infamous and cowardly a remedie hee brake with his Mother entreating her that she would speake unto the Queene to give him Isabella to bee his Wife which if shee did not bring to passe that he would then have her to know and assuredly beleeve that death stood knocking at the doores of his life The Mother wondred to heare such words fall from her Sonne and for that she knew the roughnesse of his harsh nature and head-strong condition and the fastnesse wherewith these desires did cleave unto his soule she was afrayd that this his love would end in some sinister successe and unhappie issue yet notwithstanding as a Mother to whom it is naturall to desire and procure the good of her Children shee promised to preferre his pretension to the Queene though not with any hope to obtaine such an impossibilitie of her as the breaking of her Princely word but that shee might not omit to try in so desperate a case the utmost remedie And Isabella being that morning apparrelled by order from the Queene so richly that my Penne dares not presume to deliver the manner thereof unto you and the Queene her selfe having put a chaine of Pearle about her necke the best that was brought home by Ricaredo in the Shippe valewed at twenty thousand Duckats and a Diamond Ring on her finger worth sixe thousand or thereabouts And the Ladies being assembled and met together for to celebrate the approaching feast of this glorious wedding came in the chiefe Bed-chamber woman to the Queene and besought her on her knees that shee would bee pleased to suspend Isabella's espousalls two dayes more For with this favour onely which her Majestie should doe her she should hold her selfe well satisfied and recompenced for all whatsoever she deserved or hoped for her service The Queene would first know of her why shee did so earnestly desire this suspension which went so directly against her word which she had given to Ricaredo But that Ladie would not render her the reason untill that she had granted her requeste and that then shee would make it knowne unto her The Queene longed to know the cause of that her demand And therefore after that the Lady had obtained that which she much desired shee recounted to her Majestie the love that her Son bare to Isabella and how that she feared that if she were not given him to wife he will either grow desperate to his utter undoing or doe some scandalous act or other And that whereas shee had craved those two dayes of delaying the businesse it was only to this end and purpose that her Majestie might have time to thinke upon some course what might in her Majesties wisedome be most sit and convenient for her Sons good The Queene made answer that if she had not past unto her her royall word she would easily have found a way to get out of that laborinth But that shee would neither breake her promise with her nor yet defraud Ricaredo of his hopes for all the interess of the World This answer the Ladie of the Bed-chamber gave her Sonne who flying instantly from his Mother â—…rying in the flames of love and jealousie armed himselfe at all points and being mounted upon a faire and strong limmed Horse prâ—…ented himselfe before the house of 〈◊〉 And with aloud voice requested that Ricaredo would come to the window that hee might speake a word with him who at that instant was all in his gallantrie like a bridegroome and was even upon the point of going to Court with such company as such a solemnitie required But having heard a loud call and being told who he was that called unto him and in what kinde of fashion he came being somewhat troubled with it he came to the window whom as soone as Arnesto saw he sayd unto him Ricaredo hearken well unto that which I shall now tell thee My Mistresse the Queene commanded thee to goe forth in her service and to doe such noble exploits as should make thee worthie of deserving the not to be paralelled incomparable Isabella Thou didst goe and returnedst with thy shippes laden with gold wherewith thou thinkst that thou hast bought and deserved Isabella And albeit the Queene my Mistresse hath promised her unto thee it was as being perswaded that there was not any one in Court that hath done her better service nor any that with better title may deserve Isabella and herein it may very well bee that she was deceived And therefore leaning to this opinion which I hold for an approved truth I tell thee that thou hast neither done such things as may make thee to deserve Isabella neither canst thou doe any which may be able to raise thee to so great a heighth of happinesse And therefore in regard that thou nor doest nor canst deserve her if thou shalt avouch the contrary I challenge thee the field and defie thee to the death And here the Earle ended his speech and Ricaredo made answer thereunto after this manner This challenge my Lord doth in no manner of wife concerne mee for I ingeniously confesse that I not onely not deserve Isabella but that there is not that man 〈◊〉 living in the world that doth deserve her So that I confessing that to be true which you say this your challenge 〈◊〉 way toucheth me yet notwithstanding I accept of it for that your insolencie and indiscretion which you have showen in this your challenging of me And with this he withdrew himself from the window and called in all haste for his Armes This unexpected crosse accident much troubled his Parents and all those that were come to Clotaldo's house to accompany Ricaredo to the Court. Amongst those many that had seene the Earle Arnesto armed and had heard the challenge he had made there were not some wanting who acquainted the Queen therewith Who commanded the Captaine of her Guard that he should go presently and apprehend the Earle The Captaine made such good haste that he came just in the very nicke when as Ricaredo was going out of his house armed with those armes wherein he disimbarqued being mounted on a goodly Horse When the Earle saw the Captaine of the Guard he forthwith imagined the cause of his comming and determined if possibly he could avoyd it not to be apprehended And speaking aloud to Ricaredo sayd Thou now feest Ricaredo the impediment which hinders us from deciding this quarrell If notwithstanding this interruption thou shalt have a minde to chastise mee thou wilt seeke after me and I shall have the like minde to chastise thee and seeke likewise after thee and since two that seeke after each other are easily found let the execution of our desires â—…urecase for the present Content replied Ricaredo By this time the Captain was come in with all the Guard and told the Earle that he must yeeld himselfe his Prisoner for in her Majesties name he was to apprehend him The Earle yeelded himselfe unto him and told the Captain that he
for her and Marco Antonio without life and fairely buried then to see himselfe hopelesse of obtayning Leocadia Which hopes went on promising him a happy successe in his desire either by the way of force or by faire meanes since that for the effecting of his purpose time and occasion offered themselves for eyther With this which he promised to himself he was somewhat quieted and within a little while after the day began to appeare and then they began to leave their beds And Don Rafael calling for the hoste of the house demanded of him whether that their towne would afford a suit of cloaths for a Page who had bin stipt naked by out-lawes and robbers Mine hoste replyed that he himselfe had a reasonable handsome suite to â—…ell He brought it and it fitted Leocadia as well as if it had beene made for her Don Rafael payd him for it and shee did put it on and girded her sword and dagger unto her with such a grace and spirit that in that very gaâ—…e habit of hers shee did suspend the senses of Don Rafael and multiply jealousies in Theodosia Calvete had sadled his Mules and about eight in the morning they departed from their Inne and set onward on their journey for Barcelona omitting for the present to visit the famous Monastery of Monâ—…errat I want words to expresse to the life the thoughts which the two brothers entertained and with what different mindes both of them went looking on Leocadia Theodosia desiring her death and Don Rafael her life both of them being jealous and passionate Theodosia seeking to finde out some faults in her that shee might not despaire of her hopes And Don Rafael finding out perfections in her that did the more obliege him to love her yet for all this they were not carelesse in making all the hast they could so that they came to Barcelona before Sun-set They did wonder at the beautifull situation of that Citie and held it to bee the flower of the fayrest Cities of the world the honour of Spaine the terrour of their bordering and remote enemies the pleasure and delight of its inhabitants the Protectresse of strangers the schoole of Chevalry the patterne of loyaltie and the satisfaction of all that which a discreete and curious desire can expect or wish from a great famous ritch and well founded Citie In their entring thereinto they heard an exceeding great noyse and clamour and they might see a great company of people runne in a tumultuous kinde of manner and asking the cause of that noyse and hurrey they made them answer that they of the Gallies that were at the sea side were together by the eares with those of the Citie Which Don Rafael hearing would needs goe see what passed amongst them though Calvete told him that hee should by no meanes doe it for there was no wisedome or discretion in so doing and that thereby hee would put himselfe into manifest perill for hee knew well enough by experience how ill they came off who did thrust themselves into such kinde of differences and confused garboyles which were ordinary in that Citie when the Gallies came thither but this good counsell of Calvete could not prevaile so farre forth with Don Rafael as to hinder his going and so they all followed him And in comming to the Sea shoare they might see many swords drawne and many people slashing each other without any pitty or mercy Notwithstanding all this without alighting they came so neare unto them that they might distinctly see the faces of those that fought for the Sun was not as yet downe Infinite was the people which came from the Citie and great likewise the number which disimbarked themselves from the gallies howbeit he that had the charge of the gallies who was a knight of Valencia called Don Pedro Vique from the Poope of the Captain galley threatned those who had imbarked themselves in the Cockboate to go relieve their fellows but seeing his perswasions nor nings could prevayle with them hee caused the prowe of the Gallies to be turned towards the Citie and a peece of Ordnance to be discharged without a bullet being a signall unto them that if they did not depart and get them gone the next should not be shot off without it Don Rafael was very attentive in beholding this cruell brangling and scuffling amongst them and had noted and observed that amongst other brave fellowes that tooke part with the Gallies there was a young man that layd about him lustily being about the age of two and twenty little more or lesse clad in greene with a hat of the same colour adorned with a rich Hatband of Diamonds the nimblenesse and dextrousnesse wherewith this young gallant fought and the bravery of his cloathes caused all those that beheld the fight to turne their eyes towards him and in such steadfast manner those of Theodosia and Leocadia that both of them at one and the same instant cryed out God blesse me eyther I have no eyes or he in the greene is Marco Antonio And no sooner had they sayd this but with great nimblenesse they dismounted from their Mules and drawing out their swords and daggers without any feare in the world they made way through the midst of all the company and placed themselves one on the one side and the other on the other of Marco Antonio for he was that young man in greene wee formerly spoke of Feare you nothing Marco Antonio so sayd Leocadia as soone as shee came in unto him for you have one at your side who with the losse of his owne life will be a shield for to save yours who doubts it replyed Theodosia I being here Don Rafael who saw and heard what had passed hee likewise followed them and tooke part with him Marco Antonio being busied in offending others and defending himselfe did not take any notice of those words these two then sayd but rather being very hot and earnest in fight did things to seeming beyond beleefe But in regard that the multitude of people came continually flocking from the Citie they of the Galleyes were enforced to retreate wading through the water to get into their Boates Marco Antonio retired likewise though sore against his will And sayling by the same compasse went retiring on eyther side of him those two valiant and new Bradamante and Marfisa or Hippolita and Penthesilea Now while they were in this hurly burly came thither a Knight of Catalunia of the famous family of the Cardonas upon a strong sturdy steede and putting himselfe in the midst of eyther partie he made those of the City to retire such was the respect which they bare unto him But some that were further off threw stones at those which were making to the water as ill luck would have it one hit Marco Antonio full on the bosome with such force fury that he fell there with in the water being already up therein to the knees But Leocadia had scarce
knowne to be a Spaniard Feare you nothing Sir for such succour is now come to you as shall not fayle you till his life faile Bestirre your selfe and set your selfe roundly to them for traytours though they be many are able to doe but little To these words replyed one of the adverse part thou lyest in thy throate for here is no traytour but for the recovering of a mans lost honour it is lawfull to take this or any other advantage whatsoever There passed no more words betweene them because the haste which they made to offend and wound their enemies would not give them leave to talke who were to Don Iuans seeming some six of them They did presse so hard upon his companion that at two home thrusts which they made at him at once full in his brest they layd him flat on the ground Don Iuan thought that they had kild him and with strange nimblenesse and valour hee bestird him and set upon them all whom hee made to give ground by the force of a shower which hee rayned downe upon them of blowes and thrusts But all his diligence had not beene able for to offend them and defend himselfe if good fortune had not offered him her ayde by causing the neighbours thereabouts in that streete to open their windowes and come forth with lights and to call out aloud to the Iustice. Which they of the contrary part perceiving forsooke the street and turning their backs went their way Now by this time hee that was fallen had got up againe for those Stocaâ—…os and thrusts that were made at him lighted on a privy coate which he had that was as hard and impenetrable as if it had beene a rock of Diamonds Don Iuan in this fray had let fall his hat and seeking for it in stead of his owne lighted by chance on another which he clapt on his head without looking whether it were his owne or no. His fellowe that was fallen came unto him and sayd Sir whosoever you be I confesse that I am indebted to you for my life the which with all that my estate besides can reach unto I will spend in your service Let me intreate you to doe me the favour to tell mee who you are and what is your name to the end that I may know to whom I owe so much that I may manifest my thankefulnesse Whereunto replyed Don Iuan I will not Sir seeing my selfe now disinteressed be discourteous with you To cumply therefore with your desire and to fulfill your pleasure I shall onely tell you that I am a gentleman a Spaniard and a student in this Vniversitie if the knowing of my name may any whit import you I shall tell it you But if happily you shall bee pleased in any other thing to make use of my service I would then Sir have you to know that my name is Don Iuan de Gamboa You have done mee a great favour herein replyed hee that was fallen But I Senior Don Iuan de Gamboa will not tell you who I am nor my name because I am willing you should rather know it from another then my selfe and I will take care that both shall bee made knowne unto you Don Iuan had but a little before asked of him whether or no he had not received some hurt because hee saw that they had given him two great stocadas whereunto he answered that the goodnesse of his privy coate next under God had defended him But that yet notwithstanding his enemies had made an end of him if hee had not stuck so close unto him By this time there came towards them a company of people more in number then those they had before to doe withall whereupon Don Iuan sayd if these bee those our enemies stand Sir upon your guard and behave your selfe like your selfe I beleeve replyed the other that they are not enemies but friends which make towards us And it was so indeed For they that came were in all eight persons who compassed him round that was fallen and whispered some few words in his eare but they were so soft and so secret that Don Iuan could not heare them The partie defended turned presently aside from them to Don Iuan and sayd unto him had not these my friends come in unto me I would by no meanes Senior Don Iuan have left you till you had finished this your well begun worke by setting mee in some place of safetie But now with all the indearingnesse that I can I shall intreate you that you will leave me for it much importeth mee that you yeeld to my requeste Having sayd this hee put his hand to his head and found that he was without a hat and turning himselfe to those that came to him he spake unto them to give him a hat for his owne was in fighting falne from him He had scarce spoke the word but that Don Iuan put that which he had found upon his head He that fell felt it with his hand and returning it to Don Iuan sayd unto him this hat is none of mine As you love me Don Iuan take it and carry it away with you as a Trophee of this skirmish and keepe it well for I beleeve it is knowne They gave him another hat and Don Iuan for to comply with that which he had intreated of him interchanging some other but shorte compliments he left him not knowing who he was and came home to his owne house without offering to goe to that doore where they had given him the babe because he perceived that all the whole street was up being awakened out of their sleepe and in a kinde of tumult and uproare by reason of this quarrell It so then happened that in his returning to his lodging he met in the mid way with Don Antonio de Ysunca his Comrade and knowing him Don Antonio sayd returne with me Don Iuan a little up this way and as we walke along I shall recount unto you a strange story which hath befallen mee and I beleeve in all your life you never heard such passages as I shall now acquaint you with Whereunto Don Iuan replyed come let us goe whither you will and tell me this your strange story Don Antonio led the way and sayd You shall understand that little more then an houre after that you were gone out of the house I went forth to seeke you and not 30. paces from this place I saw comming as it were to meete me the black bulke of some person which came in great haste and the party approaching nearer unto me I knew it was a woman clad in a long habit who with a voyce interrupted with sighes and sobs sayd unto me are you Sir a stranger or one of the Citie I replyd a stranger and a Spaniard Are you wounded Lady or doe you beare about you some evill presages of death It may be quoth shee that the evill I bring with me will be my death if I have not speedy remedy By that
minde to heare mee For it should bee contrary to all reason that I having indeavoured from the very instant that I knew you not to give you any distaste but did all to your content and liking that now at this present for my last farewell I should bee the cause of giving you any the least griefe or sorrow At these words Marco Antonio opened his eyes and steadily fixed them on Leocadias face and having recollected himselfe and taken her in a manner into his knowledge more by the Organe of her voyce then by her countenance with a weake and feeble voyce as one that was full of paine hee sayd unto her say on Sir what you please for I am not yet so neare my end that I cannot listen unto you neither is this voyce of yours so harsh and unpleasing unto me that it should cause any fastidiousnesse or loathing in me to heare it To all this Dialogue Theodosia was most attentive and every word that Leocadia uttered was a sharpe Arrow that went athwart her heart and wounded likewise the very soule of Don Rafael who also heard her And Leocadia prosecuting what shee had begunne went on thus if some blow on your head or to speake more properly if one greater hath not lighted on my soule it could not Semor Marco Antonio beate out of your memory the image of her who not long since you were wont to say was your glory and your Heaven you may very well call to your remembrance who Leocadia was and what was the word that you gave her signed in a Schedule with your owne hand nor can you bee forgetfull of the worth of her parents the integritie of her retyrednesse and honestie and of the obligation wherein you stand bound unto her for having applyed her selfe to your gust and liking in all whatsoever you desired If you have not forgotten this howbeit you see me in this so different a habit you may easily know that I am Leocadia who being fearefull least new accidents and new occasions should quit me of that which is so justly mine as soone as I knew that you were gone out of the countrey treading under foote and sleighting all whatsoever though never so infinite inconveniences I resolved with my selfe to follow after you in this habit with intention to seeke you out in all parts of the earth till I had found you out whereat you ought not to marvaile if your selfe hath at any time felt the force of true Love and the rage of a deceived woman Some troubles I have passed in this my demande all which I account well bestowed with that discount which they have brought with them in making me so happy as to see you And considering the case wherein you are if that it shall please God to take you from this to a better life by your doing that which you ought as worthie your selfe before your departure out of this life I shall thinke my selfe the happiest woman in the world promising you to betake my selfe to such a course of life after your death that but little time shall be spent therein before I follow you in this your last and inforced journey And therefore first of all I beseech you for the love you beare unto God to whom my desires and intentions goe directed next for your owne sake who oweth much to your qualitie and therefore ought to bee the same you are And lastly for my sake to whom you owe more then to any other person in the world that now presently you will receive me for your lawfull spouse not permitting that justice should inforce you to that which with such and so many reall obligations reason ought to perswade you unto And here Leocadia stopt the current of her speach and sayd not a word more and all they that were in the roome were in a wonderfell still silence all the while that shee talked with him and with the same stilnesse and silenee they expected what answer Marco Antonio would make her which was this I cannot Leocadia deny my knowing of you for your voyce and countenance will not give me leave so to doe Neither can I deny how much I am bound unto you nor the great worth of your noble parents togeather with your owne incomparable honestie and retirednesse neither doe I nor will I esteeme you in lesse for that which you have done in comming to seeke me out in a habit so different from your owne but for this I do shall ever esteeme of you in the highest degree that may be imagined But since that my time you say is now come and that I likewise beleeve that this may be the last day of my life and since that such kinde of trances as these are the Chrysolls of truth purifying the Gold from the drosse truth from falsehood I will tell you a truth which if it shall not bee now pleasing unto you it may bee that hereafter it may turne to your good I confesse faire Leocadia that I lov'd you well and so did you mee and likewise I confesse that the schedule which I made you was more to comply with your desire then mine owne For many dayes before that I had signed it and set my hand thereunto I had delivered up my will and my soule to a Damsell of the same place where I live whom you very well know Her name is Theodosia the daughter bee it spoken without disparagement of as noble parents as yours are And if I gave you a schedule firmed with my hand I gave her my firmed hand and accredited with such workes and witnesses that I remaine impossibilited to give my libertie to any other person in the world That which passed betwixt my selfe and Theodosia was the obtaining of that fruit which shee could give mee and which I was willing shee should give me plighting my faith unto her that I would be as truly I am her husband And if at one and the same time I left both her and you you suspensefull and deceived and shee fearefull and as shee thought robbed of her honour I did therein unadvisedly and undescreetly and as a young man as I am without any discourse or judgement Thinking with my selfe that all those things of this nature were but tricks of youth and of little or no importance and that I might doe them without any scruple at all Accompanied with other the like thoughts which came then in my head which did solicite me to doe that which I did which was to goe for Italy and to imploy therein some few of my youthfull yeares and afterwards to returne home to see what was become of you and of my true Spouse But heaven as it should seeme being offended and having complayned of mee to the highest power there I verily beleeve that God hath permitted given way to put me into that condition wherein you see me to the end that by confessing these truths arising from my many sins I may pay in this life
that which I owe and you remaine dis-deceived and free being at your owne liberty to doe that which shall seeme best in your eyes And if at any time Theodosia shall come to have notice of my death shee shall know both by your selfe and by these that are here present how that at my death I complyed with that promise which I made her in my life And if in that little time of life sweete Leocadia which remaineth unto me I may serve you in any thing tell it mee I beseech you and be it what it will be I shall most willingly doe it so as it be not to take you to wife for that I cannot doe no other thing shall I refuse for to give you content that comes within my possibilitie to performe Whilst that Marco Antonio went thus discoursing as you have heard hee rested his head all that while on his elbow and having made an end of speaking hee let his arme fall giving some signes that he was ready to swoune Don Rafael hastned presently unto him and streightly imbracing him sayd unto him Sir come againe to your selfe bee of good cheere and imbrace this your friend and your brother since that it is your pleasure to have it so Looke up and see if you know your companion and Chamber-fellow Don Rafael who will bee a true witnesse of your good will and affection and of the grace and favour which you are willing to doe his sister in admitting her to be yours Marco Antonio came againe to himselfe and instantly knew Don Rafael and imbracing him in his armes and kissing him on the cheeke sayd unto him The great joy deare brother which I have received in seeing you can bring no lesse rebatement with it then exceeding great sorrow For as it is in the proverbe after joy comes sorrow But I shall give it for well imployed whatsoever shall befall mee in exchange of that great content which I have received in seeing you Nay then replyed Don Rafael I will make it more compleate by presenting you with this jewell which is your beloved spouse And looking out Theodosia hee found her behind all the company weeping suspensive and astonished betweene griefe and joy as well for that which shee saw as for that which shee heard Her brother tooke her by the hand and shee without making resistance suffered herselfe to bee carryed whither hee would leade her which was to bring her to Marco Antonio who knew her and lovingly imbraced her both of them guttering downe their cheekes tender and amorous teares All that were in the roome were strucken with admiration in seeing so strange an accident They looked one upon another without speaking one word expecting what would bee the issue of these things But Leocadia having lost her hopes though found out the errour when shee saw that with her owne eyes which Marco Antonio did and saw her whom shee tooke to be Don Rafaels brother in his armes whom shee held to be her Husband and together with this seeing her desires mock't and her hopes lost shee stole out of all their sights their eyes being earnestly bent in beholding that which the sick man did with the Page whom hee hugged so close in his armes And being gone out of the roome shee instantly made into the street with intention to goe driven by despaire wandring through the world or at least where none might see her But scarce had she got into the street but Don Rafael began to misse her and as if he had lost his soule hee inquired after her but no body could tell him which way shee was gone And so without any longer tarrying like one that was desperate hee went out to seeke her and hyed him with all the haste he could thither where he was told that Calvete lodged least shee might happily have gone thither to procure a Mule to ride away and not finding her there hee went like a mad man through the streets searching after her one while here and another while there and imagining that shee might peradventure returne backe to the galley he came to the Sea side and a little before he came thither he might heare one call aloud from the shoare for the boate of the Captaine galley and he knew that the voyce that called for it was that of Leocadia who being jealous of some ill intention towards her hearing one comming behinde at her heeles shee layd her hand upon her Sword and stood upon her guard untill that Don Rafael drew nearer unto her whom shee presently knew and it grieved her to the very heart that he had found her and more particularly all alone in a place so farre from all company for shee had perceived by more showes then one which Don Rafael had made her that hee did not wish her ill but so well that shee would have taken it for a good recompence that Marco Antonio had loved her but halfe so well With what words shall I now be able to expresse those which Don Rafael uttered to Leocadia opening his soule unto her which were such so many that I dare not take upon me to set them downe deserving a better pen then mine to give them their true life and luster But since necessitie and the nature of the subject now in hand inforceth mee to say something the words which amongst many other he delivered were in effect these If together with fortune which sayleth me there should now faire Leocadia be wanting unto me the courage and boldnesse of discovering the secrets of my soule there would lye buried in the bosome of perpetuall oblivion the most inamoured and honestest affection that ever hath beene or can be bred in a faithfull and loving breast But that I may not wrong this my just desire come what will come of it I would have you to know if your surprized thoughts will but give way to your judgement and these your fits of passion to your sounder discourse and reason that in no one thing hath Marco Antonio any advantage of me save onely in this that hee is your beloved My linage is as good as his and in those goods which they call of Fortune I am little inferiour unto him and for the gifts of nature it is not amisse that I should commend my selfe and the rather if in your eyes they should not be esteemed All this I purposely lay before you my deare Lady and Mistris to the end that laying aside your passion which blindes your understanding you might take that remedy and meanes which fortune now offereth unto you in the utmost extremitie and height of your disgrace You see already that Marco Antonio cannot be yours because heaven hath ordaind him for my sister and the same heaven which this very day hath robd you of Marco Antonio is willing to make you amends by me who desireth no other happines in this life then to rendeâ—… up my selfe unto you to bee your husband Behold and consider that good
just cause to finde fault The next day betimes in the morning Lorenzo came to the doore and found Don Iuan ready for his journey in a handsome riding suite his rich hat making somewhat the more gracefull show by reason of its intermingled blacke and yellow feathers but the hatband hee covered it over with a blacke vaile Hee tooke his leave of Cornelia who imagining that her brother was now very neare her was so afraid that she had not the power to speake one word to these two gentlemen that tooke their leave of her Don Iuan went forth first and with Lorenzo walked out of the Citie and in a garden somewhat out of the rode-way they found two very good Horses well fitted and two Lackeyes holding of them They mounted on them the Lackeyes running before them and by uncouth paths and untrodden by-wayes they travailed towards Ferrara Don Antonio upon a good quat Nag of his owne and in another different riding suite disguising himselfe followed after them but it seemed unto him that they had an eye upon him especially Lorenzo and therefore resolved to take the direct way to Ferrara assuring himself that there he should meete with them They had scarce gone out of the Citie but that Cornelia gave an account to the woman of all that had befallen her and how that child was hers begotten on her by the Duke of Ferrara with all the points and passages which hitherto have beene related touching her storie not concealing from her how that journey which her masters had undertaken was for Ferrara accompanying her brother who went to bid defiance by way of challenge to the Duke Alfonso Which the woman hearing said unto her O sweete Lady hath all this adoe beene about you and doe you like one that sleepes without stretched leggs stay here thus carelesse in a businesse of such consequence Either have you no soule or have you it so benummed and so sencelesse that you have no feeling of the miserable estate and condition wherein you are And I pray tell mee doe you happily thinke that your brother goes to Ferrara Deceive not your selfe doe not thinke so but rather thinke and beleeve that hee hath taken my masters hence and to get them farre from home that hee may the safelier returne hither and take away your life which he may as easily doe as I take up this cup and drinke Consider with your selfe under what guard and protection wee remaine We have no more but three Pages in the house and they have enough to doe to scratch their itching scabbes whereof they are full and say they should put themselves upon upon defence what can they doe This at least I can say of my selfe that I for my part have not the heart to stay expecting the successe and ruine which threatens this house Signior Lorenzo an Italian and trust Spanyards Hee crave their helpe and assistance beleeve it he that list for I doe not Hee reckon of them hee cares not a Figge for them If you daughter mine will take my counsell I will give you that that shall make you see a little better if you will not stand in your owne light Cornelia hearing the womans reasons which shee uttered with such earnestnesse and vehemencie and with such showes and manifestations of feare that all that shee said unto her seemed to bee truths and that peradventure Don Iuan and Don Antonio might bee slaine and that her brother might bee entring the doores of the house and with his dagger never leave stabbing of her til he had killed her and therefore being thus perplexed shee said unto her And what counsell will you give mee friend that might be wholesome and that might prevent this storme that hangs over our heads What counsell will I give you Marry such and so good that all the world sayd the woman cannot bettereâ—… I did once Madám serve an honest Curate of a countrie Village which is some two miles off from Ferrara hee is a good man and will doe any thing for mee that I can aske of him or is in his power to performe Hee loves me well and is more oblieged unto mee then to any other woman whatsoever Let us goe thither and let mee alone to get some one or other that shall carry us thither And as for her that gives the child suck shee is a poore woman and will goe along with us to the worlds end And admit Lady that you should bee found out it were better that you should be found in the house of a Priest and that is an old and reverend man then in the power of two young Students and those Spanyards who are a kind of people as I my selfe can well witnesse that will flie at any game If they cannot meete with a handsome peece of Timber they will content themselves with Chips and if they cannot â—…ight upon a smooth polished stone they will make use of rubbish And though now Lady that you are ill at ease they have borne you good respect yet when you shall be well and in perfect health then heaven have mercy upon you There is no other helpe that I know And that I may not lie unto you if my repulses disdaines and integritie had not guarded me they had given check mate to my honestie all is not gold Lady that glisters in them They say one thing and thinke another I have had tryall enough of them yet they were not so cunning but I was as craftie Every body knowes where his owne shooe wrings him most I am Madam may I speake it without boasting well borne I come of the Cribelos of Milan and for point of honour that I hold in so good a height that I make account that it reacheth hence ten miles above the clouds And yet notwithstanding all this you may see the calamities and crosses Madam which I have past through since that being descended as I am I am come to be a servant and drudge to these Spanyards whom they call their woman Though indeede I must confesse that I have no great cause to complaine of my masters for they are very kinde and loving so long as you doe not crosse and anger them And herein they seeme to be Biskayners as they report themselves to bee But it may be that they are guiltie to themselves that they are Gallegos which is another nation they say lesse punctuall and somewhat more subtill and wary then the Biskayners In conclusion shee rendred such and such reasons that poore Cornelia disposed her selfe to follow her advise and so in lessethen foure houres shee disposing the businesse and Cornelia consenting thereunto they had both of them got them into a Waggon together with the childs nurse and without being heard of the Pages they put themselves upon their way for that Village where the Curate dwelt And all this was done by the perswasion of this foolish fearefull woman and with her moneys for not long before her master had paid
this World that I should not suffer my selfe to bee carried away by those which delight every foot offereth mee The selfe same affection which made me promise my selfe to be Cornelias Husband did likewise lead me before I past my word unto her to promise marriage to a Country wench a husband mans Daughter of this Village whom I did think to put off and leave deluded that I might applie my selfe to Cornelias worth though not to that which my conscience did dictate unto mee which was no small manifestation of my great love But since that no man marries with a Wife which doth not appeare and that it doth not stand with reason that a man should seeke after a Wife that forsakes him that she may not be found by him whom she abhorreth I say this Signor Lorenzo that you may thereby see the satisfaction which I am both willing and able to give you that I have not done you any the least wrong or affront being that I never had any intenâ—…ion or purpose to do it And therefore I would have you to give me leave to comply with my first promise and that I may marry this Country Mayd who is now here in this house Whil'st that the Duke was making this speech Lorenzo's countenance went changing it selfe into a thousand colours neither could he for his life sit still after one and the same manner which were cleare signes and manifest tokens that choller went taking possession of all his senses In the like taking was Don Iuan and Don Antonio who did presently resolve that the Duke should not go on with his intention although it cost them their lives The Duke then reading their minde in their faces sayd rest you quiet Signior Lorenzo for before that you shall returne mee any one word in answer to mine I will that the beauty that you shall see in her whom I am desirous to make my Wife may obliege you to give me leave to do that which I crave of you For it is such and so beyond all mortall manner that it will bee able to plead excuse for far greater errours When the Duke was risen and went his way from them Don Iuan stood up and resting both his hands on the armes of the Chayre where Don Lorenzo sate hee sayd unto him in a loud voice By St. Iago of Galicia Signior Lorenzo and by the Faith of a Christian which I professe I vow that I will as soone suffer the Duke to proceed in this his purpose as I intend to turne Moore As I am a Gentleman here even here and in these very hands of mine he shall either leave his life or performe his word and promise which hee made to your Sister the Lady Cornelia or at least to give them time and respite for to seeke after her till such time that they should certainely know that shee were dead and in the meane while not to permit him to Marrie I am of the same opinion answered Lorenzo and of the same likewise replied Don Iuan will my friend and companion Don Antonio bee While they were thus debating this businesse from out a Roome just before them came Cornelia in the middle betwixt the Curate and the Duke who led her by the hand After whom followed Sulpicia Cornetiâ—… Gentle woman the Duke having sent for her to Ferrara and the two Nurses to the Child and the Woman belonging to the Spanish Gentlemen When Lorenzo saw his Sister and had taken a full view of her and knew that it was shee for at first the impossibilitie to his seeming of such a successe did not suffer him to enter truely into the reckoning of it stumbling out of haste hee went to throw himselfe at the Dukes feete hee tooke him up and placed him in his Sisters armes who embraced him with all possible demonstrations of joy Don Iuan and Don Antonio told the Duke that hee had put upon them the most discreet and most savourie conceit in the World The Duke tooke the Childe which Sulpicia brought in her armes and giving it to Lorenzo sayd Heere Brother take your Nephew and my Sonne and see now whether or no you will give mee leave to marry with this Country Lasse who is the first that ever I plighted my faith unto that I would marry her It were an endlesse peece of worke to recount that which Lorenzo replyed that which Don Iuan asked him that which Don Antonio thought the rejoycing of the Curate the joy of Suloicia the content of the advisers the admiration of Fabio the Iubile of the Nurse and in a word the generall contentment of all The Curate forthwith married them Don Iuan de Gamboa being the Father that gave her And amongst them all it was concluded and agreed upon that those Nuptialls should bee secret and concealed till they should see how it fared with the Dutchesse his Mother who was almost spent by reason of her long sickenesse and that in the meane-while Cornelia should return with her brother to Bologna All this was done The Dutchesse shortly after dyed and Cornelia entred into Ferrara cheering the World with her fayre presence Mourning weeds were turned into gay and rich cloathes The Nurses were liberally rewarded Sulpicia was married to Fabio Don Antonio and Don Iuan were wonderfull well contented that it was there good fortune that they had beene some way seruiceable to the Duke who offered them two of his neare kinswomen to bee their Wives with exceeding rich Dowries But they told him that the Gentlemen of Biscay for the most part did marry in their owne Countrey and that not out of any scorne for that was not possible but for to comply with that commendable custome and the will of their Parents who had already provided Wives for them they did not nor could accept of this his most noble offer The Duke admitted of their excuse and by honest and honourable meanes and seeking after lawfull occasions hee sent them many Presents to Bologna and some so rich and that in so good a season and conjuncture that although they might not admit of them least it might seeme that they received pay for their service yet the time wherin they came did facilitate their kinde acceptance of them Especially those which hee sent them at their going for Spaine and those which hee gave them when they went to Ferrara to take their leave of him where they found Cornelia accompanied with other Ladies amongst whom her transcendent beauty and incomparable vertues made her shine with as much superiority as a Starre of a greater magnitude exceeds in splendour the lesser Lumanaries of its owne Spheare The Duke being according to all the grounds of reason and love more enamoured of her then ever The Dutchesse gave her Crosse of Diamonds to Don Iuan and her Agnus dei to Don Antonio who when they saw that all their mannerly refusalls would not serve their turn they with an unwilling willingnesse received them They came to Spaine into
Auncestors services shall any whit benefit him him in this particular but that hee in his owne person shall dispose himselfe to serve mee and for to merit for himselfe and by his owne prowesse this sweet pledge whom we esteeme and reckon of as if she were our owne Daughter Isabella had scarce heard this last word delivered when humbling her selfe againe on her knees before the Queene shee spake unto her in the Spanish tongue to this effect As graces which brings such graces with them most noble Queene are rather to be accounted happinesse then misfortunes And since that your Majestie hath beene pleased to grace me with the name of Daughter upon so good a pledge what ill can I feare or what good may I not hope for Looke what Isabella uttered came from her so gracefully and so wittingly that the Queen stood extreamely affected towards her and commanded that shee should remaine at Court in her service and recommended her to a great Ladie the chiefest amongst those of her Bed-chamber that shee might trayne her up according to the Court fashion Ricaredo who saw that his life was taken away in taking away Isabella was readie almost to have lost his wits and therefore though overtaken with a tumbling and sudden passion of heart he went and fell upon his knees before the Queen and sayd unto her That I may serve your Majestie I need not to be incited thereunto by any other rewards then by those which my fore-fathers and Auncestours have gotten by serving their Kings But since that it is your Maiesties pleasure that I should serve you with good desires and pretensions I would gladly know in what kinde and in what employment I may manifest that I cumply with that obligation which I owe unto your Maiestie and put my selfe to that which you shall impose upon me I have two Ships royall answered the Queene ready to put forth to Sea whereof I have made Generall the Baron of Lansae of one of these I make you Captaine him Admirall and you Vice-Admirall For the bloud from whence you come and runneth in your veines doth assure mee that you will supply the defect of your yeares and consider well the favour which wee doe you since that therein I give you occasion that corresponding with that which you are and doing things answerable to the race from whence you come by serving your Queene you may show the worth of your noble disposition and of your person and you shall receive thereby the greatest reward which in your opinion you can wish or desire I my selfe will be Isabella's Guard though she give Vs manifest tokens that her owne honestie will be her safest and surest guard God blesse you in your Voyage and since that you goâ—…hence deepely as I imagine in love I promise great matters unto my selfe of your noble exploits Happy shall that King that goes to warre bee who shall have in his Armie ten thousand Souldiers that are in love for they will live in hope that the reward of their victories shall be the enioying of their best beloved Rise up Ricaredo and bethinke your selfe if you will or have any thing to say to Isabella for to morrow you must be gon Ricaredo kissed the Queenes hand humbly thanking her and highly esteeming the favour which she did him and presently went from her to Isabella and would feigne have spoken unto her but could not for love and grief had knit such a knot in his throat and so tied his tongue that had his life layen upon it hee could not utter one word But the water stood in his eies and were so brimme-full that they ranne over and silently trickled downe his cheekes which he thought to dissemble and smother them all that hee possibly could yet notwithstanding could hee not hide them from the eyes of the Queene and therefore she said unto him Thinke it no shame Ricaredo to weepe neither valew your selfe the lesse for having given at this your farewell such tender demonstrations of your heart For it is one thing to fight with your enemies and another thing to take your leave of her you love Isabella embrace Ricaredo and give him your benediction for his excessive sorrow and loathnesse to leave you doth very well deserve it Isabella who stood amazed and astonished to see Ricaredo's tender heartednesse and how truely he did grieve and all for her sake whom she loved as her Husband did not understand what the Queene had commanded her but began to shed teares so without thinking what she did and stood so still and without any motion that it seemed not to be a living soule but a Statua of Alablaster that wept The affections of these two true and tender lovers made the standers by to melt likewise into teares And so Ricaredo without speaking a word to Isabella or Isabella to him they turned each from other and Clotaldo and they that came with him doing reverence to the Queene went out of the Presence full of compassion discontent and teares Isabella now remained like a poore Orphane comming from the buriall of her Father and Mother and as full now of feare as before of griefe least that her new Ladie to whom shee was recommended would make her to change those manners and customes wherein she had been formerly bred up In conclusion there shee remained and within two daies after Ricaredo hoysed sayle and put forth to Sea beaten amongst many other with this thought that he must do some notable peece of service that might intitle him the deserver of Isabella But in conclusion he besought Heaven to be propitious unto him that such occasions might be offered unto him wherein by shewing himselfe valiant hee might cumply with the dutie of a Christian leaving the Queene satisfied and Isabella deserved Sixe daies these two Shippes sailed with a prosperous winde shaping their course for the Tercera Islands a place where never are wanting either Ships of Portugal from the East-Indies or some that come thither from the West-Indies And at sixe daies end there arose such a crosse-winde full in the teeth of them and continued so long and so strong that without suffering them to reach the Islands they were inforced to make for Spaine neere unto whose Coast at the mouth of the Streight of Gihraltar they descried three Ships the one a very tall and goodly Ship and the other two much lesse Ricaredo's Ship made up to that which was Admirall for to know of his Generall whether or no he would set upon those three Ships which they had descried But before that he came up unto them he might discerne that upon the toppe of the maine mast there was hung out a blacke streamer and comming a little neerer he might hear Fifes and Trumpets sounding faintly and hoarsely cleare and apparant signes that the Generall was dead or some other principall person of the Shippe At last comming within hearing that they might speake one to another which they had not done
carry the great Shippe along with them to 〈◊〉 without any further feare or care taking But to this Ricaredo thus replied Since that God hath done us this so great a favour in giving us such great riches I will not require him with a cruell and unthankefull minde nor is it meete that that which I may remedie by industry I should remedie it by the sword And therefore I for my part am of opinion that no Christian should dye the death Not because I wish them so well but because I wish well to my selfe and would that this dayes noble action neither to me nor to you should mingle the name of valiant with the sir-name of cruell for crueltie did never sort well with valour That which is to bee done is this that all the Ordnance of one of these our Shippes be put into the great Portugal Ship without leaving the Ship any Armes or any other thing save sufficient victuall And so manning that Ship with our men we will carry it home and the Spaniards goe in the other to Spaine None durst contradict that which Ricaredo had propounded and some held him to bee valiant magnanimous and of good understanding and judgement and others in their hearts to be more courteous then he ought to have beene Ricaredo then having resolved on this course he put 50 Muskatiers into the Portugal Ship all readie fitted and furnished their Peeces charged with shot and their matches burning in their cockes He found in the Ship well neere 300. persons with those that had escaped out of the gallies He presently called for their Cocket or bill of lading and the same person who at first spake to him from the Decke made him answer that the Turkish Pirate had alreadie taken their Cocket from them and that it was drowned with him Hee did instantly put his pully in order and bringing his lesser vessell and lashing it close to the side of the great Ship with wonderfull celeritie and with the helpe of strong ropes they hoysed all their Ordnance with their Carriages out of the lesser into the greater Ship This being done hee forthwith made a short speech to the Christians he commanded them to goe into the Ship that was now disincumbred where they should finde good store of victuall for more then a moneth and more mouthes then they had And as they went Imbarquing themselves he gave to every one of them foure Spanish Pistolets which he caused to be brought from his owne Ship for to relieve in part their necessitie when they came on land which was so neere that from thence they might kenne the high mountains of Avila and Calpe All of them gave him infinite thankes for the favour he had done them and the last that went to embarque himselfe was he who had beene the mouth of the rest who said unto Ricaredo Most valiant sir I should hold it a happines for me amidst these my misfortunes and the greater of the two that you would rather carry me along with you to Mundolin then send me into Spaine For albeit that it be my Countrey and that it is not above sixe dayes since I left it yet shall I not finde any thing therein which will not minister occasions unto mee of reviving my former sorrowes and solitudes I would have you to know noble sir that in the losse of Cadiz which is now some 15. yeares since I lost a Daughter which some of the Conquerours carried away into their owne Countrey and with her I lost the comfort of my old age and the light of mine eies which since they might not see her have never seene that thing which could be pleasing unto them The great discontentment wherein her losse left mee together with that of my wealth which likewise was taken from me brought me to that low ebbe that I neither would nor could any more exercise the trade of Merchandize whose great dealings in that kinde made me in the opinion of the world held to be the richest Merchant in all that Citie And indeed so I was for besides my credit which would passe for many hundered thousands of crownes the wealth that I had within the doores of mine owne house was more then fifty thousand Duckets All which I lost yet had I lost nothing so as I had not lost my Daughter After this generall misfortune and so particularly mine necessitie the more to vexe me set upon me never ceasing to give mee over till such time as not being able any longer to resist her my Wife and I which is that sorrowfull woman that sits there resolved to goe for the Indies the common refuge of poore Gentlemen and having embarqued our selves but sixe dayes since in a ship of Advise we had no sooner put out of Cadiz but that those two Vessells of the Pirates tooke our shippe and wee become their slaves Whereupon our miserie was renewed and our misfortune confirmed And it had beene greater had not the Pirates taken that shippe of Portugal who entertained them so long till that succeeded which you have seene Ricaredo then asked him what was his daughters name He answered Isabella With this Ricaredo ceased to be confirmed further in that which before he suspected which was that he who recounted this unto him was his beloved Isabella's Father and without giving him any tydings of her he told him that very willingly hee would carry him and his Wife to Mundolin where happily they might heare some newes of that which they so much desired He made them presently go aboord his own ship leaving Marriners and souldiers sufficient in that of Portugal That night they hoysed sayle and set themselves to get off from the coast of Spaine and for that in the ship wherin were the freed Captives there were likewise 20 Turks whom Ricaredo had also set at libertie for to shew that more out of his owne noble disposition and generous minde he had dealt so graciously with them then inforced by that love which he bare to the Christians hee entreated the Spanyards at their parting that upon the first occasion that should offer it selfe they should set the Turkes at liberty wherein they â—…hould shew themselves thankefull unto him The winde which gave good tokens of being large and prosperous began to bee very much calmer which calme did stir up a great tempest of feare in the Marriners and Souldiers who blamed Ricaredo and his bounty not sticking to tell him that they whom hee had freed might give advise of their successe in Spaine and that if happily they should have their Galeons lying there in the Haven they might put forth to Sea in search of them and so put them to a narrow streight and in danger of losing together with their lives all that Treasure which they had got Ricaredo knew very wel that they had reason on their side but overcomming all of them with good words he made them quiet but that which did most quiet them was the winde which
submitted himselfe to her Majesties Command but with this condition that he should not carry him to to any otherplace save the Queenes Presence The Captaine remained therewith satisfied and carrying him in the midst of the Guard brought him to Court before the Queene Who had alreadie been informed by his Mother of the great love which her Sonne bare to Isabella and with teares besought her Majestie that shee would pardon the Earle who being a young man and deepely in love was lyable to farre greater errours Arnesto was brought before the Queene who without entertaining any speech with him commanded his sword to be taken from him and afterwards sent him to Prison All these things tormented the heart of Isabella as likewise of her Parents who so suddenly saw the sea of their quietnesse troubled The Ladie of the Bed-chamber Arnesto's Mother advised the Queene that for to remove that mischiefe betwixt her house and that of Ricaredo that the cause thereof might be taken away which was Isabella by sending her into Spaine and so those effects would cease which now were to be feared Whereunto the Queen answered that for the sending of her into Spaine she should treate no more on that point because her faire presence and her many graces and vertues gave her great content and that doubtlesse if not that very day the next following without all faile shee would marry her to Ricaredo according to the promise she had made him With this resolution of the Queenes Arnesto's Mother was so disheartened and discomforted that shee replied not so much as one word And approving that for good which she had alreadie forecasted in her minde that there was no other way no other meanes in the world for the moâ—…ifying of that rigorous condition of her Sonne nor for the reducing of Ricaredo to tearmes of peace save by â—…aking away of Isabella She determined to put in practise one of the greatest cruelties that could ever enter into the thought of any noble woman and especially so principall a one as she was And this her determination was to make away Isabella by poyson And because it is commonly the condition of women to be speedy and resolute in what they goe about that very evening she gave Isabella poyson in a certain Conserve forcing her in a manner to take it telling her that it was excellent good against those passions of the heart wherewith shee seemed to bee troubled Having satisfied her importunitie within a little while after that Isabella had taken it her tongue and her throate began to swell and her lippes to grow blacke her voyce hoarse her eies troubled and her stomacke and bowells tormented with gripings all manifest signes and tokens that she was poysoned The Ladies came to the Queene acquainting her Majestie how it was with her and certifying her how that the Ladie of her bed-chamber who had the charge of Isabella had done her this ill office There needed not much pressing to induce the Queene to beleeve that it was true and therefore went presently to see Isabella who was almost breathing her last The Queene commanded her Phisitians should be sent for in all haste and in the meane while before they came she caused a quantitie of the powder of Vnicornes-horne to be given her and some other preservatives against poyson which great Princes use alwaies to have readie at hand upon the like cases of necessitie The Phisitians came and applied their best remedies and besought the Queene that shee would bee pleased to cause that Ladie of her Bed-chamber to make knowne unto them what kinde of poyson that was which she had given her for it was not to be doubted that any other person but her selfe had poysoned her She did discover what shee had given her and having notice of it the Phisitians applied so many and such effectuall remedies that by the in and Gods helping hand Isabella remained with life or at least in good hope of having it The Queene commanded her Bed-chamber woman to be apprehended and to be lockt up in a streight and narrow lodging in her Court with intention to punish her according to the nature and qualitie of this her soule offence Although that she sought to excuse her selfe by saying that in killing Isabella she did sacrifice to the gods by ridding the earth of a Christian and together with her removing the occasion of her Sonnes further quarrells This sad newes being brought to Ricaredo made him almost out of his wits such were the things he did and such were the complaints he made In conclusion Isabella did not lose her life yet the poyson had gotten that power over her that she lost the hayre of her head and of her eye-browes her face was strangely pufft up the graine of her skinne spoyled her complexion marred her whole body mightily swolne and her eyes distilling watry humours In a word she was growne so soule and ill favoured that she who till then seemed to be a miracle of beautie did now seeme to be a monster of uglinesse And they who knew her before held it the greater misfortune of the two that she remained in this evill plight then if she had dyed of the poyson Notwithstanding all this Ricaredo sued a new unto the Queene for her and besought her Majestie that she would give him leave to carry her home to his house because the love which he bare her passed from his bodie to his soule yet comforted himselfe with this that though Isabella had lost her beauty yet could she not lose her infinite vertues Thou say oâ—…t crue replyed the Queene goe take her home with thee Ricaredo and make account that thou carryest with thee a most rich jewell in a course case I would have given her as sayre to thee as thou deliveredst her unto me But since this is not possible forgive me that faulâ—… happily the chastisement which I shall give to the comâ—… of this soule 〈◊〉 shall in part satisfie thy desire of â—…nge Many things did Ricaredo say unto the Queen seeking to excuse the Ladie of her Bed-chamber beseeching her Majestie to pardon her since that the reasons she alleadged in her excuse were sufficient for to move her to forgive her greater excesses then these In conclusion Isabella and her Parents were delivered unto him and Ricaredo carried them home I meane to his Fathers house To those rich Pearles and that Diamond the Queene added other jewells and other changes of rayment which were such and so costly that they discovered the great love which she bare to Isabella who remained for the space of two moneths without being able to be reduced to her former beautie But the time being past her skinne beganne to peele and fall away and a fayre and smoothe graine of skinne to disclose it selfe In this interim Ricaredo's Parents presuming that it was not possible that Isabella should become the same woman which heretofore she was resolved to send for that Northern Damosell with
whom before that ever they treated with Isabella Ricaredo by agreement was to marry And all this they did without his knowledge not doubting but that the present beautie of this new bride would blot out of his Sonnes remembrance that of Isabella which was now past whom either they purposed to send into Spaine together with her Father and Mother giving them such store of wealth and riches as should fully recompence their former received losses There passed not above a moneth and a halfe when as without Ricaredo's privitie the new spouse entred within his Fathers doores accompanied like her selfe very well and so fayre and beautifull a creature that next to Isabella when she was in her prime there was not the like unto her in all â—…dclin Ricaredo was mightily startled with the sudden and unexpected sight of the Damosell and feared least the suddennesse of her comming would put Isabella into some passion and make an end of her life And therfore for to remove this feare he went to the beds-side where Isabella lay and finding her onely accompanied with her Father and Mother before them he spake unto her after this manner Isabella of my soule my Parents out of the great love which they beare unto mee being not as yet well informed of that exceeding love which I still beare unto thee have brought a Damosell into this house with home they have treated and concluded to marry mee before that I should know the worth that is in thee or that thou shouldst recover thy lost health And this they have done as I verily beleeve with intention that the great beautie of this Damosell should blot thine out of my soule which is therein so deepely engraven I Isabella from the very instant that I lov'd thee it was with another kind of love then that which hath its ayme and end in satisfying the sensuall appetite For albeit that thy corporall beautie did captivate my sences yet thy infinite vertues were they which imprisoned my soule so that if being fayre I did love thee being now foule I adore thee And for the further confirming of this truth give me this hand and she giving him her right hand and and he holding it fast in his prosecuted his speech saying By that faith which my Christian Parents taught mee and by that true God who heareth what we say I promise thee my deare Isabella the one halfe of my heart I vow my selfe thy Husband and am so even from this very houre if thou wilt rayse me to that heighth of happinesse to be thine Isabella remained in some suspence upon these words of Ricaredo and her Parents amazed and astonished she knew not what to say nor doe any other thing save her often kissing of Ricaredo's hand and telling him with a voice intermingled with teares that she accepted him for hers and rendered her selfe to bee his servant Ricaredo kissed that her foule face which when it was fayre he durst never presume to touch Isabella's Parents with tender and many teares solemnize this nuptiall feast Ricaredo told them that he would put off his marrying with the Northerne Damosell which was now in the house in such manner as he would hereafter give them to understand And in case that his Parents should send all three of them into Spaine that they should not decline it but by all means get them goe and that they should looke for him within two yeares either in Cadiz or Sevilla assuring them in the word of a Gentleman that ere that time were expired hee would not fayleto bee with them if Heaven should so long lend him life and that if the time prefixed should be preterlapsed they should then rest assured that some great impediment or death which was the more certaine had crossed his intended journey Isabella made him answere that shee would not stay onely two yeares for him but all those of his life till that she were truely certified that he had left this life And that in that instant that this should come to her knowledge the same likewise would be her death With these kinde words fresh teares fell from them all And Ricaredo went and told his Parents that he would by no meanes be marryed nor give his hand to the Northern Damosell to be his Spouse till he had quieted his minde by a yeares travell He knew well how to expresse himselfe and gave them such good reasons for it as likewise to the Parents that came with Clisterna for that was the Damosells name that being as they were all Christians they did easily give credit unto them and Clisterna was contented to remaine in her Father in Lawes house till Ricaredo should returne who craved a yeares time This being thus concluded and greed upon Clotaldo told Ricaredo how that hee was resolved to send Isabella and her Parents to Spaine if the Queene would give him leave so to doe For sayd he peradventure the ayre of her own Countrey will hasten and facilitate her health which she now beganne to recover Ricaredo that he might not give any the least inckling of his designes answered though but coldly his Father that he should doe that which seemed best in his owne eyes onely he besought him that he would not take ought of those riches from Isabella which the Queene had bestowed on her Clotaldo promised he would not and that very day hee went to crave license of the Queene as well for the marrying of his Son to Clisterna as for the sending of Isabella with her father and mother into Spaine The Queen was well contented with both his requests and approved Clotaldo's determination And that very day without calling her Bed-chamber woman in question She dismissed her of her service and condemned her besides the losse of her place in ten thousand Crownes to Isabella And the Earle Arnesto for his challenging of Ricaredo She banished him for sixe yeares Foure dayes were scarce spent and gone but that Arnesto was upon the point to go to cumply with his banishment having alreadie taken order for the returning of his money The Queene commanded a rich Merchant to come unto her that dwelt in Mundolin who had very good correspondencie in France Italy and Spaine to whom She delivered ten thousand Crownes and required of him bills of exchange for the returning of them to Isabella's Father in Sevilla or in any other part of Spaine The Merchant discounting his interrest and profit told the Queene that he would make certaine and sure payment of them in Sevilla by bills of exchange upon another French Merchant his correspondent in this manner and forme viz That hee would write to Paris to the end that the bills might bee made there by another correspondent of his because they would accept and allow of those that came from France but not from this Island by reason of the prohibition of commerce betwixt those two kingdomes 〈◊〉 that a letter of advice from him should serve the turne by 〈◊〉 marke that passed
they found the doore to the street and that to the inward Court open and the house buried in silence and no bodie to be seene they wondred at it and could not tell what to thinke of it no small feares possessing their mindes severall passions housing themselves in their distracted imaginations Thus troubled they went to their Sonne in Law 's lodging and found him as already hath beene delivered with his eies nailed to his wife whom he held fast by the hand both of them shedding many teares She on no other occasion save seeing her husband shed them and he to see how feignedly his wife did let them fall As soone as her Parents were entred within the chamber Carrizales saluted them and sayd I pray sit you down and let all the rest voyd the roome onely I will that the goveruesse Marialonso stay here they did so And onely these five remaining there without expecting that any body else should speake in a low and soft vocye wiping first his eyes Carrizales spake unto them after this manner I am well assured dearest father and mother that it shall not be needfull to bring any witnesses for to make you beleeve a truth which I shall deliver unto you You may very well remember for it is not possible it should slippe out of your memory with how much love and with how great tendernesse a yeare now since one moneth five dayes and nine houres you delivered up unto me your beloved Daughter to bee my lawfull wife Yee likewise know what a great dowrie I made her which was such and in so liberall a manner that three or foure of the same qualitie as her selfe might therewith have beene married with the opinion of rich Yee may also call to minde the care and diligence I tooke in apparelling her and adorning her with all that shee can desire or imagine or that I could come to know was most fitting and convenient for her In like manner my very good friends yee have seene how carried away by mine owne naturall condition and fearefull of that ill which doubtlesse will bee my death and experienced by reason of my great age in the strange and various accidents of the world I was desirous to keepe this Iewell which I had made choice of and yee gave mee with the greatest charinesse and warinesse as was possible for mee to doe I raised up the walls of this house to a great heigth I tooke away the sight and light from the windowes towards the streete I made double lockes to the doores I made such a Tornell as they have at your Monasteries I banished perpetually therefro all that which had but the shadow or name of man or male-kinde I gave her servants and slaves to attend her person nor did I denie them or her ought that they did aske of mee I made her my equall I communicated with her my most secret thoughts and made her Mistris of all my wealth and meanes All these were such workes being rightly and duely considered as might have fully secured mee of enjoying of that without disturbance which hath cost me so much and that shee should have made it her studie not to have given me any the least occasion of letting any kinde of jealous feare to enter into my thought But because the chasticement cannot bee prevented by humane diligence which the divine will of Heaven is willing to inflict on those who doe not wholy place therein their desires and hopes it is no marvell that I remaine defrauded in mine And that I my selfe have beene the Confectioner of that poyson which now goes shortning and taking away my life But because I perceiue the suspension wherein all of you stand upon these words proceeding from my mouth I will conclude the long preambles of this my discourse with telling you in one word that which is not possible to bee uttered in many thousands I tell you then my noble friends that all that which I have sayd and done ends in this that this woman I found borne into the world for the disturbing of my quiet and losse of my life poynting to his wife in the armes of a lusty young man which is now secretly shut up in the lodging of this pestiferous Governesse Scarce had Carrizales ended these words when as Leonora having her heart suddenly clouded fell into a swound betweene her husbands knees Marialonso lost her colour and look't as pale as ashes and Leonora's Parents had such a knot knit athwart their throats that it would not give them leave to speake one word But Carrizales going on where hee left sayd the revenge which I purpose to take for this foule affront is not nor shall be such as ordinarily in the like cases are wont to bee taken And therefore I will that as I was extreame in that which I did so likewise shall bee the vengeance which I will take by taking it on my selfe as most culpable in this offence For I should and ought to have considered with my selfe that ill could agree and sort together the fifteene yeares of this young Woman with the almost fourescore of mine I was he who like the Silke-worme wrought the house wherein I must dye Nor doe I blame thee ill advised young soule and in saying this he bowed downe his head and kissed the cheeke of Leonora I doe not blame thee I say because the perswasions of subtill old Beldames and the love-trickes of amorous young men easily overcome and triumph over that little wit which thy few yeares afford But because all the world may see and know the worth value of that good will and affection wherewith I ever lov'd thee in this last passage of my life I will shew it in such sort that it may remaine in the world for an example if not of goodnesse yet at least of such simplicitie of heart as was never heretofore heard of or seene And therefore I will that a Scrivener be presently sent for to make a new my last Will and Testament wherein I will double Leonora's Dworie and shall entreat her after my dayes are ended which will bee but a few that shee dispose her will since that shee may then doe it without enforcing to marry with that young man whom the grey haires of this unfortunate old man never offended And so shall shee see that if living I did never goe one jot from that which I thought might give her content now dying I am desirous to doe the like that she may take that felicitie with him whom shee seemeth to love so dearely And to you kinde Father and Mother I will have a great care to leave you so well and so rich that you shall live plentifully during both your lives The rest of my wealth shall goe to godly and pious uses Cause the Scrivener to come presently unto mee for the passion which hath alreadie taken hold of me doth so oppresse and torment my heart that it goes encreasing and will in a very