CERTAIN Tragical Discourses written out of French and Latin, by Geffraie Fenton, no. less profitable than pleasant, and of like necessity to all degrees that take pleasure in antiquities or foreign reports.  
Mon heur viendra.  
❧ Imprinted at London in Fleetstreet near to Saint Dunston's Church by Thomas Marsh.  
Anno Domini. 1567.    

To the right honourable and virtuous Lady, the Lady mary Sidney, Geffraye Fenton Wisheth a happy increase of honour and years in this life.  
NICEPHORUS an Historiographer of great credit amongst the Greeks, affirmeth, that as every knowledge of itself deserveth commendation, so the discipline of histories is most agreeable and necessary for all ages, which the Roman orator Marcus Cicero full well approveth 
A witness or chronicler of times, a candle to the troth, the life of the memory, the master of a man's life, and the reaporter of all antiquities.  in commending the study thereof to all degrees and times as an exercise of most necessity and honour, for that (saith he) in them is represented (as it were) an image or portrait of all things that have passed since the beginning of the world, together with diversity of instructions to all sorts of people touching their direction in future chances even until the last and extreme dissolution of the same, not doubting also in his first book De oratore to add certain peculiar titles, calling an history testis temporis, lux veritatis, vita memoriae, magistra vitae, & nuncia vetustatis: For if a man be young saith e. The reading thereof will make him old (not in years, with the most part could be content to shift of and forego, but in experience and wisdom, and if he be already loaden with the heavy burden of nature, what a pleasure is it then to behold the things which either he hath passed in youth, or long be fore his time were put in practice, whereof as the first is very well proved by Euripides the Poet saying that the remembrance of the pain that his past is sweet so th'opinion 
jucundi. acti labores.  of TULLYE (touching the other) persuades a great necessity to all degrees to be privy to the commodity of stories, for saith he, to be ignorant in things happened or thou waste borne, is as much to say as thou wilt be always a child. There is required in all estates both a faith and 
Nescire quid antequam natus sis acciderit est semper esse puerum  fear in God, & also an outward policy in worldly things whereof (according to the philosophers) that one is to be learned by perusing the scripture, and the other can not be gotten but by the assistance of histories, who are the only and true tables whereon are drawn in perfect coolers, the virtues and vices of every condition of man, both their flourishing time whilst they embraced the first, and miserable fall, when they grew in delight with the wickedness of the last: if a man be a magistrate or bear authority in public affairs, what labour is better bestowed, then in searching the acts of such as have supplied equal dignity and place, to accommodate himself to their virtues: and to the private person, antiquity gives choice of admonitions, for obedience to his superiors, with charge to apply and employ all his care for the commodity of his country: if he be a citizen, he shall there find what belongeth to his proper office either in the service of his public weal, or in his peculiar affairs at home. And to a woman, what store of examples are there to instruct her in her duty, either for the married, to keep her faith to her husband with LUCRETIA, or the unmarried to defend her virginity with virginya: finally that excellent treasore and full library 
Lyvye.  of all knowledge yields us freely presidents for all cases that may happen, both for imitation of the good, 
Histories a library or store house of knowledge  detesting the wicked, avoiding a present mischief, and preventing any evil afore it fall: wherein also as in every art there be certain special principles and rules for the direction of such as search out their disposition, so histories do swarm with examples of all kind of virtues, wherein both the dignity of virtue, and foulness of vice appeareth much more lively then in any moral teaching, seeing therein is figured under certain forms and shaps of men and their doings past, all & every such diversity and change which philosophy doth teach by way of precepts, like as also (touching the commodities to be cooled out of antiquities) Lyvye is of opinion, that the pleasure and proffitt falleth out of indifferent value to such as bestow their time with upright judgement in the view of ancient records, for saith he, nihil est aptius ad delectationem lectoris, quam temporum varietates fortunaeque vicissitudines cognoscere, quae etsi exoptabilia in experiendo non fuerunt tamen in legendo sunt iocunda, and the fruit and chief gains derived of such travail is, in that we shall see set forth good and who alsome lessons of all sorts, whereof we may take to ourselves and benefit of our country, such as we like to follow, and which presents unto us the true picture and reapport of such enterprises, as had both sinister beginnings and much worse ends, and yet is it not sufficient for us to judge that the only fruit consists in reading the noble acts of good men, seeing that (of the contrary) to those that study to resemble their virtues, th'eschewing of the evil parts in a number of vicious persons, is a singular commodity, which, if it were not so the continuance of so many hundredth years in all common states aswell heathen as Christened, had not permitted the reading of sundry poets, whose comedies and tragedies import a description figurative of the wicked lives of all degrees of men & women, without intent to persuade any ymitation that way, but rather to provoke the multitude by familiar trains to avoid such conditions as they saw justly reprehended in others: And truly with better reason may a man put to the view of the world any ancient reapport, whose profession is to declare a truth, then to prefer the feigned tales of poets, which yet we see for diverse good respects tolerated to be red in all ages. For like as in a family or ancient house, who hath been most renowned of all the stock, leaveth a precedent and desire to his posterity to resemble his doings, as a glass and mirroir to them of most excellent virtues, so when histories are published to the common profit of all men, every one goeth about to confirm himself to the virtuous conversation and life of such as excelled amongst the elders, wherein me seemeth Nycephorus said very well, that those which writ Histories, and keep not that which is profitable and praise worthy (as it were) in their store house at home, but rather being beneficial to the common wealth, do expose so common a profit to the general commodity of all men, are (as it were) th'executors of Gods divine providence, because they comprise and pack up in one work or volume (as in a common treasore, sundry sorts of noble deeds, without inhibition or let to any degree, to resort thereunto, and learn by othermen's misdeeds, to direct better his own doings, and not with th'exchange of the world to alter also his mind, but rather asmuch as lieth in him, to imitate the life and conversation of them, who have lived well before, wherein seeing in this world the nature of man in all ages, although the singler persons be changed, remeineth still one, so also the good fortunes, felicities, calamities and miseries which happen both in public government and to every private state, turn always to one effect and are like those of times passed, so that by the benefit of stories, presenting afore our eyes a true calendar of things of ancient date, by the commendation of virtuous, and valiant persons and acts: we be drawn by desire to tread the steps of their renown, and on tother side, considering the sinister fortune & horrible cases, which have happened to certain miserable souls, we behold both th'extreme points whereunto the frail condition of man is subject by infirmity, and also are thereby taught by the view of other men's harms to eschew the like inconveniences in ourselves: wherein (right honourable) like as I have rather touched sleightelye, than used terms of commendation at large according to the worthiness of so precious a jewel as the knowledge of histories, for that now a days every man's mouth is open to commend the fruit distilling from so flourishing a vine lo for my part, being more forward then able to discharge my zeal in that behalf, have bestowed some of my void hours whilst I was in the other sides the Sea, in forcing certain Tragical Discourses out of their French terms, into our English phrase, presuming to commend unto your Ladishypp the fruits and effect of my travail, following therein the order of such as have spent time in the like study, who are wounte to declare their good will, by bestowing their labours: wherewith being unhappily denied other friendship of fortune to make good my desire in giving an unfeigned show of the duty and service I own you and the house whereof you took your beginning, am here upon terms of humility for preferment of this rude and simple dedication of these foreign reports to your honour, to whose virtues, as I have chiefly respected to give due renown, by preferring a true portrait of your conversation and life in the virtues gifts and ornaments of the noble ANGELIQVA chaste PAROLYNA, constant JULIA and renowned CARMOSYNA with others, whose integretye of life hath given them a crown of immortality, with a glorious remembrance of their names for ever after their death, so my second endeavour was bend to observe the necessity of the time, chief, for that upon the view and examples of our Ancestors lives, the frail imps of this age, may find cause of shame in their own abuses, with desire to exchange their bad condition and order of living, with the study and desire to imitate the virtue of their predecessors, whose life and renown after death, argueth the undoubted reward, at tending (as a thing of course) the virtuous and well disposed, where of the contrary, appear wonderful torments and sharpp penance provided to plague the abominable and vicious liver: Besides it is a principle and chief rule in our nature and disposition to be rather instructed by examples of familiar authorities, then reform by severity of laws, for that the one seams to govern us by awe and commandment, and in the other appears a consent of our fancy, marching always according to the direction of our own wills, for which cause the Historians of old time (in their several records of the acts, conquests, and noble attempts of Princes and great men) have left out nothing serving for the ornament and institution of man's life, not forgetting to set out also in natural coolers, their tyranny and other vices, with contempt of virtue, if their lives were found guilty in any such offence: But when they paint out a good king, a magistrate without touch of partial or covetous mind, a courtyar loyal and without dissimulation, A minister of the Church not smelling of hypocrisy, but searching purely the honour of God, A Lady chaste, honest, courteous, a lover of charity, using a devout reverence to God and fear to his laws, it is then that they allure (by trains of familyaritye) every succession to embrace and behold (as in a glass) the undoubted mean that is able and wilt bring them to the like perfection in virtue, which also moved me to use a special discretion in coolling out such examples as best agreed with the condition of the time, and also were of most fresh and familiar memory, to the end that with the delight in reading my dedication, I may also leave to all degrees, an appetitt and honest desire to honour virtue and hold vice in due detestation. And albeit at the first sight these discourses may import certain vanities or fond practices in love, yet I doubt not to be absolved of such intent by the judgement of the indifferent sort, seeing I have rather noted diversity of examples in sundry young men and women, approving sufficiently the inconvenience happening by the pursuit of lycenceous desire, then affected in any sort such uncertain follies: For hear may be seen such patterns of chastity, and maids so assured and constant in virtue, that they have not doubted rather to reappose a felicity in the extreme pangs of death, then to fall by any violent force into the danger of the fleshly enemy to their honour: In like sort appeareth here an experience of wonderful virtues in men, who albeit had power to use and command the thing they chiefly desired, yet (bridling with main hand) The humour of their inordinate lust, vanquished all motions of sensualytye, and became masters of themselves, by abstaining from that whereunto they felt provocation by nature: who desireth to see the folly of a foolish lover passioning himself upon credit, the impudency of a maid or other woman renouncing the vow of her faith or honour due to virginity, the sharpp penance attending the rash choice of great Ladies in seeking to match in any sort with degrees of inferior condition: or who wisheth to be privy to th'inconveniences in love, how he frieth in the flame of the first affection, and after groweth not only cold of himself, but is easily converted into a contrary shapp and disposition of deadly hate, may be hear assisted with more than double expeperience touching all those evils: the courtesy of an enemy on the behalf of his adversary, with a wonderful liberality in the other in returning the benefytt received, is hear set forth in fuche lively coolers, that there seams to lack nothing for the ornament and decoration of such a woke. And who takes pleasure to behold the fits and pangs of a frantic man incensed to synister conceits by the suggestion of fretting jelouzye, forcing him to effects of absolute desperation, The due plague of disloyalty in both kinds, with the glory of him who marcheth under the ensign of a contrary virtue, a man of the church of dissolute living punished with public reproach, or the villainy of the greedy usurer making no conscience to prefer open perjury in suppressing th'innocent cause, may find here to satisfy his longing at full, neither do I think that our English records are able to yield at this day, a Romant more delicate and chaste, treating of the very theme and effects of love, than these histories, of no less credit then sufficient authority, by reason the most of them were within the compass of memory, wherein as I wish the torments that pinched here such as laboured in a passion of folly and fond desire, may work a terror to all those that hereafter unhappelye Syp of the cup of such raging infection, so touching the commendable parts of any Lady or woman of meaner condition, mentioned in this volume of discourses, I find them far to light to keep weight with the balance, wherein are poised the qualities of your honour, which seam to have a certain affinity and resemblance with such as were the very vertuse and causes of commendation in any that ever deserved the title of most perfect or iustyle renowned: For if ever the queen of Carya was meritorious for her magnanimytye and bountiful disposition, the queen of Saba which some writers call Nycaula, and other Man▪ quedae, was had in honour for her wisdom, which was such that both the old and new testament affirm, that she traveled from the end of the world and extreme confines of the land of Iud●●, to come and hear the doctrine of Solomon, with whom she disputed no less learnedly then with profound judgement, or if the constant Lady Blaudina a Christian borne in the heart of Europe hath purchased chased a crown of eternetye, in keeping her faith and vow to God and the world even to the last separation of 
Executed for religion in France by the Emperor Severus in the year. 178.  her soul and body, or if any other, either of antiquity or familiar experience, of what degree and condition so ever, have been noted of renown for the gift of nobility in any sort, your Ladishipp may boldly challenge place with the best, either for moderate government, whose effects in all things you attempt, argue your worthy participation with the excellent gifts of temperance and wonderful modesty in, the tj. most famous Earls of leicester & Warwick your brethren, & most virtuous and renowned Lady the Countess of Huntingdon your sister, to whose glory and general love amongst all sorts of people in this land, I need not add further circumstance or increase if praise, considering the whole state, fixinge their eyes upon them with an unfeigned zeal and admiration of their wisdom and virtues, do avouch in more ample sort their good will that way, than I am either worthy or able to declare. And for your clemency to the case of th'afflicted, upright dealing without exaction or cause of grudge to any, wonderful respect to the honour of your calling, with dutiful awe and fear of God, and obedience to my Lord your husband, or other arguments or effects, wherein consists the praise of a virtuous mind, or aught to appear the fruits of true nobility, they make you not so much honoured in your country, as embraced of strangers, who never saw nor knew you but by name, who also doubt not to make your sincere and devout order of living, a looking glass to behold & follow your virtues, and by your order of doing, to draw the plat and foundation of their own life, which shall suffice for this time (good madam) for the commendation of that, which is sufficiently perfect of itself, & so generally honoured of all degrees, that it need not th'assistance of any peculiar praise: humbly craving for my part a privilege of favour at your hands so farfurthe, as it may be lawful for me to lay these first fruits of my travel upon the altar already garnished with other oblations of your everlasting glory as a remembrance of an humble sacrifice, which, I make of my little labour and continual service vowed to your Ladishipp so long as God and nature will allow my abode in this miserable vale: at my chamber at Paris, XXII, Junii. 1567.  
Your Ladyships to command. Geffraye Fenton.   

Sir john Conway Knight to the readers in praise of the Translator.  

LIke as the slender be, by travail in her kind  
Collects her fruit, the sugared sap whereof we daily find.  
So hear my learned friend, in nature like the be:  
Hath linked his labour to his art, and yields the fruit to thee,  
In tongue estraungd from us, whiles this succeeding work,  
(As doth the honey in the flower) by covert mean did lurk,  
He labouring with effect, hath by his learned pain,  
Enforced a French man tell his tale, in English language plain.  
Not for himself: thou knowest, it answered his delight,  
By skill to understand the tale, as did the Author write.  
But toiling for thy sake, hath fourmd his hive full fine,  
Take thou the comb, the pain was his, the honey shallbe thine.  
Good reader yet beware, least Spider like thou take  
By cankered kind a spiteful sting, whence he did honey make.  
Let not in lieu of pain, a tongue complete with spite,  
Attempt to harm (though power shall want) the thing that he doth writ  
For if thou dost: the wies, will feel thy festered kind,  
And he to whom thou dost such wrong shall so thy nature find.  
No doubt our days are such, as every man can see  
And can at ease, and will perceive, the spider from the Bee.  
Allow his labour then and work that well is done:  
And thou shalt see thee golden race his muse pretends to run.  
Let ZOILUS suck the teat, that Envy holds in hell,  
And say with me God speed the pen, that hath begun so well  
Thus hath he his desire, thus shalt thou live in rest  
Thus shall his frynds have at thy hands the sum of their request.  
john Conway,    

Amici cuiusdam, ad Authorem Carmen Hexametrum.  

FLoruit antiquo Galfridus tempore Chaucer  
Scripsit & eximio permagna volumina versu  
Et multi viguere viri, quos unica virtus,  
Nefandos facile effecit tolerare labores.  
Vixerunt: & sola manet, nunc fama Sepultis  
At tua nunc primum, (Galfride) virescere virtus  
Incipit, & teneras cum spe producere plantas:  
Quae (scio) quàm primumradices caeperit altos,  
Efferet egregios cum magno foenore, fructus.  
Ergo quisquis erit, qui fortè revoluerit ista,  
(Cuius mens livore nequit nec amore moveri,  
Et sapit) haud dubito, quin te dignabitur illa  
Laude, tuo quam tu magno sudore parasti.  
Sin minus: hoc uno tibi sat (Fentone) tulisti,  
Quod Domina est cui des, dono dignissima tanto.  
TWS M. M.    

George Turberuille in praise of the translator of this book.  

IF handycraftesmen have great praise for working well  
By toiling trade the trifling wares which they for money sell:  
Then why should Fenton fear to purchase praise of men,  
To whom he frankly gives the gift of this his pleasant pen?  
If he his busy brow have beat for our avail,  
And for our pleasure taken pains, why should his guerdon fail?  
No greedy golden fee, no gem or jewel brave,  
But of the reader good report this writer longs to have.  
No man of meanest wit, no beast of slender brain  
That thinks that such a volume great is wrought with slender pain.  
The thing itself declares what toil he undertook,  
Ere Fentons' curious file could frame this passing pleasant book.  
The French to English phrase, (his mother language) he,  
The dark to light, the shade to son, hath brought as you may see.  
The learned stories erst, and sugared tales that lay  
Removed from simple common sense, this writer doth display:  
And what before he took his painful quill to write  
Did lurk unknown, is plainly now to be disternd in sight.  
Now men of meanest skill what Bandel wrought may view,  
And tell the tale in English well that erst they never knew,  
Discourse of sundry strange and Tragical affairs,  
Of loving Ladies hapless haps, their deaths, ad deadly cares,  
And divers things beside, whereby to flee the dart  
Of vile deceitful Cupid's bow that wounds the lovers heart.  
Since this by Fentons' mean, and travail thou doct gain,  
(Good reader) yield him earned praise and thanks for taken pain.  
Then I that made this verse shall think as well of the  
As Fentons' work doth well deserve accounted of to be.    

PETER BEVERLEY IN PRAISE of the translator.  

Rife is the rule that blames the Idle mind  
The ground as great that blazeth travels gain  
Each tongue can tell a world of vices kind  
And Scacred lines appoints offences pain  
But Fenton shows in sweet and sugared stile  
What pleasant bait doth each state beguile,   

What careless youth that sees the toiling Ant  
But shames to wear his golden time in vain  
Whose tender limbs in summer time do haunt  
The fruitful fields to rest in Borias' Rain  
When she doth suck the sweet of, harvest toil,  
And finds in frost relief in dried soil.   

The slender store that sum do now possess  
Whose idle bones did loath in youth the load  
To those that live sufficeth to express  
The loitering child in age knows no abode  
But as the ship tossed with the byllow great  
So he doth yield himself to fortunes threat.   

What pride deserves, what is black hatreds heir  
What envy, theft, what is the miser's meed  
In fine what foul offence what fact so dire  
But scripture shows his rights if thou list read  
Whereby each may both shun the vilest sin  
And learn such life as lasting joy doth win.   

But Fentons' frame hath woven an other web  
His painful pen hath died a stranger hew  
He tells when wit is in his lowest ebb  
And warns the Shun the bain that comes by view  
Which so doth change the sense of every wight  
That from a man to beast it turns him quit.   

As when the mind through want of reasons rain  
Unbridled yields to fond affections force  
And feeding still the heart with amours vain  
Convert each part unto a sencles' cors,  
Wherein he lives so odd from right and law  
As mountain bear, that prays devoid of awe.   

And subject thus unto sweet follies lore  
If wish he win, he shows what sower sweet  
The patient sucks, what bitter bliss in store,  
He heaps, when age with judgement just shall meet  
When proof shall say, of all unhappiest wight  
That reapest care in lyew of hoped delight.   

But if disdain shall quit him with despite  
And yield him loath, for long desired grace  
Then stabbing glaive the desperate breast must smite  
Or frantycke wise run out a savage race,  
Thus if of glad or sad he hap the gain  
Both have this end, in love nought is but vain.   

Which reckless race to bring in wisdoms guide,  
And for to rain with bit of better skill  
My painful friend did this discourse provide  
As brake to break affections lawless will  
give Fenton then but freuts of his desert  
And gather thou that best may please thy heart.   
P. B.   

The argument  
I Mean neither to increase the marvel of men, with a particular description of the sumptuous buildings of Princes, the magnifical scites and situations of great men's houses, nor restore to memory the wonderful policies and artificial devices of our Ancestors in making plaits and firm fondations of Castles and Cities in the bottom of the sea, and much less trouble you with a reaporte of their ingenious travail in casting down hills, and making Craggy mountains flat with the face of the earth, or forcing stony Rocks, 
Hannyball forced a passage for his armi through the Alpes.  with places here to fore impassable, to open and make way to their huge armies, but I have in present intent to discover unto you the marvelous effects of love, which exceeding the opinion of common things, seams more strange, than the curious construction and frame of any palace for necessity or pleasure, threatrie or place of solace builded by art or industry of man, or other stately Court what sqware, quadrante, or triangle form so ever it contains, or other mystical work yielding cause of wonder to the university of the earth, seeing that a mortal grudge grounded upon great spite, confirmed with the continuance of a long time, and pursued extremely with bloddye persecution and unnatural cruelty, is not only converted upon a sudden into perfect friendship, but also by an effect and operation of love, made so indissoluble that no future accident or synister devise of enemies, could once make a breach, and much less utterly dissolve the league of amity so happily begun and surely knit together by the virtue of affection, which we call commonly the passion procured by love, whereunto is also added alike effect of a thankful mind, arguing unto us (whythe a familiar example) that as ingratitude, is the greatest vice the reins in the disposition of man, and 
Ingratitude the chiefest enemy: to the honour of nobility  principal enemy to the honour of nobility, so the contrary, deserveth by justice the title of the most precious virtue that is, wherein as the Thebans, were shamefully reproached, for the respect of their great Capttaines Epaimy nondes, and Pelopides, so the Plateons' (on the contrary) were worthily renounced for the large recompense and consideration they used, to the benefit of the Greeks who delivered them from the servitude of the Persians, like as also the Sycyoniens wear yet the crown of eternal, commendation, for the thankful return of the courtesy of Aratus by whom they were frankly taken out of the hands of cruel tyrants: if the act of Philip Maria. late Duke of Milan deserveth detestation for the unnatural cruelty he committed upon the person of his wife, who albeit was equal in nobility, exceeded him in the gifts of fortune and large possessions, of indifferent beauty to content a reasonable man, nothing inferior to the best Lady of the country in thornaments of nature, and gifts of grace, and yielding him besides such honour and honest love as was necessary for the state of marriage, yet notwithstanding was he so unthankful to all these benefits, that after he had called the flower of her beauty, and forced her to pass an assurance of her goods and lining to his use; he committed secret execution & washed his hands in the blood, of theinfortunate Lady, contrary to all civility or law of nature, if he (I say) seam justly meritorious of reproach, we may worthily impart triple praise to a barbarous Turk and admiral of the country of Arabia, who being overthrown in the battle fought in that country, by Bandwin king of jerusalem, him self and wife prisoners, with his treasure and munition of war at the disposition of the said king, and being, dismissed freely without exaction or ransom, and his wife restored without violation, or force of her body, judged it a virtue not to be overcome in magnificence and liberality, and a mortal vice to bear the title of an unthankful Prince, whereof he made declaration for that not long after the said Bawdwine, being besieged of the infidels, and by distress of war, at point to fall into their mercy the said admiral, not vumindefull of the compassion he showed upon his misery, broke into him by night and with certain assistants of horsemen, prevented his present peril, and set him safely upon his way from all offer or fear of danger. All which I have coated in this introduction, for that my history imports two, examples of semblable substance, the one exposing a wonderful effect of friendship on the behalf of his enemy, and the other returning his liberality, with such ample consideration, that there is no degree in any Corner ofchristendom-but may see an experience of virtue in the doings of them both. Wherein I wish chief a participation of the fruit of such examples to all sorts of our countrymen in england, to th'end we may form our lives upon the virtuous precedents of such strangers as preferring virtue afore vice, have been more curious to get a true renown of reputation, then careful of a vain glorious or foolish pomppe of the world.  
A WONDERED Virtue in a gentleman of Syenna on the behalf of his enemy, whom he delivered from Death, and the other to return his courtesy with equal friendship, presented him with his sister whom he knew he loved entierlye.  
IN the ●ecewles or Comentories of tuscan I find a special Remembrance of a mortal grudge between ij of the most noble houses in SYENNA called Salimbino and Montanino, whereof as both the one and other were of semblable Reputation for honour and height of estate, so were they of equal Rule & authority in the government of their public weal, whose parents albeit and predecessors were of singler commendation by the virtue of mutual society which appeared so entire and indissoluble between them by many discentes, that the writers in that age doubted not to term them no less true myrrroers & patterns of perfect friendship then either HORESTES or PYLLADAS which the Romain orator Makes so famous by peculiar commendation, yet according to the opinion of Aristotle, as children 
Children do commonly rather exceed their fathers in vice, then resemble them in ver 〈◊〉.  commonly do Rather exceed their fathers in vice, then Resemble them in virtue, so the posteretyes of these noble houses, in place to persever in the virtue of their parents, or tread in the steps of their ancient amity, in the very entry of their flourishing time, when all men were in expectation of virtuous fruits like to their fathers with hope to confirm the league of their long friendship, they embraced sinister occasions of civil mutines, grounding great quarrels upon slender or small substance, with a disposition and equal desire, the one to pursue the other with such fatal hate and unnatural tyranny, that as the one was almost brought even to the brink of utter desolation of his house and Revenue, so the other (triumphing albeit in the Conquest of his enemy) escaped not only with out perentory peril of himself, & loss of A number of his dear kinsmen and Companions of Race, but also was enjoined to so hard A penance, that he lived always after in the continual grudge and desdaine of the people, the view of whose malice, preferring A wonderful remorse of conscience, with Remembrance of the foulness of the fact passed, pursued him with alarums of unnatural and fretting disquiet of mind, even until the last separation of his soul and body. And here if you confer the quarrel with the cause, and weigh in indifferent balance, the mischiefs, murders with infinite inconveniences derived of so small occasions, you need not doubt to join in opinion with Paulus iovius & other writes worthy of no less credit, then of great fame for learning and skill, who amongst other general descriptions of Italy giveth her this peculiar Commendation, that being 
Ytaly a store house for mutinies.  subject to thinfluence of a crabbed Climate, and quarrelus constellation, terms her to be (of all the world) the only storehouse for percialites and Civil factions, and market place of Tumults & suborned troubles, which I cold also justify by th'authority of the wars between the florentines and the Syennoys, with other free states in the country, besides the evil dissension among the nobility, with unnatural persecutions of families & kindreds, saving that the discourse would seam more tedius than necessary, and keep me to long from the principal points of my history, which calls me now to perform my promiss and satisfy the expectation of the rearder. No man doubteth (I am sewer) that aswell antiquity, as people of present being, have not had in general regard & peculiar delight, the noble exercise of hunting divers kinds of chases, no 
Thexercise of hunting is both pleasant and profitable  less for the respect of pleasure, than evitation of divers disco modities, happening oftentimes, to the husbandmen by the wild boar and wolf, with other beasts of equal fercenes and like annoy, wherein albeit besides the contentment of the mind, there is to be cooled a necessary fruit of double commodity, the one to stir up the idle crew of delicate 
The profit in hunting  persons haunting the houses of great men, to the exercise and ymitation of honest travail, the other representing the very sleights and policies in war, instructes the young gentlemen not able as yet to endure the hardness and experience of the field, to discern the advantage of the place, the subtlety in dressing his ambush for being discovered, his time to dysplaie the same to the disadvantage of the enemy, the order how and when to give the charge, with an enforcing of courage to pursue the chasse so far as good government will give leave, yet is not this pleasant skirmish and necessary recreation for youth, without some agument of great and almost absolute assurance of diverse sorts of misfortunes, for we read that MELEAGER lost his life in killing the wild boar of CALIDONA, Cephale for the like respect killed his dear friend PROCRIS, The notable Philosopher ACAST having th'only Credit for education of the heir apparent of his prince, and honouring albeit the child with more than an ordinary affection, yet hunting on a time among the deserts of that country, contrary to the will of the king for that he was warned by a prophecy of the death and destruction of his son, in casting a 
The danger of a prince in jermanye in hunting.  dart at the boar, slew him whom he loved asmuch or more than himself, besides for a familiar proof of my allegation in this case, it is not yet viij. years since the county Palatine, one of the chief princes of GERMANY, being lost of his company in pursuing the chasse of a fierce boar was overthrown horse and man, and in danger to be devoured by the fury of the beast, if by good chance his rider with ij, fresh dogs had not been at hand to prevent his peril, so likewise by the hunting of a wild boar grew the bloody quarrel between theses ij. houses, for having one day by force and policy of men and dogs, killed one of the greatest boars About SYENNA, in the particular commendation which every man gave to the doughtines of his dog, there began to kindle a kind of mislike in the hearts of the two young Lords, which with the heat of the wine wherein they goolled without regard after their travail, and the blood being chaffed with the press and number of terms of reproach, bolked out at last to cruel blows, which (without respect of persons) seamed so to occupy the place for the time, that besides a number that were hurt on both parts, the SALIMBINS had the worst, for that one of their chief was left for dead in the field, where with the fray discontinued for that time, and every man retired, the MONTANINS not glad of the victory for that they doubted a revenge, and the SALIMBINS contented by force with their present fortune, attending notwithstanding thassistance of a better time to redeem the blood of their kinsman, not with equal loss of their enemy, but with utter ruin and subversion of the whole house of their adverse part, which they failed not accordingly to perform with such hot expedition and power, that after diverse public skermishes and private combats, with indecent murders, (the contrary part having consumed the most part of their rent and revenue in meintaining garrisons to withstand their malice, within the compass of no long time) they had brought to extreme depopulation the whole kindred of the MONTANINS, except one young Gentleman named CHARLES, who finding himself to weak to resist any longer the rage of his adversaries, retired to a contentment by force and gave place to their fury, and they also finding the field abandonned without any to make head against them, dismissed their angry humour, and laid aside their bloody weapons being dolled with the heavy and mortal blows upon their conquered enemies. This Charles and last remainder of the house of MONTANINO, being appointed by destiny to live yet in spite of his enemies, stirred not out of the town of SIENNA, where as a solitary man in the press of his adversaries, he lived, without either saluting or haunting the place of their repair, being favoured notwithstanding of the most part of the City for that, after so many broils and horley borleys of war, 
A court of peynall forfeitures, or condemnation for money.  which with the fiske had converted the greatest part of his portion and inheritance into nothing, he lived notwithstanding of that little which fortune had left him in honest sort, meintaining a train according to the state and condition of his living, having in the house with him, the company of his sister, which the gods seamed to reserve not only for his special consolation in so great a calamity, but also in rest oring their house to his ancient entire and being, to build again a new and perfect friendship upon the first foundation, and confirm eftsoons by her virtue a perpetuity of indissoluble amity between her brother and the house of his extreme adversary her name was ANGELIQVA, whose special ornaments of nature and peculiar gifts of God, challenged not only an equalytye, but a degree above the best and greatest Dames of that Country: so seamed she justly meritorious of that name, with cut doing wrong to any, because her wisdom, womanly behaviour, with humble courtesy, made such declaration of her honesty and virtue, that they which hated their house and detested the remembrance of their Race, could not close their mouths from her due commendation, nor forbear to wish that their daughters and children were of semblable disposition, such is the operation and force of true virtue in the hearts of such as embrace her with unfeigned sincerity, exposing in like sort such fruits as seam wondrous 
The fruits which true virtue exposeth.  in the eye of world and exceed the common imagination of men, by reducing the confusion of kindreds into an entire of everlasting amity, and of a mortal enemy to make a most assured friend, whereof they that doubt of the goodness of so great a gift, may be satisfied by the present of proof this Angeliqua, who so fed the ears of the city with the general Brute & commendation of her virtue, that in one moment, he which erst was chief and captain of the war against them, and seamed invincible against, all the aid and assistance they could procure, is now become a slave and most subject to the view and contemplation of her beauty, in such sort, as by little & little, he grew into terms of extreme affection and undoubted zeal towards her whose name he hated erst, no less than the Cankered sting of the cruel Cockatrice, wherein as the humour of his love seamed to exceed the ordinary impressions of men in that case: So he neither was able to resist the hot sommaunce of his new appetit, nor keep war any time with the suggestion of his sudden desire, but as one that felt himself stricken with the thunderbolt of his destiny, gave place to his sentence, and entered into devise with himself, what way too use, to win the encounter of his fancy. The remembrance of the late wrong he had done them, seamed a great impediment to his purpose, neither had he the mean to demand her in marriage, Whose tears were scarce dry in bewailing the desolation he had so lately thundered upon all their house, the simple view and record whereof, preferred just cause of despair to obtain the good will of her brother, wherewith feeling a daily increase of his passion, with continual diminution and unlikelyhod of means to relieve his torment, specially, for that he had imprisoned his liberty, where no ransom could serve to redeem it, and that love had bound him to so hard a penance, that the only pleasure he had in life, was to think upon her, whom despair denied him to reclaim by any means, he began to curse thee first cause of the quarrel, and wish the hunting of the boar had never been tolerable in Italy, inveighing withal against the malice of his fortune, that seamed to be his guide in the pursuete of so great persecution, and now in the hope & expectation of rest and repose from toil, to commit him to the mercy of a martyrdom more intolerable than the torment of the wheel, and of less hope to be delivered, than the Damned souls out of th'everlasting flame in hell, wherein also his chiefest grief & grudge of mind seemed to stand upon double terms, both for that he durst neither discover his disease to any his own trendes, whom he knew would rather mislike his request, then be moved to compassion upon his case, or study to relieve his distress, nor promise himself any likelihod & much less assurance ever to cooll either flower or fruit of his affection to Angeliqua, for that he thought she had no reason to remorse upon him, in whose face appeared yet the fresh Remembrance of the late revenge and destruction of her kynsmennes.  
But what? who doughteth of the tickle disposition of fortune, or is not persuaded that the doings of men are as subject to change & alteration, as the lament to mutability and diver setie of complexions. At 〈◊〉 time as the great jupiter somoning the winds and violence of other weather, to quarrel with the Calm and quiet sky, eclypsing the natural clearness of the son by converting him into sundry sorts of dark and dim colloures or what constancy or assurance is to be Reapposed in our worldly affairs, saying the very thoughts and imaginations of men are disposed & governed by the revolution & course of times, wherein the philosopher is of opinion that no degree is dispensed from the Climate of the constellation for saith he, the favours & displeasures of princes are neither so mortal nor of such continuance, but being incident to conversion, we see in one moment, an assured conjunction of friendship with him, who erst pursued our subversion with mortal hate. And truly he that weigheth the comutation of things with indifferent judgement, may justly note him of great simplicity, that resolves perpetuity or continual stay or abode in any thing, that is either accidental or proper to man, wherein as I am sufficiently justified by Ancient 
All things are subject to change.  Records & foreign Authorities, So he that with diligence will coat the Chronicles of England and france: within these C. years shall find choice of examples to clear his doubt and confirm him in the contrary opinion, which by cause it imports such consequence as rather exceeds then seams convenient for the compass of my present intent: I leave them to the construction of the diligent reader, who syfting nearly the monuments of that time, may find there more alteration and change of estates in both those realms within less than so many years, then in the space of ij. C. years afore for he may see there of credible reaport, that he that governed as king sitting in the seat Royal of the Realm making the whole multitude tremble at the voice of his commaundiment, was suddenly Deposed and scarcely escaped the infamy of a cruel and slanderous death, and on the other part, the other that attended only the fatal destruction of himself and famuly, is not only restored to the sceptre of the kingdom, but also in a moment sits in the judgement seat upon vengau●●● and correction of them which had given sentence and awarded the writ of execution against himself: Calyr one of the iiij great Bassyas of the great turk, had no less awe & authority over the whole Mahometian empire than undoubted credit with the emperor and mighty monarch himself, who would never consult of any enterprise without the council of this Captain, nor perform any expedition without his company, & yet upon a sudden & without any cause (saving the malicious appetite of his master) he was cruelly strangled in presence & by commandment of him whom he had so faithfully honoured & served, on the contrary side, the valainte Argon Tartarus, after he was entered into arms against his uncle Tangodor Cany, being taken & adjudged to pass by the rigour, of torments 
Death the due higher of unnatural conspiracy.  & after receive the due hire of unnatural conspiracy, as he was set into Armenya to be executed, being at that point to commit himself to the mercy of the tormentors, & passed all hope or expectation of aid, was suddenly rescued by certain Tartarians of the garrison & household servants to his late father deceased, & restored after to the dominion & kingdom of Tartary in the year of our lord a thousaund two hundreth foverskore & five th'example of th'empress ADALEDE, makes no less pro●e herein then the former records, for being unhappily fallen into the hands of the tyrant BERANGER the usurper at that time of th'empire, after she had long tried the courtesy of this miserable and wretched disposition, being at the very brink and place of execution where was no likelihood nor imagination of aid, had th'assistance of a good fortune, for avoiding his cruel sentence by a secret and sudden flight at the same instant, was married after to OTTON the first of that name, and lived till she saw the just revenge of her wrong upon the same usurper and his race by OTTON her son succeeding his father in the monarkye: All which of no loss authority then undoubted credit, I have preferred as assured patterns of the mobility & uncertain stay of the state of the affairs of this world, wherein also (when thoccasion doth offer) you may note a verefication or like accident in the sequeill of this MONTANYNO, who after the depopulation of his house by civil war, and the most part of his portion wasted in the supply of that quarrel, fell into a misery more tragical than the other, and of less hope of aid or delivery, and yet being passed th'extreme summons of his fortune, and attending the fatal and last moment of execution, after he had dismissed all expectation of succour, his deliverance appeared by him that procured and pursued his distress, and the same misery that first moved his ruin, reserved such a virtue in the end of his tragedy, that by th'only assistance of him, whom he thought to have sworn his destruction, he was restored with more assurance and contentment of mind then afore: but now to our amorous SALIMBINO who tossed in the stormy sea of his unquiet thoughts, was no less passioned on the behalf of ANGELIQVA, than she most careful to comfort the calamity of her brother, with endeavour to live together in mutual tranquillity according to the somonce of nature and decree of law of kind, neither respecting the torment of her enemy which she knew not, nor regarding to prank up herself to please th'appetite of any other, and albeit it was his chance sometime to accoaste her in the street or other place, where he forgot 
A kind of courtesy or amarus greeting in italy.  not to give her the BACHILOMANO, with all show and argument of humble duty, and she in like sort returned his ITALIAN salutation with seemly and not semblable courtesy, yet saw he no means to remove the despair of her good will, nor she able to discern the cause of his new and sudden greeting, but as he suffered himself at the first to be subject to the summons of love, and gave him preu iledg with out resistance to build his bower in the bottom of his heart, so being now to weak to supplant him, who hath conquered and made himself lord over all the ports in him, he is bound to bear the yoke of continual passion, without licence or liberty to be dispensed from the least assault & allaram which that hellish tormentor ministereth to such as march under the ensign of his Awe, neither hath he other consolation in his present distress, but such as is appointed to feed the desolate minds of desperate lovers, moderating in some part the force 
Hope is a chief comfort in affliction.  of their affliction, with imagination that the benefit of time, will at last, either put the pray of their desire into their hands, or else give end to their disquiette by some suborned abridgement of their natural days. Wherein as he languished with no less perplexity of mind, then happeneth to such as by fate are forced to pass throw the misery of such doleful trances, so, as he attended in this sort the gift of a better occasion, behold thapproach of the second desaster or tragedy of the unhap MONTANINO. For within the city of SYENNA dwelt a long nosed merchant, who for the most part as they be more greedy to get, then worthy of that which they have, so do they seldom or never respect the mean, so they may finger that which they wish. He had joining to the uttermost subburbes of the city a fair house environed with large domains, where upon confined on all parts certain pieces of ground of the said MONTANYNO, which with a bare house in the town, as it was all that the malice of his fortune had left him of the ample patrimony of his parents, So this hungry burgeys, thinking it no offence or grudge of conscience, to enlarge his living with the portion of his neighbour, knowing well enough, that after so many occasions of great expenses, he was not only in distress for money but wanted other necessary furniture, sent his broker to board him for the sale of his lands in the country, with commission to give him a thousand ducats for those grounds which joined to his lordship without the subberbes, wherein his request was frustrate and he out of hope that way to win th'effect of his desire, for that CHARLES, was resolved to make store of those grounds above the rest of that little that was left him, chiefly for that besides they were parcel of thancient possessions of his parents, yet he reserved a spicial zeal to those lands, because the view of them restored a fresh remembrance of such as in many ages before had borne the grertest swaighe in that public weal, wherewith the cove tus villain not content with the reasonable denial of the gentleman, did not immediately dismiss his desire to get that which he ought not to have wished, but determined not only to win it by vonderly means, but also for revenge of the plain Answer of the MONTANYN entered into devise to suborn some means to have it at a less price, and not without the hazard and peril of the life of the poor gentleman, following therein the detestable example of thinjust jesabel, who procured the death of Naboothe, to th'end she might enjoy his possession, wherein he was furthered every way, but chief with th'assistance of the tyme. For at the same instant, by reason of the mutual quarrels and civil dyscentions that reigned long before in the most parts of italy, most of the nobility were driven the country, and those few that remained, lived not only under the awe of Townclarks & Catchepowles chosen by the rural crew, but also had small assurance of safety, in their towns or Cities, where for the more subjection and awe of the Gentlemen, this villainous sect of cursed caterpillars made a law, not much unlike the tyrannous statute which the Athenians had in the time of solon, that no man of what degree or condition so ever he were, should neither by himself, nor procurement of any other, go about to purchase the reappeale or restitution 
An ungodly Law.  of any that were banished their country, upon pain to yield to the fyske a thousand florentes, with addition, that if he were not able to answer the condemnation within ten days, to lose his head in remembrance of the forfeit: who marks well the mystery of this law, may easily judge the viperus meaning of those wretches, who rather resemble the barbarous tyrants and infidels without faith, than seam to have the hearts of true Christians, and happy is he that is not borne under the government of such a state, where they do not only shut the gates of compassion against their innocent neighbours and friends, habandoned their country for peculiar grudges one against an other, but also punished by an unnatural cruelty the virtue of such as seek to supply the affliction of them that ought to be of equal regard and honour to the best of them, & besides that this oppressor of innocents was both one of the law makers, and chief minister and commander of the same, yet was he sewer of a second assistance which seamed no less available to him then the advantage of his power or authority, wherefore dispencinge with no time in the execution of his devilish devise, he summoned Don CHARLES by write to appear before the Senate, where was laid afore him the breach of the said law, and for a more proof or plains of that matter, th'accusation was no sooner published than he had at his elbow double choice of perjured witnesses, who what by the awe of his authority, and thinfecting summons of certain pieces of gold, wherewith he had filed their tongues afore, advouched thappeal by oath, deposing further that they knew where he had solicited to redeem diverse of his banished friends, seeking to supplant the state of the city by restoring the nobles and gentlemen to their ancient rule & authority which made the poor Montanyn in such double amaze of doubt & fear, that he was not only void of council for the present, but in despair to defend his right against the malice of the whole state, chief for that the procurer of the fyske smelling thapproach of so great again, awarded authorities to arrest his body to prison, and pursued his process with such expedition that within uj days he was condemned upon the statute of rappeale, and to pay the forfeit within ix days after, or else to leave his head in pawn of the payment, the law imported such rigour that there was no place for mediation or suit of entreaty, and the ears of the justice were closed against the complaint of innocents, neither durst any man inveigh on his behalf for fear of him that was th'author of thact, and the aid of kinsmen is as cold in that country as in other places, and friends now a days resemble the raven or hungry kite, who never flieth but towards the place where they hope to find some thing to pray upon, so the friends of our age be fled so far from the virtue of true frendshipp, that they will not only refuse to relieve him whom God and nature hath bound them to sustain, but also make no conscience to disclaim the name of a kinsman to the nearest ally they have, and that without any cause unless you will impute it to the want of equal wealth, wherein mine own experience moveth me to make a challenge to some in England, if my power were as indifferent to plead with him, as I have just reason to put him in remembrance of his fault, albeit that quarrels is tolerable which marcheth under the flag of innocency and truth, and just objections will make the guilty blush, but now to the sorrowful MONTANYN who complaining the points of his desaster in a dark prison where was no kind of consolation, nor yet the offer of any ECHO to resound his dolorous cries, was saluted the next day with a copy of his sentence definitive, wherein he was taxed to the some of a M. Florents or loss of life within ix. days, here he found what it is to have an evil neighbour, and how greatly they do thirst that destere to drink of an other man's cup, but chiefly the insatiable longing of such as are with child for an other man's living: and albeit his conscience was without grudge for any offence or breach of the law yet his grief seamed of hard toleration because the cursed treason of a cankered Clowen should triumph over him so far, that to quench the glot of his covetous rage he should be forced to disinherit himself, and leave without succour his dear sister, who for her part was so dolorous on the behalf of this new desaster fallen upon her brother that she stirred not out of her chamber, nor once suffered her eyes to be dry from tears, since the first news of that sorrowful accident, which she complained with more vehemency because she saw a present approach of peremptory destruction to the little remeinder of the whole house, alas saith she, is the cruelty of fortune of such rigorous condition or her malice of such perpetuitye that she will grant no dispense nor admit any oblation or offer to purchase her favour, or is there no sacrifice to satisfy the angry disposition of the heavens, who cease not to thunder whole millions of mishaps upon this desolate and wretched house of ours, with continuance of their angry regards even until thutter dissolution of the same? how much better had it been for us few which remain of the dekayed stock and withered generation of MONTANYNO, to have passed amongst the rest of our companions, by the edge of the sword of the enemy, then in living, to be miserable partakers of the unjust malice of such as are not only common enemies to innocency, but bearing a natural grudge to the very remembrance and name of nobility, do hunt with open mouth (as the ravening wolf) to devour the descents of noble kind: how can this bear the name of a free city, or justly merit the title of a state not incident to servile law, where the government passeth under the conveyghe of a confused multitude, whom nature hath ordained to draw the yoke of other men's awe, and law of kind in their nativity framed to be subject to such, as their rural force constrains to stoop to the sentence of their doom. Ah brother saith she with a fresh supply of sorrowful tears, how rightly can I construe the cause of thy present trouble, and indifferent undoing of us both, the example of thy wrong argues sufficiently the detestable disposition of our cursed Senators, who seam more greedy to hunt the chasse of unlawful and filthy gain, then careful to keep their conscience without spot or grudge of manifest oppression and wrong? for if the desire of thy little living in the country, and glistering show of thy great house in the open gaze and eye of the whole world passing by the streets had not stirred up the covetous humour of that ravenous merchant, thou hadst lived free from care, and thy estate far from any question in the SENATE house, neither would any man have charged thee with imputation of a thing, which I would to God thou hadst not only undertaken, but also brought to effect, to the end thou mightest have been the author and I the witness of the just revenge of this villainous crew whose natural malice more than either reason or justice doth clog the with this hard imposition of manifest wrong: there is no reason that a pelting merchant never nourished in any skole of civil or courteous education other then in a shop amongst prentices and companions of his own calibre, or the son of him that is a slave and servile borne by kind, should either bear office in a common wealth, and much less sit in judgement of them whose hearts by nature abhores to be tried by the BARBAROUS voice of so vile and base people, oh how happy be these states & countries, where hinges give laws, and princes use respect of favour to such as resemble them in condition and virtue: neither hath he great cause to grudge with his doom, that hath his cause debated in the presence of his prince, and his sentence published by such as be of equal honour and Reputatyon, where we alas may justly exclaim against our cursed constellation, that hath brought us forth in so unhappy a time, and made us not only incident, but subject and slaves to a council more perversed and partial than corruption itself. I would our predecessors or some good fortune of foreign time by reducy nge this country into a Monarch, had established a seat Royal of a King with authorititye that only his seed and succession should govern the whole▪ rather then by leaving it thus dispersed into diverse confuced liberties, to make us a mutual pray one to an other: for have we not the frenchmen at our backs? and the army of the great Vicar of Rome one the one side with the subtle florentines ready to invade us on the other side, in such sort, as who so is hungry may boldly pray upon us without resistance, and yet for a more increase of our wretchedness we maintain war with ourselves, and the best part subdued and made thrall to such as are not worthy any way to be vallet to the worst of us that feels ourselves grieved with such affliction, but what can satisfy the covetousness of man, or what benefit can stay him that is given to perfidy or falsehood, & to what end alas serve my tears or tunes of dolorous exclamation, if not in recording the circumstance of our mutual grief, to restore a fresh remembrance of thy peculiar desaster, oh dear brother, whose destinies I see will not dismiss the rigour of their doom till they have brought us both to the brink of extreme subversion, albeit if the offer of my body in sacrifice, or other mortal execution, would serve to redeem thy liberty, and preserve thy possession in entire, assure thyself that thy poor ANGELIQVA would be no less ready to make exchange of her life for the ransom of thy contentment and quiet, than these wide mowthed Rokes do seek and gape to devour thy honour & living. And as the dolorous Lady was thus in torments of dole with more passion on the behalf of her brother, than care any way for herself, that poor Montanine standing between a hard sentence & a most unhappy fortune, considered the last day of fatal respite to draw fast to his date, & having no choice of means to mode ●at the rigour of the law, but by satisfying the whole demand of the fiske, which also he was not able to levy by any credit or assistance of his friends, reposed his last assurance and refuge of delivery in the sale of his land, & as the taste 
The taste of life pleasant to all men.  of life is pleasant to all men, and each degree by nature is careful to prolong it to the last hour, so according to the extreme condition of his present case, he resolved to employ the price of his living in the ransom of his present trouble, whereupon he dispatched immediately one of the sergeants or officers of the gail, to the corrupt money master, that was first and all the cause of his undeserved mischief, with commission to conclude the bargain for a thousand ducats according to the rate of his first offer But the traitorous wretch and pernicious pattern of iniquity, knowing the extreme points of the poor prisonner, who stood now in water up to the chin with more likelihood to sink, than assurance to recover the firm land, thought that his death, would deliver him free possession of his living, without thassistance of money, wherefore triumphing already in the glory of so great a fortune, with expectation to have the land by special award of the fiske & SENAT, returned the messenger with answer, that albeit of ●ate he had desire to enlarge his demayne in the subberbe with a piece of his possession adjoining, yet upon a further view & consideration of the ground, he was now of mind that his price far exceeded the vaiewe, neither could he make so present a profit upon so small a plat of inheritance, as with the use and interest of so great a sum of money as a M. ducats, notwithstanding for a supply of his present need, he was contented to give him seven. C. florents & that more for the relief of his distress, than any respect of commodity by the bargain. Here may be noted the virtue & operation of the covetous mind infected with the desire of filthy gain, whose fruits are to thirst after other men's goods, & glory in the decay of their neighbour, with a disposition to convert the ungrations spoils of their brethren into a pleasant pray to their ravening appetite, without regard notwithstanding to thexpress inhibition of God in diverse places of the Scripture, or respect to the duty of his conscience, or burden of his soul, wherein besides the peynall threats of our Saviour in the world to come, he seams also to higher a tormentor to molest his quiet during his abode here, for the more he is in 
The covetous mind is never in quiet according to the words of th'apostle.  devise to increase his wealth, the faster decreaseth his quiet, & himself so subject to declination, according to the words of the Apostle, that a covetous man taketh more revenge of himself being on live, then h is enemy when he is dead, neither doth he consume the day in other devices, then in accumulation of treasure, nor yields charity to any but his golden coffers, whom he will not deffraye nor once diminish of a simple denier if it were to redeem the life of his natural father, you have hard his former offer of a thousand ducats, with no less desire to have it at that price, & now you see he doth not only refuse it, but in a mockery makes a disdainful tender of seven. C. Florents, attending a further benefit by the death of the unfortunate MONTANIN, who no less astonied at the reaport of this resolution and refusal not looked for, then when the judge published the sentence of his condemnation, began to despair of other refuge, chief for that the awe & respect of authority of that villain prevailed so much over the rest of the merchants & citizens there, that none other durst undertake the bargain, seeing their master usurer made difficulty to advance the value: such were the despites of his fortune & extreme terms which sinister fate, with the malice of the wicked had brought him unto, wherein dismissing th'expectation of all succours, gave sentence of his own life & committed th'execution to the rigour of the law, resolving rather to quench thinsatiable thrust or greedy appetit of his covetous enemy by th'oblation of his innocent life into thandes of such unrighteous judges, them in exchanging the remeinder of his whole inheritance for sasmal a tribute (in sufficient also to satisfy the demand of the fiske to leave his sister in extreme penury, without all means of necessary sustentation, wherefore reposing much for himself in 
God the high judge.  thinnocency of his cause at the hands of the high judge, chief for that the natural course of his days stood at point to be abridged by the wickedness of other men, after he had preferred certain vehement invectives against the general malice of the world, with special exclamation on the behalf of his peculiar mishap, he desired respite to examine his life in secret, & dispose for the health of his soul, which resolution, of death was forthwith imparted to the fair ANGILIQVA, who besides whole rivers of tears distilling from her watery eyes, with dolorous cries in doleful voice, redoubled with an ECHO of triple dole, entered into a mortal war with her garments and attire of her head, neither forbearing to deschevel her crispy locks & hear exceeding the colour of Amber, nor commit cruel execution upon the tender parts of her body, & giving free spoke to the humour of her fury, she spared not to imprint with her nails upon the precious complexion of her orient face, a pitiful remembrance of the tragical trouble of her desolate brother, whom she could not any way persuade to a change or alteration of purpose, although she employed herself and council of her friends to th'uttermost, but I dare avouch thusmuch on the behalf of the dear zeal she bore him, that if by the force and malice of the distress, he had given place to nature and died she had not lived to have revenged his wrong, nor lamented her own desolation, for the same affection which moved her to such care of his life, would also have procured her to have been his companion to the grave, whereby one tomb at one instant should have served to shroode the ij. bodies & last remainder of the whole race & house of the MONTANYNS. And that which scamed to restore her dolorous passion, with a fresh supply and increase of new sorrow, was the heavy news of diverse of her near kinsmen touching the speedy approach of the extreme date & delay of the sentence definitive, which as they had not only endeavoured to differ yet some longer time, but also to purchase a moderation of the rigour, so being no less frustrate in the one, than void of assurance or hope of the other, they said there rested nothing on their powers to perform or discharge the office of true friends on her behalf, saving to persuade her to consolation, and to use patience in cases of adversity, chief where there appears absolute despair of all remedy, and the sinister suggestion of malicious fortune hath suppressed a! hope and expectation of delivery, wherein as an unfeigned witness of their present dolour, they let fall certain tears to accompany the pitiful dole of her, who upon the reaport of these last accurrauntes, forgot not to fill the air full of hollow sighs, with open exclamation against the law of nature, that seamed so careless of her creatures, as not only to leave them without armour or sufficient resistance, against the ordinary assaults of the world, but also to make them subject by special destiny, to the sentence & doom of a most unrighteous and hard fortune, but albeit adversity (besides that she is subject to sundry sorts of calamity) is also so quarrelous of her one disposition that for the respect of one simple or peculiar wrong, she makes us to exclaim generally against all liberties and laws of God and man, yet ought we so to check that same humour of inordinate rage, that mortifieth within us all regard of duty and reason, that we despair not in the goodness of him, who being the giver of all comfort and GOD of consolation, is more ready to dispose it on our behalf, than we able to deserve the gift of so great a benefit, and who in the mids of the tears of this desolate Lady, being with the rest of her friends wholly resolved to endure the rigorous sentence of their fate, presented the CATASTROPHE of the tragedy, with such an offer or mean of speedy delivery of the prisoner, that it did not only exceed th'expectation of all men but seamed also the work of such a wonderful mystery, that no man was able to imagine the devise, afore their eyes gave judgement of th'effect▪ for the same day about the ninth or tenth hour of the evening, ANSEAMNO SALYMBYNO whom heretofore you have hard to be sore passioned with the love of ANGELYQVA having spent certain days of recreation in the country, is now returned to SYENNA, where passing by the gate of his lady, he chanced to hear a lamentable noise of women, bewailing the misery of the montanynes, wherewith pursuing the brute with a more diligent ear, spied at last coming out of the pallayes of ANGELYQVA certain old dames his next neighbours, all to be sprent and died with the dew of sorrowful tears, as though they had then come from the funeral of some of their friends, of whom he inquired the cause of such unacustumable Dole, and whether & what new misfortune were happened of late to the house of the Montavyns, and being at large resolved of that which you have hard by special report went immediately to his chamber, where he began to discourse diversely of this sudden chance, sometime determining the delivery of CHARLES for the only respect of his sister, whose good will he thought he could not purchase any way so well, as by the benefit and price of so great a friendship, by and by he accounted the death of her brother a most necessary mean to make him the master of his desire over his sister, wherein after he had spent sometime in secret cogitation, without any certain resolution notwithstanding what to do, he seamed to 
Salymbyno debateth with himself touching the delivery of his enemy.  ask open council of himself in this sort. What cause have I hereafter to doubt of the thing I chief desire, seeing fortune seams to take more care of my contentment, than I am able to wish or imagine, undertaking (as it seams) to present me with theffect of my business when I least thought of any hope or likelihod of good success, for by the death of the MONTANYN who is to be executed to morrow in public as a rebel or heinous offendor of the state, I shall not only see the last revenge, of the most mortal enemies of our house, but also live without fear, hereafter to be molested by any that shall descend of him, and on the other side. his death takes away all impediments, offering either to stay or hinder me from enjoying of her whom I love so dearly for her brother being dead and his goods and living confiscate to the state, what stay or support hath she, if not in her beauty, and love of some honest gentleman who taking compassion of the loss of so Rare an ornament and work of nature, may entertain her for his pleasure until the glass of so brikle a gift dekay with his delight in her company, and then for the respect of pity, to bestow her in marriage with some compotent portion. But what SALYMBYNO? shall the offer of any unseemly revenge prevail above that respect and duty thou art borne to bear and owe unto true virtue, or wilt thou so much abuse the former glory of thy ancestors and present renown of thyself with an act no less detestable afore GOD then hateful to the cares of all degrees of honesty? and wilt thou thus deceive thexlpectation of thy friends, and leave them in continual reproach to the posterity of all ages, with a note of such infamy that time herself can scarce raze out of the remembrance of man? if all these lack authority to dissuade thee, let only the respect and awe of virtue with remorse of conscience keep the from committing so hainousanoffence: for to wh at other end have the ancients put a difference between the gentlemen & creatures of base condition, but that in exposing fruits of civil courtesy, we should also strive to make ourselves noble and exceed them in th'imitation of true virtue? and as it is far from the office of a noble heart to thunder Revenge upon such as are not able to resist thy power, so there can be no greater argument or proof of true magnanimytie, then in burying the desire of vengeance in a tomb of eternal oblivion, to expose most fruits of compassion, where there appears great cause to extend the uttermost of rigour, and where on thadverse party, is least exspecte or hope of succour, for how can a man lay a more sewer foundation of perpetual glory, then in correcting the humour of his fowl appetite and conquering the unbridled affections of the wilful mind, to make them bound unto the by thy benefits, who were in despair to receive any pleasure at thy hands, that which declaration of true virtue like as it happeneth so seldom amongst men now a days, that we may ve ray well term it a thing exceeding the common course and order of nature, So he that will challenge the title of true nobility, & seam to excel the rest in thappeal of perfect honour, must prefer in public such absolute effects of his worthiness and virtue, as the same may justly appear meritorious of an immortal memory in the success of all future ages. The chiefest points of so large commendation which so many records of antiquity do attribute unto the great Dictatoure CESAR, consist more in the clemency he used to his enemies being vanquished and under the awe of his mercy, then in the mortal and many battles he fought against the valiant. GALLS and britons, or subduing the renowned POMPEY: the grrat ALEXANDER 
It is more easy to conquer by clemency then by cruelty.  deserved no less honour for the pity and courtesy he used towards SYSIGAMBIS the mother of DARIUS, with other desolate Ladies which he took prisoners in the battle fought at Arobella, then fame in the conquest of the king and country of PERCIA and MEDIA, and at the death of the wife of DARIUS in his camppe he let fall no less effution of tears then if he had been present at the burial of OLYMPIAS his natural mother, neyt her could he have made so great a conquest of the whole east world with his small crew and company of MACEDONIANS, if he had not subdued more countries by clemency then force of arms: besides, who is ignorant of the late courtesy of DON RODERIGO VIVANO of Spain, who all be it might have revenged thinfidelity of DON PIETRO then king of Arragon for that he went a bout to ympeshe his expedition against the saracens being then at Granado did not only for bear to punish him or put him to ransom, but also being his prisoner by order and law of arms, dismissed him into his country with no less honour than belonged to his estate, without any exaction of his person or realm, wherein for my part, the more I reave in the rariety of their noble virtues, so much the more ought I, to increase my endeavour in th'imitation of the like examples, and of the crontrary, what great cause have I to prefer a continuation of the grudge ended already by war, or why should I stir up eftefones a fresh Remembrance of the fault already forgiven? what injury have they done to me ormine, which was not returned unto them without interest of double revenge? admit their predecessors have been enemies to my house, have they not borne a more hard penance then the greatness of their offence deserved? What cause have I then to renew the alaram of their misery, or why stay I to secure their desolate state, in some satisfaction of the injuries they have received by me and mine, besides the wrath of God according to the words of the Apostle, is always hanging over the heads of such, as seam to take pleasure in the affliction of their neighbour, rejoice in the misfortune or misery of an other, if all these lack sufficient force to mortify the remembrance of ancient malice within me, and in exposing (contrary to the expectation and opinion of the world) a wonderful example of virtue, to move me to relieve his distress that despaireth of all succour, and reclaim by liberality the frendeshipe of him, who if he ever offended is already pardoned, like as also if his innocency have been abused by me and mine, my conscience calleth me to a remorse, in rendering satisfaction in so needful a time: yet am I drawn by a band of further duty, and incensed by a somaunce or special instigation of the honour and service, which my heart hath already vowed, on the behalf of her: whose beauty & virtue deserves a greater meed, than the uttermost that I can do, either for the contentment of her, or consolation of her brother, for like as there is no man (unless he be utterly devested from the gift of humanity) being passioned with equal affection and sosomoned by semblable desire to do some notable service to my dear ANGELIQVA as I am, that would not rack his power to the highest pin, to take away the chief causes of her doleful tears, and restore her to a speedy contentment convenient for her merit: So in loving her I must also embrace such as she accounts and (by good right) are most dear unto her. And if I will make a declaration of the true zeal I bear her, why do I stay to expose it in so needful a time, and on the behalf of him, whom she loveth no less than herself, attending even now the fatal stroke of the morderinge sword for a tryfflinge due of a thousand florentes: and why should I doubt to make it known in public that only the force of love hath made me tributary to the fair ANGELIQVA, for seeing that kings and the greatest monarch of the World do draw under the yoke of his awe, it is not for me to eschew that by special privilege, which is incident to all men by nature, neither ought I herein to refuse the offer of my destiny, nor strangers to enter into much marvel, if I (being of the metal of other men and subject to no less impression and passions of mind than the rest) do make present dedication of my heart and service to her whose virtue I am sewer is so in vincible against all adversity, that neither necessity, nor the most extreme message that fortune can send her, is able to make her forfeit the least point of her honesty, or forget the renown of the genealogy whereof she is descended: wherein as honest love hath stirred up this motion in me with composition to expose immediately the fruits and effect of semblable virtue: So the speedy delivery of thy brother (Oh: ANGELYQVA) shall argue sufficiently to all men, that it is only the regard of thy beauty that hath paid the price of his ransom, and removed from his tender legs the heavy irons which the penance of hard imprisonement had unjustly enjoined unto him, tryumphinge also with this increase of further glory, that only the regards and glauncis of thy glistering eyes have made a breach into the heart which erst hath defied the malice and uttermost of all force, and made him bow of his own kind that never cold be brought to bend or stoop to any of what degree or condition so ever they were. And thou SEIGNEUR CHARLES for thy part hast this day gained so assured and perfect a friend, that if thou wilt confirm the league by frank consent, thamity shall not be only mutual between us till death discharge the same by separation of our bodies, but also remeyne no less indissoluble to the posterity and succession of both our razes for ever: And as in the first work of this new society, I will not only strive to exceed the in show of perfect friendship, but also make the way open by my example to all degrees of nobility to attain to the like honour by semblable virtue So I pronounce hear a further confirmation on my part, with protestation by the faith and life of a gentleman to embrace the and thy friends with no less affection than myself and persecute thy enemies with no less mortality then if they had conspired and put in use the destruction of the noble house of SALYMBYNO: wherewith seeing the necessity of the time, craved rather an expedition of diligence, then longer discourse, or deliberation, he took a bag of a thousand ducats and we●●ymediatly to the deputy receavor of the peynall forfeitures of the state of SYENNA whom he found perusing certain accounts in his stodie. And after he had taken him the bag, with addition that there was the whole demand due by DON CHARLES MONTANYN, he commanded to give an acquittance with his writ of delivery from thinstant: but telling the contents of the bag he found a surplusage of the some due by the prisoner, which as he offered to restore, so the other did not only refuse to take it, but also would not depart the place, till he had dispatched one of his people to the master of the jail, who perceiving a tender of the money, withdrew the action, & sent to fetch the prisoner out of his dongion & dark cabinet, clogged with heavy shackles and clinkinge irons CHARLES hearing a noise of bownsinge at doors and opening of rusty locks, imagined it had been the coming of some ghostly father to hear his shrift and last confession, and that the senatte (in respect of the honour and estimation of his house had granted him the privilege of a secret execution within the prison, for avoiding the public shame which commonly attends the misery of such as declare their last testament upon the scaffold in the gaze of all the world: and having already examined his conscience according to the shortness of his leisure so farfurthe as he seamed only to attend the fatal hour, desired god eftsoons to strengthen him with his grace, not leaving him without assistance in his journey and passage so perilous, where oftentimes the most assured do not only waver but utterly decline, if they be not supported by his special favour in the end of which secret meditation, he commended unto his goodness the life of his dear sister, desiring with humble tears in a special petition and last request to be protector and defend her always from all assaults and offers of infamy or dishonour being thus brought into the hall of the jailor, the tormentors or officers of the prison, begun to knock of the bolts from his legs, and present him besides (in show of countenance) rather with arguments of consolation than cause of fresh disquiet or distrust of delivery, which kind of courtesy not looked for stirred up in his troubled mind a sudden hope or expectation of good fortune, with an absolute assurance almost of that which affore he durst never imagine, and much less account to come to pass, whereof notwithstanding the effect appeared at th'instant, for the jailor showing him his letters of delivery, told him it was in his power to use the benefit of his former liberty, for saith he the law is choked and fully answered of her due, and I safysfyed to the uttermost of the charges and fees of your imprisonment, desiring you (Sir) if you have found worse entreaty at my hands thenne I see your offence hath deserved to consider the charge of my office, and to impute it rather to the strait commission enjoined me by the sen●tt, than any desire of myself to deal with you in other sort, than the bond and respect of the dutiful zeal I bear you doth require. Here is to be noted a wonderful difference in the casualties accidental to man, and that the changes and alterations in love be of a contrary disposition to the rest of the passions that trouble the mind: neither need we doubt by the authority of this example, no less credible than of great admiration, but love is a certain virtue of itself, seeing it works th'effect and exposeth such fruits as seam to resemble rather the operactonof a divine miracle, than the suggestion of our frail fancy, for how had this SALYMBYNO redeemed so freely and in a time of such need, the careful CHARLES (being firmly confirmed in mortal grudge as you have hard) if the very virtue which we are not able to term by all proper name in love had not broken by force of azealous affection, the angry inclination of his nature, and converted the humour of his ancient wrath into a compassion exceeding the imagination of man. And as it is an ordinary argument of humanity to give succours to such as neither have deserved any thing of us and much less we never knew nor saw, because nature herself doth summon us all to be thankful to such as resemble ourselves in condition or calling: So that virtue deserveth triple commendation, which exceeding (as it were th'authority of nature) doth force in us such an inclination which doth not only mortify in our hearts the obstinate humour nourished of long continuance, but makes us pliable to the things which we cold not somuch as admit afore into our cogitations and much less perform by any persuasion of the world: where of you may note a familiar experience in the disposition of this SALYMBYN who suffered himself to be more overcome with the beauty, virtue and seamelye behaviour of ANGELIQVA, then with any humility or importunatte suit of her brother although he had lain prostrate a thousand times afore his knee. And what heart is tempered with the metal of such induration that is not mollified, and made tractable by the regards of so rare a mystery, as the exquisite beauty of this SYENNOYSE, or who will not slack the Rain of his lofty stomach and stoop to the somance of such a paragon, humbling himself withal every way to get the good will of her that gave place to no creature in the world for all perfections of God and nature, neither is there any reason at all to charge him with imputation of folly that endeavoureth to honour and embrace in his heart, the beauty and other gifts of so virtuous a Lady, nor his travail meritorious of other name, than the title of honest exercise, who adding an exact diligence to his dutiful zeal and service in the pursuit of her whose virtues procure his affection, hath his heart armed only with an upright meaning of sincere integrity, and the desire of his mind tending to none other end then a consommation of an honest and lawful request: But for the contrary of this honest society, I account him not worthy to have the air breath upon him, who practicing only to seduce and corrupt the chasteye of honest Dames, hath no respect to the virtue of honest and true love, but seeking only to satisfy the appetit of his sensual lust, doth embrace the exterior parts of a woman, and commends simply the tree charged with leaves, without regarding the fruit which makes it worthy of commendation and fame. Here with it can not be much from our purpose to interlard this digression, with the authority of a brief note, which I found written in a french book on the behalf of the sincerity which ought to appear in women, comparing the young Lady bearing yet the name of a maid to the glistering flower in the pleasant springe, until by her constancy and chaste behaviour, subduing utterly the wanton motions of the flesh, she expose to the world the precious fruits derived of so great a virtue and give absolute experience other undoubted pudicitie: For otherways (saith he) she is in no other degree for worthy renown, than the young soldier whose countenance albeit argueth the courage of his heart, yet his captain hath no reason to give judgement of his valiantness, nor cause to reappose much credit in him in any expedition or exploit against th'enemy, till he see an approved effect in deed of that which he promiseth so largely by his outward appearance, but when he findeth an absolute confirmation of the exterior likelihoods by the inward virtue and valiantness of the mind, it is then that he doth not only embrace him, but preferreth him afore the rest as a special pattorne to imitate his virtues Even so besides that the Crown of immortal glory, atten des you Ladies, who by withstanding th'assaults and importunities of the flesh, do give to yourself the true title of honest women, not by force or awe of constraint, but by the valiant resistance of your most chaste and invincible heart, yet also the monument of your virtues being graved in pillars of eternity, and advanced to the height of the highist theatrey in the world, shall remain as a mirroer or worthy spectacle to procure all posterities not only to tread the path of semblable virtues, but also to yield you a continual adoration after your death by the remembrance and view of your chaste & virtuous life, wherewith wishing you all no less desire to live well, than the most of you are greedy of glory. I leave you to the remorse of your own consciences & presents you here with the remeinder of my promiss touching the sequel of CHARLES MONTANYN, who being out of prison as you have hard repaired immediately to his house, with intent to comfort her, whom he knew to be in greater dolour and distress, and as needful of consolation, as himself seamed desirous of repose, being so long forewatched in a filthy prison, and knocking at the gates of his palace, the maid that opened the door and saw it was her master, mounted with more speed than an ordinary pace and told ANGELIQVA the delivery and approach of her brother, whereunto (what addition or protestation her maid seamed to make) her troubled mind would give no credit: such great impossibility do we account in the execution of those things which we chief desire: but seaminge no less amazed with the mystery, than saint Peter being suddenly taken forth of the prison of HERODE by the angel, sloode as though she had been dreaming of the dissolution of the world without appearance of sense or argument of lively morion in any part of her till the presence of her brother (being now in her chamber) seamed to breath in her an air of fresh consolation & life, & dismissing from th'instant the mystery of her dumb trance, received oftsones her former use & liberty of senses, wherewith converting her dolorous regards & tears of ancient dole into a passion of such sudden gladness, that being at the point to congratulat his commig with words, she felt a second impediment of speech by the operation of preset joy which she took in beholding his face, that she fell down at his feet, embrassig & kissing his knees with no less signs & show of a gladsome mind, then if by some miracle he had been raised from death to life, wherewith certain Ladies her kinswomen, assisting her dolorous distress, having restored her last trance, and doubting eftsoons to fall into the like passion, sent for their husbands with other the friends of MONTANYNO, aswell to rejoice his happy delivery & so to avoid all occasions of further trances in his sister, as also to excuse their negligence in not assisting his late misery: but CHARLES dissimuling that which he thought of their discourtesy towards himself, gave them chief thanks for their friendship in comforting his sister, which he construed to as great an honour & argument of good will, as if they had employed it on the behalf of himself, wherewith he dismissed them, devining notwithstanding what he should be that had made so large declaration of so great a virtue, & sorrowful without measure that he knew him not, to th'end he might not only requi●e so rare a courtesy, but also exceed him in liberality by a frank offer of himself & all that he hath within the world: he scamed not so ignorant of th'author of so great a benefit, as his sister in triple doubt on the same behalf, persuading herself notwithstanding that the fear of death had made him convey a secret sale of his lands in the country to him which first broked it. And that this doubt which seamed to trouble him was only a dark vail to conceal the troth and keep it from her knowledge, or rather his long imprisonment with disquiet of mind during his trouble, had stalled his senses & made him rave in that sort, wherein she was in equal doubt of them all, till he resolved her to the contrary, wherewith departing for that night, they repaired to their several chambers, where the MONTANYN had more desire of sleep, then able to admit any rest, for that he spent all that night in contemplation & contrariety of thoughts, making an assembly in his mind of every shape & figure of such his friends as he was able to imagine to be the workers or cause of so great a benefit, sometime preferring one, sometime presenting an other, without touching notwithstanding the perfect whit, or naming him that justly had deserved the meed of so great a merit, and to whom he acknowledged no less bond of duty then 
Parents.  to them that were the first causers of his coming into this world, wherein passing that night the pictures of a thousand men, his bed seamed to serve him as a wide & large plain, or some rowmey alley or close arbour within a thick wood to rol up and down, making his discourse with sundry sorts of diverse imaginations, until the discovering of the red globe orforronner of the day summoned APOLLO to harness his horse & begin his course over our HEMISPHERE, when he rise and went to the officer of the fyske, of whom he demanded to know what he was that discharged the debt of his late forfeiture. He whom you can scarcely imagine (saith the receiver) hath exceeded all your friends infirm & faithful zeal towards you, to whom I have delivered the release of your imprisonment, but not the acquittance of the money, because here is an overplus which I have here to tender unto you, with your general discharge, wherewith Charles no less moved against him for the offer of the money, than grieved with the curious delay he seamed to use in disclosing the name of so great a friend, requested him eftsoons to cut of his suspense, & make him know the man to whom he was so much bound. The rare ver tue & courtesy of ANSEAMO SALIMBINO (saith he) hath preferred cause of perpetual shame to all your friends & allies, and opened you the way not only to be equal, but exceed him in semblable merit, wherewith he departed with an infynity of conceits and constructions of the courtesy of his enemy, and being at his house in a secret gallery void from all company or occasion of disturbance, began to discourse diversly of th'accident, but chief what should stir up such generosity with inexspectable humanity in him, who with his parents and all the power he might make, had been the only and mortal scourges of his whole house, at last starting up (as it were out of a dead sleep or newly delivered from the mystery of some sudden qualm) began to remember some glées of frendshy, which he had heretofore noted in SALIMBINO on the behalf of his sister, which appeared chief in the often palewalkes & purmenades he made by the gate of his palace, where if by chance his eyes encountered with the view of ANGELIQVA, he forgot not to prefer a reverence and salutation rather of an affectioned heart, than a mind charged with grudge or any kind of enymitie, whereupon he resolved immediately that the only beauty of his sister did plead for his life, and purchase his delivery, concluding withal in his mind, 
The noble heart soonest inclined to love.  that as the noble heart is soonest inclined to love, so when true affection hath once made a breach into the entrails of the valiant and princely mind, it is impossible but she should expose marvelous effects and fruits of honest virtue, like as also the imp derived of noble kind, and descended of the progeny of renowned predecessors, can not so mask or cover his nurture & education, but the virtue of the mind will advance herself in the countenance with show of nobility in the face, and prefer a facility in that, which the voice of the world hath not only judged impossible, but also absolutely persuaded that he would never be brought to do it, either of free consent or force of any awe or allurements, wherein for his part because he would neither be surmounted in honesty nor noted of any spot of ingratitude determined to revenge the good turn he had received with such prodigal recompense, that he would seam no less liberal in returning thinterest of the benefit received, than the other triple meritorious for th'example of so rare a virtue, wherefore having nothing worthy to present the friendship of SALIMBINO, but himself and his sister, determined to impart his present resolution with the fair ANGELIQVA, and after dispose themselves by mutual assent to make a tender & frank offer of that which was in them, to be employed on the behalf of him and his as he list to imagine the occasion, wherein because he was now in the country without intent to return to the city till the expiration of some iiij. or v days, CHARLES, finding his conscience heavenly charged with a debt on his behalf, thought to practise for him in his absence, aswell as he was mindful of his late misfortune, and thereupon procured his sister into a garden far from any haunt or company to trouble them, where he broke with her in this sort,  
Amongst all the changes and conversions of mortal affairs 
Montanyno seeketh to requite the good torn of his enemy.  (my dear sister) there is none a more familiar precedent of the malice of fortune, than he that is touched with diversity of evils, nor any so great a pattern or example of her mobitie, as they that find often change of estate, and yet for all that, we ought not to suffer any adversaty to diminish the virtue and constancy of the mind, neither is it our part to give so grievous a sentence of the state of man's mortality, as either to deny mercy to such as be in misery or despair of compassion when ourselves be touched with affliction, seeing that as things mortal are full of change, 
Fortune not to be holden against her will, and god is bound to no time.  and no man hath perpetual felicity, So there is no man certain of any thing that he hath, and God is bound to no time, and fortune being slippery of herself, and not able to be holden against her will, doth never give so great felicity, but she enjoineth a double penance with trouble of triple annoy in respect of the benefit. And besides he that falleth from the uttermost spray, or height of the highest tree, findeth less case and more danger, than such as feel themselves taken from the low and shallow branches supported upon the firm earth. All which I prefer unto you in this place aswell by a peculiar instigation and remorse of mind restoring a new remembrance of the noble condition of our Ancestors, the ancient glory of our race, and former renown of the house of MONTANYNO, as also to stir up in us both a fresh supply of sorrowful tears on the behalf of the late depopulation and utter ruin of the same: wherein for my parts, as often as I behold the rich seats and stately buildings, sometime the resident and ordinary places of abode of our fathers and grandfathers: when my desolate eyes glaunsinge upon divers corners of this city, do feed upon the view of sundry skutchions and pendels of our arms bearing a special mark or badge of th'antiquity of our famuly, or that in the cathedral churches or chief temples of this city I peruse the inscription of so many stately tombs and perpetual monuments of marble, shrouding the bodies of so many noble Knights and notable Captains descended of the line of MONTANYNO: but chiefly as often as I put my foot within the entry of this palace (the very rest and last remeinder of them whose authority only hath erst governed the state of this commonwealth), I feel myself so passioned with inward grief, and my heart within distilling drops of blood on the behalf of so great a desaster, that I wish more often than I am hard to be taken away from the dolorous regard of such wretched desolation, to th'end that I alone might not live as the odd relic or uttermost rest of our subverted house. And albeit we may challenge the first place in the beadrol of unhappy wretches, seeing our fortune hath exchanged our ancient felicity, for a present life of extreme misery, yet if there be any cause of consolation in adversity, we have raisin to joy in the condition of our state, chiefly for that we are not justly to be charged with imputation of evil or dishonest trade any way, and that notwithstanding the raging malice of our fortune with the force of poverty pinching extremely, the discourse of our lives hath so confirmed the generosity of our ancestors, that we keep the consent of all voices, to be nothing inferior to the best of them in any respect of virtue or show of true nobility: For I have alway endeavoured to observe this one rule & discipline of the renowned Emperor & captain MARCUS ANTONIUS, who persuadeth that as the height of estate ought not to alter 
Height of estate ought not to alter the goodness of nature.  the goodness of nature: So the froward disposition of fortune ought not to take away or diminish the constancy of the mind, with this addition that he beareth her malice best that hides his misery moste: Besides thusmuch dare I avouch of myself, that as I was never presented with the offer of any good turn, which I have not thankfully requited to th'uttermost: So I have not been a niggard of any thing I have on the needful behalf of my friend or other companion, detesting always that any jot of ingratitude should stain the reputation wherein I have lived hitherunto: For as amongst a number of vices in men now a days, the note of unthanfulnes is no less detestable than any of the rest: So for my part I wish the rigour of THATHENYANS law upon him, who seams 
The Athenians punished unthankfulness by death.  either forgetful of the benefit passed, or unthankful to the friendship of him that brought succours to his necessity when he despaired of relief: wherein (my dear sister) albeit you may happily imagine the cause of this long circumstance, yet can you give no certain judgement of the end or conclusion, nor divine rightly the meaning of the mystery which I purpose to reveal unto you. The threatening peril which erst hovered to cut in sunder the fillet of my life, is of so late a time, that I am sewer your mind hath not yet dismissed the remembrance of so fearful a tragedy, neither have you forgotten I know how as it were by special miracle, I was bought out of the hands of the executioner of justice and redeemed from the rigorous sentence of the partial senatt, without th'assistance of any my parents or alyes, by either simple offer of word or effect: wherein as I am warned by this experience not only to put small confidence in any of my kinsmen hereafter, but also to reappose no assurance at all in their flattering show of feigned face, so I have tasted of so great a pleasure at the hands of him who never deserved well of me, nor I cause to imagine any one drop of humanity in him on my behalf, that if I do right to his virtue, I have reason to admit him not only among the fellowship, but also the first and chief of my dear friends: for being pressed so much with the iniquitte of the time, with fresh assaults of new afflictions, and forsaken with all of my nearest friends, I had reason to imagine, and cause to fear that th'only malice of our mortal enemies (for the extirpation of the whole stock and root of our race) had been the workers of my last trouble and danger of death: But (good sister) in this distrust I have abused the virtue of our late adversary deserving to endure penance for entering into conceits of conspiracy against him, whose late benefit (exceeding the imagination of all men) hath made me bound to honour the remembrance of his name with a debt of duty so long as nature shall phan in me the breath of life: for in place where I feared most danger, I found most safety, and where I expected least sewertye, I encowntred most assurance, And that hand which I attended only to give the fatal blow of my destruction, hath not only removed all occasions or offers of present peril, but become the chiefest pillar and prop of mine honour and life hereafter, wherein because you shallbe partaker of the plainness of my tale, aswell as you have used patience in the hearing of the circumstance, it is ANSEAMO SALYMBYNO the son and heir of our ancient persecutors, who hath made so manifest a declaration of his affected zeal towards our house, that in taking your brother out of the hands of thunrighteous senate & present danger of perentorye destruction, he hath seamed so lavish of his liberal mind, that in place of seven. C florentes, he hath paid a thousand ducats for the ransom of him, who judged him the most cruel enemy of the world: what argument of noble heart is this or how seldom doth a man encounter such rare fruits of virtue? friends knit together by a special league of amity or mutual vow of friendship, do oftentimes make the world wonder of the sundry fruits and effects of constancy which appeareth between them: but where the mortal enemy, being neither reconciled nor required nor demanding any assurance for the pleasure he doth, payeth not only the debt of his adversary, but restoreth his state when he is at point to perform the last of his fatal somaunce I think it exceeds all the consideration of such as use to discourse upon the doings of men. I know not what title to give to the act of SALYMBYNO, nor how to term this his courtesy, if not that his doings deserve a better meed then the renown of DAYMON and PYTHIAS or other most loyal friends whom the writers do favour with such surnames of glory: but as I am a chief witness of his virtue, so the example of his present honesty hath stirred up such an affected humour within me that either I will die in thendeavour, or else I will be equal if not able to exceed him in the return of his liberality, wherein being justly bound to engage the best part in me, for the recompense of that good torn which gave increase to my life, I am to crave a special assistance of you (Sister) for the complotte of the devise which I have already imagined and fully resolved to perform to th'end I may be only bound to you for thacquittance of the liberalytye of SALIMBINO, by whose helxe you that erst Lamented the loss of liberty and life of your brother may now congratulate his health and happy delivery: where with the fair ANGELIQVA fully resolved by this last report of her brother, that it was SALEMBINO which had surmounted all her parents and friends in the delivery of her only comfort, and consolation of their whole house, made a frank promise of her aid in this sort: like as (saith she) I was never able to imagine that your delivery was wrought by so Rare a mean, nor that our enemies 
The answer of Augelyqua to her brother.  (dissoluinge the remembrance of ancient quarrel) would retire to a care and conservation of the health and life of the MONTANYNS: even so I think your debt is the greater by the awthoritie of him that hath done the benefit, and more worthy of am ple consideration, then if the good torn had been done by any of your parents and allies: for th'imitation of a virtue ought to exceed the example of the awthor, chiefly where thoccasion is derived of such an unlikelihod, that the compass of brain seams insufficient to imagine so virtuous an act, wherein for my part, if I were as able as I am willing, his courtesy, should be returned at so large an intreste, that himself should think his benefit nothing in respect of the recompense, and the world to witness the generosity of the MONTANYNS, but having no way thassistance of fortune to present him with any thing that may balance with the merit of his courtesy, and being besides a maid without access to his house, by reason of the small hawnte I use with the ladies his kinswomennes, I can do no more but yield honour to his virtue with secret thanks in my heart, with acknowledging the debt until we be able to discharge it with equal recompense: albeit (brother) if you have devised the mean wherein you account me necessary to be ymploied, doubt not of me in any respect, so that mine honour only be not distressed. amongst ann infinitte discourses appearing severally in my unquiette mind (saith he) I can not rest upon any likely cause or mean to work theffect of so Rare a courtesy in this gentleman on my behalf, nor to procure him in so sudden a moment to break the bond of annciente grudge, and to convert his natural hate into a friendship without a second or comparison, if it be not the fire of a covert love kindled of long time within the tender parts of his entrails, and suppressed with a wonderful grief to himself, till now, that encountering so convenient an occasion to set abroache the vessel of his burning desire, with mean to evente the flame that will no longer smother, but bulk out into open show, he makes open declaration of that which he can no longer conceal: ah wonder full force and virtue in love, who hath power to convert the mind oppressed with passion of colour into a disposition tractable beyond all expectation, and in one moment to change that wherein all men judged an ympossibylitie of conversion, it is only thy beauty ANGELYQYA with respect of other thy perfections which 
Love hath power to work a facility in that which all men think impossible.  have transformed our late enemy into the parson of a perfect friend, it is the general ●ame of thy honest and virtuous life that hath summoned SALYMBYNO to deliver thy miserable brother abandoned of all his friends and in despair of any good fortune, Oh, noble gentleman and heart of a king lacking no kind of magnanymitie, what means alas have 3 to approach that honest liberality whereunto thou haste bound me by so sewer obligation? I live to serve the and am ready to die to do the pleasure? mine honour is reserved to be ymploied by thee, and my goods and living attend thy summons to dispose of them at thy pleasure, thou haste also made such a stealth of my heart that only death is able to redeem it, what is there then remaining, but that thou ANGELIQVA, remove incontinent the vail of all superstition, and unseemly cruelty in disposing thyself to be thankful to him who hath won thy goodwill by the wager and warranty of virtuous love, and who as a first earnest penny of his service and duty towards thee, did present a thousand ducekettes for the ransom of mine honour and life, which if they remeyne of equal care unto the now, as thabundance of thy late tears with dollorus regards did erst argue to all the world, whereof also thou gavest a chief declaration in thy free consent to se● mine inheritance for the redemption of my thraldom: Stick not to dispose thyself now so frankly on my behalf, that I may revenge the favour which SALYMBYNO hath done me (for the respect of thy love) with a present no less precious and rare, than his act is justly meritorious of perpetual fame in all ages: And as he refused not turn up the bottom of his coffers to ransom my liberty: So lacking the consent of equal fortune to return his courtesy with semblable payment, let us make a present of your beauty, which I am sewer he will not abuse any way, considering that he wants no furniture of virtue which is necessary for the adorning of a noble heart, which as it is all the mean I have to make a counterchange of his benefytt, and bring me out of debt with him whose money lieth in pawn for the liberty of my life: So I beseech you (good sister) consider the justice of my request and prono wnce a resolution in such sort, as requiting that which is due to him, I may yield you alone all homage and hold my life only of you: but if your answer put me either in doubt or despair of this mean to make even with so true a creditor, assure yourself I will rather abandon both city and country and disclaim the company of all my friends, then live amongst you with the name of an unthankful parson, or be pointed at of the world not to requite so great a good torn as the delivery and saving of my life, wherefore seeing that in you alone consists the whole reappose of your desolate brother, determine either his abode and company with you for ever, or else his departure within these three days, to waste the remeinder of his wretched life in continual wander in foreign soils, with absolute intent never to set foot within any part of ITALY hereafter. Wherewith the poor ANGELIQVA became no less astonished and voyede of sense then if she had been of a soddayn assailed with an APOPLEXY all be it the passion of her mind quarrellinge so long with in that her stomach seamed to pant as it were the breath of it, little bellows upon a forge, broke out at last by a watery vent at her eyes distilling whole rivers of tears, and restored her to the use of her speech, which she uttered to her brother in this sort. I have often read (saith she) that it is easy for an innocent to find words to speak, and very hard for a man in misery to keep a temperance in his tale, but I doubt I shall find by a present experience of myself, that the defence of a prisoner is not only superfluous but also hateful seaminge rather to reprove then inform the judge, wherein I am the rather persuaded (my dear brother) for that the terms of thy last request depending upon issues of extremities, do argue both a justice to perform thy desire and an incyvilitie in the in making so unreasonable a demand, the one challenging a consent in me by thimpression of nature and bond of dutiful zeal on my behalf towards thee, the other charging the with iniquity for the respect of that which thou wouldst have me to do: But seeing every request craveth a return of answer, and the greater quality or condition the cause is of, the greater deliberation ought we to use, chiefly where it ymportes either thabsolute breach or firm confirmation of the league of lineal consanguynitye: I beseech you grant no less patience to the words of my reply, than I have been contented to favour your vehement protestation with a dolorous silence, neither let me any longer inveigh in mine answer, than I shall seam to prefer good reason to justify my just complaint, the cause whereof doth march with more alarums of annoy thorough all the parts in me, then if I were presently pinched with the most grievous torments of the world: seeing that my life, with thexposition of the same is nothing in respect of that which thy ymportunities do labour to set abroach and put in vent for the only satisfaction of a prodigal liberality: for if the price of my life would suffice for the ransom of mine honour, and appaisement of thy appetit, thou couldst no sooner imagine thy contentment, than the same should be exposed on thy behalf, neither would I take half the time to perform it which I have used in making that the promise I thought alas the late delivery of my brother, had brought to us all an undoubted dispense of further trouble, and that he had buried in the pit of his ymprysonment all occasions of further disquiette: And who would have judged, but in the last assault and unjust offer of undeserved death, fortune had spit the uttermost of her poisoned malice, and that in devestinge herself from the theatrye or throne of rigorous cruelty, she had also broken in pieces the bloddye arrows wherewith of so long time she hath persecuted our desolate house & pronounced trewyce at last to the weary miferies of the wretched state of the MONTANINS But alas unhappy creature that I am I find now our destiny is rather deferred, than our misery at an end, seeing that that unjust gods of unworthy revenge and most cruel stepmother invading me with more fury than affore doth threaten my young and tender years with more perentorye plagues, than ever she thundered upon any of my former race: for if ever she pursued our father's grandfathers or any predecessors with mortal affliction, or intent of utter ruin, it is now she hath chosen her time to put to her last hand to the extreme extirpation of the miserable relics and remeyndor of our poor house, either by the wilful loss and perpetual exile of the my dear brother or untimely death of thy dysolate ANGELIQVA, who can not make prostitution of her chastity without the sacrifice and oblation of her miserable life: what is destiny if this be not the consent and judgement of the heavens, with resolution to subplant the stock & grants of our house, seeing that I a simple girl without force void of assistance of age or experience, is constrained to admit th' one of two evils, whereof the choice ought and is able to amaze the most wise and experienced creature that this day enjoyeth the benefytt of mortal life, alas my heart faileth me, and reason (forsaken and fled from me) hath left my mind ballauncinge in such confusion and contrariety of thoughts, that being brought to thertremetye of two distresses of equal peril and indifferent terror, I doubt whether to commit my life to short and sharppe penance or prolong my days in pyninge dolor, and secret care of mind: for the sentence which thou haste pronounced of both our estates, is either to make a separation by extreme exile of my brother, who is no less dear in my heart then the ten dressed part of mine eye, and in whom next after GOD I have reposed the whole assurance of my hope and consolation of life, or else in conseruinge him, I see myself at point to be constrained to make merchandise (I can not tell in what sort nor for what price) of that precious treasure, which once lost, is not to be reclaimed by any means, and for the guard whereof all women of upright mind honouring virtue or desirous of reputation, ought rather to expose theimselues to a thousand mortal perils and hazards of death, if nature and life were able to abide so many encownters, then to suffer one spot of infamy to stain or corrupt this precious ornament and gift of chastity, which as it is the only support and decoration of the life of an honest woman, so for a contrary, she that loseth the possession of so rich a jewel, or devesteth herself of the title and crown of so great a glory, although she seam to live and keep place among other creatures, yet is she dead in effect and her life recorded in the book of black defame as a witness against herself in the latter days, and in the mean time a continual reproach and objection of shame to such as she leaveth to succeed her in kindred or name How can that Lady or gentlewoman march amongst the crew of virtuous dames, whose honour is either in doubt or reputation in decay by the loss of her honour, but that the blood of shamo appearing in all parts of her face, will not only discover her fault, but makes her weary of her life by the remorse or remembrance of so foul a forfeiture. How could the daughters of the Emperor AUGUSTUS' seam justly meritorious of the title of true nobility, or worthily deserve to be called the children of such a father, after their sundry villains and lascivious trade of living, had despoiled them of the gifts and ornaments of virtue presenting them (to the eyes of all the world) as creatures not worthy to have the common air to breath upon them. what honour had FAUSTINA in wearing the Imperial crown upon her head, seeing she had lost the crown and garland of chastity, by her disordered and dishonest life? Sewer she ought not to enjoy the breath of life, nor participati with the presence or benefit of the earth, that makes less store of her honesty, then of the dearest part belonging to her soul or body: neither is she worthy to be admitted amongst the fellowship of virtues Dames, that departeth with so precious an ornament at other price● than the exchange or loasse of her life, notwithstanding the writers of former time have done manifest wrong to diverse simple women, whose virtue in preserving their honest name with true title of pudicitie, deserveth rather an everlasting remembrance, with notes of vuiversall praise in pillars of eternity, then to be buried without pomp in the tomb of dark oblivion. Ah dear brother what is become of thy ancient generosity and virtue of mind, which heretofore thou hast exposed on the behalf of the honest & chaste Ladies of thy kindred & race, haste thou converted that care and curious zeal, which hitherunto all men have noted in the on my behalf, into a present intent to take away my life, & renown after my death? because thy perversed fortune hath deprived the of the most part of thy possessions & livings, wilt thou therefore that I make like sale of min honour, which I have kept hitherunto with so great watch and diligence? wilt thou (my dear brother that ANSEAMO do triumph with more glory in the victory of my virginity, then if he had constrained the rest & remeinder of our miserable race to pass by the edge of his mordring sword? Remember alas that the hurts and diseases of the soul be far more vehement and of a contrary disposition to them which afflict & annoy the body, And is it I unhappy & thryswretched girl that must do penance for th'offences of us all? is this the justice of the gods, or rigorous doom of my angry destinies: if the heavens have resolved my ruin, why do they not rather commit me to fatal execution, than present me upon the Altar of filthy ymolations or offerings to the devouring goddess of filthy lust, 
Venus.  and that to appease the appetit of a young man, who peradventure desireth no other pray then the spoils of my honour? How pappie was the noble VIRGINIA of Rome, who was slain by the hands of her own father, to avoid violation of her body by the lascivious Emperor APPIUS the common enemy to the honour & reputation of all honest Ladies? alas why staith my brother to purchase like renown by performing semblable execution upon me, rather than of his own mind, to become the infamous minister of my life ready to abide the danger of dishonest force, if God become not the protector of his servant, & take my cause into his hand? why doth death defer to do his duty, or stay to dip the end of his venomous dart in the congeiled blood of my dying spirit, & dispatch me with speed to visit the shadows of my happy predecessors, who understanding my present distress, can not be void (I am sewer) of passion on the behalf of my wretched extremety? why did not God & nature give power to the midwyf to smother me at th'instant that her cursed hands, received me from the womb of my mother, rather than in preserving my life with the milk of tender nurture, to make my youth subject to sundry sorts of affliction, & now in the age & expectation of quiet to present me the choice of ij. of the most mortal evils in the world? what council have I to assist me in so doubtful a case: or which way can I turn me, where I am not indifferently assailed with remorse on the behalf of my brother's request, & shame with desperation in the simple remembrance of the fact? Alas shall I lose him whom nature and law of kind, have named the one half of myself, and to commit th'effect of his demand, is no less damnable afore God, then if I did violence & force against myself with mine own hands, neither have I remedy or reason to eschew either of these evils, but by th'assistance of the oh cruel Atropos whom I beseech with the last tears of this complaint to whet thy fatal knife, and shred in sunder with speed the twist of my wretched days, lest in preventing thy slackness or slender haste, these hands of mine undertake to supply thine office with unnatural revenge of my present sorrow, wherewith her tears & sighs ceased upon a sudden, and her tongue foltering in her mouth, her complexion of face was also converted into a pale & ghastly regard, in such sort as the passion of this trance, stopping 
Angeliqua falleth into a sound.  the conduits and course of her breath, she seamed to have as little feeling or show of life as the seat whereon she sat, which when CHARLES beheld, with resolution that the mystery contained neither vision nor dream, nor charm of deceit, but that his sister had been as utterly without hope of recovery, as she seamed senseless and without breath: overcome with dolour and despair to live after her whom he only had preferred to so wretched a death, fell upon a sudden from the place where he sat upon the ground, without moving either hand or foot: the noise of whose fall restored ANGELIQVA, to some little rebalation and use of breath, recovering in like sort the opening of her eyes, with a general motion and feeling in all her parts, & being thus at liberty of free consideration, her eyes disclosed immediately the piteous estate of her brother, whom she judged now to have delivered her of further care to perform his request, wherein seeing a general retire of all his senses, and only view of his dead body remeyning to increase her dolour, she stood at the point to use the same revenge of herself, that THIS BE did when she found her friend dead: but finding his body warm, with some argument of recovery, she forgot not the use of any medicine, wherein she judged virtue to reclaim life, and falling with all flat upon the body of her dead brother, she began to curse her fortune, and accuse the stars of cruelty, inveighing withal against the slender friendship of herself towards him who made no conscience to offer to die to preserve his patriimonie and inheritance only for her sustentation, in the end by th'application of certain medicines and odoriferous smells, sometime sprinkling cold water upon his face, dropping vinegar into his mouth, and sometime rubbing his temples and pulses, with other sleights to revoke him that is but half dead, she broke the bed of his trance, opening a vent to utter the course of his breath, wherewith also his eyes disclosed, and challenged their wont light, beholding with doleful regards, his desolate sister, who seeing all his parts replenished eftsoons with vital motions, that he was in case to understand and give judgement of her words, said unto him: seeing my mishap is so great, that she will admit no dispense of her malice, & thou dear brother so wholly resolved in thy wilful imagination, that I must yield to thy somance & become the minister of the sentence of thy heart, more prodigal and bountiful then is convenient by the consent of raisin, I am content to become thankful according to thy desire, and more ready to perform thy request, than thou haste raisin to eracte so much upon me, wherefore do away thy desperate regards, and looks not unliket o him that is plunged in a passion of trembling fear, receiving with gladness the present offer of thy careful sister, who here presents herself the handmaid of thy will, giving the full 
Angeliqua consenteth to her brother's request.  commission to dispose of this poor carcase at thy pleasure, & make a present of it to such as thou accounts thyself so greatly indebted unto: only I am to warn the of one thing, wherein thou canst not note me of any mislike by justice, because the integrity & virtue of my intent defends me from imputation that way, & which asso I give the absolute assurance to perform, that is, being once discharged of thy authority, thou shalt use no more power to restrain me from doing the thing which my mind hath already decreed, protesting unto the by the right hand of him that governeth the universal globe, that as no man shall touch ANGELIQVA, but in sort & order of marriage, so if I be committed to a further force thou & all the world shall perceive that I have a heart will enharden these hands to make a sacrifice of my life to the chastity of those noble Ladies, which heretofore have rather desired to die, then live with a note of infamy or dishonour: for as my soul shall never stand in hazard of grace, by the villainy of any act which my body shall commit by free consent, even so if this carcase be forced to violation, I doubt not but the integrity of my mind will purchase a privilege against all purgatory of my soul, witnessing in the other world mine innocency and invincible heart: wherewith she renewed the alaram of her sorrow, with a fresh supply of sudden tears, with such abundance and impetuosity of dole, that a man would have thought, that the whole humour and moist parts of her brain had been drained and dried up by the surges of continual tears which ceased not to fall from her watery eyes: her brother for his part, albeit he grieved with the desolation of his chaste sister, yet the joy he conceived in her present consent to his demand, took away the passion of that sorrow, feeling (as it were) some secret instinct or fore warning of the happy success & effect of the liberal offer of ANGELIQVA, to whom he excused his importunity in some sort after this manner, I was never so greedy of life (saith he) but I could be content rather to renounce nature and die, then to solicit the in any respect, which might bring thy honour or reputation in peril of infamous interest, neither would I live to see and much less be partaker of the thing that any way seams to turn thee to displeasure: which thou shouldest always have found by effect and touch of finger, if this liberal courtesy of our enemy had not procured me to wrest the to that which honesty denieth the to grant & I unable to demand without great wrong to thy virtue, & no less prejudice to mine own honour. And as the fear I have to be noted of ingratitude, hath taken away all respects of honour or honesty to us both, so the virtue & noble heart of ANSEAMO doth not only offer an assured argument of hope, but also presents absolute cause of firm belief, that the only displeasure thou shalt find in this enterprise will appear when thou art first presented unto him: For it is not possible he should use villainy on the behalf of her, the only regard of whose love hath made him make no conscience to hazard the displeasure of his parents & chief friends, not refusing withal (without suit or importunity) to deliver him whom he hated, & had power to put to what vengeance he would. Here may be noted th'operation of two extremities of several dispositions, natural zeal & fraternal duty, quarelling with womanly shame, & raisin mentaining contention with in herself. ANGELIQVA knew & confessed that her brother did no more than he ought, & that she was also leviable to the same bond & obligation of duty, and on the other part thestimation of her honour with regard to defend her chastity, supplanted such dutiful respects of nature, & forced her to an integrity of judgement, in that which she accounted both unjust & unlawful, whereupon resolving to observe both the one and the other, & seam chief to be thankful to the demand of her brother, determined to discharge him of the debt towards his long enemy & late friend, with intent notwithstanding rather to die by the stroke of her own hands then villainously to lose the flower of that which made her live famous, & of greater renown than the most part of the ladies of that city. But the virtue of this SALYMBINO is of more rare singularity & deserveth a greater commendation, than the continency of CYRUS sometime king of PERSIA, who ●ering a force of in●ysement to lorke under the flattering beauty of the fair and common PANTEA would never suffer her to be brought to his presence, least her wanton regards should make him abuse the renown of his ancient honour, & break the sacred devotion which all men ought to use in marriage, with violation of his faith confirmed by former vow to his wife: For ANSEAMO enjoying the presence, with free commandment over her whom he loved no less than his own life, did not only abstain to abuse the bountiful gift of his fortune, but also declared an effect of more nobility & virtue of mind, than the said CYRUS, as you may note in the next act of this history attending his present discovery: for as the Montanyn & his sister had divided their deliberation into certain points with abrigement at last of their long discourse, & that the fair ANGELIQVA had stayed the source of her tears with expectation of the end of that which they had but now begun, ANSEAMO repairs from the country to his palace in the town, whereof at viij. of the cloak in the evening Don Charles received advertisement, and without delay of further time willed his sister to attire herself in the best order she could, with whom and only one man (to carry a lantern of slender light) they went to the lodging of SALIMBYNO, whose servant by chance encountered them at the palace gate of his master, not without astonishment to see them there with desire to speak with Seigneur Salymbyno, who understanding what company the MONTANYN brought with him, was not forgetful for his part to descend with expedition having carried afore him two stafftorches, giving light till he came even to the gate, where omitting no kind of courtesy in receiving the brother, he was barred (as it seamed) to expose any show of service on the behalf of her whom he chief desired to honour, but standing (as it were a man enchanted or some Hermit in expectation to hear the answer of his oracle) was no less astonished with the view of his new gests then if he had suddenly dropped out of the clouds, which confusion & trouble of mind was immediately espied of DON CHARLES, who as he imagined without great study, that the presence & beauty of his sister stirred up the perplexity of Salymbyno, so he went about to break the amaze with these words: Sir, saith he, we have cause of special conference with you which requireth neither public audience nor other witness then ourselves, wherewith he offered them his chamber and became their guide thither with more show of duty, then desiere to be entreated, and leading his dear ANGELIQVA by the hand, passed thorough the hall into a certain gallery, furnished with riches and accotrementes belonging to the greatness of his estate, where being set in rich thaires and seats of honour, and the place void of all company, saving, the presence of the ij. simple clients, and merciful 
Montanyn to Seigneur Salymbyno.  judge, DON CHARLES MONTANYNO rise from his place, and spoke to tother in this sort. Albeit the offers of servitude be always most hateful to freemen, and that the noble heart can hardly brook to strike sail for any sommance of adversity, yet the bond of a good turn or benefit already done, levieth such alarums of remorse to the mind environed with virtue, that she forceth not only an equal consideration and recompense, but also claimeth a continual remembrance and thankful recordation in him, who was first partaker of the benefit, wherein as I find myself specially touched above all that ever was blessed with friendship not looked for in this world: So Seigneur SALYMBYNO, I hope you will excuse me if in the first place of my Catalogue of thanksgiving I honour you, (contrary to the laws & customs of our common wealth) with the title of Lord and master, seeing the virtue of yourself (declared in the greatest distress that ever hath or could happen unto me) doth not only yield you, by justice such title, but also challengeth at my hand a bond of no less dutiful and continual service towards you, than you expect of the most drudge and slave that followeth your train, for what disposition is more detestable than the note of unthankfulness, or wherein are we bound to so frank and prodigal an exposition of ourselves and all that we have, as in the remuneration and return of the pleasures we have received by strangers which I could enlarge with credible authorities of elder days, and confirm by familiar experience of our age, saving that in supplienge the time with repetition of antiquities I should defer yet longer the doing of that, which I chiefly desire to perform, but grieving above all things that in the view and remembrance of their virtues I find myself far unable to be equal or exceed any that ever were renowned or noted to be thankful, where in albeit I have just cause to cry out of the malice of my for tune, not for bringing me so deeply in your debt, (which I think was wrought by general consent of the heavens but for that she hath lent me such slender choice of means to requite so great a courtesy, yet in appealing to the virtue of your mind, I doubt not to make you understand the greatness of my desire, and whether ingratitude be any way harboured in the heart of this poor gentleman, who having but himself and the chaste will of his sister, (being both preserved in entire by the only assistance of your favour makes hear a present of ourselves and all that belongeth unto us with commission (Sir) to dispose of our lives, livings and honour in any respect it shall like you to ymploye them. And because I am more than half persuaded that th'only respect of ANGELIQVA hath kindled the first coals of your desire, causing a conversion of the hate which descended unto you by inheritance, into a disposition to love that which your predecessors despised mortally, and for that by the heavy clog of our extreme misery, and hard condition of state, we are not able to shun the name of unthankful, but by th'assistance of her that first procured the debt, she I say, who forced your liberality on my behalf is hear a ready pawn for the satisfaction of that which I confess to owe unto you: it is (Sir) my sister whom you see afore you who to absolve the bond of us both, doth yield herself unto you with free submission of her honour and life at your pleasure. And I being her brother having her full and free consent in my power, do make you a present of her, bequeathing you no less property then either I or she hath of herself, with authority to disdispose of her as you think good, dowtinge not but you will accept the offer, and respect the gift according to the value, with remembrance from whence it came, and in what sort it ought to be used: wherewith not tarrying the reply of the other nor to bid his sister farewell, he flung down the steers, and went ymedyatlye to his own house: if ANSEAMO were indyffrently amazed at the first arrival of both the MONTANYNS, or astonied with the oration of her brother, it is now that he is double perplexed, both with the soddayn departure of DON CHARLES, and also to see in his presence the effect of the thing he only desired, and never was able to imagine, and much less durst enter into hope to have it come to pass, wherein as he was no less glad, than he had cause, being in the free contemplation and company of her whose beauty and virtue he accounted above the respect of all commodities and pleasures of the world, So he laboured of semblable dolor on the behalf of the passion and secret sorrow of mind which he noted in her touching her present change of estate, the same forcing him also to a firm persuasion, that thaccident paste proceeded rather of the generosytie or to much show of courage and virtue in the heart of the young man, then by consent or any contentment at all to the fair ANGELIQVA, whom at the same instant he took between his arms and proffringe certain chaste kisses dried her watery eyes of tears which ceased not to drop with great abundance, preferring unto her this kind of short consolation. If ever I felt or desired to understand with what wing did fly the unconstant gods, which the poets term the change and variety of th'affairs of the 
Fortune (according to the poets) is the change and alteration of the world lie affairs.  world, it is now (good Madam) that I am presented with such a manifest and strange proof, that I dare scarcely believe that which I see in offer afore mine eyes for if the only respect of you, and service which my heart hath vowed and sworn unto you, hath constranied me to dissolve the bond of extreme hate, which by request of my parents I have been enjoined to bear to you and your house, and in that devotion have delivered your brother as you know from death, I see fortune denieth me the triumph of the victory, for that your brother hath surmounted me in honour and virtue: And now do I see that as the flattering gle of an uncertain fortune ought not to alter the goodness of the disposition, so adversity is not able to corrupt the virtue of the noble mind, nor when the good torn is done the memory of the benefytt is not hateful to the thankful man: for albeit my example deserveth commendation, for that I opened the way and became (as it were) your brother's guide giving the first earnest penny of humanity between us, yet his imitation seams meritorious of triple praise, for that he hath not only acknowledged my courtesy and returned it with double interest, but also laboured to exceed me in the true effects of sincere nobility: wherein for your part being my vassal by your own consent and special gift of your brother) all be it you have more reason of doubt then cause to reappose assurance in my fidelity, for that our new reconcilement is not yet confirmed with any continuance of long time, nor our amity justified but by one simple proof or experience of late, yet shall yourself be judge & the whole world witness with you, that my heart is no less fire from corruption, then far from dishonest or evil intent on your behalf, and that I pursue but a consomation of that which GOD hath given as a divine sacrament and holy law amongst, us wherefore saith he (with a fresh charge of honest kisses) do away (good lady) your tears of present dole, and despair no more of the perfect loyalty of your servant who will deal no worse with you having you in his power, then at such time as he languished on your behalf and durst not discover the desire he had to do you service, neither shall your brother repent him of his courtesy, nor you in consenting to obey him, for albeit you are mine by peculiar grant & mutual accord, & that your fortune hath given me such scope of authority over you that your honour weigheth only in the balance of my disposition, yet the respect of mine own reputation and honour that I own to your virtue, doth defend you from other injury at my hand then in making you the only maistries of my heart, to crave your consent in lawful marriage and societio of wedlock whereby thancient mutinies and civil grudges shall not only Retire and receive end, but our houses rejoined eftsoons with this indissoluble bond of affynitye between us, shall live hereafter in continual quiet enjoying a mutual amity more firm and strong on both parts, than the former quarrels were fatal or full of mortality.  
These news staying the course of wont tears and dismissing withal all dolorous arguments or regards of sorrow, stirred up such a complexion or die of natural white and red in the face of the fair SYENNOYSE that she seamed rather a gods sitting in her glistering troane then an ymppe or creature of nature, forcing such a vehemency of desire in the heart of SALYMBYNO, that he was driven eftsoons to give a second charge of her goodwill, with a frank offer to make participation unto her of half his living and richesse: wherewith she presented him a seemly reverence with a majesty of modesty and womanly behaviour returning his request with thanks due to his liberal offer, with further assurance for her part to omit neither endeavour nor diligence nor declaration of duty on the behalf of him whom god hath reserved for her lawful husband & companion of bed, wherewith after they had spent some little moment in embracing one an other and certain kisses given and received recyprocallye between them, ANSEAMO knocked for an old awnte of his dying in his house to whose charge and fidelity, he committed the glory of his new conquest, and finding the least moment of delay greatly hurtful to his desire dispatched immediately several messengers to his dear and nearest parents and friends, who obeying the expedition of his short sommance, came ymediatelye unto his house, where he requested their assistance of advise and company in the consummation of a business of great importance, wherein if they appeared willing or liked of his request, he seamed (I am sewer) to use above an ordinary celereity in thexecuiion of his enterprise, & sending for his awnte with her new charge and his dear ANGELIQVA, repaired immediately (not with out the great amaze of his friends) to the pallaies of the MONTANIN, where scarcely giving leave to the interteynementes and proffers of court, wherewith DON CHARLES saluted him and his company, he recited to his new brother in law in the hearing of the rest, that as not long since, he with his sister came to his lodging with request to communicate with him in secret, so for his part, he is now there afore him to reveal such things as he had determined since his departure, & that in the public audience & witness of that company which he had assembled of purpose, and to whom with all the world, he intended to impart his rare honesty and virtue, with such revenge as himself mente to take upon them as seamed to honour him with the offer of any pleasure, or surmount him in the gift of thank efull dealing: which words seamed to end as the whole company was set in order with erspectation to see theffect of this mystery, and being all in silence he turned his face with an oration to the multitude in these terms. Me thinks I see you all in a wonderful amaze with several imagination of my intent, in procuring this assembly 
Salymbyn to his friends so, the marriage of Angeliqua.  at so inconueniente an hour and in such a place, where none of you all (my kinsmen and friends) nor myself hetherunto have ever set foot to enter without desire to endamage or do some notable harm to the rest of them that remain of the MONTANYN LYNE, which astonishment I shall also suspend in you, till the end of this short preamble, which, I have preferred for the better understanding of the part I mean to play. And if you will consider with regard of indifferent judgement, and weigh in equal balance, the thing which is called good in the hearts of such as differing from the brutal sort do follow the part of raison properly called spiritual, you shall see by that mean that the generosytie and high heart grafted in us by our great mistress and first mother dame nature, doth never cease to make show of several effects, sometime bringing forth one virtue, sometime making declaration of an other, which also do prefer their sundry fruits, according to the excellency of the noble spring and first source of the same, wherein also this nobility of mind hath such a force and special privilege by her first founder, that albeit all humane things are framed 
Virtue firm and not subject to change.  of a metal of instability subject to change, yet is she only found firm and void of all revolution, and though she be one chief but and mark whereat Dame fortune doth lose her inconstant arrows, shaking her piercing darts against her on all sides, yet is she found so invincible 
The noble mind invincible against fortune.  against her assaults, that she is as void of power to move her, as the blustering winds forcing an incredible fury to the angry disposition of the sea, seam unable to stir the hard rock or stony mountain, where upon it followeth that as the greatness of fortune with glee of infinite riches do lift up, and make swell the heart of a villain or one of base condition, So the sinister change of estate, nor any malice or ministers of poverty, can embase or make stoop the greatness of courage in them that are wrought in a contrary frame, or made of other stuff than the vulgar sort, for they keep always a majesty of their original, and observe in such sort thinstinct of the blood whereof their ancestors were made noble, and gave them suck of the very milk of virtue, that what dispites or malicious summons soever fortune doth send them: the temperate argument of modesty in their complexion and countenance, with true effect & operation of true virtue of their mind, do sufficiently argue their condition in defyinge the threats of the world, & makes absolute declaration that under the vail of such misery is shrouded a heart deserving better allowance than the adversaty which torments them: Herein consists the whole glory of the youth of the PERSIANS and 
King Cyrunorished and brought up in the country.  MEADES who albeit were nourished and brought up amongst the heardmennes of their parents, yet gave they place to no country in magnanymytie of mind. And who hath exceeded or been equal in generosytie or noble courage of heart to ROMULUS the first founder of the proud 
Romulus' brought up among shepherds.  city of Rome? yet was he assisted with no better education or training up then in caves and cabynettes of shepherds, and such as inhabit the plain and desert fields for the guard of their cattle: all which I have preferred unto you (my Lords & Ladies) as a special prepratiue to the peculiar praise and commendation of the undoubted nobleness of mind of SIGNEUR CHARLES MONTANYN and his sister, who without prejudice or wrong to any, may well be termed the peragon for beauty and mirroer of honest and chaste behaviour, above all the Ladies and gentlewomen in our common wealth, whose house as you know hath been so oppressed with continual persecution, that only they two are the last remeyndoures of their whole race, standing also not long since at the point of extreme ruin and utter subversion for ever, yet the ympocision of such strange miseries, cold neither move any dymunition of courage, nor stay of desire to expose an effect of that virtue and bounty which nature hath appointed to occupy the hearts of them that be true noble: wherein as I see some justice to exclaim against the cruelty of our ancestors, for that the only respect of a small broil happening by chance, hath moved them to thunder a most mortal vengeance of this so ancient and virtuous a stock: So for my part, being privy to mine 
Of unlawful winning of the father comes just loss to the son  own conscience, with remembrance of the wise admonition of the grave philosopher saying, that as of unlawful winning of the father comes just loss to the son: so he that makes himself a tyrant by force, becomes oftentimes a slave by justice, I think it necessary not only to blow the last retreat of all grudge between us, but also work the effect and confirmation of a future amity for ever hereafter, And if the view of thancient quarrels and mutunies of former time do stay your consent to present compassion of their case, yet let not the honest trade of life, civil behaviour, and modest disposition of this brother and sister, depart without the due meed and higher of their virtue neither let us suffer their place in the senate to be empty or void of supply, that erst hath been furnished with the presence of the most noble and wise men of our city, to th'end that our example may serve as a precedent to the future time, in that th'only respect of virtue, and not riches makes us restore the dekayed stocks of our common wealth, wherein also we shall justly deserve the title of our high discente from the puissant and mighty emperors of Rome, who gave ever more honour to the virtuous poverty, than regard or commendation to the richman converted 
The romans respected more the virtuous poverty, then allowed the rich man converted into vice.  into vice or abominable endeavours. But now because I see you already sorowearyed with the length of a lingering suspense desiring to know the cause of this great commendaciou of the MONTANYNS, with request to abridge my tedious discourse, if you will lend me yet a little liberty to speak, with patience to hear the chief points of my protestation, the speedy end of my tale shall restore present quiet and contentment to your troubled minds. It is long since I must confess (and yet th'offence is neither mortal, nor salt so heinous but it may be forgiven) that the beauty with other parts of perfection in the fair Angeliqua here present, so ravished my senses and rob me of my liberty at one instant, that th'only exercise which occupied my head day and night for a long time, was the sundry devices I imagined to discover unto her my martyrdom, wherein I fed the hungry humour of my affection, with such alarums and contrariety of conceits, that having by this mean lost the necessary appetite of the stomach, and usual desire of sleep, I felt such a diminution of nature and lively force thorough all the parts in me, that I was presented at one time with the choice of two most perilous evils in the world, the one to die afore my time by suffocation of pynning dolour, or else to yield to a deprivation of my senses and gift of understanding for ever: wherein I was also pursued with the ready assistance of perplexed despair, for that I saw no mean to make that seam easy wherein I judged so great an impossibility, chiefly by the grounded quarrels of our ij. houses, whereby albeit the war seams ended, and the grudge half appeased between us, yet was I of opinion, that there remeined an equal desire in the hearts of us both, neither to wish well the one to the other and much less to abstain from further slaughter, when so ever a new occasion should eftsoons fall out, neither could these mortal impediments argue sufficient raisin to diminish min affection, but stirred up rather a triple increase of desire, according to the passioned mind enchanted with love, who makes such as he possesseth more apt to desire, then 
Love make us more apt to desire, then able to attain.  able to attain to the effect of that which they wish, preferring always a simple likelihood in that wherein appeareth an absolute impossibility, to th'end to afflict their miserable lives with continual annoy: but as these extremities had filled my head full of despair and committed me to a continual carefulness of mind, because I could neither stay the course of my affection, nor encounter the object of my desire, behold fortune entered into compassion of my state, assisting me with so ready a medicine for my great disease, that when I was void of all expectation or hope of recovery, I was presented with a frank offer of my desired pray, for as it is not unknown to you all that sense the departure of viij. or ten days, the Lord MONTANYN here present, being accused afore the SENATE upon certain peinall statutes, devised by our cruel state for the rappeale of banished men, was awarded by judicial sentence to pay the forfeiture, which because he could on't nottender within the time, his greedy enemies forced the law to a more rigour than was necessary, in such sort as thexecutioner was ready to extend upon his body for want of a supply of a thosande florents, to choke the covetous humour of the magistrates. Even so the view of his extremity stirred up such a remorse in my mind that me thought I was summoned by duty to prevent the destruction of him, who was brother and th'only comfort of her whom I had already proclaimed the sovereign Lady and mistress of my heart, in which good vain of devotion I paid the money and procured his delivery, who (for his part) devining I can not tell upon what occasion, that the beauty of his sister did work th'effect of such a virtue in me, hath not only been thankful for the benefit, but also overcome me in honest liberality and true nobleness of mind, presenting me in the beginning of this evening at mine own house with a prodigal offer not only of himself and all that he hath, but also of his sister whom he left with me to use and dispose at my pleasure: wherein for end I appeal to you all with one request that in waighinge rightly the gift of the one and offer of the other, you will consider of them both, and assist me immediately with your advise in what sort I may yield a due meed to such ij. precious merits, the one a most familiar pattern and precedent of true nobility, and the other a present of such price and value, that the greatest prince in ITALY could do no wrong to his greatness in yielding honour and homage to so rare a thing: whereupon he stayed his further discourse, giving place to thassistants for consultation of the case, which albeit they knew imported deliberate advise afore the resolution of judgement, yet were they in amaze what sentence to give, because they were neither privy nor partakers of the determination of him who had summoned their appearance there, rather to witness the fact then divide the case, or impeshe his resolute intent by a contrary council. The Ladies his kinswomen were so moved to admiration with the majesty and other arguments of virtue in the fair ANGELIQVA that they had passed judgement on her side if they had not feared to be refused of him, who wished their voice that way, and who only being touched above the the rest most near the quick, dismissed their astonishment in reveiling his own determination in this sort. seeing you take so great a time to discuss so small a matter with no less doubt to publish sentence of that which is already determined let me abridge all arguments of further delay in deciphering in plain words the thing which hetherunto I have communicated but by circumstance, ou shall understand saith he (in taking ANGELIQVA by the hand, that having the regard of honour afore mine eyes, with desire to recompense at full the honesty and virtue of the brother. I am resolved to take the sister to my dear and lawful wife, preferring by that means a perfect unity of that which long time hath lived in separation, and make of two bodies erst and long disjoined, an equal will and entire mind, desiring all your consents in the consommation of this alliance, which seemeth rather the work of God, than an effect of the council or diligence of man: for the law of marriage 
Marriage the first thing wherein christ glorified himself by miracle.  being an institution of the highest, and the thing wherein Christ first glorified himself by miracle upon earth is recorded in thinfallible book of his foreknowledge, to th'end nothing chance which is not permitted and foreseen by the providence of the God of marvels, who sewerlye laid his hand upon thee (brother MONTANYN) in touching the with distress and peril of life to th'end that my ANGELIQVA, being the only mean of thy delivery might also lay an immovable foundation of a mutual unity between our two houses, which I hope shall furuive the length of time and not end but with the last remeinder of either of our posterities. This conclusion thus heard of the parents, and kinsfolks of SALYMBYNO, and canuaised a little in their several opinions, seamed at last of such reason and indifferency to them all, that they converted their conceits which kept them occupied for a time into a present disposition of wonderful joy and gladness feeling in their entrails and inward parts (I can not tell by what secret instinct of mind) an approach of indissoluble tranquillity on all parts, by the only conjunction of this new alliance. And albeit there was no equality of portion, & that the dower of ANGELIQVA stood aloff from the revenues of her new consort, yet the virtue and gifts of grace appearing in her, made her seam able to countervail him in any respect, & his friends with one voice gave general commendation to the goodness of his fortune for plantyng his affection in so virtuous a soil, wherein surely they had good reason, for marriage being a law and holy Sacrament given us from God as th'only knot of mutual tranquillity between man and 
In the choice of our wife we ought to respect the virtue and gifts of the mind and not the riches or exterior beauty.  woman ought to be embraced for the virtue and sincerity of the thing and not abused with a regard of richesses or other filthy promocious of the world. And he that in the choice of his wife respects chiefly her beauty and greatness of portion, (besides a thousand petty mutinies that fall out in housekeping,) escapeth seldom without a spirit of grudge or civil descension, disturbing his quiet with a continual humour of fretting disposition feeding his mind, for the glass of beauty retireth and giveth place to age, which also mortifyeth the delight or desire of further pleasure, and on tother side the woman knowing her descent more noble, and portion to exceed the wealth of her husband forgetteth not to take heart at grass, and decking her garland with all sorts of flowers of pride and disdain, seeks to govern and get the upper hand of him, who as he is appointed her head by the words of the scripture and institution of nature: So he ought to keep a strait hand of the same bridle and Rain of authority, using it as a check to restrain the desire of liberty in her, that studieth to have him in subjection, wherein I wish all bachilors and young men unmarried to be armed against so great a mischief with the experience of such their friends as they see touched with the like grief. And for my part I lament the disquiet of them, as would and can not, or rather dare not attempt a simple reformation in them who are borne to bear the yoke of awe and commandment of their husbands, returning therewith to the sequel of SALYMBYNO, who working the last effect and consommation of his courtesy, gave the one half of his goods of all sorts in favour of the marriage, adopting at th'instant the MONTANYN as his brother in law and assured friend, with general substitution to all his goods, if he chanced to die without heir of his body, and having children he conveyed unto him by such assurance in reversion as the law could devise, that moiety, which he gave in dowerye to his fair ANGELIQVA, whom the Sunday following he married with pomp due to both their estates, to the universal contentment of his friends, and special quiet of the City, who had endured long affliction by the mortality and civil war of these ij. houses: Such be the varieties happening in the success of our worldly affairs, wherein who will deny but that adversity sometime is necessary for men, seeing she doth not only force a wonderful remorse and reformation of life, but 
Adversity is necessary for that it makes us perfect.  also works often times an effect of that wherein appeared an absolute impossibility of conquest by any other mean.  
And truly the virtue of this example discredits utterly the commendation of the ancient Romans, amongst whom as there chanced diverse times great enimyties and grudge of mind, so there followed a speedy reconcilement (albeit not by such means as this frank atonement between the SALYMBYNS and MONTANYNS, but some were reclaimed by the offer of promotion, some solicited by the voice of the whole common wealth and confirmed by the present gift of some notable office, and other with a regard to peculiar profit, not one of them all approaching near the magnanimity in the worst of these three, whereof the one summoned by a passion of love scamed to exceed nature in performing an exploit not able any way else to be wrought to effect: And yet there be that crying out against love paints him in colours of rage, folly and frenzy, but such are rather abused with their own conceits, then able to consider rightly the virtue of that impression: for love in the noble heart is no other thing then the true subject of courtesy, the fountain from whence distilleth the original of all civil and good order, 
The virtues in love in a noble mind.  the only mean, that moves us to moderation when we are inclined to cruelty or revenge, and the chiefest nurse and preserver of peace amongst men, wherein if some vile disposition happen to violate or pervert the laws of so necessary and ancient institution of nature, the virtue and subject itself yet ought not be touched with the cause of such fault nor deserve to be noted of any corruption, seeing such derogation proceeds by the abuse of him that knoweth not the perfection of the thing, which falls out also in experience in diverse other accidents, who being virtues of themselves, do lose their credit, by the malice of such as abuse them vyllanouslye, whereupon the good thing is often condemned by the folly of such as are ignorant in the perfection of the same, in the other appears a rare disposition of a bountiful mind, so far from the abominable spot of ingratitude, that his life was ready to be offered for the satisfaction and discharge of the courtesy if the other had required it, wherein as you may see great effects of true magnanymitye, and wherein a noble mind ought not to be overcome with the virtue of honest courtesy, so touching the price of the victory, I mean which of the three is most meritorious of commendation, and deserveth to wear the garland, I refer the judgement to thindifferency of such as without passion or parcialitye do use to note the chances happening to men, you see a mortal enemy sorrowed for the misery of his adversary, but solycited thereunto (you will say) by the inevitable force of love, which also wrought his delivery: the other marched with the glory of a present so rare, that the greatest Monarch of the world may be astonied with the remembrance of his prodigal bounty. The wonderful zeal and affection of the sister towards her brother challengeth no less praise than the rest, who albeit she had seen a proof of the courtesy of her enemy, yet had she no assurance of his modesty, notwithstanding to discharge every way her duty towards her brother she laid her virginity upon the block of violation: the first claimeth to be victor, because his last virtue in the marriage exceeds his former courtesy, but he hath overthrown his enemy and not won the field, so that he is not to enjoy the praise or price of the victory. The absolute resolution of the young Lady to kill herself, if she were forced to dishonnour against her will, takes away all glory and commendation from her, if the care to keep honour and virginity, did not prevail above the preservation of life: the brother and third of this Crew, albeit this prodigal offer proceeded by compulsion of the former bounty of his friend, yet the nobleness of his mind was equal to the rest, and his virtue nothing inferior to either of the other two. And yet if it were not the singular respect he had to return his benefytt with double interest, with care to be more then sufficiently thankful to his patron, I could diminish his glory, wherein because the lamentable tragedy of two poor lovers sommones me to discover their misadventure, with no less reason to furnish the stage with a declaration of their loyalty, than your Ladyship hath already hard the whole discourse of the rare virtues in SYENNA, I leave such Gentlemen and skilful Dames (who take pain to skan this history) to argue the cause at large, and resolve judgement at leisure, not doubting of your integrity in yielding the true title of triumph and glory to some one of the three, whom you account most worthy to be crowned with the Laurel of victory.  
FINIS.   

The argument.  
THere is nothing how good and profitable so ever it appear, whereon attendethe not a discommodytie to him that deals in it without discretion, together with a perentorye displeasure in receiving it contrary to the consent of good government wherein I may be assisted with sufficient confirmation in a daily experience of the ordinary meats, broths, and other confections tolerated by phizicke for the sustentation of man, which albeit Bee good of themselves, yet being swallowed in glottonous sort, they do not only procure a surfeyt with unsavoury indisgestion, but also converting our ancient health and force of nature into humours of debylytie destillinge thorough all the parts of the body, do corrupt the blood which of itself afore was pure and without infection: Even such is the disposition of love, whose effects, directed by reason (which ought to guide every action and doing of man) be not such enemies in deed to the quiet of our life, as necessary means to reform the rudeness of our own nature, according to the authority of the poet affirming that by love the rudeman is reduced to a civility, the fool learneth wisdom, the coward becomes valiant, and the covetous niggard 
Sundry virtues in love.  sets his purse wide open to his friend: neither is there any kind of courtesy wherewith he that is in love doth not participate: but who makes an experience of the contrary, I mean without advise or judgement will throw himself headlong into the gulf of a foolish and running fantasy, escapes hardly without the reward which that frantic passion yieldeth ordenarely to such as are unhappelye partakers of such infection, neither is there any thing more furthereth the ruin and dekaie of man then suffriuge the eyes of our understanding to be seeled with such imitate to ymate that as a glott of our greedy desires, which nature hath enjoined to all estates to honour and embrace as a special virtue. And truly me thinks that, that foolish and infortunate crew might reserve therrors and destructions of others as special pattornes and precepts to restrain the humour of their own madness, by the which (or they be aware) they are led to the brink of mortal destruction: albeit thindiscretion of that miserable sort seams nothing unlike in comparaison to those that having long used the trade of theft and robbery, and seeing their companions pass by the sentence of a cord, lack grace notwithstanding to disclaim the wickedness wherein they have been nozeled so many years, neither is their plague (or rather just punishment) any thing inferior, for they making a chief glory of that which is most imperfect in love, are either so subject to despair, or beastly assotted with the greedy encounter of the pleasure they find, that procuring by their own folly and want of order the process of their fatal sommaunce in the entry to their felicity, are forced to resign at one instant their life and loathing contentment of less continuance than the pains in love seam grievous to the mind that hath the gift to pass them over by reason. And like as a vehement and inward grief of the mind (proceeding by the malice of a sinister fortune,) is of such force, to close the poares and couduictes of the vital parts of man, that cancellinge the commission of life, the soul departs leaving the body without sense, like power I say hath the vehemency of semblable gladness, which occupienge all the parts with a general joy (exceeding the strength of nature) makes the mind insufficent of force to withstand so great a passion, whereby striking the sail of life, the body is seen to vanish as the candle lacking wax or weak or other matter assisting the flame which giveth light to the beholders, whereof we have diverse authorities in the histories of antiquity, as one of the daughters in law to the high priest Helye who hearing of the death of her husband & the taking of the ark of the lord ended her life with the dolorous reapport: the like happening unto her father in law for the overthrow of the children of Israel by the infidels and uncircumcised: in like sort we have confirmation in diverse profane discourses of such as have yielded the ghost in a trance of unreasonable joy and lawghiuge, as Dyagore Rhodiotto, & the philosopher Chilon, who upon the news that their children had won the prize at the plays at Olympus embraced their happy fortune with such exceeding gladness, that upon the place and present they yielded again their term of borrowed years, also a foolish Roman woman hearing of the death of her son in a battle fought against th'enemy, digested it with great constancy, but seeing his safe return from the field contrary to her expectation and former news she was so assailed with superfluity of gladness that in place to congratulate his delivery from the peril of war she died in embracing him as of a passion of dismeasured contentment, which argueth sufficiently the folly of them that in any degree bestow either joy or sorrow so near their heart, that besides the destruction of the body they become thunnatural morderers of their own souls wherein with what enamel so ever they seek to gild & colour such vices yet can they not be excused of an humour of madness proceeding of a vain brain exposing fruits according to the spirit or guide the possesseth them, neither is there any commendation at all due unto such as thorough ympacience give end to their life by despair, with what title or sorname of constancy the fond philosophers of old time do baptize those actions of mere fury & frenecy, whereof as the miserable end of these. two lovers yields sufficient testimony dying both in one hour of diverse accidents the one of a dismeasured joy the other of a passion of desperatte sorrow, so because the discourse is of undoubted troth I wish it might move credit to the reador and council to all men to eschew the like inconuensence derived of semblable occasion.  
THE LONG AND Loyal Love between Lyvyo and Camylla together with their lamentable death, the one dying of a passion of joy the first night he embraced his mistress in bed, the other passed also the same way as overcome with present sorrow for the death of him whom she loved no less than herself. ❧ ⸫  
AT such time as ALEXANDER the sixth surnamed BORGIA supplied the papistical seat at rome, dwelled in SYSENNA a young gentleman called LYVYO with his sister CORNELIA, near unto whom was the house of a knight bearing the name of RENALDO, having a son called CLAWDIO with a daughter CAMYLLA, which two young dame sells, by reason of neighborehead and continual norryture together during their infancy, retained a league of such mutual famylyaritie and conversation, that their socyetye with often intercourse together seamed no less then if nature had made them the children of one father, wherein as R●NALDO and his wife rejoiced not a little on the behalf of their daughter, for that CORNELIA was accounted to exceed the rest of young Ladies in honest behaviour and gifts of virtue: So if it had not been for a froward disposition in CLAWDIO, (who grudged without cause the company of LYVYO) this conversation and haunt of the girls had seamed of easier continuance: Albeit as his presence gave often impediment to their meeting, so his absence restored their interview, in such sort, as he was no sooner departed to perform his father's affairs at Rome or else where, but his sister forgot not to visit her dear CORNELIA, passing their petty follies and recreations of honest delight most commonly at the lodging of LYVYO, for that there was neither awe of father nor other authority to control their exercise, which for the most part was every after none to dress fine banquetes, striving to exceed one an other in curiosity and cunning with a thousand other conceits and merry chat of housewifry, which seamed of no less pleasure to them, than the pomppe of wanton delights wherewith princes and other great Ladies are respected, served & honoured, and some time courted by a crew of veneryan & carpet knights with divers ymportunyties and unseemly requests of love, who as he is 
love is an humour of infection derived of the corrupt parts in ourselves  an humour of infection derived of the corrupt parts in our selves and yet common to us all by nature, so is he chief furthered in thexecution of his evil, by an usual frequentation and hawnte of parties whereof may be noted a most familiar experience in this LYVIO, who during the practice of the two girls, took such view of the beauty and behaviour of CAMILLA (seeing her only go, and come to the chamber of his sister,) that he began to sipp of the Cup of affection no less than DIDO, kissing CUPID under the figure & semblance of the little ASCANIUS son to the valiant AENEAS neither could he be so constant to repulse this first apprehension but (maugre his heart) he yielded to the summons of his affection and at the first assault surrendered the fortress, to him that offered the war, who at the first entry made himself lord over 
love.  the free parts of this prisoner, & rampired himself so stronly within thinterior of his mind, that he was not only in one instant the governor of his thoughts, but also directing his whole doings by the dial of his discretion, fed him only with the unsavoury jewice of torment and continual passion, in such sort as not knowing whether he should encounter a return of reciprocal glee, he seamed to love upon credytte taking pleasure in interteyning his uncertain thoughts and vain delight of his flattering fancy, where in he had had some reason if the conference of CACAMILLA had kindled the coals of this affection in his mind for that as I have said frequentation breedeth first the desire, so words have force to further theffect of diverse things 
Words have force to further the effect of any thing  which otherways we cold never bring to pass or if he had been answered with a SYMPATHIA or equality of friendship by her on whose behalf he committed such fond idolatry, but what? when a man hath once set a broach the humour of his folly, he accounts it a great simplicity to desist afore he have performed every effect and suggestion of the blind guide that governeth his unruly will, for this young Pigeon of the first plume, hatching in the secret of his mind that, which he durst not discover, took singler pleasure in the repetytion of the delight which he desired, imagining that CAMILLA had cropped of the same herb whereof he had swallowed, both the leaf and root, and that she was no less zealous, on his behalf, than he the slave forced and enchanted by the virtue of her glistering beauty, wherein as desert and solitary soils be harbours most convenient 
Desert soils be harbours meet for solitary persons  for such as be occupied with passion, so he began by little and little to disclaim all company and places of assembly, and accounted his greatest felicity to discourse with his thoughts in the open & barren fields, where only the air did witness his dolor and the birds partakers of his hollow sighs, wherein walking one day (among the rest) a long a Copies or Grove of short wode nourished by the moisture of two or three pleasant channels, distilling from certain Rocks builded by nature upon the height of the mountains, which favoured his doleful complaint with an ECHO of semblable dole, he exposed an effect of his passion in these sorrowful terms what angry doom of the gods or sinyster permission of the fates is this (saith he) which depriving 
The complaint of Lyvyo.  my heart of his ancient liberty hath made a transport of my thoughts upon th'image of a beauty that resemblethe the clearness of the heavens, and eclipsethe, what soever is perfect or fair upon earth? from whence proceeds this new authority which commanndinge the strongest part in me, seemeth to force a desire to wish that whereof mine eyes have already given judgement touching the beauty of th'only mistress of my thoughts? what sudden alteration is this to transform my liberty into a servile thraldom, and yet of more delight and contentment then if I were pronounced thonly sovereign and Lord of the whole patrimony? Alas I think thaccident exceeding the compass or computation of nature, ympartes his power & title with the celestial authorities above, for mine eyes do daily feed upon the presence of CAMYLLA andene ountreth a continual view of her company, but the true effect of that which is perfect under the corporal vail can not be discerned but by figure & force of imagination, the which ravishing my senses hath made me the slave of her, who living without subjection or touch of passion, may peradventure convert the SYMPTOMS of my present grief into a conceit of little or no regard, with adisdayne of th'offer of my affection. To what end should I endeavour to gather the fruit, when the leaves will grant me no favour, or who will bend his devotion toward the shrine, if the saint close the gates of compassion against him: in like sort what pleasure have I to embrace a shadow when the body disdaineth my homage and offer of service: whiles there be a felicity in the life of the CHAMELEON, living with the breath or air of the Skies, for in fearing 
The Chameleon is nourished by the breath of the air.  to discover my grief, I have cause to despair of the remedy, and in feeding only upon vain and uncertain imaginations, I am to expect no other contentment but such as distilleth from the fountain of such simple favours, that now I find them the happiest kind of creatures to whom nature hath ymparted such rude shape and gross understanding, that they cannot in any sort receive thimpressions of love, where we alas that are derived of a more delicate mould and enjoined to a generosity of spirit above the rest are barred the bevefyt of all felicity in admitting as a principal pleasure the thing which torments us more mortally then if we were persecuted with all thafflictions of the world. Herein appears the folly and want of discretion in man doatinge upon the vanities and passions which of himself he plants in himself, without foreseeing how unable he is to restore his quiet after he be once attainted with the humour of such corruption. But what? may any one man be assisted with special privilege in that which nature hath made common to us all, I mean is it in the power of any to procure dispense from the danger of love, or stay the coals kindled in our entrails to burst into blaze or open flame? no no, for of a million that have fallen into the snares and perils of affection, I have not known any one that hath disposed of himself and thoughts, other ways then according to the discretion of him that seeks to mortify our quiet and triumph in the seruilitye of us wretches, yet for my part seeing there is no evil in embracing things that be fair, for that (according to thorator) the fair and good are so conjoined together that the one 
Cicero  glorifyenge in the other are confirmed both with equal estimation, why should I not pursue the love of my dear CAMILLA, whose exterior regards argue a greater virtue then to refuse the offer of my simple and honest service, supported with an intent of unfeigned loyalty so long as nature shall assist me with one moment of time in this world. But alas what reason hath she to grant to that which I dare not demand, or how should she satisfy my request, being altogether ignorant of my meaning, and saying by conceylinge my desire, my grief is grown to an agravation of torment, why stay I to disclose the cause, to the end I may either receive the sovereign CATAPLAME for my sore, or else the last and fatal syroppe, which may send me to complain mine evil in the other world: wherein as he made here his plat to communicate his love with his mistress, so the very presence of CAMILLA & fear to offend her, took away th'effect of that resolution, converlinge his complot into a mystery of some dream or vision invisible, whereby what with the increase of his passion and fear to bewray thoccasion, his grief grew to a disease presenting arguments of debility and diminution of strength with lose of ancient colour in his face so far forth, that he seamed not the same LYVIO which erst was so welcome into all companies, no less for his grace and perfection of nature, than his gift of pleasant discourse, seeing that now in so short a time he is so transposed into the habit and disposition of a malencolike and solitary harmit, that there appeared no less impossibility to have him assist any assembly according to the commendable custom of nobility or youth of gentle discente, throw all the franchises in ITALY, then to mortify in one instant the fury of his solitary passion, in such sort that the young Ladies and gentlewomen companions to his sister, began to deskande of his coy and religious trade of life, some of them (accusing him of foolish disdain), noted a sort of savage and hagarde disposition, and some seeing as far into his disease as the phizition into his water, referred the cause of this sudden change to the mortal and inevitable wounds of the cruel son of the fair CYPRIS, wherewith CORNELIA, troubled without measure that the alteration of her brother was the only wonder of the multitude, grieving no less for her part, than the rest seamed amazed, accosted him one mourning in a close arbore or alley of his gardin where he was recording his amorous conceits, and disposed herself tunderstand the cause under these terms. I hope sayeth she my present coming (exceeding my 
Cornelya to her brother.  ordinary custom) will not move you to conceits of presumption against me, chief for that I desire to communicate with you in that which yourself ought to disclose to such as are dear unto you, to th'end that if the mean to restore you consist in strangers, the remedy may follow with expedition, but if a slight slave may cure a slender sore & that your grief is of no other consequence than a passion of imaginations, why do you not take up the vain that feeds the humour of such fond conceits, & of yourself dismiss the dark clouds of your troubled fancy. For I assure you the shame which I have on the behalf of your doing is nothing inferior to the pangs you feel, chief for that your solenme trade of life ringing in mine cares by a general reaporte of all men, makes me not only refuse diverse assemblies which I ought to visit, but also loath the company of my dear companions, who forget not to reproach me with imputation of our change, protesting unto you that if you confirm it with any longer time I will also assist your solitary trade, and keep myself so recluse, that in forbearing to visit my friends abroad, I will also forbid thaccesss of any at home: for what delit do I find in any company when all degrees salute me with your desolate order of living, and judge you what pleasure I take that erst did glory with the best, in the behaviour of my brother most welcome above all men to every estate, & now to hear you loaden with titles & surnames of proud, disdainful, full of fa●●ies with a thousand other impositions of like reproach. Wherefore for end if there remain in you any care of your own estimation, or respect to content me, I beseech you eftsoons stick not with me in so small a suit as the discovery of the cause and circumstance of your annoy, assuring you for my part by the virtue of our parents decessed that my life shall refuse no peril to remove your distress, & that with no less good will, than I desire with my heart a speedy conversion of your malencolike countenance into regards of ancient joy, imparting by that means an universal gladness to all your friends who are driven to participate with you in sorrow till they see a restoration of your former quiet, wherewith LYVIO taking th'advantage of thaffected zeal of his sister, who gave him assurance of her promiss in that which he durst not demand, knew not at the first what reply to prefer, but that it was not against nature for a man to flit from happy life to heavy state, 
The answer of Cornelyo to his sister.  neither ought it (saith he) to seam a wonder to the people, when we expose alteration of complexion, for such are equal to angels or semblable to the brutal sort with out sense, that are privileged from passion, or can keep so temperate a mean in receiving and digesting thaccidents of this world, which according th'ocurrence and evenem entes of times, do expose arguments of mirth or sorrow 
Ho beareth his misery best that hideth it most.  in the faces of them whom they possess, and albeit I confess unto you, that as he bears his misery best that hides it most, so such are worthy to have the name of perfect men, who enconteringe their disaster with a constant magnanimity of mind, do dissimule their grief afore the world, to th'end they only may give remedy to that which is common to none but themselves, wherein for my part I could never enjoy a participation of such perfection, neither is thoccasion of my extremity so easily covered but the drooping regards in my face are ready to make declaration of my torment, besides I have no great cause of shame of mine evil, considering the same imports an enterprise of noble consequence, albeit I make some conscience to discover the principal cause. But considering the roundness of your offer, and how boldly one of us may participate with an other I am content to impart with you the circumstance of my passion, wherein as you have charged me with change and alteration of countenance, debility and diminution of the strongest parts in me, with a savage and hagarde order of living as you have termed it, so in understanding the cause, I hope you wylexcuse me of effects of other folly than such as nature hath enjoined in generalty to all men, and to cut of your suspense and absolve your troubled mind of all doubt, you shall understand that the force of love (depriving mine anciently berty) hath also transposed my former quiet & solace of mind, into these mourning and pining regards which you note in me, neither can I be restored to the state which you wish without the assurance of that which I desire, which is the good will of her to whom love hath be given so large power over me. And as every medicine is measured by the greatness of the disease, and the light hurt is easily healed without trying the exquisite skill of the Physician, so my grief being grounded upon great consequence, doth not only assail me withal sorts of passions and pangs of sorrow, but also denieth to brook the operation of other remedy but such as is distilled from the earbe that first infected me, it is not the offer of small harms, that makes me so hurtful to myself and hateful to my friends, nor the subject of trifling annoy that stirs up these sighs and solitary disposition in me, it is alas for beauty her self that I suffer, eye the very pattern and goddess of all perfection, hath made me so forgetful of myself that I seam a stranger to my dear friends, neither have I other power of myself, than such as is imparted unto me by her whose picture I carry so lively in my mind: CORNELIA altogether ignorant in the force of affection, and by reason of the greens of her years void of experience in turning over the volumes of love, could not but smile for the first at they argon or discourse of her brother, albeit noting his perplexity, she let fall also certain tears on the behalf of his desolate state, and saying him wholly converted into contemplation of a vision, judged it an effect of pity to give aid to his distress, whereupon she desired eftsoons in merry sort to know the goddess of his de● otions, to the end (saith she) that I may yield her honour for your sake, and seeing you dare not present her your request, I may enter into the office of an intercessor, and pray for your delivery, neither need you doubt to disclose her to me, nor despair of my diligence and ready endeavour to do you good, unless you be so far spent with jealous passion that you fear, I will rausshe her from you, or prevent the desire of your pleasure in being in love with her myself, you abuse the loyalty of my meaning, and I do wrong to exact so far upon rour secret imagination: I am content saith he you I est candtake pleasure in the eusll which I suffer, so that you will perform the effect of your promiss, which you may the rather accomplish by the credit you have with her who is the only cause of my torment, whereof after she had given him a second assurance by oath and protestation of faith, he told her (not without a fresh supply of sorrow) that it was CAMILLA to whom his liberty was captile, and in the balance of whose compassion weighed indifferently, the licence of longer life, or sentence definitive of present death, desiring her for end to make her privy to the pain he endured, and with all to procure speedy moderation of his grief, or else to award the writ of fatal summons to him that is not able to feed the vain of life without the food of her special favour: The girl delighting still in the amorous discourse of her brother, willed him to take heart at grass and making exchange of his solytarle order to a wake out of his dream of dompes and revoke his disposition of ancient cheerfulness, least his mistress loathing his thine and wearish looks be afraid to grant love to a Stone or suffer herself to be embraced by one, in who me is neither present delight nor likelihod of future pleasure. Ah sister saith he how your liberty of tongue argueth your small experience in cases of love, whose delights consist in tears, sighs, and dolorous complaints, wherein as such as be most constant of all, make declaration also of effect of such loyalty in taking pleasure to record their sorrow, with tunes of lamentable note, so in exposing the contrary, we discover at unwares the slender affection we bear to the thing we desire, and for my part I feel no less pleasure by imagination, when I see with the eyes of my mind the beauty and other perfections of my dear CAMILLA, than you which never tasted of the apprehension of this free constraint which the destiny of love hath appointed to attend upon me: I am glad saith she to be warned in this sort to eschew the like evil in myself, and sorry to note the experience of so great an inconvenience in you, but seeing you are so surely rampired in your folly, that th'offer of persuasion is hateful unto you, I am content you feed upon such ease as you find, and take pleasure in the simple contemplation of the image of your Saint, for, for my part, I had rather have an hour of rest, disposing myself to sleep assoon as my head & the pillow be met, then lie with mine arms of cross regarding the course of the stars, and build castles in the air, or be troubled in dreaming of the dissolution of the world, and then to baptize such impediments and enemies of rest by the name of the pleasures of loyal lovers, with addition that it is a peculiar glory given them from above by the invisible goddess, it is a poor repast God knoweth for an empty stomach to feed only of wishes, and satisfy his thirst with drinking of an empty cup, or restore heat to the benumbed parts by a cold chimney, or satisfy the desieringe mind with simple contemplations, wherewith, she retired with intent to try the next day, whether CAMYLLA had any vain that stretched to satisfy the desire of her brother, whom she left with more argument or consolation then afore, by reason of the hope he reapposed in her diligence. Here was a double offence in LIVIO both to force his sister to an enterprise indecent for her honour and age, and also to prefer her to be the DARIOLETTA of his love, opening (as it were) the way of voluptuous pleasure to all youth that which is to much inclined that way by the corruption of our own nature, without that we need thassistance of art to supply our defaults in so unhonest an ercercise, albeit our blindness is so great in things of such folly, that (in respecting only the present) we never fear the fall of future inconvenience, till being served with the writ of present penance 
It is necessary to know the impersectious of the world.  we find to little leisure to repent so great offences, and albeit (according to Aristotle) it is necessary to be privy to thimperfevions in the world and to know some time wherein we offerde, yet gives he this council with all that, we convert the experience of such sinister encounters, to a peculiar defence of ourselves against th'assaults of semblable accidents, and not to use it as an authority or privilege to justify our wickedness or consume our time in the ymitation of evil, wherein as the good men are defended by their virtue, so let the worse sort be ware by so many millions of examples as our unhappy age at this present is able to furnish in the like affairs. And so to our history, the morrow after this discourse between the dolorous LYVIO and his sister, it chanced that the daughter of RENALDO came all alone to see her companion CORNELIA, who albeit was sufficiently mindful of her promiss, yet was she furthered with a fit occasion by CAMYLLA, for that after certain little devices between them she asked the cause of the sudden change and alteration in her brother, & why he was no more seen to assist the honest assemblies in mask or other sort, to whom CORNELIA answered, that as she was of equal desire to know thoccasion of his solitary absence, so grieving above the rest with his pining estate, I have asked (saith she) the cause of his grief: which with the circumstance and effect of all his annoy proceeds from you (my dear friend and companion,) as one in whom is nourished the care and travail of mind of my sorrowful brother. How is it possible saith the simple CAMILLA that I should work him any woe, seeing hitherunto I have been no less careful of his well doing, then curious of mine own health, neither have I said or done the thing (I am sewer) wherein was any point of evil meaning towards him, unless he make construction of my simple and honest zeal, like as also I would be sorry to be the author of his miscontentement any way: the present passion of my brother saith CORNELIA is derived of a contrary cause, for the to much delight and pleasure he hath taken in seeing you, hath brought him to the brink of this bane, and yet as they write of the SCORPION he hopeth to draw the remedy from her that hath given him the wound. If you make not a more plain exposition of your dark text, sayeth CAMILLA I shall hardly read the mystery of your readle, for as yet I understand nothing but high duche: eye mary sayeth tother and therein consisteth the chiefest cause of my grief, for if the peculiar affliction of my brother were common also to you, or that you enjoyed but a simple participation of his annoy, you should not only understand that which I am driven to unfold, but be as ready to give the remedy, as he hath reason in the mean while to suffer the grief, or I ashamed to be the messenger. Do away this philosophy my dearefrende (saith CAMILLA and cut of at last my doubtful suspense touching your meaning, for if th'uttermost of that which is in me may stand him in stead, I will either perform the full of your demand, or at least yield you such reason to the contrary, that you shallbe void of just cause to complain of mine answer. Here CORNELIA told her that thoriginal of her brothers evil proceeded of a wonderful vehemency of love he bore to her, with addition that if she yielded him not the higher of his zeal with a counterchaunge of affection, she should see in short time the end of his life no less desperately, then in secret sorrow he consumeth the best of his age in the loyal servitude he hath already vowed on her behalf, and for my part sayeth she (not without some tears) as the violence of his passion (only known unto me) hath forced me to stand here thunseamely solycitor of his cause, so if it be a virtue to expose compassion upon th'afflicted, let the respect of my distress stir up an increase of pity in you to aid the desolation of my careful brother: behold (my CAMILLA) the circumstance of my present extremity, and imagine that with the loss of my brother dekaieth the only prop and pillar of my life, and yet (simple girl that I am boide of experience in such affairs lo here I am constrained to build requests no less inconvenient to my estate, then unseamelye for my years, albeit for my purgation to wardesyou, I hope the law of nature and love of the sister to wards her brother will excuse this diligence and endeavour which I use to preserve the life of him whom I hold no less dear than the tenderest part of mine eye, wherewith CAMILLA not without arguments of some little feminine anger staid her further discourse with this answer: who would have thought sayeth she that a gentlewoman of your quality and calling would have exceeded the limits of her estimation so far, as for the respect of the foolish appetit of a young man to discharge the part of a shameless messenger in a case no less unworthy for your honour, then contrary to me to whom thembassage is dressed? art thou so credulus in the constancy of men (mine own CORNELIA) that thou wilt repose good earnest in that wherein they take pleasure to dissemble? or art thou of opinion that as often as the jollity of frail youth do prefer sighs, and trances with other dolorous regards painted by dissymuled policy in the forefront of their faces, that it is true love that possesseth 
〈◊〉 the true messengers of the dolor of the heart.  them, or honest desire that moveth their dole? nothing less, for albeit tears for the most part are the true messengers of the dolour of the heart, and ought chiefly to move compassion, yet in cases of love they be but suborned signs and declarations of wanton desire, and for that cause ought not to receive other meed, thenne their meaning doth merit, saying withal that the desirous mint grounds his pretence most commonly upon the thing which virtue can not brook, and reason denieth to grant. And admit it be a folly peculiar to many, and a passion ymparted to all men by nature to follow, thinstinct of love, what grudge of conscience I pray you is it to a maid to suffer her vain lover to pine upon creaditte, so that she stand so surely upon the guard of her chastity, that she be not seduced with his flattering charms? it is not in our power to let them to love: only we ought to be careful of our honour, and shone th'infection least we become unhappy afore the time, besides how greatly should we abuse our duty and obedience towards our parents in passing a grant of our good will without their consent, which only ought to direct us in any sort whatsoever. No, no, let them alment and measure their mourning at what interest they think good, the same shall not stay the course of my sleep, neither shall their tears eclipse the lest moment of my pleasure & contentment, for when all is said, we ought to construe the meaning of these feigned sorrows to none other end, but as privy baits to entangle the simple and delicate youth of us women, for when we ymparte compassion to their doleful alarums, and makes them the masters of their desires, God knoweth the reward we find, and how soon they laugh at our fragility, and taking pleasure to see us in passion, do leave us poor wretches to the higher of our folly, So if LYVIO have yinagyned a bargain of love, let him make much of his own conceit, and embrace the shadow of his fancy, for, for my part it shall suffice me to be armed with resistance and that I am void of desire to encownter him or any other in that sort, wherewith contenting myself with the honest amity between you & me (my dear CORNELIA) I conjure you by the virtue of the same, to give over the pursuit of this quest, seeing that (besides the loss of time and slender profit you are like to reap of your travail) you shall also lose a companion of me with small commendation to yourself, in courting the gests that hawnte your house with requests of such unseemly effect: which last resolution stuck greatly on the stomach of CORNELIA, for that the disdainful repulse of her companion argued a despair hereafter to ease the distresses of her brother but chiefly she grieved in that CAMYLLA seamed to enter into synister conceits against her, which, with an honest shame of that which was already passed her mouth and fear any more to offend that way, together with her ignorance in the ordinary replies of such as have taken degrees in the school of love, made her prefer her excuse in simple sort with promise hereafter to disclaim th'enterprise, and blaming wholly thymportunytie of her brother desired notwithstanding her CAMILLA, not to discontynue her custom of repair to her lodging, whereunto she condescended and retired to the palace of her father leaving CORNELIA in disputation with herself what answer to forge to her desolate brother, who assoon as he understood of the retire of his mistress, addressed him to his sister, whom because he saw in the attire of sorrow I mean her eyes bathed in the tears of her late repulse, he gave judgement ymediatlie upon the case with firm prerswation that CAMILLA did not only deny his request, but also misliked with the messenger in performing her promise, the force of which conceits drove him into a passion of alterations and change of colour, not without some argument of mortal peril to his person, afore he demanded to hear the answer, which being not unmarked of the girl, she prevented th'offer of further danger, with a contrary of that which CAMILLA told her, and for fear of further inconvenience by his sudden trance declared unto him, that albeit his mistress was not so quick of conset, as hisextremitie required, yet her heart was not so hard frozen, but there were means to thaw it, neither was her answer without hope, although at the first she seamed to object the disloyalety and ordinary fiction of men, willing him for the rest to abandon despair, and arming himself with courage, to dysmisse his solytarie and savage order of life, wherein for a more increase of uncertain consolation she told him that albeit it was as yet but the foxemone, and that he had no reason to advance himself so far as to crave mutual conference, yet he need not forbear, to write to her, and that with the consent of time and place she would deliver the letter, with inde vor to bring her last resolution, where with albeit she seamed only to feed the time with intent to make him discontynue his fancies, attempting notwithstanding a wonderful ympossibilitie for that he was so stalled in his amarus gulf, that all the pilottes belonging to the infinite galies of VENICE lacked force to hale him out, yet seamed she thereby to breath an air of fresh comfort into all the parts of her languishing brother, who liking her advise determined to put her council in execution, whereupon as one of superficial skill in writing thytalyan verse, he composed a certain ELEGY containing the some of his sorrow and substance of his request, whereof because I have not the true copy, I leave it to the judgement of them that have red it, but thus much I presume of his sorrow, that he did not end his epistle with out an infynitie of tears, ympartinge the wateris dew of the same on diverse parts of the paper, to th'end the same might argue to his Lady the dolor of his passion that governed him during the time of that contemplation, which approved sufficiently his folly with declaration how well they be beguenned that be coyffed with a night cap of such stoofe as wrapped the empty head of our LYVYO who failed not the next day to deliver his tragical letter to his sister with great charge of expedition in presenting it to his mistress. (CORNELIA here was double passioned, both to see her brother persever in his folly, without intermission of torment; and also that she was forced to perform a second embassage to her, whose company and friendship she was sewer to abandon for ever, if she added new terms to her former request, but if she had been aswell seen in the subtleties of love, as she seamed most simple in experience in that art, she would have considered, that what angry clouds soever appear in the face of women, yet take they a singular pleasure to be courted, and are not so angry in deed as their countenance doth argue, when their servants do visit them with letters of humility. And differringe in this sort certain days the delivery of the letter, fearing that which happened, that if CAMILLA refused to perform theffect, the danger of her. brother cold be no less, than either present death by despair, or at the least to enter in some mortal sickness, yet being pressed with his continual ymportunyties, the poor girl determined to try she ford and sound eftsoons the heart of CAMILLA who (as it chanced) came the same after none to see CORNELIA, where after they had made an experience of their skill in a banquet of curious confections, CORNELIA not unmindful of the disease of her brother, and seeing th'offer of opportunity for that the place was void of impediment of company saving the two girls, drew the letter out of her pocket and with a smilinge regard, intermeddled with honest shame, gave it to CAMILLA, desiring her to read it, and judge what be the follies of lovers, CAMILLA imagining by and by from what part thembassage was sent, told her in sort of pleasant anger that as she was not ignorant in the meaning of that mystery and that if it were not more for the respect of the bringer, than disier to content him that sent it, and that she was passed the fear of any charm contained in the same, she would commit it to a thousand morsels in her presence, So if the reading brought cause of miscontentment, she gave her assurance to perform th'uttermost of her former promiss. CORNELIA alleged ignorance in the matter, only saith she I can thus far assure you that I have not in charge to present you with letter or message from any man, for as I found it this morning upon the steers going out of my chamber, so I hope you will neither enjoin me blame nor penance for the salt wherein mine ynnocencye is suficiente to clear me. Well well sayeth CAMILLA, I will not stick to give you the reading of these amarus lives arguing as small pleasure to him that writ them, as evil received of me to whom they are dressed, wherewith she opened the pacquett and red the roll from ●hone end to tother, wherein albeit she discovered in her fance a singler pleasure beginning even now to feel the motions of love with in her tender breast, and taste of the appetit of a desire which she durst not satisfy, yet using her accustomed wisdom in conceylinge that she desired most, she covered the suspicion of affection with certain terms of reproché which she bestowed upon her simple companion in this sort: I find now sayeth she that my patience and facility in hearing your reaportes, do yield you to much favour in furtheringe your fond practice, which you need not go about to colour with other enamel than the complexion of your own nature, seeing, that she with whom you have to do, can spy a flee in the milk, and give judgement of th'intent of these baits with theffect of your meaning, desiring you (for preventing a further inconvenience in your brother to seek to cure his disease as you may, least in continuing his folly, he further a subversion of that which is the best part in him for he hath already of me asmuch as he may hope for with assurance, And for your part▪ as you seam to reappose neither religion nor virtue in promises, for that the last time, we wear in terms of these follies, you gave me assurance to discontinue th'enterprise, So it is I that am ready to give punishment to mine own indiscretion, and endure the penance of mine own rashness, in depriving me of the company wherein I took most pleasure and contentment, biding you far well till better occasions may restore our familiar visitations, wherewith she put no difference between doing and saying, fearing that if she had attended the reply of CORNELIA, she had been in danger to yield to the bargain, in opening her ears to wide to the persuasions of her companion, whom she left no less astonished, than herself traunsed and full of diverse imaginations, beginning even then to measure th'affection of ●IVIO, and give judgement of his loyalty by the continuation & vehemency of his passion, with absolute resolution (for all her dissymuled disdain) to change purpose and admit the offer of his friend ship, if she were eftsoons required by him or any in his be half, blaming her rashness in reprochinge his sister, and cruelty more then: convenient to her brother, who began even now to take possession of her thoughts, and make himself a secret mediator in his own cause, wherein surely may be noted in experience of the fragility and inconstant disposition of man, and specially in th'affairs of love, saying that she which erst detested every way to be partaker of such ympression, is now changed in a moment and brought to lay her head under the yoke of servile affection, making (as it were) a simple and plain table of her heart, to th'end to draw thereupon a form of thoughts and imaginations in diverse colours according to the direction of him that thus hath got the government of her liberty, with authority to dispose of her as he thinks good, And yet I cannot but allow her long delay, and judge her of great wisdom to suspend her consent till she had well considered of the matter, seeing the daily inconveniences happening to such as neither careful of their honour, nor curious of their quiet, do admit indescretly the bargain at the first offer, without knowing the merit of the persons, or examining the circum stancye of the future sequeile of their love, whereof are derived so many examples of a number of miserable men ending their lives by unhappy despair, whose wretchedness ought to warn us to delibrate at large afore we put in execution, and to use a reasonable mean in our doing, I mean not to ron headlong into the gulf of affection, least our danger be equal to the peril of the infortunate ACARESTRYANS who because they were disfaudred of their ladies, entered into such conceits of mortal grief, that when they would willingly have retired and been delivered, it was either impossible or at least very hard to give them remedy, to which crew of desperate lovers we may well add the desaster of this LIVIO who assured of thanswer of his Lady, as well by his sister, as also by the regards of disdain he noted in her farewell when she departed (whereof he was partaker by shrowdinge himself in a secret corner of the chamber during the perley of the two maids) fell ymedyatelye into so strange a sickness that aband oning at the first the desire of sleep, with the appetit of the stomach he left the phizitions at th'end of their wits: who being void of skill to cure his disease told his friends that if he would not receive compfort of himself, his life was in hazard, for that his evil proceeded only of passions and inward sorrow of the heart, wherein they had reason saying that the disease of love is contrary 
The disease of Love contrary to the disposition of other griefs.  to the disposition of all other griefs, for as there is no distress what extremity so ever it import but it may be either cured or qualefied by certain drogues and confections devised by art to compforte the stomach and restore the heart to a gladness, so the patient plunged in the passions of the mind, can neither broke th'assistance of Phizicke nor operation of herbs, only the presence or simple word of his mistress, hath more power over his evil, than all the mystical or artificial powders devised by the most expert phizitions that ever came out of th'university of PARIS or PADVA whereof th'experience appears in this LIVIO, who languishing every day from evil to worse, consumed by pecemeale with the force of his amorous fire, no less than the snow lying upon the side of a mountain yields and wastes with the heat of the son, which also forced such inward grief to his sorrowful sister together with despair of any mean to restore him for that CAMILLA discontinued her repair to vysitt her, that she yielded tribute to his passion with a disease of equal mortality imparting such alarums of dolor thorough all the parts of her body that she was constrained to keep her bead in a little cabynett joining to the lodging of LIVIO, who by the thinness of the wall (which only divided their chambers) was partaker of the least word that was spoken in the lodging of his sister, whose grievous groans forced by the violence of a burning fever gave such increase to the danger of LIVIO, that he was at point to yield to the last alaram of life, if the sickness of his sister had not brought the speedy remedy of his disease, for CAMILLA, astonished without measure that she neither met CORNELIA at the church, saw her at the gate nor window nor any assembly what soever, learned so much by inquisition that she was advertised of the mortal danger of LIVIO, together with thertremitye of his sister, who (if they were not rescued by great marvel) were at point to be shrined together at one instant in their fatal tomb. Here CAMYLLA, began to recant her ancient creweltye, for in ceasing any longer to dissimule her secret affection to her LIVIO, and the sorrow she suffered for thaf●●iction of his sister, she seamed to purify the wrong she had done to them both thorough a river of affected tears distilling by such abundance from her watery eyes, that she seamed at the point to visit the purgatory of tother world, to do penance for the two evils whereof she confessed herself to be th'only occasion, wherein after she had spent certainne hours in public complaint, whose dolour seamed of force to move the heavens to tears, and stay the course of the son feeling still an increase of passion by the vehemency of love: she was constrained to abandon the place, and perform the rest of her exclamation against her cruelty all alone in her chamber with this terms. What fury or force infernal is this which shaking the fortress and most constant part in me hath made me in one moment, yield to that wherein I have been hitherto invincible? is it possible alas, that, that which I judged a dissembled passion in this 
The complaint of Camylla.  infortunate Gentleman should torn to a true effect of undoubted faith confirmed by the power of that which we call love in the hearts of men? why have not I considered, that the horse which is of noble courage willbe governed by the shadow of a Rod, where the dull beast is scarcely stirred with the princking of the spurs, the fearful dog doth also bark more than bite, and deepest rivers do run with least noise, so nature hath imparted a peculiar instinct to the noble mind not only to be more delicate in diet, and ardante in affection, but also to embrace the object of their fancy with a more vehemency of desite and passion, than the rest of the rude and gross sort, who are not worthy to be partakers of the mysteries in true love: Ah LIVIO LIVIO how do I feel a motion of that which I can not term other ways, than a free force without constraint, and a dolour without cause of complaint? for I am possessed with an evil wherein I take pleasure; and feels an experience of a pain without the which I think the life of man can hardly be sustained, and yet my mind wavereth in such dreadful conceits, that I fear to make declaration of that which both law of love and duty of my conscience binds me to expose for the solace and relief of thy present affliction? but alas the renown of mine honest name is so dear unto me that I wish rather to embrace the extreme pangs of death, then give one simple occasion of discredit to mine ancient virtue, for that as man's wisdom is able to supply the losses of all other things so it is not only unfurnished of means to restore the forfeit of our honesty, but also void of art to cover the salt of so great an offence, but is it a just imputation or worthy salt, when in our business we respect virtue, and concludes the end of our enterprise with an honest meaning? is it not a deed of compassion to give soccours to him that stands in water up to the throat, and at the point to perish for want of help, what can we do loesses then be careful to recover him who offereth his life in the sacrifice of affection for our sakes? who can justly term our doings by the title of offence, when we yield a mutual amity to him that pursueth our goodwill with a respect and intent of lawful marriage, no, no, CORNELIA thowe shalt not lose thy brother, nor I the company of so dear a friend for lack to answer in reciprocal will to him who with the peril of his life conceiles the argument of his sorrow, Ah most constant & loyal LYVIO, seeing the reputation of mine honour denieth me accesses and conference with thee, and the shame doth close my mouth from discovering the secret of my good meaning towards thee, take courage, & discharge thou th'office of a bold solicitor to her that is no less ready to grant, than thou meritorious to have, and despoiled already of all hagarde cruelty, is not only priest to reknowledge the honour which thou offreste me, but also wholly framed to the POSTEY and appetit of thy will, and now do I feel, that against the force and power of love, the strongest resistance is to weak, neither is the whole world of sufficient strength to put to utterance the soldiers whom he preferreth in the feylde, whereof who is a more late experience then myself, who erst defyinge his malice, am now to attend upon the chariott of his triumph and yield me prisoner to him, who being hither unto my bondman, hath now made me the slave of his importunate requests. And saying the sentence is already paste, and confirmed by the voice of my destymes, why do I conceal my passion in the midst of a thousand flames which torments me within, or why do I dissemble that, I desire most, or retire mine eyes from the view wherein they chiefly delight? why do my feet stay to transport this body to the place, where the heart hath already taken possession, wherewith she determined the speedy consolation of LYVIO, with no other drogue or confection, than a free consent of her love, if the same were eftsoons demanded, and there upon collored her going to his loging to see CORNELIA, whom as she found in her bed with more arguments of death than appearance of life, by reason of a general weakness which had mortified the whole strength of her body, so she had not spent in any words in the consolation of her companion, but LIVIO (smelling as it were) the presence of his lady asked his sister who was with her, who answered that only CAMYLLA kept her company, wherewith forcing a supply of courage in his faint heart, with intent to know the final areste of his life or death, began to plead with his absent mistress in this sort. If there be any hope in extremetye, or expectation of help in mortal distress, it is time now (good 
Livio at the point of death speaketh to his master's.  madam) to convert your Ancient cruelty into an humour of compassion: both to defend yourself from thimputation of a tyrant, and my life from a wretched end of miserable despair: cease hensfurthe to dissimule th'uttermost of your rigour, or drop of present grace, seeing that both the one and the other hath indifferent power to relieve my distress either by death in denying me your favour, or continuance of longer life by imparting your special grace: come cruel master's and see thy unfortunate LIVIO without heart, hope, or argument of longer breath, if by a promiss of thy good will, thou breath not an air of fresh consolation and by the sommaunce of thy word revoke my dying mind from this tomb of miserable despair where in I feel myself so tormented with th'officers of death, that nature ceasing to supply my weary parts with force, I find an impossibility in my tongue to obey any longer the desires of my heart, wherewith his breath began to draw short staying the course of further speech, if not that in entering into his fatal trance he exposed certain doleful groans, which caused both the young Ladies to Run in haste to the succour of the patiented, whom they found striving with thextremity of his last pang, albeit not without some little perye of breath, which he seamed to reserve with great difficulty, whereupon CAMYLLA saying a proof of his constancy even to the last moment, and having but one mean to relieve his trance, made no conscience to let fall her rosy and courrall lips upon the mortified mouth of her dying LIVIO who received such present consolation by this offer of favour unlooked for, that the force of nature and vital strength ready to departed out of every vain of his body retired to their ancient places, wherewith he using the benefytt of his fortune, forgatt not to embrace his Lady, with an infinite of kisses, whereof she restored him a double interest, albeit because he should make no great proffytt of this sudden courtesy, and to prevent with all a suspicion of light behaviour in herself, she used her accustomed wisdom, entering into familiar conference in this sort. I hope SEIGNEUR LIVIO you will not convert this compassion which I have used in the rappeale of your mortal farewell into any sinister opinion of the diminution of thintegrity of CAMILLA who as long as she liveth will so stand upon the guard of her honour and honest renown, that no degree shall have just cause to reprehend the least favour she extends to any man, in which conceit, I am also content to impart a credit to your loyalty, persuading the same to be without fiction whereof I am no less glade, than I hope the love which you bear me is chaste and of honest intent, respecting an end of sincerity, for if I saw any lykelyhodd to the contrary and that a dyseordinat will did guide your desire, and were the cause of your passion, assure yourself I would make less conscience to commit me to the mercy of the most horrible torments in the world, eye and peril of present death, then to lease any part of that which makes me march without blushing amongst the beast of our country: in which respect with full persuasion of a sincere simplicity in your love, I can not but return you a semblable favour, with absolute assurance from this instant of such firm affection and zeal as any lady ought to impart to him who seeks her friendship in sort of honest and lawful marriage, neither shall it decay after th'effect of desire be performed nor dymynishe by any sinister accident until the fatal sequestration of our soul and body, whereof let us use wisdom in the conveyghe of such affairs as may be taken both in good and evil part, to th'end that the majesty of the highest being not offended, our honour fall not into the slander of the world wherein for a first charge to be committed to your diligence, and with all to prefer an assured effect of the vehemency of your affection towards me, dispose yourself to demand me of my Father whose consent you shall find me to confirm in such sort as yourself shall devise. Arm yourself then with compfort and retire to health, at the request of her, who taking no pleasure in solitary regards, wisheth you to reserve this precious flower of your youth for other exercises, then to waste with passions of desperation no less enemies to the strength of the body, then hurtful to the health of the soul, and saying besides, that in the recovery of you, consists the health of your sister suspend no longer the consolation of her and contentment of yourself and me, who in attending your expedition to procure the goodwill of my father, will dispose myself in the mean while to be thankful unto you any way wherein mine honour and honesty will justify my doing: which last words seamed of such operation in the traunsed mind of LIVIO, that discharged (as it were) of a perilous vision in a dream lifted up his eyes and hands towards heaven, yielding honour to the gods for his happy encounter, and kissing the white and delicate hand of his new mistress, he forgot not to give her such humble thanks as the greatness of his felicity required, which seeming to him to exceed the compass and power of fortune, judged it rather the virtue of a divine miracle then an effect mortal, for that in so sudden amoment he was acquitted of so perentory a danger, assuring her that assoon as health and strength of body would assist the desire of his mind, he would perform her commandment in demanding her father's consent, wherein he hoped to delay no long time, for that he felt a wonderful approach of health by the view of her presence in his late & last storm of affliction I would do no less (saith she) then yield you soccours in so great an extremity both to deliver myself out of pain in seeing you passioned, and also to qualify the grief of my dear companion your sister, to whom you are also bound in some sort to be thankful for my coming hither: For albeit my conscience summoned me to a compassion of your torment with desire to yield you the due higher and consideration of the honest love you bear me, yet the regard of mine honour denying me to visit you, seamed an impediment to th'effect of that, whereunto I was bound by so many dutiful merits, praying you for end to excuse that which is past, and pardon me for the present, in that I can not assist you with longer company, persuading thyself (my dear LYVIO) that although my body must supply an other place to colour the traffic of our love, and prevent suspicion, yet thou hasts made such a stealth of my heart that the same will not fail to keep the company in my absence: wherewith taking her leave with a chaste kiss, of her servant, and friendly farewell to CORNELIA, she retireth to her father's Palais leaving her lover well lightened of all his cares, saving of a necessary mean to sound the good will of the old REINALDO wherein notwithstanding he used such expedition of diligence, that afore himself could enjoy the benefit of perfect health, he procured certain ancient Gentlemen his near parents to perform his reqneste to thold nian, whom they solicited with such instance & in sort of marriage, that he admitted their offer, and confirmed the bargain with these words, that only LIVIO should be the first that should renounce the bale, albeit saith he because of th'infirmity of mine age, I use the consent of my son in all my affairs of importance, so I crave only your patience in the final conclusion of the marriage till his return from Rome, at which time only yourselves shall name the day of consommation: in this answer albeit appeared an impediment to the performance of the marriage, for that (as you have hard) CLAUDIO envy the state of LIVIO, which argued a difficulty in him to approve shallyance, yet CAMILLA understanding the resolution of both their parents, gave as sewer judgement of the marriage, as if it had been already published in the church, and thereupon began to enlarge her familiar hawnte and repairs to LIVIO whom if she embraced afore with earnest zeal, it was nothing in respect of the vehemency of her present affection, which also divided himself into such a SYMPATHIA and equality of love in them both, that it spread abroad by indifferent branches in both their hearts, like as the morning son in the east giveth by little and little continual increase to his beams comforting the creatures upon earth. And in this often enterviewe together, LYVIO, enjoying now his ancient health and dexterytie of body, being one day (amongst the rest) with his lady in the chamber of his sister took his lute and song a ditty which he had made of their reciprocal passion, with such contentment to his CAMILLA, that she desired him eftsoons to repaite it in semblable note, aswell for the delight of the tune, which he performed with a voice to her contentation, as also the subtle stile and fine convey of the matter, arguing a conclusion of that which they both wished with equal appitit, seeing that as their continual haunt and frequentation together, gave increase to their desire, so they were both of opinion, that love cold not bear the title of perfect affection, if th'effect of that which was indifferently wished of them both, did not make perfect the thing which hitherunto was debated but by words, other ways that which was passed between them, being but a naked love without effect, other then certain delicate kisses which served rather to kindle the coals of desire, then quench the flame already burning within their entrails seamed but a simple plat or plain table, which the cunning painter hath smoothed for the nonst to draw some image of exquisytt skille, wherein being overcharged with intolleration of desire, and finding thabode of CLAUDIO longer then they imagined, they passed unhappily a privy contract between shem selves, with erspectation to consomat the full of the matter with a due higher of the pains they endured indifferently in attending, an effect of their pleasure at the return of CLAUDIO from Rome. But here fortune began to present herself upon the stage, as one that willbe known to bear a swaighe in the good hap or infelicity of man, and us of such unconstant and malicious regard towards us, that when we think we be passed the fear of all peril, and trodden all desasters under our feet, it is then that we find least assurance in the things wherein we reapposed our chiefest pleasure, and in the turning of her weal is figured the alte ration of our wordly affairs. I mean by a conversion of things which erst seamed pleasant and delicate, into a taste ercedinge the bitterness of gall, in such sort, that often times we find death of more easy burden than we are able to bear the pangs which ordenarilye attend the flatteries of this uncertain FORTUNE, whom the poets and painters (not without cause have drawn in the picture of a blind woman standing upon a tickle stay of an unconstant globe or bowl representing thereby her fragility, and how blind lie she guides the things of the world, what authorities cold & infer to exclaim against her mobylitie, if it were not for the shortness of time and that I will not cloy your memory, with so tedious a discourse how many have we féene at the point to enjoy a monarkye, kingdom or siegneury, who when they least thought of commutation or change, have lost their honour, expulsed their estates, and at last ended their lives by a miserable death. Who have red the sixth. book of VALERIUS MAXIMUS may justify my opinion by th'example of QVINTUS SCIPIO a valiant captain and consul in Rome, who, long time having fortune at commandment 
Quintus Scipio  was seen in a moment cut in morsels serving as unworthy food to the ravenous beasts issuing out of the savage deserts RADAGASO sometime king of the GOTHS for all thassurance he reapposed in his invincible army (as he thought) was not expempted from the doom of inconstant and mortal destiny, for that his people slain, his captains fled, and he taken prisoner, passed under the sentence of an infamous death by STILICON general of th'army at that time for th'emperor HONORIUS, with other infinite proofs of antiquity, wherewith it is no need to fill my paper, seeing the domestical accedentes and like chances happening amongst our neighbours at home, do give sufficient testimony and faith of that which we go about to prove. And now being upon the discourse of LIVIO and his unfortunate CAMILLA, who albeit were neither princes nor governors of kingdoms, yet being in the paradise of their pleasure and at the point to perform the last act of their delights, encountered in one moment a change and synister subversion all contrary to the appointment which they had resolved upon their future marriage, And sewer it is an argument of the greatest folly that can be to promiss ourselves an assurance of things which depend upon the will and disposition of an other, upon which the issue is also most uncertain, for that differing from us in counsel and imagination, they are also without care in what sort we take their judgement, seeing they depend no way upon us nor our fancy: like as it happened to these ii infortunate lovers for CLAUDIO now returned, and not liking any way thalliance between LYVYO and sister wrought so much with his father (who saw not but by the eyes of his son, nor attempted any thing wherinto CLAUDIO added not the conclusion that REINALDO renounced the words of his former consent pacifyenge the parents of LIVIO, by the best parswations he could imagine, with thanks to the young man equal to the greatness of the honour whtche he offered in seeking to be his son in law These news were no sooner ymparted to our two. lovers, but it is to be thought they escaped not without sundry alarums of mortal grief, which had dismissed their passions with the end of their lines; if it had not been for the offer of a simple hope whereupon they grounded a new consolation for that they expected at length a remorse in th'old man (by reason of his promiss) to justify the contract already passed between them two, whereof CAMILLA as pinched with a grudge of more wrong than tother, for that she saw the unjust malice of her brother was th'only stay of theffect of her determination entered into a passion of such fretting conceits tempered with a mortal hate to CLAUDIO, an indissoluble zeal to her servant, and a just despite against the debylitie of her father, that she was at the point to use force against herself, and advance th'effect if their malice by her untimely death, wherein because she would not discover openly, that which was not yet doubted of any, she retired to a moderation in her grief till the first part of the evening being spent, the desire of sleep summoned every man to withdraw himself to his lodging when she in her chamber with th'only company of her woman began to burst out into new terms of complaint cursing the hour of her birth, accusing the weakness and want of courage in her father, but chiefly enueihed against thunhappy arrival of her brother in this sort. What injustice 
The complaint of Camilla.  or cruelty is this of the heavens to give us a heart to choose and liberty to love one of equal desire and semblable will and then to bar us the privilege of that freedom in not making a perfection of that which nature hath set abroach in us by the communion and conjunction of our thoughts? is it reason the body be more respected than the mind, in that the heart and inward parts making a choice of affection should not have authority to summon the body as their subject to obey thinstincts and suggestions of the spirit, nature sewer doth abuse her reputation in this case to coif her creatures with thattire of love, making a mutual consent in both parties and then to deny the consummation of the thing herself did first begin in us? from whence comes thIniquity of that law which alloweth a father for his pleasure only and with out justice to force an inclination of his children to that which is neither necessary nor convenient for them? is it not sufficient alas that we yield them honour, with the tribute of our duty and service, that we give soccour to their old years, and attempt nothing without their consent, but that we must be subject to a further tyranny in performing the sentence of their thraldom although it differ whallye from our will and choice? And if marriage be a free conjunction, depending upon an unity or conformity of both parts, how can I refuse that whereof is passed already a confirmation, or admit other husband than he to whom I ham bound by vow of consent. A H this is one of the fruits of tyrannous love, to work the effect of a consent between us, without leaving us a mean to bring the same to perfection, or suffer us to consider whether the parties knit together by unity of affection in spirit, might also be assisted with a conjunction of the bodies without offence to god or the world, but what? why do I enter into terms of justice with him, who is no way partaker of reason, and who is so sudden and uncertain in his 
Love is naked and with out eyes  enterprises, that he neither takes advise afore he strike, nor useth leisure to delyberat or foresee the success of any thing he beginneth, for as he is naked and without eyes, so is he voyde of judgement, and unconstant in all his doings, assailing commonly the hearts of such as he finds idle and least occupied with virtue: Ah spiteful disdain of kindred, and unnatural malice of a brother, in what sort have I deserved this hard penance at thy hand, to deprive me of the thing wherein I took most pleasure, wherein hath the courtesy LIVIO, offended thee, if not that his honesty exceeds thy rude disposition, and virtue giveth cause of shame to thy wicked will, or peradventure thou disdainest his just merit, for that he is better favoured in all companies than thyself? And is it reason that thy consent confirm my affection? why should my advancement depend upon thy good will, or the choice of my husband ask council of thy consent? shall I be subject to him who hath no authority over me, but by an encrochement of years, for that he is the eldest son of my father? hath he any privilege that way, to govern my will, or give laws to my fancy, nothing less, for my father hath already passed th'accord between LIVIO and me but you will say peradventure under a condition, a simple article I confess, which also is of no force, if the party be void of pretence of prejudice? And wherein shall it be either prejudicial or profitable to him, if LIVIO be my husband? seeing it belongeth to my father to departed with my dowry and portion of marriage, and my husband to dispose it without interruption so long as he is a member of life, what weakness is this in a father to be governed wholly by the breath of his son, whose unjust malice rather than argument of reason makes him renounce the word of his honour in a case touching the quiett and consolation of her, who ought to be no less dear unto him, than her tyrannous brother, who when he hath exposed the uttermost effect of his spite, & that I am to be bestowed in an other place by his appointment, it shall appear whether his commandment be as currant over me then, as his malice rageth without measure or reason at this present, protesting by the height of the heavens, that none other than he to whom I have pawned my faith shall enjoy the chaste acquaintance of thinfortunate CAMILLA: no LIVIO is mine, what wrong soever they do to our vertueses love, which so long as I live shallbe in dyssoluble in me, being ready withal to refuse no thing that may advance the consummation of the marriage between me and him without whom I feel an ympossibilytie to live: wherewith her passion grew to such a vehemency, that her last words ended with the course of longer breath, in such sort that she slided suddenly from the seat where she sat, and fell groveling upon the ground, resigning with a dolorous skryke the use of vital air, albeit the expedition of diligence in her woman procured with much ado a return of life, and with such consolation and offer of hope as she cold prefer, she won her to go to bed, where albeit the view of the wrong and discourtesy of her brother seamed for a time to stay the course of sleep, yet in the often repetition of her sorrows appeared a little of qui ette, which closed her eyes and cast her into a slumber where in she seamed to behold standing afore her th'image of her LIVIO half dead embracing her with a pale and hideous regard, which forced her to such a fear, that she broke suddenly out of her dreadful sleep, spending the rest of the weary night in pitiful complaints, wherein certainly she had raisin, for that in that dream or rather mystical vision, was figured the desaster which not long after overwhelmed them both, neither ought we to find it strange if thapprehensions appearing in our sleep, do give us warning, of the good or evil happening unto us, for that we have certain records which iustefye the same in the person of one BRUTUS he which was vanquished in the fields of PHARSALEMO whether he were awake, or in the depth 
Brutus' warned of his overthrow in his sleep.  of his sleep, seamed to see in his tent a terrible shape of a certain spirit pronouncing his overthrow, besides thaushorytie of natural reason moveth us to confess, that as the ympression of a great fear, or longing desire of any thing do present often times affore the eyes of our mind (the body being in rest) the image of that which we love or fear. So also the spirit that is void of passion, or at point to fall into some perilous accident, encountereth commonly in his sleep the thing which he wisheth not to happen, and abhorreth to remember when his eyes have dismissed the drowsy humour of sleep, for CAMILLA desired nothing less than the death of her LYVIO, and yet not long after the pray sage or forewarninge of her dreadful vision she only witnessed the effect assisting his funeral with her presence in the tomb, aswell as she was willing to admit his company in the secret bed of their infortunate marriage. LIVIO for his part was not void of passion on the behalf of the froward success of his business albeit seeing he cold no way bribe the goodwill of fortune, he resolved to give place to her present malice, and in attending the benefytt of a better time, to practise CLAUDIO by circumstance and mediation of his near friends, Albeit feeling in the mean while an intolleration of love, with contynnall increase of desire to coll the flower of his affection and taste of the pleasant jewyste of the grape which quencheth the thirst of the loyal lover, he ymparted his pain and request to his Lady in a letter of this substance. seeing there is no justice good lady to support the consent to your own disquiet, and 
Lyvyo writeth to C●mil l●.  suffer me to live in passion without comparaison, methinks you do wrong to thindifferent contentment of us both? for if you desire my death you need use no other minister for fatal execution then the alarums of dolor which I encounter daily by your means, but if you have care of my quiett, and grieve no less with th'imposition of my mortal torment why make you such conscience to yield me consideration of the honest zeal I bear you seeing the same doth also ymporte a special contentment to yourself, you know what is already passed between us, neither are you ignorant of the small respect your parents use towards you, wherewith if the mutual consent conclude the marriage, you ought also to understand, that neither the tyranny of the one nor want of courage in the other, hath power to withhold you from that which you are bound to perform, nor hinder me to enjoy the benefit of my desert, wherein I appeal to the touch of your conscience, with request to consider in what sort you will advise, me to th'end that by th'assistance of your council, I may the better carry over the greatness of my extremity, which as it is divided into speedy relief or present despair, so seeing I am of force to pass by the one I doubt of which of the two to make my most proffyt, for albeit the first hath power to perform the full of my felicity yet in attending th'effect, I consume in a flame of burning desire, and the other, if it ymporte a present abridgement of my torment by untimely death, yet in the very act consists a spot of dishonour to myself, and an everlasting surname of cruelty to her in whose balance weigheth thindifferent sentence of the life or death of the most desolate and LOYAL LIVIO.  
CAMILLA which desired nothing less than to delay the desire of her servant, for that herself laboured of the same disease, returned the messengier with no other answer, than that at after dinner she would vysitt CORNELIA, when also she would satisfy his master by mouth, for that she feared the subtlety of her brother would intercept her letters where with thinfortunate LIVIO, not knowing the thread of mischief which fortune was now spinning for him, entered into such solace that the chamber wherein he walked seamed to little to contain his present gladness, the rather for that he imagined that his mistress would now dismysse all excuses and impediments to th'effect of his long desire, saying there wanted nothing to consommate the marriage, but solemn publication, in which passion of joy he supplied the time in attending the coming of his Lady with singing and soft music, according to the nature of the Swan, who the nearer 
The property of the swan being near her death.  she draweth to the end of her destiny, the pleasanter note she sings, bathinge and pruning herself in the purest stream she can find, to th'end to do honour to her funeral ●ate: and as he imagined thus to be at the point to arrive in the subburb of his paradise, behold the approach of the goddess of his devotion & dear mistress CAMILLA with her Chambriere, who as she was already privy to the whole practice: So she used her company now to avoid suspicion, imparting the same to LIVIO, to th'end he need not distrust her presence, if by chance they entered into parley touching any secret match where needed not th'assistance of many witnesses.  
And being thus in arms together, God knoweth if any sort of kisses or other follies in love were forgotten, wherein as it is a common experience, that neither bit nor bridle is able to govern the fury of love, when we be at point to enjoy the pleasures we desire, so there appeared such an indifferent vehemency of appetit between thei●, that at th'instant they made a plat or beginning of that which the same evening gave end to the pleasure and life of them both, wehrof CAMILLA as more hot in desire, or less able to bear the burden of her burning affection, prevented the request of LYVIO and made plain the first entry & path to both their mishaps, saying that forasmuch as our consents have concluded a marriage, and that in the breach of our promiss appeareth a peremptory prejudice to our consciences, that we seal th'articles of the contract, with a full consommation of the secret ceremonies in marriage, both to take away all occasion of offence, and also to mortify the malice of my brother (maugre his heart) wherein saith she being fully persuaded of your consent to my proposition, and for that in cases of love delays and long consultation 
Delays be hurtful in cases of love  be hurtful, and st●rre up causes of displeasure to the hearts of such as be stricken with the same disease, whereof the contrary, the rest of our humane affairs require a maturity of council, to th'end the success may answer therspectation of the parties, so I wish you to attend the benefit of time this evening, I mean at the hour of supper, when men are given least to suspicion, you fail not to come in as secret manner as you can to the garden gate, where my woman shallbe ready to conueig●e you into my chamber, to th'end we may there take advise of that which we have to do, whereunto LIVIO was not curious in consent, and less unmindful to yield her the choice of a thousand thanks for offering the privilege which he doubted to demand, giving her assurance to use such exact wisdom in the conveyghe of so secret a mystery, that ARGUS himself, if he were upon earth should not descry his coming, & much less any be privy to the dance, but such as performed the round, wherein he was not deceived, for as he was the first, so she failed him not at the close, and both their miseries of equal quality in the end, like as it happeneth often times that those amorous bargains redounds to the harms of such, as be the parties, who albeit do allege a certain respect of honesty in their doings, by pretence of marriage, yet God being the judge of their offence, will not suffer the wrong to the obedience of their parents in concluding privy contracts unpunished, and that with such a penance, as the remembrance is notorious in all ages. But now to our LIVIO who neither unmindful of the hour, and less forgetful to keep appointment, attyreth himself for the purpose in a night gown girt to him, with a pair of shoes of felt, least the noise of his feet should discover his going, and for a more honour of his mistress, he forgot not his perfumed shirt, spidered with curious branches according the fancy of his Lady, with his wrought coyffe powdered with diverse drogues of delicate smell, wherewith he stealeth in as secret manner as he can to the gate of appointment, where he found the guide of his love, whom he embraced aswell for the service he found in her, as also in that she resembled the beauty of his mistress CAMYLLA, who after she had taken her nights leave of her father and brother, with search that every man was in his place of rest, retireth to her chamber with such devotion as commonly they that find themselves in semblable journey to work th'effect of such like desire, where encountering her infortunate servant, it was concluded to employ no time in vain reverence, or idle ceremonies, but in a moment they entered their fatal bed together, where after certain amorous threats, and other follies in love (serving as a preamble to the part they meant to play) LIVIO entered into the unhappy pageant of his fatal & last pleasure, wherein he chaffed himself so in his harness, and was so greedy to cooll the first flower of the virginity of his CAMILLA, that whether the passion of joy, prevailing above the force of the heart, and thinner parts smothered with heat, could not assist th'enterprise according to their office, or that he exceeded nature in surfeiting upon his pleasant banquet, he found himself so sharply assailed with shortness of breath, that his vital forces began to fail him in the midst of the combat, like as not long since it happened to ATTAL US the cruel king of the HUNES, who in the first night of his infortunate marriage in HUNGARYE 
The king of the hunes died in the excess of pleasure with his wife the first night of their marriage.  enforced himself to so great a courage in the pleasant encounter with his new wife, that his dead body (found in her arms the next morning) witnessed his excess and glottenouse appetit in the skirmyshe of love, which also might be the bane of this LIVIO, who respecting no measure in drinking of the delicate wine, no more than if it had been but one banquet, dressed for him in the whole course of his life, was so over charged with desire in that pleasant skirmish that the conduits of life stopping upon a sudden, barred to add fourther strength to his greedy appetite, whereupon he became without m otion, or feeling in the arms of CAMYLLA, who feeling him 
Livyo died of the like in the arms of his Camilla.  without sense and that he seamed more heavy and rude upon her then affore, doubted a troth, wherein also she was fully satisfied by the light of the candle, which she caused her chamberiere to bring to the bed side, where vewinge the dead body of him whom she loved no less than herself, and judging the cause as it was in deed, entered ymedyatly into such a mortal passion of dolour, that albeit she would have exposed some words of compassion on the behalf of the pitiful accident, yet feeling a general diminution of force thorough all her parts by thynnundation or waves of sudden sorrow, she found her tongue not able to supply the desire of her heart, which with the consent of the rest, loathing the use of longer life, resigned her borrowed term to the fates, falling at thynstant without sense or feeling upon the dead body of him whom she accounted a duty to accompany in the other world, aswell as she delighted in his presence during their mutual abode in this miserable valley. A happy kind of death if we had not to consider the peril which attends such wretches, as having no mean to perform th'effect of their pleasure, but by unlawful stealth, are so frank for the shortness of their time that in satisfing the glot of their greedy appetit they make no conscience to sacrifice there own life: but if we pass forth in the view of these offences, we shall find a derogation of the honour and integretye of the mind, with a manifest prejudice and hazard to the health of the soul, which makes me of opinion, that it is the most, miserable end that may happen to man, the rather for that the chiefest thing which is regarded in the putsuet of that enterprise, is to obey the sommance of a bestely and unbridled lust of the flesh, wherein I wish our frantic lovers, who (making contemplation upon causes of love) accounts it a virtue to end their lives in this LASCIVIUS bond of privy contract, to refrain that which is so indifferent hurtful both to the soul and body, saying their death is not only without argument of desperation, but also their souls most sewer to receive the guerdon of civil morder, which we ought to fear and eschew as near as we can afore the sequestration of the earthily substance, from the part of divinity which we partycipat with God, and what contentment or glory so ever they reappose in this monstrous abridgement of nature, reprehending them of destoyaltie which do the contrary, yet their act merits none other name then the title of brutality, neither can I think but their opinion is guided by some spirit or humour of frantyke folly, like as it is not the part of a Christian (as the Apostle affirmeth) to prefer the fickle pleasures of the flesh, which are of shorter moment, than the thoughts of a man, afore the fear of God, reck of our life, and care to present our souls with out spot, afore the troane of mercy in the day of general account, when all thoughts shallbe deciphered and no salt unpunished: the poor girl of the chamber to the dead CAMILLA, saying this fatal mystery, with the distress she was in, for that she was a companion of the conspiracy, thinking to give end and play the last act of the tragedy, searched about the chamber for some glaive or sword or other thing apt to make the minister of her bloody intent, & being deceived that way, she had no other mean to play double or quit but with impetuosity of dolor, wherein she raged with such doleful skryches, that the brute of her complaint awaked the whole house, whereof the first that entered the chamber of funerals was the tyrant CLAUDIO whoa albeit was thenly cause of this dolorous massacre, yet in place of confessing his salt, or yielding sorrow to the loss of such ij. loyal lovers, he grew in more rage by the view of the dead body of LIVIO, whereof as he would willingly have committed a new morder, saving that he saw him without respiration or argument of life, so his anger being turned into woodness, & rage into fury, he wreaked his colour upon the poor girl to whom he gave iij. or iiij. estockadoes with his dagger thorough the body, and slonge immediately out of the chamber, to the great amaze and terror of his unfortunate father, who saying his house full of murders, and his son committed open slaughter in the person of the innocent girl, could not so govern his passion of dolour, but he seamed more ready to pass that way then desirous to enjoy longer life, albeit being kept from doing force against himself, by certain his servants that were there, he uttered sompart of his inwaerde gref by open exclamation against his own misfortune, inveighing chyeflye against the inordin at will of his daughter, with advise to all fathers to keep a steady eye upon their slypprye youth, wherein he commended unto them the example of his own folly in favouring so much the fond appetit of his daughter that he gave leave to her Liberty to exceed the view or pursewte of his eye, accusing chiefly the impediment he gave to the marriage, saying that in the same appeared the peremptory ruin of his house, continual desolation to his old years, and in the end to leave his goods and living to strangers for want of an heir of his body, for that having but ij. children the one was already dead, and the other no less worth by the mortal violence he had used upon the innocency of the maid, who (after the surgeons had somewhat stayed the bleeding of her wounds) confessed the contract and circumstance of the love whereof you have hard a particular declaration, which rather increased the dole of th'old man, than gave moderation to his sorrow, which notwithstanding by the persuasions of his neighbours, and constraint of necessity (which as) a virtue giveth patience perforce to all extremities he dysmissed in ouward show and disposed himself to the funeral obsequies in as solemn manner as he cold, erecting a tomb of marble in Saint francis church, wherein were shrined the bodies of the ij lovers as dead at one time, and by one occasion, to the great regreat of the whole town wherein every one was so indifferently passioned with sorrow that a man should hardly have hard any other tunes then public exclamation against the cruelty of CLAUDIO by which general complaint, together with the depositions of the maid (who died within three days after her hurts) DOM RAMYRO CATALANO governor of CESENNA under CESAR BORGIA, began to enter into terms of compassion on the behalf of the ij. dead lovers, and mortal anger against CLAUDIO, for that his cruelty only was the cause of the death of the ij. only flowers & peragons in Italy, wherein he purseved so vehemently the rigour of his office, & equity of justice that CLAUDYO lost his head secretly within the castle for fear of mutiny or tumult of his friends. This was the miserable end of the love & life of the ij. SISENNOIS whose death and discorse of amorous traffic, for that it doth not exced the remembrance of our time, I have preseted as a familiar example affore the eyes of our youth, to th'end that every one respecting the duty of his own endeavour, may use the misery of this precedent as a pattern to prevent the like mischief in themselves, wherein also as we may note that love is but a rage or humour of frantic folly derived of ourselves, & converted to our own harm by th'indiscretion that is in us, so the next remedy to withstand that fury is to encounter him under thensign of raisin, & slay the occasions, which weaken the mind without travel and bring the body in the end to the theatrye of execution, we are also warned here to temper the delights we possess with such measure, that forgetting the blindness of LIVIO, we may eschew the horror of his act with detestation of the fools he used in the glott of his unlawful pleasure.  
FINIS.   

The argument,  
ACcording to th'opinion of the wise Demosthenes there is no one virtue that hath made more famous the fathers of formèr time, thenne the gift of civil courtesy, neither is nature more glorified in the imps of her creation, then in that we dispose ourselves & doings according to the disposition of the climate which she hath appointed to govern our actions and thoughts, respecting chief to refrain from violation of innocent blood, which in all ages hath restored a name of great clemency to diverse Albeit (touching other effects) they were ambycius tyrants, and cruel enemies to their own common wealth, which, unnatural cruelty also as it hath been & is of such detestation amongst the rudest companions of the world, that the very barbarians have always had in horror the wickedness of such as pursued the quest of guiltless blood, and took away the life of him that had not committed offence, So they have always had in honour the virtue of such as sought to extirppe the root of tyrannical furies borne for the ruin and destruction of man like as among the roman emperors Nero Calygulus and Commodus, amongst the strange nations, Phalaris Alexander Phereus' Dyomedes & the cursed Numylysyntha Queen of Thracia, who after she had miserably murdered an ynnocent mother, committed semblable cruelty upon the child within her belly, whereof albeit the horror was great yet was it nothing in respect of the hellish act of a lady of our time happyninge not in the Antropophogans Scythya or amongst Canybales or amazons ancient morderers of their children, but in the heart and midst of Europe, and in one of the most fair and rich provinces of the world, where afore time hath been kept all Academia or general school to instruct all nations for the honest and virtuous direction of their lives, but of late was found there a gentlewoman (degenerating from thinstinct of her sect) which exposed effects of more cruelty, thenne erst hath been noted by any writers of a any age, whereof the discourse followeth at large.  
A YOUNG LADY IN MYLan after she had long abused the virtue of her youth and honour of marriage with an unlawful haunt of divers young gentlemen becomes an unnatural murderer of the fruit of her womb for that she was forsaken of him who gatt her with Child  
Having then to treat upon tragical affairs proceeding of unnatural lust, with LASYVIUS disposition, the only master pocke and chief fountain from whence distilleth all poisoned humours of Infection, overflowing at length the channel of his quiett course with unrewelye waves of inordinate cruelty: I mean here to present unto you the true pattorne of a second MEDEA, in the person of a young Lady borne and wantonly bred up in the rich and populus City of MYLLEYNE, whom because mine author seams to christian by a contrary title, to aboyde all occasions of myslykes which other Ladies (bearing the like name) might unjustly fall into by the lavish mouths of the malicious sort, I think it good also to pass under fearmes of like silence her parents and husband, to th'end that their virtue (meryting a better meed then to bear the blame of the detestable life of there wicked daughter) come not also in question amongst such DIABOLOS as have there tongues always tipped with the metal of malicious slander. This PANDORA then (borrowing her name of the qualytye of her unchaste and cruel conversation) gave manifest signs during the time of her Infansye of her future disposition, arguing the poysined Clymatte which first getting dominion over the young years of her green understanding directed after the whole seaquel of her life by the dial of a cursed constellation, making the latter remainder of her years subject to a thousand ills and per 
Bad argument in a young woman.  rentory Inconveniences, for she was disdainful without respect, spiteful without measure, hung altogether full of the feathers of foolish pride, so wholly given to wallow in dilycarie that she detected all exercises of virtue, and so drowned in the filthy desire of the flesh, that afore she had attained to the full of fortene years, she became such a banque roupte of her honour that a poor page the son of a simple artificer nourished in the house of her father for charity sake only, except so far into her credit, that with small suit he gained the use of the Isle which ought to be Inuincyble in unhonest sort, wherein notwithstanding after he had once rampyred himself, finding the soil in less fertile, then to be tilled with easy travel, he found also no less famylyarytie in the owner, who feasted him so frankly with the pleasant jeweste and precious commodity of her Island, not erst inhabited by Strangers, that his common exercise was to keep her company every night alone in her chamber, least the LEUTYNS and dangerous bogbeares appearing by visions in the night should put her in fear or keep her from sleep. This was one chief delight wherein she took pleasure in the prime time of her age, an undoubted calendar sure of the noble acts to be expected in this imp as her years grew to greater number, and her desire of more maturytye, which wicked exercise is sufficient of itself to untie the tongues of backbiters, stirring up the malice of certain POLOLUGOS ready always upon one simple occasion; or; for the salt of one, to reprehend the honour of all dames: if the virtue of (you chaste) Ladies wear not only able to confute all their suborned reasons of reproach, but also by the clear Integrity of your conversation, to charm the mouth of the slanderer from Inueyghing by sinister means against any of the noble sect femenyne so much commendable and to be honoured of all men. This young pupil and prentice of VENUS, although she lystned with small training to the lewre of CUPID, yet used she notwithstanding such care in the conveyghe of her follies, that the best eyes in her father's house, wear to blind to behold the amorous traffic which passed between the page and her, neither was she doughted (wheresoever she came) to be preferred to the first place in the bedroll of pewer virgins, although (as you have hard) she had paid the first fruits of her virgynytie to one no less unworthy of thofferinging then to enjoy the possession of so dear a jewel, being already vowed to an other by them that by most right aught to dispose of it: And who may see here as in a glass their great 
Her parents  negligence and little care in theducation of their children, preferring rather to pamper them in pleasure, with to large a scope in liberty, (the chiefest mean to seduce younglings not yet confirmed in ripeness of discretion) then to restrain thappetite of their foolish will, which doth not only make them bodies subject to all sensual prostitution, but also subvertes the honour of their whole house whereof they took there beginning. This ITALIAN Impe. and honest PANDORA, weary even now of the company of her page who belike was not able to quench the lust of his unsatiable mistress, began with familiar glances of her eye, and other secret regards of good will, to practise a second league of society, concluding a new bargain of love with a young gentleman lusty and likely every way to perform th'expectation of her desire, who also for his first endeavour, found the means to corrupt her governess with certain pieces of gold, arms (sure) sufficient enough of 
Money is able to batter the strongest fortress under heaven  themselves to batter the walls of the strongest and best defended fortress that this day is under the pole of heaven, which also was the kaye (as the poets feign) that opened JUPITER the door of the brazen tower wherein the fair DANAE daughter of ACRISES was curyously enclosed. This second lover thinking to cooll the first flower of the maydenhed of PANDORA (being yet scars xvi. years of age) began to doubt of the case, when he found the way already beaten and the entry so easy without resistance, albeit contenting himsefle with his present fortune, being driven notwithstanding to drink the lées of the vessel which the page had gauged to his hand, and sucked out the sugared juice of ●f that grape, he failed not to court her with a continual ●●aunte of his company, in such sort, that his chief exer●●ise and time was employed in the supply of her greedy desire, until at last being cloyed for want of change of dy●●tte, or weary with so long hunting one kind of chase, ●r peradventure not able any longer to maintain the skir●ysh for want of fresh supplies, he began to suborn divers ●eanes to purchase his departure, wherein with thassistance ●f a few feigned importunytyes, he prevailed only with his exense: that being captain of certain bands of footmen, ●t behoved him (he said) for great respects, to visitte his charge with expedition, wherewith, with small suit he got leave and went his way, resigning the fort which he had so long battered, to the guard of an old and rich gentleman, dwelling in the same City, who doatinge more upon the beauty of PANDORA, then noting deligentlye her disposition, married her, after long intercession to her friends. A match far unmeet considering thinequality of their years, for he bearing the burden of syftye winters upon his back, his former moisture and strength converted into watery humours of weakness, scars able to sustain nature, who at those years also summons all men to decline, seamed far unhable to encounter in singler combat with her, that had not yet seen th'uttermost day of eighteen years, albeit being married, although his lot was to take other men's leavings, yet he misliked not his choice, but being mounted upon a common hackney, he thought himself well horsed, and as one not very scrupulous, or little skilled in such kind of housekeping, he took her for a pure virgin: a thing not much to be marveled at, seeing the daily accedentes in the like affairs, and specially the subtle charms, and sundry legerdemaynes, whereof such DERMOPTERAE or letherwynged huswives' as PANDORA have no small store, to cover their saultes, and make them seem maydenlike (although they have already played the dydopper) that the clearest eyes had need of spectacles, and the wiseste wits want sleight to dyserne their cunning: and now this new married dame getting first the upperhand of her old husband, made her second endeavour to have the whole convey of all the household doings, whereby her commandment was only currant, And she holding the rain of her liberty in her own hand, might haunt and use what place for recreation she list at her pleasure, neither forgatt she so to bridal goodman hornsbye (her husband) with obedience, that with out his controlment or suspicion, Monsieur le page, (who gave the first earnest penny of her honesty) had free access unto her chamber, where he paid his own arreareges, and also helped to supply the cold courage of the old knight, who as he rather increased her appetite, then satisfied her desire, so his good will peradventure was more than his power able to perform. And as the page had thus eftsoons placed himself in the possession of his former prey, it chanced that a young gentleman banished from Rome for certain forged conspiracies incensed against him, fled to MILAN where lodging right over the palace of Pandora, beheld easily the amorous glees of his neighbour, who took singular pleasure to be requited with the like regards, & seeing her fair, young, & disposed 
The order of a fearful lover in disclosing his affection.  to all recreations of pleasure, begun to proffer her love, first by the pitiful regard of his countenance, painted full of arguments of dole, and after by certenie secret sighs, declaring (after Thytalyan manner) the ardent flame of affection, not ceasing continually to burn his heart in the desire of her beauty, and omitting no mean which mought move her to take compassion of his pain, he forgot not to pass divers times afore her lodging, with a lute or other music of soft melody, whereunto also he accorded his phyled voice with notes of pleasant twne, & that with such a grace of great delight) that the sweet noise of his harmony seamed a thousand times of more entysinge melody, than the heavenly jonkinge of the Nytyngal, wherewith in short time he kindled a fire in the heart of this young wanton, toward whom h nedde not have used such cyrcumstance or long ceremony, seeing that of herself (if his suit had not Intercepted her) she had prevented his meaning, in taking upon her th'office of the client, being only given to range and ravyn for the satysfyinge of her inordinate lust, desirous to change her acquainted soil, for the fresh harbage of green pasture, wherewith one evening (her husband being from home) This roman lover called CANDIDOIOCUNDO made his walk in Solemn manner under her chamber window playing of his lute with a voice of such masquid music mingled with outward shows of dolour in his face, & powdered finely with sundry sighs of pitiful disposition, that it seamed of such strange operation in the heart of PANDORA, being already throughly daunted with the desire of him that sought but to deceive her, that being now no longer able to keep her ears shut from the voice of the crafty charmer, desired him to enter, whereunto (as the subtle fouler piping all the day in the bottom of the hedge till he hath allewred to his bush the bird he chiefly desireth) he agreed I am sure with more contentment of the offer, then dyficultlye to be entreated, and being arrived in the haven of his desire, god knoweth with what devotion they offered to the goddess of pleasure, celebrating the banquet, with all dishes of dylycacye, wherewith thimpudent PANDORA forgot not to feast him so frankly with shameful encounters on her part, that with little suit, and less entreaty, he entered commons in the place, which the old John thought to be reserved several to himself, and with small cunning gave her checkmate, that stood slenderly upon her guard, lothinge even now her incontynencie that so easily yielded her honesty in pray to whosoever would pursue it, wherein certainly he had good reason, for of all the degrees of unhappy creatures that without the consent of womanly shame, do wickedly transgress the sacred law of chastity, they ought chiefly to use some respect of honesty, that are admitted into the inviolable order of matrimony, & if their destiny be incident to so evil a fortune, as to enter into societic with a secret friend besides their husband (a thing notwithstanding forbidden by the word of God) and less tolerable by the passytive laws of the world) yet ought they (I say) be so confirmed in their unlawful affection toward their second pewmate, that their amity may seam of perpetuitye, and without change, neither ought they be so careless in the choice of their extraordinary consort, as their own doings afterward may make them worthily to be laughed at, which in deed is the just reward for such as seem so ligt of their seal, that they short of without either manche, slint, or powder, and of whose foolish and unshamful lightness, proceeds the argument of so many comodies and Interludes played in open stage, not so much to the confusion of themselves and parents, as open scandal to their husbands and houses for ever, whereof the familiar 
Slander.  example is to be noted in the sequel of this Pandora, who was not only in short time utterly detested of that ROMAIN, but also a commeniestinge stock and pointed at (by his means) of all men for her rash familiarity used towards him, who not long after the first foundation, of this friendship was called home from exile by Leo de Medicis, their sovereign vicar of the Sea of Rome, perdoning his offence, and restoring the use of his former liberty, at whose departure (unlooked for) Pandora entered into no small passion of dolour, not for any servant affection or love which she bore to her Roman friend, but because his sudden going away, left her void of all liquors to quench the burning flame of the greedy goote of her unnatural concupiscens, and chief because Monsieur le Page began also to ware cold in the combat which he had wont to maintain with such courage. But fortune here was so friendly to the fulfilling of her licentious appetit, that she (stirring up a fresh supply of her desire presented in the lists a young knight of Milan called Cesar Parthonope, who by chance hiring the lodging of the late Roman succeeded him also in desire and diligence, for he at the first view regarding the flattering beauty of this ALCYNE his neighbour, suffered himself unadvisedly to flyppe into the snares of love, honouring that in his heart with 
Her beauty.  true sincerity as a dear jewel, which his predecessor worthily hated with dew detestation. And entering here into the pagant of love, his first part was to give some outward arguments of his inward affection, wherein he begun to make many pale walks afore her gate, roving with his eyes at her chamber windows (according to the amorous order of the vain Spaniard) uttering by the doleful view of his troubled countenance, the great and secret desire quarreling inwardly with his unruly thoughts. But what need a man use policy where slender suit will prevail, or who will bend his battery to that fortress, whereof the captain demands partly, and sues for composition. And besides when the vail of shame is once removed from our eyes, what let is there to stay the sensual course of our bestly appetits. And they that suffer the rain of reason to slack or wholly to slip out of their hands, seems as transformed in a moment, & so weakened touching the lively motions & forces of the spirit, that the exterior provocations & appetit of desire prevail wholly above the inward resistance & actions of the soul, like as this glutton & impudent Pandora, who seeing her sometimes saluted with a pleasant eye of her new neighbour, forgot not to requited him with such wanton glances & of such open understanding, that the knight doubting not of the success of his enterprise, assured himself already of the victory, wherein he was somewhat helped by the hand of fortune, who providing a journey for the husband of Pandora touching thexecution of a commission in a foreign country, kept him absent in those affairs, the space of a year or more, wherein Parthonope forgot not to use thopportunity of so convenient a time, & being ignorant with all of the great liberty of his mistress, who drew him on all this while by fine trains, to th'end to make him more eager of bit, had no way to unfold the cause of his passion but by a letter, which he made the messenger of his grief, and solicitor of his desire in this sort.  
The curious Artificer & cunning work woman Dame Nature, 
Parthonope writeth to Pandora.  I see well (good madame) was not so careful to work you in her seemly frame of all perfections, as the powers divine & difposers of the dangerous & lofty planets, (assisting her endeavour with certain peculiar ornaments of their special grace) wear ready to open their golden vessel of precious treasure pouring by great abundance their heavenly gifts upon you, striving (as it seems which of them for th'increase of his glory should dispose himself most liberaliy on your behalf, like as (according to the Poets) they contended of old for the adoring by several ornaments the late Pandora, whom for all respects they agreed to be the odd image of the world, but specially for beauty, which if it dazzled the eyes of the gods, shining as a twinkling star in th'elements above, yours I think was reserved as a torch of glistering flame to give light to the creatures of the midel world, whereof (for my part) viewing which to ardent affection the sundry celestial ornaments imparted to you by the Gods, which the piercing beams of rare beauty given you for your dowry of Nature, I doubt whether mine eyes (du●med altogether with admiration) will first cry out for the loss of their former sight, or my whole body (plunged in the passion of affection) will accuse the heart with the rest of thinward senses consenting so easily to the cause of their disquiet, wherein my life weigheth indiferentlye in the balance of a thousand annoys, and mine ancient liberty in the mean while kept close in an extreme captivity. Albeit measuring your heavily shape with thutwarde show of singular courtesy, that seems to occupy all your parts, I can not resolve of any cruelty to consist in you, neither can I judge by the argument of your beauty) but that my captivity shallbe speedily canuerted a happy delivery, like as also my hope half assureth me triumphing with honour over the doubtful object of my thought, to taste at your hands of the pleasant fruits of the thing I chief desire, which is (in accepting me for your servant & secret friend) to admit me into such place of pity, as the dew merit of my unfeigned service deserves by justice, wherein your act shall seem no less meritorious afore the throne of the high goddess; then honourable with general fame for ever in the world, for relieving him, who without your assistance, (being wholly transformed to th'appetite of your will) finds the burden of life of such uneasy toleration, that the lest repulse of his suit at your hands, iports his fatal summons, to resign the term of his borrowed ye res in this world. Neither doth he desire to have the fruition of his earthly days any longer, then to employ the same withal humility in the service of you, whom his heart hath already pronounced the soverein Lady of his life, whereof, you only may dispose at your pleasure. Your unfeigned Cesar Parthonopee.  
Which letter he delivered unto his Page experienced already in the convey of like affairs, who (according to the sharp passion of his master, used therpeditionexpedition oftime in the dispatch of his charge, whereupon depended the recovery of his sovereign, but she being already (as you have hard) enamoured of the knight, who was the first that wooed her with arguments felt even now by the discourse of this letter such increase of affection, 
Of true love.  pinching so extremely the desire to see him that without all order of womanly discretion she Embraced the page in the behalf of his master, giving him this answer, to require his master not to doubt to come to her house, whereof saith she I also desire him, to th'end I may be resolved by the breath of his own mouth, of that which I yet doubt touching the report of the letter, wherein she preferred vedement importunities, she wing the boy which way he should bring him to her chamber, where saith she I will attend his coming this evening, wherewith the Page returned, discoursing point by point the success of his embassage to the dolorous knight, who revived by the gladsome news of his boy, but chiefly by the short appointment resolved upon by his mistress, cast of at th'instant th'apparel of dole, disposing himself every way to perform th'expectation of the charge committed unto him by the mouth of her, whose commandment he would not transgress, though his life should incur the hazard of a thousand perils, & putting himself in as seamelye order as he thought good, went (only with his page in solemn manner to visit the saint, who was of herself more ready to grant freely, than the pilgrim to demand by petition, and who attending his coming, with more desire to ease the passion of the patiented, in quenching the fervent rage of her unsatiable appetit, than he for his part had cause to yield adoration to so detestable a shrine, was withdrawn all alone into her chamber where he found her coyfed for the nonst only in a night gown & attire for the night ready to go to bed, which with the natural show of her lively beauty, set out to the most advantage by the shining light of the wax candles, drove the knight at the first into such astonishment, that the use of his speech was converted into silence, & his eyes only occupied in beholding the rare beauty of her, who was utterly unworthy to wear so precious a jewel of nature, albeit expulsing at last, the fever of his dumb trance, with kissing her white & delicate hands as his first entre into a further matter, proposed the cause of his coming in this sort. I may by good reason account myself more in the favour of fortune, than any gentleman that ever was incident to any good hap seeing (good madam) that besides thassistance of the place, I am also preferred to a convenient mean to unfold unto you at large the smothered grief preserved hetherunto (to my great pain) in thutermost part of my intrailles, which long sins had sought a vent to burst out in open flame, if the dew of the hope of that favour which now I find in you, had not served as a necessary liquor of comfort to delay the raging heat of the furnaise, for otherwise good madame I assure you the small expertence I have to digest the bitter pylles of love, had offered my life an untimely sacrifice to death, and now seeing by thinter session of fortune, and great courtesy of your good Ladyship I am not only sprinkled with the water of new consolation, but also arrived before th'oracle to whom I have so long desired to present the earnest penny of my humble service, I beseech you (saith he)) not witthout tears and sighs of pitiful disposition, open the windows of your pity, & let fall the sweet showers of compassion upon this torment, dealing so extremely with me without seassing, which because you shall not think to be of less passion than the words of my mouth seem troubled in uttering the secret sorrow of my heart, looe her I am become in your presence the pitiful solyciter of min own cause, where with Pandora, who hitherto had loved but only to satisfy her inordinate lust, & saying with all th'importunities of her client, all to be sprinkled with the tears of his eyes, requited him with like arguments of kindness, and feeling now with in her heart certain motions assailing the secret of her thoughts with unfeigned affection toward her loyal Parthonope, could not any longer dissimull that which she chief desired, but embracing him with sundry signs of assured familiarity said unto him more for manners sake then otherwise, I marvel sir, that being armed with so small experience, you can so darkly discovers of th'effects of love, whose mysteries are not so plainly to be 
Pandora alloweth the request of her lover.  revealed by any, as by those that have taken degree in his school, and well could I impute that to your rashness, which by your letters you have termed a cruelty in me, for your suit hath not been of such continuance, as it may crave sentence in post, nor your travail so painful as the reward ought to follow with such hot expedition, albeit as you feel your own hurt (not escaping peradventure without some pangs of affection,) So you must think the martyredom is not peculiar to one, but dividing himself into a like SIMPATHIA of passion, hath weighed us both in thindifferent balance of affection, for if love hath built his bower in the bottom of your heart, I must confess unto you sir, that I draw under the yoke of his awe, neither is my torment any thing inferior to yours, whereof I had long (ere this) given you understanding, by plain practi se, if the vail of shame (a comen enemy to the amorous enterprises of us women) had not covered mine eyes, and closed my mouth with fear that I durst never (why lest my husband was at home) cast forth such baits of the great good will I have borne you (sins you wear our neighbour) whereby you might perceive with what loyalty I have chosen and adopted you th'only owner if my heart, and with whom I wish to pass the remainder of my life with such pleasure and contentment, as is necessary for the solace of two true lovers, which last words (for the more assurance of the bargain) she forgot not to seal with sundry sorts of kisses and other homlye tricks of familiarity, whereby the knight being absolutely resolved of that which erst he doubted, began to take possession of her mouth, adoring her eyes with looks of loving admiration, and passing in order to her whit neck of the colour of the fresh lily, came at last to behold her bare breasts, seeming like two little hills or mountains enuironning a rosy valley of most pleasant prospect, which he forgot not humbly to honour with the often print of his mouth. And passing some space in these amorous traffics with a thousand other sleights of folly, whereof our vain lovers have no lack when they seem to dispute of pleasure with contentment of desire, they entered the lists of their singular combat, in a fair field bed ready dressed for the purpose, where PARTHONOPE, encountering his pleasant enemy with no less force and courage of his part, than she had grounded experience to withstand his malice in such exploits, entered the breach, which so many had made assaltable to his hand, and being in possession of the comen place of PANDORA she found him so valiant in th'affairs of her desire, that in respect of the lofty courage of this new champion, she accounted all the rest but children that erst had traded with her in the like traffic, wherefore from thinstant she gave him such assured place in her friendship, that hanging wholly upon the shoulders of Parthenope, she had no quiet in her mind but when her eyes wear occupied in beholding his presence, neither was he (for his part) void of like affection, for being enchanted with the charms of this venomous Basile, he Employed his time to court her continually with his company, defying all felicities in the world, but that which he seemed to receive by the fellowship of PANDORA, to whom alone he yielded all devotion, with great humility. But this pleasure being of slipper continuance, stolen away with the shortness of time, their great amity converted into indignation and spitful revenge, yea their mutual societic sealed with all assurance of affection in their hearts, was by & by so separated & utterly dissolved, that it was never able to return to his former unity, for soon after the league of this new friendship, behold the Page somewhat refreshed by the absence of two or three months from his mistress, repairs to his old exercise, wherein he found no worse entertainment at the bonntiful hand of PANDORA, then when he first tilled the soil of so fertile an isle, neither would she for all this lose the company of her new champion Parthonope, but using the order of level coil she feasted them both indiferentlye of the dishes of one kind of banquet, and reserved to herself a change of diet at her pleasure. But the Myllannoys noting her disloyalty entered into divers disposition of colour, sometime determined for the revenge of the wrong which he seamed 
Companion of bed or lieutenant.  to receive, to kill his Corrival, & manifest by open publication thinordinate lubricity of his Lady, which he had performed accordingly, if natural courtesy, with the regard of the honour which he held, had not prevailed above his just cause of indignation in that behalf, wherein albeit he dismissed the revenge, yet could he not escape th'extreme passion of jealousy, which so pricked him at the quick, taking away his desire of rest, & in place of thappetite of sleep, filled his head full of hollow dreams and vain visions, being in short time so transformed with fantasy, that there rose question of his sudden alteration amongst divers his familiar friends, whereof one called EUCYO MARCIANO no less dear unto him by approved friendship then by the law of faithful alliance and awncyente dissent, who not ignorant in the malady of his kinsman, disposed himself to cure the disease and mortify the cause with one medicine, and being wholly privy to the practice of thinsatiable PALLIARD 
Whoremonger.  PANDORA, by the report of our late Roman JOCUNDE costed this knight one day as he walked all alone in a gallarye of his lodging reprehending his rashness in this sort. If I had as many means to cure your disease (good cousin,) as I am thoroughly persuaded of the cause of 
Marcyano diswadeth his friend from Pandora.  your sickness, I would convert the grief I feel in your behalf, into speedy endeavour to relieve your distress, Ah 'las what unhappy trade of late have you entered into, that so removes your senses out of their siege of reasó, transforming the lively colour of your face into a complexion of paleness, your mind continually occupied in solitary thoughts and wholly changed into a disposition contrary to your ancient order. Do you think that I am either ignorant of your passion, or of the league of love concluded of late between thunchaste PANDORA and you, Ah good cousin I lament not so much your present desaster, as I fear the fall of future Inconveniences like to thunder upon you, if god prevent not the ills which threaten you, by taking you out of the hands of that tyrannous she wolf, whose poison is of more perilous infection, then that which distilled from the breath of the first PANDORA whom the two greek poets do affirm to brew the first vessel of VENOMOUS liquor that ever came into the world, Ah 'las if reason would suffer you aswell to deserve the doings and detestable life of this open hypocryt even from the years of her infansye, as your folly is content to lead you to listen to her cursed lore, you would not only seem satisfied with the pleasure which hetherunto you have received, but also abhor the greedy appetite of hers so given to hunt after continual change, neither dismay you at all, if the pleasure which you count peculiar to yourself, be imparted to an other, far unmeet to manche with you in that or any other condition, for he whom you suspect to supply the place of your absence, was the first that tilled the craggy ground of your insatiable mistress, gathering the first fruits of her virginytye, which notwithstanding might be dispersed with all by reasonable toleration, if the number of them (besides) wear not infynet, that have already battered the fort where of you think yourself lyvetenant and only possessor, rehearsing here in order the bedroll of those that she had admitted for her unlawful bedfelowes, whereof PARTHONOPE (bowwing a willing ear to the tale of his kinsman) was driven into no small marvel at the pretty discourse of the noble acts of this valiant soldier of VENUS, But MARTIANO although he saw arguments of remorse in the heart of his Cousin, yet he thought his disease was not utterly cured unless the cause were also taken away, wherefore pursuing his intent with vehement persuasions, he requested him at last to leave those traffyques of love, and specially in cases of adultery, for (saith he) they do not only dimynyshe the honour age, renome, and wealth of him that followeth them, but also they are hurtful to the health of the soul, forbidden specially by the mouth of god: and for your part (me think) it were better to mary sum honest gentylwomanne of your own calabre, sustaining the honour of your house with passing 
Calling,  the rest of your years in mutual socyetye with your law full wife, then in consuming the best time of your age, to depend wholly upon the pleasure of a shameless & comen doxcye, who when she hath sucked out the green juice of your youth, will not stick (I warrant you) to procure the end of your days with some miserable and untimly death, you are not ignorant besides (I am sure) of the authorities of divers histories noting the great number of strange inconveniences, but specially perpetual Infamy, which followeth as a due reward to their travel, who not regarding the dread commandment of God, and health of their soul, do defile the marriage bed of their neighbour, wherein for my part, th'office of the friendship nourished of long time between us, together with the respect of indissoluble consangwinytie, moves me not only to expose my advice so liberally towards you but also to preset unto you this last request, with semblable importunytye, that as well for the commodities of yourself, as consolation of those who wish your advancement, you will abandon the haunt of this barrayn, and woman void of all virtue, whose wicked disposition argues many ways to late a repentance for you, if in short time you dispatch not your hand of her acquaintance: wherewith dischardging the true part of a dear friend, he so conjured his kinsman, that conferring his report with th'argument of lightness he had already noted in his mistress he detested already the remembrance of her beastly conversaction, and because he would disclaim her acquaintance, company and effection which erst he bore her, at one instant he removed his lodging to that further part of the City, where within short time, he married a young gentlewoman daughter to one EUSEBIO JOVIAL no less virtuous, honest, chaste, and courteous, than the other, proud, cruel, spiteful and lascivious, leaving notwithstanding his cast coneubyn PANDORA big beliyed of his doing, who noting not only his long absens from her, with the change of his lodging, but also that he was suddenly married, and she unware of his Intent, wrappeth the choleric humours which assailed her for the present, in a letter wherein she was no niggard to spit frankly the poison of her stomach, in uttringe at large the conseyts of her mind against the disloyalty of her perjured lover (as it pleased her to term him,) and being signed and sealed, she delivered it to a messenger convenient for the convey of such embassage: with charge to perform the dispatch with expedition, which accordingly was accomplished, for her maid FYNEA who erst had been collcaryor in thamarous affairs of PANDORA, finding the knight in the company of his kinsman MARTIANO, delivered him the letter of her mistress, importing 
Pandora writeth to partho nope.  this or the like effect.  
The only experience of thy traitorous practice (oh PARIURED PARTHONOPE) is not only sufficient of itself to stir up the just exclamations of all women against the infidelity in men, but also hath sowenne such seeds of perpetual slander in their attempts of love here after, that thy desloyaltie towards me (registered for ever in the remembrance of our sect) will hinder thenterprises of others, whose intententes (tending peradventure to a more sincerity of affection) deserve not to be repulsed by the merit of thy detestable falsehood: And truly for my part I cold never have thought that faith, purified thorough the rivers of so many tears, confirmed by the witness of a thousand sighs, and lastly (for a more assurance) sealed with so many oaths had, had so small harbour in the hearts of men now a days, if the proof of thy unhonest dealing, had not argued it unto me, with such familiar example in myself that alas I curse (by good right) the constellation that first consented to my nativity and unhappy procreation, in suffering me to be governed by so hard a destiny or deceived by the most untrue and faithless SYCOPHANT that ever offered service to any poor gentlewoman: Albeit if I had not been so liberal to prostitute mine honour, for satisfying thy unchaste desire, my conscience had been easily dispensed with all for the penuance of so great a salt, my heart free from present passion, & I apt enough to forget thee, whose strong charms of extreme love have so enchanted my senses and made me subject to thy remembrance, that the small time of thy absence is no less grievous unto me, than thy present abuse gives me just cause to cry out openly of thine inordinate cruelty, alas is this the guerdon of thunfeigned love I bore thee? is thy disposition so unnatural, to return the precious merit of mine honour, with so unthankful a meed of undeserved discourtesy? have I loved the so entirely, preferring the most dear above all men in thentrails of my heart, to be deprived of thy company when I expect to reap the fruits of pleasure with everlasting continuance of our society? must I now abandon the fruition of thy presence, being wholly resolved in thy affection, and when I crave thy soc cour by great necessetye? thou art ignorant alas in the case of my extremity, neither was thou ordained to bear part of the pinching pangs which I feel in my womb proceeding of the cursed seeds, sown by that in the bottom of my belly, stirring even now in the parts of my tender sides with such torment, that only I poor wretch do bear the penance of the salt dew to us both. If the view of thy former pleasure, wherewith thou haste been erst so frankly feasted at the bowntyfull hands of thy PANDORA, can not move the to compassion of her present grief, Spare at least to spill the blood of thine own likeness, derived of the drops of the most precious jewice in thee, who harboured (as thy guest) in the secret corners of my tender flanks, takes daily nurture with increase of life by the vital inspiration of nature, and whose innocency (if I die by thy cruelty) will not fail in tother world to summon the afore the high troane of justice, where▪ I expect the just revenge of thundeserved wrong, wherewith (contrary to the nature of loyal lovers) thou rewardest her, that erst loved the not so dearly, as now she persecutes the with mortal hate, even until the last hour of her life.  

Pandora.  
The first view of this letter was of hard, digestion to PARTHONOPE, who albeit the fear which he had, that PANDORA would mordure (as she did in deed) the fruit conge●lēd of the substance of them both in her entrails, presented a certain remorse afore the eyes of his conscience, yet, because she would never afore let him understand that she was with child, he thought it was but a new mean to allure him eftsoons to the traffic of her affairs, whereupon using as little regard to the contents of the letter, as he made small account of her that writ it, dispatched the messenger with this short answer. Thou shalt (sayeth he) declare to thy mysteries that if she had heretofore ymparted to me th'effect of thy present message she should have disposed of me and my friendship at her pleasure, but now seeing she, traves my assistance by necessity, I commit her to the meed of her own folly. whereof PANDORA being advertised by the heavy reapport of her FYNEA, who also alleged despair eftsoons to recover the friendship or company of the knight, entered forthwith into such disposition of malencollie with imaginations of revenge, that converting th'appetite of her ancient love into an humour of deadly hate, doubted whether she should use force against herself, for the spite of the villainy he had done to her, or persecute him unto death whose life she utterly detested, and wavering thus in contrariety of opinions, she sought to appease somewhat the fury of her present dolor, by recording her greet with these lamentable terms.  
Alas (saith she) if this be the reward of true loyalty, what assurance may we reappose in constancy? 
Pandora exclaimeth.  or what meed to be expected in the vertie of such unfeigned friendship, as I professed to this unthankful and perjured knight, have I refused the service of so many gentlemen, offering frankly to employ their times under the beck of my commandment, to make my affection subject to one, who having already called out of me the fruits of his desire, smiles now at my simplicity, and laughs to see me languish in dole? Ah why were the eyes of my mind so dimmed with the mist of fond zeal, that I cold not consider the common malice of men now a days, who preferring their humble service with all kind of oaths, dienge a thousand times a day for our sakes, yea offering their lives to all kind of peril, do seam to remeine prisoners in the ward of our good will, until their feigned ymportunyties, prevailyuge above the weak resistance of us poor wretches do place them in the possession of their desire, and being once made Lords over that, which only cold command them afore, God knoweth how soon they revolt, torninge their seruente affection, into a contempt of our fragility? if I had as carefully cast all arguments, of future disquiet, as I was ready to open mine ears to the sugared breath of his charms, I had eschewed the evil with the cause, neither had I stand (as I do now) ready to enter into the hard penance of my former folly: Ah, most unthankful PARTHONOPE how canst thou so easily forget her, who was no niggard in satisfying thy desires, and whose beauty thou séemedeste erst to have in no less admiration then if I had been sent from above for thanlie solace of my life hath thy present cruelty prevailed wholly above the glory of thine ancient virtue: or haste thou utterly dismissed the remembrance of thy oath, and protestation of faith, which ought to call thy conscience to a remorse forcing a performance of thy promiss? whereof also (sayeth she) casting her watery eyes down to her big belly) thou hast left me a pawn which witnessing no less thy disloyalty against me, then advowching the friendship thou haste found at my hand, ought to knock at the door of thy conscience for some consideration of pity towards her, whom without cause thou dost shamefully abuse? Oh, unhappy and wretched Lady that I am, in what company can I show my head, wherein the bigness of my belly (bringing the blood of shame into my face) will not accuse me of treason towards my husband, being so long time absent, what wrong doth the world to my wickedness, if every man salute me by the name of a common and arraunde strompette? who defacing● her ancient honour and house, with the lascividus exercise of adulterous abuse, deserveth to be registered in the staunderous book of black defame with a crown of infamy for ever? whereunto like as thy subtle practices (Oh daytime knight) hath advanced me, so thy tyranny in the end shall take away the life of those, two. who ought to be far more dear unto thee, than thou seamest to account them: wherewith falling into 
Herself and the child with in her,  alterations of more fury, she began a cruel war with her fair hairs, printing her nails (without respect) in the rosy die of her fair face, bedewing her bosom and skirts of outward garments with the drops of tears distilling from her crystal eyes, and entering thus into the pageant of rage, had here played the last act of the tragedy in executing herself, if the presence of FYNEA had not prevented the fact, who stirring up rather the appitit of revenge in her mysteries, then ministering persuasions to patience or moderation in her dolor, incensed her by all the wicked devices she cold imagine, to wreak her just anger upon the villanons' body of him that so synisterlie procured her passion of undeserved dole, whereunto albeit PANDORA gave diligent ear, with desire to put her advise in execution, yet, having not utterly drained her stomach of all complaints renewed eftsoons her exclamation in this sort.  
Ah. sayeth she why was not I traded in the magical sciences 
Nedea and Circe, 2, great enchannteresses,  of the COLCHOSE MEDEA or thytalyan CIRCE whose cunning (working marvelous in the like affairs) hath left an ymortalitie to their names to all ages, certainly if the heavens had revealed unto me any skill in the mystery of their arts, either should PARTHONOPE be mine, or else would I rain the shower of vengeance upon him and her that enjoyeth the meed of my merit. with such ympetuosytie, that the sequel of the world should have no less cause to chronicle my doings, than they seam commonly to confirm and allow th'acts of the it. former enchaunteresses. And thou FYNEA shouldst have me to forget him, in whose love I dote, although I wish nothing so much as his utter destruction: And now do I see the do reward of my former unchaste conversation, for the seruente affection which I bear him, doth now yield me double vsur●e of the want on liberty wherein I have lived hetherunto, neither shall I be enjoined to other penance for my salt, than a loathesome despair which attends (if I do not recover him whom I have lost, or have speedy means to revenge the wrong he hath done me) to cut in sunder the strings of my life: Wherefore being resolved in some part to follow thy advise, So must I also use thy travail in th'execution of my first attempt, which is that thou go forthwith to the vale of Cammonika in the country of Bressiant which (as they say) is not without great store of cunning sorcerers, amongst whom it is necessary that thou learn (what so ever it cost) some enchantment of so great virtue, that it may not only restore me eftsoons to the friendship of him, whom I think hath 
Pandora sends her maid to practise with the witches of the vale.  utterly forsaken me, but by the conjuration of their charm have power to remove the vail of his affection from his new wife, that making no more account of her, he may from hensfurth dissolve the league of amity between them for ever, wherein if the effect of my desire be furthered by a success of thy diligence, assure thyself, thy travail shallbe so thankfully employed, that chrystenning the hensfurth by the name of my sister, there shallbe neither riches nor commodity any way proper or due unto me, which shall not be common to us both. FINEA who was not so ready to obey her mistress in this devilish enterprise, as given of herself to be a fit minister of evil, descending with expedition into the vale of CAMONIKA, got by the help of those spirits and limbs of the devil, inhabiting that hellish island, certain flowers gathered in the wain of the moon, with droagues and other trumpery of witchcraft, requisite for conjurers, and such as occupy the pernicious trade of enchanting, all which legerdemains and devices of Satan, were as available to the furthering of th'enterprise of Pandora, as there is certainty 
Net her certainty nor assurance in the art of enchanting.  or assurance in th'operation of that dark and hellish science, what invocation so ever they make of the name of God, who being the father and author of all troth, will never have the triumphant glory of his name polluted with the cursed ceremonies of such idolatries, neither will he bow down his ears to the petition of such Diabolical diviners, who practising to seduce the simple sort with charms of sorceries, do prefer the absolute destruction of their own soul. And truly th'almighty (whose judgements are inscrutable) is content sometime to suffer those confurers and enchanters, the very officers of hell, aswell for the scourge of our sins, as to manifest their own infidelity, to work many great and incredible wonders. As we read of the magicians in egypt, before Pharaoh, thenchantress stirring up the spirit of S●muell 
God suffered the magitions of egypt to work wonders in the sight of Pharaoh.  muell in the presence of Saul king of the hebrews, and Simon the coiurer honoured as a God of the foolish prince and people of Rome, to th'end the faithful flock (strengthened and confirmed, by the grace of the holy spirit) may glory in their assured belyef in the true God, by the peremptory fall of those infedels', together with all such as unhappily listen to their pernicious doctrine.  
Here PANDORA saying all her devices (accompanied with a crooked fortune) return a success contrary to her meaning, began to enter into a new passion of such rage and despair, that she had even now dismissed the residue of her days by the fatal doom of her own hands, if she had not been eftsoons interrupted by FINEA, who for thappeasing of her present dole, preferred unto her the aid of a grey friar, a great ghostly father in that City, whom she affirmed to have wrought marvelous effects by the help of certain distilled waters tempered with the iewice of strong herbs, growing secretly within the intrailles of the earth, the nature of hidden stones and metals, powders and séedas not known to many, with diverse other suffumigations incident to witchcraft, and who in deed was noted to have bestowed more of his time 
The study of scripture ought to be th'exercise of the religions  in the study of that dark art, and philosophy of Satan, then in turning over the sacred volumes of holy scripture and testament of the Lord, which ought to be the only exercise of those that are called in the habit of religion.  
Behold here an example of great virtue in our abbey men, who being appareled in a simple habit, in sign of humility, do carry the devil in the cowl of their hoods. And who (according to saint Augustin) being the chief pillars that sustain superstition, are also the greatest friends to idolatry, dim●ynge the purity of religion 
abbeys the chiefest pillars that men teine superstition and idolatry.  (which they ought to honour and profess with sincere imitation) with a cloud of such darkness of the devices of the devil, that th'only vapour of their poisoned infection is able to corrupt the whole air with a contagious pestilence. How should the ignorant be guided in the right way to salvation, if they which ought to open the light of the gospel, do give manifest examples of errors? or how can the glory of God be renowned amongst men? If they which standing in the pulpit of truth, and ought sincerely to preach the law of the Lord, do convert their duty towards the true Religion into practices of Nygromancie and terms of invocation of devils, unprofitable memdres certainly, deserving rather to be utterly wedded out of the common wealth, than (nourished in the idle trade of an abbey lownde) to be suffered (under the vail of Godliness and devotion (to practise heinous conspiracies against God and man? But what do I meddle this part of my history with th'office of the preacher, to whom it chiefilye belongeth to treat upon the sundry abuses, committed daily in Nonries' and other like tenements 
abbeys and Nonries' tenements of Babylon.  of Babylon. To this holy father than comes Pandora with a countenance all clad with sorrow, declaring the circumstance of her love passed, the cause of her present passion, with the whole discourse of her former life hitherunto, craving (with great intercession in the end) th'assistance of his art, for moderation in the martyrdom which she endured; by the fervent affection she bore to the knight.  
The freare (notwithstanding his vow and strait oath of his 
Freares be covetous.  order) had not his conscience so armed with the virtue of charity, nor his hands so clean washed from the covetous desire of filthy gain, but he received certain pieces of gold of Pandora, whom he persuaded should buy certain drogues and other necessaries, which he thought convenient for the making of his Diabolical confection: but to be short these charms and deceitful perfumes of the freare, were of equal operation in this enterprise, to the herbs and other helps lately gathered in the vale Camonika by the woman of Pandora, who seeing herself utterly defied of fortune, in receiving semblable success in all her magical devices, expecting withal a speedy return of her husband, determined to revenge the desloyaltie of her lover upon the fruit stirring in her own womb, being now vj. months since she conceived, thinking she should never be void of desire, to see PARTHONOPE, or at least to revenge his treason, until she had utterly extirped the roots of that seed which he had sown in the soil of her tender sides. Oh cruelty more than barbarous? Is it possible that a Gentelwoman of so tender years, derived of honest parentage, nourished in civility, and that which more is, a Christian, borne in the heart of EUROPE, should so much forget the fear of God and regard to his laws, as in augmenting the heinous fault of the wrong already done against her husband, by so many and unchaste adulteries, to commit in the end an execrable effusion of the blood derived of the drops of her own substance? Oh how cursed and unhappy is the condition of them, that declining (for want of grace) from the path of reason, do suffer themselves to be led by the line of fleshly appetyt, the chiefest mean that makes us forget God and all good order. For this PANDORA desirous to cover her fault, albeit not able to hide her big belly, 
Suggestion of the flesh makes us soonest forget God.  assayed to destroy the creature (moving within her) by crushing her sides with great force, drinking caudles made for the nonst, and swallowing diverse other powders of such strong confection, that their vehement operation within her, had been able to prevail above the strength of the highest complexion of the world. Albeit saying her expected success of this beastly policy, was also denied her, she devised a last mean for the accomplishment of her enterprise, which the very enemy of nature (I am sewer) would abhor to imagine, which was, that seeing she could not be delivered by the assistance of sorceries, purgations, nor other policy, which the art of enchanting was able to lend her, she resolved (as a bloody boocher of her own blood) to break the bed of thin●ant 
A devilish of devise of Pandora.  within her entrails and drive it out of her womb by very force, wherein she was assisted by FINEA, who acaccording to the commandment of her mistress, carriing a silver basin into the highest torret in the house, went thither immediately both together, where after the doors were shot on all sides, Pandora with a troubled countenance all panting, for the horror of the act which she meant to execute, beholding her belly with serpentine eyes sparkling with flames of fury, said unto her maid, like as alas thou knowest FINEA, how extremely I am dealt withal at the hands of the thrisewretched Parthonope, who without any respect to the pain which I endure) hath utterly disclaimed mine acquaintance, with less regard to preserve the seeds which he hath grafted and left growing within me, even so thou art not ignorant of thendeavour I have used to reclaim him, and rampyer myself eftsoons in his favour, whereof the one is no less unlikelye, than the other dangerous: and being spited of fortune, heaven and carthe seam also to bend the force of their malice against mine attempts. Albeit I could somewhat moderate the extremity of my passion, if the view of my great belly, did not renew the rage of my fever, wherein I die a thousand times, having any thing afore mine eyes that either representeth his lieknes, or moveth any cause of remembrance of that detestable wretch, who (as I hope) shall never take pleasure in any child of his engendered in the body of Pandora: and as I have assayed divers ways (as thou knowest) to discharge me of this burden, wherein I have nothing prevailed because my destiny contends against my endeavour. Euenso being not able any longer to conceal my salt nor cover my womb swelled with the wicked seed of his generation, and saying withal, my husband is now upon the point of his return, I am determined to commit my life to extreme peril, to th'end to dispatch me of this burden, which I hate asmuch as other women take pleasure to bear, and bring forth with so great contentement. And if I could as largely command over him, as I have power to work the spite of his wrong upon the pawn he hath left within me, I assure thee, these hands should make no less strange Anatomy of his carcase, than I mean forthwith in thy presence to dismember the monster which by his act I feel stir in the Inner parts of my rains, wherewith FINEA hearing this devilish resolution, preferred persuasions to the contrary, alleging that the horror wear to great; that a mother should become the tyrannous murderess of herself & child at one instant, and (saith she) touching your being with child, there be means enough to keep it secret without using any cruelty, in killing th'innocent creature, which ought not to bear the penance of the fault of the father, tush, tush, saith this she wolf and merciless MEDEA, that evil is but light where counsel takes place, 
The evil is but light where council takes place.  do away these persuasions and dispose thyself to assist me, for otherwise thou shalt see me die in thy presence, and then thy preaching shallbe in vain to her that is absolutely resolved to pursue the end of her meaning, what is it then that I shall do, saith FINEA, to whom (as a cruel MEGAERA coming out of the hollow and dark places of th'infernal valleys, she enjoined her this first charge, get thee up, saith she, upon that high coffer there, and I will spread my belly along upon the ground with my back upward. And so with all thy force thou shalt leap upon my Keynes, which I hope will be a mean to open an Issue for this cursed burden which is so grievous for me to carry, wherein if thou use thutermost of thy force, thou shalt restore me to speedy contentment. But if thou spare to employ thy whole strength, thou shalt prolong my pain, driving me to make mine own hands the ministers of my meaning FINEA not liking greatly the charge of such commission, and much less the execution in so horrible a manner, although the terror of the fact troubled her for a time: Yet being of long time acquainted with the conditions and cruelty of her mistress, mounts upon the high chest, leaping seven or eight times together upon the back of Pandora, with such impetuosity that any man would have thought that so many blows with the heavy swaigh of all her body, had been able to have broken the bones of her back, and dispatched the mother and child together. But all these trafficques being in vain, prolonged but the pain of Pandora, who doubling her rage with this repulse of her enterprise, entered into devices of more mischief and tyranny not almost to be talked of, what heart alas is so endurated with the metal of hardness, but the horror of this hellish cruelty, will move it to destil drops of blood? what countenance so assured that can wythhold his tears, or not shrink at the tyrannous disposition of this lioness? or what hears will not stand up at the tragical discourse of this strange kind of child bearing. truly I know that virtuous Ladies (sprinkled with the dew of pity,) will not only tremble at the remembrance of the inordinate cruelty of this cursed mother, but also open the conduits of their compassions, weeping on the behalf of the torment wherein unnaturally she plunged the innocent imp which nature had form of the substance of herself, who converted from the shape of a woman into the disposition of a devil, raging without measure, that she could not be delivered, howled out at last with a horrible cry full of impiety and blasphemy in this sort. seeing (saith she) that both God and the devil deny me their assistance, I will (in spirit of their powers) rid me of thee. Oh cursed and execrable creature, where with possessed wholly with the spirit of fury, having her eyes sunk into her head, her stomach panting, and her face all full of black blood, by the vehemency of the conflict which she had endured, began to leap withal her force from the tope of the coffer down to the ground, brosing her sides with her hands, and playing on the drum with her fists upon her great belly, with such huge blows, that feeling even now the little creature within her removed from his place, ready to drop out of her womb, called for the socors of FINEA, who standing in place of a midwife. Received (in a silver basin) an infant male unlawfully conceived, bedewed as yet with the wet sods of his wicked mother, sprawling & breathing with a little air of life which doloros spectacle moving FINEA too present compassion, drive her into tears of great dole, as well for that she saw so fair a creature driven out of his habitation before his due term, and without the consent of nature, as also to see it ready to be laid upon the polluted altar of immolations, for an offering to the devil, afore it wear washed and purified thorough thesacred sacrament of Baptism. Oh horrible & execrable condition of an Italian, who being fostered in the miry vale of camonycka amongst the witches and cursed enchaunterers, socked there the vice of her nurse with the milk of her pap. Albeit I could make comparison of the like cruelty executed in the greatest City of France by a gentlewoman of that country, who 
Paris.  being newly delivered of the burden of her belly, made a beastly sacrifice of it in the fire, and that with the consent and in the presence of the detestable pallyard that begat it, 
Whorema●▪ m●●ster.  deserving both to be invested with the title of cursed parents and bloody bochers of the sedes congealed of their own substance, saving that the end of this infortunate Infant was more tragical, and the doings of his mother more detestable, who exceeding the brutuall cruelty of the wolf, tigress, or Lioness ravening amongst the flock of little lambs in the fat and fertyll fields of LIBYA, seeing her thus discharged of her burden, began also to dysmysse the greatness of her dolour, and beholding with her eyes, (shining like the blaze of two torches with the flame of fury) the new borne creature sprawling in the basin, began to whet her tethe, shaking her head with horrible regards prognosticatinge the last act of the rage which she haddes yet to play, saying unto FYNEA, dost thou not see how this little beast resembles already the Image of his perjured father, behold I pray the his countenance, and mark the sundry liklehods that even now appear in his face, arguing undoubtedly that (if life would give leave to his inclination) his detestable disposition would be nothing inferior to that vil lanie of him whose traitorous dysloyaltye hath made me (as thou féest) the cursed minister of inordinate cruelty, And If I had the like power over him that is the cause of this unnatural passion, I would assuredly enjoin him such penance, that his, just chastysment should import a terror to all traitors that hereafter should seek to seduce any Lady by sugared words, wherewith bending her looks towards the little Imp (hasting to his end by the second conflict he had endewred by his mother and her maid, afore his eyes wear unsealed to see the light of this world,) she wished eftsoons the presence of PARTHONOPE upon whom (saith she) sith I am unhappily denied to wreak my vengeance in such sort as I would, at leasts I will content myself for the time, to see the ponyshed in the place of him, whose picture thou rightly presents, as a true patorne shaped of the mass of his substance, and seeing thy destiny is to incur the penance due to thy father, the pain of thy erecution shallbe nothing inferior to the merit of his execrable fault, wherein saith she, arm yourselves, (Oh my hands) with courage, and shrink not to be the ministers of the ponishiment which my tongue hath pro nounced, rejoice Oh my heart in the ●ffusion of his blood, whose death brings repose to the long passion of thy dolours, and you mine eyes laugh your full to see the dismembringe of him, whom I mean to offer as a sacrafyse of vengeance on the behalf of PARTHONOPE, whose remembrance (with the blood of his son) I will presently rote out of my mind for ever. certainly good Ladies my heart abhorring no less the remembrance of this bychfore, than my spirit troubled with trembling fear at the countenance of her creweltye, gives such impediment to my pen, that it is scarce able to describe unto you, the last act of her rage, wherein this limb of th'infernal lake, not worthy any longer to bear the name of a woman, proceeding to th'end of her enterprise, takes up her son with her bloody and murdering hands, whom without all compassion, and contrary to the order of a christian, she beats with all her force against the walls, painting the posts and pavements in the chamber with the bloddde and brains of the innocent creature new borne, wherewith not yet contented nor satisfied in her rage, she takes in either of her hands one of the tender legs of the child now dead, and dividing them as the bocher joints his lamb or young goat which he lays upon his staulle to be sold, fell of a sudden laughter in sign of the great pleasure she took in this execution, wishing notwithstanding to enter into the same exercise with him of whom this deformed carrion (as she termed this dismembered Infant) took his first beginning. Here if I should prefer the particular discourse of the exploits of this second MEDEA and erecrable monster of our time, I could not escape (I am sure) without the secret grudges of some, who having made large sale of their honour at to lo we a price, & getting in like sort the bit of frantic Ialo●ye between their teth, do study nothing but the art of revenge, albeit because the virtue of honest & chastladies shall s●ine the clearer, by the dark eclipse of such cómon enemies of the whole sect Femenyne, I will yet treat of the tyranny of this PANDORA who reserved thextreme point of her jewish cruelty until the last act of her tragedy, for marteringe the dead child, and treading it under her feet, she thrust her hand under his short rib, and taking out his heart, gnawed it (as a bych of HERCANIA) between her teth into little morsels, saying that she hoped one day to provide the like banquyt for PARTHONOPE, which should confirm the quiet she felt in the present death and detestable execution of his Image and likeness, and having her had yet died with the blood of this guiltless imp of nature, she told not be rid of the importunate devil that possessed her, until she had brought the river of her rage unto th'extreme brink of tyranny, neither could her heart be brought to appeasement so long as her eyes fed upon the view of the dead infant: Wherefore calling in a great mastyphe cur, she gave him (by pecemeale) the members of her child, an act sure of no less detestation afore the high throne of God, then to be abhorred of all the world. Ah 'las, have thytalyan mothers no other ●ombes for their children, than to bury them in the belly of a dog? be these the tears wherewith they accompany them into the shrouding sheet? Is this the courtesy of italy? or a cruelty derived of the barbarous nation? but how cold she expose other frewtes outwardly, then according to the nature of the spirit which possessed her within, for the devil being seized of her heart, made her body and other members the ministers of her will, which God doth oftentimes suffer as well for the due correction of heinous faults, as also for an example, and terror to all offenders in the like affairs. I am loath good Ladies to pass any further in the pursuit of this dolorous tragedy, because your eyes (already wearied with weeping,) methinks I see also your ears offer to close themselves against the report of this PANDORA, whose only offence had been enough to stain your whole sect with per petual i●amie, if the pure chastity of so many of you offered not to confute the slander by your virtue only, neither can the impudent and wicked life of such double curtals as (she was) impair th'estimation of them, that with th'intent of pure integrity, do rather give suck to their honour with the milk of simplicytie: then being Italyonated with all subtleties, trusting only in the humour of their own brain, do fall at last into the common slander of all the world: for a famylyar proof whereof I leave you to scan the order and doings of this PANDORA, who waringe now somewhat cold in her former passions of frenzy and rage, began to be pinched with the pangs Incydente commonly to all women, in the painful travel of child bearing, wherefore going to bed she caused certain baynes to be provided, wherein washing herself, the next day being hallowed and a feast of great solempnytye, she was carried in a rich coach to vysitt the company of other Ladies, amongst whom she was not worthy to keep place, being the shameful bother of her own blood, and wicked enemy to the life of man. Herein is to be noted the destructiun of a woman banished the palace of reason together with the due meed of their merytt, who for the respect of a little pleasure, (of no more continuance than a moment) do put their honour upon terms of Infamy, and there souls in hazard of everlasting torment, here the adulterers may see how justly God ponysheth their infidelity & breach of oaths towards their husbands, let also the young ladies and little girls learn to direct the course of their youth by the contrary of this example. and being once registered in the book of marriage, let them stand upon their guard, for falling into the like follies, for there is nothing committed in secret, but in the end it bursts out to a common brute, which our saviour Christ affirmeth by the mouth of the prophet saying, that what so ever is done in the darkest corner of the house, shallbe published in the end in open audience, And he who seeks most to conceal his fault, is not only (by the permission of God) the first opner of the same, but also bears the badge of shame afore the face of the world, and stands in danger of grace in the presence of him from whom no secret can be hid.   
FINIS   

The argument.  
IT may seam to some that delight in the report of other men's faltes with respect rather to take occasion of sinister exclamation, then be warned by their evils to eschew the like harms in themselves, that I have been to prodigal in noting the doings and lives of diverle ladies and gentlewomen declining by misfortune, from the path of virtue and honour, only to stir up cause of reproach, and leave argument to confirm their fond opinion: Albeit as their error appeareth sufficiently in the integretye of my meaning, so I hope thindifferent sort will give an other judgement of my intent, the rather for that I have preferred these discourses both for the profit of the present glory of them that be paste, and instruction of such as be to come, seeing which all they discover more cause of rebuke and vices more heinous in men, than any we find committed by women, and albeit the history last recited hath set forth in lively colours the fury and mad disposition of a woman forced by disloyalty, yet if a man may any way excuse sin, it may in some sort be dispensed with all, or at least with more reason than the tyrannous execution following committed by a man without occasion, where a certain jealousy sprung of an unjust mislike (as she thought) is ready to cover the salt of Pandora, for what is he so ignorant in the passions of love, that will not confess that jealousy is an evil exceeding all the 
jealousy exceeds all the torments in the world.  torments of the world, supplanting oftentimes both wit and reason in the most wise that be, specially when appeareth the like treason, that Pandora persuaded her self to receively him that forsook her, but for tother, how eam he be acquitted from an humour of a frantic man, who without any cause of effence in the world commits cruel execution upon his innocent wife, no less fair and furnished in all perfections, then chaste and virtuous with out comparison, neither is joylowsye the cause of morder considringe that the opinion is no sooner conceived, then there followeth (as it were) a distrust of the party that thinks to receive the wrong, with an indifferent desire to them both to stand upon their guard in sort like two, enemies working the mutual destruction the one of the other, whereof leaving the judgement to them that be of good stomach to digest all kinds of meats, or can carry a brain to buckle with the fumes of every broth that is offered them, I have here to expose unto you a miserable accident happening in our time, which shall serve as a bloddye scaffold or theaterye, wherein are presented such as play no parts but in mortal and furious tragideys.  
❧ AN ALBANOYSE captain being at the point to die killed his wife because no man should enjoy her beauty after his death. ❧. ˙. ˙.  
During the siege and miserable sack of MODONA. (a city of the moors confining upon the sea PELOPONESE not far from the strait of YSTHMYON, by the which the venetians convey their great traffic and trade of merchandise,) Bajazeth th'emperor of the turks, and great grandfather to SULTAN SOLYMAN who this day governeth the state of thorient, used so many sorts of inordinate cruelties in the persecution of those wretches, whom fate with extreme form of his war had not only abandoned from the soil of their ancient and natural bode but also (as people full of desolation and void of succour every way) forced them to crave harbour of the lymytrophall towns adjoining their country, to shroud there weary bodies bledinge still with the wounds of their late war, and overcome besides with the violence of hunger and cold (two; common 
Hunger and cold 2. common enemies attending the camp of misery  enemies that never fail to follow the camp of misery): And as in a general calamity every man hath his fortune: So amongst the unhappy crew of these fugitives & creatures full of care, there was one gentleman no les noble by discente, then worthily revowmed by the glory of his own acts, who accounting it a chief and principal virtue 
In every mischief fortune beareth the greatest swaighe.  to withstand the malice of fortune with magnanimity of mind, thought it not also the office of a noble heart to yield to the sentence of adversity or give any place to the injury of present time, considering that in every distress fortune beareth the greatest swaighe whose malice is neither of perpetuity nor yet to be feared of such as have their hearts armed with assurance in virtue, for as she is no less uncertain of herself, than her doings full of mutability, so according to th'advice of the philosopher, she is to be used with such indifferency of all estates, that we need neither, laugh when she smiles, nor fear when she threats, neither hath she any to follow the chariot of her victory, but the caityffe or toward and such as are denied the assistance 
No man with in the danger of fortune but such as lake assurance in virtue.  and benifet of true virtue. This gentleman (whom mine author termeth by the name of PIERRO BARZO) weary even now with drawing the heavy yecke of hard erile, left the rest of his countrymen and companions of care, complaining their mutual miseries together, and retired to the rythe and populous City of MANTVA, where his civil government, and prudent behaviour) accompanied with a singular dexterity in exploits of arms and other exercises of the valrye, arguing thunfeigned nobleness of his mind) gave such a show of his virtue, that he was not only in short time entertained of the marquis and governor there, but also made general of the whole army of footmen, where 
Virtue yields good fruits to such as embrace her unfeignedly.  enjoying thus the benefit of his virtue, who commonly yields no less success to such as embrace her with true imitation, and tread the path of her loare with semblable sincerity of mind he had there with him at the same instant his wife, being also of MODONA, derived of no less nobility than he, and nothing inferior in all gifts of nature and ornaments of virtue, for touching her beauty, seeming of such wonderful perfection that it was thought nature was driven to the end of her wits in framing a piece of so great excellency, they doubted not to give her thereby the title of the fair Helen of grece, nether was she less meritorious for her virtues being blessed therewith so plentifully at the hands of th'almighty, that it was doubted to the writers of that time whether god or nature deserved the greatest prays in forming so perfect a creature. If this were a consolation and singular contentment of the poor MODONOYSE (waighinge erst in the balance of his unhappy fortune, denied any more to enjoy the freedom of his country, driven by force from the ancient succours and solace of his friends, wandering in woods and desert places unknown, and (that which worse is) left only to the mercy of hunger and could, with expectation to fall eftsoons into the hands of his enemies, and now to be taken from the malice of all these miseries and restored to a place of abode, richesses and entertainment sufficient for sustentation, to bear office and authority amongst the best, and rampired besides within thassured good will and opinion of the chief governor of a country: I appeal to th'opinions of those, who erst have changed their miserable condition or state of adversity, with the benefit & goodness of the like fortune, or if again he had cause to rejoice and make sacrifice to his fortune, that had given him a wife noted to be the odd Image of the world for beauty, behaviour, courtesey, and upright dealing, constant without cause or argument of dishonesty, and that (which is the chiefest ornement and decoration of the beauty of a woman) 
The chiefest virtue in a wise, is to be obedient to her husband  to be of disposition ready to obey her husband, yielding him suffraintye with a deutifull obedience, with other virtues that made her an admiration to the whole multitude, and her life a spectacle to the Laoyes of our age, to behold & Imitate the like virtues, I leave it to the judgement of that small number of happy men, who (by a special grace from above) are ordained to enjoy the benefit of so rare and precious a gift. This couple thus rejoicing the return of happy life, resigned with all their tears of ancient dole, and embraced the gift of present time, with intent to spend the remainder of their years in mutual consolation & contertement of mind, wherein they were assisted with a second blessing of God, who for the increase of their new comfort, sent them a daughter, who in beauty, virtue, and all other gifts of grace did nothing degenerate from the pattern and mould from whence she was derived, whereof she gave great shows as nature seamed to increase her years and confirm her in discretion. But what assurance is there in the pleasure of people, seeing the world hit self is appointed his date, which he can not pass, or why should we repofe a perpetuitye in our worldly afaires, seeing that both their continuance and confidence ends with the length of time? And fortune (who is always jealous of the ease of man) and not content to let us live long in 
Fortune is always jealous of the ease of man.  quiet, is always laying her ambush, devising how to interrupt our felicity, and as she is blind of herself, and less certainty in her doings, so she forgets not to discover her conspiracies when we lest think of her, and invade us when we account us most sewer of her friendship: whereof she gave a manifest declaration in the person of this fair Lady, from whom she took her dear husband in the flower of his years, and she not yet confirmed in age and discretion able to bear and withstand thordinary assaults of the world, which she found also of more uneasy toleration, aswell for the fervent zeal and affiance which law of kind did bind her to bear to her late spouse and loyal husband, as also for that she saw herself left amongst the hands of strangers, far from her parents and friends, void of refuge in her own country, and with out a head to defend her from the malice of men, which commonly rageth with more extremity against weak and desolate widows 
The malice of the world rageth most upon, widows and fatherless children.  and poor fatherless orphans, then against them that are able to withstand their malice, and repress their violence with equal power. And albeit she was left to her own liberty to live as she list, as you have hard, and not yet feeling the burden of xx. winters (an age fit to engender susspition of the evil diposed) yet having no less care to prevent the malice of slander, then to keep in entire the small revenue left unto her by her husband, she took order with her domestical affairs according to her present fortune, and so dismissing her ordinary train of servants, retired to a brother of hers which dwelt also in the same town, where after the funerals of her dead husband were performed with sufficient tears and duties appertaining, she qualifieth somewhat her dole for him that was dead, with the daily view of her young 
The use of the needle a convenient exercise for any degree of women.  daughter (the lively image of her father,) sometime also excercisinge the endeavour of the needle (A recreation most convenient for widows and all honest Matrons) never being seen abroad but of holy and great festival days, when she went in devout manner to the church to here the divine service of God, being unhappily espied (for all that) of an ALBANOYS Captain, a noble Gentleman thereabout, having for the credit of his virtue and valiantness in Arms, the charge of certain troops of horsemen, who glauneing at unwares upon the glistering beams of her beauty, became so desirous eftsoons to encounter the same, that with the often view of her stately parsonage and general fame of her many virtues, he became so in love with her, that (for speedy ease of his present grief) he was driven to put his request upon terms, making first his sighs and sad countenance, his solitary Complexion of face often given to change, his dolorous state. and pitiful regards of the eye when he was in her company, forced now and then to abandon the same, because he could not keep him from tears, his often greeting her with salutations in amorous order, courting her now & then with letters, dyttyes, and presents of great price, with a thousand other vain importunities which love doth imagine to animate his Soldiers, his chiefest Ministers to bewray his intent and solicit his cause, whereof the effect returned no less frustrate, than the devise it self ought to seam vain in the eye of all wife men, for she whose heart could not be erst pierced with the malice of her former fortune, nor be brought to stoop to the lure of adversity, thought it a great fault to let love or folly make any breach, where so many hot assaults and causes of despair had been valiantly resisted and utterly repulsed, for proof whereof, being wholly wed as yet to the remembrance of her dead husband, she would neither admit his clients, nor give audience to his ambassadors, but dismissed both the one and the other with semblable hope, which brought the Captain in such case, that it seamed to him a harder matter to compass the good will of his Lady, then to govern an army or plant a battrye with the advantage of the ground and place, neither was he able to withdraw his affection or mortify the fire newly burst out to flame, because the remembrance of her beauty, the often view of her virtue enlarged by the general fame of all men, together with the nobleness of her race enroled in the records of Antiquity, presented a more desire in hy n with care to obtain her, and aggravated his grief in being repulsed of that which his heart had already vowed to honour till the extreme date of his days, neither had he the face eftefones to attempt her of himself, and much less to desist from the purseute of his desyere, but being at the point to incur the hazard of despair, behold love preferred a new and most sewer mean, willing him to crave the assistance of her brother, who being his dear friend and companion in arms in the service of divers Princes afore time, he made no less account of his furtherance, then if he had already gotten his friendship, wherefore delaying no moment of time, but plying the wax whilst the water was warm, he accosted the young man at a convenient time and roved at him in this short sort. It is my dear friend and companion, a virtuous disposition 
The Captain to his friend.  to be ready in well doing, and easy to assist honest requests, which to your nature hath been always no less peculiar, then to me now a courage in so honest a case to crave your aid, neither can the virtue of true friendship more lively appear or th'office of assured friends more amply be discerned, then in making the grief of the one common to both, and bear the gift of time 
Thoffice of true friendship where in it consists.  and fortune indifferently with mutual affection and like zeal on both parts, wherein for my part I would I had as good mean to make declaration of my true heart towards you, as of long time I have vowed to be yours to the uttermost of my power, and you no less desire to do me good, than your diligence and assistance of friendship is most able to stand me in stead in my present case of no less importance than the very safeguard of my life, which last words made the Modonoyse reply with like frank offer of mind, protest king unto him by the faith of a soldier, that if ever he felt any motion in himself to do him the least good of the world, his desire was double to requite it proferinge here with, for a further show of his good meaning, and declaration of faith, to rack his power on his behalf so far fourth, as either life, living, or honour would bear him, but he whose desire tended not to things impossible, nor sought to maintain war against the heavens, reaposinge much for himself in the offer of his friend, thought the conquest was half won, when he had promised his assistance, and because there lacked nothing but to utter his grief, he told him that the thing he desired would bring advancement to them both, and because saith he, I will clear the doubt which seams to trouble you, you shall understand that the beauty, gifts of grace, and other honest parts in your sister, have so enchanted my senses, that having already lost the use of my former liberty, I can not eftsoons be restored with out the speedy assistance of her good will, neither have I other power of myself, or consolation in my present extremity, than such as is derived of the hope which I have hereafter to enjoy her as my lawful wife, for otherways I am as void of foul meaning to work her dishonnor for the servant love I bear her, as free from intent to procure so great a spot of infamy to the house which norrished you both in so great honour. And to be plain with you, the glymering glances of her twinkling eyes, together with a princely majesty which nature hath leute her above the rest of the Dames of our days, hath made my heart more assaltable & apt to admit parley, then either the noise of the canon or terror of the enemy, how great soever they have appeared, have heretofore feared me, which makes me think that there is either some celestial or divine mystery shrouded under the veil of her beauty, making me thereby yield her honour in hope of preferment, or else by the angry consent of my cursed dostines, it is she that is appointed to pay thinterest of my former liberty, in transforming my ancient quiet into a thousand annoys of uneasy toleration. And albeit I have hethertd reserved the maydenhed of my affection and lived no less free from thamarous delights or desires of women, yet being now overtaken and tied in the chains of true affection, I had rather become captive and yield myself prisoner in the pursuit of so fair a Lady, then to have the honour of the greatest victory that ever happened to Captain by prowess or policy or dint of cruel sword of his valiant soldiers, wherefore as your authority with your sister, is rather to command, then entreat, and by the frendshipppe which hath remeined indissoluble between us from the beginning, never giving place to any peril what so ever it were; I conjure you, and as my last request beseech you, to aid me herein so farfurth as your diligence may seam to work my desire to effect, whereunto the Modonoyse replied with great thanks for the honour he offered him and his sister, whom he half promised already to frame according to his expectation, promising himself a great good hap not only in entering into alliance with so noble a Gentleman, but also that he should be the worker of the same, whereupon embracing each other, the one glad to see so happy a success like to follow his business, the other no less joyful to have so fit a mean to manifest his friendship to wards his friend; departed with semblable contentment, the one to his lodging with a thousand hammors in his head till he saw the effect of his drift, the other with no less grief of mind till he had performed the expectation of his charge, wherein he began immediately to practise with his sister, whom he found of a contrary opinion, excusing herself with the care she had of her daughter, whom she said she would neither leave alone, nor commit herself to the order and government of strangers, at whose hands there is as great doubt of good entratye, as small help or hope of amendment being once made their vassalt and subject by law of marriage, besides (sir) saith she not without some tears, it is not yet a year since I lost him, whom if I loved by awe being on live, I ought with no less duty to honour after his death, neither cold I avoid the just murmur and ordinary suspicion of the peopls, y● I should seam more hasty to yield my affection to other, then ready to perform my duty & ceremonies of dole to him that is dead, and that with in the year afore the funeral be fully ended, the widows life is also pure of itself, bound to no care nor controlment of any, and so acceptable before God, that th'apostle doubteth not to account her among the number of the religious, if after she have once tasted of marriage and restored again to her liberty, she content herself with the first clog or burden of bondage, living after in imitation of true virtue, besides the holy man Saint Augustin dissuadeth all widows eftsoons to marry, advising them to mortify such motions as the flesh is apt to stir up and norrishe, by contemplation and prayer, and true sincerity of life, saying further that they are accounted afore God amongst the number of chaste and pure virgins. And because it may be peradventure th'opinion of some, that the burden of widowed is grievous & almost intolerable unto me, presuming the same rather by the greens of my youth (not yet cofirmed in ripeness of years and discretion) then upon any good or assured ground to justify their opinion, I assure you, I feel myself so plentifully assisted with the spirit of grace, that I doubt no more to withstand all temptations & vain assaults which the wicked instigations of the flesh may hereafter minister unto me, than heretofore in tender years when nature denied any such motion to stur in me, I lived free & void of suck provocation. And for end good brother, my heart, devining diversly of the success of this marriage, threateneth a further mischief to fall upon me, and to late a repentance for you that is the unfortunate causer of the same. Here her brother knowing it a fault in all women to here themselves well spoken of and yet a chief mean to win them to feed their humour with flatterings prays begun to join with her in commendation of her honesty, affirming her chaste conversation to be no less meritorious since she was widow, than her pure virginity generally allowed, and praised of all men afore she was married, which is the chiefest cause said he that the Captain desireth in honest sort to possess you, but touching any sinister success that might follow this sacred league of lawful matrimony as she seamed to predestinate within herself, he ministered persuasions to to the contrary, alleging the same to be a superstitious folly attributed to the ancients of old time, to calculat their good or ill success by the tunes or charm of birds, or sometime by the sudden encounter of beasts or such men as they looked not for, arguing the same to be such absolute signs of ill luck that commonly they would refrain from their affairs as the day, & touching the murmur & suspicion of the people whose tongues although they be naturally tipt with the metal of slander yet ought you as little saith he fear their malice, as care for their grudge, considering your act is no less acceptable afore God, then tolerable by the positive laws of man, neither can they but judge well of your doings & like better of your choice seeing you are woede with great importunyties, and won by one that is of your own quality and nothing inferior to you in virtue or nobleness of race, but if you stick of any ceremonies which you have yet to perform to him that is dead, your error is greater then you may justify, and your wisdom less than is necessary in such a case, neither is the voice of the multitude in that respect of such countenance, but time can take it away and a wonder lasteth not for ever, and for my part I hope you will confer my present meaning in this matter, with the long experienced faith and affection which heretofore you have noted in me, besides I cold not avoid th'imputation of a monster and enemy to nature, If I should not be as careful of your quiet as of my own life, praying you for end and as my last request to reappose yourself wholly upon my faith, and friendship and fidelytye of him, who honoureth you with no less than his life and all that he hath, wherewith he so much prevailed over his obedient sister, that she being unhappily overcome with his vehement importunyties condissended very willingly to his unfortunate request, which after became the peremptory destruction of the poor widow, leaving to late & miserable a repentance to her brother: albeit afore I proceed to the ceremonies of her unfortunate marriage, I thought good to tell unto you in this place thopinion of mine author touching the dyvynation of the spirit of man, who (saith he) albeit by a secret instincke and virtue of the mind, is able some times to presage that will fall, and the soul (being divine of itself) doth also prognosticate diversly of the future chances and 
touching dyvynation of the mind.  changes of things, yet the body (being the house or harborer of the mind) framed of the substance of clay or a thing of more corruption, doth so prevail and overcome the qualities and gifts of the mind, in casting a mist of darkness afore our understanding, that the soul is not only barred to expose the fruits of revelation, but also it is not believed when she prognosticates a troth, neither is it in the power of man to shone or shrink from that, which the foreknowledge of the highest hath already determined upon us, & much less to prevent or withstand the sentence of him, whose doom is as certain as himself is truth, wherein because I am sufficiently sustefyed by thauthorities of diverse histories aswell sacred as profane, I will not stand here to enlarge the proof with copy of examples, but refer you to the reading of the sequel of this woeful lady, who although her fate was revealed unto her afore, yet was she denied to shone the destiny and sharp judgement which the heavens were resolved to thunder upon her. But now to our purpose, thagreement thus made between the fair greek Lady and don SPADO the valiant captain, there lacked nothing for consemation of the marriage but th'assistance of the rites and ancient ceremonies appointed by order of holly church, which the captain forgot not to procure with all expedition of time, and for the more honour and decoration of the feast he had there the presence of the marquis of MANTVA, being there not so much for the honour of the bridegroom, as to testify to the open face of the world thearnest affection he bore to her first husband RARZO, whom he accounted no less dear unto him for credytt and trust, than the nearest friend of his blood. But now this albanoys enjoy, eng thus the fruits of his desire, cold not so well bridal his present pleasure, nor conceal the singular contentment he conceived by the encounter of his new mistress, but in public show began to prate of his present felicity, arguing the same to be of greater moment, then if he had been frankly restored to the title and dignity of a kingdom, giving fortune also her peculiar thanks, that had kept this good torn in store for him, saying that she could not have honoured him with a greater preferment then to put him into the possession of her who was without a second in all Europe. But as in every thing excess is hurtful, bringing with it a double discomodity, I mean both a sourfet to the stomach by the pleasure we deal ite in, & a jealous loathing of the thing we chief love and hold most dear, so the extreme and superfluity of hot love of this fond husband towards his wife, began within the very month of the marriage, to convert itself into a contrary disposition, not much unlike the loving rage of the she ape to 
The property of a she ape in embracing. her young on's.  wards her yongeones, who as the poets do affirm doth use to choose among her whelps one whom she loves best, & keeping it always in her arms doth cherish & loll it in such rude sort that or she is aware she breaketh the bones and smothereth it to death, killing by this means with overmuch love the thing which yet would live if it were not for thexcess of her affection, in like sort this ALBANOYSE doting without discration upon the desire of his new lady, & rather drowned beastly in the superfluity of her love, them weighing rightly the merit & virtue of true affection, entered into such terms of fervent jealousy, that every i'll that wasteth afore her, made him sweat at the brows with the suspicion he had of her beauty, wherein he suffereth himself to be so much subject & overcome with the rage of this folly, that according to the jelowse humour of thytalyan, he thought every man that looked in her face, went about to graft horns in his forehead, Oh small discretion, and less wisdom in one that ought with the shape and form, to merit the name & virtue of a man, what sudden change & alteration of fortune seams now t'assail this valiant captain, who erst loved loyally within the compass of raisin & now doting without discretion, thinketh himself one of the for●ued ministers of cornwall, & albeit I must confess unto you that the more rare & precious a thing is of itself, that more diligence & regard ought we to use to preserve & keep it in good estate, yet a wise and chaste woman being one of the rarest things of the world & special gift of god, ought not to be kept in the mew nor guarded with curious & continual wach, & much less atended upon which the jealous eyes of Argus, for like as she that weigheth her honour & life in indifferent balance, not meaning to exchange the one but with the loss of the other, is not easily corrupted by any sugared train of flattering love, so the restraint of the liberty of women, together with a distrust proceeding of none occasion, is the chiefest mean to seduce her that else hath vowed an honest and integrity of life even until the end of her natural days, And in vain goeth he about to make his wife honest, that either locks her in his camber or fills his house full of spies to note her doings, considering the just cause he gives her hereby to be revenged of the distrust he hath of her with out occasion, seeing with all the nature of some women is to enlarge their liberty that is abridged them in doing the thing they are forbidden more in disspyte of the distrust of their foolish husbands then for any appetite or expectation of other contentment to themselves, neither hath this foolish humour of jelowzy so much power to enter into the heart of the virtuous and wise man, who neither will give his wife such cause to abuse herself towards him, nor suspect her without great occasion, nor yet, give judgement of any evil in her, without a sewer ground and manifest proof, and yet is he of such government for the correction of such a salt, that he had rather cloak and digest it with wisdom, then make publication with open punishment in the eye of the slanderous world, by which rare patience and secret dissimulation, he doth not only choke the mouth of the slaunderor, burying the salt with the forgetfulness of the fact, but also reclaymes her to an assured honesty and faith hereafter, that erst had abused him by negligence and ill fortune: but he which pens his wife in the highest vaulteof his house, or tieth a bell at her sleeve because he may hear whether she goeth, or when he takes a long journey paints a lamb of her belly, to know if she play false in his absence, these sleights I say do not only deceive him that deviseth them, but also gives him for his travel the true title of coockeholde, in like sort what greater sign or argument can a man give of his own folly, then to believe that to be true, which is but doubtful, and yielding rashly to the resolution and sentence of his own conceits, thinks his wife as light of the sear and apt to deceive him, as he is ready to admit sinister suspicion, which proceeds but of an ymperfection in himself, judging the disposition of an other, by his own complerion, which was one of the greatest faltes in this valyante ALBA NOISE, who fearing even now that which he need not to doubt, began to stand in awe of his own shadow, persuading himself, that his wife was nolesse liberal of her love towards others, then to him, and that the benefit of her beauty was as common to strangers as to himself, albeit the good Lady espying well enough, the grief of her husband, was not idle for her part, to study the means to please him, and also to frame her life in such wise every way that her chaste and discrete government towards him, might not only removethe vail of his late susspition, but also take away the thick mist of frantic jealousy, that put him in such disquiet and made him so far exceed the limits and bonds of discretion, albeit her honest endeavour herein received a contrary effect, and as one borne under a crabbed constellation, or ordained rather to bear the malice of a froward desteinye, she could not devise a remedy for his disease nor any herb to purge his suspicious humour, but the more she sought to prefer a show of sincerity and honesty of life, the more grew the fury and rage of his perverse fancy, thinking the compainye and fellowship of his wife, to be as indifferent to others, as peculiar to himself.  
What life were like to the married man's state, or pleasures semblable to the joys of the bed, if either the one or the other might be dispensed with all from the fury of frantic jellowsie, or amongst a thousand inconveniences which only the married man doth find? what greater mischief may be more for the dissolution of the mutual tranquillity of them both, then where the one loves unfeignedly, and the other is doubtful without cause, but the ease and quiet of men are of so small a moment, and their common pleasures so interlarded with an ordinary mishap, that there is as small hold of the one, slipping away with the shortness of time, as undoubted assurance to have the other a common guest, and haunt us in all our doings, not leaving us till he hath seen us laid in the pit and long bed of rest, whereof I have here presented you a little proof in the picture and person of this selly ALBANOYSE, who beginning as you have hard, to enter into some terms of jellowsie with his wife, with whom notwithstanding he had consumed certain months in such pleasures as marriage doth allow, began to grow more fervent in that fury, then either his cause did require or wisdom ought to suffer, wherewith setting abroach the vessel of that poison, forgot not for his first endeavour to dog the doings of his wife with secret spies in every corner, to abridge her liberty in going abroad, and bar the access of any to come to her, keeping notwithstanding no less watch and ward about her chamber, thenne the good soldier upon his trench, or circumspect captain upon the walls of his fortress, which brought the selly Lady into such sorrow, that the state of the caitiff and slave of the gallye bound to his ore with a chain of unreasonable biggnes, or he that by hard sentence of the Law doth lie miserably in the bottom of a prison all the days of his life, seamed of more easy regard thenne the hard condition of her present state, albeit true virtue hath such operation and effect of herself, that how grievously soever the world doth persecute her, or seek to crucify her with the malice of men, yet can they not so keep her under by any force they can devise, but certain streams and sparks will 
Five virtue will always yields fruits according to the goodness of the thing,  burst out now and then, and show herself at last (as she is able) to withstand the violence of any mortal affliction, whereof an affect appears here in the sequel of this Greek lady, who noting the disposition of her husband, overcharged with a mad humour of wrong conceits, gave judgement ymedyatlye of his disease, and being not able utterly, to expulse his new fever, studied by her endeavour to infer a moderation of his passion, wherein for her part, she forgot not to make patience her chiefest defence, against the foolish assaults of his wilful follies, not only requiting his extraordinary rage and fits of fury, with a dutiful humylitye and obedience of a wife, but also ceased not to love him no less than her honour and duty bound her thereunto, hoping with th'assistance of some convenient time, and her discrete behaviour towards him, both to take away the disease, and mortify the cause of his evil she seamed neither to reprehend his salt openly, nor which other terms thenne argued her great humility, and for herself, how evil soever he entreated her, she gave an outward show of thankful contentment, and when it was his pleasure to shut her close in a chamber, as a bird in the cage, she refused not his sentence, but embracing the gift of her present fortune, took such consolation as the hard condition of her case would admit, giving god thanks for his visitation, and craving with like intercession to have her husband, restored to the use of his former wits: Albeit all these dutiful shows of obedience, and patient digesting of his unnatural discourtesies, together with a rare and ready disposition in her to frame herself wholly to thappetite of his will, prevailed no more to enlarge her liberty, or redeem her from the servile yoke of close ymprisonement, then to reclaim his hagarde mind to thunderstand of reason, or restore the trance of his frantic humour, raging the more (as it seamed) by the incredible constancy he noted in this mirror of modesty, obedience, wisdom, and chastity, whose example, in them all deserves certainly to be graven in pillars of eternetie, and hung up in tables of gold, in every palace and place of estate, to th'end that you ladies of our time, may learn by imitation of her order and government, to attain to the like perfection of virtue, which she left as a special pattern to you all, to th'end also that if any of you by likemisfortune, do fall into the danger of semblable accidents, you may learn here thorder of your government, in the like affairs, and also to suppress the rage of jealousy rather by virtue, than force, which commonly is the foundation of skandale and slander, divorcement & violation of marriage, upon doth consequently ensue civil dissensions, & utter subuercion of houses of antiquity: but now to the place of our history.  
This frantic ALBANOYSE and jealous captain, being one of the train of the lord james TRIVOULSE a great favourer of the faction of GEBALYNO in italy, and at that time governor of the duchy of milan under the french king, JOYS the third of that name, whether it were to make a further proof, of the patience of his wife, or by absence to mortify and forget, his fond opinion, conceived without cause, retired upon a sudden to Neweastel, the court and ordinary place of abode, of the said Lord TRYVOULSE, which albeit was of hard digestion, to the lady for a time, yet being not unacquainted with such chances, and no pren 'tice in the practice of her husband, retired to her ancient patience, and contentment by force, dyssimuling with a new grief and secret sorrow, this new discourtesy, to th'end that her waspish husband, should take no exceptions to her in any respect, but find her in this, as the former storms, bend wholly to obey thappetite of his will, and not to mislike with that which he finds necessary to be done.  
This TRIVOULSE had not spent many months in france, but there was commenced information against him to the king, that he was revolted from the french, and become friend to the Swytzers, and sworn to their seigneurye and faction, wherewith ymediatelye fame the common 
〈◊〉 the common catyer of tales.  carrier of tales) filled all ears of MILAN, and the province there about, with this further addition, that the king for that cause, had sent him headless to his grave, albeit as fame is rather a messenger of lies, than a treasure of truth and ra her to be hard, then believed, so this brute being not true in the last, did ymporte a certain credit in the first for TRYVOULSE not liking to live in the displeasure of his prince, abandoned his charge, and came into Lombary, where being summoned by the messenger of death, gave place to nature and died, who being the only master and meynteynor of the ALBANOYSE captain whilst be lived, cold not easily be forgotten of him after his death, for after his departure was past, the general doubt of the people, and each voice resolved, that he was laid in his grave, Don Capitaino spado, resolved wholly into tears, seamed here to pass, the mystery of a new trance, which with the fresh remembrance of his ancient harm, and green wound of unworthy jelowsye, bleeding yet in his mind, brought him in that case, that he neither desired to live, nor doubted to die, and yet in despair of them both: his solace of the day was converted into tears, and the hours of the night went away in vistons and hollow dreams, he loathed the company of his friends, and hated the things that should sustain nature, neither was he contented with the present, nor cared for the chance of future time, which sudden alteration in strange manner, drive his careful wife, into no less astonishment than she had cause, and being ignorant of the occasion, she was also void of consolation, which doubled her grief, till time opened her at last a mean to communicate familiarly with him in this sort, Alas sir (saith she), to what end serve these pining conceits, forcing a general debilytie thorough all your parts? or why do you languish in grief, without discovering the cause of your sorrow, to such as hold your health no less dear than the sweet and pleasant taste of their own life? from whence comes this often change of complexion, accompanied with a disposition of malencolicke dompes arguing your inward & fretting care of mind? why stay you not in time the source of your skorching sighs, that have already drained your body of his wholesome humours appointed by nature to give suck to thentrails and inward parts of you? and to what end serveth this whole river of tears, flowing by such abundance from your watery eyes almost worn away with weeping? is your grief grown great by continuance of time, or have you conceived some mislike of new? If your house be out of order in any sort, or that want of duty or diligence in me procureth your grudge, declare the cause, to th'end the fault may be reform in me, and you restored to your ancient order of quiet, & we both enjoy a mutual tranquillity as appertaineth. But he that laboured of an other disease than is incident commonly to men of good government, absolved her of all faults or other mislikes he found in the state of his house, or other his affairs committed to her order, & less lack of her diligence to make declaration of her duty to thutermoste, but alas saith he, with a deep sigh derived of the ●retinge dolour of his mind, and doubled twice or thrice within his stomach afore he could utter it, what cause of comfort or consolation hath he to live in this world, from whom the malice of destiny hath taken the chiefest pillar of his life, or to what end serveth the fruition or interest of longer years in this vale of unquietness, when the body abhorreth already the long date of his abode hear? or why should not this soma or mass of corruption which I received of the world, be dismissed to earth, and my soul have leave to pass into the other world, to shun this double passion of present torment which I feel by the death of my dear friend? Ah my dear Lady and loyal wife, my grief is so great, that I die to tell you the cause, and yet the very remembrance presents me with triple torments, wherein (I must confess unto you, that since the death of the late Lord John Trywlso, I have had so little desire to live, that all my felicity is in thinking to die, neither can there be any thing in the world more acceptable to me then death, whose hour and time, if they were as certain, as himself is moste sewer 
Albeit death is most certain, yet the hour and time of his coming is not known.  to come in the end, I could somewhat satisfy the great desire I have to die, & moderate the rage of my passion in thinking of the shortness of the doom that should give end to my dying ghost and unruly sorrows together? besides weighing thin●inite miseries of our time, (accompanying us even from the womb of conception) with the rest and reappose which dead men do find, And knowing withal how much I am in the debt of him that is dead, I can not wish a more acceptable thing than the speedy approach and end of my days, to th'end that being denied the view of his presence here I may follow him in tother world, where participating indiferently such good and evil as falleth to his share, I may witness with what dutiful zeal & affectioned heart I sought to honour and serve him in all respects. But the Lady that saw as far into the disease of her husband, as his phizition into his urine, knowing well enough that he did not languish so much for the desire of him that was dead, as the ticklish humour of jelowsye troubled him, was content to admit his coollours (how fine so ever they were) aswell to prefer her duty to th'uttermost, as also to avoid imputation or cause of suspicion on her part, wherewith entering into terms of persuasion, she added also this kind of consolation following.  
More do I grieve (sir) saith she with the small care you 
The Lady comforts her husband.  seam to take of yourself, than the terms of your disease do trouble me, considering the same proceeds of so slender occasion, that the very remembrance of so great an oversight, aught to remove the force and cause of your accident: admit your grief were great indeed, and your disease of no less importance, yet ought you so to bridle this wilful rage and desire to die, that in eschewing to prevent the will and set hour of the Lord, you seek not to further your fatal end by using unnatural force against yourself, making your beastly will the bloody sacrifice of your body, whereby you shallbe sewer to leave to the remeinder of your house, a crown of infamy in the judgement of the world to come, and put your soul in hazard of grace afore the troane of justice above, you know (sir) I am sewer that in this transitory and painful pilgrimage, there is nothing more certain than death, whom albeit we are forbidden to fear, yet ought we to make a certain account of his coming, neither is it any other thing (according to the scripture) than 
Death the messenger & minister of God.  the minister and messenger of God, executing his infallible will upon us wretches, sparing neither age, condition nor state. It is he that gives end to our misery hear, and safe conduit to pass into the other world, and assote as we have taken possession of the house of rest, he shooteth 
The grave is the house of rest.  the gates of all annoy against us, feeding us (as it were) with a sweet slumber or pleasant sleep, until the last sommonce of general resurrection. So that sir methinks they are of the happy sort, whom the great God vouchsafeth to call to his kingdom, exchanging the toils & manifold cares incident to the creatures of this world, with the pleasures of his paradise & place of reapose that never hath end. And touching your devotion to him that was dead, with vain desire to visit his ghost in the other world, persuading the same to proceed of a debt and dutiful desire you have to make yet a further declaration of your unfeigned mind towards him, I assure you, (sir▪ I am more sorry to see you subject to so great a folly, than I fear or expect the effect of your dream, for as it seams but a riddle, proceeding of the vehemency of your sickness, So I hope you will direct the sequeile by sage advise, converting the circumstance into air, without further remembrance of so foolish a matter, wherein also I hope you will suffer the words of the scripture to direct you, who allowing small ceremonies to the dead, forbides us to yield any debt or duty at all to such as be already passed out of the world, and much less to sacrifyze ourselves for their sakes upon their tombs, (according to the superstitious order of the barbarians in old time, remeining 
A ceremony amongst the barbarians to sacrifice themselves upon the tombs of their dead fr●ndes.  at this day in no less use among the people of the west world, but rather to have their virtues in due veneration and treading in the steps of their examples, to imytate their order with like integretye of life. And for my part (saith she) dying her garments with the drops of her watery eyes, proving to late what it is to lose a husband, and to forget him, whom both the law of God and nature hath given me as a second part of myself, to live with mutual contentment until the dissolution of our sacred bond, by the heavy hand of God, am thus far resolved in myself, protesting to perform no less by him that liveth, that if the fury of your passion prevail above your resistance, or your disease grow to such extreme terms, that death will not be otherways answered, but that you must yield to his sommance and die, I will not live to lament the loss of my second husband, nor use other dole in the funeral of your corpse, then to accompany it to the grave in a sheet or shroode of like attire: for your eyes shall no sooner close their lids or lose the light of this world, than these hands shallbe ready to perform the effect of my promiss, and the bell that giveth warning of your last hour, shall not cease his doleful knil, till he have published with like sound the semblable end of your dear and loving wife, whose simple and frank offer here (opening a most convenient occasion for her wilful husband to disclose the true cause of his disease) prevailed so much over his doubtful and wavering mind, that dismissing even then his former dissimulation, he embraced her, not without such abundance of tears and unruly sighs, that for the time they took away the use of his tongue. Albeit being delivered of his trance, and restored to the benefit of his speech, he disclosed unto her the true cause and circumstance of his grief in this fort.  
Albeit since the time of my sickness (saith he) you have seen what distress and desolation have passed me, with fits of strange and diverse disposition, marueiling no less (I am sewer) from what fountain have flowed the Symptoms of so race a passion, wherein also your continual presence and view of my weak state is sufficiently able to record the whole discourse of my disease, yet are you neither partaker of my pain, nor privy to the principal causes of so strange an evil, neither have I been so hardy to discover them unto you because I have been hitherto doubtful of that, whereof your last words have fully absolved me. And now, being weakened with the weariness of time & sickness, in such sort, as nature hath rid her hands of me, and given me over to the order of death, who is to spare me no longer, but to utter these last words unto you, I account it a special felicity in my hard fortune, that in thoppening of the true causes of my gre●e, I may close and seal up the last and extreme term of my life. And because I will clear in few words the mystery which seams to amaze you. You shall note that there be iij. only ministers and occasions of my disease, whereof the first, (and of least importance) is for the death of my late Lord and master, Don John tryvoulso whereof you are not ignorant, the second (exceeding the first in greatness of grief and force against me) is to think that the rigour of my destinies, and violence of sickness, yielding me into the hands of death, will dissolve and break by that means, the league of long and loyal love which from the beginning my heart hath vowed unto you, but the third and last, (of a more strange quality then either of the rest) is to think that when I am dead, and by time worn out of your mind, an other shall enjoy the sweet and pleasant benefit of that divine beauty of yours, which ought to serve but for the diet of the gods, the simple view whereof seams able (if it were possible) to make me sufferye martyrdom of ij. deaths, whereunto she replied with persuasions to drive him from his fond devise, proffering herself eftsoons to die for company, wherein (calling the majesty of the highest to witness,) she protested again, that if he would not be reclaimed from his desire to die, within a very short moment of time, she would be as ready to yield death his tribute as he, all which she inferred (I think) rather to feed the time, then of intent to perform the effect of her offer, having the like opinion of her husband, whom she thought always to have such power to repress the evil spirit that possessed him, y the would not become the unnatural murderer of himself and much less execute the like rage on her. But alas thinfortunate Lady, brewed hear the broth of her own bane, and spon the thred● of her own destruction, for falling now unhappily into the malice of her destiny, thinking nothing less than of the secret ambush of mortal treason her husband had laid for her, went unhappily to bed with him the same night, where for his part, preferring in his face a show of feigned contentment & consolation to the eye), he forced a further quiet of mind by the joy he imagined in the act he meant to do, but chiefly for that he had devised how th'innocent Lady (through the rage of his villainy) should be forced to an effect of her promiss, for the speedy execution whereof, they had not been long in bed together, but he 
The captain riseth to fetch his dagger to kill his wife.  rise from her, feigning a desire to perform the necessity of nature in the closet or chamber of secrets, his erraund in deed being to fetch his dagger, which (without making her privy) he conveyed under the bolster of his bed, beginning even then to prefer a preamble afore the part he meant to play, for falling from his former complaints of sickness, he retired into terms of extreme ●ren●zy and madness, brainge out such groans and sighs of hideus' disposition, with owling, crying, and foaming at the mouth, like one possessed with an evil spirit, that who had seen his often change of coollor and complexion in his face, his ghastly regards arguing intents of desperation, and his eyes (slaming with fury,) sunk into his head, with the order of his passion every way, might easily have judged the desire of his heart to be of no small importance, and the thing he went about neither common nor commendable, wherein he was assisted with three enemies of diverse dispositions, love, jealousy, and death, the least of the which is sufficient of himself to make a man chafe in his harness, and take away the courage of his heart in the midst of the combat, for the one presented a certain fear by reason of the horror of the act, the other sewed (as it were) for an abstinence, or at least amoderation of the cruelty he had commenced against his innocent wife, but the third, being the beginner of all, & exceeding the rest in power, would not dismiss him from the stage till he had played th'uttermost act of his malicious tragedy.  
Mark here (good Ladies) the desolation of this unfortunate Gentlewoman, and dispose yourselves to tears on the behalf of her distress, wherein certainly you have no less reason to help to bewail her wretched chance, then just occasion to join in general exclamation, against the detestable act of her tyrannous husband, who disclayminge even now his former state and condition of a man, retires into thabit of a monster, and cruel enemy to nature, and in converting the virtue of his former love and remembrance of the sundry pleasures he had heretofore received of his dear and loving wife, into present rage and unnatural fury, far exceeding the savage and brutish manner of the Tiger, Lion, or Libards, bred in the deserts of Afric the common nurse of monsters, and creatures cruel without reason, whetting his teeth for the terrible suggestion of the devil, who at thinstant put into his hand the dagger, wherewith after he had embraced and kissed her in such sort as judas kissed our Lord the same night he betrayed him, he 
Here he killeth his wyf.  saluted her with ten or twelve estockadoes, one in the neck of an other in diverse parts of her body, renewing the confilict with no less number of blows in her head and arms, and because no part should escape free from the stroke of his malice, he visited her white and tender legs, with no less rage and fury than the rest, wherewith beholding in her diverse undoubted arguments of death, began the like war with himself, using the same mean and ministers with his own hands, enbrewed yet with the blood of his innocent wife, she wing (notwithstanding this horrible part and act of despair) diverse and sundry signs of special gladness and pleasure in his face, wherein he continued till the last and extreme gasp of life, chiefly for that he saw him accompanied to death with her, whom he was not able to leave behind him on live, and who (being overcharged as you have hard) with the number of wounds, the violence whereof, (prevailing far above the resistance of life) did press her so much with the hasty approach of death that the want of breath abridged her secret shrift and confession to god, with less leisure to yield her innocent soul (with humble prayer) into the hands of her redeemer, and commend the forgiveness of her sins to the benefit of his mercy. Only she had respite (with great a do to speak) to give order that her body might be laid in the tomb of her first husband SIGNEUR BARZO.  
But the cursed and execrable ALBANOYS (so wholly possessed with the devil, that the gift of grace was denied him) abhorred to the last minute of his life, the remembrance of repentance, for laughing (as it were) at the foulness of the fact even until life left him senseless and void of breath, he commended his carks to the greedy jaws of ravenous wolves, serving also as a fit pray for the venomous serpents and other creeping worms of the earth, and his soul to the reprobate society of judas and Cain with other of th'infernal crew.  
The worthy end of this wicked wretch, argueth the just reward of the evil disposed, and such as are unhaypelie dropped out of the favour of god, the ordinary success of those enterprises, that are beg●n without the consent of wisdom or raisin, but chief th'effects and fortune of such as (blinded with the vail of their own will) and dimmed with the mist of folly, do reapose so much for themselves in the opinion of their own wit, that detesting good council and th'advise of the wise, do credit only the conceit of their own fancy, which (as a blind guide) doth lead them into infinite miseries & labyrinth of endless annoy, where there is no dispense of their folly, but loss of liberty, perpetual infamy, and sometime punishment by untimely death, which as they be worthy rewards, for such as dote so much in their own wisdom, that they account the same able of itself, to comprehend the whole globe, or compass the world, So the wise man affore he entereth into any enterprise of weight (being careful for the convey of the same) doth not only compare the end with the beginning, and cast the sequiel and circumstance every way, but also entering (as it were) into himself, he makes a view of that which is in him, and for his better assistance, he will not refuse the advise of his friends, by which means he is sewer to reap the reward of his travel with triple contentment, and seldom is he punished with to late a repentance: Herewith also th'example of the wise mariner 
A comparison derived of the policy which the wise mariner or shipmaster doth use,  (doth in like sort advise us, who coming by fortune or violence of wether upon an unknown coast, doth strait way sound and try the depth of the river by his plummet and line, neither will he let fall his Anchor unless he be sewer of the fyrmenes of the ground, which if it do fail him, yet is he to withstand the malice of danger by keeping the channel, which yields him water enough. So if this wretched ALBANOYS had made a view of himself & his forces, afore he became subject to the humour of jealous suspicion, or if he had given correction to his salt in time, and suffered reason to suppress the rage of his folly, afore he was grown to terms of madness, he had enjoyed his Lady at pleasure, lived yet in quiet, and prevented the fowl note of infamy, wherewith the gates and posterns of his house willbe painted, till th'extreme date of the world, and eschewed the peril of damnable despair inkilling himself, with like violation and bloody slaughter, of his in nocent lady, whose death with the strangeness in execution, being once known to the multitude it is to be wondered what general dole and desolation, were in all parts of the city, how all estates and degrees of people spared no sorts of tears, nor other dollerous tunes, bewailing her misfortune, with several grudges at the malice of her destinies, that in such cruel manner took from amongst them, that person of her, whose virtues & other ornaments of God & nature, served as a special mirror or looking glass to all ages: wherein certainly they had great reason, for a lady or gentle woman, equal with her in conversation 
Gifts which ought to appear in an honest woman.  evexye way, I mean chaste without argument of dishonesty, devout and yet hating superstition, bowntiful without wasteful prodigality, wise without vain vaunting so obedient towards her husband as was necessary, and lastly lacking the furniture of no good virtue,) can not be to much honoured in her life, nor worthily renowned after her death, aswell for the such rare gifts, are no less meritorious for the virtues that be in them, then that they serve as special allurements, to provoke young ladies and gentlewomen (desirous of like glory) to ymytat th'example and virtues, of them, whose due fame is able to exceed the length of time, and live after death, who hath no power but over our corrupt Soma or mass of flesh, being barred to meddle with the felicity of the mind, to whom only the title of perpetuity 
Death hath no power but over our body.  is due without exception, And as her life and death ymporte several virtues, and deserve semblable commendation, the one for that she never made show of mislike, what wrong soever he wrought her, the other in that she failed not to honour him till the last hour of his life: So may you also discern therein ii several examples, the one to warn the light and harebrained husbands, not easily or for small occasions, to enter into suspicion with their wives, whom they ought to love and honour no less then theimselues: the other to present unto the ladies of our time, the due reward of wisdom, obedience, and chastity, which be the things that make this greek live after her death, being worthily invested with the wreaths of honour among all the ladies of that country  
FINIS   

The argument.  
BEcause I have already in diverse places sufficiently deciphered the forces of love, and what effects he exposeth, having once brewed the cup of the pleasant poison of our sensual appetite, whereon whosoever Syppeth, swalloweth justly the reward of such follies: I may the rather be dispensed withal eftsoons to reiterate in this place, that which erst hath been inferred touching the awe which that passion hath over the hearts of those, whose destiny yields them subject to so great an evil, Being bold withal to note as a principle or rule of generality, that, that infection proceeds rather of the corruption 
Love Proceeds of the corruption of our own nature.  of our own nature, then of the perfection of the same: Albeit some vain philosophers are not ashamed to advowch his beginning of the most perfect parts that are in the spirit of man, wherein I see neither authority to allow their saying, nor reason to confirm their opinion, unless they will make it meritorious for thindiscretion and follies which appear in them that participate with such passion, for a familiar testimony whereof, I have preferred this history following, not only affirming my former protestation touching the disordinate effects of love, but also to justify the opinion of him who makes no difference, between the devise of love, and raging fits of frenezy, or one posseste with a wicked spirit, for here you may see a gentleman of Milan (to enjoy a presence and pleasure of his La●●● refuseth not to commit himself to manifold dangers, with diverse perilous encounters, whereof the one seamed no less mortal than the other, and every one threatening the end of his life by present morder, albeit his felicity defended him from harm, and the peril passed makes him dread a future plunge,  
SUNDRY PERILS, happening to a young gentleman of Myllanin the poursewte of his Lady  
NOt long after MAXYMILIANS FORCE by the guide of evil fortune, & want of good government in himself, had lost the state and seigneurye of MILAN there happened no less desolation to the unhappy faction of the GEBELYNS, whom the power and policy of the great TRIVOLSO did not only abandon their natural soil and place of abode, driving them from the possession of their worldly portions, but also persecuted their wretched state with such cruelty, that they were ready to yield to the summons of despair, if it had not been for the simple proffer of a certain hope, they reapposed in th'assistance of th'emperor MAXIMILIAN, who more willing than able to restore their desolation, pursued the revenge of their wrong with a puissant army even until the walls and gates of MILAN: where he received such hot repulses by the valiant encounters of Charles Duke of Bourbon (then viceroy or deputy to the french king) that painting the gates with the blood of his captains, and leaving the dead bodies of his people in witness of his being there, the majesty returned with more commendation for his good meaning, then fame or glory of the victory, leaving the miserable s●radyates (bathed in the tears of their second sorrow) to the guide and government of their fortune, who seamed at last to enter into such compassion of their misery, that she restored the greatest part not only to the liberty of their country and society of former habitation, but also to choose of their goods and revenues usurped by the enemy: the rest she divided into diverse corners of christendom, some went to Trent and were sworn the subjects of Francis Sforce Duke of Bary, other found place of abode in the kingdom of Naples, to some she gave passport to attempt the devotion of the wholly vicar of rome, and the rest repaired to MANTVA: amongst which ●●ewe or last company, was one CORNELIO (upon whom this history maketh his chiefest discourse) whom albeit fortune had made partaker of her malice amongst the rest of his contreymen, yet his mind grudging with thinjury of fate, lost nothing of her entire and virtue, for notwithstanding he was of the race of the SFORCIANS, and chiefest enemy to the usurped government and proud behaviour of the frenchmen within MILAN, and that he had left amongst them his inheritance and goods to confiscation, yet was he assisted with so fine a policy and great endeavour of his mother, that he had sufficient exhibition to meinteyne his ancient port and calling.  
And as the stately view and feature of his complexion and limbs, presented a special cunning of nature, lacking besides no gift or quality due to a gentleman and pestered withal with no more years than were convenient for the decoration of so seamely a beauty: So being the chief courtier that hawnted the company of Ladies, and no less welcome amongst the lofty dames of MILAN afore the subversion of their society by the cruelty of the frenchmen, he made a choice of one from amongst the rest, whom he failed not to court with a continual proffer of his service and other offices of humanity prescribed in the skole of love, until he thought himself sufficiently rampired in the entrails of her heart, and left her no less willing to yield a participation of affection, than himself passioned with desire to pursue the quest and conquer her beauty, her name was PLAUDINA equal to him in the height of estate, and nothing inferior in the golden gifts and ornaments of nature? And albeit she had newly made a proof of the married man's pastime, & offered the flower & first fruits of her vir gynitie upon th'altar of wedlock: yet the youngness of her years (defending her beauty from all arguments of alteration or change) would not suffer the hot and often encounters of her husband, to ympaire any way the glass or precious die of so rare a perfection: wherein as she was noted the odd peragon of Italy aswell for that respect, as other ornaments of majesty incydente to honour: So the commendation of these virtues seamed not so fit an instrument to advance her fame and glory, as present means to procure triple passion to the new disquiet of CORNELIO, who grieved not so much with the sentence of adversity, as cried out of the Law of nature and malice of his present fortune, for that the one had given him a heart to love, and liberty to choose, and the other being his guide in the toil and travel of his suit, took him away when he attended to reap the fruits of his harvest, but that which brought more oyleto his match, and kindled the coals of fresh disquiett was, that albeit he knew himself to be reciprocally loved, or at least near the good will of his lady, yet was he void of means and ministers to solicit his cause, or bewray that which he durst not discover, other then thamarous regards and glances of the eye, with certain sighs and secret wring of the hand, and 
Secret solicitors of the inward affection of the heart.  kisses gotten by stealth in corners, which albeit argued a likelihod and SIMPATHYA of affection, ympartinge an equality of desire to the hearts of them both, yet the one being affrayed to give the charge, and the other ashamed to resign without any alaram, seamed both plunged indifferently in a passion of doubt and fear, until love (whose affairs can not well be dispatched without th'assistance of a third) quarelling with the simplicity of Cornelio, presented him with a messenger convenient for the convey of their business: for there was a poor Swain, sometime serving as a drudge to the mother of CORNELIO, and now preferred to his Lady PLAUDINA in the rowmthe of her wagyner or coach driver, whose office as it was always to go by the door of her coach when her pleasure was to ●isyt places of solace, and take open air in the fields, so reaposinge much for himself in the fidelity of his slave, thinking to enjoin a greater credit to thauthority of his small office, admitted him in his heart the aptest coll carrier between him and his Lady: wherefore after he had contured him by fear and fair promises to ad●owe his diligence to ●huttermoste, with no less secrecy, than wisdom, and convenient expedition at all times, he made a first proof of his policy and fine convey of his charge, in the delivery of a letter, which be willed him to present unto PLAUDINA, thinward affection and disposition of whose heart, as he measured by the messages of her eyes, so he preferred his service & boarded her good will with these terms: If it were not good 
Cornelio writeth to plaudyna  madam that every state and condition of man, were subject to his peculiar desaster, and that the noble heart (made of a delicate metal) is more full of affections and apt to incline to the loare of love, than the rest of the rude and barbarous people, I would think that the passion which pinchethe such as do love, were a scourge and due correction sent from above, for a chastisment of their losty and wanton imaginations, but seeing it is most sewer that nature hath put a certain difference between the dispositions of her creatures, with a desire to pursue the summons of her instigation according to the privilege of their degree, it is not in our power to disclaim thinstructions of such a guide, nor degenerate from thinstinct of that destiny given us in our conception, wherein as the noble mind loathing the enterprise of base or vile condition, delights in such conquests as yield most fame or commendation, So you ought not to marvel, if the glymeringe beams of your rare beauty, painted by divine art in the forefront of your face, the adoration which all men yield to your singler virtues, with other seemly perfections and gifts of majesty given you by the heavens for a dowry above the rest, have made me strike sail of my former liberty, with frank resignation of my heart and dearest part in me, to the disposition of your mercy, neither have I any cause at all to mislike the sentence of my fate, or grudge with the lot of my present choice, if the respect of my unfeigned love and sincere loyalty, may move you to pay the tribute of my service, with an assurance of semblable affection, wherein because both danger and distance of our abodes (denienge the tongue to do his office) barreth us also to use the benefytt of mutual conference, I humbly crave (good 
The eyes be the secret signs and mesengers of love.  Madam) an absolute resolution by your letters, of that which the secret signs and messengers of love, do not only put me in hope, but imports a warranty of the conquest of your good will, wherein if I may be assisted with the goodness of the heavens, and consent of fortune so farfurth, as the same may make me meritorious of your favour, and that the merit of my service may be measured with a grant of your good will, there shall no peril withstand the proffer of my life to do you pleasure, nor any occasion or chance whether it be accidental or proper, have power to break the vow which my heart hath already sworn to die and live in the service and contemplation of your beauty, neither shall any Lady in this corner of the world, have more cause to joy in the choice of her servant, than the Peragon Plaudina, whose hand I kiss with great humility, and honour the remembrance of her name, with no less sincerity being absent, then desirous to yield my homage with due adoration to the presence of so fair a creature. Yours more than his own. Cornelyo.  
The Lady being darted afore with the desire of Cornelio, and would gladly have entered the lists and given the onset, if it had not been for the respect of her honour, was now so wounded to the quick, that she fell into terms of commendation of her chance, blessing the goodness of her fortune, that had not only planted her affection in so high a place, but (yielding her reward with semblable glee) hath made her the mistress of him, whom her heart had already chosen and admitted into undoubted favour, which she confirmed eftsoons with such terms of gratulation and arguments of present gladness, that if the remorse of shame and reputation of her honour, had not been impediments to the desire of her heart, cloasinge her mouth against the present conceits of joy in this new society, she had immediately dismissed the messenger, with absolute assurance to perform the request of him that sent him: whereof albeit shame seamed to abridge the expedition, and offer causes of stay for the time, yet wanting force to mortify altogether the humour of raging desire, the was driven to give place to the provocation of love, who devestinge her of honest shamefastness, which ought to be the chief habit and decoration of the beauty of great Ladies, willed her to defer no longer the thing she had already vowed, & saying the injury of present time, denied her to satisfy him as she would, at least to yield him such contentment as she may: wherefore taking pen, ink and paper, she replied to his letter with this answer.  
The circumstance of your present letter (sir) seams to 
Plaudyna answereth the letter of her servant.  argue an exception against the friendly looks and glances of mine eyes, wherein albeit I could note a great simplicity & want of discretion in him, that constreth the regards of a Lady (cast at unwares) to the commodity of himself in winning the good will of her that meaneth nothing less, then to make them the Ministers of love: yet being more ready to content you therein, then curious of mine own behaviour, I am to acquit you of imputation that way, and convert the note of the folly to the oversight of myself. And albeit the pleasant encounter of mine eyes, seeming more liberal on your behalf, with a familiarity more than ordinary to all men, may persuade a certain difference I have put between the friendship of you & respect of any other, with desire to embrace you above any one creature. Yet was I of opinion that your sundry virtues & reputation of honour, would not suffer you to challenge me for the first fault, or to convert these regards of simple and cold favour into such consequence, as to attempt the violation of that, which mine honour grudgeth to lose, and the vow of faith to my husband forbids me to departed withal: notwithstanding I yield you no less thanks for your courtesy than you seam to give commendation to my beauty and other gifts you note in me, accounting the same of greater price, by the value and estimation you make of them, neither will I refuse the proffer of your present friendship, which, (as I hope) is void of intent to prejudice mine honour, so let it suffice you that I am not only contented to admit you into favour, but also determined to hold you no less dear than the tenderest part of myself. And because letters (being incident to many casualties) are commonly the first discloasers of the secrets of lovers, my advise is, that hensfurth you stay not only the diligence of your pen, in sealing such great importance within a dissembling piece of paper, but also be contented to commit the whole convey of our business to the credit of this bringer, who is to yield you salutation on the behalf of her, who joying no less in the unity of this friendship, then hating the thing that may seam hurtful to the consommarion of the same, doth wish your constancy of no longer continuance, than you shall find cause of credit in the loyalty of your unfeigned. Plaudina.  
The report of this letter preferred such a possibility & likelihood of good luck to the Myllanoy, that dismissing even now all arguments of former doubt, he determined to accept the offer of his fortune & pursue the benefit of present time, wherein he was so furthered by the diligence of the minister and messenger of their love, that there seamed to want (for the final complot of their business) but only the consent of convenient time & place, which had followed accordingly, if for the more assurance of the bargain they had bry●ed the good will of the blind goddess, whom as the poets have chrtstened by the name of Dame Fortune, giving her charge 
Portune a blind gods.  over the change and alteration of things, so she is not so inconstant of herself, as ready to manifest her mutability, when the wretches of the world seam to reappose most assurance in her friendship. And as the pleasant apple mustering with delicate glee upon the height of the highest spraise, is blown down, with the least poffe of wind that breathes, and so oppressed with the violence of the fall, that the fruits is quite taken away in the midst of his glory, so the case and quiet of man, is favoured with so small a moment of time, and subject to so many changes, that we ought neither esteem (so greatly as we do) the tikle pleasures of so small abode, nor judge assurance in such uncertain vanities, seeing withal the same is of such malicious disposition, that when we have laid the foundation of our pleasure and prosperity, with full perfuation to enjoy our quiet without controllement it is then that fortune discovereth her ambushes, and invaoing us at unwares with the fury of her malice, payeth our former pleasure with an interest of triple desolation, that faileth not to attend us even until our fatal days of reapose, whereof you may note a familiar proof in the sequel of this CORNELIO, who being upon the point to taste of the delicate fruits in love, and embrace his Lady with such contentment as lovers do commonly wish, and seldom encounter, behold the malice of the French men began to rage with such extremity against the lineage of the SFORCIANS, whereof he was one of the chiefest) that he was driven to avoid the present danger of his lice, with a sudden flight and secret stealing out of the town, wherein he was so hoatlye purived with thextremity of his peril, that being barred any leisure to communicate with his dearest friends, & less time to impart his mish ap to his lady, or once salute her with a simple farewell, which seamed not so grievous to himself, as of treble-dolour to the sorrowful PLAUDINA, who distilling no small number, of tears on the behalf of the soddain departure and absence of her dear friend, and restored at last to a moderation and patience by force, began to cast the circumstance of his danger, wherein the imagined all such doubts as either hope or fear could put in her head, sometime persuading, he should be overtaken and oppressed by the way, and by and by she feared least he were betrayed into the hands of his enemies, by the malice of such as he put intruste with his life, wherein she was no less doubtful of the one, then in despair of tother, and in such perplexity with the conceit of them both, that she seamed no less passioned for the time, then if the enemies of her friend had cut her CORNELIO in pieces afore her face. And as she mould have dismissed these tragical conceits of doubt & fear, and retired to a quiet, with expectation of better fortune, she was suddenly assailed. with a second alarame in her heart, which mortifying all care of the well doing of her absent CORNELIO, preferred a vehement desire not only to recover him (wherein appcared a great impossibility) but also wishing to be a companion of his journey, and partaker of his misery, she seamed to expose a frank of that which erst she was ash amed and made conscience to grant, & as she was void of all comfort 
The 〈◊〉 her body.  in this calamities, saving that the often remembrance of her friend, seamed to restore some little contentment, so ymagininge that the breath of the air would carry the Echo of her complaints into the ears of him that was gone, she saluted his absence with these terms.  
All things ought to be hateful to the ears, which seam hurtful to the quiet of the mind, and yet one chief consolation 
Plaudina menteth the absence of her friend with complaint 〈◊〉 gainste her own misfortune.  we find in misery, is to record the circumstance of our misfortune, neither can that grief be of great importance, whose cause is of small moment, but alas what sorrow is semblable to the separation of friends? Ah CORNELIO what ancient grudge procureth this new mislike, or what offence have I done of late, that makes me meritorious of this great discourtesy? Will thou pay the merit of my friendship with so unthankful a tribute, and abuse therspeaarion which all men had of thy virtue? haste thou plied me to thappetite of thy will, and no we determined to leave me in the greatest distress of desire to enjoy thee? or canst thou use so small regard to the desolate state of the sorrowful PLAUDINA, as leaving her hathed in the tears of undeserved dole, to steal away, with out the comfort of one simple adieu? What needest thou have doubted to commununicate with her, who hath always reserved an equal care of thy safety, and her own life? And if the love thou haste vaunted to bear me, had been matched with an unfeigned meaning of continuance and constancy, the fear of the enemy had not prevented thy coming to me, for love alas defyeth the malice of danger, and peril is the thing that least troubleth the heart that is truly affectionate: 
Love esteemeth no danger.  What comfort in my present misery, or expectation of future redress, being out of hope eftsoons to reclaim him, that received but now the sentence of continual exile? How am I plunged in a passion of double extremity, meyther content to disclaim my affection, and less able to dismiss the remembrance of him that is the cause of my woe? I find now (alas to soon.) How justly we women mave exclaim against nature, who framing us of a brickle mould apt to yield, and easy to be won, hath enjoined us withal a certain vehemency of affection, piercing the heart with desire in such sort, as being once thoroughly coyffed with love, we are not only forsaken, when we wish thieflye to embrace the object of our appetit, but also are subject to abide all sorts of revenge of the ordinary rigour of men. And what rigouro? wrong have I offered the Dh CORNELIO whereof I have not felt the first apprehension? For forcing myself to yield the contentment, I spared not the proffer of mine honour to purchase thy friendship, and in giving the assurance of my good will, I have spotted the renown of my former reputation, whereof the blood of shame puts me in remembrance with grudge at so great a fault, and thy conscience is my present witness of my unfeigned loyalty: neither will the flattering lines of thy sundry letters conceal this discourtesy, nor the messenger and faithful solicitor of our love, forget to reproach the of unpleasant behaviour to thy loyal PLAUDINA, who feeling now what it is to lack the society of him, whom the heart hath chosen to love, is equally pinched with the pangs of such as plunged in the passion of desire, do wish that they want, and lack the thing they chiefly would have, whereby they seam to nourish life with the only breath of a simple and cold hope. But why am I so partial on mine own behalf, in exclaiming against the discourtesy of him, who peradventure deserveth not these terms of blame? or why do I not rather respect the true cause of his departure, stirred up (as it seemeth) by the necessity of the time, forcing him to habandon his parents, country and revenue, unless he would quench the thirst of his enemies, with the abundance of his blood, and appease their malice with the price of his head, certainly the virtues and gifts of CORNELIO acquit him of all arguments of inconstancy neither can a body of so rare perfection harbour such dissembling disposition. But as the desirous heart is seldom at rest, 
The desirous heart is seldom at rest and doubtful minds dread always deceit.  so the doubtful mind is dreadful of deceit, and quareliing continually with his good hap or synister fortune, is always in imagination what judgement to resolve upon the condition of his own estate, so my case is of no less perplexity, for wafting indifferently between happy chance, & evil success, I feel myself double passioned, sometime moved to rejoice my good hap, in being loved of so honest courteous, & noble a gentleman as Cornelio, and by & by driven to inveigh against my evil fortune, that hath put such distance and separation of our bodies when we wear at point to perform the consummation of our acquaintance. And albeit the common chances of this world resemble a confection made of honey and gall, and that the banquets of love, being garnished with dishes of both sorts, will us to make choice with deliberation, alleging that the pleasure is not so great, as the repentance & penance of hard digestion, yet I think the virtue to perform the vow of the heart, takes away the greatness and heinous disposition of the fault, wherefore seeing my heart hath made his choice, and the rest of my parts resolved to perform the quest, I will not only dismiss all doubts of the assurance of his good will, but study to exceed him in affection, devising the means from hensfurth, to make him feel the force of my goodwill, with the desire I have to knit an indissoluble unity of the ij. minds, whose bodies are forced to live in separation by the malice of the world, and angry doom of our fortune.  
Here if PLAUDINA inveighed only upon ij. points of her desaster, the one for the sudden departure of her friend and the other for the doubt she seamed to put in the assurance of his love, it is to be thought that CORNELIO had cause of triple complaint, both to be driven to save his life by cowardly flight, to steal away in such secret & silent manner, as only his guide was privy to his going, & also to be distressed with such shortness of time, that he was barred to seam thankful to his Lady with a simple farewell, which was sufficient to stir up her jealous humour against him, but that which exceeded the rest in greatness of grief, was that he had no man of trust to carry her news of his being, and much less durst he communicate his buysynes with any stranger, neither had he hope to be advertised of the accurrantes of MILAN, nor mean to make reaport of his own estate at MANTVA, for that he durst not discover the place of his present abode there, wherefore crying out of the constellation and climate of his destinies, he complained his unhappy case in this sort  
If my offence were as great, as my punishment is grievous: I would think no submission worthy of place, nor 
The complaint of Cornelyo being in exile.  my salt meet to be dispensed withal, or if I had as justly deserved this wrong, as I am sewer to suffer the smart, I had no reason to commence cause of complaint against the malice of the world, & much less accuse the iniquity of present time, nor yet cry out of the sinister disposition of fortune, to whom as the poets seam to attribute some power over our worldly affairs (bestowing their endeavour therein I think) rather to feed the time and imaginations of the people, with a shape or figure of an unconstant creature, then with intent to persuade a credit in so senseless an image: so I am also persuaded by the present experience of her inconstancy, that she is not so liberal to give, as ready to take away, a less able to continue the felicity wherewith she seams to flatter the conceit of the simple, for whom she hath brought to believe in her, she makes manytimes more desirous of glory then able to receive it: wherein who may more justly exclaim against her mobylitie, than the unhappy CORNELIO, whom (being favoured with the offer of a reciprocal affection, and at the point to be put in the possession of his desire) she hath not only taken the pray out of my mouth, but committed me with cruelty, into the vale of extreme desolation: of what moment are the greatness of princes, or to what end serves honour or high calling, seeing both the one and the other are subject to confusion, and ready to yield at the least poffe of wind that bloweth from a contrary shore. Yet if I were a simple cytisen or companion of meaner calling, th'enemy would neither watch my doings with so many eyes, nor pursue my death by public or private invation, and I suffered to live as free from the troubles and tumults of the world, as far from any care or account of the doings of great men, where now alas th'only height of my estate, tipped with the title of honour, depriveth me of those of my country, society of my friends, and contemplation of the thing I hold no less dear then the health of my 
His mistress.  soul: But if any thing cold stop the covetous humour of man, and every one (content with the lot of his portion) would cease to invade the dominion of an other, kings should sit sewer in their troanes, and the palace of princes void of suspicious fear and care, and then (mine own PLAUDINA) should not I live without the company of thee, nor thou have cause to doubt the firm constancy of thy servant, whose reputation of honour and faith towards his prince, denieth him for the present, to honour the with the duty which thy virtues deserve, and albeit it is no less folly than time lost, to travel in despite of love and fortune, which both have conspired my destruction, and joined in confente to keep me from enjoying the favour of her, who merits the service of one more noble and worthy every way than I, and because no distance shall dissolve my affection, nor dymynishe the least branch of good will, nor yet time herself have power to overtreade the virtue of my faith, I will so dispose of the rest of my life, as the same shall make absolute declaration of the unfeigned constancy of my mind, with the sincere vow of loyalty, which I have sworn and dedicated to the service of her divine beauty, even until the last and extreme separation of my soul and body: wherein because adversaty is rather subject to many miseries, then apt to admit any consolation, and that the goodwill of fortune, comes rather at unwares, then won by special suit, I will perforce content myself with the gift of present time, and using the remembrance of my mistress as a special moderation of the hardness of my exile, so honour th'image and picture of her beauty, painted already in thentrails of my heart, that th'only remembrance and inward view of my dear PLAUDINA, shall nourish the remeindor or my miserable days, with no less contentment being absent, than I took pleasure in the regard of her glistering eyes and the rest of her delicate proportion, at such time as my good fortune was content to give me the glee of her presence. Wherein Albeit he spent certain time, with imagination that his Lady hard the cry of his complaints, and gave judgement of his side, for th'assurance of his loyalty, yet he forgot not to hawnte the companies of the Dames of MANTVA, refusing to resemble in any wise the order of those shaded lovers who brought up in the school of one ROMANTO TRISTANO, or leading therrant and obscure life of AMYDES, do fill the air full of their dolorous sighs, and seeking to record their passions in the deep and hidden caves of the earth, 
The order of a desolate lover.  delight not in the place and fellowship of good hawnte, neither are they at any time so well in quiet, as when they feel their desolate bodies shrouded under the shade of solitary places, or when by long ranging the wilderness and desert lands, they find by chance some odd hermitage far from the use and ordinary habitation of men, where feeding only upon the hoalsomnes of the air, and imagination of their own conceit, they pine away in expectation that some good Angel or oracle, will appear unto them 
The desire of a desperate lover.  with the message of good news, or else the fatal sentence of their life. As those kind of tortles or domestical fools, degenerating from the planet that governeth thinclination of true lovers, whose complexion ought not to be dimmed with the darkness of desolate places, do seam to have their conseption from under the angry and crabbed constellation of SATURN, wishing willingly that their Ladies were converted into the shape of Nymphs, whom the poets feign to wander and dwell in the thickest covert of the woods, to th'end that none but they should enjoy the glance and view of their beauty: So the true and lonyall lover, (armed with unfeigned assurance of his vow) doubts not to advance himself in the press of most repairs, thinking he can give no greater proof or declaration of his constancy to his mistress, then to withstand thimportunities and alarums of other, which you may note in this Cornelio, who visiting the assemblies & meeting of the Ladies of MANTVA was marked immediately of one of the chiefest Ladies of the City, and regarded with so good an eye, that falling extremely in love with the virtues and other dexterities of the banished knight, she embraced him so straitelye in the entrails of her heart, that upon thinstant she had forgot the honour and reputation of her state, with the vail of shame, (which ought to soole the eyes of great Ladies, and correct the humour of their fond appetit) in executing th'office of a shameful client, in a cause, which she neither ought to have solicited, and much less condescended unto by force of any ymportunities how great soever they were, if it had not been for th'assistance of an old neighbour of hers who understanding the disease of her mysteries, promised her diligence to procure the remedy with expedition, wherein she omitted no opportunity as occasion was given, for attending the offer of convenient time, she found the means to encounter (CORNELIO one morning all alone in a church, at whom she roved in this sort.  
The condition of nobility consists not so much in the 
The first meeting of the bawd with Cornelio.  title and surname of honour, as in the commendation and effect of true virtues, appearing in a graft descended of so noble a stock: And the greatest thing (Sir) that makes a valiant man known to the world, and preserveth the renown of his reputation in entire, is not to refuse th'occasion and offer of his fortune, given him for th'increase of his felicity, neither can any man more abuse thexcellent gifts and goodness of nature, then to contemn thinstinct & privilege which she hath given him for the decoration of his estate. The gentleman somewhat astonished with the sudden encounter of his neighbour, seamed to marvel no less at the rhetoric of th'old MARMOTTA, then muse what might be th'intent of such formal protestation, where with for his part, having no great leisure to devise for his answer, could not reply but with terms of courtesy in this sort. If at unwares my tongue hath stolen a liberty in talking the thing that hath offended the ears of you or any other, or by like over sight have done that which your disposition can not brook, nor the Law of courtesy allow with the consent of your opinion, I am rather to be pardoned by course, then punished by justice, for that such offences being common and natural, seam rather to proceed of ignorance, then of th'instigation of malice, or corruption of the mind, wherein as your judgement is no less equal than my innocency meritorious, so if it will please you to reveal the chief points of my salt, you shall see the hardness of the penance, with triple satisfaction of the wrong, shall take away the foulness of the fact: which kind of curteys' reply liked not a little the ears of the messenger, who accounting him worthy to enjoy the good will of the greatest Lady of a country, gave judgement of the victory with end of thenterprise, wherein notwithstanding she was no less deceived, than shame, with the respect of her calling ought to have closed her mouth, from solycitinge so bad a case: for albeit she discovered point by point, the cause of her coming, with a peculiar commendation and praise of the Lady that sent her, forgetting not to decipher artyfyciallie her sundry properties and many gifts of nature, but chiefly her unfeigned affection, with ready offer and conformity of that, whereof Law of kind makes all men not only desirous, but study to win by long suit and serviceable diligence, yet wanting force to shake the walls of so sewer a fortress, her art seamed also insufficient to persuade the mind of CORNELIO, who albeit was of opinion and knew well enough, that the wisdom was no less in accepting th'offer of a good adventure, than the folly of double moment to refuse the preferment of fortune, yet was he so wholly resolved in the loyal love of his Lady at MILAN, whose only and simple remembrance, restored such a remorse of the vow which his heart had already sworn on her behalf, that he seamed more willing to embrace the last and fatal doom of his life, than desirous to abuse the least point of his duty and service unto her, And albeit the desires we feel stir in us, ymporte no other thing than a certain mirror or looking glass receiving the dark ympressions which our appetites present unto us, and that they which imagine whole castles of constancy, with protestation never to faint in the vow they have made, do no other thing then give occasion to writers to bewtyfye their histories with the circumstance of their folly, with such a blow and open mockerye in the end, that they stick not to describe their vain and fond humour upon public stage, in the hearing of all the world, yet am I of opinion, that as the garment that is fit for every man, is well framed for no man, so the heart that is as apt to decline as the appetit is ready to summon, is neither meritorious of favour in any sort, nor meet to keep place in the rank of the virtues, chiefly where he refuseth thobject of his own choice, neither is it possible that two sons give light to the world at one instant, nor once convenient for the mind of one man, to embrace th'image or figure of more than one saint, wherein th'example of CORNELIO, calling us to th'imitation of the like virtue, serves also to confute thoppositions of certain covetous Ladies now a days, who rather greedy of glory, then able to deserve it, do not stick to whet their wits and inveigh synisterly against thinconstancy of men, transporting the whole title and honour of true loyalty to themselves, as though there remained no spark nor show of that virtue in the hearts of men, who as they were the first partakers of that gift, so the constant order of 
Men more constant than women.  their doings and lives (being found for the most part the longest in breath) do argue them no less worthy of that perfection, then able to exceed that flattering crew of flickeringe creatures, who in robbing us of that which we deserve by just title, do seam to bewtifye theimselues with the merit of other men's virtues: But because the ears of all women can not brook the hearing of a troth and that the pursewte of this quarrel, (arguing a more danger in thadventure, then gain in the victory) might set abroache the faltes of some of our contreywomen, I am content to give them that they will have by force, and retiring to the place of my history, declare unto you the answer of CORNELIO to the messenger. I am sorry (saith 
Cornelyo aunswerethe the bawd.  he) the large honour and liberal offer which you seam to present unto me on the behalf of your Lady and mystries, is of a more high moment, then either I am worthies to possess, or able to requite with equal merit, wherein because the hard condition of my present state, seams my chiefest enemy to so great a prefermente, I doubt how to seam thankful to her, and satisfy the time both together, albeit as things impossible are not to be pursued, and offences forced of necessity are most meritorious of pardon, so being not able to answer her expectation in counterchaunge of affection, I am only to rack the little talent that is left me to so high a pin, that only she shall dispose of my honour and life with all that I have in the world at her pleasure, which it may like her to use as a supply of the present duty and service she demands at my hand, only being at this present not the master of myself, nor the use of my heart in mine own possession, my suit is that she rather blame the wrong which time offereth to us both, then note me of any disdain in refusing the friendship of her, who merits more than I am able to perform: for if my heart were as free from foreign and former bonds, as she deserveth to be served, and that my affections did not exceed thordinary ympressions which assail the mind of man, assure yourself she should not live long unsatysfyed to her contentment, and much less have cause to enter into suspection of jeleous disdain in me, for returning the offer of that which may serve for a present to the greatest prince in ITALY: neither will I so much abuse the proffer of her acquaintance, or cause of your coming, as either her liberal offer, or vehemency of your importunities on her behalf, shall move me to resolve a worseopynion or more slender credit on the honour or honesty of her that sent you, desiring you for end to prefer my excuse according to thintegrity of the same, with this further addition and humble request, that she be as bold to employ me in any other respect, no less amply and so far forth, as my honour and life will extend: more honestly (saith the messenger) cold you not refuse the offer of that which erst was never presented to any, and much less so near the point to make a price of so precious amarchandise, neither do I think you worthy of the title of that courtesy, whereof you are commended, nor yet am I of mind that your heart is capable of the noble virtue of love, saying the renown & honour of her, whose beauty only hath the greatest princes of italy in awe, can make no breach nor enter. And who would seam of so slender judgement (unless he had quite disclaimed the order of reason) that being proffered freely that, which princes can not get by any suit, and not only desired, but pursued with great instance, would let slip the gift of so good a fortune, and make chips of the friendship of so fair and curteons a Lady: with what face dare you visyt hereafter th' assemblies of great dames, having committed so great a salt on the behalf of her, whose goodwill you do not deserve, if her courtesy did not call you to that preferment? are you of opinion that the merit of your beauty and other proportion, exceeds the honore and height of her that wooeth you? imagine the same to be of such force, that it is able to draw Ladies to dote of you even unto death, would you become so hard hearted as to increase your glory, with thexploit of so great a cruelty? If you be subject to so fond an humour, you must needs be incydente to the just revenge which the god of love is ready to thunder upon such as seam to hold his loare in skornful contempt, whereof as I have hard more examples, than my skill is able to reveal in good order, being never trained in the torning over of volumes & histories, So I wish chiefly the plague of NARCISSUS may put you in remembrance of your present oversight, least in disdaining the friendship of such as excel yourself every 
Narcissus doteth upon his own shadow.  way, you dote upon th'image of your own shadow, and by that means yield triple usury to the wrong you offer her, whose loyal affection deserveth a better reward than the return of a repulse of so small ymportance: wherewith CORNELIO cutting of the rest of her waspish discourse, desired her to press him with no greater imputation, than his offence deserved, for (saith he) in terming me unworthy of the title of courtesy, and that my heart is to hard to admit the impression of love, you rather slander me by ignorance, then accuse me by justice, seeing the only force of love hath forced already a vow of my affection and heart to a Lady of MILAN, whose presence albeit thIniquity of fate hath taken from me for a time, yet shall the only remembrance and inward regard of her beauty and virtue, suffice to minister sufficient moderation & chief compfort during the angry doom of my hard exile, neither shall the force of any enchantment, and much less the charm of any enticing persuasion, prevail so far over me, as once to make me transgress the least point of my confirmed loyalty, wherein as the Salemandre lives in the flame, so will I pine away and consume by piecemeal in the passion of true love, till the angry fates, ceasing to wreak their malice upon me, do place me in the possession of the due meed of my merit.  
Here this old enchantress understanding the circumstance and full of his disease, and that his heart was so thoroughly limed with the beauty of his Lady at MILAN, that it denied thimpression of her offer, wherein albeit there appeared an ympossibilitie to withdraw, or at least to procure moderation to the vehemency of his affection, yet being no less loath to take a foil in her enterprise, than desirous to perform her charge to th'uttermost, with intent to return the messeger of absolute contentment, or undoubted despair, thought not to leave him till she had Sifted and tried every synowe and vain of his disposition, and having but one piece of rhetoric remaining, she boolked it out under a covertely kind of reprehending his folly in this fort, are you one of that vain crew (saith she) & archfooles of the world, that striving to bend the bow of loyal lovers, do make a glory of a thing as requisite in love, as cowardness or want of courage in the soldier meinteining skirmish against the 
Constancy.  enemy? do not you think that a woman of indifferent judgement will not rather laugh at such foil in her servant, then allow his fond constancy begun without reason, and kept with so small discretion. And albeit it is glory of a Lady to be only embraced and dearly beloved, & that they have (as it were by a special instinct of nature) a desire above all creatures to be the only possessors of the hearts of their lovers, do you not think for all that, that they give not leave and liberty to their servants to make a second choice or change of mistress, to th'end they may be thoroughly resolved of the loyalty of their servant, and he discern the true difference between the affections of both his Ladies. And sewer that heart is wrought of strange metal, and the spirit of slender capacity, that being bound (as it were) to a task, is subject only to one simple desire, without power to bestow his regards in more places than one, admit constancy to be as great a virtue as you make it, & that the faith in love is to be kept without violation, I pray you in ask you one question by friendship, let me be answered by the very touch and reaport of your conscience, what assurance have you of equality or semblable affection at the hands of your mysteries of Milan, whom you have more reason to doubt, than cause to believe? Do you think that you are only beloved, or that being punished by exile, without great hope eftsoons to recover you, she can continue as faithful for her part, as you seam foolish in being the slave and subject of an image or shadow of a thing so far hence? no, no, do away these toys of small substance, and let my experience Seigneur Cornelyo prescribe you one chief and general rule, that no woman being once disposed to love, and having the object of her fancy taken out of her presence, is so able to repress the humour of desire, or correct th'instigation of her appetit, as it is either in her power to disclaim at her pleasure, or degenerate from that wherein she hath a facility by nature: But as one spoiled of all resistance & arguments of virtue, she ceaseth not to follow the quest of her licentious inclination, till she have found a fresh supply to enter the lists, and pay tharrearages of him that first conquered the place. Women be neither equal with saints nor like unto angels, neither are they made of other metal than such as is distilled of thimperfections of yourselves, and in place of privilege or free dispense from the passions 
Women derived of the imperfections of men.  of love, I affirm them to exceed all other creatures in the vehemency of that impression, and chiefly where the effect, doth not follow th'assurance of the word: for as the drawing glances of the eye, and pleasant platt of the tongue, is rather an earnest penny of the bargain, than a full consummation of thagreement, so the hungry appetit of the heart affected, is never satisfied to his contentment, till he have tasted of the delicate fruit growing in the midst of thorcharde and paradise of love, which only concludes and knyttes up the rest of thimperfect bargain: wherein as I must confess unto you, that both the law of loyalty is to be observed, and faith kept inviolable, where we find an unity of affection, and full effect of our desire 
Faith to be obseruedwhere the desire is performed.  so to bestow love in the air, and live without hope of the thing that is wished, I account, it rather the part of a madman, than office of one that hath his wits at commandment, nether doth the end of such pining conceits import other consequence, than a loathsome weariness and unnatural hate of life, with continual expectation to die, and an everlasting remembrance of his folly after his death. And for your part, comparing the SYMPTOMS of your present passion, with thunlikelihod I see to have speedy end of your martyrdom, you bring in remembrance the miserable state of the simple sparowhake, who being hooded to take away her wildness, sits all the day long beckinge upon her jesses' and whettinge her beak upon the perch, rather in despair then certain of the coming of her keeper: let me pierce that hard heart of yours with persuasions of reason, and seam not so rash in refusing the goodness of fortune, who albeit is accounted an enemy to most men, yet is she also friendly to some, and imagine that once in the course of your life, she kisseth your cheek, and holdeth her lapppe open with an offer of a good torn, which if you refuse, is not to be reclaimed eftsoons by any art or policy, Convert your affection founded upon such slipper substance, and no less incertain of his due meed, into a balance of equal friendship and heart of semblable honour and virtue, and exchange at last these languishing conceits that torment your pyninge spirit, for a pleasure no less precious than of great merit, who is no less ready than willing, & more apt to offer, than you able to receive, cease hensfoorthe to love upon credit and cry out of the shadow or figure of a thing, that hath neither ears to hear your complaint, nor means to relieve your distress, and think that the glory of love consists not in the simple desire of the mind, nor in the foolish provocations of our vain conceits, but passing further, the pleasant reward and triumph of that victory, consisteth in the consummation of the work, without the which, love seemeth no other thing, than a bare plat or table whereupon the painter may draw what propertion he list. And truly as there is no man happy in love, nor hath cause to vaunt of the victory, but he that encountrethe thobject of his desire, so me thinketh a man should not love that he hath not, nor desire the thing that is utterly unknown unto him, I say thus much (Sir) because your resolute affection towards your Lady of MILAN seamethe rather to argue ann humour of frenzy, than virtue in love, and vain opinion, then true effect, advising you for end to have a care of yourself and special regard to this last request of mine, that is, in leaving the shrine to honour the saint, and to close your mouth from gaping after that you can not get, as the vuquiet dog in the night that barketh at the shadow of the Moon.  
The Oration of this bawd seemed such Music to the ears and mind of CORNBLIO, that he rather wished a continuance of her jargon, than an abridgement of her tale, but saying she gave end to her own discourse, with expectation to hear his reply, he dysmissed her with this short answer: albeit your present repetition of th'abuse in love (seaminge in some respect to be assisted both with reason and justice) doth discover diverse faltes in sundry women, 
Cornelio giveth his la●● answer to the bawd.  whereof as you say the most part deliteteth asmuch to Run riot and seek a change of pasture, as the other takes pleasure in the virtue of true constancy, yet ought we to use such an integrity between the good and evil, that the faults of the wicked, do not deface the renown of them that deserve but well, and as you say it is hard for a man to love that he hath not, so I note no lesse-rashnes in you to give judgement of the thing you know not, but by examination: for I am fully persuaded, that no distance of places, nor adversity of times, have power to diminish, and much less dissolve th'affection of her, whose presence I hope hereafter to enjoy with no less pleasure, than her absence seams now to give me cause of annoy. And albeit I have not yet tasted of the fruit which all lovers do wish, and few happen to find, yet dare I account myself as depelye in the favour of my absent mysteries, as the best of that happy company, and such weaklings as account no virtue in love, but in th'encounter of their lascivious desire, and can not rest satisfied except they crop the herb of pleasure, are always found more liberal in words, then constant in love, and more hot in the beginning, then able to continue to the end, neither do I see any experience to the contrary but that the passion which I suffer, ought rather too bear the true title of love, than the surname of a simple desire, saying the delight I take in the remembrance of her beauty, is no less pleasure unto me, then if I had already performed and tasted of the delicate effect of love, which I am determined to attend, till either the goodness of a better fortune restore me to my desert, or the force of death give end to my desolation, willing you herewith to correct your judgement, and cease to inveigh against her, whose constancy & virtue only, defaceth the usurped commendation of the most of your corrupt sect: for the rest: the justice of my cause (I hope) will make my excuse tolerable in the opinion of her that sent you, and for your paives I can but yield you the choice of a thousand thanks: wherewith mother retrician took her leave and retired with less contentment in her bad success, than assured hope to prevail in the beginning, towards her MANTVAN lady, to whom recounting eftsoons the particularities of her discourse with CORNELIO she concluded that, he being limed with an other bush, had no power to make a grant of his good will without a special passport from MILAN, where (saith she) he hath left both body & heart, and appeareth here but in the likeness and shape of a figure with out sense or feeling, and less able to admit the preferment of honour or proffer of raisin, which albeit seamed greatly to grudge the conscience of the lady, chief for that she was intercepted of that which she accounted no less sewer, than the articles of her credear to be believed, yet weighing the reasons of his excuse, with the raging oversight of herself, in indifferent balance, she made of necessity a virtue, & retired to a patience parforce, forgetting not to punish her fault with the penance of repentance, & commend to the skies the incomparable loyalty of CORNELIO, with no less gratulation on the behalf of her, that had 
Plaudyna.  made choice of so constant a servant, who for her part also, all this while was in no less care of his well-doing, then busily occupied in devise how to recover his presence, & requite the passion of his painful torment which he chief desired & justly deserved, wherein as she for her part wished no less to embrace him, than he meritorius to possess her, So albeit there passed certain letters between them seaminge rather to double the desire of them both, then yield moderation to the passion of either of them, yet she found the means to coast the malice of her fortune with a contrary sleight, by procuring to her husband a journey of xx. or thirty. days travail, whereupon she dismissed immediately a corrior to CORNELIO with the reaport of the news in this letter following.  
Albeit (sir) calamity of her own nature is so quarelous, that she ceaseth not to assail th'afflicted with continual summons 
Plaudyna advertiseth her lover of the departure of her husband.  of perentorye despair, yet ought we not reappose so slender assurance in the assistance of virtue, as either to make a merchandise of the goodness of our fortune, & much less sell the hope of future felicity, nor yet utterly despair of the benefit of time, who as she is thankful enough to such as suffer her with patience, so hath she presently entered into such compassion of our mutual distress, that summoning my husband with a journey of a months travel in foreign affairs, she hath opened us a most sewer mean to meet and rejoice together without danger, wherein as all such seldom proffers of friendship ought to be no less welcome when they come, than they seam of tickle abode when we have them, so if you wish to be resolved of the which you doubt, and have no less care of your own contentment, my advise is you embrace the benefit of so convenient a time, persuading yourself that if you were here, I would communicate with you more liberally, than I dare discourse by letter, and only yourself is of credit, to serve as a secretorye in affairs of such secret importance, whereof you may construe the meaning, without great study, only imagine that fortune is not such a niggard of her friendship, as spitefullyf her offer be refuced, & time so disdainful, that she 〈◊〉 tarry a moment above her stint. Yours without change Plaudgna.  
If these news were welcome to CORNELIO, I leave it to the judgement of that amarus crew, who seam so resolute and simple in their love, that their life is only prolonged by a desired day, but when they see an approach of their liberty, with licence to quench their hungry minds, with the food they chiefly wish to feed upon, god knoweth the small regard they have to honour, and less respect to the duty of their conscience, and with what slender advise and less time, they make the poor husband a rampire of horns to defend his forehead from the shot of th'enemy, wherein sewer their delight is not so great, and glory of so foul a conquest of such commendation, as she worthy of triple torments, who for the glott of her filthy desire, and satisfying their found ymportunities, doth make no conscience to defile the marriage bed of her husband, take away the renown of her former estimation, deface the glory of her ancestors, and leave besides a title of villainous reproach upon her children and posterity, of whose reputation she ought to be more careful, then mindful to satisfy the greedy appetit of her own pleasure, or foolish pursuete of their filthy love, and from this fountain of execrable abuse distilleth also the sundry sorts of unnatural divisions, happening at this day between noble houses, and men of meaner discentes, the children detesting the Father, and the father abhorring them whom he thinks to be none of his, and one brother persecuting an other with no less mortality of hate, then if they were common enemies of foreign countries: for the bed being once stained, the blood mixed, and the law of marriage abused, it must needs follow that the fruit proceeding of such seeds, can neither degenerate nor be without corruption, neither can the son yield honour or duty to him whom nature denieth to be his Father, wherein albeit I have somewhat exceeded the compass of my commission, yet I am so persuaded of thindifferency of those few Ladies which feel theimselues toched with this short dygression, that they will not grudge with this parable of their salt, seeing truth marcheth under our enseygne, ready to advoche and witness the circumstance of my allegations, which like as I inferred rather to advise you, to eschew the like evil, then for any derogation of your honour, so it may like you all to excuse my reasons by thintegrity of the cause, and pardon me by justice, retiring now with semblable patience to the sequel of our CORNELIO, who construinge the words of the letter according to the meaning of the writer, imagined by and by th'importance of th'affairs she had too communicate with him, wherein albeit love moved him on the one side to perform the desire of his lady, yet reason on the other part required him to be careful of his own safety, and not to buy a taste of his flypper pleasure with the price of his life, for (saith she) if you go to MILAN, and he discovered by any of the french race or friends of their faction, your danger willbe to great to escape, and you shall come to too late a repentance of your folly, wherefore ballacinge indifferently between doubt and fear, with desire to use this occasion, least he might seam unthankful to the good will and request of his mistress, he imparted the whole circumstance to one DELIO a dear friend of his, of whom (being pryvye from the beginning to his amarus practice) he demanded earnestly a special assistance of good council touching thabsolution of his present doubt: this DELIO having trodden already the whole labyrinth of love, and knew by experience what an ●lne of such follies was worth, gave as right a judgement of the disease of his friend, as if he had felt the moving of his polses, or tried the disposition of his water against the son in an urinal, wherein he failed not to discharge th'office of a true friend in assaing to remove thoccasion, and mortify the ill with these persuasions. 
Delyo persuadeth Cornelyo not to go to Milan   
Like as saith he small s●ares require slender medecins, and great griefs are want to try thutter most of the art of Phizicke, and that the wise and experienced Phizision afore he undertake to cure the disease of his patient, or give certain judgement of his recovery, doth not only examine thoccasion of his grief, but makes also his first endeavour to take away and mortify the cause, afore he disclose the skill and hidden mistories of his art, So the malady of love being nothing inferior to the raging oppression of the burning fever, who desireth always things that be hurtful, and escheweth the necessary preservatives of health, is neither to be cured nor dealt with all in any sort, unless the patient will suffer the circumstance of his disease to be Sifted to th'uttermost, and abide an incision of the soar even to the quick, to th'end that by th'operation of the Cataplame which shallbe ministered to you, you despair not of recovery, although there appear diverse lykelihodes of danger, nor I brought to answer for my friendship, which I protest to be without spot of dishonest intent. And as it is no less necessary for him that is sick to reappose a special crecredit in his Physician, than the minister of medecins to be of exquisite skill, for that the opinion and conceit of his cunning, imports a great consolation to the mind of him that is sick, so you must neither deny the virtue of my medicine to work his force, nor doubt of any thing I mean to tell you, for the tale can work small effects where the reaporter is of slender credit, therefore afore I Sift you any further, I request you only of one thing, as most chief and necessary to prevent the present peril, which attends you, I mean that in changing your affection, you will also dismiss and break the resolution which I know your heart hath already determined. The disposition and exterior appearance of your countenance, argue a wonderful devotion you have to visitte your oracle and saint at MILAN, which also I could well admit, if I saw not in the end of that vain pilgrimage, a hard penance accompanied with more perils than ever happened to the son of AVCHIS●S, undertaking to visit th'infernal valleys by the guide of his SY●ILLA. You know well enough your banishment from MILAN proceeded of rebellion, and that your offence is so heinous in the conceit of the majesty there, that only the price of your head can make the atonement and quench the rage of his wrath: and seeing the slight of your enemies and malice of fortune, have dogged you, and your doings so nearly since your coming to Mantua, that you have not spoken or done a thing of such council, but fame hath discovered your intent, and made your adversaries partakers of your meaning, it behoveth yond to think that of late she is not become so well affected towards you, as she can or will conceal this last & most perilous resolution: besides in what sort could you disguise yourself, that your sundry secret marks would not bewray you, or what way have you to pass, where you are out of knowledge of all men, & admit your own sleight & policy were able to prevail above the malice of your fortune, in defending you from the danger of the way, & diverse ambushes of your enemies, are you so persuaded of th'assurance of your Plaudina, that you will commit your life & loss of honour to the feigned faith of a deceitful woman, & that without a proof of her constancy? If the mist of fond affection doth so much dim your eyes, and gift of present understanding, that you are not able to discover the legerdemains of light women, let my experience warn you to beware of the subtle sleights & fine Allurements of so venomous a serpent? What can you tell whether this train she hath made, be a stolen to betray you, and commit you to the mercy of your enemy? or peradventure she hath sent for you, because she seeth an impossibility in thenterprise, and rather to bring you in danger, then of intent to yield satisfaction to your desire. But let us construe her meaning to the best, with imagination that her faith is without corruption, and that she is no less desirous to see you, than you (assotted upon her beauty) seam ready to run thorough the fire of a thousand perils, only to content her, will you by so vain a pleasure, that is of less moment or abode then the thought of a man, at so dear a price as the loss of your honour and life. Remember that the end of that enterprise can not be good, whose beginning is not founded upon discretion, and sequel governed by the rule of raisin, neither can you more greatly deface the ancient renown of your honour, nor leave a greater spot of reproach to your house and friends that live after you, then to conclude and end the course of your life, in the purseute of so dishonest a quest, and your enemies can not so lardgelie triumph in your overthrow and death, as your friends have cause to lament that your own rashness and folly were the only furtherours of the fatal bane of your life: where of the contrary part, if being cut in pieces in the service of some noble prince, or yield to the loare of nature in some valiant exploit or enterprise of war, you should not only aggravate the praise of your life passed with the glory of an honourable death, discharge your friends and succession of all impositions of villainous infamy, but also force your enemies to a conversion of their malice, into a general commendation of your virtue and undoubted faith towards your prince. Besides if you will wayghe the mortal plagues threatened in the gospel to be thundered upon thadulterer, and such as contaminat the married man's bed, or rightly measure the penance of the salt with the foulness of the fact, you shall not only judge with me that there is no life more damnable afore god, nor death more skandalus to the world, then to be overthrown in the combat, which of right is due to be performed by an other: but also that there is more virtue and ease in sufferance, than profit or pleasure in haste, or commodity in rash execution. But if the power of the flesh, prevailing above your resistance hath stirred up this humour of hot desire, which seams to press you so far that you make no conscience to exchange your former glory, for a title or surname of a filthy adulterer, go not so far to seek your destruction, seeing MANTVA presents you with sufficient choice and change of relief, better cheap and with less peril than the hazard of reputation or loss of life.  
This charm of DELYO seamed so to enchante and drive reason into the wavering mind of the MYLLANOIS, that he took respite to reply till the next morning, thanking him notwithstanding of his friendly advertisements which (saith he) have so unséeled the eyes of my mind, that I find myself now able to discern that, which love would not suffer me erst to perceive, and much less to fear or doubt: wherewith retiring to his lodging, he passed the night in the only contemplation of his fancy, wherein appeared such war and contrariety of thoughts, with figures of hollow conceits, that the desire and course of sleep, was wholly converted into an humour of uncertain imaginations, And if by chance his eyes offered to close their lids, and summon the rest of the parts to the quiet reapposed in sleep, the remembrance and care of his buysynes, interuptinge the office of the eyes, presented eftfones a new conflict and second supply of his passion, in such sort, as being to weak to resist the alaram, he yielded to the stronger part, which was the maisterles appetit of sensualtie, and holding more dear the pleasures of the flesh, than the safeguard of his life, determined to take the ford and try if fortune would perform asmuch as she seamed to promise by a flattering hope, which appeared in his idle brain to embrace his mistress without danger, ympartinge the next day his resolution to his dear friend DELYO, to whom saith he, because perils are commonly made greater by reapport, 
perils be greater in reaport then dangerous in thadventure.  than found dangerous in thadventure, and that all likelehodes seldom or never do happen: the valiant ought not to fear the thing that is doubtful nor dread the simple moving of a shadow, neither is there glory of the victory, but where th'adventure exceedeth th'expectation of men, wherefore I am persuaded to give a charge of the good will of fortune, and take my journey towards MILAN, tomorrow, where if I be summoned with the writ of my destinies, or malicious doom of unhappy fortune by death, MILAN will serve me aswell of a tomb, as either MANTVA or other santuarie of the world, neither can I make a better declaration of my faith towards my mistress, then in defying the fear of so many perils, to appear more ready to obey her commandment, then curious or careful of mine own life, which I account ymploied with no less justice on her behalf, than honour to myself, if the same be put to extreme torments and utterly executed in the place, where the view of her own eyes may be thindifferent judges between my firm constancy, and small dissimulation, neither can I leave her a more precious pawn of mine indissoluble love, then being cut in pieces in the pursewte of her service, to leave the walls and posterns of her palace, painted and all to besprent with the blood of the most loyal servant and friend that ever bare name to do honour or service to any of that noble sect. Your desperate resolution (saith DELYO) exceeding all th'experience I have hard or red, of any that have been possessed with the like infection, argueth the unbridled humour of love to be a kind of rage a thousand times more strange and less reasonable, then either the burning fever, or frantic malady of such, as are infected with the fury of frenzy, for what greater folly or rather desperation can be noted in the madman, then to Run headlong in to the midst of the fire, or commit himself unarmed to the mercy of the glaives and sharp swords of his enemy? How may a man term this same amorous rage, and effect of small reason and less discretion which accompany such as make themselves a pray to their proper sensuality, if not some spirit or limb of Satan sent to torment us, in making us thabominable workmen of such miracles of mischief, and he that saith that love proceedeth other ways then of our selves, seemeth rather to mock the truth, then able to justify his argument by approved authorities, seeing the mischief is derived of ourselves, and nourished of the corruption of our nature, whose wicked force prevaileth so much over the gift of our understanding and darkeneth the virtue of the spirit, that we are denied to see and much less to tread the path of our duty, honesty, or conscience. But thamarous Crew of f●yuolus lovers now a days, either to support their damnable enterprises with a bolster or show of a new-found virtue, or to set a more bravery of their doings, than either reason or conscience will allow, or rather: to make their sect favoured with a fame or name of perpetuity, have devised to christian their folly by the name of sincere and true loyalty, which they also forget not to confirm by the title of constancy, as though without the hazard of the soul, and absolute destruction of the body, such execrable villenies and abuses of men, cold bear the name or be registered in the book of virtue, wherein albeit I could be assisted with infynities of examples both familiar and ancient, yet because such discourse would rather seam tedious, than thankful to the guilty minds of a number of our contreymen, I am content to dismiss all antiquities, and pursue my allegation with thauthority of this CORNELIO who rather enchanted then ravished with the remembrance of his Lady, and suggestion of his own folly, told DELIO for end, that if all the ways between MANTVA and MILAN were strewed or pitched with razors, and every gate and window decked with the double cannon ready charged to salute him at his coming, yet (making little or none account of these mortal perils) in respect of the duty he seamed to owe to his dear PLAUDINA, he failed not to begin to perform the sommonce of her letter the next morning, when with ij. servants no less strange to him, then unknown to all men, and himself attired in the weed of a merchant traveller, he departed Mantua at the opening of the gates, & marching no less speedily, then by secret & unknown paths, he measured his time according to t'him portance & danger of his enterprise in such sort, as he got within the walls of Milan at the very last glymmer and cloasing of the evening, where refusing the house of his mother, because the prospect opening upon the palace of his chiefest enemy, seamed more apt to discover, then able to hide his being there, he addressed him to a dear friend of his called Mes●ieur Ambrosio, where being let in in the darkest of the evening, he was lodged in a low chamber, joined as a pendle to th'uttermost corner of the house, most convenient to work his secret mystery.  
His first endeavour after his safe arrival at MILAN, was to send for an appoticarye, whose fidelity he had erst proved in the interchange and convey of diverse letters between his Lady and him who not so much amazed to see him there whom he looked not for, as glad of his coming, for the contentment of Plaudina, assured him of the departure of her husband, his second diligence appeared in thexpedition he used to advertise his mysteries of his coming, whom he requested by a letter under the conduit of this colcarior, to appoint a convenient leisure, that he might speak to her in secret, for (saith he) the conference I have to impart with you, is of other importance, then to be debated in the hearing of witnesses, and much less recorded by any then the only presence of ourselves.  
The Lady although she desired nothing so much as the presence of her servant, whose only coming seamed almost to make her exceed the bonds of reason for joy, yet was she semblably traunced in a passion of dreedefull conceits and doubtful fear, the one for that she feared though malice of the frenchmen, the rather because they extended weekly a privy search, upon all the houses and places which they judged friends to CORNELIO, the other & chief cause of her dolor was, for that by the wrong dating of her letter, she failed of the day of the departure of her husband, whereby she had not only procured to him, a more danger than needed but also abused his adventure, in being not able to give so long a time to their pleasures as he justly deserved and they both desired, notwithstanding she returned the messenger with a gentle aunswere●, wherein above all other things, she gave singler commendation to his firm loyalty, andno less salt toher own folly and rashness, which because she would not only excuse, but also countervail or rather exceed with a recompense to his contentation, she willed him by the messenger, to pass by the gate in the attire of a masquer, where the would attend his coming about x. or xj. of the clock the same evening, resolving upon a certain watch word or other secret instructions whereby she might discern him from the rest of his fellowship. It is to be thought CORNELIO did neither mislike the message, and much less forget the hour of appointment, nor yet seam a coward in this chiefest exploit of his adventure, I am rather of opinion, that his foolish rashness did so much exceed the virtue of the mind, that if the whole garrison of the frenchmen, had been encamped in the street, and ready to receive him upon the point of their picks, he would rather have accepted the offer of present death, then lost so good an occasion to encounter a simple glance or glee of his great friend, who no less mindful of her promiss, then ready to perform it with a double diligence, in hope to enjoy an interest of such pleasure as love yields to such as fortune makes happy and able to receive, attended his coming at the place and hour of accord. And as she was one of the best Courtiers, passing the rest of the train and troop of Ladies in beauty, behaviour and other gifts of flattering show, so was she more courted with the continual haunts and company of the Gentlemen and Princes of ITALY, than any other of what degree so ever she were, in such sort as at the instant and present approach of her servant, she was devising familiarly with diverse Gentlemen of the City, who seeing this mask nobly mounted after the spanish order make their stay afore Plaudina, & she for her part accepting their courtesy with a countenance more thankful then of ordinary, judged his embassage to the Lady to need neither secret witness nor public audience, wherefore not ignorant in th'office of humanity, and because their presence should seam no impediment to the profit or pleasure of an other, they took leave of PLAUDINA resigning the campp and captain to the merchant stranger, whom if they had known, they would surly have rated the penny worths of that pray at to dear a price for him to have carried away without a gage or pawn no less precious than his life.  
Here although the fortune of CORNELIO had hlessed him, 
Cornelio astonished in the presence of his Lady.  with double felicity at one instant, both in avoiding the place of company, and yielding him large view of the presence of his mistreys without interruption, yet love seamed to stir up such alterations and diversaty of amaze within him, that the use of his tongue was not only taken away, and the rest of his parts, retired to a quyvering fear, but also his eyes were so resolved in the greedy gaze of her bowtie, that in place to do her honour with any devise or show of his duty by words, he brought her in terror with the view of his dumb behaviour, resembling rather the ghastly figure of ZELIO POLINO, whom the poets feigning to be enchanted by his wife, do affirm that for the penance of his offence, and abuse towards her, he is bound upright against a wall with a gag in his mouth, without licence or liberty to speak, till she pull the peg from between his jaws, so CORNELIO albeit he was an orator sufficient enough, and specially in disputation of love, yet found he here his tongue so punished with the penance of POLINO, that he cold neither plead for himself at large, nor yet play the part of a stotting solicitor, till the long view of her proportion of majesty unseeling hes eyes, lent him also a countercharme to take away the mystery of his hiddeus' trance, with commission to make a breach of his silence, and restore 
Cornelio speaketh to his Lady.  him to those and liberty of his tongue, which he exposed as a trial of his new benefit in this sort: if all the gifts and good tornes which fortune ever bestowed upon such as received friendship or favour at her hand, were here presented unto me, with licence and liberty to choose which I would have, I doubt whether I cold pike out one of such a number, that were able to countervail the greatness of my present encounter, or if they all had power to yield me such contentment as I find in the contemplation & regard of your divine beauty, and for your part good madam, what greater proff can you have of the honour and service with unfeigned loyalty I have long vowed unto you, then for the only respect of the duty I own you, to see me commit that which is and ought to be most dear to all men, to the hazard of a thousand 
Life.  perils, wherein notwithstanding if the god of my destinies, hath agreed to toche me with the malice of his doom, and publish my sentence of death in this place, I excuse him of present rigour, for that he hath deferred me hetherunto, and accounts great justice in this fatal execution, seeing yourself shallbe judge with what integrity I have served you, since the first vow and motion of my affection, whereunto PLAUDINA REPLIED, if you think you so deeply 
Plaudina replieth to her servant.  in the debt of fortune, for the simple offer of so small a friendship, I account myself no less bound to yield her double sacrafyze of semblable thanks giving, not for that she hath added so great a danger to the declaration of your goodwill (whereof I never doubted) but because in granting us a mutual access and presence together, I may (though not so amply as I would, and as you have deserved) yet in some part, yield you the meed of so great a merit: if you account the pleasure in death (happening in the pursuit of this adventure) peculiar to yourself, you do wrong to the sincere love and loyal affection of your dear PLAUDINA, who resolved to pass under the same sentence, will neither exceed you in length of life, nor give you any place in firm constancy of mind, neither do I greatly fear the threats of present danger, considering your ancient felicity which hath always delivered you in any your attempts what difficulty so ever appeared in them, only I quarrel with mine own folly, in mistaking the day of the departure of mye husband, and grieve no less with thyniquitye of present time, who envying (as it seams) our amarus enterprise, is ready to abridge the course of our desired pleasure with a sudden return of him, whom I wish without 
Her husband  eyes in th'uttermost end of th'orient, notwithstanding as the faults proceeding of rash oversight or ignorance, are rather excusable, then meritorious of free pardon, so although I have offended grievously, yet do I not despair of mercy, considering that besides the confession of the fault, I yield me to such penance as shall please you to enjoin me, which also you shall find me ready to perform, if at the first hour after this midnight, you come hither in as secret manner as you can, and striking but once upon the clapper of the wicket, our janiquetta (whom you know hath been heretofore a messenger of our love) shall open the gate, and convey you into a place of pleasant torments, where if you find yourself grieved with any wrong I have done you, you may pay the revenge with such interest as you think good. Wherewith albeit CORNELIO grudged at the speedy return of the goodman, yet converting the passion of those heavy news, into a conceit of present gladness for the frank and liberal consent of his Lady, he contented himself with the offer of his time and fortune, and yielding a low reverence to his lofty PLAUDINA, retired in haste to his lodging, where attending the approach of his hour of appointment, with no less devotion, than the Papists in France perform their idolatrous pilgrimage to their idol Saint Tronyon upon the mont Auyon besides Rouen, or our superstitious catholics of England of late days to the holy ●oode of Chester, or image of our Lady at walsingham, he seamed to attire himself for the bed, as though he would not stir out of his chamber that night, by which semblance or dissimuled show, he dismissed the company that was with him, shutting the windows and doors of his lodging, till the dead time of the night, summoning all sorts of people to rest, seamed to put him in Remembrance of his promiss and the thing he chief desired to perperforme, so that, arming himself only with sleeves of male, and a naked rapiour under his mantel, he marched towards the palace of PLAUDINA, with more haste then good speed, and less assurance of safety, then likelihod of good luck: for as he accounted himself no less free from all dangers, then far from any occasion or offer of peril, so fortune displaying the flag of her malice, encountered him suddenly with a desaster exceeding his expectation, whereby she warned him (as it were) of the ambush of future evils which were ready to discover themselves. And albeit this first accident was nothing in respect of the other strange mischiefs, which she ceased not to thunder upon him, one in the neck of an other, afore the end of his enterprise, yet it ought to have sufficed to have revoked and made him cross sail from the pursuit of so bad an adventure, seeing withal there appeared neither reason in the attempt, nor honesty in the victory. But who doubteth, that the lust of the body is not the chiefest thing that infecteth the mind with all sin, and that the beauty of a woman doth not only draw and subdue the outward parts, but also levyeth such sharpp assaults to the in ward forces of the mind not surely rampired in virtue, that they are not only denied to eschew such things as be undoubtedly hurtful both to the body and soul, but also (drawn to desire that, which they ought not to imagine, and much more abhor to do as a thing of great detestation: besides, love is of so venturous a disposition, stirring up such a courage in the hearts of those champions whom he possesseth: 
Love makes a man valiant or rather foolish hardy.  that he makes them not only unmindful of all dangers, but also to seam able to pass the limits of the Son, with power to exceed the bonds of Hercules and Bacchus, neither makes he any thing unlawful, which he thinketh reasonable, nor giveth glory to that enterprise, which is not accompanied with infynitie of perils: But as the wise man wisheth all estates to deliberat at large afore the devise be put in execution, yielding no difference of reward, with a success of semblable and equal effect to him that rashly crediteth thadvise of himself, and such as commit their bodies and doings to one stroke of fortune: So are we warned by thauthority of the same principle, to examine the circumstance of our enterprises, and cast the good and evil that may happen with so sewer and steady a judgement, that there can no danger so soon appear, but we may be assisted with the choice of ij. or iij. remedies to repress him, wherein if CORNELIO had been as thoroughly instructed, as he seamed altogether infected with the humour of folly, he needed not have fallen into such danger as he doubted least, nor despair of that which he seamed to desire most, and much less assailed even in the beginning and brunt of his buysynes with that sudden fear which erst he was not able to imagine, and now as unlikely and unprovided to sh●n, for as he attended the coming of janiqueta to open the door, behold there rung in his ears a great brute or noise of the clattering of naked weapons, and men in harness, seaminge (as it was in deed) a set fray between ij. enemies in the end or corner of the same street, which was so hoatlye pursued, that one of the skirmishers being hurt to the death, broke out of the press, and fleinge towards the place where CORNELIO stood fainted and fell down dead at his feet, even as the maid opened the wicket to take him in, which was not so secretly done, but the eyes of certain neighbours beholding the fray out of their windows, discovered the going in of CORNELIO with a nacked sword in his hand, whereupon followed the alarame to the innocent lover as you shall hear hereafter: but being within the court and the gates shot again, he was léed by the little Darioletta of their love, into a garderobe or inner gallery, till the servants were retired to rest, who for the most part lay out of the house that night, being busy in visiting the banquets abroad, according to the Epicure order of sundry countries in christendom during the season of shroftide, when diverse gluttons delight in nothing but to do sacrifice to their belly: And having the rest 
An order not necessary for a comm●● wealth.  surely locked in their chambers and all occasions of suspicion or fear either prevented or provided for (as they thought) PLAUDINA sent for her servant into her chamber, thin king to work th'effect of both their desires and plant the married man's badge in the brows of her husband being absent: But here they made their reckoning without their oft, and were forced to rise from the banquet, rather with increase of appetite, then satisfied with the delicate dishes they desired to feed upon: for as they had newly begun the preamble to the part they meant to play, and entered into thamarous exercise of kissing and embracing each other, whereof neither the one nor tother had erst made assay together, being at the point to lay their hands to the last endeavour and effect of love, which the frenchmanne calleth Ledon Damoreuse mercy, they hard a great noise and horleyborley in the street of the guard and chief officers of the watch, who finding the dead body at the door of PLAUDINA, began to make such inquisition of the murder, with threatening charge to understand the manner and cause of his death, that amongst the neighbours which beheld the fray, there was one affirmed, that at the same instant that the broil was most hot, he saw a tall young gentleman let in at the gates of PLAUDINA, with a sword in his hand, armed on the arms with sleeves of male, whereupon the captain of the watch began to bounce at the door, as though his force had been able to beat down the walls, with such a rout and company of frenchmen assisting his angry endeavour, that both the one and the other of our lovers seamed indiffrentely passioned with semblable fear, the one doubting this sudden stir & ●proare of the frenchmen, to be rather a privy search to entrap him, than an Inquirendum for the murdor, whereof he was no less ignorant than innocent, the other despairing no less of the delivery of her friend, if he fell once unhappily into the hands of thenemy, then doubting the dyscoverye of her own dishonesty, being known to conceal a stranger in the secret corners of her house, wherein having albeit but bad choice of means to avoid such ij. threatening evils, and less time to take council of their present peril, yet being of opinion, that in the safety of the one consisted the sewertye of them both, she used the policy of the wise mariner or shipmaster, who in the fury of a storm, will not stick to prevent the destruction of the whole, with the loss of the lesser part, and bestowing his wares of precius value in the sewrest comethes of his ship, makes no conscience in such an extremety, to expose the rest to the mercy of thangry waves: so knowing that if CORNELIO were not discovered, the matter would neither grow to suspicion, and much less to danger or cause of fear, she willed him to mount into the midst of a narrow chimney, where being denied scope to sit or to lean sometimes for his ease, the littleness of the place gave him only licence to stand upright upon a bar of iron rammed with stone and mortar in both sides of the chimney, where having his sword drawn in his hand, he resembled th'image of some jupiter, holding a thunderbolt between his fingers ready to throw at such as disquieting his sleep, do hunt the little cryckettes chirping in the walls and crevices of the earth, and herself as more hardy or rather 
A woman more ready of wit than a man in exeremeties.  ready of wit in extremities, descends to the court, with all the keys of her howsse in her hand amongst the rude watch, where after she had found the captain, she forgot not to forge sundry causes of grudge against his discourtesy, reprehending his inorderly dealing with many waspish words, but chief for that at so indecent an hour, and unseemly order, he sought to abuse the reputation of her husband, in breaking open the doors of his palace & that in his absence, wherewith albeit her complaint seamed to import a semblance of justice, with no less reason on her behalf, yet the neighbour or first accusor, advowching eftsoons his confession, forced the captain (half against his will) to follow the search, whereupon he had the keys delivered, with liberty to ransecke each corner and cabinet of the house at his pleasure, wherein he omitted neither diligence in execution, nor policy in the search, for there was no coffer escaped without his bottom turned upward, every bed and bolster was tried with the point of a sharpp dagger, ye no bench nor hollow place apt to hide a tennesball was dispensed from the malice of these rakehells of the watch. But when the frenchmen in armour came into the chamber where our CORNELIO was cammed up in the tewel of a chimney, god knoweth whether he wished him at Mantua with his friend DELIO or no, & you lovers that have passed the like straits, may better judge his passion than I able to reaport the mystery, but me thinks I hear him curse and Commit to the devil both love & all his practices, and being in continual expectation that some roostye halbarde should be throste up into the chimney where he stood, I think at that instant he powered out more prayers to god for his delivery, than ever affore he made requests or petitions to his Lady to enjoy her beauty, neither is it like that his appetit continued, or his amarus humour so fervent, as his desire great to be further from the place of such danger: albeit as it is a general rule that one evil never cometh alone, so this fear was not so great, as the future penance of hard digestion, neither had he scarce time to take breath afore he was assailed with a second misfortune, for understanding the watch to be retired, and the whole guarryson of thenemies without the gates, where upon being at the point to descend from his smoky pavilion, as one that accounted himself past the fear of fortune, behold the goodman alighted at the door, who finding the streets pestered with people in armour, his doors open with his house confused, and all things out of order, was no less astonished than he had cause, and yet not so abashed at the strangeness of the thing, as his wife in double despair of means to avoid this second inconvenience, albeit as increase of peril stirring up a fresh supply of shifts, pierceth the uttermost corner of the wits, so PLAUDINA, standing between the present offer of open shame, and the malice of a most unhappy fortune, was driven to retire to the benefit of that gift, which the Philosopher attrybutes in common to all women, saying that in an extremety, the wit of a woman is so much at commandment, that she is as sewer of a shift, as certain of her life, and making of necessity a virtue, she used such artificial slight in bleiring the eyes of the goodman john her husband, that he allowed greatly the honest diligence of his wife, and blamed altogether th'abuse of the captain, whom he threatened to requite with semblable courtesy, wherein as she doubted nothing of the tractable nature of her simple husband, (being glad notwithstanding to have so smoothly appeased the humour of his just anger) so she accounted herself, neither free from cause of fear, nor quite delivered from distress, till she had made a mean to manifest the coming of her husband to her lover in the chymneye, whom as she knew to be passed the fear of the frenchemen, So doubting he would dread no further danger, but descend immediately from his frozen mewe, took her goodman by the hand and led him from place to place where the watch had left all things out of order, bringing him at last into the chamber where CORNELIO stood like a crow in a gutter or an oracle to give answer to such as are desyerus to be resolved of doubtful demands. And albeit the violence of the frost, with the nipping season of the winter, had so pinched all his parts with extremety of cold, together with the passion of fear which he felt during his abode in his narrow castle or cage of small ease, that the penance he endured seamed rather to exceed the heinous respect of his offence, than a sufficient punishment for his salt, being only a desire and no violation nor act done, yet the very voice of her husband restored him to such triple perplexity, that he seamed to feel thapproach and uttermost summons of his fates, and pass thorough the last trance and passion of life, for being escaped from the danger he feared most, he saw himself subject to thaudersatye he doubted least, wherein also as the present view of his second peril, renewed a lively remembrance of his danger paste, presenting more ympedymentes to his delivery, than means or ways to 
Necessity giveth courage to the faint heart.  escape, So if it were not that necessity giveth courage to the faint stomach, and despair bringeth often times a cause of good hope, I think (in defying all the delays and dallyenges of fortune) he had at that instant abridged the pursuit of his amarus enterprise, and natural course of his own life, by showing a tumbling cast from the top or greeselye rooff of his grymie palace. But PLAUDINA had double reason in her devise, both to advertise her lover (as it were in a vision) that albeit he was bound to too long a devotion, in so unseemly a temple, yet he should not despair of the goodness of a better fortune, and also not to seam jealous of her endeavour and diligence in the redress of his case, for that she cold not (without great argument of suspicion) abandon the company of her husband, till she had got him to bed, wherein notwithstanding her policy was no less frustrate, and she eftsoons deceived, than the poor image in the chemney assailed with the malice of a third mischief, for her husband being in bed in his own cabinet, commanded ij. of his men that had attended him in his journey, to lie in the chamber where CORNELIO had passed the mystery of so many transes, which albeit PLAUDINA resisted to th'uttermost she could do, yet (maugre her heart) the authority of the goodman prevailed, albeit doubting the cold villains (riding all day in the frost) would have made a fire in the chimney, and either sacrafised the saint that meant nothing less than to become a burnt offering, or smothered as an innocent that deserved not such purgatory, she gave special charge, not to light so much as a candle with in the chimney: for the rest, she prayed that the god and patron of true lovers would take such compassion of his present distress, that if he denied him for that time the due guerdon of his rare and firm loyalty, yet at the least he would grant him dispense, and saffeconduit to pass thorough the pikes of his infortunate dangers, and as she was thus in earnest contemplation to the majesty of the blind god of love for the safe delyveryé of her friend, with no less care how to redeem him from the filthy dungeon of the hollow chimney without the ransom of public reproach to herself, and double danger to him, and he also (for his part) tearing of a patience perforce, with some hope and likelihod of good luck notwithstanding, for that he had already escaped such iii hot skirmishes of fortune, whom he judged now to have drawn the thread of her spite to an end, behold the alaram of the iiii. assault, more violent than any of the rest, and exceeding them all in absolute arguments of peremptory perils, for the justice not satisfied of the morder, and harping still upon the confession of him that first opened the presumption, sent him in the guard of certain officers to the Lord MOMBOYER, chief of the senate afore whom he avouched (with new oath) the perticularyties of his former deposition, whereupon, was enjoined eftsoons a strait commandment to the justice, to make a second search in the house of PLAUDINA, who if she were now more a mazed then afore, & almost at point to yield, to does pair, it is to be thought poor CORNELIO, had no less cause of disquiet, for that yielding himself already discovered by his enemies, he judged the new broil and clattering of rostye halberds, to be messengers sent by the judge to apprehend him, wherein his opinion was the rather confirmed, for that assoon as they were within the house, and afore the good man cold make himself ready to meet them, they made no stay till they came to the chamber of the selly housdove in the chimney, where finding by evil hap a case with dags, and other weapons of suspicion, brought thither by the two. servants sleeping in their own misfortune, rather weary with their long journey, then likely to commit a morder, they condemned them by and by, as guilty of the fact, wherewith omitting no rigour of their office, they coppled the two. innocentes together in a scarf of hemp, wherein as the goodman made haste to come to the rescue of his men, he was encountered by the way, by certain sergeants or crymynall officers, who arresting him as prisoner on the behalf of the king, led him captyffe to the castle amongst the rest of his miserable servants, neither cold he be suffered to commence matter for his own iustifycation, nor have indifferency in excusing thinnocency of his men, such was the rage of these Rakehells and officers of hell, who are commonly more priest to oppress innocency by violence, then ready to do justice sincerely according to their oath and duty.  
Here although fortune began to change complexion, and moderate somewhat her angry climate towards our sorowfullovers, by locking the husband with the most of his seruantés in close prison, yet this happy torn of her wheel unlooked for, seamed such a mist to the mind of CORNELIO, that he was not able to discern that which his heart did divine, nor believe that fortune upon such a sudden, cold convert her angry and wrathful humour into such speedy compassion, neither cold the conceits of his doubtful heart give other judgement, then that the last retire and departure of the guard, was rather a vision or dream, than a thing of effect: such be the ordinary allaroms appointed to quarrel 
The doubtful mind is rather apt to believe the worst than credit things that b●● 〈◊〉.  with the doubtful mind, who in an extremity, is always more apt to imagine the worst, then able to believe or give credit to things that be true, and when danger and peril occupy the place, confidence is often turned into fear, and fear is of such force, that it doth not only deny us to use council in our evil, but makes us (for the most part) to refuse the thing that should be our most safeguard, wherein the poor CORNELIO, seamed no less passioned than afore, and assailed rather with double despair, then able to admit any simple proffer of hope, in such sort as devising to what saint to vow himself, he put his special and chief confidence at last in his prayers to the great God, whom he desired above all things with tears to defend his dear PLAUDINA from any note of infamy or shame by his means, & for himself, if his glass were now run out, and the doom of his extreme destinies cold be no longer deferred, that at the least he would, by the hand of some Angel and other virtue of great miracle, bestow him in some soil unknown, afore the fates had full power to execute the uttermost of their rigorous commission, protesting notwithstanding, that if he might be dispensed withal for this one fault, never to be found so forgetful of himself hereafter, if God and nature wéere content to seal him an assurance of the race and years of NESTOR. PLAUDINA on tother side seamed indyffrent lie passioned between dissembled sorrow and assured gladness, a forced grudge and an unfeigned joy, grieving in the one, for thimprisonment of her husband, whose innocency she knew did warrant his belyverie, and rejoicing in the other, for that contrary to her expectation, fortune had made the way open and given her consent for the consummation of the banquet with her languishing lover, whose safe and happy preservation seamed more to delight her, thenne the remembrance of the hard and wrongful ymprisonement of her husband grieved her, neither was she so careful to redeem him from captivity, as readie-wyth great devotion to give love and fortune their peculiar thanks, the one for that in preserving his champions from the malice of danger and mark of open shame, seamed to restore the field, and assist them with soccour, when they despaired most of consolation, the other, for that contrary to her nature and cousin tume, she had turned theirmanifold afflictions into a pleasure more precious & acceptable, than all the desasters of the whole world seamed grievous, or hurtful, in which passion of joy she mounted into the chamber of jacke of the clockhouse, who resembling a red heyring dried in the smoke against the beginning of the next lent, attended her coming with no less devotion than the jews expect their MESSIAH, and albeit, the approach of present joy, forcing some tears in remembrance of the fear passed, seamed for the time to take away the use and liberty of her tongue, yet she cut of the trance of that pleasant sorrow without th'assistance of any special countercharm, other than that which proceeded of a vehement desire to behold and speak with her friend in the chimney, wherefore after she had dried and drained the wet humour of her watery eyes, and dismissed all arguments of former dole, she retired to her ancient complexion of joy, and calling with a smile voire to him in the top of the roof, willed him to descend hardly from his dark troane and theatrie of hell, where (saith she) if god had not devised the mean of your delivery, and seamed willing that you should receive the due guerdon of your loyalty, in consenting to commit my husband to prison, you had still remeined there, nourished with the vapour of the moon, longer than either I would have wished, or had been necessary for your health. Here albeit CORNELIO was sufficiently persuaded of the voice of his Lady, and that he knew all the house to be void of suspicion or cause of further danger, yet the remembrance of his peril passed, presented such a fear to fall eftsoons into the like perplection, that he neither believed that which he hard, nor durst forsake his habitation on high, till he was summoned the second time by his PLAUDINA, who by the help of her woman, reared a lather to the top of the fit where the grymy rood stood, who being descended and in the presence of his Lady, seamed no less amazed, than those desolate or rather drunken creatures, who wandering the night by unknown ways, do think theimselues guided by the vision of some ill spirit: And the wanton lady on tother side, seeing the ghastly astonishment of her friend, not much unlike in complexion to the chimney swepers coming out of the isle of BERGAMASQVA could not so moderate her present gladness, but bursting into a sudden laughter, she seamed to crucify the remembrance of the tragedy passed, with the singler contentment she took in beholding her CORNELIO, died (as it were) in the smothering tanfat of hideous colours: And albeit (you lovers) who for a simple glee and respect of favour of your Ladies, have erst been sprinkled, with the water of semblable affliction, and after (getting th'upper hand of your fortune) possess the presence of your dames in such oglye and deformed attire, can best judge of the present case of CORNELIO, I mean whether he had more cause of shame, than astonishment, just anger against his fortune, or reason to exclaim his mishap, chiefly for that he fond himself so brave a companion in the loathsome badge or livery of the chymneye, and whether he had so great courage to communicate with his PLAUDYNA, resembling the black knight or ferryman of ZENOLOZ, as he showed himself valiant, in thattempt of an enterprise of so great adventure, yet thauthority of my history avoucheth thus far of his doings at that time, that notwithstanding the malice and diversity of all his mishaps, with the perfumed, figure and gréeselie show of himself, he neither lost courage to demand the due meed and higher of his dangerous travail, nor forgot to do sacrafise to his fortune for the return of her friendship, affirming there, that they did her wrong that christenned her by the name of cruel, and such no less abused her, that termed her by the title of an unrightuous or rigorous judge, considering she doth but justice sometime to check or chasten our offences and we no reason to plead for ourselves but by appellation to the privilege of her favour, neither is she cruel for ever, nor so maliciously bent in the beginning, but she is able and will use moderation in her angry mood, and restore us in the end, to triple contentation. And like wise (saith he) as the poor traveller in a strange country, having once passed diverse light peperills and dangers of no great ymportaunce, is not only made stronger to encounter greater inconveniences, but also restored to a marvelous contentment & quiet of mind, when without danger he may enjoy his rest, and record his perils passed. Even so fortune this night hath given us an experience of diverse desasters, both to use her advertisement as a special armour to resist thassaults of semblable accidents hereafter, and also to confirm our affections with a stronger bond or undoubted unity, making the pleasures of our love of greater price and moment after so sharp storms of raging tempests. And what is he that is worthy to taste of the delights and pleasures of the world, that is not able to digest one simple pill of bitter confection: neither doth hope dekaie but with the end of life, and the virtue of a most true and invincible loyalty, is never frustrate nor void of his reward, and tochinge the storms paste (my dear PLAV DINA) saith he, like as it is a chief consolation to a man in calamity to know his mishap, so there is also a special compfort that followeth the remembrance of the evils which we have already suffered, and a triple contentment being permitted to record them without danger, and he that is desirous to be crowned with the garland and glory of victory, must not fear the malice of peril nor hazard of life, for who contemneth death, escapeth his malice, but such as fear and flee from him, do often fall into his danger, neither is there less fame in the valiant adventure, then in the fortunate victory, And for my part, if my life had ended in thassault of any of these distresses, the same had not exceeded a simple oblation of my duty towards you, which also had followed with no less expedition, than I had great desire to give you so unfeigned a show of my service, if in the very act, had not appeared a manifest derogation and cause of infamy to your honour, wherewith meaning yet to prolong his discourse he was interrupted with the reply of PLAUDINA, who more desirous to taste of the pleasures to come, then willing eftsoons to prefer a second view of the mischienes passed, wished him to dismiss the remembrance of their former perils, and seam more willing to embrace the gift of present time, for there is not so great consolation in the record of our misery past, as cause of worthy annoy, if we seam unthankful to the new offer or gift of our fortune. And albeit (saith she) some what smiling, that your boldness was more than deserved praise, yet your felicity you see, hath defended you from peril, and the rashness of the valiant, is often times turned into an increase of his glory, with double contentment not looked for wherewith embracing her CORNELIO, she helped to dissornishe him of his loathsome attire, and after he had purified his grymye body in ij. or three perfumed banns made for the purpose by the Chambriere whilst they were in discourse, they entered together the lists in a fair field bed ready dressed, armed only with naked weapons, where it is no less hard for the ignorant to judge their encounters, then impossible for thabsent to witness who won the price of the battle, only I leave the sentence of them both to the resolution of you (my Lords) that have or would be special sticklors in such a combat, but thus much I may imagine without offence, that the innocent hornsbye in the castle, found not so much pleasure in his prison, as CORNELIO took delight being the lieutenant of his bed, in dancing the married man's round without other music than the instrument of his wife, which both triumphing indiffyrentlye over the infortunate and miserable bird in the cage, & rating the pleasures of the rest of that night, with an advantage of seven. or biii. days more, at what interest they thought good, forgot not to dob him that was absent, knight, of the forqued order of Vulcan. And albeit fortune showed hear a marvelous partiality & cunning in the convey of this business, I mean to advance the attempt of the lover, by the oppression and unjust captivity of the innocent husband, yet was not her favour so clear, but there appeared a threatening sommance of speedy change, for that the good man being justified with in vj. or seven. days trial, was redeemed from prison, whose delivery was not so acceptable to himself, as displeasant to his ij. corrivals, whereof the one feeding him with the reversion and leaving of an other man, gave him only the possession of shapp and body of a woman without a heart. And the other weary or cloyed with the toil of one kind of exercise, or not able any longer to maintain the skirmish without fresh supplies, or fearing peradventure the torn of his fortune, who never yields us pleasure without a sharp repentance in the end, if we prevent not her doom by discretion, was as willing to resign the fort, as at the first, he scanted desirous to enter the breach, whereupon resolving upon an other time for the further consummation & complot of their felicity, they departed, not without signs of secret sorrow, appearing by the tears standing in their eyes, the one to her husband, who wearing by ignorance, a forqued garland made of the leaves of the free, whereof an other had cooled and cropped the fruit, was content with that he found, and rejoiced in his happy encounter, the other not without great danger retired to Mantua, where taking more pleasure in the repetition of his perils passed, then desirous (without better advise) to reiterate or undertake again the like adventure, he discoursed the whole to his friend DELIO, who for his part, rejoicing more in the safe return of his friend, then commending his wisdom in thattempt of so rash & perilous an enterprise, exclaimed against the detestable rage & fury of love, which as all antiquities do affirm, to be of more force & infection, than all the rhubarb of Alexandria or antycyria is either able to heal or delay that least fury of so uncurable a poison, so the familiar experience of this age, justifying the protestation of former time, doth yield us such diversities of examples, touching the raging disposition of that frantic humour, that we ought not only to shone the air of such a pestilent plague, no les than the mariner, that goth a loof & giveth place to the hard rocks in the dangerous Ocean, but also to stand so sewerlye upon our guard, that we seam not once to listen to thenticing sommance or lewer of so execrable corruption, who once taking possession of the sensible parts within us, besides that he ceaseth not to interrupt our quiett with continual torment and passion, stretcheth yet his power so far, that he brings us in case not only to commit our lives to manifest perils, forget the duty of our conscience, with breach of the commandment of God, but also (to satisfy the appetit of wanton lubricity) he makes us corrupt the purity of the soul, with the spot of abominable adultery, a sin most apt of all other to incense the vengeance of God against us, whereof we have sewer prooff in the destruction of Sodom and Gomorra with diverse other countries and common wealths, which he hath plagued and brought to ruin, for the only licentious living of the people.  
FINIS.   

The argument.  
LIke as all ages from the first foundation of the primitive church, are void of record, or remembrance of so great diversity in religion, as the wickedness of our present time doth present unto us, So thopinions at this day, are not so different one from an other, as th'abuse of the babylonian or dyabolicall sect of Rome, appears so plainly in their detestable trade of living, that their own villainy and fruits of corruption, discovereth to the dymmest eyes that be, how far they are from the path of sincere and true doctrine, and yet marching unworthily amongst the troup of the faithful, are not ashamed to arrogatt unto themselves the title of thanointed of the Lord, with protestation that they only bear the badge of true christianytie. Wherein albeit, it agreeth not with the task I have taken in hand, either to axgewe or move question, because both the one and the other belongs to the office of the Theologian or divine of Learning and authority, yet seeing a daily increase of their disorder, with a slack endeavour of such, as (having authority to expose unto them the rod of reformation, seam rather partial on their behalf, then ready (according to their duty) to yield due punishment to their detestable error, I may without offence, bowlte out mine opinion touching their abominable trade of life, being confirmed chiefly therein with infinite examples of lascivious exploits and other inordinate trade of living, in the parsons of such, as make semblable profession, and truly as we do but right to yield a dutiful reverence to such as be true prelate's and pastors of the little flock dispersed thorough the world, together with a general zeal to thorder of them that be called to the sacred sanctuary, evenso we commit offence in mine opinion, in believing that there is any honour or commendation at all due to them, whose lives expose more arguments and proofs of infamy, than the most vile and swearing ruffyan, that ever did service to thimpudent courtesan of Rome, neither is it a seamlye honour or ornament for the church of GOD, to see a prelatte, puffed up with vanity, iettinge up and down the streets upon his footeclothe, attended upon as a satrapas with a train of dashbucklers or squaring tospottes, and himself pinked and razed in thattire of a young bridegroom, with his hear curled by art, falling in locks, as it were by appointment, upon his forehead, with more curyositie, than an old idol or image of venus, perfuming the streets with the smell of musk and amber, which he hath conyngely enclosed in the seams of his garments, besides what example of virtue is it, to see one of our reverend religious fathers and governous of covents, more given to court the dames with requests of sensuality, then to torn over the leaves of the new testament or other sacred institutions, left unto us by christ and his disciples, and employ more study in devise to seduce and suborn their neighbours wives and daughters, then to visit their diocese, and defend the silly sheep against the malice of the ravening wolf, seeking to devour the few that be left. Is he worthy to be admitted to feed the flock, or bear the title of christes shepherd, that lives in more adultery, fornication and drunkenness, than he that makes an only profession of such evil all the days of his life? or how is he able to reclaim such as be out of the way to salvation, that detesteth the scripture, delights in wickedness, and prefers absolute examples of the most perentory sin that can be, whereof thytalyan bandell, hath drawn a most true and lively pattorne in the person of a neapolitaine Abbott, which I have accounted of necessity to prefer amongst my volume of discourses, as well to the confusion of himself, and such as resemble him in condition, as to give worthy glory to the virtue of a pure virgin, who had her honour in such reputation, that she sought rather to end her days in the defence of her chastity, then to commit the use of her body, to the fleshly will of an Abbot, more full of villainy, then perticipatinge with thosfice and duty of a true christian  
THE VILLENNIE OF an abbot in seeking to seduce a maid by force and her virtue in defending her honour against him and his companions of treason.  
ALl men, whose experience by travail is a witness of the singularities of italy, and spain, are of opinion I am sewer, that NAPLES, is one of the most rich pleasant and Populus cities in EUROPE, both for the beauty and fartilitie of the country round about, the magnifical plat and situation of the town, prospectinge with open casementes, upon the height of the high sea Tyrenun, 
A discripcion of Naples according to the chronicles of tuscan.  and also the warlike garrison of gentlemen of all countries, dying there for the defence of the frontiers, with the civil disposition of the people inhabiting the said paradise.  
There may you see a plain and pleasant champain, yielding a wonderful solace with her delicate air breathing 
diverse english gentlemen entertained there at this day.  upon such as use the fields for wholesome recreation, and noresheth besides all chases of delight necessary for th'exercise of nobility. And he that wisheth to be privy to the pleasure of solitary places, may see there the wonderful art and industry of nature, declared in the convey of little hills or pendells of the earth, hanging (as it were) by a frame of geometry, beawtified on all parts, with an infinity of oranges, lemons, and other trees odiferous, yielding a commodity and pleasure peculiar to the Town, and general benefit to the whole country and strangers passing that way, aswell by thenticing savour of that trees, as sugared taste of the fruit. The bottoms of which delightful groves, do discover certain valleys no less rich in fruitful grafts and plants of strange kinds, than the champion yielding a plentiful increase of corn of all sorts, where the meadow also clad with his green garment at all times of the year, is hung continually with a tapestry of all coolors of herbs and flowers, which other livery of dame flora, who assystes this heavenly glee in the valleys, with the joists of sundry clear springs, yielding at all times of the day, a temperate dew, to take away the vehement heat of the son, in such sort, as the strangers passing by, imparting of the air and wholesomeness of the place by the breath of a mild zephir, are drawn thither by delight, and forced to repose and refresh their weary bodies for a time with the solace, whereof those places yield an indifferent plenty to all men, besides, he that is desierus to be partaker of the marvels of nature, hidden in thentrails of the earth, let him take a boat and visit the islands, where amongst the wonders that Pozzollo brings forth, he shall see the hot poddells, from whence distill the banns so necessary for the health of man, with the pubbling trough or cave of Sibilla, by the which as the poets feign, AENEAS made his entry in descending into hell to speak with his father. There appears also a remembrance of thartificial labyrinth of Dedalus, with the sumptuous palace of the Roman Lucullus, whose lodgings, with so many crooked turnings & windings every way, windows, chapels and places of solitary resort, exceeding (according to the poets) the computation of man, were swallowed in a moment in the devowring throat of Tyrenun, by a sudden trembling or shaking of the earth commonly called an earthquake, finally he shallbe there presented with the secret and most sure lodgings builded by nature in the belly of the hard rocks, with other wonders in such infinite number, that only that place yields pleasure sufficient to feed the eye and mind of man, with more delight than the whole remainder of Europe is able to furnish, wherein I am chief moved to note you a particular description of this paradise, to th'end that as the places of solemn & solitary regard, do commonly mortify in men all occasions of wanton exercise, so the planet that governeth those plats of earthly pleasure pricking forward our effeminate disposition, stirreth up the humour of lascivious lust with an inclination more ready to perform the frail suggestion of the flesh, then provide for the health of the divine part of the mind, which is the soul, neither is our present age so plentiful of virtue or virtuous effects, but the view of our ancestors lives passed, gives us sufficient cause to blush and be ashamed, in that we are found so weak in thymy●acion of their exploits and exercises of virtue, wherein besides an infinity of examples proceeding of the wickedness of our time, I may be bold to confirm mine opinion with a familiar experience of an Abbot of Naples, whose young discretion, equal to the grenes of his years, made him no less insufficient to govern the state of his vocation, then unable every way, to discharge th'office wherein he was invested by oath and habit of religion, for having also the consent of noble race (whereof he was descended) to favour the wilful appetites of his unbridled youth, he took more delight to assist the exercises of nobility, I mean in making one at all manner of dances, masks, momeries, dressed for the honour of ladies with covered faces, and other recreations of pleasure convenient only for the courtier, then to sit in the chapter house upon reformation of his monks, or to ymploye any part of his time in the study of the sacred volumes of the church, he was also admitted a necessary companion to some of the governors and captains there, for that he kept an ordinary table and free diet for gentlemen, being a thing most acceptable to the spaniard, who at home keepeth him within the compass of thine and sober cheer, and abroad is nothing inferior to the devouring Almaigne, resembling by that means, the sparing order of the niggards of old time in their dry and hungry banquets, and to the sin of this excesses in delicate fare, he added an offence no less heinous and most unseemly for any of his calling, dividing the day into hours, and hours into imitation of pleasures, some time he was seen in the streets in thattire of a galland or young courtier, some time he visited the haunts and assemblies of ladies, courting such of them as he found to give most ear to his idle talk, neither respecting the opinion that passed of his lightness touching the violation of the holly order of his profession, nor the dishonour he did to the house from whence he discendid. But gloried rather in that he cold so artificially perform the parts of a Philantoes or flattering lover, then in revelling the mysteries of the scripture, to seam to imitate the true simplicity of life of his virtuous predecessors in that place, whereupon followed immediately a declaration of the vile fruits of so vicius a life, for as Mousieur le Moyne passed one day in great bravery upon his footeclothe thorough the fairest street of Naples, exposing a rich show by reason of the glee of the gold smiths shops, he glaunsed by chance upon one of the faireste women (as he thought) harboured at that time within the walls, and following the pursuit of her beauty with a greedy gaze of his eye, (maugre his heart) he was forced to a sudden stay right over against the place where she was, which time of abode, his eyes forgot not to employ in taking large measure & view of her proportion every way, making such reaporte to the heart and rest of the interior parts, that in one moment he became assailed with that wherein he was ignorant for experience, and less assisted with necessary resistance, feeling within him a hot war between the sencesible parts of reason, & sensual provocation of the flesh, with a present captivity of 
Love a common enemy to the ease of man.  his ancient quiet by the common enemy of the ease of man, which we call properly the passion of love, who at this first encounter, rampired himself so strongly within the inward parts of this young Abbott, that he only governed his thoughts, & disposed his doings altogether by his discretion, ceasing not to flatter his fond humour with instinctes of vain conceits, till he brought him to the stage to play the last act of the Comedy, where he received the due guerdon of his folly with open shame and rebuke of the multitude, and when time summoned this religious fondling to depart from the view of his new mistress, he seamed in no less pain, then if their had been present incision made into his entrails, to cut insonder the strings where upon his heart is staid, or that (according to the poets) he felt the Eagle of promotheus pecking upon his liver. The girl was the daughter of a goldsmith, no less dear to the father, then extremely beloved of her mother, both for her beauty and promptness of wit, and also for that in her young years appeared such arguments and signs of virtue, that she was noted the paragon and patorne of all degrees of her time, for womanly behaviour, and nothing inferior to the best touching the chaste order and honest convey of her life, wherewith she beautified the mean discente of her parents, and left a rare example to the Ladies of greater calling, who think, their renown sufficiently confirmed by the height and honour of their house, without putting to the action and effect of virtue, which in deed, as it is the badge of true nobility, so it hath also authority to make noble the meanest descent that is, and truly as the vain woman exalteth herself, like to the birds, whose natural lightness convey them to the stars, I mean takes pleasure in the abundance of her riches, preferreth the magnificency of her house, ymagininge her beauty to be worthy to sit in the highest Theatrey of the world, so the wise woman is glorified, only in the gift of sincere & pure simplicity, with a wonderful care to keep her name without spot, and the course of her life so upright, that the malice of evil tongues may have no power to enter, and much less pierce with any worthy slander, but now to our Gansaldo, and amorous Abbot, who bathing in the lake of his follies, thought as great ympossibilitie to retire or dismiss this first alaram or summons of love, as to comprehend all the water of thoccian within a little urinal, neither would he dispose himself to try the force of any resistance, but determined (at what price soever it were) to ymparte his passion to the girl, which he imagined would move in her a consent of reciprocal affection: here in the opinion of the poet is justified saying, that lovers reapose a certainty in dreams, and proclaim a sewer victory of thuncertain object of their fancy, like as this fond abbot being limed with a simple look or glance at unwares, doth promise himself the conquest of the pray, against whom he hath as yet used, neither force nor policy and much less dressed any ambush, he forgot not every day in the week to make his purmenado on horseback in the street, where dwelled the saint to whom he had vowed such solemn devotion, wherein for a more glory of himself, and the rather to seduce the maid, he appeared in several attire and change of horse twice or thrice a day, not forgetting in passing by the house of the goldsmith, to take measure of the door, glance upon the windows, and pierce with the drawig regards of his eye thorough every crevice of the wall, to th'end he might encownter a second view of her, whose first regard, had ministered unto him the broth of infection, and if fortune were content at any time to give him a sight of her, whether it were at the door or out of the window, or in other place which denied him favour or liberty to speak to her, I think he forgot not to expose arguments of his grief, by the pitiful regards of his countenance, wanton torninge of the eye, and other messengers of his passion, arguing the torment he endewred for the desire he had to do her service, he understood at last by secret inquisition, what church her mother haunted for the performing of her prayers, and that her daughter was her only companion in these devotions, whither also he directed his pilgrimage, and dissymulinge with GOD, he played thypocrite, in converting his regards from th'altar or place of levation, to behold the beauty of the goldsmiths daughter, the saint to whom his heart yielded most honour, making of the house of prayer the shop or forge to frame iniquity, exceeding in this respect, the barbarous abuse of the Etheniques turks and infidels, who give more reverence to their Mosques, where God is blasepheimed and his Son abjured, than the christians now a days to the temples and houses dedicated to the Lord, to perform the ministration of the sacraments, with open publication of the will of our saviour Christ, whom with saint Paul we ought to pray, for the subversion of babylon, and restoration of the true Church, dispersed into divers corners of the world, by the malice of the pope and his wicked disciples, whereof this Abbot, being not the least in authority, was nothing inferior to the most abominable in all vices, whereof he gave sufficient proof in two offences of equal detestation, the one in seeking to deflower a maid, contrary to the oath of his religion, the other in abusing the house of GOD as a place of bawdy practice, to perform theffect of his cursed devise, being more devout in courting the Ladies of NAPLES, then curious to reform thabuses of his idle covent. But the girl noting thinconstant order of prayer in our reverend father GONSALDO, together with his wanton regards full of lasciveous desire, imagined by and by, with what iron the gentleman was shod, and to what saint he would gladly offer his candle, wherefore thinking it no breach of good manner to play mockhallyday with such a master fool, gave him skoape now and then to hehold her at large, and to beat the hammer more deep into his head, would requite his amorous glance with a semblable glee, and suddenly retire and vanish out of his sight with an angry farewell, as though she disdained his wanton offer, with intent notwithstanding to shun his voice and place of presence no less, then thencounter of any venemus beast, fearing to reappose either credytt in his honesty, or so much assurance in her own pudicitie, as to open her ear to the charm of a frivolous lover, or who thinks it no offence to take away the purity of a maid, whom we may compare to the red rose, desired of every one so long, as the morning dew maintaineth him, in odiferous smell and pleasant coollor, but when the force and heat of the son hath mortified his orient hue, and converted his natural freshness into a withered leaf: the desire to have it dekaieth with the beauty of the thing, evenso she that hath once mortgaged the flower of her virginity, is not only despised of him to whom she hath been so prodigal of that which she ought to make a most precious jewel, but also in common contempt with all men, what show of dissembled courtesy soever they present unto her, whereof the mistress of GONSALDO was nothing unmindful, who preferring the honour and reputation of chastity, affore all the respecttes of the world, seeing withal that the blind Abbot pursued more and more his amorous quest, prevented his expedition, by making her a stranger to his presence, shonning all places of his repair, and to take away all occasions that might give increase to his desire, she forbore to visit the churches, unless it were at such hours as they were void of other company, and yet with such regard, that she made (as it were) a privy search in all the corners and quyers of the temple, to prevent his subtlety in dressing some ambush to invade her upon a sudden, and if by chance he saw her and saluted her in the streets, she crossed saite on the other side, and closed her eyes, as against some hurtful encounter, yielding him no other countenance than she might have avouched to the most infidel in the uttermost Islands of Tartary which brought the silly freare into such mortal perplexity, that despair began to appear, with thapproach of sundry perentorie diseases, chief for that the higher of his earnest love was returned with sundry sorts of cruelty and disdainful repulses, occupying his brain with such contrariety of thoughts, that he was void of council to what saint to vow himself, or upon what wood to make his arrows, seeing he was neither able to mortify nor use moderation in his passion, and much less was assisted with any mean to communicate the greatness of his grief to her, whose beauty had made him the slave of folly, wherein albeit he saw a vanity to use the office of a Dariolleta or bawd, for that the virtue of the maid argued a detestation of such Ambassadors, and to write to her appeared a great difficulty, for that she was always in the presence of her mother, who using the virtue of her daughter as a solace of her old years, was no less careful of her honesty, then be longed to so precious a jewel, yet feeling a continual aggravation of desire, with a flattering offer of love to reward him in the end, with the pray of his purseute: he determined to suborn a shameless messenger to bewray his shameful intent, and therefore put his request upon terms in a letter of this effect. If my destinies had done execution 
The Abbot writeth to his mistress.  upon my body, when first they brought me to the view of your beauty, I had not been a present experience of your cruelty, nor you thoccasion of my unworthy torment, for if death by nature, had prevented the beginning of my love, I had been free from the force of passion, discharged of all mortal grief, and you dispensed with all, from the imputation & cause of a double ill, the one to abuse the virtue of yourself, & do wrong to the renown of all women by preferring effects of rigour, the other in disdaining the service of him, whose life and death payseth indifferently in the balance of your good will, dissembling also not to see the circumstance of my love, to drive me to desperation, and at the point to use unnatural force against myself? How often alas, have I made you privy to thinward affection of my mind, by the outward regards & glances of my exterior parts? How often have you acknowledged the same by argument of semblable glee, and immediately denied the whole by a sudden show of angry complexion, either disdaining utterly thoffer of my service, as one unworthy to enjoy the preferment of your favour, or dalyenge with my earnest suit, to give increase to my passion. I have often been upon the way to disclose unto you by mouth, the thing wherein your heart hath already given judgement of my meaning, albeit the desire not to offend you any way hath staid th'expedition of my intent, suspending my grief, till the greatness of the same hath forced a present vent with this simple request, that as, fearing to ymparte the full of so great a matter to so uncertain a messenger as a piece of paper, so it may please you to give me credit of conference, where only ourselves may be witnesses of that which I have to discover & am no longer able to conceal, wherein if there be any bond of consideration in great Ladies, on the behalf of the offer of their inferiors, imagine how justly I deserve well of you, and with what reason you ought to pass a grant of so small a favour to him, who is no less able (as you know) to procure your advancement with what portion of wealth yourself shall think good, then ready to perform all such things as you shall but imagine and wish to be done, whereof I send you a confirmation herewith, sealed with the oath of my religion, and with protestation of the faith and life of your most loyal and desolate servant. GONSALDO  
He had no sooner written this letter, but he was in mind eftsoons to commit it into morsels, or to make it a sacrifice in the fire, despairing belike of the success, till at last the blind, guide and first author of his folly reprehending his want of courage, renforced him to a forwardness, persuading 
love.  him that the beginning was good and argued a sequel of contentation, the rather saith, he for that the tender years with small discretion preferreth an ignorance in the girl of your meaning, & seeing access and conference be denied, that next policy is to use th'advantage of writing which declareth th'effect of that which is painted in the outward regards of the face, the words of your letter may also import such a charm, that her present rigour may be converted into speedy compassion, for as there is cunning in enchanting, so the mystery can not be wrought without the assistance of words, which foolish suggestion restored the Abbot to a hope, & making conscience to commit the convey to the credit of any of his covent, for that he doubted their wisdom in performing so secret an embassage, used th'expedition by one of the vallettes of his chamber, whom after he had put in remembrance, of thancient favours he had used on his behalf, and how much he reapposed for himself in the assurance of his fidelity, he said he was now to employ his faith and diligence in a business of no less value, than the price of his life, wherein sayeth he, albeit thou mayest construe some part of my meaning by the circumstance of the late change and alteration thou haste noted in me, judging peradventure the same to proceed of some amorous humour, yet, although I consent and make good the conceit of thy fancy in that surmise, thou nor all the diviners of the world can name her, who (as thou seest hath made me the flave of her beauty, this is the secret wherein I am to make a last experience of thy endeavour and wisdom, to make a present of these letterrs to her, who hath not yet vouchesaffed to lend me the use of one simple regard of favour, to qualify the heat of my burning martyrdom, wherewith he told him the name of his mistress, the street and sign where her father dwelt, with strait commandment in the end, not to omit any moment or offer of time that might seam to further the execution of his charge: the vallet glad to have so good a mean to make declaration of his loyal zeal towards his master, admitted the enterprise & gave him assurance of his diligence, willing him in the mean while not to lose courage, for that saith he there is no fortress so well defended, but at length it is rendered by composition, or won by assault, wherewith the Abbott departed to his chamber flattering himself with the promise of his man, who desirous to relive the distress of his master, added such diligence to the dispache of his commission that the next day he found the means to accost Parolyna occupied all alone in her meditations in the church, where presenting himself afore her with more assurance, than the passioned Abbot, gave her the reverence of his Country, & desired her not to dismay, if upon so small acquaintance, he discharged so boldly the part of a familiar messenger, wherein sayeth he, if there be offence I prefer (good madam) for my excuse my lord and master, upon whose behalf he craved so much favour as to read his letter, which after he had kissed wit great humility, offered to the chaste maid, who knowing the messenger, for that she had seen him often follow the train of Gonsaldo, gave judgement also of the cause of his coming, wherefore she did not only refuse it, but also with certain terms of reproach, returned him with an answer contrary to th'expectation of himself, and contentment of him that sent him, what sayeth she, doth your master account me of such simplicity, that I have not long since discerned th'intent of his folly? doth he think that I am any other than one that sets as dear a price of mine honour, as the best lady in Italy? or is he of opinion that the respect of his authority or greatness in degree can force me the rather to a remorse on the behalf of his wicked meaning, no, no, tell him I have neither to do with him, & less cause to accept his letters, neither ought he to address such embassages to me, who can, nor will not be thankful to any in love, but such as my parents shall give me in lawful marriage, is this his mask of holiness, to cover so great a villainy under the habit or shroud of simplicity? what argument of virtue is this in him, whose office is to prescribe principles of honest life? can he discharge the oath of his religion, in seeking to corrupt the purity of virgins, and expose an example of the greatest villainy that is? Let him besiege the fort, that is as glad to yield, as he ready to summon, and bestow his charms and letters upon those, whose regard and care of honour, is equal to the malice of his meaning, and for your part let it suffice you that I pardon your first folly, and cease hensfurthe to proceed any further, lest you be paid with the money ordained to discharge the higher of such messengers, wherewith she flung out of the church and not without some passion of just anger, repaired to her father's house, not ymparting any part of th'accident to any one of her parents, trusting that as her desire and intent was to live in the trade of an honest woman, so God would assist her virtuous respect and defend her chastity against the malice of the wicked, she doubted to discover the case to her mother, for fear some slander would have followed, neither durst she impart it to tholdman, least in complaining of the wrong, his poverty had been found to weak to contend against th'authority of th'abbot, and by that means to have been worse dealt with all then either he deserved, or she desired, but leaving in example to all women to use like modesty in semblable distresses, she committed herself and cause to the protection of the heavens. By this time the valiant messenger of GONSALDO was returned to his master, communicating not only the perticularities of her answer, the disdain she showed to his letters, and small account she seamed to make of the offer of his good will, but also persuaded him to correct the humour of his appetite, & dismiss the remembrance of her beauty, bestowing his affection upon some such as hatbe more discretion to yield him consideration, than the foolish daughter of a simple artisan, which reaport, albeit brought an increase of double passion to the martyrdom of the poor Abbot, both for that the terms of her answer argued an agravation of her cruelty, and absolute despair hereafter to enjoy the benefit of her good will, yet he had the gift to dissimu le thinward pangs of his grief with a wonderful patience, converting his humour of fretting mallencolie into terms 
Thexclamation of the Abbot.  of sorrowful exclamation in this sort, ah saith he, I see well the arte ignorant in the forces of love, who is not easily suplanted after he hath once conquered the rampire of the heart, neither art thou privy to the operation of his pills, who differing from the nature of other passions assailing the mind of man, do make us desire that we can not get, and love the things which hates us mortally, and is not this a sufficieut experience of the perversity of women, seeing the more I endeavour to prefer my service to my cruel Parolyna, the less account she makes of mine offer, and the more I languish in desire, the greater pleasure takes she in my martyrdom, that I wish alas, that some oil of holy thumb, might presently close mine eyes against the light of this world, or else the virtue of some happy enchantment distilling from the arbour and pot of some Elysea, might with speed remove the vail of her rigour, and stir up an humour of compassion to the relief of my painful torment: I see thy advise is justified every way by reason, & when I dispose myself to follow thy council, I feel within me (I know not what) which forceth my will with constraint to purseve the sommance of mine appetite, in such sort that the voice which uttered the repulse, hath also pronounced the fatal sentence of my life, wherein he had yet proceeded, but that the pangs of inward sorrow compelling the conduits of watery humours to discover themselves, forced a vent at his eyes in great abundance of tears, which drowning the words of further discourse in his mouth, moved his vallet also to equal dolour, who notwithstanding preferred such consolation to his master as sorrow would give him leave to utter, with a frank offer to pawn his life with the rest of his worldly portion, to redeem the quiet of the Abbott, and put him in possession of her whom he accounted the sufferayne CATAPLAME for his mortal disease, wherewith he comforted eftsoons the silly GONSALDO, who telling him that after he had got the consent of convenient time and opportunity, he would summon him to an effect of his promiss, dismissing therewith his faithful servant, and retiring himself to a simple comfort in this last resolution, for certain days forbore to visit the streets, churches or other places, where afore he was wont to make his offerings and purmenadoes, thinking in shonning the places of her repair and presence, he should at last force a forgetfulness of her beauty, wherein notwithstanding he seamed to sprinkle water upon hoatte cinders, and brought more oil to his match, and all his travail therein stirred up a fresh supply of drawing baits, moving an increase of desire, with augmentation of his folly, which after he assayed to put in execution, for the more he went about to root out the remembrance of her beauty, the more surely did love imprint her picture in the bottom of his heart, with provocation not to give over the quest, but proceed in the pursuit of so pleasant a pray, in the day the whole cloisture or circute of his abbey cold skarcelye comprehend the sundry imaginations of his brain, and his bed in the night presented him with asmuch rest, as he that is bound to tread continually the labyrinth of endless toil, wherein raving thus in a passion of contrariety of thoughts, he accused himself of cowardness, for that the offer of so faint a resistance, made him retire his force, without giving a more hot assault to the place he meant to conquer, wherewith, remembering how often he had hard, that women (what desire so ever they have of themselves to be thankful to him that courts them with the offer of love, yet take they notwithstanding a singler pleasure to be assailed with importunities intermeddled with a little constraint or force, determined to employ th'uttermost of his forces, and to pay himself (maugre her resistance), the hire of his travail with the most precious jewel or treasure she had, at such time as fortune would give him the favour of a convenient time and place, to levy the last alaram, thinking with the advantage of his policy to compel her to tread, the dance which she never mente to practise, if not in lawful marriage: here you may note a familiar experience, that he that is in love, albeit he be blind, touching the knowledge of reason, yet for the devise and exe, cution of a folly he hath more eyes, than he whom the poets affirm to have an hundredth lights for the guard of jupiter's cow, for that this foolish Abbot attending daily an offer of commodity and advantage of time to give a charge upon his plainsante enemy at unwares, used such diligent watch to descry her doings, that he was made privy to the certain hour wherein she was determined to attend upon her parents to a fearme or grange, they had not the most part of a league from the City. In which opportunity and offer of thankful time the blind Abbott reapposed a singler commodity of his cause, for that as you have hard he determined to invade her with an ambush at unwares, and so ravish her out of the hands of her parents by main strength, whereunto he added an effect without regard to the slander which attended so wicked an enterprise, or th'abuse he committed against the order of his religion, and much less the estimation and honour of the house whereof he was descended. Let this experience suffice to confute the opinion of the most of our lovers now a days, who making a God of the idol of love, do not let to give him place among the most perfect and heroical virtues that are, affirming that all civility and courteous behaviour amongst men, is derived of the discipline taught in his school, let the effect of his rage I say, declare his disposition, and be the equal judge whether he be an indifferent evil or a partial vice, for setting your particular affections apart, I know you will confirm mine opinion thus far, that, he which you call love and would that we honour him with a title of a God, and give him a power more than humane, is no other thing, than a brutal passion of the mind derived of that part which nature hath made common to us with beasts, touching sensuality, and he which laboureth in the disease of that folly, is in no other degree, than he that is possessed with the spirit of frenzy and desperation, look in the second book of the kings, and tell me what planett or spirit governed AMNON the son of DAVID, who doting upon the beauty of his own sister, made no conscience to deflower her and take away her chastity, which horrible act would have procured terror to the most mortal enemy, both for the horror and detestation of the sin, and also for the honour and reverence which all men ought to give to the chastity of a maid. The prince of SICHEM being extremely enamoured upon the beauty of the daughter of jacob, did it suffice him only to love her in honest sort? did he stay himself upon your masked and dissimuled loyalty? no, he did that which is judged tolerable to you all and would be common to the most of you, if the rigour of the laws, had you not in awe, and preferred a fear of torments and worthy punishments, he ravished her by force, whereupon followed the ruin of himself and subversion of his people, for end, if there be any one amongst you that abstaineth from like violation, I think (sewer) he is not stricken with th'extremity of love, but that his mind hath tasted but of a simple impression of that folly, saying that he that is touched to the quick, can hardly refrain from execution of like villainies, amongst whom notwithstanding I comprehend not thintegrity of them, whose wills tend to do honour to the holly bed of marriage without violation, for that I am persuaded those affections proceed from above, and approved by god himself, but I inveigh against their unhonest desires, who respect nothing but the pleasure in that wherein Mars and Venus strove for the mastery, at such time as vulcan discovered their naked bodies, which I can not term so properly in our vulgar phrase, as the frencheman includes in these three words Le don damoureuse mercy, the delight whereof, dekayinge with the end of thact, maketh them loath the thing wherein carste they took singler pleasure. Here you may see also a worthy example in this master Abbott, who of a pastor and shepherd of the heard, becomes a devowrer of the principal sheep in his flock, and leaving thabit and attire of religion, is invested with thaccoutrements of a villain and disposition of a barbarus Lyrant, that hath neither knowledge of God, nor fear of his laws, wherein my conscience would serve me to use a further discourse touching thabuses in these hypocrites, saving that (God be praised) our realm is happily purged of such filth and replenished with a plentiful crew of thundoubted, and faithful ministers of gods word, neither will I trouble my history with the sundry enormities and practices of hell which I noted in some religius houses in france during my being there, because my theme at this time, is not to treat of thabuses in their religion, neither am I assisted with sufficient time, for that if I should but abridge their disorders into a tenth part, the volume would exceed the bigness of the bible, wherefore it shall suffice me to desire God in my prayers to remove the vail of their darkness in time, least their iniquity procure him to thunder like desolation upon them, as he did upon the children of Israel, when they forsook him, and bowed down to images, whereof their own hands were the carpenters, and now to the sequeyle of Don Gonsaldo, who harping only upon the string of his damnable resolution, imparted thenterprise to his man who (as you have hard) engaged his faith to be the minister of his will, in what respect he thought good to ymploye him, and having eftesonnes' preferred a repetition of his promiss with an assurance by oath of th'uttermost he was able to do, thabot told him that within few days his mistress went to perform a banquett with her father and mother out of the city, to whom sayeth he, saying I have forgot no expeperience or importunity which humanity can devise, and saying that in the enjoying of her beauty, consists the continuance or diminution of my days I am determined to retire to the benefit of my last refuge, which is to employ thutter most of my forces in using her by main encownter upon the way between the town and her father's grange in the country, wherein as thou hast already assured me of thy help by the oath and religion of thy faith, so thou must strain thyself to procure a further aid of such companions as thou accounts necessary to assist th'expedition, to th'end that when the matter shallbe brought to the trial of force, we be not found to weak in the dispatch of our enterprise, which albeit may import unto the and such as thou shalt suborn for thy companions in this case, both a grudge of conscience, and fear to fall into the rigour of the laws, yet thou art not ignorant that th'authority of my profession is sufficient to dispense and absolve the sin, and my power able to prevail above th'extremity of justice in this or any other respect of what importance so ever it appear, neither will I stick to deffraye the whole plate and treasure of my abbey in defence of the quarrel against the whole state and senate of NAPLES, wherewith he dismissed his man, who with the pleasant platt of his tongue and prodigal promises of liberal higher, was furnished immediately of his trayterus crew to betray thinnocent maid, who for her part seeing GONSALDO had discontynued his mosters in the street, and hawnte to the church where she is wont to perform her devotion, thought he had also disclaimed the vehemency of his passion, with intent no more to pursue her, wherein as she accounted herself most free from peril, so she found an approach and offer of danger, which affore she was not able to imagine, for that thabbot being advertised by his espiells of the day and hour when the maid should go into the country, measured so rightly his time with the moment of her departure, that some one or two hours affore, he somoneth his conspirators and goeth out of the Town not in his friars weed or attire of his profession, but disguised in such sort as he was not known to any but the ministers of his intent, whom he bestowed in ambush in an unknown covert joining to the path by the which the goldsmith and his daughter should pass, who thinking upon nothing but the plaisante regards which the fresh and green fields did yield and much less ymagening any secret practice or villainy conspired against them, entered with great delight into the path of their misfortune, for near unto NAPLES there runneth a little river descending from certain rocks giving necessary moisture to the valley near the town, which the poet SANAZARRO in his ARCADIA calleth SEBETH dividing herself into two arms hard under the walls, whereof the one falling into certain pipes of lead becomes serviceable by the art of man to thinhabitants of Naples, the other, stretching toward the champain, refresheth as she passeth the meadows and cornefeldes adjoining with the dew of her silver streams and in the end yielding tribute to the great flood Thetys' fauls with a soft noise into the sea, who receiveth her with an embracing worthy for so plaisante a neighbour, over which river is builded a bridge passable for horse and man called Madalyne bridge, shrouded with the branches and long sprays of certain willows growing on either side the broke, the commodity of which strait with th'advantage of the place offered themselves (as it were) to assist the enterprise of th'abbot in th'encounter of his plaisant enemy, who disposed to more joy than her weary parents, went always affore them, supplying the time and tediousness of their travail, with sundry plaisant devices, and as the heat of the day with th'exercise of her body in going, had set a brooch the veins of good blood through all her parts, whereby to the pure complexion & white of her face was added an orient die of red, so her hear, of the coollor of amber curled by nature, and falling in locks upon her forehead, covered as then with an Escarsion of the fashion of pyemont, gave such an increase to her beauty, that with the help of the shade and shadow of the tres, pavisinge the violence of the son, with the glee of the pleasant, stream assisting the natural white and red in her face her eyes glistering as the clear stars in the lofty sky, made her seam nothing inferior to the per fection of her whom the poets have crowned with the title of a Goddess and Queen of be wtie, wherein if this braver ye of parolina gave great delight to the old years of her parents, who knew the arguments of youthful joy which appeared in their daughter, where but recreation & to mortify in them the weariness of the way, it was nothing in respect to the pleasure of GONSALDO who beholding the beauty of his mistress, resembling a far of, one of the NYMPHS affirmed by ovid to attend the goddess DIANA going on hunting, felt in himself a new increase or supply of desire, in such sort, that if he had but the flea in his ear afore, it is now that he stands upon thorns, till he have given a charge upon the pray which seams so pleasant of taste, and swearing by the god of his religion, not to lose the benefit of so sweat a morsel, began to encourage his men to dispose themselves to perform the cause of their coming, warning them notwithstanding in special sort, to abstain from violence against the maid, and albeit saith he the father is unarmed of any weapon saving his short woodknife, yet am I sewer, he will put himself in endeavour to reskowe his daughter, wherefore whilst some are graplinge with the girl, the rest may keep the old man occupied with terror and words of threatening fear, wherewith he cried to thassault, when immediately thambush discovered themselves, and in a moment environed the selly maid on all parts with their sword drawn, offering to lay hands upon her, and carry her to their master, the miserable parents seeing them at point to depart with the only pillar and prop of their old years, ymagyning thattempt to ymport an effect of great mischief. retired to thordinary arms and defences of age, which were pitiful cries which the villains appeased immediately with threats of present death, if they would not cease their doleful brute, and for a more terror to the sellie goldsmith, some of them held the point of his sword to his throat, who notwithstanding kept his daughter fast in his arms, and the mother would not be dissevered from her child, desiring the traitors to discharge their cruelty upon her and give her daughter the favour of a safe liberty, but the more the desolate parents filled their ears with requests of compassion the less pity appeared in the tyrants, and greater desire grew in the ravenous Abbot: what heart cold refrain to distill drops of blood on the behalf of the desolation of these three wretched creatures, the father out of breath and half dead, with the force of skrichinge cries, the mother equal partaker of his desaster, and exceeding her husband in sorrow, the maid more assured than her parents in the conflict of this misfortune, was at the point to use force against herself, rather than to fall into the hands of thexecutioners of her pudicitie: I am sewer never a Lady of you all, reading this dolorous discourse, can abstain from terms of detestation against the infamous and disordered desire of this disciple of Satan, neither conceal th'argument of compassion seeing the virginity of this maid hanging by so slender a fillet, and ready to be offered by compulsion upon the altar of filthy ymmolation, to glot the lascivious thrust of this ravenous APOSTATE, who masked in a visorne and weed of simplicity, supported also by a colour of feigned devotion, studieth nothing, but to pray upon the honour of widows, abuse the absence of the married man by corrupting his wife, & subborn by inorderly means to seduce the chastity of maids. But now to our PAROLYNA who as she knew the cause of this Alaram to proceed of her only, and seeing the force of thassailants had committed already her parents as it were into sewer ward of their power, and finding with all an ympossibilitie in herself to resist the strength of the rest, determined yet to supply the defence of her honour with the benefit of a virtuous and valiant policy, wherefore changing in a moment the amazed glee of complexion in her face, into a regard of assured joy, addressed her to thab bot with request, that afore she performed th'effect of his desire, he would lend her his sword, for no other intent, saith she, but that my hands only may chasten the rigour of mine old father, whose crabbed age, ignorant of civility, hath been hitherunto th'only ympediment and stay of my goodwill to yield you the hire and consideration of your love, assuring 
His letter.  you that upon the receipt of the first assurance of your affection towards me, I got the consent of my mother, to be thankful in sort you required me, and now if he should live, and witness the consomation of both our desires, his continual complaints would procure grievous punishment of th'offence, to the open slander of us both, wherewith th'old man giving undoubted credit to the dyssymuled discourse of his daughter, the rather for that he noted no difference in her countenance and familiar conference to th'abbot, cried out against thIniquity she used to his honest life passed, and present wrong she did to the virtue of his hoary years, and not knowing the meaning or mystery of her policy, forgot no terms of reproach or rigorous rebuke against his chaste daughter, of whose good will Gonsaldo being more than half assured, both for the small regard she used, to the threatening words of her father, and also the flattering terms of consent by her own mouth, no less glad of the victory, then if he had already passed the offer of all perils, performed the request of her, who desired nothing less than the death of her father, and life of th'abbot, and putting his naked sword into the hand of the courageous girl, offering withal to embrace her as though the conquest were already performed, she flung from him in great rage, willing him to retire, as he made account of his life, for saith she, thou counterfeit hypocrite, if thou offer eftsoons to lay thy ravenous hands upon me, thine own sword shall give the blow of deadly vengeance to the fatal course of thy cursed days, whereupon she addressed her to her father half dead of a fret tinge anger, and purging his choleric conceits against her, told him that he was not the father of a daughter, that would not justify the glory of his life passed with equal virtue, and much less further his death by thinfamous renown of her life, neither do the thing either by accord or compulsion, that should have power to stir up the blood of shame in his face, in what company soever he came, But saith she, the mighty hand of God restoring thy weak age to a double strength, and me to a perfect skill in the use of this sword which I have conqwered of our common enemy, shall defend our honour against the force of these Rakehells, who seek to deprive me of the Jewel of my reputation, wherewith she flourished here and there, bestowing her blows with such skill to the disadvantage of her enemy, that who had seen her desperate dealing with the sword, would have judged, that she had been traded in the only exercise of arms all the days of her life, which struck such sudden courage and joy into the dead heart of her old father, that he advowed his life in the honest quarrel of his daughters chastity, & likewise the careful mother gave assistance to the magnanimity of her child according to her feeble force, which so occupied the place for a time, that th'old man and the two imps derived of the blood of th'ancient AMAZONS, laid so hard to the charge of the monk and his soldiers, that in one instant the whole ambush of traitors was out of breath. But GONSALDO knowing by this last deceit of the maid that there was neither love nor friendly meaning in her, began to convert his affection into an humour of fury, commanding the sword to be taken out of the hands of the new champain, with express charge notwithstanding to use no violence against her, wherewith the medley grew immediately so hot on both sides, that the Father to defend the honour of his daughter, used no care to his own safeguard: and the daughter to prevent the violence of her body was desperate of her life, the Abbot on thother side seeing there was no way to prevent his peril but by the overthrow of his enemies, gave end to the conflict by th'extremity of force, leaving the aged parents on ground maimed and half dead with the number of mortal wounds, but the daughter lightly hurt in the arm, seeing that the want of strength would yield her prisoner at last to the enemy of her honour, thinking nothing less notwithstanding then to satisfy his desire any way then by her death, used the benefit of her fortune, and at unwares reached GONSAL DO a great blow thwart the face, making a bloody podell or bain for flées in the summer upon the nose of master Abbot, wherewith holding the point of her sword in her hand crying upon thaid of th'almighty, to whom according to the shortness of her time she commended the health of her soul, she leapt from above the bridge into the crystal waves of the clear Zebetes, choosing rather to build her tomb within the belly of some fish or monster of the sea, then to yield a forcible offering of the first fruits of her virginity to the polluted image or idol of the synagogue of babylon, but God not willing as yet to deprive the world of so rare a mirror of virtue, gave her such force against the rage of the stream, that she kept breath, till certain passengers leaping into the river, recovered her with diligence of swiming, and brought her on live to the shore, deserving better the benefit of longer life, thenne the papistical monk, who seeing the end and success of his enterprise, retired into his abbey with his skorched face, without showing himself any more in the streets of NAPLES upon his stirring jennetts for the love of his lady.  
The parents & the maid after they were a little refreshed & restored to their senses in the field, were carried to the Town, where every man, wondringe indifferently at their virtue and valiantness in so great a peril, gave special commendation, to the chastity of Parolyna, for that she desired rather to die in the devouring flodd, then to burn quick in the skor ching flames and fire of whoredom, where unto the wickedness of the Abbot had almost brought her.  
And sewer it is to such maids, to whom we ought to erect pillars, and grave their virtue in monuments of eternity, and not to a company of unperfect and foolish women, who besides their beauty, had never any thing worthy of commendation. For the respect of whose weakness, I have chief preferred this discourse, wherein as they may note in this Parolyna, an act no less valiant, then in the most assured soldier that ever bare arms, so they ought to forbear to glorify themselves in the glory of her chastity, and by studying to imitate her virtue, to leave no force unproved, which may serve to guard the honour and renown of their name, and conquer the wanton delights of the frail flesh, assuring themselves, that god ympartes a wonder full strength and constancy of mind to such as be chaste in deed, and the virtue of whom consisteth not only in thoutward arguments, but is surely ram pierd within the strongest part of their heart: like as in the mind of this, to whom as you see, th'almighty gave force to vanquish with main hand, the wicked enemy of her honour.  
FINIS.   

The argument  
IF the wisemen of old time found cause of cohibition in their unruly children, and imps of wanton youth, I think, we have double reason, in this age, to use a steady eye, both upon our daughters, and such as are given us in society of wedlock, not for that, I wish the one to be kept under, as servants or servile slaves, nor to take away from the other, the whole skoope of liberty, appointed by the preferment of marriage, but exposing an Indifferent and honest mean, I wish to eschew the murmore of the world, by cutting of such infyvit occasions of infections, as seem to offer themselves to corrupt and seduce the fragility of our youth, chiefly seeing a daily experience of so many assaults and alarums of filthy love, offered to our daughters and little girls, being yet in the first flame of the fire which nature kindleth in the hearts of such as account themselves most confirmed in the years of maturity or discretion, neither would I that either the maid or the married woman, should refuse to have a bridle put to her liberty consideringitis such a guard of her quiet and honest name, with chief defence against the malice of the reproachful world, that it were better to be chained in the bottom of a dark prison, then to enjoy the benefit of the open air, being noted of such spots of infamy as commonly attends upon an inordinate liberty and louse noious life, Wherein if the desolation of so many parents weeping in the villainy of their wives and daughters, utter ruin and subuercion of so many houses, presented in stage plays to feed the ●aine eyes of the reproachful multitude, argued not the number of inconvenience happening by a dissolute and libertines life, and that in the persons of diverse our great men's daughters now a days, we need not seam so curious in keeping this continual watch and guard, but resign such ceremonies to be practised in strange countries where men are jealous of their own shadow with opinion that their wives or daughters are not able to resist the least and most simple attaint that can be offered. But where th'examples are more than manifest, and the fruits of the folly burst out in open show, let us leave to allow or assize the brutal opinion of such as persuade that awe is not necessary for youth, or the severe correction or rather foolish pampering bredes a dolnes of wit, with impediment of the disposition of the mind, or hindrance to th'increase of natural gifts The daughters of Rome lived always within the house of their fathers, with no more liberty than was measured unto them by the eye of their mother and yet we● they virtuous matrons in their houses, and so sufficiently instructed in civility, that I doubt the most perfect courtier we have at this day deserveth not comparison with the lest of their perfections, for what other civility or example of honest life can the maids of our time, learn in any company now a days, if not to seam eloquent in prattling discourses of vain & filthy love with words full of vain and filthy love and inti●ing behaviours of an open courtesan, & sometime to make an experience of an act no less detestable in deed, than the remembrance ought to be hateful to all honest men, albeit as I would not by this means procure a general inhibition of honest conference and company amongst the nobility of our country, with exercises tolerated by the perscription of liberty left unto us by our ancients So it is an endeavour most necessary in mine opinion to make a contemplation or view of the manners or inclination of wills with a discretion to check such as be to froward, & make slack in some sort the rain of awful government to them that seam of more tender disposition, by the assistante of which policy, it could not be chosen but virtue should glister as greatly in the houses of great men, as rude behaviour in the cabinet of the peasant or uncivil trankeling, who commonly goeth more near the discipline of th'elders in nurture of their children, them such as undertake to be masters of art of exquisite skill tooching the education of yonglinngs, for which cause the wise Emperor Marcus Aure lives would not have his daughters brought up in the court, for how can the norce (saith he,) he honest herself, or ympart virtue to her rhild, seeing nothing but practices of evil, and universatie of the disputation of love, with a thousand vain delights, to with draw her from well doing, or to show effects of a godly life: but to avoid the imputation or title of a rigorous judge, which some of our ladies or gentlewomen, may peradventure bestow upon me, in prescribing such strait rules of their reformation, I prefer for my only defence, that benefit of virtue, who I am sewer, will always appear perfect, as she is, both in bud & branch, in what soil soever she be planted, wherein aswell for mine own excase, as also to make, more noble the sincerity of noble dames, by th'impudent life of the slippery sort of women, I have preferred this example of an Italiam countess, who so long as her first husband (not ignorant of the humour of her inclination) kept her within the blue of his eye, seamed so curious of her reputation, that the same only was able to plead against all thenemies of her renown: but the vail of this free captivity, was no sooner taken away by the death of her husband, but God knoweth what valiant exploits she performed, and yourselves may be judges what false bounds she gave to her own honour, with badges of infamy to him that should have governed her, in her second marriage, if you will use patience in reading the discourse that followeth.  
THE DISORDERED life of the countess of Celant, who living long in adultery, and after she had procured diverse murders, received the hire of her wickedness by a shameful death.  
IN th'uttermost parts of Pyemount, is a parcel of th'inheritance of the Marquis mountferrat called CASALIA, where dwelt sometime one james Scarpadon, a man more notorious in those parts, by his treasure and abominable trade of usury and filthy gain, then of any reputation elsewhere, by descent of parentage, or monument of any virtue or godly disposition, who, marienge a Graecian damefell of equal quality and calibre, begat of her a dought ter more fair, then virtuous, less honest than was necessary, and worse disposed, then well given any way, immediately after whose birth, the father (as one overcharged with years, and tormented with care to increase the glee of his golden coffers) renounced nature and died, bequeathing a portion of a hundredth thousand dockattes, to his young daughter Blanch maria, who dismissing the age of infancy, according to th'ordinary course of times, seamed sooner ripe in years, then confirmed in discretion, or able to admit the order of good government: for going on the xvi year of her age, albeit her doings were not void of diverse arguments of bad disposition, yet the respect of her beauty, with thenticing desire of her large portion, forced several importunities in sundry noble men & princes of the country, in such fort, as by extreme suit & mediation of friends, she was married at last to the Viscount Hermes, son and heir of 
Blanch maria married to the Viscount hermes.  the thyefest house in MILAN, who incontinent after the marriage, carried her in great pompp to his house, leaving her mother to traffyque th'affairs of her usury, according to the former trade of her late husbands.  
This Viscount after he had practised a while th'inclination of his wife, whom he noted more arguments of wanton and unseamelye glees, with a desire of dysordinat liberty, than appearance of any virtue, honest quality, or womanly behaviour, began by little and little to prevent th'effect of so many lyklyhodes of perentorye ills, by putting Abrydel to her wilfall appetite, wherein notwithstanding he seamed so precise, both to avoid the name of discourteous on his wives behalf, and also to shun th'imputation of A Jelouse or suspicius husband, that without many words of Keproche, either in public or secret, Keprehendinge her fault Rather by circumstance, then plain 
The order of a wise husband in repre hendinge the follies of his gyife.  Discourse, he brought her at last to dysmisse all desire to go abroad, with contentment (perforce) to make her only solace of the society and company, whythe she fond in his house, wherein also for his part, forgot not to court & embrace her with a more continual haunt of his company, than either was necessary for his health, or he well able to perform, neither yet convenient to have been done, if by such policy, he had not governed her lightness, & kept her in reasonable breath & albeit the dames of MILAN have a more skoape of liberty, than the rest of the Ladies in any part in Italy, having by custom (as it were) certain days in the week of intercourse and meeting together, yet thendeavour of this viscount, brought his wife not only in contempt with such assemblies, but also to disclaim all gossoppes' trade or other fellow ship, saving such as she found in the house of her husband, from whose presence she departed not For any entreaty whatsoever: wherewith, her companions and Ladies of the city, finding a lack of her company fearing withal, that the continuance of such precedent, would in time prevail above their present liberty in procuring to them all a semblable restraint from their accustuned access, suborned an old matron called Madonna Hipolyta Sforce, who broakinge one day with Seigneur Hermes of other affairs, asked him why he kept his wife so short, with advise in the end, that he would slack somewhat the bridle of his rigour, and enjoin her a longer line or compass of liberty, least the world entered into moormure against him, with imagination that he either doted of her beauty, or had her honesty in doubt, for (saith she) keeping her in this strait mewe, you bring her fragility in question, and winneth to yourself the title of a Jelouse husband. He answered her brief demand with terms of as short discourse, observing notwithstanding the condition of his own estate, and quality of her that proponed the question. There is no man (good madam, (saith he) that 
The wise answer of the Viscount touching the government of his wife.  speaketh not some time that, which he ought not to think, evenso what ear is privileged from hearing such things as are not true, for such as are vainly occupied in disputing at large upon my doings, are ignorant of the cause, and much less know they the disposition of my wife, whom I had rather keep captif in seamclie order, then in giving leave to her liberty, to procure her dishonour, and myself just infamy, he that will keep the thing peculiar to himself which is desired of many, must neither offer it to the sale, nor suffer it to be seen but seldom: And as it is only I that am privy to mine own grief, so I am not ignorant of a medicine to restore the disease, neither am I void of discretion to govern in good sort, the humours of my young wife, nor at what times I should let flyppe the rain that restrains the further liberty you seam to require. But where you charge me with a doubt of her honesty, blame me not if I seek to prevent that which I would not should happen, and to avoid th'imputation of jealousy, I am content that hensfurthe she come to your house, when & as often &, at such hours, as it shall like you to desire her company, being persuaded that the rank and reputation you hold, will not broke other society or fellowship, than such as agree every way with your gravity and virtue, which only shallbe her skoape, with such other recreation and pleasure as she finds in my house, to the common contentment and mutual tranquilletie of us both: for the rest, I wish all importunities to cease, least they wrist me to a further rigour, for as I am hitherunto fully persuaded of her honesty, so I account it a wisdom to foresee, that the use of to much liberty, do not corrupt that, which as yet is without spot: wherein truely he had great reason, and his precedent or example most worthy of imitation, to such as are in like state touching the government of their wives, for to that kind of cattle, albeit for diverse respects we ought to forbear to minister thextremity of rigour, yet let us not forget for all that, to keep them somewhat short, and show ourselves worthy of th'authority given us by God and nature, in exposing the rod of correction, affore they come to exceed our awe, or get the bit between their teeth, without power to reclaim them by any art or policy: His prophecy also seamed fully verified in the sequel of the licenceous living of his new wife, for that within few years after, the viscount, being served with the process of his fatal summons, gave place to the world, and yielded to the doom of his destynes, which 
The visecount dieth.  after Blanch maria had lamented with a few womanly tears, and performed the funeral ceremonies, more to defend her from mormure of the people, then for respect of duty to him that was dead, she retired to Mount ferrat, were she also encountered the news of the death of her mother, which she digested in like sort, with an ordinary dole, & repaired immediately to CASALIA, where being lady over all, and subject to the controlment of none, she took such a sewer taste, and Sypped so strongly on the cup of licenceous liberty, that it bred in her an insatiable thirst of wanton and dissolute life, as you shall hear hereafter: for her chief and common excercise there, was, to force a frizilation of her hair, with the bodkin, converting the natural colour in to a glistering glee suborned by art, to abuse God and nature, by altering the complexion of her face by a die of fading coollours devised by policy, and that with more curiosytie, than the most shameless courtesan in Rome, glancing upon every one out of the window, keeping private banquets in the night with a haunt of maskers with covered face, and on the day, sitting at her gate as a stolen, to allure a stay of such as passed by the streets, there was no offer made, which she did not admit, no request preferred, which she did not willyngelye hear, nor letter sent, which she did not receive and answer. This was the first earnest penny and foundation of her licentious life, wherein she gained at last the price and chief praise from all women that ever made profession to wear the arms of CUPID or marched under thensign of his mother Venus.  
I wish the mothers and governors of little girls in our country, would respect chiefly ij. most necessary rules in th'education of their tender imps, the one to bar all secret conference in corners, which is the greatest corrupter of youth, the other, open and public cacquet in the streets, which brings their honour in question amongst the multitude: for as the town and fortress besieged, seameth half won, and not able to endure the force of the canon, if she demand a parley or composition, so the ear of a woman, that is open to the tale of every frivolous lover, or inclined to give the least credit to his discourse, albeit her honour and chastity be not in interest, but clear from imputation of just crime, yet doth she leave a sufficient occasion to the people, to dispute and skan her doings, with other terms than she deserveth, for aswell must we avoid the suspicion as theffect of evil, seeing the good renown is no less necessary, than thonest life, And she that 
Women must avoid aswell the suspicion as thact of evil.  willbe noted of integrity, and sincere perfection of living, must not only avoid the act of adultery, but also the suspicion of the same: wherefore I wish all Ladies to stand so surely upon their guard, that they neither be affected to th'one, nor infected with tother, but rather in dividing their doings into an honest mean, to do nothing in secret, which shame denieth them to justify in public, nor to be the secretary of any man's vanity, or cause of the commom hawnt or wonder of the people, but rather to observe the policy of the serpent, who useth to stop her ears which 
A policy of the serpent.  her tail, to th'end she be not infected with the noise of the charmer. But now to our BLANCHEMARIA, who resolved wholly in the study and exercises of love, sometime sitting in the window, with a lute in her hand, sometime passing the streets with open face, more to allure the people to a gaze, them for her necessary affairs, or take the open air for preserving of health, and now and then (for change of recreation) to make solemn banquets, where the presence of her parents and friends, and states of gravity was not tolerable, but only the company of the carpet sect, and such as could make best court to Ladies, where amongst the rest of her ordinary hawnt, she was chiefly pursued by the lord GYSMOND GONNSAGA, son and heir to the duke of MANTVA, and th'earl of CELAND, one of the greatest reputation for honour, in the dukedom of SCAVOYE, both which, as they did their best to obtain her in marriage, omitting no means to advance their service, and make them meritorious of her favour, so she made her only pastime & took singler pleasure in the sundry ymportunities of these ii wooers, slenting at their sorts of devices in wooing, smiling at their folly, carping their gesture and behaviour, and 
alterations in a lover in the presence of his lady.  counterfeiting so artyfyciallie their amarus regards, hollow sighs and often tornes of the eye, with change of complexion, and ympedyment of the tongue whilst they were upon terms to obtain her goodwill, that she seamed to have read no other authors, or made profession of other experience in the whole discourse of her life afore: Signeiur Gonsaga procured th'assistance of his mother in law, the marquis of Mounteferrat, whose persuasions with earnest suit in short time, had so summoned the widow to affection on his behalf, that the marriage was not only concluded, but at point of final consummation by order of the church, if the SCAVONIAN earl, had not (as it were) forbidded the banes, and intercepted their resolution by fine force: for understanding that another had entered the lists, and made breach, where he had given so many assaults, and at the very point to pray upon his mistress, he using the next offer of convenient time, went to the lodging of his lady, whom he found all alone, & (as he thought) somewhat disposed to hear his discourse, which he broached unto her, in these terms, with a kind of countenance and gesture arguing sufficiently the simplicity of his love.  
If I were as sewer of means to relieve my distress, as I am certain to suffer the smart, I cold easily dismiss my 
The carl woethe the widow  present perplexetie of mind, occupied with triple doubt, the one, whether I should blame myself, of negligence, accuse you of rigour (good madame) or cry out of my fortune, which hetherunto hath favoured me with a vainehope of good success, and now left me to the mercy of absolute despair: for the small remorse and slender compassion which hitherto have appeared in you, do argue a great wrong on your part, touching the justice of my cause, seeing you have not only denied pity towards my sodry passions, but also made none account any way of the loyal & honest love I bear you, for that you would never allow nor seam to understand any regard or other means I preferred for th'advancement of the same, And yet I find a greater fault in myself, in suffering an other to cut the earth from under my feet, and march so far in my steps, that I have almost lost thee track of the pray I chiefly desire: but above all I complain upon our common fortune that hath brought me in danger of present despair, loasinge the thing I justly deserve, & you in semblable peril, by committing you to a place, where your captivity shallbe no less, than the slaves or servile sort of Moares condemned to the mines in Portugal, or Indya, Have you now forgot the sundry miseries you endured under the government of your late husband Seigneur Hermes? Doth it not suffice, that he kept you in the mew, & (as it were) in his chamber the space of v. or vj. years, but that in returning to a more desolation, with exchange of that captivity for a more strait and extreme abridgement of liberty, you commit the remeindor of your flourishing youth, to the mercy of the Mantuans, whose heads are the common forge, whereupon the humour of fretting jealousy doth always beat? wear it not better (good madame) that we, who approach near the bravery of France, enjoying a natural participation of the air and liberty of that country, should live and be resident together, then in refusing th'offer of so great a commodity, to make a second proof of the courtesy of an Ytalian, who is not so suspicious, as cruel, & apt to synister conceits without just cause, and who can not 
The Ytalian jealousy by nature.  break thinstinct which nature hath given him, not only to doubt of the honesty of his wife, be she never so virtuous, but also to keep her so short with straight imprisonment, that she shall neither be suffered to visit her friends abroad, nor admit any access at home? besides, what will be the common brute of the world, if not, that th'only awe and fear of the Lady marquess, hath forced you, to marry her son in law, neither will they have other opinion of your doings, but as a pupil, or one standing in awe of her tutor, wherein you abuse the liberty which the law hath given you, in suffering yourself, not only to be governed, but also forced by such as have no reason to rule you, nor authority to command you, which title, with his sequel of a thousand inconveniences and annoys, as I wish you to eschew chief for the respect of your own contentemit & quiett of life, so in preventing so present and yminent a peril, dispose yourself (good lady) to embrace the gift of a better time, and imagine that fortune hath here sent her messenger, not only to present you with an offer of preset pleasure, but also an assured warrant and confirmation of continual contentment, even until th'extreme day and date of your life, wherein for my part, being void of solicitors, I am come (as you see) in person, to plead for grace on mine own behalf, preferring unto you, a consideration of the long and honest love I have borne you, summoning your conscience also by justice, not to be unthankful in the guerdon of so due a merit. You know my estate is void of necessity, or lack of any wealth, neither are you ignorant (I am sewer) of my large power & possession in Scavoye, both which as I hope, will defend me from charge or note of covetuse desire, in seeking the grant of your favour, so I lay them also afore you, as witnesses, to avouch thusmuch further on my behalf, that th'only respect of your beauty, with other gifts of rare consequence in you, have stirred up my affection, with desire to do you service, and crave good will in sort of honest and lawful marriage: and Albeit I could yet have thassistance of a thousand other reasons to justify thusmuch of me, yet reapposing much for myself in thintegrity of my cause, I commend unto you the present view of an unfeigned experience, and commit myself wholly to thindifferency of your judgement: for if my passion were not vehement, and my torment continual without comparaison, or if my request had neither reason nor justice on his side, I had but right, if I were returned; with a repulse of my dissembled suit, & receive the due higher of a deceitful mind: but seeing my demand stands upon terms of simplicity, & void of treason, importing an unfeigned effect, semblable to the dolorous regards of my complerion, and seeing withal I come accompanied with sincerity, & undoubted intent of honest dealing, & that I cannot take day with my passion, but by the consent of your good will, regard I beseech you the merit of my faith, and measure the meed according to thequity of my desert, resolve an equal difference (good madam) between the desert of him, that under the vail of the power and authoritis of an other, doth seek to conquer your good will, with intent to keep you in continual captivity, and the just merit of me, who respecting only your beauty and virtue, hath vowed mine honour and life to the continual contemplation of the same, with this further vow to live & die the servant and slave of the least of your commandments, let the vehemency of my affection, with the vow and intent of unfeigned loyalty, precure you but to a just remorse and indifferent consideration of me, regard (I beseech you) th'ambassador, which is love himself, who (in converting mine ancient liberty into a present captivity and awe of your beauty,) hath forced also such a vehemency of zeal in me, that if my cause return with an effect contrary to the hope which hitherto hath only preserved me, you will come to too late a repentance of your cruelty, & by my death shallbe witnessed thintegrity and honest heart, which I bore to my only mysteries and most fair lady Blanch Maria, who noting the roundness of th'earl, with the dollorus regards of face, accompanying his complaint, gave judgement of the simplicity of his love, & renewing besides in her mind, the misery of her last marriage with the natural jealousy of all Italians, seamed not only to mislike of her rash grant to the marquis, but also to prefer a special liking to the present offer of the Scavonian, to whom she replied, that albeit the sundry benefits of the Lady 
The widows reply.  marquis, had bound her to a thankful consideration to her power, & that she was almost as loath to offend her, as displease herself, yet she had not engaged her liberty so far, but she reserved one point to stand herself in stead, what need so ever she had, for in the choice of our husbands (saith she) we ought to respect a fire will & consent of ourselves, and not to observe th'appetite of an other, or constrained thereunto by strangers, seeing that as th'institution of god doth give them unto us for companions without separation, so it is our parts to consider at large, afore we resolve of the choice, to th'end that in breaking so holy a ceremony, we seam not unworthy of so sacred and high a participation. But for my part (sir) if it were not to avoid the grudge of suspicion in the wicked sort, with the partial and poisoned babble of malicius tongues, I assure you, I would live without a second assay of the courtesy of an other husband, protesting unto you with unfeigned vow that if I thought, that he whom my destinies have reserved for my next consort would represent, either in quality or condition, circumstance or effect, the doings of him that is dead the bale should be broken from th'instant, and the bargain revoked, what earnest or assurance so ever is given of it. I thank you for your advertisement, with triple tribute, for the honour you do me in desiring a composition of marriage between us, promising you, in simple consideration of the same, with the small deceit and dissembled treason I note in you, the frank and free preferment of my marriage, if I happen to dispose myself that way, with addition of further power over the Lady Blanch Maria, than any one in the world, whereof you may make as assured account, as if the proff had already confirmed my words.  
th'earl, saying so fair an entreye, thought not convenient to let slip the benefytt of so good a time, but feeding the humour of his fortune, judged it no point of good husbandry to lose his fruit after it be ripe, nor his corn for want of getting, but beating the bush as the bird was ready to go out, recharged her with a second admonishment, to be no less careful of his commodity, then curious of her own Quiett, and seeing (saith he) the remembrance of your plagues passed, gives you reason to fear the fall of future bondage, and that the use of liberty is so dear unto you, why stick you to abandon the offer of servility, & embrace a present of the quiet you chyeflye desire, or why make you conscience to condescend to that, which can not redounded but to your honour & contentment? assure me by the breath of your own month, of the faith & loyalty of marriage, & you shall see me purseve the end and work it to effect, without offence or displeasure of any: if the fear of the lady marquis restrain your consent, I think you do wrong to the chief virtues whereof she is renowned, for you must imagine, that she will not become such a tyranness over the will of her subjects, as to constrain the ladies of her land, to marry against their minds, and much less force that, which god hath left in liberty to all sorts, wherewith beholding an alteration of complexion in her face, with a general astonishment thorough all her parts, like one balancing in doubtful devices, not able to resolve a determinate judgement without the assistance of some special council, took her by the hand, and kissing it with no less delight, than he found singler pleasure in this argument of good success, renforced her to a more courage, with desire not to dismay with thassault, seeing thassalyante was ready to yield to her mercy, neither doubt to admit him to your husband (saith he) who sweareth unto you, all such duty, amity, and reverence, as belong to a husband to perform to his loyal and lawful wife, with this further confirmation of my affection towards you, that afore the consummation of the marriage by th'authority of the church, I will assign you what privilege of liberty, yourself, can or will devise: do away then the fear of the marquis, who having neither law nor reason to enter into mislike with you, cannot, nor will not reprehend you (I am sewer) in making your fancy 
A contract forced, is a violation of marriage.  privy to the choice of your husband, for a contract forced, is a violation of the sacrament of marriage: and let not the simple and bare promiss to the Lord Gonsaga (whom I know you love not) be any ympedyment to my request, for the vow or promiss ymportes no effect, which is procured by constraint: wherewith the widow: fearing to fall eftsoons into servitude, and fully persuaded of the large offer of liberty promised by the earl, was not able to answer his ymportunities in other sort, then with a frank consent of her faith, with a confirmation by word and oath, which likewise he avouched for his part, by semblable ceremonies according to thorder of contracts, wherein for a more assurance of the knot, and because the cord should not break, they wrestled a fall, the one a fit of the other in witness of the bargain.  
This first earnest penny or pleasant encounter of th'earl, procured him to continue his hawnte, with more open and familiar access then affore, in such sort, as fame discovered immediately their secret consents, which also the common brute brought to the ears of the Lady marquis, who notwithstanding she had just cause of angry conceit against the widow, yet the respect of th'earl, and regard to her own honour, kept her from any intent of revenge, but swallowing a pill of patience rather by force, than order of due digestion, disposed herself, also to appease the Lord GONSAGA, who repeating in his mind the sundry arguments of wanton and light behaviour heretofore noted in his lost widow, began to prophecy of thissue and end of his comedy, giving God thanks for his happy delivery from so inconstant a creature, wherein he grieved also on the behalf of thinfortunate earl, that had planted his affection in so pestilent a soil, exposing even now manifest likelihoods, of the dissolution of the delight he seamed to take in his new consort and wanton wife, lamenting more his rashness in th'enterprise, then allowing his wisdom in the choice, for that according to the lattyne adage, he that useth more haste in th'execution, than council or devise in consulting of his business, shall lack no time to repent his rashness, nor leisure to do penance for his folly, and he that in che choice of his wife, hath more respect to her flattering beauty, than gifts of true virtue, shall easily be weary of pleasure, and hardly enjoy a continual quiet of mind, the want whereof hovered even now to overwhelm this fond earl, who after publication of the marriage, retired with his wife, to his house amongst the mountains and craggy hills of Scavoye, where he began to take council of his present affairs, for that Syfting somewhat nearelye the disposition of his wife, he found her attired wholly in the apparel of wanton liberty, and more apt to follow th'inclination of vain and lascivious desire, then disposed to make a stay of herself in the trade of honest virtue, wherefore he accounted it an act of wisdom, to take up the vain that fed those humours, and stop her course afore she gained the plain field, wherein albeit he used so steady a hand in the dyot of so dangerous a creature, ministering the remedy with the consent of such convenient times, and means, and in order of such simplicity and gentle dealing, that she had no great cause to note him of discourtesy, yet she became very waspish in that he was so privy to her disposition, and forgot so soon the large privilege of the liberty which he had promised her, reprehending with bitter terms, the general infidelity of men, with peculiar exclamation against thiniquity or her fortune, for that, she had refused the preferment of the Lady marquess, and promiss of marriage with Seigneur Gonsaga, exchanging diverse and sundry offers of honour and liberty, for an irksome trade of servile life, with habitation amongst the wild deserts, and barren séeldes of Savoy, not forgetting to reproach her husband with diverse words of spite & disdain, assuring him for end, that she would not remain long coyffed & kept at commandment like a child that is appointed his times to study, & hours for recreation. But th'earl neither ignorant in the sollies of women, nor void of experience to practise such kind of creatures, preferred a wonderful patience, as his chiefest remedy against the rage of his wife, laying afore her notwithstanding in gentle terms, the duty and endeavour of a wife towards her husband, how much (& in what sort she ought to respect the honour of herself, and reputation of marriage, and that as no woman ought to put in interest her honour or honest name, so the greater she is in degree, the more heinous is her offence, and a small fault of a great Lady, is most mortal in the eye of the multitude, who looks that the life and virtue of great Ladies, should serve (as it were) as a torch of clear flame to give light to the 
A little salt in a great lady is made a mortal offence in the judgement of the world.  lesser companions, neither is the chastity of the mind (saith he) sufficient to confirm the perfect renown of a gentlewoman, if the words and outward hehavior of the body do not follow thinward virtue of the heart, & th'ordinary hawnte and exercise, give manifest declaration of that which lieth hid in the secrets of the stomach, and for my part I would be loath to give you cause of miscontentement, seeing that in the reapose of you, consists the rest of myself, and you being out of quiett, I can not escape without greeff, saying that as the mutual consent of our wills and affections, with the like conjunction of marriage, hath made you the one half and second part of myself, so I expect at your hands only a simple accomplisment of that, which your public oath affore God and man in the church hath bound you unto, like as also I am ready to perform unto you th'uttermost of any promiss or privilege, where of at any time, I have made protestation, with full assurance from this present of every part of the same, so that you give me the due respect of a husband, for as the head being the chief and principal part of the rest of the members, hath (as it were) a special authority by nature, to govern the whole mass and remainder of the body, so the woman, being thinferior part of her husband, is subject to all dutiful obedience on his behalf, & bound to honour him with no worse terms, then by the name of Lord and master, for in omitting your duty towards him, you abuse the virtue of your vow, approved by solemn oath, and in incensing his dishonour, you are guilty of the violation and breach of wedlock: one chief oversight I note in you is, for that upon small causes, you forge great complaints, which argueth the rather the idleness of your brain, for the mind that is occupied with vanity, is forgettfull of all things, saving such as thinstigation of pleasure and folly, do prefer to her remembrance, where on the contrary part, the spirit affected to virtue, exposeth always ●rutes according to so great a gift, dissimuling her passions, with words of wisdom, and in knowing-much, giveth not withstanding a show of an honest and moderate ignorance, & she that laboureth in a passion of particular conceits, with detestation of the due respect of honour, can not study other works, than such as seam to favour her folly, nor open her ears to any voice, if the same agree not to the complot and contentment of her fancy, wherein as I hope, you will, either pardon me by justice, or at least excuse my simplicity, for that, as you late terms of reproach have forced me to such a plains, so for end, if you will renounce your trade of former folly, and fromhen●●urth retire to an orderly confirmity of life, you shall not only procure a singler pleasure to me, but cause an absolute contentment with continual quiet to yourself, whereof be careful as you think good. Here the earl had great reason and double policy, in seeking 
A woman reform rather by fair entreaty the force of constraint.  to reform thabuses in his wife without th'assistance of cruelty or constraint, for that such dispositions are rather reduced by fair intreaity, then reclaimed by fear or force of torments, according to the nature of diverse of thinsensible creatures, for the fierce Elephant stands not in awe of his keaper by force of any stripes, but is made tractable to bend his large body whilst he mount upon his back, by certain familiar voices and stroakinges of his keeper, wherewith he overcometh the natural rudeness and cruelty of the beast: The Tiger will take food at the hands of the wildman nourished in the caves and desert habitations amongst them, where no stripes nor other awe of man can move any moderacton to his woodness, or cruel nature: So likewise some women, albeit they are quite devested of all honour or honesty, yet are they found to retain some sparks of civil humanity, being more easily brought to a reformation by gentle order, then reclaimed by the smart of any torture or cruelty, wherein not withstanding this countess seamed to use a more extremety, and exceed the doings of any that ever have been noted of disorder that way, for neither gentle persuasions cold allure her, nor fear nor force reduce her to reconcilement, or amendment of life, but according to the stone of Scylicia, upon whom, the more you beat, to bruise or break it in pieces, the greater hardness is driven into it, so the greater endeavour th'earl used to persuade his wife, either by allurement or offer of correction, the more perversatie he found in her, with less hope of amendment, and as she used a malicious silence during the discourse of his exhortation, so she forced in herself for the present, a wonderful patience, to th'end that with the consent of a more convenient time, she might spit out the poison which she shrouded secretly under the wing of her venomous stomach, whereby for a first proof of her cunning in the part she mente to play, she forgot not to dissimule her passion, and conterfet the simple ypocrate in such sort, as a wiser man than th'earl, might easily have been taken in the snare of her deceit, which notwithstanding she used in such covert manner, that within short time, she had not only removed all conceits of evil from the head of her husband, but also brought him to an opinion of a maruelons honesty and assured confidence in her, in which good vain, & for a more declaration of his good mind towards her, he observed her fancy so farfurth, as upon a sudden he broke up house in Scavoye, and went to Casaliae, where lay her inheritance and chief possession.  
If you mark well the fetch of this woman, in procuring her husband to departed his country, & what a sudden check followed to him, with a false bound to the honour of herself, you may easily judge, that a woman once bend, & resolved to do evil, hath a wit to imagine all malice, & sorts of mischief to be ministers in thexecution of her wickedness, & that neither fear of punishment, imputation of shame, peril nor danger, how mortal so ever they appear, can stay her from performing the end of her damnable devise, whereof the tragedy of MEDEA, & folly of the friend of Theseus argueth sufficiently their tickle constancy in virtue, & great zeal and desire 
Phedra.  to do things contrary to all honesty, neither doth the Eagle soaring in the air, convey herself to so high a gate, by the force & ●leight of her wings, as the vain conceits & imaginations of a woman governedby her own opinion, filleth her full of devices of iniquity, with desire and means to perform the●fe●t of any evil, wherein as I touch only such as having made open sale of their honour, are not worthy eftsoons to challenge their place amongst the society of chaste & virtuous dames, so I hope the same is sufficient to procure my excuse amongst the crew of honest Ladies and gentlewomen, the rather for that the publication and deciphering of the just infamy of the corrupted sort, giveth a greater show of your glory, & makes your honour and virtue of more reputation, neither would I be noted in this place of malice, to move question of them, whose lives and doings every way are full of integrity, nor use any partial adulation or flutterie on the behalf of such, as be notorious of evil in the eye of all the world, but in making an indifferent division of the deserts of every degree, to give to either sort his peculiar title, neither conceiling the corruption and villainy of the one, nor carping the virtue and just renown of tother, whereof I leave the judgement, and my excuse in balance amongst you chaste dames, who I am sewer do wish no less a discovery & punishment of the faults of others, them yourselves desire a just increase of glory and name of reputation for ever, and retornes now to the pursuit of our countess of CELAND, who dandling her husband at CASALIA with a glee of masked friendship, kissing & cherishing him after a judas order, who embraced her vn●ainedlie from the bottom of his heart, adding eftsoons a fresh remembrance to his late discourtesy, with a vehement desire to satisfy the glotte of her fyltie lust, wherein she accounted the presence & company of the country, 〈◊〉 special ympediment seeing the so long as she was with him, it was impossible to water her garden with other pot, then that which she detested no less than th'offer of poison, determined to give present remedy, and put herself, in free liberty, by a secret fleighte & stealing away from her husband, wherein for a first beginning or sewer foundation of this devise, she levied, by secret means, a great sum of money, 
She letteth her bank of money ●onne in interest at Milan.  which she put in bank to run in interest to her use, and reserving a thousand doockattes to supply her necessary torn till the day of receipt of the usury or hire of her bank, wherewith in the only company of ij. or iij. servants, which were secretaries of her devise, she taketh the advantage of a fair night, when the clearness of the moon, and stars favoured the diligence of the ●●caboundes, and fleethe to PAVYA, a town subject to the state and dukedom of MILAN, where she hired one of the faireste lodgings in the town, whose windows opened all upon the 
She rouneth from her husband.  street with certain back doors to receive a secret messenger, a shop most necessary for her trade, and which also she forgot not to deck and trim up with fair beds, rich hangings, and other accottrementes of glee, more to allure a repair of guess, then either seamelie or necessary for her estate. I leave you to judge what Tyntamar entered the head of th'earl, by the sudden and secret departure of his wife, and I ask this question, how many of you, would have raised the hew and cry, or dispatched any messengers, for the recovery of so great a loss, I avouch thusmuch on the behalf of th'earl, that at the first noise & brute of th'accident, he did not only enter into tearmesof inordina●rage, with intent to raise the whole country, but also was ready to pursue the chasse in person, albeit after the fury of his storm was retired, giving place to th'instigation of reason, & that he had conferred the present effect & fact of his wife, with the former circumstance & arguments of licentious desire in her, he rather gave thanks to his fortune for her friendship, them entered into tears or sorrow for th'absence of so lew●e a guest, and seeing her departure had discharged his head of a great deal of care, he determined not only to use no impediment to her liberty, but also not to offer himself any way to recover her, whose absence imported an assurance of future quiet and contentment, during the remeinder or rest of his age. He that is assured (saith he) of the malice of his enemy, hath small cause to fear his force, for that he is warned to stand upon his guard against all doubt or distrust of treason, but such is in triple danger, as embraceth in his arms a mortal enemy, in thabit and attire of an assured friend, and trusting to the smiling regards of the Cockatrice, doth not eschew the peril, till she have won the place to shootefurth her sting of mischief, if my wife had taken longer days in dissimuling her malice, my peril had increased with the ignorance of her wicked intent, where now I am not only privy to her whole disposttion, but happily rid of so deceitful a friend, & secret enemy, who (no doubt) would not only have slandered my bed, with unlawful adultery, but indefiling her hands with my blood, would one day have made no conscience to cut my throat, or furthered my death otherways by some of her ruffians, or coherentes of iniquity: I am content with this indifferent penance, and punishment due to me by right, for th'extreme love I hare her, without further desire, that the breath and presence of so pestilent an infection, may eftsoons pollute the worst corner in my house, let her go, and rate her pleasure, at what interest she thinks good, for this so late and familiar experience, shall suffice not only to instruct, but also warn me to be ware of such deceitful and counterfeit images. And proceeding still with terms of complaint, concluded that the honour 
The honour of a man ought not to be defaced by the deshonestie of his wife.  of a man, did neither depend, nor was any way defaced by the disorder or dishonesty of his wicked wife, chiefly, where such abuse is derived rather of a corrupt inclination of herself, than any discourtesy or unseemly dealing on his part: his passion forced him to exclaim against all sorts of women, sparing neither state nor degree of that sect, against whom he séamed to inveigh, rather by transport then consent of reason, and without all regard or remembrance of any one of thinfinite number of honest Ladies, whose simplicity and upright order of life, do not only defend themselves from the sting of any reproach, but also discovereth the villainy of such as abandon their honour without respect to honest shame, which as a companion 
Shame aught to direct the doings of women.  most familiar) ought to govern and direct the doings of all women. But now let us resort to Pavia, and visit the doings of Blanch Maria, whose renown in short time, became of no less brute in all the corners and costs of italy, than the Corynthyan lays thorough all parts of Asya, being withal so prodigal of her liberty, with open and unseemly means, to make herself known to the world, that in the very view and first beginning of her trade, appeared infallible arguments of future evils with a disordered sequel of life. Albeit she seamed to reserve a certain majesty and semblance of respect to her estate, for that she would not march, but under ensigns of nobility, refusing either to be seen or spoken to, of persons of meaner condition, which delicate and coy order, she seamed to prefer, rather to set a greater price of her merchandise, according to the Grecian courtesan, whom the orator refused 
Demosthenes refused the company of Lays, for that she held a nights lodging at to high a price.  for that he would not buy his repentance at so high a rate, then to argue any diminution of her lascinius desire, for her eye had no sooner encountered any young and lusty Gentleman, that seamed sufficiently set forth with furniture of nature, and able every way to perform the expectation of her appetitte, but her countenance and other outward behaviour, were ready to make declaration of her inward desire, roving upon him without respect, with such glee and liberal regards, that he need no interpreter to decipher her meaning, nor physician to disclose the mystery of her disease, neither was she any thing inferior to Madonna Mussalina the Roman Princess, saving that she haunted the bank and common places, and this performed her exploits in her own house, the Roman put no difference between Carters and men of greater calling, and this Demygreque prayed only upon nobility and imps of tender years, wherein albeit she seamed more delicate of taste then the other, yet she exceeded all the Bancrowtes of honour that ever were, in this one point, that she was always rather weary of travel, then at any time satisfied with pleasure, resembling a bottomless goolphe, receiving all that is put into it, without casting any thing up again: this was the chaste life, which this good Lady led after she had got the bit between her teeth, and the rain of liberty within her own hand, whereby you may judge, whether the Myllanoyse or first husband had raisin to refrain her forward inclination in the first flame of her youth, seeing that as the green osier or sallow of ij. or iij. years growth, is always more pliable than the great oak, seasoned either by policy or confirmed in hardness by the continuance of many years, so it is necessary we keep an awful hand upon such youngelynges, as appear sooner ripe in appetit, then in government or discretion, to the end that in plyeng the wax whilst the water is warm, we may always frame them to the posteye of our minds, having them to supply the necessity of our affairs. And as the cunning grafter forcing the destruction of his stock, by the toomuch forwardness of the twigs, and certain little hraunches, suking up the moisture and sap, which should feed the rest of the tree, doth cut them away, to th'end the principal bows may flourish, and receive their natural nurture, so it is not sufficient to minister correction to youth in their tender years, if we reserve not a continuation of awe, to accompany their increase & ripeness of their age, to prevent the harms we see ordinarily happen by maturity and to much forwardness in desire to be free from controlment.  
As she was in these exercises at Pavya, continuing a train of servants according to her trade and study, it chanced that th'earl of Massyne, called Ardizyno Valpergo, came to the service of th'emperor, by which occasion he retired to PAVIA and lodged in the palace of his brother there, he 
The first unlawful lover of the countess.  was young lusty, and given to all exercises of activity, of seemly stature, with proportion of limbs accordingly, saving that he halted somewhat of one leg, by reason of a hurt he received in a skirmish of war, dymynishinge not withstanding, no part of his perfection or shapp of body, who using one special recreation in passing up and down the streets, beheld diverse times the beauty of the countess, sitting now and then in a window, 
The order of a courtesan to allure men to affection.  giving only a show of her face, and sometime would walk up and down in a gallery or low hall, presenting the whole view of her body, and to draw the stranger to a more desire to behold her, she would sometime appear in brave attire at the porch or gate of her palace; specially at such time as the earl made his walk that way, who being already gauled with the arrows of love on her behalf, pursued his quest with such devotion and diligence, that he conquered at last a convenient time and mean to speak to her, wherein albeit he preferred but a simple proffer of his service, with other slight discourses, wherewith the courtyar or other gentleman of behavior doth commonly feed the time, whilist he is in the company of ladies, and that the great majesty which she used would not suffer him at the first to give right judgement of this masked gods, yet he saw well enough, that he needed not the whole strength of th'emperors camp to force the place, the which he judged neither to be so strongly flanqued, nor surely rampired, but the valiant soldier, being furnished to give the charge with the spear in the rest, might make an entry without great peril, chiefly for that the trenches thrown down, and breach already made, that place was sufficiently assaltable, for any mean soldier, all which he forgot not to convert to the commodity & advantage of his desire, together with the consent of coventent time and fortune, who placed them one day all alone, without any access of company in her chamber, where he forgot not to prefer his request with terms of humility, according to the vain order of such idle persons as abuse the gift of time, in pleading for grace in cases of love, with a frank offer of his body and living, with commission to dispose of them all as she thought good, wherein good madame (saith he) it is not the summons of any sinister conceit, or evil opinion, which hath moved me to board you so far, but 
th'earl valpergo proffereth his service to the countess.  rather the vehement instigation of love, forcing me to such an affectioned zeal on your behalf, that I should do indifferent wrong to the stimation of your honour, and injury to the vow of my loyal service sworn unto you long since, if I feame yet to prolong a conceylement of that, which the present view of your beauty hath set a broach and committed to open flame, wherefore if my present offer, with respect of former merit, lack force to wrest a simple grant of favour at your hand, yet imagine (good lady) that in forfeting the pawn which I have preferred for the performance of my promiss, I hazard also the violation of the faith and life of a gentleman, whereof I yield you eftsoons a second confirmation by the height and authority of the skies, to be more careful to obey you, and live in the continual awe of your commandment, then curious of mine own health and safety, with this addition, not to spare at any time to ymploie my carcase with all that I have in the defence of your causes, what condition or quality soever they ymport. The subtle countess, albeit she knew well enough that the fire was not so kindled in the stomach of th'earl, as it pleased him to set a face and feigned show of his passion, and that the large skoape of liberty in his tongue, with assurance & constancy in his countenance, argued rather a dissembled zeal, than a true transport of affection in his heart, yet seeing him young, lusty, and sufficient every way, to answers and discharge the combat of her greedy desire, determined not to let slip the offer of so fit a pray, which she thought would suffice, to occupy the place, till she had found an other to enter the lists and supply his lack, wherewith she passed a plain grant of her favour under these covert terms: like as Signior Valpergo 
She granteth favour to th'earl.  I am not ignorant in thordinary deceits of men, declared specially on the behalf of such, as reapposinge to much credit in their honesty, do give slender guard of theimselues, so I can (I thank god) content myself to smile at their follies, and take pleasant recreation to hear the bravery of their requests, seeming to burn in the desires of love, when in deed they are not only far from such passion, but free from intent to perform any effect of true loyalty, seaminge also to interlard their ymportunities with a double vehemency, when they go most busily about to make a pray of our beauty and fragility, whereof albeit I account you not only one of the number, but also no less disloyal than any of the rest, yet respecting the reputation of your race, I am content to give credit to your words, and accept your offer in such sort as you have promised, reapposing so much for myself in your discretion, that there shall appear in you no want of any thing that belongeth to the government & wise convey of such secret affairs, wherein if I fid an effect of my expectation, yourself shall judge of my liberality, in returning the merit of your honest friendship, wherewith th'alteration and breach of countenance in her face, argued a present trouble and contrariety of mind with in her, which th'earl construinge to proceed of a desire she had to move him to dismiss all further delays, and dispose himself to th'execution of the thing so indiffrentlie desired of them both, put diligence to the thankful offer of time and fortune, in such sort, as embracing her with a thousand sorts of kisses, he forgot all ceremonies and circumstances, and gave her checkmatt without any odds, upon a low bed or pallet covered close with a vail or canopy of crymosyne velvet, frindged with silver thrombe, where was such indiffrente liking on both parts, that they resolved at thinstaute of other times and hours to meet at the shock in so pleasant a skirmish, wherein as she judged him able enough to pass the moosters for such respects, determining to make store of him, till fortune furnished her of a fresh supply, so for his part, he found her so delicate on his behalf, that he resigned than thoritie which erst governed him and his doings, to the order and derection of her, in such sort, as he spoke nothing but by the mouth of Blanch Maria, nor did any thing wherein her council and commandment bore not the greatest swaighe, being so drowned in the desire of his beastelie trol, and blinded with the vail of filthy love, that both day and night were indifferent for th'exercise of his pleasure, making her bed his private lodging, and delicate arms his place of pleasant excercise and trial of activity, with continual abode there, and that with such public signs and declaration of his diseordered living, that to the comfirmation of the common brute which passed of their follies, there lacked but some PLAUTUS or TERENCE, to prefer it in public stage, in the hearing of all the world. But what? is it like, that she that had falsed her faith to a husband, more honest and virtuous than she deserved, would content herself with the company of this young earl, or who doubts, but such indifferent women, as have committed their bodies to the general service of the world, are no less inconstant in their love, then void of shame, in devestinge them of honest virtue, to undertake so bad a kind of life, neither do they like so well of any thing, as often change of diet, to satisfy their insatiable and beastelie lust, seaminge as it were a champion or challenger, ready to answer all comers, for a familiar proof whereof, I commit you to th'experience of this ravenous she wolf blanch MARIA, who saying her new minion so sewerlie limed with the blush of her beauty, that only a simple beck was sufficient to command him, taught him a new croscaprey, with a thousand tricks and sleights in vaulting, wherewith also adding a further experience to his blind simplicity, she brought him now and then to the honour of holding the moil at the door, whilst an other man rid her errand in the chamber, which traffic was not without great peril on his part, for that as the country CELAND was borne to bear the badge of cornewal in the form of a second Actaeon, so this young prince was ordained by destynie to lose his life, with expectation of all that he attended by the 
Actaeon transformed into a hart by Dyana.  service of kings or foreign princes, by the wicked treason of a pernicious and common whoare, for in this intercourse of her love with SIGNEUR VALPERGO, and very heat of thamarous glées between them, fortune watching to enter the stage, and make seen, that her mobylytie differeth little or nothing from the disposition and incertainty of a woman, according to the meaning of the poets, which have set her forth, in shape, attire, and coollours like to one of that sect, gave him an ynklinge of thinconstancy of his mysteries, whereupon followed a little diminution and restraint of 
Fortune drawn in shape and attire of a woman.  his company from her, who being wholly transformed into the form of an unreasonable creature, delighting in nothing but to roune, riot, and hunt for change of pasture, had her eyes and mind more given to gluttony, than her stomach able to brook the sundry choice and sorts of dyot, ymploying herself wholly to gather new soldiers, to supply the lack of th'old garrison and weary captain, wherein she was assisted, with more than a necessary expedition, for that within some xviii. or xx. days, after VALPERGO had taken possession and entered the fort of the countess, there arrived at PAVYA, SEIGNEUR SANSEVERINO earl of GAIAZO, whose promptenes of wit and perfection of body and membres, with a valiant courage of the heart, as they made his name and renown exceed all other, between that & the mounts, so this desloyal Aleyne & cruel Medea, had no sooner taken a simple view on him, with a flickering glance of her uncertain eye, but she felt a motion of vehement zeal stir and kindle within her, which within short time grew to terms of such certain affection, that she which erst had dallied with all men, becomes now to dote upon this new earl, and that in such sort, that if fortune would not award present compassion, and love lend her a speedy mean to recover thobject of her desire, she seamed not only to enter the torments of despair, but also to make small account of the use of longer life, judging by thexterior and outward promises of this young Lord, that it was only he, that seamed sufficient to quench the thirst of her greedy appetit, wherefore she began to dispatch her hands of her first friend Valpergo, with whom from that instant, she did not only refuse to speak, but also shonninge all places of his presence and repair, would not stick sometime to shot her gates against him, which he cold not digest without certain injurious words and terms of reproach, whereupon she grounded a grudge of such mortal enmity and spite, against him, that her mind retained a remembrance of the quarrel, till her malice had procured his death, whereof the discourse followeth in his place, desiring (as it seamed) th'acquaintance of th'earl Gainzo, aswell for her assistance in thexecution of th'effect of her present spite, against Valpergo, as for the respect of true affection, wherein as she was whoattlye called upon by ij. earnest solicitors, love, and revenge, the one sewing for a consummation of her wicked devise, the other pricking her with desire to procure th'effect of her new affection with the second earl, to whom albeit she displayed such manifest signs of good will, as either the art of love could imagine, or her wanton and idle brain devise, yet saying so slender a reply on his part, with an increase of her burning appetite, she thought it necessary to put spurs to his dull disposition, making no conscience to become the shameless client in a cause, wherein the most vile and simple woman that is, suffereth herself to be sewed unto with no small ado, wherein being void of means to use mutual conference, she makes this little letter the messenger of her unseemly request.  
The respect of the place and estimation which I hold (sir) I am sewer will put you in some amaze at the first 
The countess wooeth th'earl Gaiazo by letter.  view of these lines & undoubted messengers of my heart, seeing, that in preferring the lewd suggestion of my unruly fancy, afore the due regard and consideration of modesty, which ought to accompany all Ladies of honour, I make request of that, whose simple remembrance, makes me blush at so great an abuse: But if you consider the commission of love, who summoneth rather by commandment, than request, with such a general awe over all estates, and peculiar authority to punish us women with vehemency of affection, in desiring the things, which nature hath forbidden us to attempt, you will not only dispense with my rash folly, but dispose yourself to take away, or at least diminish, the greatness of my present passion, which as it was founded at first, upon the general fame of your virtues, so the often view of your rare perfection of person since your repair to Pavya, hath forced such an increase of zeal, with aggravation of my desire, that if my destiny deny me a speedy supply of relief, or fortune forbid you to come and visit my longing estate, your cruelty shall mortify my passion, and give end to my life together, wherein, seeing love hath favoured you with the victory and conquest of her, who erst had power to vanquish all men, show yourself no less willing to embrace the benefytt, then worthy of the glory, and defer not (sir) to expose effects of pity on the behalf of her, who liveth only under the mercy of a simple hope, which if the return of your resolution do make frustrate, and convert my desire into air, the same shall also pronounce the fatal end of the unhappy, and your most loyal. Blanch Maria.  
This embassage, with further commission by the mouth of the bringer, stirred up no small alteration in the mind of the young earl, chiefly for that he saw himself pursued with a frank offer of that, which (if the affectioned zeal he bore to his dear friend and companion the Lord Valpergo, had not stayed thattempt) he had soughts long since to obtain. And albeit he judged it neither tolerable by humanity, nor th'office of a gentleman, to supplant the pleasure of his friend, and march in the steps of his pray, yet being charmed (as it were) with the vehement words of the letter, with opinion that the discourtesy were to great, to abuse the liberal offer of so fair a Lady, gave place to the summons and went immediately to her house, where finding her voyede of all company in her bed chamber, saw small occasion to prefer half the circumstance and courtlike wooing, which Seigneur Valpergo used, for that both the one and the other, after certain enticing kisses, and other drawing allurements performed on both parts, disposed themselves tomake present sacrifice to the goddess of love, in putting an effect to the thing which they both thirsted to accomplish with equality of desire, which amorous practice continued between them certain months, in such sort, that th'earl was so assotted, & became so idolatrous on her behalf, that he performed no devotion to other saint, saving the unseemly shrine of his new minion, who also seeing him stand in water to the chin, & wholly subject to the yoke of her awe, determined to keep a hard hand of the bridle, with intent to make him the bloddye executioner of her detestable devise against her former lover Valpergo, whose felicity defended him either from the peril of that imagination, or else God would not yet give leave to her wickedness, for that her hope was deceived touching any help or assistance of her new friend, for Valpergo seeing himself not only dispossessed of the love of his Lady, but dishonoured by her mouth with diverse words of reproach in his absence, judged it no grudge of conscience to minister semblable revenge on her behalf, the rather for that she was both the author of the evil, evil, first breaker of her faith without cause, and now the begyner of the quarrel of slander, wherefore departing from PAVIA, he painted her dishonesty upon every post he passed by, blazing her arms, with such base and vile coollours, and in such liberal sort, that every company which he haunted was partaker of the renown he gave to Blanch Maria, who hearing at last, what estimation she was in thorough all LOMBARDIE, by the reapport of VALPERGO, began to enter into terms of rage, finding a great difficulty to dysgeste thyngratitude of her lost lover, whose doings notwithstanding she allowed some times by justice, and saw some reason in his revenge, for that her inorderlie dealing opened the first way to his discourtesy, and by & by flattered herself, with a vain imagination, that men were borne to bear what ympositions so ever such tryflors as she would lay upon them, and that saying they were but servants, they did but right to endure and take in good part any thing said or done by their mistress, albeit feeding still of her malicious collar, with a certain secret desire of vengeance determined at last to return his discourtesy with no less interest than the loss of his life, with resolution to procure the speedy effect by the hand of him, whom she presumed to have so much at commandment, that a simple request of her mouth would make him the minister of that.  
Behold with what ympudentie, and ragethies Tigress goth about, to arm one friend against an other, and that it could not suffice to abuse herself towards them both, in the filthy use of her body, but that with intent to morder the one, she puts in hazard the equal destruction of them both, confirming her abominable adultery, with manslaughter and wilful morder, a sin most heinous of all other affore GOD and man, wherein as 
Morder most ha●nous in the sight of god  her fretting mind cold admit neither quiett nor contentment, till her eyes were witnesses of th'effect of her devise or, at least she had put her intent upon terms to him, whom she meant to make the bloody boocher of her beastly will, so, attending the offer of convenient time and place, she was assisted at last so farfurth, that one night as they were in bed together, and in the chiefest delight of their pleasant excercise, she burst suddenly into vehement tears, with sighs and other signs of dolour in such sort, that with the counterfeit alarums which inward sorrow seamed to minister and set a broach, her passion appeared so mortal, that her ignorant bedfelowe, thinking her soul and body to be at point to make present separation, the one from the other, inquired the cause of her grief, with addition that if it came by displeasure or wrong done to her by any man, his hands only should give the revenge with absolute contentment to herself hereafter, wherewith using the advantage of his promise, wherein she accounted a sufficiency to procure the end of her enemy, told him, that 
She entreateth her second friend to kill her first lover.  as nature had given a certain facility to the vile and base sort of people, to bear and brook the offer of any injury, so there was nothing more contrary to the condition of the noble mind, then to be touched with such villainy as puts the honour in interest, or the renown upon terms of public infamy: I say thusmuch (sir) saith she, wéeting his face with the dew of her watery eyes, for that the Lord Valpergo, who enjoyed, I can not deny, the like friendship I show unto you, hath not had shame to blab of his doings, slandering me with no worse terms of infamy, then if I were the most infected strompett that ever abandoned her body to the Marynors and rascal crew, along the costs of SCICILE: if he had but made a simple vaunt of the favours he found in me, with participation but to his friends, my honour had been but in question, where now it is passed all doubt, besides if he had not added iniurius words, to his indecent slander, and made a common market tale of the thing which ought to be kept most secret, I could have digested the evil with an ordinary patience, wherefore seeing the heinous causes of my grief, import a special justice and reason of revenge, let not the enemy of the honour of your dear Blanch Maria, escape without punishment, but in accounting the wrong which I sustain, indifferent to us both, to bind me (by the benefytt of this revenge) to a more affeccioned zeal towards you, with an assured loyalty even until th'extreme dissolution of my natural days, otherways if he live in the triumph of my slander, what cause have I to joy in life, or comfort to expose the best part in me, for the contentment & pleasure of you, who stayeth to do me reason to so manifest a wrong.  
Here the young earl felt himself double passioned, whether he should perform th'expectation of his venomous BASILA, whom he loved without measure, or abstain from violation of th'innocent blood of his friend, whom the law of friendship forbade him any way to abuse. Albeit to appease the present rage of the Countess, he promised an effect of her desire, with speedy punishment of him, who is not worthy any way (saith he) to serve you but in thought, feeding her humour with frank words, dissimuling notwithstanding that which he thought on the behalf of the Lord Valpergo, whose honesty he knew to be without malice, and that his discretion and wisdom, would not suffer him to stir up any sinister, report without great occasion on her part, besides, he considered that the justice of the quarrel rested in him, for that he had taken the prey (as it were out of his mouth, albeit by her procurement, and that after the other had discontinued his hawnte and course of repair thither, where with eramining the circumstance at large, he found the cause far insufficient to move any breach of friendship between them, but determining to continue the league, he contented her with a dissembled promise, and restored in the mean time the exercise of their former pleasure, wherein he passed certain months without the tender of any quarrel to the Lord Valpergo, who returned (by this time) to Pavya, enjoyed a mutual conversation with th'earl Sanseverino, with such indifferent familiarity, that for the most part they used but one bed, and one board, with one purse common between them both, which was not unmarked of the malicious Blanch Maria, who seeing so many fit occasions, with the offer of convenient time and place, assisting thexecution of her execrable devise, with provocation to th'earl to perform his promiss, gave judgement of the case as it was, that her wickedness was not able to force an ennymitye between the ij. Lords, and that th'earl Gaiazo did but keep her in breath with fair words, only to continue the glott of his pleasure which he took of her, wherefore disdaining so great an abuse in him, whom (above all men) she reserved as the chief pillar of her trust, she determined to make a second experience of the same mean, which served her torn in the dispatch of her first friend, wherein she omitted neither occasion nor expedition, for as often as he came to her house, she was either sick, or troubled with other bulynes that she could not keep him company, not letting sometime to shoott her gates against 
She discontinueth her friendship with the Lord Gaiazo.  him, all which because she saw, lacked force to make him refrain, she retired to th'assistance of policy, desyering him with simple and cold terms, to do her so much honour, as to forbear from hensfurth all access to her house, for that she was in mind to return to her husband, with whom, th'effect of atonement was already wrought by certain her friends, who (being upon the way to fetch her home) she would not by any means should find her in the attire of a Cortisan, or woman making love. Besides (sir) saith she, not without some dissembled tears, I feel a remorse of conscience on the behalf of the long abuse I have used towards him, and that, albeit my offence 
Some faults may be excused that can not be pardoned.  proceeding of folly, seams not altogether worthy of free pardon, yet it may appear in some sort excusable, so he that confesseth his fault, giveth great argument of amendment, and restoreth the trespass to sufficient recompense, desiring you for end, to have no less consideration of my present case, than heretofore you have found no want of good will in me to satisfy the respect of your pleasure at all times, where with (to prefer a more credit to her suborned discourse) she promised him a continuation of favour, with assurance of unfeigned good will, so long as nature was content to lend her the use of life. The earl whether he gave faith to her feigned words, or dissembled a credytt for the nonst, yet he seamed to persuade a troth in the matter, for that, from the hour of such conference, he checked the humour of his accustomed desire, using exquisitt medicines to mortify that blind affection, which so long had kept him in captivity in the bottomless goolphe of his Pyemount, And be cause he would aswell remove the cause as take away the disease, fearing least either the view of her presence, or some force of new charm, might eftsoons enchant him, and set abroach the humour of former desires, he retired immediately to MILAN: He feared also the fall of some sudden mischief, chiefly for that he had sufficient experience of the cursed disposition of this Viper, whose heart was so infected with the poisoned air of every sin, that being weary of the excercise of whoredom, she would make no conscience to furnish the stage with unnatural murders: For what expectation, of other fruit is in them, whose minds are clean despoiled of virtue, if not such as are allowed by the guide and wicked spirit that governeth their diabolical disposition, or who is ignorant of the tyranny of a woman, converted wholly into the appetit of rage and revenge, neither is her cruelty any thing inferior to the devouring monster, 
The barbarians more curious, than we, in observing their laws.  and exceeds every way, the brutish inclination of the barbarous sort of creatures, whose rage albeit now and then procureth them to use force against the natural procreation & fruits of their own wombs, yet do they stay to commit any kind of cruelty to such as have traffiqned with them in the trade of licentious lust, accounting no greater sacrilege or profanation of the law and ceremonies due to their gods, then to pollute their hands with the blood of such as erst have supplied the lust of their sensual pleasure, wherein if they, which had no kuowledge of god, nor feared the devil, and void altogether of discipline and experience in humanity, reserved a certain honour and respect to nature, why should there be either free dispense or toleration of punishment to the wretches of our age, who notwithstanding the daily use of the law, written by the very finger of god, and revealed unto us byhies prophets and Apostles, with diverse threatening inhibitions noted in thinfallible book, do not fear to offend the majesty of the high este, not only in stayninge their souls with the spot of adultery, but also in dying the earth with the blood of their brethren and fellows in Christ, wherein this history shall present you with a sufficient proof for this time.  
The Lord GAIAZO had no sooner left PAVYA, than this infernal goddess began to attempt the recovery of her first lover VALPERGO wherein notwithstanding there appeared an equality of doubt and difficulty, chiefly, for that she feared, that he that last left her, had diciphered her intent, with revelation of the mean she had devised to procure his death: But what enterprise is it, that he dare not attempt, whose mind is the bondman and slave of sin, wherein albeit the beginning seam to ymport a certain difficulty, for that the soul preferreth a resistance, and the conscience wavering, is moved to a remorse and remembrance of repentance, yet when a man is alreadis become old in sin, and the heart environed with the branches of iniquity, the wicked man hath a more facility in th'execution of mischief, than he that is good, able to keep the renown of virtue, evenso when youth is nourished in ympudencie, and 
Shame as necessary for age as awe for young men.  age devested of honest shame, there is no peril can make the one affrayed, nor imputation of reproach give cause to the other to blush, like as this ympudent Pyemount●●se, renewing the traffic of her ancient wickedness, practised so far with the familiars and friends of him, whose death (as you hard) she erst conspired by malice, excusing herself so amply by embassages and letters of vehement persuasion, that he was content to hear in what sort she was able to purge herself, wherein her justification was the sooner admitted, for that the judge was not only partial on her behalf, but rather inclined to foolish pity, then disposed to enjoin just penance: she promised by protestation of faith and religious oath, not only to become his subject and slave, so long as her soul was carried about upon the mortal chariot of her body, but also gave him at th'instant, a pawn of her life with all that she had, for the performance of her last promise: Here was the peace eftsoons concluded between the wicked countess and unhappy earl, whose articles were registered, and seals put to the night following, when the Lord VALPERGO was restored to the possession of the fortress which erst was revolted, and lived long dnder the awe of an other prince, wherein as they thus renewed the round of their amorous dance, the one finding a more skoape of liberty under her recovered lover, than afore, the other resolved wholly to observe th'appetite of his Lady, behold a second desire of blood, and suggestion of morder appearing eftsoons in the face of this MEGAERA, who cropping altogether the herb of revenge, longed now for the destruction of him, who (as you hard) promised to do sacrifice on the body which presently she embraced and held in most estimation, whereof, if she had been demanded the cause, I think she could have given no other reason of her malice, then, that delighting in bloody enterprises, she accounted it a principal virtue, to commit mischiefs of greatest detestation, for the which notwithstanding the reward of mordore was thundered upon her 
Death the due reward of morder.  at last, with a shameful and miserable end to herself, and untimely death of him, who as the first companion, and next neighbour to her folly, with equal participation of filthy pleasure, reapposed to much trust in the villainy of her, who, preferred vice afore virtue, and took pleasure in the devise of bloody affairs, whereof you shall have the discourse at large in the last act of this history  
blanch, Maria, seeing her so rempierd in the heart of Valpergo, that her only word was currant to command him, determined to prefer him to th'office of a murderer upon the person of him, who erst refused the charge, wherein adding an expedition to her devise, one night being in bed together, after she had embraced and feasted him frankly with the filthy follies in love, wherein she had more than sufficient experience, she discontynued her kisses with a sudden silence, and drawing her treason a far of, told him, that it is long since she had to present him with one request of special favour, wherein because she doubted, either to move his displeasure, or receive a repulse, she hath not only deferred to be ymportunate, but stayed to declare the cause, which (saith she) although it touch you no less than the safeguard of your life, and unworthy infamy to your dear Blanch Maria yet is the respect of your favour of such authority with me, that I had rather use silence with your friendship and contentment, then be thauthor of the thing that should incense you to anger. He gave her not only liberty to make her demand, but assurance (for his part) to perform the effect, at what price so ever it were, for (saith he) if the matter ymport any peril to me, it behoveth me to use care of my life, but if the honour of you be abused, or yourself distressed, you can not imagine the diligence, I will put to the revenge of your wrong, and undertake all your quarrels, wherefore doubt not (good Lady to ymploye him, who liveth but to serve you, and is ready to die to do you pleasure, Here she asked him of the frendeshyype between th'earl GAIAZO and him, and what assurance he had of his loyalty: such experiences (saith he) as nothing is able to dissolve our amity, for I would not stand to be entreated to offer my body to present danger, to remove his peril, nor he (I am sewer) would make any conscience to redeem my extremity with the hazard of his own life, neither do we use other, thenne a common conversation of all things between us, but now to the cause of your question, wherewith the traitress, saying sufficient words passed in circumstance, thought e now time to broach a vent for her poison, wherefore kissing him in more amorous sort then ever he felt himself embraced afore, told him the poynies wherein he was deceived, touching the trust he seamed to reappose in his friend, for (saith she) you are not so constant and assured on his behalf, as he full of villanyein dissembling thee malice which he hath of long, hatched under the wing of his deceitful heart, And to use a simple plains in so sewer a case, you have cause to give vone other judgement of him, then as your most cruel and capital enemy in all the world, wherein because I will not press you to be credulous of a dream, nor move you to believe any thing, whose Author is not of sufficient authority, yond shall understand, that he avouched no less then I have reapported by the breath of his own mouth, at such time as he practised with me in your late absence, with this addition, that he should never enjoy a perfectte quiett of mind, nor taste of the benefit of assured rest or reappose, till his hands had made morsels of your body and divided all your parts into small pieces, confirming at the same instant his bloddye resolution by oath of the honour and life of a gentleman, that within the compass of no long time, he would bid you too such a banquet, that you should not need any longer, to be careful of the world, nor mindful to make love to ladies, wherein he seamed so resolute & grounded in his malice that (notwithstanding all the persuasions I cold prefer) I cold never wrest from him the original or cause of this mortal grudge, and albeit at that time, I was entered into terms of colour against you, with more justice to further his spite, than reason to prevent your peril, or show favour in the saving of your life, yet the remembrance of our ancient love, (as a virtue but half mortified or dead in me) moved me to such a remorse on your behalf, that I did not only th'uttermost of my endeavour to remove the vail of his intent, but also desired him with tears, to desyste from such enterprise, whilst I was in place where you abode, for that I could not endure the view of your injury, and much less see you distressed to death, with out the speedy sacrifice of mine own life, whereunto he gave not only a deaff ear, but bound him eftsoons to his former protestation by a second oath, that either his dead carcase in the place, should witness his good will, or else he would deliver the world of the Lord Valpergo, all which I had no mean (as then) to impart unto you, by reason of your absence and small access you had hither, wherein (sir) seeing since then, your felicity hath defended you from danger and consomation of his intent, so now I beseech you not only to stand upon your guard in defending his malice, but also to prevent his pernicius resolution, with an act of equal courtesy, for it is more wisdom to take away the life of your enemy, then in giving place to his malice, to commit your body to the mercy of his morderinge hand, besides it is no breach of virtue, to requite th'intent of injury, with an effect of equal revenge, and your wisdom should be of greater estimation, and his treason more heinous (for that he hath first abused and broken the law of friendship, in dressing such mortal ambushes, against so dear a friend, wherein for my part, as I have discovered the whole conspiracy, under a frank reapport of an unfeigned truth, so being no less careful of your safety, then curius of mine own life, waghinge them both in the balance of indifferent zeal, I wish you to follow my advise in preventing so ymmynent a danger, and for a more assurance of your safety, to offer thassault to him, that hath already sworn your destruction, wherein also you shall perform the virtue of a valiant knight, with full satisfaction of the desire of her, whom you can not so amply gratefye, if you presented her with the free gift of the best Dukedom in italy, and now shall I see an effect of the love you bear me, who eftsoons desireth you not to suffer him to live any longer, that triumpheth without measure, in the unworthy slander of your most affectionate Blanch maria.  
If the last words of this foolish Lady had not brought her whole request in suspicion, her importunities peradventure had procured a consent in th'earl, who conferring the points of her discourse, with her vehemency in persuading, found in deed, that her chiefest meaning tended to the defence of her own quarrel, whereupon he entered into a pause, measuring in the secret of his mind, the terms of her present malice, with th'experience and diverse proofs of the fidelity of his friend, whom he knew to be more assured in virtue, than to imagine so great a villainy against him, and albeit he knew it was but a fetch of his Lady, to sow the seeds of quarrel between th'earl GAIAZO and him, yet to flatter her fond humour for the time, he promised to become the minister of her cursed will, for a more show and expedition whereof, he took his leave, and repaired immediately to Milan, where he ymparted to the Lord Gaiazo every point and Article of the venomous discourse of the Countess, her conclusion and burning desire of his absolute destruction, with special suit, that only his hands might be the shameful execucioners of her execrable devise, wherewith th'earl Gaiazo was no less astonished than he had cause, for conferring the terms of his present reaport, with a fresh remembrance of a former conspiracy (by his hands) touching the death of him, whom she had now suborned to procure the destruction of himself, cried out of thyniquitie of the gods in suffering the earth to be infected with the breath of so wicked a woman, and exclaimed against nature, in that she did not abridge the course of life in so horrible a monster, whose pestilent air (saith he) if God defend not his people, is able to corrupt a whole country, oh how justly hath God visited the sins of her father, for 
The sin of the father punished upon the children.  his cursed usuries, upon his wretched daughter, and rightly punished the villenies of her predecessors, in an imp sprung of so vile a stock: how is it possible to make a froward kite, a forward hawk to the river, or the boochers' cur to draw a true sent to the hurt dear? likewise this pattorne of corruption, being the daughter of a villain, who was borne to no more portion, than seven. foot of inheritance in the church yard, and her mother more fair than chaste, and less virtuous than honest, hath not only abandoned her country and husband for the glott of her insatiable lust, answering all comers without exception, in the singler combat of her beastly desire, but also is come to keep an open boocherie or slaughter house to execute the nobility of Italy, But for my part, if it were not for the dishonour that would attend me, in defile my hands with the blood of such a filth, I assure you I would draw her by the hair to the public theatrie or place of execution in Milan, where after she had confessed, how often and in what sort, she hath desired me, with her hands closed, and eyes full of dissembling tears, regarding the majesty of the heavens, to commit morder upon my dear VALPERGO, these hands should divide her villainous carcase into more pieces than there be days in the year. And besides, I was never of so vile or base condition, but that I durst discover and advonche what grudge so ever I had conceived against any man, neither do I think that you have other opinion of me, then to be one of your most loyal and assured friends, whereunto tother replied that thonlie respect of the fidelity he reapposed in him, keepte him from performing her pernicius and bloody summons, and that he had not only disclaimed her acquaintance and company also, but abandoned the place of her being, for fear of further enchantment and saying (saith he) that God hath holden his holy haunde over us, and our fortune hetherunto defended us from danger, let the view of our peril passed, withstand the offer of future mischief, and in eschewing the air of such infection, let us also from hensfurthe dysmisse our devotion to that ympp and image of SATAN: had it not been a great commendation to us, to have entered into quarrel, and committed mutual slaughter, one of an other, for the recreation & pleasure of such a minion, whose simple remembrance I assure you is so hateful unto me at this present, that I find a salt in myself, that in bidding her farewell, I gave her not an hundredth estockadoes thorough the body, to th'end the example and due higher of her bad life, might procure a terror to others, that thirst after the blood of such unnatural murders: albeit as the course of her wretched life argueth an unhappy end, so I doubt not but her miserable death will take sufficient revenge of the wrong she hath offered to us both, In the mean time I wish in us both an utter forgetfulness of her and her follies, And feing the gain she hath got by us, may be couched in the least corner of her coffers, we have small cause to grieve in any loss, saving in the ympairiuge of our reputation, for yielding honour to one so far unworthy of our company, wherewith ended the discourse between the ij. young Lords, who (ever after) forgot not to continue the remembrance of their venomous BASILIKE with words of open infamy in what company so ever they were, both, what enticing means she had to train men too her lure, and with what subtleties she dismissed them, being weary of their company, or when she saw an offer of fresh supply, the brute whereof, albeit gave her certain fretting alarums at the stomach, yet nature had lente her such a grace, that she neither blushed at the same, nor was moved to remorse with the view of her evil, But digested both the one and the other with an ordinary face of shameless complexion, wherein notwithstanding she was neither so precise nor constant, but the inward gripes she felt, had almost forced a depryvation of liberty and senses, the rather with the view of an italian Epigram, inveighinge bitterly against her disordered life, composed as they said by th'earl VALPERGO, which because I never saw, nor have means to recover a true copy, I leave without judgement or reapport, But thusmuch I dare advowche of her choleric passion, proceeding chiefly by that invective, that if she had had either captain or soldiers at her commandment, she had made ij fair Anotomyes' of both their bodies, whereof notwithstanding Signior Valpergo escaped not without sharpp penance, as one upon whom she founded her greatest grudge, for that as he was the first that skirmished with her, hand to hand in her close chamber, so he was the last that broke his faith, and dissembled th'effect of his promiss: By this time every post and postern in PAVYA was painted with pamphelettes, written in proase and verse of the bowntefull life of the countess, every comedy and stage play babbled of her vicious trade, the bells rung of her inordinate lust, and the birds in the Air cried out against her, in such sort, that she did not only refrain to come abroad, and show herself either in street or window, but ymagyninge that the change of air and place would take away the blaspheymous noise of the brute, trussed up her baggage, and departed by moon light without sound of trumpet from PAVIA to MILAN, where, as she was first invested with robes of honour by marriage with the Viscont Hermes, so her destinies seamed to reserve that place as a witness and theatry of her degradation, not only of honour, but also of life, for she had not long so journeyed at MILAN, but there arrived a captain with a charge of certain troupes of horsemen called Don Pierro de Cardonne a Scycylyan borne, and bastard brother to th'earl of Colysan, whose father dying at the battle fought at Bycoque, left him no other portion nor revenue, but such as he gatt by the entertainment of the wars: his age exceeded not xx. or xxj. years, somewhat swarffye of complexion, and mallencollike in the regard of his countenance, with a scar or hurt in the face, lent him by chance in a fray, but for the rest, sufficiently furnished with good proportion, who made his chief excercise to pass up and down the streets, where glauncinge now and then upon this alluring image of Venus, took no time to debate the matter at large, but upon the sudden became extremely in love with her, in such sort, as he entered into devise, to have familiar conference, and make an offer of his service unto her, who better experienced in the trade of love than he, albeit she saw him young and able enough to answer the combat of her lust, yet to stir up a more vehemency of love, and give herself a greater incorporation in his heart, she lewred him by piecemeal, till she had sufficiently manned him, and framed him by the measure of her own will: for if this young pigeon of the first plume chanced to espy her out of the window: yielding her reverence with a sigh according to the vain spaniard, she would not stick to requite him with a countenance of semblable courtesy, and soddainelye shot the casement, and withdraw herself from his sight, leaving the sellye Captain, tyeringe upon a taste of pleasure interlarded also with a desperate hope never to enjoy her otherways then in secret and uncertain wishes. And albeit he was of sufficient experience to train and lead his men, with courage enough in the field, yet seamed he no less void of skill then far from audacity, and so ignorant in the pursuit of this quest, as if he had never made court to any Lady of reputation or honour, which forced the rather a vehemency of his torment on the behalf of his new mistress, whose majesty and coy estate, keeping always within her palace, as it argued a certain degree of honour, so the same gave also a greater increase to his passion with intent to do her all honour he cold, for besides, that he passed by her gate every day in great bravery of change of horse and apparel, with his men moostering about him, and other pomppe of a captain, making his horse make good the Toto Pomado with other lofty tornes above ground, when he came against the window that yielded the first view and prospect of her beauty, yet for a further declaration of his affectioned service, he walked one evening a long the palace of his lady with a noise of soft music, to procure her to come to the window, when himself took a triple lute, and gave her a good night, in a song, no less doleful in note & tune, then of desperate substance, with such store of sighs and regards of pity in his face, that who had seen his ghastelie countenance at that time, would have judged him to be served with the last process and sentence diffynitive of his life, or that he had made love to one of the blood royal in spain, in the end of which morning music, Dom Pierro, as one out of hope to recover any one ●ote of favour of his mysteries, being upon his departure and retire to his lodging, was requested, to come in by one of her women, who opening the gate, conveyed him alone thorough a fair garden into a large gallery, hung on either side, with sundry sorts of pictures and tables of love and folly, where the countess did not only give him great thanks for the honour he did her with his solemn music, but also yielded him such other choice of familiar courtesy, that he seamed rather astonished with the presence of the place he so much desired, then able to bestow any thanks, or other simple show of duty upon his new goddess, who saying his simplicity, thought it was now time to stop the lewer upon him, and give him some assurance by words & effect, aswell as she had trained him so far by arguments of ouward glee, wherefore taking him by the hand, she led him to a low bed furnished with green satin, where (being set together) she used this short order of collation unto him.  
Albeit (sir) the show of my present courtesy may stur up in you 
The countess to her last lover.  some cause of sinister suspicion, the rather, for that, having no other knowledge, nor assurance of your honest behaviour, than a simple reaport of your name and nobility, I have given you credit to enter my house, at so indecent an hour, yet being in some part excused by the liberty of our country, which exceeds the straight inhibition of the Ladies in Spain and Scycylya, I am also to defeat all sorts of imputation that way, by the special regard of honour, I have always used on the behalf of strangers, towards whom, as I was never a niggard of my liberality, specially, when they do me that honour to visitte my house, So for your part, for that I find no cause asyet either to disclaim or discontinue my accustomed bounty from you, I am content to assure you no less welcome, than any man that ever had access hither, with commission, that the door, being ready to be opened at what hour so ever you knock, you may be bold to dispose of me and mine no less frankly, then if the property of all that I have rested in yourself: which entertainment, as it was unlooked for of Seigneur Pierro, So the liberal offer of his mistress took away the passion of his dumb trance, and not only restored him again to the liberty of his speech, but also renforced him with a new courage to put his request upon terms, and make a tender of his service, with protestation, that if she would pass a grant of her good will, and admit him for her secret servant and friend, he would use such endeavour to make declaration of the dutiful zeal he bore her, that she should find him nothing inferior to any gentleman that ever made profession of love or other service to his Lady, nor have cause any way to mislike her choice, for that he would never be so rash in promise, as ready to expose an effect, nor she so willing to require, as he twice diligent to perform th'uttermost of her commandments, she feeling herself clawed in that place that ytched most, replied with a smile countenance, that their perience of the often breach of promiss in such as use to court us simple Ladies with the merchandise of love, doth argue so much th'inconstancy of men, (saith she) that for my part, if I saw a present effect of true loyalty before mine eyes, yet could I hardly he brought to repose either credit or assurance in any promise, seeing men themselves now a days are infected with the air of such fragility, that they neither respect the honesty of their word, nor the virtue in parforming the least effect of a thousand liberal offers they make at unwares. Albeit as he that chargeth the guyltles with the offence of the murderer, doth wrong to his innocency, so I have learned that it is a special virtue to be persiall in opinion toward strangers, and judge the best of every man. wherefore for your part (sir) if you will enlarge the offer of your first faith with this addition, that I may be bold to employ you in one spectall affair of mine at such time as I shall summon you thereunto, I am content not only to put you in possession of your request, But also to bind myself to no less loyalty on your behalf, than ever appeared in any Lady to wards her faithful servant. The captain that would willingly have sacrificed himself for the ransom of her favour, stood not to examine what charge she would enjoin him unto, but confirmed an assurance with sundry sorts of oaths, being no less rash in the promise of evil, them hasty to perform th'execution, as hereafter you shall hear. Here was brewed the broth or preparative of the fatal obsequies of her former love, & the earnest penny given of the bloody bargain & death of Seigneur Valpergo, for she, by the too liberal & unhonest vent of her honour, made him the Borreau & unnatural executioner of noble blood, defacing by the same means the gentry of his house, which he ought to have preserved till the last drop of blood in his body. And remaining there all that night, she made him so pleasant a banquet of delicate kisses & other exercises of the bed, that the more he tasted of the pleasure, the more he thrusted with desire to continued the sport, & the subtle Cirses for her part, seemed so vehement in love, with dissimuled arguments of unfeigned affection that in persuading himself of the victory of her good will, he thought he had made a conquest of the whole east part of the world, seeming so drowned in the devotion of his new Saint, & charmed with the enchantments of her art, which (peradventure lente her some power or assistance of legierdemain) to force his humour of earnest zeal, that if she had said the word, he had made no conscience to have committed the whole City of Milan to the mercy of fire and gunpowder, like as Blouse de Cume, was ready to put fire into all parts of the city of Rome, if the Sedicius Tyberyus Gracchus had given it him in charge: such is the rage and frantyke folly of youth, when they suffer their amorous transport to exceed the caryr of reason or discretion, and from this fountain have distilled heretofore many destructions of Realms with subvertions and alterations of monarchies, wherein also may be noted a marvelous corrupt and vain disposition in such as will rather affect and haunt the company of a public curtysan, then honour the virtue of a chaste lady, although she were his lawful wife and companion of bed, and yet those gallandes will not stick to jest and point at the married man, governed sometime by the sage advice of his lawful wife, where they seem ready at the commandment of a strumpet or errand whoare, not only to hazard the price of their honour, but also (in favouring thinstigation of her wickedness) to make their testament upon a skafolde laying their heads under the edge of the sword of justice, wherein I need not torn over many books for copy of examples, seeing you may be sufficiently satisfied with the view of the folly of this bastard of Cardonne in performing the suggestion and malice of this mordering corntesse, who seeing her captain sufficiently framed to the postey of her will, thought it was now time to put him in remembrance of his promise, and summon him to the revenge of them that thought no more of her conspiracies nor trains of treason, wherein as the hour approached that her Lascivious trade of life should be enjoined to open penance, and the wrong & violation of faith to her husband, with her pernicious intentes & effects of murders, receive their due hire and punishment, and that the rage of destiny would not be appeased till some man wear committed to execution, so for a more expedition of the fatal end of her miserable life, she enticed her bastard lover into a close arbour in the gardin where only the birds wear witness of their discourse, and broke with him in this sort. If nature (Sir hath given to every one a special care to hold the use of life most dear with a peculiar desire to favour the course of our days with so long a term as we can, how much more are we bound to embrace and be careful of that which causeth us to live with a singular renome from amongst the rest of the base sort of people, who dying alway in watch to mark our order of living, are no less glad to have an occasion of slander, then ready to impart it to all the world, with such percialitye of unworthy bruit, that the greater we seam in degree, the more heinous they make our offence, and mortal faults not only scarce noted, but also tolerable in meaner personages, wherein as we women are most incident to the awe of that malicious climate of people, both for that they Sift us and our doings more narrolye than the rest, and because we being the weaker company, are not armed with sufficient force to resist their rage, so the indifferent sort ought not to be rash in judgement on their sides, nor give sentence of discredit or dishonesty against us, the rather by a sinister suggestion of such a vulgar and barbarous crew, neither ought we to spare or fear any sort of revenge, which may advance the recovery of that whereof we are wrongfully devested.  
Thus much I have inferred (sir as a preamble to the request I mean to make, which I take god to witness proceeds not to much of desire to pursue the revenge of wrong I have already received, as to make known to all the world, with what integrity I go about to preserve the renome of my former reputation, knowing right well that the earth beareth nothing so precious or of so great value, that is able to restore or make good the forfeiture of the honour of a la die of equal Calibre and calling to me, And because I will not keep you in long suspense, nor with tedious circum stance move any myslike to him that hath offered to justify my cause against them, whose wickedness have procured these terms of just complaint, it may like you to understand, this, as not long sins I remained at PAVIA with a train convenient for my degree, may ntayning court and hospitality in such sort, that the greatest estate seamed content with myneordynar ie, so amongst the rest of the repair and access to my house, I was visited with an often hawnt of two earls of equal nobility and semblable descent of honour, to whom albeit I used an indifferent countenance, exposing no great argument of famylyaritie on their behalfs, than (as you see) I show to every gentleman, yet forgetting thestimation of their own race, and rank which I hold, they have seemed of late so unthankful, to the honour I used towards them, that I find a return of the merit of my courtesy with a general brute of open slander, begun and continued by them, who also cease not as yet to endeavour to make my name no less notorious of Infamy, then if I wear the most common courtesan in Rome or Venyce wherein as the virtue of my innocency is able to satisfy thopinions of such as know me, for that thintegrity of my life hitherunto parswades them, that I am both belied by malice, and slandered without cause, so all strangers, and specially the vulgar sort, confering my delicate and brave order of living, with the parnicious rumour of these gallandes, doughts not to confirm their villains with an absolute judgement, that I am no less dishonest in deed, than their brute hath published in every corner and country of I talye, whereof besides that mine own conscience doth absolve me, yet dare I plead & appeal to the testimony of your self to depose the contrary, protesting unto you by the height of the highest throne in heaven, that only you have vanquished the chastyty of Blanch mary, who if she should any way lose your presence, could not enjoy the air of MILAN four and twenty hours, for that, those roisters & slaunderus earls have brought me in so bad a taste amongst all honest company, and yet would I not departed without a revenge of the wrong they have done me, wherein if I cannot be assisted with the help of any man, I assure you this carcase shall either be found dead in th'enterprise, or these hands shall commit the fatal execution of these corrupt wretches, whose malice have set abroach the vessel of unworthy slander to mine honour and estimation, wherewith she forced a sudden complexion of dolour in her face, in such sort, that the tears which distilled from her eyes dropped all a longest her cheeks and breasts of the colour of thazured alabaster, and watered the whole bosom and body of the Scycilyan, who having no other god but the countess, and saying thimpetuosity of her distress, inquired of her in a marvelous rage, what he was that durst abuse her, who had at commandment a captain with his whole ensign of men at arms and soldiers, ready to march at the sound of her drum, to defend her quarrel, and take vengeance of such as oppress her, swearing at thinstant by the faith and honour of a soldior, that if he knew the names of these ympudent wretches, all the world should procure no dispense of their death, and he only would cut them in as many pieces, as there be members of their wicked bodies, wherefore (saith he) (ymbrasing his infernal goddess) give me only a note of their names, and you shall see what difference I use between doing & saying, simple words and deeds of effect, and do away these tears without further remembrance, or care to revenge your enemies, for you shall see, that I will tons them so conyngly, that hereafter they shall need no barber to round their hair.  
This frank promiss with the liklyhode of speedy effect, breathed such a fresh air of consolation into the mordering countess, that after she had cooled and embraced him in a thousand sorts, with an offer and liberal dedication of her life, with all that she had, even until the last and extreme drop of her blood, told him the names of her enemies, who saith she, are not able to make good any way, the forfeiture of mine honour but by their death and perentorie destruction, wherewith he willed her eftsoons to dismiss all care, and reapose herself upon him, for saith he, afore thexpiration of many days, you shall hear such news as you long for, wherein he failed neither of the time nor effect of his promise, for that the next night he was advertised by certain espials, which he had set for the purpose, that th'earl Valpergo, supped in the town, wherefore he armed himself with twenty men at arms of his soldiers, and lay in ambush of either side the street, where th'earl should pass in his return to his lodging, who with his brother arm in arm, with some five or six of their pages and servants, between ten and eleven of the clock in the evening, came devising merely together till they were at the jaumbe or torn of a street that stretcheth to saint jacques, where suddenly they saw themselves assailed and set upon on all sides with men in armour, and finding their force far to weak to maintain skirmish with so great a troop armed at all points up to the throat, and they only, the simple assistance of the rapior and cloak, began to flee, but they found astopp of passage in every place, in such sort, as th'earl and his brother, with the rest of their small crew, were cut in pieces in one instant, albeit as morder is the sin most detestable affore God, so we see few or none escape unpunished, nor any done in such secret but the majesty of the highest, reserves a 
No morder escapeth unpunished  mean to discover it, for in the heat of this sharp medley, th'earl ARDIZZYNO espied the bastard PIERRO, whom he named and called upon many times, but all in vain, which being hard and advouched by one of the townsmen, standing rather in his window to cry aim, then helping any way to part the fray, was the cause that he was taken the same night, and committed to prison, by th'authority of the duke of BOURBON lieutenant and chief governor within MILAN for th'emperor Charles the fift, and the next day fearing the offer of the rack or other torments, he confessed the fact, with the cause to proceed of the sinister subornation of the Countess Blanch Marie, whose life and trade, according to the discourse you have already hard, he ymparted at large, to the DUKE and rest of the council, she being advertised of the whole, had time and liberty to flee, but god which is just, would not that her wickedness should be assisted with any longer date, saying that if she had lived, her malice, would also have raged upon th'earl GAIAZO, who by good chance was at that time out of the town.  
The next day she was sent into an other prison in the town, to avoid conference between Dom Pierro and her, whereof there was more cause of fear than needed, for that upon the first examination, she confessed the whole conspiracy, trusting belike, in, I can not tell how many her thousand crowns, where with she hoped to corrupt the governor or such as bare authority under him, wherein her expectation, was no less frustrate, than her destinies seamed weary to favour her with longer life, for the offer of her crowns was hateful to the upright ministers of justice, and other means of mediation had no place in the senate, for that she was judged to be taken out of prison, the second day after the morder, and lose her head in the place of public execution, in the mean while, the captains of the army, purchassed the life of the bastard of CARDONO, and sent him with divers letters of commendation to th'emperor, who for the respect of his experience and practice in war, advanced him to a charge convenient for his skill.  
And albeit the last arrest and sentence definitive of the miserable countess, was communicated unto her, to th'end she might put herself in readiness to pass the dreadful journey of death, yet seeming to repose much for herself in th'assistance of her coffers, she neither dismayed at the news, nor disposed herself any way toward God, until the sergeants criminal, taking her out of her dungeon in the castle, led her to the fatal theatrie in the market place where was erected a fair scaffold, to play the last act of her tragedy upon, there the wretched Lady entered into open confession of her faltes and former life in the hearing of the multitude, desiring God upon her knees with great effusion of tears, not to deal with her according to her deserts, but that she mought enjoy the benefytt of his mercy, and that he would not argue against her, for if he judged her according to her iniquities, she was not able to abide it, and so desiring the people to prefer their prayers on her behalf, for her better assistance of the spirit of grace in her perilous passage which she had to perform, she renounsed nature by the deadly blow of the sword of execution which took away the head from the parnicious body of her, who in her life never found any wickedness which she did not only ymbrace, but exceed with ymitation, and increase with further villainy, nor was acquainted with any virtue, which she did not abuse, or convert into an agravation of sin: a goodly example sure, for the youth in our time, saying that the greatest part launsing indifferently into the gulf of all abomination, are governed only by the transport of their vain & foolish conceits, without having respect to the sundry, mischiefs & impositions of shame which fail not to attend the end of such exercises, for if the Lord of Cardonne had not been rescued by th'assistance of a good fortune, and taken out of the hands of distress by special aid of tother Captains, it may be easily judged what misery had thundered upon him by giving himself in pray to the flattering appetit of a light and foolish woman, who seamed to yield him more glee or favour, for the satisfying of her own lust, and to perform her malicious devise, then for any respect of loyalty or true love, Indiferent care of his honour, or honest regard to her own estimation, and truely as his misfortune is great, that bestoweth his affection upon a whore, for that he is incident to a thousand inconveniences: So his folly is no less, that persuades himself to be beloved of a common doxy, seeing their amity continueth no longer than they reap either pleasure or profit, neither are they so inconstant in love, as void of measure in Imagination of mischiefs, wherein for that our plentiful time yields us choice of examples and sort of familiar experience, I am content to abridge the justification at this time, for that to maintain continual argument of murders or affairs full of peril, is often hurtful to the quiet mind, desiring sometime a pleasant recreation from affliction, no less than the pilot or weary mariner covets a present calm and appeasement of angry EOLE after they have been long forwearyed in contending against the malice of their fortune among the perilous strayghts of th'unquietunquiet ocean.  
And albeit the corruption of our own nature is so great, that we take more delight to hear a discourse or beadroll of follies, then in reports interlarded with admonitions full of reason and wisdom, yet am I persuaded, that such as have their minds tipped with virtue, cannot be so pervade, nor void of good disposition, as the other wretches, whose lives bearing the badge of infamy, makes them also sequestrated from the rest of the good sort, wherein we ought to be fully resolved, that there is no History, (how full of pleasant delight so ever it appear) which yields not with all, wholsomme Instructions to direct our lives, neyneyther ought we to be soscrupulous or full of curiosity As either to condemn or mislike the pleasant comodye for that it is not painted with the serenety of the Stoics, seeing the volumes of profaned records, & scripture itself do note unto us the lives of sundry vicious parsons, not for that we should enter into terms of grudge against the reaport of such ancient antiquity, nor dispose ourselves to the imitation of the like vices, but rather in viewing the strange and grievous punishment which ordinarily hath overwhelmed such sin, to learn and labour to direct our lives by the contrary of their examples, which is one respect that made me put my pen in exercise to prefer this history to our vulgar tongue, to th'end also that the frail youth of our country, that follow the damnable path of iniquity, may see how sewer they are to feel the heavy hand of God, who blesseth the good sort with a plentiful gift of his grace, and punisheth the wicked with sundry sorts of affliction.  
FINIS.   

The argument  
WE should not need so much th'assistance of foreign records, nor report of ancient histories exceeding the compass of our age and memory, if we were as careful to note thaccidents of our own time, as we seam curious in admiration of rare things whose glorious antiquity with partiality of fame, sets a more price of thendeavour of others, than their diligence & doings deserve by justice, like as the greeks and romen painting with an exquisitedexteritie of the pen, their policy in war, the valiantness of their Captains, their wonderful fortune and good success in all enterprises, with other discourses of their virtues, do argue them more glorious in their own acts, then meritorious in dead of true commendation, for that in arrogating unto themselves the only title and name of all knowledge, they make our time seem naked of all virtue, saving such as is derived from them and imitation of their doings. Albeit we may object with the spartan against thathenians, that those lippwise soldiers or school orators, had a more facility in discovering, than facylitie in execution of noble effects: not for that I mean to do such wrong to their estimation, as not to yield to them a title of singularity in all perfections, yet I may also be bold to prefer the benefit of our time which participating with their golden age in any respect of honest gift or quality, is able to present a furniture of as many examples and authorities of virtue as we read were found in the politic state of Rome when Cato, Camilla, or Scipio, governed that proud City, or when on Pericles, Themistocles or Aristides bare authority in the flourishing Acadimia, of Athens, for if we go about to discourse of the valiantness in arms, or study to be privy to the sleights and policy in war, we need not th'assistance of one Hannybal, discipline of Marius, pellecy of Pompeius nor courage of Cesar or Alexander, seeing our fertile Europa brings forth such store of excellent captains, that if those great couqwerours and subvertors of whole countries amongs the Greeks and Romans, were now in the field with their invincible force, they should not find a mettellus orgalozs without arms, nor encounter a company of effeminate persians, or have to do with serfull italians but they should buckle with the valiant cavelery and gendarmy of france, feel the force of the courageous englishmen, make a proof of the puissance of the mighty Almain, and make head against the arms of the lofty spaniard, wherein as the shortness of time denieth me to yield to every captain, and soldier his peculiar commendation, so my endeavour could not escape without ympu tation of superfluity, if I should enterlard my Catalogue of the gracious gifts of our time, with the due glory of the fathers of justice, devising wonderful policies and necessary Laws for regard of the public weal in the senate, wherein our world I think oweth nothing to antiquity, neither need I prefer the singularity and exquisite skill of our payntors or forgers of curious images, whose art at this day contends with the ancient cunning of Appelles Albeit upon the commendations of these dexterities in arms, and arts concerning the hands, I find attending a worthy cause of general complaint against the slowthfulnes of our time, giving with all the title of just praise to the diligence of thancients, who preserving the memory of such as deserved revowme amongenst them for any virtue, hath left us cause to blush in our own abuses, and be ashamed of the negligence we use in recording the rarietyes of our time or perfections of such as are justly meritorious of praise, and albeit of long time thIniquity of the bad sort of men, have so much prevailed over the worthy renown of virtuous women, that they have not sticked to whet their malicious tongues, with diverse blasphemous reproaches against such as by misfortune have given some self bound to their honour, yet ought we not to be unthankful to the chastity and honest conversation of the rest, who rather than they would depart with the badge of their pudycitie, have been seen with their bodies full of wounds, and faces died with blood, and sometime passed the pangs of painful death, in resisting the force and fleshly villainy of the wicked corrupters of the virginity, wherein if the Goekes ●aue given such great commendation to the fair Hippo, who being made a prey amongst other spoils of the country to a barbarous pirott on the sea, with present danger to departed with the badge of her honour, choosed rather to bury her body, in the belly of some fish, and consecrate her integrytie to the waves, then suffer an insydell pallyard to hurt her soul to the death in depryvinge her of that, which all the world are not able to restore or make good: if the Boecyan have not forgot to engrave in pillars of eternetye, the memory of a Lady in Thebes, who forced to the violation of her body by a rude soldier oft he King of the macedonions dissimuled for the time her distress with feigned shows, that she delighted in the pleasure, till, encountering at last a convenient occasion, she revenged the wrong done to her honour with the death of him that had used such force against her, where also, herself loathing the use of longer years, having already lost the only joy and felicity in life, gave place to nature, and at thinstanct made a bloody sacrifice of herself by her own hands, And if the Romans have had always in their mouth the praise of Lucrece whose chastity they have placed in the theatrye or circle of Mars, and given her a chief place amongs the trains of the chaste Diana, if all these I say have been so thankful to the virtuous women of their time, that by their diligence the memory of their virtue remaineth in record to the posterity of all ages, what worthy cause of rebuke have we, who living under a better climate and constellation, enjoying more pure laws, and aspiring nearer th'image or semblance of divinity, will not erpose the noble fruits of our time, which yields not only example of semblable virtue to thancients, but exceeds them in continent living and chaste disposition, whereof we have an example of Yphygenne daughter of the king of Ethiopia, who having already vowed her vyrginitie to the spouse of our souls accepted rather the offer of present death, then to be joined in Marriage to a wanton young prince (provided for her by her father) with a number of like authorities which I cold infer to prove the sincerity of women, who at the beginning, when our religion was first founded did lay the cornerstone of purity without having the knowledge of man: neither is our age so void of examples of contynency, nor the root of virtue so clean extirped from amongst us, but we may see at this day sundry pattorns of pudycitye in the persons of all degrees of women, aswell noble as of meaner condition, exceeding the virtue of such as antiquity hath in so great veneraion: wherein for a familiar revenge of our Ladies now a days touching the sinister ympositions of divers evil tongues inveighing against the whole sect, I have presented hereupon the stage this history taken out of Italyon, whose authority as it is sufficient to answer the combat against the wicked chalengors of the undefiled honour of the sacred sect femynyne, so the discourse is able to move compassion to the hearts of men participatiug with nobility, and set abroach the conduits of tears in the eyes of such Ladies and gentlewomen, as take more pleasure to preserve in eutyer the jewel of their honour, then to open their ears to the charm of the vain Lover, passioned as be feigneth, for a beauty that passeth with the morning dew, importing also more cause of admiration, as the person (in whom th'accident is verified) is of simple estate, for that the higher she is in degree, the more care ought she to have of her honour, exposing arguments and effects of virtue to the meaner sort, like as the torch or Hemispher star, giveth light to the little candle and element of less substance: I wish the young ladies and damesells of our country would paint this table in their hearts, and with the virtue and imitation of her chastity, fortesye themselves against the pepred allurements of the crafty souler, who makes war against their honour under thensign of the blind captain Cupid, and directed by the guide of folly, and not by example of her death to force an untimely and unnatural destiny, or end of their days.  
JULYA DROWNETH herself for that her body was abused by force.  
IT need not seem doubtfuli to any at this day, that GaZolo, is parcel of the dukedom of Mantua, planted in a most pleasant solely right over against the father of floods sometime called Iryden and now bearing the name of. PO. whose sundry brooks, divided into diverse streams and pleasant channels, nourisheth by their moistures the whole country of Italy, like as also it is of no less credit, that within our time and memory, there was borne and bred up in the same town, a maid called julya, whom, if fortune had preferred to the title of a princes or great Lady, whereby her virtues might have bone brought in reputation by authority of high estate, like as her godly order and chaste conversation of life, made her name famous, she might have served (no doubt) as the only lantern to give light to all degrees of youth in our age: her father was not made of so mean a mould, for his birth, as attended upon with continual poverty, having only for his portion, the assistance and travail of his hands to sustain himself & family, wherein albeit necessity (being the most grievous scourge of man's life) pincheth commonly so extremely, that she makes us many times forget both honour, honesty, and good order, Ye and abuse the goodness of our nature, yet shall you find some, so wholly resolved in virtue, & stand so surely upon the guard of their honest name, That rather than the hungry rage of poverty, or gnawing worm of necessity have power to induse them to do the thing that their honour and honesty cannot justify, they will not stick to resign the hard and extreme condition of their state into the hands of the miserable world by some glorious death, which is the only and chief repose of misery, and undoubted consolation of such, as are always persecuted with the malice of adver sitie, whereof you may note a familiar proof in the sequel of this julya who (notwithstanding the poverty of her parents) had won by her own industry such a general commendation of good government and chaste conversation of life, that exceeding therein all the rest that were but her matches in equality of birth and calling, she brought also a decoration of state and increase of glory to the obscure name and pettegre of her poor ancestors, neither was she of less fame for the praise of her beauty and seemly shape of body, wherein nature seemed to advance her with such assistance of her coming, that she appeared amongst the rest of her companions, as the glorious rose in the fragrant and pleasant morning of may: she had also such a special gift and order in speaking, with a stayed countenance during her conference with any, together with a wonderful grace in giving to every one the due reverence of his calling, that notwythstandyuge the simplicity of her house, with the small assistance of discretion, not yet confirmed with the number of xvi. years, her womanly and wise order, might serve to instruct some Ladies of high calling, and make blush a number of great dames, that account themselves without comparison in diverse courts in Italy and else where, Albeit as all these virtues and rare gifts, served rather to increase her praise and commendation among the people, than any sure mean to supply the poverty of her parents, or relieve the hardness of her own state, so her father forgot not to employ her in the trade of honest toil, and teach her to tread the steps of his travail, sometime framing her to the use of the weed hook, to torn up the earth with a spade in the garden, and as occasion served to taste now and then of the husband man's toil in attending the plough with other exercises of pain, always incident to the poor man, as his only portion to defend him from the violence of hunger and extreme misery, which two hard enemies with the severe diligence of the father, seamed so wholly to pursue this youngling, that there was no exercise of profit or honest travail of the hand, wherein she did not exceed or do aswell as the best, being withal so wholly resolved to prevent the malice of fortune, with the sweat of her brows, that she was not seen to suffer the least moment of time to pass, without the dispatch of some honest labour, persuading herself, that as idleness is rightly termed the root of sin, and mother of mischief, and special enemy 
Idleness the mother of mischief.  to seduce and corrupt the chastity of women, so she is chiefly to be wythstanded with the armour of honest endeavour, being denied to invade the hearts of such, as keep their bodies accompanied with continual travail, neither doth that detestable vice expose other fruits, then filthy imaginations and conceits of mischief according to thauthority 
In doing nothing men learn to do evil.  of PLATO, who affirmeth, that in doing nothing, men learn to do evil, wherein he is justified also by diverse texts of the scriptures, willing us nor to be idle, least we fall into the danger of the temptor, which Solomon in like sort doth avow, saying the devil is always in ambush to enter in them, whose hearts he finds occupied with vain thoughts and their bodies abstaining from honest labour, and truly me thinks the true christian, can not stand too sewerlye upon his guard in avoiding the penalcyes of idleness, seeing the terrible threats of the gospel, somoning us by the very words of our saviour, to render account afore the throne of the highest, of every idle word and work we imagine or do during our abode in this transitory vale, whereof this fair MANTVA fearing no less to fall into the danger of that evil, then careful to prevent all occasions of the same, would not admit any dispense or abstinence of travail, saving of the hollydays which she used as seasons of honest recreation in the open fields amongst other her compagnions', detesting unlawful haunts and secret chatting with men in corners, the chiefest mean to bring their name and doing in question, for she that abandoneth the company of her companions, forsaking the place of public assembly, to retire into the desolate and dark corners of the chamber, doth not only bring her doings in doubt, but also sets the slanderer of work, to forge a thousand informations against her former title & name of honesty, how clear and strong so ever it seamed in the judgement of all the world, and what other opinion is to be had of her, that delights in secret conference, hating to have her sayngs proceed in public, then that she treats of other affairs than she may well justify, for if she lived as she ought, & used none other terms than were to be advouched, she need neither fear the creaking of the door, nor use obscure & dark vaults as only witnesses of her talk, whereof I could enlarg the proff with authority of antiquity, if the misery of our present time, did not prefer examples sufficient, which I wish may so instruct the careless mothers of England, that keeping their daughters within the awe of correction, they make them also subject to the law & order of good government, lest both the one & the other, become the wonder of the multitude, & cause of foolish enterluds devised on public stage by the like occasions, but now to our julya, whose chaste & upright order of living, being yet fresh within the memory of our age, & not to be defaced with the length of time, serves also as a line to lead you young Ladies, to direct your lives (as near as you can) by the dial of her virtues: for she treading thus both the steps of honest travail, & traded in the path of true perfection of life, divided the week into daily exercises of toil, and necessary affairs of her father, spending the holy days only in honest recreation among seemly company in the church yard or other convenient place of public assembly, where being unhappily spied of a detestable palliard & common enemy of the honour of women, was suddenly summoned by the sentence of her destinies, & fell by no less misfortune, into the danger of a fleshly lover, for at the same instant, the noble Joys gonsaga then bishop of the douchy of Mantua, kept his residence at Gazolo, where amongst his train of household gentlemen there was one, who serving the bishop in the office of a vallet of his chamber, had been no less worthy of the credit of that rowmthe, then of greater preferment at the hands of his master, if he had not been unhappily encountered by the desaster which this history pre scents unto you: but what? a small spot stains a fair garment, and one vice that is detestable darkeneth the credit of a number of virtues, it is to be noted (as I have said) that in italy the meeting of youth & dancing is tolerable, so it be in the view & eye of the people, but whatsoever other men do think of the art of dancing, I am persuaded that it is rather a discipline devised within the school of Satan, than an exercise meet to encourage youth to th'imitation of virtue wherein I appeal to justify my opinion, to the fruit & effects appearing daily in that lascivious trade, & leving a part the invectives and infinite examples which the histories on both parts do infer in detestation of that wanton allurment or provocation to sin, I thought it sufficient to confirm my advise only which the authority of the Roman, who dissuading all men from the exercise of dancing, saith that the countenance, gests and other behavyors of a dancer, do nothing differ from the order & disposition of a fool: here this valet of chamber to the bishop, being unhappily present in an assembly of youth, espied by the like milfortune, the order & behaviour of julia, who albeit, she was the poorest of the company, yet was she nothing inferior to the best in seemly grace and womanly order appearing in her during the time of the dance, which infecting already the eyes of the galland of FERRARA, moved him also which present desire to go near & take a better view of her beauty, which he was not able to consider with such judgement & assured stay of himself but the glymering complexion of her face died with a natural colour of white and red, made such a breach into his heart, that wearing the picture of her beauty in the bottom of the same, proclaimed her, without further advise, that sovereign Lady of his life, and only mysters and ruler of his thoughts, and advowing herewith to yield her the whole honour of his service, protested in secret to himself, with like vow and ceremony of vain conceit, not to leave the pursuit of such a pray, till he had made a conquest of that he imagined, and encountered th'effect of his desire, by wearing the garland of the flower and first fruits of the maidenhedd of JULYA, whom because he stood on thorns till he had presented the first earnest penny of his service, he requested too dance, which not knowing the cause of his courtesy, she refused not to do, as one no less ready too perform all requests and affairs of civility and good bringing up, according to her calling, then excelling all the rest of her time in beauty and other virtues without exception, but if this fond youngling and pupil of CUPID did feel afore, the simple motions of love, beginning too tickle him but with desire only to view her at large, it is now that he resigned himself wholly into the danger of him who as a subtle serpent, lieth in wait to invade them 
love.  whom he finds unarmed with virtue, laughing afterward to himself at our readiness to listen to the lure of his bait, and run headlong into the laborynthe of endless dysquyet, and that which brought more oil to his match, and kindled in his heart the present sparks of hot affection, was, when he felt the tenderness of her hand, which albeit was every day dipped in divers unwholesome confections, and always bare, tabide the violence of the wether, not refrayninge the hardness or hard labour of any toil, retained such a delicate softness and natural hew of itself, that it seamed equal (for the fines & smothnes of skin) to some Ladies which I know) are assisted with the help of waters and lée made for the nonce, and other legerdemeins devised by the potticarye, to preserve their hands, in a continual moisture with a fine white & pleasant show The pleasant reflection of her ladylike hand, which during the dance he failed not too grasp as often as he durst, gave such increase to the war already begun, renewing the combat of his thoughts with such fresh supplies of affection, that he found himself so much to weak to menteine war with one of the greatest lords of the world, that giving place to his present fortune, he resigned the fortress of his former quiet, and became prisoner to him, who would not be content with any other ransom, than the loss of his liberty during his pleasure: and albeit the poor gentleman (feeling to great an extremity in this first passion) would gladly have resigned his preferment & not pursued the sequel or follow the chase, yet whether it were the small experience he had in the skole of love, or the angry doom of his destinies, that would not dismiss him without the reward of his folly, or whether the foggy mist of found affection, had so sealed the eyes of his mind, that he saw himself, denied the assistance of any mean to redeem him from the yoke of his new bondage, or what it was, the sequel of his ill fortune, may argue sufficiently his folly, but well I know, that for a disease of so strange disposition, he lacked his necessary medicine, being no less deceived in the credit of his own wit, in seeking to quench and mortify the fire already burst out into flame, by giving scope to his eye, to feed continually upon her, whom he knows to be the cause of his grief, neither did he other good to himself then cast water upon hot coals, dobling the rage of his affection, by the desire he had to be continually in her company, he ought rather to have abandoned the place with the presence of his enemy at the very first alaram and offer of th'assault, dismissing the remembrance of her beauty affore it made any breach in his heart, for he that is unhappily fallen into the danger of love, must not keep war with the remembrance of her, that hath enchanted him, nor pur sew the view of her beauty with a continual gaze or regard of his eye, but rather eschewing the place & presence of his mistress (two common enemies to his quiet) seek to subdue the rage of his passion with long absence and far distance of his abode, wherein he must seem so precise to cure so strange a disease, that if unhappily he come within the air of the place where she is, he stand so surely upon his guard, that she once glance not upon him with a glimmering summons of her flattteringe eye, considering that in the very eye and look of a woman, doth lurk an infection of such drawing virtue, that one simple object or glance of the same, being sufficient to pierce thorough the armour of his resistance, is also able to bring him eftsoons under the yoke of her awe, But this foolish Ferrarois rather resolved in his evil, and contented with his choice, then desirous to retire in time, or able (as it seemed) to shun the peril of the loss of his liberty, gave place to his present fortune, & entered the lists, as thrall or captive to the beauty of julya, with whom after th'end of two. or iij. dances, he began to devise & discourse of love in this sort: if the record of diverse histories of old time, together 
The gentleman maketh love to julya.  with the present view of sundry familiar examples at this day, did not so amply describe the power of love, & partly instruct me touching his order & disposition. I should seem no less amazed at the mystery of his trance, than I feel myself unhappily encountered with the messenger of his behest, and justly (me think) may we commence complaint against nature, who framing us of a brickle & delicate metal, made us rather incident & apt to incur every danger of the flesh & peril of temptation, then armed us with choice of means to resist the ordinary assaults of the world, whereof (saith he) I may exclaim with good authority above the rest, seeing that since the view of your presence in this place I am fallen into the proof of the like peril: for as I have hitherto enjoyed the benefit of a most pleasant liberty, being no less froo from all assaults of fond affection, then void to desire to commend my service to the best Lady of them all, So since my greedy and unhappy eyes seized with such assurance upon your beauty, taking with large view, the full measure of all your parts, & making present report thereof to my heart & other the inward parts of me, I have sustained such hot alarums between my liberty & desire to do you service, that being no longer able to restore the feighte for want of fresh supplies, am here come under your lée, presenting myself the prisoner of your beauty, wherein albeit, I can not by any merit of mine own, crave an expedition of favour by justice, yet do I not despair that you will suspend my delivery, seeing my passion is of no less importance than either th'abridgement or prolonging of my life, persuading myself with this special comfort, that under the vail of so rare a beauty, there can not lurk any disposition of long cruelty: but she detesting no less his peppered persuasions, then loathing to spend long time in so vain an argument, replied no less wisely then with terms of virtue, measuring her answer with the shortness of time she meant to devise with him: it is hard sir (saith she) to judge a difference 
julya answereth.  between your unseemly discourtesy, and the argument of your present folly, seeing both the one and the other import a semblable meaning of dishonesty, neither are they both void of equal reproach to your own estimation.  
And albeit your endeavour in such affairs ought not be answered but with terms of public exclamation, to th'end the office of infamous sklanders might yield you the worthy reward of your travail, yet because the punishment of shame for this one offence, shall not take away the hope of amendment & future grace in you, I am content to make counsel of the fault, and dismiss you with free forgiveness of the fact, wherein as the remembrance of your example shall hensfurth warn me, to take heed to the subtle charms of other, not differing from you in disposition, so let it suffice you, that I make silence of your offence, without other rebuke to so great a disorder, with this further request, that this gentle repulse may rather import a credit to my virtue, than provoke you eftsoons to give the like charge of mine honour, which I hold no less dear, than the greatest Lady of our country, neither shall you find my chastity less pure than my poverty virtuous, which albeit made the gallant somewhat amazed for the time, yet as a valiant souldyor, that will not leave the assault for one repulse gave a second charge with these terms, if you seam in this sort to prononce the sentence of my death, (saith he) and suffer your cruelty to commit me to the hands of fatal execution, the world will note you a monster and enemy to nature, and God sewer, will call for a reackonning of so foul and cruel an act: the malice of the world (saith she) is not so great nor partial in this respect, as to yield me infamy in defending mine honour, & nature is abused when we lose so precious a gift, and touching any account to make afore God, I think my soul shall stand in more danger in condescending to your request, then if you wilfully die by your own folly, wherefore I advise you, for end, to give over the pursuit of so vain au enterprise, and seek to bestow your travail, where there is hope of better success, and amongst such, as making a common merchandise of their honour, will not stick to set it of sale to such as bid most for it, for my part, I am no less jealous of mine honesty, then careful to keep in entire the name of my poor parents, neither shall mine honour be sold for other value, than the price of my life, which last words albeit, argued to the gentleman a great unlikelihood to come to the effect of his desire, with no less impossibility to shake the fortress of her chastity or make a breach into a castle of so valiant defence, yet would not he for all that, give place to despair, but retiring to th'assistance of a new devise, he learned the common haunt of his mistress going and coming from the field, as occasion of her business did call her, where he meeting her, more often than he was welcome, forgot not eftsoons to commend unto her the remembrance of his cause, with a redress of his grief, hoping with the help of his importunity, and assistance of time to remove that stone from her stomach, & procure a pleasant thaw to the frozen heart of this poor cotier, wherein he gained no less than if he had spent so much time in numbering the small sands that covers the deserts of Arabia, in so much that she willed him now for all, to rest contented with that he had done, and press her no further, for (saith she) so long as my soul and body shall keep house together, I will make such a jewel of mine honour, that there shall never frivolous lover have interest or authority, to dispose of it, neither will I give so large a skoape or liberty to my unruly affections, as the pray cious flower of my chastity shallbe a pray, or at the disposition of any, but such as it shall please th'almighty to join with me in marriage, wherefore go open the pack of your trumpery in a market convenient for your purpose, & consider your calling with the profession of your master, who ought to train you in such sort, as you may rather appear true patterns and images of virtue, than ministers of knavery, seeking to seduce poor maids of the country, who living in the fear of God with no less care of their honest name, ought not to listen to the lure of love, or keep vain chat with companions like to yourself, but following the discipline of virtue, to sustain our honest poverty with the travail of our hands, which is the portion, appointed 
God.  to us by him, whom I beseech so mortify this rage of your folly, that hereafter I may live in peace, and see you restored to the use of your former senses, but he being none other then the slave of folly, disposed wholly to feed upon the humour of his affections, had no other thought then to devise how to enjoy the first fruits and pleasant iewiste of the virginity of chaste julya, who the less account, she seamed to make of his grief, the greater grew his desire to pursue her, which he failed not still to perform with more vehemency than afore, publishing his affection by the sound of a number of doleful sighs, accompanied with tears, of such pitiful regard, that they seamed sufficient to pierce a heart wrought on the forge of flint or steel.  
But who is able to corrupt the chastity ofher that hath her heart armed with assurance in virtue? or what is he that either with the smooth stile of his pleasant tongue, or suttletye in sleintes and fine devices or other legerdemeins of folly, can make so strong a charm to enchant the constancy of a woman resolved in the fear of god, which desire to were a crown of ymortalitie by the renown of her honest life, but it is to be resisted by a special confidence in god and assurance in her virtue: the pure and holly virgins in time past whose names be registered in the book of fame, have not they been strongly assailed? with semblable assaults and yet without shot or shed of blood they have prevailed above the malice of them that undertook to rob them of the everlasting glory of their virginity, & surely there is no malice of man so great, nor devise so detestable, that stands not in awe and stowpes in the presence of true virtue, neither can it pierce and much less pos sesse any heart, but that which he finds unarmed of a faith & fere in god, who will neither suffer his servant to be tempted above his power, nor see him oppressed long with the malice of the wicked. Here may the slanderer have wherewith to stop his mouth and be brought to believe by familiar proof, that virtuous women have better means to resist the vein importunities of love, them the wicked and evil disposed have reason to seek to seduce the honour of their chastity, and if by des tenye or ill fortune it happen that some one forget her selves so far, that she falls unhappily into the danger of the temptor, let her salt and shame be peculiar to herself and not stain the rest with the reproach of her folly, for it is no rea son that when any thing chanceth amiss, all men become guilty of the salt, no more than when one man among a number, incident to the like desaster, becomes a thief or the worker of some other heinous offence, aught to infect other with thinfamy due to himself, or ympart the penance of the fact amongst other that himself only deserveth, for nature making us all of one metal, hath given us indifferently a semblable perfection, with special decree, that every man should be noted and judged as he is, willing withal, that if any of her creatures do unhappily decline, that he alone bear the reproach of his own fact, and not to admit it for a consequent, that the whole number should be spotted with thimperfection of one: besides in the beginning when sin seized first upon man, albeit it is to be supposed, that it took like possession of the woman, being made his companion & associated unto him by the will of God, yet have we no reason or mean to persuade that they are either inferior in virtue, or more apt to fall then we, neither ought we do them that wrong, in esteeming themlesse weak than ourselves, or more subject to sin than the most and best assured of us all, seeing we find them longer in breath and use more assurance in with standing the sensual provocations of the flesh, than we have reason to assault them with the like alarums, and truly he gives more argument of his fragility & weak resistance, who at the first assault & motion of his wanton affections, doth yield himself prisoner to thappetite of his will, with intent to pursue th'end of his lascivious desire, than she, that resisting of long time, the hot alarums of his vehement requests, is driven at last unwillyngly to resign the keys of her for tress, more peradventure to prevent the danger of despair in him, whom she seeth, ready to die for her sake, then for any desire to content th'appetite, of her own will, and yet can not she escape the malice of suspicion, nor merit the name of perfect constancy, that is overcome with any enchantement how strong so ever it be, for that she can not bear the title of true virtue, unless she remain invincible to th'end, weighing her honour & life in indifferent balance, whereof all ladies may behold a familiar prof in this mirror & gem of constancy julya, who the more she was pressed & courted with the peppered allurements of the valtant soldier of love, the more did she rampire herself in assurance of virtue, seeming valiant in the defence of a fort that was inexpugnable, which ministering nothing but a present despair to him to prevalle by any policies afore devised, drive him to resort to th'assistance of the pernicious & common mean used ordinarily by the detestable palliard that can not other ways deceive the simplicity of honest maids, and which as an infection worse than the air of the pestilence, doth corrupt the greens of youth afore it be confirmed with experience and discretion: I mean a she bawd (whereof Paris hath less want than choice or store of honest women) which coyffed with a visor or cloak of feigned holiness, and masked wholly with a mofler of hypocrisy, seeming to the world, to mortify her body with iij. or iiij. solemn fasts in the week, watching in devout manner at the church door for the devotion and aims of the people, and carrying in her hand a bawdy baskett, rather to colour her villainy, then to serve her necessary turn, becomes the collcaryour between the lover and his trol, making a match no less odious in the eye of the world, then detestable afore the throne of the highest, becominge by this means the first seducer of them, that afore the offer of her charms of painted allurement, were peradventure no less void of such imagination, then free from intent ever to commit so foul an act, & yet use they such secret sleight in the convey of their business, that the finest wits can hardly espy them, & the best ties had need of spectacles to discover their trade: but what is it that love can not find out, whose eyes albeit be so piercing of themselves that they will penetrate & find a whole to peep out, of the strongest & closest tower in a country, yet hath his art such a gift of revelation in this case, that there is no mean how secret so ever it be, but he gives information of it to him that traffics in his affairs, with intent to advance th'effect of his desire, wherein this vallett of chamber forgetting neither rule nor instruction, got him in haste to this double doxye and solemn hypocrite, whom he knew to be an ordinary solyci●●y: in the like affairs, and a ready physician to cure all dise 〈◊〉 of his importance: he first conjures her in any wise to make council of that which he meant to communicate unto her, & then to assist his grief with the uttermost of her diligence, wherewith she seeing even now as far into his disease as his physician did into his urine, casting already in her head what mark the poor lover would shoot at, began to prefer a certain difficulty to promise either the on or the other, alleging that if his request should tend to the hurt or disadvantage of her conscience, his labour were lost any further to pursue the assistance of her god will, for saith she I had rather die with the note of honest name which hitherto I have kept then upon the end of my years, do the thing with my body that in the other world might bring my soul in hazard of grace afore him, whom it behoves me not to offend: but the subtle lover who knew well enough that her trade consisted in the convey of bawdy errands, and that the body and souls of such filth were no less subject to corruption, than their hypocrisy and vail of holiness detestable, broke with her in few words of the cause of his coming, desiring her in any wise not to dissemble her endeavour on his behalf, adding for a further circomstaunce, that she should reap a thankful reward of her travail, wherein because he knew that money was the next mean and only key to open the devout heart of this monster, and that such she apes and goolphes of iniquity have no other God but the geine of their abominable trade, let fall into her lap some iij. or iiij. ducats, whose first view prevailed so much & had such power to convert this painted Image, that without further entreaty, she removed the vail of her first hardness and advowed herself the handmaid of his behest, willing him to live in hope and repose himself wholly upon her diligence, whereof saith she, I doubt not to present the such speedy effect as within few days the joy that thou shalt feel by the encounter of thy desire, shall far exceed the languishing grief of thy 〈◊〉 passion, and thusmuch I will promise the further, 〈◊〉 if she be but a woman & not possessed with any part of a devil (as many of us be) I will so conjure her with charms and enchantments of my art, that of herself she shall offer thee the possession of that which heretofore thou couldst never win by power or policy, but take head my son saith she, that this be mom, and my endeavour not discovered to any, for as pitty more than other respect, hath moved me to undertake thusmuch for thy contentation, being the first that ever brought me to practise so bad a trade, so I would not for the price of all I have, that the world should understand I were a broker in a business so far unmeet for mine honour and age, tush sayeth this foundling and cockney of FERRARA, let not the fear of that be any ympediment to your diligence, for I am no less careful of your reputation then desirous to see theffect of your promise, wherein I pray you forget not to make expedition your chiefest minister, remembering with all, that the 
The dowtefull mind is never in quiett.  doubtful mind is never in quiet, and the desiring heart lives always in expectation, protesting unto you eftsoons in the word of a gentleman, that if your travail put me in possession of my pray, I shall not be so glad to enjoy the virgynytie of my dear JULIA, as ready to requite your endeavour in such sort, as the reward of your travail herein shallbe a relief to you and yours so long as you live, well well sayeth this old hag, I will try your courtesy, and yourself shallbe witness of my diligence, wishing you no less willing to perform but the one half of your liberal offer, than I doubt not to deserve it with speed, for if ever one woman had power to overcome an other, I make my account, that she shall not escape my hands, till I have taught her such a dance as she never learned in her life, wherewith she dismissed the seely fool of FERARA, quarreling with his unquiet thoughts and yet in some hope to be helped by th'assistance of his old Darioletta, and broker of bawdry, and she repaired immediately to her charge: & watching her time to execute the same wherein she was furthered by a help of fortune, who favoured this enterprise so much, that the poor paysant and his wife being one day abroad at their labour, julya alone was left at home, with whom this lewd messenger after a few familiar greetings, powdered full of sophistical holiness and cursed hypocrisy, began to parley in this sort: I marvel my girl to see thee so forgetful of thyself in abusing so much the 
The bawd to julya.  precious gift of nature, and greens of thy pleasant youth, that neither respecting the dew merit of the one, nor the other, & less worthy to enjoy the worst of them both, thou hast gotten of late the title of proud & cruel: dost not thou know that the greatest praise to be given to a maid of thy age and calling, consists & comes chiefly by her courteous behaviour to every man? and that of the contrary part, she is pointed at of the world, that seeming to stand altogether upon her slippers, rejecteth the honest offers of courtesy and frindshipp, arguing by that means her haggard & rude disposition, wherein as the chiefest point of commendation of us women depends upon certain terms of courtesy & shows of friendship, So are we chiefly bound to make declaration of the same on the behalf of them that seem to honour us which semblable profession, being bound thereunto by the virtue of their former merits, and the lest we can do, is to requite them with the like affection, God hath not created us under the climate or constellation of Mars, nor made us to be ministers of 
Women ought to be curteus by nature.  cruelty, neither hath he given us the heart of a Lion or disposition of a Tiger, but framed us of a metal more tractable with appears rightly in thenticing countenance of thy flattering face, arguing with all, that under the vail of such shining beauty there can not be shrouded a heart of revenge or disposition of cruelty, and as the drawing regards of your eyes, glancing upon a man with no less force than the hot reflection of the Son, piercing each thing upon earth subject to his heat, doth make him strike sail and seek to be guided by the glymering light of such twinkling stars forcing him with all to pursue your favour with the frank offer of his humble service, so you are not only bound to appear reciprocal in affection, but also yield them the dew meed of so great a martyrdom derived of causes in yourself, and not refuse to be courted with young men or mislike their endeavour in seeking to win by their service the glory of that which the summons of your eyes doth half promise them, wherein although they are partly guided and stirred by nature, yet are they chief alured and set on fire by the influence of your beauty, our age beside is not void of experience how divers maids being honoured with their service & affection of sundry gentlemen of no small account, have seemed rather rashly to refuse the proffer of such frindshypp, then rightly wayghe the merit of their courtesy, and after receiving the due sentence of their cruelty, have not only doted upon such, as took pleasure in their grief, and laughed at their folly, but also deserved not (for any gift that was in them) to receive the favour of one simple regard of the eye, which as it is to be noted to proceed of that just vengeance of that God who first stirs in us the motions of such frindshipp, So are we warned (in embracing the contrary) to eschew the peril of semblable accidents. And for your part being no less fortunate than the best of any age heretofore, and honoured with no less true affection then duetyful service of one that is ready to pawn his living, honour and all that he hath for the interest of your good will, I marvel you regard so lightly the reward of so great a virtue, and use so small care in curing your own disease, which because you dare not declare, doth make a secret martyrdom of your flourishing youth: albeit for end, if you will willingly embrace the gift of present time, and use mine advise in the pursuete of your pleasure and commodity, I doubt not within less than a moment; to restore you to triple contentment of mind, relieve the needful poverty of your parents, and make you exceed the rest of your neighbours in authority and estimation, But JULIA no less glad to here an end of this pernicious oration, then loathing by good right thimbassing of the detestable and cursed Marmotte which she could not conceal in such sort but the argument of colour in her face bewrayed the just anger of her mind & replied unto her in this sort, I see (quoth she) the world is no less wicked of itself, than the way hard to discern the disposition of every people, neither 
julya reprehendeth the bawd.  can a man be known by his shadow, and easier it is to fall into the danger of the evil, then to find a true pattern of virtue, neither is pure gold known by his glistering colour, nor that religion perfect that smells of superstition exposing fruits of execrable corruption and sensual conspiracies, is this the good council you give to the youth of GAZOLO? is this the example of virtue or instruction of honesty which is to be expected in the number of your years? have you thus long blayred the eyes of the world with a mask of Feigned holiness, and now retires to the vomett of your hypocrisy with intent to seduce her who is no less assured in virtue than you unworthy to enjoy the benefit of life in abusing your duty toward God and deceiving the opinnyon and expectation of all men: Albeit my poverty be great & my parents of less ability to relieve me, yet hath God so endowed me with the gift of thankful contentation, that my estate with continual use of honest travail is no less plesannt to me than the delicate order full of superfluite of vain pomp used by great Ladies now a days wantonly nourished in palace and places of princes, being more ready to run under the danger of a thousand torments yielding death his tribute with the sacrifice of my body then to lay my chastity in pawn (as you persuade me) for thenlarging the hard condition of myself or state of my poor parents neither have I hitherto felt any motion of that folly which you call love, and much lessemene I to make any experience of his flattering offers how great so ever they appear wherefore let it suffice you, to have broached the vessel of your villainy afore her, that in respect of your years is contented to comytt your filthy message to silence, wishing you hensfurth to broke in matters of more honesty, or at the lest to seek to solicit such, as are as careless of their honour as you ready to seduce it, for my part, I have weighed min honour and life in indifferent balance, with intent to exchange both the on and the other at equal price, and as for the gallant that sent you, he makes true declaration of the love he bears me, in seeming more desirous to enjoy the pleasure of my body, then careful to preserve mine honour, or prevent the danger of my soul, & you as the unnatural bourrea● suborned to subvert the chiefest ornament of my life, are content to become his messenger and minister, and under the coollor of devation, to communicate matters of bawdry, so for his part, let him keep that he hath won, and pay himself with the tribute of his own folly for I am not only resolved hensfurth once to speak to him but also to shun the place where he is, as a venomous serpent and ravenous wolf, rather desirous to make merchandise of my body, then careful any way of my reputation, wishing you also for end, to departed the place least your long tarrying yield you the due reward of your travail, which sharp repulse and last threats so amazed the bawd & nipped her, in the head that although she were more excellent in the gifts of an orator than belonged to one of her trade, yet durst she neither trust the smooth and sugared stile of her tongue, in excusing the cause of her coming nor seem eftsoons to credit the fines of her wit, in devising new charms to enchant the pudicitie of the maid, but as one no less ashamed of that she had done, then fearing to be discovered and committed to shame, retired with less noise than joy of her message, leaving julya rejoicing the goodness of her Fortune that had delivered her so saffelye from the perils of so great a mischief, persuading herself hensfurth to use the policy of the serpent in stopping her ears, least with the assistance of time and liberty to hear her speak, she might unhappely fall into the danger of her charm, wherein she seemed to observe the rule of wisdom, which bid all women of honest part the cacquett or company of them that go about to corrupt their chastity, seeing that she that willingly admits & listeneth to the infectious that of such devouring cater pillars, seems in the judgement of the world to be of disposition ready to obey their loare, and what great battery need we, to beat that fortress, whose captain demands a parley and seweth for composition, but what was the passion all this while of the poor Ferrarois of not such as commonly is incident to them that languish of the like disease, for waftinge indifferently between hope and despair he seemed more ready to incur the danger of the on, then able to convert the benefit of the other into a help for himself, wherein he was the rather furthered by the report of his bawd, who, denied to perform any part of her promise and less able to answer his expectation, returned as it were which a flea in her ear & being no less ashamed of that she had done, them doubtful to proceed any further, seemed with the report of her cold success, to pronounce the extreme sentence & final arrest of his life, but love, who first stirred up the humour of his folly, undertaking to be his guide, during the convey of this business would not leave him alone in the midst of his pagaunte without sufficient matter to treat upon, neither thought he it time to present the catastrophe or dismiss him from the stage till he had played the uttermost act of his folly, wherefore feeding the fondling with vain suggestion, & dandling him stilwt diverse arguments and likelihoods of good success, offered therewith the assistance of a new devise, which was, that seeing prayers could not prevail nor importunities take place & the frank offer of his continual service not only refused but resolved her so deeply in the disdain & hate of his remembrance, that she abhorred his company no less than the presence of the Cockatrice or baselyke serpent, he should retire to th'attempt of money, as a sure help to supply that weakness of his former devices, whose force albeit is so great, that of itself it is able to pierce the strongest tower of a kingdom, being the chiefest engine as the poets feign that opened jupiter the door of the brazen tower wherein the fair daughter of Achrises was curiously kept, yet hath it no power to approach the palace of virtue, and less able to invade or make any breach into the heart confirmed in pure chastity, whereof our poor julya hath left an undoubted example to all degrees of future succession, for she resolved wholly in the true ymitacion of virtue, rejected all offers of filthy gain accounting the contentment of the mind to exceed all the riches of the world, neither thought she her worthy of due veneration nor meet to be admitted in the feloshypp of the tried sort, that with aconstant proof of their faith do not make their chastity of as great admiration, as the frugilitie of man seems great in doting upon a beauty that fadeth as a shadow and of less continuance than a flower, but now to your Vallett of chamber who somewhat revived with a new hope of goodluck in the sequel of this second devise, preferred it ymedyatly to execution, and encouraging the bawd with the offer of his hope, instructed her eftsoons with new terms more vehement to persuade then likely to speed, and so dismissing this second embassage commites her to the goodness of fortune, here mother be, laden with money & jewels, retires again to her former trade of shame, where marching with no less courage than hope of good speed, thought herself armed with sufficient weapons to enter the fortress and to put the prisoner into the possession of him that desired nothing so much as to enjoy the pillage of so precious a pray, albeit she fisshed afore the neat & made her reckoning without her host, for assoon as she comes to the cottage of julya and began to enter into the preamble of her embassage opening with all the bore of her merchandise & jewels, the maid abhorring no less the company of the bawd, then loathing the sight of the ministers of corruption, could not so bridle her humour of just anger, but interrupting her babbling discourse, she seized in haste upon the jewls & other presents which without respect of 
Money the ministers of corruption.  their value, she cast into the midst of the street, imparting the like courtesy to the lewd bringer whom she took by the shoulders and thrust out of her house with threats, that if she adventured eftsoons to come thither, she would present her with her message affor the Lady marquis, who hated such trolls and corrupters of youth, as a pestilence or worse infection, saying besides, that he that sent her gave sufficient proof of his folly in seeking to seduce her by money and presents, that took no pity of his tears & former complaints of dolour, neither was he less vile to think to buy her with money, that is not to be sold but by the price of virtue, than she detestable afore God and the world that measureth her honour by the price of her profit, warning her (as for all) hensfurth to desist for fear of the reward of shame, and he to rest contented with the wrong he had already done without pressing her any further to put his salt & punishment in publication, which last threats struck such a fear into the heart of the old hag with a present despair to prevail any way in the pursuit of her quest, that being only glad to escape so well the danger of her deferuing, she retired in haste to the silly Ferraroys to whom (in place of good news or pleasant report of her success) she ministered persuasions to correct his fancy and forget to love such one as makes no account of his service, willing him withal, to plant his affection in some better soil, upon such one as were not brutish or void of reason to requyt the merit of his service, for saith she, these beasts & imps without wit or order of civility, do also lack discretion to consider in cases of love, or yield the due meed of true affection, neither can they degenerate from the climate of their base descent, or do other thing than such as the wilful loare of their folly doth lead them unto, and being favoured (as it were of nature) with the gift of a certain beauty, which brings them in estimation amongst men, they are so assotted in the humour of self will, that they seem rather to abuse the benefit of so precious a jewel, then worthy to wear so rare an ornament, and for this (sayeth she) that will not be moved with prayer nor present, nor any devise serve to reclaim her haggard mind seeming but to quarrel with all offers of courtesy, I cannot think, but it is some hard rock converted in the shape of a woman or figure of beauty, to become the tyrranouse tormenter of them that unhappily are summoned to serve her, wherefore seeing I am denied to assist you by my travail, according to my promise, I pray you let me advise you to stop the course of affection, and choke the channel of your love affore it overflow the hope of recovery, and cease any longer to feed the humour of your passion with the remembrance of her, that seems to take pleasure in your grief: well well saith the dolorous lover, I would I could as easily forget, as you are apt to persuade, or that you had thusmuch advised me afore you gave me assurance of relief by your diligence, but chiefly I wish that I had eschewed the ill when I admitted the cause, than had I reserved my liberty, lived free from passion, void from unacquainted ertremyties, and not lament to late in this sort, mine own disaster, nor stand neaden to communicate with you who selleth your advise for money and makes your travail the merchant of filthy gain, albeit saying want of discretion hath stirred up this error, and the folly of youth prevailed above the force of wisdom, I must be driven to make of necessity a law, and give place to the sentence of my present fortune, greving not withstanding that the friendship and undoubted zeal of affection which I bore her, should reap the fruits of rigour and receive the meryite of their virtue at the hands of cruelty: at the least I will not so despair but that the argument of a future hope shall keep me in breath, and expecting the benefytt of a better time, I will commit myself to the government of patience, who as I have hard is the only tuche stone to try a man that is fallen into terms of affliction. But here the gallant seemed rather to feed the time, then bind himself to perform theffect of his own words, neither mente he to suffer his last resolution to pass for currant money & much less to content himself with his cards, seeing he liked not his game, and seeing he cold not prevail by policy nor win the fort by summons or offer of composition, he determined (as his last help) to use the uttermost of his forces and perform his conquest what so ever it cost him, But thusmuch by the way, there is nogreate enterprise, to what end so ever it tend, whether it be guided by virtue or conducted by vice, whose effect can answer therpectation of thinventor, unless theridamas be a roumthe reserved for a third to perticipate therein, aswell for the erpedition of the cause as sure convey of the mystery: so this vallet of chamber, resolved absolutely in the pursuete of his quest imparteth the discourse of his love passed, his sinister success in the same, his diverse assalttes to the fort, and his sundry and sharp repulses, too a dashbuckler of the bushops, who made no more conscience to be a minister of evil, then the outlaws of shooters hill use courtesy in stripping our merchants, and after send them to London with penyles budgets, he forgot not also to make him privy to his last resolution, craving therein the assistance of his fryndeshyppe, in such sort, as upon thynstant he made him avow the same to th'uttermost of his power, only sayeth he, devise the way, and my diligence shall declare the zeal I bear thee, with the desire I have too place thee in the bosom of thy felicity: it were a folly saith this desperate lover to reiterate the order of my former devices, and to present her eftsoons with offices of courtesy, it were but time lost, only there rests to offer her the rack I mean to oppress her with force, neither do I care what penny worths be made of my life, so that I may in any sort, revenge the obstinate cruelty of her, who peradventure after the first taste of the pleasant jewystes of love, will slack the bridle of her rigour, and convert the hard and angry climate of her invincible humour, into a disposition of less difficulty & she easier hereafter to be entreated, neither would I 
The beginning of every thing seams hard.  have the to respect the danger or impossibility of them terprice, considering the beginning of all things import a certain difficulty but after the oncet is given, the worst is paste and no cause of fear or doubt remains, but waighinge the pleasure thou shalt do me, imagine also how deeply thou shalt leave me in thy debt, which will study to requite that with the like and all I have else that may stand the in stead wherewith he prevailed so much over the vyperous inclination of his cotreatur, that albeit he knew his consent wear not so wicked, as the doing of the act more detestable, yet weighing the preset offer of his friendship, which the great authority he had which the bishop, and forgetinge the duty of his conscience, confirmed eftsoons his consent, willing the desolate lover to take heart at grass and repose himself chiefly upon the aid of his friendship, and because saith he, the chief conveighe of this mystery consists in the consent of convenient time and place, let it be yover whole endeavour to watch when she goeth into the fields alone, to th'end that in using our advantage, we may have time to do our feat without dread or danger of any: this was not so soon agreed upon between them two, as th'effect followed with the expedition of a moment, for the crafty lover marked diligently the hours and times of her ordinary labours, neither cold she haunt so secret a place but his eye was ready to discover her, and so lying in ambush in the way of her usual trade to the corn fields, had her at last brought to his stale, which after he had imparted to his marrow, they sailed not to follow the trace in as soft & subtle manner as the wily for, who when he comes to spoil the powltrye of the fermor is so circumspect in his doing, that the least noise of the world makes him take a buthe till his fear be passed So this ferrrarois and his fellow pursued the poor maid by such secret and unknown ways and with a speed more then necessary for th'execution of a good and lawful business, that her clyente appeared at her back, afore she was ware, who having no time to spend in circumstance saluted her with the cause of his coming in this sort, if length of time be the true tuch stone to try a difference between the feigned heart and firm affection, you have a sufficient proof of my constancy, or if long service with sincere loyalty may seem meritorious, you alone can judge my diligence and I accuse your cruelty, but if the tribute of true frendstippe is to be paid with a reply of semblable affection, why do you in this sort suspend my suit, doblinge my passion in denying the thing that is due to me by just title, how can you thus long keep me in captivity that offers my life for a ransom, or when I sue for my right, to reward me with cruelty which I have not deserved & less seeming for one of your calibre and calling? it is time now to strike sail and remove the vail of your ancyente rigour whereof I have tasted of long time, and weighing indifferently the merit of my martyrdom, to yield me meed accordingly, let me once taste of the virtue of your bownty, aswell as I have hitherto lived under the yoke of your cruelty, so that the meed of my own deser ving, may at last give end to the evils which I suffer by your means, wherewith the poor julya, no less amazed at his sudden encounter in that place then unprovided of an answer to his doubtful demand, was driven to reply according to the shortness of her time and leisure, if you appeal to the length of time for declaration of your loyal love and proof of constancy saith she, I crave no other judge of your fowl desire, rather to rob me of that I hold most dear, then to honour me with the offer of true affection wherein I am justified by the diverse disorderly means which heretofore you have suborned to advance your wicked intent, neither deserve I of right th'imputation of cruelty & much less of unseemly rigour as you term it, considering I neither used the one nor the other but as a special virtue in defence of mine honesty, and touching your passion and torment proceeding rather by want of discretion in yourself, than occasion onmy part, I see neither cause to complain your grief nor reason to relieve it, neither can I answer you with other terms but commit you to themeryt of your folly, in wishing me to give end to your evilis, you press me with more than is in my power, seeing I was neither press to the beginning nor cause of the continuance, and much less experienced in the cure of such diseases, only I pray you forbear eftsoons to pursue me, who being not equal as you have said in quality or calling, is less ready to agree with you in consent, or fulfil the beastly appetite of your will, desiring you for end, to let me live as I am and not to serve me henceforth with any process of vain y portunyties, for I had rather endure the martyrdom of a thousand torments, then do the thing that mine honour can not justify, where with regarding with good eye the fierce countenance of her enemy, arguing the present trouble of his mind, and fearing withal by the secret instinct of her heart, the near approach of an evil torn, began to amend her pace, which also she doubled now and then as one that durst not ●on from him that she most abhorred, but he that was loath to lose the benefit of so good a time, & less willing to have so sweet a morsel taken out of his mouth, feigned a certain offer of his service to conduct her to the town, preferring therewith (as of fresh) diverse requests to take pity of his passion, which albeit she hard without any answer, yet was it not in her power to pass the hands of her destiny, which by this time had brought them into a place convenient for th'execution of his execrable enterprise far from the town & out of the ordinary hawnt of company, & that which best favoured his intent in the midst of a corn field being a covert most convenient for such an act, where (having now but one part to play) he taketh her, & offers to kiss her, which albeit she resisted to the uttermost of her little strength, crying out against his force and fowl meaning, yet it was but time lost considering she was ymedyatly assailed by the other, who persuading her to silence said, her bravery was to great for one of her calling, and that they came not thither to take pity of her complaints, neither should she escape so good cheap as she thought, she desired them to abstain from violation of her body, & give her what death they thought good, they excused themselves of any intent to do mordore, only say they, we are come hither to bend you by force that will not bow by any entreaty, wherefore if you think you have any wrong, refer the cause to the long continuance of your cruelty, which is now at point to be revenged: pitty it was to hear the dolorous tunes of the poor maid, with the miserable skrikes which she threw up into the air to witness her innocency, wherein she continued without any echo of reschewe, till the detestable pallyard had spoiled the flower of her virginity, and then he begun to persuade her to patience, willing her her eafter not to become so 
julya ravished by force  curious of her chastity nor refuse to admit the offer of his frendshipp, whereof he promised so largely that (if she would) he would take her from her father and keep her at his charges, presenting at th'instant a purse full of money, willing her thensfurth to cast away all cause of care, and dispose herself only to cherish and make much of the rest of her life, for the which saith he, you shall find me as careful as you shall think convenient and if hereafter you have a desire to marry, doubt not to repose yourself therein upon me, for I will so well provide and assist you with so good a portion, that the same shallbe plentiful enough to sustain you, and relieve the needful condition of your parents: but she no less loathing the offer of his filthy promise, than detesting the villain that would not cease yet to corrupt her, having by this time recovered 
Money the ministers o● infection.  her senses, defied him with his ministers of infection, saying that although his villainy & force hath defiled the chastity of her body and given him theffect of his lascivious desire, yet should he never be able either with his money or other ways, to corrupt the sincerytie of her heart, whose innocency saith she, will triumph over thy execrable act afore him who is to yield the the due higher of thy travail: is it in thy power to satisfy or leave me contented, that from me which all that world cannot eftsoons restore me? No no it is god of whom I must claim satisfaction in punishing the two traitorous Born ans and ravenous spoilers of the virginity of me poor wretch who was borne to abide the setence of my destiny, the gallant thincking to appease th'extremity of her passion, began to prefer persuasions of comfort, which she defied with such spite and bitter terms of just reproach against him, that loathing to suffer her eyes to feed upon him that had infected all the parts of her body, told him that the only view of his villainous looks made her forget all order of patience, which he took as a commission to departed, fearing withal that the noise of her complaints might, bechaunce come to the ears of some that passed the way who understanding the discourse of the rape, would make report to the bishop whose profession and oath is chiefly to punish offenders in the like accidents: here the sorrowful JULIA being void of company saving the doleful echoes of woods and rivers that answered her cries with like complaint, renews the war of her present desaster which tearing her hears without respect, and quarrelling with the dowry that nature had given her would gladly have 
Beauty.  touched her with imputation in making her incident to so wretched a destiny, in exclaiming still upon the malice of her Fortune, if th'abundance of tears accompanied with sighs of pitiful disposition, had not so stopped the course of speech, that for the time she was driven into silence, and being by little and little restored again to the liberty of her tongue, and the source of her sorrow somewhat retired, she made a short invocation to God in this sort, oh heavenly father sayeth she, I see that the rigour of thy justice, hath prevailed above the benefytt of thy mercy, and that thou dost award me this hard penance for the punishment of my faltes passed, with what face alas shall I behold my poor father whose compfort as it consisted in my well doing, so his grief willbe without comparison, hearing of the hard terms of my mischance, in desolation shall he knit up the remainder of his old years that coming into any place, the remembrance of my salt drawing the blood of shame into his face will make him blush and eschew the company, where afore he needed not have doubted to have marched amongst the best, and shall I dissemble that which I intend not to hid or keep it secret that toucheth me so near, No, no, as thin●●cencye of my mind is recorded afore god, so because the world shall also witness how clear I was from consent, I will use no other water to wash away so great a spot then the sacrifice of death, which I will follow with no less expedition, than the treason of the villain hath been cruel in taking from me that which made me to live, wherwithe dismissing her complaint, she ceased also from tears and put herself in order to go to the house of her father, who (by evil ●ucke) was not then at home: there she puts on the best garment she had, and attiring herself in order to go to some great meeting or banquet, shittes the door of her cottage, and leading her younger sister in her hand, went forthwith to an awnt of hers, who as one overcharged with sickness and years, was not able to stir out of her bed, affore whom as she was in the midst of the repetition of her chance revealing the whole order and circumstance of the fact, which she could not do without great effusion of tears, for that the very remembrance of the deed restored a fresh alaram of her sorrows, she fell suddenly into a qualm or passion of sounding, wherein she remained traunced without all argument of life, till by the help of the assistance, she was eftsoons delivered to those and liberty of her senses, when quarreling still which the horror of the fact, & desire to be revenged by death, she seamed to rebuke her own ymbecillitie and faintness of courage, saying, what sign of virtue is this to seam to shrink, when arguments of constancy ought chief t'appear? who will desire to live, that hath lost the renown of honour which ought to be the most precious jewel and badge of the life, or what pleasure is it to possess the presence of the body already spotted with infamy, when the soul, weary of her habitation, is ready to resign her ancient abode? what felicity have they in life, that being the gaze and wonder of the multitude, cannot claim the privilege of any place, but the people will point at them? neither can they hide them in so secret a corner, but infamy will hunt them out, & shame discover them, attending them to the very end of their days, no, no, let not them live that are desirous to die, and death is most acceptable to such, as hate the fruition of life: for my part, I loath already the remembrance of life, seeing I have lost the chiefest pillar of the same, whereof I mean to make speedy declaration by the sentence I have already pronounced of my end, wherein it shall appear to the world, that although my body have tasted of the malice of the wicked by force, yet my mind remains entire without spot or consentment to the villainy, which as my chief bequest and last testament in this world, I leave registered in the remembrance of you good awnt, to make relation to my desolate parents and the whole world besides, of thaccident of my wretched desaster, & that although your unhappy niece and miserable JULIA hath by mere force, lost the outward show of her honour, yet her conscience remeining unspotted, and soul clear, ready to fly to the heavens to witness her integrity afore the sacred theatrye or tribunal seat of GOD, can not depart with worthy contentment, afore I offer my life to the waves, to purify the filthy spots wherewith my body remeins painted on all parts by th'infection of the detestable rape of force, wherewith she departed, not tarrying the reply of her awnt, who thought to have dissuaded her from the pursuete of her desperate intent, and being come to the river of Oglyo, kissing her sister, with a last cry to god to receive her soul to his mercy, she leapt headlong into 
july a drowneth herself  the water, who as a merciless element, respecting neither thinnocency of her cause, nor desperate order of dying, committed her to the bottomless throats & goolphes of the surges, which was the end of this miserable JULIA, whose life only deserves commendation for th'example of her virtue, and death worthy to be committed to oblivion for the signs of desperation wherewith it was infected. But after this chance burst out into terms, & became the report of the people, God knoweth what general desolation was among all the estate of the City, aswell for the strangeness of the fact, as for that the villeyne was fled that caused the brute, who if he had been taken, had done penance of this salt with the loss of his life in example of others: the body was found by the diligence of Joys Gonzaga, who would not suffer it to be buried in the Church yard or other sanctuary, because of the desperate manner of her death, but caused it to be solemnly accompanied with the tears & great dole of diverse Ladies into a place or grave in the field, where he meant in short time to set up a tomb of marble with a monument of the particular discourse of the virtues and singular gifts of grace in his poor countrewoman, whose death I wish may learn all estates to eschew the peril of despair, and order of life to instruct all the young Ladies of England, to resist the charms and sugared allurements of love, who the more he is feasted with pleasant regards of the eye, or encountered with secret conference in corners, or courted with embassages, or lastly banqueted with dishes of delicate toys or vain importunities, the more is he ready to invade and apt to overcome, but on the contrary part, the way to keep war with that vaccabound, and to flee his infections, is (as JULIA did) to march against him with a flag of virtue, using withal, the policy of VLIXES in stopping your ears from the peppered harmony of them, that delitinge only in the pray of your outward beauty, have no respect to the ornament of the soul, which being kept pure and undefiled to th'end, yields you a reward of immortality, and your renown never to be razed out of remembrance, till thextreme dissolution of the world.  
FINIS.   

The argument.  
THere was never mischief of former time, nor vice in present use, wherein men are, or have been more drowned, or drawn by a beastly desire, then in thexecrable and deadly sin of whoredom, by the which besides that, the spiritual fornication is figured in some sort, yet is it forbidden unto us expressly by thinviolable laws, not written in the tables, where thancients were wont to grave directions and orders to politic states of the Romans, Athenyens, Egiptiens, or Sparteins, but recorded in th'everlasting book, within the which, the very finger of god, hath sealed his infallible statutes, where 
The bible thinfallible book.  of, as he would, that his children, and faithful heirs of his kingdom, were made partakers, with desire and endeavour of imitation, so we are all warned by the same defence, that besides the wrong and harm we do to our own bodies, we offend ●eynously against the health of our souls, specially in corrupting the wife of our neighbour, with th'abuse of that part of her, which is necessary to be guarded with as great care and watch, as we read was used sometime in the superstitious ceremonies of the vestals of Rome, in keeping a continual fire in their temple: The greatness also of this sin of adultery, bringing (as you see) an equal hurt to the soul and body, hath forced a wonderful severetie in both the laws, punishing by death 
divine and humane laws.  such as do profane that holly and invyolable bond and bed of marriage, where is only a place of purity and no oblation to be offered or admitted, but the sacrifice of honest & lawful substance: besides what slanders and mortality amongst men, have sprung out of the vicious fountain of that sin, the marriage bed of Menelaus defiled by the kings son of Troy, hath left sufficient example, and cause of exclamation amongst the phrigiens, with reason to all posterities, to detest such villainy, as a vice most abominable: in Egypt the Sychemetyens, for like respect under Abraham and Isaac, have felt the mighty hand of god, although their offence (in some sort was excusable by ignorance) for that they thought the wives, which they took, had been unmarried: Likewise, if there be any faith in the poetical fictions, we see, tharguments of most of their tragedies, were founded either upon the punishment or despair of such, as, not able to revenge the wrong of their lascivions wife and wicked Sathanist her minion, convert and execute their rage and fury upon theimselues, wherein our world at this day, is grown to such a malicious gulf and bottomless sea of vices, that the wild nations, without either awe of God, or fear of his laws, governed only by an instinct of nature, are more curious to keep the honour of their bed, then diverse country's in the heart and bowels of Christendom, where thadulterer is not punished but by protestation or attorney, and where the poor man that receiveth the wrong, is rather jested at, and pointed to with forqued fingers (according to the italian brag) than he persecuted in any sort, that procureth the evil, which partiality or rather unlawful favour of the Law and deputies of justice, serveth as a sufficient encouragement both to the one and other whoremonger, whereupon followeth so many murders of husbands, by mean & hands of their wives, to th'end they may pass their amorous practise, with more pleasure and less fear, the poyseninge, and drowning of so many lawful children, for advancement of those, whose bastard race, is bew tified with a masked title of true procreation, whose end, is sesewerly, matched with destruction to themselves, and ever lasting does honour to their parents and posterity, whereof behold here (you Ladies) a familiar proof, in the black, picture or portraytur of this bloody gentlewoman, who, forgetting the virtue of her youth worthily renowned of all men, cold not be satisfied with th'abuse of her age and hoary hears, touching thincestuous prostitution of her body, without the number of unnatural murders, wherewith you may see her tyrannous hands died, and th'innocent souls of her husband and two. sons, kneeling afore the troane of justice, for vengeance of her wickedness  
THE YMPUDENT LOVE of the Lady of Chabrye with her procurer Tolonio, together with the detestable murders committed between them  
IF we may Credit the reports of France and italy, we need not doubt of the singularyties of Provyncia, which, the chronicles of both countries do advowche, to owe nothing to any one corner in Christendom, either for the glorious s●yte and situation of the place, fertilletie and plenty of every thing, which pleasure or necessity can wish, rich & stately Cities, builded with a form of majesty more than the common sort of towns, and peopled besides, with every sort of civility, and courtesy inhabytantes, in the midst whereof, is a little village, called Lagrassa, planted (as it seams) in a pleasant vale yielding a chiefest beauty and furniture of glory to the whole platt or circuit of Provyncia: for it is assisted on every part with the champain, furnished with all sorts of delight both by wood and water, with a glistering glee of the green meadows, who yield such a continual fertilytie, that (if it were not the devouring jaws of their greedy cattal) a man would think they were specially favoured with a spring time at all seasons in the year: in diverse parts of this herbage, flourishing with blossoms of every enticing flower, shall you see (as it were) certain close arbours and open alleys, beautified with the small sprays of lemon trees, oranges, & Granades, offering to be thankful (which their several fruits) to strangers passing the way, with every other grafted of pleasant view or taste, dispersed with such order, both in round, quadrant & tryangle form, that, only nature herself, is to be thought the chief woorkemoman in that mystical convey, which resembleth rather a second grove or garden of Thessalya so much commended by Herodotus, Plyny, Strabo, besides other of the poetical crew, than a place of general haunt, assailed commonly with passyngers of all sorts, and continually spoiled by thinhabitants, who make open war, both with the boodds and branches, fruit and trees of this vale, entrenched (as it were) on every side, with great hills, whose height and hugeness defends the violence of hurtful winds, & assistes the natural goodness of the soil, with the moisture of diverse streams, droping out of the bellies of diverse rocks, nourished in thentrails of the said mounts: in this provincial paradise then, and not far from the said town, is a caftell, whereof was Lord and owner, a noble gentleman of the country, who, in the entry of his storyshing time, married a young gentlewoman, of equal honour & height of estate to himself, who for her part had a grace to govern the hoatt time of her youth, with such modesty, that her honest conveyghe and integrity of life, seamed to deserve no less than the virtue of Lucresia, according to thistorians, or chaste abstinence of Penelope, by the fictions of the poets. But whether, the secret hypocrisy of her infected mind, cold no longer conceal, or refrain to event the fruits of such villainy, or whether age had abated the former force of her husband, draining his synews and veins of their ancient moisture with conversion of his sap of strength, into withered humours of debility, or participating (peradventure, with the desire and dispocition of such, as delight in the taste of inordinate pleasure, with often change of dyot: having already passed the uttermost of fifty years, of a chaste and virtuous young lady, became an old strumpet, without honesty or shame, and whose delicate youth gave more arguments and effect of stayed life, than her old age able to mortify or keep under the provations, proper only to the folly of unbridled youth, to whom alone is due the title of found affection, with acts of small discretion. And as the french adage advowcheth, that of a young saint proceeds an old SATAN, and a timely hermitt, makes a tyrannous devil, so this diabolical Lady, supplienge the years of her youth with loyalty towards her husband, necessary prayer and invocation to God, with due respect to the order & guide of her house, was seen to make a conversion of this virtues, into a desire, and effect of no less detestation, than the offence of CAYN, or other murderer, for that without respect to the number of her children, or view of hoary hairs, with other arguments of age, she began to practise policies in love, wishing in her husband a continuance of that, which nature can not give twice to any man, and that, whereof, she seamed not half so desyerus in the very heat of the flame which kindleth the sensual appetitt, making us sometime exceed the order of reason in performing the summons of sensuality, wherein feeling a want in her husband to satisfy her filthy thirst and weary already with his cold compfort in bed, entered into devise to furnish her lack that way, whereby (as it chanced) she wrought the web of destruction to herself, with continual infamy to her house for ever, which be the ordinary fruits of this beastelie pleasure, breeding the tempest under a mask or counterfeit vail of calm seas, and then, to drench the passengers, when they are most persuaded of assurance: and who will not confess (by this authority, both familiar and true) but love is an undoubted rage and fury, saying he forceth and giveth fire to that, which ought to quench and conquerr the flame kindled first by his suggestion.  
This gentleman of the castle of CHABRYE, had for one of his next neighbours, a doctor of the law called MESSIEUR Tolonyo, whom (for the credit of his learning) he used as a chief companion, by which means also, he had the favour of familiar conference with his wife, without suspicion, not refusing diverse times, in the absence of the knight, to enter the bed chamber, and consult with her upon her pillow, wherein, he exacted upon the honest liberty given him by the goodman, for that one day (during his absence, the advocatt, under cooler to council the Lady in certain affairs touching the commodity of her husband, came to her beddsyde, where he beheld her in other sort, than he is wont to vysytt the cases of law for her husband, neither had age so altered her complexion, but there appeared folly in all parts of her face, with other enticing glées, shrouded under the lids of her alluring eyes, which with his liberty of free access, and her contentment to admit his company, forced the rather an affection in the proccurer, in whom also as she noted certain dextereties no less able, to perform the buysynes of the bed, then to follow the process of law, so she did not only allow his amarus glances, with interest of equal glee on her part, but also, as one (wholly devested of thattire of shame) made no conscience to discover that part of the body, which nature hath forbidden to be seen of any, and all women of honest part, ought to keep from the sight and knowledge of man, which she accompanied also with such lascivious regards of wanton countenance, that the dymmest eyes that be in love, might easily discern the path of her intent, and judge with what feathers her arrows would sly, wherein also TOLONYO, no less experienced than the best, forgot not to feed the humour of her meaning, with special terms of reproach against the weakness of th'old man, condemning him, as most unworthy to enjoy the benefytt of her beauty, and much less to taste, in any sort, of the pleasure or delicatt proportion of this Alcyne, who to further the forwardness of her doctor, added thi●s terms of complaint to the words of his former reproach how rightly may she triumph with triple felicity 
The Lady w●●the her procurer under a complaint against the weakne in her husband.  in this world, who delytinge to embrace her husband, participateth indiffrentlie with the solace of outward joy, and pleasure of secret contentment, the remembrance of whose happy state alas, yields me double cause of exclamation against the debility of my aged knight, both, for that his weakness denieth force to furnish the sports of the bed, and I in the heat of desire, to wish, and not find, the chiefest pillar of my consolation: if I had not erst Sipped of the cup of sugared delight, the desire had dekaied, because I had no taste of the pleasure, where the view of former solace, increaseth my present thirst, and can not be satisfied, or if nature cold broach an other vessel of strength in my withered husband, or restore a fresh heat to his dekaied parts, my loathesome life would resume eftensones cause of perfect contentment, & I in the mean wile, should do wrong to accuse his present weakness, what is my passion think you Seigneur Tolonio, proving perforce the want of courage in my husband, with the extreme desire in myself? he hath no other care then too momble his morning prayers, and Pater noster in the night, whilst I (poor soul) half starved, attend a second frost or cold compfort in him, which rather mortefyeth my desire, than satisfieth in any sort, the vehemency of mine appetytt, and if sometime I seek to force a motion in him, with endeavour to give life to his dead spirits, I am answered with hollow groans, and excuses of age, that alas my thirst is rather increased, than desire satisfied, & I forced to feed of such dry banquets with no less grudge and gréeff of mind, than I should take singler pleasure in the company of one worthy of me, and able to furnish at full thappointment due in marriage, all which the doctor was no less glad to hear, then desyerus to know the intent of the discourse, which he pursued in jesting sort, saying, I am content madame, you make A trial in this sort of my loyalty towards you & your house, albeit, I am so persuaded of the courage of your husband, that, notwithstanding any impediment by age, he is sufficiently able to dispatch the affairs of the most likely and lusty gentlewoman in your train, such (saith she) as know nothing but by oponion & imagination, do commonly judge at pleasure upon matters of importance, where they that have felt the effects, and made an experience of every point, may resolve according to a troth, wherein your ignorance acquits you for this time of imputation touching the loftiness of my husband, whom as you at unwares account a champion of such courage, that there is no harness, which he is not able to pierce, so the long prooff I have had of his worthiness, may warrant you the contrary of such conceits, commending unto you withal the compassion of my distress, with desire to procure some speedy mean of delivery, or release from this loathsome torment, wherewith master advocate began to excuse him of any intent to increase her grief, what construction so ever she made of his former words, protesting withal, that the offer of death should be more acceptable unto him, than the simple remembrance to do her the least evil in the world, & if she sorrowed in the proof of a bad husband, his grief was no less in the very view of her languishing state, that I wish (madame saith he) that my endeavour might discharge you of pain, or the spoil of my life, and all that I have of the world, confirm your quiet according to the consent of your own mind, than should you see, whether your Tolonyo would put any difference between pleasant promises, which every man can make, and assured effect which few men perform, with this further experience (if it please you to employ me) to exceed every one of your domestical train in yielding to the summons of your commandment, albeit it import the sacrifice of my life or dissolution of honour, both which I account happily preferred, if they end in the pursewte of your service, wherewith he seized upon one of her delicate hands, which he forgot not to honour with the often print of his mouth, in sundry sorts of kisses, which as they argued th'uttermost of his further intent, so she furthered an expedition of thindifferent desires of them both, in grasping his hand, with no less affection than he did amarus homage to all her tender parts, with this short question in smiling order: if the goodness of your fortune, Seigneur Tolonio, & the sinister guide of my destinies, accompanied with the motion of love, would give you as much power over me, as you seam desirous to enjoy my favour, how would you account of such preferment, or what judgement would you set of her liberal offer, who neither respecting life, nor regard to honour, is here to leave you her heart in gage, and her body to the use of your pleasure: Ah madame, saith this amorous Cyvilyan, how my unworthiness makes me despair, ever to cooll the fruit of so great a gain, and the fear I feel to crave that I desire most, yields me no less doubtful of th'effect of your offer, albeit on tother part, the honour and felicity I imagine in the preferment, hath pricked me already so full of courage, that the world hath nothing of such hardness, which I dare not attempt, nor any thing of so great impossibility, which will not appear easy in the pursuete, so that my travel may receive his higher at the hands of your bounty: pardon me I beseech you, in discovering that, which almost I kept secret from mine own heart, and if my rashness have offended you, it may like you to do justice upon yourself, whose authority (with the force of extreme passion) hath forced me to a lavishenes in the thing, which I durst not determine, and much less seek to set abroach in deed. Here the shameless Lady told him his last request had prevented her long meaning, for (saith she) you have it the mark, whereat I thought to shoot, wherein as I am contented to impart credit to your words, with persuasion of sufficient assurance in your fidelity, so I pray you, embrace mine offer of semblable courtesy, with addition that your desire to enjoy me, is nothing in respect of the firm opinion I have to be so wholly yours, as yourself shall devise, whereof I am hear to seal th'articles of assurance in such sort as you think good, whereupon I think no sorts of kisses or follies in love were forgotten, no kind of cramp, nor pinching by the little finger, nor his hand laid softly in her delicate dug, and she again, with her arms about his neck to yield tribute to his courtesy, was not unmindful (I am sewer) to communicate (in this place) the circumstance of her long love, and how often she had been at point to make declaration of her zeal, with the causes of restraint, till that hour, which if she blessed according to the greatness of her felicity, he thought it a duty, to honour with treble thank sgeving, performing there, their first earnest of their unhappy pleasure, to thindifferent contentment of both thadulterous, who there gave order for the convey of the rest of their licentious sequel.  
Here besides a consummation and effect of detestable whoredom, wherein the one with impudency, obtaineth a gloot of her insatiable lust, and the other, unhappily yields to th'unbridled●nbridled will of a devilish woman, yet is the foundation laid between the ij. wretches to increase their offence with an act of greater sin, for, besides the vice of contamination of an other man's bed, the wicked doctor aggréed to a mortal conspiracy and treason against him, who was neither doubtful of his honesty, nor suspicious of his faith, and whose lyberallitye deserved a return of more credit, then to weave the web of his destruction, for that his chiefest mean of sustentation grew by the fees and other assistance of the gentleman: joseph the Hebrew abstained from like act, although he was assailed with semblable importunities in the honuse of the prince of egypt, desyering rather to prove thuttermuste rigour of him, who thought himself offended, then to sin heinously in the sight of the great god, from whose eyes no secret is concealed, which in the end he doth not discloase, which no less justice in punishing the fault, than he hath used long patience in toleration of the wickedness: Let every man behold here, an experience of the malice of those, that under the vail of good learning, bolstered with a dissembled show of a certain vain knowledge and skill, to discern the good from the evil, and try the difference of the just from the unjust, do study altogether the pervertion of justice, to seduce all good order & honesty, and abuse (under colour of honest faith) the simplicity of the good sort, whereof, how many examples of iniquity do we see now a days in diverse our professors of learning, whose vanity procureth so many divorcements between the man & wife, & yet they affirm (for the most part) the such acts are not tolerable, neither by th'ordinance of God, institution of men, nor any authority in the Cyuily●n school, besides, how many are to be seen, who puffed up with a little smattering skill in either of the laws, which rather sets abroache the humour of their vanity, then confirms them in good order or integrity of judgement or living, do trade only in corrupting the good & sound parts, of every one, indusing some to sedition, other to theft, perjury, & false witness bearing, others to habandon their country & parents, with the society & fellowship of all their friends, & yet, who hath a better grace than they, in preferring an absolute purity of life, a fear of the laws, obedience to their sovereigns, reverence to their parents, & respect to the league of loyal friendship, yea, our unhappy world, or rather the malice of our cursed time, hath stirred up amongst us such store of skilful clerks, or rather dyvining devils, who bolking out a false philosophy, have (God amend it) infected the whole world with the air of their corruption, and not satisfied in th'abuse of the mortal wretches, and seducing the fragility of man, with a flattering allurement of sensuality, and pleasures of the flesh, begin by little and little to dress war against God, with opinion to conquer that invincible power and first cause, who laughing (for a time) at their follies, will (no doubt) make them feel in the end, (with the due punishment and smart of their fond imaginations) that neither man, nor his vain knowledge, is of any force against him, from whose troane we receive th'inspiration, & breath of all goodness, virtue, & wisdom, wherein I am moved to such a plainness touching the vanity of diverse our learned men now a days, by the sinister success, & diversatie of rare matters happening amongst us, & for that we see the most parts of christendom, rather tormented by such as abuse the virtue of true knowledge with desire to incense contrariety of sects, them invaded with th'incursions of the blasphemous infidels and enemies of our religion: and truly the domestical servant in credit or trust with his master, & evil given or affected towards his Lord, is more to be feared, than a whole army of enemies standing in battle array in the field, whereof the Lord of CHABRY may be a familiar experience, by the means of this pernicious advocate, who abusing the Lady, and she committing like wrong on the behalf of her husband, determined both, (for the better convey of their abominable life) the death of the poor gentleman, whereunto they added th'execution, with more than an ordinary speed, for this villainous lawyer, practised ymediatlie with a knave of his own disposition, who receiving some tjs. or itj. hundredth crowns with promise of further reward, consented to perform the meaning of his bloddye request, attending so diligently th'assistance of convenient time and place, that one morning he dogged the knight, who walking, in the fatal path of his misfortune, to a warreine of coneys, a good distance from his castle, was soddeinelye invaded by the hired enemy to 
The knights slain by the ●●●●son of his 〈◊〉.  his life, with one other of equal intent, who had no sooner performed their cursed charge on the unhappy gentleman, but they, retired in such secret manner to the place, where the morder was first conspired, that they were unseen of every one, and their doings known to no man, by which means they were neither taken, and much less doubted for any such offence, neither would any have entered into suspicion either against the Lady, or her proccurer Tolonio, considering both their former credit, with th'innocent now dead, and also their present slight in coolloring their late detestable treason, for the dead knight was no sooner discovered, by certain passengers that way by chance, but the counterfeit image his wife (feigning a negligent care and desperation of herself, falleth without respect upon the disfigured and bleeding body of her husband, renting her hair and garments, watering his dead face with a whole river of feigned tears, and as one thoroulye instructed afore in the office of thypocrite, forgot no sort of feminine cries, sometime wringing her hands, with a dolorous regard to his dead body, kissing every part of his senseless ghost, & preferring sometime a sudden silence, forced (as it were) by her passion of secret sorrow, retired at last to a broken voice with open exclamation against the doleful chance in this sort.  
Ah infortunate gentleman, to whose virtuous life, thy 
The Lady ●ayneth a sorrow for the death of her husband.  destinies have done manifest wrong in taking the away, amid the solace of thy old years, with abridgement of the rest and reapose expected in age, and that by a train of mortal and bloddye treason? wherein appears thiniquity of the fates, if not, that in wreaking their malice of the innocent, they dispense with the villainy of thousands, more worthy of death than he, that hear hath paid an untimely tribute to the fatal executioner? that I would to God I might participate with his fortune, in embracing in the grave the ghoaste of him, whose remembrance and love, will never lose harbour in thentrails of my heart till my body lie shrined within the sheet that shroodes his dismembered corpse: Oh cruel murderer, (who so ever thou art) what desolation am I brought unto by thy wickedness? how many floods of tears will never cease hensfurth to gush and distill upon the tomb of him, whom thou haste traitorously slain, what toarches, what incense, what sacrifice, shall not cease to fry and burn upon the altar that covereth his guiltless bones? yea, the blood which I mean to spill in revenge of his wrong, shall accuse thy villainy; and witness my loyal heart in honouring the shadow of him that is dead, by sever punishment of such, as committed the morder, Ah dear heart (saith she) kissing the disfigured carcase of the knight, if they had been acquainted with thy bounty, thou hadst not tasted of their cruelty, or if they had had but half the experience of thy courtesy inclination, as thou wast entierlye beloved of all such as knew the perfectly, they had sewerlye refrained from slaughter, and thou enjoyed still the society of thy careful Lady, who hear upon her knees advoweth a sharpp vengeance for the least drop of blood drained out of thy bleeding wounds, upon as many as were either masters or ministers in the mordering enterprise, craving also (with the tears of a desolate widow) that he that gave the mortal blow, have never power to escape the danger of him, into whose hands God will put the sword of revenge of th'affliction of such as I am? Oh children, why stay you your tears in the misery of your mother, and loss of so good a father, who shall from hensfurth favour your tender years with further sustentation, or defend the weakness of my widowhood, against the malice of the world? What support have we left, seeing the chief pillar of our house is perished by the wickedness of others? wherewith the doctor, having filled all the country with hew and cry, to apprehend the traitors whom he lodged within his house, was at her elbow or she wist, and joying not a little in her Artificial skill, in playing that part of the tragedy whereof himself performed the first act, began to persuade her to consolation and (not without thassistance of some suborned tears) willed her not to sorrow for that which could not be recovered, for (saith he) seeing God hath touched your husband with the messenger of his will, we ought not to resist the judgement of the highest, and 
Death the messenger of the will of God.  much less argue against the determination of the heavens, neither is there virtue in tears or complaints to raise up him that sleepeth in his fatal mowlde, the best is to expose fruits of patience, and be thankful to his goodness, who by the example of this affliction, warneth you and all the world of his royal power over all estates, with a ready endeavour in yourself, to manifest your duty to him that is dead, in the persecution of such as shallbe found guilty in the cause of your present heaviness, neither let the view of his mangled carcase restore you to increase of dolor, seeing that, as the earth challengeth his bones, as first framed out of her belly and entrails, so I wish you to give order for his burial in sort appertaining to his estate, whereof the effect and expedition followed accordingly, not without the great sorrow of his subjects, who also grieved in equal sort on the behalf of their Lady, who, showing th'uttermost of her cunning in crafty painting, in the funeral hour, could not be holden from falling into the grave, which she watered on every side with the tears of her eyes, craving that she might make a sepulchre in her own breast, to shrine the body of her husband, or at least that it might be lawful to boorne his bones, to th'end she might consume by peacemeale in drinking the ashes, as Ariomesia did the skorched relics and cendres of her dear Mansoll: Oh deceit, and devilish hypocrisy of a woman? What enchantment so strongly made, of whom thy subtlety can not undo the charm? What armour of such force, that is not found to weak to resist the strength of thy malice? What medicine of such virtue, which can prevail above thy infection? What, train? What treason? What mischief or mordering cruelty is able to compare with the villainy of a woman, unhappily devested of thattire of reason and virtue, which for the most part, are or aught to be most familiar with that sect? wherein appeareth an evident proof of the venomous policy in a woman, if the outward appearance of an extreme sorrow, (the heart rejoicing which triple contentment within) do not declare her deceitful disposition? what hypocrisy is greater, than to suborn all sorts of tears in the eyes, with every other sign of counterfeit dole in the face, when the inner parts, laughing at such feigned shows, are in the midst of their banquet for pleasure? what offence is it to plague them in earnest, who seek to blaire the eyes of all the worlds, with charms of painted substance? or rather, why should they be suffered to live, whose villainous lives and doings, were able to deface the glory of the whole feminyne sect, if the virtue of so many chaste Ladies were not of force to answer the combat of all sinister reproach, and conquer the infamous challengers of their renown.  
But now the funerals performed to the dead Lord of Chabrye, the Lady, albeit she dismissed by little and little the greatness of her dolor, yet she ceased not her diligence in the search of the murderer, nor forgot to promiss large higher to such as could bring her the ministers of the fact, there was public information, and secret inquiry, with every point and circumstance so Sifted to the quick, that there lacked nothing but the confession of him that was dead, which was impossible to be had, or the testimonies of the bloody parties, which were the commissioners appointed to inquire of the morder, whose hands smelled of the blood of the dead innocent, whereupon the matter was hushed for a time, in which, TOLONIO was not idle to ransicke every secret corner in the house, not forgetting (I think) to visytt the treasore he chief affected, and for a simple pleasure of the which, he had been so prodigal of his conscience, who, yet not satisfied with the sacrifice of innocent life, stirred up desire of greater sin: for this tyrannous widow, had iiij. sons, whereof as ij. of them were continually in the house, so the eldest, jalowse (not without cause) of the famyliaritye between his mother and her doctor, whose haunt he judged to exceed the compass of his commission, and limits of honour, cold not so conceal nor digest the conceit of that, which persuaded a stain of infamy in the forehead or forefront of his house, but that he thought to belong to his duty, to ymparte unto her the cause of his suspicion, with persuasion (in humble sort) to be indifferently careful to keep her former glory of virtuous life, and curious to defend the remeindor of her years from worthy crime, or spot of foul imputation, wherein th'increase of amarus glee between the advocate and her, procured a more expedition than he thought, so that having, one day, th'assistance of a fit time and place in a gallery void of all company, he preferred his opinion in this sort, not without an indifferent medley of shame and 
The eldest son chargeth his mother with incestuose life with tolonyo.  disdain appearing in all parts of his face: if it be a thing unseamly, that a king should be disobeyed of his subjects, it is no less necessary in mine opinion that the prince avoid oppression of his people by power, for that a great salt in the one is none offence at all by reason of his authority, and the other sometime is exacted without just cause of blame, but if it be a virtue in the majesty royal to be indifferent between the force of his power, given him by god, and the compleintes of right in his vassals, why should it be an offence, that the master or magistrate be put in remembrance, or made tunderstand the points wherein he offendeth, seeing, he hath no greater reason to yield justice to such as deserve punishment, then bound in double sort to a wondered care of integrity in living, in himself so as, his authority & effects of upright conversation, may serve, (as a line) to lead the meaner sort (serving under his awe) to be in loué which his virtues & commended for semblable sincerity, and purity of life: But, for my part, (good Madame) were it not the remorse of an equal respect to your reputation, and honour to all our house, and that my conscience hereafter would accuse me of want of courage and care to make good the virtuous renown of my dead father, I should hardly be forced to the terms of my present intent, nor my being in this place give you such cause of amaze & doubt of my meaning: for the duty, which nature bindeth me to owe to the place you hold on my behalf, and the law of obedience given by god, to all children towards such as made them the members of this world, makes me as often close my mouth against the discovery of the long grudge of my mind, as I have great reason to ympart the cause to your ladishipp, who is tooched more near than any other, that I would too god the thing, whereof my mind hath given a judgement of assurance, were as untrue, as I wish it both far from mine opinion, and void of a troth, then sewerlye should my heart rest, discharged of disquiett, and I dismissed from th'office of an orator, which also I would refuse to perform, if thimportance of the cause did nor force my will in that respect. Albeit as the passions of the mind be free, and the spirit of man (how so ever the body be distressed with captivity) hath a privilege of liberty, touching opinions or conceits, so I hope your wisdom with the justice of my cause, and clearness of intent, are sufficient pillours too support that, which, the virtue of natural zeal to yourself, and dutiful regard to the honour of my ancestors, moves me to communicate with you, chiefly, for that the 
honour.  best badge of your own life, and bloodd of your late Lord and husband my father, be distressed (as I am persuaded) by the secret haunt and unseemly glee of favour between the proccurer Tolonio and you, whom, God and nature; have made a mother of such children, that neither deserve such lewd abuse in you, nor can brook his villainy in corrupting the noble blood, wherewith they participate, without vengeance due to the greatness of his poisoned malice: wherein good madame, as my dear affection to you wards, hath made me so frank in warning you of the evil, so, if you give not order hensfurthe for the redress of that, which I account already past every cause of doubt, you will come too short, to cover that can be no longer concealed, when also small compassion willbe used in the revenge of thinjury, neither can you in any sort complain rightelie of me, in whose heart is already kindled a grudge of the wrong you have done to the nobility of us all, loathing with all the simple remembrance of so foul a salt, protesting unto you for end, that if hereafter you become as careless of the honour of your children, as heretofore you have been voiede of regard to your own reputation, the world shall punish the abuse of your old years with open exclamation against your lascivious order of life, divesting you of all titles of high degree, and these hands only, shall send master doctor to visytt his process in th'infernal senatt, & preach in other pulpit, than the highest theatrye within the castle of Chabrye, which last threats argued a more mortality, by his terrible regards of countenance, with broken words in his mouth, declaring sufficiently the vehemency of his passion, all which, as they persuaded the lady to dread a speedy execution of his anger, (wherein her Tolonyo should be chiefly distressed) so, being void of remedy in any fear she could prefer, she retired to the policy of feminine complaints, seeking to moderate the fury of his just colour by certain suborned tears, and other dissembled arguments of dolor, wherewith she seamed to fill each synowe and vain about her, continuing some space in that sorrowful contemplation, with her face upon the ground, casting dust and ashes upon her head, (according to the desperate persians, when they received any lamentable news) and rising at last (as out of a qualm of heavy passions replied to thexclamation of her son with these, or such like terms of counterfeit compassion: were it not, that ynnocencie, is 
She replieth to her son.  a virtue sufficient of itself to answer all combats of unjust imputation, I should sewer doubt of assistance in the defence of my cause, and much less be able too clear the sentence of your sinister conceit against me, neither had I reason to argue with you, and less cause to enter into terms to justify myself, if in mine own integrity, appeared not thabsolute wrong you do to my present honour: and yet do I feel myself indiffrentlye passioned between doubt and fear, for that your present collar, Quarrelyngwith all offers of defence on my side, seemeth also curious, to admit any credit at all in what so ever I shall prefer to approve my guilteles life: for if it be a virtue to be credulus in every reapport, you have reason to continue your grudge, or if the view of your own eye, had brought you to the sight of that, wherein you presume a troth but by imagination, you were sufficiently absolved, if you had already performed the end of your mortal enterprise, but where your eyes argue against you, (as partakers at no time of the likelyhodd of any such evil you have presently imagined) & yourself, void of other witness than th'information of your own pertial conceit, let strangers be judges between the causes of your suspicion, and the hard sentence you have passed of mine honour, and all the world, that was privy to the course of my youth, (when you were under the yoke and years of discretion) accuse the wrong you do to the virtue of mine age, whose hoary hairs cry out of your present cruelty. Alas what is he that dare undertake the defence of this desolate widow, if mine own children seek to set abroache my dishonnor? what state or degree may be boolde to reappose credit with assurance in mine honesty, when the fruits, congealed of the substance of myself, seemeth doubtful of my upright dealing? what expectation of faith, loyalty, or good opinion, is in any sort of strangers, when the blood and blossoms of our own entrails enter into conspiracy against us? oh miserable condition, and unhappy sect of ours, subject moste (as it seemeth) to strange wretchedness, when we account ourselves passed the fear and malice of fortune, who now I see, beginneth her troublesome war, when we reappose most felicity and assurance in rest? it is now alas that I find an experience of the common voice of the vulgar sort, confirmed also by consent of thancient crew of the learned, that virtue is continually assailed with spite, envy and false ymposition of crimes, neither am I alone persecuted 
Virtue is continually assailed with envy & spite.  with the malice of all those mischiefs, although I only am oppressed with a present villainy, whereof I never thought, and much less performed any effect? how long alas, (my son) have you joined in opinion with that fond sect, whose rashness in judgement hath made theme oftentimes repent the sentence of their folly? since when have you been so lightly persuaded, of the reputation, constancy, and virtue of dames of honour? do you measure their dispocition, by the vanity in yourself, and villainy of such as credit only thinstinct of their malicius brain: no no, it is not thendeavour of ladies of my regard, to practise in sensuality, nor study in the vain delights of the flesh, and for my part, me thinks discretion should persuade you, that the time, and number of my years are not convenient to the follies, whereof I felt no motion, in the very flame and burning summer of my youth: you grieve with the familiarity between Tolonyo and me, but chiefly, because we use conference now and then in my chamber: do not you know it is he, by whose counsel are guided the whole affairs of the house? or do you see his liberty enlarged since the death of your father, in whose time he practised in sort as he doth now, and yet was he never jeleouse of his access hither at any hour: had he not eyes to discern as far of as you: and his ears wear as open to all reports as yours? albeit he used discretion in judgement? neither cold his heart (I am sewer) digest half the villainy you have alleged, if his sormises had been confirmed with a troth: But here alas appear the points of my wretchedness, to fall into the danger of suspicion with him, in whom I have reapposed the quiet of my old years, and for th'increase of whose wealth and patrimony, I am in continual travail both of mind and body: wherein as the poor Tolonyo (no less infortunate than I, for that your grudge seemeth most heinous on his behalf) hath equal care to advance you by his advise and travel, So, besides your abuse to me, whom God and nature binds you to honour with all duty, you do double wrong to his faith and zeleus intent towards you, in returning his honest care with threats of no less mortality, than shameful and cruel death, which if it come in question by your rashness, what doubt bring you of his honesty, where now his name is of credytt with the best of the country? and for his part, if you give him the least ynkling in the world of your displeasure, I warrant you his presence shall no more offend you in the house nor elsewhere, and then shall you know, whether the favour he finds at my hands ymportes a meaning for your profit, or to satisfy the pleasure of my vile and aged flesh, besides, the order of your affairs, both at home and in the senatt, will try the difference between the commodity of his presence, and hindrance that is sewer too happen by his restraint of coming hither, when (my son) will also appear, the care of your dear mother, whose diligence alas deserveth better consideration, then to be charged with the note of incontynencie, which I protest affore God, with stretched hands and heart to the heavens, to have in no less contempt, for the vileness of the sin, than I see the wrongful conceit of such a villainy doth trouble you, which she forgot no too accompany, with all sorts of sighs and signs of dolour, entrermedled with such regards of dyssembled pity in all parts of her face, that albeit, he was passed all doubt touching the troth of his own conceit, yet the tears of his deceitful mother, moved him to admit her excuses, with such compassion of her sorrow, that he seamed also to pass the pangs of her present passion, with protestation, under terms of great humility, that he grieved no less in that he had said, than she had great reason, to complain of the wrong he had done to the renown of her virtue, albeit saith he (with a countenance of repentance) if you measure the force of my affection, with the cause of my late plains, your discretion, I hope will construe my words according to the honest intent of my heart, with excuse to my rashness, which you shall see hereafter so mortified in me, that I will neither be so hasty to accuse, nor suspect without better advise, for the which she seamed thankful unto him, with a present appeasement from Anger, attending the offer of opportunity, when she might prefer her son to a part in the tragedy which her wickedness had already begun upon his late father: for she was doubtful still of the youngeman, and gave less faith to his words, wherein certainly appeareth an experience of an ordinary custom in the wicked, who payseth thinfidelity of others, in the balance of their own injustice, and want of faith, for the tyrant doubteth to whose credit to commit the safety of himself, because his cruelty is hated of all men, neither doth he good to any, if not for the respect of profit, or to perform some malicius attempt, wherein as they consider thaffextions of their people, by the passions in theimselues, so in passing. their own life in continual fear, they procure like terror to such as be conversant with them, making the disquiett of others equal to the misery of theimselues, like as this new Megaera or tyrannous monster of our time, who, no more satisfied with the blood of her husband, then glutted or cloyed with the continual pleasures in whoredom with her detestable Tolonyo, determined to rid the world of her innocent son, to th'end their villainous trade might pass with more assurance, and less cause of fear or suspicion of any: for th'execution whereof, her wickedness devised this speedy and necessary mean: There was within the castle, a high gallery, boarded underfoot with certain planks fastened to rotten planchers, where as the young gentleman used his daily recreation in walking, by reason of the delightful air, & pleasant prospect upon diverse fields and gardyns, so the Tigress his mother reserved that place, as a most chief & mortal minister in the death of her son, for she and her pernicius proccurer one evening, knocked out of either end of diverse of the planks, the nails that kept them close to the plancher, in such sort, that the next, that happened too make his walk there, should have no leisure to discover the treason, and much less live, to bring reapport of the hardness of the rocks growing in the ditches, under the said gallery, which chanced unhappily to the son of this she wolf, who no more happy in a mother, than his father fortunate in a wife, renewed the next day his accustomed walks in the valte, where he had not spent three or four tornes, but his destiny brought him to tread upon the fatal board es, who having no hold nor stay to rest upon, disjoined theimselues with the weight of thinfortunate gentleman, who falling suddenly upon the rocks with his head forward, was bruised to pieces, being dead 
Her eldest son slain by treason.  in deed, almost so soon as he felt th'apprehension of death, Who would have judged such trayso in a mother to work such an end to her son or noted such wait of pity in any of the sect, as to so the seeds sprung in her own flanks, deformed and he wed in pieces upon the edge of sharp and piked stones: what mistortune to the son, and villainy in a mother: seeing the title of a son ought to be so dear, and name of a mother, is so delicate and of such virtue, that no heart, of what metal soever it be made, is not mollefyed and doth homage to that dignity, yea every one holdeth his blood so dear, that, the beasts theimselues, by a provocation of nature, (although other ways insensible) have such affectioned regard to their fawns, that they fear not to contend against every peril of death, to defend their youngons from danger, what greater felicity hath man, traveling in the stormy sea of this world, then to see (as it were) a regeneration of himself, in his children, with a plentiful and gladsome increase of his seed, for which cause chiefly, god ordained the holy institution of marriage, not respecting altogether, the mortefyeng of the ticklyshe instinctes of our declayning flesh, but rather of regard, as thapostle affirmeth, to keep the society of man in order, making it appear'e pure and aeceptable to the great monarch, and syrst founder of so noble a work. But, to return now to our history, this ympp of th'infernal lake, and hellish Lady, being already despoiled of all affection and duty required in a woman towards her husband, detested also every point of charity and zeal, which nature challenged in her to the fruit flowered within the tender parts of her entrails, whose fall and miserable death, as you see, filled ymediatlie every corner of the castle with desolation and tears, some weeping in the want of their brother, other complained the lack and misfortune of their kinsman, the view of whose dysmembred body, stirred up also a fresh sorrow on the behalf of their late Lord, but all their dolor was nothing to the howling and cries of the detestable mordress, who intermeddled her grief, with such arguments of desperation, that her sorrow seamed sufficient to make the earth tremble, and move the heavens to tears, neither seamed she to make other account of the world, than a place of most loathsome abode, by which masked semblance of outward heaviness, she covered an inward joy at her heart, and by this policy of painted dole, she blaired the eyes of the simple multitude, who, after the retire of the heat of their lamemtable storms, consulted upon the buyrial, with general consent in the end, that th'innocent stripling should be laiede in the tomb of his infortunate father, to th'end, he might participate with him in the fatal pit, as he was equal to him touching the malice of his mother.  
And now as this bloody Lady, had in this sort, discharged (as she thought) every doubt and fear hereafter, chief for that she stood no more in awe of any Censor or spy to keep a calendar of her faltes, whereby she used less care in the convey of her beastly traffic with her viperus advocate: So not withstanding her second son, grudging still in the death of his brother, and some what doubtful of the cause, began to be jeleouse in the points of his mislike, and being of equal courage to his brother, and of no less nobility in heart, could not also digest the view of dishonour, specially in the highest degree of his house and affinity, whereof he gave declaration in his stern countenances to TOLONYO, to whom, if he spoke at times by any occasion, his words argued the disdain in his heart, using, unhappily, the like regards and terms to his mother, who, not liking to have any tutor, to note or control her villainy and hardened with all in th'execution of flesh and life, judged it no offence to imbrue her hands with the blood of this innocent, and paint every post and postern of her castle, with the brains of her posteri. ie, resolving immediately upon the fatal conspiracy against her second son, swearing his death with her execrable minister TOLONYO, who under took the charge with promise to perform th'effect, wherein he used, the mean and expedition by him, who first distressed the father, for this reverend lawyer, rather studied in the philosophy of Satan, then traded in the skill of thordinances of kings and emperors, or experienced in matters belonging to the senate, so conjured the murderer with persuasions and proffers of reward, that he admitted the bargain, and gave 
It is easy to corrupt him, which is evil of himself.  assurance of the consummation, wherein he failed not of any point or article: for certain days after, the gentleman, being on hunting, upon certain mountains enuyronning a hollow and low valley, as his men were buysye in rewarding their hounds, with the pawnche and entrails of certain chasses they had killed, their unfortunate master, reapposed himself upon the edge of a steape and high hill, whose descent ymported a perilous regard, by the deep and hollow vault in the valley, replenished on every side with sharp and hideous rocks: here, as he accounted himself most sewer, and furthest from cause or effect of treason, he found greatest danger with stroke of mortal destruction, for that, the hyerd minister of his death, tracing his step yes all the day, to find an occasion fit to further the end of his buysynes, refused not thoffer of so convenient a mean & place, for as they were in familiar devise together, the one dreading no harm, & the other attending th'assistance of the devil to perform his wickedness, stepped of a sudden behind, & thrust the unhappy gentleman from the top of the mountain to the bottom of the valley, where the sharp rocks receiving 
Her second son slain by her wickedness  him without respect of his innocency, made morsels of his guiltless carcase.  
What difference may a man set between the desolation of his house, and misery of the succession of Atreus the Greek, whose children were cruelly cut in pieces, the wife of one of them surviving, a noted woman of all the world for incestuous life, becomes in the end the mordresse of her husband, by th'assistance of thadulterer and defyler of their marriage bed, and she with her rybaud oppressed at last with vengeance equal to their offence by the hands of her own son, what pity is it to see an experience of such examples amongst christians, and in this age, yea in the place and country, where the regard of parents towards their children is such, that they make no conscience to hazard their own lives, to defend the health of such as nature hath given them for succession: where this execrable ympp of infernal procreation, borne for the scourge and plague of her posterity, respecting more to conceal & aggravat her wickedness, then careful any way, to repent her sins, delighted (as it seamed) to sprinkle the earth with innocent blood, which cried vengeance both against her and her companion of these horrible murders, according to the judgement of the great god, who keeping a true reckoning, of every drop of blood that hath been spilled, since the death of Abel the just, until the last affliction of as many as hath been, or shallbe unjustly persecuted, punished or mordered by the malice of the wicked, provideth commonly that such acts of detestation, receive end, by the discovery of the life passed of such infamous wretches, whereof behold an experience in this cursed lady, who, after the funerals of her younger son, seeing that all her servants kept eye & watch upon her, with suspicion of her vicious dealing, ymparted the whole to the galland her minion, who consulted and concluded ymedyatly the end of their pleasures and exercises of blodd togeger, which was to mary one an other, wherein albeit appeared a diffycultye, for that TOLONYO, had already a wife, no less wise, fair, and virtuous, than he cruel, spiteful, and vicious, yet it seamed not impossible, for that the wicked man accounteth a facilytie in every thing, which he esteemeth either reasonable or lawful: He determined at what price soever it were, to make her play a fourth part in the former tragedy of the father and his two. sons, ympartinge his bloody resolution to his beastly trooll, who, no less assured in such evil, then ready to make a minister in thattempt, as the common villeine, that stirreth not from the straits of the mountains, stripping every passenger, not able to resist his force) allowed the devise, with special request of expedition in thaccomplishment: All which it is to be thought, the covetus doctor, did not devise, with intent to perform, for the respect altogether of love or friendship, he bore to her, whom he goeth now about to mary, for he considered, that men, for the most part, embrace traitors, to make their profit of their inventions and subtleties, which when they have wrested from them, either the traitors be punished by death, or at least, so disdained, that their misery in living, showeth thundoubted difference between virtue and vice, disposition of an infidel, or one that este●eth not his faith, and he that is careful to keep his conscience clear from such spot: So Tolonyo not ignorant of the large revenue, and great sums of money of the lady of CHABRYE, with store of other wealth about the castle, accounted it a commodity, to exchange the life of his wife, for the filthy use of so great riches, meaning notwithstanding, to enjoy the spoils of so plentiful a pray, and after to send her packing, and make her pass by the path of so many murders committed both by the one and tother. Oh unbridled covetousness and execrable desire of unhonest gain, how haste thou blaired the eyes and understanding of men now a days, hardening their hearts against the dread of god, and fear of his laws? what mischief hath overwhelmed us by thy means, seeing the father is jelowse of the faith of his son, the wife doubtful of her husband, the neighbour fearing ambushes of treason in his next companion, and the prince often times in danger of his safety, being beset on every side with the guard and ministers of money, which hath such force over the fragility of men that some time the servant conspireth against his Lord, to enrich himself with the spoils of his master, the son grudgeth in the long life of his father, because he keeps him from those of his possession. And some we see procureth the death of him, for whose life & preservation of health, he ought to be in continual prayer, neither doth the malice of that wickedness rest altogether in the hearts of the temporal, but, there be, also of the sacred sort infected with the poison of that venomous worm, who the more she groweth in strength and force, the greater misery do we feel, that unhappy is that world which participateth with so hurtful an air, wherein if this abominable desire of gain, have power to dissolve that, wherein God hath forbidden a separation by man, and nature bound us to an equal care and zeal, as to ourselves, I see not what way we may take, to find assurance of faith and loyalty, nor under what cly●nat may be found any, which imitate the simplicity of our ancestors seeing the malice of our age, exceedeth (in that respect chiefly) all corruption that ever hath been noted amongst the most infidels, and cruel barbaryans, that either live now, or have been in any time afore. And so to our morderinge Tolonyo, who building a thousand castles in the air upon the complott made for the dispatch of his wife, was not able to resolve upon any certain mean touching th'execution, for, seaminge (as they say) to hold the swine by the ear, he was loath to let her go, and doubtful which way to keep her, without danger to himself; sometime he was of opinion to work the fatal mean by poison, wherein appeared absolute peril, for that himself was ignorant in bruinge the confection, & the assistance of an appoticarie was denied, in that he dreaded a discovery in imparting the mystery to a stranger: he practised with him, who (as you have hard) served his torn in the slaughter of the father and sons, wherein, albeit he was deceived, and the destiny of his wife rather deferred, than her punishment forgiven, yet the day of her fatal date seamed to approach, for that, as he half despaired in the fidelity of his former executioner touching this third attempt of blood, wherein also appeared a difficulty in the act, for that, the chaste Lady stirred not much out of her house, so, reaposinge much for himself in thassistance of the spirit that guided his intent, he abandoned the aid of any man, and committed the effect and circumstance to his 
The devil.  own hands, by whom was performed the fatal consommation, the night following his conference with the hired traitor, when he strangled her in bede, with a napkin of 
Tolonyo killeth his wife.  thin holland, wound fast about her neck, and as she was in the extremetye of her last pang he cried for help, advouching (with a troubled countenance to the servants that came to the rescowe of their dead mystries) that it was the soddain fall of a cold rheum, with superfluity of phlegm that had forced this mortal suffocation in his wife, which was easily believed of his men, and had so stayed without further inquiry of the case, if God had not awaked, with the noise of the cry, the aged man her father, who the same night sopped with his daughter, and left her in as good estate, as she was ever afore, in whom the consent of the destinies of Tolonyo, and the justice of the highest, seamed of indifferent operation in the view of his tragedy, for that notwithstanding his tears and sorrow, he gave diligent regard to the face and throat of his daughter, whereof the one was swelled and pooffed up with black blood, and in the other appeared a circle or print of the thing that wrought th'effect of her death, whereupon followed a secret judgement in himself, that she was distressed by mortal violence, and the deflurion which smothered and stopped the conduits of her breath, were the hands of her husband, or some other by his appointment, wherein, notwithstanding, he was so constant in dissimuling his opinion for the present, that he forbore, as then, to give any show of his grudge, attending a more fit time and opportunity for the revenge of so great a villainy, and that to the terror and example of all ages, touching such heinous abuses to their honest wives, whereupon willing his son in law to consider of the obsequies according to the merit of both their houses, he said he would go procure the company of diverse their friends in the city, for the more pompp and better furniture of the funeral, wherein as the advocate buysyed himself to provide every ceremony and circumstance due to the buyrieng of the dead, with more joy (I am sewer) in the act he had done, than repentance for the sin, so the old man his father in law, converted into heaviness, with just occasion of revenge, complaineth him to the judge criminal of the place, with request, to come view the most detestable part, which ever erst hath been performed by any, and whereof (saith he) with a number of aged tears wattering his hoary beard, you will have compassion, if you be not as far from the gift of pity as the athenian Eymon, who, for his disposition of cruelty, was called the common enemy to the courtesy of man: whereunto the magistrate consented, aswell by the duty of his ●the at his first election, as desire to behold, with his eyes the cause of the old man's complaint, whom he followed (with his number of sergeants and officers at arms appertaining) to the house of Tolonyo, where if he marveled with the view of the dead body, and disorder in doing the act, he was moved to double amaze with the dolour of the old man uttered in these terms. If the view of strange and horrible things move cause of wonder, 
Her father in law complaineth to the judge criminal.  to the rude and barbarous sort, or experience of undoubted extremities, have power to procure remorse in the hearts of such as participate with the gift of pity, and pure religion, I commend unto you (sir) the misery of my old years weeping in the wrong of my late daughter, whose ghoaste, you may hear, cry out for revenge of his wretchedness that forced her life to such mortal violation: and albeit, the terms of my complaint may, at the first, seam to ymport a doubt of the truth, and scarce meritorius of compassion, yet, in thindifferent view and consideration of the matter, will appear the justice of my cause, and iniquity of him that hath so mortally wounded my heart, that I fear it is also of force, to commit me to deadly execution, whereof I rather wish to have made a former proff, then to stand hear to lament the dollorus tragedy of my daughter, whom (sir) I say and protest with wring hands, to be traitorously strangled in her sleep by this detestable mord eror my son in law: behold (sir) how the signs and marks of morder, do avouch his villainy, and witness the extreme pangs she endured, affore he had wrought the full force of his execrable act: besides, the whole household are to justify her state of perfect health in the beginning of the evening when she went to bed to him, which, with other circumstance argue, alas, an undoubted troth in th'effect, neither had she other Rheum, catarrh, or disease then the violant hands of her husband, who, both brewed the broth, and ministered the cup of suffocation to my dear daughter, on whose behalf, behold the tears of pity in my withered face, which shall never be dry, nor cease to distill, till the sword of your justice (sir) have given the blow of revenge to her wrong and desolation of me her wretched father: Stay not (sir) to take away a continual calamity in my house, and purge the whole country of an infection of general slander, in the cruelty of this husband, more barbarus towards his chaste wife, than the Tyranny of the TIGRESS or SHEWOLF on the behalf of their mates or youngeons: persuade yourself, alas, that GOD is ready with the reward of your act, in his hand if you do reason too this oppression, where if you refuse too yield justice too my ryghtefulle request request, behold, how the heavens discloase themselves too rain the shower of vengeance upon you and your posterity, neither had these hands refrained so long the dismembringe of his cursed parts, if the virtue in your oath and office, had not been my warrant to have justice by you, whereupon followed such sighs and passions of sorrow, that they prevailed above the force of further speech, moving the judge to such remorse on the behalf of the morder, that, what with the silence and other drowpinge arguments of guilty conscience in Tolonyo, (who albeit was an orator of sufficient eloquence in the Senatt, yet he made no one simple offer of confutation to the old man's complaint) and resolution of Phizitions, who gave sentence against him, with judgement, that her life was forced to leave her by the main strength of man, he caused the sergeants to apprehend him sending him forth with to embrace the bottom of a dungeon, in place of his pretended marriage, with the widow of Chabrye, whom he thought to make Lieutenant of his bede in the absence of his wife, whose corpse, the next day was laid in the place of public view, not without great dolor in every degree of men, who, if they cursed to the deepest pit in hell, the Author & minister in the death of so virtuous a gentle woman, it is no need to move question of the general desolation amongst the women, who knowing her husband to be thonlie worker of the villainy, grudged that he had the favour of an ymprisonement, with general cries to the Senate to commit him to thextremity of every torture, with out respect of compassion: The body was carried with funeral pomppe to the college church there, and laid in her tomb with such sacrafyze and ceremonies of sorrow, that who had seen their order every way, would have thought it had been the obsequies of the common mother of their city, in which mean while her father pursued his process with such diligence, that the prisoner was hard, who confessing (without question) the circumstance and effect of the morder, was sent (by reason of the horror and strangeness of the fact) to the court of parliament of Aix, afore whom, the case was debated at large: which being imparted to the Lady of Chabrye, who only was privy to her own conscience, and knew herself guilty of all, began to fear that which fell ymediatlie, I mean that Tolonyo would aswell discover their long practice together in lust, which the sundry murders in her house, as he had willingelie confessed thoppression of his wife, whereupon thinking it sufficient to be warned by the threatening of a storm, of thapproach of a tempest, and withal that it was a point of wisdom to prevent the mischief, affore the evil did fall, gathered up asmuch money, as the shortness of time would give her leave to recover, with such jewels as were of light carriage, and trudged in sudden and secret manner to the 
The Lady fleethe to po getto.  castle of Pogetto, belonging to the duchy of SCAVOYE whilst the poor Tolonyo was pynyoned and trussed with cords, and sent to the noble city of AIX, which bore long time the name of her founder called Sextius a Roman gentleman, and termed of the Latins (by reason of the baynes of hot waters there) Aque sextiae: where he avouched eftsoons the points of his former confession, with the discovery of his incesteouse trade with the Lady of Chabrye, the abominable murders, th'occasions of the same, and the names of them that assisted the bloody execution, whereupon the sentence of that court dismissed him to Lagrassa to be pinched with thextremity of every torture and rack, appointed to torment offenders, from whence he was restored to the place of his nativity, where being in prison, and knowing what judgement the law had given of his life, began to acknowledge his former abuses with tears and other arguments of repentance appealing upon his knees to the majesty and mercy of the highest, with this lamentable invocation.  
The view of my former offences (oh heavenly father) quarrellinge 
Tolonyo repenteth, and prayeth to God for forgiveness of his sins.  with my present remorse, persuades small hope of absolution at thy hands, if in the benefytt of thy mercy, appeared not absolute assurance of the forgiveness of my sins, neither do I despair in the virtue of my humble submission, considering thou haste affirmed (by the mouth of th'apostle) that no repentance can be offered so late, which thou wilt not thankfully accept, so that it proceed of the humility of the sprite, and be armed with true contrition of heart: and albeit (oh merciful god) the whole course of my wicked days hitherto hath passed, without either care of thy commandments, or fear of thy laws, yet, seeing it is now thy pleasure to stop the race of nature, and fragility in me, it may also please thee, to put me in the number of those, to whom thou haste promised forgiveness of their faltes, at what hour so ever they mourn and lament their sins: suffer me (oh lord) to participate with the compfort of the theff hanging on thy right hand who 
jere xxxi  albeit never acknowledged his wickedness till the last hour, yet his repentance was allowed of thee, in that, when he said, Lord remember me when thou comest in thy kingdom, 
Luke xxii  thou made him a fellow cytysen with thyself in the joyful paradise: and as thy bounty and goodness, excedethe the greatness of any offence, so I beseech thee suffer thy mercy to wipe away the wickedness of me most miserable and wretched sinner, for the love of thy dear son my only saviour, whose body passed the torments of mortal affliction upon the cross, to give life to them that were dead in sin, and blood sealed the articles of reconcilement and forgiveness of sinners, amongst whom as I confess mine own abomination to exceed the most heinous offences that ever wear, so I humbly crave to be absolved by the benefit of thy mercy, and that if forbear to enter into judgement against my soul, respect not (oh lord) the number of my faults, for that they exceed computation, nor deal not with me according to the greatness of the least of them, for that (without th'assistance of thy special goodness) hell is the reward and merit of my wicked life, which I wish may work a warning to all degrees of equal disposition to myself, that, although they feed for a time, of a flattering pleasure or favour of this world, yet seeing, their iniquities, in th'end are discovered by themselves, whereby they are sewer, to receive (with me) the higher of their evil by an infamous death, I wish them stand in awe of thinfallible judgement, and pray with the prophet, to participate in the general satisfaction, which the death of his son hath made for all flesh fallen, for want of grace in the first man, whose faults have been already purified by the blood of that most innocent lamb, into whose hands, I commend my penitent spritt: in th'end of which prayer, he was drawn out of the prison, and led to the theatrie of public execution, where he received the reward of his bad life, by a worthy death, to the special contentment of his father in law, 
Tolonyo exe cuted.  and general joy of all the Ladies and gentlewomen of the country, except the miserable widow of Chabrie, who being adjourned, and not appearing accordingly, was condemned, and executed by figure, according to the custom in France in that behalf, whereof she was made to understand by some secret spy, who also warned her of the diligent inquisition and means that were made to find her, to th'end, justice might pass upon her, whereupon, doubting, either assurance or safety at Pogetto, went to jeyves with one man only called jacques Pallyero, who, some what jealous of the coming away of his mistress, or rather fearing in the end, to be partaker of the punishment of her wicked life, made no conscience, one day, as she was in her devotions in the church, to rob her of every part and parcel of her money and jewels, with other necessaries, saving such as she ware about her, which was such a corsaye of secret and fretting grief for the time, that she was at point to admit th'offer of despair, albeit being already entered into repentance, and judging that misfortune of little or no value in respect of thinfinite abuses of her former time, gave God thanks for his visitation, and entering into devise for means to support the residue of her years addressed her to an ancient widow, to whom as she accounts her present necessity, proceeding of the villainy of her man, without any mention (I am sewer) of her detestable trade passed, or cause of her present being there, so she found such favour in this matron, that in respect of her show of honest behaviour, and gravity, arguing her descent from nobility, she committed unto her the government & bringing up of her daughters, in which trade, she ended very porelye, albeit with more honour than she deserved, her unhappy days: Here you see the misery of this wretch, who erst hath commanded over a howshould of servants, & gentlewomen at her beck, is now brought to live under the awe of one inferior to her house and calling, and who, passing her youth with all pompp and delicate nurture, & now drawing to th'end of her years, is forced to an experience of continual exile: subject to the will and pleasure of an other, & priest (as she did indeed) to die out of her country, without the company or compfort of any her friends to close her eyes, or couch her bones in other shrine or sepulchre, then by thappointment of strangers, wherein, certainly appeareth rightly the infallible judgement of God, who, forsaken of such, as yield honour to their proper desires, suffereth them also to fall in such sort, that in the end they are constrained to confess their faults, with detestation of their sin, when they feel his just vengeance powered upon them, like as it happened to those miserable or rather mordering lovers, whose end notwithstanding, I account very happy, seeing they were not voyede of repentance in the last hour and moment of life: and truly he is sufficiently blessed, the eyes of whose mind, in the last and fatal hour be not dimmed with the darkness of infidelity, and obstinate desperation, seeing it is upon the body & souls of such that God thondereth fire of his anger, and flame of immortal fury. Behold hear the end of thimpudent love of these adulterers, the fruits of so detestable a tree, & the fortune of such falsours of their promise and oaths, made in the face of the church, and hear you may see the commodity that commonly attends the villainy of such, as unjustly spill the blood of their neighbour, seeing that God hath willed by his divine providence, that tooth for tooth, and eye for eye, be taken from him, who, (without the consent of the law) offendeth his brother, in whom appeareth the lively image of our saviour, who hath also forbidden by special inhibition the violation of blood by morder, & every thought and effect of adultery and whoredom, but chiefly the unhonest embracing of the wife of our neighbour, who once united with the body of her husband, (whereby of ij. moyties, are made one whole and entire heart) doth abuse and dishonnor the bond of their sacred league, if she but wish, and much more enjoy, the company of any other in unlawful sort.  
FINIS.   

The argument  
Amongst all the passions which nature stirreth up to disquiet the mind of man, there is none of such tyranny, or keeps us more in awe, than the detestable humour of covetousness, and raging appetite of whoredom, whereof as both the one and the other, engender fruits of semblable fury, and expose effects of equal evil, So he is of triple commendation, that being possessed of the first, doth rather abandon his goods, then in pursewinge the suggestion of his insatiable desire, seems to procure willingly his own torment in this world with assured danger to his soul in the day of general account, and vanquishing the second, which erst had thou y awe and dominion of him, he leaves a glorious remembrance of ymortalitie to his name, and dischargeth his conscience of a heavy and irksome burden. But if the desire to wynn great treasures, makes the noble mind forgetful of the regard of his honour, with constraint to do things not worthy any way of the title of virtue, or if (according to virgil in his second Eneydos) this greedy thirst after gold, is of force to corrupt the hearts of mortal men, and fill them full of all infection, it is nothing to the power of the sensual appetit, which once taking possession of our inward parts, god knoweth what fruits it brings forth, forming us in a frame of brutality, nothing inferior to thinsensible sort, according to the Greek orator, saying that when a man giveth himself to the pleasures of the flesh, be makes exchange of thexcellency which he participates with th'image of god, and becomes of form and likeness to a beast without understanding, wherein also the wise king of the hebrews amongst his sundry sainges of wisdom, wills us to remember, that the lips of a whore be sweet distilling drops of honey, but th'operation exceeds the bitterness of gall, and is more sharp than the sword that cuts with two edges, warning every man to shone that sugared evil as a pestilent air, for that (saith he) the man that escapeth such passages, besides that his life is free from infynitie of dangers, leaves an honourable remembrance of his virtue to all posterities: And albeit the great roman captain Scipio Affricanus chief vanquisher of thenemies of his country, hath left an ymmortalitie of his name by his dexterity in arms and art of war, yet is his glory no less by the continency he used toward a princess 
A wonderful virtue in a roman captain.  of Spain, taken prisoner amongst others in one of his battles, whose beauty albeit seamed of force to allure the most staid and assured heart that was, and he frying in the flame of youth, not exceeding the twenty and fourth year of his age, did not only abstain from violation of her body with semblable inhibition to all his captains, but also returned her with pompp due to her estate to her husband, whom also he dismissed into liberty, without ransom or other exaction, whereupon the Spanish prince Indibile, so embraced thalliance of Rome, that he only assisted (not long after) th'empire in the conquest of spain. The great Alexander, albe it he was more given to sensuality, 
A merueilus contynencie in the great Alexander.  than stood with the honour of so worthy a prince, yet forbore he to do wrong to the chastity of the mother and wife of the great Monarch Daryus, albeit they being his prisoners, their honour and life were also at his dispocition, only he had not such credit in his own continency as the Roman Scipio. for that he durst not once come where they were, for fear their beauty would force him to a forgetfulness of noble virtue, where thAfrican had always conversation and conference with the spanish. Lady in his tent, And because we may be hold to intermeddle the renolome of our own time with the glory of antiquity, Let us give no less commendation to Frances Sforze sometime Duke of Milan a man of singler fame for a Captein of our time, who according to the chronicles of Italy was presented with a young maid of rare and exquisite beauty, by a soldier of his which reserved her life at the saccage of a Town he had won by assault, and albeit he was young, full of wanton humours, and nothing degenerating from thytalyan inclination touching the desire of the flesh, yet being at the point to assail the castle of her honour, upon her humble petition for the safeguard of her chastity, he delivered her without any wrong to her virginity, all which examples as I must confess to deserve everlasting memory, & they that have used such virtuous abstinence, meritorious of ymmortall commendation, yet I can not compare their doings with the virtue of him, who thoroughly gauled with the arrows of love, having long courted a young and fair damosel, tasted of every passion which may, any way pinch the heart of him that is plunged in affection, and desiring nothing but the reward of love, which gives end to thamarous sorrows, after he had spent many nights in hollow dreams, consumed the days in incertain imaginations, wept, sighed, and otherways tormented himself in the pursewt of his mistress, when his desire was of greatest force, and his hope ready to convert itself into despair, being sewed unto, and having power over her who erst might have commanded him and all that was his, checked the humour of his former appetit, and dismissed her without the loss of the least jot of her honour, whose example me thinks makes blush all other which erst have been preferred as pattornes of coutynencie, for that in overcoming himself, he did not only refrain to lay hands upon her, who yielded the use of her honesty rather by necessity, than provocation of affection, but also embracing her rare assurance in virtue, relieved her want no less plentifully, then if she had been his sister bred in the womb wherein himself was conceived, of such one do I meave to discourse in the history following, as more virtuous and worthy of praise, then either Scipio, Alexander, or Sforce, wherein notwithstanding I refer the Judgement to such as have van quished the force of affection by semblable virtue  
LUCHYN IS LONG IN love with a simple maid, whom he wooeth and cannot win by any passion he endureth, at last necessity yieldeth her into his hands, when he doth not only refuse to abuse her body, but also takes order to sustain her, and supply her wants no less amply then if she had been his sister.  
THe records of antiquity & monuments in JEYNE, making a particular description of divers accedentes happening to the noble house of Vynaldo,: have left a special note of one Luchyn (being of the remainder of that race) who succeeding his parents in patrimony and possession, was nothing inferior in all respects of honour and virtue, and exceeded them all in liberal disposition and gift of bounty, detesting the nigardlike order of the jenoways, who gasping more of tene than they get meat, 
The order of the hungry spaniard.  do commonly rise from the table with an appitit, & make clean their teeth, when they fill not their belly, like as also the hungry spaniard, who being at home can live of a little, but feeding of an other man's trencher, his throat seams as wide as the devouring awstrich, & is able to match the gredieste Fleming and greatest epicure in Almaigne.  
He being thus th'only heir of his house, reaving already amongst the massy bags of his father, who left him the keys of his golden coffers, set a broach immediately the frank disposition of his liberal heart, & opening all the gates of his palace, denied the repair of none, whereby he summoned in short time a lusty train of ganllandes & glory of youth, more apt to hunt the chasse of his spoil, then likely to preserve his patrimony, whom (as one not much overcharged with care to keep that he had, nor covetous in desire to augment the legaicie and leaving of his father he used as his chief and familiar companions in the pursewte of his pleasure, I mean in the practice of exploits of chivalry on horseback, wrestling, leaping and other exercises of activity, with a thousand changes of recreations of delight, and pastimes incident to young gentlemen, who finding the care of the world hurtful to their young and tender inclination (and having wherewith to sustain their prodigal vain, do pass the short time of their green years in the only imitation of pleasure, wherein this young heir of VYVALDO, took such large penny worths, and was assisted with so long a time, that he seamed to lack nothing to make him appear happy in this world, but a dispense from above to defend him from the dangerous snares and prison of love, who albeit is blind, and of small force, yet is he ordained to interrupt the ease of men, with a special grudge and common hatred to thexcess of felicity in our youth.  
And because there is nothing on earth that is continual 
It is necessary to feel sometime a change of fortune.  lie happy, and that it is necessary to know the causes why we are of the world, I mean to be touched, sometime with a change of our fortune; and passion of hard digestion, aswell as we seek to taste of the delicates of ease, and wallow in continual pleasure, So I think, that even as covetousness and greedy desire is thordinary torment and continual bourreau that troubles the mind of thold man, Euenso, love is an impression of disquiet, which nature hath sown in the hearts of young men, both to restrain in time the raging folly of youth, and (according to the order of the pinching frost killing the buds of certain trees and flowers that appear during the violence of his time) to chasten the abuse of their long pleasure, with a rebuke of no less sharp disposition, than almost insupportable for the tenderness of their discretion, which love being blind of himself, seams also to 〈◊〉 small regard in the disposition of his affairs with less discretion in knitting affectionsaffections of those unhappy wretches which he brings to draw under the yoke of his awe, whereof our age swarms with examples, which I am content to dismiss for this time, by reason of the superfluity of the same, & refer you to the sequile of this Luchin, who dandled (as it were upon the lap offollye and, served with nothing but dishes of delit & ●●●●●are, could not bear so even a hand upon the bridle of his affections, but or he wist he let slip the steady reign of his liberty & became extremely in love with a simple maid, whose beauty he accounted of more price, than herself or parents noble by discente or other special assistance of fortune. And albeit his parsonage and living with thestimation of other gifts which nature had lente him above the rest, seamed sufficiently able to make him meritorious of favour of the best Lady of a country, yet love (having neither respect to his race nor regarding his greatness) did close his eyes from the view of such as were able to answer him in equality of discente & virtue, and converted his heart and affection to the contemplation of a simple maid, whose name albeit is not of such veneration as Camylle and Lucretia, whose high titles only do import a certain semblance and credit of honesty in the person of a public courtesan, yet her chastity with womanly government, deserveth no less commendation than the most approved of ancient time, for being the daughter of a poor man, she grudged not with the portion of poverty, but thought it a principal virtue to embrace the lot of her state with thankful contentment, & be careful to relieve the hard condicon of her parents with the honest endeavour of her hands, she made not her beauty, a looking glass for the world, but studied to be worthy of so precious a jewel, she would not suffer her body to be pampered with delicacy, least her mind should be subject to th'infection of evil, nor give any place to thalarmes of the flesh, least the same should prevail above her resistance, & being of the age of fifteen or sixteen years, her modesty was of no less admiration serving, as a lantern to light all the ladies of jeyne, than her beauty (without a second) able to allure the best assured of a country, whose first view and simple regard, brought such sudden astonishment to the lofty mind of this Luchyn, that after he had conferred the secret mystery, which nature had hidden in her face, with the special 
Beauty.  gift of seamely behaviour bestowed upon her by God, his heart seamed enchanted, & eyes as limed with the glance of her looks, not able to withdraw their regards from the contemplation of so perfect a beauty, which was not set out to the sale, by any artificial means of painting or assistance of powder or other vain experience of divers of our counterfeit maskers now a days, neither did she seam to prefer any suborned bravery for th'advancement 
Women seam maskers in painting their faces.  of so precious a dowry, either by superfluous frizilation of the hear, twinkling of the eye, wrynginge the lip, or wresting the chin, mincing or measuring her pace, as though her joints were out of tune, or tied together with points, or other lewd gestures devised by the courtesan, and practised as a principle and chief grace at this day, by divers of our delicatt and wanton dames: who not weighing the due merit of so precious an ornament, & less worthy to wear so rare a badge of nature, do abuse the goodness of them both, in convertting the only gift of God into a detestable mean to aggravate sin.  
And receiving thus the first somonce of love, whose arrows being feathered with the wing of infection, do leave the heart wounded with a burning desire to pursue th'instigation of our appetit, he found himself to weak to abide any more alarums, albeit striving a little at the first to defend his liberty, with the intent to answer appeal to th'uttermost of his forces, he brewed the broth of his own ●ale, & renewed the torment of his passion in such sort, that there were few days in that wherein he performed not his pale walk afore the lodging of his fair janiquette, whom if by any adventure his roving eyes did spy at the door, he forgot not to salute, with no less humility, then if she had been one of the greatest ladies in jeane, courting her besides with a low reverence & other offices of dutiful civility, in no less reverend manner then if he had presented his service to the greatest princess of Italy which also drive the girl into some amaze, as one not exsperienced in the order of such amarus greetings, and less used to be saluted by any gentleman equal in calling or condition to Siegneur Luchyn, whose fame as it was great both by the authority he bore in the City & reputation of his living, with other gifts and ornaments of nature, So it drive her into double astonishment to construe the meaning of his new courtesy, albeit leaving the divination of his intent, to a time of more leisure, she retired to the virtue of her good nurture, for that which she was no less meritorious, then embraced (as you see) for her beauty, And drawing the blood of seamly shame into her face, which set such a glass of natural white & red of her commplexion, that her coollor seamed to be died in the dew of the fragrant morning of May, & returned his curtsy with a salutation of semblable humility, wherein he rejoiced with more contentment of mind, then if the Queen of Spain had yielded him favour to kiss her hand. But what need he tickle himself to make himself laugh, or why did he not eschew the presence and place of his enemy, rather than seam so subject to the sommonce of his eye, to whom love hath given the gift of flattery to deceive the rest of the parts, for if at the first he had corrected the flickering reaporte of his eyes, his heart had been free from desire, & he not at the brink of passion, & torments, & if at the biginning, he had abandoned the place, he had also dismissed the remembrance of that, which now hath bound him to pursue 
beauty.  the quest of his own disquiet, neither doth he other thing in visiting the place where she is, then throw water upon hot ymbers, which dobleth the heat, and forceth the flame with more expedition, for the more he beheld her, and the less she regarded him, the greater grew his affection, giving triple increase to his desire. And albeit she was neither fyne in attire, set out in robes of rich array, nor decked with apparel for the more decoration of her natural beauty, yet appeared she no less precious in the eye of this gallande, then if she had been trimmed for the nonce, in the same order that the poets feign of the brown Egypciane when she was brought to lie with the Roman captain Marcus Antonius. He failed not to reiterate his haunt with an ordinary trade to the streets of ●aniquette, resolving his common abode or place of stay right over against her lodging which increased her doubt of that mystery, till nature that discusseth the darkness of such doubts, and brings the most rude creatures of the world to be capable in the arguments of love, revealed unto her the meaning of that riddle, saying that the rounds and often tornes with vaylinge of bonnett which the proud pirott made afore the door of her fortress, was no other thing than the enticing harmony of the sirens, or other stolen to allure or make her pliable to th'appetite of 
Mearemaides  his will, wherein she was the rather resolved for certainty, for that within short time, passing that way, he imagined a stay right over against her house, Where feeding the time for the nonce in devise with one of his friends, gave skoape to his eyes to peruse (with continual contemplation) the majesty of his mistress in such sort, that one of her companions exercising also the use of the needle, encountered by chance she greedy regards he cast to janiquette, to whom saith she, thou art little beholding to the goodness of fortune, that seams so great an enemy to the merit of thy beauty, for if thy condition or calling would admit the advancement, which the present preferment of nature doth offer thee, no doubt thou shouldest become in short time the honour & decoration of all thy house, for touching the resolution of mine eyes & judgement of my conceit, proceeding of the devouring regards yonder gentleman casteth towards thee, he is not only the bondman of thy beauty, but also so addicted to the service of the same, that only thou janiquette may dispose of him his honour & life & all that he hath. And truly thou art not so happy to be the controller of so noble a champion, as of little discretion, if thou make small account of his service, which the very greatest dames of our province, would reserve as a special relic or jewel, neither oughtest thou to make thy beauty of such price, as the respect thereof should prevail above the goodness of so great an offer, seeing that the walls of this town do enclose a number of young Ladies and gentlewomen, that exceeding the in beauty and bringing up, would not seam curious in admitting the benefit of so good a fortune.  
Whereunto the honest janiquetten, that neither took pity of his pains, nor allowed his endeavour, & less liked the persuasions of her companion, who peradventure boarded her so far to make a proof of her honesty, replied no less wisely, then with more discretion then commonly we note now a days in one of her years.  
If I were borne (quoth she) under thinfluence of fortune, or 
janiquetta answereth her companion  bound to abide the sentence of her doom; I were not unlike to perform th'expectation of thy allurements, but seeing I am derived of a contrary constellation, moostring always under the ensign & colours of virtue, I have my self conduit at all times to withstand thinvasion of such infections, with authority to defy the malice of any such accident. And touching the commendations which you seem to give to mon Seigneur Luchin, both in the title of honour, estimation of his public authority in th'affairs of this city, together with his dexterity in all gifts incident to a gentleman, I say, ●he more plentifully he is considered at the hands of God with a singularity in such ornaments, So much the more ought he to study to seam worthy of so rare a participation, not converting the virtue of his talon given him from above, into a sinister intent & disposition of wickedness to seduce the chastity of simple maids, whose faults (if any be) he ought rather to reprehend with severity, than minister corruption contrary to the commission of his honour, neither shall be at any time (I hope) prevail so over my beauty, as the use of the same shall give him other contentment than a friendly ●oniour of the mouth, which all honest maids may do without prejudice, thinking the friendship of nature of no greater moment in giving me the title of fair, than the virtue meritorious in preserving the same (according to the merit) without spot of infamy or worthy reproach of the world, for her offence is double afore God (sayeth she) and triple scandalous in the mouth of the multitude, that exchaungeth her beauty (being a chief sign and argument of grace which God hath painted in the face of a woman (as the philosopher saith) for any other price (how great so ever it appear) then the honest pawn & gauge of lawful matrimony, according to th'institution of our saviour, who allowing chief the oblation of chastity, doth condemn the contrary into peremptory destruction, and what have we in this world that we ought to make so dear account of, as our honest name, being the thing that yields us not only an admiration whilst we enjoy the use of life upon earth, but also makes us live after our death with a perpetual commendation of our integrity to the remeinder of our race. Dost not thou know (my dear Maryone) that in the sweet and dewy mornings of the spring, there appears certain flowers no less delightful to the beholders, then yielding an odiferous smell with an enticing desire to be gathered so long as their fragrant and fresh perfumes endures, but when the heat of the son (perching the gallands of Aurora) shall pierce thorough both boodd and root, and mortify the lively hew of such brickle creatures, the flower is not only forgotten and loathed, which erst was so much embraced, but the desire of all men taken away as though there never had been any such, like wise the glistering apple growing upon the high sprays in the pleasant lands of Angeau, seems a thing of great delectation to the eye, & of no less pleasant taste so long as he is entire and without corruption, but after the worm hath either made a breach, or his greens or pleasant maturity lost his force, and converted into a rotten ripeness, his beauty dekaies with desire any longer to keep him, Even so a maid what poverty soever oppress her, so long as she keeps unspotted her surname and title of chastity, is not only admitted, but also may challenge place amongst the best of a country, but when the caterpillor hath once cropped the leaf and devow red the boodd, the tree doth not only die and perish with infamy, but the remembrance of such stock and fruit remeines in the records of reproach to the opening of the great book of general account, when all faltes shallbe revealed and punished according to their disposition and quality. And sewer it is better for a woman of what degree soever she be, to die with honour, and buyrye the burden of honest renown with her body in the grave, then enjoying the fruition of life, to be marked of the multitude with a note of general rebuke which (as a moothe in a garment) will not cease to eat and devour her present estimation, and make notorious besides every age of her succession by the desert of her disordered life, losing the only cause that makes me joy in myself with so great desire to live, wherein because I may the rather per form th'effect of this last resolution, I will first with an unfeigned heart, make invocation to the highest for th'assistance of his grace, to guard me from thassaults and peppered provocations of the flesh, and then cut of all such occasions as may eftsoons advance the suggestion of the same, or seam any way an impediment to the vow I have presently made, which I doubt not willbe arms sufficient enough to repulse the alarums of Signeur Luchyn, & raise the siege which I see he hath planted against the fortress of my chastity, wherein she omitted not th'execution, for from that instant, she kept herself unseen of any, but her friends and kinsfolks, coming little or nothing abroad, and less willing to be spied out of windows or stand at the door, leaving thereby an example worthy of imitation to all estates and sorts of women, but specially, such gigges, and prattling housewives, as can not content themselves with the air of the house, nor give one prick with the needle, oneless she sit at the door, as though her exercise were only to maintain chat with the street walkers, or keep a standing and make challenge against all comers, which is the thing, that (you mothers) and tutors of little girls ought chiefly to respect in the direction of your tender charges, I mean to bridle and bring up your pupils and imps that have folly tied on their backs, in the awe of correction, & if they transgress the order of good government, you must not forget to offer them the rack and torments of the rod, which, you must minister unto them in the greens of their yer es, and affore the tenderness of youth with want of discrection will suffer them to discern their own inclination, for as the Philosopher termeth them, to be a kind of cattle more apt to decline, than any other reasonable creature, so saith he) if they get once the bit between their tooth, and crop of the hearbée of ryotus will, it is harder to reclaim them either hy awe, fear, compulsion or gentle entreaty, than the wild haggard or rammish falcon by any cunning or devise of their keeper, besides as a maid is a jewel of no less great price, then rarely to be found, so she is a vessel most brickle and easy to be broken, and being once either crack or corrupted, she liveth in none other account then in common wonder of the people and pointed at of all the world.  
Wherefore, you mothers that in the bringing up of your daughters, will give ashowe of your own virtue, with no less care of the honour of your children, must forget to pamper your younglines with presents of their wills, or dandle them upon the lap of dame folly, but feed them 
The nurse.  rather with the discipline of good nurture, not sparing the order of due correction, least you spill the future hope and expectation of their well doing, and better it is to have a maid smell of honest simplicity, using a temperate silence in her tongue and order of talk, than (ytalianated in legerdemaines of subtlety, and pricked full of the feathers of foolish pride), to have the tongue of a popingaie, babbling without order or discretion, for that the one is a virtue of itself, and the very line to lead her to advancement, and in practicing the other, she procures a discredit to her parents for their negligence in her education, and herself but laughed at in the company of wise and discrete dames, and that (which worse is) led by such guides into the bottom les pit of everlasting infamy: Remember th'advise of Marcus Aurelius who writing of the slipper disposition of some women, with instruction to abridge the peremptory humour which nature hath given them, gives this general charge to all governors of nurseries & tutors of little girls, that they stand so surely upon the guard of thonour of their charges, that they neither be seen out of windows, stand as stales at the door, suffered to visit any place of thordinary hawnte of men, called to secret conference without commission or company of her keapor, but also bard thaccess and presence of all men, for that (saith he) the ill can not be utterly prevented, unless the causes that may procure it be clean taken away, neither is it possibe for a Lady to keep the reputation of her honour, that makes herself incident to the hawnte of great companies, with desire to be a common feast maker and visit every banquet, and the more she is innested with honour and high calling, the more care is due to the preservation of so great a title, and less liberty or licence is enjoined her to range a broad or seek to satisfy thappetite of her pleasure, and her salt of triple slander in the mouths of the blasphemous number, which albeit is without the compass of my history, yet I thought it not unmeet to note this little remembrance, both to warn them that use less care, then is necessary to prevent so great a mischief, and to wish all Ladies to account their honour, as the gift of god and special ornament of their life, which I could enlarge with copy of authorities, if I had the assistance of convenient time, and consent of my history, willing me now to repair to ●aniquette who persuading great impossibility in a young maid of enticing beauty desierus to enncownter thamarus glées of men, and keep cacquett with all comers, to escape either without some great salt in th'abuse of her body, or at least to leave occasion of suspicion and jeleus' opinion of her honesty, among such as use commonly to record the life and doings of great Ladies, loughte to prevent the like accident with a contrary virtue, for keeping herself (for the most part) within the house of her father, she barred thaccess of Luchyn, and closed her eyes from the view of his presence, and if at some time her affairs required her to visit the door, and Luchyn (by like chance) reiterate his appeal with semblable summons and salutations of accustomed courtesy, she fixed her eyes upon her work, dissembling not to see the thing which her heart cold not brook, and her eyes detested to behold, and doubting that under the vail● of that masked humility and kind of courting not convenient for her calling, might lurk some secret mischief and displeasure of double consequence, she seemed to abhor both the one and the other with equal detestation, and converting his sighs into air, and tears to pay him the hire of his folly, she seamed only to supply the whole time of her being there, in the company of her companions, leaving poor Luchyn no less amazed at these new toys and tricks of a haggard, than (at the first) he took pleasure, when she requited him with semblable glee, all which notwithstanding cold neither discourrage him from the pursuit of the resolution of his mind, nor put him in despair of his future fortune, thinking that time would remove the vail of her rigour, and convert her into a creature more pliable, assisted therein with thoppinionopinion of such as accounting small conquest of things gotten with little labour, do yield the greatest glory to that which is won with thextremity of time and travel. And being still nourished with the hope of victory, renewed eftsoons his purmenades & palewalkes affore herdoare, advancing himself so farfurth sometimes, that he entered into devise & discourse of love, albeit so coldly, that the same neither declared thimportance of his desire, nor bewrayed the present passion of his mind, whereunto notwithstanding she gave so slender regard, that her reply dismissed him which no less contentment for the present, than likelihood of better success hereafter. It is a custom amongst the jeneveys and all the province about, that the young men, having poeseys of flowers, and meeting their mistresses in the streets or elsewhere may present them there with, without any mislike or cause of suspicion of the people, being also a note of no less courtesy, for the woman having flowers in her hand or bosom, to make like return to her servant, which kind of courting thamarus Luchyn forgatt not too prefer as a testey of his service and furtherer of his suit, for watching long time the hawnte of his mistress, he found her at last not only alone and void of company, but in place convenient to put his long request upon terms, which, greeting of fortune or gift of happy chance, if it were welcomme to him, I leave it to the judgement of such, as languishing in the like disease, dare neither discover their grief, nor demand their due remedy, and having (of purpose peradventure) certain jelly flowers in his hand, which were of more price, because winter raged then with extremity of could, the chiefest enemy too flowers and tender boods on th'earth, he saluted her with his request in this sort.  
If the continuance of my service were able to warrant 
Luchyne wooeth janiquaette.  me at length, the merit of the same, or the offer of any hope (in the mean time) had virtue to procure moderation to my passion, the one should not end but by the sentence of death, and the other would I embrace as a special preserver of my life, but saying the one is of no less moment with you, than the other unlikely too happen, I am driven to exclaim against your beauty, as the only cause of my grief, and entire enemy to my rest, but chiefly thunnatural rigour which you suffered, to rampire himself so deeply in thentrails of your heart, and seel your eyes of compassion, against me, that you will neither admit, my tears, sighs, and other pitiful regards without number, whereof the pale complexion of my face, with other trembling joints of therterior parts, have made sufficient declaration, nor credit the infinite simptomes and thundringe alarums which the only glymmeringe view of your beauty, ceaseth not to minister to the weak forces of my feeble heart, who as your prisoner, ready to resign the keys and castle of his liberty, is hear become the pitiful solycitor of his own cause, conjuring you by that compassion which ought to accompany so rare and precious an ornament of nature, to remove at last the vail of your former cruelty, and in beholding what power love hath given you over me, to dismiss all delays of comfort, and admit me into your service, that have vowed never to depart out of the least of your commandments, whereunto she was driven to answer, rather by compulsion of the place and time, than any desire to debate with him in a matter of such vanity.  
The merit of your service (Sir saith she,) is far greater, than I can or may grant his due meed, and your passion 
janiquetta answereth Luchyn.  like to be restored by her that is ignorant of the cause, and less knoweth the order of your disease, And touching the rest of your protestation, coated rather with arguments of illusions and subtle ceremonies to seduce my simplicity, thenne any resemblance of virtue or intent to expose the fruits of true affection, I can not answer with other terms, then just disdain of your liberal offer, with little care you use to the reputation of mine honour, neither is it to me that you ought to address this ambush or train of allurements, considringe the inequality of our houses, denieth a consent of marriage, and to grant love to one that craves it in other sort then th'institution of that sacred law doth allow, I think if no less detestable afore god, than a spot of perpetual infamy, which time itself can not raze out of the remainder of my house, and small honour is it for you to pursue a quest of so little a vail, whose beginning as it proceeded of a superfluity of found humours, raging without reason or guide of virtue, so the continuance will ymporte but a discredit to your calling, and the end, yield you neither content meant nor commendation, wherefore I pray you suffer, th'assurance of my virtue to work her force, who in correcting the running appetit of your folly, will make you master of yourself, and let not so vain a thing as the simple glance of beauty (which is more apt to decline then able to endure) prevail above your ancient estimation of honour, nor draw you without the limits and bonds of your calling, for, for my part, I have enclosed mine honour and life together in one vessel, with intent to make a present of them both at one instant to him, whom I beseech may 
God.  take away your trance, and restore you to your entire, and defend me at all times from thinvasion of so pernicious an enemy.  
What saith he (not without some argument of colour) do I seam altogether unworthy of your favour, or am I not likely to perform th'offer of my service: both the one and the other, Quod janiqneta, for I ought not, nor will not, pass a grant of my good will to any, but such as the Law of the Church, and consent of my friends, shall enjoin me to marry, neither can you do agreater wrong to your own estimation, then in embasing your greatness, to become the servant, of so poor a maid, as I, And albeit you were contented to make an equality and indifferent distribution of the greatness of your estate, with the little estimation that for tune hath preferred me unto, yet the grudge of my conscience quarreling with the foulness of the act, will neither suffer me to admit your offer, nor consent to your request, desiring you for end, to exchange your intent, and make a present of your service to some other that knoweeth how to requited so great a courtesy better than I, for I neither like your phrase nor circumstance, and much less determine to spend any longer time with you, wherewith albeit he began eftsoons to reply with that offer of his flowers, which she refused, she whipped into the house, and shoot the door upon the nose of her amarus client, who became so amazed with the soddaines of the fact, that he seamed as one new fallen out of the clouds or dreaming of the dissolution of the world, at last, being past the mystery of his trance, he repaired to his house, with his head full of proclamations, where, entering into a war of new devices, he seamed to double his torment, not able to imagine the mean to win the good will of the maid, who seamed no less hard to be plied, than the sharpest and most steape rocks upon all the coast of spain: love had so infected him with desire to enjoy her, that he could have persuaded himself to have married her, if it had not been for the ympedyment of his parents, whose displeasure he knew would stretch so far, that they would not stick too destroy the maid to th'end the note of such a fact might be utterly extirped and rooted out of the remembrance of all ages, besides, th'estimation of himself, appeared also as a stay to his meaning, and the authority he bore in the city of no less effect to dissuade him, and yet the poison that first 
love.  infected him, prevailing above the force of any persuasions, presenting him eftsoons a new hope, to cool the maidenhead of janiquette, declared unto him that both she and her parents, were the children of povertis, and that there was no door so strong, but a golden key might open his lock, nor fortress of such strength but he would yield to thoffer of money wherefore restored to a fresh hope, with the offer of this new devise, and desierus to see what these ministers cold do by their art, he addressed him to one of his neighbours 
Gold and silver.  of no less familiarity, then great trust with janiquette, whom he so conjured with the charm of his pleasant tongue, & certain pieces of gold, that marched between them, that she promised to become the solicitor of his cause, and give such a charge to the maid, that she should not find such cunning to confute her raisins, as she seamed valiant in the repulse of thassaults of her lover, who because his messeinger should not depart unarmed at all points, he willed her to be no niggard of large promises, offering whole mountains of gold, silver, or jewels, or any other thing of what price so ever it were, that seamed any way able to pierce her and make her pliable to his desire, and if she be assailed (saith he) with the common fear that troubles all women, I mean if she doubt the swelling of her belly, assure her, that I will not only marry her to her contentation, but make her portion worth a thousand doccates: his neighbour albeit, her art was not to deal in messages of love, and that she esteemed greatly the chastity of maids, yet comparing the poverty of janiquette, with his present promiss to relieve it, gave him eftsoons a second assurance of her diligence, with protestation to make her strike sail and come under his lee, wherein she was deceived, for neither his large promises, nor presents of great price could persuade her, and much less thoration of the messenger who uttered the cause of her coming in this sort.  
Recording (my girl) the hard condition of thy present 
The bawd wooeth janiquette.  state, I find the same more subject to a clymatt of long continuance, then in hope or apt to be relieved by any industry of thy parents, who albeit have he retofore enjoyed the goodness of fortune, and borne a port of honest calling, 
Riches.  yet thowe seest they are now in the danger of desolation, and fallen so far into the malice of poverty, that they want means not only to supply the needy disposition of their own life, but also to prefer the to advauncement due to thy deserving, I grieve no less also to see the flower of thy youth slip away by such stealth, and the pyninge misery of thy parents to be an impediment to the preferment of thy beauty, which albeit is honoured of a number with the offer of marriage yet when they have sifted thy state & tried to thutermost the small inheritance and simple dowry of thy father, they do not only disclaim their s●te, but seam to depart and break of, as though they were infected with some contagius disease of your house, wherefore seeing the despair in thy parent's ability takes away all hope of assistance at their hands or by their means, and that fortune once in the course of our life, doth put into our hands the offer of a good torn: if thowe wilt repose thyself upon my advise, I will set the in better state, then ever was the best of thy house, the maid dowting no treason in her old neighbour, with less expectation to hear that which she imagined least, inquired her opinion.  
My advise saith she (I know will drive you into some amaze at the first, as a thing neither convenient for mine age, nor seamely for my calling, and disagreeing wholly from mine ancient order and custom of doing, albeit if thou make a care of thy proffitt, thowe wilt not stick to pursue the benefit of thy fortune, neither will my council ymporte such prejudice for the present as the sequel in short time yield the a tribute of triple proffitt: I have hard of late that there is a young gentleman in this town, so extremely in love and desirous of thy beauty, that he accounts nothing so dear as the thing that may like thee, and yieldeth detestation to that which thou loathest, neither would he spare the massy store of his treasure, or large revenue of his living, nor stick to make the peril of his life, the price of thy good will and favour, with this addition also, that if thou wilt make him the master of his request, and pass a grant of that he requires, to provide the marriage to thy contentation, with the dowry of a thousand doocates, whereof I have commission to make the assurance: me thinks a salt done in secret, is half pardoned, and one offence brings no custom of sin, wherefore use thy discretion, and think that time will dispatches the of him, when thou mayst reatorne home loaden with the spoil of his richesses and jewels. Here janiquette suppressing the just cause of her anger, with a marvelous modesty, not commonly seen in one of her calling and bringing up, seamed, for the only respect of the old years of her neighbour, to close her mouth from open exclamation against her lewd abuse, and answering with more moderation, than th'importance of her wrong required, replied in this sort. 
janiquette reprehendeth● the bawd.   
What villainy can be greater, then to make a common merchandise of that, which ought not to be bought but by virtue, or what disposition of more detestation in any christyen, then for a woman to make a sale of her honour, and measure so precious a jewel, by the price of her profit? Do you think, that either the view of riches or jewels or prodigal offers with large promises, are able to do more, than the long offer of service with general commendation of the gifts that be in him, which hath suborned you to prefer this embassage? or who is she of so villenus a nature, to with stand the sundry alarames of tears, with pitiful summons of so many sighs, and yield at length to the detestable heralte of all corruption? No, no, if I had liked the bargain, my consent had come freely, without the earnest penny of 
Money.  filthy marriage, which you seam to prefer with an offer of a dowry, confirmed by an assurance or warranty of your commission, is it possible that yielding him the flower of my virginity, to make a profession of true friendship to any other, but that the blood of shame will renew the remembrance of my former salt? sewer if he prevail so far, and win that point of me, the place shallbe several to himself, and the breach not entered by any other, neither 
A maid ought to defend her honesty, even to the last drop of her blood.  shall he triumph long in the victory, nor I live to Lament the loss, for as it is the true property of a pure maid to defend that ornament to th'uttermost gasp of her breath, and if by destiny, the force of the oppresser prevail above her strength, to persecute him to death with the loss of her own life, so if I be not able to perform the one, these hands shallbe the bloody ministers of the other to the great contentment of me, & open shame of him that shall survive, for it is long since I was persuaded, that an honest death, is the renown of the life passed, for the rest, to th'end the present wrong you have done me, may serve hereafter to state the course of your rashness in the like affairs, with promiss & protestation to proceed no further in like dishonesty, I pray you persuade yourself, that if you conclude & knit up the latter remeinder of your years in the practice of abominable endeavours, the commendation of your life passed, willbe converted into the title of a common bawd, swearing unto you for my part by the faith of a pure virgin, that if it were not for the respect of the honesty I have hitherto noted in you, & honour that I own to the old years and virtue of your age, I would so publish your doing, that your present message, should reproach you, in what company so ever you come. Wherewith she so choked her old 
The Shebaud in London car yeth a basket in her hand, the he bawd a ring in his mouth.  neygbor, that was not so mystical in the convey of such trades, as divers of our chandellors and superstitious basket bearers in London, who not only make a profession of bawdry, but live by the filthy gain proceeding of that art, and having nothing to reply, desired janiquetta to pardon her, alleging that the care and compassion she had of her poverty, procured those terms, rather than any desire to seduce her, and so departing with her short shame, & less profit, made particular relation of her success to the amarus Luchyn, who hearing the sentence of despair, seamed no less passioned with present dolor, then if he had been sharply assailed with a fit of the burning fever: he entered straight way into the pageant of a mad man, pasing his chamber with uncertain steps, and throwing his arms a cross upon his breast, with his eyes directed to the heavens, began to imagine how to pass the mystery of this trance, which sudden silence served chief as a special supply, to restore the war with contraryetye of his thoughts, for the more he went about to extirpp the remembrance of his mistress, and commit her to utter oblivion, the more he made himself subject to her beauty, and grafted more strongly the roots of affection in the bottom of his heart.  
And sewer it is no small matter for a man that is in love, pursuing the good will of his Lady with continual importunities, the space of two or three years, and receive nothing but the offer of a vain and uncertain hope, which feeds the mind with such suggestions and arguments of good success, that every repulse seams to present a flattering favour, and the breath of every rigorous word, imports an enticing allurement, until despair (blowing the retreat of that war, do publish his commission to dismiss all hope and likelihood of future success.  
The large fields enuyronning the great city of jeyne, seamed to lack skoape and compass to comprehend the multitude of thoughts, with diversity of imaginations, that even now, occupied the head of Luchin, who exclayming upon the haggard disposition of his mistress, forgot not also to forge cause of complaint against love, for that as a blind guide, he had lad him into the bottomless gulf of fancy, and leaving him there ready to be devoured with the raging waves of affection, would not show him the way to come out, and eschew so great and present a peril, albeit he ought rather to have reprehended his own simplicity, and weakness of spirit, which (with the want of assurance in virtue) made him subject, to that, which all wise men ought to govern with awe and correction, I mean the sensual appetites and provocations of the flesh, which are or ought to serve, as slaves, to the place and house of our raisin.  
Luchyn prolonging his passion with an increase of disquiet, seamed to fall from complaints of dole, into terms of Syria, and feeding altogether upon the herb and appetit of rage, suffered himself, to be so much infected with the humour of frenzy, that his wrath was turned into woddnes, wherein as the desperate lover doth seldom measure his sleep, by the length of the nights, so he seamed here to exceed the ravenous order of the greedy wolf, hunting his uncerteine pray in the dark, for some time he rolled upon a bed, and some time wallowed upon the rushes in the flore, and now and then, for a change of exercise, he tried the hardness of the posts, with the knocks of his head, and albeit he had the liberty of a long gallery, with five or six chambers to rove and run at his pleasure, yet judging the same not circuit sufficient to contain the circumstance of his passion, he committed one part of his discourse to the witness of the air, within a fair garden, yielding prospect to the window of his gallery, where making invocation to the moon (as the lantern that then gave light to the earth) craved that she would open her vessels of pity, and let fall some drops of consolation in a shower of moisture, to quench the burning heat of his torments, which he thought were thundered upon him, rather by the sentence, and doom of his angry destiny, then as a desert and due merit of his own folly, and being in despair to dispatch himself out of that danger, confirmed here by experience, the opinion of the Philosopher, who treating de Fragilitate humana, describeth the gates and fore front of the palace of mischief, to be painted with allurements and enticinge provocations to enter, but being within, you fall (saith he) ymediately into the pit of torments, worse than the goolphe or lake of hell, nenyther can you have saffeconduitt too retire at your pleasure, argewing hereby that it is far easier, to fall into the hands of danger, then to purchase a dispense of peril, and that the diseases be more ordinary and common, than the remedy ready to restore the patiented.  
It was both pleasure and pity, to hear him quarrel with his fortune, with complaint of his mishap, sometime blaming the simplicity & faintness of his courage, in yielding his heart prisoner, & himself captiff to so mean a parsonage, and to convert the benefit of his former liberty into a continual care and desiere of a beauty, less durable than the flickering gloss of the fresh marigold, mostering in Orient colours all the day, till the declininge of the son do so●on him to resign & retire to a withered stalk, and omitting no sort of exclamations, he accused greatly thimbecility of men, that are so apt to be made subject to the thing that is derived 
Women derived of t'him perfection of men.  of thimperfection of themselves, and ordained (from the beginning) to be their vassals, and at commandment to serve them in their necessary affairs, but, by and by he seamed to quarrel with his rash imputation, in blaspheming so unworthily that noble sect, wherewith examining the deformity and wants in himself, resolved the same to be the cause of her just disdain & his evil fortune: for (saith he) I have known divers (favoured with the gifts of nature and assistance of courtlike education), that have reaped other rewards of their service, than the rigour of my mistress will expose, neither is there any woman, how simple so ever she be, that hath not a capacity to discern both good and ill, and judgement to consider, the merit of him that makes her a present of his service: At last he fell into terms of commendation of his mistress, with repetition of her gifts and virtue, wherein accounting her the paragon of his time, he wished her derived of some noble house, to th'end the greatness of her race, might give increase to the renown of her virtue and chastity, which he thought but to constant, for the purpose he went about, desi●ringe to enjoy her, but as his secret friend, and convert her into a fountain to satisfy the thirst of his pleasures, wished that such immovable constancy & perfection of mind, might find always place of abode in such as men do choose for their wives, and lawful companions of their bed, wherewith as he filled the air with the sighs of his complaints, and fed the eyes of his mind with a secret contemplation of his cruel mistress, the messenger of of Aurora, pronownsinge the approach of the day, in discovering certain skarlett beams of the son, in the bottom of the east firmament, gave end too his discourse, which was begun at the rising of the moon and whether it were that the long complaint of his grief, had brought some moderation to his passion, or themptiness of his brain for want of sleep, moved him to put confidence in dreams, or whether a new suggestion of the spirit, which first possessed him, presented a fresh hope or 
Love.  likelihood of that which he ought to have for gotten, or what it was, it is harder to judge, then easy to eschew, but entering into a little arbour or cabinet curiously decked with divers bows & branches of odiferous smell, he took his lute and recorded his sorrow, in the tune of an old song, which he found written of long time by a Poet, shod with the same Iron, and wounded with a semblable weapon, the end of which dolerus record, seamed to import such sudden consolation, that having thereby (as it were a present passport of his former passion) gave judgement with them that are stricken with the serpents of Tarrantyne, that music is a chief mean to break the bed of fancy, and prevent despair ready to invade the doubtful mind, which gave him courage eftsoons to commence a second harmony, whose end stirred up a remembrance of his former sorrow, and restoring a fresh alaram of his amarus thoughts, made him immediately abandon his lute and books of music, and going to bed he accounted some ease to lie hid under his canopy, hoping that being oppressed with sleep, the conceit of his dream, serving as a looking glass for contemplation of his mistress, would bring him some contentment and dispense of his dolor, which as it is a kind of cold consolation, and pleasure of no great delight, with less continuance, so it includes comparison of the lovers estate, with the order of little children, who when they weep, are pleased with tryffles, delytinge more in the lolling of the nurse: then in the offer of A monarch.  
But now to janiquetta, who during the solitary time, and desolate abode of Luchyn, in his house, was married by the travel and assistance of her friends, to a mariner or master of a ship, whose trade was to convey the merchants of all parts, from port to port, as their traffic and trade required: this marriage was no sooner performed in the church, but fame filling the ears of LUCHYN, made him partaker of the news, with advise to renew the earnest of his fomer bargain with a double diligence, and triple desire, preferring (as it were) an assured hope of speedy victory, the rather for that he accounted the marriage a convenient mean to cover the salt of his fowl desire, wherein he received a success of his former attempts, for she that detested his endeavour, being at liberty, thought the offence of double disposition in offending God and the world in breaking the league of her faith and vow of obedience to her husband▪ whose simplicity and state subject to need and lack, Luchyn forgatt not to feed with large proffers of his friendship, in such sort as what with the hope of his assistance, and fear of the authority he bore then in the city, he had him (as it were) in a familiar awe, neither suspecting his access too his house, nor misliking his conference with his wife, of whom notwithstanding he could not obtain but the use of words, which as she durst not deny, for the respect of awe and honour which her husband bare to him, so having a notable wisdom joined with her rare gift of chastity, reposing herself in the grace of GOD, to defend her honour, kept his meaning secret, and would not communicate the foulness of his intent to any and much less to her waspish husband, leaving in example to all Ladies, not sufficient in virtue, rather to resist all such alarums of them selves, or at least make a secret concealment, then in bewraing their awne weakness to breed a bees nest, in the heads of their husbands with reaportes of small substance.  
But now the amarus traffic of Luchyn, and common haunt to the mariners house, began to breed a doubt of his doing amongst his nearest friends, who not knowing of the marriage of JANIQVETTE, imagined what might happen, and (as careful gardens of their nephew) studied to prevent the wourste, wherefore least th'allurement of her beauty and disposition of his folly, might unhappily conclude, a secret contract between them, they accosted him one day with earnest request, that in ceasing at last to pursue the wanton instigations of his youth, he would cross sail and retire to a trade of honest life, wherein say they (very loath 
The friends of Luchyn persuade him to marry age and amendment of life.  to offend him) albeit we have no great cause to infer imputation of any heinous enormity, or desorder not convenient, yet seeing the pleasant time of your young years slip away, under a vail of vain and barren life, whose sequel (if in time you abridge not the race of your Ronninge course) argues no small inconvenience to yourself, with great discredit to your dead father, we have thought good to enter into devise for preserving of that which yet remeines, and to prevent the malice of future time, wherefore 
Honour and living.  according to the credit, and resolved trust reapposed in us, by your late father, the very remembrance of whom, restores us to a special care and zeal of your honour and well doing, we wish you to convert this idle and desolate order of living, into a disposition and desire of honest marriage, whereby you shall not only deceive thexspectation of that had sort, devyninge already of your destruction, but eschew the sentence of ordinary mischief, appointed to fall upon such, as wallowing in sensual pleasures, regard not the honour and estimation of their house, and which appears even ready, to thunder upon you, if you dispatch not yourself of the principal cause of this great and ymynente misfortune, wherein for a declaration of the special care we have of you, we present you hear with a frank offer of our travail, diligence and council, to be ready at all times to assist you in the choice of her, whom god shall enjoin you to make the lawful come panion of your bed.  
The young man understanding sufficiently their intent, cut of their further discourse with his promise, not only to make speedy exchange of his former trade, but also commits himself wholly to their discretion and wisdom's, with resolution to be ready to enter into marriage with such one, as they judged, of equality, and every way convenient for his condition & calling, wherein there was such expedition of diligence used by his friends, that within a space of two or three months, he was married, no less richly, then honourably, and to a beauty sufficient to content a reasonable man, whereof if any rejoiced with good cause, I think it was poor janiquette, who persuading herself, to be rid by this means of an ymportunat client, blessed the goodness of her fortune, in providing so well for thenemy of her honour, and delivering her with honesty from the danger of his charms, albeit her conceit was answered with a contrary success.  
And as our nature for the most part now a days is grown to such corruption, by a continual desire of filthy gain 
Nothing 〈◊〉 sausfye the couetus●●s of man.  that (as Aristotle saith) nothing is able to satisfy the covetousness of man, Euenso th'infection of love (after he have once prevailed above the wholesome parts in us) is of such wonderful operation that he doth not only, choke the gift of our understanding, in such sort as we are found more apt to embrace the things that be hurtful, then able to follow the loare of wisdom and virtue, but also takes away the respect and duty of our conscience, which you may easily discern in the discurse of this Luchyn, who notwithstanding the vow he made to god, and honour that every man ought to give to marriage, could not content himself, with the company of his own wife, but renewed his resort with alarames of fresh ymportunyties to poor JANIQVETTA, which being noted and spied divers times of his wife, made her doubt that which was not, and albeit she was resolved of a participation and equality of love, yet she feared not much that the mariners wife, deceived her of any thing that she accounted due to herself, for that the common reaport of her chaste and honest life, assured her of the contrary, chiefly she repined that so vain a hope, should withdraw him from her company, feeling with all a certain want in th'accomplishment of the exercise and desire of the bed at home.  
And truly as there is nothing more hurtful to the breach of amity between the good man and wife, then when the stronger part, converts his affection confirmed by vow, 
The husband  into a disposition and desire to abuse the virtue of true loyalty, So, he that hunteth thappetite of his will, and rangeth after change of diet having sufficient at home, stands not only in hazard of grace afore god, for violation of wedlock, but giving occasion to his wife to follow his track, reaps now and then for reward, the just title and surname of a cockolde, bequeathing besides to the succession of his house a dowry of perpetual slander, which is scarcely subject to the expyration of tyme.  
His wife Laid afore him the whole circumstance of his salt, with the general brute that passed daily thorough all the streets of JEYNE, together with the wrong he did to the reputation of the poor JANIQVETTA, whose honesty (saith she) albeit is without just cause of reprehension, yet have you brought it in question amongst the slanderous sort, whose judgements are always according to the malice of their disposition, desiring him for end, in dismissing his former trade, to withdraw his access, lest he purchased not the like preferment for himself, that he sought to procure to an other, to whom albeit he could not deny the friendship he bore to JANEQVETTA, yet he excused the same not to ymporte any prejudice to the behalf of his wife, with further protestation, that JANEQVETTA was one of the paragons of honesty, that our age did nourish, and the respect of her virtue, was th'only cause of his admiration, procuring chiefly his recourse 
The babble of of the people is rather of custom then of credit.  and desire of her company, for the rest (saith he) the babble of the people, is rather of custom then of credit, and the clearness of my conscience, takes away the spot of reproach, if any be, neither can the mouth of the slaunderor prevail, where the integrity of the mind offers to encounter his malice, desiring her to dismysse the remembrance of her grudge, with a forgiveness of the salt, promissinge her from thinstant, to correct the humour of his former folly, and become such one on her behalf, as her honest modesty and other virtues deserved, wherewith he closed so surely the mouth of his wife, that long after he lived free from the tumult of such quarrels, and she (not void of suspicion) dispused herself, to contentment by force, with expectation to see an end of the dance, th'expedition whereof, exceeded her imagination, for within a short time after the mariner, making sail into Sardynia, was incowntred by certain pirottes, and sent prisoner to CALLARIA a town subject to the turkish government, with no small desolation to his wife, who as one deprived of her chiefest stay and comfort, and overcharged with a number of little children, whose sustentation depended wholly upon the travel of their father, is now void of means to succour them, and that which pinched more grievously, was the general darthe the overwhelmed all the Land in such sort that a sack of corn, was seldom sold under nine or ten ducats, which arguing great distress to the state of poor JANIQVETTA, chiefly for that she was denied habylitye to redeem her husband, and also in despair of means to relieve her children, crying continually for meat, began to prefer in her a faintness of courage, and the heart whom the whole assaults of love, and long importunities of Luchyn, his great presents and proffers, with promises of large price, could not once stir or remove from the seat of constancy, feels now such an alteration of fortune, that she is at point to surrender (of herself), that, which neither power nor policy could put to utterance. And albeit the extremity of her case ministered persuasions to make an offer of herself to him that of long had served her in heart, with suit for her good will, yet the grudge of so great an offence, preferring arguments to the contrary, willed her rather to exchange her present life and former revowme with death, then live with the spot of so fowl an act, wherein waighinge thus in the balance of doubtful imaginations, pinched extremely with two of the greatest plagues of the world, the lamentable noise of her children, crying for food with open mouth, as the young bird in the roof, complaining in his kind upon hunger, till he receive refreshing at the beak of his dam, rung of fresh in her ears, which preferred such compassion to the tender heart of the desolate mother, that only their rage and infirmity forced her to a determination of that which erst she detested to remember, a marvelous force sewer of necessity, who as she is the mistress of arts, so her malice imports such a distress, that it makes us many times abuse the goodness of our nature, in committing things which neither honour nor conscience can justify, for what greater mischief could she have thundered upon this poor woman, then in depriving her of natural and womanlye shame, to compel her to make sale of her honour, for the sustain of herself, and support of her miserable children, whose doleful tunes exclaiming against their wretched mother that had not to satisfy the rage of their hunger, restored her eftsoons to such pity, that she addressed herself, immediately to the lodging of Luchin, who walking all alone in his base court, was no less astonied to see her there, than she ashamed to be at the point, to yield him a villainous homage, if god had not been the protector of her chastity. And being affore him with face and garments besprent and died with the drops of her watery eyes, she fell flat at his feet, yielding her honour to his orde under these terms.  
Albeit (sir) saith she, the prince or captain, that hath often summoned his enemy to surrender his hold, and he (denienge such offers) doth merteyne the quarrel even until 
Necessity forceth janiquette to offer herself in pray to Luchyn.  th'extreme sentence of war, which is fire or famine, is forced at last to strike sail and hang out a flag of submission, may (by all law of arms) put him to the sword, and his city to utter saccage, yet the glory of that conquest will appear greater, and honour the captain with triple fame, if in preferring compassion affore the rigour of justice, he admit the captives to favour, sparing to spill the blood of such as willingly yield their heads to the block under the stroke and edge of his sword, neither is any man (of what degree so ever he be) of such commendation either for his courage, bounty or other qualities and ornaments of nature, as worthily honoured with veneration for the gift of compassion and pity, which as it is a virtue exceeding all the rest, so (by the advise of the scripture) she is chiefly to be declared on the behalf of such wretches, as fallen into danger and distress, by offending the prince or his people in office, have nothing to prevent the malice of the law and just meed of their desert, but thexpectantion and hope in the fruits of so precious a virtue: I say thusmuch (sir) to stir up your humour of compassion, and dismissing the remembrance of all offences passed, to extend present pity to your poor janiquette, who if ever she offended you, is here come to yield her to your mercy, and taking such vegance as you think good, to ymploye her further in the service that best may like you, only I commend unto your goodness, the wretched state of my children, whose miseries accompanied with a continual cry for relief, hath here presented me prostrate at your feet, kissing the same with no less humility, than sign of submission with request eftsoons to accept the offer of your hand maid, in recompense of the wrong I have heretofore done you, but chief (alas) to redeem my children from the rage and violence of hounger, and prolong their lives that ought not yet to take end by the Law and course of nature.  
Here love and pity seamed to quarrel within the heart of Luchyn, the one putting the pray into his hands, provoked 
Luchyn abstained from violation of janiquetta.  him to crop the fruits of his long desire, the other defending the cause of the wretched captive, preferred persuasions to the contrary, putting him in remembrance, that the glory can not be great, where the victory is won by unlawful means, neither cold he triumph in a better conquest, then, in overcoming himself, to dismiss her without violation, wherefore comparing her former constancy, with the extreme causes that procured her present offer, respecting also the duty of his own conscience, did not only determine to assist her poverty with succour of sustentation, but also to abstain his hands from deflowringe, so rare aparagon, wherewith he took her from the ground, & kissing her watery chieke, said unto her, do away these tears of dole, and convert the remembrance of ancient sorrow, into an unfeigned hope of present consoletion, 
Luchyn compforteth janiquetta.  reapose yourself upon the virtue of your invincible chastity, and imagine you have received the due merit of the same, for, for my part, god forbid, that the malice of your present necessity (yielding you into my hands) should make me greedy to get that, which love cold not conquer, nor sporle you of the thing which I ought and will hold in chief veneration, wherein being thus by your virtue made master of myself, I feel also mortified in me the wanton suggestions, which erst moved me to love only the beauty and body of janiqueta, and now that reason is be come my guide and distress rather than love, hath made you thus prodigal of your honour, for the sustentation of your children, it shall suffice me, to have you at my commandment without any affore of wrong to your estimation or honesty, And as your chastity doth challenge her reward, so because it is you that is to glory in the gift of so great a virtue, and I to yield tribute, for that treason I have wrought you, I assure you here in the mouth of a gentleman, not only to furnish you of all things necessary, with honour and estimation equal to mine own sister, but also to be as careful of your reputation, as heretofore I have sought to seduce and spot it with lascivious infamy.  
janiquetta was restored here to double contentment, both to have her pudicitie respected, and undoubted assurance of the liberal promiss of the courteous Luchyn, which she would eftsoons have acknowledged with an humble prostitution and kissing of his feet, but that he (not liking such superstitious reverence), prevented her intent, and presented her by the hand unto his wife, with these words  
Because the conceit of the jeleus mind, is seldom 
Luchyn presenteth janiquetta to his wife.  satisfied, till the cause of the suspicion be clean taken away, and that the grudge is never appeased, till thoffender be punished, I, have here brought you, the cause of your greatest doubt, with the vision that so many nights, hath appeared in your dream, and broken the sweet course of your natural sleep, enjoining you full authority, to commit her to what penance you will, giving the stroke of vengeance at your own discrection, to whom she answered, that if she had no more cause to be doubtful of his doings, than raisin to be jealous of the honesty of the poor woman, she had been as free from suspicion as far from cause of disquiet, neither had her eyes any cause to complain of th'impediment of sleep, nor her brain so often assailed with the Alaram of hollow dreams, for th'experience and proof of her virtue (saith she) did always assure me of her honesty, which yet will not stoop to the malice of thee time, nor lose the glory of her renowmée, although fortune have laid her heavy hand upon her, in taking a way her husband, which temperate modesty in his wife, doubled his affection, with confirmation of a sincere good will towards her for ever. And in reciting the last chance and discourse passed between him & janiquette, he said that if she knew in what sort, he had kept his faith toward her, she would not doubt to put him on the phile of most true and loyal husbands, willing her to take her & furnish her with all provision and other things necessary with no less care and liberal allowance, then if it were for his dear sister, whereunto she put no less expedition, than herself had cause to rejoice in the honest continency of her husband, all which being made immediately a common brute thorough the city, became also of great wonder amongst the people, aswell for that thinstigation of hard necessity, had made janiquette ployable to that, which she hath long refuced with great detestation, as also for the heroical virtue of the gentleman, who abhorring the wicked offer of fortune and time, converted his lascivious desire, nourished in his entrails, by so long continuance, into a disposition of virtue, contrary to the expectation of all men.  
An example sure worthy of great veneration, and wherein the sensual appetites are so restrained, and governed by the rule of raisin, that I doubt whether the Romans, have noted more continency in their Fabia, Emilya, or Scipyo, or the Grecians in their old Xenocrates, who is not so meritorious of commendation, for that being charged with years, he 
Xenocrates refused a young maid laid in bed with him.  made a proof of his chastity, as this Luchin who in the glory of his age, and full of the hoatt humours of youth, made a conquest of his affections, with a wonderful show of virtue, and undoubted sign and assurance of the perfection of his faith, for which cause I have noted unto you his history, which also I wish might serve to stir up the frail youth of our days to the imitation of the like virtue, remembryug by the view of this discourse, that the sensual appetites and provocation of the flesh, are not of such force, but they are subject to correction, neither is love so invincible, but the wise and virtuous man, may keep him always in awe, so that he give him not to much liberty at the first, nor creaditt to much the instigation and humour of his own fancy.  
FINIS.   

The argument  
WHose youth and years of folly, have made an experience of the disposition of love, and such as he infecteth with his frantic poison, trying in like sort the difference between the vanities of the world, and the contemplation of celistiall things, or other virtues of divine operation upon earth, opening (as it were) to all degrees of mortality an entry or way to come to the glory and honour of theverlasting Paradise above: to such (I say) may I boldly appeal, for confirmation of thancient opinion grounded in the stomachs of men from the beginning, that the beauty and flattering behaviour of a woman, is the true and natural Adamant, seeing that, that stone, (by a certain virtue attractive, and special gift by nature) hath not such power to force and draw the heavy iron unto it, as the secret mystery, hidden in the eyes and face of a woman, are of authority, to summon and steal thaffections and hearts of men: which hath wrought a resolution, or thing of most certainty amongst a number of men now a days, that such charms and serpentine allurements, were sent a mongeste us from above aswell to torment our pleasure, as also (in sun sort) to give ease to thaffliction of such as are unhappily contrybutors to that poisoned participation: wherein as we have long marveled why Paris forsook the delights of Troy, to become the thrall of Helen in grease, what moved one Hercules to abandon his beavye maze, and club of conquest, to depend wholly upon the commandment of his women friend, or how Solomon, abused the gift of his wisdom, to commit folly, with her, who only governed him, that guided the whole monarkye, so, behold I have to increase your wonder with a true po●rtrayte or picture, of a more force in a woman, and folly in a man, who, with out any use of former or hope of future favour, saving to fulfil the fond appetit of his foolish mysteries, abandoned the use and benefytt of his speech for three years, putting on (by that means) the shapp of brutality, between whom and the creatures of understanding, the philosophers conclude an only difference of the use of reason, and speech. A case (sewer) no less notorious for the rary●tie that way, then declaring a singular force of nature in the subject upon whom she seams to bestow such prehemivence above all other mysteries upon earth, whereof may serve for sufficient proof theffeminate alteration in Hercules, the decrease of strength in Samson, the loss of wisdom and understanding in Solomon, and the simplicity of this gentleman, whose discourse followeth.  
THE CRUELTY OF A Widow in enjoining her wooer to a penance of three years loss of his speech, the foolish loyalty in him in performing her commandment, and the mean whereby he was revenged of her rigour. ❧.  
amongst the lymytrophall towns con yning the borders of Pyemount, no man dowtes (I think) that the City of THURYN, being th'only lantern to give light to all the provinces there about, for evil orders and integrity of conversation, is not also, a chief rampire and sewer bulwark to her own country, against thincursion of enemies, neither is it of less estimation for the natural situation of the place, then beautified greatly by thin dustrius endeavour of man, adding (as it seams) a more decoration of late to that town, than either nature or the slender devise of men in times passed cold imagine.  
Somewhat without the suburbs of this rich and populus City, is planted in a pleasant valley, a little village called Montcall, worthy every way to be joined in neighbourhead to so great a City, being environed on th'one side with the fragrant air of the fertile fields all to bedewed with the sundry sweet smells of thincense of Aurora, & on tother side with the lofty hills, breathing from the mouth of Zephir the air of health, to refresh in time of need the drowsy tenants of the valley, which (amongst other happy influences of the heavens) seemed also to have aspecial favour of the gods, to bring forth and nourish the most fair, virtuous, courteous ladies that could be found in any one corner of Europe, amongst whom not withstanding there was not long since a young widow called Zilya, who declining from the disposition of the climate and planet of her nativity, became so hagarde like, and inclined to cruelty, that she seemed rather to take her beginning, among the deserts and craggy places of Scavoye, then too suck the breasts of the delicate norsses in the pleasant champayn, refreshed by the beautiful hand of Erydan, sometime called the father of rivers, and now termed by the title of Po, whose crystal channels and silver streams, (dividing themselves into divers distilling brooks) do not only drive men into admiration, but also draw them to become neighbours to alicour of such delight.  
This disdainful widow, and enemy to all courtesy, although she had asyet scarcely entered into the twenty and fourth year of her age, yet she persuaded herself hereafter to abandon utterly the society of man, whether it were by marriage or otherways, advowing to spend the remainder of her years in singleness of life, a resolution (truly) both godly and commendable, if the tiklishe motions of the frail flesh, would be content to obey, the wholesome exhortations of the spirit.  
But whereas our declining bodies pampered in all delicacy, together with the unruly appetites, raging after wilful desire, do seem to quarrel with our chastity, and vanquish all resistance, the council of th'apostle is to be followed, who wills that we marry in christ, to avoided the danger of the soul, and common slander of the world: she also after she had already performed the due debt of her duty to the dead body of her husband, whom she accompanied to the grave with abundance of tears and other funeral dole, sought not (according to the trade of young widows now adays left without controlment) to abuse the benefit of her liberty, or dispose the time of her widowehead in other exercise, then in augmentation, of the patrimony left to her little son, and enrich herself by the travel of her own hands, wherein she became so conetouse and greedy of gain, that cutting of her idle train of loiterers (haunting commonly the houses of great men) she only reserved such, for the necessary members of her household, as with the sweat of their brows, refused not the toil of any honest travel, neither made she conscience, to trade up the delicate troop of gentlewomen, attending 
Gentlewomen ought to be skilful in houskeping.  upon her, in th'affairs of house keeping, and other honest exercises of the hand, to whom she was always a companion herself, thinking nothing so well done, as that, which passed in the presence of her eye, or with th'assistance of her own hand, wherein certainly, her virtue was no less meritorius, than her endeavour commendable.  
For the office of a mother or mistress of families, consists 
The charge of a mistress or governor of household.  not only in keeping her servants to continual travail, or taking account of their doings and days labour, but stretching further, she is enjoined (according to thadvise of Solomon) to a straighter charge, to assist thendeavours of her people, with the help and diligence of her own body, saying her advise is no less necessary for the perfection of the work, than her presence and help therein a special incitation, encoraginge the servants, not to desist from toil, till their task be performed, and that to th'expectation of her desire, neither aught any degree with be dispensed all, from honest exercise, seeing th'imitation of travel, is derived from our saviour Christ, who exposing his body to all toil, grudged not to undertake those painful endeavours, which thapostles refused to endure, leaving an example to all estates, to ymitat honest toil, (which by the mouth of thapostle he doubteth not to term a singular virtue) promising a reward of per petuytie, with a continual rest in the bosom of Abraham, to those that unfeignedly do follow it. But touching those delicate and wanton housewives, which think their estimation ympaired, if they but put their noses within the air of painful endeavour, they I say, being hurtful to a whole common wealth, ought either to be utterly wedded out of the company of the good sort, or else traded up in the schol=ols of continual travel, until the fruits of the same, do adorn their estates, which they account dymynished by th'exercise of that most honest virtue, wherein if thancient historians and fathers of knowledge, being careful to provoke the youth of their time to the following of virtue, did paint the office and duty of a good housewife, in the person of one Lucretia, whom they have neither made a bablor, or one that spends her time in chatting of vain things, ronning to feasts and banquets, gazing out of the windows upon every street walker, or masking in the nights with covered face, without regard of honesty or honour of the house whereof of she came, but have drawn her sitting in her chamber, amongst her young damsels using the spindle and exercise of the needle Euenso we need not, me think, doubt also to admit as a familiar myrroir, for you coy gentlewomen of this age, our young widow ZYLIA, who dividing the day into hours, and hovers into minutes, would not suffer the least moment of time to escape, without some exercise of commendation or proffitt, wherein she was so earnestly given, that the holidays or seasons of solemnity, could not discharge her body from labour, or make her be seen in time of recreation either in the streets, gardens, or other convenient places of resort, convenient for honest assembly, to recreate their weary bodies, and refresh their spréetes dulled with travel.  
Which virtue if it be to be honorred, for the ●arietie in our dames now a days, yet had she another gift of no less commendation, which she seemed not to attain unto without the help of thegyptians theology, who resolving upon certain honest parts, which ought to adorn the beauty of a virtuous & chaste woman, have drawn th'image of a woman holding a key affore her mouth, and her feet upon a wheel, noting thereby, that an honest woman, hath always her lips locked, & her tongue tied, to th'end she utter no words of vain disposition, nor speak not but in time and place convenient, & her feet chained to a wheel, because they should not use their liberty, to wander as vagabonds, no nor stir out of the house (unless it were for religion sake, to visit the churches or places of prayer, or now & then to render duty to them of whom we took our being and came into this 
Parents.  world, wherein this widow exacting upon the strait points of those commendable customs, was not so religious as superstitious, or rather wholly given to rigour, for she used her devotion of prayer, at such secret times, that it was scarce possible to see her, when she went to hear the divine service of God, and whether it were that she thought herself so fair, that all men wear unworthy to touch the precious brink of her coral mouth with a chaste kiss, or whether the renown of her rare chastity, made her strange in condiscendinge to that which was tolerable and decente enough to be admitted, yet was she such a niggard of her courtesy, that she would make no conscience to deny to kiss any gentleman, of what condition so ever he were, an ancient civility used of long time amongst all estates, and continued to this day (as a behaviour of toleration, amongst the dames of great calling, accounting it a chief kind of humanity, to receive & welcome strangers, coming to visit them for good will, with a chaste kiss accompanied with a countenance of seemly familiarity. But now as this widow had laid her husband in his long bed of rest, there to remain until the general resurrection of all flesh, the dolorous disposition of her funeral dole retired into oblivion, and she wholly given to tread the path of painful toil, aswell for the sustentation of herself and her charge, as increase of the patrimony left to her little son, it chanced that a gentleman of the most estimation of that country called Monsieur Phillibarto Virley, whose house was next neighbour to Montcall, came upon a holly day or great feast to Montcall, & being in the church there, in place of occupying his mind with heavenvly cogitations, or recording with attentive ear the infallible word of God, published that day in the pulpit, by a preacher of the learned sort, he bestowed his devotion, in beholding the glymering saints in the body of the church, amongst whom his unfortunate eyes took to large a view of the exquisitt beauty of Zilya, who having already removed the veil of dolor, and because it was very hot, and that she would give herself large liberty to hear the ghostly father, took away her Eskarfyon and other implements incident to preserve the beauty of the face of the effeminate sort, and unbared her crystal neck, nothing differing from the complexion of her face, being both dipped in the Orient die of the pure Alabaster, tempered with certain lively streams of red, like unto the incarnate rose, springing upon the brim of the pleasant arbour in the dewishe mornings of may, which pleasant glance and unhappy encounter so daselled the eyes of the knight at the first sight, 
Phillyberto falleth in love with the widow.  that being not able to withdraw his regards from the view of so fair a saint, was driven at last (in making the inner parts of his mind, a table whereupon he drew the curious picture of her beauty) to admit th'infection of that pleasant allurement into the bottom of his heart, wherein being once harboured it began (according to the nature of a deadly poison) to work by little and little, until the distilling jewste, dropping from the pernicious humour of that perilous fountain, had drowned and got the dominion over the best parts within this unfortunate patient, who even now felt such strange alteration in himself, such new affection's quarrelling with his former quiet, and all his body possessed of so unruly a guest, that being at the end of his wits to imagine the cause, was no less able to withstand the ill, then moderate the fury of his new fever, but miserably had left his life in gage, if fortune herself, had not become the phizition to his disease, whereof you shall have large relation in the due place of this history. But during the time of the sermon and all, the matutinall prayer, our unhappy Phillyberto wa●ered in contrariety of thoughts, reserving notwithstanding his eyes assuredly and firmly fixed upon her, who makes no more account of them that regard her with such great admiration, than they themselves of their lives and liberty, committing rashly two such precious jewels, between the merciless hands of so cruel a woman, of whose estate condition, trade, and order of living, this new enamoured Virley, (being come from the church to his lodging), forgot not to make diligent inquisition, which (as oil to light his match) returned unto him a general reaporte of her honesty, wherein being confirmed by the mouth of every man, he made no conscience, immediately to proclaim her the sovereign Lady of his life, and th'only disposer of his secret thoughts.  
And yet amongst the sundry commendations given to her virtues, he was made tunderstand by secret information 
He was made ●understande of thincivili tie of the widow.  of some his dear & familiar friends, of thincivility with certain unseemly points of unnatural discourtesy reigning in her, which albeit suspended his: resolution for a time, occupying his doubtful mind, with variety of cogitations, yet seeing his destiny had already enjoined him to be a thrall to her beauty, for the which he had already put his liberty as a pawn between the hands of him, who having once gotten the hearts of men within the jurisdiction 
love.  of his durance, will not release their imprisonment, nor restore their liberty, so soon, nor when they wish it, he determined to pursue th'end of his enterprise, committing himself to be guided by the favour of fortune, and the success of his endeavour to the good will of love, who leading him thorough the blind vale of vain hope, and tickling him by certain arguments or likelihoods of good speed, to make him merry for the time, with the conceit of his own fantasy, willed him to put his intent upon terms, whereby, and with the continuance of his long service, he seemed to assure him, at last to wrest the good will of the widow to th'appetite & expectation of his desire, wherein for his first entry into his labyrinth of miserable toil, he committed thorder of his own house at Virley, and affairs of importance to the direction of others, and determined his abode at Montcall, to th'end, that if in plantyng his battery, nor with th'assistance of th'uttermost of his force, he could make no reasonable breach into the fort which he meant to assail, in the winning whereof himself was most in danger to be first taken, yet at the least, he might recreate and solace himself, with the contemplation of an image of so rare and excellent beauty, the remembrance whereof, seeming rather to double his grief, then give moderation to his passion, served more to stir up the malice of that poisoned humour of love, then to repulse the fury of his new fever: And lastly preferring absolute arguments of his perentorye destruction, offered divers likelihoods of future disquiet, for the latter remeinder & residue of his years yet to come. And being now become a Citizen of Montcal, he begun to haunt the church above his ordinary, not so much peradventure, for any fervent zeal he had to prayer or invocation to god, as for the amarus devotion he ought to his new saint, whose presence, albeit he could not enjoy, but in the body of the church, & that in times of preaching & public service of the Lord, yet did he refrain to make the house of God, a place to communicate his practice of love, persuading himself, th'offence to be to heinous to defile the sacred temples & holly places, dedicated to the highest, with any spot of villainy, and specially with attempts of such folly, being chiefly forbidden by the mouth of our saviour, Domus mea, domus orationis vocabitur, my house shallbe called the house of prayer, & not a den for adulterers or thieves, nor place to practise any iniquity or sin, wherein albeit the zeal of Religion forbadd him to use conference with her in the church, yet the piercing sting of affection, opening him an other mean, put him in remembrance to attend duly her coming out, where, with great humility he offered his service often time in being her guide to her lodging, which as he forgot not to perform, with all the courtesy and semly behaviour he cold imagine, so notwithstanding all the vehement persuasions he cold infer for thaccommplishment of his desire, yet reaped he thereby no more contentment nor means to qualify his greeffe, than she took pleasure in hearing the discourse and loyal offer of his unfeigned good will, for she, as a cruel enemy to courtesy, feigning not to understand what he said, replied to all his allegations of love, with some conference of housewiverye or housekeping, wherewith, turning the cart against the horse, he became no less amazed at her overthwart reasons, than she seamed to take pleasure in the tears of his complaints, which argewed not only cold compforte in the suit of the wooer, but also ymynent occasion of his own destruction, if by th'assistance of some other mean, he avoided not with expedition, the sundry ills that threatened to thunder upon him, wherefore devising certeinne banquets and gossep meetings at his lodging, of divers of the burgess wives of that town, he entered thereby into the good opinion of certain dames, that were no less familiar with the rigerous ZILYA, amongst whom he choosed out one whose bosom he thought to make the register of his secret, with intent to impart with her, both the cause of his dolor, & the mean to mitigate the same in bewrayinge his gréeffe to her, that was the fountain and occasion of his present passion: to her then (being his next neighbour) no less subtle of her own inclination, than well experienced in such affairs, neither ignorant what dish they feed upon that sit at the table of love, nor what bitter taste those brathes commonly have which cupide brueth for his guests, he addresseth himself, coniuning her in the first place of his preamble, too make council of the cause of his complaint, wherewith entering into the discourse of his love, conceiles nowithstanding the name of his lady, until he heard the annswere of his neighbour, who perceiving already the mark which he shot at, offered him frankly her help, to th'uttermost of her power, whereof she gave him assurance by promises of large scope, that inconsideration of the honesty, which she had noted in him hitherunto, she would not fail to bestow her endeavour every way, to th'advancement of his desire, wherein (sir) saith she, although my offer seam more liberal on your behalf then your meaning plain unto me, yet I hope you will construe my words to an honest end, and not abuse the readiness of my inclination to do you good in any travel of reasonable consequence, where in it shall please you to employ me, to whom this careful knight, after he had given her the choice of a thousand thanks, & persuaded her eftsoons to a secretness touching his practice (fearing yet to disclose the name of his mistress) roved at her in this 
Seigneur phil liberto wooeth his neighbour to solicit his love to zylias  dark manner: my case alas, saith he differeth, not much from the condition of the politic captain, who going about to give thassault to a fortress or place of defence, being careful to keep his soldiers from slaughter or the ●ochers ●owle, planteth his ordinance & battery in the face of the fort, to th'end that the place being made assaltable by the help of the Cannon, the soldiers may more saffelie give charge upon the walls, and perform the expectation of their captain, evenso, for my part, having drawn a great deal of time to end in the long siege of a fort, no less strong, than the stonnye rock, whose hardness resisting the force of all shot, makes also like account of the valiant courage of my soldiers, whereof I have already lost the greatest number, in divers skirmishes given me by my pleasant enemy, am driven in th'end, to flee unto you for help, for the performance of this war, to th'end that with th'assistance of your council and travail, I may be able to make an approach, and entre the place which hetherunto hath repulsed all my assaults  
But she not able to construe the mystery of his comparaison, desired him to commit the meaning of his riddle, to terms of plainer understanding, for sayeth she (some what smiling) I was never nourished amongst the oracles or dream readers of ancient time, nor tasted of the cunning of Oedipus, neither have I much been traded in the exercise of war, or acquainted with the use of arms, a thing impropre and far unseemly for our sect. To whom he replied in few words, that the labyrinth of that war, which he mente, was no less natural than common, neither doubt I (saith he) but some time in your life, you have proved what trains may be used to entrap the enemy, with what canuisadees the trench may be suddenly invaded, what secret ambushes may be laid, to vanquish force by policy, and what means are to be used every way, aswell by thassailant as defendante.  
Whereunto she answered with a semblable similitude, derived 
The answer of his neighbour.  of the like occasion chiefly to encourage this faint soldiers to continue his new war, saying, that as far as she could discern, there lacked nothing but th'assurance of the field, seeing (saith she with a familiar show of pleasant cheer) we are already in point to enter the combat, and albeit all your policy, in devising bulwarks, square and round, mounts of great height and well rampired, are not able to batter the place, and the subtle mines under the earth, and other mertiall engines lack force against the strength of the enemy, nor in no sort to favour your enterprise, nor your trennches artificially made, pricked full of perilous flankers, are able to amaze the captain of the fort, no nor the sundry terrible assaults given by your desperate soldiers, will procure either parley or composition, yet (saith this merry dame,) let us not reward our long war with a short shame, nor sell the glory of so great a victory for so vile a price, as faintness of courage, but let us eftsoons renew the conflict with fresh supplies, and send to summon the fort by the mouth of the Canon, whose message I warrant you, the captain will not deny.  
Albeit because in plainly understanding your intent, I may frankly employ my endeavour, I pray you dismiss these dark Apothegmaes of war, and open your meaning simply, for I grieve on your behalf, to see you converted into such alteration, which makes you seem utterly to degenerate from your ancient modesty and wisdom, whereof he desired her not to marvel, saying that according to the disposition of the accident, the condition and state of men do commonly change and alter, for I am become (saith he) subject and bound to one that hath made me in none other taking, than those unhappy wretches that be tormented with devils, who as they can neither say, nor do any thing, but by the permision of the spirit that possesseth them, Euenso, this cursed enchanter love hath got such power over all the parts in me, that he alone commands me by power and authority, and I obey by awe and fear, he enjoins me penance at his pleasure, and I endure the pain and dare not complain, he alas promised me contentment, and now payeth me with double annoy, he offered to assist me, and leaves me in thextremity of my distress, yea in place where I ought to use arguments of most audacity, it is there that he deprives me of all courage, and leaves me without countenance, and being alone (god knoweth) how valiantly I invade the place, which I darr scarcely behold which open eye, when mine enemy is in presence, is it not pity alas to see on man distressed with so many diverseties at one instant, proceeding only of the raging appetit of one simple affection? neither would I grudge at the heavy burden of these passions, nor stick to endure a thousand more evils, if either sufferance would make my service acceptable, or time purchase the merit of my martyrdom? but where as there appears nothing but uncertainty, with arguments every way of evil success, and I in the mean time according to the CHAMELEON living with the breath of the air, do feed but upon the offer of vain imaginations, what is there to keep me out of the danger of despair, saving that thunfortunate sort, are content to ymparte (toward the moderation of my grief) some of their solace, which is to feed for the time, upon the pleasant conceit of fantasy, and flickeringe offers of vain hope, attending that some good god, will lay in my lap th'assistance of a loyal friend, that will either shot the gates of this hell against me, or at least procure the speedy dispense of my torment, by cloasing my eyes from the light of this world, which I wish with no less fervent affection, than the sickman desireth with ymportunitie to be dispatched of his pain, which he accompanied with such a dollerus peal of lighes, that his stomach and heart, being ready to take their leave of the breath of life, seamed to pant like a pair of bellows, blowing the furnace of some fiery forge, neither forgot his eyes to set open the windows of their conduits, and gush out a whole river of tears, which being drained from the bottom of his belly, ascended to the uppermost parts to find out their natural issue, to th'end that with the retire of these drayninge humours, his life might also vanish, as in a slumber or quiet qualm which moved such a pity in his neighbour on the behalf of his dolor, that she was forced to keep him company with semblable kindness, offering eftsoons her help under these terms:  
Albeit (saith she) the regard of mine honesty, with th'estimation of the place which I hold without blushing amongst 
His neighbour makes, a second offer of her help.  the troops of honour, and dames of great calling in this City, do forbid me the enterprise of any thing that mine honour can not bro●●e, yet the sorrowful summons of your last complaint, tempered with so many tunes of doleful note, hath filled me so full of compassion on your behalf, that I will not doubt to lay my conscience to gauge, for the redress of your present affliction, wherein if you will give me the charge of my commission, telling me what it is that I shall do for you, you shall see my endeavour shallbe no less frankelye employed for you, than I know by the view of mine own eyes, that your passion is simple and without all dissimulation: only there rests that I know, what she is to whom you have avowed so large a devotion, for I promiss you, to salute her so amply with the reaport of your loyalty and service, which I know you own to her that is the mistress of your heart, that whiles her mouth be utterly out of taste, and thappetite of courtesy clean taken from her, she shall not refuse th'offer of your good will, which I think is without a second in any place of the world.  
And truly albeit diverse women now a days, have good cause to inveigh by complaints against the disloyalty of men, yet this Lady whom you seem to honour so much, hath neither cause to mislike her choice, nor reason to refuse the consent and offer of your service, where of as the earth seems a very niggard, to bring forth and nourish so few of your disposition, so it can not be chosen, but pure loyalty for lack of harbour within the hearts of most men, must retire and seek her a new habitation, within the delicate entrails of us women, who embracing no less that virtue with dear affection, than desirous to expose unfeigned fruits of the same, are accounted to be clad in the habit of cruelty, if we seem to stand upon our guard, and expulse th'assault, of that frivolous and fleshly crew of vain lovers, who proffering their service under a mask of feigned tears, & sighs of double deceit, with other courtelyke importunytyes, do bend the policy of all their practices to none other end, then to abuse the favour which they find at their hands, that unhappily commit their honour to the keeping of those sycophants, and common enemies to the renown of all Ladies. Ah good madam (saith he) although my little ableness denies me sufficient means, to measure the reward of your frank offer, according to the merit of your great courtesy, yet behold hear a soldier and gentleman bound to be no less prodigal of his life, and spend the dearest drop of his blood in your service, than you seem liberal of your estimation for the appeasing of his greff: and seeing your promiss is so far passed, by words of confirmation, to do your best for me, as the same ymportes an assured hope of speedy help to come by our means, the chiefest thing that I commit to your friendship, is to deliver a letter from me, to Madame ZYLIA, whose beauty hath already made such a breach into my heart, and brewed the broth of the torment, which you see I suffer, that unless I be speedy relieved, I do not see but that the three fattals, weary with drawing forth the spindle of my life, will immediately cut a sunder the twist, which hangs only, by the hope of your succours, in purchasing me favour with her, that hath made me captiff in the prison of her commandment: wherewith the faithful burgoise, being very sorry, that so honest a gentleman, had sown the seeds of his good will, in a soil of so bad increase bringing forth but fruits of cruelty, assayed to take the worm out of his nose, in using persuasions to remove his fantasy, but he that was already resolved in his mishap, detested all council, and shoot his ears from the wholesome advise of the wise matron, who doubting that he would construe her words contrary to her meaning, in thinking that she inferred exhortations to purchase a release of her promiss, willed him to write his letter, and she would not only deliver it, but also bring him a reaporte of that which should be sent him for answer, whereby (saith she) you shall see the little gain and less easse, that will follow the merit of your painful travel, ymployed in the service of so unthankful a woman, with whom saying I am thoroughly acquainted, and her disposition no stranger unto me, I mean not to pra●ise in any other sort, then to discharge the part of a messenger, in delivering your letter, which if you have not already made, I will attend your leisure, to th'end to perform my promiss, wherewith he thanked her as appertained, and beynd alone in his chamber, summoned all his wits together, to devise his letter, which seemed to be written in these or like term.  
If my disease (good madame) were derived either of the shaking or burning fever, Catterres, Apoplexies or any other 
Philliberto writeth to his Lady  hurtful influence, incident commonly to annoy the parts of man's body, I would reasorte too the council of Physic, and use the discipline of wholesome dyot, but where my present passion proceeds only of the fervent affection I bear you: th'extremity of the same denies also to be cured by any other remedy, than the happy encounter of that which is th'original cause of my gréeff, wherein albeit I half assure myself rather to receive speedy ease, and end of my torment, by the fatal dumb of death, than abridgement of my dollars, or consolation in my distress, by any endeavour or affection reciprocal of you, yet am I so linked in the labyrinth of love, that I am denied every way, to take truce with my unruly desires, and less able of myself, to revoke the vow of my unfeigned devotion, to your rare and heavenle beauty, in whom consists, the proper Cataplasma of my disease Alas under what crabbed constellation was I conceived, or what cruel destiny directs the course of my years, seeing that in the glory of my youth, and prime time of mine age, I am at one instant, threatened of the heavens, made subject to the malice of love, and ready to incur the perilus danger of despair, for want of hope to draw forth the length of my days, to th'uttermost date of my life, which I think was form first by nature, and continued hitherunto by consent of the gods, to spend the future remainder of my time, only in the service of you (good madame) to whom herewith, as the first fruits of my humble and dear zeal towards you, I make a present of my poor afflicted heart, which as it is sustained, by the only view and remembrance of your beauty and virtue, So being denied harbour at your hands, his next and last refuge is, to exspecte consolation in death, which hitherunto I have refused, & for the present do shun, not for any horror or fear I conceive of his malice, but only to prolong yet the course of my life, to the end that as my mind hath already vowed to serve you. So my body as a necessary instrument, may be wholly ymployed to the execution of your commandments: But if the dedication of mine offer, shall receive an unthankful repulse, or the merit of my affectioned service, sent hack, with a payment of cruelty (a vice not like to inhabit where nature and the gods, have disposed, so plentifully all their gifts of grace, nor incident commonly to creatures of so vertuoule nurture and good bringing up) you shall see me immediately suffer, that which I have not deserved, and you I know willbe sorry for the thing, which you can not amend, wherefore seeing you have the choice, both to prolong my life with double joy, and abridge my days by undeserved dolor, embrace the works of compassion. the chief branches of virtue, and refuse the surname of cruelty, wherein I prefer eftsoons this last importunity, to th'end, that if my request be barred, to enter the gates of pity, with you, you may at least give death his dispatch (who attends upon the reaporte of your answer, to execute his charge upon him, who wisheth you, that which you hate, and sends you that which he loves. Yours more than his own. P. Virley.  
This letter sealed and subscribed with his own hand, he delivered, not without abundance of tears, to his neighbour, who promising him once again, to bring him answer afore she slept, went her way, leaving the languishing knight, building castles in the air, with a thousand hammors in his head, & tickling himself to make himself laugh, seemed sometime to bathe his sorrows, in the joy and contentment which vain hope offered him by visions in his flattering conceit, but when the loathsome image of the cruel incivilitye of Zilya, presented herself in his mind, his pleasure retired into dole, with as many arguments of present death, as erst he imagined liklihodes of contentment and joy, seeming to have in his eye, the angry and frowning looks, wherewith his mistress received the coming of the messenger, who arrived now at the palace of Zilya, met her coming out of a garden on the back side of her house, where having saluted each other, with equal show of courtesy, the Lady messenger thinking to prefer certain excuses aswell to avoid imputation, which might be objected against her unseemly execution of so bad an embassage, as also to infer persuasions on the behalf of him, by whom she was sent, was prevented by the widow, who told her, that she merueilled to see her there at that hour, considering her former conversation, which hath always argued her, to be so friendly to virtue and enemy to exercise of idleness, that she would not let slip one minute of time, without it were fruitfully ymployed, whereunto the burgess replied with thanks, for the good opinion she seamed to have of her and her doings, with desire to persever therein, till just occasion deserved the contrary  
And touching my being here at this hour (saith she) which 
The messenger to the why dough.  you seam to term an idle vacation, if my message might be hard and considered with no less indifferency of you, than the cause of my coming imports great and unfeigned necessity, you would (I am sewer) convert that conceit into an opinion of virtuous inclination in me, for I am persuaded that the time ymployed in works of pity, and relieving the afflicted and dolorous company, distressed with dole, is aswell spent, and no less meritorious afore God, than those moments and seasons, joined to the continual yoke of extreme labour and toil of the hands, whereof I would presently, present you a particular discourse, if the reaporte of my embassage would not be hurtful to the league of amity, long ago practised between us: Whereunto the curious widow (having already kindled in her heart the coals of disdain) answered with a countenance, derived of the angry disposition of her mallencolike mind, that touching the reaporte, she should be as weary with hearing the circumstance, as unwilling to consider of the case. And albeit (saith she) I know not the intent of your words, & much less the cause of your coming, yet the kallendor of my mind pronosticates the effect of your embassage, to import requests of other consequence, than mine honour willbe able to brook, wherefore I pray you let me be deceived in mine expectation, and you so curious to keep the league of our ancient friendship, that the breath of your own mouth do not dissolve that, which erst seamed indissoluble, nor you become the messenger of reaportes that any way, may seem indecent for a dame of your degree.  
Madame sayeth the messenger, the little Simpathia and equality of affection, which seams to be in you, in comparison of the virtues of him whose solicitor I am, hath moved I think this passion in you, notwithstanding for my part, being no less sorry for the present affliction of Monsieur de Virley, then desirous to relieve his distress with th'uttermost of my endeavour, I have undertaken the charge of a messenger, to deliver this letter (which then she takes out of her pocket and gives to Zilya) unto you, wherein as my faith lieth in pawn, for the performance of my promise, so I beseech you, on his behalf, refuse not his present, accompanied with a frank offer of his humble service, life, living and all that he hath, to be employed only at the beck of your commandment, wherein, if amongst the other beatitudes or virtues given us, by special name in the scripture, the acts of charity, with endeavour to secure the afflicted, and give consolation to the comfortless, be no less acceptable afore God then the rest, refuse not madame, to relieve him, who for your sake, hath lost his liberty, languisheth in continual dolor, and is ready for want of relief at your hand, to take his leave of us wretches in this world, with which just incitations to compassion, I join also this request of mine, that if the desert of my friendship, may find place of favour in you, you will, (the rather for my sake, open and read the letter, returning your annswere by me, who hath undertaken no further but the delivery of the same, and reaporte your resolution touching the contents of his demand. Zilya, besides the crabbed inclination of her own nature, being not acquainted with such kind of embassages, and less wont to be courted with requests of the like courtesy, began here to enter into such a disposition of colour, that at the first, she was ready to wreak her malice upon the letter, committing it into a thousand pieces, and return the messenger without any answer, albeit reserving by chance some spark of modesty, which ought to be incident to all women, she opened and redds the contents of her clyante, not without signs of great alteration in her face, arguing lively enough the contrariety of thoughts, which seemed to quarrel in her mind: for within less than a moment of time, she changed colour twize or thrice, some time pale like the cross of Dyana, which being set against the son, loseth by and by the glory of his borrowed light, and returned immediately to a crymsyne, not much unlike the flourishing die of the fragrante rose, glistering in his orient colour in the pleasant mournings of the springe, notwithstanding having red and over red with these alterations, the some of his demand, being not able any longer to conceal or moderate, the passion of her ire, clawed her neighbour with this crabbed answer. I would never have thought, that 
Zilia answereth the messenger.  under the outward show of your virtuous conversation, whereof you have been no less noted, then commended by the mouth of all men hetherunto, had lorked such foul fruits, of abominable substance, and specially in a desire, to become a celecarier of letters in the favour of love, wherein as you have seemed to weigh the reputation of yourself, & the renown of mine honour, in thindifferent balance of your own light judgement, Euenso, if the law of friend ship did not stop my mouth, and make me dissimule, that which I think, or if any other had been the messenger of these affairs, I assure you, the publication of the fact, should have made her honour, no less notorious and subject to perpetual infamy hereafter, than I seem to make dear account of my chastity, which I would you should know, is armed with more assurance, then to be shaken with any assaults of these follies: wherefore if you be as careful to live in quiett without skandall hereafter, as I am absolutely resolved not to dimynish the title of my honour, by any act of mine own, let this first salt dissuade you, to wade any further in an enterprise of so small commendations, seeing that she that is either minister or messenger in these amarouse trafficques, or a furtheror of such practices of love, is no less guilty affore God and her conscience, then if she were either pillow or bolster to the detestable fact.  
And for mine answer to Siegneur de Virley, whose demand I detest, no less than his folly deserves, if he have opened his ear to thenchantment of love, let him expulse thenemy with a countercharme, by raisin, or else make the best of his own bargain, for saying his disease comes of himself, let him exspecte no consolation at my hand, for I had rather be a friend to death, then favour the least jot of his demand, wherein for a confirmation of my resolution, I intend hensfurthe to bar him all means of access to my presence, wherewith on my behalf you may salute him.  
The lady messenger, seeing herself in this sort clawed, where it itched not, & no less ashamed of her sharp repulse, then sorry that her medicine, was of no better operation, on the behalf of her patiented, seeming notwithstanding to be little moved with the angry complexion of ZYLIA, desired that God would reduce the difference and inequality of their diseases, into a Sympathia and equality of passion, I mean, saith she madame that you may be taken out of this conceit of cruel disdain, which makes you incapable of reason, and he restored to his liberty, which he can not redeem, but by thastistance of your goodness, wherewith she took a short leave and departed, and being arrived at the lodging of her knight, she found him all plunged in extreme dolour, upon a field bed, with more arguments of death, than likelihods of life, who, whether he felt some signs of ill luck by the secret instigation of his heart (which commonly prefers divers conceits of fear, when the mind is occupied with doubt) or whether the sorrowful countenance of the messenger did signify her ill success in his suit, or what it was, I can not tell, but as his neighbour was entering into the report of her answer, he stopped her mouth, and prevented her meaning with this exclamation 
The complaint of Seigneur Philoberto.  following. What state is more wretched, than he, that liveth doubtful of himself with despair of dispense from disquiett, by any assistance of time or other mediator on his behalf, who is wrappeth in such misery, or hath more cause to complain, than he to whom fortune hath vowed a continuance of her malice, without hope to reclaim her favour? is there any penance greater, then to be punished with continual passion, or plague of more mortality, then to consume by pecemeale in the flame of languishing dole? Ah infortunate gentleman, how unhappily art thou fallen from the felicity of a life full of pleasant liberty, with exchange of thine ancient bliss, for a tribute of torments, more supportable than death, how happy and thrysblissed was thy estate, enjoying the sweet maydenhedd of thy affection, and use of freedom, without awe or controlment of any? where now (alas) the touch of a contrary experience, yields me the effect of a thousand deaths, without licence notwithstanding to die, whereby I should dismiss every plague that stayeth the fatal desire of my dying heart, wherein hath fortune this cause of displeasure against me, if not that she is disdainful of the quiett which we wretches find upon earth and such an enemy to the common contentment of us all, that only to manifest her power amongst us she, upon a soddaynes choke our pleasant thirst and desire of free life with, pills of passions and annoys of more bitter taste, than any gall tempered with the most strong rhubarb, that ever came out of Alaxandria, comittinge us in th'end to a martyrdom of more extremity, than the pang appointed by death, to break in pieces the force and strength of the heart? whereof who is a more familiar experience, than the miserable Philoberto, who in exchange of his former quiett and contentment of will, hath caught alas a captivity more cruel, than he that is condemned to end his days in the bottom of a dungeon. Ah madame, how your countenance argueth the small regard which Zylia hath of my pain? full well do I see alas, that she neither makes account of my letters, nor useth pity to my distress, and much less gives any credit at all to your honest frendeshipp, which I confess I have greatly abused, in procuring you displeasure, for the ease of my disquiett? let love bear the blame, and I the just penance of mine own indiscretion that so rashly have entered the sea of my own sorrow, and saw at setting from the shore, sufficient arguments of mortal evils, threatening my present peril, wherein albeit I was flattered at the first with a calm and pleasant ebb, which made my hoist sail and float without any fear, yet in the very inconstancy which all men attributes to that element, and unruly waves raging without measure in the height of that troubled sea, appeared plainly enough, the likelehodes of my present danger, which I would had power to destrdye me by some sudden shipwreck, or cast me speedily into the bottomless gulf to be devoured in the throat of some monster in the merciless ocean Ah Love, with what justice cold I exclaim against thy infidelity, for that thou hast always flattered me, with an assurance of that which now I find furthest from me? haste thou a policy to persuade a credit in that wherein thou meanest absolute deceit, and then to triumph in the thraldom of such as believe thy charms? if this be thy order of dealing, why bearest thou the title of a necessary virtue, or ympartest thine authority with the powers above? for my part, if there were cause of hope, or expectation of delivery, I cold in some sort qualefye the rage of my present annoy, with imagination of future redress, or if the continuance of my gréeffe argued a lykelehodd of contentment hereafter, the remembrance of my felicity to come, would mortify the pangs which now I am forced to feel without release of pain? but alas to what end do I imagine a composition with him, that is 
Love not seviahle to any order.  not levyable to any order, and much less partaker of the nobled virtue or gift of piti? why do I plead for grace in a court of common cruelty where tyranny shoots the gates of compassion against complaints of justice? or to what end should I expect so much as a simple offer of help in him, who is borne the common enemy & destruction of many? is there expectation of remedy in him, whose breath is a poison more infective, than any venom that erst hath been made by the moest cunning enchauntor that ever was bred in the myerye vale? or is there reason to depend upon the delivery of him, who lieth in ambush to assault me in worse sort, than yet I have felt? Ah cruel mysteries, full evil do you measure the circumstance and effect of my goodwill, with protestation of vow never to depart out of the lease of your commandements? fewer if your waspish mind would confirm and make good the consent of your beauty, or that your inward parts would give leave to thoutward arguments to work an effect of that which they promise by show, I should not have cause to lament such lack in you and much less endure this extremetye by hoping for that which I know I shall never have? Oh could recompense and unthankful return of the loyal zeal I have borne without spot of dishonest intent in any sortt: A● serpent and masked basylyke in whom is rather a feigned show, then true effect of any courtesy, the only glances of thine eyes have had power to fill every corner of my heart full of poisoned infection, wherein at least if I had th'assistance of any art or droague to remove thy forces, I should be restored to mine ancient quiet, and thou live at rest without the noise of so many ymportunities. And now do I see an experience of ancient opinion touching the malady of love, who is neither healed by salve, nor cured by art: for to make insition to the sore, would give but increase to my pain, & to use th'application of medicines, were but to feed the time with incertenties, and to stay the humour, were enough to give end to my life, by present suffocation, so that alas I see no choice of remedy, then to be touched with the hand that first gave vent and set abroach the cause of the wound, that I wish (in full satisfaction of all my torment) that she might see the very depth and furthest part of my heart, to the nde she might be judge of my loyalty, and acknowledge the wrong she doth to the virtue of my honest meaning. But alas, I find herein that my destinies contend against my desire, and the view of her former cruelty, makes me despair of other favour, than such as hitherunto I have found, so that as I wholly depend upon her goodness, and my life paiseth only in the balance of her good will, so I know she is fully desolved in a contrary disposition against me, making a jest of my humble suit and offer of service, takes pleasure in my martyrdom, and reappose a special felicity in the points of my peculiar and mortal grief, which he ended not without such abundance of tears, and supply of other sorrow, that the messenger was forced to abandon the place, and leave him in the midst of his passion, ymparting notwithstanding, the points of her answer to a dear friend of the knight, with advise to supplant his affection, or else seek his remedy by some other means, wherein albeit he performed thendeavour of a friend every way, yet the success argued a small virtue in his diligence and the patiented rather resolved in extremities, the able to admit any thing which ymported a moderation to his grief, the which gréew ymediatlie to such extreme terms, that the strength and desire of the stomach was converted ymediatlie into a contempt of necessary sustentation, and in place of sleep he embraced the offer of vain conceits, appearing (as it were) by vision thorough the mystery of hollow dreams, refusing conference with all men, if not, that sometime he would complain upon the cruelty of one whom he would not name, with desire to end his life in the pursewte of that quarrel. The phizitions were found at the end of their wits, both unable to discern the cause of his disease, and without s●il to give a remedy to his evil, what inspection soever they made in his urine or trying of his pulses, or other signs to judge his gréeffe or any authority of their art, whereupon the gentleman his companion entered into such terms of sorrow for the sickness of his friend, that his dolor seamed of equal quality to the passion of his companion, not ceasing notwithstanding to solicit the goodwill of Zilya, by his own travel, & letters, which put her in remembrance of the pity that women ought to use to th'afflicted, presents and promises of no small price with other devices wherein he judged any virtue to move her haggard disposition, and for that he saw that in the very view of her presence, consisted the recovery of his friend, he forgot not to entreat her with terms due as he had sewed to the greatest princess of Spain or italy, wherein, notwithstanding he gained asmuch as if he had undertaken to number the stars, or stay that course of the son, for that she excused herself upon her wydo wheade, and how evil it became a gentlewoman of her estate and calling, to commit her honour to doubt, and honest name to question, in visiting the sickness of one who is neither parent nor ally, nor almost any way known unto her, which as it drive him from further attempt that way, so waighinge the distress of his trend, & the vertu which nature hath given to onewoman to entreat an other, thought it a piece of policy to give a second charge of her, who first broached his request to his cruel mysteries, to whom he preferred such reasons as he accounted of force to persuade her, sometime alleging the pity which naturally is incident to all women, and when, and upon whom it ought to be exposed, he preferred also the glory with names of ymmortalytie which diverse of foreign time have won by semblable virtue, where with he won a second grant of her furtherance, so far forth as at th'instant they went together to the lodging of Seignenr Virley in whom the very view of his ancient friend and next neighbour stirred up a more increase of sorrow, forcing him to a further complaint than affore with desire chief, that he had never made exsperience of her faith nor she cause to attempt the friendship of her, whose cruelty in preserving her honour, is greater than is necessary, and compassion less than is convenient for his distress, proceeding only of an honest zeal without intent of violation of honour or honest name: which with diverse argumentts of ghastelye regard, accompanienge his last words, wrought such effects of pity and remorse in the honest matron his neighbour, that to prevent his further danger, she gave him assurance of her uttermost, in boarding eftsoon the goodwill of his ●oye mysteries with protestation of waranty, that if he were delivered of his sickness, she would procure a mutual conference between him, and the cause of his unjust torment, whereunto albeit he gave little credit, for that he thought it was but a broth brewed of artificial liccour to feed him with drops of uncertain consolation, yet in the very offer of her friendship appeared a ho●e of speedy delivery which she promised eftsoons in sort as you have hard, willing him to reappose himself wholly in the virtue of her endeavour and word, which seamed to breath an air of such compfort and force thorough all his parts, that defying the malice of his late sickness, he seamed even then to lack no part of his former health, neither had he need of restoretives or force of confections to confirm his recovery, or assistance of staff or crooche, to support his feeble limbs weakened with so long sickness, but persuading a wonderful felicity in the very remembrance which his mysteries seamed to have of his distress, he imagined to sit already in the paradise of his pleasure dismissing immediately the messenger, who careful for her part to put her promiss in use attended th'offer of convenient time to work th'effect accordingly, wherein she was assisted with a special favour of fortune, who for the more expedition of the matter, brought Zylya & the lady messenger to meet within iij. days after) in one pew or close desk in the church, where the solicitor of Seigueur Virley forcing certain tears in her eyes, begun to practise for her client in such sort that what with repetition of the passion of the knight, special reproach against the cruelty of women in those cases, with general commendation to the virtue of such as declare compassion upon the distress of th'afflicted, she wrought her to a remorse of his pain, with consent to prevent his further peril, with a simple offer of the view of her presence, and that under terms of condition, that from and after the time of such friendship he should disclaim all ymportunities in the pursuit of further favour, wherewith she enjoined him only a liberty of an hours conference the next day at ij of the clock in thafter none, where (saith she) I have more regard to thextremity of his distress with desire to stop the course of further danger in him, then to give him any cause at all to make his profit of this friendship or persuade a hope of further favour in me hereafter, praying you for your part, to give him in strait charge, neither to break the moment of appointment, nor exceed the limit of his time, wherein as I reappose a chief credit in your honesty, so if the success answer not my expectation, assure yourself, your virtue can not escape with out slander, and the best part of your faith remain in question for ever: wherewith they departed the one to her lodging converted whollly into devise with what terms she should answer the day following the folly of her foolish lover, the other repaireth to her passioned Vyrle who dispairinge still of the goodness of Zylya, prevented the reaporte of the messenger by asking her what news, and whether his mysteries were still shod with her metal of ancient tyranny or no, that you shall try yourself (saith she) if you have the heart to meet her tomorrow in her house at the second hour after dinner according to her own appointment, which brought such new joy into all his desperate parts, that he feel of embracing the bringer of those glade; some news offering her the choice of a thousand thanks, with liberty to dispose of him and all that was his at her pleasure, thinking the exposition of his life to a thousand perils for her sake, was far insufficient to countervail the greatness of the pleasure, she had procured him in that simple appointment, which he promised to perform the next day according to the hour, with intent to endure what soever it pleased fortune to bestow upon him, against whom to strive (saith he, albeit is as though a man should make war against himself, whereof the victory cannot be without double danger, yet am I determined to embrace her doom although the same contend against my felicity: in which, or such like terms he passed the day which seamed to exceed the space and compass of a year to him, that liveth in expectation of friendship at the hands of his mysteries, with whose snares he was taken, without that he had liberty to give judgement of the malice of a woman, when she is disposed to spit out the uttermost sting of her venom. And surely that man is far from the guide of discretion, that is touched with the fury of such charms seeing the danger of so many thousands tasting of the like abuses ought to warn us to eschew such evils in our selves, neytheer have they done such wrong to themselves as general discredit to the whole masculine sect▪ for that with out wisdom they have become subject to them, who have their being in this world for no other respect, then to 
Women are borne to be obedient to men.  depend upon the will and commandment of the man, but as this mortal enchantment, proceeding of the beauty of women, both pleasant and hurtful to men, seams too be tipped with a certain virtue of delight, drawing the fondlinges of the world to be in love with the cause of their own destruction, So I am of opinion also that it is a kind of punishment which God hath appointed to plague and torment us for our offences that way, saying, that the most of us (now a days) sipping of the cup of that infection, do convert the remembrance and care which we ought to have of th'estimation of virtue, into a special affection towards our fond fancies, seeking our felicity and quiet in the tomb wherein is shrouded the top and root of all our my shapps. Besides virtuous and chaste Ladies, are not so simple, nor void of discretion, but they behold affarr of and are privy to the meaning of these frank offers of service, and loyalty, set out finely with diverse coollours 
fleshly lovers compared to the Scorpion.  of feigned virtue, not doubting also that such masked lovers disfer nothing from the venomous skorpion, whose poison lieth altogether in her tail, for that the end of such love argues a subversion of the renown and former virtues of a man, which of falleth out rightelie in the sequel of this Virey, who thinking to have made a great conquest, in the victory of free conference with his unkind mysteries, is now upon the way to her palace (or rather path of his own misfortune) with more contentment I am sewer, then heretofore he hath received disquiett by his former torment: And being now in the base court of herl odging, he found her in a low hall attended upon with one gentlewoman only, where after certain cold greetings, intermeddled with a countenance of counterfeit joy on her part, she slented at his sickness with these terms. if every evil were as mortal in deède, as it is made by reapport, a slight salve cold not so soon cure so great disease, nor unproved medecins work such marvelous operations, in so short a time, specially upon so dangerous a greeff, as yours (Seigneur Virley) seamed to be by the reaport of all men unto me, which shall serve me, as an undoubted experience hereafter, that the passions of men be of no longer abode, than the subject of their affection appears before their eyes, neither be they other things then certain mirroiers or looking glasses, wherein albeit are represented the very likeness or figure of them that behold them, yet taking away the object or cause, and the form vanisheth also as the poff of wind passing along the strait of a plain or deep valley. Ah madame (saith he) how easy it is to devise of my disease, and hard for me to hope for remedy at your hand, that doubts of the greatness of my passion, and easily may he prefer either mirth or sorrow at his pleasure whose mind is free from conceits of doubt or despair: where theharte truly passioned, dreads to make declaration of either of them, lest in exceeding in the one, or seaminge to much a niggard of the other. the show of either of them bring his suit or honest intent in I●lewse suspicion with them, in whom only resteth the Cataplama of his sore, so that I account him now the most infortunate man, whose state is unhapelye brought under the awe of such two mortal extremities: and for my part, if I were as free from thextreme points of affection, as you seam far from reason to doubt of the greatness of my gréeff, I could (with better will) allow your discreditt in the faith and inconstancy of men: but alas he that is caught with the snares of true love, can behold no other figure, nor make other likeness then of the true cause of his affection, the picture whereof remeyneth for ever within the sewrest part of the heart, which in deed (as you say is the true mirroer, wherein appeareth not a feigned shadow, fading with the form, but a continual view and remembrance of her, by whom we live in such heavenly contemplation in which dyol or looking glass I have ymprynted the true effect of the thing (which by virtue ofdue merit) ought to restore strength to my present weakness, dealing so extremely with me, from the first time of this contemplation. that th'only offer of hope to restore in th'end my dekayed parts, hath hetherunto prevented th'effect of utter destruction to every piece and member of my body. And touching tharguments of health which you note in me, I am to yield you alone all homage and honour for the same, for that the favour which I find in this present appointment and conference with you, hath stirred up this glee of good liking thorough all my parts, with more contentment of the happy encounter, than my former grieves gave me cause of extreme distress, and yet my martyrdom hath neither been so small nor secret, but the whole world hath witnessed my pangs, and you also might have believed them, if either the sorrow of myself, or reapport of such as took pity of me, had been of credit with you, whereof also I am yet to endure a more hard share (if it may be imagined by any brain) so that the same were able to force a remorse in you on my behalf, for the greatest felicity I have in this world is, to have the favour of any commandment at your hand (what peril soever it ymportte) to th'end my diligence and ready endeavour to do you service therein or other your affairs what so ever, may justify the vow of my unfeigned hacte towards you, like as also I persuade myself to be raised from a hundredth thousand deaths together, when I imagine but a simple compassion in you touching the torment I suffer for your beauty, wherein if ever I had reason to take pleasure, by a delight which nature hath wrought in the thing, I am sewer already to have had my part of a thousand annoys, by the regards of cruelty I have found in you, ●●●●el at last good lady, the commission of former torments, & cease hensfurth to plague him that is ready in the place to commit his body to any sacrifice for the ransom of your favour, what moveth you alas to a discreditt or doubt of my pain, with opinion that my passion is dissembled? let the sundry sorts of tears heretofore distilled on the behalf of your discourtesy, so many days brought to end with continual sorrow, and nights drawn out at length with drayninge sighs, ye the present view of my pale and ghastelye, ghost persuade you of the contrary, with assurance of my undoubted loyalty for ever? wherewith he beheld her, not without a vent of sudden tears tryckling along his cheeks, and she for her part regarded the earth with a face full of disdain, (as it seamed) which notwithstanding he construed to a proffitt of his suit pursewing the same eftsoons in this sort. Ah madame have you the heart to deface the glory of that divine beauty of yours with an act of more tyranny than ever hath been noted in any woman of former time? or account you it a virtue to kill him, who dieth every hour in the very view and remembrance of the heavenly perfection, wherein you only excel all that ever have been called fair? if you resolved have my ruin, why stay you to do execution, abridge good Lady my lingering torment, with a present dispatch and end of life, defer no longer the fatal ministers of your will, saying you are agreed to perform the effect, and suffer at last my watery eyes to stop the streams of their ancient sorrow, derived of the only view and remembrance of the mystries of their contemplations, whereby my heart shall also sup the last Syropp of desperate hope, and my affections vanish with the decay of my body, who is hear ready to become your fatal harbinger in the other world, with hope to reap there the higher of my present merytt.  
The Lady, whether her anger would give no longer place to his complaint, or that she doubted a force or charm in the same to overthrow the fortress of her chastity, gave him the look of a waspish mind, reprehending his rashness with these or such like terms of reproach.  
If my patience would yet give leave to your fond discourse, 
Zilya repre hendeth her wooer.  I see no want of desire in you to attempt me with requests, which neither is your part to prefer to one of my condition and calling, nor yet my honour can brook, to hear of the mouth of such as soeke but to seduce the honesty of chaste Ladies, wherein as you have exacted upon the friendship and facility in me to here the uttermost of your suit, presuming (belike) of my consent to departed with that which you can not restore me again, So, besides that the present experience of your foul intent, shall serve me hereafter as a warrant against the assaults of such offers either in yourself, or any other equal to you in disposicton, I can give no other answer to the terms of your request, nor favour to your fowl attempt, but that from the instant, you cease to solicit me either by yourself, or any ambassador on your behalf, protesting unto you (for my part) neither to be seen in the street, nor other place of public being, so long as you are in the country, and much less suffer thaccess of any Gentleman within my house, unless he be my near parent or ally, by which means your importunities only shall punish me with a sorrowful restraint and absence from the society of my old companions and friends: which last resolution seamed such a mystery to the mind of thinfortunate Virley, that for the time, he stood as enchanted or one newly dropped fourth of the clouds, till at last as one wholly converted into despair of further favour at her hand, he craved only, for consideration of his pains passed, and last farewell of his loyal faith to her, a kiss, which he said should satisfy his longing at full, and discharge her of further pursewete according to her request.  
The malicious Lady noting the fond desire of the knight, and with what small cost she might now rydd her of an importuante suitor, meaning notwithstanding to depart with so small a favour, but for a price of great penance to him that sought to buy it, told him, that aswell to satisfy his present request, as also to make a further proof of his faith, she would perform the full of his last demand, if he would give her assurance by the saith of a gentleman, to do one thing wherein she was to require him, which the simple Vyrley did not only promiss by all protestations of religion or oath, but pawned also the majesty of the highest for performing every such commandment as it pleased her to enjoin him, wherewith she seamed satisfied touching th'assurance of his consent, and thereupon entered into th'effect of her own promiss, embracing and kissing him as if it had been the first night of their marriage, requiring him in like sort to become the master of his word and avouch the points of his late grant.  
The poor gentleman suspecting no one thought of such tyranny in his mysteries, and much less that he should buy his kisses at so dear a price, told her he attended the only sommonee of her commandment, to th'end she might witness his ready endeavour to obey her: she enjoined him that from that hour till iij. years were expired, he should become muett, without speaking in any sort to any creature living, how great so ever his occasion appeared, in the true observing whereof (saith she) shall appear an experience of your faith, which also may force hereafter a further benefit for you, where the contrary will not only discover your villamnte, but be ready to accuse you of perjury on the behalf of a Gentlewoman. He thinks I see the perplexed countenance of the poor knight, who hearing the sentence of his hard penance, judged as great injustice in her, for taxing him at so cruel a rate, as difficulty in himself to perform th'effect of so strange a charge: albeit his heart was so great, and he so papistical in performing his vow, that he began even then to enter into the points of her commandment, declaring by signs that she should be obeyed, wherewith he gave her an humble reverence and retired immediately to his lodging, feigning to such as were about him, that the extremity of a cold rheum distilling from the parts of the brain had taken away the use of his tongue. And because his domnes should not be a gréeffe to his friends, nor they move his disquiett in demanding the cause, he determined to be a stranger to his country till the years of penance were run out, wherewith committing the order of his affairs at Mountcall or else where in Pyemount to the credit of such as he thought meet to supply the place of such trust, took two or three of his familiar companions to assist his voyage, which he directed rightelye into france as a country most meet for his abode, chief for the mortal wars as then between CHARLES the seventh, and the valiant English men possessing his country, in the year 1451.  
And as the King was then in campp in Gascoigne, with intent to pursue the goodness of his fortune, and deliver his country altogether from th'English nation, he addressed himself and force to the duchy of Normandye, where this Pyemountaine knight, being in the campp, was known by and by to diverse of the chiefstaines about the king, aswell by the notable service they had seen him do in diverse places, as also great credit he hath had afore with thearl of Pyemount, who after became Duke of Scavoye, where was great repair of the nobility of France, for that he married Madame jolante second daughter to CHARLES the seventh: after they had a while lamented his lack of speech (not knowing for all they could do the cause of such disease) they presented him afore the Majesty with such commendation of his virtue and valiantness in arms as was necessary for the worthiness of the same, which forced a great liking in the King towards him, alalbeit his outward appearance argued infficiently his inward dexterity that way, which also he confirmed in pub lick view in an assault which the king gave to the english men within Rouen, the chief and only bool work of the whole country of Normandy, where Signior Philibarto gave such effecces 
1451.  of his forwardness, that he was the first that was seen upon the walls making way to the soldiers to enter the breach and town, wherein not long affore the Duke of Somerset had burned the counterfeit prophet of France 
143●.  called La Pucelle lean, whom some prating frenchmen do affirm to have wrought marvels in arms during those wars, but chief that under the conduit of her, our countrymen lost Orleans which diverse other holds in those parts, and for a memory of that forged idol they keep yet amongst other relics in the abbey of. S. Denys,, which I saw in May last, a great roostie sword, wherewith they are not ashamed to advowche that she performed diverse expeditions and victories against thenglish nation, which seams as true, as that which they are a shamed to put in a chronicle of credit touching their saint Denys, whom they affirm was erecuted at Paris, and came from thence with his head in 
Written in their book of 〈◊〉 called catalogue des martuis.  his hand, which he buyried in the abbey, albeit they say he rested four times by the way where they have founded iiii. crosses with the headless image of saint Denys holding a stony scalp in his hand, but now to our Dom Philoberto, whose forwardness and fortune in the last assault, being well noted of the king, began to kindle a credit in the mind of the majesty towards him in such sort, as besides special praises given to his worthiness in the hearing of all his captains, he presented him with the state of a gentleman of his chamber, with pension sufficient to maintain the port of that place, promising besides an increase of his bowntye, as he saw a continuance of his good service, for the which the mute knight gave the king humble thanks, by signs lifting his hands towards heaven as a witness of the faith, he promised to keep without spot to his prince, where of he gave good declaration not long after in a skirmish, procured by the french against the English soldiers, under the guide of the only flower of chivalry of that time, and valiant Captcine the Lord Talbot, whose virtue made him so famons in those wars, that the very remembrance of his name procureth a terror to the stoutest frencheman that this day liveth there, in this skirmish (if a man may credit a french brag) the Pyemontoyse and Talbot met, and unhorssed each other, whereupon the king in consideration of his present service and increase of further courage to continue his soldier, made him captain of diverse holds, with charge of fifty men at arms, with promiss (in the word of a prince) that her eafter he should find in more ample ma ner, in what sort princes ought to consider the service of such whose virtue brought soccours to the necessity of him and his people, wherein truly a prince hath great reason not only to bestow rewards upon such as deserve well, but embrace that which carrieth a likeness of his own nobility, seeing that virtue, in what place soever she take root, can not but bring forth good fruits, the use and effect whereof, aught to appear upon such as approach or resemble the place, where the first seeds were sown, neither doth any degree of men (according to th'opinion of Plyny) deserve so well of his prince, as the soldier, in whose wounds (saith he) are enclosed the safety of the whole country, and quiet of the seat royal, neither doth he shrink to adventure his body against thenemy, to establish the reapose of his neighbour at home who to requite his many dangers in the field, or relieve his maimed limbs, consumed which the wars, comittes him at his return to the rigour of justice and that most commonly without cause of just offence, whereof I think no one country of christendom, is able to furnish so many examples of that misery, as the state of England, where as (god be praised hath benn no great occasion of war, since the happy reign of our most blessed Queen that now governeth) so (the Lord, and her majesty amend it) it is a pity to see how slenderly soldiers be provided for, and how tyranouslye they are persecuted by the malice of caterpillors in Cities, and franklinges in the country, whereof I wish some such as I could name to mooster in the mouth of a trench, or stand in the face of a breach, to th'end they might both witness the danger, and be partakers of the peril of war, which I doubt not would force in the most of them a compassion, touching the soldier, whom also they would defend from being devoured of the gallows, by their malice. Thus much on the behalf of soldiers, towards whom I wish as indifferent a care in time of peace as they are ready and most sewer to abide all danger when it pleaseth the prince and realm to call them to service, and now to our doom knight, who embraced of the king, with honour of all his Captains, was assisted with a second mean of further credit with his prince, for that ymedyatlie after the heat of the wars in france and the country resolved to a quiet stay, it pleased the king, for the solace of himself, and general contentinente of his captains to call a tourney royal on horseback, where Seigneur Virley enjoying the benefit of his former fortune, won only the glory of the triumph, which gave such increase to the good opinion of the king, that he entered into council to cure his doom disease grieving not a little that so valiant a gentleman cold not declare his devise, which seamed to argue no less wisdom, for the direction of a common wealth or country, than the force and agility of his body had sufficiently approved his virtue in diverse exploits during tha● war: wherefore he dispatched general letters throughout his own Realm, with special requests to the countries adjoining his kingdom, that who cold give remedy to his evil, and convert his present silence, into a liberty of free speech, should have ten thousand franks for reward: then might a man see such a mooster of phizisions, & chirurgeons with their apothecary's carienge their bags and boxes of all confections, that their rout seamed rather a new supply of power to assist the king against his enemies, than a convocation of gownesmen to consult of the disease, who began also to make such war with the ten thousand franks, skirmishing one with an other, not so much for the glory of the act, as gain of the money, (without any help notwithstanding to the sick-man) that the king was driven to add to his golden offer, an express condition, that who soever undertook the cure, without performing the effect within a certain time, should make good the said sum to the commodity of the king, or for want of payment to leave his head in pawn, which proclaimed immediately a general retire to Monseur le Medecyn, with the rest of his mystical crwe & wypinge his nose with the inside of his sleeve, detested with ympietie, both Galleine, Hypocrates, and Auiecenes, with other patrons and ancient fathers of physic, that would not leave them a sufficient net to fish so great an honour and riches as ten thousand franks: the brute was no sooner made then th'officers of fame undertook to disperse it into every corner of the country, with participation of the royal edicts and liberality of the king to every province as well on thissyde as beyond the mounts, wberuppon Montcall became partaker of the news and Zylya (the first and only cause of all) was privy (by this means) to the place of abode of her penytenciall lover, and also persuaded of his loyalty in keeping his promise unworthy any way of such firm regard: seeing that where fraud and force do occupy the heart, the religion of promises, yea the very bond of faith already given, do lose their force, neither is a man bound to perform that, wherein is constraint of bond: The covetous widow, assuring herself of no less authority over Seigneur Virley than when he made court to her at Montcal, determined to go visit him at Paris, not so much of intent to undo the charm of his doom disease, as desirous of the ten thousand franks, whereof she made as sure account, as if they were already under the sewereste lock in her closet at MONTCALL, persuading herself also, that the gentleman (being absolved of his promise by her) would gladly consent, and that she only should have the reward and fame of the thing, wherein all others were able to work no effect.  
Here you see a woman, whom neither the virtue of honest and true love, nor intent of unfeigned and loyal service, cold erst move to compassion, and much less aggrée to give ease to the sinister affliction of her servant, wrested to a remorse, and overcome with a desire of filthy gain, to enlarge her richesses. Oh execrable thirst and desire of money, until when endureth thy authority over the world, or how long wilt thou blind the minds of men, with a foggy mist of filthy lucre? Ah insatiable, and perilous gulf, how many haste thou devoured and drowned in thy bottomless throat, whose glory had pierced the height of the clouds, & virtue shined more clear, than the brightness of the son, if the dark vail or shadow of thy contagious infection, had not eclipsed their renown that way? the fruits alas which thou bringenst forth, (what sugared show so ever they give outwardly) yields in deed neither honest fame, nor true felicity to such as reap them: seeing that, that dropseye and infecting humour which overronneth all their parts, makes them more desirous of the thing, then able to be satisfied, whereby groweth a double discommodity to the evil of that, which is th'only 
The desire of vnho●e●te gain, the fountain of all evils.  fountain of all mischief, neither is any state more miserable, then to have a desire to have much, and getting all, can not be satisfied with any thing, and in the end, overthrown in their covetous travel by infamows death, whereof I am content to omit the familiar proofs of our time, and present you with the authority of the rich 
Crassus' fell into the hands of 〈…〉  Crassus in Rome, to whom was awarded the punishment of God, by falling into the hands of the Parthens, for violation and committing sacrilege within the temple in jerusalem: sexti mul●us fryinge in like sort in the flame of money, and wholly infected with the poison of him that formentes the heart of the covetous, cut of the head of his patron and only defender Caius Gracchus tribune of the people. Wherein touching like examples in the feminine sect, I will now pass over both foreign and familiar records, and restore to your memory th'abuse of this Zilya, who forgetting her former regard to virtue, (the only ornament of her honesty and reputation) feared not also the toil and travel of the way, nor other inconvenience what so ever, to commit her life to danger, and honour to the mercy of him, in whom the remembrance of her former wrong, stirred up a desire of double revenge, upon the least occasion he could find, neither doubted she to hazard the effect of her buysynes in a strange region unknown to all men, saving to him, for the only honour of whom the mystery was wrought, but using a short consideration for the order of her affairs at Montcall, she strips the mounts, and by extreme labour, arrived at last at Paris, at such time as every man despaired most of recovery of the doom knight, albeit, inquiring for them that had authority to admit such as undertook the cure, she made it be published that God had put the remedy of his disease into her hand, and that only she, doubted not to perform th'expectation of the king that way: the Commissaries laid afore her the edict, with the condition of death in the end, if the knight were not made to speak within xv. days, all which she admitted, & pawned her life for the performance of the enterprise, with protestation eftsoons that god had opened unto her a secret mean to restore him, whereof the knight was forthwith advertised, merueiling notwithstanding what strange gentlewoman it was that had undertaken to undo the charm of his disease, and force him to break the vow of his penance to his cruel ZYLIA, in whom (of all other) he accounted not so much friendship, as to make so long a journey for the ease of the evil, whereof she only was the cause, he was rather of opinion that it was his neighbour of Montcall, she I mean, that first solicited Zylya, on his behalf, and now had forced her to a compassion of his penance, with commission to absolve him of the rest of his hard vow, whereof as he devised diversly without staying upon any certainty or troth, behold the deputies presents Zilya, in the chamber of Seigneur Virley, who seeing an effect of that, which erst he was not able to imagine, gave judgement by and by, of the cause of the coming of his enemy, and that the promiss of ten thousand franks had more power to make her pass the mounts, than the respect of friendship, or compassion to his strange distress, which so long had kept him in the likeness of a dead man, wherewith, the view of her former incyvilitie, and rigour exceeding the disposition of any woman that ever was noted cruel, procured lymedyatlye, a conversation of his ancient love andre guard to her beauty, into a mortal hate, with desire of vengeance equal to her offence, thinking it no grudge in conscience (in accepting the offer of his fortune) to yield detestable homage in deed to the saint, that erst accounted all his service but effects of idolatry, and to return her friendship with a tribute of the same money, with the which she made him taste the fruits of an inordinate cruelty, aswell for his own contentment in acquitinge so good atorne with semblable payment, as also to leave example to all coy and disdainful dames to shun the like abuse towards any honest gentleman, and that, having regard to the merit of the persons and specially to the reputation of themselves, they become not so prodigal as to make a vent at a vile price of their honour, which they ought to defend, and keep without spot, against the assaults of the most honest and virtuous lover that ever offered to serve under the flag of any beauty, how clear so ever it shoane, and yet how many of those do we see now a days, who will not stick to deny the service of such as proffer them love aswell for the respect of virtue, as desire to embrace a fading glee of flickeringe beauty, and after commit theimselues to open sale, to who will bid most for them, which kind of Venetian Madonnas, as I wish to be barred the society of chaste ladies, and not suffered to sit amongst the most errand coortisans that ever were, having any spark of zeal or friendship in their heart, so they had but justice (in mine opinion) if the benefit or liberty of every common wealth were taken from them to th'end they might wander as a kind of marked people of all the world: for she that loveth for money and makes a gain or certain revenue of those of her body, will seldom make conscience to betray him to whom she gives countenance of friendship, seeing her love (tipped with a disyer of gain, tends altogether to ends of evil, and acts of tyrannoyse effect, wherein as the honest sort of women are always defended by thintegrity of their conversation and life, so I crave a patience in the rest, touching the punishment I wish upon them, and speedy amendment of life, to th'end their virtue may make them as meritorious of reputation in deed, as some of them are undoubtedly unworthy of the use of life, or benefit of common air.  
Seigneur Virley then having Zylya in his presence, and almost at commandment, feigned not to know her, refraining from all offers of humanity either, by saluting her coming by signs of thankful countenance or other ways, which at the first moved no small astonishment in our widow, who, notwithstanding seeing she was entered in to an enterprise, th'effect whereof (she saw) cold not be performed without the loss of honour or life, made of necessity a virtue, with resolution to commtt her to the mercy of her fortune, and make a last proof of her goodness, what inconstauncye so ever is given unto her of all men, wherewith desiring the rest to retire, she shoot the door, and took the knight by the hand, whom she beheld in the face, and with a smiling regard, asked him, if he had so soon forgotten his dear ZYLYA, or if he had the heart to make so small account of her in that place yielding her not long since such authority over him and all that was his at Montcall? dissemble no more (saith she) to know her, who hath stayed for no pains to come hither to acquit you of your promise, with request to pardon the fault I have made in abusing the virtue of thonest love you bore me, it is I, who lamenting my former cruelty, am here to do penance for the wrong I have done you, in restraining the liberty of your tongue, and taking revenge of my former rigour, am to yield tribute to your rare loyalty, with more readiness to dismiss the charm that so long hath kept your tongue enchanted, then ever I had reason to add so cruel a recompense, to your honest desert.  
All which seamed to move as many words in the doom knight, as there is life or feeling in the senseless rock standing in the midst of the sea, and seeing him make signs, that it was not in his power to speak, nor to remove thenchantment of his tongue, she was forced to recharge him with all sorts of kisses, embracing & coling every part of his face and neck, not without great store of tears, wherewith she bedewed each part of his bossom and outward garments, using th'assistance of every mean wherein she judged virtue to make him tractable to her request, which notwithstanding he returned with a solemn silence, and forgetting his ancient ceremonies, and amorous orations, which he was wont to use, as persuasions of pity to his Lady, he alleged now a dispense from speaking by her commandment only, practising altogether (by signs) the use and execution of that, which erst he had so hotly pursued, both by suit and long service, wherein as he seamed somewhat awaked by her, that long had kept his mind in a s●omber, and drained his body both of desire and courage, so he sought in like sort to set abroache in her, an appetitt of that wherein she hath been erst, no less curious than strange, wherein she, for her part, (more to prevent the peril of life, & loss of the peinall condition, then for any respect of friendship to the knights,) made him the master of his request, with consent to use her at his pleasure & frank possession of that, which he & all lovers account the chiefest felicity in love, wherein they lived with equal contentment until the end of xv days (the term appointed to cure the knight) without that the poor widow could make conversion of her doom patiented, into a man using the liberty of his speech, albeit she laid afore him, in how many sorts she grieved with her own folly, in binding him to so strange inconvenience, & the penance she had done losing her honour, to satisfy his pleasure, & absolve him of his vow: all which seamed as Hebrew songs to Seigneur Virley, who determining to play double or quit with her, thought it necessary to add a further fear to her former loss, to th'end, she might feel her part of danger, aswell as her cruelty had made him pine away in secret sorrow the better part of two years: which he performed accordingly, for, the term expired, and the knight nothing altered from his ancient order of silent disposition, the commissioners summoned the Lady widow to perform the points of thedict, importing ij. choices of perentorie extremity, either to pay ten thousand franks which she had not, nor was able to get, or make good her promiss with the loss of her life, which she was sewer to perform, without a special grace of the king, and that by thintercession of her enemy.  
What was now the refuge of this Lady, distressed on every side, if not to retire into tears, dropping with streams of present sorrow, in the remembrance of her former cruelty▪ ah 
Zylpa sorroweth her for mer cruelty.  unhappy and thryswretched Lady that I am (saith she) brought to due desolation and punishment by shame for an effect of cruelty exceeding the barbarous disposition of the Lurk or Moare, or other infidel without religion or faith: in seeking alas to deceive an other, I am fallen into the danger appointed to give end to my life? Was it not sufficient for me to be warned of the revenge of mine enemy, by mine own rigour used towards him, but that I must attempt his courtesy, and willingly fall into the malice of him, who, triumphing in the spoils of mine honour, goeth about also to take from me my life, & mortify my renown 
Honesty the chiefest support of life.  for ever? Why fell I not alas into the jaws of some wild beast in passing the alpes, or threw myself headlong from the top of some craggy mountain, whereby I should have prevented the stroke of his malice, who seeks to make me a wonder to the multitude, for attempting a thing, which rests wholly at the will and pleasure of him, whom I had so heinously offended. Ah Seigneur Virley, how can you bestow such cold consideration, on the pleasures wherein I have been so liberal on your behalf? or what moveth these regards of disdain, with desire to have the life of her, who if ever she offended, hath already performed the penance of her salt? and what offence is so great, which is not satisfied, with amends for the trespass? which if I have not already answered, let my tears make good the rest of your rigorous sentence? Imagine Seigneur Virley. What a virtue it is to forgive, where the extremetye of revenge is the foulest vice that occupieth the heart of man. And for your part, as you have made yourself known to the world, by your continual felicity in all your affairs, so stick not to make an increase of your glory by preventing the peril of her, who lying prostrate afore your knees, bathinge the same in the sooddes of her sorrowful tears, doth also kiss your feet, in sign of repentance of her former folly? Ah let me not die for my simplicity, nor min honour put to sacrifice, as a revenge of the little wrong, which I confess my chastity hath done you: take not alas so cruel vengeance upon so small an offence, neither suffer the blood of my life to quench the thirst of your malice, that have already paid triple tribute, in respect of my salt, wherewith (meaning yet to continue in terms of complaint) the sergeant criminal (with authority from the King) arrested her to prison, whether she went with small constraint, as weary already with the view of her present misery and loathing the use of longer life, having lost the chief support of the same. But the knight pinched with some remorse touching the passion of his dear Zilya, thinking her sufficiently punished for so small offence, went immediately to the king, to whom, in the hearing of his Lords, he makes discourse of his love passed, the cruelty of Zilya in binding him to a vow of silence for iij. years, and the present revenge he hath taken of her discourtesy, with humble request in the end, to moderate the rigour of his justice, both to her, and others that were in prison for his recovery, seeing (saith he) the same depended either upon her that bound me to that charge, or else upon th'assistance of time, which at last would have dissolved my doom france, by th'accomplishment of the thing which my faith bound me to perform.  
The king marveled not a little to hear so strange a history, rejoicing notwithstanding in the happy return of his speech, and giving singler commendation to the loyalty of his knight, condemned presently the cruelty and covetousness of the widow, upon whom had followed execution accordingly, if it had not been prevented by the special intercession of Seigneur Virley, who taking her out of prison, accompanied her certain days journey, aswell to show her the kings liberality in diverse towns and holds, which he had bestowed upon him, as also to satisfy his appetitt at the full, with the fruits, whereof he had fealte erst so pleasant a taste: wherewith also she did not much mislike, for that the prooff of such favour unlooked for, took away the pain of her late imprisonment justly deserved, besides, her late despair of life, made her double thankful to the author of her liberty, which she embraced with more contentment, then when she knew not what it was to lose the pleasant taste of free life, wherein may be noted an experience of the dealing of fortune, who keeps in store, like punishment for all such, as, reaposing to much for themselves in their own force, do defy that little which they account to consist in others, and in respect of their own power, do condemn the authority which other men have: if a vain glory and conceit of a chastity invincible, had not deceived this Lady, or a desire of covetous gain blaired her eyes, it had been hard to have judged her incontinency, which appeared, both in her frank familiarity towards the passioned knight, and also in greedy desire to fill her purse, & carry away the praise from all other that undertook th'enterprise, and yet as you see, her gain hath given a dishonest title to her name for ever with an occasion to thenemies of women to cry out of the whole sect, but there is no reason that the salt or folly of one, should impair in any sort the nobility of so many virtues and honest Ladies, whose chastity and honest convey of life, defends them against the cruelty and covetousness of this ZYLIA, and such as resemble her in any sort, who after certain days of recreation with her lover retireth into Pyemount, where she drew forth the remeinder of her years in continual grudge and fret of conscience, with firm persuasion ever after, that the force of man is nothing, where God doth not work by his grace, without whose assistance we can neither learn that which is good, nor defend ourselves from the danger of any evil, like as also, if we want that guide in our doing, our works (smelling of nothing but the corruption of our own nature) make us seam not much unlike the loathsome swine, wallowing in a dortye or moddie poodle, to increase her filthiness,  
FINIS.   

The argument  
A According to the lattyne adage, every vice, how perilous soever it appear, hath power to work in some degree, th'operation of a special vertu, for albeit the sundry enormities growing daily amongst us, by the unbridled humour of our affection, which we commonly call love argue the same to be a passion of most dangerous and perverse corruption: yet we have experience of wonderful effects of virtuous modesty wrought by that common evil, as the whoremonger and adulterer reduced to a repentance and moderation in his pleasures, the tyrant and 
Virtues in love.  morderor moved to compassion touching the cause of thin nocent, and the unthrift reclaimed to an honest stay of life, which makes me of opinion, that this passion (given us by nature) albeit it be an infection of itself, yet it serves also as a contrepoison to drive out another venom, according to the property of the Scorpion, which of herself, and in herself, carrieth the sting of mortal hurt, and ointment of speedy remedy, th'occasion of present death, and mean to preserve life: not meaning for all this to persuade, that it is of necessity, we make ourselves subject altogether to this humour of good and evil disposition, nor allow them that willingly incur the peril of such free ymprisonment, but placing it for this time, amongst things of indifferent toleration, because he neither seamed blind nor void of discretion, on the behalf of those, whose eramples I mean to prefarr in this history. I may boldly advoche that which we call affection to be a passion, resembling in some respect, the condition of true amity, and yet not much unlike for the most part, the general evil which the Grecians ●al Philautia and we term by the title of love, or vain flattery of ourselves, chief when we see any so frently to his desires, that to satisfy the inordinate thrust or glot of his greedy appetit, he forgets hothe honour and honesty, with the respect and duty of his conscience, besides what images of virtue, courtesy, or bowntiful dispocision soever, our lovers do imagine in them, whom they serve, dymming the eyes of the world with a mist of dissembled substance, as though the cause of their liberal offer of service, were derived of an intent of honest friendship, yet their travails that way concludes (we see) with other end; for that, they hunt only the chase of pleasure, proceeding of the view of an exterior beauty, wherein their meaning is sufficiently manifest in the sugared orations & discourses of eloquent stile, which those amarus orators seem to prefer, when their minds (occupied wholly in the contemplation of their mistresses, do commit the praise of the perfection in their Ladies, to the filled forge of their fine tongue, in which, what other thing do they more chief commend, than a devyn mystery or cunning work of nature painted with a die of white or red in her face: A delicate tongue to dilate of matters of fancy, an entysinge countenance, with a grace and behaviour equal with the majesty of a princes, all which as they argewe the vanity of him that reapose delight in such fondness, differing altogether from the true ornaments of the soul, or pattorne whereby the perfection of virtue is discerned by thunfeigned works and absolute action, So dismissing this fond philosophy, not contending greatly whether love be a natural corruption, or a thing perticipating with virtue, we may be bold to avouch his power to preavile in things which seam of ympossibilitie to tother passions that be common unto us, for what thing can be of greater force in a man, then that, which constraining an alteration of custom, and breach of that which by continuance hath taken rote within us, doth make (as it were) A new body, and the mind a mere stranger to her former cogitations, which I neither infer without cause, nor maintain this argument without great reason, for that as of all the vices which spot the life of man, there is none (except the excecrable sin of whoredom) which makes us sooner forget god & good order then the detestable exercise of unlawful game, neither are we so hardly reclaimed from any thing, as that cutthroat delight, for that it is almost as possible to convert the cruelty of a she wolf or lions into a present meekness, as to mortify the desire of play in him, which hath been nourished and nozelled therein from the beginning of his years: Even so notwithstanding the force of love, wrought such a mystery in an unthrist of Naples, that of the most prodigal and riotous spendor that hath been noted in any age, he made a most staid and sparing gentleman that Italy hath brought forth of many years, since or afore his time, Albeit even upon the point and beginning of his new foundation, being ready with all to expose fruits of his happy change from evil to good trade, he was encowntred with the malice of his destinies, which abridged his felicity and life in one moment, whereof you may discern a manifest proof in the sequel of the history following.  
PERILLO SUFFRETH much for the love of Carmosyna, and marienge her in the end, were both two stricken to death with a thunderbolt, the first night of their unfortunate marriage.  
IT happened (not long since) in the rich and populus City of NAPLES, who norrisheth ordinarylie an infinity of youth of all degrees, that, amongst the rest of the wantoness brought up there at that time, there was one named Anthonio Perillo, who enjoying a liberty more than was necessary to one of so young years and green understanding, made absolute declaration (affore the race of youth did stop in him), what it is to pass the years of correction without the awe of parents, tutor or controller: for his father having performed his Jornaye, which nature appointed him in this world, resigned his body to earth, and his goods and possessions to his son, who finding so many golden cotters and chests full of treasure, to assist his prodigal and wanton dispocision, forgot not immediately to enter into the trade of a licencius life. Wherein he found no stay nor ympedyment to his will, for that the negligence of his father, had left him without the awe or authority of any. And albeit in the life of his father he was a continual hawnter of the Berlea or common 
Dicesing house.  house of unthrifty exercises, where, for want of sufficient demers to furnish his desire, with skill in casting the three deceitful companions of black and white upon a square table, he was forced often times to forbear to play, and learn cunning in looking upon, yet time with his own diligence, made him so artificial, that being but a crier of awme, there were few able to exceed his sleight in casting twelve affore six of two dice, or took half so good accomte or regard to the course of the cards, and yet notwithstanding he was not so well ground in the principles of his art, but often times (his cunning beguiling him) he was prevented with a contrary slight, and only his purse paid the charge of the whole company, which was not unmarked of some two or three of the familiars of his father, the respect of whose friendship and virtue, with sundry arguments of ymynent destruction to his son, moved them to enter into terms of admonition, laying affore him the circumstance of his sundry faltes, but chief reprehending the great wrong he did to his own estimation, for that the way to attain to renown of virtue, was 
Perillo reprehended of certain his fren des.  clean contrary to the vicious path of idle play, wherein he walked with more delight than belonged to the son of so good a father, they gave him examples of the destruction of many, and not one that used that idle exercise died either with honour, wealth, or estimation, that it was the shop and storehouse of all murders blasphemy, perjury, theft, gluttony, whoredom, with an infynitie 
The house of play, a store house of all vices,  of other mortal inconveniences, and in th'end, when play had left his purse without a lining, and he not able any longer to feed the vain of that humour, but by unlawful means, he should be paid with the higher of them who without commission scouring the plains do pray of what the find, and after yields account to the hangman 
tenant by the high way side called thieves in plain english  upon the fatal hill, with a scarf or colour of cord about their neck in token of glory: They required a regard to the honour of his ancestors, but chief not to discredit the honest life of his late father, for that (say they) as the vyrighte doing of the child living sustaineth the renown of the father being dead, so there can happen no greater infamy to the some, than not to make good the virtue and civil parts of his father, for end they advised him to dysmisse his prodigal trade of life affore he were utterly bankeroute of patrimony and possession, but he not liking to be pinched so near the quick, and much less to hear the secrettes of his salt so plainly deciphered, replied according to the discretion of our wilful youth now adays, given wholly to feed upon thappetite of their foolish fancy, that touching the companies he hawnted, they were no worse than such as were nourished in the houses of princes, and familiar compainons to the greatest lords of the country, and for the rest as he was not to yield account of his life to any of them, so he wished them to bestow that care upon their own children, for him, he was of sufficient years to govern himself, and give convenient order to such affairs as belonged to his trade, wherewith he stopped the further reply of tholdmen, who noting tharrogant terms of this princocks, committed him to the meed of his own folly, judging no time convenient to reclaim him, till he had felt the smart of the whip famine and penury, with other pinching ertremities attending the end of an unthrifty life.  
But he that scamed invincible against all good council, was made tractable by him that plieth the most strong and 
love.  stubborn upon earth, and that which men accounts the only blindness of that world, unsealed the eyes of this youngling and so took away the vail of his arrogant folly, that acknowledging every point wherein he had offend, he was not only privy to his own salt, but also partaker of the penance. And as one poison driveth out an other, and no one vice that is not subject to the correction of an other salt, so by that invincible ympression which the poets have painted in the shape of a blind boy properly called love, this gamester was not only forced to a speedy change and alteration of life, but also after sundry and sharp showers of adversaty, restored to his ancient entire and place of honour and estimation: for at the same instant within Naples, sojourned a rich merchante blessed at god's hands chief with a fair and virtuous daughter called Carmosyna, whose only beauty made more breaches into the heart of Antonio Perrillo then the grave admonitions of th'elders or any other of his friends, and albeit he was (as it were) so bewitched and drowned in the devotion of play, that all times seamed hateful, which brought him not fresh supplies of gamesters, yet having once glanced upon the glistering eyes of this young girl, he could not so well govern his encounter, that not only the desire of that idle exercise was clean mortified in him, but also he suffered himself immediately to be enroled in the book of loyal lovers, in such sort as he never delighted so much in any play at the dise, as now he doteth upon the beauty of Carmosinae, who for her part, noting sundry enticing glées, which nature had lente to the young man, together with his bowntefull disposition, with brave attire and courtlyke wearing his apparel, which as it is one chief allurement that somons that affection of a woman at this day, so the found woman will rather delight in his small waste, and exterior pro portion, then ymbrase the virtue and gifts of commendation in a man, thought it an effect of equal courtesy, to return his affection with semblable love, wherefore if he self any torment, her passion was nothing inferior, which also grew to terms of double grief on both parts, for that they durst neither use y tcredit of any messenger to discover their dark meaning, and much less were they assisted with means of conference or access together, for that the maids there are bound to a more straight talk of liberty, then in our country, but for thopinion of their chastity I leave it to the judgement of them that have had indifferent experience of both the places. But Perillo, as most hotly assailed, and least able to resist thalaram, and feeling a taste of that whereof he was ignorant in thoperation, & doubting altogether of thaccident till nature made him understand the mystery, entered into his labyrinth of endless annoy, raving and raging with hollow dreams, with doubt which of his wits he might most boldly employ in bewraying his vehement affection to the new mysteries of his heart, of whose good will, if he had but a simple assurance by the breath of her own mouth, he seamed not to doubt any way the consent of her, for that thinequality of degree and honour, rested on his side, persuading withal that the merchant would willingly admit thalliance because the marriage would bring a medley of honour unto the base and dark complexion of his house. But in this account he forgot the chiefest charge, and that which at this day is most respected in making of marriages, I mean wealth & possessions, whereof Perillo had already made merchandise & exchanged the most of that which was his, for a simple remembrance of vain delights passed, neither did he consider 
Riches most respected in marriages now a days.  the condition of his present state, with diminution of his ancient fame & honesty by a general brute of his unthrifty life, all which notwithstanding, love forced him to try the ford, and sound the heart of the fair Carmosyna, assisting him also with a mean to have thacquaintance of an old matron, her outward governess and inward credit of heart, whom he dandled with such peppered persuasions, and infections of certain crowns, falling willingly into her pocket, that she gave assurance of her help to th'uttermost, both in following and soliciting the matter, if it were once set a broach by himself, which he performed by her the next day in a letter of this or like effect.  
God forbid, that any part of my body should refuse to condescend 
Perillo writeth to Carmosy na.  to that which my heart hath already vowed touching my humble service on your behalf (good madam) whose only beauty ceasing not to maintain continual quarrel with mine ancient quiet, hath restored me to so general and mortal a passion, that without the present dew of pity distilling from the speedy consent of your favour, I doubt whether nature is able any longer to give nurture to the feeble parts of my weary corpse, And seeing the intent of my affection is not only voyde of all dissembling and flattering abuses in the virtue of true loyalty, but also ymportes a meaning and humble request of lawful marriage, I crave hereby a confirmation of your good will touching the same, to th'end that with the consent of your favour, I may march with more assurance, to demand you of your father. I need not prefer the honour and nobility of my house, to move you to indifferent consideration of me, seeing yourself can decipher sufficiently the particularities of my whole discente, neither put you in remembrance of th'authority which of long hath been due to mine ancestors in this public weal, for that you are not ignorant of any part of the same, all which if they lack force to move you to just compassion, dispose yourself (good Lady) to the view of my present martyrdom, and measuring the justice of my merit with the greatness of my grief, to send the messenger of speedy consolation to him, who pining in his labyrinth of unfeigned loyalty, attends the happy news of your consent, and in the mean while doth humbly kiss the hand of the paragon Carmosyna. Your loyal servant Antonio Perillo.  
The girl not erst accustomed to receive such embassages, seamed to prefer some little astonishment at the first view of the letter, not for that she misliked the contents, but to prevent cause of suspicion in her whom she needed not have doubted, if she had been privy to the resolute league between her new servant & old governs, who also for her part forgot not here to apply the cataplame of her promise for commending the sundry good parts of the gentleman, persuaded her that it was an effect of virtue to aid th'affliction of such as suffer distress, and that her honesty could no way stand in awe of slander in requiting a most loyal and unfeigned love with reciprocal affection, besides saith she, in the alliance consists a decoration and increase of honour to all your house wherewith, endeavouring yet to sporr her, who of herself was sufficiently bend to run that cariare, wrested at last not only an equal love in the girl, but also a confirmation of the same by a letter which she returned unto him under these terms.  
aswell by the roundness of your letter (Sir) as relation of my governs, I understand the frank offer of your unfeigned 
Carmosyna aunswe rethe the letter of Perillo.  friendship, wherein as the iustire of your merit moveth me to expose th'uttermost of the consideration that my power is able to perform, so I grieve that any restraint should be an ympediment to the liberal recompense of the large honour you offer me by my parents, from whom albeit must proceed the chief and principal answer to your demand, for that the yoke of dutiful obedience keepeth the grant of my good will under the awe of their consents, yet saying the vehemency of your love which hath divided himself into a simpathia or equality of affection in us both, & reapposing much for myself in thintegrity of your meaning, I wish my father would rather admit your present request, then delibrate upon the choice of other husband for me, wherefore my advise is you give a charge of his good will with such terms as you account most convenient to feed the humour of angry old men, thexpedition whereof I commit to the vehement suggestion of your inward desire, which (without the consent of my parents) I can not satisfy otherways, then with a simple zeal, whereof I send you herewith th'articles of assurance sealed with thunfeigned faith of your most dear and loyal. Carmosynae.  
The operation of this answer seamed of such force, in the heart of Antonio, that he imagined he embraced at thinstant the fair Carmosna, persuading already a resolute consomation of the bargain by old Minio her father, to whom with more haste then good speed, he declareth the next morning, the honour and honest love he bore to his daughter, with desire that he would admit him for his son in law, wherein his expectation was not only frustrate, for that the reply of the marchante seamed to exceed the compass of his conceit, but also ymported terms of reaproch, & reprehending his disordered 
Mynio deny the to marry his daughter to Perillo.  youth advised him that affore he went about to marry, to learn some trade to redeem his possession or else, procure such compotente portion, as might both sustain himself and family, and also prevent the miseries of old-age, if god blessed him with so long a time in this world, for (saith he) I will not commit my daughter to any, but such as having sufficient to menteine her estate, is also careful too increase that which god and fortune have ymparted unto them, neither shall the respect of your pleasure, move me to condescend to the misery of her, whom you say you love, for I wish rather to see the just destruction of th'one, then thindifferent desolation of you both, meruetlinge also that love hath stirred up this request in you, seeing that if you honoured Carmosina in such sort as you say, you would also be careful of her advancement, but as I see and know well enough, that the wanton instigation of a foolish appetit so moveth you to make a demand of that which shame and raisin forbid you not only to pursue, but also persuades you to exclude utterly out of your remembrance, so let these few words suffice for a resolute answer, that the view of your unthrifty life hetherunto, with the needful condition of your present estate, makes you unworthy and unable to enjoy her whom otherways you should have found me no less willing to have joined in consent, than you desierons to demand her in sort of honest marriage.  
these last words and answer not looked for of th'old merchant, brought no small perplexity to our poor Perillo, who by the vehemency of his passion, was forced to abandon the place and retire to his lodging, where, with tunes of great dolour he entered into a suruoye or view of his former life in this sort. Is it possible (saith) he that poverty shall bring me in contempt, and keep from me the use of the thing whereof I made so sewer account? or is the remembrance of the idle exercises of my wanton youth past, 
The complaint of perillo.  the only ympediment to this new alliance with Minio? what reason hath he to deny me the title of his son in law, & much less to hear me scarce speak in the demand of his daughter if not that he seeth so general adyminution of the portion & possession, that were left me, by my inordinate & prodigal trade of life, fearing also that play (consuming me by piece meal) will leave me in the end neither revenue nor renown, nor skarcelye a simple remembrance of the house whereof I took my beginning? I would mine eyes bade been sealed, and hands tormented with the quyvering palsy, when first I learned the subtleties and sleigtes of cards and dise. I wish I had been bound to a task of painful toil without release from travel, when first I gave commission to that idle trade, to supplant all desire and necessary care in preserving the entire of my fathers remain? how unhappy was I alas to kick at the council of such, as reprehending my follies, preferred an affectioned care of my commodity? why was I so unthankful to their zeal, and unwilling to follow their advise? if I had put a bridal to my pleasure, I had eschewed this hard penance of my unthrifty youth, which now I find (alas to late) to stand most need of the admonitions of riper age, Ab I would I had sooner Sipped of the cup of love, to the end, that being brought to the knowledge of that whereof I find to late an experience, I might have preserved the greatest part of that which I have already lost, but what? shall my desaster passed, take away the hope of a future fortune, or mortify all expectation of th'assistance of a better time? or is it a virtue to despair in distress? no, let rather the view of my disorder passed put me in remembrance to retire to a new government and trade of life, in such sort, as with an honest endeavour to make store of that which is lest, and reclaim the rest that is gone, I may give absolute argument to the world of a change and amendment of life, which also may convert the hardness of the heart of Minyo into a disposition and desire to confirm the honest league which I crave at his hands, where upon he put such expedition to his new devise, that in one instant, renouncing every point and circumstance of his former life, he was transformed from the form and inclination of a second Acolastus into the shapp of a sparing merchant, wherewith taking th'advise of some of his friends, who also assisted his honest endeavour with some portion of money, he converted the small remeinder of his inheritance, into some three or four thousand crowns (with an intent to bear an adventure with certain merchants that were upon the point to furnish a voyage from Levant to Alexandria, a City in egypt builded by the great Alexander, being at this day th'only trade of the east parts, for all sorts of spices and other merchandise of great value, and from whence (for the most part) the Venetians, Genoeys, florentines and other countries of italy keeping their bank and store houses there, do furnish all Europe with such kind of necessary traffic.  
The infortunate Perillo converted wholly (as you see) into a marchante venteror, with no less desire to restore his wealth, with the gain of his present trade, than erst he had delight to consume all in idle exercise, commits his portion to his fortune, and amongst the rest of the adventurers, hoysseth sail in hope of better speed than it was his chance to encounter, for they were not fifty leagues upon the main Sea, when they were sharply assailed by an angry Neptune, who misliking their voyage, set a brooch the malice of the winds, forcing the Sea to so high a billatt and unruly rage of the waves, that thimpetuosity of the tempest, took away the force of the pilots and mariners in such sort, as being no longer able to resist the fury of the storm committed themselves and ship to the mercy of the waves, which ceased not to continue in extreme fury the space of three days and nights without intermission, in which time their fortune had put them upon the coast of Barbaria, where the malice of the winds appeased, and the Sea retired to his ordinary quiet, albeit thignorance of the coast and country (a common enemy to all christendom) offered them cause of new fear, yet the view of their late peril passed, mortified all suggestion of new sorrow, and procured them to a more congratulation then if they had already performed their expedition, and were saflye arrived in the harbour of Levant.  
But fortune, who had yet an other act of tragical malice to present unto these wretches, lay in wait to assail them with a second desaster more extreme than the first, whose alaram made a conversion of their hymns and Psalms of rejoicing, into tears and dolorous exclamations: for as they lay at anchor, in the evening when the night began to cover the earth with his dark mantel, behold a pirott of the moor (partaker also of the malice of their tempest) beset them upon a sudden, with certain brigandines (most fit vessels to do a mischief in a calm, and charged them so hotly on all sides, that being already for wearied with the torment of their peril passed, and not able to expose sufficient 
Perillo taken prisoner and his goods spoiled.  resistance to their unruly force, were laid aboard with small effution of blood, their goods spoiled, and themselves carried prisoners to Thunys to live in extreme misery under the servile yoke of the Barbarous nations.  
Here if the master cried out for the loss of his ship, the Mariners to be deprived of their higher, and the merchants to see the spoil of their goods with hindrance of their venture, I leave you to be judges of the passion of poor PERILLO, who dispairinge to be redeemed, for that his whole substance was committed to pillage in that misfortune, exclaimed against thiniquity of the gods, for that they seamed to favour his misery with a term of longer life, he wished death might make no stay to do his office, for that he loathed the view of his sundry adversities, and yet he seamed to sorrow more in the loss of his fair CARMOSYNA, then in the despair of his ransom, for the hard boards of the galleys, being his bed in the night, the bare pennyworths and hungry share of victuals which his keepers presented him withal, th'extreme toil and togginge at the ore, with the smarting whip now and then about his bare shoulders, did not so much torment him, as the remembrance of his lost mistress seamed to force him to double dolor  
Ah saith he, to what greater punishment or penance of 
The complaint of Peaitllo in prison.  hard toleration cold fortune have enjoined me, then in despairing eftsoons to recover her presence, to force me to record herabsence in this dolorous and pining prison? had it not been better for me to have performed the rest of my pleasant life at home, and spent the remeinder of my portion in the supply of my delicate trade, then lose my whole substance at one blow, and myself coffred in a wretched and stinking dungeon? here may be noted one chief fruit of covetous desire, and an effect of filthy gain, when the greedy mind, in going about to glott thappetite of his coffers, leaveth an example of his wretched folly to all ages: Oh how happy be they, who contented with the gift of a mean fortune, do not seek to load ships, and remain from hour to hour within three inches of death, either to be buried in the bellies of the monsters in the Sea, or being cast upon some desert shore, to serve as pray to the devouring jaws of wild beasts? was it not sufficient alas to be touched with the experience of a repulse in love, but that I must feel the heavy 
The Sea.  hand & mobility of fortune in an element more inconstant then the variable course of the moon? Ah Carmosyna what wrong dost thou to my misery, if thy tears do not help to lament my distress, seeing that in seeking to have the to my wife, I am married to a heavy burden of bolts and shackells of iron, and in place of my marriage bed with thee, my destinies have appointed me a pillow of carthe in a dark and filthy hole, where notwithstanding if there were any offer of hope eftsoons to enjoy thy presence, I could easily digest the Symptoms of my martyrdom, and in attending the happy consent of such good fortune to make a plai●ante exercise of my present and painful ymprisonment.  
By this time fame had ymparted the desolation of our ventures to the whole City of Naples, not without the general sorrow of all men, and special tears of such as were contributary to the loss, albeit making of necessity a virtue, time gave end to their dolor and dismissed them all, with desire to redeem his captif friend, but Carmosyna knowing her PERILLO to be one of the miserable number, and weighing the circumstance of his mishap, which stood upon terms of more extremity than all the rest, both for that by the loss of his portion, she doubted to set him on foot again, and much more despaired of means to pay his ransom, entered into such present rage, that she was ready to use force against herself, whereunto she had put an effect, if it had not been for her governess, who reprehending sharply her wilful folly, appeased at last (with great raisin) her desperatt intent, converting the furious humour of the desolate maid into a river of tears, distilling a main down her reasie cheeks, complaining notwithstanding with terms of grief, the misfortune of her friend, but chief for that herself was the principal cause of his ruinous estate, and that the rude answer of her father forced him to abandon his country, for the gain of a continual captivity?  
Ah infortunate girl (saith she) and insatiable covetousness in the old age of my father, who in refusing the honest request 
Carmosina complaineth the misery of perillo.  of Perillo, respected more the mass of filthy treasure, than the virtues or good disposition in the young man? Why would not he consider that the manners of men do change, & of a prodigal youth proceeds a sparing old man, neither ought we to despair of his recovery, who finding the salt of his own folly, disposeth himself to amendment of life. what cause of care hath he either of the poverty or rich●●● of his children after his death, saying the remembrance of the world dekayeth with the loss of life? can he carry with him any care of our advancement, saying he is forced to leave behind him the thing which is more dear unto him then the prosperetie or health of his children? if he 
Riche●  present me with a husband and portion of a kingdom, the offer of no millions shall mortify in me the love I bear my PERILLO, neither is it a virtue to sell affection for the price of money, and much less to seam to love him, whom my heart can not brook, for there is neither pleasure nor contententent where the mind is not in quiett.  
No, no, let him use the skoape of his crabbed age, and do what he thinks good, for my part, I will not be disloyal on the behalf of him, who I know honoureth me with sincere affection neither shall he lie long in prison, nor continue any time the son of poverty, for I know where be a company of ducats which saw no light since, I had the use of discretion, which I doubt not will both pawn his delivery, and furnish him with a second trade more fortunate (I hope) than the first, and for my part, the greens of my age, giveth me leave to suspend certain years without any haste to marry, wherein she demanded th'assistance of her governs, who gave her not only a firm assurance of her aid, but also promised a supply of money towards the furniture of her expedition, desiring her for the rest, to do away all arguments of dollar, least the same discovered her passion to her father, wherein as they consumed certain months in beavise to deliver PERILLO, with secret practisses in levienge the price of his ransom so fortune began to enter into terms of pity towards him, and prevented the meaning of his mistress, by taking him out of prison in sort as you shall hear.  
Wherein albeit she exceeded the maid with speed in execution, yet ought we to give the title of worthy thanks to Carmosyna, whose example of virtue in this case I wish may summon a remorse to our light and inconstant dames now a days, who are so incertain in true affection, that 
A special challenge.  the respect of present pleasure, takes away the remembrance of their absent friend, and maketh them unmindful of the faith of their former promiss, wherein I am not provided to enter into argument at this present, both for that I do●t to gain displeasure in discovering a truth, and also such discourse is without the compass of my commission, which is now to recount unto you the delivery of poor Antonio.  
Old Minyo the father of Carmosyna had joined with his richesses and desire of worldly gain, certain virtues and commendable gifts, as very devote in visiting the churches and places of prayer, of a charitable disposition in relieving the distress of th'afflicted, and so full of compassion on the behalf of the needy, that seldom any poor man departed from him empty handed, besides, he extended amerueilus charity and act of pity to the desolate captives amongst the Moares, in such sort, as making every year a voyage into Barbaria, he made an ordinary, to redeem and bring away with him ten or twelve christian prisoners, of whom such as were able, restored the price of their ransom, without any interest, thinking the gain sufficient in that he was the cause of their delivery, but the rest he sent freely into their country expecting the meed of that virtue at the hands of god, with this only charge, that in remembrance of the benefit, they would not forget him in their private prayers. The gift of wealth was not evil bestowed upon this merchant, considering he was thankful in ymparting it to the poor, according to th'admonition of the gospel, but how many may a man reckon in england, that exceeds him in riches, and scarce one of semblable virtue, for the perversatie of our age is come to that point, that where our fathers and grandfathers delighted in works of charity, with care to supply the necessity of such as did want, our Helloes & golphes of riches do not only close their ears against the lamentable cries of the needy, but also make no conscience to despoil them, either by awe, fear or flattery, of that little which their fortune hath left them, in such sort, that Alms and devotion seams such strangers & so little known amongst men now a days, that of these few that soccour the poor, the most part, do it rather of vain glory, or to condemn the barbarus disposition of his neighbour, them for compassion on the behalf of him that stands in need: hospitality is also so unknown amongst us, that where our ancestors builded houses endowing them with sufficient revenues to sustain thimpotent and needy persons, with free annuities and other means of relief, how many of the members of christ do we see in our time void of harbour to shroode their naked bodies, full of diseases, pinched with extremity of hunger and cold, ready to give up the ghost at the gate of the richman, & yet not relieved with so much as the crumbs that fall from his table: I borrow thusmuch on the office of the preacher, not with intent to charge him any way with imputation of negligence in the pulpit touching his admonition to the people to assist the distress of such as god visiteth with the Rod of affliction, but in presenting our merchants with a familiar example of the office & duty of a true christian, to stir them to the imitation of the like virtue, and in being ashamed, that such as have gone affore us, have carried with them to heaven, all effects of charity, to dispose themselves to seam worthy of that which they have, by yielding a certain tenth or tribute of their goods to such as the scripture termeth the deputies of christ asking it in his name. But now to our father Minio, who for that by th'impediment of sickness, was not able to perform his voyage to Thunys, 
The poor man demanding his alms is the deputy of Christ, who saith what we give to the needy we bestow upon him.  in person, during the year of ymprisonment of the Napolytans, gave charge to certain his factors to redeem ten Captives of his country, or at least to furnish the number with any that professed the Law of Christ, which was performed accordingly with such good fortune on the behalf of Antonio Perillo, that he enjoyed a participation of the devotion and benefit of Minio, and was sent to Naples amongst the rest that were redeemed, not being known notwithstanding of any his coprisoners or other of the company, for that they had not had any great interview together, and much less of his 
Perillo redeemed from prison.  familiar friends, seeing the penury of imprisonement had set a die of hideus complerion upon his face, and his hear and beard exceeding their ordinary length, had overgrown certain special marks which else had discovered him more easily. But what can beguile the eye of a lover, or who is able to conceal from a woman the face of him, whose picture she beareth in the bottom of her heart, and whose remembrance death himself is scarce able to deface, Carmosyna, which made her thought a looking glass to behold every day th'image of her Perillo, had no sooner glanced simply upon him, but she knew it was he, who for her sake had passed the pangs of so many torments, wherewith no less glad of his return, than he double doubtful of the continuance of her good will, wrought so much by the slight of her governess, that she had place of conference with him in secret, where after certain congratulationss of his delivery she exposed terms of compforte in this sort.  
Albeit (saith she) fortune hath been so incensed against 
Carmosyna comforteth Perillo.  you, that she hath neither spite nor malice in store whereof you have not tasted to th'uttermost force and extremity, yet your Carmosyna hath neither forgot any part of thancient goodwill she hath borne you nor much less entered into the least contempt that may be imagined, but where a number of other Ladies, would have dismissed their affection at the first summons of adversaty, I am here to avouch an undoubted continuation of zeal, with a triple increase of true love towards you, whereof I am also to yield you a present proof in double sort the one with an assurance of reciprocal amity until th'extreme date of my days, the other, in consideration that your poverty proceeded by my means. I have provided a second supply of money to renew eftsoons your traffic, which being guided by a better fortune will yield you (I hope) a success of such commodity as my father will deny you no more the title of his son in law, whereof for my part, I pronounce (from thinstant) such confirmation as is in me to perform: These news unlooked for, stirred up a trance of such alterations in the troubled mind of Perillo, that what with the greedy desire his eyes had to feed upon her beauty, which he had not regarded of long time but by inward contemplation, and the passion of present gladness in th'assurance of her love, with a frank offer of speedy assistance to restore his trade, he had neither the use of his tongue to expose terms of thanks, and much less the consent of his senses to believe that which he hard, but as one Zenopholus attending the answer of his oracle or suddenly stricken with a doom apploplexie, stood as immovable as th'image of saint petre in the Capitol of Rome, till she rechargde him with a second consolation, and withal presented him with certain bags full of ducats, where of she willed him to defray the value of his ransom to the factors of her father, and dispose the rest in a second venture for merchandise, which he performed accordingly, with the benefit of so good time and fortune, that sailing with a prosperus wind to Levant, he made his market to such advantage, that (in his reatorne to Naples,) thincrease and gain of his trade, redeemed every possession which erst he sold, and left him besides sufficient to furnish his lacks in every respect, in such sort, as the common judgement passed, that his wealth was nothing inequal to the richesses of his father, and his present state as plentiful of all things as the first day he seized upon the coffers and remain of old Perillo: amongst the rest of the friends of Antonio, which rejoiced his happy fortune, Carmosyna I am sewer was not least glad, chief for that she saw her father begin to grow in delight with the doings of the young man, who for his part also renewing a daily increase of affection towards his mistress, was in devise, by what means he might eftsoons board the goodwill of her father, whom he judged cold use small reason in refusing his request, seeing his richesses were equal to thappetite of his greedy mind, and his possessions and patrimony nothing inferior to the best of the City, wherefore for the more honour and solemnity of the demand, he sent his uncle to summon the fair Carmosyna, in sort of lawful marriage with an offer of dowry at the discretion of her father, who not ignorant of the league of long love between his daughter and Perillo, whom he knew to have first entered into change of life for the only respect of her favour, thought it as great conscience to condescend, as they had reason to make the request, whereupon adding an effect of expedition to their present agreement, the bale of contract was drawn and the marriage published immediately between Antonio Perillo and the fair Carmosyna to the special content 
Perillo and Carmosyna married.  meant of themselves and singler pleasure of the parents on both sides, which notwithstanding was unhappily abridged contrary to all their expectations, by the malice of a pitiful accident which fell upon them the very night of their marriage in the house of th'old Minio: it was in the midst of the month of june, at what time the heats being most vehement, do force terrible thunders and rage of weather in great extremity, by certain dry vapours and exhalations which the heat air draweth up from the dry earth when as our infortunate Lovers were new gone to bed, devising together of their sundry misfortunes since the beginning of their love, and as they disposed themselves to discharge the pleasant shot of marriage, behold the eleamentes above, converting themselves into angry regards, set abroach the roaring noise of the fearful thunder, with such ympetuositie of blusteringe winds, that the trees and houses of deep foundation in the earth, where not able to resist their fury, together with an unnatural opening of the sky, whereby the whole earth seamed to borne with a glow or fearful flame of lightening, at last the air not able to contain the heat, was forced to avent, when a man might have seen fall in waters and places of firm ground, diverse stones of sundry forms, some square, some round, some forqued and other long, piked at both ends of the sharpness of a needle, derived be like of the congealed substance of the heat & vapours of the air, whereof (as the fear of the tempest had driven the bride and bridgrom to embrace one an other) So one of the said fatal ministers of destiny, which we call properly thunderbolts, darted with such vehemency upon 
Perillo & his wiffe slain with Athonder oolte.  the one and other lover, piercing the place of life of them both that it gave end to their pleasure and life at one blow.  
Here you see that he, which escaped a marvelous peril of shyy wreck, & was delivered out of the hands of the Barbaryans when he despaired of all relief, is not able to shone the surie of the heavens, and inclemency of his fates, and much less to exceed the moment which his destiny determined upon him, Albeit if there be any one spark of pleasure in such misfortune, he was assisted with a moderation in the greatness of his distress, both for that he died in the arms of her whom he loved no less than himself, & also had her company to his grave, whom he could not enjoy being on live but in thought & inward regard, such was the end of his love, wherein sewer, if love were a creature of either sense or feeling, he deserved to be reprehended of injustice, for that he is partial & showeth favour, not only to such as practise the slight of theft and stealth in amarus affairs, I mean such as albeit, they bore not advow their lascivious and wanton trade, yet he guides them saffelye to the pray of their desire, and returns them without the offer of peril, but also giveth good success to them, that, dissembling with the virtue of true loyalty, have no other respect but to satisfy the glott of their voluptuous pleasure, where, on the contrary, this infortunate Perillo embracing his wife in chaste and honest sort, was no less injustly revenged, then cruelly smothered by the fiery force of thunder, which strange kind of death gave no small amaze to the whole city of Naples, both for the rarity of th'accident, and also the great wrong which the guider of amarus destinies seemed to do to the loyalty of the young man, who deserved a better consideration for his sundry distresses, than a fatal suffocation or deadly blow of the heavens in the first beginning and earnest penny of his pleasure with his dear Carmosyna, with whom he was shrined in a Tomb of marble, with a certain epitaph in Latin, which I have here composed in our vulgary verse which it may please your Ladishipp to imagine to hear pronounced by the mouth of the dead Perillo, appearing half out of his grave, in his sheet, trussed at either end with a fatal knot, speaking with a voice of terror, according to his ghastelye regard.  

The epitaph upon the tomb of Perillo and Carmosyna.  

FRom cloddye Couch rise up consumed corpse  
You captive knights, whom Cupid sterude with care,  
And lovers ye that live, come take remorse  
On two, that found such death as haps but rare  
See here the sheet that shrouds such faithful twain  
As seld are found, to serve in loyal train.   

four winter's long I ran a careful race,  
Wherein I found the fruits of Crabbed fate,  
Ne cold I get the grant of fortunes grace  
But pinched still with pangs of miser's state  
I felt the force of every mortal blast,  
There was no ill whereof I did not taste.   

My folly forced a fall of all I had  
And friends forsook me in my greatest need  
My rents retired with rout of roisters trade  
And fancy fed me with the food of evil speed  
I sought to sow the seeds of stayed life  
when lo I cropped the fruits of greater strife.   

And though the Seas did spite my good intent  
Yet did they spare to spill me in their sands,  
But adding force to that, which long my fates have men●  
My goods and I, fell in the Pirottes hands,  
Where I in person pinched with every pang of care,  
My penance paid, with many a hungry share.   

Ne was my love devoid of like annoy  
sith she with equal grieff paid tribute to my pain,  
She weard her youth in dole in stead of joy  
The view of my mishaps bred woe in every vain  
Her pleasant time passed in continual tears  
Whose sooddes aye bathed her green and maiden years.   

But oh give ear, when we by happy lot  
Did deem to find the end of all distress  
And as in bed, we hoped to change the note  
Of former pain to perfect joyfulness,  
Behold alas the flag of fatal wrath.  
O'erspread us both with pangs of present death   

Oh heavy hap, o perversd destiny,  
Oh lives ay framed in mould of wretchedness  
And borne to wear the wreath of misery,  
From all that erst have felt distress,  
He is most cursed whose state is so oppressed  
That in his life finds no one day of rest.   

Resign your terms, and tunes of ancient woe,  
Who erst have wept in tears of equal greeff  
No two on live, nor all that sleep below  
More loyal wear, aye wanting still relieff  
Then we, whose pictures here are placed in deep  
And shrouded both within the fatal sheet.    
FINIS.   

The argument.  
THe tragical chances happening tooth infortunate sort of this world, albeit at the first, do present a certain bitter taste with unsavoury digestion, yet who Syfteth them to the quick, construinge rightly every cause of their coming, and virtue in operation, will not only judge them necessary for some respects, but also discern in them an indifferent profit and pleasure to all degrees of present being, but specially, to future posterities, who may learn by the view of former ills, to eschew the like harms in themselves: And because every thing is appointed his peculiar season, and all acts cannot agree with every time and all places, I have devised, that as I began my histories with a comiqual discourse, So I intend to knit up with a tragicomiqual reaport treating chief upon the self same subject, which the fond do commonly 
love.  prefer as a special coverture or shield of their faltes.  
Thexperience is not strange now a days, what humour of rage doth direct our frail youth, governed by the planet of love, and what mortal inconvenience doth and would springe thereupon, if reason served not in some sort as a moderation of our folly even from the cradle to the full maturity of our age, quallefyeng besides by wholesome principles, the heat of our wilful appettites, wherein like as amongst all the tyrannous enemies which afflict the body or mind of man, he only gloriethe of force to alter our proper nature, what perfection so ever it ymporte, converting our liberty into a disposition of servile thraldom, guided only by the rain of his discretion, So amon the number of authorities heretofore alleged for the proof of the same, I have thought good to prefer an example of ourtyme, happening in a gentleman of Catalonia, who declaring in himself by his togreat constancy two extremities of love and folly, hath also painted out the picture of a gentlewoman, no less light and inconstant, than love and such as follow his loa●e be vain, seeing the small virtue which assistes their sonde endeavour, and slender commodity, growing by their uncerteive service.  
A WONDERED Constancy in Dom Diego, who for the respect of Genivera la blonde, undertook a hard Penance upon the mounts pyrenei, where he led the life of an hermytt till hèe was found out by chance by one of his friends, by whose help he recovered both favour and marriage of his cruel mistress.  
Upon the confines of Catalonia, dividing Barcellonia and the mounts, lived not long since an ancient Lady, the widow and late wife of a knight of that country, who left her only a daughter to supply him in succession, and give comfort to the desolation and old years of her mother, in whom appeared rather a fond zeal, then awful diligence in theducation of her child, for that she seemed more willing to flatter the vain humour of her young years, then careful to reprehend the arguments of wanton dispocision appearing in the youngling, who, besides her curius shapp of body, and limbs, with wonderful perfection of beauty wherein nature gloreth yet of her cunning, was assisted with so fair a hair, falling by divine art in to crisped locks, dividing themselves (as it were by appointment) that the gold purified and tried by the flame of the furnaise, seamed but a dark metal, in respect of the glistering glee of her curled hair, whereby she was called of all men Genivera lafoy blond, not far from whose castle or place of abode, was the dwelling of an other virtuous widow, of no less estimation, for her riches & large dominions than the other, and of equal honour and renown for honest life, who having only the presence of a son, to restore the remembrance of her dead husband, used no less care to bring him up in the discipline of every virtue, study of good letters, together with a participation in th'exercise of all noble recreations convenient for a gentleman of his condition and calling, than the fair Genivera reapposed felicity in the beauty of her glorious hear, wherein to assist the natural towardines of her son, she sent him to Barcelonia, the chiefest city of the country, where fortune favoured his diligence with such dexterity in all things, that upon the eighteenth year of his age, his perfection in learning, with wonderful sleight in exploits of chivalry, gave causes of shame to all gentlemen and other degrees what so ever nourished and bred up in the like exercises, which stirred up such contentment in the good Lady his mother, that she knew not with what countenance to cover the pleasure she took in the felicity of her son, a salt familiar enough to a number of fond men, and a vice most common to all mothers, who glorienge in the towardness of their children, do flatter themselves with an uncertain hope of their future virtue, wherein they do indifferent wrong to their own imagination, and advancement of their wilful and wanton youth, who blinded with vain persuasion of creaditt of their parents, do think themselves dispensed with all from further diligence, or to expose effects of other duty, whereupon followeth often times a number of indifferent mishaps to them both, with cause of equal rebuke to the one and the other: and so pursuing the quest of my history, it happened in the flourishing years of this young gentleman Dom Diego, that philipp of ostrich only heir to his father newly deceased, passing thorough France towards Spain to investe himself in the Seignories of his late father, gave warning of his coming to the City of BARCELONIA, who for their parts, entered immediately into devise, touching the pompp and magnifisence, wherewith they might do honour to the majesty of so great a prince, as the son of the Emperor of the Romans, amongst other solemnities, they dressed a rich and curious just, furnishing the lists only with young gentlemen, here tofore not greatly exsperienced in the use of arms, whereof as Dom Diego, was chosen chief of th'one part, so the king (for a more contentment to his subjects) being upon the scaffold to judge the lofty courage of these young gallandes, had only his eyes upon the young DIEGO, with a wonderful admiration of his force in so young years, arguing an undoubted virtue with th'increase of further age, to whom only he awarded the glory of the field, with protestation that in his life, he had not seen a medley better performed, seeming rather a battle or combat of experienced knights, than an exercise of delicate youth, not yet accustomed to bear the burden of armour, and less acquainted with the travel of war, wherewith aswell, inconsideration of the present towardness in the widows son, with courage to continue his trade so well begun, as also to feed the hope and show of his future virtue, he was admitted 
Dom Diego made knight  the next morning into the order of knigthode, invested with the collar of saint Andrew and other ceremonies of spain, by the hand of the said Philipp, who after he had fulfilled the date of his above at Barcelonia, pursued his journey towards Castille leaving our new knight Dom Diego rejoicing not a little in his present honour, ymparted unto him by his prince, retiring with the news of his good fortune to his own possession and living, more to perform tharrearages of his duty to his mother, whom the had not seen of long time, then with intent to make long stay there, or enter into delight with the pleasures that be in the country, whereof notwithstanding he received so sewer a taste, that his captivity in the end exceeded every way in greatness of greff, the restraint of liberty or other mislike or impediment he found at any time in the City, like as also the poets have imagined that love, pitching his tents in desert places not apt to discovery, doth discharge his darts and arrows in the thicket of woods and forests, upon the board of the Sea, or shaded fountains, and some time upon the height of the highest hills in the pursewte of the Nymphs of all sorts, judging thereby a liberty and most sewer way to treat upon matters of love, without suspicion, jealousy, envy, false reaporte, sinister opinion or common cry of the people, to be in the wide and open fields, where they may be bold to communicate their mutual passion without fear of witnesses, enjoying also the pleasures of all kind of chasses, which the champion doth norrishe, with participation of the chirping harmony and natural music of birds, and sometime the delightful noise of sundry pleasant channels and silver streams, qualyfyinge in their kind the vehemency of their languishing greeffe, and recording also with great ceremony, the first place of their amarus interview or acquaintance, arguing thereby triple felicity to such, as abandoning the sundry annoys attending continual abode in the City, do resort to the pleasant lawns in the country to yield tribute of their studies to the muse, whereunto they be most affected, So Dom Diego, being at home loved entirely of his mother, & served with all dutiful obedience of his subjects and servants, after his ordinary hours of study were passed, used his chief pleasure in th'exercise of the field, I mean some time to dislodge the great and lofty heart, to dress the toils to entrap the wild boar, and some time to try the goodness of his hawk with the main wing of the hearon or fearful partridge in the stubble fields or valleys environed with huge hills, wherein one day amongst the rest, hunting the wild goat which he had forced from his habitation of the high and craggy rocks, he saw launsing afore him a heart which his dogs had rozed and so hotly purse wed, that (to his judgement) he seamed more than half spent, wherewith, aswell for the pleasure which the pastime itself did offer him, as also to ease the travail of his hounds, he put spurs to his horse, forcing him to a main gallopp, wherein he continued till, his hounds loasing the track of their pray, were at default, and himself without the sight and hearing of all his men, with such ignorance of the cost where he was, that he knew no ready way of return to his company, and much less the place where his fortune had put him, grieving moste in this perplexity that his horse being out of breath, refused (for want of force) to carry him any further, wherefore after he had blown divers calls for his men without other answer then an Echo of the woods and waters, he divided his distress into two points, the one to demounte and ease the weariness of his horse, the other to retire back by the same path which brought him thither, wherein his expectation was no less frustrate, than himself deceived by the malice of his fortune, for that meaning to take the next way to his castle, he met with a contrary path, which after he had traveled the most part of the afternoon, brought him in the end, within the view of a stately house, builded upon the side of a hill, which by certain marks appearing on th'uttermost parts of the house, albeit argued the contrary of his intent, yet, hearing the babble of certain hunters, ymagininge the same to be his people, drew near the place, which discovered (above his expectation) A company of strangers, being certain servants of the mother of GENIVERA, which attended their mistress with a brace of young greyhownds that had newly ●●●●ne a hare to death, and being thus rencountred with this second misfortune, he grew also into terms of greater distress than afore, for that ●happroche of the night, beginning to expose shadoes of darkness upon the earth by the departure of the son, took from him all hope of other harbour, than the offer of some hollow tree, or green bed upon the ground, when lo thancient Lady discerning between the view of her eye, and regards of the clouds, which had not yet closed in the light of the firmament, the shadow of a man descending from the uppermost part of a hill with his horse in his hand, seeming by his majesty, marching with the semblance of a prince, to be some degree of honour, sent one of her men to know what he was, who reatorned with answer according to his demand, whereupon the Lady widow with her fair daughter, indifferently glad of thapproach of their neighbour, whom albeit they never saw, yet fame had made them partakers of his virtue & renown, went in solemn order to meet him, forgetting no kind of courteous greeting that belonged to the honour and estate of so noble a parsonage, whereunto he replied with thanks according to the greatness of the benefytt, with addition, that he found himself greatly in the favour of fortune, for that his painful travel in wandering so many hours, had given him at last so fit an occasion, to visit the house, whereunto, he doubted not for his part, to confirm the league of friendship begun and happily continued of long time by his parents and predecessors: the Lady whose long absence from the court had not diminished her grace in courtelike conference, answered, that if they have greatest cause of contentements that gaineth the most, or if large benefits, require ample consideration, it is she that ought to offer to fortune the sacrifice of thanksgiving, for that she had brought her a guest, no less dear than the life of herself, and as welcome as if the king of Spain had done her the honour to visytt her castle, which stirred up in him a second offer of his service, not only on her behalf, but also towards the least ymppe derived of her house, wherewith, Genivera, to assist the contentment of her mother in the company of the young knight, with the pleasure she took herself 
The first meeting & words between Diego and Genivera.  in his seemly conference, craved (in smiling order) a participation in peculiar of the liberal offer which he exposed by general terms to her mother and her whole house, DOMDIEGO which had not yet exceeded an ordinary regard in beholding the beauty of the young Lady, found cause in the mystery of her words, to glance with more judgement upon her, in such sort, that at the instant he felt himself assailed with such sudden alteration, that his astonishment would not give him leave to answer, otherways then with a piercing glee of his eyes, feeding with firm contemplation upon the fresh die of white and red, appearing in all parts of her divine face, wherein also for a more decoration of this wonderful work of nature, thattire of her head presented 
A description thatti●e and beauty of Genivera.  such an artificial devise, that it seamed she had (the same day) some foreknowledge of the coming of him, whom her beauty made prisoner, and her cruelty enjoined a most hard and long penance, for she had upon the uttermost part of her head, a call or coronet of gold resting upon a wreath or garland of flowers of sundry coollors, pletted by curious slight of the fingers within her enamelled hairs, which covering one part of her shoulders, dispersed themselves also some time upon her delicate forehead, and some time wafing unpon her roasye cheeks according to to the mild breath of the evening wind which gave them moving, disposed themselves with such seamelye grace, with increase to the beauty of her that ware them, that who had seen the port and majesty which nature joined to this rare work, would have judged that love and the three graces had, had no other place of harbour but in this piece of wonderful perfection. At either of her ears hung two fair and rich orient pearls, which increased also the glee of her golden hairs, besides the large & glistering forehead of this Nymph, whereupp on was set a border of rich diamonds founded upon a frame of pure gold, casting such piercing glymers to the beholders, that it presented rather a rank or order of shining stars, when the elament, in the heat of the summer is most clear, exposing beams of wonderful brightness, than an attire of a mortal creature, whereupon attended two sparkling eyes assisted on either side by an equal Simmetria or just proportion with certain knots and borders of veins of the colour of azure, with a special virtue to draw and mortify any heart made of the hardest metal that ever was, yielding so liberally their servant beams, that who so disposed himself to contemplation of these two twinkling stars, was in no less danger to lose the benefit of his sight, then in times paste we read certain Philosophers became blind upon the mount Olympium with continual regard of the son to judge the dispacition of the heavens: then appeared her delicate nose, answering in proportion the rest of her face, dividing also her two cheeks of the coollor of a fine incarnatt, resembling two round apples come already to the fulues of their maturity, next to the which succeeded her courall mouth, breathing a perfume more precious and sweet, than any confection made of the Amber, musk, or other droge aromatic coming out of ARABIA, and if some time she chanced to disclose and open her lips, resembling in roundness and colour two cheris in their full ripeness, exceeding also the softness of any thing that ever was accounted delicate or tender, there appeared two raws of pearls of such rare whiteness, that th'orient I say complaineth of want of cunning to make comparison with the colour of her teeth, And so descending some what lower, this Dyana discovered a neck, whose complexion giveth cause of shame to the whiteness of the glorius lily, and makes blush the pure alabaster, her stomach also somewhat raised by two round and precius dugbugges of equal separation, was covered with a brave and soft vail, more tender than the thine lawn, which hindered no way the view of her travelling breasts, panting and drawing a pleasant breath according to the motion of th'affection which governed thinner parts of the thoughts of this earthly goddess, who besides all this, was assisted with a gift of such natural beauty, bestowing courteise regards upon all men according to their indifferent merit, that the same made her no less worthy to be honoured and served of the greatest princes of the world, than the rarity of her perfection restored her a marvel & wonder to all men, which is a virtue far from the most part of our fair dames, who glorienge in the glee of their beauty) are moved I can not tell, with, what opinion of such disdain, with desire to appear more perfect then is necessary, that in seeking to set a fairer enamel of that which nature hath made sufficiently precious, they do not only impair the credit of renown by suborned means of ymperfection of themselves, but also by their own folly deface the glory of that, which stirreth up the chiefest cause of affection in men to do them honour and service, wherein as my purpose is not to discover the doings of any in such cases, so I hope this allegation of a troth in covarte manner, will defend me from the displeasures of such as find themselves infected with the humour of that folly, wherewith, in preferring my integretie, I wish them all as worthy, as they are desirous to wear the badge of glorious beauty, and so to Dom Diego whom I think you will judge had sufficient cause of astonishment, being so valiantly assailed) without thinking of such an assault) with so strong an army, as the beauty behaviour, and princely shapp of this fair ympp and very nestcockle of nature, eye I think that the most sparing pilgrim that ever undertook to mortify his body with painful travel in devotion to any saint▪ would have renounced his vow, and cast a way both skripp and staff, to have done honour to so fair an object as the beauty of this nymph, and I doubt whether she most assured and staid Philosopher of old time would have made any conscience to forsake his profession of contemplation of natural things, with judgement of thelamentes, to have disposed himself and skill to the service of so rare a perfection, I think also that if the daughter of Minos had been favoured with semblable beauty, and blessed with equal gifts and grace of this Lady, that her Hipolites would have left the ship and dogs of Dyana to have pursued the quest of so divine a mystery as appeared in all parts of this Genivera La●blonde, who for her part also was indifferently amazed, and no less astonished with the port and courtelike behaviour of the knight, than he moved to silence with the view of her beauty, wherewith also casting upon him 
Genivera falleth in love with Diego.  certain regards at unwares, began to feel a motion of that wherein she had not been erst experienced, with an alteration in her heart, which forced a change of complexion in her face, with a sudden silence for want of audacity to speak: an ordinary custom to such as be stricken with the disease of love, to lose the use of the ●ounge, when it should chiefly ease the gréeff of the heart, who not able to support the heavy burden of passions proceeding of that evil, doth ymparte the greatest charge to the eyes, as to the faithful messengers of the secret conceptions of the mind, which passioned above his force, and pressed with thalarams of affection, is driven for the most part to force a vent or issue for the humour of his desire by the same mean and ministers, which first discovered the rage of his fever, whereof there seamed already a Sympathia or equality between the two younglings, being both indifferently ignorant of the mystery or cause of such sudden transmutation, which also grew to terms of aggravation in them both, by a renovation of their gretyngs and enterteinementes at their arrival at the castle, the same serving as fresh baits to increase their desire, having notwithstanding chiefest power on the behalf of the knight, who losing at this first meeting the liberty of his thoughts, became by little & little so ravissed of his senses, and drowned in the poisoned podle of love, that he took no other pleasure then in the conceit of the gracious martyrdom he endured in the secret imagination of the beauty of his fair Genivera: here you may see the knight who in the morning was the master of himself, and in full possession of his senses, is now so transformed into a contrary disposition, that his willing bondage and state of present captivity, is not only more pleasant unto him, than the benefit of his ancient liberty dear, but also kept him so long from the use of his former freedom, that in the end he took no felicity if not in wishing to enjoy tother world, which for the most part are the fruits of this folly, who séeling the senses of man, doth drive him head long (with his eyes closed) into the gulf 
Love proceeds of a fond opinion.  of miserable despair: and as love proceeds no other ways then of a fond opinion, so the purgatory of such as be afflicted therewith, comes only by a foolish persuasion, that they be forsaken or deceived in the thing which they honour so much, where, of the contrary part, if they would be indifferent between their passion, and his vale we, they would not so rashly make more account of the thing which torments them, then of their health, honour and life, exposed all to the service and appetit of her, who, disdaining peradventure their endeavour, return the meed of their merit, upon a stranger and yields the pray to an other, for the which he hath taken such pain, whereby he takes occasion of absolute despair, deliting in nothing but the peremptory end of his unhappy life.  
whilst supper was making ready, the lady mother dispatched certain of her people to seek the servants of Dom Diego, whereof some had in charge to reaporte his being there to his mother, who for her part was no less glad, than she had cause, chief for that the distress of her son brought him in the end to so good an hostess, as her neighbour, and only trende of the world, in which mean while the stranger was desired to supply the best place at the table, over against whom, was appointed the match that first set his heart on fire, and in place to perform the expectation of his hostess in tasting the sundry delicate meats she had prepared for him, he fed only upon the dishes of love, and contenting himself with the dyot of his eyes, who without▪ either let or jealousy, ymparted their nurture to the heart, roved now and then by secret glances and piercing regards to the tender stomach of the fair Genivera, who for her part also was no niggard to requite him with triple usury, of familiar glee, which restored such fresh alarums to his late desire, that thalterations he felt in himself made him blush at his own behaviour, and as during the time of supper he was indifferently feasted with delicate broths prepared by the mother, and familiar signs sent unto him by the eyes of her daughter, so he felt himself double passioned, both to construe the meaning of such regards, and also to dim the sight of th'old lady, for discerning the convey of their folly, wherein albeit aswell to cast a mist before the eyes of her mother, as to dissemble the desire of his mind, he bestowed his looks unconstantly here and there about all the parts of the table, yet cold he not use such slight in this simple shift, but his eyes took always their last farewell upon the place and person of his mistress, in whom he found so thankful a reatorne, with amarus tribute, that in the end he durst not behold her any more, for fear her beauty would bear ave him of the benefit and sight of his eyes, all which were but prepratives to the part he had yet to play, into the which he began to enter the same night, when after supper and the banquet performed, he had given the Bonsoir to his hostess and her fair daughter, who for a more show of his welcome (or rather a declaration of her zeal, but chief to leave him occasion of further torment, would not depart his chamber till she saw him in bed, where in place of sleep, and to restore his weary body with the course of natural rest, he began to sigh, and build castles in Spain, preferring in his mind, thimages of a thousand fancies and follies, such as are appointed to appear and torment them as have their brain weakened with vain cogitations.  
Alas (saith he) is it possible that I which so long have enjoyed the benefit of a pleasant liberty, should thus lightly 
Dom diego passioned with love.  yield to the first sommance and apprehension of a servile thraldom? which albeit I cannot express in proper terms yet my mind feeleth an experience and effect of his force? is this the desert of my former freedom or just hire of wanton inclination, if such hard tribute attend mine ancient quiet, what expectation of other felicity is there in the course of our young years, then for a short time of flattering delights in liberty, to be rewarded in the end with an interest of triple torments in bondage? have I thus long kept war with thenemy of my free privilege, and reserved the maidenhead of my affection, to fall thus into the danger of a captivity, where I doubt no less whether my offer will be receined, them despair, to be entreated according to the justice of my merit? Ah Genivera, god forbidden that thy beauty have power to send so many torments and punishments to my yielded heart, as the tre, whereupon thou takest thy name, hath pricks to annoy them that touch it, and bitter in digestion to such as make a taste of the juice, Ah paragon and only praise of beauty, surely the fearful hare which thy dogs tore in pieces afore thy face this evening, was not more martyred by the bloody jaws of thy greyhounds, than my heart is tormented and divided into dyversatie of opinions upon the affection which I bear thee, wherein alas as I know not whether thou wilt admit me worthy of they service, or hast already passed a grant of thy love to an other, more worthy of favour then the loyal Dom Diego, So yet I may be bold to vaunt upon this ympossibilitie. that no man is able to approach thunfeigned sincerity of my heart, determined rather to give place to the sentence of my death, then to dysmysse the least part of the duty I have vowed to thy beauty, whole outward show promiseth an inward virtue, that I cannot despair to possess in the end the due meed of my loyalty, till which time I will pray only upon the food of expectation, with assured intent, for my part, not only to abandon all other ympressions or desires, but such as shall seam to favour the honour and service I have already sworn, but also to endeavour by extreme diligence to make myself worthy of the goodwill of the fairest Lady (that this day is shrewded) under the globe or circuit of heaven: wherewith after he had consumed certain ho were in reaving and raging upon his amarus complot, and that he had sufficiently sweet at the brows with the force and vehemency of his passion, he found the chiefest medicine for moderation of his grief, to communicate unto her the points of his good will, with desire he had not only to serve her, but also from henseforth to accept in good part such sentence, as she shall think good to pronounce of his life or death, and to do nor say any thing, but such as shallbe awarded him by the doom of the fair Genivera, who for her part also was not void of passion nor dispensed from semblable torment, for offering to perform the ceremonies of the night, she was deemed to close her eyes & yet knew not 
sleep the ceremonies of the night.  the cause that hindered the course of sleep, by which means, making a labyrinth of her rich and fair feldbed, she was no less assailed with contrariety of conceits, than her languishing servant, wherefore finding the burden of affection to exceed the grenes of her years, not yet assisted with any discretion or experience in love, dytermined to allow the resolution of the knight, if he ymparted the same either by subtle signs or secret conference.  
This was th'exercise of that night of both the lovers equal in desire, and yet the one ignorant of the others grief, wasting indifferently in sighs and wishes, as apprentices of the thing, wherein those that begin be always most hot, and such as continue gain skill by long practice, and yet the best experienced of all, are void of resistance against such an evil, and lack government in the convey of so hurtful a case.  
The morning had no sooner discovered her glorious beams, and the messenger of the son summoned the loathsome night to retire, but the weary knight left his restless bed, with intent to take leave of his hostess, and challenge the skoape of the large fields, to record & entertain his amarus thoughts, in returning to his mother's house, wherein notwithstanding he found a stay of his meaning by the honest ymportunitie of th'old lady, who with more entreaty than was needful to so willing a guest, won him easily to determine his tarrying till dinner, till which time, he found a supply of exercise with her company, and conference of her daughter, in whom he saw continual cause to aggravat his affection, and double occasion to increase his desire, in such sort, as his astonied countenance, and broken answers, ymporting most often the contrary of their demands, showed sufficiently the trouble & war in his mind, which albeit the subtle Genivera, construed according to a troth, yet her simple mother imputed it to an honest shame & want of audacity in the gentleman, for that he had not much haunted the company of ladies, wherein as they spent the most part of the morning, without (notwithstanding) that Dom Diego, had the heart to discover the least part of his promise of the night, so that hour of dinner summoned them to break their discourse & perform the due to thappetite of nature, with such delicate & sumpteouse fare as the good lady had provided, in declaration of the hearty zeal she bore to her guest, who after dinner failed not in humble sort to be thankful to his hosts, with assurance that, albeit he was not able to requite her courteous with equal consideration, yet his goodwill at all times should be nothing inferior to the greatness of her merit, wherewith he addressed the rest of his duty to her daughter, whose beauty (as you see) had made so great a wound in his heart, that the remembrance remained till the last hour of his life, and as he kissed her hand with intent to decipher that which he had imagined all the night, he became so amazed with thimpediment he felt in his tongue, with strange diversatie in all his senses, that he seamed no less ashamed of his present weakness in that place, than afore he was fully resolved to discharge there solution and meaning of his heart, which albeit gave some cause of little astonishment to the young Lady, yet she found indifferent occasion of pleasure and pity in his passion, for that as the one proceeded by her means, so she felt a motion in conscience to expose the other for the relief of him who suffered for her sake, wherefore with a troubled regard tempered with sufficient arguments of affection on her behalf, she broke his doom trance with these words, I wish sir (saith she) that you might find asmuch pleasure in your passion, as the same hath ymparted equal grief to others, and that your future absence may pinch you with no less annoy, than your present departure leaveth me desyerus to enjoy a longer time of your presence, which philosophy not looked for of the knight, did not only dismysse his silence and untie the charm of his tongue, but also renforced him to an audacity to yield her thanks for the compassion she used to his distress, with addition that only he was happy above all the world, to be partaker of so liberal a wish, but chief to hear her in terms of desire touching his presence, which with his life and all that he had he bound there by oath, to be pressed at all hours to perform the recution of her commandment, whereunto she replied with thanks according to the affection that governed her, with request eftsoons (and that with a reciprocal look and soft sigh) not to forget hereafter the way to the castle of her mother, to whom (she assured him) the welcomest guest of the world, and for her part, she accounted it a felicity to participate in her pleasure, and keep in entire the league of friendship, where with heretofore both their houses have been blessed from the beginning, where with time, with the number of assistants, witnessing their glee, forced an abridgement of their farewell, contrary albeit to both their wills, the one retiring to her chamber, with more care and less quiet than afore, and the other, with a thousand hamours in his head, took his way to the house of his mother, to whom he ymparted his adventure, his distress, being left of his men in a place unknown, his horse overcome with èxtreme travel, and that which worst was, thapproach of night, and his despair to find harbour, when not withstanding he chanced upon the castle of the old Lady, of whose courtesy & beauty of her daughter he made a particular discourse, leaving out notwithstanding, the glee between Geniverae and him, with request that it would please her, to join with him in some honest mean of thankful consideration to them both, whereunto he found his mother no less ready in consent, than himself desirous to use expedition in theffect, so that with her advise, the platt was made to invite them to her house the week following, and that he alone should work th'effect, like as he found himself most charged with the debt of their courtesy, and desire to requite it, whereunto he added such diligence, that upon his letter and humble request, he got the consent of the mother and daughter, which both failed not of their promise at the day appointed.  
When Dom Diego (having for the nonce the assistance of all the gentlemen and gentlewomen his neighbours) forgot 
Genivera and her mother, at the house of Diego.  no point of his endeavour to do them all the honour he could, both in sumptuousness of dyot, whereof there was more than sufficient, choice of music & melody of all sorts, masks momries, triumphs & other offices of humanity, wherein it behoved him chiefly to show a singler de●leritie, aswell for the discarg of every man's eye and expectation, touching a show of his gifts, being nourished and brought, up amongst princes, and also for the desire he had to leave no honour unperformed in the company of her, who had already the whole possession of his liberty.  
I need not descrive by piece meal th'apparel of the feast, the diversity and change of their dyot, their delicate banquetes, nor the sundry sorts of sweet wines, it may suffice, that after dinner they descended into a great hall, ready trimmed for the purpose, where the dances began according to the stroke of a sweet and soft music, shrouded under a vail or canopy of arrais in the uppermost part of the hall, there every gentleman took his Lady, amongst whom Dom Diego was not forgetful to address him towards his mistress, no less glad of her happy encounter, than he content to be so near the cause of his pleasant torment and insupportable passion of mind, whereof he began even now to make some discovery by words in this sort. Like as (good madam) I have always 
Diego wooeth Genivera in a dance.  thought that music hath imported a secret virtue, to force an appearance of joy, in the most pining and solitary disposition that is, Euenso I find mine opinion confirmed by a present experience in myself, who erst languishing in pangs of inward gréeff, with detestation not only against myself, but also all other things that offered any way to ease the greatness of mine annoy, do feel now some moderation of my martyrdom, aswell by the lamentable note of these records & insensible instruments, agreeing with the sorrowful condition of my present distress, as also, that by their conformity & means, I find myself near unto her▪ who only hath power to clear the clouds of my mortal evil, & restore me to the calm of min ancient quiet and as diverse diseases are not cured but by a medicen and object of their first occasion, so for my part, being contributor to the danger of that extremity, I account you as justly bound to yield me compassion, as your beauty is the chief and undoubted cause of th'alteration which I can no longer conceal from you and which forceth me in these few words, to vow unto you (without condition of dissolution) such assurance of my service, that only death shall have commission to corrupt the league which I seal here on your behalf, by the faith & life of a knight, to be the only servant, loyal friend, (and if you accept th'offer) the lawful husband of the fair Genivera La blonde: who for her part felt herself so assailed with the motions of affection, that she could not continue so assured in her countenance, but there appeared change of colour, arguing indifferently a contentment of the offer, and a pleasant mislike of his request, which rather gave him courage to pursue the points of his purpose, then disiste or disclaim the hope of so good a beginning, wherein as he forgot not to use th'office of a good solicitor for himself all that after dinner, so his ymportunitie at last, brought her to pass a consent, and confirm the bale under these terms: I am ignorant ●ir 
Genivera aun sweareth with half consent to his request  (sayeth she) in the mystery of your disease, and much less a●● I preavie to thoccasion, which both I hope, will defend me from imputation of blame in with holding the remedy you crave at my hand, only I can not but grieve in the evil of him, to whom, if the whole company are justly bound to be thankful for the friendship they find, I have cause of double obligation, possessing by your presence, the only contentment I wish in this world, neither is your affliction partial on your hehalfe, considering I am also plunged in pangs of equal effect, finding now (I must confess unto you) that as it is very hard to conceal the 
It is hard to conceal the passion of love.  passion proceeding of love, So albeit I had determined yet to dissimule that which I feel, yet am I forced from that resolution by a suggestion stirring in the secret of my heart which I can not term properly other ways then a second inspiration, assailing me with an ympression, whereof I am indifferently ignorant both for skill and judgement, notwithstanding reaposing much for myself in your virtue, which moveth me also to a remorse to satisfy in some part the due of your desert, I am content to admit your offer of a loyal friend, till you have obtained of my mother the second point, confirming th'uttermost of your demand, till then, content yourself 
Marriage.  with my just delay, and procure the supply of your desire with th'expedition of your own diligence, which last words stirred up such present joy in the passioned knight, that what between the waves of sudden gladness overflowing all his parts, and hope of speedy redress by the consent of her mother, he was scarce able to pronounce a simple thanks, albeit kissing her white and delicate hand, in witness of the syngler pleasure he felt in the breath of her words, told her, that, as her beauty and virtue deserved honour of the greatest prince in Spain, so for his part, he only might glory in the service of the mosts fair, courteyse and honest Lady, that ever was bred on that side the mounts, wherewith he was driven to cut of his further discourse, by the approach of the messenger which was sent from the two Lady mothers, to will them to come to supper, where yfthere were any want of curious devise at dinner, it was supplied with a double excess at this supper, being served with such change and choice of strange dyott, that if it be not sin to compare thabuses mortal, with divine mysteries, I think jupiter and the other gods were not so plentifully entreated upon the mount Peleon celebrating the marriage of the fair Thetis: albeit the end of the banquett concluded with a resolution to renew th'exercise of after dinner upon a fair green, environed with divers borders and odoriferous herbs and imps of the earth, pavished above by artificial sleight, with certain laurel branches and buds of hawthorn, to defend them from the parching heat of the son, where they had also to assist their pleasant recreations, the most temperatt season of the day at the dedeclyning of the son, the pleasant huishing of a clear stream descending from the top of a mountain, the chirpyn harmony of the féelden birds, assembled (as it were only to increase their solace) and also the soft and sweet accord of the green bows or young sprays, moving at the whistle of the mild ZEPHIR, where as they divided themselves into diverse change of pastimes, some to weave garlands of flowers for their servants, some to run and leap, or expose other exploits of activity for the honour of his mistress, and other to try the mastery of main force by casting the sledge or heavy bar, So amongst them all there was one Dom Roderyco a near neighbour and most famylar to thamarus Diego, who perceiving by the secret messengers of the eye, which passed between him and his mistress by stealth, to what saint he would gladly offer his candle, and how desirous she was to admit his devotion: furthered thintents of them both so farfurthe, that he took by the hand a young gentlewoman sitting next to the fair Genivera to begin a new dance, whereunto as she was nothing unwilling, so Dom Diego took courage also to address himself to his mistress, whose example the whole troop of nobility followed with indifferent contentation, and for the more honour of the dance Seigneur Roderigo, who was the first in the round, gave charge offcilence to the musicians, having conferred affore with his gentlewoman to sing some solemn note upon the subject of the two amarus, wherein she performed so indifferently the praise & passion of them both, that a man would have judged she had entered into the heart of Dom Diego and been specially instructed of the fair Genivera, who seeing herself touched at the quick and pinched without laughing in the hearing of so many, but chief exalted to the skies in the presence of him who took no less pleasure in her praises, then if he had been presented with the signory of all Arragon, cold not so connynglie dissemble her contentment, but th'alteration of her mind appeared in the often change of complexion in her face, which as it increased the crystal die & excellency of her beauty, So Dom Diego construing that passion to his commodity, gave judgement of th'assurance of her good will, whereof for a further prooff be wrong her tender fingers, & with a smiling regard, asking her opinion of the song, wished that her servant might live to see th'accomplishment of such a prophecy, protesting withal, that in his life he had not hard Music of more delight, for the which (sayeth he) I acknowledge a debt to the gentlewoman, that so aptly hath discovered your good will towards me, and vowed so frankly on your behalf, my loyal service, which I will not forget to confirm in all that I may, even until the last drop of my blood, whereunto Genivera replied with a double usury of humble thanks, with request that he would reappose undoubted credit in the mystery of the song, which as it had rightly deciphered the determination of her mind, and unfolded that which she reserved only as secret in herself, so she would not for her part, forget to perform th'effect, when convenient time, with her mother's consent, would admit the lawful consummation, upon which last words attended such friendly glances and wanton regards of the eye, with a counterchaunge of semblable glee on his part, that the two Lady widows, did not only note their affections, but also give judgement of the conclusion & unity of their minds, with resolution (for their parts) to confirm the bargain, with thassistance of time, using as than but only a simple conference deferring the final effect by reason of the tender years and green youth of both the lovers, whom if the discretion of the mothers at that instant, had conjoined by the oath of marriage, they had prevented the malice of an unconstant fortune, who in all delays forgets not to play the ordinary rolet of her natural mobility, whereof she exposed a manifest effect in the persons of these two ancient widows, one having lost her son for twenty or xxij. months without hope ettesones to recover his presence, by a cruelty & rash conceit of the daughter of the other, who (without the special providence of God) had given such a false bound to her honour, that the simple remembrance was sufficient to dispatch the old years of her mother with an untimely sommonee to descend to her fatal grave.  
And now during this amorous practice between these two prentices in love, whose affection growing to a ferventness with an indifferent desire in them both, presented arguments of equal alteration in the persons of the one & the other, for Dom Diego retiring by little & little from the lively hue of his former complexion, seamed transformed in amoment, neither did he allow any pleasure, but that which he possessed by the presence of his Genivera, who also for her part, judged the whole felicity of the earth to consist in the parson of her servant, whom she accounted the only pattern for perfection, of all the gentlemen of his time, neither did he let slip any week, wherein he went not to do his duty to his mistress three or four times, in whom he foundè a reatorne of his courtesy, with such virtuous & honest consideration as was convenient in a maid careful of the guard of her honour, wherein albeit her mother, reaposing indifferent credit in the virtue of them both, gave leave to her daughter to keep him company, yet (as Aristotle affirmeth) honesty doth not broke long dalliance, or wanton chat in chaste maids which the first that accoasteth them with conference in corners with any but such as by consent of the church have got the power and possession of their body and is or ought to be the one half or moiety of their mind, which albeit was th'intent and desire of these two lovers, yet the simplicity of their friends, deferring th'effect, wrought not only a breach of the bargain, but also stirred up in her, an humour of mortal spite against the sincerity of her loyal servant; who endewred the revenge of her unjust anger, under a punishment of a most sharp & long penance in deserts inhabitable & unknown, for in the heat of this reciprocal love between these younglings, it chanced that a marvelous fair and goodly gentle woman, daughter of a great lord of the country called Forrando de la Sara, using familiarly the company of Genivera, became by that means extremely in love with Dom Diego, assaying by public and private means to impart unto him what power and authority she would willingly give him over her heart, if for his part, he would requite the sincerity of her love with semblable honour and affection, wherein experiencing the benefytt of all honest means seeming any way to favour the effect of her desire, considered at last, that, above all other exercises, the knight took greatest pleasure in hawks, wherefore under colour to make a breach into his favour with assisting the disposition of his delight, she sent him one day a tassel gentle) as the chiefest jewel she had to present him withal, except the offer of her own good will, wherein Dom Diego albeit he was wholly possessed by an other, and with the loss of his liberty, had also so departed wit his judgement, that he could not discern th'intent and honest zeal of the gentlewoman, yet he accepted her present and returned the messenger with such thanks as appertained.  
In the receiving of this hawk, appeared absolute shows of the evil fortune of the poor Diego, which immediately failed not to thunder upon him without compassion, for as he went often to visit his mistress, so he forgot not continually to carry this hawk upon his fist, boasting so far upon the goodness of the bird, that he chanced in her presence to say that it was one of the things in the world he held most dear.  
surely this words were sifted more nearly than there was cause, and construed to other end, than he mente them, seeing that certain days after in his absence, devising upon his sundry virtues, some commended his honest and curteus behaviour, some gave praise to his valiantness and dexterity in arms, some exalted in him the sundry gifts of nature, and passing further, he was generally preferred of all the company for his sincerity and constant dealing in matters of love; saving of one Graciano, who rather envying the virtue of the knight by malice, then able to deface the least of his gifts by reason, joined with the rest in commendation of his parsonage, activity and other dowries of nature, but for his faith or care of promise where loyalty should moste appear, I account him (sayeth he) so apt to dissemble, and inconstant by nature, that he useth no difference of persons in grounding his affections, making no conscience to seam to languish mortally, where he meaneth nothing less than firm constancy, which touched Genivera so near, that she could not give place any longer to the sinister babble of Graciano, desiring him to use other terms touching the honesty of Dom Diego, for (saith she) I am of opinion that he will rather pass under the sentence of any death, than forfeit the least point of his promise passed already under the seal of his faith to a gentlewoman of this country, besides his love (I know is so sincere and upright) that I dare pawn my life on the behalf of th'assurance. There is the mist that dimmeth your eyes, sayeth this cankered enemy of Diego, for under the vail of a perjured loyalty, he abuseth the simplicity of honest Ladies, whereof I need not go far for a prooff, nor you doubt much of the mystery, if you confer the circumstance of his former profession towards you, with the present▪ league of friend ship between him and the daughter of Dom ferrando de la Sara, confirmed already by the gift of a tassel gentle, which for her sake he esteemeth above all the things in the world, which last allegation restoring a remembrance of the words, pronounced not long ago by the knight touching the dear account he made of his hawk, began to breed a suspicion of his constancy, and an assured credit in the information 
Genivera falleth in disdain with Diego.  of thunhappy Graciano, wherein swelling immediately with her unjust colour incensed by a simple & cold jealousy, was forced to abandon the place, & retire into her chamber, where she gave such skoape to her sinister conceit, that she was upon terms many times to use force against herself, whereunto she had added present dispatch, if a hope to procure in time the revenge of the wrong, which she persuaded to have received of her Diego, had not staid th'execution, albeit she could not so govern her malicious disposition, but the deadly hate conceived in this moment against thinnocent gentleman, did not only supplant both stock and root of ancient zeal on her part, but also grew to such mortality in her venomous stomach, that she seamed not to delight so much in the use of her own life, as in desire to take pleasure in the remembrance of the death of him, who no less innocent in the cause, then ignorant of the grudge, came the next morning (as he was wont) to see her, having upon his fist (by evil fortune) the bird which bred first this mortal jelowzye: And as he sat devising with her mother, finding a want of thaccustomed company of his mistress, he asked where she was, whereunto he was answered by one of her women, that assoon as she saw him enter the house, she took her chamber, all which he dissimuled by his wisdom, imagining the same to proceed of some wanton fancy or coy conceit, whereunto the most part of women are commonly incident, so that when he saw his time, he took leave of her mother & departed, meeting by chance as he went down the steers of the hall, one of the chambrieres or Gentlewomen of Genivera, whom he requested to kiss the hand of his mistress on his behalf, which she promised to perform, hoping to do a thing no less acceptable to her mistress, then to gain thanks of him on whose behalf she presented the courtesy.  
Albeit, as it is to be thought that Genivera enjoyed little quiet and less contentment in this mean while, solicited, I can not tell, by what desire to defy wholly the remembrance of Diego, wherein she was the rather furthered by an information, that he bore still the tarssell of his fist, which she judged to be done only in despite of her, So when her woman offered to present thembassage of the knight, she fell into such terms of frenzy, that the simple brute or name of Dom Diego stirred up such heinous alterations within her, that to her former wrath, was added a present woodness, in such sort, that she seamed for the time to labour indifferently between th'extreme pangs of death, and use of longer life, albeit restored at last by the great diligence of her woman, she could not so wholly dismiss her fury, but she imparted the passion of her anger to her eyes, who after they had some what eased her inward grief by a number of dolorous tears, put her eftsoons in the possession of her former speech, which she witnessed in these exclamations. 
Genivera exclaimeth against Diego.   
Ah traitor and disloyal knight, unworthy every way to participate with the breath of the common air, and no less meritorious of the honour or bare title of knighthodde: hath the constant & honest love I have borne thee, deserved this unhonest recompense? is it a virtue to pretend loyalty under a masked vyserne of detestable deceit? if these be the fruits of thy faith, purified thorough so many oaths? what expectation of assurance is there in the promiss of any man? Is it I that must feel the sting of thy infection? What cause have I given the to imagine the spoil of mine honour, and impart the pray to an other unworthy every way of just comparison to me? If not in loving the more than was convenient to thy inconstant and dissembling disposition, I have embased mine honour to advance thy renown, how couldst thou without blushing attempt the offer of my good will, having thy conscience poisoned with so many spotes of abominable treason? how darest thou present me the baise les ●ains by the mouth of a messenger, seeing thy whole body is already vowed to the service of an other? no, no, seeing God hath revealed the unto me afore thy villainy put effect to the ruin of mine honour, I doubt not only to defend me hereafter from the force of thy deceitful charms, but also swear unto the by the eternal majesty of the highest, that albeit force makes me the treasores of thy wickedness, yet assure thyself from hensfurth at my hands of such favour, as thou mayst expect of the most mortal enemy thou hast in the world, wherewith to give the last farewell to the poor Diego, she writ immediately certain lines and delivered them sealed to her page, with commission, that the next day he should meet the knight on the way coming thither, and deliver the letter, with Instruction besides, that affore he came to the house, he should read the contents and perform the effect, whereof the page (being made to the string) failed not of any point, for the next day he met Dom Diego, a quarter of a league from the house, presenting him the letter with his commission by mouth, who kissing the paper of his mistress in honour of her that sent it, opened the packet and found that which followeth.  
Albeit the coutynuall complaint of my gréeffe ymportes no dispense of my dolor, yet in exclaiming against the wrong 
Genivera reproacheth Diego by a letter.  thou haste done me, I shall so desypher thy villainy, that the whole world shall find cause, not only to proclaim open shame upon thee, but also (by my misfortune) beware of thin fections of thy detestable treason, whereunto if I have added more credit than there was cause on thy side, the remembrance of that which is past, (preferring a continual view of thy perjured troth) is to defend me hereafter from the offer of semblable peril, neither will I live hensfurthe in fear of future evil, or stand in awe eftsoons to be infected by thee, for that I have not only banished the remembrance of Diego out of every corner of my mind, but also am of intent to perform such vengeance and punishment of myself, that if I feel any vain, member or other part in me, bent never so little to favour the or sew for grace on thy be half, to use no less cruelty in tearing the same from the rest, than thy disloyalty hath stirred up such just cause of unseemly tyranny in me. And for thy part (O perjured knight) sith it is thy only trade to beat every bush where thou thinkeste to be either bird or nest, go pitch thy nets where thou art sewer of pray, and bait thy hooks with terms of deceit to entrap her, whose late present is of more force with thee, than the honest and chaste love which virtue began in us both, for seeing abirde hath made that more light than the wind that supports her in the air, God forbidden that Genivera, either admit thy excuses or allow thy justification, and much less wish the other good, then to see the torn in pieces; with the most extreme torments that ever martyred any traitor, which is the last favour thou hast to hope for of me, who liveth not but to work the spite above any enemy thou hast in the world. Genivera la blond  
He had no sooner red these sorrowful news, but lifting his eyes to heaven he called God to witness of his innocency, who only being privy to thynteggretie of his mind, cold also justify his loyal meaning towards her who unjustly abused the sincere virtue of his unmovable affection, and as he meant there to prefer some discourse●n his purgation, the page, who was not so amply instructed of his mistress, as mortal enemy to Dom Diego, staid th'intent of his meaning by the reaporte of that which he had in charge by mouth, saying that he cold do no greater pleasure to Genivera, then to shone all places of her repair, seeing (saith he) that as the friendship you have vowed to the daughter of the Lord Sero, hath discovered your untruth towards her So she hath given judgement against your virtue for feeding two simple gentlewomen indifferently with the food of one uncertain hope, wherewith he departed leaving the knight in less care then affore, for that confering her grudge with the cause, he thought the small occasion founded also upon an untruth, would in short time take away the force of her colour, albeit he cold not so wholly dismiss the remembrance of her displeasure, nor govern his own passion, but returning to his castle above an ordinary pace, went to his chamber, where pulling the poor hawk from the perch, committed her presently to a thousand morsels, and cursing her that sent her, with his own folly in receiving so vile a thing (enchanted as he thought, by some fury or magical charm) determined immediately to present his mistress with the sacrifice of thoccasion of her unjust anger, with intent to perform nolesse of his own body, if she would not give place to her displeasure upon his honest purgation, which with the dead hawk he sent by a trusty servant of his, debated at large in a letter, wherein after a number of just reasons to confute her unjust objections, touching lightly her rash judgement in gluing sentence of his untruth, without hearing his justification he preferred certain humble means for moderation of her displeasure, unless she reapposed felicity to see him consumed in the martyrdom of apyning life, or dilited in the news of his present death, which other instructons which he gave the messenger but chief to note the countenance of his mistress, and make faithful reaport of every point of her answer, wherewith the messenger posteth to Genivera, to whom with all humility he presenteth the charge of his commission, albeit the passion of her fretting anger denied her patience to read the letter, and much less would give her leave to accept the present, thunfeigned witness of the contrary of that which she to lightly believed, but charged the messenger upon great pain to return with the tromperies he had brought, and say unto his master, that she knew to well his whistle to come at his call, and being lately burned, she would take heed eftsoons to fall into the fire, wherewith albeit the servant went about to prefer thexcuse of his master, yet the disdainful lady choking his honest intent, forced him to unwilling silence, with charge to ympart her resolution to his master, whom (saith she) if I loved erst entire lie, I hate now with a malice more then mortal, where with she flung out of the presence of the messenger, leaving him no less amazed at her cruelty, then doubtful to return to his infortunate master, whom he knew would scarcely be kept from the danger of despair in hearing the sorrowful summons of his mistress: Albeit seeing he had professed to make a faithful reaporte, he returned not forgetting to repeat every point of that, which she had given him in charge, and withal restored the letter and dead present unto the selly Diego, who at the same instant, had given like end to his evil and life, if his man had not withstanded th'execution of his morderinge hands, albeit he cold not give such ympedyment to the fury of his passion, but that it kept him occupied with hideus groans, and doleful regards the most part of the after none, till at last he quallifyed thextremity of this fury in complaining to himself in this sort  
Alas (saith he) what judgement of fortune is this, 
The complaint of Diego.  that being at the point to reap the fruits of the content mente I wish in the world, and feed of the only felicity I have in this life, to be presented with an extremity of more desperation than ever happened to any that bore the name of infortunate? If such iniquity bear a swaighe in paying the due hire of the honest service of men, what hope hereafter may sustain the life of faithful lovers? what expectation have they in the end of their travail, when a jealous envy hath power not only to take the pray out of their hands, but also ymparte the fruit of their hope to an other, not worthy any way to participate which so glorious a merit. Ah Genivera, if thy disdainful anger would give the leave to make a view of my innocency, consider indifferently the circumstance of my former love, with imagination what assurance I have hereafter vowed on thy behalf, so long as my body bears life in this earthly corruption, I know thou wouldest repeal the sentence of thy former judgement, correct the sinister instinct that stirred up the humour of thy cruelty, and wipe away at last the tears of my undeserved sorrow, with a frank offer of that which I have deserved by justice.  
Ah vain hope which hitherto haste flattered me with pills of joyful digestion, leaving me in the end to the mercy of a miserable despair? is it I that must feel th'operation of thy poison, and liccour of bitter taste? it had been better for me to have been repulsed in the beginning, then after a pleasant proof of reciprocal love, to be refused, and lose the earnest of my desire, for so small an occasion, that the only remembrance makes me blush at the symplicitye of the cause, Albeit fortune shall not altogether triumph over me, for so long as I live, so long will I keep my vow to the fair Genivera, and preserve my life only to witness the constant force of my love, which albeit I can not perform with out an extreme torment in skorchinge flames of continual passion, yet the remembrance of my duty to her to whom I offer this devotion of a burning sacrifice of myself, will quallefye in some part the heat of my scalding, gréeffe: wherewith he retired into such sighs and signs of lamentable dolor, showing him indifferently plunged between the alarums of death, and pangs of frenzy, that his man was at point to ronn for the old lady, to come and bliss her son with her last farewell, Albeit restoring his trance by his own diligence, began (so far as he durst) to reprehend the weakness of his mind, for that he seamed so careless of himself, as to offer his life at the summons of a foolish girl, who (saith he) useth this cruel policy peradventure, to make a trial of your constancy, neither ought you to do such wrong to your virtue, and much less keep war with extremities, but if you be resolved to love her, you must also determine to pursue her by other means, and giving a little place to the malice of fortune, attend the benefit of a better time, who is never unthankful to them that suffer her with patience, and who also hath power to mollefye for you this Dyamantyn heart of your mistress, albeit it be tempered with the metal and blood of the most furious and savage beasts that ever bred in the deserts of Lybya. Diego did not only allow th'admonition of his man, but also felt cause of comfort in his advise, with intent to persist in the pursewte of the good will of his master's, to whom he preferred sundry letters, ambassages by mouth, & other excuses, wherein he gained asmuch as in the first, for that the more he courted her with honest importunities, the greater grew her unjust displeasure, in such sort, that in the end, she threatened the messenger with severe punishment, if he continued any longer the quest of his masters folly, for (saith she) these hands shall rather give end to my life by a willing force against myself, than my heart consent to be thankful in any sort to him, whom I hate no less than the sting of a venomous serpent, which as it brought a fresh supply of dolor to the languishing Diego trying to th'uttermost the virtue of his patience, so considering the little gain he should get in attending that which his destinies had determined against him, and seeing with all, he was void of power to withdraw his affection, determined his reapose in the last refuge of 
Death the last and best repose of mice rye.  all miserable creatures, I mean to give end to his sorrows by death, wherein abhorring notwithstanding to defile his own hands with the blood of himself, he resolved to attend his fatal doom in performing the rest of his pining days, in some desert or solitary soil not inhabited but by the savage society of wild beasts, whereunto he added such expedition, that the next day he caused to be made secretly two habittes or attires of pilgrims for himself and one man, which he meant take to with him, with other necessaries meet to furnish such a voyage, the same night also he writ at large to his cruel Genivera, delivering the letter sealed in most sewer manner, to one of his officers, to whom he would not impart the mystery but coloringe his pilgrims voyage with a journey he said he had to make to one of his friends, willed him to communicate no less to his mother, and that within twenty days they should exspecte his return, for the rest sayeth he, I enjoin the upon the duty thou owest me, to deliver this letter, the fourth day after my departure to the Lady Genivera la blonde, who if she seam disdainful, mark only with what countenance she refuseth it, wherewith he dismissed him, and called the other which as you have hard performed always the messages between him and his mistress, whom only he made privy to his devise, & partaker of his cruel intent, which seamed so strange in th'opinion of his man, that what for the foulness of the fact, & special care he had of the well doing of his master, he declared frankly his advise in this sort: xs it not sufficient (sir) saith he, that you give yourself in pray to the cruelty of your mistress 
His man dissuadeth him from the pilgrim's voyage  but also to increase her glory in suffering her cruelty to vanquish your virtue? are you so ignorant in the malice of women, that you can not discern the delight they take to pafsion their poor servants, triumphing chief in the despair of such as they have unhappily made thrall to their beauty? you aught to eschew the misery of that inconvenience, by th'authority of the wisemen in old time, who found such just cause of hate against that sect, that they doubted not to term them the common ruin of men? wherein what other thing moved the Greek Poet to pronounce his opinion in few words upon the state of women, but that he knew the felicity of man to be greater in shoninge thacquaintance of that fury, then in embracing the society of so perentory an evil, seeing (saith he) they differ nothing in disposition from the serpent, who being delivered from the violence of the frost, and preserved from present peril of death by the husband man, did yield him for recompense, a mortal terror with his venomous hissing, and infected his whole house with a stinking vapour, oh how happy is he that is the master of his affections, and enjoying the benefit of a pleasant liberty, hath the gift to shone this sweet evil, which so far (as I see) is the cause of your present despair, besides (sir) why should not you make an assay to vanquish these suggestions of vanity, saying that as he that can master himself, may easily make him lord over many things, so as the orator affirmeth the most perfect victory 
The most perfect victory is to make a conquest of ourselves.  is to make a conquest of ourselves: why should you determine so great an enterprise with th'assistance of so slender advise, seeing that upon rash resolutions attends ordinary rebukes, and he that performs his affairs in haste, repentes commonly at leisure, neither doth that expedition show good success, whose end is not conferred with the beginning, and guided wholly by the government of reason and virtue, for as upon virtuous enterprises, attends a fame of honour and renown, so the reward of wicked devices, is infamy and sometime shameful death, and for your part (sir) let your ancient wisdom encounter this femenyne miffortune, in making as little account of your rebel mistress, as she is most unworthy to enjoy the least favour of your nobility, which deserveth a more honest consideration, than a far well of such tyranouse disposition, where with beholding some arguments of anger in the face of his master, whom he feared to incense to thut termoste, he knit up with this resolution: seeing (sayeth he) you are determined in your mishap, I beseech you accept my service to accompany your fatal guide, to th'end I may participate with you in your fortune, till the heavens, ceasing to wreak their malice upon you, do seam also contented to dymisse the cruelty of your destinies, wherein as he performed the some of his masters expectation, who defiered only the company of his man in the voyage of his misery, so after certain thanks for his goodwill, he told him that all their furniture was ready, and that there rested nothing but to depart, which they agreed to perform, in the first hour after midnight, where unto also th'execution followed accordynglie, for between xij. and one of the clock in the night, our amorous hermitt with high 
Diego beginneth his pilgrimage,  man, stealeth secretly out of his castle, taking the first path which his fortune did appoint him, guided only by the light of the moon, without interruption or noise of other creatures, than the chirping brute of the little crickettes solacing themselves in their kind within the crevices of the earth: and wandering thus by unknown ways the later remeinder of the fearful night, he saw appear, in the discovery of the morning, when Aurora advanced her flag of white and red, the morning star, which some poets call the candle that lights the goddess of love from the bed of her secret lover, when ●o the solace of the morning, resembling his ancient delight when he enjoyed the presence of his mistress, presented a fresh allaram of sorrow in recording eftesons his unhappy change of state: wherein, (alas saith he) have I deserved this plague, that denieth me participation in the pleasure and contentment 
Diego complaineth his change of estate upon the way.  of others, who after they have slept the course of the night upon the pleasant thought of their delight, do awake with the heavenly harmony and charm of little birds, with assurance to enjoy th'effect of that, which a shadow or delightful vision of the spirit presented them in the night sleeping in so great contentment, where I (unhappy that I am) most cruelly attended upon with a contrary destiny, and in place to enjoy a simple benefytt or privilege of that which all other have in common, am forced, to wander when all creatures are admitted to rest, having only th'air of deserts and lawns uninhabitable to record thecco of my sorrows, and the fellowship of wild beasts to assist the tunes of my complaints? Ah Venus whose star heretofore hath only guided me, and whose beams, of long, have taken root in my heart? what cause have I to complain of thy injustice, which yields me falsehood for faith, and torment for true constancy of mind? if this be the hire of loyalty, why bearest thou the title of just? the penance I endure dischargeth the of the name of merciful, or if thou deal so severely with thy true serseruantes? Why keepest thou the course amongst the orient planets of the heaven? Albeit if I abuselthy honour in blaspheming the majesty of thy godhead, I sew for no favour, seeing I feel already the full weight of thy heavy hand, neither haste thou any punishment in store, whereof I taste not the force in this my unworthy affliction, which seeing it proceeds by thinfluence of the star which governeth me, dispatch at once the messenger of thy determination, to th'end that by my death, my distress may receive end, and my cruel mistress perform her glorious triumph in the victory of my pining life: His complaints could not so stay the swift course of time, but or he was ware, the height of the son showed the declining of the day, which moved him to increase his pace, leaving the common ways, to follow the paths least acquainted with travail, wherein they continued without intermission till the cloasinge of the evening: when the weariness of their horses forced them to descend, and take harbour within a little village far from the ordinary way, from whence after some little reléeff to their horses, and less rest to themselves, they departed, wandering in that sort by the space of three or four days and nights, th'end whereof brought them at last to the foot of a large mountain, inhabited only with savage beasts and creatures unreasonable, discovering round about, a platt or soil of pleasame prospect, and most proper to shroode the solitary life of the wand'ring knight, for if he delighted in the shade, he had there the benefytt of a number of pleasant trees, which nature seamed to lend him as a special solace in that wilderness: When his sorrow desired the use of a more open prospect, the plain forests and chases, with their whole herds of dear of all forts, offered to give him skoape to record his gréeffe, and for change of recreation, he might view there the hideus and high rocks, whose stéepnes and craggy situation, albeit moved a terror to the beholders, yet were they not without cause of great delight, by reason of the pleasant green, garnished with the tappissery of diverse flowers, spreading themselves all a onge the height of the said mounts, but that which moved most his affection to that place, was a marvelous fair and rowmey cave, environed on all sides with beech, cypress, pyneaple and cedar trees, with other branches yielding fruits of diverse kinds, right afore the mouth or opening of the which, tending to the valley, appeared a number of pleasant grafts, whose roots receiving moisture by a clear stream passing with soft noise all along the door of the cave, gave such bountiful norryture to the twigs & tender branches, that th'only tops bowed down and dipped themselves, as upon duty, in a fountain of wonderful clearness, feeding continually the said stream, all which seamed to offer such solace to the solitary intent of Diego, that without further advise he determined to perform there the penance he went to do, and to convert that house, builded by nature, to the monastery of his profession, wherein he mente to end the voyage of his devotions, commanding his man to alight, who unsadlinge their horses, gave them the key of the wild forests, whereof hitherto they hard no news.  
touching their saddells, with the harness, and other furniture of their horses, they bestowed within a little cell or corner in their cave, where also, leaving their ordinary apparel, they put on their habittes of pilgrim, there his man made provision according to the condition of their state, and necessity of the place, digging for his first endeavour, certain sods and lomppes of clay wherewith he entrenched and rampired their felden shop, to defend them against the fury of wild beasts, who otherways might oppress them in the night, he made also two beds or little couches of soft moss with a testure and sides of wood, which he hewed in no less fine proportion, then if the skill of the Carpenter had assisted the work. they had no other reléeffe or food for long time then of the fruit which the wild trees did yield them, one less sometime, for a change of dyot, they were glad to feed of raw roots, which they digged out of thentrailss of the earth, until extreme hunger preferred a mean to supply their thin fare, which was, that his man made a crossbow, with the which they killed often times the hare and coney feeding at reléeff, some time they beguiled the wild goat in the mountains, and were often the bane of a greater beast in the forest, whose blood they pressed between two pieces of wood, made for the nonst, dividing them into morsels, which they roasted with the heatte of the son, and so furnished, in sober manner, their lean table, digesting their rude and unwholesome dyelt, with a cup of cold water, whereof they had no less plenty, with no more charges, then, when they commanded over whole cellars of delicate wine in the pallayes of Dom Diego, who increased the dweile of his present misery with tears of continual complaint, inveighing against the malice of his fortune, wherein he used as a common exercise, to walk all alone in the most dangerous places of the deserts, enterteyning his solitary thoughts, or rather of intent to offer himself a pray to the jaws of some Lion or Tiger or merciless bear descending from the mountains, but the seruante-doubting the resolution of his master, prevented theffect of desperation with his continual presence, exclaiming (as far as he durst) against such vanities and acts of frennezie, wherein if by chance, he let escape any word reprehending the cruelty or wrong done unto him by his mistress, it was a pastime to see the alteration of Diego, srorminge against the prelumptuouse audacity in his man, in such sort, as continuing eftsoons to accuse her discourtesy, he would not stick to threaten him so far, that if it were not for the respect of the loyalty he had heretofore found in him, he would make him feel▪ how near it tooched him at the heart, to hear with patience, any blasphemy against her, who had no less right to punish him in this sort, than he reason to endure the penance for her sake without cause of just complaint against her severity, wherein as he showed an undoubted experience of the contagius dispocision of love, for that such as be infected with the corruption of that air, take no pleasure but to gull and glut their thirst with the broth of that pestiferous poison, So if he had rightly measured his own merit with the cause of his unjust torment, using with all th'advise of reason, he had not seamed so simple in his own blindness, nor been so sown abused by the folly of a foolish girl: his man doubting any further tattempt him with persuasions, for fear to procure th'uttermost of his displeasure, was forced to an unwilling patience, grieving notwithstanding on the behalf of the misfortune of his master, who with his evil dyott and worse lodging, quarrelling both two with his former order of bringing up, was become so pale and hideuse of regard, that he rather resembled the dried bark of a withered tree, than the shapp of a man bearing life, besides the course of continual tears, and skorching sighs, derived from the bottom of his stomach, had so drained the conduits and veins (feeding the parts of his body) with natural moisture, that his eyes sunk into his head, his beard forked and grown out of order, the hears of his headd staring like a forlorn man or one loathing the use of longer life, his skin and face full of furrows and wrinkelles, proceeding of fretting thought, argued him rather a wild man borne and bred up all the days of his life in the wilderness, than the valyante Diego, whose fame exceeded erst the whole compass and Circuit of Spain.  
But here let us leave our amarus hermitt full of passions in his simple cloister or cane under the earth, and see what followed the delivery of his letters to his cruel Genivera, to whom the servant the fourth day after his departure, according to his charge, presented the letters not with out a great show of duty and reverence, who notwithstanding assoon as she perceived by the direction from whence they came, forgatt not to retire into her ancient disdain, and casting (in great anger) the letters upon the ground, vouch safed not once to give leave to the messenger to declare the rest of his embassage, wherewith her mother some what reprehending thincivility of her daughter, demanded to see the packet, for (saith she) I am persuaded of thonesty of Diego, neither do I doubt any deceit in his virtue, nor you (daughter) for your part, ought to seam so curious to touch them, saying that if they ymporte any poison, your beauty only is to be blamed, which was the first bait that infected the knight, and if he put you in remembrance of your rigour, I see no wrong he doth you, considering the greatness of his desert, and the slender care you have of his due consideration, in which mean time a page took up the letters, and gave them to th'old Lady, who found his complaint in such or semblable terms.  
saying (good madam) mine innocency is denied to 
The contents of Diegos letter to geniuera.  work theffect of her virtue, and just excuses confirmed with th'authority of equity and reason, are altogether void of force to make a breach into your heart, so hardened against me with unjust disdain, that the simple remembrance of my name, is no less hateful unto you, than the offer of any torment what tyranny so ever it ymporte, I find, the next acceptable service I can do you, is (in mortefyinge wholly the cause of your displeasure, and with my punishment to yield you contentment) to put such distance between us, that neither you nor any other shall know the place of mine abode, and much less the pit of fattal repose, where in I intend to couch my corrupt bones, wherein albeit my continual passion, proceeding of the view of your discourtesy, hath bred such a general debility thorough all the ●aynes and places of force within me, that I feel myself already fallen into the hands of the dreadful messenger, So affore theffect or execution of the extreme hour, I am thus hold hereby, with the true toochestone or witness 
Death the dreadful messenger.  of mine innocenty) to put you in remembrance of your unnatural rigour, not for that I mean to accuse you to the hire of your desert but that the world (being privy to my case) may be thindifferent judge between my integrity, and your cruelty, my loyal affection, and the wrong you do to the reward of my service, assuring myself notwithstanding, that the reaporte of my death, will bring a remorse to your conscience, with a compassion (albeit to late) saying the same shallbe thequal balance to poise my sincere and constant intent, with your credulous and rash judgement, in admitting for troth, the false suggestion of such as envy the virtue of our honest love, with a suborned information of a friendship between me and the daughter of the Lord of Sera? if you will make it (good madam) unlawful for a gentleman traded in the disciplines of civility, to receive the presents of a Lady or gentlewoman equal in degree or honour to himself: wherein will you to consist the points of humanity? how can we glory or seem meritorious of the title of nobility, if it be an offence to he thankful to such as do homage to our honour with th'offer of any courtesy? wherein notwithstanding I was so curious to offend you, that thinly respect or fear of your displeasure, forcing me to abuse the goodness of mine own inclination, made me return the offer of her frendeshypp with a simple Gram mercy.  
And for your part, if your hate hath taken such root against me, and yourself so resolved to do wrong to the sacred pity expected in all women and shrouded commonly under the vail of such beauty as nature hath painted in your face, that neither the sacrifice which I have made of 
The hawk.  the cause of your unjust disdain my languishing penance nor lawful excuses have power to persuade you to the contrary of your sinister ymagynation, I see no other choice then to yield to the partial sentence of your judgement, which as an enemy to thequity of my cause, favoureth wholly the injustice of your conceit, wherein saying the spots of your mortal displeasure can not be wiped away, but by the blood of my life, which showeth your content mente to consist wholly in my destruction, I account it a duty of reason, to honour you with the sacrafise of my deathè, aswell as I found cause to avow unto you the service of my life, which also I am yet to perform, so long as my soul doth keep her hold by the mortal thread and frail fillett of my body, finding this one thing to increase the misery of my death, (passing as the breath of a pleasant sigh, which, shall have power to dysmiss my soul under the summons of a soft and short pang) that mine ynnocencye will always live to accuse you, as a cruel mordresse of your most constant and loyal servant. Dom Diego,  
The tragical contents of this letter strike such sudden dolor into the mind of thold lady, that she seamed to participate with th'affliction of the poor forrestian hermit, albeit dissimuling her passion affore her household servants, retired into her chamber with her daughter only whom she failed not to rebuke in sharp sort for her foolish cruelty, as the only cause of the loss of so worthy a knight as Seigneur Diego, whose letter albeit she deciphered unto her word by word, proffer ring with all, sundry ymportunities for mediation & grace on his behalf, yet seamed she as weak, to move the hard heart of her daughter, as the mild Zephir, breathing from the western shore, is able to shake the monstrous rocks builded in the belly of the sea, and much less the passion of herfury, judging his penance far inferior to the desert of his inconstancy, wherewith the simple mother father complaining, then correcting the stubbornness of her daughter, dysmissed the messenger with only charge to salute on her behalf his master's her dear friend and neighbour, who altogether ignorant of the contents of the letter, rejoiced notwithstanding that her son had written to Genivera, hoping he had ymparted to her, the day and hour of his return, wherein notwithstanding she was no less frustrate, than her assurance proved uncertain, in such sort, that the date of the twenty day expired, eye ij. or three months fully performed without any news of her son, she began to enter into no less terms of dolor then if she had accompanied his corpses to his fatal tomb, exclaiming with all, against thIniquity of the heavens in blessing her with such a posterity, and then to take him from her in the midst of the proof of his virtue? wherein crying out against the beauty of Genivera, (which she judged the only cause of his absence) cursed also the morning wherein he went on hunting, wishing in th'end that some revelation would disclose unto her the place of his abode, to th'end, she might either reclaim him in whom consisted the hope of her old age, and expectation of her whole house, or at least, assist in person such good or evil fortune as fell to his share.  
If the mother complained her desaster, her son (as it is to be thought) enjoyed small quiet and less contentment of mind, who now become a citizen with the beasts and birds of the forests, left neither root of tree, height of rock, nor sonnye side of any green hill, without some sign or mark of his careful state, wherein using the point of a sharp bodkyn, as a supply of a steeled chezell, he would some time engrave the success of his love upon a hard and dried tree, sometime a broad and thin bark taken from some young and green spraie, served him in stead of paper or parchment, wherein he cyphered with such dark letters the name of himself and his mistress, drawn together within one intricate circle, that the best mathematical in Padue or Paris, would demand respite to decipher the true interpretation, one day amongst the rest, raving upon his thoughts by the board or brink of the fountain joining (as you have hard) to his desert cottage, he imprinted these verses following upon a fair stone, which the stream of the river had cast upon the shore.  

Oh sacred sylvan Pan, and satyrs of this vale,  
And ye oh woddie nymphs, who weep in wretch's plaint  
Stay here your gliding steps, record my doleful tale,  
judge you what I deserve, whom loyal love hath spent,  
assist my dried eyes, with fresh supply of tears:  
Whose drops of dole have draynd, each synowe of his sap  
Or else by fatal voice, close up my loathsome years  
Whose view with longer life, increaseth my myshapp,   
Not far from thence upon the height of a high hill, where he made every day his morning walk at the rising of the son, was a fair and square plat yielding at all times of the year, a pleasant glee of green flowers and other deckings of the springe, in the middle whereof, whether it were by the devise of nature or curius industry of man, were four pillars supporting a massy marble squared and hewn corner wise according to the form of an altar, upon the which he left this monument in letters of eternity.  

Thou pillar square, on whom oer this, the sacred fumes did fry,  
With incense to the blazing troane, and majesty on high,  
Divest the now of royal robes, let regal office pass.  
And dewed with my tears of dole, my sacrifice embrace,  
Discloase thy marble breast, and harbour here such plaint  
As neither former time hath found, nor future age shall taint,  
And sith disdain in love, hath forced, this present want of breath,  
Let hear appear ho we willingly, Diego proveth death   

❧ Round about the brim of the said stone, he writ this remembrance,  
Though froward fate, hath forced my grief,  
And black despair this deadly pain  
Yet time I trust will bring relief,  
When loyal faith shall have her gain  
Till then the storms of banished state  
And penance in this harmittes cell  
Shall try her cause of wrongful hate,  
Whose malice lo, keeps me in hell,   

❧ And upon the thine and tender bark of a beech shading thentry or door of his hermitage, moved belike with some sudden apprehension of joy above his custom, writ this devise.  
I See thy glory shine, with gle of glistering show  
And thou for beatie s●alde, ou ●iest seat of state  
At last so shalt thou find, though now thou lift not know,  
That time thy plumes will pluck and age thy hue abate,  
Then vaunt not so in gain, that withers with the weed,  
But deike the garland with such boddes, as virtue blomes  
Else shalt thou reap with shame, but cockle for thy seed  
When I most s●er shall have, my hire from heavenly doms.   
Which being espied of his man, who as he always kept a diligent eye upon him, so dowtinge these fantasies might work th'effects of greater extremities, asked to what end served the lute which he brought in his mallet, if not to give him solace sometime in singing the praises of her, on whose behalf he did not only offend in supersticius homage, but also in committing fond idolatry will you that I fetch it (saith he) to th'end that with Orpheus, you may stur up the trees, rocks and hollow valleys, to be wail your mishap, and witness the penance which you make without ever committing offence worthy of half so great a punishment, wherewith he put the lute into the hand of his master, who albeit reapposed equal delight in the tunes of music, and tears of present misery, yet to confirm his solitary state with a remembrance of his ancient passions, he played certain dollorus notes, not without a number of hollow sighs and streams of sorrow distilling like the drops of rain down his face, which was so disfigured, that hardly cold he have been descried by such as have always been his most familiars.  
This was the miserable state of this infortunate young man, who was so wholly resolved to present despair, that he durst not admit the offer of better hope, and much less imagine that, which now attends to restore him every way to his entire, albeit like as neither the miseries or felicities of men be of perpetuytie, and every thing hath his proper time, so fortune, disposed to compassion, and weary at last of the sundry wrongs she had done to the penitencier of Genivera, lent him a mean to climb the highest staff of her wheel, wherein certainly appeared a special effect of the providence of God, who only doth and is able to prefer a facility in things that seam most hard and impossible in the judgement of man, like as also the means whereby he works and makes the ministers of his will, are so secret, and far from the knowledge of us wretches, that when we think utterly to lose any thing, yet than our expectation is deceived in retaining that which ear●● we yielded for lost, in such sort, that as what favour soever fortune doth give us, we are not able to assure our own estates, So likewise ought we not to despair or desye ourselves for any adversatie, how great soever it appear, seeing that god, exposing daily effects of mercy upon us, willeth us to reappose our hope and assurance in his goodness, which as he hath declared by manifold examples in the person of our dear friends, so our own eyes have been witnesses of the wonderful marvels he hath wrought in like cases, for how many have we seen, in our time, who being in the power of their enemies, judged to die, yea brought to the place where the last and fatal blow of execution should be given, were not only taken, by great marvel, out of the hands of such perils, but (for a more wonder and admiration of the mysteries of god) called to the state of a kingdom, which royal authority over a whole people which because it is necessary to instefye by some authority & ancient proof, I have thought good to ympart unto you, in this digression that which I have noted out of the records of Plyny, an example albeit not familiar, yet of undoubted truth: for at such time as Ladislas son of king Anbart, reigned in Hongarye & Boemya, being of tender years & semblable experience for the direction of his state, was constrained to reappose all his credit in thopinions of his barons and lords of advise, amongst whom, by occasion of civil sedition, grew a peculiar grudge between the children of the Lord john Vnyades wayvode, deceased not long affore, and in his life the only protector of the king and tutor of the multitude, and Henry earl of Celye next consing and parent to the king that then lived.  
This quarrel grew to such terms of revenge, that th'earl of Celye being one day in a church in one of the chief Cities of Hungary, was mordered by the hands of the said Vnyade, which being brought immediately to the ears of the king, he was advised to dissimule his just wrath, for that at such hour he was not of sufficient power to give correction to o great a presumption, albeit retiring immediately to Budo, th'ordinary place of his abode, and where his greatest force remained, he seized upon both the children of Wayvode, and strike of the head of the theldest called Ladislas, deferring justice to the other named Mathias, for the respect of his young years, albeit he enclosed him in sewer prison, within the kingdom of Boemia, where, as he remained without hope of long life, or end of his imprisonment, but by death: So it chanced not long after, that the king Ladislas coming to do execution of th'infant of wyvado, died in the same town, where he endured his miserable captivity, whereupon the Boemians choosed for their king one George Pogibracehio, the hungarians on the other side, advertised of the death of their sovereign, began to enter into compassion towards the prisoner, and preferring to memory the virtue of his father, at such time as he bare authority in their public weal, they proclaimed Mathias king of Hongarie, who being in the custody and danger of George newly adopted king of Boemya, was not only delivered by him, but also, he gave him his daughter in marriage, by which means, of a poor desperate prisoner, he became in one instant a puissant King, whereunto as he durst never before aspire by any hope or likelihod that appeared, so if it had not been for his adversity, he had never sit in the seat royal of Hungary, both for that they would have chosen an other, his elder brother Ladislas had been afore him, the county which they slew would have resisted such preferment, but chiefly it is like the hungarians would not have given him such large title of dignity, if it had not been for the respect of compassion they used upon his miserable captivity, who as he came to the crown (as you see) by the same mean which the other lost it, so the famous Historiographer Titus Livius, makes mention of the like accident happening to jacques de Lusi●ano uncle to Petre, king of Cyprus, at the solemn feast of whose coronation, the jenevoys & Venetiens contended for superiority, either of them striving for the prefermente of the first place in that assembly, in the presence of whom, jacques de Lusivano partial on the Venetiens side, caused certain of the jenevoyes to be executed, whereof the state of jeyne, being advertised, determined to take cruel vengeance, where unto they added such expedition, that in a monient they had levied a great army under the conduction of Pierro Fregose a 
Venice taken and put to sack by Pirro Fregos.  most excellent captain by sea, who discarged the credit of his commission which so good fortune, that the took the isle & put the city to sack, reserving notwithstanding, the life of jaques Lusyvano, whom he carried prisoner to jeane, where the senate enjoined him to perpertual ymprisonment within the strongest tower of their city, wherein albeit he continued (without hope of liberty, or expectation to enjoy any part of his ancient dignity) by the space of nine years, yet it happened in the end of the said term, that fortune torning her wheel, gave sa● feconduit to the king Pierro to pass into tother world, with out heir of his body, by reason whereof thinhabitantes of the isle considering Seigneur Lusyvano was of the blodd royal, and next parent to their dead lord, took such compassion of his captivity with a remorse of his long penance, that inconsideration of his misery, proceeding by their occasion, they redeemed his liberty with a great exaction of money, and anointed him king of Cypress, which peradventure he had never possessed, if the desolation of his ymprisonement had not wrought the mean, (albeit he had enjoyed his liberty and pursued it to th'uttermost) such is the wonderful providence of God, punishing the wicked at his pleasure, and (restoring the misery of such as despair of worldly succour) exposeth effects of his omnipotency exceeding th'expectation and imagination of the creatures of the earth: such was also the case of Dom Diego, who determined wholly to spend the remainder of his life in the study of solitary philosophy upon the wild and rich mounts Pireney, was relieved and restored when he was least in opinion or hope of succour.  
For as you have hard he had a neighbour and dear friend called Dom Roderigo who above the rest, lamented chief tha●sence and misfortune of Diego. It chanced within twenty and two months after the pilgrim began his voyage, that this Roderigo (having been in Gascoigne to dispatch certain necessary affairs there) in his return to Barcelonia, whether he had miss the path of his right way, or that the spirit of god (as it was most like) guided him, was or he wist upon the caryre that led him directly to that place of the mounts, where was th'ordinary residence of his great friend Diego, who grew so fast into declination and debility of his body, that if the clemency of the highest had not over shadowed him, he had wrought the wretched effect of that which he chief desired, that is with the loss of life, to give end to his hard penance.  
Dom Roderigo wandering thus in the wilderness of the mounts, dispercing his train to discover some places of habitation, was advertised by one of his people, being within tweluescore yards of the hermits cave, of a track & steps of men, not without some marvel notwithstanding, for that thinfertillety of the place showed no abode nor repair for civil people, whereupon as they debated & were in devise to appoint one of the company to follow the trace somewhat further, they saw one enter the mouth of the cave, which was Dom Diego, who came from the top of the hill affore mentioned, where he had newly performed his morning complaint, with his face directly toward the cost, where he judged was th'oracle of the saint to whom he dressed his devotions, the knight sent one of his valletts to approach the cave, & know what they were, that lived so solitarily, and withal to demand the high way to Barcelonia, but he discovering (a far the situation of the hole so well fortified & rampired with stones and blocks couched in the form of a trench, fearing the same to be the receptacle or fort of some that kept house by the high way side living of large revenue, durst neither come 
thieves.  near it nor ask the way as he was commanded by his master to whom as he returned with more fear of his shadow, then true reaporte of that he had in charge, so the valiant knight, of more courage than his cowardly servant, put spurs to his horse, galloping to the very door of the cave, where he ceased not to call and knock, till he saw come out a man, so disfigured with leanness of his face, & other exterior deformotie of his body, that his very regard moved compassion to Roderigo, who ask what he was, demanded also the common way to Barcelonia, this was the servant of Diego, who answered that he could yield him no reason of the way to Barcelonya, and less instruct him touching the costs of the country, for that (saith he) (not without some sighs & other doleful regards) we are two poor brethren, whom the adventure of fortune hath brought hither to do penance, & mortify our present age for the sins and offences of our youth passed, which words of two poor brethren brought thither as strangers, by the guide of fortune, with the present remembrance of Diego & his servant, argued such suspicion to Roderigo that he alighted, not for that he thought to encounter him whom he most desired to embrace, but to see only the singularities of the rock, and the mystery of the close castle, builded in the belly of the earth, where finding him whom he searched (without knowing notwithstanding what he was) entered into conference together of the difference between the felicity of the solitary life, & miseries which they find that participate with the wretched follies of this world, for (sayeth he) the mind withdrawn from the view of worldly vanities, takes his only pleasure in the contemplation of heavenvly things, being always more apt to observe the commandments of God, with a sincere reverence to their maker, than those which haunt the common conversation of men Wherein truly (when all is said) continual frequentation one with an other, delights, ambitious, covetousness, & superfluities of all vices, which we find in this confused amass & corrupt world, do cause us to mistake ourselves, forget our duty towards our creator, fall into a perilous disdain of pity & charity, & some time to divert the sincerity of the true religion, & abuse thintegrity & undoubted interpretation of the gospel, which I leave to be debated at large by the theologians to whom such charge doth chiefly appertain. As the unknown hermit & the knight Roderigo were in devices, certain of his servants visiting every cell and cellar of the cave, found in the top of a vawlte framed of certain spars of wood, rammed in the earthy wall at both ends, two saddells, the one whereof (seeming to have served heretofore some fair jenett), was covered with crimsyn velvet, fringed round about with silver throme, stodded with nails of sundry enameyle, and armed with plates of steile, wrought curiously upon, with certain rays and streams of pure gold, which (albeit the roust had defaced the steel) lost nothing of his entire and beauty, and as one of the company offered to buy them, seeing neither horse nor moil worthy to wear such furniture, the knight, having ended his discourse with the master hermitt, sounded to horse with intent to leave the poor men in peace, and search some other mean to find out the high way, whereupon he that was desirous to buy the saddles, presented them to his master, who as he beheld them, felt a second motion or remembrance of his friend Diego, wherewith searching the harness & every pendell of the saddle, he found this inscription written in spanish upon the crupper Quebratare la fe, es cosa muy sea, which is in english, to break thy faith is a detestable thing.  
This devise restored cause of new astonishment, for that it agreed with thordinary stampp which Dom Diego bore always in his armour, which the rather confirmed him in opinion, that without doubt the saddle appertained to the one of the two pilgrims, whom as he began to behold with a more piercing regard then afore, without discerning in either of them any sign or mark of knowledge, by reason of their hideus and disfigured hew: So Dom Diego seeing the diligence of his friend, with desire he had to discover him, began to labour of a passion of trembling fear, with such jelewse doubt of himself, that the blood (moved in thinner parts, and ascended (maugre his resistance) into the face and other places of discovery, bewrayed thinward alteration of his mind, which with the uncertain regard of his eyes, showed to Roderigo an absolute assurance of that which erst he durst not suspect, & that which gave also credit to his conceit, was a lock of his curled hear, which he kept wrappeth about his right ear, whereupon he dismissed all suspicion, & as one assured of his doubt, threw his arms about the neck of his friend, watering his breast with the tears of his eyes and said unto him, Alas Seigneur Diego, 
Roderigo does covereth & embraceth his friend Dom Diego.  what disfavor of the heavens have kept you so long from the company of those that die of distress in the absence of you, whose presence was the pillar of their consolation? What be they that have procured this long eclipps of your name, when it ought to expose the clearest light, both for the glory of your present youth, & honour of your future old age? Ah is it my company that moves this long silence in you, is it I that have deserved this wrong at your hands, to abuse the virtue of my honest friendship with a shameful fear to disclose yourself unto me, & doom regards without argument of gladness? Do you think alas, that I know not him whom I embrace? no no, I can not be so simple nor my judgement blinded any longer in the knowledge of him, whom the secret instinct of my heart discovered at my first entry into this cave, neither is there any part in me of iudment, that doubteth you to be the same Seigneur Diego, whose renown resowndes th'uttermost confines of spain, and God forbidden, that I depart here hens, without carrying with me the glory of equal contentment to two. indifferently passioned in your absence, the one to myself, ioyinge in my happy fortune, to draw you out of the dungeon of this calamity, the other in making so gladsome a present to your mother, imparting also the joyful news to your subjects and servants, whose eyes are not yet dry with the tears of your departure.  
Here Dom Diego seeing he could no longer dissemble that which was so plainly disclosed, & construing to the best the thankful congratulationss of his friend, began to relent in his heart, no less than the gladsome mother in recovering her child that hath been long kept from her, or the chaste wi●, (long● destitute of the presence of her dear husband) rejoiceth when she holds him in her arms & may embrace him at pleasure, wherein being also indifferently passioned between delight & dolor, honest shame & semblable fear, passing a declaration of his inward trouble of mind by the conduits of his eyes, distilling streams of sorrow & joy by great abundance, returned thimbrassements of his friend, with no less hearty affection, than the other with good will, summoned this new acquaintance, saying, Ah how secret is the determination of God & his judgements inscrutable, I resolved here to attend the end of my miserable days, without making my 
Diego acknowledgeth himself to Roderigo.  intent privy to any man in the world, and lo now am I del●ried, when I feared least my discovery, I am truly sayeth he, with a pitiful discharge of a number of dolorous sighs, the same infortunate Diego and your dear friend, who (persecuted with continual affliction and torment of fortune), was so weary of the world, that I choosed this desert habitation, as a secret receptacle, to perform the rest of the voyage which nature hath enjoined me in this transitory and wretched vale, where seeing you have unhappily discovered me, I beseech you (by the honour of your name, & virtue of that friendship continued between us from the beginning), let it suffice you that you have seen me, without procuring impediment to the rest of my willing penance, by imparting the place of my retreat to any.  
Whereunto Roderigo did not only refuse to condescend, but also continuing his former earnest, persuaded him to discontinue that brutal life, with admonition that God had made them noble, & given them authority, not with charge, to live idle either in their pallaceis or other obscure place, but so to bestow their tallente, that with the example of their virtue, thignorant may be instructed in the trade of honest living, the good men 
Thoffice of a noble man or one in authority.  supported in their integrity, & the bad sort kept in awe by their justice.  
And for your part (saith he) how vainly may your subjects & people rejoice, in that God hath blessed them with a Lord to their contentation, if affore th'experience of our virtue, they lose the cause of their contentment: what comfort or quiett think you, can harbour within the careful breast of your desolate mother, who hath made the world happy with so honest a son, bringing you up with such diligence, that you lack nothing to make you perfect, & in this sort to lose the fruit & expectation of such nurture? it is you (sir) whom duty commands to yield obedience to your parents, soccour to th'afflicted, & do justice to such as demand right at your hand? alas it is your poor subjects who, lamenting your absence, complains of the wrong you do to them in dennieng the use of your presence? it is you that overwhelmeth th'old years of your mother with untimely desolation? it is you that reneweth the course of her continual complaints in breaking your faith touching the day of your reatorne.  
Wherewith thinpatience of Dom Diego in hearing thobjections of his own faltes, broke his further discourse, excusing himself in this sort.  
It is easy (saith he) for him that is well to compforte the sick, and hard for such as be in distress, to admit any council 
Diego excuseth his departure from his country.  in their evil: you find a facility to give judgement of my disease, being wholly ignorant of the cause, & accuse my absence rather by desire to do me good, them of any malice you own to my wretched state, but if you understood the circumstance of my misfortune, and the occasion that first moved me to make trial of this solitary life, you would convert (I doubt not) this sinister conceit of the wrong which you charge me to do to all men, to an opinion of right on my behalf, seeing the most wise, & assured of all, assailed with the like torment of spirit, which I feel quarreling with the constancy of my mind, have left example of faltes of no less fragility, then mine, I confess is justly meritorious of reprehension, wherewith drawing Rodorico apart from the rest, he preferred a particular discourse of his love, his possibility & good hope in the beginning, his sinister success in th'end, with the continue ation of the unjust cruelty of his mistress, whose name he could not pronounce without such floods of tears and skorching sighs, that for the time they stayed the course of his words, moving such compassion to the tender heart of Roderigo, that he was forced to keep him company with semblable kindness, assaing notwithstanding to remove the vail of such desperate opinion, with request to discontinue his savage life in the desolate forests, wherein he prevailed asmuch as if he had undertaken to persuade a multitude without a tongue, for that the resolved hermit told him, that he would not only be tenant to the mounts so long as nature & he could agree upon the bargain of life, but also advowed unto him by oath, that (without the good will of his Genivera) he would never return to his country, & (to avoid further discovery) would seek to shroud himself in a place more savage, & less frequented than this, for saith he) like as my return would bring but increase of passion, specially in being denied favour where I have found a former repulse I beseech you, let it suffice that I feel the burden of one mishap, ceasing to allure me to the prooff of a second affliction worse I am sewer, than my present punishment, whereunto I have added a contentment with an immovable patience: wherein his raisins seamed to include such indifferent justice and pity, that Roderigo could not reply but with terms of compassion, with consent that he should continue his abode there yet ij. months, in which time he swore unto him (by the honour of knightehodd), that for his part, he would not only make his peace with his cruel mistress, but also procure mutual conference between them, assuring him withal, that he should not be discovered by him nor any of his train, wherewith, leaving him a field bed and ij men with money too furnyshe his want, he took his leave, with firm promiss to see him again in short time, with cause of more contentment, then at that present he left him full of annoy and himself no less disquieted for the trouble of his friend, wherein God knoweth in what sort he detested (by the ways) the wilful cruelty of Genivera, blaspheming no less against the whole sect (peradventure) with some raisin. For there is (I can not tell) what secret motions in the minds of women which have their hours and times as th'increasing or dyminishing of the moon, whereof as it is very hard (without great experience) to give any raison touching the cause, So we see it is such a principle or generality amongst them to ymprinte so surely in their hearts this frail or rather inconstant instinctes of mobility, that the wiseste & most subtle that ever was, lack skill to observe the seasons of this ymperfecte humour.  
Dom Roderigo by this was arrived at his house, where he neither forgatt his own promiss, nor the necessity of his friend, for the next day he went to the lodging of Genivera, not to communicate with her asyett, and much less to impart his fortunate encounter in his return out of Gascoyn, but rather to sound by some secret circumstance a far of, the doings and determination of the girl, & whether any other usurped the glory of the victory, which of right belonged to his friend Diego, wherein he was so subtle in this drift, that he accosted the page of the gentlewoman, in whose bosom was builded the only store house of her most secret affairs, forgetting therein the precept of the wise, who wills us to commit no council to such as are weak of raisin, and for want of discretion, do lack the gift of secretness, 
The wise man will never comytt council to children  whereby they are not able to govern the liberty of their tongues, such was the simplicity of this page, whose soft humour, the knight fed with such fine dyot, that by little and little, he drew the worm quite from his nose, and was made so privy to the practice of Genivera, that he understood, that since her unjust displeasure with Dom Diego, she had vowed her good will to a biskaine, as than the steward of her mother's house, a gentleman very poor, but for the rest of sufficient perfection, & that he was now in the country, from whence he gave advertisement to his mistress, that within two days he would come which ij. other his dear friends, to take Genivera, away by stealth, not forgetting also that he only (which a gentlewoman) were appointed to attend her into Byskaye, like as they were privy to every circumstance of their secret sleight, which discourse of the boy, albeit moved show of inward alteration in Roderigo, chief for the infidelity & treason of thinconstant Genivera, yet he dyssimuled so well his fretting anger, that his passion was not discovered by the simple page, with whom he joined in commendation touching the resolution of his mistress, whom he said was not void of reason to make her choice by the council & consent of her fancy, saying her mother used such slender diligence to bestow her as she deserved, & albeit (saith he) the gentleman be not rich nor of large possessions, yet thy mistress hath sufficient means to supply both their wants that way, only she declareth a virtue in yielding so firm affection to his honest poverty, all which as he pronounced by an other tongue, than the true interpreter of his heart, so being alone, crying out of th'inconstancy of women, he seamed to put no difference between their wilful blindness, and natural simplicity of young infants, 
Women compared to infates.  who when they seam most wrabbed, their nurse offering them the choice of an apple or tigge, & a Jewel of great price, are rather appeased with the fig, than once look of the thing of value, So some women, whether it be the mist of fond love that blaires their eyes, or the doom of a cursed destiny, which god hath appointed to plague their malicius disposition, seam often times so void of raisin, that being presented with the choice of two offers far differing in value, they are rather apt to embrace the worst, then ready to admit the best, which is most convenient for their honour & calling: he defaced the beauty of Genivera with the destoyaltye she used towards her first servant, condemning her judgement in refusing the friendship of a noble man, famous by wealth and virtue, & the very paragon of the whole country, for the society of a poor companion, whose parents being unknown, argued a doubt of his discente, and she altogether astraunger to his disposition, wherein as he inveighed also indifferently against the partiality of fortune and blindness of love, who being without eyes themselves, do likewise dim the understanding of such as they keep in miserable captivity. So he swore in great rage, to cast such a block in the way of the two lovers, that neither the biskayn should reap the fruits due to the travail and service of his friend Diego, nor his cruel mistress forbear any longer to send a pleasant calm to the stormy tempest which keeps him now at anchor amongst the perilous rocks of Pireneus.  
For being informed of this convenient mean to ease the distress of his languishing friend, who fed only of the hope of his promise, he failed not to add an assured effect according lie, Albeit for his further instruction touching the sewer con veigh of the mystery, he went the second day after, to visit the mother of Genivera, where he understood by the page, that the steward was come with two other valiant gentlemen to assist his enterprise, and that the next night upon the first hour after midnight, when the old Lady and all her servants, overwhelmed with the charm or mantle of dead sleep, were least apt to suspect conspiracies, they determined to departed the castle with his mistress, who for her part had furnished her wants of all necessaries touching the voyage.  
This hasty resolution required a speedy diligence in the knight, who for his part also used no less expedition than was convenient, for being come to his house he caused to arm ten or xy. gentlemen of his neighbours and vassals, to whom he communicated the some of his intent, and the same night, some two or three hours affore the departure of the Biskayne and his company, marched in secret manner directly in the way, where they should pass, till they came to a grove or copies of young wood, regarding the high way on the one side, and a main common or plain on tother side, where bestowing himself and his company in am bush, he hard yinediatly the noise of horses and men approaching with an unfortunate diligence: the light of the moon discovered the gentlewoman, whose beauty seamed to contend with the brightness of the same, next unto whom rid her miserable lover, whom assoon as Roderigo perceived within the danger of his carear, he felt a conversion of his ancient anger into a compassion of present fury, whose force summoning him to an effect of morder, caused him to couch his spear in his rest, directing his angry 
Roderigo killeth the biskaine.  course so rightly towards the poor byskayne, that in one moment he pierced him thorough the body, sending him without other passport to the miserable crew of those wretches, who serving under thensign of foolish love, do perish 
Cupido.  unhappily under the conduction of a blind and naked boy, advising the rest of the biskaines to eschew the like reward oneless they attended a semblable hire to him that had wrong fully encroached upon the ground of another: they seamed more willing to accept his offer, then ready to revenge the death of their captain, Whom (seeing the discovery o● the whole ambush) they left on the ground taking his leave of his mistress with the last breath of his life, and reapposed their chiefest confidence in the swiftness of their horses, without regard who pursued their hasty flight, immediately two of the company of Dom Roderigo disguised in unknown armour, seized upon the sorrowful Genivera, who could not use such patience in the death of her biskaine lover, but her open cries complaining of the villenye of the morder, witnessed her inward sorrow of mind, wherein according to the shortness of her breath, (labouring then in passion of extreme dolor) she exclaimed without respect against them, crying to perform an execution of their cruelty upon her, aswell as they had discharged the office of unjust tormentors of one, who was of more price than they all, and so torninge her to the dead body of her late friend, washed a way the blood of his wounds with the tears of her eyes, not without great exclamation against the malice of her destinies, in abridging her expectation of long joy, with so short and tragical an end, forcing her to resign the society of him, whom she loved no less than herself, to commit the honour of her virginity to a pray to the●es and villeynes, wherewith Roderigo, without disclosing his face, or other part of knowledge, took her by the hand, with persuasion to dismiss these dollars, seeing that her complaints had no virtue to restore life to him that was dead, and much less to take vengeance of the fact. But she renewing the remembrance of him that lay dead of the ground, by certain streams of his blood, which she espied upon the gawntlet of Roderigo, began to lose more patience than affore, in such sort, that the rudest of the company, having for an increase of his terrible regard a visarne or false beard of black hear curled like the Mauretyne, with a pair of counterfeit eyes of glass, approached (by appointment) the trembing Genivera, to whose fear he added an increase of terror in offering the point of his naked dagger to her white and delicate neck, threatening, that if she continued in these terms, his hands should perform the sacrifice of her life, to the shadow of the villain whom she lamented so much, and who (saith he) deserved rather to be broken in pieces of the wheel, by the execucioners of torments, then end his life by the hands of a valiant knight, which mortal threats (as she thought) forcing her to an unwilling silence, left her only thassistance of her eyes, to yield compassion to her grief, who set a broach so larglye the conduits of their watery humours, that the passion of her heart appeared in thabundance of her tears and broken sighs, whose force prevailed so much over her tender resistance, that in th'end her outward dole seamed enclosed and couched by force, in the inner corners of her heavy heart, in the mean while the rest of the company, had carried the body of the dead biskayne to a felden chapel, builded upon the high way side, where he sleepeth in hisfatal bed covered with a testor of green sods.  
A notable example sewer, proving the ordinary success of secret contracts and marriages made by stealth, where both the honour of the contractors loseth his virtue, and the commandment of God broken, enjoining us by special words to a dutiful humility & sincere obedience to our paren tes, to whom the Law giveth authority to punish us by deprivation and loss of th'inheritance which natural rights would give us, if we did not rebel and abuse the liberty which we enjoy by their goodness, wherein thidiscret mothexes now a days, deserve most imputation of blame, who in giving place to the wilful inclynation of their fond youth, do account it no offence to suffer their daughters to communicate matters of love with their howshode servants not remembering th'infirmity of such tender vessels, how proa●e men are by na-nature to do evil, & lastly how ready the evil spirit is to enter finding us unprovided, to th'end the falling into his danger, he may triumph in the ruin of our souls, purified thorough the blood of our saviour, which as I need not go 〈◊〉 to prove which new authorities, considering I have noted sufficient touching both respects in divers places of this translation, so wishing well to all children, & amendment to such fond mothers as seam more careful to flatter the vain appetit of their frail ymps, them curius to give them the rod of correction, which keeps them always within the view of virtue, it is time to resort to Dom Roderigo, & his train, who traveling iij. or four days with his captive Genivera, (not knowing any of the company) arrived at last within half a days journey of the hermitage of Diego, whom he gave warning of his coming by a foreryder of his company who also for his part, as he had received such compfort, in expectation of th'effect of the promise of his friend, that in the time of his absence he seamed to recover the best part of his ancient beauty, so the news of thapproach of his mistress, breathed in him such double passion of Jeleose joy, and doubtful fear that seeming uncertain wherein to resolve himself, durst scarcely admit a possibility in that whereof the message ymported absolute assurance, yielding notwithstanding special thanks to the director of the stars, for this last favour showed upon his distress, in preferring him to the sight of her, who being thee cause of his torment, may also put her last hand to his fatal execution, for with what greater joy or contentment (saith he) can can I visit the dark shadoes and ghosts disburdened of this life, then to yield up breath in the presence of her, whom if I have honoured in my life, it is nothing in respect of the service my soul hath vowed on her behalf in the other world in going affore to perform the office of her harbinger among the Angels in paradise: in the mean while Dom Roderigo, who hitherto had not discovered himself to Genivera, was disarmed, and with open face accosteth her as she rides debating with her in this sort.  
I doubt not at all, but you find it very strange, to see me in this place in such attire, and upon an occasion, so contrary to the rank and honour I profess, & the rather by th'experience 
Roderigo to geniuera.  of the present Injury you think you have received by me, who hitherto have borne the face of an affectioned friend to all your house, and me think I see how you dispose yourself to accuse thinjustice of my cause, in forcing you to exchange the company of your dear friend, to commit you to the society of these desert confines, wherein also as I have nothing to defend me from imputation of just blame on your behalf, but the virtue of that true friendship which knits together with an indissoluble unity the hearts of men, so for your part, if you will rightly measure my honest meaning in this enterprise, and removing the vail of partial disdain, digest the angry beginning with imagination of a pleasant end, I dare abide the sentence of your in different judgement, whether I be wholly worthy of reprehension, or you altogether void of salt.  
I beseech you also consider that the true and loyal servant, indevoringe himself to perform to th'uttermost, the will of him that hath power to command him, doth not only deserve a chief place of favour with his Lord, but also a consideration according to the merit of his service, which I do not infer to solicit my thanks with you, whom I have rather offended then contented, in exposing on effect of honest zeal I own to all verteus and chaste Ladies, whereof for your part you shall find me no nigardee on your bebehalf in time and place of need, desiring you (in dismissing all sinister conceits of unworthy grudge) to prefer no less modesty than ought to accompany a gentlewoman of your age & calling, seeing that honour seemeth best contented with the place & subject where he remeineth, using courtesy, then in abusing their greatness, to prefer malicious cruelty, and because we approach near the place, where I intend (God willing) to present you, cutting of now your suspense with an exposition of my meaning, you must note, that, that which is already passed, with the residue yet to be performed, tendeth to no other end, then to relieve the distress of the most loyal lover that this day hath his being unter the circle of the mo●e: It is the noble & valiant knight Dom Diego, the most constant seruan te that ever bare name to be worthy to do service to any Lady, who for the respect of your displeasure, hath registered himself amydd the hideus' rocks of these savage and solitary valleys, it is to him I lead you, (protesting to you by the heavens) that the misery wherein I saw him plunged on all sides, not six weeks passed, touched me so near, that if the sacrifice of my life only would have discharged the price or ransom of his martyrdom, you had been free from this passion of perplexity by my means, and I not partaker of these angry regards, which threaten the utter loss of your good will, wherein as it is only I that have committed the offence (if there be any salt at all) so I beseech you let me only endure the punishment, with request, that you extend compassion upon the desolation of him, who almost wasted with pyninge misery, reaposeth (for your sake) a felicity in th'extremity of his hard penance. If Genivera were half desperate afore, for the death of her Biskaine lover, it is now she is ready to exceed the limits of raisin, fretting with such inward spite against the simple record of the name of Diego, that her malicious rage, forcing a scile●●ce for the time, drive her to a respite in forming her answer, albeit as the passion of impatience is neither so perilous, nor of such continuance as other trances accidental or proper, so unclosing her eyes, she fixed them upon Roderigo with no less furious regard, than the tigress beholding the devouring of her whelps afore her face, and wring her hands, with her long and small arms a cross upon her tender breast, she exclaimed against his discourtesy in this sort.  
Ah mordring traitor (saith she) no more worthy of the honour of knightehodd, for that thou hast forfeited thy faith by a 
Genivera exclaimeth against Roderigo.  detestable traison, is it upon me thou oughtest to wreak such an effect of thy malicious villainy, or hast thou dissembled thy grudge so long with a show of fliering favour (like the cockadrell) towards all our house, to vomit thy venom upon me who never deserved but well at thy hands? Haste thou the face to entreat me for an other, seeing in my presence thou hast killed him whose blood I will pursue upon the & thine so long as I have one gasp of breath to accuse thy villainy? what authority hast thou to inquire of my doings or impesh my determination, or in what sort am I bound to yield the account of any resolution of mine? who hath made the arbitrator, or much less given the commission to debate upon th'articles of my marriage? unless thy malice will force me to love that disloyal villain, for whom thou haste committed an act of perpetual infamy to thy name, whereof also for my part, I will reserve such remembrance in the storehouse of my heart, that only death shall take away the desire to revenge the wrong thou hast done me, & albeit fortune hath made me thy prisoner, with power to dispose of me at thy pleasure, yet have I one resistance to defeat the extremity of thy force, which also I will not fail to put in execution, that is, that afore thy traitorous cliante Diego quench his thirst with the precious jewste of my virginity, these hands are ready to give me a fatal passport to visit (with bloody ghost) the loyalty of him, whom thou hast slain by traitorous conspiracy? therefore if I may honestly request the whom I hate, or if there be expectation of favour in a mortal enemy, I beseech that, either perform the last fac●e of thy cruelty upon me, or according to thy duty, dismiss me with my woman and page, to go whether our fortune will guide us. God forbidden saith Roderigo, that in doing wrong to the hope of my friend, I become th'occasion of his untimely death, & loss of you, wandering by the unknown paths of this wild deserts, and continuing still his former earnest, to move her to some pity, upon the poor penitencier, he seamed to gain asmuch as if he had assailed to number the sand lying upon the brink of the endless ocean, albeit with the supply of several discourses, they arrived at last at the rich hospital of Dom Diego, who for want of curious conceits to welcome his cruel mistress, presented his loathsome parsonage overgrown with hair, and for a more show of humility fell prostrate afore her, embracings her feet, not without great effusion of tears, saying▪  
Alas good madam: the only hope of my life & compforte of my 
Diego upon his knees 〈◊〉 veth pity.  careful heart, how long shall I hang in the doubtful balance of my present death, or life? what date alas have you appointed to give end to my desperate sorrows, if my penance not sufficient for th'offence I have committed? Yea What torment have you in store, which I am not ready to endure to yield you contentment? neither had I had breath at this present to put you in rem 'em branch of my distress, if I had not with holden my hands from fatal violation, to witness my loayltie on your behalf, and much less, been in case to prefer mine innocency, if the only food of secret contemplation of your beauty, had not distilled continual norriture to the vital parts of my consumed corpse: And as you may easily imagine what pleasure I found in this long and painful absence, so I grieve not in any thing that is past, nor refuse to abide any future punishment, if only I may receive at your hands the reward of my constancy, which I may boldly compare with the most assured that ever was.  
Genivera swelling with disdain and full of feminine rage, appearing in her sparkling eyes, & other parts of her face, did not only refuse to answer, but also forbarre to behold him whom she hated, she barred him also the benefit of her face, in bestowing her looks to the contrary side, which moved cause of double sorrow to the pour afflicted lover, who being yet upon his knees, renewing the source of his tears with the view of the tyranny of his mistress, seamed to draw with much ado, a feeble voice, from the very bottom of his stomach, and restored the terms of his former complaint in this sort, seeing neither the sincerity of my faith, approved with so long and loyal service, nor the 
Dom Diego being still prostrate crieth for compassion to his mysteries  view of my present misery, whereof I have made a painful experience without intermission these xxij. months, be of force to persuade a credit in my constancy, saying also my doleful tears derived of the injustice of your disdain, are denied to work effects of tuste pity in you, and lastly, seeing without the consent of your goodwill, I find an ympossibilitie to live, I beseech you, 〈◊〉 by the virtue and courtesy which ought to app●●● 〈…〉 I conjure you, as the last request wherewith 〈◊〉 turat servant will trouble you in this world, to mor●●● 〈…〉 ●ur own hands the remembrance of that offen●● 〈…〉 you imagine I have done against you, with there 〈…〉 present death refuse not (oh cruel mistress) to do vengeance upon him who is weary of his life, and receive at last this willing offer, ymporting two singler commodities, the one a pleasure to me to buy thy contentement with the price of my blood, the other an absolute quiet to thyself in being satisfied which his death whose life thou abhorrest, wherein certainly for my part I am to account that hour most happy, which closing up my mortal eyes, doth sound also the fatal retreat of my long sorrows, but the chiefest felicity I account in this last act of my life is, that in being so willing to die by the stroke of thy hand, I shall leave the to imagine how ready I was to honour the with the unfeigned service of my life, the world to give judgement of my loyalty, & the gods to take vengeance of thy cruelty: if there be reason in my request, why defer you th'execution, or if I have failed in my demand, why stay you to answer, it is now (alas) that I meet the full of my mishap, being denied both death and life, by her to whom, of all the world, I have most desired to make declaration of obedience in any sort, what so ever. Alas why stay you to rid me from torment, & yourself out of care to behold any more this desolate knight, who (denied to participate other favour) accounts it a last felicity to give up the ghost in your presence, wherewith finding no remorse of stubborn disdain in his mistress, who in all this time would not give him the favour of a simple look of the eye, & much less dispose herself to answer in any sort to his complaints, felt such war between the force of his passion, & debility of his senses, being void of natural strength, that in kissing her foot, he fell into a deadly sown, pronouncing only these words with the departure of his breath, ah feeble reward of unfeigned loyalty.  
Roderigo amazed no less with the tragical farewell of his friend, then moved with just anger against the unseemly tyranny of Genivera, commanded certain of his company to restore the trance of Diego, and with the rest addressed him to the merciless gentlewoman, whom he threatened in this sort. If the continuance of thy cruelty, force me to 
Roderigo threateneth Genivera.  change affection, assure thyself (detestable woman and enemy to the virtue of all your sect) thou shalt not escape without the hire of the wrong wherewith thou abuseste the honour which is offered thee: makes thou such conscience to yield compassion or admit the honest service of so noble a gentleman? as this presented with such humility, that erst (without regard of honesty or virtue), committed thyself and honour (as a fugitive) to the government of a ronagate stranger? what cruelty can be greater? or by what reason canst thou challenge other amends or consideration of the wrong thou hast unjustly conceived, than an humble prostitution with so many tears in token of repentance? And for thy part, what canst thou desire more of this gentleman, than in forgiving the salt of thy false contract with thy last minion, not only to forbear to enter into suspicion touching thy unseemly ronning away with an unknown villeine, but also craving the guerdon of his constancy, is at point to sacrifice his life to appaise thy anger, and yield the contentment, for end, I advise you to change opinion, lest I commit to as many morsels thy desloial body, as this woeful knight not long since, made bloody division of his unhappy hawk, the only cause of his present distress, and by your own folly, ready to give you a title of the most tyrannous & arrogant gentlewoman that is, neither have I begun this enterprise, to leave it unperfect, or give it over, with this success, wherefore saying you take pleasure in extremities, I will feed your delight with the offer of love or death, whereof as I give you the benefit of the choice, so I swear unto you, by him that is not ignorant of my intent, that if you refuse the first, you shall not fail in this place to pass under the sentence of the last, wherein myself will not fear to discharge th'office of the fatal minister, in embruing my hands in the blood of her, whose folly only causeth the death of one of my dearest friends.  
these threats dismayed nothing the malicious Genivera, nor abated any part of her presumptuous arrogancy, for who had seen the fiery regards of her eyes, the knitting of her brows, whetting of her teeth, closing her delicate fingers, with other braveries exceeding far the simplicity of such tender years, unexperienced asyett in thassaults and malice of an adverse fortune, would have said she had rather procured terror to Roderigo, then given place to his fearful offer or somounce of love or death, defying also the rigour of his authority with these terms. Like as (thowe kaitife knight sayeth she) he that is once through bathed in the suds of ynnocente blood, is so fleshed and hardened in villainy, that no act of detestation seams any sin to him, So it is no marvel if thowe, which haste committed unnatural slaughter of one, whose true virtue exceeded the flattering fame of thy renown, and gave no place to the integrity of life, art not without fear to commit me to the same guide, least in suffering me to live, thou couldst not avoyce the justice which I am to procure upon the injury I have received, besides I am here ready to lay my head upon the block of execution, rather than to give the honour of my virginity to any, seeing the cursed hands have deprived me of him to whom both the tree and fruit did only appertain, neither do I tremble in the remembrance of the stroke of death, how cruel so ever it appear, for that I shall the rather stand affore the troane from whence is granted all vengeance to such wretches as thou art: ha God, seeing thou art righteous why dost thou not thunder justice upon the wrong which these outlaws have done thy ynnocente hand maid, Ah traitor Roderigo persuade thyself that thou canst not offer me so cruel a death, as I am most ready to endure the torment, hoping the same shall serve hereafter as the only cause and mean of thindifferent destructiou of thyself, and him, for whom thou travelest thus in vain: here her woman and page began to persuade her to pity on the behalf of the knight, that suffered such passion for her sake, with consent to the honest requests of Roderigo, soliciting her so frankelye touching thextremities of them both, that she entered into terms of reprehension against their honest meaning: will you (saith she) be either enchanted with the feigned tears of this deloyall, who passioneth himself upon credit, or stand in awe of the tyrannous threats of this morder or whose villainy with covered face, hath taken away the life of your master? Ah unhappy girl that I am, it is now alas that I feel the heavy hands of fortune, whose malice hath not only put me béetwene the hands of him, whom I hate no less, than I have already experienced his dyssembled love, but also, in doubling my mishap, assaileth me with the sinister persuasions of my servants & companions of care, who ought rather to allow my resolution in death, then prefer motion in any sort touching my consent to requests of no less corruption, than themselves be infected, who solicit in so bad a ca●e, Ah love, I prove to late alas thinfidelity of thy promise, finding so bad a recompense, for so dutiful obedience, to yield at thy summons, and so slender defence, for such as commit themselves faithfully to the government of thy lore, why should nature be more curius to frame us of a more delicate mould, tempered with a metal of fragility, then careful to leave us armour of resistance against thassaults of fortune? for if I had not had a pearl of flattering affection painted in my face, I had not tasted the beginning of a pleasure, whose dolorous farewell for ever, brings more cause of gréeff, then th'apprehension at the first engendered perfect contentment, for being alas upon the point to Sipp of the sugared cup, with expectation to feed of the fruit of my pleasant attaint: Lo, how traiterus love serveth me with dishes of mortal annoy, and in place of the dainties which others find in the end of their long hope, it is I that am presented with the banquet of all bitter confections, which makes me hear resign and declare my fatal testament upon thinconstancy of that pleasant folly, whom, as I leave at liberty to make his gain of others, aswell as he hath dallied with me, so I rejoice in thexchange of so great an evil, for so present a consolation as death, in whom I hope to find no less contentment and quiet, than the other hath assailed me with diversatie of passion. Retire oh cursed mishap, to th'end that dying by thy means, I may live without the in tother world, wherein place of a thousand annoys, which (if I should consent to longer life) thou hast yet to thunder upon me, I shallbe sewer of eternal reapose, nourished with thinvisible, food which god ympartes to his Angels and souls assisting his heavenvly paradise. Come death and do thine office upon this wretched girl, who attends the sharpness of thy dart, to prevent the ●earcinge arrows of mine adversary, Ah poor heart devoid of hope, am desperate touching the consummation of thy desires, cease hensfurth to wish the fruytion of longer term, seeing destiny, love, and life, are determined to dysmisse me here hence, to sew for peace elsewhere, and embrace the ghost of him, whose life was sacrafized to the deloyaltie of this wretch, who also for his part, not satisfied with the blood of ynnocencye, takes no compassion upon my tears which I wish to distill by such abundance, that in overflowing the vital paxtes in me, he might see me perish in his presence, drowned with thinundation of undeserved sorrow, proceeding by his wickedness: wherewith her eyes performed her desire with such plenty of tears, that there was not one of the company void of compassion on the hehalfe of the dolor which tormented her, not ceasing notwithstanding to persuade her to pity toward that poor Diego, who being newly recovered by the diligence of th'assistance, sprinkling fresh water of the fountain upon his face, did no sooner lift up his sorrowful lids, beholding the lamentable passion of his mistress, with certain likelehodes he espied, showing an increase of her disdain towards him, but he retired to his former debility, falling down dead between the arms of such as suported him, and albeit he was eftsoons restored, yet the force of his passion assailed him still with three or four mortal pangs one in the neck of an other, in such sort, as the whole company gave judgement of his death, amongst the which Roderigo, was not the least amazed who grieving indifferently with thobstinate cruelty of Genivera, and present peril of his dear friend Diego, was in long debate what policy to use to qualify the one, and prevent the danger of the other, he persuaded, that if he killed the wilful Genivera, he should also give end to the days of Diego, for that upon the view and remembrauce of the one, depended the life of the other, and so in doing no good to any, he should commit double offence to god and the world, both in spotting his soul with uncivil morder, and also to become the author of his death, in whose life he reapposed his most worldly felicity, on tother side, the untowardness of the girl argued her intractable in such sort as he desired, which confirmed the continual martyrdom of his friend, whose distress as it moved him to such inward remorse, that to procure his delivery he made no conscience to light a candle afore the devil, so, he gave a new charge upon the good will of Genivera, with gentle persuasions, lainge afore her, what virtue ought to appear in such tender and delicate years, and how greatly the vice of ingratitude defaced the renown of a gentlewoman assisted with cruelty without reason, wherein gaining no less than if he had never put the devise in execution, he retired to th'extremity of his former threats, and last policy, swearing that she should find no difference between the summons and effect, seeing that by her death he should give end to her disdain, and desolate state of his friend, whom as he doubted not, would deserve in time, what commodity it were to purge the air of such contagious filth of ingrateful arrogancy, so he was also of opinion that time would yield commendation to his fact, chief for that, in preserving the honour of a family, he thought it more expedient to exterminat the two principal offenders, then to reserve the life of either of them for an utter extinction of the glory of the whole house, wherefore, regarding the rest of his train, he commanded to lay hands of the obstinate gentlewoman with her two companions with charge to use no less mercy in their several executions than the chiefest of the three extended pity to the amarus knight which he thought would yield up the ghost afore her.  
The Lady hearing the sentence definitive of her life, escried the morder with open mouth, as if she had expected some succour to defend her from death, wherein her hope was frustrate, for the desert fostered no other company but such as were ready in the place to commit execution. The page and poor Chambriere held up their hands for mercy to Roderigo, who feigning an impediment in his hearing, made a sign to his men to put effect to his commandment. Genivera, entreating for the lives of her page and woman, desired that their ynnocentie might not do penance for the offence which she had done, craving with great humility that the punishment might be performed upon her, from whom the salt (if it be a matter meritorious of blame sayeth she for a woman to keep her faith to her husband) is derived, and yield justice to these infortunate wretches lest th'execution of their ynnocenti● increase your detestable offence, oh saith she with her hands and eyes beholding the heavens, thou my most dear and lawful husband, whose soul I see walking in the midst of the loyal lovers, what better proof canst thou have of the sincerity of my love, then to see me lay my body upon th'altar of ymmolation to untimely death for thy sake, neither shalt thou for thy part, oh boocher and mortal morderour of my carcase, to whose cruelty my destiny hath consented in quenching thy thirst with the blood of a pure maid, glorify hereafter to have forced the heart of a simple gentlewoman, and much less made a breach into her honour either by terrible threats or sugared persuasions, upon which last words notwithstanding attended such arguments of terror, that a man would have thought that the very remembrance of death, had somewhat qualified her vehemency, and mortified the greatest part of her former furies 
Genivera be ginneth to show arguments of compassion.  Dom Diego, by this time came to himself and saying the discourse of the tragedy ready to present his last act with the death of his fair mistress Genivera la blonde, was driven to force himself to speak for the life of her, whose cruelty had committed him almost to the pangs of extreme danger, wherefore staing the diligence of such as had the charge of execution he addressed him to Roderigo, with this request. 
diego seweth for the life of Genivera.   
My lord and great friend the present experience of your rare friendship, hath made so liberal a prooff of your undoubted meaning towards me, that, if I should live the age of a whole world I should not be able to discharge the bonds of your desert, So considering the cause of this misfortune, proceeds only of the malice of mine own destiny, and that it is a vanity to contend with the things which the heavens have determined upon us, I beseech you by the virtue of your honour, & for a confirmation of all the good tornes you have done me, to grant me yet one request, which is, that in pardonning the life of this gentlewoman and her company, you will return them to the place from whence you brought them, with no less assurance and safety, then if you guided your miserable Dom Diego, for my part, being fully resolved not to keep war with my destinies, I am persuaded to a contentment touching my lot, assuring you, for the rest, that the sorrow which I see she suffereth, giveth me more cause of passion, then the grief which I endure by her means, troubleth me, let her live in peace and me in expectation, to receive end of my torments by the devouring knife, which is ordained to cut in sunder the fillet whereupon depends the fatal course of my cursed years, till which time, I have sworn to keep residence in these solitary deserts, aswell to endure the penance of mine own indiscretion, as also to continue in secret prayer to thAlmighty for the continual quiet of her, who may boldly vaunt to be the mistress of the most loyal servant that ever mente honour or service to Lady. Who doubts in the marvelous forces of love, let him be absolved with this example, seeing that as the impression (which we call love) hath power to bring to an unity the minds that lived in separation, make indissoluble peace with the quarrels which seam immortal, qualifying the rigour of those hearts, which without this passion, no other policy could appaise, So when he discovereth, the full perfection of his effects, he prefers such a facility in things which erst seamed impossible, that by his only mean, they become neither dangerous to pursue, nor hard to obtain, which appeared rightly in this young Lady, in whom as the sinister conceit of a former jealousy, her affected zeal contracted to an other, with her just cause of anger for his death, had engendered a disdain to Dom Diego, an extreme desire to revenge her wrong upon Dom Roderigo, and by the same mean to end her own life, So love removing the vail that blinded the eyes of her understanding, and breaking thadamant rock planted in the midst of her stomach, 
Her heart  brought her in one instant to behold with open eyes, the constancy, patience and perseverance of her first and most loyal servant, whose last prayer and intercession on her behalf, stirred up in her more remorse than all the services of court or penance in the painful wilderness were able to prefer, whereof she exposed a present effect, in casting her arms a bout the neck of the desperate knight, to whom she forbore no sorts of kisses nor amarus embracings, seeming no less passioned with joy and love on his behalf, than erst he seamed plunged in despair and sorrow, balancing indifferently between life and death in his presence, neither was she able to pronounce any word upon the sudden, till (being restored to the use of her tongue) by the discontynuance of her trance, she excused her former rigour with terms of humility, and desiring pardon of the follies where 
Goe niue●a e●●useth her former fai●e and folly which promise of unfeigned faith to Diego.  with she had abused his patience, offered herself hereafter to be the slave and servant of his shadow, taking thassistance of thym perfections in love to be in some sort contrybutarye to her salt, for that (saith she as love hath this vice of nature, that such as account themselves to see most clear are they which most often commit greatest faltes by ignorance, So besides the confession of the wrong I have done you so many ways, Lo I am ready to abide the punishment of your own iudgemeut, without craving any dispense of justice or moderation of penance for any respect of favour, And albeit (for my part) I have not escaped without passion, but that the storms of adversaty which you have seen me endure, have driven me to th'uttermost of my patience, yet I myself happy to have passed that away, for th'experience I have made of two effects of virtuous extremities the one of constant loyalty in you, which only hath right to challenge the crown of glory, from him that sacrafized himself upon the bloody body of his Lady, who in dying so, gave end to his annoys, where you have chosen a kind of languishing, life of more hard toleration a thousand times, than the sharp arrows of death, the other consists in the clemency where with you have mortified so well the rage of your adversaries, that I, which erst hated you to death, am now so vanquished by your courtesy, that I account mine honour and life, of to small value to requite your merit, wherein also I acknowledge a debt to Seigneur Roderigo, whose wisdom makes me ashamed of my folly, in resisting his rightful demand, touching the reléeffe of your undeserved distress, whereunto as he would have replied with semblable humility, Dom Roderigo, prevented his meaning, in embracing them both, with peculiar commendation to their virtues, and special thanks to the goodness of their fortune, for that with out peril of honour, they had passed that dangerous passage, advising them to return which him to his castle, from whence he said he would give warning to their mothers, to whom he also undertook to cooler thaccident with some other circumstance of feigned substance. where upon they mounted on horseback, leaving the stately hospital, to the next hermit, and using, easy journeys, they took away the tediousness of the way with the pleasant devices, which passed between the two lovers, embracing one an other in honest sort, as a simple recompense of their long and weary annoys, till time, with the consent of the church, gave authority to consommat the rest of their desires. from the house of Roderigo, was advertisement given to the two Lady mothers, in equal care for the loss of their children excusing the secret departure of Genivera in that she went to see Dom Diego lying sick in a castle of his friend Seigneur Roderigo,, where (if it pleased them to give their consent) the marriage should be performed, wherein there needs no pithy solycitors to neither of the widows, for that, for the more honour of the feast and contentment in the alliance, they failed not there in parson at the day appointed, where the marriage was performed with pompp according to the magnificence of both their houses, And so it is to be thought, that the storms and torments passed endured by them both, yielded this conclusion of other taste, than they which without painful travail in the presence of love possess, the first day, the full of their desires, whose pleasures certainly, as they resemble the condition of him, who nourished all the days of his life in dainty fare, cannot judge so well of delight, as he that some times finds want of such delicatie, so also an extreme thrust, makes us find the wine more pleasant, and a long fasting gives a better taste to our meat, neither is love without annoy, any other thing, than a cause without an effect, for he that will takeawaye the painful traveills and long suit, robs the lover of the praise of his constancy, and doth wrong to the glory of his pursewt, seeing that he only is worthy to wear the crown of triumph, who encountering all conflicts doth reappose more assurance in the virtue of his constancy, then fear (in any sort) the malice of any fortune Let this be then the mirror of loyal lovers in detestation of thimpudicity of such, which fear not to give a charge where they find good countenance, and ready retire at the first repuise, ympartinge also a participation of worthy rebuke to thothers, who to content the humour of their fond affection, do account it a virtue to exchange their former generosity, with a glorious title to be reputed as true and faithful champions of love, for that, the perfection to love truellie, consists not in passion or pining cares, & much less cometh he to the full of his desire by sighs, dollorus regards or lamentable exclamations according to the Spaniard, nor so lemne vows to visit far places for her sake, or childish fears, as the amarus italian to whom also we may add this barcelonian Diego, who thought, thorough his desperate penamnce in the deserts of Pireneus, to reclaim the goodwill of his mistress, seeing that as in all our affairs we ought not exceed the institution of virtue, so she chief is to bear a swaighe in the knot of this indissoluble amity, besides, we see hear, that the diligence of a perfect friend, is of more force in those cases than all the passions, pangs, letters of pithy persuasion orother ymportunyties whatsoever, tolerated in matters of love, neither can a man judge what a treasure it is to have an assured friend, till either the want of such a jewel, or experience of his friendship, make him taste the benefit of so great and rare a gift, seeing that a true friend, being the second part or one moiety of ourselves, is always so guided by a natural Sympathya of affection towards him whom he loveth, that he rejoiceth in the pleasure and commodity of his friend, and is ready to participate with his adversaty when fortune is disposed to play any part of her accustomed mobility, whereof albeit we find not at this day, so many thoroughly perfect in that virtue, as the whole world on all parts swarms with infynitye of the contrary faction, which the Grecian philosopher calleth Microphilos, That is a demye or half friend according to thenglish phrase.  
Yet am I moved by diverse occasions, to pass over such 
The conclusion of the translator upon his volume of tragical discourses.  discourse, contenting myself that the diversatye of my histories, give recreation to the reader, without staying to infer authorities which may touch or sift the conscience of any. And observing chief as near as I cold an order of truth, my second respect was to prefer such examples as might best serve to instruct our youth, who as they may see hear the faltes of fragility punished with shame, loss of honour, cruel death, and perpetual infamy to their posterity, So have they also of the contrary, special patterns of virtue, alluring them to imitation of semblable honesty, with diversity of authorities proving the reward of virtue, and virtuous living, whereof let all degrees make their profit as they think good, according to the flee in the milk, feeding of the good and virtuous fruit, and leave the rest as poison and bitter dregs, to such as are wholly drowned in the desires of the flesh, and buried in a pit of worldly filth, and as I have seamed in some places to interlard this profane traslation with certain testimonies out of sacred records, So I hope the same will the rather defend th'integrity of mine intent against all objections, considering that the most part of the simple and ignorant sort, are rather moved with such examples, then reduced with the severe sentences of some great philosopher or reformed theologyan. Besides in these discourses of love, th'adulteror is put in remembrance of his fault, the murderer seeth the reward of his iniquity, he that yields to the summons of fowl concupiscence is sewer to be touched with the mark of infamy, and such as passioneth himself upon credit, may behold hear the meed of his folly, wherein for my part, as I grieve that the world (at this present) swarmeth with so great a number of incensed men, ready to die for a pleasure of so small moment as the contentment of the body, So I wish that as in writing these tragical affairs, I have found the salt of mine own life, that also the rest of the younglings of our country, in reading my endeavour, may break the sleep of their long folly, and retire at last to amendment of life, least in remeyninge still in the labyrinth of sensuality, they serve not hereafter as a fable and stage play to the posterity of a multitude, for end, I exspecte no other hire of my travail, then that my diligence may seam thankful to her, to whose honour and goodness I own no less than all that I have.  
FINIS.   

The Table.  

A wonderful virtue in a Gentleman of SIENNA on the behalf of his enemy, whom he delivered from death, and the other to return his courtesy with equal friendship, presented him with his sister whom he knew he loved entierelie. Histo. 1. Fol. 4.  
The long and loyal love between LYVIO and Camylla, together with their lamentable death, the one dying of a passion of joy the first night he embraced his mysteries in bed, the other passed also the same way as overcome with present sorrow for the death of him, whom she loved no less than herself. Histo. 2. fol. 39  
A young Lady in Milan, after she had long abused the virtue of her youth and honour of marriage with an unlawful haunt of diverse young Gentlemen, becomes an unnatural morderor of the fruit of her womb, for that she was forsaken of him who gatt her with child. Histo. 3. Fol. 62.  
An Albanoise Captain being at the point to die killed his wife, because no man should enjoy her beauty after his death. Histo. 4. Fol. 80.  
Sundry perils happening to a young Gentleman of Milan in the pursuit of his Lady. Histo. 5. Fol. 95.  
The villainy of an Abbot, in seeking to seduce a maid by force, and her virtue in defending her honour against him and his companions of treason. Histo. 6. fol. 124.  
The disordered life of the Countess of Celant, who living long in adultery, and after she had procured diverse murders, received the higher of her wickedness by shameful death. Histo. 7. Fol. 136.  
JULYA drowneth herself, for that her body was abused by force. Histo. 8. Fol. 170.  
The impudent love of the Lady of Chabrie with her procurer Tolonyo, together with the detestable murders committed between them. Histo. 9 Fol. 188.  
LUCHIN is long in love with a simple maid, whom he wooeth and can not win by any passion he endureth, at last necessity yieldeth her into his hands, when he doth not only refuse to abuse her body, but also takes order to sustain her and supply her wants no less amply, then if she had been his sister, Histo. 10. Fol. 208.  
The cruelty of a widow in enjoining her wooer to a penance of three years loss of his speech, the foolish loyalty in him in performing her commandment, and the mean whereby he was revenged of her rigour. Histo. 11. Fol. 226.  
PERYLLO suffereth much for the love of Carmosyna, & marrying her in the end, were both two stricken to death with a thunderbolt, the first night of their infortunate marriage. Histo. 12. Fol. 252.  
A wonderful constancy in Dom Diego, who for the respect of Genivera la Blunde undertook a hard penance upon the mounts Pyreney, where he led the life of an Hermitt till he was found out by chance by one of his friends, by whose help he recovered both favour and marriage of his cruel mysteries. Histo. 13. Fol. 265.   
The end of the Table.