be not of so delicate a complexion as your self so it is that the love which he bears to me doth so much content me that I prefer it above any other thing The Gentleman said unto her Madam If it were so you should not pitty me for I know well that the honest love of your heart would give all contentment if it sound the like love in the heart of the King but God hath so appointed it that not finding in him that which you expected you should not make to your self any God on earth I doe confesse unto you said the Queen that the love I bear him is so great that the like cannot be found in any other heart but my own Pardon me Madam said the Gentleman you have not yet sounded the love of all hearts for I dare professe unto you that such a one doth love you whose affection is so great an insupportable that yours in comparison of his would appear nothing at all And because he finds the love of the King to decrease towards you and his own most infinitely augmented if it be agreable to you you shall be recompensed for all your sufferings The Queen as well by his countenance as by his words did begin to understand that what he spake did proceed from the bottom of his heart and did consider with her self it was long since that he first professed service to her with such affection that he became melancholy therewith which at first she conceived to be occasioned by his wife but now she firmly believed that it was for the love of her And thus the virtue of Love which can make it self to be perceived when it is not counterfit doth also make it self certain of that which is hid from all the world And looking on the Gentleman who was more lovely than her own Husband finding that he was forsaken by his wife as she was by the King being possessed with despite and Jealousie of her Husband and incited by the love of the Gentleman she began to speak with tears and sighes O my God! And can vengeance then force that from me which no Love could ever do The Gentleman who well understood the sense of her words made answer Madam Sweet is his Vengeance who instead of killing an Enemy doth give life to a perfect friend It appears to me that it is now high time that Truth and a just and reasonable love should take from you that sottish love which you bear to him who loves not you Chase from you that sordid fear which cannot have a Mansion in a heart great and noble Let us lay aside Madam the greatnesse of your Estate and regard that you and my self are the most laugh'd at Man and Woman in the world betrayed by those whom most perfectly we have loved Let us revenge our selves Madam not so much to render them their deserts as to satisfie Love which on my part cannot any longer be sustained without Death And I beleeve if you have not a heart more hard than a flint or diamond that it is impossible for you not to feel some sparks of that fire which so much the more increaseth in me as I endeavour to conceal it And if that pity on me who die for the love of you cannot incite you to love me at least let the pity which you ought to have on your self constrain you to it who being so absolutely perfect do deserve to be the Mistresse of the hearts of all the gallant Men in the world and are undervalued and forsaken by him for whom you have disdained all others The Queen hearing these words was so transported that she was afraid to shew by her countenance the trouble of her spirit leaning on the â—rm of the Gentleman did go with him into a garden neer unto her Chamber where a long time she walked without speaking one word to him The Gentleman seeing her half vanquished when they were come to the end of an Alley where none could descry them did by effect declare that love unto her which so long a time he concealed and thus with delight they both fulfill'd their vengeance the passion whereof before was so unsupportable to them They determined there between them both that as often as he repaired to his Country house and the King should come from his Palace into the Town to her that immediately he should come about and return to the Palace to the Queen And thus deceiving the deceivers they were all four partakers in that pleasure which two of them thought to have had alone by themselves The agreement being made they returned the Queen to her Chamber in the Palace and the Gentleman to his house both of them with such content that they had forgot all their former distractions And the fear which before possessed them that the King was with this Gentlemans wife was now turn'd into a desire to have it so which was the cause that the Gentleman more often than he was accustomed did repair unto his Village which was but half a mile from the City and as soon as the King understood of it he did not fail to give a visitation to his Wife and when ever night drew on the Gentleman did constantly come into the Palace to the Queen to perform the Office of the Kings Lieutenant but so privatly that never any did perceive it This course of life continued a long time but the King being a publick person could not so well dissemble his love and many honest men took great pity on the Gentleman for the naughty boyes would make horns at him behind his back in sign of Mockery which he understood well enough but this mockery was so pleasing to him that he as highly esteemed of his Horns as of the Crown of the King who one day his Wife being with him could hardly contain themselves from laughing out-right they both beholding the head of a Stagg which was nailed up in the House of the Gentleman the King said the head was very suitable in that place The Gentleman who had as good a heart as himself presently after the Kings departure did write upon the head To porto le corna chi ascundo vede ma talle porta chi nolo crede The King not long afterwards returning to his house did observe the writing on the head of the Stagg and demanded of the Gentleman the reason of it who made answer unto him If the secret of the King be concealed to the Stagg I see no reason that the secret of the Stagg should be declared to the King But you may content your self he said that those who carry horns do not all show theÌ„ beaming forth from their head for some of theÌ„ are so pleasant that they will not unbonnet any Man and he doth bear them lightest who thinketh that he hath none at all The King understood by these words well enough that he knew something of his own affairs but never suspected the love between the
surprized them The sixth Novell THere was an antient Groom of the Chamber of Charles the last Duke of Alencon who had lost one Eye and was married to a wife far younger than himself His Master and Mistresse did love him as well as any Man of his rank in all their House which was the occasion that he could not see his Wife as often as he would who in his absence did so much forget her honour and her conscience that she fell in love with a young Gentleman by reason whereof the report at last was so hot and so current that her Husband was advertised of it who could not believe it by reason of the great signes of Love which his Wife did shew unto him Neverthelesse one day he determined with himself to make experience of it and if he could to revenge himself on that person who had brought this shame upon him To accomplish his design he pretended to go to a certain place not far from home for three or four dayes He was no sooner departed but his Wife sent to her Friend to acquaint him with it who was not with her above half an hour but behold her Husband was returned and knocked aloud at the Gate She who knew him told her Friend of it who was so amazed and put into such a fright that he could wish himself again in the belly of his Mother and cursed both her and her love who had brought him into so much danger but she assured him that he needed not trouble himself for she would find a means to get him safe forth undiscovered and without the least disgrace and desired him to put on his cloaths with what speed he could In the mean time her Husband continued knocking at the Gate and called upon his Wife as loud as he could but she seemed not to take notice that it was be and spake aloud to the Groom within Why do you not rise and answer those who make such a noise at the Gate Is this an hour of the night for any one to come into an honest house If my Husband were at home he would make you to look a little more about you The Husband hearing the voice of his Wife did call unto her as loud as he could Wise open the door will you have me stay here untill morning when she perceived that her Sweet-heart was quite dressed and readie to go she opened the door and said unto her Husband My dear Husband how glad am I of your comming for I was in a marvellous Dream and was so well pleased that I never received the like content before for me thoughts that you had recovered the sight of your other Eye and in imbracing and kissing him she took him by the head and putting her hand upon that Eye with which he did see she asked him Tell me doe you not see better far than you were accustomed to doe and in the mean time whiles he could not see one wink she did let her friend go out of the door of which her husband immediatly had a doubt and said unto her My Wife By God I will never watch you any more for in thinking to deceive you I have the finest trick put upon me by you that I think ever was invented God amend you for it is not in the power of any man alive to put a stop to the desires of a woman unlesse he should kill her out-right But since the good entertainment I have given you cannot conduce to reclaim you my neglect and contempt of you for the time to come shall peradventure be some chastisement to you And speaking those words he departed from her leaving her perplexed and disconsolate enough who by the means of her friends and kinred and by her tears and excuses was afterwards reconciled unto him By this you may perceive my Ladies how prompt and how subtle a woman is to escape a danger and if her spirit can readily find a remedy to cover and conceal a fault I believe it is not impossible but that one day it may be as fine and forward to perform some good For the good spirit as I have often heard is evermore the strongâ—st Hircan made answer to her you may talk what you will of the subtilty of Women but I have such an opinion of you that if you had been taken in the same fault you could not tell which way to conceal it She made answer I had rather you should esteem me the veryest fool in the world than to be found in such a conditioÌ„ I do not mean so said Hircan but I conceive you to be such a one as would be rather amazed at the misfortune than be so cunning to contrive the means to conceal it You think said Nomerfide that every one is like to you to cover one Error with another but there is great danger that in the end the foundation to sustain the covertures would be so much overcharged that it would desâ—â—oy the whole building But if you conceive that the subtilty of men with which you all think your selves to be all sufficiently furnished to be greater than the subtilties of women I will willingly give you my place to give unto us some account thereof and if you will propound your self for an example I do believe that you could shew us instances enough I am not here said Hircan to make my self worse than I am although I believe here are some that think hardly enough of me Speaking those words he did look upon his wife who incontinently said unto him Be not afraid to speak the truth for me for it will be more pleasing to me to bear of your prancks than to see them acted before me howsoever there is nothing that can make me to diminish the love I bear unto you Hircan made answer I will not here complain of all those false opinions which you have had of me but because we know one another so well it will be the occasion of the greater surety for the time to come However I am not so great a fool to rehearse any History of my self the truth whereof might compasse any discontent unto you but I will tell you one of a personage who is indeed one of my friends A Merchant of Paris deceived the Mother of his Sweet-heart to cover their fault The Seventh Novell IN the City of Paris there was a Merchant who loved the Daughter of his Neighbour or to speak more properly who was a greater Friend to her than she was to her self for the semblance he did make to love and court her was only in relation to a love more high and honourable But she who consented to have her self deceived did love him so passionatly that she had forgot the fashion by which Maids are accustomed to deny young men The Merchant having a long time taken pains to go and wait upon her did now make her come where he pleas'd to wait upon him of which her Mother had notice
But observing that his wife was throughly mov'd at the love which he did bear to his Chamber-maid he did forbear to acquaint her with the evil turn that he had done her and asking pardon of her he did faithfully promise to abandon all-together his idle course of life This being done he gave back unto her the Ring which he had taken from his Companion whom he intreated not to reveal his shame to any But as all things whispered in the car are preached upon the House-top so not long afterward the truth was known and he was called Cuckold without any disgrace unto his wife Ladies I believe that if all those who have committed the like offences should endure the same punishment Hircan and Saffradant would be in a great fear and danger And why so Longaren said Saffredant Are there none married in this Company but only Hircan and my self There are said she but none that do play at such a Game When or where have you seen said Saffredant that we have made Chamber-maids of our Wives If the Ladies whom it concerneth would speak the truth said Longaren there may be found of their Chambermaids who have been gon from them before the Quarter day Truly said Guebron Are not you a strange Lady who instead of making the Company to laugh according to your promise do put these two poor Gentlemen into a choler T is all one said Longaren as long as it proceeds not to the drawing of swords their choler shall but double our laughter Let it pass said Hircan But if our wives were so rash as to believe his Lady she would move the most temperate of them unto Jealousie I know well enough before whom I speak said Longaren for their Ladies are so discreet and so intirely do affect them that although we should make them horns as great as those of a Stagg yet they would perswade themselves and the world also that they were Chaplets of Roses At that the Company and they themselves whom most nearly it did concern did begin to laugh so heartily that for the present they could not speak a word Dagoucin who had yet been silent could no longer contain himself and said That Man is unreasonable who having wherewith to content himself will search after other things for I have often seen that thinking to fare better and not to content themselves with their own sufficiency Men do fall into the worst of all when it is too late to complain for inconstancy is always to be disproved Simontault said unto him But what think you of those who have not yet found out their half part of love Do you call it inconstancy to seek for it in every place where it is to be found Dagoucin made answer Because a Man cannot tell what that â—alf part is whose union is so equal that the one differeth not from the other it is requisite that we should stay there where Love constraineth and whatsoever the temptation may be to change neither the heart nor the will for if she whom you love be so like unto you that she is of the same will the same desire with you It is your self whom you love rather than her Hircan replyed Dagoucin I will affirm That if our love be founded upon beauty complexion fashion or the favour of a woman and the end of that love be for pleasure honour or for profit the love cannot long continue for if that on which we doe ground our love prove defective the love will suddenly decay but I am confident in my Judgement that he who loveth hath no other end or desire but to be beloved and will rather lose his life than his love Upon my faith said Simontault I do not believe Dagoucin that you were ever in love for if you had known that fire as well as others you would not here have given us a description of Plato's Commonwealth which he did write of onely and had no other experience of it If I ever did love said Dagoucin I do love still and will love as long as I live but I have so great a fear that the expression of my love shall not be answerable to the perfection of it thaâ— I forbear to speak of it lest she from whom I do desire thâ— like height of love should not understand me according 〈◊〉 the absolutenesse of it as indeed it is And I dare not think my own thoughts for fear my eyes should reveal something of them For the more that I keep this fire concealed and covered the more doth the pleasure increase in me to find that I love so perfectly Shall I not believe then said Guebron that you would be glad to be beloved I do not say the contrary said Dagoucin but when I shall be so well beloved as I do love our love shall be so great that it shall not know how to increase nor be capable either of extension or diminution And till I find that love I shall be carefull how I do reveal it Parlament who suspected whither that fancy tended said unto him Take heed Dagoucin to your self for I have seen others who had rather die than confesse their loves Those said Dagoucin do esteem themselves to be thrice happy I said Saffredant and worthy to be put in the Chronicle of Innocents of whom the Church speaketh Non loquendo sed moriendo confessi sunt I have heard much Discourse of these extasies of love but never yet have I seen any one to die for Love And because I have escaped all the torments that love can afflict and have seen as I conceive the utmost of his tyranny on others I am of opinion that no man can die for love Say you so Saffredant said Dagoucin and would you be beloved because none of your opinion do die for love I can reckon a whole Catalogue to you of those who died of no other disease than of too violent a love Because you are so well experienced in the stories of them I will give you my voice said Longaren to give us an account of one which shall make the Ninth of this Journall To the end said Dagoucin that my true History followed with signs and miracles should work a faith into you to believe it I will in this place recite unto you what to my knowledge did happen about three years ago The Lamentable Death of a Gentleman in Love who too late received comfort of her whom he affected The ninth Novell BEtween Dauphin and Provence there lived a Gentleman more rich in virtue beauty and in courtesie than in the goods of Fortune who most intirely loved a young Gentlewoman whose Name I will not rehearse in respect unto her Kinred who are descended of good and great Families but you may assure your selves that the Story is most true and because he was not descended of so great a house as she was he durst not discover his affection to her for the extreme love which he did bear unto her
swear unto him that it should be performed and desired him with confidence to demand it Whereupon he said unto the Mother of the young Lady I do beseech you that you would give her in my arms whom you do promise shall be my Wife and that you do command her to embrace and kisse me The young Lady who was not accustomed to such familiarities did make some difficulty of it but her Mother expresly did command her seeing he had lost both the understanding and the force of a living Man On that Command the Daughter did advance her self upon the bed of the poor sick Gentleman and said unto him My old Friend I pray you to be frolick The poor Gentleman sanguishing in his extreme weaknesse stretched forth his arms despoyled of flesh and blood and with all the force of his body embraced the Cause of his Death and kissing her with his pale and cold lips did hold her close unto him as long as possibly he could and said unto her The love which I have born unto you hath been so great and virtuous that Mariage excepted I never desired of you any other happinesse than what I now enjoy for the event whereof and in this possession of it I with joy shall commend my Spirit unto God who being himself perfect love and charity doth know the greatnesse of my love and the honesty of my desires beseeching him having now my desires in my arms that he would receive my Spirit into his arms And speaking those words he took her again into his arms and with so much vehemence that his weak heart could not endure the strength of his love which was immediately immediately abandoned of all the faculties of life for his Joy was so much dilated that the seat of the Soul failed which did fly to her Creator And although the poor body continued a long time without liâ—e and therefore could no longer possesse the rich prise it so lately gained yet the love which the young Lady had till then concealed did now so violently declare it self that the mother of the living and the servants of the dead had much to do to separate the union and were at last enforced to pull the living almost dead from him who was already dead whom they did honourably interr but the greatest triumph of his obsequies were the tears the sighs and the complaints of the poor young Lady who declaâ—ed her self as much after his death as she concealed her self in his lâ—fe and now as it were satisfied for the injury she had done him And since as I have heard it reported the Husband that was given her to take off from himself thoughts of melancholy could never be entertained with any true joy or comfort of heart You may see here Gentlemen what before you would not believe by my words This Example is sufficient to make you confesse that a true and perfect love being too long concealed or misprised doth bring us as low as death There is none of you who know not the friends and kinred both of the one side and the other wherefore you need not to make any doubt of it and there is no man who hath made experience of it but will believe The Ladies hearing it had every one of them tears in their eyes But Hircan said unto them This is the veryest fool that ever Theaâ—d speak for tell me on your own credit is it likely or reasonable that we should die for women who are made for us and that we should be afraid to ask them what God hath enjoyned them to give unto us I speak not for my self nor for any man here that is married for I have enough of a woman or rather more than will serve my turn but for those only who are in necessity who in my opinion are but fools to be in fear of those whom they ought to make afraid Do you not observe the sorrow which this young Lady suffer'd for her folly for since she imbraced a dead body a thing repugnant to Nature she would not have refused his living body if he had shewed as great boldnesse living as dying be moved pitty Neverthelesse said Oysilla The Gentleman in this made an excellent Remonstrance of the love and civility he did bear her for which he shall be commended throughout the whole world for to find chastity in an amorous heart is a thing more divine than belonging unto man Madam said Saffredant to confirm the opinion of Hircan from whom I differ noâ— I must intreat you to believe me that Fortune doth assist the bold spirit and that there is no man if he be beloved by a Lady but if he can but wisely and affectionately follow his sute will in the end receive all that which he demandeth or at the least in part But Ignorance and a faint heart do cause men to â—ose many brave adventures and then they ground their losse upon the virtue of their Mistresse whom they never did attempt for never was there a place that hath been gallantly assaulted but it hath been taken I do much worder at you two said Parlament that you dare maintain this discourse Surely those whom you have loved have either not held you long or the assault bath been made on so advantagious a place that you think all Women alike Madam said Saffredant As for my self I am so unfortunate that I have no reason to make any boast but I impute not my misfortune to any virtue of the Ladies but to my own defects in having either not wisely begun oâ— too rashly prosecuted my Design and I will allege the old Romant of the Rose instead of many Doctors which saith we are merry Girls and Boys no doubt all alike the Boys for the Girls and the Girls for the Boys Wherefore I do believe that if love be once in the heart of a woman the man may arrive unto his ends if he be not sottishly overseen Parlament said And if I shall tell you of a Lady of a gallant personage that did love and was sollicited and importuned and neverthelesse deported her self most virtuously and was victorious over her own body and her friend will you say that a true thing is impossible Yes said he You are hard of Faith said Parlament if you believe not this example Dagoucin said unto her Madam since I have proved by example the virtuous love of a Gentleman even unto death I must intreat you if you do know any like unto it in the honour of some Lady that you will be pleased to rehearse it for the end of this days journey and you need not fear to be too long for we have yet time enough to speak of many honest Subjects Since the last lot falls to my share said Parlament I will hold you in a long discourse for my History is so good so fair and so true that it seems long unto me until I make you partakers of it and that you know it as well as
any other and was so intimate with her that she concealed not from her her most private thoughts and declared to her all tho love which she did bear to the Son of the Infant Fortunate and she who did hope to gain him intirely did speak of him incessantly and on any Discourse where mention was made of him she would with delight take hold of it and a long time entertain it Amadour after his Marriage with Avanturade stayed not above one moneth with this Company but was constrained to return to the War where he continued above two years without seeing of his Wife who kept alwayes with her with whom she was brought up During this time Amadour did often write unto her but the greatest part of his Letter was Commendations to Florinda Avanturade did not fail to show the Letters to Florinda who returned him thanks for it and sometimes with her own hand would signifie as much unto him in the Letters which Avanturade answered which was the occasion that made her Husband more carefull to write more often unto her But in all this Florinda knew nothing but only that she loved and respected him as her own Brother This was the Intercourse of Letters betwixt Amadour and Avanturade and Amadour who in the space of five years had hardly seen Florinda two whole moneths yet neverthelesse his Love in despite of absence did continually encrease But now the time was come that he made a voyage to see his Wife and found the Countesse of Arand a great way from the Court. For the King of Spain was gone to Vandelusia and had taken with him the young Count of Arand who already did begin to bear arms His Mother the Countesse was retired to a House of pleasure which she had upon the Frontires of Arragon and Navarre she was very joyfull to see Amadour returned who almost for three years together had been absent He was very welcom to them all and the Countesse of Arand commanded that he should be entertained as her own Son As long as he was with her she declared to him the whole state of her affairs and committed the greatest part of the Government of her House to his discretion He gained so great an estimation that in all places thereof wheresoever he came they opened the doors unto him believing him to be so able and so wise a personage that in all things they did put their confidence in him as if in some Saint or Angel Florinda for the love which she did bear to his Wife and to himself did give great respect unto him in all the places wheresoever she did see him not knowing any thing of his Intention wherefore she minded not what countenance she gave him for her heart felt not any heat of a violent passion but onely she received a great contentment when she was near Amadour and no other thought of love possessed her Amadour to avoid the Judgement of those who are experienced in the looks of Lovers in comparison of others was in a great perplexity For when Florinda came familiarly to speak unto him as one who thought no hurt the fire concealed in his heart did so violently inflame it that do what he could his colour would rise in his checks and the sparkles of Desire would fly from his eyes And to the end that in their daily conversation it might not be discerned he pretended to court a very fair Lady called Paulina a Lady who in her time was esteemed so beautifull that few men that ever saw her did escape her bonds This Paulina understanding how well Amadour had deported himself at Barcelona and Perpignan insomuch that he was beloved by all the most beautifull and virtuons Ladies of that Country and above all by the Countesse of Palamons who in beauty was esteemed the chiefest in all Spain told him That she much pityed him that after so many great fortunes he had married so ill-favoured a woman Amadour apprehending by those words that she had a desire to remedy her own necessity did entertain her with the best Language that possibly he could thinking by making her to beleeve a pretence that she should serve to be a coverture for the truth but she being cunning and experienced in love was not contented with words but conceiving to her self that his heart was not satisfyed with her Love she doubted lest he did not make her serve for a cloak only whereupon she did so closely observe him that her eyes were always fastened upon his but he did so well dissemble it that she could not make any certain judgment of any thing but only had an obscure suspition which was a great torment to this Gentleman But Florinda who was ignorant of all those Jealousies did speak oftentimes before Paulina so familiarly to Amadour that he put himself to an extraordinary task to command his eys against his heart And to prevent the falling into an Inconvenience speaking one day to Florinda and leaning both upon the Window he said unto her Madam I beseech you that you will be pleased to advise me which is the best to speak or to die Florinda readily made answer to him I shall alwayes advise my friends that it is best to speak and not die for a few words may be mended but life being lost can never be recovered You shall promise me then said Amadour that you shall neither be offended nor be astonished at the words I shall speak untill you shall understand the end for which I speak them She replyed to him Speak what you please for if you shall astonish me no man else shall recover me to my senses I assure you He then began to speak Madam I have not yet expressed unto you the great affection which I bear you for two Reasons First That I intended by my long service to give you an experience of it and Secondly because I doubted you would conceive it to be an unpardonable arrogance to addresse my self unto you who were I a Prince as your self yet the loyalty of your heart would not suffer any other but he who hath taken possession of it the Son of the Infant Fortunate to hold any discourse of Love with you But Madam as in great wars Necessity doth constrain us to make a wast of our own goods and oftentimes to spoil the Corn in the blade that the Enemy may make no advantage of it so have I made an adventure to hazard the fruit which in time I did hope to gather that neither your nor my Enemies might make to themselves any profit by our Damage Understand Madam that since you were scarce twelve years of age I have been so devoted to your service that I have never ceased from searching out the means to obtain your favour and for that occasion I married her whom I thought that you loved best And understanding the love which you bear to the Son of the Infant Fortunate I have endeavoured to serve and honour him as you
have seen And whatsoever I thought would be pleasing to you I have sought it with all my power you see How I have procured the good opinion of the Countess your Mother of the Count your Brother and of all those whom you doe love in a manner that in this house I am not taken so much to be a Servant as a Child and all the travel that for these five years I have undertaken hath been to live all the remainder of my life with you And you must understand that I am none of those who by this means presume to enjoy any pleasure or profit by you but what shall be virtuous I know well enough and am confident that I can never marry you and if I could I would not do the least Injury to the love which you bear to him whom I desire to see your Husband To prosecute you with a vicious love as those who hope for some recompence for their service by the dishonor of their Mistresses I am so far from that that I had rather see you dead than to know you lesse worthy to be beloved or that virtue was abated in you for any pleasure that could arive to me For the end and recompence of all my service I doe desire only but one thing which is that you will be so constant a Mistress to me that you will never remove me from your favours and continue me in the degree in the which I am reposing more confidence in me than in any other and having this assurance that if for your honour or any thing that doth concern you you shall need the life of a Gentleman mine shall be imployed with all my heart for you In like manner that all honest and virtuous things that I shall doe shall be done onely for the love of you And if for Ladies of a far lower condition than your self I have performed deeds that have highly been esteemed be you assured that for such a Mistresse my enterprizes shall be doubled so that those things which before I left off as difficult and impossible shall now become easie to me But if you will not accept me to be altogether yours I have resolved with my self to leave off the Exercise of Arms and to bid Adieu to Virtue that hath not helped me at my need Wherefore Madam I most humbly beseech you that my just sute may be granted to me which neither your Honor nor your Conscience can deny The young Lady hearing those words so unusuall to her did begin to change her colour and held down her eyes as a Woman astonished Howsoever being of a ready and a great understanding she said unto him Since it is so Seignior Amadour that you demand that of me which you have already how doth it come about that you have made unto me so long an Oration I have so great a fear that under your honest words there are some ill Intentions hid to deceive the Ignorance of my youth that I am in a great perplexity to answer you For if I should deny that honest love which you offer me I should do contrary to that which hitherto I have done who do put more confidence in your self than in all the Men in the world Neither my Conscience nor my Honor do contradict your Demand nor the love which I do bear to the son of the Infant Fortunate for that love is grounded upon Marriage to which you can have no pretence I know nothing that may withhold me from giving you an answer according to your desire but onely Fear which invades my heart grounded on the small occasion you have to begin this Discourse for if you have already that which you demand what is it doth constrain you to speak so affectionatly Amadour who now was not without an answer said unto her Madam you speak most wisely and do me so much Honour by the Confidence which you say you repose in me that if I should not content my self with this happinesse I should be unworthy of any other But you are to understand Madam that he who would raise a lasting edifice ought to regard that he doth lay a sure foundation therefore I who desire to continue perpetually in your service do not only look upon the means to keep me near unto you but also to hinder what I can that the great affection which I bear unto you may not be discovered For though it be so honest that the least sin cannot be found in it yet so it is that those who know not the hearts of true lovers do oftentimes judge against the truth and from hence proceed so many ill reports the events whereof have been so mischievous The cause which hath enforced me to speak and to declare this unto you is Paulina who doth so strongly suspect me perceiving in her own heart that I cannot love her that in all places wheresoever I do come she is alwayes with a watchfull eye looking stedfastly on my face and when you come to speak familiarly unto me before her I have so great a fear to give some sign by which she might ground some bad construction that I am ready to fall into an Inconvenience from which I would fain keep my self so that I have conceived it expedient to beseech you That before her and such creatures as she is you would not be pleased to speak so suddenly unto me for I had rather by far be out of the world than any one alive should have the least knowledge of it And were it not for the love which I owe unto your Honour I should not have taken this resolution to speak these words unto you for I am sufficiently happy in the love and confidence you have in me without demanding any thing more but onely your continuation of it At these words Florinda received so great content that she could not indure a greater and began to feel in her heart something more than before she was accustomed to find and considering the honest reasons he alleged she told him That Virtue and Honour had made answer for her and did accord to that which he desired If Amadour was not joyfull of this assurance I leave it to those to judge who have been themselves in love But Florinda began to follow his counsel more than he desired for she who was fearfull did not only forbear to speak unto him before Paulina but also before all others and in this discontinuance of Discourse she began her self to suspect the frequent communication which Amadour had with Paulina who did like it very well and now did confidently beleeve that Amadour did love her Florinda to passe away this sorrow did daily entertain Aventurade who began to be very jealous of her Husband and Paulina and oftentimes did complain of it to Florinda who did comfort her the best she cold being one who was infected her self with the same Disease Amadour quickly perceived by the Countenance of Florinda that not only she estranged her self
City whom in the night he went to court when his Wife was asleep Amongst others there was a most beautifull and virtuous Lady who was Sister to a Gentleman whom the Duke loved as himself and to whom he gave so much authority in his House that his word was obeyed and feared as that of the Dukes and he had no secret in his heart which he declared not unto him Insomuch that he might well be called his second Self The Duke observing his Sister to be so accomplished a Lady and that he had not the means to declare the love which he did bear unto her having sought all wayes that were possible for the effecting of it at last addressed himself to the Gentleman whom so intirely he did affect said unto him If there were any thing in the world my Friend which I would not do for you I should be affraid to declare unto you my thoughts and much more to desire you to be ayding to me in them but I bear you so much good will that if I had Wife Mother or Daughter that might conduce to save your Life I would rather imploy them all in it than to suffer you to die in torment and I believe that the Love which you bear to me is reciprocal to mine And if I who am your Master do bear such an affection to you I presume that you do not bear any lesse to me Wherefore I will declare one secret to you the concealment whereof doth keep me in this estate wherein you see me of which I can look for no amendment but onely by Death or by the service which you may do me The Gentleman observing the Reasons of his Master and that his face in earnest was bathed in tears had so great a compassion of him that he said unto him Sir I am your Creature all the Fortunes and Honours I enjoy do proceed from you you may speak to me as to your friend being assured That all which lies in my power is in your own hands Incontinently the Duke began to declare unto him the love which he did bear unto his Sister which was so great and violent that if by his means he had no redresse he found he could not live long for he knew by experience that neither Letters nor Prayers nor Presents could prevail upon her Wherefore he conjured him If he loved his life as deerly as his life was beloved by him that he would find a means to procure him that benefit which without him he concluded it was impossible to enjoy The Brother who loved his Sister and the honor of his House more than the pleasure of the Duke did endeavour to make him some Remonstrance to the contrary beseeching him in all other ways to imploy him but to excuse him onely in this thing it being too cruel and too unnatural to him to purchase the dishonor of his own bloud that neither his heart nor his Honour could comply with this Command The Duke enflamed with an anger insupportable did bite his nails and made reply unto him in great fury It is no matter seeing I find in you no respects of Friendship to me I know what I have to do The Gentleman understanding the cruelty of his Master was struck into a fear and said unto him Sir Because it is your pleasure I will speak unto her and I will give you an account of her answer to me The Duke answered departing from him As you make much of my life 〈◊〉 will I of yours The Gentleman understood well â—nough what he did mean by those words and absâ—â—ted himself a day or two from the Duke to consider what he had to do On one side there was presented to him the Obligation which he owed to his Master and the benefits and the Honours which he had received from him On the other side his thoughts reflected on the Honour of his House the honesty and chastity of his Sister and the assurance he had that she would never consent to so foul a Motion if she were not surprized by deceit or by force Wherefore having taken these Premises into his consideration he concluded That he would rather die than be the Author of so ill an Office to his Sister who was one of the most virtuous Ladies in all Italy He was rather obliged he did judge to deliver his Countrey from such a Tyrant who by force would stain the Honour of his Family He was assured besides that unlesse the Duke was dead the life of himself and of his Sister were absolutely lost Wherefore without so much as speaking one word unto his Sister he determined with himself to save his own life and by the same way to revenge the shame which was intended to be brought upon her At the end of two dayes he addressed himself to the Duke and told him how he had practised with his Sister who but not without great difficulty did consent unto his pleasure which she hoped should be kept secret seeing none but himself who was her own Brother had any knowledge of it The Duke who desired this News did easily believe it and imbracing the Messenger did promise him whatsoever he would demand and desiring him that it might quickly be put in execution they agreed between themselves upon the day If the Duke were not high with hopes and Joyes I will leave it to you to judge When he saw the night so much desired to approach in which he promised himself to have the Victory over her whom he thought invincible he withdrew himself betimes from his Court having none in his Company but this Gentleman alone and forgot not to take along with him a Night-cap and a shirt perfumed in the best manner as possibly it might be And taking his opportunity in the Evening he did go along with this Gentleman to the Lodging of this Lady where he came into a Chamber very richly prepared The Gentleman assisted him to put off his cloaths and helped him into Bed saying to him Sir I will now go and setch her my self unto you who will not enter into this Chamber without many blushes but I hope before the Morning she will be assured of you In this manner her left the Duke and did go into his own Chamber where he found but one of all his Servants to whom he said Have you the heart to follow me into a place where I will revenge my self on the greatest Enemy I have in the world His Man not knowing what he would do said unto him Yes Sir and it were the Duke himself Immediatly the Gentleman did take him with him who on the sudden had not the leisure to take any other Aâ—ms but a Ponyard only which he had always about him When the Duke did hear him comming conceiving that he had brought her along with him whom he loved so intirely he opened the Curtain and his eyes to behold her and to receive her into his arms whom so long he expected
after me that he was guided rather by the force of Love than any weaknesse or frigidity If he were such a one then as you speak him said Simontault he should have broken his Oath and if she had been angry for so little she might have quickly been appeased But it may be said Emarsuite that at that time she was not willing What and if she were not said Saffredant had she not been easie to have been forced having already given unto him the possession of the Camp Saint Mary said Nomerfide How wide you draw Is that the way to obtain the favour of a Lady whom you esteem wise and honest It seems to me said Saffredant that we cannot do more honour to a woman of whom we desire such a favour than to take it by force for the poorest Baggage in the world doth desire to be a long time intreated and some there are who must be presented with great gifts before they can be obtained and others are so foolish who neither by presents nor by Complements can be obtained to whom we must make use of other means And when we have to do with one so wise that she will not be deceived and so good that she will not be gained either by great gifts or good words is it not reason to use all the means that possibly we can to obtain the Victory And when at any time you hear it spoken that a Man hath taken a woman by force believe it that the Woman had deprived him of all hope of any other means and think not the worse of the Man who hath put his life in jeopardy to give place unto his Love Guebron began to laugh and said I have seen in my days places besieged and taken by force because it was not possible to bring those unto a Parley who did keep them either by money or by threatnings for they say That a Parlying Town is half gained I believe said Emarsuite that all the Loves of the World are grounded upon these Follies howsoever there are some to my knowledge who have loved and honourably continued in their love without being subject to any such loose Intention If you know of any such said Hircan I give you my voice and the Speakers place I know it to be true said Emarsuite and therefore I will willingly give you an account thereof Of two Lovers who despairing to be married the one unto the other did betake themselves to two places of Religion the one to a Covent of St. Francis and the other to S. Anne of Clare The Ninth Novell IN the time of the Marquesse of Mantua who was espoused to the Sister of the Duke of Ferrara there lived in the House of the Dutchesse a Damsel named Paulina who was so well beloved by a Gentleman who was a Servant to the Marquesse that the greatnesse of his affection was admired by all the world And because he was but poor and a gentile Companion his Master in the love he did bear unto him did advise him to look out some wife that was rich and able to maintain him but he thought that all the Treasure in the world was in Paulina which in marrying her he should possesse The Marchionesse also desiring That Paulina might have a richer Husband or none did distast the proceedings of the Marriage as much as possibly might be and oftentimes would not suffer them to hold any Discourse with one another and did demonstrate to them that if the said Marriage should go on they would be two of the poorest most miserable creatures in all Italy But this reason could not enter into the understanding of the Gentleman Paulina as well as she could did for her part dissemble her love she did bear unto the Gentleman howsoever her heart was entire unto him This love continued a long time and was attended with a hope that at last they should meet with some Fortunes that were answerable to their desires Some few years afterwards this Gentleman in a great Battel was taken prisoner with a Frenchman who was as deep in love with a Gentlewoman in France as he was with one in Italy And when they found themselves Companions of one fortune they began more familiarly to discover the secrets of their hearts the one unto the other The Frenchman confessed that his heart was a prisoner as well as his but would not name him the person or the place But being both in the service of the Marquesse of Mantua the Frenchman knew well enough that his companion loved Paulina and for the love which he did bear to his profit and advantage he did advise him to remove his affections from her which the Italian Gentleman did swear was not in his own power and that if the Marquesse of Mantua in recompence of his imprisonment and the good service he had done for him would still refuse to let him have his Sweet-heart he would turn Grey Friar and never serve any other Master but God which the Frenchman could not believe for he saw not in him any sign of religion at all but only the devotion he had unto Paulina At the end of three months the French Gentleman was delivered from prison and prevailed so much by his diligence that not long afterwards he procured the liberty of his Companion and used his utmost endeavour both with the Marquesse and Marchionesse that they would give their consent to his Marriage with Paulina but he could not perswade them to it for they represented to him the poverty in which they should both live and that on both sides their Parents and Kinred were much discontented at it and they forbade him to speak unto them any more of it to the end that their love at last might passe away by absence and impossibility When the Italian Gentleman perceived that he was constrained to obey the command of the Marquesse he demanded leave of the Marchionesse to take his leave of Paulina seeing he should never speak unto her again which was agreed unto and immediately in these words he spake unto her Since it is so Paulina that Heaven and Earth are against us not only to hinder us in our Marriage but which is worse to take from us for ever the sight of one another and that upon command I must not speak any more to you nor you to me This command is rigorous indeed our Master and Mistresse may well boast that with one word they have wounded two hearts whose bodies needs must languish and they have proved that neither love nor pity did ever enter into their breasts I do know that their aim is to marry us richly to some others but they are ignorant that the truest riches do consist in a contented mind and hereby they have done me so great an injury that it is impossible I should ever do them service again I do believe that if I had never spoken to them of this marriage they had not been so scrupulous as not
you have married her yes Sir said the Bastard but by words and a contract only and if you please the full period will be put unto it The King did hold down his head and without speaking any word returned directly unto the Castle and when he came neer unto it he called the Captain of the Guard and commanded him to take the Bastard prisoner Immediatly one of his friends who observed the countenance of the King did advise the Bastard to absent himself and to withdraw into a house of his not far from thence and if the King commanded him to be sought out as he suspected he would that immediatly he should have notice of it that he might provide for his own safety by his slight out of the Kingdom but if the King seemed not to be displeased he would send him word to return to the Court The Bastard did believe him and his diligence made such dispatch that the Captain of the Guard could not find him The King and the Queen did take counsel together what they should do with Rolandine who had the honour to be their Kinswoman and by the counsel of the Queen it was concluded that she should be sent unto her Father to whom the whole truth of the businesse was to be declared But before she did goe it was ordered that diverse of the Kings Counsel and some also of the Church should represent unto her that as yet there had passed nothing in her marriage but her word only and that she might easily recall herself if both one of them and the other would alter their opinions and their loves and disclaiming all interests make the contract of no effect This the King desired that she would do to preserve the honout of the house of which she was but she made answer that in all other things she was both obliged and ready to obey the King but in this only which so nearly concern'd her conscience she desired to be excused alleging that those whom God had put together ought not to be separated by men and desired that she might not be tempted to so unreasonable a thing for if love and good will grounded on the fear of God is the true and sure tye of Marriage she was tyed so fast that neither Steel nor Fire nor Water could either break or consume that bond but death only to whom alone and to none else she was resolved to surrender her oath and her ring beseeching them not to urge her to the contrary for she was so firm in her resolution that she had rather perish keeping her saith than live having infringed it Those who were deputed by the King made the report unto him of her constancy and when they saw they could provide no remedy to cause her to renounce her husband they carried her to her Father in that pitiful manner that wheresoever she passed they did all fall on weeping to behold her and although she had her failings in this contract yet so great was her punishment and so strong her constancy that she made her fault to be esteemed a virtue Her Father hearing this unwelcom news would not see her but sent her to a Castle of his in a Forrest which he had builded for another occasion worthy to be declared after this Novel He kept her there a long time in prison and sent her word oftentimes that if she would forsake her Husband he would account her for his daughter and set her at liberty Neverthelesse she always did hold firm in her determination loved better the place of her prison and the miseries she endured for her Husband than all the liberty of the world without him and it seemed to those who did behold her that all her punishments were but pleasant recreations because she suffered them for him whom so intirely she affected What shall I say in this place of men The Bastard who as you have heard was so much obliged to her did fly into Germany where he had many friends and shewed by his Inconstancy that not Truth and perfect Love but Avarice and Ambition did perswade him to the marriage of Rolandine Insomuch that in a short time after he grew so amorous of a German Lady that by his Letters he did forget to visit her who sustained so many tribulations for him For Fortune as rigorous as she was unto them did never take from them the means to write to one another but the heart of Rolandine had of its self the first apprehension of the foolish love into which the Bastard was fall'n so that she could not take any rest for she observed that the language in his Letters was so cold and so much altered that they nothing resembled those hearty expressions which she was accustomed to receive from him she therefore truly did suspect that some new love had diverted her Husband from her and when all the punishments and the torments she endured could nor work the least change in her at all and because her perfect love would not allow that she should ground her judgement upon a suspition she did contrive a way to send privatly a servant of hers in whom she trusted not to speak unto him or bring any Letters from him but strictly to observe him and to relate the truth He being returned from his Journey told her that for certain he found the Bastard passionatly amorous of a German Lady and the report was that he did court her in way of marriage for she was very rich This news did convey so extreme a grief to the heart of poor Rolandine that being unable to endure it she fell grievously sick Those who understood the occasion did acquaint her that since she perceived the great inconstancy of the Bastard she might now justly abandon him and did the uttermost they could to perswade her to it but notwithstanding she was thus tormented to the last they could find no means to make her change her resolution And in this last temptation to the great commendation of her virtue she did manifest the absolute love which she did bear him For as love did diminish on his side so it did increase on hers and did continue firm when he had no intire nor perfect love for love which failed on his side did turn on her side and when she knew that the love was intire in her alone which before was divided betwixt them both she resolved to preserve it to her death both for him and her self Wherefore the Divine bounty who is perfect charity and true love had pity on her griefs and did regard her patience insomuch that after a few days the Bastard dyed in pursute of another woman she being well advertised of his death by those who saw him laid in the earth did send unto her Father to beseech him that he would be pleased to come unto her who having not spoken to her since the time of her imprisonment did immediatly repair unto her and having all along understood
Coat of black Frize richly imbroydered with Gold and Silver purle He was mounted on a black Horse richly trapped with all the gallant furniture that belonged to a Horse The trappings were all covered with Gold and with a Morresk work enamell'd with black His Cloak was of black Silk on the shoulder thereof was a badge most curiously wrought and adorned with precious stones where he had for a Devise Love covered by force His sword and his poynado were no lesse beautifull and set forth with as rich devices To be short he was compleat cap a pei'd and most remarkable when he was on horsback and knew so well to manage his Horse that all those who did observe him neglected the recreation of hunting to observe the Courses and Corvettoes which he made Having in those Courses brought the Queen unto the place where the Nets were pitched he alighted from his Horse and came to assist the Queen as she was alighting who stretching forth her arms unto him he opened his Coat and taking her in his arms did shew her his Corslet where the Mirror was and said unto her Madam I beseech you to behold your self in it and without attending any answer he did set her softly on the Ground The Hunting being ended the Queen returned to the Castle without speaking one word to Elisor but after Supper she sent for him and told him That he was the greatest Lyar that she ever knew for he had promised her faithfully to shew that Lady in the Chace unto her whom he most loved which he had not performed wherefore she resolved with her self not to esteem him any more Elisor fearing that the Queen had not understood what he had said unto her did make answer That he had performed what he promised for he had not only shewed her the woman but that part of her which he loved best The Queen pretending not to understand him did reply unto him That she did not remember that he had shewed any one of her Ladies to her It is true said Elisor But what did I show unto you as you were alighting from your Horse Nothing said the Queen but only a fair Glass upon your Brest And what did you behold in that Mirror said Elisor I saw nothing but my own face said the Qu. Elisor said unto her then Madam in obedience to your Commandment I have fulfilled my promise for there shall be never any other representation in my heart but that which you saw upon my Brest it is that only whom I love reverence adore not as a Woman but as a Goddesse upon Earth into whose hands I do put both my Life and Death beseeching you that my most entire and absolute affection which was all my Life as long as I concealed it may not prove my Death by my discovering it And if I am not worthy to be regarded and accepted as your Servant at least permit that I may live as I have been accustomed to do upon the Contentment I have to behold you my heart having been so bold to chuse so high so perfect and so Majestick a place for the foundation of its love of which I can have no other satisfaction but to know that my love is so great and absolute that I am contented only to love although I am not be beloved again And if it doth not please you by the knowledge of my great love to have me more agreeable to you and to affect me more than heretofore at the least take not my life from me which consisteth in the happinesse I have to see you as I have been accustomed to do If you please to look upon me with more rigor you will have one servant lesse and lose the most affectionate one which you ever had or ever can have The Qu. whether to shew her self what she was not or else all along to make more trial of the love which he did bear unto her or whether she loved some other Servant whom she would not leave for him or else to reserve him untill he whom she had loved had done some fault and then afterwards to receive him into his place did speak unto him with a countenance neither angry nor yet contented Elisor Being ignorant of the authority of Love I do not demand of you what folly did betray you into so great so high and so dangerous a humor as to be in love with me for I know that the heart of Man is so little at Mans Commandement that he cannot make it either to hate or to love as he himself would But because you have so well declared your mind I desire to know how long it is since you first did begin to love me Elisor observing her to smile upon him and that she inquired after his Malady did well hope that she would vouchsafe some remedy unto him but beholding on a sudden her countenance to change again he was struck with a fear thinking himself to be before a severe Judge who was ready to pronounce sentence upon him Howsoever he took the confidence to assure her that his love had taken a deep root in his heart ever since his childhood but it did not burn within him to make him feel the pain thereof but the last seven years and he said he could not properly call it a pain but rather a Malady which gave such a contentment that the recovery from it was Death Since it is so said the Queen that you have laboured in so great a trial I ought to be no more light to believe it than you have been to expresse it wherefore if it be as you say I will make such a proof of it that afterwards I shall have no reason to doubt it and this proof being made I shall esteem you to be such unto me as you your self do swear you are and I knowing you to be such as you say you shall find me to be such as you desire Elisor besought her to make what proof of him she pleased for there was nothing so difficult that should not be very easie to him to obtain that great happinesse that she might know and be assured of the affection which he did bear unto her and besought her to command him that which she would have don She said unto him Elisor If you do love me as much as you affirm I am assured that to enjoy my favour nothing can be too hard for you Wherefore I command you by all your desires to have it and your fears to lose it that without seeing me any more you do depart the Court to morrow and retire into some place where you may not hear from me nor I have any tidings of you for seven following years You who have already passed seven years in this love do know in your self that you love me When I have had the like expecience of it for seven other years I shall know and believe that which your words cannot make me to understand much
wherefore did she give him such a promise to entertain him after the seven years were passed I am of your opinion said Longaren for those who for love will not return love again will give no occasion of love to those that bear love unto them It may be said Nomerfide that she loved another who was in deserts far inserior to this honest Gentlemen and that she left the better for the worse Upon my credit said Saffredant I conceive that hereby she made good provision for her self to take him in an hour when she had left off the other whom peradventure at that present she loved better I see very well said Oysilla that the more we examine and debate upon this Subject the more those who will have all things go on their side will take occasion to speak the worst of us that possibly they can wherefore Dagoucin I request you to give your voice to some one I do give it said he to Longaren being assured that she will acquaint us with some grateful novelty and will not to speak the Truth forbear either Man or woman Since you do esteem me to be so impartial said Longaren I will assume the hardinesse to acquaint you with the Fortune which happened to a very great Prince who in virtue surpassed all others of his time Understand withall that the thing which we ought least to use but in the case only of extreme Necessity is Dissimulation It is a Vice both vile and infamous especially amongst Potencates and Princes in the mouths and countenances of whom Truth is far more becomming than in any other person But there is no Frince so great although he hath all the honours and the riches that he can desire who is not subject unto the Empire and the Tyranny of Love insomuch that the more noble the Prince is and of greater spirit the more Love delighteth to make him to stoop under his powerful hand for that wanton and glorious little God doth take no care of small or common things and his Majesty doth make it his exercise every day to do wonders as to make weak the strong and to make strong the weak to give understanding to the ignorant and to take it away from the wise to savour passions and to destroy reason and all his delight is in such changes And because Princes are not exempt from love no more are they from the extremity into which the servitude of Love doth throw them And therfore by force they may be permitted to use Dissimulation hypocrifie and fiction which are the means to overcome their Enemies according to the Doctrine of Master Iohn de-Moon And since in such an act the Condition of a Prince is pardonable which in no other act is to be allowed because it layes them open to Disrepute I will in this place give an account unto you of the Inventions of a young Prince by which he deceived those who are accustomed to deceive all the world The subtilty which a great Prince used to delight himself in the Company of the Wife of an Advocate of Paris The Fifth Novell IN the City of Paris there was an Advocate more esteemed than nine Men of his profession and by reason of his great sufficiency being sought after by all he was the richest man of all those of his Robe who finding that he had no children by his first Wife did hope to have issue by his second And although his Body was old and dryed up yet his heart and his hope were not dead wherefore he did choose to wife a young Geutlewoman of the City of about eighteen or nineteen years of Age very fair and of a delicat complexion whom he loved and tendred as much as possibly he could but she had no more Children by him than he had by the former which at the last did much trouble her Wherefore her youth which was not suitable to Melancholy did cause her to seek out recreations in other places than in her own house and she repaired oftentimes to Feasts and Dancings but she always deported her self so civilly that her Husband could not entertain any bad opinion of her For she was alwayes in the company of those in whom he had great confidence Being one day invited to a Marriage there was present a great Prince who in rehersing the account did for bid me to use his name But I may well say unto you that he was so brave a Prince and of such a Grace that the like was never seen before in France nor ever I do believe will after him be seen again This Prince beholding this young Gentlewoman whose eys and whose Countenance did incite him to affect her did come unto her and did court her with such fine language that she her self was much taken with him and it and did not conceal from him that for a long time she had that love in her heart for which he did intreat her and that he should not take pains to perswade her to that to which at the first sight Love had made her to consent The young Prince by the courage of Love having obtained that happinesse the purchase whereof did well deserve a longer time he thanked the blind little God who so much favoured him And after that hour he so well followed his affair that they did both agree upon the means how they might come together without the observation of any The place and time being agreed upon the young Prince did not fail to come and to preserve the honour of the Gentlewoman he did come disguized but by reason of the dissolute boyes who did run up and down the streets in the night by whom he would not be known he took some Gentlemen with him to attend him And in the entrance into the street where she lived he did dismisse them saying to them If you hear no noise at all within this quarter of an hour you may retire into your own lodgings and about three or four hours hence fail not to expect me in this place again This they did accordingly and hearing not any noise they withdrew themselves into their own Chambers The young Prince did directly take his Course to the House of his Advocate and found the Door open as it was promised him But going up the stairs he did meet with her Husband by reason whereof he was more seen than he desired Neverthelesse Love which giveth understanding and boldnesse in the greatest necessities did so dispose it that the young Prince came directly to him and said Monsieur the Advocate You know the confidence which I and all those of my House do repose in you and that I do esteem you to be one of the best and most faithfull Servants that I have I was willing to come privatly to you to visit you as well to recommend my affairs unto you as to desire a Cup of your wine for I stand in need of it and not to acquaint any whomsoever that I am here for
of the most drouzy Knaves that ever I saw And thus the Husband and the Lady did continue in greater Love than heretofore and forgat all the suspition and jealousie which he had of her for before she loved Feasts dancings and the keeping of company and now she did keep altogether at home and was contented oftentimes to wear nothing but a loose Gown next unto her smock when before she was at least four hours in dressing her head For this she was beloved by her Husband and by all the World and thus under the veil of Hypocrisie and the reputation of being virtuous this yong Lady lived in such pleasure that neither Reason Conscience Order or Measure had any more place in her which the young and delicate complexion of Signior D' Avanes could not long indure for he became so pale and lean that without wearing a disguise one might well be deceived in the knowledge of his countenance neverthelesse the fond love which he did bear unto the Woman did rendet his sen ses so stupid and lost that he still presumed on his strength which by this excesse would have failed him although he had a body as strong as was the body of Hercules And being at the last constrained by his weaknesse and advised to it by the Lady who did not love him so well being weak and sickly as when he was lusty and in health he demanded leave of his Master to go unto his friends which to his great grief he condescended to and Signior D' Avanes saithfully promised him that when ever he was recovered he would return again to his service In this manner he did goe away on foot for he had to travel but the length of one street and as soon as he was arrived at the house of the rich man he found none at home but his Wife whose virtuous love which she did bear unto him was nothing diminished by his voyage but when she beheld him so lean and so discoloured she could not forbear from speaking to him Monsieur I know not how it goes with your Conscience but your Body is not any thing the better for your pilgrimage and I doe much fear that the way in which you have travelled by night hath been more hurtful to you and hath wearied you more than all your travells by day for if you had gone on foot to Jerusalem you might have returned more comforted in your self but not more lean and feeble in your Body therefore with whomsoever you have been account her but an Idoll and serve no more such Images who instead of raising from the dead do make the living look as if they were in the number of the dead I should speak more unto you but if your Body hath transgressed I do find it to be somuch punished that I have pity to add any new affliction to you When Signior Avanes had understood those words he was no less sorrowful thaâ— ashamed and said unto her Madam I have elsewhere heard it spoken That Repentance doth follow sin so close that it even treads on the heels of it and I have now proved it by my own expence and I must beseech you to excuse my youth which could not otherwise be instruct but by making tryal of that Evil which it did not believe The Lady changing her Discourse did bring him to a very rich bed and did perswade him to repose himself in it where he continued for the space of fifteen dayes and fed on nothing but Restoratives and was so attended both by her Husband and her self that one of them were always with him and although against the will and counsel of the wise young Lady he had committed the follies which you have heard yet she never diminished that virtuous Love which she did bear unto him For she hoped that having passed away his first dayes in vanities he would retire himself to the conversation of an honest love by which means she should have him altogether with her And during the fifteen dayes which he continued in her House she did give him such good Instructions tending to the love of Virtue that he began to entertain a horror and an indignation against the follies he had committed And looking on this Lady who in beauty surpassed the other and observing more and more the graces and the Virtues which were in her he could not chuse one day although obscurely enough to chace all fear from him and to speak unto her Madam I find no other means to be so virtuous as you demonstrate to me and desire me to be than to frame my heart to be altogether amorous of virtue And I must beseech you Madam to inform me if therein you will not give me all the aid and advice that possibly you can The Lady being very joyful to hear him enter into such discourse did say unto him Sir I do promise and assure you That if you will be in love with virtue as it belongeth to so great a Lord as you are I will serve you to attain unto it with all the faculties and the power which God hath given me Well Madam said Signior D' Avanes remember your promise and understand that God unknown to Christians but by Faith only hath vouchsafed to assume unto him flesh like unto the flesh of a sinner to the end that taking our flesh upon him by the love of his Humanity he might also draw our Souls unto him by the love of his Divinity and is willing to serve himself with things visible to cause us by Faith to love things invisible In the like manner This Virtue which all my life I do desire to love is a thing invisible and lodged within us is not to be known but only by her effects wherefore it is necessary that she assumes some body to be known amongst Men which she hath done and hath invested her self in your body it being the most pure and the most accomplished that she could find whereupon I do acknowledge and confesse you not not only virtuous but Virtue her self and I who do observe her to shine in the veil of the most perfect body that ever was which is yours will serve her and honour her all my life abandoning all other love that is vain and vicious The Lady no lesse contented than amazed to hear these words to proceed from him did so well dissemble her Joy that she said unto him Sir I will not take upon me to answer your Theology but as she who is more fearing the Evil than believing the Good I must beseech you that on my behalf you will for bear this Discourse I know very well that I am a Woman and not only as all others are but so imperfect also that Virtue should do a greater Act to transform me into Her than to assume my form unlesse she would be altogether unknown in this world for under such a Body as is mine Virtue cannot be known to be such as she is Sir so it is
and see him hoping also that his sight would conduce something to the health of his Wife Signior D' Avanes having received the Letter did make no delay at all and came in Post to the House of his Father At the entrance into the house he found the Men servants and the Maid servants making so great a lamentation as the losse of so good a Mistresse did deserve whereat the Signior was so amazed that he stayed at the door like a man in a trance the good old man his Father seeing him did make hast to imbrace him and began to weep so abundantly that he was not able to speak one word He brought him into the Chamber where his Wife was who turning her languishing eyes towards him did give him her hand and drawing him with it towards her with all the strength she had she imbraced him and kissing him again and again did make a marvellous complaint and said unto him O Sir the hour is now come that all dissimulation must cease and that I must confesse the truth which I have so much indeavoured to conceal from you It is that if you for your part have born any love to me you may believe that my love hath been altogether as great as yours but my affliction hath surpassed yours because I have taken such pains to conceal it against my own heart For Sir you are to understand that God and my Honour did not permit me to declare it to you fearing that I should add that unto you which I had a desire to diminish But know Sir that the word of Denyal which I have so often spoke unto you hath done me so much prejudice to pronounce it that it is the occasion of my death with which I am well contented since God hath made me so happy that neither the violence nor the excesse of my love hath blemished at all my conscience or reputation For with a far lesse Fire than is mine there hath been far greater and more noble structures ruined But now I shall depart contented that before I die I shall declare my affection to you to be equal unto yours nothing excepted but that the honour of men and women are not alike I shall desire you Sir for the time to come that you will enforce your self to make no addresses but to the most noble and most virtuous Ladies for in their hearts do dwell the strongest passions and are alwayes most wisely managed and the Grace Beauty and Civility which is in you will not permit that you shall be fruitlesse And I beseech you so to remember me and to think of my constancy as that you will not impute that unto cruelty which is to be attributed to Honour Conscience and Virtue which ought a thousand times to be more dear unto us than life it self Now Sir I shall bid you farewell and commend you to the good man whom you vouchsafe to call Father and who is my Husband to whom I must beseech you to declare the truth what you know of me that he might throughly understand how much I have loved God and himself and I must beseech you to forbear to come any more before my eyes for the few hours I have to live I will altogether imploy them in the meditation of the promises which God hath made unto me before the Creation of the World and speaking these words she gave him the last kisse and imbraced him with all the force of her feeble arms Signior D' Avanes who had his heart within him as surprized with compassion as was hers with the Agony of Death being not able to speak one word unto her did withdraw himself from before her and threw himself upon a Bed which was in the next Chamber where oftentimes he swouned away Not long after the Lady called for her Husband and having made many honest remonstrances unto him she did recommend unto him the care of Signior D' Avanes assuring him that next unto himself he was the person whom she best loved in the World And kissing her Husband she did bid him adiew Immediatly afterwards she commanded that the Sacrament of the Altar should be brought unto her and after that the Unction which she received with great joy as being assured of her Salvation And finding that her eyes began to grow dim and all her strength to fail her she did speak aloud her In manus At that Cry Signior D' Avanes did rise from the bed and looking compassionatly on her he came in a sweet sigh to render his Soul unto her as she was rendring her Soul unto God to whom she was going and when he perceived that she was dead he did run to the dead body to which being alive he durst not approach but in fear and imbraced it and kissed it in such a manner that with much difficulty they did take her from between his Arms her Husband was much astonied at it for he never perceived that he did bear such an affection to her and saying to him Sir It is too much they both retired from her And having made a long lamentation the one for the Death of his Wife the other for the Death of his Friend Monsieur D' Avanes did give him an account at large of the whole course of his Love and that to her Death she never made any signe unto him but what did expresse Severity and an obstinate Chastnesse whereat her Husband being more contented than ever did double his grief for the losse of her and continued all his life afterwards in doing good services to Signior D' Avanes who was then not above eighteen years of Age. After this he departed to the Court where he continued divers years without seeing or speaking to any Woman in the world and he did wear mourning apparel two years together for her Ladies you may here observe the difference betwixt a wise woman and a foolish who do shew distinctly by themselves the different effects of love by which one of them received a death commendable and glorious and the other did lead a life loose and infamous For as the Death of a holy Man or Woman is pretious before God so the Death of a Sinner is as displeasing Truly Saffredant said Oysilla you have rehearsed to us as pleasant a History as I have ever heard and he who knew the persons as well as my self would find it yet more pleasant for I have never seen a braver Gentleman nor of a greater Gracefulness than the said Signior D' Avanes Do you think said Saffredant that a wise and a young Woman to dissemble her love which the counsel of Nature doth admit that she should bear to so desireable a Gentleman should ever suffer her self to dy for denying her self that pleasure of which so violently she desired the content covertly and he openly If she had such a desire said Parlament she had place and occasion enough to declare it to him but her Virtue was so great that she would
when ever she turned her back unto him he observed plainly the white stroak of Chalk upon her shoulder whereat he was so amazed that he could hardly believe what he did see with his own eyes and having a long time observed her height and the symmetry of her body which in all particulars resembled her whom he had in his arms and marked well the fashion of her countenance which he could not so perfectly discover as he would he knew for certain that it was she for which he was very glad that a young Lady who never before was know to have a servant but did refuse the love of many gallant Gentlemen should be surprized by him alone Love who is never constant to one estate could not endure that he should live long in this safe happinesse but did transport him into such a glory and vain hope that he resolved with himself to make his love known unto her thinking that when she found that it was discovered it would be a means to his advantage to make her to encrease it One day when the great Lady her Mistresse did delight her self in the Garden Camilla did walk by her self in one of the Alleys of the Garden The Gentleman seeing her alone did advance himself to entertain her and counterfeiting that he had never seen her in any other place he did say unto her Lady A long time it is since in my heart I have carryed a great affection to you and for fear to displease you I have not dared to reveal it unto you which hath rendred me so weak that without death I can no longer endure this torment for I am confident that never any one did know or feel so much of love as my self The young Lady Camilla would not permit him to finish his discourse but said unto him in a great choler Did you ever hear in your life that I entertained either friend or Servant I am sure you have not And I doe much wonder from whence this boldnesse should proceed that you should presume to hold this discourse with one of so known and unblemished a reputation as my self for by my Carriage and Demeanour in this Court you might easily understand that I never loved any but my Husband only and for this cause take heed how you continue this discourse The Gentleman observing her great dissimulation could not contain himself from laughter and said unto her Madam you have not been so rigorous unto me as you are at this present To what end doth it serve you to use such dissimulation to me were it not far better to have a love perfect than imperfect Camilla made answer to him I bear no more love unto you either perfect or imperfect than I do unto any other of the Servants of my Mistress But if you continue in the discourse you have begun you shall find that I do bear such a hate unto you that you may have the leisure to repent it The Gentleman for all that did pursue his Discourse and said unto her And where is now the good entertainment you were accustomed to give me when I must not see you why do you deprive me of the happiness that the Day may not shew me your beauties attended with so many Graces Camilla making a great sign of the Cross did say unto him You have either lost your understanding or are one of the greatest lyars in the world For never in my life as I do know of did I either give you better or worse entertainment than at this present and I pray let me understand what you doe mean by it The poor Gentleman thinking to assure her to him did name unto her the place whither she sent for him and the mark which he made with the Chalk upon her shoulder to gain a more perfect knowledge of her whereat she was so transported with Choler that she told him that he was the most wicked man in the world and that he contrived so scandalous a lie against her that she would make him to repent it whilst he â—â—ved The Gentleman who knew in what credit she was with her Mistress did endeavour to appease her but it was impossible For leaving him in the Alley she did repair to her Mistresse in a most violent Rage who loving her as her self and seeing her so transported did forsake all the Company to enquire of her the occasion of her choler which Camilla did not conceal but word for word did acquaint her all along with the Discourse which passed betwixt the Gentleman and her self and so much to the disadvantage of the poor Gentleman that on that very Evening his Mistress did command him immediatly to depart her Court and without speaking any thing to any body to retire himself to his own house and to stay there until she sent for him This Command of his Mistress was disagreeable unto him but he did suddenly perform it for fear of worse and as long as Camilla lived with her Mistress the Gentleman came not any more to the Court nor ever received any News from her concerning that which she had so often promised and which he had lost on that hour when hee had discovered who she was Ladies by this you may perceive how she who above her Conscience preferred the glory of this world did lose both the one and the other for that was discovered to the eys of all men which she would have concealed from her Husband and her Servant and seeking to avoid the mockery of them she fell into the scandal of all And she cannot be excused by the simplicity of a powerfull Love on which every one ought to have Compassion but she is doubly to be condemned to have shaddowed her Deceit under the mantle of Honour and of Glory and to make her self before God and Men to be better than she was But he who giveth not his Glory unto another in drawing open the Curtain did reveal her to her double Infamy We may here see said Oysilla an inexcusable sin for who can speak for her when God her Honour and Love himself do accuse her Who said Hircan Pleasure and Folly who are the two great Advocats for Ladies If we have no other Advocats said Parlament but those two amongst you men our Cause would be very ill maintained But those who suffer themselves to be overcome with pleasure ought not any more to be called Women but Men whose Fury and Concupiscence do augment their honour For a man who doth revenge himself upon his Enemy and doth kill him onely for the Lie is esteemed to be the bravest Gentleman and so is he who is in love with a dozen more besides his Wife But the honour of Women is grounded on another Bottom which is Mildness Patience and Chastity You talk only of some few Women who are wise said Hircan I do said Parlament because I do know no others If there were none of us fools said Nomerfide those who would be believed
in whatsoever they do say or do to supplant our female simplicity would find themselves a great way off from their Hope I pray you Nomerfide said Guebron let me give you my voice that we may hear from you some Account to that purpose I will rehearse unto you one said Nomerfide as much to the commendation of true Lovers as yours have been to the dispraise of foolish Women Of two Lovers who subtilly did enjoy their Loves and of the happy issue thereof The fourth Novell IN the City of Paris there were two Citizens of a considerable Estate the one a Lawyer the other a Mercer who for a long time did bear a great affection to one another by the means whereof the Son of the Lawyer called James a young Man and a fine Companion did oftentimes frequent the Mercers house in pretence of the Love that was shewed to his Father but it was indeed in love to the fair Daughter of the Mercer whose Name was Frances And James did make his addresses so effectual to her that he knew he was no less beloved than he did love But in the time of this Courtship the War began in Provence by reason of the Invasion of Charls of Austria and James was enforced to follow the War to serve according to the Estate in which he was In the beginning of these Wars his Father dyed the News whereof did convey a double affliction to him the one was for the loss of his Father the other was for the inconvenience which that losse brought with it which was that on his return he should be deprived of the opportunity of seeing his Sweet-heart so often as he hoped to have done Neverthelesse in a short process of time the one was forgotten and the other increased for as Death is a thing natural and more natural to the Father than to the Children so grief by little and little of it self doth wear away But Love instead of conveying death unto us doth bring us life by the propagation of Children who doe render us immortal which is one of the most principal motives to increase our desires James being returned to Paris had no other thought or care than to put himself again into the train and the vulgar frequentation of the Mercers house where under the umbrage of his former love he might traffick with his dearest merchandise On the other side during his absence Frances was sollicited and courted by diverse as well for her beauty as for her wit and understanding and also because she was fully marriageable although her Father was not forward to seek out a Husband for her whether it were through covetousnesse or a provident desire to have her richly placed she being his only Daughter And this conduced nothing at all unto her Honour for tongues now a days are proâ—e to slander and detraction when no occasion is administred and especially if it be upon any thing which concerns the Chastity of Maid or Woman This her Father understood who was neither blind nor deaf to the vulgar chat nor would he be like those Fathers who instead of censuring Vice in their Wives or Children do provoke them to it for he did keep her so short that even those who came unto her as Suters only could hardly be admitted to see her although she was always in hâ—r Mothers Company I need not to ask you if this were not very grievous to James to endure being not able in his understanding to resolve himself what was the reason that she was guarded with so much severity and finding no occasion for it he could not tell what certainly to conclude upon but did waver betwixt Love and Jealousie At the last he was resolved with himself come what would of it he would know the reason But first of all to understand if she were of the same affection as she was before he did so often goe and come where she used to resort that one Morning hearing Masse in the Church and being very near unto her he perceived by her countenance that she was no lesse glad to see him than he was to see her and knowing also that her Mother was not so strict over her as her Father he took one day the boldnesse as it were unexpectedly seeing them goe from their House unto the Church to accost them with a familiar and vulgar complement and not too expressely to declare himself that he might better arrive to the end of his Design The end of the year approaching in which his Father died he determined with himself to leave off his mourning and to put himself into such a habit as might become the honour of his Ancestors and acquainted his Mother with it who did like it very well desiring with all her heart to see him well married because she had no more Sons and but one Daughter who was already married and very richly and moreover she did inure her heart to the Love of virtue by the infinite Examples of other young Gentlewomen of her age who either did advance themselves or at least shewed themselves worthy of the Family from whence they were descended There was nothing more to doe but to consider in what shop they might best provide themselves His Mother said unto him James I think it most expedient to goe to my Husbands Compeeire Master Peters who was the Father of Frances for said she he it one of our Friends and will not deceive us That word much pleased her Son and he greedily swallowed it neverthelesse he said unto his Mother we will buy it there where we can find our best Market but because he was an acquaintance of my Fathers I am content to goe thither in the first place The Agreement was made and one morning the Mother and the Son did go to Mr. Peters house who received them with many expressions of respect as you know few Shop-keepers are unprovided in that kind A great variety of whole pieces of Silks were laid open upon the board and they might chuse what they pleased but they could not agree upon the price which James did on purpose because he could not see the Mother of his Sweet-heart and at last they were going without buying any thing at all to try what they could do in another place But James did like nothing so well as what he cheapned at his Sweet-hearts Fathers house whither some hours afterwards they returned They found then her Mother within who did give them the best welcom in the world and after the words of course which are accustomed in such shops the Wife of the Mercer being more hard to deal with than the Mercer himself James said unto her You are grown Lady very hard see what it is to lose a good Father Now we cannot be known here and with that he made an apparence as if he wept and wiped his eys in the remembrance of the dear Father which he lost but this was only to play his own cards the better The
unto it and said unto her Ah Madam Receive the heart which will break through my Brest to leap into your hand from whom I doe hope for Grace Life and Mercy which now constrains me to declare unto you that love which for so long a time I have concealed from you for neither you nor I are Masters of that puissant God When she understood the words which I did speak unto her she found them very strange and would have drawn back her hand but I did hold it so fast to my heart that at last although she plucked away her cruel hand yet the gentle Glove stayed behind And because I had not then nor had ever since any greater familiarity with her I have fastned this Glove near unto my wounded heart it being the most propper Plaster which I could give unto it And I have adorned this Glove as you see with all the fairest Rings and the most pretious things which are in my possession and I will not leave it for the Kingdom of England for there is nothing in the World which doth me more good than to feell it near my Heart The Earl of Montmorancy who had rather kisse the Hand than love the Glove of a Lady did much extol him for his gerat honesty and assured him that he was the truest Lover that ever he beheld and seeing he made so much of so little what would he have done he told him if he had received a greater favour from her than a Glove It may be he would have dyed through the excesse and violence of his Joy My Lord did readily acknowledge what the Earl of Montmorancy said not suspecting that he did speak it out of mockery If all Gentlemen in the World were of my Lords honesty Ladies might well repose their confidence in them seeing it would cost them no more than the losse of a Glove I know so well the Earl of Montmorancy of whom you speak said Guebron that I am confident he would not have lived in that torment and if he would have been contented with so little he would never have received those great fortunes which he hath enjoyed by Love for the old Song says The Amorous Coward is unsuccesseful Do you think said Saffredant that the poor Lady did not discreetly draw back her hand when she found his heart to beat so violently for she might think with her self that he would have dyed and there is nothing in the World which Women doe hate more than to touch the dead If you had so much haunted the Hospitals as you have done the Taverns said Emarsuite you would not have spoken those words for you shall find Women there to bury the dead which is an office that Men oftentimes as hardy as they pretend themselves to be are afraid to perform It is true said Simontault that there are none who do penance but do clean contrary to that in which they have taken pleasure as the Gentlewoman whom I have seen in a great house in this Kingdom who to satisfie for the pleasure which she had to kisse one whom she loved was seen in a morning four hours together to kisse the dead body of a Gentleman who was slain the day before whom she loved no lesse than the other whereby it was known that she did penance for her passed pleasures We may see said Oysilla how all the good deeds which Women do receive a sinister interpretation amongst Men. I am of opinion that neither the dead nor the living ought to be kissed if God bad not commanded it As for my self said Hircan I do care so little for kissing any Woman but my own that I shall willingly accord to all the Laws that shall prohibit it only I shall pitty young people from whom you would take that little contentment and nullifie the Commandment of Saint Paul who doth give us order that we should kisse in osculo sancto If you were such a Man as Saint Paul said Nomerfide we should find it by the operation of that Spirit which did speak in him You had rather said Guebron doubt of the Truth of the Holy Scripture than fail in one of your petty Ceremonies We do not therefore doubt of the Truth of the Holy Scripture said Oysilla because we do not believe your Fables There is no Woman here but knoweth well enough what she ought to believe and what she ought to doe which is not to doubt of the truth of the Word of God but to give no belief to the vanities of men who would turn us aside from the truth I am of a firm belief said Simontault that there are more Men deceived by Women than Women by Men for the little Love which they bear to us doth keep them from believing the truth and the great Love which we do bear to them doth make us to repose confidence in their falshoods and their slatteries insomuch that we are deceived before we do suspect our selves to be so I believe said Parlament that you have heard the Complaint of the Fool who was deceived by his own folly for your Discourse is of so small authority that iâ— had need to be fortified by Example wherefore if you know any one I will give you my Place to account it to us And think not that for one word or two we will be subject to believe you but in listning to you to speak evil of us our Novels shall find no prejudice at all Since I have the place said Simontault I will rehearse unto you my History A Lady of the Court did pleasantly revenge her self of her Servant for his Love The eighth Novell IN the Court of King Francis the first there was a Lady of a gallant Spirit who by her civility gracefulness and good language had gained the hearts of many Servants with whom she knew very well to passe away the time for her Honour being reserved she entertained them all so pleasantly that they knew not what to think of themselves for those who were most assured were in some despair and those who wer most desperat did take some â—ssurance Neverthelesse making sport with all the rest she loved one of them intirely whom she called Cosin which gave a colour to his better entertainment But as there is nothing permanent their love oftentimes did turn into Discontent and not long afterwards they would renew their affections more than ever insomuch that almost not any of the Court were ignorant of it One day this Lady as well to make him understand that she took not so much delight in any thing as to put him to some perplexity for whose Love she had endured so much she contrived with her self to give him better respects than ever she had done heretofore Wherefore he who neither in Arms or in Love did want for boldnesse did begin vigorously to purchase that which so often he in vain had desired and she protending that out of meer pity she was no longer able to deny him
unto us for our nobleness or our riches but according to the pleasure of his Bounty who is no accepter of persons and who chooseth whom he pleaseth For those whom he chooseth he doth honour with his virtues and doth crown them with his glory and oftentimes he maketh choice of base things to confound those which the world esteems to be high and honourable Therefore as he himself saith let us not rejoice in our greatness but in this that our Names are written in the Book of Life There was not a Lady in the Company that had not tears in her eyes in compassion of the lamentable and glorious Death of that poor Woman Every one resolved with themselves that if the like fortune should befall them they would imitate the same Martyr Madam Oysilla observing that the Time did passe away in the many praises of this dead Woman did say to Saffredant If you speak not something to make the Company laugh I do not see any amongst you who can forget the fault I have committed which is to make you weep Wherefore I give you my voice Saffredant had a desire to speak some good thing which might be agreeable to the Company and above all to one of them how soever some wrong was done in regard that there were some more antient and more experienced than himself who should have spoke before him Nevertheless his lot being such he had rather dispatch it now for there were more to come of good speakers and the longer he stayed the more his Account would appear lesse pleasing A King of Naples abusing the Wife of a Gentleman did in the end carry the Horn himself The Third Novell LAdies said Sassredant Because I have oftentimes wished my self to be a companion of his Fortune of whom I am now giving you an account I shall tell you That in the City of Naples in the time of King Alphonsus whose Lust was the Scepter of his Realm there was a Gentleman so gallant goodly and attractive that for his perfections an antient Gentleman gave him his Daughter in Marriage which in Beauty and sweetnesse of Disposition was nothing inferiour to her Husband The Love between these two was great untill that wanton time when the King in a Masque did go amongst the Houses of the Great Ones of his Kingdom where every one did strive to give him the greatest entertainment that they could and when he came into the house of this Gentleman he was more magnificently received than in any other place as well by Collations as by Songs and Musick and by the most beautifull Lady that ever he beheld who at the end of the Feast did bear a part in a Song with her Husband which she did with so much grace that it did encrease her beauty The King beholding two perfections in one body took not so much pleasure at the mutuall according of the Husband and the Wife as he took care how to dissolve it He found the difficulty to perform it was in the united affection which he observ'd betwixt them Therefore he carried in his heart his passion as closely as possibly he could but to comfort it in part he made many Feasts to all the Lords and Ladies of Naples at which this Gentleman and his Wife were never forgotten And because that we do willingly believe that which we see it seemed to him that the fair eyes of this Lady did promise him some Good to come if the Presence of her Husband did give no hinderance to it and to make tryall if this conjecture of his were true or not he gave her Husband a Commission to go to Rome for fifteen dayes or three weeks and as soon as he was gon his Wife who never before was deprived of the sight of him made many great laments for which she was comforted by the King as often as he could by his perswasions and by his presents Insomuch that at last she was not only comforred but contented also with the absence of her Husband and before the three weeks were expired that her Husband should return she was so amorous of the King that she was as much grieved at the return of her Husband as she was at his going from her And that she might not lose the presence of the King she did conclude with him that when her Husband did goe unto his Houses in the Country she would acquaint him with it who then with assurance might come unto her and so secretly that no man whom she feared more than her own Conscience could have any notice of it In this hope the Lady remained very joyfull and when her Husband was come home she gave him such good entertainment that although he understood that in his absence the King made very much of her yet he could not receive it into his belief But in the processe of time the fire so hard to be concealed did by degrees begin to shew it self insomuch that her Husband began to have a strong suspition of her and did keep over her so strict a watch that he was almost assured of the Truth But by reason of the fear that did invade him that he who had done him this injury would do him a greater if he should make it known he tesolved with himself to dissemble it for he believed it to be safer to live though with some discontent than to hazard his life for a Woman that had forfeited her love Neverthelesse in this despite he resolved to render the like unto the King if it were possible And knowing that Love doth assail those most of all who have a heart great and honourable he assumed the boldnesse one day talking with the Queen to tell her That he did extremely pity her that she was no better beloved of the King her Husband The Queen who had understood of the familiarity of the King and his Wife made answer I cannot enjoy Honour and Pleasure together I know very well that I have the Honour of which another receives the Pleasure and she that hath the Pleasure cannot enjoy the Honor which I have He who understood sufficiently upon what account those words were spokē replied to her Madam Honour is born with you for you are of so high-born an extract that to be Queen or an Empress doth not augment your nobility but your beauty grace and sweetness doth deserve so much pleasure as she who hath taken that from you which belongs unto you doth doe more wrong to her self than you she for a little glory which turns into her shame doth lose as much pleasure as you or any Lady in the Land can enjoy and I can tell you Madam that if the King would but put the Crown from off his head I am confident he had no advantage above me in giving content unto a Lady being sure that to satisfie so gallant a personage as your self he ought to change his complexion into mine The Queen in laughter made answer to him Although the King
opening the trap-door which was so fitly made and covered with cloath that it made not the least crack he went up into the Ladies Chamber between the bed and the wall and without any regard to the obligation which he made her nor to the illustrious family of which she was descended and without demanding any leave or making reverence to her he lay down close unto her who sooner found her self in his arms then perceived his comming But she being a lusty woman did wrest her self out of his arms and asking him who he was began to strike and bite and scratch him insomuch that he was constrained for fear she should cry out to stop her mouth with the coverlet which was impossible for him to doe for when she saw that he spared nothing of all his strength to procure her shame she spared nothing of her own to defend her self and as lowd as she could she called for her Lady of Honour an antient and wise Woman who lay in her Chamber who presently in her Smock made hast unto her Mistresse when the Gentleman found that he was discovered he had so great a fear to be known who he was that as fast as he could he went down the same way he came up and as great as his hope was before and desire to be entertained so great a grief and despair possessed him to find himself return'd in that sad condition He found his Glasse and the Candle upon the table and looking on his face bleeding with the scratches which she had given him and the blood dropping on his short which had discoloured the gold he began to say O beauty thou hast now well rewarded me according to my merit for through thy vain promises I have attempted a thing which is impossible and which it may be instead of augmenting my contentments may be the doubling of all my sorrows being assured that if she should know that against the promise I have made her I have enterprised this folly I should lose all the respect and familiar frequentation which no man hath with her more than my self To gain the love of her heart I should not by force have attempted to have surprized her fair body but by my service and humble patience have attended untill that Love became victorious for without it all the virtue and force of Man have no power at all In this manner he passed away the night in complaints tears and sighs which cannot be number'd In the Morning beholding his face so torn he counterfeited that he was sick and not able to endure the light untill the Princes were gone from his House The Lady who remained victorious being confident that there was not a man in her Brothers Court who durst have attempted so lewd an enterprise but he only who assumed the boldnesse to declare his love unto her did assure her self that it was he who endeavoured so much to work her shame and with her Lady of Honor sought every place and corner of the Chamber to find which way it could be and when she could not discover any thing she spoke unto her in a great choler Assure your self that it can be no other but the Master of the house and in the morning I will make such a complaint to my Brother of him that his head shall be the witnesse of my Chastity Her Lady of Honour seeing her in this resolution spake unto her Madam I am very sensible of the Love which you have unto your Honor to increase which you will not spare the life of one who hath too much hazarded it through the force of that love he bears you but oftentimes we think to increase that which we diminish Wherefore I beseech you Madam that you would vouchsafe to represent unto me the truth of the fact and when the Lady had given her an account of it all along her Lady of Honor said unto her You assure me then that he received nothing but blows and scratches from you The Lady made answer Nothing else I dare assure you and if he meet not with a good Chirurgion I do beleeve that on to morrow the marks will be apparent Madam since it iâ—slo said her Lady of Honour it seems to me that you have more occasion to praise God than to resolve with you self to be revenged of him for you ought to beleeve since he hath so great a heart to make such an enterprise the despite he hath to have failed in it is more grievous to him than any Death that you can give him If you desire to be revenged on him let him alone to Love and Shame which know better how to torment him than you or any Instigations of your Honor. Take heed Madam to fall into an Inconvenience such as is his own for instead of enjoying the greatest pleasure that possibly he could desire he hath received the greatest shame that possibly a Gentleman can indure So you Madam thinking to increase your Honour do go the next way to diminish it For if you will make a complaint you will make that publick which now no Man knows for you may be sure that for his part he will not reveal it unto any And whe Monsieur your Brother shall perform that Justice which you demand and the poor Gentleman shall come to suffer death the Report will run that he would have to doe with you according to his pleasure and the greatest part will say That it is a strange thing for a Gentleman to make such an enterprise if the Lady had not given him some great occasion her self You are fair and young and merry in all Company there is not any in this Court who doth not observe the daily respects of Love which you vouchsafe this Gentleman you suspect who will not judge that if he hath made such an attempt it is not without some fault on your side And your Honour which untill now hath always gone with an advanced head shall be disputed of in every place where this story shall be repeated The Lady understanding the good reasons of her Lady of Honour did apprehend that she spake the truth and that justly she should be blamed especially by reason of the familiar love that she was pleased to shew unto him She therefore demanded of her Lady of Honour what she should do who said unto her Madam since you are pleased to receive my counsell and do observe the affection from whence it comes it seems to me that you ought to entertain a perfect joy in your heart that the most handsom and most accomplished Gentleman that I have seen knew neither by love nor force to dispossesse you of your Chastity And for this Madam you ought to humble your self before God and to acknowledge that this is not by your virtue for many great Ladies who have led a life more austere than your self have been humbled by Men lesse worthy to be loved than himself And moreover you ought to take heed to
my self And although I am no eye-witnesse of it yet it hath been repeated to me by one of my greatest and most entire friends in the world to the praise and honour of her whom he most affected in the world who conjur'd me that if ever I should come to give any others an account of it that I would change the names of the persons The story I dare assure you is all true the Names the Places and the Country only excepted The Love of Amadour and Florinda wherein is contained many great subtilities and dissimulations and the admirable chastity of Florinda The Tenth Novell IN Aragon in the County of Arand there was a Lady who although very young was the widdow of the Count of Arand she had by him one Son and a Daughter called Florinda The said Lady did bring up her Children in all virtues and honourable exercises which belong to Lords and Ladies insomuch that her house was accounted to be one of the most honourable in all Spain She resorted oftentimes to Toledo where the King of Spain did keep his Court and when she came to Saragossa which was not far from her own house she stayed long with the Queen and was as highly esteemed in her Court as any Lady could be Upon a time according to her custome repairing to the King who was then in Sarragossa in his Castle of Iuissur this Lady in her way passed by a village which belonged to the Viceroy of Catalonia who stirred not from the frontires of Perpignan by reason of the great wars which were then betwixt the King of France and himself but at that time there was peace insomuch that the Vice-roy with all his Captains were come to do reverence to the King The Vice-roy understanding that the Countesse of Arand did passe through the Land of his Jurisdiction did go to meet her as well for the antient love he did bear unto her as for the honour of being a Kinswoman of the Kings The Vice-roy had in his company many gallant Gentlemen who by the long exercise of their arms had acquired so much Fame and Honour that those thought themselves happy that could see them and enjoy their company Amongst others there was one called Amadour who although he was not of above eighteen or nineteen years of age had so assured a grace of Deportment and so excellent an understanding that amongst a thousand he was thought most worthy to govern a Kingdome It is true that his understanding was accompanied with so great and so sweet a beauty that there was not any ey which conveyd not down to the heart a more than ordinary pleasure to behold him and so excellent a discourse did accompany his exquisite beauty that it could not be known to which to give most honour either to the gracefulnesse of his beauty or the excellency of his elocution But that which made him most esteemed was his height of Courage the fame whereof was increased by his youth for in many places he made so many gallant demonstrations of it that not only Spain but also France and Italy did highly esteem his virtues for in all the wars wherein ever he was he was always prodigal of his blood and proud of danger and when his own Country was in peace he did seek out Forein wars and was beloved and esteemed both by his Friends and Enemies This Gentleman for the love of his Captain was now in this land where the Countesse of Arand was arrived and beholding the beauty and gracefulnesse of her Daughter who was not then twelve years of age he thought with himself that she was the most fair and most accomplished creature that ever he beheld and if he could but obtain her favour he should be more satisfied than with all the pleasures and profits that he might receive from any other After he had a long time looked upon her he determined with himself to love her whatsoever impossibility there was on the contrary both in regard of the Illustrious Family from whence she was descended and the tendernesse of her age which as yet could not understand his Courtship Against these fears he fortisied himself with hope and promised to himself that at the last Time and Patience would bring a happy end unto his labours From that time Gentle love who without any other occasion but freely by his own force had entred into the heart of Amadour did promise him favour and opportunity to arrive unto the end of his desires and to provide for the greatest difficulties which was the distance of the Country where he lived and the small occasions he had to see Florinda he determined but against the first resolution he had taken to marry one of the Ladies of Barcelona or of Perpignan amongst whom by reason of the Wars he was so conversant that he seemed rather to be a Catalonian than a Castilian although he was born not far from Toledo and was descended of a rich and honourable family but because he was but a younger Brother he had no great patrimonies to inherit So it was that Love and Fortune seeing him abandoned of his Kinred did determine to make a Master-piece of him and by the means of his Virtues gave him that which the Laws of his Country did deny him He was singularly experienced in the feats of War and so well beloved by all Lords and Princes that he oftentimes refused their gifts which he never took any thought to demand The Countesse of which I told you did come accordingly unto Sarragossa and was magnisicently entertained by the King and all the Court The Governour of Catalonia came oftentimes to visit her and Amadour never failed to accompany him for the pleasure he received to speak unto Florinda And that he might better understand himself and what Company did frequent unto the house he addressed himself to the daughter of an antient Cavalier called Avanturade who was one of the next neighbors She from her Youth had been brought up with Florinda insomuch that she knew all which was hidden in her heart Amadour as well for the honesty he found in her as for that she had three thousand Duckets to her portion did resolve to entertain her as that person whom he would espouse to which she did lend a willing ear but because he was but poor and the Father of the Damfell rich she thought that he would never agree unto the Marriage unlesse it were by the means of the Countesse of Arand Wherupon she addressed her self to Florinda and said unto her Madam You have seen the Castilian Gentleman who oftentimes doth here speak to me I do believe what he doth pretend which is to take me in Mariage You know what a father I have who will never give way unto it if he be not sollicited to it by Madam the Countesse and your self Florinda who loved the Maid as her self did assure her that she would take that affair upon her and lay it as neer her
thought the time long till he had found his wife to give her an account of what he had done who had as great a desire to undertake the voiage as her Husband And eftentimes on this occasion she conferr'd with the Captain who regarding her beauty more than her words became so amorous that speaking to her of the voyages he had made upon the Seas he would tel her of his imbarking at Marseilles upon the Archipelâ—gâ—â— and thinking to speak of a Ship he would tell her a story of a Horse as a Man transported and out of his sense But he found her to be such that he durst not speak to her nor make any Countenance of Love And the concealing of his Love did beget such a fire in his heart that he oftentimes fell sick but the Gentlewoman was as carefull of him as of the Crosse it self circumspect to guide her course howsoever she sent many times to visit him by which he understanding that she had some respect unto him did recover of himself without any Physick at all But divers Gentlemen observing this Captain who had the report to be as gallant and brave a Man as a good Christian did much wonder to see him so often to accost this Gentlewoman and seeing that he had changed the condition of his life and frequented altogether the Churches Sermons and Confessions they suspected it was to obtain the favor of the young Gentlewoman and could not refrain but spoke some words unto him concerning that subject The Captain fearing that it might be brought unto her ear did absent himself from her company in publick and told her Husband and her self That he should suddenly be dispatched at Court and be gone and that he had many things to inform them with but because the Affair should be kept secret he would neither speak with himself nor his Wife in publick but desired them to send for him when they were in private both together The Gentleman approved his Counsel and failed not every night to go to bed betimes and to make his Wife also to put off her cloaths to keep him Company And when their Servants were departed from them they sent for the Captain and consulted on their voyage to Jerusalem and the good old Man in great devotion talking of it would often fall asleep with the word Jerusalem in his mouth The Captain seeing the old Gentleman asleep in his Bed and himself in the Chair and neer unto her whom he thought the most beautiful and most accomplished in the world had his heart so locked up and besieged with fear and a desire to speak that he often lost his speech But to the end that she might not perceive him he imployed himself to talk of the holy places in Jerusalem where still remained the signes of the great love which our Saviour Jesus Christ did bear unto us And in speaking of that Love he covered his own looking on the young Gentlewoman with tears and sighs who perceived nothing at all For observing his demure countenance she conceived him to be a grave and a pious man and desired him to acquaint her what was the course of life which he had lead and how he did arrive to this Love of God He declared unto her that he had been a poor Gentleman who to purchase Riches and Honor had forgot his Conscience and espoused a Wife too near allyed unto him only because she was rich and whom he could not love being both old and ill-favoured But having consumed a great part of her Estate he went to Sea to seek adventures there and had thrived so well by his endeavours that he was become Master of a considerable Fortune But ever since he was so happy to arrive unto the Knowledge of her self she by her Godly discourse and good Examples was the only Cause that he had changed his life And all that he resolved upon if God should return him in safety from his enter prize was to be a Guide to her Husband and to her self unto Jerusalem to satisfie in some part for all his sins to which he had put a period but only one sin which was that as yet he had not given satisfaction to his Wife to whom he hoped to be shortly reconciled This discourse did much please the Gentlewoman but above all she rejoyced that she had drawn such a Man to the love and the fear of God Till the time of his departure from the Court he had with her every evening these long discourses and never offered to declare unto her his Intentions he only presented her with a Crucifix to which was annexed our Lady of Pity and besought her that in his absence looking on that she would call himself into her Memory The hour of his departure being come having taken his leave of her Husband who immediately fell asleep he came to his Wife to give her a Farewell and seeing tears in her eyes for the honest love she did bear unto him it did render his passion so insupportable that not daring to declare it he did fall down in a swoun bidding her Farewell in so great an agony and sorrow that not only his eyes but all his body did sweat down tears And without speaking any more words he departed at which the Gentlewoman was much amazed for she never beheld any such sign of Grief before Neverthelesse she changed not the purpose of her good will towards him and accompanied him with Prayers and Orisons At the end of one moneth as this Gentlewoman one evening returned her to her Lodgings there met her a Gentleman who presented her with a Letter from the Captain desiring her that she would be pleased to read it by her self and told her that he saw him imbarqued and resolved to go thorough with the enterprise for the Honour of the King and the augmentation of the Faith and for himself that he was to return to Marseilles to give order for the affairs of the Captain The Gentlewoman retired to a Window by her self and did read the Letter all along which contained two sides and much marvelled at the affection of the Captain which she never did suspect And observing that he had presented her with a great and fair Diamond the Ring wherein it was set being enameld with black She was in a great perplexity what to do and having troubled her self all that night concerning it she was very glad that she had no occasion to write back unto him or to return him any answer Nor would she fall out with the Messenger thinking with her self that considering the pains he had taken for the service of his Master he had no need to be rewarded with an ill answer but she resolved to deliver it her self unto him upon his return from his enterprize Above all she was much perplexed with the Diamond for she was not accustomed to dresse her self at the expences of any other but her Husband wherefore being of a good understanding
and since you perceive some sparkles you ought to fly the danger of that fire which already is burning in one heart that perceives it not Truly said Hircan your Laws are too severe and if women according to your advice would be rigorous whose sweetnesse is so powerfull we would also change our intreaties and complements into subtilties and forcings The best way which I see said Simontault is that every one should follow his own nature and without dissimulation should declare whether he loved or loved not I would to God said Saffredant that such a Law could bring with it as much honour as it would pleasure But Dagoucin could not contain himself from laughing and said They who had rather die than have their desires known will never accord to your ordinance Die said Hircan that Cavalier is yet to be born that would die for such a publick thing But let us leave off this discourse of Impossibility and observe to whom Simontault will give his voice I wil give it said Simontault to Longaren for I have observed her to talk a little to her self and I believe she is studying to give us some good account being accustomed out of the goodnesse of her nature to speak the truth whether the Subject be on Men or Women Because said Longaren you esteem me to be so impartial I will reâ—â—at a History to you which although it be not so much to the praise of Women as I would have it yet you shall find they have as stout hearts and as great understandings and as good as those of Men and if my Account be something long you must have patience A Lady of the Kings Court perceiving her self disdained by her Husband who made love to another did by the like love revenge her self The Fifth Novell IN the Court of King Francis the first there was a Gentleman whose name I know so well that I will not here give it to you He was but poor having hardly five hundred Livres in yearly Rents but so beloved of the King for the virtues with which he was accomplished that by his means he espoused so rich a Lady that a great Lord might well be contented with her fortunes And because she was not yet of age for a husband he entreated one of the greatest Ladies of the Court to take her to her which very willingly she accorded to This Gentleman was so courteous and so lovely that all the Ladies of this Court did very much esteem him and amongst others one whom the King loved who was not so young nor so beautifull as his own wife and for the great love which he did bear unto this Lady he did make so small an accompt of his own wife that he hardly lay with her one night in a whole year and which was more grievous to her he would never so much as speak unto her nor shew her the least sign of love And although he ranted it with her Estate he allowed her so small a part out of it that she was not apparelled as pertained to a Gentlewoman of her birth nor as she desired whereupon the Lady with whom she was did oftentimes reprove the Gentleman telling him your wife is fair rich and of a great descent and you make no reckoning of her which her infancy and youth hath yet endured but I am afraid that when she shall behold her self fair and great that her glasse and some one who loves you not will remonstrate her beauties to her so little esteemed by you and she may by despight do that which she durst not doe if she were assured of your love The Gentleman who had his heart elsewhere did but laugh at her and for all her instructions did not forbear to continue that course of life he led But after the space of two years or thereabouts his wife began to be one of the most handsome Ladies in all France insomuch that she was accounted the Non-pareill of the Court and the more worthy she perceived her self to be beloved the more she grieved to see her Husband to make no reckoning of her insomuch that she contracted so great a melancholly that for all the exhortations of the Lady with whom she lived she seemed to be a creature given up to despair And having studied all the means that possibly she could to be complacent to her Husband she thought with her self that it was impossible for him to love her seeing she loved him so entirely and could not find out any reason to be given for it unlesse he were in love with some one else and entertained some other fancy in his apprehension which she enquired after with so much subtilty and dexterity of Circumspection that she found out the truth and that every night he was so taken up in courting another Lady that he forgot his Conscience and his Wife And after she was certain of the life he did lead she so wholly abandoned her self to grief that she cloathed her self all in black and would not resort to any Feasts or Sports which the Lady perceived with whom she lived and did what she could to withdraw her from her melancholly thoughts but it was not possible for her and although her Husband was often advertised of it he was more ready to encrease than to redresse her sorrows You know Ladies that Grief foregoeth Joy and also that Grief by Joy doth come to an end Wherfore it fell out upon a day that a great Lord a near kinsman to the Lady who was as a Guardian to this Gentlewoman often did frequent the house having understood of the strange manner of life of this yong Gentlewoman with her husband taking pity of her did endeavor to comfort her in discoursing with her he found her so wise lovely that he desired to have a place in her affection far more than to discourse with her of her husband unles it were to demonstrate to her the small occasion she had to love him This young Lady perceiving her self forsaken of him who ought to love her and on the other side to be loved and courted by so great and gallant a Prince did conceive her self thrice happy to be entertained in his good opinion And although she had alwayes a great desire to preserve her honour yet she took so great a pleasure to discourse with him and to perceive her self to be beloved by him that she was noted for it This love continued a certain time until the King himself perceived it who esteemed so well of the Gent. that he would not permit that any dishonour should accrew unto him Wherefore he very earnestly entreated the Prince to remove his love from her and told that if he did still continue it he should be very ill pleased at it The Pr. who preferred the favor of the. K. to all the beauties of the Ladies of the world did promise him that in obedience to his commands he would abandon his enterprise and on that Evening
her petticoat and her night-gown that was next to her hand and seeing that three or four of her Maids were all asleep she did go to the Chamber door and asking who was there she was answered by his Name whom she had sent for and whom so passionately she loved but to be more assured she opened the little Wicket saying If you are he that you do say you are give me your hand I shall readily know it And when she had taken her Husband by the hand she immediatly knew him and shutting suddenly the Wicket she began to cry out Ah Monsieur It is your hand Her Husband did answer her in a great Rage It is the same hand which is the pledge of the love and promises betwixt us wherefore fail not to come when I shall send for you And speaking those words he departed to his Lodging and she returned into her Chamber rather dead than alive and spake aloud unto her Women Rise my Friends you have slept too much for me for in thinking to deceive you I have been deceived first of all my self And speaking those words she swouned away in the middle of the Chamber The poor women did all rise at her cry so astonished to see their Mistresse as dead and lying on the ground and to hear those words she did speak that they knew not what to do but only to run for Remedies to revive her And when she had recovered speech she said unto them This Hour you see me my friends the most unfortunate creature upon the Earth and repeated to them all her fortune desiring them to be ready to perform their last service to her for she reckned her life as lost They indeavouring to comfort her behold one of the Grooms of her Husbands Chamber by whom he commanded to acquaint her incontinently to repair unto him She embracing two of her women began to weep and to lament desiring them that that they would not let her go for she was sure never to return again But the Groom of the Chamber assured her to the contrary and that upon the hazard of his own life he would undertake that she should receive no Ill. She seeing that there was no resistance did put her self into the arms of the Groom and said unto him Friend Since it must be so carry this unhappy body unto Death and being overcome with sorrow she was carried away by the Groom into his Masters Lodging at whose feet the poor Lady trembled down saying Sir I beseech you to have pity on me and I will swear unto you by the faith which I owe to God that I will tell you the truth of all Immediatly he said unto her as a Man transported And I vow unto you you shall tell me the truth of all and on those words commanded all his Servants to be gon And because he knew his wife to be religious he believed that she would not forswear her self if she did swear upon the Crosse wherefore he brought her a very fair one which he had borrowed and there being none present but themselves he made her swear upon the Crosse that she should tell him the plain truth of that which he demanded But she who had already passed over the first apprehensions of Death took heart and resolved with her self to conceal nothing from him seeing she was to die but so as not to reveal any thing that might bring any danger to the Gentleman whom she loved And having heard divers questions which he made unto her she made answer Sir I will not justisie my self nor make lesse unto you the Love which I have born unto the Gentleman of whom you have suspition but I have a desire to acquaint you with the occasion of that Love Sir you are to understand that never any Woman did love her Husband with such an entire affection as I have loved you for since I have been first married to you there never entred into my heart the love of any but of your self alone you know that in my Nonage my Parents would have married me to a personage of a far nobler Family than your self but they could never make me give the least consent unto it from the hour that you first spake unto me for I stood most firm against their perswasions for you without regarding your poverty or the Remonstrances which they made And you cannot be ignorant of the hard use which ever since I have received from you and how you have loved and esteemed me which hath brought so much sorrow and affliction on me that had it not been for the Lady under whose Government you did put me I had been sunk into the Bottom of Despair But in the end observing my self to grow into Age and to be esteemed to be beautiful by all the world but your self I began so vigorously to feel the Injury which you did me that the love I did bear unto you was turned into hatred and the Desire to please you into vengeance And in that resolution a Prince courted me who to obey his King more than his Love did love me on the same time when I began to feel some comfort and releasment from my torments by the honest love I did bear unto him And in leaving him I found this Gentleman who needed not to be intreated to love me Howsoever his Beauty his sweet Deportment and his Virtue did deserve to be sought after and esteemed by all women of a good understanding At my request and not his own he loved me and with so much honesty that never in his life he required any thing of me contrary to honour And because the little love which I have cause to bear unto you did give me the occasion to keep neither faith nor loyalty with you yet the love which I do bear unto God alone and to my honour hath hitherto preserved me from doing any thing for which I should either stand in need of Confession or of the fear of shame I will not deny unto you that as often possibly I could I have gone to speak with him in a Wardrobe pretending to go to my Devotions for I never trusted either Man or Woman for the managing of that affair I will not moreover deny but that being in a place so private and free from all suspition I have kissed him with a better heart than ever I kissed you but I desire no mercy of God if there were ever any other familiarities betwixt us or if ever he sollicited me for other by any hot Importunities or if ever my own heart had any desire thereunto although I was so glad to see him that it seemed to me that I could have no greater pleasure nor happinesse in the world And you Sir who are the only Cause of my misfortune will you take vengeance for a Deed which for so long a time you have given me the Example an Example which hath out-gon me in this that what you have done hath been without Honour
such signs of Honour and of a familiar Love In this manner the Gentleman departed who because he was not so well furnished with Silver as with gallant qualities the young Lady gave him a Ring that was worth three thousand Crowns which he morgaged for fifteen hundred And not long after his departure the Gentleman Husband to the young Lady came unto her Guardian and besought her to give his Wife leave to go for a certain time to a Sister of his to continue with her which the old Lady thought very strange and besought him to acquaint her with the occasion of it part whereof he did impart unto her but not all After that the young marryed Lady had taken leave of her Guardian and of all the Court without any tears at all or the least sign of grief she travelled to that place which her Husband did assign her and was conducted by a Gentleman to whom an expresse charge was given to keep a strict watch over her and above all things that on the way he should not speak unto her who was suspected to love her too familiarly She who understood the Commandment of her Husband did give them alarms every day and laughed at them and at their too officious Care One day amongst the rest just at her departure from the Inne she found a Frier on horseback and she being mounted on an ambling Nagg did hold him in Discourse from Dinner untill Supper and when she was about a mile from the place where she was to lodge she said unto him Good Father for the consolations which you have given me this afternoon behold two Crowns which here I give you and have put them in this Paper because I know that you dare not touch them with a bare hand desiring you that when ever you are gone from me that you will crosse the way with all the speed you can make When he was gone a good way from her the Lady spoke aloud to those that waited on her Do you think that you are good Servants and diligent to guard me since he himself concerning whom you were bid to have such a care hath Discoursed with me all this day and you have permitted him so to do you do well deserve that your good Master who doth repose so much trust in you should reward you with blows of a Cane on your shoulders instead of the wages you expect When the Gentleman who had the charge of her heard this he was so impatient that he could make no answer but immediately did put spurs to his horse calling to two others that were in the Company to follow him they made so great a dispatch that they had almost overtaken the Frier who looking back and seeing them to make up unto him did ride away as fast as ever his horse could carry him they in a full gallop pursued him and because they were better mounted the poor Frier was taken but not knowing wherefore he did cry them mercy and putting off his hood he shewed his bare and shaven crown and began humbly to beseech them Whereupon they knew that he was not the Man they looked for and that the young Lady did but laugh at them which she yet did more at their return saying That such people were fit to be a guard to such Women who suffer them to speak they know not to whom and then adding faith to their words they go to act a mischief on the servants of God and after all these mocks she came to the place where her Husband appointed she should have her residence where her two Sister-in-laws and the Husband of one of them did keep her in great subjection And during that time her Husband understood that his Ring was engaged for fifteen hundred Crowns for which he was sorry But to save the Reputation of his wife and to recover the Ring he sent her word that she should call for it back of the Merchant and that he would pay the fifteen hundred Crowns She who had no care of the Ring because her Friend had the money that was lent upon it did write unto him That her Husband was importunate with her to Redeem the Ring And because he might not think that she did it to diminish the good will that was betwixt them she sent him a Diamond which her Guardian gave her at her departure from her which she loved better than the Ring she had of her Husband The Gentleman that was her friend did willingly send her back the Merchants Obligation and was well content with the 1500 Crowns to have received a Diamond the witnes of the Continuation of the affection of the young Lady to him Howsoever as long as her Husband lived he could never arrive to the opportunity to speak unto her but only by Letters And after the Death of her Husband thinking that she would continue faithful according to her promise he used all his diligence and endeavours to procure her in Marriage but he found that in his long absence she had provided her self with a Companion that was better beloved than himself for which he was possessed with such a sotrow and indignation of spirit that flying the company of Ladies he sought altogether after great adventures and places of as much danger as honour where he was as well beloved as it was possible for a young Man to be and so he finished his days See here my Ladies that without sparing our own Sex I have given an Example unto Husbands to show them that women of a great spirit are sooner overcome with anger and vengeance than with Love and Courtship and although this Lady knew a long time to resist yet at the last she was vanquished by despite which a virtuous woman ought not be or in whatsoever sort it be she ought not to find an Excuse to do evill And by how much the more great the occasions of the offence are given by so much the more virtuous ought they to demonstrate themselves by resisting and overcomming Evil with Good and not by recompencing Evil with Evil And oftentimes the Evil which one thinks to render to another doth fall upon his own head Thrice happy are they in whom the Graces of God do demonstrate themselves by the Examples of Chastity Sweetness Patience and Longammity Hircan said unto her It seems to me Longaren that the Lady who was the subject of your Discourse was led on more by despite than Love for if she had loved the Gentleman as well as she made an apparence she had not abandoned him for another and by the whole tenour of your discourse she shewed her self to be spitefull revengefull obstinate and inconstant You speak at random said Emarsuite to Hircan but you know not what a heart-braking it is to love and not to be beloved again It is true said Hircan I have too lately made experience of it but let her but continue in that sullen humor and I shall quickly leave Love and the
Lady both together Now much good do 't such Husbands said Parlament who love nothing but their own pleasure but a Woman of Honour will never love her Husband so Neverthelesse said Simontault this Lady of whom the Account hath â—in made had for the present Time forgotten that she was a woman for a Man knows not how to exercise a fuller vengeance She was not wise said Oysilla and it is not requisite that others should be accounted such as she was Such as she was said Saffredant why what was she He that shall under your Petticoats examine what are the fair and honest accoutrements you carry there shall find you all to be but Women Nomerfide said unto him We have enough of this I would fain hear an Account that should carry some observations of worth in it Therefore I pray you Longaren to give your voice to whom you please Longaren looked on Guebron and said unto him If you have any story of some virtuous Lady I pray you to give us the Narrative of it Guebron replyed to her I am to speak what I conceive my self to be expedient I will therefore account unto you what not long since did happen in the City of Milan A Lady of Milan approved the hardiness and conrage of her Friend which was the reason that afterwards she loved him with all her heart The Sixt Novell IN the time of the grand Master de Chaumont there was in the City of Milan a Lady who was esteemed one of the most virtuous women that lived in that age She had been married to an Italian Count whose Relict she was and lived in the same house with her Brother-in-laws She could never indure to hear any talk of a second Husband and did deport her self so discreetly and devoutly that there was not either a Frenchman or Italian in the whole Dutchie of Milan who did not highly esteem her One day when her Brother-in-laws and others of her Kinred made a great Feast to the grand Master De Chaumont this widdow was constrained to be present at it being never before at such a meeting since her Husbands Death or in any other publike place When the Frenchmen beheld her they did highly extol her beauty and flowing carriage and above all one Gentleman whose Name I will conceal but it shall suffice that in all Italy there was not a Frenchman more worthy to be beloved than himself For he was accomplished with all the beauties and the graces that are requisite to a gallant Gentleman And although he beheld this Lady Dowager in her black attires severed from the youth and in a corner amongst the old Ladies yet he whom neither man nor woman could ever subdue unto a Capacity of Distrust did begin with confidence to court her and to take off her mask and forsaking the Dancing did altogether addict himself to the Company of this Lady And all the evening he stirred not from her but discoursed with her and the old Ladies in her Company amongst whom he found more delight than amongst all the brave and gallant Ladies of the Court Insomuch that when they were all to depart he had not the leisure he thought to hold discourse with any of the rest And although he talked with her of common subjects fit for such a publick Company yet she perceived well enough that he had a great desire to be acquainted with her and resolved with her self to keep from him as much as possibly she could insomuch that he could never see her afterwards neither at any Feasts or Publick assembly which made him to enquire the more after her and he found that she often frequented the Churches and religious places where he kept so good a watch that she could not go so privately but he would be there before her and would be sure to stay in the Church as long as possibly he could see her and all the time he was there he would contemplate on her beauties with so devout an affection that she could not be ignorant of the love which he did bear unto her To avoid which she for a certain time resolved with her self to counterfeit her self sick and to hear Masse in her own House at which the Gentleman was so sorry that it was impossible to be more for he had no other means to see her but only in the Church She believing that in her absence he had discontinued his Custom to frequent the religious places did return to the Churches as before which love presently declared to the Gentleman who betook himself again to his former Devotions and because she should make no more obstructions in the progresse of his love and for fear that he should not have that happy leisure again to make known his affections to her one morning when she thought she was safe enough in a little Chapel where she heard Masse he came to the end of the Altar and seeing but two or three more neer unto her as the Priest shew'd them Corpus Domini he turned to her and said Madam Let that be my Damnation whom the Priest now holds in his hands if you are not the only cause of my Death For although you have taken from me all the means of speaking to you yet you cannot be ignorant of my Love for the Truth doth sufficiently declare it to you by my languishing eyes and by my pale countenance The Lady seeming not to understand him made answer That God ought not in that manner to be invoked in vain although the Poets do affirm that at Lovers perjuries the Gods do laugh and that women who love their honour ought nor to be credulous or compassionate And speaking those words she did arise and return'd to her Lodging If the Gentleman were not touched to the heart with this answer those who by experience have found the like are able to affirm But he who wanted not a good heart had rather go away with that unpromising answer than to have failed in declaring his good will unto her which he continued for the space of two or three years and courted her by Letters and presents without losing time or tide But during all that time he could obtain no other answer but that she did fly from him as the Lamb did from the Wolf yet something was insinuated that it was not so much for any hatred she did bear him but for the fear of her honour and reputation which he perceived so well that more vigorously than ever before he pursued his affair And after many pains refusals torments and despairs the Lady observing the force and continuance of his love did take pity on him and did grant him that which he had so much desired and so long attended And when they had agreed upon the means the French Gentleman failed not to adventure into the House although his life thereby was in great jeopardy seeing that a great part of her Kinred did lodge in the same house with her But she who had
no lesse wit than beauty did direct him so discreetly that he came into her Chamber on the hour she assigned where he found her lying alone in a very rich Bed and as he made hast to put off his cloaths to go into the Bed to her he heard a great noise at the door of people speaking to one another and of swords clashing against the walls The Lady with a Countenance half dead said unto him At this minute is both your Life and my Honour in the greatest Danger that possibly can be for too well I understand that my Brothers are seeking you out to kill you Wherefore I intreat you to conceal your self under my Bed for when they cannot find you I shall have a just occasion to be angry with them by reason of this alarm which without Cause they have given The Gentleman whose noble heart did always scorn the base effects of Fear replyed unto her And who are your Brothers that they should make me afraid If the whole Generation of them were together I am confident that they would not stand against the point or the edge of my Sword wherefore lie still in your Bed and let me alone to guard your Door Immediatly he clapped his cloak about his arm and took his Sword in his hand and opened the Door to find those Swords more neer him which made so great a noise The Door being opened he beheld two Chambermaids who with two swords in either hand did occasion the Alarm they said unto him Monsieur Pardon us for we have received Commission from our Mistresse to do as we have done but you shall have no other hinderance or disturbance by us The Gentleman seeing they were two Maids did wish all the Devils in Hell take them both and shutting the Door on the faces of them he made all the speed he could to the Ladies Bed whose frights had no ways diminished his love and forgetting to ask her the reason of that skirmish he thought on nothing but to satisfie his desires And perceiving that the Day approached he intreated her to tell him wherefore she had done him so ill an office by holding him so long in delayes and also what was the meaning of the Enterprise of the two Chambermaids the last night She laughing made answeâ— to him My Resolution was never to love again which from my Widdowhood I had a long time observed but your civil Deportment from the first hour wherein you spake unto me at the Banket hath made me to alter my purpose and I began at that instant to love you as much as you could love me It is true that Honour which in all my actions hath been my guide would not permit that Love should cause me to do any thing whereby my Reputation might suffer but as the Hart wounded to Death doth think by changing of place to change the malady he beareth along with him so did I remove from Church to Church thinking to flie from him whom I carried in my heart who hath now proved his love to be so perfect that the Agreement is made and Honour doth accord with Love But to the end that I might be the more assured to commit my heart my love to an absolute Man I was willing to make this last proof by my Chambermaids assuring you that if either for fear of your life or any other regard I had found you so timorous and so tame as to have hid your self under my Bed I was resolved with my self to rise and to withdraw my self into another Chamber without ever seeing you again But because I have found you courteous and lovely and more full of Spirit and courage than it was reported to me that fear cannot enter into your heart nor make cold that love which you bear unto me I am resolved to continue with you untill the end of my dayes being confident that I cannot put my Life and Honour in a surer hand than in his who I believe hath not his equal in all Virtues And as if the Will and Desires of Lovers were immutable they did promise and swear unto one another to perform that which was not in their power to perform which was a perpetual Love which cannot continue in the hearts of Men as those Women know who have made trial of it and how long those Resolutions do endure And therefore Ladies you should take heed of us as the Buck if he had understanding would of the Hunter For our Glory Felicity and Indeavour is to see you surprized and to take that from you which is more dear unto you than life it self How now said Hircan unto Guebron How long ago is it since you have been a Preacher I have known the time that you have maintained another Doctrine It is true said Guebron I do speak now against that which I have practised heretofore all the whole Course of my life but because I have teeth so weak that I cannot eat Venison my self I would advertise the poor Does to beware of the Hunters to make some recompence in my old age for the sins I have committed in my youth We thank you Guebron said Nomerfide for that which you have counselled us to our profit but we do now perceive our selves to be a great deal too young for you for it appears that in your Youth you gave not the same exhortations to her whom you loved which is a sign that now in your age you do neither love us nor your self neither would you willingly suffer us to be loved by any other Howsoever we think our selves to be as wise and virtuous as she whom so long you followed and courted in your Youth But it is alwayes the Glory of the gray beard and those that walk with a staff to think themselves more wise than those who do come after them Nomerfide said Guebron it is very well when the Deceit of some of your Servants shall by experience teach you to understand the subtilty of Men you will then believe what now I have spoken to be truth Oysilla said to Guebron It seems to me that the Gentleman whom you so much commend for Courage ought to be praised more for the violence of his love which is a Power so strong that it will make the greatest Cowards in the world to enterprise that which the most valiant would think and think of again before they would undertake it Saffredant said unto him Madam It seems to me that if this French Gentleman esteemed not the Italians to excell more in their words than in their deeds he might have some great occasion for fear He had so indeed said Oysilla were it not for that fire in his heart which consumed his fear If you find not his Courage commendable enough said Hircan give us an account of some one else who is more worthy of praise To speak the Truth said Oysilla the Gentleman was to be praised but I can give you an instance of One in the
Mistresse perceived that it did go on so forward and that neverthelesse the young Lord did not cease to put her in mind of her promise she concluded with him that he should come unto her one hour after Midnight and because she had such experience of the greatnesse of his love and obedience to her it was reason she said that he should be recompenced for his patience We make no doubt of the great Joy which this affectionate Servant received to hear this promise who failed not to come at the time appointed But the Lady to make a further trial of the force of his love did speak unto her young Companion I understand the love very well which such a young Lord doth bear unto you and I believe your passion is equal unto his I have such a tender regard unto you both that I am resolved to give place unto you and leasure to discourse together at your own case as long as you will The young Gentlewoman was transported with so great a Joy that she could not dissemble her affections to her but assured her that she would not fail to be obedient to her counsels Whereupon she did put off her cloaths and all alone did go into a fair bed in one of the next chambers The Lady left the door open and caused a great wax candle to be lighted in it that the beauty of this young Gentlewoman might be the more apparent And counterfeiting to go to her own lodgings she did hide herself behind the hangings so closely that she could not be perceived Her poor Servant thinking to find her accordingly as she had promised him did not fail to come into the chamber on the appointed hour as softly as possibly he could and after he had shut the door and put off his Gown his Breeches he leapt into the bed where he thought to have found her whom he so much desired no sooner did he stretch forth his arms to imbrace her whom he conceived to be his Lady but the poor young Gentlewoman who thought she had him sure enough had her own arms about his neck and did deliver to him such affectionate words and with so sweet a countenance that there is no Hermit so holy but would have forgot his Pater-nosters But when he discoverd who she was both by his eye and by his ear Love who with so great a speed brought him to bed made him to rise from it with a greater And with an indignation as much against the Lady as the young Gentlewoman he repaired to the Lady who betrayed herself by her laughter and said unto her The folly as much of your self as of the Damsel whom with so much subtilty you have put in yonder bed shall make me no other than I am but doe your endeavour to be a good woman for by no occasion of mine you shall lose your good Name And speaking those words being as full of Despite as it was impossible to be more he departed out of the chamber and for a long time came not into any place where this Lady was Neverthelesse Love who is never without hope did assure her that the more firm his love was and known to be more great by so long experience the more happy and gratefull would the fruition prove And having considered on the passages of the young Lord her servant and her companion she was so well contented and amazed to perceive the greatnesse and strength of his love that it seemed long unto her until she found some occasion to seek him out to crave pardon of him for the many intricate sorrows which she had brought upon him and as soon as ever she had the much desired happinesse to speak unto him she not failed to give him so many couteous and good assurances that he not only did passe over his former torments but judged them most happy since they were all turned into the glory and perfection of his love of which ever afterwards he had the fruition without any hinderance or wearinesse even to the height of his desires Ladies I beseech you find me out one woman so constant so patient and so loyal in love as this man hath been Those who have made tryal of them by such intentions do find them to be such whom we find painted at St. Anthonies very little and rare but of a great price and to speak the truth few men themselves are of this mans temper for he who can be chast with the beauty and the love of women and patient at the time and the leisures of women is virtuous enough to overcome all the Devils in Hell It is pity said Oysilla that he did not addresse himself unto a Gentleweman as virtuous as himself for it would have been the most honest and most absolute love that had been ever rehearsed But tell me I pray said Guebron which task of his two do you conceive most difficult It seems to me the last said Parlament for Despite above all is the most violent temptation Longaren was of opinion that the first was the greatest for it was necessary she said to fulfill his promise that he should overcome both Love and himself You speak at random said Simontault but we who know well enough what things are ought to speak what we know And for my self in performing his first command I think he was a Fool and in the second a Sot For I believe that in performing his promise to his Lady she had as much or more trouble than himself She had not caused him to take that Oath but only because she counterfeited her self to be a far better woman than she was for she knew it was sure enough That a strong Love cannot be bound either by Commandment or by Oath or by any thing that is in the world But she did dissemble her vice to be so virtuous that it could not be obtained but by Heroick Virtues And in the second place he shewed himself a Sot to forsake her who loved him and was more worthy than she to whom he had made his Oath and had so good an Excuse by reason of the Despite which at that time possessed him Dagoucin reproved him saying that he was of a contrary opinion And that at the first time he shewed himself to be firm patient and true and at the second loyal and entire in his love And what know we said Saffredant if he were not one of those who are treated of in the Chapter De Frigidis Maleficiatis But if Hircan would accomplish his praises he ought to account us what a gentle Companion he was after that he had enjoyed that which be desired And for the present how can we judge whether it were a Virtue or a Weaknesse that made him so tame You may be sure said Hircan that if I had been informed of it I would have concealed it no more than the rest but if you did look upon his person or knew his complexion you would say
the fire which had consumed them he understood that the boy was too hard for him and immediately did acquaint the Queen with it The Bastard after this time did never imploy â—his little Page any more but sent an old Servant which he had who forgetting the fear of death threatned by the Queen to any whosoever they were that should be taken in that affair did promise his Master that for all those threatnings he would deliver his Letters unto Rolandine And when he was come into the Castle where she was he addressed himself to a Door at the foot of the stairs where all the Ladies were to passe but one of the Grooms who had seen him elsewhere did presently know him and acquainted one of the Officers of the Queen with it who immediatly came to apprehend him The old Servant of the Bastard being wise and advised observing that a far off they looked upon him did turn himself toward the wall as if he would make water and did tear the Letter into as small pieces as possibly he could and threw them behind the door Immediately he was apprehended and searched all over and when they could find nothing about him they did put him to Interrogatories upon his oath if he brought not any Letters using all rigors and perswasions that possibly they could to make him to confesse the Truth but neither by premises nor by threatnings could they draw any confession from him The Report thereof was made unto the Queen and some of the Company did give advise that it were necessary to look behind the door neer unto which he was taken which was done accordingly and the pieces of the Letters were found for which they sought Immediatly the Confessor of the King was sent for who having put the pieces in order upon the Table did read the Letter all along in which the truth of the marriage so long dissembled was perfectly understoood for the Bastard in many places of it did call her his Wife The Queen who deliberated not with her self to cover the fault of her kinswoman as she ought to doe did raise a great noise and commanded that by all means the poor man should be enforced to confesse the truth of the Letter alleging to him that he could not deny it but all the perswasions they could use and the remonstrances they could make could prevail nothing with him nor change him from his first resolution Those who had the charge of him did bring him to the Bank of a River and did put him into a sack saying that he had lyed against God and the Queen and against the proved truth But he who had rather lose his life than accuse his Master did desire that he might be allowed a Confessor and having satisfied his Conscience as well as he could he said unto them Sirs Tell my Master the Bastard that I commend unto his care the lives of my Wife and of my Children for with a good heart I lay down my own for his service And do with me now what you please for you shall never force one word from me that shall be against my Master Immediatly to put him into a greater fear they did throw him being in the Sack into the water crying out unto him If thou wilt speak the Truth thou shalt be saved but seeing that he would confesse nothing they did draw him out and made a Report of his Constancy to the Queen who immediatly replyed That neither the King her Husband nor her self were so happy in a Servant as was this Bastard who had not wherewith to recompence him and did what she could to disswade him from his service but he would never he said be inforced to abandon his Master Neverthelesse It being his Masters desire he was afterwards admitted into the service of the King where he lived well and happily The Queen after she understood the Truth of the Marriage by the Letter of the Bastard did send to seek out Rolandine and with an angry countenance did oftentimes instead of Cozen call her wicked and unfortunate Creature She shewed her the Dishonour that she had done her Fathers house and to all her Kinred and to her self also to be married without her knowledge and consent Rolandine who a long time did know the little affection which the Queen did bear unto her resolved to answer her with the like and because the Queen was wanting in her love she was resolved there should be no place in her own heart for fear for she knew that this Rebuke given to her before so many Personages did not proceed from any love but only to procure her shame as being one whom she took more pleasure to reproach than grief to see her to transgresse She therefore with a countenance as joyfull and assured as the Queen had shewed an angry and a troubled one did say unto her Madam If you know not your own heart to be such as it is I will represent unto you the ill will which along time you have born unto Mounsier my Father and to my self but you know it so well that it cannot be strange unto you though all the world should doubt it and for my self Madam I have a long time perceived it to my great prejudice For if it had pleased you to grace me as much with your favour as you have done those who are not so near unto you as my self I had been married to your honour and my own but you have left me as one forgotten in your good opinion insomuch that all the good Matches which I might have had are passed from me by the negligence of my Father and by the little esteem which you have had of me by reason whereof I do find my self so forlorn that if my health had permitted me to take upon me the condition of a Nun I had most willingly put on that religious habit to free my self from those continuall afflictions which your rigour hath imposed upon me In this despair it was my fortune to find out him who was of as good and as great a Family as my self He hath a long time loved and courted me but you Madam who never pardoned me for the least fault nor commended me for the greatest good although by experience you do know that I am not accustomed to maintain any discourse of love or of the vanities of this world and that I was altogether retired from it being resolved to lead that life which was most religious doe now find it strange that I should speak unto a Gentleman as unfortunate as my self in whose love I neither desired nor sought for any thing but only some relaxation of my spirit Of which when altogether I beheld my self to be frustrated I did enter into such a despair that I had as great a resolution to procure some case unto my self as you had a desire to take it from me And not long after we entred into a discourse of marriage which was consummated by
that according to my imperfection I will not cease to bear you that affection which shall become a Woman fearing God and her own Honour but this affection can never be fully made known unto you until your Heart be capable of the patience which a virtuous Love doth command And for the present Sir I do know what Language I am to hold with you Howsoever you may assure your self that you love not so well your own Good Person or Honour as I do love it Signior Avanes being daunted did make a little pause and taking new Courage he did humbly beseech her That to give him an assurance of what she spake she would be pleased to kiss him But she refused it affirming that for so vain a thing she would not break the Custom of her Countrey As they were in this Debate her Husband did come in to whom Signior D' Avanes said My Father I do perceive my self to be so much obliged to you to your good Wife that I must beseech you that for ever you will repute me to be your Son which the good Man most willingly did consent unto And in the assurance of this love I do intreat you said Signior D' Avanes that I might kisse you Immediately the good Man kissed him and Signior Avanes said unto him If it were not for fear to offend the Law and Custome of the Country I would do as much to my Mother your Wife The Husband hearing that did command his Wife to kisse him which she did without making any appearance to be either willing or unwilling because her Husband did command her Immediatly the fire which her words before did begin to kindle in the heart of the poor Signior did vehemently increase by her kisse so much desired and at first so cruelly refused This being done Signior D' Avanes repaired to the King his Brother in the Castle where he told many fine stories of his Voyage to Montserrat and understood that the King his Brother was preparing to go to Olly and Tassares and considering with himself that the Journey would be long he was surprized with a great sadnesse which constrained him to resolve before his departure to make an essay whether this virtuous Lady did bear him more good will than she seemed to do wherupon he took up his lodgings in a house of the City and in the same street where she lived The house being old ruinous and made of Wood about midnight he did set it on fire whereupon the Cry was so great throughout the City that it came to the house of the rich man who comming to the window demanded what the businesse was it was answered to him that there was a great fire at the House of Signior D' Avanes He immediatly repaired thither with all his people and found the young Signior in the middle of the street in his shirt having pity on him he took him in his Armes and covered him with his Gown and conveying him to his house with all the speed that possibly he could he said to his Wife who was in bed Sweetheart I give you here this prisoner to keep use him as you would use my self And as soon as ever he was departed Signior D' Avanes who would willingly be intreated by her as if he were her Husband did lightly leap into the bed hoping that the occasion and the place would aler the resolution of that virtuous Woman but he found it otherwise for as soon that on one fide he leapt into the bed she made hast out of it on the other and throwing her night Gown on her she came up to the head of the bed and said unto him How now Monsieur do you believe that any opportunities can alter a chast heart You may assure your self that as Gold is proved in the furnace so is a chast heart in the midest of all temptations by which oftentimes it is proved to be more strong and virtuous and doth grow more cold by being assaulted by the most violent hears Wherefore rest your self assured that if I had any other will than what I have represented to you I could not fail to find means to make you know the injury you would doe me which not desiring to use I doe account them nothing But I must desire you if you would have me to continue the affection which I do bear unto you that you would remove far from you not only the will but also the very thought to find me otherwise than I am During this Discourse her Maids came in to whom she gave a command to bring her a Collation of all manner of Confects But he at that time was sensible neither of hunger or thirst with such a desperation was he possessed that he had failed in his enterprise he was afraid that the demonstration which he had made unto her of his passionate love might be an occasion to deprive him of all familiarities with her for the time to come Her Husband having given order for the extinguishing of the Fire was now returned and intreated Monsieur D' Avanes that he would stay in his House for that night which he consented to But the night was passed away in such a manner that his Eyes were more exercised in weeping than in sleeping And early in the morning he came to their bedside to bid them Farewell and kissing the Lady he readily found that she had more pity of him than ill will towards him for his offence and this was a new coal which over and above was added to the fire of his Love After Dinner he did set forth with the King to Trassares but before he took Horse he did once more repair to the House of his Father and Mother to bid them Adieu who after the first Commandement of her Husband did make no more difficulty to kisse him than if he had been her own Son But you may be sure that the more that Virtue did forbid her to reveal her hidden flame by her eyes and by her countenance the more it did increase and become insupportable insomuch that being no longer able to endure the War which Love and Honour had made in her Heart which neverthelesse she had determined with her self never to demonstrate having lost the comfort both of seeing and hearing him for whom she lived she was surprized by so violent a Feaver occasioned by a continual melancholly that the outward parts of her body became cold although she burned incessantly within The Physicians in whose hands the health of men doe always depend did begin to doubt of her recovery by reason of her great oppilation which did render her so melancholy and counselled her Husband to advise her to make her peace with the Physician of her Soul The poor Husband who most intirely loved his Wife was oppressed with so extream a sorrow by reason of those words that to comfort himself he did write to Signior D' Avanes beseeching him to take the pains to come
strange doth make me to forget all fear and it may be that Folly being discovered will make others more wise A marvellous Example of humane frailty in a Lady who to have her Honour concealed did fall from bad into worse The tenth Novel IN the time of King Lewis the twelfth one of the house of Amboys named George being then Legat in Avignon and Nephew to the Legat of France had a Lady in the County of Languedock whose name I will conceal for the Love I doe bear unto her Family she had yearly about four thousand Crowns in Rent and was a Widdow in a very young age being the Mother but of one Son And for the grief for the losse of her Husband and for the love she did bear unto her Infant she resolved with her self never to marry again and to avoid all occasions enducing thereunto she refused to keep company with any but only with people of Devotion thinking with her self that it is opportunity that makes sinners This young Lady Dowager did altogether addict her self to the reading of Godly books and did eschew all companies that had relation to the World Insomuch that she made Conscience to assist at any marriage or to hear the Organs to play in the Church When her Son arrived at the age of seven years she took a Man of a holy conversation to bring him up at School by whom he might be indoctrinated in all virtues moral and divine When her Son was of fifteen years of age Nature who is the most secret School-Master finding him high fed and living a life as slothful as luxurious did teach him another Lesson than ever the Doctor did for he began to behold and to desire those things which were beautiful and amongst others a young Maid who did lie in his Mothers Chamber of which not any had the least suspition for the Woman took no more regard of him than if he had been still an Infant and because that all the house over there was no other talk but of God only This young man began privatly to court this Maid who could not be quiet for him insomuch that she came to her Mistresse and did acquaint her with it who did so much love and esteem her Son that she conceived with her self that the Maid had made this report unto her of him only to cause her to hate him But she so often did presse her Mistresse concerning it that she said unto her I will know if it be true or noe and if I find it to be true accordingly as you report it I will chastise him but if it shall appear to be otherwise and the report shall be found to be false be sure that you shall endure punishment And to make tryal of it she did command her to appoint her Son a set time to come at midnight to lye with her in her chamber in the bed hard by the door where the said Damoisel was accustomed to lie alone The Damsel obeyed her Mistresse and when the night came the Lady did put her self into the Maids bed being resolved that if it were true as the Maid reported she would chastise him so well for it that she would make him to remember whiles he lived how he lay with a woman again Being in this determination and choler her Son did come at the set hour to lie with her She who for all she saw him come into the Bed to her did believe that he would not commit the dishonest act it self and deferred to speak unto him till she knew some evident sign of his hot will believing that his desires would content themselves with some small pleasures and not proceed unto the Act it self But her patience was so strong and her Nature so frail that forgetting the Name of a Mother she converted her choler into an abhominable pleasure And as the water by force retained doth run with a greater impetuousnesse when way is made for it than when it runneth in its ordinary course so this poor Lady did forfeit her glory by the restraint which she did give unto her self For when she began to descend from the first degree of her honesty she found herself suddenly transported to the last and she herself was great with child by him whom she watched to keep another from running into the same enormity with him This Sin being committed the remorse of Conscience did bring unto her so great a torment that her repentance did not leave her during her life Rising from her Son who alwayes afterwards thought it had been the Maid she entred into her Cabinet where calling to mind her good resolutition and her bad execution of it she passed away all that night in tears and lamentations hy her self But instead of humbling her self as she ought to doe and acknowledging an impossibility in her self and the perversenesse of her flesh which without the grace of God can do nothing else but fin thinking of her self and by her own tears to give fatisfaction for what was passed and by her own prudence to eschew all evil to come excusing her sin by the occasion and not imputing it to her own weaknesse for which there is no remedy but only the grace of God she resolved with her self that she would doe a thing whereby she would never fall into the like inconvenience again And as if there were but one kind of sin to condemn her only she indeavoured with her self for the time to come to avoid that sin But the root of Pride did increase continually in her heart insomuch that eschewing one evil she committed divers others for the next morning as soon as it was day she sent for the Governour of her Son and said unto him My Son begins to grow up it is time to send him to travel I have a Kinsman that is on the other side of the Hills with Monsieur the Grand-Master Chaumont who will be very glad to give him entertainment I would desire you presently to goe along with him and that I may take no grief at his departure let it be your care that he comes not to me not so much as to crave my blessing and speaking those words she did give him so much money as was necessary for the Journey On that morning the Young-man departed who was very glad of it for he desired nothing more than after his Pleasure with his Sweet-heart to travel to the Wars The Lady continued a long time in a great me lancholy and were it not that she had the fear of God before her eyes she had oftentimes made an end of that unhappy fruit with which her womb was pregnant wherefore she for many moneths pretended her self to be sick that her Night-Gown might cover her Imperfection And when she was ready to lye down finding there was none in the world in whom she had so much considence as in her Bastard Brother whom she had endued with great possessions she sent to seek him and did acquaint
a temper that neither words nor kisses can heat them to any Insurrectiō they come to assay the strongest and the last temptation which is to ly together to imbrace one another without Concupiscence But not one of a thousand have attained to this perfection and from hence there have arised so many inconveniences that the Archbishop of Milan when this Religion was first exercised was advised to sepeparate them for altogether and to put the Women in the Covents of the Men and the Men in the Covents of the Women Truly said Guebron it is the extremity and height of Folly to believe that we cannot sin and so violently to seek out all the occasions of sin There are some said Saffredant who altogether do clean contrary to those fools for although as much as possibly they can they do avoid all occasions of sin yet their Concupiscence still doth follow them and the good Saint Hierom after he had chastised himself and had retired himself into the Desart did confesse that he could not there escape the fire that did burn within him Wherefore we must recommend our selves to God for if by his Power Virtue and Goodnesse he doth not restrain us we are so weak and wicked of our selves that we shall take pleasure to fall You do not observe that which I take notice of said Hircan that whiles we are here relating our Histories the Monks behind yonder hedge did not hear the Bell ring to their Vespers and now when we begin to speak of God they are all gone and because the Bell doth ring the second time we shall do well to follow them said Oysilla and praise God that we have passed away this day so joyfully and speaking those words they did all rise up and repaired to the Church where they heard Vespers very de coutly which being ended they departed from thence to Supper and communed amongst themselves of the Discourses which had that day passed and called into their memory divers other things which had happened in their times to understand which of them were worthy to be the next day recited And having with great content passed a way the Evening they repaired all unto their Refts hoping the next day not to fail to continue their Convention which was so agreeable unto them And there was an end put unto the third days Journal The end of the third days Account The Fourth Days Account of the Novells of the Queen of NAVARRE The Preface MAdam Oysilla according to her good Custome did rise far more early than any of the rest and meditating on her Book of the Holy Scriptures she attended the comming of the Company who by little and little did begin to assemble themselves but the slothfull did excuse themselves saying I have a Wife and cannot come And Hircan and Parlament his wife did perceive that the Lecture was begun a great while before they came but Oysilla knew very well to find out those places where the Scripture reproveth those who are negligent And she not only did read the Text but moreover did make so many good expositions and exhortations that it was impossible to be weary to hear her The Lecture being ended Parlament said unto her I am sorry I have been so neglegent to appear in this place but since my fault hath been the occasion that you have spoke so well my sloth hath soundly profited for I have had with advantage the repose of my Body having slept so soundly and have now the repast of my Soul having heard you to speak so soundly to me For penance said Oysilla to her let us goe to Masse and beseech the Lord to give us both the will and the means to execute his Commandements and let him then command us what he pleaseth And speaking these words they entred into the Church where they heard Masse very devoutly And afterwards they sate down at the table to dinner where Hircan did not forget to make merry with that mornings slothfulnesse of his Wife After dinner they did all separate themselves to study their accounts and when the hour came they repaired to the accustomed place Oysilla demamded of Hircan to whom he would give his voice If my Wife said he had not begun yesterday I had now given her my voice for although I always thought that she loved me more than all the men in the World yet this morning she hath made it manifest that she loveth me better than she loveth God or his Word in being absent from your good Lecture to keep me company I would willingly therefore have bestowed this honour on her But since I cannot give it to the wisest Woman in the Company I will give it to the wisest Man which is Guebron and will intreat him that he will not forhear the Monks Guebron replied you had not need to entreat me I have them recommended to me For it is not very long since I heard an Account delivered to me by Monsieur of Saint Vincent who was then Ambassadour to the Emperour which is worthy not to be buried in oblivion THE NOVELLS Of Queen MARGARET The Execrable cruelty of a Frier to obtain his detestable Desires and the punishment which he endured The first Novell of the Fourth Book IN the Lands subject to the Emperor Maximilian of Austria there was a Covent of Friers in high Estimation neer unto which a Gentleman had his house and did bear so great a love to the Religious people that were within it that he gave them a part in all his Goods to have a part himself in their Abstinences and Prayers Amongst others there was amongst them a handsom lusty Frier whom the Gentleman loved above the rest and made him his Confessor who had as great a command and power in the Gentlemans House as he himself This Frier observing the Wife of this Gentleman to be so wise and beautiful that it was impossible to be more did become so amorous of her that he forgat to eat and to drink and began to lose the light of his reason Resolving with himself one day to execute his Enterprise he alone repaired to the house of the Gentleman and not finding him within he demanded of his Wife whither he was gone She made answer to him That he was gone to some Lands of his about twenty miles from thence where he intended to stay two or three dayes but if he had any businesse to him she would send a man on purpose to inform him of it He replyed No and began to walk up and down the room as if he had in his mind some businesse of great importance And when he was gon out of the Chamber she said to one of her Maids having at that time but two about her Go to the Confessor and ask of him What it is he would have For I do find by him that he hath the Countenance of a discontented Man The Chambermaid did go down into the Court and demanded of him If he would
her Husband did give him many wounds with the poynado so that the Frier desired pardon and confessed the Truth of all his wickednesse The Gentleman although he might would not kill him but intreated his Wife to go home to his House and bring some of his servants to him and to bring a little Wagon with them to convey himself to his House with more ease which she did The Frier being despoyled of his habit which he had polluted with so much blood and lust did run in his shirt and his shorn head towards his own Covent But the servants of the Gentleman did overtake him as they were going to their Master to assist him to bring away the Wolf which he had taken and did dragg him to his house who did cause him to be brought before the Justice of the Emperor in Flanders before which Court he confessed his villany and it being found by his Confession and proof made by the Commissaries there present that a great number of Gentlewomen and beautifull Maids had been brought into that Monastery by the same Art as this Frier would have brought this Gentlewoman It was ordered That the said Monastery should be examined and despoyled of those beautiful Larcenies and that in the perpetual memory of this Crime the Monks should be all shut up and be burned with the Monastery By this it may appear that there is nothing more cruel than Love when it is grounded upon Vice as there is nothing again more commen dable than Love when it doth dwell in a virtuous heart Ladies I am very sorry that the truth of these Accounts doth not lead us as much to the commendations of Friers as it doth unto their prejudice for it would be a great pleasure to me in the respect of the love which I do bear unto their Order to know any one of them who would give me a just cause to praise them But we have sworn so much to speak the truth that after the report of Men so worthy to be believed I am constrained not to conceal it assuring you that when the Friers of these times shall do any act worthy of memory I will endeavour to set it forth far better to their Glory than I have given you the account of this Truth unto their Infamy In good carnest Guebron said Oysilla Behold here a Love which ought to be called Cruelty I doe wonder said Simonâ—ault how this Frier had the patience seeing this Gentlewoman in her smock and in a place where he himself was Master that he did not take her by force He had not so sudden a stomack said Saffredant but was a true Gormandizer for through the desire which he had to be-glut him self with her all day long he would not make any stay â—ow to take a tast of her It is not so said Parlament for you are to understand that every Man who is furious is also timorous and the fear which surprized him that his prey should be taken from him did cause him to take away that Lamb as a Wolf doth a sheep to seed upon it with more appetite at his own leisure I cannot believe said Dagouâ—in that he did bear any love unto her or that Love could ever inhabit in a heart so barbarous However it was said Oysilla I do beseech God that as he was punished so the like enterprizes may alwayes meet with the like chastisement But to whom will you give your voice To you Lady said Guebron for you will be sure to give us some good Account Since it comes to my turn said Oysilla I will give you a memorable account which happened in our times and of which she her self was an ey-witnesse who did acquaint me with it I am sure that you are not ignorant that Death is the end of all our Miseries and therfore putting an end unto our miseries it may be called our Felicity and sure Repose for the greatest misery that a man can have is to desire Death and to be deprived of it and of the means to enjoy it The greatest punishment which can be given to a Malefactor is not Death but to afflict him with a perpetual torment so great it makes him to desire it and so little that he cannot obtain it just as a Husband did deal by his Wife as you shall hear by this following story The punishment more rigorous than Death which a Husband inflicted on his Wife having taken her in Adultery The second Novell KIng Charls the Eighth of that Name did send into Germany a Gentleman called Bernage Lord of Cyure neer unto Ambois whose diligence was so remarkable in his Masters service that he travelled both day and night One evening he arrived very late at the Castle of a Gentleman where he demanded lodging which with great difficulty was at last granted Neverthelesse when the Gentleman understood that he was the Servant of so great a King he did go forth to meet him and did beseech him not to be discontented at the rudenesse of his people for by reason of some kinred of his Wives who intended ill unto him he was enforced to keep his Gate shut Immediately Bernage acquainted him with the occasion of his Legation in which the Gentleman did offer him all service that possibly he could in the behalf of the King his Master and brought him into his House where he did lodge him and gave him honourable entertainment The hour of Supper being come the Gentleman did lead him into a Parlor hung round with very rich tapestry where as soon as the meat was upon the Table he did behold a Lady of a most excellent beauty to come forth from behind the Arras her head was shaven all over and the rest of her body cloathed with Blacks of Almaign After the Gentleman had washed with Monsieur Bernage water was brought to the said Lady who having washed her hands did sit down at the end of the Table and spake not to any one nor any one to her Signior Bernage did often look upon her and she seemed to him to be the most beautiful Lady that ever he beheld but only that she looked pale and withall was very sad After she had eaten a little she demanded Drink which a Servant did bring her in a wonderful vessel for it was the scull of a dead Man the edge whereof was round about tipped with silver The Lady did drink twice or thrice in it and after she had supped and washed her hands she made a low Reverence â—o the Master of the House and returned again from whence she came without speaking any word Bernage was so amazed to see a thing so strange that he became very sad and pensive The Gentleman perceived it and said unto him I observe very well that you are astonished at what you have seen at this Table but because of the civility which I have found in you I will not conceal from you the occasion of it that if in me there be
any cruelty at all you may perceive I have a just cause for it That Lady which you beheld is my Wife whom I loved better than it is possible for any other to love his Wife insomuch that to marry her I did forget all fear and brought her hither in spight of all her Kinred She also did expresse unto me such signes of love that I would have hazarded ten thousand lives to have her always with me to her own content and mine Having married her we lived a long time in such a mutual assurance of one anothers love that I conceived my self to be the most happy Gentleman in Christendom But in a Voyage which I made to which my Honour did engage me she so much forgat her own Honour and her Conscience and the Love which she had in to me that she became amorous of a young Gentleman whom I brought up in this House which aâ— my retuâ—n I thought not to have found So it is that the love which I did bear unto her was so great that I could not harbour the least mistrust of her untill Experience opened my eyes and I beheld that which I feared more than Death wherefore my Love was converted into fury and despair and I did watch her so narrowly that one day pretending to go abroad I did hide my self in that Chamber where now she resideth into which not long after my departure she retired and caused the young Gentleman to come to her whom I saw to deport himself with that familiarity that it did belong to none but to my self only when I beheld him to lye down upon the Bed by her I came forth and taking him in her arms I did kill him And because the guilt of my Wife did appear to be so great that such a Death was not enough wherewith to punish her I contrived a punishment for her which I believe was more unpleasing to her than Death it self I locked her up in that chamber to which she was accustomed to retire to receive her greatest delights and in his company whom she loved better than mine into which place I sent her inclosed in an armory all the bones of her friend hanging as some precious Jewels in a Cabinet and to conclude when she eateth and drinketh at the Table before me that she might not forget the memory of him I cause her to be served instead of a cup with the scull of that fond Young-man to the end that she may both see him alive whom by her fault she hath made her Mortal Enemy and see him dead for the love of her whose friendship she preferred above my own And thus constantly at Dinner and Supper she beholds two objects which ought most to displease her her Enemy living and her Friend dead and all by her own default For the rest I do use her as I do use my self only she doth go without any hair at all for the ornament of hair doth not belong to an Adulteresse nor a veil to one that is unchast wherefore she doth go without a veil and without hair to show that she hath lost her honour and her chastity If you please to take the pains to see her once more I will conduct you to her to which Bernage seemed very willing and descended with him into a low place where he found her in a very fair Chamber fitting alone before the fire The Gentleman opened a curtain which was before a great Armory where he did see hanging all the bones of a dead man Bernage being touched with compassion had a great desire to speak unto her but durst not for fear of her Husband The Gentleman perceived it and said unto him If you please to speak any thing unto her you shall observe what words and language she hath Whereupon Bernage immediately said unto her Madam if your patience be equal to your torment I doe esteem you to be the happiest Lady in the World The Lady having tears in her eyes did answer him with a most gracefull hudblenes I doe confesse my fault to be so great that all the Evils which the Signior of this place whom I am not worthy to name Husband can bring upon me are nothing in comparison of my deserts and the grief I have so much to have offended him And speaking those words she did weep abundantly which the Gentleman observing took Bernage by the hand and did lead him forth The morning being come Beruage departed to put his charge in execution which the King had given him and taking his farewell of the Gentleman he could not forbear to say unto him Monsieur the love which I do bear unto you and the honour and the privacy which you have shewed to me in your house do constram me to declare unto you that it seems to me seeing the great repentance of your poor Wife that you ought to look upon her and to use her with compassion and since you are but young and have no children it will be a great losse that so noble a House should fall for want of Heirs that those who love you not peradventure will succeed you The Gentleman who determined with himself never more to speak unto his Wife did consider with himself of this discourse and Counsel of Bernage and acknowledged that he had given him good advice and did promise him that if she persevered in this humility he would look with some pity on her In this manner Bernage departed to the performance of his Commission and when he was returned to the King his Master he gave him all along the Account of what he had done in his behalf which the King found to be as he expressed and amongst other things Bernage having spoken of the beauty of that Lady the King sent his own Painter named John de Paris to limn that Lady to the life and bring her picture to him which having the consent of her Husband in it he performed And some weeks afterwards the Husband after the long penance of his Wife as well in the desire to have Children by her as in the compassion of her did take her again into his bed and had by her many lovely children Ladies if all those who have committed the like fault should drink in the like vessels I am shrewdly afraid that many gilded cups should be converted into Dead mens Skulls Now God take us into his keeping for if his Grace doth not restrain us there is not one here amongst us but is prone to doe as much but having our confidence in him he will preserve those who confesse they are not able to preserve themselves and those Ladies who doe most of all confide in their own strength and virtue are in greatest danger to be tempted to acknowledg their own infirmity and be you assured that there are very many whom Pride hath made to fall in such a case whiles humility hath saved others who were esteemed lesse virtuous The old Proverb doth therefore truly affirm
conceived with himself that it was the only and last expedient he could use And seeing there was no remedy he did seek her out so diligently that at the last he did find her in a company and place where she could not avoid him and he did chide her much for her harsh and rigorous usage of him and for her leaving of her Brorhers house She made answer to him That she knew no place more dangerous than that and that he was much beholding to his Butler who served him not only with his Body and his Goods but with his Soul also and his Conscience The Prince perceiving there was no remedy resolved with himself to force his passion and to importune her no more neverthelesse all his life afterwards he had her in high esteem A Servant of the said Prince observing the honesty of this Maid did court her in the way of marriage to which she would not consent without the leave and commandment of the Prince to whom she had given up all her affection which the Prince was acquainted with and with his good will the marriage was concluded in which she lived all her life afterwards with great reputation and the young Prince did inrich her with dayly benefits Ladies what shall we say to this have we hearts so low as to make our Servants our Masters Seeing this Virgin could not be overcome neither by love nor importunities I must beseech you that by her Example we may become victorious over our selves for it is the most noble victory that we can obtain I doe lament said Oysilla that such virtuous acts were not in the time of the old Historiographers for they who so much extolled their Lucretia would let their pens sall from their hands and have altered their Subjest to have described all along the Virtues of this Virgin which I do find to be so great that I should bardly have believed them were it not for the solemn Oath which doth oblige us to speak the truth I find not her virtues to be such said Hircan as you declare them for oftentimes we have seen sick men whose Palats are out of tast to refuse good and whotsom Diet and to feed on that which is naught and hurtfull And so it may be that this Maid was in love with some one else which made her to despise Nobility Parlament made answer Her life and her death did sufficiently manifest that she never during the whole course of her life had a better opinion of any man living than of him whom she loved more than her life but not more than her Honour Remove from your fancy that fond humour said Saffredant and understand from whence that word Honour is derived so far as it belongeth unto Women For it may be that those Who speak so much of it doe not know the Intention of the word Know then that in the beginning before Dissimulation was too common amongst Men and Women love was so full of life and strength that Hypocrisie had no place and they were most praised who most truly loâ—ed But when Decript and Avarice had seized upon their hearts they did drive both God and Love out of them and in their place entertained the love of themselves Hypocrisie and Dissembling And Women perceiving that they had not in their hearts the virtue of true Love and that the Name of Hypocrisie was so odious amongst Men they did give it the sirname of Honour so that those who had not in them that true and honourable Love did pretend that their Honour did forbid them to do this or that and have made thereby so cruel a law that even some Women who would love perfectly do Dissemble esteeming Virtue to be Vice But they who are of a good understanding and of a sound Judgement do never fall into such errours for they do know the difference betwixt light and darknesse and that true love consisteth in this to show the chastity of the heart which cannot live but by true love and will not seek for false Honour from the vice of Dissimulation Nevertheless I have heard said Dagoucin that the most private Love is the most commendable Private said Simontault and concealed from the eys of those that judge not aright but which is clear and known enough unto those two at least whom it doth concern I so understand said Dagoucin and I believe that this Virgin did love more violently because she did not declare it unto any Whatsoever she did said Longaren we ought to look upon her Virtue which to overcome her own heart was the greatest of all virtues and the occasions and temptations which she had being consider'd I do sâ—y that she ought to be accounted a most excellent Virgin If you esteem said Saffredant the greatnesse of Virtue by the mortification of our selves the young Lord was more commendable than she whether you look upon the greatnesse of the love which he did bear unto her or his power and the opportunities and the means he might have had yet neverthelesse he would not offend the rule of true love which makes the Prince and the Poorest Creature to be equal and doth use no other means but what Honesty doth permit There are many said Hircan who would not have done so Indeed he was highly to be esteemed said Longaren having overcome the common Imperfection of Men for he who can do evil and doth it not is a happy Man To this purpose said Guebron you cause me to think of one who had a greater fear to offend the eyes of Men than God his Honour or his Love I pray you said Parlament will you be pleasid to rehearse that Account unto us for the performance whereof I do give you my voice There are divers said Guebron who believe that there is no God or if there be a God they do conceive him to be so far from them that he can neither see nor understand the works they do and although he doth see them they do think he is so tame or so unmindfull of them that he will not punish them and that he takes no Care of the things that are done on Earth And of this opinion was a Lady whose Name for the honour I do bear unto her Family I will change and I will call her Camilla She was often heard to say that He or She who had nothing to do but with God only were happy if in the mean time they could preserve the reputation of their Honour entire from the eyes of the world but you shall perceive that neither her Wisdom nor her Hypocrisie could guard her but the mystery of her Lust was revealed as you shall find by this History the truth whereof I will give you all along excepting the Names of the Persons and the places both which shall be changed The Hypocrisie of a Lady of the Court was discovered by the misdemeanours of her Loves which she thought cunningly to have concealed The Third Novel IN a fair
Castle there lived a great Princesse and of a great Authority who entertained in her Company a young Lady called Camilla a Gentlewoman of a bold spirit by whom her Mistresse was so governed that she did nothing but by her Counsel esteeming her to be one of the wisest and the most virtuous Damosells that lived in that Age. This Camilla did so much inveigh against all fond love that if at any time she knew a Gentleman to be amorous of one of her Companions she would most sharply reprehend them and would be sure to make so bad a report of it unto her Mistresse that severely she would check them for it wherefore she was far more feared than beloved by her Companions and if at any time she did speak to any Man it would be so loud and with so great a confidence that she had the same to be a mortal Enemy to all love although it was altogether contrary to her heart for there was a Gentleman in the Service of her Mistresse with whom she was so much taken that it was impossible to be more But the love she did bear to her Glory and reputation did make her to dissemble her affection And having endured this passion a whole year refusing as others to comfort her self by discourse and looks her heart so violently was inflamed that she was inforced to seek out the last remedy and in the conclusion determined with her self that her only course was to satisfie her Desires and wherein none but God should know her heart without making any Man partaker of it who at one time or other would reveal it This resolution being taken looking one day down upon the Terrasse from the Window in her Mistresses Chamber she observed him to be walking there whom so passionately she loved and having observed him until the setting of the Sun had taken away the full sight of him she called to a little Page whom she had and shewing the Gentleman to him she said unto him Do you see yonder Gentleman in that rich Cloak and Crimson Satten Doublet goe to him and tell him that there is one of his friends who would speak a word with him within in the Garden Gallery and when the Boy was gone she passed by the wardrope belonging to her Mistresses Chamber and came into the Gallery having so muffled herself with her Scarses that she could not be discovered The Gentleman being come where she was she did goe immediately to shut the Doors of the Gallery that no man unexpectedly might enter in upon them and without taking off her Masques and her Scarses she imbraced him with all the strength she had and spake unto him as softly as possibly she could It is a long time my friend since the love which I have born unto you hath made me to seek out both the place and the occasion to enjoy your company but the fear of my Honour hath been so strong upon me that it hath constrained me to dissemble my passion But at last the force of love hath overcome all fear and in the knowledge which I have of your goodnesse if you will promise to love me and never to acquaint any one with it and not to enquire who I am I dare assure you for my part that I will be to you a loyal and a faithfull friend and that I will never love any one but your self but I had rather die than you should know who I am The Gentleman did promise what she demanded which made her the more ready to render him the like which was to refuse nothing which he did desire to take It was about five or six of the clock in the Winter so that it was impossible for him to perceive who she was but touching of her cloaths he did find they were of Velvet which in those times was not worn on every day but only by Ladies of the noblest Families and of great Authority And concerning that which was underneath he without light could make judgement good enough with his hand and he found nothing but what was plump lusty and in good liking If he on his part did his uttermost endeavour to give her the best entertainment he could she did no lesse on hers and the Gentleman perceived well enough that she was a married woman She incontinently would return from whence she came but the Gentleman said unto her I do most highly esteem this favour which without my merit you have conferred on me but I shall more esteem of that which at my request I shall receive of you I hold my self so honoured with this courtesie that I must beseech you to tel me if I ought not to hope to enjoy it again and in what time or place you will please to command me for since I must not know you I know not of my self how to procure it Take no care for that said the Lady but assure your self that every Evening before my Mistresses Supper is served in I will not fail to send for you but be you sure to be upon the Terrasse where you were this afternoon I will send you word only to remember what you promised by that word you may understand that I do attend you in the Gallery But if you hear talk of going immediatly to Supper you may for that Evening either retire home or come into the Chamber of my Mistresse But above all things I must desire you if you will have the continuance of my Love that you will not seek after my name nor endeavour to know who I am This assurance being made the Damosel and the Gentleman did return into their several places and did a long time continue this course of life and he could never perceive who it was whereupon he entred into a great perplexity of mind doubting much within himself what it should be for he was confident there was no Woman in the word who would not be seen and be beloved wherefore he suspected with himself that it was some evil Spirit and the rather because he had heard a foolish Preacher say That if we could but see the Devil in the face we should never be in love with him In this suspition he determined with himself to know who it was who came alwayes so muffled to him And on the next night in which they were to meet he carried with him a piece of chalk and in his imbraces of her he did give her a long mark with it on the shoulder behind which she perceived not and as soon as ever they departed one from the other the Gentleman immediately repaired into the Chamber of her Mistresse and stood so near unto the Door to observe behind the shoulders of all those Ladies who did enter into the Chamber And amongst others he beheld the young Lady Camilla to enter in with so severe a boldnesse that he was almost afraid to look on her as he did upon the others holding himself most assured that it could not be she but
doing wrong to either sex I may be allowed to speak the truth both of Men and women and to affirm that there is nothing good at all either in the one or the other But this Man said Parlament was marvellously deceitfull for on the one side he cousened his Maid and on the other side his Wife You do not well understand the story I perceive said Hircan for that saith that he did content them both on one morning and not deceive them which I look upon as a great Act of Virtue both of body and of mind as well by deeds as by words to give content unto two divers persons In that said Parlament he is doubly to be blamed in satisfying the simplicity of the one by Dissimulation and and the longings of the other by Lust but I understand well enough that such Sins as these being brought before such a Judge as you will find an easie pardon You may assure your self said Hircan to please two at once is no easie task and for my own part I will never undertake so great and difficult an enterprise I have given you my Account already and think herein I have not ill imployed my days work If a mutual Love said Parlament cannot content the heart I know no other thing in the world that can give content unto it To speak the truth said Simontault I do believe that there is not a greater punishment in the world than to love and not to be beloved again I do believe you said Oysilla and to that purpose I do remember a Story which indeed doth not deserve to be numbred on the file of good ones but because it is for the present purpose I am content to declare it to you Of a Frier whose Custom it was to bring his complaints to several Husbands which was the occasion that they did beat their Wives The sixth Novell IN the City of Angoulesm where Count Charls the Father of King Francis had oftentimes his residence there was a Frier called De Valles a very knowing Man and so great a Preacher that upon all Sundays in the Advents he preached in the City before the Count by means whereof his Reputation was much increased It so fell out that during the Advent a lusty young fellow of the City having married a handsom young Wench did not desist for all that to ramble up and down and to live as dissolutely if not more than those who were unmarried of which the young Woman being advertised could not hold her peace so that following him up and down and exclaiming on him she received such tokens from him as she would not willingly have and neverthelesse for all that she did not forbear to continue her exclamations and oftentimes would speak very high words and most passionately rail against him The young Man being much incited at it did begin to lay about him and to leave on her shoulders the marks of his displeasure whereat she began to cry out far louder than before and her Neighbours also that knew the occasion of it would inveigh against him and making a great noise in the streets would cry out Now fie on all such Husbands Let them go all to the Devil The Frier De Valles passing by that way and understanding the noise and the occasion of it did determine with himself to speak one word of it in his next dayes Sermon which accordingly he did for speaking of marriage and of the love which ought to be betwixt the Husband and the Wife he did highly praise it and blamed those that did go about to violate it and making a comparison betwixt conjugal and paternal Love he said amongst other things That it was a greater danger and a more grievous punishment for a Husband to beat his Wife than to beat his Father or his Mother for said he if you beat your Father or your Mother you are sent to Rome to do penance but if you beat your Wife both she and all her Neighbours will fall a cursing of you and send you immediately to the Devil that is to say to Hell You are to observe now said he what a difference there is betwixt these two penances for from Rome they do ordinarily come back again but from Hell-Oh There is no teturning Nulla est redemptio Not long after that Sermon he was advertised that Women made their boasts of that which he preached and that their Husbands could live in no quiet for them for which in his next Sermon he did resolve to prescribe an Order for the redresse of that inconvenience And in some part of it he compared Women unto Devils and said that they two were the greatest Enemies that Man had for they did always tempt Man without any intermission and he could never get rid of them especially of the Woman for the Devils he said will fly away if they be but shewed the Crosse but Women clean contrary to them will cleave the faster to them being the greatest cross themselves that can be to their Husbands And this doth make them so to run and to go and doth throw them into such an infinity of passions But good people be ruled by me and I will tell you what you shall do When you do find that your Wives do torment you in this manner without cease as I have said they are accustomed to do take off the handle from your crucisix and with that handle drive them as far from you as you can Do as I bid you and vigorously make experience of it three or four times and you shall find the good that will come of it you shall find that in the same manner that you doe chase away the Devil by the virtue of the Crosse you shall also chase away and make your Wives to hold their peace by the Virtue of the handle of the Crosse and they will no more presume to come too near unto you Loe here some part of the Preachments of that venerable de Valles of whose life I will make here no larger a recital but I can tell you whatsoever appearance he made to the contrary for I knew the man very well yet in his heart he took the Womens parts more than the Mens Madem said Parlament he did not shew it in that last Sermon in which he gave instructions unto Men to beat their Wives You do not understand his drift in it said Hircan had you been exercized in the discipline and the Stratagems of War you would have found that one of the greatest policies that is required is to make a Civil sedition in the Camp of the Enemy because it is then most easie to overcomâ— him In the like manner this Monk the Master of his Arts did understand well enough that the Anger and the Hatred betwixt the Husband and the Wife is the Cause oftentimes that makes the Wife to let loose the reigns of her honesty which being governed no more by virtue doth fall into the hands of
entreat you that if for the time to come you shall entertain any such opinion of me that you will not dissemble it and that you will not think ill of it if I shall never again keep company with you At the end of some Moneths after they had lived together in their accustomed familiarities the married Gentleman did enter again into his former Jealousie more than ever and commanded his Wife to look no more upon him with that Countenance which she had been accustomed to doe which she again imparted to the Companion of her Husband beseeching him of her self that he would be pleased to forbear to speak any more unto her for she had received for her own part an expresse Commandment to that purpose from her Husband The Gentleman understood by these words of hers and by the Countenance which he observed that she did make unto her Husband that he had not kept his promise with him wherefore he said unto him in a great Cholet If you are jealous my Companion it is a thing natural but after so many Oaths which you have made unto me I am forry to find that which you labour so much to conceal from me For I always thought that there had been no Medium nor Obstacle betwixt your heart and mine but to my great grief and without the least occasion I doe find the contrary because you are not only foolishly jealous of your Wife and of my self but you doe indeavour to cover it that the disease may increase so long upon you that it may turn all into hatred and as our love hath been the greatest of any that hath been known in our age so the enmity may prove as mortal I have hated that which you suspect and have done what I could to avoid the inconvenience but because you do suspect me to be so wicked and to be contrary to that which I have always been unto you I doe swear unto you and doe promise you upon my faith that now I will be such as you esteem me to be and I will never cease until I have had that of your Wife which you think I have obtained already and for the time to come look to it for since that Jealousie hath separated you from the love of me Despite shall sever me from the love of men Although his Companion did indeavour to perswade him to the contrary yet he would not take any notice of it but took his part of those goods and movables which before were in common betwixt them and they were as much divided in their affections as they were before united and the Gentleman that was not married was as good as his word for he did never leave to court the suspected Lady until he had cornuted his Companion as he promised him that he would Here Ladies they may learn and grow wise who unjustly doe suspect their Wives for many are the cause that they are such as they suspect themselves to be for a Woman of spirit and understanding is more overcome by Despite than by all the pleasures in the World If any one shall affirm that jealousie is love I shall deny it but it doth proceed from it indeed as the sparks from the fire and is as destructive I do believe said Hircan that there neither is nor can be a greater displeasure to Man or Woman than to be suspected when there is no cause for it and for my self there is nothing that so much doth make me to break off the Company of my Friends than this suspition It is not said Oysilla a reasonable excuse for a Woman to revenge the jealousie of her Husband by bringing a shame and a dishonour upon her self It is to do like that weak man who not being able to kill his Enemy doth wound himself with a sword or that weak woman who because she cannot come to scratch her Enemy doth bite off her own nails for anger But she had done more wisely not to have spoken to him but only to have represented unto her Husband the wrong which he had done her by his unjust jealousie for time might have made them friends again If this said Emarsuite was the Resolution of a Wife and that other Wives should do the like there are many Husbands who would not be so arrogant and outragious as they are Whatsoever it were said Longaren it is patience that doth render a Woman at the last victorious It is chastity that doth render her commendable and it behoveth us to stay there Neverthelesse said Emarsuite a Woman may well be not chast without sin How understand you that said Oysilla When she mistakes another for her Husband replyed Emarsuite or is so sottish said Parlament that she knows not the difference between her Husband and another in whatsoever habiliments he shall disguise himself There have been and are still of those Women said Emarsuite who have been deceived by others and yet themselves have remained innocent and inculpable of Sin If you know any such said Dagoucin I do give you my voice that we may receive from you an account of her for it seemeth strange to me that Innocence and Sin can lodge together Then listen to me said Emarsuite And Ladies if by the foregoing stories you are not sufficiently advertised how dangerous it is to lodge those in your houses who call us worldly things and do esteem themselves to be holy and far more worthy than our selves I will yet adde one Example more to shew unto you that they are but Men as others are and altogether as subtle and sinful as they as it shall appear unto you by this History Of Two Grey-Friers who on the Wedding-Night did one after the other usurp the place of the Bridegroom for which they were severely punished The eighth Novell IN a village in the Country of Perigard there was kept in an Inn the Marriage of the Daughter of the Host where her Parents and all her Friends did inforce themselves to make the best chear that possibly they could On the Wedding-day there arrived two Friers who had their Supper sent them up into their Chamber because it was not lawfull for such mortified Men to be present at Weddings But the Elder of them who had more Authority and Knavery than the other did resolve with himself that although he could not be present at the Table with the Bride yet he would partake with the Bridegroom in his Bed and that he would now play a game in which he would shew his Master-piece When the Night came and the Dancing began the Frier did look a long time out of the Window upon the Bride and observed her to be fair and lovely and according to his own mind and enquiring of the Governour of the Chamberlains where she was to lie he found that the Brides Chamber was next unto his own at which he was very glad and so strictly did watch her that he saw the Bride undressed by the old women who according to
a way to goe out of her own house into a place where privatly she might see him The Gentleman who on that morning had been let blood in the arm finding himself to be better recovered by that Message than he could be by Physick or all the receits that could be given him did teturn word that he would not fail to come at the hour she appointed and that she had wrought an apparent Miracle for by one word she had cured a Man of a Disease for whom all the Physicians could find no Redresse The Evening being come which he so much longed for the Gentleman repaired to the place which was appointed with so great a Contentment that it could not be increased He attended not long but she whom he loved better than his own soul did come to find him He did not study to make any long Oration for the fire which did burn within him did make him hastily to possesse himself of that which he could hardly perswade himself that he had in his own power and being drunk with Love and Pleasure whiles he sought to provide a remedy for his life more than was requisite he found the advancement of his Death for in the love to his Sweet-heart having forgot himself he perceived not his Arm from which the Vein opening again the blood did come forth so abundantly that the poor Gentleman was almost bathed in it But he believing that his faintnesse did proceed from his Excess of pleasure did think with himself to return to his own Lodging But Love who had too much united them together did so dispose of it that in departing from his friend his soul did depart from himself and by the great effusion of blood he had lost he fell down dead at her feet who was so amazd both in the consideration of the loss which she had of so entire a friend of whose Death she was the only Cause as also of the shame that would fall upon her if the dead body were found in her house that not knowing what to do she and one of her Chambermaids in whom she altogether trusted did carry the body into the Street where she would not leave it alone but taking the sword of her dead friend she resolved to partake of his fortune and perish by the effusion of blood also in punishing that heart which was the cause of all this Evil and forcing the sword quite through her she fell down upon the Body of her Friend The Father and the Mother of this young Gentlewoman comming forth out of their house on the next morning did behold this pittiful spectacle And making as great a lamentation as the Case deserved they did bury them both together By this Ladies you may see what mischiefs do attend the extremity of love This is that which doth please me well said Simontault when Love is so equal that the one dying the other cannot live and if God had made me so blest as to have found such a one I do verily perswade my self that no man had ever loved so perfectly as I should have done But I am of opinion said Parlament that love would not have so much blinded you but you would have remembred to have kept your Arm better than that Gentleman did for those days are passed that Men do forget their lives for their Ladies But those days are not passed said Simontault that Ladies for their pleasure do forget the lives of their Servants I am of opinion said Emarsuite that there is no Woman in the World that taketh pleasure in the death of a Man although he were her Enemy Neverthelesse if Men will kill themselves Ladies cannot help their willfulnesse So it is said Saffredant that she who refuseth a piece of bread to a poor men dying for hunger is esteemed to be a Murderesse If your requests said Oysilla were as reasonable as the poor Mans begging for his necessity Ladies should be too cruel to refuse you But God be praised the malady of love doth kill no man but only those who wold die of themselves that year I know not Madam said Saffredant what is the greatest necessity but only that which doth make us to forget all others For when Love is violent we mind neither bread nor any other delicates whatsoever but only the looks and words of those we love They who would suffer you to fest said Oysilla without giving you any other Viands would quickly make you change your thoughts of Love I must confesse said Saffredant that the Body would fail but the Heart and the good will would still remain Then said Parlament God hath given you a great grace that you should addresse your self to one where you find so little Contentment that you must comfort up your self with eating and drinking with which me thinks you may acquit your self so well that you ought to praise God for that friendly cruelty I am so nourished in affliction said Saffredant that I do begin to solace my self in those torments of which others do complain It may be said Longaren that your love doth so withdraw you from all Company that no other contentment can be welcom to you for there is nothing more troublesom than an importunate Lover Nothing said Simontault unlesse it be a cruel Lady I do perceive said Oysilla that if we should attend to hear an end of the Reasons of Simontault that we should bear no Vespers this Evening Wherefore let us rise and praise God that this Days work is so well accomplished She did begin first of all to rise her self and all the rest did follow her but Simontault and Longaren did continue all the way to discusse the Argument and so gently that without drawing of his Sword Simontault did get the better shewing that the strongest passion was the greatest necessity And speaking those words they did enter into the Church where the Monks did attend them Vespers being ended they did go to Supper where they entertained one another with as much discourse as Diet for the Dispute continued all the time of Supper and all the Evening afterwards until Oysilla told them that it was high time to goe to rest and that five days Journeys were adorned with such delightfull Histories that she was afraid that the sixth day would not be like unto it for it was not possible to invent better Accounts than what were here delivered and which were not Fictions but Truths But Guebron said that as long as the world endured there would something fall out every day which would be new and worthy to be remembred for the depravednesse of bad men and their corruptions will be always such as heretofore they have been and in the same way will be the Goodnesse of Good men And as long as Grace and Corruption do reign upon the Earth they will always fill it with one Novelty or another although it be written That there is nothing new under the Sun But we who have not been called to
are not exempt from being tempted with avarice which is the occasion of so many Evils Nay rather of so much goods said Saffredant for the two thousand Duckets which the old Woman gave the Friers out of her Treasury were goods enough to make them merry And the poor Girl her Daughter who had so long stayed for one Husband might now by this means have two and be better enabled to dispute the truth of all Complexions You entertain always the worst thoughts that may be said Oysilla for in your own opinion all women are of your own temper Madam by your leave said Saffredant I did not care if they were provided they were as easie to be contented as we Men are You speak against the Truth said Oysilla for I am consident there is not a woman here amongst us but knows the contrary and moreover you speak directly against the sense of the Account just now rehearsed which was to shew the ignorance of poor woman and the subtilty and the sin of those whom we do commonly believe to be better Men than all others for you shall find that neither the good Woman nor her Daughter did any thing of their own heads but submitted their desires unto the Counsel of their Confessor Howsoever there are some women so difficult to please said Longaren that in their own opinions they do deserve to have Angels for their Husbands and that is the reason said Simontault that so oftentimes they do find Devils especially those Women who not relying on the Grace of God do trust altogether to their own apprehensions or are slattered to a conceit by others to find in this world that felicity which is not given nor can come from any but from God only How now Simontault said Oysilla I thought you had not known so much Madam said Simontault I am sorry that you conceive me to be no better experienced for through my defect of knowledge I perceive that you entertain a bad opinion of me but for all that by your leave why may not I perform the office of a Frier since a Frier hath performed the office of such a Man as I am Fy fy Do you call it an office said Parlament to deceive Women in doing so out of your own mouth you judg your self If I should deceive a hundred thousand of them said Simontault I should not be reveng'd for the torments which but from one of them I have received I know well enough said Parlament that oftentimes you do make your complaint against Ladies yet neverthelesse we see you jocund and in so good liking that we cannot believe you suffer so much as you say you do But the Author of the fair Lady doth affirm that from bad promises no good can be expected to ensue You do allege a notable Doctor said Simontault who is not only stubborn and churlish himself but also makes them all to be so who do read and follow his Doctrine So it is said Parlament that his Doctrine is more profitable to young Women than any Doctrine that I know But said Simontault If Ladies were without mercy we might set up our Horses in our Stables and let our Armor rust upon our walls and think on nothing but our Country affairs I pray tell me if it be for the honour of a Lady to have the Name to be without pity without Charity without Mercy Without Love and Charity said Parlament she must not be but the word of Mercy doth sound so strangely in the ears of Ladies that they cannot use it without some offence unto their Honours for Mercy properly is to grant that favour which is demanded and we know well enough what is the favour which Men do desire Be not displeased Madam said Simontault there are some Men so reasonable that they desire only but good words You cause me now said Parlament to remember him who did content himself with a Glove I would fain know said Hircan who was that gracious Servant and for that cause I do give you my voice It will be a pleasure to me said Parlament to repeat it to you for the story is full of Honesty A ridiculous account of a Lord of England who on his Habiliments did wear the Glove of a Lady The Seventh Novell KIng Lewis the eleventh did send the Earl of Montmorancy as his Ambassador into England who was there so well entertained that the King and all his Nobility did love and highly esteem him and many of them did communicate unto him their private affairs to have his Counsel therein Being one day at a Banquet which the King had made there sate next unto him a Lord descended of most noble Parentage who did wear a Ladies Glove made fast on his Brest as if it were for a Favour it was wrought all over with gold and on the joynts of the fingers there were many rich Diamonds Rubies Emraulds and Pearls insomuch that the Glove was valued at a very great price The Earl of Montmorancy did so often look upon it that my Lord perceived that he had a desire to know the reason wherfore he was in so gallant an equipage and because he conceived that it would conduce much to his honour he began to speak unto him I do perceive you do find it strange that I have so gorgeously accoutred a poor glove I have a great desire to acquaint you with the occasion of it for I conceive you to be so worthy a Man â—nd so knowing what the passion of Love is that if I have done well I know you will praise me if not you will excuse Love who doth carry a great Command over all noble hearts You must understand That during all my life I have loved a Lady that I do love her and will love her after my death And because my heart had more boldnesse to addresse it self on a time and place unto her than my tongue had to speak unto her I stayed seven years without daring to make any semblance at all unto her knowing that if she perceived it I should lose both the means which I had so often to frequent the place where she was by the reason whereof I entertained as much fear as love But one day being in the field and looking on her such a beating of my heart did take me that I lost both my Colour and all my Countenance which she very well perceived and asked me How I did I made answer to her That it was an insupportable Grief of my heart She who thought that it was a Malady of another sort than Love did shew her self to have pity on me which made me to beseech her to put her hand upon my heart to see how violently it did beat which she did more for charity than for love And puting her hand which was gloved upon my heart my heart did so beat and torment iâ— self that she perceived I did speak the Truth Immediatly I did press her hand as close as I could
the bonds And this Ladies doth excite me to intreat you that every hour you would demand of God his Holy Spirit that your hearts may be inflamed on his Love and that you may find no difficulty in the hour of Death to forsake that which too much in the world you loved If their love was so virtuous said Hircan as you describe it what was the reason that it was kept so secret Because said Parlament the malice of Men is such they will not believe that a great Love as such as this was can ever be joyned with honesty for they judge of virtuous Men and Women according to their own passions and for that occasion it is requisite that if a virtuous Woman doth please to entertain a virtuous Friend she must discourse secetly with him if she intends to discourse long with him for the Honour of a woman is as apt to be disputed on for loving according to the Laws of Virtue as to the unruly instructions of Vice for we judge not but only according to apparence You say something indeed said Guebron but when the secret comes to be revealed we judge not oftentimes so bad as there is occasion for I do confesse it in some cases said Longaren and therefore the best course is not to love at all We will appeal from that Sentence said Dagoucin for if we thought Ladies were without love we could wish our selves without life We understand that they only live to be beloved and although it sometimes doth fall out that they doe misse of this love yet hope doth sustain them and doth cause them to perform a hundred thousand honourable actions until old age doth change their honest desires into more sanctified resolutions They who would deprive us of the Love of Women must take Arms and Honour from Men and make them all Merchants and instead of acts of Chivalry must make it their only businesse to heap up riches If it were not then for Women said Hircan you will say that we were miserable and wretched as if Men had no hearts but what Women do give unto them But I am of a contrary opinion do believe that there is nothing which doth more abate the heart of Man than too much to love Women and to frequent their conversation And for that occasion it is that the Hebrews were forbid to go unto the warrs in that year wherein they were married for fear that the love of the Wife should draw him from those dangers which there he is bound to undergo For my own part said Saffredant I find no great reason in that Law for there is nothing that can make a Man sooner to goe out of his House than to be married for the Warrs without doors are always more grateful and more tollerable than that within and I do believe that to give a desire to men to travel into forein Countreys and not slothfully to amuse themselves at their own fires they ought to marry It is true said Emarsuite that marriage doth take from them all care of their own houses for being married they trust altogether to their Wives and they think on nothing themselves but on the purchase of Honour being confident that their Wives at home will take care enough for their profit In whatsoever sense you will render it said Saffredant I am very glad that you are of my opinion But all this while said Parlament you discourse not of that which is most considerable which is why the Gentleman which was the occasion of this most unhappy accident did not die of meer sorrow as well as the young Gentlewoman who was innocent Nomerfide made answer to her It is because that women do love better and more faithfully than Men. No said Simontault It is because the jealousie and the desire of Women do make them believe that which they have no reason to believe and the Wisedom of Men doth direct them to seek after the Truth only which being rightly understood doth show the greatnesse of their hearts as is apparent by this Gentleman who having understood that he was the occasion of the death of his Sweet-heart did make it remarkable how much he did love her without sparing his own life Howsoever said Emarsuite she died for true love for her faithfull and loyal heart could not endure to be so unexpectedly betrayed It was not Love but Jealousie said Simontault which would give no place to reason and because she did believe that Evil to be in her friend which indeed was not as she thought it was her death was constrained by an excesse of grief for it lay not in her power to help it but the death of her friend was voluntary and of his own accord after he knew the injury he had done her The Love must needs be great said Nomerfide which caused so great a sorrow You need not fear at all said Hircan that you will ever die of that Feaver And as much I dare undertake for you said Nomerfide you will never kill your self after you have known your offence Parlament doubting their debate might prove to her expence did smiling say unto them It is enough that two already have been dead for Love let Love let you two alone And hark this is the last time that the Bell rings in to Vespers Will you go or no Speaking those words the Company all did rise and did repair to the Evening Song not forgetting in their good prayers the soules of true Lovers for which the Monks of their own accord did sing their Hymn De profundis And afterwards as long as Supper did continue they had no other discourse but of Madam Du Verger and having for a pretty while passed away their time in such Conference they did all retire into their Chambers and did put an End to the Accounts of the seventh day The End of the seventh Journall The Eighth Dayes Iournal of the Novells of the Queen of NAVARRE The Preface THe Morning being come they sent to understand in what a readiness their Bridge was and understood that within two or three dayes it would be finished which did nothing please some of the Company who from their hearts desired that the Work would last longer that the contentment might contitinue which they received in that happy company And seeing they had but two or three days at most they were resolved not to lose that time and desired Madam Oysilla to administer unto them the Spiritual pasture of their Souls as she had been accustomed to do which accordingly she did and held them longer than was usual for before that they departed one from another she desired to put an end to her readings on Saint John in which she did so well acquit her self that it seemed â—he Holy Ghost full of Love and Sweetness did speak by her Mouth And all of them being inflamed with that Holy fire did repair to hear high Masse After Dinner talking together on the Journal of the Day
of Venus The Poem is call'd by the Author La Charite and in his Works it is commonly placed next to those Poems which he calleth Les Mascarades THe little God and wild one a Commander Who through the Earth and through the Heavens doth wander Viewing the Ladies of the Court one day Return'd to Heaven to whom did Venus say Tell me my Son as thou abroad dost fly Without regard to Faith or Loyalty If thou on earth hast any beauty known Thy Eye sees all which doth surpasse mine own Love made reply Forsooth be sure there are On Earth no beauties can with yours compare Unlesse one Ladie 's on whose cradle all Indulgent Graces down from Heaven did fall She straight did blush as Ladies blush for shame To have in Beauties an inferiour name And to find out the truth of what he said ' Mongst all her Graces choyce of one she made My Heart my Love my Soul my Eyes my Thought Of thee if ever I deserv'd have ought Goe down to France and let me truly know If any Beauty mine exceeds or no. The young and all divine Pasithea The Skies abandon'd her commands t' obey The Air gave place unto her and the Wind Through the wast Regions buoy'd her up as kind She Stoop'd descending in a sudden flight Cleaving the Clowds as in the silent night Far off there in a shining track is spi'd A falling Star between two Airs to glide Beauty and Vigour Youth and Curtesie Attraction Sport Delight and Love did fly Like Birds about her round and for her sake Did there their chosen habitation make Natures Chief wonder her diviner head With waving treasures thick was covered Of curl'd ring'd crisped and of braided hair But of complexion rather brown than fair A table fair her Forehead seem'd to be Of Marble white the seat of Majestie Smooth as the Sea when we behold it may Lye all becalm'd in a fair Summers day The Ebon Arches of her Brow did prove The Portaict of the Bow o' th' God of Love Or Heavens bright Crescent it resembled when She three dayes old begins her month again Two several forces in her Eyes there were The one was smiling th' other seem'd severe Two Eyes nay rather two twin-stars o' th' Skies That could both Love attract and Love chastise In those black Eyes all Delicacies Trains Hooks Arrows Prisons Services and Chains Whose Arguments even Reason self obey'd Serv'd as a Convoy for that Heavenly Maid In those black Eyes all beauties did abound Without them Love no other lodging found Near which in an exact ascent her Nose A little Hillock 'twixt two Valleys rose On her white tender delicater Ear A Pretious Ruby hung and sparkling there Playd on her Cheek and of her Face before Which shone a wonder made the wonder more A pure Vermilion on her Cheeks did grow Which like a bed of blushing Pinks did show Or like the laughing Strawberries when they Strow'd on the top of all the Cream do play Not all the Flow'rs deriv'd from Princes blood Narcissus Ajax such complexion shew'd As her Vermilion mix'd with Brown which strook Mens Souls transported with so sweet a look Such is the beauty of the Evenings Air With some few blacks imbellishing her fair When the first Clouds but thin appear and Day Doth by degrees begin to wast away Her Mouth a thousand roses did enclose As many Pinks and Lillies where two rowes Of Pearl for Teeth did stand from whence did fly A rich perfume that did imbalm the skie From thence flowd laughter such sweet discourse That Men to Stones she with her words could force But hearing of her speak and could agen Make Stones as gentle and as soft as Men. All the fair features of this Face were seen Clos'd in a round a thick and dimpled Chin Whose soft and dainty swelling did bettay Another plumpness that beneath it lay Her Neck a pillar was of Potphyrie Streak'd with long azure vains where you might see The Rose the Lilly and the Pink conjoyn'd Stirr'd with a soft and pleasant Western wind Two hills of milk which one wind press'd and repess'd Without removing quiver'd on her Breast Whose swelling Rounds on which two pinks did grow Th' approaching flourish of her youth did show The rest I dare not for how can the rest Hid from my eyes be by my art exprest A sacred sequestration 't is where Honour And Chastness waits as watchfull Guards upon her White were her Hands and slender soft and long Which forth in veins and several branches sprung And into five-born twins themselves dividing Shew'd on their tops where were five pearls residing Of maâ—ble pure with art most exquisite Her comlyest Legg was fram'd small were her Feet Such as they say hath Nereus lovely Dame Two sure supporters of so brave a frame Swift as the darting of the lightnings flame This beauteous Nymph to Charls his Palace came And suddenly advanc'd her self unseen Into the Hall where did the mask begin Dark was the night whose danker curtain spread Had round about the air enveloped When the bright Ladies came to dance and did Shine all like Stars when all the Stars were hid Robes there with Gold and Silver richly wrought Their glistring flames in emulation shot Lights in the Air their rising fires threw high Which sparkling from the pretious stones did fly There my brave King there you my Lords might see His Brothers come hung round with Majestie Fenc'd with the Laws which their Companions were Laws that were far more gentle than severe Our ages mirrour Margaret the fair There in her double value did appear And now a Pearl and now a Flow'r did show A braver beauty than the Spring could know About the Hall a pretious cloud did throw Its Musk and Amber odours and did show By that sweet wonder that from Heav'n to dance Came down a Goddesse into th' Court of France Into the Chamber as the Sun doth passe Waving and pointed yet ne'r cracks the glasse But breaks through th' envious object that would stay The piercing force of his diviner ray So this fair lovely Nymph into the Room Where danc'd these Princes unperceiv'd did come And drawing neer shot like Heav'ns sudden fire Her self into our Margaret intire So well her Soul was in her Soul inclos'd So well her life was in her life repos'd So well her blood into her blood was grown That of two bodies they were now but one Which my King seeing though to Heav'n he be As near in judgement as in pedigree Was first of all himself deceiv'd because He thought that only she his Sister was Locking his hand in hers the King did lead The Dance and her who did not seem to tread But as she had no feet she in her pace Swimm'd as she mov'd with a coelestial Grace Man heavy treads and by his gate doth show The dull alliance he to earth doth owe But Gods do flie and unconfin'd to pace Prove their eternal and
to the Father for the charges of the Processe The said Aignan residing in England seeing that by Justice he was but a dead man in France did so prevail there by his service to many of the Nobility and by the savour of the Kindred of his Wife that the K. of England did make a request to the King of France to vouchsafe him a Pardon and to repossesse him in his Goods and Honors but the King having understood the villanous and horrid Act did send the Processe to the King of England and desired him to consider if such a case deserved pardon or not adding besides that the Duke of Alençon had in his Kingdome the only privilege to grant pardons for offences committed in his own Dutchy But for all these excuses the King of England desisted not but pursued his request with such importunity that in the end the Proctor obtained a pardon and teturned to his own house where to compleat his iniquity he acquainted himself with a Sorcerer whose name was Gallery hoping by his Art that he should be exempted from paying the fifteen hundred Crowns to the Father of the young Man that was murthered To this end he came to Paris and his wife with him being both disguised His Wife observing that every day he locked himself up in a Chamber with the said Gallery that he not acquainted her with the reason of it one morning she watched him and observed that the said Gallery did shew him five Images of wood three of them had their hands banging down and two of them had their hands lifted up and speaking to the Proctor he said we are to make in wax such Images as these are those who have their Arms hanging down shall be those that shall die and those who do lift up their hands shall be those whose favour and countenance we desire The Proctor said unto him This shall be then for the King by whom I desire to be favoured and this shall be for Monseiur Brinon the Chancellor of Alençon Gallery said unto him we must put these Images under the Altar at what time they are hearing Masse and you shall utter some words which at that instant I will teach you to speak And proceeding their discourse concerning those Images which held down their hands the Proctor told him that one of them was for Monseiur Giller du Mestrill the father of the young Man that was killed for he sufficiently understood that so long as he lived he would not cease to pursue him And one of the women who had their hands hanging down was for Madam the Dutchesse of Alençon Sister to the King because she stood so well affected to her old Servant Du Mestrill and in many other things had so perfect a knowledge of the wickednesse of the Proctor that if she died not he could not live The second woman that had her Arms hanging down was for his own wife who was the cause of all his troubles and who he was sure enough would never amend her wicked life When his wife saw all this through the Crevis of the Door and understood that he had ranked her amongst the number of the dead she resolvd with her self that she would be before hand with him under pretence of borrowing some moneys of her Uncle who was master of requests to the Duke of Alençon she repaired to him to give him an account of what she had seen and heard from her Husband Her Uncle as became a good old Servant did addresse himself to the Chancellor of Alençon and repeated the whole story to him and because the Duke and the Dutchesse of Alençon were not that day at the Court the said Chancellor repaired to Madam the Queen Regent the Mother of the King and to the Dutchesse to give them an account of it who immediately sent for the Provost of Paris called Battre who used such diligence that he apprehended the Proctor and Gallery the Conjurer who without rack or constraint did freely confesse the fact and their Processe was made and brought unto the King Some of the Court being willing to have their lives saved pleaded for them and told the King that in their inchantments they desired only to have his favour But the King who esteemed his Sisters life as dear unto him as his own did command that the Sentence of Death should be given as if they had made an attainder upon his own Person Neverthelesse his Sister the Dutchesse of Alençon did so supplicate to have the life of the Proctor saved and the sentence of his death to be turned into some other grievous and corporal punishment that it was at last condiscended to and he and Gallery were both condemned and sent to Marseilles to serve in the Galleys of Saint Blanquart where they finished their days in great captivity and had the leisure to acknowledge the grievousnesse of their offences The wicked woman in the absence of her Husband did continue her transgressions more than ever before and died lamentably Lades I do besecsh you to observe what evill doth proceed from wicked women How many sorrows did this one produce You shall find that ever since Eve caused Adam to sin all Women have made it their profession to torment to kill and to damn Men. As for my self I have such experience of their cruelty that I think to die no otherwise but only by the Despair into which one of them has thrown me and yet I am so foolish that I must confesse that this Hell is more pleasing to me comming from her hand than Paradise could be comming from the hand of another Parlament seeming not to understand that she was the Subject on whom those words reflected did reply unto him If Hell be so pleasant as you express it you need not to fear the Devil who hath put you there He made answer to her in Choler If my Devil had been as black as scornfull he would put this Company into as great a fear as I take pleasure to behold it But the Fire of Love doth make me to forget that of this Hell And to speak no more of it I do give my voice to Madam Oysilla being assured that if she would but speak of Women what she knoweth she would favour my opinion Immediatly the whole Company turned towards her intreating her that she would be pleased to begin which she accepted of and smiling began thus to speak Ladies It doth appear to me that he who hath given me his voice hath spoken so much ill of Women though in the true story of a most wicked one that I ought to run back over all my old years to find out one whose virtue might give a check to this bad opinion And because already I have thought of one not worthy to be forgotten I will give you an account of her The Lamentable and Chast Death of the Wife of one of the Keepers of the Mules of the Queen of Navarre The second
heart as it were her own businesse And Avanturade so much prevailed that she presented Amadour unto her who in â—issing of her hand had almost swouned away for Joy and although he was esteemed the best Speaker in all Spain yet he was struck dumb before Florinda at which she was much amazed for although she was but of twelve years of age yet she well understood That there was not one in all Spain that could speak better or with a greater grace and seeing that he said nothing she began to speak unto him Amadour the Renown which you have gained throughout all Spain is so great that it makes you known in this place and company and administers both a desire and an occasion to those that know you to imploy themselves to doe you good wherefore if there be any thing in which I may be beneficial to you you may imploy me in it Amadour who observed the beauty of the Lady was so ravished with it that he had much to do to say I thank you Although Florinda was astonished to see him without an Answer she did impute it rather to his bashfulnesse than to any force of Love and departed from him without speaking any more Amadour observing the virtue which in such a tendernesse of youth did begin to show it self in Florinda did say unto her whom he intended to make his Wife Marvail not at all that I became as a dumb Man before Florinda for her virtues and wise discourse hid in so young an age did so amaze me that I knew not what to say unto her But Avanturade I must beseech you to inform me for you know the Secrets of the House what Princes Lords and Gentlemen do frequent it for they that know her and do not love her are either Stones or Beasts Avanturade who before did love Amadour better than any one in the world could conceal nothing from him and told him That Madam Florinda was beloved of all the world but because of the custom of the Countrey there were but few admitted to speak unto her and that as yet she had not seen any that had made any profession of love unto her but only two young Princes of Spain who desired to espouse her one whereof was of the House and the Son of the Infant Fortunate and the other was the young Duke of Cadouce I pray you said Amadour Tell me which of them do you think that she loveth best She is so wise said Avanturade that she professeth that she hath no other will but that of her Mothers but as far as we can judge she loveth the Son of the Infant Fortunate far better than the young Duke of Cadouce And I esteem you to be a man of that Judgement that on this day if it please you you may satisfie your self therein for the Son of the Infant Fortunate is brought up in this Court and is one of the most lovely and most absolute young Princes in Christendom And if this Marriage should be according to the opinion desire of us Maids he should be sure to have Madam Florinda that we might see together the most gallant couple in the World And you ought to understand that although they are both of them very yong she not being above twelve and he fifteen years of age yet it is three years since first their love began And above all things if you would obtain the favour of Florinda I would advise you to be a Friend and Servant to the Infant Fortunate Amadour was very glad to understand that Florinda loved any thing hoping at last that he might gain the place if not of a Husband yet of her Servant for he feared nothing in her virtue but only that she could not be induced to love After this Amadour did altogether frequent the Lodgings of the Son of the Infant Fortunate whose favour easily he obtained for all the Pastimes which the young Prince loved Amadour knew how to perform and above all things he was most expert in the riding of great Horses and in all kind of weapons and in other recreations and exercises which a young man ought to know After this the War began in Languedoc and Amadour of necessity was to return with the Governor which was not without great grief for he had no longer the means nor opportunity to come into that place where he might behold Florinda for which purpose he did speak unto his Brother who was the Major Domo in the Court of the Queen of Spain and told him of the entertainment he found in the House of the Countesse of Arand and of the Damosell Aventurade desiâ—ing him that in his absence he would use his utmost endeavour that the Marriage might suddenly be solemnized and that he would imploy therein the Reputation of the King and Queen and of all his friends The Gentleman who loved his Brother as well for his virtues as for the contiguity of blood did promise to perform the uttermost he was able which he did accordingly Insomuch that the old and covetous Father of Avanturade did forget his nature to regard the virtues of Amadour which the Countesse of Arand and above all the beautifull Florinda did set forth before his eyes In the same manner also did the young Count of Arand who as he did grow in age did grow also in love with gallant and virtuous men When the Marriage was accorded on the Major Domo sent to seek out his Brother whiles the Truce lasted betwixt both the Kings During this time the King of Spain retired to Madrid to avoid the contagion of the bad ait which was in many places And by the advice of his Council and the request also of the Countesse of Arand he made the Marriage betwixt the Dutchesse Medina-Coeli an Heiresse and the young Count of Arand as well for the benefit and Union of both Houses as for the love he did bear to the Countesse of Arand and he commanded that that this Marriage should be celebrated in the Castle of Madrid At this Marriage Amadour was present who followed his own so closely that he espoused her by whom he was better beloved than he did love for he onely made this Marriage as a Coverture and a means to frequent the place where his Soul incessantly did abide After he was Married he assumed that boldnesse and was so familiar in the House of the Countesse of Arand that the Ladies had no more regard of him than of one of the Gentlewomen of the House And although he was then but two and twenty years of age he did deport himself so discreetly that the Countesse did communicate to him all her affairs and commanded her Son and her Daughter to make much of him and to take that counsell which he advised them Having gained this high Esteem he did carry himself so wisely and so cunningly that even those whom he loved did not know his affection But Florinda loved the wife of Amadour more than
House of the Countesse of Arand I will leave unto you to imagine what was the discourse which Amadour and Florinda had between themselves and of the complaints they made of the sorrows they had suffered in the absence of one another After a floud of tears from Florinda's eyes for the grief she entertained as much that she was married against her heart as that she had lost him whom so intirely she did love and was out of hope ever to see him alive again she resolved with her self to take comfort in the love and the assurance which she had of Amadour which neverthelesse she durst not declare unto him but he who debated with himself what to do did lose neither time nor occasion to make her understand how great was the love which he did bear unto her Just on the time as she was almost gained to receive him not as a servant but for her best and most assured friend there fell out a wonderfull Accident For the King on some businesse of great Importance did immediately send for Amadour for which his Wife did take so great a grief that in hearing of the News she swouned away and falling down the stairs on which she stood she hurt her self so grievously that she never did rise up again Florinda who in her Death did lose all her comfort did make so great a Lamentation as she could do who found her self destitute both of her Friends and Kinred and Amadour took it as much to heart for on the one side he lost one of the most honest Women that ever lived and on the other he lost the means ever to be able to see Florinda again by reason whereof he fell into so great a sicknesse that he thought that immediately he should die The old Dutchesse of Cardona did visit him uncessantly and alleged to him some Reasons from Philosophy to cause him with Patience to endure that Death but nothing would serve for if Death on the one side did torment him Love on the other did encrease his Martyrdom Amadour observing that his wife was interred and that the Goverour had sent for him and that it was impossible to pretend an excuse to continue where he was entertained such a despair in his heart that he thought he should have lost his life with his understanding Florinda who was in a desolation her self to comfort him did come unto him one day after dinner to administer unto him the best words of comfort that she could hoping thereby to abate the greatnesse of his grief assuring him that in what place soever he was she would find the means to see him and oftner than he conceived And because he was to be gone the next morning and was for the present so weak that he did keep his bed he did beseech her that after every one was departed from him she would be pleased to give him a visit in the Evening which she accorded to being ignorant that the extremity of Love doth know no reason and he who saw no hope left ever to see her again whom for so long a time he had served and who never had received any entertainment from her but what you have heard was so assaulted with his love a long time dissembled and with despair that did present unto him that it was almost impossible for him to see her again that he did resolve with himself to play with her either Double or Quit either to lose all or to win all and in one hour to pay himself with that which he thought he had so well deserved For this purpose he commanded that the Curtains should be drawn close about his bed that those who came into the Chamber might not see him and complained far more than he was accustomed to do insomuch that those of the House did think he could not live four and twenty hours longer In the Evening after every one had been with him Florinda at the request of her own Husband did repair unto him deliberating with her self the more to comfort him to declare unto him her affection and that she would love him altogether and none but him as far as her honour would permit and sitting in a chair near to the tester of Amadours bed she did begin to comfort him by weeping with him Amadour seeing her filled with lamentation thought that in that trouble of her mind he could most easily arrive to the end of his intention and rising up in his bed Florinda thought that he was in some extasie being too far spent and with all the eyes of sorrow began to look upon him who kneeling on his knees did say unto her And must I for ever lose the sight of you and speaking those words he did let himself fall into her arms just like a man that swouned away Poor Florinda did imbrace him and held him up a pretty while doing the uttermost of her desires to comfort him but this Physick which she gave him to amend his grief did render his power more strong for in counterfeiting himself half dead and speachless he began to search after that which the honour of Women doth forbid to be found When Florinda perceived his ill intention she could not believe it and remembring the most civil and vertuous discourse that had always passed betwixt them she said unto him What is it you would have But Amadour fearing to hear her words which he knew would be no other but chast and honest returned no answer at all but pursued his intention with all the force he had whereat Florinda being amazed suspected that he was our of his wits and would rather have conceived any thing of him than that he attempted to dishonor her Wherefore she spake aloud and called unto a Gentleman whom she knew to be in a Chamber hard by whereat Amadour being throughly amazed did throw himself upon the bed and that so suddenly that the Gentleman believed that he had been dead Florinda who was risen up from the chair said unto him Go quickly and bring hither some good Vinegar which the Gentleman did who being departed Florinda began to say unto him Amadour what folly hath possessed your understanding And what is that which you thought and would have donâ— Amadour who by the force of Love had lost all his reason did say unto her Doth so long a service as is mine deserve to be rewarded with such a cruelty Florinda replyed And where is now the Honour concerning which so many times you have preached to me O Madam said Amadour It seems to me impossible to love your Honour more perfectly than I have done For when you were to marry I knew so well to master my heart that you never understood my Desires but now since you are marryed and your Honour may be concealed What wrong do I do unto you to demand that of you which is my own for by the force of love I have gained you He who first had your heart was so cold a Suiter
to your body that he deserved to lose both together He who doth now possesse your body is not worthy to have your heart wherfore neither is your Body his nor can it properly appertain unto him But I Madam for the continued space of five or six years have endured so much love and travel for you that you cannot be ignorant that both your heart and your body do pertain to me for which I have so often hazarded my own And if you think to defend your self by Conscience be you assured that those who have proved the power of Love will lay all the blame upon you who have so ravished my liberty from me and by your divine perfections blinded my understanding that for the time to come not knowing what to do I am constrained to be gone from you without any hope of ever seeing you again Neverthelesse you may be most confident that in any part of the World wheresoever I shall be whether it be on the Sea or on the Land or in the hands of my most cruel Enemies you shall have my heart which shall continue for ever yours And if before my departure I could have that assurance from you which my great love doth merit I should be made strong to endure with patience the affliction of my long absence And if you please not to grant me my request you will quickly hear it spoken that your cruelty hath given me an unhappy Death Florinda being transported with as much sorrow as amazement to hear these words to proceed from him of whom she had never the least suspition did reply in tears unto him And woe is me now Amadour Are these the effects of the virtuous Discourses which from my Youth hither to we have had together Is this the Honour of Conscience which so oftentimes you have counselled me rather to die than to abandon Have you forgotten the great Examples you have instanced to me of so many excellent Ladies who have resisted that foolish Love Have you forgotten the neglect which you your self have had of light and inconstant Ladies I cannot beleeve O Amadour that you should be so far from your self or that God your Conscience and my Honour should be all dead in you But if it be accordingly as you speak I blesse the Divine goodnesse which hath prevented the mischief into which I headlong was falling by shewing me by your words your heart of which I was so much ignorant for having lost the Son of the Infant Fortunate not only by being married my self unto another but because I found and sufficiently understood that he loved another Lady and seeing my self married to one whom I cannot love and that let me do what I can he cannot be agreeable unto me I considered and intirely resolved with my self to love you with all my heart and affections grounding my love upon the Virtue which I have found in you and which by your means I have in some measure attain'd my self which is to love my Honour and my Conscience more than my life To this rock of Honour I am come where I was confident I should find a most sure foundation but in one moment Amadour you have shewn me that in the place of a Rock sure as I thought and beautifull the foundation of the building is upon loose and uncertain Sands or upon a soft and ruinous Bogg And although I had already begun a great part of the building where I resolved to have made my perpetual residence you on the sudden have overthrown it Wherefore you ought by degrees to forsake all hopes which you have promised to your self of me and to resolve with your self that in whatsoever place you see me not to court me at all either by words or countenance And be not so vain to hope that I either can or will ever change my thoughts I speak them to you with so much sorrow that it is impossible it should be greater but if I had proceeded so far as to have sworn unto you perfect love I do well perceive my heart to be such that it would have been dead within me in this rupture although the amazement that is upon me to be deceived by you is so great that I am confident it will render my life either short or dolorous And on these words I do bid you Adieu for ever I will not here undertake to tell you the grief which entred into the heart of Amadour hearing these words for it is not only impossible for a pen to expresse it but for a heart to conceive it unlesse it be such a heart who by experience hath found the like And observing on that â—â—el conclusion that she was going away he did stay her by the arm knowing very well that if he should not take from her again that evil opinion of him which he had caused her to entertain he should lose her for ever wherefore he said unto her with the most dejected countenance that he could put on Madam Through the whole travels of my life I have desired to love a virtuous Lady and because I have found so few I thought good to make experience to see if by your virtue you were as worthy to be esteemed as you are to be loved which now I understand for certain and I thank God who hath put it into my heart to love such great perfection beseeching you to pardon that foolish and presumptuous enterpise and the rather because it turns to your honour and to my great contentment Florinda who by him did begin to understand the subtility of men as she was difficult to believe the Evil in which he was so she was more difficult to believe the Good in which he was not did say unto him I would to God that you did speak the truth but I am not so ignorant but the estate of Mariage in which I am doth make me clearly enough to understand that a blind and a violent passion did make you to do that which you have done for if God had suffered me to let loose my hand I am sure enough that you would have gone away with the bridle Those Signior Amadour who make it their businesse to follow virtue must not tread in that path in which you would go But it is enough that heretofore I have lightly believed any Good in you it is now time that I should know the truth which doth deliver me from you And speaking those words she departed out of the Chamber and did weep away that night finding so great a grief in this change that her heart had enough to do to sustain the assaults of sorrow which love had given her For although according to her Reason she resolved never to love him more yet he heart which now was not subject to the rules of Reason would not consent unto it wherefore being not able to love him lesse than she was accustomed to do and knowing that love was the occasion of that defect she determined with
her self to satisfy her love and to love him with all her heart but withall to be no wayes forgetfull of her honour In the morning Amadour departed sick and sad as I have told you neverthelesse his heart which was so great that the World could not shew an equal to it did not suffer him to despair but did give him a new intention to enjoy the presence of Florinda and again to be entertained in her favour Wherefore repairing to the King of Spain who was at Toledo he made it his way to go by the Countesse of Arands to whom he came one Evening very late and found the Countesse very sick by reason of the sorrow which she had for the absence of her Daughter Florinda When she beheld Amadour she kissed and embraced him as if he had been her own Son as well for the love she 〈◊〉 bear unto him as for the Love which she conceived he did bear unto Florinda concerning whom she very sollicitously did demand He informed her the best that possibly he could but did not acquaint her with all the Truth and confessed unto her the love betwixt Florinda and himself which Florinda had always concealed desiring her that he might hear from her as often as she could and that she would be pleased to send for her for the more speedy recovery of her own health In the morning he departed and having dispatched his affairs with the Queen he advanced to the Wars but so sad and so changed in his complexion that the Ladies Captains and all those who had been accustomed to his Company did not know him He was altogether cloathed in black and by the outward mourning which he made for his wife he concealed the inward mourning of his heart In this manner Amadour lived three or four years without returning to the Court. And the Countesse of Arand hearing it spoken that Florinda was so extremely altered that it would grieve any one to behold her did send for her hoping that she would be joyfull to come to her but it fell out to the contrary for when Florinda understood that Amadour had declared to her Mother the love that was betwixt them she was in a wonderfull perplexity for on the one side she saw her Mother did esteem so highly of him that if she should acquaint her with the truth Amadour would receive some great displeasure which she would rather die than be the occusion of for she thought her self able enough to punish him for his follies without any assistance of her friends On the other side she feared That in dissembling the evil which she knew she should be constrained by her Mother and by her friends to continue her Discourses and to make much of him by which she was afraid that she should fortifie him in his Presumptions But seeing that he was far remote she made an apparence of being willing to it and sometimes did write unto Amadour when the Countesse did command her but they were such Letters that it was easie to be perceived that they did proceed rather from obedience to her Mother than good will to him Wherefore Amadour was as much grieved at the reading of them as he was accustomed to rejoice at those Letters which heretofore were sent him At the end of two or three years after so many admirable atchievments in the Wars that all the Paper in Spain was not able to contain them he entertained a strange invention not to gain the heart of Florinda for he held that for lost but to obtain another victory over her He did cast behind him all the Counsel of Reason and fear of Death it self to the danger whereof he did so manifestly expose himself The Debate being discussed and concluded he prevailed so much upon the Governour that he was deputed by him to go unto the King concerning some enterprize to be made upon Locat which he adventured to communicate to the Countesse of Arand before he declared it to the King to take her counsel therein he came in Post into the County of Arand where he knew that then Florinda was and sent privately a friend of his to the Countesse of Arand to acquaint her with his comming beseeching her That she would be pleased to keep it secret and that at night he would have some conference with her without the knowledge of any one besides The Countesse being very joyfull of his comming acquainted Florinda with it and sent to her to prepare her self in the Chamber of her Husband to the end that she might be ready when she should send for her and when every one else were withdrawn Florinda who yet was not delivered from her first fear made an apparence to her Mother to do as she commanded but betook her self to her Devotions and did commend her self to God beseeching him to preserve her heart from all inordinate affections and considering with her self that Amadour had often praised her beauty which was not much diminished although she had been a long time sick she determined that it was better to commit an injury upon her beauty than by her means to suffer that the heart of so brave a Man should burn in so loose a fire Wherefore she took a great stone which she found in the Chapel and gave her self so great a blow on the face that her mouth her nose and her eyes were all hurt and bruized with it And because it might not be suspected that she her self had done it when the Countesse her Mother sent for her she fell down at the door of the Chapel upon a great stone and crying out aloud the Countesse came her self to her relief and found her in that pitifull estate Her face was immediately dressed which being done the Countesse did bring her into her own Chamber and did intreat her to repair into her Cabinet to entertain Amadour until such time as she could get cleer of the Company that was with her which accordingly she did thinking that there were some of his servants with him but finding her self all alone and the Doâ—e shut upon her she became as sorrowfull as Amadour was content thinking that either by love or by force he should now enjoy that which he had much desired Having entertained her with a short Discourse and found her in the same mind as he left her and that she had rather die than change her opinion he said unto her Madam I vow unto you the fruit of my labour shall not be taken from me for a scruple and since that Love Patience and humble Prayers can nothing prevail upon you I will not spare by force to obtain that which if not had will procure my Death when Florinda saw his face and eyes so much changed and that the best Complexion in the world did grow red as fire and that most sweet and pleasant look did become so horrible and furious that the fire seem'd to sparkle forth from his eyes which burn'd in his heart And when
bring And having spoke these words she took her leave of him Her Mother who observed her Countenance knew not what to judge of it but after that time she perceived plainly that her Daughter did no more affect Amadour and concluded thereupon that she was of a crosse disposition and hated all those things which she loved and from that hour did carry her self so strangely to her that she spoke not one word to her in seven years together unlesse it were to chide her and all this was at the request of Amadour During this time Florinda turned the fear which she had to be with her Husband into a desire to be never from him only thereby to avoid the rigour of her Mother But seeing that nothing would prevail she resolved with her self to be even with Amadour and for two or three dayes together looking upon him with a more pleasing countenance she counselled him to hold discourse of love with a Lady who she said had spoken very liberally of theirs This Lady was in the Court of the Queen of Spain and was called Loretta she was proudly glad to have obtained such a Servant as Amadour and so great were the familiarities betwixt them that the report thereof was noised every where and the Countesse of Arand being at Court did her self perceive it wherefore afterwards she did not so much torment Florinda as she had been accustomed to do Florinda one day understood that the Captain the Husband of Loretta was possessed with so great a Jealousie that he was resolved by one means or other to kill Amadour Florinda who for all her dissembled countenance could carry no ill will in her heart to Amadour did immediately advertise him of it but he who was most easie to be drawn into his first train did make answer to her That if she pleased to entertain him but three hours in a day he would never speak to Loretta more which she would not consent unto Whereupon Amadour said unto her Since you will not have me to live wherefore do you deny me to dye unlesse you hope to give me more punishments by life than a thousand Deaths can afflict upon me But although Death doth flie me I will never leave looking after it untill I have found it for in Death onely I shall have Rest Whiles they were in this Conference news was received that the King of Granada had begun a most cruel War against the King of Spain insomuch that the King had sent thither the Prince his Son and with him the Constable of Castile and the Duke of Alba as two Adjunct of great trust and experience Whereupon the Duke of Cardona and the Earl of Arand would not stay behind and besought the King to assign them some charge in the Army which he did according to their Houses and appointed Amadour to be their Guide who during the War was so famous for his atchievments that they seemed rather to proceed from a desperat rashnesse than a well-grounded resolution and to give you the intention of my account I must inform you that his great Courage was approved to his Death For the Moors pretending that they would give battel to the Army of the Christians having better observed how it was marshalled and how great it was did make as though they fled and the Spaniards did follow them in the pursute but the old Constable and the Duke of Alba suspecting the Stratagem of the Moors with much importunity did withhold the Prince of Spain that he passed not the River which notwithstanding the Orders to the contrary the Count of Arand and the Duke of Cardona did and when the Moors saw that they were followed with so unconsiderable a number they did return upon them and with one blow of a Scemiter did Iay the Duke of Cardona dead upon the place and so wounded the Count of Arand that he fell to the Ground Upon this Defeat Amadour arrived so furious and enraged that with great slaughter he did break through the Army of the Moors and commanded the two Bodies of the Duke and of the Count to be taken up and to be brought into the Princes Camp who did so much lament their deaths as they had been his own Brothers But in beholding their wounds he found the Count of Arand yet living who was sent in a Litter to his own house where he continued a long time sick and on the other side the body of the young Duke was brought unto Cardona Amadour having done his endeavour to bring off these two Dukes did think so little of himself that he was suddenly invironed with a great number of the Moors and he who would no more be taken having lost his Mistress falsified not his faith which he made unto God her knowing That if he should be brought to the King of Granada that either he should cruelly die or renounce his Christianity he did resolve with himself to adde Glory to his Death and kissing the Crosse on the hilt of his sword rendring his Soul and Body to his Creator he did give himself so mortal a blow that there needed not a Second to dispatch him So dyed the poor Amadour and was as much lamented as his Virtues deserved The News thereof was immediately carried through all Spain insomuch that Florinda who was at Barcelona where her Husband was interred after that she had honourably performed the Funerals without speaking either to her own Mother or her Mother-in-Law or any other did render her self a Votaress in the Monastery of Jesus taking him for her Husband and her Friend who had delivered her from a love so vehement as that of Amadour and from a persecution so grievous as was the Company of her Husband She imployed all her affections to the love of God and that so perfectly that having lived a long time a religious life she surrendred her Soul to God with so much joy as the Espoused doth go to behold her Spouse Ladies I know that this long History doth prove tedious unto you all but if I should have satisfied him who first of all gave me the account I should have yet made it longer I must beseech you Ladies that in following the Example of the Virtues of Florinda you would abate a little of her cruelty and not at the first to believe so much Good of Men as by the acknowledgment of it to give them afterwards a cruel Death and to your selves a sorrowfull life After that Parlament had spoke so long she turning to Hircan said unto him It appeareth now plainly to you that this Lady was sollicited and importuned to the last and that most virtuousty she resisted No said Hircan For a woman cannot make the least resistance but by crying out and if she had been in a place where she could not be heard I know not what would have become of her And if Amadour had been more amorous and lesse fearfull he had not for so little have left off
hearing of his lamentable and Christian death changed the roughnesse of her language with which she thought to have entertained him at his return into tears and sighes in which her Husband did keep Company with her being thus sadly disappointed of his hopes in his Journey to Jerusalem I cannot here forget That a Damosel who lived with this Gentlewoman whose Name was Joan and loved the Gentleman that was given to the Captain better than the loved her self on the same morning that the Captain and the Gentleman were slain did come unto her Mistresse and told her That she had seen him in her sleep last night whom so well she loved cloathed all in white who was come unto her to take his Farewell of her being on that day to go into Paradise with his Captain But when she found that her Dream was true she made so great a lamentation that her Mistresse had enough to do to comfort her Some moneths afterwards the Court removed into Normandy of which Province the Captain was whose Wife never failed to come to do Reverence to Madam the Mother Regent And to be presented to her she addressed her self to that Gentlewoman whom her Husband so much loved And attending the hour in which they were to go unto the Church to hear Mattens the old woman began to praise and to lament her Husband and amongst other discourses she said unto her Madam My misfortune is greater than ever did befall any woman for just at the time that he began to love me better than ever he did before God took him from me And speaking those words she shewed her the Ring which she had upon her fingers as the token of his perfect love which was not without many tears at which the Lady though she was sensible enough of the old Womans grief had so great a desire to laugh especially since her deceit produced this good that she was unable to present her to Madam the Regent but gave her to another and retired her self into the Chapel where having laughed her fill she passed away the defire she had to laugh any more Ladies It seems to me that they unto whom such gifts are presented should desire to do works that may come to so good an end as this Gentlewoman did for they only by experience do find that good Deeds do redound to the joy of the Doers And we ought not to accuse this Gentlewoman of Deceit but to esteem of her good Intentions who converted that into a Benefit which of it self is worth nothing Will you say so said Nomerfide Is a fair Diamond of two hundred Crowns price worth nothing I dare assure you that if it had fallen into my hands neither his Wife nor any of his Kinred should ever have seen it again There is nothing better to any one self than that which is given The Captain was dead No man knew any thing of it Upon my word you have reason for it said Hircan for there are some women who to shew themselves more excellent than others do some works apparently against their Natures for we all know well enough that there is nothing more covetous than a woman and yet their Glory doth oftentimes exceed their Avarice which doth inforce their hearts to do those things which they would not And I believe that she who forsook the Diamond was not worthy to wear it Hola Hola said Oysilla I do suspect I know the Gentlewoman I do beseech you therfore not to condemn her before you see her Madam said Hircan I do not condemn her but if the Captain were as virtuous as you say he was she had been honoured to have had such a Servant and to have worn his Ring but it may be that one lesse worthy to be beloved did take so fast hold on her finger that his Ring could not come on Truly said Guebron she might well have kept it because there was not one who knew any thing of it How is that said Guebron Are all things lawfull to those that love because no man knows of them Take my word for it said Saffredant I never saw any mis-deed punished but only foolishness for there is neither Murderer Thief nor Adulterer but let him be as cunning as he is wicked that was ever either condemned by Justice or reproved amongst Men but oftentimes their subtilty is so great that it doth blind them so that they become fools and as I have said only the fools and not the vicious are punished You may speak what you please said Oysilla God only can judge of the heart of that Lady but as far as I can conjecture I do find the Deed most honourable and virtuous And to debate no more upon it I pray you Parlament to give your voice to some one I give it most willingly said she to Simontault for after these two sad Novells he will give us one you may be sure of it that will not make us weep I thank you said Simontault for in giving me your voice you do not now as lately call me pleasant which is a word I love not and to revenge myself on you I will demonstrate that there are women who make a great appearance that they are wondrous chast to some and for a time but the event doth show them to be as they are as you will find by this Story which is undoubtedly true The Subtilty of a Lover who under the pretence of a true Friend did gather of a Lady of Milan the fruit of his passed labours The Fourth Novell IN the Dutchie of Milan in the time when the great Master Châ—umont was Governor there was a Gentleman called Signior de Bonninet who afterwards for his virtues was made Admiral of France and was highly esteemed at Milan by the great Master and by all the world for the rare parts that were in him He was often invited to the Banquets where the chiefest of the Ladies met by whom he was better beloved than ever Frenchman was as well for his Beauty Gracefulnesse and Language as for the great Name he had in Arms being second therein to none of his Time One day being in a Mask he did lead in the Dance one of the most brave and most beautifull Ladies that were in that City and when the Hoboyes ceased he did alwayes discourse unto her of Love which he could better do than any other but she would make no answer to him but oftentimes to interrupt him in his Discourse and to give a stop to his desires she would assure him That she neither did nor ever would love any but her Husband and would by no means seem to understand him At this answer this refused Gentleman would not desist and vigorously prosecuted his sute untill the Middle of Lent But for all his endeavours he found her firm in her resolutions neither to love him nor any else which he could hardly beleeve seeing the hard favour and course deportment of her Husband and the excellent beauty
of her self He determined therefore with himself since she used dissimulation to practise the same art himself and from that hour did forbear to Court he and so narrowly enquired after her conversation that he found at last she loved an Italian Gentleman who was very young and wise and lovely Signior Bonninet by little and little acquainted himself with that Gentleman with such cunning and sweetnesse that he perceived not the occasion and the Gentleman loved him so intirely that next unto his Mistresse who was this Lady there was not any in the world whom he tendred more affectionately Signior Bonninet to pluck his secret from his heart did counterfeit to tell him all his own and amongst other things told him That he loved such a Lady when indeed he scarce ever thought of her and desired him to keep it private because that they two had but one heart and but one thought The poor Gentleman to shew him a reciprocal Love did declare unto him all along the affection which he did bear to that Dame on whose disdain Bonninet would revenge himself Once a day they met together to acquaint one another with the fortunes which on that day they incounter'd which the Gentleman did in Truth and the other in Dissimulation The Gentleman confessed unto him That he had loved this Lady three years without receiving any thing but good words from her and an assurance to be beloved Bonninet did counsel and instruct him in all the ways that possibly he could by which he might arrive to the fruition of his Desires which the Gentleman found so effectual that in a few dayes she consented to all that he desired there nothing remained but to find out the opportunity which by the means of Signior Bonninet was brought about One day a little before Supper the Gentleman said unto him I am more obliged to you than to all the Gentlemen in the world for by your good Directions I hope to enjoy that this night which so many years I have desired I pray you said Bonninet tell me the manner of your enterprize to see if there be any deceit or danger in it that I may assist and serve you according to the obligations of our friendship Whereupon the Gentleman did particularly account unto him that the Lady had got the opportunity to have the great gate of her House left open in pretence of an Infirmity which one of her Brothers had by reason whereof every hour in the night they must send into the City to help him with some remedy in his necessities she informed him that he might safely come into the Court but advised him to have a care how he went up the stairs and that he might more safely passe another way and on lesse stairs which were on the right hand and that being come into the first gallery where were the chambers of her Father-in-law and her Brother-in-law he should come to the third Chamber next to the little stairs and knocking at the door gently if he should find it latched that then he should be gone for he might assure himself that her Husband was come home but if he found the door open that he should softly come in and latch the door fast being confident that there was none in the Chamber but her self and above all things that he should not forget to come to her with shooes made of Felt for fear of making a noise and withall that he should have a great care that he came not till two of the clock after Midnight because her Brothers-in-law who were much given to play did seldome go to bed till after one Bonninet said unto him Go my Friend God be thy guide whom I beseech to guard thee from all Inconveniences if my Company may do thee any good I will not spare any thing that lies in my power The Gentleman did thank him very heartily and told him That in that affair he could not be too secure and that he would go to prepare himself But Signior Bonninet would not hear on that ear and seeing it was the only hour to revenge himself on that cruel Lady he retired to his own Lodging betimes and caused his beard to be cut after the same length and largenesse as was the Gentlemans he also commanded in the same manner the hair of his head to be cut that by her touch she might not find any difference He did remember also the shooes of Felt and did put on such cloaths as were most like unto those which the Gentleman was accustomed to wear when he would be most gallant And because he was very well beloved by the Father-in-law of the Lady he feared not to go thither before the appointed hour conceiving with himself that if he was perceived he would go directly to his Chamber with whom he had some businesse About twelve of the clock he came into the House where he found many servants and some others comming and going amongst whom he passed without being known and came into the gallery And thrusting against the two first doors he found them shut but the third not having softly knocked at which he entred into it and having latched fast the door he found all the Chamber hung with white Linnen and the floor and the feeling with the same and a bed of Needlework excellently wrought all in white that it was impossible to have it better and the Lady alone within it having on a most rich Coyf and a Smock all covered with pearls and precious stones which he saw through one corner of the Curtain being not himself perceived by her for there was burning in the Chamber a great Candle of white Wâ—x which made the Chamber as bright as day And for fear he should be known by her he first of all put out the light which was burning in the Chamber afterwards he put off his cloaths and came into the bed to her who thinking it was he whom so long she loved did receive him with all the Love that possibly she could But he who knew well enough that it was in the Name of another did not speak one word and thought on nothing but thoroughly to put his vengeance into execution which was to take away from her her honour and her chastity against her will But the Lady was so well contented with that vengeance that she thought she had recompenced him for his long sufferings The clock had now struck one which was the time to bid her Farewel And speaking to her as softly as he could he asked her If she was as well contented with him as he was with her She thinking that it was her Friend made answer That she was not only contented but also marvelled at the greatnesse of his Love which had held him a whole hour without speaking to her At that he began to laugh outright and said unto her Now Madam will you refuse me another time as you have been accustomed to do untill this present She knowing
without conscience For you know I know well enough that she whom you do love will not content her self with that which God and Reason do command And although the Laws of Men doe give so great a dishonour to Women who do love other Men besides their Husbands yet the Law of God doth not except the Husbands who love others besides their Wives And if you will put into the ballance your offence and the offence which I have committed You are a Man wise and experienced and of age to know and to be able to eschew Evil I am but young and without any experience of the force and tyranny of Love You have a Wife that doth cherish esteem and love you better than her own life and I have a Husband that doth eschew hate and disdain me more than a Servant You love a Woman that is grown into a great age discomplexioned and nothing so handsom as my self and I love a Gentleman far younger than your self and more lovely and delightfull You love a Woman that pertains to one of the greatest Friends that you have in the world transgressing on the one side the love on the other side the Reverence which you should carry to them both and I love a young Gentleman who is tied in no obligation but only of his love to me Now judge Sir and be impartial in your Judgment which of us two are most to be punished either you or my self I believe there is no man that is either wise or honest but will lay all the blame on you seeing that I am but young and ignorant despised and contemned by you and beloved by the most courteous and the handsomest Gentleman in all France whom I do love by a despair only that I shall never be beloved by you The Gentleman hearing her words full of truth and spoken and pronounced with so assured a grace that she shewed that she neither feared nor deserved any punishment did find himself so surprised with wonder that he knew not what to reply unto her but only that the honour of a Woman and of a Man were not alike but differed in several respects Neverthelesse because she did swear That there was no sin committed betwixt her and the Gentleman whom she loved he was resolved to make much of her upon a condition that she would return no more unto him and that he for his part would abandon her whom he had loved and that neither he nor she for the time to come should call to mind any thing that had passed betwixt them which was promised on both sides and so in good accordance they went to bed together In the morning one of the young Ladies old Maids who had a great fear of the life of her Mistresse did come early to her rising and said unto her And well Madam how goes it with you now She laughing made answer Why my Friend there is not a better Husband in the world than mine for he believed what I did swear In this manner she continued five or six dayes and the Gentleman did keep so close a guard upon her that she was watched both night and day but he could not watch her so narrowly but that she would still in one obscure place or other hold communication with him whom she loved But she carried her affairs so privately that neither Man nor Woman could ever discover the truth and had not one of the Grooms reported that he had seen a Gentleman and a Lady together in a Closet under the Chamber of the Lady that was Guardian to this young Gentlewoman the suspition had ceased the doubt whereof did so torment this Gentleman that he was resolved to be the Death of the yong Gentleman and assembled a great number of his Friends and Confidents together to kill him wheresoever they should find him but the chiefest of his Friends in this confederacy was so much a friend to the young Man whose life was sought after that instead of surprising him he did advertise him of all things that were contrived against him And he was so well beloved at the Court and so well accompanied that he feared not all the force of his Enemies which was the reason that they could never find the opportunity to exercise their vengeance on him But it so fell out not long after that he did meet in a Church with the Guardian of the young Lady whom he loved who knew nothing at all of any thing that had passed for before her self he never durst speak unto her The Gentleman made report unto her of the suspition and the ill will which the Husband did bear unto him and although that he was innocent he was resolved to make a long voyage to take away the Report which began to increase This Lady that was Guardian to his Mistresse was much amazed to hear those words and did protest unto him that the Husband did commit an unpardonable offence to suspect a Lady of Honour in whom she never knew nor saw any thing but Honesty and Virtue Neverthelesse by reason of the Authority in which the Husband was and to stop the current of this false Report the Princesse advised him to absent himself for a time and assured him that she believed not any thing of alâ— these follies and suspitions The young Gentleman was very glad that he continued in the favour and good opinion of the old Lady who advised the Gentleman before his departure to speak unto the Husband of the young Gentlewoman which he did according to her counsel and found him in the gallery hard by the Chamber of the King where with an assured countenance he said unto him Sir I have had all my life a desire to serve you and for a recompence for it I understand that this night you have a design to seek me out to kill me Sir I beseech you to consider that although you have more authority and power than my self yet that I am a Gentleman as well as your self and it would grieve me to fling away my life for nothing I must beseech you also to consider that you have a most virtuous Lady to your Wife and if there be any that will speak to the contrary I will tell him that he lies like a Vilain And for my self I thought I had not done any thing to give you an occasion to wish me evil if you please I will continue your servant if not I am a servant of the Kings for which I have reason enough to content my self The Gentleman to whom he addressed this Discourse made answer That true it was he entertained some suspition of him but he found him so good a Man that he desired rather to have his friendship than his enmity and bidding him Farewel with Hat in hand he embraced him as one of his fastest friends You may think with your selves what those men thought who on the Evening before had received Commission to kill him when they saw
ey of Faith we are in danger from being Ignorants to become unbelieving Philosophers For Faith only doth represent unto us causeth us to receive that Good which a carnal man cannot apprehend See you not said Longaren that the Ground not husbanded doth produce many herbs and trees although they are unprofitable which sheweth unto us the good desire of it and the promise it doth make that it will bring forth good fruits when it shall be sowed and weeded So the heart of Man which hath no other understanding but by things visible will never arrive unto the love of God but only by the sowings of his holy word in the heart for the Ground of the heart is of it self barren and cold and almost lost to all hope And this is the Cause said Saffredant that the greatest part of Men are deceived who look not but only on exterior things and despise that which is most pretious and is lodged within If I could speak Latin well said Simontault I would allege unto you what St. John saith That He who loveth not his Brother whom he hath seen how can he love God whom he hath not seen for by things visible we are drawn to the love of things invisible Shew us the Man said Emarsuite that is so perfect in that love Et laudabimus eum There are some said Dagoucin who love so purely and so perfectly that they had rather die than to think one thought against the Honours or the Consciences of their Mistresses and would so carry it that neither their Mistresses themselves nor any other should perceive it They said Saffredant are of the Nature of the Cameleon who lives on the Air. For I am of a belief that there is not a Man in the world who doth not desire to declare his Love and to be assured that he is beloved and there is no Feaver of Love so violent but suddenly will slack when we come to know the contrary I will speak it of my self I have seen such Miracles made evident I beseech you said Emarsuite to take my place and to give us an account of some one who hath been raised from Death to Life by finding his Mistress to act contrary to that which he desired I am so afraid said Saffredant to displease Ladies to whom I have been and ever shall be a Servant that without their expresse Command I durst not give any account unto them of their Imperfections but to shew my obedience I will not conceal the truth A Gentleman unexpectedly is recovered of the malady of Love finding his Mistresse too severe unto him in the Arms of her Horse-Keeper The Tenth Novell IN the Country of Dauphine was a Gentleman called Signior de Ryant who belonged to the House of King Francis the first of that Name and was as honest and as fine a Gentleman as could be looked on He was a long time servant to a Lady that was a Widdow whom he so much loved and reverenced that for the fear he had to lose her favour he durst not importune her for that which he so much desired And being handsom himself and worthy to be beloved he firmly believed that which she had often sworn unto him which was that she loved him better than all the Gentlemen in the world and if she were put to it to do a Gentleman a courtesie it should be for him onely as being the most accomplished Man that she knew and did entreat him to rest himself contented with it without transgressing that honest love assuring him That if she knew that he pretended to any thing more and would not be contented with reason that he should lose her Love and all The poor Gentleman not onely contented himself with it but conceived himself to be a happy Man to have gained the heart of that Lady whom he believed to be so virtuous It will appear tedious unto you to repeat the discourse of their love and the long frequentation which he had with her and the voyages which he made to see her But in the conclusion this poor Martyr being in so pleasant a Fire that the more he burn'd the more he would burn did search after all means to augment his Martyrdom One morning a fancy did possesse him to take Post to see her whom he loved better than himself and esteemed above all the Women in the world Being arrived he entred into the Court and demanded where she was answer was made That she was but just come from Vespers and was gon into the Garden to compleat her Devotions whereupon he alighted from his Horse and took his course directly to the Garden where it was told him that she was In the way he did meet with some other of her servants who informed him That she was walking all alone in a long Allee in the Garden wherupon he began more than ever to hope that he should meet with some happy Fortune and as leisurely as possibly he could he pursued his design thinking to find her in most private Retirements And being come to a long Arbor of plashed Trees it being the most pleasant and most delightful place that Art or Nature ever did contrive he suddenly entred in as one who thought long till he had seen her whom he loved At his first Entrance he found her in the Arms of the Horse-keeper of the House as loathsom and as nasty a fellow as she her self was fair and lovely I will not in this place undertake to declare unto you the Indignation that poffessed him which was so great that in one moment it had power to quench the fire which so long had burned And being filled with as much despite as he was before with love he said unto her Madam Much good do 't you This day for your discovered Incontinence I am recovered and delivered from a perpetual perplexity occasioned by the rare Honesty which I conceived to be in you And without any other Farewell he departed from her with greater speed than he came The poor Woman made no other answer to him but only covered her face with her hands It was fit indeed that because she could not cover her shame she should cover her eyes that she might not see him who saw her now too clearly notwithstanding her long dissimulation Wherefore I beseech you Ladies if you have not a desire to love perfectly do not dissemble with an honest man nor seek to displease him for your own glory for Hypocrites are payed in their own Coin and God doth favour those who do love intirely It is well said Oysilla you have given us a good one for the conclusion of this dayes work And were it not that we have sworn to speak the Truth I could not believe that a woman of Estate as she was could be so wicked as to forsake an honest Gentleman for such an ugly Varlet Alas Madam said Hircan If you knew the difference betwixt a Gentleman who all his life-time hath born arms
her chamber with her Governesse where all the time her Companions were at dinner and supper she had the leisure to speak unto him whom so intirely she affected and by how much their time by constraint was made more short by so much their words did come from them with a more great affection for they did steal time to maintain their discourse as a thief doth steal a pretious creasure But this meeting could nor be kept so secret but one of the Grooms did observe the Bastard constantly to enter into the chamber upon the days when Rolandine did keep her fasts and at last it was known to all and to the Queen herself who was thereupon so passionate that the Bastard after that check durst never to enter again into the chamber of the Maids Neverthelesse not to lose the happinesse to converse with her whom so much he loved he often pretended to take a journey out of Town and on the Evening would return to the Church or to the Chapel at the Court in the habit of a Friar or a Monk so well disguised that it was impossible for any one to know him and to the same Church or Chapel Rolandine with her Governess did not fail to come to entertain him He observing the great love which she did bear unto him was not afraid to speak unto her Madam you know the danger into which I do put my self for your service and the Queens prohibitions that you should speak no more unto me You know also too well what a Father you have who careth not to whom he shall espouse you you have refused so many good matches I must confesse I am but a poor man and that you may marry a Gentleman with a fortune far greater than my own but if love and good will be to be esteemed a treasure I ought to be accounted the richest man in the world God hath indued you with a great estate and you are in a possibility to have yet a far greater if I could be so happy as that you would vonchsafe to choose me for your Husband I would all my life be both a Husband a Friend and a Servant to you and if you should take one equal to your self which is very hard to do he would become your master and would more regard your goods than your person and altogether making it his imployment to be conversant in your estate aâ—d to receive the Rents and profits thereof he would not be observant to your self as you do desire The desire I have to give you this contentment and the fear which doth surprise me that you cannot enjoy it with any other doth cause me to beseech you that at once you will make me happy and your self the most satisfied woman that ever was Rolandine hearing these words which she had resolved with her self to speak unto him with an assured countenance did make answer to him I am very glad that you have begun this disscourse which a long time I had thought to have propounded my self unto you Those two last years since I had more perfect knowledge of you I have thought and thought again and examined within my self all the reasons which I could invent either for you or against you And at the last resolving with my self that I would take upon me the estate of Marriage it was time I conceived that I should begin to make choice of him with whom I believed I should live best with most peace of mind I cannot find any one be he never so handsom so rich or so great that my heart my spirit do so well accord with as your self I know that in marrying you I shall not offend God but do that which he commandeth And as for Monsieur my Father he hath so little sought after my Good nay he hath so much refused it that the Law will give leave that I may marry without him although it lies in his power to dis-inherit me Yet let me have but that which belongs unto me in marrying such a Husband as you are I shall esteem my self to be the richest Woman in the world As for the Queen my Mistresse I ought not to make it a point of Conscience to displease her to obey God for she did not forbear to hinder me of that comfort in my youth which I should have enjoyed But that you may understand that the love which I do bear unto you is founded upon Virtue and Honour you shall promise faithfully unto me that although I do accord unto this marriag that you shall not undertake the consummation of it until my Father be dead or until I have found a means to procure his consent unto it To this the Bastard most willingly did ingage himself on these promises they did give to one another a ring in the obligation of marriage and kissed each other in the Church before the Face of God whom they took to be the witnesse of their promises and afterwards during the society of their loves there was no other familiarity betwixt them but a kisse only This little contentment gave great satisfaction to the hearts of those two perfect lovers and they lived a long time in this assurance without being discovered by any And there was no place where Honour might be gained to which with great contentment this Bastard did not goe being confident that he could never be poor or miscrable being blessed by God in so happy and so rich a Wise who in his absence did so well preserve her perfect love that she took not the least delight in any man in the world And although that diverse did demand her afterwards in marriage she made no other answer to them but that having stayed so long without a Husband she was now resolved never to marry This answer was given and understood by so many that it came at last to the ear of the Queen who demanded of her what was the reason of it Rolandine made answer That it was to obey her for she understood well enough that she never desired that she should be married to any who should not honourably provide for her and to her own content and that Age and Patience had instructed her to content her self with the Estate in which she was And evermore when they discoursed with her concerning Marriage she did return the like answers When the Wars were ended and the Bastard entertained again at the Court she never had any conference with him before any but repaired alwayes to the Church to hold Discourse with him there under the colour of Confession for the Queen had forbid both him and her to talk together upon pain of Death unlesse it were in some great Company But the Honesty of Love which knows no prohibition was more ready to find means to bring them to speak together than all their Enemies were prepared to prevent them and under the habit of all the religious Orders they could devise they entertained their honest love untill
him when he made his Visitations as if he had the King himself which at first he refused but at last arriving to five and fifty years of age he began to like very well of and esteeming himself to be the publick assertor of all religion he desired to preserve his health better than he had been accustomed to doe And although his Rule prescribed him never to eat flesh yet he dispensed with himself which he would not do with any other saying that upon him alone lay all the burden of religion wherefore he feasted himself so much that of a lean Monk he became a fat Prior and the change of his heart did follow the change of his life insomuch that now he began to look upon beautifull faces of which before he made a great conscience and observing the beauties of the Nuns whose veils made them more desirable he begun to be very covetous of them and to satisfie his salt and wanton appetite he studied so many artifices that instead of doing the office of a Pastor he became a wolf insomuch that in diverse Religious houses if there were any one found more weak than another he never failed to deceive her And having for certain years continued this wicked course of life the Divine goodnesse which had compassion on the poor misguided sheep would no longer indure the ravening of this treacherous Fox For one day going to visit a Covent not far from Paris called Gif it fell out that in confessing all the holy Nuns he took an especial notice of one Sister called Mary Herouet whose language was so pleasant agreeable to him that it promised her face and her heart would be the same Wherefore but to hear her speak only he was struck with such a feaver of love that it surpassed all passions which he ever had for any other of these religious women and speaking to her he held down his head very low that the better he might observe her and perceiving her lip to be plump and red he could not forbear to lift up her vail to see if her eyes were the Companions of those beauties that were about them which he found to be true whereupon his heart was filled with so violent a heat that he forgot to eat and drink and suddenly lost his complexion although he dissembled the occasion of it Being returned to his Priory he could take no rest wherefore in great perplexity he passed away the days and nights searching out the means by which he might arrive to his desires and make of her as he had made of diverse others this he found difficult to be performed because he found her wise in all her answers and of a subtil spirit and on the other side being above threescore years of age he found himself so old and so wrizled that he resolved with himself not to speak to her at all but to make an attempt to gain her by fear Wherefore not long afterwards he returned to the said Monastery of Gif in which place he shewed himself more severe than ever before he was accustomed to do he grew angry with all the Religious Women reproving one for not wearing her veil low enough another for holding up her head too high a third for not making her Courtesie with that Reverence as she ought to do and in these small trifles he shewed himself so severe that they stood in the greatest fear of him that could be Having don this he travelled to visit the other places of Regulation and about the hour of Vespers he came again to the Dormitory where these Nuns were The Abbesse said unto him Reverend Father It is time to go to Vespers To whom he answered Go Mother go for I am so weary that I will stay here not so much to rest my self as to speak to Sister Mary of whom I have heard a very bad Report for I am told That she goes up and down and prattles as if she were one of the wide world The Abbesse who was neer of Kin to her Mother did desire him to school her well for it and left her alone with him save only a little Girl who being very young was newly entred into the Religion and stood at the furthest door When he found himself all alone with Sister Mary he did begin to take off her veil and commanded her to look upon him She made answer that her Rule did forbid her to look on any Man It is true my Child said the Prior but you ought not to think that we who are men of Religion are to be comprehended in that Rule Whereupon Sister Mary fearing to commit a fault by disobedience did look in the face of him which she saw so extremely warped and ill-favoured that she thought with her self she did rather Penance than commit a Sin to behold him The Prior having held her in a long discourse of the Love he did bear unto her did offer to put his hand upon her Brests but she did thrust it back as she ought to do and grew so impatient that he said unto her What And will not the Nuns be known that they have Brests She made answer to him I know I have and am resolved with my self that neither you nor any one else shall touch them for I am not so young nor ignorant but I understand well enough what is sin and what is not When he found he could not gain her that way he attempted another and said unto her Alas my Daughter I am put to that distresse that I must declare unto you my Necessity which is that I have an infirmity which the Physicians do all of them find to be incurable unlesse I do delight my self and play with a Woman whom I love very well For my self I had rather die than commit any mortal sin but if I must venture so far I know that Fornication and the sins of Lust are no wayes to be compared to the sin of Man-slaughter Wherefore if you love my life you may both save it and save your Conscience also from the stain of cruelty She demanded of him What kind of play it was that he did mean He told her That it was to put his Conscience upon hers and that she should do nothing in which he would not joyn with her in the accomplishment thereof And to shew her the beginning of the Pastime which he demanded he did imbrace her and endeavoured to throw her on one of the Beds in the Dormitory She perceiving his wicked Intention did so well defend her self by the softnes of her words and the strength of her Arms that he could touch nothing of her but her cloaths The Prior when he beheld all his designes and the force he used to be frustrated like a man possessed with a fury and as much besides his Reason as his Conscience did put his hands under her Coates and whatsoever he could touch with his fingers he scratched with his nails with so much violence that
the poor Girl crying out as loud as ever she could did fall down from the height where she was and lay as one quite dead upon the ground The Abbesse hearing her to shriek immediatly entred into the Dormitory where she was and being then at Vespers she remember'd that she had left her alone with her Confessor and having thereupon a scruple in her Conscience she made all the hast she could to the Door of the Dormitory to listen what they were doing but hearing the voice and complaints of her Niece she knocked at the Door where the young Nun her Companion stayed and when she was enentred in the Prior beholding the Abbesse did shew her her Kinswoman lying on the ground and said unto her Mother Without all doubt you are very much to blame that you did not acquaint me with the conditions of Sister Mary for being ignorant of her weakness I had her in confession before me and in chaptering her she hath swouned away as you see They quickly brought her to her self again with Vinegar and other Remedies and found that in her fall she had extremely hurt her head When she was recovered again to life the Prior fearing that she would confesse unto her Aunt the occasion of her Evil did call her aside and spoke unto her by her self My Daughter I command you upon the pain of disobedience and eternal Damnation that you neither now nor ever hereafter do speak the least word unto the Abbesse of what I have said or done unto you for you are to understand that the Extremity of Love did force me to it and because I see you will not consent unto me I will never speak any more unto you howsoever I assure you That if you will love me I will procure that you shall be made an Abbesse in one of the best Abbeys of the Kingdom She made answer to him That she had rather die in perpetual Durance than to have any other friend but him only who dyed on the Crosse for her with whom she had rather suffer all the torments that the world could inflict upon her than without him to enjoy all the pleasures it could bestow and desired him to make no more any such loose motions to her for if he did she would acquaint her Mother the Abbesse with it but if he would desist she would hold her peace concerning what had passed In this manner this ungracious Pastor did depart who to shew himself to be another Man than he was and to enjoy the pleasure a little longer of seeing her whom he so much loved did turn to the Abbesse and said unto her Mother I pray you to command all your Daughters to sing one Salve Regina in the honour of that Virgin in whom I have all my hope This was done accordingly during which time this Fox did nothing else but weep with no other Devotion but for a wicked grief only that he could not have his desires on that Virgin whom he accounted to have made his own The Nuns observing his Tears supposed that it was in love to the Virgin Mary and esteemed him to be a most holy Man But Sister Mary who knew his ill intentions did pray to God in heart to confound him who so much would dishonour and did despise Virginity The Hymn being ended this Hypocrite returned to St. Martins in which place the unruly fire which he had in his heart did burn day and night and where he studied all the wayes that possibly he could to arrive to his Designes And because above all things he feared the Abbesse who was a very virtuous woman he contrived a way to remove her from that Monastery and repaired to Madam de Vendosm who was then at La Fere where she founded and builded a Covent for the Order of St. Benedict called Mount Olivet And as one who was the Soveragin Reformer of all things in Religion he did give her to understand that the Abbesse of Mount Olivet was not fit to govern so great a place The good Lady desired him to name another who was more worthy of the office He who desired nothing more did advise her to take the Abbesse of Giff who was the most able Governesse in all France Madam de Vendosm did immediatly send for her and gave her the charge of the Monastery of Mount Olivet The Prior of St. Martins who had in his power the preferment of most of the religious places for women about Paris did procure that a Governesse at his own devotion should be chosen for the Abbey of Gif After this election he did repair to Gif to try once more if either by humility of intreaties or by the flattery of fair words he could gain unto him the heart of Sister Mary Herouet and finding her as refractory to him as ever he returned in great despair to his Priory of St. Martins in which place the better to come to his ends as also to revenge himself on her who was so cruel to him and for fear also that his incontinence should be divulged he plotted with himself that the reliques of the Saints of Gif should privately be taken away by stealth and that a Confessor belonging to that house a very antient and an honest man should be accused to have been the man that had stoll'n them for which cause he was brought prisoner to St. Martins during which time he stirred up two witnesses who ignorantly signed to that which the Prior of St. Martins did command them which was that in the garden they had seen the Confessor with Sister Mary and taken them in the wanton and dishonest act of lust which they did avow to the old religious man But he who knew all the faults of the Prior did beseech him to bring him to the Chapiter and that there before the whole order he would speak the truth of all what he did know The Prior fearing that the Justication of the Frier would be his own condemnation would not understand that request but finding him intractable to his design he did use him very cruelly in prison where some affirm that he dyed others that he constrained him to abandon his religious habit and to depart the Kingdom of France howsoever it was he was never seen afterwards The Prior with confidence believed now that he might make a Prize of Sister Mary and repaired to the Covent the Abbesse whereof being of his own Complexion and put in by his request would not contradict him in any thing Here he began to exercise his authority of Visitation and made all the Nuns to come to him into the Chamber one after another to Visit and to hear them apart after the manner of Confession and Visitation And when it came to the turn of Sister Mary who had lost her good Aunt the former Governesse he begun to say unto her Sister Mary you know of what Crime you are accused and that the dissimulation you have used to be so chast hath served
answer to him What was the occasion that moved you to put my poor Sister who was one of the most virtuous women that ever lived to so ignominious a death and so barbarously to act your Murder as under the prerence of lying with her to strangle her with the Cord of the Bed The Gentleman understanding these words being more dead than alive did say unto him Is it possible Have you seen your Sister in that Estate as you inform me When the other Brother did assure him of it he proceeded and said But what was the Reason that did cause you to forsake your House Whereupon he told him what the wicked Frier had done at which his Brother was much amazed and being sorry at the heart that against all reason he had assaulted him he demanded pardon of him The Gentleman replyed unto him Although you have done the Injury it is I who have the punishment for I am so sorely wounded that I believe I shall not escape with life His Brother-in-law did endeavour the best that possibly he could to help him upon his Horse which being done he did bring him gently to his house where the next morning he died His Brother-in-law confessed before all his Friends and Kinsmen that he was the only occasion of his Death And to satisfie Justice he was counselled to addresse himself to King Francis the first of that Name to demand pardon of him Wherefore having honourably interred the Husband Wife and Infant he repaired on Good Friday to the Court to purchase his Remission and obtained it by the sollicitation of Mr. Francis Oliver who was then Chancellor of Alençon and since for his great Virtues chosen by the King to be Chancellor of France Ladies I believe that understanding this most true History there is not any of you here but will beware and beware again how you lodge such people in your houses and be assured that there is no poyson more dangerous than that which is most concealed Do you not think said Hircan that this Husband was a very Fool to bring such a gallant to Supper and to sit near to such a fair and virtuous Lady I have known in my time said Guebron that there was not a House in our Country in which there was not a Chamber set apart for these Friers but now they are so well known that they do fear them more than before they loved them It seems to me said Parlament that a Woman being in bed unlesse it were in case of necessity to administer the Sacrament unto her there ought not to come either Frier or Priest into her Chamber and when I send for any of them you may well judge me to be in a very dangerous condition If all the world were as severe as you said Emarsuite the poor Priests would be worse than Excommunicated being to be deprived of the sight of Women Take no care for that said Saffredant for it will never come to passe No said Simontault It is they who by marriage do tie us unto Women and by their wickednsse do attempt again to untie the knot and tempt us to break the Oath which we have made unto them It is great pity said Oysilla that they to whom are committed the Administration of the Sacraments should play thus fast and loose they deserve to be burned alive But let us proceed and see who shall have the voice of Oysilla I give it said she and the Speakers place with it to Dagoucin for I perceive him to enter into a Contemplation which as it seems to me doth promise to give us some good account Although I neither can nor dare speak said Dagoucin what I think I will nevertheless give you the Account of One to whom Cruelty first brought loss and afterwards advantage For although Love doth esteem himself so great and mighty that he will go stark naked and it is a thing at the first troublesom unto him and afterwards insupportable to be covered yet it so falls out that they who oftentimes to obey his counsel have advanced too soon to discover themselves have been found to be but bad Merchants as it happened â—â—o a Gentleman of Castile whose History I will give unto you The fine Invention of a Gentleman to declare his love unto a Queen and what became of it The Fourth Novell IN the Court of the King and Queen of Castile whose Names shall not be expressed there was a Gentleman so exquisit in his Complexion and proportion of Body and the sweetnesse of Condition that in all Spain there was not an Equal to him Every one had his Virtues in admiration but admired more the strange Conditions of him for it was never known that he loved or served any Lady and although there were in the Court so great and so fair a number of them that they were able to melt the very Ice it self yet not any of them had the power to captivat the heart of this Gentleman whose Name was Elisor The Queen who was a Lady of great Virtue but not altogether exempt from the Flame which the lesse it is known the more it burneth observing this Gentleman who courted not any one of all the Ladies in her Court did much wonder at him and one day demanded of him If it were possible that he did love so little as he did make the world to believe He made answer to her that if she could see his Heart as well as his Countenance she would not propound that question to him She desiring to know what it was that he would confesse did presse him so much that he acknowledged to her that he did indeed love a Lady and the most virtuous one in all Christendom She used all her power by Intreaties and Commands to understand who it was but she could not learn it of him Whereupon seeming to be angry with him she did swear That she would never speak vnto him more if he would not give her the Name of that Lady whom so much he loved at which he was so much perplexed that he was constrained to professe unto her That he had rather die than confesse unto her who it was but seeing that he should be deprived of her respects and favour if he should not acknowledge the Truth unto her which was so honest that it could not be taken in ill part by any he said unto her in a great fear Madam I have neither the force nor the boldnesse to declare it to you but the first time that you go a hunting I will shew you her be you assured that you will believe her to be the fairest the most accomplished Lady in the world This answer being made the Qâ— did go a hunting sooner than she was accustomed and Elisor being advertised of it did prepare himself to wait upon her and had caused to be made a great Mirror of Christal in the fashion of a Corslet and having buckled it to his Brest he did cover it with a
lesse to believe Elisor hearing this cruell Commandment doubted on the one side that if he should stay she would remove him from her presence and on the other side hoping that the Event would speak better for him than her words he did accept the Command and said unto her Since I have lived seven years without any hope at all having concealed this fire now it is known unto you I shall bear and passe away these seven years to come with more patience But Madam in obeying your Commandment by which I am deprived of all the happinesse I have in the world what hope will you give me at the end of seven years when you have found me to be your faithful and your loyal Servant The Queen taking a ring from off her finger did say unto him Behold this Ring which I do give you Break it in the middle and you shall keep one half thereof and I the other to the end that if the length of time shall take away from my memory the knowledg of your face I may know it by that half part of the Ring which you shall keep Elisor did take the Ring and did break it in two pieces and gave one part thereof to the Queen and kept the other himself and taking his leave of her more dead than those who have render'd up their souls he departed to his Lodgings to take order for his journey which he performed in such a manner that he sent all his train from the Court to his own House and did travel himself attended but with one servant into a place so solitary that not any of his Kinred or his Friends for the space of seven long years did know where he was or heard the least tidings of him The life he did lead during that time and the afflictions he endured by reason of his absence cannot be known howsoever those that perfectly do sove cannot but in some measure be acquainted with them At the full end of seven years just as the Queen was going to hear Masse a Hermit with a great beard came unto her who kissing her hand did present her with a Petition which on the sudden she did not take the pains to look on although she was accustomed with her own hands to take all the Petitions that were presented to her how poor soever they were that did present them When the Masse was half said she opened the Petition and in the fust place found inclosed in it that part of the Ring which she had given unto Elisor whereat she was transported with as much Joy as Amazement and having read what was contained in the Petition she suddenly commanded her Almoner to bring the Hermit to her who had presented that Petition The Almoner did seek him every where but he could hear no tidings of him but only that he was seen to take horse but which way he did go it was impossible to be known The Queen did read the Petition over and over attending the answer of her Almoner and found also a Letter inclosed in it most excellently penned the substance whereof was to shew the strange effects which time had produced in renewing and resining the affections and changing a Love Temporal into a Love Spiritual and Eternal This Epistle was not read without many tears and a great amazement accompanyed with a grief incomparable For she thought that the losse she received in a servant full of so perfect love ought to be esteemed so great that neither all her Exchequer nor the Kingdom it self could take from her the title of being the most poor and most miserable Lady in the world because she had lost that which no treasure could redeem And having heard Masse she returned unto her Chamber and by her self alone did make so great a lamentation as her Cruelty did deserve And there was neither Mountain Rock or Fortest whither she did not send to find out this Hermit but he who had taken him from her hands did preserve him from falling into them again and did receive him into Paradise so that in this world she could hear no more tidings of him By this Example no Servant ought to confesse that which can do him no good and may assuredly hurt him And much lesse Ladies ought you by reason of your Incredulity to demand a proof so dissicult that in having it you may lose the life of your Servant Truly Dagoucin said Guebron I have heard that Lady highly commended as the most virtuous Princesse in the world who imposed this task upon her servant as a proof of his Fidelity but now I shall believe her to be the most foolisâ— and the most cruel that ever was Neverthelesse in my opinion said Parlament she did him no great wrong to make a proof of him for seven years if he loved so much as he professed for men are so accustomed to dissemble that before we trust them if at all we must trust them we cannot make too long a proof of them Ladies said Hircan are now a great deal more wise than heretofore they were for in seven dayes proof they have now as much assurance of a Servant as they had heretofore in seven years And yet there are some in this Company said Longaren who seven years together have been courted and have endured all the proofs of the Harquâ—buse and yet their love could never be obtained They ought then said Simontault to be number'd in the rank of the sormer times for in these dayes they are not to be received Howsoever it was said Oysilla the Gentleman was much obliged to the Lady by whose means he was reclamed from the vanity of Terrestrial love and wholly devoted his heart to God He met with an extraordinary happinesse said Saffredant to sind God on the Highways for seeing the affliction he had on him I do much wonder that he did not give himself to the Devil Why then when you are ill intreated of the Ladie you do love said Emarsuite do you wish the Devil take you A thousand and a thousand times said Saffredant but the Devil seeing that all the forments in Hell cannot make me more miserable than the torments wherewith she afflicts me will not vouchsafe to take me knowing well enough that there is no Devil so insupportable as a Lady that is loved and will not love again If you are of that opinion said Parlament to Saffredant if I were as you I would never have any thing to do with any Woman My assection to the Sex hath been always such saith Saffredant and my Error so great that I hold my self thrice happy to serve there where my service is most undervalued For the treachery and cruelty of Women cannot overcome the love which I bear unto them But I pray tell me in your Conscience Do you commend that Lady for her so great rigor Yes said Oyfilla for I believe that she would neither love nor yet be loved If she had that resolution said Simontault
you had a true repentance O Madam said Hircan the sin indeed hath much displeased me and I have been sorry that I have offended God but the pleasure hath pleased me You and such as are like unto you said Parlament would have neither God nor Laws but such only as your affections do prescribe unto you I must confesse said Hircan I could wish with all my heâ—rt that God took as great pleasure in my pleasures as I my self do You must not make to your self any new God said Guebron but be careful to obey him whom you have but let us leave this disputation to the Divines and let Longaren give her voice to some one else I do give it she said to Saffredant but I must intreat him to give us the best account that he can call to mind of Women and that he would not regard so much to speak evil of them as to conceal the truth when good is to be spoken of them Yruly said Saffredant I do consent unto you for I have in my hand an example of a wise Woman and a foolish one you may take that example which shall most please you and you shall understand that as in the hearts of the wicked love doth work wickedness's so in an honest he art it doth produce things worthy of prâ—ise For love of it self is good and it is the iniquity of the subject that oftentimes doth make it take the sirname of foolish light cruel or outragious Neverthelesse by this History which I shall account unto you it will easily appear that love doth not change the heart at all but doth shew it such as it is foolish unto the fools and wise unto the wise The pleasant discourse of a great Signior and the fine invention which he used to delight himself with a Lady of Pampelone The sixth Novel IN the reign of Lewis the twelfth there was a young Signior called Monsieur D' Avanes the Son of Monsieur Alebret brother to King Iohn of Navarre with whom the said Signior D' Avanes had his ordinary residence This young Signior was about fifteen years of age so lovely and graceful that it seems he was not made but to be loved and honoured which he was by all those whoever saw him and above all by a Gentlewoman living in the City of Pampelone in Navarre who was married there to a very rich man with whom she lived in a good and a great repute and although she was not above three and twenty years of age yet because her Husband was above fifty she did attire her self so modestly that she seemed by her dresse to be rather a Widdow than a young married Woman and never did any one see her go to Wedding or Feast without her Husband whose virtue and goodnesse she did so much esteem that she preferred it to the youth and lovelinesse of all others Her Husband finding her so discreet had such a confidence in her that he committed to her care and charge all the affairs of his house One day this rich man with his Wife was invited to the marriage of one of his kinted in which the more to honour the Nuptials there was the young Signior of Avanes who naturally loved dancings in which exercise of delight there was none that could surpasse him After dinner when the Mask began the rich man desired Signior D' Avanes to dancent the Signior demanded of him what Lady he should lead who made answer to him Sir if there were any here more lovely or more at my commandment than my own wife I would present her to you and I beseech you that you would do me the honour as to lead my Wife in the dance which the young Prince did but his youth at that time was so unexperienced that he took more pleasure to vault and cut capers than to regard the beauty of the Ladies And on the contrary she whom he did lead did more reguard the beauty and gracefulnesse of the said Signior than the dance in which she was although her discretion was such that she made not the least appearance of it The hour of Supper being come Signior D' Avanes did bid adieu to the company and returned to the Castle to which place the rich man did accompany him being mounted on his Mule and in the way he said unto him Sir you have this day done so great an honour to my self and to my kinred that in me it would be ingratitude if with all my fortunes I should not offer my self to do you service Sir I know very well that such young Lords as you who hard and covetous Fathers have oftentimes more need of money than we who keeping but a poor train and an ordinary house do think more of the heaping of it up than which way to lay it forth Sir so is is that God having given me a Wife according to my own desire hath not only in this World given me my Paradise being frustrated of those hopes and joys which Parents have of their Children Sir I know that it is too much honour to me to adopt you as my child but if you please to receive me for a Servant and declare unto me what your occasions are I will not fail to be ayding to you in your necessities as far as one hundred thousand Crowns will stretch Monsieur Avanes was very joyful of this offer for he had such a Father as the rich man had character'd and having heartlly thanked him he called him Father by alliance From the same hour the rich man did take such affection to Signior D' Avanes that Evening and Morning he did not fail to send unto him to hnow if he stood in need of any thing And he concealed not from his Wife the Devotion he had to Signior D' Avanes which made her doubly to love him and after that hour the Signior had of him whatsoever he desired He oftentimes would repair to the rich mans house to eat and drink with him and when he was not at home his Wise would give unto him whatsoever with reason he desired and moreover would speak so discreetly to him admonishing him to be virtuous that he stood in fear of her and did love her more than all the Women in the World She who had God and her Honour before her eyes was contented with his sight and to heat him speak unto her in which consists the satisfaction of honesty and true love insomuch that she never gave him any sign whereby he might conceive or judge that she did bear any other affection to him but what was pious and fraternal During this covered Love Monsieur D' Avanes having received the large supplies above-spoken was very gorgeous in his cloaths and maintained a gallant Equipage and being about eighteen years of Age he began to court Ladies and to seek after them more than he was accustomed to do And although he had rather make love to this wise young Gentlewoman than to any other yet the
fear he had to lose her love if she should understand his Intents did cause him to hold his peace and to think where to place his affections somewhere elfe In this resolution he did address himself to a young Lady not far from Pampelone who had a house also in that City and was newly married to a young man who above all things did love horses and doggs and hawks For the love of her Signior D' Avanes began to make a thousand pastimes as Turnaments Horse-races Masks Feasts and other sports at all which this young Lady would be alwayes present But because her Husband was very phantastical her Father and Mother being jealous of her honour because they knew her to be beautiful and of a frolick disposition did keep her so close that Signior D' Avanes could have nothing of her but now and then some few words when they danced together although in a small time he did easily perceive that to the compleating of their loves there was nothing wanting but Time and place Wherefore he came to his good Father the rich Man and told him that he had a great Devotion to go visit our Lady of Mont-serral desiring him till his return to take into his House all his servants because he had a desire to travel alone to which the Gentleman consented But his Wife who had in her heart that great Prophet called Love did incontinently suspect the truth of the voyage and could not contain her self from speaking to him and said Monsieur the Lady which you are going to adore is not out of the walls of this City wherefore above all things I do beseech you to have a care of your health especially of the health of your soul He who did both fear and love her did blush so much to hear those words that without speaking any thing his cheeks did confesse the truth thereof unto her and upon that he departed and having bought two gallant Spanish Jennets he disguized himself in the habite of a Hors-keeper and so discoloured his face that none could know him The Gentleman who was Husband to this foolish Lady who above all things loved Horses having beheld those two which Signior D' Avanes had brought with him did incontinently buy them and having well looked upon the Horsekeeper that did bring them he demanded of him if he had a mind to serve him Signior D' Avanes made answer Yes and told him That he was a poor young Man that had no other way to live but only by dressing and looking to Horses in which he could so well acquit himself that he was most consident that he would rest content The Gentleman being very glad of it did give him the charge of all his Horses and entring into his house he told his Wife That being to go unto the Castle he did recommend his Horses and his Horsman to her The young Lady as well to please her Husband as having no other recreation did go unto the Stable and looked upon the Horses and observed the new Horsekeeper who seemed to her to be a very handsome young Man but she had not the least knowledge of him He when he perceived that he was not known by her did approach to make his reverence to her after the manner of Spain and having taken her by the hand he kissed it and kissing of it did lock her hand so fast in his that presently she knew him for in dancing with her heretofore he oftentimes would use the same From that time the young Lady ceased not to seek out some place where she might discourse with him by her self which she did the very same Evening for being invited forth to a Feast whither her Husband would have her to go with him she feigned that she was sick and not able to go Her Husband who would not disappoint his friends did say unto her Sweet-heart Since you are not pleased to go with me I pray have a care of my Dogs and my Horses and see that they want nothing The young Lady found this Commission very agreeable unto her and without making any other apparence she said unto him That seeing he would not imploy her in any better business she would make him understand in the meanest services how much she desired to be complacent to him Her Husband was no sooner out of the Gate but she came down into the Stable where she found divers faults and to redresse them she imployed all her Grooms on so many errands that she remained alone with the Master Horsekeeper And for fear that any one should interrupt her she said unto him Go into the Garden and stay a little in the Cabinet which is at the end of the Allee Which he so readily performed that he had not the leisure to thank her and after she had given orders to all the Grooms of the Stables she did go to see the Doggs taking the like care that they might want nothing sitting for Doggs to have insomuch that of a Mistresse she was become a servant-maid Returning to her Chamber she sound her self so weary that immediately she did go to bed saying that she would take a little rest and all her women left her excepring one whom she trusted to whom she said Go into the Garden and bring him hither to me whom you shall find at the end of the Allee The Chamber-maid did go thither where she found the Master Horse-keeper whom she brought immediately to the Lady who commanded the Maid to go forth and watch when her Husband did come Signior D' Avanes seeing himself alone with the Lady did despoil himself of the habiliments of a Horse-keeper he took off his false Nose and his false beard and not as a fearful Horse-keeper but as a gallant young Signior without demanding any leave of the Lady he did leap boldly into the bed to her where he was received as the bravest young man that was in those days by the most wanton of all the Ladies of that Country and he continued with her until such time as her Husband did return of which having timely notice he did put on his disguises and forsook the pleasures which by subtilty he usurped The Gentleman coming into the Court did understand the diligence which his Wife had used to obey him and gave her many thanks for it Sweet-heart said the Lady I have but only done my duty but it is true that if a narrow eye be not had over those naughty boys you will not have a Horse but will be lean nor a Dog but will be mangy But since I understand their sloth and your good will they shall be better look'd unto than they were ever heretofore The Gentleman who thought he had got the best Horse-keeper in the World demanded of her what she thought of him I assure you Sir said she that he understands himself as well as any Servant you could have chosen but he had need to be followed and rouzed up for he is one
that those whom God keeps are well kept In my opinion said Parlament the punishment is but reasonable and as just as moy be for as the offence was worse than death so was the punishment worse than death I am not of your opinion said Emarsuite for I had rather all my life time behold the bones of dead Servants in my Cabinet than indure to die for them there is no crime so great which cannot be amended but after death there is no amendment at all How is that said Longaren can you amend your Honour you know I am sure that after such a misfortune whatsoever a Woman can doe she can never recover her honour Tell me I pray you said Emarsuite if Mary Magdalen hath not more honour now amongst men than her Sister who was a Virgin I must confesse said Longarine that we do praise her more but it is for the great love which she did bear our Saviour and for her repentance for if you doe observe it the title of a Sinner doth continue with her still I care not said Emarsuite what name men give unto me for if God doth pardon me and my Husband to boot there is nothing that I know of for which I would die Although that Gentlewoman did not love her Husband as she ought said Dagoucin yet I doe wonder that she did not die for grief to behold the bones of him whose death she occasioned by her own offence Say you so Dagoucin said Simontault are you yet to understand that Women are capable neither of grief nor love Yes said he and that is the reason that I never dare to tempt their loves for fear I should find lesse than I desire You live then said Nomerfide like a Plover of the Wind upon Faith and Hope we may seed you at a cheap rate I am contented said he with the love which I doe find in my self and the hope I have in the heart of one Lady which if I know to be such as I hope it is the extream content thereof would so transport me that I should not endure it without death Nay be wise said Guebron and take heed of that Plague for it is a dangerous malady I dare assure you But I would know to whom Madam Oysilla will give her voice I doe give it said she to Simontault who I do know will not spare any You praise me so highly said Simontault that you doe almost call me a Detractor Howsoever I will not forbear to represent unto you that those whom they call Detractors have spoken the truth And Ladies I am confident ye are not so foolish to believe that in all these Novells which have been spoken whatsoever appearance they may have of truth yet if they were brought to the triall the proof is not so great but they may be a sufficient Subject for the Sceptick nay oftentimes we find a great abuse under the pretence of a miracle and therefore I have a desire io give you an account of one which will be no lesse to the honour of a faithfull Prince than to the Dishonour of a wicked Minister of the Church The abhomination of an incestuous Priest whose Sister under the pretence of a holy life was great with child by him and of the punishment that did follow thereupon The third Novell COunt Charles of Angoulesm Father to King Francis the first of that name a virtuous Prince and fearing God being at Coignac intelligence was brought unto him that in a Village not far from thence called Chernes there was a Vigin lived so austere a life that it was admirable yet neverthelesse she was great with Child which she no ways dissembled but was proud of it and assured all the people that came to behold her that she never knew man and that she could not conceive which way she conceived it if it were not by the adumbration of the Holy Ghost which the people easily believed and did repute her to be a second Virgin Mary Every one that knew her did affirm that from her Infancy she was so precise that there never appeared the least sign of any worldlinesse in her She fasted not only the Fasts commanded by the Church but many days in the week she made Fast-days for her private Devotion and as song as any service was said in the Church she never stirred from it wherefore her life was so much esteemed by all the people that every one did come on purpose to look upon her as a wonder and happy was he who could but touch her garment The Curat of the Parish was her Brother a man of about fifty years of age and of a very austere life and accounted by his Parishioners to be a very holy Man who to outward appearance did intreat his Sister so roughly that he did in a House keep her shut up as in a prison at which the people were very much displeased and the report of this miracle was so great that the news thereof was brought to the Ears of the Count who perceiving the abuse with which all the world was possest did desire to take it away wherefore he sent the Master of the Requests and his Almoner two very accomplished personages to understand the truth thereof who repaired to the place and to be informed as diligently as possibly they could they did addresse themselves to the Curat who seemed to be much amazed at the affair and besought them both to assist him in the attestation of it which he said he hoped would give satisfaction to the World The next morning the said Curat did sing Masse in the Church at which his Sister did assist him on her knees being very big with Child At the end of the Masse the Curat did take into his hand Corpus Domini and in the presence of all the Assembly did speak unto his Sister Wicked and Blasphemous as thou art accused to be Behold here him who hath suffered death and who was crucified for thee before whom I demand if thou art a Virgin as thou hast always assured me She boldly and without the least Impression of fear made answer to him Yes And how then is it possible said he that thou shouldest be great with Child and yet remain a Virgin She answered I can give no other cause thereof but that it is only by the Grace of the Holy Spirit who doth in me that which he pleaseth Howsoever I ought not to deny the grace which God hath vouchsafed to me which is to preserve my Virginity for I had never the least desire to a Husband Her Brother then said unto her I give thee here the precious Body of Jesus Christ which thou shalt receive to thy own Damnation if it be otherwise than thou allegest of which these Honourable personages who are sent hither from the Count shall be the Witnesses whereupon his Sister who was about thirty years of age did take this following Oath I take the Body of my Lord here present to
moveables that was in all the Countrey of Anjou or Tourain Having lived a long time with her Husband by whom she had many goodly Children her happiness after which a contray doth always follow did begin to diminish wherefore her Husband being weary with his case and great contentment did seek out both his travel and his torment and made it his custom as soon as ever his Wife was asleep to rise from her and to return no more unto her until it was near unto the morning His Wife did take this manner of life of his so much to heart that entring into a great jeasousie although she would make no apparence of it she did neglect all her houshold affairs as also her self and her children being one who believed she had lost all the fruit of her labours when she had lost the love of her Husband to continue which love there was no labour which she would not willingly endure But having lost that she was so carelesse of all the rest that she soon perceived the great losse which her Negligence had occasioned For on the one side â—er Husband did carry himself without order and on the other side she looked no more to the affairs of the house insomuch that the whole House was so disordered that all things did run confusedly into Ruine Some of her Kinred who undrstood her Disease did represent unto her the fault she did commit and did advertise her If the love to her Husband could not perswade her to look unto the profit of her House at least the regard of her Children should enforce her The Compassion which she had on them did at the last cause her to pluck up her spirits and by all means to attempt to regain the love of her Husband On the night following she watched when he did rise from her and immediatly after her was gone she rose also and putting on her Night-Gown she caused her Bed to be made and reading her Houres she attended the return of her Husband when her Husband was come into the Chamber she did go directly to him to kisse him and brought him a Bason of water to wash his hands He being amazed at this unaccustomed complement did assure her that he came only from casting up some accounts and for that there was no need that he should wash at all She made answer to him That although it was no great matter of Necessity yet it was Civility to wash his hands when he came from a filthy and polluted place Belike desiring by this to prompt him to understand and to hate his wicked life But he did not reform himself although his Wife for a whole year did continue this Custome When she perceived that it was uneffectual one morning attending the return of her Husband who stayed longer than he was accustomed she had a great desire to seek him out and did goe so long from Chamber to Chamber that she found him at last asleep in the hindermost Wardope with one of the most unsightly and deformed Maids that was in all the house whereupon she resolved to teach him what it was to forsake an honest woman for so soul a slut In this humour she took straw and did set it on fire in the middle of the Chamber and when she perceived that the smoak had almost killed her Husband and enforced him to awake she took him by the arm and cryed out Fier Fier If her Husband were amazed and ashamed to be taken by his fair Wife with so foul and so nasty a Creature he had good reason for it His Wife said unto him Sir I have endeavoured one whole year to withdraw you from this loose life with gentlenesse and patience and to shew you that by washing without you ought to purge what was unclean within But when I perceived that whatsoever I could doe did prevail nothing I attempted to assist my self with that Element which commonly doth put an end to all things assuring you Sir that if this at this present should not correct you I know not if I shall be so patient the second time to pluck you from this danger as I now have done I must beseech you to consider that there is no greater dispair than what proceeds from love and if I had not God before my eyes I had not known that patience which I have used Her Husband being very glad that he was escaped so well did faithfully promise to give her no more occasion to torment her self which the Lady very willingly believed and by the consent of her Husband did immediately turn out of doors that party which did discontent her And after that hour they did live together in great love insomuch that the faults committed and passed in regard of the comfortable life which they now enjoyed was an augmentation of their content Ladies I must intreat you if God should give you such Husbands that you would not despair of them until you have a long time assayed all the means that possibly you can to reduce them for there are four and twenty hours in the day in the which a man might change his opinion and a woman ought to conceive her self more happy to have gained her Husband by her own patience and expectation than if Fortune or her friends had offered her a more ready way Behold here an example said Oyfilla which ought to be of great use to all married women Let her take the example who hath a mind to it said Parlament it is impossible for me to have so much patience for though in all estates patience he a great virtue yet I am of opinion that in marriage it doth lead unto Enmity for in suffering an in jury from an equal we are thereby constrained to separate our selves from him as far as possibly we can and in this separation there proceedeth an undervaluing of the fault of being disloyal and in that undervaluing by little and little love doth diminish for so long we doe love a thing as we do esteem the value of it But it is much to be feared said Emarsuite that an impatient wife may find a surious Husband who instead of patience may give her sorrow And what can a Husband doe said Parlament more than this of whom you have had an account in this last History What said Emarsuite why he may beat her soundly until her bones ratile again in her skin and make her lie in the Truckle bed and her whom he loved in the High bed I doe believe said Parlament that a Woman of worth will not take it so ill to be beaten by her Husband in choler as to be undervalued by him for one who is not to be compared to her and having endured the punishment of the separation of his love the Husband cannot doe any thing which can put his wife to a greater sorrow or can make him to care lesse for him for so saith the Account that the pains she took to recall him was for the
her to send those moveables to emertain her Husband in the Country that during his residence there he himself might have the oportunity to be as well entertained by her in the City Go too said Oysilla you shew too much the malice of your heart to judge ill of a good act I do rather believe that she was so mortified in the love of God that she look care for nothing more than for the health and safely of her Husband It seems to me said Simontault that be had more occasion to return unto his wife when be was cold in his Country house than when he was so well provided foâ— For ought that I see said Saffredant you are not of the opinion Madam of the rich Man of Paris who would not put off his cloaths when he lay with his Wife son fear of getting the Morphey but when in a cold winters day he did go to see his Maid in the fields without shoes on his feet or his Bonact on his head he was never sick at all although his Wife was a handsom woman and his Maid but an ill-favoured and a dirty slut Have you not heard said Guebron that God is always savourable to Lovers Fools and Drunkards It may be that this Burgess alone was all three of them himself By that you would conclude said Parlament that God doth not favour the chast the sober nor the wise They who can aid themselves said Guebron do not need to be aided by any other For he who hath said that he is come to cure the sick and not those who are sound is come by the law of his Mercy to help our insirmities and to break the arrests of the rigor of his Justice and he who doth think himself wise is a fool before the face of God But to end our Sermon to whom will Longeren give her voice I doe give it said he to Saffredant I hope then said Saffredant to shew you by example that God doth not favour Lovers For Ladies although it hath been heretofore affirmed that the Vice of Love is common both to Women and to men yet the invention and the artifice is always more ready in a woman than in a man as I shall demonstrate to you by this example A good invention to drive away an evill Spirit The ninth Novel A Lord of Grignaux who was a Cavalier of Honour to Anne Queen of France and Dutchesse of Brittany returning to his house from whence he had been absent two years and more did find his Wife removed to another place and not in the Castle where he left her and enquiring of the occasion it was told him that the Castle was haunted with a Spirit which did so torment them that none could endure to stay in it Monsieur de Grignaux who was not afraid of Hobgoblins made answer that if it was the Devil himself he was resolved to see what it was and took his Wife with him All the night he burned great Candles to discover the Spirit more plainly and having kept himself a long time awake and heard nothing at all he fell asleep But immediately he was awaked by a great blow that was given him on his cheek and he heard a voice crying Revigne Revigne which was the name of his Grand-mother He therefore called to his Wife who was in bed with him to light more Candles for the others were all burned out but she durst not rise Not long after Signior Grignaux did plainly perceive that something was drawing away the Coverlet from him and he heard a great noise of Tables and Trenchers and Dishes that did fall down in the Chamber which did continue until the break of day The Signior was more troubled that he had lost his Rest than surprized with any fear of the Spirit On the night following he did resolve with himself to take hold of the Spirit and not long after he was in bed he counterfeited as if he had suorted extremely did keep his hand open close unto his face Having in this manner attended the Spirit he at last perceived something to come near him wherefore he did begin to snort as loudly as he did before and the Spirit growing too saucy with him did give him a good sound blow on the face Signior Grignaux having his hand prepared did immediatly take fast hold on the hand that struck him and cryed out to his Wife I have the Spirit by the hand who immediarely did rise and bringing the Candle more near unto him they did find that it was their Chamber-maid who did lie in their own Chamber who trembling down upon her knees did demand pardon and promised to confesse the truth unto them which was that the Love which she had born for a long time to one of his Servants in the Castle did tempt her to undertake this goodly mystery to drive both Master and Mistresse from thence to the end that they two to whom the whole charge of the House was committed might have the opportunity to make better chear which they did when they were alone by themselves Monsieur de Grignaux who was a blunt and a rough man did command that they should both be punished with stripes and be taught to remember the ill Spirit as long as they lived which being done accordingly they were both discharged the Castle and by this means the House was deliverd from all trouble of those evil Spirits which before for two years together had played their pranks in it Ladies It is a strange thing to consider of the wonderful effects of the puissant God of Love who taking all fear from women doth prompt them to endure all tryals to arrive to the end of their own Desires And as this Invention in the Chambermaid was to be blamed so the good understanding of her Master is to be commended who knew very well that a Spirit goes forth and returns no more Truly said Guebron Love at this time did not favour the Groom not the Chambermaid but seems to confesse that the good Understanding of the Master was more effectual Howsoever said Emarfuite the Chambermaid by this Invention did live a long time wholly at her own pleasure Wicked is that Pleasure and most Unhappy said Oysilla which is grounded upon Sin and doth end in shame and punishment It is true Madam said Emarsuite but many people take pains and grief enough to live uprightly and in all their lives have not so much sense of pleasure as these two in this Account I am of that opinion said Oysilla that without peace of Conscience it is impossible to have any perfect pleasure Say you so said Simontault the Italian hath a Proverb That the greater the sin is it is always the more pleasant Truly said Oysilla they who do affirm that Tenent are Devils themselves Wherefore let us leave off this Dispute and know to whom Saffredant will give his voice To whom should I give it said he since every one hath spoken their
that she would have no Supper of such Viands again and that she resolved to live in such a manner that he should not be the Butcher of her second Husband for she could hardly be induced to believe that he would pardon another having shewed himself so mercilesse to him whom he loved best in the world And although she was but weak and unable to revenge her own Cause yet her Hope was in HIM who is the true Judge and who will suffer no Sin to passe unpunished to whose only love she would devote her self during her life in that Hermitage which she did accordingly for she never departed thence until the day of her Death untill her Soul departed from her Body living with such patience and austerity that after her Death every one did run thither as to the Seat of a Saint and so great a Ruine did fall upon her Brothers House that of six Sons which he had not one remained alive but all of them dyed most miserably and in the end the Inheritance was devolved as you heard in my other Account upon his Daughter Rolâ—ndine who succeeded in the Prison which was made for her Aunt Ladies I pray to God that this Example may be prefitable to you that none of you may have a desire to marry for your own pleasure without the consent of those â—o whom you do ow obedience for Marriage is an Estate of so long a Continuance that it ought not lightly to be undertaken nor without the Consent of our best Friends and Kinred And it cannot at the best be so well managed but it will undoubtedly bring with iâ— as much pain as pleasure In good faith said Oysilla if there were neither God nor Law to teach fools to be wise this Example is sufficient enough to instruct them to bear more reverence to their Parents and Kinred than to marry at their own pleasure Madam It is so said Nomerfide that she who hath one good day in a year is not unfortunate throughout all her life She had a long time the pleasure to see and to discourse with him whom she loved better than she loved her self and after that she had the delight of the Marriage-bed without any trouble or remorse of Conscience And I esteem that Contentment to be so great that it seems to me it doth exceed the sorrow it brought with it You will say then said Saffredant that Women do receive more pleasures to ly with their Husbands than they do receive grief to to see them killed before their eyes That is not my in tention said Nomerfide for I should then speak against the Experience which I have of married Women but I conceive that so great and extraordinary a pleasure as to marry that man whom we love best in the world is more greatly to be esteemed than to lose him by death which is a common calamity So it is said Guebron if it were by a natural death but this here spoken of was too cruel for it is very strange to me seeing this Signior was neither her Father nor her Husband but her Brother only and moreover that she was of full age and that the Laws doe permit the Daughters to marry whom they please how he durst execute such a cruelty I do find it not strange at all said Hircan for he killed not his Sister whom so perfectly he did love but the young Gentleman whom he cherished and brought up as his own Son and loved as his own Brother and having preferred him and inriched him in his Service the Gentleman ought to have been content and not to have sought his Sister in marriage which nothing at all did pertain unto him The Honour and pleasure said Nomerfide is not usual for a Gentleman who is but a Servant to marry a Lady of so great a Family And if the death be strange the pleasure must be new also and so much the greater that it hath the opinion of all wise men to affirm it and the contentment of a heart full of love to aid it and the repose of the Soul to attend it which is a quiet Conscience seeing God is not offended with it And as for that death which you say was cruel it seems to me that it being inevitable the speediest death is the best for we all know that of necessity we must passe through Nature to eternity And I esteem them most happy who stay not any long time in the Suburbs and from the felicity which only in this world can be so called do in an instaet fly unto that which is eternal What do you call the Suburbs of death said Simontault Those said Nomerfide who have had many tribulations in Spirit those who have been a long time sick those who by the extremity of corporal or Spiritual griefs are come so far as to despise death and to complain that their last hour comes too slowly These are they who have already passed through the Suburbs of Death and have lodged in those Inns in which there is more noise than rest It was impossible but that this Lady must lose her Husband by death but in losing him by the choler of her Brother being exempted from seeing him sick or bedrid and exchanging the joy she had to be with him into the love and the service of God she might well call her self happy Do you make no reckoning said Longaren of the disgrace which she received and of her tedious imprisonment I do believe said Nomerfide that a Man or Woman who absolutely doe love according to the Commandment of God do know neither shame nor dishonour but when they alter or diminish from the perfection of their love for the glory to love truly doth not know nor is it capable of disgrace And as for the imprisonment of the Body I do believe this Lady had such an inlargement of her Soul which was united to God and to her Husband that she was hardly sensible where she was but esteemed her solitude to be the greatest liberty for they who cannot behold that which they love have no other happinesse but incessantly to think upon iâ— And that confinement is never streight where the Soul is free and the thoughts can exercise themselves at their own preasure There is nothing more true said Simontault than that which Nomerfide doth declare but he who by his fury made that separation may truly be called guilty and unhappy for he at one and the same time offended both God and Love and Honour In good earnest said Guebron I do much wonder at the different loves of women and do well observe that those who have the most love have the most virtue and that those who have the least do indeavour by dissimulation to counterfeit themselves to be virtuous It is true said Parlament that a Heart honest to God and Men doth love more sincerely than that which is vicious for it feareth not that we may sound the depth of its intention I have
you an Account of one concerning whom I my self may serve for Witnesse and I have often heard it affirmed that how much the more that Virtue in a weak and seeble subject is assaulâ—ed by a strong and powerful Contrary by so much she is the more admirable and doth shew her self more clearly to be such as indeed she is for it is no wonder at all that the strong Man doth defend himself from the strong but that the feeble hath the Victory is the greatest glory in the world To understand aright the persons of whom I am to speak I shall peradventure do some little wrong to the truth as also that I shall cloath their story in so poor a Dresse that none will regard it Howsoever the Accomplishments of the young Maid by whom such worthy things were done do inforce me to declare them The Continence of a young Maid against the obstinate and amorous Sute of one of the greatest Lords of France and the happy Successe which the Damsell did obtain The second Novel IN one of the greatest Towns of Tourain there did dwell a Lord of a great and honourable house who had there his education from his Infancy I will make no mention in this place of the perfections the grace and beauty and the great virtues of this young Prince I shall only exhibite to you that France had not his equal Being at fifteen years of age he took more pleasure to ride and to hunt than to behold the beauties of Ladies One day when he was at Church he fixed his eyes upon a young Maid who in her Infancy had been brought up in the Castle where he lived and after the death of her Mother her Father did remove to another place whereupon she did goe to Poictou with her Brother This Maid whose name was Frances had a Bastard Sister whom her Father loved very well and married her to the chief Butler of this young Prince who did esteem as well of her as of any in his House The Father died and left unto Frances for her portion all the demeans and houses which he had in this great Town Wherefore after her Fathers death she removed from Poictou unto this place where her Estate was and because she was but 16 years of age unmarried she would not live alone in her own house but agreed for her bord with her Sister who was the Butlers Wife The young Prince observing this Maid to be very lovely being of a brown hair but of a clear complexion and having a carriage that did transcend her Estate for she seemed rather a Princesse than the Daughter of a Citizen he a long time with a stedfast eye did look upon her and being never in love before did find in his heart an unaccustomed heat and retiring into his Chamber he did enquire after her whom he saw in the Church and remembred that it was she who in her infancy was accustomed to come unto the Castle to play with his Sister and acquainted his Sister with it His Sister did send for her and made her very welcom desiring her that she would take the pains to come often to her which she did as often as there were any Marriages or publick Meetings where the young Prince would behold her with such a greedy eye that he did begin to love her intirely and because he knew shew was but of mean parentage he hoped easily to obtain that which he desired but having not the means to speak unto her he sent unto her a Gentleman of his Chamber to sollicite her for him But she who was as wife as she was young and feared God did allege unto him that she could not believe that his Master who was so gallant and so accomplished a Prince would so undervalue himself as to look upon a Creature so imperfect as her self especially seeing in the Castle where he had his residence there were so many great and beautiful Ladies she therefore conceived that what he did speak was from himself and not from the commandment of his Master When the young Prince had understood this answer Love which always doth grow more strong where it finds most resistance did make him more hotly to pursue his enterprise Whereupon he did write a Letter to her desiring her that she would believe that whatsoever this Messenger did say unto her did proceed from himself She who very well could both read write did read the Letter all over to which whatsoever entreaty the Gentleman did make she would return no answer at all affirming that it did not belong to a Person of so base a condition as her self to write unto such a Prince as he was but did beseech him not to suppose her so weak as to believe that he had so good an opinion of her as to bear any love unto her and if he thought by reason of her poor estate to have her at hs pleasure he did much deceive himself for she had as honest a heart as the greatest Princesse in Christendom and esteemed no treasure in the World comparable to her Honour and her Conscience She humbly besought him that he would not hinder her to preserve that treasure for should she die she would never alter her resolution The young Prince did not find this answer to be agreeable unto him neverthelesse he continued passionately to love her and failed not every day to be present at the Masse in that Church to which she repaired and all the while that Masse was saying he perpetually addressed the Devotion of his eyes to that fair image which when she perceived she changed her place and repaired to another Church not to avoid the sight of him for she had not been a reasonable creature if she had not taken pleasure to look upon him but she was afraid to be seen by him for since she conceived her self not worthy to be beloved by him in the way of Honour and Marriage she would not that it should be by the way of folly and of pleasure and whenever she saw any place in the Church where she might seat her self the Prince would fit as close by her as possibly he could which made her to goe from Church to Church to hear Masse dayly and to the furthest Churches that possibly she could and when any great marriages were solemnized at the Castle she did forbear to be present at them and although the Sister of the Prince did invite her she would always excuse her self by some indisposition or other The Prince perceiving that he could not have that accesse nor speak unto her as he desired did aid himself by his Butler and promised him many great rewards if he would assist him in this affair The Butler did promise to doe the utmost of his indeavour as well to please his Master as for the profit which he hoped to receive from him and every day he did give an account unto the Prince of what she both said and did and
good Woman the Widdow who was James his Mother being present did comply with him and said I in good troth since his Death we are no more visited than if we had never seen one another and this is all the reckoning that is made of poor Widdows Hereupon they did grow into new Indearments and the Mercers Wife did promise to visit her more often than ever And as they were speaking those words there came in other Customers whom the Master did lead into another Shop And the young Man taking his opportunity said unto his Mother I would forsooth that she would be pleased to come to us upon some Festival days to visit the holy places which are about us and especially the Religious if she would vouchsafe sometimes as she passeth by to take a Cup of wine it would be a great pleasure and an honour to us The Mercers Wife who thought no evill made answer to them that a fortnight ago she had determined with her self to walk abroad to see her friends and that if the Sunday following was a fair day she would take her pleasure then and as she passed by she would give a visit to her This being agreed upon the agreement followed for the price of the pieces of silk for James thought it was not requisite for the value of a litttle silver to lose so fair an opportunity The plot being laid and the Merchandise carryed away James perceiving that he alone was not able to carry on the enterprize was constrained to declare himself unto a faithfull Friend and they both did lay their heads so well together that there wanted nothing but the performance On the Sunday following the Mercers Wife and her Daughter on their return from their Devotions did not fail to call at the Widdows house where they found her with a good Woman a Neighbour of hers talking together in the gallery belonging to the Garden there was also the Daughter of the Widdow James his Sister who was walking up and down the Allees of the Garden with her Brother and Oliver James when he beheld his Sweet-heart did so compose his countenance that he did not reveal the least sign of Joy and in that grave garb did address himself both to the Mother and the Daughter And as it is ordinary that the Old do always keep company with the Old the three Women did sit upon a Bank which was so made that they were inforced to turn their backs towards the Garden into which by degrees the two lovers entred and walked untill they came unto the place where Oliver and his Sister were where some Salutations and Complements being passed they did walk again in the Allees of the Garden where the young Man did so well declare his intire affection to Frances that she could not but have compassion on him and did not altogether refuse that which her friend demanded so that he perceived that she was comming on and according to his expectation But you are to understand that during the time they were in this Communication they oftentimes walked up and down by the Bank where the good Women sate to take away suspition from them talking sometimes aloud of vulgar and familiar Subjects and sometimes making an apparence as if they were in a great Contestation And in this manner they passed up and down not far from the good Women for the space of half an hour at which time James made a sign to Oliver who played his part also vellâ—ry we with the other Maid whom he discoursed with insomuch that it could not be perceived when the two Lovers entred into a green plat shadowed with Cherry trees and enclosed with Goosberry Bushes and Roses where they pretended to goe to beat down Almonds in one corner thereof but it was indeed to gather Plumbs Here James instead of giving his Sweet-heart a Green Gown did give her a Red one for her blood did flush into her cheeks to find her self surprised before she was aware They had so readily gathered their plumbs because they were ripe that Oliver could not believe it were it not that he beheld the Maid to hold her head down towards the ground as if she had been ashamed which gave unto him a token of the Truth for before as she walked she did hold up her head without any fear that the vein in her eye which ought to be red should be seen to have taken the Azure colour which James perceiving with Remonstrances necessary to that purpose did endeavour to restore it to its first complexion and walking afterwards three or four turns in the Garden it was 〈◊〉 without tears and sighs Frances saying oftentimes unto him Wo is me Was it for this that you did love me Good God And if I had but thought on it What shall I doe you have undone me for ever In what Fame shall I now live What shall become of me I assure my self that you will make no more reckoning of me especially if you are in the number of those who do only love for pleasure Alas the time that ever I was born or being born that I had not died before I fell into this error These words were not uttered without abundance of tears But James did so comfort her with so many solemn Promises and Oaths that after they had walked three or four turns in the Garden more and he had made a sign to his Companion they ented again into the Grasseplat by another way where James did not behave himself so unmanly but she received far more pleasure at the giving of the second Green Gown than at the first and moreover did like so well of it that they entred into a consultation how they might see one another more often and more to their delight In which a young Woman a Neigbour of the Merchants and one of James his Kinswomen and one who was a very good Friend to Frances did very much assist them In this condition of life for ought that I can understand they continued without scandal until the consummation of their marriage which was a very rich one for the Daughter of a Mercer in regard she was the only child he had True enough it is that James a long time stayed for the death of the Father who was so locked up to himself that it seemed to him what he held fast in one hand the other would steal from it Ladies you may here behold a Love well begun well continued and best of all concluded for although it is a common thing with you Men to disdain a Maid or Woman who hath been too liberal to you of that which you most seek of her so it is that this Gentleman being possessed with a true and sincere Love and having known that in his Sweet-heart which every Husband desireth in her whom he hath espoused and finding her also wise and well descended would not forsake her he himself being the occasion of the fault that was committed neither would he
Wooâ—â—ss and that almost before she can perceive that she is gone astray Howsoever it is said Parlament I should never love that man who would make so great a separation betwixt my Husband and my self as to make him beat me for blowes make love to sly away Yet neverthelesse as I have heard so cunningly these Impostures do carry themselves when they would have a poor Woman at advantage that I do believe it is more danger to give ear unto them privatly than publickly to receive blowes from their Husband who if it were not for such busie pretenders would be good enough To speak the truth said Dagoucin the trains they have laid are on every side so many that it is not without cause to fear them although in my opinion that Person who is not fearful or suspitious is worthy of praise Neverthelesse said Oysilla we ought to suspect the evil which we would avoid for it is better to suspect the Evil which is not than foolishly by not believing it to fall into the Evil which is For my part I never saw a Woman deceived in being slow to give credence to the words of Men but I have heard of many that have been ruined by giving too ready a belief to their false protestations wherefore I affirm that the Evil which can arrive cannot be too much suspected by those who have the charge both of Men and Women and Cities and Estates for be the watch never so strictly observed and be there never so many eyes imployed yet Forgeries and Treasons will abound The Shepheard that is not vigilant is every way deceived by the subtilty of the Fox and the cruelty of the Wolf And yet so it is said Dagoucin that a person that is suspitious can never entertain any absolute friendship and love hath been oftentimes estranged if not separated by suspition only If you can render us any Example of it said Oysilla I will give you my voice I know one and so true a one said Dagoucin that you will take Delight to hear it Ladies I will tell you what it is that doth most easily break true Love It is when the assurance of Love doth bâ—gin to give place unto suspition for as to believe a friend is the greatest honour can be done unto him so to doubt of him is the greatest dishonour can befall him by that suspition we begin to esteem him otherwise than we would he should be which is the cause that many great friendships are dissolved and Friends made Enemies as you shall find by this Account which I have now in hand to exhibite to you A Gentleman of Percha unjustly suspecting the love of his Friend did provoke him unwillingly to put in practise the Cause of his Suspition The seventh Novell IN the Country of Percha there were two Gentlemen who from the time of their first Infancy did continue in so great and an entire a love that betwixt them there was but one heart one house one bed and one table They along time did live in this perfect Amity enjoying one thought and one will you might see indeed a distinction of persons but they lived together not only as two Brothers but as if that both of them had made but one entire Man The one of them was married yet did not discontinue for all that to maintain his old Love and daily to live with his Companion as he had been accustomed to do And if at any time in their Travels they wanted a second Bed his friend did lie in the same Bed with himself and his Wife It is true enough that at that time he himself did always lie in the middle Their Goods were also in common It was not Marriage that could hinder the establishment of their love Nevertheless in the progress of time the felicity of the world which is subject to mutability could not any longer continue in this House which was indeed too happy and in too permanent a condition for the Husband forgetting the assurance which he had in his Friend without any occasion at all did entertain a great jealousie of his Wife and him He did not dissemble it to his Wife and did acquaint her with the unpleasing tydings whereat she was much astonished for he had commanded her in all things but in one to make as much of his Companion as of himself and now he expresly did forbid her to speak unto him unless she were in some publick Company She took the opportunity to acquaint the Companion of her Husband with it who did not believe it knowing well enough that he never thought nor did any thing whereat his Companion should be afflicted And being accustomed to conceal nothing from him he did acquaint him with what he understood desiring him that he would not conceal the truth from him for he would not either in that or any other thing give him an occasion to break that love with so long they had entertained The Gentleman that was marryed did assure him that he had never any such thought and that they who brought this Information to him were most wicked lyars His Companion told him I know well enough that Jealousie is a passion as insupportable as Love and if you should be surprized with it yet I would do you no Injury at all for I know it is a passion that grows so upon a Man that he cannot help it But of one thing which lies in your power to help I find I have just reason to complain which is that you conceal this passion from me seeing heretofore there was not that thing which you would conceal from me I will say as much of my self If I were amorous of your Wife you ought not to impute it unto me as any great Iniquity for it is a fire which I hold not in my hand to do with it according to my own pleasure but if I should conceal it from you and endeavour to make your Wife acquainted with it I should be one of the wickedest Companions that ever was For my part I do assure you that albeit she is an honest and a virtuous Gentlewoman yet were she not your Wife I do not know any Woman that I have a less Fancy to But although there be no occasion for it I desire you if you but harbour the least scruple of suspition that possibly may be that you would acquaint me with it to the end I may give such Order that our love which hath so long continued may not be dissolved for a Woman for if I loved her above all Creatures in the World yet I would never speak any more unto hrr because I doe prefer your love above all others His Companion did swear unto him by the greatest Oaths that could possibly be imagined that he never had any such thought and desired him to make use of his house as he was accustomed to doe His Friend made answer to him because it is your desire I will doe it but I must
fashion of a Collar they came to attend the Countesse as she was going to Church who when she beheld them so strangely accoutred began to laugh and said unto them From whence come these dolorous people Madam said Astillon We your poor slaves and prisoners are come to do you service The Countess making a semblance as if she knew nothing at all did say unto them You are not my prisoners neither can I understand what occasion you have to do service to me more than to any other whereupon Valtebron advanced himself more near unto her and said Since we have fed so long on your Bread we should be ungratefull Madam if we should not do you service She did put so good a countenance upon it pretending to understand nothing at all that she thought with her bold dissimulation to have amazed them but they followed their process so closely that she perceived that the businesse was discovered Wherefore incontinently she did find an expedient to deceive them for she who had lost her honour and her Conscience would not receive the shame which they thought to have brought upon her who but as one who preferred her pleasure above all the honour of the world did make nothing of what they said and did not alter her Countenance at all at which they were all astonished seeing that they had brought upon themselves that shame which they thought to have done to her Ladies If you find not this History able enough to make you understand that there are Women as subtle and as wicked as Men I will look out some others for you Howsoever it seems to me to be sufficient to demonstrate to you that a Woman having lost her shame is a hundred times more bold and more ready to do evil than a Man There was not a Woman in all the Company who heard this History but made as many signes of the Cross as if at that present before their eyes they had seen all their Enemies in Hell But Oysilla said Ladies Let us humble our selves when we do hear of such horrible things for a Woman forsaken by God doth render her self like unto him with whom she joyneth For as they who do adhere to God have his Spirit with them So they who adhere unto the Devil have always with them the temptations of the Prince of Darkness And there is nothing so Bestial as a Woman destitute of the Spirit of God Why what had this poor Lady done said Emarsuite I can find nothing I only hear a story of Men who vaunted of their prison I am of opinion said Longaren that it is no lesse pain and trouble for a man in this kind to conceal his good fortune than it is for them to obtain it for there is no hunter but sounds his horn at the fall of the Game nor Lover but doth glory having gained the Victory over his Mistresse Loe here an opinion said Simontault which before the inquisition it self I will maintain to be heretical for there are more men by far than Women that can keep Secrecies and I do know very well that there may be some found who had rather have no good cheer at all than that any body should understand it And the Church as a good Mother hath ordained Priests who are men to be Confessors and not Women because they can conceal no secrets It is not for that occasion said Oysilla but because Women are so great Enemies to Vice that they would not so easily give absolution as Men and would be far more austere in their injunctions of penance If they would be as severe in their penances said Dagoucin as they are in their answers they would make Sinners rather to despair than they would lead them to Salvation Wherefore the Church hath provived well in all things Howsoever I cannot excuse those Gentlemen who did boast so much of their Prison for there was never any Man that received honour by speaking ill of Women Because the Act was common amongst them all said Hircan in my opinion they did well to comfort one another But they ought not to have confessed it said Guebron for their own honour for the Books of the Round Table do teach us that it is no point of honour in Chivallry to beat one who is not worth any thing I do much wonder said Longaren that this poor Lady did not die for shame before these Prisoners Those who have once lost it said Oysilla do hardly or never recover it again unlesse it be those whom a violent Love hath made to forget it and I have seen many of those to recover their lost shame I believe said Hircan that you have seen those to return who have never set foot forward for an entire love in a VVoman is very hard to find I am not of your opinion said Longaren for I know there have been some who have loved until death I have such a desire to hear that Novelty said Hircan that I doe give you my voice to find that Love in Women which I thought had never been But when you have heard it said Longaren you will believe it and confesse that there is no passion so violent as that of Love And as it makes us to undertake things almost impossible to purchase a little contentment in this life so more than any other passion it inforceth Him or Her who have lost the hope of their desire as it will appear unto you by this History One in love having been let blood received the gift of Mercy by which he died and his Sweet-heart killed her self for the losse of him The tenth Novel IT is not yet a full year since there was a Gentleman in the City of Cremona named Monsieur John Peter who a long time had loved a Lady who lived near unto his house but in the purchase which he made did not receive the Answer he desired although she did love him with all her heart At which the poor Gentleman was so perplexed that he retired into his own Chamber and determined with himself no more in vain to seek after that the pursuit whereof did consume his life and indeavouring to divert his fancy and affection he did keep within some dayes without seeing the Lady whom he loved by reason whereof he did fall into so extreme a melancholy that it quite altered his Complexion His Kinsman caused the Physicians to come unto him who finding his complexion to be turned yellow did judge it to be an opilation of the Liver and did prescribe him Medicines for his Recovery The Lady who had been so rigorous unto him knowing well enough that his Disease came only by her denials did send unto him an old Woman in whom she trusted and did command her to acquaint him from her that since she found by experience that his love was true and not counterfeit she was resolved to accord unto him in all those things which for so long a time she had refused She had found
wanting we must borrow something of Hypocrifie just as we do when we wear Pantofles to make us appear a little higher than we are and doth it not do well howsoever that we can find a way to cover our imperfections To tell you what I think said Hircan it were better sometimes to shew some imperfection than peremptorily to cover it with the mantle of Virtue It is true indeed said Emarsuite that a Garment borrowed doth as much dishonour him who is enforced to return it as it did him credit when he did wear it And there hath been that Lady to my knowledge alive who to cover a small fault hath fallen into a greater I do suspect said Hircan who it is you speak of wherefore at the least doe not name her And why so said Guebron I do give you my voice but upon a condition that after you have recited your Account you will declare the Name and we will all swear unto you never to make any reiteration of it I do promise you that I will said Emarsuite for there is nothing but may be spoken of with Honour The personal diligence of a Prince to remove an importunate Lover The third Novel KIng Francis the first of that name having retired himself into a most pleasant Castle with a small Retinue as well to solace himself with the pleasure of hunting the Buck as to repose himself from the troubles the noise of the City had in his Company a Pr. as wise as virtuous as gallant a man as any in the Kings Court He had espoused a Lady who had none of the greatest beauties but he did love her as well as a Husband could love a Wife And reposed so great a trust in her that if by chance he did take an affection to any other he did not conceal it from her knowing that she had no other desire but what was his The Prince did fall in love with a Lady that was a Widdow who had the reputation to be one of the fairest Ladies that could be looked upon and if the Prince loved her well his Wife did love her no lesse than he and did oftentimes invite her to eat and to drink with her finding her so wise and so honest that instead of being sorry that her Husband loved her she was glad with all her heart to see him to addresse himself to so fair a Creature filled with Honour and Virtue This love continued long insomuch that the Prince imployed himself in his own person in all the affairs of this Lady as if she had been his own Wife and the Princesse his Wife did do no lesse But because she was so exceeding beautiful many great Lords and Gentlemen did court her and were importunately sollicitous to obtain her favour some for love only and some for gifts for besides her beauty she was very rich Amongst others there was a young Gentleman who did follow her so close that he failed not to be in her Chamber every morning when she made her self ready and every evening when she undressed her self to goe to bed and as long as possibly he could he stayed with her all the day which pleased not the Prince for he thought that a Man of so poor a condition and of so rude a deport did not deserve that civil and gratious entertainment of which in private he often made Remonstrances to the Lady But she who was the Daughter of a Duke did excuse it saying That she without distinction did speak to all the World by reason whereof her love was the more concealed seeing that she did speak as much to one as to another At the end of half a year this Gentleman did court her in the way of marriage and did follow his sute with so much diligence that more for importunity than for any love she did promise him that she would accept him for her Husband intreating him that he would not declare it until her Daughters were all married After this promise the Gentleman without any fear of Conscience did goe at all hours into her Chamber when he pleased and there was but one Gentlewoman belonging to her Chamber and but one Gentleman that did know of the Contract they had made The Prince observing that the Gentleman did grow more and more familiar in the house of her whom so much he loved did take it so ill that he could not forbear thus to impart his jealous heart unto the Lady I have always loved your Honour as if you were my own Sister and you doe know the honest discourses with which I did always entertain you and the contentment which I received to love a Lady so wise and so virtuous as your self but I doe find that another who doth not deserve it hath by his importunity gained that which against your approbation I would not desire and this is an affliction not to be endured by me and will prove no lesse dishonourable to your self I doe acquaint you with it because you are young and beautiful and until now have lived in the height of reputation which every day will sink lower lower and being lost will not be easie to be regained And although he is no ways to be compared to you in Birth or Fortunes and much lesse in Authority Knowledge or Gracefulnesse it would be better far that you should marry him than to make all the world to suspect you Wherefore I beseech you to tell me truly if you are determined to love him for I will not have him to be my Companion and am resolved to leave you to him for altogether and I will by degrees withdraw my self from that familiar love which I have born unto you The poor Lady did begin to weep fearing to lose his love and did swear unto him that she had rather die than espouse that Gentleman of whom he did speak but she said that he was so importunate that she could not hinder him from comming into her Chamber on the hour when all the rest were accustomed to enter Of those hours said the Prince I doe not speak at all for I can then come in as well as he and every one may see what you doe But I am Informed that he finds admission into your Chamber after you are in bed a thing which I do find so strange and which comes so quite crosse unto me that I must tell you that if you continue that life and you doe not declare him for your Husband you will be one of the most dishonoured Women that ever was She made unto him all the Oaths that possible she could that she did not esteem him either for a Husband or a Friend but for an importunate Man as he was Well said the Prince since it is so that he is so much troublesome unto you I will take a course to prevent it How said she will you cause him to be put to death No no said the Prince but I will give him to understand that he
the love of any other I do believe said Parlament that if she durst have revealed her marriage she would have been well contented with her Husband but because she would not have it known until her Daughters were married she was inforced to make use of so private a love It was not so said Saffredant but the desires and ambition of women are so great that they can never be contented with one alone Nay I have been informed that those who are accounted the wisest of all their Sex have willingly entertained three at one time One for their Honour another for their Prosit and a third for their pleasure and every one of the three did conceive himself to be the best beloved but the two first did serve the last You speak of those said Oysilla who knew neither Love nor Honour Madam said Saffredant there are some of that condition whom you do esteem to be as honest Ladies as any in the Country where they live You may assure your selves said Hircan that a woman who hath a good wit will know how to live when all others do starve for hunger it may be so said Longaren but when their cunning is discovered they had better to be dead and out of the world Nay it is all their life said Simontault for they esteem it no little glory to be reputed more wise than their Companions and this Title of being more wise which they have learned to their own expence doth more powerfully draw their Servants to their obedience than doth their beauty for amongst those that love it is one of the greatest pleasures finely to manage their love You speak said Emarsuite of a wanton and inordinate love for an Honest love never need to be covered Ha said Dagoucin I beseech you trouble not your head with such a fancy for the more pretious the Drugg is it is always the lesse vented by reason of the indiscretion of those who look upon the cheaper and more common Receipts which to an unknowing man are all one Wherefore when our love is virtuous we ought the more to conceal it than if it were vicious and imperfect because we would not fall into the ill judgement of those who cannot believe that a Man can love a Lady for Honor but that they do love as much for pleasure and so they do conceive and conclude every to one be like themselves But if they were all in good earnest neither the word nor the countenance should carry the least dissimulation especially amongst those who had rather die than think any Evil of love I do assure you Dagoucin said Hircan You are upon a point of such high Philosophy that no Man here doth understand you for you would make them to believe that Men are either Angels or Stones or Devils I know well enough said Dagoucin that Men are Men and subject to all passions but there are those to my knowledge who had rather die than that for their pleasure their Mistresses should do any thing against their Consciences It is too much to die said Guebron I will not believe that word should it proceed from the Mouth of the most austere and the most religious man that is But I doe believe said Hitcan there are many who do desire as much but they are like to those who do not love Grapes because they do grow so high that they cannot gather them Howsoever I doe believe that the wise of that Prince was very joyful that her Husband had learned to understand what such women are I will assure you no said Einarsuite she was very sorry for it by reason of the great love that she did bear unto him I should rather love her said Saffredant who always did fall a laughing when her Husband did kisse her Chamber-maid Truly said Emarsuite you shall give us the Account of it I do give you my place Although it be but short said Saffredant I will recite it to you for I had rather make you laugh than affict you with a tedious discourse A Gentle woman of so good a disposition that seeing her Husband to kisse her Chambermaid did nothing but laugh at it and being demanded the reason of it she made answer that she only laughed at his shadow The fourth Novel BEtween the Pyrenaean Mountains and the Alpes there lived a Gentleman called Thogas who had a handsome Wife Sweet Children a stately house and such abundance of riches and pleasures that he had a just occasion to live most contentedly neverthelesse he was subject to a great pain under the roots of his hair for which the Physicians did advise him not to lie with his Wife to which she willingly consented reguarding nothing more than the life and the health of her Husband She caused her bed to be placed in another corner of the Chamber over against her Husbands and in so direct a line that they could not put their heads out of their beds without seeing one another This Gentlewoman did keep in the house two Chambermaids and whenever their Master and their Mistresse were in bed they did either of them take some merry book in which they did read for their recreation and their Chambermaids did all the while stand by and hold the Candle the youngest of the Maids held the Candle to her Master and the eldest to her Mistresse The Gentleman observing his Chambermaid to be more young and handsome than his Wife did take a great delight to look upon her and oftentimes would interrrupt his reading to entertain her His Wife did very well observe it and did well approve that both her Maid-servants and the Men-servants were so officious to please their Master presuming that he loved none but her self One Evening having read a great deal longer than they were accustomed to doe his Wife did put her head out of the bed and looked towards her Husband where she saw her young Chambermaid who held the Candle but she turning her face towards her Master as she waited on him his Wife could not see her face but her back only and the Maid standing directly before her Master she could not see him at all but on the white wall over against them where the light of the Candle did cast a shadow she could observe him and knew very well by their shadowes which was the Maid which was her Husband and could easily perceive when they met together and when they did draw back from one another and when they laughed and all the postures of them The Gentleman who never thought of being discovered being assured that his Wife could not see him did kisse the Chambermaid at which for the first time his Wife was very patient without speaking a word but when she saw that the shadowes did often meet together and did oftentimes return unto that union fearing they would proceed to worse she begun to laugh as loud as possibly she could insomuch that the shadowes were afraid of her laughter and did separate
the one and the other of them very well did make the Marriage She who was a pleasant Woman did tell her Husband without dissimulation that she had Servants in whose Company she loved to passe away the time with whom he himself might partake of the Pleasure at last this married life seemed too tedious to him for on the one side he was displeased that so long a time she did give so great entertainment to those who had no relation to him at all and on the other side he was much grieved at the great expences he was constrained to be at to maintain her in her gorgeous apparel to follow the Court. Wherefore as often as he could he would retire unto his house in the Country where so much Company came to see her that it did not much diminish his expences at the Court For his Wife in whatsoever place she was would find some means or other to passe away the time either at play or at dancing or at some other exercise in which young Ladies may honestly exercise themselves and oftentimes when her Husband would smiling say unto her that they lived at too high a rate she would make answer and assure him that she would never make him a Cuckold although she loved to be seen in those habiliments which were most rich and gorgeous for not any in all the Court did hardly exceed her which was the occasion that her Husband did bring her to the Court as seldom as possibly he could although she used all the means she could to resort often to it and to win him the more she would so comply with him in all things that there was nothing almost so impossible to be had that he would refuse to bestow upon her Finding one day that all the inventions she could use were of no efficacy to perswade him to make a voyage to the Court she perceived that he made very much of one of the Maids of her Chamber and one day she did take her aside by her self and did cunningly propound unto her so many questions that what by promises and what by threatnings the Girl did confesse unto her that ever since she came into her house there passed not a day in which her Master did not sollicite her to Love him but she had rather die than do any thing against God or her Conscience and seeing she had done her the honour to entertain her in her service she believed it would be a double and an unpardonable sin to yield unto her Masters importunities The Lady understanding the disloyalty of her Husband was suddenly transported with the two violent passions of Love and Joy seeing her Husband who made such a semblance to love her would procure such a shame both to her and to himself although she knew her self to be far more beautifull and of a more flowing carriage than was the other for whom he would have changed But her Joy was that she hoped to take her Husband in so great a fault that he should never reproach her more for her long stay at the Court And the better to arive unto it she intreated the Maid by little and little to accord to what her Husband did desire but upon such Conditions as she should propound unto her The Maid was very difficult to be perswaded to it but being assured by her Mistresse both of her Life and Honour she agreed to submit unto her in all things The Gentleman continuing his sute did observe the Ey and the Countenance of the Maid to be much changed wherfore he did prosecute her more vigorously than he was accustomed to do and she who had her lesson by heart did represent her poverty unto him and withall that if she obeyed him she should lose her Mistresses love and service having received great hopes to gain a good Husband by her The Gentleman made answer to her that she need not take any care for all those things for he would marry her better and more richly than it was possible for her Mistresse to do and moreover that he would carry the affair so secretly that no man should speak evil of her At these words the agreement was made and considering with themselves what place was most fit for the accomplishment of so goodly a work she told him that she knew no place more convenient for the businesse nor more far from suspition than the little Lodge that was in the Parke where there was a Bed and a Chamber fit for the purpose The Gentleman who would have disliked no place was very well contented that she had nominated that and the time seemed very tedious to him untill the day and the hour were come The Maid failed not in the performance of the promise which she made unto her Mistresse and acquainted her all along with the whole discourse of the enterprise which was to be the next day after dinner and assured her that on the hour when she was to go she would not fail to give her some notice of it Her Mistresse did heartily intreat her to take a great care what she was about to do and that she herself would not fail to be there at the hour to keep her from the danger into which she had put her self by obeying her Counsels Moreover to her assurances she added oathes and charged her not to be fearful of any thing and that she never would forsake her but preserve her both then and for the time to come from the fury of her Husband The next day being come the Gentleman made himself as fine as might be and after Dinner be seemed to make more of his Wife than he was accustomed to do But this because she knew of his Intentions was not very agreeable to her but she dissembled her thoughts so well that he perceived nothing at all Dinner being done she demanded of him at what sport he would please to pass away the time He made answer to her that for the present he could devise no better pastime than to play at Cards Immediately they did begin to play but she would not play her self but said It would be pleasure enough for her to look upon the Gamesters As he began to set himself to play he fayled not to speak unto the Maid not to forget her promise and when he was at play she passed through the Hall and made a sign unto her Mistresse of the pilgrimage she was going who took notice of it very well but the Gentleman did not perceive it An hour after one of his Grooms did make a sign unto him a far off whereupon he said unto his Wife that his Head did begin to ake and that he was constrained to walk abroad a little for his health and to take the Air. She who knew his malady as well as himself did ask him if she should play out his Game he said yes with all his heart and by and by he would return again Howsoever she assured him that for two hours
it should never trouble her to possesse his place In this manner the Gentleman departed and did goe first into his Chamber and afterwards he came down into the Garden and walked thorough an Alley into his Park His Wife who knew a nearer way did stay a little behind him and on a sudden making an apparence of some extraordinary businesse she did give her Cards to another And as soon as ever she was gone out of the Hall leaving her high Pattens behind her she did run as fast as she could to that place where she would not have the market to be made without her and was there in good time for she came into the Chamber at one door a little before her Huband did enter at the other and she did hide her self behind the hangings listning very attentively to the goodly discourse and the fair and flatering promises which her Husband had with the Chambermaid But when she perceived that he began to commit the Act she plucked him by his Garment behind and said unto him I am too near unto you to take any other besides my self If the Gentleman were angry to extremity you need not to doubt being as well disappointed of the pleasures which he hoped to receive as to see that his Wife did know that which he would not have her therefore truly conceiving that the train was laid by the Maid without speaking one word to his Wife he did run after her with so much fury that if his Wife had not taken her out of his hands he had undoubtedly killed her saying it was the boldest and the basest baggage that ever he saw and that if his Wife had but concealed her self a little longer she should find apparently enough that the whole contrivement was nothing but mockery for instead of doing that which the Maid propounded to herself he had brought rods to chastise her But she who knew well enough the metal of her Husband did not think so well of it neither would she believe him and made him so many Remonstrances that he enterteained a great fear that she would forsake him wherefore he made her all the promises that possibly she could desire and confessed unto her that he had done her wrong to think worse of her than he did of his Serving Maid For an honest and a fair Woman is not the lesse virtuous for being not beloved because she neither speaks nor does any thing that is against her Honour but the Man is he who doth deserve a great punishment and puts himself to an endlesse trouble to court and follow one who doth not love him to wrong both his Wife and his Conscience Wherefore he did promise her that he would never hinder her more from going to Court nor would ever think ill of it let her entertain as many Servants to Court her as she pleased for he knew well enough that she did speak unto those rather out of Complement than affection This discourse did nothing displease the Lady for she knew that she had got him at a great advantage neverthelesse she did speak unto him clean contrary to her heart for she pretended that of late she took no pleasure at all to goe to the Court and that she regarded his love more than any thing in the World without which all companies whatsoever were most unpleasing to her saying that a virtuous Woman beloved by her Husband and returning love to him again did carry with her a safe Passeport to speak to all the World and not to be controuled by any The Maid being gone down the stairs the poor Gentleman took such great pains to shew her by effects the strength and assurance of his Love that at the last they departed from that place thoroughly reconciled And to return no more to the former Inconvenience he did beseech her to put away that Maid by whose occasion he had run himself into so great a Danger Which she did accordingly but it was by marrying her well and honourably at his own charges And to make his Wife altogether to forget that folly he not long afterwards did go along with her to the Court with so brave a Retinue and her self so gorgeously set forth with variety of rich habiliments that she had great reason to be contented Ladies This is that which in the foregoing Story did make me speak unto you that I find it not strange what she did to her Servant seeing how she did use her Husband You have given us here said Hircan the Character of a subtile woman and a foolish Husband for seeing he was come so far he should never have stayed in so fair a way Why what should he have done said Longaren That which he had in hand said Hiâ—can for seeing his wife was angry with him because she knew what he intended she could not be more if he had performed it Nay it may be that ever after she would have thought the better of him having known him to be so gallant and so venturous a Companion It is well presumed said Emarsuite But where will you find one Man that overcame two Women at one time for the Wife did defend her Right and the Maid her Virginity It is true said Hircan but a bold and a couragious Man would not have been afraid to have assaulted them both at once I do believe said Emarsuite that if he had drawn his sword he might have killed them both but otherwise I do not see what he could have don No said Hircan I would first have imbraced my wife and carried her in my arms out of doors and afterwards I would have don with the Chamber-maid what I pleased either by love or by force Hircan said Parlament It is sufficient and too much too that you know to do evil I am sure said Hircan that I give here no offence to those who are innocent in what I speak neither would I maintain an evil Act my self for to be serious I do not praise any Enterprise which of it self is worth nothing neither will I prise this Enterpriser since he did not put an end unto it rather for the fear than for the Love of his wife I do think it commendable and most worthy of true praise when a man loves his wife as God commandeth but if he cannot love her I do believe that he is not to fear her In truth said Parlament if Love will not make you a good Husband I have little hope that Fear will ever do it You need not fear at all said Hircan for the Love which I do bear unto you doth render me more obedient than the fear either of Death or Hell You may say what you please said Parlament but I have occasion enough to satisfie my self with what I have seen and known of you And of that which I do not know I will never suspect much less enquire I do find a great solly said Nomerfide in those Men and Women who are always enquiring after one
with so great a sorrow and anguish of mind that she was almost dead with the extremity thereof And if it were possible her conscience and honour being preserved she would willingly have dissembled her fortune But that was impossible For the Rumor thereof being spread abroad the Church did begin to look after them and gave order at first that the good Man and his Wife should live asunder until the truth of the fact was more fully known Whereupon the poor Man to his great grief was constrained to abandon his good Wife to seek after his bad one and came to Bloys a little after that King Francis the first of that Name was made King in which City he found Qu. Claudia and Madam the Regent before whom he made his complaint demanding her whom with all his heart he desired not to have seen but it must be so whether he would or no for which he had the pity of all the Inhabitants And when his Wife was presented to him she a long time would maintain that it was not her Husband but some Impostor which he also if possibly he could would have believed with all his heart She being more sorrowful than ashamed did professe openly That she had rather die than return to Paris with him at which he was much discontented But the Ladies before whom she did express her self so boldly did so much condemn her that she returned with him and they so preached to the Chanter and followed what they preached with so many uses of Reproof and Terror that he was constrained to advise his Sweet-heart to go home with her Husband and to assure him that he would visit her no more And thus being discountenanced on all sides the poor unfortunate Woman was constrained to go with her Husband by whom she was far better used than she deserved Ladies You may observe from hence that if at first this Husband had been but vigilant of his Wife he had never been robbed of her for a purchase well guarded is hardly lost and it is abundance that makes a Thief It is a strange thing said Hircan that Love should be so strong where it is most unreasonable I have heard it spoken said Simontault that it is easier to dissolve a thousand Marriages than to separate the Loves of a Priest and his Lemman I do easily believe it said Emarsuite for they who so often doâ—ty others in Mariage do know of themselves so well to tamper with the kuott that nothing but they and Death can dissolve it And since the Doctors do affirm that the spiritual language is the most excellent of all it doth by consequence fall out that the spiritual Love also doth surpasse all other Loves It is a thing said Dagoucin which I know not how to pardon in Ladies to forsake an honest Husband or a Friend for a Priest be he never so handsom or so civil I must beseech you said Hircan that you would forbear to speak or to censure our Mother the Church but to believe that it is a great pleasure to Women fearful and secret to sin with those who when ever they have don can absolve them of them sins for there are divers who are more ashamed to confess a sin than to commit it You speak of those only said Oysilla who have not the fear of God and who believe that secret things shall not one day be revealed before the Angels in Heaven But I have this opinion of those Women that they desire not so much Confession as the Confessours for the Enemy hath so blinded them that they seek rather to be in a place most covert and secure than to be absolved of their Evil of which they are not touched with the least Remorse Nay said Saffredant they are so far from Remorse that they conceive themselves to be more holy than other Women and I am confident there are some who think themselves much honour'd to persevere in such Loves You speak of some only said Oysilla and it appears that you know something of them Wherefore I shall desire you that to begin our Journal to morrow you would inform us of something which you know of this Subject for this is the last time that the Bell doth tole and hark the Saints Bell doth now ring in all to Vespers You might also have observed that at the end of the sixth Novell of this day the Religious men did all depart from the shade of yonder hedge and left us to our selves to compleat our Histories Having spoke those words all the Company did rise and repaired to the Church where they found that the Monks did attend their coming and having heard Vespers they supped altogether entertaining one another with excellent discourse Supper being ended they delighted themselves with walking in the meadow according to their custome and afterwards every one did go to rest in their several lodgings to have the better Memory for the next day The end of the sixth Days Work of the Novels of the Queen of Navarr The Seventh Days VVork of the Novells of the Queen of NAVARRE The Preface IN the Morning Madam Oysilla failed not to administer to them the saving food of their Soules which she had gleaned in reading of the Acts and Virtuous Deeds of the glorious Martyrs and Apostles of Jesus Christ as they are declared by Saint Luke telling them That what she read there did inflame her with a devout desire to see the happy condition of those times and to lament the Iniquity of these And when she had sufficiently read and expounded the beginning of that excellent Book she desired them to repair to the Church with her in the same Vnion as the Apostles did make their prayers and to demand Grace of God which is never refused to those who do in faith desire it This holy Counsel was well approved by all and they came into the Church just as the Mass of the holy Spirit did begin which seemed to conduce much to their present purpose which made them to give ear unto it with more than ordinary devotion and afterwards at Dinner all their Discourse was concerning the happy lives of the Apostles in those Primitive times in which they took so much delight that it seems they had forgot what they had been accustomed to do in the Afternoon of which Nomerfide being the youngest did advise them and said Madam Oysilla hath so long deteyned us with Discourses of Devotion that we have let pass the accustomed hour to retire us for the preparation of our Novells Her words were the occasion that all the Company presently did arise and having made a little stay in their Chambers they failed not to meet all together in the Meadow as they had done on the dayes before And being set one by one Madam Oysilla said to Saffredant Although I am assured that you will speak nothing that shall tend to the advantage of Women yet I must desire you that you will rehearse that
promised For as when he was in choler there was no man living that durst assault him so without some great occasion that did provoke him he had rather die himself than commit a murder if his Honour had not constrained him to it In the like manner without an extreme force of Love which begetteth blindnesse in virtuous men he had rather die than defile his marriage bed by a depraved appetite to another which was the cause that his wife did so much respect and love him observing so stayed an honesty to dwell in such a tendernesse of youth And she demanding of him how he could excuse himself seeing that Princes oftentimes are much incensed against those men who do not praise and follow that which they themselves do love he made answer That a wise Man hath always a sicknesse or a Journey in his sleeve to assist himself with at the time of great necessity Wherefore some four or five days before I am to goe I am determined to counterfeit my self to be very sick in which excuse the sadnesse of your countenance will much advantage me Behold said his Wife a good and a holy Hypocrisie I will not fail to put on the saddest and most disconsolate look that possibly I can for they who can avoid the offence of God and the anger of their Prince are said to be happy Creatures Accordingly as they determined they performed and the King was very sad to understand by the Wife the sicknesse of her Husband which lasted but a little for by reason of the intervention of some great affairs the King did forget his pleasure to follow his Duty in the Government of the Kingdom and departed out of Paris And one day afterwards having in his memory the design which was not put in practise did say unto the young Prince What fools were we to go so soon out of Paris without seeing the four Maids who as it was assured me were the fairest in my Kingdom The young Prince being then present made answer I am very glad of it that you did fail for during my sicknesse I had a great fear that I alone should lose my part in the adventure having spoke those words the King did never suspect the dissimulation of the young Signior who afterwards was more beloved by his Wife than he was before Parlament did immediatly begin to laugh and could not forbear from speaking And she might have loved him yet better if he had made this refusal for the love of her alone but in what manner soever it was the Gentleman was commendable enough It seems to me said Hircan it is no great praise for a Man to preserve his Chastity for the love which he doth bear unto his Wife for there are so many reasons for it that in a manner he is constrained to do it First of all God doth command him Secondly his oath doth oblige him And lastly Nature which is satisfied is not so subject either to temptation or desire as is necessity But the free love whish a Man doth bear unto his Mistresse of whom he receiveth no delight at all nor other contentment but to see her and to speak unto her and instead of good words from her doth oftentimes receive a churlish answer when this Love is so loyal and firm that for no adventure whatsoever can arrive it can be changed I say this is Chastity not only praise-worthy but miraculous It is no miracle at all said Oysilla for where the heart doth resolve and devote it self there is nothing impossible to the body Not to the bodies said Hircan which are already angelized I speak not of those said Oysilla who by the Grace of God are altogether transformed into him but of those which we see here on earth amongst Men and if you please but to take notice of them you shall find that those who have devoted all their heart and all their affections to attain unto the perfection of sciences have not only forgotten the pleasure of the flesh but even those things which are most necessary for the sustenance of life as to eat and to drink for so long as the Soul is active within the Body the flesh doth remain as it were insensible And from hence it comes to passe that those who love beautiful and virtuous Ladies do receive such a full contentment of Spirit to behold them and to hear them speak that the flesh is as it were appeased and taken off from all the heat of her desires And those who cannot feel those contentments are sensual and carnal and being overburthened with the weight and frailty of their flesh do not well know whether they have in them a Soul or no. But when the Body is subject to the Spirit it is as it were insensible to the imperfections of the flesh insomuch that the earnest study of the Soul in the strength of contemplation hath rendred Men insensible I have known a Gentleman who to give a demonstration that he hath loved a Lady more than any other hath held his naked fingers in the flame of a Candle his Companions standing by and looking stedfastly on the Lady he not stirring his hand at all did burn his Fingers to the very Bone yet nevertheless affirmed that he was not sensible of any pain In my opinion said Guebron the Devil whose Martyr he was should have made a Saint Laurence of him for there are some in whom the fire of love is so great that they will not fear that which is lesse in violence But if a Lady should have desired me to endure so much for her I should certainly have demanded some great recompense or drawn off my fancy to some other who would have been more merciful to me You would then said Parlament have your own will after that your Mistresse had hers like a Gentleman at Valence in Spain of whom a Commander who was a brave Souldier did not long since give me an account Madam I beseech you said Dagoucin that you will take my place and be pleased to relate it to us for I do presume it is a good story Ladies said Parlaâ— hata according to this Account you ought to look again aâ— again on that which you do refuse and never thnd that time without variation will be always the same but knowing how subject the present time is unto change you would take order for the time to come A Gentleman being disdained for an Husband did take upon him the orders of a Grey Frier by reason whereof his Sweet-heart not long afterwards did undergo the same punishment The fourth Novel IN the City of Valence there was a Gentleman who for the space of five or six years did love a Lady so absolutely that during that time neither the Honour nor the Conscience of either of them was prejudiced for it was his intention to have her to his Wife which seemed to their friends on both sides to be very reasonable for he was very handsome rich
and descended of honourable parentage and did not rashly thrust himself into her service but first of all did acquaint her with it and did understand her intention which was that she gladly did accord that he should be her Husband And this as I have said was carried on by their friends on both sides who having met together for this effect did think very well of the Marriage and the rather because as they thought the young Gentlewoman her self did seem to have a good desire to it But afterwards whether she thought to find a better Husband or to dissemble the Love which she did bear unto him or whether she conceived that the greatest contentment was in a single life the Marriage day was deferred and the Company that were assembled to see the accomplishment thereof were constrained to depart not without a great grief that they could not put a good conclusion to it knowing that the parties on both sides were before so well agreed But above all the poor Gentleman was extremely discontented who had more patiently carried his affliction if he could have found that the fault proceeded from her kinred and not from her self But understanding the truth the knowledge whereof did cause in him a grief as strong almost as death it self without speaking to his Sweet-heart or any one else he did withdraw himself into his own House and having given order for the management of his affairs he did repair into a solitary place where he endeavoured with himself to forget that unprofitable love and did intirely convert it into the love of our Saviour Jesus Christ to which not long afterwards he did altogether oblige himself During this time of his retirement he received not the least news either from the Gentlewoman whom he had loved or from any of her friends wherefore he resolved with himself since he was disappointed of that life which of all others he conceived to be the most happy to choose and take that life upon him which was the most austere and the most unpleasing to him that he could imagine In this sad resolution which may be truly called a despair he did goe to enter himself into a religious house which was a Monastery of the order of Saint Francis It was not far from the place where many of his friends had their habitations who understanding of his despair did the utmost of their indeavours to divert him from his melancholy resolution but they found it to be so strongly grounded in his heart that it was impossible to disswade him from it Neverthelesse understanding from whence the occasion of his Malady did proceed they concluded to look out some redresse and repaired to her who was the original of his sudden Devotion who was possessed with such a sorrow and an amazement at the news thereof thinking that her refusal for a short time would conduce only to give her a more sure experience of his love and not for ever to lose him of which she saw the danger too apparent that she immediatly did send a Letter to him to give him the assurance of her love and to desire him to return to take possession of her heart which was intirely his own This Letter being delivered by one of her friends with all the remonstrances of affection that could possibly be expressed was received and read by the Gentleman Frier with so sad a Countenance and accompanied with so many sighs and tears that it seems he would have both burned it and drowned it at once He gave no other answer to it but desired the Messenger to acquaint the Gentlewoman that the mortifying of his Passion did cost him â—o deer that it had taken from him both the desire to live and the fear to die Wherfore he desired her who was the occasion of it that she would let him injoy a quiet misery and since she would not content him in the passion of his grand desires that she would not torment him now when he was dispossessed of them but content her self with what already she had done for which he could find no other remedy than to choose so sharp a life and a continual penitence which might cause him to forger his sorrow and her unkindnesse and by so many fasts and disciplines so to humble and chastise his Body that the memory of Death only should be his most Soveraign Consolation wherefore above all things he did beseech her that he might hear no more tidings of her for only the remembrance of her Name was a Purgatory insupportable unto him The Gentleman returned with this sad answer and made a report thereof unto her who could not understand it without a grief incredible But Love who would not suffer her heart to fail until the last extremity did put it into her fancy to make a sudden trial if her sight and her words could prevail more upon him than her Letters Wherefore taking her Father and her nearest friends along with her she repaired to the Monastery where he had his residence having first examined all her Boxes and her Glasses for those things which might make her look most beautiful and perswading her self if she could be but admitted to that happinesse as but to see him once and speak unto him it were impossible but the fire which had so long a residence in his heart should grow into a flame as strong as ever In this confidence she entred into the Monastery at the end of Vespers and sent unto the Gentleman desiring him that he would be pleased to give a friend of his a visit in the Chapel within the Cloyster He who did not know who it was that did send for him did make hast to goe unto the greatest and most dangerous battail in which he ever did fight He did look so pale and spiritlesse that she did hardly know him neverthelesse being accompanied with a grace no lesse amiable than before Love did enforce her to stretch forth her Arms thinking to imbrace him but the compassion which she had to see him in that estate did so surround and invade her heart that swouning away she did fall unto the Ground The poor Gentleman who had taken upon him the habit of Religion observing it and being not destitute of Brotherly Charity did raise her up and did bring her to a seat in the Chappel And he himself having no lesse need of succour did dissemble his passion fortifying his heart in the love of God against all the temptations with which she could assault it insomuch that when he beheld her he did seem not to know who it was or what her desires were She having recovered her self from her dyings away did begin a little to hold up her head and did look upon him with such fair and withall such affecting eyes that they were able to make a rock to relent and having made a little pause she did expresse her self unto him in that studdied language which she conceived most effectual to withdraw him
from the place wherein he was to which he did give the most virtuous answers that were possible for him to return But the poor Gentleman at last perceiving that his heart began to soften into compassion at the abundance of those tears which rained down from her fair eyes as one that saw Love that hard-hearted little Archer to level at his heart again and make a new and a more deadly wound with his Golden Arrow did betake himself to his best refuge his Heels and as fast as possbly he could he did fly at once both from Love and his late Mistresse and being resolved to live no more under their Tyranny he found he had no other way to overcome them but by flight When he had locked himself in his Chamber being unwilling she should depart from him without knowing his resolution he did write unto her two or three words in Spanish the substance whereof I have found to be so significant that I will not render them to you in French because I will not diminish the gracefulnesse which they doe carry with them in the Spanish Tongue He did send them by a little Novice newly entred into the Monastery who did find her still remaining in the Chapel and transported with such an extremity of despair that if it had been lawfull for her to make her self a Frieresse she would have still continued there But perusing the Paper which contained these words Volunto don venesti anima mi qui en las tristas vides es la mia considering with her self that she was abandoned of all hope she concluded it was her safest way â—o believe his Counsel and the Counsel of her friends and returning to her house she did lead a life as melancholy as he did live an austere one in the House and Habit of Religion Ladies you do here observe what vengeance this Gentleman did take on the coynesse of his Mistresse who thinking to make a further trial of him did throw him into the bottom of despair insomuch that when she was willing she could never recover him Truly said Nomerfide I am even sorry at the heart that he did not abandon the formality of his Habit to espouse her I do believe that it would have proved a lawful and a happy marriage I protest unto you said Simontault I do suppose that he did very wisely in it for he who doth well consider with himself the burthen of Marriage will find it to be more troublesome by far than an austere Religion And he who was so much weakned with disciplines and fastings was afraid to take upon him such a change which should continue all his life In my opinion said Hircan she committed a great wrong to so feeble a man to tempt him unto marriage which is a task great enough for the strongest man in the World but if she had propounded a discourse unto him of Love without any other obligation but of Affection there was no Cord in that which might not be broken nor knot which might not be untyed And seeing to take him out of Purgatory she would put him into Hell I do affirm that he had great reason to refuse her In good earnest said Emarsuite there are too many who thinking to do better than all others do oftentimes worse and clean contrary to that which they thought to have done You make me to remember said Guebron the Story of an old Woman much to this purpose who in her Devotions did clean contrary to what she intended whereupon there did arise a great tumult in the Church of Saint Iohn at Lyons I must desire you said Parlament that you would lake my place and give us the Account My Account said Guebron shall not be so long nor so pittiful as was that which Parlament related The simplicity of an antient Woman who presented a lighted Candle to Saint John of Lyons and fastned it to the Forehead of a Souldier who was fallen asleep on one of the Sepulchers and what ensued thereupon The fifth Novel NEar unto the Church of St. John at Lyons there was a very dark Chappel and before it a Sepulcher made of Stone on the top whereof there was cut the proportions of great personages and round about the Sepulcher were the pourtraicts of many Men who were pourtayed sitting in their Armour A Souldier one day walking in the Church in the time of Summer when it was extremely hot being weary with travell had a great desire to sit down and sleep and observing the Chappel to be both dark and cool did resolve with himself to take a nap at the Sepulcher and sate down amongst those of his fraternity who were pourtrayed sleeping in their Armour It came to passe that a good old Woman who was very devout did come unto the Sepulcher when the Souldier was fast asleep and after she had said her Devotions holding a Candle in her Hand she would have fastned it to the Sepulcher and finding the Man who was asleep to be next unto her she did put it to his Brow to have it stick there but the wax would not cleave fast to that stone the poor old Woman thinking the coldnesse of the Image to be the occasion of it did begin to heat his Brow with her Candle that it might take hold and stick more fast unto it but the Image who was not insensible began aloud to cry out whereat the poor Woman was much amazed and in a greater fear than was the Souldier did cry our a Miracle a Miracle insomuch that all those who were in the Church did run out unto them Some made hast unto the Belfry to ring the Bells others to behold the miracle The good Woman who for fear did run away as fast as ever she could did bring many along with her to behold the complaining Image who was removed and gonâ— before she came which gave a just occasion to many to laugh but some of the Priests could not be so contented but determined with themselves to pick some profit out of it by crying up the miracle and giving a more reverend estimation to the Sepulchre You ought therefore Ladies to take heed to what Saints you do devote your Candels Is it not a strange thing said Hircan that on whatsoever Subject they do imploy themselves Women do always evil Is it ill done said Nomerfide to carry Candles unto Sepulchers Yes said Hircan when they set the foreheads of Men on fire with them for no Good Act can properly be said to be Good if it be attended with Evil. Was not a little Candle a goodly present besides which she brought to offer to God God regards not said Oysilla the value of the present but the heart of him who doth present it It may be that poor Woman had a greater love to God than those who do offer great torches for as the Gospel affirmeth she gave out of her Necessity But I believe not said Saffredant that God who is the Soveraign
wisedom is pleased with the foolishnesse of Women for although it is true that simplicity is acceptable to him yet I do find in the Scripture that he doth despise the Ignorant and therefore he doth command us to be simple and innocent as Doves but withall to be wise as Serpents For my self said Oysilla I doe not believe her to be ignorant who her knees on the Ground and her Candle lighted in her hand doth make her confession to her Soveraign Lord acknowledging her own vilenesse and that she deserveth nothing but damnation and craving of him repentance pardon and grace and the gift of everlasting life I would to God said Dagoucin that every Woman did understand her self as well as you but I am afraid that several poor Creatures of your Sex have not your intentions Oysilla made answer to him Those who know least how to speak are those who oftentimes have the greatest knowledge of the Love and the Will of God Wherefore we ought not to judge any but our selves Emarsuite laughing said unto her It was no strange thing for her to put a poor Souldier into a fright who was asleep Women of as low condition as her self have put great Princes into as great a fear without putting any fire to their Foreheads I do believe said Dagoucin that you have some story concerning it which you have a desire to relate unto us wherefore if you please take my place My story shall not be long said Emarsuite and if I can represent it to you aright it will not give you an occasion to weep A merry Account which happened to the King and Queen of Navarre The sixth Novel IN that year wherein Monsieur Vendosm did espouse the Princesse of Navarr having at Vendosme feasted the King and the Queen their Father and Mother they departed from thence into Gyen with them and passing by the house of a Gentleman where were many fair and young Ladies they danced so long one afternoon that the Duke of Vendosme and the Princesse being both weary did retire into their Chamber and their cloaths being on they did lie down upon the bed and slept the doors and the Windowes being shut and none of their Servants in the room with them After they had slept about one hour they heard the Door open and the Duke drawing the Curtain did put forth his head to see who it was thinking it was some of his familiar friends who would take him on his Bed with his Princesse But he observed a Chambermaid who seemed to be very old to enter into his Chamber and to come directly towards the Bed but the curtain being drawn she could not discern by reason of the obscurity of the Chamber who they were but seeing two on the Bed lying close to one another she began to cry out O wicked Slut and infamous as thou art I have a long time suspected thee to be such as I find thee now to be but because I had not sufficient proof of it I was loath to acquaint my Lady with it but now I have found out thy villany I am resolved not to conceal it one minute And thou Apostate Villain who hast pulled by thy lust so great a shame upon this house as to undoe that poor Girl that is on the Bed if it were not that I had the fear of God before my eyes I would tear thee to pieces there where thou art Vp and be gone In the Names of all the Devils in Hell Vp and be gone What wil there never be any shame in you Monsieur de Vendosme and Madam the Princesse to listen longer to this discourse did put their faces one as close unto the other as possibly they could that they might not be discovered laughing so heartily that they were not able to speak one word Wherefore the Chambermaid seeing that by her threatnings she could not make them stir nor rise from the Bed did approach more near unto them and was resolved to draw them off either by the head or heels But when she found as well by their Habit as by their Countenances that they were not those whom she suspected and perceived who they were she trembled down upon her knees before them and besought them to pardon the great offence she had committed in disturbing their Rest Monsieur de Vendosme being not contented to know so little did immediatly rise from the bed and did request the old Maid to tell him who they were that she did take them for which she refused to declare but in the end the Duke having sworn unto her that he would not reveal it unto any she did acquaint him that it was a young Gentlewoman in the House of whom a Protonotary was very amorous and whom a long time she had narrowly watched hoping to withdraw her Mistress the Lady of the House from imposing such a Confidence in a Man who would have brought such a dishonour upon her Having spoke those words she departed and made fast the door and left the Prince and Princesse together as she found them where they continued an hour laughing at the accident that had befallen them and although that afterwards they related to divers personages of Honour this Story yet they would never name the persons whom it did concern Ladies you may here observe how a good old Woman thinking to do a piece of Justice did declare that unto strange Princes which none of the same House wherein she lived did once suspect I do believe said Parlament I can tell in what House it was and who was the Protonotary for he hath been of some Authority heretofore in the House of Ladies where when he could not obtain the favour of the Mistress he would not fail to procure the love of some one of her Maids but now he is known to be a man of good parts and of good Reputation Wherefore do you speak said Hircan that he is now known to be a Man of good parts for in that lay the Act for which he did esteem himself to be a man before Parlament made answer to him I do perceive very well that you know both the Disease and the Patient and if there should be need of Excuses you would not fail to be his Advocate Howsoever for my part he should never sail in my Boat who did so ill conduct his own that even the Chambermaids themselves must take notice of what was done Do you think said Nomerfide that Men after they have arrived to the end of their Desires do take care who knows it You may believe that if there were none who either did or could speak of it yet they would make it known of themselves Hircan in choler replyed unto her It is not requisit that Men should speak all that which they know She blushing did make answer You say well for otherwise they might speak something which peradventure would tend but little to their Honour I have often heard you speak said Simontault that
she had poysoned him and was very importunate to know of her what she had put in his Roastmeat She confessed the truth unto him and withall assured him that she had as much need of that Receipt as the Wife of his Companion The poor Apothecary could not beat her for the wrong she had done him he was at that time in so great an extremity but commanded her to goe out of his sight and sent for the Apothecary of the Queen of Navarr to desire him that he would take the pains to give him a visit who gave him all the cooling Receits that were effectual for his recovery In a short time he was well mended and the Queens Apothecary did reprehend him very sharply for his rashnesse that he was so unwise to counsel another to take those druggs which he would not use himself and that the good Woman his Wife had done no more than what she ought to doe especially seeing the great desire which she had to make him love her Whereupon the poor Man was inforced to overcome his folly with patience and to acknowledge that God justly punished him to make that mockery fall upon himself which he had prepared for another Ladies in my Judgement the Love of this Wife was as indiscreet as it was great Do you call that said Hircan Love to her Husband to make him suffer torment in a fond hope that she might receive some pleasure from him I do believe said Longaren that she had no other intention than to recover her Husbands love which she conceived if not to be altogether lost yet certainly to be gone astray for to obtain such a Commodity there is nothing which Women will refuse to do So it is said Guebron that whatsoever the occasion be a Woman ought not to give any thing unto her Husband either to eat or to drink which she knows not as well by her own experience as friends of good judgement whether it be hurtful or no But Ignorance ought to be excused and this Woman is excusable both for the passion which of all is most blinding that is Love and for the person most blinded which is a Woman who hath seldome judgement enough to mannage with discretion any great Act. Guebron said Oysilla you do not now follow your commendable custom which is to render your self agreeable to your Companions for I am confident there are Women who have patiently endured both love and jealousie which is an Act difficult enough Yes said Hircan and pleasantly too for those Women who are most wise do take as much pleasure to laugh at the follies of their Husbands as their Husbands take pleasure secretly to deceive them And if you will give me the place before that Madam Oysilla shall put a period to this days Account I will relate a story to you and done so lately that there is not one here present who doth not know both the Husband and the Wife Begin then said Nomerfide Hircan laughing said unto them An Italian suffered himself to be cajoled by his Chambermaid who caused that instead of her Servant her Mistresse should take her Husband bolting The ninth Novel IN the Castle of Doz in Bigorre there dwelled a Servant of the Kings who was called Charles the Italian who had espoused a virtuous woman and of a good Estate who having brought him many Children did grow old and he was none of the youngest himself and lived with her in great peace and love It is true enough that sometimes he would talk familiarly unto his Chambermaids at which the good woman would not put on the least apparence of discontent but gave them all the scope they could desire when she knew them to be most privat together in the house One day she hired a Servant who was a wise and a handsom Girl to whom she related the complexion and disposition of her Husband and her own and assured her that if shee were a Slut her Husband would never endure her but turn her out of doors immediatly The Chambermaid therefore to continue in a good esteem in the service of her Mistresse did resolve with her self to follow her businesse roundly and to be neat and carefull and to give no ear to the allurements of her Master who though oftentimes he did hold her in Discourse and inticed her unto wantonnesse yet she would make no reckoning of him but would acquaint her Mistresse with all his flatteries and promises As they passed away their time in the Legend of his follies one day this Chambermaid bolted in the back Chamber having on her head a long hood after the fashion of that Country which is made like a Kerchief but only that this covereth the shoulders and all the body behind Her Master seeing her in this habit did come unto her and sollicited her with much importunity but she who would rather die than give consent unto him did make an apparence to yield to his desires and demanded leave to go first forth and see if her Mistresse were busie about any thing to the end that they might not be both surprized which her Master did agree unto and she besought him in her absence to put her Hood on his head and to bolt that her Mistress might alwayes hear the noise of the Bolter This joyfully he performed hoping to enjoy that which he demanded The Chamber-maid who was not of a melancholike humour did run unto her Mistresse and said unto her Come and see your good Husband whom I have taught to bolt to acquit my self of him His Wife made all the hast she could to behold this new Chamber-maid and seeing the long Hood on her Husbands head and the Bolter in his hands she did begin to laugh so heartily and so to clap her hands that she had much to do to speak unto him In good time Honest Maid What wages shall I give you a moneth for your good service The Husband hearing the voice of his Wife and finding he was betrayed did throw on the ground that which he carried on his head and what he held in his hands to run after the Chambermaid calling her Whore a thousand times And if his Wife had not interposed her self and skreened betwixt his passion and the Chamber-maids honest mirth he had payed her with his cudgel But she appeased him to the content of every one and after that time they lived together without the least complaint Ladies What think you of this good woman Did she not do wisely to pass away her time in mirth at the pastimes of her Husband It was no pastime to her Husband said Saffredant to have failed in his Enterprize I do believe said Emarsuite that he took more pleasure to laugh afterwards with his Wife than being threescore years of age to play the wanton with his Chamber-maid It would have been no little perplexity to me said Simontault to be taken by my Wife with such a Kerchief on my head I have heard it spoken
in obedience to his Commands but she was very sorry that she was inforced to lose the opportunity to follow the Cause which she had so well begun to lay open But the Gentleman seemed not to understand one word what she had said unto him whereat she was so perplexed and troubled that she knew not to what to impute the cause of her affliction but only to the sottish fear with which she found the Gentleman to be too much abused Not long afterwards observing with her self that the Gentleman was so dull that he would not understand her language she resolved to regard neither fear not shame but plainly to declare her mind unto him assuring her self That a beauty so powerfull as her own could not but be well entertained but she desired rather to have had the honour to be entreatted by him neverthelesse so violent was her love that she laid her Honour aside to satisfie her pleasure And having tempted him diverse ways to work him up to her own height and to find his defires answerable to her own finding no answer from him that promised the least hope she took him one day by the steeve and said unto him that she had a businesse or great privacy and importance to declare unto him The Gentleman with such reverence and humility as was due unto her did goe along with her into a deep by Window to which place she had called him And looking about her when she found that none of her Chamber could descry her she began with a trembling voice betwixt Desire and Fear to continue unto him the subject of her first discourse reproving him that he had not yet made choice of any Lady in her Court assuring him that whatsoever she was and in whatsoever degree she would assist him in the obtaining of her favour The Gentleman being as much amazed as tormented with the importunities of the Dutchesse did make answer to her Madam I have so stour a heart that if I were once refused of any I should never again enjoy my self in this World and I am so inconsiderable a thing that there is not a Lady in your Court but scorns to accept of my service The Dutchesse blushing and thinking that she had pressed him so much upon it that he was half overcome did swear unto him that if he thought well of it she knew that the greatest Lady of the Court none excepted would entertain him with great joy and that he should receive an absolute contentment by it Alas Madam said he It cannot be that any Lady in your Court should be so unfortunately blinded as to accept me to be her Servant The Dutchesse perceiving that he would not apprehend her did begin in some manner to discover her passion to him and by reason of the fear she had of the virtue of the Gentleman she did speak unto him by the way of interrogation and said If Fortune had so much favoured you that it was I my self that do bear this great good will unto you what will you say The Gentleman who thought he dreamed and that such a word could not proceed from the Dutchesse did speak unto her with his knees upon the Ground Madam since God hath given me the grace to have had your favour and the favour of the Duke my Master I doe conceive my self to be the most happy man in the World for it was the recompense which I desired for my faithful service as being obliged more than any other to lose my life for the service of either of you being confident Madam that the love which you do bear to my Lord the Duke is accompanied with such a Chastity and greatnesse that not only my self who am but a Worm of the Earth but the greatest Prince and the most excellent man that can be found in the World can never infringe the Union betwixt the Duke my Master and your self And for my self he hath brought me up from my Infancy and made me to be such as I am Wherefore he hath neither Wife nor Daughter nor Sister nor Mother for whom I would not rather die than nourish a thought which shall misbecome a loyal and a faithful Servant The Dutchesse would not permit him to passe any further but finding that she was in danger to receive from him a dishonourable denyal she did suddenly break off this discourse and said unto him O obstinate and glorious Fool who is she who doth intreat thee You think by reason of your beauty to be beloved by flies in the Air but if you had been so presumptuous to have addressed your self to me I should have made it apparent to you that I neither doe nor can love you nor will love any other but my Husband And the discourse which often times I have had with you hath served me only to passe away my time and to dive into your thoughts to make my self merry with them as I use to do with foolish Lovers Madam said the Gentleman I both did and do believe the words you speak She without hearing any word more did immediately repair into her Chamber and observing that she was attended with many Ladies she entred into her Cabinet and made so great a lamentation that it cannot well be represented for on the one side the disappointment in her love did bring upon her a mortal Grief and on the other the Indignation and Despite against her self to have motioned so fond an enterprise to him who so wisely answered her Importunities did put her into such a fury that sometimes she was resolved to commit a murder upon her self sometimes again she would live to be revenged on him whom she held to be her most mortal Enemy After she had a long time wept by her self she counterfeited her self to be sick because she would not be at Supper with the Duke at which the Gentleman did ordinarily serve The Duke who loved his Wife better than he loved himself did go to visit her But she the better to arrive unto the end at which she aimed did say unto him that she was great with Child which caused a rheum to fall upon her eyes and did put her to great pain In this manner there passed three or four dayes wherein the Dutchesse kept her bed so sad and melancholy that the Duke conceived that something else besides her great Belly was the occasion of her sicknesse which caused him the fourth night to come to bed unto her that he might better be informed of the nature of her Disease wherefore making as much of her as possibly he could and perceiving that she continually did sigh he said unto her Sweet-heart You know that I do bear so much love unto you as I do to the preservation of my own life and that if your life should fail mine could not long continue Wherefore if you will improve my health and recover your own tell me I pray you what is the Cause which doth make you so much to sigh
perceiving the Gentleman to continue still in the service of the Duke as he was accustomed to do could not endure it with patience but said unto her Husband It would be no great matter Sir if you were poysoned because you have more confidence in your mortal Enemies than in your friends He replyed Sweet-heart Torment not your self concerning that affair for if I can find that to be true which you have spoken I do assure you that he shall not be alive four and twenty hours but he hath sworn so much unto me to the contrary and I my self besides could never perceive any thing by him that without great proof I cannot believe any thing unto the contrary In good truth Sir said she the goodnesse of your Nature doth render his Iniquity the greater Would you have a greater proof than to see a Man of his Condition to professe love and to make no noise thereof You may believe Sir that amongst so many Ladies in my Court so young a Fellow as he is would have found out a Mistresse for himself were it not for the high Enterprize that doth altogether take up his fancy to be a servant unto me for there was never any young Man that lived in such a Court as yours so solitary as this young Man neither would he be so if he had not his heart fixed in so high a place that he did content himself only with some vain hope and because you do entertain a belief that he doth conceal nothing from you I must beseech you to put him to his Oath to know if he be in love with any one or no. For if he be in love with any other I am content that you doe believe him if not you may assure your self that I do speak the Truth The Duke did much approve the reasons of his Lady and walking into the fields did take the Gentleman along with him to whom he said My Wife doth still continue in her opinion and doth allege unto me such reason for it that it doth cause in me a great suspition against you which is she wonders much that you being so young and affable were never yet in love as much as can be known which makes me to conceive that you nourish that ambitious love of which she doth accuse you the hope whereof doth render you so contented and doth fill you with so vain a joy that you cannot think of any other woman wherfore I do intreat you as a Friend and command you as your Master to tell me plainly if you are or ever have been in love or no. The poor Gentleman although he would have delayed to give an answer to this unexpected Interrogatory and would have excused his affection which that no other might find it out he had laid up in the very center of his heart was now constrained to satisfie the great Jealousie of the Duke his Master to swear unto him That it is true enough that he was in love with a Lady whose perfection was such that the beauty of the Dutchesse and of all the Ladies in her Court was but foulnesse and deformity unto her but he did beseech him that he may not be inforced to give unto him her Name for the obligation betwixt him and his Sweet-heart was such that who first of them did declare their love should absolutely dissolve it The Duke did promise that he would presse him no more unto it and was as much contented with the satisfaction which he had given him that he did countenance and advance him more than before which the Dutchesse did very well observe and finding there was more than an accustomed privacy betwixt the Duke her Husband and the Gentleman she did use her utmost indeavour to understand the occasion of it which the Duke could not be perswaded to reveal unto her whereupon her fruitful vengeance did beget another jealousie and she besought the Duke to command the Gentleman to impart unto him the name of that Sweet-heart of his assuring him that it was a meer invention and the best way he could contrive to gain credit to his words but if he would not name who it was whom he esteemed to be so beautiful he was the most foolish Prince in the World if he did believe what he professed The poor Duke whose opinion his Wife turned now on this side and now on that as she her self pleased did take the poor Gentleman to walk the other turn with him in the Fields again where he told him that he was in a far greater perplexity than before for he much doubted that he made him but an excuse to keep him off from finding out the truth which did torment him more than ever Therefore like a Prince he mingled his Authorities with his intreaties and did desire command him to declare unto him who it was whom so much he loved The poor Gentleman did beseech him that he would be mindful of his promise and not inforce him to commit so great fault against her whom so intirely he affected as now to break his promise which for a long time he had so faithfully observed and to lose in one minute that secrecy which for seven years and more he had kept locked up in a religious safety affirming that he had rather suffer death than do such a wrong to her who was so faithful unto him The Duke perceiving he would not acquaint him who it was did enter into so strong a jealousie that with a furious countenance he did say unto him Take your choice of two things either plainly to tell me who it is whom you doe love above all the World or to depart presently into banishment out of the lands of my Authority upon this penalty that if I find you here eight days after this I will undoubtedly put you to some cruel death If ever grief did possesse the heart of a loyal Servant it now did seize upon the heart of this Gentleman who might well say Angustiae sunt mihi Vndique for finding on the one side that if he should speak the truth he should lose his Mistresse if it should come unto her knowledge because he had failed in his promise and on the other side if he should not confesse it he should be banished from the Country in which he was brought up and where his Mistresse lived and never should have the means to see her again he was so oppressed with sorrow that a cold sweat did seize upon him as it doth on one who overcome by the extremity of grief doth find the last minute of his life approaching The Duke looking upon him and perceiving how much his countenance did change did Judge whatsoever he pretended to the contrary that he had no other Mistresse but only his Wife which was the reason because on the sudden he could not think on the name of any other he did endure that passion Wherefore he did speak very churlishly unto him If that which you have represented
to me were true you would not find such a difficulty in it as to declare unto me her name but I believe the guilt of your offence doth secretly torment you The Gentleman being much provoked with these words and inforced also by the love which he did bear unto the Duke did determin with himself to speak the truth being consident that his Master was a Man so full of Virtue that he would not for any thing reveal the secret Wherefore kneeling down before him with hands joyned which he did lift up unto him he said Sir The obligation which I do bear unto you is such that it doth prevail upon me more than any fear of Death for I doe see you deluded by such a fancy and false opinion of me that I am determined to confesse that which no torment could draw from me beseeching you for the honour of God to swear unto me upon the faith of a Prince and of a Christian that you will never reveal the secret which since you are so pleased I am constrained to speak unto you The Duke immediately by all the Oathes that he could devise did oblige himself unto him that he would never discover the least notion thereof to any Creature in the world neither by word deed nor countenance The Gentleman holding himself assured on the multiplyed Oathes of so virtuous a Prince did begin to lay the foundation of his misfortune to come in confessing to him Sir It is now seven years since having known your Niece to be a Widdow I have endeavoured to obtain her favour And because I was not of a birth great enough to espouse her I was contented that she was pleased to acknowledge me for her Servant And God hath hitherto permitted that our Love hath been so wisely managed that neither Man or Woman but only She and my self hath known any thing of it unlesse it be You into whose hands I do commit my Life and Honour beseeching you that you would keep it private and to have Madam your Niece in no lesse esteem than heretofore for I do believe that under Heaven there is not a more accomplished or a chaster Creature Who was a glad Man now It was the Duke for knowing the incomparable Beauty of his Niece he did not doubt but that she was more agreeable to him than his Wife but being not able to collect how so great a Mystery could be carryed without a Second he did intreat him to acquaint him how he could come to the sight of her The Gentleman thereupon did declare unto him That the Chamber of his Niece did butt forth into the Garden and on that night when he was to wait upon her the little door of the Garden was left open through which he came and walked on foot until he heard a little Dogg bark which the young Lady his Niece had left on purpose in the Garden when all her Women were gone out of it and that on the barking of that Dogg being presently admitted he had the happinesse to discourse with her all that night and at parting they would agree upon the night when he was to return again wherein without making any dilatory excuses they would never fail to meet The Duke who was the most curious Man in the World and who in his Youth knew wisely enough how to carry his Loves as well to satisfie his suspition as to understand the particulars of so strange a story did intreat him to take him along with him the next time that he did addresse himself unto her and to give him then not the respects of a Master but of a Companion The Gentleman seeing the Duke did so presse him did accord unto it of which the Duke was more glad than if he had gained a Kingdom and dissembling that he would he for a hight or two in his Wardrobe did cause two horses to be made ready the one for himself and the other for the Gentleman and they travelled far that evening to arrive at his Nieces house The Gentleman caused the Duke to enter into the Garden at the little Door and desired him that entring into the house he would be pleased to stay behind the skreen where he might perceive if he had spoke the truth unto him or nor They were no sooner entred into the Garden but immediatly a little Dogg did bark and the Gentleman did go directly towards the house and the young Lady did not fail to meet him in the way and having saluted and unbraced him she said unto him That she was afraid he had been sick it was so long since she last saw him and speaking those words they entred into the House and the Duke privatly did follow them in the dark for there was no light in the Room and understanding the whole Discourse of their chast love he was satisfied beyond his desires and made no long stay there for the Gentleman told the Lady that he was constrained to return sooner than he was accustomed to do because that morning the Duke did intend very early to go on hunting and of necessity he must attend upon him The Lady who loved honour more than pleasure would not stay him for the greatest thing which she esteemed in her chast and honest love was that it was kept secret from the observation of the World Much about one of the clock in the morning the Gentleman departed and the Duke undiscovered by the young Lady did goe out before him and they took horse and returned from whence they came and oftentimes in the way the Duke did swear unto the Gentleman that he had rather die a thousand times than reveal the Mystery of his Love and he afterwards did so much respect him and did put such a confidence in him that there was none in all the Court that was in greater favour The Dutchesse was much incensed at it and continued her complaints against the Gentleman But the Duke did forbid her to speak any more unto him concerning that Subject for he was throughly satisfied with the truth thereof and said that he was so contented thereat that he did believe the Lady whom he loved was more amiable than her self That word did leave such an impression and did so deeply wound her heart that she fell into a malady greater than before The Duke did dayly resort unto her to visit her and to comfort her but it was impossible unlesse he would disclose unto her who that Lady was who was so much beloved And she so much importuned him to know who it was that the Duke going out of the Chamber did say unto her if you will not let me be at quiet I must depart from you Those words did increase the malady of the Dutchesse who pretended that she did feel her child to stir within her at which the Duke was so glad that to manifest his love and joy he did goe to bed to her And making use of that minute in which she found him most
amorous of her she turned from him to the other side and said unto him Sir since you bear no love to me nor to the Infant with which I goe let us perish both together And with those words she poured forth such an abundance of toars and made such a lamentation that the Duke was much afraid that she would lose the fruit of her Womb. Wherefore taking her in his Arms he desired her to acquaint him with what she did desire and assured her that he would conceal nothing from her Ah Sir said she and sobbed as she spake what hope have I that you will doe any thing for me that is difficult when you deny me the most easie and the most reasonable request in the World which is to tell me who is the Sweet-heart of the most ungrateful Servant you ever had I did once believe that you and I had but one heart But now I find that you doe use me as a stranger for those secrets which ought to be revealed unto me are by you concealed and kept from me as if I were your greatest Enemy Call Sir to mind how many secrets and businesses of the greatest importances have you imparted to me and which of them have you ever understood that I have disclosed You have made so great an experience of my good will equal unto yours that you ought not mistrust me for I am more yours than my own And if peradventure you have taken an Oath that you will not reveal the secret of the Gentleman to any in acquainting me with it you cannot break your Oath for I neither am nor can be any other than your self I have you in my heart I do hold you in my arms I carry your Infant in my womb in whom you live again and yet I cannot enjoy your love as you have mine but the more loyal and faithful I am to you the more cruel and perverse you are to me that a thousand times a day I do desire by a sudden Death to deliver your Infant from such a Father and my self from such a Husband which I hope shortly to perform because I do find that you prefer an unfaithful Servant before your Wife and such a Wife as I am to you and before the life of a Mother and to the fruit of her womb which is so little regarded by you being not able to obtain that of you which I desire to know Speaking those words she imbraced and kissed her Husband wetting his face with her tears and breathed forth such sighes that the poor Prince who was afraid to lose his Wife and his Child at once did determine with himself to acquaint her with the truth but withall he did swear unto her That if she revealed it to any creature in the world she should be sure to die and by no other hand but his own To which she condiscended and accepted of the punishment Whereupon the poor deceived Husband did account unto her all that he had seen from the beginning to the end whereat she seemed to be very much contented although her heart was surprized with an intolerable anguish Neverthelesse for fear of the Duke she did dissemble her passion as well as possibly she could Not long after the Duke made a great Feast at his Court to which he invited all the Ladies of the Countrey and amongst others his Niece where Dinner being ended Dancing did begin and every Lady did endeavour to set forth her self in the best manner that she could but the Dutchess who was tormented to behold the great beauty and the gracefulnesse of her Niece could take no Delight an all much lesse could she forbear from making her spitefull fury to appear For after that Dancing was ended having called all the Ladies together she caused them to sit down near unto her and did begin to Discourse unto them concerning the Affairs of Love And observing that her Niece was silent and did speak nothing at all she said unto her with a heart inflamed with Jealousie And you my fair Niece Is it possible that your Beauty can be without either Friend or Servant Madam she replyed My Beauty looks not after such a purchase for since the Death of my Husband I desire no other Sweet-hearts but only his children with which I am well contented Fair Niece Fair Niece the Dutchesse replyed to her in an extreme Indignation Fair Niece Fair Niece There is no Love so secret but may be discovered nor little Doggs so well taught and brought up to the hand whose Barking may not be understood Ladies I leave it to you to imagine how great a sorrow on those words surprized the heart of the poor young Lady finding a thing that had been kept so close to be so openly declared to her Dishonour Her Honor so carefully guarded and so unfortunately lost did greatly torment her but most of all did the strong suspition she entertained that her Friend had failed in his promise which she thought he never would have done unlesse for the Love of some Lady more beautifull than her self to whom the extremity of his Love did foolishly perswade to declare this effect Her Virtue neverthelesse was so great that for all this apprehension she made no apparence of discontent and smiling did make answer that she did not understand the language of Beasts and in this wise dissimulation her heart was so overburthened with sorrow that she was constrained to rise up and passing by the Chamber of the Dutchesse she entred into a Wardrop where the Duke walking in the Gallery did behold her to goe in When the poor Lady thought she was in a place where none could either soe or hear her she did throw her self upon the bed with so great a violence that a damosel who was sat in a corner of the room to sleep was awakened at it and did rise up to see who it might be But finding it was the Niece of the Duke who thought she had been alone she durst not speak unto her but gently listned to the complaint she made The poor Lady with a voice half dead did begin in these words to lament her self O unfortunate that I am What are the words which I have heard what an arrest of death have I understood by them What a sentence to condemn me have I received O thou the most beloved that ever was Is this the reward of my chastity and of my honest and virtuous love O my heart why didst thou make so dangerous a choice to take for the most loyal the most unfaithful for the most honest the most crafty for the most secret the loudest Detractor in the World Wo is me Is it possible that a thing hid from the Eyes of all Men should be revealed to Madam the Dutchesse Alas poor little Dog the only means of my long and virtuous love it is not thou that hast discovered me but he who hath a voice more barking than a Dog and a heart more ungrateful than
any beast He it is who contrary to his oath and promise hath revealed the happy life which without any prejudice to any we have a long time lived O my friend my friend whose only love is entred into my heart with whose life my own hath been woven must it now come to passe that in declaring you my mortal Enemy my Honour must be carryed away by the winds my body crumble into ashes and my Soul for ever depart to its last place of residence What was the beauty of the Dutchess so inchanting that it hath had the power to transform you as somtimes had that of Circe Hath she made you of virtuous to become vicious of good wicked of a Man a Beast a cruel Beast O my Friend my Friend although you have failed in your promise made to me yet I will keep my promise made to you which is that I will never see you again after the divulgation of our Love and being no longer able to live without your presence I do willingly accord to the extreme sorrow which I feel and for which I will provide no remedy neither by Reason nor Physick for Death only shall put an end to it which shall be more pleasant to me than to continue in the World without a Friend without Honour and without Contentment Neither Death nor the War hath deprived me of my Friend neither Lust nor Rage have taken from me my Honour neither Deviation nor Demerit of my own hath made me to lose my Contentment but the cruelty of treachery which hath caused the most obliged of all Men to become the most ingratefull Alas Madam the Dutchesse What pleasure was it unto you when by mockery you did upbraid me with my little Dogg Go on as you have begun and continue to delight your self with that happinesse which doth belong to me alone You make your sport at her who by wisely concealing and who by virtuously loving did promise to her self to be exempted from all mockery O how hath this word contracted my heart How hath it made me to look red with shame and pale with jealousie Wo is me my heart my heart I do feel you can hold out no longer Love unadvisedly or treacherously made known doth consume you with Fire Jealousie and the Injury you have received do freez you with Ice and with Grief and Indignation kils you not permitting the least consolation to arrive Alas for thee O my Soul who by too much adoring the Creature hast forgot the Creator Thou must return again into the hands of him from whom vain Love hath ravished thee Take Confidence O my Soul thou shalt find God a better Father than thou hast found him a Friend for whom thou so often hast forgot God O my God my Creator who art the true and only Friend by whose Grace the love which I have born unto my Friend hath been stained with no Vice unlesse by too much loving him I beseech thee of thy infinite mercy to receive the Soul and Spirit of her who doth truly repent that she hath so much disobeyed thy first and most just Commandement And for the merit of him whose Love is incomprehensible be pleased to excuse that fault which too much love hath caused me to commit for in Thee alone I have perfect Confidence And adieu my false Friend whose Name without the Effect hath broken my Heart Having spoke those words she did fall down from the Bed upon the Ground and her colour waxed pale and her lips blew and an universal coldnesse seized on every part of her Body At that instant the Gentleman who did love her came into the hall and seeing the Dutchesse dancing with the other Ladies looked every where up and down where his Mistresse was and not finding her he did repair into the Chamber of the Dutchesse near unto which he found the Duke walking in the Gallery who conjecturing what his thoughts were did whisper him in the ear and said Your Sweet-heart is gone into yonder Wardrobe I am afraid she is not well The Gentleman demanded of him that he would be pleased to give him leave to wait upon her to which the Duke was easily intreated As soon as he was entred into the Wardrobe he found that she was even ready to breath forth the last breath of her life and falling down on his knees he imbraced her and said unto her O my dear Love How do you do What will you forsake me The poor Lady hearing the voice which so well she knew did begin a little to recover her colour and opening her eyes she looked stedfastly on him who was the occasion of her Death But so looking on him Love and Despite did so violently increase upon her that with a pittifull sigh she rendred her Soul to God The Gentleman more dead than she that was dead did demand of the Damosel How that Extremity seized upon her who all along did account unto him the words which she had heard her speak whereupon he immediately perceived that the Duke had revealed the Secret to the Dutchesse and was transported with so great a fury that imbracing the Body of his Sweet-heart he did along time bedew it with his tears and at last said Wo is me the most treacherous most wicked and the most unfortunate Man in the world How is it come to passe that the punishment of my Treason is not fallen on my self but on her who is innocent O why did Heaven spare me Why did not Thunder check my Tongue in that hour when I first revealed our most secret and most virtuous Love Why did not the Earth open her self Why did it not devour this unadvised Breaker of his Faith Be thou punished O my tongue as was the tongue of the rich Glutton in Hell O my heart be thou perpetually torn in pieces by Eagles as was the heart of Titius O Dear Sweet-heart the most unfortunate misfortune of all misfortunes is befallen me Thinking to have preserved you I have lost you thinking to see you live a long time with content I imbrace you discontented and dead O thou the most loyal and the most faithfull Woman that ever was I shall by all be condemned to be the most inconstant disloyal and the most unfaithful man in the world I might complain of the Duke in whose promise I so much trusted hoping by that to give a longer continuance to our happy life but alas I might know that no man could keep my secret better than my self The Duke had more reason to impart it unto his Wife than I to impart it unto him I can accuse none but my self of the greatest disloyalty that ever was committed by a Lover I had better by far be thrown into the River accordingly as the Duke did threaten that thou my dear friend mightst be preserved alive and I gloriously might have died in observing the laws which true love commandeth but breaking them I remain alive and thou who most perfectly
did love art dead Thy heart so pure and undefiled could not without death endure to understand the Vice which was in me your friend O my God wherefore didst thou create me a Man having a love so light and a heart so ignorant Why didst not thou rather create me a little dogg who so faithfully did know to serve his Mistresse Alas little Dog the joy which thy barking brought unto me is now turned into perpetual mourning because by my means another was admitted to hear thy voice But so it is dear friend that neither the Love of the Dutchesse nor of any Woman in the World hath caused me to change my affections although she oftentimes hath importuned me to it But ignorance overcame me thinking for ever to preserve your Love but this ignorance cannot excuse me for I have revealed the secret of my friend I have falsified my promise which is the only cause that I see you dead before my eyes Shall death be lesse cruel to me than to your self who only for Love have put an end to your innocent life I must believe shall I believe that death will not vouchsafe to touch my unfaithful and accursed heart for a dishonourable life and the memory of my losse through my own default is more insupportable than ten thousand deaths Woe is me my friend If any one either through malice â—r misfortune had been so cruel as to kill you I should readily have put my hand upon my Sword to have revenged you It is no reason therefore that I should pardon the murtherer who was the occasion of your death and by a more unrighteous act than to have killed you with a Sword If I knew any more wicked Executioner than my self I would desire him to see Justice performed on your treacherous friend O Love By the ignorance of loving I have offended thee and wilt not thou relieve me as thou didst her who inviolately did keep all thy Laws Is it nor reason that by the like honest means I doe end my life It is and most reasonable it is that it be done by my own hand and since with my tears I have bathed your face and with my Tongue I have required pardon of you nothing now remains but that with my own hand I doe render my body like unto yours and that my Soul do follow wheresoever yours is gone before me knowing that a virtuous and an honest love can have no end either in this world or in the World to come And immediately rising from the body as a man transported and out of his sense he drew his Sword and fixing the pummel of it against the Wall and the point of it against his Brest he with great violence did drive it quite through his body and falling down he took his Sweet-heart in his arms and did kisse and imbace her with such affection that he seemed to be more surprized by love than by death The Damosel observing him to draw his Sword did immediately run forth to cry out for help The Duke hearing the cry and doubting some sad accident had befallen those whom he most intirely loved was the first that came into the Wardrop and beholding this lamentable spectacle he endeavoured to take off the Gentleman from the body of the dead Lady if it were possible to save him but he held his Sweet-heart so fast in his arms that he could not sever him from her with all the strength he had until he was quite dead himself Neverthelesse understanding that the Duke did speak unto him and demanded who was the occasion of it he did lift up his head and looking furiously upon him he made answer Your Tongue Sir and my own and bowing down his head again he immediately dyed his face being close joyned to that of his Friends The Duke desiring to be thoroughly informed with all the particulars of this Tragedy did command the Damosel to declare at large unto him whatsoever she had seen or heard which she did all along without sparing any thing whereupon the Duke perceiving that he was the Original of all this Evil did throw himself upon the two dead Lovers and with great Lamentation craving pardon of them for his offence he oftentimes did kiss them rising from them in a fury he drew out the sword froÌ„ the dead body of the Gentleman And as a wild Boar being wounded by a Lance doth run with resistlesse violence at him who made the thrust so the Duke did addresse himself to her who had wounded him quite through his Soul He found her dancing in the Hall and more frolick by farr than she was accustomed to be conceiving that in some measure she had revenged her self upon the Niece of the Duke In the middle of the Dance the Duke did lay hold on her and said unto her you promised not to reveal the Secret upon the forfeit of your life And your life shall answer for your trespasse and speaking those words he took her by her Headgeer and sheathed the sword in her Body at which all the Company were so amazed that they conceiv'd the Duke was bereaved of his Senses Having thus put a violent period to the Life of his Dutchesse he called together his Friends and his Servants and did declare unto them the lamentable and most virtuous story of his Niece and the great Injury that his Wife had done her which caused many tears in all the standers by The Duke afterwards commanded that his Wife should be buried in an Abbey which he had founded and caused a fair Sepulcher to be builded where the bodies of his Niece and of the Gentleman were interred together and an Epitaph was laid upon the Monument declaring the History of their loves and their Tragical Deaths The Duke afterwards did undertake a Voyage against the Turks and God so prospered him that he atchieved great honours and gained large Revenues And on his Return finding his eldest Son able to manage the Government of his Estate he did put on the habit of Religion in the same Abbey where his Wife and the two Lovers were buried where devoutly he passed away the Remainder of his life Ladies this is the History which you have intreated me to declare unto you and which I perceive by your eyes that you have not received without compassion From hence methinks we ought to take an Example to have a care not to fix too much our affections on men For how honest and virtuous soever the love may seem to be in the beginning yet for the most part it goes off with an unpleasing Farewell And moreover you may read that Saint Paul would not that married people should set altogether their affections on one another for by how much the more our hearts are ingaged in a terrestrial Love by so much the lesse they are addicted to the Love of Heaven and spiritual things and the more noble and the more virtuous the Love is the more difficult it is to break
Queen gave unto their Marriage with the wise answer of the young Lady to the Queen Nov. 1. f. 174. A Frier a great Reformer of the times under the shaddow of Religion did use all temptations and endeavours to seduce a fair Nun and his deceits at last were discovered Nov. 2. f. 198. Three Murders committed in one house on the persons of the Lord the Lady and their Child by the wickednesse of a Frier Nov. 3. f. 212. The gentile Invention of a Gentleman to manifest his love to the Queen of Spain and what insued thereupon Nov. 4. f. 221. The subtile Invention of a great Prince to delight himself with the fair Wife of 〈…〉 vocate of Paris Nov. 5. f. 230. The pleasant discourse of a great Lord to play the wanton with a Lady of Pampelona Nov. 6. f. 236. The rashness of a foolish Secretary who sollicited to Lust the Wife of his Companion by which he received great Disgrace Nov. 7. f. 254. A Secretary thought to cozâ—en one who cozened him and what was the event thereof Nov. 8. f. 257. A Labourer of the Village whose Wife was too familiar with the Curate did permit himself to be easily deceived Nov. 9. f. 261. The wonderfull Example of humane Frailty in a Lady who to conceal her honour did fall from one Evil into a greater Nov. 10. f. 264. The Fourth Journal The Execrable cruelty of a Frier to enjoy his detestable Lust and the punishment which he justly suffered Nov. 1. f. 272. The punishment more cruel than Death commanded by a Husband to be inflicted on his Wife whom he had taken in adultery Nov. 2. f. 279. The abomination of an Incestuous Priest who under the pretence of a holy life did impregnat his own Sister and the blasphemies that were contrived to conceal their sin and the punishment which ensued thereupon Nov. 3. f. 285. Two Friers too curious to listen to what did not belong unto them were struck into so great a fear that they thought they should have dyed Nov. 4. f. 290. The happy Industry which a wise Husband used to divert the love which his Wife did bear unto a Frier Nov. 5. f. 295. A President of Grenoble being advertised of the dissolute Inclinations of his Wife did provide such a remedy that his honor was not interested and he himself revenged Nov. 6. f. 305. The wisdom of a Wife to withdraw her Husband from a fond Love which did torment him Nov. 7. f. 311. The memorable Charity of a Woman of Tours to her Husband taken in Incontinence Nov. 8. f. 316. A good Invention to drive away an Evil Spirit Nov. 9. f. 318. A Lord caused his Brother-in-law to be killed not knowing the allyance Nov. 10. f. 322. The Fifth Journal The strange and new penance given by a Frier Confessor to a young Lady N. 1. f. 331. The Continence of a young Gentlewoman against the obstinate and amorous sute of one of the greatest Lords in France and the happy success which the young Gentlewoman obtained Nov. 2. f. 335. The Hypocrisie of a Lady at Court was discovered by the ill Carriage of her Love which she thought to have concealed Nov. 3. f. 346. Two Lovers who closely did enjoy their loves and the happy issue that did attend them Nov. 4. f. 357. A Husband pretending to chastise his Chambermaid deceived the simplicity of his Wife Nov. 5. f. 365. A Frier who in his Sermon made it a great crime for Men to beat their Wives Nov. 6. f. 371. A Gentleman of Percha wrongfully suspecting the love of his Friend to his Wife did provoke him to put in practise the Cause of his suspition Nov. 7. f. 373. Two Friers on the first night of a marriage did one after another usurp the place of the Bridegoom for which they were soundly punished Nov. 8. f. 360. The subtilty and incontinence of a Countesse to have secretly her pleasure from several Gentlemen and how she was discovered Nov. 9. f. 383. A Gentleman being newly let blood did too familiarly and excessively enjoy his Mistress which was the occasion of his death and of hers also Nov. 10. f. 390. The Sixth days Journal The persidiousnesse and great cruelty of an Italian Duke Nov. 1. f. 395. The nasty Breakfast prepared by an Apothecaries Boy for an Advocate and a Gentleman Nov. 2. f. 400 The personal diligence of a Prince to divert the affections of an importunate Lover Nov. 3. f. 405. A Gentlewoman of so good a disposition that seeing her Husband to kisse her Chambermaid did nothing else but laugh and would never give any other reason but that only she laughed at his shadow Nov. 4. f. 414. The Cunning of a Spanish Woman to defraud the Friers of the last Testament of her Husband Nov. 5. f. 417. A Frier Fraudulently married another Frier who was his Companion to a young Gentlewoman for which they were both punished Nov. 6. f. 420. A ridiculous Account of my Lord who did wear a Ladies Glove on his Habiliments Nov. 7. f. 427. A Lady of the Court did pleasantly revenge her self of a Gentleman who did bear love unto her Nov. 8. f. 431. A Gentleman thinking in private to kisse one of the Chamhermaids of his Wife was discovered and surprized by her Nov. 9. f. 435. A Citizens Wife of Paris did forsake her Husband a rich Merchant to follow a Chanter and â—â—unterfeiting her self dead she caused herself to be buried Nov. 10. f. 442. The Seventh Journal The wonderful and most uncontroul'd affection of a bold but beautiful Burgundian Gentlewoman to a Canon of Autun Nov. 1. f. 449. A Gentlewoman repeating an Account of her own loves speaking in the third person did by misregard declare her self Nov. 2. f. 458. The notable Chastity of a great Lord in France Nov. 3. f. 461. A Gentleman being disdained by a Gentlewoman to be her Husband did turn Frier and put on the habit of Religion for which she afterwards repenting did put on the Habit of a Nun Nov. 4. f. 466. The simplicity of an old Woman who presented a burning Candle of Wax to Saint John of Lyons and did stick it on the brow of a Souldier as he was sleeping at the Sepulcher and what was the issue that did attend it Nov. 5. f. 472. A ridiculous Account that happened to the King and Queen of Navarr Nov. 6. f. 474. The extreme love and severity of life of a French woman in a Forein land Nov. 7. f. 477. A Woman made her Husband to eat Cantharides to receive from him due and desired benevolence by which he thought he should have dyed Nov. 8. f. 482. An Italian suffered himself to be cozened by his Chambermaid who caused his Wife to find him bolting in a Womans habit instead of a Maid Nov. 9. f. 486. The excellent History and the relation of the Incontinence of a Dutchesse which was the cause of her death and of the death of two most absolute Lovers Nov. 10. f. 489. The eighth Journal A Woman at the point of death seeing her Husband to kisse ber Chambermaid did grow so extremely passionate that it was the sudden cause of her recovery Nov. 1. f. 520. The continual repentance of a Nun for having lost her virginity without Force or Love Nov. 2. f. 523. The End of the Table FINIS
was so absolute and perfect that he did chuse rather to die than to desire any one thing which might tend to her dishonor and seeing himself in so low a condition in comparison of her he could not entertain the least hope to espouse her Wherefore his love was grounded on no other end but only with all his power to love her as perfectly as possibly he could of which at last she had some Intelligence And seeing the honest affection which he did bear unto her so full of virtue and civility she thought her self happy to be beloved by so worthy a personage and made so much of him that he who could not have wished for more was greatly contented at it But Malice the Enemy to all Quiet could not long suffer the continuance of a life so happy For some Informers whispered in the Mothers ear That they much wondred that this Gentleman was of such power in her house and that they suspected the beauty of her Daughter to be the only occasion of it with whom they oftentimes observed him to hold discourse The Mother who no wayes doubted the honesty of the Gentleman of whom she was as much assured as of any of her own Children was very forry that there was spread abroad such an uncharitable opinion of him but fearing that some scandall might arise by the malice of bad tongues she intreated him at last that for a certain time he would not come so often to her house as he was accustomed to do This was hard of digestion to him knowing that the civil discourse which he held always with her Daughter did not deserve that restraint Neverthelesse to stop the report of all ill tongues he retired for a time untill that report was silenced afterwards returned as he had been accustomed to do His absence had no ways diminished his affection Being in the house he understood that the young Lady was to be married to a Gentleman who in his opinion was not of that great Estate but that his own service might be as well entertained and be as acceptable as his He therefore began to take heart to imploy his friends to speak on his behalf supposing that if the choice were offered to the young Lady that she would prefer him unto the other Neverthelesse the Mother of the Daughter and her Kinred did make choice of the other because he was far more rich whereat the Gentleman was extremely melancholly knowing that his Mistresse would lose thereby as much contentment as himself Whereupon by little and little without any other Sicknesse he did begin to consume away and in a short time was so much changed that it seemed he had covered the beauty of his countenance with the Mask of Death to which day succeeding day and hour following hour he did joyfully repair So it was that he could not sometimes forbear from speaking to her whom he loved so intirely But at last his strength failed him and he was inforced to keep his Bed of which he would not advise her whom he loved because he was unwilling that she should partake in his affliction And suffering himself to sink into despair he at last could neither eat nor drink nor sleep nor take any rest insomuch that it was impossible to know him by reason of his leanenesse and the strange and sharp countenance which he had Some there were who advertised the Mother of his Mistresse of it who was a Woman full of pity and loved the Gentleman so well that if all her Kinred and Confidents had been of the same opinion as her self was and her Daughter they had preferred his Honesty and fair Deportment above all the Fortunes of the other but the Kinred who were on the Fathers side would not understand it Neverthelesse she resorted with her Daughter to visit the poor Gentleman whom they found rather dead than alive And perceiving that the end of his life did approach he sent for the Priest and having made his Confession he received the holy Sacrament thinking to have died without seeing any one But being ready to descend unto the sleep of Death and unexpectedly beholding her who was both his Life and Resurrection he found himself so fortified that he did arise up in his Bed and said unto the old Lady Some occasion hath brought you hithâ—â— Madam to give a visit unto him who hath already one foot in his Grave and of whose Death you are the occasion The Lady made answer How can that be possible that he whom we do love so well can receive his Death by our neglect Tell me I pray you upon what account of Reason do you speak these words Madam said he Although as much as it was possible for me I have dissembled the love which I most faithfully have born unto Madamoiselle your Daughter so it is that my friends speaking of the Marriage betwixt her and me have been more hot upon it than I desired seeing thereby I have received this Misfortune to lose all my hopes neither doth it so much afflict me for my particular but for that I am confident she can never be so well intreated by any other nor will be so well beloved as by me The observation which I make that she shall lose the most best and most affectionate friend and servant that she hath in the world doth more afflict me than the losse of my own life which onely for her alone I would preserve but because I find it cannot be serviceable any wayes unto her it is a gain unto me to lose it The Mother and the Daughter hearing these words did do the best they could to comfort him The Mother said unto him Take courage my Friend and I promise you upon my faith that if God shall restore you unto your health my Daughter shall have no other Husband but your self Behold she stands here before you and I command her upon the obligation of her Duty to make the same promise to you Her Daughter melting into tears did the best that she could to give him an assurance of that which her Mother had promised But he apprehending that if he were recovered he should not enjoy his Mistresse and that the good words that were given him were onely by degrees to restore him unto his lost health did say unto them That if these words had been spoken to him but three Moneths agoe he had been the most healthfull and the most happy Man in all France but this Relief came so late unto him that it could neither be believed nor hoped And when he observed that they did indeavour to inforce a belief into him of what they promised he said unto them Since so faithfully you have promised that great happinesse which can never arrive unto me though now your selves would have it so by reason of the great weaknesse in which I am I shall crave a far lesse favour which as yet I have not had the boldnesse to demand Immediatly they did both
in that fury with one of his strong hands he had taken fast hold of both her weak and delicate ones she seeing that all the defence that she could make did fail her and that both her hands and her feet were held in such captivity that she could neither fly nor defend her self and knew not what remedy to find unlesse it were to see if any little root of his first love remained in the honour of which he might forget his cruelty she said unto him Amadour If now you are an Enemy unto me I must beseech you for the honesty of the love which at other times I have found in your heart that you will first hear me before you will torment me When she perceived that he began to give ear unto her following her Discourse she said unto him Alas Amadour What occasion doth transport you to look after a thing of which if enjoyed you can receive no Content and which will bring unto me the greatest sorrow that possibly I can have You have had such experience of my good will unto you since the time of my Youth and of my greatest Beauty for which your passion might find some excuse that I do much wonder that in my greater age and this Deformity into which Misfortune hath now brought me you have the heart and desire to torment me I am assured you know that my Will is the same which it hath been accustomed to be so that you cannot have unlesse it be by force that which you do demand And if you observe but how my face is martyred in the forgetting the beauty which you have seen in it you would no longer have a desire to come neer me and if there doe as yet remain any relicks of love in you it is impossible but that your pity should overcome your sury And to that pity and honesty which I have so often found in you I do addresse my complaint and do desire their protection to the end that according to their better counsels you would permit me to live in peace and honesty which I have resolved to doe But if the love which you have born unto me is converted all into hate and if rather for vengeance than affection you will make me the most wretched woman in the world I do assure you that it shall not be so and that you will inforce me against my resolution to declare your cruelty and inordinate appetite to her who doth conceive so well of you and in that apprehension you may assure your self that your life will be in danger Amadour breaking off her Discourse said unto her If I must die I care not I will be immediately freed of my torment and the deformity of your face which I believe was done by your own Will shall not hinder my will for if I could have nothing but your bones only I would keep them alwayes with me When Florinda saw that neither her prayers reasons nor her tears could work any Impression upon him and that so great a fury did pursue his wicked desires that she no longer could make resistance she ayded her self with a remedy which she feared as much as the losse of his life and with a sad and pitifull voice called to her Mother as lowd as possibly she could who hearing her daughter to cry unto her in such a manner had a marvellous great fear of that which was probable enough and did run as fast as her legs could carry her into her Wardrobe Amadour who was not so ready to die as he pretended did let go his Prize in so good a time that the Lady opening her Cabanet did find him at the door and Florinda standing a good way from him The Countesse demanded of him Amadour what is the matter tell me the Truth He who was never unprovided of an Excuse with a pale Countenance said unto her Madam Into what a Temper is Madam Florinda brought I was never so amazed as at this present I thought that I had some part in her affection but I have nothing lesse It seems to me Madam that since the time she was brought up under you she was never lesse wise nor virtuous than now she is She was accustomed to make no conscience to speak or to look on any and now I would but only look on her and she would not permit me and when I beheld her face not thinking it was so altered I demanded to kisse her hand according to the fashion of the Country she altogether refused me Madam It is true that I have done her wrong for which I demand pardon of you It was that I took her hand by force and kissed it demanding no other contentment of her but she who as I believe hath determined my death cried out unto you as you did hear I cannot tell for what unlesse she entertains a fear that I had other desires about me than indeed I have Neverthelesse Madam in whatsoever manner it be I dow avow the Injury to be mine for although she ought to love all your good Servants yet Fortune hath so ordered it that I alone and the most affectionate of them all am turned out of her favour Neverthelesse I will alwayes continue most faithfull both to you and her And I must beseech you Madam that you will be pleased to continue me in your good opinion since without any demerit of mine I have lost hers The Countesse who in part did believe and in part did suspect what he alleged did goe unto her Daughter and said unto her Wherefore did you call upon me with so lowd a voice Florinda made answer Because I was struck with a sudden fear and although the Countesse did put many Interrogatories to her concerning Amadour both at this present and many times afterwards yet she never would make any other answer to her for seeing that she had escaped out of his hands she thought him sufficiently punished having hindred his enterprize After that the Countesse had a long time spoken to Amadour she suffered him before her to speak unto Florinda to observe what Countenance he carried to her to whom he spake but little but only thanked her because she confessed not the truth unto her mother and besought her that since he had lost his place in her affections that no other might be possessed in it To the first she made answer That if she had known any other means to defend her self from him but her voice only her voice should never have been heard neither by her Mother nor any other To the second she desired him never to fear that she would love any other for since she had not found in the heart of that Man whom she esteemed to be the most virtuous in the world that Good which she expected she would never be induced to beleeve that it can be in any others This Misfortune she said should be a Help unto her to preserve her self ever in liberty from those passions which Love doth