the fairest wife in his mind that euer he had seene who after the banquet was doone shee and her husband sang a song with so good grace that it increased her beuty wherwith the king perceiuing two perfections in one body tooke not so much delight in their pleasant voyces as in deuising how to breake thaccord but the difficultie he found was the great and perfect loue he saw to be in them which made him heare that passion in his minde as couertly as he could but to â—ase himselfe he caused certaine banquets to be made for all the Ladies and Gentlewomen within the Citie of Naples where the Gentleman and his wife were not forgotten And because a man is easily induced to beleeue whatsoeuer he seeth it seemed the Gentlewomans eies promised him some good fortune if the husbands presence were no hinderance thereunto and to proue it he sent her husband for 15. dayes or three weekes on message vnto Rome who was no sooner gone but his wife that neuer had bin so long without his company made exceeding sorrow but being in his absence often visited by the king as time and leasure serued both with faire speeches presents and with gifts she was not onely comforted but well content her husband should stay longer and before the three weekes ended wherin he should returne she waxed so amorous of the king that she was as much grieued at his comming againe as she had beene sorrowefull for his going And not to loose the presence of the king they agreed that when her husband went into the country she would make it known to him who therby might assuredly come to her and so secretly that the man whome she feared more than her owne conscience should not he burt in hope whereof this Gentlewoman was ioyfull so that at her husbands returne she seemed very glad who although he heard that in his absence the king had often visited his wife yet he suspected no ill but in proces of time that â—â—re so hardly to be couered beganne by little and little to shew in such maner that the husband in th end doubted some deceit keeping so good watch that he was therof assured but by reson of the feare he had of him that did him iniury he made no shew thereof determining to dissemble as desiring rather to liue in secret griefe than once to hazard his life for a women that had no loue in her Neuerthelesse in that despight hee thought to yeelde the like vnto the king if possibly he might and knowing that oftentimes despight maketh women doe more than loue specially such as haue great heartes and honorable mindes he being in the queenes presence was so bold to say vnto her that it pittied him to see her not so well beloued of the King as shee deserued Whereunto the Queene that knew the loue the king bare to his wife answered him and said I cannot both haue honor and pleasure at one time I know I haue the honour but another reapeth the pleasure and she that hath my pleasure yet hath she not my honour He that perceiued ful wel why she vttered that speech answered her and saide Madam your honour proceedes from birth as being so nobly born that any degree cannot augment your glory but your highnesse beutie grace and honestie hath deserued so much pleasure that she which taketh that from you that is your due doth her selfe more wrong than you for that for a certaine glorie which turneth to shame shee looseth as much pleasure as you or any Gentlewoman in this land can haue An◠〈◊〉 much Madam I wil tell you that if the king would lay his â—â—owne aside I thinke he should haue smal aduantage at my hands to please a woman being well assured hereof that to conteâ—â— so honest a person as your self it would be better for him that 〈◊〉 were of my complexion The queene laughing answered him said although the king my husband be of more deâ—icate complexion than your selfe yet it is the loue he beâ—â—â—th mâ—â— contenteth mee so well that I preferre the saâ—â— before all other thinges The Gentleman replied and said 〈◊〉 if it were so you would not pittie me for hereof am I assured that the honest loue which resteth in your heart would 〈…〉 you more contenâ—ment if it founde the like within the king but God hath well prouided otherwise to them that you not finding that in him which you desire you should not vse him for your God on earth I assure you said the Queene the loue I beare him is so great that in no womanâ— heart but mine the likâ— is to be found Pardon me Madaâ— said the Gentleman you haue not yet well tried the loue of all mens hearts for this I dare wel say there is one that loueth you whose loue is so importable that yours in his respect is not to be compared and for that he seeth the kings loue much quenched towards you his doth so much in crease that if you like thereof you shal be satisfied for all your losses past The Queene therewith beganne as wel by outward gesture as by wordes to finde his speech proceeded from his heart and calling to minde that of long time her sought to do her seruice with such affection that hee wholie seemed melancholy which shee esteemed because of his bad wife but as then the stedfastly beleeued it was for the loue of her as also the vertue of loue which maketh it selfe felt not being done assured her of that which no man else could tell And beholding the Gentleman to be of greater beautie than the king perceiuing him also cleane cast off by his wife as she was of the king being vrged with despite and ielousie of her husband and mooued with the loue of the Gentleman with teares ready to droppe out of her eies sighing shee spake and said O God! must reuenge of wrong work that in me which loue could neuer do Which the Gentleman hearing answered her and said Madam the reuenge is easie to him that in place of killing his enemy giueth life to a perfect friend me thinketh it is time that truth should take from you the foolish loue you beare to him that loueth you not againe and that the iust and reasonable loue should driue that fear out of your mind which neuer can remaine within a vertuous hart Now Madam let vs lay aside the greatnesse of your state and consider our selues to be the man and wife in this worlde most mocked and betrayed of those we dearely loued let vs reuenge our selues good Madam not so much to giue them their desert as to satisfie the loue which on my behalfe can no longer be forborue vnles it cost me my life and this I think if your heart be not hardened more than a Diamond it is impossible you should not feele some sparke of fire which increaseth so much more as I seeke to couer it if pity of me which for your loue stil die
court made great account of him and one among the rest the King loued yet not so faire nor so young as his owne and for the great loue he bare vnto her he made so small account of his wife that hardly once a yeare he lay with her and which was more importable for her was that hee neuer spake vnto her nor shewed any signes of loue and although he enioyed her goods yet he gaue her so small a portion that hardly was she apparelled as her estate required neither as she desired whereby the Lady with whom she was oftentimes reproued the Gentleman saying vnto him your wife is faire rich and of a good house and you esteeme not of her which her infancy and yong yeres hath borne vnto this time but I feare that when she shall perceiue her selfe to be faire and of good stature that some one that loueth you not seeing beauty which to you is not esteemed will seeke to court her so that in bespight she will do that which being by you will vsed she durst not once conceale The Gentleman that had set his heart in another place mocked her and for all that ceased not to follow his old course but two or three yeares being past ouer his wife began to bee one of the fairest women in all France and so faire that she had the whole report in the court not to haue her match and the more she perceiued and felt her selfe worthy to be beloued the more it grieued her to see her husband that made no account of her in such sort that she tooke so great displeasure thereat that without the comforte of her mistris she was in a maner desperace and hauing sought all meanes she could to winne her husbands loue though with her selfe it was impossible but that he should loue her considering the great loue she bare vnto him vnlesse his minde were called otherwise which shee so subtilly went about to know that in time she founde the truth and that he euery night was so busie elsewhere that he forgot both his conscience and his wife and after she was assured of the life he led she was so malancholy that she would weare nothing but blacke nor haunt any places where mirth or good cheere was vsed Which her mistris perceining did what she could to withdraw her from this sad conceit but it was impossible and although her husband were aduertised thereof yet was he readier to mocke her then to take any order therein You know Gentlewoman that griefe ouercommeth ioie and that griefe by ioy is ouercome Wherefore it happened that a great Lorde neere kinsman vnto the mistris of the Gentlewoman and that came often thither vnderstanding the strange maner of the Gentlewomans husband had so great pitty on her that he thought to try if he could comfort her and speaking with her found her so faire and vertuous that he had more desire to win her fauor then to speake vnto her of her husband vnlesse it were to shewe her what small occasion she had to loue him The Gentlewoman perceiuing her selfe forsaken of him that ought to loue hir and on the other side loued and sought vnto of so great and faire a prince counted her selfe happie to be so much in his fauour And although she alwayes desired to preserue her honor yet she took great plesure to speake vnto him and to see her selfe beloued a thing whereof shee had great want This loue continued for a time vntill by chance the King perceiued it who loued the Gentleman her husband so well that he would not suffer any man to procure his shame or displeasure wherefore hee desired the prince to withdraw his minde saying that if he did it not he woulde be offended with him The prince that loued the kings fauour and goodwill better than all the Ladies in the world promised him that for his sake he would leaue his enterprise and that at night he would take his leaue of her which he did as soone as he vnderstood her to be in her lodging and the gentleman himselfe was lodged in a chamber ouer hers and looking out of his chamber window perceiued the prince to enter into his wifes chamber being vnder his But the prince that saw him well staied not to enter and bidding her adieu whose loue as then did but beginne tolde her the reason was because the King had commaunded him so to do After many teares and sighes that continued vntil an houre after midnight the gentlewoman for conclusion spake and saide I thanke God my Lord that it hath pleased him to alter your opinion seeing it is so small and feeble that you can take and leaue it at mans commandement For as for me I haue not asked counsel either of mistris or of husband or of my selfe to loue you for loue helping it selfe with your beautie and honestie hath had such power ouer me that I haue not knowen other God or King than it but seeing your heart is not filled with so true loue that feare as yet remaineth therein you cannot be a perfect friend and of an imperfect I wil not make afriend for that I loue perfectly as I had determined to loue you but now my lord I am constrained to bid you farewell whose feare doth not deserue the freedome of my loue With that the Lord departed weeping and as he went away he perceued her husband stil standing at the window that had both seene him goe in and out wherefore the next day he told him the occasion why he went vnto his wife and the commandement the King had giuen him wherewith the Gentleman was wel pleased and thanked the King but seeing his wife daily to waxe fairer than she was and hee to the contrary became olde and lesse beautifull beganne to change course taking that which he had caused his wife full often to vse for that he made more of her than vsually â—e did whereby he tooke more heed vnto her But the more she perceiued herselfe sought vnto by him the more shee estranged herselfe from him desiring to giue him part of the sorrowes and griefes she had had in beeing little beloued of him and not so soone to lay hold on that pleasure which loue began to shew her she addressed her selfe vnto a young Gentleman so faire so well spoken and of so good a grace that he was beloued of al the ladies in the court And making her complaints vnto him how she had bin well vsed mooued him to haue pity on her in such maner that the Gentleman forgot not anie thing that might comfort her and she to recompence herselfe for the losse of a prince that had forsaken her set her loue so sure vpon the gentleman that she forgat her sorrow past and thought of nothing else but howe to behaue her selfe therein which she could doe so well that her mistris neuer perceiued it for shee neuer spake vnto him in her presence But when she would speake vnto
it after I once had spoken vnto you for that against al their minds I remained constant to haue you not respecting your pouertie my friendes instructions to the contrary and you are not ignorant what interteinement I haue hitherto had of you and how you haue loued and esteemed me whereby I haue had so much sorow and griefe that without the helpe of my lady with whome you placed me I was in maner desparate but in the end perceiuing my selfe to waxe of more yeeres and of all men except your selfe esteemed faire I began in such sort to feele the displeasure of the wrong you did me that the loue I bare vnto you turned into hatred and the desire to please you changed into reuenge and in this dispaire a prince resorted to me who to obey the king more then loue left me at such time as I began to feele the comfort of my torments by an honest loue and leauing him I found this Gentleman that needed not to intreat me for that his beauty honesty and vertues deserued to be required and sought vnto of all women of good iudgement At my request and not at his he hath loued me with so honest a minde that neuer in his life did he require any thing of mee contrary to mine honour And although the small loue that I haue cause to beare vnto you gaue me occasion neither to shew faith nor loyalty vnto you the loue which I onely beare to God and to mine honor haue hitherto preserued me from doing that for the which I should need any confession or feare of shame I will not deny but that as often as possible I could I went to speake with him in a gallery vnder pretence to go to prayer for that I neuer put my trust either in man or woman to be a meanes therein I will likewise not deny that being in so secret a place and out of all suspition but that I kissed him with a better heart then euer I kist you but yet I neuer aske mercy at Gods hands if that betweene vs two there euer was other kinde of priuity or euer he sought more at my hands or that euer my heart had other desire for that I was so well pleased to see him that me thought there was no greater pleasure in the world And you sir that are the onely cause of my mishap would you be redenged on a deed where you your selfe haue so long time giuen me an example yours being wholy without honour or conscience for you know and I am well assured that shee whom you loue contenteth not her selfe with that which god and reason commandeth And although the lawes of man do attribute so great dishonor vnto women that loue other men besides their husbands yet it is so that the lawe of God doeth not exempt the husband that loueth other women then his wife and if both our offences were put into a paire of ballance it would soone be tried which were heauiest you are a man in yeares wise and of good experience to knowe and vnderstand how to auoid euill I am young and wholy without experience to know the force and power of loue You haue a wife that seeketh loueth esteemeth you more then her owne life and I haue a husband that flieth from me that hateth and despiseth me more then a poore seruant You loue a woman already in yeares and of no great beauty in respect of me and I loue a Gentleman younger fairer and amiabler then you You loue the wife of one of the greatest friends you haue in all the world on the one side offending the Aunte and on the other side the reuerence you beare vnto them both and I loue a Gentleman that is not bound nor linked vnto any but only to the loue he beareth me Now sir I pray you without partiality to iudge which of vs two is most worthy of punishment or to be excused I know not any man of experience but would lay the fault on you seeing that I am young and ignorant despised and contenmed of you loued of the fairest honestest Gentleman in France whom I loue being in despaire neuer to be beloued of you The Gentleman hearing those speeches full of truth and vttered with a countenance so faire togither with so good a spirit that thereby she shewed not any feare to haue deserued punishment found himselfe so surprised with doubt that he could make her no other answere then only that the honor of a man and of a woman make no lesse nor yet all one but that neuerthelesse seeing she sware there was no sin between her friend and her he determinâ—d not to doe her any hurt so that shee neuer vsed it againe and that neither hee nor shee would euer call to minde their griefes and iniuries forepast which she promised to obserue and with that they went to bed as good friends In the morning an old Gentlewoman that was in great feare of her mistris life came vnto her when she arose asking her and said well Madame howe doe you shee answered her laughing why sweete heart there is not a better husband in the world then mine for hee beleeued me vpon mine oath In that maner fiue or six daies passed ouer wherein the Gentleman so narrowly watched his wife that both night and daie she had those that looked to her but he could not watch her so well but that she spake vnto him she loued in a very darke and suspitious place Yet she did it so secretly that neither man nor woman could euer haue known it had it not been for a report that a seruingman gaue foorth that he had sound a Gentleman and a Gentlewoman togither in a stall vnder the chamber of this Lady whereat the Gentleman her husband had so great suspition that he determined to kill the Gentleman and to the same end assembled a great number of his kinsmen and friendes that if they could finde him in any place to kill him but his chiefe kinseman was so great a friend vnto the Gentleman whom hee sought for that in steed of taking him aduertised him what was done against him who on the other side was so well beloued in the court and so well accompanied that he feared not his enemies so that he could not be found but being in a Church went in to the mistris of his loue that neuer had heard of any thing that had past for that before her hee neuer spake vnto her The Gentleman told her of the suspition and hatred her husband bare vnto him and that notwithstanding his innocency he was determined to absent himselfe by some long voyadge to auoide the suspition already begon the princes mistris to his friend was much abasht to heare those speeches and sware that the husband did wrong to suspect so honest a woman as his wife in whom she had neuer found other then vertue and honestie Neuerthelesse because of the authority of her husband and to quench
suspition the princes counselled him to absent himselfe for a certaine time assuring him that she would not beleeue any of her husbands folies or suspitions The Gentleman and the Gentlewoman her wayting mayde were very well content to remaine in the good opinion and fauour of the princes who counselled the Gentleman that before his departure he should speake with her husband which he did finding him in a gallery hard by the Kings chamber where with a bold countenance giuing him his due honour he saide vnto him Sir I haue alwaies had a great desire to doe you seruice and for my labour I vnderstand that the last night you sought to kill mee I beseech you sir remember that you haue more authority power then I haue yet I am a Gentleman as well as you it would grieue me much to loose my life for nothing I beseech you likewise thinke that you haue an honest woman and that if there be any man that will affirme the contrary I will plainely tell him that he lyeth and for my parte I thinke I haue not done any thing wherby you should haue cause to beare mee ill will wherefore if it please you I am your friend if not I am the Kings whereby I haue occasion to content my selfe The Gentleman to whom he spake sayd that truely he had had some suspition of him but that he accounted him so honest a man that he would rather desire his loue then otherwise and bidding him farewell with his hat in hand imbraced him as his great friend You may wel thinke what they said which the night before had had commission for to kill him when they sawe so great shewes of friendship and loue betweene them whereof euery man did speake with that the Gentleman departed but because he was not so wel furnished of money as of beauty his Lady gaue him a iewell worth 3000. crownes which he layed to pawne for 1500. And not long after his departure the maried Gentleman went vnto the chamber of the Princes his wiues mistris desiring her to giue his wife leaue for a time to lie at one of his sisters houses which the princes found very strange desiring him to let her know the cause who tolde her part but not all After the yong married Gentlewoman had taken her leaue of the princes and of all the court without weeping or any signe of griefe went vnto the place where her husband had appointed being in the conduct of a Gentleman that had expresse charge to looke carefully vnto her and especially that as she rode in the way she should not speake vnto him for whom he suspected her She that knew her husbands straight commaundement euery day during their iourney gaue them some alarme mocking both them and their negligent watch and one day among the rest as they went out of their lodging she foūd a frier on horsebacke and she likewise on a gelding enterteined him from noone till night and being about a mile from their lodging she sayd vnto him Father for the good counsels and comforts you haue giuen me this afternoon there are two French crowns which I giue you that are within a paper because I know you dare not touch them praying you that assoone as you depart from me you will gallop in all haste ouer the fieldes And when he was somewhat farre off from the Gentlewoman she spake aloud vnto her seruants saying Doe you thinke your selues good seruants and careful of your charge when he whom ye are expresly commanded not to let speake with me hath beene with me all this afternoone and you neuer sought to hinder him you deserue that your maister which trusteth so much in you should giue you blowes in stead of wages When the Gentleman that had charge of her heard those speeches he was in such a rage that he could not speake a word but spurred his horse and calling two of the men with him did so much that they ouertooke the frier who seeing them come towards him fied as fast as he could but because they were better horst then he they ouertook him and he that knew not wherefore cried them mercy and putting off his hood with more humility to intreat them they knew well it was not he they sought and that their mistresse had mocked them which she did much more at their returne saying vnto them Such men as you ought to haue the keeping of a woman for when you haue letten her speake you know not to whome giuing credit to her words you goe and do iniury to the seruants of God And after all these mocks she atriued at the place where her husband had appointed her to be being by her two sisters in law one of their husbands kept in great subiection Meane time her husband vnderstood that her iewellay at pawne for L500 crownes for the which he was sorry but to saue his wiues credit and to haue it againe he tolde her that she should fetch it and he would pay the 1500. crownes She that cared not for the iewell seeing her friend had the money wrote vnto him how that her husband would constraine her to redeeme the iewell and to the end he should not thinke she did it for want of good will shee sent him a diamond that her mistresse had giuen her which shee loued more then any iewell shee had The Gentleman willingly sent her the marchants obligation and contented himselfe to haue had 1500. crownes and a diamond and to be assured of his friends good will although that as long as her husband liued he had no more meanes to speake vnto her but by letters And after her husbands death because he thought her to be the same she alwayes promised him he vsed all the meanes he could to haue her in mariage But he found that his long absence had gotten her a friend whom she loued better whereat he tooke such griefe that shunning all Gentlewomen he sought aduentures where he obtained as much honour as any yong Gentleman could haue and so ended his dayes The thirteenth Nouell ¶ A Gentlewoman of Millan tried the boldnesse and great courage of her louer for the which after that she loued him perfectly IN the time of the great maister du Chaumont there was a Gentlewoman esteemed one of the honestest women in her time liuing within the Citty of Millan she maryed an Italian Earle whose widdow she was liuing in a house of her husbands brethrē neuer caring or desiring to heare any speech of marying againe behauing hir selfe so wisely and so holily that there was not any French man or Italian within that Dutchie which made not great account of her Vpon a day as her brethren and her mother in lawe made a great feast for the great maister du Chamount this Lady being a widdow was constrayned to be there which in other places shee vsed not and when the French men sawe her they esteemed much her beauty and good grace specially one
shirt he had with a night coife sutable thereto it seemed vnto him in looking on himselfe that not any Lady in the world could finde in her heart to refuse his loue wherefore perswading with himselfe a happy successe he went to bed wherein he lay not long by reson of the great desire hope he had to obtaine a far more honorable successe and hauing sent his seruants forth he rose to shut the doore listening if he could heare any stirring in the princes chamber and being well assured that euery man was at rest meant to bring his long desired trauaile to effect by little and little letting downe the trap which being so well trimmed and lined with cloth made not any noyse which being doone by the same way went into the â—â—inces chamber and to her bed who as then beganne to sleepe not once remembering the promise made vnto her neither yet respecting her high parentage where without reuerence or once asking leaue he lay downe by her who soner felt her selfe between his armes then once perceiued his comming But she being strong vnlosed her selfe and asking what he was began in such sort to strike bite and scratch that for the feare he had she should cry out he was constrained to couer her mouth which neuerthelesse he could not doe so that when she perceiued he spared not all meanes to force her to his wil she spared not againe to keep him from it calling her waiting gentlewoman as loud as possible she could that slept within her chamber an old vertuous lady as any could be found who in her smocke came strait vnto her mistris But when the gentleman perceiued himselfe discouered hee was in so great feare to be knowne vnto the lady that in as great haste as he could he got down by the trap and so with as much desire and hope as before he had to be receiued with much more feare and deepe dispaire he was glad to goe away and taking his glasse in hand hauing a candle vpon the table he beheld his face by her all bloody scratched and bitten whereby the blood ranne downe vpon his shirt in such maner that it appeared more bloody than wrought with gold Wherewith he said O beuty thou now hast wonne thy iust reward for by thy vaine promise I haue enterprised a thing impossible which in lieu of increasing my desire may be a strong redoubling of my griefe being well assured that if she once do perceiue that contrary to my promise I haue enterprised this folie I shal not only leese my honestie but the daily frequentation with her that more than others I vsually haue hade that which my glory beuty good grace hath wel deserued I ought not once to couer but to obtaine her loue I shoulde not so haue ventured to force her chaste and princely body but rather by true seruice humble patience attend the time when loue might be victorious because that without it al the vertues forces of man can naught auaile In which sort he passed the night in tears sighs griefs vnpossible to reherse in the morning perceiuing his face al mangled he fained to be sicke and not able to indure the light til al the company was gone The Lady that had wonne the victorie knowing that not any man in her brothers house durst once attempt so bad an enterprise but onely he that had so boldly opened his loue vnto her perswaded her selfe assuredly it was her hoste and hauing with her Gentlewoman sought round about the chamber to see if they coulde finde him in a great rage she said Assure your selfe this is not doont but onelie by the maister of the house but in the morning I wil so deale with my Lord my brother that with his head hee shall witnesse my chastitie Which his furie the gentlewoman perceiuing said Madam I much reioyce at the great care you haue vnto your honour which to augment you woulde not spare the life of him that by the force of loue hath hazarded himselfe but oftentimes there are such as seeke to increase it to the contrary do diminish it wherefore Madam I beseech you not to disclose the trueth And when the Princesse had tolde her how it happened the Gentlewoman said vnto her Your Ladiship assureth me that he obtained naught of you but blowes and scratches Of that I assure you said she and in such manner that if he found not a good surgeon I think the markes will easily appeere Madam seeing it is so said the Gentlewoman mee thinketh you haue more occasion to praise God than to think on your reuenge for you may well suppose that seeing he had so good courage to enterprise such a thing than the despight he hath receiued in failing thereof you cannot giue him any death that would not be much easier vnto him If you desire to be reuenged on him let loue and shame worke which knowe howe to torment him better than your selfe and doe it for your honour beware Madam I say to fall into the like for that in lieâ— to obtaine the greatest plesure that he could deuise he hath receiued the most extreme displesure that any gentleman can haue And you madam thinking to increase your honor may thereby diminish it and by making complaint thereof make that known that neuer was knowne before for by him you may be wel assured it neuer shal be reuealed and say my Lorde your brother should do that iustice you require and therby the poore gentleman loose his life yet the common voyce would be that he had his pleasure of you and againe men would not sticke to say It is impossible for a gentleman to enterprise such a thing vnlesse the Lady haue giuen him great occasion You are both yong and faire liuing merrily in companies there is not any man in the Court but seeth wel what fauour you shew to him whome you suspect which will make all men iudge that if he hath enterprised such a thing it was not done without some fault committed on your behalfe And your Honour which hitherto hath made you hold your head aloft shall by that meanes be brought in question wheresoeuer it shal be knowne The Princesse hearing the good reasons alleadged by her gentlewoman knew well she saide the truth and that with good reason shee shoulde bee blamed considering the priuate and good countenance she had alwayes shewen vnto the gentleman asked her what she were best to do who answered her and said madame seeing it pleaseth you to heare councell perceiuing from what affection it proceedeth me thinkes you should be merry at your hart to see that the fairest and honestest gentleman that euer I knew could neither by loue nor force make you dishonest your selfe Wherein madame you ought to thanke God acknowledgeing it not to be doone of your selfe for that many women leading farre more stricter liues then you haue been ouercome and vanquisht by men lesse worthy to be loued
consciences For if you meane to liue as you haue done I had rather separate my selfe then dayly to beholde the destruction of your soule your body and your goods before my face But if you will confesse your fault and purpose now to liue in godly sort obeying him I will forget all former faults as I beseech the Lord to pardon my ingratitude in not louing him as I ought If euer man was abasht and in despaire surely it was this man perceiuing his wife so faire so chaste and honest to haue bene left by him for one that loued him not and which is worse to haue bene so accurst to haue made her do amisse not knowing it and made another partaker of that pleasure that onely was for him whereby he made himselfe to weare the hornes to his perpetuall shame But perceiuing his wife so moued touching the loue he bare vnto the mayde was well aduised not to disclose the wicked touch he had playd with her but asking her forgiuenesse with promise to forgoe his wicked life he gaue her the ring againe which he had taken from the other man whome he besought not to disclose the fact But diuers thinges are spoken secretly that after come to light for not long time after the trueth thereof was knowne and he was called cuckold without disgrace to her The ninth Nouell ¶ The pitifull death of an amorous Gentleman by hauing ouer late receiued comfort from the Gentlewoman whom he loued BEtweene Daulphinois and Prouance there was a Gentleman much richer in vertue beautie and honestie than of worldly goods that extreamely loued a Gentlewoman whose name I wil not now rehearse for her kinred sake that are proceeded of great and rich houses but assure your selues the thing is most true and because hee was not of the like house he durst not discouer his affection for that the extreme loue he bare vnto her was so great and so perfect that he had rather die than to desire any thing that might haue beene to her dishonour and perceiuing himselfe to be of so meane parentage in respect of hers was wholy out of hope to marrie her Wherefore his loue was grounded vpon no other point than onelie to loue her with all his power as perfectly as he could which he so long continued that in the end she hadde some inkling thereof and perceiuing the loue hee bare vnto her so ful of vertue and good speeches she esteemed herselfe most happy to be beloued of one that was so vertuous and gaue him thereupon so good countenaunces that hee which sought no other thing was there with well pleased But malice the enemy of all quietnes could not indure this honest and happy life for that certaine men saide vnto the mother of the gentlewoman that they were much abashed what that gentleman made so much within her house and that it was thought her daughters beautie was the onely cause with whome he was often seene to speake The mother which nothing doubted of the gentlemans honest behauiour whereof she assured herselfe as much as of any of her owne children was very sorie to heare that it was taken in euil part insomuch that in the ende fearing some slaunder by malitious heades might thereby arise desired him for a time not to frequent her house as vsually hee had doone a thing which hee found very hard to be visgested knowing that the honest speches hee had vsed to her daughter deserued no such cause of absence Neuerthelesse to the end he might cease euill speeches he forbare for so long time and at last returned thither againe as he had done before whose absence had not diminished his goodwill But being in the house hee vnderstoode they meant to marry the Gentlewoman with a gentleman who in his opinion was not so rich that hee should doe him such wrong to haue his loue no more thou he himselfe And thereupon beganne to take heart and to employ his friends to speake for him thinking that if the choise were put vnto the gentlewoman she would preferre him before the other neuerthelesse the mother of the gentlewoman and her friends because the other was richer chose him where at the gentleman was so much displeased that knowing his friend lost as much contentment as himselfe by little and litle without other sickenes beganne to consume and in short space was changed and that in such sort that it seemed hee couered the beauty of his face with the maske of death whereunto from hower to hower he still approched yet could he not refraine but sometimes went to speake with her whom he so deerely loued But in the ende when strength failed him be was constrained to keepe his bed whereof he would not once aduertise her whome he loued fearing to procure her cause of griefe and so suffering himselfe to fall into despaire he lost both his eating drinking and his naturall rest in somuch that it was impossible to know him by reason of his leanenes and strange countenance By chance a friend of his aduertised the mother of his loue who being very charitable and on the otherside loued the Gentleman so well as that if all the friends had beene of her and her daughters opinion they had preferd his honest behauiour before all the riches of the other Gentleman but the fathers kindred would not consent thereto Shee with her daughter went to visit him whome she found rather dead then liuing and knowing his death to approch had confessed himselfe and received the holy sacrament thinking presently to die and never to see any man againe but being as it were within two fingers breadth neere to death seeing her that was his life and resurrection felt himselfe so strong that he cast himselfe vpon a bed saying vnto the lady what occasion hath brought you hither Madame to come and visit him that hath his foote already in the graue and of whose death you are the cause what said the Lady may it be possible that he whom we loue so well should receaue his death by our meanes I pray you shewe vs for what cause you vse this speech Madame said he although as much as in me lay I haue dissembled the loue I beare vnto the Gentlewoman your daughter so it is that my friends speaking of her mariage mine together haue spoken more then willingly I would considering the mischiefe that is fallen vpon me to loose the hope not for my particular pleasure but because I know full well shee shall not be so wel vsed nor so well beloved as shee should haue beene with me The good I perceiue shee looseth of the best and most affectionat servant and friend that shee hath in this world procureth me more grief then the losse of this my life which for her only I would preserue but seeing it can serue her to no end in loosing it it is to me great profit The mother and the daughter hearing his discourse sought by all meanes to comfort him The
mother saying vnto him be of good courage and I promise you of my faith that if God send you your health my daughter shall never haue other husband then your selfe and here shee is in presence whom I command to giue her faith vnto you The daughter weeping laboured to do that which her mother promised shee should but he knowing that when he should be whole he should not haue his loue and that the good speech shee vttered vnto him was onely but to prooue if that shee could reviue him Once againe he said vnto her that if those words had beene spoken vnto him three months before he had beene the healthfullest and the happiest Gentleman in France but the reliefe came now so late that it could not be beleeved nor yet hoped and when he sawe they inforced themselues to make him to beleeue it he said vnto them Well seeing I perceiue you promise me that good which never wil come to passe although you desire it should for the weaknes wherein I am I craue of you a thing much lesse then that which hitherto I neuer was so bold for to require with that both of them sware to grant it bidding him freely speake I beseech you then said he that you will giue her into my armes whom you doe promise me shall bee my wife and command her to imbrace and kisse me The daughter that neuer had vsed any such entertainement thought to denie it him but her mother commanded her expressely perceiuing there was no more liuely feeling in him then in a dead man Therewith the daughter by her mothers commandement went to the sicke mans bed and said vnto him my good friend I pray you comfort your selfe The poore languishing Gentleman as well as he could in his extreame weakenes stretched forth his armes nothing but shinne and bones and with all the strength of his body imbraced the cause of that his death and kissing hir with his pale and cold lippes held her as long as possible he could and then saide vnto her the loue I haue borne vnto you hath beene so great and honest that neuer mariage set apart did I desire other fauour at your hands then I haue nowe for want whereof and therewith I will most gladly yeeld my spirit vnto God who is perfect loue and charity and knoweth the greatnes of my loue and my honest desire beseeching him hauing my whole delight betweene mine armes to receiue my spirit in his hands saying so took her again into his armes so vehemently that the weake heart beeing not able to sustaine that force was wholy forsaken of all his liuely spirits for that the ioie made it so to reioice that the soule abandoning hir place departed from the body and although the poore body continued without life and by that meanes coulde no more holde her griefe neuerthelesse the loue which the Gentlewoman had alwaies hidden shewed it selfe so much at that time that the mother and her seruants had much adoe to seperate their bodies But by force pulled the liuing almost dead from the dead whom they caused honourably to be buried but the greatest triumph vsed at his obsequie was the teares sorrowes and cries of the poore Gentlewoman which shewed so much the more after his death as shee dissembled them during his life in a maner satisfying the wrong that shee had done vnto him and since that time as I haue heard what husband soeuer shee had giuen her shee was neuer merry at her heart The tenth Nouell ¶ The incontinencie of a Duke together with his impudencie to attaine his desire with the iust punishment of his euill intent LOng since there was a Duke of Florence that had married the ladie Margaret bastard daughter to the emperour Charles the fift and because as yet she was so yong that hee might not lie with her staying till shee came to yeares he vsed her very kindly for that to spare her he was amorous of certaine Ladies in the cittie which by night he went to visite while his wife slept Among others he loued a very faire wise and honest Gentlewoman sister to a Gentleman of whome the Duke made great account and to whom he gaue so great authoritie in his house that his word was as much feared and obeied as if he had bin the Duke himselfe and there was no secret in his hart that he made not knowne to him in such sort that he might well be termed a second Duke The Duke perceiuing his sister to be so honest that by no meanes hee could declare his loue vnto her after he had sought all meanes he could he went to the Gentleman whome he loued so well and said vnto him If there were anie thing in this world my good friend saide he that I would refuse to do for you I should feare to shew you my desire and much more to intreate you to be assistant vnto me But I beare such loue vnto you as that if I had either wife mother or daughter that might be a meanes to saue your life I would rather imploy them therein than let you die for want of them And I esteeme the loue you beare to me to be no lesse and in such sort that if I my selfe which am your maister do beare you such affection you can not at the least beare lesse to me Wherefore I meane to vtter a secret vnto you the secrecie whereof brings mee in such a case as you now see whereof I neuer hope redresse but onelie by death or by the seruice which in this respect you now may do vnto me The Gentleman hearing his maisters reasons and perceuing his face vnfainedly wet with teares took such pitie on him that he saide vnto him My Lord al the good and honour I haue proceedes from you you may speake to me as to your friend being wel assured that the thing which is in my power is already in your handes With that the Duke beganne to declare vnto him the loue he bare vnto his sister which was so great and strong as that if by his means he could not obtaine the same he was not able to liue long as knowing well that in regard of her neither prayers nor presents would ought preuaile wherefore he desired him that if he loued his life as much as he his he would finde meanes to win him that fauour which without him he neuer hoped for The brother that loued his sister and the honour of his house more then the Dukes pleasure sought by certeine reasons to disswade him beseeching him to imploy him in any other thing rather than that which might be so great a dispight vnto him as to purchase the dishonor of his owne blood saying that his heart and honour could not agree to do him seruice therein The Duke inflamed with an insupportable rage put his finger in his mouth biting his naile and answered him in great fury Well seeing I finde no friendship in you I know what I must
whose name I will not disclose but it suffiseth you to knowe that there was not any Frenchman in Italie worthier then he to be beloued for that hee was adorned with all the beauties and good qualities a Gentleman may haue and although he saw this Lady being a widdow wearing a blacke sipres seperated from the younger Ladies and bearing company with the elder sort as one to whome man or woman coulde neuer procure feare he began to entertaine her taking away his vizard and leauing off to dance that he might sit by her and all that night left not off to speake vnto her and the olde ladies togither wherein he found more pleasure then with all the brauest and youngest Ladies in the court in such maner that when he should recite he thought hee had had the leisure onely to sit downe and although he spake not to this Lady but only of common matters which might be spoken in such company yet she perceiued wel he was desirous to acquaint himselfe with her so that she determined to abstaine as much as possible she might in such maner that he could neuer after finde her at any feast or banket whereupon he enquired what her common exercises were and found that she often vsed to the Church and diuers religious houses where hee made so good watch that she could not go so secretly but hee was there before her and that he stayed in the Church as long as he might haue meanes to see her and that as long as he was ther he beheld her with so great affectioÌ„ that she could not be ignorant of the loue he bare her which to avoid she determined for a time to faine her selfe sick and to heare masse within her house whereat the Gentleman was so grieued as more he could not be for that he had no other meanes to see her but onely as I said before she thinking to haue broken off that custome went vnto the Churches as before she vsed to doe which loue presently made knowen vnto the Gentleman who renewed his first deuotions and fearing least she should finde out some other means of hinderance and that he might not haue the time to let her know his minde one morning as shee thought her selfe well hidden within a little Chappell where she heard masse he went and placed himself at the end of the alter and perceiuing that she had but smal company as the Priest held vp the Corpus Domini he turned vnto her and wiâ—h a vnfiâ— speech and great affection said vnto her Madame I take him whom the Priest holdeth in his hands for my damnation if you onely be not the cause of my death for although you take from me all meanes of speaking to you yet can you not be ignorant of my desire seeing that truth sufficiently declareth it vnto you by my languishing eies and dead countenance The Lady counterfeiting not to know his meaning answered him and sayâ— God ought not to be serued in this maner but Poets doe commonly say that Gods do laugh at the othes and lies of louers wherfore women that loue their honours ought to be neither credulous nor pitifull And saying so she rose and went vnto her lodging if the gentleman was displeased at those wordes they that haue tryed the like wil say yea but he that waÌ„ted no courage desired rather that hard aunswere then to haue failed to declare his mind which for the space of three yeares he helde most constantly and both by letters and other meanes ceased not daily to sollicite her but during three yeares space he could never obtaine other answere but that she fled from him as the wolfe doth from the dogs fearing to be taken not for any hatred she did heare vnto him but for the danger of her honour and reputaâ—â—on which hee perceiued so well that more earnestly then before her followed his suit and after many paines refusals torments and dâ—spaires perceiuing the continuance of his loue this Lady had pitty on him granted him that he had so long and earnestly desired and when they had agreed vpon the meanes the French Gentleman failed not to hassard him selfe to go vnto her house although his life thereby might be in great danger because his kinsemen lodged in the same house He that had no lesse subtilty then beauty behaued himselfe so wisely that he entered into her chamber at the time she had appointed where he founde her alone lying in a rich bed and as he made haste to put off his cloathes to go to bed vnto her he heard a great noise of mens voyces speaking softly and of swords that strake against the wals The Lady with a face halfe dead said vnto him nowe at this time your life and my honour are in the greatest danger that euer they were for there I heare my brethren which seek for you to kill you wherefore I pray you hide you vnder the bed for when they finde you not I shall haue an occasion to be offended with them for that without cause they haue giuen me such alarme The Gentleman that as yet had neuer been afraid sayd vnto her and what are your brethren to make an honest man afrayd if all the race of theÌ„ were heere in presence I am sure they would not stay the fourth blowe that I should giue wherefore lie you still and let me keepe the dore with that he wrapt his cloake about his arme and hauing his sword in hand he went to open the dore to see his enemies weapons whereof he heard the noyse and hauing opened it he saw two maides that had two swordes in each hand wherewith they gaue him that alarme which said vnto him pardon vs sir for we haue commandment from our misteris to doe so but you shall haue no more trouble by our meanes The Gentleman perceiuing them to bee weomen could not doe lesse then wish them at the diuell shutting the dore against them and as soone as he could went to bed vnto the Lady whose feare had not in any thing diminished his loue and forgetting to aske her the causes of her skirmishes had no other thought but to satisfie his desire But perceiuing day to appeare desired her to tell him why he had done him that iniury not onely in prolonging time but also in that last enterprise she laughing answered him saying my determination was neuer to loue which sure my widdowe-hood I had alwaies obserued but your honesty from the time you spake vnto me at the banket made me change opinion and that I began as then to loue you as much as you loued me it is true chst lone which alwaies guided me would not permit that loue should cause me doe the thing wherby mine honour should be ought impaired but as the hinde wounded to death thinketh in changing places to change the euill which she heareth in her body so I went from Church to Church thinking to flie that which I bare within my heart whereof
cannot mooue you to loue me at least the loue of your owne selfe should constraine you thereunto who being so perfect deserue the hearts of all the honest Gentlemen in the world being dispised and forsaken of him for whome you haue disdained all the rest The queene hearing these words was therwith in such a transe that fearing once by countenance to shew hir troubled minde and leaning on the Gentlemans arme went into a Garden adioyning to her chamber where shee walked long before that she could vtter any word but the gentleman perceauing her to be halfe wonne being at the Allies end where no man could discouer what they did shewd her by effect the loue he had so long conceald from her finding themselues to be of one consent they tooke reuenge in that whereof the passion seemed intollerable and there they did agree that as often as he went into the Countrie and the King into the Towne he would not faile to come vnto the Castell to see the Queene and in that maner deceiuing the deceiuers they shuld be foure participants of that pleasure which two alone thought onely to inioye this agreement made the gentleman returned home and the Queene into her Chamber with such contented mindes that all their former griefe was cleane consumed and the feare that each of them might haue of the Kings repaire vnto the gentlwoman was wholy turned to desire which caused the gentleman oftener to go then he had vsed to his country house being but halfe a mile from thence Which the King no sooner knew but he went to see the gentlewoman and the gentlman when night came went likewise to the Queene as lieuetenant to the King so secretly as it neuer could be spied which life continued long notwithstanding the King being no common person could not so well dissemble his loue but that the world perceiued it full well whereby all honest men tooke pitie of the gentlemans estate in that some bad companions refrained not to mocke and scorne him which he perceiued wel where with he was so well content that he esteemed his hornes as much as the king esteemed his crowne Who on a time being with the Gentleman could not refraine seeing a harts head nailed vp in the Gentlemans house to smile before him saying that such a head became the house ful well But the gentleman in courage not inferior to the King wrote ouer the head saying I beare these hornes as euery one may see but some do beare them that beleeue it not And when the king came thither againe and found the same writing there he asked the gentleman the meaning thereof who made him answer if the kings secret be hidden from the heart it is no reason why the harts should be declared to the king but comtent your selfe my Lord said he that all those which beare hornes go not bare head for that they are thought that they vncouer no man and he beareth them lightest that thinketh he hath none The king knew wel by thâ—se words that somwhat was discouered yet neuer suspected the loue between the queene him for that the more the queene contented her selfe with the kings behauior so much the more she seemed discontent whereby long time they liued in that sort on all partes vntill by age they were constrained to leaue The fourth Nouell ¶ The rash enterprise of a Gentleman towards a Princesse of Flaunders with the shame and discredite hee reaped thereby THere dwelt in the country of Flaunders a Ladie of such state as better there could not be a widow of two husbands by whom she had no children whereby during her widowhoode shee continued in her brothers house of whom she was well beloued he being a great Lord and husband to a kings daughter This yong prince was much giuen vnto his pleasure louing hunting pastimes and company of Ladies as youth requireth hauing a wife so troublesome and melancholy that her husbands pleasures were no delight to her at al wherefore the said Lord still desired his sisters presence being a pleasant Gentlewoman and the best companion that might be found yet very wise and of great honestie There was in this great Lordes house a Gentleman whose port beautie and good behauior surpassed al the rest of his companions This gentleman perceiuing his Maisters sister to be a Gentlewoman addicted vnto mirth and alwayes pleasant thought to assay if moouing her with the choice of an honest friend would not offend her which he did but found contrary answere to her outward shew and though her answer was such as became an honest woman and so great a Princesse yet perceiuing him to be so faire and courteous withall she easily forgaue his bold attempt shewing by outward countenance not to be displeased with him in speaking vnto her telling him neuerthelesse that her desire was not that hee shoulde mooue her any more therein which he promised to obserue thereby not to loose the honor and contentment he receiued in darke speaking to her Neuerthelesse in time his affection so much increased that he cleane forgat his former promise not that he sought to hazard it by words as hauing ouermuch and sore against his wil tried her wise deniall but thinking if he could find her in some place conuenient that shee beeing a widow yong lusty and of good complexion would possibly take pitie of them both Which to effect he saide vnto his maister that not far from his house he shuld find good store of game and that if it pleased him to goe thither to hunt three or foure stags in the month of Maie he should not finde so pleasant sport elsewhere Which the Lord as well for the loue hee bare vnto the Gentleman as for the pleasure he vsually took in hunting agreed vnto going vnto his house which he found not onely faire but excellently furnished as any Gentleman 's within that country where he lodged the lorde and his lady in one chamber and in an other chamber right ouer against that he placed her whome hee loued better than himselfe The chamber being so wel hanged with arras both round about and ouer head and so well matted that it was impossible once to perceiue a trap doore vnder her bed that went downe into the chamber where his mother lay beeing an olde Gentlewoman and somewhat lame who by reason of her cough fearing to disease the Princesse that lay in the chamber ouer her chaunged chambers with her sonne and euery night after supper this olde Gentlewoman brought comfets into the Princes chamber whereat the Gentleman was assistant who being welbeloued and secret with her brother was not excluded from her when shee â—â—de her readie or when she went to bed where stil he found occasion to augment his loue in such manner that one night after hee had kept the Princesse waking so long time that she being sleepie caused him to retire he went into his chamber and hauing put on his brauest and best perfumd
then he and you ought now more then euer to abstaine from hearing any discourses of loue bicause many there are which hauing anoyded the first occasion yet in the second could not resist Remember good madame that loue is blind and blindeth men in such sort that where men thinke the way to be most sure there commonly their feet doe soonest slip And me thinketh madam that you ought neither vnto him nor any other make it knowne and though he would remember you thereof yet make you as though you knewe it not thereby to auoide all dangers that ensue the one of vaine glory in respect of the victory you haue had the other in calling thinges to mind that are so pleasant to the flesh that most chaste persons haue much to do to keep themselues from some sparks thereof although they shunne them as much as in them lieth And further Madam to the end he shall not thinke that he hath hazarded a thing which might content or please you I am of this opinion that by little and little you shal withdraw the good countenaunce you haue vsed towardes him to the end he may perceiue how much you dislike of that his follie and how great your goodnes is in contenting your self with the victory that God hath giuen you without requiring further reuenge of him And I beseech God madam said she giue you the grace to continue the honestie hee hath put into your heart and knowing that all goodnesse commeth from him you may loue and serue him better than euer you did before The princesse therewith determined to folow her Gentlewomans counsell and thereupon slept with as quiet and glad a mind as the gentlman to the contrary waked in great dispaire The next day the Lord would ride away and aske for his host who was certified he was so sicke that hee could not indure to see the light or speake to any man whereat the prince was much abashed and woulde haue seene him but knowing he tooke his rest would not disease him so without bidding him farewell departed from his house taking both his wife and his sister with him who vnderstanding the gentlemans excuse that would not see the prince nor yet his company before they went was well assured it was he that so had troubled her not daring to shew the marks she had set vpon his face and although his maister sent often for him yet would he not returne vnto the Court before hee had perfitly healed all his wounds except that onely which loue and despight had made within his heart But when he went vnto the prince and that he found himselfe before his victorious enemy he could not chuse but blush and he that of all others had bin most aduenturous was so astonished that ofttimes in her presence he was abashed whereby she assured her selfe their suspition to be true and by litle and litle estranged herselfe from him not so couertly but he perceiued it well yet durst not be seene therein fearing to haue worse and kept his loue within his heart with the patience of withdrawing it which he had well deserued The fift Nouell ¶ Of a Watermans wife that escaped from two Friers that woulde haue forced her and wrought in such maner that their fact was discouered AT the port of Cullen hard by Nyort there was a woman that both night and day did continualy beare men ouer the water wher it happened two friers to passe ouer in her beat and no other company with them and for because that it is one of the longest passages in Fraunce to the ende they might keepe her from wearinesse they mooued her with loue wherein she answered them as she ought to doe But they not being wearie of the way neither yet by reason of the coldnes of the water any thing aâ—olde nor at the womans deniall once seemed abashed each of them determined to force her and if shee cried out to cast her into the riuer but she being as wise and suttle as they malicious fooles spake vnto them and saide I am not altogether so vncurteous as outwardly I shew but first I would desire you to graunt me two requests which done you shall well perceiue that I haue better wil to obey you than you desire With that the friers swore vnto her by their good S. Frauncis that whatsoeuer shee asked of them shee should bee sure to obtaine so they might haue their desires First then said she I wil haue you sweare and promise me of your faiths neuer to make it knowne to any man but your selues which they willingly yeelded vnto and then she said that they should take their pleasures one after an other for that said she I should be much ashamed that any man should looke vpon me while I did it wherefore saide she cast lottes betweene you who shal first begin They saw her requests so reasonable the yonger frier consented that the elder shuld be first and aproching neere an Iland she said vnto the yonger Pray you here in this Iland till I haue carried your fellowe into an other Iland and if at his returne hee doe like well of me we wil leaue him here and goe to an other place with you Wherewith the yonger Frier leapt into the Island staying the returne of his companion whome the woman brought into another being at the shore making as though she tied the boat sayde vnto him Friend looke what place we were left to go into wherewith the good father stept into the Island to finde conuenient place and he was no sooner on land but she giuing a thrust with her foote against a tree made her boate to giue backe into the riuer leauing the two holy fathers in the Isles to whom she cried as loud as euer she could and sayde Stay there my masters till God sende his holy Angell to comfort you for of mee as this day you get not any thing that may content you The two poore friers perceiuing her deceit kneeled downe vpon the shore desiring her not to discredite them promising her if that shee would cary them to the hauen they woulde not trouble her but she rowing on sayd vnto them I might well be counted a foole hauing escaped your hands to put my selfe into your dangers againe Which done returning to the village she called her husband the officers desiring them to helpe to take two great deuouring wolues from whom by Gods helpe shee had escaped They being well accompanied went thither for that neither great nor little within the village but was desirous to bee partaker of that sport The two poore friers perceiuing so great a company comming to them hid themselues in the Isles like Adam from the presence of God shame setting their sinnes before their eyes and feare of punishment made them so tremble that in a maner they were halfe dead But that kept them not from being taken and led to prison not without great shouting crying of the people
had some busines to do and about midnight entred into the gentlewomans house where he found diuers of the house stirring but yet hee passed and was not knowne and so entred into the gallory and touching the two first doores he found them shut but not the third which he thrust softly from him and being in the chamber he shutte the doore to him and perceiued all the chamber to be hanged with white linnen cloth the floore and the roofe in like sort and a bed of linnen very fine so well wrought with white worke as possible might be and the Gentlewoman alone within the bedde in her smocke and a wastecoate all set with pearles and stones which he perceiued thorow the curtaines not being seene of her for there stood a great candle of white waxe vpon the table that made her chamber seeme as light as day but fearing to be knowen by her he put it out that done he put off his clothes vnto his shirt and layed himselfe downe by her she thinking it had beene the Gentleman that had loued her so long receiued him in as friendly manner as she could but he that knew it was done in the name of another man would not speake a word but thought onely to execute his reuenge which was to bereaue her both of honour and chastitie without giuing her thanks but against his wil and determination the Gentlewoman contented herselfe so well with that reuenge that she thought she had recompensed him well for his paines vntill an houre after midnight that it was time to bid her farewell and then as softly as he could he asked her if she were as well content with him as he with her she thinking it had beene her friend sayde that she was not onely content but marueiled at his great loue that had made him stay an whole houre from speaking vnto her with that he began to laugh saying vnto her Well Gentlewoman will you refuse me another time as til now you haue vsed to doe She that knew him by his speech and laughter for shame was almost desparate and more then a thousand times called him villaine traitour and cousiner thinking to rise out of the bed to finde a knife to kill herselfe seeing she had beene so accursed to lose her honour for a man she loued not and that to be reuenged on her might make it knowen to all the world But he held her in his armes and by good and faire speeches assured her to loue her more then him she◠loued and that he would be secret in such sort that she should neuer heare it Which the poore foole beleeued and vnderstanding his inuention and the paines that he had taken for to win her sware she would loue him better then the other that could not keepe his secrets and sayd that she then knew the contrary of the false report giuen of French men for they were wiser more perceiuant and discreet then the Italians wherefore from thenceforward she would desist from her opinion touching his countreymen to content her minde with him But she desired him very earnestly that for a time he would not be in place or banket where she might come but onely in a maske because she knew full well she should be so ashamed that her countenance would make it knowen to all the world He promised her it should be so and prayed her that when her friend came about two of the clocke that shee would bid him welcome and that after by little and little she might cast him off Whereof she made so great difficultie that but onely for the loue she bare vnto him she would haue granted it Neuerthelesse in bidding him adue he contented her so well that she would willingly haue had him stayd longer After he was vp and made him ready he went out of the chamber and left the doore as he had found it and because it was almost two of the clocke after midnight and that hee feared to meet the Gentleman in the way he stayd at the top of the staires where presently after he saw him passe by and enter into the chamber Which done hee went straight vnto his lodging to rest him of his trauailes in such sort that at nine of the clocke in the morning they found him in his bed When he was rising the Gentleman came in that failed not to shew him his fortune not so good as he hoped it shuld haue bene for sayd he when I entred into the chamber I found her vp and set in her mantle with a fit of an ague vpon her her pulses beating sore her face all in a colour and sweating her disease beginning to come vpon her in such maner that she desired me presently to depart for that fearing some inconuenience she durst not call her women whereby she was so ill at ease that she had more cause to thinke on death then vpon loue and rather to heare speaking of God then of Cupid being very sory for the hazzard wherein I had put my selfe for her seeing she had not the meanes in this world to render mee the like but she hoped to doe it in the world to come Whereat I was so abasht that my fier and ioy were turned into I se and sadnes and so I presently departed and in the morning about breake of day I sent to know how shee did and newes were returned me of a certaine that shee was very sicke and saying so he wept so bitterly that it seemed he would yeeld his spirit with teares Boniuet that had as much desire to laugh as the other to weepe comforted him the best he could saying vnto him that things of long continuance haue alwaies a hard beginning and that loue gaue him a delay to cause him to feele a enioying thereof to bee more pleasant and therewith they departed from each other The Gentlewoman for certaine daies after kept her bedde and recouering her health gaue her first seruant his farewel grounding it vpon the feare she had of death and remorce of conscience and contented her selfe with the lord of Boniuet whereof the amity indured according to the custome as the beauty of the flowers in the field The twelfth Nouell ¶ Of a Gentlewoman in the Kings court that perceiuing her selfe to be disdained of her husband that loued other women shee reuenged her selfe by the like meanes IN the Court of King Francis the first there was a Gentleman whose name I know full well but I wil not name it he was but poore as hauing but 500. frankes yearely rent to liue on but so much esteemed of by the King for the vertues wherewith he was indowed that he maried so rich a wife as that a great Lorde would haue contented himselfe with her and because shee was very young he desired one of the greatest Ladies in the court to keepe her in her house which shee willingly did This Gentleman was so honest and so full of good grace that all the Ladies in the
honestie she found her selfe sodainly caried and borne vnto the last and the saide night became with child by him whom she sought to keepe from getting others with childe The same was no sooner committed but the remorce of conscience brought her into into so great torment that the repentance neuer left her during her whole life which at the first was so sharp that she rose out of the bed from her sonne that knew no other but it had bin the maid and went into a closet where calling her good determination vnto mind and the wicked execution thereof she passed al the night in weeping and lamenting all alone but in stead of acknowledging of the impossiblitie of our flesh that without Gods help can not but sinne desiring by her selfe and by her teares to satisfie hir fault past and by hir wisedome to auoyde the euill to come she laide the excuse of her sinne vpon the occasion and vpon the weakenes of flesh and blood whereunto there is no remedy but only by the grace of God she thought to do that whereby in time to come she might not fal into the like inconuenience â—nd as though there were but one kinde of sinne to damne men â—he deuised all the meanes she could to auoyde the same Buâ— the roote of pride which externall sinne should heale increase◠〈◊〉 her heart in such maner that by auoyding one mischiefe she fel into diuers others for the next morning as sonne as it was day she sent for her sonnes Schoole maister and â—aid vnto him Now my son beginneth to wax great it is time to send him abroade I haue a kinsman that dwelleth beyond the mountains with Mousis the great maister du Chaumont that will be very glad to haue him in his company wherefore I pray you bring him thither and to th end I be not grieued with his departure let him not come to take his leaue of me And saying so she gaue him money to beare his charges for the voyage and the same morning caused the yong gentleman to depart that was very glad at nothing else than after the inioying the pleasure of his loue to goe vnto the wars The lady continued long time in great melancholy and distresse and had it not bin for the feare of God she had often â—â—shed the end of the vnfortâ—nat fruit she bare within her boâ—â— In the end she fained to be sicke that vnder that vnder thâ—◠〈◊〉 〈◊〉 might couer her imperfection and being reâ—dy to 〈…〉 remembring that there was no man in the world in whome she so much trusted as a bastard brother of hers whom she intertained did him much good she sent for him and shewing him her hard fortune but made him not acquainted that it was by her sonne desired him to help her and to saue her honour which he did and not long before she should lie downe he gaue her counsell to chaunge the aire and to go to his house where she might sooner recouer her health than in her owne She went thither but with small traine and there she found a midwife ready for her that by night not knowing her brought her to bed of a fayre daughter the gentleman deliuered it vnto a nurse and caused it to be nursed for his owne The Lady hauing stayed there a moneth went home vnto her owne house where after that she liued more strictly than euer she did both in fasting and discipline But when her sonne became great perceiuing no warre to be in Italie he sent to desire his mother that hee might come see her shee fearing to fall into the euill from whence she had escaped would not permit him till in th end he was so importunate with her that she had no reason to deny him Neuerthelesse she sent him word that he should neuer come vnto her if he were not married to a wife that he loued wel and that he should not respect her riches so she were honest and it should suffice In the meane time bastard brother perceiuing the daughter whereof he had the charge to waxe great very faire thought to place her in some house farre off where shee should not be knowne and by the mothers counsell gaue her vnto the Queene of Nauarre This daughter named Katharine grew to the age of twelue or thirteene yeres and became so faire honest that the Q. of Nauarre bare her good affection and desired much to mary her richly But by reason she was poore she found her selfe to haue suters great store but none that would bee her husband Vpon a day it happened that the Gentleman that was her vnknowne father returning from the other side of the Alpes went vnto the Queene of Nauarres house where he had no sooner espied the mayd but he became amarous of her and bicause he had licence of his mother to mary one that liked him he tooke no care but onely to haue a wife that pleased his fantasie and knowing her to be such asked her in mariage of the Queen that most willingly consented as knowing the Gentleman to be rich and with his riches both faire and honest The mariage being finished the Gentleman wrot vnto his mother that from thencefoorth she neede not refuse him her house for seeing he brought with him as faire a wife as any could be found the Gentlewoman that enquired with what house he had matched himselfe found hee had maried their owne daughter wherwith she was in such despaire that he presently thought to die perceiuing that the more she sought to hinder her griefe the more she was the means to increase the same Whereupon not knowing what to doe she went vnto the Legate being at Auignion to whom she confessed the greatnes of her sinne asking his counsell what she should doe therein The Legat to satisfie her desire sent for certaine deuines to whom he vttered the matter not naming the persons found by their counsel that the Gentlewoman ought not to make it knowne vnto her children for that for their parts considering their ignorance they had not sinned but that she during her life ought to do penance without making any shew thereof Which done the poore woman returned home where not long after ariued her sonne and her daughter in lawe that loued so wel that neuer husband nor wife loued in better sort for she was both his daughter sister and wife he too her father brother and husband in which great amity they continued long and the poore Gentlewoman in her extreame penance that neuer sawe them merry but shee withdrew her selfe to weepe The sixteenth Nouell ¶ Of a merry conceited Bricke-layer that had a curst queane to his wife and of that which happened IN the towne of Bleare nere Aragon there is a village called S. Mortis the faire where there dwelt a handsome propper fellow as any in Paris where he was borne and for his valour he durst haue trauailed into any Gentlemans buttery where all the barrels had
beene full without either dagger or sword about him For his resolution if he had once gotten vnder a maydes chamber window he would neuer haue started till they had emptied a chamber pot on his head For his courage he durst haue gone into any baudy house and would haue come out againe as honest a man as when he went first in For his credit he might haue runne on the score for sixe pots with any Alewife that kept house within fiue miles where he dwelt For his qualities euery maner of way he had the preheminence amongst all the youths that were in those quarters for at Maytide who was the ringleader for the fetching home of a Maypole but he at Midsummer he was chosen the Summer lord at euery bridall who must dance with the bride but lusty Roger Thus for a pleasant life the Constable of Paris liued not more merrily then he And for his reputation he was almost as much reuerenced as our Churchwardens But as the stoutest stand of ale at last is set on tilt and the fattest goose comes soonest to the spitte so his former fortunes were drawen to the latest date and his prime of pleasures concluded with mishap But oh loue oh cruell loue that was the first fruit to his felicities But who can resist loue if it be once crept into the bottome of a mans belly oh what a rumbling it makes in his guâ—s and how it bethrobs him about the heart And see now the sequele of his mishappe he fortuned to be at a sheepshearing where he met with a pretie wench named Sisly in a fine red peticoate with damaske vpper bodies a white apron before her and vpon her head a broad felt hat with a braue branch of rosemary sticking in her bosome appointed amongst the rest with a paire of sheares to helpe sheare sheep and he hauing brought foorth a lusty yoong ramme would haue laide him in her lappe but she refusing to take him said vnto him Now good friend Roger if you loue me bring me none but polde sheepe for of all things in the world I cannot abide these horned beasts When he heard these milde words that gently spoken and how kindly she pronounced this sentence Good friend Roger if you loue me oh heauens thought he what a sweet charme is this then noting her modestie that she could not abide the sight of an horned beast he began to thinke with himselfe how happy might that man be accounted that could light of such a wife And hauing but a little giuen scope to his owne affections loue that had his tinder boxe ready to strike fire by this time had set his fancy of such a flame that not longer able to endure the heat without a cup of sacke he sayd vnto her Sister your maner of phrase hath wonderfully troubled me for in your first speeches you call me your good friend Roger and then you came in with a doubtfull demand in these words if you do loue me as though I could be your good friend and yet did not loue you but Sisley sith you haue popt me such a doubtfull question if you and I were alone by our selues I would pop you such an answere that you should well finde that I loued you and that hereafter you might leaue out your If and say Roger Asse you loue me With these words pretily casting her head at one side she gaue him such a leering looke that might aswell haue danted him with dispaire as gaue him comfort and hope of grace for the one of her eyes was bleared and seemed as though shee wept the other was a prety pinkeny looking euer as though shee smiled so that in her very countenance at one instance you might easely beholde pleasure and paine pitie and rigour curtesie and crueltie loue and disdaine and then with a sweet voice like one that were asking an almes she sayd Roger if you loue me as you say your loue shall not be lost but men are so crafty now adayes before they are married that they will make a mayde beleeue they loue her till they haue got vp her belly and then they wil not stick to deny their owne children and that makes women when they be once maried to play their husbands such a cast that they shall not know their owne children but if your loue be no such loue Roger you shall not finde me vnkinde when he heard the wisedome of the wench it made his pulces so to beate that he had thought his codpisse point would haue broken a sunder but for an answere he said Sisly your sober speeches so wisely deliuered togither with your sweete countenance so liuely placed hath so preuailed with your good friend Roger that for the better confirmation of my loue receaue here this token as a pledge of my good will and taking then a twopenny piece which hee had in his purse he bowed it and gaue it vnto her the which when she had receiued she said Well Roger now I doe account you as mine owne and at night when my mother is gone to bedde if you will come home we will there talke further of this matter and for your welcome I will bestowe of you a messe of creame Sisly sayd he looke you keepe your promise for I wil be there and because you will be at so much cost with a messe of creame I will bring with me a penny worth of spice cakes and although they had thus referred their further speeches til their next meeting yet during the time that they remained there in place many amarous glances louing countenances there passed still too and fro between them but at night the appointed time being come thither he went and Sisly was at the window watching for his comming who hauing once espied him she opened the dore where she receiued him with such a sweete kisse as if her breath had beene lately perfumed for the purpose whose dainty smell was as savery as if it had beene a red herring that had beene newly rosted her louely lippes pleasant and soft like a locke of wool that was but then come out of the seame basket but should I tell you of al the other loue tricks that passed betwixt him and her that night I might either oppresse your stomacks to thinke of it or otherwise perhaps make you ashamed to heare it But let this suffice before they departed their mariage day was appointed and Sisly in time made her mother acquainted with the matter who nothing misliking of her daughters choyse gaue her her blessing with many other good helps to furnish foorth her bridall day the which when time had drawen to be solemnized that the lusty youths of the parish were gathered togither to go with vs to Church and the young damsels were flocked on a heape to waite on the bride attending her comming foorth the good olde woman her mother who had beene euer chary of the louely chickin her daughter and euen at the
I haue made so perfect proofe that it hath made mine honor to consent vnto my loue but to the end I might be well assured to place my loue and my heart in a perfect honest man I thought to make this proofe which my maides haue now effected assuring you that for feare of life or other respect I had found you fearefull so that you had hidden your selfe vnder my bed I was determined to haue risen and haue gone into another chamber without euer seeing you more but bicause I haue found you faire of good grace and full of vertue and hardines more then was certifyed vnto me and that feare could not ouercome your heart nor in any sort lessen the loue you beare vnto me I am dotermined to content my selfe with you vntill I die being assured that I cannot put my life and honour into a better hand then in his whose like for vertues I neuer found And so as if the mindes of men were not mutable they sware and promised that which was not in their powers that is a perpetuall amity which cannot spring nor yet dwell in mans heart and they knowe it well that haue tried and known how long such opinions doe continue The foureteenth Nouell ¶ A poore simple country man whose wife loued the Curate of the Church suffereth himselfe easily to be deceaued IN the County of Maime in a villadge called Arcelles there was a rich husbandman that in his age had maried a faire young wench that had no children by him but for the losse she had by him till the recompenced her selfe with other men and when gentlemen and other good companions failed she turned to her last reliefe which was the Church and made him companion of her sinne that could obsolue her which was the Curat that oftentimes came to visit his sheepe The husband being old and crasie suspected nothing but because he was rude and churlish his wife plaied her part as secretly as shee could fearing that if her husbaÌ„d should perceiue it he would kill her Vpon a day as he was abroad his wife thinking hee would come so soone againe sent for the Curate to confesse her and as they made good there togither her husband came in vpon the sodaine whereby the Curate had not leisure to go vnto his house but deuised meanes to hide himselfe and by the womans counsell went into a barne and couered the staires head where he went vp with a fanne of corne the husband being in the house she least he should suspect her made him so good cheere to dinner that she spared no drink wherof he tooke so much that togither with the wearines he had by labouring in the fieldes he fell a sleepe sitting in a chaire before the fier The Curate being weary to be so long in the barne hearing no noyse in the chamber went vnto the stairs thrusting out his necke as farre as he could to looke down perceiued the good man to be a sleepe and looking earnestly vpon him leand so hardly vpon the fanne that both fanne and he fell vnto the ground hard by the old man that slept where with he waked the Curate that arose vp sooner then the man could open his eies said vnto him there is your fanne and I thanke you wherewith he went his way and the poore man being abasht asked what it was she answered him it is your fanne that the Curate borrowed and nowe hath brought it home he grumbling said doe men vse to bring home things they borrowe in such rude maner I thought the house would haue fallen downe by which meanes the Curate saued himselfe to the poore mans cost that found fault with nothing but that he brought his fanne so rudely home The fifteenth Nouell ¶ The strange fragilitie of man that to couer his horrour falleth from euil to worse IN the time of king Lewes the twelfth one of the house of Ambois nephew to the legate of France named George being legate in Auigneon had in the country of Languedoc a Lady whose name I wil not rehearse for her kinreds sake that had better than foure thousand crownes yearely reuenue she being very yong was a widow and had but one child being a sonne and for griefe she had for the losse of her husband as also for the loue of her sonne determined not to marry againe And to auoyde all occasions would not vse the company of any other than religious persons thinking that sinne causeth temptations whereby the yong widow gaue her selfe only to diuine seruice wholy forsaking worldly company in such manner that she made conscience to goe to any wedding or to heare the Organs play within the church When her sonne was seuen yeares olde shee chose a man of zealous life to be his schoolemaister by whose good meanes he might be brought vp in godlinesse When hir sonne entred into his fifteenth yeare Nature which of it selfe is a secret Schoolemaister finding him too delicately nourished and full of idlenesse taught him an other lesson than his maister vsed to do for that he beganne to beholde and respect thinges that seemed faire and among the rest a gentlewoman that lodged in his mothers chamber wherof no man euer doubted for that they no more respected him than a yong infant no other thing being spoken of in the whole house but godlinesse This yong gentleman began secretly to seek vnto the maid that told it to her mistris who loued and esteemed her sonne so much that she suspected the maide to tell it her onely to make her hate him but she was so importunate with her mistris that shee said vnto her I wil know if it be true and assure your selfe I wil correct him if I finde it to be so but if you tell mee an vntruth I wil make you feele the price thereof And to finde the trueth she willed her to appoint her sonne to come about midnight to lie with her in a bed neere vnto the doore of the chamber where the maid lay The maid obeyed her mistris and when night came the Gentlewoman laide her selfe in hir maides bed determining if it were true to correct her sonne so well that neuer after he should desire to lie with maide againe And in that thought and displeasure her sonne came to bed vnto her She although she saw him lie downe would not yet beleeue he would commit any dishonest art but stayed to speake with him vntil she perceiued some signes of bad desire but not being persuaded with so small a signe that he would proceed further was so long paâ—ient and so fraile of nature that she conuerted her choller into a most abhominable pleasure forgetting the name of mother and euen as water that by force is holden in when it issueth foorth meketh more noyse than that which runneth his ordinary course so this poore lady turned her glory into the restraint she gaue vnto her body And when she proceeded to decline from the first degree of