The second tome of the Palace of pleasure conteyning store of goodly histories, tragicall matters, and other morall argument, very requisite for delighte and profit. Chosen and selected out of diuers good and commendable authors: by William Painter, clerke of the ordinance and armarie. Anno. 1567.

Camiola and Rolande.

¶ A Gentlewoman 〈◊〉〈◊〉 widowe called CAMIOLA, of hir owne minde raunsomed ROLANDE, the kings sonne of Sicilia, of purpose to haue him to hir husband, who when he was redemed, vnkindely denied hir, against whome ve∣ry 〈◊〉〈◊〉 she inueyed, and although the 〈◊〉〈◊〉 proued him to be hir husband, yet for his vnkindenesle, she vtterly refused him.

The. xxxij. Nouel.

BVsa a Gentlewoman of Apulia, maintained ten thousand Romaine soul∣diers within the walles of Cannas, that were the remnaunt of the armie after y^t ouerthrow ther: and yet hir state of ri∣chesse was safe and no∣thing deminished, and lefte thereby a worthy testimonie of liberalitie as Valerius Maximus af∣firmeth. If this worthy woman Busa for liberalitie is commended by auncient authors: if she deserue a mo∣nument amonges famous writers for that splendent vertue which so brightly blasoneth the Heroicall na∣tures of Noble dames, then may I be so bolde amongs these Nouels to bring in (as it were by the hand) a wi∣dow of Messina, that was a gentlewoman borne, ador∣ned with passing beautie and vertues. Amongs y^t rank

of which hir comely qualities, the vertue of liberalitie glistered like the morning starre after the night hath cast of his darke and cloudie mantell. This gentlewo∣man remaining in widowes state, and hearing tell that one of the sonnes of Federick, and brother to Peter that was then king of the sayd Ilande called Rolande, was caried prisoner to Naples, and there kept in mise∣rable captiuitie, and not like to be redéemed by his bro∣ther for a displeasure conceiued, nor by any other, pity∣ing the state of the yong Gentleman, and moued by hir gentle and couragious disposition, and specially with the vertue of liberalitie, raunsomed the sayd Ro∣lande, and 〈◊〉〈◊〉 no interest or vsury for the same, but him to husbād, that ought vpon his knées to haue made sute to be hir slaue and seruaunt for respect of his mise∣rable state of imprisonment. An affiaunce betwéene them was concluded, and he redéemed, and 〈◊〉〈◊〉 he was returned, he falsed his former faith, and cared not for hir. For which vnkinde part, she before his friends in∣ueyeth against that ingratitude, and vtterly for saketh him, when (sore ashamed) he would very faine haue re∣couered hir good will. But she like a wise Gentlewo∣man well waying his inconstant minde before mari∣age, lusted not to tast, or put in proofe the fruites & suc∣cesse thereof. The intire discourse of whome you shall briefly and presently vnderstand.

Camiola a widow of the Citie of Siena, y^t daughter of a gentle Knight called Signor Lorenzo 〈◊〉〈◊〉, was a woman of great renoume & fame, for hir beautie, libe∣ralitie & shame fastnesse, and led a life in Messina, (an auncient Citie of 〈◊〉〈◊〉) no lesse commendable than fa∣mous, in the cōpany of hir parents contenting hir self with one only husband, while she liued, which was in the time when Federick the third was king of that 〈◊〉〈◊〉:

and after their death she was an heire of very great wealth and richesse, which were alwayes by hir cōser∣ued and kept in maruellous honest sort. Now it chaun∣ced that after the death of Federick, Peter succeding, by his commaundement a great armie by sea was equip∣ped from 〈◊〉〈◊〉, vnder the conduct of Iohn Countie of Chiaramonte, (the most renewmed in those dayes in feats of warre,) for to aide the people of Lippari, which were so strongly and earnestly besieged, as they were almost all dead and cōsumed for hunger. In this army, ouer and besides those that were in pay, many Barons and Gentlemen willingly went vpon their owne pro∣per costes and charges, as wel by sea as land, onely for fame, and to be renowmed in armes. This Castell of Lippari was assaulted by Godefrey of Squilatio a valiant man, and at that time Admiral to Robert 〈◊〉〈◊〉 of Ieru∣salem and Sicile: which Godefrey by long siege & assault had so 〈◊〉〈◊〉 〈◊〉〈◊〉 people within, as daily he hoped they would surrender. But hauing aduertisement (by cer∣tain Brigandens which he had sent abrode to scour the seas) that the enimies armie (which was farre greater than his) was at hand, after that he had assembled al his nauie togither in one sure place, he expected the euent of fortune. The enimies so soone as they were seased & possessed of the place, without any resistaunce of 〈◊〉〈◊〉 pla∣ces abandoned by Godefrey, caried into the city at their pleasure all their victualles, which they brought with them for which good hap and chaunce the saide Counte Iohn being very much encouraged and puffed vp with pride, offred battell to Godefrey. Wherefore he not re∣fusing the same, being a man of great corage, in 〈◊〉〈◊〉 night time fortified his army with boordes, timber, and other rampiers, and hauing put his nauie in good order, he en∣coraged his men to fight, and to doe valiantly the next

day, which done, he caused the Ankers to be wayed, and giuing the signe, tourned the prowesse of 〈◊〉〈◊〉 shippes a∣gainst 〈◊〉〈◊〉 〈◊〉〈◊〉 armie, but Counte Iohn who thought that Godefrey would not fight, and durst not once loke vpon 〈◊〉〈◊〉 great army of the Sicilians, did not put his fléete in order of fight, but rather in readinesse to pursue the ennimies. But séeing the courage and the approche of them that came against him, began to feare, his heart almost failing him, and 〈◊〉〈◊〉 him that he had requi∣red his enimie to that which he thought neuer to haue obtained. In such wise as mistrusting the battel, with troubled minde, chaunging the order giuen, and not∣withstanding not to séeme altogither fearefull, incon∣tinently caused his ships to be put into order after the best maner he could for so little time, himselfe giuing the signe of battell. In the meane while their enimies being approched néere vnto them, and making a very great noise with cries and shoutes furiously entred with the prowesse of the shippes amongs the Sicilians, which came slowly forthe, & hauing first throwne their 〈◊〉〈◊〉 and grapples to stay them, they began the fight with Dartes, Crossebowes and other shot, in such sort as the Sicilians being amazed for the sodaine mutacion of Councell, and all enuironned with feare, and the souldiers of Godefrey perceiuing 〈◊〉〈◊〉 same, entred their enimies ships, and comming to blowes, euen in a mo∣ment all was filled with bloud, by reason whereof the Sicilians then despairing of them selues, and they that feared turning the 〈◊〉〈◊〉, fled away: but neuerthe∣lesse the victorie reclining towardes Godefrey, many of their shippes were drowned, many taken, and diuers Pinnasses by force of their 〈◊〉〈◊〉 escaped. In that fight died fewe people, but many were hurt, and Iohn the captaine general taken prisoner, and with him almost

all the Barons, which of their owne accordes repaired to those warres, and besides a great number of souldi∣ers, many Ensignes aswel of the field, as of the galleis, and specially the maine standerd was taken. And in y^e end, the Castell being rendred after long voyages, and great fortunes by Sea, they were al chained, caried to Naples and there imprisoned. Amonges those prison∣ners, there was a certaine Gentleman called Roland, the naturall Sonne of king Federick deceased, a yong Prince very comely and valiant. Who not being re∣déemed, taried alone in prison very sorowfull to sée all others discharged after they had paid their raunsome, and himselfe not to haue wherewith to furnishe the same. For King Pietro (to whome the care of him ap∣pertained by reason he was his brother) for that his warres hadde no better successe, and done contrary to his commaundement, conceiued displeasure so well a∣gainst him, as all others which were at that battell. Nowe he then being prisoner without hope of any li∣bertie, by meanes of the dampishe prison, and his féete clogged with yrons, grewe to be sicke and féeble. It chaunced by fortune, that Camiola remembred him, and séeing him forsaken of his brethren, had compassi∣on vpon his missehappe, in such wise, as she purposed (if honestly she might doe the same) to set him at liber∣tie. For the accomplishment whereof without preiu∣dice of hir honoure, she sawe none other wayes but to take him to husbande. Wherefore she sent diuers vn∣to him secretely, to conferre if he wold come forth vp∣on that condition, whereunto he willingly agréed. And performing eche due ceremonie, vnder promised faith, vpon the gift of a ring willingly by a deputie he espou∣sed Camiola, who with so much diligence as she could, payed two thousand Crownes for his raunsome, and

by that meanes he was deliuered.

When he was returned to Messina, he repaired not to his wife, but fared as though there had neuer bene any suche talke betwéene them, whereof at the begin∣ning Camiola very much maruelled, and afterwardes knowing his vnkindenesse, was greately offended in hir heart against him. Notwithstanding, to the entent she might not séeme to be grieued 〈◊〉〈◊〉 reason, before she proceded any further, caused him louingly to be tal∣ked withal, and to be exhorted by folowing his promise to consummate the mariage. And séeing that he denyed euer any such contract to be made, she caused him to be summoned before 〈◊〉〈◊〉 〈◊〉〈◊〉 iudge, by whom sen∣tence was giuen that he was hir husband by 〈◊〉〈◊〉 of his owne letters, & by witnesse of certain other perso∣nages of good reputation, which afterwards he himself cōfessed, his face blushing for shame, for that he had for∣gotten such a manifest benefit and good turne. When 〈◊〉〈◊〉 kinde parte of Camiola done vnto him, was throughly known, he was by his brethren reproued & checked for his villany: 〈◊〉〈◊〉 by their instigation & the persua∣sion of his friends, he was cōtented by hūble request to desire Camiola to performe the 〈◊〉〈◊〉. But the gen∣tle 〈◊〉〈◊〉 which was of great corage, in the presence of diuers 〈◊〉〈◊〉 were with him, when he required hir therun∣to answered him in this manner:

Roland I haue great cause to render thankes to almighty God, for 〈◊〉〈◊〉 it plea∣sed him to declare vnto me the proofe of 〈◊〉〈◊〉 vnfaith∣fulnesse, before thou 〈◊〉〈◊〉 by any meanes contaminate (vnder the coloure of mariage) the puritie of my body, and that through his 〈◊〉〈◊〉, by whose most holy name thou 〈◊〉〈◊〉 about to abuse me by false and periured othe, I haue foreséene thy 〈◊〉〈◊〉 and deceite, wherin I beleue that I haue gained more, than I 〈◊〉〈◊〉

haue done by thée in mariage. I suppose that whē thou were in prison, thou diddest meane no lesse, than nowe by effect thou she west, and diddest thinke that I, forget∣ting of what house I was, presumptuously desired a husband of the royall bloud, and therfore wholly infla∣med with thy loue, diddest purpose to begile me by de∣nying the trothe, when thou haddest recouered libertie through my money, and thereby to reserue thy 〈◊〉〈◊〉 for some other of more famous alliance, being restored to thy former degrée. And hereby thou hast giuen proofe of thy will, and what minde thou haddest so to do if thine abilitie had bene correspondent. But God, who frō the lofty skies doth behold the humble & low, and who for∣saketh none that hopeth in him, knowing the sinceritie of my conscience, hath giuen me the grace by litle tra∣uaile, to breake the bandes of thy deceiptes, to discouer thine ingratitude, and make manifest thine infidelitie, which I haue not done only to display y^e wrōg towards me, but y^t thy brethren & other thy friends might from hēceforth know what thou art, what affiāce they ought to repose in thy faith, & thereby what thy friends ought to loke for, & what thine enimies ought to feare. I haue lost my money, thou thy good name. I haue lost y^e hope which I had of thée, thou the fauor of y^e king and of thy brethren: I the expectation of my mariage, thou a true & constant wife: I the fruits of charitie, thou y^e gaine of amity: I an vnfaithful husbād, thou a most pure & loyal wife. Now the Gētlewomen of Sicilia do maruel at my magnificence and beautie, and by praises aduaunce the same vp into the heauēs: and contrariwise euery of thē do mock thée, & déeme thée to be infamous. The renou∣med wryters of eche coūtrey will place me amōgs the ranke of y^e noblest dames, wher thou shalt be depressed & throwne down amongs the heapes of y^e most vnkind.

True it is, that I am somwhat deceiued by deliuering out of prison, a yong man of royall and noble race, in stede of whome I haue redéemed a rascall, a lier, a 〈◊〉〈◊〉 of his faith, and a cruell beast: and take héede har∣dily how thou do greatly 〈◊〉〈◊〉 thy selfe, & I wish thée not to think that I was moued to draw thee out of pri∣son, and take thée to husband for the good qualities that were in thée, but for the memorie of auncient benefits which my father receiued of thine (if Federike, a king of most sacred remembraunce were thy father, for I can scarsly beleue, that a sonne so dishonest should procede from so noble a gentlemā as was that famous prince.) I knowe well thou thinkest that it was an vnworthie thing, that a Widow not being of the royal blood, shold haue to husband, the sonne of a 〈◊〉〈◊〉, so strong and of so goodly personage, which I willyngly confesse: but I would haue thée a litle to make me answer (at lest wise if thou canst by reason) when I paide so great a summe of money to deliuer thée from bondage and captiuitie, where was then the nobilitie of thy royal race? where was thy force of youth? and where thy beautie? if not that they were closed vp in a terrible prison, where thou wast deteined in bitter grief and sorow, and there with those naturall qualities, couered also in obscure darknesse, that compassed thée rounde about. The yl fa∣uored noise and ianglyng of thy chaines, the deformi∣tie of thy face forced for lack of light, and the stench of the infected prison that prouoked sicknesse, and the for∣saking of thy friends, had quite debased all these per∣fections wherwith now thou séemest to be so lustie. Thou thoughtest me then to be worthie, not only of a yong man of a royall blood, but of a God, if it were pos∣sible to haue him, & so soone as (thou contrary to al hope) didst once 〈◊〉〈◊〉 thy naturall countrey, like a most pe∣stilent

person without any difficultie, haste chaunged thy minde, neuer since thou wast deliuered, 〈◊〉〈◊〉 dyd call into thy remembraunce how I was that 〈◊〉〈◊〉, that I was she (alone) that dyd remembre thée: that I was (she alone) that had compassion on thy missehap, and that I was onely shée, who for thy health dyd im∣ploye all the goodes she hadde. I am, I am (I say) that Camiola, who by hir money raunsomed thée out of the handes of the Capitall enimies of thyne auncesters, from fetters, from prison: & finally deliuered thée from miserie extreme, before thou wer altogether settled in dispaire. I reduced thée againe to hope, I haue reuoked thée into thy coūtrey, I haue brought thée into y^e royall palace, and restored thee into thy former estate, and of a prisoner weake, and ylfauored, haue made thée a yong Prince, strong, and of fayre aspecte. But wherefore haue I remembred these thyngs, wherof thou ough∣test to be verie mindefull thy selfe, and whyche thou art not able to denie? Sith that for so great benefites thou hast rendred me such thankes, as being my hus∣bande in déede, thou haddest the face to denie me ma∣riage, alreadie contracted by the deposition of honest witnesses, and approued by letters signed with thine owne hande. Wherefore diddest thou despise me that hath deliuered thée? Yea and if thou couldest haue stai∣ned the name of hir with infamie, that was thine only refuge and defender, yea and wouldest gladly haue giuen cause to the common people, to thinke lesse than honestie of hir. Art thou ashamed (thou man of little iudgement) to haue to wyfe a wydow, the daughter of a knight? 〈◊〉〈◊〉 how far better had it bene for thée to haue ben ashamed to breake thy promised faith, to haue des∣pised the holy and dreadfull name of God, and to haue declared by thy curssed vnkindnesse, howe full fraught

thou art with vice. I do confesse in dede that I am not of the royall bloode: not withstanding from the cradle, being trained and brought vp in the companie of kings wiues and daughters, no great maruell it is, if I haue indued and put on a royall heart and manners, that is able to get and purchase royal nobilitie. But wherfore do I multiplie so many words? No no I wil be very fa∣cile and easie in that wherin thou hast ben to me so dif∣ficult and harde by resisting the same with all thy po∣wer. Thou hast refused heretofore to be mine, and ha∣uing vanquished thée, to be such, frankly of mine owne accorde, I doe graunt that thou art not. Abide (on Gods name) with thy royall nobilitie, neuerthelesse 〈◊〉〈◊〉 with the spot of infidelitie. Make much of thy youthly lustinesse, & of thy transitorie beautie, and I shal be cō∣tented with my widow apparell, and shall leaue the ri∣ches which god hath giuē me to heires more honest thā those y^t might haue come of thée. Auaunt thou wycked yong man, & sith thou art cōpted to be vnworthy of me, lerne with thine own expence, by what subtiltie & gui∣les thou mayest betray other dames, suffiseth it for me to be once deceiued. And I for my part fully determine neuer to tary lōger with thée, but rather chastly to liue without husband, which life I deme far more excellent than with thy match cōtinually to be coupled.

After shée had spoken these wordes, shée departed from him, and from that time forth, it was impossible either by prayers, or admonitions to cause hir chaunge hir holie intent. But Rolande all confused, repenting himself to late of his ingratitude, blamed of 〈◊〉〈◊〉 man, his eyes fired vpon the grounde, 〈◊〉〈◊〉 not onely the presence of his brethren but of all 〈◊〉〈◊〉 of people, dayely ledde from that tyme forth, a moste miserable life, and neuer durst by reason to demaunde hir againe

to wife, whome he had by disloyaltie refused. The king and the other barons, maruelling of the noble heart of the Ladie, singularly commended hir, and exalted hir praises vp into y^e skies, vncertaine neuerthelesse wher∣in she was most worthie of praise, either for that (con∣trarie to the couetous nature of women) she had raun∣somed a yong man with so great a summe of money, or else after she had deliuered him, and sentence giuē that he was hir husband, she so couragiously refused him, as an vnkinde man, vnworthie of hir company.

But leaue we for a time, to talke of widowes, and let vs sée what the Captaine and Lieutenant of Nocera can alledge vpon the discourse of his cruelties, whiche although an ouer cruell historie, yet depainteth the suc∣cesse of those that applie their mindes to the sportes of Loue, such Loue I meane, as is wantonly placed, and directed to no good purpose, but for glut∣ting of the bodies delight, which bothe corrupteth nature, maketh féeble the body, lewdely spendeth the time, and special∣ly offendeth hym whō maketh proclamation, that whooremongers and adulterers shall ne∣uer inherite his kingdom.