branded it for his owne. This is the fault that hath called me hether.
No true _Italian_ but will honor me for it Reuenge is the glory of
Armes, and the highest performance of valure: reuenge is whatsoeuer wee
call law or iustice. The farther we wade in reuenge, the nerer come we
to the throne of the Almightie. To his scepter it is properly ascribed,
his scepter he lends vnto man, when he lets one man scourge another.
All true _Italians_ imitate mee, in reuenging constantly, and dying
valiantly. Hangman to thy taske, for I am readie for the vtmost of
thy rigor. Herewith all the people (outragiously incensed) with
one conioyned outcrye yelled mainely, Away with him, away with him,
Executioner torture him, teare him, or we will teare thee in peeces if
thou spare him.
The executioner needed no exhortation herevnto, for of his owne nature
was he hackster good enough: olde excellent hee was at a bone-ache. At
the first chop with his wood-knife would he fish for a mans heart, and
fetch it out as easily as a plum from the bottome of a porredge pot. Hee
would cracke neckes as fast as a cooke crackes egges: a fidler cannot
turne his pin so soone, as he would turn a man of the ladder. Brauely
did hee drum on this _Cutwolfes_ bones, not breaking them outright, but
like a sadler knocking in of tackes, iarring on them quaueringly with
his hammer a great while together. No ioynt about him but with a hatchet
he had for the nonce, he disioynted halfe, and then with boyling lead
souldred vp the wounds from bleeding. His tongue he puld out, least he
should blaspheme in his torment: venomous stinging wormes hee thrust
into his eares, to keep his head rauingly occupied: with cankers
scruzed to peeces hee rubd his mouth and his gums. No lim of his but
was lingringly splinterd in shiuers. In this horror left they him on the
wheele as in hel: where yet liuing, hee might behold his flesh legacied
amongst the foules of the aire. Unsearchable is the booke of our
destenies. One murder begetteth another: was neuer yet bloud-shed
barrain from the beginning of the world to this day. Mortifiedly
abiected and danted was I with this truculent tragedie of _Cutwolfe_ and
_Esdras_. To such straight life did it thence forward incite me, that
ere I went out of _Bolognia_ I married my curtizane, performed manie
aimes deedes; and hasted so fast out of the _Sodom_ of _Italy_, that
within fortie daies I arriued at the King of _Englands_ Campe twixt
_Ardes_ and _Guines_ in _France_: where he with great triumphes met and
entertained the Emperour and the French King, and feasted manie dayes.
And so as my Storie began with the King at _Turnay_ and _Turwin_, I
thinke meete heere to end it with the King at _Ardes & Guines_. All the
conclusiue Epilogue I will make is this; that if herein I haue pleased
any, it shall animate me to more paynes in this kinde. Otherwise I will
sweare vpon an English Chronicle, neuer to bee outlandish Chronicler
more while I liue. Farewell as manie as wish me well. _Iune_ 27. 1593.
Finis.
Chiswick Press:--Charles Whittingham And Co., Tooks Court, Chancery
Lane.