THE HISTORY OF THE Noble Marques.  
 woodcut of woman spinning thread, stag hunt in background   

 woodcut of a queen   

THE PLEASANT AND SWEET HISTORY of patient grissel.  
showing how she from a poor mans Daughter, came to be a great Lady in France, being a pattern for all virtuous Women.  
T●anslated out of Italian.  
 woodcut of a woman spinning thread, stag hunt in background  
London printed by E.P. for John Wright, dwelling 〈…〉 street at the sign of the 〈…〉   

 woodcut of lady with man and woman following   

The pleasant and sweet History of patient grissel showing how she from a poor mans Daughter, came to bee a great Lady in France: being a pattern for all virtuous Women.  

CHAPTER I. How and in what place the Noble Ma●quesse was dwelling.  
IN the country of Salusa, which lieth near Ita●y and France, there lived a noble and worthy prince, name Gua●ter, marquis and Lord of Salusa, a man of such virtues that the world did ring of: beloved of his subiects for his good parts, that before his dayes nor since was very few the like, for his continual care of his subiects good, and they in their dutifulness, sought to out-strip him in love, from his youth, his onely exercise was hunting, wherein he took such delight, that nothing was more pleasing unto him: withall, the subiects loyalty to this worthy Prince in their carefuln●sse, that such excellent virtues should not fail for want of issue, entreated him by humble petition to mary, that from his loins their children might enjoy the like happiness. This speech thu● spoken to the Prince drove such love and affection into his mind, that most graciously he made them answer, that when it should please Go● that he should see one that he could l●ve, goody most willingly w●u●d fulfil● their good and honest requ●st: with ll this answer gave them such content, that they prayed earnestly to see that day.   

CHAP. 3 Of the good and honest life of faire Griss●●, and h●r old father I●nicol●.  
NEre to the famous City of Sa●●se was a poor village name Clu●, in the way going to a great and spacious forest, where the Noble Marq●●●●e used daily his pleasure in hunting; the poorer sort got their living, some by spinning some carding others by keeping sheep, amongst the rest of the inhabitants, there was an old man name Ianicola, whose wife being dead, shee left him one onely Daughter name G●issell, who by the country manner, was name the faire. These two lived contented●y together the aged Father goes to get wood for fire the Maid makes his bed, gets his breakfast ready against his coming home, drives her sheep to the common sets her house in order, and fals to her ordinary work of spinning: when the old man comes home, she sets his meate, makes much of him, shows al the obedience that may be to the aged man; he in requital of her love as an encouragement to all obedi●nt children, powers out his hearty pra●ers in her behalf, praying the Almighty God to bless her, & to give her that happiness which belongs to so good a child, no doubt but his petition was heard for God gave a b●essing to her, as you may hear by the happy coming of the marquis that way, which may seem suddenly after.   

 woodcut of knight on horseback CHAP. 3 How the marquis of Salusa, riding a hunting fell in love with the faire grissel.  

A N●b●e marquis,  
As he did ride a hunting  
hard by a forest side,  
A faire and comely Maiden,  
As she did sit a spinning,  
his gentle eye espied,  
Most faire and comely,  
And of comely grace was she,  
although in simplo attire,  
She sung full sweetly,  
With pleasant voice melodiously  
which set the Lords heart on fire,  
The more he looked, the more he might,  
Beauty bread his hearts delight,  
And to this comely damsel  
then he went.  
God speed( quoth he) thou famous flower,  
Faire mistress of this homely bower,  
Where love and virtue  
dwells with sweet content,   

With comely gesture  
And modest mildred behaviour,  
she bid him welcome then,  
She entertained him  
In faithful friendly manner,  
and all his gentlemen.  
The noble M●rquesse  
In's heart felt such a flamme,  
which set his sences at strife;  
Quoth he faire Maiden  
show me soon what is thy name,  
I mean to make thee my wife.  
Grisse is my name quoth she,  
Far unfit for your degree,  
A silly maiden  
and of parents poor.  
Nay grissel thou art rich he said,  
A virtuous faire and comely maid,  
Grant me thy love  
and I will ask no more.    

CHAPTER 4. How the Marqu●sse married faire Grissel, an● how the Lords desired him to put her away, because she was of so mean a blood.  

AT length sh● consented,  
And being both contented,  
they married were with speed:  
Her country russet  
Was changed to silk and Velvet,  
as to her state agreed;  
And when that she  
Was trimly tired in the same,  
her beauty shined most bright,  
far staining every,  
Other faire and Princely Dame,  
that did appear in her sight.  
Many envied her therefore,  
Because she was of par●nts poor,  
And twixt her Lord and she  
great strife did raise.  
Some said this, and some said that,  
And some did call her beggars brat,  
And to her Lord  
they would her oft dispraise.   

O noble marquis,  
Quoth they why dost thou wrong us  
thus basely for to wed,  
That might have gotten  
An honourable Lady  
into your Princely bed?  
Who will not now,  
Your noble issue still deride,  
which shall hereafter be born:  
That are of blood so base,  
born by the Mothers side,  
the which will bring them in scorn▪  
Put her therefore quiter away,  
And take to you a Lady gay,  
Whereby your lineage  
may renowned be.  
Thus every day they seemed to prate  
That malic't Grissels good estate,  
Who all this while  
took it most patiently.    

CHAP. 5 How the noble marquis had two children by patient grissel, how he sent for them, and  told her they must be murdered, and of her patience.  

When that the Msrquesse,  
Did see that they w●re bent thus  
against his faithful wife,  
Whom he most dearly,  
Tenderly and entirely,  
beloved as his life:  
Minding in secret  
For to prove her patient heart,  
thereby her foes to disgrace,  
Thinking to show her  
A hard discourteou● part;  
that men might pitty her case.  
Great with child this Lady was,  
And at last it c●me to pass,  
Two go●dly children  
at one birth and had.  
A son and daughter God had sent,  
Which did her father well content,  
And which did make,  
their mothers heart full glad,   

great royal feasting  
Was at these childrens christenin  
and princ●ly triumph made,  
Six weeks together,  
All Nobles that came thither,  
were entertained and stayed,  
And when all these pleasant  
Sportings quiter were done,  
the marquis a Messenger sent,  
For his young daughter  
An● his pretty smiling son,  
declaring his full intent,  
How that the Babes must murdered be,  
For so th● marquis did decrees,  
Come, let me have  
the children then he said.  
With that faire grissel wept full sore,  
She wrung her hands and said no more  
My gracious Lord  
must have his will obeyed.    

CHAP. 6. Of the great sorrow that Patient Grissel, made for her Children.  
SHe took the Babies,  
Even from the nursing Ladies,  
between her tender arms,  
She often wishes  
With many sorrowful kisses,  
that she might ease their harms;  
Farewell, farewell,  
A thous●nd times my children dear.  
never shall I see you again:  
'Tis long of me  
Your sad and woeful Mother here,  
for whose sake both must be slain.  
Had I been born of royal race,  
You might have lived in happy case,  
But you must die  
for my unworthiness.  
Come messenger of death( quoth she)  
Take my dearest Babes to thee,  
And to their father  
my complaints express.  
He took the children  
And to his noble Master,  
be brought them both with speed,  
Who in secret sent them  
unto a noble Lady,  
to be brought up indeed;  
Then to faire grissel,  
With a heavy heart he goes,  
where she sate mildly all alone,  
A pleasant gesture,  
And a lovely look she sh●wes,  
as if no grief she had known.  
( Qd he) my children now are slain,  
What thinks fair Grissel of the same,  
Sweet Grissel now  
dec●are thy mind to me.  
Sith you my Lord are pl●as d with it  
poor Grissel thinks the action fit,  
Both I and mine  
at your command will be.   

CHAP. 7. How patient Grissel was partend from the Nob●e Marqu●sse, and sent to her Father again, and of a great marriage was prepared the second match of the marquis.  

MY Nobles murmur,  
Faire grissel at thy honour,  
 woodcut of gentleman with sword  
and I no ioy can have,  
Till thou be banished,  
Both from the Court & presence,  
as they unjustly crave,  
Thou must be stripped  
Out of thy stately garments all,  
and as thou cam'st to me,  
In homely gray,  
Instead of bisse and purest Pall,  
now all thy clothing must be;  
My Lady thou m●st be no more,  
Nor I thy Lord, which grievs me sore  
The poorest life  
must now content thy mind,  
A groat to thee I m●st not give,  
Thee to maintain while I do live,  
Against my grissel  
such great foes I find.   

When gentle Grissel  
Did hear these woeful tidings,  
the tears sto●d in her eyes,  
Nothing she answered,  
No words of discontentment  
did fr●m her lips arise;  
Her Velvet gown.  
Most patiently she stripped off,  
her Kirtle of silk with the same,  
Her russet gown  
Was brought again with many a scoff  
to bear them herself she did frame  
When she was dressed in this array,  
And was ready to part away,  
God sand long life  
unto my Lord( quoth she)  
Let no offence be found in this,  
To give my Love a parting kisss.  
With watery eyes  
farewell my dear said he.    

 woodcut of woman with fan CHAP. 8. How patient grissel was sent for to the wedding, and of her great humility and patience.  

FRom Princely Palace,  
unto her fathers Cottage,  
poor grissel now is gone;  
Full sixteen winters  
She lived there contented;  
no wrong she thought upon,  
And at that time through  
All the Land the speeches went,  
the marquis should married be  
unto a noble Lady great,  
Of high descent,  
and to the same all parties did agree.  
The marquis sent for Grissel faire,  
The Brides bed chamber to prepare,  
That nothing therein  
might be found awry,  
The Bride was with her Brother come,  
Which was great ioy to all and some,  
But Grissel took  
all this most patiently.   

And in the morning,  
When as they should be wedded,  
her patience there was tried,  
Grissel was charged  
herself in friendly manner  
for to attire the Bride:  
Most willingly  
She gave consent to do the same,  
the Bride in bravery was dressed,  
And presently  
The noble marquis thither came,  
with all his Lords at his request.  
O grissel I would ask of thee,  
If to this match thou wilt agree,  
Methinks thy looks  
are waxed wondrous coy.  
With that they all b●gan to smile,  
And Grissel she replied the while,  
God sand Lord Ma●quesse  
many yeeres of ioy.    

CHAP. 9. How the marquis being moved with her patience gave her two children were friends, and after lived in peace.  
THe marquis was moved  
To see his best beloved  
thus patient in distress.  
He stepped unto her,  
And by the hand he took her,  
these words he did express:  
Thou art my Bride  
And all the Bride I mean to have,  
these too thy own children be.  
The youthful Lady  
On her knees did blessing crave,  
her B●other as well as she,  
And you that envied her estate,  
Who I have made my loving mate,  
Now blushy for shane,  
and honour virtuous life.  
The Chronicles of lasting famed,  
Shal evermore exiolthe name,  
Of patient Grissel,  
my most constant Wife.   

CHAP. 10. Of the great feast that was made for patient Grissel, and her children, and old Ianicola.  
THe Lords & Gentlemen being astonished looked one upon another, and seeing no remedy but that the noble marquis had set an unremovable love upon her, besought her to pardon them of their envy towards her and to take them into her favour, which she with a modest behaviour promised to do; the noble marquis seeing all in peace, ordained a great and sumptuous feast; where patient Grissel sate mistress of the feast, the marquis on her right hand, on her left, her aged Father, old Janicola; her two children between them both, the Lords and Gentlemen doing them service. This feast continued fourteen dayes, to the comfort of the Comomns.  
When this solemn feast was ended, the marquis, to show his love to his grissel, made her Father one of his counsel, and governor of his Palace, where for many yeares, he lived in the love of the whole Court: the noble marquis and his faire Grissel lived almost thirty yeeres, saw their childrens children, and then dyed, beloved and bewailed of their subiects,   

CHAP. 2. The Authors persuasion to all Women in general.  
THus you may see by this History, you that are women, the great good which cometh by patience and humility, for had this virtuous woman been of a churl●sh and crabbed disposition, she had lost that gr●at estate which she had, besides the happy love of a worthy and loving husband: Therfore, ye women, as you are helpers for men, & were so created for that use, give no distaste to your loving husbands: & men likewise, be not bitter to your wives, for the world hath not many Grissels; for man and Wife living lovingly and peaceably in this world, shal die with a good conscience, and enjoy the happiness of the world to come, which shall have no end.   
FINIS.