_The gentle and iust act of Alexander de Medices Duke of Florence,
vpon a Gentleman whom he fauoured, who hauing rauished the Daughter
of a poore Myller, caused him to mary hir, for the greater honour
and celebration whereof, he appoynted hir a rich and honourable
Dowry._
If the Force of Vertue were apparant at the sight of eye, it
would be deemed to be of lesse value than the greatnesse thereof
deserueth (for sundry causes rising in the mindes of men) and
that by performinge the little which rested for th'entier
perfection of hir whole vnited glory. Now because that hir
effects be diuerse, and that dyuersly they be vsed, the examples
also of sutch diuersity, do variate and make diuerse the
affections of men: some to follow that quality and other that
part, proceeding from the whole and perfect body of vertue,
which hath caused some to win the price of modesty and
temperance in their deedes, other full of magnanimity (not
familiar to many) haue resisted the assaults of fortune. Many
other haue embraced that only honor whych is the nourice of ech
good act, whereby they haue either wel ruled the state of free
citties, or guided the armies of mighty Monarchs. And sutch
whilom the cities of Rome, Athenes, Sparta, and the auncient
Monarchs of the Medes, Persians, and the Assyrians did see.
I wil omit a good company of the sage and wyse, which haue
appaysed the troubles of Citties, the inquietations of Palaces,
the cries of Iudgement seates, the dissimulation and deceiptfull
flatteries of Courts, the carefull griefs which the householder
by gouernment of his house and family doth sustaine and feele,
of purpose more frankly to retire to the study of sapience,
which alone is able to make a man happy, and worthy to be
partaker of the diuinity. But aboue al, I wil prayse him which
not subiect to the law lyueth neuerthelesse like him that is
most thrall thereunto, or without respect of bloude or frendship
shall exercise Iustice vpon his dearest and best beloued: as in
olde time Manlius and Torquatus at Rome, the people of Athenes
towards one Timagoras, who beyond the duty of the Ambassador of
a frank citty, fel down on his knees and worshipped the Persian
king. And in our time the Marquize of Ferrara, by doing to death
his own son for adultry committed wyth his mother in Law. And
yet Iustice may fauour of some cruelty, which rather turneth to
shame than praise: as Ihon Maria Visconte Duke of Milan, when he
caused a couetous priest to be buried quick with the corps of
him whom he had refused to bury without money, the history
wherof is hereafter remembred. So as mediocrity of punishment
ought to be yoked with the rigor of law, for the mitigation
thereof. And beholde, wherefore the great Dictator Iulius Cæsar
loued better to gayn the heart of his enemies with mercy, than
vanquish and bring them to obedience with massy manacles and
giues of Iron. Moreouer in our age Alphonsus of Aragon (the true
Sampler of a iust and Righteous Prynce) dyd not hee esteeme
(when hee strayghtly besieged Gaiette) the Vyctory to be more
Gloryous and better gotten, which is done by composition and
gentlenesse, than the bloudy conquest, colored wyth teares and
bloud of a poore simple people? And truly princes, and great
lordes, specially they which newly (without succession receyued
from their ancestors) arriue to the gouernment of some
commonwealth, ought continually to haue before their eies, an
honest seuerity for the holines of the law, and a graue
mildnesse, to moderat the rigour of their duety: For by that
meanes right is mainteined, the heart of man is won, so wel as
by violence: and the state of gouernment taketh so good footing,
as the winde of no sedition afterwards can remoue the same,
beinge founded vpon a sure stone, and framed vpon a rock durable
for a long tyme. Whereof wee haue an example of fresh memory of
a kinde act, full both of wysedome and of gentle seuerity, in a
prynce of our time, who wythout effusion of bloud punished with
rigor enough, a trespasse committed, and sweetely remitted the
payne vpon him, which merited grieuous, nay mortall punishment,
as at large you shall see by the discourse that followeth.
Alexander de Medices, fauoured by the Church of Rome, (and armed
with the Papall standard) was hee that first with great actiuity
and Wisedome inueyed the Seniory of Florence, immediatly
vsurping the name, title, and prerogatiue of Duke. The same
albeit vpon the prime face he was odious to the people of
Florence, wroth for losing of their ancient liberty, and
displeasant to the Senatours and potentates, to see them selues
depriued of the soueraignty of Iustice, and of the authority
they had to commaund ouer all the Citizens, yet for all that was
he indued wyth so good qualities, and gouerned so wel his
principality, as that which at the beginning was termed Tyranny,
was receyued as iust domination, and that which was supposed to
be abused by force, seemed to be done as it were by lawfull
succession. And they counted themselues happy (when they saw
their lucke to bee sutch as their common wealth must needs obey
the aduice and pleasure of one Prince alone) to haue a soueraygn
lord, so wise, so vertuous and so ful of curtesie: and albeit in
all other things he shewed himselfe prayse worthy, noble, and of
gentle kinde, yet in this he vanquished himselfe in himselfe, by
that indifferent iustice, which made him wonderful, denying the
same to none, and in no one iote shewed himselfe parcial to any,
which thought by hym to bee supported in their follies: And that
which is more to bee wondred in him, and doth augment the prayse
of his integrity in iudgement, was, that he punished in another
the thynge, which hee ought to haue pardoned and remitted, hee
hymselfe beinge attaynted wyth that dysease. But thys good Duke
applyed to Reason, to tyme, and to the Grauity of the fact and
quality of the offended persones: For where the greatnesse of a
deede surpasseth all occasion of pardon and mercye, there the
Prynce, Iudge, or Magistrate ought to dispoyle and put of his
sweetest affections, to apparell himselfe with rigor, whych
reacheth the knyfe into the hand of the Ruler, of purpose that
pryuate familiaritie, do not in ende rayse in the subiect's
hearte a contempte of superiours, and unbrydled licence,
lawlesse to liue at their pleasure. Now the thing which I meane
to tell, consisteth in the proofe of a rare and exquisite
Prynce, which seldome or neuer harboureth in yong age, the
heates whereof can not but with greate difficultie, feele the
coldnesse and correction of reason: And likewise the causes from
whence wisdome's force proceede, do rest in longe experience of
things, whereby men waxe olde in ripenesse of witte, and theyr
deedes become worthy of prayse. This Duke Alexander ordred so
wel his estates, and kepte sutch a goodly and plentifull Court,
as the same gaue place to no Prynce of Italy, how great or rich
so euer it was, which noble court he kept aswell for his owne
garde and honor as to shew the naturall stoutnesse of his
corage, not vsing for all that any insolencie or vnseemely
dealing agaynste the haynous and auncient enemies of his
familie. Amongs his gallant troupe of Courtiers, which
ordinarily attended, there was a Florentine gentleman, very
neare the Duke, and the beste beeloued of them all. This yong
Gentleman had a Manor hard by Florence, where he was very well
and stately lodged, which caused him many times to forsake the
City, wyth two of his companions, to recreate himself in that
pleasant place. It chaunced vpon a time, he being in his
fieldish house, besides the which there was a Myll, the maister
of the sayd Myll had a passing fayre daughter, whom thys
Gentleman did well marke and beholde, and with hir beauty
beecame straungely in loue, in whom also appeared some Noble
port, that exceded the bloud and race whereof she came. But
what? The heauens be not to spare distributers of theyr gifts,
but sometimes they diuide them with the least measure, and at
some other times in equall weight or greatest heape, to them
that be of the basest sorte and popular degree, so wel, as to
the greatest and of most noble race. Rome somtimes hath seen a
bondman and slaue, somtimes a Runnegate's sonne, for his wit and
Courage to beare the Scepter in his hand, and to decide the
causes of that lofty people, who by sleyghts and practises
aspired the Empyre of the whole worlde. And he that within our
Fathers remembrance desireth to knowe what great Tamberlane of
Tartarie was, the astonishment and ruine of al the East partes,
shall well perceyue that his originall sorted from the vulgar
sorte, and from the lowest degree that was amongs all estates:
whereby must be confessed, that the goodnesse of nature is sutch
and so great, as she will helpe hir nourice children (whatsoeuer
they be,) the best she can: Not that I meane to infer hereby,
but that the bloud of Predecessors, with the institution of
their Posterity, mutch augmenteth the force of the spirit, and
accomplisheth that more sincerely whereunto nature hath giuen a
beginninge. Now to com to our purpose, this yong Courtier, taken
and chayned in the bands of loue, settred and clogged wyth the
Beauty and good grace of that Countrey wench, forethought the
meanes how he myght inioy the thynge after which hee hoped. To
loue hir he deemed it vnworthy of his degre: And yet he knew hir
to be sutch (by report of many) as had a very good Wit, tongue
at wyll, and which is more esteemed, a Paragon and mirror of
chaste life and modesty. Which tormented this amorous Mounsier
beyond measure, and yet chaunged not his affection, assuring
himselfe that at length he should attayne th' end of his
desires, and glut that his vnsatiable hunger, which pressed him
from day to day to gather the soote and sauorous frute which
Louers so egerly sue for at maydens handes of semblable age, who
then was betweene XVI. and XVII. yeares. This Louer dyd to
vnderstand to hys companions his griefe and frensie, who sory
for the same, assayed by all meanes, to make him forget it,
telling hym that it was unseemely for a Gentleman of his
accompt, to make himselfe a fable to the people, which woulde
come to passe if they knew how vndiscretely hee had placed hys
loue: and that there were a number of fayre and honest
gentlewomen more to whom besides conuenably and with greater
contentation he might addresse the same. But he which mutch
lesse saw, than blind loue himselfe that was his guid, and he
that was more bare of reason and aduice than the Poets fayne
Cupido to be naked of apparell, would not harken to the good
counsel, which his companions gaue him, but rather sayd that it
was lost time for them to vse sutch spech, for he had rather dy,
and indure all the mocks and scoffs of the world, than lose the
most delicate pray (in his mynde,) that could chaunce into the
hands of man, adding moreouer, that the homelynesse and rudenes
of the country, had not so mutch anoyed his new beloued, but she
deserued for hir beauty to be compared with the greatest Minion
and finest attyred gentlewoman of the Citty: For this mayden had
but the ornament and mynionnesse which nature had enlarged,
where other artificially force by trumperies, to vsurpe that
which the heauens deny them. "Touching her vertue let that passe
in silence, sithens that she" (quod he sighinge) "is to chast
and vertuous for one whom I would choose to daly withal: My
desire is not to make hir a Lucrece, or some of those auncient
Matrones, which in elder yeres builded the temple of woman's
Fortune at Rome." The companions of this louer seeing how
he was bent, promised him what they were able to doe, for
accomplishment of his will, for the which he thanked them very
heartely, offring like duty, where fortune should prepare the
proofe of their affection and neede of his amorous seruice: In
the mean time, conceiuing in his minde some new deuice, which so
soone as he had found out was not able to be brought to passe,
and knowing that the duke seldome would haue him out of his
sight, began to inuent lyes, doing hym to vnderstand that he had
necessary occasion, for a certain time, to remain and be at his
country house. The duke which loued him, and who thought that
either he had som secret sicknes, or els som wench which he was
loth to discouer before his companions, gaue him leaue for a
month, which so pleased this amorous Gentleman, as he lept for
ioye, and was not able to rest one hour before he had found out
his frends and companions, to mount on horsback to visit hir
that had vnder hir power and obeisance the best portion of him,
which was his hart and his most secret thought. When he was come
to his Countrey house, hee began to stalke abrode, and daunce a
round about the Mill, where his beloued did dwel, who was not so
foolish, but by and by suspected whereunto those goings and
commings of the Pilgrim tended, and for what pray he led his
Dogs in lease, and caused so many Nets and Cords to be displayed
by hunters of euery age and sexe, who to discouer the Countrey,
assayde by beating the Bushes, to take the Beaste at forme: For
which cause she also for hir part, began to fly the snares of
those Byrders, and the raunging of the Dogs that vented after
hir, strayinge not from the house of the good man hir Father:
whereof this poore louer conceyued great dispayre, not knowinge
by what meanes he might rouse the Game after which he hunted, ne
finde the meanes to do hir vnderstand his playnts and vnmeasured
griefe of heart, the firme loue, and sinceere mynde wherewyth he
was so earnestly bent, both to obay and loue hir aboue all
other: And that which most of all increased his payne, was that
of so great a troupe of messages whych he had sent, with giftes
and promisses the better to atchieue his purpose, no one was
able to take place or force (neuer so little) the chastity of
that sober and modest mayde. It chaunced one day as this
Gentleman was walking a long a wode side newly felled, hard
adioyning to his house, by whych there was a cleare and goodly
fountayne shadowed betweene two thick and lofty Maple trees, the
Myller's Daughter went thither for water, and as she had set
downe hir payles vpon the fountaine brink, hir Louer came vnto
hir, litle thinking of sutch a ioyful meeting, which he wel
declared by these words: "Praysed be God, that when I hoped
least of this good hap, he hath sent me hither, to see the onely
substaunce of my ioy." Then turninge his face towards the
mayden, sayd vnto her: "Is it true that thou art heere (or do I
dreame) and so neare to him that most desireth to gratyfie thee
in any thynge wherewyth it may please thee to commaunde him?
Wilt thou not haue pity vpon the paynes and griefs which
continually I indure for the extreme loue I beare thee?" And
saying so, he would haue imbraced hir. But the mayde, which
cared no more for his flatteries, than before she did for his
presents and messages seeing the same to tend to nothing else
but to hir ruine and great dishonor, wyth stout countenaunce,
and by hir liuely colour declaring the chast and vertuous motion
of her bloud, sayd to this valiant Gentleman: "How now, syr, do
you thinke that the vilenesse of myne apparell, holdeth lesse
vertue, than is vnder the rich and sumptuous Ornaments of
greatest Ladyes? Do you suppose that my bringing vp hath bred in
me sutch grose bloud, as for your only pleasure, I shoulde
corrupt the perfection of my minde, and blot the honour which
hitherto so carefully I haue kept and religiously preserued? Be
sure that sooner death shall separate the soule from my body,
than willingly I would suffer the ouerthrow and violation of my
virginity. It is not the part of sutch a Gentleman as you be,
thus to espy and subtlely pursue vs poore Countrey maydens to
charme vs with your sleights and guilfull talke: It is not the
duety of a Gentleman to subborne sutch vaunte currors to
discouer and put in perill, the honour of chaste maydens and
honest Wyues, as heretofore you haue done to me. It ought to
suffice, that you haue receyued shame by repulse of your
messengers, and not to come your selfe to bee partaker of their
Confusion." "And that is it, that ought to moue you sweete
heart" (aunswered he) "to take pitty vpon my griefe, so playnly
seeing that vnfaynedly I doe loue you, and that my loue is so
well planted, as rather had I suffer death, than occasion the
least offence that may displease you: Only I beseech you, not to
shew your selfe so cruel vnto him, who disdayning all other,
hath made you so frank an offer both of himselfe and of al that
he hath to commaund." The maide not greatly trusting his words,
feared that he prolonged time to make hir stay till hys seruants
came to steale hir away: And therefore without further aunswere,
she taking vp hir payles, and half running till she came neere
the Myll, escaped his hands, telling hir father no part of that
talk betwene them: who began already to doubt the treason,
deuised by the Gentleman, agaynst the pudicity of his daughter,
vnto whom he neuer disclosed his suspition, were it that he knew
hir to be vertuous inough, and constant to resist the luring
assaults of loue, or considred the imbecillity of our flesh, and
the malice of the same, which dayly aspireth things thereunto
defended, and by lawes limitted and prescribed, which lawes it
ought not to excede, and yet therof it wisheth the abolishment.
The Gentleman seeinge that the mayden had forsaken hym, and
little esteemed hys amorous onset, outraged for loue, and chased
wyth choler, spake these wordes to hymselfe: "Ah foolish and
dastard louer, what didst thou meane when thou hadst hir so
neere thee, in place so commodious, where shee durst not
gaynesay thee that thou didst no better pursue hir? And what
knowest thou if shee came of purpose to ease thy payne and to
finish thy troublesome trauels? Surely I suppose she did so, but
that shame and duety forced hir to vse those wordes, to make mee
thinke, that lyghtly she would not bee ouercome by persuasions:
And put the case that it were not so, who coulde haue let mee to
take by force that, whereunto willingly she would not accorde:
But what is she to be reuenged of sutch an iniury? She is for
conclusion the daughter of a Miller, and may make hir vaunte,
that she hath mocked a Gentleman, who beinge alone wyth hir, and
burninge wyth loue, durst not staunch hys thirst (although full
dry) so neere the fountayne: And by God (sayd he rising from a
greene banke neere the fountayne's side) if I dy therefore,
I wyll haue it eyther by loue or force." In this wicked and
tyrannicall mynde, hee returned to hys place, where his
companions seeing him so out of quiet, sayd vnto him: "Is thys
the guise of a gentle minde, to abase it selfe to the pursute of
so simple a Wench? Doe not you know the malice of that sexe, and
the guiles wherewith those Serpents poyson men? Care you so
little for a woman as she doth for you, and then wyll she
imbrace you and make mutch of you, whose only study is (which I
beleeue) to frame hirselfe agaynst all that, for which humble
sute is made: But admit, that women hath some qualities to draw
men to loue them, to honour and serue them, which if it so be
truely that office and dutifull deuoyre ought to be imployed in
seruice of them, that be honourable and in spirite and iudgement
of gentle kinde, which no doubt wil counteruayle the merite of
sutch a suter: And certesse I am of opinion that a man may
vaynely consume a yere or two in pursute and seruice of this
mealy Countrey wench, so well as addresse his loue in the
obedience of some fayre and honest Gentlewoman: which
courteously and with some fauour wyll recompence, the trauayles
of hir seruaunt, where that rude and sottish gyrle, by pryde
will vaunt and looke a loft, at the honor done vnto hir, despise
theym whose worthynesse she knoweth not, and whom neyther she
nor the best of her seede, be worthy to serue in any respect:
will you know then what I thinke best for you to do? myne aduice
is then, that one of these euenings, she be trussed vp in a
Maile and brought hither, or in some place els where you thinke
good, that you may enioy at pleasure the beauty of hir whom you
do praise and wonder at so mutch: And afterwards let hir
dissemble it she lust, and make a Iewel of hir chastity when she
hath not to triumph ouer you, by bearing away the victory of
your pursutes." "Ah my good friend," aunswered the desperate
louer, "how rightly you touch the most daungerous place of al my
wound, and how soueraygne a salue and plaister you apply
therevnto: I had thought truly to intreate you of that, whereof
euen now you haue made the ouerture, but fearing to offend you,
or to mutch vsurpe vpon your friendship, rather had I suffer a
death continuall, than rayse one point of offence, or
discontentation in them, which so frankly haue offred to doe me
pleasure, whereof (by God's assistaunce) I hope to be acquited
with all duety and office of frendship. Now resteth it, to put
in proofe, the effect of your deuise, and that so shortly as I
can: In like manner you see that the terme of my heere abode,
will shortly expire, and if wee be once at the Courte,
impossible it is for me to recouer so good occasion, and
peraduenture she wil be maried, or some other shal cary away the
pray after which I haue beaten the Bush." The plot then of this
mayden's rape, was resolued vpon, and the first espied occasion
taken: But the louer which feared least this heat of his
companions would coole, sollicited them so mutch, as the
execution was ordayned the following night: which they did, not
so mutch for the pleasure of their frend, to whom in sutch
aduentures they ought to deny all helpe, (sith frendship ought
not to passe, _Sed vsq; ad aras_, as Pericles the Athenian sayd,
so far as was sufferable by the lawes of God) as for that they
wer of nature of the self same tramp, which their passionate
companion was, and would haue made no conscience to enterpryse
the same for themselues, although the other had not tolde them
hys affections: These bee the Fruictes of vnruled Youth, wherein
onely the Verdure and greennesse of the Age beareth greatest
sway, the wyll whereof reason can not restrayne, which sooner
reclineth to the carnall part, than to that which tendeth to the
honest repast and contentment of the mynd. The next night, they
three accompanied with V. or VI. seruauntes (so honest as theyr
maisters) gaue the onset in armure and weapons well appointed to
defende and hurt, if any resistance were made, they myght be
able to repell theyr aduersaries. Thus about two of the clocke
in the night they came to the Mil, the Heauens hauyng throwne
theyr mantell ouer the vaporous earthe, and dymmed hir Face with
theyr vayle obscure and darke, and yet not sutch, but that the
ayre was cloudye cleere: and when no man doubted of so great
offence, and of sutch vnhappy rape, they brake into the poore
Miller's House, beetwene whose armes they toke away his daughter
deare, and almost dead for feare, piteously began to cry for
help, defending herself so well as she could from those Theeues
and Murderers. The desolate father raging with no lesse fury
then the Hircanian Tigre, when hir Faucons be kylled or taken
away, ran first to one, and then to another, to stay them from
carying of hir away, for whom they came. In the end the amorous
rauisher of his daughter sayd vnto hym: "Father, Father,
I aduyse thee to get thee hence if thou loue thy lyfe, for thy
force is too weake to resist so many, the least of whome is able
to coole this thy foolish heart and choler, for the whych I
would be sory, for the great Loue I beare vnto thy daughter, who
(I hope) before she depart my company, shal haue wherewith to be
contented: and thou cause to pacifye this thine immoderate rage,
which in vayne thou yalpest forth agaynst this troupe." "Ah
false Knaue and theefe," (sayd the honest pore man) "it is thou
then, which by thine infamous filthinesse and insaciable
knauery, doest dishonor the commendable fame of my daughter, and
by like meanes shortnest the hoped yeres of me hir poore vnhappy
father, loosinge through thy wickednesse, the staffe and stay of
myne olde aged life? Thynkest thou Traytor, that liuing till
this day (for all my pouertye) in reputation of an honest Man,
in myne olde Dayes will become an vnshamefast and vyle Minister
and Chapman of my daughter's maidenhoode and virginity? No knaue
thinke not that I forget the wrong receiued of thee, for which
by some meanes or other, I wyll purchase iust reuenge vpon thee
or thyne?" The Gentleman caryng little or nothyng for the old
man's wordes, hauyng in hys hand his desired spoyle, commanded
his Men to marche before with the Mayden, leauing behind the
poore olde Man which thundred against them a thousand bitter
cursses, threatning and reuyling them, by all the termes he
could deuise, desirous (as I think) to haue them turne backe to
kyll him. But thereunto they gaue so little heede, as when he
wylled them to leaue his daughter behynde them: to whome the
amorous courtier addressing himselfe, began to kysse hir, and
assayed by all meanes with pleasaunt Woordes and many sweete
promisses to comfort hir: but the poore Wenche knowyng full
well, that they wente about to play the Butchers wyth her
Chastitye, and to commyt Murder wyth the floure of hir
Virginity, began to cry so piteously with dolorous voice, as she
would haue moued to compassion the hardest Hartes that euer
were, excepte the Hearte of hym which craued nothyng more than
the spoyle of that his sweetest Enimy. When the poore Wenche saw
hir Vertue ready to be spoyled by one, who (not in Maryage
ioyned) wente aboute to vyolate and possesse the same, and knewe
that afterwardes hee woulde vaunte hymselfe for the Victorye of
sutch a precious pryce: "Alas (quod she) is it possyble that the
Souerayne Iustyce of God can abyde a Myschiefe so greate and
curssed, and that the Voyce of a poore Wretched afflicted Mayde
cannot be heard in the presence of the Myghty Lord aboue? Why
may not I nowe rather suffer Deathe, than the Infamy whych I see
to wander before myne Eyes? O the good olde Man my deare and
louing Father, how farre better had it bene for thee to haue
slayne mee wyth thy Dagger, betwene the Handes of these moste
wycked Theeues, than to let mee goe to bee the praye of those my
Foes that seeke the spoyle of Vertue, and the blotte of thy
reputation. O happy a hundred hundred tymes bee yee, whych haue
already passed the ineuitable tract of Death when ye were in
cradle, and I poore vnhappy Wench no lesse blessed had I bene if
pertaker of your Ioy, where now I rest alyue to feele the smarte
and Anguish of that Death more egre to support, than that whych
deuydeth the body and soule." The Gentleman offended with those
complaynts, beganne to threaten, that hee woulde make hir forget
hir disordered behauiour, sayinge that shee must change an other
tune, and that hir plaints were to no purpose amongs them which
cared not, nor yet were bent to stay vppon hir Womanishe teares,
Lamentations and cries. The poore Mayden hearinge there
resolution, and seeing that shee vaynely dysparckled hir Voyce
into the Ayre, began to holde hir peace, whych caused the Louer
to speake vnto hir these wordes: "And what my Wench? Dost thou
thinke it straunge, that for the heate of loue I beare to thee
that I should force sutch violence? Alas it is not malyce nor
euill wyll that causeth me to doe the same, it is loue whych
cannot bee inclosed, but must needes breake forth to manyfest
his force. Ah that thou hadest felt, what I doe suffer and
indure for loue of thee. I beleeue then thou wouldest not bee so
hard hearted, but haue pitty vppon the griefe whereof thou
shouldest haue proued the vehemence." Whereunto the mayde
aunswered nothinge but Teares and Syghes, wringing hir Armes and
Handes, and sometymes makinge Warre vppon hir fayre Hayre. But
all these Feminine Waylinges nothinge mooued thys Gallant, and
lesse Remooued hys former desire to haue hir, which hee
atchieued in dispite of hir Teeth, so soone as hee arryued at
his owne House. The remnaunt of the Night they lay together,
where hee vsed hir wyth all sutch kynde of flatteringe and
louinge Speech, as a Louer (of longe tyme) a Suter could deuise
to do to hir, whom at length he dyd Possesse. Now all these
flatteringe Follies tended onely to make hir his owne, to keepe
hir in hys Countrey House for hys Pleasure. Shee that for hir
Age (as before is sayd) was of condition Sage, and of gentle
mynde, began subtilely to dissemble and fayne to take Pleasure
in that which was to hir more bitter than any Aloes or Woode of
Myrrha, and more agaynst hir heart than remembraunce of Death,
whych styll shee wyshed for remedy of hir gryefe, and
Voluntaryly woulde haue killed her selfe lyke a Lucrece, if the
feare of God, and dreadfull losse of Body and Soule, had not
turned hir mynde, and also hoped in God that the Rauysher should
repayre the fault whych he committed, and beare the penaunce for
his temerity, whereof she was no whit deceyued, as yee shall
perceyue, by that which presently doth follow. Now whilest the
Rauisher tooke his pleasure wyth his Rape, the miserable father
made the Ayre to sound with his complaints, accusinge fortune
for letting the Whorish varlet so to passe, wythout doing him to
feele the lustinesse of hys age, and the force that yet reasted
in his furrowed face, and corpse withered with length of yeares.
In the end knowing that his playnts, curses, and desire were
throwne forth in vayne, perceiuing also his force vnequal to
deale with sutch an Ennimy, and to get agayne by violence hys
stolne Daughter, or to recouer hir by that meanes whereby she
was taken away, he determined the next day to go and complaine
to the Duke: and vpon that determination he layd him downe to
sleepe vnder the trees, which ioyned to the fountayne, where
sometimes the Courtier had communed with his daughter. And
seeing that the Element began to to shewe some splendent hue
Interpaled with coulours of White, Yealow, and Red, Signes
preceedinge the risinge of fresh Aurora, started from his sleepe
and tooke hys way to Florence, whither he came, vpon the
openinge of the Citty Gates. Then going to the Pallace of the
Duke, he tarried vntill he saw the Prynce goe forth to seruice.
The good man seeing him of whom he attended to receyue succour,
fauour, and iustice, began to freat, and rage for remembraunce
of his receyued wronge, and was ashamed to see himself in place
not accustomed: and although it grieued his heart wyth hardy
speach to presume in presence of so many, yet the iust anger and
desire of vengeance emboldned hym so mutch, as kneelinge vpon
his knees before the Maiesty of the Duke, aloud he spake these
woordes: "Alas (my Soueraygne Lord) if euer your grace had pity
vpon a desolate man, full of dispayre, I humbly beseech the same
that now you do regard the misery which on euery side assayleth
me. Haue pity vpon the pouerty of that vnfortunate olde man
agaynst whom one hath done sutch wrong, as I hope by force of
your vertue and accustomed iustice, you wil not leaue a sin so
detestable without deserued punishment, for respect of
mischiefes that may insue where sutch wickednesse shalbe
dissembled without due correction." Sayinge so, the great teares
ran downe his hory Bearde, and by reason of his interrupted
sighes and continual sobbes, the panting of his stomack might
easily haue bene perceiued all riueld for age, and Sunneburned
with heate and continuall Countrey trauaile: and that which
moued most the standers by, was the ruefull loke of the good old
man, who casting his lookes heare and there, beheld eche one
with hys holowe and dolorous Eyes, in sutch wise as if he had
not spoken any word, hys countenance would haue moued the Lords
to haue compassion vpon his misery, and his teares were of sutch
force, as the Duke which was a wyse man, and who measured
thinges by reason's guide, prouided with wisedome, and
foreseeinge not without timely iudgement, would know the cause
whych made that man so to make his plaint, and notwithstanding
assailed (with what suspition I know not) would not haue him
openly to tel hys tale, but leading him aside, he sayd vnto him:
"My frend, albeit that greeuous faultes of great importance,
ought grieuously and openly to be corrected, yet it chaunceth
oftentimes, that he which in a heate and choler doth execution
for the guylt (although that iustly after hee hath disgested his
rage, at leasure hee repenteth his rigor and ouer sodaine
seueritie,) offence being naturall in man, may sometyme (where
slaunder is not euident) by mild and mercyfull meanes forget the
same without infringing or violating the holy and ciuil
constitutions of Lawmakers. I speake thus mutch bicause my heart
doeth throbbe that some of my house haue don some filthy faulte
against thee or some of thine. Now I would not that they openlye
should be slaundered, and yet lesse pretend I to leaue theyr
faultes vnpunished, specially sutch as by whose offensiue cryme
the common peace is molested, wherein I desyre, that my People
shoulde lyue. For which purpose God hath constituted Prynces and
Potestates as shepheardes and guides of hys flocke, to the ende
that the Tyrannicall fury of the vitious, mighte not destroy,
deuoure and scatter the impotente flock, of no valoure if
it be forsaken and lefte forlorne by the mighty Armes of
Pryncipalities and Monarchyes.{"} A singuler modesty doubtlesse,
and an incredyble example of Clemencye in hym, whome hys
Cytyzens thoughte to be a Tyrant and vniust vsurper of a free
Segnyorye, who so priuily and with sutch familiarity, as the
Friend could wish of his companion, hearkened to the cause of
the poore Countrey man, and moreouer hys modesty so great, as
hee would it not to bee knowen what fault it was, or else that
the offenders shoulde publikely bee accused, offering for all
that to be the reuenger of the wronge done vnto the poore, and
the punisher of the iniury exercised agaynste the desolate,
a worke certainly worthy of a true Chrystian Prince, and which
establisheth kingdomes decayed, conserueth those that be,
rendring the Prynce to be beloued of God, and feared of his
Subiects. The pore olde man seeing the Duke in so good mynde,
and that accordingly hee demaunded to know the wrong don vnto
him, the Name of the factor, and that also he had promised him
his help and ryghtfull correctyon due vnto the deserued fault,
the good olde man I say conceiuing courage, recited from poynt
to poynte the whole discourse of the rape, and the violence
done, vppon hys poore vertuous Daughter, declaring besides the
name and surname of those which accompanied the Gentleman, the
author of that conspiracy, who (as we haue already sayd) was one
that was in greatest fauor with the Duke: who notwithstanding
the Loue that he bare to the accused, hearing the vnworthinesse
of a deede so execrable, said: "As God liueth this is a
detestable facte, and well deserueth a sharpe and cruell
punyshment: Notwithstanding freend, take good heede that thou
doeste not mistake the same, by accusing one for an other, for
the Gentleman whome thou haste named to be the rauisher of thy
daughter, is of all men deemed to bee very honest, and doe well
assure thee that if I finde thee a lyer, thy heade shall answere
for example to eche false accuser and slaunderer in time to
come. But if the matter be so true as thou hast sayde, I promise
thee by the faith I beare to God, so wel to redresse thy wrong,
as thou shalt haue cause to be thoroughly satisfied with my
iustice." To whome the good olde man thus answered: "My Lord the
matter is so true, as at this day hee keepeth my Daughter (like
a common strumpet) in his house. And if it please your highnesse
to send thither, you shall know that I do not falsely accuse or
vtter lying woordes before you, my Lord and Prynce, in presence
of whom as before the mynister and Lyeuetenaunte of God, Man
oughte not to speake but truely and religeously." "Sith it is
so," sayd the Duke, "get thee home to thy house, where God
willing, I will be this day at dinner, but take hede vpon thy
life, thou say nothing to any man what so euer he be: for the
rest let me alone, I will prouide according to reason." The good
man almost so glad for his good exploit, as the day before he
was sorowful for his losse, ioyfully went home to his homely
house and Countrey Cabane, whych he caused to be made ready so
wel as hee could, attending the comming of his deliuerer,
succor, support, and iudge, who when he had heard seruice,
commanded his Horse to be made ready: "For (sayd he) I heare say
there is a wylde Boare haunting hereby, so well lodged as is
possible to see: wee wyll goe thyther to wake hym from his
sleepe and ease, and vse that pastime til our dinner be ready."
So departing from Florence, he rode straight vnto the Mil wher
his dinner was prepared by hys Seruauntes. There he dined very
soberly, and vsing fewe words vnto his company, sate stil al
pensiue, musing vpon that he had to doe: For on the one side the
grauitie of the facte moued him rigorously to chastise him which
had committed the same. On the other side the loue which he bare
him (mollifing his heart) made him change his minde, and to
moderate his sentence. The Prynce's minde, thus wandering
beetwene loue and rigor, one brought him worde that the Dogs had
rousde the greatest Hart that euer he sawe: which newes pleased
him very mutch, for by that meanes he sent away the multitude of
his Gentlemen to follow the chase, retaining with him his moste
familiar friends, and those that were of his priuy and secrete
councel, whom he would to be witnesses of that which he intended
to doe, and causing his hoast to come before him, he sayd: "My
friend, thou muste brynge vs to the place whereof thys Mornynge
thou toldest me, that I may discharge my promyse." The Courtyers
wondred at those Woordes. ignoraunte whereunto the same were
spoken: but the good Man whose Hearte leapte for ioy, as already
feelynge some greate Benefyte at Hand, and Honoure prepared for
the beautyfyinge of hys House, seeynge the Duke on Horsebacke,
ran besydes hym in steade of hys Lackey, wyth whome the Prynce
held mutch pleasaunt talke all along the way as they wente
togyther, but they had not gone farre, but the Gentleman the
Rauysher, wyth his Companyons, vnderstandyng that the Duke
hunted there aboutes, came to doe hym reuerence: and his Fortune
was sutch, as hee nor any of his frends perceiued the olde man,
by meanes whereof they nothing suspected what did insue. For
that cause the said Rauisher said to his prince: "My Lord, if
fortune had so mutch fauored me, as I mighte haue knowen of your
commyng into these quarters, I would haue don my duetie to
entertaine you, not as appertayneth to the greatnesse of your
excellency, but according to the ability of the least, and yet
the most obedient of your seruaunts." To whom the Duke
dissembling his anger sayd: "Sir, I dined heere hard by within
my tents, not knowing that your house was so neare vs: but sith
that I haue met you vpon your own Marches and Confines, I wyll
not goe hence before I see your lodging: for so farre as I can
iudge by the outwarde parte of this goodly building, me thinkes
the workman hath not forgotten any thing that should serue for
the setting forth and ornament of this parte of the house, which
for the quantity is one of the fairest plottes that I haue
seene." So approching the Castell the Duke lyghted to view the
commodities of the place, and specially the image, for whych
alone hee was departed from his City, whereof the Mayster of the
House (dronke with the sodaine pleasure to see the Duke there)
thought nothyng. So descending into the base Court, they saw a
Marble fountaine that discharged the water in foure greate
gutters, receiued by foure naked Nimphes, and by them poured
into Vessells, richely wrought with Damaskyne, where was an
armed Knyght, lying vnder an hyghe and broade tree, that
ouershadowed the Fountaine: And hard by, they espied a lyttle
doore whych shewed the way into so singulare and well planted
a Garden, as euer the delycious and pleasant Gardens were
of Alcinoe: For in the same (bysides the Artyfyciall
Workemanshyppe, and ordinarye Trauell of the Gardener) Nature
produced foure Fountaynes in the foure Corners, makynge the
Place and plaine of Garden equally parted in fouresquare forme.
Now these fountaynes watered all the fayre knots of the same,
wythout any payne to the Gardener, except to open certayne
little Conduicts, whereby the water sprange and ran to what part
he thought it needfull. I will heere leaue to speake of the
Trees and fruictes deuided in fiue forme order, the Laberynthes
subtilely and finely wrought, the sweete Herbers yelding sutch
contentation to the eye, as if the Duke had not respected the
wrong done to the Miller's daughter, the gentlenesse of the
mayster of the house, and the singularity of the place,
perchaunce might haue made him forget himselfe within that
little earthly Paradise. And to performe the excellency of that
Garden, the workinge hand and industry of man, holpen by the
benefite of Nature, had formed within the Ground wherein were
bestowed a number of Antiquities, and wherein the immortal voice
of an Eccho answered their talke with a triple sounde in that
profound and earthly place: which moued the Duke to call the
Gentleman vnto him, vnto whom he sayd: "If it bee so, that the
rest of the house doe match wyth that whych I haue already
seene, I am out of doubt it is one of the fayrest and most
delectable houses at thys day wythin the compasse of all Italy.
Wherefore my Frende, I pray thee that wee may see the whole,
both for the contentation of our Mindes, and also that I may
make some vaunt that I haue seene the rarest and best furnished
little House that is within the iurisdiction of Florence." The
Gentleman bathed in ease and full of pleasure, seeynge that the
Duke lyked so well his House, brought hym from chamber to
chamber, which was enryched eyther with stately tapissarie of
Turkey making, or with riche Tables diuinely wrought, vtensils
so neate and fit, as the Duke could cast his eye vpon none of
them, but he was driuen into an admiration and Wonder. And the
further he went, the greater hee sawe the increase, and almost a
Regeneration, or as I may say, a newe Byrth of rare thinges,
which made the littlenesse of the Place more Stately and
wonderfull: Wherefore hee greatly esteemed hym in hys Mynde
whych had deuysed the Magnificence of sutch a Furnyture. After
then that hee had visited the Portals, Galleries, Parlers,
Chambers, Garrets, Wardrobes, Closets, and chiefest Romes of
that house, they came into a Gallerie, which had a direct
prospect vpon the Garden, at the end wherof there was a chamber
shut, ouer which sutch Antike and Imbossed worke, as it was
maruell to behold, and vpon the garden side in like
workemanship, yee mighte haue viewed a troupe of Nymphes (a long
the side of a woode adioyning vpon a great Riuer) flying from an
hierd of Satires, that made as though they would haue ouerrunne
them: a pleasure it was to see their gaping mouthes, theyr eyes
fixed vpon the place where theyr clouen-footed pursuters were,
and the countenance of them, which so well expressed theyr
feare, as there wanted nothing but speache. Moreouer a better
sight it was to beholde the Satire Bucks, with dysplayed throte,
and theyr fyngers poynting at the hast of those pore fearfull
runawayes, as though they mocked theyr sodaine flyghte. Within a
while after ye might haue seene Hercules lyinge a Bed with his
wife, towards whom a Faunus came thinking to enjoy the beauty
and embracements of the sleping dame: But fayrer it was to see
how that strong Amphitrionian gaue him the mocke, and strained
him so hard, as he thought his belly would burste. The Duke
beholding as he thought, the fayrest Chamber of the house so
shut, by and by suspected the truth of the cause: For the
Gentleman knowing the comming of the Duke, had withdrawen his
woman into the same for that it was the most secrete of his
house, and the furdest from all ordinary seruice. Vpon surmise
the Duke demaunded wherefore that Chamber was not opened so wel
as the rest: "I suppose the same to be your treasure house?"
(quod hee) "and the storehouse of your most delicate things: Wee
pray you let vs looke into it." "My Lord" (sayd the Gentleman)
"the place is to farre out of order, at this time to shew your
grace: Moreouer I knowe not where the Keyes be, for thys morning
the keeper of my house is gone into the city, and I can not tell
to whom hee hath delyuered them." The Duke which heard the end
of his excuse, not accepting the same for the pryce which the
Courtier woulde and thoughte to haue solde it, was sure then of
that which before he did suspect. Wherfore with furious
countenaunce he sayd vnto him: "Goe too, goe too, either with
the key, or without the Key, let this door be opened, that I may
see all thy secretes within." The rauisher seeing the Duke to be
earnest, could not tell at the first Face, of what Woode to make
his arrowes, stode stil astonned, and was surprysed wyth a newe
feare. In the end notwythstandyng, playinge the good fellowe,
hee went vnto the Duke, in whose eare smilinge hee whispered
(bicause he knew right well that the Duke was an indifferent
good companion, and loued so well his neighbor's Wyfe, as his
owne:) and sayd: "My Lord there is a prety wench within, whome I
do kepe, and would not shewe hir to any lyuing man but to you."
"That is the cause I aske" (sayd the duke) "let vs see hir that
I may geue iudgement of hir beauty, and tell you whither shee
bee worth the keeping or not." The mayster of the house opened
the chamber dore, thinking to haue gained mutch, and supposed to
insinuate himselfe the better into the fauor of the Duke, but
immediatlye hee saw himselfe farre deceiued of his accompt. For
the rauished and shamefast maiden comming forth of the Chamber
with hir hayre about hir eyes, and hir garments berent and
torne, hir stomake and breast all naked and discouered, hir Face
and Eyes all blubbered wyth Teares, lyke a desperate woman threw
hir selfe at the Prince's feete, crying out: "Ah (my lord)
beholde heere and haue pity vpon the most vnfortunate Wenche of
all most wretched caytyfe Women, who shamefully and Trayterously
hath bene abused and defloured by him, whych impudently dareth
to bryng you into the place the wytnesse of hys abhominable and
wycked Lyfe." The Duke seeing this sight, and hauing compassion
vpon the Maiden, turned his face towardes the Gentleman and hys
Companyons (which by chance wer come thither, as the Duke was
entred into the Gallerie) not with milde and pleasant
countenance as hee shewed from the beginning, but with a looke
so graue and seuere, as the hardiest of the company could not
tell what to do, or what answere to make hym. Vpon them than
began the ryghteous Prynce to vomit his dyspleasure, sayinge:
"Is this the innobling of the Bloud whereof thou art descended,
to rauyshe thy Neyghbors and my subiectes Daughters, that
duetyfully lyue vnder myne obeysance and protection? Doest thou
thus abuse the familiaritie whych hytherto I haue shewed vnto
thee? Thinkest thou that the Lawes be peruerted together with
the chaunge of the common Wealth of Florence? No, I assure thee,
for so long as the Soule shal abyde within my body, I will be he
that shal pursue the wycked wyth all extremitie, and shall not
indure the oppressyon of the pore, enough afflicted with their
own proper misery. O God could I haue thought that a Gentleman
of my House, woulde haue bene so prodigall of his honour, as to
soyle hys Hands so filthily by rauishing of them which ought to
be required, and to dishonour them in place where their Vertue
ought to shine for generall example? I cannot tell what stayeth
me from cutting those curssed Heades of yours from of your
shoulders like arrant Traytors and Theues as you be. Get ye
hence, ye infamous villaynes and beastly Ruffians, the troubles
of your Neyghbors rest, and the spoylers of the fame of hir,
that is more worth than all ye together." Then speaking to the
Mayde hee sayd: "Rise vp my wench, and on me repose thy comfort,
for I promise the by the faith of a Gentleman, that I will do
thee sutch reason, and vse thee so vpryghtlye as bothe my
Conscience shal be quieted, thou contented, and thine honour
restored for the wrong and iniury whych it hath receiued of
these Gallantes." And by and by he commaunded the Miller to come
before him, and all those whom he had brought wyth hym to assist
his doings, before whom he caused to be brought both the
rauished maiden, and the condempned of the rape: vnto whom he
said: "This is the pray my friends that I sought after, which I
haue taken without toyles, nets, or chaunting of the Dogs.
Beholde, I pray you the Honoure whych my Householde Seruauntes
doe vnto my House, who ouerrunne the Symple Countrey People, and
rauyshe theyr Daughters betweene the Armes of theyr propre
parentes, who breake, beate downe, and ouerthrowe the Doores of
theyr Houses, that under the Lawes of our City and ought to
enioy lyke Pryuiledge of Lybertye and Franchyze. If one respecte
(whych I wyll not dysclose) dyd not impeache and stay mee,
I would doe sutch cruell iustice vppon the offenders as the
posterity should make report thereof. Notwithstanding it shal
suffise that they receiue this shame before you all, by seeing
themselues vanquished of a crime, which for expiation and
reuenge, deserueth most shamefull death, and to receyue of mee
for proofe of mercy, an vndeserued pardon of their fault: with
condition neuerthelesse that thou (speaking to the Gentleman
Rauisher) shalt take this mayden to Wyfe, for otherwyse thou art
not able to repayre the honour thou hast taken from hir) and
shalt loue hir so dearely, as fondly heeretofore she was beloued
of thee, to esteeme and loue hir so mutch, as if she were the
very sister of me the Duke of Florence, who commaundeth thee for
the raunsome and redemption of thy head, presently to mary hir.
I will moreouer, and ordayne by reason of hir father's pouerty,
that for the wrong which he hath receyued of you three, that his
daughter shall bee indowed wyth two thousand Crownes by him that
marrieth hir, and with a thousand of eyther of the two other, to
th' entent that if hir husband dy (wythout heire,) shee haue
wherewith honestly to mayntayne hir degree, and the honest port
of hir house. And hereof I will that without delay a contract be
made, and a publike instrument of good record inrolled, swearing
once agayne before thee, that if I vnderstand, thou vse her
otherwise, than a Wyfe ought to bee of hir husband, I will deale
sutch punishment and correction ouer thee, as all men in time to
come shal take example." The Gentleman which expected no better
meede than death, ioyfull of that sentence, fell downe prostrate
before the Duke in signe of consente, and the lyke did his
Companions. But the ioy of the Miller and his daughter cannot be
expressed, who extolled the vertue and iustice of the Prynce vp
into the heauens: to whom with sutch humility they rendred theyr
humble thanks, as he would doe that saw himselfe in so great
calamity, and brought to sutch dishonour as earst they were
seene to be, by meanes of him that acknowledged one of them for
his sonne, and the other for hir lawfull Spouse. Thus was the
mariage consummat in presence of the Duke, with so great ioye,
and content of all partes, as there was rage and trouble for the
Rape of the Bryde. The Duke beinge retourned to Florence, the
Brute of this act incontinently was disparkled almost throughout
the Region of Italy, and this iudgement no lesse praysed, than
the sentence which Kynge Solomon gaue vppon the Controuersie of
the two Harlots for the liuing childe, which eyther of them
claimed for hir owne. And for this cause was hee extolled aboue
any other Prynce or Lorde that in tymes passed did commaund or
rule the Common wealth wythin the Countrey of Thuscan. In thys
wyse that modesty made him worthy of the Principality, which
almost against all ryght he had vsurped, and of a prayse whych
shall no lesse continue, than the Memory of man is able to
extende the same from one generation to an other, and which
those that be Couetous of the prayse of a Prince so vertuous,
iust and modest, shal not cease to illustrate and gloriously
aduaunce him in open euydence, to the ende that hys like may
exercise like things, or of greater consequence, by not
sufferinge venemous and vnprofitable hearbs to grow within the
Garden of their Common wealth. Wythin the which, a little mildew
or vntimely rayne, is able to marre and corrupt all the good
Seedes and Plantes sowen, and grifted there before: For commonly
wicked Weedes and Bastard Impes take deeper roote than those
that beare a good and fauorous fruict, for conseruation whereof,
the diligent husbandman imployeth his labour throughout all the
Seasons of the yeare.