my wished will the blame doth bide in mee For feare Loues mortall foe which caused me to hyde My secrete sorrowes long sustainde from thee in whome doth byde The cure of all my care hath made me faile to finde The thing that most might ioy my harte and ease my troubled minde But now all feare expulst Loue hope and hote desyre Hath forced me in lew of paine to craue deserued hyre Which gwerdon either graunt else shalt then shortly see That life will leaue my leathsome corpes and all by meanes of thee Which loth I am should chaunce least to thy great reproch It blazed be that thou art she that set my bale abroche Take pitty on my payne peruse my dolefull vearse Let trickling teares and secret sighes into thy intrailes pearce Oh rue my rufull state my youthfull yeares respect And let the tormentes I sustaine enforce thee to reiect All retchlesse rigour take imbrace loue like and neuer leaue The wight that will in spight of spight to thee for euer cleaue Who heare in lew of loue doth vow himselfe to thee Thy slaue thy seruaunt and thy friend till dying day to be Finis Certaine verses written in commendation of the Rose AS sundry sortes of men in world there be So sundry mindes in them also remayne And in one point they sieldome do agree That one thinkes good another thinketh vayne That one desyres another doth disdayne And I that doe in Flowers great pleasure take Desyre the Rose my nosegay sweete to make The vallyaunt man doth most delight in warre The coward craues to liue at home in peace Thastronomer to view eche twinkling starres The couetous carle his substaunce to increase The prisoner pore doth couet most release But I that doe in Flowers great pleasure take Desyre the Rose my nosegay sweete to make The husbaudman full barnes desyre to haue The Faulkener doth in Faulcon most delight The Hunter be good houndes doth chiefely craue The mighty man reioiceth in his might The amorous Daine to shew her hewry bright But I that doe in Flowers great pleasure take Desyre the Rose my Nosegay sweete to make The pretty collour I commend Though in the same no sweetenesse restes at all From Basill doth a sauour sweete assend yet doth the same the sences sore appall The appetite is marred much withall Therefore doe I in Flowers that pleasure take Desyre the Rose my Nosegay sweete to make Distild it makes a water wondrous sweete Of vertue great and good for many thinges The oyle thereof full many thinke more meete Because much case in them it often bringes The Flower is worne of Ladyes Lordes and Kinges And I that doe in Flowers great pleasure take Desyre the Rose my Nosegay sweete to make From point to point to praise this pleasaunt Flower And yeeld it that it doth deserue by right For learnings lacke it lyes not in my power Therefore to them that better can indighte I leaue the same to put in perfect plight But still I will in Flowers that pleasure take Desyre the Rose my nosegay sweete to make Finis The Louer after long absence hauing onewed his loue by beholding the bewty of his beloued mistresse sueth vnto her for grace for the appeasing of his passyons VVHether it were by my good of euil aduenture that of late I beheld ye I know not but surely at the same time I did so contemplate the rare bewtye and other excellent Ornamentes of nature Where with you are most plentifully inriched as euer since I haue 〈◊〉 in my selfe so cruell and continuall a Combate as I feare me withoute your speciall grace and fauour for furtheraunce of my seruent desyre I shall not be able long to continue loue on the one syde assayleth me Reason on the other syde inuadeth me Hope pricketh me forward and feare pulleth mee back from attempting that whiche maye eyther reaue my lyfe or restore my libertye according to the good or euill successe that it hath But loue at the last vanquishing reason and hope abandoning feare the rather by meanes of the good intertemment friendly fauiiliarity and vndeserued curtesy which I haue hither to found in you I am the more imboldned by these few lynes to make you priuy to y passions which I continually suffer for your sake thereby to case my mind of the greefes that grow by concealing it and to purchase remedy for the greeuons mallady that putteth me to suche importable paine which being only in you to graunte I hope you will not be so cruell harted as to denaye it mee For as my loue towardes you farre excelleth all others and as my faithfull seruice and true intent deserueth better recompence then a rashe and rigorous refusall So am I fully perswaded to fynd your pittifull hart ready to rue my calamities and with the balme of your beneuolence faluing the sore that so afflicieth mee render mee a recomdence worthe my deseruing wherein referring my selfe wholy to your clemency I leaue to trouble you any further for this time Of a Souldyer who for couirousnesse of a little money lost his owne lyfe WHen Prenest had bine long besiegne by enemyes strength With hunger and thyrst they were full sore opprest at length That many a one for lack of foode was forst to dye Amongst which sort there then was one did lykewise lye As did the rest in extreame payne vntillhe caught A little Mouse which one of him for money bought A hundred pence he more esteemde then lyfe to saue Although long time the vse thereof he might not haue So conitons was this mysers mynde of worldly muck That when he might haue saude his lyfe such was his luck For loue of money he lost the same but was not he Requited with a iust rewarde as he should be Finis The complaint of one Sidaspo who was imflamed with loue through the bewty of his seruaunt Aletha OLâ—thsome lyfe oh 〈…〉 ning fate Oh Fortune most vnkinde Oh death come pierce my painefull brest to ease my troubled minde Oh loue nay lust oh foude desyre oh cursed blinded boye What meanst thou thus to worke my wâ— and breede my great annoy I burne alas continually in such ercessiue heate That nothing may therewith compare it semes to me so great More hote it is a thousand times then Lothsome Limbo lake Or Aetna hill whose flashing flames no thing hath power to slake And yet some time more cold then yee I am pore wretch againe Then by and by aboundantly the raging herte doth raine Whereas I was a mayster late and had ech thing at will Now must I serue as seruill slaue to please my seruaunt still What remedy it boteth not for me at all to striue Against the mighty power of loue or any man aliue The Prince for all his Princely power cannot his force withstand The valyauntest wight that euer liude durst not hold vp his hand Against Cupido for to striue or combat for to make The wisest can not shun
purchase at her handes That others lack whose faithfull hartes were scortcht with Cupids brands Then let him loue that list for I will leaue the lure Of those lewde Dames whose diuelish driftes such cursed cares procure Finis Damion wrighteth to his friend Sulippo exhorting him to seeke preferment whilst the time serueth SUrelye my Sulippo when I remember the poore estate wherin thou presently standest and cōpare it with the misery of this our age I cannot but greatlye maruaile to see thy slacknesse in seeking preferment cōsidering how hard a time it is to attain to any thing or to kepe y which wee haue with quietnesse euerye one beeing readye to pull the meate out of an other mans mouth that happy is he who hath any thing to stay vnto for if he want he shall finde few friendes in his necessity that will pittie his pouertie or set to their handes to helpe him be his neede neuer so great and therefore in my poore opinion it is good as they say to hold open the poke whilst the pigge is profered and taking the time whilst it serueth to stryke whilst the yron is hote and not with Esopes Dogge leauing the fleshe for the shadow forgoe a thing certayne for a hope vncertaine least repentaunce follow when it is to late for better it is to haue one byrde in hande then two in the Bushe seeing that often times whilste the Gratie growes the steede starues for hee that hopeth after deade mén shoes many times goeth barefoote many things happen betweene the cuppe and the lippe and therefore diuerse meanes there may be hereafter to hinder that which may now without any great difficultie be atchieued seeing there is nothing but onely the wante of mayster Moliscus good will to preuent your purpose which by good perswation and earnest intreaty may possibly be obteined the rather or that he seeth mayster Glomerok so desyrous to doe you good I pray you therefore finde some good time so soone as conueniently you can to talke with him about it for as it greeueth me to see the life that now you leade without either profite or pleasure so am I very desyrous to haue you prouide in Sommer against the extremity of the winter and seeke somewhat in your youth to maynetain you in your age to the end that you may be a comfort and not a corsie to the hartes of such your poore friendes as wish you well who will not fayle to do their vtturmost indeuour to further your preferment in all they may Thus praying you to remember what I haue written vnto you and to put it in practise so soone as you maye I bid you safe well Finis Varinus hauing found in the night time that which plesed his fancy he commendeth it much and craueth to be accepted for her seruant whom he intyrely loued THough many much mislike the long and weary winter nights I cannot but commend them still for diuerse dere delightes The night we see brings siluer sleepes sleepe courseth care away Cares being cast from out the mind there harboures happy ioye Where ioye aboundes there helth hath place where happy helth doth bide There life lastes long this proofe shewes plaine and may not be denyde Lo this the happy night procures which wrought my wished will Therefore I must before the day preferre and praise it still But some perhaps will maruaile much my fond effect to heare Let them not spare none knowes the cause why I so straunge appeare In this my vnacquainted verce such darke conceites to write Nor neuer shall but onely I and she whose bewty bright Did in the darke beth bleare mine eyes and lend me perfect light She she it is that knowes full well from whence my Muse proceedes Yea she it is that both my blisse and hale together breedes Her presence doth procure my rest her absence workes my woe Her chearefull lokes doe cheare my hart her sorrow makes to flow Whole floodes of teares from out mine eyes and killes my hart with care Whose comly grace and courtious deedes doe make her seeme as rare As in the world the Phenix is and blessed would I count My selfe and say that in good luck all others I surmount Might I but once such grace obtaine at her sweete handes to be Accepted as a seruaunt still no more is craude of me Which if I might atchieue no doubt I would my selfe apply To please her so in eche respect as she should truely trie And so confesse she neuer found so fyrme a friend before Or seruaunt of such secresy that did esteeme her more What so she could commaund or will by day or else by night On sea or Land I would fulfill though death appeard in sight Or all the greefes that griefly ghostes in Limbo lake sustaine Should me assayle with furious moode to make me to refraine Yet should it not withdraw my minde from doing her desyre Hap good or ill what so beside I would thereto aspyre And wages none at all Ieraue but leaue it to her will. According to her curtesy her fancy to fulfill But when she hath made profe of me as she shall best deuise And sees my seruice what it is if she in any wise Mislike thereof let her withdraw From me her fauour quight And vse what kinde of way she will. to worke me more despight For as my health on her dependes So if I want her grace I loth my lyfe and wish for death to reaue my rufull race Finis A pore yong man being in loue with a ritch Gentlewoman fynding it somewhat difficult to obtaine any fauoure at her handes sought to suppresse his fond affection but could not wherfore he wrighteth vnto her in effecte as followeth THere is nothing in the vniuersall worlde that maye more aptly be compared to the hatefull Hidra then the painefull passions of lawlesse loue for the Hidra being assayled by Hercules alwayes when he cutte of one of his heades there sprang two in the place of it so loue the more it is suppressed the more it increaseth and groweth still the greater as is plainly proued by me though to my payne I reporte it for considering on howe high a place my minde was setled wherevnto to attaine without great pertill I found it almost impossible I sought by reason to remooue it if I might but loue so abounded that reason bare no sway and therefore being ordeyned as it were by destiny to lyue and dye your loyall louer and poore faythful Seruaunte howesoeuer it shall please you to dispose of mee yea though I neuer gaine any grace at all at your handes yet must I perforce still perceuer in the same what soeuer betyde me desyring rather to dye to confyrme my constancye then lyue and lacke your friendlye Fauoure whereby I am onely sustayned knowing that when my vnhappye death shall happen to come to youre hearing it will moue such remorce in youre harte considering that the cause proceeded from your selfe as you
ought beside be done that you like ill And that the same in euill part you take Goe seeke your mendes you may whereas you will I reke you naught this aunswere doe I make And though before offence were none committed yet this your writing fond would it procure which hath full well with your demeanour fitted Being rude and imprudent and ill to indure No more I neede at this time here to say For well you may by this my mind perceiue yet of one thing I warne you by the way That with vaine hope your selfe you not deceiue And so to conclude I bid you adue wishing you aduisedly my letters to view A yong man enamoured of a very fayre Gentlewoman declareth the dollorous passions that he suffereth for her sake and craueth mercy at her handes THe more I looke vppon her louely face whose like before dame nature neuer framde The more I like and long to liue in grace Of her that may Pandora well be namde whose deedes as due the highest place haue claimde A Phenic rale she may be tearmed right That so surmountes each other earthly wight Of Silke and Siluer seemes her heare to be Her teeth of pearle her eyes of Christall cleare Her lippes of Ruby wrought in each degree She doth excell and vaunteth voide of peere Her like did neuer liue that I could heare who would not then accompt himself in blis That might inioy so rare a iem as this Sir Aleran as may by bookes appeare A sily Sacon sought her loue to gaine That was the Emperour Othos Daughter deare And did in fine his wished will obtaine She graunted grace to quite his carefull paine And fearing nought her father 's furious yre Did yield her hart all whole at his desyre And Acharisto he but basely borne Besought the loue of fayre Euphimia who seemed nought his courtesy to scorn Though she were Queene of riche corinthia Yong Iason eke obtained Medea who though she knew not him nor his estate Forsooke her friendes to be his matched mate A million more I might alledge of those That did by seeking soone obtayne their will And when they were bewrapt in wretched woes Had speedy helpe to shield themselues from ill which otherwise their youthfull dayes would spill yea some we see from seruill state aduaunst By worthy dames whose grace to gaine they chaunst Then speake and speede be still and want thy hyre For many a time and oft I haue hard say And sometime proude that he that would aspire To that which will doth wish the wisest way Is to expulse dispayre which makes men stray Farre from the path of perfect peace and rest Sith Fortune still doth helpe the bouldest best For can the Leach recure his pacientes paine Before he see from whence his greefe doth grow Or can the Lawyer pleade a matter plaine Unles to him his case the client show Then should this dainty dame on me bestow Her loyall loue before she trye my truth The meetest meane to moue her mind to ruth Then welcome hope and foolish feare farewell Farewell all care and welcome pleasaunt ioy That guilefull gest no more with me shall dwell That would my helth and happy hap destroy What should I doubt sith she is nothing coy Her gentle hart can not his hurt procure That for her sake would any death indure On her my health on her my happy dayes Doe whole depend on her my myrth or mone My welth or wo my paine or pleasure stayes My lyfe and death doth rest in her alone By her I must alas or else by none Receaue releefe and hope to haue redresse Of all the paines that doe my mind oppresse And as her bewty brane bindes me to loue So doth her courtious countinaunce comfort yielde And as the paine I feele my mind doth moue So hope perswades that grace shall gaine the field But hap what may both loue and paine that builde Their bower in brest my sorrowes so renue That forst I am for grace to seeke and sue Behold therefore deare dame thy seruaunt heare Lies prostrate at thy feete to pleade for grace Oh rue my state let pittie plaine appeare For thou alas haste brought me in such case As if I find not fauour in thy face Like one that loathes his lyfe I wish my graue To quench the cares which doe my health depraue The bale I bide I would right happy count And thinke my selfe in Paradice to be Yea in good hap all others to surmount might it but please you once to deeme of me As I deserue and graciously agree To take me for your seruaunt slaue or swayne Whose mind to please I would refuse no payne Few wordes will serue a righteous cause to pleade If Iudge be iust by whome it must be tryde How said I what shall I her dealing dread No no I know she will not shrinke aside From reasons rule at any time or tide But render me my due deserued hyre Which is the somme of all my whole desyre Who serues deserues his recompence to haue Who truely loues ought to be loude againe Whose greefes are great must needes a medicine craue Or else permit himselfe to pine in paine Let me deare dame my guerdon then obtaine And doe not now in lew of lasting loue with deepe disdaine my rash attempt reproue Finis Certaine Verses written in commendation of the Nut cornell AS late for my delight when dumpes opprest my minde I walkte abrode the pleasaunt fieldes in hope some helpe to fynde By chaunce I lighted then Upon a huge great wood whereas in rankes right goodly trees of sundry sortes there stoode There were of large and lofty Okes great store in euery place Of Aspe and Elme with byrche and Boxe where euer I did trace There was great store of Holly to of willow asp and ew And all the ground was clad with flowers of sundry sent and hue Amongest the rest of Philberts fayre was plenty euery where And euery thing that hart could wish a man might find it there Then from this Philbert tree I pluct A cluster that were clong Togither fast in seemely sort as on the tree they hung And when I had them in my hand not knowing how to vse them I was at last by reason taught betwirt my teeth to bruse them which hauing done I found therein A Cornell fayre enclosde which for to be of pleasaunt tast I also then supposde And found it so for in my life I neuer tasted thing More pleasaunt then the Cornell was which from that tree did spring The Philbert Cornel is a dish for any Princes meete And they that of the same will tast shall find it wondrous sweete Aboue all other kinds of fruite the philbert in my minde Doth seeme most pleasaunt in the tast as they that proue shall find Such vertue in this cornel is that I haue heard men say Phisitions vse it many times their patientes paines to stay For many thinges this cornel is
are vsde the pleasaunt Poets fayne As how that Phlegias to his treble paine Upon a turning wheele is fixed fast which makes him lothe his lyfe that long doth last How Sisiphus doth rowle the restlesse stone which to the top attaind turnes back againe How silly Titius making mostful mone Unto a Rock fast tyde doth stil sustaine The griping greefes that rauerring byrds constraine who on his entrailes dayly feede their fill And yet he liues to trye these tormentes still How Tantalus amidst the streame that standes Up to the chin is like for drouth to dye And goodly Apples almost in his hand with hunger nipt in extreame payne doth lye How Danaus daughters doe themselues apply with pailes that bottomes want a tubbe to fill That wanteth bottome to which passeth still But all their paiues may not compared be To that which I doe euery hower abyde For all at once assembled are in me There is no torment that I haue not tryde To me the heauens haue happy ha 〈…〉 denyde The Plannets all appointed me by fate to liue and leade my life in lothsome state All day my minde with fancies fond is fraught which greatly wastes my witte and breakes my braine To no effect at all when sleepe hath caughte Some holde of me at night alas my paine Growes greater farre for dreadfull dreauies restraine My quiet rest all myrth is mone to me All pleasure paine I loth the light to see Of all the wightes that euer liude in loue was neueralone whose 〈◊〉 was lyke 〈…〉 my 〈…〉 though grefe thein gript though pain they long 〈◊〉 proue yet did they gaine their wished will in fyne Their Ladies liking did it loue â—iclyne And they inioyde their ioy and hartes delight At wished will their wretched woe to quight Though pastor Paris past the surging Seas And many perrils more for Holl 〈…〉 sake yet he at last his heauy hart to ease Enioyde her loue and reft her from her make which deede the Greelies so gréeuousely did take As Troy therefore they did to ruine bring The fittest fruicte that of such loue doth spring when Peseus had with tedsous foyle distrest The Monstet huge that laboured to deuoke Andromada that 〈◊〉 Rock did rest Fast bound with chaines expecting euery hower For dread ull death he cropt the costly flower which fancy forst him seeke with such annoy And after led his life in lasting ioy And many more such lyke aâ—â—enge Ieoulde who after paine did 〈…〉 hase their desyre I might bring in Nastagio if I would Hippomanes that fryde in Cupids fyre And Pelops to if cause did so requyre But these will serue my faying true to trye That none for loue hath led such lyfe as I. For Ialas of all men most a 〈…〉 Haue spent much time with care and busy cure And when I thought me best my haâ— was worst when safe I seemde then sate I most vnsure Not deadly dole that I did long 〈◊〉 Not trickling teares 〈…〉 could serue To purchase that which I doe well deserue When as I glaunce my glaring eyes on her She bendes ger lookes vpon some other thing When as I would with wordes my sute preferre Then angry she away from me doth fling Saying take heede the Siren now doth sing And when with pen my passyons I depaint She rentes my writ and scornes my pittious plaine If messengers I send with her to treate And pleade my caufe as they can best deuise Their wordes so set her haughty hart in heate who causelesse still doth meso much despise As when she heares me narnde her blood doth rise An when my friendes doe her present with aught She frets and fnmes as one with fury fraught Through places scarcely knowne both day and night through wods through groues marish grounds I rode Through Forrests fennes and furrowes voyde of lighte yea ouer hautye hilles where I abode Full many bitter blastes before I trode The trustlesse where I this Tiger found whose diuelish deedes doth cause my cares abound Then cursed be the hower and eake the days wherein I did to her my iorney frame I would I had bene murdered by the way Before I came to see that cruell Dame who for good will doth yield me bitter blame For then the death had me depriude of all The daungers dyre wherein I dayly fall But all to late to shut the stable dore When so saith the prouer be olde I wisely should haue thought of this before I did attempt her bewty to beholde Who hath my heauy hart so hard in holde As needes I must both loue and serue her still Though she me lothe and seeke my blood to spill you yonglinges all where euer that you be That sibiect are vnto the lawes of loue Take hede in time be wysely warnd by me On whome you looke least lookes that liking moue Ingendring loue make you more paines to proue Then I pore wretch that dayly wish to dye And yet doe liue these tormentes straunge to trye Finis A yong man being in loue wiih a fayre Gentlewoman that was but his equall desyreth to be accepted for her husband THe passyons extreme which for your sake I haue long sustained being now through continuaunce of tyme so wonderfully augmented and increased that being no longer able to collerate the extreme paine thereof I am coacted and perforce constrained in most humble wise to craue grace at your handes which is the onely meane whereby I may be cured of this moste greeuous and in fupportable mallady Refuse not therefore I pray you this my petition which is both honest and reasonable let not my good will be required with disdaine nor my curtesie with crueltie for that were a point voyde of all humanitye and far different from all maydenlike modestie Dido Queene of Carthage loued Aeneas a straunger and a banished man Euphinia Daughter to the King and heyre to the crowne of the Kingdome of Corinth matched herselfe with Acharisto her fathers dondman The Dutchesse of Malsey chose for her husbande her seruaunt Virico And Venus also if we may giue credite to the fixions of Poets who for hee surpassing hewry was cauonized a Goddesse refused noe to be the wife of lame Vulcanus Much lesse neede you then that are mortal and but of a meane progenye in comparison of the worste of all those princely Dames before repeated to thinke scorue of mee that am no Straunger but your owne natiue contreyman no wandring exile but a true and faithfull Subiect continuing in the countrey where I was first borne and fostered neither seruaunt to you nor slaue to any other but vtterly free from the yoke of seruitude and bondage vntil such time as by contemplating the bright beames of your surpassing hewry my poore hart was so captinated that I was constrained to commit my selfe wholy vnto your clemency nor yet so monstrous and mishapen a creature whereby you might haue iuste occasion so mislike of mee but God I giue him thankes for it
may not onely order you as he ought to do but also bring vp his famely vertuously and in the feare of God for so shall God blesse him the better and al his actions shal haue a good prosperous end wheras if he be vicious of a lewd disposition his inferiors following his example wil be the like for such husband such wife such father such childreÌ„ such maisters such seruants so is it commonly seeneâ— so were he neuerso subtle witted or indued with neuer so great abundance one way or other al wold quickly go to wrach come to nothing for as much as the welth of y husband doth chiefely depeÌ„d vpon the good behauiour of his wife in y disposing of his houshold affairs I wold aduise you to be careful in all honest order to conserue increse y which your husband shall get not to spend super fluously vpon such trifles toyes as are but spurs to prouoke pride which is the pathway to perdition whereof the wife being the cheefest member of her husbands body shall be the fyrst that shall feele the smart of it when exchanging her gorgious garments for a pore patched cote her sine dellicate dishes for such scraps as she can get for Gods sake her soft fetherbeds and beds of downe for a Pallet of straw her gorgious buildinges for a silly sheepe cote or such like to be brought to that extremity that she shall rather wish to dye then line in that miserable estate when hauing bene a mistresse of manye seruauntes in her youth she shall her selfe in her olde age be faine to be a slaue and seruaunt to such as sometime she could commaund for it is no doubt a right miserable and wretched state atorment intollerable and a greefe in erplicable after so great plenty to feele such extreame pennry but it is thee meetest reward for them that wil not take heede before hande to repent them afterward when it is to late for when the steede is stolne it is no time to shutte the stable dore and it is most certaine one far from their good are neare to their harme for euery man basteth the fut hog but the leane shall burne before he be basted my meaning is and it is dayly seene that he that hath enough shal haue more he that hath a little shall haue lesse but hee that hath nothing at all of himselfe let him be sure that hee shall get nothing of another wherfore if you couet to be accounted wise and vertuous knowing how great an ennemye shee is to her selfe and into how many daungers she intrudeth herself that is negligent and care to conserue her husbands goods you will rather forbeare thinges necessary then you would be any hinderaunce to your husbands profit yea trauaile al that you can to increse his stock rather then one whit to deminish it wisely waighing that if any thing happen to her husband otherwise then well she is not one of the laste as I sayde before which shall feele the smart of it And thus praying you to print these precepts in your hart for feare to be oâ—eâ— cedious I leaue to trouble you anye more at this time Finis A pore yong mau being vehemently vexed for the loue of a fyre yong Gentlewoman craueth her fauour for the conseruation of his lyfe almost consumed SO rare is your bewtye bountie and grace that as the Adamante draweth yron vnto it so doeth the same draw the mindes of men vnto you and like Cirses charmes transporte them into what likenesse you list What maruaile is it then though manye worthy Gentlemen being bleared with the bright beames thereof be inforced for the appeasemente of their paine to seeke all meanes possible to purchase your gracious good will and fauour But my good mistresse amongst so many that haue made sute vnto you I maruaile you make choyse of none peraduenture it is because you cannot conceiue any constancye or faithful fidelitye to be 〈◊〉 in them if it be so behold I am he that can and will if you please supply that wante in you as you shold wel know if you made profe of me I doubt not but you should find me such a one as in all respectes would sufficiently satisfy your minde yea and so content you as the choyse of me shoulde not once mooue you to chaunge the basenesse of my byrth be any blemishe to your dignitie or your gentle accceptance to my offered curtesye moue you to repente you of so gracious a deede Pardon me I pray you if in this my rude writing I haue committed anye crime or done that which is contrarye to duty and impute the fault onely to loue whose burning flames hauing long tyme boyled in my brest not being able now any longer to concele the same I am thorow vehemency of the paine that thereby oppresseth my pore pensiue hart enforced at the last in hope of redresse to reueale my hidden greefes vnto you being the onely Mistresse of my health life and libertie without whose grace or mine owne great perrill may not possiblye be repressed nor my paines appeased for if they coulde then eyther feare of youre displeasure reason or duty woulde haue deteined me from this my present purpose and presumptious attempt and not haue permitted mee with woe to wade so farre in so daungerous a Sea seing therefore that the passion which oppresseth me is so paynefull the fyre that wasteth me so vehement the cause proceeding from you and the remedy resting only in your hands I thinke you cannot be so cruell harted but that pitty will moue you in the ende to rue the callamitye that youre poore Seruaunt hath for your sake so long sustayned and to hasten the remedy for his releefe that with the dewe of grace issuing from your moste delicate bodye you may speedilye quenche that consuming fyre whiche so continuallye inflameth his harte with desyre to doe suche seemelye seruice as shall be acceptable vnto you who accoumpting all payne but pleasure that hee sustaineth for your sake yeeldeth himselfe wholye vnto your clemencye to render him the finall sentence of lyfe or death which her dayly expecteth Finis How foolish women are in the choyse of their Louers THe Smith whose toyling trade besmeard his face with sweat And made him like a Croyden Knight with working in the heate More lucky was in loue then Hercules the stonte The one inioyde a dainty Dame the other went without Vulcanus had to wife the Lady cheefe of loue Whose passing bewty peerelesse was as Paris plaine did proue But long Alsides serude fayre Iole at her will In womans weede and yet did fayle to finde her fauour still For oft it is the trade of women to ellect Lewde lumpish loutes deuoyde of wit and wiser wightes reiect A Clowne that from the Cart is come in court to serue In whome there is no kinde of cause good liking to deserue Shall catch a gallaunt gyrle and
me what they list so long as I knowe my self cleare of crime and may be assured of your fauour I care not it all the world were bent against me for as you are the first that euer my fancy coulde frame to lyke of so I assure you if my faithfull meaning find not good effecte courtesy which was so greatly commended hoping that at the least you will afoord me a friendly answere though I fayle of that which may better concent me I know ther be many of greater wealth that you maye match withal if you will but I am certaine that if you shoulde seeke thorow out the whole worlde it were not possible for you to fynde one that would so well account of you or be more carefull for your commodity then I would be if it mighte be my good happe to inioy you with whome you might be assured to lead a more quiet and better contented lyfe then with one whose parentes hath left him a large patrimony of euill gotten goods which is commonly as ill spent And therefore if there be in me that may contente you or it your fancy can frame to lyke of mee as I am let mee finde it by your friendly aunswere whiche I wil expect with assured hope to find it in all thinges agreeable to my good desyres that greatly couet to be accoumpted Wholy yours or not to be at all Finis Seigneor Francisco Vergelis for a fayr ambling gelding suffered one Seigneor Richardo Magniffico to talk with his wife who gaue him no aunswere at all but he aunswering for her in such sort as if she her self had spoken it according to the effect of his wordes it came afterwards to passe MAny there are that conceiue so well of themselues as in respect of their owne wisedome and knowledge they thinke all other men to be but fooles and voyd of vnderstanding and yet my oftentimes see 〈◊〉 those fiue headed followes whilst they â—â—deuour by their subtle deuises to deceiue others are in the end most deceiued themselues And therefore many opinyon he is worthy much blame that goeth about by suche indirect meanes to make more narrow 〈◊〉 of other mens wits thru is 〈◊〉 And for more perfect proofe of their folly you shall heare what happened to a Knight of Pistoy vpon the like occasion In the Cittie of Pistoy hard by Florence there was sometime amongst the famely of the Vergelesies a Knight called Fransisco a man very rich wise and well experimented in many matters but there withall beyonde all measure couetous Hee hauing occasion to goe to Millan to be Potentate there was prouided of all thinges fitte for his purpose and agreeable to the honorable estate he was called vnto saue onely of an 〈…〉 ling Selding for himself to ride vpon and could get 〈◊〉 to his contentmence but that he alwayes thoughte the price to great that he should pay for it There was the same time in Pistoy a yong man named Richardo decended of a base pareÌ„tage but yet very riche who for the neatnesse and brauery that he vsed in his apparrell was of euery man coÌ„monly called Magniffico had of long time loued diuerse times courted without any comforte of that he craued the wife of Seigneor Fransisco that was exceeding fayre withall very honest Now it so happened that this Magniffico had the fayrest ambling gelding in all Tuscan which for the bewtye and goodnesse of it he highly esteemed And being manifestlye knowne throughout the cittie that he was enamoured of the sayde Lady there was some that told Seigneor Fransisco that if he woulde request it in gift he might easily obtain it for the loue he bare vnto his wife Seigneor Fransisco burning with auirice sent to seeke Magniffico and requested to buy his Horse to the end hee shoulde offer to giue it him Magniffico hearing this was very well pleased and aunswered Syr if you would giue mee all that euer you 〈…〉 world I would not sell him but yet you may haue him in gifte if you please vpon the condition that before you haue him â—â—uay with your leane in your presence 〈…〉 to your wi 〈…〉 so farre from you that none may 〈◊〉 only she Seigneor Fransisco being led by couetousnes and hoping to delude Magniffico answered that he was very welcontent wheÌ„soeuer he wold and hauing left him in the hall hee wente to his wiues Chamber and cold her howe easilye hee might obtaine the ambling Gelding commaunding her to come and heare what Magniffico would say but not to answere him to any thing that hee shoulde alledge vnto her The Ladye misliked much of this practise but yet being bound to obay her husbandes mind she promised to do it and followed him into the Hall to heare what Magniffico woulde say Who hauing againe confyrmed the couenaunte made with her husband set himselfe downe by her in one of the Corners of the hall farre ynough from any body and began to say in this manner Madame I know your wisedome to be such as I am wel assured you haue long since plainely perceiued how great the loue is that your bewty which passeth without comparison all other that euer I saw hath constrained mee to beare vnto you I leaue to speake of the commendable quallities and rare vertues that remain in you whiche haue power to vanquish the most hawty hart in the whole world wherefore it is not needefull by wordes to declare vnto you that the loue I beare you is farre greater and more feruent then euer man bare to any other woman liuing whereby I am almost brought to that passe that my miserable life is scarcely able to sustaine my poore weakened members and yet dare I be bolde to saye more vnto you that if it be lawfull for men to loue when they are dead as they may doe being aliue I will loue you for euer And therefore you may well assure youre selfe that you haue nothing whatsoeuer it be either deare or good cheape that you may so well esteeme your owne or make so sure accoumpt of as of me and of that I may be and semblably of al that euer I inioy and to the end you may be the more certain of that I say I assure you I should accoumpt it for a singuler fauour that you would vonchsafe to commaund me any thing that I am able any way to performe and may be agreeable to your good liking for whatsoeuer it were though all the world should saye and swere the contrarie I would surely put it in practise Now Madame being so muche youre owne as you heare I am I take boldnesse not without great reason to addresse my prayers to your highnesse on whome onelye and on none other my rest welth and safety wholy dependeth and as your most humble seruaunt I humbly besech you my dearest good the only hope of my loue which nourisheth it selfe in the amourous fyre hoping in you that your good will shall be great and
husband to the end it be not found if she he content that you haue transgressed the Lawe Maister Conrade hearing that hee was the sonne of this Ambassador maruailed greatly and imputing great fault to Fortune confessed that which Phinee had sayde to bee moste truet So he retourned incontinently to his house and sent one with all speede to seeke Maister Emery and to tell him all that was happened mayster Emery that thought his Daughter and her yong sonne were alredye dead was the heauiest man in the world for that which he had done knowing well that if she were not dead all that was amis might now be amended wherfore he sent with all speede to the place where his Daughter remained to the end that if they had not fulfilled his commaundement they should not do it at all he that went thither found the seruant that mayster Emery had sent thither who hauing set the sword and poyson befor his Daughter because shee made no hast to take the one nor the other vsed manye threatnings against her and would haue constrained her to take one of them But when he heard the commaundment of his mayster he let her alone and retourning vnto him tolde him howe the case stoode Mayster Emery very well contented with it wente to the Ambassadour Phinee and weeping excused himselfe so well as he could for that which was happened requyring pardon at his handes and promising him that if Theodore would take her to his wife he was right well content to bestowe her vpon him Phinee willingly excepted of his excuses and aunswered It is my will and intente that my Sunne take youre Daughter and if he will not I am contente the sentence pronounced against him be put in execution Phinee and mayster Emery being agreede they went togither to seeke Theodore at the place where he was yet feareful of deth and ioyfull that hee had founde his father who asked him what he was determined to doe in this matter Theodore hearing that Violenta should be his wyfe if he would his ioy was so great that he thought he leaped out of Hell into Paradice And said he would thinke himselfe right happy to haue it so They sent likewise to Violenta to knowe her intente who hearing that which was hapned to Theodore and what should come to passe where before she was the heauiest Creature liuing onely expecting death after manye doubts in the end giuing confidence to that whiche they tolde her she receiued some comforte and aunswered that if she might obtaine her desyre in this behalfe there coulde not happen a thing that would more content her then to be the wife of Theodore But notwithstanding shee sayd shee woulde doe that which her father had commaunded her if so it pleased him when this matche was thus agreede vppon on all sides mayster Emery made a sumptious feast to the greate contentment of the whole Cittie The yong wife comforting herself and causing her yong chyld to be nourished became shortly after more fresh and fayre then euer shee was And when Phinee retourned againe from Rome she vsed such reuerence towards him as apperteined to her Father and he being very well concent to haue so fayre and honest a Daughter hauing celebrated the Nuptials with great cheare and feasting he receiued her for his Daughter and euer after so accoumpted her and within a fewe dayes after he his sonne his fayre Daughter and his little Nephew tooke shipping and sayled to Laiazze where the two Louers remayned so long as they liued in peace and quietnesse Finis ¶ One named Salard departing from Genes came to Montferat where he transgressed three commaundementes that his Father gaue him by his last will and Testamente and being condemned to dye was deliuered and retourned againe into his owne countrey RIghte happye and blessed is that chylde which with dutifull reuerence sheweth himselfe obedient to his Parentes For in so doing he fulfilleth the commaundement that God hath giuen him and shall therefore liue long vpon the earth hauing good successe in al his affayres where contrariwise the disobedient child is alwayes accoumpted miserable and moste vnhappy for commonly his enterprises haue an euel and wicked end as you may easily perceiue by this fable following In Genes which is a very auncient Cittie and possibly as full of pleasaunt delightes as any other there was dwelling not long since a Gentleman named Renaulde Scaille a man truely no lesse abundant in the giftes of fortune then in the graces of the minde moreouer being so ritch and learned as he was he had a sonne named Salard whome he loued most intyrely Wherefore like a good and louing Father he instructed and taught him not suffering him to want any thing that was profitable or praise worthy for him Now it happened that Renauld being well stricken in yeares fell into a great and greeuous mallady and perceiuing himself to be at the point of deth sent for a Scriuener to make his wil whereby he constituted Salard for his heyre praying him as a good father to obserue three commaundementes which he prescribed vnto him without euer transgressing them The fyrst was that for any loue that he bare to his wyfe he should neuer reueale his secretes vnto her The second was that he should not nourish and bring vp as his childe or take for his heyre one that was not of his owne issue The thyrde was that he should neuer subiect himselfe to anye Lorde that gouerned his countrey after his owne minde This done hauing blessed him hee tourned his heade towardes the Wall and shortlye after yeelded vp the Ghost Now Salard that after his Fathers death remayned sole inheritour of all his goods and possessions perceiuing himselfe to be yong ritch and of a good progenie whereas he should haue wholy applied himselfe to consyder of his fathers commaundementes and the waighty affayres which were falne vnto him by the newe possession of his patrimony he determined to take a wyfe and suche a one and of such a famely as should well content him So well he applied his businesse followed the matter so effectually that ere one whole yeare was fully expired after his fathers decease hee matched himselfe with one Theodore Daughter to one maister Odescale Doria a Gentleman of Genes and one of the chiefe in all the cittie This Gentlewoman being faire and very well fauoured though she were somewhat shrewish was so well beloued of her husband as neither by day nor night he could well abide to be out of her company When they had continued a while togither withoute hauing any issue at all betweene them Salard with his wiues consent was minded to chose some one for his childe Adoptiue contrary to the will and commaundement of his father purposing to bring it vp as his own and according to that his determination presently putting the matter in execution he chose for his chylde adoptiue a yong gyrle named postume that was Daughter to a poore widdowe
ridinges of it he will die for anger and despight and therwith pulling out the dead hawke from vnder his cloke he deliuered it vnto his wife charging her to cause it to be dressed saying that hee would feede vpon it for the Marques sake Theodore hering her husbands words and seing the dead hawke made great mone and turning towardes him began to reproue him for the offence he had committed I maruaile qd shee how you could finde in your hart to commit such a trespas against my Lord Marques that beareth you so great good will he hath alwayes bene ready to pleasure you in anye thing that you would requyre of him appointing you alwais the place next to his owne person Alas husband you haue hereby wrought our vtter ruine It by il hap the Marques haue the least inkeling in the worlde that you haue done this e 〈…〉 l deede what shall become of you surely you shal be in great daunger of death where vnto Salard replyed how should the Marques haue vnderstanding of it There is none but onely you and I that kneweth it wherefore I praye you for the loue that you alwayes haue borne and yet doe beare vnto me that you will not in anye wyse reueale it for if you doe it will be an vtter vndoing to vs both Doubt you not of that sayde she For I had rather dye a thousand deathe then open such a secret when the hawke was drest and redy to be eaten Salard and Theodore seite them down togither at the table but Theodore notwithstanding that he requesting her very earnestly would not eate one morsell of it wherefore perceiuing how small accoumpt she made of his wordes as one throughly angred he gaue her so great a blow on the face with his fist that her cheeke waxed very red withall whiche shee taking moste greeuouslye fell straighte on weéping and complayned greatlye of his hard dealing with her And then rising from the table in a furye mâ—â—bling the Deuils Pater noster threatned him and sayd shee woulde remember that iniury all the dayes of her lyfe and woulde bee sufficiently reuenged both of the time and place The next morning rising before her ordinarye hower without longer lingering shee repayred to the Marques telling him from point to point of the death of his Hawke Which when the Marques hearde being inflamed with fury not attending what Salard coulde says for himselfe presently caused him to be apprehended and without further consideration of the matter condemned him to bee hanged and to lose all his goods which he willed to be deuided in three partes whereof the first should remaine to his wife for accusing him the second to his Daughter and the thyrd to him that would doe the execution vpon him Now Postume that was grown to be a proper and well fauoured wench vnderstanding what sentence was pronounced against her father for that which she was not greatly greeued went presently to her mother and saide vnto her Mother were it not much better that I by doing the execution vpon my father should gaine the third part of his goods then a straunger Then her mother said surely my Daughter this is very well considered of thee and I wold it were so for by that meanes all his goods shall remaine vnto vs two Then went Postume to the Marques and made sute vnto him that she might be suffred to do the erecution vppon her father to the end that as he had ordayded she mighte thereby be the inheritour to the thyrde parte of his goods vnto which her request the Marques willingly accorded Salard hauing now secretly informed his friend Fraunces of the whole matter intreated him that when hee was at the poynt to be led to the place of execution there to be put to Death he would presently repayre to the Marques and intreate him that he might be brought before him and that he would vouchsafe to heare him speake a few words vnto him before he was put to death which Fraunces when time serued perfourmed accordingly In the meane time Salard remayning in Prison with Fetters on his feete expecting euery hower when hee should be led to the place of execution there to suffer a shamefull and villanous death weeping bitterlye sayde vnto himself Now doe I playnly perceiue but all to late that my good aged father with his long experience did councell mee to nothing but that which mighte haue bene for my health and singuler commoditye if I hadde well wayed it He like a wise and graue person gaue me good preceptes and I vnhappy and witles wretch made no accoumpte of them Hee commaunded me for my ease and benefiete to flye from these my domesticall ennemies and I to offer them the occasion whereby they myghte bring mee to this shamefull ende and to make them conceaue great pleasure in the same haue yeelded my self vnto their discretion my father lykewise knowing the nature of Princes to be such that in one hower they will both loue and lothe exhault and pull downe counsayled mee to seperate myselfe from them and I foole that I am to be depriued of my goods honour and life haue moste vnwisely sought after them O Salard Salard how much better had it bene for thee if thou hadst followed thy fathers steppes suffering flatterers and lewde persons to follow the courts of princes and great Lordes Now see I wel to what passe I am like to come by trusting to much to my selfe my wicked wife vngracious chylde and aboue all by to much beleeuing the fained friendship of the vngrateful Marques Now do I certainly know how well hee loued me what might he doe worse vnto meâ—surely nothing for at one instaunt would he take from me my liuing lyfe and honour alas how soone is his great loue conuerted to cruell and bloody hatred I see this prouerbe is not vsed in vain that these great Lords are like vnto wine in a Bottle which is good in the morning nought at night O vnhappy Salard to what pas art thou come where is thy nobillitye where are thy deare parents where is thy great riches where is thy loyaltie thy good inclination and accustomed curtesy O my louing father I am sure if you were aliue againe to beholde me in this place redy to suffer death For noue other offence but onely for infringing your fatherlye precepts through the dede deferue far greter punishment theÌ„ this that is now alotted vnto me you wold not only seke sue to saue me from it but wouldalso hartily pray to God to haue pitty vpon my youthful sollies the offences wher vnto only ignorance hath led me and I for my part as an vnthankfull and disobedient chyld that haue not regarded your graue and gracious commaundements would moste humbly beseech you to pardon me whilst Salarde was thus debating and complayning to himselfe his daughter Postume like a good and wel instructed hangman repayred to the prison where he was and there most arrogantly
presenting her selfe before him she vsed these or such lyke wordes Father for as much as froward fortune hath ordayned that according to the seÌ„tence which my Lord Maques hath pronounced against you you shall this day withoute faile suffer death and that the third part of your goods is alotted vnto them that shall doe the execution vppon you knowing the loue that you beare vnto me I hope you wil not be offended if I take vpon me to discharge that office my selfe for in so doing your goods shall not fall into the handes of straungers but remain stil to those of your own famely wherwith me thinketh you should be well contented Salard that gaue attentiue eare to his daughters wordes aunswered in this manner God blesse thee my daughter thy reasons are very good and please me right well and though before I were vnwilling to dy now would I gladly end my life doe then thy office my daughter and deferre the time no longer Then Postume crauing pardon kissing him toke the halter and put it about his neck exhorting him to take his death patiently Salard seing the sodain alteration of thinges was greatly astonished and issuing out of the prison with his hands bound behind him the halter about his neck accompanied with the bayly al the rest of the officers ministers of iustice he passed with all speede to the place of execution being come thither tourning his back towards the ladder that was set against the Gibbet hee wente leyserlye from steppe to steppe till hee came to the toppe where with a stoute courage and stable countenaunce he behelde the people on euery syde declaring treateablye and with greate deliberation why he was brought thither and then in louing and friendlye mauer crauing pardon for-al his faults and offences committed earnestlye exhorted Chyldren to bée obediente to their Parents and Elders when the people had hard the whole cause of Salards condemnation there was not one in the companye but wepte and greatelye lamented the hard hap of this pore yong man and desyred GOD to giue them the grace to take example by him Whylste these thinges were a doing his friende Frauncis that was not vnmindefull of him tooke his way to the Marques Pallaice and hauing founde fit opportunity in moste humble wise besought him that Salard mighte be broughte to his presence to aunswere for himselfe before he were put to death assuring him that he was not gilty of the crime for which hee had condemned him and there vppon pleadged his lyfe So that at the last with much adoe the Marques caused Salard to be repriued willed he should be brought vnto him with the Haltex about his neck and the hangman with him which was perfourmed accordingly So soone as Salard was come into the Marques presence whose face was yet in flamed with furye he beganne with a bolde courage and stedfast countenaunce not being any thing troubled in his mind to vtter these suche lyke wordes Syr the seruice that I haue done you and the loue that I haue borne vnto you hath not deserued the outrage and shame that you haue done vnto me in condemning mee to dye so shameful villanous a death And although the displeasure that you haue taken against my great follye if it may be termed â—olly hath prouoked you to vse such cruelty towards me contrary to your naturall disposition yet shoulde you not so sodainly condemne me to deth without hearing me aunswere in my owne behalfe for the Hawke for the which you are so much offended thinking that it is dead is yet liuing and in as good case as euer it was And thinke not Syr that I woulde presume to kill or hurt it by any meanes but this that I haue done was to make try all of certaine thinges that I was before warned of as I will manifest vnto you