The loves of Amandus and Sophronia, historically narrated a piece of rare contexture, inriched with many pleasing odes and sonnets, occasioned by the jocular or tragicall occurrences hapning in the progresse of the historie : disposed into three books or tracts / by Samuel Sheppard.

CHAP. 1.

Rhoxenor, and Lucinda, are sumptuously Interr'd. Alphonsus (King of Poland) refuseth to deliver up the persons of A∣mandus, and Pallante. Sophronia, brought to her Triall, is acquitted. Clo∣domer loves her.

CLodomer, having thus vanquish∣ed, but (to his great vexation) not captivated his enemies, cladding himselfe in purple, (as the manner of Kings is to mourne)

and commanding his whole Court to put on Sables, caused his Sonne, and Queen, to be embalmed, by the Skill of his ablest Physitians, who involved them in lead, the King causing two Stately Tombs to be erected (of the purest Phari∣an Stone) framed by the hands of cunning Architectors, who adorned them so sum∣ptuously, that either of them equalled Mausoleus his Sepulcher, (reputed one of the wonders of the World) in the Cathe∣drall Church, dedicated to the memory of St. Sebastiona, and Albovino, (two ancient famous Kings of that Countrey) which having finished, he dispatched Embassa∣dours to Alphonsus, King of Poland, to let him know, that he harboured his deep enemies, viz. Amandus, and Pallan∣te, Traytors to his Crown and Dignity, whose persons (as he tendred the perpetu∣ity of the Amity betwixt the two Crowns of Lombardie, and Poland) he willed him to deliver up to condigne punishment.

But Alphonsus, retaining a noble tem∣per, (knowing Amandus to be a man eve∣ry way accomplished) and sensible of the

wrongs offered by Rhoxenor, (the perpe∣tration whereof, had occasioned his death, and Amandus Infortunity) permitted A∣mandus, and Pallante lest the protecting of their persons might draw a war upon him) to depart his Kingdome without molestation, furnishing them with horses, and Arms, and all things befitting the use of such Knights of Fame.

But Clodomer, finding he could not get their persons into his hands, resolved (like another salvage Neoptolemus, who Sacri∣ficed an Innocent Princesse on his Fathers grave) to be revenged on Sophronia, (A∣mandus Mistresse, and for his sake impri∣soned) for his Sons death; and therefore he appointed a day, when (accompanied with all his Nobles) he would cause her to be brought as a Delinquent, and proceeded against as a Strumpet, to publick censure.

And therefore he caused many Scaffolds to be erected in the Pallace yard, with a Seat of Judicature for himselfe, and his Peers; where comming (with those whom he had nominated for her Judges) he com∣manded her to be guarded from prison,

thither, as the place appointed for her trial.

The most vertuous Sophronia, having newes brought her the night before, that she was to prepare her self against the mor∣row, to plead before the King, and Coun∣cell, was not a whit daunted thereat, (so great courage doth Innocencie inject, and so strongly are those fortified against mundane calamities, whose soules assure them they are falsly calumniated) but attired her selfe all in black, with a veile of the same colour cast over her head, which habit was so far from eclipsing, that it added to her excel∣lent Splendor; as Diamonds set in Jet, are not a whit darkned; nor doth the To∣paz lose its Lustre, though set in lead.

In this manner, she set forward with her Guard, (never was so sweet a prisoner brought to the Bar, a thousand Cupids (though unseen) waited on her all the way; Venus her self wept, and the Graces, con∣doled her afflictions, in sanguine teares; the people thronging in heapes to see her, yet amongst that multitude, not a dry eye: Such a silent mourning as the Grecians practised, when they beheld Agamemnons

daughter, faire Iphigenia, in funerall attire, standing at the Altar, ready to be Sacrifi∣ced to Aeolus, was heard amongst this people; every one assoiling her Innocen∣cie, and bewailing her misery.

Comming to the place appointed, she was placed at the Bar, where turning up her veile, and discovering her rare Beauty, which was so celestially splendid, that it cast a light round about her, (all mens eies being fixed upon her, as if some shaghair'd Comet had thrust forth his head in the He∣misphere.) The King was exceedingly ra∣vished to behold her, the fire of love burnt about his heart, by degrees corrobo∣rating more and more, till it became one flaming lump of flesh; his colour went and came, a kind of trembling sei∣zed upon all his body: But disguising his passions as well as he could, he comman∣ded her Charge to be read, which contain∣ed these two Heads;

1. That she had been guilty of Inconti∣nencie with Lord Cheribrerts Groome, being taken in the very act of shame.

2. That she had plotted, and conspired

with Amandus, and Pallante, (Capitall Traytors and guilty of the horrid murther (possitively) of Prince Rhoxenor, (conse∣quently) of the Queen Lucinda, and (pro∣bably) of Lord Cheribrert) for the perpe∣tration and performance, of the aforesaid treasonable, devillish, and unparell'd crimes.

To this, after a little pause (making o∣beysance to the King and Counsell) she answered.

That I may not be condemned as a Mute, and because the Party silent, is thought to as∣sent to what ever is proposed; I wil breifly, though sincerely, make my defence in the presence of the high Immortall Truth, and this Assembly, else I could have been conten∣ted to have suffered in silence, assuring my selfe, that before the Judge of Soules I ap∣peare immaculately Innocent.

My conversation from my Infancy, till of late months (assure my selfe) is not unknown to many here; I have indeavoured alwaies, to accrew an unspotted Fame, and (I doubt not) had retained the same, to this very mi∣nute, had it not thus happened.

Here she surveyed the Counsell (and

being ignorant of what had lately happen∣ed) not seeing Rhoxenor there, demanded that he might be brought before her, face to face.

To which the King ▪though his thoughts told him she was innocent) returned an∣swer.

That her pollicy could not wipe away her guilt, she knew, that Rhoxenor (as she had plotted with the cursed Traytor Amandus) was cruelly murthered.

To which (with a sober smile) she an∣swered.

Be it knowne unto all here, that Lord A∣mandus, being absent in the wars, against the Girpids, in the defence of his Country (unto whom I acknowledge my selfe affian∣ced) the Prince Rhoxenor, finding that all his perswasive allurements were to weak, to remove my firme fixed constancy (conspi∣ring with Lord Cheribrert, a man superla∣tively wicked) by a treacherous wile [ha∣ving corrupted the faith of my waiting-wo∣mon Flavia] hath wrought the present ruine of my fame and honour (by Flavias aide) they one night entred my Chamber (my self

fast asleep) bringing with them, a fellow (whom they had subborned for that purpose) who entred my Bed, which he had no sooner done, but Rhoxenor and Cheribrert (as be∣fore they had plotted) with loud cries awaked me, upbraiding me with lewdnesse, and term∣ing me the blot, and stain of all Ladies in the world.

And lest the fellow (moved with remorse or otherwise) should reveale their cursed complot, Cheribrert with his own hands, immediately stab'd his hireling to the heart.

Rhoxenor having wrought this villany, so wrought, that I was committed (as a vile person) to Castle Angellina, where I have ever since resided.

For the murther of Rhoxenor, Lucinda, and Cheribrert (if it be so, which Heaven forbid) the straitnesse of my restraint, none having been suffered to come near me, save my Keeper, since my restriction, may plead my innocency in that matter.

This Sophronia uttered with a very audible voice, and having finished, the peo∣ple gave a shout, crying, She is innocent, she is innocent; which also was the sense of

the whole Counsell, Clodomer himself (though he seemed otherwise) being glad of it, for he was extreamly in love with her.

The Court rising, Sophronia (by the Kings command) was conducted to the Pallace, of whom more hereafter.