The life and death of william Long beard, the most famous and witty English traitor, borne in the citty of London Accompanied with manye other most pleasant and prettie histories, by T.L. of Lincolns Inne, gent.

A true and famous History of Partaritus king of Lombardie, who being pursued by Grimaldo, fled first of all to Cucano king of the Auarior Huns, and then into France, and finallie after manie trauailes was restored to his kingdom with much ma∣iestie, wherein the worthy memorie of two faithfull seruants is happilie registred.

PArtaritus was the sonne of Albert kinge of Lombardie, who after the death of his father raigned himselfe in Millan, and Gundibert his brother in Pauia. Betwixt these twoe there grewe a mortall discention, for which cause Gundibert sent Caribald Duke of Turinge to Grimoald duke of Beniuent a most worthy and valiant Cap∣teine, requesting his assistance in armes against his Bro∣ther, and promising him in rewarde thereof, to bestowe his sister vpon him in mariage. But Garibald vsed Treason against his Lord, animating Grimoald to the enterprise not as an a better, but a conqueror. For (said he) you may easily occupie the kingdome, by reason of the twoe brethren, whoe

through their dissentions haue almoste ruinated the same. Grimoald asserteined her of, made his sonne Duke of Bene∣uent: and leuieng a mightie power, set onwards on his way to Pauia, and through euerie Cittie that he passed, he drewe friends vnto him, and won the better sort with benefites, to the end they should assist him toward the attainment of the kingdome: and comming to parlie with Gundibert who (lit∣tle suspecting the trecheries which Garibald had complotted, came slenderlie and courtlie accompanied to intertain him) he on sudden slue him, and occupied the kingdome. Partaritus assertained hereof, abandoned Rhodeline his wife and his iit tle sonn, and fled to Cucano king of the Auarior Huns: Grimo∣ald confirmed in the kingdome of Pauia, vnderstanding that Partharithus was entertained by Cucano; sent ambassadors vnto him, threatning him, that if he retained Partharithus his enimie in his kingdome, he shoulde be assured to pur∣chase of him a mightie enimie, and more, to occasion a pre∣sent and dangerous warre.

The king of the Hunns assertained héereof, called Partari∣thus vnto him, and said thus: I pray thée, gentle friende, de∣part into some other place: for if thou be héere resident, my good will towards thee will occasion great warres againste my selfe. Partharitus vnderstanding the kings mind, retur∣ning into Italie, went and sought out Grimoald, reposing his life vpon the good dispositions of his enimie: And drawing neere the Cittie of Lodi, he sent before him one of his faith∣full seruants called Vnulfe, who might make manifest to Gri∣moald, both how much he trusted him, and what he required at his hands. Vnulfe presenting himselfe before the kinges Maiestie, told him that Partaritus his maister had recourse vnto his clemencie, and sought succour in his court: Grimo∣ald admiring his confidence, faithfullie promised him that he might repaire vnto him, vppon the faith of a prince assu∣ring him, that before he should be harmed, he would hazard his owne hart.

A little while after when Partharitus presented himselfe be∣fore Grimoald, and humblie knéeling on his knées be sought

his fauour, the king pitiouslie and gratiouslie entertained and kissed him, whome in humble manner Partharitus salu∣ted thus: mightie Soueraigne, I am thy seruant, who kno∣wing that thou art a Christian, doubt not of thy compassion. I might (as thou knowest O king) haue liued among Pa∣gans: but what life were that? and howe base confidence were I in rather to trust the faithlesse, then humble my selfe to the faithfull? I beseech thée of mercie, and kissing thy feete craue maintenance. The king according to his maner swe∣ring a solemne oath, promised him saieng: By him that be∣gat me, since thou hast recourse vnto my faith, I will neuer forsake thée; but I will take order for thee in suche manner, that thou maiest both honestlie and honorablie liue in this countrey. Wherevpon he commanded him to be worthilie lodged, giuing charge that he should be furnished of all ne∣cessaries whatsoeuer, vpon his treasurie.

It chanced that Partaritus departing from the king, and re∣pairing to his lodging, was suddenlie encountered with a whole troope of Cittizens of Pauia, who came to sée him and salute him, as their sorestemed friend. But sée what great mischiefe procéedeth from an euill and detracting toong? For some malignant flatterers beholding the same, sought out the king, and gaue him to vnderstande, that if he made not Partaritus suddenlie out of the waie, himselfe without all doubt should lose both his kingdome and life: swearing to him, that all the cittie was alreadie addicted to take his part.

Grimoald considering these thoughts, and by his ouermuch credulitie suspecting more then he néeded, suddenlie resol∣ued on the death of miserable Partharitus: and calling his councell vnto him ceased not to contriue the meanes howe the innocent might be made awaie. They séeing that daie far spent resolued the déed shoulde be doone, the next morrowe animating the king by good words, who otherwise through feare was almost out of his wits: notwithstanding thorow their perswasions gathering to himselfe more confidence, the better to coulour his intention, hee sent vnto him that

night manie excellent dishes and strong wines, purposing (if it were possible) to make him drunke: assuring himselfe that by the meanes thereof he for that night shoulde haue more care of his sléepe than regard of his safetie.

But see how God helpeth the innocent: for a certein gen∣tleman who before time had béene a seruitour in Partharithus fathers court, presenting him with a messe of meate from the king, and leaning downward as if intending reuerence to his Maiestie, tolde him secretlie howe the kinge the next daie had resolued to put him to death. For which cause Parta∣ritus suddenlie called his squire, willing him for that night to giue him no other drink but a little water in a siluer cup: knowing this, that if those who presented him in the kings behalfe would request him to carouse to his health, he might easilie doe without intoxicating his braines, drinking onelie water. Those that serued him at the table, seeing Partaritus take his liquor so liuelie, certified the king thereof: who with much ioyfulnesse said, let the drunkerd drinke his fill for this night: but to morrowe yer euer he suspect the banquet, I meane to feast him with his owne bloud.

This saide, he caused his guard to be set the house, fearing and suspecting, least Partaritus should escape him in any sort. The supper being ended, and euerie one hauing taken his leaue, Partharitus thus left alone with Vnulfe his trustie ser∣uant and the Page who ordinarilie attended on him to bed, he discouered vnto them howe the king had resolued to kill him: for which cause Vnulfe winding him about the necke with the shéetes of the bedde and laieng the couerlet and a Beares skin vpon his backe, leauing him without capp, as if he were some rusticke or common drudging fellowe, be∣gan to driue him out of the chamber, dooing him manie in∣iuries and villannies, so that he verie oftentimes fell to the ground.

Grimoalds guard, whoe were appointed vnto the watch, seeing al these outrages, asked Vnulfe what he meant. Why said he, my maisters, this rascal slauehath made me my bed in the chamber of that drunken palliard Partharithus, which

is so full of wine, that he sléepeth as if he were dead without stirring: and this is the cause whie I beat him, and I praye you dooth he not deserue it? They hearing these words, and beléeuing them to be true, did all of them laugh verie harti∣lie to heare the tidings, and giuing both of them licence to depart Partaritus hasted to the cittie of Hasti, and from thense went into France, praising God for his happie deliuerie.

As soone as they were gotte awaie, the faithfull page loc∣ked the door verie diligentlie, remaining all that night alone in the chamber: and when the messengers of the king came with commission to bring Partaritus to the pallace the nexte daie, they knocked at the doore, whome the page in humble maner saluted, praieng them to haue patience for a while: for (saith he) my Lord being wearie of his last iourney, slee∣peth now verie soundlie: The messengers returning to Gri∣moald, told him the pages answer: who all inraged, charged them presentlie to bring him to his presence: who repairing againe to the chamber doore, were in like sort once more soli∣cited by the page to vse forbearance: but they admitting no delaies, cried out hastilie and hartilie, tut, tut, the droonkard hath now slept enough, and therevpon bearing the doore of the hinges they forceablie entered the chamber, and sought Partaritus in his bed, but found him not: wherevpon they as∣ked the page what was become of him, who answered them that he was fled: The messengers all amazed herewith, fu∣riouslie laieng hands on the childes bushie lock, and buffe∣ting him pitiouslie, brought him to the pallace: and conduc∣ting him to the presence of the king, saide, Mightie Prince, Partharitus is fled, and this caitife boy helpt to conuey him: and for that cause meriteth death: Grimoald commanded them to laie hands off him, and willed him with a friendlie countenance to discouer vnto him the manner and meanes how his maister had escaped awaie: The page told him eue∣rie thing as it had past; whose faithfulnes when the king had considered vpon, he royallie offered him to make him one of his pages, assuring the lad that if he would be as faithfull to him as he had shewed himselfe towards his old maister,

he should both be rewarded and regarded.

After this, he made search for Vnulfe, who being brought before his presence, was pardoned by him, and not only par∣doned, but commended. But as where affection is rooted, there no fauors can supplant it, nor promises suppresse it: so these two louing their maister Partarithus verie deerelie, took no delight but onelie in desire they had to sée and serue him: for which cause a few daies after they repaired to Grimoald, beséeching him of license to séeke out their maister. Whie my friends (quoth he) had you rather séeke out your necessi∣ties, then liue with me héere in all pleasures? By God re∣plied Vnulfe, I had rather die with Partharithus, than liue in all other worldlie contents and delights. What (saied the king to the page) wilt thou also rather séeke out a bannished man, then serue a king? I my Lorde, saide he: for they are bad seruants that will leaue their maisters in miserie. Gri∣moald wondering at their confidence, & praising both their faithes, dismissed both of them with all fauour, giuing them both horsse and money to furnish and further them on theyr iourney.

The two faithfull seruants humblie thanking the kinge, tooke their waie into France, hoping to finde their maister in that place according as was appointed. But Partaritus fearing least by reason of a peace latlie capitulated betwixt Dogobert kinge of France and Grimoald, he shoulde be there surprised suddenlie by some sinister subtletie, tooke shipping for England: and hauing alreadie sailed from the shore, the voice of a man was heard among the rocks, which asked for Partaritus and whither he were in that ship. Whereto when answer was made that there he was, the voice replied, Then will him presentlie repaire vnto his countrey: for Grimoald a three daies hence is departed this life: Partaritus suddenly returned backe, commanding the marriners to reenter the harbour: and as soon as he was landed, he diligently sought out the messenger that had thus informed him: but finding him by no meanes possible, he supposed it to be some messu∣age sent from God. For which cause, poasting towards his

countrey, and arriuing amongst the confines of Italie, hee found there a great number of Lombards who expected him, with whom he entered Pauia, and driuing out a little son of Grimoalds from the kingdome; he was by generall con∣sent created kinge of Lombardie thrée monethes after the death of Grimoald. For which cause he presentlie sent vnto Beneuent for his wife Rhodolinde, and his sonne Cunibert: And being a godlie Catholike and iust man, a liberall pa∣tron of the poore, and father of the innocent: as soone as he hadde quiet possession of the kingdome; in that place from whence he fled, which is on the other side of of Tesinus, he buil ded a monasterie to the honor and glorie of God his sauiour and onelie defender, wherein there were diuers Nunnes in∣closed, whom he alwaies enriched with manie very goodlie possessions.

The Quéene likewise builded a church in honour of our Ladie without the cittie wals, adorning it with maruelous rich ornaments: his page and trustie seruant returning to his court, as soon as they had tidinges of his establishment, were by him fauourablie intertained and richlie rewarded. Finallie, after he had reigned eighteene yeares, he departed this life not without the generall lament and teares of the whole inhabitants of Lombardie.