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.

¶ To the Reader.

AS shevved curtesie deserueth gratefull acquitall, & frendly fauor forceth mutual merit, So for gentle acceptation of my other boke, I render to thy delight and profit a Second Tome. For which I craue but like report: albeit nei∣ther worthy of any: or other, than the rude 〈◊〉〈◊〉 gayneth by trial of his arte. Who hauing committed to his skill and workemanship, some substance of golde or other precious mater, fashioneth the same with such 〈◊〉〈◊〉 shape and order, as (besides dispraise) it carieth the vnablenesse of the workman. Howsoeuer (then) the ablenesse or perfection hereof 〈◊〉〈◊〉 shall content or particularly displease: the Boke cra∣ueth milde construction, for imployed paines. And yet the same (liking or lothing the licorous diet and curious expectation of some) shall beare regarde with those, that more delight in holsome viandes (voide of varietie) than in the confused mixture of foren drugges fetched farre of. Who no dout will supply with fauorable brute, default of ablenesse, and riper skill in the mysteries of sorren speche. Which is the guerdon (be∣sides publique benefit) after which I gaze, and the best stipende that eche well willing mynde (as I suppose) aspireth for their trauell. And brief∣ly to touche what comoditie thou shalt reape of these succeding Hi∣stories, I deme it not vnapt for thine instruction, to vnfolde what pithe and substance, resteth vnder the context of their discourse.

¶ In the Nouell of the AMAZONES, is displaied a strange and miracu∣lous porte (to our present skill) of womens gouernment, what states they subdued, what increase of kingdome, what combats and conflicts they durst attempt contrairie to the nature of that sexe.

¶ In ALEXANDRE the great, what ought to be the gratitude and cur∣tesie in a 〈◊〉〈◊〉 Prince, toward his slaue and captiue, and to what pe∣rilous plundge he slippeth by exchange of vice for vertue.

¶ In TIMOCLIA and THEOXENA the stoutnesse of two noble Dames to auoide the beastly lust and raging furie of Tyrants.

¶ ARIOBARZANES telleth the duetie of a Subiect to his Prince: and how he ought not to contend with his soueraine in maters of curtesie, at length also the condition of Courting flaterers: and the poyson of the Monster Enuie.

¶ ARISTOTIMVS disgarboileth the iutrails of Tyrannie, describing the end whereunto Tyrants do atteine, and how that vice plageth their po∣steritie.

¶ The two Romane Queenes do point (as it were) with their fingers, the natures of Ambition and Crueltie, and the gredy lust (hidden in that feble sexe) of soueraintie.

¶ SOPHONISBA reporteth the force of beautie, and what poison distil∣leth from that licorous sappe to inuenim the harts of valiant 〈◊〉〈◊〉.

¶ The Gentlewoman of HYDRVSA the sicklenesse of Fortune.

¶ The Empresse FAVSTINA and the Countesse of Celant, what 〈◊〉〈◊〉 blome of whorish life and what fruites thereof be culled.

¶ The Letters of the Emperor TRAIANE, do paint a right shape of ver∣tue, a good state of gouernment, and the comely forme of obedience.

¶ Three Amorous Dames 〈◊〉〈◊〉 the sleightes of loue, the redinesse of Nobles to be baited with that amorous hooke, and what desire such in∣famous Strumpets haue, to be honored.

¶ Queene ZENOBIA, what the noble Gentlewomen, (whom the fates ordaino to rule) ought to do, how farre their magnanimitie ought to stretch, and in what boundes to conteine their soueraintie.

¶ EVPHIMIA a Kings daughter of Corinthe, and the vnfortunate Du∣chesse of Malfi, what matche of mariage Ladies of renowme, and Dames of Princcly houses ought to choose.

¶ Mistresse DIANORA, MITHRIDANES and NATHAN, KATHERINE of Bologna, and SALADINE, the mutual 〈◊〉〈◊〉 of noble and gentle perso∣nages, and for what respectes.

¶ Queene ANNE of Hungarie, the good nature and liberalitie of a Queene: and with what industrie Gentlewomen of priuie chaumbre ought to preferre the sutes of the valiant, and of such as haue well serued the Common welth.

¶ ALEXANDRE de Medices, a Duke of Florence, the iustice of a Prince and Gouernour to the wronged partie, what 〈◊〉〈◊〉 ought to shine in Courtiers, and with what temperance their insolence is to be repressed.

¶ IVLIETTA and RHOMEO disclose the hartie affections of two incom∣parable louers, what secret sleightes of loue, what danger either sort in∣curre which mary without the aduise of Parentes.

¶ Two Gentlewomen of Venice the wisdom and policie of wiues to 〈◊〉〈◊〉 and restraine the follies of Husbands, and the stoutnesse they ought to vse in their defense.

¶ The Lord of Virle and the widow ZILIA, giue lessons to Louers, to

auoide the immoderate pangs of loue, they pronosticate the indiscretion of promised penance, they warne to beware all vnsemely hestes, lest the penalties of couetise and 〈◊〉〈◊〉 glory be incurred.

¶ The Lady of Boeme, schooleth two noble Barons, that with great boast assured themselues to impaire hir honor.

¶ DOM DIEGO and GINEVRA, recorde the crueltie of women, bent to hate, and the voluntarie vow performed by a passionate knight, with the perfect frendship of a true 〈◊〉〈◊〉 in redresse of a frendes missehap.

¶ SALIMBENE & ANGELICA the kindnesse of a gentleman in deliuerie of his enimie, and the constant mynde of a chaste and vertuous mayden.

¶ Mistresse HELENA of Florence, discouereth what lothsom lustes do lurke vnder the barke of fading beautie, what stench of filthie affection fumeth from the smoldring gulf of dishonest Loue, what prankes such Dames do plaie for deceite of other and shame of themselues.

¶ CAMIOLA reproueth the mobilitie of youth, such chiefly as for no∣ble anncestrie regarded riches more than vertue. She like a Mistresse of constancie lessoneth hir equalles from wauering myndes, and not to ad∣uenture vpon vnstedie contracts: with those that care not (vnder what pretence) they come by riches.

¶ The Lords of Nocera foretell the hazards of whordom, the rage of 〈◊〉〈◊〉, the difference of 〈◊〉〈◊〉 betwene Prince and subiect, the fructes of a Rebell, the endes of Traiteric and Tiranny, and what monstrous successe such vices do attaine.

¶ The King of Marocco describeth the good nature of the homely and loiall subiect, the matuelous loue of a true and simple Cuntry man toward his liege & soueraigne Lord, & the bountie of a curetous prince, vpō those that vnder rude attire be 〈◊〉〈◊〉 with the floures of vertue.

To be short, the contēts of these Nouels from degree of highest Emperor, from the state of greatest Queene and Ladie, to the homely 〈◊〉〈◊〉 peasant and rudest vilage girle, may conduce profit for instruction, & pleasure for delight. They offer rules for auoiding of vice and imitation of vertue, to all estates. This boke is a very Court & Palace for all sorts to fixe their cies therein, to view the deuoires of the Noblest, the vertues of the gentlest, and the dueties of the meanest. Yt is a Stage and Thea∣tre, for shew of true Nobilitie, for proofe of passing loialtie, and for tri∣all of their contraries, Wherefore as in this I haue continued what erst I partly promised in the first: So vpon intelligence of the second signe of thy good will, a Third (by Gods assistance) shall come forth.

Farewell.