〈◊〉 or messanger suffreth no paine or blame The greatest Kyng or Emperour of the worlde receiuing 〈◊〉 from a meaner Prince neuer vseth his ambassador with scolding wordes ne yet by villanie or rebuke abuseth his person Is it wisdom then 〈◊〉 you being a present prisoner at the mercy of your kepers in this 〈◊〉 sorte to reuile me with 〈◊〉 talke But 〈◊〉 leaue of your rages and quiet your selfe for this present time for my mistresse maruelleth much why you durst come for all your noble state to giue 〈◊〉 to violate hir good name whiche message shée required me to tell you ouēr and bisides a desire shée hathe to know whether by the science of Spinning you haue gained your foode for you séeme to kicke against the wind beat water in a morter if you think from hēce to go before you haue earned a recompense of the meat which shal be giuen you Wherfore it is your lot paciently to suffer the 〈◊〉 of your fondattempt which I pray you gently to sustaine and think no scorn therof hardely for desperate men hard aduenturers must néedes suffer the daungers thervnto belonging This is the determinate sentence of my mistresse mynde who fourdeth you no better fare than breade and water if you can not shewe some pretie spindle full of yarne for signe of your good will at this present pinche of your distresse The mayden séeing that hée was not disposed to shewe some part of willyng minde to gaine his liuing by that 〈◊〉 science shut the portal dore and went hir way The vnhappie Baron ariued thether in very yll time that nyght had neither bread nor broth and therfore he fared according to theprouerbe He that goth to bed supperlesse lieth in his bed restlesse For during the whole night no sléepe couldfasten his eyes Now as this baron was closed in prison fast so the La die tooke order that secretely with great cher ehis seruants should be interteined and his horsse with swete haye and good prouender well mainteined all his furnitures sumpture horsse and cariages conueyed within the Castle where wanted nothyng for the state of such a personage but onely libertie making the hoste of the Inne beleue where the Lorde harbored before that he was returned into Hungarie But now turne we to the Boeme Knight who knowing that one of the two Hungarian Competitors were departed the Court and ridden into Boeme dyd stil beholde the qualitie of the inchaunted image wherein by the space of thrée or foure dayes in which time the baron made his greatest sute to his Ladie he marked a certaine alteration of coloure in the same but afterwards returned to his natiue forme and seing no greter transformation he was wel assured that the Hungarian Baron was repulsed and imployed his labor in vain Wherof the Boeme Knight was excedingly pleased and contented bicause he was well assured that his wife had kept hir selfe right pure and honest Notwithstandyng his mynde was not well settled ne yet his hearte at rest doubtyng that the Lorde Vladislao which as yet was not departed the Courte would obtaine the thing and acquite the faulte which his companion had committed The imprisoned Baron which all this time had neither 〈◊〉 nor dronken nor in the night coulde sléepe in the mornyng after he had considered hys mysaduenture and well perceyued no remedie for him to go forth except he obeyed the Ladies hest made of necessitie a vertue and applied himselfe to learne to Spynne by force whiche fréedome and honour coulde neuer haue made hym to doe Whervpon hée tooke the distaffe and beganne to spynne And albeit that he neuer spoonne in all hys lyfe before yet 〈◊〉 by Necessitie so well as he could he drewe out his thréede nowe small and then greate and manye times of the meanest sort but very often broade yll fauoured yll closed and worsse twisted all cut of fourme and fashion that sundrie times very heartyly he laughed to him selfe to see his cunning but woulde haue made a cunnyng woman spinner brust into ten thousande laughters if shée hadde 〈◊〉 there Thus all the mornyng he spent in spynnyng and when dinner came his accustomed messanger the mayden repaired vnto hym agayne and openyng the wyndowe demaunded of the Baron how his woorke went forewarde and whether he were disposed to manifest the 〈◊〉 of hys comming into Boeme Hée well beaten in the Schoole of shame vttered vnto the mayde the whole compacte and bargayne made betwéene hym and hys companion and the Boeme Knight hir master afterwards shewed vnto hir hys spindle ful of threde The yong Wench smylyng at his worke sayde By Sainct Marie thys is well done you are worthy of victuall for your hire for nowe I right well perceyue that Hunger forceth the Woulfe oute of hir denne I conne you thancke that lyke a Lorde you can so puissantly gayne youre liuyng Wherefore procéedyng in that whiche you haue begonne I doubt not but shortely you wyll proue suche a woorkeman as my mistresse shall not néede to put out hir 〈◊〉 to spinne to hir great charge and coste for makyng of hir smockes but that the same maye well bée done wythin hir owne house yea although the same doe serue but for Kitchen cloathes for dresser boordes or cleanyng of hir vessell before they 〈◊〉 serued forth And as youre good desertes doe merite thanckes for this your arte nowe well begoonne euen so youre newe tolde tale of commyng hyther requireth no lesse for that you haue disclosed the trouthe When she had sayde these wordes she reached hym some store of meates for hys dynner and badde hym well to fare When she was returned vnto hir Lady shée shewed vnto hir the Spindle full of thréede and told hir therwithall the whole storie of the compact betwene the Knight Vlrico and the two Hungarian Barons Whereof the Ladie sore astoonned for the snares layd to 〈◊〉 hir was notwithstanding well 〈◊〉 for that shée had so well for séene the same but moste of all reioysed that hir husband had so good opinion of hir honest lyfe And before she wold aduertise hym of these euentes she purposed to attend the comming of the Lord Vladislao to whom she meant to do like penance for his carelesse bargaine and dishonest opinion accordingly as he deserued maruelling very much that both the Barons wer so rash presumptuous daungerously not knowing what kinde of woman she was to put their landes and goodes in hazard But consideryng the nature of diuers brainsicke mē which passe not how carelesly they aduenture their gained goodes and inherited landes so they maye 〈◊〉 the praie after which they vainely hunt for the preiudice hurt of other she made no accompt of these attempt s sith honest matrones force not vpon the sutes or vaine consumed time of lighte brained cockscombs that care not what fonde coste or yll imployed houres they waste to anoy the good renoume and honest brutes of women But not to discourse frō point
excéeding faire crown of Gold apt and mete for the 〈◊〉 head Afterwards when he saw time conuenient he 〈◊〉 that in the market place of the Citie a pearche should be erected and 〈◊〉 with tapestrie Arras 〈◊〉 other costly furnitures suche as Princes palaces are 〈◊〉 decked withall Thither with sound of 〈◊〉 he caused the Falcon to be conueyed where the King 〈◊〉 ded one of his noble men to place the Crowne vpon his head for prise of the excellent pray atchieued vppon the Egle. Then he caused the hangman or common executioner of the Citie to take the Crowne from the Faucon and with the trenchant sworde to cut of his head Upon these contrary 〈◊〉 the beholders of this sight were amazed and began diuersly to talke thereof The King which at a window stoode to beholde this fact caused silence to be kepte and so loude opened his Princely voice as he was well hearde speaking these wordes There ought good people none of you all to 〈◊〉 and grudge at the present fact executed vpō the Faucon bicause the same is done vpon good reason and iust cause as by processe of my discourse you shall well perceyue I am persuaded that it is the office and duetie of euery magnanimous prince to know the valor and difference betwene vertue and vice that all vertuous actes 〈◊〉 thie attempts may be honoured and the contrary 〈◊〉 punished otherwise he is not worthy of the name of a King and Prince but of a cruell and traiterous tyrant For as the Prince beareth the title by principalitie and chief so ought his life chiefly to excell other whome he gouerneth and ruleth The bare title and dignitie is not sufficient if his condicions and moderation bée not to that supreme state 〈◊〉 Full well I knew and did consider to be in this dead Faucon a certaine generositie and stoutnesse of minde ioyned with a certaine fierce 〈◊〉 and nimblenesse for which I crowned and rewarded hir with this golden garland bicause of the stoute slaughter which she made vpon that mightie Egle worthie for that 〈◊〉 and prowesse to be honoured after that solemne guise But when I considered how boldly and rashely she assailed and killed the Egle which is 〈◊〉 Quéene and maistresse I thought it a part of iustice that for hir bolde and vncomely act she shoulde suffer the paine due to hir 〈◊〉 For vnlaufull it is for the seruaunte and vnduetifull for the subiecte to imbrue his handes in the bloud of his soueraigne Lord. The Faulcon then hauing slaine hir Quéene and of all other birdes the soueraigne who can with reason blame me for cutting of the Falcons head Doubtlesse none that hath respecte to the quiete state betweene the Prince and subiect This example the 〈◊〉 alleaged against Ariobarzanes when they pronoūced sentence And applying the same to him ordeined that first Ariobarzanes for his Magnanimitie and liberall Curtesie should be crowned with a Laurel Garland for the generositie of his minde and excéeding curtesie but for his great emulation earnest endeuour and continuall 〈◊〉 to contende with his prince and in Liberalitie to shew him selfe superior 〈◊〉 the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 spéech vttered against him his hed ought to be striken of Ariobarzanes being aduertised of this seuere 〈◊〉 he purposed to sustain the 〈◊〉 darte of Fortune as he had endured other bruntes of that enuious inconstant Lady and in suche maner behaued and directed his 〈◊〉 and countenance as no signe of choler or dispaire appeared in him onely pronouncing this sentence with ioyful 〈◊〉 in the presence of many Glad I am that at length there resteth in me so much to be liberal as I employ my life and bloud to declare the same to my soueraigne Lorde which right willingly I meane to do that the world may know that I had rather lose my life than to saint and giue ouer in mine 〈◊〉 liberalitie Then calling a Notarie vnto him he made his will for so it was lawful by the Persian lawes and to his wife and daughters he increased the dowries and to his kinsfolk and frends 〈◊〉 bequethed diuers riche bountifull legacies To the King he 〈◊〉 a great numbre of most precious Jewels To Cyrus the Kings sonne and his by mariage bisides a great masse of money he bequeathed all his armure and 〈◊〉 with all his instrumentes for the warres and his whole stable of horsse Last of all he ordeined that if perhaps his wife shoulde be founde with childe and broughte to bed of a Sonne he should be his vniuersall heire But if a woman childe to haue the like dowrie that his other daughters had The rest of his goods and cattell he gaue indifferently to all iii. equally to bée deuided He prouided also that all his 〈◊〉 according to their degrée should be rewarded The day before he shoulde be put to death according to the custome of Persia his praises and valiant factes as well by Epitaphes fixed vpon 〈◊〉 as by 〈◊〉 were generally sounded 〈◊〉 the Realme in suche wise as eche wight 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 him to be the moste liberall and noble personage that was in all the Countrey and in the borders 〈◊〉 vpon the same And if there had not bene some enuious persones néere the King which studied and practised his ouerthrow all other would haue déemed him vnworthy of death Such is the enuie of the maliciously disposed that rather than they would sée their equals to be in 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 with the Prince than them selues studie and deuise all policie either by flatterie or false 〈◊〉 to bring them in discredite or to practise by false accusation their vtter subuersion by death or vanishement But whiles 〈◊〉 was disposing his things in order his wife and daughters with his friends and 〈◊〉 were affected with great sorow day and night complaining for the heauie 〈◊〉 of that noble Gentleman The eight day 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 for the lawe allowed that space to the condemned for disposition of their things a skaffolde was made by commaundement of the King in the middes of the Market place all couered with blacke 〈◊〉 and an other righte ouer against the same with purple and 〈◊〉 where the King if he 〈◊〉 in the mids of the Judges should sitte and the inditement redde iudgement by the Kings owne mouth declared shoulde be executed or if it pleased him discharge and assoile the condemned And the King vnwilling to be present gaue to one of the 〈◊〉 Judges his full power and authoritie But yet sorrowfull that a Gentleman so noble and valiant his father and 〈◊〉 in lawe should finishe his life with a death so horrible would néedes that morning be presente him selfe at that execution as well to sée the continent and stoute ende of Ariobarzanes as also to take order for his deliuerie 〈◊〉 the time was come Ariobarzanes by the 〈◊〉 and 〈◊〉 was brought vnto the Skaffolde and there apparelled in riche 〈◊〉 the Laurell Crowne was set vpon his head and so continuing for a certaine space the
¶ The life and gestes of the most famous Queene Zenobia with the letters of the Emperour 〈◊〉 to the sayd Queene and hir stoute answere therunto The. xv Nouel ZENOBIA Quéene of Palmyres was a right famous gentlewoman as diuerse historiographers largely do report write Who although she was a gētle quéene yet a christian princesse so worthie of imitation as she was for hir vertues 〈◊〉 facts of 〈◊〉 praise She by hir wisdome stoutnesse subdued all the empire of the Orient resisted the inuincible 〈◊〉 And for that it is méete and requisite to alleage and aduouche reasones by weight wordes by measure I will orderly beginne to recite the historie of that most famous Quéene Wherefore I say that about the. 284. Olimpiade no long time after the death of the vnhappie Emperour Decius Valerian was chosen Emperour by the Senat and as Trebellius Pollio his historian doth describe hée was a well learned prince indued with manifolde vertues that for his speciall praise these wordes be recorded If all the world had bene assembled to chose a good Prince they would not haue chosen any other but good Valerian It is also written of hym that in liberalitie hée was noble in words true in talke warie in promise constant to his frendes familiar and to his enimies seuere and which is more to bée estemed he could not forgette seruice nor yet reuenge wrong It came to passe that in the. 〈◊〉 yeare of his raigne there rose such cruell warres in Asia that forced hée was to goe thither in his 〈◊〉 persō to resist Sapor king of the Persians a very valiant man of warre and fortunate in his enterprises which happinesse of his not long time after the arriuall of Valerian into Asia hée manifested and shewed For being betwene them such hot cruell warres in a skyrmish throughe the greate faulte of the Generall which had the conduct of the armie the Emperour Valerian was taken and brought into the puissance of King Sapor his enimie which curssed tyrant so wiekedly vsed that victorie as hée would by no meanes put the Emperour to raunsome towardes whom hée vsed such crueltie that so ofte and so many 〈◊〉 as hée was disposed to gette vp on horsebacke hée vsed the bodie of olde Valerian to serue him for aduantage setting his féete vppon the throate of that aged gentleman In that miserable office and vnhappie captiuitie serued and dyed the good Emperour Valerian not without the greate 〈◊〉 of 〈◊〉 that knew him and the ruefull compassion of those that fawe him which the Romans considering and that neyther by offre of golde siluer or other meanes they were able to redéeme Valerian they determined to choose for Emperour his 〈◊〉 sonne called Galienus which they did more for respect of the father than for any mynde or corage they knewe 〈◊〉 bée in the sonne Who afterwardes shewed him selfe to bée 〈◊〉 different from the conditions of his father Valerian being in his entreprises a cowarde in his promisses a lyer in correction cruell towardes them that serued him vnthanckfull and which is worse hée gaue hymselfe to his desires and yealded place to sensualitie By meanes wherof in his time the Romaine Empire more than in any other raigne lost most prouinces and 〈◊〉 greatest shame In factes of warre hée was a cowarde and in gouernement of common wealth a verie weake and séeble man Galienus not caring for the state of the Empire became so miserable as the Gouernors of the same gaue ouer their obedience and in the time of his raigne there rose vp thirtie tirantes which vsurped the same Whose names doe followe Cyriades Posthumus that yonger Lollius Victorinus Marius Ingenuus Regillianus Aureolus Macrianus Machianus the yonger Quietus Odenatus Herodes Moenius Ballista Valens Piso Emilianus Staturninus Tetricus 〈◊〉 the yonger Trebelianus 〈◊〉 Timolaus Celsus Titus 〈◊〉 Claudius Aurelius and Quintillus of whom eightene were captens and seruiters vnder the good Emperour Valerian Such delighte had the Romanes in that auncient worlde to haue good Capteins as were able to bée preferred to bée 〈◊〉 Nowe in that tyme the Romanes had for their Captein generall a knight called Odenatus the prince of Palmerines a man truelie of greate vertue and of passing industrie hardinesse in factes of warre This Captain Odenatus maried a woman that descended of the auncient linage of the Ptolomes sometimes kings of 〈◊〉 named Zenobia which if the historians doe not deceiue vs was one of the most famous Women of the worlde She hadde the hearte of Alexander the greate she possessed the riches of Croesus the diligence of Pyrrhus the trauell of Haniball the warie foresight of Marcellus the iustice of Traiane When Zenobia was maried to Odenatus she had by hir other husband a sonne called Herodes by Odenatus she had two other wherof the one was called 〈◊〉 and the other Ptolomeus And when the Emperour Valerian was vanquished and taken Odenatus was not then in the Campe. For as all men thought if he had bene ther they had not receued so great an ouerthrow So sone as good Odenatus was aduertized of that defaict of Valerian in great haste he marched to that Roman Campe that then was in great disorder Which with greate diligence hée reassembled and reduced the same to order and holpen by good Fortune 〈◊〉 dayes after he recouered all that which Valerian had loste making the Persian king to 〈◊〉 by meanes wherof and for that Odenatus had taken charge of the armie hée wanne amonges the Romans great reputation truely not without cause For if in that good time hée had not receiued the 〈◊〉 the name and glorie of the Romans had taken ende in Asia During all this time Galienus liued in his delightes at Millan without care or thought of the common wealth consuming in his wilfull vices the money that was 〈◊〉 for the men of warre Which was the cause that the gouernours of the prouinces and Captens generall seing him to be so vicious and negligent 〈◊〉 the 〈◊〉 and armies which they had in charge Galienus voide of all obedience sauing of the Italians Lombards the first that rose vp against him were Posthumus in Fraunce Lollianus in Spaine Victorinus in Africa Marius in 〈◊〉 Ingenuus in Germanie Regillianus in Denmark Aureolus in Hungarie Macrianus in Mesopotamia Odenatus in Syria Before Odenatus rose against Valerian Macrianus enioyed Mesopotamia the greatest part of Syria wherof Odenatus hauing intelligence hée marched with his power against him and killed him and discomfited all his armie The death of the Tyran Macrian being knowen and that Galienus was so vicious the armies in Asia assembled and chose Odenatus Emperour which election although the Sonate publicklie durst not agrée vpon yet secretlie they allowed it bycause they receiued dailie newes of the great exploites and dedes of armes done by 〈◊〉 and sawe on the other syde the great cōtinued follies of Galienus Almost thrée yeares and a halfe was
was séene in that countrey which afterwards he caused to be furnished with all things necessarie honourably to entertaine eche Gentleman that passed that way and with a greate traine of seruauntes hée welcomed and accepted suche as iourneyed too and fro And in this commēdable custome he perseuered so long as bothe in the East and West parts report was bruted of his renoume and fame and being come to auncient yeres not for all that weary of his liberalitie it chaunced that his fame flewe to the eares of a yong Gentleman called Mithridanes who in a Countrie not farre of from his had his abode and resiance Mithridanes knowing himself to be so rich as Nathan enuious of his vertue and liberalitie purposed by some meanes or other to defame and obscure the same And hauing builded a Palace like to that which Nathan did possesse began to vse curtesies to those which passed too and fro in outragious and disordered sort in such wise as in little time be purchased great fame Now it chaunced vpon a day as Mithridanes was alone in the courte of his Palace a poore woman entring in at one of the gates of the same craued almes and had it and so successiuely euen to the twelfth and thirtenth time also she retourned againe which Mithridanes perceiuing said vnto hir Good wife you come hither very often And yet he denied not hir almes The old woman hearing those words said O how maruellous is the liberalitie of Nathan whose Palace hath 〈◊〉 entries by seuerall gates so greate as this and daily begging almes there neuer made 〈◊〉 as though he knew me and yet the same was neuer denied me and being come hither but 〈◊〉 times I haue bene perceiued and reproued and saying so she went hir way and neuer after came thither againe Mithridanes hearing these wordes to procéede from the olde woman fell into a great rage déeming the fame reported of Nathan to be a duninution of his owne said Ah wretch when shal I be able to attaine the liberalitie of Nathans greatest things And why then goe I about to excell him when in little matters I am not able to come neare him Uerily I labour all in vaine if I my self do not rid him out of this world sithe croked age is not disposed to dispatch him I must therfore do the same with mine own hands And in that fury making no mā priuy to his intent he rode forth with a small traine and in thrée daies arriued where Nathan dwelt and then cōmaunded his men in any wise not to be knowen that they came with him and likewise that they knewe him not but to prouide lodging for themselues vntill suche time as they had further newes from him Mithridanes then being arriued about euening all alone found Nathan walking vp and downe before his faire Palace without other companie then himself who in simple attire and garment went forth to méete him Of whome Mithridanes bicause he knew not Nathan demaunded 〈◊〉 he could tell him where Nathan dwelt Nathan pleasantly made him answere My sonne there is no man in these quarters that can better tell thée than I and therefore if thou please I will bring thée thither Mithridanes said that he should doe him a very great pleasure but he would not if it were possible be séene or knowen of Nathan And that can I very well doe said Nathan nowe that I know your minde Being then lighted of from his horse he went with Nathan who by and by interteined him with diuersitie of talke to his faire Palace And Nathan incontinently caused one of his seruaunts to take Mithridanes horse and saide vnto him in his eare that he should wyth all spéede giue order to his housholde that none should tell the yong man that he was Nathan which accordingly was done But after they were in the Palace Nathan brought Mithridanes into a verye faire chambre that none might sée him excepte suche as he hadde appoyncted to serue hym and causing great honour to be done vnto him he hymselfe kepte him companie As they two were together Mithridanes asked him to whom he vsed conuenable reuerence as to his father what he was whome 〈◊〉 answered I am one of Nathans poore scruants that 〈◊〉 the time of my youth haue bene brought vp with him and neuer aduaunced me to any thing but to that which you sée Wherefore although euery man greately praiseth him yet haue I no cause to commende hym These wordes gaue some hope to Mithridanes by better aduise and suretie to execute his wicked intente And Nathan asked him very 〈◊〉 what hée was and for what businesse he was come thither offering him helpe and counsel in that he was able to do Mithridanes then paused a while before he would make him answere and in the ende purposing to put his trust in him required with great circumstance of words his faith and after that his counsell and ayde Then hée wholly discouered what hée was wherfore he was come and the cause that moued hym Nathan hearyng those woordes and the mischeuous determination of Mithridanes was chaunged and troubled in mynde notwithstandyng without making any countenance of displesure answered him with bold countenance Mithridanes thy father was a Gentleman and of stoute stomacke from whome so farre as I sée thou wilt not degenerate by attempting so great an enterprise as thou hast done I intende to be liberall to eche man and praise greately the enuie whiche thou 〈◊〉 to the vertue of Nathan bycause if there were many suche the worlde whyche is nowe myserable would shortly become prosperous and happie and doe make thée promise that the intent thou goest about shal be kept secreate wherunto I can sooner giue counsell than any great helpe and mine aduise is this 〈◊〉 may sée from the place where 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 be a litle 〈◊〉 about a 〈◊〉 of a mile hence whervnto Nathan in a maner walketh euery morning and tarieth there a long time there you may 〈◊〉 finde him and doe your pleasure And if you kill him you may goe to the intent without daunger you may returne home to your owne house not that way you came but by that you sée on the lefte hand leade out of the woodde which although it be not so common as the other yet is the nearest way home and safest for you to passe When Mithridanes was thus informed and that Nathan departed from him he caused worde secretely to be sent to his men which likewise lodged there in what place they shold waight for him the next day And when the day was come Nathan not altering from the coūsell be gaue to Mithridanes ne chaunging any parte of the same went all alone into a little woodde to receiue his death When Mithridanes was vp and taken his bowe and sweard for he had none other weapons he mounted vpon his horse and rode to the little woodde where a farre of 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Nathan cōming thitherward all alone and determining before he
caused many of hir husbandes friendes and seruaunts to be sent for Afterwardes she made ready a great feast and inuited the noblest chéefest Citizens of the Citie apparelling hir house with clothe of gold and silke tapistrie other furnitures putting in order all that which hir husband had cōmaunded The next day in the morning the Gentlemen rose with whome maister Thorello mounted on horsebacke and carying with him his Hawkes he broughte them to the riuer and shewed them diuers flightes But Saladine demaunding where the best lodging was in Pauie master Thorello sayd I will shew you my selfe for that I haue occasion to goe thither They beléeuing him were contented and rode on their way and being about nine of the clock arriued at the Citie thinking they shold haue bene brought to the best Inne of the towne but master Thorello conueyed them to his owne house where fiftie of the chiefest Citizens ready to receiue them sodenly appeared before them Which Saladine they that were with him perceiuing cōiectured by and by what that did meane and said Master Thorello this is not the request which we demaunded your entertainment yesternight was to sumptuous and more than we desired wherefore giue vs leaue we pray you to departe Whome master Thorello answered My masters for that which ye receiued yesternight I wil giue thanks to Fortune and not to you for I ouertaking you by the way forced you in a maner to make your repaire vnto my homely house but for this morning voyage I haue my selfe prepared and likewise the Gentlemen about you with whome to refuse to dine if you thinke it curtesie doe as ye please 〈◊〉 and his companions vanquished wyth suche perswasion lighted and being receiued by the gentlemen in louing and curteous order were conueyed to their chambers which were richly furnished for them and hauing put of their riding apparell and somwhat refreshed them selues they came into the hall where all things were in redinesse in triumphant sort Then water was brought them to washe and they placed at the Table were serued with many delicate meates in magnificent and royall order in such wise as if the Emperour himselfe had bene there he could not haue bene better entertained And albeit that Saladine and his companiōs were great Lordes accustomed to sée maruellous things yet they wondred very much at this considering the degrée of the Knight whome they knewe to be but a Citizen and no Prince or great Lord. When dinner was done and that they had talked a little togither the weather waring very hot the gentlemen of Pauie as it pleased master Thorello went to take their rest he remained with his thrée guests with whome he went into a chāber where to the entent the nothing which he had loued might be vnsene caused his honest wife to be called forth who being very beautiful wel fauored clothed in rich costly aray accōpanied with hir two yong sonnes which were like to Angels came before them and gratiously saluted them When they saw hir they rose vp reuerently receiued hir then they caused hir to syt downe in the mids of thē sporting dalying with hir two faire sonnes But after she had pleasantly entred in talk she asked thē of whence they were and whither they were going To whom the Gentlemen made the same answere that they had done before to master Thorello Then the gentlewoman sayd vnto them with smiling chéere I perceiue then that mine aduise being a woman is come well to passe And therfore I pray you that of your special grace you wil do me this pleasure as not to refuse or disdain the litle present that I shal bring before you but that you take it in consideration that women according to their little abilitie giue little things and that ye regard more the good affection of the person which offreth the gift then the balue of the giuen thing And causing to be brought before euery of them two faire roabes the one lined with silk the other with Meneuair not in fashion of a citizin or of a marchant but Noblemanlike 〈◊〉 Turkey gownes with sleues of taffata lined with linnē cloth she said vnto thē Take I pray you these roabes with the like wherof this day I apparelled my husband and the other things may also serue your turnes although they be little worth cōsidering the ye be far from your 〈◊〉 the greatnesse of your iorney which you haue taken haue yet to make and also for that marchant men loue to be neat and 〈◊〉 in things appertinent to their bodies The Gentlemen much maruelled and plainly knew that master Thorello was disposed not to sorget any one part of curtesie towards them and doubted by reason of the beautie and richesse of the robes not marchantlike that they should not be knowne of master Thorello notwithstāding one of them answered the Gentlewoman These be Gentlewoman very great gifts and ought not lightly to be accepted if your intreatie did not constrayne vs against which no deniall ought to be made That done whē master Thorello returned into the chamber the Gentlewoman 〈◊〉 them a Dieu and went hir way and then she furnished the seruaunts with diuers other things necessary for them and master Thorello obtained by earnest request that they should 〈◊〉 all that day Wherefore after they had reasted them selues a while they did put on their robes and walked forth on horsebacke into the Citie and when supper tyme was come they were bountifully feasted in honorable companie and whē bed time approched went to rest And so soone as it was day they rose found in stead of their weary hackneyes thrée fat and faire 〈◊〉 and also the like number of fresh and mightie horsses for their seruaunts Which Saladine séeing turned towards his companions and said vnto thē I sweare by God that there was neuer a more liberall Gentleman more courteous or better conditioned than this is And if Christian kings for their part be suche I meane indued with such kingly qualities as this gentleman is the Souldan of Babilon shall haue inough to doe to deale with one and not to attend for all those which we sée to be in preparation for inuasion of his Countrie But séeing that to refuse them or render them again serued to no purpose they thanked him very humbly and got vpō their horsse Master Thorello with many of his friends accompanied them out of the Citie a great péece of the way And albeit that it much grieued Saladine to depart from master Thorello so farre he was already in loue with him yet being constrained to forgo his company he prayed him to returne who although very loth to depart sayd vnto them Syrs I will be gone sith it is your pleasure I shall so doe and yet I say vnto you that I know not what you be ne yet demaūd to know but so farre as pleaseth you But what soeuer ye be you
was the best contented man of the world and durst not hope for greater recompence continuing his woonted life féeding him self still with that beloued sight in suche wise as many gentlemen enuied the fauor borne vnto him by the 〈◊〉 who for none other cause did vse that curtesy but for that she saw him to be a vertuous yong man and wel lerned continually estéemyng those that eyther wyth learnyng or other gyftes of the mynde were indewed and when occasion chaunced shée vouchesafed to bestowe vpon them courteous intertainement and liberall rewardes It fortuned about that time that the Emperor Maximilian died Charles his nephew which was the Emperor Charles the fifthe then being in Spayne by reason of whose death the Lorde Andrea Borgo purposed to 〈◊〉 one of his Gentlemen to kyng Charles for the confirmation of that liuing he enioyed giuen vnto him for his lōg and faithfull seruice by the sayd Maximilian Amongs all he chose this master Philippo for his wisedome and experience in such affaires Whiche done he went to the 〈◊〉 and gaue them to vnderstand that shortely hée would send his Secretarie iuto Spayne and told them the cause humbly praying them both that they would write their fauourable letters in his behalf The 〈◊〉 knowing what paine and trauell he had sustained in the seruice of Maximilian and what daungers hée had passed were very willyng thervnto Now 〈◊〉 Anne 〈◊〉 that she had conuenient time to recompence master Philippo for his long loue born vnto hir And bicause she was the most curteous Lady of the world and ther withall most bountifull and liberall and not only with comely talke and other gesture but also in effecte willing 〈◊〉 do them good whome she honoured in minde concluded what to do requiring the Lorde Andrea to sende his Secretarie vnto hir when he was readie to depart for that besides Letters she would by mouth cōmit certain businesse for hir to do in the Court of Spayne When the Lord Andrea was gone 〈◊〉 Anne began to deuise wyth the other 〈◊〉 what she might do for master Philippo who prayed 〈◊〉 Anne after she had commended him in letters to suffer hir to make the ende and conclusion of the same Wher vpon both the Quéenes wrote many letters into Spayne to king Charles and to the Lord Chācellour and other noble men whome they thought to bée apt and mete ministers to bring the effect of their letters to passe When the Lorde Andrea had put all things in ordre for that dispatch he sayd to master Philippo which was nowe furnished with all things necessarie and appertinent for that long voyage Philippo remembre this day that you go to 〈◊〉 Anne and tell hir that I willed you to come vnto hir to know if she would cōmaund you any seruice to the Catholike Kyng where you shall humbly offer your selfe in what it pleaseth hir to commaunde you shall also tell hir what thyngs I haue gyuen vnto you in charge by speciall commission Neuer coulde more pleasant talke sounde into the eares of Master Philippo than this who for that he should bothe sée and speake vnto his Ladie before his departure and for that she would 〈◊〉 vnto him the doing of hir affaires in Spayne was the gladdest and best contented man of the world The houre come when he thought good to repaire to the 〈◊〉 he went vnto hir gaue hir to vnderstād by one of the priuie Chamber that hée was attendant there to know hir pleasure The 〈◊〉 certified of his readinesse to depart by and by toke order that he should come into hir chābre who entring the same with tremblyng heart after he had done his humble reuerēce with great feare and bashfulnesse sayd Pleaseth your Maiestie that my lorde Borgo being about to addresse me his Secretarie into Spayne to the Catholike King there hath commaunded me to waite vpon your highnesse to know your pleasure for certain affaires to be done for your maiestie Wherfore may it please the same to employe mée youre humble seruaunt I shall thinke my selfe the happiest man of the worlde A thyng so blessed and ioyfull vnto me as no benefite or commoditie can render vnto mée greater felicitie Then he disclosed vnto hir the rest of his message which was cōmitted vnto him by his lord and master The 〈◊〉 beholding him with mery countenance gently sayd vnto him And we for the trust we haue in you to do our message other affaires in Spayne haue required you to come hither And bicause we know you to be a Gentleman and assured that you will gladly do your endeuour in any thing that may do vs pleasure haue chosen you aboue any other Our will and cōmandement is that fyrst you deliuer these letters conteining matters of great importance to the handes of the 〈◊〉 King and that you do our humble commendations to his maiestie Then all the rest accordingly as they be directed which principally aboue other things we praye you to dispatch vpon your arriuall And if we be able to do you any pleasure eyther for your 〈◊〉 or for other commoditie spare not to write vnto vs poure mynde and we do assure you the same shal be effectually accomplished to the 〈◊〉 of our indeuour which we do of our owne motion frankly offre vnto you in cōsideration of the 〈◊〉 worthinesse and 〈◊〉 behauiour always knowen to be in you Master Philippo hering these wordes was replenished with such ioy as he thought himself rapt into the heauens and his heart felt such pleasure as it séemed to flete in some depe sea of delites and after the best maner he coulde thanked hir for hir curtesie and albeit be sayd that he knew hym selfe vnworthie of that fauour yet he dedicated the same to hir commaundement surrendring himself as a slaue and faithfull seruant to hir maiestie Then vpon his knées to his great contentation he kissed hir hāds which of hir self she offred vnto him thē reuerētly he toke his leaue When he was gone out of the chamber he met with the 〈◊〉 coserer that 〈◊〉 for him who taking him aside did put into his hand a purse with 500. crownes the master of the horsse presented vnto him a very goodly and beautifull horsse wherwith master Philippo was so well pleased as he was like to 〈◊〉 out of his skin for ioy Then he toke his iorney arriued at the Courte in Spayne where at 〈◊〉 he deliuered his Letters to King Charles and accomplished other businesse and message prescribed vnto him by 〈◊〉 Anne And when he had dispatched the 〈◊〉 other letters he attended the businesse of his Lorde Andrea Borgo The King perused the contentes of the letters sent vnto him by his sister and kynswoman so did the Lord Chauncelour which at that time was the lord Mercurino Gattinara and other to whom the 〈◊〉 had written whereby the Kyng was solicited to stand good Lord to the Lord Andrea Borgo 〈◊〉 likewise exhorted to be beneficial to
not gone sarre but the Gentleman the 〈◊〉 wyth his Companions vnderstanding that the Duke hunted there aboutes came to doe hym 〈◊〉 and his Fortune was such as hée nor any of his friends perceiued the olde man by meanes wherof the Duke pursued the praie whereof they nothyng doubted For that cause the sayd 〈◊〉 sayd to his Prince My Lord if fortune had so much fauoured me as I myght haue knowen of your commyng into these quarters I would haue done my duetie to entertaine you not as appertayneth to the greatnesse of your excelléncie but according to the abilitie of the least and yet the most obedient of your 〈◊〉 To whome the Duke dissembling his anger sayd Sir I dined héere hard by within my tentes not knowing that your house was so néere vs but sith that I haue met you vpon your 〈◊〉 Marches and 〈◊〉 I will not goe hence before I sée your lodging for so farre as I can iudge by the outwarde parte of this goodly building me thinkes the workeman hath not forgotten any thing that should serue for the setting forthe and ornament of this parte of the house which for the quantitie is one of the fairest plottes that I haue sene So approching the Castel that Duke lighted to view the commodities of the place and specially the image for which alone he was departed from his City wherof the Maister of the house dronke with the sodaine pleasure to sée the Duke there thought nothing So descending into the 〈◊〉 Court they sawe a Marble fountaine that discharged the water in foure greate gutters receyued by foure naked Nymphes and by them poured forth into 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 wrought with 〈◊〉 where was an armed Knight lying vnder an highe and broade trée which ouershadowed the Fountaine And hard by they espied a litle dore which shewed the way into 〈◊〉 singulare and well planted a Garden as euer the delicious and pleasant Gardens were of Alcinoe For in the same bysides the Artificiall 〈◊〉 and ordinary trauel of the gardener nature produced foure Fountaines in the foure corners making the place and plaine of the Garden equally parted in fouresquare forme Now these fountaines watered all the fayre knots of the same wythout any paine to the gardener except to open certaine little 〈◊〉 whereby the water sprang and ran where hée thoughte it néedefull I will héere leaue to speake of the Trées frutes deuided in flue forme order the Laberynthes subtilely finely made the swéete Herbers yelding such contentation to the eye as if the Duke had had no greater respect to the wrong done to the Millers daughter than incited wyth the gentlenesse of the maister of the house and the singularitie of the place perchaunce hée might haue forgotten himselfe within that little earthly Paradise And to performe the excellencie of the place the working hande and industrie of man holpen by the benefite of Nature had wrought a 〈◊〉 or 〈◊〉 verye déepe wherein were bestowed a good numbre of 〈◊〉 and wherin the immortall voyce of an Eccho answered their talk with a triple voyce in that profound and earthly place which moued the Duke to call the Gentleman vnto hym vnto whome hée sayd If it be so that the rest of the house doe mat 〈◊〉 wyth that which I haue already séene I am out of doubte it is one of the 〈◊〉 and moste delectable 〈◊〉 at 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the whole compasse of Italy Wherefore my friend I pray thée that we may sée the hole 〈◊〉 for the contētation of our mindes and also that I may make some vaunt that I haue séene the rarest and best furnished little house that is within all the iurisdiction of Florence The Gentleman bathed in ease and full of pleasure séeing that the Duke liked so well his house brought him from chamber to chamber which was enriched either with stately tapissarie of Turkey making or with rich Tables diuinely wrought with vtensils so neate and fit as the Duke coulde cast his 〈◊〉 vpon none of them but he was driuen into an admiration wonder And the further he went the greater he saw the increase almost a regeneration or as I may say a new birth of rare things which made that littlenesse of the place more stately and wonderfull wherefore he greatly estéemed him in his minde which had deuised the magnificence of such a furniture After then that he had visited the Portals Galleries Parlers Chambers Garrets Wardrobes Closets and chiefest places of that house they came into a gallerie which had a direct prospect vpon the Garden at the end whereof there was a chamber shut ouer which there was such Antike and Imbossed worke as it was maruell to behold and vpon the garden side in like workemanship ye might haue viewed a troupe of Nymphes flying à 〈◊〉 the side of a woode adioyning vpon a great riuer an hierde of Satires making as though they would haue ouerrunne them a pleasure it was to sée their 〈◊〉 mouthes their eyes fixed vpon the place where 〈◊〉 clouenfooted pursuters were and the countenance of them which so well expressed their feare as there 〈◊〉 nothing but spéech Moreouer a better sight it was to beholde the Satire Bucks with displayed throfe and their fingers pointing at the bast of those fearfull 〈◊〉 as though they mocked their 〈◊〉 flyghte Within a while after ye might haue séene Hercules lying a bed with his wife towards whom a Eaunus came thinking to inioy the beautie and embracemēts of the sléeping dame But fayrer it was to sée how that strōg 〈◊〉 gaue him the mocke and strained him so hard as he thought his belly wold burst The Duke beholding as he thought the fairest place of the house so shut by and by suspected the truthe of the cause For the Gentleman knowing the comming of the Duke had withdrawen his woman into the same for that it was the most secrete chamber of his house and the furdest from all ordinary seruice And therefore sayde the Duke wherefore is not this chamber opened vnto vs so wel as the rest I suppose the same to be your treasure house and the storehouse of your most delicat things but you may be assured that we be not come hither to trouble you but only as we think to do you pleasure My Lord sayd the Gentleman the place is to farre out of order at this time to shew your grace Moreouer I knowe not where the keyes be for thys morning the kéeper of my house is gone vnto the city I can not tell to whome he hath deliuered the same The Duke which heard the end of his excuse not accepting the same for the price which the courtier wold thought to haue solde it was sure then of that which before he did suspect Wherfore with furious countenaunce he sayd vnto him Goe too goe too either with the key or 〈◊〉 it let this doore be opened that I may sée all thy secretes within The rauisher seing that Duke to be earnest
determination spedily was accomplished one posting towards Rome and the rest galloping to the Countrey and Castels of the Duke These newes reported to the Cardinal his brother it may be considered how grieuously they toke that same for that they were not able to digest thē with 〈◊〉 the yōgest of the brethren yelled forth a thousand cursses despites against the simple sere of womākind Ha said that Prince trāsported with choler driuen in to deadly furie what law is able to punish or restrain the foolish indiscretiō of a womā that yeldeth hir self to hir own desires What shame is able to bridle withdrawe hir from hir minde madnesse Or with what seare is it possible to snaffle thē frō execution of their 〈◊〉 There is no beast be he neuer so wilde but man sometime may tame and bring to his lure and order The force and diligence of man is able to make milde the strong and proud and to ouertake the swiftest beast and foule or otherwise to attaine the highest and déepest thing of the world but this incarnate diuelish beast the woman no force can surmount hir no swiftnesse can approche hir mobilitie no good mind can preuent hir sleights and deceites they séeme to be procreated and borne against all order of nature and to liue without law which gouerneth all other things indued wyth some reason and vnderstanding But what a great abhomination is this that a Gentlewoman of such a house as ours is hath forgotten hir estate and the greatnesse of hir aliance besides the nobilitie of hir deceased husband with the hope of the towarde youth of the Duke hir sonne and our Nephew Ah false and vile bitch I sweare by the almightie God and by his blessed wounds that if I can catch thée and that wicked knaue thy chosen mate I will pipe ye both such a galiarde as ye neuer felt the lyke ioy and mirthe I will make ye daunce such a bloudy bargenet as your whorish heate for euer shall be cooled What abuse haue they committed vnder title of mariage which was so secretely done as their Children do witnesse their filthy embracements but their promise of faith was made in open aire and serueth for a cloke and visarde for their most filthy whoredoine And what if mariage was concluded be we of so little respect as the carion beast would not vouchsafe to 〈◊〉 vs of hir entent Or is Bologna a man worthy to be allied or mingled with the royall bloud of Aragon and Castille No no be hée neuer so good a Gentlemā his race agréeth not with kingly state But I make to God a vewe that neuer will I take one sound and restfull sléepe vntill I haue dispatched that infamous fact from our bloud and that the caitife whoremonger be vsed according to his desert The Cardinall also was on t of quiet grinding his téeth togither chattering forthe Jacke an Apes Pater noster promising no better vsage to their Bologna than his yonger brother did And the better to intrap them both without further sturre for that time they sent to that Lord Gismondo Gonsago the Cardinal of Mantua then Legate for Pope Iulius the second at Ancona at whose hands they enioyed such friendship as Bologna and all his familie were commaūded spedily to auoide the Citie But for al the the Legate was able to do of long time he could not preuaile Bologna had so great intelligēce wtin Ancona Neuerthelesse whiles he differed his departure 〈◊〉 caused the most part of his train his children goods to be conueyed to Siena an auncient Citie of Thoscane which for the state and liberties had long time bene at warres with the Florentines in such wise as the very same day that newes came to Bologna that he shold departe the Citie within xv dayes hée was ready and moūted on horseback to take his flight to Siena which brake for sorrow the hearts of the Aragon brethren séeing that they were deceiued and frustrate of their intent bicause they purposed by the way to apprehend Bologna and to cut him in pieces But what the time of his hard luck was not yet expired and so the marche from Ancona serued not for the Theatre of those two infortunate louers ouerthrow who certain moneths liued in peace in Thoscane The Cardinal night nor day did sléepe and his brother stil did wayt to performe his othe of reuenge And séeing their enimie out of feare they dispatched a post to Alfonso Castruccio the Cardinall of Siena that he might entreat the Lord Borgliese chief of the seignorie there that their sister and Bologna should be banished the Countrey and limits of that Citie which with small sute was brought to passe These two infortunate husbād and wife were chased from al places and so vnlucky as whilom Acasta was or Oedipus after his fathers death and incestuous mariage with his mother vncertain to what Saint to vow themselues and to what place to take their flight In the end they determined to goe to Venice and to take their flight to Ramagua there to imbarke themselues for to retire to the sauegarde of the Citie enuironned with the sea Adriaticum the richest in Europa But the poore soules made their reconing there without their hoste failing half the price of their banket For being vpon the territorie of Forly one of the train a farre off did sée a troupe of horsenien galloping towardes their cōpany which by their countenaunce shewed no signe of peace or amitie at all which made them cōsider that it was some ambush of their enimies The 〈◊〉 Gentleman séeing the onset bending vpon them begā to fear death not for that he cared at all for his mishap and ruine but his heart began to cleaue for heauinesse to sée his wife and litle children ready to be murdered and serue for the passetime of the Aragon brethrens eyes for whose sakes he knew himself already predestinate to die and that for despite of him and to accelerate his death by the ouerthrow of his he was assured that they wold kil his childrē before his face 〈◊〉 But what is there to be done where counsell meanes to escape do faile Ful of teares therfore astonishment fear he expected death so cruel as mā could deuise was alredy determined to suffer the same 〈◊〉 good corage for any thing that the Duchesse could say 〈◊〉 him He might well haue saued himself his eldest sonne by flight being both wel moūted vpon two good Turkey horsses which ran so fast as that quarrel discharged forth of a croshow But he loued too much his wife children and wold kéepe them companie both in life and death In the end the good Ladie sayd vnto him or for all the ioyes pleasures which you can doe me for Gods sake saue your self the little infant next you who can wel indure the galloping of the horse For sure I am that you being out of our cōpanie we shal
vpon the Lute desired him to giue awake vnto his Ladie that then for iealousie was harkening at hir window both the sound of the instrument and the words of hir amorous Knight wher the gētleman soong this song THe death with trenchāt dart doth brede in brest such il As I cannot forget the smart that therby riseth stil. Yet ne erthelesse I am the ill it self in dede That death with daily dolours depe within my breast doth brede I am my mistresse thrall and yet I doe not kno If she beare me good will at all or if she loue or no. My wound is made so large with bitter wo in brest That still my heart prepares a place to lodge a careful guest O Dame that bath my life and death at thy desire Come 〈◊〉 my mind wher facies flames doth burn like Ethna fire For wanting thee my life is death and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 And finding fauor in thy sight my dayes are happy heere Then he began to sighe so terribly as if already she had gyuen sentence and definitiue Judgement of his farewel disputed with his felow in such sort with opinion so assured of his contempt as if hée had bene in loue with some one of the infants of Sp 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 which cause he begā again very pitifully to sing these verses THat God that made my soule knowes what I haue felt Who causeth sighes and sorowes oft the sely soule to swelt Doth see my torments now and what I suffer still And vnderstands I tast mo griefs than I can shew by skill He doth consent I wot to my ill hap and woe And hath accorded with the dame that is my pleasant foe To make my boyling brest abound in bitter blisse And so bereue me of my rest when heart his hope shall misse O what are not the songs and sighs that louers haue When night and day with swete desires they draw vnto their graue 〈◊〉 grief by friendship growes where ruth nor 〈◊〉 raines And so like snow against the sunne thei melt away with pains My dayes must finish so my destnie hath it set And as the candle out I goe before hir grace I get Before my sute be heard my seruice throughly knowne I shal be laid in tombe full lowe so colde as Marble stone To thee faire Dame I cry that makes my senses arre And plātest peace 〈◊〉 my brest then makes sodain war Yet at thy pleasure still thou must my sowre make sweete In graunting me the fauor due for faithfull louers meete Which fauor giue me now and to thy Noble minde I doe 〈◊〉 Galley slaue as thou by proofe shall finde And so thou shalt release my heart from cruell bandes And haue his fredome at thy wil that yelds into thy handes So rendring all to thee the Gods may ioyne vs both Within one lawe and league of loue through force of constant troth Then shalt thou mistresse be of life of limme and all My goodes my golde and honour loe shall so be at thy call This gentle order of loue greately pleased the Lady and therefore opened hir gate to let in the 〈◊〉 Lorde who séeyng himself fauoured beyond all hope of his Ladie and cherefully intertained and welcommed wyth greate curtesie stoode so stil astonnied as if he had bene fallen from the cloudes But shée whyche coulde teache hym good maner to make him the minister of hir mischiefe takyng him by the hande made him sitte downe vpon a gréene bedde besydes hir and séeing that he was not yet imboldened for all he was a souldier she she wed hir selfe more hardie than he and first assayled him wyth talke saying Syr I praye you thinke it not strange if at this houre of the night I am bolde to cause you enter my house béeyng of no greate acquaintaunce with you but by hearyng your curteous salutations And we of this countrey be somwhat more at libertie than they in those partes from whence you come Besides it liketh me well as I am able to honor strange gentlemen and to retaine them with right good willing heart sith it pleaseth them to honor me with repaire vnto my house so shall you be welcome stil when you please to knocke at my gate which at all times I will to be opened for you wyth no lesse good will than if ye were my natural brother the same with all the thinges therein it maye please you to dispose as if they were your owne Dom Pictro of Cardonne well satisfied and contented with this vnlooked for kyndnesse thanked hir very curteously humbly praying hir besides to dayne it in good parte if he were so bolde to make request of loue and that it was the onely thyng which hée aboue all other desyred moste so that if shée woulde receyue hym for hir friende and seruaunt shée shoulde vnderstand him to be a Gentleman whiche lyghtly woulde promise nothing excepte the accomplishment did followe she that sawe a greater onset than shée looked for answered hym smilyng with a very good grace Syr I haue knowne very many that haue vouched slipperie promyses and proffered lordly seruices vnto Ladies the effecte wherof if I myght once sée I would not thinke that they coulde vanishe so soone and consume lyke smoake Madame sayde the Scicilian yf I fayle in any thyng whichs you commaunde mée I praye to God neuer to receyue any fauour or grace of those Curtesies whyche I craue If then quod shée you wyll promyse to employe youre selfe aboute a businesse that I haue to doe when I make requeste I wyll also to accepte you for a friende and graunt such secrecie as a faythfull louer can desyre of hys Ladye Dom Pietro whyche woulde haue offered hym selfe in Sacrifice for hir not knowyng hir demaunde toke an othe and promysed hir so lightly as madly afterwardes he did put the same in proofe Beholde the preparatiues of the obsequies of their first loue the guages of a bloodie bedde the one was prodigal of hir honoure the other the tormenter of his reputation and neglected the duetie and honor of his state which the 〈◊〉 wherof he came commaunded hym to kepe Thus all the night he remained with Bianca Maria who made him so wel to like 〈◊〉 good entertainement and imbracementes as he neuer was out of hir companie And the warie Circes fained hir selfe so farre in loue with him and vsed so many toyes gametricks of hir filthie science as he not onely esteemed him selfe the happiest Gentleman of Scicilia but the most fortunate wight of al the world and by biubing of hir wine was so straungely charmed with the pleasures of his faire mistresse as for hir sake he wold haue taken vpon him the whole ouerthrow of Milan so well as 〈◊〉 of Cumes to set the Citie of Rome on fire if Tyberius Gracchus the sedicious woulde haue gyuen hir leaue Such is the maner of wilde and foolish youth as which suffreth it self to be caried beyond the boundes of
hauing hir face all besprent with teares she said 〈◊〉 Rhomeo Syr Rhomeo I pray you not to renue those things againe for the only memory of such 〈◊〉 maketh me to coūterpoise betwene death life my heart being so vnited with 〈◊〉 as you cānot receiue the least iniury in this world wherin I shal not be so great a partaker as your self beséeching you for conclusion that if you desire your owne health 〈◊〉 to declare vnto me in fewe wordes what your determination is to attaine for if you couet any other secrete thing at my handes more than myne honour can well allow you are maruelously deceiued but if your desire be godly and that the friendship which you 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 to beare me be founded vppon vertue and to be concluded by mariage receiuyng me for your wyfe lawful spouse you shall haue such part in me as 〈◊〉 any regarde to the obedience reuerence that I owe to my parentes or to the auncient enimitie of our familie 〈◊〉 will make you the onely Lord maister ouer me and of all things that I possesse beyng prest and readie in all points to folowe your commaundement But if your intent be otherwise and thinke to reape the frute of my virginitie vnder pretense of wanton 〈◊〉 you be greatly deceiued and doe praye you to auoide and suffer me from henceforth to liue in rest amongs mine equals Rhomeo which loked for none other thing holding vp his handes to the heauens with incredible ioy and contentation answered Madame for somuch as it hath pleased you to do me that honour to accept me for such a one I accorde and consente to your request and do offer vnto you the best part of my heart which shall remaine with you for guage sure testimonie of my saying vntill such time as God shall giue me leaue to make you the entier owner and possessor of the same And to that intent I may begyn mine enterprise to morow I wil to Frier Laurence for 〈◊〉 the same who bisides that he is my ghostly Father is accustomed to giue me instruction in all my other secrete affaires and fayle not if you please to méete me againe in this place at this very hour to the intent I may giue you to vnderstande the deuise betwene him and me which she liked very wel ended their talk for that time Rhomeo receiuing none other fauor at hir hands for that night but only words This frier Laurence of whom hereafter we shal make more ample mention was an aūcient Doctor of Diuinitie of the order of the friers Minors who bisides the happy profession which hée had made in studie of holie writ was very skilful in Philosophy and a great searcher of nature secrets excéeding famous in Magike knowledge and other hiddē and secret sciences which nothing diminished his reputation bicause he did not abuse the same And this Frier through his vertue and pietic had so wel won the citizens hearts of 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 he was almost the confessor to them all and of al men generally reuerenced and beloued and many tymes for his great prudence was called by the lordes of the Citie to the weightie affaires of the same And amonges other he was greatly fauored by the lord of 〈◊〉 that time the principal gouernor of Verona and of al that familie of 〈◊〉 and of the Capellets and of many other The yong Rhomeo as we haue alredy declared frō his tēder age bare a certein particle amitie to frier Laurēce departed to him his secrets by means wherof so soone as he was gone from 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 straight to the Friers Frāciscans wher frō point to point he discoursed the successe of his loue to that good father the cōclusion of the mariage betwene him 〈◊〉 adding vpon the end of talk that he wold rather choose shameful death 〈◊〉 to faile hir of his promise To whō the good 〈◊〉 after he had debated diuers matters proposed 〈◊〉 the inconueniences of that secrete mariage exhorted hym to more mature deliberation of the same notwithstanding all the alleged persuasiōs wer not able to reuoke his promise Wherfore the Frier vanquished with his stubbornesse and also forecasting in his minde that the mariage might be some 〈◊〉 of recōciliatiō of those two houses in the ende agréed to his request 〈◊〉 him that he might haue one delayed day for 〈◊〉 to 〈◊〉 what was beste to be done But if Rhomeo for his part was carefull to prouide for his affaires Iulietta like wise did hir 〈◊〉 For seing that 〈◊〉 had none about hir to discouer hir passions she deuised to impart the whole to hir nurse which laye in hir 〈◊〉 apointed to 〈◊〉 vpon hir to whome she committed the intier secrets of the loue betwene Rhomeo hir And although that old womā in the beginning resisted Iu hetta hir intent yet in that ende she knewe so wel how to persuade and win hir that she promised in all that she was able to do to be at hir cōmandement And then she sent hir with al diligence to speake to Rhomeo and to know of him by what meanes they might be maried that he would 〈◊〉 hir to vnderstand the determination betwene frier Laurence him Whō 〈◊〉 answered how the 〈◊〉 day wherin he had informed frier Laurence of the matter the said frier deferred answer vntil the next which was the very same and that it was not past one houre 〈◊〉 he returned with final resolution that Frier Laurence he had deuised that she the Saterday folowing should desire leaue of hir mother to go to cōfession to repaire to the church of saint Francis where in a certain chapel secretly they shold be maried praying hir in any wise not to fail to be there Which thing she brought to passe with such discretion as hir mother agréed to hir 〈◊〉 and accompanied onely with hir gouernesse and a yong mayden she repaired thither at the determined day time And so soone as she was entred that church called for the good 〈◊〉 frier Laurence vnto whō answere was made that he was in the shriuing chapel 〈◊〉 aduertisement was giuē him of hir cōming So soon as frier Laurence was certified of Iulietta he went into the body of the Church willed the old woman and yong 〈◊〉 to go heare seruice and that when he had hearde the confession of Iulietta he would sende for them again to waite vpon hir Iulietta being entred a litle Cell with Frier Laurence he 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the doore as he was wont to do where Rhomeo and he had bene together fast shut in the space of one whole houre before Then Frier Laurence after that hée had 〈◊〉 them sayde to Iulietta Daughter as Rhomeo here present hath certified me you be agréed and contented to take him to husband and he like wise you 〈◊〉 his espouse and wife Do you now still persist and continue in that minde The Louers answered that they desired
than they themselues did of their life by committing the same to the hands of a woman so cruell This Gentleman being come home to his lodging enquired what faire widow that was of what calling and of what behauior but he heard tell of more truely than he would of good will haue knowne or desired to haue ben in hir whom he did presently choose to be the onely mistresse of his moste secrete thoughts Now vnderstanding wel the stubburne nature and vnciuile maner of that widow hée coulde not tell what parte to take nor to what Sainct to vow his deuotion to make sute vnto hir he thought it time lost to be hir seruant it was not in his power hauing already inguaged his libertie into the handes of hir which once holdyng captiue the hearts of men will not infraunchise them so soone as thoughte and will desire Wherefore bayting hymselfe wyth hope and tickled with loue hée determined what soeuer chaūced to loue hir and to assay if by long seruice he coulde lenifie that harde hearte and make tender that unpliant will to haue pitie vpon the paine which she saw him to endure to recompense his laborsome trauels which he thought were vertuously imployed for gayning of hir good grace And vpon this settled deliberation he retired againe to Virle so was his house named where disposing his things in order he retorned again to Montcall to make his long resiance there to put in readinesse his furniture and to welde his artillerie with suche industrie as in the ende he mighte make a reasonable breach to force and take the place For surprisyng whereof he hazarded great dangers the rather that he hym selfe might first be taken And where hys assaultes and pollicies could not preuaile he mynded to content him selfe with the pleasure and passetyme that hée myght receiue in the contemplation of a thyng so fayre and the ordinarie sight of an image so excellent The memorie of whome rather increased hys paine than yelded comfort dyd rather minister corrosiue poyson than gyue remedie of ease a cause more of cruel and sodaine death than of prolonged life Philiberto then being become a citizen of Mōtcall vsed to frequent the Churche more than hée was wont to doe or his deuotion serued hym and that bycause he was not able elsewhere to enioy the presence of his Sainct but in places and temples of deuotion whiche no doubt was a very holie and woorthie disposition but yet not méete or requisite to obserue suche holy places for those intentes whiche oughte not to be prophaned in thyngs so fonde and foolishe and actes so contrary to the institution and mynde of those which in tymes paste were the fyrst founders and erectours of temples Signior Philiberto then moued with that religious superstition made no conscience at all to speake vnto hir within the Churche And true it is when she wente out of the same he moued with a certaine familiar curtesie naturall to eche Gentleman of good bryngyng vp many tymes conducted hir home to hir owne house not able for all that what so 〈◊〉 he sayd to winne the thing that was able to ingender any litle contentation which grieued him very much For the cruell woman fained as though 〈◊〉 vnderstode nothing of that he sayde and turnyng the wayne against the oxen by contrary talke she began to tell him a tale of a tubbe of matters of hir householde whervnto he gaue so good héede as she did to the hearing of hys complaintes Thus these two of dyuers affections and moued with contrary thoughtes spake 〈◊〉 to an other without apt answere to eithers talk Wherby the Gentleman cōceiued an assured argument of his ruine which voide of al hope meanes he sawe to be ineuitable and therfore practised with 〈◊〉 dames of the Citie that had familiar resort vnto hir house and vsed frequent conuersation with 〈◊〉 rebellious lady Zilia To one of them then he determined to communicate his secrets and to do hir to vnderstande in dede the only cause that made him to 〈◊〉 at Montcall and the griefe which he sustained for that he was not able to discouer his torment to hir that had giuen him the wounde This Gentleman therfore repaired to one of his neighbors a woman of good corage which at other 〈◊〉 had experimented what meates they fede on which 〈◊〉 at Venus table and what bitternesse is intermingled amid those drinkes that Cupido quaffeth vnto his guestes 〈◊〉 whom hauing before coniured hir to kepe secret that which he wold declare he disclosed the secrets of his minde expressing his loue without naming of his lady before he herd the answer of his neighbor who vnderstanding almoste to what purpose the affections of the pacient were directed said vnto him Sir nedefull it is not to vse long orations the loue that I bear you for the honest qualities which hitherto I haue knowne to be in you shall make me to kéepe silent that wherof as yet I do not knowe the matter and the assurance you haue not to be abused by me constraineth me to warrant you that I will not spare to do you all the pleasure honest seruice I can Ah mistresse answered sir Philiberto so lōg as I lyue I will not faile to acknowledge the liberalitie of your 〈◊〉 by offering your selfe pacientely to heare and secretely to kepe the wordes I speake accorduigly as they deserue and that which is more than I require you doe assure me that I shall finde suche one of you as will not spare to giue your ayde Alas I resemble the good and wyse Captaine who to take a 〈◊〉 doth not onely ayde himselfe with the forwardenesse and valiance of his souldiers but to spare them and to auoyde slaughter for makyng of way planteth his cannon and battereth the wall of the fort whiche he woulde assayle to the intent that both the souldier and the ordinaunce maye perfourme and suffise the perfection of the platte whyche hée hath framed and deuised within his politike heade I haue already encouraged my souldiers and haue lost the better part truly in the skirmish which hath deliuered vnto me my swéete cruell enimie Now I am driuen to make redy the fire which resteth in the kindled match of your cōceipts to batter that fort hitherto 〈◊〉 for any assault which I can make I vnderstand not sayde she smiling these Labyrinthes of your complaints except you speake more plain I neuer haunted the warres 〈◊〉 knewe 〈◊〉 thing it is to handle weapons improper and not séemely for myne estate and kynde The warre quod he whereof I speake is so naturall and common as I doubt not but you haue somtymes 〈◊〉 with what 〈◊〉 and camisados men vse to take their enimies how they plant their 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 what meanes bothe the assaylant and 〈◊〉 ought to vse So far as I sée sayd she there 〈◊〉 nothing for vs but the assurance of the fielde sith we be ready to enter in combat and do thinke
giue To louing man that here on earth doth liue This great good turne which I on hir pretende Of my conceites the full desired ende Proceedes from thee O cruell mystres mine Whose froward heart hath made me to resigne The full effect of all my libertie To please and ease thy fonde fickle fansie My vse of speach in silence to remaine To euery wight a double hellish paine Whose faith hadst thou not wickedly abusde No stresse of paine for thee had bene refusde Who was to thee a trustie seruaunt sure And for thy sake all daungers would endure For which thou hast defaced thy good name And there vnto procurde eternall shame I That roaring tempest huge which thou hast made me felt The raging stormes whereof well nere my heart hath swelt By painefull pangs whose waltering waues by troubled skies And thousand blastes of winde that in those seas do rise Do promise shipwracke sure of that thy sayling Barke When after weather cleare doth rise some tempest darke For eyther I or thou which art of Tygres kinde In that great raging gulfe some daunger sure shalt finde Of that thy nature rude the dest'nies en'mies be And thy great ouerthrow full well they do foresee The heauens vnto my estate no doubt great friendship shoe And do seeke wayes to ende and finish all my woe This penance which I beare by yelding to thy hest Great store of ioyes shall heape and bring my minde to rest And when I am at ease amids my pleasaunt happes Then shall I see thee fall and suarlde in Fortunes trapes Then shall I see thee banne and cursse the wicked time Wherin thou madest me gulpe such draught of poysoned wine By which thy mortall cuppe I am the offred wight A vowed sacrifice to that thy cruell spight Wherefore my hoping heart doth hope to see the daie That thou for silence nowe to me shalt be the praie I O blessed God most iust whose worthy laude and praise With vttered speach in Skies aloft I dare not once to raise And may not wel pronoūce speak what suffrance I sustain Ne yet what death I do indure whiles I in life remaine Take vengeance on that traitresse rude afflict hir corps with woe Thy holy arme redresse hir fault that she no more do soe My reason hath not so farre strayed but I may hope and trust To see hir for hir wickednesse be whipt with plague most iust In the meane while great hauinesse my sense and soule doth bite And shaking feuer vexe my corps for grief of hir despite My mynde now set at libertie from thee O cruell dame Doth giue defiance to thy wrath and to thy cursed name Proclamyng mortall warre on thee vntill my tongue vntide Shall ioy to speake to Zilia fast wepyng by my side The heuēs forbid that causelesse wrōg abrode shold make his vaūt Or that an vndeserued death forget full tombe shoulde haunt But that in written boke and verse their names should euer liue And eke their wicked dedes should die and vertues still reuine So shall the pride and glorie both of hir be punisht right By length of yeares and tract of time And I by vertues might Full recompense therby shall haue and stande still in good fame And she like caitife wretche shall liue to hir long lasting shame Whose fond regarde of beauties grace contemned hath the force Of my true loue full fixt in hir hir heart voide of remorse Esteemed it selfe right foolishely and me abused still Vsurping my good honest faith and credite at hir will Whose loyall faith doth rest in soule and therin still shall bide Vntill in filthie stincking graue the earth my corps shall hide Then shal that soule fraught with that faith to heuēs make his 〈◊〉 And rest amōg the heuenly rout bedeckt with sacred aire paire And thou for thy great crueltie as God aboue doth know With rufull voice shalt weepe and waile for thy great ouerthrow And when thou wouldest fain purge thy self for that thy wretched No kindnesse shal to thee be done extreme shal be thy mede dede And where my tongue doth want his will thy mischief to display My hande and penne supplies the place and shall do so alway For so thou hast constrainde the same by force of thy behest In silence still my tong to kepe t' accomplishe thy request Adieu farewell my tormenter thy friend that is full mute Doth bid thee farewell once againe and so he ends his sute He that liueth only to be reuenged of thy cruelty Philiberto of Virle Zilia like a disdainfull woman made but a iest at the letters and complaints of the infortunat louer saying that she was very well content with his seruice And that when he should performe the time of his probatiou she should sée if he were worthy to be admitted into the felowship of them which had made sufficient proofe of the order and rule of loue In the meane time Philiberto rode by great iourneys as we haue sayd before towards the goodly and pleasant Countrey of Fraunce wherein Charles the seuenth that time did raigne who miraculously but giue the French man leaue to flatter speake vvel of his ovvne Countrey according to the flattering and vaunting nature of that Nation chased the English men out of his lands and auncient Patrimonie in the yeare of our Lord. 1451. This king had his campe then warfaring in Gascoine whose lucke was so fortunate as he expeld his enimies and left no place for thē to fortifie in the sayd Countrey which incouraged the king to folow that good occasion and by prosecuting his victorious fortune to profligat out of Normandie to dispatch himself of that enimy into whose handes and seruitude the Coūtrey of Guiene was rightly deliuered and victoriously wonne and gottē by the Englishmen The king then being in his Campe in Normandie the Piedmont Gentleman the Lord of Virle aforesayd repaired thereunto to serue him in his person where hée was well knowne of some Captaines which had séene him at other times and in place where worthy Gentlemen are wont to frequent and in the Duke of Sauoyes court which the Frenchmen did very much 〈◊〉 bicause the Earle of Piedmont that then was Duke of Sauoy had maried Iolanta the second daughter of Charles the seuenth These Gentlemen of Fraunce were very much sory for the misfortune of the Lord of Virle and knowing him to be one of the brauest and lustiest men of armes that was in his time within the Country of Piedmont presented him before the King commending vnto his grace the vertue gentlenesse and valianee of the man of warre Who after he had done his 〈◊〉 according to his duetie which he knew ful well to doe declared vnto him by signs that he was come for none other intent but in those warres to serue his maiesty whom the king heard and thākfully receiued assuring himself and promising very much of the 〈◊〉 Gitlemā for respect of his personage which was comely
cōpassion and desire to giue some ease vnto hir most earnest louer yelded hir selfe to couetous gain and gredinesse for to encrease hir richesse O curssed hunger of Money how long wilt thou thus blinde the reason and sprites of men Ah perillous gulfe how many hast thou ouerwhelmed within thy bottōlesse throte whose glory had it not bene for thee had surpassed the clouds and bene equal with the brightnesse of the Sunne where now they be obscured with the thicknesse of thy fogges and palpable darknesse Alas the fruites which thou bringest forth for all thine outwarde apparance conduce no felicitie to them that be thy possessors for the dropsey that is hidden in their mind which maketh them so much the more thirsty as they drinke oft in that thirsty Fountaine is cause of their alteration and most miserable is that insaciable desire the Couetous haue to glut their appetite which can receiue no contentation This only 〈◊〉 somtimes procured the death of the great and rich Romane Crassus who through Gods punishment fell into the hands 〈◊〉 the Persians for violating and sacking the Temple of God that was in Hierusalem Sextimuleus burning with Couetousnesse and gredinesse of money did once cut of the head of his patron and defender Caius 〈◊〉 the Tribune of the people incited by the Tyrant which tormenteth the hearts of the couctous I will not speake of a good number of other examples in people of all kindes and diuers nations to come againe to Zilia Who forgetting hir vertue the first ornament and shining quality of hir honest behauior feared not the wearinesse and trauaile of way to commit hir self to the danger of losse of 〈◊〉 and to yeld to the mercy of one vnto whom she had done so great iniury as hir conscience if she hadde not lost hir right sense ought to haue made hir thinke that hee was not without desire to reuenge that wrōg 〈◊〉 done vnto him specially being in place where she was not knowne and he greatly honoured and esteemed for whose loue that Proclamation and searche of Physicke was made and ordained Ziha then hauing put in order hir affairs at home departed from Montcall and passing the Mountes arriued at Paris at such time as greatest dispaire was had of the dumbe Knights recouery When she was arriued there within fewe dayes after she inquired for them that had the charge to entertaine such as came and would take vpon them the cure of the sayd pacient For sayd she if there be any man in the world through whome the Knight may get his health I hope in God that I am she which shal haue the praise Héereof the Commissaries deputed hereunto were aduertised who caused the faire Physician to come before them and asked hir if it were she that wold take vpon hir to cure this dumbe Gentleman To whome she answeared my masters it hath pleased God to reueale vnto me a certain secrete very proper and meete for the cure of his malady wherewithall if the pacient will I hope to make him speake so well as he did these two yeres past more I suppose sayd one of the Commissaries that you be not ignorant of the 〈◊〉 of the Kings Proclamation I know ful quod she the effect therof therfore do say vnto you that I wil loose my life if I doe not accomplish that which I doe promise vpon condition that I may haue licence to tary with him alone bicause it is of no lesse importance than his health It is no maruell sayde the Commissary considering your beauty which is sufficiēt to frame a new tong in the most 〈◊〉 person that is vnder the heauens And therefore do your indeuor assuring you that you shall doe a great pleasure vnto the King and besides the prayse which you shall acquire gette the good wil of the dumbe gentleman which is the most excellent man of the world and therefore shall be so wel recompensed as you shal haue good cause to be routented with the Kings liberalitie But to the intent you be not deceiued the meaning of the Proclamation is that within xv dayes after you begin the cure you must make him hole or else to satisfie the paines ordained in the same Wherunto she submitted hir self blinded by Auarice and presumptiō thinking that she had like power ouer the Lord of Virle as when she gaue him that sharpe and cruel penance These conditions promised the Commissaries went to aduertise the Knight how a Gentlewoman of Piedmont was of purpose come into Fraunce to helpe him whereof he was maruellously astonned Now he would neuer haue thought that Zilia had borne him so great good wil as by abasing the pride of hir corage would haue come so farre to ease the grief of him whome by such great torments she had so wonderfully persecuted He thought againe that it was the Gentlewoman his neighboure which sometimes had done hir endeuor to helpe him and had prouoked Zilia to absolue him of his faithe and acquite him of his promise Musing vpon the diuersitie of these things not knowing wherupon to settle his iudgement the deputies commaunded that the woman Physitian shold be brought to speake with the patient Which was done and brought in place the Commissaries presently with drew themselues The Lord of Virle seeing his enimie come before him whom sometimes he loued very 〈◊〉 iudged by and by the cause wherefore she came that onely auarice and gredy desire of gaine 〈◊〉 rather procured hir to passe the mountains trauail than due and honest amitie wherwith she was double boūd through his perseuerance and humble seruice wherby hée was estraunged of himselfe as he fared like a shadowe and image of a dead man Wherfore callyng to mynd the rigour of his Ladie hir inciuilitie and fonde commandement so long time to forbidde his speache the loue which once he bare hir with a vehement desire to obey hir sodainly was so cooled and qualified that loue was turned into hatred and will to serue hir into an appetite of reuenge whervpon he determined to vse that present fortune and to playe his parte with hir vpon whom he had so foolishly doted and to pay hir with that mōney wherwith she made hint féele the fruites of vnspeakable crueltie to giue example to fonde and presumptuous dames how they did abuse Gentlemen of such degrée whereof the Knyght was and that by hauing regarde to the merite of such personages they be not so prodigall of themselues as to set their honoure in sale for vile rewarde and filthy mucke which was so constantly conserued and defended by this Gentlewoman against the assaultes of the good grace beautie calour and gentlenesse of that vertuous and honest suter And notwithstanding in these dayes we sée some to resist the amitie of those that loue for an opinion of a certaine vertue which they thinke to be hidden within the corps of excellent beautie who afterwards do set them selues to sale to him that giueth
and Physitian dwelling at Cutiano a Citie of Boeme where plenty of siluer Mines and other mettals is The knight whose Castle was not farre from Cutiano had occasion to repaire vnto that Citie and according to his desire found out Pollacco which was a very olde mā and talking with him of diuers things perceiued him to be of great skill In end he entreated him that for so much as he had done pleasure to many for 〈◊〉 of their loue he wold also instruct him how he might be assured that his wife did kéepe hir self honest all the time of his absence and that by certaine signes he might haue sure knowledge whether she brake hir faith by sending his honesly into Cornwall Such vain trust this Knight reposed in the lying Science of Sorcery which although to many other is found deceitfull yet to him serued for sure euidence of his wiues sidelitie This Pollacco which was a very cunning enchaunter as you haue hard sayd vnto him Sir you demaund a very straūge matter such as where with neuer hitherto I haue bene acquainted ne yet searched the depthe of those hidden secretes a thing not commonly sued for ne yet practised by me For who is able to make assurance of a womans chastitie or tel by signes except he were at the déede doing that she hath done amisse Or who can gaine by proctors wryt to summon or sue a sprituall Court peremptorily to affirme by neuer so good euidence or testimony that a woman hath hazarded hir honesty except he sweare Rem to be in Re which the greatest 〈◊〉 that euer Padua bred neuer sawe by processe duely tried Shall I then warrant you the honesty of such 〈◊〉 cattell prone and ready to lust easy to be vanquished by the suites of earnest pursuers But blame worthy surely I am thus generally to speake for some I know although not many for whose pore honesties I dare aduenture mine owne And yet that number howe small so euer it be is worthy all due reuerence and honoure Notwithstanding bicause you séeme to be an honest Gentleman of that knowledge which I haue I will not be greatly 〈◊〉 A certaine secrete experiment in déede I haue wherwith perchaūce I may satisfie your demaunde And this is it I can by mine Arte in small time by certaine compositions frame a womans Image which you continually in a little boxe may carry about you and so ofte as you list beholde the same If the wife doe not breake hir mariage faith you shall still sée the same so faire and wel coloured as it was at the first making séeme as though it newly came from the painters shop but if perchaūce she meane to abuse hir honesty the same wil waxe pale and in déede committing that filthy facte sodainely the colour wil be black as arayed with cole or other 〈◊〉 the smel wherof wil not be very plesāt but at al times when she is attempted or pursued the colour wil be so yealow as gold This maruellous secrete deuise greatly pleased the Knight verely beleuing the same to be true specially much moued assured by the fame bruted abrode of his science wherof the Citizens of 〈◊〉 told very strange incredible things When the price was paid of this precious iewel he receiued the Image ioyfully returned home to his castle wher tarying certain dayes he determined to repair to that Court of the glorious king Mathie making his wife priuy to his intent Afterwards whē he had disposed his houshold matters in order he cōmitted that gouernment therof to his wife hauing prepared all necessaries for his voyage to the great sorow griefe of his beloued he departed arriued at Alba Regale where that time the King lay with Quéene Beatrix his wife of whom he was ioyfully receiued entertained He had not long continued in the Court but he had obtained won the fauor good will of all men The King which knew him full well very honorably placed him in his court by him accōplished diuers and many waighty affaires which very wisely and trustely he brought to passe according to the kings mind pleasure Afterwards he was made Colonel of a certaine nūber of footemen sent by the king against the Turks to defend a holde which the enimies of God begā to assaile vnder the conduct of Mustapha Basca which cōduct he so wel directed therin stoutly behaued himself as he chased al the Infidels out of those coastes winning therby that name of a most valiant soldier prudent captain Whereby he meruellously gained the fauor grace of the king who ouer and besides his daily intertainement gaue vnto him a Castle and the Reuenue in fée farme for euer Such rewards deserue all valiāt men which for the honor of their Prince countrey do willingly imploy their seruice worthy no dout of great regard cherishing vpō their home returne bicause they hate idlenesse to win glory deuising rather to spēd hole dayes in field than houres in Courte which this worthy Knight deserued who not able to sustaine his pore estate by politik wisdō prowesse of armes endeuored to serue his Lord and countrey wherin surely he made a very good choise Then he deuoutly serued and praised God for that he put into his minde such a Noble enterprise trusting daily to atchieue greater fame and glory but the greater was his ioy and contentation bicause the image of his wife inclosed within a boxe which still he caried about him in his pursie continued freshe of coloure without any alteration It was noysed in the Court that this valiant Knight Vlrico had in Boeme the fairest and goodliest Lady to his wife that liued either in Boeme or Hungarie It chaūced as a certaine company of yong Gentlemen in the Court were together amongs whome was this Knighte that a 〈◊〉 Earon sayd vnto him How is it possible syr 〈◊〉 being a yeare and a half since you departed out of Boeme that you haue no minde to returne to sée your wife who as the common fame reporteth is one of the goodliest women of all the Countrey truely it séemeth to me that you care not for hir which were great pitie if hir beautic be correspondent to hir fame Syr quod Vlrico what hir beautie is I referre vnto the worlde but how so euer you estéeme me to care of hir you shall vnderstande that I doe loue hir and will doe so during my life And the cause why I haue not visited hir of lōg time is no little proofe of the great assurance I haue of hir vertue and honest life The argument of hir vertue I proue for that she is contented that I shold serue my Lord and king and sufficient it is for me to giue hir intelligence of my state and welfare which many times by letters at opportunitie I faile not to doe the proofe of my Faith is euident by reason of my bounden duety to our soueraigne Lord of whome
secrete conceipts which tormented beyond measure and burning with affection causeth somtimes the humor to gushe out in that parte that discouered the first assault and bredde the cause of that feuer which frighted the hearts of those two yong persons not knowing well what the same mighte be When they were come to the Castle and dismounted from their horsse many welcomes and gratulations were made to the knight which yelded more wood to the fire and liuely touched the yong Gentleman who was so outraged with loue as almost he had no minde of himself and rapt by litle and litle was so intoxicated with amorous passion as all other thoughts were lothsome and ioy displeasant in respect of the fauourable martirdome which he suffered by thinking of his faire and gentle Gineura Thus the knight which in the morning disposed him selfe to pursue the harte was in heart so attached as at euening he was become a seruant yea and such a slaue as that voluntarie seruitude wholy dispossessed him from hys former fréedome These be the frutes also of follie inuegling the eyes of men that launch themselues with eyes shut into the gulfe of despaire which in end doth cause the ruin and ouerthrow of him that yeldeth thervnto Loue procedeth neuer but of opinion so likewise the yll order of those that be afflicted with that passion riseth not elsewhere but by the fond persuasion which they conceiue to be blamed despised and deceiued of the thing beloued where if they measured that passion according to his valor they wold make no more accompt of that which doth torment them than they do of their health honor and life who for their seruice and labour delude them and recompense an other with that which the foolish louer shall employ that doth haste despair to hym and ende more than desperate by séeing an other come to enioy that for which he hath beate the bushes During the time that supper was preparing the Lady sent hir men to séeke the huntesmen of Dom Diego to giue them knowledge where he was become and therof to certifie his mother who when she hearde tell that he lay there was very glad beyng a righte good friende and very familiar neighbor with the Lady the hostesse of hir 〈◊〉 The Gentleman supping after he had tasted the feruent heate that broiled in his minde coulde eate litle meate rather satisfied with the féeding diete of his amorous eyes which without any maner of iealousie distributed their nourishment to the heart and 〈◊〉 very soberly priuily throwing his secrete prickes with louely and wanton looke to the heart of the faire Ladie which for hir part spared not to render vsurie of rollyng lookes wherof he was so sparing as almost he durst not lift vp his eyes for dazelyng of the same After supper the Knight bidding the mother and daughter good night went to bedde where in steede of sléepe he fell to sighing and imagening a thousande diuers 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 like numbre of follies such as they doe whose braines be fraught with loue Alas sayd he what meaneth it that always I haue liued in so great libertie and now doe féele my selfe attached with such bondage as I can not expresse whose effects neuerthelesse be fastned in me Haue I hunted to be takē Came I from my house in libertie to be shut vp in prison and do not know whether I shall be receiued or beyng receiued haue interteinement according to my desert Ah Gineura I would to God that thy beautie did prick mée no worsse than the trée whereof thou takest thy name is sharp in touching and bitter to them that 〈◊〉 the same Truely I estéeme my comming hither happy for all the passion that I indure sith the purchase of a griefe so luckie dothe qualifie the ioy that made me to wander thus ouer 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 fair amongs the fairest truly the fearful beast which with the bloody hareboundes was torne in pieces is not more martired than my hart deuided in opinions vpon thine affection And what do I know if thou louest an other more worthy to be fa uored of thée thā thy poore Dom Diego But it is impossible that any can approch the sinceritie the I féele in my hart determining rather to indure death thā to serue other but fair goldē Gineura therfore my loyaltie receiuing no cōparison cānot be matched in man sufficiēt for respect of the same to be called seruāt of thine 〈◊〉 Now come what shal by means of this I am assured that so long as Dom Diego liueth his hart shal receiue none other impression or desire but that whiche inciteth him to loue serue honor the fairest creature at this day within the cōpasse of Spaine 〈◊〉 herevpō sweating laboring trauelling vpon the framing of his loue he founde nothing more expediēt thā to tel hir his passion let hir vnderstād the good wil that he had to do hir seruice to pray hir to accept him for such as from that time forth wold perpetrate nothing but vnder that title of hir good name On the other side Gineura could not close hir eies knew not that cause almost that so 〈◊〉 hir of sléepe wherfore now tossing on the one side thē turning to the other inhir rich goodly bed fātasied no fewer deuises thā passionated Dom Diego did In the end she cōcluded that if that knight shewed hir any euidēt sign or opened by word of mouth of loue and seruice she wold not refuse to do the like to him Thus passed the night in thoughts sighs wishes betwene these 〈◊〉 apprentises of the thing whereof they that be lerners shal sone attain the experience they that folow the occupation throughly in short time be their 〈◊〉 masters The next day that knight would depart so soone as he was vp but the good widow imbracing that personage good order of the knight in hir heart more thā any other that she had séen of long time intreated 〈◊〉 so earnestly to tarie as he which loued better to obey hir request thā to depart although fained the contrary in that end appered to be vanquished vpō the great importunitie of the lady Al that morning that mother the daughter passed the time with Dom Diego in great talk of cōmon matters But he was then more astoonned inamored than the night before in such wise as many times he 〈◊〉 so vnaptly to their demaūds as it was easily perceiued that his minde was much disquieted with some thing that only did possesse the force vehemēce of that same not withstāding the lady imputed that to the 〈◊〉 of that gentlemā to his simplicity which had not greatly frequēted that cōpanie of Ladies When diner time was come they were serued with such great fare sundry delicates accordingly as with hir hart she wished to intertain the yong lord to the intent frō that time forth he might more willingly make repaire to hir house After diner he rēdred
where he had remained for a certaine time and passing before the house of his Ladie according to his custome heard the voice of women maidens which mourned for Montanine therwithal stayd the chiefest cause of his stay was for that he saw go forth out of the palace of his Angelica diuers women making mone lamentation wherfore he demaūded of that neighbors what noise that was whether any in those quarters were dead or no. To whom they declared at length all that which ye haue heard before Salimbene hearing this story went home to his house being secretly entred into his chāber begā to discourse with himself vpon that accident and 〈◊〉 a thousand things in his head in the ende thought that Charles shold not so be cast away wer he iustly or innocently condemned and for the only respect of his sister that she might not be left destitute of all the goodes and inheritance Thus discoursing diuers things at length he sayd I were a very simple person now to rest in dout sith Fortune is more curious of my felicitie than I could wish and séeketh the effecte of my desires when lest of all I thought vpon them For behold Montanine alone is left of al the mortal enimies of our house which to morow openly shall lose his head like a rebell seditious person vpon whose auncesters in him shall I bée reuenged and the quarell betwene our two families shall take ende hauing no more cause to feare renuing of discorde by any that can descend from him And who shall let me then from inioying hir whom I do loue hir 〈◊〉 being dead and his goodes confiscate to the segniorie and she without all maintenance and relief except the aide of hir onely beautie and curtesie What maintenance shall she haue if not by the loue of some honest Gentleman that for his pleasure may support hir and haue pitie vpon the losse of so excellent beautie Ah Salimbene what hast thou sayd Hast thou alreadie forgotten that a Gentleman for that only cause is estemed aboue all other whose glorious factes oughte to shine before the brightnesse of those that force themselues to folow vertue Art not thou a Gentleman borne and bredde in noble house ssued from the loines of gentle and noble parents Is it ignorant vnto thée that it pertaineth vnto a noble and gentle hearte to reuenge receiued iniuries himself without séeking aide of other or else to pardon them by vsing clemencie and princely curtesie burying all desire of vengeaunce vnder the tombe of eternall obliuion And what greater glorie can man acquire than by vanquishing himself and chastising his affections and rage to bynde him whiche neuer thought to receiue pleasure or benefite at his hand It is a thing which excedeth the cōmon order of nature and so it is mete and requisite that the most excellent do make the effects of their excellencie appeare and séeke means for the immortalitie of their remembrāce The great Dictator Caesar was more praised for pardoning his 〈◊〉 and for shewing him selfe curteous and easie to be spoken to than for subduing the braue and valiant Galles and Britons or vanquishing the mightie Pompee Dom Roderico Viuario the Spaniard although he might haue ben reuenged vpon Dom Pietro king of Aragon for his infidelitie bicause he went about to hinder his voyange against the Saracens at Grenado yet wold not punishe or raunsom him but taking him prisoner in the warres suffered him to go without any tribute or any exaction of him and his 〈◊〉 The more I folowe the example of mightie personages in things that be good the more notorious and wonderful shal I make my self in their rare and noble déedes And not willing to forget a wrong done vnto me whereof may I cōplain of Montanine what thing hath hée euer done against me or mine And albeit his predecessors were enimies to our familie they haue therfore borne the penance more hard than the sin deserued And truly I shold be afrayd that God wold suffer me to 〈◊〉 into some mishap if séeing one afflicted I shold reioyse in his affliction take by his decay an argument of ioy plesure No no Salimbene is not of minde that such fond imagination should bereue good will to make himselfe a friend to gaine by liberalitie curtesie hir which for hir only vertue deserueth a greater lord than I. Being asiured that there is no man except he were 〈◊〉 of al good nature humanitie specially bering the loue to Angelica that I do but he woulde be sory to see hir in such heauinesse and dispaire wold attempt to deliuer hir from such dolorous grief For if I loue hir as I do in dede must not I likewise loue al that which she earnest ly loueth as him that is now in daunger of death for a simple fine of a thousand Florens That my heart doe make appere what the loue is which maketh me tributarie and subiect to faire Angelica that eche man may know that furious loue hath vanquisht kings greate monarches it behoueth not me to be abashed if I which am a man subiect tapassiōs so wel as other do submit my self to the seruice of hir who I am assured is so vertuous as euē very necessitie cannot force hir to forget the house wherof she toke hir original Uaunt thy self then 〈◊〉 Angclica to haue forced a heart of it selfe impregnable giuen him a wound which the stoutest lads might sooner haue depriued of life than put him out of the way of his gentle kind And 〈◊〉 Montanine thinke that if thou wilte thy selfe thou wynnest to day so heartie a friende as onely death shall separate the vnion of vs twaine and of all our posteritie It is I nay it is I my selfe that shall excell thée in duetie poynting the way for the wysest to get honor and violently compell the moued myndes of those that be oure aduersaries desiring rather vainly to forgo mine own life than to giue ouer the vertuous conceipts whiche be alreadie grifted in my minde After this long discourse séeing that the tyme required diligence he tooke a thousande Ducates and went to the Treasurer of the fines deputed by the state whom he fonnd in his office and said vnto him I haue brought you sir the Thousand Ducates which Charles Montanine is bounde to pay for his deliuerance Tell them and giue hym an acquittance that presently he may come forth The Treasorer woulde haue giuen him the rest that excéeded the summe of a Thousand Florens but Salimbene refused the same and receiuing a letter for his discharge he sent one of his seruants therwithall to the chiefe Gailer who séeing that the summe of his condemnation was payd immediatly deliuered Montanine out of the prison where he was fast shutte and fettred with great and weighty giues Charles thinkyng that some Frier had ben come to confesse hym and that they had shewed hym 〈◊〉 mercy to do him to
care or more prouident héede ought to be taken in iesting with a Scholer than with any other cōmon person nor wel remembring how they 〈◊〉 know not all I say but the greatest part where the Diuell holdeth his taile and therfore take héede good wiues and widowes how you giue your selues to mockes and daliaunce specially of Scholers But now turne we to another widowe that was no amorous dame but a sober matrone a motherly gentlewoman that by pitie and money redemed raūsomed a Kings sonne out of miserable captiuity being vtterly abandoned of all his friendes The maner and meanes how the Nouel ensuing shall she we Camiola and Rolande ¶ A Gentlewoman 〈◊〉 widowe called CAMIOLA of hir owne minde raunsomed ROLANDE the kings sonne of Sicilia of purpose to haue him to hir husband who when he was redemed vnkindely denied hir against whome very 〈◊〉 she inueyed and although the 〈◊〉 proued him to be hir husband yet for his vnkindenesle she vtterly refused him The. xxxij Nouel BVsa a Gentlewoman of Apulia maintained ten thousand Romaine souldiers within the walles of Cannas that were the remnaunt of the armie after that ouerthrow ther and yet hir state of richesse was safe and nothing deminished and lefte thereby a worthy testimonie of liberalitie as Valerius Maximus affirmeth If this worthy woman Busa for liberalitie is commended by auncient authors if she deserue a monument amonges famous writers for that splendent vertue which so brightly blasoneth the Heroicall natures of Noble dames then may I be so bolde amongs these Nouels to bring in as it were by the hand a widow of Messina that was a gentlewoman borne adorned with passing beautie and vertues Amongs that rank of which hir comely qualities the vertue of liberalitie glistered like the morning starre after the night hath cast of his darke and cloudie mantell This gentlewoman remaining in widowes state and hearing tell that one of the sonnes of Federick and brother to Peter that was then king of the sayd Ilande called Rolande was caried prisoner to Naples and there kept in miserable captiuitie and not like to be redéemed by his brother for a displeasure conceiued nor by any other pitying the state of the yong Gentleman and moued by hir gentle and couragious disposition and specially with the vertue of liberalitie raunsomed the sayd Rolande and 〈◊〉 no interest or vsury for the same but him to husbād that ought vpon his knées to haue made sute to be hir slaue and seruaunt for respect of his miserable state of imprisonment An affiaunce betwéene them was concluded and he redéemed and 〈◊〉 he was returned he falsed his former faith and cared not for hir For which vnkinde part she before his friends inueyeth against that ingratitude and vtterly for saketh him when sore ashamed he would very faine haue recouered hir good will But she like a wise Gentlewoman well waying his inconstant minde before mariage lusted not to tast or put in proofe the fruites successe thereof The intire discourse of whome you shall briefly and presently vnderstand Camiola a widow of the Citie of Siena that daughter of a gentle Knight called Signor Lorenzo 〈◊〉 was a woman of great renoume fame for hir beautie liberalitie shame fastnesse and led a life in Messina an auncient Citie of 〈◊〉 no lesse commendable than famous in the cōpany of hir parents contenting hir self with one only husband while she liued which was in the time when Federick the third was king of that 〈◊〉 and after their death she was an heire of very great wealth and richesse which were alwayes by hir cōserued and kept in maruellous honest sort Now it chaunced that after the death of Federick Peter succeding by his commaundement a great armie by sea was equipped from 〈◊〉 vnder the conduct of Iohn Countie of Chiaramonte the most renewmed in those dayes in feats of warre for to aide the people of Lippari which were so strongly and earnestly besieged as they were almost all dead and cōsumed for hunger In this army ouer and besides those that were in pay many Barons and Gentlemen willingly went vpon their owne proper costes and charges as wel by sea as land onely for fame and to be renowmed in armes This Castell of Lippari was assaulted by Godefrey of Squilatio a valiant man and at that time Admiral to Robert 〈◊〉 of Ierusalem and Sicile which Godefrey by long siege assault had so 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 people within as daily he hoped they would surrender But hauing aduertisement by certain Brigandens which he had sent abrode to scour the seas that the enimies armie which was farre greater than his was at hand after that he had assembled al his nauie togither in one sure place he expected the euent of fortune The enimies so soone as they were seased possessed of the place without any resistaunce of 〈◊〉 places abandoned by Godefrey caried into the city at their pleasure all their victualles which they brought with them for which good hap and chaunce the saide Counte Iohn being very much encouraged and puffed vp with pride offred battell to Godefrey Wherefore he not refusing the same being a man of great corage in 〈◊〉 night time fortified his army with boordes timber and other rampiers and hauing put his nauie in good order he encoraged his men to fight and to doe valiantly the next day which done he caused the Ankers to be wayed and giuing the signe tourned the prowesse of 〈◊〉 shippes against 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 armie but Counte Iohn who thought that Godefrey would not fight and durst not once loke vpon 〈◊〉 great army of the Sicilians did not put his fléete in order of fight but rather in readinesse to pursue the ennimies But séeing the courage and the approche of them that came against him began to feare his heart almost failing him and 〈◊〉 him that he had required his enimie to that which he thought neuer to haue obtained In such wise as mistrusting the battel with troubled minde chaunging the order giuen and notwithstanding not to séeme altogither fearefull incontinently caused his ships to be put into order after the best maner he could for so little time himselfe giuing the signe of battell In the meane while their enimies being approched néere vnto them and making a very great noise with cries and shoutes furiously entred with the prowesse of the shippes amongs the Sicilians which came slowly forthe hauing first throwne their 〈◊〉 and grapples to stay them they began the fight with Dartes Crossebowes and other shot in such sort as the Sicilians being amazed for the sodaine mutacion of Councell and all enuironned with feare and the souldiers of Godefrey perceiuing 〈◊〉 same entred their enimies ships and comming to blowes euen in a moment all was filled with bloud by reason whereof the Sicilians then despairing of them selues and they that feared turning the 〈◊〉 fled away but neuerthelesse the victorie reclining towardes Godefrey many of their shippes were drowned