The antient, true, and admirable history of patient Grisel a poore mans daughter in France: shewing, how maides, by her example, in their good behauiour may marrie rich husbands: and likewise, wiues by their patience and obedience may gaine much glorie. Written first in French. And therefore to French I speake and giue direction. For English dames will liue in no subiection. But now translated into English. Therefore say not so. For English maids and wiues surpasse the French, in goodnesse of their liues.

CHAP. IIII. How the Lady Grisel was proued by her Husband, who thus made triall of her patience.

TO other blessings, in processe of time, there was added the birth of a swéet Infant, a Daughter, that reioiced the mo∣ther, and gladded the father; the Country triumphed, and the people clapped their hands for ioy. For the Marquesse still lo∣ued her more and more, and they thought their liues not déere for her, if occasion serued. Notwithstanding all this, Fortune hath still a tricke to checke the pride of life, and prosperity must be seasoned with some crosses, or else it would taint & corrupt vs too much. Whereupon, the Marquesse determined now to proue his wife, and make triall of her vertues indeed: and so taking a conuenient season, after the childe was fully meaned, he one day repaired secretly to her chamber, and (séeming halfe angry) thus imparted his mind:

Although, Grisel, this your present Fortune hath made you forget your former estate, and that the iollity of your life ouer∣swayeth the remembrance of your birth; yet, neither is it so with me, nor my Nobles: For I haue some occasion of dista∣sting, and they great cause of repining, in that they must be subiect to one so base, and haue still before their eyes our chil∣dren of such low degrée; so that though (for my sake) they make good semblance of the present, yet are they resolued neuer to suf∣fer

any of our posterity to rule ouer them; of which, as they haue disputed with mee, I cannot chuse but forewarne you: Therefore, to preuent this discontentment betwéene vs, and to maintaine that peace which must corroborate my estate, I must néedes yeelde to their iudgements, and take away your Daughter from you, to preserue their amity: the thing I know must be displeasing to Nature, and a Mother cannot well indure such a losse: but there is now no remedy, only make vse of your first resolutions, and remember what you promised me at the beginning of our Contract.

The Lady hearing this sorrowfull preamble, and appre∣hending the Marquesse resolution, to her griefe (although eue∣ry word might haue béene as arrowes in her sides) yet admit∣ting of the temptation, and disputing with her selfe to what end the vertues of Patience, Modesty, Forbearance, Forti∣tude and Magnanimity were ordained, if they had not subiects to worke vpon, and obiects to looke after; thus replyed:

My lord, you are my Soueraigne, and all earthly pleasures and contentments of my life come from you, as the fountaine of my happinesse; and therefore please your selfe, and (beléeue it) it is my pleasure that you are pleased: as for the child, it is the gift of God and yours. Now he that giues may take away, and as wée receiue blessings from heauen, so must we not dote on them on earth; lest by setting our minds too much vpon them, wée cannot set off our hearts when they are taken from vs: only one thing I desire, that you remember I am a mother, and if I burst not out into passion for her losse, it is for your sake I am no more perplexed, and so you shall euer find mee a wife befitting your desires.

When the Marquesse saw her constancy, and was in a man∣ner pleased with her modest answere, hée replied not at all at that time. For his heart was full, and what betweene ioy and feare he departed: ioy that so great vertue had the increase of goodnesse: feare that he had presumed too farre on such a trial: but resolued in his businesse, hee went to put it to the aduen∣ture.