with him which hee feares and knowes his poore power cannot But his Father although he be very glad to procure his Sonnes advancement and content by this match yet being at that time much troubled with the Gout he excuseth himselfe upon his indisposition and so defers off that Iourney to another time Valfontaine missing of his Father deemes it rather expedient then impertinent to entreat his brother Quatbrisson herein to whom hee fully relates what hath past betweene Pennelle and himselfe but withall conceales upon what termes he stands with La Pratiere or that she is any way his or hee hers either by contract or promise to the end that he may have no just cause either to taxe her immodesty or condemne her indiscretion in so suddainely giving her selfe to him Quatbrisson very willingly yeelds to his brothers request when followed with a â—…raine and equipage answerable to their rancke and quality and armed with their Fathers Letter to Monsieur de Pennelle they take horse and ride to Saint-Aignaw Now as it is the errour or nature of Lovers to be still unsecret Secretaries in delighting to talke and pratle of their Mistresses whom they esteeme their soveraigne good and chiefest felicity So all the way betweene Vannes and Saint Aignaw Valfontaine could neither refraine nor restraine his tongue from painting forth La Pratiere in all the excellencie of her prayses and from extolling her beauty and perfections above the skies yea he ran so curious a division and so ample a comment on the wonders and raritie of her beauty that his verball relation already prepared his Brothers eyes to behold a female Master-peece of nature in La Pratiere but being arrived to her Fathers house a little before dinner time and seeing and saluting first him then her at the very first encounter and sight his senses are so surprised with the sweetnesse of her countenance and so taken with she exquisitnesse of her feature as he now finds that his brothers report and prayses of her come infinitly short the dignity and excellencie of her beauty Dinner being ended and Quatbrisson delivering his Fathers Letter to Pennelle with whom making a slight and superficiall conference concerning his brothers affection and sute to his Daughter he turnes from him to her who dying her milke white cheeks with a roseat blush to entertaine him hee ravished with the delicacie of so amorous an encounter and sweet object could not like wise refraine from blushing to see her blush when enquiring of her if she pleased to take the aire of the Garden where her Father and his Brother were already gone and attended them and she replying that his pleasure therein should be hers hee taking her by her hand conducts her thither where Valfontaine in civilitie purposely walking aloofe off because he hoped and assured himselfe that his brother Quatbrisson now meant effectually to speake with his Mistresse in his behalfe there being then no witnesses to their conference but only the sweet Quiresters of the woods the Thrushes and Nightingales who purposely and pleasantly sate on every bush and tree to delight them with their melifluous melodie the very first words he administred and directed to her was That if shee pleased to sweare her tongue to secrecie to what hee should now say and deliver to her hee would reveale her a secret which should infinitly import her good La Pratiere wondring at the nature of Quatbrissons first speech and request and what it mought meane or concerne stood a little while mute and silent not knowing what to conceive thereof much lesse what to answer thereto But at last considering that Valfontaine was her Lover and Quatbrisson his brother shee imagined there was some plot secretly compacted betweene them that if her Father would not condiscend to their desires that they had then resolved to steale her away from him and so to make it a Clandestine marriage Whereupon her affection being desirous to know the certaintie hereof and her curiositie ambitious to see this abstruse mysterie unlocked she grants him his request vowing to impose secrecie to her tongue in what he should deliver or intrust her with When he kissing her and evaporating many farre fetch'd sighes as the Herauld to proclaime his affection he tels her that her incomparable beauty hath captivated his thoughts and made his heart both her Tributary and her Prisoner that hee envies his brothers happinesse in having the
him this Letter LA PRATIERE to VALFONTAINE MY promise owes you this Letter whereby I give you to understand that I know not whether you have greater cause to love mee or to hate your brother Quatbrisson in regard he vowes hee affects me dearer then your selfe and hath attempted to rob you of your Wife and consequently me of my Husband and as this is ingratitude in a friend so it must needs be treachery in a Brother I have heard his courting and seene his complements tending that way but for your sake I relish those with distast these with neglest and himselfe with contempt and disdaine He hath won my Father to his will but rest you confident my deare Valfontaine that he neither can nor shall draw me to his desire And because true affection especially in accidents of this nature cannot still bee exempt of feare therefore if any arise or engender in your thoughts let this dissipate and dispell it that although my Father have banished you his house yet his Daughter is till death constantly resolved to retaine and cherish you in her heart and none but you Manage this your Pratieres advice with discretion towards my Father and not with choller towards your Brother and be but a little time a patient Spectator of my affection and constancie to you and you shall assuredly see him act his owne shame and your glory his affliction and your content and desire LA PRATIERE Valfontaine having received and read this Letter the base ingratitude and foule treachery of his brother Quatbrisson doth extremely afflict and torment him yea the knowledge and remembrance thereof throwes him into such passions of choller and fumes of revenge as once he resolved to right himselfe on him by sending him a Challenge and fighting with him vowing that the bonds of nature were not by farre so strong as those of affection and that his brother having given the first cause of offence and breach of amity betwixt them it was no marvell that he tooke that course and preferred that forme of proceeding to any other But then againe considering his deare La Pratieres injunction and prohibition from choller this last reason ore-swaied and prevailed against his former resolution when knowing himselfe infinitly obliged to her for her courtesie and constancie so sweetly expressed to him in this her Letter he can doe no lesse then returne her an answer thereof in requitall the which he doth by her owne Messenger in these termes VALFONTAINE to LA PRATIERE OF all men of the world I least thought that my brother Quatbrisson would have proved my Rivall in attempting to love you because he perfectly knowes I affect you farre dearer then the whole world yea this errour or as you justly terme it this treachery of his is so odious so strange to me as it had farre exceeded my beliefe if your affection and constancie had not so courteously revealed it to me in your Letter the which I both blushed and palled to peruse Neither is it any thankes to him that he missed of his desire in missing of you rather to your vertuous selfe which distasted his courting and complements for his owne sake and disdained him for mine Deare and sweet La Pratiere in that my brother hath won your Father I exceedingly grieve but in that I have not lost his Daughter I farre more triumph and rejoyce But why thinke I of losing you sith to call your constancie in question is no lesse then to prophane your affection and my judgement and so to make my selfe both uncapable and unworthy of you for how can my love to you retaine any spice or sparke of feare for that being banished your Fathers house I am yet so happy to recover so safe a Harbour and Sanctuary yea so precious a Temple as your heart In which regard it is every way fit that your requests should be to me commands for otherwise my Sword had already called me Coward if by this time I had not called my Brother to a strict and severe account for this his treachery I will still observe your Father with respect though he refuse to respect me with observance and for my ingratefull and treacherous Brother he may act his owne shame and affliction but cannot conduce to content or desire because that must soly proceed from your selfe sith in the sweet enjoying of you to my Wife consists the onely content of my life and the chiefest of all my earthly felicity VALFONTAINE Some two dayes after that La Pratiere was made joyfull with this answer of her Valfontaine shee hath againe sorrowfull newes of Quatbrissons arrivall to her Fathers house at Saint-Aignaw who had purposely given it out to his brother Valfontaine at Vannes that he rides to Hennbon He here renewes his late sute to the Father and Daughter but he finds them both in the same humours and resolutions he left them he willing and she coy hee desirous to have him his Sonne in law and she resolute never to make him but his brother Valfontaine her Husband He profereth her many rich gifts and presents and a blancke to write downe what Iointure she pleaseth to demand but she peremptorily refuseth it all and bids him bestow it on some other of whom it may find better acceptance yea I may safely say and truely affirme that their affections are farre more opposite and contrary then their sexes for the more he sees her he loves her and the oftner she beholds him the more she hates him so that when he apparantly perceives that she deeply vowes to her Father and himselfe onely to marry his brother Valfontaine or her Grave he seeing his labour for the time present lost and his affection to her in vaine having nothing left to comfort him against the repulse of this amorous sute but the constant friendship of her Father hee sorrowfully takes his leave of them and rides home to Vannes but as close as hee beares this his Iourney from his brother Valfontaine yet La Pratiere holds her selfe bound to signifie it to him the which the very next day she doth by her second Letter which speakes thus LA PRATIERE to VALFONTAINE I Hold it a part of my duty and affection to advertise you that these two dayes I have beene againe importunately haunted and solicited by your unkind Brother Quatbrisson for marriage but hee hath found my first answer to bee my second and last Yea I have so nipt his vaine hopes in their blossomes by signifying to him and my Father my infallible resolution either to wed you or my grave as I thinke except their hopes betray their judgements the one is assured and the other confident that time will make it apparant to the world that my words will prove deeds and that the last will make the first reall But if your said brother will yet notwithstanding farther exercise his folly in my patience and so make himselfe as ridiculous to mee as to you he is treacherous I out
of the deare affection and tender respect which I beare you will then fall on my knees to my Father to hasten his consent to our marriage that in seeking my content you may therein find your owne and this is my resolution wherewith if yours concurre and sympathise Heaven may but Earth shall not crosse our desires LA PRATIERE Valfontaine receives this second Letter from his Mistris with smiles and frownes with smiles to see her inviolable constancie and affection with frownes to behold his brother Quatbrissons continuall malice and treacherie towards him the which considering as also because it so neerely concernes him hee resolves to taxe him thereof and to see whether by faire requests and perswasions hee may reclaime him from affecting his faire and deere La Pratiere and so to give over his sute to her but first hee knowes himselfe indebted and obliged to returne her an answer to this her last Letter the which he doth in these termes VALFONTAYNE to LA PRATIERE IT is every way your affection no way your duty sweet La Pratiere which againe advertiseth me of my Brother Quatbrissons perseverance in his treachery towards mee by seeking to betray and bereave mee of your selfe in whom my heart and thoughts imparadise their most soveraigne earthly felicity and your resolution in nipping his hopes and your Fathers will by electing me or your grave for your Husband doth so ravish my heart with joy and so rap my conceits in an extasie of sweet content as I am confident God hath reserved La Pratiere to bee Valfontaines sweet Wife and he to bee her deare Husband But as I know not whether my unkind and treacherous Brother will yet farther bewray you his folly in exercising your patience with his importunity so to save you that labour and penance which for my sake and love you are ready to impose to your selfe I am both ready and resolved not onely to fall on my knees to your Father but also to your sweet selfe that our marriage be hastned for as your resolution herein is and ever shall be mine so our hearts and thoughts sympathising in these wishes I hope that both Heaven and Earth have resolved not to crosse but shortly to consummate and finish our desires VALFONTAINE He having thus dispatched and sent away his Letter to his sweet and faire Mistresse hee now resolves to have some conference with his unkind Brother to see what a brazen face hee either will or can put upon this his ingratitude and treachery But Quatbrissons policie will anticipate and prevent him for he having his heart and contemplations deepely fixed on La Pratieres beauty and having ranne over all the inventions of his art and affection how to make her forsake he coynesse and so how to obtaine her for his wife hee at last resolves to faine himselfe sicke and so then to reveale to his brother Valfontaine that it is his deare and fervent affection to La Pratiere which is the cause thereof To which purpose hee keepes his bed and in his perfect health is twice let blood thereby to looke ill when sending for his brother to his Chamber and exempting all other company thence he acquaints and informes him That since he first saw La Pratiere hee still most tenderly loved her and that hee must now die because she will not affect and love him He prayes and conjures him by vertue of all the same blood which equally streames in both their bodies for the saving and preserving of his life that hee will now abandon his affection from her and so yeeld him up all the power and interest that hee hath or pretends to have in her and that in requitall thereof if occasion require hee shall still find him ready not onely to expose all his meanes but his dearest blood and life at his command A request so unjust and a proposition so devoid of common sense and reason as Valfontaine observing it and therein seeing his brothers impudencie now growne to the height of basenesse and folly hee exceedingly incensed thereat with a disdainefull looke returnes him this sharpe and bitter yet deserved reply Was it not enough that I understood your treachery by my faire and deare La Pratiere in seeking and attempting to bereave me of her but that thou art thy selfe become so sottish to â—…ake thy tongue the Advocate as well to plead and apologise thy treachery to me as to publish thy shame to thy selfe and to the whole world in seeking and desiring me to surcease my affection to her and to renounce my interest of her to thy selfe No no base Quatbrisson for henceforth I highly disdaine to terme or esteeme you my brother I give thee to understand and know that in heart and in honour she is mine and I hers and therefore you shall die and damne before I will permit thee to inrich thy selfe with my losse of her whom I affect and prise a thousand times dearer then my selfe or then all the lands and treasures of the world when without any other farewell he hastily and chollerickly flings forth his Chamber from him Quatbrisson seeing his brothers furious departure and remarking his peremptory and incivill answer to him hee in his heart and thoughts vowes revenge and in his resolutions sweares to make him repent it To which effect forsaking his bed and abandoning his counterfeit sicknesse his choller hardly affording his patience three dayes to recover his blood and strength but knowing his brother to be now at Nantes with their Vncle De Massy hee seekes out a deare and intimate friend of his named Monsieur La Roche whom ingaging to be his second in a Duell against his owne brother Valfontaine they ride over to Nantes when comming to 〈◊〉 small Parish termed Saint-Vallerge within a league of the Citie he writes a Challenge delivers it to La Roche and so dispeeds him away with it to his broâ—…r La Roche comes to Nantes finds out Valfontaine at the President his Vncles â—…use being in the company of a very intimate friend of his of that Citie naâ—…ed Monsieur de Pont Chausey and delivereth him his brothers Challenge fast sealed â—…e which hee hastily breaking open and perusing hee finds that it speakes this â—…guage QVATBRISSON to VALFONTAINE â—…N regard it is impossible for both of â—…s to enjoy the faire La Pratiere to wife therefore it is fit that one of us dye that the other may survive and live to be enriched with so â—…ious a treasure and crowned with so inestimable a blessing and felicity which considering as also because my modest requests have undeservedly met with thy incivill carriage and beene requited with thy malicious execrations Therefore find it not strange to see affection give a Law to Nature and mine honour to contemne thy contempt and malice in enviting thee and thy Second to meet me and mine with your single Rapiers to morrow twixt two or three after dinner in a faire meddow at the East end of
by his lust as that was likewise by the Devill hee rides over to her Fathers house and alighting from his horse cals there for some wine but with his Hauke on his fist and his laquay and dogs at his heeles thereby the better to over-vaile and colour out his lascivious designe and inâ—…ent And that the Reader may the better and apparantly behold this countrey Virgin Marieta shee was aged of some sixteene yeares and towards her seventeenth tall and straight and rather a little endining to fatnesse then to leanesse her haire was of a bright flaxen colour and she of so fresh a beauty and sweet and delicate complexion that her eyes were capable to inflame desire and her cheeks to engender and exact affection so that as it was a wonder among many to find so delicate a Countrey-lasse it was also many wonders in one to see how sweetly her rich beauty graced her poore clothes whiles they though in vaine endeavour to disgrace it Quatbrisson no sooner sees Marieta but she is so faire and amiable in his eyes as they informe him that report comes infinitely short of her beauty when burning in the flames of his beastly concupiscence towards her his lust so exceedingly out braves his reason that his eyes and heart doe already doe homage to hers and he is so farre caught and insnared in the contemplation of her fresh youth and beauty as hee vowes to leave no art unattempted to obtaine his lustfull desires in enjoying of her virginity To which end hee very often and secretly visiteth her discovereth her his lewd desires and affection gives her Gloves Bonlace Lawne woorsted Stockings and the like trifles thereby the sooner to prevaile with her when God knowes this faire poore maiden was so chaste as yet shee knew not what belonged to unchastity such was her obscure dwelling and innocent education and yet behold the Devill was so busie with her and Quatbrisson with the Devill to draw and prostitute her to sinne as she was so farre in love with his gay clothes sugred speeches and faire promises rich gifts and especially because hee was a Gentleman that in a few weekes shee had hardly the power or will to deny him any thing no not her selfe But whiles thus Quatbrisson laies close siege to the chastity of the daughter her Mother Iane Chaumett being of a quicke wit and sharpe apprehension measuring his youth by her Daughters beauty begins to mistrust and feare that by his often visits he endeavored to put a rape on her vertue in seeking to inrich himselfe with the losse of her maiden-head the which to prevent she forbids him her house shewing him that she had rather dye then live to see her Daughter made a Strumpet adding farther that if hereupon he did not forbeare her house and her daughters company shee would forthwith acquaint his Father Monsieur de Caerstainge therewith alleadging that how close so ever hee bore himselfe shee knew him to be his Sonne and heire and termed Quatbrisson which crosse speeches of hers doe much afflict and perplexe him and the more because hee sees he cannot now approach Marieta and which is worst of all in regard he knowes not whom to employ towards her to win her to his desires But at length remembring that hee was well acquainted with an old Franciscan Frier of Auroy named Father Symplician who many yeares begged the Countrey for the repairing of their Monastery and with whom he had often caroused and beene merry He therefore holds him a fit Instrument and Agent for his purpose and so rides over to Auroy and sends for him to his lodging where giving him good cheere and well heating his head with wine he there from point to point discovereth this secret and laies open himselfe to him So this old Frier loving his cups better then his beads and Monsiâ—… de Quatbrisson better then his Guardian because hee had twice formerly expelled him the Monastery for some of his dishonest and debauched prancks hee freely engageth himselfe to him affirming that he well knew both Father Mother and Daughter having heretofore many times layen in their house when hee hath beene over taken either by night or raine Hypocrisie is the Devils Maske or Visard and there is no way so subtle or sinful to deceive as under the Cloake and Colour of Religion and therefore it is a most pernitious and odious shame to Christians that those who professe piety should prophane it This good fellow Frier Symplician taking the tide of time and the wind of opportunity under the pretext of visiting some of his kinsfolkes leaves Auroy repaires to Vannes and so to Malliots house in the countrey where purposely faigning himselfe sicke thereby to procure himselfe the better colour for his stay and the better meanes for the dispatch of this love busines for Monsieur Quatbrisson there Malliot and his wife Iane Chaumet out of their respect to Religion and reverence to Church-men entertaine him lovingly and attend him carefully and diligently thinking no cost too much nor any meat care or labour enough which they spent and bestowed on him But we shall see him requite this Hospitality and repay this courtesie of theirs with a base ingratitude For in the absence of the Father and Mother this deboshed Fryer teacheth their faire Daughter Marieta a new Catechisme hee tells her that Monsieur Quatbrisson is deeply in love with her that if shee will hearken to his Affection and so become flexible to his desires hee will shortly steale her away from her Parents and either maintaine her Gentlewoman-like in brave apparell or els marry her to some rich Serving-man or Farmers Sonne with whom she might live merrily and at her hearts content all the dayes of her life adding withall that it was pitty 〈◊〉 delicate fresh beauty should bee so strictly and obscurely mewed up in her Fathers poore Cottage and that it was a shame to her to prove an enemy to Nature who had beene so bountifull and so true a friend to her with many more obsceâ—… reasons and deboshed speeches looking that way the which in modesty I cannot remember without shame nor relate without detestation So this pandâ—…rising old Fryer degenerating from his habit profession and name what with the honey or rather indeed the poyson of his speeches and promises and the sugar of some gifts and tokens which he delivered her from Quâ—…brisson he drawes this harmlesse and innocent poore Countrey mayd so farre to forget her selfe her Parents and God that in hope of rich apparell and a good husband shee tells Father Symplician that she is wholly Quatbrissons aâ—… command and that for his sake and love she is absolutely resolved to forsake her Father and Mother and to goe away with him any night or day when he pleaseth to fetch her the which he shortly doth and shee accomplisheth And thus was the odious ingratitude of this Fryer Sympâ—…cian towards honest Malliot and his Wife for his good cheere lodging
very sorrowfull and repentant for his former ill carriage and unkindnesse towards her whereof he prayes her pardon and constantly vowes reformation so this his vertuous and kinde wife Hester freely forgets and forgives Vasti her husband and then hee gives her many kisses in requitall and bids his sonne George to provide good cheere for Supper and the better to seale and solemnize this their reconciliation and atonement hee bids him to invite some of their Kinsfolkes and Neighbours to bee present thereat who were formerly acquainâ—…d with their debates and differences where no good cheere and choice wine is wanting So they are wonderfull frolicke pleasant and merry all rejoyce at this good newes and highly applaud their Sonne George for his discreet carriage and care in the managing of this busines Thus all things seeme to be fully reconciled and here Vasti drinkes many times to his wife Hester and shee againe to her husband with much affection and joy When supper being ended their guests departed and their Sonne George having received both of their blessings they betake themselves to their Chamber and Bed Now in all humane sense and reason who would once conceive or thinke that after this Meadow conference of Vasti to his Son George but that this his now Table reconciliation with his wife Hester were true and pronounced with much iâ—…egrity from himselfe with deep affection to her and infinite zeale and devotion to God but Ahlas nothing lesse for here I am inforced to relate that Vasti the same night had not laien in bed by his wife five or six houres but she good woman sleeping in her innocencie he as a devill incarnate was waking in his malice and revenge and laughing in his sleeve to see how cunningly and subtilly he hath lulld â—…eep the courage of his Sonne with a Meadow conference and the iealousiâ—… of 〈◊〉 Wife with a Supper and a few sweet words and kisses When here againe the the Devill blowing the coles to his lust and marshalling up his former obscene desires and resolutions onely his body is in bed with his wife Hester here in Fribourg but his affection and heart is still in the bosome of his strumpet Salyna in Cleraux yea the Devill I say is now both so busie and so strong with him that as a hellish councellour and prodigious pen-man he writes downe this definitive sentence in his thoughts and fatall resolution in his heart That Salyna he will love and his wife Hester he cannot and that shortly he will give so sharpe a revenge to his son George for his disobedience towards him and for beating of his Salyna as she shall have no further cause to feare his cruelty nor himselfe his courage and because he prefers her love to his owne life as being dangerously intangled and captivated in the snares of her youth and beauty hee likewise resolves to write and send her a Letter the very next morning Now judge Christian Reader is not this like to prove a sweet reformation and reconciliatlon of Vasti to his wife and sonne sith these are the sparkes which diffuse and flie out from the fire of his lust and the fatall lines which issue forth from the Centre of his bloudy heart and sinfull soule for in the morning before his wife is out of her bed hee is stirring and writes this Letter to Salyna which hee sends her by a trusty messenger VASTI to SALYNA I Am plotting of a businesse which will infinitely import both our contents so if thou wilt resolve to brooke my absence with as much patience as I doe thine with sorrow I shall finish it the sooner and consequently the sooner see thee I have met with an Accident which I thought was wholly impossible for mee to meet with and though at first it brought me feare and affliction yet at length I was inforced to interpose discretion insteed of courage thereby to draw security out of policie which I could not hope for out of resistance for I must informe thee of this truth that if my Zeale and Affection to thee had not beene of greater power and consideration then that of mine owne life I should then with more facility and willingnesse rather have hazarded it for thy sake then have reserved it for mine own But the mists of those doubts are now dissipated and the â—…lowds of these feares blowne away or if not I will shortly take that order that thou shalt have no cause to feare the one or I to doubt the other When I shall be so happy to see thee I know not but if Fortune prove propitious to my desires and wishes my returne shall be acted with as much celerity as it is eagerly longed for of me with Affection and Passion VASTI Salyna receives this letter of Vasti with equall feare and joy for as she was glad to hear of him and his news so she was sorowfull as fearing that for her sake he should imbarke himselfe in some bloudy businesse which might proove ruinous to them both And although her apprehension doe farre exceed her knowledge herein yet her suspicion will give her no truce neither can her jealousie administer any peace either to her heart or minde before she be resolved by Vasti of the doubtfull and different truth hereof Shee is so prophane and lascivious as she can content her selfe to make him guilty of Fornication but yet Religion hath left some sparkes and impressions of Piety in her that she would still have him innocent of Revenge and Murther to which effect by his own messenger she returnes him this answer SALYNA to VASTI BEcause you deeme mee unworthy to know your Designes therefore I have assumed the boldnesse to feare them in which regard and consideration finde it not strange that I 〈◊〉 intreat you to ingrave in your heart and imprint in your memory that Malice is most commonly squint ey'd and Revenge still blinde therefore if you will not ruine our affections and fortunes take heed that you imbrue not your heart or hand in innocent bloud for Murther is a crying and a Scarlet sinne which God may forgive and make white by his Mercie but will not by his Iustice whereof this my Letter of Advice to you shall be a witnesse betwixt God your selfe and mee and therefore as you love mee bazard not your life for my sake but preserve it for your owne As it is in your will to make your stay from me as long or short as you please so it shall be in my pleasure to judge thereof and thereby likewise of your affection to me I wish I could be more yours then I am and your selfe as often in my sight and company as I desire God prosper you in your stay and mee in your absence SALYNA Vasti having thus settled his affection and affaires with Salyna he sees with griefe that it is now almost impossible for him to see her in Cleraux because of the vigilant and watchfull eye of his
the remembrance of his duty to her and that he left him well in Turin expecting the benefit of good company to travell up to Rome whereat harmlesse loving Mother she weepes for joy and yet rejoyceth in weeping And now for some ten dayes after his returne from acting this wofull and deplorable tragedy on his sonne hee keepes a good correspondencie and decorum with his wife Hester but at the end thereof soly forgetting his heart and soule his God and his conscience his promises and oaths and his attonement and reconciliation hee againe falls into the dangerous relapse of his former old Vice Whordome and Drunkennesse and yet counselled by a better Angell then his owne hee forbeares to beate her as well seeing and now knowing that thereby nothing redounded to him but scandall and scorne from all his Neighbours Friends and Kinsfolkes But now his lust is againe so great and his desires so fervently lascivious towards Salyna that in staying lesse then eight weekes hee thinkes hee hath stayed more then seven yeares from her when pretending another journey to his Wife hee rides over to Cleraux to her Salyna gives him many kisses for his welcome and as many more for relating her that hee hath sent away his sonne George to Rome to reside and live there for shee being his Fathers Strumpet her guilty and sinfull conscience made her stand in extreame feare of him but yet amidst her kisses and pleasures with him remembring the tenour and contents of his last Letter to her and her answer thereof to him her thoughts are something touched with doubt and her minde assaulted and perplexed with feare that the Father had played no faire play with his Sonne but that in regard of his inveterate malice to him for beating her hee might have sent him to heaven and not to Rome To which purpose shee feeles and sounds him every way but he is as constant to denye it as shee curious to inquire after it So shee believing that hee had assumed no bloudy thoughts against his Sonne she is not yet so devoyd of grace or exempt of goodnesse but shee gives him this religious caveat for a Memento which she delivers to him accentively and passionatly That if shee knew hee had made away his Sonne by any untimely end or unnaturall accident or that hee were any way accessary to any prodigious disaster which had befalne him shee vowd to God and swore unto him that shee would spit in his face disdaine his company and reject his affection and himselfe for ever for that shee was most assured and confident that God in his due time would poâ—…re down vengeance and confusion on those whom the Devill had seduced and drawn to imbrue their hearts and hands in innocent bloud But Vasti is past grace and therefore slightly passeth over these vertuous speeches of his vicious Salyna with a denyall and a kisse and then againe they fall to their mirth and familiarity and hee stayes there all that day and lyes with her the whole night follâ—…wing but still Salyna resembling her selfe and her profession is very fingrative of his gold and he as sottishly prodigall in giving it to her as shee is covetous to crave and desire it of him so after hee had glutted himselfe with his beastly pleasures of Salyna hee the next day rides home to his wife who knowing where and with whom hee had beene and considering it to be the first time of his new errour and his first relapse into his old one since their reconciliation shee sayes nothing to him to discontent him but yet thinkes and feares the more When retiring her selfe into her Garden after many bitter sighes and teares for these her immerited crosses and calamities shee there grieves and repents her selfe for permitting her sonne George to goe to Rome and a thousand thousand times wisheth his returne to assist and comfort her but her teares herein prove as vaine as her wishes are impossible to be effected although at present very needfull and necessary for her For now Vasti her husband to make her sorrowes the more infinite her hopes the more desperate and her afflictions the more remedilesse fals againe to his old practice of beating her notwithstanding all his late oathes and new promises to the contrary but he the more especially playes the Tyrant with her in this kind when he comes home to her from his cups and whores for she knowes with griefe that he retaines and entertaines more then Salyna onely she is too sure that Salyna hath his purse his company his affection and his heart at her command farre more then her selfe she sends her sighes to heaven and her prayers to God that out of the profunditie of his mercie and goodnesse hee would bee pleased either to amend her Husband or to end her selfe for griefes sorrowes and afflictions are so heaped on her and like the waves of the Sea fall so fast one upon the necke of the other to her that she is weary of her life and of her selfe When on a time after hee had cruelly beaten her torne off her head attire given her a blacke eye and swollen face and desheveled and disparpled her haire about her eares and shoulders making God her Protector and her Chamber her Sanctuary exempting her servants who came to assist and comfort her and fast bolting her doore she to her selfe very pensively and mournfully breathes forth these speeches O poore Hester what sensible griefe is it to thy heart to thinke and matchlesse torments to thy mind to see and remember that whiles thou art true to thy husband Vasti hee proves both ingratefull and false to thee and that hee continually makes it his delight and glory to hate thee who art his deare wife purposely to bestow his time and his affection yea to cast away his estate and himselfe on his lewd young strumpet Salyna O were hee more happy and lesse guilty in that lascivious and beastly crime I should then be lesse miserable and more patient and joyfull in the remembrance thereof O how wretched is his estate and condition and therefore how miserable is thine in that hee wilfully forsakes God and his Church to follow adultery and drunkennesse and abandoneth all piety and prayer to shipwracke himselfe and which is worse his soule upon all carnall pleasures and voluptuous sâ—…sualities The which grieving to see and almost drowning my selfe night and day in my teares to understand I have none but God to assist mee in these my bitter afflictions and miseries and under God none but my hopefull Sonne George lest to comfort mee in these my unparalelled calamities and disconsolations Therefore O God if ever thou heardest the prayers or beheldest the teares of a poâ—…re miserable distressed woman because I can neither now see nor futurely hope 〈◊〉 any reformation in the life and actions of my debauched and vicious Husband be I beseech thee so indulgent and gracious to me thy most unworthy Hand-maid that
inestimable valew which to expresse the truth in one word bred much admiration in my thoughts but no veneration at all in my heart So I leaue Loretto and returne againe to our History which was the onely Relique that I brought thence The two first dayes our three Venetian Gallants visit this holy Chappell with much solemnity and devotion where not to Iesus the Sonne but to Marie the Mother they offer up their prayers and pay their vowes of thankfulnesse for their deliverance from the late storme which put them and their Ship in safety at Ancona But the third day there betides an unexpected accident to Morisini which will administer matter and life to this History Hee leaves his two friends and companions in bed and steales away to the holy Chappell where being on his knees to his devotion hee neere to him sees a sweet young Gentlewoman likewise on her knees at her devotion and orisons very rich in apparell but incomparably faire and beautifull He curiously markes her Roseat Lilly Cheekes her piercing Eye the Amber Tresses of her Haire her Alablaster Necke and Paps and her streight and slender wast all which made her to bee the Pride and Glory of Nature At whose sight and contemplation his minde is so sodainely inflamed with affection to her that hee who heretofore could not possibly bee drawne to love any Gentlewoman or Mayden now despight of himselfe and of his contrary inclination and resolution hee at first sight is inforced to love her and only her For the more hee sees her the more hee affects her which engendereth such strange motions and sodaine passions in his heart that the sweetnesse of this sweet object enforced his eyes incessantly to gaze on her both with affection and admiration Our Morosini would faine have boarded and saluted her there but that hee would not make Heaven so much stoope to Earth nor prophane the holinesse of his affection and of this place with such impietie But at last seeing her to rise from her prayers and so to depart the Chappell hee could not hee would not so leave her nor forsake the benefit of this sweet opportunity to make himselfe knowne to her When withdrawing his Devotion from the old Lady of Loretto to give it to this his young Lady and pretended Mistris in Loretto hee trippes away after her into the body of the Church where seeing her only attended by a well clad Boy and her young waiting Gentlewoman after salutes on both sides performed hee there profereth her his service in these generall Tearmes Moros I know not sweet young Lady whether I may terme my selfe happy or unfortunate in being this morning honoured with the sight of so beautifull a Nymph and Virgin as your selfe because in thinking to gaine my soule I feare I have lost my heart in the amorous extasies of that delitious Object and Contemplation therefore I beseech you thinke it not strange that having received my wound from your Beautie I flie to your Courtesie for my cure and remedy thereof and that seeing you so weakely guarded I presume to request the favour of you that you will please to accept of my Company to reconduct you to your home This young Lady seeing her selfe so much gazed on by this unknowne Gentleman in the holy Chappell and now so courteously saluted by him in the Church shee could not refraine from dying her Lilly Cheekes with a Vermillian blush when having too much beautie to bee too unkinde and yet too much coynesse and modestie at first to prove too courteous to him shee brooking her name well returnes him this answer Imp. Sir you being so happie to have given up your Soule this morning in your devotion to the blessed Lady of this place I doe not a little wonder that you so soone prophane it by endevoring to make mee believe that you have lost your heart in the contemplation of so poore and so unworthie a beautie as mine For herein as you prophane your zeale to her so doe you your affection to me sith that should bee more sacred and this not so much faigned or hypocriticall But such wounds still carry their cures with them and therefore as my beauty was not capable to occasion the one so shall not my courtesie be guilty in granting the other If my weake guard bee not strong enough to conduct mee to my home my Innocency and Chastity are as also to defend mee from the snares and lures of those Gentlemen whose best Vertue consists more in their tongues then their soules and more in their complements then their actions Of which number fearing and taking you to be one and my Fathers house being so nigh I shall not want your company because as I deserve so I desire it not and therefore I will leave you and yet not without leaving my thankes with you for this your proffered favour and unexpected courtesie Although Morosini could not refraine from smiling at this her sharpe and wittie answer yet hee seeing his complement retorted and his courtesie returned with a refusall hee could not yet refraine from biting his Lip thereat But againe considering her to bee exceeding faire and vertuous and hoping withall that her father might likewise prove rich hee would not disgrace his breeding nor make himselfe a Novice in Love to bee put off with this her first repulse but againe sounds her in these tearmes Moros My devotion to the Mother of our Saviour doth not prophane but I hope blesse and sanctifie my affection to you and therefore if it bee not the custome of the young Ladies and Gentlewomen of Loretto to use strangers with this discourtesie I cannot believe that you would purposly thus exercise your wit in my patience by inflicting on mee this your unjust refusall As for your feigned shewes of Hipocrisie I am as innocent of them as you suspect and tearme mee guiltie and have no more snares or lures in proferring you my affection and service than that which your pure beautie and chast vertues give mee Neither am I of the number of those Gentlemen whom you please to traduce and disparage because their hearts and tongues agree not or for that their actions prove not their speeches and complements reall because I as much disdaine as you condemne them Therefore if you cannot give me the courtesie I pray at least lend me the favour that I may waite on you to your Fathers house whom I shall ever bee readie to serve with as much humility for your sake as to cherish and obey your selfe with affection for mine owne This answer of Morosini makes this young Gentlewoman whose name he and wee shall anon know as sweetly calme as right now shee was unkindlie passionate so that looking stedfastly on him and composing her countenance rather to smiles than frownes she rejoynes with him thus Imp. It is the custome of the Ladies and Gentlewoman of Loretto to use Strangers rather with too much respect than too little favour
which shee expends at this their sorrowfull departure in so much as I cannot truly define whether hee then gave her more kisses or shee him teares So here shee vowes to remaine unmarried till his returne and hee both promiseth and sweares that he will returne within one yeare to her and marrie her the which the more authentiâ—…ally to seale and confirme hee gives her a rich Emerauld ring from his finger and shee him a faire carkamet of Orient Pearle from her necke with whom the great droppes of her teares trickling downe her vermillion cheekes seemed to have some perfect sympathy and resemblance Of which interchangeable and mutuall contract Astonicus and Donato are joyfull witnesses who seeke to adde comfort and consolation to these her unspeakeable sorrowes and unparalleld afflictions for this their separation whiles Imperia in the meane time at the verie thought and consideration hereof shee gazing on her Morosini seemes to burst her heart with sighing and to drowne the Roses and Lillies of her beautie with the showers and rivulets of her teares So Morosini being againe and againe called away by Astonicus and Donato hee then takes leave of Bondino and then of his deere and sweet Daughter Imperia in whose heart and brest hee imparadiseth all his most religious prayers and treasureth up all his amarous desires and wishes and from thence with his two faithfull friends and companions takes horse for Ancona where as soone as they come their long boate is a shoare and takes them in when the Winde continuing still exceeding faire they presently for Corfu and Constanti ople Where wee will leave them floating on the Seas exposed to the favour and mercy of the windes and according to the order of our History come wee againe to speake of Bondino and of his sweet and faire daughter Imperia to see what matter they will administer us and what Actions and Accidents they will produce Whiles our faire Imperia day and night weepes and sighes for the absence of her dearest and second selfe Morosini and with her eies and hands elected to Heaven continually praies for his prâ—…speritie and returne her old Father Bondino assumes a direct contrary course and resolution for within two or three moneths of Morisini's departure hee makes it his greatest care and ambition to provide another husband for this his Daughter Hee is not ignorant of her teares and pensivenesse for his absence and knowes full well that her solitarie walkes and palle thinne cheekes lookes still constantly to him and never from him But hee is resolute that his old covetousnesse shall prevent and deceive this her young affection and that to worke on the advantage of Morosini's absence his best and shortest course is to heave him out of her heart and minde and contrariwise to propound and place another Husband in his stead To which end his said daughters beautie and his owne wealth having already procured her two or three other Sutors who earnestly seeke her in marriage hee likes none of them so well as old Seignior Palmerius a rich Marchant of Ancona aged of at least sixtie yeares whereas his faire Daughter Imperia was not above twentie foure who was of so deformed and decrepit a personage and constitution that hee seemed but as a withered Ianuary to this fresh Lady May and his age but a frozen Winter to the fragrant flourishing Sommer of her youth and beautie But this old dotard Palmerius who is every way fitter for his owne grave than for Imperia's bed is so taken with the daintinesse of her personage as he hopes that her youth and her fathers age will stoope and strike saile to his wealth and therefore hee trickes and prides himselfe up both in his apparell and beard as if Love had taken away much of his Age now purposly to adde it to his vanity and indiscretion so hee comes to Bondino's house at Loretto and seekes this his faire daughter in marriage where the consideration of his great estate and wealth act such wonders with her fathers heart and resolution that her father and hee have already swapt a bargaine that hee and none but hee shall marry his daughter before as yet hee have the happinesse to see her But at last her father brings her to him chargeth her with his commands to dispose her selfe to affect and marry him and speakes to her not onely in the language of a father but of a King for such is his pleasure These speeches of her father and the sight of this her old lover yet new sutor Palmerius doth much amaze and terrifie his young Daughter Imperia so shee receives and heares those with infinit affliction and sorrow and him with much contempt and disdaine For she rejects his suteand himselfe and boldly tells both her father and him that Morosini is too deeply lodged in her heart for any other of the world to have entrance or admittance and therefore with sighes and teares casts her selfe at her fathers feet and prayes him that hee will not force her to marry Signior Palmerius whom shee affirmes shee cannot possibly affect much lesse obey But her father is resolute to have it so and therefore passing over all other respects and considerations hee addes threates to his commands and vehemently chargeth her againe and againe to consent thereto But her absent Morosini is still so present in her heart and minde and so fresh and pleasing to her eye and memorie that shee cannot shee will not forget him So that for this time her father can no more enforce her to speake with Palmerius or draw her to see him and thus shee puts him off for his first comming to Loretto to her Imperia being now infinitly glad to have thus given her father the foile and old Palmerius the repulse shee raiseth a thousand new Trophees of joy and victories of delight in her heart for the same as if that outragious storme and tempest so contrary and displeasing to her heart had received end almost as soone as beginning Thus now ruminating on nothing lesse then on Palmerius nor on nothing more than on her sweet and deere Morosini to whom in his absence shee sacrificeth all the flames of her heart and all the vowes desires and wishes of her soule shee passeth away her time in perpetuall praying for his returne for the which shee leaves not the Lady no nor any other Saint of Loretto unadored or unprayed to But contrary to her hopes and desires herein this her old sutor Palmerius having wholly lost the soliditie of his judgement in the excellency of her beautie hee still keepes good correspondence and curious intelligence with her father and continually his heart runnes as much on her youth as her fathers covetousnesse doth on his wealth and gold so within two moneths hee returnes againe to Loretto where he is received with as much joy of Bondino as with extreame discontent and sorrow of his Daughter Imperia who now poore soule can receive no peace nor truce
my selfe never to bee Wife to the second I am proud in nothing but in my humility and obedience and therein I hope I shall still both triumph and glory and yet I farre more undervallew Palmerius wealth than you doe Morosini's vertues If then you will not for my sake I humblie beseech you for my Mothers sake or which is more for Gods sake to make mee Wife to Morosini and not to Palmerius because my heart and mind tells me that I shall bee as happy in the company of the one as miserable in that of the other In granting mee which iust desired favour and courtesie my sovle shall become pledge and caution for my heart and my heart for my tongue that you shall have no true cause either to renounce mee for your daughter or to deny your selfe for my Father And to conclude this my sâ—…rrowfull and humble speech it is impossible for you to wrong mee but you must and will extreamely wrong your selfe by attempting and resolving to enforce mee to the contrary But if yet you will not bee sensible heereof then I invoke God to bee a just witnesse and Iudge betweene us of your crueltie towards mee and of my can did innocency towards you and my betrothed spouse Morosini Imperia had no sooner with sights and teares delivered this her speech to her father on her knees but as if he had lightning in his eyes and thunder in his tongue he suddenly rusheth forth her company when more to displease her than to please himselfe hee looking backe on her gives her this sharp answer and cruell farewell Minion quoth hee I will very shortly coole thy courage and thy tongue and make thee know with repentance what it is to disobey thy father in making so much esteeme of Morosini and so little of Seignior Palmerius contrary to my advise and request to thee for I say consider well with thy selfe and thou shalt then doe well speedily to forsake this errour and obstinacy of thine except thou resolve to die as miserable as I desire thou shalt live happy Once more Girle consider and remember what I have now said to thee and beware least Morosini prove thy shame as much as Palmerius will thy glory Imperia weeps because shee can weepe no more at these heart-killing speeches of her father to her against her absent Morisini So being not well she betakes her selfe to her bed and there againe consults with God and her selfe what she shall doe in this perturbation of minde and affliction of heart and then and there with waking eyes reads a whole nights lecture to her selfe of her obedience to her father and her affection and constancie to the other halfe of her selfe Morosini when in the morning being prompted by her thoughts and desires that shee shall receive more delights and joyes from the last then discontents from the first she at her up-rising resolves againe to write away for her Morosini as hoping that his presence would easily dispell and scatter all these her clouds and tempests when dispatching a private messenger to Ancona for Mercario she againe earnestly prayes him to undertake a second voyage for her either to Aleppo or Constantinople to her Morosini the which he then promiseth so that night againe perusing over his Letter shee then from point to point punctually makes answer to it and the next morning very secretly gives it to Mercario in her chamber and therewith takes off a rich bracelet of sparks of Diamonds from her right arme and prayes him to deliver it to him as a token of her true affection and constancie the which shee affirmes to him shall ever live and die with her Mercario having received his commission from Imperia as also more Gold for the discharge and defraying of his journey hee hires a small Brigantine to transport him to Corfu and from thence embarques himselfe on a ship of Marseilles which accidentally stopped there and so sailed first to Aleppo where being arrived in lesse than three weeks and finding his deare friend Morosini to be Consull there for the Seigniory of Venice he secretly delivereth this bracelet and Letter of Imperia to him in his study where he was then hastily writing a dispatch for Constantiâ—…ople But the arrivall of Mercario who hee knew came from his dearest friend and Mistresse Imperia for meere joy made him presently to cast away his hat and pen and so to kisse and receive this her Letter and token from him whereof with much haste and more affection breaking up the seales he therein found couched these ensuing lines IMPERIA to MOROSINI I Had little thought because lesse deserved that either profit or preferment had beeâ—…e dearer to thee than Imperia or that the Seigniory of Venice or their Ambassador Landy had had more power to stay thâ—…e in Aleppo than she to have requested or conjured thy returne to Loretto for if my poore beauty or rich affection to thee bee of so lâ—… and base an esteeme as thou preferrest thy wealth and repâ—…tation to it then I am as miserable as I thought my selfe happy in my choice and the sweetnesse of my desires and wishes consequently have end as soone as they received a beginning And see what a palpable incongruity yea what an apparant contradiction there is betweene thy heart and thy pen sith feignedly endevouring to make me beleeve thou lovest my kisses embraces above all the Crownes and Scepters in the world I yâ—…t am truly enforced to see that thou lovest Turkie far better than Italy and art well contented that Palmerius should love me better than thy selfe for else thou wouldest never permit that my fathers tyranny to me should in thy absence give a law to my affection to him or consent that Palmerius should be the Diâ—…mond and thy selfe prove onely the faile of my heart and love And if this ingratitude of thine be not a crime I know what a crime is nor how nor in what tearmes to define or determine thereof Iudge therefore with thy selfe at least if thou art not as wholly exempt of judgement as of love what a poore halfe yea what a small part I am of thee when by thy voluntary absence thou wilt wholly reâ—…gne me up to another and that Palmerius must be my husband when my heart and soule yea when God and his Angels well know I desire nothing under Heaven so much as to live and die thy Wife or else thou wouldest not have beene so unkinde to confine thy will or to bound thy obstinacie to no lesse than a whole yeares sâ—…questration and absence from me which if thy heart were equall or but the least shadow of mine thou wouldest deeme to containe as many moneths as houres and as many ages as moneths But God forbid this discourtesie of thine should prove so great a cruelty to me or before I know what belongs to fortunacie I should be constrained to feele and suffer so much infelicity Come away therefore my deare
rape on her former resolution shee is at last contracted and married to him or rather to the calamities and miseries which wee shall shortly see will ensue thereof Heere now then this old dotard Palmerius is married to faire Imperia who esteemes himselfe as happie as shee findes her selfe unfortunate in this match His Age is to old for her Youth and her youth farre to young for his Age Disparity of yeares seldome or never breedes any true content or felicitie in marriage Hee cannot sufficiently estimate much lesse deserve or requite the dainties of her youth so that truth must heere needs implore this dispensation for mee of modesty to affirme that his chiefest power was desire and his best performance but lust towards her for whiles every night as soone as he comes to bed to her he falls to his sleepe so poore young Gentlewoman shee turnes to her repentance wishing from her very heart and soule that her husbands bed were her grave and that her Nuptialls had beene her funerall A thousand times every day and night shee accuseth her Fathers crueltie and with bitter sighes and teares as often condemneth her owne levity and inconstancy for consenting thereunto Shee can neither honour or love her husband or rather not love him because shee so tenderly loves the person and honoureth the memory of Morosini Thus whiles Palmerius retaineth and enjoyeth our Imperia in his bed no lesse doth shee her Morosini in her heart so that the first hath only her body but the second wholy her minde and affection the sorrowfull consideration and remembrance whereof doth so torment her heart and perplexe her minde that shee protesteth publikely to her selfe and privatly to all the world that there is no calamity equall to hers nor no misery comparable to that of a discontented bed Thus being as much a maid as a wife and yet more a Nunne than a maid shee makes spirituall bookes her exercise solitarinesse her pastime her chamber her chappell and her closset her Oratory to pray to God to forgive her Fathers cruelty and her husbands indiscretion towards her as also her owne inconstancy and treachery towards Morosini which foule ingratitude and crime of hers shee cannot remember but with extreame griefe nor once thinke of but with infinite shame sorrow and repentance Although this her old husband Palmerius bee so amorous and kinde to her and so tender of this his faire young wife that hee leaves no cost unbestowed on her aswell in rich apparell as chaines and Iewells wherein the Ladies and Gentlewomen of Italy chiefly pride themselves But this was not the content and felicity which our Imperia desired because deserved because her fresh youth and her husbands feeble and frozen Age cast her heart on other opposite conceits and her minde on other different contemplations Whiles thus Bondino and Palmerius as much rejoyce as Imperia mournes and grieves at this herunequall and discontented match and Morisini confidently relying on the firme affection constancy of his Imperia made his stay in Alepo some 10. months longer than his promise to her He at lastled by the star of her beautie and his owne affection to her leaves Turkie and in company of his constant old friends Astonicus and Donato sets saile for Italy and purposly puts in with their ship into Ancona where they and hee are no sooner arrived but Mercario finding him out entertaines him with the welcome of this sorrowfull newes that his Mistris Imperia is now in this Cittie of Ancona and married to old Signior Palmerius whereat Morosini infinitely grieves and Astonicus and Donato much wonder He is stricken at the heart at this sorrowfull newes and too too soone for him believes it with as much affliction as admiration By this time likewise is Imperia advertised of his and their arrivall whereat she seemes to drowne her selfe in a whole deluge of teares yet not for sorrow but for joy of his arrivall He imployes Mercario to her to grant him a private visit the which most joyfully the next night shee doth in her owne house her old husband being in bed and snoring fast a sleepe At Morisini's first sight and entrance into her chamber where shee all alone privately stayes for him shee throwes her selfe on her knees at his feet and with sighes teares and blushes begges his pardon for her unconstancy in marrying Palmerius the which shee no way attributes to his long stay but rather to her fathers cruelty and her owne misfortune Morosini is as joyfull of her sight as sorrowfull of this her errour and so will not permit her to kneele because hee sees and knowes and also assureth her that she is still the Goddesse of his heart and affection Hee takes her up in his armes and there embraceth and freely pardons her and so they reciprocally speake each to other in the sweet language of love I meane of kisses sighes and teares with the last whereof they againe and againe bedew and wash each others cheekes as if love had made them far more capable to sigh than speake and to weepe than sigh Here their old affections revive and flame forth a new with more violence and impetuositie Shee hath no power to deny him any thing no not her selfe For as he sweares to live her servant so she constantly vowes to live and dye his handmaid and that his will shall ever bee her Law and his requests in all things her commands Heere his heart beates for love and her brest pants for jâ—…y For as he promiseth her that shee shall bee his sole and only love so shee willingly forgets her selfe so farre as solemnly to protest to him that hee shall bee more her Husband than Palmerius when with many embraces and kisses they for that night part The next morning Morosini and his two consorts Astonicus and Donato by the feigned way of a rejoycing complement doe visit his young Mistris Imperia and her old husband Palmerius who more out of his owne goodnesse than their deserts bids them all most kindly and courteously welcome They congratulate with him for this his happy match with Imperia for which old Palmerius respectively thanks them but he knowes not what dangerous snakes lurke under the greene leafes of this their pretended faire courtesie As for his Wife Imperia shee is so reserved in her comportment and so coy in her carriage towards them that according to the custome of Italy her Husband can hardly perswade or cause her to see and salute them the which at last shee faintly and feignedly performes rather with an eye of disdaine than of respect They all see the young Wife with love and pity but looke on her old Husband with contempt and envie yet Morosini then and there in stealth sees Imperia's heart in her eyes when in counterchange she knowes his heart by his enamoured lookes and countenance So Palmerius being as innocent as aged having discoursed with them about their voyage and about Turkie and Constantinople and
opinion to seize on their ship which is at anchor in the Roade termed the Realto of Venice a name I thinke derived and taken from the marchants Exchange of that ciâ—…ty tearmed the Realto or else from the Realto Bridge which for one Arche is doubtlesse the rarest fairest and richest Bridge of the world which ship was of some three hundred Tonnes and bore some twenty peeces of Ordinance and then presently after to seize on themselves in their Lodging But upon more mature deliberation they resolve to abandon this their opinion and so to seize on their persons but not to arrest or make stay of their Ship and although their reale to justice and hast for their apprehension be very great yet Mercario out of his respects to Imperia and affection to Marosini tripped on through the by Streetes and neerest way to the Key so swiftly as hee had allready secretly related him and his two consorts the sorrowfull newes which Imperia sent them by him Whereat with feare in their hearts and courages and amazement in their lookes and countenances they all three leape from their beds to their swords discharge their Inne packe up their Truncks and bagage and resolve with all possible speed to flie to their ship and then if not with yet against the windes to put into Sea and for their safetie to leave Ancona and saile for Venice But yet here Morosini's heart is perplexed with a thousand Torments to understand of his Imperia's eminent and apparant danger and with many Hels in stead of one to see that hee must now thus sodainly leave her deere sight and company which hee every way esteemes no lesse then either his earthly felicity or his Heaven upon earth But here againe violently called away by the importunate cries of Astonicus and Donato and yet farre more by the consideration of his owne proper feare and danger Mercario is no sooner stollen away from them but they all three with their swords drawne rush downe the stayres with equall intents and resolution to exchange their Inne for their Ship and thereby to metamorphose their danger into security But they shall see that these weake and reeling hopes of theirs will now deceive them For they finde all doores of their Inne lockt within â—…ide and surrounded and beleagured without with many armed Serjeants Soldiours and Citizens for their apprehension And although Morosini Astonicus and Donato were so inflamed with their youthful bloud and courage as they were once generously resolved to sell their lives deerely and with their Pistolls and Swords to prefer an honourable to an infamous death yet being farre overmastered with numbers and therefore enforced to take a Law of the stronger Whereunto they the sooner hearken and consent in regard the Serjeants and officers doe politickly cry out to them and pray them to yeeld as affirming that to their knowledg their resolution and feare doth far exceed the danger of their offences They make a vertue of necessity and unlocking the doores of their In and chambers do cheerfully yeeld up their persons pistolls and swords to the Popes Officers of Iustice who as soone conveigh them all three to the common prison of that Citty which was the same wherein our not so sorrowfull as unfortunate Imperia was already entred and where to her unexpressible griefe and Morosini's unparalel'd affliction disconsolation such exact charge was given of the Podestate and such curiousheed observed and taken of the Goaler that he could not possibly be permitted either to see or speak with her or she with him the which indeed they conceived to be farre more sharp than their crime and infinitly more bitter than the consideration either of their feare or danger Now the newes of these lamentable Accidents being speedily posted from Ancona to Loretto our Imperia's cruell Father Bondino no sooner is ascertained thereof But seeing his sonne in law Palmerius murthered in his bed and his wife and his own only daughter Imperia with her Ruffian Morosini and his two consorts to be imprisoned as the Authors and actors thereof hee for the love hee bore to her life and the tender pitty and sorrow hee felt of the infamy of her approaching death sodainly falls sicke and dies Wherof his imprisoned Daughter Imperia understanding shee in regard of his former severity towards her is so much passionate and so little compassionate as shee rather rejoyceth than lamenteth at it Onely shee prayes God to forgive his soule of that crueltie of his in enforcing her to marry Palmerius which shee knowes to bee the the originall cause and fatall cloud from whence have proceeded alâ—… these dismall stormes of affliction and tempests of untimely death which shee feares must very shortly befall both her selfe and her second selfe Morosini Whiles thus Astonicus and Donato grieve at their hard fortune and danger and Morosini and Imperia doe reciprocally more lament and sorrow for their separation then for their imprisonment and that the Podestate and other officers of Iustice of Ancona are resolved first to informe the Pope and then to expect his holinesse pleasure for the arraignment and punishment of these foure prisoners it pleased God exceedingly to visit the towne of Loretto and especially the Cittie of Ancona with the Plague wherof many thousands in a few moneths were swept away so by speciall commission and order from Rome they in company of divers other Prisoners are conveyed to the citty of Polegnio two small dayes journey from Ancona and there to be arraigned and tried upon their lives and deaths At which time as they past by the old little Citie of Tolentino where I then in my intended travells towards Rome lay upon my recovery of a burning feaver When I say the nature of their crimes and the quality of their persons made my curiosity so ambitious as to see and obserue them in their severall chambers of the Inne where they that night lay which was at the signe of the Popes armes as for Astonicus and Donato I found them to be rather sad than merry Morosini to be farre more merry then wise and Imperia to bee infinitly more faire than fortunate and all of them to bee lesse sorrowfull for their affliction and danger than for the cause thereof Within three houres of their arrivall to Foligâ—…io they are all foure convented before the two criminall Judges who are purposly sent from Rome thither and are there and then severally charged with this foule murther of stifling to death the old Signior Palmerius in his bed which all and every one of them apart doe stifly deny Notwithstanding that Fundt the hoast and Richardo the Nephew give in evidence of strong presumption against them and also notwithstanding of Morosini's gloves and Bondino's letter written to his Sonne in law Palmerius and delivered by Herbas as we have formerly understood But these two grave and prudent Iudges yet strongly suspecting the contrary they will not be deluded with the airy words and
they doe her to accept and receive her owne They tell her they have not the power to grant her the first and she replies that shee then hath not the will to embrace and entertaine the second They acquaint Morosini herewith who by their order and by their selves doe strongly perswade her hereunto but her first answer and resolution is her last that shee willaccept of no life if he must dye neither will hee refuse any death conditionally that shee may live to survive him The two Friers and two Nunnes use their best Art and Oratory to perswade her hereunto but they meet with impossibility to make her affection to Morosini and her resolution to her selfe flexible hereunto Her life is not halfe so pretious to her as is his for if shee had many as shee hath but one shee is both ready and resolute to lose and sacrifice them all for his sake and would esteeme it her felicity that her death might redeem and ransome his life The Judges out of their goodnesse and charity afford a whole day to invite and perswade her hereunto but shee is still deafe to their requests and still one and the same woman desirous to live with him or constant and resolute to dye for him Therefore when nâ—…thing can prevaile with her because dye he must so dye shee will to the which shee cheerefully prepares her selfe with an equall affection and resolution which I rather admire than commend in her So the next morning theyare all foure brought to the place of common execution to suffer death Where Donato is first liftedup to the Ladder who being fuller of paine than words said little in effect but that he wished he had either died in Constantinople or Aleppo or else sunke in the sea before he came to Ancona and not to have here ended his daies in misery and infamy The next who was ordered to follow him was Astonicus who told the world boldly and plainly that hee cared lesse for his death than for the cause thereof and that hee loved Morosini so perfectly and dearely that he rather reioyced than grieved to dye for him only he repented himselfe for assisting to murther Palmerius and from his heart and soule beseeched God to forgive it him and so he was turned over Then Morosini ascends the Ladder â—…ad in a haire coulour sattin sute and a paire of crimson silke stockings with garters and roses edged with silver lace being so vaine in his carriage action and speeches as before hee once thought of God hee with a world of sighes takes a solemneleave of his sweet heart Imperia and with all the powers of his heart and soule prayes her to accept of his life and so to survive him He makes an exact and godly confession of his sinnes to God and the world and yet neverthelesse hee is so vaine in his affection toward Imperia as hee takes both to witnesse that had hee a thousand lives he would cheerefully lose them all to save and preserve hers As for Imperia such was her deere and tender affection to him as she would faine look on him as long as he lives and yet she equally desires and resolves rather to dy than to see him die and because she hath not the power therefore she turnes her â—…ace and eies from him and will not have the will to see him dye When he having said his prayers and so recommended his soule into the hands of his Redeemer he is also turned over Now although our Imperia bee here againe and againe solicited by the Iudges Friers and Nuns to accept of her life yet she seeing her other selfe Morosini dead shee therefore disdaines to survive him shee hath so much love in her heart as she now hath little life and lesse joy in her lookes and countenance Shee ascends the Ladder in a plaine blacke Taffeta Gowne a plaine thicke set Ruffe a white Lawne Quayfe and a long blacke Cypresse vayle over her head with a white paire of gloves and her prayer booke in her hands When beeing farre more capable to weepe than speake shee casting a wonderfull sad and sorrowfull looke on her dead lover Morosini after many volleyes of farre fetchd sighes shee delivers this short speech to that great concourse of people who from Citty and Country flocked thither to see her and them dye Good People I had lived more happy and not dyed so miserable if my Father Bondino had not so cruelly enforced mee to marry Palmerius whom I could not love and to leave Morosini whom in heart and soule I ever affected a thousand times deerer than mine owne life and may all fathers who now see my death or shall hereafter heare or reade this my History bee more pittifull and lesse cruell to their daughters by his Example I doe here now suffer many deaths in one to see that my deere Morosini is dead for my sake for had hee not loved mee deerly and I him tenderly he had never died for mee nor I for him with such cheerefullnesse and alacrity as now we doe And here to deale truly with God and the world although I could never affect or fancy my old husband Palmerius yet noâ—… from my heart and soule I lament and repent that ever I was guilty of his innocent and untimely death the which God forgive me and I likewise request you all to pray unto God to forgive it me And not to conceale or dissemble the truth of my heart I grieve not to dye but rather because I have no more lives to lose for my Morosini's affection and sake I have and doe devoutly pray unto God for his soule and so I heartily request and conjure you all to doe for mine Thus I commend you all to happy and prosperous lives my selfe to a pious and patient death in earth and a joyfull and glorious resurrection in Heaven when signing her selfe often with the signe of the crosse she pulls her vaile downe over her face and so praying that she might be buried in one and the same grave with Morosini she bad the executioner performe his office who immediatly turnes her over And if reports be true Never three young men and one faire young Gentlewoman died more lamented and pittied then they For Morosini died with more resolution than repentance and Imperia with more repentance than resolution thus was their lives and thus their deaths May wee extract wisdome out of their folly and charity out of their cruelty so shall wee live as happy as they died miserably and finish our daies and lives in as much content and tranquillity as they ended theirs in shame infamy and confusion GODS REVENGE AGAINST THE CRYING AND Execrable sinne of Murther HISTORY XXVII Father Iustinian a Priest and Adrian an Inne-keeper poyson De Laurier who was lodged in his house and then bury him in his Orchard where a moneth after a Wolfe digges him up and devonres a great part of his body which father Iustinian and Adrian
more perverse and obstinate than his age so he will take no answer for an answer nor a refusall for a refuse from them but will or nill frequent their company daily and their house almost hourely they are all three tired with his sottish inâ—…illity and doting imâ—…ortunacy esâ—…ecially Dominicâ—… who measuring his age by her youth and knowing him to be farre â—…ter for his grave than a wife she therefore scornes him as much as he loves her but vet say shee what shee will or doe her Mother and Brother what they can yet they cannot free their house or shift their hands of him although they many times make him looke upon bare walles content himselfe to converse with the meanest of their Servants and so to returne without seeing either of Mother Sonne or Daughter But Dominica holding her beautie and yeares now to bee worthie of a husband shee is so incivill and incontinent as shee prayes her mother to procure and provide her one For to use her owne words shee saith shee is weary to lye alone and live single and fully resolved no longer either to triflle away her time or to cast away her youth and beautie Her Lady Mother in most vertuous tearmes checks her impudency blames her impudicity and concludes that if shee forsake those immodest humours and inclinations and so serve and feare God religiously then there is no doubt but in good time hee of his propitious favour and goodnesse towards her will provide her one when turning from her Daughter the verie teares of sorrow fall aboundantly from her old eyes to see her thus immodest thus irregular and wanton as doubting and fearing that in the end it will prove ominous and fatall to her But her lascivious Daughter Dominica is not contented with this generall answer of her Mother for shee is yet so vainly impudent and so vitiously imprudent as shee importunately prayes her brother Don Garcia effectually and speedily to solicite her Mother to provide her a husband whereat hee rather laughes than gives eare But when againe hee ruminates and considers with himselfe this her foolish levity and wantonnesse fearing the worst and to the end shee might not hereafter prove a disgrace to her selfe a scandall to their house and a dishonour to their blood hee taking time at advantage breakes and treates with his mother hereon who concurring in opinion with him returnes him rather her consent than her deniall the which hee reports to his immodest sister Dominica who is thereat as joyfull as before shee was discontented Not long after it fell out that Dominica with her Mother going on a great Holyday in the morning to the Church of the Benedictine Monkes and being behinde her on her knees to her Beades and Oraisons her devotion was so cold and her zeale so frozen towards God as seeing a very proper young Gentleman richly apparreled likewise there on his knees to his prayers not farre from her shee as a poore I may say as a prophane Christian beckons her mothers man to come to her and whispers him in the eare that he discreetly goe and enquire what that young Cavallier is whom she describes to him by his apparell and especially by a rich Diamond Ring which hee weares on his finger Her mothers man demanding of the Gentlemans servants returnes speedily to his young Lady and tells her in her eare that it is Don Roderigo Sonne and heire to Don Emmanuell de Cortez whereat her lustfull affection makes her heart leape and dance within her forjoy for so incivilly unchast is shee in her desires and wishes that at his very first sight shee desires him for her Husband before any other man of the world yea before any other earthly felicity Whereupon shee vowes that her Mother shall have no truce nor her Brother any peace of her before they powerfully make this motion of mariage for her to Don Roderigo who being often solicited and provoked by her importunate requests they consult hereon and both of them approve and desire it as holding it a match equally honourable to them both The Sonne will have his mother first to breake the ice of this motion to Don Roderigo but the mother will have her Sonne first to performe that office to him and so to take a faire occasion to invite him home to her house to speake with her the which Don Garcia performes and deales herein so effectually with Don Roderigo that home hee comes with him The Lady Cervantella after many complements and speeches presents this motion to him Hee sees the young Lady Dominica her daughter and finding her to bee exceeding faire and wittie hee likes and loves her and so takes time to advise hereon with his father for the Lady his Mother was formerly gone to heaven Roderigo breakes this motion to Don Emanuell his father who not pleased therewith seekes to divert his Sonne from it in regard he knowes that her Mother Dona Cervantella is very poore and of a weake estate as being much incumbred with the great depts of her deceased Husband Roderigo alleageth to his Father his true affection to the true beautie and vertues of Dominica and that her descent and blood is no way inferiour to his But his father being of an exceeding covetous disposition will have wealth to oversway beauty and not beauty wealth and so is resolute to heare no more of this motion whereat his sonne Roderigo bites the lippe and is much discontented Yet neverthelesse hee hath cast his affection so deepely and firmely on the fresh and delicate beauty of Dominica that holding it to bee the Gold of Nature and shee the Queene and Phoenix of Beauty hee cannot hee will not refraine but very often frequents Dona Cervantella's house and her daughters company To whom notwithstanding his Fathers distast of her hee yet gives farre more hope than dispaire that hee wil bee her Husband which ravisheth her with delight her Mother Dona Cervantella and her brother Don Garcia with content But the order of our History envites us for a while to leave Don Roderigo to feast his eyes and surfet his thoughts and contemplations on the Roses and Lillies of his Mistris beauty and againe to returne to speake of our old Dotard Hippolito Who now led by his lust and voluptuous desires as they are by the instigation of the Devill comes to performe and act a bloody and deplorable part on the stage of this History Hee sees with griefe and grieves to see that hee is refused of the Lady Dominica whom hee loves farre deerer and tenderer then his life and understanding that Don Roderigo de Cortez doth still frequent her company hath gained her affection and shall shortly marry her he thereupon turnes his reason into rage converts his judgement into revenge and so resolves to murther him by night as soone as hee findes him to issue forth of the Lady Cervantella's house the Devill making him strong in the vanity of this beliefe and confidence that
there thereby to support his fame and reputation with his pretended Father in law and also with his intended wife his Daughter it greatly perplexed and troubled him But at last hee saw himselfe reduced to this extremity that hee was enforced to borrow of one Nobleman and Gentleman of his Friends to pay another a Course which hee well saw could not long endure and subsist without clamorously calling his reputation in question The which to prevent knowing Seignior Placedo to bee a hide bound and close fisted old Gentleman who loved his gold far better than his God and that if hee offered to borrow any of him hee would absolutely refuse and deny to lend it him and that it was not impossible but rather very probable that hereby the prodigality of the one and the covetousnes of the other might prove a great blot and hinderance to this his marriage hee therefore as a deboshed and vicious young Nobleman despayring of the fathers love resolves to make sure worke with the daughters affection who with a thousand amorous speeches and lascivious lures daliances and temptations he seekes to draw her to his lustfull desires and so by usurping on her chastity which is the honour of Ladyes the glory of Gentlewomen to have carnali knowledge of her before he were married to her Vrsina who loved her sweet heart Sanctifiore farre dearer than the whole world and yet her honour and chastity a thousand times more deare and pretious than her owne life infinitly grieves and wonders at this his intemperancy and obscenitie when as a chaste and vertuous Gentlewoman shee with sighes and teares layes before his eyes and consideration and represents to his heart and soule the lewdnesse of his desire the impiety of his request the foulnes and odiousnes of this fact both to God and man the losse of her reputation and honour both with her father and with all the world and that in the end it would assuredly prove the breake-necke of their mariage and consequently the ruine of both their contents and fortunes as also that she is ready to be his wife but disdaineth to prove his strumpet with many other wise and godly reasons tending that way and therefore utterly refuseth to blemish or shipwracke her chastity by participating with him in the share of this lascivious and impious sinne of fornication and indeed it had been a happines and glory very worthy both of her selfe and of her honourable old Father if she had lived in the purity and continued in the piety of this chaste and vertuous resolution But this lascivious Baron Sanctifiore seeing his lust so strongly opposed by he chastity hee is so far from grace and from God as hee redoubleth his violence and impetuositie thereof as also of his lures and prayers of his art and policy to inrich himselfe with her losse of that inestimable and irrecoverable Jewell her Virginity so that day and night she cannot be in quiet for him nor hee without her but still he followes her as her ghost and shadow and with many false oathes and feigned sighes and teares doth bewitch or rather minstralize into her eares and heart that his desire of this sweet pleasure which hee requesteth from her proceeds wholly from his tender affection to her so with a thousand lascivious words hee makes so large and so impious an Apology to her for this his obscene request that because modesty cannot discretion will not permit mee to relate it as well knowing that the expression and publishing thereof will every way prove unprofitable to the Reader no way pleasing but displeasing to God when this weake and inconsiderate Gentlewoman loving him far dearer than her owne life and confidently relying on his sworne affection and fidelity to her which hee so passionatly and so often had reiterated to her shee so rashly and foolishly permitted her selfe to be weighed downe overcome and vanquished with the importunacy of his requests and oathes that it was neither in her power or will to deny him any thing no not her selfe but as she formerly had given him the full command of her heart now she likewise gives him the free use and possession of her body Thus Sanctifiore bereaves and unparadiseth his Mistris Vrsina of the most pretious Jewell which ever Lady Nature gave her I meane her chastity and honour but both of them shall shortly pay deare for these their bitter sweet pleasures or rather sinnes of sensuality and fornication and shall redeeme and ransome them with no lesse than shame and repentance The manner whereof is thus After hee had thus deflowred and taken his obscene pleasure of his young and beautifull Mistris and stayed an houre or two complementing with her he then takes his leave of her when triumphing more in the conquest of her shame and his folly than in his owne repentance for occasioning the one and committing the other hee within a weeke or two after againe makes her so flexible and tractable to his desires as hee three or foure times more familiarly wantonizeth with her in this lascivious manner and she with him as not contented to staine and blemish but wholly to defile and pollute themselves in this their beastly sin of concupiscence and fornication But here now begins his infamie and her griefe and misery For as a base Nobleman hee forgetting his oathes and promises to her and her extraordinary love and affection to him and which is more his honour and himselfe and his soule and his God hee by degrees now begins to freez in his affection to her visiteth her seldome and then but faintly and coldly and when with equall blushes and teares shee motioneth him to marry her hee is either deafe to her requests or else answereth her so impertinently and ambiguously as with much perturbation of mind and affliction of heart shee begins to suspect and doubt with her selfe that she hath more reason to feare than cause to hope of his future affection and fidelity towards her Neither is her feare vaine or her judgement and apprehension deceived of him herein for as men love nosegayes in the morne and throw them away ere night so this ignoble Nobleman Sanctifiore after hee had surfetted and satiated his desire of this his intended and contracted wife Vrsina hee in lesse than three moneths after is so ingratefull and treacherous towards her as in a manner hee abandoneth her fathers house and forsakes her sight and companie leaving her nothing to comfort her but her sighes teares and repentance and which is worse a growing great belly as the true seale of her present griefe and sorrow and the undoubted pledge and presager of her future shame and misery which torments and terrifies her heart and soule but how to remedie it she knowes not And now with as much speed as vanity and infidelity away goes Sanctifiore to his other second sweet heart Bertranna who not for her beautie but for her fathers great wealth and his
Aunt Mellefanta her Father Seignior de Tores whose age contentment and joy lived chiefly in the youth prosperity and health of this his only child and daughter makes her will and desire herein to be his when not knowing any thing of the distast that had past betweene his daughter and the Baron of Sanctifiore or of his affection to the Lady Bertranna hee demanded of her when you are at Putzeole what shall become of the Baron of Sanctifiore to whom rather from her apâ—…strings than her heart she returnes this witty and speedy answer if Sanctifiore love me hee will then sometimes leave Naples and visit mee or if hee doe not I will not love him which reply of hers pleased her father so well that hee causeth her to fit up her apparell and bagage and within three daies after attended on by a chamber maid and a man of his sends her away to Putzeole in his coach to his sister Mellifanta where being arived shee speedily and privatly acquaints her aunt with this great secret of her great belly which so much imports her reputation or disgrace and also with all the circumstances thereof and so prayes her best love and assistance to her herein the which shee faithfully promiseth her adding withall that because shee is of her owne blood shee will regard and love her as her owne child telling her that shee highly commended her policy for thus blinding the eyes of her father and for leaving Naples to come lay downe her great belly with her in Putzeole yet shee could not chuse but blame her for the cause thereof in suffering her selfe to bee thus abused and betrayed by so base a Nobleman as the Baron of Sanctifiore but then againe shee excuseth that errour of this her neece upon the freshnes of her youth and beauty and bids her feare nothing but to resolve to bee here cheerfull couragious and merry with her Here we see our beautifull Vrsina safe at Putzeole under the wings and protection of her aunt Mellifanta and far of from the eyes of the knowne or suspected rejoycing enemies of her disgrace lodged in a dainty house a delicate a yre having variety of curious sweet gardens and dainty ranckes and groves of orenge and lemon trees to walke in well attended on and fâ—…ing most delitiously and who therefore would beleeve that shee would not now quite abandon her former sorrowes and teares and wholly reject and cast of that base Baron of Sanctifiore who so ingratfully had ruined and so treacherously had first forsaken and rejected her but here in Putzeole wee shall see her performe nothing lesse for although she yet hold him to bee intangled in the lures of Bertrannas beauty and the temptations of her father de Tores wealth yet judging his heart and affections by her owne and measuring him by her selfe shee still loves him so dearely that she neverthelesse beleeves hee cannot hate her so deadly as to reject and repundiate her to marry the said Bertranna when the more to fortifie her beleefe and resolution thereof she very often againe reads over his two former letters which wee have heard and seene and therein finding that by his conscience and soule and by heaven and by God hee had bound himselfe to marry her and to love and die her faithfull husband shee then beleeves that no man much lesse a Nobleman and least of all a christian will bee so prophane and impious without any cause or reason to violate all these his great oathes and promises so deeply made and so religiously attested unto God wherefore although this Baron of Sanctifiore were absent from her yet seeing him still present in her eyes and heart shee therefore in consideration of the promises doth yet continually so plead for him against her selfe and for his affection and fidelity to her against her suspition and disfidence of him that she yet flatters her selfe with a conceit that in the end his conscience will so call home his thoughts and God his conscience that hee will marry her selfe and none but her selfe Againe consiâ—…ng him to be the Father of her unborne babe shee thinkes her selfe a very unkind and unnaturall mother if shee should not love him for her childs sake as well as for his owne and that God would neither blesse her nor her burthen it shee should any way neglect or omit him upon the foundations of which reasons truely and courteously laid by her but so falsly and treacherously by him shee thinkes it a good way and an excellent expedient for her to seeke to reclaime him to her by a letter the proofe whereof since his defection from her she had not as yet practised or experienced but as shee began to fall on this resolution her hope and despaire of Sanctifiore and yet her love and affection to him make her meet and fall on a doubtfull scruple whether shee should write kindly or cholerickly to him but at last her affection to him declining and excusing his infidelity to her and her love and courtesie giving a favourable construction to his cruelty towards her shee holds it more behouefull for her desire his returne to write to him passionately and effectually but not harshly or severely and so to take the sweet and faire way which shee desired but not the sharp and bitter which hee deserved when flying to her closet she full of griefe and teares writes him this ensuing letter the which without the knowledge of her Aunt Mellifanta shee sends him to Naples by her trusty menssenger Sebastiano her Fathers coachman VRSINA to SANCTIFIORE TO preserve thine honour and prevent mine owne disgrace and shame I have left Naples to sojourne here for a time in Putzeole with the Lady Mellifanta mine aunt where thy presence will make mee as truly joyfull and happie as I feele and know my selfe infinitly miserable without it For although of late but for what cause or reason God knowes I knowe not it hath pleased thee to excercise my affection and patience in thy discontent yet in regard I am thy wife by purchase sith thou art my Husband by promise whereof the copies of thy former letters will informe and remember thee that thou madest God the judge and the soule and consciences the witnesses I cannot beleeve that thou art so irreligious or that thou bearest mee so little love or so much malice to make thy selfe guilty of such foule infidelity to mee and impiety towards God and I appeale to them all if my tender untainted affection to thee have not every way deserved the contrary at thy hands Againe as in hoping to marry thee I gave thee my heart so in assurance and counfidence thereof thou didest likewise bereave mee of my honour and therefore if the conterpane of that contract doe anyway fade or dye in thy memory yet rest confident that the Originall lives still in Heaven as the pledge and seale thereof doth now in my unhappie wombe here on earth mistake mee not
child therefore as a discreet matrone and wise Lady to remove this article out of her neeces beliefe and memory tells her plainly and freely that shee is extremly deceived in that point and doubt of feare and that it is not her sorrow but the base ingratitude and treachery of her false lover Sanctifiore to her selfe which kild her child within her A tart and yet a true speech which Vrsina neither will so soone nor can so easily forget as her aunt Mellefanta hath spoken it but shall I here tearme this to be affection in Vrsina towards Sanctifiore or a needlesse vanity or superfluous ceremony in her selfe For shee desires to kisse her breathlesse innocent babe for his sake which shee doth when giving it a thousand kisses then washing his face with her teares and lamenting and grieving that shee could not breath life into it with her sighes shee recommends it againe to her aunt and shee the same night to its secret and decent buriall Whiles thus Vrsina remaines very weake and sicke in her bed yet still her heart and affection lookes constantly on Sanctifiore as the needle of the compasse doth to the north notwithstanding all his base ingratitude and cruelty from time to time shewed towards her and because it is a thousand grieses and pitties that ever hee set his eyes on her or shee on him and as many shames for him first to seduce and then to betray her therefore who would any way commend her for continuing of her love to him or rather who would not infinitly blame her of folly and condemne her for want of wit and judgment ever any more either to hope or hearken after him And yet this silly young Lady is so bewitched to him as in the very middest of her sicknes and sorrowes and contrary to all sence and reason here breakes forth a sparckle and flash of her polley in her selfe and of her affection towards him She neither can nor dare trust any other but Sebastiano her coachman with this great secret which so much imports her honour or disgrace or with this her message with Sanctifiore from whom though in vaine shee expects some hope and content when exempting all from her chamber she calls him to herbeds side and swearing him to secrecy for want of strength to write chargeth him presently to ride poast to Naples againe to find out the Baron of Sanctifiore and to tell him from her that she her selfe is extreme sicke and not like to live that shee is delivered of his her Sonne who is dead borne and therefore that she begs him that for Gods sake hee will speedily come over to her because for his good and her content she infinitly desireth to discharge her mind and conscience to him before she goe to heaven So Sebastiano in discharge of his dutie and his Ladies commands seems rather to fly than poast to Naples where ariving to Sanctifiores house and finding him within hee sends him up his name by one of his men as also that hee most earnestly desires to speake a word with his Lordship but Sanctifiore knowing who it was and therefore imagining from whom hee came bids his man carry Sebastiano backe this answer that hee will neither speake with him nor see him Sebastiano is perplexed with this his short and sharp reply but because his message is of great importance as also for that hee exceedingly respecteth and honoureth his young Lady and mistris hee resolves not to returne to her as a foole to which end at the foot of the staires hee enquireth of another of his servants when hee thinkes his Lord will goe forth who tells him hee will take coach within halfe an houre whereof Sebastiano being exceeding glad hee thinkes it best to stay for him in the street where with much vigilancy and impatiency hee attends his comming so at last hee sees him issue forth his gate when presently Sebastiano placeth him selfe betwixt him and his coach and with his hat in his hand very resolutly and orderly delivereth him his mistris her message at full the which Sanctifiore understanding hee at first smiles thereat but then presently againe entering into choler hee rounds Sehastiano this answer in his eare tell that strumpet thy mistris Vrsina from mee that I wish shee were buryed with her bastard and that they were both with the devill and so without speaking any one word more in a mighty fume of anger and disdaine hee throwes himselfe a way from Sebastiano into his coach and speedily hurries away to his sweet heart Bertranna from whom hee is seldome or never absent to whom hee revealed all that had past in this passage endevouring as much as in him lyes to make it to be as wel her laughture as his owne contempt and scorne Now here ere I proceed farther I know there is no christian whatsoever but that his very heart and soule will yearne within him at the reading of these cruell barbarous and hellish speeches of this base hearted Nobleman against our sorrowfull and unfortunate Vrsina and her poore harmlesse deceased babe and no lesse doth Sebastiano in hearing my selfe in penning and relating them doe I tearme him Nobleman O let mee with respect and repentance revoke that noble title from Sanctifiore and to give him his due let me tearme him as hee is a monster of men or if hee will a noble deboshed villaine or whether hee will or no a meere tyrant or else a devill in the shape of a man to use such ingratefull cruelties and hellish actions and speeches against these two innocent persons who contrariwise in the highest degree deserved from him all manner of affection respect charity pitty and compassion but let him looke to him selfe as well as he can yet God being as just as mercifull it is not impossible for him in the end to pay deare for these his foule infidelities and cruelties Returne wee now to Sebastiano who by this time is returned to Putzeole whereof hee presently sends up notice to his young Lady and mistris Vrsina who still keepes her bed through discontent and sicknes but at the newes of his arrivall or rather hopeing that hee had brought her some good newes from her Sanctifiore shee without any regard to her weaknesse and sicknesse riseth from her bed by the fire and calls her chamber maid for her night gowne which haveing drawne on thee bidâ—… her for a whiles to absent her selfe and to send up her coachman 〈◊〉 to her and although in his sorrowfull lookes and countenance shee mâ—…y already tacitly reade a large lecture of the bad newes hee brings her from 〈◊〉 yet shee â—…lls him to her and bids him speake on but ahlas hee speaketh too soone foâ—…â—…er foâ—… with a faltâ—…ing and trembling voice hee tells her the â—…arsh entertâ—…nment which Sanctifiore gave to him and his messâ—…ge in Naples and the inhumane and cruell answer which hee bad him returne to her in Putzeole without any way
a Ianuarie and such a May but disdaines to enter into consideration with himselfe that hee is every way fitter for his grave than for her bed and for death than marriage yea hee flatters himselfe so far in his affection to her as heehopes hee shall bee the joyfull father of many prettie children by her so that hee is so deeply enamoured with the sweet youth of our Bellinda and his heart so fast chained and intangled in the tresses of her haire and the lures of her alluring beautie that hee upon his first sight of her incessantly thinkes of her by day dreams of her by night and neither thinks nor dreams of any thing but of her and of his love to her so now he advanceth raiseth the standards of Venus and Cupid as high as ever he formerly dejected them and delights in nothing more yea Imay truly say in nothing els but in feasting his eyes and surfeting his heart upon the heavenly Idoea of her Angelicall â—…ace and feature hee thinkes so much of love as if he were now wholly composed of love and therefore purposely made to love Bellinda and none but Bellinda His hauks and hounds are now as far out of his mind as he is out of himselfe and no other delight or recreation whatsoever can take up any place in his heart or thoughts because love had already tane up all Hee revokes to mind how Macareâ—… was transformed into a bird for speaking against Venus and that it is not his cause alone to bee so deeply plunged tormented in love but that the greatest Captaines Philosophers and Kings of the world and as poets assirme the Gods themselves have beene subjected and vanquished with this passion and so constrained to make it their chiefest delight and glory to adorâ—…e the temples and altars of Cupid with the oblations of their sighes and the sacrifices of their teares Thus our De Mora being at the first sight wholly inflamed with love towards his faire and beautifull intended mistris Bellinda hee to seeme far younger than hee is hee is so vaine in his affection as contrary to his custome hee shaves his beard dights himselfe in an ash-collour sattin suit and cloake with a white Beaver hat a hat-band of Diamonds a rich plaine cut worke band and a paire of greene silke stockings with garters roses laced with silver sutable thereunto and so to performe his promise to Cursoro takes coach the next morning and rides over to him but not so much to tast of his good cheere as to feast his enamoured eyes on the dilicious rarities and dainties of his daughter Bellinda's beautie where he finds his entertainment and good cheere at least to equalize if not to exceed his birth rancke and expectation but this is not the end and object of his visit not the summe and period of his desires dinner being ended hee acquaints Cursoro with his affection to his daughter Bellinda and his suit to seeke and obtaine her for his wife Cursoro wonders that so great a Lord should desâ—…nd so low from himselfe to seeke so meane a young Gentlewoman as his daughter in marriage But finding De Mora to bee in earnest and not in jeast and understanding that his age was deeply passionatly enamoured of her youth and beautie hee therefore thankes him for that undeserved honour of his promiseth him his best assistance towards his daughter and gives him no dispaire but all hope and assurance that hee shall shortly obtaine and injoy her to his wife De Mora having thus wonne the affection and consent of the father hee now seeks that of the daughter hee takes her apart in his parlour where of an old man hee plaies the young oratour and lover and in sweet tearms and sugred phâ—…ses and speeches seeke to gaine her to his wife but Bellinda more considering De Mora his age than the greatnes of his nobilitie or estate shee bites the lip and hangs the head at this â—…s motion yea and seeâ—…s to be aâ—… 〈◊〉 as hee was forward in this his research and pursuit Hâ—…r father laiâ—…s his commands on her to embrace this match and no other hee conjures her now to confirme and not to cast away her good fortunes in marrying this great Nobleman and vowes that hee will for ever renounce her for his daâ—…ghter if shee disobey him herein so hee conducts her into the arbour of his garden and there freely and couâ—…eously againe gives De Mora the opportunitie and benefit to speake with her and the desired happines to kisse her but Bellinda is as much perplexed in mind as they are obstinate in their motion â—…owards her when composing her countenance rather to sorrow than joy and to mourning than mirâ—…h she makes a modest excuse to her father gives no absolute or peâ—… pâ—…ie deniall to De Mora but fairly and discreetly â—…aves of both of them a moneths time of respiâ—…e to resolve on thâ—…s great busines which shee saies so much imports her happines or her misery her content oâ—…her affliction which answer and request of hers both her father and De Mora finding so full of discretion and reason they severally grant and jointly consent to give her but in all this interim such was De Mora's deare and tender affection to Bellinda that hee visits her many times in person and verie often with his rich gifts and presents as holding it no irregular way but a pertinent and prevalent course first to make a breach in a young Ladies mind and affection and then to enter and take possession both of her body and of her selfe But before I proceed further in the narration and progresse of this history I must here unlocke and reveale a secret mystery to the reader of no small consequence and importance for he must understand that our Bellinda is not so chaste as faire nor so honest as her education youth beautie presuppose and promise her to bee for her mother being dead and her father giving her too much libertie and too little vertuous counsell and exhortation shee for two whole yeares hath beene in love with a poore yet with a verie proper and resolute young Gentleman of some twentie five yeares of age being a neighbour of her fathers named Don Fernando Palura who being deeply enamoured of her had laine so close so constant and so strong a siege to her chastitie as not to conceale the truth first unknowne to her father then to De Mora and next to all the world hee had unparadised her of her maiden-head and under colour and hope of marriage had verie often tane his lustfull use and pleasure of her body but his means being verie small and her belly not growing great shee was not yet fully resolved but therefore still delaied to marrie him true it is that her father Cursoro was formerly acquainted with Palura's affection and desire to marry his daughter but as heretofore his poverty made him reject him for his sonne in law so
now the consideration of De Mora's great wealth and nobilitie makes him fully to disdaine him and commands his daughter likewise to doe the same But shee not considering the premises and loving Palura's youth as much as shee hated De Mora's age shee was neverthelesse so inconstant by nature and so proud and ambitious by sex as she could find in her heart and resolution rather to bee a rich Lady than a poore Gentlewoman and so to leave Palura to espouse and marrie De Mora but first her crime her conscience makes her send for Palura and seriously to consider and debate hereon with him which they doe so Palura perceiving by Bellindas lookes and observing by her sâ—…eeches that De Mora's wealth was far more powerfull with her than his poverty and that shee notwithstanding still aimed to keepe him for her husband and himselfe for her friend hee at last tells her that hee will consent and content himselfe that shee shall marry Don Alonso De Mora conditionally that shee will first â—…aithfully promise him to grant and performe him three requests and artâ—…les So shee bids him propose them to her the which hee doth to this effect 〈◊〉 that hee shall still have the use and pleasure of her bâ—…dy as here â—…ofore and aâ—… oâ—…en as hee pleaseth secondly that from time to time she shall be â—…ow some competency of De Moras wealth on him to support his weake estate and poverty and thirdly that if De Mora die before him that within three moneths after his death shee shall then marry him Which three unjust demands and ungodâ—…y conditions of â—…alura's his sweet heart Bellinda betwixt sighes and smiles immediatly grants him yea shee feales them with many oathes and confirmes them with a world of kisses and to adde the more pâ—…tie I may truly say the more prophanesse to this their contract and attonement they fall to the ground on their knees and invoking God and his Angels for witnesses hereof they with their hands and kisses againe ratifie and confirme it but poore sinfull soules how doth Sathan abuse you and your intemperate and lascivious lusts betray you for God will not be mocked and his holy Angels cannot be deluded by these your blasphemies and impieâ—…ies for you shall in the end see with griefe and feele with repentance that this vicious league and obscoene contract of yours will produce you nothing but shame misery and confusion of all sides By this time is Bellinda's moneth expired which shee gave her father and De Mora for her resolution of marriage and now doe they both of them repaire to her to understand and receive it when her pride and ambition having far more prepared and disposed her tongue than her affection shee as if shee were a pure Virgin yea a Diana for chastitie making a low reverence to her father and a great respectfull courtesie to De Mora delivers her resolution to them in these tearmes that in humble obedience to her father and true affection and zeale to Don Alonso De Mora God hath now so disposed her heart and mind that shee is resolved to wait on his commands and to bee his hand-maid and wife whensoever hee shall please to make himselfe her Lord and husband This answer of Bellinda is so pleasing to her father and so sweet and deâ—…icious to De Mora that in acceptance of her love and requitall of her consent hee gives her many kisses and then claps a great chaine of pearle enterlaced with sparkes of Diamonds about her necke and an exceeding rich Diamond ring on her finger and so most solemnly contracts himselfe to her and within eight daies after in great pompe state braverie marries her whereat his kinsfolkes and friends and all the nobilitie and gentrie of these parts doe very much admire and wonder some condemning his folly in marrying so poore and so young a gentlewoman others praising and applauding her good fortune in matching with so rich and so great a Nobleman Here wee see the marriage of De Mora and Bellinda but wee shall not goe far before wee see what sharpe and bitter sweet fruits it produceth for here truth gives a law to my will and so commands mee to relate and discover that hee is too old for her youth and shee too young for his age yea her I must crave excuse of modestie to affirme that shee is so immodest as shee finds him not to bee so bold and brave a cavallier as shee expected in regard his best performance to her consists oâ—…ly in desire Thus being in bed together whiles hee turnes to his rest so doth shee to her repentance but shee knowes how to repaire and remedy this her misfortune for whiles her husband De Mora only kisseth her shee in her heart and mind kisseth and embraceth her young and sweet Palura who many times comes over in shew to visit her husband 〈◊〉 effâ—…ct to 〈◊〉 and as formerly so now hee â—…sciviously 〈◊〉 and 〈…〉 in a word very often performes and acts that 〈…〉 husband cannot Now within lesse than two moneths 〈…〉 seeing that hee is not capable to deserve much â—…sse to 〈…〉 dainties of his wives youth and beautie and 〈◊〉 â—…ving alâ—… that by 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 begins to disrespect and sleight him and yet that shee 〈…〉 pleasant to all gentlemen who aâ—…oord and 〈◊〉 his house 〈…〉 on her now hee growes jealous of her and so far forgetâ—… 〈…〉 selfe that he curseth all those who in right of the lawes of 〈…〉 honour come to kisse her but more especially Palura 〈…〉 his house and so frequently conversing with his young Lady 〈…〉 on makes him jealous and his jealousie confident that with too 〈…〉 and dishonestie he usurps upon his free hold dishonoureth him in â—…ing his bed and defiling his wife the which to discover 〈…〉 her of her libertie so that she sees and grieves to see her selfe to be 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 as much her husbands prisoner as his wife yea hee sets 〈◊〉 eyâ—… 〈◊〉 as so many Sentinells to watch her and her actions and for himselfe 〈◊〉 jealousie gives him more eyes than ever Argus had to espie out what familiaritie 〈◊〉 betweene her and her sweet heart Palura Bellinda takes this discourtesie and hard measure of her husband in verie ill part at his hands yea she bites the lip thereat and though out wardly shee seeme to grieve and sorrow yet inwardly shee vowes to requite and revenge it he is so jealous of her and so fearefull that she plaies false play with him that as soone as ever Palura comes to his house hee carries his eye and eare everie where to see if hee can espie and hearken out 〈◊〉 and his wives love-trickes together yea hee is so eurious in this quest and so vigilant and turbulent on this his research and disquisition as if hee delighted to â—…ow that whereof it were his happines to be ignorant or as if hee had an â—…ing desire to make his glory prove his
shame and his content his affliction and â—…serie But as mild and sweet perswasion is ever more capable and powerfull to prevaile with women than constraint so our faiâ—…e Bellinda is so distasted with the lunacy and with the phrensie and madnes of this her husbands jealousie that shee no sooner sees her Palura arive in her sight and presence but despite â—…f â—…s suspition and feare shee is â—…o 〈◊〉 in her lust and so lascivious in 〈◊〉 affâ—…ction towards him that she tâ—…es pleasure to seeke pleasure and extremely delighteth to seeke and â—…d delight with him which according to her former lewâ—… 〈◊〉 and ungodly contract shee often doth Now this foolish young couple being the obliged schoâ—…ers of â—…pid and the devoted votaries of Venus thinke to bee as wise as they are lascivious in these their amorous pleasures for knowing that discretion makes lovers happie and that secrecie is the true touch-â—…e yea the verie life and souâ—…e of love they therefore esteeme and keepe the secrets thereof as if they were sacred and thinke that no mortall eyes but their owne can 〈◊〉 know it but yet notwithstanding all this De Mora's jealous feares in the detection are still as great as their care in the prevention thereof for the very next night after Palura departure from his house hee purposely absenteth anâ—…eth his wife from his bed and the next morning calling her into the gardeâ—… after him and causing the doore to bee â—…ut he then and there with lighâ—…g iâ—… his lookes and tâ—…nder in his speeches chargeth her of adulterie with 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 this young strumpet his wife Bellinda at the verie first hearing of this 〈◊〉 and unexpected newes dissembles so artificially with her husband and so proâ—… with God as seeming to dissolve and melt into teares shee purgeth her selfe hereof with many strong vowes cleereth Palura with many deepe asseverations 〈◊〉 this fanaticke Tyrant and franticke monster jealousie which for the most part wee can seldome or never kill before it kill us had wrought such strange impressions in the braines ingraven such extravagant chimoera's in the heart and â—…eleefe of old De Mora that notwithstanding his wives oathes and teares to the contrary hee yet still vowes to himselfe and her that shee is guiltie of adulterie with Palura and therefore chargeth her that henceforth shee dare not see him or receive him into her house or companie Bellinda hereat to give her â—…and some content in her owne discontent makes a great shew of sorrow and an extreme apparition and exteriour apparance of griefe she sends for her father Cursoro acquaints him with the unjust wrong and indignitie which her Lord 〈◊〉 husband hath offered her and praies him to interpose his authoritie and judgement with him for their reconciliation who seeing himselfe solicited and sought to by his owne blood by his daughters hypocrisie beleeves her to be as innocent as her husband De Mora thinkes her guilty of this foule crime of adultery with Palura and so undertakes to solicit and deale with his sonne in law De Mora to that effect which hee doth but with no desired successe so that finding it to bee a knottie and difficult busines and upon the whole no lesse than a Herculean labour because of De Mora's wilfull obstinacie and perverse cre dulity hee therefore praies for both of them and thus leaves them and their difference to time and to God and upon these unfortunate tearmes doth old De Mora his young wife Bellinda and their marriage now stand In the meane time Bellinda who suffers doubly both in her pleasure and her reputation is not yet so devoid of sense or exempt of judgement but shee will speedily provide for the one and secure the other To which effect seeming sorrowfully obedient to her husband she thinkes it not fit that her Palura should for a season approach her house or her selfe wherefore by a confident messenger shee sends him this letter BELLINDA to PALVRA MY husband hath discovered our affections and is confident that I love thee far better than himselfe wherein as hee is nothing deceived so I conjure thee by the preservation of thy fidelitie and my honour to forbeare my house and sight for some two moneths in which interim I will use my chiefest art and the utmost of my possible power to calme the stormes and tempests that jealousie hath raised in him So bee thou but as patient as I will bee constant and I hope a little time shall end our languishing and againe worke our contents and desires for though thou art absent from mee yet I am still present with thee and albeit my husband De Mora have my body yet Palura and none but Palura hath my heart as knoweth God to whose best favour and mercy I affectionately and zealously recommend thee BELLINDA Palura receives this letter and although hee fetch many deepe figâ—…es at the reading thereof yet hee gives it many sweet kisses for her sweet sake who writ and sent it him hee knowes not whether hee hath more reason to condemne De Mora's jealousie or to commend his Lady Bellinda's affection and constancie to himselfe and because hee resolves to preferre her content and honour equally with his owne life therefore heâ—… will dispence with his lustfull and lascivious pleasures for a time purposely to give her beauty and merrits their due forever so in requit all of her affectionate letter he by her owne messenger returnes her this kind and courteous answer PALVRA to BELLINDA I Am as sorrowfull that thy husband De Mora hath discovered our affections as truly joyfull that thou lovest mee far better than himselfe wherefore to prevent his jealousie equally to preserve my fidelity with thy honour and thy honour with my life know sweet and deare Bellinda that thy requests are my commands and thy will shall eternally be my law in which regard I will refraine thy house all thy long prefixed time and so forbeare to see thee but never to love thee because thy sweet devine beauty is so deeply ingraven in my thoughts imprinted in my soule thâ—…t the farther I transport my body from thee the neerer my affection brings my heart to thee I will adde my chiefest wishes to thy best art and my best prayers to thy chiefest power that a little time may worke our content and desires but because there is no torment nor death to languishing nor no languishing to that of love therefore I shall thinke every moment a moneth and every houre a yeare before wee againe kisse and imbrace conceale this letter of mine from all the world with as much care and secresie as I send it thee with fervent zeale and tender affection PALVRA The perusall of this letter and the affection of Palura demonstrated in this his resolution makes Bellinda as glad as the jealousie of her Lord and husband De Mora sorrowfull and now seeing his rage so reasonlesse and his malice and obstinacie so
Ferallo obeies but with much wonder and admiration what this busines might meane or produce betweene them Here De Mora very passionately and cholerickly chargeth Palura for abusing dishonouring of him by committing adul terie with his wife Bellinda the which Palura retorts to him as a foule scandall and false aspersion and as an honourable Gentleman in his speeches and answers to De Mora makes his owne innocencie and his wife the Lady Bellinda's chastity very apparent and probable but these feigned excuses and false oathes and speeches of Palura doe no way satisfie but â—…ather the more incense the jealousie and inflame the malice and revenge of De Mora against him whereupon hee shewes him his owne letter and with much bitternesse and vehemency demands him if that his owne hand writing doe not palpably convince him of adultery with his Lady Palura is amazed at the sight of this his letter so that blushing for shame hee cannot here yet refraine from looking pale with griefe anger thereat neverthelesse he will not be so ingratefull to the beauty and affection of Bellinda to think that shee hath betrayed him by delivering up this his letter to her husband but rather giving a good interpretation and construction to the purity of her intents and affections towards him hee beleeves with confidence that hee had sinisterly and surreptiously betrayed her thereof whereupon to fortifie her reputation to vindicate and cleere his owne innocencie hee with high words and loud crackes protesteth this letter to bee false suborned none of his and that it was written by some witch or devill and sent by some treacherous enemy of his purposely to affront him and to disgrace his vertuous chaste and innocent Lady Bellinda but these feigned paliating excuses of his cannot passe currant with the jealousie and revenge of De Mora who now to reduce contemplation into action tels Palura that nothing but his death can expiate and satisfie this his crime and therefore on horse-backe as hee was drawes his sword and bids Palura doe the like The which Palura hearing and seeing he equaly for the preservation of Bellinda's honour his owne life as a brave and generous Gentleman likewise drawes as highly disdaining to have his youth and courage outbraved by this old cavallier but here before they begin to fight Palura with many strong reasons and patheticall perswasions againe and againe praies De Mora to desist from the combat and to rest satisfied with the truth of his Lady Bellinda's honour and his owne innocency in this their supposed and pretended crime of adultery but hee speakes to the wind for De Mora returnes him blowes for words The event and fortune of this their combat on horse-backe is that in two severall meetings and incounters Palura hath received no wound but given De Mora two the one in his necke and the other in his left arme whereof he bleeds so exceedingly as he begins to dispaire of the victory and with his pistols to provide for his owne safetie and life they by a mutuall consent divide themselves a little distance off to breath When Palura reining his horse a little to straite and his horse being hot and furious and by meere strength and force turning round De Mora with his watchfull and vigilant eye taking the advantage of this favourable â—…ident when Palura never once dreams or thinks of pistols speedily puls his two pistols forth his pocket most basely and treacherously with the first shoots him thorow the head and with the second into the reines of his backe of which mortall wounds hee presently fell off from his horse dead to the ground having neither the power to repent his sinnes nor the grace or happines to pray unto God for the salvation of his owne soule and thus was the untimely end and lamentable death of this valliant young cavallier Palura De Mora seeing Palura dead having more reason outwardly to rejoyce in this his victory than inwardly in the cause manner thereof he waves his handcherchiefe to his man Ferallo to come to him who was an eye witnesse and spectator and Co-mate which he presently doth to whom hee speakes thus first acquaint Palura's servants in his house that I have slaine their master in a duell then ride home and tell my wife the Lady Bellinda that I have sent her Ruffian and adulterer Palura to heaven and within six daies after come a way to mee to Lisbone whether I am now poasâ—…ng when throwing him some gold for his journey hee takes leave of him and away and at the very next Towne dresseth his wounds which prove hopefull and not dangerous Now doth Ferallo according to his Lords commission and order informe Palura's servants of his death and of his said Lord and masters victory but for his honour and reputations sake conceales that he basely and treacherously kild him with his pistols they are extremely sorrowfull for this his misfortunate end so whiles they fetch home his breathlesse body and prepare for his decent buriall Ferallo returnes home and truly punctually relates to his Lady Bellinda the issue of this combat as also of his Lord De Mora's speeches which hee commanded him to tell her who poore Lady is all in teares for the death of her lover Palura and well shee might in regard she loved him a thousand times dearer than her owne life so upon the receit of this sorrowfull newes shee shuts her selfe up in her chamber and for many daies together her griefe and lamentations for his death are so infinite as shee will admit of no company counsell or consolation whatsoever shee considereth how deeply the misfortune of this disaster will scandalously reflect on her honour and fall on her reputation and therefore vowes to requite Palura's death severly and to revenge it sharply on the life of her husband De Mora who was his murtherer at least when shee shall be so happie or rather so miserable to see him returne to her from Lisbone She exceedingly wondereth at his secret malice and suddaine indignation and resolution towards Palura but more at the cause thereof and from what point of the compasse or part of hell this furious wind should proceed when at last having nothing els capable to comfort her or to give truce to her teares but the sight of Palura's aforesaid letter sent to her the which in tender affection to him shee for his sake had so often perused and kissed shee therfore passionately and pensively flies to her closet and with affection and sorrow to her cabinet to feast her eyes with the sight and to delight and comfort her heart with the perusall thereof when contrary to her expectation shee finds the letter taken away her other papers displaced and her jewels reversed in her cabinet and then shee knowes for certaine that it is her husband De Mora who had thus rifled her cabinet and who had bereaved and robbed her of this sweet letter which
and her usher Ferallo so that he as soone beleeves as understands this their adultery without ever making a stand either to consider the truth or to examine the circumstances thereof whereupon to make short worke and to provide a speedy remedy for this unfortunate disaster and disease hee without speaking word of it either to his Lady Bellinda or to Ferallo suddainely casheereth him from his house and service and in such disgracefull manner as hee will not so much as permit him to know the reason hereof or to see or take leave of his Lady and mistris and from thence forth De Mora lookes on her with infinite contempt and jealousie For it galles him to the heart first to remember her dishonour and dishonesty with Palura now far more to know that she is doubly guilty thereof with her owne domesticke servant and Gentleman-usher Ferallo wherefore he againe restraines her of her liberty and his jealousie so far exceeds the bounds of judgement and the limmits of reason as hee will difficultly permit her to see any man or any man to see her but as rivers stopped doe still degorge with more violence and overflow with more imperuositie so Bellinda takes this new jealousie of her old husband and this suddaine exile and banishment of Ferollo her lover and Gentleman-usher in extreme ill part and after shee hath wept and sighed her fill thereat shee then beleeves the prime and originall cause therof to proceed from the malice and jealousie of her waiting Gentlewoman Herodia wherefore being infinitly despighted and incensed against her shee in her deare love and affection to Ferallo to requite her husbands courtesie very discourteously turnes her away and for ever banisheth her her house and service and to write the truth Ferallo likewise inhatred malice to Herodia will from thence forth neither see nor speake with her more But to verifie the English proverb that love will creepe where it cannot goe although De Mora banisheth Ferallo from his house and restraineth his Lady Bellinda of her liberty in his house yet sometimes by day many times by night they by the assistance of some secret agents or Ambassadours of love doe in the arbours of the gardens and in some other out romes of the house very amorously meet and most lasciviously kisse and embrace together They hold many private conferences on their unlawfull affections and many secret consultations upon their unjust discontents so at last both of them joining in one wicked heart and mind and as matters are still best distinguished by their contraries finding each others company sweet and their sequestration and seperation bitter they so much forget their selves and their soules and so much fly from heaven and God to follow Sathan and hell as both of them beleeve and resolve they can have no true or perfect content on earth before De Mora be first sent to heaven now upon this bloody designe they agree and upon this hellish plot they fully resolve only the gordian knot which must combine and linke fast this foule busines is that De Mora being dead Bellinda must shortly after marry her Gentleman-usher Ferallo whereunto with as much joy as vanity shee cheerfully consenteth when they are so prophane as they seale this their ungodly contract with many oathes and ratifie and confirme it with a world of kisses and then of all violent deaths they resolve on that drugge of the devill poyson so without either the feare or grace of God they of Christians metamorphose and make themselves devils and Ferallo buying the poyson Bellinda very secretly and subtilly in diet drink and broath admmistereth it unto her Lord and husband De Mora which being of a languishing vertue and opperation hee within lesse then foure moneths dies thereof when with much cost and a wonderfull exteriour shew of griefe and sorrow shee gives him a stately funerall every answerable to the lustre of his name and the quality of his dignity and honoâ—…r but God in his due time will pull off the maske of this her monstrous hippocrie and infernall prophanesse Our jealous old Lord de Mora being thus laied and raked up in the dust of his untimely grave his joyfull sorrowfull widdow the Lady Bellinda according to her promise to the griefe of her father Cursoro to the wonder of Stremos and the admitation of all Portugall marries with this her Gentleman-usher Ferallo but such lustfull and bloody marriages most commonly meet with miserable ends For six moneths together Ferallo day and night keeps good corespondancy in the performance of his affections to his old Lady and mistris and now his new wife Bellinda and although they are unequall in birth and ranke yet marriage having now made them equall they mutually kisse and imbrace with as much content as desire but at the end of this small parcell of time satiety of his uxorious delights and pleasures makes him neglectfull and which is worse contemptible thereof a base ingratitude but to often subject to men of his inferiour ranke and quality and which the indiscretion of Ladies of honour very often paies deare for as buying it many times with infamy but still which repentance so that for ten nights and sometimes for fifteene together hee never kissed or imbraced her which unkind ungratitude of his and respectlesse unvaluation of her youth and beauty as also of her ranke meanes makes the Lady Bellinda his wife to be as hot in choler towards him as he is cold in affection love towards her But to ascend to the head-spring of this his discourtesie towards her and so to fetch and derive it from its owne proper originall wee must know that Ferallo was so vitious inconstant and base as now hee is deeply in love with a new waiting Gentlewoman of his Ladies named Christalina a sweet young maiden of some eighteene yeares of age tall of stature and slender of body and whose beauty was every way as cleere and pure as her name and yet whose maidenhead with a few rich presents and many poore flattering oaths and false promises hee had secretly purchased and gotten from her yea his affection was so fervent to her that part of the day could not content his lustfull desires but hee forgets himselfe so far as before his Ladies nose and almost in her sight hee must lye with her whole nights and which is worse almost every night without so much as once thinking of his owne wife the Lady Bellinda or either loving what shee cared for or caring for what shee loved But Bellinda esteemes her selfe too good a Gentlewoman and too great a Lady to be thus outbraved and disgraced by a Taylors sonne for so was Ferallo and therefore consequently her heart is too well lodged and too high fixed and seated in the degree of her high discent thus to receive suffer an affront by a man of so low a beginning so ignoble a quality and extraction as he was and whom she had
hell to earth purposely to erraise them from Earth to Heaven and so religiously to give and consecrate both them and our selves and soules from sinne to righteousnesse and consequently with as much felicitie as glorie from Satan to God THere dwelt in the Citie of Avero in Portugall an ancient Nobleman termed Don Gasper de Vilarezo rich in either qualitie of earthly greatnesse as well of blood as revenewes who was neerely allied to the Marquesse of Denia in Spaine as marrying a Neece of his named Dona Alphanta a Lady exquisitely endued with the ornaments of Nature and the perfections of Grace for she was both faire and vertuous that adding lustre to these and these returning and reflecting embellishment to that which made her infinitely beloved of her husband Vilarezo and exceedingly honoured of all those who had the honour to know her and to crowne the felicitie of their affections and marriage they had three hopefull children one sonne and two daughters he termed Don Sebastiano and they the Donas Catalina and Berinthia Hee having attained his fifteenth yeare was by his Father made Page to Count Manriques de Lopez and continually followed him at Court and they from their tenth to their thirteenth yeares lived sometimes at Coimbra otherwhiles at Lisbone but commonly at Avero with their Parents who so carefully trained them up in those qualities and perfections requisite for Ladies of their ranke as they were no sooner seene but admired of all who saw them But before wee make a farther progression in this Historie thereby the better to unfold and anatomize it I hold it rather necessarie then impertinent that wee take a cursory though not a curious survey of both these young Ladies perfections and imperfections of their vices and vertues their beautie and deformitie that as objects are best knowne by the opposition of their contraries so by the way of comparison wee may distinguish how to know and know how to distinguish of the disparitie of these two sisters in their inclinations affections and delineations Catalina was somewhat short of stature but corpulent of body Berinthia tall but slender Catalina was of taint and complexion more browne then faire Berinthia not browne but sweetly faire or fairely sweet Catalina had a disdainefull Berinthia a gracious eye Catalina was proud Berinthia humble In a word Catalina was of humour extreamely imperious ambitious and revengefull and Berinthia modestly courteous gracious and religious So these two young Ladies growing now to bee capable of marriage many gallant Cavaliers of Avero become Servants and Suiters to them as well in respect of their Fathers Nobilitie and wealth as for their owne beauties and vertues yea their fame is generally so spread that from Lisbone and most of the chiefest Cities of Portugall divers Nobles and Knights resort to their Father Don Vilarezo's house to proffer up their affections to the dignitie and merits of his daughters But his age finding their youth too young to bee acquainted with the secrets and mysteries of marriage puts them all off either in generall termes or honourable excuses as holding the matching of his daughters of so eminent and important consideration as hee thinkes it fit hee should advisedly consult and not rashly conclude them which affection and care of Parents to their Children is still as honourable as commendable Don Sebastiano their brother being often both at Madrid Vallidolyd and Lisbone becomes very intimately and singularly acquainted with Don Antonio de Rivereâ—… a noble and rich young Cavalier by birth likewise a Portugall of the Citie of Elvas who was first and chiefe Gentleman to the Duke of Bragansa and the better to unite and perpetuate their familiaritie hee proffers him his eldest sister in marriage and prayes him at his first conveniencie to ride over to Avero to see her offering himselfe to accompany him in this journey and to second him in that enterprize as well towards his father as sister Don Antonio very kindly and thankfully listeneth to Don Sebastiano's courteous and affectionate proffer and knowing it so farre from the least disparagement as it was a great happinesse and honour for him to match himselfe in so noble a Family they assigne a day for that journey against when Don Antonio makes readie his preparatives and traine in all respects answerable to his ranke and generositie They arrive at Avero where Don Gasper de Vilarezo for his owne worth and his sonnes report receives Don Antonio honourably and entertaines him courteously he visiteth and saluteth first the mother then the two young Ladies her daughters and although hee cannot dislike Catalina yet so precious and amiable is sweet Berâ—…nthia in 〈◊〉 eye as hee no sooner sees but loves her yea her piercing eye her vermillion châ—…ke and delicate stature act such wonders in his heart as hee secretly proclaimes himselfe her Servant and publikely shee his Mistresse to which end hee takes time and opportunitie at advantage and so reveales her so much in termes that intimate the servencie of his zeale and endeare the zeale of his affection and constancy Berinthia entertaines his motion and speeches with many blushes which now and then cast a rosiat vaile ore the milke-white lillies of her complexion and to speake truth if Antonio bee inamoured of Berinthia no lesse is shee of him so as not only their eyes but their contempâ—…tions and hearts seeme already to sympathize and burne in the flame of an equall affection In a word by stealth hee courts her often And not â—…o deâ—…aine my Reader in the intricate Labyrinth of the whole passages of their loves Antonio for this time finds Berinthia in this resolution that as she hath not the will to grant so she hath not the power to deny his suit the rest time will produce But so powerfully doe the beautie and vertues of sweet Berinthia worke in 〈◊〉 his affections that impatient of delayes hee findes out her father and mother and in due termes requisite for him to give and they receive demaunds their daughter Berinthia in marriage Vilarezo thanking Antonio for this honour replies that of his two daughters hee thinkes Berinthia his younger as unworthy of him as Catalina his eldest worthily bestowed on him Antonio answeres that as he cannot deny but Catalina is faire yet hee must confesse that Berinthia is more beautifull to his eye and more pleasing to his thoughts Vilarezo lastly replies that he will first match Catalina ere Berinthia and that he is as content to give him the first as not as yet resolved to dispose of the second and so for this time they on these termes depart Vilarezo taking Antonio and his sonne Sebastiano with him to hunt a Stag whereof his adjacent Forrest hath plentie But whiles Antonio his body pursues the Stag his thoughts are flying after the beautie of his deare and faire Berinthia who as the Paragon of Beautie and Nature sits Empresse and Queene-Regent in the Court of his contemplations and affections hee is wounded at
desire so I can receive no other satisfaction but this whereunto thy malice invites and my honour obligeth mee BRELLATI Valerio performes his part well and fairely working and screwing himselfe into Bertolini's presence very secretly delivers him his Masters challenge Bertolini not ignorant but conjecturing what it meanes breakes off the Seales and at the perusall therof though his cause bee unjust and dishonourable yet in his countenance and speeches hee shewes much constancie fortitude and resolution when considering they were to fight single and that therefore Valerio could bee no second hee deeming his Master had concealed this secret businesse from him contents himselfe to give him onely this answer Tell your Master Seignior Brellati from mee that I will not faile to meet him according to his desire and appoyntment And so Valerio takes his leave and departs when finding out his Master he reports him Bertolini's answer whereat hee is so farre from being any way appald or daunted as hee infinitely rejoyceth thereat In the meane time hee is curious in preparing two singular good Rapiers and Ponyards of equall length hilts and temper And thus with much impatient patience as Revenge is an enemy to sleepe they not out-sleepe but out-watch the night So the morne and day stealing and breaking into their windowes they are no sooner out of their beds but into the field their Chirurgions awayting their arrivals by the Pyramides in the place of Populi by which of necessity they were to passe when tying up their horses to the hedges like resolute Gentlemen they throw off their doublets commanding their Chirurgions not to stir from their stations when disdaining words they both draw and fall to deeds thus Brellati presenteth the first thrust and Bertolini gives him the first wound in his left shoulder whereat hee is inflamed and so returnes Bertolini the interest of a most dangerous one on his right side but it toucht neither his bowels nor quayse They cry againe so Brellati againe wounds Bertolini in his left hand when his Rapier running thorow his sinewes and Arteries he is no longer able to hold his Ponyard but despight his resolution and courage it fals out of his hand which unlookt for disaster doth much perplexe and afflict him But Brellati is two generous and noble to blemish or taint his honour by taking any advantage of this his adversaries misfortune and so to cleere his doubts and scruples very valiantly and bravely throwes away his owne Ponyard to the hedge that they might bee as equall in weapons as courage But Bertolini will basely requite this courtesie They retire and take breath and so traversing their grounds thereby to take the benefit of the Sunne they againe joyne at the first close of this second meeting Brellati runnes Bertolini into the right flanke when withdrawing his Rapier and leaping backe to put himselfe upon his defensive guard and posture his foot slipping hee could not prevent falling to the ground when Bertolini following him close and being eager in his pursuit and bloud-thirsty in his revenge hee forgetting Brellati's former courtesie and working upon the fortune of his misfortune right then and there nayled him to the ground and so redoubling his thrust acted a perpetuall divorce betwixt his body and soule when Brellati's Chirurgian shedding teares on his dead Master and beginning to take order for his decent conveyance into the City Bertolini takes up his Chirurgian behinde him and so with all possible speed and celerity the better to avoyd the danger of the law poasts o're the fields and comes into Mount Cavallo Gate and so husheth himselfe up privately in a friends house of his neere his fathers All Rome beginnes to eccho forth and resound this Murther and farre the more because Bertolini and Brellati were so deare and intimate friends but as good newes comes alwayes lame and bad rides poast so within one houre of Brellati's Murther the newes thereof is brought first to his Father then to his Sister Paulina whereat hee grieves and shee stormes hee sorroweth and shee weepes and laments and in a word the Father would but cannot and the Daughter can but will not bee comforted at this sad and mournefull Tragedy Neither must wee forget but remember Seignior Paulus Sturio who loving Paulina a thousand times dearer then his owne life is no sooner acquainted but afflicted with this newes of Brellati his death as being his deare friend and which is more the onely brother of his dearest and onely Mistris Paulina so as Lovers and friends being best knowne and discerned in calamities and afflictions hee repaires to her condoles with her and useth his chiefest art and zeale not onely to participate but wholly to deprive her of her sorrowes yea to proove himselfe a constant friend and a faithfull lover to her hee proffereth her not onely his service but his life as well to right her honour as to revenge her brothers death on Bertolini but this affection and perswasion of Sturio is not capable to wipe off or exhale his Lady Paulina's teares But againe to Bertolini who is so farre from contrition and repentance of this his bloudy fact as like a prophane miscreant and debausht and dissolute Gentleman hee triumphs and glories therein yea his impudencie is become so ignorant and his ignorance so sottish as hee beganne to enter into a resolution againe to court and seeke Paulina for his wife without respecting or regarding either the publike danger of the Law or that of Paulina's private revenge for sure her brothers death had throwne her into such violent passions of griefe and extremities of sorrow as if his folly had made her so happy doubtlesse her revenge would have made him more miserable but God had taught her rage more reason and her malice and cruelty not so much impiety yea it pleased his Divine Majesty not so soone to call him to an accompt and punish him for this his bloudy fact but reserving him for a future shame and punishment being affrighted with a tumultuous rumour and alarum of a generall search to bee made that night for his apprehension hee very subtilly in a Capuchins habit passeth Saint Iohn de Laterans Gate and there having Poast-horses layd for him hee as swift as the winde gallops away for Naples and imbarking himselfe for Sicilie passeth the Pharre of Messina lands at that City and so rides up for Palermo where he thinkes himselfe safe But having not made his peace with God where ever he flie God will in due time find him out when he least dreames thereof â—…ut although the power and influence of time bee so predominate to deface the actions and accidents of time yet 〈◊〉 can give no truce to her teares nor will shee administer any consolation to her sorrowes for her brothers death And if ever now it is that Sturio resembling himselfe beginnes to make her sorrowes his for having deepely rooted and setled his affection on Paulina and naturally ingraven her beauty and picture
and counsell and to send it him by the ordinary Carrier of Tholouse which was then in that Cittie bound thither from Paris his letter spake thus 〈◊〉 to DE SALEZ IT is out of a fatherly and as I may say a religious care of thy good that I now send thee these few ensuing lines for thy Youth cannot see that which my Age knowes how many miseries are subject to wait and attend on Vice and how many blessings on Vertue if La Frange be not faire yet she is comely not contemptible but sith her defects of Nature are so richly recompensed with the Ornaments of Fortune and the excellencies of Grace why should thy affection preferre La Hay before her who hath nothing but a painted face to overvaile the deformity of her other vices If thou wilâ—… leave a Saint to marry a strumpet then take La Hay and forsake La Frange but if thou wilt forsake a strumpet to take a Saint then marry La Frange and leave La Hay for looke what difference there is betweene their births thou shalt finde ten times more betweene the chastity of the one and the levity of the other If thou espouse the first thou shalt find Content and Honour if the second shame and repentance â—…or I know not whether La Frange will bring thee more happinesse or La Hay misery This letter shall serve as a witnesse betwixt God myselfe and thee that if thou performe me not thy promise and oath I will deny thee my blessing and deprieve thee of my lands ARGENTIER De Salez having received this his fathers letter in Tholouse exceedingly grieves to see him disgrace his mistresse by the scandalous name of a strumpet which hee knowes she is not and therefore will never beleeve it yea he vowes that if it were any other in the world who had offered him that intollerable affront hee would revenge it though with the price and perill of his life La Hay perceives this discontent and alteration of mirth in him but from what point of the Compasse this wind proceeds she neither knowes nor as yet can conceive but withall determineth to make the discovery thereof her greatest Ambition and not her least Care which she now well knowes it behooves her to doe sith she finds De Salez lesse free and more reserved and pensive in her speeches than accustomed But when in vaine she had hereunto used many smiles and feâ—…ches loâ—… here falls out an unlook't for accident which bewrayes her the very pith and quintescence of the Mistery For on a time when hee lay slumbering on the table shee as accustomed diving into his pockets for sweet meats or rather for gold of both which he many times went well furnished she finds his fathers aforesaid letter which she knew by the direction and so flying into another chamber and bolting the doore after her she there reads it both with griefe and choller when stunge to the quicke and bitten to the heart and gall to see her reputation and Honour thus traduced and scandalized by the father of her pretended husband she with teares and interjected sighes and grones flies backe to De Salez and holding the letter in her hand like a dissembling and impious strumpet as she was there shewes it him takes Heaven and Earth to beare witnesse of her innocency and of the irreparable and extreame wrong his father hath offered her in seeking to ecclips the Glory of her chastity which she sweares she will beare pure and unspotted not onely to his bed but to her owne grave But Alas alas these are the effects and passions of dissimulation not of truth of her prophanenesse not of her piety which time will make apparent to De Salez though now her beauty and teares be so predominate with his judgement and folly as he cannot because he will not see it So being still as constant in his â—…ottishnesse as she in her hypocrisie he gives her many sweet kisses and with a Catalogue of sugred words seekes to appease and comfort her whom he hath farre more reason to excerate and curse But for her part her heart is not so afflicted for remembring her selfe still her â—…its are her owne and so remembring the conclusion of the letter and fearing that De Salâ—…z his promise and oath to his father might infringe and contradict his to her she tels him that her love is so fervent and infinite towards him as shee can give no intermission nor truce to her teares before he reveale her his oath and promise which his fathers letter informed her he had formerly made him De Salez seeing himselfe put to so strict an exigent and push doth both blush for shame and againe looke pale for anger when for a small time irresolute how to beare himselfe in a matter of this different Nature wherein hee must either violate his obedience to his father or infringe his fidelity and honour to his mistris hee at last consenting with folly not with discretion and with Vanity nor with Iudgement doth so adore her beauty and commiserate her teares as he sottishly reveales her his oath given his father Verbatim as we have formerly understood it adding withall that she hath far more reason to rejoyce than grieve hereat That a little time shall cancell his said late promise and oath to his father and confirme his former to her For sweet La Hay quoth he come what come will two moneths shall never passe ere I marry thee when sealing his speaches with many kisses our hypocriticall afflicted Gentlewoman is presently againe come to her selfe and in all outward appearance her discontents are removed her choller pacified her teares exhaled and her sighes evaporated and blowne away But all this is false like her selfe and treacherous like her beauty For this letter of Argentier to his sonne and his promise and oath to his father hath acted such wonders in her heart and imprinted such extravagancies in her thoughts as she cannot easily remove or supplant it nor difficultly forget or deface it whatsoever she speake or make shew of to the contrary for thus she reasoneth with her selfe That 〈◊〉 whoredomes are already revealed to Argentier and for any thing she knowes â—…y likewise be discovered to his son how closely soever she either act or conceale them That La Franges descent wealth and vertues will in the end overprise and weigh downe her meane extraction poverty and beauty and in the end that the wisdome of the father will infallibly triumph ore the folly of the sonne except her pollicy interpose and her vigilency prevent it which to prevent and effect she sees no other obstacle to her content nor barre to her preâ—…erment but only La Frange for quoth she if La Frange shine in the firmament of De Salez affection La Hay must set or if La Hay will shine La Frange must set againe if she fall not I cannot stand and if she stand I must needs fall and as the skie is
not capable of two suns so both of us cannot shine in the Horison of his heart and thoughts at once except thus that La Hay may live to see La Frange his wife and her selfe his strumpet when burning with false zeale to De Salez and true inveterate malice to La Frange she forgetting God swaps a bargaine with the devill that La Frange must first goe to her grave ere La Hay come to his bed and soe resolves to sacrifice her as a Victime to her malice and jealousie and to send her out of this world in an untimely and bloody Coffin Hellish Aphorisâ—…es Infernall Posâ—…ions odious to Earth and execrable to Heaven For wretched and impious strumpet wilt thou needs not onely gallop but fly to hell and so redouble thy crimes purposely to redouble thy torments as first of whoredome then of murther Wretched yea thrice wretched woman how darest thou see earth or thinke of heaven when thy acted crimes are so odious and thy pretended ones so monstrous as thou deservest to be shut foorth of the one and spewed out of the other For alas consider what this poore Gentlewoman hath done to thee that thou shouldest doe this to her She beares the image of God and wilt thou therefore beare that of the devill to destroy her Ah me where is thy religion thy conscience thy soule that thou wilt thus hellishly imbathe thy hands in her blood and imbrue thy heart in her murther If it be not that her vertues cry fie on thy Vices thou hast no reason in Nature and lesse in Grace to attempt a deed so Tragicall an act so inhumane and execrable But rest assured that if thou proceed and finish this infernall and bloody stratagem of thine although thou chance goe unpunished of men yet the Lord in his due time will find thee out and both severely scourge and sharpely revenge and chastice thee The effects of malice and revenge in men are finite in women infinite theirs may have bounds and ends but these none or at least seldome and difficultly for having once conceived these two monsters in their fantasies and braines they long till they are delivered and disburthened of them and so to bring their abortive issue to perfection they for the most part are sharpe and severe in their designes and sudden and malicious in their executions hating all delayes so it be not to do evil So this our bloody and viâ—…ious Strumpet La Hay is resolute to advance and not to retyre in this dyabolicall businesse of hers Of all kind of violent deaths she thinks none either so sure and secret as poyson whether she consider the manner or the matter If the Devill himselfe had not invented this unparaleld cruelty his agents and members had never knowne how to have administred and practised it But having resolved on the drug and ingredient she now bethinks herselfe of some hellish Empericke or Factor of Hell to apply and give it her and her inveterate and implacable hatred making her curious in the research and inquiry thereof she is at last advertised that there is an old Italian Empericke in Mompellier tearmed S. Brnardâ—… Michaele who is his Arts master in that infernall profession when wholly concealing this mystery and businesse from De Salez she by a second meanes with promise of store of gold sends away for Michaele from Mompellier who in hope thereof packs up his drugs and trinkets and within three dayes arrives at Tholouse where she thinkes no where so fit and secret as the Church to consult and resolve on this bloody busines the houre is eight the next morne and the place the Cordeliers or Gray Friâ—…s Church appointed and agreed on betwixt them where they both meet but she the better to disguise her selfe and to bleare the eyes of the world wraps her selfe about in a great furred cloake and muffles her selfe up with a large coyfe of velvet and a rich taffata scarfe over it as if she were some grave and reverend old Matron so being brought to each others presence they being both on their knees he to his Booke and she to her Beads she proposeth him the poysoning of La Frange daughter to the President de Clugny for the which she promiseth to give him three hundred crownes of the Sunne to performe it whereof he shall now have one in hand and the other two when he hath dispatched her Michaele like a limbe of the Devill being deepely in love and allured with this gold undertakes it when swearing secrecy and withall to performe it within ten daies she gives him the hundred crownes tyed up in her handkercher and so for that time they part Good God what prophane Christians what monsters of Nature and Devils incarnate by profession are these thus to pollute and defile the Church ordain'd for prayer with the price and sale of innocent blood a most prodigious and hellish impiety since there is no sinne so odious or execrable to God as that which is masked with piety and overvayled with the cloke of sanctity And what a damnable young strumpet and old villaine are they in so holy a place to treate and conclude so hellish a businesse But beware for the sword and arrow of Gods just revenge and revenging Justice threatens yee with no lesse then utter confusion and destruction La Hay infinitely glad of this agreement returns from the Church and Michaele as glad of her gold being informed of La Franges deformity and to lose no time trips away towards President de Clugny his house taking that for a fit occasion to assay to make his daughter become his Patient and he her Empericke who fleeringly insinuating and skrewing himselfe into his knowledge and acquaintance in which profession the Empericks and Mountebanks of Italy come no way short but rather exceed all other Nations of the world he proffers him his best service and skill to redresse and reforme the body of the young Lady his daughter adding withall thereby to adde the more beleefe and credit to his speeches that hee is so farre from dispairing or doubting as hee is very confident thereof and in the phraises and mysteries of his profession gives him in outward appearance many inward and plausible reasons to induce him to beleeve it The good old President who preferring the cure of his daughter before any other earthly respect having heard of Michaâ—…les fame begins to relish his reasons and yet not ignorant that the Mountebankes and Charletans of Italy are Cousin Germans to the Alcumists of France who promise to make gold of drosse and yet only bring forth drosse for gold hee holds it fit to take a consultation of the learnedst Physicians and expert Chirurgions of the City whereunto Michaele willingly consents so they sit being six in number Michaele delivers them his reasons to redresse the deformity of this young Ladies body the President her father being present whose reasons are heard and controverted of all sides betwixt them the
Lillie-rose at complexion of a milde nature and sweet disposition respectfully courteous to all the world and exceedingly devout and religious towards God as perpetually making it her practise delight and glory to consume a great part both of her time and of her selfe in prayer and in the service of God And although she were formerly sought for in mariage by many as good Gentlemen as Harcourt yet she could fancie none nor affect any man for her husband but himselfe Never wife was more carefull or more desirous to please a husband than she and as for one whole yeare it was her former content and joy to see him to be a provident kinde and loving Husband to her so now it is her matchlesse griefe and calamity to see his good nature perverted his resolutions transported and his affections drowned in deboshed and vitious company She leaves no sweet advice nor courteous requests and perswasions unattempted to reclaime him from these his foule vices of drunkennesse swearing dicing evill company and whoredome for of no lesse sinnes in quality nor fewer in number she with extreame griefe and sorrow sees him to be guilty But all this will not prevaile no nor her infinite teares and sighs which many times she spends and sheds to him both at boord and bed yea and sometimes on her knees but still with a wretched violence and sinfull impetuosity he goes on in his vitious courses and ungodly life and conversation neither caring for his health or his estate and meanes but wilfully neglects the first and prodigally wastes and consumes the second whereat she wonderfully grieveth and lamenteth She often requesteth Vimory his brother and La Vaquery her father to perswade and divert him from these his ungodly Courses and enormous vices which threatens no lesse than the vtter ruine and inevitable shipwracke of all their fortunes but they likewise cannot preuaile although his Brother Vimory with whom they live and sojourne every houre and time he sees him doe strongly deale and labour with him to that effect For now he giving no limits to his vices and prodigalities he sels away his lands peece-meale whereat his brother Vimory stormeth and rageth against him and his vertuous sweet wife most pitifully weepeth and lamenteth But as a base Gentleman and a most unkinde and ungrateful Husband he laughs at her teares smileth at hersighes and contemneth scorneth both them and her selfe And it nowfalling out that La Vaquery her father losing both of his Law suits at Diion where they by the votes sentence of that Court of Parliament are adjudged against him wherby he was utterly ruined both in his hopes and estate for ever Harcourt hereat soslights neglects his wife as he tearmes her beggers brat threatneth to send her home to Troyes to her Father and setting all at randome cares not what becomes either of himselfe or her who poore sweet Gentlewoman is so extreamely afflicted and as it were weighed downe with all these calamities and miseries especially with the vices and discourtesies of her husband as in her heart she daylywisheth and in her soule hourely prayeth unto God that she were out of this life and in Heaven infinitly lamenting and a thousand times a day repenting that ever it was her hard fortune to see her Husband and her woefull chance to marry him But how to remedie or redresse these her miseries shee knowes not For now doe her Husbands vices and prodigalities make him daily grow poorer and poorer in so much as in lesse than three yeeres hee is become the shame of himselfe the contempt of his enemies the pittie of his friends and Kinsfolkes and the extreame griefe of his sweet and deare wife so that hee hath well neerâ—… spent all and almost left nothing to maintaine himselfe much lesse to maintaine her whose griefes are so great and sorrowes so infinite as her roseat cheekes now looke thinne and pale her sweet eyes are become obscure and dim yea and in so pitifull and lamentable a manner that she fals exceedingly sicke and her discontent and disconsolation is almost so remedilesse as she would but cannot be comforted for that her Husband whom she thought would have proved the argument of her joy and prosperity is now become the cause of her endlesse griefe and the object of her matchlesse calamity and misery Thus leaving her sorrowes sighs and teares to bee diminished through time or dissipated and defaced by God The order of our History invites and conjures me now againe to speake of this her base and deboshed Husband who hath many beastly and bloudy parts to act herein Whose lewd life and prodigalities enforcing him now to behold poverty because heretofore he disdained to looke on frugality and providence Seeing his wealth wasted his lands either sold or morgaged himselfe forsaken of his brother and friends his reputation lost his debts great his creditors many and who now began to grow extreame clamorous and scandalous to him Hee knowes not which way to looke or how or where to turne himselfe to finde out some invention and meanes to repaire the decayes and ruines of these his miserable fortunes and so to beare up and screw himselfe againe into the eye and repute of the world When his necessity gaining upon his heart and nature and Satan upon his Conscience and Soule he knowing his brothers wife Masserina to be rich â—…nd wanton hee will become so unfaithfull to his owne wife so ingratefull and treacherous to his owne brother and so dishonourable and ignoble to himselfe as to attempt to gaine her affection from him and to draw her to his owne lewd and lascivious desires whereon his irregular hopes did more than partly grow confident because he flatters himselfe with this true yet foolish beleefe that as he was seven yeares the younger so hee was twice seven times a properer man than his brother When taking time at advantage as his brother and her husband Vimory were rid to Diion he finding her in a wonderfull pleasant humour and exceedingly disposed to be merry when God knowes his owne sweet and sorrowfull wife was according to her frequent custome disconsolately at her prayers and booke in her owne chamber and her doore shut to her then then I say hee taking his said sister in law Masserina to a window in a private Parlor hee there for himselfe or the devill for him breaks his minde to her and is so farre from shame as he glories to make her acquainted with his deepe affection lascivious suit to her Neither doth he faile of his hopes or they of his voluptuous desires for he findes this his sister in law so dishonestly prepared and so lustfully resolved and disposed to grant him his desires that sealing her affection to him with many smiles as he did his to her with more kisses she is so impudent so gracelesse as at this his very first motion she vowes to him she hath not the power to deny him any thing and
therefore most cheerfully and willingly gives him her heart and her selfe and hee doth the like to her which they mutually ratifie and confirme betweene them with many private kisses and amarous daliances as also with many secret protestations and solemne oaths But because Satan is therefore God will not be present at this their vitious contract and lascivious combination Thus Harcourt and his sister in law Masserina having no regard to their honours or reputations to their hearts or consciences to their soules or to God he pollutes his brothers bed in possessing his wives body and makes it both his delight and practise to defile and contaâ—…ate his glory in that of her shame and of his owne infamy And now his pockets and purse are againe fill'd and cramm'd with coine for he gives her kisses for her gold and she returnes him gold for his kisses Hereupon he puts himselfe againe into new and rich apparell but yet is so base unkinde and ingratefull to his owne sweet and vertuous wife that hee will give her neither gold nor new apparrell but permits her to goe in her old But to adde more miseries to her misery and more new griefes and calamities to her old because shee is equally an eye sore both to himselfe and to her hee will no longer permit her to live with him that he may the more often and the more freely and securely familiarize with his old sister or rather now with his new love Masserina So without any regard to her birth or respect to her youth and vertues or without considering that God had made her his wife and therefore the other halfe of himselfe he sends her home to her father at Troyes giving her but a poore little â—…agge and a ragged foot-boy onely with so much money as could hardly carry her thither giving her neither money nor apparell nor any thing else which was beseeming or fit for her although through the blacke and obscure clouds of his vices and ingratitude the bright and relucent Sun-beames of her excellent perfections and vertues in her selfe and of her constant affection to him will for ever most radiantly resplend and shine to all the world especially to those who had the honour to know her living or who shall now or hereafter reade her History after her death And never were those her sweet perfections and vertues either more conspicuous and glorious in her than now at her enforced exile and sorrowfull banishment and departure from her Husband For although he were cruelly unkinde or unkindely cruell to her yet knowing and considering him to be her Husband shee therefore holds it her duty and conscience still to attend and wait on him as his wife and not either so soone or so suddenly to separate her selfe from him When her eyes see her judgement knowes her heart doubts and her soule feares that then more than ever his vices wanted her prayers and his sins her vertues presence to seeke to rectifie and reforme them But although she descended so low from her selfe to him in her affection and humility as with bitter sighs and teares to cast her selfe on her knees to begge and request him that as by the lawes of mariage and nature and of conscience and grace she was obliged and bound so that she might enjoy the content and happinesse to live and die with him being infinitely contented and extreamly desirous as she then affirmed and againe and againe repeated and confirmed to him to participate and beare her part and share as well in his poverty as prosperity yet hee as an ignoble Gentleman and a base and vitious Husband having wholly taken away his heart and affection from this his sweet and vertuous wife La Precoverte and fully and absolutely given it to his lascivious sister in law Masserina hee I say is so hard hearted ingratefull and treacherous towards her as without any respect to her teares or regard to her prayers hee will no way permit her to live with him in St. Symplician or Sens at his brothers nor yet vouchsafe to bee pleased to goe and live with her to Troyes at her fathers But here we may observe his malice in his disdaine and his disdaine in his malice towards this deare and sweet young Gentlewoman his wife of whom God knowes and the world sees he is no way worthy for he will grant her neither of these her two most reasonable loving requests but indeed rather as a devill than a man and a tyrant than a Husband he with thundring looks and speeches commands her away his sight presence without once giving her so much as one poore kisse as he was bound in affection or which is yet lesse a poore farewell at their parting as hee was obliged both in conscience and christianity So this sweet disconsolate Gentlewoman in a manner breaking her breast with her signes and drowning her checks with her teares only with her poore little nag and ragged footboy is by her flinty hearted Husband turned out of his Brother Vimories house at Saint Simplician and so in this slender manner and base equipage enforced softly discontendedly and sorrowfully to ride home to the poore Gentleman her Father at Troyes yea and such was the malice and pollicy of Harcourt her cruell Husband that this sodaine departure of hers was purposely acted when his Brother Vimorye and his wife Masserina were at another mannour house of his some eight leagues off to the end that they might not see or take leaue of her nor she of them so allowing our sweet and sorrowfull La Precoverte by this time at Troyes with her aforesaid Father I will for a time there leave her to the exercise of her patience to the pietie of her prayers and to the pleasure and providence of God Now doth our disloyall and treacherous Harcourt at his pleasure frolique it out in Saint Simplician with his lacivious Sister in Law and Strumpet Mafferina yea they are now growne so impudent so carelesse so gracelesse in these their obscaene Dalliances that if Vimorye the Husband and Master doe not yet his Seruants cannot choose but take deepe notice and exact and perfect Knowledge thereof Onely â—…e obserues a late alteration in his Brothers fortunes that he is become farre braver in his apparell then accustomed and hath more store of Crownes in his pocket at his command then heretofore both to play and spend at his pleasure Onely from whence this his golden Myne should proceed hee knowes not except having heretofore made some progression and experiments in the Chymicall Science or mistery of Alchymy he had now found the Elixar of the Philosophers Stone but his cuâ—…sity in this Quaere proceeds no further much lesse his Iudgement but least of all his Suspition or Ielousie But the gracelesse Vanity and Ambition of Harcourt will yet flye a pitch and degree higher in the ayre of Ingratitude and treachery towards his Brother Vimorye For a little gold cannot redeeme his Lands
odious in the sight of God and man that he acknowledged hee no longer deserved to tread on the face of the earth or to looke up to Heaven That he knew not justly whereunto to attribute this infamy and misery of his but to his continuall neglect and omission of prayer whereby he banished himselfe from God and thereby gave the Devill too great an interest over his body and soule that he desired God to forgive him these his two soule and bloody crimes of Murther as also that of his neglect of Prayer and so with teares in his eyes besought all who were there present likewise to pray unto God for him When againe beseeching the vertuous young Lady Eleanora to forgive him the murther of her good old Vncle Cassino hee often making the signe of the Crosse and recommending himselfe into the hands of his Redeemer bad the Executioner doe his office who presently with his sword severed his head from his body and both were immediatly burnt and the ashes throwen into the River of Ticino without the wals of Vercelie although his Iudges were once of opinion to send his said head and body to Cassall for the Iudges of that place to doe their pleasure therewith for there poysoning of his owne Mother the Lady Sophia And thus was the miserable and yet deserved death and end of this bloody and execrable Gentleman Alphonso and in this sort did the judgements and punishments of God befall him for these his two most inhumane and deplorable Murthers May God of his infinit grace and mercie still fortifie and confirme our faith by constant and continuall prayer the want whereof was the fatall Rocke whereon hee perished that so we may secure our selves in this world and our soules in that to come GODS REVENGE AGAINST THE CRYING AND EXECRAble Sinne of Murther HISTORIE XXIV Pont Chausey kils La Roche in a Duell Quatbrisson causeth Moncallier an Apothecary to poyson his owne Brother Valfontaine Moncallier after fals and breakes his necke from a paire of staires Quatbrisson likewise causeth his Fathers Mâ—…er 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 murther and strangle Marieta in her Bed and to throw her body into his Mill-Pond Pierot the Miller is broken alive on a wheele and Quatbrisson first beheaded then burnt for the same WEe may truely affirme that the world is in her wane when Murther is become the practice of Christians which indeed is the proper office of the Devill and how frequently those wofnll accidents happen wee cannot thinke of but with much horrour nor remember but with grieâ—…e of mind and compassion of heart For is it not to mâ—…ke our selves wilfull Traitors and Rebels to God to violate his Divine Majestie in spoiling his true Image and resemblance yea is it not the high-way of Hell But that this age of ours produceth such Monsters of nature reade we but this ensuing Historie and it will informe us of much innocent blood shed we know not whether more wilfully or wickedly IT is not unknowne that the Province of little Britaine was long since annexed and united to the flourishing Kingdome of France by the marriage of Charles the Eighth with Anne the young Dutchesse thereof notwithstanding that she weâ—…e formerly contracted to Maximilian Arch-duke of Austria where we shall understand that in the Citie of Vannes formerly the Court and Residence of those British Dukes thereof late yeares dwelt a noble Gentleman of rich Demaines and Revenues termed Monsieur de Caerstaing who by his wife Madamoyselle de la Ville Blanche had two Sonnes the eldest named by his title Monsieur de Quatbrisson and the youngest Monsieur de Valfontaine The first aged of twenty foure yeares being short and corpulent the second of twentie being tall and slender both of them brave and hopefull Gentlemen as well in their outward personages as in the â—…ward perfections and endowments of their minds For in all respects the care and affection of their Parents had made their education answerable to their births Valfontaine for the most part lived in the Citie of Nantes the second of that Dutchie with an Vncle of his named Monsieur de Massie being President of the Kings Chamber of Accounts which is kept there who frequenting the Bals or publike Dancings whereunto the youth of France are generally adicted amongst many other excellent beauties wherewith that Citie is graced and those pastimes and meetings honoured he sees a young Gentlewoman being a stranger and newly come to the Citie so infinitly rich in the excellencies of nature and the treasure of lovelinesse and beauty as with a kind of imperious commanding power shee atracts all mens eyes to behold to admire to affect her So as although Valfontaines youthfull heart and yeaâ—…es had never as yet stooped or sacrificed to Love yet at the very first sight of this sweet young Gentlewoman whose name wee shall not goe farre to know hee cannot retaine his enamored eyes from gadding on the Roses and ranging on the Lillies of her sweet complexion nor his resolutions from enquiring what her name and her selfe was when being informed that she was the onely daughter and heire of a rich and noble Gentleman a Widdower termed Monsieur de Pennelle of the Parish of Saint Aignaw fower leagues from the Citie and her name Madamoyselle la Pratiere of the age of some seventeene hee at the very first sight likes her so well and loves her so deerely that if her interiour vertues come not too fhort of her exteriour beauty and feature he vowes he will be her Sutor and Servant and so he attempts to court and seeke her for his wife To which end he more like a Tutor then a Pupill in the Art and Schoole of love is so farre from neglecting any as he curiously and carefully seekes all opportunities and occasions to enjoy the felicity of her company and so for the most part hee conducts her to and from the dauncings sits and talkes with her in her lodgings meets her at Church where as well at Vespers as Masse he accompanies and prayes with her and briefly shee can difficultly be present any where where he is long absent from her For by this time which is scarce a moneth since he first saw her her peerelesse beauty and unparalell'd vertues and discourse have acted such amorous wonders in his heart as hee vowes hee must either live her Husband or die her Martyr But see the providence and pleasure of God for if Valfontaine tenderly love our sweet and faire La Pratiere no lesse doth shee him for knowing him to be the Sonne of his Father and therefore a Gentleman of noble extraction and worth and seeing him to bee wise discreet and proper as also remembring and marking that he fervently and infinitly affects her shee is so delighted with his neat feature and personage and ravished with the melodie of his discourse as albeit at first her tongue bee so civill and modest to conceale her affection from him yet her eyes the Ambassadors of