_A Gentlewoman of the Courte, very pleasauntly recompenced the
seruice of a kinde seruaunte of her's, that pursued her with seruice
of loue._
In the Courte of king Fraunces, the first of that name, not
longe sithens Frenche king, the graunde father of Henry the 3 of
that name now raigning: there was a Gentlewoman of good grace
and interteignment, wanting not both minde and witte, such as
the like of her sexe, are not to seeke, vnder what climate
soeuer they be borne and bred, whose comly demeaner, curteous
behauiour and eloquent speache, was agreeable to her other
qualities of nature's giftes: whereby she gayned the hartes and
good minds of nombers of seruauntes, with whom shee was cunning
ynough to spend her time, (hauing respect to the sauftie and
saufgard of her honor, which she preferred before all other
solace) by such delectable consumption of time, as they that
could not tell howe els to imploie their leasure, thoughte
themselues most blessed, if they might attaine the delightfull
presence of this well nourtered Dame. For they that made
greatest assuraunce of her fidelitie, were in dispayre, and the
most desperat were yet in some hope to winne her. Howbeit in
deceyuing the most nomber, she could not forbeare intirely to
loue one, who for his part was not able to plaie the
counterfait, to colour the substance of his longe pursute: but
as nothing is sure and stable, their loue tourned to
displeasure, and by frequent renewing of what was well knowen
the hole Court was not ignoraunt, what deuocion thone did beare
to thother. One day the Gentlewoman, aswell to let him know that
his affection was not bestowed in vaine, as to make him to feele
some smart and paine for his louing seruice, the more louingly
to forde him on, with preety morsells of her dissembling
concept, made show vnto him of greater fauour, then euer she did
before: for which cause he that was faultles either in deedes of
armes, or in prowesse of loue, began liuely and valiantly to
folow her, to whom long before with gentlenes and humilitie he
had many times bin a suppliante. Who fayning that she was not
able any longer to rest obstinate, made semblance of a womanly
pitie and accorded to his demaund. Telling him that for respect
of his tedious trauaile, she was now disposed to go to her
chamber, (which was in a Gallerie of the Castell where that time
the kinge did lie) where shee knew was none that could hinder
what they two intended: willing him not to faile but so sone he
saw her depart the place she was in, to folow after to her
chamber, where he should finde her alone, tarying for him with
good deuocion. The gentleman beleeuinge her appointmente, was
readie to leape out of his skinne for ioye: and therewithall
began to dalye and sport with other Ladies, attending the time
of her departure. She wanting not the practize of any fine
sleight or subtile pollicie, most pregnaunte in birds of her
Ayrie, called two of the greatest Ladies to the present chamber
window and said vnto them: "If it may please you good Ladies,
I will discouer vnto you the pretiest pastime of the world."
They which hard the grief of melancholie, besoughte her to tell
what it was. "Thus it is" (quoth shee) "such a gentleman, whom
you know very well, to be both honest and vertuous, hath longe
time (as partlie you haue by to much experience seene,) gone
about diuers wayes to winne that, which he shall neuer get: for
when I began to applie my fancie towards him, he (vnconstant)
ceased not to couet and folow other Ladies with like pursute hee
did me: whereat I conceyued such more then spitefull hatred, as
notwithstanding my outwarde semblaunce, I coueted reuenge. Nowe
therefore maistresse, Occasion hath lente me a porcion of
oportunitie, to be requited of his vaine and fickle sute: which
is, that hauinge appointed him to come to my chamber, whither he
meaneth presently to follow me, it maye please you to giue
heedefull eye and watch: and that when hee hath passed alonge
the Galerie, and is gone vp the stayers, that both of you wil
recline your heads out of this window to helpe me singe the
holding of the Caroll, that I meane to chaunte vnto him. And
then shall you see the raging choler of this Gentleman, that at
other times presumed to be a quiet Suter: wherat perhaps through
his malapert boldnes, it cannot dash his blushles face, but yet
if he do not deale vnto me like spiteful reproch in open
hearing, I know full well in hart he will wishe me X. M.
mischifes." This conclusion was not spoken without treble
laughter: for there was no gentlemen in all the Courte, that had
warred so much with the woman kind as hee, and yet welbeloued
and esteemed of euery one, that listed not to be intrapped
within his daunger. Therfore these Ladies thinking to carie
awaye some part of the glorie, which one alone hoped to atchieue
vpon this gentleman, were contente to assent to the other's
liking. So sone then as they saw her depart, that purposed this
enterprise, they began to espie the countenaunce of the betrayed
partie, who paused not long before he exchaunged the place: and
when he was oute of the chamber, the Ladies trayned after, to
lose no part of the sport, and went the faster that he might not
be out of theyr sight. And he that doubted not the successe,
threwe his cape about his necke to hide his face, and went downe
the staiers out into the Court, and afterwards mounted vp
againe: but perceyuing some approche which he was loth should be
a witnes, he went downe againe, returning another way on the
other side. All which the Ladies sawe, vnknowen to him. But when
he came to the stayers where he beleeued verely, that he might
surely enter into his Maistres chamber, the two Ladies put they
heads out of the window, and incontinently perceyued the
gentlewoman alofte, crying out a lowde, "A theefe, a theefe:"
wherunto they two below aunswered with so vehement voyce,
doubling the other's outcrie, as all the castell ronge of it.
I leaue for you to consider in what despite this gentleman fled
to his lodginge, but not so closely, but that he was ouertaken
by those that knew this misterie: who afterwards oftentimes
reproched this fact vnto him, speciall she that had deuised the
reuenge: but hee had armed himselfe with aunswers and defences
so readely, as he told them that he foreknew their deuise, and
mente nothing by his pilgrimage but to solace his beloued. For
of her loue long time before he was out of all hope, as hauing
reasonable proofe by his longe pursute and seruice. Howbeit the
Ladyes would not hold his excuse for a veritie, which euen to
this day hangeth in suspence.