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

WHose youth and yeres of folly, haue made an experience of the dispositi∣on of loue, and suche as he infecteth with hys frantike poyson, tryenge in like sorte the difference betwene the vanities of the worlde, and the con∣templacion of celistiall thinges, or other vertues of diuyne operacion vpon earthe, openinge (as it were) to all degrees of mortalytie an entrey or way to come to the glorye and honor of theuerlastinge Paradise aboue: to suche (I saye) maye I boldely appeale, for con∣firmaciō of thauncient opynion grounded in the stomakes of men from the beginning, that the bewtie and flattering behauiour of a woman, is the true and natural Adamant, seing that, that stoane, (by a certeine vertue attractiue, and speciall gifte by nature) hath not such power to force and drawe the heauie yron vnto it, as the secret misterie, hyd∣den in the eyes and face of a woman, are of authoritie, to sommon and steale thaffections and hartes of men: which hath wrought a resolucion, or thinge of most certeintie a∣mongest a nomber of men now a dayes, that such charmes and serpentine allurementes, were sente a mongeste vs frome aboue aswell to tormente our pleasure, as also (in sōe sort) to geue ease to thafflictiō of such as are vnhappe¦lie contrybutors to that poysoned participacion: wherin as we haue long marueiled why Parys forsoke the delites of Troye, to become the thrall of Helene in greece, what mo∣ued one Hercules to abandon his beauye mase, and clubb of conquest, to depende whollye vppon the commaundement of his women frende, or howe Salomon, abused the gifte of his wisedome, to commit follie, with her, who only gouer∣ned him, y^t guided the whole monarkye, so, behold I haue

to encrease your wonder with a true po••rtrayte or picture, of a more force in a woman, and folly in a man, who, with out any vse of former or hope of future fauor, sauinge to fullfill the fonde appetit of his folishe mistrys, habando∣ned the vse and benefytt of his speche for thre yeres, put∣ting on (by that meanes) the shapp of brutalitie, betwene whom and the creatures of vnderstandinge, the philoso∣phers conclude an only difference of the vse of reason, and speache. A case (sewer) no lesse notorious for the rary∣••tie that waye, then declaringe a singuler force of nature in the subiect vpon whom shee seames to bestowe suche prehemiuence aboue all other misteries vppon earth, whereof maye serue for sufficiente proofe theffeminate alteration in Hercules, the decrease of strengthe in Samp∣son, the losse of wisedom and vnderstan∣dynge in Salomon, and the simpli∣citie of this gentle∣man, whose dis∣course folo∣weth.

THE CRVELTIE OF A Wydowe in enioyninge her woer to a pen∣nance of thre yeres losse of his speache, the foolish loyaltie in hym in performinge her commaundemente, and the meane vvher∣by he was reuenged of her rigour. ❧.

AMongeste the lymytrophall townes con ynynge the borders of Pyemount, no man dowtes (I thinke) that the Ci∣tie of THVRYN, beinge thonly lan∣terne to geue light to al the prouinces there about, for eiuill orders and inte∣gritie of conuersacion, is not also, a chief rampier and sewer bulwarke to her owne countrey, agaynst thincur∣cion of enemyes, neyther is it of lesse estimacion for the na∣turall scituacion of the place, then bewtified greatly by thin dustrius endeuor of man, addinge (as it seames) a more deco∣ratiō of late to that towne, then eyther nature or the slender deuise of men in tymes passed colde ymagyn.

Somewhat without the suburbes of this riche and populus Citie, is planted in a pleasant valley, a little village called Montcall, worthie euery way to be ioyned in neighbourhead to so great a Citie, being inuironed on thone side w^t the fra∣grant ayre of the fertil feldes al to bedewed with the sondry swete smelles of thincense of Aurora, & on thother side with y^e loftie hilles, breathing from the mouth of Zephire the ayre of health, to refresh in time of nede the drowsie tenants of the valley, which (amongest other happie influences of the hea∣uens) semed also to haue aspecial fauor of the godes, to bring furth and norish the most faire, verteous, curtoyse ladyes

y^t cold be foūd in any one corner of Europe, amōgest whō not withstāding there was not long since a young widow called Zilya, who declyning frō y^e dispositiō of y^e clymat and planet of her natiuitie, became so hagarde lyke, and enclyned to crueltie, that she semed rather to take her begining, among the desertes and craggie places of Scauoye, then too sucke the brestes of the delicat norsses in the pleasante champayn, re∣freshed by the beautifull hande of Erydan, sometyme called the father of ryuers, and nowe termed by the title of Po, whose christall channells and siluer streames, (deuydynge theym selues into diuers distillinge brokes) do not onelye driue men into admiration, but also draw theym to become neighbours to alicour of suche delite.

This disdainefull wydowe, and enemye to all curtesie, al∣though she hadd asyet skarcely entred into the twentie and fourthe yere of her age, yet she perswaded her selfe herafter to abandon vtterly the societie of man, whether it were by mariage or otherwaies, aduowing to spende the remeynder of her yeres in singlenes of lyfe, a resolucion (truly) bothe godly and commendable, yf the tiklishe motions of the fraile fleshe, woulde be contente to obey, the wholsome exhorta∣cions of the sprite.

But whereas our declynyng bodyes pampred in all de∣licacye, together with the vnruly appetites, ragynge after wilfull desier, doo seme to quarrell with our chastetie, and vanquishe all resistance, the councell of thapostell is to bée followed, who willes that we marie in christe, to auoyed the daunger of the sowle, and common slaunder of the world: she also after she had alredie performed the due debte of her dutie to the deade bodye of her husbande, whome she accom∣payned to the graue with abundance of teares and other funerall dule, soughte not (accordyng to the trade of young wydowes now adayes lefte without controlmente) to abuse the benefitte of her libertie, or dispose the tyme of her widowehead in other exercise, then in augmentacion, of the patrimonye lefte to her litle sonne, and enryche her selfe

by the trauell of her owne handes, wherein shée became soo conetouse and gredie of gayne, that cuttynge of her ydle traine of loyterers (haunting commenly the houses of great men) she onely reserued suche, for the necessarye members of her houshold, as with the sweate of their browes, refused not the toile of any honest trauel, neither made she consciē∣ce, to trade vp the delicate trowpe of gentlewomen, atten∣dinge vpon her, in thaffaires of house keping, and other ho∣nest exercises of the hande, to whom she was alwayes a cō∣paniō her selfe, thinking nothing so well don, as that, which passed in the presence of her eye, or with thassistance of her owne hande, wherin certeynly, her vertue was no lesse me∣ritorius, then her endeuour commendable.

For the office of a mother or mystres of families, consistes not only in kepyng her seruantes to continuall trauaile, or taking accompte of their doings and daies labour, but stret∣ching further, she is enioyned (according to thaduise of Sa∣lomon) to a straiter charge, to assiste thindeuors of her peo∣ple, with the helpe and diligence of her owne bodye, seynge her aduise is no lesse necessarie for y^e perfection of the worke, then her presence and help therein a speciall incitacion, en∣coraginge the seruantes, not to desiste from toile, till their taske be performed, and that to thexspectacion of her desier, neither ought any degrée with be dispenced all, from honest exercise, seyng thymitacion of trauell, is deryued from our sauior Christ, who exposing his body to al toile, grudged not to vndertake those painful endeuors, which thappostells re∣fused to endure, leauing an example to al estates, to ymitat honest toile, (which by the mouth of thappostell he dowteth not to terme a singuler vertue) promising a rewarde of per petuytie, with a contynuall reste in the bosom of Abraham, to those that vnfeynedlye do folowe it. But towchynge those delicate and wanton housewiues, whiche thinke their estymacion ympaired, if they but put their noses within the aire of painefull indeuor, they I saye, beyng hurtefull to a whole common wealthe, oughte either to be vtterly weded

out of the companie of the good sorte, or ells traded vp in the shooles of contynuall trauell, vntill the frutes of the same, do adorne their estates, whiche they accompte dymynished by thexercise of that most honest vertue, wherein yf thaun∣cient historians and fathers of knowledge, beynge carefull to prouoke the youth of their tyme to the followyng of ver∣tue, dyd painte the office and dutie of a good houswife, in the person of one Lucrecia, whō they haue neyther made a bablor, or one that spendes her tyme in chattinge of vaine things, ronnyng to feastes and banquettes, gasinge oute of the windowes vppon euery stréete walker, or masquyng in the nightes with couered face, without regarde of honestye or honor of the house wherof of she cam, but haue drawen her sitting in her chamber, amongest her young damesels vsing the spindel and exercise of the nedell Euenso wée nede not, me thynke, doute also to admitt as a familiar myrroir, for you coye gentlewomen of this age, oure younge wydowe ZYLIA, who deuiding the daye into howers, and houers in∣to mynutes, wolde not suffer the leaste moment of tyme to eskape, withoute some exercise of comendacion or proffitt, wherein she was so earnestly giuen, that the hollydayes or seasons of solemnytie, cold not discharge her bodye from la∣bor, or make her be sene in tyme of recreacion eyther in the stréetes, gardynes, or other conuenient places of resorte, conuenient for honest assembly, to recreat their weary bo∣dyes, and refreshe their spréetes dulled with trauell.

Which vertue if it bée to be honorred, for the ••arietie in our dames now a daies, yet had she another gifte of no lesse com∣mendacion, whiche she semed not to attaine vnto without the helpe of thegipcians theologie, who resoluing vpon cer∣teine honeste partes, whiche ought to adorne the beautye of a vertuouse & chast womā, haue drawen thimage of a womā holding a keye affore her mouth, and her féete vpon a whele, notinge thereby, that an honest womā, hath always her lip∣pes locked, & her toung tyed, to thend she vtter no wordes of

vaine disposition, nor speake not but in tyme and place con∣uenient, & her féete chayned to a whéele, because they should not vse their libertie, to wander as vacabondes, no nor sturr out of the house (onlesse it were for religion sake, to visit the churches or places of prayer, or nowe & then to render dutie to theim of whome we tooke our beinge and came into this worlde, wherein this wydowe exactinge vppon the straite pointes of those commendable customes, was not so reli∣gious as supersticious, or rather wholly giuen to rigour, for she vsed her deuocion of prayer, at suche secrett tymes, that it was skarce possible to sée her, when she wente to heare the diuine seruice of God, and whether it were that she thought her self so faire, that al men weare vnworthie to touche the precious brinke of her corrall mouth wyth a chast kisse, or whether the renowme of her rare chastetye, made her strange in condiscendinge to that whiche was tollerable and decente enough to be admitted, yet was she suche a ni∣garde of her curtesie, that she wolde make no conscience to denie to kisse any gentleman, of what condicion so euer he were, an aunciente ciuilitye vsed of longe tyme amongeste all estates, and continued to this daye (as a behauiour of tol∣leracion, amongeste the dames of greate calling, accomp∣tyng it a chiefe kynde of humanitie, to receiue & welcome strangers, commynge to visitt theim for good wyll, wyth a chaste kisse accompanied wyth a countenaunce of semelye familiaritie. But now as this wydowe had layde her hus∣bande in his longe bedd of reste, there to remeine vntill the generall resurrection of all fleshe, the dollorous disposition of her funerall dule retired into obliuion, and she whollye giuen to treade the path of painefull toile, aswel for the su∣stentation of her selfe and her charge, as increase of the pa∣trimonie lefte to her litle sonne, it chaunced that a gentle∣man of the moste estimacion of that contrey called Mon∣sieur Phillibarto Virley, whose house was nexte neygh∣bour to Montcall, came vppon a holly daye or greate feaste to Montcall, & beinge in the churche there, in place of occu∣pyinge

his minde with heauēly cogitacions, or recordynge with attentiue eare the infallible worde of God, published that daye in the pulpitt, by a preacher of the learned sorte, he bestowed his deuocion, in beholdynge the glymerynge saintes in the bodye of the churche, amongeste whome hys vnfortunat eyes tooke to large a viewe of the exquisitt beau∣tye of Zilya, who hauinge alreadye remoued the vayle of dollor, and because it was veray hott, and that she woulde gyue her selfe large libertie to heare the ghostly father, tooke awaye her Eskarfyon and other implementes incident to preserue the beautie of the face of the effeminate sorte, and vnbared her cristall necke, nothing differyng from the com∣plexion of her face, beinge bothe dipped in the Orient dye of the pure Allablaster, tempered wyth certeine liuely strea∣mes of redd, like vnto the incarnate rose, springing vppon the brymme of the pleasante arbour in the dewishe mor∣nynges of maye, which pleasant glaunce and vnhappie en∣counter so daselled the eyes of the knight at the firste sighte, that beinge not hable to wythdrawe his regardes from the viewe of so fayre a sainte, was driuen at laste (in makynge the ynner partes of his mynde, a table wherevpon he drewe the curious picture of her beautie) to admitte thinfection of that pleasant allurement into the bottom of his harte, wher∣in beinge once harboured it began (accordynge to the nature of a deadly poyson) to worke by lytle and lytle, vntyll the di∣stillynge Iewste, dropping from the pernicious humour of that perillous fountayne, had drowned and gott the domi∣nion ouer the beste partes within this vnfortunat patient, who euen nowe felte suche straunge alteration in hymself, suche newe affections quarellynge wyth hys former quiet, and all his bodie possessed of so vnruly a gueste, that beinge at the ende of his wittes to ymagyn the cause, was no lesse hable to withstād the ill, then moderate the furie of his new feuer, but miserablye had lefte his life in gage, if fortune her selfe, had not become y^e phizicion to his disease, whereof you shal haue large relacion in the due place of this historie.

But duringe the time of the sermon and all, the matutinall prayer, our vnhappie Phillyberto wa••ered in contrarietye of thoughtes, reseruynge notwythstandyng his eyes assured∣ly and firmly fixed vpon her, who makes no more accompte of theim that regarde her wyth suche greate admiration, then they theim selues of their liues and libertye, commit∣tynge rashelye twoo suche precious Iewels, betwene the merciles handes of so cruell a woman, of whose estate con∣dicion, trade, and order of lyuynge, this newe enamored Virley, (beinge comme from the churche to his lodging), for∣gatt not to make diligent inquisition, which (as oyle to light his matche) retourned vnto him a generall reaporte of her honestie, wherein beinge confirmed by the mouth of euery man, he made no conscience, immediatlye to proclayme her the soueraine Ladye of his lyfe, and thonly disposer of his secret thoughtes.

And yet amongste the sondrie commendacions gyuen to her vertues, he was made tunderstande by secret information of some his deare & familyar frendes, of thinciuilitie wyth certeine vnsemelye pointes of vnnaturall discourtesie raig∣nyng in her, whiche albeit suspended his: resolution for a tyme, occupying his doubtfull mynde, with varietye of co∣gitacions, yet seinge his destynie had alredye enioyned him to be a thrall to her beautye, for the whiche he had alredye put his lybertye as a pawne betwene the handes of hym, who hauynge once gotten the hartes of men within the iu∣risdiction of his durance, will not release their imprison∣ment, nor restore their libertye, so sone, nor when they wishe it, he determined to pursewe thende of his enterprise, committyng hym selfe to be guyded by the fauor of fortune, and the successe of his indeuor to y^e good wil of loue, who lea∣dyng hym thorowe the blynde vale of vaine hope, and tick∣lynge hym by certeine argumentes or likelihodes of good spede, to make hym mery for the tyme, wyth the conceite of his owne phantasie, willed hym to put hys intente vp∣pon tearmes, whereby, and wyth the continuance of his

long seruice, he semed to assure him, at last to wreste the good wil of the wydow to thappetite & exspectation of his desyer, wherein for his firste entrye into his laborinth of miserable toyle, he committed thorder of his owne house at Virley, and affaires of importance to the direction of others, and deter∣mined his abode at Montcall, to thende, that if in plātyng his batterye, nor with thassistance of thuttermost of his force, he coulde make no reasonable breache into the forte whiche he ment to assaile, in the wynnyng wherof him selfe was most in daunger to be first taken, yet at the least, he might recreat and solace hym selfe, with the contemplacion of an ymage of so rare and excellente beautye, the remembrance whereof, seamyng rather to double his gréefe, then giue moderaciō to his passion, serued more to stirre vp the malice of that poiso∣ned humour of loue, then to repulse the furie of his newe fe∣uer: And lastely preferring absolute argumēts of his peren∣torye destructiō, offred diuers likelihodes of future disquiet, for the latter remeinder & residue of his yeres yet to cōme. And being now becōme a Citizen of Montcal, he begā to haūte the church aboue his ordinarie, not so much peraduēture, for any feruēt zeale he had to prayer or inuocation to god, as for the amarus deuociō he oughte to his newe saint, whose pre∣sence, albeit he could not enioye, but in the body of y^e church, & that in times of preaching & publique seruice of the Lorde, yet did he refraine to make the house of God, a place to com∣municat his practis of loue, persuading him self, thoffence to be to heynous to defile the sacred temples & holly places, de∣dicated to the highest, with any spot of villanie, and specially with attemptes of such folly, being chieflye forbidden by the mouth of our sauiour, Domus mea, domus orationis vocabitur, my house shalbe called the house of praier, & not a den for a∣dulterers or theues, nor place to practise any iniquitie or synne, wherein albeit the zeale of Religion forbadd hym to vse conference wyth her in the churche, yet the pear∣cing stinge of affection, openyng hym an other meane, putt hym in remembrance to attende duelye her commynge out, where, with greate humilitye he offred his seruice often

tyme in beynge her guyde to her lodgyng, whiche as he for∣gat not to performe, with al the curtesie and semly behauior he colde ymagyn, so notwithstandinge al the vehement per∣swacions he colde inferre for thaccōmplishment of his desier, yet reaped he thereby no more contentemente nor meanes to qualefie his greeffe, then she tooke pleasure in hearinge the discourse and loyall offer of his vnfayned good will, for she, as a cruell enemye to curtesie, faynyng not to vnder∣stande what he sayde, replied to all his allegacions of loue, wyth some conference of housewiuerye or housekepyng, wherewith, tornyng the carte against the horse, he became no lesse amased at her ouerthwart reasons, then she seamed to take pleasure in the teares of his complayntes, whyche argewed not only colde compforte in the sute of the wooer, but also ymynent occasion of hys owne destruction, yf by thassistance of some other meane, he auoyded not with expe∣dicion, the sondrie illes that threatned to thunder vpon him, wherefore deuising certeinne banquettes and gossep me∣tynges at hys lodging, of diuers of the burgess wyues of that towne, he entred thereby into the good opynion of cer∣teine dames, that were no lesse familiar with the rigerous ZILYA, amongest whom he chused out one whose bossome he thoughte to make the regester of his secret, with entente to impart with her, both the cause of his dollor, & the meane to mitigate the same in bewrayinge hys gréeffe to her, that was the fountaine and occasion of his presente passion: to her then (beyng his nexte neyghbor) no lesse subtill of her owne inclynacion, then well experienced in suche affaires, neyther ignorante what dishe they féede vppon that sitt at the table of loue, nor what bitter taste those brathes comon∣ly haue which cupide brueth for his guests, he addresseth him selfe, coniunynge her in the firste place of his preamble, too make councel of the cause of hys cōplainte, wherw^t entring into the discourse of his loue, conceiles nowithstandyng the name of his ladie, vntill he hard the annswere of his neigh∣bour, who perceiuynge alredie the marke whyche he shott

at, offred him frankelie her helpe, to thuttermoste of her power, whereof she gaue hym assurance by promisses of large skope, that inconsideracion of the honestie, whiche she had noted in hym hitherunto, she wolde not faile to bestowe her endeuour euerye waye, to thaduancement of his desier, wherein (sir) saieth she, although my offer seame more libe∣rall on your behalfe then your meanynge plaine vnto me, yet I hope you will conster my wordes to an honeste ende, and not abuse the readynes of my inclinacion to do you good in any trauell of reasonable consequence, where in it shal please you to employ me, to whom this careful knight, after he had giuen her y^e choice of a thousand thanks, & perswaded her eftesones to a secretnes touching his practise (fearynge yet to disclose the name of his mistres) roued at her in thys dark manner: my case alas, saith he differeth, not much frō y^e condition of the pollitike capteine, who goyng aboute to giue thassalte to a fortresse or place of defence, beyng care∣ful to kepe his soldiours frō slaughter or the ••ochers ••owle, planteth his ordinance & battery in the face of the forte, to thende that the place beinge made assaltable by the helpe of the Cannon, the soldiours maye more saffelie giue charge vpon the walles, and performe the exspectation of their cap∣teyne, euenso, for my parte, hauinge drawen a greate deale of tyme to ende in the longe siege of a forte, no lesse strong, then the stonnye rocke, whose hardnes resistyng the force of all shotte, makes also lyke accompte of the valiante corage of my soldiours, whereof I haue alredye loste the greatest nomber, in diuers skirmishes giuen me by my pleasante enemye, am driuen in thende, to flee vnto you for helpe, for the performance of this warr, to thende that with thassi∣stance of your councel and trauaile, I may be hable to make an approche, and entre the place whyche hetherunto hathe repulsed all my assaltes

But she not hable to conster the mistery of his comparaison, desiered hym to committ the meanyng of his ridle, to tear∣mes of playner vnderstandynge, for sayeth she (some what

smylynge) I was neuer norished amongest the oracles or dreame readers of auncient tyme, nor tasted of the conning of Edipus, neyther haue I muche bene traded in the exercise of warr, or acquainted wyth the vse of armes, a thynge impropre and farr vnsemely for our secte. To whome he replied in fewe wordes, that the laborinth of that warre, whiche he mente, was no lesse naturall then common, nei∣ther doubte I (saith he) but some tyme in youre lyfe, you haue proued what traines maye be vsed to entrapp the en∣nemy, wyth what canuisadees the trenche maye be soddain∣ly inuaded, what secrett ambushes maye be layde, to van∣quishe force by pollecie, and what meanes are to be vsed euery waye, aswell by thassailant as defendante.

Whereunto she aunswered with a semblable similitude, de∣riued of the like occasion chieflye to encorage this fainte sol∣diours to continue his new warre, saying, that as far as she coulde discerne, there lacked nothing but thassurance of the felde, seinge (saieth she with a familiar showe of pleasante cheare) we are alredye in pointe to entre the combat, and albeit all your pollecie, in deuisinge bulwarkes, square and rounde, mountes of greate heighte and well rampired, are not hable to batter the place, and the subtill mynes vn∣der the earth, and other mertiall engines lacke force against the strength of the ennemy, nor in no sorte to fauor your en∣terprise, nor your trēnches artificiallie made, prickt full of perillous flankars, are hable to amase the capteine of the forte, no nor the sondry terrible assaultes gyuen by your de∣sperate soldiors, will procure eyther parley or composition, yet (saieth this mery dame,) let vs not rewarde oure longe warre with a shorte shame, nor sell the glorye of so great a victorye for so vile a price, as faintnes of corage, but let vs eftesones renewe the conflicte wyth freshe supplies, and sende to somon the forte by the mouth of the Canon, whose message I warrant you, the capteine will not denye.

Albeit because in plainlye vnderstandynge your intente, I maye frankely imploye my endeuour, I praye you dis∣misse

thies darke Apothegmaes of warr, and open your mea∣nyng simplie, for I greue on your behalfe, to sée you conuer¦ted into suche alteracion, whyche makes you séeme vtterly to degenerate from your auncient modestie and wisdome, whereof he desiered her not to merueile, seynge that accor∣dynge to the dispocition of the accidente, the condicion and state of men do commonly chaunge and alter, for I am be∣come (sayth he) subiecte and bownde to one that hath made me in none other takinge, then those vnhapie wretches that be tormented with deuiles, who as they can neyther saye, nor do any thing, but by the permision of the sprite that pos∣sesseth theym, Euenso, this cursed enchaunter loue hathe gott suche power ouer all the partes in me, that he alone commaundes me by power and authoritie, and I obey by awe and feare, he enioynes me penaunce at hys pleasure, and I endure the paine and dare not complaine, he alas pro¦mysed me contentmente, and nowe payeth me with doble annoye, he offred to assiste me, and leaues me in thextre∣metye of my distress, yea in place where I oughte to vse argumentes of moste audacitie, it is there that he depriues me of all corage, and leaues me withoute countenance, and beynge alone (god knowith) howe valyantly I inuade the place, which I darr skarcely behold w^t open eye, when mine enemy is in presence, is it not pitie alas to sée on manne distressed with so manye diuerseties at one instante, proce∣dynge onely of the ragyng appetit of one symple affection? neyther wolde I grudge at the heauie burden of thyes pas∣sions, nor sticke to indure a thousande more euilles, if ey∣ther sufferance wolde make my seruice acceptable, or tyme purchase the merite of my martirdome? but where as there appeares nothynge but vncertentie, with argumentes euerye waye of euyll successe, and I in the meane tyme accordynge to the CAMELEON lyuynge with the breathe of the ayre, doo feede but vppon the offer of vayne yma∣ginacions, what is there to keepe me oute of the daunger

of dispaire, sauynge that thunfortunate sorte, are con∣tente to ymparte (towarde the moderacion of my gréefe) some of their solace, whyche is to féede for the tyme, vppon the pleasante conceite of phantasye, and flickeringe of∣fers of vaine hope, attendinge that some good god, will laye in my lapp thassistance of a loyall frende, that wyll eyther shot the gates of this hell agaynste me, or at leaste procure the spedie dispence of my tormente, by cloasing my eyes frō the light of this world, which I wishe with no lesse faruent affection, then the sickeman desiereth with ymportunitie to be dispatched of his paine, which he accompanied wyth such a dollerus peale of lighes, that his stomake and harte, being redie to take their leaue of the breath of life, seamed to pant like a paire of bellowes, blowinge the fournace of some fy∣erie forge, neyther forgat his eyes to set open the windowes of their conduites, and gushe oute a whole riuer of teares, whych beinge drayned from the bottome of hys bellie, ascen∣ded to the vppermost partes to fynd out their naturall issue, to thende that wyth the retire of these drayninge humors, his life might also vanishe, as in a slomber or quiet qualme whych moued such a pitie in his neighboure on the behalfe of his dollor, that she was forced to kepe him company with semblable kindnes, offeringe eftsones her helpe vnder these tearmes:

Albeit (saith she) the regarde of myne honestie, with thes∣timacion of the place which I holde without blushinge amō∣gest the troupes of honor, and dames of great calling in this Citie, do forbidd mée the enterprise of any thinge that myne honor can not bro••••e, yet the sorowefull sommonce of your last complainte, tempred wyth so manye tunes of dolefull note, hathe filled me so full of compassion on your behalfe, that I will not dowt to laie my conscience to gage, for the redresse of your present affliction, wherein if you will giue me the charge of my commission, tellinge mée what it is that I shall do for you, you shall sée my endeuor shalbe no lesse frankelye emploied for you, then I knowe by the viewe of

mine owne eyes, that your passion is simple and withoute all dissimulation: onely there restes that I know, what she is to whom you haue auowed so large a deuotion, for I pro∣misse you, to salute her so amplie with the reaport of your loyaltie and seruice, whiche I knowe you owe to her that is the mistres of your harte, that oneles her mouth be vtterlye out of taste, and thappetit of curtesie cleane taken from her, she shal not refuce thoffer of your good will, which I thinke is without a seconde in any place of the worlde.

And trulye albeit diuerse women nowe a dayes, haue good cause to inueighe by complaintes against the disloyaltye of men, yet this Ladye whome you seme to honour so muche, hathe neyther cause to mislike her choice, nor reason to refuce the consent and offer of your seruice, where of as the earthe semes a verye nigarde, to brynge furthe and norishe so fewe of your disposition, so it can not be chosen, but pure loyaltye for lacke of harbor within the hartes of moste men, muste retire and seke her a newe habitacion, within the delicate intrailes of vs women, who embra∣cynge no lesse that vertue wyth deare affection, then desye∣rous to expose vnfained frutes of the same, are accompted to be cladde in the habite of crueltie, yf we séeme to stande vppon our garde, and expulse thassaulte, of that friuolus and fleshelye crewe of vaine louers, who profferinge theyr seruice vnder a masque of fayned teares, & sighes of double deceite, with other courtelyke importunytyes, do bende the pollecie of all their practises to none other ende, then to abuse the fauor whiche they fynde at theyr handes, that vn∣happelye committe their honor to the kepinge of those Syco∣phantes, and common enemies to the renowme of all Ladies. Ah good madam (sayth he) although my lytle hablenes de∣nies me sufficient meanes, to measure the rewarde of your franke offer, accordynge to the meritt of your great curte∣sie, yet beholde heare a soldiour and gentleman bounde to be no lesse prodigall of his lyfe, and spende the deareste dropp of his blodd in your seruice, then you seme liberal

of your estimation for the appeasyng of his greff: and seyng your promisse is so farr past, by wordes of confirmation, to do your beste for me, as the same ymportes an assured hope of spedie helpe to comme by our meanes, the chiefest thyng that I committ to your frendshipp, is to deliuer a letter frō me, to Madame ZYLIA, whose beautie hath alredye made suche a breache into my harte, and brued the broth of the tor∣mente, which you sée I suffer, that onelesse I be spedie rele∣ued, I do not se but that y^e thre fattals, weary with drawing furthe the spindell of my lif, will ymediatly cutt a sonder y^e twiste, whiche hanges onely, by the hope of your succours, in purchasyng me fauor with her, that hath made me captiff in the prison of her commandement: wherwith the faithfull burgoise, beynge very sorie, that so honeste a gentleman, had sowen the séedes of his good will, in a soile of so bad in∣crease bringing furth but frutes of crueltie, assaied to take the worme out of his nose, in vsing perswacions to remoue his phātasie, but he that was alredie resolued in his mishap, detested all councell, and shoote his eares from the whole∣some aduise of the wise matrone, who doutyng that he wold conster her wordes contrarye to her meanyng, in thinkinge that she inferred exhortacions to purchase a releace of her promisse, willed hym to write his letter, and she wolde not only deliuer it, but also bring hym a reaporte of that which sholde be sente hym for aunswere, whereby (saieth she) you shall see the litle gaine and lesse easse, that will followe the meritt of your painefull trauell, ymployed in the seruice of so vnthankful a woman, with whom seynge I am thoro∣wely acquainted, and her disposicion no stranger vnto me, I meane not to pra••ise in any other sorte, then to discharge y^e part of a messēger, in deliuering your letter, which yf you haue not alredie made, I will attende your leasure, to thend to performe my promisse, wherewith he thanked her as ap∣perteined, and beynd alone in hys chamber, sommoned all hys wittes together, to deuise his letter, which semed to be written in thies or like tearme.

Yf my dysease (good madame) were deryued eyther of the shaking or burnyng feuer, Catterres, Apoplexies or any other hurtefull influence, incidente commonly to annoye the par∣tes of mannes bodye, I woulde reasorte too the councell of Phisicke, and vse the discipline of wholsome dyot, but wher my presente passion procedes only of the feruente affection I beare you: thextremitie of the same denyes also to be cured by anye other remedie, then the happye encounter of that which is thoriginall cause of my gréeff, wherin albeit I halfe assure my selfe rather to receiue spedie ease, and ende of my tormente, by the fatall domme of death, then abridgment of my dollors, or consolacion in my distresse, by any indeuour or affection reciprocall of you, yet am I so lynked in the la∣borinth of loue, that I am denied euery waye, to take truce with my vnrulye desiers, and lesse hable of my selfe, to re∣uoke the vowe of my vnfayned deuocion, to your rare and heauenle beautie, in whome consistes, the propper Cataplas∣ma of my disease Alas vnder what crabbed constellacion was I conceiued, or what cruell destenye directes the course of my yeres, seing that in the glorie of my youthe, and pryme time of myne age, I am at one instante, threatned of the heauens, made subiecte to the malice of loue, and readye to incurr the perilus daunger of dispaire, for wante of hope to drawe furthe the length of my dayes, to thuttermost date of my life, whiche I thynke was formed first by nature, and cōtinued hitherunto by consente of the goddes, to spende the future remeynder of my tyme, onelye in the seruice of you (good madame) to whom herewith, as the fyrst frutes of my humble and deare zeale towardes you, I make a presente of my poore afflicted harte, which as it is susteyned, by the on∣ly viewe and remembrance of your beautie and vertue, So beyng denied harbor at your hands, his next and last refuge is, to exspecte consolacion in death, which hitherunto I haue refused, & for y^e present do shonne, not for any horror or feare I conceyue of hys malice, but onelye to prolonge yet the

course of my lyfe, to the ende that as my mynde hath alre∣dye vowed to serue you. So my bodye as a necessarye instru∣mente, maye be whollye ymployed to the execution of your commaundementes: But yf the dedication of myne offer, shall receiue an vnthankefull repulse, or the merite of my affectioned seruice, sente hacke, with a paymente of crueltie (a vice not like to inhabite where nature and the godes, haue disposed, so plentifullye all theyr gyftes of grace, nor incident commonlye to creatures of so vertuoule norriture and good bringynge vpp) you shall sée me immediatlye suf∣fer, that which I haue not deserued, and you I knowe wilbe sorie for the thinge, whiche you can not amende, where∣fore seing you haue the choice, both to prolonge my lif with double ioye, and abridge my dayes by vndeserued dollor, embrace the workes of compassion. the chiefe braunches of vertue, and refuce the surname of crueltye, wherin I pre∣ferr eftesones this laste importunitye, to thende, that if my requeste be barred, to enter the gates of pitye, wyth you, you maye at leaste giue death his dispatche (who attendes vppon the reaporte of your aunswere, to execute his charge vppon hym, who wisheth you, that whiche you hate, and sendes you that which he loues. Yours more then his owne. P. Virley.

This letter sealed and subscribed with his owne hande, he deliuered, not withoute abundance of teares, to his neygh∣bour, who promisinge hym once againe, to bringe him aun∣swere afore she slepte, went her waie, leauing the languish∣ynge knyghte, buildyng castels in the ayre, with a thousand hammors in his heade, & tickling him selfe to make himself laughe, semed sometime to bathe his sorowes, in the ioye and cōtentement which vaine hope offred him by visions in his flatteringe conceite, but when the lothsome ymage of the cruell inciuilitye of Zilya, presented her selfe in hys mynde, his pleasure retired into dule, with as manye argu∣mentes of presente death, as earste he ymagined liklihodes

of contentement and ioye, semynge to haue in his eye, the angrie and frownyng lookes, wherewith his mistres recei∣ued the comming of the messenger, who arriued now at the pallaice of Zilya, mett her comminge out of a gardyne on the backe side of her house, where hauynge saluted eche o∣ther, wyth equall showe of curtesye, the Ladye messenger thinkynge to preferre certeine excuses aswell to auoyde im∣putation, whiche mighte be obiected againste her vnsemely execution of so badd an ambassage, as also to inferr perswa∣cions on the behalfe of hym, by whome she was sente, was preuented by the wydowe, who tolde her, that she merueil∣led to sée her there at that hower, considerynge her former cōuersation, whiche hath alwayes argued her, to be so frend∣ly to vertue and enemye to exercise of idlenes, that she woulde not lett slipp one mynute of tyme, wythout it were frutefullye ymployed, whereunto the burgesse replyed with thankes, for the goood opinion she seamed to haue of her and her doinges, with desyer to perseuer therin, til iuste occasion deserued the contrarie

And touching my being here at this hower (saieth she) which you seame to tearme an idle vacacion, yf my message might be harde and consydered wyth no lesse indifferencie of you, then the cause of my commynge importes greate and vn∣fayned necessitye, you woulde (I am sewer) conuerte that conceite into an opinyon of vertuouse inclination in me, for I am perswaded that the tyme ymployed in workes of pitye, and releuyng the afflicted and dollorous companie, distressed wyth dule, is aswell spente, and no lesse me∣ritorious afore God, then those momentes and seasons, ioyned to the contynuall yoke of exstreme labor and toyle of the handes, whereof I woulde presentlye, presente you a particular discourse, if the reaporte of my embassage wolde not be hurtefull to the league of amytie, longe ago practised betwene vs: Whereunto the curious wydowe (hauynge alredye kindled in her harte the coles of disdaine) aunswered wyth a countinance, deriued of the angrie dis∣position

of her mallencolike mynde, that touchynge the rea∣porte, she shoulde be as wearye wyth hearyng the circum∣stance, as vnwillynge to consider of the case. And albeit (saith she) I knowe not the intente of your wordes, & muche lesse the cause of youre commynge, yet the kallendor of my mynde pronosticates the effecte of your embassage, to importe requestes of other consequence, then mine honor wilbe hable to brooke, wherefore I praye you lett me be de∣ceiued in mine exspectation, and you so curious to kepe the league of our auncient frendshipp, that the breathe of your owne mouth do not dissolue that, which earst seamed indis∣soluble, nor you become the messenger of reaportes that any waye, maye seme indecent for a dame of your degree.

Madame sayeth the messenger, the lytle Simpathia and equalitie of affection, whiche seames to be in you, in com∣parison of the vertues of him whose solicitor I am, hath mo∣ued I thinke this passion in you, notwithstandynge for my parte, beinge no lesse sorie for the presente affliction of Monsieur de Virley, then desierous to releue his distresse with thuttermoste of my indeuor, I haue vndertaken the charge of a messenger, to deliuer this letter (which then she takes oute of her pocket and giues to Zilya) vnto you, wherein as my fayth lieth in pawne, for the performāce of my promise, so I beseche you, on his behalfe, refuce not his presente, accompanied wyth a franke offer of his humble seruice, lyf, liuynge and all that he hath, to be imployed onelye at the becke of your commaundemente, wherein, if amongeste the other beatitudes or vertues giuen vs, by speciall name in the scripture, the actes of charitye, wyth indeuor to suc∣cour the afflicted, and giue consolation to the comfortles, be no lesse acceptable afore God then the reste, refuce not ma∣dame, to releue hym, who for your sake, hath loste his li∣bertye, languisheth in continuall dollor, and is redye for wante of reléefe at your hande, to take hys leaue of vs wretches in this worlde, wyth whiche iuste incitacions

to compassion, I ioyne also this requeste of myne, that if the deserte of my frendshypp, maye fynde place of fauor in you, you wyll, (the rather for my sake, open and reade the letter, retournynge your annswere by me, who hath vn∣dertaken no further but the deliuerie of the same, and rea∣porte your resolucion touchinge the contentes of his de∣maunde. Zilya, besides the crabbed inclination of her owne nature, beinge not acquainted wyth suche kinde of embas∣sages, and lesse wonte to be courted wyth requestes of the like courtesie, began here to enter into suche a disposicion of collor, that at the fyrste, she was readye to wreake her malice vppon the letter, committynge it into a thousande peces, and retourne the messenger without any aunswere, albeit reseruing by chaunce some sparke of modestie, which oughte to be incidente to all women, she opened and redds the contentes of her clyante, not without signes of greate alteracion in her face, arguynge lyuelye enoughe the con∣trarietie of thoughtes, which semed to quarel in her mind: for within lesse then a moment of tyme, she chaunged coolor twize or thrice, some tyme pale lyke the crosse of Dyana, whiche beinge set againste the sonne, loaseth by and by the glorye of his borowed lighte, and retourned immediatly to a crymsyne, not muche vnlike the florishinge dye of the fra∣grante rose, glisterynge in his orient coolour in the plea∣sant mournynges of the springe, notwithstanding hauyng redd and ouer red with thies alterations, the some of his de∣maunde, beinge not hable any longer to conceile or mode∣rate, the passion of her yre, clawed her neyghbour wyth this crabbed aunswere. I woulde neuer haue thoughte, that vnder the outwarde showe of your vertuouse conuersacion, whereof you haue bene no lesse noted, then commended by the mouth of all men hetherunto, had lorked suche foule frutes, of abhominable substance, and specially in a desier, to become a celecarier of letters in the fauor of loue, wherin as you haue semed to waighe the reputacion of your selfe, & the renowme of mine honor, in thindifferente ballance of

your owne lighte iudgemente, Euenso, if the lawe of frend shippe did not stopp my mouthe, and make me dissymule, that whych I thinke, or yf any other had bene the messen∣ger of thies affaires, I assure you, the publicacion of the facte, shoulde haue made her honour, no lesse notorius and subiecte to perpetuall infamye hereafter, then I seme to make deare accompte of my chastetie, which I woulde you shoulde knowe, is armed with more assurance, then to bée shaken with any assaltes of thies follies: wherefore if you be as carefull to liue in quiett withoute skandall hereafter, as I am absolutely resolued not to dimynish the title of my honor, by any acte of myne owne, lett this first falte diswade you, to wade any further in an enterprise of so small com∣mendacions, seyng that she that is eyther mynister or mes∣senger in these amarouse trafficques, or a furtheror of such practises of loue, is no lesse guiltie affore God and her con∣science, then yf she were eyther pillowe or bolster to the detestable facte.

And for mine aunswere to Siegneur de Virley, whose demaund I deteste, no lesse then his follie deserues, yf he haue opened his eare to thinchauntment of loue, lett hym expulse then∣nemye with a countercharme, by raison, or elles make the best of his owne bargaine, for seynge hys disease commes of him selfe, let hym exspecte no consolacion at my hande, for I had rather be a frende to death, then fauour the leaste iotte of his demaunde, wherein for a confirmacion of my re∣solucion, I intende hensfurthe to barr hym al meanes of ac∣cesse to my presence, wherewith on my behalfe you maye salute hym.

The lady messenger, seyng her selfe in this sorte clawed, where it itched not, & no lesse ashamed of her sharpe repulse, then sory y^t her medicine, was of no better operacion, on the behalfe of her patient, semynge notwithstandyng to be litle moued with the angrie complexion of ZYLIA, desiered that God wolde reduce the difference and inequalitie of their di∣seases, into a Sympathia and equalitie of passion, I meane,

saieth she madame that you maye be taken oute of this con∣ceite of cruell disdaine, whiche makes you incapable of rea∣son, and he restored to his libertie, which he can not redeme, but by thastistance of your goodnes, wherewith she toke a shorte leaue and departed, and beynge arryued at the lod∣ging of her knighte, she founde him all plunged in extreme dollour, vpon a felde bedd, with more argumentes of death, then likelihods of lyfe, who, whether he felte some sygnes of yll lucke by the secrett instigation of his hart (whyche com∣monly preferres diuers conceites of feare, when the minde is occupyed with dowte) or whether the sorowefull counte∣nance of the messenger dyd signefie her yll successe in hys sute, or what it was, I can not tell, but as his neyghbour was entringe into the reporte of her aunswere, he stopped her mouthe, and preuented her meanynge with this excla∣macion followyng. What state is more wretched, then he, that lyueth dowtefull of hymselfe with dispaire of dispence from disquiett, by any assistaunce of tyme or other mediator on his behalf, who is wrapte in suche miserie, or hath more cause to complaine, then he to whom fortune hathe vowed a contynuāce of her malice, w^tout hope to reclaime her fauor? is there any pennance greater, then to be pun••shed w^t conti∣nual passion, or plage of more mortality, then to consume by pecemeale in y^e flame of languishyng dule? Ah infortunat gentleman, how vnhappelie art thou fallē frō the felicitie of a lyfe ful of pleasant libertie, w^t exchaung of thine auncient blysse, for a tribute of tormentes, more supportable then death, how happie and thrysblissed was thy estate, enioying the sweete maydenhedd of thy affection, and vse of fredome, without awe or controlement of any? where now (alas) the touche of a contrarye experience, yeldes me the effect of a thousande deathes, without lycence notwithstandynge to dye, whereby I sholde dismisse euerye plage that staieth the fattall desyer of my dyeng hart, wherein hathe fortune this cause of displeasure againste me, yf not that shée is dis∣dainefull

of the quiett whyche wee wretches fynde vppon earthe and suche an ennemye to the common contentement of vs all, that only to manifest her power amongeste vs she, vppon a soddaynes choake oure pleasant thurste and de∣syer of free lyfe wyth, pilles of passions and annoyes of more bitter taste, then any gall tempered with the moste stronge ruberbe, that euer came oute of Alaxandria, comit∣tinge vs in thende to a martirdome of more extremetie, then the pange appointed by deathe, to breake in peces the force and strengthe of the harte? whereof who is a more familiar experience, then the miserable Philiberto, who in exchaunge of his former quiett and contentement of will, hath coughte alas a captiuitie more cruell, then he that is condemned to end his dayes in the bottom of a dongeon. Ah madame, how your countenance argueth the small regarde whyche Zylia hathe of my paine? full well do I sée alas, that she neyther maks accompte of my letters, nor vseth pitie to my distresse, and muche lesse giues any creditt at all to your honest fren∣deshipp, whyche I confesse I haue greatelye abused, in pro∣curing you displeasure, for the ease of my disquiett? let loue beare the blame, and I the iuste pennance of myne owne in∣discrecion that so rashely haue entred the sea of my owne sorowe, and sawe at setting from the shoare, sufficyent ar∣gumentes of mortall euills, threatenynge my present pe∣ril, wherein albeit I was flattered at the first with a calme and pleasant ebb, whiche made my hoyse sayle and floate without anye feare, yet in the veraye inconstancy which all men attributes to that element, and vnruly waues raging without measure in the heighte of that trobled sea, appered plainelie enoughe, the likelehodes of my present daunger, whiche I woulde hadde power to destrdye me by some sod∣daine shypwrake, or caste me spedelye into the bottomles golphe to be deuowred in the throate of some monster in the merciles occean Ah Loue, with what iustice cold I exclaime againste thy infydelitie, for that thou hast alwaies flattered

me, with an assurance of that whyche now I fynde furthest from me? haste thou a pollecie to perswade a creadit in that wherein thou meanest absolute deceite, and then to trium∣phe in the thraldome of suche as beleue thy charmes? yf this bée thy order of dealinge, why bearest thou the title of a necessarye vertue, or ympartest thyne authoritie with the powers aboue? for my parte, yf there were cause of hope, or exspectacion of deliuerie, I colde in some sorte qualefye the rage of my presēt annoye, with imaginaciō of future re∣dresse, or yf the contynuance of my gréeffe argued a lykele∣hodd of contentement hereafter, the remembraunce of my felycitie to come, wolde mortefye the panges whych nowe I am forced to féele without releace of paine? but alas too what ende doo I ymagyne a composicion with hym, that is not leuyable to any order, and muche lesse partaker of the nobled vertue or gifte of piti? why do I pleade for grace in a courte of comon crueltie wher tyranny shootes the gates of compassion against complaintes of iustice? or to what end sholde I expect so much as a simple offer of help in him, who is borne the common enemie & destruction of many? is there exspectacion of remedie in him, whose breath is a poisō more infectiue, then any venym that earste hath bene made by the moest conning enchauntor that euer was bred in the mye∣rye vale? or is there reason to depende vppon the delyuery of hym, who lyeth in ambushe to assalte me in worse sorte, then yet I haue felte? Ah cruell mistrys, full euill do you measure the circunstance and effect of my goodwill, with protestacion of vowe neuer to departe out of the lease of your commandementes? fewer yf your waspish mynd wold confirme and make good the consent of your beautie, or that your inwarde partes wolde giue leaue to thoutewarde ar∣guments to worke an effect of that which they promysse by showe, I sholde not haue cause to lament suche lacke in you and muche lesse indure thys extremetye by hopynge for that whyche I knowe I shall neuer haue? Oh coulde recom∣pence and vnthankefull retourne of the loyall zeale I haue

borne wythout spotte of dishonest intente in any sortt: A•• serpent and masqued basylyke in whome is rather a fay∣ned showe, then true effect of any curtesye, the only glaun∣ces of thyne eyes haue had power to fill euery corner of my hart full of poysoned infection, wherein at leaste if I hadd thassistance of any arte or droague to remoue thy forces, I should bée restored to myne aunciente quiet, and thow liue at rest without the noyse of so manye ymportunities. And nowe do I sée an experience of auncient opynion touchinge the maladie of loue, who is neyther healed by salue, nor cured by arte: for to make insicion to the sore, wolde giue but in∣crease to my payne, & to vse thapplicacion of medicins, wer but to féede the tyme with incertenties, and to staye the hu∣mor, were enoughe to giue ende to my lyfe, by present suff••∣cacion, so that alas I sée no choice of remedie, then to bée tou¦ched wyth the hande that first gaue vent and set abroach the cause of the wound, that I wishe (in ful satisfaction of al my torment) that she might sée the verye depth and furthest part of my hart, to the nde shée might bée iudge of my loyaltie, and acknowledge the wronge she doth to the vertu of my honest meaninge. But alas, I fynde herein that my destynies con∣tende agaynst my desyer, and the viewe of her former cru∣eltie, makes me dispair of other fauor, then suche as hither∣vnto I haue founde, so that as I whollie depende vppon her goodnes, and my lyfe paiseth only in the ballance of her good will, so I know she is fully desolued in a contrarye disposi∣cion agaynst me, makinge a Iest of my humble sute and of∣fer of seruice, takes pleasure in my martirdom, and reapose a speciall felycitie in the pointes of my peculiar and mortall gréefe, whych he ended not without suche abundance of tea¦res, and supply of other sorowe, that the messenger was for∣ced to abandon the place, and leaue him in the middest of his passion, ymparting notwithstanding, the pointes of her aun¦swere to a deare frende of the knighte, wyth aduise to sup∣plante his affection, or els seke his remedie by some other meanes, wherin albeit he performed thindeuor of a frende

euerye waye, yet the successe argued a small vertue in his diligence and the patient rather resolued in extremeties, the hable to admit any thinge whiche ymported a moderacion to his gréefe, the whych gréew ymediatlie to suche extreme tearmes, that the strength and desyer of the stomake was con¦uerted ymediatlie into a contempt of necessarie sustentaci∣on, and in place of sléepe he embraced the offer of vaine con∣ceites, appearinge (as it were) by visyon thorowe the miste∣ry of hollowe dreames, refusinge conference with all men, if not, that sometyme he wolde complaine vpon the crueltie of one whom he wold not name, wyth desyer to end his life in the pursewte of that quarel. The phizicions were found at the end of their wittes, both vnhable to discerne the cause of his disease, and wythout s••il to giue a remedie to his euil, what inspection soeuer they made in his vryne or tryeng of his pulses, or other signes to iudge his gréeffe or any autho∣rytye of their arte, wherevpon the gentleman his compani∣on entred into such tearmes of sorowe for the sicknes of his frende, that his dollor seamed of equall qualytie to the passi∣on of his cōpanion, not ceassing notwithstanding to solicite the goodwil of Zilya, by his own trauell, & letters, whych put her in remembrance of the pytie that women oughte to vse to thafflicted, presentes and promises of no smal price wyth other deuises wherin he iudged any vertu to moue her hag∣garde disposicion, and for that he sawe that in the very view of her presence, consisted the recouery of his frende, he for∣gat not to entreat her w^t tearmes due as he had sewed to the greatest princesse of Spayne or Italye, wherein, notwyth∣standynge he gayned asmuche as if he had vndertaken to nomber the starres, or stay y^t course of the sonne, for that she excused her selfe vppon her wydo wheade, and how euyll it became a gentlewoman of her estate and callynge, to comit her honor to dowte, and honest name to question, in visiting the sicknes of one who is neyther parent nor allye, nor al∣moste any waye knowen vnto her, whyche as it dryue hym frome further attempte that waye, so waighinge the distres

of his trend, & y^e vertu which nature hath giuen to onewomā to entreat an other, thought it a pece of pollecie to geue a se¦cōd charge of her, who first broached his request to his cruel mistrys, to whom he preferred suche reasons as he accomp∣ted of force to perswade her, sometime alledginge the pytie which naturallie is incydent to all women, and when, and vppon whom it ought to bée exposed, hée preferred also the glory w^t names of ymmortalytie which diuerse of forreine time haue won by semblable vertue, where with he won a seconde graunte of her furtherance, so farr furth as at thin∣stant they wente together to the lodginge of Seignenr Virley in whom the very view of his aunciente frende and nexte neighbour sturred vp a more encrease of sorowe, forcinge hym to a further complaint then affore with desyer chiefly, that he had neuer made exsperience of her faith nor she cause to attempte the frendshipp of her, whose crueltie in preser∣uinge her honor, is greater then is necessarye, and compassi∣on lesse then is conuenient for his distresse, proceding only of an honest zeale without intent of violacion of honor or ho∣neste name: which wyth dyuerse argumentts of ghastelye regarde, accompanienge his last wordes, wrought such ef∣fectes of pytie and remorse in the honest matrone his neigh∣bour, that to preuent his further daunger, shée gaue hym assu¦rance of her vttermost, in boarding eftsōes the goodwil of his ••oye mistrys with protestacion of waranty, that if he wer de¦liuered of his sicknes, she wold procure a mutual conference betwen him, and the cause of his vniust torment, wherunto albeit he gaue litle credit, for that he thought it was but a broth brued of artifyciall liccour to féed him with dropps of vncertaine consolacion, yet in the very offer of her frendship appered a ho••e of spedie deliuery which she promised eftso∣nes in sort as you haue hard, willinge him to reapose him∣selfe whollie in the vertue of her indeuor and worde, which seamed to breath an ayre of such compfort and force thorow all his partes, that defyenge the malice of his late sicknes, hée seamed euen then to lacke no part of his former health,

neyther had he néede of restoretiues or force of confections to confirme his recouerye, or assistance of staffe or crooche, to supporte his feble lymmes weakned with so longe sicknes, but perswadinge a wounderfull felicyty in the very remem¦brance whiche his mistrys seamed to haue of his distresse, he ymagyned to syt alredie in the paradise of his pleasure dismissinge ymediatly the messenger, who carefull for her part to put her promisse in vse attended thoffer of cōuenient time to worke theffect accordingly, wherin she was assisted with a speciall fauor of fortune, who for the more expedicion of y^e matter, brought Zylya & the lady messenger to mete w^tin iij. daies after) in one pew or cloase deske in y^e church, wher y^e solicitor of Seigueur Virley forcing certeine teares in her eyes, begā to practise for her clyent in such sort y^t what w^t repeti∣cion of the passion of the knighte, speciall reproche againste the crueltie of women in those cases, with generall comē∣dacion to y^e vertue of such as declare compassion vpon the dis¦tress of thafflicted, she wrought her to a remorse of his paine, with consent to preuente his further perill, wyth a sim∣ple offer of the viewe of her presence, and that vnder tearmes of condicion, that frome and after the tyme of such frendshipp he shold disclayme al ymportunities in the pursute of further fauor, wherewyth she enioyned hym on∣ly a libertie of an howers conference the next day at ij of the clocke in thafter none, where (saith shée) I haue more regard to thextremetie of his distresse wyth desyer to stop the course of further daunger in him, then to giue hym any cause at al to make his proffit of this frendeshippe or perswade a hope of further fauor in me hereafter, prayinge you for your part, to giue hym in straite charge, neyther to breake the mo∣ment of appointmente, nor excede the lymyt of his tyme, wherein as I reappose a chiefe credit in youre honestie, so if the successe aunswere not my exspectacion, assure your selfe, youre vertue cann not escape wythe oute slaun∣der, and the best parte of youre faythe remeyne in que∣stion

for euer: wherewyth they departed the one to her lod∣ging conuerted whollly into deuise wyth what tearmes she sholde aunswere the day followinge the follie of her folishe louer, the other repaireth to her passioned Vyrle who dispai∣ringe still of the goodnes of Zylya, preuented the reaporte of the messenger by askinge her what newes, and whether his mistrys were still shodd with her mettall of aunciente tyranny or no, that you shall try your selfe (saith she) if you haue the hart to meete her tomorowe in her house at the se∣conde hower after dynner according to her owne appointe¦ment, whiche brought such newe ioye into all his desperat partes, that he feell of embrasing the bringer of those glade; some newes offringe her the choice of a thousand thankes, with libertie to dispose of him and all that was his at her pleasure, thinking the exposicion of his life to a thousande perils for her sake, was farr insufficiente to counteruaile the greatnes of the pleasure, shee had procured him in that simple appointmente, whiche he promised to performe the next daye accordinge to the hower, with intente to endure what soeuer it pleased fortune to bestowe vppon hym, a∣gaynst whom to stryue (sayth he, albeit is as though a man sholde make warr agaynst hymselfe, whereof the victorie cannot bee without doble daunger, yet am I determined to embrase her doome although the same contend agaynste my felicitie: in whiche, or suche like termes hee passed the daye whyche seamed to excede the space and compasse of a yeare to hym, that lyueth in exspectacion of frendshipp at the handes of his mistrys, wyth whose snares he was taken, without that he had libertie to giue iudgement of the malice of a wo∣man, when she is disposed to spyt out the vttermoste stynge of her venym. And sewerly that man is farr from the guide of discrecion, that is touched with the furye of such charmes seing the daunger of so many thousandes tastinge of the like abuses ought to warne vs to eschewe such euils in oure sel∣ues, neytheer haue they don suche wronge to themselues

as generall discredit to the whole masculyne sect▪ for that with out wisdome they haue become subiecte to theim, who haue their beyng in this worlde for no other respect, then to depende vppon the will and comandement of the man, but as this mortall enchauntement, procedyng of the beautie of women, bothe pleasant and hurtefull to men, seames too bee typped with a certeine vertue of delite, drawing the fond∣linges of the worlde to bee in loue with the cause of their owne distruction, So I am of oppinon also that yt is a kinde of punishemēt whiche God hath appointed to plage and tor∣ment vs for our offences that waye, seynge, that the most of vs (now a dayes) syppynge of the cupp of that infection, do conuert the remembrance and care whiche wée oughte to haue of thestimacion of vertue, into a speciall affection towardes oure fonde fancies, séekinge our felicitie and quiet in the tombe wherein is shrowded the topp and roote of all our my shapps. Besides vertuouse and chaste Ladyes, are not so simple, nor voide of discrecion, but they beholde affarr of and are pryuye to the meanyng of thies franke offers of seruice, and loyaltie, sett out fynelie with diuerse coollours of fayned vertue, not doutynge also that suche masqued lo∣uers disfer nothynge from the venemous skorpion, whose poison lyeth altogether in her taile, for that the ende of such loue argues a subuercion of the renowme and former ver∣tues of a man, whych of falleth out rightelie in y^e sequeile of this Virey, who thinking to haue made a greate conquest, in the victorie of free conference with his vnkynde mistrys, is nowe vppon the waye to her pallais (or rather pathe of hys owne misfortune) with more contentement I am sewer, then hertofore he hathe receiued disquiett by his former tor∣ment: And beinge now in the base courte of herl odgyng, he found her in a lowe hal attended vppon with one gentlewo∣man only, where after certeine cold gretinges, entermed∣led with a countenance of counterfaite ioye on her parte, she slented at his sicknes with thies tearmes. yf euerye euill were as mortal in deède, as yt is made by reapport, a sleighte

salue colde not so soone cure so great disease, nor vnproued medecins worke suche meruelous operacions, in so shorte a tyme, speciallye vppon so daungerous a greeff, as yours (Seigneur Virley) seamed to bée by the reaport of al men vnto me, whiche shall serue me, as an vndouted experience here∣after, that the passions of men bée of no longer aboade, then the subiect of their affectiō appeares before their eyes, neyther bée they other thinges then certeine mirroiers or lookinge glasses, wherein albeyt are represented the veray licknes or fygure of theime that beholde theime, yet ta∣kyng awaye the obiect or cause, and the forme vanisheth al∣so as the poff of winde passinge along the straite of a plaine or déepe valleye. Ah madame (saith he) how easye yt is to de∣uise of my disease, and harde for me to hope for remedye at youre hande, that doutes of the greatnes of my passion, and easlye may he prefer either mirth or sorowe at hys pleasure whose mind is free from conceits of dout or dispayre: where theharte truelye passioned, dreades to make declaracion of eyther of theim, least in excedyng in the one, or seaminge to muche a nigard of the other. the showe of eyther of theim bringe his sute or honest intent in I••lewse suspicion with theym, in whom onely resteth the Cataplama of his sore, so that I accompte hym now the most infortunat man, whose state is vnhapelye broughte vnder the awe of suche two mortal extremeties: and for my parte, yf I were as frée from thextreame pointes of affection, as you seame farre from reason to doute of the greatnes of my gréeff, I coulde (with better will) allowe your discreditt in the faythe and inconstancye of menne: but alas hee that is caughte with the snares of true loue, canne beholde no other figure, nor make other liknes thenne of the true cause of hys affection, the picture whereof remeyneth for euer within the sewrest part of the hart, whiche in deede (as you saye is the true mirroer, wherein appereth not a fayned shadowe, fadyng with the forme, but a contynuall viewe and remē∣brance of her, by whome wée lyue in suche heauenly con∣templaciō

in whych dyol or lokyng glasse I haue ympryn ted y^e true effect of the thing (which by vertue ofdue meritt) ought to restore strēgth to my presēt weaknes, dealing so ex¦treamelie w^t me, from the first tyme of this contemplacion. that thonly offer of hope to restore in thende my dekayed partes, hathe hetherunto preuented theffect of vtter destru∣ction to euery pece and member of my bodie. And touching thargumentes of healthe whiche you note in me, I am to yeld you alone all homage and honour for the same, for that the fauor whiche I fynde in thys present appointement and conference with you, hathe sturred vpp thys glee of good lykyng thorow all my partes, with more contentement of the happy encounter, thē my former gréeues gaue me cause of extreme dystresse, and yet my martirdome hath ney∣ther bene so small nor secrett, but the whole worlde hathe witnessed my panges, and you also myghte haue beleued theyme, yf eyther the sorowe of my selfe, or reapport of such as tooke pitie of me, had bene of creditt with you, whereof also I am yet to endure a more harde share (yf yt maye bee ymagyned by any braine) so that the same were hable to force a remorse in you on my behalfe, for the greatest felicity I haue in this worlde is, to haue the fauor of any cōmaun∣dement at youre hande (what perill soeuer yt ymportte) to thende my diligence and readie indeuor to do you seruice therein or other your affaires what so euer, maye iustefye the vowe of my vnfained hacte towardes you, like as also I perswade my selfe to bee reysed from a hundreth thousande deathes together, when I ymagyn but a simple compassion in you touchynge the torment I suffer for youre beautie, wherein yf euer I hadde reason to take pleasure, by a de∣lite whyche nature hathe wroughte in the thynge, I am sewer alredie to haue hadd my parte of a thousande annoies, by the regards of crueltie I haue found in you, ••••••••el at last good ladie, the comission of former torments, & ceasse hens∣furth to plage him that is readye in the place to comitt hys

bodie to any sacrafy ce for the ransome of your fauour, what moueth you alas to a discreditt or doute of my payne, wyth opynion that my passion is dyssembled? lett the sondrye sortes of teares heretofore distilled on the behalfe of youre discurtesye, so many dayes broughte to end with continuall sorow, and nyghtes drawen out at lengthe with drayninge sighes, ye the present viewe of my pale and ghastelye, ghost perswade you of the contrarye, with assurance of my vn∣dowted loyaltie for euer? wherewith he behelde her, not without a vente of soddayne teares trycklynge alonge hys cheekes, and shee for her parte regarded the earthe wyth a face full of dysdaine, (as yt seamed) whyche notwithstan∣dynge he construed to a proffitt of hys sute pursewynge the same eftesones in this sorte. Ah madame haue you the hart to deface the glorie of that deuyne beautie of yours wyth an acte of more TYRRANNIE then euer hath bene noted in anye woman of former tyme? or accompte you yt a ver∣tue to kyll hym, who dyethe euerye hower in the ve∣ray viewe and remembrance of the heauenlye perfection, wherein you only excell al that euer haue bene called faire? if you resolued haue my ruyne, why stay you to do executiō, abridge godd Ladye my lingringe torment, with a presente dispatche and ende of lyfe, deferr no longer the fatall mini∣sters of your wyl, seynge you are aggreed to performe the effect, and suffer at laste my waterye eyes to stop the strea∣mes of their auncient sorowe, deryued of the onelye viewe and remembrance of the mystrys of their contemplacions, whereby my harte shall also supp the laste Syropp of despe∣rate hope, and my affections vanyshe with the dekaye of my bodye, who is heare readie to become your fattall har∣benger in the other worlde, with hope to reape there the hyer of my present merytt.

The Ladye, whether her anger woulde gyue no longer place to hys complaint, or that she dowted a force or charme in the same to ouerthrow the fortresse of her chastetie, gaue him the looke of a waspishe mynd, reprehending his rashnes

with theis or suche like tearmes of reproche.

Yf my pacience woulde yet giue leaue to your fonde dis∣course, I see no wante of desyer in you to attempte me with requestes, which neither is your parte to preferr to one of my condicion and callynge, nor yet my honor can brooke, to heare of the mouth of suche as soeke but to seduce the hone∣stie of chaste Ladies, wherein as you haue exacted vpon the frendshipp and facilitye in me to here the vttermost of your sute, presumyng (belike) of my consent to depart wyth that whiche you can not restore me againe, So, besides that the present experience of your foule intent, shall serue me here∣after as a warraunte againste the assaultes of suche offers eyther in your selfe, or any other equal to you in disposictō, I can giue no other aunswere to the tearmes of your re∣queste, nor fauor to your fowle attempte, but that from the instant, you ceasse to solicite me eyther by your selfe, or any embassador on your behalfe, protestynge vnto you (for my part) neyther to be séene in the stréete, nor other place of pu∣blike beinge, so longe as you are in the countreye, and muche lesse suffer thaccesse of anye Gentleman within my house, onles he bée my neare parent or allye, by whiche meanes your importunities onely shall punishe me wyth a sorowful restrainte and absence from the societie of my olde companions and frendes: whiche laste resolucion seamed suche a mistery to the mynde of thinfortunat Virley, that for the time, he stoode as enchaunted or one newlye drop∣ped fourth of the cloudes, till at laste as one whollie con∣uerted into dispaire of further fauor at her hande, he craued onelye, for consideracion of his paynes paste, and laste fare∣well of his loyall fayth to her, a kysse, which he sayed sholde satisfye his longynge at full, and discharge her of further pursewete accordynge to her requeste.

The malicious Ladye notinge the fonde desyer of the knighte, and wyth what small coste she mighte nowe rydd her of an importuante suter, meanynge notwythstandyng

to departe with so small a fauor, but for a price of greate pennance to hym that soughte to buy it, tolde hym, that as∣well to satisfye his present request, as also to make a fur∣ther prooffe of his faith, she wolde performe the full of hys last demaunde, yf he wolde giue her assurance by the sayth of a gentleman, to do one thinge wherein she was to re∣quire hym, whiche the simple Vyrley did not onely promisse by all protestations of religion or othe, but pawned also the maiestie of the highest for performyng euery such comman∣dement as it pleased her to enioyne hym, wherewith she sea∣med satisfyed touchyng thassurance of his consent, and ther∣vpon entred into theffect of her owne promisse, embracinge and kissynge hym as yf it had bene the firste nighte of theyr mariage, requiryng hym in like sorte to become the maister of his worde and aduouche the pointes of his late graunte.

The pore gentleman suspectynge no one thoughte of suche tyrannye in his mistrys, and muche lesse that he shoulde buye his kisses at so deare a price, tolde her he attended the only sommonee of her cōmaundement, to thende she mighte witnes his readye indeuor to obeye her: she enioyned hym that from that hower till iij. yeres were expired, he shoulde become muett, without speakynge in any sorte to any crea∣ture lyuing, how great so euer his occasion appeared, in the true obseruynge whereof (saith she) shall appeare an expe∣rience of your faith, whiche also maye force hereafter a fur∣ther benefit for you, where the contrarie wil not only disco∣uer your villānte, but be readye to accuse you of periurie on the behalfe of a Gentlewoman. He thinkes I see the per∣plexed countenaunce of the pore knighte, who hearinge the sentence of his hard pennaunce, iudged as greate iniustice in her, for taxing him at so cruell a rate, as difficultie in him selfe to performe theffect of so strāge a charge: albeit his hart was so greate, and he so papisticall in performynge hys vowe, that he began euen then to enter into the pointes of her commaundement, declarynge by signes that she should

bée obeyed, wherewith he gaue her an humble reuerence and retyred immediatly to hys lodgynge, faygnynge to suche as were aboute hym, that the extremetie of a colde rhume distillynge from the partes of the braine had taken awaye the vse of his tounge. And because his domnes shoulde not bee a gréeffe to his frendes, nor they moue his disquiett in demaundynge the cause, he determyned to bée a straunger to his countrey till the yeares of pennaunce were runne oute, wherewith committynge the order of his affayres at Mountcall or els where in Pyemount to the creditt of suche as he thought méete to supplye the place of suche truste, tooke twoo or thrée of his familyar compa∣nions to assiste his voyage, whiche he directed rightelye into fraunce as a countreye moste méete for hys abode, chiefly for the mortall warres as then betwen CHARLES the seuenth, and the valyaunt Englishe men possessynge his countrey, in the yeare 1451.

And as the Kynge was then in campp in Gascoyne, with in∣tent to pursewe the goodnes of his fortune, and delyuer his contrey altogether from thenglishe nacion, he addres∣sed hymselfe and force to the Duchye of Normandye, where this Pyemountaine knight, being in the campp, was knowen by and by to diuerse of the chiefstaines aboute the kynge, aswell by the notable seruice they had seene hym do in diuerse places, as also greate creditt he hathe had afore wyth thearle of Pyemount, who after became Duke of Scauoye, where was greate repaire of the nobilitye of Fraunce, for that he maryed Madame Iolante seconde doughter to CHARLES the seuenth: after they hadde a whyle lamented his lacke of speache (not knowynge for all they coulde doo the cause of suche disease) they pre∣sented hym afore the Maiestye wyth suche commenda∣cyon of hys vertue and valyauntnes in armes as was necessarye for the worthynes of the same, whyche for∣ced a greate lykynge in the Kynge towardes hym, al∣albeit

his outwarde apparaunce argued infficiently his in∣warde dexteritie that way, whych also he confyrmed in pub licke view in an assalte which the kinge gaue to the english men within Roan, the chiefe and only bool warke of the whole country of Normandy, where Signeur Philibarto gaue suche ef∣fecces of his forwardnes, that he was the first that was séene vpon the walles making waye to the souldiours to enter the breache and towne, wherein not longe affore the Duke of Sommerset had burned the counterfait prophet of Fraunce called La Pucelle leane, whome some pratinge frenchmen do affirme to haue wrought merueiles in armes during those warrs, but chiefly that vnder the conduite of her, our coun∣tryemen lost Orleance w^c diuerse other holdes in those partes, and for a memory of that forged ydoll they kepe yet amon∣gest other relikes in the abbay of. S. Denys,, whych I sawe in May last, a great roostie sworde, wherwith they are not asha∣med to aduowche that shee performed diuerse expedicions and victories againste thinglishe nacion, whych seames as true, as that which they are a shamed to put in a chronicle of credit touching their saint Denys, whom they affirme was erecuted at Parys, and came from thence with his heade in his hand, which he buyried in the abbaye, albeit they saye he rested foure tymes by the way where they haue founded iiii. crosses with the headles ymage of saint Denys holding a sto∣nye skalpe in his hande, but nowe to oure Dom Philiberto, whose forwardnes and fortune in the last assalte, being wel noted of the kinge, began to kindle a credit in the mynde of the maiestie towards hym in such sorte, as besydes speciall praises giuen to his worthynes in the hearing of all his cap∣teines, he presented hym wyth the state of a gentleman of his chamber, with pension sufficient to menteyne the port of that place, promisinge besydes an encrease of his bowntye, as he saw a contynuance of hys good seruice, for the whyche the mute knighte gaue the kynge humble thankes, by signes lyfting hys handes towards heauen as a witnes of y^e

faithe, he promised to kepe without spot to hys prince, wher of he gaue good declaracion not long after in a skirmishe, procured by the frenche agaynst the Englishe soldiours, vn∣der the guide of the onlye flower of chyualrye of that tyme, and valyant Captcine the Lorde Talbot, whose vertue made hym so famons in those warrs, that the verye remembrance of hys name procureth a terror to the stowtest frencheman that thys daye lyueth ther, in this skirmish (if a mā may cre∣dit a french bragge) the Pyemontoyse and Talbot met, and vn∣horssed eche other, wherupon the kynge in consideracion of hys present seruice and encrease of further corage to conty∣nue his souldiour, made hym Capteyne of diuerse holdes, with charge of fyftie men at armes, wyth promisse (in the word of a prince) y^t her eafter he shold find in more ample ma ner, in what sorte princes oughte to consider the seruice of suche whose vertue broughte soccours to the necessitie of hym and his people, wherein truely a prince hath greate reason not only to bestowe rewardes vpon such as deserue well, but embrase that whyche carieth a licknes of hys owne nobylitie, seinge that vertue, in what place soeuer shee take roote, can not but bring furthe good frutes, the vse and effect wherof, ought to appeare vpon such as approche or resem∣ble the place, where the first séedes were sowen, neyther doth any degrée of men (according to thopinion of Plyny) deserue so well of hys prince, as the souldiour, in whose woundes (sayth he) are inclosed the sauetie of the whole countrey, and quiet of the seat royal, neyther doth he shrinke to aduenture hys bodye agaynst thennemye, to establish the reapose of his neyghbour at hoame who to requite his many daungers in y^e felde, or releue hys maymed lymmes, cōsumed w^c y^e warrs, comittes hym at hys retorne to the rigour of iustice and that most cōmonly wythout cause of iust offence, wherof I think no one contry of christendom, is hable to furnish so many ex∣amples of that miserie, as the state of Englande, where as (god be praysed hath benn no greate occasion of warr, since the happie raigne of oure moste blessed Quene that nowe

gouerneth) so (the Lorde, and her maiestie amend it) it is a pitye to sée how slenderly soldiours be prouided for, and how tyranouslye they are persecuted by the malice of caterpillors in Cyties, and franklinges in the countrye, wherof I wishe some suche as I coulde name to mooster in the mowthe of a trenche, or stande in the face of a breache, to thende they might both witnes the daunger, and be partakers of the pe∣rill of warr, which I doubt not wolde force in the moste of theim a compassion, touching the souldiour, whom also they wolde defende from beinge deuowred of the gallowes, by their malice. Thus muche on the behalfe of souldiours, to∣wardes whom I wishe as indiffrent a care in tyme of peace as they are readie and most sewer to abide al daunger when it pleaseth the prince and realme to call theym to seruice, and now to oure dome knighte, who embrased of the kyng, wyth honor of all his Capteines, was assisted with a second meane of further credit with hys prince, for that ymedyat∣lie after the heate of the warrs in fraunce and the countrey resolued to a quiet staie, it pleased the kinge, for the solace of hymselfe, and generall contentinente of hys Capteynes to call a torney royall on horsebacke, where Seigneur Virley enioyeng y^e benefyt of his former fortune, wan only y^e glorye of y^e tryumphe, which gaue such encrease to y^e good opiniō of the king, y^t he entred into councell to cure his dome disease greuinge not a litle that so valyant a gentleman colde not declare his deuise, whych seamed to argue no lesse wisedom, for the direction of a cōmon welthe or contrey, then the force and agilitye of his body had sufficientlie approued his vertue in diuerse exploites during tha•• war: wherfore he dispatched generall letters thorowout his owne Realme, with speciall requestes to the countreys adioyninge hys kingdome, that who colde giue remedye to his euill, and conuert his present scilence, into a liberty of frée speche, should haue ten thow∣sande frankes for rewarde: then mighte a man sée suche a mooster of phizisions, & Chirurgions with their appoticaries carienge their bagges and boxes of all confections, that their

rowte seamed rather a newe supplie of power to assiste the kinge against his ennemies, then a conuocation of gownes∣men to consulte of the disease, who began also to make such war with the ten thousande frankes, skirmishinge one with an other, not so muche for the glorye of the acte, as gaine of the moneye, (without anye helpe notwithstandinge to the sickman) that the kinge was dryuen to adde to his golden offer, an expresse condicion, that who soeuer vndertoke the cure, wythoute performynge the effecte within a cer∣teine time, shoulde make good the saied sume to the com∣modytie of the kinge, or for want of paymente to leaue his head in pawne, whiche proclaimed ymediatlye a generall re∣tire to Monseur le Medecyn, wyth the rest of his mistical crwe & wypinge his nose with the insyde of his sleue, detested with ympietie, both Galleine, Hypocrates, and Auiecenes, with o∣ther patrons and auncient fathers of phisicke, that wolde not leaue theim a sufficient net to fysh so great an honor and riches as ten thousand frankes: the brute was no soner made then thofficers of fame vndertooke to disperse it into euery corner of the countreye, w^t participacion of the royall edicts and liberalitie of the king to euery prouince as well on this∣syde as beyonde the mountes, wberuppon Montcall became pertaker of the newes and Zylya (the firste and onlye cause of al) was pryuie (by this meanes) to the place of aboade of her penytenciall louer, and also perswaded of his loyaltie in keping his promise vnworthy any way of such firme regard: seinge that wher fraude and force do occupie the hart, the re∣ligion of promises, yea the very bond of faith already giuen, do loase their force, neyther is a man bownde to performe y^t, wherin is cōstraint of bond: The couetous widow, assuring her self of no lesse authoritie ouer Seigneur Virley thē when he made court to her at Montcal, determyned to go visit him at Parys, not so much of intent to vndo the charme of his dome disease, as desierous of the ten thousand frākes, whereof she made as sure accompte, as if they were alreadye vnder the sewereste locke in her closset at MONTCALL,

perswadyng her selfe also, that the gentleman (being absol∣ued of his promiss by her) would gladly consent, and that she only should haue the rewarde and fame of the thinge, wher∣in all others were hable to worke no effect.

Here you sée a woman, whom neyther the vertue of honest and true loue, nor intent of vnfained and loyall seruice, colde earste moue to compassion, and muche lesse aggrée to giue ease to the sinister affliction of her seruant, wrested to a remorse, and ouercome with a desyer of fylthie gaine, to enlarge her richesse. Oh execrable thurste and desyer of mo∣ney, vntyll when endureth thy authoritye ouer the worlde, or howe longe wilte thou blynde the myndes of men, with a foggie myste of fylthie lucre? Ah insatiable, and perillous golphe, howe manye haste thou deuoured and drowned in thy bottomles throate, whose glorye had pearsed the heighte of the cloudes, & vertue shyned more cleare, then the bright∣nes of the son, yf the darke vaile or shadowe of thy conta∣giouse infection, had not eclipsed their renowme that waye? the frutes alas whiche thou bringēst furth, (what sugred showe so euer they gyue outwardely) yeldes in déede ney∣ther honest fame, nor true felicitye to such as reape theim: Seinge that, that dropseye and infectyng humour whiche ouerronneth all their partes, makes them more desyerous of the thing, then hable to bée satisfyed, whereby groweth a double discommoditie to the euill of that, whiche is thonly fountayne of all mischiefe, neyther is any state more mise∣rable, then to haue a desyer to haue muche, and gettinge al, can not bée satisfyed wyth any thinge, and in the ende, ouer∣throwen in their couetous trauell by infamouus deathe, whereof I am content to omitt the familiar prooffes of our tyme, and presente you wyth the authoritye of the riche Crassus in Rome, to whome was awarded the punishment of God, by fallynge into the handes of the Parthens, for vio∣lacion and commyttynge sacriledge within the temple in Ierusalem: sexti mul••us fryinge in like sorte in the flame of money, and whollie infected wyth the poyson of hym that

formentes the hart of the couetous, cutt of the head of hys patrone and only defendor Caius Gracchus trybune of the peo∣ple. Wherin touching lyke examples in the femenine secte, I will nowe passe ouer both forrein and familiar recordes, and restore to your memory thabuse of this Zilya, who for∣getting her former regarde to vertue, (the onely ornament of her honestye and reputacion) feared not also the toyle and trauell of the waye, nor other inconuenience what so euer, to committ her lyfe to daunger, and honor to the mer∣cy of hym, in whom the remembrance of her former wrong, sturred vpp a desyer of double reuenge, vppon the leaste occasion he coulde fynde, neyther doubted she to hazarde the effect of her buysynes in a straunge region vnknowen to al men, sauyng to hym, for the only honor of whome the mi∣sterye was wrought, but vsynge a shorte consideracion for the order of her affaires at Montcall, she strippes the moun∣tes, and by extreame labor, arryued at last at Parys, at suche time as euery man dispaired most of recouerye of the dome knighte, albeit, enquiringe for theim that had authoritye to admitte such as vndertoke the cure, she made it be published that God had putt the remedye of his disease into her hande, and that only she, doubted not to performe thexspectation of the kinge that waye: the Commissaries layde afore her the edict, with the condicion of death in the ende, if the knighte were not made to speake within xv. dayes, all whiche she ad∣mitted, & pawned her lyfe for the performance of the enter∣prise, with protestation eftesones that god had opened vnto her a secrett meane to restore hym, whereof the knighte was furthwith aduertised, merueilynge notwithstandynge what straunge gentlewoman yt was that had vndertaken to vndoo the charme of his disease, and force hym to breake the vowe of his pennance to his cruell ZYLIA, in whom (of all other) he accompted not so muche frendshipp, as to make so longe a iorney for the ease of the euill, whereof she onely was the cause, he was rather of opinion that it was hys neyghbour of Montcall, she I meane, that fyrste solicited

Zylya, on his behalfe, and now had forced her to a compassion of his pennance, wyth commission to absolue hym of the rest of his hard vow, wherof as he deuised diuersly without stay∣inge vpon any certaintie or trothe, beholde the deputies pre∣sentes Zilya, in the chamber of Seigneur Virley, who seinge an effect of that, which earst he was not hable to ymagyne, gaue iudgemente by and by, of the cause of the comminge of hys ennemye, and that the promisse of ten thousande frankes had more power to make her passe the mountes, then the res¦pect of frendship, or compassiō to his straung distresse, which so long had kept him in the likenes of a dead man, wherw^t, the viewe of her former incyuilitie, and rigour exceding the disposicion of any woman that euer was noted cruel, procu∣red lymedyatlye, a conuersacion of his auncient loue andre garde to her bewtie, into a mortal hate, wyth desyer of ven∣gance equall to her offence, thinkinge it no grudge in con∣science (in accepting the offer of his fortune) to yelde detesta¦ble homage in déede to the saint, that earst accompted al his seruice but effectes of ydolatry, and to retorne her frendship with a trybute of the same money, wyth the whiche she made hym tast the frutes of an inordinate crueltie, aswell for hys owne contentmente in acquitinge so good atorne with sem∣blable payment, as also to leaue example to all coye and dis∣daynefull dames to shonne the like abuse towardes any ho∣nest gentleman, and that, hauinge regarde to the merite of the personnes and specially to the reputaciō of themselues, they become not so prodigal as to make a vent at a vile price of their honor, whych they ought to defende, and kepe with∣out spott, agaynst the assaltes of the moste honest and vertu∣ous louer that euer offred to serue vnder the flagge of any bewtie, how cleare so euer it shoane, and yet howe manye of those do wee sée now a dayes, who wyll not sticke to denye the seruice of suche as proffer theim loue aswell for the res∣pecte of vertue, as desyer to embrase a fadinge glée of flicke∣ringe bewtie, and after commit theimselues to open sale, to

who will bidd most for theim, whyche kinde of Venitian Ma∣donas, as I wishe to be barred the societie of chaste ladyes, and not suffred to sytt amongest the most errande coortisans y^t euer were, hauing any sparke of zeale or frendship in their harte, so they had but iustice (in myne opynion) if the bene∣fyt or libertie of euerye common wealth were taken frome theime to thende they might wander as a kinde of marked people of all the worlde: for she that loueth for money and makes a gaine or certeine reuenue of thuse of her bodie, wil seldome make conscience to betraye hym to whom she giues contenance of frendship, seinge her loue (typped with a di∣syer of gaine, tendes altogether to endes of euill, and actes of tyrannoyse effect, wherein as the honest sorte of women are alwayes defended by thintegretye of their conuersacion and life, so I craue a patience in the rest, touchinge the pu∣nishment I wishe vpon theim, and spedie amendment of lif, to thende their vertue may make theym as meritorious of reputacion in déede, as some of theime are vndowtedlye vnworthye of the vse of lyfe, or benefytte of common ayre.

Seigneur Virley then hauinge Zylya in his presence, and al∣most at commaundement, fayned not to knowe her, refrai∣ninge from all offers of humanitye eyther, by salutinge her comminge by signes of thankefull countenance or other wayes, whych at the first moued no small astonishmente in our wydow, who, notwithstanding seing she was entred in to an enterprise, theffect wherof (she sawe) cold not bée perfor∣med without the losse of honor or life, made of necessetie a vertue, wyth resolucion to commtt her to the mercie of her fortune, and make a laste prooffe of her goodnes, what inconstauncye soo euer is gyuen vnto her of all men, wherewyth desyeringe the reste to retire, shee shoot the doare, and toke the knighte by the hande, whome shee behelde in the face, and with a smylinge regarde, asked hym, if he had so sone forgotten hys deare ZYLYA, or

if he had the hart to make so smal accōpte of her in that place yeldinge her not long since such authoritye ouer hym and al that was his at Montcall? dissemble no more (sayth she) to knowe her, who hath stayed for no paines to comme hether to acquite you of your promiss, with requeste to pardon the faulte I haue made in abusynge the vertue of thoneste loue you bare me, it is I, who lamentyng my former crueltye, am here to do pennaunce for the wronge I haue don you, in restraining the libertie of your tonge, and takynge reuenge of my former rigour, am to yelde tribut to your rare loyal∣tye, with more redines to dismisse the charme that so longe hath kepte your tonge enchanted, then euer I had reason to add so cruell a recompence, to your honeste deserte.

All whiche seamed to moue as manye wordes in the dome knighte, as there is lyfe or féeling in the senceles rocke stan∣ding in the middest of the sea, and seinge him make signes, that it was not in his power to speake, nor to remoue then∣chauntement of his tounge, she was forced to recharge him with all sortes of kisses, embracing & collyng euery part of his face and necke, not without great store of teares, wher∣with she bedewed eche parte of his bossom and outwarde garmentes, vsing thassistance of euerye meane wherein she iudged vertue to make hym tractable to her request, whych notwithstādyng he retourned wyth a solemne scilence, and forgettyng his auncient ceremonies, and amarous oraciōs, whiche he was wonte to vse, as perswacions of pitye to his Ladye, he alledged nowe a dispense from speakynge by her commandement only, practising altogether (by signes) the vse and execution of that, which earste he had so hoatly pur∣sewed, both by sute and longe seruice, wherin as he seamed somwhat awaked by her, that long had kepte his mynde in a s••omber, and drayned his bodye both of desyer and corage, so he soughte in like sorte to sett abroache in her, an appetitt of that wherein she hath bene earste, no lesse curious then straung, wherin she, for her part, (more to preuent the peril of lyfe, & losse of the peinall condicion, then for any respecte

of frendshipp to the knightes,) made hym the maister of his requeste, with consent to vse her at his pleasure & franke possession of that, which he & all louers accompte the chiefest felicitie in loue, wherin they liued with equal contentement vntil the ende of xv dayes (the tearme appointed to cure the knighte) without that the pore wydowe coulde make con∣uersion of her dome patient, into a man vsing the libertie of his speche, albeit she layed afore him, in how many sortes she greued with her owne follie, in binding him to so strāge inconuenience, & the pennance she had don losing her honor, to satisfie his pleasure, & absolue him of his vowe: all which seamed as Hebrue songes to Seigneur Virley, who determi∣nynge to playe double or quitt with her, thoughte it ne∣cessarie to add a further feare to her former losse, to thende, she mighte féele her parte of daunger, aswell as her crueltye had made hym pyne awaye in secret sorowe the better parte of two yeres: which he performed accordingly, for, y^e tearme expired, and the knighte nothing altered from his auncient order of scilent disposicion, the cōmissioners sommoned the Lady wydowe to performe the pointes of thedict, importing ij. choises of perentorie extremitie, either to paye ten thou∣sand frankes whiche she had not, nor was hable to gett, or make good her promisse with the losse of her lyfe, which she was sewer to performe, without a speciall grace of the king, and that by thintercession of her enemye.

What was now the refuge of this Ladie, distressed on euery side, if not to retire into teares, dropping with streames of present sorow, in the remembrāce of her former crueltie▪ ah vnhappye and thryswretched Ladye that I am (saith she) broughte to due desolacion and punishment by shame for an effecte of crueltie excedinge the barbarous disposicion of the Lurke or Moare, or other infidell withoute religion or faith: in séekinge alas to deceiue an other, I am fallen into the daunger appointed to giue ende to my lyfe? Was it not sufficient for me to be warned of the reuenge of mine ene∣mye, by myne owne rigour vsed towardes hym, but that I

muste attempte his curtesie, and willinglie fal into the ma∣lice of hym, who, triumphinge in the spoiles of mine honor, gothe about also to take from me my lyfe, & mortifye my re∣nowme for euer? Why fel I not alas into the Iawes of som wilde beaste in passing the alpes, or threw my selfe hedlong from the topp of some craggie mountaine, whereby I shold haue preuented the stroake of his malice, who séekes to make me a wounder to the multitude, for attemptinge a thinge, which restes whollie at the wil and pleasure of him, whom I had so haynously offended. Ah Seigneur Virley, howe can you bestowe suche colde consideracion, on the pleasures wherein I haue bene so liberall on youre behalfe? or what moueth these regardes of disdaine, with desyer to haue the lyfe of her, who if euer she offended, hath alredie performed the pennaunce of her falte? and what offence is so greate, whiche is not satisfyed, with amendes for the trespas? which if I haue not alreadye aunswered, let my teares make good the reste of your rigorous sentence? Imagin Seigneur Virley. What a vertue it is to forgiue, where the extremetye of re∣uenge is the fowlest vice that occupieth the harte of man. And for your parte, as you haue made your selfe knowen to the worlde, by your continuall felicitie in all your affaires, so sticke not to make an encrease of your glorye by preuen∣tynge the perill of her, who lyinge prostrate afore your knées, bathinge the same in the sooddes of her sorowfull tea∣res, dothe also kysse your feet, in signe of repentance of her former follye? Ah lett me not dye for my simplicitye, nor min honor put to sacrifise, as a reuenge of the litle wronge, whiche I confesse my chastetie hath don you: take not alas so cruell vengeance vppon so small an offence, neyther suf∣fer the blodd of my life to quenche the thurst of your malice, that haue alredie payed treble tribute, in respect of my falte, wherewith (meanynge yet to continue in tearmes of com∣plaint) the sergeaunt Cryminall (wyth authoritie from the Kyng) arested her to prison, whether she wente with small constraint, as wearye alredye with the view of her present

miserye and loathynge the vse of longer lyfe, hauynge loste the chiefe support of the same. But the knighte pinched with some remorse touchinge the passion of his deare Zilya, thinkynge her sufficiently punished for so small offence, wente immediatly to the kynge, to whome, in the hearing of his Lordes, he makes discourse of his loue passed, the cru∣eltie of Zilya in bindynge hym to a vowe of scilence for iij. yeres, and the present reuenge he hath taken of her discur∣tesye, wyth humble request in the ende, to moderat the ri∣gour of his iustice, both to her, and others that were in pri∣son for his recouerye, seing (saith he) the same depended ei∣ther vppon her that bounde me to that charge, or els vppon thassistance of time, which at last woulde haue dissolued my dome fraunce, by thaccomplishment of the thinge whiche my fayth bounde me to performe.

The kynge merueiled not alitle to heare so straunge a hi∣storye, reioysyng notwithstandynge in the happie retourne of his speche, and giuing singler commendacion to the loyal∣tye of his knighte, condemned presentlye the crueltie and couetousnes of the widowe, vppon whome hadd folowed execution accordinglye, yf it had not béene preuented by the speciall intercession of Seigneur Virley, who takynge her out of prison, accompanied her certeine dayes iour∣ney, aswell to showe her the kynges liberalitye in di∣uerse townes and holdes, whiche he had bestowed vppon hym, as also to satisfye his appetitt at the full, with the frutes, whereof he had fealte earste so pleasant a taste: wherewith also she dyd not muche mislike, for that the prooff of suche fauor vnlooked for, tooke awaye the payne of her late imprisonement iustelye deserued, besides, her late dispair of life, made her doble thankeful to the author of her libertie, which she embrased with more cōtentemēt, then when she knewe not what it was to loase the pleasant taste of frée lyfe, wherein maye be noted an experience of the dea∣ling of fortune, who kepes in stoare, like punishment for all

suche, as, reaposyng to much for them selues in their owne force, do defye that litle which they accompte to consiste in others, and in respect of their owne power, do condemne the authoritye which other men haue: if a vaine glorye and con∣ceite of a chastetye inuincible, had not deceiued this Ladye, or a desyer of couetous gaine blaired her eyes, it had bene harde to haue iudged her incontinencie, whiche appeared, both in her franke familiaritie towards y^e passioned knight, and also in gredie desyer to fyll her pursse, & carye awaye the praise from all other that vndertooke thenterprise, and yet as you sée, her gaine hath giuen a dishonest title to her name for euer with an occasion to thenemies of women to crie out of the whole secte, but there is no reason that the falte or fol∣lye of one, shoulde impaire in anye sorte the nobilitie of so manye vertues and honest Ladyes, whose chastetie and ho∣nest conueigh of life, defendes them againste the crueltie and couetousnes of this ZYLIA, and suche as resemble her in any sorte, who after certeine dayes of recreation with her louer retireth into Pyemount, where she drewe furth the re∣meinder of her yeres in continuall grudge and frett of con∣science, with firme perswacion euer after, that the force of man is nothinge, where God doth not worke by his grace, without whose assistance we can neyther learne that which is good, nor defende our selues from the daunger of any euil, like as also, if we want that guide in our doing, our workes (smellynge of nothinge but the corrupcion of our owne na∣ture) make vs seame not muche vnlike the loathsom swine, wallowinge in a dortye or moddie poodle, to encrease her fylthynes,

FINIS.

Notes

• Gentlevvomē oughte to be skilful in hou¦skeping.
• The charge of a mistris or gouernor of housholde.
• Parentes.
• Phillyberto falleth in loue vvith the vvydovve.
• He vvas made ••understande of thinciuili tye of the vvydovve.
• Loue.
• Seigneur phil liberto vvoeth his neighbor to solicite his loue to zylia
• The aunsvver of his neygh∣bour.
• His neigh∣bour makes, a second of∣fer of her helpe.
• Philliberto vvriteth to his Ladye
• The messen∣ger to the vvy dovve.
• Zilia ansvve∣reth the mes∣senger.
• The cōplaint of Seigneur Philiberto.
• Loue not se∣uiahle to any order.
• VVomen are borne to bee obedient to men.
• Fleshelie lo∣uers cōpared to the Scor∣pion.
• Zilya repre hendeth her vvoer.
• 1451.
• 143••.
• Written in their boke of 〈◊〉〈◊〉 cal∣led ca••alo∣gue des mart∣uis.
• The desier of vnho••e••te gaine, the fountaine of all euills.
• Crassus fell into the han∣des of 〈…〉〈…〉
• Zylpa soro∣vveth her for mer crueltie.
• Honestie the chiefest sup∣port of lyfe.