presently hee heard a noise at the door and turning his head that way he saw a man come into the chamber of the same shape proportion and countenance that his dead Host was who comming unto the chair wherein Cleander sate stood still stedfastly looking him in the face without doing or saying any thing Cleander whose heart was capable of any thing but feare felt neverthelesse an unknowne shivering run thorow all his veines which curdled his blood yet he had the heart to say unto him Good even my Host I was told you were dead So I am answered the Spirit How then come you here answered Cleander I come to tell you that I am killed said hee and withall to intreat you by our ancient acquaintance that you will cause me to be buried you shall finde my body in such a pit under a great heap of stones which have beene cast upon me I doe conjure you once againe to give me buriall Well mine Host answered Cleander to morrow I will cause you to be buried Will you no other thing No said the Spirit and giving him good night retired leaving Cleander more desirous to see day than to sleep yet he was not further troubled all that night The next morning rising very early he sent for the Justice of the place unto whom having recited the vision which he saw not sleeping but waking and before hee went to bed hee led him unto the pit which the Spirit had told him of and finding it full of stones they caused it to be emptied untill they found the body which lay under them easily known to be the old Host every body was astonished at the fact Cleander left the information of the cause unto the Justice and to acquit himselfe of his promise to the Host caused him to bee buried with an honourable service wherein having spent all that day hee resolved to lye that night againe in the chamber Being there alone much about the houre that hee came the night before my Hoste came againe and at his entrance into the chamber hee said God give you a good evening Sir Cleander who could willingly have spared this visitation answered him Good even my Hoste have I not performed my promise Yes Sir answered the Spirit I am now come to thanke you and to tell you that if you please to command me any thing where I goe there is nothing which I can doe for you that I will not doe Friend answered Cleander there is nothing that I have to doe in that countrey which you speake of wherefore God give you Peace and the Rest which you desire The like I wish unto you said the Spirit and so Sir I bid you farewell Farewell my Host said Cleander unto whom these complements began to be troublesome Neverthelesse the spirit being at the doore ready to goe away Cleander called him againe and said unto him Mine Host one word with you The Spirit returning said What is your pleasure Sir I intreat you said Cleander if you have any power where you goe you would oblige mee so farre as to advertise me of my death three dayes before I dye Well answered the Spirit I will doe it if I can Thereupon hee vanished and Cleander presently after going to bed slept till the morning neither he nor any other ever after either hearing or seeing any thing in that Chamber In this time Lisander lying at his sisters house in Burgundy very sicke fell into that weakenesse that hee lost all knowledge and was given over by the Physitians who were ignorant of his disease unto the prayers of the religious Hee had lost both speech and sight and when he recovered either it was onely to see fearefull illusions or speake raving or doe such extravagant actions as never entreâ— into the thought of man Ambrisia bewailing his evill with teares as bitter as the remedy was desperate and seeing the Physitians knew not what to give nor what to doe as one who is accustomed to have recourse unto God when humane helpes faile sent for a Capuchin from a Covent which was neere to exhort him with constancy to give up his life unto him who was the author thereof At her sending two Capuchins came before whom Lisander fell into so grievous a vomiting that among other things which he vomited up at his mouth he cast up Pen-knives Inke-hornes Images of waxe Bracelets of haire Cart-nailes which were not illusions and fained but so reall and true that they yet remaine in the hands of the Capuchins and are kept as perpetuall reliques unto their Covent These good Fathers seeing so wonderfull a Prodigie lifted up their eyes and voices to heaven praying God to have pity upon this Knights soule whose body they thought was so neere an end One of the two who was young and who hid a goodly personage and a beautifull facâ— under this poore habit began to poure forth so many teares that all the standers by no lesse wondred at him than at the unknowne and strange sickenesse of Lisander unto whom seeing him a little recover his spirits hee spake in this manner Lisander my ancient friend seeing it hath pleased God to reduce you into this pitifull estate bee it either to call you to the glory of a second life or to let you see the misery of this pull out of your minde these deceiving thoughts of the World before you bee constrained to leave them and lift your minde unto heaven before you goe thither You shall see that it is the Haven of our Navigation the end of our Course and the true land which hath beene promised by our Father This is a cursed one into which we have beene banished for our sinnes and our bodies are the Prisons where wee are detained If it please God that it bee broken by death and that you bee called from this banishment resolve your selfe freely to the liberty of your soule and unto the glorious returne thereof into the holy city of the heavenly Jerusalem which is the naturall Countrey thereof There shall you bee free from so many travels wherewith you are now enslaved and there shall you no more remember the stormeâ— wherewith you have beene beaten you shall onely there give praise to God that you have avoided them without shipwrack enjoying the soveraigne good in recompence of all your evils and changing the miserable condition of man into the happinesse of Angels Courage then Lisander valiantly meet death in the face whom you have so many times braved in the most perillous hazzards of this life the passage from earth unto heaven is not so terrible nor so painfull as is thought Our Lord hath himselfe plained the way and so disarmed death that hee can neither hurt nor feare those who rest assuredly in his goodnesse Emplore his aide hee neither can nor will refuse any person relying upon him for what can hee refuse unto us having given himselfe for us so much lessening himselfe as to be borne basely to live
A TRAGI-COMICALL HISTORY OF OUR TIMES VNDER THE BORROWED Names OF LISANDER AND CALISTA LONDON Printed by R.Y. for G. Lathum at the Bishops head in Paules Church-yard Anno Domini â—635 TO THE VERTUOUS AND NOBLY DISPOSED Gentlewomen Mistris FRANCIS FORTESCU wife unto Ma. JOHN FORTESCU And Mistris ELIZABETH DUNCOMB wife unto Master WILLIAM DUNCOMB of Badlesden My most Honoured THis French Knight and his Lady being importuned contrary to their designe and the fashion of this time which is almost all French to appeare to publick view in this their English habite and knowing how subject strangers are to malignant humours a disposition growne so common that like a contagious disease it hath infected almost the whole world they have made humbly bold to expose themselves abroad under your auspicious and candide names hoping they may be more free from censure and more boldly tell their Loves their Feares their Dangers their Imprisonments their Jealousies and their Joyes They have in their native country served under the protection of a great King where the gentlenesse of their spirits had a generall approbation and now their hope let it not be accounted presumption is that you according to your accustomed noble goodnesse will not refuse it unto them here where they are poore strangers at the least that they may resting by you await your leisure when by their conversation they may endevour to rob away tediousnesse though but from one houre to which the greatest mortals are at sometime subject This is their highest ambition and my only end not capable of greater expression is to witnesse my affection to your services from intending whereof onely death shalâ— divide Your most humble and most devoted servant W.D. A TRAGI-COMICALL HISTORY OF these Times THE FIRST BOOKE UNder the reigne of our great HENRY the valorous father of our invincible Monarch there lived in France a young Lord whose Heroick Noblenesse was more recommended through the glory of his Vertue than by the antiquity of his Race Hee was called Cleander rich both in the goods of Fortune and Nature being no lesse beloved for his Beauty than feared for his Valour If hee were valiant hee was also more wise and if hee were wise hee was also more happy But his chiefest happinesse was in his marriage for in his first youth his merits had gained him a wife one of the fairest that France ever brought forth The East had never so many Pearles as shee had Beauties and the morning did blush to behold any thing fairer she was called Calista neither was there any thing wanting but an apt name to expresse her perfections With this woman did Cleander passe the sweetest life that ever fell into mans imagination enjoying a happinesse which cannot bee comprehended but by mindes capable of the glory of such thoughts The Sunne did never looke upon the earth but he beheld these two Lovers embracing Neither did night ever kindle so many fires in Heaven as they felt within their soules Their desires were not like unto those which were drowned in their pleasures but contrariwise their loves were sharpned by enjoying for the more they did possesse that which they did desire the more they did desire that which they did possesse But darke night followed this bright day and this cleerenesse was clouded yea even whilst Cleander made the earth envious and the heavens jealous of the favours hee received from his Mistresse There was another Knight called Lisander who in courtesie and valour gave place to none of his yeares who had beheld Calista's excellent beautie with the lightning whereof hee was so amazed that hee cleane lost the remembrance of himselfe Hee was now no more that Lisander whose free and warlike mind was wont to apprehend no disturbance but ambition for in stead of breathing forth an honourable desire of glory hee was so possest with the Idea of this perfection that it was not possible for him to receive any other thought nay hardly could hee finde a place in all his minde for himselfe This new guest thus lodged in Lisanders heart counselled him to see his Lady Now this Knight was a most absolute Gentleman and a most acceptable companion especially among Ladies of a sweet and courteous conversation full of attraction and recommended with so many excellent parts as well of body as of minde that it seemed Love had stollen into this man of purpose if it were possible to ruine Calista's chastity for there was appearance that if shee could love any thing it must needs be him who loved nothing but her and that if she had not a heart of stone shee must needs be apprehensive of his torment But for as much as hee could not well acquaint himselfe with this woman without accosting the husband he first sought Cleanders friendship who held it for an honour and prevented his suit recompencing Lisanders feigned with true affection He seldome spake but of him nor ever made any good relation if Lisander were not the subject thereof Calista her selfe who saw not but by her husbands eyes nor judged but by his knowledge could not choose but honour that which shee saw Cleander loved she being otherwise by Lisander adored with so much respect that she should have wanted humanity if shee had been with out discerning thereof Behold here a faire beginning for our Lover but this is nothing without perseverance His care was now to make knowne unto her the great passion which hee suffered for her and to let her know it in such a fashion that Cleander might not perceive it Hee was cleare sighted like a Linx and although he were not jealous yet he was a husband and unto a wife whose admirable beauty did deserve to be preserved If he once did discerne of this love all was lost there could be no more friendship nor acquaintance and otherwise to resolve to dye in a silent griefe so neere unto his remedy hiding his death from her who was the cause thereof hee could never consent thereto And indeed it is better never to see that which one loveth than seeing it not to dare to expresse ones love for the object stirreth up the desire Neither is there any evill in the world like unto the presence of a forbidden good Which the Poets the better to expresse did not represent Tantalus his thirst in a Desert void of waters but in the middle of waters not being able to drinke To prevent then the husbands distrust and to keepe suspicion from entring into his minde hee ruled his actions his words and his lookes in such sort that in his sight hee never came neere unto the wife hee never spake unto her nor ever looked upon her but as upon a thing indifferent neither â—oo free nor too reserved fearing lest if hee were too much composed or not enough hee might discover his designe in the guiding thereof He held therefore a meane betweene both with that dexterity that there was no gesture nor motion of his
if hee be not hee hath witnessed so little affection unto Calista that she ought not to thinke that ever there was any such in the world But is it possible said Lisander that a Knight who hath saved Dorilas his life and Lidians many times and unto Calista both her life and honour should now be forgotten for Lucidan who not onely was never their servant but hath alwaies beene their capitall enemy As for Lidian answered the other he holds for Lisander and as well he as Alcidon and Berontus will leave the kingdome rather than be present at Calista's marriage with Lucidan and she for her part hath not yet made any demonstrations that shee doth incline either unto one part or other but Dorilas Adrastus and Otranta doe stir heaven and earth for Lucidan and which is greatest the King himselfe favours the match and he can doe more than all All these words were like daggers at Lisanders heart who being able to endure them no longer bid all the company good night and retiring into his chamber went to bed While he rests there if a man tormented with so many furies can enjoy any rest we will returne unto Hippolita who being recovered from her swound and awake from a short sleepe which a generall numming of all her spirits had brought upon her not seeing her mortall enemy who had so cruelly wounded her whom neverthelesse shee loved more than she loved her selfe shee demanded of her maid where he was Shee told her his going away and his excuses together How said shee is hee gone without speaking to mee and hath hee thus left mee in this pitifull estate whereunto I am brought by his cruelty O Tiger although I were unknowne unto him I thinke meere humanity should oblige him to stay with one afflicted set apart that I am for his sake and by himselfe thus wounded and that deceived by his faigned affections I am come into this countrey moved by my true affection unto him have preserved his honour with the losse of my blood and the hazzard of my life and if wee onely speake of common good will which is amongst the most barbarous men were not that bond enough upon him to make him see the successe of the wounds which he hath given me Madam said Erifila hee was so afflicted that it would rather have encreased your evill than lessened it and therefore he went away fearing that his sight should cause some alteration in your wounds Afflicted said Hippolita what proofe of affliction hast thou seene him shed one teare or only fetch one sigh for me yet Erifila I must love him and if thou also lovest me and wilt binde mee to love thee more thou must ride speedily after this ungratefull Knight and conjure him not to flie from Hippolita who seeketh and would runne after him if the wounds which hee hath given mee did not hinder me Tell him I pretend nothing in all that affection which hee hath vowed unto mee but common good will that I quit him of his promises and that not only I will not constrain him in the love which hee beareth unto Calista but that I will mediate his peace with the King and his marriage with her and will take upon mee to solicite her against my selfe let him vouchsafe onely to see mee and suffer me but to accompany him I am none of those who have accused him for killing of Cleander but cleane contrariwise I am she who have defended his innocency and for his sake his Ladies But dispatch Erifila and reply not if thou lovest me or if thou desirest I should live Erifila who knew with what spirit shee had to doe said onely shee would not stay but would make such haste that she would finde him and shee would lose her life or bring him backe But Madam said shee againe who shall have care of your wounds in my absence Care not you for my wounds said Hippolita they are neither mortall nor dangerous onely goe thy waies and take heed thou doest not try Lisander in armes for therein hee is no lesse invincible than in grace and comlinesse incomparable Erifila departeth although it were night and upon a speedy gallop followes after Lisander where leaving her there is a necessity now we should relate what is done at Paris Besides the instant pursuits of Lucidan to marry with Calista Verascus who was advertised of the propositions which Hippolita and Adrastus had made unto the King about Cleanders murder and also what the King had ordained as well upon their offers as upon Berontus his declaration in favour of the accused came Poste to Paris and addressing himselfe unto the Court of Parliament obtained a sentence against Calista containing that most humble remonstrances should be made to his Majesty to be pleased that justice might freely bee executed upon the persons of those who were accused of Cleanders death which sentence being gravely pronounced yet vainely because the King had already given his word although they did not hide that this crime scaping humane justice could not scape divine neither could this innocent blood unjustly shed upon earth crying vengeance in heaven fall in any other place but upon his Majesties head or his childrens Verascus addresseth himselfe unto the King and intreateth him to grant unto him the like combate against those who had offered to defend Lisander and Calista as he had granted unto Lucidan a request not onely just but also favourable for besides that the combate granted to Lucidan served him as a prejudged case there was no reason to deny or refuse Verascus upon a cause already judged and against persons condemned having suffered it unto Lucidan against a man who was not in apparance furthermore hee required nothing but what the friends of the adverse part had already demanded and besides the cause of his kinsman for whose justice he sued hee was injured in his honour by Hippolita's words The King granted that which in justice hee could not deny Thus was Adrastus his life and Calista's honour once againe in tryall and all the joy of the dayes passed turned into griefe and desolation Lidian Alcidon and Berontus were all mad to dispute this difference with Verascus who in all their opinions was like discord let loose by envie out of hell to trouble all their quiet But God forbid said Adrastus that any other but my selfe being in health and present should undertake the defence of my sonne and of my owne offer I have demanded this combate against Verascus and if it please God I wil be the first that shall maintain the innocency which hee would oppresse Who is able to utter Dorilas his anger Otranta's complaints Ambrisia's griefe Olinda's teares Argires sorrow and the deadly confusion of unfortunate Calista who can declare Lidians fury to see his sisters cause and his friends hazzarded under the defence of a feeble old man whose age might justly bee dispensed from Armes finally who can speake the universall discomfort of all