The Empress and her Daughter, with the Seven Wise Mistris●●●  
THE HISTORY Of the Seven Wise Mistresses OF ROME.  
Whose Names were 

Halicuja,  
Mardula,  
Cicre,  
Penthisilia,  
Deborah,  
Dejanara,  
Boadicia.    
Wherein, the Treachery of Evil Counsel is discovered, the Innocency of harmless Virgins cleared, and the Wisdom of Seven Wise Women displayed, to the wonder of their own Nation, and the Admiration of all the World.  
London, Printed for M. Wright, at the King's Head in the Old Bailey. 1663.   

The Epistle To the READER.  
Reader,  
WHat thou findest written in this small piece, or little Volume, was written for thy benefit, whereby thou mayest learn to know what canting, what deceits, and juggling Devices were commonly used in Ancient Counsels, by powerful Combinations and violent prosecutions, Honour being the subject to make them ambitious; but the subject of my Discourse is Counsel and Wisdom: that is rarety not novelty, attended both by Vice and Virtue, to teach thee how to embrace the one, and to shun the other. And therefore I have laboured like unto the Bee to extract and gather a little Honey into a little Hive, being the first-fruits of my Labours between Vice and Virtue, collected into an easy and small Method for the Benefit of the Seller, the Ease of the Buyer, and the Pleasure of the Reader. And though it is short, yet it is sweet, and of sundry Counsels and Consultations, from the subtle Judge on the Bench of Justice, to the harmless Lady in her Cabinet of Innoceny: and from the Emperor upon his Throne of Prosperity, to the Beggar in his Cave of poverty; and therefore in all matters and in all actions thou goest about, here is the platform of Sincerity, Truth, Zeal and Fidelity; whereby Treason is discovered, Truth is advanced, Treachery is executed, Virtue is exalted, and Vice is confounded. And for the due observation of these Precepts, and the further encouragement for thee to read them, mind these four rules.  
If thou wouldst be Wise, here are Counsels to advise thee.  
If thou wouldst be Virtuous, here are Precedents to give thee.  
If thou wouldst be Historical, here are Rules to direct thee.  
If thou wouldst be Viceous, here are Examples before thee both Divine and Humane.  
From all which thou wilt learn, Vanity to contemn it; Death to expect it; Judgement to avoid it; Hell to escape it; and Heaven to desire it.  
It is collected in way of Examples and Declarations to a Moral Sense; and if thou wouldst ask the Author from whence he gathered all these varieties of Delights? he doth answer, from various sorts of Histories: as, Plato, Virgil, Ovid, Dares, old Homer, and divers others, to relate all is needless; and in their Works have I been grovelling some certain years to find out the remarkable Demonstrations which I have here exposed to the public view of the world. For in Histories are to be found numerous Delights pleasing the Fancy, expelling Melancholy, sharpening the Wit, illuminating the Understanding, and refining the Tongue to the purity of all Oratory.  
The due observation of Histories learns both Carriage and Deportment, and is able out of the roughness of Barbarism, to raise man to the noblest height of all Gentilities, Courtships, and Civilities, and to carry on Designs of united Hearts at greatest distance: and whosoever maintains his Correspondency with Learning, must of necessity with Historical Humorists; and though their Bodies are absent, yea, and haply rotten in their graves, or consumed to dust and ashes many hundred years ago, yet having their Works before us, we do dispute, confer, and argue, yea, and know their hearts and approbations in matters both Ecclesiastical and Civil, as absolute as if their persons were alive and in our presence.  
From Histories we learn by way of tradition, to know what was done a thousand years ago, and ten thousand miles distant from the place, as well, nay and better than thousands which lived in those very days, and where the actions were done: Therefore History ought to be praised not contemned; for it doth encourage Youth through the pleasantness of the Story, whereby he doth sooner attain to his English Tongue, and is still more desirous to read further. For many thousands at School, in their innocency, are more naturally given to learn first Historical Fables, by which they sooner come to read perfect, then to begin first in hard Books appertaining to Divine Knowledge; which made that rare and learned Scholar Aesop, to put forth his Fables in the Schools, which being composed with such incomparable and acute Wit, Jest and Merriment, that each Scholar daily strove who should outvie the other in the Dispute and Rehearsal of them.  
To declare any further of what this little Piece do mention and concern, I need not, lest I should be found faulty in the too much praise of it, or at least too tedious to the Reader; for I myself do love matters in brief, and not of too long feigned circumstance: Therefore I desire thee, Reader, as I have taken the pains in Collecting it, so do thou spend thy labour in Reading it; and I'll give thee leave to spend thy Verdict. If it be worthy of thy approbation, and found acceptable to thy Fancy, return the Author but Thanks, who did endeavour so willingly to serve thee in this:  
And he will remain thy Friend, if deserved. Tho. Howard.  
But take this Verse with thee.  

TO learn to live, to read, to know,  
Thou art commanded to:  
To live, to learn, to know, to read,  
All these things thou must do.  
Then learn to read, and read to know,  
If thou wouldst learn to live:  
And read to learn what I have writ,  
which will not thee deceive.    

THE HISTORY Of the Seven Wise Mistresses.  
SOmetime in Rome there lived a goodly and renowned Empress, named Lucresius, a Lady of great Virtue and marvellous Wisdom: she was sol● heiress born to the Imperial Crown, and espoused the Son of a King, who was a rich and glorious Prince, and honoured above all others, being gracious to his Empress, loving to his Subjects, and amiable to all; She conceived by him, and bore him a Daughter, named Sabrina● the most fairest in all the world. This Sabrina grew apace most beautiful, lovely, and comely, and esteemed by all the people in that same Land, the only jewel throughout the whole Empire: and it happened that about the sixth year of her age, there was one Province within the King her Father's Dominions, which caused many insurrections, mutinies, and rebellions to be made against their Sovereign, which required the King to make the more haste for suppression thereof, lest by their rude inducements they should gather together a force too inconsiderable for his strength to reduce; thereupon he beat up hi● Drums, pitched up his Royal Standard, and summoned all his Lords and Noble Barons of his Realm to appear, and with a mighty force hasted away to suppress the rude multitute which had rebelled; but the weather proving unconstant and various, and he forced in such full speed, through heat and cold, he chanced by the way to fall sick of a Fever, and lying in such a desperate condition, without hopes of recovery, he considered more the education of his young Daughter, than the state and condition of his whole Empire, in reference to the innocency and weakness of her age: and therefore it induced him to write unto his Empress this following Letter.  
Dear Lady, my Journey hath proved very illsuccessful to me, for by the way I am taken sick with a most sad and grievous Fever; therefore pray make haste unto me, that we may provide for the education of our young Daughter Sabrina, and the State, and settlement of our Empire, for I am without hopes of recovery, and if you make not great speed you are never like to see me alive.  
The messenger posted away to the Empress, and finding her walking in the Garden, expecting every hour news from her beloved husband, he did reverence unto her, and delivered the Letter; the Empress broke it up, and reading what condition her Lord was in, fell in a swound, to the astonishment of all her Ladies: but as soon as she had recovered life, she caused her Chariot and Horses to be made ready incontinent, and halted both night and day till she came to her Lord the King, who she found almost dead, and she fell upon his breast, and kissed his clay cold lips, he rising half up in his bed with snowres of fears betwixt each face, he to her spoke thus.  
O my dear Lady, it joys me that you are come, where with you I may impart all my troubled mind I am possessed withal; since I may not escape this infirmity: the natural love and care I bear unto you, and your young Daughter Sabrina, makes me sue unto you thus: First, that you cause her to be brought up with the best experienced and wisest Matron in all the Realm, whereby she might be tutored and well educated in all Arts and Sciences, befitting a Princess so nobly descended; and after that she hath attained unto all those Virtues, I will that you take her home to your Royal Palace, and to have recourse to your honourable Council, whereby she may perfect herself in all State and Temporal Affairs: And thirdly, that after your decease, she may enjoy the Empire, and wear the Royal Diadem. And you my dear Lady, considering you are old add well stricken in years, I will that you choose by the advice of your Honourable Council a wise and grave Senator to assist your Royal person in all things appertaining to the affairs of the Empire, and Guardian to your young Daughter Sabrina, till she come to Maturity. The grieved Empress answered, My dear Lord, all these things shall be performed, and done according to your will and request: then kissing each other, the King turned himself upon his Pillow, and gave up the ghost; afterwards conveyed into his own Country, and his doleful Funeral solemnised, he was honourably interred in his own Chapel.  

Chap. 1.  
How the Empress and her Council committed the charge of her Daughter Sabrina to seven Wise Mistresses, for her Education in all Arts and Sciences.  
IT happened upon a time as the Empress was solitary walking in her Garden, she bethought her sol● of the death of her late Husband; and musing in her heart of the words he spoke unto her at his last breath, concerning the State of his Empire, and especially his young Daughter Sabrina, whose only delight in all the world she was, muttered in her heart and said, Now my dear Lord and Husband is dead and gone, there is but one in the world whom I take pleasure in, and that is my only Daughter Sabrina, the dory stour and glory of all other Virgins, and but she alive to inherit my Realm after me, it is good whiles she is young that she be set unto some wise experienced Matron, who is a b●ly and devout Virgin, to learn understanding, and to resolve Reasons when time might require her upon the judgement Seat. Thereupon the Empress assembled all the Lords of her Council before her, and demanded every one his advice concerning her young daughter Sabrina; and some of them gave their advice that the Empress should build a Tower within her own Castle, and cause to be put in there the young Lady, with fide devout and wise Virgins to attend her, and two Philosophers which then lived in Rome, to instruct her in natural Philosophy, and other arts and scices: but the other Lords of the Council would not agree thereto, and flood up, and said to the Empress thus; Most Sovereign Lady, this is not expedient that she should be in such a tower, nor in such a way instructed, for three things.  
First, if she be in such a tower, your Nobles and Ladies that frequent your Palace, by too often visiting her, will make her mind more the pleasures of the Court, then to practice in her learning.  
Secondly, Men tutors are not meet for such a Princess so incomparable in beauty as she is, for through too much familiarity and weakness of her tender years, great injuries may ensue, and her Princely Virtues stained.  
Thirdly, for her Attendants being but five weak Ladies, and consequently not over skilful, might for hopes of future advancement, to please the young Lady, give her too much liberty in yielding to her fancies, and thereby destroy the best time of her studience.  
But gracious Lady, there is living not far from this City, in a fair and stately Cloister, seven Wise Mistresses, most cunning and expert in wisdom, answering all Reasons and Questions, and for their famous skill and learning excelleth all women in the world, the Empress hearing this accorded to their advice, and sent her Letter of Summons unto them, upon great penalties to appear before her Majesty: They anon came, and the Empress demanded the cause of their coming? they answered, we shall resolve you the cause, for we have seen it in a dream, which was this:  
We saw a high and mighty tree, whose branches covered all the Realm, under whose leaves the beasts of the earth did shelter without number; and in an instant we sawit fall & dissolve, that nothing but the roots remained obvious: The Empress said, show me the meaning thereof? they said, the tree which we saw was our Sovereign Lord the King, the sproading branches signified his power extending over all his Empire; when the tree falling, it signified our Lord died, out of whose roots is sprung up a young Cien who shall rule the Empire with equity and honour, whose learning and education you will commit to our charge.  
You have said right, answered the Empress, for my Lord is dead, and I have but one only Daughter in all the world who I commit unto you to instruct and conform in all good ways and virtue's learning, so that by your skill and wisdom she may attain to all good things appertaining to so great and noble a Patronage, etc.  
The first Mistress named Halicuja, said, great Lady, commit the education of your Daughter to me, and I shall teach her as much wisdom Ecclesiastical and Civil in seven years, as I and all my fellows can all days of our lives.  
Then stood up the second Mistress named Mardula, and said, Great Lady, I have tutored Emperors daughters, and instructed Queen's both at home and abroad in all arts and sciences; therefore if you please to deliver your Daughter to me, I shall learn her as much natural Philosophy in six years as I and all my fellows have.  
The third than addressed herself, named Cicre, and said, gracious Lady, I have been with you in strange Countries, and shown you by my Art and Skill in the Planets what noble Prince should wed ye, and never asked any reward, only this, if I may obtain that favour of ye, as to vouchsafe me the tuition and instruction of your daughter, I will inform her as much in five years as all the Mistresses in Rome can.  
The fourth Mistress drew near the Empress, who was called Penthisilia, and said, Great Lady, I have been Governess to many Ladies, and have served you in your infancy; therefore if you will deliver your Daughter to me, I will train her up in virtue, and teach her as perfect in all arts and sciences in four years as I and all my fellows be.  
The fifth Mistress named Deborah, then addressed herself, and said, O honoured Lady, I have by my skill and wisdom defended the City of Rome from dangerous and great invasions, and many times called to the Senate house, where they have profited much by my counsel: yet the greatest thing I desire in the world, is to have your Daughter to instruct, and I will learn her to do as marvellous things in three years as I and all my fellow Students.  
Then addressed the sixth, named Dejanara, and said, Dread Lady, if you commit the tuition of your Daughter to me, I will teach her as much as all can do in two years. And likewise the seventh Mistress said, Glorious Empress, vouchsafe your Daughter me, and I will learn her as much art and science in one year as is in all the world.  
Then stood up the Empress, and spoke before them all, I render unto you many thanks; for as much as I am obliged unto you all, but if I should commit the charge of my only Daughter to one, and not to another for her education, the event would prove a great discord amongst you; therefore do I commit her to the charge of you all jointly together, to teach and tutor in all learning, virtue, and wisdom, as best fits a Princess in such Royal dignity.  
The wise and learned Mistresses hearing the noble and generous expression of the Empress, knowing it to be but justice, with a full and general accord they agreed together, and with great joy returned thanks to the Empress, so received her Daughter, and led her away towards a sumptuous Palace some four miles out of Rome; and going on their way, Baodicia said to her fellows, if we should now instruct and teach this child publicly, and grant her recourse to the pleasant Gardens, it would prove a hindrance to her princely study: Moreover, the Egyptian Knights hearing of so great a beauty, might by chance, when we little think of it, steal her away by force. Then answered Mardula, Let us put her in the brazen tower, on which are seven locks, and let every one of us keep a key, and we will paint upon all Instruments of Music, The seven liberal Sciences, that when ever she delights to play upon the Music, she might there behold her Doctrine thereon, so that it may never be out of memory.  
This saying pleased all well, and being done accordingly, the Mistresses used their best skill and diligence in attending the young Lady, for the space of seven years; which being expired, they appointed a day for to prove her experience, in what she had learned; thereupon they all consented, and for the trial thereof proposed three questions to her.  
First, what number of stars were fixed in the Firmament?  
She answered, that number first created.  
Secondly, when do the Planets begin to rise?  
She answered, after they go down.  
Thirdly, what knowledge made women wisest?  
She answered, the knowledge of good and evil.  
The wise Mistresses hearing these wise and acute answers, said among themselves, doubtless this Lady will be a famous woman, and also will excel all her Progenitors.   

Chap. 2.  
How the Empress by the advice of her Lords, chose Radamentus her assistant in the Government of the Empire, and also Guardian to her Daughter Sabrina.  
NOw about this time the Princes of the Land, with all the Barons, assembled themselves together before the Empress in full Council, for the election of a grand Consul, expert in the Laws and customs of the Empire, for to assist the Empress in all Temporal Affairs, according to the will of her late Husband the King; and they chose one Radamentus, who was Uncle to the late King, a wise and cunning Politic, and one whom the Empress reposed great confidence in; that whatsoever he did enact or contrive she was ready to sign: to which the Nobles of the Land gave their general consent, for the better ease of the Queen, and their own future trouble. This Radamentus hilding the Helm of the Empire in so great sway, he grew haughty and ambitious to more honour, and thinking to himself, that the Empress was weak and sickly, and if she did die, 'twas probable he may take the sole Government to himself, and rule as Lord and Emperor.  
But understanding the Empress had a young Daughter, and brought up in the School of the seven Wise Mistresses, and right heir to the Crown; he thought when she came to maturity she would out-wit him, and prove more craftier than himself: therefore from that time he daily sought her destruction. Now there was a Law at that time, that whosoever was found in Fornication or Adultery, were to die by that Law without mercy; so upon a day, as the Empress and Radamentus were both walking in the Garden, Radamentus seemed to be very melancholy, and would not speak: the Empress seeing him so heavy, marvelled greatly, and asked him the cause of his sadness: who answered, Now the Realm is in full peace and quietness, there is but one thing I request of you; the Empress said, Ask what you will, it shall be granted to the one half of my Prerogative.  
Then said the Consul, you have but one only Daughter in the world, and heiress to the Empire, and she you cause to be detained between stone walls, wherein she spends the flower of her years only in thoughts and contemplations, that what she (as a Princess) do there imagine within, the variest wretch in the world do see it actually abroad; therefore sand for her to Court, that you may have consolation of her, and she may see the practice thereof, and have recourse to the Council. Then answexed the Empress, I like your saying, for it is seven years since I have seen her; thereupon she wrote Letters signed with her privy Signet and Messengers to the seven Wise Mistresses, for to hasten away to the Court of Rome again such a day, and bring Sabrina the young Princess with them.   

Chap. 3.  
How the seven Wise Mistresses, after sight of the Empress' Letters, by their powerful skill went to search the Planets; by which they understood the Design of Radamentus.  
WHen the Mistresses had received the Empress Letter, and understood the Contents thereof, they fell to their books, and fathomed their skill, directing their Figures, and marking the Planets, if the cause of their going might be fortunate or no. And they found a great contageon among the signs from whence they did predict that when they presented the young Lady, if she should answer any more words than one, her enemies would have power over her to betray her to the shamefullest death that may be; so they were very heavy, and mourned all the day lo●●: about the evening tide, came down the young Lady Sabrina, to delight herself upon the Music, and seeing all the seven Mistresses very s●d, she demanded the cause of their grief; who answere●●, O Lady, this m●rning we have received Letters from the Empress, that we forthwith to ●aste to Court, and bring you along with us, and we have seen a Star that your journey will prove fatal if you speak any more words than one, which is Justice, that you shall say and no more for the space of seven days; and this is the thing which grieves us, that since we have nourished you for so many years, should now at the last be reduced to such a hazard.  
Then said the young Lady, being full of virtuous learning, I have viewed the Firmament myself, and marked the motions of the lesser Stars, and found your saying true; but if you will hear my counsel, and receive my advice, without doubt my virtue shall overtop their vice, and my cunning wisdom shall exceed their crafty treachery: Then said the Mistresses, speak on your doctrine, we will hearken to it; and she said, I shall be accused of an evil person, and unjustly condemned: but if every of you seven can speak to my mother the Empress, each one her day for seven days together in my behalf, I shall escape my life: the Mistresses hearing this, they all accorded in a joyful harmony, and said among themselves, what joy is come to us, surely she will be an Empress of great fame and wisdom: so they clothed her 〈◊〉 cloth of gold and rich ornaments, and provided a Chariot of Azure colour, drawn by four white Stéeds, who gently pac'c the ground like as they trod by some directed steps in the air; so with a train of pure Virgins she was accompanied to the Empress.   

Chap. 4.  
How the Empress hearing her Daughter was coming on the way, road in great triumph with all her Princes and Barons to meet her.  
WHen the Empress heard that the seven wise Mistresses of Rome were coming with her young Daughter Sabrina, she caused all her Chariots to be made ready, and with her Heralds, Trophies, and Banners, accompanied with all her Nobles, road on the way to meet them: but said the Mistresses to Sabrina, it were good for us to departed and go into the City some other way, and diligently watch the Planets in their several motions, for the safeguard of your life, and the preservation of us; to this the young Lady willingly condescended, but remember me in my necessity, she said: so they departed, and the young Lady road on her way: but when the Empress saw her, she took her in her arms and kissed her, saying, O my dear Daughter, the only delight I have in the world, whom God doth preserve for future blessings, how is it with you? now I hope you will be to me the flower of my external happiness, being conformed in all virtue's learning, the fit to sit upon my judgement Seat after me: the young Lady bowed and did reverence unto the Empress, but spoke not a word. When the Empress saw this, for blushed with very fear, some evil had befallen her, that she spak● 〈◊〉; and yet she thought in herself, that being out of the Country so many years, learning strange Arts she might forget her natural language, and a thousand other things came in her mind: And anon she asked her again, what she had learned so many years with the wise Mistresses of Rome, she answered, Justice, so bowed herself, and spoke not one word more. Then the Empress acquainted her Lords how and in what condidition her daughter was in, and said, for the evil the Mistresses had wrought with her, they should die the most shameful death that could be thought of; and when she came to the Palace, she took her by the hand and led her into the great Hall, out of thence into the Garden, and placed her by her in the Arbour upon her own seat, and said, My good Daughter, declare unto me the reason by some certain sign why you will not speak, or else here is a pen and paper, writ to me your mind; she took the pen in her hand and wrote these lines.  
Through Learning which doth me adorn,  
I very plainly see,  
The Star where under I was born  
proves fatal now to me:  
And I in bed have lately dreamed,  
what after will ensue;  
That I three times shall be condemned  
in Judgement-seat by you.  
When the Empress saw these lines, she was astonished and wondered greatly, for she knew not the meaning thereof, how that she should give judgement three times on her own Daughter, she wrung her hands, and mourned greatly; then came Radamentus the great Consul, and said unto the Empress, is this your Daughter which hath been brought up with the seven wise Mistresses of Rome? the Empress answered, this is my Daughter and only Heir to the Empire, but she now has no expression with her tongue: Radamentus stood still and beheld her, and saw her countenance so pleasant, and of such incomparable beauty, that the like was not in all the world, he burned inwardly with lust, and deceitfully said to the Empress, deliver her to me, and by often persuasion without doubt I'll make her declare to me her whole studience; this did he not only for love and honour he bore to her, but rather to satisfy his insatiate lustful appetite, and after conspire her destruction, which was the main thing ho aimed at, but God infused in the heart of the Princess not to go with him.   

Chap. 5.  
How Radamentus watched his opportunity how he might surprise the Princess in the Garden, and how he conspired to take away her life.  
RAdamentus after this, being in his chamber window, espied the Princess going into the Garden to walk under the Sickamore-trees, without any body with her, and it happened that she left the key in the door on the inside and forgot to shut it.  
The old Consul came down and entered the Garden, locking the door, and taking the key out, he came to the Lady upon a sudden as she was contemplating under the tree; who at the presence of Radamentus, she began to blush, that there appeared in her face such a Crimson dye, that the malice of Radamentus was reduced into a venial love: and thus he began to court her.  
Gentle Lady, give me leave to tell ye, that the first time I saw ye, there was a fire kindled within my heart, and now your beauty begets another, which nothing can allay, except you vouchsafe me the favour to let me sl●●p with you upon this bed of Roses, and repose ourselves in the bosom of love: the Royal Princess turned about, and with a scornful gesture gave a repulse to his lascivious demand, which caused his countenance to fall, and his fancy turned to fury; therefore he ran out of the Garden, and locked the door, and threw the key in again, and cried out, that he saw the Princess with a man under a fig-tree, committing the foul si● of Fornication, as a breach of the Law, the shame of her Parents, and the destruction of her own soul. The Empress hearing this, was st●●ck with horror and amazement, to think that her only daughter and heir to the Empire should prove so unfortunate: First, instead of Arts and Sciences, she should have been perfected with, she was delivered unto me speechless; where I thought she was adorned with virtues, she is besotted with vice; I would the day of her birth had been the day of her burial: so the Empress believed all that the wicked Consul had reported, and the Nobles that were present asked where he saw her, and he said, under a Sickamore-tree, but said, the man when he perceived me, ran away, than the Nobles hasted into the Garden, and found the Princess walking by herself, they asked her what man had been with her there: she answered nothing. Then the Empress seeing it apparent that she was in the Garden as Radamentus reported, believed all as was said; therefore in rage and choler she commanded her to be led away and burnt at a stake: but the Ladies which came with the Princess and other of the Nobility, addressed themselves to the Empress, and said, Gracious Lady, she is your only Daughter, and all you have in the world, it is good, that she have a little respite, and you better consider of the master, it may chance to prove but a mistake of the Consul; for if you hastily thus put her to death, it will accrue to your dishonour, and we shall gain reproach of all Nations; therefore let a day be appointed, and she appear in judgement, if she deserve death to be found by twelve men, and fairly condemned by the Law. At this the Empress bethought herself, being something reconciled of her rashness, and committed her to safe prison.   

Chap. 6.  
How Radamentus complained against the young Princess, and how he accused her of Fornication, being death by the Law.  
RAdamentus finding his accusation took effect, no time was omitted for the prosecution thereof, for his insatiable spirit would not be satisfied till life and all was gone; therefore he came again to the Empress as a man in great sorrow and pain: and the Empress said, My grave Lord and Counsellor, what aileth you to be so heavy? O Lady, said Radamentus, how should I otherwise choose, thinking what stain and defamation will rely upon this our Empire, because of your graceless Daughter, through her lascivious actions within your Court, as a common Whore; and if you let her live any longer in this foul sin, you will be counted no less yourself, and rendered odious over all the world, for the rumour of people will be upon you, saying, what need we fear to break the Law, since the lawmakers do violate it, the Daughter of the Empress is both a Whore and a Strumpet; and thus through her means we shall have vice supported, and virtue oppressed: for what need they care, since they have such evil precedents. Then said the Empress, to prevent all these evils, to morrow I shall sit in judgement, and she shall die by the Law. Then said Radamentus, see it be so done, lest it happen to you as it did to a Lady in Capadocia, of whom an example is mentioned. Relate the example, said the Empress, I shall incontinent, said Radamentus.  

The first Example of Radamentus.  
In Capadocia was a Lady who kept a sumptuous Garden, in which was one of the vertuousest Wells in the world, that whosoever should be bit with any venomous beast; wash but in that water, they were immediately cured.  
It happened on a day as the Lady was walking in her Garden a gathering of flowers, she espied in a corner of the Garden in the side of a little Rock, a small prill of water running fair and crystal, abundant more clear than the virtuous well was, which caused her to imagine, that if the Rock were carved, there would issue a water more excellent than the well-water, and said unto the Gardener, get me a workman that he may hue this Rock, whereby I may have a precious Fountain here; and I give you charge over it, and to see it done. The Gardener answered, your will shall be fulfilled. But another time the Lady came into the Garden, and viewed the little Spring; but it appeared not so strong in running as she thought it would: and she said, wherefore runs it not bet●er? her man said, the original spring was deep in the earth, and had two ways, the one to the Weil, and the other to the Rock; but that to the Well is greater, and by its strength draws more water to the well; and therefore its stream is so little. Then said the Lady, destroy the well then, for questionless this spring will prove the better water; so the Gardener damned up the virtuous water, that there was no more seen. And another day the Lady came again into the Garden to see her young Spring, and taste the water, and it proved very sad and bitter; and having its course through a tin mine, whatsoever sick person did bathe in it, it would putrify their sore, and augment their pain; so that all people did curse the Counselors that did advise the Lady to destroy the virtuous well. Then said Radamentus, understand you great Lady what I have said? yes, right well said the Empress, than said he, I will show you the meaning thereof.  

The Declaration of the Example.  
The virtuous Well, great Lady, be tokeneth yourself, and how that with your Virtuous and wise judgements you govern the people with equity, that whosoever complaineth to you should have justice and their sick cases mitigated; and the young Spring so fair and crystal, is your graceless luxurious Daughter, who will cause your Royal name to be blasted, and your virtuous Government despised, whose actions are bitter, running through a tin mine, that is, ba●e and inferior carrages, not in Royalty of a Princely parentage; so that quickly she will break your heart, and reign after you, than all people will curse the Counselors that advised you to let her live: therefore great Lady I counsel you while it is time, to cut her off and destroy her, lest the curse of the Empire follow you. Then said the Empress, all that shall not happen, for to morrow I shall sit in judgement, and she shall die without fail. When the day was come, the Empress sat in judgement, and commanded her Officers to lead her away to be burnt at a stake, and as we was led through the City in a long smock of Lawn and a branch of Rosemary in her hand, and the Trumpets sounding her doleful Funeral, all the people ran out and wept, crying, alas, alas, the only Daughter of the Empress is leading to death. Then came Deborah the first Mistress passing by, as the young Lady saw her, she bowed der head, as if she said, remember me when you come before my Mother; and when she came to the Empress, and did reverence, the Empress said unto her with a storn countenance, Thou ungrateful and vile woman, how hast thou tutozed my child's, I delivered her to thee well and hopeful, and now she is become the viceousest creature that ever a woman bare, surely thou shalt die as strange a death as may be thought on. Then said the Mistress, gracious Lady, the cause why she speaketh not, the divine powers know, and without cause it is not; and as for the sin of Fornication, we all can testify, that for the space of these seven years, we never saw the least motion, neither in thought, word, nor deed; therefore gracious Lady, if you do put her to death, only for the accusation of Radamentus, it will happen to you as it did unto the Queen of Syra, who poisoned her husband through the perswaston of one wicked person. Then said the Empress show me that example? Nay, said the Mistress, except you send for your Daughter back, otherwise, she may be dead before I make an end, then will it be in vain: upon which words the Empress sent for her Daughter again, and committed her to prison; then the Mistress began as followeth.    

The Example of the first Mistress.  
In Syra lived a Queen of great renown, and of such excellent beauty, that a fairer woman was not in all the world, for which many Kings and Princes of Noble Blood came a suiting to her, each man confident she should be his: This Queen delighted much in seeing justs and Attorneys; therefore it was a day appointed, and they all assembled together to show their valour before the Queen; amongst whom was Crassus a most valiant Prince, and of such incomparable features and beauty, that his like was not among men. Upon this Prince the Queen fixed her eye all that part of the day; in whose sight he did such worthy acts, that deserved perpetual memory: and to be brief, he had the day of all the Kings, Princes, and Barons that were there; whereby he came off the Field with Trumpets souning, and victorious Trophies bore before him. On the morrow after the Queen sent for him, and when be came he kneeled before her to have kissed her hand, but she refused, and in a comely deportment tendered her lips: The Prince being somewhat bashful, the Queen gave him farther encouragement, so that by little and little they grew in a wonderful familiarity; and soon after the Queen took him for her Husband, and made him joint King of Syra with her. He was a wise and gracious Prince, and beloved of all his Subjects, all people joyed at his presence, the whole land sorrowed in his absence; never no Queen loved King better, nor never was Queen more beloved of a King: and it came to pass afterwards, that the King of the Parthians lay very sick, whose Son this King was, and he received a Letter from his Father to make haste unto him, that after his death he should take possession of the Realm; and after a while he was gone, an evil Counsellor in his Court being in love with the Queen, intercepted all the King's Letters that passed between him and his Queen, and informed the Queen he had married another Lady in his own Country; which raised such jealousis in the Queen, that she tore the ornaments of her head, wring her hands, saying, O my dear Lord, what evil have I done, what word have I misplace, wherein have I offended you, that another should reap the Consolation of your Love! The King in the mean time wondering be could never receive any Letter from the Queen, lamented, saying, O my Dear, wherein have I offended I can never hear how you do, nor how the affairs of our Kingdom standeth! All this while the wicked Counsellor intercepted their Letters on both sides to work the destruction of the King; and at last he indented a strong Person, and carried the same to the Queen, and told her it was of such a Virtue, that if the would cause a King to be made hollow, and put a little of this virtue in it, and  it to the King as a taken; and as oft as ever the King old lo●● upon it, ●would cause him to forsake all other women and haste home unto her: so the Queen believed his wicked counsel, and was very glad, and without the advice of any other she caused a King to be made as he had said, and put therein this poison, and sent it away to her Husband: When the messenger came before him, he did him reverence, and presented the King to him; the harmless King joyfully put it on, saying, ●was the sweetest present he ever received: soon after his finger began to swell, and he sent for his Physicians, who said his finger was venomed with the strongest poison in the world, and said he must cut it off, else 'twould venom his whole body: Then said the King cut it off, which accordingly was done; then his arm began to swell, and in like manner that was cut off to preserve his life: Then the good King groaned out this complaint, O thou vile woman, why hast thou done this to him who thou wert as dear to as his own soul, thou hast attempted that by poison which the stoutest Champion durst not do by arms; I that hath won thee the greatest glory that ever came to Syra, hast thou now destroyed with inferior poison, for which thou wilt gain reproach of all Nations, and be reviled of all women, for returning me malicious poison for pure in flamed love; but all as I can say is, ingratitude is the grandest insolency in the world, O woman why hast thou done this? Thereupon he sunk down in his Chair, and gave up the ghost. The messenger hasted home, and told the Queen what had happened by the King, and that all the Counsellor had fold her of the King was false: then the Queen fell a weeping and wring her hands, saying, O what had I done, what have I done? I have by the advice of an evil Counsellor slain my dear Husband the King! O cursed Traitor, would to God I had ne●●e received thy wicked counsel; but since I embraced thy hellish advice, with this hand that first handled the cursed King I will be revenged on myself, and so took a knife and thrust it into her breast, and so ended her life. Then said the Mistress to the Empress, understand you what I have said? Yes, right well said the Empress, you have showed me a good example; without doubt this day my Daughter shall not die: Then said the Mistress, if you do so, you will do wisely, and I thank you for sparing your Daughter's life this day for my sake.   

The second Complaint of Radamentus.  
When Radamentus understood the Princess had obtained Pardon through the means of Hallicuja the wise Mistress, he retired to his Chamber, and seemed to grieve and lament extraordinary; but alas it was nothing but falsehood and deceit; so that he refused to come to Council: whereat the Empress was much troubled, and thereupon sent for him and demanded the cause of his grief, and the reason wherefore he did not attend to Council? who answered, Great Lady, what greater pain can there be to a man, then when he is reviled of every vulgar tongue undeservedly; for all people know I am you assistant in the Empire, and think I am at the helm of justice, where I do rather more support wickedness then equity, and maintain vice where I should tertue; since of late there hath been whoredom and debauchery committed in the very Court, and the Empress own Daughter did it: what scandal is this that I shall lie under, beside your Royal Person will be defamed, and the honour of your Kingdom the object of the world; for you abstain justice from being executed upon that vile wretch your cursed Daughter, so that she liveth to the ruin of the Empire: therefore it shall happen to you as it did to the Queen of Pirus and her daughter. The Empress said, I pray you show me that Example: why, said Radamentus, let me show you never so many, it availeth not; nevertheless I will show you this, which is as followeth.   

The second Example of Radamentus.  
IN Pirus reigned a virtuous Queen, her Husband being dead, she had one only Daughter, whom she tendered above her life; this Daughter grew apace crafty and cunning, and often conversed with Sorcerers, to whom she complained there was but one Nobleman which hindered her from hading her will and liberty: said the Sorcerer, I'll teach you a way to betray his life, and then you may do well enough with your mother. Pray show me that way said she, that I will said the Sorcerer, that is this: When he is walking in the Garden, go you to him, and if he sit down, sit you by him, 'twill be a provocation to move his spirit, and as he doth precéed, then give him encouragement; if he refuse you, cry out, he has ravished you: So this impudent wretch sat by this Nobleman, and smiled upon him and smute him with the palm of her hand upon the chéek, and said, come let us solace ourselves in the bosom of love until the dark Evening: Then said the Lord, Great Lady, excuse me, for I am not furnished with so much confidence as to deflower the Pearls of our Land. At which words this Lady tore her locks down about her shoulders, and cried out, alas, alas, what shall I do! The Queen her Mother being in the Window heard the cry, and looking out, espied her Daughter in the Garden crying and wring her hands; she sent down her Lords to know the matter; and she said, this man, meaning the harmless Lord, hath constrained me by force under yonder tree, and he hath dost wr●d me of my Virginity: The Queen hearing this said, surely he shall die: Then said the Lords, it is good that you hear him before you put him to death: Nay, said the Queen, I have heard my daughter, what 〈…〉 an● further witness, I will believe her testimony above all the worlds; and thereupon commanded the Lord to be led away and put to death, which accordingly was done. This Lord was the uprightest man and greatest Counsellor the Queen had; from this time forth she always sought the destruction of her mother: and thus she began, Great Princess and Mother, through my obedience and diligent care I bear to you, I would wish you to speak not unto every mean subject when they come for justice, but that I between you and them may deliver their message, for too much familiarity will breed contempt; therefore the Queen reposing so much confidence in her daughter, thought all for good whatsoever she did do; and thereupon set forth a Proclamation, that all persons whatsoever having business at the Court, should address themselves to her Daughter; who always sitting in an outward Chamber, as people came to her, she seemed very mild, amiable and courteous, so through her cunning and dissimulation all people took affections to her, and she would say to them, my mother is very rash being ancient; but if you will take me for your Sovereign, I'll do you justice according to the due administration of the law: at which words they were all very joyful, and promised faithfully to perform it, but said she, raise your army, stand in your own defence, and plead your Subsidies and heavy burdens eaten too weighty for you to bear; this do till you hear from me: so the rude multitude did as this Imp had advised them. Then away she went to her mother, and acquainted her there was a factious people had rebelled, and it were good to prevent them in time lest they should grow too populous; so the Queen gave her the supreme Authority, in granting Commissions to raise an Army; so when she had got the Seal, she told her mother she must have a great quantity of Gold to pay them: Then the Queen delivered two hundred thousand marks of Gold, and having got this money, she hasted with it all away to her factious Crew; and there paid then: all with her mothers own Treasure, and gave them Commissions under her own Seal, that all the rest of the Subjects were in a maze; for seeing their Commissions under the Queen's Seal all lay still, and not one moved for the Queen, thinking it had been no Rebellion: At last this new Army advanced towards the Court, and being come, this wicked Wretch the Queen's Daughter, hasted to her mother, and told her, that she by her fair speeches had assuaged the fury of the people, and brought them there to beg their pardon, which she desired the Queen to grant them; which being always betrayed through her subtle words, condescended; and as she was going out to sign their Pardons, and conducted by her daughter, she passed over a boarded Alloy, where underneath was a Room and Cauldron of boiling Oil, that this wicked Daughter had provided, with a board whereon her mother was to tread; tilting up, the Queen sell in, and thereby was destroyed: And after was this wicked Wretch proclaimed Queen, that through lascivious living and cruel Tyranny all Nations spighted her, and her own subjects hated her, that as she was coming through the City of Conbro, a Butcher's man dashed out her brains with his Cleaver: The end of a Tyrant.  
And Radamentus said to the Empress, understand ye what I have said? and the Emprese said right well, you have showed me a good Ex●mple; therefore to prevent these Evils that they shall not happen to me, this day my Daughter shall die: And the second time she sat in Judgement, and commanded bar Daughter to be led away to the place of Execution; and as she was going, the second Mysteries addressed herself to the Empress, doing her reverence, and said, O great Lady, if you will thus slay your daughter for the words of Radamentus, if shall happen worse to you than it did to the Lady of Barbra and her Lyon. The Empress said good Mistress show me that Example, O great Lady, I shall not do it, except you call your Daughter back again until it be told, and if it does not turn your mind, your will be fulfilled afterwards.   

The Example of the second Mistress.  
UPon a time there was a Lady and her Husband which designed a long Voyage by Sea, but the wind and weather proving contrary, they were driven to great distress, and constrained to lie a tedious while at sea, insomuch that all their provision was spent; then they continued a whole fortnight without any kind of food, and when nature could not subsist no longer, they threw dice for their lives who should be killed first, to make meat for his Fellows, so they eat one another in order as they began, until all were eat; so this poor Lady and her Husband with force of nature and pure love hindered from killing each other: Then they resolved to die together, and so sowed themselves in one Carpet, and laid them down upon the Deck, saying, the great God of heaven and earth holy them, and by that time they were fulled esléep by the rocking of the waves, there chanced to come upon the Deck a great Griffin, that's hall an Eagle, and half a Lion, so that 'tis neither bird nor beast, but a Creature as strong as a Horse, and took up the Carpet in her claws with the Lady and her Husband as a prey for her young ones, and carried them in to a strange Island, inhabited with Lions, Bears, Wolves, and such like Beasts: When the Griffin had brought them into his nest, he and his young began to peck at the Carpet, with which they awaked the Lady and her Husband, who being a stout Hero opened the Carpet, and espied Land; and having his sword with him, came out and fought a desperate fight with the Griffin, and slaw him and all his young. How to get off this Island they did not know, but in wandering up and down the man died, and then the poor Lady was alone, and comforted by none but God above; so wandering about the Wilderness she chanced to meet a mighty he Lion, whose roaring seemed to her like claps of thunder: then when she saw him she fell to the ground, saying, O greet Ichovah, who holdeth the power of all creatures in thy hands, have mercy upon me. So she drew near unto him, and discovered that he halted, and the Lion groaned towards her, as thought to have some help: so she ventured to him, and took up his foot, and therein was a great thorn; and the Lion patiently holding up his foot, she drew it out; which having done, the Lion fawned upon her, and licked her, and in his nature shown as great love and kindness to her as ever humans nature could: insomuch that he led her to his Den, where she continued for a long season, feeding upon nothing but what preys the Lion had brought her, and which may soever she walked, the Lion would attend upon her, and preserve her from all other savage Beasts. At last as she was mourning to herself, deploring her condition in living in such obscurity in a foreign Country, whose daily companion was but a savage Beast, her mind yening after her own habitation, she thus complained, O how hath fortune frowned on me, that I am driven out from among all humane knowledge, and am glad to take my living with the Beast of the Field. As she thus complained to herself, the Devil chanced to appear unto her, and demanded the cause of her complaint, who told him all as you have heard. Then said be to her, What wilt thou give and I'll provide a Ship shall carry thee home to thy own Country? she answered, half her Estate. Nay, said the Devil, if thou wilt give me thy soul at the term of twelve years, I'll set thee in thy own Country, and then shalt live and flourish so long? God forbidden, said the Lady, I'll first end my wretched life in this solitary Island. Why then, said the Devil, I'll make this bargain with ye, that if you can abstain from sleeping all the time of our Voyage, which shall be but three days, I'll have nothing to do with your soul, if you sleep I'll had it, as I have said: and upon this bargain the Lady ventured, provided she might have her Lion with her; so 'twas concluded, and a brave ship came and took in the Lady and her Lion: when she lay down the Lion lay by her, and if she slumbered, the Lion trolled touch her with his paw; by which means he kept her awake all the Voyage, until she landed in her own Country; and being come to her Father's house, she knocked at the Gate; then the Porter coming with all speed, opened the Gate, and saw it was a Beggar, frowningly he shut it again, saying, Here's nothing for you: then she bounced at the Gate again, and asked the Porter if such a Knight lived there, meantng her Father, and he said, yes; then said she, pray deliver this piece of King unto him. Now this King was it she broke betwixt her Father and she, at her departure out of the Land: then the Porter delivered the King to his Master, saying, The Beggar woman at the Gate willed me to deliver this piece of King unto you. When the Knight saw the King he fell down in a swound, but when he was revived be said, call her in, for she is my only Daughter, whom I thought was dead. Then said the Porter, I dare not call her in, for there is a mighty helion with her, though it be, said the Knight, call her in, than said the Porter, you are to come in; but leave your Lion out: no, said the Lady, my Lion walketh where I go, and where he is not, there will I not be; and when she came to her father, she fell down on her knees and wept: her father took her up in his arms and kissed her, weeping as fast, and after he clothed her in Purple, and placed her by him in a chair, and demanded the relation of her Travels, who declared unto him all that happened, and how the Lion had saved her life, and was the greatest comfort she had in the Wilderness. It chanced afterwards that as the Knight was going into his Wood to view his young Horses, he met with a wild Boar, with whom he fell in combat with. The Lion loved the old Knight, and by accident walking under the pale side, he scented the Boar, and as the Lion ran towards the place where the Boar was, the Steward espied him, and he ran into the Palace, and cried out, the Lion is running after my Master to destroy him. Then the Lady sent after him ten of her servants who met the Lion with his mouth all bloody, and they ran back and told the Lady the Lion had destroyad her aged Father. Then said the Lady, O woe is me that ever I was born, that have brought a Lion from far to destroy my own Father; therefore she commanded her servants to slay the Lion, which no sooner was done but her Father come in, and said, O I have met with a wild Boar, with whom I sought, and there came in the Lion to my aid, and slew the Boar, so saved my life, else I had died by the Boar. When the Lady heard this, O how she wept and wrung her hands, saying, For the words of a wicked Steward, I have slain my good Lion, who have saved both my life and my Fathers, cursed be the time I was advised by him.  
Then said the Mistress, understand you what I have said? yes, right well, said the Empress, you have showed me a good example of a bad advice, which caused the Lady to slay so good a Lion, surely I'll beware such bad advice, my Daughter shall not die this day. The Mistress said, if you do so you will do well, therefore I commit you to God, and stand obliged to your grace for saving your-Daughter this day for my sake.   

The third Complaint of Radamentus.  
WHen Radamentus perceived the young Princess was not dead, he kept his Chamber, and tore his hair, grieving very much, and saying, the State of the Empire lies groaning under the scandal of all Nations, and reputed as the very froth and scum of baseness; and as he was thus complaining, his attendants hearing him, went and imparted it to the Empress, and she went to him and asked the cause of his lamentation, who answered, O great Lady, how can I other wise choose, knowing so great a crime that lies upon the Empire, through the deboist and lascivious actions of your graceless Daughter, and yet cannot have justice executed upon her, whereby we may wash away the stain that rests upon your honour & my reputation, the world knowing I am your assistant in the Government; & seeing there is no more respect and observing of the Laws then there is, I have just cause to leave your Realm, and suffer you to plunge yourself in this deluge of ignorance, but that the love I bear to you, and your good Subjects, doth prohibit me from it; and you know great Lady, if I should departed and leave you to yourself through your weakness in believing old fabulous stories, it would fend to your utter ruin and destruction. Then said the Empress, Most grave Lord and Counsellor, pass by your sorrow and lamentation at this time, and I shall never fail you of your request hereafter, but be advised by you: Then said Radamentus, pray God you may, else I fear it will happen to you as it did to the Lady and her Cat in the Kingdom of Utergo, who tendered her Cat as she did her own life, till at last the Cat cut her Lady's throat. I pray 〈◊〉, said the Empress, show me that Example, that I shall gladly do, said Radamentus, for the furtherance of your knowledge, and it is this as followeth.   

The third Example of Radamentus.  
IN the Kingdom of Utergo there lived a Lady who had but one only Daughter, whom she loved above her own eyes, and hearing there was a very learned woman, and one of great repute, lived not far from her own Court, to whom she put her Daughter to be brought up, and instructed in all Arts and learning, and it proved that this learned woman was very skilful indèed, for she was the greatest Magician in all that Land, though unknown to the Lady, so that instead of teaching the child natural Philosophy, she taught her all the whole art of Necromancy, and at the end of seven years she learned her how to transform herself into the likeness of a Cat; and upon a time the Lady sent for this learned woman to come to her, and bring her Daughter with her, for to see how she had improved herself in learning; and being come, the Lady asked her Daughter, three questions: First, what was most prone to nature when it was satizfied? she answered, ease, for when the belly is full, the bones destreth rest. Secondly, how far it was to the bottom of the Sea: she answered, a stones throw. Thirdly, she asked her how long the Sun and Moon were going round the world? she answered, sour and twenty hours: then said the Lady, you have answered me well, doubtless thou wilt prove a cunning woman: then she walked in her Parlour, and shown the Mistress what a delicate and fine Cat she had, and the Mistress said of a truth, it is a brave Cat; but after I return home I will present you with the finest Cat that ever was seen, for she will wait at the Table, and can interpret Riddles, resolving Answers and Questions, so that there is not the like of her in all the world, Then said the Lady, pray ye let me have that Cat? that I shall not do, said she, except you suffer your Daughter to be with me one seven years more, then shall I present you with the Cat; the Lady very willingly gave consent thereto, rendering great thanks: so the learned woman took leave, and away departed with her young Disciple, and when she came home, she told her, that if she would act her part, she would teach her how she might enjoy all the pleasure the world did afford, and none was more ready to learn than she was. Then said the Magician, you must transform yourself to the likeness of a Cat, and I will present you to your Mother, to which they both accorded: then the Magician took her, and hasted away to the Lady, and presented her the Cat, being of four distinct colours, black, red, green, and yellow: Then said the Lady, this is the finest Cat that ever I saw, and took it into her lap, feeding it with white bread and milk, and would never sit down to meat but her Cat must be at her elbow; so the Magician took her leave again, and the Lady gave her great thanks, so departed: soon after this, the Cat began to play her pranks, for there was a maid living in the house, whose carriage was civil, and conversation honest, and a faithful servant all days of her life: this Cat had power to open any lock, and shut it again, so she would open the Lady's Cabinet, and take out money, and lay it in the way where the maid should find it, some time in the Garden, some time in the Street, and the Lady still missing her money, and having no suspicion on the Maid in the least, wondered what should become of it; at last she lost her Bracelet out of her Closet, which the Cat had took and laid a mile from the house where the Maid should come along; so the Maid when she found it, little thought of her Lady's Bracelet, which oftentimes had been inquired for, she put it up in her Trunk; and after upon a time, as the Maid was taking out clothes, her Lady stood by her, and it chanced that the Bracelet fell beside the Trunk, and the Cat snapped it up in her paws, and leapt upon the Lady's lap: when the Lady saw it she cried out, O thou graceless creature, I bless the Lord I have found thee out, have I kept thee for so many years, and entrusted thee with all I had in the world, and never had the least suspicion of thee; God knows what thou hast robbed me of in thy time. O thou wicked wretch! now thou shalt die the shamefullest death as may be thought on. Then said the Maid, what have I done, I never offended you in thought, word, nor deed, neither ever wronged you in all my life hitherto? O villain, said the Lady, is not this my Bracelet, I have lost for above this half year, and hore I have found it in thy Trunk! God knows what thou hast robbed me of besides, for I have lost a great deal of money; then she called more company in and searched her Trunk further, and found many pieces of money, which she knew by the marks; and when they saw that, they apprehended her, and sent her to prison for all days of her life; so the Lady continued her love towards the Cat, and would never eat of any dainties at her Table before she had cut her Cat the first bit, at last it happened that she sat at Dinner and forgot to carve first to her Cat, wherefore she leapt to the Lady's face and catcht her by the throat, that had it not been for the help of some at the Table, the Cat had killed her: Then said the Lady, I'll keep this Cat no longer; than it is good said her friends to destroy her: No, said she, for the sake of the learned Mistress which gave her me; then she returned her back from whence she came, and desired to have her Daughter home; when her Daughter came she took her in her arms and kissed her, and caused her to lie in bed with her every night, and in token of a motherly love to a child, she gave her a King of her finger out of love to wear, which King she had kept for many years; and it happened after that this Daughter proceeded in her wicked art of witchcraft still and could not break from it: So there was a Mill of the Ladies not far from the house, and every night this Daughter when her mother was asleep, would go with others of her rabble, and at dead time of the night set the Mill a going, ripping the bags, and throwing all the Corn about the flour; at which the Miller wondered greatly, and complained on the morrow to the Lady and many others, saying, his Mill was haunted by evil spirits, doing great mischief, that he was like to be undone; and they counselled him to watch up one night with a good sword and a light to see what it was; and about midnight there came in at the window a great Cat to his thinking, by and by another and another, till they were half a dozen, spitting and wawling like devils, and their eyes shining like coals of fire; then the Miller struck at them, and they slew at his face, and in short time destroyed him: On the morrow the Lady sent to the Mill to see how the Miller fared, and they found him dead, with his face and throat tore all to pieces, the next night another watched, and on the morrow they went to see how he sped, and they found him in the same condition; then they all marvelled greatly, so that none would live in that Mill. At last there came a stout fellow, and he would undertake to lie in the Mill all night if the Lady would give him the Mill, she consented, and away goes the fellow, with a great Sword and Candle, and entered the Mill; so about the old hour he heard the Mill at work to the purpose; so he took his Sword and Candle in his hand, and went damn out of his Chamber to see what guests he had got, and when he came into the Mill he saw nothing, but the Mill stood still, and as soon as he had entered his Chamber, the Mill was at it again as hard as 'twas before; then he ran back again with his sword drawn, and there he beheld six great Cats and one little one, with such sparkling eyes glearing upon him, that he ne'er saw the like before; whereupon he struck at them, and they leapt at his face, and on every side of him, that he was fain to lay about him lustily to defend himself; at last he worsted two, and they fled through the window, and the rest fought so furiously, that they put him almost out of breath, but in the end they all fled through the window, and he following close, smote the last and cut off her forefoot; and so when day came, he went to look for the foot, and it proved to be a hand with a fair King upon the finger; when he saw that, than he knew they were Witches, so took on him little, and went home to the Lady, who asked him how it fared with him? He said he was never so hard put to it in his life; how so said the Lady? why said he, there came seven Cats, and set the Mill to work as well as I could, and if I had not defended myself stoutly, I had been slain by them, but in the end I made them fly; and as the last went through the window, I cut off her forefoot, look here it is: When the Lady saw that, she knew the hand by the Ring, and she remembered that night, when she awaked she felt her daughter come in the bed all in a sweat, and very cold; with this thought she was stricken with a fear, that the drops of sweat trickled down her face; so she went to the bedside, and asked her daughter how she did? who said, I am not well, pray let me alone; her mother said, let me feel your hand, how your pulses beat, and she gave her the right hand, keeping the other arm in the bed, and her mother said, give me the other hand, and she would not; then her mother went to see by force, and there was no hand; then her mother knew what Cat she had kept before, and said thou shalt die by 〈◊〉 ●●ai● before thou dost any more mischief. O graceless Villain, what shame h●st sh●● brought upon me for having such a wicked child; so she was sentenced to be burnt at a stake, and as she was led to execution, she confessed how she had stole the money and bracelet, and laid it where the maid found it, so to be accused of theft and hanged unjustly; but at last she was burned to ashes at a stake, and the innocent maid redeemed out of prison.  
Now said Radamentus, understand you what I have said's yes right well said the Empress; then said Radamentus I will show you the declaration thereof.  

The Declaration of the Example.  
THen Radamentus said to the Empress, Great Lady, I fear this will happen to you and your daughter as it did to this Lady, who for the love of her only daughter set her to School to be instructed in virtuous learning, and she was tutored by a Witch in all the arts of Necromancy; in the first place she robbed her mother, and caused an innocent maid to father the theft; secondly, in her filthy transformation, had she not been prevented, she had cut her mother's throat; thirdly, her horrid murder in the Mill; fourthly, the disgrace and shame brought upon her mother and family; and fifthly, the utter ruins and destruction she brought upon her own soul: and in the same manner do you labour to preserve your daughter, and suffer her to reign, in all her filthy and detestable ways till such time the truth of all things breaks out, then be sure you will receive utter shame and disgrace, even to the ruin of yourself and the whole Empire; therefore I advise you to cut her off while she is in the bud, lest she prove in the end to be a hard tree, and there is no cutting down of her. The Empress said, you have showed me a good Example, the Lady giving her Daughter too much liberty, afterwards would have cut her mother's throat, and turned both witch, thief, and murder or; without doubt my Daughter shall not serve me so, and on the morrow she commanded her officers to le●d her away to be burnt, who obeyed her command in all haste: As she was led through the streets, attired in her winding-shéet, her Bible under her arm, and the trumpets sounding out her doleful knell, all the people cried out, alas, alas, the only Daughter of the Empress is leading to execution: and as they lead her, the third Mistress named Mardula came riding by; and as the Princess saw her, she bowed her head to her, as much as to say, remember me; all the people cried an't, saying, O good Mistress make haste, and by your famous wisdom save your Disciple: so away she posted and came before the Empress, doing her reverence, and the Empress said, O thou ungrateful Traitor, thy coming availeth thee nothing, for thou shalt die as bad a death as my wretched Daughter, and I long till I be avenged on thee and all thy fellows. Then said the Mistress, I thought when I came to have been better treated, and not to be upbraided in this kinds as I am: The Empress said, do you not deserve death, when as I delivered you my daughter well, to be instructed in virtuous learning, and you have delivered her again unto me dumb and graceless, whose lascivious actions sounds all over the Empire: th●● said the Mistress, in that you say she is dumb, I commit that to God, for he maketh the dumb to speak, and the deaf to hear; and as you say she is a lascivious creature, I fain would know if the eye of man ever saw, or tongue can justify any such thing: therefore gracious Lady, if you put your Daughter to death thus hastily for the words of one man, it will happen to you as it did to a Knight and his Godson, which is mentioned in an Example. The Empress said, pray show me that Example, and the Mistress said, that I shall not do, but if you will cause your Daughter to be brought back again from death, then shall I gladly show it you, which in time to come you will say 'tis a true one. Then the Empress commanded her daughter to be brought back and put in prison: and the Mistress began as followeth.    

The Example of the third Mistress.  
IT came to pass upon a time, that as a Knight was travelling through a strange Country, he chanced to lose his way in a Wood, and could neither discover Churches nor Towns, the night being so dark, and he a stranger, knew not what to do, nor whither to go; and as he was complaining to himself, a Woodman issued through the thickets, hearing his complaint. and domanded the cause of it. O friend, said the Knight, I am a stranger to the Country, and I have lost my way, and know not whither to go for accommodations for me and my Horse, which is almost lost in the Brambles of this Wood The man said, Sir Knight, it is far to any Inn, and the ways are bad; but if you please to go with me, I shall bring you to my Cottage, and give you the best accommodation it doth yield. The Knight courteously returned him thanks, and went along with him, and when he came home, shown the Knight a Chamber, and provided for his Horse: but the Knight through discontent of his journey did not go to bed but sat up, and about midnight he heard a great cry in the house, he being in such a loan house began to fear some danger might ensue, and so knocked for to know what that cry did mean; and the Maid answered, that her Mistress was in Travail, and the Midwife was with her. This Knight being skilled in Astrology, went down to see how the Planets did serve, it being a bright Starlight night, and he saw a bad Planet going down, and a good one rising; signifying, if the Child was been under that, his fortune was to be h●nged; therefore he called the Maid and bid her tell the Midwife to held her hand one quarter of an hour, and the Child would he born to good fortune: the Maid came out again, and told 〈◊〉, that i● could not possibly b●: then 〈…〉 again, and tell the Midwife 〈◊〉 st●● b●● 〈◊〉 half quarter of an hour, and the 〈◊〉 should be born to go●d fortune. 〈…〉 again, and brens the him word that 〈…〉 was delivered of 〈◊〉 ●●lly 〈…〉 ●●●ver the bad Planet, ●hen 〈…〉 and said nothing 〈…〉 the Child: but on the morrow the Father of it came to him, saying, Sir, since you have vouchsafed to lodge in my house all night, be pleased to honour me so far as to name my Child, who answered, that I shall gladly do. And when the day was come he named the Child, and writ in a bit of Parchment his destiny, with a charge also, that he should pray to God continually to acquit him from that sad fortune, so he sealed it up in a piece of wax, & tied it about his neck with a Silk String, charging his Father and all his friends not to untie the string to read what it was, till such time the Child was able to read it himself, destring them to keep him at School very carefully, whereby he may attain to that knowledge as to read the writing perfectly himself; and thanking the Father for the favour done him, took his leave, and so departed. When the Childs was grown up and fit to be instructed, he was put to School, and very carefully attended till he was ten years of age, at which time he was capable to read the writing that was about his neck: and upon a time as he was by himself, he took it off his neck, and opened it, and read it, wherein he found his destiny written in these words, My good Child, serve God, and pray to him continually to pass this fate over thee, else thy fortune is to be hanged. When the Child had read this, he listed up his eyes to heaven and begged a blessing from the Lord, and went home very sad and melancholy, and desired of his Father to give him one new suit of clothes, and a little money in his pocket, and his blessing; his Father asked him the reason of his request: then said the Child, pray give it me, for I will go seek my fortune; his Father did according as the Child required, so he took leave of his friends, and parted from his Father. Well, go, said he, and my blessing with thee; so the Boy traveled into a strange Country, still praying to God to acquit him of that unhappy fortune to which he was predicted to; and at last he came to a Knight's house, and required a service, the Knight asked him what he could do, he said, swéep your Hall, draw Beer, and run upon your Arands, and what other service I am able to do. The Knight saw him a hopeful boy, and very willingly entertained him, and he proved marvellous careful and diligent in whatsoever he took in hand, and at all spare times he would be upon his knees at prayers, desiring God to pass that unhappy fate over him. The Knight observing this, soon after placed him under Buttler, and there he continued in the same ruse, praying to God continually, whereby the Knight had a great discerning eye on him. In this place he had not been many years, but the head Buttler died, and he Knight put him in his place, and being there he was obedient to his Master, courteous to his fellow servants, & pleasing to all, but the baker and the brewer murmured greatly, saying, how may this be, yonder fellow was taken up as a poor beggar boy at the door but the other day, and first he was under Buttler, now he is head Buttler, what will he come to: but this past on, he grew in favour still, and being a Scholar, his Master made him under Steward, which place he discharged with great trust and faithfulness; then his two adversaries murmured ten times more, yet he grew in favour more still with the Knight, till at last the head Steward died; then he was preferred in that place, and from that time forwards his adversaries sought his destruction: yet when he was in this place, he never waxed proud nor ambitious, but always trusty, humble, meek, and lowly, and when he had served in the place of head Stewardship the space of five years, he had a mind to go see his own Country, and therefore delivered up all his accounts just and square, he asked leave of the Knight, who granted his request very willingly, and lent him a Horse, and gave him great store of money to go with, saying, Thou hast been a just and faithful servant to me, go, and my best word with thee; and when his horse was tied at the door, and he ready to departed, there came to him the Baker and the Brewer, deceitfully to take their leaves of him, saying they must drink with him before parting, and as he was drinking with one in the Cellar, the other opened his Portmantle, and put therein a great Gilt Bowl, and so shut it again: then he went and drank with him, and so departed; but he had not been gone above a mile, but these two fellows made inquisition for the Bowl, and the Knight asked who should have it, who should, said they, but your trusty friend and servant, that is newly gone, who hath been as very a thief as ever breathed since he came to you, and has robbed you daily, though you would not believe it; therefore you will not believe this except you saw it, therefore pray ride along with us, and we'll bring him back again, and that you shall see he has the Bowl: so the Knight rid after him, and overtook him, and prayed him to come back, for he had a little business with him; so when he came, they searched his Portmantle, and found the Bowl: when the Knight saw that, he admired it, and said, O thou wicked wretch, I have been told how thou hast robbed me daily, and impoverished my Estate, but I would never believe it, now I see it plainly with my eyes, for which fact thou shalt be hanged at the Gallows.  
The young man stood up, and said, of this fact I am innocent, and thou eternal God, who holdeth the secrets of all men hearts in thy hands, knows that I am guiltless, send me justice now, O great Lord of heaven and earth, that thy everlasting truth may take place, and this hidden treachery be brought to light. And as they were leading him away to prison, he said, Well, now I perceive that Fortune is a Fortune, let the world go how it will; and his Master hearing him, said, what mean you by that? and he said, when my Mother was in Travail of me, there was a strange Knight lodged in tha house, and did foresee my destiny by his art in the Planets, and at the request of my Father he was my Godfather, and then writ in a little piece of Parchment my sad fate in these words following, My good child, serve God, and pray continually that the sad fate may pass over thee, for thy fortune is to hanged: and he sealed it up in war, and tied it with a silk String, and put it about my neck, charging my Father, that no one should read it till I was capable to read it myself; wherefore I came to travel, and also obeying the words, and praying continually to God to escape it, I see it doth follow me undeserved, as you now see. The Knight hearing this, demanded to see the piece of writing, which specified his destiny, and he took the string from obout his neck: and gave it the Knight, who as soon as he saw it, he said, O the merry of the eternal God of Heaven, whose love to his servants is incompréhensible, this is my own hand-writing; I writ thy destiny, and I am thy God-farther, O bring him back again, let us examine the cause better; then ●e called the two false accusers before him, and strictly examined each of them, threatening sad punishment if they would not confess, and at last they confessed it were they stole the Cup, and put it in his P●rtmantle; for which they were both hanged, and the young man saved: And then said the Mistrist, understand you what I h●ve said? yes, right well, said the Empress, Now I do perceive that very often the wicked committeth the fact, and the innocent are Condemned. You have shamed me a good example, therefore my Daughter shall not die. Great Lady, said the Mistress, if you do so, you will do well, and I thank you for sparing your Daughter this day for my sake, and therefore to God I commend you.   

The fourth Complaint of Radamentus  
WHen Radamentus heard the young Princess was not dead, but rather pardoned, he waiked up and down the Garden like a man bereft of his wits, and made great lamentation; the noise thereof came to the Empress our, and she went in all haste to him, and comforted him, saying, My gra●e, Lord and Counsellor, why 〈◊〉 it's you this m●an? if behoveth our a man, especially such as you are, so rarely well dig, dignified in wisdom and discretion, to gr●●● out such sad complaints? O Madam, said Radamentus, why should you tell me so, will ●●n●t make a stone move, or a wall of brass speak, to see that your judgement is so much stupefied, as not to be advised by my grave Counsel, knowing no man ought to tell you more than myself, that you suffer such pestilential fevers to remain not qualified nor oppressed: O that I had died before I had been elected to come into these parts, for what honour or reputation I ever gained formerly, I shall now receive ten times as much shame and dishonour; but I fear it will happen to you as it did unto a Lady in Thesaly with her Dear, which is mentioned in the Example. Then said the Empress, I pray show me that example for my learning, I may be the better instructed. If I should, said Radamentus, it would avail nothing, for I shown you one yesterday last, and it came to no effect; nevertheless I shall show you this, which is as followeth.   

The fourth Example of Radamentus.  
SOmetime in Rome there lived a great Lady which had a famous Park of Dear, that a worthier was not in all the land; she had also a very gallant Hound, which was presented to her by the best Huntsman in the world: and this Lady delighting much in hunting, appointed a day for the trial of this brave Dog; and when the day was come they roused a Buck, and followed the Chase, up the Hills, down the Dales, through the Thickets, Bracks, and Bogs, the like hunting never was known in that part of the world, for the Dog hunted upon hot sent seven days together, till all the followers were tired both foot and horse, and left the whole Game to the Dog; yet still the Buck maintained his ground, and the Dog his Chase, throughout the Kingdom of Thesaly three hundred mills an end; the Lady and her Noble Barons gave off all for lost, some of them cried, we shall never see the Buck again; said the Lady, I shall never have my Dog again: and when they had yielded all as lost, there came a Letter from the King of Egypt, he knowing her so delightful in Hunting, and the tenure of it was, that there came a Buck chased by a Dog, through some part of his Dominions, and that they were come into the Kingdom of Thesaly: The Lady hearing this, said, Doubtless, this Dog and this Buck by all description should be mine, and as she was thus musing, the Keeper brought in word that the Buck and Dog was come; then the Lady rejoiced and ran into the Park to see the Buck and Dog, and there they found the Buck leapt just ever the wall, and fell down, and the dog ran to the wall, and he fell down, only wearied, but not to death: then said the Keeper, this Buck is the best runner in ●●t Thesaly; and the Lady said, this Dog is the best in all the world, and therefore all the Nobles and Barons that ever came there a hunting praised that Dog and loved him wonderfully. Now there was an observation on this Dog, for he loved the Park ever after, and the same buck he before chased above all others; so that he was observed to go every night about midnight, to defend the Dear from any ravenous beast which should chance to come, as Wolves or such like Creatures, and this did he constantly upon his own accord, so that such a Dog was never heard of before. And it chanced after, that the same Huntsman which gave the Lady this brave Dog, presented her with another wolf-dog, young and tender, and of a most curious sh●pe and form, which also won the affections of the Lady marvellously, so that she loved him as she loved her life; and whosoever should tell her that this wolf-dog would prove the better Courser, she would rejoice, and give them great rewards; so that her love to the Hound began to decline, for he was wont to quarrel with her young dog, being of two contrary natures, for which she would kick him and much reject him; but the young dog grew apace well form, fair and comely: Not far from her Court lived seven wise Mistresses, whom she sent for to pass their judgements upon this young Dog, what they thought of him? And the first said, it was the fairest dog that ever she saw, and it would make a good Courser; then the second said, it was the comeliest Dog that ever she saw, and he would make a stately keeper; the third said, it was the tallest Dog that ever she saw, and would be fit for a Princely Game; the fourth said, it was the strongest Dog that ever she saw, and would be a brave companion in a forest; the fifth said, it was the furicusest Dog that ever she saw, and was fit to keep a treasury; the firth said, it was a dog in her judgement exceeded all others; and the seventh said, it was a Dog, if well taught and preserved, would parallel the whole world for his equal. Then said the Lady, I thank you all for your great accommodations you give of my dog; therefore I shall prise him as I do the greatest jewel I have, but I have an excellent Hound besides, which on his own accord doth watch my Dear every night, and preserve them from the Wolves, and the like savage beasts, and they two can never agree. Then said the first Mistress, the Hound is something ancient, and probable might not live long; the wolf-dog is young and iusty, and the best of his days are to come; and since they cannot live both together quietly, it is expedient one should die, therefore let the Hound be destroyed: Then the Lady gave command that the Hound should be hanged immediately; and soon after the Hound was dead, many Dear were lost out of the Park, therefore they put the Wolf-dog to watch, yet for all that a Dear in two or three nights was constantly lost, and still the Lady wondered how this might be, and the Wolf-dog watching too; so she put a man to watch all night in a tree, to espy out what beast came to vestry her Dear, and by the light of the Moon he discovered the Wolf-dog upon a lusty Buck, having tore his throat; when the morning came, the Lady sent for him to know what he had seen; and be said, I have seen what it is that kills the Dear now: declare said the Lady what it is, and he said, it is even your own Wolf-dog, whom you put to watch them; then the Lady looked sad in the face, and began to complain greatly, saying, Alas, have I destroyed the Shepherd, and put a Wolf in his stead; have I then through the wicked advice of yonder foolish women hanged my good and trusty Hound, which looked to my Herd, and preserved them from the ravenous wolves; the bravest Courser and flower of all Dogs in Thesaly, and have here put a ravenous murderer of my Deer to keep the Park: and with these words she struck the Dog three or four blows with her Cane, and the masterless Cur grumbled as if it had been a Lion; and then said the Lady, how now Déer-killer, and smote him again, but before she struck the fifth blow, he reared upon her breast, and slew her before the eyes of her servants: Then all people cursed the Counselors which advised the Lady to keep that evil Dog, and to kill the good Hound. Then said Radamentus, understand you what I have said? yes right well, said the Empress, than said he, I will show you the Declaration thereof.  

The Declaration of the Example.  
THe Lady delightful in hunting, signifieth yourself in all virtuous recreation, so that all Kings of the Earth do hear of your same, as the King of Egypt did of her Game; the large and spacious Park is your Empire, and the Dear therein are your subjects; the good Hound watching them, is your wise and good discretion, defending them from ravenous wolves, in keeping us in peace and safety from the bloody hands of cruel Tyrants; the fair and masterless Wolf-dog is your stubborn and graceless Daughter, who by her ill examples and bad precedents will delude your good Subjects, and in the end destroy them as the Dog did the Deer; the foolish women that counselled the Lady to kill the good Hound, and let the Wolf-dog live, is your seven wise Mistresses, which daily labour to advise you to suppress your vigilancy and wise care of your Subjects, and let your filthy lascivious Daughter live, whereby she may reign in bloody tyranny, and glut herself with the flesh of your people: the man in the Tree that discovered the Dog in killing the Dear, was myself in my Chamber window, espying your Daughter that shameless wretch in the Garden under a tree something obscure, with a man committing the foul sin of fornication, and all other beastly behaviour; for which detestable and abominable act she ought to die according to the Law; for if she live, she will by her ill ways give base examples, and destroy many others: if then you correct her for it, she will like unto the Wolf-dog leap upon your breast, and cut your throat. Then said the Empress, that Dog the Lady loved so dearly cut her throat at last, but my Daughter shall not do so: Then she commanded her Officers to lead her away to the stake; and as she was led through the streets with trumpets sounding her doleful funeral, all the people ran out making a sad noise, crying, alas, alas, the Empress only Daughter is led again to the Stake. Then the fourth Mistress leapt upon her horse, and hasted away to the Empress, and did obeisance to the Empress, who said, O thou cursed old wretch, little thanks shalt thou have for thy ill instructing my Daughter, and bringing her to what she is now gone to; I delivered her to you finely taught, modest and well mannered, and you delivered her again to me ill taught, full of vice and dumb, and a shameless whore, for which this day she is to die, to the disparagement of the Empire, and disgrace of all her lineage; I would the day of her birth had been the day of her burial. O gracious Lady than said the Mistress, I little thought of this entertainment, surely I have not deserved the least of this your displeasure; and for why your Daughter speaketh not, I commit the cause to God, and in short time you shall know the reason, but the time is not come yet: she is accused she hath committed the soul sin of fornication, that is false, and is not to be proved; therefore you ought not to put your only Daughter to death for the words of one single person, though it were justice; and if you pu● her to death for one man's saying, it shall be worse to you then to the Queen, who for putting too much confidence●● Counselors had her only Daughter cut in pieces before the Altar, and herself after stoned to death. Then said the Empress, declare that Example for my learning, that I shall not do, said the Mistress, unless you send for your Daughter back again, otherwise she may be de●d before I make an end, than should I talk to you in vain. Then the Empress commanded her Daughter to be brought back again and pu● in prison, while the mistress spoke as followeth.    

The Example of the fourth Mistress.  
SOme time there lived in the Kingdom of Thracia a famous Queen named Hicuba, who built a strong City of defence, double walled, and moated round; she was a peaceable Queen, and at variance with none, save only the King of Lycia, being a quarrelsome Prince; and be came against her with an invincible Army, and besseged her round; wherefore she called before her in Council her two Counsellors named Anthinor and Eneus; and they assembled all the noble Citizens to advise how to preserve their City, and give their enemy's battle; and when they had fortified their walls, and planted their Guards, Anthinor issued out with ten thousand men, and made a great slaughter among his enemies, and so returned back into the City; then their enemies recruited again, and fell on to scale the walls, but were driven back by the Citizens: then Eneus went out and sought with great valour, but lost many men, and so returned into the Town. At last Anthinor addressed himself to the Queen, and told her it were good to conclude peace with the enemies, for they had lost many noble persons of honour, among whom were the Queens two Sons, for which they made great moan; and therefore he advised the Queen to conclude a peace, that the Enemies may departed without destroying the City, for they could not maintain it against such an invincible power, though the City was well fortified, and strength enough to have beaten twice as many; yet the Queen believed these two evil Counsellors, which proved errand Traitors; than the harmless Queen asked them who they should have to go treat for them? Then Eneus stood up and said, if it seemeth good to the Queen and to all you Citizens, for the honour of the Queen, the safeguard of our City, and the preservation of our lives, Anthinor and I being expert in all Laws and Customs upon so weighty a matter as this, will go forth. The Queen liked well of what he said, reposing more confidence in them then any other, and all the Citizens accorded to it: and Anthinor and Eneus went forth and sounded a parley, and the Enemy's Heralds came and fetched them in; and Anthinor said, we have wrought so about with our Queen, that we have obtained Irave to come and conclude a league or truce with you; but if you will grant us two our demands, as we shall ask of you, we will betray the City into your hands, to do with it as it seemeth good to you; then they all promised to grant their demands. Then said Anthinor, you shall give us a thousand marks in Gold, and withal our Rights and Privileges, and save all the lives of our Friends and Kindred, with the preservation of all our Houses, Lands, and Possessions; then said their Enemies, all these things are granted, and we are ready to swear the confirmation of it, which they immediately did: Then said Anthinor, we must be very private in this thing, for we must make a counterfeit truce with ye, and you must send this word in answer to our message, thus:  
That you require a hundred thousand marks of gold to pay your Army, and ten thousand measures of wheat to make them bread, and to set up a brazen horse within the City in the Temple of Interva; and this ●●●se said Anthinor must be cast hollow, wherein a thousand men may stand all armed, and when it is in the Temple, and you have received your gold and wheat which I will order; than you must draw your Army off the Town, as they may suppose you are going away: then when the Citizens think all is secure, and are in bed asleep, then shall the armed men in the brazen Horse come forth, and Eneus and I will give you the sign by a light off the wall; and when you see that, advance with all your Army on the back side of the Town, and we will open the Gates again you come; then do with the City as you see good, only remember Eneus and I of our contract: and said Anthinor, with those words, we will departed, & acquaint the Queen of it, and we shall come forth to morrow again to acquaint you of her answer; so took leaps of them, and departed ho●● into the City, and fold the Queen what the Enemies requested, which was one hundred thousand marks of Gold, and ten thousand measures of Wheat, and they would departed home into their own Country, only they would leave behind them a brazen Horse, which they had pruvided as a memorandum or mark of Conquest. Then the Queen sighed deeply, and said, What, have I lost so many of my dearest friends, and so much of the stately walls of my City domollished, and now must I be constrained to pay so much Gold and Wheat unto my very Enemies, and hire them to go home into their Country● O was is me that ever I was born 〈◊〉 but since it must be so, go tell them Anthinor, I do grant their demands; then Anthinor and Eneus went forth again, and said to the Enemies, your request is granted all what we have contrived, and you are to appoint the day to receive it, that we may make it ready; and after you have that, then we'll be for the City: so the day was appointed, and all was got ready, they receiving it all, than they draw the brazen Horse into the City, and plated it in the Temple, though little thought the harmless Queen what hollish plot lay in the belly of the Horse. On the morrow all the Enemies drew off from the City towards night, and the poor Citizens supposing they were all departed towards their own Country, rejoiced all, and through watchfulness being up very many nights before, went to bed, and at midnight in the dead time of sleep, Anthinor went to the brazen Horse, and called forth that thousand armed men, and Eneus went upon the back tower, and held up in his hand a blazing torch, which gave intelligences to the bloody Enemy; so they came and entered the Town, that all the streets were full, and then Anthinor and Eneus the bloody Traitors shown them their ●ouses and Possessions, but for the harmless Queen in her Palace was no respect at all; and this Queen had a fair and beautiful Daughter named Palestina, the like was not in all the world; she wicked Anthinor would have radisht some time before the siege, and she refusing, caused him to work this their utter destruction; and as the Queen and her Daughter were at prayers, they heard a woeful cry in the City, than they were struck with jealousy of wicked Anthinors' treachery; so the Queen ran into the Temple, and Palestina the young Lady poor soul ran and hid herself in an old Tower, by which time the Enemy had not left alive neither man, woman, nor childs throughout the whole City. Then Anthinor the Traitor came to the Temple, and seeing the Queen there, asked where her Daughter was? who replied, O ungrateful Traitor, is not thy wicked bowels glutted yet with tyranny? Then he went to the old Tower, and there found her and dragged her out, and gave her to the Enemy, who led her to the Altar, and before her mothers own eyes they cut her in four quarters, and threw them about the Temple: the Queen at the horrid sight fell down in a swound, and when she recovered life again, said, Now Villains glu● yourselves with tyranny, so fore the hair off her dead, and the clothes of her bo●●, and went s●ark mad out o● her senses; wherefore the wicked Tyrants carried her into a strange Island, and there miserably ●●on'● her to death, and after burned her City to the ground, and returned home into their own Country. And then the Mistress said to the Empress, understand you what I have said? how a Queen by putting too much confidence, and took too much advise of two evil Counsellors, came at last to have her Daughter cut in pieces before her own eyes, herself stoned to death, her Subjects massacred, and her whole City destroyed; thererefor●●e advised, and put not your own D●ug●ter thus to death for the words of one Counsellor, lest it happen to you as it did to th● harmless Queen. The Empress said, you have shown me a good Example, 〈◊〉 t● g●●eves my heart to think of it, for they were the wickedest Counsellors that ever were, surely I will take no such advice; for my Daughter shall not die. The Mistress said, if you perform that you will do wisely, and I thank you for sparing your Daughter this day for my sake, and so I commit you to God.   

The fifth Complaint of Radamentus.  
RAdamentus hearing the young Princess was not dead, forthwith retired into his Chamber, sighing and sobbing most bitterly, and caused all his apparel and necessaries to be made ready, and his Wagons and Horses brought up, as though he was just going into his own Country: The servants perceiving their Lord was departing from the Court, acquainted the Empress that Radamentus their Lord was preparing for his own Country; when the Empress perceived that, she basted to his Chamber, and said to him, O my grave Lord, I thought you had been more tender of my safety, and the Government of the Empire, then to go and leave me thus; to which he answered, 'Tis true, I tender your welfare as much as I do my life, and you know I have had a care of your reputation, and the safety of the Empire, but now I see you are going in the high way to shame me, and dishonour yourself, and ruin● the whole Realm; the world knowing I am your assistant, and do think 'tis all my advice in what you do, supporting Bawdry, and other vices, and in the very Court itself; had it been Vertus, the world had ne'er taken notice on't: but being Vice, the tongue of every inferior fellow do noise it abroad like the breath of a Trumpet, or a Herald at arms, through all the parts of the world: therefore I go from you, for I had rather hear of your ruin then see it; you will be ruled by the words of the foolish Mistresses, till at last it will happen to you as it did unto a Roman Lady and her Daughter, which Example is mentioned: and the Empress said, pray show me that Example for my better understanding: And he said, though I shall show you all the Examples in the world, and give you all the advice I may imagine, you though it tend to the preservation of both Life and Kingdom, as indeed it doth; yet you would not be ruled by me, nor follow my counsel: nevertheless I will show you this Example, provided henceforth, you do not delight nor hear the Mistresses, whose id●● Fables doth subvert your wise judgement: the Example is as followeth.   

The fifth Example of Radamentus.  
SOmetimes in Rome there lived a famous Lady, whose worth and renown was spread far and near, being beloved of all people, for she was virtuous in conversation, modest in behaviour, gracious to her people, and amiable to all; and in reference to the poor, she was adorned with a free and bountiful liberality, so that she had the prayers of all: This Lady had two Daughters, both of them very beautiful and comely; the eldest she kept at home with her, and the youngest she put abroad to be taught and instructed, having a motherly car●, and in process of time, this Lady sent for her Daughter home, expecting she had learned much for her edification; but when she came home, alas, she was never the better, so she grieved very much for her Daughter, in regard of the tender love she ●are her; and therefore she would keep her at home, being the youngest, and set the other abroad: which being done, this young Girl began to do nothing but play, having what liberty she pleased; at last she grew to maturity, and then she would not go abroad without money; therefore her Mother gave her money from time to time: at last she had ways to spend more than her Mother allowed her if it had been twice as much, for she kept a private lover in the City which her mother knew not of, and many nights when her Mother was asleep, she would rise and take the Keys from under the Lady's head, and go out to her love, and towards break of day come in again, her mother never perceiving it, but towards morning she wondered how her Daughter came so cold, and asked her what was the reason she was so cold; she said, the Cramp had taken her in her leg, and being loath to wake her, she risen and walked about the Chamber to drive it away, so that excuse passed for currant. The next night she awaked, and missed her out of the house, and wondering how she got out, put up her hand to feel for her Keys, they were gone; so when her Daughter came in about break of day again, she asked her, O Lord Daughter, where have you been now? Truly said she, I had a tooth did ache so grievously, that my ●aw I thought would have broke, and you bring so sound a sleep, I was loath to disturb ye; therefore I took the Keys and went forth to the Chirurgeon to draw it, but I could not make him hear me: so this second excuse past as currant as the former, and her Mother said no more of it. Upon another time she espied her Mother's Key of her Cabinet, and she took it and pressed it in Clay that it made an impression; and from this impression she got another Key made whereby she could go to the Cabinet of money when she pleased; and her Mother missing money so off, little thought of her own Daughter, but sometime fathered the crime upon the Maid, sometime upon the Man, that the Family was never but in strife and variance: and upon a time she went to her Mother's Cabinet for more money, and went away and left her Key behind her in the Cabinet; her-Mother seeing a key in her Cabinet, and knew she had her own in her Pocket, let it alone, and watched behinds the Curtain to see who would fetch it out; by and by, in comes her Daughter, and snatched the Key out, but her Mother catcht hold of her, and said, O thou graceless wrecth, is it thee that hast robbed me these two years together, now I have found thee out, O wicked imp; I have been often cold of thee, but I would never believe it till now I do see it, for which thou shalt die a shameful death: but there was living not far off, an old woman, whom this young imp was wont to take advice of in all her wicked pranks; therefore in this time of necessity she did send for her to come, and by her craft and cunning to save her life. When she came she said, O virtuous Lady, let not your wrath be so ●uriously bend against her, she is your Daughter whom you have boar of your body, and gave her suck nine months from your breast, for we were all guilty of faults in our infancy; therefore let her not come to shame for the first time, the sever● Law will give reprieve to the veriest Felon for the first fault, much more a natural Mother ought to do for a Child; and if she should thus die, it will accrue great shame to her Family, and you will be branded with rebuke for tyranny: Upon these words the good Mother was pacified, and pardoned her. It happened afterwards as the Lady was walking in the evening in her Garden, she espied her Daughter l●●ng with a strange man under a Bush, than said she, and cried out with a loud voice, O thou lascivious creature, worse than any beast, I have pardoned thee for Theft already, and now thou art fallen into Whoredom, if I suffer this, all people will curse me, and the Paps that gave thee suck; therefore thou shalt die, for I had rather see thee hanged than I should be sound guilty of thy crimes. Then the old woman came again, and said, O good Lady, save her life, consider she is young, and what she hath done, is through ignorance and foolishness; but remember the old Proverb, A naughty boy may make a good man, likewise she may amend and become a good woman; and remember what the Scripture saith, He that is without fault, let him throw the first stone; therefore let her shame be hidden this time, and if ever she commit the like again do your pleasure upon her: so through these strong delusions and foolish perswa●ions, the good Lady was again persuaded, and pardoned her, but said to the old woman, it is very seldom that any who are addicted to Theft and Whoredom, but commonly are guilty of Murder also, God grant that I never hear of no such thing by her, though I fear it greatly: to prevent which, the godly Mother kept her within doors so strict, that she could not go abroad to her lover to feed him with money as she was wont to do; therefore he would come so her and speak to her through the window, where she threw him many of her Mother's pieces of Plaits and other things; then the Lady marvelled greatly ●ow her things should be lost, and her Daughter never go out of doors, no farther then to the great window, where she did observe, she stood every night: and it came to pass that one night the Lady herself was standing under that window late, bearing the pretty Nightingale c●●rping her several notes; and the Daughter supposing she had been her lover, threw out the great stiver Goblet; the Lady perceiving out of what window it came, took it up and came in with it, and asked for her Daughter, and the maid said she was in the middle window; call her to me, said the Lady, when she came, she bid her go fetch her some wine in the Goblet, and she said, she had been looking for that and it could not be found: then the Lady 〈◊〉 the Goblet and shown her, saying, W●●t thou never lea●e thy tricks, thou graceless villain, now shalt thou die surely a shameful death, the just reward of thy dese●t●. Then news came again to the old woman that the Lady's Daughter was to die, and she came in all haste, crying to the Lady to save her li●● but once more, and she would undertake to advise her, and bring her to goodness herself: Upon this the Lady pardoned her once more. Now this Daughter loved a man which was poor, and both a Thief and Murderer, whom her Mother would not suffer her to marry with him without her consent; she had nothing to maintain him with, neither had he of himself; therefore she took counsel of the old woman what to do, who advised her to take a little of her poisoned ball, and when her Mother called for Béer, to put in two drams, saying, that will dispatch your Mother, than you may have all, and take your lover. The wicked ●mp was glad of this advice, and did execute it; her mother having took it, called for some more drink, the poison wrought so hot in her guts: when she ●●lled the cup again, she put in more, and the harmless Lady took it out of the hand of the bloody villain, as from a friend, so drank it up, and gave up the ghost, being aged ●●●escors and ten: for which horrid fact the wicked wretch was hurned at a stake. Thus was a harmless Lady first rob of her goods, and after murdered by a wicked Daughter she best loved. Then said Radamentus, understand ●e what I have said, yes right well, said the Empress, that was the wickedest Daughter that ever I heard of; to prevent such mischief, my Daughter shall not live a day langer: therefore she commanded her Officers to lead her away to be burnt, and as she was leading through the streets, the people ran out, and cried, alas, alas, the Empress' Daughter is leading again to be burnt; and as she passed by, the fifth Mistress met her, and hasted away to the Empress, doing reverence as the others were went: then said the Empress, you are come, but it shall be the price of your life: the Mistress said, O Lady, I have not deserved to dies, for your Daughter hath not committed those crimes which ye say she hath done, as hereafter you shall find; and that she speaketh not is of her wisdom, and know ye she will speak when her time cometh: and as for the sin of Fornication, believe it not, for a wise Virgin as she is, would never attempt so shameful a deed, and if ye put her to death for the words of one man, it shall happen to 〈◊〉 worse than it did the Queen of China. Then said the Empress, pray show me that Example; that I shall not do, said wise Deborah, unless you call your Daughter back again also before I make an end your Daughter may be dead: then the Empress commanded her Daughter to 〈◊〉 brought b●ck and put in prison; thea Deborah sp●ke as followeth.   

The Example of the fifth Mistress.  
SOmetime in China lived a virtuous Queen, reuo●●ned far and near; for whose wisdom and good discretion she was espoused to a great Eastern King, who b●d a grave Counsellor, without whom be would do nothing: this virtuous Queen being married to this great King, soon after there arose a great Rebellion in his Country from whence he came, whereby he was constrained to go to suppress the rude multitude, which soon he did, and to settle the uniformity, stayed there for the space of half a year, by which time his Queen was grown big with child: and ●●is old Counsellor whom the King left at home as Guarding of her, wrote Letters to the King, that she was very familiar with a Nobleman in 〈◊〉, whose name wa● Palemed●s, and that 〈◊〉 thought what she want withal 〈…〉 Thus did he through wicked treachery, thinking to himself, the King was ancient, and would be the more filled with jealousy, and if he could destroy the Queen and that she went withal, soon after the King would die, than said he. I shall rule the Land; and from that time forth he sought th●ir destruction. Now when the King had received his Letter he hasted home, and railed at his Queen, saying, she was a Whore, and what she went withal was a Bastard, and would not suffer her to come into his company: then this old Traitor went to the Queen, pretending friendship under a falsehood, and advised her to go in a merry way and present the King a Bowl of Wine; and she always thinking he had been a most faithful friend did as he advised her, and before she brought it, he wrote a Libel and dr●pt it in the King's Chamber: This Libel expressed, that if the Queen at such a time did present him with a Bowl of Wine, he was a dead man, for it was poison; and as the Queen came in, with innocent love, presented the King with the Bowl of Wine, he took his foot and kicked it all down, saying, Thou wicked wretch, now I do perceive the vile actions, thou hast defiled my Bed, and defamed my Honour, and art thou now come to poison me, I swear thou shalt die the cruelest death as may be thought on: so committed her to prison, and as she lay there she breathed out these complaints,  
Who e'er thou art this Child doth find,  
Make much of it to her prove kind,  
She mighty honour may thee-bring,  
Being only Daughter to a King;  
Be tender, loving, then to she,  
One day thou shalt rewarded be.  
When the King heard this, he knew she was his Daughter that he commanded to be thrown into the Sea, and saiv, sins the Gods and Fortune has favoured her, I have no reason to hate her; therefore he commanded her to be brought home to the Palace, and clothed her in most rich array, and made her sit at his right hand, after that, he dispatch'● four of his Noblemen to the I stand of Delphos, to inquire of the Oracle of Apollo, whether the Queen was guilty of the charge laid against her, and when they came in the Temple before the Oracle, they did their reverence, and the Oracle spoke, and said, Stand here two days, and speak not one word, and the third day you shall find on the back side of the Oracle a scroll of Parchment sealed up; that take and haste away to the King, and break it not up till you come in the Judgement Hall, and before all the Council, there the King shall find the truth written; then they did their obeisance, and so departed, and took shipping, and the seventh day they arrived in their own Country: when they came before the King, they acquainted him what the Oracle had commanded them to do, and forth with the King assembled all his Lords into the judgement Hall, every one expecting a sad doom for the Queen; but when the Scroll was broke open, and read, it proved thus, saying, The Queen is innocent, her Child is lawfully begotten, the old Counsellor is the Traitor; and the King shall die without an Heir, if Equity and Justice takes not place. When the Counsel heard this, they all rejoiced, and the King sent immediately for his Queen out of prison, but the messenger brought him word again, that the Queen was dead; then the King fell a weeping and wring his hands, saying, O miserable wretch am I, that believed such an old cursed Caitiff as I have done! O woe is me that ever I was born, I caused my Child to be drowned in the Sea, had not the Gods and Fortune preserved her, and now I have slain my virtuous and innocent Queen by false and bitter imprisonment, through the advice of an old cursed Villain; surely he shall die the miserablest death as may be thought of: and speedily he commanded two wild Horses to be brought, and tied the Traitors two hands to one tail, and his two legs to the other; so drew him limb from limb, and threw his quarters to the beasts of the field and the fowls of the air, a just reward for such an inhuman Traitor: And then he prepared the richest Tomb that ever was seen for his Queen, and commanded all the Lords and Barons of the Land to appear at her great Funeral, which was solemnised in mighty state, and honourably interred her in his own Chapel, where upon her Tomb he caused to be engraven these words following.  
Through ill advice of evil Traitors, I  
Have slain my Queen in woeful misery;  
For which advice I ever shall repent,  
And to my dying day be discontent:  
And whosoever thou art that passeth by,  
Curse him that caused thy Queen to die.  
Then said the Empress, you have showed me a good Example to beware of had Counsel; therefore my Daughter shall not die: And the Mistress departed from her with a joyful heart.   

The sixth Complaint of Radamentus.  
WHen Radamentus perceiving by the muttering of the servants that the young Princess was reprieved again, he grew so impatient, that all thought he would have run mad; therefore they ran and fold the Empress, that Radamentus was going best●e himself, for they never saw him before in such a passion: Then the Empress went to him and said, wherefore my good Lord are you so impatient? he answered, O Lady, how shall I hid my grief I the great love I bear to you doth prohibit me from leaving you, and if I trey, I see nothing but ruin and destruction doth attend you, in suffering such base and lascivious actions, committed by your graceless Daughter, and not suppressed according to Law, that I am ashamed to go out in the sight of the sun; my Counsel which you ought to receive you slight, and rather believe the old wives fables, than my grave Counsel: Therefore I fear it will happen to you worse than it did to the Lady, who tendered her young Lion above all she had, till at the last he fore her throat, as is mentioned in the Example. O my good Lord said the Empress, show me that Example; and said gladly that would I do, but it availeth nothing, to morrow you will hear the Mistresses again, nevertheless I'll show you one Example more, and began as followeth.   

The sixth Example of Radamentus.  
SOmetime in Asia lived a Lady, who being with child lunged for a young Lion, so that inquisition was made all over Asia for a young Lion; at last a Nobleman being a hunting in a wild Fortest, chanced to catch a Lion's whel●, and sent it to the Lady, who no sooner received it, but fell in labour, and was delivered of a B●y, whom she loved marvellously, and kep● the Lion always by her, feeding it with all the dainties she possible could get, and the Lion would follow her up and down the house, and seemed as tame as a Dog: at last he would walk abroad, and run among the sheep but meddle with none, that caused the Lady to love him, and tender him like as she did a Child, seeing he would run after her so prettily among the sheep, and not touch any; but why should he, when his belly was s●●●'d with all the Dainties that may be got. But it came to pass upon a time, the Lady want from home, and committed the charge of her young Lion to her maid, but alas she gave him not the attendance her Lady did; wherefore he ran out among the Flock, and slew one of the best sheep therein, and devouted him; when the Lady came home, the Shepherd complained to her, and said, the Lion had slain one of the best sheep in the Flock, and the Lady would not believe it, till the Stoward came, and also verified it; then said the Lady, alas, if he has slain one of the Flock, it is but through his foolishness, for he is but a whelp, and tender, and knew not what he did, but if we catch him again doing such a trick, we will correct him for it; and not long after he came into the Flock and slew two, and devoured as much as he could, the rest that was left a Greyhound of the house found and eat it; the Lion being come home first, and got to his Couch, there was no suspicion of him, but the poor Greyhound coming home with his chaps all bloody, was apprehended of the Shepherd, and all the blame put upon him; wherefore the Lady commanded him to be hanged, therefore according to the old Proverb, It is better for some to steal an horse, than another to look over the hedge: The third time the Lion went to the Flock, slew three, and glutted himself in their 〈◊〉; then the Shepherd complained the 〈◊〉 time, but could have no redress, the Lady still pardoning him, hoping he would mend: and the fourth time he fell among the Flock, slaying and spoiling above twenty; then all people cried shame upon the Lady, for keeping a ravenous Beast to destroy so good a Flock; yet the Lady would not kill him, nor hardly give credit to what they said, nevertheless she kept him in her Chamber close for two or three days, and he lay close by the Cradle where her young Son was; and it happened one morning one morning, that his wrath began to rise, and his eyes seemed as red as blood, walking up and down the Chamber, he smelled to the Cradle where the Infant lay, and at last jumped upon him, and fore him all to pieces, and eat him before the mother's face; then the Lady wrung her hands, and cursed the time she refused to kill him: but that did not satisfy the savage beast, but after he had dispatched the Child, he jumped upon the Lady, and fore her joint from joint; and when the servants ran up and looked through the key hole, all the Chamber was of a gore blood.  
Then said Radamentus, I fear it will happen to you as it did unto this poor Lady, in tendering and saving your wicked Daughter so oft, that when she comes to have power, she will destroy your Subjects the good Sheep, and after bring you to a miserable end. Then said the Empress, surely that shall not be, for to morrow my Daughter shall die: then she commanded her Officers to lead her away to the stake, arrayed all over in a white rove signifying Death: then all the people cried out, alas, and for evermore! the Empress' Daughter is leading again to die, & they much lamented her death. Then the sixth Mistress when she heard of it, mounted on horseback, and hasted to the Empress; who was no sooner come, but the Empress disdainfully looked upon her, and threatened her sorely that she should die with her Daughter, for bringing her up in such horrid actions, that all the world was ashamed of her: The Mistress said, I have not deserved as you say; and as for your Daughter you shall know she shall speak within three days, and all the truth shall come to light; but if you put her to death for the words of one man, it will surely happen to you as it rid to the Princess of Burgundy, who for the love of a foreign Prince, and the advice of an evil Counsellor, caused her own precious Daughter to be put to death, for which after she would have given her own life. For the love of God said the Empress, show me that Example; that shall I not do said the Mistress, except you send for your Daughter back again, otherwise she may be dead, and then I should talk to you in vain: Then the Empress commanded her Daughter to be called back again; and the Mistress began as followeth.   

The Example of the sixth Mistress.  
SOme time in Burgundy lived a fair Princess of famous worth and great 〈◊〉; this Princess took wonderful great delight in seeing Justs and Turnies: where upon a time there came several brave Princes and Nobles to show their valour before this great Princess, and there assembled together seventy and three brave Heroes, and when the Princess baheld them all, she thought the magnificency of the whole world were that day assembled together: amongst whom was valiant Brutus, one of the Knights of Malts; and he behaded himself so valsantly, that all the honour of the day accrued to him, that the Princess was so much enamoured on him, that her eye was fixed all day long upon the place where he stood; and when the day was over, this valiant Brutus came off the Field with honour, T●umpets sounding, and victorious Trophies bore before him: Now the Lady was in the window of her Castle all the while, and beheld his worthy acts, so that her love burned on him, but could not tell how to reveal it: Yet afterwards she invited the Knight to a Banquet, and sent the massage by her own Steward, for which Brutus returned the Princess many thanks, and reputed her invitation as a great honour; and when the Day was come, the Knight appeared before the Princess in such a brave gesture and comely deportment, that the Princess was ravished to see the excellency of his carriage; so they went to Dinnex that day, and passed away the time in complimental discouries: Now this Lady had a Daughter most beaufiful and fair, full of modesty and virtue, and of comoly seatures, and upon her the Knight had a fixed eye, but the Princess never minded that, for she thought the Knight was more ambitions to Court her then her Daughter, being young and of tenver years, therefore she was clear of any fealonsie of her Daughter: so after they had feasted together for the space of a week, the Knight most courteously took his leave of the Princess, and departed home into his own Country, promising to come again soon after; but failing to come, the Lady wondering the Knight did not come, she asked her Steward what may be the reason of it? he said, that he perceived the sight of her little Hound did displease him, therefore he would not come; now this Princess loved the Hound as she did the greatest Jewel she had, nevertheless by the Steward's advice she commanded him to be put to death. Now, said she, I hope I shall please the Knight when he comes; soon after the Knight came, and courted the Princess very highly, but as he was coming through a dark room in the Castle, he chanted to stumble; and he said to himself, I'll never come this way again: the Princess hearing the Knight say so, asked the Steward why he said so? quoth he, because the Parrot was in that room; O said the Lady, though I prise the Parrot as my life, yet go and kill it: So after they had pessed the time away in all Courtly Delights and Princely Sports for the space of a whole ●●●●th together, the Knight most courteously took his leave of the Princess, and went again into his own Country, for his affections were altogether knit upon the young Lady, though he bid it in obscurity, & the Princess thought it was upon herself, so the time passed beyond her expectation in looking for the Knights coming again, and admiring at his absence so long, asked her Steward what might be the reason of it, of whom she always took advice? and he said, the Knight has more love for the young Lady your Daughter, than he has to you; for always when he is here, she is in his Chamber wantonly playing with him, and she does all what she can to conspire your Death; and if she live any longer, she will prove to be your utter ruins and destruction. Then the Princess commanded her to be sacrificed upon the Altar to the Oracle of Apollo; then there was an Altar erected before the Palace Gate, covered all over with black, upon which was placed four great War-Candles set in sockets of silver, by which was placed a Block of Ebony, a Chasing-dish of Coals, and a Knite for the Eracutioner: These being ready, the young Lady was brought upon the Altar, attended by twelve Ladies arrayed all in white Vestments; then the dying Lady spoke to the Princess as followeth: Most reverend Mother and dread Princess, I am here brought to be sacrificed for things laid to my Charge I know not of; and if you put me to death, there is a God of all things who knoweth the secrets of all men's hearts, that will in one day bring the truth to light, to the shame and dishonour of the unjust, who are guilty of this my innocent Death. And thus having ended her Speech, and preparing for the Block, Brutus the valiant Knight rushed into the Palace pard, who demanded the cause of the multitude, and the people said, that the Princess Daughter that day was to be sacrificed; then the Knight spurred his Steed, and rote among the people, making a lane which way he came, and rescued the Lady from the Altar, and brought her in before her mother again; and said to the Princess, Madam, you had but three things in your Palace beside yourself, which I delighted in, and those you would destroy: The Princess asked him which were those? and the Knight said, Your Daughter, your Hound: and your Parrot, and the Princess said, My Steward informed me the Hermd 〈◊〉 essend you, and addised me to kill him, and another time told me the Parrot displeased you, and counselled me to destroy it, and thirdly, my Daughter had most wickedly conspired my death, for which he advised me to sacrifice her to the Oracle of Apollo. Then said the Knight, call hither the Steward, who being come, he asked him, did I tell thee the Hound offended me? he said no: he asked him again, did I tell thee the Parrot displeased me? and he said no: didst thou ever see the Lady in my Chamber? and he answered nothing, but fell down upon his knees, and begged pardon of the Princess. Then said the Princess, O cursed Traitor, what hast thou made me to the, so slay my Hound I loved so dearly, and the Parrot as I did my life, and to attempt the murder of my only Daughter, through thy treacherous, base, and wicked Counsel; surely thou shalt dies f●r●●, so commanded him to be led to the Gallows and hanged: Thus was the virtuous Lady saved, and the unjust Traitor condemned. Now said the Mistress, understand ye what I have said? yes right well said the Empress, and it rejoiceth my h●●rt the young Lady was saved; therefore my Daughter this day shall not die: Then said the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 you do to you will do well; therefore I commend you to God, and thank you for sparing yo●● Daughter this day for my sake.   

The seventh Complaint of Radamentus.  
WHen Radamentus beard the young Lady was pardoned again, he ran up and down the Garden like a mad man, crying with a loud voice, O unhappy man am I that should thus come into this Country, pretending to execute justice, and I am constrained to suffer vice to be supported, to the ruin of the Empress, and destruction of the Empire, and shame and confusion to my own ; I wish I ba● never come here! and the Empress said, leave off such talk, justice shall be done. O Lady said Radamentus, it will happen to you as it did to the Queen of the Vandals, which is mentioned in the Example; good my Lord said the Empress, show me that Example; that I will gladly do said Radamentus, if you with take example by it, otherwise it 〈◊〉 ●●●th me nothing to tell it you, for I have 〈◊〉 you six already, and yet you are dis●●●ded from them by six foolish women; ne●ever ●●●less I will show you this one, though it be the last I eve● shall do.   

The seventh Example of Radamentus.  
THere was a Queen 〈◊〉? the Vandals upon a time who had a very beautiful Daughter, who she tendered very much, and loved as she did her own life; insomuch, that wheresoever she went, her Daughter must go along with her; and as they were walking upon a time in the fields, the young Lady had a Bird in her hand, whom she would very fain have to sing and because she could not make him s●●g, the peck out his two eyes with her Bookin, and turned it lose, and the Bird flew back, and by accident lichted in the branch of a Vine which grew over the Queen's window, and there hardented for a while singing very dolefully every morning at the Queen's window: Then said the Queen, O that I knew but what this poor Bird doth so mournfully sing now his eyes be out? And then stood up an old man whose name was Mimnon, and said, if it may not offend the Queen, I shall declare the interpretation of the Song: then said the Queen, speak on; and he said, Gracious Lady, the contents of the song is a warning to you to beware and to cut off. The interpretation is, to beware that your Daughter peck not out your eyes as she did his; and that you cut her off before she come to that maturity, as to sit upon your Throne with the Crown upon her head, when you are on the pavement on your bare knees. And the Queen answered, these are but fables, believe them not, my dear child is of no such nature: so past it over like the old saying, till the time of repentance was too late; for she tendered her Daughter so much, that she would make her Queen to rule one your, and herself another, and did ratify and confirm by her own hand and Seal, that whatsoever her Daughter did enact or do in her Reign, it should stand as law for ever established; so when her Daughter came to maturity the Queen would needs see how the Crown would become her, and made her Daughter Queen for that year, and Crowned her in great pomp: when her Daughter had on the Royal Robe and Crown, and all the power in her own hands, she thought it became her so well, that she was loath to part with it; and for to keep it while she had it, that very year she tart her Mother, the late Queen of high Treason for the death of her Father, and brought her upon her knees before the Bar of justice, and she sat upon the Royal Throne. The Queen perceiving her Daughter's tyranny began to spring aloft, the night following she made her escape, thinking to raise an Army; but her Daughter being too cunning, laid watch and ward round the City and took her again, and to prevent her future escape, boared both her eyes out, and then the Queen remembered the singing of the poor blind Bird, and wept most bitterly, saying, Cursed be the time that I refused to obey the voice of the Bird; after that this wicked Daughter brought her again to the Bar of justice, and sound her guilty for endeavouring her escape, that in one day she deposed her of Life, Crown, and Kingdom, and after ●eigned a wicked Tyrant, that all people cust the day she was born: therefore I fear your wicked Daughter will prove so to you if you let her live. The Empress said, God forbidden it should happen so; but to prevent it, to morrow I shall sit in judgement, and she shall surely die: and on the morrow she commanded her Officers to lead her again to the stake. When Penthisila the seventh Mistress heard that, away she hasted to the Empress, and did her obeisance, and the Empress frowningly looked upon her, and said, O thou cursed Caitif, what hast thou done to my child, how hast thou taught her to be a Whore, a Beast, and a Strumpet, and also hast cut the tongue out of her head that she cannot speak? thou shalt die as well as she, for I long to be avenged on thee and all the fellows. Then said Penthisila, Most gracious Empress, the accusation against your virtuous Daughter is fulse, and it is but a small time betwixt this and to morrow noon, and if you please to spare her till then, with the help of Almighty God she shall speak unto you in all virtuous learning, and the truth of all things shall be made manifest; but if you will not, it shall, happen to you as it did unto a rich widow which is mentioned in the Example. Then show me that Example, said the Empress, that shall I not do, said the Mistress, except you call your Daughter gain; then shall you hear such a notable Example, as you shall beware the advice of one man as long as you live, and so began as followeth.   

The Example of the seventh Mistress.  
UPon a time there was a mighty rich Widow who had a bountiful Estate, and she had one only Daughter, who was Heiress unto this Estate; but it chanced that this Widow being not capable altogether to govern it all, she chose a grave Minister to be her assistant in the government of i●. Now said this old man, if I could cut off the Heiress, I would quickly juggle the Widow out of it, and then rule as chief Lord myself in it: And to begin his treachery, he said to the Widow, I hold it very convenient, since you are a Widow and I a Bachelor, to conclude a Marriage and spend our days together, provided that you will cut off the entail, and disinberit your Daughter, whereby we may enjoy it while we do live, and after our decease we will give it to her again. The Widow liked this very well, thinking he had advised her to the best, and thereupon disinherited her own child: then she asked the old man to be as good as his promise, who said, I will marry ye if you will assign the whole Estate over to me, than I will marry ye on May day next, and be careful of your child, loving to you, and govern it all. Then the Widow hearing that, reposed great confidence in him, made all her Estate over to him: When this was done, he neither looked after the Child nor cared for the Widow, which made the Daughter run distracted, and died in the public Field, and at May day the Widow wondered why he would not come and perform his promise, at last went to him, and asked him, Sir, why do you not perform your promise, and marry me? why, said the old Minister, I am ready to marry ye if you have got a good Husband: sten said the Widow, Will not you be my Husband? no, said he, I promised but to marry ye, not to be your Husband; the verier knave you, then, said the Widow; so the went out and wept bitterly, saying, That band which signed all my Estate to youder cursed Caitif from my own Child, shall now end my miserable life, so stab●● het self. Then said the Mistress, understand ye Madam what I have said, yes, right well said the Empress: then said the Mistress, beware, and believe not that old Counsellor, for he does but labour to cut off your only Daughter, and after to ruins you, so 07 that he may reign as Lord and Emperor. You have showed me a good Example, said the Empress, though it grieves my heart to hear it proved so fatal to the Widow; therefore my Daughter shall not die this day, but I shall rejoice exceedingly to hear her speak to morrow: said the Mistress, by the assistance of the Divine Powers she shall speak, whereby she shall decide all the variances betwixt Radamentus and us, and you shall see the truth brought to light, so took leave of the Empress, and departed.    

Chap. 6.  
How Sabrina the Empress' Daughter complained of Radamentus, and how she excused herself of her accusation.  
NOw all the Mistresses, Penthisila, Deborah, C●cere, Dejanara, Boadicia, Mardula, and Halicuja took counsel how they should bring the Princess out of Prison to the Palace; so they went to the Princess on the morrow betimes to counsel her, and the Princess said, take no care what I shall say, I am provided already: then they all rejoiced, and clothed her in cloth of Gold, and put her in a Chariot, drawn by six milk white Steed, and they rid on horseback, three before the Chariot, one of each side, and two behind, with stately Banners carried before, and all sorts of Music playing; when the Empress heard the noise she asked what it meant, and the people said, the young Princess and all the seven Wise Mistrissas' of Rome were coming to the Palace; and the Empress rejoiced exceedingly, and came cut to meet them, and when the Princess was come, she said to her Mother, Hall my most 〈…〉 Mother, and fell upon her knees, and the Empress full of joy to hour her speak, took her up in her arms and kissed her: then began the Princess to declare the whole matter before the Empress, and all the whole multitude, and she began as followeth, Most dear Mother, before I proceed, I desire that my accuser Radamentus and all the Gentlemen of his Bedchamber do appear before us; so the Empress commanded Radamentus to appear with all his men, who immediately came: then said the Princess, Most dear Mother, behold the young Gentleman that standeth there in black, who is favourite to Radamentus, above all others. command him to be stripped before us all: said the Empress, that will be a shame to us? nay said the Princess, be the shame to these that deserve it; and when be was unclothed he was known to be a woman to the admiration of all.  

The Complaint of the Princess against Radamentus.  
THen said the Princess to her Mother, behold this Fornicator and this Whore, who bath commonly lain with him in his bed, committing the foul sin of fornication; which thing he would also have committed with me in the Garden, and because I would not consent to his filthy lust, he ran out, crying, he had seen me lying with a man under the Fig tree, and thereby complained unjustly against me seeking all possible means how to take my life away: Therefore most gracious Mother, give me leave to reprove him of all his grievous slanders, and false accusations, word by word; and I beseech you to hear me patiently. When you sent for 〈◊〉 at his request, I beheld the Stars, b● which I knew, that if I should have spoken to you, 〈◊〉 any other, within seven days, ●●●as he●●e●h 〈◊〉 sh●●ld are a shameful death, for which cause I did forbear to speak until this present. When the Empress heard her Daughter so just and learnedly vindicate the truth, she said to Radamentus, O wicked wretch, was not thy Concubine enough to 〈◊〉 ●hy fault and lecherous apposite, but wouldst have had to do with my only Daughter. Then Radamentus fell to the gro●nd and begged pardon; but the Empress said, O ungratsful Traitor, thou dost 〈◊〉 mercy, but thou shalt find none, for the law shall be upon thee even unto a shameful death as thou hast deserved.  
Then said the Princess, Most gracious Mother, it was told you by this wretched Caitiff, that I should by the help of my Mistresses, endeavour your destruction, and assume the Government to myself? Alas, I should more rather use all the art and skill I have to help and support you in all your Government about your Empire, and repute you my Sovereign, since I have from you all my living and maintenance, not to deprive you of your Dignity, for in your honour do I glory. Then said the Empress. blessed be Almighty God, that I have such a good and learned Daughter, that I find so expert in all Arts and Sciences; therefore declare to me one example whereby I may understand thy wisdom perfectly, then shall I have joy of thee, and my heart will be satisfied. Then said the Princess, Gracious Mother, Command silence among the people, that all may hear me, and when I have ended, o●●e sentence according to law upon me and Radamentus: When the Hall was silenced, the Princess began as followeth.   

The Example of Sabrina the Empress' Daughter.  
THere was a Queen which had but one Daughter, whom she loved as she did her life; therefore the Queen delivered her 〈◊〉 a Wise Mistress to be brought up, and be instructed in all virtuous Learning and Wisdom: and when she had been with her Mistress a certain while, her Mother had a desire to see ●er, and sent Letters to the Mistress to bring home her Daughter; when she came, she appeared to her Mother, so expert in learning, comely in behaviour, and amiable unto all, that the Queen rejoiced exceedingly: and it happened on a time, as she delivered a bowl of Wine to her Mother, the Queen looked upon the wall and saw the shadow of a hand which wrote three lines in an unknown tongue, and the Queen began to fear greatly, and said, happy were that person which could interpret what that writing meant; then her Daughter said, if it may not offend the Queen, I could give the true interpretation thereof: and the Queen said, speak on my good Daughter; and the Child said, Most honoured Mother, this writing doth signify, that I shall become a mighty Princess, and shall be honoured of all people, especially my own Mother, who shall bring me a Bowl of Wine, and bow three times, and knéel in the delivery of it; and the Queen said, Thou shalt never be honoured so of me, nor have such service; therefore she commanded her servants to take her into a Forest far from the Court, and there slay her, and bring her Heart to show her, that she may know the truth of her death: so the servants took her away to the Forest, and having compassion on so sweet a Child, said among themselves, let us deceive the Queen in this bloody 〈◊〉, and save the Child, and we will put her in this hollow Tree, and kill a Lamb of the Mountain and bring the Heart to the Queen, which accordingly they did, and the Queen believed it was the Heart of her Daughter: saying, Prophecies sometime prove not true. And it chanced that on the morrow after, a strange Knight happened to hunt in the Forest, where the Child was to be slain, and his Dogs beyed about the tree, where the Queen's Daughter was: at last the Knight looked in the hollow of the tree, and there he espied a young Girl of such incomparable beauty, that his eyes never beheld a fairer, which made him suspect that she was of some noble race; and so he commanded his servants to be careful of her, and to bring her into his own country, where he did bring her up in all learned Arts, and with royal attendants, till at last her fame began to ring throughout the whole Kingdom, for Virtue, Beauty and Learning; and the Emperor of that Land being very youthful, came to that Knight's house for so view her. And no sooner did he behold her, but he was smitten with the inflammation of Love, and after dinner he danced with her, and in the evening he married her, and brought her in great triumph and solemnity home to his own Court. And after that, the three Eastern Kings hearing of her fame, came to see her beauty, and to bring her presents: thus for three years she lived with her husband the Emperor in all joy and happiness, and then he died, leaving the whole Empire unto she, who was then called the great Empress of Blodermario. When she was thus in the height of all her glory, she viewed the Firmament, and perceived by her skill in Astrology, how her Mother that day was deposed by the Prince of Moravia, of Crown and Kingdom, and banished out of her country; and laying to heart the distressed condition her mother was in, had compassion on her, (for pure Nature will never fall away) and therefore she raised a brave and mighty Army, and marched towards her mother's Country: which news did sly before her, that it was told the Queen her mother, the great Empress of Blodermario was coming to her assistance; which made the Queen to rejoice, and wonder greatly, knowing she had never no correspondency with her before. Wherefore she went to meet her, and when she came before the great Empress, she fell down upon her knees, and said O great Empress, how have I merited so great honour and favour, that your m●st Excellent Majesty have vouchsafed to come in person, and establish me again in my kingdom! Then the Empress took her up, and have her come in●o the Chariot to her, and when they came home to the Court, the Queen brought the Empress a bowl of wine and bowed three times, and fell down upon her knees to present it: then the Empress commanded her servants to departed the room, and then she asked the Queen what Children she had; and the Queen answered, she had one Daughter but she was dead. Then the Empress said, tell me true, did she die a natural death or no: tell me the truth, for I swea● by my Crown you shall come to no damage. Then the Queen answered, Most glorious Princess, I brought up my daughter in all virtuous Learning, Arts and Sciences, that for her wisdom and comely behaviour she was honoured of all people, and beloved of every one; she was my only delight, and in her absence was my greatest sorrow, that without her presence I was discontent: when I was wont to sit down to meals, she was always at my elbow, to give me a bowl of wine when I should please to call for it; for the pleasantest draught that ever I drank was out of her hand. And it happened upon a time as I sats at dinner, my Daughter waited upon me, and as she bore a bowl of wine to my hand, there appeared the shadow of an Arm upon the wall, and it wrote three lines to the great astonishment of us all: and I beheld it myself, and said, That person was happy which could read and interpret those Lines that were written upon the wall by a secret and an unknown band, that none but the Diverts powers did know of. Having thus spoken, my Daughter stood up and spoke unto me to 〈◊〉 words, If it may please my most dear and reverend mother not to be offended with me, I could read those Lines upon the wall and interpret them, and give you the true meaning thereof. Then I answered and said, Speak on my Daughter, and you shall find whether I shall be angry or no: them my Daughter stood up boldly and said, The Lines upon the wall written are in several Languages, but the interpretation doth predict or signify, that I shall become a mighty Princess, and be honoured by all people, especially by my own Parents; for the time shall come, that my Mother shall present a bowls of wine to me, and bow three times, and deliver it upon her knees. When the young Lady had thus made an end of declaring the interpretation of the Lines that were written upon the wall, her mother was very wroth, and said to herself thus, I will never be so serviceable to my own daughter surely; and being in my fury I called my servants and commanded them to take her privately away, and convey her to the Forest of Bazar, and there destroy her; and for satisfaction thereof, to bring her Heart and show it unto me, which accordingly was done, and she is dead; which for the reason you have heard I did destroy her.  
Then said the Empress, you might well think it was much in vain to strive against tho determinations of the holy will of God; for now you shall know of truth that what is decreed in Heaven above the force of mortals can never frustrate below upon the earth; therefore be it known to you that I am your daughter whom you suppose to have been dead, and by the Providence of God I have been preserved, the Lord putting it into the hearts of your servants not to slay me, but to put me into a hollow tree, where a Knight chanced to come that way a hunting, his Dogs did run and encompassed the said tree round about howling and crying, whereby the Knight looking in to see what the reason was of his Dogs making such a howling, he there found me: the servants also to satisfy your implacable wrath against me, that you commanded to bring my Heart, to let you see the Execution was effected, they slew a Lamb on the side of the mountain and presented the Heart to you. The good Knight also that found me in the tree cartied me into his own Country, and presented me to the Emperor, where I was not long before I was espoused to him his Wise, and advanced to the Royal dignity of an Empress; and his most Excellent Majesty soon after deceased, and left me sole Heir to his Empire, in which Honour and Glory I now remain. The Queen hearing these words, being ravished with soy, and all amazed, sell down to the earth in a swound, whom the Empress loving, took up in her arms, saying, Now you shall know that my exaltation and dignity accrue to your glory, s●y, and profit, so they kissed each other: then the Queen began to weep, but the Empress said Weep not my most dear and reverend mother, for you are restored to your Crown and Kingdom, whereby you shall be honoured by all people above me during my life and reign. And afterwards there was a great Feast prepared, and all the Nobles and Barons of the Land assembled together to congratulate and joy with the young Empress, in magnificent Shows and Triumphs. After the great Day was over, and the Celebration ended, the young Empress sent her Heralds throughout all the Kingdom, to the Dukes and Princes to repair to her Mother's Royal Standard, and render their duty and obedience to her Majesty, and to set the Crown again upon her Head. And after she had settled her mother in a firm and flourishing peace, she departed in great honour and glory, and returned into her own Empire.  

Here follows the Application of the Example.  
THen said Sabrina to the Empress her mother, Understand you Madam what I have said? Yes right well said the Empress. Then said the daughter, Most worthy mother, though God hath endued me with Learning and Wisdom so far abode others, yet it shall rather be applied to the supporting of you● Honour and Dignity, then to the impairing of your glorious Majesty: like as the great Empress in the very height of all her Honour, though formerly her mother did seek her destruction, she did not infringe her mother's Prerogative, but on the contrary, she helped her and enlarged her Dominions. Nay, when her mother was banished from her Realm, she restored her again to her Kingdom, and put the Royal Diadem upon her head; and by her great strength and potent power, caused all the bordering Princes round about to live in fear of her most Excellent Majesty. And as long as the Empress lived, her mother was honoured above her, and enjoyed her Kingdoms in a flourishing peace and tranquillity. Then the Empress took her daughter by the hand and led her up to the upper and of the Hall, and placed her in a Chair of State upon her right hand; then she assembled all her Nobles and Barons, and Privy Counsellors, both Ladies and Gentlewoman, and before them all spoke thus to her daughter.  
Then after the Empress had ended her speech, all the Lords of the Council stood up and said, Most gracious Empress, we do all think ourselves happy this day, that it hath pleased your most Excellent Majesty to declare so much your will and pleasure unto us; far be it from the heart of any of your noble Subjects this day here present, to derogate or disannul the least tittle what your Majesty's most gracious pleasure is, but as willingly do ratify, confirm, and establish every word and syllable contained therein, as willingly as ever we placed the Royal Diadem upon your head: and we do here unanimously, and with a general consent, first, with your gracious leave and pleasure, we do ordain and acknowledge, the Princess your Daughter to be our Sovereign L●dy and Empress. And furthermore we do ordain and appoint the ninth day of the second Month, to be Celebrated for the Day of her Coronation.  
And when all things were ready and the day come, all the Nobles of the Land appeared that day in their Robes; the old Empress road before upon a pavilion drawn be sir Horses, and two led on each side the Pavilion in cloth of State: four and twenty Tropbies or Banners were carried before. Next came the young elected Empress in an open Chariot drawn by twelve Camels covered with cloth of Silver all in State, and the Banner Royal was carried before the Empress' Chariot, with Trumpets founting, and all sorts of Music plating throughout all the City up to the Palace, where the young Empress alighted out of her Chariot, and walked up to the Royal Throne guarded by her Nobles, and with a rich Canopy bore over her head. When she came into the great Hall, she ascended up to the Royal Throne; then after the Ceremonies were ended, the Nobles put the Crown upon her Head, and the Sceptre in her Hand, and before the old Empress swore their Allegiance to the young Empress: and then with great Joy and Acclamations, the people should and said, God save the new Empress.  
Then was the old Empress brought into the Hall, where great Ceremonies and Reverence was done to her; then she ascended up to the Royal Throne, and placed she was by the young Empress upon her left hand, and the young Empress began to speak to her mother in this manner:  
Most glorious and loving mother, it hath been your will and pleasures to confer upon me this Royal Dignity before your decease, not my Ambition to bestre it: but though I fit in the Glorious Chair of this Empire, and Govern the People now in your Life-time; yet most dear mother, the Name and Authority shall not departed from you as long as you live: but in all businesses of Consequence that doth belong to the State, I mean these great Concernments that be most painful and laborious, to ease you thereof, I will take the pains in administering all helps and services that in me lieth, as it becometh a loyal and faithful Subfra, according to my bounden duty.  
When all the Nobles and Privy Councillors heard these worthy and Heroic Expressions of their young eleven Princess, they should all again, and gave thanks to the Divine Powers for raising them up such a virtuous and able Governor as she, who was the Supporter of her mother's hoznour; the true Maintainer of the Fundamental Laws and Privileges, and the Glory of all the Realm. Where now we will lewd her in her full power and Magistracy, prosecuting the false judge, evil Counsellor, and persured and errand Traitor, Radamentus.    

How Judgement was given upon Radamentus and his Concubine, and how they were both put to death.  
NOw when the Empress had Crowned her Daughter, and all the great Selemnity ended, she called a Council and assembled there the Nobles, the Barons, and the Learned judges of the Land, for the speedy trial of Radamentus and his notorious Concubines: and when they were all met together, and assembled in the judgement. Hall, the Empress and her Mother being plac'● upon the Royal Throne, and the Court sat, Proclamation was 〈◊〉, and Radamentus sent for; where immediately he and his Concubine were brought into the Hall, fast bound with cords, and commanded to stand before the Bar. Then Sabrina the young Empress stood up, and in a most Eloquent and Learned Speech she said thus as followeth:  
My Lords and Gentlemen of this honourable Senate, and also all you most grave and reverend judges of the Land, you have beard already and are very sensible for what Radamentus and his Concubine, both now Prisoners at the Bar of justice, stand here indicted for. They are not brought hither for a Crime laid against them to take away their Lives wrongfully; but for a fact which they have committed in the highest degree of insclency, and that you very well all do know. And be it known, that when I was at School with the Seven Wise Mistresses, (I may say of the world) and in the full practice of my Learning, this Radamentus now prisoner at the Bar, being then a very great Councillor to her Grace the Queen my mother, as you all do know, did instigate my mother to send for me home, to the intent he might learn and find out a way how to entrap me, whereby to take away my life: and to effect his horrid Couspiracy, he falsely informed my mother the Empress, that he saw me in the Palace Garden committing the foul sin of Fornication, supposing that I could speak and answer for myself: and hereupon he brought seven Examples to my mother the Empress against me; and laboured very much for seven days together, to animate my mother against me. And the reason why I did not speak within the time of those seven days was, because when my mother sent for me through his instigation, I saw in the Planets a Fate which did predict a sad omen to me: which was, that when I came to Court, if I did speak a word within seven days, I should be most miserable, and be put to the most shameful death that ever Virgin was. Therefore to prevent his wicked intention, I did conceal my Speech for so long; in which time my seven Wise Mistresses by their learned skill and good discretion did labour in my behalf, and spoke for me; each Mistress spoke by turn each day, and by Providence saved me: and the eighth day, by the assistance of the Divine Powers, I spoke and answered for myself; confuting all the shameful and wicked accusations this hellish Monster of mankind had contrided against me, whereby the unjustness of his own cause hath now heaped vengeance upon his own head: Moreover, the Prisoner at the bar, in the time of my accusation, and long before, did keep a private Concubine instead of a young man to wait on him, clothed in man's apparel, to satisfy his own lascivious lust, and filthy appetite, and charged me an innocent Virgin with all those abominable vices and wicked sins, that he himself daily committed in his secret chamber; he caused me seven days one after another to be led to the judgement Hall, where there he sat himself, and gave sentence upon me, and caused me to be led to the Gallows shamefully to be burnt at a stake, for crimes laid against me that I was innocent of: Therefore most gracious Mother, as you are the Empress of all the Eastern part of the world, forasmuch as I will not own the general name till after your Decease; and all you my Lords and Barons of the Pretty Counsel, and you also my grave and rederend judges, whose power and authority requireth you to do justice according to the due administration of the Statutes of this Realm, I do therefore demand justice upon the shameless Accuser at the Bar, Radamentus and his Concubine, through whose means I was in peril of my life, and led seven times to the Gallows to he executed.  
The Counsels and judges hearing the words of the Empress, were all astonished to hear such wisdom from a woman; then all the judges and Counselors stood up and called Radamentus: Radamentus, your evil life and conversation is very apparent to the Court, and your hellish conspiracies and notorious actions which here this day you are accused of, are public Evidences against you at the Bar; and therefore according to Law we do all here with a general Vote pronounce Sentence against you and your Concubine, that you shall be taken away from this place to the place from whence you came, and from thence to be drawn at two horses tails throughout the City to the place of Execution, which shall be under the common Gallows, and there to be burnt to ashes.  
The Empress having now outlived her mortal Enemy old Radamentus, she began a most happy and glorious Reign, her own Mother esteemed her as her only joy; the Nobles of the Land did honour her greatly for her excellent Learning and Wisdom, the Subjects did almost adore her for the rarefy of her justice, and the moderation of her Language, her Crown then began to flourish upon her head, and her Name began to spread over all the face of the earth, and the longer she did reign, the more her glory did shine; her Mother the old Empress lived till she saw, that what for her Beauty, and what for her Learning, the bordering Nations round about did almost give divine reverence unto her; and in the height of this flourishing Peace, the old Empress died and bequeathed her own Crown and Royal Scopter for to be put upon Sabrina's head in this world, and a Crown of Glory in the world to come. Sabrina after this did Celebrate her Funeral in the greatest Triumph which can be imaginable; she also erected a most sumptuous Monument, wherein she interred the body of her Mother, with this Inscription written on it:  
Within this Monument interred here lies  
The only Mother of Sabrina the wise,  
Who counselled was by Radamentus sway,  
To take Sabrina's precious life away:  
But time and fortune favoured her at last,  
Whose Life was saved, and Radamentus lost.  
Sabrina the young Empress having buried the old Empress in such state, was commended above all her predecessors: for never was such a Monument erected before. Now Sabrina being Empress of all the Eaverne part of the World, began to grow very potent and great, for all people gave her reverence, and did homage unto her: Kings and Princes sent her rich presents, and came from sarre Counteys to visit and compliment her; but more especially to hear her grave wisdom, and to see the excellency of her Arts and Sciences, which bade so much spread over the whole world; she was accounted the greatest Philosopher that was in those days in the world, she continually keeping all sorts of Professors and Artificers, that so she might thereby know the nature of all Vegetables, as Plants, Hearb●, Roots, Leaves, and Trees: she kept four thousand Stables of Horses, which were on purpose for her own Attendance; there was no Nation at war and variance with her but only one, and they were the Tarters; so that now to prevent their Encroachment upon her most rich and plentiful Dominions, she chose a fifth man out of all her Empire to build a brazen Wall between her and her Enemies, about fifteen hundred miles long, and at every ten mile's end she caused to be built a strong and famous Castle, wherein she placed ten thousand men for to keep guard against the said Tartars, which were People inhabiting in a poor and barren Country; for they fought not to revenge any quarrel or injury done to them, but merely for some of the Gold and Riches this glorious Sabrina had, and to see if they could get into any of her plentiful Countries to inhabit, for all her Countries were golden Valleys both for profit and pleasure: and though this brazen Wall was built and strongly made, yet the fury of the Tartars was so iuraged, that they broke over, according to the old Proverb, Hunger will break through stone walls: and for three hours' time there was a mortal Battle; but the young Empress Sabrina had a Champion in her Army called Gorgon, a Giant you must conceive he was, for he was seven Cabits high, the Club that he bore was like the mast of a Ship, his Helmet was made of Brass, weighing an hundred shekels of Iron; this Giant fought most courageously, and made lanes through the Army of the Lartars, that all dreaded and feared the place where he came: And on on a time it happening, that this Giant was in the heat of the Battle, and being extreme hot, he went to the main Ocean to drink, and to refresh himself, and in the vehemency of his draught, he swallowed a Soldier's Knapsack full of Linen, which made it swim, and he spate at it as if it had been but a mote in his glass; but finding himself not very well, he sent for the Empress' Physician, who hearing the great Champion was not well, made what expedition he could to disit him, and seeing him in such a sad distemper, he caused a Ladder for to be put down his Threat into his Belly, which was a usual thing or custom in that Country, especially to such men of such  and great stature, and commanded his Man to go down the Ladder into his belly, and there for to see if he could finds and know by his skill and good discretion what was the cause of his grief and heaviness; but his man would not venture to go down, except he had a Link in his hand; and thereupon he lighted a good blazing Torch, and down he goes: But he had not descended down above two steps, but the breath of the Giant arising from his smoking Gorge did very much dimnifle the light of his Link, and to recruit the light again, he smote it upon the rounds of the Ladder, which reduced the Giant to such an extreme cough, that with the extremity thereof he had a very strong vomit, that by the force and strength thereof, he drove the fellow out of his belly, that h● lighted above ten foot from his mouth.  
But no sooner was the Fellow out of the Giant's belly, but he ran away in a great sweat to his master, and told him, that he would not take half his Estate to go about the same Cure again. Nevertheless, the Giant became very well afterwards, and built twelve famous Pillars, upon every Pillar he built a Castle, upon every Castle twelve Towers, and upon every Tower spacious Gardens, whereby a Lady of pleasure might have taken much delight in: But whether you may take this to be incredible or no, I'll leave that to your judgement.  
But now as for the noble renowned P●in cess, the became so famous by her own State Policy, and by the assistance of that Giant in victorious Battles, that most Princes in all that part of the world became her Tributaries, all being in subjection to her: and she being counted the greatest Beauty that lived in those days, she was obtained by Alexander Blag of Egypt, and espoused his Wife, that when the strength of his deny and the excellent wisdom of this Empress, were joined in one Politic body, they remained the sole terror of all the earth for many years together; but in the end were both deprived from Crowns and Kingdoms.   

Of the great and triumphant Wedding between the young Empress and Alexander King of Egypt, and of the unfortunate successes that after ensued in his Dominions.  
NOw in the beginning of April, when the earth had got on her Summer livery, and adorned with her flourishing wont ornaments, Alexander King of Egypt designed his purpose to the Realm of Epirus, for he had heard say, there lived an Empress whose wisdom exceeded all the Kings and Princes both adjacent and far remote, and the fame of that Empress invited him thither; and thereupon he prepared his Horses and Chariots, with his Camels and Dromedaries laden with the richest Merchandire, Gold and Jewels that was in all that part of the world, and prosecuted his design until he arrived in the Kingdom of Epirus, where young Sabrina the Empress maintained her chiefest residence; and she hearing of his coming, caused her Heralds to proclaim in all Cities, Towns, and Corporations, that the great King of Egypt was coming to her Court, and also prepared herself in person to meet him: she road in a rich and stately Chariot drawn by six milk white Steeds, with Trappings of Gold, and twelve Ladies of Honour with Palms in their hands on each side the Chariot; twelve Lord Barons marched before bearing rich trophies, in each of which there was artificially wrought a Garland of red Roses, with all sorts of instruments of music. King Alexander espying the Banners displayed in the Air, immediately knew that it was the Empress, and thereupon commanded his Nobles to drive hard; and when 05 the King was come near to the Empress, and beheld her in all her glory, he was astonished, and said to himself, O Beauty incomparable! seeming Deity, thou dost want nothing of all the excellencies of a woman, nor in thee has nature failed in any thing, but that it made thee mortal; so in as comely a grace, and in as brave a deportment as ever past between King and Queen, they saluted each other, and in a most triumphant state marched unto her Royal Palace, where no delight was wanting: The young King had not been there above a week, but what by the Beauty, and what by the most marvellous wisdom he saw and heard from the Princess, he was even so ravished, that many times he knew not what he did; but it happened in an evening, that Alexander King of Egypt saw the Empress walking in the Garden; and thought it a fit opportunity to speak unto her; so stepped into the Walk, and said unto the Empress, Most amiable, beauteous, wise, and learned Madam, by your Beauty I am ravished, and at your wisdom I am astonished, even that my senses are bereft from me! Great Goddess, if I do not obtain one boon from your Grace, I shall live a captive to love, and a bondslave to desire; the thing which I crave is of no small concernment. The Empress in a most Virginlike and comely behaviour answered the King, being amorous of him also: My gracious Lord and renowned Prince, whatsoever your request is 'tis granted already. Then said the King, O most fair and prudential Queen, nothing do I desire more then only to make you Queen and sole Mistress of all Egypt. The Empress being wise, considered the King to be a great Prince, amiable in visage, wise and comely in behaviour, granted his request: For she understood▪ that matching with such a great Prince as Alexander, she should become the greatest Empress in the world, adding both powers together; and thereupon she gave him h●r hand upon it, and the day was appointed when the Marriage should be Celebrated between these two great Potentates; all the Kings, Princes, Dukes, and Ladies in all the bordering Countries round about were at the Wedding, except the King of Syra, who always was an Antagonist to Alexander, whom all those Princes now began to fear, in regard his Dominions were so enlarged by the Marriage with the wise Empress; and his Power began to increase so, that he swayed the one half of the world, but his Enemy the King of Syra swayed the other; so that between them both the whole Universe was governed. The Marriage being ended, never King or Queen did flourish in more peace and unity for seven years than they did; for through the daily company of this wise and renowned Empress, Alexand●r was much bettered, and by her wisdom his wits were illuminated; and she made him a body Politic, insomuch that he would b● inqu●●tive of all Ambassadors to know the nature of their Countries, the disposition of their people, the majesty of their Kings, and the ways of their Wars. He always kept a great Army, but under strict orders, and much severity; he was feared by all the Kings about him, only the King of Syra, who daily watched how he might surprise him; he was lovely, valiant, and discreet; he was courteous to all people, loving to his Empress, of whom he had begot two Sens; his love did always burn and extended so far towards his Empress, that being in Egypt upon a time, leaving his Empress in Epirus, he would every morning run up to the top of a mountain, and look steadfastly towards Epirus, and would s●nd this Message to her by the Moon feignedly.  

O Sweet Sabrina, when shall we in seats  
Of those blessed shades quench and renew our heats;  
There shall the Queen of Love and Innocence,  
Beauty and Nature banish all offence:  
In thy sweet presence shall I there behold  
Thy bared Snow, and thy unbraded Gold;  
There my enfranchised hand on every side  
Shall o'er thy naked polished Ivory slide;  
No curtain there, though of transparent Lawn  
Shall be before thy Virgin treasure drawn;  
But the rich mind to the enquiring eye  
Exposed shall ready still for mintage lie:  
And we will coin young Cupid there a bed  
Of Roses, and fresh myrtles shall be spread  
Under the cooler shades of Cypress Groves,  
Our pillows of the down of Venus' Doves,  
Whereon our panting love we'll gentle lay  
In the faint respites of our active play,  
That so our slumbers may in dreams have leisure,  
To tell the nimble fancy of our pleasure;  
And so our souls that cannot be embraced,  
Shall the embraces of our bodies taste;  
Mean while the public stream shall drown the shore,  
Th'enamoured chirping wood-quire shall adore,  
In varied Tunes the Deity of Love,  
The gentle blasts of Western winds shall move  
The trembling leaves, and through the close boughs breathe  
Still Music, whilst we rest ourselves beneath  
Their dancing shades, till a soft murmurre sent  
From souls entranced in amorous languishment,  
Rouse us and shoot into our eyes fresh fire  
Till we in their sweet ecstasy expire:  
Then as they empty be that lately bore  
Into the common Treasure all her store,  
Flyes'bout the painted fields with nimble Wing,  
Deflowering the fresh Virgins of the spring:  
So will I ris●e all the sweets that dwell  
In my delicious paradise, and swell  
My bag with honey drawn forth by the po●er  
Of fervent kisses, from each spicy flower;  
I'll seize the Rose buds in their perfumed bed,  
The Violet Knots like curious Maces spread  
O'er all the Garden, taste the ripened Cherry,  
The Apple, Apricock, and Coral Berry  
Then will I visit with a wand'ring kiss  
The Vale of Lilies, and the Bower of Bliss;  
And where the beauteous Region doth divide  
Into two milky ways my lips shall slide  
Down those smooth Alleys, wearing as I go  
A tract for Lovers in the printed snow;  
Thence climbing o'er thy swelling Apennine,  
Retire into thy Grove of Eglantine,  
Where I will all those ravished sweets distil▪  
Through loves Alembique, & with chemic skill▪  
From the mixed Mass, one sovereign balm derive  
And bring that great Elixure to thy hive.  
Now in more subtle wreaths I will entwine  
My lovely Thighs, my Legs, and Arms with thine  
Thou like a sea of milk shalt lie displayed,  
Whilst I the smooth qualm Ocean doth invade  
With such a Tempest, as when Jove of old  
Fell down on Danae in a storm of Gold;  
Yet my tall pine shall in the Cyprian straight  
Bide safe at Anchor, and unlade her freight;  
My rudder with thy bold hand, like a tried  
And skilful Pilot, thou shalt steer and guide  
My Bark into love's Channel, where it shall  
Dance as the bounding Waves doth rise and fall:  
Then shall thy circling arms embrace and clip  
My willing body and thy balmy lip,  
 me in juice of kisses, whose perfume  
Like a Religious Incense shall consume,  
And send up holy vapours, to those powers  
That bless our Loves & crown our sportful hours.  
Now Wedlock bonds unwreath our twisted Loves,  
We seek no midnight Arbours, no dark Groves  
To hid our Kisses, there the hated name  
Of Husband, Wife, lust, modest, chaste, or shame,  
Are vain and empty words, whose very sound  
Was never heard in the Elysian ground:  
All things are lawful there that may delight  
Nature, or unrestrained appetite;  
Like and enjoy, to will and act is one,  
We only sue where loves rites are not done.   
These and ten thousand such expressions this brave King Alexander did use towards his renowned Empress; but fortune not willing to favour him did cast a cloud over this pattern of virtue; for no sooner had he set his Kingdom of Egypt and arrived again in Epyrus, but there came a Herald at Arms from the King of Syra to challenge him to the Field, that upon the happy success of one battle, the whole universe lay on't, for they two governed all the other Kings in the world: Alexander with a brave courageous spirit answered the Herald, I looked for the King of Syra in the Field long ago, I wonder his Chariot Wheels are so heavy in driving; and bid him meet upon the Downs of Opher, where I will be in person to assail him and his ten Legions; and presently commanded his Drums to beat, and his Trumpets to sound, with other Instruments of War, and so marched out with his Army, taking his leave of his Royal Princess, and his two Sons, with showers of tears betwixt them both, so parted the one from the other with heavy hearts. When brave King Alexander was arrived upon the Downs of Opher, he placed his men in Battle of Array, and began to admonish them in these words; Most brave and warlike Soldiers, both Epirians and Egyptians, I exhort you this day to be of good courage, and fight manfully, your Cause is just and right; for the Syrans' are coming against us without cause, and we are upon our defence, and this great Battle is the Battle for the whole world; in the very heat of Battle think to yourselves that you do see the grave Senators of Epyrus bowing down their hoary heads, praying for your good success; think that you do hear the Prayers of your Fathers, Mothers, Wives, and Children for you; and know that whosoever intends to see their friends again, must this day ransom himself with his Sword: think to yourselves that if the Syrans' doth vanquish, us how that my head will be placed upon a Poll, and pitched up in the Market, place, and my Quarters hung up, two in Egypt and two in Epirus; our Cities and Towns burnt and turned to ashes, our Maidens and Virgins deflowered, our children's brains dashed against the walls, and our young men slain and murdered, and the brand of scorn upon our Kingdoms for perpetuity. And on the other side, if we do get the day, honour and renown shall be upon our heads, and the glories of Syra shall come into Epirus; Gold and Silver shall be your rewards, and the favour of your Prince you shall have to eternity. The Soldiers answered, Most great King, if the Gold of Opher will make you glorious, if the Treasures of Syra will make you great, and if the strength of our Army will make you considerable both at home and abroad: be assured great King, you are this day the Master of all the Universe, for here is not a Soldier but at your command will cut his Father's Throat, and sheathe his Sword in his Brother's Blood, to rob the Gods and pull the Temples down, all this will they do if you command them. By this time there was but one Fields breadth between the two Armies, all Rampires, Trees, and Hedges were leveled even with the ground, Lions and Bears were seen to come out of the Woods, as of purpose to devour dead Carcases, Vultures which are ravening Birds, did darken the Air, Lightning and Thunder came down that did melt the heads of the Footman's Spears, and singed the Hair on their Heads, and the Horse Manes. King Alexander divided his Army into four parts, his right Wing consisted of ten thousand, conducted by ten Kings, the Forlorn-Hope were five thousand, the left Wing were ten thousand, conducted by ten Epirian Lords, the main Body was led by brave Alexander himself; the Battle began hot, and sharp, the Forlorn-Hope of the Epirians were driven back to th● main Body; then advanced Alexander himself, and the Battle began to be mortal, the dispute old hold till twelve a Clock, and there ●ell on both sides above eight thousand: In the afternoon the Battle began again, and the discomfiture fell upon the Epirians, for in four hours' time Alexander was fain to quit the Field, being totally defeated and most of his men slain. Alexander was fain to throw his Crown upon the ground, because he would not be known, and escaped by Sea in a poor fisherman's Boat, and sailed into Epirus; and at the Haven where he designed to Land, there his Royal Empress was waiting when any Ship would come in with news; and at last she espied in a poor fisherman's Boat King Alexander himself; at which sight, fear smote her to the heart, that she swooned upon the thought that the King was utterly overthrown: but Alexander took her up in his arms and kissed her, with a shower of tears bedewing their Princely Cheeks; but there was no remedy, for their Kingdoms was wrested from them, and they forced to sly into an uninhabited Island, wherein they spent the remnant of their days with three other petty Kings. Soon after Alexander died, and his Empress, who in a Sepulchre which he hewed out himself, they were both interred; on which was written this following Epitaph.  
Within this House of Stone here lies  
The King of Egypt, who was called the Wise:  
Likewise that glorious and illustrious Queen  
Of the Epirians here is to be seen;  
Who from all Right and Justice were debarred,  
When Syrans' King in Battle with him Warred.  
FINIS.