To the Reader.
After these tragicall Nouelles and dolorous Histories of Bandello,
I haue thoughte good for thy recreacion, to refresh thy mind with some
pleasaunt deuises and disportes: least thy spirites, and sences should
be apalled and astonned with the sondrie kindes of cruelties remembred
in the vij. of the former nouelles. Which be so straunge and terrible as
they be able to affright the stoutest. And yet considering that they be
very good lessons for auoyding like inconueniences, and apt examples for
continuacion of good and honest life, they are the better to be borne
with, and may with lesse astonnishment be read and marked. They that
follow, be mitigated and sweetened with pleasure, not altogether so
sower as the former be. Prayinge thee moste hartely, paciently to beare
with those that shall occure, either in these that folow, or in the
other that are past before.