our forces are compleated we shall put it to a desperate assault Don Olanzo not contented with these general heads wherewith a maÌ„ might furnish himselfe out of the weekly news-bookes began to press him to the particular description of some places in Brabent and Flanders Now though Facundo was well book-learned so farre as Mapps could instruct him yet was it impossible that they could inform him in all particulars of places and buildings Facundo begins to faulter the other prosecuted him with the cruelty of a prevailing coward and at length breaking into some Choller and passion caught hold of his beard which having no better title to his face then glue could afford it presently fell off and discovered him to be what he was Sabina all this while lay in her bed listening to their discourse which sometimes she disturbs with her groans and sighs but now her husbands deceit being laid open Facundo loaden with grief and guiltinesse falleth down on his knees craves pardon of his wife Strange it is to see how poor spirits descend beneath themselves but upon his submission and acknowledgment of his fault a pardon is signed and sealed unto him upon condition he should reassume his journey which next day with all possible speed he undertook and we leave him making what speed he might to the place for which he was bound The next day Sabina falleth truly and really sick it is ill jesting with edg-tooles that which we play with in sport may wound us in earnest Don Nicholayo repaires unto her with full intent to enjoy his pleasure and that nothing but his owne moderation should set bounds thereunto when he meets with an unexpected repulse Sabina complaining of the intolerable torture which disposed her rather for a Coffin then amarous embraces I confesse saith Don Nicholayo were I not privy unto this dissembling yea the prime procurer and contriver thereof I should my selfe verily beleeve thee really sick O how farre your sex transcend ours in dissimulation we do it so dully so improperly that we are lyable to discovery you exceed your selves in what you please But Sir returnes Sabina mistake me not I cannot say by the faith of a loyall wife having to my shame and grief forfeited that title but by whatever can be true and dear unto me I vow and protest my selfe so sick that nature scarce affordeth me ability to expresse my owne sicknesse You will alwaies be a woman saith Nicholayo who generally over do or under-do what they undertake hardly hitting on a mean whose soules are either empty or over-flow it is high time now to put off your vizard and be what you are And with that he offered a familiar violence unto her as supposing she expected some acceptable force to bee seemingly pressed to what she desired Content your selfe said Sabina or my shreeches shall given an Alarum to the Family Know Sir I never loved you so much as now I loath your looks and detest the sight of you too much to my shame and grief hath formerly passed between us but now I am resolved not to proceed in that vitious course but asmuch as penitency can make a harlot honest to unstaine my soul from my former offences my time is short depart the room and prevent my sending you away Don Nicholayo standeth amazed who could expect that the wind could blow at such a point of the compasse a cold wind indeed to nip the heat of his lust yet he seeth no remedie but to comply with the present occasion goes home with a soule divided between griefe anger and wonder though the latter may seeme to claime the greatest share in him at so strange and unexpected an accident Sabina presently dispatcheth a Servant to overtake her husband requesting him by all Loves to returne with all possible speede for she had some important secrets to unbosome to him nor could quietly depart this world before the imparting thereof unto him Facundo feares some fraud in the matter refuseth to returne Indeed the servant accosted him with his Message in that very minut wherein he was taking Ship the wind serving faire and most of his goods shipt already At last the servant gave such assurance of his Mistresses sicknesse and so impotunately pressed him with those arguments borrowed from her that Facundo returnes that night home the roome is voided when Sabina begins with tears in her eyes moistening her words as she uttered them What tearm shall I call you by husband I am ashamed to stile you the mention whereof woundeth my own heart with the memory of my unworthinesse friend is too familiar a title Lord and Master too terrible to me a false deceitfull servant stile your selfe Sir what you please I am your wretched vassal and want words to expresse the foulnesse of my offence against you I am ashamed to speak what I blushed not to do who have lived in a course of inconstancy for many years with Don Nicholayo and with my dissembling have put you to much trouble and paines Pardon is too great for me to ask but not for you to give I confesse they that once have bankrupt their owne credit can give no security for the future that they will be responsible to such as trust them however Sir know I place more hope of speeding in in my request in your goodnesse then the Equity of my Petition If life be lent me which in my owne apprehension and every one is best sensible of their own condition is utterly unlikely I shall utterly deserve some part of your kindnesse Sir can you not see through the chinkes of my broken body my very heart inditing my words assure your self and there she fainted Servants were called in and much adoe with Aqua vitae they courted and wooed her soul not to depart her body which was so sullen that it would hardly be perswaded to stay though at last prevailed upon Although the Passages betweene Facundo and Sabina were transacted with all possible secrecy yet could they not be so privately carried but that some in the house overhearing it it crept through the Family and went thorough the City of Barcellona and at last through the whole Province of Catalonia And now Vejeto is found a true friend and begins to flourish being formerly so deprest by the greatnesse of Nicholayo that he took no comfort in himself and had abandoned his City house and retired into the Country but now he returnes to Bâ—rcellona again falls a building and repairing his house to outface his neighbour Nicholayo making the same both larger beneath with Vaults and higher above with Magnificent superstructures Don Nicholayo inraged in his mind with the discovery which Sabina had made and seeing himselfe slighted in his reputation and fearing lest the King of Spain the Court having gotten intelligence thereof should disseize him of his Governors place of Barcellona which his Ancestors had for three descents possessed almost to make the honour hereditary resolves
unto her Chamber who being at the present asleep hee entertained himself in the next room by looking on a Picture Herein Saint Dennis was set forth beheaded by Pagan Tyrants and afterwards carrying his head under his arm seven miles from Paris to Saint Dennis Fidelio smiling thereat to himself thought that Saint Dennis in that posture had an excellent opportunity to pick his teeth Mariana is awaked Fidelio called in who claiming the priviledge of privacy as proper for a Confessor all avoid the room then putting off his disguise he briefly telleth her what dangers hee had undergone for her deliverance informeth her that next morning hee would be ready with horses and servants at such a corner of the Garden where without any danger they had contrived a way for her escape Fidelio's presence is better then any Cordiall Mariana recovereth her spirits is apprehensive of the motion promiseth to observe time and place they are thrifty in their language speak much in little lavish no minuts in complements but are perfectly instructed in each others designes Presently in comes the Abbesse Fidelio having first recovered his coole proceeds in a set discourse of the praise of patience commending it to Mariana as the most necessary vertue in her condition and after some generall salutes to the Abbesse recommendeth his Patient to her care and takes his own opportunity to depart returning to the Covent of the Benedictines as undiscovered as he came thence That night befriended with the dark under the mantle thereof Fidelio gets out of the Covent repairs to his friend Ardalio reports all the particulars of his successe triumphs in the hopes of his approaching happinesse counts the time which we generally complain doth fly a Cripple that crawles so long each minuit seems unto him untill ten of the clock next morning should be accomplished Next day Mariana riseth from her bed craves leave of the Abbesse to go into the Garden which is granted her So that Millescent a prime Nun were to attend her Millescent adviseth her to wrap her selfe warm for fear of a relapse for the Air saith she is piercing and your body weak Indeed quoth Mariana I am sensible of much strength in a short time and believe my selfe able to run a race with you who shall first come to yonder Corner done said Millescent and let the lagg that comes last to the place say over her Beades for us both They start together Have you ever heard the Poets fiction of Atlanta's running when only her covetousnesse to get the golden Ball made her lose the race Alas her swiftnesse was nothing in comparison of Marianaes It seems that Cupid who had shot the piles of his arrowes into her heart had tied the feathers or wings thereof unto her feet The wall of the Nunnery was on the one side filled up with Earth on the out-side there was a descent of some four yards Fidelio stood ready to entertain her What will not fright and love do Mariana consults not any danger nor did she carry a scale in her eye to measure the depth of the wall but crossing the Proverb she leapes before she looks Fidelio saveth her almost halfe the way of her journey by catching of her in his armes and before the succeeding minut had supplanted its Predecessor she is mounted by his servant behind Fidelio and all speed they make to a Chappell wch might serve for an Hospitall for it was blind and the Priest dumb yet had tongue enough to tie that knot which none of them was able to undoe But tired Millescent with much panting had recovered the corner seeing Marianaes escape cryed out she is gone she is gone this gave an Alarum to the Abbess who instantly conceived her in a sound It is said she the just reward of her adventure that contrary to my Counsell went abroad Out comes the whole Regiment of Nunnes with hot waters and Cordialls to tempt her soul if not too far departed to return to her body they are soon sensible of their mistake and behold her almost got out of sight so that the longer they looked the less they saw her till distance at last made her vanish away Many a Nun a Spectator hereof wisht themselves an Actor upon the same termes commending her adventure in their hearts who condemned her most in their discourse Fidelio with Mariana his wife returned to a private house in Lisborn prepared for this purpose but oh the quick intelligence that Friers have sure their soules all scent all Eyes and Ears that discover things so soon so far off They were just ready to sit down at Supper onely expecting the comming of his dear friend Ardalio when in comes a man or a Tiger shall I say Nature might seeme to intend him for the latter such his fierce aspect and hairy face the terriblenesse whereof was increased with his affected antique attire by his place he was the Jaylor of the house of Inquisition and presently he shewed a cast of his office by seizing them both his Prisoners Yet might they have had the happinesse to have been sent to the same Prison it would have afforded some mitigation of their misery this would not be granted though Mariana with importunate tears requested it but they were disposed into severall Jayles where neither of them was sensible of their own condition being totally taken up with the mutuall bemoaning the one of the other This is one commendable quality in the Spaniards Prisoners are not long delayed to rot in the Jayle where is life worse then death it self but are brought to a speedy tryall either to be condemned or acquitted Next day they both are brought before the Judges and condemned ot die He for Sacriledge for soliciting a Votary out of the house she for carrying away a golden Medall wherein was the Picture of Saint Bridget which she casually borrowed having no felonious intention as meaning to restore it but surprised on a suddain had no leisure to make restitution All conceived that the rigor of rigors was extended unto them by Francisco the Fryer though not visibly appearing Don Durio hearing that his Daughter was to be executed his Paternal affections retreated to his heart and there made a Stand projecting with himselfe how to prevent this mischief And here I must trouble the Reader to go back in reporting an acccident that happened twenty years agoe It chanced that Philip the second alwaies wealthie and alwaies wanting was forced on a suddaine to send forth a great Fleet against the Turk he borrowed a considerable sum of money of Don Durio for the payment whereof Don Durio was a daily suppliant to the Court as constant at the gate as the Porter plying the King with importunate Petitions all which ended in delaies which Don Durio rightly expounded to be denialls Once the Treasurer told him that it was honor enough for the greatest Monarch in Christendom to borrow money of him though he never receive it
bewray fear in the presence of his Father having his youthfull blood and spirit to support him together they both so order the matter that they went into the Vault putting out their candle which led them and resolved in darknesse and silence to expect the Event of the matter Down somthing tumbled and presently all light vanished and they for a time set still to concoct with themselves the rawnesse of so strange an accident Presently they hear a groan such as speak the Soul neither friend nor foe to the Body but such a distance between both as if willing to depart Vejeto enjoines his Son as younger and abler to adventure to bring forth whatever it was and up it is carried not knowing as yet how to stile it Him or Her. On the lighting of a Candle this bulk appears a woman but much maimed her right arme and left legge being broken What difference is there between the same Body in health and in sicknesse between the same cloathed and naked when ornaments of Art are used unto it or when it is left to the dressing of nature Vejeto knowes no more hereof then Woman and never remembers that hee had seen the face before yet they omit not what art could do to restore her to life which succeeded according to their desire she is conveyed to a Bed and no accommodations are wanting which might tend to the speeding of her recovery At last he knoweth her for Sabina before shee knew her selfe wonder not at her Ignorance who had pass'd through so many worlds it being a greater wonder that she was alive then that she did not know where she was or what was become of her selfe no Physick nor surgery is wanting to restore her to her former health True it is Vejeto would not make use of any out of his own dores for the better concealing of the matter but his own wife Oliva being excellent above her sex at such perforformances indeed shee had never read Hippocrates or Galen in Greek yet was she one who by kitchen Physick did many and cheap cures to poor people taking onely their thanks and that onely if they were willingly pleased to give it for the reward from Physick shee proceeded to surgery was no lesse successeful therein this made many to hate her who were of that profession whilst she cared the lesse for their hatred as over-ballanced with the love and respect with others but the poor especially did bear unto her Sabina is privately concealed here for some daies whilst Vejeto as we have formerly mentioned was carried to Prison where Oliva daily visited him and it was the generall expectation of the people that forfeiture of his estate was all the mercy justice could afford him And now Abbot Iago is busie in preparing entertainment for Padre Antonio Bishop of Lerma and Visitor Generall of his order but especially of this Covent in Barcellona which three hundred years since was founded by a Bishop of Lerma leaving to his Successors the hereditary power of inspection over the same to adde alter translate Orders and persons therein as advised by their own discretion Padre Antonio was generally hated by the Friers for his severity and austerity of life being over rigorous in the observation of the conformity thereof hee would not abate them any point but confined them to the height of observances onely this preserved his reputation with Religious men that he used others no worse then himself practizing in his own person what he prescribed in others leaving an example of abstinence to all the Country No wonder if the Trewants shake when the Schoolmaster cometh among them Abbot Iago is jealous that some flaw will be found in him to out him of his place being conscious to himself of many Enormities for though he walked by that rule if not chastly yet cautiously he managed his matters with all possible privacie yet hee suspected that Gold smiths would not receive that false Coine wherewith common people are deluded and the sharpe judgement of Antonio quickly discover that which was invisible to common eyes wherefore to mollifie him in his visitation by two Fryers he sent him a present of rich plate to the value of five hundred Crusadoes Antonio refuseth the acceptance charging the Friers to return it adding withall that it Iago had observed the vow of poverty according to his order hee could not have atchieved so great an estate Three daies after the Visitor comes to Barcâ—llona on foot unattended save with one servant alone forth rode the Abbot to meet him on his Mule and most of their Covent in like maner together with the Officers of their house and all Dependents of the same to the number of sixty persons These expected to have met the Visitor in so solemn an Equipage as had been observed by his Predecessors and finding their expectation confused Iago was much discomposed thereat and so disturbed in his mind that he forgot that premeditated Oration which he had artificially pen'd for the Visitors entertainment Here Iago profered the Visitor the conveniencie of his Mule which he refused adding with a sterne countenance that so much pomp and state became not men of his profession conducted hee was into the Covent where such a supper was provided for him as had made provisions dear in the Town The Visitor commanded the poor people to be called thither on whom he bestowed all the cheer betaking himself to some mean Viands which hee brought with him and thereon took a sparing refection Next day the Court was kept and severall misdemeanors were presented unto him Don Nicholayo complained to the Visitor of the high offence of Vejeto For although the power of the Visitor extended only to the Covent yet lately he was impoured with a Commission from the Conclave to take into consideration all businesse in the City which any way related to the late wonder of the spirit in the wall and to proceed against all persons concerned therein as he should see cause for the same Vejeto is sent for out of prison and his fault iuflamed to the height by the Rhetorick of a young Advocate retained by Don Nicholayo to set forth the hainousnesse of the offence being demanded what hee could say for himself he requested that one witnesse might be produced and her testimony solemnly taken which seemed so equall a motion that it could not any waies be denyed Presently he bringeth forth Sabina by the hand who stood by but disguised and concealed tendring her there to the Visitor to make a Narration of the whole story The Visitor is for a while so taken up with wonder that his soul was at leisure to do nothing else but admire to see one reported dead and carried away soul and body alive and in good health Facundo standing by requested the Visitor to favour him if hee transgressed the gravity of that Court by bestowing a salutation on his dear wife being confident that the strangeness of the accident would sufficiently plead for his presumption therein Next day the Visitor proceeds to censure First Abbot Iago was expell'd his Covent and condemned to perpetuall imprisonment it is thought it had cost him his life had not some reverence and respect to his order mitigated the censure The Novice in the wall as yet was but a probationer not entred in the orders was condemned to be publiquely whipt in the market place of Barcellona being all the blood that was shed in this Comicall story The Exorcist pleaded his own innocence as not privy to the cheat and that he onely proceeded according to the rules of his owne Art whose plea was accepted Don Nicholayo because a person of great honor highly descended and allied was remitted by the Visitor to the Kings disposall and sent Prisoner to Madrid where he was ordered to lose his Office and fined ten thousand Crusaâ—oes to the King and five thousand Crusadoes to Facundo Vejâ—to was deputed to succeed Nicholayo in the Governors place of Baâ—cellona Facundo something to compensate her patience was promoted to be Advocate Generall of Catalonia The Nurse of Sabina privy to the plot pleaded the age of seventy and under the protection thereof at Sabina's humble in treaty was pardoned Infido a cheating servant of Vejeto who had oftentimes betrayed his Master secrets wsa branded in the face with F. S. false servant Facundo and Sabina lived many years together in Love and Credit and whereas formerly she was issuelesse made her husband afterward happy with a numerous posterity FINIS I S