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.

THe tragicall chaunces happeninge to¦th infortunate sorte of this world, albe∣it at the firste, do present a certeine bit∣ter tast with vnsauerye disgestion, yet who Syfteth theym to the quicke, con∣struinge rightly euerye cause of their commyng, and vertue in operacion, wil not only iudge theim necessarie for some respectes, but al∣so discerne in theim an indifferent proffit and pleasure to all degrees of present being, but specially, to future poste∣rities, who may learne by the view of former illes, to es∣chewe the like harmes in theim selues: And because eue∣ry thinge is appointed his peculiar season, and al actes can¦not agre with euery time and al places, I haue deuised, that as I began my histories with a comiqual discourse, So I intende to knit up with a tragicomiqual reaport treating chiefly vpon the selfe same subiect, which the fonde do cō∣monly * 1.1 prefer as a speciall couerture or sheelde of their faltes.

Thexperience is not straunge nowe a dayes, what humor of rage doth directe our fraile youth, gouerned by the pla∣net of loue, and what mortall inconuenience dothe and wold springe thereupon, if reason serued not in some sorte as a moderacion of our follie euen from the cradle to the ful maturitie of our age, quallefyeng besides by wholsom principles, the heate of our wilfull appettites, wherin like as amongest all the tyranous enemies which afflicte the bodie or mynde of man, he only gloriethe of force to alter our propper nature, what perfection so euer it ymporte, conuerting our libertie into a disposicion of seruile thral∣dome, guided only by the reyne of his discrecion, So amon

the nomber of authorities heretofore alledged for the profe of the same, I haue thought good to preferr an example of ourtyme, happening in a gentlemā of Catalonia, who decla¦ringe in him selfe by his togreat constancie two extremy∣ties of loue and follie, hath also painted out the picture of a gentlewoman, no lesse light and inconstante, then loue and such as followe his loa••e be vaine, seing the small ver∣tue whiche assistes their sonde indeuor, and slender commoditie, gro∣winge by their vncerteiue seruice.

A WONDERFVL CON∣stācie in Dom Diego, who for the respect of Geniuera la blonde, vndertoke a harde Pennance vppon the mountes pyrenei, where he ledd the lyfe of an hermytt till hèe was found out by chaunce by one of hys frendes, by whose helpe he recouered both fauor and mariage of hys cruell mistres. (Book 13)

VPon the confynes of Catalonia, deuydinge Barcellonia and the mountes, liued not lōg since an auncient Lady, the wydowe and late wife of a knight of that contrey, who left her only a daughter to supplie hym in succession, and giue comforte to the de∣solacion and old yeres of her mother, in whom appered rather a fonde zeale, then awfull diligence in theducation of her childe, for that she se∣med more willinge to flatter the vaine humor of her young yeres, then careful to reprehend the argumentes of wanton dispocision apperinge in the younglinge, who, besides her curius shapp of body, and lymmes, with wonderful perfecti∣on of bewtie wherein nature gloreth yet of her conninge, was assisted wyth so fayre a haire, fallinge by deuyne arte in to crisped lockes, deuidynge theym selues (as it were by ap∣pointmente) that the golde purifyed and tryed by the flame of the furnaise, seamed but a darke metall, in respecte of the glisteringe glee of her curled haire, whereby shée was cal∣led of all men Geniuera la blonde, not far from whose castell

or place of a bode, was y^e dwelling of an other vertuouse wy∣dow, of noo lesse estimation, for her riches & large dominions then the other, and of equall honour and renowme for ho∣neste life, who hauynge only the presence of a son, to restore the remembrance of her deade husbande, vsed no lesse care to brynge hym vpp in the discipline of euery vertue, studie of good letters, together with a participation in thexercise of all noble recreacions couenient for a gentleman of his condicion and calling, then the faire Geniuera reapposed feli∣citie in the beautie of her glorious heare, wherein to assiste the natural towardines of her son, she sent him to Barcelonia, the chefest citie of the contrey, where fortune fauoured his diligence with suche dexteritie in all thynges, that vppon the eyghtenth yeare of his age, his perfection in learnyng, with wonderfull sleyghte in exploytes of chiualrye, gaue causes of shame to all gentlemen and other degrees what so euer norrished and bredd vpp in the lyke exercises, why∣che sturred vpp suche contentemente in the good Ladie hys mother, that she knewe not with what countenance to co∣uer the pleasure shee tooke in the felicitie of her sonne, a falte familiar enoughe to a nomber of fonde menne, and a vice moste common to all mothers, who glorienge in the towardenes of their children, do flatter theym selues with an vncerteine hope of their future vertue, wherein they do indifferente wronge to their owne ymagination, and ad∣uauncement of theyr wilfull and wanton youth, who blyn∣ded with vayne perswacion of creaditt of their parentes, do thynke theym selues dispensed with all frome further dili∣gence, or to expose effectes of other dutie, whereuppon followeth often tymes a nomber of indifferent myshappes to theym bothe, with cause of equall rebuke to the one and the other: and so pursewyng the queste of my hystorye, it happened in the florishynge yeares of thys younge gentle∣man Dom Diego, that Phillipp of Austriche onely heyre to hys father newlye deceased, passynge thorowe Fraunce towardes Spaine to inueste hym selfe in the Seignories

of hys late father, gaue warnynge of hys comynge to the Citie of BARCELONIA, who for their parts, entred yme∣diatly into deuise, touchinge the pompp and magnifisence, wherewith they mighte do honor to the maiestie of so great a prince, as y^e son of the Emperour of the Romaines, amon∣gest other solemnities, they dressed a riche and curious iust, furnyshynge the listes onely with younge gentlemen, here to fore not greatly exsperienced in the vse of armes, wherof as Dom Diego, was chosen chiefe of thone parte, so the kyng (for a more contentement to hys subiectes) beynge vppon the skaffolde to iudge the loftie corage of thies younge gal∣landes, had onely his eyes vpon the younge DIEGO, with a wonderfull admiration of his force in so younge yeres, ar∣guyng an vndowted vertue with thincrease of further age, to whome onelye he awarded the glorie of the féelde, with protestation that in hys lyfe, he hadd not séene a medly bet∣ter performed, seamynge rather a battaill or combatt of ex∣perienced knyghtes, then an exercise of delicate youth, not yet accustomed to beare the burden of armour, and lesse ac∣quainted with the trauell of warr, wherewith aswell, in∣consideracion of the present towardnes in the wydowes son, with corage to contynue hys trade so well begon, as also to féede the hope and showe of his future vertue, he was ad∣mitted * 1.2 the nexte mornynge into the order of knigthode, in∣uested with the coller of sainte Andrewe and other ceremo∣nies of spaine, by the hande of the sayde Philipp, who after he had fulfilled the date of his aboue at Barcelonia, pursewed his iorney towardes Castile leauyng our newe knyghte Dom Diego reioysinge not a litle in his presente honor, ymparted vnto him by his prince, retiring with the newes of his good fortune to his owne possession and liuing, more to performe tharrerages of his dutie to his mother, whom the hadd not sene of longe tyme, then with intente to make longe staye there, or enter into delite with the pleasures y^t be in the con∣trey, wherof notwithstanding he receiued so sewer a taste, that his captiuitye in the ende exceded euerye waye in

greatnes of greff, the restrainte of libertie or other mis∣like or impedimente he founde at any tyme in the Citye, like as also the Poetes haue ymagined that loue, pitchinge his tentes in deserte places not apte to discouerye, dothe discharge his dartes and arrowes in the thicket of wod∣des and forestes, vppon the borde of the Sea, or shaded fountaines, and some tyme vppon the heighte of the highest hilles in the pursewte of the Nimphes of all sortes, iudginge therby a libertie and moste sewer waye to treate vppon matters of loue, without suspicion, Ielousye, en∣uie, false reaporte, synister opinion or common crye of the people, to be in the wide and open feldes, where they maie be bolde to communicate their mutuall passion with∣out feare of witnesses, enioyinge also the pleasures of all kinde of chasses, whiche the champion doth norrishe, with participacion of the chirpinge harmonie and naturall mu∣sicke of birdes, and somtime the delitefull noise of sondrye pleasante chanels and siluer streames, qualyfyinge in their kinde the vehemencie of their languishinge greeffe, and recordinge also with greate ceremonie, the firste place of their amarus enteruiew or acquaintance, arguynge thereby treble felicitie to suche, as abandonynge the sondrie annoyes attendynge continuall abode in the Citie, do re∣sort to the pleasant lawndes in the contrey to yelde tribute of their studies to the muse, wherunto they be most affected, So Dom Diego, beinge at hoame loued enterely of his mo∣ther, & serued with all dutifull obedience of his subiectes and seruantes, after his ordinarie howers of studie were passed, vsed his chief pleasure in thexercise of y^e felde, I meane some tyme to dislodge the great and loftie hart, to dresse the toiles to entrapp the wilde boare, and some tyme to trye the good∣nes of his hawke with the mayne winge of the hearon or fearefull partridge in the stuble feldes or valleys inuyroned with huge hills, wherein one daie amōgest the rest, hunting the wilde goate whiche he had forced from his habitation of the high and craggie rockes, he sawe launsing afore hym a

harte whiche his dogges had rozed and so hoatly purse wed, that (to his iudgemente) he seamed more then halfe spente, wherewith, aswell for the pleasure whiche the pastyme it selfe did offer hym, as also to ease the traueile of his howndes, he putt spurres to his horse, forcinge hym to a mayne gallopp, wherein he continued till, his houndes loasynge the tracke of theyr praye, were at defalte, and hym selfe without the sighte and hearyng of all hys men, wyth suche ignorance of the coste where he was, that he knewe no readie waye of retourne to his compa∣nie, and muche lesse the place where his fortune had put hym, greuynge moste in this perplexitie that his horse beinge oute of breath, refuced (for wante of force) to ca∣rye hym anye further, wherfore after he hadd blowen di∣uers calls for his men without other aunswere then an Eccho of the woddes and waters, he deuided his distresse into two pointes, the one to demounte and ease the wea∣rines of his horse, the other to retire backe by the same path whyche broughte hym thither, wherin his expectation was no lesse frustrate, then hym selfe deceiued by the ma∣lice of his fortune, for that meanyng to take the next way to his castell, he mett with a contrarye pathe, whiche af∣ter he had trauelled the moste parte of the afternoone, broughte hym in the ende, within the viewe of a stately house, builded vppon the side of a hill, whiche by cer∣teine markes appearinge on thuttermoste partes of the house, albeit argued the contrarie of his intente, yet, hearinge the bable of certeine hunters, ymagininge the same to be his people, drewe neare the place, whiche dis∣couered (aboue his exspectacion) A companie of strangers, beinge certeine seruantes of the mother of GENIVERA, whiche attended their mistres wyth a brase of younge greyhownds that had newlye ••••••••ne a hare to deathe, and beinge thus rencountred with this seconde misfortune, he grewe also into tearmes of greater destresse then afore, for

that ••happroche of the nighte, begynninge to expose shadoes of darknes vppon the earth by the departure of the son, toke from hym all hope of other harbor, then the offer of some hollowe trée, or greene bedd vppon the grounde, when lo thauncient Ladye discernynge betwene the viewe of her eye, and regardes of the clowdes, whiche hadd not yet cloased in the lyghte of the firmamente, the shadowe of a man discendynge from the vppermost parte of a hil wyth his horse in his hande, seamynge by his maiestie, marching with the semblance of a prince, to be some degrée of honor, sente one of her men to knowe what he was, who reator∣ned with aunswere accordynge to his demaunde, wherup∣pon the Ladye wydowe with her faire doughter, indiffe∣rently gladd of thapproche of theyr neyghbour, whome al∣beit they neuer sawe, yet fame had made theim partakers of his vertue & renowme, wente in solemne order to mete hym, forgettynge no kynde of curteyse gretyng that belon∣ged to the honor and estate of so noble a personage, where∣vnto he replied with thankes accordinge to the greatnes of the benefytt, with addition, that he founde hym selfe greatly in the fauor of fortune, for that his painefull trauelle in wandryng so many howers, had giuen hym at laste so fit an occasion, to visitt the house, whereunto, he doubted not for his parte, to confirme the league of frendshipp begon and happelye continued of longe time by his parentes and pre∣decessours: the Ladye whose longe absence from the courte had not diminished her grace in courtelike conference, aun∣swered, that if they haue greatest cause of contentements that gaineth the moste, or if large benefittes, require ample consideration, it is she that ought to offer to fortune the sa∣crafize of thankesgeuinge, for that she hadd brought her a guest, no lesse deare then the life of her selfe, and as welcome as if the kynge of Spaine had don her the honor to visytt her castell, whiche sturred vpp in hym a seconde offer of his seruice, not onelye on her behalfe, but also towardes the leaste ymppe deryued of her house, wherewith, Geniuera,

to assiste the contentement of her mother in the companye of the younge knighte, with the pleasure she toke her selfe * 1.3 in his semelye conference, craued (in smylynge order) a participacion in peculiar of the liberall offer whiche he ex∣posed by generall tearmes to her mother and her whole house, DOMDIEGO whiche had not yet exceded an ordi∣narie regarde in beholdynge the beautye of the younge La∣dye, founde cause in the misterye of her woordes, to glaunce wyth more iudgement vppon her, in suche sorte, that at the instant he felt him self assailed with such soddaine alteration, that his astonishment woulde not giue hym leaue to aunswere, otherwayes then with a percynge glée of his eyes, fedynge with firme contemplation vpon the freshe dye of white and red, appearinge in all partes of her diuine face, wherein also for a more decoracion of this wonderfull worke of nature, thattire of her heade pre∣sented * 1.4 suche an artificiall deuise, that it seamed she had (the same daye) some fore knowleage of the commynge of hym, whome her beautye made prisoner, and her crueltye enioyned a moste harde and longe penance, for she had vp∣pon the vttermoste parte of her heade, a call or coronet of golde restynge vppon a wreath or garlande of flowers of sondrie coollors, pletted by curious sleighte of the fingers within her enameled haires, whiche couerynge one parte of her sholders, dispersed theym selues also some time vp∣pon her delicate forehead, and some tyme wafynge vn∣pon her roasye chéekes accordyng to to the mylde breathe of the euenynge winde whiche gaue theym mouynge, dis∣posed theym selues with suche seamelye grace, with in∣crease to the beautye of her that ware theym, that who had sene the porte and maiestie whiche nature ioyned to this rare worke, woulde haue iudged that loue and the three graces had, had no other place of harbor but in this pece of wonderful perfection. At either of her eares hong two faire and riche orient perles, whiche increased also the glée of her golden haires, besides the large & glistering forehead of this

Nymphe, whereupp on was sett a border of riche dyamondes founded vppon a frame of pure golde, castynge suche pearcynge glymers to the beholders, that it presented ra∣ther a ranke or order of shynynge starres, when the ela∣mente, in the heate of the sommer is moste cleare, expo∣synge beames of wonderful bryghtnes, then an attire of a mortall creature, whereuppon attended two sparklynge eyes assisted on eyther syde by an equall Simmetria or iuste proporcion with certeine knottes and borders of vaines of the coolor of azure, with a special vertue to drawe and mor∣tefie any harte made of the hardeste mettall that euer was, yeldynge so liberallie their seruent beames, that who so dis∣posed hym selfe to contemplacion of thies two twinklyng starres, was in no lesse daunger to loase the benefitt of hys sighte, then in tymes paste wée reade certeine Philosophers became blinde vppon the mounte Olympium with continual regarde of the sonne to iudge the dispacicion of the heauens: then appered her delicate nose, aunsweringe in proportion the reste of her face, deuidynge also her two chekes of the coollor of a fyne incarnatt, resemblynge two rounde aples come alredie to the fulues of their maturitie, nexte to the whyche succeded her courall mouthe, breathinge a perfume more precious and sweete, then any confection made of the Amber, muske, or other droge aromatike comynge oute of ARABIA, and if some tyme she chaunced to disclose and o∣pen her lippes, resemblyng in roundenes and collour two cheris in their full ripenes, excedyng also the softnes of any thinge that euer was accompted delicate or tender, there appered twoo rawes of perles of suche rare whitenes, that thorient I say complayneth of wante of connynge to make comparison with the coullor of her téethe, And so discen∣ding some what lower, this Dyana discouered a necke, whose complexion giueth cause of shame to the whitnes of the glo∣rius lillie, and makes blushe the pure allablaster, her sto∣make also somewhat raised by two rounde and precius dug∣bugges

of equall seperation, was couered with a braue and softe vaile, more tender then the thyn lawne, whyche hyn∣dred no waye the viewe of her trauellynge brestes, panting and drawinge a pleasante breathe accordyng to the motion of thaffection whyche gouerned thinner partes of y^e though∣tes of this earthlie goddesse, who besydes all thys, was assi∣sted with a gyfte of suche naturall beautie, bestowinge courteise regardes vppon all men accordyng to their indif∣ferent meritt, that the same made her no less worthie to bee honored and serued of the greatest princes of the worlde, then the rarietie of her perfection restored her a merueile & wonder to all menne, whyche is a vertue farre from the moste parte of oure faire dames, who glorienge in the glee of their beautie) are moued I can not tell, with, what opinion of suche disdaine, with desier to appere more perfe∣cte then is necessarie, that in sekyng to sette a fairer enamel of that whyche nature hathe made sufficientlye precious, they do not only impaire the credit of renowme by suborned meanes of ymperfection of theym selues, but also by their owne follye deface the glorie of that, whyche sturreth vpp the chiefest cause of affection in men to do theym honor and seruice, wherein as my purposse is not to discouer the doin∣ges of any in such cases, so I hope this allegation of a troth in couarte manner, will defende me from the displeasures of suche as fynde theym selues infected with the humor of that follie, wherwith, in preferryng my integretie, I wishe theym all as worthie, as they are desierous to weare the badge of glorious beautie, and so to Dom Diego whome I thynke you will iudge hadde sufficient cause of astonishe∣ment, beynge so valyantlye assailed) without thynkynge of suche an assalte) wyth so stronge an armye, as the beautie behauiour, and princely shapp of this faire ympp and veraye nestcockle of nature, eye I thynke that the moste sparynge pilgrym that euer vndertoke to mortefye hys bodye with painefull trauell in deuocion to anye sainte▪ wolde haue re∣nounced his vowe, and caste a waye bothe skripp and staff,

to haue donne honour to so faire an obiecte as the beautie of this nymphe, and I doubte whether she moste assured and staide Philosopher of olde tyme wolde haue made any con∣science to forsake his profession of contemplacion of natu∣rall thinges, with iudgemente of thelamentes, to haue dis∣posed him selfe and skil to the seruice of so rare a perfection, I thynke also that if the doughter of Mynos hadd bene fauo∣red with semblable beautie, and blyssed with equall giftes and grace of this Ladie, that her Hipolites wolde haue lefte the shippe and dogges of Dyana to haue pursued the quest of so diuiue a misterye as appeared in all partes of this Geni∣uera La••blonde, who for her parte also was indifferently ama∣zed, and no lesse astonied with the porte and courtelike beha∣uiour of the knyghte, then he moued to scilence with the viewe of her beautie, wherewith also castynge vppon hym * 1.5 certeyne regardes at vnwares, began to fele a motion of that wherein she hadd not bene earste experienced, with an alteration in her harte, whyche forced a chaunge of com∣plexion in her face, with a soddayne scilence for wante of audacitie to speake: an ordynarie custome to suche as bée strycken with the disease of loue, to loase the vse of the ••ounge, when it sholde chyefly ease the gréeff of the harte, who not hable to supporte the heauie burden of passions pro¦cedynge of that euill, dothe ymparte the greatest charge to the eyes, as to the faythful messengers of the secrett concep∣tions of the mynde, whyche passioned aboue his force, and pressed with thalarams of affection, is driuen for the moste parte to force a vente or yssue for the humour of hys desier by the same meane and ministers, whyche firste dis∣couered the rage of his feuer, whereof there seamed al∣redie a Sympathia or equalitie betwene the two younglin∣ges, beynge bothe indifferently ignorante of the misterie or cause of suche soddaine transmutacion, whyche also grewe to tearmes of aggrauacion in theym both, by a renouacion of their gretyngs and enterteinementes at their arriuall at

the castell, the same seruynge as freshe baytes to encrease their desier, hauynge notwithstandyng chiefeste power on the behalfe of the knighte, who losyng at this firste meting the liberty of his thoughtes, becam by litle & litle so rauissed of his sences, and drowned in the poysoned podle of loue, that he tooke no other pleasure then in the conceyte of the gracious martirdom he endured in the secrett ymaginacion of the beautie of his faire Geniuera: here you maye sée the knighte who in the mornyng was the mayster of hym self, and in full possession of his sences, is nowe so transformed into a contrary disposicion, that his willynge bondage and state of presente captiuitie, is not only more pleasante vn∣to hym, then the benefitt of his auncient lybertie deare, but also kepte hym so longe from the vse of his former fredome, that in the ende he tooke no felicitie yf not in wyshynge to enioye thother worlde, whyche for the moste parte are the frutes of this follie, who séelynge the sences of man, dothe driue hym head longe (with his eyes cloased) into the golphe * 1.6 of miserable dispaire: and as loue procedes no other wayes then of a fonde opynion, so the purgatory of suche as be af∣flicted therewith, comes only by a foolyshe perswacion, that they be forsaken or deceiued in the thing which they honor so much, wher, of the contrary parte, yf they wolde be indif∣ferente betwene their passion, and his vale we, they woulde not so rashelye make more accompte of the thynge whyche tormentes theym, then of their healthe, honour and life, ex∣posed al to the seruice and appetit of her, who, disdainyng pe∣raduenture their indeuor, retorne the méede of their me∣rit, vppon a straunger and yeldes the praye to an other, for the whyche he hathe taken suche paine, whereby he ta∣kes occasyon of absolute dispayre, delitynge in nothynge but the perentory ende of his vnhappie lyfe.

whileste supper was makinge readie, the ladye mother dis∣patched certeine of her people to seke the seruantes of Dom Diego, whereof some had in charge to reaporte his beinge

there to his mother, who for her part was no lesse glad, then she had cause, chiefly for that the distresse of her son brought hym in the ende to so good an hostesse, as her neighbour, and only trende of the worlde, in which meane while the straun∣ger was desiered to supplie the best place at the table, ouer agaynste whom, was appointed the matche that firste set his harte on fyer, and in place to performe the exspectacion of his hostesse in tasting the sondrie delicate meates she had pre¦pared for hym, he fed only vpon the dishes of loue, and con∣tenting hymselfe with the dyot of his eyes, who wythout▪ ei∣ther let or Ielowsie, ymparted their norriture to the harte, roued now and then by secret glaunces and percing regards to the tender stomake of the faire Geniuera, who for her parte also was no nigarde to requite hym with treble vserye, of fa∣myliar glée, which restored suche fresh alarams to his late de¦sier, that thalteracions hee felte in hymselfe made hym blushe at his owne behauior, and as duringe the tyme of sup∣per he was indiffrently feasted with delicate brothes prepa∣red by the mother, and famyliar signes sente vnto hym by the eyes of her doughter, so he felt hymselfe doble passioned, both to conster the meaninge of suche regardes, and also to dym the sighte of tholde lady, for discerning the conueigh of their follie, wherein albeit aswell to caste a miste before the eyes of her mother, as to dissemble the desier of hys mynde, he bestowed his lookes vnconstantly here and there abowte all the partes of the table, yet colde he not vse suche sleighte in this simple shifte, but hys eyes toke alwayes their laste farewell vpon the place and person of hys mistres, in whom he founde so thankefull a reatorne, with amarus tribute, that in the ende he durst not beholde her any more, for feare her bewtie would bere aue hym of the benefit and sighte of his eyes, all which were but prepratiues to the part he had yet to playe, into the whiche he began to enter the same night, when after supper and the banquet performed, he had

giuen the Bonsoir to hys hostesse and her faire doughter, who for a more showe of hys welcome (or rather a declaracion of her zeale, but chiefly to leaue hym occasyon of further tor∣mente, would not departe his chamber till she sawe him in bedd, where in place of slepe, and to restore hys wearye body wyth the course of naturall rest, he began to sighe, and build castels in Spaine, preferringe in his mynde, thymages of a thousande fancies and follies, suche as are appointed to ap∣peare and torment them as haue their braine weakned with vaine cogitacions.

Alas (saith he) is it possible that I whych so longe haue en∣ioyed the benefitt of a pleasante libertie, shold thus lightlye * 1.7 yelde to the firste sommance and apprehention of a seruile thraldom? which albeit I cannot expresse in propper tearmes yet my mynde feleth an experience and effecte of his force? is this the desert of my former fredom or iust hier of wāton inclynacion, yf such harde tribute attende myne aunciente quiet, what exspectaciō of other felicitie is ther in the course of our young yeres, then for a short time of flattering delites in libertie, to be rewarded in the ende with an interest of tre¦ble tormentes in bondage? haue I thus longe kept war with thennemye of my frée priueledge, and reserued the mayden∣head of my affection, to fall thus into the daunger of a cap∣tiuitie, wher I dowt no lesse whether my offer wylbe recei∣ned, thē dispair, to be intreated according to the iustice of my merit? Ah Geniuera, god forbid that thy bewtie haue power to send so many tormentes and punishmentes to my yelded hart, as the tre, wherupon thou takest thy name, hath prickes to anoye them that touche it, and bitter in disgestion to such as make a tast of the Iewse, Ah paragon and only praise of bewtie, sewerly the fearefull hare whych thy dogges tare in peces afore thy face this eueninge, was not more marti∣red by the bloudy Iawes of thy greyhoundes, then my harte is tormented and deuided into dyuersatie of opynions vp∣pon the affection whyche I beare the, wherein alas as I

knowe not whether thou wilt admit me worthy of they ser∣uice, or hast already paste a graunte of thy loue to an other, more worthye of fauor then the loyal Dom Diego, So yet I may be bolde to vaunte vpon thys ympossibilitie. that no mā is hable to approche thunfayned sinceritye of my harte, de∣termyned rather to geue place to the sentence of my deathe, then to dysmysse the leaste part of the dutie I haue vowed to thy bewtie, whole outwarde showe promiseth an inwarde vertue, that I cannot dispaire to possesse in the ende the due méede of my loyaltie, til whych tyme I wyll praye onlye vp∣pon the foode of exspectacion, wyth assured intente, for my parte, not onlye to abandon all other ympressions or de∣siers, but such as shall seame to fauor the honor and seruyce I haue already sworne, but also to endeuor by extreme di∣ligence to make my selfe worthye of the goodwill of the fai∣rest Lady (that thys daye is shrewded) vnder the globe or cir∣cuit of heauen: wherwyth after he had consumed certeine ho wers in reauyng and raginge vppon hys amarus complot, and that he had sufficiently swete at the browes wyth the force and vehemencye of his passion, he founde the chiefeste medecyn for moderacion of hys gréefe, to communicate vn∣to her the pointes of hys good wyll, wyth desyer he had not only to serue her, but also from henseforth to accept in good part such sentence, as she shall thinke good to pronounce of hys life or deathe, and to do nor say any thyng, but suche as shalbe awarded him by the dome of the faire Geniuera, who for her parte also was not voyde of passion nor dispensed from semblable tormente, for offring to performe the ceremonies of the night, she was demed to close her eyes & yet knewe not * 1.8 the cause that hindred the course of slepe, by which meanes, making a laborinth of her riche and faire feldbed, she was no less assailed with contrariety of conceites, then her languis∣hing seruant, wherfore finding the burdē of affectiō to excede the grenes of her yeres, not yet assisted w^t any discrecion or experiēce in loue, dytermined to allow the resolucion of the knight, if he ymparted the same either by subtil signes or

secret conference.

This was thexercise of that nighte of bothe the louers e∣quall in desier, and yet the one ignorant of the others greffe, wastinge indifferently in sighes and wishes, as apprentises of the thinge, wherin those that begyn be alwayes most hoat, and such as contynue gaine skill by longe practise, and yet the best experienced of al, are voyde of resistance against such an euill, and lacke gouernement in the conueigh of so hurt∣full a case.

The morninge had no soner discouered her glorious bea∣mes, and the messēger of the son somoned the loathsom night to retire, but the weary knight left his restles bedd, with in∣tent to take leaue of his hostesse, and chalenge the skoape of the larg feldes, to record & enterteine hys amarus thoughts, in retorning to hys mothers house, wherin notwithstanding he founde a staie of his meaning by the honest ymportunitie of tholde lady, who with more intreatie then was nedefull to so willyng a gueste, won hym easely to determyn hys ta∣ryenge till dynner, till whyche tyme, he founde a supplye of exercise wyth her companie, and conference of her daugh∣ter, in whom he saw contynual cause to aggrauat his affec∣tion, and doble occasion to encrease hys desier, in such sorte, as his astonyed countenance, and broken aunsweres, ympor¦ting most oftē the cōtrary of their demaunds, showed suffici∣ently y^e troble & war in his mind, which albeit y^e subtil Geniue∣ra, cōstrued according to a troth, yet her simple mother impu¦ted it to an honest shame & want of audacitie in y^e gentlemā, for y^t he had not much haunted y^e cōpany of ladyes, wherin as they spente the most part of the morning, without (notwith¦stāding) that Dom Diego, had the hart to discouer the leaste part of his promise of y^e night, so y^t hower of dinner sōmoned them to breake their discourse & performe y^e due to thappetit of nature, wyth suche delicate & sumpteouse fare as the good lady had prouided, in declaracion of y^e hartie zeale she bare to her guest, who after dinner failed not in humble sorte to be thankfull to his hostes, with assuraunce that, albeit he was

not hable to requite her curtesse with equall consideracion, yet his goodwill at all tymes sholde be nothinge inferior to the greatnes of her merit, wherewith he addressed the rest of hys dutie to her daughter, whose bewtie (as you sée) had made so great a wound in hys harte, that the remembrance remayned till the last hower of hys lyfe, and as he kissed her hande with intente to decipher that whych he had ymagined all the night, he became so amazed wyth thympedimente he felte in his tongue, with straunge diuersatie in all hys sen∣ces, that he seamed no lesse ashamed of his present weaknes in that place, then afore he was fullie resolued to discharge there solucion and meaninge of hys hart, whych albeit gaue some cause of litle astonishment to the younge Lady, yet she founde indifferente occasion of pleasure and pitie in hys pas∣sion, for that as y^e one proceded by her meanes, so she felt a mo¦tion in conscience to expose the other for the relefe of hym who suffred for her sake, wherefore with a trobled regarde tempered with sufficiente argumentes of affection on her behalf, she brake his dome traunce with these words, I wish sir (sayth she) that you might fynde asmuch pleasure in your passion, as the same hath ymparted equall gréefe to others, and that your future absence may pinche you with no lesse annoye, then your present departure leaueth me desyerus to enioye a longer tyme of your presence, whyche philosophye not loked for of the knight, did not only dismysse his scilence and vntye the charme of hys tongue, but also renforced hym to an audacitie to yelde her thankes for the compassion she vsed to hys distres, with addicion that onely he was hap∣pie aboue all the worlde, to be partaker of so liberal a wishe, but chiefly to heare her in tearmes of desier touchinge hys presence, whych wyth hys lyfe and al that he had he bound ther by othe, to be preste at all howers to performe the recu∣cion of her commaundemente, wherunto she replied with thankes according to the affection that gouerned her, with request eftsones (and that wyth a reciprocal looke and soft sighe) not to forget hereafter the waye to the castell of her

mother, to whom (she assured hym) the welcomest gueste of the worlde, and for her parte, she accompted it a felicitye to participate in her pleasure, and kepe in entier the league of frendshipp, where with heretofore bothe their houses haue ben blissed from the beginninge, where with time, with the nomber of assistantes, witnessing their glee, forced an abrid∣gement of their farewel, contrarie albeit to both their wills, the one retirynge to her chamber, with more care and lesse quiet then afore, and the other, with a thousand hamours in his head, tooke his waye to the house of his mother, to whom he ymparted his aduenture, his distres, beinge lefte of hys men in a place vnknowē, his horse ouercome with èxtreme trauel, and that which worste was, thapproche of night, and his dispaire to fynde harbor, when not withstādyng he chan∣ced vppon the castell of the olde Ladye, of whose curtesie & beautye of her doughter he made a perticular discourse, lea∣uynge oute notwitstandynge, the glée betwene Geniuerae and hym, wyth requeste that it woulde please her, to ioyne with hym in some honeste meane of thankefull considera∣tion to theim bothe, whereunto he founde his mother no lesse readie in consente, then hym selfe desyerous to vse ex∣pedicion in theffecte, so that wyth her aduise, the platt was made to inuite theym to her house the weke followynge, and that he alone shoulde worke theffect, like as he founde hymselfe moste charged with the dett of their curtesie, and desyer to requite it, whereunto he added suche diligence, that vppon his letter and humble requeste, he gott the con∣sente of the mother and doughter, whiche both failed not of their promiss at the daye appointed.

When Dom Diego (hauinge for the nonste the assistaunce of all the gentlemen and gentlewomen his neghbours) for∣gatt * 1.9 no pointe of his indeuor to do them al y^e honor he could, both in sumptuousnes of dyot, wherof there was more then sufficient, choice of musicke & melodie of all sortes, masques momries, triumphes & other offices of humanitie, wherein it behoued hym chieflye to show a singler de••leritie, aswell

for the discarg of euery mans eye and exspectatiō, touching a showe of his giftes, beinge norrished and broughte, vpp a∣mongste princes, and also for the desyer he had to leaue no honor vnperformed in the companie of her, who had already the whole possession of his libertie.

I nede not discriue by pece meale thapparell of the feaste, the diuersitye and chaunge of theyr dyot, theyr delicate ban∣quetes, nor the sondrye sortes of swete wynes, it maye suffice, that after dynner they discended into a greate hall, readye trymmed for the purpose, where the daunces began accordyng to the stroke of a swete and softe musike, shrow∣ded vnder a vaile or canapie of arrais in the vppermoste parte of the hall, there euerye gentleman toke his Ladye, amongeste whome Dom Diego was not forgetfull to addresse him towardes his mistres, no lesse gladd of her happie en∣counter, then he contente to be so neare the cause of his pleasante tormente and insupportable passion of mynde, whereof he began euen nowe to make some discouerye by wordes in this sorte. Like as (good madam) I haue al∣wayes * 1.10 thoughte that musicke hath imported a secrett ver∣tue, to force an apparance of ioye, in the moste pynynge and solytary disposicion that is, Euenso I fynde myne opi∣nion confirmed by a presente experience in my selfe, who earste languishinge in panges of inwarde gréeff, with de∣testation not onelye againste my selfe, but also all other thinges that offred any waye to ease the greatnes of myne anoye, do fele nowe some moderation of my martirdom, as∣wel by the lamētable note of theis recordes & insensible in∣strumēts, agreing with the sorowful condiciō of my present distresse, as also, that by their conformitie & meanes, I finde my selfe neare vnto her▪ who only hath power to cleare the clowdes of my mortal euil, & restore me to the calme of min auncient quiet and as diuerse diseases are not cured but by a medicen and obiecte of their first occasion, so for my parte, beinge contributor to the daunger of that extremitie, I ac∣compte you as iustely bounde to yelde me compassion, as

your beauty is the chief and vndowted cause of thalteration which I can no longer co••ceile from you and which forceth me in thies few wordes, to vowe vnto you (without condi∣cion of dissolution) suche assurance of my seruice, that only death shal haue cōmission to corupte y^e league which I seale here on your behalfe, by the faith & life of a knight, to be the only seruante, loyal frende, (and yf you accepte thoffer) the lawful husband of y^e faire Geniuera La blonde: who for her part felte her selfe so assailed with the motions of affection, that she coulde not contynue so assured in her countenance, but there appered chaung of coulour, arguynge indifferently a contentement of the offer, and a pleasante mislike of his re∣queste, which rather gaue hym corage to pursue the points of his purposse, then disiste or disclayme the hope of so good a begynnynge, wherein as he forgat not to vse thoffice of a good solicitor for hym selfe all that after dynner, so his ym∣portunitie at laste, broughte her to passe a consente, and confirme the bale vnder thies tearmes: I am ignorante ••ir * 1.11 (sayeth she) in the misterie of your disease, and muche lesse a•••• I preauie to thoccasion, which bothe I hope, will defende me from ymputacion of blame in with holdyng the remedie you craue at my hande, only I can not but greue in the euil of hym, to whom, if the whole companie are iustlye bounde to be thankeful for the frendshypp they fynde, I haue cause of doble obligation, possessynge by your presence, the one∣lye contentemente I wyshe in this worlde, neyther is your affliction partiall on youre hehalfe, considerynge I am also plunged in panges of equal effect, finding now (I must confesse vnto you) that as it is veray harde to conceile the * 1.12 passion procedyng of loue, So albeit I hadd determined yet to dissymule that whiche I féele, yet am I forced from that resolution by a suggestion sturrynge in the secrett of my hart which I can not tearme properly other wayes then a seconde inspiration, assailynge me with an ympression, whereof I am indyfferentlye ignorante bothe for skyll

and iudgemente, notwithstandynge reaposynge muche for my selfe in your vertue, which moueth me also to a remorse to satisfie in some parte the due of your deserte, I am con∣tente to admitt your offer of a loyall frend, till you haue ob∣teyned of my mother the seconde pointe, confirmyng thut∣termoste of your demaunde, till then, contente your selfe * 1.13 with my iuste delaye, and procure the supplie of your desier with thexpedicion of your owne diligence, whyche laste woordes sturred vpp suche presente ioye in the passioned knighte, that what betwene the waues of sodaine gladnes ouerflowinge all his partes, and hope of spedie redresse by the consent of her mother, he was skarce hable to pronounce a symple thankes, Albeyt kissynge her white and delicate hande, in witnesse of the syngler pleasure he felte in the breath of her wordes, tolde her, that, as her beautie and ver∣tue deserued honor of the greateste prince in Spaine, so for his parte, he onely mighte glorie in the seruice of the mosts faire, courteyse and honest Ladie, that euer was bredd on that syde the mountes, wherewith he was driuen to cutt of his further discourse, by the approche of the messenger whi∣che was sente from the two Ladie mothers, to will theym to comme to supper, where yfthere were any wante of cu∣rious deuyse at dynner, it was supplyed with a double ex∣cesse at this supper, beynge serued with suche chaunge and choice of straunge dyott, that if it be not syn to compare tha∣buses mortal, with diuine misteries, I thinke Iupiter and the other goddes were not so plentifullie intreated vppon the mounte Peleon celebratynge the mariage of the faire Thetis: albeit the ende of the banquett concluded with a resolution to renewe thexercise of after dynner vppon a faire grene, enuironed with diuers borders and oderiferous hearbes and ympes of the earthe, pauished aboue by artificiall sleyghte, with certeine laurell braunches and buddes of hathorne, to defende theym frome the parchynge heate of the sonne, where they hadde also to assyste their pleasaunte recrea∣tions, the moste temperatt season of the daye at the de∣declynyng

of the sonne, the pleasante huishyng of a cleare streame discendynge frome the toppe of a mountayne, the chirpyn hermonye of the féelden birdes, assembled (as it were onelye to increase their solace) and also the softe and swéete accorde of the grene bowes or young spra∣yes, mouinge at the whistle of the milde ZEPHIR, where as they deuided theym selues into diuerse chaunge of pa∣stimes, some to weaue garlandes of flowers for their ser∣uantes, some to ronne and leape, or expose other exploites of actiuitie for the honour of his mistres, and other to trye the maystery of mayne force by casting the sledge or heauie barr, So amongest theym all there was one Dom Roderyco a neare neyghbour and moste famylar to thamarus Diego, who perceiuing by the secrett messengers of the eye, whiche passed betwene hym and hys mistres by stelthe, to what sainte he wolde gladly offer his candell, and how desirous shée was to admitt hys deuocion: furthered thintentes of theym bothe so farfurthe, that he toke by the hande a young gentlewoman sittinge nexte to the faire Geniuera to begyn a newe daunce, whereunto as she was nothyng vnwilling, so Dom Diego tooke corage also to addresse hym selfe to hys mistres, whose example the whole trowpe of nobilitie fol∣lowed with indifferente contentacion, and for the more ho∣nour of the daunce Seigneur Roderico, who was the firste in the round, gaue charge offcilence to the musicions, hauing conferred affore with his gentlewoman to synge some so∣lemne note vppon the subiecte of the two amarus, wherein she performed so indifferently the praise & passion of theym bothe, that a man woulde haue iudged she hadd entred into the harte of Dom Diego and bene specially instructed of the faire Geniuera, who seyng her self touched at the quicke and pinched without laughinge in the hearinge of so manie, but chiefly exalted to the skyes in the presence of hym who tooke no lesse pleasure in her praises, then if he hadd bene presen∣ted with the Seigneury of all Aragon, colde not so connynglie dissemble her contentement, but thalteracion of her mynde

appered in the often chaunge of complexion in her face, which as it increased the cristal die & excellencie of her beau∣tie, So Dom Diego construyng that passion to his cōmoditie, gaue iudgement of thassurance of her good wil, wherof for a further prooff be wrōg her tender fyngers, & with a smy∣lyng regarde, askinge her opynion of the songe, wished that her seruante mighte liue to sée thaccomplishment of suche a prophecie, protesting withal, that in his life he had not hard Musicke of more delite, for the which (sayeth he) I acknow∣ledge a dett to the gentlewoman, that so aptly hath discoue∣red your good will towardes me, and vowed so frankelie on your behalfe, my loyall seruice, which I will not forgett to confirme in all that I maye, euen vntill the last dropp of my bloud, whereunto Geniuera replied with a doble vsury of hū∣ble thankes, with requeste that he would reapose vndouted creditt in the mistery of the songe, whiche as it had rightlye deciphered the determynation of her mynde, and vnfolded that whyche she reserued onely as secrett in her selfe, so she wold not for her part, forget to performe theffect, when con∣uenient time, with her mothers consente, wold admitt the lawful consummacion, vppon which laste wordes attended suche frendlie glaunces and wanton regardes of the eye, w^t a coūterchaunge of semblable glée on his parte, that the two Ladie widowes, did not onely note their affections, but also giue iudgemēt of the conclucion & vnitie of their myndes, w^t resolution (for their parts) to confirme the bargaine, with thassistāce of time, vsing as then but only a simple cōference deferring the finall effect by reason of the tender yeares and grene youth of bothe the louers, whome if the discretion of the mothers at that instante, hadd conioyned by the othe of mariage, they hadd preuented the malice of an vnconstant fortune, who in all delayes forgettes not to playe the ordy∣nary rolet of her natural mobility, wherof she exposed a ma∣nifest effecte in y^e persons of thies two auncient widdowes, one hauing lost her son for twenty or xxij. moneths without hope ettesones to recouer his presence, by a crueltie & rashe

conceite of the doughter of the other, who (without the spe∣ciall prouidence of God) hadd gyuen suche a false bounde to her honour, that the simple remembrance was sufficient to dispatche the olde yeares of her mother with an vntymely sommonee to discende to her fatall graue.

And now during this amarous practise betwene thyes two prentises in loue, whose affectiō growing to a feruentnes w^t an indifferent desier in theim both, presented argumētes of equall alteration in the personnes of the one & the other, for Dom Diego retiring by litle & litle from the liuely hew of his former cōplexion, seamed transformed in amoment, neither did he allow any pleasure, but that which he possessed by the presēce of his Geniuera, who also for her part, iudged y^e whole felicitie of the earth to consiste in the parson of her seruant, whom she accompted the only patterne for perfection, of all the gentlemen of his time, neither did he let slip any weke, wherein he went not to do his dutye to his mistres thrée or foure times, in whom he foundè a reatorne of his curtesie, with such vertuouse & honest consideration as was conue∣nient in a maide carefull of the garde of her honor, wherein albeit her mother, reaposyng indifferent credit in the ver∣tue of theym both, gaue leaue to her doughter to kepe hym companie, yet (as Aristotle affirmeth) honesty doth not broke longe dalliance, or wanton chatt in chast maydes w^t the first that accoasteth theim w^t conferēce in corners with any but suche as by consente of the church haue gott the power and possession of their bodie and is or oughte to be the one halfe or moytie of their mynde, whiche albeit was thintente and desier of theis two louers, yet y^e simplicitie of their frendes, deferring theffect, wrought not only a breach of y^e bargain, but also sturred vp in her, an humor of mortal spite against the sinceritie of her loyal seruāt; who endewred y^e reuēge of her vniust anger, vnder a punishmēt of a most sharp & long penance in deserts inhabitable & vnknowē, for in y^e heate of this reciprocal loue betwene thies younglings, it chaūced y^t a meruellous faire and goodly gentle woman, doughter of a

greate lorde of the countrey called Forrando de la Sara, vsyng familiarly the companie of Geniuera, becam by that meanes extremely in loue with Dom Diego, assayinge by publike and priuate meanes to imparte vnto hym what power and au∣thoritye she woulde willingly giue hym ouer her harte, yf for his part, he would requite the sinceritie of her loue with semblable honor and affection, wherein experiencynge the benefytt of all honest meanes seamyng any waye to fauour the effecte of her desyer, considered at last, that, aboue all o∣ther exercises, the knight tooke greatest pleasure in hawkes, wherfore vnder coulor to make a breache into his fauour with assistyng the disposition of his delite, she sente him one daye a tassell gentle) as the chiefeste Iewell she had to pre∣sente hym withall, excepte the offer of her owne good wyl, wherein Dom Diego albeit he was wholly possessed by an o∣ther, and with the losse of his libertie, hadd also so departed wit his iudgement, that he could not discerne thintente and honest zeale of the gentlewoman, yet he accepted her pre∣sente and retorned the messenger with suche thankes as ap∣pertayned.

In the receiuing of this hawke, appeared absolute showes of the euill fortune of the pore Diego, which immediatly fayled not to thunder vppon hym without cōpassion, for as he went often to visitt his mystres, so he forgott not continually to cary this hawke vppon his fiste, boastinge so farr vppon the goodnes of the birde, that he chaunced in her presence to saye that it was one of the thinges in the worlde he helde moste deare.

Sewerly this wordes were sifted more nerely then there was cause, and construed to other end, then he mente them, seinge that certeine dayes after in his absence, deuising vp∣pon his sondry vertues, some commended his honeste and curteus behauior, some gaue praise to his valyauntnes and dexteritie in armes, some exalted in him the sondrye giftes of nature, and passing further, he was generallye preferred of all the companie for his sinceritie and constant dealynge

in matters of loue; sauing of one Graciano, who rather en∣uyinge the vertue of the knight by malice, then hable to de∣face y^e leaste of his gyftes by reason, ioyned with the reste in commendacion of his personage, actiuitie and other dowries of nature, but for his faith or care of promiss where loyaltye shoulde moste appere, I accompte hym (sayeth he) so apte to dissemble, and inconstante by nature, that he vseth no dif∣ference of personnes in grounding his affections, makynge no conscience to seame to languishe mortallye, where he meaneth nothing lesse then firme constancie, which touched Geniuera so neare, that she coulde not giue place any longer to the sinister bable of Graciano, desieringe hym to vse other tearmes touchinge the honestie of Dom Diego, for (saith she) I am of opinion that he will rather passe vnder the sentence of any death, then forfeyt the leaste pointe of his promise passed alreadie vnder the seale of his faith to a gentlewoman of this contrey, besides his loue (I knowe is so sincere and vpright) that I dare pawne my lif on y^e behalf of thassurāce. There is the miste that dimmeth your eyes, sayeth this cankarde ennemye of Diego, for vnder the vaile of a periu∣red loyaltie, he abuseth the simplicitie of honeste Ladyes, whereof I nede not go farr for a prooff, nor you doubt much of the misterye, if you conferr the circumstāce of his former profession towardes you, with the presente▪ league of frende shipp betwene him and the doughter of Dom ferrando de la Sara, cōfirmed alredye by the gyfte of a tassell gentle, which for her sake he estemeth aboue all the thinges in the world, which last allegatiō restoring a remembrance of the words, pronounced not longe ago by the knight touching the deare accompte he made of his hawke, began to brede a suspicion of his constancie, and an assured creditt in the information * 1.14 of thunhappie Graciano, wherein swelling immediatly with her vniust collor incensed by a simple & cold Ielowsie, was forced to abandon the place, & retire into her chamber, wher she gaue suche skoape to her synister conceite, that she was vpon tearmes manye times to vse force againste her selfe,

whereunto she had added present dispatche, if a hope to pro∣cure in time the reuenge of the wronge, whiche she perswa∣ded to haue receiued of her Diego, had not staide thexecution, albeit she coulde not so gouerne her malicious disposition, but the deadly hate conceiued in this moment against thin∣nocente gentleman, did not onely supplante both stocke and roote of aunciente zeale on her parte, but also grewe to suche mortalitie in her venemous stomake, that she seamed not to delite so muche in the vse of her owne life, as in de∣syer to take pleasure in the remembrance of the death of hym, who no lesse innocent in the cause, then ignorante of the grudge, came the nexte mornynge (as he was wonte) to sée her, hauing vppon his fiste (by euill fortune) the birde which bredd firste this mortall Ielowzye: And as he satt de∣uisyng with her mother, fyndinge a wante of thaccustomed companie of his mistres, he asked where she was, whereun∣to he was aunswered by one of her women, that assone as she sawe hym enter the house, she tooke her chamber, all whiche he dissimuled by his wisdom, imagininge the same to procede of some wanton fancie or coye conceite, whereunto the most part of women are cōmonly incident, so that when he sawe his time, he tooke leaue of her mother & departed, me∣ting by chaunce as he wente downe the steares of the hall, one of the chambrieres or Gentlewomen of Geniuera, whō he requested to kisse the hande of his mistres on his behalfe, whiche she promised to performe, hopinge to do a thinge no lesse acceptable to her mistres, then to gaine thankes of him on whose behalfe she presented the curtesie.

Albeit, as it is to be thoughte that Geniuera enioyed litle quiet and lesse contentemente in this meane while, solici∣ted, I can not tell, by what desyer to defye whollye the re∣membrance of Diego, wherein she was the rather forthered by an information, that he bare still the tarssell of hys fyste, whyche she iudged to be done onely in despite of her, So when her woman offred to presente thimbassage of the knighte, she fell into suche tearmes of frenzie, that the

simple brute or name of Dom Diego sturred vp such hainous alterations within her, that to her former wroth, was added a present wodnes, in such sorte, that she seamed for the tyme to labor indifferently betwene thextreme panges of death, and vse of longer lif, albeit restored at laste by the greate di∣ligence of her woman, she coulde not so wholly dismisse her furie, but she imparted the passion of her anger to her eyes, who after they had some what eased her inwarde greef by a nomber of dollorous teares, put her e••tesones in the pos∣session of her former speache, whiche she witnessed in theis exclamations. * 1.15

Ah traitor and disloyall knighte, vnworthie euery waye to participat with the breathe of the common ayre, and no lesse meritorious of the honor or bare title of knighthodde: hath the cōstant & honest loue I haue borne the, deserued this vn∣honeste recompense? is it a vertue to pretende loyaltye vn∣der a masqued vyserne of detestable deceite? if theis be the frutes of thy fayth, purifyed thorowe so many othes? what exspectatiō of assurance is there in the promisse of any man? Is it I that must fele the stynge of thy infectiō? What cause haue I giuen the to imagin the spoile of mine honor, and imparte the praye to an other vnworthie euery waye of iust comparison to me? Yf not in louynge the more then was conuenient to thy inconstante and dissemblinge disposition, I haue embased mine honor to aduaunce thy renowme, howe couldest thou without blushing attempte the offer of my good will, hauing thy conscience poysened wyth so many spotes of abhominable traison? howe dareste thow presente me the baise les ••ains by the mouth of a messenger, seinge thy whole bodye is alredie vowed to the seruice of an other? no, no, seinge God hath reueiled the vnto me afore thy vil∣lanye put effecte to the ruine of mine honor, I doubte not only to defende me hereafter from the force of thy deceitfull charmes, but also sweare vnto the by the eternall maiestie of the higheste, that albeit force makes me the treasores of thye wickednes, yet assure thy selfe from hensfurth at my

handes of such fauor, as thou maist exspect of the most mor∣tall enemy thou hast in the world, wherwith to giue the last farewel to the pore Diego, she writ ymediatly certeine lynes and deliuered theym sealed to her page, with commissyon, that the nexte daye hee shoulde méete the knyghte on the waye commynge thether, and delyuer the letter, wyth Instruction besydes, that affore hee came to the house, hee shoulde reade the contentes and performe the effecte, whereof the page (beinge made to the string) fayled not of any point, for the next day hée met Dom Diego, a quarter of a league frome the house, presentynge hym the letter wyth hys commission by mouth, who kissinge the pa∣per of his mistres in honor of her that sent it, opened the pac¦ket and founde that whych foloweth.

Albeit the coutynuall complaynt of my gréeffe ymportes no dispence of my dollor, yet in exclayming against the wrōg * 1.16 thou haste don me, I shal so desypher thy villanye, that the whole world shall fynde cause, not onely to proclayme open shame vpon the, but also (by my misfortune) beware of thin fections of thy detestable traison, whereunto if I haue added more credit then ther was cause on thy side, the remēbrāce of that whyche is past, (preferring a contynuall view of thy periured trothe) is to defende mée hereafter from the offer of semblable perill, neyther wyll I liue hensfurthe in feare of future euyl, or stand in awe eftsones to be infected by the, for that I haue not onely banished the remembraunce of Diego oute of euery corner of my mynde, but also am of in∣tente to performe such vengance and punishmente of my selfe, that if I fele any vaine, member or other parte in me, bente neuer so little to fauor the or sewe for grace on thy be halfe, to vse no lesse crueltie in tearinge the same from the reste, then thy disloyaltie hath sturred vp suche iuste cause of vnsemely tyranny in me. And for thy parte (O periured knight) sith it is thy only trade to beate euery bushe where thou thinkeste to bée eyther birde or neste, goo pitche thy

nettes where thou art sewer of praye, and baite thy hookes with tearmes of deceite to entrapp her, whose late presente is of more force wyth the, then the honeste and chaste loue which vertue began in vs both, for seing abirde hath made y^t more lighte then the winde that supportes her in the ayre, God forbid that Geniuera, eyther admit thy excuses or allowe thy iustifycacion, and muche lesse wishe the other good, then to sée the torne in peces; wyth the moste extreme tormentes that euer martired any traitor, whych is the laste fauor thou hast to hope for of me, who lyueth not but to worke the spite aboue any enemye thou hast in the world. Geniuera la blonde

He had no soner redd these sorowfull newes, but liftynge hys eyes to heauen he called God to witnes of hys innocen∣cye, who onely beyng priuye to thynteggretie of hys mind, colde also iustefye hys loyall meanynge towardes her who vniustly abused the sincere vertue of hys vnmouable affecti¦on, and as he ment ther to prefer some discourse••n hys pur∣gacion, the page, who was not so amplie instructed of hys mistres, as mortall enemye to Dom Diego, staide thintente of hys meaninge by the reaporte of that whyche he hadde in charge by mouth, saying that he colde do no greater pleasure to Geniuera, then to shon all places of her repaire, seing (saith he) that as the frendshipp you haue vowed to the doughter of the Lord Sero, hath discouered your vntroth towardes her So she hath geuen iudgement agaynst youre vertue for fe∣dyng two simple gentlewomen indifferently with the foode of one vncerteine hope, wherewith he departed leauinge the knight in lesse care thenne affore, for that conferringe her grudge with the cause, he thought the small occasion foun∣ded also vpon an vntrothe, wold in shorte tyme take awaye the force of her collor, albeit hee colde not so whollie dis∣misse the remembrance of her displeasure, nor gouerne his owne passion, but retorning to his castell aboue an ordyna∣ry pase, went to hys chamber, wher pulling the poore hawke

from the pearche, committed her presentlye to a thousande morsels, and cursing her that sent her, wyth his owne follie in receiuing so vile a thinge (enchaunted as he thought, by some furye or magicall charme) determyned ymediatlye to presente hys mistres with the sacrafize of thoccasion of her vniust anger, with intente to performe nolesse of his owne bodie, if she wold not giue place to her displeasure vpon his honest purgacion, which wyth the dead hawke he sente by a trustie seruante of hys, debated at large in a letter, wherein after a nomber of iuste reasons to confute her vniust obiecti∣ons, touchinge lightly her rashe iudgement in g••uyng sen∣tence of hys vntrothe, without hearinge his iustifycation he preferred certeine humble meanes for moderacion of her displeasure, onelesse she reaposed felicitie to sée hym con∣sumed in the martirdom of apyning life, or dilited in the ne¦wes of hys present death, w^t other instructōs which he gaue the messenger but chiefly to note the contenance of hys mis∣tres, and make faithfull reaport of euery pointe of her aun∣swere, wherwith the messinger posteth to Geniuera, to whom with al humylitie he presenteth the charge of his cōmission, albeit the passion of her fretting anger denied her pacience to reade the letter, and much lesse wold giue her leaue to ac∣cept the present, thunfayned witnes of the contrarie of that whych she to lightly beleued, but charged the messenger vp∣pon great paine to retorne with the tromperies he hadde brought, and say vnto his maister, that she knew to well his whistle to come at his call, and being lately burned, she wold take heede eftsones to fall into the fyer, wherwyth albeit the seruant went abowte to prefer thexcuse of hys mayster, yet the disdaynefull lady chokinge hys honest intent, forced him to vnwilling scilence, with charge to ympart her resolu∣cion to hys mayster, whom (sayth she) if I loued earst entyer lye, I hate nowe wyth a malyce more thenne mortal, wher wyth shée flonge out of the presence of the messenger, lea∣uynge hym no lesse amased at her crueltie, then dowtefull

to retorne to hys infortunate mayster, whom hee knewe wold skarcely be kept from the daunger of dispaire in hea∣ringe the sorowfull sommonce of his mistres: Albeit seinge he had professed to make a faythfull reaporte, hee retorned not forgetting to repete euery point of that, whyche she had giuen hym in charge, and withall restored the letter and deade presente vnto the selly Diego, who at the same instant, had giuen lyke ende to his euill and lyfe, if hys man had not withstanded thexecucion of hys morderinge handes, al∣beit hée colde not giue suche ympedymente to the furye of hys passion, but that it kepte hym occupyed wythe hideus groanes, and dolefull regardes the moste parte of the af∣ter none, till at laste hée quallifyed thextremetye of thys furye in complaynynge to hym selfe in thys sorte

Alas (saythe hee) what iudgemente of fortune is thys, * 1.17 that beinge at the pointe to reape the frutes of the contente mente I wishe in the world, and fede of the only felycitie I haue in this life, to be presented with an extremitie of more desperation then euer happened to any that bare the name of infortunat? If such iniquitie beare a swaighe in payinge the due hier of the honeste seruice of men, what hope here∣after may sustaine the lyfe of faythful louers? what exspecta¦cion haue they in the ende of their trauaile, when a Ielous enuye hath power not only to take the praie oute of their handes, but also ymparte the frute of their hope to an other, not worthy any waye to participate w^t so glorious a merit. Ah Geniuera, if thy disdaynefull anger woulde giue the leaue to make a viewe of my innocencie, consider indiffe∣rentely the circumstāce of my former loue, w^t ymagynaciō what assurance I haue hereafter vowed on thy behalfe, so long as my body beares lif in this earthly corruptiō, I know thou woldest repeale the sentence of thy former iudgement, correcte the sinister instincte that sturred vpp the humor of thy crueltie, and wype awaye at laste the teares of my vndeserued sorowe, wyth a franke offer of that whyche

I haue deserued by iustice.

Ah vaine hope whyche hetherto haste flattered me wyth pilles of ioyfull disgestion, leauing me in the ende to the mercye of a miserable dispaire? is it I that muste fele thope∣racion of thy poyson, and liccour of bitter taste? it hadde bene better for me to haue bene repulsed in the begynninge, then after a pleasaunt profe of reciprocall loue, to be refused, and lose the earnest of my desyer, for so small an occasion, y^t the only remembraunce makes me blushe at the symplicitye of the cause, Albeit fortune shal not altogether tryumphe ouer me, for so longe as I liue, so longe wyll I kepe my vowe to the faire Geniuera, and preserue my life onlye to witnes the constante force of my loue, which albeit I can not performe with out an extreme torment in skorchinge flames of con∣tynuall passion, yet the remembrance of my dutie to her to whom I offer this deuocion of a burninge sacrafyce of my selfe, wyll quallefye in some parte the heat of my skaldynge, gréeffe: wherewith he retired into suche sighes and signes of lamentable dollor, showinge hym indifferently plunged be∣twene the Alarams of death, and panges of frenzie, that hys man was at point to ronn for the old lady, to come and blisse her son wyth her last farewell, Albeit restoring hys traunce by his owne diligence, began (so far as he durst) to reprehend the weaknes of hys mynde, for that he seamed so careles of hym selfe, as to offer his life at the sommonce of a folyshe girle, who (sayth he) vseth thys cruell pollecie peraduenture, to make a tryall of your constancie, neyther ought you to do such wronge to your vertue, and much lesse kepe war wyth extremities, but if you be resolued to loue her, you must al∣so determyn to pursewe her by other meanes, and giuinge a lytle place to the malice of fortune, attende the benefit of a better tyme, who is neuer vnthankfull to theym that suffer her with pacience, and who also hath power to mollefye for you thys Dyamantyn harte of your mistres, albeit it be tem∣pred wyth the mettell and bloud of the most furious and sa∣uage beastes that euer bredd in the desertes of Lybya.

Diego did not only allowe thadmonicion of his man, but also felte cause of comforte in his aduise, with intente to per∣siste in the pursewte of the good will of his misters, to whō he preferred sondrie letters, ambassages by mouthe, & other excuses, wherin he gayned asmuche as in the firste, for that the more he courted her with honeste importunityes, the greater grewe her vniuste displeasure, in suche sorte, that in the end, she threatned the messenger with seuere punishe∣ment, if he continued anye longer the queste of his maisters follye, for (saith she) theis handes shall rather giue ende to my life by a willyng force againste my selfe, then my harte consente to be thankefull in anye sorte to hym, whome I hate no lesse then the stinge of a venemous serpente, which as it brought a fresh supplie of dollor to the languishynge Diego tryeng to thuttermost the vertue of his patience, so consideringe the litle gaine he sholde gett in attendynge that whiche his destynies hadd determined againste hym, and seinge with all, he was voyde of power to withdrawe his affection, determined his reapose in the laste refuge of * 1.18 all miserable creatures, I meane to giue end to his sorowes by death, wherein abhorringe notwithstandynge to defyle his owne handes with the bloude of hym selfe, he resolued to attende his fatall dome in performyng the reste of his py∣nynge dayes, in some deserte or solitary soile not inhabi∣ted but by the sauage societie of wilde beastes, whereunto he added suche expedicion, that the nexte daye he caused to be made secretly two habittes or attires of pilgrims for him selfe and one man, which he ment take to wyth hym, with other necessaries mete to furnishe suche a voyage, the same night also he writ at large to his cruell Geniuera, deliueryng the letter sealed in moste sewer manner, to one of his offi∣cers, to whome he woulde not imparte the mistery but co∣loringe his pilgryms voyage with a Iorney he said he hadd to make to one of his frendes, willed hym to communi∣cate no lesse to his mother, and that within twentye dayes

they sholde exspecte his retorne, for the reste sayeth he, I en∣ioyne the vppon the dutie thou owest me, to deliuer this let∣ter, the fourthe day after my departure to the Lady Geniuera la blonde, who if she seame disdainefull, marke onely with what countenance she refuseth it, wherwith he dismissed hym, and called the other whiche as you haue harde perfor∣med alwayes the messages betwene hym and his mistres, whom onely he made priuie to his deuise, & partaker of hys cruell intente, which seamed so straung in thopinion of his man, that what for the fowlenes of the facte, & speciall care he had of the wel doinge of his maister, he declared frankely his aduise in this sorte: xs it not sufficiēte (sir) saieth he, that you giue your selfe in praye to the crueltie of your mistres * 1.19 but also to increase her glorie in sufferynge her crueltie to vanquishe your vertue? are you so ignorāt in the malice of women, that you can not discerne the delite they take to paf¦sion their poore seruantes, triūphing chiefly in the dispaire of such as they haue vnhappely made thrall to their beauty? you ought to eschewe the miserie of that incōuenience, by thautoritie of the wisemen in olde tyme, who founde suche iuste cause of hate agaynst that secte, that they dowted not to tearme theym the common ruyne of men? wherein what other thinge moued the Greke Poet to pronounce his opi∣nion in few wordes vppon the state of women, but that he knewe the felicitie of man to be greater in shoninge thac∣quaintance of that furie, then in embrasynge the society of so perentory an euill, seinge (saieth he) they differ nothinge in disposicion from the serpente, who beyng deliuered from the violence of the frost, and preserued from presente perill of deathe by the husband man, dyd yeld him for recompence, a mortal terror with his venemous hissing, and infected his whole house w^t a stinking vapour, oh how happy is he that is the maister of his affections, and enioyenge the benefit of a pleasante libertie, hath the gifte to shon this swéete euill, which so farre (as I sée) is the cause of your present dispaire, besydes (sir) why shoulde not you make an assaye to van∣quishe

thies suggestions of vanitie, seynge that as he y^t can maister hym self, maye easely make hym lorde ouer manye thinges, so as the orator affirmeth the moste perfecte vic∣tory * 1.20 is to make a conquest of our selues: why should you de∣termin so greate an enterprise with thassistance of so slen∣der aduise, seyng that vppon rashe resolucions attendes or∣dinarie rebukes, and he that performes his affaires in hast, repentes comonly at leasure, neyther doth that expedicion showe good successe, whose ende is not conferred with the begynnyng, and guyded wholly by the gouernement of rea∣son and vertue, for as vppon vertuouse entreprises, at∣tendes a fame of honour and renowme, so the rewarde of wicked deuises, is infamye and sometyme shamefull death, and for your parte (sir) lett your auncient wisdome encoun∣ter this femenyne miffortune, in making as litle accompte of your rebell mistres, as she is moste vnworthie to enioye the leaste fauor of your nobilitie, whyche deserueth a more honeste consideration, then a fare well of such tyranouse dis∣position, where with beholdyng some argumentes of anger in the face of his maister, whom he feared to incense to thut termoste, he knitt vp with this resolution: seyng (sayeth he) you are determined in your mishap, I besech you accept my seruice to accompanie your fatall guide, to thende I maye participate with you in your fortune, till the heauens, ceas∣sing to wreake their mallice vppon you, do seame also con∣tented to dymisse the crueltie of your destynies, wherein as he performed the some of his maisters exspectacion, who de∣fiered only the companie of his man in the voyage of hys miserye, so after certeine thankes for his goodwill, he tolde hym that al their furniture was ready, and that there rested nothinge but to departe, whyche they agreed to performe, in the firste hower after midnighte, where unto also thexe∣cution followed accordynglie, for betwene xij. and one of the clocke in the nyghte, our amarous hermitt with hye * 1.21 man, stealeth secretly oute of hys castell, takyng the fyrste

path whiche his fortune did appointe hym, guided only by the lighte of the moone, without interruption or noyse of other creatures, then the chirpinge brute of the lytle cri∣ckettes solacynge theim selues in their kynde within the creuises of the earth: and wandringe thus by vnknowen wayes the later remeinder of the fearefull nighte, he sawe appeare, in the discouery of the mornynge, when Aurora auaunced her flagge of white and redde, the mornynge starr, whiche some Poetes call the candle that lightes the goddesse of loue from the bedd of her secrett louer, when ••o the solace of the mornyng, resemblinge his auncient delite when he enioyed y^e presence of his mystres, presented a fresh allaram of sorow in recording eftesons his vnhappie chāge of state: wherein, (alas saith he) haue I deserued this plage, that denieth me participacion in the pleasure and contente∣ment * 1.22 of others, who after they haue slepte the course of the nighte vppon the pleasante thoughte of their delite, do a∣wake wyth the heauenlye harmonye and charme of lytle birdes, with assurance to enioye theffect of that, whiche a shadowe or delitefull vision of the sprite presented theym in the night sleping in so greate contentemente, where I (vn∣happie that I am) moste cruelly attended vppon with a con∣trarye destenie, and in place to enioye a simple benefytt or priuiledge of that whiche all other haue in common, am forced, to wander when all creatures are admitted to reste, hauing only thaire of deserts and lawnes vninhabitable to recorde thecco of my sorowes, and the feloweship of wilde bestes to assiste the tunes of my complaintes? Ah Venus whose starre heretofore hath onely guyded me, and whose beames, of longe, haue taken roote in my harte? what cause haue I to complaine of thy iniustice, whiche yeldes me fals∣hood for faith, and tormente for true constancie of mynde? if this be the hier of loyaltie, why beareste thou the tytle of iuste? the pennance I endure dischargeth the of the name of mercifull, or if thou deale so seuerly wyth thy true ser∣seruantes?

Why kepest thou the course amongest the orient planettes of the heauen? Albeit yf I abuselthy honor in blasphemyng the maiestie of thy godheade, I sewe for no fauor, seinge I fele alredye the ful weighte of thy heauye hande, neyther haste thou any punishement in store, wher∣of I taste not the force in this my vnworthie affliction, whiche seinge it procedes by thinfluence of the starr whiche gouerneth me, dispatche at once the messenger of thy deter∣minacion, to thende that by my death, my distresse may re∣ceiue ende, and my cruell mistres performe her glorious triumphe in the victorye of my pynynge lyfe: His com∣plaintes coulde not so staye the swifte course of tyme, but or he was ware, the heighte of the son showed the declining of the daye, whiche moued hym to increase his pase, leauing the common wayes, to folowe the pathes leaste acquain∣ted with traueile, wherein they continued withoute inter∣mission till the cloasinge of the euenyng: when the weary∣nes of their horsses forced theim to discend, and take harbor within a litle village farre from the ordinary waye, from whence after some litle reléeff to their horsses, and lesse rest to theim selues, they departed, wandring in that sorte by the space of thrée or foure dayes and nightes, thende whereof broughte theim at laste to the foote of a large mountaine, in∣habited onely with sauage beastes and creatures vnreaso∣nable, discoueringe rounde about, a platt or soile of plea∣same prospecte, and moste proper to shroode the solitarie life of the wandrynge knyghte, for if he delyted in the shade, he hadd there the benefytt of a nomber of pleasante trées, whiche nature seamed to lende hym as a speciall solace in that wyldernes: When his sorowe desyered the vse of a more open prospecte, the plaine forrestes and chases, wyth theyr wholle heardes of deare of all fortes, offred to giue hym skoape to recorde his gréeffe, and for chaunge of recreation, he mighte viewe there the hideus and highe rockes, whose stéepnes and craggie scituation, albeit mo∣ued a terrour to the beholders, yet were they not without

cause of greate delite, by reason of the pleasant grene, garnished with the tappissery of diuerse flowers, spreadyng theim selues all a onge the heighte of the sayde mountes, but that whiche moued moste his affection to that place, was a merueilous faire and rowmey caue, enuironed on all sides with béeche, cypres, pyneaple and ceder trées, wyth other braunches yeldynge frutes of diuerse kindes, righte afore the mouth or openyng of the which, tendyng to the valley, appered a nomber of pleasante graftes, whose rootes recei∣uing moisture by a cleare streame passing wyth softe noyse all alonge the dore of the caue, gaue suche bountifull nor∣ryture to the twigges & tender branches, that thonly topps bowed downe and dipped theim selues, as vppon dutie, in a fountaine of wonderfull clearenes, fedyng continuallye the saide streame, all whiche seamed to offer suche solace to the solytarye intent of Diego, that without further aduise he de∣termined to performe there the penance he wente to doo, and to conuerte that house, builded by nature, to the mo∣nasterye of his profession, wherein he mente to ende the voyage of his deuocions, commandynge his man to alight, who vnsadlinge their horses, gaue theim the keye of the wilde forestes, whereof hetherto they harde no newes.

Touchinge their saddells, with the harnesse, and other fur∣niture of their horsses, they bestowed within a litle cell or corner in their caue, where also, leauing their ordinarye apparell, they putt on theyr habittes of pilgrim, there his man made prouision accordynge to the condicion of their state, and necessitye of the place, dyggynge for his firste indeuor, certeine soddes and lomppes of claye wherewith he entrenched and rampierd their felden shopp, to defende theym againste the furye of wilde beastes, who otherwayes myghte oppresse theym in the nyghte, he made also twoo beddes or lytle couches of softe mosse wyth a testure and sides of wodde, which he hewde in no lesse fyne proporcion, then yf the skill of the Carpenter had assisted the worke.

they hadd no other reléeffe or foode for longe tyme then of the frute whiche the wilde trees did yelde theym, one lesse sometime, for a chaunge of dyot, they were gladd to feede of rawe rootes, whiche they digged out of thintrailles of the earth, vntill extreme hunger preferred a meane to supplie their thinne fare, whiche was, that his man made a cros∣bowe, with the whiche they killed often times the hare and conie fedynge at reléeff, some time they beguiled the wilde goate in the mountaines, and were often the bane of a greater beaste in the forreste, whose blood they pressed be∣twene twoo peces of woode, made for the nonst, deuidynge theim into morsells, whiche they rosted wyth the heatte of the son, and so furnished, in sober manner, their leane table, disgestynge theyr rude and vnholsome dyelt, wyth a cuppe of colde water, whereof they had no lesse plentye, with no more charges, then, when they commaunded ouer whole cellers of delicate wyne in the pallayes of Dom Diego, who increased the dweile of his presente miserye wyth teares of continuall complainte, inueighynge againste the malice of his fortune, wherein he vsed as a common exercise, to walke all alone in the moste daungerous places of the desertes, enterteynyng his solytarye thoughtes, or rather of intente to offer hym selfe a praye to the Iawes of some Lyon or Tygre or merciles beare discendynge from the mountaines, but the seruante-doubtynge the re∣solucion of his maister, preuented theffecte of desperati∣on wyth his contynuall presence, exclamynge (as farre as he durste) againste suche vanities and actes of frennezie, wherein if by chaunce, he lett escape anye worde re∣prehendynge the crueltye or wronge don vnto hym by his mystres, yt was a pastyme to see the alteration of Diego, srorminge againste the prelumptuouse audacitye in hys man, in suche sorte, as continuinge eftesones to accuse her discourtesie, he wolde not stike to threaten hym so farre, that if it were not for the respecte of the

loyaltie he hadd heretofore founde in hym, he woulde make hym fele▪ how neare it tooched hym at the harte, to heare with patience, any blasphemy against her, who hadd no lesse righte to punishe hym in thys sorte, then he reason to en∣dure the penance for her sake without cause of iuste com∣plaint agaynste her seueritie, wherein as he showed an vn∣dowted experience of the contagius dispocision of loue, for that suche as be infected with the corruption of that ayre, take no pleasure but to gull and glutt their thirste with the brothe of that pestiferous poyson, So if he had ryghtlie mea∣sured his owne meritt with the cause of his vniuste tormēt, vsynge with all thaduise of reason, he hadde not seamed so symple in his owne blyndnes, nor bene so sowne abused by y^e foly of a folish girle: his man dowting any further tattempt hym with perswacions, for feare to procure thuttermost of hys displeasure, was forced to an vnwillinge patience, gre∣uinge notwithstandynge on the behalfe of the misfortune of his maister, who with his euill dyott and worse lodgyng, quarrelyng both two with his former order of bringing vp, was become so pale and hideuse of regarde, that he rather re∣sembled the dryed barke of a withered trée, then the shapp of a man bearynge lyfe, besides the course of continual tea∣res, and skorchyng syghes, deriued from the bottome of his stomake, had so drained the conduites and vaynes (fedynge the partes of his bodie) with naturall moisture, that his eies sonke into his heade, his bearde forked and growen oute of order, the heares of his headd starynge lyke a forlorne man or one loathinge the vse of longer lyf, hys skyn and face ful of forrowes and wrinkelles, procedyng of ••retting thought, argued him rather a wilde man borne and bredde vpp al the dayes of his lyfe in the wildernes, then the valyante Diego, whose fame exceded earste the whole compasse and Circuit of Spaine.

But here lett vs leaue our amarus hermitt ful of passiōs in hys symple cloyster or cane vnder the earthe, and see what followed the deliuery of his letters to his cruell Geni∣uera,

to whom the seruante the fourthe daye after his depar∣ture, accordyng to his charge, presented the letters not with oute a greate showe of dutie and reuerence, who notwith∣standing assone as she perceiued by the direction frō whence they cam, forgatt not to retire into her aunciente disdaine, and casting (in greate anger) the letters vppon the ground, vouche safed not once to giue leaue to the messenger to de∣clare the reste of his embassage, wherwith her mother some what reprehendyng thinciuilitie of her doughter, demaun∣ded to sée the packett, for (saieth she) I am perswaded of tho∣nestie of Diego, neyther do I doute any deceyte in his ver∣tue, nor you (doughter) for your parte, oughte to seame so curious to tooche theym, seynge that yf they ymporte anye poyson, your beautie only is to be blamed, whiche was the firste baite that infected the knighte, and if he putt you in remembraunce of your rigour, I sée no wronge he doth you, considering the greatnes of his deserte, and the slender care you haue of his due consideration, in whyche meane tyme a page tooke vpp the letters, and gaue theym to tholde Ladie, who founde his complaynte in suche or semblable tear∣mes.

Seynge (good madam) myne Innocencie is denyed to * 1.23 worke theffecte of her vertue, and iuste excuses confirmed with thautoritie of equitie and reason, are altogether voyde of force to make a breach into your harte, so hardned against me with vniuste disdaine, that the simple remembrance of my name, is no lesse hatefull vnto you, then the offer of any tormente what tiranny so euer it ymporte, I fynd, the nexte acceptable seruice I can do you, is (in mortefyinge whollye the cause of your displeasure, and with my punishment to yelde you contentemente) to putt suche distance betwene vs, that neyther you nor any other shall knowe the place of myne abode, and muche lesse the pitte of fattal repose, where in I entende to cowche my corrupte bones, wherein albeit my contynuall passion, procedyng of the viewe of your dis∣courtesie, hath bredd suche a generall debilitie thorowe all

the ••aynes and places of force within me, that I féele my self alredye fallen into the handes of the dreadefull messen∣ger, So affore theffecte or execution of the extreme hower, I am thus holde hereby, with the true toochestone or witnes * 1.24 of myne Innocentie) to putt you in remembrance of your vnnaturall rigor, not for that I meane to accuse you to the hier of your deserte but that the worlde (beynge priuie to my case) maie be thindifferent iudge betwene my integrity, and your crueltie, my loyall affection, and the wronge you do to y^e rewarde of my seruice, assurynge my selfe notwith∣standynge, that the reaporte of my deathe, will bringe a re∣morse to your conscience, with a compassion (albeit to late) seynge the same shalbe thequal ballance to paise my sincere and constante intente, with your credulous and rashe iud∣gement, in admittinge for trothe, the false suggestion of suche as enuyed the vertue of our honeste loue, with a su∣borned informacion of a frendshypp betwene me and the doughter of the Lorde of Sera? yf you will make it (good ma∣dam) vnlawful for a gentleman traded in the disciplines of ciuilitie, to receiue the presentes of a Ladye or gentlewo∣man equall in degrée or honor to hym self: wherein will you to consiste the pointes of humanitie? howe can we glorie or séeme meritorious of the title of nobilitie, yf it be an of∣fence to he thākefull to suche as do homage to our honour with thoffer of anye courtesie? wherein notwithstandynge I was so curious to offende you, that th••nly respect or feare of your displeasure, forcinge me to abuse y^e goodnes of myne owne inclination, made me retorne the offer of her frende∣shypp with a simple Gram mercy.

And for your parte, if your hate hathe taken suche roote a∣gainst me, and your self so resolued to do wronge to the sa∣cred pitie exspected in al women and shrowded commonly vn∣der the vaile of suche beautie as nature hathe paynted in your face, that neyther the sacrefice whiche I haue made of * 1.25 the cause of your vniuste disdaine my languishing penance nor lawful excuses haue power to perswade you to the con∣trary

of your synyster ymagynation, I sée no other choyce then to yelde to the partiall sentence of your iudgemente, whyche as an enemye to thequitie of my cause, fauoreth wholly the iniustice of your conceite, wherein seynge the spottes of your mortall displeasure can not be wiped awaie, but by the blodd of my lyfe, whyche showeth your contente mente to consiste wholly in my destruction, I accompte it a dutie of reason, to honour you with the sacrafise of my deathè, aswell as I founde cause to auowe vnto you the ser∣uice of my lyfe, whiche also I am yet to performe, so longe as my sowle dothe kepe her holde by the mortall thred and fraile fillett of my bodye, fyndinge this one thynge to in∣crease the miserye of my death, (passynge as the breath of a pleasant sighe, whych, shall haue power to dysmiss my soule vnder the sommonce of a softe and shorte pange) that myne ynnocencye wil alwaies lyue to accuse you, as a cruel mor∣dresse of your moste constant and loyall seruant. Dom Diego,

The tragicall contentes of this letter strick such soddaine dollor into the mynd of thold lady, that she seamed to partici∣pate w^t thaffliction of the pore forrestian hermit, albeit dissi∣muling her passiō affore her howshold seruātes, retired into her chāber with her doughter only whō she failed not to re∣buke in sharp sort for her folish cruelty, as the only cause of the losse of so worthy a knyghte as Seigneur Diego, whose letter albeit she deciphered vnto her worde by word, profer ringe with al, sondry ymportunities for mediacion & grace on his behalfe, yet seamed she as weake, to moue the harde harte of her doughter, as the myld Zephir, breathyng from y^e western shore, is hable to shake the monstrus rockes builded in the belly of the sea, and muche lesse the passion of her∣fury, iudginge his penance far inferior to y^e desert of his in∣cōstancy, wherwith the simple mother father complayning, then correctynge the stubbornes of her doughter, dysmissed the messenger with only charge to salute on her behalfe his misters her deare frende and neighbour, who altogether ig∣norāt

of the contentes of the letter, reioysed notwithstāding that her son had written to Geniuera, hopinge he had ympar∣ted to her, the day and hower of his retorne, wherein not∣withstanding she was no lesse frustrate, then her assurance proued vncerteine, in such sort, y^t the date of the twentye day expired, eye ij. or thre monethes fully performed wythout any newes of her son, she began to enter into no lesse tear∣mes of dollor then if she had accompanied his corpes to his fatal tombe, exclayminge wyth all, agaynste thiniquitie of the heauens in blessing her with such a posteritie, and then to take hym from her in the myddest of the prooffe of hys vertue? wherin cryenge out agaynst the bewtie of Geniuera, (whych she iudged the only cause of his absence) cursed also the mornyng wherin hée wente on huntinge, wishinge in thende that some reu••lacion wold disclose vnto her the place of hys abode, to thende, she myghte eyther reclaime hym in whom consisted the hope of her olde age, and exspectacion of her whole house, or at least, assiste in person such good or e∣uill fortune as fell to his share.

If the mother complayned her desaster, her son (as it is to be thoughte) enioyed small quiet and lesse contentmente of mynde, who now become a citizen with the beastes and bir∣des of the forrestes, left neither roote of trée, height of rocke, nor sonnye syde of any gréene hill, without some signe or marke of his carefull state, wherein vsinge the pointe of a sharppe bodkyn, as a supplie of a stéeled chezell, he woulde some tyme engraue the successe of his loue vpon a harde and dryed trée, sometyme a brode and thynne barke taken from some younge and grene spraie, serued hym in steade of paper or parchement, wherin he cyphered with such darke letters the name of hym selfe and hys mistres, drawen to∣gether wythin one intricate circle, that the best mathemati¦cal in Padue or Paris, woulde demaunde respite to decipher the true enterpretacion, one day amongest the rest, rauinge vpon his thoughtes by the borde or brinke of the fountaine

ioyninge (as you haue hard) to his desert cotage, hée emprin¦ted these verses followinge vppon a faire stone, whyche the streame of the riuer hadde cast vppon the shore.

Oh sacred syluan Pan, and satirs of this vale, And ye oh woddie nymphes, who wepe in wretches plaint Staie here your gliding stepps, recorde my dolefull tale, Iudge you what I deserue, whom loyall loue hath spent, Assiste my dryed eyes, with freshe supply of teares: VVhose dropps of dule haue draynd, eche synowe of his sapp Or els by fatall voyce, cloase vp my loathsom yeres VVhose view wyth longer lyfe, encreaseth my myshapp,

Not farr from thence vpon the heighte of a highe hil, where he made euery day his morning walke at the risinge of the son, was a faire and square plat yelding at all tymes of the yere, a pleasante glée of grene flowers and other deckinges of the springe, in the middell wherof, whether it were by the deuise of nature or curius industrie of man, were foure pil∣lors supporting a massie marble squared and hewen corner wyse accordynge to the forme of an alter, vppon the whyche he left this monument in letters of eternitie.

Thou pillor sqare, on whom er this, the sacred fumes did frye, VVyth incense to the blasing troane, and maiestie on hye, Deuest the now of royall robes, let regall office passe. And dewed wyth my teares of dule, my sacryfice embrase, Discloase thy marble breste, and harbor here such plaint As neyther former tyme hath founde, nor future age shall tainte, And sith disdaine in loue, hath forced, this present want of breath, Let heare appeare ho vve vvillingly, Diego proueth deathe

❧ Rounde aboute the brym of the sayde stone, he vvritte thys remembrance,

THoughe froward fate, hath forcde my grefe, And blacke dispaire this deadly paine Yet tyme I truste will bringe relefe, VVhen loyall fayth shall haue her gaine Tyll then the stormes of banisht state And pennance in this harmittes cell Shall trie her cause of wrongfull hate, VVhose malice lo, kepes me in hell,

❧ And vpon the thyn and tender barke of a beeche shadinge thentrye or dore of hys hermitage, moued belyke vvyth some soddayne apprehencion of ioye aboue hys custome, writte thys deuyse.

I See thy glory shine, wyth gle of glisteringe showe And thou for beatie s••alde, ou ••iest seate of state At laste so shalt thou fynde, though now thou lift not knowe, That tyme thy plumes will plucke and age thy hew abate, Then vaunt not so in gaine, that withers with the weede, But de••ke the garland with such boddes, as vertue blomes Els shalte thou reape wyth shame, but cockle for thy seede VVhen I most s••er shall haue, my hier from heauenly doms.

Whych beinge espied of hys man, who as he alwayes kept a diligente eye vppon hym, so dowtinge these fantasies might work theffectes of greater extremities, asked to what ende serued the lute which he broughte in his mallet, if not

to giue hym solace sometyme in singinge the praises of her, on whose behalfe he did not only offende in supersticius ho∣mage, but also in committing fonde ydolatrie will you that I fetche it (saithe hee) to thende that withe Orpheus, you may stur vp the trées, rocks and hollow valleyes, to be waile your mishap, and witnes the pennance whyche you make withoute euer committinge offence worthie of halfe so great a punishmente, wherewith he put the lute into the hande of hys mayster, who albeit reaposed equal delite in the tunes of musicke, and teares of present miserye, yet to con∣firme his solytarie state wyth a remembrance of hys aun∣cient passions, he played certeine dollorus notes, not with∣out a nomber of hollowe sighes and streames of sorowe dis∣tillinge like the droppes of raine down his face, which was so dis••igured, that hardly cold he haue ben descried by such as haue alwayes bene his most famyliars.

This was the miserable state of this infortunate younge man, who was so whollye resolued to presente dispaire, that he durste not admit the offer of better hope, and muche lesse ymagyn that, whych nowe attendes to restore hym euerye waye to hys entyer, albeit like as neyther the miseries or fe∣licities of men be of perpetuytie, and euery thinge hath hys proper tyme, so fortune, disposed to compassion, and wearye at last of the sondrye wronges she had don to the penitencier of Geniuera, lent hym a meane to ••lymbe the higheste staffe of her whéele, wherein certeinly appered a speciall effecte of the prouidence of God, who only doth and is hable to prefer a facilitie in thinges that seame most harde and ympossible in the iudgement of man, like as also the meanes whereby he workes and makes the ministers of hys wil, are so secret, and far from the knowledge of vs wretches, that when we thinke vtterly to loase any thyng, yet then our exspectacion is deceiued in reteyning that whych ear•••• we yelded for lost, in such sorte, that as what fauor soeuer fortune dothe geue vs, we are not hable to assure oure owne estates, So like∣wise oughte wée not to dispaire or desye oure selues for

any aduersatie, how great soeuer it appeare, seing that god, exposing dayly effectes of mercy vpon vs, willeth vs to rea∣pose our hope and assurance in his goodnes, which as he hath declared by manifolde examples in the person of our deare frendes, so our owne eyes haue bene witnesses of the won∣derfull merueiles he hath wrought in like cases, for howe many haue we séene, in our tyme, who beinge in the power of their enemies, iudged to dye, yea brought to y^e place wher the last and fatal blowe of execution shoulde be giuen, were not only taken, by great meruaile, out of the handes of such perills, but (for a more wonder and admiracion of the mis∣teries of god) called to the state of a kingdom, which royal au¦thoritie ouer a whole people which because it is necessary to instefye by som authoritie & auncient profe, I haue thoughte good to ympart vnto you, in this digressiō y^t which I haue no ted out of y^e records of Plyny, an exāple albeit not famylyar, yet of vndoubted truth: for at such time as Ladislas son of king Anbart, raigned in Hongarye & Boemya, being of tender yeres & semblable experience for the direction of hys state, was constrayned to reapose all his creditte in thopynions of his barones and lordes of aduise, amongest whome, by occasion of ciuil sedicion, grew a peculiar grudge betwen the childrē of the Lord Iohn Vnyades vvayuode, deceased not long affore, and in hys lyfe the only protector af the king and tutor of the multitude, and Henry earle of Celye next consing and parent to the kyng that then liued.

This quarrell grew to such tearmes of reuenge, that therle of Celye beyng one day in a churche in one of the chief Cities of Hungarie, was mordered by the handes of the sayde Vnyade, whych beyng brought ymediatly to the eares of the kynge, hee was aduised to dyssymule hys iuste wrathe, for that at such hower he was not of sufficiente power to gyue correction to o greate a presumption, albeit retiringe yme∣diatlye to Budo, thordynarye place of hys abode, and where hys greatest force remeyned, he seased vpon bothe the chil∣dren of VVayuode, and stryke of the heade of the theldeste

called Ladislas, deferring iustice to the other named Mathias, for the respecte of his young yeres, albeit he inclosed hym in sewer prison, within the kingdom of Boemia, where, as he re∣mayned without hope of longe life, or ende of his imprison∣ment, but by death: So it chaunced not longe after, that the kynge Ladislas comminge to do execution of thinfāte of wy∣uado, dyed in the same towne, where he indured his misera∣ble captiuitie, whereupon the Boemians chosed for their king one George Pogibracehio, the Hungariens on the other side, aduertised of the death of their soueraine, began to enter in∣to compassion towardes the prisoner, and preferringe to memory the vertue of his father, at such time as he bare au∣thoritie in their publike weale, they proclaimed Mathias king of Hongarie, who beinge in the custodie and daunger of George newly adopted kyng of Boemya, was not only dely∣uered by hym, but also, he gaue hym his doughter in ma∣riag, by which meanes, of a pore desperat prisoner, he becam in one instant a puissant Kinge, wherunto as he durste ne∣uer before aspire by any hope or likelihod y^t appered, so if it had not ben for his aduersitie, he had neuer sit in y^e seate roy∣all of Hungary, bothe for that they woulde haue chosen an other, his elder brother Ladislas hadd bene afore hym, the countie whiche they slewe woulde haue resisted suche pre∣ferment, but chieflye it is lyke the Hungariens would not hau giuen hym suche large title of dignitye, if it had not ben for the respecte of cōpassion they vsed vppon his miserable captiuitie, who as he came to y^e crowne (as you sée) by y^e same meane which y^e other lost it, so the famous Historiographer Ti∣tus Liuius, makes mencion of the like accidente happening to Iacques de Lusi••ano vncle to Petre, kyng of Cipres, at y^e solemne feast of whose coronatiō, the Ieneuoys & Venetiens cōtended for superioritie, either of theim striuing for the prefermente of the firste place in that assemblie, in the presence of whome, Iacques de Lusiuano partiall on the Venetiens side, caused cer∣teine of the Ieneuoyes to be executed, wherof the state of Ieyne, being aduertised, determined to take cruel vengāce, where

vnto they added such expedicion, that in a moniēt they had le∣uied a great armye vnder the conduction of Pierro Fregose a * 1.26 most excellent captain by sea, who discarged y^e creditt of hys cōmission w^t so good fortune, that the toke y^e yle & put the citie to sacke, reseruyng notwithstandyng, the life of Iaques Lusy∣uano, whom he caried prisoner to Ieane, wher the senate en∣ioyned him to perpertual ymprisonment w^tin the strongest tower of their citie, wherin albeit he continued (without hope of libertie, or exspectacion to enioy any parte of his auncient dignitie) by the space of nyne yers, yet yt happened in y^e ende of the said tearme, that fortune torning her whéele, gaue sa•• feconduit to the king Pierro to passe into thother world, with out heire of hys body, by reason wherof thinhabitātes of the yle consideryng Seigneur Lusyuano was of the blodd royal, and nexte parent to their dead lord, tooke such compassion of hys captiuitie with a remorce of his long pennance, that incon∣sideration of his misery, procedynge by their occasion, they redemed his liberty with a great exaction of money, and an∣noynted hym kinge of Cypres, which peraduenture he hadd neuer possessed, yf the desolacion of his ymprisonement had not wroughte the meane, (albeit he had enioyed his libertie and pursewed it to thuttermost) such is the wonderfull pro∣uidence of God, punishynge the wicked at his pleasure, and (restoring the misery of such as dispaire of worldly succour) exposeth effectes of his omnipotencie excedynge thexspecta∣cion and ymagynacion of the creatures of the earthe: suche was also the case of Dom Diego, who determined wholly to spende the remeynder of his lyfe in the studie of solytarie philosophie vpon the wilde and riche mountes Pireney, was reliued and restored when he was leaste in opinion or hope of succour.

For as you haue hard he had a neyghbour and deare frende called Dom Roderico who aboue the rest, lamēted chiefly tha••∣sence and misfortune of Diego. It chaunced within twenty and two monethes after the pilgrim began his voyage, that this Roderico (hauyng bene in Gascoyne to dispatche certeine

necessary affaires there) in his retorne to Barcelonia, whether he had missed the path of his righte waye, or that the sprite of god (as it was moste lyke) guided hym, was or he wyste vpon the caryre that ledd him directly to that place of the moūtes, where was thordinary residence of his great frende Diego, who grew so fast into declynation and debilitie of hys body, that if y^e clemency of the highest had not ouer shadowed him, he had wroughte the wretched effecte of that which he chiefly desired, that is with the losse of life, to giue ende to his harde pennance.

Dom Roderico wandring thus in the wildernes of y^e moun∣tes, dispercing his traine to discouer some places of habita∣cion, was aduertised by one of his people, being within twel∣uescore yardes of the hermits caue, of a tracke & steppes of men, not without some merueile notwithstandyng, for that thinfertillety of y^e place showed no aboad nor repaire for ci∣uil people, wherupō as they debated & were in deuise to ap∣point one of the companie to follow the trace somwhat fur∣ther, they sawe one enter the mouth of the caue, which was Dom Diego, who came from the top of the hill affore mencio∣ned, wher he had newly performed his morninge cōplaint, with his face directly toward the cost, where he iudged was thoracle of the saint to whō he dressed his deuocions, y^e knight sente one of his valletts to approche the caue, & know what they were, y^t liued so solitarily, and withall to demaunde the highe waye to Barcelonia, but he discouering (a far the scitua∣cion of the hoale so wel fortefied & rampierd with stones and blockes cowched in the forme of a trenche, fearing the same to be the receptacle or forte of some that kept house by the highe waie side liuing of large reuenue, durst neither come * 1.27 nere it nor aske the way as he was cōmanded by his maister to whom as he retorned with more fear of his shadow, then true reaporte of that he had in charge, so the valiant knight, of more courage then his cowardly seruant, put spurres to his horsse, gallopyng to the veraye dore of the caue, where he ceased not to call and knocke, till he sawe comme owte

a mā, so disfigured with leannes of his face, & other exterior deformotie of his bodye, that his veraye regard moued com∣passion to Roderico, who asking what he was, demaūded also the cōmon waye to Barcelonia, this was the seruant of Diego, who aunswered that he could yelde him no reason of y^e waye to Barcelonya, and lesse instructe him touchinge the costes of the contrey, for that (saieth he) (not without some sighes & other doleful regardes) we are two pore brethern, whom the aduenture of fortune hath brought hether to do pennance, & mortifie our present age for the synnes and offences of our youth passed, which wordes of two pore bretherne broughte thether as strangers, by the guide of fortune, with the pre∣sente remembrance of Diego & his seruante, argued such sus∣picion to Roderico that he alighted, not for that he thoughte to encounter him whom he most desired to embrase, but to sée only the singularities of the rocke, and the mistery of the closse castel, builded in the bellye of the earth, where finding hym whom he serched (without knowing notwithstādynge what he was) entered into conference together of the diffe∣rence betwen the felicitie of the solitary lif, & miseries which they fynde that participate with the wretched follies of this worlde, for (sayeth he) the mynde withdrawen frō y^e viewe of worldly vanities, takes his only pleasure in the contempla∣ciō of heauēly thinges, being alwaies more apte to obserue the cōmandements of God, with a sincere reuerence to their maker, then those whiche haunte the cōmon conuersation of men Wherin truely (when all is said) continuall frequen∣t••ciō one with an other, delites, ambicious, couetousnes, & superfluities of all vices, whiche we finde in this confused amass•• & corrupte worlde, do cause vs to mistake our selues, forget our dutie towardes our creator, fall into a perillous disdaine of pitie & charitie, & some time to diuerte the since∣ritie of the true religion, & abuse thintegritie & vndoubted interpretation of the gospell, which I leaue to be debated at large by y^e theologiās to whō such charge doth cheifly apper∣teine. As y^e vnknowen hermit & the knight Roderico were in

deuises, certeine of his seruantes visitinge euery cell and celler of the caue, founde in the toppe of a vawlte framed of certeine sparres of wood, rammed in y^e earthie wal at both endes, two saddells, the one wherof (seamynge to haue ser∣ued heretofore some faire Ienett), was couered with crim∣syn veluett, fringed rounde aboute wyth siluer throme, stodded with nailes of sondrie enameyle, and armed wyth plates of steile, wrought curiouslye vppon, with certeine rayes and streames of pure golde, which (albeit the rouste had defaced the stéele) loste nothinge of his entyer and beau∣tye, and as one of the companie offred to buye theym, seing neyther horsse nor moyle worthie to weare such furniture, y^e knight, hauing ended his discourse with y^e maister hermitt, soūded to horsse with intent to leaue the poore men in peace, and searche some other meane to fynde out the high waye, whereuppon he that was desyerous to buy the saddels, pre∣sented theym to his maister, who as he behelde theym, felte a seconde motion or remembrance of his frende Diego, wher∣with searchinge the harneys & euery pendell of the sadle, he founde this inscription written in spanishe vppon the crooper Quebratare la fe, es cosa muy fea, which is in englishe, to breake thy faith is a detestable thinge.

This deuise restored cause of newe astonishmente, for that it agreed wyth thordynary stampp whiche Dom Diego bare alwaies in his armour, which the rather confirmed him in opinion, that without doubte the sadle apperteined to the one of the two pilgrims, whom as he began to beholde with a more percinge regarde then afore, without discerninge in either of theim any signe or marke of knowledge, by reason of their hideus and disfigured hewe: So Dom Diego seinge the diligence of his frende, with desier he hadd to discouer him, began to labor of a passiō of trembling feare, with such Ielewse doubte of him selfe, that the blodd (moued in thin∣ner parts, and ascended (maugre his resistance) into the face and other places of discouery, bewrayed thinward alteratiō of his minde, which with the vncerteine regard of his eyes,

showed to Roderico an absolute assurance of that which earst he durste not suspecte, & that whiche gaue also credit to his conceite, was a locke of his curled heare, whiche he kepte wrapte about his righte eare, whereupon he dismissed all suspicion, & as one assured of his doubte, threwe his armes about the necke of his frende, wateryng his breste with the teares of his eyes and saide vnto him, Alas Seigneur Diego, * 1.28 what disfauor of the heauens haue kepte you so longe from the companie of those that dye of distresse in the absence of you, whose presence was the piller of their consolation? What be they that haue procured this longe eclipps of your name, when it ought to expose the clearest light, both for the glorie of your present youth, & honor of your future old age? Ah is it my company that moues this longe scilence in you, is it I that haue deserued this wrong at your handes, to a∣buse the vertue of my honeste frendshipp with a shamefull feare to disclose your self vnto me, & doom regardes without argument of gladnes? Do you thinke alas, that I know not him whome I embrace? no no, I can not be so simple nor my iudgement blinded any longer in the knowledge of him, whom the secret instinct of my harte discouered at my first entrey into this caue, neither is there any part in me of iud∣ment, that doubteth you to be the same Seigneur Diego, whose renowme resowndes thuttermost confynes of spaine, and God forbid, that I departe here hens, without carieng with me the glorie of equal contentement to ii. indifferently pas∣sioned in your absence, the one to my selfe, ioyinge in my happie fortune, to drawe you out of the dongeō of this cala∣mitye, the other in makinge so gladsome a present to your mother, impartinge also the ioyful newes to your subiectes and seruantes, whose eyes are not yet drie with the teares of your departure.

Here Dom Diego seing he could no lōger dissemble that which was so plainly disclosed, & construing to the best the thanke∣ful cōgratulaciōs of his frend, began to relente in his hart, no lesse then the gladsom mother in recoueringe her childe

that hath bene longe kepte from her, or the chaste wi••, (lōg•• destitute of the presence of her deare husbāde) reioyseth whē she holdes him in her armes & may embrase him at pleasure, wherin being also indifferently passioned betwene delite & dollor, honest shame & semblable feare, passinge a declaratiō of his inwarde trouble of minde by the cōduites of his eyes, distilling streames of sorowe & ioye by great aboundance, re∣tourned thimbrassements of his frende, with no lesse hartie affection, then the other with good will, somoned this new acquaintance, sainge, Ah howe secret is the determination of God & his iudgementes inscrutable, I resolued here to at∣tende the ende of my miserable dayes, without making my * 1.29 intente priuie to any man in the worlde, and lo nowe am I del••ried, when I feared leaste my discouerie, I am trulye sayeth he, with a pitifull discharge of a nomber of dollorous sighes, the same infortunat Diego and your deare frende, who (persecuted with continuall affliction and tormente of fortune), was so weary of the worlde, that I chosed this de∣serte habitation, as a secrett receptacle, to performe the reste of the voyage which nature hath enioyned me in this tran∣s••torie and wretched vale, where seinge you haue vnhappe∣ly discouered me, I beseche you (by the honor of your name, & vertue of that frendship contynued betwene vs from the beginning), let it suffice you that you haue séene me, with∣out procuring impedimente to the reste of my willing pen∣nance, by imparting the place of my retreate to any.

Wherunto Roderico did not only refuse to cōdiscēde, but also continuing his former earnest, perswaded him to discōtinue that brutal lif, with admonitiō y^t God had made theim noble, & giuen theim authoritie, not with charge, to liue idle eyther in their pallaceis or other obscure place, but so to bestowe their tallente, y^t with the exāple of their vertue, thignorant may be instructed in y^e trade of honeste liuing, the good men * 1.30 supported in their integritie, & the bad sorte kepte in awe by their iustice.

And for your part (saith he) how vainely may your subiectes & people reioyse, in that God hath blessed theim with a Lord

to their contentacion, yf affore thexperience of our vertue, they loase the cause of their contentement: what comfort or quiett thynke you, can harbor within the carefull breste of your desolate mother, who hath made the world happy with so honest a son, bringinge you vp with suche diligence, that you lacke nothing to make you parfect, & in this sort to loase the frute & exspectaciō of such norriture? it is you (sir) whō du¦tie commaunds to yeld obedience to your parentes, soccour to thafflicted, & do iustice to such as demaunde right at your hand? alas it is your pore subiectes who, lamenting your ab¦sence, complaines of the wrong you do to theym in dēnieng the vse of your presence? it is you that ouerwhelmes tholde yeares of your mother with vntymely desolation? it is you that reneweth the course of her continuall complaintes in breakyng your faith towching the day of your reatorne.

Wherwith thinpatience of Dom Diego in hearynge thobiec∣tions of his owne faltes, brake his furder discourse, excu∣syng him selfe in this sorte.

Yt is easie (saieth he) for hym that is well to compforte the sicke, and harde for such as be in distres, to admitt any coun∣cell * 1.31 in their euil: you finde a facilitie to giue iudgemente of my disease, beinge whollye ignorante of the cause, & accuse my absence rather by desier to do me good, thē of any malice you owe to my wretched state, but if you vnderstode the cir∣cunstance of my misfortune, and the occasion that first mo∣ued me to make trial of this solitary life, you wold conuerte (I doute not) this sinister conceite of the wronge which you charge me to do to all men, to an oppinion of ryghte on my behalfe, seing the most wise, & assured of al, assailed with the lyke tormente of sprite, which I féele quarrelling with the constancye of my mynde, haue lefte example of faltes of no lesse fragilitie, then myne, I confesse is iustely meritorious of reprehencion, wherewith drawing Rodorico aparte frome the reste, he preferred a particular discourse of his loue, his possibilitie & good hope in y^e beginning, his sinister successe in thend, withe the continu acion of the vniuste crueltye of his

mistres, whose name he cold not pronounce without suche fluddes of teares and skorchynge sighes, that for the tyme they staied the course of his wordes, mouinge suche com∣passion to the tender harte of Roderico, that he was forced to kepe him companie w^t semblable kindnes, assaing notwith∣standing to remoue the vaile of such desperat opinion, with request to discontinue his sauage lyfe in the desolate forre∣stes, wherein he preuailed asmuche as if he had vndertaken to perswade a multitude without a toung, for that the resol¦ued hermit told hym, that he wolde not only be tenant to the mountes so long as nature & he cold agrée vpon the bargain of lyfe, but also aduowed vnto hym by othe, that (withoute the good will of his Geniuera) he wolde neuer retorne to hys contrey, & (to auoyde further discouery) wold seke to shrowd hym selfe in a place more sauage, & lesse frequented thē this, for saieth he) like as my retorne wold bryng but increase of passiō, specially in being denied fauor wher I haue foūd a for¦mer repulse I besech you, let it suffice y^t I fele y^e burdē of one mishap, ceassing to allure me to y^e prooff of a secōd affliction wourse I am sewer, then my presente punishemente, wher∣unto I haue added a contentement with an immouable pa∣cience: wherin his raisons seamed to include such indifferēt iustice and pitie, that Roderico cold not replie but with tear∣mes of compassion, with consente that he shoulde contynue his abode there yet ij. monethes, in whych tyme he sware vnto hym (by the honor of knightehodd), that for hys parte, he would not only make his peace with his cruell mistres, but also procure mutuall conference betwene theym, assu∣ring hym withall, that he should not be discouered by hym nor any of hys trayne, wherewith, leauynge hym a féelde bedde and ij menne wyth money too furnyshe hys wante, he tooke hys leaue, wyth firme promisse to sée hym a∣gaine in shorte tyme, with cause of more contentemente, then at that presente he lefte hym full of annoye and hym¦selfe no lesse disquieted for the trouble of his frende, wherin God knoweth in what sorte he detested (by the wayes) the

wilfull crueltie of Geniuera, blasphemyng no lesse agaynste the whole secte (paraduenture) with some raison. For there is (I can not tel) what secret motions in the myndes of wo∣men which haue their howers and tymes as thincreasynge or dyminishynge of the moone, whereof as it is veray harde (without great experience) to giue any raison touchinge the cause, So we sée it is such a principle or generalitie amongst theime to ymprinte so sewerly in their hartes this fraile or rather inconstante instinctes of mobilitie, that the wiseste & most subtill that euer was, lacke skill to obserue the seasons of this ymperfecte humor.

Dom Roderico by this was arryued at his house, wher he nei∣ther forgatt his owne promisse, nor the necessitie of hys frende, for the nexte daye he wente to the lodgynge of Geni∣uera, not to communicate with her asyett, and muche lesse to impart his fortunat encounter in his retorne out of Gascoyn, but rather to sounde by some secrett circumstance a farr of, the doinges and determination of the girle, & whether any other vsurped the glorie of the victorie, which of righte be∣longed to his frende Diego, wherein he was so subtill in this drifte, that he accoasted the page of the gentlewoman, in whose bosome was builded the only store house of her moste secret affaires, forgettinge therin the precepte of the wise, who willes vs to cōmit no councell to suche as are weake of raison, and for wāte of discretion, do lacke the gifte of secrete¦nes, * 1.32 whereby they are not hable to gouerne the libertye of their tounges, suche was the simplicitie of this page, whose softe humor, the knighte fed with such fine dyot, that by litle and litle, he drew the worme quite from his nose, and was made so priuie to the practis of Geniuera, that he vnderstode, that since her vniuste displeasure with Dom Diego, she hadd vowed her good wil to a biskaine, as then y^e steward of her mo¦thers house, a gentleman veray pore, but for the rest of suffi¦ciēt perfection, & that he was now in y^e cōtrey, frō whence he gaue aduertismēt to his mistres, y^t within two days he wold come w^t ij. other his deare frends, to take Geniuera, awaye by

stealth, not forgetting also y^t he only (w^t a gētlwoman) were appointed to attend her into Byskaye, like as they wer priuie to euery circunstance of their secret sleight, which discourse of y^e boye, albeit moued show of inward alteratiō in Roderico, chiefly for the infidelity & treyson of thinconstant Geniuera, yet he dyssimuled so well his fretting anger, y^t his passion was not discouered by the simple page, with whom he ioy∣ned in cōmendacion towching the resolucion of his mistres, whom he sayed was not voyde of reason to make her choice by the councell & consente of her fancie, seynge her mother vsed such slender diligence to bestowe her as she deserued, & albeit (saith he) the gentleman be not riche nor of large pos∣sessions, yet thy mistres hath sufficient meanes to supplye both their wantes that waye, only she declareth a vertue in yeldyng so firme affection to his honeste pouertie, all which as he pronounced by an other tounge, then the true inter∣pretor of his hart, so beyng alone, cryeng out of thinconstā∣cie of women, he seamed to put no difference betwene their wilfull blindnes, and natural simplicitie of young infantes, * 1.33 who whē they seame most wrabbed, their norsse offrīg theim the choice of an aple or tigge, & a Jewel of gret price, are ra∣ther appaised with the figge, thē once loke of y^e thyng of va∣lue, So some women, whether it be the mist of fonde loue y^t blaires their eies, or the dome of a cursed desteny, which god hath appointed to plage their malicius disposiciō, seame of∣ten times so voide of raisō, y^t being presented with the choice of two offers far differing in value, thei are rather apt to im¦brase y^e worst, then redy to admit y^e best, which is most cōue∣niēt for their honor & calling: he defaced y^e beauty of Geniuera with the destoyaltye she vsed towardes her firste seruante, condemnynge her iudgement in refusing the frendship of a noble man, famous by wealth and vertue, & the veray parra¦gon of the wholle contrey, for the society of a pore cōpanion, whose parentes beynge vnknowen, argued a doute of hys discente, and she altogether astraunger to bys dispocition, wherin as he inueighed also indifferently against y^e partial∣litie of fortune and blindnes of loue, who beyng wythoute

eyes theym selues, do likewise dym the vnderstandinge of such as they kepe in miserable captiuitie. So he sware in great rage, to caste such a blocke in the waye of the two lo∣uers, that neyther the biskayn sholde reape the frutes due to the trauaile and seruice of his frende Diego, nor his cruell mistres forbeare any longer to sende a pleasante calme to the stormye tempest whiche kepes hym now at anker amon∣gest the perillous rockes of Pireneus.

For being enformed of this conuenient meane to ease the distresse of his languishinge frend, who fedd only of the hope of his promise, he failed not to add an assured effect according lie, Albeit for his further instruction touching the sewer con ueigh of the misterie, he went the seconde daye after, to visit the mother of Geniuera, wher he vnderstode by the page, that the stewarde was come with two other valyante gentlemen to assiste his enterprise, and that the nexte nighte vppon the first hower after midnighte, when the olde Ladye and all her seruantes, ouerwhelmed wyth the charme or mantel of dead slepe, were least apte to suspect conspiracies, they determy∣ned to depart the castell with his mistres, who for her parte had furnished her wantes of all necessaryes touchinge the voyage.

This hastie resolucion required a spedie diligence in the knight, who for hys parte also vsed no lesse expedicion then was conuenient, for beynge come to hys house he caused to arme ten or xy. gentlemen of hys neyghbours and vassalls, to whom he communicated the some of hys intente, and the same night, some two or thrée howers affore the departure of the Biskayne and hys companye, marched in secret maner directly in the waye, where they sholde passe, til they came to a groue or coppyes of younge woode, regardinge the highe way on the one side, and a mayne common or plaine on tho∣ther syde, where bestowinge himselfe and his company in am bushe, he harde yinediatly the noyse of horsses and men ap∣proching with an vnfortunate diligence: the lighte of the moone discouered the gentlewoman, whose bewtie seamed

to contende with the brightnes of the same, nexte vnto whō ridd her miserable louer, whome assone as Roderico parcei∣ued within the daunger of his carear, he felt a conuersion of his aunciente anger into a compassion of presente furye, whose force sommonynge hym to an effect of morder, caused hym to cowche his speare in his reaste, directinge his angrie * 1.34 course so rightly towardes the poore byskayne, that in one momente he pearsed hym thorowe the body, sendinge hym wythout other pasporte to the miserable crewe of those wret ches, who seruinge vnder thensigne of folishe loue, do perish * 1.35 vnhappely vnder the conduction of a blinde and naked boye, aduising the rest of the biskaines to eschew the like reward oneless they attended a semblable hier to hym that had wrōg fully encroched vpon the grounde of another: they seamed more willinge to accepte his offer, then readie to reuenge the death of their captaine, Whome (seinge the discouerie o•• the whole ambushe) they lefte on the grounde takinge hys leaue of his mistres with the laste breath of his life, and rea∣posed their chiefeste confidence in the swiftnes of their hor∣ses, without regarde who pursewed their hastie flight, yme∣diatlye two of the company of Dom Roderico disguised in vn∣knowen armour, seased vpon the sorowfull Geniuera, who cold not vse such patience in the death of her biskaine louer, but her open cries complayninge of the villenye of the mor∣der, witnessed her inwarde sorowe of mynde, wherin accor∣ding to the shortnes of her breath, (laboring then in passion of extreme dollor) she exclaymed without respecte agaynste theym, crying to performe an execution of their crueltie vpon her, aswel as they had discharged the office of vniuste tormentors of one, who was of more price then they all, and so torninge her to the dead bodie of her late frende, washed a waye the blod of his woundes with the teares of her eyes, not without great exclamacion agaynst the malice of her destenies, in abridginge her exspectacion of longe ioye, wyth so short and tragicall an ende, forcing her to resigne the soci∣tie of hym, whom she loued no lesse then her selfe, to commit

the honor of her virginitie to a praye to the••es and villey∣nes, wherwith Roderico, without disclosinge his face, or other parte of knowledge, tooke her by the hande, with perswaci∣on to dismisse these dollors, seinge that her complaintes had no vertue to restore life to hym that was deade, and muche lesse to take vengance of the fact. But she renewinge the re∣membrance of hym that laye dead of the ground, by certeine streames of his blodd, whyche she espied vpon the gawntlet of Roderico, began to loase more pacience then affore, in such sorte, that the rudest of the companye, hauing for an increase of his terrible regarde a visarne or false beard of blacke heare curled like the Mauretyne, with a paire of counterfaite eyes of glasse, approched (by appointment) the trembing Geniuera, to whose feare hee added an increase of terror in offringe the point of hys naked dagger to her white and delicate necke, threatninge, that if she contynued in these tearmes, hys han∣des shold performe the sacrafize of her life, to the shadowe of the villayne whom she lamented so much, and who (saith he) deserued rather to be broken in peces of the whele, by the execucioners of tormentes, then ende hys lyfe by the handes of a valyant knight, which mortall threates (as she thought) forcing her to an vnwilling scilence, left her only thassistāce of her eyes, to yelde compassion to her greffe, who set a broch so larglye the conduites of their watery humors, that the passion of her harte appeared in thabundance of her teares and brokē sighes, whose force preuailed so much ouer her tender resistance, that in thende her outwarde dule seamed inclosed and couched by force, in the ynner corners of her heauy harte, in the meane while the reste of the companye, had caryed the bodie of the deade biskayne to a felden chapel, builded vpon the high way side, where he sleapes in hisfatal bed couered with a testor of greene soddes.

A notable example sewer, prouing the ordynarie successe of secret contractes and mariages made by stelth, where bothe the honor of the contractors loseth his vertue, and the com∣maundemente of God broken, enioyninge vs by speciall

words to a dutiful humylitie & sincere obedience to our parē tes, to whom the Law giueth authoritye to punishe vs by de priuation and losse of thinheritance whyche natural rights woulde giue vs, if we dyd not rebell and abuse the lybertie which we enioy by their goodnes, wherin thidiscret mothexs now a daies, deserue most ymputacion of blame, who in gi∣uing place to the wilful inclynaciō of their fond youth, do ac∣compt it no offence to suffer their doughters to comunicate matters of loue w^t their howshode seruātes not remēbringe thinfirmitie of such tēder vessels, how proa••e mē are by na∣nature to do euil, & lastly how ready y^e euil spirite is to enter fynding vs vnprouided, to thend y^e falling into his dāger, hée may triumph in y^e ruyne of our soules, purified thorowe the blod of our sauior, which as I nede not go 〈◊〉〈◊〉 to proue w^t new authorities, cōsidring I haue noted sufficiēt touchinge both respects in diuers places of this trāslaciō, so wishīg wel to al childrē, & amēdmēt to such fond mothers as seame more careful to flatter y^e vaine appetit of their fraile ymps, thē cu∣rius to giue theim y^e rod of correctiō, which kepes theym al∣waies w^tin y^e view of vertue, it is tyme to resort to Dom Ro∣derico, & his trayne, who trauelling iij. or foure dayes w^t hys captiue Geniuera, (not knowing any of the company) arriued at last wythin half a dayes iorney of the hermitage of Diego, whō he gaue warning of his cōming by a foreryder of his cō pany who also for his part, as he had receiued suche cōpfort, in exspectaciō of theffect of y^e promise of his frēd, y^t in y^e tyme of his absence he seamed to recouer y^e best part of his aunci∣ent bewty, so y^e newes of thaproch of his mistres, breathed in him such doble passiō of Jeleose ioy, and doutfull feare that seaming vncertein wherin to resolue himself, durste skar∣cely admit a possibilitie in that wherof y^e message ymported absolute assurance, yelding notwithstanding speciall than∣kes to the director of the starres, for thys laste fauor sho∣wed vpon his distresse, in preferrynge hym to the sighte of her, who beynge thée cause of hys tormente, maye al∣so put her laste hande to hys fatall execution, for wythe what greater ioye or contentemente (saythe hee) canne

can I visit the darke shadoes and ghostes disburdned of this lyfe, then to yelde vp breath in the presence of her, whom if I haue honored in my life, it is nothing in respect of the ser∣uice my soule hath vowed on her behalfe in the other world in goinge affore to performe the office of her harbinger a∣monge the Angels in paradise: in the meane while Dom Rode¦rico, who hetherto had not discouered himselfe to Geniuera, was disarmed, and with open face accosteth her as she rydes debating with her in this sort.

I dowt not at all, but you finde it very straunge, to sée me in this place in such attyre, and vpon an occasion, so contra∣ry to the rancke and honor I professe, & the rather by thexpe∣rience * 1.36 of the present Iniury you thinke you haue receiued by me, who hetherto haue borne the face of an affectioned frende to all your house, and me thinke I sée how you dispose your selfe to accuse thiniustice of my cause, in forcinge you to exchaunge the companie of your deare frende, to commit you to the societie of these deserte confines, wherein also as I haue nothing to defend me from ymputaciō of iust blame on your behalfe, but the vertue of that true frendship which knittes together with an indissoluble vnitie the hartes of men, so for your part, if you will rightly measure my honest meaninge in this enterprise, and remouing the vaile of per∣tiall disdayne, disgest the angrie beginning with ymagyna∣cion of a pleasante ende, I dare abide the sentence of your in different iudgement, whether I be wholly worthie of repre∣hencion, or you altogether voyde of falte.

I besech you also consider that the true and loyal seruante, indeuoringe hymselfe to performe to thuttermoste, the will of hym that hath power to commaunde hym, dothe not only deserue a chiefe place of fauor with his Lord, but also a con∣sideracion according to the merit of his seruice, whych I do not infer to solicit my thankes wyth you, whom I haue ra∣ther offended then contented, in exposing on effecte of ho∣nest zeale I owe to all verteus and chast Ladyes, whereof for your parte you shall fynde me no nigardee on your be∣behalf

in time and place of nede, desiering you (in dismissing al sinister conceites of vnworthie grudge) to preferr no less modestie then oughte to accompanie a gentlewomā of your age & calling, seing that honor seameth beste contented with the place & subiecte where he remeineth, vsing curtesie, then in abusing their greatnes, to preferre malicious crueltye, and because we approche neare the place, where I intende (God willing) to presente you, cutting of now your suspēce with an exposicion of my meanynge, you muste note, that, that whiche is alreadye paste, with the residue yet to be per∣formed, tendeth to no other ende, then to releue the distresse of y^e most loyal louer that this daye hath his being vnter the circle of the mo••e: Yt is the noble & valyante knighte Dom Diego, the moste constante seruan te that euer bare name to be worthie to do seruice to any Ladye, who for the respecte of your displeasure, hath registred hymselfe amydd the hi∣deus rockes of theis sauage and solitarie valleys, it is to hym I leade you, (protestinge to you by the heauens) that the miserie wherein I sawe hym plunged on all sides, not sixe wekes passed, touched me so neare, that if the sacrifize of my life onelye woulde haue discharged the price or raunsom of his martirdom, you had bene frée from this passion of perplexitie by my meanes, and I not partaker of theis angrie regardes, which threaten the vtter losse of your good will, wherin as it is only I that haue committed the of∣fence (if there be any falte at all) so I beseche you let me on∣lye endure the punishment, with requeste, that you extende compassion vpon the desolation of him, who almoste wasted with pyninge miserie, reaposeth (for your sake) a felicitie in thextremitie of his hard pennance. If Geniuera were halfe desperat afore, for the death of her Biskaine louer, it is now she is readie to excede the lymittes of raison, frettinge with such inwarde spite against the simple recorde of the name of Diego, y^t her malicious rage, forcing a scile••••ce for the time, driue her to a respit in forminge her aunswere, albeit as the passiō of impatience is neither so perillous, nor of such con∣tinuāce

as other traunces accidental or proper, so vnclosing her eyes, she fixed theim vpon Roderico with no lesse furious regard, then the tigress beholding y^e deuouring of her whelps afore her face, and wringing her handes, with her long and smale armes a crosse vppon her tender breste, she exclaymed against his discourtesie in this sorte.

Ah mordring traitor (saieth she) no more worthie of the ho∣nor of knightehodd, for that thou hast forfeited thy faith by a * 1.37 detestable traison, is it vpon me thou oughtest to wreake such an effecte of thy malicious villanye, or hast thou dissem∣bled thy grudge so longe with a showe of fliering fauor (like the cockadrell) towardes all our house, to vomitt thy venim vpon me who neuer deserued but wel at thy handes? Haste thou the face to intreate me for an other, seinge in my presence thou hast killed him whose blood I wil purse we vpō the & thine so longe as I haue one gaspe of breath to accuse thy villanie? what authoritye hast thou to inquire of my do∣inges or impesh my determination, or in what sorte am I bound to yelde y^e accōpte of any resolution of mine? who hath made the arbitrator, or much lesse giuen the cōmission to de∣bate vpō tharticles of my mariage? onlesse thy malice will force me to loue that desloyall villaine, for whom thou haste cōmitted an acte of perpetuall infamie to thy name, whereof also for my part, I wil reserue such remēbrance in the store∣house of my hart, that only death shal take awaie y^e desier to reuenge the wrong thou hast done me, & albeit fortune hath made me thy prisoner, with power to dispose of me at thy pleasure, yet haue I one resistance to defeate the extremitie of thy force, which also I wil not faile to put in execution, y^t is, that afore thy traiterous cliāte Diego quenche his thurste w^t the precious Iewste of my virginitie, theis hādes are rea∣die to giue me a fatal pasport to visit (with bloodie ghoste) the loyaltie of him, whō thou hast slain by traiterous cōspiracie? therfore if I maye honestly requeste the whom I hate, or if there be exspectaciō of fauor in a mortal enemie, I besech y^t, either performe the laste fac••e of thy crueltie vpon me, or ac∣cording

to thy dutie, dismisse me with my woman and page, to go whether our fortune will guide vs. God forbid saieth Roderico, that in doinge wrong to the hope of my frend, I be∣cōme thoccasiō of his vntimely death, & losse of you, wādring by the vnknowen pathes of this wilde desertes, and continu¦ing stil his former earnest, to moue her to some pitie, vpon y^e poore penitencier, he seamed to gaine asmuch as if he had as∣sailed to nomber the sand lying vpō the brinke of the endles occean, albeit with y^e supplie of seuerall discourses, they ar∣riued at last at the rich hospital of Dom Diego, who for wante of curious cōceites to welcome his cruel mistres, presented his loathsome parsonage ouergrowen with haire, and for a more showe of humilitie fel prostrate afore her, embracings her féete, not without great effusion of teares, sayinge▪

Alas good madam: the only hope of my life & cōpforte of my * 1.38 carefull harte, how long shall I hange in the doubteful bal∣lance of my presente death, or lyfe? what date alas haue you appointed to giue ende to my desperate sorowes, yf my pen∣nance not sufficiente for thoffence I haue committed? Yea What tormente haue you in store, whiche I am not readye to endure to yelde you contentement? neither hadd I hadd breath at this present to put you in rem em brance of my di¦stresse, if I had not with holden my handes from fatal vio∣latiō, to witnes my loayltie on your behalf, and much lesse, bene in case to preferre mine innocencie, yf the onelye foode of secrett contemplation of your beautye, hadd not dis∣tilled continuall ••orriture to the vitall partes of my consu∣med corps: And as you maye easelye ymagine what plea∣sure I founde in this longe and paineful absence, so I greue not in any thing that is past, nor refuce to abide any future punishment, yf only I maye receiue at your handes the re∣warde of my constancie, whiche I maye boldlye compare wyth the moste assured that euer was.

Geniuera swellynge with disdaine and full of femenine rage, appearing in her sparklyng eyes, & other partes of her

face, dyd not only refuce to aunswere, but also forbarre to behold hym whom she hated, she barred him also y^e benefit of her face, in bestowing her lookes to the contrary side, which moued cause of doble sorow to the poure afflicted louer, who beynge yet vppon his knées, renewinge the sorce of his tea∣res with the viewe of the tyrannye of his mistres, seamed to drawe with muche ado, a feble voyce, from the veray bot∣tom of his stomacke, and restored the tearmes of his former complainte in this sorte, seyng neyther the sincerity of my faithe, approued with so longe and loyall seruice, nor the * 1.39 view of my present misery, wherof I haue made a painefull experience without intermission thies xxij. monethes, bee of force to perswade a creditt in my constancie, seynge also my dolefull teares deriued of the iniustice of your disdaine, are denied to worke effectes of tuste pitie in you, and lastelye, seyng without the consente of your goodwill, I fynde an ympossibilitie to liue, I beseche you, 〈◊〉〈◊〉 by the vertue and courtesie whyche oughte to app•••••• 〈…〉〈…〉 I coniure you, as the laste requeste wherewith 〈◊〉〈◊〉 tu••at seruant will troble you in this worlde, to mor•••••• 〈…〉〈…〉 ••ur owne han∣des the remembrance of that offen•••• 〈…〉〈…〉 you ymagyn I haue done agaynst you, with there 〈…〉〈…〉 presente deathe refuce not (oh cruell mistres) to do vengaunce vppon hym who is wearye of his life, and receiue at laste this willinge offer, ymportyng two singler commodities, the one a plea∣sure to me to buye thy contētement with y^e price of my blod, the other an absolute quiet to thy self in being satiffied w^c his death whose lif thou abhorrest, wherin certeinly for my part I am to accompt y^t hower most happie, which closyng vp my mortall eyes, doth sounde also the fatall retraict of my longe sorowes, but the chiefest felicity I accompt in this last acte of my life is, that in being so willing to dye by the stroake of thy hande, I shall leaue the to ymagin how ready I was to honor the with the vnfained seruice of my life, the world to giue iudgement of my loyalty, & the gods to take vengaun∣ce of thy cruelitie: yf there be reason in my requeste, why

defarre you thexecutiō, or yf I haue failled in my demande, why staye you to aunswere, it is nowe (alas) that I méete the full of my mishapp, beinge denied both death and life, by her to whom, of al the worlde, I haue most desiered to make declaratiō of obedience in any sorte, what so euer. Alas why staye you to ridd me from tormente, & your selfe out of care to behold any more this desolat knight, who (denied to parti∣cipat other fauor) accomptes it a laste felicitie to giue vp the ghoste in your presence, wherewith fyndinge no remorce of stubborne disdaine in his mistres, who in all this time wold not giue him y^e fauor of a simple looke of the eye, & much lesse dispose her selfe to aunswere in any sorte to his cōplaintes, felte suche warr betwene the force of his passion, & debilitye of his sences, beinge voyde of natural strength, that in kis∣sing her foote, he fell into a deadly sowne, pronouncyng only theis wordes with the departure of his breath, ah feble re∣warde of vnfayned loyaltye.

Roderico amased no lesse with the tragicall farewell of his frende, then moued with iuste anger againste the vnséemely tyranny of Geniuera, commaunded certeine of his companie to restore the traunce of Diego, and with the reste addressed hym to the mercilesse gentlewoman, whome he threatned in this sorte. If the contynuance of thy crueltye, force me to * 1.40 chaunge affection, assure thy selfe (detestable woman and enemye to the vertue of all your secte) thou shalte not escape without the hier of the wronge wherewith thou abuseste the honor whiche is offred the: makes thou suche conscience to yelde compassion or admitt the honeste seruice of so noble a gentleman? as this presented with suche humilitie, that earste (without regarde of honestie or vertue), committed thy selfe and honor (as a fugitiue) to the gouernement of a ronagate straunger? what crueltye can be greater? or by what reason canst thou challenge other amēdes or conside∣ration of the wronge thou hast vniustly conceiued, then an humble prostitutiō with so many teares in token of repen∣tance? And for thy parte, what canste thou desyere more

of this gentleman, thē in forgiuing the falte of thy false cō∣tracte with thy last minion, not only to forbeare to enter in∣to suspiciō touching thy vnsemely ronnyng awaye with an vnknowen villeine, but also crauing the guerdō of his con∣stancie, is at point to sacrafice his life to appaise thy anger, and yeld the contentment, for end, I aduise you to chaunge opiniō, least I cōmitt to as many morsels thy desloial body, as this wofull knight not long since, made bloddie deuision of his vnhappie hawke, the only cause of his presēt distresse, and by your owne folly, ready to giue you a title of the most tyrannouse & arrogant gentlewoman that is, neither haue I begon this enterprise, to leaue it vnperfecte, or giue it ouer, with this successe, wherfore seynge you take pleasure in extremities, I will fede your delite with the offer of loue or death, wherof as I giue you the benefitt of the choice, so I sweare vnto you, by hym that is not ignorante of my in∣tente, that if you refuce the first, you shall not faile in thys place to passe vnder the sentence of the last, wherin my selfe will not feare to discharge thoffice of the fatall minister, in embruyng my handes in the blood of her, whose follie only causeth the death of one of my dearest frendes.

Thies threates dismayed nothing the malicious Geniuera, nor abated any parte of her presumptuouse arrogancie, for who had sene the fyerie regardes of her eyes, the knittynge of her browes, whettyng of her teethe, closinge her delicate fingars, withe other braueries excedynge farre the simpli∣citie of suche tender yeres, vnexperienced asyett in thassal∣tes and malice of an aduerse fortune, wolde haue sayed shée hadd rather procured terrour to Roderico, then giuen place to his fearefull offer or somounce of loue or death, defyenge al∣so the rigour of his authoritie with thies tearmes. Lyke as (thowe kaitife knighte sayeth she) he that is once thorough bathed in the suddes of ynnocente blodde, is so fleshed and hardened in villenie, that no acte of detestation seames any synne to hym, So it is no merueile if thowe, whyche haste committed vnnaturall slaughter of one, whose true vertue

exceded the flatterynge fame of thy renowne, and gaue no place to the integretie of life, arte not without feare to committ me to the same guide, leaste in sufferynge me to liue, thou couldest not auoyce the iustice whyche I am to procure vpon the iniury I haue receiued, besides I am here readie to laye my heade vppon the blocke of execution, ra∣ther then to giue the honour of my virginitie to any, seinge the cursed handes haue depriued me of hym to whome bothe the trée and frute dyd only apperteine, neyther do I tremble in the remembrance of the stroke of deathe, howe cruell so euer it appere, for that I shall the rather stande affore the troane from whence is graunted all vengaunce to suche wretches as thou arte: ha God, seing thou arte righteouse why doste thou not thonder iustice vpon the wronge which thies outlawes haue don thy ynnocente hande mayde, Ah traitor Roderico perswade thy selfe that thou canste not of∣fer me so cruell a deathe, as I am moste readye to endure the tormente, hopynge the same shall serue hereafter as the only cause and meane of thindifferent destructiou of thy selfe, and hym, for whom thou trauellest thus in vaine: here her woman and page began to perswade her to pitie on the behalfe of the knighte, that suffred such passion for her sake, with consente to the honeste requestes of Roderico, solici∣tynge her so frankelye towchynge thextremities of theym both, that she entred into tearmes of reprehencion againste their honeste meanynge: will you (saieth she) be eyther en∣chaunted with the fayned teares of this deloyall, who pas∣sioneth hym selfe vppon creditt, or stande in awe of the ty∣rannouse threates of thys morder or whose villanie wyth couered face, hathe taken awaye the lyfe of youre mayster? Ah vnhappye girle that I am, it is nowe alas that I feele the heauie handes of fortune, whose malyce hathe not one∣lye putte me béetwene the handes of hym, whome I hate no lesse, then I haue already experienced his dyssembled loue, but also, in doublynge my mishap, assaileth me with the sinister perswacions of my seruants & cōpaniōs of care, who

ought rather to allowe my resolucion in death, then prefer motion in any sort touchinge my consente to requests of no less corruption, then theim selues be infected, who solicite in so bad a ca••e, Ah loue, I proue to late alas thinfyde∣lytie of thy promise, fyndinge so bad a recompense, for so du∣tifull obedience, to yelde at thy sommonce, and so slender defence, for suche as commit theim selues faythfullye to the gouernmente of thy lore, why sholde nature be more curius to frame vs of a more delicate molde, tempered with a met∣tel of fragilitie, then careful to leaue vs armour of resistance agaynste thassaltes of fortune? for if I had not had a perle of flattering affection painted in my face, I had not tasted y^e beginning of a pleasure, whose dollorous farewell for euer, brings more cause of gréeff, then thapprehencion at the first engendred parfecte contentment, for beinge alas vppon the point to Sipp of the sugred cup, wyth exspectacion to féede of the frute of my pleasant attainte: Lo, how traiterus loue serueth me with dishes of mortal annoye, and in place of the deynties which others finde in the ende of their longe hope, it is I that am presented with the banquet of al bitter con∣fections, which makes me heare resigne and declare my fa∣tal testament vpon thinconstancye of that pleasante follye, whom, as I leaue at libertie to make hys gaine of others, as∣well as he hath dallied with me, so I reioyce in thexchaunge of so great an euil, for so present a consolacion as deathe, in whom I hope to fynd no lesse contentment and quiet, then the other hath assailed me with diuersatie of passion. Retire oh cursed mishap, to thende that dyenge by thy meanes, I may liue without the in thother worlde, wherein place of a thousand annoyes, which (yf I shold consente to longer life) thou hast yet to thonder vpon me, I shalbe sewer of eternall reapose, norished with thinuisible, foode whych god ympar∣tes to hys Angels and soules assistinge his heauēly paradise. Come deathe and do thyne office vpon thys wretched girle, who attendes the sharpnes of thy darte, to preuente the ••earcinge arrowes of myne aduersarye, Ah poore harte

deuoyde of hope, am desperate touching the consommacion of thy desyers, ceasse hensfurth to wishe the fruytion of lon∣ger tearme, seinge destenie, loue, and lyf, are determined to dysmisse me here hence, to sewe for peace elswhere, and em∣brase the ghost of hym, whose lif was sacrafized to the deloy∣altie of thys wretche, who also for his parte, not satisfyed with the blod of ynnocencye, takes no compassion vpon my teares which I wishe to distyll by suche abundance, that in ouerflowing the vital paxtes in me, he might sée me perishe in his presence, drowned wyth thinundacion of vndeserued sorow, proceding by his wickednes: wherewith her eyes per∣formed her desier with such plentie of teares, that there was not one of the companie voyed of compassion on the hehalfe of the dollor whych tormented her, not ceassing notwithstan¦ding to perswade her to pitie towarde that poore Diego, who beynge newely recouered by the diligence of thassistance, sprinkling fresh water of the fountayne vpon his face, dyd no soner lift vp his sorowfull lyddes, beholdinge the lamen∣table passion of hys mistres, with certeine likelehodes he es∣pied, showing an encrease of her disdayne towardes hym, but he retired to his former debilitie, fallinge downe dead be∣twene the armes of suche as suported hym, and albeit hée was eftsones restored, yet the force of hys passion assailed hym stil wyth thrée or foure mortal panges one in the necke of an other, in such sorte, as the whole company gaue iudg∣ment of hys death, amongest the whych Roderico, was not the leaste amased who greuing indifferently with thobsti∣nate crueltie of Geniuera, and present perill of hys deare frēd Diego, was in long debate what pollecie to vse to qualifie the one, and preuent the daunger of the other, he perswaded, that if he killed the willful Geniuera, he shold also giue ende to the dayes of Diego, for that vpon the viewe and remembrauce of the one, depended the life of the other, and so in doinge no good to any, he sholde commit doble offence to god and the world, both in spottinge his soule with vnciuill morder, and

also to become the author of his death, in whose lyfe he rea∣posed his most worldly felycitie, on thother side, y^e vntoward¦nes of the girle argued her intractable in suche sorte as hee desiered, which confirmed the continuall martirdom of hys frend, whose distresse as it moued hym to suche inwarde re∣morce, that to procure his deliuerye he made no conscience to lighte a candle afore the deuill, so, he gaue a newe charge vppon the good will of Geniuera, with gentle perswacions, lainge afore her, what vertue ought to appere in suche ten∣der and delicate yeres, and how greatly the vice of ingrati∣tude defaced the renowme of a gentlewoman assisted wyth crueltie without reason, wherein gaininge no lesse then if he had neuer put the deuise in execution, he retired to thex∣tremitie of his former threates, and last pollecie, swearinge that she shoulde fynde no difference betwene the sommonce and effecte, seing that by her death he should giue ende to her disdayne, and desolate state of hys frende, whom as he doub∣ted not, woulde deserne in tyme, what commoditie it were to purge the ayre of suche contagiouse filthes of ingratefull arrogancie, so he was also of opynion that tyme wold yelde commendacion to his fact, chiefly for that, in preseruinge y^e honour of a familie, he thought it more expediente to exter∣minat the two principall offenders, then to reserue the lyfe of eyther of them for an vtter extinction of the glorye of the whole house, wherefore, regarding the rest of his traine, hee commanded to laye handes of the obstinate gentlewoman with her two companions with charge to vse no lesse mer∣cy in their seuerall executions then the chiefeste of the three extended pitie to the amarus knighte whyche he thoughte wold yelde vp the ghost afore her.

The Ladye hearinge the sentence diffinitiue of her life, es∣cr••ed the morder with open mouthe, as yf she had exspected some succour to defende her from deathe, wherein her hope was frustrate, for the deserte fostred no other companye but suche as were readye in the place to commit execution. The page and poore Chambriere helde vpp their handes

for mercie to Roderico, who fainyng an ympedimente in hys hearyng, made a signe to his men to put effecte to his com∣mandement. Geniuera, entreating for the liues of her page and woman, desiered that their ynnocentie mighte not do pennance for the offence whych she had don, crauyng with great humilitie that the punishement myght be performed vppon her, frō whom the falte (yf it be a matter meritorious of blame sayeth she for a womā to kepe her fayth to her hus∣bande) is deriued, and yeld iustice to thies infortunat wret∣ches least thexecution of their ynnocenti•• increase your de∣testable offence, oh saieth she with her handes and eyes be∣holdyng the heauens, thou my most deare and lawfull hus∣bande, whose soule I see walkyng in the middest of the loyal louers, what better proffe canste thou haue of the sinceri∣tie of my loue, then to see me laye my body vppon thalter of ymmolation to vntymely death for thy sake, neyther shalte thou for thy parte, oh boocher and mortall morderour of my carkasse, to whose crueltie my destenie hathe consented in quenching thy thurste with the blodd of a pure mayde, glo∣rifie hereafter to haue forced the harte of a simple gentle∣woman, and muche lesse made a breache into her honor ey∣ther by terrible threates or sugred perswations, vpō which laste wordes notwithstandyng attended suche argumentes of terrour, that a man wolde haue thoughte that the veraye remembrance of death, hadd somewhat quallified her vehe∣mency, and mortified the greatest part of her former furies * 1.41 Dom Diego, by this tyme came to hym selfe and seynge the discourse of the tragedye readye to presente hys laste acte with the death of his faire mistres Geniuera la blonde, was driuen to force hym selfe to speake for the lyfe of her, whose crueltie hadde committed hym allmoste to the panges of extreme daunger, wherefore staynge the diligence of suche as had the charge of execution he addressed hym to Roderico, with this requeste. * 1.42

My lorde and great frende the present experience of your rare frendshypp, hath made so lyberall a prooff of youre

vndoubted meanyng towardes me, that, if I sholde liue the age of a whole worlde I shoulde not be hable to discharge the bondes of your desert, So considering the cause of this misfortune, procedes only of the malice of mine owne de∣stenie, and that it is a vanitie to contende with the thynges which the heauens haue determined vpon vs, I beseche you by the vertue of your honor, & for a confirmation of all the good tornes you haue done me, to graunte me yet one re∣queste, whiche is, that in pardonning the life of this gentle∣woman and her companie, you will retourne theim to the place from whence you broughte theim, with no lesse assu∣raunce and saffetie, then yf you guided your miserable Dom Diego, for my parte, being fullie resolued not to kepe warre with my destenies, I am perswaded to a contentement tou∣chinge my lot, assurynge you, for the reste, that the sorowe whiche I sée she suffreth, giueth me more cause of passion, then y^e gréef which I endure by her meanes, troubleth me, let her liue in peace and me in exspectation, to receiue ende of my tormentes by the deuouring knif, which is ordeyned to cut in sonder the fillet whereuppon dependes the fatall course of my cursed yeres, till whiche tyme, I haue sworne to kepe residēce in theis solitarye desertes, aswell to endure the pennance of myne owne indiscretion, as also to conti∣nue in secrett prayer to thalmightye for the continual quiet of her, who may boldly vaunte to be the mistres of the most loyall seruante that euer mente honor or seruice to Ladie. Who doubtes in y^e merueilous forces of loue, let him be ab∣solued with this example, seing that as the impressiō (which we cal loue) hath power to bringe to an vnitie the mindes that liued in seperation, make indissoluble peace with the quarells which seame immortall, quallifying the rigour of those hartes, whiche without this passion, no other pollecie could appaise, So when he discouereth, the full perfection of his effectes, he preferres suche a facilitie in thinges whiche earste seamed impossible, that by his onely meane, they be∣come neither dangerous to pursewe, nor harde to obtaine,

whych appered rightly in this younge Lady, in whom as the sinister conceite of a former Ielowsie, her affected zeale con∣tracted to an other, with her iust cause of anger for his death, had engendred a disdayne to Dom Diego, an extreme desier to reuenge her wronge vpon Dom Roderico, and by the same meane to ende her owne lyfe, So loue remouinge the vaile that blinded the eyes of her vnderstandinge, and breakinge thadamante rocke planted in the middeste of her stomake, * 1.43 brought her in one instante to beholde with open eyes, the constancy, patience and perseuerance of her first and moste loyall seruant, whose last prayer and intercession on her be∣half, stirred vp in her more remorce thē al y^e seruices of court or pennance in the painfull wildernes wer hable to prefer, whereof she exposed a present effect, in castinge her armes a bout the necke of the desperat knyght, to whom she forbare no sortes of kisses nor amarus embrasinges, seamynge no lesse passioned wyth ioy and loue on hys behalfe, then earste he seamed plunged in dispair and sorowe, ballancing indiffe∣rently betwene life and death in his presence, neyther was she hable to pronownce any worde vpon the soddayne, tyll (beyng restored to the vse of her tongue) by the discontynu∣ance of her traunce, she excused her former rigour wyth tear¦mes of humylitie, and desyeringe pardon of the follies wher * 1.44 wyth she had abused hys patience, offred her selfe hereafter to be the slaue and seruant of hys shadow, takyng thassistāce of thym perfections in loue to be in some sort contrybutarye to her falte, for that (sayth she as loue hathe this vice of na∣ture, that such as accompte theym selues to sée moste cleare are they whych most often commit greatest faltes by igno∣rance, So besydes the confession of the wronge I haue don you so many wayes, Lo I am ready to abide the punishment of your owne iudgemeut, without crauing any dispence of iustice or moderacion of pennance for any respecte of fauor, And albeit (for my parte) I haue not escaped wythout passiō, but y^t the stormes of aduersatie which you haue séene me en¦dure, haue driuen me to thuttermost of my patience, yet I

my selfe happie to haue passed that awaye, for thexperience I haue made of two effects of verteous extremities the one of constant loyaltie in you, whych only hath right to chaleng y^e crowne of glory, frō hym that sacrafized himself vpon the blodie body of hys Lady, who in dyenge so, gaue ende to his annoyes, where you haue chosen a kynde of languishynge, life of more hard tolleracion a thousād tymes, then the sharp arrowes of death, the other consistes in the clemencie wher wyth you haue mortefied so well the rage of your aduersa∣ries, that I, whych earst hated you to death, am now so van∣quished by your courtesye, that I accompte myne honor and lyfe, of to small value to requite your merit, wherin also I acknowledge a debte to Seigneur Roderico, whose wisedome makes me ashamed of my follie, in resisting his rightfull de∣maunde, touching the reléeffe of your vndeserued destresse, wherunto as he wold haue replied wyth semblable humyli∣tie, Dom Roderico, preuented hys meanynge, in embrasinge theym both, with peculiar commendacion to theyr vertues, and speciall thankes to the goodnes of their fortune, for that w^t out peril of honor, they had passed that dangerus passage, aduising them to retorne w^t hym to hys castel, frō whēce hée sayde he wolde gyue warning to their mothers, to whom he also vndertoke to cooler thaccidente wyth some other circum∣stance of fayned substance. wher vpon they mounted on hors∣backe, leauing the stately hospitall, to the nexte hermyt, and vsing, easye iorneys, they toke away the tediousnes of the way with the pleasant deuises, whych passed betwen the two louers, embrasing one an other in honest sort, as a simple re¦compense of their longe and weary annoyes, till tyme, with the consent of the churche, gaue authoritie to consommat the rest of their desiers. from the house of Roderico, was aduertise¦ment giuen to the two Ladye mothers, in equall care for the loss of their childrē excusing the secret departure of Geniuera in that she went to sée Dom Diego lyinge sicke in a castell of hys frende Seigneur Roderico,, where (if it pleased theym to

giue their consente) the mariage sholde be performed, wher∣in there nedes no pithie solycitors to neither of the widowes, for that, for the more honor of the feaste and contentmente in the allyance, they failed not there in parson at the day ap∣pointed, where the mariage was performed with pompp ac∣cordyng to the magnificence of both their houses, And so it is to be thought, that the stormes and tormentes past endu∣red by theim both, yelded thys conclucion of other tast, then they whych wythout painful trauaile in the presence of loue possesse, the fyrste daye, the full of their desiers, whose plea∣sures certeinly, as they resemble the condicion of hym, who norished al the dayes of hys lyf in deintie fare, cannot iudge so well of delite, as he that some times findes want of suche delicatie, soo also an extreme thruste, makes vs fynde the wyne more pleasant, and a long fasting giues a better taste to oure meate, neyther is loue wythout annoye, any other thyng, then a cause without an effecte, for he that wyll take∣awaye the paynfull traueills and longe sute, robbes the lo∣uer of the prayse of hys constancie, and doth wronge to the glory of hys pursewt, seyng that he only is worthy to weare the crowne of tryumphe, who encountringe all conflictes doth reapose more assurance in the vertue of hys constancie, then feare (in any sorte) the malice of any fortune Let thys be then the mirrour of loyal louers in detestacion of thim∣pudicitie of suche, whych feare not to giue a charge wher they fynde good countenance, and readye retire at the first repuise, ympartinge also a participacion of worthy rebuke to thothers, who to contente the humor of their fonde affec∣tion, doo accompte it a vertue to exchaunge their former generositie, wythe a gloriouse title to be reputed as true and faythfull champions of loue, for y^t, the perfectiō to loue truellie, cōsistes not in passion or pyning cares, & much lesse cometh he to the ful of his desier by sighes, dollorus regardes or lamentable exclamaciōs accordīge to the Spanyard, nor so lemne vowes to visitt far places for her sake, or childishe

feares, as the amarus Italyan to whom also we may ad this barceloniā Diego, who thought, thorow his desperat penānce in the desertes of Pireneus, to reclayme the goodwill of his mystres, seing that as in al our affayres we ought not excede the institucion of vertue, so she chiefly is to beare a swaighe in y^e knot of this indissoluble amytie, besids, we se heare, that the diligence of a perfect frende, is of more force in those ca∣ses then all the passions, panges, letters of pithie perswacion orother ymportunyties whatsoeuer, tollerated in matters of loue, neither can a man iudge what a treasor it is to haue an assured frende, tyll eyther the want of suche a Iewell, or experience of his frendshipp, make hym tast the benefit of so great and rare a gift, seyng that a true frende, beinge the second part or one moyetie of our selues, is alwayes so gui∣ded by a natural Sympathya of affection towardes hym whō he loueth, that he reioyseth in the pleasure and commodytie of hys frende, and is readye to participat with hys aduersaty when fortune is disposed to plaie any part of her accustomed mobilitie, whereof albeit we fynde not at thys daye, so many thorowly perfect in that vertue, as the whole worlde on all partes swarmes withe infynitye of the contrarye faction, whych the Grecian philosopher calleth Microphilos, That is a demye or halfe frende accordynge to thinglishe phrase.

Yet am I moued by diuerse occasions, to passe ouer suche * 1.45 discourse, contentinge my selfe that the diuersatye of my histories, gyue recreaciō to the reader, wythout stayinge to infer authorities whych may touche or sift the conscience of any. And obseruing chiefly as nere as I colde an order of truth, my seconde respecte was to prefer suche examples as myghte best serue to instruct our youthe, who as they maye sée heare the faltes of fragilitie punished with shame, losse of honor, cruell deathe, and perpetual infamie to their poste∣ritie, So haue they also of the contrarye, speciall patternes of vertue, alluringe theym to ymytacion of semblable ho∣nestye, wyth diuersitie of authorities prouinge the reward

of vertue, and vertuouse lyuinge, whereof lett all degrées make their proffit as they thinke good, accordinge to the flée in the milke, fedinge of the good and vertuous frute, and leaue the reste as poison and bitter dregges, to such as are wholly drowned in the desiers of the fleshe, and buryed in a pitt of worldly filthe, and as I haue seamed in some places to enterlarde this profane traslation with certeyne testimo∣nies oute of sacred recordes, So I hope the same will the ra∣ther defende th'integritie of myne intente againste all ob∣iections, consideringe that the most parte of the simple and ignoraunte sorte, are rather moued with suche examples, then reduced with the seuere sentences of somme great phi∣losopher or reformed theologyan. Besydes in theis dis∣courses of loue, th'adulteror is putt in remembrance of his faulte, the morderer séeth the rewarde of his iniquitie, he that yeldes to the sommonce of fowle cōcupiscence is sewer to be touched with the marke of infamie, and suche as pas∣sioneth him selfe vpon creadit, maye beholde heare the méede of his follye, wherein for my parte, as I greue that the worlde (at this presente) swarmeth with so greate a nom∣ber of insensed men, readye to dye for a pleasure of so small momente as the contentemente of the bodie, So I wishe that as in writynge thies tragicall affaires, I haue founde the falte of mine owne life, that also the reste of the young∣linges of our countrey, in reding my indeuor, maye breake the slepe of their longe follye, and retire at laste to amende∣ment of lyfe, leaste in remeyninge still in the laborinth of sensuallitie, they serue not hereafter as a fable and stage playe to the posteritye of a multitude, for ende, I ex∣specte no other hier of my traueile, then that my diligence maye seame thankefull to her, to whose honor and goodnesse I owe no lesse then all that I haue.

FINIS.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Loue.
• * 1.2

  Dom Diego made knyght
• * 1.3

  The first me∣ting & vvords betvven Die∣go and Geni∣uera.
• * 1.4

  A discriptiō thatti••e and beautye of Geniuera.
• * 1.5

  Geniuera fal leth in loue vvith Diego.
• * 1.6

  Loue proce∣des of a fond opynion.
• * 1.7

  Dom diego passioned vvith loue.
• * 1.8

  Slepe the ce∣remonies of the night.
• * 1.9

  Geniuera and her mother, at the house of Diego.
• * 1.10

  Diego vvoeth Geniuera in a daunse.
• * 1.11

  Geniuera aū svvereth vvith half consent to his request
• * 1.12

  Yt is hard to conceile the passion of loue.
• * 1.13

  Mariage.
• * 1.14

  Geniuera fal∣leth ī disdain vvith Diego.
• * 1.15

  Geniuera ex∣claimeth a∣gainst Diego.
• * 1.16

  Geniuera re¦procheth Diego by a letter.
• * 1.17

  The cōplaint of Diego.
• * 1.18

  Death the last and best re∣pose of mise rye.
• * 1.19

  His man dis∣suadeth hym from the pil∣grims voiage
• * 1.20

  The most per¦fect victorie is to make a conquest of our selues.
• * 1.21

  Diego begin neth his pil∣grymage,
• * 1.22

  Diego com∣plaineth his chaunge of estate vpon the vvaye.
• * 1.23

  The conten∣tes of Diegos letter to geni¦uera.
• * 1.24

  Deathe the dreadefull messenger.
• * 1.25

  The havvke.
• * 1.26

  Venice taken and putt to sacke by Pirro Fregos.
• * 1.27

  Theues.
• * 1.28

  Roderico dis couereth & embraseth his frende Dom Diego.
• * 1.29

  Diego ac∣knovvled∣geth himselfe to Roderico.
• * 1.30

  Thoffice of a noble man or one in au∣thoritie.
• * 1.31

  Diego excu∣seth hys de∣parture from his contrey.
• * 1.32

  The vvise man vvil ne∣uer comytt councelle to children
• * 1.33

  VVomen cō∣pared to infa∣tes.
• * 1.34

  Roderico killeth the biskaine.
• * 1.35

  Cupido.
• * 1.36

  Roderico to geniuera.
• * 1.37

  Geniuera exclameth a∣gainst Rode∣rico.
• * 1.38

  Diego vpon his knees 〈◊〉〈◊〉 ueth pytye.
• * 1.39

  Dom Diego being stil pro¦strate crieth for cōpassion to his mistrys
• * 1.40

  Roderico threatneth Geniuera.
• * 1.41

  Geniuera be ginneth to shovve argu∣ments of com¦passion.
• * 1.42

  diego sevveth for the lyf of Geniuera.
• * 1.43

  Her hart
• * 1.44

  Ge niue••a e•• ••useth her former fai••e and fol••••e vvich promise of vnfayned fayth to Diego.
• * 1.45

  The conclu∣cion of the trāslator vpō his volume of tragicall discourses.