euen so his wife, in comparison of all other Ladies, was scarcely
matchable for beauty and vertue. Which words were so waighty in the
apprehension of King Philip, that suddainly (hauing as yet neuer seene
her) he began to affect her very earnestly, concluding to embarque him∣selfe
at Gennes or Genoua, there to set forward on the intended voyage,
and iourneying thither by land: hee would shape some honest excuse to
see the Lady Marquesse, whose Lord being then from home, opinion
perswaded him ouer-fondly, that he should easily obtaine the issue of his
amorous desire.
When hee was come within a dayes iourney, where the Lady Mar∣quesse
then lay; he sent her word, that she should expect his company on
the morrow at dinner. The Lady, being singularly wise and iudicious;
answered the Messenger, that she reputed the Kings comming to her, as
an extraordinary grace and fauour, and that hee should be most heartily
welcome. Afterward, entring into further consideration with her selfe,
what the King might meane by this priuate visitation, knowing her hus∣band
to be from home, and it to be no meane barre to his apter enter∣tainement:
at last she discreetly conceited (and therein was not deceiued)
that babling report of her beauty and perfections, might thus occasion
the Kings cōming thither, his iourny lying else a quite contrary way. Not∣withstanding,
being a Princely Lady, and so loyall a wife as euer liued,
shee intended to giue him her best entertainement: summoning the
chiefest Gentlemen in the Country together, to take due order (by their
aduise) for giuing the King a gracious welcome. But concerning the
dinner, and diet for seruice to his table; that remained onely at her owne
disposing.
Sending presently abroade, and buying all the Hennes that the Coun∣try
afforded; shee commaunded her Cookes, that onely of them (with∣out
any other prouision beside) they should prepare all the seruices that
they could deuise. On the morrow, the King came according to his pro∣mise,
and was most honourable welcommed by the Lady, who seemed in
his eye (farre beyond the Knights speeches of her) the fairest creature that
euer he had seene before; whereat he meruailed not a little, extolling her
perfections to be peerelesse, which much the more enflamed his affecti∣ons,
and (almost) made his desires impatient. The King being with∣drawne
into such Chambers, as orderly were prepared for him, and as
beseemed so great a Prince: the houre of dinner drawing on, the King
and the Lady Marquesse were seated at one Table, and his attendants
placed at other tables, answerable to their degrees of honour.
Plenty of dishes being serued in, and the rarest wines that the Coun∣trey
yeelded, the King had more minde to the faire Lady Marquesse, then
any meate that stood on the Table. Neuerthelesse, obseruing each ser∣uice
after other, and that all the Viands (though variously cooked, and in
diuers kindes) were nothing else but Hennes onely; he began to wonder,
and so much the rather, because he knew the Countrey to be of such qua∣lity,
that it affoorded all plenty both of Fowles and Venyson: beside, after