_Wantones and pleasaunt life being guides of insolencie, doth bring a
miserable end to a faire ladie of Thurin, whom a noble man aduaunced
to high estate: as appereth by this historie, wherein he executeth
great crueltie vpon his sayde ladie, taken in adulterie._
The auncient and generall custome of the gentlemen, and gentlewomen of
Piedmonte, was daily to abandon famous cities and murmures of common
wealthes to retire to their Castels in the countrie, and other places of
pleasure, of purpose to beguile the troublesome turmoyles of life, with
greatest rest and contentation. The troubles and griefes wherof they do
feele, that intermedle with businesse of common wealth, which was with
great care obserued before the warres had preposterated the order of
auncient gouernement, til which time a harde matter it had ben to finde
an idle gentleman in a hole citie. Who rather did resort to their
countrie houses with their families, which were so well gouerned and
furnished, that you should haue departed so well satisfied and
instructed, from a simple gentleman’s house as you should haue doen from
a great citie, were it neuer so wel ruled by some wife and prouident
Senatour. But sithens the world began to waxe olde, it is come again to
very infancie, in suche sorte that the greatest nomber of cities are not
peopled in these dayes but with a many of Carpet Squiers, that make
their refiance and abode there, not to profite, but to continew their
delicate life, and they do not onely corrupt themselues, but (which is
worse) they infecte them that keepe them companie, whiche I will
discourse somewhat more at large, for so much as the gentlewoman, of
whome I describe this historie, was brought vp al the time of her youth,
in one of the finest and most delicate cities of Piedmonte. And feeling
as yet some sparke of her former bringing vp, she could not be reformed
(being in the countrie with her husbande) but that in the ende she fill
into great reproche and shame, as you shall vnderstande by the content
of that whiche foloweth. In the time that Madame Margaret of Austriche,
doughter of Maximilian the Emperour, went in progresse into Sauoie,
towardes her husbande: there was a great Lorde, a valiaunt and courteous
gentleman, in a certaine countrie of Piedmonte, whose name I will not
disclose, aswell for the reuerence of his nerest kynne, which doe yet
liue, as for the immoderate cruell punishemente, that he deuised towards
his wife, when he toke her in the fault. This great Lorde, although he
had goodly reuenues and Castelles in Piedmonte, yet for the most parte
of his time, he followed the Courte, by commaundement of the Duke, that
interteyned him next his owne persone, vsing commonly his aduise in all
his greatest affaires. This Lorde at that tyme maried a mayden in
Thurin, of meane beautie, for his pleasure, not esteming the place from
whence shee came. And because he was well nere fiftie yeares of age when
he maried her, she attired her selfe with such modestie, as she was more
like a wydow then a maried woman: and knewe so well how to vse her
husbande, the space of a yere or two, as he thought him selfe the
happiest man aliue, that he had founde out so louing a wyfe. This woman
being serued, and reuerenced with great honour, waxed werie of to muche
reste and quiet, and began to be inamoured of a Gentleman her neighbour,
whom in a litle tyme she knewe so well to vse by lookes, and other
wanton toies, as he did easely perceiue it, notwithstanding for the
honour of her husband, he would not seme to knowe it, but a farre of.
Nowe this warme loue by litle and litle, afterwardes began to grow hot,
for the yong woman wearie of such long delay, not able to content her
self with lookes, vpon a day finding this yong gentleman in conuenient
place, as he was walking harde by her house, began to reason with him of
termes, and matters of loue: telling hym that he liued to solitarie, in
respect of his yong yeares, and howe shee had alwayes bene brought vp in
Townes, and places of great companie and resorte, in such wyse as now
being in the Countrie, shee could not easely digeste the incommoditie of
being a lone, specially for the continuall absence of her husbande, who
scarce three monethes in a yeare remayned at home in his owne house. And
so falling from one matter to another, loue pricked them so sore, as in
fine they opened a waye to that whiche troubled them so mutch, and
specially the woman: who forgetting her honour, which ordinarily dothe
accompanie great Ladies, priuely she told hym the loue that she had
borne hym of long tyme, whiche notwithstanding shee had dissembled,
wayting when hee should haue geuen the fyrst onsette, for that Gentlemen
ought rather to demaunde, then to be requyred of Ladies. This Gentleman
vnderstanding (by halfe a woorde) the cause of her disease, told her:
“That although his loue was extreme, neuerthelesse, deming himself
vnworthy of so high degree, he stil concealed his grief, which because
he thought it coulde not come to passe, feare forced him to kepe it
silent. But sithe it pleased her so much to abase her selfe, and was
disposed to doe him so much honour to accepte him for her seruaunte, he
would imploye his indeuour, to recompence that with humilitie and humble
seruice, whiche fortune had denied hym in other thinges.” And hauing
framed this foundacion to their loue, for this tyme they vsed no other
contentment one of an other but onely deuise. But they so prouyded for
their affaires to come, that they neded not to vse longer oration. For
beyng neyghbours, and the husbande manye tymes absent, the hyghe waye
was open to bryng their enterpryses to desired affecte. Which they full
well acquieted, and yet vnable wysely to maister and gouerne their
passions, or to moderate theim selues by good discretion, the seruauntes
of the house (by reason of the frequented communication of the Gentleman
with the Gentlewoman) began to suspecte theim, and to conceiue sinister
opinion of their maistresse, although none of theim durste speake of it,
or make other semblaunce of knowledge. Loue holding in full possession
the hartes of these twoo louers, blynded theim so muche, as leauing the
brydle to large for their honour, they vsed theimselues priuely and
apertlye at all tymes one with an other, without anye respect. And when
vpon a tyme, the Lorde retourned home to his owne house (from a certayne
voyage, wherein he had bene in the Duke’s seruice) he found his wyfe to
be more fine and gorgeous then she was wont to be, whiche in the
beginning dyd wonderfully astonne him. And perceiuing her sometimes to
vtter wanton woordes, and to applie her mynde on other thynges, when he
spake vnto her, he began diligently to obserue her countenaunce and
order, and being a man broughte vp in courtlye trade, and of good
experience, hee easely was perswaded that there was some ele vnder that
stone, and to come to the trouthe of the matter, hee made a better
countenaunce, then he was wonte to doe, which she knewe full well howe
to requite and recompence: and liuing in this simulation, either of them
attempted to beguile the other, that the simplest and leste craftie of
them both could not be discouered. The yong gentleman, neighbour of the
Lord, grieued beyond measure, for that he was come home, passed and
repaired many tymes before his Castell gate, thinking to get some looke
of his Ladie’s eye: but by any meanes she could not for feare of her
husbande, who was not so foolishe, that after he sawe him goe before his
gate so many times, without some occasion, but that he easely iudged
there was a secret amitie betwene them. Certaine dayes after, the
gentleman to insinuate himselfe into the Lord’s fauour, and to haue
accesse to his house, sent him a very excellent Tercelet of a Faucon,
and at other times he presented him with Veneson, and vmbles of Dere,
which he had killed in hunting. But the Lorde (which well knew that
flatterie many times serued the torne of diuerse, to beguile foolish
husbands of their faire wiues) that he might not seme vngrateful, sent
him also certain straung things. And these curtesies continued so long,
that the Lorde desirous to lay a baite, sent to praye him to come to
dyner: to which requeste the other accorded liberally, for the deuocion
he had to the sainct of the Castell. And when the table was taken vp,
they went together to walk abroade in the fieldes. And that more frendly
to welcome him, he prayed his wife to goe with them, whereunto she made
no great deniall. And when they had debated of many thinges, the Lord
said vnto him: “Neighbour and frende, I am an old man and Melancholie,
as you know, wherfore I had neede from henceforth to reioyce my self.
I pray you hartely therefore to come hither many times, to visit vs and
therewithal to participate such fare as God doth send. Vsing the thinges
of my house, as they were your owne.” Whiche the other gratefully
accepted, humblie praying that his Lordshyp would commaunde him and that
he had, when he pleased, and to commaunde him as his very humble and
obedient seruaunt. This Pantere layed, the yong gentleman ordinarely
came ones a daye to visite the Lorde and his wife. So long this
pilgrimage continued, vntill the Lorde (vpon a time, faining himselfe to
be sicke) commaunded that no man should come into his chamber, because
all the night before he was ill at ease, and could take no reste.
Whereof the gentleman was incontinently aduertised by an old woman hired
of purpose for a common messenger, of whom a none we purpose to make
remembraunce. Being come to the Castell, he demaunded how the Lord did,
and whether he might go see him, to whom aunswer was made, that he could
not, for that he was fallen into a slomber. Madame now was in the garden
alone, roming vp and down for her pleasure, and was aduertised that the
Gentleman was come. Who being brought into the gardeine, and certified
of the Lordes indisposition, began to renew his old daliaunce with the
Ladie, and to kisse her many times, eftsones putting his hand into her
bosome, and vsing other pretie preparatifes of loue, which ought not to
be permitted but only to the husband. In the meane time, while they twoo
had ben there a good space, the husband slept not, but was departed out
of his chamber, the space of two houres and more, and was gone vp to the
highest place of all his Castell, wher at a very litle window, he might
discrie al that was done, within the compasse of his house. And there
seing al their curteous offers and proffers, hee waited but when the
gentleman should haue indeuoured himself to precede further, that he
might haue then discharged his mortal malice vpon them both. But they
fearing that their long abode in the gardein might ingender some
displeasure, retourned into the Castell, with purpose in time to content
their desires, so sone as opportunitie serued. The Lorde noting all the
demeanour betwene them, retourned to his chamber, and so went againe to
his bed, faining to be sicke, as he did all the daye before. Supper time
come, the lady went to know his pleasure, whether he would sup in his
chamber or in the hall: he answered (with a disguised cherefull face)
that he began to feele himselfe well, and that he had slept quietly
sithens diner, and was determined to suppe beneth, sending that night
for the gentleman, to beare him companie at supper: and could so well
disemble his iust anger, as neither his wife, nor the Gentleman
perceiued it by any meanes. And so the Lorde with his Lady still
continued, the space of fiftene dayes, or three wekes, making so much of
her (as though it had ben the firste moneth that he maried her) in suche
sorte, as when the poore miserable woman thought to haue gotten victorie
ouer her husband and frend, it was the houre that fortune did weaue the
toyle and nette to intrappe her. The Lorde which no longer could abide
this mischief, driuen into an extreame choler, seing that he was able to
finde no meanes to take them (himselfe being at home) deliberated either
sone to die or to prouide for the matter: and the better to execute his
determination, he counterfaited a letter from the Duke of Sauoie, and
bare it secretly to the post him selfe alone, and commaunded him next
daye to bring it to his Castell, whereby he fained that the Duke had
sent the same vnto him. Whiche matter the post did handle so well, as he
brought the letter, when he was at supper, with botes on his legges all
durtie and raied, as though he were newly lighted from his horse. And
the better to maintain his wife in her error, after he had reade the
letter, he gaue it to her to reade: which conteined no other thing but
that the Duke commaunded him presently with all diligence, himselfe and
his traine to come vnto him, to be dispatched vpon ambassage into
Fraunce. That doen he said vnto her: “Wife, you see how I am constrayned
to depart with spede (to my great grief) bid my men therfore to be ready
in the morning, that they may go before and wayte for me at Thurin,
where my Lord the Duke is at this present. I my self will departe from
hence to morow at night after supper, and will ride in post in the
freshe of the night.” And the better to deceiue this poore vnhappie
woman, he went into his Closet, and took his caskette, wherin was the
moste parte of his treasure, and deliuering the same vnto her, sayde:
“That fearing leste hee shoulde tarie long in Fraunce, he would leaue
the same with her to help her when she wanted.” And after all this
traine was gone, hee caused one of the yeomen of his chamber to tary
behynde, whose fidelitie he had at other times proued: and all that daye
he ceased not to cherishe and make much of his wyfe. But the poore soule
did not forsee, that they were the flatteries of the Crocodile, which
reioyseth when he seeth one deceiued. When he had supped, he made a
particuler remembraunce to his wife how the affaires of his house should
be disposed in his absence: and then toke his leaue, giuing her a Iudas
kisse. The lorde vnethes had ridden twoo or thre miles, but that his
wife had sent the olde woman to carye worde to her louer, of the
departure of her husband, and that he might saufly come and lie with her
in the castell, for that all the seruauntes were ridden forth with their
maister, sauing one yeoman and her twoo maydes, whiche doe neuer vse to
lie in her chamber. Vpon this glad newes the Gentleman thought no scorne
to appeare vppon that warning, and the old woman knew the way so well,
as she brought him straight into the ladies chamber, whom loue inuegled
in such wise, as they lay together in the bedde where the lord was wont
to lye. And the olde woman laye in an other bed in that chamber, and
shut the dore within. But while these twoo poore passionate louers
thought they had attayned the toppe of all felicitie, and had inioyed
with full saile the fauours of the litle God Cupide, Fortune desirous to
departe them, for the last messe of the feast prepared so bitter
Comfettes, as it cost them both their liues, with such cruell death, as
if they which make profession of semblable things doe take example,
wyues will get them better names, and husbandes shalbe lesse deceiued.
The Lorde that night made no longer tracte of time, but lighted from his
horse, at the keper of one of his Castles houses, whom he knewe to be
faythfull. To whome in the presence of the yeoman of his chamber, he
discoursed the loue betwene the gentleman and his wyfe, and commaunded
them with all spede to arme themselues, and with a case of pistolets to
follow him, whom they obeyed. And beyng come to the Castell gate he
saide to the keper of his castell: “Knocke at the gate, and fayne thy
selfe to be alone, and saye that I passing by thy house did leaue a
remembraunce with thee, to cary to my ladie. And because it is a matter
of importaunce, and requireth hast, thou were compelled to bring it this
night.” Knocking at the gate somewhat softely (for feare lest they
whiche were in the chambers should heare) a yeoman rose whiche laye in
the courte, knowing the voyce of the keper (because he was one, whome
his lorde and maister dyd greatly fauour) opened the gate, and the
firste thyng they did, they lyghted a torche, and wente vp all three to
the Lordes chamber, not sufferyng anye man to cary newes to the Ladie,
of theyr approche. Being come to the chamber doore, the keeper knocked,
whiche immediatly the olde woman hearde, and without opening the doore,
asked who was there. “It is I (quod the keeper,) that haue brought a
letter to my ladie, from my Lorde my maister, who ryding this nyght in
post to Thurin, passed by my house, and very earnestly charged me by no
meanes to fayle but to deliuer it this night.” The Ladie aduertised
hereof, who could not mistruste that her owne man (whome she tooke to
bee simple, and voyde of guyle) would haue framed a platte for suche a
treason, sayde to the olde woman: “Receiue the letter at the doore, but
in any wyse let him not come in, and I will accomplishe the contentes.”
The olde woman, which thought onely but to receiue the letter betwene
the doore, was astoned when the keper who (giuing her a blow with his
foote vpon the stomacke) threwe her backward, where she laie more then a
quarter of an houre, without speaking or mouing. And then they three
entring the chamber in great rage, with their pistolets in their handes,
found the two miserable louers starke naked, who seing them selues
surprysed in that state, were so sore ashamed as Eue and Adam were, when
their sinne was manifested before God. And not knowing what to doe,
reposed their refuge in lamenting and teares, but at the verie same
instaunt, they bounde the armes and legges together, of the poore
gentleman with the chollers of their horse, which they brought with them
of purpose. And then the Lorde commaunded that the twoo maydes, which
were in the Castell, and the reste of the seruantes, should be called to
assiste them, to take example of that faire fight. And all the meane
people being gathered in this sort together, the lorde tourning him self
vnto his wife, saied vnto her: “Come hither thou vnshamefast, vile, and
detestable whore, like as thou hast had a harte so traiterous and
vnfaithfull, to bring this infamous ruffian in the night into my
castell, not only to robbe and dispoile me of mine honour, which I
preferre and esteme more then life: but also (whiche is more to be
abhorred) to infring and breake for euer, the holie and precious bande
of mariage, wherewithall wee be vnited and knit together. So will I
forthwith, that with these thyne owne handes, with whiche thou gauest me
the firste testimonie of thy faith, that he presently shalbe hanged and
strangled in the presence of all menne, not knowing howe to deuise anye
other greater punishimente, to satisfie thyne offence, then to force
thee to murder hym, whome thou haste preferred before thy reputation,
aboue myne honour, and estemed more then thine owne life.” And hauing
pronounced this fatall iudgement, he sent one to seeke for a greate
naile of a Carte, which he caused to be fastened to the beame of the
chamber, and a ladder to be fetched, and then made her to tie a Coller
of the order belonginge to theeues and malefactours, about the necke of
her sorowfull louer. And because she alone was not able to do that
greuous and waightie charge, hee ordayned that like as the olde woman
had bin a faithfull minister of his wiue’s loue, so shee should put her
hand in performing the vttermost of that worke. And so these two
wretched women, were by that meanes forced to suche extremitie, as with
their owne handes, they strangled the infortunate Gentleman: with whose
death the Lord not yet satisfyed, caused the bedde, the clothes, and
other furnitures (wherupon they had taken their pleasures past) to be
burned. He commaunded the other vtensiles of the chamber to be taken
away, not suffring so much straw, as would serue the couche of two
dogges, to be left vnconsumed. Then he said to his wife: “Thou wicked
woman, amonges al other most detestable: for so much as thou hast had no
respecte to that houourable state, whereunto fortune hath aduaunced
thee, being made by my meanes of a simple damosell, a greate Ladie, and
because thou hast preferred the lasciuious acquaintaunce of one of my
subiects, before the chast loue, that thou oughtest to haue borne me: my
determination is, that from henceforth thou shalt kepe continuall
company with him, to the vttermost day of thy life: because his
putrified carcase hath giuen occasion to ende thy wretched body.” And
then hee caused all the windowes and doores to be mured, and closed vp
in such wyse, as it was impossible for her to go oute, leauing onely a
litle hole open, to giue her bread and water: appointing his Steward to
the charge thereof. And so this poore miserable woman, remained in the
mercie of that obscure and darke prison, without any other company, then
the deade body of her louer. And wheu shee had continued a certaine
space in that stinking Dongeon, without aire or comfort, ouercome with
sorrow and extreme paine, she yelded her soule to God.