The forrest of fancy Wherein is conteined very prety apothegmes, and pleasaunt histories, both in meeter and prose, songes, sonets, epigrams and epistles, of diuerse matter and in diuerse manner. VVith sundry other deuises, no lesse pithye then pleasaunt and profytable.

A Louer writing to his chosen friend, who for his sake susteyned much sorrow, exhorteth her to conti∣nue constant, and paciently to tollerate her present aduersity in hope that better happes will insue.

MIne owne good Pamena, when on the one syde I consyder with my selfe, thy in∣comparable curtesy, in requiting my faith full and vnfained affection with the lyke, and graunting me principall possession of thy harte, and on the other side remem∣bring the sorrow thou sustainest, through y^e vnnatural dea∣ling of such, as vnder shew of friendship, intende nothing but fraude.

And therewithall waying my vnhabillity at this pre∣sent, which will not serue to prouide for thee as I would, my ioy, for inioying thee that arte my onelye salace is not halfe so great, as my grefes are greeuous for the sorrowe thou sustainest, but for as much as paciēce as Cicero saith, is such a vertue as it comforteth the heauye, reioyceth the sad, contenteth the pore, helpeth the sick, easeth the payne∣full, and hurteth none, but helpeth all, I exhort you to im∣brace it, and to the vttermost of your power to vse it, com∣forting your self in this callamitie, with assured hope, that after these harde happes, will follow a more blisseful and quiet estate, considering the mutabillitie of Fortune to be such, that she neuer standeth long at one stay, but as after a moste terrible storme, alwaies insueth a more pleasaunt calme, so she seeming most extreme, will on the sodaine waxe moste fauourable, as appeareth by the Example of one Adulatia Daughter to Otho, the thyrde Emperour of that name, who firing 〈◊〉〈◊〉 fancy vpon one Aleran, a Gen∣tleman of small accoumpte, and the yongest of all the bre∣theren

of the Duke of Saxony, who lykewise loued her in∣tyrely, lefte her father, friendes and countrey, for his sake, and wandring with him, vnto whome she wholy commit¦ted her selfe, into places vnknown, and in the way as they fled, being taken and spoyled by theeues, and robbers, and afterwardes forced for extreame neede, to make coles, and sell them for their owne sustenaunce, pacientlye suffering that miserable aduersity, and comforting themselues with hope of better happe in time to come, in the ende by Gods prouidence, and the vallyaunce of their yong Sonue, who by that meanes was made known to his Grandfather O∣tho, they were remoued from that miserable estate, aduan∣ced to high dignity, and made beyres to the Empyre.

By this worthy Example, it appeareth howe carefull God is for the preseruation of those, that paciently suffe∣ring aduersity, doe put their whole trust and confidence in him, nothing at all dispayring of his mercy, but hoping by his onely meanes to be deliuered from all their callamity, which hope he will not leaue frustrate, and though he suf∣fer them for a season so to be a fllieted, yet will he not giue them ouer, but in the end, when they least looke for it, will to their great ioy and comfort, bring them to a more happy and blissefull state, as he did the good Earle of Engers, and in any other that paciently suffered the Crosse that god had layde vpon them, and reposed their whole trust in his mercy, which neuer fayleth the faithfull.

By this Historye of Adulatia wee are also admonished faithfully to loue, when promise is plighted, and neither for pleasure nor paine, for ioye nor anoy, for welth nor wo, for force nor feare, for fraude nor flattery, for friend nor foe in prosperitie or aduersitie, to alter our fyrste fyrme and faithfull determination, or forsake whome wee haue once chosen, so long as life lasteth, but constantlye to continue, and faithfully to perseuer in the same so shal God blesse vs and prosper all our doinges, and after the mistes of misery if any happen to assaile vs, bring vs to the cleare lighte of

felicitye as he did fayre Adulatia, who neither for fearro•• fathers displeasure, or care to continue his good will, for loue of Imperiall dignity, or dread of any daunger, no, not for the fierce assaults of froward Fortune, or for any other cause would forsake her Aleran, but preferring his loyall loue, before all worldly pleasure, and his presents before al princely Ornamentes, both in health and sicknesse; in wealth and woe, and fynally at all assayes continued hys true and faithfull companion, for tearme of lyfe. Be fyrme therefore my good Parmena, and fayle not, but as I intend stil to continue as loyal a louer to thee, as euer was Aleran to his Adulatia, so be thou as faithful a friend vnto me, as was Adulatia to her beloued Aloran. So shall no emnity but am〈…〉〈…〉 no repentance but contenentment, no 〈…〉〈…〉ing, but ioy be euer betweene vs, and though one friendes frown vpon vs, or hindred contemne vs, and our Parentes re∣proue vs, yet through patient 〈◊〉〈◊〉, in trace of time which breedeth chaunge in all thinges, we shall by Codes helpe, and our owne dilligent iudultrye, recouer all for∣mer good will and fauour, and after all the assaul〈…〉〈…〉 of aduerse Fortune, attaine to the happy porte of rest and tranquillity, with which hope I purpose alwayes to com∣fort my selfe, wishing you also to doe the like, as I 〈◊〉〈◊〉 you will, and hartily require you to doe, so neare as you can as well for your owne releefe, as for the rest and comforte of him that loueth you, no lesse then his owne proper lyfe, Fare you well.

Finis.