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

I Meane nothere to increase the merueile of menne, withe a particular description of the sumptuous buildinges of Princes, the mag∣nificall scites and scituations of greate mens houses, nor restore to memory the wounder∣full pollecies and artificiall deuises of oure Auncestoures in making plats and firme fondacions of Castels and Ci∣ties in the bottom of the sea, and muche lesse trouble you withe a reaporte of their ingenious trauaill in castinge downe hils, and makynge Craggy mountaynes flat with the face of the earthe, or forcing stonie Rockes, with places here to fore impassible, to oppen and make waye to their huge armies, but I haue in presente intente to discouer vnto you the meruellous effects of loue, which excedinge the opynion of common thynges, seames more straunge, then the curious construction and frame of any Pallais for necessitie or pleasure, threatrie or place of sola¦ce buylded by art or industrie of man, or other stately Court what sqware, quadrante, or triangle forme so euer it con∣teines, or other misticall worke yeldinge cause of wonder to the vniuersitie of the earthe, seing that a mortal grudge grounded vppon greate spite, confirmed withe the conti∣nuance of a longe time, and pursued extremelye wythe bloddye persecution and vnnaturall crueltie, is not onely conuerted vpon a sodaine into perfecte frendeshippe, but also by an effecte and operation of loue, made so indisso∣luble that no future accidente or synister deuise of ene∣myes, could once make a breache, and muche lesse vtterly dissolue the league of amity so happely begon and sewerly knite together by the vertue of affection, whyche wee call commonlye the passion procured by loue, wherunto

is also added alike effecte of a thankefull mynde, arguing vnto vs (whythe a famyliar example) that as ingratitude, is the greatest vice y^e raynes in the disposition of man, and principall ennemy to the honor of nobilitie, soo the con∣trary, deserueth by iustice the tytle of the moste precious vertue y^t is, wherein as the Thebans, were shamefully re∣proched, for the respect of their greate Capttaines Epaimy nondes, and Pelopides, so the Plateons (on the contrarye) were worthely renoun••ed for the large recompence and consideracion they vsed, to the benefyte of the Greekes who deliuered them from the seruitude of the Persians, like as also the Sycyoniens weare yet the crown of eternal, comendacion, for the thankefull returne of the curtesye of Aratus by whome they were frankely taken oute of the handes of cruell tyrantes: if the acte of Philip Marya. late Duke of Myllan deserueth detestacion for the vnnaturall crueltye he committed vppon the person of his wife, who albeit was equall in nobilitie, exceded him in the giftes of fortune and large possessions, of indifferente beaw tye to content a reasonable man, nothinge inferior to the beste Ladye of the countrye in thornaments of nature, and giftes of grace, and yelding hym besides suche honor and honest loue as was necessary for the state of mariage, yet notwithstandinge was he so vnthankefull to all these be∣nefites, that after he had called the flower of her beautye, and forced her to passe an assuraunce of her goods and ly∣nynge to his vse; hee committed secret execution & washed his handes in the blod, of th••infortunate Ladye, contrarye to all ciuilytie or lawe of nature, if he (I saye) seame iustly meritorious of reproche, we maye worthely imparte treble prayse to a barbarous Turke and admirall of the coun∣trey of Arabia, who being ouerthrowen in y^e bataile fough∣ten in that countrey, by Bandwin king of Ierusalem, him

selfe and wife prisoners, with his treasure and municion of warre at the disposition of the sayde kinge, and beinge, dismissed frely without exaction or raunsom, and his wife restored withoute violacion, or force of her bodye, iudged it a vertu not to be ouercome in magnificence and libera∣litye, and a mortal vice to beare the title of an vnthanke∣full Prince, whereof he made declaracion for that not longe after the sayde Bawdwine, beinge beseged of the infidels, and by distresse of warre, at point to fal into their mercy the sayde admyral, not vumindefull of the compas∣sion he showed vpon his misery, brake into him by nighte and withe certeine assistantes of horsemen, preuented his present perill, and set him safelye vppon his waye from al offer or feare of daunger. All whiche I haue coated in this introduction, for that my historye importes ii, exam∣ples of semblable substance, the one exposinge a wonder∣full effecte of frendshipp on the behalf of his ennemie, and the other retorninge his liberalitye, withe suche ample consideration, that there is no degre in any Corner ofchri¦stendom-but may se an experience of vertue in the doings of thē both. Wherein I wishe chiefly a perticipacion of the fruite of such examples to all sortes of our contriemen in englande, to thende wee maye forme our lyues vpon y^e ver¦teous presedents of such strangers as preferringe vertue afore vice, haue bene more curious to get a true renoume of reputacion, then carefull of a vaine gloriouse or folyshe pomppe of the world.

A WONDERFVL VER∣tue in a gentlman of Syenna on the behalfe of his ennemye, whō he delyuered from Death, and the other to retorne his courtesye vvith equall frendshyp, presented him with his sister whom he knew hee loued entierlye.

IN the ••ecewles or Comentories of tus∣kan I find a special Remembraunce of a mortall grudge betwene ij of the moste noble houses in SYENNA called Salimbino and Montanino, whereof as bothe the one and other were of semblable Reputation for honour and height of estate, so were they of equall Rule & authoritie in the gouernement of their publike weale, whose parentes allbeit and predecessours were of singler commendation by the vertue of mutuall so∣cietye whiche appeared so entyer and indissoluble betwene theim by manye discentes, that the writers in that age dou∣ted not to tearme theym no lesse true myrrroers & patterns of perfect frendship then either HORESTES or PYLLADAS which y^e Romain oratour Makes so famous by peculiar com¦mendation, yet according to the opinion of Aristotle, as chil∣dren commonly do Rather excede their fathers in vice, then Resemble them in vertue, so the posteretyes of these noble houses, in place to perseuer in the vertue of their parentes, or treade in the steppes of their aunciente amytie, in the ve∣rie entrey of their florishing time, when al men were in ex∣spectacion of verteous frutes like to their fathers withe hope to confirme the league of their long frendeshippe, they embrased sinister occasions of ciuil mutines, groūding great quarrels vpon slender or smal substance, with a dispo¦cition and equall desyre, the one to pursewe the other wyth

such fatal hate and vnnatural tyranny, that as the one was almost brought euen to the brinke of vtter desolation of hys house and Reuenue, so the other (triumphing allbeit in the Conquest of his enemye) escaped not only with out peren∣tory perill of him selfe, & losse of A nomber of his deare kins∣men and Companions of Race, but also was enioyned to so harde A penance, that he lyued alwayes after in the conty∣nuall grudge and desdaine of the people, the viewe of whose malice, preferring A wonderful remorce of conscience, with Remembrance of the fowlenes of the facte passed, pursewed hym with alarams of vnnaturall and frettinge disquiet of minde, euen vntill the last separation of his soule and body. And here if you conferre the quarrell with the cause, and waighe in indiffrent ballance, the mischiues, morders with infinit inconueniences deriued of so small occassions, you nede not doubt to ioyne in opinion with Paulus Iouius & other writes worthy of no lesse Credyte, then of greate fame for learning and skil, who amongest other generall discriptiōs of Italy geueth her this peculiar Commendaciō, that beyng subiect to thinfluence of a crabbed Clymate, and quarrelus cōstellacion, termes her to be (of al the world) the only store∣house for percialites and Ciuill faccions, and market place of Tumultes & suborned trobles, which I colde also iustefie by thautority of the warres betwene the florentynes and the Syennoys, with other frée states in y^e contreye, besids the eiuil discenciō among the nobility, w^t vnnaturall persecutions of families & kinreds, sauing y^t the discourse wold seame more tedius then necessarye, and kepe me to longe from the prin∣cipal points of my history, which calles me now to perform my promisse and satisfye the expectacion of the rearder. No man Douteth (I am sewer) that aswel antiquity, as people of present being, haue not had in general regard & peculiar de∣lyte, the noble exercise of hunting diuers kynds of chases, no lesse for the respect of pleasure, then euitaciō of diuers disco modities, happenyng oftentymes, to the husbandmen by the wilde boare and wolfe, with other beasts of equall fercenes

and like annoye, wherin albeit besides the contentment of the mynde, ther is to be coolled a necessarye fruite of double commoditie, the one to sturre vp the ydle crewe of delicate persons hauntyng the houses of great men, to the exercise and ymitation of honest traueill, the other representyng the very sleyghtes and pollecies in warre, instructes the young gentlemen not hable as yet to endure the hardnes and expe∣rience of the fyelde, to discerne the aduauntage of the place, the subtelty in dressing his ambushe for beynge discouered, his tyme to dysplaie the same to the disaduantage of the ene∣my, the order howe and when to geue the charge, with an enforcynge of corage to pursewe the chasse so farre as good gouernement wil giue leaue, yet is not thys pleasaunt skir¦mishe and necessary recreation for youth, wythout some a∣gument of great and almoste absolute assurance of diuerse sortes of misfortunes, for wee reade that MELEAGER loste his lyfe in killing the wilde boare of CALIDONA, Cephale for the lyke respect kylled hys deare frende PROCRIS, The notable Philosopher ACAST hauing thonly Credite for edu¦cation of the heir apparaunt of his prince, and honouring albeit the childe with more then an ordinarye affection, yet hunting on a tyme among the deserts of that contreye, con∣trary to the wil of the king for that he was warned by a pro∣phecy of the death and distruction of his sonne, in castynge a darte at the boare, slewe hym whom hee loued asmuche or more then himselfe, besides for a familiar profe of my allega¦tion in this case, yt is not yet viij. yeres since y^e countie Pala∣tine, one of y^e chiefe princes of GERMANY, being lost of hys companye in pursewing the chasse of a fierce boare was o∣uerthrowen horse and man, and in daunger to be deuoured by the furye of the beaste, if by good chaunce hys ryder with ij, freshe dogges had not ben at hand to preuent his perill, so likewise by the hunting of a wilde boare grewe the bloddy quarel betwne theses ij. houses, for hauing one day by force and pollycie of men and dogges, kylled one of the greatest boares About SYENNA, in the particular cōmendatiō which 〈1 page missing〉〈1 page missing〉

euery man gaue to the doughtines of his dogge, there be∣gan to kindle a kinde of mislike in the hartes of the twoo younge Lordes, whiche with the heate of the wine where∣in they goolled without regarde after their trauaill, and the bloudde beinge chaffed with the presse and nomber of termes of reproche, bolked out at laste to cruell blowes, whiche (without respect of personnes) seamed so to occupye the place for the tyme, that besides a nomber that were hurte on bothe parts, the SALIMBINS hadde the worste, for that one of theyr chiefe was lefte for dead in the fielde, where with the fraye discontinued for that time, and euery man retired, the MONTANINS not gladd of the victorye for that theye doubted a reuenge, and the SALIMBINS contented by force with theyr present fortune, attendynge notwithstandynge thassistaunce of a better tyme to redeme the bloude of theyr kynsman, not wyth equall losse of their enemy, but with vtter ruine and subuersion of the whole house of their aduerse parte, whiche they fayled not ac∣cordingly to performe with suche hoate expedicion and po∣wer, that after diuerse publike skermishes and priuate com¦bats, with indecent murders, (the contrary parte hauinge consumed the moste parte of their rente and reuenewe in meintainynge garrisons to withstande theyr malyce, with∣in the compasse of no longe tyme) they hadd brought to ex∣treme depopulatiō the whole kindred of the MONTANINS, excepte one younge Gentleman named CHARLES, who findynge himselfe to weake to resyste any longer the rage of his aduersaries, retired to a contentement by force and gaue place to their furie, and they also fyndynge the fielde abandonned without any to make head against them, dismis∣sed their angrye humor, and layde asyde their bluddye weapons beinge dolled with the heauye and mortall blowes vppon theyr conquered enemies. This Charles and laste remainder of the house of MONTANINO, being appointed by destenie to lyue yet in spite of his enemies, stirred not out of the towne of SIENNA, where as a solitary man in

the presse of his aduersaries, he liued, without eyther sa∣lutyng or hauntynge the place of theyr repaire, beinge fa∣uored notwythstandynge of the moste parte of the Cytie for that, after so many broyles and horley borleys of warre, which with the fiske had conuerted the greatest parte of his porcion and inheritaunce into nothynge, he lyued notwith∣standing of that lytle whiche fortune had lefte him in honest sorte, meintainynge a traine accordynge to the state and condicion of his lyuynge, hauynge in the house with hym, the companye of his syster, whiche the gods seamed to re∣serue not onelye for his speciall consolation in so greate a calamitie, but also in rest oryng theyr house to hys auncient entier and beinge, to buylde agayne a newe and perfecte frendshipp vppon the fyrste fondacion, and confirme efte∣sones by her vertue a perpetuitie of indissoluble amitie be∣twene her brother and the house of his extreame aduersary her name was ANGELIQVA, whose speciall ornamentes of nature and peculiar gyftes of God, chalenged not on∣lye an equalytye, but a degre aboue the beste and greatest Dames of that Countrey: so seamed she iustelye merito∣rious of that name, with cut doinge wronge to anye, be∣cause her wisdome, womanlye behauiour, with humble curtesye, made suche declaracion of her honestye and ver∣tue, that they whyche hated theyr house and detested the remembraunce of their Race, could not close their mouthes from her due commendacion, nor forbeare to wishe that theyr doughters and children were of semblable disposi∣tion, suche is the operacion and force of true vertue in the hartes of suche as embrace her with vnfayned sinceritie, exposinge in lyke sorte suche frutes as seame wondrous in the eye of worlde and excede the common imagina∣cion of men, by reducinge the confusion of kindreds into an entier of euerlastynge amytie, and of a mortall ene∣my to make a most assured frende, whereof they that doubte of the goodnes of so greate a gyfte, maye be satisfyed by the

present of proffe this Angeliqua, who so fedd the eares of the cytie with the generall Brute & cōmendacion of her vertue, that in one moment, he which earst was chiefe and captaine of the warre against theim, and seamed inuincible against, all the ayde and assistaunce they could procure, is nowe be∣come a slaue and most subiect to the viewe and contempla∣tion of her beautie, in suche sorte, as by litle & litle, he grew into termes of extreme affection and vndowted zeale towar¦des her whose name he hated earst, no lesse then the Canke∣red styng of the cruell Cockatrice, wherin as the humor of his loue seamed to excede the ordinarie impressions of men in that case: So he neyther was hable to resiste the hoate sommaunce of his newe appetit, nor kepe warre any tyme with the suggestion of his sodayne desire, but as one that felt hymselfe striken with the thonderbolt of his destynie, gaue place to his sentence, and entred into deuise with him∣selfe, what waye too vse, to wynne the encounter of hys fancie. The remembraunce of the late wronge he had done theim, seamed a great impediment to his purpose, neyther had he the meane to demaunde her in mariage, Whose tea∣res were skarce drye in bewailyng the desolation he hadd so lately thondred vpon al their house, the simple view and re∣corde wherof, preferred iust cause of dispaire to obtaine the good will of her brother, wherwith feling a daily increase of his passion, with continuall diminution and vnlikelyhod of meanes to releue his tormēt, specialy, for that he had impri∣soned his liberty, where no raunsome could serue to redeme it, and that loue had bounde hym to so harde a pennaunce, that the only pleasure he had in life, was to thinke vpon her, whome dispaire denied him to reclaime by anye meanes, he began to curse thee first cause of the quarell, and wyshe the huntyng of the boare hadd neuer ben tollerable in Italy, in∣ueighyng withall agaynste the malice of hys fortune, that seamed to be his guide in the pursuete of so great persecu∣tion, and now in the hope & expectation of reste and repose from toyle, to committ hym to the mercy of a martirdome

more intollerable then the torment of the whele, and of lesse hope to be deliuered, thē the Damned soules out of theuerla¦sting flame in hell, wherin also his chiefeste greffe & grudge of minde semed to stande vpon double termes, both for y^t he durst neyther discouer his disease to any his owne trendes, whom he knewe woulde rather mislike his request, then be moued to compassion vpon hys case, or studye to releue his distresse, nor promise himselfe any likelihod & much lesse as∣surance euer to cooll eyther flower or fruite of his affection to Angeliqua, for that he thought she had no reasō to remorse vpon him, in whose face appeared yet the fresh Remēbraūce of the late reuenge and destruction of her kynsmenne.

But what? who doughteth of the tickle dispositiō of fortune, or is not perswaded that the doings of men are as subiect to chaung & alteration, as the lament to mutability and diuer setie of complexions. At 〈◊〉〈◊〉 time as the greate Iupiter so∣moning the winds and violence of other weather, to qua∣rell with the Calme and quiet skye, eclypsyng the naturall clerenes of the son by conuerting him into sondry sortes of darke and dim colloures or what constancye or assurance is to be Reapposed in our worldly affaires,

seynge the veray thoughtes and imaginatiōs of men are disposed & gouerned by the reuolucion & course of tymes, wherin the philosopher is of opinion that no degre is dispensed from the Clymat of the cōstellatiō for saith he, the fauors & displeasures of prin∣ces are neither so mortal nor of such continuance, but being incident to conuersion, we see in one momente, an assured coniunction of frendship with him, who earst pursewed our subuercion with mortall hate. And truly he that weigheth y^e comutacion of thinges with indiffrent iudgmēt, may iustly note him of gret simplicity, that resolues perpetuity or con∣tinual stay or abode in any thing, that is either accidental or proper to mā, wherin as I am sufficiētly iustefyed by Aun∣cient Records & forraine Authorities,

So he y^t with diligēce will coate the Chronicles of England and fraunce: within theis C. yeares shall fynde choyse of examples to cleare hys

doubt and confirme him in the contrary opinion, whych by cause it importes such consequence as rather excedes then seames conueniente for the compasse of my present intent: I leaue them to the construction of the diligent reader, who syfting nerely the monumentes of that time, may find ther more alteracion and chaunge of estates in bothe those rea∣lmes within lesse then so many yeres, then in the space of ij .C. yeares afore for he may sée thear of credible reaport, that he that gouerned as king sittinge in the seate Royall of the Realme making the whole multitude tremble at the voyce of his commaundiment, was sodainly Deposed and skarcely eskaped the infamie of a cruel and slaundrous death, and on the other part, the other that attended only the fatal destruc∣tion of himselfe and famuly, is not only restored to the scep∣ture of the kingdom, but also in a moment sytts in the Iud∣gemente seate vpon vengau•••••• and correction of theym which had geuen sentence and awarded the writ of executiō against himself: Calyr one of the iiij great Bassyas of the great turke, had no lesse awe & authoritie ouer the whole Maho∣metian empire then vndowted credit with y^e emperour and mighty monarke him self, who wold neuer consulte of any enterprise without the councell of this Captaine, nor per∣forme any expedition without his cōpany, & yet vpon a sud∣daine & without any cause (sauing the malicious appetite of his maister) he was cruelly strangeled in presence & by com∣maūdemēt of him whom he had so faithfully honoured & ser∣ued, on the contrarye syde, the valainte Argon Tartare, after he was entred into armes agaynste his vncle Tangodor C••ny, being taken & adiudged to passe by the rigor, of tormē∣tes & after receiue y^e due hier of vnnatural conspiracy, as he was set into Armenya to be executed, being at y^t point to cō∣mit himself to y^e mercy of y^e tormētors, & paste al hope or ex∣spectatiō of aid, was sodainly reskewed by certain Tartariās of the garrisō & household seruants to his late father decea∣sed, & restored after to the dominion & kingdom of Tartaria in the yere of our lord a thousaūd two hōdreth fouerskore & fiue

thexample of thempresse ADALEDE, makes no lesse pro••e herein then the former recordes, for being vnhappely fallen into the handes of the tyrante BERANGER the vsurper at that tyme of thempire, after she had longe tried the curtesye of this miserable and wretched disposicion, being at the ve∣rye brinke and place of execution where was no likelihode nor imaginaciō of ayed, had thassistance of a good fortune, for auoidynge his cruell sentence by a secrete and soddaine flighte at the same instaunte, was maried after to OTTON the firste of that name, and lyued till shée sawe the iuste re∣uenge of her wronge vpon the same vsurper and his race by OTTON her sonne succedinge his father in the monarkye: All which of no losse autoritie then vndoubted credit, I haue preferred as assured paterns of y^e mobilitie & vncertein stay of the state of the affaires of this world, wherin also (when thoccasion dothe offer) you maye note a verefication or lyke accident in the sequeill of this MONTANYNO, who after the depopulation of his house by ciuill warre, and the most parte of his porc ion wasted in the supplye of that quarell, fell into a misery more tragicall then the other, and of lesse hope of ayde or delyuerye, and yet beinge passed thextreme sommonce of his fortune, and attendynge the fatall and last momente of execution, after he had dismissed all exspecta∣tion of succoure, his deliueraunce appeared by hym that procured and pursewed his distresse, and the same miserye that fyrste moued his ruine, reserued suche a vertue in the ende of his tragedye, that by thonly assistance of him, whom he thoughte to haue sworne his destruction, he was restored wyth more assurance and cōtentement of minde then afore: but nowe to our amarous SALIMBINO who tossed in the stormye sea of his vnquiet thoughtes, was no lesse passioned on the behalfe of ANGELIQVA, then she moste carefull to comforte the calamitie of her brother, wyth indeuer to lyue together in mutuall tranquillitye accordynge to the ••omonce of nature and decree of lawe of kynde, neyther respectynge the tormente of her ennemye whiche shee

knewe not, nor regardinge to pranke vp her selfe to please thappetite of any other, and albeit it was his chaunce some∣time to accoaste her in the strete or other place, where he for∣gat not to giue her the BACHILOMANO, with al shew and argumente of humble duty, and she in like sort retorned his ITALIAN salutation wyth semelye and not semblable curtesye, yet sawe he no meanes to remoue y^e dispaire of her good will, nor she hable to discerne the cause of his new and soddaine greting, but as he suffred himselfe at the first to be subiect to the somonce of loue, and gaue him preu iledg with out resistance to builde his bower in the bottome of his hart, so being now to weake to supplant him, who hath conquered and made himself lord ouer al y^e ports in him, he is bounde to beare y^e yoke of cōtinuall passiō, without licence or liberty to be dispensed from the least assaulte & allaram which that hel∣lishe tormentor ministreth to suche as marche vnder the en∣seigne of his Awe, neyther hath he other consolation in his present distresse, but such as is appointed to fede the desolate mynds of desperat louers, moderating in some part the force of their affliction, with imagination that the benefyte of time, wil at laste, eyther putte the praye of their desyre into their handes, or els geue ende to their disquiette by som sub∣orned abridgment of their naturall daies. Wherin as he lan¦guished with no lesse perplexitie of minde, then happeneth to suche as by fate are forced to passe throwe the miserye of suche doleful traunces, so, as he attended in this sort the gift of a better occasion, beholde thapproch of the second desaster or tragedye of the vnhappe MONTANINO. For within the Cytye of SYENNA dwelte a longe nosed marchaunte, who for the moste part as they be more gredy to gette, then worthie of that which they haue, so do they seldom or neuer respect the meane, so they may finger that which they wish. He had ioyning to the vttermoste subburbes of the cytye a faire howse enuironed with large demaines, where vppon confyned on al partes certaine peces of grounde of the saide MONTANYNO, which with a bare house in the towne, as it

was al y^t the malice of his fortune had left hym of the ample patrymonye of his parentes, So this hungrye burgeys, thinkinge it no offence or grudge of conscience, to enlarge his lyuinge withe the porcion of his neyghboure, kno∣winge well enoughe, that after so many occasions of greate expenses, he was not onlye in distresse for monye but wan∣ted other necessary furniture, sent his broaker to boarde him for the sale of his lands in y^e contrey, with cōmission to geue hym a thousande Duckats for those groundes which ioyned to his lordshippe without the subberbes, wherin his request was frustrate and he out of hope that waye to wyn theffect of his desyer, for that CHARLES, was resolued to make store of those groundes aboue the rest of that lytle that was left him, chefly for that besydes they were percell of thaunci¦ent possessions of his parēts, yet he reserued a spicial zeale to those landes, because the viewe of theim restored a freshe re∣membrance of suche as in maney ages before had borne the grertest swaighe in that publike weale, wherwyth the coue tus villayne not contente with the reasonable deniall of the gentleman, did not imediatlye dismisse his desier to get that which he ought not to haue wished, but determined not only to win it by vonderly meanes, but also for reueng of y^e plain Answere of the MONTANYN entred into deuise to subborne some meanes to haue it at a lesse price, and not without the hazarde and perill of the lif of y^e pore gentilman, followinge therin the detestable example of thiniuste Iesabell, who pro∣cured the death of Naboothe, to th'ende she mighte enioye his possession, wherin he was furthered euerye waye, but chief∣ly with th'assistance of the tyme. For at the same instaunte, by reason of the mutuall quarels and ciuil dyscentions that raigned longe before in the moste partes of Italye, moste of the nobilitie were driuen the countrye, and those few that remayned, lyued not only vnder the awe of Townclarks & Catchepowles chosen by the rurall crew, but also had small assuraunce of sauetye, in their townes or Cities, where for the more subiection and awe of the Gentlemen, this villa∣nous

sect of cursed caterpillers made a lawe, not muche vn∣like the tyrannous statute which the Athenians hadde in the time of solon, that no man of what degrée or condicion so euer hée were, shoulde neyther by himselfe, nor procure∣ment of any other, go aboute to purchasse the reappeale or re¦stitution of any that were banished their countreye, vpon payne to yelde to the fyske a thousande florentes, with ad∣dicion, that if he were not hable to aunswere the condemna∣cion within ten days, to loase his head in remembrance of y^e forfeyte: who markes well the misterye of this lawe, maye easely iudge the viperus meaninge of those wretches, who rather resemble the barbarous tirants and infidels without faith, then seame to haue the hartes of true Christians, and happye is hee that is not borne vnder the gouernemente of suche a state, where they doo not onlye shutte the gates of compassion against their innocente neighbours and frends, habādoned their countrey for peculiar grudges one against an other, but also punished by an vnnaturall crueltye the vertue of suche as seke to supply the affliction of theym that ought to be of equall regarde and honor to the best of them, & besides that this oppressour of innocents was bothe one of y^e lawe makers, and chiefe minister and commaunder of the same, yet was he sewer of a seconde assistaunce whiche sea∣med no lesse auailable to him then the aduantage of his po∣wer or authoritie, wherefore dispencinge withe no time in the execution of his deuelish deuise, he somoned Don CHAR∣LES by write to appeare before the Senat, where was layde afore hym the breache of the sayd lawe, and for a more profe or plaines of y^t matter, thaccusacion was no soner published then he hadde at his elbowe double choise of periured wit∣nesses, who what by the awe of his authoritie, and thinfec∣ting somonce of certaine peces of golde, wherwith he had fyled their tongues afore, aduouched thappeale by othe, de∣posinge further that they knewe where he hadde solicited to redeme diuerse of his banished frends, seking to supplant the state of the city by restoring the nobles and gentlemen to

their aunciēt rule & authoritie whiche made y^e pore Montanyn in suche double amaze of doubt & feare, that he was not only voyde of councel for the present, but in dispair to defende his right againste the malice of the whole state, chiefly for that the procurer of the fyske smellynge thapproche of so greate againe, awarded authorities to arrest his body to prison, and pursued his processe with suche expedicion that within .vj. dayes he was condemned vppon the statute of rappeale, and to paye the forfait within .ix. dayes after, or els to leaue his head in pawne of the payment, the lawe imported suche rigour that there was no place for mediacion or sute of in∣treatye, and the eares of the iustice were closed againste the complaint of innocents, neither durst any man inueighe on his behalfe for feare of hym that was thauthor of thact, and the ayde of kynsmen is as colde in that countrey as in o∣ther places, and frendes nowe a dayes resemble the rauen or hungry kyte, who neuer flyeth but towardes the place where they hope to fynde some thinge to praye vpon, so the frendes of our age be fled so far from the vertue of true frēd∣shipp, that they will not onely refuse to releue hym whome God and nature hath bounde them to susteine, but also make no conscience to disclaime the name of a kinsman to the nea∣rest allye they haue, and that without any cause onlesse you will impute it to the want of equall welthe, wherein mine owne experience moueth me to make a chalenge to some in England, if my power were as indifferent to pleade with hym, as I haue iuste reason to put hym in remembraunce of his fault, albeit that quarels is tollerable which marcheth vnder the flagge of innocency and truth, and iuste obiections wil make the guilty blushe, but nowe to the sorowful MON∣TANYN who complayninge the points of his desaster in a darke prison where was no kynd of consolation, nor yet the offer of any ECCHO to resounde his dolorous cryes, was sa∣luted the nexte daye with a copye of his sentence diffinitiue, wherin he was taxed to the some of a M. Florents or losse of lyfe within ix. dayes, here he founde what it is to haue an

euill neyghbour, and how greatly they do thurst that deste∣re to drinke of an other mans cupp, but chieflye the insatia∣ble longyng of suche as are with child for an other mans li∣uyng: and albeit his conscience was without grudge for any offence or breache of the lawe yet his grief seamed of harde tolleracion because the cursed trayson of a Cankard Clow∣en shoulde tryumphe ouer hym so farre, that to quenche the glot of his couetous rage he shoulde be forced to disinherite himselfe, and leaue without succour his deare syster, who for her part was so dolorous on the behalf of this newe de∣saster fallen vpon her brother that she sturred not out of her chamber, nor once suffered her eyes to bee dry from teares, since the firste newes of that sorowfull accident, whiche she complayned with more vehemency because she sawe a pre∣sent approche of perentory destruction to the little remeinder of the whole house, alas saith she, is the crueltye of fortune of suche rigorous condicion or her malice of suche perpetui∣tye that she will graunte no dispense nor admit any obla∣cion or offer to purchasse her fauor, or is ther no sacrafice to satisfye the angry dispositiō of the heauens, who ceasse not to thonder whole millions of mishappes vpon this desolate and wretched house of ours, with continuaunce of their angrye regards euen vntill thutter dissolution of the same? howe much better had it ben for vs fewe which remaine of the de∣kayed stocke and withered generacion of MONTANYNO, to haue passed amongest the rest of our companions, by the edge of the sworde of the enemye, then in lyuynge, to be miserable partakers of the vniuste malice of such as are not onely common enemies to innocency, but bearynge a natu∣rall grudge to the veray remembraunce and name of no∣bility, do hunt with open mouth (as the rauenyng wolfe) to deuoure the discents of noble kynd: how can this beare the name of a free cytie, or iustely merite the tytle of a state not incident to seruile lawe, where the gouernement passeth vnder the conueyghe of a confused multitude, whome na∣ture hath ordeined to drawe the yoke of other mens awe,

and lawe of kynde in their natiuitie framed to be subiect to suche, as their rurall force constraines to stoope to the sen∣tence of their dome. Ah brother saith she with a freshe sup∣plye of sorowfull teares, howe rightely can I conster the cause of thy presente trouble, and indifferent vndoing of vs both, the example of thy wronge argues sufficiently the de∣testable disposition of our cursed Senatours, who seame more gredye to hunte the chasse of vnlawfull and fylthye gaine, then carefull to kepe their conscience wythout spott or grudge of manifest oppression and wronge? for yf the desyre of thy litle liuynge in the countrey, and gliste∣ringe shewe of thy greate house in the open gaze and eye of the whole worlde passing by the streetes had not sturred vp the couetous humour of that rauenouse marchaunte, thou hadst lyued free from care, and thy estate farre from anye question in the SENATE house, neyther woulde any man haue charged thee with imputacion of a thing, which I wold to God thou hadst not onely vndertaken, but also broughte to effecte, to the ende thou mightest haue bene the author and I the witnes of the iuste reuenge of this villanous crew whose naturall malice more then eyther reason or iustice doth clogge the with this harde imposition of manifest wronge: there is no reason that a peltynge marchaunt ne∣uer norished in anye skole of cyuill or curteous educati∣on other then in a shoppe amongest prentises and compa∣nions of his owne calibre, or the son of hym that is a slaue and seruile borne by kynde, shoulde eyther beare office in a common welthe, and muche lesse sytte in iudgement of theym whose harts by nature abhores to be tryed by the BARBAROVS voice of so vile and base people, oh how happy be theis states & contreys, where hynges gyue lawes, and princes vse respect of fauor to suche as resemble them in condicion and vertue: neither hath he greate cause to grudge with his dome, that hath his cause debated in the presence of his prince, and his sentence published by suche as bee of equall honor and Reputatyon, where wee alas maye iust∣lye

exclaime againste oure cursed constellacion, that hath broughte vs forthe in so vnhappie a tyme, and made vs not onely incident, but subiect and slaues to a councell more peruerst and partial then corrupcion it selfe. I woulde our predecessours or some good fortune of forreine tyme by re∣ducy nge this countrey into a Monarke, had established a seat Royall of a Kynge wyth authorititye that only his seede and succession sholde gouerne the whole▪ rather then by lea∣uing it thus dispersed into diuerse cōfuced liberties, to make vs a mutuall praye one to an other: for haue we not the Frenchemen at oure backes? and the army of the greate Uicare of Rome one the one side with the subtil Florentins ready to inuade vs on the other side, in suche sorte, as who so is hongry maye boldly praye vppon vs without resistaunce, and yet for a more increase of our wrechednes wee main∣teine warre with our selues, and the best parte subdued and made thrall to suche as are not worthy any waye to be vallet to the worste of vs that feles our selues greued with suche afflictiō, but what can satisfy y^e couetousnes of man, or what benefit can stay hym that is giuen to perfidie or falsehod, & to what ende alas serue my teares or tunes of dolorous excla∣maciō, if not in recordyng the circunstaunce of oure mutual grief, to restore a freshe remembraunce of thy peculyar de∣saster, oh deare brother, whose destinies I see will not dis∣misse the rigor of their dome till they haue brought vs both to the brinke of extreme subuercion, albeit yf the offer of my bodye in sacrifice, or other mortall execution, wolde serue to redeme thy libertye, and preserue thy possession in entier, assure thy selfe that thy pore ANGELIQVA wold be no lesse readye to make exchaunge of her life for the raun∣som of thy contentement and quiet, then theis wyde mow∣thed Rokes do seke and gape to deuoure thy honour & liuing. And as the dolorous Lady was thus in tormēts of dule with more passiō on y^e behalfe of her brother, thē care any waie for her self, y^t pore Montanine stādīg betwen a hard sētēce & a most

vnhappie fortune, considered the laste day of fatall respit to draw faste to his date, & hauing no choise of meanes to mode ••at y^e rigour of the law, but by satisfying the whole demaūde of the fiske, which also he was not hable to leuye by any cre∣dit or assistaunce of his frendes, reposed his laste assuraunce and refuge of deliuerye in the sale of his lande, & as the taste of lyfe is pleasaunte to all men, and eche degree by nature is carefull to prolonge it to the laste hower, so accordinge to the extreme condicion of his present case, he resolued to em∣ploye the price of his lyuinge in the raunsom of his presente trouble, wheruppon he dispatched immediatlye one of the sergeantes or officers of the gaile, to the corrupt money mai∣ster, that was firste and all the cause of his vndeserued mis∣chief, with commission to conclude the bargaine for a thou∣sand Duckats accordynge to the rate of his firste offer But the traiterous wretch and pernicious patterne of iniquitie, knowinge the extreme pointes of the pore prisonner, who stoode nowe in water vp to the chyn with more likelihode to sinke, then assuraunce to recouer the fyrme lande, thoughte that his death, woulde deliuer him frée possession of his ly∣uinge, without thassistaunce of money, wherefore trium∣phyng already in the glorye of so great a fortune, with exspe∣ctation to haue the lande by speciall awarde of the fiske & SE∣NAT, retorned the messenger with aunswere, that albeit of ••ate he had desier to enlarge his demayne in the subberbe with a pece of his possession adioynynge, yet vpon a further viewe & consideration of the grounde, he was nowe of minde that his price far exceded the vaiewe, neither coulde he make so presente a proffit vpon so small a plat of inheritaunce, as with the vse and interest of so greate a summe of money as a M. ducats, notwithstāding for a supply of his presēt nede, he was cōtented to giue him vij .C. florēts & that more for the relief of his distresse, then any respecte of commoditie by the bargain. Here maye be noted the vertue & operacion of the couetous mynde infected with the desyer of fylthie gaine, whose frutes are to thurste after other mens goods, & glory

in the dekaye of their neighbour, with a dispositiō to conuert y^e vngracions spoyles of their brethren into a pleasaunt pray to their rauening appetite, without regard notwithstāding to thexpress inhibicion of God in diuerse places of the Scrip¦ture, or respect to the dutie of his conscience, or burthen of his soule, wherin besides y^e peynall threates of our Sauiour in the worlde to come, he seames also to hyer a tormentor to molest his quiet during his abode here, for the more he is in deuise to encrease his welth, the faster decreaseth his quiet, & himselfe so subiect to declinacion, according to the wordes of the Apostle, that a couetous man taketh more reuenge of himselfe beinge on lyue, then h is enemy when he is deade, neyther doth he consume the daye in other deuises, then in accumulacion of threasor, nor yeldes charitie to any but his golden coffers, whome he will not deffraye nor once demi∣nishe of a simple denier if it were to redeme the lyfe of hys naturall father, you haue hard his former offer of a thousand ducats, with no lesse desier to haue it at that price, & now you see he doth not only refuse it, but in a mockerie makes a dis∣dainfull tender of vij .C. Florents, attending a further bene∣fyt by the deathe of the vnfortunate MONTANIN, who no lesse astonyed at the reaport of this resolucion and refusall not loked for, then when the iudge published the sentence of his condemnacion, began to dispaire of other refuge, chiefly for that the awe & respect of authoritie of that villaine pre∣uailed so much ouer the rest of the marchauntes & cytizens thear, that none other durste vndertake the bargaine, seing their maister vsurer made difficultie to aduaunce y^e value: such wer the dispites of his fortune & extreme termes which sinister fate, with the malice of the wicked had brought him vnto, wherin dismissing thexspectacion of all succours, gaue sentence of his owne life & committed thexecution to the ri∣gour of y^e law, resoluing rather to quench thinsatiable thrust or gredye appetit of his couetous enemy by thoblacion of his innocēt life into thandes of such vnrighteous iudges, thē in exchaunging the remeinder of his whole inheritance for sasmal

a tribute (in sufficient also to satisfie y^e demaūd of y^e fiske to leaue his sister in extreme penurie, without al meanes of necessarie sustētaciō, wherfore reposing much for himself in thinnocencye of his cause at the handes of the highe iudge, chiefly for that the natural course of his dayes stode at point to be abridged by the wickednes of other men, after hée had preferred certeine vehement inuectiues against the general malice of the world, with special exclamacion on the behalfe of his peculiar myshap, he desyred respite to examine his life in secret, & dispose for the health of his soule, which resoluciō, of death was furthwith imparted to the faire ANGILIQVA, who besides whole riuers of teares distilling frō her watery eyes, with dollorous cryes in dolefull voyce, redoubled with an ECCHO of treble dule, entred into a mortall war wythe her garmentes and attyre of her head, neither forbearing to descheuel her crispy lockes & heare exceding the collor of Am ber, nor cōmit cruel execution vpon the tender partes of her body, & giuing free spoke to y^e humor of her fury, she spa∣red not to imprint with her nayles vppon the precious com∣plexion of her oriente face, a pytifull remembrance of the tragicall troble of her desolate brother, whome shee coulde not any way perswade to a chaung or alteracion of purpose, althoughe she imployed herselfe and councell of her frendes to thuttermoste, but I dare auouch thusmuche on the behalf of the deare zeale shee bare hym, that yf by the force and malice of the distresse, he had gyuen place to nature and dyed she had not lyued to haue reuenged his wronge, nor lamen∣ted her owne desolacion, for the same affection whyche mo∣ued her to suche care of his life, woulde also haue procured her to haue bene his companion to the graue, whereby one tombe at one instaunt shold haue serued to shroode the ij. bo∣dies & last remaynder of the whole race & house of the MON∣TANYNS. And that which scamed to restore her dollorous passion, with a freshe supply and increase of newe sorowe, was the heauie newes of diuerse of her neare kynsmen tou∣ching the spedy approch of the extreme date & delay of the sen∣tēce diffinitiue, which as they had not onli indeuored to differ

yet som lōger time, but also to purchase a moderation of the rigour, so beyng no lesse frustrate in the one, then voyed of assuraunce or hope of the other, they sayed there rested no∣thing on their powers to performe or discharge the office of true frends on her behalf, sauing to perswade her to consola¦cion, and to vse patience in cases of aduersitie, chiefly wher there appeares absolute dispaire of all remedie, and the sini∣ster suggestion of malicious fortune hath suppressed a! hope and expectation of deliuery, wherin as an vnfained witnes of their presente dollour, they let fall certaine teares to ac∣companie the pitifull dule of her, who vpon the reaport of theis last accurrauntes, forgat not to fyll the aire ful of hol∣lowe sighes, with open exclamacion against the lawe of na∣ture, that seamed so careles of her creatures, as not only to leaue them without armour or sufficent resistance, against the ordinary assaultes of the world, but also to make thē sub∣iect by speciall destenie, to the sentence & dome of a most vn∣righteous and hard fortune, but albeit aduersity (besides that she is subiect to sondry sortes of calamitie)

is also so quarel∣lous of her one disposition that for the respect of one simple or peculiar wronge, she makes vs to exclaime generally a∣gainst all liberties and lawes of God and man, yet ought we so to checke that same humour of inordinat rage, that morti∣fieth within vs all regarde of dutie and reason, that we dis∣paire not in the goodnes of him, who beyng the giuer of all comfort and GOD of consolation, is more ready to dispose it on our behalfe, then we hable to deserue the gift of so greate a benefit, and who in the middes of the teares of this desolate Ladye, beyng with the reste of her frendes wholly resolued to endure the rigorous sentence of their fate,

presented the CATASTROPHE of y^e tragedy, with such an offer or meane of spedye deliuery of the prisoner, that it did not only excede thexpectation of all men but seamed also the worke of suche a wonderfull misterie, that no man was hable to imagin the deuise, afore their eyes gaue iudgement of theffect▪ for the same day aboute the nynth or tenth hower of the euenyng,

ANSEAMNO SALYMBYNO whome heretofore you haue harde to bee sore passioned with the loue of ANGELYQVA hauing spente certaine dayes of recreacion in the contrey, is now returned to SYENNA, where passyng by the gate of his ladye, he chaunced to heare a lamentable noyse of wo∣men, bewailyng the misery of the montanynes, wherwith pursewyng the brute with a more diligente eare, spyed at last commyng out of the pallayes of ANGELYQVA certain olde dames his nexte neighboures, all to bee sprent and died with the dew of sorowfull teares, as though they hadd then cōme from the funeral of some of their frendes, of whom he enquired the cause of suche vnacustumable Dule, and whe∣ther & what new misfortune wer happened of late to y^e house of y^e Montauyns, and being at larg resolued of that which you haue hard by speciall reporte went imediatlye to his cham∣ber, where he began to discourse diuersely of this soddaine chaunce, sometyme determining the deliuerie of CHARLES for the only respect of his syster, whose good wil he thought he cold not purchase any waye so well, as by the benefyt and pryce of so greate a frendshyppe, by and by hee accompted the death of her brother a moste necessarye meane to make him the maister of his desire ouer his sister, wherin after he had spente somtyme in secrete cogitacion, without any cer∣teyne resolution notwithstandyng what to do, he seamed to aske open councel of himselfe in this sorte. What cause haue I hereafter to dowte of the thing I chiefly desyer, seyng for∣tune seames to take more care of my contentement, then I am hable to wishe or imagyn, vndertaking (as it seames) to presente me wyth theffecte of my busynes whenne I leaste thoughte of any hope or likelihod of good successe, for by the death of the MONTANYN who is to be executed to morowe in publike as a rebell or heynous offendor of the state, I shal not only see the laste reuenge, of the most mortall enemyes of our house, but also liue without feare, hereafter to be mo¦lested by any that shal discend of hym, and on the other syde. his death takes away al impedimētes, offering either to stay

or hinder me from enioying of her whom I loue so dearely for her brother being deade and his goodes and liuinge con∣fiscat to the state, what stay or support hath she, if not in her beauty, and loue of some honest gentleman who takyng cō∣pasion of the losse of so Rare an ornament and worke of na∣ture, may entertaine her for his pleasure vntill the glasse of so brikle a gyfte dekay with his delyte in her companye, and then for the respect of pytye, to bestow her in mariage with some compotent porcion. But what SALYMBYNO? shal the offer of any vnseamely reueng preuaile aboue that respect and duty thou art borne to beare and owe vnto true vertue, or wilt thou so much abuse y^e former glory of thy auncestors and present renowne of thy selfe with an acte no lesse detes∣table afore GOD then hatefull to the cares of all degrees of honestye? and wilte thou thus deceaue thexlpectation of thy frends, and leaue them in continual reproche to the posteri∣tye of all ages, with a note of suche infamye that tyme her selfe can skarce race out of the remembrance of man? if all thies lacke authority to diswade the, let only the respect and awe of vertue with remorce of conscience kepe the frome comitting so hainousanoffence: for to wh at other end haue the auncients put a diffrence betwene the gētlemen & crea∣tures of baser condition, but that in exposyng fruites of cy∣uill courtesye, wée should also stryue to make our selues no∣ble and excede theim in thimitacion of true vertue? and as it is far frō the office of a noble hart to thunder Reueng vpon such as are not hable to resyst thy power, so there can be no greater argument or proffe of true magnanimytie, then in buryenge the desyer of vengeaunce in a tombe of eternall obliuion, to expose moste fruites of compassion, where there appeares greate cause to extende the vttermost of rigour, and where on thaduerse partie, is leaste exspecte or hope of succoure, for how canne a man lay a more sewer soundation of perpetuall glorye, then in correctinge the humoure of hys fowle appetite and conquerynge the vn bridled affecti∣ons

of the wilful mind, to make them bound vnto the by thy benefyts, who wer in dispaire to receiue any pleasure at thy hands, y^t whiche declaration of true vertue lyke as it happe∣neth so seldom amongest men now a dayes, that we may ve raye well terme it a thinge excedinge the common course and order of nature, So he that wyll chalenge the title of true nobilitie, & seame to excel the rest in thappeale of perfect honor, muste prefer in publike suche absolute effects of hys worthynes and vertue, as the same may iustlye appeare me∣ritorious of an immortal memory in the successe of al future ages. The chiefest pointes of so large cōmendacion which so many recordes of antiquitye do attribute vnto the greate Dictatoure CESAR, consiste more in the clemencye hée vsed to his ennemies being vanquished and vnder the awe of hys mercye, then in the mortall and manye battailes he fought agaynst the valiaunte. GALLES and britons, or subduing the renowned POMPEY: the grrat ALEXANDER deserued no lesse honor for the pytie and curtesie hee vsed towardes SYSIGAMBIS the mother of DARIVS, with other desolate Ladyes whyche hée tooke prysoners in the battaile foughte at Arobella, thenne fame in the conqueste of the kynge and contreye of PERCIA and MEDIA, and at the death of the wyfe of DARIVS in hys camppe hee let fal no lesse effucion of teares then if hée had bene presente at the buriall of OLYMPIAS his naturall mother, neyt her coulde hee haue made so greate a conqueste of the whole easte worlde wyth hys small crewe and companye of MACE∣DONIANS, if he had not subdued more contreys by clemen∣cye thenne force of armes: besydes, who is ignorante of the late curtesye of DON RODERICO VIVANO of Spayne, who all bée it myghte haue reuenged thinfyde∣lytye of DON PIETRO thenne kyng of Aragon for that hée wente a bowte to ympeshe his expedicion agaynst the sa∣razins being then at Granado did not only for beare to punish hym or put hym to ransom, but also beinge his prisoner by

order and lawe of armes, dismissed hym into his countreye with no lesse honour then belonged to his estate, withoute a∣ny exaction of his person or realme, wherin for my parte, the more I reaue in the rariety of their noble vertues, so muche the more oughte I, to increase my indeuor in thymitacion of the like examples, and of the crontrary, what great cause haue I to preferre a continuation of the grudge ended alredye by warre, or why shoulde I sturre vp eftefones a freshe Remembrance of the faulte alredye forgeuen? what iniury haue they don to me ormine, which was not retorned vnto them without intrest of double reuenge? admit their predecessours haue bene ennemies to my house, haue they not borne a more harde penance then the greatnes of their offence deserued? What cause haue I then to renew the ala∣ram of their miserie, or why stay I to succour their desolate state, in some satisfaction of the iniuries they haue receiued by me and mine, besides the wrathe of God accordyng to the wordes of the Apostle, is alwaies hanginge ouer the heades of suche, as seame to take pleasure in the affliction of their neighbour, reioyce in the misfortune or misery of an other, if all thies lacke sufficient force to mortifie the remembrāce of auncient malice within me, and in exposing (contrarie to the exspectatiō and opinion of the world) a wonderful exam∣ple of vertue, to moue me to releue his distresse that dispai∣reth of all succour, and reclaim by liberalitie the frendeshipe of him, who if he euer offended is alredye pardoned, like as also if his innocency haue bene abused by me and mine, my cōscience calleth me to a remorce, in rendring satisfaction in so nedeful a time: yet am I drawen by a band of further du∣tye, and incensed by a somaunce or special instigacion of the honour and seruice, which my harte hath alredye vowed, on the behalfe of her: whose beauty & vertue deserues a greater méede, then the vttermost that I can do, eyther for the cōten∣tement of her, or consolation of her brother, for like as ther is no man (onlesse he bee vtterlye deuested from the gyfte of humanitye) beinge passioned with equall affection and so∣somoned

by semblable desire to doo some notable seruice to my deare ANGELIQVA as I am, that woulde not racke hys power to the highest pyn, to take awaye the chiefe causes of her dolefull teares, and restore her to a spedie contentment conuenient for her merite: So in louinge her I muste also imbrace suche as shee accomptes and (by good righte) are moste deare vnto her. And if I will make a declaration of the true zeale I beare her, why do I staie to expose it in so nede∣full a time, and on the behalfe of him, whome shee loueth no lesse then her selfe, attending euen now the fatall stroake of the morderinge sworde for a tryfflinge due of a thousande florentes: and why shoulde I doubte to make it knowen in publike that only the force of loue hathe made me trybutary to the faire ANGELIQVA, for seinge that kinges and the greateste monarkes of the Worlde do drawe vnder the yoke of his awe, it is not for me to eschewe that by speciall pryui¦ledge, whiche is incidente to all men by nature, neyther ought I herein to refuce the offer of my destenie, nor straun gers to enter into muche maruaile, if I (beinge of the met∣tall of other men and subiect to no lesse impression and passi∣ons of mynde then the reste) do make presente dedication of my harte and seruice to her whose vertue I am sewer is so in vincible agaynst all aduersitie, that neyther necessitie, nor the moste extreame message that fortune can send her, is ha¦ble to make her forfeyte the leaste pointe of her honestie, or forgette the renowme of the genelogie wherof she is discen∣ded: wherin as honest loue hath sturred vp this mocion in me with composicion to expose imediatlye the frutes and effecte of semblable vertue: So the spedye delyuerye of thy brother (Oh: ANGELYQVA) shal argue sufficientlye to all men, that it is only the regarde of thy beawtie that hath paied the price of his raunsom, and remoued frome his tender legges the heauye yrons whiche the penaunce of harde imprisone∣mente had vniustlye enioyned vnto him, tryumphinge also with this increase of further glorye, that onlye the regar∣des and glauncis of thy glisteringe eyes haue made a breach

into the hart whiche earste hathe defyed the malice and vtter∣moste of all force, and made hym bowe of his owne kinde that neuer colde bee broughte to bende or stowpe to any of what degree or condition so euer they were. And thou SE∣IGNEVR CHARLES for thy parte hast this daye gained so assured and perfecte a frende, that if thou wilt confirme the league by franke consente, thamytie shall not be onlye mutuall betwene vs till deathe discharge the same by sepe∣ration of oure bodies, but also remeyne no lesse indissoluble to the posterytie and succession of bothe oure races for euer: And as in the firste worke of this newe societie, I will not only stryue to excede the in showe of perfecte frendeshippe, but also make the waye open by my example to all degrees of nobilitie to attaine to the like honour by semblable vertue So I pronounce heare a further confirmation on my parte, with protestation by the faythe and lyfe of a gentleman to embrace the and thy frendes with no lesse affection then my selfe and persecute thy enemyes with no lesse mortalitie then yf they had conspired and put in vse the destruction of the noble house of SALYMBYNO: wherwith seinge the ne∣cessitie of the tyme, craued rather an expedition of diligence, then longer discourse, or deliberation, hee tooke a bagge of a thousande duckattes and we••••ymediatly to y^e Deputie re∣ceauor of the peynall forfeytures of the state of SYENNA whom hee founde perusinge certaine accomptes in his sto∣die. And after he hadde taken him the bagge, with addition that there was the whole demaunde due by DON CHARLES MONTANYN, he commaunded to giue an acquitance withe his writte of delyuery from thinstante: but tellinge the con∣tentes of the bagge he founde a surplusage of the some due by the prysoner, which as he offred to restore, so the other did not onlye refuce to take it, but also woulde not departe the place, till he had dispatched one of his people to the maister of the Iayle, who perceiuing a tender of the money, wythdrewe the accion, & sent to fetch y^e prisoner out of his dōgion & darke cabynet, clogged with heauye shackels and clinkinge yrons

CHARLES hearinge a noyse of bownsinge at doares and o∣pening of rustie lockes, imagined it had bene the comminge of some ghostlie father to heare his shryft and laste confes∣sion, and that the senatte (in respecte of the honour and esti∣macion of his house had graunted him the priueledge of a se∣crete execution within the prison, for auoydinge the publike shame whiche comonlye attendes the miserye of such as de∣clare their laste testament vppon the skaffolde in the gaze of all the worlde: and hauinge alredye examyned his consci∣ence accordinge to the shortnes of his leasure so farfurthe as he seamed only to attende the fatall hower, desyred god eft∣sones to strengthen him with hys grace, not leauinge him wythout assistance in his iourneye and passage so perillous, where oftentymes the moste assured do not only wauer but vtterly declyne, if they be not supported by his speciall fauor in the ende of which secret meditacion, he comended vnto his goodnes the lyfe of his deare syster, desiering with humble teares in a speciall peticion and last requeste to be protector and defende her alwayes from all assaltes and offers of infa∣mie or dishonour being thus brought into the hal of the Iay∣lor, the tormentours or officers of the prison, begā to knocke of the boltes from his legges, and present hym besydes (in show of countenance) rather with arguments of consolation then cause of freshe disquiet or distruste of delyuerie, which kinde of curtesy not loked for stirred vppe in his troubled minde a soddaine hope or expectation of good fortune, with an absolute assurance almoste of that which affore he durste neuer ymagine, and muche lesse accompte to come to passe, wherof notwithstandinge the effecte appeared at thinstant, for the Iaylor showinge him his letters of deliuerie, tolde hym it was in his power to vse the benefytte of hys former lybertye, for saythe hee the lawe is choked and fullye aun∣swered of her due, and I safysfyed to the vttermoste of the charges and fees of youre imprisonmente, desyeringe you (Sir) if you haue founde worse entreatie att my handes thenne I see youre offence hathe deserued to consider the

charge of my office, and to impute it rather to the straite comission enioyned mee by the sen••tt, then any de∣syer of my selfe to deale with you in other sort, then the bond and respect of the dutifull zeale I beare you dothe require.

Here is to be noted a wonderfull difference in the casualties accidentall to man, and that the chaunges and alterations in loue be of a contrary disposition to the reste of the passions that trouble the minde:

neyther nede we doubt by the autho∣ritie of this example, no lesse credible then of great admiraci∣on, but loue is a certaine vertue of it selfe, seinge it workes theffect and exposeth suche frutes as seame to resemble ra∣ther the operactōof a deuine miracle, then the suggestion of our fraile fancye, for howe had this SALYMBYNO redemed so frelye and in a tyme of such nede, the carefull CHARLES (beinge firmely confirmed in mortall grud••e as you haue harde) if the verye vertue whiche we are not hable to tearme by al proper name in loue had not broken by force of azealous affection, the angrie inclinacion of his nature, and conuerted the humor of his auncient wrath into a compassion exceding the imagination of manne. And as it is an ordenarye argument of humanytie to giue succours to suche as ney∣ther haue deserued any thinge of vs and muche lesse wee ne∣uer knewe nor sawe, because nature herselfe dothe somon vs all to be thankefull to such as resemble our selues in con∣dition or callinge: So that vertue deserueth treble comenda∣tion, whiche excedinge (as it were thauthoritie of nature) doth force in vs suche an inclynacion whiche dothe not only mortefye in our hartes the obstinat humor norished of long continuance, but makes vs plyable to the thinges which we colde not somuch as admitte afore into oure cogitacions and much lesse performe by any perswacion of the worlde: wher of you maye note a familiar experience in the disposition of this SALYMBYN who suffred himselfe to be more ouer∣come wyth the bewtie, vertue and seamelye behauior of ANGELIQVA, then with any humilitie or importunatte sute of her brother althoughe hee hadde layen prostrate a

thousande tymes afore his knee. And what hart is tempe∣red with the mettal of such induracion that is not mollified, and made tractable by the regardes of so rare a misterie, as the exquisite beautye of this SYENNOYSE, or who wil not slacke the Raine of his loftie stomacke and stoupe to the so∣mance of suche a paragon, humblynge hymselfe withall e∣uery waye to get the good will of her that gaue place to no creature in the worlde for all perfections of God and na∣ture, neyther is there any reason at all to charge hym with imputaciō of foly that indeuoureth to honor and imbrace in his hart, the beautye and other giftes of so vertuous a La∣dye, nor his trauaile meritorious of other name, then the title of honest exercise, who addinge an exact diligence to his dutifull zeale and seruice in the pursute of her whose vertues procure his affection, hath his harte armed onelye with an vpright meanyng of sincere integritye, and the de∣sier of his minde tendyng to none other ende then a consom∣mation of an honest and lawfull request: But for the con∣trary of this honest societie, I accompt hym not worthie to haue the ayre breath vpon hym, who practisinge onely to se∣duce and corrupte the chasteye of honest Dames, hath no respect to the vertue of honest and true loue, but sekyng on∣ly to satisfy the appetit of his sensual luste, doth embrace the exterior partes of a woman, and commendes simplye the tree charged with leaues, without regardyng the frut which makes it worthie of commendacion and fame. Here with it can not be muche frō our purpose to enterlarde this digres∣sion, with the authoritie of a brief note, whiche I founde written in a frenche booke on the behalfe of the sinceritye which ought to appeare in women, comparinge the younge Ladye bearynge yet the name of a mayde to the glisterynge flower in the pleasaunt springe, vntill by her constancie and chaste behauior, subduing vtterlie the wanton mocions of the fleshe, she expose to the worlde the precious fruites deriued of so greate a vertue and giue absolute experience other vndoubted pudicitie: For otherwayes (saith he) she

is in no other degree for worthie renowme, then the young soldiour whose contenaunce albeit argueth the corage of his hart, yet his capteine hath no reason to gyue iudgement of his valiauntnes, nor cause to reapose muche credit in him in any expedition or exploite againste thenemye, tyll he see an approued effect in dede of that which he promiseth so largely by his outward apparance, but when he fyndeth an absolute confirmation of the exterior likelihodes by the inward vertu and valyauntnes of the mynd, it is then that he doth not only embrase hym, but preferreth hym afore the rest as a speciall pattorne to ymitate his vertues Euen so besides that the Croune of immortal glorye, atten des youe Ladyes, who by withstandynge thassaultes and importunities of the fleshe, do giue to your selfe the true title of honest women, not by force or awe of constraint, but by the valyaunt resistance of your most chaste and inuincible hart, yet also the monumēt of your vertues being graued in pillors of eternitie, and ad∣uaunced to the height of the highist theatrey in the worlde, shal remaine as a mirroer or worthy spectacle to procure all posterities not onelye to treade the pathe of semblable ver∣tues, but also to yelde you a continuall adoracion after your death by the remembraunce and viewe of your chaste & ver∣teous life, wherewith wishyng you al no lesse desier to lyue wel, then the most of you are gredy of glory. I leaue you to the remorce of your owne consciences & presentes you here withe the remeinder of my promisse touchyng the sequele of CHARLES MONTANYN, who being out of prison as you haue harde repaired immediately to his house, with intent to comfort her, whom he knewe to be in greater dollour and distresse, and as nedeful of consolacion, as himselfe seamed desirous of repose, being so longe forewatched in a filthy pri¦son, and knocking at the gates of his Pallais, the mayd that opened the dore and saw it was her maister, mounted with more speed then an ordinarie pase and tolde ANGELIQVA the deliuerye and approche of her brother, wherunto (what addicion or protestation her mayde seamed to make) her

troubled mynde wolde giue no credit: suche greate impossi∣bilitie do wee accompte in the execution of those thinges whiche we chiefly desier: but seaminge no lesse amazed with the misterie, thē saint Peter being soddainly taken furth of the prison of HERODE by the Aungel, sloode as thoughe she had bene dreaming of the dissolution of the worlde without apparance of sence or argument of lyuely moriō in any part of her til y^e presence of her brother (being now in her chāber) seamed to breath in her an ayre of fresh cōsolatiō & lyfe, & dis∣missing frō thinstāt y^e misterie of her domme traūce, receiued oftsones her former vse & libertie of senses, wherewith cōuer¦ting her dolorous regards & teares of aunciēt dule into a pas¦sion of such sodain gladnes, that being at y^e point to cōgratu∣lat his cōmig with words, she felt a secōd impedimēt of spech by y^e operatiō of preset ioye which she toke in beholding his face, y^t she fel down at his fete, embrassig & kissyng his knees with no lesse signes & shewe of a gladsome mynde, then if by som miracle he had bene raised frō death to life, wherewith certaine Ladies her kynswomen, assistinge her dolorous di∣stresse, hauyng restored her laste traunce, and doubtyng eft∣sones to fal into the like passion, sent for their husbādes with other the frends of MONTANYNO, aswel to reioyce his hap∣pie deliuery & so to auoyde al occasiōs of further traunces in his sister, as also to excuse their negligēce in not assisting his late miserie: but CHARLES dissimuling y^t which he thought of their discourtesie towardes himself, gaue thē chief thākes for their frendship in cōforting his syster, which he cōstrued to as great an honor & argumēt of good wil, as if they had im∣ployed it on y^e behalf of himself, wherwith he dismissed them, deuining notwithstāding what he shold be that had made so large declaratiō of so great a vertu, & sorowful without mea¦sure that he knew him not, to thende he might not onely re∣qui••e so rare a courtesie, but also excede him in liberalitie by a franke offer of himself & al that he hath within the world: he scamed not so ignoraunt of thauthor of so greate a bene∣fit, as his syster in treble doubte on y^e same behalf, persuading

herselfe notwithstanding that the feare of death had made him cōueigh a secret sale of his landes in the cōtrey to him which first broked it. And that this doubte which seamed to trouble hym was onely a darke vaile to conceile the trothe and kepe it from her knowledge, or rather his longe imprisonment with disquiet of minde duringe his trouble, had stalled his sences & made him raue in y^t sorte, wherin she was in equall doubte of them al, til he resolued her to the contrary, where∣with departing for that night, they repaired to their seueral chābers, where y^e MONTANYN had more desier of slepe, then hable to admit any rest, for that he spent al that night in con¦templatiō & contrarietie of thoughtes, making an assemblie in his minde of euery shape & figure of such his frends as he was hable to imagin to be y^e workers or cause of so great a be¦nefit, somtime preferring one, somtime presēting an other, without touching notwithstāding y^e perfect whit, or naming him that iustely had deserued the meede of so great a merite, and to whome he acknowledged no lesse bonde of dutie then to them that were the first causers of his comming into this worlde, wherin passing that night the pictures of a thousand men, his bed seamed to serue him as a wyde & large plaine, or some rowmey alley or close arbor within a thicke wood to rol vp and downe, making his discourse with sondry sortes of diuerse ymaginations, vntil the discouerynge of the redde globe orforronner of the day somoned APOLLO to harnesse his horse & begin his course ouer our HEMISPHERE, whē he rise and wente to the officer of the fyske, of whome he de∣maunded to know what he was that discharged the debte of his late forfeyture. He whom you can skarcely ymagin (saith y^e receauour) hath exceded all your frends infirme & faithfull zeale towards you, to whom I haue deliuered the releace of your imprisonment, but not y^e acquitaūce of y^e money, becau∣se here is an ouerplus which I haue here to tēder vnto you, w^t your general discharge, wherw^t Charles no lesse moued a∣gainst him for y^e offer of y^e money, then greued w^t the curious delay he seamed to vse in disclosing y^e name of so great a frēd,

requested hym eftesones to cut of his suspence, & make hym know y^e man to whom he was so much bounde. The rare ver tue & curtesie of ANSEAMO SALIMBINO (saith he) hath pre¦ferred cause of perpetual shame to al your frendes & allies, and opened you the waye not onelye to be equall, but ex∣cede hym in semblable merit, wherewith he departed with an infynity of conceiptes and constructions of the courtesie of his enemye, and beynge at his house in a secret gallerye voyde from all companye or occasion of disturbance, began to discourse diuerslye of thaccident, but chiefly what shoulde sturre vp such generositie with inexspectable humanitie in hym, who with his parentes and all the power he mighte make, had bene the onely and mortall scourges of his whole house, at last startyng vp (as it were out of a dead sleape or newly delyuered from the misterye of som sodaine qualme) began to remember some glées of frendshy, which he had heretofore noted in SALIMBINO on the behalfe of his sy∣ster, which appeared chiefly in the often palewalkes & pur∣menades he made by the gate of hys Pallais, where yf by chaūce his eyes encoūtred with the viewe of ANGELIQVA, he forgot not to preferre a reuerence and salutacion rather of an affectioned hart, then a mynde charged with grudge or any kinde of enymitie, wheruppon he resolued immediatly that the onelye beautye of his syster did pleade for his lyfe, and purchase his deliuerye, concludyng withall in his mind, that as y^e noble hart is soonest enclined to loue, so when true affection hath once made a breache into the intralles of the valyant and princely minde, it is impossible but she shoulde expose maruelous effectes and fruites of honest vertue, like as also the ymp deriued of noble kinde, and discended of the progenie of renowmed predecessours, can not so maske or co¦uer his norriture & education, but the vertue of the minde wil aduaunce herselfe in the countenance with shew of no∣bilitie in the face, and preferre a facilitie in that, whiche the voice of the worlde hath not onelye iudged impossible, but also absolutely persuaded that he wold neuer be brought

to do it, eyther of frée consent or force of any awe or allure∣mentes, wherin for his parte because he would neyther be surmounted in honestie nor noted of anye spot of ingrati∣tude determined to reuenge the good tourne he had receiued with suche prodigall recompense, that he woulde seame no lesse liberall in retorninge thintereste of the benefit recey∣ued, then the other treble meritorious for thexample of soo rare a vertue, wherefore hauinge nothinge worthy to pre∣sent the frendshipp of SALIMBINO, but himselfe and his sister, determined to impart his present resolution with the fayre ANGELIQVA, and after dispose themselues by mutu∣all assent to make a tender & franke offer of that whych was in theym, to be imployed on the behalfe of him and his as he lyste to ymagine the occasion, wherin because he was now in the contrey without intent to retourne to the citie till the expiracion of some iiij. or v dayes, CHARLES, fynding hys conscience heauelye charged with a debte on his behalfe, thought to practise for hym in his absence, aswell as he was myndefull of his late misfortune, and therupon procured his syster into a gardein far from anye haunte or companye to troble them, where he brake with her in this sort,

Amongest all the chaunges and conuersions of mortall af∣faires (my deare syster) there is none a more familiar prece∣dent of the malice of fortune, then he that is touched wyth di¦uersitie of euils, nor anye so greate a paterne or example of her mobitie, as they that fynde often chaunge of estate, and yet for all that, we ought not to suffer any aduersatie to deminishe the vertue and constancie of the mind, neyther is it our part to geue so greuous a sentence of the state of mās mortalitie, as eyther to denie mercie to such as be in misery or dispair of compassion whenne our selues be touched with affliction, seing that as thinges mortall are full of chaunge, and no man hath perpetuall felicitie, So there is no man certaine of any thinge that he hath, and God is bound to no time, and fortune being slipperie of her selfe, and not hable to be holden againste her will, dothe neuer giue so greate

felicitie, but she enioyneth a double penaunce with trouble of treble annoy in respect of the benefyt. And besides he that falleth frō the vttermost spray, or height of the highest tree, findeth lesse case and more daunger, then suche as fele them selues taken from the lowe and shallow braunches suppor∣ted vpon the firme earth. Al which I prefer vnto you in this place aswel by a peculyar instigacion and remorce of mynde restoring a newe remembrance of the noble cōdicion of our Auncestors, the auncient glory of our race, and former re∣nowne of the house of MONTANYNO, as also to sturre vp in vs both a freshe supplie of sorowful teares on the behalfe of the late depopulation and vtter ruine of the same: wher∣in for my parts, as often as I beholde the riche seates and stately buildinges, somtime the resident and ordinarie pla∣ces of abode of our fathers and grandfathers: when my de∣solate eyes glaunsinge vpon diuers corners of this cytie, do fede vpon the viewe of sondrye skutchions and pendels of our armes bearinge a special marke or badge of thantiqui∣tie of our famuly, or that in the cathedral churches or chiefe temples of this cytie I peruse the inscription of so manye statelye tombes and perpetuall monumentes of marble, shrowdyng the bodies of so many noble Knightes and nota∣ble Captaines discended of the lyne of MONTANYNO: but chieflye as often as I put my foote within the entrey of this pallais (the very reste and last remeinder of them whose au∣thoritie onely hath earst gouerned the state of this common¦welth), I fele my selfe so passioned with inward grefe, and my hart within distillinge drops of blodd on the behalfe of so great a desaster, that I wishe more often then I am harde to be taken awaye from the dolourous regarde of suche wret∣ched desolation, to thende that I alon mighte not liue as the od relike or vttermost reste of our subuerted house. And al∣beit we may chalēge the first place in the beadrol of vnhappy wretches, seinge our fortune hath exchaunged oure aun∣cient felicitie, for a present lyfe of extreme miserye, yet yf there be anye cause of consolation in aduersitie, we haue

raison to ioye in the condicion of our state, chefly for that we are not iustely to be charged with imputacion of euil or dis∣honest trade any waie, and that notwithstanding the raging malice of our fortune with the force of pouertie pinchynge extremely, the discourse of our lyues hath so confirmed the generositie of our auncestors, that we kepe the consent of al voices, to be nothing inferior to the best of them in any re∣spect of vertue or showe of true nobilitie: For I haue al∣waie indeuored to obserue this one rule & discipline of the re nowmed Emperour & captaine MARCVS ANTHONIVS, who persuadeth that as the heyght of estate ought not to al∣ter the goodnes of nature: So the frowarde disposition of fortune oughte not to take awaye or diminishe the constan∣cie of the mynde, with this addicion that he beareth her ma∣lice best that hydes his myserye moste: Besides thusmuche dare I aduouche of my selfe, that as I was neuer presented with the offer of any good tourne, whiche I haue not thanke∣fullie requited to thuttermoste: So I haue not bene a ni∣garde of anye thinge I haue on the nedefull behalfe of my frende or other companion, detestynge alwayes that anye iote of ingratitude shold staine the reputatiō wherin I haue lyued hytherunto: For as amongest a nomber of vices in men nowe a dayes, the note of vnthanfulnes is no lesse de∣testable then anye of the reste: So for my parte I wishe the rigour of THATHENYANS lawe vpon hym, who seames eyther forgetfull of the benefyt passed, or vnthankefull to the frendship of hym that brought succours to his necessitie when he dispaired of relief: wherin (my deare sister) albeit you maye happelye imagine the cause of this longe circun∣staunce, yet can you giue no certeine iudgement of the ende or conclusion, nor diuine ryghtely the meanynge of the mi∣sterye whiche I purpose to reueale vnto you. The threat∣nynge perill whiche earste houered to cut in sonder the fyl∣let of my lyfe, is of so late a tyme, that I am sewer youre minde hath not yet dismissed the remembraunce of so feare∣full a tragedye, neyther haue you forgotten I knowe howe

as it were by speciall miracle, I was boughte out of the han∣des of the executioner of iustice and redemed from the rigo∣rus sentence of the partiall senatt, without thassistance of any my parentes or alyes, by eyther simple offer of worde or effect: wherin as I am warned by this experience not onlye to putt small confidence in anye of my kynsmen hereafter, but also to reappose no assurance at all in their flatteringe show of fained face, so I haue tasted of so great a pleasure at the handes of hym who neuer deserued well of mee, nor I cause to ymagyne any one droppe of humanitye in hym on my behalfe, that yf I do ryght to his vertue, I haue reason to admitt hym not onlye amonge the felowshippe, but also the firste and chiefe of my deare frendes: for beinge pressed so muche wyth the iniquitte of the tyme, wyth freshe assaltes of newe afflictions, and forsaken with all of my nearest fren∣des, I had reason to ymagyne, and cause to feare that thonly malice of oure mortall enemyes (for the extirpation of the whole stocke and roote of oure race) had bene the workers of my laste trouble and daunger of deathe: But (good syster) in this distruste I haue abused the vertue of our late aduersary deseruynge to indure pennance for entringe into conceites of conspiracye agaynste hym, whose late benefyte (excedinge the ymaginacion of all men) hath made me bounde to honor the remembrance of his name with a debte of dutie so longe as nature shall phan in mee the breathe of lyfe: for in place where I feared most daunger, I founde moste sauetie, and where I exspected least sewertye, I encowntred moste assu∣rance, And that hande whiche I attended only to giue the fa∣tal blowe of my destruction, hath not only remoued all occa∣sions or offers of present perill, but become the chiefest pil∣lor and proppe of mine honour and lyfe hereafter, wherin be¦cause you shalbe partaker of the playnnesse of my tale, as∣well as you haue vsed patience in the hearinge of the circum¦stance, yt is ANSEAMO SALYMBYNO the son and heir of our aunciente persecutours, who hath made so manyfeste a declaration of his affected zeale towardes our howse, that in

taking your brother owte of the handes of thunrighteous senate & present daunger of perentorye destruction, he hath seamed so lauishe of his liberal mynde, that in place of vii. C florentes, he hath paide a thousande Duckattes for the ran∣som of hym, who iudged hym the moste crewell enemye of the worlde: what argumente of noble harte is this or howe seldom dothe a man encounter suche rare frutes of vertue? frendes knitt together by a speciall league of amytie or mu∣tuall vowe of frendeshippe, do oftentymes make the worlde wonder of the sondry frutes and effectes of constancie which appeareth betwene theime: but where the mortall enemie, beinge neyther reconciled nor required nor demaundinge any assuraunce for the pleasure he dothe, paieth not only the debte of his aduersarye, but restoreth his state when hee is at pointe to performe the last of his fatal somaunce I thinke it excedes all the consideration of suche as vse to discourse vppon the doinges of menne. I knowe not what title to geue to the acte of SALYMBYNO, nor howe to tearme this his curtesye, yf not that his doinges deserue a better meede thenne the renowne of DAYMON and PITHIAS or other moste loyall frendes whome the writters doo fauor wyth suche surnames of glorye: but as I am a chiefe wit∣nes of hys vertue, so the example of hys presente honestie hathe sturred vppe suche an affected humor wythin me that eyther I wyll dye in thindeuor, or els I wylbe equall yf not hable to excede hym in the retourne of hys liberalitie, wherein beinge iustelye bownde to engage the beste parte in me, for the recompense of that good torne whiche gaue increase to my lyfe, I am to craue a special assistance of you (Syster) for the complotte of the deuise whyche I haue al∣readye ymagyned and fullye resolued to performe to thend I maye bee onelye bownde to you for thacquitaunce of the liberalytye of SALIMBINO, by whose helxe you that earste Lamented the losse of libertye and lyfe of youre bro∣ther maye nowe congratulate hys healthe and happye dely∣uerye: where wyth the faire ANGELIQVA fully resolued

by this laste report of her brother, that it was SALEMBINO whyche hadde surmounted all her parentes and frendes in the delyuerye of her onelye confort, and consolacion of their whole howse, made a frank promyse of her ayde in this sort: like as (saith she) I was neuer hable to ymagyne y^t your dely¦uery was wrought by so Rare a meane, nor y^t our enemyes (dissoluinge the remembraunce of aunciente quarrell) wolde retire to a care and conseruacion of the healthe and lyfe of the MONTANYNS: euen so I thinke youre debt is the greater by the awthoritie of him that hathe done the benefyte, and more worthye of am ple consideracion, thenne if the good torne hadde bene don by any of your parentes and allies: for thymitacion of a vertue oughte to excede the ex∣ample of the awthor, chieflye wher thoccasion is deryued of suche an vnlikelihod, that the compasse of brayne seames insufficiente to ymagine so verteous an acte, wherin for my parte, if I were as hable as I am willinge, his curtesye, shoulde bée retorned at soo large an intreste, that hymselfe shoulde thinke his benefyt nothinge in respecte of the recompence, and the worlde to witnes the generositie of the MONTANYNS, but hauynge no waye thassistaunce of fortune to presente him with any thinge that may ballance with the merite of hys curtesye, and beinge besides a maide withoute accesse to his house, by reason of the smal hawnte I vse with the ladyes his kinswomenne, I can do no more but yelde honoure to hys vertue wythe secrete thankes in my harte, wythe acknowledginge the debte vntill wee bee hable to discharge it wyth equall recompense: albeit (brother) if you haue deuised the meane wherin you accompte mee necessarye to be ymploied, doubte not of mee in anye respecte, soo that myne honoure onely bee not dis∣tressed. Amongeste ann infinitte discourses appearynge seuerallye in my vnquiette mynde (saythe hee) I canne not reste vppon anye likelye cause or meane to worke theffecte of soo Rare a curtesye in thys gentlemanne on

my behalfe, nor to procure hym in soo soddayne a mo∣mente to breake the bonde of annciente grudge, and to conuerte his naturall hate into a frendeshippe withoute a seconde or comparison, if it be not the fyer of a couert loue kindled of longe time within the tender parts of his intrails, and suppressed with a wonderfull greife to himself, til now, that encountringe so conueniente an occasion to sette abroache the vessell of his burninge desier, withe meane to euente the flame that wyll no longer smother, but bulke out into open show, he makes open declaracion of that whiche he can no longer conceile: ah wonder full force and vertue in loue, who hath power to conuerte the minde oppressed w^t passion of collor into a disposition tractable beyo nd all exspec¦tacion, and in one momente to chaunge that wherein all mē iudged an ympossibylitie of conuercion, it is only thy bewtie ANGELYQYA with respect of other thy perfections whiche haue transformed our late enemye into the parson of a per∣fecte frende, it is the generall ••ame of thy honest and verte∣ous life y^t hath sommoned SALYMBYNO to deliuer thy mi∣serable brother abandoned of all his frendes and in dispaire of any good fortune, Oh, noble gentleman and harte of a kinge lackinge no kinde of magnanymitie, what meanes a∣las haue 3 to approche that honest liberalitie wherunto thou haste bownde me by so sewer obligacion? I lyue to serue the and am ready to dye to do the pleasure? mine honor is reser∣ued to be ymploied by the, and my goodes and lyuinge at∣tende thy sommonce to dispose of them at thy pleasure, thow haste also made suche a stealthe of my harte that onely death is hable to redeme it, what is there thenne remaininge, but that y^u ANGELIQVA, remoue incontynent the vaile of al su∣persticion, and vnseamely crueltie in disposinge thy selfe to be thankefull to hym who hath won thy goodwill by the wager and warranty of verteous loue, and who as a fyrste earneste penny of his seruice and dutye towardes the, dyd presente a thousande ducekettes for the raunsome of myne

honour and lyfe, whyche if they remeyne of equall care vnto the nowe, as thabundance of thy late teares with dollorus regardes did earste argue to all the worlde, whereof also thou gaueste a chiefe declaration in thy free consente to se•• mine inheritance for the redemption of my thraldom: Sticke not to dispose thy selfe now so frankely on my behalfe, that I maye reuenge the fauor whiche SALYMBYNO hath don me (for the respect of thy loue) with a present no lesse preci∣ous and rare, then his acte is iustly meritorious of perpetu¦all fame in all ages: And as hee refuced not turne vp the bottom of his coffers to raunsome my libertie: So lackinge the consente of equal fortune to retorne his curtesye with semblable payment, lett vs make a present of your bewtie, whiche I am sewer he wil not abuse any waye, consydering that he wantes no furniture of vertue whiche is necessarie for the adorninge of a noble harte, which as it is al the meane I haue to make a counterchange of his benefytt, and bringe me out of debt with him whose money lyethe in pawne for the libertie of my life: So I beseche you (good sister) consider the iustice of my requeste and prono wnce a resolucion in suche sorte, as requitinge that whiche is due to him, I maye yelde you alone al homage and holde my life only of you: but if your aunswere putt me eyther in doubte or dis∣paire of this meane to make euen with so true a creditor, as∣sure your selfe I wil rather abandon both citye and countrey and disclaime the company of al my frends, then liue amon∣gest you with the name of an vnthankeful parson, or be poin¦ted at of the worlde not to requite so great a good torne as the deliuerie and sauinge of my life, wherefore seinge that in you alone consistes the whole reappose of your desolate bro∣ther, determine eyther his abode and companye with you for euer, or els his departure within these thre daies, to wast the remeinder of his wretched life in continual wander in forreine soiles, with absolute intente neuer to sett foote within any parte of ITALY hereafter. Wherwith the pore ANGELIQVA became no lesse astonied and voyede of sence

then if she had bene of a soddayn assailed w^t an APOPLEXIE al be it the passion of her mynde quarrellinge so longe with in that her stomake seamed to pant as it were the brea∣the of it, litle bellowes vpon a fordge, brake oute at laste by a watery vent at her eyes distillinge whole riuers of tea¦res, and restored her to the vse of her speche, which she vt∣tered to her brother in this sorte. I haue often rede (saithe shee) that it is easye for an innocente to fynde wordes to speake, and verye harde for a man in myserie to kepe a tem∣peraunce in his tale, but I doubte I shall finde by a present experience of my selfe, that the defence of a prisoner is not only superfluous but also hatefull seaminge rather to re∣proue then enforme the iudge, wherein I am the rather per¦swaded (my deare brother) for that the tearmes of thy laste requeste dependinge vpon yssues of extremeties, do argue bothe a iustice to performe thy desyer and an incyuilitie in the in makinge so vnreasonable a demaunde, the one chalen∣ginge a consente in me by thympression of nature and bonde of dutifull zeale on my behalfe towards the, the other char¦ginge the wyth iniquitie for the respecte of that whiche thou wouldest haue me to do: But seinge euerye requeste craueth a retorne of aunswere, and the greater qualytie or condition the cause is of, the greater delyberacion oughte wee to vse, ••••iefelye where it ymportes eyther thabsolute breache or firme confirmation of the league of lyneall con∣sanguynitye: I beseche you graunte no lesse patience to the wordes of my replie, then I haue bene contented to fauor your vehement protestacion with a dollorous scilence, ney∣ther let me any longer inveighe in myne aunswere, then I shall seame to preferre good reason to iustefye my iuste com∣plaint, the cause wherof doth marche with more alarams of annoye thorow all the partes in me, then if I wer present∣ly pinched with the most greuous tormentes of the worlde: seing that my life, with therposition of the same is nothing in respecte of that which thy ymportunities do labour to set

abroche and put in vent for the onely satisfaction of a prodi∣gall liberalitye: for if the price of my life woulde suffice for the raunsom of myne honor, and appaisement of thy appetit, thou couldest no soner ymagyn thy contentement, then the same shoulde be exposed on thy behalfe, neyther wolde I take halfe the tyme to performe it which I haue vsed in making y^t the promise I thought alas the late delyuery of my brother, had brought to vs all an vndowted dispense of further trou∣ble, and that he had buryed in the pitt of his ymprysonmente all occasions of further disquiette: And who wolde haue iud∣ged, but in the laste assalte and vniuste offer of vndeserued deathe, fortune had spitt the vttermoste of her poysened ma∣lice, and that in deuestinge herselfe frome the theatrye or throane of rigorous crueltie, she had also broken in peces the bloddye arrowes wherewith of so longe time shee hathe persecuted our desolate howse & pronounced trewyce at last to the wearye miferies of the wretched state of the MON∣TANINS But alas vnhappie creature that I am I fynde nowe our destenie is rather deferred, then our miserye at an end, seing y^t that vniuste goddes of vnworthy reuenge and moste cruell stepmother inuadinge mee wythe more fury then affore doth threaten my yonge and tender yeares with more perentorye plages, then euer shee thondred vppon any of my former race: for if euer shee pursewed oure fathers graundefathers or anye predecessours with mortall afflic∣tion, or intente of vtter ruyne, it is nowe shee hathe cho∣sen her tyme to put to her laste hande to the extreame extir∣pacion of the miserable reliques and remeyndor of oure pore house, eyther by the wilfull losse and perpetuall exile of y^e my deare brother or vntymely death of thy dysolate ANGELIQVA, who canne not make prostitucion of her chastetye wythout the sacrafyce and oblation of her misera∣ble life: what is destenye if this be not the consent and iud∣gement of the heauens, w^t resolutiō to subplāt y^e stock & gra∣••tes of our house, seing y^t I a simple girle w^tout force voide of

assistance of age or experience, is constrained to admytt th one of two euils, whereof the choise oughte and is hable to amase the moste wise and experienced creature that this day enioyeth the benefytt of mortall life, alas my harte faileth me, and reason (forsaken and flede from me) hath lefte my minde ballauncinge in suche confucion and contraryetie of thoughtes, that beinge broughte to thertremetye of two distresses of equall perill and indifferente terror, I doubte whether to cōmit my life to shorte and sharppe penaunce or prolonge my dayes in pyninge dollor, and secrete care of minde: for the sentence which thou haste pronounced of both our estates, is eyther to make a seperation by extreme exile of my brother, who is no lesse deare in my harte then the ten drest part of myne eye, and in whom nexte after GOD I haue reposed the whole assuraunce of my hope and consolacion of life, or els in conseruinge him, I see my selfe at pointe to bee constrained to make marchandise (I can not tell in what sorte nor for what price) of that precious treasure, whiche once loste, is not to be reclaimed by any meanes, and for the garde wherof al women of vprighte minde honoring vertue or desierous of reputacion, oughte rather to expose theimselues to a thousande mortal perilles and hazardes of deathe, if nature and life were hable to abide soo manye en∣cownters, then to suffer one spotte of infamie to staine or corrupt this precious ornament and gifte of chastitie, which as it is the only support and decoration of y^e life of an honest woman, so for a contrarye, she that loseth the possession of so riche a Iewel, or deuesteth her selfe of the title and crown of so great a glorye, althoughe she seame to liue and kepe place amonge other creatures, yet is she dead in effecte and her life recorded in the booke of blacke defame as a witnes againste herselfe in the latter days, and in the meane tyme a con∣tinual reproch and obiection of shame to such as she leaueth to succede her in kindred or name How can that Lady or gen¦tlewoman marche amongeste the crewe of vertuous da∣mes, whose honor is eyther in doubte or reputacion in

dekaye by the losse of her honour, but that the blod of shamo appearyng in all parts of her face, wil not only discouer her faulte, but makes her wearye of her lyfe by the remorce or remembrance of so foule a forfaiture. How could the dough¦ters of the Emprour AVGVSTVS seame iustly meritorious of the title of true nobilitie, or worthely deserue to be called the children of such a father, after their sondry villaines and lasciuious trade of lyuing, hadd dispoyled them of the giftes and ornamentes of vertue presentyng theim (to the eyes of all the world) as creatures not worthy to haue the common ayre to breath vpon them. what honor hadd FAVSTINA in wearyng the Imperial crowne vpon her head, seyng she had loste the crowne and garlande of chastetie, by her disordred and dishonest life? Sewer she ought not to enioy the breath of lyfe, nor participati with the presence or benefitt of the earth, that makes lesse stoare of her honestie, then of the dea∣reste part belongynge to her soule or bodye: neyther is shée worthie to be admitted amongest the felowshipp of vertues Dames, that departeth with so precious an ornament at o∣ther price•• then the exchange or loasse of her lyfe, notwith∣standynge the writers of former tyme haue done manifest wronge to diuerse simple women, whose vertue in preser∣uinge their honest name with true title of pudicitie, deser∣ueth rather an euerlastynge remembrance, with notes of vuiuersall prayse in pillers of eternitie, then to be buried without pompe in the tombe of darke obliuion. Ah deare brother what is become of thy auncient generosity and ver∣tue of minde, whych heretofore thou hast exposed on the be∣halfe of the honest & chast Ladies of thy kinred & race, haste thou conuerted that care and curious zeale, whiche hyther∣vnto all men haue noted in the on my behalfe, into a present intent to take awaye my lif, & renowme after my death? be∣cause thy peruersed fortune hath depriued the of the moste part of thy possessions & liuinges, wilt thou therfore that I make lyke sale of min honor, whyche I haue kepte hether∣vnto with so greate watche and diligence? wilte thou (my

deare brother that ANSEAMO do triumphe with more glory in the victorie of my virginity, then if he had cōstrained the rest & remeinder of our miserable race to passe by the edge of his mordrynge sworde? Remember alas that the hurtes and diseases of the soule be farre more vehement and of a contrary disposition to them which afflict & annoy the body, And is it I vnhappie & thryswretched girle that must do pe∣naūce for thoffences of vs all? is this the iustice of the gods, or rigorous dome of my angry destinies: if y^e heauens haue resolued my ruine, why do they not rather cōmitt me to fa∣tal execution, thē present me vpon the Alter of fylthie ymo∣lacions or offrings to the deuouring goddesse of filthie lust, and that to appease the appetit of a young man, who perad∣uenture desiereth no other pray then y^e spoiles of my honor? How pappie was the noble VIRGINIA of Rome, who was slaine by the hādes of her owne father, to auoyde violaciō of her bodye by y^e lasciuious Emprour APPIVS the cōmon ene∣mie to the honor & reputacion of al honest Ladies? alas why staith my brother to purchasse like renowme by performing semblable execution vpō me, rather then of his owne mind, to become the infamous minister of my life readye to abide the daunger of dishoneste force, if God become not the pro∣tectour of his seruant, & take my cause into his hande? why dothe death deferre to do his dutie, or staye to dip the end of his venemous dart in the congeiled blod of my dieng sprit, & dispatch me with spede to visit the shadowes of my happy predecessours, who vnderstanding my present distresse, can not be voyde (I am sewer) of passion on y^e behalfe of my wret¦ched extremety? why did not God & nature giue power to the midwyf to smother me at thinstant that her cursed handes, receiued me from the wombe of my mother, rather then in preseruyng my lyfe with the milke of tender norriture, to make my youth subiect to sondry sortes of affliction, & now in the age & exspectation of quiet to present me the choice of ij. of the most mortall euils in the world? what councel haue I to assiste me in so doubtefull a case: or whiche waye can I tourne me, where I am not indifferently assailed with re∣morse

on the behalf of my brothers request, & shame with de∣speracion in the simple remembrance of the fact? Alas shall I loase him whom nature and law of kinde, haue named the one halfe of my selfe, and to cōmit theffect of his demande, is no lesse dampnable afore God, then if I did violence & force against my selfe with mine own handes, neyther haue I re∣medie or reason to eschew either of theis euils, but by thassi∣stance of the oh cruel Attropos whom I besech with the laste teares of this complaint to whet thy fatall knif, and shred in sonder with spede y^e twyst of my wretched daies, least in pre∣uentinge thy slacknes or slender haste, theis handes of mine vndertake to supplie thine office with vnnaturall reuenge of my present sorow, wherewith her teares & sighes ceassed vpon a sodaine, and her tounge foltering in her mouth, her complexion of face was also conuerted into a pale & ghastlye regard, in suche sorte as the passion of this traunce, stopping the conduites and course of her breath, she seamed to haue as litle féeling or show of lyfe as the seat wheron she sat, which when CHARLES behelde, with resolution that the misterie conteined neither vision nor dreame, nor charme of deceit, but that his syster had bene as vtterly without hope of reco∣uery, as she seamed senceles and without breath: ouercome with dolor and dispair to lyue after her whome he onely had preferred to so wretched a death, fel vpon a sodaine from the place wher he sat vpon the grounde, without mouing either hand or foote: the noise of whose fal restored ANGELIQVA, to some litle rebalation and vse of breath, recouerynge in like sorte the opening of her eyes, with a general mocion and fée∣lyng in al her parts, & being thus at libertie of frée conside∣racion, her eyes disclosed immediatly the piteous estat of her brother, whom she iudged now to haue deliuered her of fur∣ther care to performe his requeste, wherein seing a gene∣rall retire of all his sences, and onelye viewe of his deade bodie remeynynge to encrease her doloure, she stoode at the point to vse the same reuenge of her selfe, that THIS BE dyd when she founde her frende dead: but finding

his bodye warme, wyth some argument of recouerye, she forgat not the vse of any medecine, wherin she iudged vertu to reclaime life, and falling with all flat vpon the body of her deade brother, shée began to curse her fortune, and accuse the starres of crucltie, inueighing withal against the slēder frendship of her selfe towardes hym who made no cōscience to offer to dye to preserue his patriimonie and inheritaunce only for her sustentation, in the ende by thapplicatiō of cer∣teine medecines and odoriferous smels, somtime sprinkling colde water vpō his face, dropping viniger into his mouth, and somtime rubbynge his temples and pulses, wyth other sleightes to reuoke hym that is but halfe dead, she brake the bed of his traunce, openyng a vent to vtter the course of his breath, wherewith also his eys disclosed, and chalenged their wonted lyght, beholdinge with dolefull regardes, his desolate syster, who seinge all his partes replenished eft∣sones with vital mocions, that he was in case to vnderstand and gyue iudgement of her wordes, sayed vnto hym: seinge my mishap is so great, that she will admit no dispense of her malice, & thou deare brother so whollie resolued in thy wil∣ful imagination, that I must yelde to thy somance & become the minister of the sentence of thy harte, more prodigall and bountiful then is conuenient by the consent of raison, I am content to become thankefull accordyng to thy desyer, and more readye to performe thy requeste, then thou haste rai∣son to eracte so muche vppon me, wherefore do awaye thy desperat regardes, and lookes not vnliket o him that is plun¦ged in a passion of tremblyng feare, receyuynge with glad∣nes the present offer of thy carefull syster, who here pre∣sentes herselfe the handemaide of thy will, gyuynge the ful commission to dispose of this pore carkasse at thy pleasure, & make a present of it to suche as thou accomptes thy selfe so greatly indebted vnto: only I am to warne the of one thing, wherin thou canst not note me of any mislike by iustice, be∣cause y^e integritie & vertue of my intent defends me frō im∣putacion y^t waye, & which asso I giue the absolute assurance

to performe, that is, being once discharged of thy authoritie, thou shalt vse no more power to restraine me frō doinge the thing which my minde hath alredye decreed, protesting vnto the by the right hande of hym that gouerneth the vniuersal globe, that as no man shal touch ANGELIQVA, but in sorte & order of mariage, so if I be committed to a further force thou & al the worlde shal perceiue that I haue a hart wil en∣harden thies handes to make a sacrifice of my life to the cha∣stetie of those noble Ladyes, whiche heretofore haue rather desyred to dye, then liue with a note of infamie or dishonour: for as my soule shal neuer stande in hazarde of grace, by the villany of any acte which my bodye shal commit by free con∣sent, euen so if this carkasse be forced to violacion, I doubte not but the integritie of my minde wil purchasse a priuiledg againste all purgatorie of my soule, witnessing in the other worlde myne innocencie and inuincible hart: wherewith she renewed the alaram of her sorowe, with a freshe supplie of sodaine teares, with suche abundaunce and impetuositie of dule, that a man woulde haue thoughte, that the whole hu∣mour and moyste partes of her braine had bene drained and dried vp by the surges of continuall teares whiche ceassed not to fal frō her waterie eyes: her brother for his part, albe∣it he greued with the desolation of his chaste syster, yet the ••oye he conceiued in her present consent to his demaunde, toke awaye the passion of that sorowe, felynge (as it were) some secret instinct or fore warnyng of the happye successe & effect of the liberal offer of ANGELIQVA, to whom he excu∣sed his importunitie in some sorte after this maner, I was neuer so gredie of life (saith he) but I could be content rather to renounce nature and dye, then to solicite the in any res∣pect, whiche mighte bringe thy honor or reputacion in pe∣ril of infamous interest, neyther would I lyue to se and muche lesse be partaker of the thinge that anye waye sea∣mes to tourne thee to displeasure: whiche thou shouldest alwayes haue founde by effect and touche of finger, if this li∣berall curtesye of our enemye had not procured me to wrest

the to that which honestie denieth the to graunt & I vnhable to demaunde without great wronge to thy vertue, & no lesse preiudice to mine owne honor. And as the feare I haue to be noted of ingratitude, hath taken away al respects of honor or honestie to vs both, so the vertue & noble hart of ANSEAMO doth not only offer an assured argumēt of hope, but also pre∣sentes absolute cause of firme belefe, that the only displea∣sure thou shalte finde in this enterprise will appeare when thou art firste presented vnto him: For it is not possible he shold vse villany on the behalfe of her, the onely regarde of whose loue hath made him make no cōscience to hazarde the displeasure of his parents & chief frendes, not refusing with∣all (without sute or importunitie) to delyuer him whome he hated, & had power to put to what vengeaūce he wold. Here may be noted thoperacion of two extremities of seueral dis∣positions, natural zeale & fraternal dutie, quarellinge wyth womanly shame, & raison mentaining cōtencion with in her self. ANGELIQVA knewe & cōfessed that her brother dyd no more then he oughte, & that she was also leuiable to the same bond & obligation of dutie, and on the other part thestimaciō of her honor with regard to defende her chastetie, supplāted such dutifull respectes of nature, & forced her to an integritie of iudgement, in that which she accompted both vniust & vn∣lawful, wherupon resoluing to obserue both the one and the other, & seame chiefly to be thankeful to the demande of her brother, determined to discharge him of the debte towardes his long enemy & late frend, with intent notwithstāding ra∣ther to die by the stroake of her owne handes then villanous∣ly to loase the flower of that which made her lyue famous, & of greater renowme then the moste part of the ladies of that citie. But the vertue of this SALYMBINO is of more rare singularitie & deserueth a greater cōmendacion, then the con¦tinencie of CYRVS sometime king of PERSIA, who ••ering a force of in••ysement to lorke vnder the flattering beautie of the faire and common PANTEA wold neuer suffer her to be brought to his presence, leaste her wanton regardes shoulde

make him abuse the renowme of his aunciēt honor, & breake the sacred deuociō which all men ought to vse in mariage, w^t violacion of his faith confirmed by former vowe to his wyfe: For ANSEAMO enioyeng the presence, with free cōmande∣ment ouer her whom he loued no lesse then his owne life, did not only abstaine to abuse the bountiful gifte of his fortune, but also declared an effect of more nobilitie & vertue of mind, then y^e saied CYRVS, as you may note in the next acte of this historie attēding his present discouerie: for as the Montanyn & his sister had deuided their deliberaciō into certaine points with abrigement at laste of their longe discourse, & that the faire ANGELIQVA had staied the source of her teares with expectatiō of the ende of that which they had but nowe begō, ANSEAMO repaires from the contrey to his pallais in the towne, wherof at viij. of the cloke in the euening Don Charles receiued aduertisement, and without delaye of further time willed his sister to attire her selfe in the best order she could, with whom and onely one man (to cary a lanterne of slender lighte) they went to the lodging of SALIMBYNO, whose seruant by chaunce encountred them at the pallais gate of his maister, not without astonishment to see them there with desier to speake with Seigneur Salymbyno, who vnderstā∣ding what companie the MONTANYN brought with hym, was not forgetful for his part to discende with expediciō ha∣uīg caried afore him .ij. stafftorches, geuing light til he came euen to the gate, where omitting no kinde of curtesye in re∣ceauing y^e brother, he was barred (as it seamed) to expose any shew of seruice on the behalfe of her whom he chiefly desiered to honor, but standing (as it were a mā enchaunted or some Hermit in expectation to heare the aunswere of his oracle) was no lesse astonied with the viewe of his newe gestes then if he had sodainly dropped out of the cloudes, which cōfusion & trouble of mind was immediatly espyed of DON CHAR∣LES, who as he imagined without great studie, that the pre∣sence & beautie of his sister sturred vp y^e perplexitie of Salym∣byno, so he went about to breake y^e amaze with theis wordes: Syr, saith he, we haue cause of speciall conference with

you whiche requireth neyther publike audience nor other witnes then our selues, wherewith he offred them his cham∣ber and became their guide thither with more shew of dutie, then desiere to be intreated, and leading his deare ANGELI∣QVA by the hande, passed thorowe the hal into a certaine gal∣lerie, furnished with riches and accotrementes belonginge to the greatnes of his estate, where beinge set in rich thaires and seates of honor, and the place voyde of all companie, sa∣uynge, the presence of the ij. simple clyentes, and mercifull iudge, DON CHARLES MONTANYNO rise frō his place, and spake to thother in this sorte. Albeit the offers of serui∣tude be alwayes moste hatefull to freemen, and that the no∣ble hart can hardly brooke to strike sayle for any sommance of aduersitie, yet the bonde of a good tourne or benefyt al∣redy don, leuieth such alarams of remorce to the mynde en∣uironned with vertue, that she forceth not only an equal cō∣sideracion and recompense, but also claymeth a continuall remembraunce and thankeful recordacion in him, who was firste partaker of the benefyt, wherin as I fynde my selfe spe¦cially touched aboue all that euer was blessed with frendship not looked for in this worlde: So Seigneur SALYMBYNO, I hope you wil excuse me yf in the firste place of my Catalo∣gue of thankesgeuing I honor you, (contrary to the lawes & customes of our common welth) with the title of Lorde and maister, seinge the vertue of your self (declared in the grea∣test distresse that euer hath or coulde happen vnto me) doth not only yelde you, by iustice such title, but also challengeth at my hande a bonde of no lesse dutifull and continuall ser∣uice towardes you, then you expect of the moste drudge and slaue that foloweth your traine, for what disposition is more detestable then the note of vnthankefulnes, or wherin are we bounde to so franke and prodigal an exposition of our selues and all that we haue, as in the remuneracion and re∣tourne of the pleasures we haue receiued by straungers whiche I coulde enlarge with credible authorities of elder dayes, and confirme by familiar experience of our age, sa∣uinge

that in supplienge the tyme with repeticion of anti∣quityes I should defer yet longer the doinge of that, whi∣che I chieflye desyer to performe, but greuinge aboue all thinges that in the viewe and remembrance of their vertues I fynde my selfe farre vnhable to be equall or excede anye that euer were renowmed or noted to be thankefull, where in albeit I haue iuste cause to crye out of the malice of my for tune, not for bringinge me so depely in your debt, (which I thinke was wrought by general consent of the heauens but for that she hath lent me such slender choice of meanes to re∣quite so greate a curtesye, yet in appealinge to the vertue of your mynde, I doubte not to make you vnderstande the greatnes of my desyer, and whether ingratitude bee anye waye harbored in the harte of this poore gentleman, who hauinge but himselfe and the chaste will of his syster, (being both preserued in entier by the onlye assistance of your fauor makes heare a presente of our selues and al that belongeth vnto vs with cōmission (Sir) to dispose of our lyues, lyuin∣ges and honour in any respecte it shall lyke you to ymploye theim. And because I am more then halfe perswaded that thonly respecte of ANGELIQVA hathe kindled the firste coales of your desyer, causing a conuersion of the hate whi∣che discended vnto you by inheritance, into a disposition to loue that whiche your predecessors dispised mortallie, and for that by the heauye clogge of our extreme miserie, and harde condicion of state, wee are not hable to shonne the name of vnthankeful, but by thassistance of her that first procured the debte, she I saye, who forced your liberalitie on my behalfe is heare a readye pawne for the satisfaction of that whiche I confesse to owe vnto you: it is (Sir) my syster whom you see afore you who to absolue the bonde of vs bothe, dothe yelde her selfe vnto you with fre submission of her ho∣noure and lyfe at your pleasure. And I beinge her brother hauinge her ful and free consente in my power, do make you a presente of her, bequeathinge you no lesse propertie then eyther I or she hath of herselfe, with authorytye to dis∣dispose

of her as you thinke good, dowtinge not but you wil accepte the offer, and respecte the gyfte accordinge to the value, with remembrance from whence it came, and in what sorte it ought to be vsed: wherwyth not taryenge the replie of the other nor to bid his syster farewel, he flonge downe the steares, and went ymedyatlye to his owne house: if AN∣SEAMO were indyffrently amased at the firste arryual of bothe the MONTANYNS, or astonnyed with the oracion of her brother, it is nowe that he is double perplexed, both with the soddayn departure of DON CHARLES, and also to see in his presence the effecte of the thinge hee only desyred, and neuer was hable to ymagyn, and muche lesse durste enter into hope to haue it come to passe, wherein as hee was no lesse gladd, then he had cause, beinge in the free contempla∣tion and companye of her whose bewtie and vertue hee ac∣compted aboue the respecte of al commodyties and pleasures of the worlde, So he labored of semblable dollor on the be∣halfe of the passion and secret sorowe of mynde whiche he no¦ted in her touchinge her presente change of estate, the same forcinge him also to a firme perswacion, that thaccidente paste proceded rather of the generosytie or to muche shew of corage and vertue in the harte of the yonge man, then by consente or any contentemente at all to the faire ANGE∣LIQVA, whome at the same instante hee toke betwen his armes and proffringe certeine chaste kysses dryed her wa∣trye eyes of teares whiche ceassed not to droppe with greate abundance, preferringe vnto her this kinde of short consola∣cion. Yf euer I felte or desyred to vnderstande with what wynge dyd flye the vnconstante goddes, whiche the poe∣tes tearme the chaunge and varyetie of thaffaires of the worlde, it is nowe (good Madam) that I am presented wyth suche a manifest and strange proofe, that I dare skar∣cely beleue that whiche I see in offer afore myne eyes for if the only respecte of you, and seruice whiche my harte hathe vowed and sworne vnto you, hath constranied me to dissolue the bonde of extreame hate, which by request of my parentes

I haue bene enioyned to beare to you and youre house, and in that deuocion haue delyuered your brother as you knowe from deathe, I see fortune denieth me the tryumphe of the victorye, for that your brother hath surmounted me in ho∣nour and vertue: And nowe do I see that as the flatteringe gle of an vncerteine fortune oughte not to alter the goodnes of the disposition, so aduersitie is not hable to corrupte the vertue of the noble mynde, nor when the good torne is done the memorye of the benefytt is not hatefull to the thankeful man: for albeit my example deserueth cōmendacion, for that I opened the waye and became (as it were) youre brothers guide geuinge the first earnest penny of humanitie betwene vs, yet his ymytacion seames meritorious of treble praise, for that he hath not onely acknowledged my curtesye and re∣torned it w^t doble interest, but also laboured to excede me in the true effectes of sincere nobylitie: wherin for your parte beinge my vassal by your owne consente and special gyfte of your brother) al be it you haue more reason of doubte thenne cause to reappose assuraunce in my fydelytie, for that our newe reconcilement is not yet confirmed with any continu∣ance of longe time, nor our amitye iustefied but by one sim∣ple profe or experience of late, yet shal your selfe be iudge & y^e whole world witnesse with you, y^t my hart is no lesse fre frō corruption, then farre from dishonest or euil intent on your behalfe, and that I pursewe but a consomation of that which GOD hath geuen as a dyuine sacrament and holy law amon∣gest, vs wherfore saith he (with a fresh charg of honest kysses) do away (good ladye) your teares of present dule, and dispaire no more of the perfecte loialtie of your seruaunte who will deale no worse with you hauinge you in his power, then at suche time as he languished on your behalfe and durste not discouer the desyer he had to do you seruice, neither shal your brother repent him of his curtesie, nor you in consentinge to obey him, for albeit you are mine by peculiar graunt & mu∣tual accord, & that your fortune hath geuē me such scoape of authority ouer you that your honor waigheth only in y^e bal∣launce of my disposition, yet the respecte of myne owne

reputacion and honour that I owe to youre vertue, dothe defend you from other iniurye at my hande then in making you y^e only maistrys of my hart, to craue your cōsent in law∣full mariage and societio of wedlocke whereby thaunciente mutynies and ciuill grudges shall not onlye Retire and rece¦aue ende, but our howses reioyned eftsones with this indis∣soluble bonde of affynitye betwene vs, shal lyue hereafter in contynuall quiet enioyenge a mutuall amytie more firme and stronge on both partes, then the former quarrells were fatal or ful of mortalytie.

These newes stayinge the course of wonted teares and dismissinge withal al dollorous argumentes or regardes of sorowe, sturred vppe suche a complexion or dye of natural white and redde in the face of the faire SYENNOYSE that she seamed rather a goddes syttinge in her glistering troane then an ymppe or creature of nature, forcinge suche a ve∣hemencye of desyer in the harte of SALYMBYNO, that he was dryuen eftesones to geue a secōd charg of her goodwil, with a franke offer to make participation vnto her of halfe his liuinge and richesse: wherewyth shee presented hym a semelye reuerence with a maiestye of modestie and woman∣ly behauiour retorninge his request with thanks due to his liberal offer, with further assurance for her part to omit ney¦ther indeuor nor diligence nor declaration of dutie on the be¦halfe of hym whom god hathe reserued for her laweful hus∣bande & companion of bedde, wherewith after they had spent some litle momente in embrasinge one an other and certein kysses giuen and receiued recyprocallye betwene theim, ANSEAMO knocked for an olde awnte of his lyenge in his house to whose charge and fydelytie, he commytted the glo∣rie of his newe conqueste, and fyndinge the leaste momente of delaye greatly hurteful to his desyer dispatched ymediat∣lye seueral messengers to his deare and nearest parentes and frendes, who obeyinge the expedition of his short som¦mance, came ymediatelye vnto his house, where he reques∣ted their assistance of aduise and companye in the consom∣macion

of a busynes of greate importance, wherein if they appered willinge or liked of his request, he seamed (I am se∣wer) to vse aboue an ordinarie seleritie in thexecuiion of his enterprise, & sending for his awnte with her new charge and his deare ANGELIQVA, repaired immediatly (not with oute the greate amaze of his frendes) to the pallaies of the MONTANIN, where skarcely giuinge leaue to the inter∣teynementes and proffers of court, wherwith DON CHAR∣LES saluted hym and his companye, he recited to hys newe brother in lawe in the hearinge of the rest, that as not longe since, he with his syster came to his lodginge with request to communicate with him in secrete, so for his parte, hee is nowe there afore hym to reueale suche thinges as he hadd determined since his departure, & that in the publike audi∣ence & witnes of that companie whiche he hadd assembled of purpose, and to whom with al the worlde, he intended to im∣parte his rare honestie and vertue, with suche reuenge as himselfe mente to take vppon theim as seamed to honoure him with the offer of any pleasure, or surmounte him in the gifte of thank efull dealyng: whiche wordes seamed to ende as the whole companye was set in order with erspectacion to sée theffecte of this misterie, and beinge all in scilence he torned his face with an oraciō to the multitude in these tear¦mes. Me thinkes I sée you all in a wonderfull amaze with seuerall ymaginacion of my entente, in procuringe this as∣semblie at so inconueniente an hower and in suche a place, where none of you all (my kinsmen and frends) nor my selfe hetherunto haue euer sett foote to enter without desier to endomage or do some notable harme to the reste of theym that remaine of the MONTANYN LYNE, whiche astonishe∣ment I shall also suspende in you, till the ende of this shorte preamble, which, I haue preferred for the better vnderstā∣dinge of the parte I meane to playe. And if you will consider with regarde of indifferent iudgement, and waighe in equal ballance, the thinge whiche is called good in the hartes of suche as differrynge from the brutall sorte do followe the

parte of raison properly called spiritual, you shall see by that meane that the generosytie and highe harte grafted in vs by our greate mystres and firste mother dame nature, doth neuer cease to make shewe of seuerall effectes, sometyme bringinge furthe one vertue, sometime makynge declara∣tion of an other, whiche also do preferre theyr sondrye frutes, accordynge to the excellencie of the noble sprynge and fyrste source of the same, wherein also this nobylitie of minde hath suche a force and speciall priuiledge by her fyrste founder, that albeit all humaine thinges are framed of a mettall of instabilitye subiecte to chaunge, yet is she on∣ly founde firme and voide of all reuolucion, and thoughe she bée one chiefe but and marke whereat Dame fortune doth loase her inconstante arrowes, shakynge her persynge dartes againste her on all sydes, yet is shee founde soo in∣uincible againste her assaultes, that shee is as voyde of power to moue her, as the blustrynge windes forcynge an incredible furye to the angrye disposition of the sea, seame vnhable to sturre the harde rocke or stonye montayne, where vppon it followeth that as the greatnes of fortune wyth glee of infynite riches doo lifte vppe, and make swell the harte of a villaine or one of base condicion, So the sy∣nister chaunge of estate, nor anye malyce or ministers of pouertye, can embase or make stowpe the greatenes of co∣rage in theym that are wroughte in a contrary frame, or made of other stuffe then the vulgare sorte, for they kepe alwayes a maiestie of theyr originall, and obserue in su∣che sorte thinstincte of the bloode whereof theyr auncestors were made noble, and gaue theym sucke of the veray milke of vertue, that what dispites or malicious somonce soeuer fortune doth sende theim: the temperat argument of mode∣stie in their complexion and countenaunce, wyth true effect & operation of true vertue of their mind, do sufficientlye ar∣gue their condicion in defyinge the threates of the worlde, & makes absolute declaration that vnder the vaile of suche

miserie is shrowded a harte deseruinge better allowance then the aduersatie whiche tormentes theym: Herein con∣sistes the whole glorye of the youthe of the PERSIANS and MEADES who albeit were norished and broughte vppe a∣mongeste the heardmenne of their parentes, yet gaue they place to no contrey in magnanymytie of mynde. And who hath exceded or bene equall in generosytie or noble corage of harte to ROMVLVS the firste founder of the prowde cytie of Rome? yet was hée assisted with no better educa∣cion or trayninge vppe thenne in caues and cabynettes of shepherdes, and suche as inhabyte the playne and deserte fieldes for the garde of their cattell: all whyche I haue pre¦ferred vnto you (my Lords & Ladyes) as a special prepratiue to the peculiar praise and commendacion of the vndowted noblenes of mynde of SIGNEVR CHARLES MONTA∣NYN and his syster, who wythoute preiudice or wronge to anye, maye well be tearmed the peragon for bewtie and mirroer of honeste and chaste behauioure, aboue all the La∣dies annd gentlewomen in oure common wealthe, whose house as you knowe hathe bene so oppressed wythe conty∣nual persecucion, that onely they two are the laste remeyn∣doures of their whole race, standinge also not longe since at the pointe of extreme ruyne and vtter subuersion for euer, yet the ympocision of suche straunge miseryes, colde neyther moue any dymunicion of corage, nor staye of de∣syer to expose an effecte of that vertue and bowntie whyche nature hathe appointed to occupie the hartes of theym that bée true noble: wherein as I sée some iustice to exclaime againste the crueltie of our auncestors, for that the only res∣pecte of a smal broyle happeninge by chaunce, hathe moued them to thonder a most mortal vengance of this so auncient and vertuous a stocke: So for my part, being pryuie to mine own conscience, with remembrance of the wise admonicion of the graue philosopher saying, that as of vnlawfull win∣ninge of the father comes iuste losse to the sonne: soo hee that makes himselfe a tyrante by force, becomes oftentimes a slaue by Iustice, I thinke it necessarye not onelye to

blowe the laste retraite of all grudge betwene vs, but also worke the effecte and confirmation of a future amytie for euer hereafter, And if the view of thauncient quarrels and mutunies of former time do staye your consente to present compassion of their case, yet let not the honest trade of lyfe, ciuill behauiour, and modest disposition of this brother and syster, depart without the due mede and hyer of their vertue neyther let vs suffer their place in the senate to bee emptie or voyde of supplie, that earste hathe bene furnished with the presence of the moste noble and wise men of our cytie, to thende that our example may serue as a precedent to the future tyme, in that thonlye respecte of vertue, and not ry∣ches makes vs restore the dekayed stockes of our common wealthe, wherein also we shall iustelye deserue the title of our highe discente from the puissant and mightie emprours of Rome, who gaue euer more honour to the vertuous po∣uertie, then regarde or commendacion to the richeman con¦uerted into vice or abhominable indeuours. But nowe be∣cause I sée you alredie sorowearyed with the lengthe of a lingrynge suspence desyerynge to knowe the cause of thys greate commendaciou of the MONTANYNS, with request to abridge my tediouse discourse, if you will lende me yet a litle liberty to speake, with patience to heare the chiefe poyn¦tes of my protestation, the spedie ende of my tale shal restore present quiet and contentment to your trobled myndes. It is longe since I muste confesse (and yet thoffence is neyther mortal, nor falte so hainous but it may be forgiuen) that the beauty with other parts of perfection in the faire Angeliqua here presente, so rauished my sences and robbed me of my libertie at one instant, that thonly exercise whych occupyed my head daye and nighte for a longe tyme, was the sondrye deuises I ymagyned to discouer vnto her my martiredome, wherin I fedd the hongry humor of my affection, with such alarams and contraryetie of conceites, that hauinge by thys meane loste the necessary appetite of the stomake, and vsual desyer of sleepe, I felte suche a diminucion of nature and

lyuelye force thorowe all the partes in me, that I was presented at one tyme wyth the choice of two moste peril∣lous euils in the worlde, the one to dye afore my tyme by suffocacion of pynnynge dollour, or els to yelde to a depri∣uation of my sences and gyfte of vnderstandinge for euer: wherein I was also pursued wyth the readye assistaunce of perplexed dispaire, for that I saw no meane to make that seame easye wherein I iudged so greate an impossibi∣litye, chieflye by the grounded quarels of oure ij. houses, whereby albeit the warre seames ended, and the grudge halfe appaised betwene vs, yet was I of opinyon, that there remeined an equall desyer in the hartes of vs both, neyther to wishe well the one to the other and muche lesse to absteine from further slaughter, when so euer a newe oc∣casion shoulde eftesones fall oute, neyther coulde theis mor∣tall impedimentes argue sufficient raison to diminish min affection, but sturred vp rather a treble increase of desyer, accordynge to the passioned minde enchaunted with loue, who makes suche as he possesseth more apte to desyre, then hable to attayne to the effect of that whiche they wishe, pre∣ferrynge alwayes a simple likelihode in that wherin appe∣reth an absolute impossibilitye, to thende to afflicte theyr miserable lyues wyth continuall annoye: but as theis ex∣tremeties had filled my head full of dispaire and committed me to a continuall carefulnes of minde, because I coulde neither staye the course of my affection, nor encounter the obiect of my desyer, beholde fortune entred into compassi∣on of my state, assistynge me wyth so readye a medecine for my greate disease, that when I was voyde of all expectation or hope of recouerye, I was presented with a franke offer of my desyered praye, for as it is not vnknowen to you all that sence the departure of viij. or ten dayes, the Lord MON∣TANYN here present, beinge accused afore the SENATE vp∣pon certeine peinall statutes, deuised by our cruell state for the rappeale of banished men, was awarded by iudiciall sen∣tence to paye the forfaiture, whiche because he coulde ont

nottender within the tyme, his greadie enemies forced y^e law to a more rigour then was necessarie, in suche sort as thexe∣cutioner was readie to extende vpon his bodie for want of a supplye of a thosande florents, to choake the couetous hu∣mour of the magistrates. Euen so the view of his extremi∣tie sturred vp such a remorce in my mynde that me thought I was sommoned by dutie to preuent the destruction of him, who was brother and thonly comfort of her whom I had al∣redye proclaimed the soueraigne Ladye and mystres of my hart, in whiche good vaine of deuocion I payd the money and procured his delyuerye, who (for his parte) deuinynge I can not tell vpon what occasion, that the beautie of his sister did worke theffect of suche a vertue in me, hath not onely been thankefull for the benefit, but also ouercome me in honeste liberalitie and true noblenes of mynde, presen∣ting me in the beginnynge of this eueninge at myne owne howse with a prodigal offer not onely of hymself and al y^t he hath, but also of his syster whom he lefte with me to vse and dispose at my pleasure: wherein for ende I appeale to you all with one requeste that in waighinge rightly the gyfte of the one and offer of the other, you will consider of them both, and assiste me immediatly wyth your aduise in what sorte I maye yelde a due meede to suche ij. precious merites, the one a most familiar patterne and precedent of true nobili∣tie, and the other a present of suche price and value, that the greatest prince in ITALY coulde do no wronge to his greatnes in yeldynge honor and homage to so rare a thing: wherupon he stayed his further discourse, gyuinge place to thassistantes for consultacion of the case, whiche albeit they knewe imported deliberat aduise afore the resolution of iud∣gement, yet were they in amaze what sentence to gyue, be∣cause they were neither priuie nor partakers of the deter∣minacion of hym who had sommoned their apparance there, rather to witnes the fact then deuide the case, or impeshe his resolute intent by a contrarye councell. The Ladies his kynswomen were so moued to admiracion wyth the

maiestie and other argumentes of vertue in the faire AN∣GELIQVA that they had passed iudgement on her syde yf they had not feared to be refused of hym, who wished their voice that waye, and who onely beinge touched aboue the the rest most neare the quicke, dismissed their astonishment in reueilyng his owne determination in this sorte. Seinge you take so greate a tyme to discusse so small a matter with no lesse doubte to publishe sentence of that whiche is alredye determined let me abridge all arguments of further delaye in decipheryng in playne wordes the thynge whiche hetherunto I haue communicated but by circunstance, ou shall vnderstande sayth he (in takinge ANGELIQVA by the hande, that hauynge the regarde of honor afore myne eyes, with desyer to recompense at full the honestye and vertue of the brother. I am resolued to take the syster to my deare and lawfull wyfe, preferrynge by that meanes a perfect vnitye of that whiche longe tyme hath lyued in separacion, and make of twoo bodyes earste and longe disioyned, an equall wyll and entyer mynde, desyerynge all your consentes in the consommation of this alliance, whiche seameth rather the worke of God, then an effect of the councell or diligence of man: for the lawe of mariage beynge an institution of the highest, and the thinge wherin Christ first glorified himself by miracle vpon earth is recor∣ded in thinfallible booke of his foreknowledge, to thende no∣thynge chaunce whiche is not permitted and forseene by the prouidence of the God of marueils, who sewerlye layed his hande vpon the (brother MONTANYN) in touching the with distresse and perill of lyfe to thende that my ANGELIQVA, being the onely meane of thy delyuerye might also laye an immouable fondacion of a mutuall vnitie betwene our two houses, which I hope shall furuiue the length of tyme and not ende but wyth the laste remeinder of eyther of our po∣sterityes. This conclusion thus hearde of the parentes, and kynsfolkes of SALYMBYNO, and canuaised alitle in their seuerall opinions, seamed at laste of suche reason

and indifferencie to them all, that they conuerted their con∣ceites whiche kepte them occupyed for a tyme into a present disposition of wonderfull ioye and gladnes feelynge in theyr intrals and inwarde partes (I can not tell by what secret instinct of minde) an approche of indissoluble tranquillitie on all partes, by the only coniunction of this newe allyance. And albeit there was no equalitye of porciō, & that y^e dowere of ANGELIQVA stoode aloff from the reuenues of her newe consort, yet the vertue and giftes of grace appearyng in her, made her seame hable to counteruaile hym in any respect, & his frendes with one voice gaue generall commendacion to the goodnes of his fortune for plātyng his affection in so ver∣tuous a soyle, wherein sewerly they had good reason, for ma∣riage being a law and holye Sacrament giuen vs from God as thonly knott of mutuall tranquillitie betwene man and woman oughte to be embrased for the vertue and sinceritie of the thynge and not abused with a regarde of richesse or o∣ther fylthye promocious of the worlde. And he that in the choice of his wyfe respectes chieflye her beautie and great∣nes of porcion, (besides a thousand pettie mutynies that fall out in housekeping,) escapeth seldom without a sprit of grudge or cyuill discension, disturbynge hys quiet wyth a continuall humour of frettynge disposition féedynge hys mynde, for the glasse of beautie retireth and gyueth place to age, whiche also mortifyeth the delite or desyer of further pleasure, and on thother syde the woman knowynge her discent more noble, and porcion to excede the welthe of her husbande forgetteth not to take hart at grasse, and dec∣kynge her garlande wyth all sortes of flowers of pryde and disdayne, séekes to gouerne and gett the vpper hande of hym, who as he is appointed her heade by the woordes of the scripture and institution of nature: So he oughte to kepe a straite hande of the same bridle and Raine of autho∣ritie, vsinge it as a chek to restraine the desyer of libertie in her, that studieth to haue hym in subiection, wherein

I wishe all bachilors and younge men vnmaried to be ar∣med againste so greate a mischiefe with the experience of suche theyr frendes as they see touched with the like griefe. And for my part I lament the disquiet of them, as woulde and can not, or rather dare not attempte a simple reforma∣cion in them who are borne to beare the yoke of awe and commandement of their husbandes, retournynge there∣wyth to the sequeile of SALYMBYNO, who workynge the laste effect and consommation of his curtesye, gaue the one halfe of his goodes of all sortes in fauour of the ma∣riage, adopting at thinstant the MONTANYN as his brother in lawe and assured frende, with generall substitution to all his goodes, if he chaunced to dye without heire of his bo∣dye, and hauyng children he conueighed vnto hym by suche assuraunce in reuercion as the lawe coulde deuise, that moy∣tie, whiche he gaue in dowerye to his faire ANGELIQVA, whome the Sonday folowynge he maried with pompe due to both their estates, to the vniuersall contentement of his frendes, and speciall quiet of the Citye, who had endured longe affliction by the mortalitie and ciuill warre of theis ij. houses: Suche be the varieties happenyng in the successe of our wordly affaires, wherein who wil denye but that aduer∣sitie somtime is necessarie for men, seinge she doth not only force a wonderfull remorce and reformacion of lyfe, but also workes often tymes an effect of that wherin appeared an absolute impossibilitie of conquest by any other meane.

And truly the vertue of this example discredites vtterly the commendacion of the auncient ROMAINES, amongeste whome as there chaunced diuerse tymes greate enimyties and grudge of mynde, so there folowed a spedie reconcile∣ment (albeit not by suche meanes as this franke attonement betwene the SALYMBYNS and MONTANYNS, but some were reclaymed by the offer of promocion, some solicited by the voice of the whole common welth and confirmed by the present gyfte of some notable office, and other with a regard

to peculyar proffit, not one of them all approchynge neare the magnanimitie in the worste of these three, whereof the one sommoned by a passion of loue scamed to excede nature in perfourmynge an exploit not hable anye waye els to be wrought to effect: And yet there be that cryenge out againste loue paintes hym in cullors of rage, follye and frenzye, but suche are rather abused wyth theyr owne conceites, then hable to consider ryghtelye the vertue of that impression: for loue in the noble harte is no other thing then the true subiecte of curtesye, the fountaine from whence distilleth the originall of all cyuill and good order, the onelye meane, that moues vs to moderacion when we are inclined to crueltie or reuenge, and the chiefest norsse and preseruer of peace amongest men, wherein yf some vile disposition happen to violat or peruert the lawes of so necessarie and auncient institution of nature, the ver∣tue and subiect it selfe yet oughte not bee touched wyth the cause of suche faulte nor deserue to be noted of any cor∣ruption, seinge suche derogation procedes by the abuse of hym that knoweth not the perfection of the thynge, which falles out also in experience in diuerse other accidentes, who beinge vertues of them selues, do loase theyr credit, by the malice of suche as abuse them vyllanouslye, wher∣vpon the good thynge is often condemned by the folly of suche as are ignoraunt in the perfection of the same, in the other appeares a rare disposition of a bountifull mind, so farre from the abhominable spot of ingratitude, that his lyfe was ready to bee offred for the satisfaction and dis∣charge of the curtesie if the other had required it, where∣in as you maye see greate effectes of true magnanymi∣tye, and wherein a noble mynde oughte not to bee ouer∣come with the vertue of honeste curtesye, so touchynge the price of the victorye, I meane whiche of the three is moste meritorious of commendacion, and deserueth to weare the garland, I referre the iudgement to thindiffe∣rencie

of suche as wythout passion or parcialitye doe vse to note the chaunces happenynge to men, you see a mor∣tall enemye sorowed for the miserie of his aduersarie, but solycited thereunto (you will saye) by the ineuitable force of loue, whiche also wroughte his delyuerye: the other mar∣ched wyth the glorye of a present so rare, that the greatest Monarcke of the worlde maye be astonyed with the remem∣braunce of his prodigall bountie. The wonderfull zeale and affection of the syster towardes her brother chalengeth no lesse praise then the reste, who albeyt she had séene a proof of the curtesye of her enemye, yet had she no assu∣rance of his modestie, notwythstandynge to discharge euerye waye her dutye towardes her brother she layde her virginitye vppon the blocke of vyolacion: the fyrste clay∣meth to bee victor, because his laste vertue in the ma∣riage excedes his former curtesie, but he hath ouerthrowen his enemie and not won the feelde, so that he is not to en∣ioye the prayse or price of the victorye. The absolute reso∣lution of the younge Ladye to kyll herselfe, if she were forced to dishonnour againste her wyll, takes awaye all glorie and commendacion from her, yf the care to kepe ho∣nour and virginitye, dyd not preuaile aboue the preserua∣tion of lyfe: the brother and thirde of this Crew, albeyt this prodigal offer proceded by compulcion of the for∣mer bountye of hys frende, yet the noblenes of hys mynde was equall to the reste, and hys vertue nothynge inferiour to eyther of the other twoo. And yet yf it were not the singuler respecte he had to retourne hys be∣nefytt wyth double interest, wyth care to bee more then sufficientlye thankefull to his patrone, I coulde dymi∣nishe hys glorye, wherein because the lamentable tra∣gedye of twoo poore louers sōmones me to discouer theyr misaduenture, wyth no lesse reason to furnishe the stage with a declaracion of theyr loyaltye, then your Ladyship hath alredye harde the whole discourse of the rare vertues

in SYENNA, I leaue suche Gentlemen and skilful Dames (who take paine to skan this historye) to argue the cause at large, and resolue iudgement at leasure, not doubtynge of your integritye in yeldynge the true tytle of tryumphe and glo∣rie to some one of the three, whome you ac∣compte moste worthie to bee crowned with the Lawrel of victorye.

FINIS.

Notes

• Hannyball forced a pas∣sage for his armi through the Alpes.
• Ingratitude the chiefeste ennemy: to the honor of nobilitye
• Children do commonly ra¦ther excede their fathers in vice, then resemble them in ver∣〈◊〉〈◊〉▪
• Ytaly a store house for mu¦tinies.
• Thexercise of hunting is both pleasant and profitable
• The proffit in huntinge
• The daunger of a prince in Iermanye in hunting.
• A courte of peynall for∣feitures, or cō¦demnatiō for money.
• The frutes which true vertue expo∣seth.
• All things are subiect to chaunge.
• Deathe the due hyer of vnnaturall conspiracye.
• A kinde of curtesye or amarus gretīg in Italye.
• Hope is a chi∣efe comforte in affliction.
• An vngodlie Lavve.
• The taste of life pleasante to all men.
• The coue∣tous minde is neuer in quiet accor∣ding to the vvordes of thappostle.
• God the highe iudge.
• Salymbyno debateth vvith himself tou∣ching the de∣liuerye of his ennemie.
• Yt is more ea¦sye to con∣quer by cle∣mencie then by crueltie.
• Parent••s.
• The noble harte soonest enclined to loue.
• Montanyno seketh to re quit the good torne of his enemye.
• Fortune not to be holden against her vvil, and god is bound to no time.
• Height of e∣state ought not to alter the goodnes of nature.
• The Atheni∣ans punished vnthākfulnes by death.
• The ansvver of Augely∣qua to her brother.
• Loue hathe povver to vvorke a faci¦litie in that vvhiche all men thinke ympossible.
• Venus.
• Angeliqua falleth into a sound.
• Angeliqua consenteth to her brothers requeste.
• Montanyn to Seigneur Sa∣lymbyno.
• Fortune (ac∣cordinge to the poetes) is the change and alteration of the vvorld ly affayres.
• Salymbyn to his frendes so, the mari∣age of Ange∣liqua.
• Vertue firme and not sub∣iect to chāge.
• The noble mynde inuin¦cible agaynst fortune.
• King Cyru¦norished and brought vp in the contreye.
• Romulus brought vp a∣monge shep∣herdes.
• Of vnlavvfull vvinning of the father cō¦mes iust losse to the sonne
• The romains respected more the ver∣tuous pouer∣tie, then allo∣vved the rich man conuer∣ted into vice.
• Loue make vs more apte to desier, then hable to at∣taine.
• Mariage the first thing vvherin christ glorified him∣self by mira∣cle.
• In the choice of our vvife vvee ought to respect the vertue and gyftes of the mind and not the riches or exterior be∣autye.
• Aduersitie is necessary for that it makes vs parfect.
• The vertues in loue in a noble minde.