house Upon this Anniuersarie day of Artaxerxes coronation when all things were disposed in order the King desirous to accomplishe a certaine conceiued determination cōmaunded one of his faithful chamberlains spéedily to seke out Ariobarzanes which the sayde faithfull chamberlaine did and telling him the kings message sayd My lord Ariobarzanes the King hath willed me to say vnto you that his pleasure is that you in your owne person euen forthwith shall cary your white stéede and Courser the mace of gold and other 〈◊〉 due to the office of Senescall vnto Darius youre mortall enimie and in his maiesties behalfe to say vnto him that the king hath giuen him that office and hath clearely dispossessed you thereof Ariobarzanes hearing those heauie newes was like to die for sorowe and the greater was his griefe bicause it was giuen to his greatest enimie Notwithstanding like a Gentleman of noble stomacke woulde not in open apparance signifie the displeasure which he conceiued within but with merrie cheare and louing countenance sayde vnto the chambrelaine Do my right humble cōmendations vnto the kinges maiestie and say vnto him that like as he is the soueraigne lorde of all this lande and I his faithfull subiect euen so myne office my life landes and goods be 〈◊〉 his disposition and that willingly I will performe his 〈◊〉 When he had spoken those wordes he rendred 〈◊〉 his office to Darius who at dinner serued in the same And when the king was set Ariobarzanes with comely countenaunce sat downe amongs the rest of the Lordes Which sodaine deposition and depriuation did 〈◊〉 lously amaze the whole assemblie euery man secretly speking their minde either in praise or dispraise of that fact The king all the dinner time did marke note the countenance of Ariobarzanes which was pleasant and merie as it was wont to be whereat the king did greately maruell And to attaine to the ende of his purpose hée began with sharpe wordes in presence of the nobilitie to disclose his discontented minde and the grudge which he bare to Ariobarzanes On the other side the king suborned diuers persons diligently to espie what he sayde did Ariobarzanes hearing the kings sharpe wordes of rebuke and stimulated by the persuasion of diuers flatterers which were hired for that purpose after he perceiued that his declared pacience preuailed nothing that his modest talke his long and faithful seruice which he had done vnto the king his losse and hinderance sustained the perill of his life which so many times he had suffered at length banquished with disdaine he brake the Bridle of Pacience and sorted out of the boundes of his wonted nature for that in place of honor he receiued rebuke in stede of reward was depriued of his office begā in a rage to cōplain of that king terming him to be an vnkind prince which amongs the Persians was estéemed a worde of great offence to the maiestie wherefore faine he would haue departed the court and retired home to his coūtrey which he coulde not doe without speciall licence from the king and yet to craue the same at his handes his heart would not serue him Althese murmures and complaintes which secretely he made were tolde the king therfore the king commaunded him one day to be called before him vnto whome he sayde Ariobarzanes youre grudging complaints and enuious quarels which you disparcle behinde my backe throughout my Courte and your continuall rages outragiously pronounced through the verie windowes of my Palace haue 〈◊〉 myne eares whereby I vnderstande that thing which hardly I would haue beleued But yet being a Prince as wel inclined to fauour and quiet hearing of al causes as to credite of light reports would faine know of you the cause of your lamentation and what hath moued you thervnto For you be not ignorant that to murmure at the Persian King or to terme him to be vnkinde is no lesse offence than to blaspheme the Gods immortall bicause by auncient Lawes and Decrées they be honored and worshipped as Gods And among all the penalties conteined in our lawes the vice of Ingratitude is moste bitterly corrected But leauing to speake of the threates and dangers of our lawes I pray you to tell me wherin I haue offended you For albeit that I am a king yet reason persuadeth me not to giue offence to any man which if I shoulde doe and the Gods forbid the same I ought rather to be termed a tyrant than a King Ariobarzanes hearing the King speake so reasonably was abashed but yet with stoute countenaunce he feared not particularly to remembre the wordes which he had spoken of the King and the cause wherefore he spake them Well sayd the King I perceiue that you blushe not at the words ne yet fear to reherse the same vnto my face wherby I doe perceiue and note in you a certaine kinde of stoutenesse which naturally 〈◊〉 from the greatnesse of your minde But yet wisedome would that you shoulde consider the reason and cause why I haue depriued you from your office Doe you not knowe that it appertaineth vnto me in all mine affaires and déedes to be liberall curteous magnificent and bounteous Be not those the vertues that make the fame of a Prince to 〈◊〉 amongs his subiects as the Sunne beames do vpon the circuit of the worlde Who ought to rewarde well doers and recompence eche wight which for any seruice and aduantage haue all the dayes of their life or else in some particuler seruice vsed their painful trauaile or aduentured the perill of their life but I alone béeing your soueraigne Lord and Prince To the vertuous and obedient to the Captaine and Souldier to the politike and wise to the lerned and graue finally to eche well 〈◊〉 wight I know how to vse the noble princely vertues of Curtesie and Liberalitie They bée the comely ensignes of a King They be the onely ornaments of a Prince They bée my particuler vertues And will you Ariobarzanes béeing a valiant souldier a graue counsailer and a politike personage goe aboute to dispossesse me of that which is mine Will you which are my seruant and subiect of whom I make greatest accompt and haue in dearest estimation vpon whome I did bestowe the greatest dignitie within the compasse of my whole Monarchie grate benefite at my hands by abusing those vertues which I aboue other do principally regard You do much abuse the credite which I repose in your greate wisedome For hée in whome I thought to finde moste graue aduise and déemed to bée a receptacle of all good counsell doth seke to take vpon him the personage of his Prince and to vsurpe the kingly state which belongeth only vnto him Shall I be tied by your deserts or bound by curteous dedes or else be forced to rendre recompēce No no so long as this imperiall crown shall rest on royall head no subiecte by any curteous déede of his shall straine vnwilling minde which meant it not
be very straunge that such 〈◊〉 guard shold be obserued of those which ought to liue at libertie and doe not consider how libertie and licentious bridle let slip vnto youth brede vnto the same most strong and tedious bondage that better it had bene the same to haue bene chained and closed in some obscure prison than marked with those blottes of infamie which willingly such licence and libertie doe conduce If England doe not by experience sée maidens of Noble houses infamed through too much vnbrideled and frank maner of life and their parents desolate for such villanie and the name of their houses fabulous and ridiculous to the people yet that manner of espiall and watch ouer children may be noted in nations not very farre cōfining from vs where men be iealous of the very fantasie of thē whome they thinke to be of good grace and who dare with one very loke giue atteint vnto their Daughters But where examples be euident where follie is more than manifest where all the world is assured of that which they sée by daily experience and that the frutes of the disordered breake out into light it behoueth no more to attend the daungerous customes of a Countrey and to condescend to the sottishe opinion of them which say that youth too narrowly looked vnto is trained vp in such grosenesse and blockishnesse of minde as impossible it is afterwards the same should do any thing praise worthy The Romane maidēs 〈◊〉 were cloistered within their fathers Palaces stil at their mothers elbowes notwithstanding were so wel brought vp that those of best ciuility finest trained vp in our age shal not be the second to one of the least perfect in that Citie But who can learne ciuilitie vertue in these our daies our daughters nousled in cōpanies whose mouths run ouer with whorish filthy talk with 〈◊〉 full of ribauldrie many times 〈◊〉 with facts lesse honest thā word is able to expresse I do not pretend héereby to depriue that sexe of honest and seemely talk and companie and lesse of exercise amongs the Noble Gentlemen of our English soile ne yet of the libertie receiued from our auncestors only me thinke that requisite it were to contemplate the maners and inclination of wils and refrain those that be prone to wantonnesse by like meanes to reioyce the mindes of them that be bent to heauinesse diuided from curtesie and ciuility by attending of which choise and considering of that difference impossible it is but vertue must shine more bright in Noble houses than homelinesse in cabanes of pesants and coūtrey carles who oftentimes better obserue the Discipline of our predecessors in education of their children than they which presume to praise thēselues for good skill in vse and gouernmēt of that age more troublesome painfull to rule than any other time of mannes life Therfore the good and wise Emperor Marcus Aurelius would not haue his daughters to be brought vp in Courts For quod he what profite shall the nurse receiue by learning hir maiden honesty and vertue whē our works intice them to dalliance and to learne the follie of those that be amorous I make this discourse not that I am so 〈◊〉 a iudge for our maydens of England that I wishe them so reformed as to sée and be séene should be forbidden being assured that vertue in what place so euer she be cannot but open things that shall sauor of the tast therof But to talke of an Italian dame who so long as hir first husband knowing hir inclination kept hir subiect she liued in reputation of a modest and sober wife Nothing is séene in hir that can defame hir 〈◊〉 And so soone as the shadow of that frée captiuitie was passed by the deathe of hir husband God knoweth what pageant she played and how she soyled both hir owne renoume and the honor of hir second husband as ye shal vnderstand if with pacience ye vouchsafe to reade the discourse of this present Historie Cafall as it is not vnknown is a Citie of Piedmont and subiecte to the Marquize of Montferrato where dwelled one that was very rich although of base birth named Giachomo Scappardone who being growne to be rich more by wicked Art and vsury to much manifest than by other his owne diligence tooke to wife a yong Greke maiden which the Marchionesse of Montferrato mother of Marquize Guglielmo had broughte home with hir from that voyage that she made into Grecia with hir husband when the Turkes ouerran that countrey of Macedonia and seased vpon the Citie of Modena which is in Morea Of that maiden Scappardone had a daughter indifferent faire but in behauior liuely and pleasant who by name was called Bianca Maria. The father died within a while after hir birth as one that was of good yeres and had bene greatly turmoiled in getting of riches whose value amoūted aboue one hundred thousand Crownes Bianca Maria arriued to the age of xvj or 〈◊〉 yeres was required of many aswell for hir beautie gentlenesse good grace as for hir great riches In the ende she was maried to the vicecount Hermes the sonne of one of the chiefest houses in Millan who incontinently after the mariage conueyed hir home to his house leauing his 〈◊〉 mother to gouerne the vsuries 〈◊〉 by hir dead husbād The Gentleman which amōgs two gréene knew one that was ripe hauing for a certain time wel vsed and learned the maners of his wife saw that it behoued him rather to deale with the bit and bridle than the spur séeing hir to be wanton full of desire and coueted nothing so much as fonde and disordered libertie therfore without cruell dealing disquiet or trouble he used by little and little to keepe hir in and cherished hir more than his nature willingly wold suffer of purpose to holde hir within the bounds of duetie And although the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 haue almost like liberties that ours haue yet the Lord Hermes kept hir within dores and suffred hir to frequent none other house and company but the Ladie Hippolita Sforcia who vpon a day demaunded of him wherfore he kept in his wife so short persuaded him to giue hir somewhat more the bridle bicause diuers already murmured of this order as too straite froward estéeming hint either to be too much fond ouer hir or else to iealous Madame said the Millanoise they which at pleasure so speake of me know not yet the nature of my wife who I had rather shold be somewhat restrained than run at rouers to hir dishonour and my shame I remember well madame the proper saying of Paulus Emilius that Notable Romane Who being demaunded wherfore hee refused his wife being a Gentlewoman so faire beautiful O quod he lifted vp his leg whereupon was a new paire of buskins ye sée this fair buskin méete and séemely for this leg to outwarde apparance not grieuous or noisome but in what place it hurteth me or
the rare excellencies wherewith the Citie is furnished there is none more famous than the monument of Rhomeo Iulietta Two Gentlewomen of Venice ¶ Two Gentlemen of VENICE were honourably deceiued of their wiues whose notable practises and secrete cōference for archieuing their desire occasioned diuers accidentes and ingendred double benefite wherin also is recited an eloquent oration made by one of them pronounced before the Duke and state of that Citie with other chaunces and actes concerning the same The. xxvj Nouel HEre haue I thoughte good to summon y. gentlewomen of Venice to apeare in place and to mount on stage amonges other Italian dames to shewe cause of their bold incountrie against the follie of their two husbandes that vncharitably against order of neighbourhode wente about to assayle the honestie of eythers wife and wéening they had enioyed others felicitie by the womens prudence foresyghte and ware gouernement were bothe deceiued and yet attayned the chiefest benefite that mariage state doth looke for so that yf searche bée made amonges antiquities it is to be doubted whether greater chastitie and better policie coulde bée founde for 〈◊〉 of an intended purpose Many dedes haue bene done by women for sauegarde of their husbands liues as that of Minyae a sorte of women whose husbands wer imprisoned at Lacedaemon for treason cōdemned who to saue their husbāds entred into prison the night before they shold die by exchange of apparell deliuered them and remained there to suffre for them Hipsicratea also the Quene wife of 〈◊〉 king of Pontus spared not hir noble beautie and golden lockes to manure hir self in the vse of armes to kéepe hir husbād company in perils and daungers and being ouercome by Pompeius and flying away neuer left him vnaccōpanied ne forsoke such trauel as he him self sustained The like also of Aemilia Turia 〈◊〉 Portia other Romane dames But that such haue preuēted their husbands follie seldome we reade sauing of Quéene Marie the wife of Don Pietro king of Arragon who marking the folie of hir husband and sorie for his disordred life honest iealousie opening hir cōtinēt eyes forced hir to seke meanes to remoue his wanton acts or at lestwise by policie wise foresight to make him husband culture his own soile that for want of seasonable tillage was barren voide of fruite Wherefore consulting with the lorde Chamberlain who of custome brought whom the King liked best was in place of his woman bestowed in his bed and of hir that night begate the yong Prince Giacomo that afterwardes proued a valiaunt and wise King These passyng good policies of women many times abolish the frantik lecherous fits of husbands giuen to superfluous lustes when first by their chast behauior womāly pacience they 〈◊〉 that whiche they bée lothe to sée or heare of and then demaunding counsell of sobrietie and wisedome excogitate sleightes to shunne follie and expell discurtesie by husbandes carelesse vse Suche practyses and deuises these two Gentlewomen whome I now bring forth disclose in this discourse ensuing In the Citie of Venice whiche for riches and faire women excelleth al other within the region of Italie in the time that Francesco Foscari a very wise Prince did gouerne the state there were two yong gentlemē the one called Girolamo Bembo and the other Anselmo Barbadico betwene whome as many times chaunceth amongs other grew such great hatred and cruel hostilitie as eche of them by secrete and al possible means deuised to do other shame and displeasure which kindled to such out rage as it was thought impossible to be pacified It chaunced that at one time both of them did marie two noble yong Gentlewomen excellēt faire both brought vp vnder one nurse and loued eche other like two sisters and as though they had ben both born of one bodie The wyse of Anselmo called Isotta was the daughter of Messer 〈◊〉 Gradenigo a mā of great estimation in that citie one of the procuratours of San Marco whereof there were not so greate numbre in those dayes as there be now bicause the wisest men best approued of life were chosen to that great and noble dignitie none allotted therevnto by bribe or ambition The wife of Girolamo Bembo was called Lucia that daughter of Messer Gian Francesco Valerio Caualiere a Gentleman very well learned and many times sent by the State ambassador into diuers countreyes and after he had bene Drator with the Pope for his wisedome in the execution of the same was in great estima tion with the whole citie The two Gentlewomen after they were maried heard of the hatred betwene their husbandes were very sorowfull and pensiue bicause they thought the friendshyppe and loue betwene them twaine continued from their tender yeres could not be but with great difficulty kept or else altogither dissolued broken Not withstāding being discrete and wise for auoiding occasion of their husbands offēce determined to cease their accustomed conuersation louing familiaritie not to frequent eche others cōpany but at places times conuenient To whome Fortune was so fauorable as not only their houses were néere together but also ioyning in the backsides wherof their gardens also cōfined seperated only with a litle hedge that euery day they might sée one another many times talke togither Moreouer the seruāts people of either houses were friendly familiar which did greatly cōtent the two louing Gētlewomen bicause they also in the absence of their husbāds might at pleasure in their gardens disport thēselues And continuing this order that space of iij. yeres neither of thē both were with childe In which space Anselmo many times vicwing and casting his eyes vpō Madonna Lucia fel earnestly in loue with hir was not that day wel at ease wherin he had not beholden hir excellēt beautie 〈◊〉 that was of sprite and wit subtil marked the lokes maner of Anselmo who neither for 〈◊〉 ne other cause did render like lokes on him but to sée to what end his louing chéere countenāce wold 〈◊〉 Not 〈◊〉 she séemed rather 〈◊〉 to behold him thā elswher to imploy hir lokes On the other side the good 〈◊〉 the wise order and pleasant beautie of Madonna Isotta was so excellent plausible in the sight of master Girolamo as no louer in the world was better pleased with his Ladie than 〈◊〉 with hir who not able to liue without the swete sight of Isotta that was a crafty wily wēch was 〈◊〉 hir quickly perceiued She being right honest wise and louing hir husband very dearly did beare that 〈◊〉 to Girolamo that she generally did to any of the 〈◊〉 or to other stranger that she neuer saw before But hir 〈◊〉 more more inflamed hauing lost that liberty of him self wounded pierced with the amorous arowes of Loue could not conuert his minde to any other 〈◊〉 to mistresse Lucia These two womē wonted to heare seruice euery day ordinarily at the church
of 〈◊〉 bicause they lay lōg a bed in the mornings commonly seruice in that church was said somwhat late their pewes also somwhat distant one frō an other Whether their y. amorous husbāds cōtinually vsed to folow thē 〈◊〉 off to place themselues wher either of thē might 〈◊〉 view his beloued by which custome they seemed to the cōmon people to be iealous ouer their wiues But they prosecuted that matter in such wise as either of thē weout shipping sought to send other into Cornouale It came to passe then that these 〈◊〉 beloued gētlewomē one knowing nothing of another determined to cōsider better of this loue bicause the great good wil lōg time borne shold not be interrupted Upō a certain day when their 〈◊〉 were abrode resorting together to talk at their garden hedge according to their wōted maner they 〈◊〉 to be 〈◊〉 mery and after louing salutations mistresse Lucia spake these words vnto hir companion Isotta my dear beloued sister I haue a tale to tel you of your husband that perchanuce wil seme stranger thā any newes that euer you heard And I answered mistresse Isotta haue a story to tel you that will make you no lesse to wōder thā I at that which you haue to say and it may be wil put you into some choler chafe What is that quod that one and other In the end either of thē told what 〈◊〉 loue their husbands wēt about Wherat although they were in great rage with their husbands yet for that time they laughed out the matter and thought that they were sufficient as in very déede they were a thing not to be doubted and able to satisfie their husbands hūger and therwithal began to blame them and to say that they deserued to learn to play of the Cornets if they had no greater feare of God and care of honesty thā their husbands had Then after much talke of this matter concluded that they shold do well to expect what their husbands would demaunde Hauing taken order as they thought méete they agréed daily to espie what shoulde chaunce and purposed first with swéete and pleasant lookes to baite and lure eche other féere to put them in hope there 〈◊〉 that they should satisfie their desires which done for that time they departed And when at the Church of Sanfantino or other place in Venice they 〈◊〉 to méete their louers they shewed vnto them chearefull and mery countenaunce which the louers well noting were the gladdest men of the worlde and séeing that it was impossible in speache to vtter their mindes they purposed by letters to signify the same And hauing founde Purciuaunts to goe betwene parties whereof this Citie was wont to be full either of them wrote an amorous letter to his beloued the content whereof was that they were very desirous secretely to talke with them thereby to expresse the burning affectiōs that inwardly they bare them which without declaration and vtterance by mouthe in their owne presence woulde bréede them torments more bitter than deathe And within fewe dayes after 〈◊〉 great difference of time betwéene they wrote their letters But Girolamo Bembo hauing a pregnant wit who coulde wel endite both in prose and 〈◊〉 wrote an excellent song in the praise of his darling in Italian Meter and with his letter sent the same vnto hir the effect wherof both folow ALiuely face and pearcing beautie bright Hath linkt in loue my sely sences all A comely porte a goodly shaped wight Hath made me slide that neuer thought to fall Hir eyes hir grace hir dedes and maners milde So straines my heart that loue hath wit begilde But not one darte of Cupide did me wounde A hundred shafts lights all on me at ones As though dame kinde some new deuise had founde To teare my flesh and crash a two my bones And yet I feele such ioy in these my woes That as I die my sprite to pleasure goes These new found fits such change in me doe breede I hate the day and draw to darknesse lo Yet by the lampe of beautie doe I feede In dimmest dayes and darkest nights also Thus altring state and changing diet still I feele and know the force of Venus will The best I finde is that I doe confesse I loue you dame whose beautie doth excell But yet a toy doth brede me some distresse For that I dread you will not loue me well That loue ye wot shall rest in me alone And fleshly brest shall beare a heart of slone O Goddesse mine yet heare my voyce of ruthe And pitie him that heart presents to thee And if thou want a witnesse for my truthe Let sighs and teares my iudge and record be Vnto the end a day may come in hast To make me thinke I spend no time in wast For nonght preuailes in loue to serue and sue If full effect ioyne not with words at nede What is desyre or any fansies newe More than the winde that spreades abrode in 〈◊〉 My words and works shall bothe in one agree To pleasure hir whose seruant would I bee The subtill dames receiuing those amorous letters and song disdainfully at the first 〈◊〉 to take them at the bringers hands as they had determined yet afterwardes they shewed better countenaunce These letters were tossed one from an other whereat they made great pastime and thought that the same would come to very good successe either of them keping styll their husbandes letter and agréeing withoute iniurie done one to an other trunly to deceiue their husbands The maner how you shal perceiue anone They deuised to sende worde to their louers that they were readie at all times to satisfie their sutes if the same might be secretely done and safely might make repaire vnto their houses when their husbands were absent which in any wise they sayde muste be done in the night for feare least in the day time they were discried Againe these prouident and subtill women had taken order with their maydes whome they made priuie to theyr practise that through their gardens they should enter into others house and be shut in their chambers without light there to tarie for their husbands and by any meanes not to be séene or knowne This order prescribed and giuen Mistresse Lucia first did hir louer to vnderstand that the night insuing at iiij of the clock at the posterne dore which should be left open he shoulde come vnto hir house where hir maide should be redy to bring him vp into the chaumbre bicause hir husbande maister Girolamo woulde that night imbarke himselfe to goe to Padoua The like mistresse Isotta did to maister Girolamo appointing him at v. of the clock which she sayd was a very conuenient time bicause maister Anselmo that night would sup and lie with certaine of his friendes at Murano a place besides Venice Upon these ne wes the two louers thought them selues the most valiant and fortunate of the world no enterprise now there was but séemed
the firste that gaue his name a Gentleman very valorous and in 〈◊〉 of Armes of passing estimation brought vp from his very youth and trained in the field other warlike exercises The Senescall also caused his name to be inrolled The like did 〈◊〉 ther knights as well Persians as other straungers For that the Proclamation was generall with safeconduct for all forainers noble men or other that should make their repaire The King had elected thrée auncient Barons to be Judges and Arbitratours of their déedes suche as in their time for their owne personages had ben very valiant and in many enterprises well exercised men of gret discretion and iudgement Their stage was placed in the middes of the Lists to view and marke the counterbuffes and blowes of the Combatants We néede not to remembre 〈◊〉 oughte to forgette the numbre of Ladies and Gentlewomen assembled out of all partes to beholde and viewe this triumphe and peraduenture eche knight that ranne that day was not withoute his amorous Ladie to note and beholde his Actiuitie and Prowesse euery of them wearing his Ladies sléeue gloue or other token accordyng to the common Custome in suche like cases At the daye and houre appointed appeared all the Combatantes in greate Triumphe and pompe with rich furnitures as well vpon them selues as vppon their horsse The triumph begonne and many Launces broken in good order on either sides Judgement was giuen generally that the Senescall Ariobarzanes had wonne the price and next vnto him the kings sonne did passe them all for that none of all the Combattants had broken past v. staues and the sayd yong Gentleman had in the face of his aduersarie broken in pieces nine at the least This Senescall brought forth eleuen laūces which were couragiously and honorably broken and by breaking of the last staffe which was the twelfthe he was iudged moste worthie of the price The condition wherof was that euery Combatant should run twelue courses with twelue launces and he which shoulde first breake the same should without doubt or further controuersie obtaine the rewarde What pleasure and delight the King did conceyue to sée his sonne behaue him selfe so valiantly that day I referre to the iudgement of fathers that haue children indued with like actiuitie But yet it grieued him that the Senescall had the greater aduantage and yet being a matter so wel knowen and discerned by the Judges like a wise man he dissembled his 〈◊〉 On the other side the yong Gentleman which did combat before his amorous ladie was very sorowful for that that he was voide of hope of the chiefest honour So that betwene the father and the sonne was one very thought and desire But the vertue and valor of the Senescall did truncate cut of all their grief Now the time was come that the Senescall should runne with his last staffe and mounted vppon the horsse which the King gaue him when he was on hunting And knowing wel that the King was very desirous that his son should excel all mē perceiuing likewise the inflamed minde of the yong Gentleman for the presence of his lady to aspire to honor purposed to giue ouer the honor archieued by himselfe to leaue it to the sonne and heire of his Lorde and 〈◊〉 He knew full well that those his curtesies pleased not the King neuerthelesse he was determined to perseuer in his opinion not to berieue the King of his glorie but onely to acquire fame and honour for him selfe And yet he thoughte vnkindenesse in the King that he would not accept his gentle déedes in better parte But fully minded that the honor of the triumph should be attributed to the Kings sonne he welded the staffe within his rest and when he was readie to encountre bicause it was he that should come agaynst him he let fall his launce out of his handes and sayd Farewel this curtesie of mine sith it is no better estemed The kings sonne gaue a gentle counterbuffe vpon the Placard of the Senescall brake his staffe in many pieces which was the x. course Many heard the words which the Senescal spake when his staffe fell out of his hands and the standers by well perceiued that he was not minded to giue the laste blowe bicause the kings sonne might haue the honor of the triumph which he desired so much Then Ariobarzanes departed the listes And the Prince without any great resistance wan the price victorie And so with sounde of diuerse instrumentes the price borne before him he was throughout the citie honorbaly conueyed amōg other the Senescal 〈◊〉 waited vpon him with mery countenāce greatly praising exalting that valiance of that yong Prince The King which was a very wise mā who many times had had experience of the Chiualrie of his Senescall at other Tourneys Iustes Barriers and Battels and always finding him to be prudent politike for his person very valiant knewe to wel that the fall of his launce was not by chaunce but of purpose continued his opinion of his Senescals liberalitie and courage And to say the trouth such was his exceding curtesie as fewe may be founde to imitate the same Wée daily sée that many be liberall of Fortunes goodes inuesting some with promotion some with apparell golde and siluer Iewels and other things of great value We sée also noble men bountifull to their seruants not onely of those mouable things but also of Castels Landes and Cities What shall we speake of them which will not sticke to sheade their owne bloud and many times to spende their life to do their frendes good Of these and such like examples all Records be full But a man that contemneth same glorie or is of his owne bonor liberall is neuer founde The victorious Captain after the bloody battaile giueth the spoile of his enimies to his souldiers rewardeth thē with prisoners departeth vnto them the whole pray but the glorie and honour of the battaile he reserueth vnto him selfe And as diuinely that father of Romaine eloquence doth say Those philosophers which write that glorie ought to be despised by their written bokes doe séeke after glorie them selues The King was displeased with these noble déedes and curtesie of his Senescall bicause he thoughte it not méete or decent that a subiecte and seruaunt should compare with his lorde and maister and therefore did not beare him that chéerefull countenance which he was wonte to doe And in the ende purposed to let him know that he spent his braines in very great errour if he thought to force his maister to be bounde or beneficiall vnto him as hereafter you shall perceiue There was an ancient and approued custome in Persia that the kings yerely did solemnize an Anniuersarie of their Coronation with great feast and triumph vpon which day all the Barons of the kingdome were bound to repaire to the Courte where the King by the space of viii dayes with sumptuous bankets and other sortes of feastes kepte open
bande of horsmen Wherefore Tarquinius sente to the Rammenses Titienses Luceres To the bandes that Romulus had conscribed hée added other new troupes of horsemen purposing that the same should continue in memorie of him after his death And bicause Romulus dyd the same without aduise of the Southsayers one Accius Nauius the notablest Prophecier in those daies withstoode that constitution 〈◊〉 that it was not lawsull for him eyther to appoint a newe order or to alter the olde except the birdes and auguries did assent thervnto Wherwith the king was displeased deluding that science said Go to M. Sothsayer tell me now quod he is it possible to bring that to passe which I haue now conceiued in my minde Yea quod the Southsayer if you tel me what it is Then quod Tarquinius I haue deuised that thou shalt pare thine owne skin with a Raser Therfore take this knife doe as thy birdes doe portend and signifie And as it was reported he pared his own skin in déede In memory wherof an Image of Accius was erected with his head 〈◊〉 After that time there was nothing attempted without those auguries Notwithstanding Tarquinius procéeded in his constitution and added to the Centurias an other number for that 1800. horsemen were conteined in the thrée Centuriae The later addition was called also by the same name which afterward were doubled into vj. Centurias Whē his numbre was thus increased once againe he ioyned battel with the Sabines who by a notable pollicie recouered a great victorie And bicause the Sabines doubled a freshe onset without any order of battell or good aduisement they were ouerthrowen and then constrained to make peticion for peace The citie of Collatia and the Coūtrie confining vpon the same was taken from the Sabines The Sabine warres being in this sortended Tarquinius in triumphant maner 〈◊〉 to Rome At that time a prodige and miraculous 〈◊〉 chaunced to be séene in the Palace The head of a childe whose name was Seruius Tullius lying a sléepe in the palace was séene to burne The king was brought to sée that miracle And as one of his seruants was going to fetch water to quēch the fire he was staid by the Quene who commaunded that the childe should not once be touched vntill he awaked of himselfe And so soone as he rose from sléepe the fire vanished Then she tooke hir husband aside and said doe you sée this childe whom we haue verie basely and negligently brought vp I assure you sir said she he wil be the only safegard and defender of this our doubtfull state and will be the preseruer of our houshold when it is afflicted Wherefore let vs make much of him that is like to be the ornament and a worthie stay to all our familie After that they had accompted him amongs the number of their children traded him vp in those Arts which excite all good dispositions to aspire vnto honoure the pleasure of the Gods appeared in short time For the child grew to a royal behauior in so much as among all the Romane youth there was none more méete to mary the daughter of Tarquinius This Seruius Tullius was the sonne of one Seruius Tullius that was a Captain of a towne called Corniculum at the apprehension whereof it chaunced that the sayd Tullius the father was 〈◊〉 leauing his wife great with child the mother being a captiue and bonde woman was deliuered of hir childe at Rome in the house of Priscus Tarquinius After Tarquinius had raigned xxxviij yeres the yong man began to growe to great honor and estimation aswell with the king himself as also with the Fathers Then the Romanes conceiued a hateful indignation against the king for that he being put in trust to be the Tutor gouernor of Ancus children displaced them from their right inheritance and specially for that he himself was a stranger fearing also that the kingdom should not return againe to the election of themselues but degenerat and grow into seruile bondage They also called to remembrāce that the Citie continewed one hundred yeres after the sublation of Romulus an intier kingdome within one Citie and that it was a shame for them to suffer a bondman borne of seruile kind to possesse the same and would rebound to their perpetual ignominie hauing the progenie of Ancus aliue to suffer the same to be open to straungers and bōdmen Wherfore they determined to defend the griefe of that iniurie and to be reuenged rather vpon Tarquinius than vpon Seruius In fine they committed the execution of that fact to two shepherds chosen out for that purpose Who deuised this pollicie Before the entrie into the Palace they fell togither by the eares vpon which fray all the kings officers assembled and repaired thither to know the cause of their falling out when they were parted they appealed to the king with such exclamation as they were heard to the Palace Being called before the king both of them fell to brawling and one of thē striued of purpose to hinder the tale of the other The kings sergeant rebuked them commaunding them to tel their tales in order Whē they were a litle quieted one of thē beginneth to discourse the tale And as the king was attentife to heare the plaintif the other toke vp a hatchet threw it at the king and leauing the weapon sticking in the wound they conueied themselues out of the dores Those that waited vpon the King made hast to relieue him and the sergeants followed to apprehende the malefactors With that a hurlie burlie rose amōgs the people euery man maruelling what the matter shoulde be Tanaquil commaunded the palace gates to be shut and séeketh remedie to cure hir husbande as though some hope of life had bene remaining When hope failed of his recouerie shée called Seruius before hir which maried hir daughter and shewed vnto him hir dead husbande holding him fast by the right hande shée intreated him that he would not suffer the death of his father in lawe to be vnreuenged to the intent he might not be ridiculous to the traitours saying to him further these words If thou be a man of thy hands O Seruius the kingdom is thine and not theirs which thus cruelly by the hands of other haue committed this abhominable facte Wherefore put forth thy selfe and the Gods be thy guide For they did portende this noble head to be the Gouernour of this citie at such time as they circumfused the same with a fire descendyng from aboue Let that heauenly 〈◊〉 excite thy courage Be throughly awaked We being straungers sometime haue raigned Thinke and consider what thou art not from whence thou camest If the strangenesse of the case doe affray thée my counsel from time to time shall relieue thée The crie and stirre of the people being vnmesurable that one could scarse heare an other Tanaquill opened the windowes that had their prospect to the new way for the King dwelt at the temple of
the Citie of Aricia his 〈◊〉 man whom with gold he had corrupted to bring in a forged accusation which was that his master had prepared in one night a number of men with 〈◊〉 and weapon to distroy the Nobilitie of the Latines of purpose to recouer the principalitie of the same This matter began to be suspicious by reason of the Tumult made the day before against Tarquinius and therefore the people the soner did credite the case In 〈◊〉 Turnus was 〈◊〉 and therefore a new kind of death deuised Who being laide vpon a Hurdle his face vpward was throwen into the water of Ferrentina This execution being done Tarquinius reuoked the Latines to Counsell wherein he praised them for 〈◊〉 Justice extended vpon Turnus and then he spake these woords I may by an old order and constitution iustlie say thus much vnto you The whole Nation of the Latines descending from the Citie of Alba are bound to obserue that 〈◊〉 which the Albanes with all their colonies annexing themselues to the Romane Empire in the time of Tullius Hostilius were firmely obliged to accomplishe The renouation whereof will nowe conduce more aduauntage and vtilitie to them all than euer it did before For throughe this 〈◊〉 the Latines shall possede and participate 〈◊〉 of the prosperous successe of the Romane people Better it were in this sort to ioyne themselues togither than to sée Destruction of either Cities Depopulacions and spoiles of their Countries which in the time of Ancus my Father then raigning ye suffred The like also if you doe forsake this offer ye may still expect and suffer The Latines here vnto were soone perswaded a day was appoynted when the 〈◊〉 sort of their Countrie should be redy armed at the wood called Ferrentina Being ioyned in order of battell they marched towards the Volsciens and wanne the Citie of 〈◊〉 Pometia the spoile wherof Tarquinius solde for xl Talents imploying the same vpon the Temple of Iupiter After wards he assaulted the Gabinians and whē he saw he could not by force obteine the same he 〈◊〉 a pollicie Who séeming to bend him selfe wholly vpon the building of the 〈◊〉 and to set aside the affaires of his warres deuised with his sonne Sextus which was the yōgest of the thrée that he should runne to the Gabinians and complaine of his fathers intollerable crueltie which accordingly he did Who shewing himselfe as a voluntarie exile said that his father had conuerted his tyrannie from other and began to execute the same vpon his owne 〈◊〉 And that he was also weary of the presence of his owne children going about to remoue his 〈◊〉 conuersants out of his house as he had done the like out of the Court to the intent he would leaue no ofspring or heire behind him to possesse his kingdome adding further that he was escaped euen through the midde of his fathers weapons and fury thincking no place better for his safegard and refuge than to séeke succour amongs his 〈◊〉 And bicause quod he ye shal not be 〈◊〉 he is euen now preparing of warres against you and purposeth vpon the sodain to set vpon you Now if there be no place of abode for me your humble suppliant 〈◊〉 you I must néedes wander through Italie and first I will attempt the Volscians afterwardes the Aequians and Hernicians till such tyme as I finde some nation willing to defend the poore chylde from the cruell and wicked furie of the Father And perchaunce quod he ye shall winne him that may be an Instrument and courage 〈◊〉 you all to represse that proude king and cruell Nation The Gabinians deliberating what was best to be done in this case the yong man 〈◊〉 as though he wer offended and would in all hast depart and séeke refuge of others then they curteously interteined him This yong man being had in great estimatiō amongs them through craftie and vaine persuasions making them beleue that he would conducte their armie euen vnder the walles of Rome with sundrie other 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 to bring him self the more in credit 〈◊〉 length he was chosen captaine of their warres and recouered sundry 〈◊〉 for the Gabinians Wherby the foolishe nation both of the lower and chiefest sorte beleued that their captaine was sent vnto them by the prouidence of the Gods He 〈◊〉 perill and paine in like sort as the common souldier did liberally deuiding his spoyles and booties amongs them He was so well beloued that his father Tarquinius at Rome was of no greater authoritie than he was among the Gabinians When he thought that he had recouered force enough to answere his fathers expectation he sent a post to Rome to know his fathers pleasure although the Gods had giuen him sufficient authoritie amongs the Gabinians And bycause Tarquinius was doubtfull of the trust and fidelitie of the Messanger hée would aunswere nothing by worde of mouth but carying the Messanger into a garden harde adioyning his house with a wand which he caried in his hande he cut of the heads of the highest Poppies that were in the garden meanyng therby that he should dispatche the heads of the chiefest and principal in the Citie Whervpon the messanger without answere by mouth returned But by declaring those signes circumstances which his father vsed Sextus conceiued his meaning Then like a 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 sonne following the steppes of his father he cut of the heades of the Gabinian nobilitie whervpon som ran away vpon whose departure the goodes as well of them as of other that were put to death were deuided The of the Gabinians being in this doubtful case bolde of all counsell and succour at length was surrendred to the Romanes Then Tarquinius concluded peace with the Aequians and renued a truce with the Thuscanes and wholly bent him selfe to the affaires of the Citie This Tarquinius was the father of hym that rauished the noble Ladie Lucretia the lamentable historie wherof is recited in my former Tome by the ende of whiche stocke remembred in that historie and beginning of the same described in this Nouell may bée gathered what fruits Ambition and lothsome lust bring forth For Tarquinius Priscus repairing out of Hetruria to dwell at Rome by the ambicious will of his wife aspired and atchieued the Kingdome which was by the sundrie deuice of Tullia the daughter of Seruius Tullius mainteined and by the 〈◊〉 desire of Sextus Tarquinius the sonne of Superbus the. 〈◊〉 Romane King ended and the whole race expelled euerlastingly vanished out of that Citie So mete an example for those that 〈◊〉 long after the rights titles Kingdomes of other as may bée read in any Author For although the Spring appeare very fresh and 〈◊〉 of some degenerate grifft planted vpon some aūcient stock 〈◊〉 the fruite moste commonly in taste eateth somewhat sower and the rellishe in mouthe not altogether so pleasaunt as that which bothe in soile and stocke is duely planted Sophonisba ¶ The vnhappie end and successe of the loue of king
liuely example to thée which could neuer finde any 〈◊〉 stay vnder the Moones globe He was the mightiest and the richest 〈◊〉 that raigned in Affrica and now is the most miserable vnluckie wight that liueth 〈◊〉 lande The Gods graunt that I be no prophete or 〈◊〉 of future euill whose omnipotencie I deuoutlye beséech to suffer thée and thy posteritie in Numide and most happily to raigne Uonchsafe then to 〈◊〉 me from the Romanes thraldome which if thou be not able safely to bring to passe death vnto me shall bée most hartily welcome In speaking those words she toke the Kings right hand and many times swéetly kissed the same And then hir teares turned into pleasant cheare in such wise as not onely the minde of the armed and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Prince was moued to mercie but 〈◊〉 wrapped in the amorous nets of the Ladie whereby the victour was subdued by the vanquished and the Lorde surprised of his captiue vnto whom with treÌ„bling voice thus he answered Make an end O Sophonisba of thy large complaint abandon thy conceyued feare for I will not onely ridde thée from the Romanès handes but also take thée to my 〈◊〉 wife if thou therwith shalt be content whereby thou shalte not leade a prisoners life but passe thy youthfull dayes and 〈◊〉 age if Gods doe graunt thée life so long as Quéene vnto a King wife vnto a Romane frende When he had sayd so with wéeping teares he kissed and embraced hir She by the 〈◊〉 signes gestes and interrupted 〈◊〉 comprehending that the mind of the Numide King was kindled with feruent loue the more to inflame the same she behaued hir selfe in such pitiful plight as the beastly hearts of the Hircane Tigres woulde haue bene made gentle and dispoiled of all fierceness For againe she fel downe at his féete and kissed the armed sabbatons vpon that same bedewing them with hir warme teares And after many sobbes and infinite sighes comforted by him she sayd O the glorie and honor of all the Kings that euer were bée or shall be hereafter O the safest aide of Carthage mine unhappie countrey without desert and nowe the present and most terrible astonishment If my hard fortune and great distresse after so greate ruine might haue bene relieued what greater fauore what thing in all my life coulde chaunce more and fortunate vnto me than to bée called wife of thée O I blessed aboue all other women to haue a man so noble and famous to husband O mine aduenturous and most happie ruine O my moste fortunate miserie that such a glorious and incomparable mariage was prepared for me But bicause the Gods be coÌ„trary vnto me and the due ende of my life approcheth â—easse from henceforth my deare soueraigne Lorde to kindle againe in me my hope half dead or rather consumed and spent bicause I sée my selfe wrapped in a state that in vaine against the pleasures of the Gods I go about to molest thée A great gift and to say the truthe a right great good turne I make accompte to haue receiued of thée if myne owne death I should procure that dying by thy meanes or with thy handes which were more acceptable I should escape the feare of the Romanes thrall all and subiection and this soule deliuered of the same should streight way passe into the Elysian fieldes The final scope of this my humble playnt is to rydone from the handes handes the Romanes whose thraldome to suffer I had rather die The other benefit which thou dost frankly offer to me poore wretche I dare not desire much lesse require the same bicause the preseÌ„t state of my mishappe dareth not presume so high But this thy pitie and compassion ioyned with louing regard and mind toward me mightie Ioua with all the other Gods rewarde and blesse thy gotten kingdome with long raigne enlarging the same with more ample boundes to thine eternall renoum and praise And I do not only render humble thankes for this thy kinde and louing enterteinmeÌ„t but also yelde my selfe thine owne so long as life gouerneth this caitife corps of myne These wordes were pronounced with such effecte as Massinissa was not able for pitie to hold his teares which watred so his comely forme as the dewe therof soaked into his tender heart and not able a long time to speake at last thus he sayd Gyue ouer O my Quéene these cares and thoughts drie vp thy cries 〈◊〉 plaints make an ende of all these dolorous sutes and reioyce that frowarde Fortune hath changed hir mind the Gods no doubt with better successe will perfourme the rest of thy liuing dayes Thou shalt heÌ„ceforth remain 〈◊〉 Quéene wife for pledge whereof the sacred Godheadâ— I call to witnesse But if perchauÌ„ce which the thuÌ„dring mightie God aboue forbid that I shall bée forced to render thée the Romanes prisoner be well assured that on liue they shal not possesse thée For credit and accomplishment of this promisse and in signe of his assured faith he reached his right haÌ„d to Sophonisba and led hir into the inner lodgyng of the Kyngs Palace where afterwarde Massinissa with him self considering how he might perform his promised faith â— ered and troubled with a thousande cogitations séeing in a manner his manifest ouerthrow and ruine at hande prouoked with mad and temerarious loue the very same day in open presence he toke hir to wife solemnizing that mariage which afterwards 〈◊〉 vnto him great veration trouble meaning by the same to haue discharged Sophonisba froÌ„ the Romanes rule order But when Laelius was come and heard tell therof 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and chased with 〈◊〉 wordes coÌ„maunded Massinissa to send his new maried wife as the bootie and praie of the Romanes together with Syphax to their Captaine Scipio Notwithstanding vanquished with the supplications and teares of Massinissa referring the matter wholly to the iudgement of Scipio he dispatched Syphax with the other prisoners and bootie to the Romane campe and he himself remained with Massinissa for the recouerie of other places of the Kingdome minding not to returne before the whole prouince were brought vnder the Romane subiection In that meane time Laelius gaue 〈◊〉 vnto Scipio of the successe of Massinissa his mariage Who knowing the same to be so hastily celebrated was maruellously offended troubled in minde much maruellyng that Massinissa would make such post hast before the comming of Laelius Yea vpon the very first day of his entrie into Cirta that hée would 〈◊〉 that vnaduised wedding the greater was Scipio his displeasure towards Massinissa for 〈◊〉 the loue which he had conceiued of that woman was vnsemely and dishonest wondering not a little that he could not finde out some Ladie within the region of Spaine of 〈◊〉 beautie and 〈◊〉 to please and content his honest and commendable intent wherfore he iudged Massinissa his 〈◊〉 to be done out of time to the preiudice and great decay of his honor estimation 〈◊〉 like a wise and
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
day the Souldan purposing to send him the nyght following he caused to be made redy in a great hall a very fair and rich bed all quilted according to their manner with veluet and clothe of gold and caused to be laide ouer the same a Couerlet wrought ouer with borders of very great pearles rich precious stones which euer afterwardes was déemed to be an infinite treasure and two pillowes sutelike vnto that bed that done he commaunded that they should inuest master Thorello who nowe was 〈◊〉 with a Sarazineroabe the richest and fairest thing that euer any man saw vpon his head one of his longest bands wreathen according to their māner being alredy late in the Euening he and diuers of his Barons went into the chamber wher master Thorello was and being set downe bisides hym in wéeping wise he began to say Master Thorello the time of our separation doth now approche and bicause that I am not able to accompany you ne cause you to be waited vpon for the qualitie of the way which you haue to passe I must take my leaue here in this chāber for which purpose I am come hither Wherefore before I bid you farewel I pray you for the loue and friendship that is betwene vs that you do remēber me if it be possible before our dayes do end after you haue giuen order to your affaires in Lombardie to come againe to sée me before I die to the end that I being reioyced with your second visitation may be satisfied of the pleasure which I loose this day for your vntimely hast trusting that it shall come to passe I pray you let it not be tedious vnto you to visite me with your letters and to require me in things wherein it may like you to commaunde which assuredly I shall accomplishe more frankly for you than for any other liuing man Master Thorello was not able to retaine his teares wherefore to staye the same he answered him in fewe woordes that it was impossible that euer he should forget his benefites and his worthy friendship extended vpon him and that without default he wold accomplish what he had commaūded if God did lend him life and leysure Then Saladine louingly imbracing kissing him pouring forth many teares bad him farewell and so went out of the chamber And all the other Noble men afterwards tooke their leaue likewise of him departed with Saladine into the hall where he had prepared the bed but being already late and the Necromancer attending and hasting his dispatch a Phisitian brought him a drinke made him beleue that it would fortifie strengthen him in his iorney causing him to drinke the same which being done within a while after he fell a sléepe and so sléeping was borne by the commaundement of Saladine and layde vpon the faire bed whereupon he placed a rich and goodly crowne of passing price and valor vpō the which he had ingrauen so plaine an inscription as afterwards it was knowne that the same was sent by Saladine to the wife of master Thorello After that he put a King vpon his finger whych was beset with a Diamonde so shining as it séemed like a flaming torche the value whereof was hard to be estéemed Then he caused to be girte about him a sworde the furniture and garnishing whereof coulde not easily he valued and bisides all this he hong vpon his 〈◊〉 a Tablet or Brooche beset wyth stones and Pearles that the like was neuer séene And afterwards he placed on either of hys sides two excéeding great Golden basens full of double Ducates and many Cordes of Pearles and rings girdles and other things to tedious to reherse wherewith he bedecked the place about him Which done 〈◊〉 kissed him againe and wylled the Necromancer to make hast Wherefore incontinently master Thorello and the bed in the presence of Saladine was caried out of sight and Saladine taried still deuising and talking of him amongs his Barons Master Thorello being now laide in S. Peters Church at Pauie according to his request with all his Jewels and habillimēts aforesaid about him yet fast a slepe the Sexten to ring to Mattens entred the Churche with light in his hand and chauncing sodenly to espie the rich bed did not only maruell thereat but also ran away in great feare And when the Abbot and the Monkes saw that he made suche hast away they were abashed and asked the cause why he ran so fast The Sexten tolde them the matter Why how now sayd the Abbot Thou art not suche a Babe ne yet so newly come vnto the Churche as thou oughtest so lightly to be afraide But let vs goe and sée what bugge hath so terribly frayed thée And then they lighted many Torches And when the Abbot and his Monkes were entred the Church they sawe that wonderfull rich bed and the Gentleman sléeping vpon the same And as they were in this doubt and feare beholding the goodly Jewels and durst not goe néere the bed it chaunced that master Thorello awaked 〈◊〉 a great sighe The Monkes so soone as they saw that and the Abbot with them ran all away crying out God help vs our Lord haue mercy vpon vs. Master Thorello opened his eyes and plainely knew by looking round about him that he was in the place where he demaunded to be of Saladine whereof he was very gladde and rising vp and viewing particularlye what he had about him albeit he knew before the magnificence of Saladine now he thought it greater and better vnderstoode the same than before But séeing the Monkes run away and knowing the cause wherefore he begā to call the Abbot by his name and intreate him not to be afraide For he was master Thorello his Neuewe The Abbot hearing that was dryuen into a greater feare bicause hée was accompted to be deade dyuerse moneths before but afterwards by diuerse arguments assured that he was master Thorello and so often called by hys name making a signe of the Crosse he went vnto him To whome master Thorello sayd Whereof be you afraide good father I am aliue I thanke God and from beyond the Sea returned hither The Abbot although he had a great bearde and apparelled after the guise of Arabie crossed him selfe againe and was well assured that it was he Then he tooke hym by the hand and sayd vnto him as foloweth My sonne thou art welcome home and maruell not that we were afraid for there is none in all this Citie but doth certainly beleue that thou art dead In so much as madame Adalietta thy wife vāquished with the prayers and threates of hir friendes and kin against hir will is betrouthed againe and this day the espousals shall be done For the mariage and all the preparation necessary for the feast is ready Master Thorello rising out of the rich bed and reioysing with the Abbot all his Monks prayed euery of them not to speake one word of his comming home vntill he had done
be full of examples of that purpose The memories of our auncestors be yet in fresh remembraunce whereof if they were ignorant vnto you that be of great experience I could adnouche assured testimony Yet thus much I say vnto you that it séeme no new thing for a man to be ouercome by his owne affection It is not the Nobilitie of hir state or for that she is a Quéene it is not the consideration of one parte or other that moued me first hereunto But loue it is that is of greater force than we our selues be of which many tymes maketh that to séeme lawfull which altogether is tymes and by subduing reason maketh the great potentate and lorde tributarie to his wil pleasure whose force is farre greater than the lawes of Nature And albeit that I neuer hope to attayne to prosperous ende of this 〈◊〉 and stately loue which more more doth seme infortunate yet I can not for my life else where applie that same or alter it to other place And consuming still through faithfull feruent loue borne to the Quéene I haue forced cōstrained my self by al possible meanes to gyue ouer that fond foolish enterprise and to place my minde else where but mine endeuour and all my labour and resistance is employed in vaine Yea and if it were not for feare of eternall damnation and the losse of my poore afflicted soule which God forbid mine owne handes before this time had ended my desires I am therfore determined sith that I can attaine to no successe of loue and that god doth suffer me to be inspired with that most honourable and curteous Ladie beyond al order and estimation to content my selfe with the sight of those hir faire glistring eyes farre excelling that sparcling glimpse of the Diamonde or Saphire and to serue loue and honour hir so long as life doth last within this féeble corps Upon whose radiant and excelling beautie my hope shal continually féede and yet I am not so farre voyde of vnderstanding but that I do most euidently know none other to be the guide of this vnmeasurable loue but follie most extreme Upon the ende of those wordes he let fall many teares and stayed with sobbes and sighes was able to speake no more And in very déede he that had séene him wold haue thought that his heart had bene tormented with most bitter and painefull passions Nowe they being very attentiue to his pitiful oration were attached with incredible sorow thinking thei had ben in a 〈◊〉 by hering of this discourse stode stil a while one loking vpon an other without speaking word Afterwards comming to themselues distraught almost for the greatadmiration and wonder to heare him speake those words master Girolamo and Baldo with suasible arguments went about to persuade him to withdraw his 〈◊〉 and foolishe mind praying him to place the same elsewhere shewing him the impossibilitie of his enterprise the great perill that might succéede therof But they spake to a man that séemed to be deafe who replied that he neither coulde or would giue ouer his loue that had alreadie made too depe impression what so euer came of it Notwithstandyng they ceased not stil with sharp 〈◊〉 to beate into his head the fond beginning of his foolish loue not only at that time but continually when they were together they did their best by oft repetition of his vaine conceipt to let him vnderstand his manifest error but their labor and friendly lessons were to no purpose Wherfore master Borgo master Baldo determined to giue him ouer and to attende what wold succede therof Master Philippo continuing his pursute neuer failing to be at church when he knew the Quéenes to be there at length it chanced that they begā to espie his loue for that both of them did mark his order gesture and demeanure and did note his oft frequētation of the places where they continually haunted and his maner in placing himselfe at the church directly ouer against them and his common vse in beholding and loking vpon their faces iudgyng thereby that without doubte he was in loue with one of them or at least with some Gentlewoman in their companie wherof the two Quéenes began to vse some talk although not certaine vpon whome his loue was 〈◊〉 Neuer thelesse they were desirous to know the truth expected 〈◊〉 somtime to dissolue that doubt In the meane while master Philippo thought by gazing on their beauty to remoue the fire that miserably did consume the sucke marow of his bones séeking comfort and reliefe for his afflicted heart the more I say he sought for ease the greater he felt his pain And truly al they that feruently do loue aspire to that which otherwise they wold eschue by sight of them whom they do loue not remembring that the more they doe contemplate the beloued beautie the more increaseth desire and with desire 〈◊〉 and bitter smart Master Philippo then lost no occasiō or time stil to behold Madame the Quéene were it in the church or court or wer she disposed for disport recreation to walke abrode It chaūced now while things wer at this point the ladies very desirous to know vpon whō master Philippo did expēd his loue the fortune opened vnto thē a meane to vnderstād the same It was then about that time of the yere wherin all floures roses were by Titans force constrained to 〈◊〉 deck eche gardens place of pleasure with their fragrant smells odors to scent the same In the moneth of May it was when the Twinnes were disposed to shroud themselues amōgs the hawthorn boughes honysuckles that yeld to euery wight gretest store of delights at what time roses other floures at their first budding be verie rare and scant sauing in Kings Courts and princes palaces where such rarieties by art and industrie be most abundant and all men haue delight to present such nouelties to the best and principall ladies Upon a day Quéene Anne had in hir hands certaine floures in due order couched in a Nosegay and for hir disport walked vp down a very faire gorgeous garden in the company of quene Mary other Ladies gentlewomen about that time of the day that the Sun werie of trauaile went to hide him self in the back side of the western moūtains where amōgs other of the Court was maister Philippo Quéene Anne when she had espied hym determined to make proufe with what ladie amongs them all maister Philippo was in loue and sporting hir selfe with softe walkes vp and downe the garden pleasantly iesting with diuerse there attendante as the maner is of like ladies with trimme and pleasant talke at length happed vpon master Philippo who although he was in cōmunication with certain Italian Gentlemen neuerthelesse his mynde and eyes were fired vpon the Quéene that when 〈◊〉 she appered before him his eyes and sace were so firmely bent vpon hir as
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
sent for him vp into hir chamber as commonly she did for the affaires and matters of hir house and taking him a side vnto a 〈◊〉 hauing prospect into a garden she knew not how to begin hir talk for the heart being seased the minde troubled and the wittes out of course the tongue failed to doe his office in such wise as of long time she was vnable to 〈◊〉 one onely woord Hée surprised with like affection was more astōned by séeing the alteration of his Ladie So the two Louers stoode still like Images beholding one another without any meuing at all vntil the Ladie the hardiest of them bothe as féeling the most vehement and greatest grief tooke Bologna by the hād and dissembling what she thought vsed this or such like language If any other bisides your self Gentleman should vnderstand the secretes which now I purpose to disclose I doubt what spéeche were necessary to colour my woords But being assured of your discretion and wisdom and with what perfection nature hath indued you and Arte hauing accōplished that in you which nature did begin to work as one bred and brought vp in the royall Court of the second Alphonse of Ferdinando and Federick of Aragon my cousins I wil make no doubt at all to manifest to you the hidden secretes of my heart being well persuaded that when you shall both heare and 〈◊〉 my reasons and tast that light which I bring for the for me easily you may 〈◊〉 that mine 〈◊〉 cannot be other than iust and reasonable But if your conceits shall straye from that which I shal speak déeme not good of that which I determine I shall be forced to thinke say that they which estéeme you wise sage and to be a man of good and ready 〈◊〉 be maruelously deceiued Notwithstāding my heart foretelleth that it is impossible for maister Bologna to wandre so farre from equitie but that by and by he wil enter the lystes discerne the white from black and the wrong from that which is iust and right For so much as hitherto I neuer saw thing done by you which preposterated or peruerted the good iudgement that all the world estéemeth to shine in you the same well manifested declared by your tongue the right iudge of the mind you know and sée how I am a widow through the death of that noble Gentleman of good remembrance the Duke my Lord husband you be not ignoraunt also that I haue liued and gouerned my self in such wise in my widow state as there is no man so hard and seuere of iudgement that can blason reproche of me in that which appertaineth to the honesty reputation of such a Ladie as I am bearing my port so right as my conscience yeldeth no remorse supposing that no man hath where with to bite accuse me Louching the order of the goods of the Duke my sōne I haue vsed them with such diligence and discretion as bisides the dettes which I haue discharged sithens the death of my Lord I haue purchased a goodly Manor in Calabria and haue annexed the same to the Dukedom of his heire and at this day doe not owe one pennie to any creditor that lent mony to the Duke which he toke vp to furnish the charges in the warres which he sustained in the seruice of the Kings our soueraine Lords in the late warres for the kingdome of Naples I haue as I suppose by this meanes stopped the slaunderous mouth and giuen cause vnto my sonne during his life to accōpt himself bound vnto his mother Now hauing till this time liued for other and made my self subiect more than Nature could beare I am entended to chaunge both my life and condition I haue till thys time run trauailed remoued to the Castels Lordships of the Dukedome to Naples and other places being in mind to tary as I am a widow But what new affaires and new councel hath possest my mind I haue trauailed and pained my self inough I haue too long abidden a widowes life I am determined therefore to prouide a husband who by louing me shal honor cherish me according to the loue which I shal bear to him my desert For to loue a man without mariage God defend my heart should euer think shall rather die a hundred thousand deathes thā a desire so wicked shald soile my conscience knowing well that a woman which setteth hir honor to sale is lesse than nothing deserueth not that the cōmon aire shold breathe vpō hir for all the reuerence that men do beare or make them I accuse no person albeit that many noble women haue their forheds marked with the blame of dishonest life being honored of some be neuerthelesse the cōmon fable of the people To the intent then that such mishap happē not to me perceiuing my self vnable stil thus to liue being yong as I am God be thāked neither deformed nor yet painted I had rather be the louing wife of a simple féere than that Concubine of a king or great Prince And what is the mightie Monarche able to wash away the fault of his wife which hath abādoned him cōtrary to that duty honest which the vndefiled bed requireth no les thē Princesses that whilom trespassed with those which wer of baser stuffe than thēselues Messalina w e hir imperial robe could not so wel couer hir faults but that the Historiās do defame hir with that name title of a cōmon woman Faustina the wife of that sage Monarch Marcus Aurelius gained lyke report by rendring hir self to others pleasure bisides hir lawful spouse To mary my self to one that is mine equall it is impossible for so much as there is no Lord in all this Countrey méete for my degrée but is to olde of age that rest being dead in these later warres To mary a husband that yet is but a child is follie extréeme for the inconueniences which daily chaūce therby the euil intreatie that Ladies do receiue whē they come to age their nature waxe cold by reson wherof imbracements be not so fauorable their husbāds glutted with ordinary meat vse to rū in exchāge Wherefore I am resolued without respite or delay to choose some wel qualitied and renoumed Gentleman that hath more vertue than richesse of good Fame and brute to the intēt I may make him my Lord espouse and husband For I cannot imploy my loue vpon treasure which may be taken away where richesse of the minde do faile and shall be better content to sée an honest Gentleman with little reuenue to be praised and cōmended of euery man for his good déedes than a rich carle curssed and detested of all the world Thus much I say and it is the summe of all my secretes wherin I pray your Councell and aduise I know that some wil be offended wyth my choise the Lords my brothers specially the Cardinall will think it straunge and receiue
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
that all the lawes of Amitie are deade and vtterly extinguished for so muche as hée in whome I hadde greatest hope and confidence and for whose sake I am become an enimie to my self doth disdaine and contemne me No no Rhomeo thou must fully resolue thy selfe vpon one of these 〈◊〉 points either to sée me incontinently throwen down hedlong from this high window after thée or else to suffer me to accōpanie thée into that coūtrey or place whither Fortune shal guide thée for my heart is so muche transformed into thine that so soone as I shall vnderstande of thy departure presently my lyfe will depart this wofull body the continuance wherof I doe not desire for any other purpose but only to delight my selfe in thy presence and to bée partaker of thy missefortunes And therefore if euer there lodged any pitie in the hearte of Gentleman I beséeche 〈◊〉 Rhomeo with al humilitie that it may now fynd place in thée and that thou wilt vouchsafe to receiue me 〈◊〉 thy seruant and the faithful cōpanion of thy 〈◊〉 And if thou thinke that thou canst not cōueniently receiue me in the estate and habite of a wife who shall let me to chaunge myne apparell Shall I be the first that haue vsed like shiftes to escape the tirannie of parentes Dost thou doubt that my seruice will not bée so good vnto thée as that of Petre thy seruaunt Will my loyaltie and fidelitie be lesse than his My beautie whiche at other tymes thou hast so greately commended is it not estéemed of thée My teares my loue and the auncient pleasures and delights that you haue taken in me shall they be in obliuion Rhomeo séeing 〈◊〉 in these alteratiōs fearing that worsse inconuenience would chaunce tooke hir againe betwéene his armes and kissyng hir amorously sayd Iulietta the onely mistresse of my heart I pray thée in the name of God and for the feruent loue which thou bearest vnto me to 〈◊〉 do away those vaine cogitations except 〈◊〉 meane to séeke hazard the destruction of vs both for if thou perseuer in this determination there is no remedie but we must both perish for so soon as thine 〈◊〉 shal be knowne thy father wil make such ernest pursute after vs that we can not choose but be descried taken and in the ende cruelly punished I as a 〈◊〉 and stealer of thée and thou as a disobedient daughter to hir father and so in stead of pleasant and quiet life our dayes shal be abridged by most shameful death But if thou wilt recline thy self to reason the right rule of humane life and for the time abandon our mutual delights I will take such order in the time of my banishment as within 〈◊〉 or 〈◊〉 months without any delay I shal be reuoked home againe But if it fall out otherwise as I trust not how so euer it happē I wil come againe vnto thée and with the helpe of my friends wil fetch thée from Verona by strong hand not in counterfeit apparell as a stranger but like my spouse and perpetuall companion In the meane time quiet your self and be sure that nothing else but death shal deuide and put vs asunder The reasons of Rhomeo so much preuailed with Iulietta as she made him this answer My deare friend I will doe nothing contrary to your will and pleasure And to what place so euer you repair my heart shall be your owne in like sorte as you haue giuen yours to be mine In the meane while I pray you not to faile oftentimes to aduertise me by Frier Laurence in what state your affairs be and specially of the place of your abode Thus these two pore louers passed the night togither vntill the day began to appeare which did separate them to their extreame sorow and grief Rhomeo hauing taken leaue of Iulietta went to S. Fraunces and after he hadde aduertised Frier Laurence of his affaires departed from Verona in the habit of a Marchaunt straunger and vsed such expedition as without hurt hée arriued at Mantona accompanied only with Petre his seruaunt whome hée hastely sent backe againe to Verona to serue his Father where he tooke a house and liuing in honorable company assayed certaine months to put away the griefe which so tormented him But during the time of his absence miserable Iulietta could not so cloke hir sorow but that through the euill coloure of hir face hir inwarde passion was discried By reason whereof hir mother who heard hir oftentymes sighing and incessantly complaining coulde not forbeare to say vnto hir Daughter if you continue long after this sorte you will hasten the death of your good Father and me who loue you so dearely as our owne liues wherefore henceforth moderate your heauinesse and endeuor your self to be mery thinke no more vpon the death of your cosin Thibault whome sith it pleasēd God to call away do you thinke to reuoke with teares and to withstand his almighty will But the pore Gentlewoman not able to dissemble hir grief sayd vnto hir Madame long time it is sithens the last teares for Thibault wer poured forth and I beleue that the fountaine is so well soked and dried vp as no more will spring in that place The mother which coulde not tell to what effect those woords were spoken held hir peace for feare she should trouble hir daughter and certaine dayes after séeing hir to continue in heauinesse and continuall griefs assayed by all meanes possible to know aswell of hir as of other the housholde seruaunts the occasion of hir sorow but al in vaine wherwith the pore mother 〈◊〉 beyonde measure purposed to let the Lorde Antonio hir husband to vnderstand the case of hir daughter And vpon a day séeing 〈◊〉 at conuenient leisure she sayd vnto him My Lord if you haue marked the countenāce of our daughter and hir kinde of behauior sithens the death of the Lord Thibault hir cosin you shall perceiue so straunge mutation in hir as it will make you to maruel for she is not only contēted to forgoe meat drinke and sléepe but she spendeth hir time in nothing else but in wéeping lamentation delighting to kepe hir self solitarie within hir chamber where she tormēteth hir self so out ragiously as if we take not héede hir life is to be doubted and not able to know the original of hir paine the more difficult shall be the remedy for albeit that I haue sought meanes by all extremitie yet cannot I learne the cause of hir sicknesse And where I thought in the beginning that it procéeded vpon the death of hir cosin now I doe manifestly perceiue that contrary specially when she hir self did assure me that she had already wept and shed the last teares for him that shée was minded to doe And vncertaine wherupon to resolue I do thinke verily that she mourneth for some despite to sée the most part of hir companions maried she yet vnprouided persuading with hir self it may be that we hir
of him which doth abuse it Thus much I haue thought good to tell you to the intent that neyther teares nor iron ne yet suspected houre are able to make me guiltie of the murder or make me otherwise than I am but onely the witnesse of mine owne conscience which alone if I were guilty should be the accuser the witnesse and the hangman which by reason of mine age and the reputation I haue had amongs you and the litle time that I haue to liue in this world should more torment me within than all the mortall paines that could be deuised But thankes be to mine eternall God I féele no worme that gnaweth nor any remorse that pricketh me touching that fact for which I sée you all troubled amazed And to set your hearts at rest and to remoue the doubts which hereafter may torment your consciences I sweare vnto you by al the heauenly parts wherein I hope to be that forth with I will disclose frō first to last the entire discourse of this pitifull tragedie which peraduenture shall driue you into no lesse wondre and amaze than those two pore passionate louers were strong and pacient to expone themselues to the mercy of death for the feruent and indissoluble loue betwene them Then the Fatherly Frier began to repeate the beginning of the loue betwene Iuhetta and Rhomeo which by certaine space of time confirmed was prosecuted by woordes at the first then by mutuall promise of mariage vnknowne to the world And as wythin fewe dayes after the two louers féeling themselues sharpned and incited with stronger onset repaired vnto him vnder colour of confession protesting by othe that they were both maried and that if he would not solempnize that mariage in the face of the Church they should be constrained to offend God to liue in disordred lust In consideration whereof and specially seeing their alliance to be good and conformable in dignitie richesse and Nobilitie on both sides hoping by that meanes perchance to reconcile the Montesches and Capcllets and that by doing such an acceptable worke to God he gaue them the Churches blessing in a certaine Chappell of the Friers Church whereof the night following they did consummate the mariage fruites in the Palace of the Capellets For testimony of which copulation the woman of Iuliettaes chamber was able to depose Adding moreouer the murder of Thibault which was cosin to Iulietta by reason whereof the banishment of Rhomeo did 〈◊〉 and how in the absence of the said Rhomeo the mariage being kept secrete betwene them a new Matrimonie was intreated wyth the Counte Paris which misliked by Iulietta she fell downe prostrate at his féete in a Chappell of S. Frauncis Church with full determination to haue killed hir selfe with hir owne hands if he gaue hir not councel how she should auoide the mariage agréed betwene hir father and the Counte Paris For conclusion he sayd that although he was resolued by reason of his age and nearenesse of death to 〈◊〉 all secrete Sciences wherein in his yonger yeares hée had delight notwithstanding pressed with importunitie and moued with pitie fearing least Iulietta should doe some crueltie against hir self he stained his conscience and chose rather with some little fault to grieue his minde than to suffer the yong Gentlewoman to destroy hir body and hazarde the daunger of hir soule And therefore he opened some part of his auncient cunning and gaue hir a certaine pouder to make hir sléepe by meanes wherof she was thought to be 〈◊〉 Then he tolde them how he had sent Frier Anselme to cary letters to Rhomeo of their enterprise whereof hitherto he had no answere Then briefly he concluded how hée founde Rhomeo deade within the graue who as it is most likely did impoison himselfe or was otherwise smothered or suffocated with 〈◊〉 by finding Iulietta in that state thinking she had bene dead Then he tolde them how Iulietta did kill hir selfe with the dagger of Rhomeo to beare him company after his death and howe it was impossible for them to saue hir for the noise of the watche which forced them to flée from thence And for more ample approbation of his saying he humbly besought the Lord of 〈◊〉 and the Magistrates to send to Mantua for Frier Anselme to know the cause of his 〈◊〉 returne that the content of the letter sent to Rhomeo might be séene To examine the woman of the chamber of Iulietta and and Pietro the seruaunt of Rhomeo who not attending for 〈◊〉 request sayd vnto them My Lordes when Rhomeo entred the graue he gaue me this 〈◊〉 written as I suppose with his owne hand who gaue me expresse commaundemēt to deliuer them to his father The pacquet opened they found the whole 〈◊〉 of this story specially the Apothecaries name which solde him the poyson the price and the cause wherfore he vsed it and all appeared to be so cleare and euident as there rested nothing for further verification of the same but their presence at the doing of the particulers therof for the whole was so wel declared in order as they were out of doubt that the same was true And then the Lord Bartholomew of 〈◊〉 after he had debated with that Magistrates of these euents decréed that the woman of Iulietta hir chamber should be 〈◊〉 bicause she did conceyle that priuie mariage from the father of Rhomeo which if it hadde bene knowne in time had bred to the whole Citie an vniuersal benefit Pietro bicause he obeyed his masters commaundemēt and kept close his lawful secrets according to the wel 〈◊〉 nature of a trusty 〈◊〉 was set at liberty The Poticarie taken rackt and founde guiltie was hanged The good olde man Frier Laurence as well for respect of his auncient seruice which he had done to the common wealth of Veronna as also for his 〈◊〉 lyfe for the which he was specially recōmended was let goe in peace withoute any note of infamie Notwithstandyng by reason of his age he voluntarily gaue ouer the worlde and closed him selfe in a hermitage two miles from Veronna where he liued v. or vj. yeares and spente his tyme in cōtinuall prayer vntil he was called out of this transitorie worlde into the blisfull state of euerlasting ioy And for the compassion of so straunge an infortune the Montesches and Capellettes poured forth such abundance of teares as with the same they did euacuate their auncient grudge and choler whereby they were then reconciled And they which coulde not bée broughte to attonement by any wisedome or humane councell were in the ende vanquished and made friendes by pitie And to immortalizate the memorie of so intier and perfect amitie the lorde of Veronna ordeined that the two bodies of those miraculous louers shold be 〈◊〉 intombed in the graue where they ended their 〈◊〉 where was erected a high marble 〈◊〉 honoured with an infinite numbre of excellent 〈◊〉 which 〈◊〉 this day be apparant with such noble memorie as amongs all
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
betwene sir Vlrico and them might procéede disclosing vnto him in few words the effect of all their talke which frankly was graunted by the king But the Barons added a Prouiso that when they hadde wonne their wager the Knight by no meanes should hurt his wife and from that time forth shold giue ouer his false opinion that women were not naturally giuen to the sutes and requests of amorous persones The Boeme Knighte who was assured of his wiues great honesty and loyall fayth beleued so true as the Gospell the proportion and qualitie of the image who in all the time that he was far off neuer perceiued the same to be either pale or blacke but at that tyme lookyng vpon the image he perceiued a certaińe yealow colour to rise as he thought his wife was by some loue pursued but yet sodainly it returned againe to his naturall hewe which boldned him to say these wordes to the Hungarian barons Ye be a couple of pleasant and vnbeleuing Gentlemen and haue conceyued so 〈◊〉 opinion as euer men of your callyng did but sith you procede in your obstinate follie and wil nedes guage all the lands and goodes you haue that you bée able to vanquishe my wiues honest and chast hearte I am contented for the singular credite which I repose in hir to ioyne with you and will pledge the poorelyuing I haue for proofe of mine opinion and shal accomplish all other your requests made here before the maiesties of the King and Quéene And therefore 〈◊〉 it 〈◊〉 youre highnesse sith this fonde deuise can not be beaten 〈◊〉 of their heads to giue licence vnto those noble men the lords Vdislao and Alberto so wer they called to put in proofe the merie conceipt of their disposed mindes wherof they do so greatly bragge and I 〈◊〉 your good grace and fauoure am content to agrée to their demaundes and we answered the Hungarians doe once againe affirme the same whiche we haue spoken The Kyng wylling to haue them gyue ouer that strife was intreated to the contrary by the Barons whervpon the King perceiuing their follies caused a decrée of the bargaine to be put in writing either parties interchaungeably subscribing the same Whiche done they tooke their leaues Afterwardes the two Hungarians beganne to put their enterprise in order and agréed betwene themselues Alberto to be the first that shoulde aduenture vpon the Lady And that within 〈◊〉 wéekes after vpon his retourne the Lorde Vladislao should procéede These things concluded 〈◊〉 all furnitures for their seuerall iorneys disposed the Lorde Alberto departed in good order with two 〈◊〉 directly trauailyng to that castle of the Boeme knight where béeing arriued hée lyghted at an Inne of the towne adioyning to the castle and demaunding of the hoste the conditions of the Ladie hée vnderstode that she was a very faire woman and that hir honestie and loue towardes hir husbande farre excelled hir 〈◊〉 Which wordes nothing 〈◊〉 the amorous 〈◊〉 but when he hadde pulled of his bootes and richely 〈◊〉 hymselfe he repaired to the Castle and 〈◊〉 at the Gates gaue the Ladie to vnderstande that he was come to sée hir Shée whiche was a curteous Gentlewoman caused him to be brought in and 〈◊〉 gaue hym honourable intertainement The 〈◊〉 greatly mused vpon the beautie and goodlinesse of the Ladye singularly commendyng hir honest order and behauiour And beyng sette downe the yong Gentleman sayde vnto hir Madame moued with the 〈◊〉 of your surpassing beautie which now I sée to be more excellent than Fame with hir swiftest wyngs is able to carie I am come from the Court to view and sée if that were true or whether lying brutes had 〈◊〉 their vulgar talke in vaine but fyndyng the same 〈◊〉 more fine and pure than erst I dyd expect I craue licence of your Ladyshyp to conceiue none 〈◊〉 of this my 〈◊〉 and rude attempte and herewithall he began to ioyne many trifling and vaine words which daliyng suters by heate of lustie blood be wont to shote forth to declare thē selues not to be spechlesse or tong-tied Whiche the Lady well espying spéedily imagined into what port his 〈◊〉 barke would arriue 〈◊〉 in the ende when she sawe his shippe at roade began to enter in pretie louyng talke by litle and litle to incourage his fonde attempt The Baron thinkyng he had caught the Eele by the taile not well practised in Cicero his schoole ceased not 〈◊〉 to contriue the 〈◊〉 by makyng hir beléeue that hée was farre in loue The Ladie wearie God wote of his fonde 〈◊〉 and amorous reasons and yet not to séeme scornefull made hym good countenance in such wise as the Hungarian two or thrée dayes dydde nothing else but procéede in vayne pursute Shée perceyuing hym to bée but a 〈◊〉 of the fyrste coate deuysed to recompense hys Follies wyth suche enterteynemente as duryng all hys lyfe hée shoulde kéepe the same in good remembraunce Wherefore not long after faynyng as thoughe hys greate wysedome vttered by cloquente talke hadde 〈◊〉 hir shée sayde thus vnto hym My 〈◊〉 the reasons you produce and youre pleasaunt gesture in my house haue so inchaunted me that impossible it is but I must 〈◊〉 agrée vnto youre wyll for where I neuer thoughte duryng lyfe to stayne the puritie of mariage bedde and determined continually to preserue my selfe inuiolablye for my husbande 〈◊〉 Noble grace and curteous behauioure haue I saye so bewitched mée that readie I am to bée at youre commaundement humbly 〈◊〉 youre honor to beware that knowledge hereof maye not come vnto mine husbands eares who is so 〈◊〉 and cruell and loueth me so dearely as no doubt he will without further triall either him self kil me or otherwise procure my 〈◊〉 to the intent none of my house may suspect our doings I shal desire you to morow in the morning about nine of the clocke which is the 〈◊〉 time of your repaire hither to come vnto my castle wherin when you bée entred spéedily to mount vp to the chamber of the highest 〈◊〉 ouer the dore wherof ye shall fynde the armes of my husbande entailed in marble and when you be entred in to shut the 〈◊〉 fast after you and in the meane tyme I wil waite and and prouide that none shall molest and trouble vs and then shall bestowe our selues for accomplishement of that which your loue desireth Now in very déede this chamber was a very strong prison ordeined in auncient time by the progenitours of that territorie to imprison and punish the bassals and tenants of the same for offenses and crimes committed The Baron hearyng thys liberall offer of the Ladie thinking that he had obteyned the summe of all his ioye so gladde as if he had conquerēd a whole kingdome the best contented man aliue thankyng the Ladie for hir curteous answere departed and retourned to his Inne 〈◊〉 knoweth vpon howe mery a pinne the hearte of thys yong Baron was sette and after he had liberally banketted his hoste and
hostesse pleasantly disposing him selfe to myrth and recreation he went to bed where ioy so lightned his merrie head as no sléepe at all could close his eyes suche be the sauage pangs of those that aspire to like delights as the best reclaimer of the wildest hauke coulde neuer take more payne or deuise 〈◊〉 shiftes to man the same for the better atchieuing of hir praie than dyd this braue Baron sustaine for bryngyng his enterprise to effecte The nexte day early in the morning he rose dressyng hymselfe with the swetest parfumes and putting on hys finest sute of 〈◊〉 at the appointed houre he went to the castell and so secretly as he could according to the Ladies instruction he conueyd himselfe vp into the chamber 〈◊〉 he founde open and when he was entred he shutte the same The maner of the dore was such as none within coulde open it without a 〈◊〉 and besides the strong locke it had both barre and 〈◊〉 on the outside with such fastening as the diuel him self being locked within coulde not breake forth The Ladie which wayted harde by for his 〈◊〉 so soone as she perceiued that the dore was shutte stepte vnto the same and bothe double locked the dore and also without she barred and fast bolte the same carying the 〈◊〉 away with hir This chamber was in the hyghest tower of the house as is before sayde wherein was placed a bedde with good furniture the wyndow wherof was so high that none could loke out without a ladder The other parts therof were in good and cōuenient order apt and mete for an honest prison When the Lorde Alberto was within hée satte downe wayting as the Jewes doe for Messias when the Ladie according to hir appointement should come And as he was in this expectation building castles in the ayre and deuising a thousande Chimeras in his braine beholde he hearde one to open a little wicket that was in the dore of that chamber which was so straight and litle as scarcely able to receyue a loafe of bread or cruse of wine vsed to be sent to the prisoners He thinkyng that it had bene the Ladie rose 〈◊〉 and hearde the noyse of a little girle who loking in at the hole thus sayd vnto him My Lord Alberto the Ladie Barbara my mistresse for that was hir name hath sent me thus to say vnto you That for so much as you be come into this place by countenaunce of Loue to dispoyle hir of hir honour she hath imprisoned you like a théefe according to your deserte and purposeth to make you suffer penance according to the measure of your offense Wherfore so long as you shal remaine in this place she mindeth to force you to gain your bread and drinke with the art of spinning as pore women do for sustentation of their liuyng meanyng thereby to coole the heate of your lustie youth and to make you tast the sowre sause mete for them to assay that go about to robbe Ladies of their honour she bad me lykewise to tell you that the more yarne you spin the greater shal be the abundance and delicacie of your fare the greater paine you take to gaine your foode the more liberall she will bée in distributing of the same otherwise she sayth that you shall fast wyth breade and water Which determinate sentence she hath decréed not to be infringed broken for any kinde of sute or intreatie that you be able to make When the maiden had spoken these wordes she shut the portall dore and returneo to hir Ladie The Baron which thought that he had ben comen to a mariage did eate nothing al the mornyng before bicause he thought to be enterteined with better daintier store of viandes who nowe at those newes fared like one oute of his wittes and stoode still so amazed as though his leggs woulde haue failed him and in one moment his 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 to vanish and his force and breath forsoke him and fel down vpon the chamber 〈◊〉 in such wise as he that had behelde him wold haue thought him rather dead than liuing In this state he was a greate time after wards somwhat cōming to him selfe he could not tel whether he dreamed or else that the words wer true which the maiden had sayd vnto him In the end séeing and being verily assured that he was in a prison so sure as birde in Cage through 〈◊〉 and rage was like to die or else to lose his wittes faryng with hym selfe of long time lyke a madde man and not knowing what to do passed the rest of the day in walkyng vp and down the chamber rauing stamying staring cursing and vsing words of greatest villanie lamenting and bewailyng the time and day that so like a beast and 〈◊〉 man he gaue the attempt to dispoile the honestie of an other mans wife Then came to his 〈◊〉 the losse of al his landes and goodes which by the 〈◊〉 authoritie were put in comprimise then the shame the scorne and rebuke whyehe hée shoulde receyue at other mens handes beyonde measure vexed hym and reportē bruted in the Court for that it was impossible but the whole worlde should know it so grieued hym as his 〈◊〉 séemed to be strained with two sharpe and bityng nailes the paines whereof forced hym to lose his wittes and vnder standyng In the middes of which pangs furiously vauting vp and down the chamber he espied by chaunce in a corner a 〈◊〉 furnished with good 〈◊〉 of flare and a spindle hangyng therevppon and 〈◊〉 with choler and rage hée was aboute to spoyle and breake the same in pieces but remembring what a harde weapon Necessitie is hée stayed hys wysdom and albeit hée hadde rather to haue contriued hys leysure in noble and Gentlemanlyke passetyme yet rather than he woulde be idle hée thoughte to reserue that Instrument to auoyde the tedious lacke of honest and familiar companie When supper time was come the mayden returned agayn who opening the Portall dore saluted the Baron and sayde My Lord my mistresse hath sente mée to visite your good Lordshyp and to receyue at youre good handes the effecte of youre laboure who hopeth that you haue spoonne some substanciall webbe of thréede for earning of your supper which béeing done shall be readily brought vnto you The Baron full of rage furie and felonious moode if before he were fallen into choler now by protestation of these wordes he séemed to transgresse the bounds of reason and began to raile at the poore wench scolding and chiding hir like a strumpet of the stewes faring as though he would haue beaten hir or done hir some 〈◊〉 ther mischiefe but his moode was stayed from doyng any hurt The poore 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 by hir 〈◊〉 in laughing wise sayd vnto him Why my lorde do you chafe rage against me Me thinks you do me wrong to vse such reprochful words which am but a seruant and bounde to the commaundement of my mistresse Why sir do you not know that a
an other Lady a widow also that was very rich and so wel allied as any in all the land This Lady had a sonne whom she caused to be trained vp so wel in Armes and good letters as in other honest exercises proper and méete for a Gentleman and great Lord for which respect she had sent him to Barcelona the chiefe Citie of all the Countrey of 〈◊〉 Senior Dom Diego for so was the sonne of that widow called 〈◊〉 so well in all things that when he was 〈◊〉 yeares of age there was no Gentleman of his degrée that did excell him ne yet was able to approche vnto his perfections and commēdable behauior A thing that did so wel content that good Lady his mother as she could not tell what countenaunce to kéepe to couer hir ioy A vice very commen to fonde and folish mothers who flater them selues with a shadowed hope of the future goodnesse of their childrē which many times doth more hurt to that wanton and wilfull age than profit or aduauncement The persuasion also of such towardnesse full oft doth blinde that sprites of youth as that faults which folow the same be far more vile thā before they were wherby the first Table made in his first coloures of that imagined vertue cā take no force or perfection and so by incurring sundry mishaps the parent childe commonly eskape not without equall blame To come againe therefore to our discourse it chaunced in that time that the Catholike king deceased Philippe of Austrich which succéeded him as heire passing through Fraunce came into Spaine to be inuested and take possession of al his seigniories and kingdomes which knowen to the Citizens of Barcelona they determined to receiue him with such pompe magnificence and honor as duely appertaineth to the greatnesse and maiestie of so great a Prince as is the sonne of the Romane Emperour And amongs other things they prepared a triumphe at the Tilt where none was suffred to enter the listes but yong Gētlemen such as neuer yet had folowed armes Amongs whome Dom Diego as that Noblest person was chosen chiefe of one part The Archduke then come to Barcelona after the receiued honors and Ceremonies accustomed for such entertainment to gratifie his subiects and to sée the brauery of the yong Spanish Nobilitie in armes would place himself vpon the skaffolde to iudge the courses and valiance of the runners In that magnifique and Princely conflict all mens eyes were bent vpon Dom Diego who course by course made his aduersaries to féele the force of his armes his manhode and dexteritie on horsebacke and caused them to muse vpon his towarde 〈◊〉 in time to come whose noble gests then acquired the victory of the campe on his side Which moued King Philip to say that in al his life he neuer saw triūph better handled and that the same séemed rather a battell of strong hardy men than an excercise of yong Gentlemen neuer wōted to support the dedes of armes trauaile of warfare For which cause calling Dom Diego before him he sayd God graūt yōg Gentleman that your ende agrée with your goodly beginnings hardy shock of 〈◊〉 done this day In memory wherof I wil this night that ye do your watch for I mean to morow by Gods assistance to dub you knight The yong gentlemā blushing for shame vpō his knees kissed the Princes hāds thanking him most hūbly of the honor and fauor which it pleased his maiestie to do him vowing promising to do so wel in time to come as no mā shold be deceiued of their conceiued opinion nor the king frustrate of his seruice which was one of his most obedient vassals subiectes So the next day he was made Knight receiued the coller of the order at the handes of King Phillip who after the departure of his prince which toke his iourney into Castille retired to his owne 〈◊〉 house more to sée his mother whōe long time before he had not séene than for desire of pleasure that be in fieldes which notwithstāding he exercised so well as in end 〈◊〉 perceiued 〈◊〉 in townes cities to be an imprisōment 〈◊〉 respect of that he felt in Countrey As the Poets whilom fained loue to shote his arrows amid that 〈◊〉 forrests fertile fields sea coasts shores of great riuers and fountaine brinkes and also vpon the tops of huge and high Mountaines at the pursute of the sundry sorted Nymphes and 〈◊〉 dimigods déeming the same to be a meane of libertie to folow loues tract without suspition voide of company and lothsome cries of Cities where 〈◊〉 enuy false report and ill opinion of all things haue pitched their camp and raised their tents 〈◊〉 contrariwise frākly and without dissimulation in the fieldes the friend discouering his passion to his Mistresse they enioy the pleasure of hunting the naturall musike of birds and somtimes in pleasant herbers 〈◊〉 with the murmur of some running brookes they communicate their thoughts beautifie the accorde and vnitie of louers and make the place famous for that first witnesse of their amorous acquaintance In like manner thrice foure times blest 〈◊〉 they there who leaning the vnquiet toile that ordinarily doeth chaunce to them that abide in Cities do rendre 〈◊〉 y of their studies to the Muses whereunto they be most minded 〈◊〉 Dom Diego at his owne house loued cherished of his mother reuerenced and obeyed of his subiects after he had imployed some time at his study had none other ordinary pleasure but in rousing the Déere hunting the wilde Bore run the Hare somtimes to flie at the Heron or fearfull Partrich alongs the fields Forrestes pondes and stepe Mountaines It came to passe one day as hée Hunted the wilde Mountaine Goate which he had dislodged vpon the Hill toppe he espied an olde Harte that his dogges had found who so ioyfull as was possible of that good lucke followed the course of that swift and fearefull beast But suche was his Fortune the dogges lost the foote of that pray and he his men for being horssed of purpose vpon a fair Iennet could not be followed and in ende loosing the sight of the Déere was so farre seuered from companie as hée was vtterly ignoraunt which way to take And that which grieued him most was his horse out of breth skarse able to ride a false galloppe For which cause he putte his horne to his mouthe and blewe so loude as he could But his men were so farre off as they could not heare him The yonge Gentleman being in this distresse could not tel what to doe but to returne backe wherin he was more deceiued than before for thinking to take the way home to his Castle wandred still further off from the same And trotting thus a long time he spied a Castle situated vpon a little Hill wherby he knew himself far from his owne house Neuerthelesse hearing a certaine noyse of hunters thinking they had bene his people resorted
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
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
tattling talke of our secrete follies Moreouer I would 〈◊〉 very glad to doe what pleaseth you so the same may be without slaunder For I hadde rather die than any should take vs in our priuities and familier pastimes let vs be contented with the pleasure that the 〈◊〉 of our ioy may graunt and not with suche contentation as shall offend vs by blotting the clerenesse of our 〈◊〉 names Concluding then that time of their new acquaintaunce which was the next day at noone when that Lieutenant did walke into the Citie they ceased their talk for feare of his enteruiew Who vpon his returne doing reuerence vnto his Lord tolde him that he knewe where a wilde Boare did haunt if it pleased him to sée the passetime Whereunto the Lord Nicholas fayned louingly to giue eare although against his will for so much as he thought the same hunting should be a delay for certaine dayes to the enioying pretended and assured of his beloued But she that was so muche or more esprised with the raging and intollerable fire of loue spedily found meanes to satisfie hir louers sute but not in such manner as was desired of either parts wherefore they were constrained to defer the rest vntill an other time This pleasaunt beginning so allured the Lord of Nocera as vnder the pretence of hunting there was no wéeke that passed but he came to 〈◊〉 the warrener of his Lieuetenaunt And this order continuing without 〈◊〉 one little suspition of their loue they gouerned themselues wisely in the pursute thereof And the Lord Nicholas vsed the game and sport of Hunting and an infinite number of other exercises as the running of the King and Tennis not so muche thereby to finde meanes to enioy his Ladie as to auoide occasion of iealosie in hir husband being a very familiar vice in all Italians the cloke wherof is very heauie to beare and the disease troublesome to sustaine But what Like as it is hard to beguile an 〈◊〉 in the accoumpt of his money for his continual watch ouer the same and slumbering slepes vpon the bokes of his reckenings and accompts so difficult it is to deceiue the heart of a iealous man and specially when he is assured of the griefe which his heade hath conceiued Argus was neuer so cléere eyed for all his hundred eyes ouer Iupiters lemman as those louers be whose opinions be yll affected ouer the chastitie of their wiues Moreouer what foole or Asse is he who séeing suche vndiscrete familiaritie of two louers the priuie gestures and demeanors without witnesse their stolne walkes at vntimely houres sometimes their embracemēts to straight and common before seruaunts that wold not doubt of that which most secretely did passe True it is that in England where libertie is so honestly obserued as being alone or secrete conuersation giueth no cause of suspition that same might haue 〈◊〉 borne withall But in Italie where the parents themselues be for the most part suspected if there had ben no fact in déede cōmitted that familiaritie of the Lord Nicholas with his Lieutenantes wife was not suffrable but exceded the bounds of reason for so much as the cōmoditie which they had chosen for pos sessing of their loue albeit the same not suspitious animated them afterwards to frequent their familiarity disport to frākly without discretiō which was that cause that fortune who neuer leaueth that ioyes of mē without giuing therunto some great alarm being enuious of the mutual delights of those 〈◊〉 louers made that husbād to doubt of that which he wold haue dissēbled if honor could so easily be lost wtout reproch as bloud is shed with out peril of life But that mater being so cleare as the fault was euidēt specially in the party which touched him so neare as himself that Lieuetenaūt before he wold enterprise any thing and declare what he thought 〈◊〉 throughly to be resolued of that which he sawe as it were 〈◊〉 in a cloude and by reason of his conceiued opinion he dealt so warely and wisely in those affaires was so subtill an espiall as one day when the louers were at their game and in their most straite and secrete embracements he viewed them coupled with other leash than he would haue wished and colled with straighter bands than reason or honesty did permit He saw without being séene wherin he felt a certaine ease and contentment for being assured of that he doubted purposed to ordeine a sowre refection after their delightsome banket the simple louers ignoraunt by signe or 〈◊〉 that their enterprises were discouered And truely it had bene more tollerable and lesse hurtful for the Lieuetenaunt if euen then he had perpetrated his vengeaunce and punished them for their wickednesse than to vse the crueltie wherwith afterwards he blotted his renoume and foiled his hands by Bedlem rage in the innocent bloud of those that were not priuie to the folie and lesse guiltie of the wrong done vnto him Now the captaine of the Castell for all his dissimulation in couering of his griefe and his fellony and treason intended against his soueraigne Lord which he desired not yet manifestly to appeare was not able any more from that time forthe to speake so louingly vnto him nor with suche respecte and reuerence as he did before which caused his wife thus to say vnto hir louer My Lord I doubt very much least my husbād doth perceiue these our cōmon practizes secrete familiar dealings that he hath some hāmer working in his head by reason of the countenaunce vnchéereful entertainment which he sheweth to your Lordship wherfore mine aduise is that you retire for a certain time to Foligno In the meane space I wil marke 〈◊〉 if that his alteration be conceiued for any matter against vs and wherfore his wōted lokes haue put on this new alteration chaūge All which when I haue by my espial and secrete practise sounded I will spéedily aduertise you to the ende that you may prouide for the safegarde of youre faithfull and louyng seruaunt The yong Lorde who loued the Gentlewoman with all hys hearte was attached with so greate griefe and dryuen into such rage by hearing those wicked newes as euen presentely he woulde haue knowen of his Lieuetenaunt the cause of his diswonted chéere But weyghing the good aduise which his woman had gyuen hym paused vpon the same 〈◊〉 hir to doe what she thought best By reason wherof giuing warning to his seruantes for his departure he caused the Lieutenaunt to be called before him vnto whom he sayd Captain I had thought for certaine dayes to sport and passe my time but hearing tel that the Duke of Camerino commeth to Foligno to debate with vs of matters of importance I am constrained to departe and do pray you in that meane time to haue good regarde vnto our affaires and if any newes 〈◊〉 chaunce to aduertise the same with all expedition Sir sayd the Captain I am sorie
those to whome he did owe all honoure and reuerence And do assure you that if he had 〈◊〉 below as he was vpon the rampire of the walles they hadde torne him into so many pieces as he had made gobbets of the Lord Nicholas bodie But séeing that they could not take him they went about to séeke the deliueraūce of them whome they thought to be yet aliue and one of the chiefe of the Citie in the name of them all shortly briefly answered him thus If malice did not well discouer it self in the sugred and traiterous composition of thy woordes O Captaine it were easie inough for an inconstant people bent to chaūge and desirous of innouations to heare and do that which such a traitor and flatterer as thou art doest propose but we hauing 〈◊〉 time indured nothing of the 〈◊〉 that sauoreth of tiranny cruelty or excesse we were no lesse to be accused of felonie than thou art guiltie of rebels crime by seasing vpon the persones of thy Lords if we should yelde credit to thy serpents hissing or lend aide to thy traiterous practise thou gost about against them who by innobling thée are traiterously bereued of that which concerned their reputation and greatnesse We 〈◊〉 an honest people and faithfull 〈◊〉 We will not be bothe wicked and vnhappy at once without cause expel our heads out of our common wealth when they shall perpetrate the mischiefs which thou hast alleaged for example Upon suche 〈◊〉 and straunge facts we shall take newe aduise and Councell To be short thou shalt pleasure vs to set our Lords at libertie and thou like a wise man shalt doe thy duetie and satisfie a people which easily can not indure that a subiecte doe wrong to those to whom he oweth 〈◊〉 And feare not to receiue any euill of them nor yet to feele anoyaunce for we will take vpon vs by honest meanes to craue pardone for thy fault how hainous so euer it be But if thou continue thine 〈◊〉 be sure that the Lord Conrade shall be aduertised and with al our power we shall succour him by force to let thée féele the nature of treason and what reward is incident to the practizers of the same The Captaine 〈◊〉 he was abashed with that answere and saw that it would not be well with him if he did not prouide speady 〈◊〉 and order for his affaires aswell for the comming of the Lord Conrade as of the brother of the Duke 〈◊〉 tolde the Citizens that within thrée or 〈◊〉 dayes he wold giue them a resolute answer and so it might be 〈◊〉 vnto their willes and dcliuer them whome he had in holde This gentle answer did nothing stay the Citizens for the accomplishment of that which they thought 〈◊〉 to doe knowing also that the gallant had not commenced that comedie but for other toyes which his 〈◊〉 head had framed for a further intended mischiefe for which cause they assembled their Councel and concluded that one should ride in poste to the Lord Conrade the third and remnaūt of the brethren that he might come to take order for the deliuerance of Nicholas and Caesar whom they thought he had reserued stil a liue in captiuitie The Nocerines shewed this curtesie not but that they wold gladly haue bene at liberty if the way had bene better troden aswell for the little trust they reposed in the Captaine who they thought would be no more gentle and faithful than he shewed himself to be loyall to his masters as for that Conrade was wel beloued of the Lordes his neighbors and specially of the imprisonned Duke and his brother Braccio Montone who had the Italian men of warre at his pleasure that the Noble men would assist him with all their power Wherfore they cōsidered that their fairest best way for auoiding of factiōs was to kepe themselues trustie true and by not hearkening to a traitor to bind their soueraigne Lord with such duety and obedience as the vnkindest man of the world wold cōfesse and acknowledge for the consequēce of a mater of such importāce The seditious captaine on the other side voide of hope and in greater rage thā 〈◊〉 was before persisted in his follie not without foreséeing howe he might saue himselfe which he had pollitikely brought to passe if God had not shortned his way by paiment of vsurye for his wickednesse and by the very diligence of them in 〈◊〉 he reposed his trust the manner and how immediately 〈◊〉 follow So soone as he had giuen ouer the Councell of the Citizens and a little bethought him what he had to do he called before him two yong men whome aboue all others he trusted best To these yong men he deliuered all his Golde Siluer and Jewels that they might conuey the same out of the iurisdiction of his Lords to the intent that when he sawe himselfe in daunger he might retire to the place where those gallants had before caried his furniture and moūting them vpon two good stéedes he let them forthe at the posterne gate praying them so soone as they could to returne aduertisement of their aboode and that spedely he wold send after them his children and the rest of his 〈◊〉 telling them that he specially committed his life and goodes into their handes and that in time and place he would acknowledge the benefite done vnto him in that distresse The two that were thus put in trust for sauegarde of his things promised vnto him Golden hilles and miracles but so soone as they hadde lost the sight of their master they deuised another complette and determined to breake faith to him which was forsworne and who made no conscience not onely to reuolt but also 〈◊〉 to kill his soueraigne Lordes They thought it better to ride to 〈◊〉 to tell that Lord Conrade the pitifull ende of his brethren and the imprisonment of the Duke of Camerino than to seke rest for him whome God permitted not to be saued sor his heinous sinne already committed and for that which he meant to do vpon his wife For all the diligence that the Nocerines had made yet were the Lieuetenauntes men at Treuio before them and hauing filled the 〈◊〉 of Conrade with those heauy newes and his eyes with teares his mind with sorow sprite with desire to be reuenged as Conrade was about to mount on horseback with the traine he had the Citizens were arriued to disclose the imprisonmēt of his brethren To whom Conrade made answere I wold to God my friends that the tirant had bene contented with the litle cruelty wherof you speake for then I wold find the meanes to agrée the parties vpon that knowledge of their variance But alas his malice hath passed further hath beastly slaine my brethren but I sweare by the almightie God that if he giue me life I wil take such and so cruell vengeaunce on him as he shall be a glasse to all his like to sée the punishmēt of a fault