Certaine tragicall discourses written out of Frenche and Latin, by Geffraie Fenton, no lesse profitable then pleasaunt, and of like necessitye to al degrees that take pleasure in antiquityes or forreine reapportes

The argument.

LIke as all ages from the firste founda∣cion of the primytiue churche, are voide of recorde, or remembrance of so greate diuersitie in religion, as the wickednes of our presente time doth presente vnto vs, So thoppynions at this daye, are not so differente one from an other, as thabuse of the babylo∣nian or dyabolicall secte of Rome, appeares so plainely in their detestable trade of liuinge, that their owne villanie and frutes of corruption, discouereth to the dymmest eyes that be, howe farr they are from the pathe of sincere and true doctrine, and yet marching vnworthelie amongeste the troope of the faithful, are not ashamed to arrogatt vn∣to theim selues the title of thanoynted of the Lorde, wyth protestacion that they only beare the badge of true chris∣tianytie. Wherin albeit, it agreeth not with the taske I haue taken in hande, eyther to axgewe or moue question, because bothe the one and the other belonges to the office of the Theologian or deuine of Learninge and authori∣tie, yet seinge a daylye encrease of their disorder, wyth a slacke endeuour of suche, as (hauinge authorytie to expose vnto theym the rodd of reformacion, seame rather per∣tiall on their behalfe, thenne readie (accordinge to their dutie) to yelde due punishment to their detestable errour, I maye without offence, bowlte out myne opynion tou∣chinge their abhominable trade of lyfe, beinge confirmed chieflie therein wyth infynite examples of lasciuious ex∣ploites and other inordinat trade of lyuinge, in the par∣sones of such, as make semblable profession, and truly as we do but righte to yelde a dutifull reuerence to such as be true prelates and pastours of the litle flocke dispersed

thorowe the worlde, together with a generall zeale to thorder of theim that bee called to the sacred sanctuarie, euenso we commit offence in myne opinion, in beleuinge that there is anye honor or commendacion at all due to theim, whose liues expose more argumentes and proues of infamie, then the moste vile and swearinge ruffyan, that euer did seruice to thimpudente curtisan of Rome, neither is it a seamlye honor or ornamente for the church of GOD, to see a prelatte, puffed vpp with vanitie, iet∣tinge vp and downe the streetes vppon his footeclothe, attended vpon as a satrapas with a traine of dashbucklers or squaringe tospottes, and hym selfe pinked and razed in thattire of a yonge bridegrome, with hys heare cur∣led by art, fallinge in lockes, as it were by appointment, vppon his forheade, with more curyositie, then an olde y∣doll or ymage of venus, perfuming the streetes with the smell of muske and amber, whiche he hath conyngely in∣closed in the seames of his garmentes, besides what exam∣ple of vertue is it, to see one of our reuerend religious fa∣thers and gouernous of couentes, more geuen to courte the dames with requestes of sensualitie, then to torne ouer the leaues of the new testament or other sacred instituci∣ons, left vnto vs by christe and his disciples, and emploie more studie in deuise to seduce and subborne their neigh∣bors wiues and doughters, then to visit their diocesse, and defende the sely shepe against the malice of the raueninge wolfe, seking to deuoure the few that be left. Is he worthy to be admitted to feede the flocke, or beare the title of chri∣stes shepherd, that lyues in more adultery, fornycation and dronkenes, then he that makes an only profession of suche euil all the daies of his life? or how is he hable to reclaime such as be out of the waye to saluacion, that detesteth the

scripture, delites in wickednes, and preferres absolute ex∣amples of the most perentory synne that can bee, whereof thytalyan bandell, hath drawen a moste true and lyuelye pattorne in the person of a neapolitaine Abbott, whyche I haue accompted of necessitie to prefer amongest my vo∣lume of discourses, as well to the confucion of hym selfe, and such as resemble him in condicion, as to geue worthie glorie to the vertue of a pure virgyn, who had her ho∣nor in such reputacion, that she sought rather to end her dayes in the defence of her chastetie, thenne to commit the vse of her bodie, to the fleshly will of an Abbot, more full of villanie, thenne per∣ticipatinge with thos∣fice and dutie of a true chri∣stian

THE VILLENNIE OF an abbot in sekinge to seduce a mayde by force and her vertue in defendyng her honor against him and his companyons of traison. (Book 6)

ALl men, whose experience by trauaile is a wytnes of the singularities of Italye, and spaine, are of opinion I am sewer, that NAPLES, is one of y^e most riche pleasante and Populus cities in EVROPE, bothe for the beautie and fartilitie of the countreye rounde a∣boute, the magnifical plat and scitua∣cion of the towne, prospectinge with open casementes, vppon the heyghte of the highe sea Tyrenū, * 1.1 and also the warlyke garrison of gentlemen of al contreis, lyenge there for the defence of the frontiers, with the ciuill disposicion of the people inhabitynge the sayde paradise.

There maye you see a plaine and pleasante champaine, yel∣dynge a wonderfull solace wyth her delicate aire breathing * 1.2 vppon suche as vse the feildes for wholsome recreacion, and noresheth besides all chases of delite necessarie for thexercise of nobilitie. And he that wysheth to be priuie to the plea∣sure of solitarie places, maye see there the wonderfull arte and industrie of nature, declared in the conueigh of litle hil∣les or pendells of the earthe, hangynge (as it were) by a frame of Geometrye, beawtified on all partes, with an in∣finitie of orenges, lemons, and other trees odiferous, yel∣dynge a comoditie and pleasure peculiar to the Towne, and generall benefitt to the whole countrey and straungers pas∣synge that waye, aswell by thintisinge sauour of that trees,

as sugred taste of the frute. The bottoms of which deliteful groues, do discouer certeine valleis no lesse ryche in frute∣ful graftes and plantes of straung kindes, then the chāpion yeldynge a plentiful increase of corne of al sortes, where the meadowe also cladd with his grene garmente at all tymes of the yere, is honge continuallie with a tapestrie of all coo∣lors of hearbes and flowers, w^c other liuerie of dame flora, who assystes this heauenly glée in the valleys, with the ioy∣stes of sondrie cleare springes, yeldynge at all tymes of the daye, a temperat dewe, to take awaie the vehement heate of the son, in suche sorte, as the straungers passinge by, impar∣ting of the ayre and wholsomnes of the place by the breathe of a milde zephir, are drawen thether by delite, and forced to repose and refreshe their weary bodyes for a tyme with the solace, whereof those places yelde an indifferent plentie to al men, besides, he that is desierus to be pertaker of the mer∣ueiles of nature, hidden in thintralles of the earthe, let hym take a boate and visit the Ylandes, where amōgest the won∣ders that Pozzollo bringes furthe, he shall see the hott pod∣dells, from whence distille the baines so necessarie for the health of man, with the pubbling troughe or caue of Sibilla, by the which as the poetes fayne, ENEAS made his entrey in discendyng into hell to speake with his father. There appe∣res also a remembrance of thartificial laborynth of Dedalus, with the sumpteous pallays of the Romaine Lucullus, whose lodgyngs, with so many crooked turnings & windinges eue∣ry waye, windowes, chapells and places of solitarie resorte, excedyng (accordynge to the poetes) the cōputation of man, were swallowed in a momente in the deuowrynge throate of Tyrenū, by a soddaine trembling or shakyng of the earth cōmonly called an earthequake, finally he shalbe there pre∣sented with the secret and most sure lodgings builded by na∣ture in the belly of the harde rockes, with other wonders in such infinite nomber, that onely that place yeldes pleasure sufficient to fede the eye and mynde of man, with more de∣lite then the whole remainder of Europe is hable to furnish,

wherin I am chiefly moued to note you a particular discrip∣tiō of this paradise, to thend y^t as the places of solēne & soli∣tary regarde, do cōmonly mortefie in men all occasions of wanton exercise, so the planet that gouerneth those plattes of earthly pleasure pricking forward our effeminate dispo∣cition, sturreth vp the humor of Lasciuius luste with an in∣clinacion more readie to performe the fraile suggestion of the flesh, then prouide for the health of the deuyne parte of the mynde, which is the sowle, neyther is our present age so plentiful of vertue or vertuouse effectes, but the view of our auncestors liues past, giues vs sufficient cause to blushe and be ashamed, in that we are founde so weake in thymy∣••acion of their exploites and exercises of vertue, wherin be∣sides an infinitie of examples procedyng of the wickednes of our time, I maye be bolde to confirme myne opinion with a familiar experience of an Abbot of Naples, whose younge discrecion, equall to the grenes of his yeres, made hym no lesse insufficient to gouerne the state of hys vocation, then vnable euerye waye, to discharge thoffyce wherein he was inuested by othe and habitt of religion, for hauyng al∣so the consente of noble race (whereof he was discended) to fauor the wilfull appetites of his vnbridled youthe, he toke more delite to assyste the exercises of nobilitie, I meane in makynge one at all manner of daunses, masques, mome∣ries, dressed for the honour of ladies with couered faces, and other recreacions of pleasure conuenient onely for the cour∣tyer, then to sitt in the chapter house vppon reformation of hys monkes, or to ymploye any parte of hys tyme in the studie of the sacred volumes of the churche, he was also ad∣mitted a necessarye compagnion to some of the gouernours and capteines there, for that he kepte an ordynarye table and free diot for gentlemen, beynge a thynge most accepta∣ble to the Spanyarde, who at hoame kepeth hym within the compasse of thyn and sober chere, and abrode is nothynge inferiour to the deuourynge Almayne, resemblynge by that meanes, the sparynge order of the nigardes of olde tyme in

their drye and hungrye banquettes, and to the sinne of thys excesses in delicate fare, he added an offence no lesse hainous and moste vnseamely for any of his callynge, deuidyng the daye into howers, and howers into ymitacion of pleasures, some tyme he was sene in the stréetes in thattire of a gallād or younge courtiour, some tyme he visited the hauntes and assemblies of ladies, courtyng suche of theym as he founde to giue moste eare to hys ydle talke, neyther respectyng the opynion that passed of his lightnes touchynge the violacion of the hollye order of hys profession, nor the dishonor he dyd to the house from whence he discendid. But gloried rather in that he colde so artificiallye performe the partes of a Phi∣lantos or flatteryng louer, then in reuelyng the misteries of the scrypture, to seame to ymitate the true simplicite of lyfe of hys vertuous predecessours in that place, wherevppon followed ymediatly a declaracion of the vile frutes of so vi∣cius a lyfe, for as Mousieur le Moyne passed one daye in great brauerye vppon hys footeclothe thorowe the fayrest stréete of Naples, exposyng a riche showe by reason of the glée of the gold smithes shoppes, he glaunsed by chaunce vppon one of the faireste women (as he thoughte) harbored at that tyme within the walles, and followynge the pursute of her beau∣tye wyth a gredye gase of hys eye, (maugre hys harte) he was forced to a soddayne staye ryghte ouer agaynste the place where shée was, whyche tyme of abode, his eyes forgat not to imploie in takyng large measure & viewe of her pro∣porcion euery waie, makinge such reaporte to the harte and rest of the interiour partes, that in one momente he became assailed with that wherin he was ignoraunt for experience, and lesse assisted with necessarie resistaunce, féelyng within him a hoat warre betwene the sencesible partes of reason, & sensuall prouocation of y^e flesh, with a presente captiuitie of * 1.3 his auncient quiet by the cōmon enemie of the ease of man, which we call properly the passion of loue, who at this first encounter, rampired hymselfe so strongely within y^e inward

partes of this younge Abbott, that he onelye gouerned his thoughtes, & disposed his doinges altogether by his discreti∣on, ceassinge not to flatter his fonde humour wyth instinctes of vaine conceits, til he brought hym to y^e stage to play y^e last acte of the Comedie, where he receiued the due guerdon of his follye with open shame and rebuke of the multitude, and when tyme sommoned this religious fondlynge to de∣parte from the viewe of his newe mistres, he seamed in no lesse paine, then if their had bene presente incision made into his intrailes, to cut insonder the stringes where vpon hys harte is staide, or that (accordynge to the Poetes) he felte the Egle of promotheus peckinge vppon his liuer. The girle was the doughter of a goldsmith, no lesse deare to the father, then extremelye beloued of her mother, both for her beauty and promptnes of wit, and also for that in her young yeres appeared suche argumentes and signes of vertue, that she was noted the paragon and patorne of all degres of her tyme, for womāly behauiour, and nothyng inferiour to the best touching y^e chast order and honest conueighe of her life, wherewith she beautifyed the meane discente of her parents, and lefte a rare example to the Ladyes of greater callynge, who thinke, their renowme sufficientlye confirmed by the height and honor of their house, without puttinge to the ac∣cion and effecte of vertue, which in dede, as it is the badge of true nobilitie, so it hath also authoritie to make noble the meanest discent that is, and truly as the vaine woman exal∣teth her selfe, like to the birdes, whose naturall lightnes con∣ueighe theim to the starres, I meane takes pleasure in the abundance of her riches, preferreth the magnificencie of her house, ymagininge her beautie to be worthie to sytt in the highest Theatrey of the world, so the wise woman is glori∣fied, only in y^e gifte of sincere & pure simplicitie, wyth a won¦derfull care to kepe her name without spott, and the course of her life so vpright, that the malice of euill tounges maye haue no power to enter, and muche lesse perce with anye worthie slaunder, but nowe to our Gansaldo, and amarous

Abbot, who bathing in the lake of his follies, thought as gre∣ate ympossibilitie to retire or dismisse this firste alaram or sommonce of loue, as to comprehende all the water of thoc∣cian within a litle vrynall, neyther wold he dispose hymself to trie the force of any resistance, but determined (at what price soeuer it wer) to ymparte his passion to the girle, which he ymagined would moue in her a consent of reciprocall affection: here in the opinion of the poet is iustifyed sayinge, that louers reapose a certeintie in dreames, and proclayme a sewer victorie of thuncerteine obiect of their fancie, like as this fonde abbot being lymed with a simple looke or glaunce at vnwares, doth promise himselfe the conquest of the pray, agaynst whom he hath as yet vsed, neyther force nor pollicye and much lesse dressed any ambushe, he forgat not euery day in the weke to make his purmenado on horsebacke in the stréet, wher dwelt the saint to whom he had vowed such sole∣mne deuocion, wherin for a more glorie of him selfe, and the rather to seduce the maide, hée appeared in seueral attire and chaung of horse twise or thrise a day, not forgettinge in pas∣sing by the house of the goldsmith, to take measure of the doare, glaunce vpon the windowes, and perce with the dra∣wig regards of his eye thorow euery creuise of y^e wal, to thēd hée myght encownter a seconde view of her, whose fyrst re∣garde, had ministred vnto him the brothe of infection, and if fortune were content at any time to geue him a syght of her, whether it were at the doare or out of the window, or in other place which denied him fauor or libertie to speake to her, I thinke he forgat not to expose arguments of his grefe, by the pitiful regards of his countenance, wanton torninge of the eye, and other messengers of his passion, arguing the torment he endewred for the desier he had to do her seruice, he vnderstode at last by secret inquisition, what churche her mother haunted for the performing of her prayers, and that her doughter was her only companion in these deuocions, whither also hée directed his pilgrymage, and dissymulinge with GOD, hée plaide thypocrite, in conuertinge his re∣gardes

from thalter or place of leuacion, to beholde the bew∣tie of the goldsmithes daughter, the saint to whom his hart yelded most honor, making of the house of prayer y^e shop or forge to frame iniquitie, exceding in this respect, the barba∣rouse abuse of the Etheniques turkes and infidells, who geue more reuerence to their Mosques, wher God is blasepheimed and his Son abiured, then the christians now a dayes to the temples and houses dedicated to the Lord, to performe the ministracion of the sacraments, with open publicacion of the wil of our sauiour Christ, whom wyth saint Paule we ought to pray, for the subuercion of babilon, and restauracion of the true Church, dispersed into diuers corners of the world, by the malice of the pope and his wicked disciples, wherof this Abbot, being not the least in authoritie, was nothing inferi∣our to the most abhominable in al vices, wherof he gaue suf∣ficiente proofe in two offences of equall detestacion, the one in seking to deflowre a mayde, contrarye to the othe of hys religion, the other in abusinge the house of GOD as a place of bawdye practise, to performe theffecte of hys cursed deuise, beinge more deuowte in courtinge the La∣dies of NAPLES, thenne curious to reforme thabuses of his idle couente. But the girle notinge thinconstant order of prayer in our reuerende father GONSALDO, to gether wyth hys wanton regardes full of lasciueous de∣syer, ymagined by and by, wyth what yron the gentlemanne was shod, and to what sainct hée would gladlye offer his candell, wherefore thinkinge it noo breache of good manner to playe mockhallyday wyth such a maister foole, gaue hym skoape now and thenne to hehold her at large, and to beat the hammer more depe into his head, would requite his a∣marous glaunce wyth a semblable glée, and sodaynly re∣tire and vanish out of hys sight wyth an angry farewel, as thoughe shée disdayned his wanton offer, wyth intente notwythstandynge to shonne hys voyce and place of pre∣sence no lesse, then thincounter of any venemus beaste,

fearinge to reapose eyther credytt in hys honestie, or so muche assurance in her owne pudicitie, as to open her eare to the charme of a friuolous louer, or who thinkes it no of∣fence to take awaye the puritie of a mayde, whom wée may compare to the red rose, desiered of enery one so longe, as the morning dewe mainteineth hym, in odyferous smell and pleasaunt coollor, but when the force and heate of the son hath mortyfied hys oryent hew, and conuerted hys na∣turall freshnes into a withered leafe: the desier to haue it dekaieth wyth the bewtye of the thynge, euenso shée that hathe once morgaged the flower of her virginitie, is not only dispised of hym to whom shée hath béene so prodigal of that whych shée oughte to make a moste precious Ie∣well, but also in common contempte wyth all men, what showe of dissembled courtesie soeuer they presente vnto her, wherof the mistres of GONSALDO was nothing vnmind∣full, who preferringe the honor and reputacion of chaste∣tie, affore all the respecttes of the worlde, seing wythall that the blinde Abbot pursewed more and more his amarous quest, preuented hys expedicion, by making her a straunger to his presence, shonnynge all places of hys repaire, and to take awaye all occasions that myghte geue increase to his desyer, shée forbare to visit the churches, onelesse it were at suche howers as they were voyde of other companie, and yet wyth suche regarde, that shée made (as it were) a priuy searche in all the corners and quyers of the temple, to preuent his subteltie in dressinge some ambushe to in∣uade her vppon a soddaine, and if by chaunce hée saw her and saluted her in the stréetes, shee crossed saite on the other side, and closed her eyes, as agaynst some hurtfull encown∣ter, yelding hym no other countenance then she mighte haue auowched to the most infydell in the vttermost Ilandes of Tartaria whych brought the sely freare into suche mortall perplexitie, that dispaire beganne to appeare, wyth thap∣proche of sondrye perentorie diseases, chiefly for y^t the hyer of his earnest loue was retorned with sondry sorts of crueltye

and disdainefull repulses, occupyinge his brayne with suche contrarietie of thoughtes, that he was voide of councell to what saint to vow himselfe, or vpon what wood to make his arrowes, seinge he was neither hable to mortifye nor vse moderacion in his passion, and muche lesse was assisted with any meane to communicate the greatnes of his gréefe to her, whose beautie had made hym the slaue of follie, wherein albeit he sawe a vanitie to vse the office of a Dariolleta or bawde, for that the vertue of the maide argued a detestation of suche Embassadors, and to write to her appeared a great difficultie, for that she was alwayes in the presence of her mother, who vsinge the vertue of her doughter as a solace of her olde yeres, was no lesse carefull of her honestie, then be longed to so precious a Iewell, yet felinge a continuall aggrauation of desyer, wyth a flatterynge offer of loue to re∣warde hym in the ende, with the praye of his purseute: he de∣termined to suborne a shameles messenger to bewraye his shameful intente, and therefore put his requeste vpon tear∣mes in a letter of this effecte. Yf my destenies had don exe∣cution * 1.4 vppon my bodie, when firste they brought me to the viewe of your beautie, I had not ben a presente experience of your crueltye, nor you thoccasion of my vnworthie tor∣ment, for if death by nature, had preuented the begynnynge of my loue, I had ben frée from the force of passion, dischar∣ged of all mortall greefe, and you dispensed with al, from the imputation & cause of a double ill, the one to abuse the ver∣tue of your selfe, & do wronge to the renowme of al women by preferring effectes of rigour, the other in disdaynyng the seruice of him, whose life and death payseth indifferentlye in the ballaunce of your good will, dissemblynge also not to sée the circunstaunce of my loue, to driue me to desperacion, and at the point to vse vnnaturall force againste my selfe? Howe often alas, haue I made you priuye to thinwarde af∣fection of my mynde, by the outwarde regardes & glaunces of my exterior partes? Howe often haue you acknowledged the same by argument of semblable glée, and immediatly

denied the whole by a soddaine showe of angrie complexion, eyther disdayning vtterly thoffer of my seruice, as one vn∣worthie to enioye the preferment of your fauor, or dalyenge wyth my earnest sute, to geue increase to my passion. I haue often bene vpon the waye to disclose vnto you by mouth, the thinge wherin your hart hath alreadie geuen iudgmente of my meaning, albeit the desier not to offende you any waye hath staide thexpedicion of my intent, suspendyng my grefe, till the greatnes of the same hath forced a presente vente w^t this simple requeste, that as, fearinge to ymparte the full of so great a matter to so vncerteine a messenger as a pece of paper, so it may please you to geue me credit of cōferēce, wher only our selues may be witnesses of that whych I haue to discouer & am no longer hable to conceile, wherin if ther be any bonde of consideracion in great Ladyes, on the behalf of the offer of their inferiours, ymagin how iustly I deserue well of you, and wyth what reason you oughte to passe a graunte of so small a fauor to hym, who is no lesse hable (as you know) to procure your aduancement wyth what porcion of wealthe your selfe shall thinke good, then readye to per∣forme all such thinges as you shall but ymagyn and wishe to be don, wherof I sende you a confirmacion herewith, sea∣led with the othe of my religion, and with protestacion of the faythe and life of your moste loyall and desolate seruante. GONSALDO

He had no soner written this letter, but he was in mynde eftsones to commit it into morsells, or to make it a sacrafice in the fyer, dispairing belike of the successe, till at laste the blind, guide and fyrst author of his follie reprehendinge his want of corage, renforced hym to a forwardnes, perswading * 1.5 hym that the beginning was good and argued a sequeile of contentacion, the rather saieth, he for that the tender yeres wyth small discrecion preferreth an ignorance in the girle of your meaning, & seing accesse and conference be denied, y^t next pollicie is to vse thaduantage of writinge whyche de∣clareth theffect of that whyche is painted in the outwarde

regardes of the face, the wordes of your letter may also im∣porte such a charme, that her present rigour may be conuer∣ted into spedie cōpassion, for as there is conning in enchaū∣tyng, so the misterie can not be wrought without the assi∣staunce of words, which foolishe suggestion restored the Ab∣bot to a hope, & makyng conscience to committ the conueigh to the creditt of anye of his couent, for that he doubted their wisdome in performinge so secret an embassage, vsed thex∣pedicion by one of the vallettes of his chamber, whom after he had put in remembraunce, of thauncient fauours he had vsed on his behalfe, and howe much he reaposed for hymself in the assurance of his fidelitie, he said he was nowe to im∣ploye his fayth and diligence in a busynes of no lesse value, then the price of his life, wherin sayeth he, albeit thou maiest conster some part of my meaning by the circūstaunce of the late chaunge and alteraciō thou haste noted in me, iudgyng peraduenture the same to procede of some amarous hu∣mour, yet, althoughe I consente and make good the con∣ceite of thy fancie in that surmise, thow nor all the de∣uinours of the worlde can name her, who (as thou séest hath made me the flaue of her beautie, this is the secret wher∣in I am to make a last experience of thy indeuour and wise∣dome, to make a presente of theis letterrs to her, who hath not yet vouchesaffed to lende me the vse of one simple re∣garde of fauor, to qualifye the heate of my burnynge mar∣tyrdom, wherewith he told him the name of his mistres, the stréete and signe wher her father dwelte, with straite com∣maundement in the ende, not to omitt any moment or offer of time that might seame to further y^e executiō of his charge: the vallet glad to haue so good a meane to make declaration of his loyal zeale towardes his maister, admitted the enter∣pryse & gaue hym assurāce of his diligence, willyng him in y^e meane while not to loase corage, for that saith he there is no fortresse so wel defended, but at length it is rendred by com∣posicion, or won by assaulte, wherewith the Abbott departed to his chamber flatteringe himselfe with the promise of his

man, who destrous to reliue the distres of his maister, added such diligēce to the dispache of his commission that the nexte daie he foūde the meanes to accoste Parolyna occupyed al alon in her meditacions in the churche, where presenting himself afore her with more assurāce, then the passioned Abbot, gaue her the reuerence of his Countrey, & desiered her not to dis∣may, if vpon so small acquaintance, he discharged so boldlye the parte of a familiar messenger, wherein sayeth he, if there be offence I preferr (good madam) for my excuse my lord and maister, vpon whose behalfe he craued so muche fauour as to reade his letter, which after he had kissed wit great humi∣litye, offred to the chaste mayde, who knowyng the messen∣ger, for that she had séen hym often follow the traine of Gon∣saldo, gaue iudgement also of the cause of his commynge, wherefore she did not only refuse it, but also wyth certeine tearmes of reproche, retourned hym with an answer cōtra∣rie to thexspectation of hym selfe, and contentment of hym that sent hym, what sayeth she, doth your maister accompte me of such simplicitie, that I haue not longe since discerned thintēt of his follie? doth he thinke that I am any other then one that settes as deare a price of mine honor, as the best la∣die in Italy? or is he of opiniō that the respect of his authoritie or greatnes in degrée can force me y^e rather to a remorce on the behalf of his wicked meaning, no, no, tel him I haue nei∣ther to do with hym, & lesse cause to accepte his letters, ney∣ther oughte he to adresse suche embassages to me, who can, nor will not be thankefull to any in loue, but such as my pa∣rentes shall giue me in lawful mariage, is this his masque of holynes, to couer so greate a villanie vnder the habit or shroude of simplicitie? what argument of vertue is this in him, whose office is to prescribe principles of honest lyfe? can he discharge the othe of his religiō, in seking to corrupt the puritie of virgins, and expose an example of the greatest villanie that is? Let hym besiege the forte, that is as gladde to yelde, as he readie to sommon, and bestowe his charmes and letters vppon those, whose regarde and care of honor,

is equall to the malice of his meaning, and for your part let it suffice you that I pardon your first follie, and ceasse hens∣furthe to procede any further, least you be payde with the monie ordeyned to discharge the hyer of suche messengers, wherewith she flonge oute of the churche and not without some passion of iuste anger, repaired to her fathers house, not ympartynge anye parte of thaccident to any one of her parentes, trustynge that as her desier and intente was to liue in the trade of an honest woman, so God woulde assiste her vertuous respecte and defende her chastetie agaynst the malice of the wycked, she douted to discouer the case to her mother, for feare some slaunder woulde haue followed, neyther durste she imparte it to tholdeman, leaste in com∣plainynge of the wronge, hys pouertie hadde béene founde to weake to contende agaynste thautoritie of thabbot, and by that meanes to haue beene worse delte with all then ey∣ther he deserued, or she desiered, but leauing in example to al women to vse like modestie in semblable distresses, shee committed her selfe and cause to the protection of the hea∣uens. By this time the valiant messenger of GONSALDO was retorned to his maister, communicatinge not onelye the perticularities of her aūswere, the disdaine she showed to his letters, and small accompte shee seamed to make of the offer of his good wil, but also perswaded him to correct the humor of his appetite, & dismisse the remēbrance of her beautie, bestowinge his affection vppon some such as hatbe more discrecion to yelde hym consideration, then the folish doughter of a simple artisan, which reaport, albeit brought an increase of doble passion to the martiredom of the poore Abbot, bothe for that the termes of her aunswere argued an agrauacion of her creweltie, and absolute dispaire hereafter to enioy y^e benefit of her good wil, yet he had y^e gift to dissimu le thinward panges of his grefe w^t a wonderfull patience, conuerting his humor of fretting mallencolie into tearmes * 1.6 of sorowful exclamacion in this sorte, ah saith he, I see wel y^e arte ignorāt in y^e forces of loue, who is not easely suplanted

after he hath once conquered the rampier of the harte, ney∣ther arte thou priuie to the operacion of his pilles, who dif∣ferynge from the nature of other passions assailynge the mynde of man, doe make vs desyer that we can not gett, and loue the thynges whiche hates vs mortallye, and is not this a sufficieut experience of the peruersitie of wo∣men, seinge the more I indeuour to preferr my seruice to my cruell Parolyna, the lesse accompte she makes of myne offer, and the more I languishe in desyer, the greater plea∣sure takes she in my martiredome, that I wishe alas, that some oyle of holye thombe, might presently close mine eyes againste the lighte of this world, or els the vertue of some happie enchauntment distillinge from the arbour and pot of som Elysea, mighte with spede remoue the vaile of her rigour, and sturr vp an humor of compassion to the reliefe of my painefull tormente: I see thy aduise is iustified eue∣ry waye by reason, & when I dispose my selfe to followe thy councel, I féele within me (I know not what) which forceth my wil wyth constrainte to purseue the sommance of mine appetite, in suche sorte that the voice whiche vttered the re∣pulse, hath also pronounced the fatall sentence of my lyfe, wherin he had yet proceded, but that the panges of inwarde sorowe compellynge the conduites of waterye humours to discouer theim selues, forced a vente at his eyes in greate a∣bundance of teares, whiche drownyng the wordes of furder discourse in his mouth, moued his vallet also to equal dolor, who notwithstandynge preferred suche consolacion to his maister as sorowe woulde giue hym leaue to vtter, with a franke offer to pawne his lyfe with the rest of his worldlye porcion, to redeme the quiete of the Abbott, and put hym in possession of her whome he accompted the sufferayne CATAPLAME for his mortall disease, wherewith he con∣forted eftesones the selye GONSALDO, who tellynge hym that after he had gott the consent of conuenient tyme and oportunitie, he woulde somon hym to an effect of his pro∣misse,

dismissinge therewith his faithfull seruant, and retirynge hymselfe to a simple comforte in this laste reso∣luciō, for certeine dayes forbare to visit the streets, churches or other places, where afore he was wonte to make his of∣feryngs and purmenadoes, thinkynge in shonnyng the pla∣ces of her repaire and presence, he shoulde at laste force a forgetfulnes of her beautie, wherein notwithstandynge he seamed to sprinkle water vppon hoatte cinders, and brought more oyle to his matche, and all hys traueile ther∣in sturred vpp a freshe supplie of drawing baites, mouinge an encrease of desyer, wyth augmentacion of his follye, whiche after he assaide to putt in execution, for the more he wente about to roote out the remembrance of her beautye, the more suerlye dyd loue imprinte her picture in the bot∣tome of his harte, with prouocation not to giue ouer the queste, but procede in the pursute of so pleasant a praye, in the daye the whole cloisture or circute of his abbaye cold skarcelye comprehende the sondrie ymaginations of hys braine, and his bed in the nighte presented hym wyth as∣muche reste, as he that is bounde to treade continually the laborinth of endles toile, wherin rauynge thus in a pas∣sion of contrarietye of thoughtes, he accused hym selfe of cowardnes, for that the offer of so fainte a resistance, made hym retire his force, without gyuyng a more ••oate assaulte to the place he ment to conquere, wherewith, remembring howe often he had harde, that women (what desyer so euer they haue of theim selues to be thankeful to him that courts theim with the offer of loue, yet take they notwythstan∣dynge a singler pleasure to be assailed with importunities intermedled with a lytle constrainte or force, determi∣ned to imploye thuttermost of his forces, and to paye hym selfe (maugre her resistaunce), the hier of hys traueile wyth the moste precious Iewell or treasure she had, at suche tyme as fortune woulde gyue hym the fauour of a conuenient tyme and place, to leuy the last alaram, thyn∣kynge with the aduantage of his pollicie to compell her

to treade, the daunce which she neuer mente to practise, yf not in lawfull mariage: here you maye note a familiar experience, that he that is in loue, albeit he be blynde, tou∣chinge the knowledge of reason, yet for the deuise and exe, cution of a follye he hath more eyes, then he whome the Poetes affirme to haue an hundreth lightes for the garde of Iupiters cowe, for that this folishe Abbot attendyng daiely an offer of commoditie and aduauntage of tyme to gyue a charge vppon his plainsante enemye at vnwares, vsed su∣che diligent watch to discrye her doinges, that he was made priuie to the certeine hower wherein she was determined to attende vpon her parentes to a fearme or graunge, they had not the moste parte of a league from the Citye. In whiche oportunitye and offer of thankefull tyme the blinde Abbott reaposed a singler commoditie of his cause, for that as you haue harde he determined to inuade her wyth an ambushe at vnwares, and so rauishe her out of the handes of her pa∣rentes by mayne strengthe, whereunto he added an effecte without regarde to the slaunder whiche attended so wicked an enterprise, or thabuse he committed againste the order of his religion, and muche lesse the estimacion and honor of the house whereof he was discended. Let this experience suffice to confute the opinion of the most of our louers nowe a dayes, who makynge a God of the ydoll of loue, do not lett to giue hym place amonge the moste perfect and heroi∣call vertues that are, affirmynge that all ciuilitye and curteys behauiour amongest men, is deriued of the disci∣pline taughte in his skoole, let the effect of his rage I saye, declare his disposicion, and be the equall iudge whether he be an indifferent euill or a pertiall vice, for settynge your partycular affections aparte, I knowe you wyll confyrme myne opinion thus farre, that, he whiche you cal loue and woulde that we honor hym wyth a tytle of a God, and giue hym a power more then humaine, is no other thinge, then a brutall passion of the minde deriued of that

parte whiche nature hath made comon to vs with beastes, touchynge sensualytie, and he which laboreth in the disease of that follie, is in no other degrée, then he that is posses∣sed with the spirite of fransie and desperation, looke in the seconde booke of the kynges, and tell me what planett or spirite gouerned AMNON the son of DAVID, who doatyng vppon the beautie of hys owne sister, made no consience to deflower her and take awaye her chastetie, whiche horrible acte woulde haue procured terrour to the most mortall ene∣mye, both for the horrour and detestacion of the syn, and al∣so for the honor and reuerence which all men oughte to gy∣ue to the chastetie of a mayde. The prince of SICHEM being extremely enamored vppon the beautie of the doughter of Iacob, dyd it suffice hym onely to loue her in honeste sorte? dyd he staye hym self vppon your masqued and dyssymuled loyaltie? no, he dyd that which is iudged tollerable to you al and woulde be comon to the moste of you, yf the rigour of the lawes, had you not in awe, and preferred a feare of tor∣mentes and worthy punishmentes, he rauished her by force, wherevppon followed the ruyne of hym selfe and subuer∣cion of his people, for ende, yf there be any one amongest you that absteyneth from lyke violacion, I thynke (sewer) he is not stricken with thextremitie of loue, but that hys mynde hath tasted but of a simple impression of that follie, seynge that he that is touched to the quycke, can hardly re∣fraine frō execution of like villainies, amongest whom not∣withstanding I cōprehende not thintegretie of them, whose wills tende to do honor to the hollye bedd of mariage with∣out violacion, for that I am perswaded those affections pro∣cede frome aboue, and approued by god hym selfe, but I in∣ueigh againste their vnhoneste desiers, who respect nothing but the pleasure in that wherein Mars and Uenus stroue for the maisterie, at suche tyme as vulcan discouered theyr naked bodies, which I can not terme so properly in our vul∣gare phrase, as the frencheman includes in thies three wor∣des Le don damoureuse mercy, the delite whereof, dekayinge

with the ende of thact, maketh theym loath the thing wher∣in carste they tooke singler pleasure. Here you may see also a worthie example in this maister Abbott, who of a pastour and shepherde of the heard, becomes a deuowrer of the prin∣cipal shepe in his flocke, and leauinge thabit and attire of re∣ligion, is inuested with thaccotrementes of a villaine and dysposicion of a barbarus Lyrant, that hathe neyther knowledge of God, nor feare of hys lawes, wherein my con∣science wolde serue me to vse a further discourse touchyng thabuses in thies ypocrytes, sauynge that (God be praysed) our realme is happely purged of suche filth and replenished with a plentifull crewe of thundowted, and faithfull myni∣sters of godes worde, neyther will I troble my historie with the sondry enormities and practises of hell whyche I noted in some religius houses in fraunce duryng my being there, because my theame at this tyme, is not to treate of thabuses in their religion, neyther am I assisted with sufficient time, for that yf I should but abridge their disorders into a tenthe parte, the volume wold excede the bignes of the bible, wher∣fore it shall suffice me to desier God in my praiers to remo∣ue the vaile of their darkenes in tyme, leaste their iniquitie procure hym to thonder lyke desolation vppon theym, as he dyd vppon the children of Israell, when they forso••e hym, and bowed downe to ymages, whereof their owne handes were the carpenters, and nowe to the sequeyle of Don Gon∣saldo, who harpynge onely vppon the strynge of hys damna∣ble resolucion, imparted thenterprice to his man who (as you haue harde) engaged his faithe to be the minister of hys wil, in what respect he thoughte good to ymploye hym, and hauynge eftesonnes preferred a repeticion of his promisse wyth an assurance by othe of thuttermoste he was hable to do, thabot told him y^t within few dayes his mistres went to performe a banquett with her father and mother oute of the citie, to whome sayeth he, seyinge I haue forgott no expe∣perience or importunitie whyche humanitie can deuise, and seynge that in the enioyinge of her beautie, consistes the

continuance or diminucion of my dayes I am determyned to retire to the benefit of my laste refuge, whyche is to em∣ploye thutter moste of my forces in vsynge her by mayne encownter vppon the waye betwene the towne and her fathers graunge in y^e countrey, wherin as thou hast alredye assured me of thy helpe by the othe and religion of thy faith, so thou muste straine thy selfe to procure a further ayde of suche companions as thou accomptes necessarye to assiste thexpedicion, to thend that when the matter shalbe broughte to the tryall of force, we be not founde to weake in the dis∣patche of our entreprise, whyche albeit maye importe vnto the and suche as thou shalte subborne for thy companions in this case, bothe a grudge of conscience, and feare to fall into the rigour of the lawes, yet thou arte not ignorante that thauthoritie of my profession is sufficient to dispense and absolue the synne, and my power hable to preuaile a∣boue thextremitie of iustice in this or any other respecte of what importance so euer it appeare, neyther will I sticke to deffraye the whole plate and treasure of my Abbeye in defence of the quarrell agaynste the whole state and senate of NAPLES, wherwith he dismissed his manne, who with the pleasante platt of hys tounge and prodigall promisses of liberall hyer, was furnished ymediatlye of hys trayterus crewe to betraye thinnocente mayde, who for her part seing GONSALDO hadde discontynued hys mosters in the strete, and hawnte to the churche where she is wonte to performe her deuocion, thoughte he hadde also disclaymed the vehe∣mencie of his passion, with intente no more to pursue her, wherein as she accompted her self moste free frome perill, so she founde an approche and offer of daunger, whych af∣fore she was not hable to ymagyn, for that thabbott beynge aduertised by hys espiells of the daye and hower when the mayde shoulde go into the countrey, measured so ryghtlye his tyme with the momente of her departure, that some one or two howers affore, he somoneth his conspiratours and

goeth oute of the Towne not in his frears weede or attire of his profession, but disguised in suche sorte as he was not knowen to any but the ministers of his intente, whome he bestowed in ambushe in an vnknowen couerte ioynyng to the path by the whych the goldsmith and his doughter shold passe, who thynkynge vppon nothynge but the plaisante regardes whyche the freshe and grene feeldes dydd yelde and muche lesse ymagenynge anye secrett practise or vil∣lanie conspired against theim, entred with greate delite in∣to the pathe of their misfortune, for neare vnto NAPLES there ronneth a litle riuer discendynge from certaine roc∣kes giuynge necessarye moysture to the valley neare the towne, whiche the poete SANAZARO in hys ARCHADIA calleth SEBETH deuydynge her self into two armes harde vnder the walls, whereof the one fallynge into certaine pi∣pes of lead becomes seruiceable by the arte of man to thin∣habitantes of Naples, the other, stretchynge towarde the champaine, refresheth as she passeth the meadowes and cor∣nefeldes adioyninge with the dewe of her siluer streames and in the ende yeldinge tribute to the greate flude Thetys fauls with a softe noise into y^e sea, who receiueth her with an embrasyng worthie for so plaisāte a neyghbour, ouer which riuer is builded a bridge passible for horse and man called Madalyne bridge, shrowded with the branches and longe spraies of certeine willowes growynge on eyther side the broke, the commoditie of whych straite with thaduauntage of the place offred theim selues (as it were) to assiste the en∣terprice of thabbot in thincoūter of his plaisant enemy, who disposed to more ioye then her weary parentes, went alwais affore theym, supplieng the time and tediousnes of their tra∣uaile, with sondrye plaisant deuises, and as the heate of the day with thexercise of her body in goinge, had sett a broche y^e vaines of good blod through all her parts, wherby to y^e pure cōplexion & white of her face was added an orient die of red, so her heare, of y^e coollor of amber curled by nature, and fal∣linge in lockes vppon her forhead, couered as then with an

Escarsion of the fashion of pyemont, gaue suche an increase to her bewtie, that wyth the helpe of the shade and shadowe of the tres, pauisinge the vyolence of the son, wyth the glée of the pleasante, streame assistinge the naturall white and redd in her face her eyes glistering as the cleare starres in the loftie skie, made her seame nothinge inferiour to the per fection of her whom the poetes haue crowned wyth the title of a Goddesse and Quene of be wtie, wherin if this brauer ye of parolina gaue greate delite to the olde yeres of her paren∣tes, who knewe the argumentes of youthfull ioye whyche appeared in their daughter, where but recreacion & to morte∣fie in theym the wearines of the waye, it was nothinge in respect to the pleasure of GONSALDO who beholdinge the bewtie of his mistres, resemblinge a far of, one of the NIM∣PHES affirmed by Ouide to attende the goddes DIANA go∣inge on huntinge, felte in himselfe a newe increase or sup∣plie of desier, in such sorte, that if hee had but the flea in his eare afore, it is now that he standes vpon thornes, till hee haue geuen a charge vppon the praye whiche seames so ple∣sant of taste, and swearinge by the god of hys religion, not to lose the benefit of so sweate a morsell, began to encorage his men to dispose theym selues to performe the cause of theyr comming, warninge theym notwithstandinge in spe∣ciall sorte, to absteine from vyolence agaynst the mayde, and albeit sayth hée the father is vnarmed of any weapon sauinge his shorte woodknife, yet am I sewer, he will put himselfe in indeuor to reskowe his daughter, wherefore whilest some are graplinge wyth the girle, the rest maye kepe the olde man occupied wyth terror and wordes of threatening feare, wherwyth he cried to thassalte, when ymediatly thambushe discouered theym selues, and in a moment enuyroned the selly maide on al partes with theyr swordes drawen, offring to laye handes vpon her, and carie her to their maister, the miserable parentes seinge theym at pointe to departe wyth y^e only pillor and proppe of their old yeres, ymagyning that∣tempte to ymport an effecte of greate mischiefe. retired to

thordinarie armes and defenses of age, which were pitifull cries which the villaines appaised ymediatly wyth threates of present death, if they would not cease their doleful brute, and for a more terror to the sellie goldsmith, some of theim helde the pointe of hys sworde to his throate, who notwith∣standing kept his daughter faste in his armes, and the mo∣ther would not bée disseuered from her childe, desieringe the traitors to discharge their crueltie vppon her and geue her daughter the fauor of a safe libertie, but the more the deso∣late parentes filled their eares with requestes of compassion the lesse pitie appered in the tyrantes, and greater desier grew in the rauynous Abbot: what harte colde refrayne to distil droppes of blode on the behalfe of the desolation of these thrée wretched creatures, the father out of breathe and halfe dead, wyth the force of skrichinge cries, the mother equall pertaker of his desaster, and exceding her husband in sorow, the maide more assured then her parentes in the conflicte of this misfortune, was at the pointe to vse force agaynste her selfe, rather then to falle into the handes of thexecucioners of her pudicitie: I am sewer neuer a Ladie of you all, reading this dollorous discourse, can abstaine from tearmes of detes∣tacion agaynst the infamous and disordered desier of this dis∣ciple of Sathan, neyther conceile thargument of compassion seinge the virginitie of this mayde hangyng by so slender a fyllet, and readie to be offred by compulcion vppon the alter of fylthye ymmolacion, to glot the lasciuious thrust of this rauynous APOSTAT, who masqued in a visorne and wede of simplicitie, supported also by a coollour of fayned deuocion, studieth nothinge, but to pray vpon the honour of widowes, abuse the absence of the maried man by corrupting hys wife, & subborn by inorderly meanes to seduce the chastetie of mai¦des. But now to our PAROLYNA who as shee knewe the cause of this Alaram to procede of her onlye, and seinge the force of thassailantes had cōmitted alreadie her parentes as it were into sewer warde of their power, and finding with all an ympossibilitie in her selfe to resiste the strenghte of

the rest, determyned yet to supplie the defence of her honor wyth the benefit of a vertuous and valyaunt pollecie, wher∣fore chaunginge in a moment the amazed glée of complexion in her face, into a regard of assured ioye, addressed her to thab bot wyth request, that afore she performed theffect of his de∣sier, he wolde lende her his sworde, for no other entent, saith she, but that my handes only may chasten the rigour of mine olde father, whose crabbed age, ignorante of ciuilitie, hathe béene hithervnto thonly ympediment and staie of my good∣will to yelde you the hier and consideracion of your loue, as∣suringe * 1.7 you that vpon the receite of the fyrste assurance of your affection towards me, I got the consent of my mother, to be thankefull in sorte you required mée, and nowe if hee should liue, and witnes the consomacion of both our desiers, hys contynuall complaintes wold procure greuous punish∣ment of thoffence, to the open slaunder of vs both, wherwith tholde man gyuing vndoubted credit to the dyssymuled dis∣course of hys daughter, the rather for that he noted no diffe∣rence in her countenance and famyliar conference to thab∣bot, cried out against thiniquitie she vsed to his honeste life passed, and present wrong she did to the vertue of his hoarie yeres, and not knowing the meaning or misterie of her polli¦cie, forgat no termes of reproch or rigorous rebuke against his chast doughter, of whose good will ••onsaldo beinge more then halfe assured, both for the small regarde she vsed, to the threatning wordes of her father, and also the flattering tear∣mes of consent by her owne mouth, no lesse glad of the victo∣rie, then if he had alreadie passed the offer of al perills, perfor∣med the request of her, who desiered nothing lesse then the death of her father, and life of thabbot, and putting his naked sworde into the hand of the coragious girle, offring withal to embrase her as though the conquest wer alreadie performed, she flonge from hym in great rage, willing him to retire, as he made accompt of his life, for sayth she, thou counterfeit ypocryte, yf thou offer eftesones to laye thy rauenouse han∣des vpon me, thyne owne sworde shall geue the blowe of

deadlye vengaunce to the fatall course of thy cursed dayes, wherupon she addressed her to her father halfe deade of a fret tinge anger, and purging hys collerike conceites agaynste her, tolde him that he was not the father of a doughter, that would not iustefie the glorie of his life passed wyth equall vertue, and much lesse further his death by thinfamous re∣nowme of her life, neyther do the thinge eyther by accorde or compulcion, that should haue power to sturr vp the blodd of shame in his face, in what companie soeuer he came, But sayth shée, the mightie hande of God restoringe thy weake age to a doble strength, and me to a perfecte skill in the vse of this sword which I haue conqwered of our common enemy, shal defende our honor agaynste the force of these Rakehells, who seke to depriue me of the Jewell of my reputaciō, wher∣with she florished here and there, bestowing her blowes with such skill to the disauantage of her enemye, that who hadde sene her desperat dealing wyth the sworde, would haue iud∣ged, that shée had bene traded in the only exercise of armes all the dayes of her life, whiche stroke such soddaine corage and ioye into the dead hart of her olde father, that he aduow∣ed his life in the honest quarell of his doughters chastetie, & likewise the careful mother gaue assistance to the magna∣minitie of her childe accordinge to her feble force, whyche so occupied the place for a tyme, that tholde man and the two ympes deriued of the blodd of thancient AMAZONS, laide so harde to the charge of the monke and his souldiours, that in one instant the whole ambush of traitors was out of brea¦the. But GONSALDO knowyng by this laste deceite of the maide that there was neither loue nor frendly meanynge in her, began to conuert his affection into an humor of fury, commaundinge the sword to bee taken out of the handes of the new champian, wyth expresse charge notwithstanding to vse no violence agaynst her, wherwyth the medley grewe ymediatlye soo hoate on bothe sides, that the Father to defende the honor of hys daughter, vsed no care to his owne sauegard: and the daughter to preuent the violence of her

bodie was desperat of her life, the Abbot on ••hother syde se∣inge there was no way to preuent his perill but by the ouer∣throwe of his enemyes, gaue end to the conflict by thextremi∣tie of force, leauinge the aged parentes on grownde may∣med and halfe deade with the number of mortall woundes, but the daughter lightly hurte in the arme, seinge that the wante of strength wold yelde her prisoner at last to the ene∣mye of her honor, thinkinge nothinge lesse notwithstanding then to satisfie his desier any way then by her deathe, vsed the benefit of her fortune, and at vnwares reached GONSAL DO a great blowe thwarte the face, making a blodie podell or bayne for flées in the sommer vppon the nose of mayster Abbot, wherwith holdinge the pointe of her sworde in her hande cryinge vppon thaide of thalmightie, to whom accor∣ding to the shortnes of her tyme she commended the healthe of her soule, she leapte from aboue the bridge into the cristal waues of the cleare Zebete, chosing rather to build her tombe within the bellye of some fyshe or monster of the sea, then to yelde a forcible offring of the firste frutes of her virginitie to the polluted ymage or ydoll of the Synagoge of babylon, but God not willinge as yet to depriue the worlde of so rare a mirror of vertue, gaue her such force agaynste the rage of the streame, that she kept breath, til certeine passengers lea∣ping into the riuer, recouered her wyth diligence of swym∣minge, and brought her on liue to the shore, deseruing bet∣ter the benefit of longer life, thenne the papistical monke, who seing the end and successe of his enterprise, retired into his Abbaie wyth hys skorched face, wythout showing hym∣selfe any more in the stretes of NAPLES vpon his sturring Iennetts for the loue of his lady.

The parentes & the maide after they were a little refreshed & restored to their sences in y^e felde, wer caried to y^e Towne, where euery man, wondringe indifferently at their vertue and valyantnes in so great a peril, gaue speciall commenda∣cion,

to the chastetie of Parolyna, for that she desiered rather to die in the deuouring flodd, then to burne quike in the skor chynge flames and fyer of whoredome, wher unto the wi∣ckednes of the Abbot had almost brought her.

And sewer it is to suche maydes, to whome we ought to erect pillers, and graue their vertue in monumentes of eter∣nitie, and not to a cōpanie of vnperfecte and folishe women, who besides their beautie, had neuer any thinge worthye of commendacion. For the respect of whose weaknes, I haue chiefly preferred this discourse, wherein as they maye note in this Parolyna, an acte no lesse valiaunt, then in the moste assured soldiour that euer bare armes, so they ought to for∣beare to glorifye them selues in the glorie of her chastetye, and by studying to ymitate her vertue, to leaue no force vn∣proued, which may serue to gard the honor and renowme of their name, and conquere the wanton delytes of the fraile fleshe, assuringe theym selues, that god ympartes a wonder full strength and constancie of mynd to suche as be chast in dede, and the vertue of whom consisteth not only in thout∣warde argumentes, but is sewerly ram pierd within the strongest part of their harte: like as in the mynd of this, to whom as you see, thalmighty gaue force to vanquishe wyth mayne hande, the wicked enemye of her honor.

FINIS.

Notes

• * 1.1

  A discrip ciō of Naples ac¦cordig to the cronicles of tuskan.
• * 1.2

  Diuerse eng¦lishe gentle∣men entertei¦ned there at this daye.
• * 1.3

  Loue a com∣mon enemy to the ease of man.
• * 1.4

  The Abbot vvriteth to his mistres.
• * 1.5

  Loue.
• * 1.6

  Thexclama∣cion of the Abbot.
• * 1.7

  His letter.