¶ A certain treaty most wittily devised orygynally written in the spaynysshe, lately Traducted in to French entitled, Lamant mal traicte de samye. And now out of French in to english, dedicat to the right honourable lord Henry earl of Surrey, one of the knights of the most honourable ordre of the Gartier, Son and heir apparent to the right high and mighty prince Thomas duke of Norfolk, high Treasorour, and earl mershall of England.   

¶ To the right honourable lord Henry earl of Surrey. John Clerc, wisheth continual health.  
ALbeit this work (right honourable lord) is in the French entitled as aforesaid, & only disposeth of such light matter of foolish Love, as by a long season reigned between Atnalt and Lucenda. Yet nevertheless thinking assuredly your Lordship shall find that herein with per●●ce, the same shall miss in some others. And knowing by long experience, not only the great wisdom and singular judgement ●●er ●●th God the dysposer of all things▪ hath most abundantly endowed you. But also the exceeding great pains and travails sustained by yourself in traductions aswell out of the Latin, Italien as the Spanish. and French, whereby your Lordship ●u●moūteth many others, not only in knowledge. but also in laud and commendation, like as I distrust not the same, will rather prudently according to your accustomed fashion regard and consider the witty devise of the thing, the manner of Locutions, the wise sentences and the subtle and dyscret answers made on both parties, in my power opinion not unworthy to be noted than otherwise without 〈◊〉 ge the same, wyllengly reic●●● it. So I thought convenient by these to signify that in this traduction I have not esteemed the order of the words in ● other tongues, as it is seen some have done i sundry places of their translations, whereby it is not only thought they publish their own folly, but also undoubtedly certain that they by the same in the place of liberty submit themselves to seruy eu ●e without having res●●●●e to tho●seruacy●n of that thing which in this case ●o most specially 〈◊〉, whereby the sense of the Author is often deproved, and the grace ne perfection of tho●●●e other tongue duly expressed, but understanding that every tongue hath his ꝓperties, manner of Locutions particular vehemencies, dignyties, and richesses, I have arrested myself only upon the sentences & majesties thereof so curyously as I firmly trust thin●euciō of th'author is truly expressed i ● declaration whereof, like as I humbly beseech your Lordship to take these my little labours & great good will in acceptable it & as the monument of my power hearty affection always borne to the same So having most fyr●e confidence in your great bounty I distrust not the same, will take for satisfaction, not that I do but that I desire▪  
written at Lamby the the xvii day of March. 1●4●.   

¶ The Author.  
AFter that I had this summer passed en●prysed a voyage (more for the necessity of another, than for my pleasure) for the accomplishment, whereof it was convenient for me to absent myself, far from this country/ & had after that also conforma blie thereunto by a long time travay led in the same. I came by chance in to a great desert no less solitary of people, than displeasant to pass thorughe. And as this country was unknown to me. So thinking to go the right way, I strayed in such sort, as I could not eftsoons direct myself, aswell for the great displeasur that I had, as for the lack of some one, of whom I might demand the same, like as being in such necessity/ I knew that if the pla te was abundant of solitude & desert that in me much more exceeded the passion. So than advising all ꝑtes such virtue had mine ●yes, as they gave some comfort to my tormented heart when that in a forest far from me (being the wether fair & clear) I had know ●●dge that in the place (by some smoke, that issued from thence) there was ha' ●yta●ion of people, wherefore I thought it best to travail thither. And albeit passing thorough the thickness of the wode, I found the way so rude, & diffycyle as I repented me no less to have enterprised it, than I desired that issue thereof. Yet nevertheless even as I had begun it. So determined I ●●ot to surcease but to pass thorughe. And pursuing in my Journey, as the ●onne begun to ●ouche I arrived on ●n high hill side, from whence I might easily deserve the original place of the said smokes, that issued from the house of a certain gentleman, which ●he had newly in that place, caused to be edified, & was all painted with colour black, from the foundation, unto the hygbest part of the same. Whereof I received such marvel that aswell to mu●e there of, as for the desire that I had to repose me I forgot all my pa● said travails, & approchyuge to the same, I was (by chassie) very nigh unto a place, where certain men did walk, who in their countenances & apparel resembled to be replenished with great dolour and heaviness, of the which, one (likely to be esteemed master and governor amongs them) walked before, who with heavy sighs passed the time, yet neither his colour, ●● lean visage, had not alte ●yd his gentle noryture & education.  
¶ [And albeit well he showed himself (advising me being near unto him) how woche at the first sight, he was there of estouned▪ yet nevertheless he does symuled it, & received me most gentyl lie, desiring me to descend, & come a foot. After knowing my travail, he caused furniture to be made for my repose, & took me by the hand, to conduct me in to this his sorrowful house. Than ●● who of the strange place, received great marvel endeavoured myself no ●sse▪ than I could, well so note the syngularyties of the same, amongs the which being arrived at the gate, I ●awe above it, three white rolls where ●● was written. ☞ ❧  
This is the sorrowful house verament  
Of one that dieth, and doth lament  
Because death, to his death will not consent  
WHen I had very intentively red them we passed further, & saw that all things of that house, represented grievous dolour. For from the foundation of the same unto the high ●st part thereof, other things appeared not but sorrow & heaviness. Where ●ore I would not than demand the ●ause thereof, but reserved it, unto a ty ●e more convenient. ❧ ❧ ❧  
● From thence he brought me in to the hall where, without long● tarry enge was brought, the supp●t, wit● great abundance of victuals & goo● ordre of service. ⚜ ❧ ☜  
¶ Shortly after the sorrowful knight knowing the travail that I ha● sustained, brought me himself, in t● a chambre where he left me, and retired with so sorrowful a visage, tha● it was marvel. Than being alon● I cast me in my bed, but even as I thought to take repose/ about the hour that the cocks by their crow king, witnessed the midnight, I had them of the house sing in petious music complaints, weepings, lamentations, mortal. Than (not you● cause) more than before, I mer veiled, by th'occasion whereof I was all together deprived from sleep. But (as afterward I was advertised every night at that hour, the sorrowful knight very eruellye tourmente● himself, renewing his dolour an● accustomed passion. Wherefore ●● servants, seeing him in this marty rye/ love and pity, obliged them to be (by sorrowful weepings) conform unto him that made doubt/ who heryn ge such things, as no more suddenly taken with trouble and vexation, than deprived of sleep and repose. So passed the most part of the night, and the day made all to be put to silence. The son rose even when I hard that in a church near unto me it range to a mass, & that the sorrowful knight came in to my chambre/ who as he had done the day before, took me by the hand, to go to here the divine service. Than being arrived in his chapel I saw a monument covered with black, which (as I perceived afterwards) was the last lodging that he looked for himself, where abouts were graven such words.  
●●holde w●ll he●● the memory  
Of one that liveth in pain & smart  
For want of saying presently  
Either him or her to ease his heart.  
ANd albeit the mass were a celebrating I left not for all that (during the same) to note what the letters meant, and the sorrow that they showed, what soever it was the things that I saw there, put me in great trouble, because I could not therein establish a Just judgement/ In going out of the church, we went to dinner, after the which the sorrowful knight, enforcing himself, to give me recreation, moved me in diverse matyers/ and demanded me of many things among others he said, that the King and Queen he knew right well, praying me to tell him, whether they were so triumphant lie accompanygned, as heretofore he bade seen them, and as to their great excellency did appertain. Wherein I could very well satisfy him. But than knew I right well that this matter was more to entertain me, than for any dey●●e that he had to know any thing, because he was so sorrowful, that without ceasing (ha' ve his dolour present) did none other thing but sigh. And sometime between giving ear to my purpose sinyled. Than at th'end, thanking me for that good that I had done him, he began to say unto me. ¶ Know thou my friend that not without cause I have induced the in these ꝓposes the occasion whereof, I will cause the to understand, provided that before, thou wilt give me gage of thy faith, that all that I shall tell the thou shalt do it to understand and put it in the puissance of ladies noless scavant than discrete, to th'intent that they perceiving the same may know the ill that a woman hath caused me to suffer without reason, and against their common condition, which is esteemed more pitiful, than that of the men/ to th'end that they being advertised thereof, may blame her and lament her cruelty. Now my dames having at length conceived his intention, & condescended ●accomphlysshe it, I have determined, for the perfection of the conditions by him required to address unto you the work following, which of right appertaineth more unto you, than to others. And because his matter was long, I thought good not only to redacte it in writing/ but also to send it you in this paper, Than after that the sorrowful knight had received of me the surety that he demanded in this so●te, he began his mat●er. ❧ ⚜ ❧   

¶ The Knight to the pilgrim.  
ME thinketh sir I should do the great wrong, if I should not declare unto y●, the cause of the demand that ● made the.  
¶ understand thou that it is not lately that I know the King and the Queen, their estate and magnificence. For their high renown and virtuous bounty is in all places, abundantly published. Nevertheless I thank y● for the pain, that thou hast taken intelling me that, which thou didst know therein. But for another intent, I have induced the in to these several matters, I trust to make▪ the treasurer of my sorrowful passyones being assured, thou wilt have pity and receive dolour of my trouble empressing in thy memory that which I will tell y●, to publish it hereafter.  
THou shalt understand I was borne and nourished at Thebes which heretofore, Cadmus the son of King Agenor did augment with people with whom I was long nory●shed. My father long sith is pass▪ said this transitory life, who was named as myself. Arnalte, I leave to tell the more what he was, because the praise of him, whose son I am, would ill sound in my mouth.  
¶ At that time the court of this King Cadmus, ordynarylye remained at Thebes▪ wherefore also I myself was there continually abiding, one day among others (when my liberty was more free from the passions of love) died one of the head persons of the town, at whose obsequies, and funerels, all the courtesans, and Citadins were present/ & as the deed body was ●et in the mids of the church during the time of thaccustomed ceremonies, there was made by his ner● ky●●esfolkes a great weeping and extreme dolour, specyallie by the daughter of him that was deed, who shewed herself so sorrowful, that without ●epose, she had such a mortal war, between her hands and her here/ as the most part of the same, were plu●lred upon her shoulders & csevered in such sort as the people that saw such cruelty, marveled no less of the beauty of the same, than pitied of there so strange entraytement. None was there than that saw her, that had not piteous compassion of the dolour that this sorrowful maiden suffered. alas she of whom I speak is named Lucenda, For her became I sorrowful abashed and fearful, abashed of her so great beauty, and fearful doubting her desperation.  
¶ Now after that the deed body was committed to his last lodging, & that Lucenda returned to her house, I took the way to mine seeking the solytarynes to accompany my new thoughts, thinking by that mean, to find ease & comfort to mine ill/ But it was in vain. For I knew incontinent/ I was no less solitary and habandoned of hope, than of people & pleasure.  
¶ It happened that many days so passed/ wherein albeit I endeavoured to forget my delivered purpose, knowing well if at the beginning I found a thorney way, that much more sharp should be thissue thereof. Yet nevertheless the more the time passed, the more mine ill, under dissimulation approached and like as my dolour did augment so my remedy decreassed I was in a strange necessity. Than need (thynuerter of all things) gave me counsel, that by my payge (who often frequented the house of Lucenda, taccompanye her brother) I might make her know my passion, by th'occasion whereof, I willed he should haunt yet more often with the other, than he had done before/ which he did right sadly and diligently for my remedy in such sort, as being in nothing suspected, he went when he would to the lodging of Luceda. Wherefore after that many times I had showed him to be the secret offering him divers chaste mentes, if he were contrary I gave him a letter containing this that followeth.  
RAther would I Lucenda that thou knewest my faith, than thou didst the reading of my letter, for if it so were in saying me, thou shouldest easily know the passion that I bear, being the same, none other but such as might well, purchaise me that which I trust to gain by writing to the. For that only by my letter, thou shalt understand my sorrowful proposes, but by my tears, thou shouldest see my desperate life. So that my great dolour would supply my little understanding, and make the certain of that whereof thou mayst now dovit For though the ills (such as I feel them) can not be declared, yet thy Judgement should give the very faith of them by my passion, nevertheless aswell as I possible may, I will make the to understand them.  
¶ Kuowe Lu●dena, that the self same day that thy father was put in the earth, mine affection, and thy great beauty made me all thine, if that thou than didst return to thy house, and ended to weep his death, I entered in to mine to begin to lament of the ill that thou haste done me, Which I pray that to believe, For that I have no less feebleness to vanquish me, Than thou hast force to constrain me, And further I assure thee, That more for the weakness to resist, Than of great will, I am gcuyn to be thine, For if it were in my power, I wouldst the And I seek thee, Thou baste so moche domination upon me, And I in me so little liberty, That when I have willed not to love thee, I could not, Because my heavy heart, is▪ By my constancy, and thy good graces) joined to the.  
¶ I advertise the that if it had been possible, I had rayther absented me from thee, Than in any thing to trust to y●, But if by predestination, I were condemned to be thine, I have not had the power to eschew the ill of this good otherwise it can not be. Deny me not than thy good grace for by the greatness of mine yil, I have well me ●y●ed it saying that in so little time, thou haste so dysmesurely ault ●ayged me. ❧ ☞ ❧  
¶ Consider in what Obligation thou art bound again to me. That more would esteem my perdition for thee, than my salvation without thine occasion, ❧ ❧ ❧  
¶ And further that sithen thou art the cause of my torment. This travail is to me pleasure, And my destruction victory. Yet would I not despere me of this beginning. But mine affection I declayre unto thee▪ whereof albeit at this time I ask the no recompense, yet trust I that hereafter thou shalt know the state where in I live. And that where as shallbe the knowledge, reason shall not fail, if there be reason the same can not be without recompense. ❧ ⚜  
¶ So with such trust will I never despere. But sithen I am moche more disposed to feel my pain. Than to do mand the remedy, I will end this matter, to finish my letter. And with an humble request I pray thee, that thou witsafe to s● me To th'end that my visage may be wy●●enes to the of ❧ my dolour. ❧  
SO ended my letter, but before I gave it to the Page, I instructed him in what sort he should proceed wisely to choose the place▪ And the time convenient to the●ecutyon.  
¶ And albeit that percase Lucenda would not receive it yet nevertheless he should leave it there. ☞ ❧  
¶ Now were my commandments, and thobedy●●●e of my Payge confer mable in such sort as for my conten tation he made such extreme diligence as one day among other when he saw Lucenda alone he found mean to approach to her, And the most secretly he could, Desired her to wytsaufe to take that which I wrote to her. But she saying herself importuned could not so dissimule that she gave not knowledge by mutation of colour how moche she thought the matter strange. ☞ ⚜ ☞ ❧  
¶ This notwithstanding my payge (as well advised) considering my torment, ●●●onned himself of nothing.  
¶ Where upon it happened that she saying herself more and more constryved, thinking to red herself of him. Departed with great dysplea sure, from the place where she sat wherefore my payge, saying her to go went diligently before, and cast my letter to her in such a place, as necessity forced her will, to take it up howbeit the taking there of was such as she tore it in a thousand peses, whereof afterward I was advertised which was a recharge and augmentation to my dolours. For saying my little hope and feeling, my dysmesured torment. I trusted no comfort, but with the death. For this cause I found me so much enemy to myself, and friend to the pain, that more than before I willed to have recourse to my sorrowful thought, which the which a very long time I passed my days unto y● one, Mourning my Payge (who careful & diligent was of mine affair) came taduertyse me, that Lucenda had determined the night following to go to matins, which I easily believed for it was Chrystmas yeven. Wherefore to give some repose to my heart, I determined to dress me in manner of a damosel, whereby I might the more easily approach to her  
¶ trusting by the mean, to avoid all danger▪ So with such habit confirm to he●●, I went to put myself Joining to the place, where she had accustomed to be in such festes. And not suspecting this to be de●epte, at her arrival she saluted me. Than thobs●urite of the night▪ the place, and the lack of company, favoured me so moche, that I had ameane to say to her.  
Lucenda.  
HA Lucenda, if I had so moche wit, to complain me of thee, as thou haste power to cause me to lament, I should be no less wise than thou art fair. Therefore I dysyer thee, not to regard that, which I shall say to the. But the passion of my heart, and th'abundance of my sighs which now I put to thee, to be wyttenes of my martyrie. I know not what gain thou dost trust of my loss. ●e what good of my ill, I have written to thee, that I am all thine, And thou with great despite hast torn my letter in pieces. It should have sufficed the to have done the like to my life by thy great beauty. Thou oughtest to have permitted him to do his messayge. Than by the same thou hadst known in how many passions I have lived sith I saw the. Persever not (I pray thee) in such an oultrageous purpose for it should to much endoma ge thy renown, & destroy my health. Where wouldest thou search an excuse ●ayllable to serve the in this strange fashion of doing, Thou understandest the pains with the which my tongue demandeth the remedy. And knowest how moche the virtue and rigour are different in condition. And that thou canst not be virtuous, unless thou be gentle and gracious. sithen than that thou which so little, as with thine only word, canst satisfy and recompense my services, deny me it not. For I desire no great benefit of y●, than that thy consent may call me thy servant. saying that with the glory to be thine, The ill that I have received by the shallbe satisfied ☞ ✚ ❧  
¶ But thou causest me moche to mar veil, sithen that for so little a thing thou consentest so long to be importuned. See that my sighs make the know already that my little resistance (saying the rude assault and battle that thou gy●est) is so ill edified, as the same is more ready soon to fall th● to keep the fortress of my life.  
¶ And if thou think that to speak with me (fearing to disdain or file thy honour.) it were to the to much enterprised. Beware thou be not deceived therein, For thou shouldest receive more blame to cause me to die, Than faithfully to remedy me,  
¶ Will not than Lucenda to purchayse the name of an homicide. Ne will not I pray thee, for so little price to lose a servant, & services so affectioned. I can not tell what more to say, to make the certain of mine ill. For I am borne not to a certain, but to be ascertained having more learned to lament me, than to find remedy. And because that my will and thine excellency have no measure I will not which long matter molest the. Let it suffice the to see with thine eye, that if thou differ me of hope short shallbe my life And having not as ended my purpose with a trembely●ge voice, she began to answer me. ☞ ❧ ❧ ❧  
THou thinkest well Arnalle by thine affected proposes to vanquesshe the force of my virtue, But if it so be thou abusest thyself, For thou oughtest to know that I have no less trust to my awne defence than thou haste in thy great persuasions. Therefore I counsel the to surcease from such thy demand, sithen that thou mayst well knew that thou shalt do right wisely in the same. And to th'end that thou be more assured, like as thou oughtes to believe, that there is no force in the world, that can break the port of my determined purpose, So thou mayst see, that thou shalt put the out of great labour ceasing from such request. And where I have at this time, willed tanswere thee, That hath only been to th'intent that having of myself none assurance, thou trust not any recompense. For in such case the trust by her condition prolongeth more than she satysfieth, So thou seest that in this behalf the despair comforteth, and the contrary (by a certain mean (weryeth and straineth. ❧ ⚜ ❧  
¶ And where in my words I show not thee, the rigour that I should, that is somewhat to satisfy thy faith which I know, I will not deny y●, but thou lovest me, sithen that thou sercheste me, more than I would, So of they travails, thou shalt be ill rewarded, For I tell the that so large shallbe the trust as thy demand is to me importuned. And because it may be, thou shalt think that for asmuch as my words are pleasant, my works shall not be rigorous, by cause I will not deceive thee, I tell the that whiles thou altogythers turn thine oultragyouse affection, and pervert thordr● thereof, I will put it in thand of such one, as shall well complain and revenge himself of thee, Therefore it is my desire that without delay thou go out of this strife, For thou seest it is better quickly to heal, than by a long season give mean to death. Whereof I have willed taduertyse that because that for the I have more danger than remedy, Therefore approve my counsel, and to th'intent thou say not that by words I have abused thee, I tell the what great ill shall turn to the thereof, which I little regard. Than from henceforth thou oughtest to put thy desires in repos and live in pease, which I believe thou wilt do, saying that according to that thy tears and affection show me, it shallbe more agreeable to the to give me pleasure, than the contrary, For if thou do otherwise I will have that faith doubtful which thou publysshest certain, & shalt cause to the damage, and to me displeasure, Now to th'intent that from henceforth thy purposes be so moche dyseret as thy sighs witness the amorous, I will no more teach, thethe way that thou oughtest to keep to do the pleasure.  
SO friend such answer of Lucenda was all a agreeable to my torment, and in such sort absent from my remedy, that by so much as the trust failed me, my desire augmented, For saying the grace of her speech enriched with such knowledge I felt me not to have in me any part alive out of my memory which was intentife to see if afterward any good would discover itself, noting all that she told me, But in putting an end to her threatenings she ended her speech leaving my recompense behind to put before the danger, wherefore the cause that lest I feared was the death which willing to make her tunderstand a little after I sang one night before her lodging this song.  

¶ if mine ill shall never achieve  
And my great pain shall never lie  
How might one better know my gryeve  
Than by my lief, without to die.   

¶ if to loss is turned my gain  
And my torment so dis●●●●●ed  
Ought I not of death to be fain  
Syn● that lief thereby is opened.   

¶ if thou refuse me to relieve  
And wilt that still to the I cry  
How might one better know my grye●e  
Than by my lief, without to die.   
THe singing of this heavy Song might percase impeach the sleep of Lucenda, But my playntꝭ and anguishes could not atall awake her spirit, wherefore saying me altogether destitute of recompense like as than my dolour more augmented so my pa●●ō more af●ebled itself, And as the hope was than molested, it was necessary also that the eyes by thoccasion of tears blinded themself in such sort as by contumelies/ wepyngꝭ/ and torments. I became pale and disfigured and that more is so, desperate that against myself I began to say ❧ ☞ ❧  
O Ever Infortunate the Edyfyce of travail what may now become of the in what place art thou arrived, halt thou yet any trust Seest thou not that it is impossible for the to receive health of the ill, that thou hast, and that clearly the signs present make the know thy perdyo●ō to come because that thine eyes or the ladde●s of thy faith are situate in so high a place, that thou oughtest fonner trust to ●alle than to mount. Thou shalt be he that shall have more ill, For thou were he the least of good aught to presume. ❧ ⚜ ❧  
¶ O es●●a●●● of thyself that art so weary of life, and not of desire, Alas how great was thine infortunye in bringing the forth I see that by little and little thovendyst and that thy desire at th'end shall vanquish y●, Hast thou not than great reason to wish the death, if for the wealth of the heart thou desirest it, yet thou oughtest to refuse it to eschew the predicion of thy soul. ¶ Now know I not what to choose, what to say, ne what to▪ demand. O my spirit so desolate, why haste thou choysen an habitation so sorrowful. And thou mine eye▪ the mortal enemy of my sorrowful heart, have I deserved that thou shuldest● so submit y● to the deceipteful laws of love Thou knewest not that the recompenses of him are vain, when the services are most great and massife. And yet thou knewest right well that in the order of true love if the lief fall not, the tormentꝭ are ever at y ● ●ot●. Thou knewyst well thy feebleness, wherefore wouldest thou than submit the under so strong an hand. But thou mayst answer me that thou hast had so little power to disobey him at the first as now to forget him, which is all the ill that I see therein. O thou unhappy than, that the more puissance lacketh thee, the more thy plaint again renforceth itself. And where by thy deeds thou thoughteste to enrich thy memory, thou haste now less mean to do it, whereof thou shalt receive the more shame being thine honour affen did and thy life in danger, For according to this recompense thou haste more occasion to complain thee, than to allow the of any well doing.  
¶ Than sithen it is so take patience in payment of the war that thou haste be gone, and in the same suffer the strokes that thou trustest which hereafter shallbe sharp for thee, but as yet easy and light, howbeit tendure them to th'end the lief and understanding will war weary, and if by that thou ease not thyself have recovers to reason, weep thy solytarynes and hold the gates open to death, For when thou shalt not think thereof thou shalt find that remedy which the understanding & reason shall deny the.   

¶ Arnalte to the author.  
Many other things apart I told myself which to th'intent not to molest thee, I will at this time commit so silence, But being so far alienate from myself I begun to row the gall of my passions, and yet being there tonrmented of so great anguish cold I not attain the port of repose, wherefore with somache trouble I put in oblivion all mine accusto mid pleasures, without more to go but very seldom or little with the king, or elsewhere. And uless as my friends did contenually inquire of mine estate I determeni● one evyning to go to the palais, where so soon as the king had perceived me after he had asked me of my health, he commanded me to be at a tourney which certain Jentylmen of the ●ourte had enterprised, And albeit I was than more disposed to solytarynes than to great assemble. Yet to obbey him I determined to force my will, telling him that sithen he had commanded me I was ready to do it whereupon he made me tunderstand in what sort it should be and the day that every one should be ready. ❧ ❧  
¶ Now the time appointed being come wherein it was necessary texetute tha●●ayres by effect I desired the king he would caunse to command the ladies of the City to be as well at the mommerye at night, as at the tornay in the day, whereunto he was agreeable.  
¶ So was I assured that Lucenda would not be left be hind. Wherefore great tribulation suddenly invaded mine heavy heart and mine anguishes were than meddled with exceeding great and sudden motions, So that in one instant I was so joyful as I was wont to be melancolique. The tyltes erected & prepared and the assaillaūt● beginning to put them upon thee ranks I came to pass before the escaffaulte of the Queen making ●●y horse to fling and prance, Than by chance through the sight of my armet I saw Lucenda, ba 'las howemuche agreeable to me was this pleasant adventure, Nevertheless for the business wherein I was occupied the best that I could I dyssimuled it and to make y ● ●understand what was the token that I bore it was a pair of balances with the● weights th'one of them was green and other black the green was high and the black very low and written about.  
¶ The little that my trust doth pease  
showeth clery how moche heavy  
To my sufferance still without ease.  
Bycause● the night approached the ●orney ended wherefore the men of arms went to dyfa●●he them and the king with the ladies retired them to the palais, After the hour come to mask the maskers entered in to the hall, some took them to dance some to comen with he● that he would chowse, But alas I sorrowful put me more to complain of my misfortune than before saying me so power of the good that was to me ne●ssarye, and so rich in part●rbacion and sighs yet I assured myself and came raddresse me to Lu●enda doubting nevertheless more to be refused of her than otherwise that not withstanding I desired her to 〈◊〉 whereunto she had not willingly agreed if the custom had not forced her, So she rose & put me ●urth her hand, alas who could express the Joy and the ill that I felt than together. For my dolours to much augmented themselves seeing my benifete so near, and my remedy so far absent, th'apparel that I ware witnessed it right well, For I had that day a Cloak broidered wherein was written. ❧ ❧ ❧  
¶ doleful he is as he that dieth▪  
And yet the death doth him not streke  
But more and more still him he flieth  
which he most pensif, ●othe to seek.  
WHen the dance was ended Lucenda, retired her so nere●● queen that it was not possible for me that I cold hold her purpose without to be understand of others, wherefore I determined to god to make a letter and cause her to understand by writing that which I could not than tell her by mouth, Than I with drew me in to a gardrobe, but so soon as I had the pen and the paper in my hand, I felt the passions of the mind ●●pproche me by the mean whereof with exceeding great pain I ended my letter, which I folded short & narrow and returning towards Lurenda I put it secretly within the fold or tucking up of her gown, nevertheless I could not so hamsomlye do it that she perceived it not but for the presence of the Queen she was constrained to dissimule it, And the letter contained that which I will tell the  
Lucenda if the mean were so well given me to remedy myself as I have occasion to write to that without doubt I could esteem me much more content than sorrowful or dyspleasant, Nevertheless the power and the knowledge to be thine have all togethers refused me, and put me in great solitariness, despering of the any remedy I have somuch said and written that I know not what more to tell thee, Somu●he is there that if thou retard and defer my hope shortly shall end my purposes and my life. Alas thou shouldest know the y● whereof I plain me rather by my we ping, than by my words, because ● sins the anguis●hes are grievous the eyes usyage their office do supply the default of the tongue. ❧ ❧ ❧  
¶ O sorrowful, being in the state that I am, what may I do for so much more as my faith hath vinacitie somuch more my recompense is in cleping, if to put peace in my life thou thinkest to make war to thine honour I desire not that thou do it nether that thou speak to me, sethen thou art not agreeable thereunto, but only that thou vouchesaulfe to look upon me saying that by this only benefit all the ill shallbe forgevyn the that ever thou midst me I pray the will not to be so mortal an enemy to me, for if thou have desire that I die I have yet the greater desire little to live by this mean without great brount we both may be content, nevertheless consider that if by thine occaston I die thymfa my of thy mishap shall slowly leave thee, & shalt purchase such renown that eternally mention shallbe made of thy cruelty and of mine end, But if thou wilt follow reason thou shalt think that it is y● done to give pain where there is none offence, if thou think not that the same is tobbey y● or the desire that I have to serve the in this case thou shallbe enough assoy led, and I only worthy of torment for recompense now sithen that according to that thou hast told me thou believest that I love thee, read my letter and in reading it remember the ill that I feel being assured that if my travails be rep●esēyd to the thou wilt have more repentance than occasion to continue, of one thing I marvel much, what moveth the to wilt rather to be cruel than to be served, if thou measure the passion that thou gevyst me with the service that thou must receive of me, I am sewer thou wilt know that thou hast not occasion to praise the of the gain of my loss, And to end my letter I pray the that it may be the last, for the presence can witness that whereof the paper can not give knowledge. So will thou to see me or else the little desire that I have more to live will set forth my death desired. ❧ ☞ ❧ ☞  
AFter that mi letter was committed to the pour of Lucenda for the desire that I had to know how she used it, mine eye went not from her in any wise, But nothing perceived I, which held me in some repos, nevertheless the susspition that I had gave me no trust and so was alienat from myself that I answe●●● him that entretened me more in a boy●● tremblas●t than to his purpose. Alas he that than had put his hand to my heart had easily known a little the pangs amou●eous that tormented it till the hour approached that every one retired himself, than was I more disposed to receive the travail than the repose. And albeit I after that Lucenda had gottyn licence of the Queen followed her man habbyt disguised not only unto the port of her lodging but also unto within her chambre to see the sentence that she would give unto my letter, yet nevertheless at any time during the space that I there tarried I saw not her hold any paper wherefore so without other certan●ie I returned, but the love (that never sleepeth) would not parmit me the night any little while to repose by the mean whereof I determined to send early in the morning my page to the lodging of Lucenda to se in all the places of the house how prevey so ever they were and specially where the dung & filths were wont to be cast whether he could find any pieces of my letter. ¶ Than the page did his devour but he had no news thereof which gave me some little trust, But yet not such as could diminish this mine accustomed heaviness. ❧ ⚜ ❧  
¶ So the more I went forward the more my remedy in such sort tarried behind as I could not so well dyssym●e mine ill that it was not discovered by the smokes of my sighs and thymbrasment of my heart, For the more my torment augmented itself, the more that power diminysshed whereof easily my passion was known And therefore I became solitary without more to go out of my lodging, whereof a sister of mine called Bel●ss● who bore me love so natural that she was participaunt with me in a great part of mine ill received so much trouble that on a day as we commoned togethers after divers purposes she pryade me with great abund●ū●●●● tears to make her tunderstand the cause of my dolour. ❧ ⚜ ☞  
¶ Than having compassion of her weeping I was enforced to declare unto her that which I endeavoured to ●epe secret. Nevertheless before that I did it ceasing her lamentation she began to say to me. ❧ ❧  
Helas' mi brother for god's sake I pray the y● thou wilt not hide from me the cause of thy do●or for ever when I have asked it of thee, thou haste found me many dissymulatrons, Consider therefore that if thou wilt deny me the verity the love that I bear that shall meddle itself with my plaint, Thou sayest thou art my debt or and that if I love the thou wilt recompense me again with as much of thy part, But thou dostpublyshe y● with thy word●s which with thy works thou de●i●s● Thou knowest well that such dyss●●ulatyons ought to be excused towards me, Therefore I pray y● make my heart secretary● of thy passions. ¶ To whom oughtest thou to give such things in keeping, but only t● me seyuge that thou haste good assurance that if thou wilt the death I desire not the lief, if thou abhor the pleasure the displeasure is to me agreeable, if thou love the travail the repose to me is dypleasunt. So that thine yiles and my torment do po●yshe one self-same heart, if than thou have determined to put thy pain in repose with whom canst thou better do it than with her who never is weary to desire thy benefit for if thou wyl●e discharge it, thou and I to gathers may bear it, if thou have desire that we w●pe, never let us do other thing if thou wilt that in thine ill we comfort us let it so be done, if thou wilt that it cover itself thou and I, better than thou alone can do it, if thou wilt that the remedy do give mean, thou of thy side and I of mine may easily find it sh●we not I pray the so little amity to her that hath no thing but is thine. And believe that thy dyssymulation hath no power to vanquish my Judgement, For thy sighs right well do manifest that which thou endeverest to cover, Consider thou that by reason less ought not to be the love than the fraternity, And that most agreeable shallbe to me the death if thou by the same mayst receive the more ●oye use life, seeing that I see the in the state over much to suffer and long tend●ure. But call again the ●perites and regard that fortune is of the prosperus enemy, and of the myserables the most great hope, So sithen that for condition is movable and inconstant, yea and such, as the most happy ought not to rejoice of her favour, thou oughtest not than in any wise to despair the of her ●eueuolēce, for she con●u●●eth always new accidentꝭ to folks hearts, to then●e the necessity have▪ not knowledge of her power. Therefore reserve not to the alone the solytarines dyspleasant in thy displeasures, Thou knowest well that the most sorrowful doth comfort himself/ when his passion is communicate to his friend, for the recreation of the word doth demynishe the dolour of the mind. So than if the keys of my consayll may open any remedy, wherefore refusest thou them, takyst thou pleasure so to think day & night in thy pains losenge so much time, to speak to thyself alone. Believe me I know that in thee, greater is the ill that thou coverest than that which thou manyfestest, but how soever it be the danger is greater to cover it, than to disclose it, specially to me who beareth the more Amity in the mind than the mouth can tell. Now fearing to be displeasant, I will no more Importune the of my request, but now end this matter dyspleasant which ended. desiring to give my sister some contentation, I made her this answer▪ ❧ ❧ ❧  
THou holdest me (madame my sister) so passyoned for thy passion, that I must of force declare to the that which my demonstrations show thee, And that more for thine importunytye than for the will that I have thereof. For that if I had not se●e thy weeping unfeigned thou hadst never known of me this true answer, nevertheless before thou know ●ny thing I pray the the sithen that my tongue shall reveal the mine ill, that for the same will not to pain the. For my lief shall end before the beginning thereof take end.  
¶ Thou shalt understand than (my suller) that more by an estrange force than by my proper will, I am constrained to submit me to the laws of lo●e Whereby my fortune hath made me so great in obeisance as little in repose And more yet in suffering, For in the mids of my sorrowful espryte all mine ills have assieged me, and yet of such sort hold me assiged, that for all the resistance that I can do my good against the ill by mines in myneng, nether by ladders in mownting, can not attain the victory. For that the love defendeth itself rudely against my fortune, which doth assail so slowly that if I have no soccor by the death, late otherwise shall I recover it. ❧ ❧ ❧ ❧  
¶ Therefore (sister) I pray the pain not thyself for my displeasure but rather rejoice the that thou hast such a brother as can by the force of his virtue endure so much ill. And if thou ever desire me to do any thing for the cause that I se no more thys● thy tears to water thy fair visage, for if by weeping I cold help me, mine alone without help of thine should warrant me. ☞ ❧ ☞  
¶ Than sithen that for them the passion augmentith, and the ill dem●nisheth not, it is much better to refrain than, and to remove th'occasion to empire my torment. According to the which thou hast told me, thou closest the port of my counsel and openest it not to my will, We a●●or●e, thou to live in joy, and I in sorrow in this world For the pleasures that for me I would choice I remit to thee, for that only to the they are justly d●we, and to me apperteynith the possession of displeasures ● travails, saying that I can manly better suffer them than thou and considering that in the there is to little lodging to lodge such adversities. Therefore I pray the be co●tē● that we live, thou in joy, and I in sorow●. And if otherwise thou do, I will believe that thou wilt not me the good that thou sayest, sithen that thou knowyst that it is my will, & that thou seest, that thy torment doubleth my passion, learn than no more to sorrow for the torment that I endeure, other wise I shall have more travail feeling the more to travail.  
THis Purpose ended my sister saying that otherwise I did not satisfy her request determined without more to importune me tenquyre by subtle means the cause & original, whereof preceded my very great ills. And as th'effects a more ous do present to the Judgemement of men discrete the passions of the time to come. So infinite sorrows and displeasures made me ordinary compeny wherefore after that my sister was retired I gave place more than before to mine accustomid dolour. alas who could number the quantity of my passions, if it be not he that hath exthewyd like fortune, what anguish, what plaints, gave than knowledge to my tormented heart, of her great power, during the which I was without any repose weryeng without ceasing my variable memory to the sound of my thoughts. And as I arrived to the point of my desperation, it came to my romembrance that albeit I had here tofore declared to a gentleman companion and friend part of the love that I bore to Lucenda, and that he himself had endeavoured somewhat to taste it also, by th'occasion whereof I spoke not sy●s to him of the same for saying the danger that might ha● thereof and knowing also right well that in such affairs if the silence be not of commendation/ he that is in the pursewte putteth himself in total perdition, saying that the only secret is the crown of the lover, yet never the les omitting all these doubtꝭ behind I concluded again to discover to him (of whom I speak to thee) all my affections, trusting that he would have petye, and would besaythful, also that which harded me to do it was for that he was next neighbour to Lucē●a whom I might see if I were lodged in the house of my friend.  
¶ Therefore I sent to pray him to come to see me, which he did at his arrival, I told him the cause wherefore I sent for him, And the trust that I had in him, wherefore he thanked me affectuously. And so much as at the first he assayed to dystracte me from this love, so much he showed me visage to find it good, & to soccor me by th'occasion whereof. The more to move him to take compassion of me I said to him. ❧ ☞ ⚜  
My faithful friend yerso if now I show the and present before the that which hitherto I have dylygenly kept in silence, The cause thereof is, the trust that I have of thy great virtue. And thou oughtest not to find ill the long delay that I have made therein, For thou knowist right well how much in amoreus affection the splenic is esteemed, & the dysclosure worthy great reproach by the mean, whereof I was in great confusion nevertheless thy booty hath put an end to all this doubts. So that thereby I have felt my pain wekyned, than sithen it is so, where should I know better to lodge my secret than between thy hands saying that thy virtue, and the love, that thou bearest me, shallbe confome to keep it well. Now Brother and ●r●nde I advertise the that against the death and the life I have sustained by a long tyme. ❧ ❧  
¶ The assault of a breach much dimynysshed, with the death, for the she will not have me, and with the life for that the grieveth me. Which assault so cruel I began when the father of Lucenda died, which was the day that first I saw her, and unto this present hath continued without knowing any mean to peace me tr●uce in the same. For love saying me so submitted to his commandments hath wounded me with all his power by his pangs enpoysonid in suhe sort as he, being his fight rude, and my force week, hath brought me even to amortall end. So contynewell have ben his assaults, & my defence of so little effect. That by this occasion the folks of whom I was wont to aid me have betrayed me, leaving me sole, retyrenge themselves into other places. And that worse is, the trust doth leave me, the remedy flieth me, The reason hideth itself, and the succour hurteth me, so that by necessety forced I must yield me into the hands of cruel death, And if thou think that in telling that this I am alienate of spirit. ¶ Believe yerso that it should be to me a great benefit not to have any judgement, For having not knowledge of my great losses, I should not ●e●ey●● for them any sorrow, for that being of understanding & judgement depryued, 〈…〉 should neither trust to have 〈…〉 ●● 〈…〉, ●e ●et have fear of ill. ●● So 〈…〉 not trusting for any thing ● sh●●o● not despere of my soccor, & of 〈…〉, as I do at this time present Therefore de●e friend seeing me such, as thou seest me, I have not known more whereof to fortify me, than by the force of thy amity, and the arms of thy consayll, and to help me therein I ha●e thought that sethen thy lodging is so ●ere to the same of Lucenda, and that other good I can not have thereof, tha● to see her that at the least I may be ●f so little a thing satisfied, which is the cause that I have send to seek thee▪ To th'end that after that thou hast know in my torment, thou soccour me as much as thou canst and as I trust of thee, and as the amity which knoweth itself in y●, necessity will and intendeth seeing that now thou art come in time to do it. And for because I believe that thou wouldest have more desire thereof, than I have to demand it I, will no more imporune that of the same.   

¶ The answer of yerso, to Arnalte.  
Friend Arnalte I plain me to thee, and of the for the doubt end dystruste that thou hast had of me and with greater reason that the● oughtest not by so long time to dissimule thine ill towardis me, though it were so that by the laws of true love, it was otherwise ordained.  
¶ But they that be so secret, lose come monly by holding their peace, the which they should obtain without doubt, declaring it. ❧ ❧ ❧  
¶ Now Arnalte suffice y●, that more shall our in me the ill, that I have to see the ill to suff●e. Than the discourse of my complaint to lament thee, for the which grieveth thee, dysplesith me, so that I can not comprehend it in my memory, advertising thy surely that if thy torment might part itself in two, I would take willingly the greatest part thereof, But to the will I remit that which with the work I can not execute. ❧ ☞ ❧ ☞  
¶ Thou sayest that the beaultye of Lucenda destroyeth thy life, of one only occasion, thy care & mine precede, for if sh● cause the to have passion, she falleth mine health. Nevertheless to th'intent that diversity know not itself in thy will and mine, I will fronhensforth forget to think so, giving the sewerty to do the pleasure to put peace in my wars. Albeit grievous pain it is to me, which thou being in the state that thou art haste no mean to know, and the less thank shalt thou can me to do this, yet nevertheless aswell to render me fire, as to leave the in the servitude that thou desirest I will do it, to assewre so much my liberty, as I have of distrust of her recompense. And so by my withdrawing I shallbe free, and thou shalt rest in the puysance of her. Thou prayest me also to give the consaylt, and receive thy plaints if my counsel could prophet the so much as thine ill hath power to cause me to lament, thou shouldest tarry without any pain. But to tell the that which I think thereof, I maruaylle how thou hast willed to consent that the force of thy virtue is vanquished by a thing of so little prise, And that thou that was vanquer or of things more dangerous, now art by a woman vanquished, Remember the how much is dispraised the renown, which rendrith itself infame, by such infamy. And as far as I can perceive thine espyryte unbindeth thy faith, and thy reason leaveth thee, in such sort as thou thyself to thy power dost endamage thine own liberty. Avoid thou such abuses, and resist manly such extremity of love, not that I would counsel the that thou altogether absent thyself, But that thou esteem it, fear, search, and refuse it, for there is no less danger to much to avoid love, than to moche t'obey to him, so that with a mean thou oughtest to moderate thyself, & by apparences to deceive him, sithen he himself in effect is a deceiver, and that his law is such as he that lest loveth, hath most recompense and profit, Me thinketh thou wouldest him good, and that thou sayest the to be his, being not so dismesuredly despered. But beware the to trust all in him, Consider that the condition of the trust in things more easy, showeth less the way. And for this cause thou oughtest not to despair, sithen that thou knowyst his manner of doing, and the goodness that cometh thereof, Regard that fortune giveth end to things variable, So if she have been cause of thy dolour, she may in time be grieved of thine ill, & rejoice thy life. And if thou wilt take my counsel, thou shalt see that thou shalt obtain the which thou art now assured to lose, in coming to my lodging, which at all times that it shall please the thou mayst dispose, as of any thing of thine own, Thou haste done me great wrong, that so long time thou haste differed it/ saying that I am so much thine, that I would obey the as my master and companion And because that from henceforth I will more pain me to remedy thee, than to molest thee, with long matter I will hold my pease. To th'intent in the rest temploy me in that which thou shalt command, And fromhensforth let us god weather it shall please the.   

¶ Arnalte to the pilgrim.  
 
Thou haste little understand (master my friend) th'answer that (yerso) made me. But when he plained himself of Lucenda. I assure the that suspicion and Ja●ousye gave me a new torment, never theles I made no semblant thereof, for I thought it was the abundance of love that nory●shed me in such fantasy And in deed sometime I had dystruste in him. And a little after I considered with myself, aswell that which he promised me, as also remembered our old amity, that never had willed to do me shrewd turn, and thereupon saying that he had offered me so ly●●rally his lodging, I went thither wh●● I made no long demoure, before that I found myself dece●uyd of mine enterprise, For notwithstanding all the watch or pain that I took du●●nge the time that I was there, I could not see her, for whom I was there lodged, so augmentd my torment and in so many diverse sorts showed itself that many people had knowledge of the same, and imagined thereof in divers sorts, by mean whereof my sister Belisa of whom I have told the already, considering my pain to come, and seeing my danger present, employed all her industry to know the cause of my sorrow, and so much did that by her importunytyes she might feel that Lucenda was only th'occasion of my great anguishes. Therefore without to cause me any thing tunderstonde thereof, she changed her accustomed fa●●ō to live, and pained herself to frequent Lucenda more oftener than she had done albeit they had before great socialitie together now happened it that in one after dinner as they to were retired to take repose my sister opened to her such a matter,   

¶ Belysa to Lucenda.  
I Pray the Lucenda that in using thine accounted wisdom will not to blame me, for that which I will tell thee. For if thou comprehend well mine intention I trust to be rather praised, than for my words worthy of reprehension, for that the dolour of another that causeth my boldness, shall honour my shame.  
¶ Now than Lucenda, understand my saying, & thou shalt know that there is a long time, that Arnalt my brother creased in dolour, & decressed in health, of such sort as all remedies to him are contrary, which knowing, and also seeing, his life to be short, for this ill so extreme, many times in wepyngꝭ, and tears, I have desired him to discover me his passions that, caused him the death. But always he willed to keep them secret, whereof I have had reason greatly to lament me. So by subtle means, with the conjecture, the suspicion, and token, that I could know therein. I have been certain that thou only were th'occasion of his ill, and art the remedy of his life. Whereby I have determined to lose me in telling thee, that which I do to remedy him. And to give faith to my ma●ier, demand not any other proof, than the plaint that I make to the of him. For if I had not seen his life in danger thou hadst not known my boldness, and ●emerytye, nevertheless I have so much desire to sau●●e him, that somuch as mine ill doth dystour●e me from this request, somuch his ill conductyth, and constraynith me to it, Because that the amity which I bear him is so great as for this occasion I have made myself e an enemy to mine honour, and by a stronger reason to put my life for his it should be little in respect of this And so I ought to do as well for my solyc●tude as for his. For thou knowest that by the pestilence passed our father and mother have left us sole and if thou wilt now destroy the rest of our lineage thou shalt be more worthy of reprehension than of great praise, S●ynge that I can assure the that if thou deny him y● remedye●●● only death shall put pease in his life, and thou shallbe by this mean except from the trouble that he giveth the and he exempt to be more tormented, regard in what obligation thou art dound to him, that the more thou desdaynest him, somuch the more he loveth and seeketh the. And somuch the more as thou causest his perdition somuch the more he estemith this be 〈◊〉 lo●●e, to be by the desired such, Than sithen that so strange torment seemeth to him repose, & that the knowledge of thy cruel condition is take away from every one, thou art iwyse bound to him, because that sea ring that thine honour be not troubled for his occasion be feigneth his dolour in pleasure, which to him is a most peasant burden, for that such pleasure's a● enemies to his desires, that ●hich more ●oroweth him is to show by necessytey ●ysaige contrary to his will. Therefore consent not that such fydely●e perish for so little occasion, and by so great ingratituding, if thou do verily I can assure the that thine oblivion, & his constancy shall make an end of him, & if thou have power to break the battle of his passions by only to write to him, I pray the deny him not this, benefit and do him such grace for my sake, if thou wilt not do it for him. Thus doing in the place of a friend, as thou haste of Belysa from gosforth thou shalt have of he● an slave, Suffice the that there is two years that I have levied in dying. Take away than from me this passion sp●h● that thou only mayst chase it away.   

¶ The answer of Luc●da▪ ●o Belysa.  
Dear friend belisa I pray the put from y●, the doubt that thou haste to receive blame, for that which thou hast said. For thou ha●● not put thine honour in somuch apparel, that it may in any thing be defiled, knowing verily that I know what absoleth and dyschargyth thee▪ And thereof be witness thy renown, & 〈◊〉 knowledge▪ For if thou have offen 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 by the matters, thou haste so 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 me by thy shamefastness, 〈◊〉 ●one●●e 〈◊〉▪ in such sort as 〈◊〉 ●h●● 〈◊〉 to lament the ill 〈◊〉 thy brother▪ 〈◊〉 the fault that thou 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 towards me. And 〈…〉 that mine answer 〈…〉 e pleasure. I doubt 〈…〉 of the pain of thy brother, 〈…〉 thy desire▪ 〈…〉 But if he will that I 〈…〉 without that I 〈…〉 myself, he himself shall do it. For 〈◊〉 I ought to fear ●● less ●●●●●owne, than his death. And ● ow● thou knowest well▪ how much the honour of dams doth demynishe itself, when to soccour their lovers▪ they forget themselves, Require me not than, to do that which thou thyself wouldest not accomplysre, knowyst thou not in what obscuryte should be my virtue, if to the desire of thy Brother. I should give light. Would to god, that of so grave and sad a thing, thou wouldest not importune me. For by experience thou shouldyst be certain of the trouble that I have of his torment.  
¶ Haa how many times have I take to displeasure theorization he had of my beaultye, sithen it hath caused him so much mishap. alas how many times being alone, have I wept his wepyngꝭ, specially when I considered that he thinketh a thing so impossible. Believe me that I have more desire to give him remedy, than thou to seek it. And if for other prise, than for the honour I might do it, I would be so ready▪ to give it ●y●●, as he to receive it. ❧ ☞ ❧ ❧  
¶ But sithen that his g●yn can not be without my loss, he ought to content him of the will, that I have towards him, which I pray the cause him tunderstand, and the ill that I have, for the ill that he suffereth, which thou mayst assuredly witness to him. And if in mine answer thou find not that which thou seekest therein, put that fault and blame in mine honour and not in me. For if without toffend my renown▪ I could succour thy brother, verily I would do it for the dolour that I have of his. Therefore I pray that Belysa not to cō●eyue any displeasure towards me hereof, seeing that I have deserved it in nowise. And because that long speaking and little doing is ●●s● tring to a parson required I will leave this matter without longer to declare. ❧ ✚ ❧   

¶ The author.  
A little after, returned my su●●er towards me, who to ●●ioyce me, declared that she came from the sight of Lucenda, but she told me not th'answer that she made her, for wisely she thought to cause me to think good, that which had been refused to her. Nevertheless she could not so parswade me, that I would give faith ther●●●to, or content myself so that I saw not any thing that would bring Assurance of that, whereof she thought to disguise me. And also 〈…〉 lacketh, the saying is 〈◊〉 doubtful, by the mean whereof thinking very well that my sustes 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 of her enterprise, desperse of all mean I determened to fay●● that I cared not for Lucenda, and ●● forget her I was advertised that she 〈◊〉 carried for my torment ●●tho●● to have any compassion, and in de●● I did ●●●t ●●iche I had enterprised 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 my sister to cause her tu●● derstand that hereafter I would pey●● myself little to travail for her, and to learn to be from henceforth mine own, without to alienate my liberty into the hands of a parson so ingrate, which my sister promised me to do▪ Nevertheless before that she went thither I desired her to take heed to the countenance that Lucenda would keep when she should show her this message, for that better by her gesture than by her words she might have know ledge of her will. And above all things that she noted well if she would change colour. For by the visage (commonly) is known the thought of the heart, And also that when she should cease her speech she should mark well if Lucenda would hold her peace, or make semblance little to care thereof. And if than she would answer to the purpose, or without thinking thereon or in words ill assured, For that scarcely may such things be dyssimuled, when they are governed by passions. Than after that my sister who entirely understood my will, had written in her spirit, and logid in her memory, that which I had told her, she departed to go to se Lucenda, and after finding her in a place convevient, said unto her.   

¶ Belysa to Lucenda.  
LUcenda if my request do cause y● so much displeasure as it rendereth me ashamed, I marvel how thou canst ●oke upon me. Never theles it is necessary that the ills of this thy captife my brother give the displeasures, and that mine importunity to the be dyspleasant, this not withstanding I constrained by the love that I bear him trusting (always) in thy virtue, have been bold t'appear before the with his lamentatyons, which I require the tunderstand, and suffer sithen that I myself (without them) can not endure. know Lucenda that albeit my brother is determined to refuse the bondage, that thy grace hath joined to his heart, yet the same is nailed so firmly, that notwithstandyngd that he would do it, he findeth it impossible, nevertheless he saith he will assay to do it, and will abandon the contrary making his absence mediatrice between thy slaughter and his death, thinking by this banishment to find that which thy presence doth deny him. ❧ ☞  
¶ But if thou consent to such a thing and that by that he execute his thought, I assure the I shall live little after him, and thou shalt give me the death. alas what batylmentes thou buyldyst, saying that without long tarrying thou fallest both his life & mine, for that if he absent himself, it is impossible that he live, neither that I being sole die not. So I shallbe to the somuch out of favour as I were thy mortal enemy, Surely thou takest more pain to resemble piteous than thou art, handling so ill the faithful vinacitie of him that would the more good than any other living would desire to thee. And yet was there never seen so dear recompense for so liberal an obligation, Wilt thou have his will hole, putting his life in pieces. I pray the for the love of me, establysshe new laws to thy deliberation Not that I will that by the same thou break those, of thine accustomed virtue. But if thou do that, which I will tell thee, thou shalt love & pray●e thyself, which is that with a very little mean thou shalt restore two lyties, in two parsons deed. Deny not than this benefit, sithen that by no thing in the same thine honour shallbe molested. Consider what shall come of my brother if he absent himself, and what on shall I remain in his absence, have respect also to his perdition, and forget not my solitariness.  
¶ alas remember the of his dolour and my pain, for gods sake, than be not so entire in thine opinion, But do the contrary without defiling thy renown, whereby thou shalt be served and I comforted, rendre not the culpable of his destruction▪ and of my torment. Endeavour to forget the remembrance of thy will, and think that all things governed by the same, commonly come more to repentance than to gain or profit seek not more, to be enemy of mine importunities and be content to write to him, to th'intent he die not Being yet in the midst of his life. For it is a work most damnable there to give pain where there is none offence. ❧ ❧ ☞ ❧ ⚜   

¶ The answer of Lucenda, to Belysa.  
BElisa I pray the to leave this weeping/ And moderate thy passions, for from henceforth I will that which pleaseth thee, Therefore rejoice thee, would to god that now I had no tongue, for that without that same I should not speak a word so far absent from reason, but because I have said it, let the fault thereof be now extinct, and yet have I been to quick to believe thy counsel, but I had no power to choice, So that I cannot say I was by thy force forced, and by my will vanquished. And sithen that thou hast take the blame of this fault upon thee, think (at the least) to yield me innocent thereof without to glorify the of that thou canst do with me, for by thy tears thou haste had the weapons with the which mine ancient purpose hath been vanquished Nevertheless I have pleasure of my displeasure seeing thy comfort and repose. And because I have somuch loved and affectyoned thee, that I desire my loss for thy gain. I pray the that at the least thou recognyse towards me somuch benefit, as thou hast had of sportnuitie tobtayne the which thou shalt have, putting not hereafter to contempt this prise that thou haste obtained of me, for it is holden for a rule general, that the things whereunto one can not attain, are much esteemed, But after they are once put in his possession they are held for little & vilipended. Take heed than how from this day forth thou art bound again to me, and that the recompense thereof be not put in oblivion day of thy life. Consider how from henceforth I open & lose the bond of my renown, which never came to woman of my lineage, and that worse is if by that which I have told the I be afore by the which I shall do I shall remain fallen for that this beginning shall never take end, I will than (sythenit is so) write to him, and give him amarke upon me, by such condition, nenertheles y●▪ my letter shall put pease in his continual wars, And if he purpose to demand again he shall perceive the loss of that which he hath recovered. alas that it were the pleasure of god, that when I received in my heart this determination the earth had swallowed me for ever. For the dolour is not heavy, that passeth quickly, and also with the death might finish, that which remaineth immortal in my soul, but the spirit shall suffer it, sithen that by petye he hath made so strange an enterprise against himself, and albeit Belysa I repent already of that which I have granted the. Yet neurtheles it is impossible that I can revoque me from it because that thou from henceforth shouldest convert thy pain in to pleasure, I will than give place to thy request, and to th'end thou see what I will write to him, I go here to begin. ☞ ✚ ☜   

¶ The letter of Lucenda to Arnalte.  
I Believe Arnalte that my letter shall find thee (when thou shalt receive it) no less pleasant than agreed, my sister and I came at son rising in to a church of religion, after. I retired me within a little sell where it was accustomed to here confessions, neat whereunto came Lucenda to sit a little after, by the mean whereof saying her in the place to understand that which I would tell her, I began to her such a matt●er.  
ALas Lucenda the grace that it may please the now to extend to me is such, that if my power were not greater or that this benefit were less, it should be impossible for me by any mean to satyffye it if my pain were not taken of y● in comp tie of services, And to make the to understand that thou oughtest to receive it, my face so desolate and thy faincte works are sufficient, and that worse is, Thou haste not done to me only wrong, but my sufferance hath (beyond my pleasure) given knowledge to many of my torment, in such sort that many that would love, have been put back, and are fearful to do it.  
¶ Than sithen so it is, I pray the that in reputing the of that which is passed thou emend it in time to come, being not hereafter so entire to my desaduan tayge, to th'end that by thy works, thou put pease to mine assaults, I know not wherefore thou haste lost the will to be served, considering that all others desire it, but thou alone, who refuseth it. It is than easy to know that I have more necessity of thy mercy, than thou hast desire that I serve the. O what afflictions have presented to me my so great faith, and the little hope that I have of thee, which as thou knowest, have entirely fallen my health, in such sort, that when lest of me thou hast plained thee, more my dolour hath augmented itself alas if it were possible for me to declare with the mouth that which I have thought in my spirit, how moche wrong shouldest thou give the for the ill that thou haste done me, Never man had less good, Never man suffered so, Never of so great memory was received so great oblivion, mine affection, and thy myscontentacyon give me the death which I have willed to make the to understand to th'end that hereafter, thou be to me a dame, master, and friend, and that thou have knowledge by my great displeasure, of my most great constancy, which for all these torments hath never varied nor hath not been weary to suffer them, but rather hath esteemed that for his gain, which he hath lost by thee, and not without great reason, For I have not had less occasion to have pain, than thou hast beaultye to give it me. Sy then than that I am sure that thou knowest the love, whereof I love y●, thou shalt do iniustyre to reason & to my faith if in the thou establysshe not other fations of doing, restoring by thy good deeds them, whom by desperation thou hast destayned, and to th'end that thou begin to exercise works of repentance, consent for the merit, that is dew to me that I kiss thy hands, desiring the humbly net to deny me this benefit, wout ever to require any other thing of thee, And if thou see that I do the contrary, yield me in payment by my pain and thine obly●ion.   

¶ The answer of Lucenda/ to Arnalt.  
Arnalt if I had the word so much at commandment as y●, I would answer the so well as thou caused lament thyself, and y● shouldest not be lesie cased of the which I should tell thee, than thou remainest sorrowful for that I do. Thy presence and my shame have so strayetely assieged me as I know not what to say, neither wish saying that already by that I have done, I have so hurt mine honour, as it is hard to hele the same, for a thing that I can tell thee, for albeit that mine ●gnoraunce doth absolve me, the reason nevertheless doth condemn my reputation, which I have put in danger for not to offend thee▪ Thou sayest that I as repentant of mine ills passed, should convert thy hard pain in to grace present. But by a greater occasion ought I rather to weep the fault that I have done than to lament the ills that thou hast, sithen that by honour they are to the tolerable, and that the ercour which I have now committed doth turn itself against me, to my exceeding great reproach, and the more is thou as a man canst endure that which to me a young dainosell is not parmitted to suffer. So the danger that threateneth me, in speaking to thee, may● turn the more to dysaduauntage than to any recompense, for that I fear thou canst not commit this victory to silence, in so much that the possession of semblable favour constraineth comtyme the tongue to forget that which the heart and reason endeavour to keep secret. But if thou so do it that shallbe at my charge, Alas how moche more hath thine importunity had power than my defence what should she be that to believe the should not be unfaithful to herself. Alas how dangerous is the parsuasyon of men towards us, others simple women. The beginning where of (if we were wise) we ought above all other things te●chewe. And because I find myself deceived, other aught to take example by me.  
¶ Haa sorrowful Lncenda, thou art now abond woman, & thou Atnalte triumphant in this victory, Nevertheless beware that thexceeding great glory of the same make the not to lose (by extreme joy) that which thou haste gained with so great dolour. Remember the that the secret healeth that which the opener doth wound Thou prayest me that thou mayst kiss my hands, I am content therewith, provided that thou think not, that I take it for presumption, and upon such manner and condition, the from henceforth thou shalt abstain the to be so importunate towardesme. And of this be thy sister witness, that hath already done so moche for thee, as she hath given occasion that I have so forgotten myself, as to do that which I do. ☞ ❧ ☞ ❧   

¶ Arnalte to the pilgrim.  
Lucenda had not scarce ended her matter, but the hour forced us to depart, because there came so many people into the church, that the were constrained hastily to retire from thence. Nevertheless it was not without receiving the benefit that she had promised me, to kiss her fair hā●es. After my sister and I took licens and departed, either into his house, O god if I were put to choose the domynation of all the world, to lose the benyfite, that I had, I call to witness them that perfectly do love, that my joy was worth moche more than y●. So I departed thence content, by the mean whereof my sister saying me, relieved of so great a fall, continued by all means to entertain me in pleasure. And in deed prayed me that I would go to solace me in a place of hers, that near was to the city of Che●es, whereunto I agreed willingly, wherry at the same hour the enterprise was executed, and because the situation of the place was accommodate to the pleasure of the chayse, I caused some sorts of hawks to be brought with me, tastaye with this pastyine, and the ●enyfyte that I had lately received of Lucenda to return to my first health. ❧ ☞ ❧  
¶ Now ●eyng there arrived, I was by my sister so well feasted, and with so good ●her▪ received, that a little after the colour, and the force that I had lost returned in me. But it happened that one day as I would go a hunting as I thought to leap to my horse, many south sayers came to me to declare my fall to come, for suddenly the weather that was fair and clear showed itself cloudy, and full of tempest, and a spaynell that moche I loved ran between my legs and quaking, that one would marvel, hem began to bay and cry fearfully, And I that than little cared for the soothsayers, neither of cases semblable for all thes causes, feared not mine enterprise. So putting a falcon upon my fist, I went to the fields, howbeit scarce had I commenced that which I sought. But I began to remember, that theridamas was now a long time sith I saw the gentleman of whom heretofore I told the. And that never sith I had declared the affection that I had to Lucenda, he showed me so good countenance as he was wont for little & little he absented himself from me, without more to visit me, neither tenquyre what I did, and because that the more part of men at variable in amity, I thought that the same had been the cause of his absence, & on tother part, I thought that it should be impossible to him to see me to suffer ill, where he could give me remedy, But as I was in this thought the falcon that I bore upon my fist, fell stiff deed upon the ground, which augmented all togy ther the presumption that was suddenly come to me upon my compaguyon Yerso. For my heart much panted immediately. And I began to think of my dog, that so cryeo in the morning, by the mean whereof I willed to depart to my lodging, than I came by chance by an hills side from the which easily I might decern the lodging of Lucenda, where I hard a brute of taberdes and shawms, that sounded in the mountains which I found strange, because the season was not convenient for such pastime. Wherefore I became more pensyfe th● before, and entered in great suspicion of my damage to come, yet being in the place from whence, I might deserve the lodging of the which proceeded my trust, I held me there so longetyme, that the night suddenly came upon me, before that I could return to my sister, who had accustomed to tarry for me, when I was abroad, and come to receive me at the entry of her house, which she did not than, which augmented all my doubts, and that yet worse was being arrived in the place where she was, she spoke not one word at all to me, but she had her face so sorrowful that it was marvel, than became I much abashed, because she spoke not to me, I durst not any thing inquire of her, doubting to understand by her purposes the news that somuch I feared, yet at th'end I could not forbear, that I demanded her not, what moved her to be so melancholy. Than she put her somuch to weep that for th'abundance of her tears she could not answer me till her weeping was diminisshed, & that she had the word free, than she decla red to me that this day Lucenda was married to yerso, whom I esteemed so much for my friend. When I under stood this matter, I promise the pilgrim my friend, that I thought to die suddenly, for I had my heart so seized, that on every point my forces failed me, and my dolour renewed itself, in such sort as I could not speak, than my divinatures were known. than the brute herd by me on the hills side was revealed to me, by the mean whereof I fell in the place so rudely that they that were present esteemed me traun said, after assoon as I could recover me, I took the letters that I had received of Lucenda, and tore them in pieces, entering in such desperation, that I tore my beard, and my here. Albeit that such effects are feminine yet love by his laws doth reduce often his subjects in this extremytye, A little while after that the comfort of my sister and the reason had put to mine ills some yease, I caused to apparel all my saruauntes which black mourning, And a little after a woman servant in whom Lucenda had great trust came to me to cause me to understand the part of her maystris that in this marriage she had been forced, and that more by thimportunity of her parents, than by her consent was constrained to incline thereunto. After I had long heard her, and she accomplished her message she returned from thence, leaving me more than before in dolour and sorowfulness, and it is necessary that thou understand, that she found me appareled in a black Cape, about the which were letters in broderye and scripture such.  
¶ Tell her sign that she is pleased  
Of her captyfe to be the bond  
That my life I have reserved  
living by see, or else by land.  
THis chambryere wise & well advised had great compassion of my dolour, and it is expedient that thou understand she had charge of her master to take heed aswell to mine apparel, as to my fashion of doing By the mean whereof she cast her eye upon this cape, & retained very well the devise written about it. After she departed towards Lucenda leaving me in no less despite of this marriage, than sorrowful for the treason that yerso had done me. Which so empressed itself in my spirit, that I concluded to fight with him, to cause him to recoginse it before the king & every other parson. And therefore I sent him a cartel whereof the matyers were such.   

¶ The cartel of Arnalt to yerso.  
YErso to th'end that every one know how traytourous have been the mysoremyd purposes wherewith in secret thou hast abused me I will now inpublyke manifest them th'intent that from henceforth thy punishment be for others eternal example, and to tender to thy fault equal chastisement, I trust with y hands to vanquish thee, and by words to dyf fame thee, and that by the mean of thy mysoemeanoure, and th'assurance that I have in my good right. But to th'end that thou judge that thyself, and that none excuse thee, have remembrance how long we have had togethers amity fraternell and sworn company by the mean whereof, thinking that thou were faithful, I declared to the intierely my secrettes without counseling any from thee, & among others thaffection that I had to Lucenda, wherein thou thyself haste entertained me & promised to aid me, thou spakest well, than like an ill man to deceive me, thou didst cause me to understand▪ by many means that thou were well content, giving me thy faith, that albeit thou were her servant yet (for the love of me) thou wouldst leave it, which I believed unto that the effect did injury to thy word, & that in hiding y● from me, thou haste rob me, and taken her to thy wife making the usurpateur of the recompense of my travails, this doing y● hast willed to become not only mine enemy, but also thy own, whereof I have much marvel for I know well that thou knowest how much the virtue and the works of amity are conformable, yet before that thou regardest that thou didst well to defile & defame thy renown by great treason naking thee, different from the virtue of the parent's, no less than the whighte ●s known from the couloute black. Now to th'end that of so great vyany thou quickly receive shame.  
¶ Thou shalt understand that with he weapons that thou wilt choose, I will kill thee, and will put the by force out of the camp, where I will make the to know that thou haste done the greatest villainy and disloyalty, that could be thought. For with the aid of god my hands and the same thine infidelity shall give me entire vengeance of thee, therefore chose the weapons as it is the custom, after having herd thine answer, I will assign that the camp and the day. ☞ ❧   

¶ The answer of yerso to the cartel.  
ARnalt I have received thy cartel, and according to that thou sayest, if thou have th'effect so much at the advantage as thy words are dysmeasured, I yield me all ready vanquished, and repute that the vanqueroure. But it shall go well otherwise, for in my hands y● shalt find no less force, than in thy words I have found infamy. But as far as I think thou art to say, and I to execute, So thy pride shallbe the cause that the strangers (for the in ●urye that thou dost me) and thy parents and friends (by that which I will do to the shall little plain thee, saying that it should be great injustice if with the death which thou so much deservest thou shouldest not receive the chastisement of thy glory. Thou sayest that to th'end that my fault be clearly known, I should remember me of our so common amity, with the which thou didst communicate to me thy most secret affairs. Surely I will not devy it, for than I should go much against reason & verity. But I have known better to keep it, than thou thyself to confirm it, so that if openly thou hadst not so manifestly defamed me, I had in secret satisfied thee, in that wherein thou chargest me, And surer I am that after thou hadst heard me speak thou shouldest have held me more for thy faithful friend thou for an ill man or deceiver, consyderynge that asmuch for thy reme die and salvation, as for my pleasure or prosyte I have taken Lucenda to wife, trusting that this marriage should make an end of thy torment. And also that saying the in disposition to live but a while & moche to suffer, me thought it for the best to do that I have done. To th'end that having not more trust therein thou mightest recover thy desperate health, what so ever it be they that by appearance shall Judge thereof, shall think it more for incertayn, than for likely to be true, that whereof thou givest me the charge. But because that the intention absoyleth or condemneth, I temyt me to the same and also the verity of this deed ought to prove itself more by effect than by words. Therefore the judgement shall surcease unto the day of thexecution. Than thou shalt see how much thou hadst gained to hold thy peace, and that which thou shalt lose to have so unjustly spoken, for my right, and thy pride than shallbe judged. But sithen that to y●, and to thy like, I would little speak and rudely execute, I advertise the that I will make the unsay it as an ill and injust parson, and to do this I chose such weapons, we shallbe armed in estate of men of arms except the right arm which shallbe bare, the spears equal/ and either of us, two swords the horses bearded with chauffrens and crymeneres. ❧ ☞ ❧  
¶ Therefore when y● wilt, appoint the day and place, for with the aid of him that between, thine injust & mine ignorance ought to be judge, I trust to kill thee, or to put the out of the Camp or else to vanqueshe the as it is reason.   

¶ Arnalte to the author.  
sithen that the weapons were appointed, I retired me to the king, whom I informed truly of all that which was passed between yerso and me. And because that thine fydelite of mine enemy was thought to him very estrange, he was content in obseruenge the laws upon such seats established, to give and parmyt us the camp, after at the day assy gned yerso and I were before his majesty who had caused to be made an esch affaulte to see who should remain the vanquerour. Than he went to so our weapons, which he found equal wherefore after the oaths in such cases accustomed, and that the Heralds had done their debnoure we entered in to the Camp, to do our force and ran the one against tother, with such strength, that with the force of the meeting the little amity that we bare th'one to tother might know itself. But as yerso was no less handsome than a good rider he took me in tharme that I bore disarmed, and hurt me sore, as to me I gave him only in the vizor/ but I could not so justly take him that I did him any ill, howbeit our spears flew in pe●es by the mean whereof we had readily recours to our sword's, which the which by great endeavour the meddling began in such sort as the longnes and sharpness of the fight was such that the assistance were weary to see us and we to lay on, and to make it short to thee, the lot fell upon yerso, who remained vanquished. And thereby his injustice was known, and my good right opened and declared, howbeit yerso esteeming more the honour both of him and his, than this proper life, would not in any wise unsay it, but rather receive than with shame and dysonour longer to live, So Lucenda remained widow, I victorious, and he vanquished out of the camp. Wherefore the company severed themselves, & I reryred me in to my house. And as I caused my wounds to be looked on, I was by chausse advertised of the great mourning that Lucenda made for thin fortunie come to her deed husband. Therefore I determined to offer me to her, and to receive her for my wife, if it were agree able to her, trusting by this 〈◊〉 to cause her to forget the moruing that she bare for my deed enemy, Th●● I wrote to her in this sort.   

¶ The Letter of Arnalte to Lucenda.  
LUcenda if in the time of so great war I demand the peace, I pray that take it not in ill part saying that which I do, is for more testeme thy virtue great, than the fault that I have committed towards thee, as to the mischance come in the parson of thy deed husband, the usurpateur of my most great riches, th'only god hath knowledge of the displeasure that I have thereof, howbeit if he have disposed me by his occasion he hath pleased me for thine, for that if I had not offended thee, thou had d●st not known to manifest the virtue to pardon that is in thee, the which among all is worthy of praise. Than to th'end●nde that in pardoning me the same virtue may be apparent to all others, govern the displeasure by discretion. For if thou do otherwise thy reputation shall dyminysshe thereby, and shall resnayne blamed, will not than to deny me the benefit that I require y● to satisfy us both, doing mercy to him of whom thou shouldest demand pardon. alas I know thou art so sorwfull, that I much dow to come to mine intent, sithen I have failed thereof in the time, that thou hadst more occasion to do the same. But I protest I will not demand the any thing whereof thou mayst take displeasure, for if my pain do constrain me to do otherwise, the fear doth turn me from it. Nevertheless if thou wilt order the by the way of reason, thou oughtest testeme the more enemy of thyself then of me, that is thine, for if I have killed thine husband, his death hath been th'end of one life. But thou that haste caused many to die, never reapen rest the of one sole. So than think of me that which y● wilt be presumed of thee, and if thou do that, I feel all ready mine offence remitted. Thy deed husband hath wounded me, so that it is much doubted of my healing, yet I fear not in any wise the danger nor all the ill that I have thereof, nor it is no torment to me, for by a long time I have been by the so mortally oultrayged, that this first dolour which toucheth me in the sprite doth blemish and stain the other, y● only doth empire my body, so much the more as the same shall receive healing, the more that of the sprite engreveth & augmentith itself, I am continually dreaming a thousand things, in some I find comfort thinking thy life in repose, in others all the contrary, And one only thing giveth me some trust, which I will declare to thee▪ To th'end that of my loyalty & great faith thou be more assured. But before I do it have remembrance that which the death destroyeth is irrecuperable what so ever vows, an gre or weepings, be made therefore, trust not to call again thy husband by th'abundance of tears, neither by great mourning. But for the better renew in me the faith that thou had dost in him, and sithen I have taken him away from thee, I will give myself to thee, if it be agreeable to y●, Nevertheless▪ ●f the love of him do blind the so that thou thinkest that I am not worthy for thee, give not faith all together to thy judgement, but take th'advise of another, for this new accident (peradventure) hath all ready, vanquished thine. Than thou shalt see, whether thine advise shallbe conform to it, that thy friends would give thee, It is expedient I tell thee, that by reason he that could vanquyshe thine busbande may well merit the place of him, of my lineage I will not speak to thee, because thou knowest it better than I could now write it to the. But weather thou oughtest to be my wife, for the merit of my travail I make the judge thereof, knowing that thou knowest well, how moche to love the I have hated my proper life. Therefore if thou have desire to give place, to my request I pray the adver tyse me thereof incontinent.   

¶ The author foldweth his matter.  
When my Letter was ended I caused my Sister to come who was no less sorrowful for the wounds that I had, than glad for the victory gained. Albeit that in some sort the death of him that was vanquished grieved her moche, at her arrival I declared to her mine enterprise, praying her to tell me her advise. Than she answered me that she found this delyberation very strange, and yet that sithen my dolour might slake itself, by this mean she counseled me to do it, by so much was her opinion conform to mine, as she took my letter. And than went to Lucenda who so soon as she perceived my Sister prayed her that she would come to the marriage, whereof I had given her the occasion, my sister knew not what she meant. But after she might well kuowe it by theffect, for at the same hour all her kynsfolkes were assembled togethers to conduct her in to a religion, where she had choysen to live the rest of her life. And because that my sister was arrived at that hour she would see what should be th'end of this enterprise, which was such that Lucenda was made a Nun violate and entered into the monastery, where my sister conducted her, and because that rather she had not oprtunitie she than declared to her mine entention, finding her conveniently, howbeit so soon as she understood to name me only she retired from my sister, and with a marvelous displeasure left her sole saying to the Abbess, that she was not entered in to her house to consent that the sister of her mortal enemy should come thither to importune her which my sister understanding departed out of the monastery and returned towards me, willing subtilely to disguise from me such sorrowful news, howbeit by my suspicion the dyssymulatyon was at the last discovered, so that she was constrained to cause me to understand all the hole truth, alas what is that lover, the having had like dysfavoure would not demand straight the death/ which incontinent were given me, if the force of the presents had not preserved me there from, alas the same had been well agreeable to me for that it had supplied that fault of mine infortuni●. So remained I without more to trust any remedy for all means of comfort, habandoned me wherefore knoweng not to whom to have recours, I retired me towards god, desyering him most humbly to have petye of me. But for my desertis I was not herd, and finding not comfort of mine ills towards god, neither in the world I determined to go in to a place so solitary that none should ever see me, albeit when my sister was advertised thereof, she was so afraid that she thought to die, and she came towards me weeping so bitterly that I had great pite thereof, afterwards she cast her to my feet, & thinking to break mine enterprise she told me.   

¶ Belysa to her Brother.  
HAa my Brother I have known that for texecute thy will in absenting thyself from reason, thou haste enterprised a very strange voyage wherein straight thou wilt travail. alas I pray the for god's sake that thou wilt forget this fantazye and be not occasion to cause folks to speak of the to thy dysaduauntage▪ Consider that they that shall see the depart will say it is more for the fear of the kynsfolkes of yerso, then for the pain of the love, force inconueviencꝭ to th'end of the same, before that thou come to repent thee, which doth accustom to present itself after the remedy is absent, seek not by thine absence to make thy renown to perish. And if that constrain the not, remember y● that thou leavest me sole, y● knowest well that mine honour by thine is conserved and that if thou go I shallbe esteemed hereafter rather an stranger, than a damosel of Thebes, hast thou for gotten that by the last pestilence we were deprived from our father & mother and of the most part of our kyns folks, and yet being with the I have always thought to be no less fathered and mothered & otherwise friended, than when they all lived, considerest thou not, what thou losest in losing thy friends, Regard that the king hath nourished thee, the country that thou leavest, & the great benefits that thou refusest to follow away so crooked Believe me my brother & beware to do that thing whereof afterwards thou be reprehended and ill esteemed. The mountains knew not any pray see the beasts cruel make no difference between the virtuous & the ill neither the birds have no judgement to comfort the. So who shall in this place prase such fears of arms, as thou hast done or plain the time that thou shalt lose here in respect to continue to get here praise and high renown in battles, hast thou forgotten that in things most sharp and dyfficyll the gentle hearts efforce them, and augment their force, if in this thou hast not regard, think at the least, that thy works & thy renown shall perish with thy banishment, and the more is if it happen that thou have ills, or travails in these solitary places who shall aid y● to sustain them is it not than better for thee, not to refuse this country nor them which whom thou haste accustomed to live, with out to use such desperation, to go to lose the with the beasts in the desert so solitary, where thou shalt find none that comfort the or do the aid, and I sorrowful to whom shall, may I complain me, when the kinsfolk of yer to after thy departure shall torment me. Ha my brother for the honour of god I pray the to moderate thy dolour, & comfort the in thyself. Than thou shalt see how much mine advise is better, if thou tarry than the damage that thou shalt have in absenting the. Suffer never that by thy mean I die in recompense of the amity that I bear the. ❧ ☞ ❧   

¶ The answer of Arnalte.  
 
My dear sister I have well understand all that thou haste told me, wherein I will satisfy the. And therefore I pray the believe that I have well thought to an the which thou hast showed me, and in th●nking thereon received upon every point a very great passion, so that all togethers have given me a torment worse than the death, specially in the which toucheth thee (for others in respect) thereof are little to me, because tha● the dolour that I receive for love, preserveth me as he that loveth, may know wherein of some I shallbe excused, and of others by wrong condemned whereof I wyllytten care, for like as the virtue known, can not be offended so y ● ●udgementes that shallbe made of me shall be found commonly false, Thou tellest me that it shallbe published y ● ●ayther the fear of the kinsfolks of yer so, than my martyr hath caused my departure, fearing to receive the payment of that which I have done to him. Assure the that they that know to love will, never hold▪ so fowl purposes. For they know that the virtue of the courage is familiar to the love. And further I am not so ill willed, nor of all so little known that my renow me is not moche more than sufficient, to break such false report▪ Thou pray est me to have remembrance of my servants, and of the great wealth of the same, I have such memory that such as will follow me, more to cause them to know the love that▪ I ●ere them, than for the necessity that I have of them. I will carry them with me, and of mine other goods from henceforth, I make them thine. As to the rest esteem me not so negligent that I will leave the sole. But before my departure▪ I will get the an husband▪ that shall bear the company. Of one thing new. I pray the that is thou take courage▪ to th'end that when the day of my departure shall come, thy dolour do not double my trouble. And for the fast request that ever I trust to make y●, I pray thee, that without end thou lameut the of Lurenda making eternal me morie of my perdition, and of her trueltye. Nevertheless if thou see her some time in the terms of repentance, that only without more, thou keep the from vengeance, sithen the in that benyfyt consisteth the mean of my trust so desperate. And upon this point, I will cease from longer to find the communication, to take away from the th'occasion more timportune me thinking to turn my voyage. And therefore my sister speak not to me thereof at any time hereafter, wherefore after I was hole of my wounds I went, to the king whom I prayed to give an husband to my sister, which he promised me to do. And after that in this case, his will and my desire were executed, I was greatly importuned by him upon the delay of mine enterprise. But for so much as his will was contrary, and discor daunt to mine intention, we tarried in contraryete of opinion levenge him assured of my departure, whereof he was so disposed, that he would not give me licence, but putting back all things specially the weepings, and lamentations of my dear sister. After many farewellies and enbrasementes of my friends I took my journey, whereof the king being advertised would with his gentyluien do me so much honour as to conduct me out of the city. But because that with out to molest thee, I can not declare to the the matyers that than passed between us. I am content to conceal them. At th'end the weepings of my sister and my tears made for ever the separation of us two, where by the king and his returned in to the city, and I & mine entered in to our sorrowful journey, following the which a little while after, I felt my spirit discharged moche of the heaviness of his farthel, therefore all resolute, I found better the way that I had chosen, than my tarrying at Thebes, for mine infortunye desired more that I should live the rest of my days amongs the beasts brute, than among creatures reasonable, albeit that their condytours be entirely different from ours. By the mean whereof having journeyed by a long time I came by chance into this sharp & solitary mountain, in the which considering the situation. I determined here to edify this house so sorrowful of semblable matter as a● made the works of Lucenda. ¶ So master my friend thou knowest now the secret torment & war that I have sustained to love. And if my long matter hath differed thy voyage, and that a parson so infortunate hath not deserved that for him thou shouldest receive so moche displeasure, I pray the pardon him. And to the rest sithen thou deternynest to depart hens this day have remembrance of the gage the I have of thy faith, and of the promises that thou haste made me, which are that thou shalt universally publish, and cause the dames wise and dyscreate to understand the things that I have commycate to the. ❧ ❧ ☞ ❧ ❧   
¶ Finis.  

¶ Imprinted by me Robert wire/ dwelling in saint Martyns parish at Charing Cross.  
¶ Cum privilegio/ ad imprimendum solum.  
ROBERT wire.