EX LIBRIS  
FAR FAC  
FAIRFAX OF CAMERON   bookplate engraving of Fairfax coat of arms   

A WONDERED AND LAMENTABLE ACCIdent lately happened in the Low Countries, of a maiden through her extreme pride personally deceived by the Devil, who afterwards ended her life most miserably.  
And likewise what untimely end both her Parents and her Spouse, who was but newly married, came to.  
No less admirable than certain and remarkable, especially that this Kingdom of England may hereby take example of this heinous sin.  
LONDON, Printed for Thomas Archer, and are to be sold at his shop in Popes-head alley, over against the sign of the Horse-shoe. 1624.   

A pitiful Relation of the miserable end which a woman made with her Spouse to whom she was promised,  
IT is manifest that mankind is of its own nature wicked and given to ill, rejecting all manner of good instructions which are made by the teachers of the Gospel; and amongst diverse other vices, we perceive by daily experience, that both the rich and poor are bend to pride, although it be repugnant to the holy Scriptures, and forbidden in the same. It is true, I must confess, that many of us read sometimes the Scriptures, and hearken the Ministers of the Word of God, with an intention to amend our lives; but alas, we let those instructions more commonly pass through our ears as a wind that cometh at the one door in, and flieth again out by another door or window: we see not sooner a wanton eye, or any other wickedness, but fall again to our former sin, and think no more upon that which hath been taught unto us. And by reason of this it happeneth, that God sendeth daily many plagues upon us, to punish our sins, and visiteth us especially with war, pestilence and famine. Our mortal Enemy, who runneth continually as a roaring Lion after us, knowing our wicked inclinations, and that we make too much of the flesh, seeketh to bring us into temptations, hoping thereupon to destroy both our bodies and souls: and especially he enticeth us to pride and vain glory, which are none of the lesser sins, and a net to catch us. For we observe daily, that many which will fly higher than their wings are able to carry them, come not only to shame and discredit, but bring their souls also into great miseries and vexations; as amongst other examples may appear by this following, which happened lately near the town of Hoey (lying upon the frontiers of Brabant) on the person of a daughter of one Aert Claessen an Jnne-keeper, who dwelled without the gate of the same town at the sign of the black horse, and had no other children than this daughter, of which he made therefore very much, and spared no cost to adorn her most beautiful body with such gay and rich apparel as she required. She then being apparelled fare above her father's estate, and set forth as if she were an Earl's daughter, grew very proud, and despised all young men and suitors that came to see her. And it happened afterwards, that both her beauty and spightfulness or scorn being made known to the world by them which had lodged at her father's house, some three rich Merchants of Antwerp taking their way towards Francford, baited at her father's house. One of them being yet a bachelor, and a very handsome man, was even at the first sight that he had of her inflamed to love such a rare beauty:  
And not long afterwards, having at several times been a suitor unto her, he got at last her good will, and took the fruits of love upon great oaths and promises made before hand; and went thereupon to her father to get his good liking to the marriage, and spoke in this manner: It is now come so far betwixt your daughter and me, that if it pleaseth you we shall be two souls in one body: the father liking the Merchant very well, said thereupon, None ought to separate them whom God hath conjoined, and therefore if God hath appointed her for you, you shall not want my good will; and added moreover, that if he would, he might in the presence of his two friends that came with him, make the spousalls sure both by hand and mouth: He liking this motion very well, took presently a ring with a Diamond from his finger, and gave it to her saying, Take my most beloved, & receive my faithful promise. This being done, her father made a fore-meale of the wedding to feast the Bridegroom (as is usual in those parts) and his friends. The other two Merchants having daily urged the Bridegroom to dispatch his affairs about the wedding, that they might advance their journey; he took his leave from his spouse, and went thereupon to her father and mother to do the like, and desired them that they would take great care both for their daughter and her fruit, if she got any; and promised them again, that at his return from Frankford he would come to them back again, with an intention to marry their daughter, and to carry her afterwards to Antwerp. After his departure came many strange cogitations in the mind of his dearest, and considered by herself that if the young Merchant her spouse came not back again, that she should be contemned, and blamed all the days of her life, and that the people would point at her with their fingers and say, look, there she goeth who is now paid for her great pride and spitefulness: But especially she troubled her mind, with these and such like cogitations. When she saw that the time was expired which he had appointed for his return, and would not be appeased by her Parents, who sought to comfort her, saying, Be of a good mind, do not mistrust your spouse, he is an honest man, and will surely come back again, as soon as his affairs will give him leave. She growing then daily more and more desperate, it happened that she rising early on a Monday, put on her best apparel, and told to her parents with a smiling countenance, that she had but little rest the night before, and that she conceived in her first slumbering, that the Merchant should not come back again; but afterwards being again fallen into a slumber, her mind gave her that she should shortly see her spouse, and I think surely that it shall happen, and am therefore now resolved to walk a little abroad to recreate myself. Going abroad she went towards a wood that lay not fare from her father's house, and espied there a young man coming to her with his rapier on his side, and she thought that he was her spouse: (But alas she was mightily deceived, for it was the wicked spirit, who appeared unto her in his shape and apparel) and bade him welcome with a cheerful mind: and received thereupon a rich scarpe which he said that he had brought with him to bestow upon her; and desired thereupon that she would yield unto him her young and delicate body, for which he had longed a great while. She easily yielding to his suit, went hand in hand with him towards the wood (in which she yielded afterwards the use of her body unto him) and protested by the way, that in his absence she had fetched many heavy groans for his sake. But he not being contented with her body, made her also to yield her soul unto him; and wrung her head from her neck, (as soon as she had granted his request) making the whole wood to tremble and shake: and so made this poor wretch a most miserable end of her life, being destituted of the fear of God, and only given to pride, vanity, and worldly care. The father, and mother, longing for the return of their daughter, learned afterwards by a swineherd what was become of her, for he knew her, and had partly heard and seen this miserable tragedy. They were both at the hearing of this news much discomforted, and the mother fell presently into a trance. The next day, the young Merchant coming back again found the Parents of his dear beloved in this heaviness, and asked them where she was; who told him thereupon as well as they could this History, and told him that for his love's sake she had been tempted and murdered by the Devil: he being full of sorrow and grief, went thereupon out of their house and hung himself out of a desperate mind. The Magistrate having heard that which was happened, sent presently the hangman to fetch the body of the Merchant, and caused it to be hanged on a gibbet, as is there the custom of the land. Concerning her body it was buried under the gallows. Her parents died likewise within the space of few days, being not able to bear such a heavy grief. This example may move us to pray to God that he will give us better minds, and preserve us from all temptation of the wicked.  Translated according to the Low Dutch copy printed at Dordrecht by john Canin.