A TRUE DISCOURSE OF A cruel fact committed by a Gentlewoman towards her Husband, her Father, her Sister and two of her Nephews.  
First printed in French at Rouen: and now translated into English.  
I W   printer's or publisher's device 
LONDON Imprinted by john Wolf, and are to be sold at his shop within Pope's head Alley in Lombard street. 1599   

A true discourse of a cruel fact committed by a Gentlewoman towards her husband, her father, her sister, and two of her nephews.  

AT Lucera, a City distant four journeys from Naples, there was a good gentleman, named signor Alexander de Buringel, who had two daughters, to wit, Anna, and Lucienna, the which he married highly, according to their qualities. The worthy Gentleman Signior Appian de Boyse Chancellor of Naples, a man most expert, wise & virtuous, espoused Anna the elder: and Alphonse de Barseils espoused Lucienna. The solemnities done, and the feasts and pastimes finished, it was not long but signor Appian went to Naples, & taking his leave of his wife, went to Barseils to see his brother and sister in law, where having sojourned some days, he departed with all diligence to finish his voyage. Thus Anna remained alone very long, whereat she began greatly to grieve, and began to think and cast, which way to procure a servant to supply her husbands place: Finding herself greatly solicited by one Maurice Tallies, a young man, fair, and bold, but of a base condition and bad life, she herself burning daily with his love, gave the rains to all voluptuousness, breaking her faith and conjugal love. Her husband having occasion to stay at Naples, sent for her divers times, which she refusing, he in anger sent her word, not to fail to come, withal using some threats: She again excusing herself, sent him word that she was sick, and that she feared to come least the air of Naples should kill her. Some days after being in conference with her favourite Talleis, she showed him her husbands letters, whereupon finally they conspired Appians death. The conclusion was, that Anna should go to visit her sister Lucienna, three journeys from Lucera, at the castle of Barseils, whither Tallies also appointed to come and there to end their complottes. Anna hearing that her brother in law was to muster his quarter, took horse & departed to visit her sister: Being hard by the castle, she sent her Lackey to give her knowledge of her coming, whereat the good getlewoman being very glad, went to meet her with her two little sons, having first given order in her house for the entertainment of her sister. After the welcomes and embracements, they returned to the Castle, where they found the table covered and the cates ready, expecting their coming, the welcomes being repeated, they washed and set themselves at table, where they were served with such cheer as any one may judge that a sister's heart could afford. After dinner the two gentlewomen began to talk of the government of their houses and husbands, where Lucienna greatly commended her husband, assuring her sister, that if he had been present she should have had better cheer, beseeching her to hold her excused. Anna sighing, thanked her saying, my cheer passeth my desert; but truly sister, God hath done you more favour than me, being so well matched with a kind husband, and marvel not of the great love, which my father hath always borne you in respect of me, in having matched you so well to your content. It is your pleasure to say so (quoth Lucienna) but without comparison you are more richly & highly matched than I am. A fig for riches (replied Anna) so I had but a husband as you have, to my contentment, and of whom I might reap some delight, for in truth I am as badly furnished with a husband as any Gentlewoman in this country, and think you not that I speak this in any envy towards you, or any ways to your prejudice: but I blame our Father for it, in having so badly matched me. 'tis strange (quoth Lucienna) for my brother your husband hath at divers times been here, of courtesy to visit us, and hath remained here some days (though not so long as we desired) in which time we have found him so honourable and grave in all his deeds, that in mine opinion we should greatly wrong him to blame him: also he hath at divers times told and protested unto me the love which he beareth you, showing me the letters by which you refused to come to Naples, because that you were sick, with many other circumstances: he said moreover, that he desired with all his heart to return to his house for a time, but that urgent affairs hindered him, that it was impossible (in respect of his office) to do it. O God (quoth Anna) I think my mischiefs increase daily from worse to worse: for she of whom I expected comfort and succour, is my half enemy, in giving more faith unto the feigned words of my husband then to mine. If you did but know him as well as I, you would not defend his cause so much. O you know not his tricks which he useth at Naples, not contented with one trull, but keepeth and maintaineth three, yea four: therefore it is no marvel though we have no lineage, which truly greatly grieveth me, and it would grieve me as much to declare you one thing which lieth upon my stomach, although you are my sister. The young gentlewoman believing her words said, sweet sister be not displeased, nor think not strange of the things which I tell you, for in deed men are hard to be known: but in these afflictions we ought to pray to God, and with our virtues seek to draw our husband's hearts to us, and certainly God will change their minds: I speak not this for myself, for (as I have told you) I have no cause to complain. Here she stopped, by reason of the arrival of some Gentlewomen neighbours to Lucienna, and so their parley was broke off, and after salutations, passed the time until supper in talk: mean while Maurice Talleis with two other Gentlemen was come, the which for her sake were very welcome and greatly feasted. After supper Talleis took his love Anna under the arm, walking into the garden, and began to talk how they should perform their damnable and wicked enterprise. Sweet love (quoth Anna) you know I have against my will been married to this old doting fool, which maketh no account of me, who I fear by his subtlety will espy our familiarity, which if he do, it will cost us both our lives, and therefore the surest way is to make him out of the way, after the subtilest sort possible, to the end that we may live in delight without thought or fear, and finish our love in pleasure and content, upon condition that you shall marry me, and for recompense I will make you the richest man in this land. I swear and protest unto you (quoth that miserable wretch) not to disobey you in any point, but to accomplish your will to the uttermost. Well then (quoth she) you shall go to Naples, and I will give you my Lackey with letters to my husband, and as soon as you shall have known my husband, insinuate yourself into his acquaintance, by which means you may more easily give an end to his wretched and miserable days by some secret death, which I think poison would do best, & with less peril. This counsel was by Talleis found good, the hour of rest being come, they parted: the gentlemen to one chamber, & the gentlewomen to another, where Anna forgot not to dispatch her husband. The two sisters lay together, but Anna took small rest, by the thought of her wicked enterprise. The morning the Gentlemen took leave of the Gentlewomen & Anna gave her letters to the Lackey, & the poison to Talleis as they had agreed. Being come to Naples, and marked whither the Lackey went, and so knew signor Appian, he saluted him, in prosering him all humble service, whereof he thanked him. This he continued for a great while, often saluting him, and accompanying him every where, where he went. One day he made a banquet, to the which amongst other Gentlemen he invited Signior Appian: and in the midst of the Supper, and their merriment, he seeing time made sign to a fellow (whom he had hired forth nonce, giving him fifty Crowns) who gave him the deadly potion. Which done, he watched a time so well that he murdered him who had done the fact, thereby to make the matter sure: and the next day took horse and posted to Lucera, to give the news thereof to Anna. The good Gentleman Signior Appian finding himself ill at ease, resolved to go to his house at Lucera, whither he could not attain, but died within two leagues of the same. Anna being at Barseils was advertised by the Lackey that her husband was gone to Lucera, whereof she made great signs of joy, and taking leave of her sister, departed for Lucera, where she found her husband deceased, whereat she seemed greatly discomforted. In fine, she caused the funerals with great pomp to be solemnized, at the which were divers Gentlemen, and especially her father, the which all comforted her, the obsequies ended, every one departed home, & Talleis came to visit his mistress, to whom he told how he had effected the murder: whereat she was marvelously well pleased, saying that thence forward they might without fear live together contentedly, counseling him to demand her of her father in marriage, but that whether he would or no, she was resolved never to have other but him. Whereupon Talleis did as she willed him, but her father gave him no answer, whereof she being advertised (possessed of the Devil) was greatly enraged, and imagined how she might be revenged in making him die: and presently without other deliberation thereon, resolved to poison him, together with her sister, & her two nephews, the better to take her pleasure without contradiction, and to enjoy the goods. Mean while her brother in law Alfonce de Barceils fell sick in his house, to whom their father traveled to visit him, causing him to be well tended, but notwithstanding he died, to the great grief of Lucienna, and her father: his funerals being ended, her father returned again to his house, leaving Lucienna with her children alone.  
Shortly after, a desire took him to make a voyage into France, wherefore he feasted all his friends, amongst the which his two daughters were not forgotten: Anna likewise forgot not her devilish intent. The banquet was brave and honourable. The father being moved with mirth, called for a cup of wine to drink to all his friends: Anna feigning the good housewife stepped to the pot herself, and filled a cup of wine, where having put the poison, with a pleasant countenance presented it to her father, who not doubting any thing, drunk a great draft unto all the assistants, whereof in few days he died, to the great content of Anna & her adulterer. Lucienna was sent for to the funerals of her father, who came accordingly with her two children, and was by Anna greatly welcomed, and requested to lodge in her house, which she did, staying there some days to her mishap, for her sister seeing a fit time, gave her also a drink of the same nature: whereupon the gentlewoman finding herself veriesicke, departed to her house, leaving her two children in the keeping of her sister: and being come home she was not long there but died. Whereof Anna being advertised, making semblance of great grief took horse to ride to Barseils, to ordain the funerals, but before her departure set order to her house, which together with her two nephews she left in the keeping of an Aunt of hers, giving her charge of the children above all things: but the wicked wretch had already given them also of the drink which she had given to the mother, the which because but young & tender, they could not so long resist the violence of the poison, but died shortly after the departure of their wicked Aunt, who coming to Barseils, with a feigned sorrow, having interred her sister, took possession of the goods, in the name of the children, saying that she was to look to their right, the which also she did by her father's goods: all which being done, she returned to Lucera, where finding the two infants dead and buried, made such pitiful signs of grief, and woeful lamentations, that her treason was never percieued nor doubted. Having brought all things thus to her wish shortly after was married to Maurice Talleis, where the feasts & pomps were great, & honoured with a great number of nobility. The marriage rites being ended, Talleis perceiving that he had attained his desire, began to riot, to haunt plays and banquets, whereat Anna began to enter into jealousy, and at length into such a hate of him, that she dispraised and blamed him in every place where she came: for God's just providence is such, that it never suffereth any such wicked acts to continue hidden and unpunished, to the end that every one may take example by them, especially to children to keep them always in the fear and love of God, and obedience of their parents and friends.  
The Devil desiring to see the overthrow of this wicked Anna, sowed such discord between her husband & her, that they did nothing but wish one another's ruin. signor Antonio de Boyse, nephew to the deceased Appian took awife, & at his marriage amongst his kinsfolks and friends, Talleis and his wife were invited, when being at the table, the company very merry, Talleis looked angrily upon his wife, and giving her somename, told to some of his familiar acquaintance which were by him, what dishonour she did him every where: she to the contrary reproached him, that she had raised him up from a beggar to a Gentleman, & that it was well known what she was, and what he was. Talleis finding himself touched, spurned at her with his foot under the table, insomuch that she feeling the smart called him murderer and poisoner, and that he had poisoned her late husband: whereat Talleis drawing his dagger stroke at her, but being by some of the company hindered, the dagger flying out of his hands stuck in the side of a young Gentleman of good calling, of which blow he died, signor Anthony Boise, having heard their debate, and seeing the murder committed in his house, presently sent for the justice, which attached. Talleis & his wife, and upon examination Talleis confessed all and evetie circumstance of the murders, whereupon she being examined apart, utterly denied all, and to be ignorant of any such matter, which greatly troubled the justices: yet by good means and fair words they fetched her out, that she confessed that she was consenting to her husband's death, whereupon they showing her that she deserved punishment, and putting her in mind of God's great mercy & of his horrible judgement against the wicked: she finding her conscience to witness against her, confessed also to have poisoned her father, her sister, & her two nephews: all at the persuasion of the Devil, for concupiscence of her desires, the carnal voluptuousness, wicked ambition and covetousness: imploring God's mercy, and the favour of the justice.  
  

The sentence and judgement against Maurice Talleis, and Anne his wife, for the murders and empoisonmentes by them committed.  
THe justice having considered all, & finding the verification of their fact by the agreeing of their confessions, they were condemned to make honourable amends, naked in their shirts with cords about their necks, and each of them a torch in their hand, before the great church, ask pardon & mercy of God and the justice. After they were by the executioner of the high justice brought into the public place, where they had their tongues pulled out, and their hands cut off, which done, they were beheaded, and their heads set in the most eminent place to beheld and to serve for a memory for ever: their bodies burned and consumed to ashes. Where before the finishing of their days, the poor Gentlewoman showing sign of great repentance, lifting often her eyes up to heaven, beseeched the assistants well to educate and instruct their children in the fear of God, laudable virtues and good manners, and turning her voice to the children, exhorted them to take example at her: that they should always have the fear of God before their eyes, to render obedience to their parents and friends: and often to rememorate that pitiful spectacle. Making their prayers to God to pardon their faults, and to keep them from falling into such extremities, and wicked accidents.   I la mort tu m'espie. 
FINIS.