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,

ACcording to thoppinion of the wise Demosthenes there is no one vertue that hath made more famous the fa∣thers of formèr time, thenne the gyft of cyuill curtesy, neyther is na∣ture more glorifyed in the ympes of her creation, then in that we dis∣pose our selues & doings according to the dispocition of the clymat whiche shee hath appoin∣ted to gouerne our accions and thoughtes, respecting chief¦ly to refraine from violacion of innocent blodde, which in al ages hath restored a name of great clemencie to diuerse Albeit (touching other effectes) they were ambycius tyran∣tes, and cruell enemyes to their owne common wealthe, whiche, vnnatural crueltie also as it hath bene & is of such detestacion amongest y^e rudest companions of the world, that the verye barbarians haue alwaies had in horrour the wickednes of suche as pursewed the queste of guiltles blodde, and toke awaye the life of him that had not com∣mitted offence, So they haue alwaies had in honour the vertue of suche as soughte to extirppe the roote of ty∣ranical furies borne for the ruine and destruction of man like as among the romaine emprours Nero Calygulus and Commodus, amongest y^e straung nacions, Phalaris Alexan¦der Phereus Dyomedes & the cursed Numylysyntha Quene of Thracia, who after she had miserably murdered an ynno¦cent mother, committed semblable crueltie vpō the childe within her bellye, wherof albeit the horrour was greate yet was it nothinge in respect of the hellishe acte of a la∣dy of oure tyme happyninge not in the Antropophogans

Scythya or amongeste Canybales or Amazones aunciente morderers of their children, but in the harte and mid∣dest of Evrope, and in one of the most faire and riche pro∣uinces of the world, where afore time hath bene kepte all Academia or generall scoole to instructe all naci∣ons for the honeste and vertuous direction of their liues, but of late was founde there a gentlewoman (degenera∣tinge frome thinstincte of her secte) which exposed effectes of more cruel∣tye, thenne earst hath bene noted by any writers of a any age, whereof the discourse folo∣wethe at large.

A YONG LADY IN MY∣Lan after she had longe abused the vertue of her youthe and honour of maryage with an vnlavvfull haunte of diuers yonge gentlemen becoms an vnnaturall morderer of the frute of her wombe for that shée was forsaken of hym who gatt her wyth Chylde (Book 3)

HAuinge then to treate vpon tragicall af¦fayres procedynge of vnnaturall luste, with LASYVIVS disposition, the onlye maister pocke and cheif fountayne from whence distylleth all poysned humors of Infection, ouerflowinge at lengthe the channel of his quiett cours with vnrewe¦lye waues of Inordynat crewelty: I meane here to presente vnto you the trewe pattorne of a seconde MEDEA, in the person of a yonge Ladye borne and wantonlye bredd vp in the ryche and populus Cytie of MYLLEYNE, whom bycause myne author seames to Christen by a contrary tytell, to a∣boyde all occasions of myslykes whiche other Ladyes (bea∣ringe the lyke name) myght vniustly fall into by the lauishe mouthes of the malycyous sorte, I think it good also to passe vnder fearmes of lyke scylence her parentes and husbande, to thende that their vertue (meryting a better mede then to beare the blame of the detestable lyfe of there wycked daugh¦ter) come not also in question amongest such DIABOLOS as haue there tounges alwayes typped with the mettall of ma∣lycyous slaunder. This PANDORA then (borowinge her name of the qualytye of her vnchaste and crewell conuersa∣cyon) gaue manyfest signes during the tyme of her Infansye of her future disposition, arguinge the poysined Clymatte

whiche firste gettynge domynion ouer the yonge yeares of her grene vnderstāding dyrected after y^e whole seaquel of her life by the dyal of a cursed constellacion, makinge the latter remaynder of her yeres subiecte to a thousande ylls and per * 1.1 rentory Inconueniences, for she was disdaynfull without respect, spytefull without measure, honge altogether full of the fethers of folyshe pryde, so whollye gyuen to wallowe in dilycarie that she detected al exercises of vertue, and so drow¦ned in the fylthye desyre of the fleshe, that afore shee had at∣tayned to the full of fortene yeres, she became such a banque roupte of her honour that a poore page the sonne of a simple artyficer noryshed in the house of her father for charitie sake onlye, exept so farr into her creditt, that with small sute hee gayned the vse of the Ile which ought to bee Inuincyble in vnhonest sorte, wherin notwithstandinge after hee hadde once rampyred himselfe, fyndinge the soyle in lesse fertyle, then to be tylled with easye trauell, hee founde also no lesse famylyarytie in the owner, who feasted him so frankly with the pleasaunte Ieweste and precious commoditie of her I∣lande, not earst inhabyted by Straungers, that his common exercise was to kepe her companie euery night alone in her chamber, leaste the LEVTYNS and daungerous bogbeares appearinge by visions in the night shoulde put her in feare or kepe her from sleape. This was one chiefe delyght wher∣in she toke pleasure in the prime time of her age, an vndoub∣ted kalender suer of the noble actes to be expected in this ym∣pe as her yeres grewe to greater nomber, and her desier of more maturytye, which wicked exercise is sufficyent of it selfe to vntye the tunges of bacbyters, styrringe vp the ma∣lyce of certeine POLOLVGOS redye alwayes vpon one sim∣ple occasion; or; for the falte of one, to reprehende the honour of all dames: if the vertue of (you chast) Ladyes weare not only hable to confute all their suborned reasons of reproche, but also by the cleare Integrety of your conuersacion, to charme the mouth of the slaunderer from Inueyghing by

synister meanes agaynste anye of the noble secte femenyne so muche commendable and to bee honored of all men. This yonge pupill and prentyse of VENVS, although shee lystned with small traynynge to the lewre of CVPIDO, yet vsed shée notwithstandinge such care in the conueyghe of her folyes, that the best eyes in her fathers house, weare to blynd to be∣holde the amorous traffique which passed betwene the page and her, neyther was she doughted (wheresoeuer shee came) to be preferred to the firste place in the bedroll of pewer vir∣gins, although (as you haue hard) she had payd the fyrste fru∣tes of her virgynytie to one no lesse vnworthy of thoffering then to enioye the possession of so deare a Iewell, beinge al∣ready vowed to an other by thē y^t by most ryght ought to dis∣pose of it: And who maye sée here as in a glasse their greate * 1.2 neglygence and lyttle care in theducation of their children, preferrynge rather to pamper theim in pleasure, wyth to large a skope in lybertye, (the chiefeste meane to seduce yonglyngs not yet confyrmed in rypenes of discression) then to restrayne thappetyte of ther foolyshe will, whiche doth not onely make theim bodyes subiecte to all sensuall prostytucy∣on, but also subuertes the honor of their whole house wher∣of they toke there begynninge. This ITALIAN Impe. and honest PANDORA, wearye euen nowe of the companye of her page who belyke was not hable to quenche the luste of his vnsaciable mystresse, began with famylyer glaunces of her eye, and other secret regardes of good wyll, to practyse a seconde league of societie, concludinge a newe bargayne of loue wyth a yonge gentylman lustye and likelye euerye waye to performe thexpectacion of her desyre, who also for his first endeuor, found y^e meanes to corrupt her gouernes••e w^t certeyne peces of golde, armes (suer) sufficient enoughe of * 1.3 themselues to batter the walls of the strongest and beste de∣fended fortresse that this daye is vnder the pole of heauen, which also was the kaye (as the Poetes fayne) that opned IV∣PITER the dore of the brazen tower wherin y^e fayre DANAE daughter of ACRISES was curyously enclosed. This second

louer thinking to cooll the firste flower of the maydenhed of PANDORA (beinge yet scars xvi. yeres of age) began to doubte of the case, when hee founde the waye alreadye bea∣ten and the entrye so easye without resistance, albeit conten∣tinge himsefle with his present fortune, beinge dryuen not∣withstandinge to drinke the lées of the vessel which the page had gaged to his hande, and sucked out the sugred Iewse of ••f that grape, he fayled not to courte her with a contynuall ••••aunte of his companye, in suche sorte, that his chiefe exer∣••••ise and tyme was employed in the supplye of her gredy de∣••yre, vntyll at last being cloyed for wante of chaunge of dy∣••••tte, or wearye with so longe huntinge one kynde of chase, ••r peraduenture not hable any longer to mainteyne the skir∣••ysh for want of fresh supplyes, he began to suborne diuers ••eanes to purchase his departure, wherin with thassystance ••f a fewe fayned importunytyes, hee preuayled only with his exense: that being captayne of certeyn bands of footmen, ••t behoued him (he sayde) for greate respectes, to visitte his charge with expedicion, wherwith, with small sute hée gatte leaue and wente his waye, resigning the forte whiche hee had so long battered, to the guard of an olde and rich gentyl∣man, dwellinge in the same Cytie, who doatinge more vpon the bewtie of PANDORA, thenne notinge deligentlye her disposytion, maryed her, after longe intercession to her fren∣des. A mache farr vnmete considering thinequalitye of their yeres, for he bearing the burden of syftye wynters vpon his backe, his former moysture and strength conuerted into wa∣trye humors of weaknes, scars hable to sustayne nature, who at those yeres also sommons all men to declyne, seamed farr vn••able to encounter in singler combate with her, that had not yet sene thuttermost day of eyghtene yeres, albeit be∣inge maried, although his lott was to take other mennes leauings, yet he myslyked not his choyse, but being mounted vpon a common hackney, he thought himselfe well horsed, and as one not very scrupulous, or lyttell skylled in suche kind of housekeping, he toke her for a pure virgyn: a thinge not much to be merueyled at, seinge the daily accedentes in

the like affayres, and specyally the subtyll charmes, and sun∣drie legerdemaynes, wherof such DERMOPTERAE or lethe∣rwynged huswyues as PANDORA haue no small store, to couer their saultes, and make theym seme maydenlike (al∣thought they haue alreadie playd the dydopper) that the clea∣rest eyes had nede of spectacles, and the wiseste wyttes want sleyght to dyserne their conning: and now this newe maryed dame gettynge firste the vpperhande of her olde husbande, made her seconde endeuore to haue the whole conueygh of all the househoulde doinges, whereby her commaundement was only currant, And she houldinge the rayne of her lyber∣tie in her owne hand, mighte haunte and vse what place for recreacion she lyste at her pleasure, neyther forgatt she so to brydel goodman hornsbye (her husband) with obedience, that with out his controlmente or suspicion, Monsieur le page, (who gaue the firste earnest penie of her honestie) had free accesse vnto her chamber, wher he paide his own arreareges, and also helped to supply the colde corage of the olde knight, who as he rather encreased her appetyte, then satysfyed her desire, so his good wil peraduenture was more thē his power hable to perform. And as y^e page had thus eftsones placed him selfe in y^e possession of his former pray, it chaunced that a yōg gentillman banished from Rome for certeine forged conspi∣racies incensed against him, fled to MYLLAN wher lodging right ouer the pallais of Pandora, beheld easely the amorous glees of his neighbour, who toke singuler pleasure to be re∣quited with y^e like regards, & seing her fayre, yong, & disposed * 1.4 to al recreacions of pleasure, begā to profer her loue, first by the pitiful regarde of his countenaunce, painted full of ar∣guments of dule, and after by certenie secrett sighes, decla∣ringe (after Thytalyan maner) the ardēt flame of affecti∣on, not ceassinge continuallye to burne his harte in the desier of her bewtie, and omittinge no meane which mought moue her to take compassion of his peyne, hee forgat not to passe diuers times afore her lodginge, with a lute or other musicke of soft melodie, wherunto also he accorded his phy∣led voyce w^t notes of pleasāt twne, & that with suche a grace of great delight) y^t the swete noyse of his hermony seamed a

thousande times of more entysinge melodye, then the hea∣uenly Ionkinge of the Nytyngal, wherwith in shorte tyme he kyndled a fyre in the harte of this yonge wanton, toward whome h nedde not haue vsed such cyrcumstance or longe ceremonye, seinge that of her selfe (if his sute had not Inter∣cepted her) shée had preuented his meaninge, in takinge v∣pon her thoffice of the clyent, beinge onlye geuen to raunge and rauyn for the satysfyinge of her inordynat luste, desy∣rous to chaunge her acquaynted soyle, for the freshe harbage of grene pasture, wherwith one eueninge (her husbande be∣ing from home) This romayn louer called CANDIDOIO∣CVNDO made his walke in Solomne maner vnder her chā∣ber wyndowe playing of his lute with a voyce of suche mas∣quid musycke myngled with outwarde showes of dolor in his face, & poudred fynely with sundrye syghes of pityful dis¦position, that it seamed of suche straunge operacion in the harte of PANDORA, beinge alreadye throughlye daunted with the desyre of him that soughte but to desceyue her, that beinge now no lenger hable to kepe her eares shutt from the voice of the crafty charmer, desired him to enter, wherunto (as the subtill fouler pyping all the daye in the bottom of the hedge tyll he hath allewred to his bushe the birde hee cheflye desyreth) he agreed I am sure with more contentment of the offer, then dyficultlye to be intreated, and being ariued in the hauen of his desyre, god knoweth with what deuocion they offered to the goddesse of pleasure, celebrating the ban∣quet, with all dyshes of dylycacye, wherwith thympudente PANDORA forgat not to feaste him so frankly with shame∣full encounters on her parte, that with lyttell sute, and lesse intreatye, he entred commons in the place, whiche the olde John thought to be reserued seuerall to himselfe, and with small conynge gaue her checkmate, that stode slenderlye v∣pon her guarde, lothinge euen now her incontynencie that so easelye yelded her honestie in praye to whosoeuer woulde pursue it, wherin certeynly he had good reason, for of al the degrées of vnhappye creatures that without the consente

of womanlye shame, do wyckedlye transgresse the sacred lawe of chastitye, they ought chieflye to vse some respect of honestye, that are admitted into the inuiolable order of ma∣trimonye, & if their desteny be incidēt to so euil a fortune, as to enter into societic with a secret frend besydes their hus∣band (a thynge notwithstandynge forbidden by the worde of God) and lesse tollerable by the passytiue lawes of the world) yet ought they (I saye) be so confirmed in theyr vnlawfull affection towarde their second pewmate, that their amitye maye seame of perpetuitye, and without chaunge, ney∣ther ought they be so carelesse in the choyse of their extraor∣dinary consort, as their own doings afterwarde may make thē worthely to be laughed at, which in dede is y^e iust reward for such as seme so ligt of their seale, that they short of with∣out eyther mache, slint, or pouder, and of whose folyshe and vnshamful lyghtnes, procedes the argument of so many co∣modies and Enterludes playd in open stage, not so much to the confusion of them selues and parentes, as open scandall to their husbands and houses for euer, wherof the familyer * 1.5 example is to be noted in the sequel of this Pandora, who was not only in short time vtterly detested of y^t ROMAIN, but al∣so a commeniestinge stocke and pointed at (by his meanes) of al men for her rashe familiaritye vsed towards hym, who not long after the fyrst foundatiō, of this frendship was cald home from exile by Leo de Medicis, their soueraigne vycar of the Sea of Rome, perdonyng his offence, and restoryng the vse of his former lybertye, at whose departure (vnloked for) Pandora entred into no small passion of dolour, not for any seruent affection or loue whiche she bare to her Romain frende, but bycause his sodaine goinge awaye, lefte her voyde of all lycours to quenche the burnynge flame of the gredy goote of her vnnatural concupiscens, and chiefly be∣cause Monsieurle Page began also to ware cold in the combat whiche he had wonte to maintayne wyth suche courage. But fortune here was so frendlye to the fulfyllynge of her licencious appetit, that she (styring vp a fresh supplie of her

desire presented in the listes a yonge knyght of Myllan called Cesar Parthonope, who by chaunce hyrynge the lodging of the late Romain succeded hym also in desyre and diligence, for he at the fyrste vewe regardynge the flateringe beautye of this ALCYNE his neyghbour, suffered himselfe vnaduisedly to flyppe into the snares of loue, honoryng that in his hart with * 1.6 true sinceritie as a deare Iewel, which his predecessour wor∣thely hated wyth dewe detestacion. And entrynge here into the pagant of loue, his fyrst part was to gyue som outwarde arguments of his inward affection, wherin he begā to make many pale walkes afore her gate, rouynge wyth his eyes at her chamber wyndowes (accordyng to the amorous order of the vayne Spanyard) vtterynge by the dolefull vewe of his troubled countenaunce, the greate and secrete desyre qua∣relynge inwardlye wyth his vnrulye thoughts. But what nede a man vse polycie wher slender sute wyll preuayle, or who wyll bend his battery to that fortresse, wherof the cap∣tayne demaundes partly, and sues for composition. And be∣sides whē the vaile of shame is once remoued from our eyes, what let is there to staye the sensual cours of our bestly appe¦tits. And they that suffer the raine of reasō to slacke or whol∣ly to slip out of their hands, semes as trāsformed in a momēt, & so weakned touching the liuely mocions & forces of the spi∣rit, y^t the exterior prouocacions & appetit of desyre preuaile wholy aboue the inwarde resistance & accions of the soule, lyke as this glotton & impudent Pandora, who seing her som∣times saluted with a pleasant eye of her new neighbour, for∣got not to requit him with such wanton glaunces & of suche open vnderstandynge, that the knyght doubtynge not of the successe of his interprise, assured himselfe alredy of the victo∣rye, wherin he was somwhat holpen by the hand of fortune, who prouiding a iorney for the husband of Pandora touchinge therecution of a commission in a forein countrye, kept hym absent in those affaires, the space of a yere or more, wherein Parthonope forgot not to vse thoportunitye of so conuenient a time, & being ignorant with al of the great libertie of his mi∣stres,

who drew him on al this whyle by fine traines, to thend to make him more eager of bit, had no waye to vnfold y^e cause of his passion but by a letter, which he made the messenger of his grefe, and soliciter of his desyre in this sorte.

The curious Artificer & coninge worke woman Dame Na∣ture, * 1.7 I sée wel (good madame) was not so careful to worke you in her semelie frame of all perfections, as the powers deuine & difposers of the daungerous & loftye planets, (assisting her endeuour with certaine peculier ornaments of their speciall grace) weare redye to open their golden vessell of precious treasur powring by great abūdāce their heauenly gifts vpō you, striuing (as it semes whiche of thē for thencrease of his glory shold dispose himself most liberaliy on your behalf, like as (according to the Poets) they contended of olde for the ado∣ring by seueral ornamēts the late Pandora, whom for all res∣pects they agréed to be the odd ymage of the world, but speci∣ally for beautie, which if it dazeled y^e eyes of the gods, shining as a twinkling starr in thelemēts aboue, yours I thinke was reserued as a torch of glistring flame to giue light to y^e crea∣tures of the midel world, wherof (for my part) vewing w^t to ardent affectiō y^e sundry celestial ornamēts imparted to you by the Gods, w^c the percinge beames of rare beautie gyuen you for your dowrie of Nature, I doubt whether mine eyes (du••med altogether w^t admiraciō) wil first crie out for y^e losse of their former sight, or my whole bodie (plunged in the pas∣sion of affectiō) wil accuse the heart with the rest of thinward senses consentinge so easely to the cause of their disquiet, wherein my lyfe wayeth indiferentlye in the ballance of a thousand annoyes, and mine auncient libertie in the meane whyle kept close in an extreme captiuitye. Albeit measuring your heauely shape with thutwarde showe of singuler curte∣sye, that semes to occupye al your partes, I can not resolue of any crueltie to consiste in you, neither canne I iudge by the argument of your beauty) but y^t my captiuitie shalbe spedely cāuerted a happie deliuerie, like as also my hope half as∣sureth me triumphinge with honor ouer the doubtfull obiect

of my thought, to tast at your hands of the pleasaunt frutes of the thinge I chiefly desyre, which is (in accepting me for your seruant & secret frend) to admit me into such place of pi∣tye, as the dewe merit of my vnfayned seruice deserues by Iustice, wherin your act shal seme no lesse meritorious afore the throne of the hyghe goddesse; then honorable wyth ge∣nerall fame for euer in the worlde, for releuynge him, who without your assistance, (being wholy transformed to thap∣petite of your wyll) fyndes the burden of lyfe of such vneasye tolleraciō, that y^e least repulse of his sute at your hāds, iports his fatal summonce, to resigne the tearme of his borowed ye res in this worlde. Neither doth he desyre to haue the fruici∣on of his earthly dayes any lenger, then to imploye the same withal humilitie in the seruice of you, whome his hart hath alredy pronounced the souerein Ladye of his lyfe, wherof, you only maye dispose at your pleasure. Your vnfayned Cesar Parthonopee.

Whiche letter he deliuered vnto his Page experienced al∣redye in the conueye of like affaires, who (accordinge to the sharp passiō of his maister, vsed therpediciō oftime in the dis∣patch of his charge, whereupō depended y^e recouery of his so∣ueraine, but she being alredy (as you haue hard) ena••ored of the knyght, who was the first y^t wooed her with arguments felt euen now by y^e discours of this letter such encrease of af∣fectiō, * 1.8 pinching so extremely y^e desyre to sée him that without all order of womāly discrecion she Imbraced the page in the behalf of his maister, gyuinge him this answere, to require his maister not to doubte to come to her house, wherof saith she I also desier him, to thend I may be resolued by y^e breth of his own mouth, of y^t which I yet doubte touching the report of the letter, wherin she preferred vedement importunities, she winge the boye whiche waye he shoulde bringe hym to her chāber, where saith she I wil attend his cōming this eue¦ning, wherwith y^e Page returned, discoursing point by point y^e successe of his embassage to y^e dolorous knight, who reuiued by the gladsome newes of his boye, but chieflye by the shorte appointmēt resolued vpō by his mistresse, cast of at thinstant

thapparell of dule, disposinge himselfe euery waye to per∣forme thexspectation of the charge cōmitted vnto him by the mouth of her, whose commaundement he would not trans∣gresse, though his lyfe should incurre the hazard of a thou∣sand perilles, & putting himselfe in as seamelye order as he thought good, went (only with his page in solemne maner to visit the saint, who was of her selfe more redye to graunt fréelye, then the pylgrym to demaunde by petition, and who attending his commyng, with more desier to ease the passion of the patient, in quenching the feruent rage of her vnsacia∣ble appetit, then he for his part had cause to yelde adoration to so detestable a shryne, was withdrawn all alone into her chamber where he found her coyfed for the nonst onely in a nyght gowne & attire for the night redie to go to bed, which with the naturall shewe of her liuelye beautye, set out to the most aduantage by the shining light of the wax candels, droue the knight at the first into such astonishment, that the vse of his spech was conuerted into scilence, & his eyes onely occupied in beholding the rare beauty of her, who was vtter¦ly vnworthye to weare so precious a Iewell of nature, albe∣it expulsing at last, the feuer of his dombe traunse, with kys∣syng her white & delicat handes as his firste entre into a fur∣ther matter, proposed the cause of his cōming in this sort. I may by good reason accōpt my selfe more in the fauor of for∣tune, then any gentilmā y^t euer was incidēt to any good hap seing (good madam) that besides thassistāce of the place, I am also preferred to a conuenient meane to vnfold vnto you at large the smothered greife preserued hetherūto (to my great payne) in thutermost parte of my intrailles, whiche longe sins had sought a vent to burst out in open flame, if the dewe of the hope of that fauor whiche now I finde in you, had not serued as a necessary licour of comfort to delaye the raginge heat of the furnaise, for otherwise good madame I assure you the smal expertēce I haue to disgest the bitter pylles of loue, had offered my life an vntimely sacrifise to death, and nowe seing by thinter cessiō of fortune, and greate curtesie of your

good Ladyship I am not only sprinkled with the water of new consolation, but also ariued before thoracle to whome I haue so long desyred to present the earnest penie of my hum¦ble seruice, I besech you (sayth hee)) not witthout teares and sighes of pytiful disposition, open the windows of your py∣tye, & let fall the swete showers of compassion vpon this tor∣ment, dealing so extremely with me without seassing, which because you shal not thinke to be of lesse passiō thē the words of my mouth seme troubled in vtteryng the secret sorow of my hart, looe her I am become in your presence the pytifull solyciter of min owne cause, where with Pandora, who hether∣to had loued but only to satisfye her inordinat lust, & seynge with all thimportunities of her clyent, all to be sprinkled with the teares of his eyes, requited him with like argumēts of kyndnes, and feling now with in her hart certain mociōs assayling the secret of her thoughts with vnfained affectiō to∣warde her loyall Parthonope, coulde not any lenger dissimull that which she chiefly desired, but imbracing hym with sun∣dry signes of assured familiaritye sayde vnto him more for maners sake then otherwise, I maruaile syr, that being ar∣med with so smale experience, you cane so darkly discouers of theffects of loue, whose misteryes are not so plainly to be * 1.9 reueiled by anye, as by those that haue taken degree in his skoole, and wel could I impute that to your rashnes, whiche by your letters you haue tearmed a crueltie in me, for your sute hath not ben of such continuaunce, as it may craue sen∣tence in poste, nor your trauayle so painfull as the reward ought to folow with suche hoat expedition, albeit as you féele your owne hurt (not escapinge peraduenture without some panges of affection,) So you must thinke the martyredom is not peculyar to one, but diuidyng himselfe into a lyke SIM∣PATHIA of passion, hath wayed vs both in thindiferent bal∣lance of affection, for if loue hathe buylte his bowre in the botome of your harte, I must confesse vnto you syr, that I draw vnder the yoke of his awe, neyther is my torment any thyng inferior to yours, wherof I had long (eare this) gyuen

you vnderstandyng, by plaine practi se, if the vaile of shame (a comen enemye to the amorous enterprises of vs women) had not couered mine eyes, and closed my mouth with feare that I durst neuer (why lest my husband was at home) caste forth suche baytes of the greate good will I haue borne you (sins you weare our neighbour) wherby you might perceiue wyth what loyaltye I haue chosen and adopted you thonlye owner yf my hart, and wyth whom I wyshe to passe the re∣mainder of my lyfe with suche pleasure and contentement, as is necessary for the solace of twoe true louers, whiche last wordes (for the more assuraunce of the bargaine) she forgot not to seale with sundry sortes of kysses and other homlye trickes of familiaritie, wherby the knight being absolutlye resolued of that whyche earste hee douted, began to take possession of her mouth, adorynge her eyes wyth lookes of louyng admiration, and passyng in order to her whyt necke of the colour of the freshe Lylye, came at laste to beholde her bare brestes, semynge lyke twoo little hyls or mountay∣nes enuironnynge a rosye valleye of moste pleasaunt pro∣spect, whiche he forgat not humbly to honor wyth the often print of his mouthe. And passynge some space in these a∣morous traffiques wyth a thousand other sleights of folye, wherof our vayne louers haue no lacke when they seme to dispute of pleasure wyth contentement of desyere, they entred the lystes of their singuler combat, in a faire féeld bed redye dressed for the purpose, where PARTHONOPE, encounterynge his pleasante enemye wyth no lesse force and corage of his part, then she had grounded experience to wythstande his malice in suche exploits, entred the breach, whych so many had made assaltable to his hande, and beinge in possession of the commen place of PANDORA she founde hym so valyaunt in thaffaires of her desyer, that in respect of the loftye corage of this newe champyon, she accompted al the rest but children that earst had traded wyth her in the lyke traffique, wherfore from thinstaunt she

gaue him such assured place in her frendship, that hangynge wholy vpon the shoulders of Parthenope, she had no quiet in her mind but whē her eyes weare occupied in beholdyng his presence, neither was he (for his part) voyd of lyke affection, for beinge enchaunted with the charmes of this venemous Basile, he Imployed his time to court her continually with his cōpany, defying al felicities in the world, but that which he semed to receiue by the felowship of PANDORA, to whom alon he yelded all deuocion, with great humilitye. But this pleasure being of slipper continuance, stale awaye with the shortnes of time, their great amitie conuerted into indigna∣cion and spitfull reuenge, yea their mutuall societic sealed with all assuraunce of affection in their harts, was by & by so separated & vtterlye dissolued, that it was neuer hable to re∣turne to his former vnitye, for sone after the league of this new frendship, behold the Page sumwhat refreshed by the absence of two or thrée monethes from his mistres, repaires to his old exercise, wherein he found no worse intertainemēt at the bonntiful hand of PANDORA, then when he fyrst tyl∣led the soyle of so fertil an Ile, neyther would she for all this lose the company of her new champyon Parthonope, but vsing the order of leuel coyle she feasted them both indiferentlye of the dishes of one kynd of banquet, and reserued to her selfe a chaunge of dyet at her pleasure. But the Myllannoys notyng her disloyaltie entered into diuers disposition of collor, som∣time determined for the reuenge of the wrong which he sea∣med * 1.10 to receiue, to kyl his Corriuall, & manifest by open pu∣blication thinordinate lubricitie of his Ladye, whiche he had performed accordingly, if natural curtesye, with the regard of the honor which he held, had not preuayled aboue his iust cause of indignatiō in that behalfe, wherin albeit he dismis∣sed the reuenge, yet could he not escape thextreme passion of Ielosie, whych so prickt him at the quicke, takyng away his desier of reste, & in place of thappetit of slepe, filled his head ful of hollowe dreames and vayne visiōs, being in short time so transformed with fantasie, that there rose question of his

sodayne alteration amongest diuers his familyar frendes, wherof one called EVCYO MARCIANO no lesse deare vnto him by aproued frendshippe then by the lawe of faythfull alyaunce and awncyente dissente, who not ignoraunte in the maladye of his kynsman, disposed him selfe to cure the disease and mortefye the cause with one medicyne, and be∣inge whollye priuye to the practise of thinsacyable PALLI∣ARD * 1.11 PANDORA, by the reporte of oure late Romaine IO∣CVNDE costed this kynght one daye as he walked all alone in a gallarye of his lodginge reprehendinge his rashnes in this sorte. Yf I had as manye meanes to cure your disease (good cosin,) as I am thorowlye perswaded of the cause of * 1.12 your sicknes, I woulde conuert the grefe I fele in your be∣halfe, into spedye endeuor to releue your distresse, Ah las what vnhappye trade of late haue you entred into, that so remoues your senses out of their sege of reasó, transforming the lyuelye colloure of youre face into a complexion of palenes, youre minde continuallye occupied in solitarye thoughtes and wholye chaunged into a disposition con∣trarye to your aunciente order. Do you thinke that I am eyther ignorante of your passion, or of the league of loue concluded of late betwene thunchaste PANDORA and you, Ah good cosin I lamente not so muche your presente desas∣ter, as I feare the fal of future Inconueniences like to thun∣der vppon you, if god preuente not the ylls whiche threaten you, by takinge you out of the handes of that tyranous shee wolfe, whose poyson is of more perylous infection, thenne that which dystilled from the breath of the fyrste PANDORA whom the two greke poets do affirme to brewe the first ves∣sel of VENEMOVS lycor that euer came into y^e world, Ah las if reason would suffer you aswel to deserne the doinges and detestable life of this open hypocryt euen from the yeares of her infansye, as your follye is content to leade you to lysten to her cursed lore, you would not onlye seme satisfyed with the pleasure whiche hetherunto you haue receiued, but also abhore the gredy apetyte of hers so geuen to hunte after con∣tynuall chaunge, neyther dismaye you at all, if the pleasure

whiche you count peculiar to your selfe, bee imparted to an other, far vnmete to mache with you in that or anye other condicyon, for he whom you suspect to supplye the place of your absence, was the fyrst that tilled the craggye grounde of your Insacyable mystres, gathering the first frutes of her virginytye, which notwithstanding might be dispersed with al by reasonable tolleracion, if the nomber of them (besides) weare not infynet, that haue alreadie battered the fort wher of you thinke your selfe lyuetenant and only possessor, reher∣singe here in order the bedroll of those that she had admitted for her vnlawful bedfelowes, wherof PARTHONOPE (bow∣wing a willing eare to the tale of his kynsman) was dryuen into no small merueile at the pretye discours of the noble ac∣tes of this valiant souldyer of VENVS, But MARTIANO al∣though he sawe argumentes of remors in the hart of his Co∣sin, yet he thought his disease was not vtterly cured vnlesse the cause were also taken awaye, wherfore pursuing his in∣tent w^t vehement perswasions, he requested him at last to leaue those traffyques of loue, and speciallye in cases of ad∣ultery, for (saieth he) they do not only dimynyshe the honour age, renome, and welthe of him that foloweth them, but also they are hurtefull to the health of the soule, forbydden speci∣allye by the mouthe of god: and for your parte (me thinke) it were better to marye sum honest gentylwomanne of your own calabre, susteyninge the honor of your house with pas∣sing * 1.13 the rest of your yeres in mutual socyetye with your law ful wife, then in consuming the best time of your age, to de∣pend wholy vpon the pleasure of a shamelesse & cōmen dox∣cye, who when she hath sucked out the grene Iewse of your youth, will not stycke (I warrant you) to procure the ende of your dayes with some miserable and vntimly death, you are not ignorante besides (I am sure) of the authoryties of diuers histories noting the great nomber of strang incōueniences, but specially perpetual Infamy, which followeth as a dwe reward to their trauel, who not regarding y^e dred cōmaunde∣mente of God, and helth of their soule, do defile the maryage bed of their neighbour, wherin for my part, thoffyce of the frendshipe noryshed of long time betwen vs, together w^t the

respect of indissoluble consangwinytie, moues me not only to expose my aduice so liberally towards you but also to preset vnto you this laste request, with semblable importunytye, y^t as wel for the cōmoditys of your selfe, as consolacion of those who wishe your aduancement, you wil abandon the haunt of this barrayn, and woman void of al vertue, whose wicked dis¦position argues many wayes to late a repentaunce for you, if in short time you dispatch not your hande of her acquain∣tance: wherwith dischardging the true part of a deare frend, he so coniured his kinsman, that conferring his report with thargument of lightnes he had alreadie noted in his mistres he detested alreadie the remembrance of her beastly conuer∣saction, and because he would disclaime her acquayntance, cō∣panye and effection which earst he bare her, at one instante he remoued his lodging to y^t further part of the Cytie, where within short time, he maryed a yong gentilwoman daughter to one EVSEBIO IOVIALL no lesse vertuous, honest, chast, and curtuous, then the other, proud, crewell, spightfull and lascyuious, leauing notw^tstāding his cast coneubyn PANDO¦RA byg beliyed of his doing, who noting not only his long ab¦sens from her, with y^e change of his lodging, but also that he was sodainly maryed, and she vnware of his Intent, wrapte the colloricke humors which assayled her for the presente, in a letter wherin she was no nigard to spytte franklye the poi∣son of her stomake, in vttringe at large the conseyts of her mind against the disloyaltye of her periured louer (as it plea∣sed her to tearme him,) and being signed and sealed, she deli∣uered it to a messenger conuenient for the conueighe of such embassage: with charg to performe the dispatch with expedi∣cion, which accordinglie was accomplished, for her maide FY¦NEA who earst had bene collcaryor in thamarous affaires of PANDORA, findīg y^e knight in y^e cōpanie of his kinsmā MAR¦TIANO, deliuered him the letter of her mistris, importing * 1.14 this or the like effecte.

The onlye experiēce of thy traiterous practise (oh PARIV∣RED PARTHONOPE) is not only sufficient of it selfe to sturre vppe the iuste exclamaciōs of al women againste the infidelitie in menne, but also hath sowenne suche

seedes of perpetual slaunder in their attemptes of loue here after, that thy desloyaltie towardes me (registred for euer in the remembrance of our secte) will hynder thenterprises of others, whose intententes (tending paraduenture to a more sinceretie of affection) deserue not to be repulsed by the me∣rite of thy detestable falshod: And truly for my part I colde neuer haue thoughte that faithe, purifyed thorowe the ry∣uers of so manye teares, confirmed by the witnes of a thou∣sande sighes, and lastelye (for a more assuraunce) sealed with so manye othes had, had so smal harbor in the hartes of men now a dayes, if the profe of thy vnhoneste dealinge, had not argued it vnto me, with suche familiar example in my selfe that alas I curse (by good right) the constellacion that firste consented to my natiuitie and vnhappie procreacion, in suf∣feringe me to be gouerned by so harde a destynie or deceiued by the moste vntrue and faithles SYCOPHANT that euer offred seruice to any pore gentlewoman: Albeit if I had not bene so liberall to prostitute mine honoure, for satisfyinge thy vnchaste desyer, my conscience had bene easelye dispen∣sed with all for the penuance of so greate a falte, my harte free frome presente passion, & I apte enoughe to forgett the, whose stronge charmes of extreme loue haue so enchaunted my senses and made me subiect to thy remembrance, that the small time of thy absence is no lesse greuous vnto me, then thy presente abuse geues mee iuste cause to crye oute openly of thyne inordinat crueltie, alas is this the guerdon of thunfained loue I bare the? is thy dispocition so vnnatu∣rall, to retorne the precious meritte of mine honoure, with so vnthankefull a méede of vndeserued discurtesye? haue I loued the so entierlie, preferringe the moste deare aboue all men in thintralls of my harte, to be depriued of thy compa¦nie when I exspect to reape the frutes of pleasure with euer¦lastinge contynuance of our societie? must I nowe abandon the fruicion of thy presence, being whollie resolued in thy affection, and when I craue thy soc cour by great necessetye? thou art ignorante alas in the case of my extremetie, ney∣ther

was thou ordeyned to beare part of the pinching panges whiche I féele in my wombe proceding of the cursed seedes, sowen by y^t in y^e bottom of my bellie, stirring euen nowe in y^e partes of my tender sides with suche tormente, that onlye I pore wretche do beare the pennaunce of the falte dewe to vs both. Yf the viewe of thy former pleasure, wherewith thou haste bene earst so franklie feasted at the bowntyfull handes of thy PANDORA, can not moue the to compassion of her present greffe, Spare at least to spil the blood of thyne owne liknes, deryued of the dropps of the moste precious Iewice in the, who harbored (as thy gueste) in the secrete corners of my tender flankes, takes daily norriture with increase of life by the vitall inspiracion of nature, and whose innocen∣cie (if I dye by thy crueltie) will not faile in thother worlde to sommone the afore the highe troane of iustice, wher▪ I ex∣spect the iuste reuenge of thundeserued wronge, wherwith (contrarye to the nature of loyal louers) thou rewardest her, that earste loued the not so derelie, as nowe she persecutes the with mortall hate, euen vntill the laste houre of her life.

Pandora.

The firste viewe of this letter was of harde, disgestion to PARTHONOPE, who albeit the feare which he hadde, that PANDORA wold mordure (as she did in dede) the frute con∣ge••lēd of the substaunce of theim bothe in her intralles, presented a certeine remorse afore the eyes of his consci∣ence, yet, because she would neuer afore let him vnderstande that she was with childe, hee thoughte it was but a newe meane to allure him eftesones to the trafficque of her affai∣res, whervpon vsing as litle regarde to the contentes of the letter, as he made smal accompte of her that write it, dispat∣ched the messenger with this shorte aunswere. Thou shalte (sayeth he) declare to thy mistrys that if she hadde heretofore ymparted to me theffect of thy presente message she should

haue disposed of mée and my frendeshippe at her pleasure, but nowe seinge shée, traues my assistaunce by necessitie, I committe her to the méede of her owne follie. whereof PANDORA beinge aduertised by the heauie reapport of her FYNEA, who also alledged dispaire eftsones to recouer the frendshippe or companie of the knighte, entred furth∣wyth into suche dispocition of malencollie wyth ymagy∣nacions of reuenge, that conuertinge thappetite of her aun∣ciente loue into an humor of deadlie hate, doubted whe∣ther shee shoulde vse force againste her selfe, for the spite of the villainy he had don to her, or persecute hym vnto dea∣the whose life shee vtterly detested, and waueringe thus in contrarietie of opinions, she soughte to appease somwhat the furye of her presente dolloure, by recordynge her greete with these lamentable tearmes.

Alas (saithe shée) if this bée the rewarde of true loyal∣tie, what assuraunce maye wee reappose in constancie? * 1.15 or what meede to be exspected in the vertie of suche vnfai∣ned frendshippe, as I professed to this vnthankeful and per∣iured knighte, haue I refused the seruice of so many gentle∣menne, offringe franklie to employe their times vnder the becke of my commaundemente, to make my affection sub∣iecte to one, who hauinge alreadie called oute of me the frutes of his desyer, smiles nowe at my simplicitie, and laughes to sée mée languishe in dule? Ah why were the eyes of my mynde so dymmed with the myste of fonde zeale, that I colde not consider the common malice of menne now a dayes, who preferring their humble seruice wyth all kinde of othes, dienge a thousande times a daye for oure sakes, yea offringe their lyues to all kynde of perill, doo seame to remeine prisonners in the ward of oure good will, vn∣till their fayned ymportunyties, preuailyuge aboue the weake resistance of vs poore wretches do place theime in the possession of their desyer, and beinge once made Lordes ouer that, whyche onely colde commaunde theym afore,

God knowethe howe sone they reuolte, torninge their seruente affection, into a contempte of our fragilitie? if I had as carefullie caste all argumentes, of future disquiet, as I was readie to open myne eares to the sugred brea∣the of his charmes, I hadde eschewed the euill wyth the cause, neyther hadde I stande (as I do nowe) readye to en∣ter into the harde pennaunce of my former follie: Ah, moste vnthankefull PARTHONOPE howe canste thou soo easelye forgette her, who was no nigarde in satys∣fyenge thy desyers, and whose bewtie thou séemedeste earste to haue in no lesse admiracion thenne if I hadde béene sente frome aboue for thanlie solace of my lyfe hath thy presente crueltie preuailed whollie aboue the glorye of thyne aunciente vertue: or haste thou vtterlie dismissed the remembraunce of thy othe, and protestacion of faythe, whyche oughte to call thy conscience to a remorse forcinge a performaunce of thy promisse? whereof also (sayeth shée) castynge her waterie eyes downe to her bigge bellie) thou hast lefte mée a pawne whyche witnessing no lesse thy dis∣loyaltye agaynste mée, thenne aduowching the frendeshippe thou haste founde at my hande, oughte to knocke at the dore of thy conscience for some consideracion of pitie towar∣des her, whome wythout cause thou doste shamefullie a∣buse? Oh, vnhappye and wretched Ladye that I am, in what companye canne I showe my heade, wherin the big∣nes of my bellie (bringing the blodd of shame into my face) will not accuse me of treason towardes my husbande, be∣inge so longe tyme absente, what wronge dothe the world to my wickednes, if euery man salute me by the name of a common and arraunde strompette? who defacing•• her ••••nciente honour and house, wyth the lasciuidus exercise of adulterous abuse, deserueth to be registred in the staun∣derous boke of black defame w^t a crown of infamy for euer? wherunto like as thy subtil practises (Oh ••ayty••e knyghte) hath aduaunced me, so thy tyrany in y^e end shal take awaye

the life of those, ii. who ought to be farr more deare vnto the, then thou seamest to accompte theim: wherwith fallinge in∣to * 1.16 alteracions of more furye, she began a cruell warre with her faire haires, printinge her nailes (without respecte) in the rosye dye of her faire face, bedewinge her bossome and skirtes of outwarde garmentes with the droppes of teares distilling from her cristal eyes, and entring thus into y^e pa∣geant of rage, had here plaied the laste acte of the tragedie in executinge herselfe, if the presence of FYNEA had not preuen¦ted the facte, who stirringe vpp rather the appitit of reuenge in her mistrys, then mynistringe perswacions to patience or moderacion in her dollor, incensed her by al the wicked de∣uises shee colde ymagyne, to wreake her iuste anger vppon the villanons bodye of him that so synisterlie procured her passion of vndeserued dule, whereunto albeit PANDORA gaue diligent eare, with desyer to put her aduise in executi∣on, yet, hauinge not vtterlie drayned her stomake of all com∣plaints renewed estsones her exclamacion in this sort.

Ah. sayeth she why was not I traded in the magicall sci∣ences * 1.17 of the COLCHOSE MEDEA or thytalyan CIRCE whose conninge (workinge meruailous in the like affaires) hath left an ymortalitie to their names to al ages, certainly if the heauens had reuealed vnto me any skil in the misterie of their artes, eyther sholde PARTHONOPE be myne, or els would I raine the shower of vengance vppon him and her that enioyeth the mede of my merite. with such ympetu∣osytie, that the sequeile of the world shold haue no lesse cause to cronicle my doings, then they seame cōmonly to confirme and allowe thactes of the it. former enchaunteresses. And thou FYNEA shol••est haue me to forgett him, in whose loue I doate, although I wishe nothing so muche as his vtter des∣truction: And now do I see the doe rewarde of my former vnchaste conuersacion, for the seruente affection whiche I beare him, doth now yelde me doble vsur••e of the want on libertie wherin I haue lyued hetherunto, neyther shall I be enioyned to other penance for my falte, then a loathesome

dispaire which attēdes (if I do not recouer him whom I haue lost, or haue spedie meanes to reuēge the wrong he hath don me) to cut in sunder the strings of my life: Wherfore beyng resolued in some parte to folowe thy aduise, So muste I also vse thy traueile in thexecution of my first attempte, whiche is that thou goe furthwith to the vale of Cammonika in the contrey of Bressiant which (as they saye) is not without great stoare of conninge sorcerers, amongest whom it is necessa∣rie that thou learne (what so euer it coste) some enchaunte∣ment of so greate vertue, that it maye not onely restore me eftesones to the frendship of hym, whome I thynke hath * 1.18 vtterly forsaken me, but by the coniuracion of theyr charme haue power to remoue the vaile of his affection from hys newe wyfe, that makyng no more accompte of her, he may from hensfurth dissolue the league of amytie betwene them for euer, wherein if the effect of my desyer bée furthered by a successe of thy diligence, assure thy selfe, thy traueil shal∣be so thankefully imployed, that chrystennynge the hens∣furth by the name of my syster, there shalbe neither riches nor commoditye anye waye proper or due vnto me, whiche shall not be common to vs both. FINEA who was not so rea∣die to obey her mystres in this deuelishe enterprise, as gy∣uen of her selfe to bée a fyt minister of euill, discending with expedicion into the vale of CAMONIKA, gat by the helpe of those sprites and lymmes of the deuill, inhabytynge that hellishe ylande, certayne flowers gathered in the waine of the moone, wyth droagues and other tromperie of witchecrafte, requisite for coniurers, and suche as oc∣cupye the pernicious trade of enchauntynge, all whiche le∣gerdemaines and deuises of Sathan, were as auaileable to the furthering of thenterprise of Pandora, as there is certen∣tie * 1.19 or assuraunce in thopperacion of that darke and hellishe science, what inuocation so euer they make of the name of God, who beynge the father and author of all troth, wyll neuer haue the triumphant glorye of his name polluted wyth the cursed ceremonies of suche ydolatryes, neyther

wyll he bowe downe his eares to the peticion of such Dia∣bolicall deuynours, who practisynge to seduce the simple sorte wyth charmes of sorceries, do preferre the absolute de∣struction of theyr owne soule. And trulye thalmightie (whose iudgementes are inscrutable) is content somtyme to suffer those confurers and enchaunters, the veray offi∣cers of hel, aswel for the scourge of our synnes, as to mani∣feste theyr owne infidelitie, to worke many greate and in∣credible wounders. As we reade of the magicians in Egypte, before Pharao, thenchaunteresse stirrynge vp the sprit of S••∣muell * 1.20 muell in the presence of Saule kinge of the Hebrues, and Simon the coiurer honored as a God of the folishe prince and people of Rome, to thende the faythfull flocke (strengthened and confirmed, by the grace of the holye sprite) maye glorye in theyr assured belyef in the true God, by the peremptorye fal of those infedels, together wyth all suche as vnhappelye lysten to theyr pernicious doctrine.

Here PANDORA seynge all her deuises (accompanyed with a crooked fortune) retourne a successe contrary to her meanynge, began to enter into a newe passion of suche rage and dispaire, that she had euen nowe dismissed the re∣sidue of her dayes by the fatall dome of her owne handes, yf she had not bene eftsones interupted by FINEA, who for thappeasinge of her present dule, preferred vnto her the ayde of a graye frier, a greate ghostly father in that Cytie, whom she affirmed to haue wroughte meruelous effectes by the healpe of certeine distilled waters tempered wyth the iewice of stronge hearbes, growynge secretlye within the intrailles of the earthe, the nature of hidden stoanes and mettals, pouders and séedas not knowen to manye, wyth diuerse other suffumigacions incident to witchecrafte, and who in déede was noted to haue bestowed more of hys tyme * 1.21 in the studie of that darke art, and philosophie of Sathan, then in tourninge ouer the sacred volumes of holye scripture and testament of the Lorde, whiche oughte to bée the only exer∣cise of those that are clad•• in the habite of religion.

Beholde here an example of greate vertue in oure Ab∣baye men, who beinge appareilled in a simple habite, in signe of humilitye, doe carie the deuill in the cowle of theyr hoodes. And who (accordynge to saint Augustin) beinge the chiefe pillors that susteine supersticion, are also the grea∣test frendes to ydolatrie, dim••ynge the puritie of religion * 1.22 (which they oughte to honor and professe with sincere ymita∣cion) with a cloude of suche darknes of the deuises of the de∣uill, that thonlye vapour of theyr poysoned infection is hable to corrupte the whole ayre wyth a contagiouse pestilence. Howe shoulde the ignoraunt bée guided in the righte waye to saluacion, if they whiche oughte to open the lyght of the gospell, do giue manifest examples of errours? or how can the glorye of God bée renoumed amongest men? Yf they whiche standynge in the pulpit of truth, and ought sincere∣lye to preache the lawe of the Lorde, do conuerte theyr dutie towardes the true Religion into practises of Nygromancie and tearmes of inuocation of deuils, vnprofitable mem∣dres certeinlye, deseruinge rather to bée vtterlye weded out of the common welth, then (norrished in the idle trade of an abbaye lownde) to be suffred (vnder the vaile of God∣lynes and deuocion (to practise haynous conspiracies a∣gainste God and man? But what doe I medle thys parte of my historye wyth thoffice of the preacher, to whome it chiefilye belongeth to treate vppon the sondrye abuses, committed daylye in Nonries and other lyke tenementes * 1.23 of Babylon. To this holye father then commes Pandora with a countenaunce all cladd wyth sorowe, declarynge the circumstaunce of her loue passed, the cause of her pre∣sent passion, with the whole discourse of her former lyfe hi∣therunto, crauynge (wyth greate intercession in the ende) thassistance of his arte, for moderation in the martiredome which she endured; by the feruent affection she bare to the knighte.

The freare (notwitstanding his vowe and straite othe of his * 1.24 order) had not his conscience so armed wyth the vertue of

charitye, nor his handes so cleane washed from the coue∣tous desyer of fylthie gaine, but he receyued certeine peces of golde of Pandora, whome he persuaded shoulde buye cer∣teine drogues and other necessaries, whiche he thought con∣uenient for the makynge of hys Diabolicall confection: but to be shorte theis charmes and deceitfull perfumes of the freare, were of equall operation in this enterprise, to the hearbes and other healpes lately gathered in the vale Camo∣nika by the woman of Pandora, who seing her selfe vtterly de∣fyed of fortune, in receiuyng semblable successe in all her ma¦gicall deuises, expectynge withall a spedie retourne of her husbande, determined to reuenge the desloyaltie of her louer vpon the frute sturryng in her owne wombe, beynge nowe vj. monethes since she conceiued, thinkyng she sholde neuer be voyde of desyer, to sée PARTHONOPE, or at least to reuenge his treason, vntill she had vtterlye extirped the rootes of that séede whiche he had sowen in the soile of her tender sydes. Oh crueltye more then barbarous? Is it pos∣sible that a Gentelwoman of so tender yeres, deriued of honest parentage, norrished in ciuilitie, and that whyche more is, a Christian, borne in the harte of EVROPE, shold so muche forget the feare of God and regarde to his lawes, as in augmentynge the haynous faulte of the wronge al∣redye don againste her husbande, by so many and vnchaste adulteries, to committ in the ende an execrable effusion of the blood deriued of the droppes of her owne substance? Oh howe cursed and vnhappye is the condicion of them, that declinynge (for wante of grace) from the pathe of rea∣son, do suffer theim selues to bée ledd by the lyne of fleshe∣lye appetyt, the chiefest meane that makes vs forgett God and all good order. For this PANDORA desyrous to couer her faulte, albeit not hable to hide her bigge bellye, * 1.25 assayed to destroye the creature (mouynge within her) by crushynge her sydes wyth greate force, drynkynge caw∣dels made for the nonst, and swallowinge diuerse other

pouders of such strong confection, that theyr vehement ope∣ration within her, had bene able to preuaile aboue the strengthe of the highest complexion of the worlde. Albeit seynge her exspected successe of this beastelye pollecye, was also denied her, she deuised a laste meane for the accomplish∣ment of her enterprise, whiche the veraye ennemy of na∣ture (I am sewer) woulde abhorre to ymagine, which was, that seyng she coulde not be delyuered by the assistaunce of sorceries, purgacions, nor other pollecie, whyche the arte of enchauntynge was hable to lende her, she resolued (as a bloddie boocher of her owne bloud) to breake the bed of thin∣••ant * 1.26 within her entrails and driue it out of her wombe by veray force, wherein she was assisted by FINEA, who ac∣accordynge to the commaundement of her mystresse, carri∣ynge a syluer basyn into the highest torret in the house, wente thether immediatlye bothe together, where after the doares were shott on all sides, Pandora with a troubled countenaunce all pantinge, for the horrour of the acte which she ment to execute, beholdynge her bellye with serpentine eyes sparklynge with flames of furie, sayed vnto her mayde, like as alas thou knowest FINEA, howe extremelye I am delte withall at the handes of the thrisewretched Parthonope, who without anye respect to the paine which I endure) hath vtterlye disclaimed mine acquaintance, wyth lesse regarde to preserue the séedes whyche he hathe grafted and lefte growinge within me, euen so thou arte not ignoraunt of thindeuour I haue vsed to reclaime hym, and rampyer my selfe eftsones in his fauor, wherof the one is no lesse vn∣likelye, then the other daungerous: and beynge spyted of fortune, heauen and carthe seame also to bende the force of theyr malice againste mine attemptes. Albeit I coulde somwhat moderate the extremetie of my passion, yf the viewe of my greate bellye, dyd not renewe the rage of my feuer, wherein I dye a thousande tymes, hauynge anye thyng afore mine eyes that eyther representeth his lieknes, or moueth anye cause of remembraunce of that detestable

wretche, who (as I hope) shall neuer take pleasure in any child of his engendred in the bodye of Pandora: and as I haue assayed diuers wayes (as thou knowest) to discharge me of this burden, wherin I haue nothynge preuayled because my destenie contends against my endeuor. Euenso beynge not hable any longer to conceile my falte nor couer my wōbe swelled with the wycked sede of his generacion, and seynge withall, my husband is now vpon the point of his returne, I am determined to commit my life to extreme perill, to thend to dispatche me of this burden, which I hate asmuch as other women take pleasure to beare, and bryng forth with so great contētement. And if I could as largelye cōmande ouer him, as I haue power to worke the spyte of his wrong vpon the pawne he hath lefte within me, I assure thée, these handes should make no lesse straunge Anotomy of his carcas, then I meane forthwith in thy presence to dismember the monster which by his act I fele stirre in the Inner parts of my raines, wherewith FINEA hearing this deuelish resolucion, prefer∣red persuasions to the contrarie, alledgynge that the horror weare to great; that a mother shoulde become the tyrannous murdresse of her selfe & childe at one instant, and (saith she) touchinge your being with child, there be meanes inough to kepe it secret without vsing any crueltye, in killyng thinno∣cent creature, which ought not to beare the penaunce of the faulte of the father, tush, tush, saith this she wolfe and merci∣les MEDEA, that euil is but light where counsel takes place, * 1.27 do awaye these persuasions and dispose thy selfe to assiste me, for otherwise thou shalt sée me dye in thy presence, and then thy preachynge shalbe in vayne to her that is absolutly resolued to pursue the ende of her meanynge, what is it then that I shall doe, saith FINEA, to whom (as a cruell ME∣GERA cōming out of the hollow and darke places of thinfer∣nal valleys, she enioyned her this fyrst charge, get thee vpp, saith she, vpon that high coffer there, and I wil spred my bel∣lye alonge vpon the grounde with my backe vpwarde. And so wyth all thy force thou shalte leape vpon my Keynes,

which I hope wil be a meane to open an Issue for this cursed burden whiche is so greuous for me to carye, wherin if thou vse thutermost of thy force, thou shalte restore me to spedye contentement. But if thou spare to employe thy whole strength, thow shalte prolonge my payne, driuynge me to make myne owne handes the ministers of my meanynge FINEA not likyng greatly the charge of suche commission, and muche lesse the execucion in so horrible a maner, al∣thoughe the terrour of the fact troubled her for a tyme: Yet beynge of longe tyme acquainted wyth the condicions and crueltye of her mystres, mounts vpon the highe chest, lea∣pinge seauen or eyghte tymes together vpon the backe of Pandora, wyth suche impetuositie that anye man woulde haue thought that so manye blowes wyth the heuye swaigh of all her bodye, had bene hable to haue broken the bones of her backe, and dispatched the mother and childe toge∣ther. But all these trafficques beynge in vayne, prolon∣ged but the payne of Pandora, who doublyng her rage wyth this repulse of her enterprise, entred into deuises of more mischiefe and tyrannie not almost to be talked of, what hart alas is so endurated wyth the mettall of hardnes, but the horror of this hellyshe crueltye, wyll moue it to destil drops of bloud? what countenaunce so assured that cane wyth∣hold hys teares, or not shrinck at the tyranous disposition of this lyonesse? or what heares wyll not stande vp at the tra∣gicall discours of this strange kynde of chylde bearynge. Truelye I knowe that vertuous Ladyes (sprinkled wyth the dewe of pytie,) wyll not onelye tremble at the remem∣braunce of the inordinate crueltye of this cursed mother, but also open the conduits of their cōpassions, weping on y^e behalfe of the torment wherin vnnaturally she plunged the innocent impe which nature had formed of the substance of her selfe, who conuerted from the shape of a woman into the disposition of a deuel, raginge without measure, that she could not be deliuered, howled out at laste with a horrible

crye full of impietye and blasphemye in this sorte. Seinge (sayth she) that both God and the deuell denie me their assi∣stance, I will (in spighte of their powers) ryd me of thee. Oh cursed and execrable creature, wher with possessed wholye with the spirit of furie, hauing her eyes sonke into her head, her stomacke panting, and her face all full of black bloud, by the vehemencie of the conflicte which she had indured, began to leape withal her force from the tope of the coffer down to the ground, brosing her sides with her handes, and playinge on the drum with her fystes vpon her great bellye, with such huge blowes, that felyng euen now the lytel creature with∣in her remoued from his place, redye to drope oute of her wombe, called for the socors of FINEA, who standynge in place of a midwyfe. Receiued (in a siluer basyn) an infant male vnlawfullye conceyued, bedewed as yet wyth the wet soddes of his wicked mother, sprauling & breathing with a litell ayre of lyfe whiche doloros spectacle mouyng FINEA to present compassion, driue her into teares of greate dule, as well for that she sawe so fayre a creature driuen out of his habitacion before his due terme, and without the consent of nature, as also to sée it redie to be layed vpon the polluted alter of immolations, for an offering to the deuill, afore it weare washed and purified thorowe thesacred sacrement of Baptisme. Oh horrible & execrable condicion of an Italian, who being fosterd in the myrie vale of camonycka amongst the wyches and cursed enchaunterers, socked there the vice of her nurce wyth the mylke of her pappe. Albeit I coulde make cōparison of the like crueltie executed in the greatest Cytie of Fraunce by a gentilwoman of that contrye, who * 1.28 beinge newly deliuered of the burden of her bellye, made a beastlye sacrifice of it in the fyre, and that wyth the consent and in the presence of the detestable pallyard that begat it, * 1.29 deseruynge both to be inuested with the tytell of cursed pa∣rents and blodye bochers of the sedes congealed of theyr owne substaunce, sauynge that the ende of this infortunat Infant was more tragicall, and the doings of his mother

more detestable, who excedinge the brutuall crueltye of the wolfe, tygres••e, or Lyonesse rauenynge amongest the flocke of lyttel lambes in the fatt and fertyll feldes of LIBIA, se∣inge her thus discharged of her burden, began also to dys∣mysse the greatnes of her dolor, and beholdinge wyth her eyes, (shyninge lyke y^e blase of two torches wyth the flame of furye) the new borne creature sprawling in the basyn, be∣gan to whett her tethe, shakinge her heade with horrible re∣gards prognosticatinge the laste acte of the rage whiche shee haddes yet to playe, saying vnto FYNEA, doste thou not sée howe this lyttel beast resembles alreadye the Image of his pariured father, beholde I praye the his countenaunce, and marke y^e sondry liklehods that euen now appeare in his face, arguing vndoubtedly that (if lyfe woulde geue leaue to his Inclynacion) his detestable disposicion woulde be nothinge Inferyor to y^t vil lanie of him whose trayterous dysloyaltye hath made me (as thou féest) y^e cursed mynister of inordynat crewelty, And If I had y^e lyke power ouer him y^t is y^e cause of this vnnatural passion, I would assuredlye enioyne him such penaunce, that his, iuste chastysmente shoulde import a ter∣ror to all traytors that hereafter shoulde seke to seduce anye Ladye by sugred words, wherewith bendinge her lokes to∣wardes the lyttell Impe (hastinge to his ende by the seconde conflycte hee hadde endewred by hys mother and her mayde, afore his eyes weare vnsealed to sée the light of this worlde,) she wished eftsones the presens of PARTHONOPE vpon whome (sayth shee) syth I am vnhappelye denyed to wreake my vengaunce in suche sorte as I woulde, at leasts I will content my selfe for the tyme, to see the ponyshed in the place of him, whose pycture thow rightlye presentes, as a trewe patorne shaped of the masse of his substance, and se∣inge thy destenye is to incurre the penaunce due to thy fa∣ther, the payne of thy erecucion shalbe nothinge inferyor to the meryt of his execrable falt, wherin sayth shée, arme your selues, (Oh my handes) with corage, and shrinke not to bee the mynisters of the ponishiment which my tongue hath pro

nounced, reioyce Oh my harte in the ••ffusion of his blodd, whose de the brings repose to the long passion of thy dolors, and you mine eyes laughe your full to se the dismembringe of him, whome I meane to offer as a sacrafyse of vengaunce on the behalfe of PARTHONOPE, whose remembraunce (with the blodde of his son) I will presentlye rote out of my minde for euer. Certenlye good Ladyes my harte abhorring no lesse the remembraunce of this bychfore, then my spirite trobled with tremblinge feare at the contynaunce of her cre∣weltye, giues such impediment to my penne, that it is scarce hable to discribe vnto you, the laste act of her rage, wherein this lymme of thinfernal lake, not worthye any lōger to bea∣re the name of a woman, procedinge to thende of her enter∣prise, takes vp her sonne with her bloodye and murderinge handes, whom without all compassion, and contrary to the order of a christian, she beates with all her force againste the walles, painting the postes and pauements in the chamber with the bloddde and braynes of the innocent creature newe borne, wherwith not yet contented nor satisfyed in her rage, she takes in eyther of her handes one of the tender legges of the child now deade, and deuiding them as the bocher ioynts his lambe or yonge goate which he layes vpon his staulle to be sould, fell of a sodayn laughter in signe of the great plea∣sure she toke in this execution, wishing notwithstanding to enter into the same exercise with him of whom this defor∣med carrion (as she tearmed this dismembred Infant) toke his first beginninge. Here if I shoulde preferre the perticu∣ler discours of the exploits of this second MEDEA and erecra¦ble monster of our time, I could not escape (I am sure) w^tout the secret grudges of some, who hauinge made large sale of their honor at to lo we a price, & getting in like sort y^e byt of frantike Ialo••ye betwen their teth, do stodye nothing but the art of reueng, albeit because y^e vertue of honest & chastladies shal s••ine the clearer, by the darke eclipse of such cómon ene∣myes of the whole sect Femenyne, I wil yet treat of the tyrany of this PANDORA who reserued thextreame pointe of her

Iewishe creweltie vntil the last act of her tragedye, for mar∣teringe the dead childe, and treadinge it vnder her fete, shée thrust her hande vnder his shorte rybbes, and taking out his hart, gnawed it (as a bych of HERCANIA) betwene her teth into littell morsels, saying that shee hoped one daye to pro∣uyde the like banquyt for PARTHONOPE, whiche shoulde confirme the quyet she felt in the present death and detesta∣ble execucion of his Image and likenes, and hauing her had yet dyed with the blodd of this guiltles impe of nature, shée told not be ryd of the importunat deuil that possessed her, vn∣til she had brought y^e ryuer of her rage vnto thextreme brink of tyrannye, neyther could her harte be brought to appease∣ment so longe as her eyes fed vpon the viewe of the deade in∣fant: Wherfore callinge in a great mastyphe cur, she gaue him (by pecemeale) the members of her childe, an act suer of no lesse detestacion afore the hygh throne of God, then to be abhorred of all the world. Ah las, haue thytalyan mothers no other ••ombes for their childrē, thē to bury them in y^e belly of a dogge? be these the teares wherewith they accompanye them into the shrouding shete? Is this the curtesy of Italye? or a creweltie deriued of the barbarous nacion? but how cold she expose other frewtes outwardly, then according to the na∣ture of the spirite which possessed her within, for the deuill beinge seased of her hart, made her body and other members the mynisters of her wil, which God doth oftentymes suffer as wel for the due correction of heynous faults, as also for an example, and terror to all offenders in the like affayres. I am lothe good Ladyes to passe any further in the pursute of this dolorous tragedye, because your eyes (alredy wearyed with wepinge,) methinke I see also your eares offer to close themselues against y^e report of this PANDORA, whose only offence had bene enough to staine your whole secte with per petual i••amie, if y^e pure chastitie of so many of you offred not to confute the slaunder by your vertue only, neither cā y^e im∣pudente and wicked liffe of suche double curtalls as (shee was) impayre thestimacion of them, that wyth thintente of pure integritie, do rather giue suck to their honor w^t y^e milke

of simplicytie: then being Italyonated with all subteltyes, trustinge onlye in the humor of their owne braine, do fall at laste into the common slaunder of all the worlde: for a fa∣mylyar profe wherof I leaue you to skanne the order and do¦inges of this PANDORA, who waringe nowe somewhat colde in her former passions of frensye and rage, began to be pinched with the panges Incydente comenlye to all wo∣men, in the paynfull trauell of childe bearinge, wherfor go∣inge to bed she caused certeyn baynes to be prouided, wher∣in washinge her selfe, the next daye beinge hallowed and a feaste of great solempnytye, she was caryed in a rych coche to vysitt the companie of other Ladyes, amongeste whome she was not worthye to kepe place, being the shamefull bo∣ther of her own blood, and wicked ennemy to the life of mā. Herein is to be noted the destructiun of a woman banished the pallays of reason together with the due mede of their merytt, who for the respect of a lyttell pleasure, (of no more contynuance then a moment) do put their honour vpon tear¦mes of Infamye, and there soules in hazard of euerlastinge tormente, here the adulterers maye see howe iustelye God ponysheth their infydelytie & breach of othes towardes their husbands, let also the yong ladyes and lyttel girls learne to direct the cours of their youth by y^e contrary of this example. and beinge once registred in the boke of maryage, let theim stād vpō their guard, for falling into y^e like folies, for ther is nothīg cōmitted in secret, but in y^e end it bursts out to a cōmō brute, which our sauior Christ affyrmeth by the mouthe of y^e prophet sainge, y^t what so euer is done in the darkest corner of the house, shalbe published in y^e end in open audience, And he who sekes most to conceile his faulte, is not onlye (by the permission of God) the first opner of the same, but also beares the badge of shame afore the face of y^e world, and standes in daunger of grace in the presence of him from whom no se∣cret canne bee hydde.

FINIS

Notes

• * 1.1

  Badde argu∣mēt in a yong vvoman.
• * 1.2

  Her parentes
• * 1.3

  Money is ha∣ble to batter the strongest fortresse vn∣der heauen
• * 1.4

  The order of a fearefull lo∣uer in disclo∣sing his affec∣tion.
• * 1.5

  Slaunder.
• * 1.6

  Her bevvtie.
• * 1.7

  Parthonope vvritteth to Pandora.
• * 1.8

  Of true loue.
• * 1.9

  Pandora allo∣vveth the re∣queste of her louer.
• * 1.10

  Companion of bed or lieu tenaunt.
• * 1.11

  VVhoremon∣ger.
• * 1.12

  Marcyano disvvadeth his frende from Pandora.
• * 1.13

  Callinge,
• * 1.14

  Pandora vvri¦teth to partho nope.
• * 1.15

  Pandora ex∣claimeth.
• * 1.16

  Herselfe and the child vvith in her,
• * 1.17

  Nedea and Circe, 2, great enchannteres∣ses,
• * 1.18

  Pādora sēdes her mayd to practise vvith the vvitches of the vale.
• * 1.19

  Net her cer∣taintie nor as¦surāce in the art of enchā∣tyng.
• * 1.20

  God suffred the magicions of Egypte to vvorke vvon∣ders in the sight of Pha∣rao.
• * 1.21

  The studye of scripture ought to bee thexercise of the religions
• * 1.22

  Abbaies the chiefest pil∣lors that men teine super∣stion and ydolatrye.
• * 1.23

  Abbayes and Nonries tene¦mentes of Ba∣bylon.
• * 1.24

  Freares bee couetous.
• * 1.25

  Suggestion of the fleshe makes vs so∣nest forget God.
• * 1.26

  A deuelish of deuise of Pandora.
• * 1.27

  The euill is but light vvhere coun∣cell takes place.
• * 1.28

  Paris.
• * 1.29

  Whorema••▪ m••••ster.