THE TWENTY-THIRD NOUELL.

_The infortunate mariage of a Gentleman, called Antonio

Bologna, wyth the Duchesse of Malfi, and the pitifull death

of them both._

The great Honor and authority men haue in thys World, and the

greater their estimation is, the more sensible and notorious are

the faultes by theim committed, and the greater is their

slaunder. In lyke manner more difficult it is for that man to

tolerate and sustayne Fortune, which al the dayes of his life

hath lyued at his ease, if by chaunce he fall into any great

necessity than for hym whych neuer felt but woe, mishap, and

aduersity. Dyonisius the Tyraunt of Scicilia, felt greater payne

when hee was expelled his Kyngdome, than Milo did, beinge

banished from Rome: for so mutch as the one was a Soueraygne

Lorde, the sonne of a Kynge, a Iusticiary on Earth, and the

other but a simple Citizen of a Citty, wherein the People had

Lawes, and the Lawes of Magistrates were had in reuerence.

So lykewyse the fall of a high and lofty Tree, maketh greater

noyse, than that whych is low and little. Hygh Towers, and

stately Palaces of Prynces bee seene further of, than the poore

Cabans, and homely Sheepeheardes Sheepecotes: the Walles of

lofty Cittyes more a loofe doe Salute the Viewers of the same,

than the simple Caues, which the Poore doe digge belowe the

Mountayne Rockes. Wherefore it behooueth the Noble, and sutch as

haue charge of Common wealth, to lyue an honest Lyfe, and beare

their port vpright, that none haue cause to discourse vppon

their wicked deedes and naughty life. And aboue all modesty

ought to be kept by Women, whom as their race, Noble birth,

aucthority and name, maketh them more famous, euen so their

vertue, honesty, chastity, and continencie more prayse worthy.

And behoueful it is, that like as they wishe to be honoured

aboue all other, so their life do make them worthy of that

honour, without disgracing their name by deed or worde, or

blemishing that brightnesse which may commend the same.

I greatly feare that all the Princely factes, the exploytes and

conquests done by the Babylonian Queene Semyramis, neuer was

recommended wyth sutch prayse, as hir vice had shame in records

by those which left remembrance of auncient acts. Thus I say,

because a woman being as it were the Image of sweetnesse,

curtesie and shamefastnesse, so soone as she steppeth out of the

right tract, and abandoneth the sweete smel of hir duety and

modesty, besides the denigration of hir honour, thrusteth her

selfe into infinite Troubles, causeth ruine os sutch whych

should bee honoured and praysed, if Womens Allurementes

solicited theym not to Folly. I wyll not heere Indeuour my selfe

to seeke for examples of Samson, Salomon or other, which suffred

themselues fondly to be abused by Women: and who by meane of

them be tumbled into great faults, and haue incurred greater

perils: contentinge my selfe to recyte a ryght pitifull History

done almost in our tyme, when the French vnder leadinge of that

notable Capitayne Gaston de Foix, vanquished the force of Spayne

and Naples at the Iourney of Rauenna in the time of the French

Kynge called Lewes the twelfth, who married the Lady Mary,

Daughter to Kynge Henry the seuenth, and Sister to the

Victorious Prynce of worthy memory kynge Henry the eyght, Wyfe

(after the death of the sayd Lewes) to the puissaunt Gentleman

Charles, late Duke of Suffolke. In the very tyme then lyued a

Gentleman of Naples called Antonio Bologna, who hauing bin

master of Household to Fredericke of Aragon, somtime king of

Naples, after the French had expelled those of Aragon out of

that Citty, the sayde Bologna retyred into Fraunce, and thereby

recouered the goods, which hee possessed in his countrey. The

Gentleman besides that he was valiant of his persone, a good man

of Warre, and wel esteemed amongs the best, had a passing numbre

of good graces, which made him to be loued and cherished of

euery wight: and for riding and managing of greate horse, he had

not his fellow in Italy: he could also play exceedynge well and

trim vpon the Lute, whose fayning voyce so wel agreed therevnto,

that the moste melancholike persons would forget their

heauinesse, vpon hearing of his heauenly noyse: and besides

these qualyties, he was of personage comely, and of good

proportion. To be short: nature hauing trauayled and dispoyled

hir Treasure House for inriching of him, he had by Arte gotten

that, which made him most happy and worthy of prayse, which was,

the knowledge of good letters, wherein he was so well trayned,

as by talke and dispute thereof, he made those to blush that

were of that state and profession. Antonio Bologna hauing left

Fredericke of Aragon in Fraunce, who expulsed out of Naples was

retired to king Lewes, went home to his house to lyue at rest

and to auoyd trouble, forgetting the delicates of Courtes and

houses of great men, to bee the only husband of his owne

reueneue. But what? it is impossible to eschue that which the

heauens haue determined vpon vs: or to shunne the vnhappe which

seemeth to follow vs, as it were naturally proceeding from our

mother's Wombe: in sutch wyse as many times, he which seemeth

the wisest man, guided by misfortune, hasteth himself with

stouping head to fall headlonge into hys death and ruine. Euen

so it chaunced to this Neapolitane Gentleman: for in the very

same place where he attained his aduauncement, he receiued also

his diminution and decay, and by that house which preferred hym

to what he had, he was depryued, both of his estate and life:

the discourse whereof you shall vnderstande. I haue tolde you

already, that this Gentleman was Mayster of the kinge of Naples

household, and beyng a gentle person, a good Courtier, wel

trained vp, and wyse for gouernment of himself in the Courte and

in the seruice of Princes, the Duchesse of Malfi thought to

intreate him that he would serue hir, in that office which he

serued the King. This Duchesse was of the house of Aragon, and

sister to the Cardinall of Aragon, which then was a rych and

puissant personage. Being resolued, and persuaded, that Bologna

was deuoutly affected to the house of Aragon, as one brought vp

there from a Chylde: shee sent for him home to his House, and

vpon hys repaire vsed vnto him these, or like Woordes: "Mayster

Bologna, sith your ill fortune, nay rather the vnhap of our

whole House is sutch, as your good Lord and Mayster hath forgon

his state and dignity, and that you therwithall haue lost a good

Maister, without other recompence but the prayse which euery man

giueth you for your good seruice, I haue thought good to intreat

you to doe me the honor, as to take charge of the gouernment of

my House, and to vse the same, as you did that of the King your

maister. I know well that the office is to vnworthy for your

calling; notwithstanding you be not ignorant what I am, and how

neare to him in bloud, to whom you haue bene a Seruaunte so

faythfull and Louing; and albeit that I am no Queene, endued

with greatest reuenue, yet with that little portyon I haue,

I beare a Pryncely heart: and sutch as you by experience do

knowe what I haue done, and dayly do to those which depart my

seruice, recompensing them according to theyr paine and

trauaile: magnificence is obserued as well in the Courts of

poore Princes, as in the stately Palaces of great Kings and

monarches. I do remembre that I haue read of a certain noble

gentleman, a Persian borne, called Ariobarzanes, who vsed great

examples of curtesie and stoutnesse towards King Artaxerxes,

wherewith the king wondred at his magnificence, and confessed

himself to be vanquished: you shal take aduise of this request,

and in the meane time do think you will not refuse the same,

aswell for that my demaund is iust, as also being assured, that

our House and race is so well imprinted in your heart, as it is

impossible that the memory thereof can be defaced." The

gentleman hearynge that curteous demaund of the Duchesse,

knowing himselfe how deepely bound he was to the name of Aragon,

and led by some vnknowen prouocation to his great il luck,

answered hir in this wise: "I would to God, Madame, that with so

good reason and equity I were able to make denyall of your

commaundment, as iustly you maye require the same: wherfore for

the bounden duety which I owe to the name and memorie of the

house of Aragon, I make promise that I shall not only sustaine

the trauell, but also the daunger of my Lyfe, dayly to be offred

for your seruice: but I feele in mynde I know not what, which

commaundeth me to withdraw my selfe to lyue alone at home within

my lyttle house, and to be content with that I haue, forgoing

the sumptuous charge of Prynces houses, which Lyfe would be wel

liked of my self, were it not for the feare that you Madame

should be discontented with my refusall, and that you should

conceiue, that I disdained your offred charge, or contempne your

Court for respect of the great Office I bare in the Courte of

the Kyng, my Lord and Mayster: for I cannot receiue more honour,

than to serue hir, which is the paragon of that stock and royal

race. Therfore at all aduentures I am resolued to obey your

will, and humbly to satisfy the duety of the charge wherein it

pleaseth you to imploy me, more to pleasure you for auoiding of

displeasure, then for desire I haue to lyue an honorable lyfe in

the greatest Princes house of the world, sith I am discharged

from him in whose name resteth my comfort and only stay,

thinking to haue liued a solitarye life, and to passe my yeres

in rest, except it were in the pore abilitye of my seruice to

that house, wherunto I am bound continually to be a faithfull

seruaunt. Thus Madame, you see me to be the readiest man of the

world, to fulfil the request, and accomplishe sutch other

seruice wherein it shall please you to imploy me." The Duchesse

thanked him very heartily, and gaue him charge of all hir

housholde traine, commaunding ech person to do him sutch

reuerence as to hir self, and to obey him as the chief of al hir

family. This Lady was a widow, but a passing faire Gentlewoman,

fine and very yong, hauing a yong sonne vnder hir guard and

keping, left by the deceased Duke hir husband, togither with the

Duchy, the inheritaunce of hir child. Now consider hir personage

being sutch, her easy life and delycate bringing vp, and hir

daily view of the youthly trade and manner of Courtiers lyfe,

whether she felt hir self pryckt wyth any desire, which burned

hir heart the more incessantly, as the flames were hidden and

couert: from the outward shew whereof shee stayed hir self so

well as shee coulde. But shee followinge beste aduice, rather

esteemed the proofe of Maryage, than to burne wyth so lyttle

fire, or to incurre the exchange of louers, as many vnshamefaste

strumpets do, which be rather giuen ouer, than satisfied with

pleasure of loue. And to say the truthe, they be not guided by

wisedom's lore, which suffer a maiden ripe for mariage to be

long vnwedded, or yong wife long to liue in widowe's state, what

assurance so euer they make of their chaste and stayed lyfe. For

bookes be to full of sutch enterpryses, and houses stored with

examples of sutch stolne and secrete practises, as there neede

no further proofe for assurance of our cause, the daily

experience maketh plaine and manifest. And a great folly it is

to build the fantasies of chastitye amid the follies of worldly

pleasures. I will not goe about to make those matters

impossible, ne yet will iudge at large, but that there be som

maydens and Wyues, which wiselye can conteine themselues amongs

the troupe of amorous suters. But what? the experience is very

hard, and the proofe no lesse daungerous, and perchaunce in a

moment the mind of some peruerted, which all their lyuyinge

dayes haue closed theyr Eares from the Sute of those that haue

made offer of louyng seruice. And hereof we neede not run to

forrayne Hystories, ne yet to seeke records that be auncient,

sith wee may see the daily effects of the lyke, practised in

Noble houses, and Courtes of Kyngs and Prynces. That this is

true, example of this fayre Duchesse, who was moued wyth that

desyre which pricketh others that be of Flesh and Bone. Thys

Lady waxed very weary of lying alone, and gryeued hir Hearte to

be wythoute a match, specially in the Nyght, when the secrete

silence and darkenesse of the same presented beefore the eyes of

hir mind, the Image of the pleasure which she felt in the lyfe

tyme of hir deceased Lord and Husband, whereof now feelyng hir

selfe despoyled, she felt a contynuall Combat, and durst not

attempte that which she desyred most, but eschued the thyng

wherof hir Mind lyked best. "Alas (sayd shee) is it possyble

after the taste of the Value of honest obedyence whych the Wyfe

oweth vnto hir Husband, that I should desyre to suffer the Heat

whych burneth and altereth the martyred mynds of those that

subdue themselues to loue? Can sutch attempt pierce the heart of

me to become amorous by forgetting and straying from the

limmetts of honest life? But what desire is this? I haue a

certayne vnacquaynted lust, and yet very well know not what it

is that moueth me, and to whom I shall vow the spoyle thereof.

I am truely more fond and foolyshe than euer Narcissus was, for

there is neyther shadow nor voyce, vpon which I can well stay my

sight, nor yet simple Imagination of any worldly man, whereuppon

I can arrest the conceypt of my vnstayed heart, and the desires

which prouoke my mynde. Pygmalion loued once a Marble Piller,

and I haue but one desire, the colour whereof is more pale than

death. There is nothyng which can geue the same so mutch as one

spot of vermilion rud. If I doe discouer these appetites to any

wight, perhaps they will mock me for my labor, and for all the

beauty and Noble byrth that is in me, they will make no

conscience to deeme me for their iesting stock, and to solace

themselues with rehersall of my fond conceits. But sith there is

no enemy in the field, and that but simple suspicion doth

assayle me, why breake I not the same, and deface the entier

remembraunce of the lightnesse of my brayne? It appertayneth

vnto mee to shewe my selfe, as issued from the Noble house of

Aragon: to me it doeth belonge to take heede how I erre or

degenerate from the royall bloud whereof I came." In this sort

that fayre Wydow and young Princesse fantasied in the night

vppon the discourse of hir appetites. But when the day was come,

seeing the great multitude of the Neapolitan Lords and Gentlemen

that marched vp and downe the Citty, eyinge and beholdinge their

best beloued, or vsing talke of loue with them whose seruaunts

they were, all that which she thought vpon in the night,

vanished so sone as the flame of burned Straw, or the Pouder of

Cannon shot, and purposed for any respect to liue no longer in

that sort, but promised the conquest of some frend that was

lusty and discreete. But the difficulty rested in that she knew

not vpon whom to fixe hir loue, fearing to bee slaundered, and

also that the light disposition and maner of most part of youth

were to be suspected, in sutch wise as giuing ouer al them which

vauted vpon their Gennets, Turkey Palfreis, and other Coursers

alonge the Citty of Naples, shee purposed to take repast of

other Venison, than of that fond and wanton troupe. So hir

mishap began already to spin the threede which choked the Ayre

and Breath of hir vnhappy life. Yee haue heard before that

Mayster Bologna was one of the wisest and most perfect Gentlemen

that the land of Naples that tyme brought forth, and for his

Beauty, Proportion, Galantnesse, Valiaunce, and good grace,

without comparison. His fauour was so sweete and pleasant, as

they which kept him company, had somwhat to do to abstayne their

affection. Who then could blame thys fayre Princesse, if

(pressed wyth desire of match, to remoue the ticklish

instigations of her wanton flesh, and hauing in hir presence a

man so wise) shee did set hir minde on hym, or fantasy to mary

him? Would not that party for calming of his thirst and hunger,

being set at a table before sundry sorts of delicate viands,

ease his hunger? Me thinke the person doth greatly forget

himselfe, which hauing handfast vpon occasion, suffreth the same

to vanish and fly away, sith it is wel known that she being bald

behinde, hath no place to sease vpon when desire moueth vs to

lay hold vpon hir. Which was the cause that the Duchesse became

extremely in loue with the mayster of hir house. In sutch wyse

as before al men, she spared not to prayse the great perfections

of him whom she desired to be altogether hirs. And so she was

inamored, that it was as possible to see the night to be voide

of darknesse, as the Duchesse without the presence of hir

Bologna, or els by talke of words to set forth his prayse,

the continuall remembrance of who (for that shee loued him as

hirselfe) was hir onely minde's repast. The Gentleman that was

full wyse, and had at other times felt the great force of the

passion which proceedeth from extreeme loue, immediatly did mark

the countenaunce of the Duchesse, and perceyued the same so

neere, as vnfaynedly hee knew that very ardently the Lady was in

loue with him: and albeit he sawe the inequality and difference

betweene them both, she being sorted out of the royall bloud,

and himself of meaner calling, yet knowing loue to haue no

respect to state or dignity, determined to folow his fortune,

and to serue hir which so louingly shewed hir selfe to him. Then

sodaynely reprouing his fonde conceit, he sayd vnto himself:

"What folly is that I enterprise, to the preiudice and peril of

mine honor and life? Ought the wisedome of a Gentleman to stray

and wandre through the assaults of an appetite rising of

sensuality, and that reason gieue place to that which doeth

participate with brute beasts depriued of all reason by

subduinge the minde to the affections of the body? No, no,

a vertuous man ought to let shine in him selfe the force of the

generosity of his minde. This is not to liue according to the

spirite, when pleasure shall make vs forget our duty and

sauegard of our Conscience. The reputation of a wise Gentleman

resteth not only to be valiant, and skilfull in feates of armes,

or in seruice of the Noble: but needefull it is for him by

discreation to make himselfe prayse worthy, and by vanquishinge

of himselfe to open the gate to fame, whereby he may

euerlastingly make himselfe glorious to all posterity. Loue

pricketh and prouoketh the spirite to do well, I do confesse,

but that affection ought to be addressed to some vertuous end,

tending to mariage, for otherwise that vnspotted Image shall be

soyled wyth the villany of Beastly pleasure. Alas," sayd he,

"how easie it is to dispute, when the thyng is absent, which can

both force and violently assayle the Bulwarks of most constant

hearts. I full well doe see the troth, and doe feele the thing

that is good, and knowe what behoueth mee to follow: but when I

view the pereles beauty of my Lady, hir graces, wisedome,

behauiour and curtesie, when I see hir to cast so louinge an eye

vpon me, that she vseth so great familiarity, that she

forgetteth the greatnesse of hir house to abase hirselfe for my

respect: how is it possible that I should be so foolish to

dispise a duety so rare and precious, and to set light by that

which the Noblest would pursue wyth all reuerence and deuoyre?

Shall I be so voyde of wisdome to suffer the yonge Princesse to

see hirselfe contempned of mee, thereby to conuert hir loue to

teares, by setting hir mynde upon an other, that shall seek mine

ouerthrow? Who knoweth not the fury of a woman: specially the

Noble dame, by seeing hirselfe despised? No, no, she loueth me,

and I will be hir seruaunt, and vse the fortune proffred. Shal I

be the first simple Gentleman that hath married or loued a

Princesse? Is it not more honourable for mee to settle my mind

vpon a place so high, than vppon some simple wench by whom I

shall neyther attayne profit, or aduancement? Baldouine of

Flaunders, did not he a Noble enterprise when he carried away

Iudith the daughter of the French kynge, as she was passing vpon

the Seas into England, to be married to the kynge of that

Countrey? I am neither Pirat nor Aduenturer, for the Lady loueth

me. What wrong doe I then to any person by rendringe loue

agayne? Is not she at liberty? To whom ought shee to make

accoumpt of hir deedes and doinges, but to God alone and to hir

owne Conscience? I wyll loue hir, and cary lyke affection for

the loue which I know and see that she beareth vnto me, beinge

assured that the same is directed to good ende, and that a Woman

so wyse as she is, will not hazard the bleamish of hir honor."

Thus Bologna framed the plot for intertaynment of the Duchesse

(albeit hir loue already was fully bent vpon him) and fortified

hym selfe agaynst all perillous myshap and chaunce that might

succeede, as ordinarily you see that Louers conceyue all things

for their aduauntage, and fantasie dreames agreeable to their

most desire, resemblinge the Mad and Bedlem persons which haue

before their eyes, the figured Fansies whych cause the conceipt

of their fury, and stay themselues vpon the vision of that which

most troubleth their offended Brayne. On the other side, the

Duchesse was in no lesse care of hir Louer, the will of whom was

hid and secret, whych more did vexe and torment hir, than the

fire of loue that burned hir feruently. She could not tell what

way to hold, to do him vnderstand hir heart and affection. She

feared to discouer the same vnto hym, doubtinge eyther that some

fond and rigorous aunswere, or the reueylinge of hir mynde to

hym, whose presence pleased hir more than all of the men of the

World. "Alas," sayd shee, "am I happed into so straunge misery,

that with mine owne mouth I must make request to him, which with

all humility ought to offer mee hys service? Shall a Lady of

sutch bloud as I am, be constrayned to sue, where all other be

required by importunate instance of their Suters? Ah loue, loue,

what so euer he was that clothed thee wyth sutch puissaunce,

I dare say he was the cruell ennimy of man's freedom. It is

impossible that thou hadst thy being in heauen, sith the

clemency and curteous influence of the same, inuesteth man with

better benefits, than to suffer hir nourse children to be

intreated with sutch rigor. He lieth which sayth that Venus is

thy mother, for the swetenes and good grace that resteth in that

pitifull Goddesse, who taketh no pleasure to see louers perced

with so egre trauayles as that which afflicteth my heart. It was

some fierce cogitation of Saturne, that brought thee forth, and

sent thee into the worlde to breake the ease of them which liue

at rest without any passion or griefe. Pardon me Loue, if I

blaspheme thy maiesty, for the stresse and endlesse grief

wherein I am plunged, maketh me thus to roue at large, and the

doubts, which I conceyue, do take away the health and soundnesse

of my mynde, the little experience in thy schole causeth this

amaze in me, to be solicited with desire that countersayeth the

duty, honor, and reputation of my state: the party whom I loue,

is a Gentleman, vertuous, valiant, sage, and of good grace. In

this there is no cause to blame Loue of blindnesse, for all the

inequality of our houses, apparant vpon the first sight and shew

of the same. But from whence Issue Monarchs, Prynces and great

Lords, but from the naturall and common Masse of Earth, whereof

other men do come? what maketh these differences betwene those

that loue ech other, if not the sottish opinion which we

conceiue of greatnesse, and preheminence: as though naturall

affections bee like to that ordayned by the fantasie of men in

their lawes extreme. And what greater right haue Princes to

ioyne wyth a simple Gentlewoman, than the Princesse to mary a

Gentleman, and sutch as Anthonio Bologna is, in whom Heauen and

Nature haue forgotten nothinge to make him equall with them

which march amongs the greatest. I thinke we be the dayly slaues

of the fond and cruell fantasie of those Tyraunts, which say

they haue puissance ouer vs: and that straininge our will to

their tiranny, we be still bound to the chaine like the Galley

slaue. No, no, Bologna shall be my Husband, for of a freend I

purpose to make my loyall and lawful Husband, meaning therby not

to offend God and men together, and pretend to liue without

offence of conscience, wherby my soule shal not be hindred for

any thyng I do, by marying him whom I so straungely loue. I am

sure not to be deceyued in loue. He loueth me so mutch or more

as I do him, but he dareth not disclose the same, fearing to be

refused and cast of with shame. Thus 2 vnited wils, and 2 hearts

tied togethers with equal knot cannot chose but bryng forth

fruites worthy of sutch society. Let men say what they list,

I will doe none otherwyse than my heade and mynd haue already

framed. Semblably I neede not make accompt to any persone for my

fact, my body, and reputation beynge in full liberty and

freedome. The bond of mariage made, shall couer the faulte whych

men woulde fynde, and leauyng myne estate, I shall do no wrong

but to the greatnesse of my house, which maketh me amongs men

right honorable. But these honors be nothyng worth, where the

Mynd is voyd of contentation, and wher the hearte pryckte

forwarde by desire leaueth the Bodye and Mynde restlesse wythout

quiet." Thus the Duchesse founded hir enterpryse, determining to

mary hir houshold Mayster, seeking for occasion and time, meete

for disclosing of the same, and albeit that a certaine naturall

shamefastnesse, which of custome accompanieth Ladies, did close

hir mouth, and made hir to deferre (for a certain time) the

effect of hir resolued minde: yet in the ende vanquished with

loue and impacience, she was forced to breake of silence, and to

assure hir self in him, reiecting feare conceiued of shame, to

make hir waye to pleasure, which she lusted more than mariage,

the same seruyng hir, but for a Maske and couerture to hide hir

follies and shamelesse lusts, for which she did the penaunce

that hir folly deserued. For no colorable dede or deceytful

trompery can serue the excuse of any notable wyckednesse. She

then throughly persuaded in her intent, dreamyng and thinking of

nought else, but vpon the imbracement of hir Bologna, ended and

determined hir conceits and pretended follies: and vpon a time

sent for him vp into hir chamber, as commonly she did for the

affaires and matters of hir house, and taking him a side vnto a

window, hauing prospect into a garden, she knew not how to begin

hir talk: (for the heart being seased, the mind troubled, and

the witts out of course, the tongue fayled to do his office,) in

sutch wise, as of long time she was vnable to speake one onely

woord. He surprised with like affection, was more astonied by

seeing the alteration of his Ladie. So the two Louers stoode

still like Images beholding one another, without any mouing at

all, vntill the Lady the hardiest of them bothe, as feelinge the

most vehement and greatest gryef, tooke Bologna by the hand, and

dissembling what she thought, vsed this or sutch language: "If

any other besides your selfe (Gentleman) should vnderstand the

secret which now I purpose to dysclose, I doubt what speeach

were necessary to colour, what I shall speake: but being assured

of your discretion and wisdom, and with what perfection nature

hath indued you, and Arte, hauing accomplished that in you,

which nature did begin to worke, as one bred and brought vp in

the royal court of the seconde Alphonse, of Ferdinando, and

Frederick of Aragon my cousins, I wil make no doubt at all to

manifest to you the hidden secretes of my heart, being well

persuaded that when you shall both heare and sauor my reasons,

and tast the light which I bring forth for me, easily you may

iudge that mine aduice cannot be other than iust and reasonable.

But if your conceits shall straye from that whych I determine,

I shal he forced to thinke and saye that they which esteeme you

wise and sage, and to be a man of good and ready wytte, be

maruelously deceiued. Notwithstanding my heart foretelleth that

it is impossible for mayster Bologna, to wandre so farre from

equitie, but that by and by he wil enter the lystes and dyscerne

the White from Blacke, and the Wronge fro that whych is Iust and

Ryghte: for so mutch as hitherto I neuer saw thinge done by you,

which Preposterated or peruerted the good iudgement that all the

world esteemeth to shine in you, the same well manifested and

declared by your tongue, the right iudge of the Mynde, you knowe

and see how I am a Wydow through the Death of that Noble

Gentleman of good remembrance, the Duke my Lord and husbande:

you be not ignoraunt also, that I haue lyued and gouerned my

self in sutch wise in my Widow state, as there is no man so hard

and seuere of iudgement, that can blason reproch of mee in that

whych appertayneth to the honestye and reputation of sutch a

Lady as I am, bearyng my port so righte, as my conscience

yeldeth no remorse, supposinge that no Man hathe wherewith to

byte and accuse me. Touchyng the order of the goods of the Duke

my Sonne, I have vsed them with diligence and discretion, as

besides the Dettes, whych I haue dyscharged sithens the death of

my Lord: I haue purchased a goodly Manor in Calabria, and haue

annexed the same to the Dukedome of his heire: and at this day

doe not owe one peny to any creditor that lent money to the

Duke, which he toke vp to furnish the charges in the warres,

which he sustayned in the seruice of the Kinges our soueraine

Lords in the late warres for the Kyngdome of Naples. I haue as I

suppose by this meanes stopped the slaunderous mouth and giuen

cause vnto my sonne, during his life to accompt himself bound

vnto his mother: now hauing till thys time liued for other,

and made my selfe subiect more than nature could beare, I am

entended to chaunge both my lyfe and condition. I haue tyll thys

time run, trauayled, and remoued to the Castels and Lordeships

of the Dukedome, to Naples and other places, being in mind to

tary as I am a widow. But what new affayres and new councel hath

possest my mynd? I haue trauayled and payned my self inoughe:

I haue to long abidden a widowe's lyfe: I am determined

therefore to prouyde a Husbande, who by louing me, shall honor

and cherysh me according to the loue which I shall beare hym,

and my desert. For to loue a man without mariage, God defend my

hearte should euer think, and shal rather dye a hundred thousand

deathes, than a desire so wicked should soyle my conscience,

knowyng well that a woman which setteth hir honor to sale, is

lesse than nothing, and deserueth not the common ayre should

breathe vpon hir, for all the reuerence that men do beare vnto

them. I accuse no person, albeit that many noble women haue

their forheds marked, with the blame of dishonest lyfe, and

being honored of some, bee neuerthelesse the common Fable of the

Worlde. To the intente then that sutch myshappe happen not to

me, and perceyuyng my selfe vnable styll thus to lyue, beyng

younge as I am, and (God bee thanked) neyther deformed nor yet

paynted, I had rather bee the louyng Wyfe of a symple feere,

than the Concubyne of a kynge or greate Prynce. And what? is the

myghty Monarche able to washe away the faulte of hys Wyfe whych

hath abandoned him contrary to the duety and honesty whych the

vndefyled bed requyreth? no lesse then Pryncesses that whilom

trespassed with those whych were of baser stuffe than

themselues. Messalina with hir imperiall robe could not so wel

couer hir faults, but that the Historians, do defame hir with

the name and title of a common woman. Faustina the Wyfe of the

sage Monarch Marcus Aurelius, gayned lyke reporte by rendringe

hir selfe to others pleasure, bysides hir lawfull Spouse. To

mary my selfe to one that is myne equall, it is impossible, for

so mutch as there is no Lorde in all this Countrey meete for my

degree, but is to olde of age, the rest being dead in these

later Warres. To mary a husband that yet is but a childe, is

folly extreeme, for the inconueniences which daily chaunce

thereby, and the euil intreaty that Ladies do receyue when they

come to age, when their nature waxeth cold, by reason whereof,

imbracements be not so fauourable, and their husbandes glutted

with ordinary meate, vse to run in exchange: wherefore I am

resolued without respite or delay, to choose some well qualified

and renoumed Gentleman, that hath more vertue than richesse,

that is of better Fame and brute, then of wealth and reuenue, to

the entent I may make him my Lord, Espouse, and Husbande. For I

cannot imploy my loue vpon treasure, which may bee taken away

from him, in whom richesse of the minde doth fayle, and shall

bee better content to see an honest Gentleman with little

liuing, to be praysed and commended of ech Degree for his good

Deedes, than a rich Carle curssed and detested of all the World.

Thus mutch I say, and it is the summe of all my secretes,

wherein I pray your councel and aduice. I know that some wil be

offended with my choise, and the Lords my Brothers, specially

the Cardinall will thincke it straunge, and receyue the same

with ill Digesture, that mutch a do shall I haue to bee agreed

with them and to remoue the griefe they shall conceyue against

mee for this myne attempt: wherefore I would the same should

secretly be kept, until without peril and daunger eyther of my

self or him, whome I pretende to marry, I may publish and

manyfest, not my loue but the mariage which I hope in God shall

soone bee consummate and accomplished wyth one, whome I doe loue

better than my self, and who as I ful well do know, doeth loue

me better than his owne propre lyfe." Mayster Bologna, which

tyll then hearkned to the oration of the Duchesse without

mouing, feeling himselfe touched so neare, and hearinge that his

Lady had made hir approche for mariage, stode still astonnied,

hys tongue not able to frame one word, onely fantasied a

thousand chimeraes in the Ayre, and formed like number of

imaginations in his minde, not able to coniecture what hee was,

to whom the duchesse had vowed hir loue, and the possession of

hir beauty. He could not thinke that this ioy was prepared for

hymselfe, for that his Lady spake no word of him, and he lesse

durst open his mouth, and yet was wel assured that she loued him

beyond measure. Notwithstanding knowing the ficklenesse and

vnstable heart of women, he sayd vnto himselfe that she would

change hir mynde, for seeing him to be so great a Coward, as not

to offer his seruice to a Lady by whom hee saw himselfe so many

times both wantonly looked vppon, and intertayned wyth some

secresie more than familiar. The Duchesse which was a fine and

subtile dame, seeinge hir friend rapt with the passion, and

standing still vnmooueable through feare, pale and amazed, as if

hee had bene accused and condempned to dy, knew by that

Countenaunce and astonishment of Bologna, that she was perfectly

beloued of him: and so meaning not to suffer him any longer to

contynue in that amaze, ne yet to further feare hym, wyth

dissembled and fayned mariage of any other but wyth hym, she

tooke hym by the hand, and beholdinge him with a wanton and

luring eye, (in sutch sort as the curious Philosophers

themselues would awake, if sutch a Lampe and Torche did burne

wythin theyr studies,) she sayde thus vnto hym: "Seignor

Anthonio, I pray you be of good cheere, and torment not your

selfe for any thing that I haue sayd: I know well, and of long

time haue perceyued what good and faythful lone you beare mee,

and with what affection you haue serued me, sithens you first

came into my company. Thinke me not to bee so ignorant, but that

I know ful wel by outward signes, what secret thoughts be hid in

the inner heart: and that coniectures many times do geue me true

and certayne knowledge of concealed things: and am not so

foolish to thinke you to be so vndiscrete but that you haue

marked my Countenaunce and maner, and thereby haue knowen that I

haue bene more affectioned to you, than to any other: for that

cause (sayde shee, strayninge hym by the hand very louingly, and

wyth cheerefull colour in hir face) I sware vnto you, and doe

promise that if you thinke meete, it shalbe none other but your

self whom I wil haue, and desire to take to husband and lawful

spouse, beynge assured so much of you, as the loue which so

longe time hath ben hidden and couered in our hartes, shall

appeare by so euident proofe, as onely death shal end and vndo

the same." The Gentleman hearing sutch sodain talke, and the

assurance of that which he most wished for, albeit he saw the

daunger extreme wherunto he launched himself by espousing this

great Ladie, and the ennimies he should get by entring sutch

aliaunce: notwythstandynge building vpon vaine hope, and

thinking at length that the choler of the Aragon brother would

passe away if they vnderstoode the maryage, determined to pursue

the purpose, and not to refuse that greate preferment, being so

prodigally offred: for which cause hee answered his Lady in this

manner: "If it were in my power madame, to bryng to passe that,

which I desire for your seruice by acknowledging the benefits

and fauors which you depart vnto me, as my mind presenteth

thanks for the same, I would think my self the happyest

Gentleman that lyueth, and you the beste serued Pryncesse of the

world. For one beter beloued (I dare presume to say, and so long

as I liue wil affirme) is not to be found. If tyll thys time I

delayed to open that which now I discouer vnto you, I beseeche

you madame to impute it to the greatnesse of your estate, and to

the duty of my calling and office in your house, being not

seemelye for a seruaunte to talk of sutch secrets with his Lady

and Mistresse. And truely the payne which I haue indured to hold

my peace, and to hyde my grief, hath ben more noysom to me than

one hundred thousand like sorrowes together, although it had

bene lawfull to haue reuealed them to some trusty friend: I doe

not denye madame, but of long time you did perceiue my follie

and presumption, by addressing my minde so high, as to the

Aragon bloud, and to sutch a princesse as you be. And who can

beguile the Eye of a louer, specially of hir, whose Paragon for

good minde, wisedome and gentlenesse is not? And I confesse to

you besides, that I haue most euidentlye perceiued how a certain

loue hath lodged in your gracious hearte, wherwith you bare me

greater affection, than you dyd to anye other within the

compasse of your family. But what? great Ladyes heartes be

fraught with secretes and conceites of other effects than the

Minds of Symple Women, which caused me to hope for none other

guerdon of my loyal and faithful affection, than Deathe, and the

same very short, and sith that little hope accompanyed wyth

great, nay, rather extreme passion, is not able to giue

sufficient force, both to suffer and to stablish my heart with

constancye. Nowe for so mutch as of your motion, grace, curtesie

and liberality the same is offred, and that it pleaseth you to

accept me for yours, I humblye beseche you to dispose of me not

as husband, but of one whych is, and shalbe your Seruaunt for

euer, and sutch as is more ready to obey, than you to commaund.

It resteth now Madame, to consyder how, and in what wise our

affayres are to be directed, that thynges being in assurance,

you may so liue without perill and bruite of slaunderous

tongues, as your good fame and honest report may continue

without spot or blemish." Beholde the first Acte of this

Tragedy, and the prouision of the fare which afterwardes sent

them bothe to their graue, who immediatly gaue their mutual

faith: and the houre was assigned the next day, that the faire

Princesse should be in hir chamber alone, attended vpon with one

onely Gentlewoman which had ben brought vp with her from the

cradle, and was made priuy to the heauy mariage of those two

louers which was consummate in hir presence. And for the present

time they passed the same in words: for ratification whereof

they went to bed togither: but the pain in the end was greater

than the pleasure, and had ben better for them bothe, yea and

also for the third, that they had shewed themselues so wyse in

the deede, as discrete in keeping silence of that which was don:

for albeit theyr mariage was secrete, and therby politikely

gouerned themselues in their stelthes and robberyes of Loue, and

that Bologna more ofte helde the state of the Stewarde of the

House by Daye, than of Lorde of the same, and by Nyghte supplyed

that Place, yet in the ende, the thynge was perceyued whych they

desyred to bee closely kepte. And as it is impossyble to tyll

and culture a fertyle Grounde, but that the same muste yelde

some Fruycte, euen so the Duchesse after many pleasures (being

ripe and plentiful) became with childe, which at the firste

astonned the maried couple: neuerthelesse the same so well was

prouided for, as the first Childbed was kept secret, and none

did know thereof: the Childe was nourced in the Towne, and the

father desired to haue him named Frederick, for remembraunce of

the parents of hys Wyfe. Nowe fortune whych lieth in dayly wayte

and ambushment, and lyketh not that men should longe Loyter in

Pleasure, and Passetime, being enuious of sutch prosperity,

cramped so the Legges of our two Louers, as they must needes

chaunge their Game, and learne some other practise: for so mutch

as the Duchesse beinge great with Childe agayne, and deliuered

of a Girle, the businesse of the same was not so secretly done,

but that it was discouered. And it sufficed not that the brute

was noysed through Naples, but that the sound flew further of:

As eche man doth know that Rumor hath many mouthes, who wyth the

multitude of hys Tongues, and Trumps, Proclaymeth in diuers and

sundry places, the things which chaunce in al the Regions of the

Earth: euen so that bablinge foole, caried the newes of that

second Childbed to the eares of the Cardinall of Aragon the

Duchesse brother, being then at Rome. Think what Ioy, and

Pleasure the Aragon brothers had, by hearinge the report of

their Sister's fact: I dare presume to say, that albeit they

were extremely wroth wyth this happened Slaunder, and wyth that

dishonest fame which the Duchesse had gotten throughout Italy,

yet farre greater was their sorrow and griefe for that they did

not know what hee was, that so curteously was allied to their

house, and in their loue had increased their Ligneage: and

therefore swelling wyth despite, and rapt with fury to see

themselues so defamed by one of their Bloude, they purposed by

all meanes whatsoeuer it cost them, to know the lucky Louer that

had so wel tilled the Duchesse their Sister's field. Thus

desirous to remoue that shame from before their eyes, and to bee

reuenged of a wrong so notable, they sent Espials round about,

and scouts to Naples, to view and spy the behauiour and talke of

the Duchesse, to settle some certayne Iudgement of him, which

stealingly was become their Brother in lawe. The Duchesse Courte

beinge in thys trouble, she dyd contynually perceiue in hir

house, hir brothers men to marke hir countenance, and to note

those that came thither to visite hir, and to whom she vsed

greatest familiaritie, bicause it is impossible but that the

fire, although it be raked vnder the ashes, must giue some heat:

and albeit the two Louers vsed eche others company, without

shewing any Sygne of their affection, yet they purposed to

chaung theyr estate for a tyme, by yelding truce to their

pleasures: yea, and although Bologna was a wise and prouident

personage, fearing to be surprised vpon the facte, or that the

Gentlewoman of the chamber corrupted with money, or forced by

feare, should pronounce any matter to his hinderance or

disaduantage, determined to absent himself from Naples, yet not

so sodainly but that he made the Duchesse his faithfull Lady and

companion priuy of his intent: and as they were secretly in

their chamber together, he vsed these or sutch like words:

"Madame, albeit the right good intent and vnstained conscience,

is free from faulte, yet the iudgement of men hath further

relation to the exterior apparance, than to vertue's force and

innocence it self, as ignoraunt of the secrets of the thought:

and so in things that be well done, wee must of necessity fall

into the sentence of those, whom beastly affection rauisheth

more, than ruled reason. You see the solempne watch and guarde

whych the Seruaunts of the Lordes your Brothers do within your

house, and the suspition which they haue conceiued by reason of

your second Childbed, and by what meanes they labor truely to

know how your affayres procede, and things do passe. I feare not

death where your seruice may be aduaunced, but ys herein the

Maiden of your Cbamber be not secrete, if she bee corrupted, and

if she keepe not close that which shee ought to doe, it is not

ignoraunt to you that it is the losse of my lyfe, and shall dye

suspected to bee a Whoremonger and varlot, euen I, (I say) shal

incurre that Peryll, whych am your true and Lawfull Husband.

Thys separation chaunceth not by iustyce or desert, sith the

cause is to ryghteous for vs: but rather your brethren will

procure my death, when I shall thinke the same in greatest

assurance. If I had to do but wyth one or two, I would not

chaunge the place, ne march one step from Naples, but be

assured, that a great band, and the same well armed will set

vppon me: I pray you, madame, suffer me to retire for a time,

for I am assured that when I am absent, they will neuer soile

their hands or imbrue their sweardes in your Bloud. If I doubted

any thing at all of Peryll touchyng your owne person, I had

rather a hundred hundred tymes die in your Company, than lyue to

see you no more: but out of doubt I am, that if our affaires

were discouered, and they knew you to be begotten with Chyld by

me, your safety would be prouided for wher I should sustain the

penaunce of the fact, committed without fault or sinne: and

therfore I am determined to goe from Naples, to order mine

affaires, and to cause my Reuenue to be brought to the place of

mine abode, and from thence to Ancona, vntyl it pleaseth God to

mitigate the rage of your brethren, and recouer their good wills

for consent to our mariage. But I meane not to do or conclude

any thing without your aduise, and if thys intente doe not like

you, gyue me Councell Madame, what I were beste to doe, that

both in Lyfe and Death you may knowe your faythfull seruaunt and

louing Husband is ready to obey and please you." This good Lady

hearing hir husband's discourse, vncertayne what to do, wept

bitterly, as well for grief to lose his presence, as for that

she felt her self with child the third time: the sighes and

teares, the sobbes and heauy lookes, which she threwe forth

vppon hir sorrowful husband, gaue sufficient witnesse of hir

payne and Gryef: and if none had hard hir, I thynke her playntes

would haue well expressed hir inwarde smarte of mynde. But like

a wise Ladye seing the alleaged reasons of hir husbande,

licensed him although agaynste hir minde, not wythout vtterance

of these fewe Words, before hee went out of hir Chamber: "Deare

husbande, if I were so well assured of the affectyon of my

Brethren, as I am of my mayde's fidelity, I would entreat you

not to leaue me alone: specially in the case I am, beynge wyth

Chylde: but knowyng that to be iust and true whych you haue

sayde, I am content to force my wyll for a certayne tyme, that

hereafter we may lyue at rest together, ioyning our selues in

the companye of our Chyldren and Famylye, voyde of those

troubles, whych greate Courts ordinarily beare within the

compasse of their Palaces. Of one thing I must intreat you, that

so often as you can by trusty messenger, you send me word and

intelligence of your health and state, bicause the same shall

bring vnto me greater pleasure and contentation, than the

welfare of mine owne: and bicause also, vpon sutch occurrentes

as shall chaunce, I may prouyde for myne owne affaires, the

surety of my self, and of our Children." In saying so, she

embraced him very amorously, and he kissed hir with so greate

sorrow and grief of heart, as the soule was ready out of his

Body to take hir flight, sorowful beyond measure so to leaue hir

whome he loued, for the great curtesies and honor which hee had

receiued at hir hands. In the end, fearing that the Aragon

espials woulde come and discrie them in those priuities, Bologna

tooke his leaue, and bad his Lady and spouse Farewell. And this

was the second Acte of this Tragicall Historie, to see a

fugitife husband, secretly to mary, especially hir, vpon whome

hee ought not so mutch as to loke but with feare and reuerence.

Behold here (O ye folish louers) a Glasse of your lightnesse,

and yee Women, the course of your fond behauyor. It behoueth not

the wise sodainly to execute their first motions and desyres of

their heart for so mutch as they may be assured that pleasure is

pursued so neare with a repentaunce so sharp to be suffred,

and hard to be digested, as their voluptuousnesse shall vtterly

discontent them. True it is, that mariages be don in heauen and

performed in earth, but that saying may not be applied to

fooles, which gouerne them selues by carnall desires, whose

scope is but pleasure, and the reward many times equall to their

follie. Shall I be of opinion that a houshold seruaunt oughte to

sollicite, nay rather suborne the Daughter of his Lorde without

punyshment, or that a vyle and abiect person dare to mount vpon

a Prynces Bed? No, no, pollicye requyreth order in all, and eche

wight ought to bee matched according to theyr qualytye, wythout

makynge a Pastyme of it to couer theyr Follyes, and knowe not of

what Force Loue and Desteny be, except the same be resysted.

A goodly thinge it is to Loue, but where reason looseth Place,

Loue is wythoute his effecte, and the sequele rage and Madnesse:

leaue we to discourse of those which beleue that they be

constrayned to folowe the Force of theyr Mynde, and may easilye

subdue themselues to the Lawes of Vertue and Honesty, lyke one

that thrusteth hys Heade into a Sack, and thynkes he can not get

out: sutch people do please themselues in theyr losse, and

thinke all well that is noysome to their Health, daily folowyng

theyr owne delyghtes. Come wee againe then to sir Bologna, who

after he had left hys Wyfe in hir Castell, went to Naples, and

hauing sessed a rent vpon hir lands, and leuyed a good summe of

Money, he repayred to Ancona a city of the patrimonye of the

Romane church, whither hee caryed the two Chyldren, which he

had of the Duchesse, causyng them to be brought vp with suche

Dyligence and care, as it is to be thought a Father well

affectyoned to hys Wyfe would doe, and who delyghted to see a

Braunch of the Tree, that to hym was the best beloued Fruyct of

the World. There he hyred a house for hys trayne, and for those

that wayted vppon hys Wyfe, who in the meane tyme was in great

care, and could not tell of what Woode to make hir arrowes,

perceyuing that hir Belly began to swell, and grow to the tyme

of hir deliuery, seeing that from Day to Day, hir Brothers

seruaunts were at hir back, voide of Counsel and aduise, if one

euenyng she had not spoken to the Gentlewoman of her chamber,

touchyng the doubts and peryl wherein she was, not knowing how

she might be deliuered from the same. That maiden was gentle and

of a good mind and stomake, and loued hir mistresse very derely,

and seeing hir so amazed and tormenting hir self to death,

mindyng to fray hir no further, ne to reproue hir of hir fault

which could not be amended, but rather to prouyde for the

daunger wherunto she had hedlong cast hir selfe, gaue hir this

aduyse: "How now, Madame" (sayd shee,) "is that wysdom whych

from your Chyldhode hath ben so famyliar in you, dislodged from

your brest in time when it ought chiefly to rest for incountryng

of those mishaps that are comming vpon vs? think you to auoid

the dangers, by thus tormentyng your self, except you set your

hands to the work therby to gyue the repulse to aduerse fortune?

I haue heard you many tymes speake of the Constancye and Force

of Mynde, whych ought to shine in the deedes of Princesses, more

clerely than amongs those dames of baser house, and whych ought

to make them appeare like the sunne and the little starres: and

yet I see you nowe astonned, as though you had neuer forseene,

that aduersity chaunceth so wel to catch the great within his

clouches, as the base and simple sort. It is but now that you

haue called to remembraunce that which might insue your mariage

with sir Bologna? Did hys onely presence assure you against the

waits of fortune, and was it the thought of paines, feares and

frights, which now turmoileth your dolorous mind? Ought you thus

to vexe your selfe, when nede it is to thinke how to saue both

your honor, and the fruicte wythin your intrailes? If your

sorrow be so great ouer sir Bologna, and if you feare your

childbed wil be descried, why seeke you not meanes to attempt

some voyage, for couering of the fact, to beguile the eyes of

them whych so diligently do watch you? Doth your hearte faile

you in that matter? whereof do you dreame? why sweat and freat

you before you make me answer?" "Ah sweete hearte," (answered

the Duchesse,) "if thou feltest the payne which I do suffer, thy

tongue would not be so mutch at wyll, as thou shewest it now to

bee for reproofe of my small Constancie. I do sorrow specially

for the causes which thou alleagest, and aboue all, for that I

know well, that if my Brethren had neuer so litle intelligence

of my beynge with Chyld, I were vndone and my Lyfe at an end,

and peraduenture poore Wench, thou shouldest beare the penaunce

for my sinne. But what way can I take, that stil these Candels

may not giue light, and I voided of the Trayne whych ought to

wayghte vpon my Brethren? I thinke if I should descend into

Hell, they would know, whither any shadowe there were in loue

with me. Now gesse if I should trauayle the Realme, or retire to

any other place, whither they would let me liue in peace?

Nothing lesse, for suspect they would, that the cause of my

departure proceeded of desyre to liue at liberty, to dallye wyth

hym, whom they Iudge to be other than my lawfull husbande: and

it may so be, that as they bee Wicked and suspicious, so will

they doubte of my beynge wyth Chylde and thereby shall I bee

farre more infortunate by trauaylyng, than here in miserie

amidde myne anguishe: and you the reste that be keepers of my

Councell, fall into greater Daunger, vppon whome no doubte they

will bee reuenged: and fleshe themselues for your vnhappy

waiting and attendance vpon vs." "Madame," sayd the bolde

Maiden, "be not afraide, and followe mine aduise, for I hope

that it shall be the meanes both to see your spouse, and to rid

those troublesome verlets out of your house, and in like maner

safely to deliuer you into good assuraunce." "Say your mind,"

quod the Ladye, "for it may bee, that I wyll gouerne my self

according to the same." "Mine aduise is then," sayd the

Gentlewoman, "to let your houshold vnderstand, that you made a

Vowe to visite the Holy Temple of our Lady of Loretto, (a Famous

Pilgrimage in Italy) and that you commaund your Trayn to make

themselues ready to wayt vpon you for accomplyshment of your

deuotion, and from thence you shall take your Iourney to

soiourne at Ancona, whither before you goe hence, you shall send

your Moueables and Plate, wyth sutch Moneye as you thynke

necessarye for furnyshing of your Charges: and afterwards God

will performe the rest, and through his holy mercy will guyde

and direct al your affaires." The Duchesse hearing the mayden

speake her good aduise and amazed of her sodayne inuention,

could not forbear to imbrace and kysse hir, blessing the houre

wherein she was borne, and that euer she chaunced into hir

Companye, to whome afterwards shee sayd: "My Wenche, I had well

determined to gyue ouer myne estate and Noble porte, ioyfully to

lyue a simple Gentlewoman with my deare and welbeloued Husband,

but I could not deuyse how I should conuenyently departe thys

countrey without suspition of some folly: and sith that thou

hast so well instructed mee for brynging that same to passe,

I promyse thee that so diligentlye thy counsel shal be

performed, as I see the same to be right good and necessary:

for rather had I see my husband, beynge alone without title of

Duchesse or great Lady, than to liue without him beautified with

the graces and Names of Honor and preheminence." This deuised

plot was no soner grounded, but she gaue order for execution of

the same, and brought it to passe with sutch dexterity as the

Ladye in lesse than VIII. Dayes had conueyed and sente

the most part of hir Moueables, and specially the chyefest and

beste to Ancona, taking in the meane time hir way towards

Loretto after she had bruted hir solempne vow made for that

Pilgrimage. It was not sufficient for this folysh Woman to take

a Husband more to glut hir libidinous appetite, than for other

occasion, except shee added to hir sinne another excreable

impietie, making holy places and dueties of deuotion, to be as

it were the shadowes of hir folly. But let vs consider the force

of Louers rage, which so soone as it hath seased vpon the minds

of men, we see how maruellous be the effects thereof, and with

what straint and puissaunce that madnesse subdueth the wise and

strongest worldlings: who woulde thinke that a great Lady

besides the abandoning hir estate, hir goodes and Chyld, would

haue misprysed hir honor and reputation, to follow like a

vagabond, a pore and simple Gentleman, and him besides that was

the household seruaunt of hir Courte? and yet you see this great

and mighty Duchesse trot and run after the Male, like a female

Wolfe or Lionesse (when they goe to sault,) and forget the Noble

bloud of Aragon whereof she was descended, to couple hir self

almost with the simplest person of all the trimmest Gentlemen of

Naples. But turne we not the example of follies to be a matter

of consequence: for if one or two become bankrupt of theyr

honor, it followeth not, good Ladyes, that theyr fact should

serue for a matche to your deserts, and mutch lesse a patron for

you to folow. These Hystories be not wryten to trayne and trap

you to pursue the thousand thousand slippery sleightes of Loue's

gallantise, but rather carefully to warne you to behold the

semblable faultes, and to serue for a drugge to dyscharge the

Poyson which gnaweth and fretteth the integrytie and soundnesse

of the soule. The wyse and skilfull Apothecary or compositor of

drugges, dresseth Vipers flesh to purge the patyent from hote

corrupted bloud which conceyueth and engendreth Leprosie within

hys Body. In lyke manner, the fonde loue and wycked rybauldry of

Semiramis, Pasiphae, Messalina, Faustina, and Romilda is shewed

in wryt, that euery of you maye feare to be numbred and recorded

amongs sutch common and dishonourable women. You Princes and

great Lords read the follies of Paris, the adulteries of

Hercules, the dainty and effeminate life of Sardanapalus, the

tiranny of Phalaris, Busiris, or Dyonisius of Sicile, and see

the history of Tiberius, Nero, Caligula, Domitian, and

Heliogabalus, and spare not to recompte them amongs our wanton

youthes which soile themselues villaines more filthily than the

swine do in the durt: al this intendeth it an instruction for

your youth to follow the infection and whoredome of those

Monsters? Better it were all those bokes were drenched in

bottomlesse depth of seas, than Christian life by their meanes

should be corrupted: but the example of the wicked is induced

for to eschue and auoid them, as the life of the good and honest

is remembred to frame and addresse our behauior in this world to

be praise worthy and commended: otherwyse the holinesse of

sacred writ should serue for an argument to the vnthrifty and

luxurious to confirm and approue their beastly and licencious

wickednesse. Come we againe then to our purpose: the good

Pilgrime of Loretto went forth hir voyage to atchieue hir

deuotions, by visiting the Saint for whose Reliques she was

departed the country of the Duke hir Sonne: when she had done

hir suffrages at Loretto, hir people thought hir voiage to be at

an end, and that she would haue returned again into hir

Countrey: but she said vnto them, that forsomutch as she was so

neare Ancona, being but XV. myles of, she would not

retyre but she had seen that auncient and goodlye city, which

diuers Hystories do greatly recommend, as wel for the

antiquitie, as for the pleasant seat therof. Al were of hir

aduise, and went forward to see the antiquities of Ancona, and

she to renue the pleasures whych she had before begon with hir

Bologna, who was aduertised of all hir determination, restyng

now like a God, possessed with the Iewels and rychesse of the

Duchesse, and had taken a fayre palace in the great Streat of

the City, by the gate wherof the traine of hys Lady must passe.

The Harbinger of the Duchesse posted before to take vp lodging

for the train, but Bologna offred vnto hym hys Palace for the

Ladye. So Bologna whych was already welbeloued in Ancona, and

newely entred Amytye and greate Aquayntaunce wyth the Gentlemen

of the Cytye, wyth a goodlye troupe of them, wente forthe to

meete hys Wyfe, to whom he presented his house, and besought hir

that shee and hir trayne would vouchsafe to lodge there. She

receiued the same very thankfully, and withdrew hir selfe vnto

his house, who conducted hir thither, not as a husband, but like

him that was hir humble and affectionate seruaunte. But what

needeth greate dyscourse of Woordes? The duchesse knowing that

it was impossible but eche man must be priuy to hir facte, and

know what secretes hath passed betweene hir and hir Husband,

to the ende that no other opynyon of hir Childebed should be

conceyued, but that whych was good and Honest, and done synce

the accomplyshment of the Maryage, the morrow after hir arryuall

to Ancona, assembled all her Trayne in the Hall, of purpose no

longer to keepe cloase that sir Bologna was hir Husbande, and

that alreadye shee had had two Chyldren by him, and agayne was

great with childe, with a third. And when they were come

togither after dynner, in that presence of hir husbande, shee

vsed vnto them these woordes: "Gentlemen, and al ye my trusty

and louyng seruaunts, hyghe tyme it is to manyfest to euery of

you, the thing which hath ben done before the Face, and in the

presence of hym who knoweth the most obscure and hydden secrets

of our thoughts. And needefull it is not to keepe silente that

which is neyther euyll done ne hurtfull to any person: If things

myght be kept secrete and styl remaine vnknowen, except they

were declared by the doers of them, yet would not I commit the

wrong in concealyng that, which to dyscouer vnto you doth

greatly delite me, and deliuereth my mind from exceeding grief,

in sutch wise as if the flames of my desire could break out with

sutch violence, as the fire hath taken heate within my mind, ye

should see the smoke mount vp with greater smoulder than that

which the mount Gibel doeth vomit forth at certayne seasons of

the yeare. And to the intent I may not keepe you long in this

suspect, this secret fire wythin my Heart, and that which I shal

cause to flame in open ayre, is a certain opinion which I

conceiue for a mariage by me made certain yeares past, at what

time I chose and wedded a husband to my fantasie and liking,

desirous no longer to liue in Widow state, being vnwilling to do

the thing that should preiudice and hurt my conscience. The same

is done, and yet in one thing I haue offended, which is by long

keepyng secrete the performed mariage: for the wycked brute

dispearsed through the realme by reason of my childbed, one

yeare paste, hath displeased some: howbeit my conscience

receiueth comforte, for that the same is free from fault or

blot. Now shall ye know therefore what he is, whom I acknowledg

for my Lord and spouse, and who it is that lawfully hath me

espoused in the presence of this Gentlewoman here present, which

is the witnesse of our Nuptials and accorde of mariage. This

gentleman also Antonio Bologna, is he to whom I haue sworn and

giuen my faith, and hee againe to mee hath ingaged his. He it is

whom I accompt for my spouse and husband, (and with whome

henceforth) I meane to rest and contynue. In consideration

whereof, if there be any heere amongs you all, that shal mislike

of my choyse, and is willing to wayt vppon my sonne the Duke,

I meane not to let them of their intent, prayinge them

faithfully to serue him, and to be careful of his person, and to

be vnto him so honest and loyall, as they haue bene to me so

longe as I was their mistresse. But if any of you desire stil to

make your abode wyth me, to be partakers of my Wealth and woe,

I will so entertayne them as they shall haue good cause to be

contented, if not let them departe hence to Malfi, and the

steward shal prouide for them according to their degre: for

touching my self I do mind no more to be termed an infamous

Duchesse: rather would I be honored wyth the Tytle of a symple

Gentlewoman, or wyth that estate whych shee can haue that hath

an honest husband, and wyth whom she holdeth faithfull and

loyall company, than reuerenced with the glory of a Pryncesse,

subiect to the despite of slaunderous tongues. Ye know" (said

she to Bologna) "what hath passed betwene vs, and God is the

witnesse of the integrity of my Conscyence, wherfore I pray you

bryng forth our Chyldren, that eche Man may beholde the Fruyctes

raysed of our allyance." Hauynge spoken those Woordes, and the

Chyldren broughte forthe into the Hall, all the companye stoode

styll so astonned wyth that newe successe and tale, as though

hornes sodainly had started forth their heads, and rested

vnmoueable and amazed, like the great marble piller of Rome

called Pasquile, for so mutch as they neuer thought, ne

coniectured that Bologna was the successor of the duke of Malfi

in his mariage bed. This was the preparatiue of the catastrophe

and bloudy end of this tragedie. For of all the Duchesse

seruaunts, there was not one that was willing to continue wyth

theyr auncient mistresse, who with the faithfull maiden of hir

chamber remained at Ancona, enioying the ioyful embracements of

hir Husbande, in all sutch Pleasure and Delyghts as they doe,

whych hauyng lyued in fear, be set at liberty, and out of al

suspition, plunged in a sea of ioy, and fleting in the quiet

calme of al passetime, where Bologna had none other care, but

how to please his best beloued, and she studied nothing else but

how to loue and obey him, as the wyfe ought to doe hir husband.

But thys fayre Weather lasted not long, for as the ioyes of men

do not long endure but wast in lyttle time, so bee the delights

of louers lesse firme and stedefast and passe away almost in one

moment of an houre. Now the seruaunts of the Duchesse which wer

retired, and durst tary no longer with hir, fearing the fury of

the cardinal of Aragon brother to the Lady, the verye Day they

departed from Ancona, deuised amongs themselues that one of them

should ride in post to Rome, to aduertise the cardinal of the

ladye's maryage, to the intente that the Aragon brethren myght

conceiue no cause to seke reuenge of theyr disloyalty. That

determination spedily was accomplished, one posting towardes

Rome, and the rest galloping to the countrey Castles of the

duke. These newes reported to the Cardinal and his brother, it

may be coniectured how gryeuously they toke the same, and that

they were not able to digest them wyth modestye, the yongest of

the brethren, yalped forth a Thousand Cursses and despytes,

agaynste the symple sexe of womankind. "Ha," said the Prince

(transported with choler, and driuen into deadly furie) "what

law is able to punish or restrayne the folysh indiscretion of a

Woman, that yeldeth hir self to hir own desires? What shame is

able to brydle and withdrawe a Woman from hir mind and madnesse?

Or with what fear is it possible to snaffle them from execution

of theyr filthinesse? Ther is no beast be he neuer so wilde,

but man sometime may tame, and bring to his lure and order. The

force and diligence of Man is able to Make mylde the stronge and

Proude, and to ouertake the swyftest Beaste and Foule, or

otherwyse to attayne the hyghest and deepest things of the

world: but this incarnate diuelish beaste the Woman, no force

can subdue hir, no swiftnesse can approch hir mobylity, no good

mind is able to preuent hir sleightes and deceites, they seem to

be procreated and borne againste all order of Nature, and to

liue withoute Lawe, whych gouerneth al other things indued with

some reason and vnderstanding. But howe great abhomination is

this, that a Gentlewoman of sutch a house as ours is, hath

forgotten hir estate, and the greatnesse of hir deceased

husband, with the hope of the toward youthe of the Duke hir

sonne and our Nephew. Ah, false and vile bytch, I sweare by the

Almighty God and by his blessed wounds, that if I can catch

thee, and that wicked knaue thy chosen mate, I wil pype ye both

sutch a wofull galiard, as in your imbracements ye neuer felt

like ioy and mirthe. I wil make ye daunce sutch a bloudy

bargenet, as your whorish heate for euer shall be cooled. What

abuse haue they committed vnder title of mariage, whych was so

secretly don, as their children do witnesse their lecherous

loue, but theyr promise of faith was made in open aire, and

serueth for a cloke and visarde of their moste filthy whoredom.

And what if mariage was concluded, be we of so little respect,

as the carion beast could not vouchsafe to aduertise vs of hir

entent? Or is Bologna a man worthy to be allied or mingled with

the roial bloud of Aragon and Castille? No, no, be he neuer so

good a gentleman, his race agreeth not with kingly state. But I

make to God a vow, that neuer wyll I take one sound and restful

slepe, vntill I haue dispatched that infamous fact from our

bloud, and that the caitif whoremonger be vsed according to his

desert." The cardinal also was out of quiet, grinding his teeth

togither, chattering forth of his Spanish mosel Jack an Apes

Pater-noster, promising no better vsage to their Bologna than

hys yonger brother did. And the better to intrap them both

(without further sturre for that time) they sent to the Lord

Gismondo Gonsago the Cardinal of Mantua, than Legate for pope

Iulius the second at Ancona, at whose hands they enioyed sutch

friendship, as Bologna and all his family were commaunded

spedily to auoid the city. But for al that the Legat was able to

do, of long time he could not preuail, Bologna had so greate

intelligence wythin Ancona. Neuerthelesse whiles hee differred

his departure, he caused the most part of his trayne, his

Children and goods to be conueyed to Siena, an auncient Citty of

Thoscane, which for the state and liberties, had long time bin

at warres with the Florentines, in sutch wyse as the very same

day that newes came to Bologna that hee should depart the Citty

within XV. daies, hee was ready, and mounted on horseback to

take hys flight to Siena, whych brake for sorrow the hearts of

the Aragon brethren, seeinge that they were deceiued, and

frustrate of their intent, bicause they purposed by the way to

apprehend Bologna, and to cut him in peeces. But what? The tyme

of his hard lucke was not yet expired, and so the marche from

Ancona, serued not for the Theatre of those two infortunate

louers ouerthrow, who certaine moneths liued in peace in

Thoscane. The Cardinall night nor day did sleepe, and his

brother still did wayt to performe hys othe of reuenge. And

seeinge their ennimy out of feare, they dispatched a post to

Alfonso Castruccio, the cardinall of Siena, to entreat the lord

Borgliese, cheyfe of the Seigniory there, that their Syster, and

Bologna should be banished the Countrey, and limits of that

Citty, which wyth small suite was brought to passe. These two

infortunate, Husband and Wyfe, were chasid from all places, and

so vnlucky as whilom Achastus was when he was accursed, or

Oedipus, after his father's death, and incestious mariage wyth

his mother, vncertayne to what Sainct to vow themselues, and to

what place to take their flight. In the ende they determined to

goe to Venice, but first to Ramagna, there to imbarke themselues

for to retyre in saulfty to the citty enuironned wyth the Sea

Adriaticum, the richest in Europa. But the poore soules made

their reconinge there wythout their hoaste, faylinge halfe the

price of their banket. For being vppon the territory of Forly,

one of the trayne a farre of, did see a troupe of horsemen

galloping towardes their company, which by their countenaunce

shewed no signe of peace or amity at all, which made them

consider that it was some ambush of theyr Enimyes. The

Neapolitan gentleman seeing the onset bendinge vppon them, began

to feare death, not for that hee cared at al for his mishap, and

ruine, but his heart began to cleaue for heauinesse to see his

Wyfe and little Children ready to be murdered, and serue for the

passetime of the Aragon Brethren's eyes, for whose sakes he knew

himselfe already predestinate to dy, and that for despite of

him, and to accelerate his death by the ouerthrow of hys Wyfe

and Children, he was assured that they would dispatch them all

before his face and presence. But what is there to be done,

where counsell and meanes to escape do fayle? Full of teares

therefore, astonishment and feare, he expected death so cruell

as man could deuise, and was already determined to suffer the

same with good courage, for any thing that the Duchesse could

say vnto him. He might well haue saued himself and his eldest

sonne by flight, being both wel mounted vpon two good Turkey

horsses, whiche ran so fast, as the quarrel out of a Crosbow.

But he loued to mutch his wife and children, and woulde kepe

them company both in lyfe and death. In th'ende the good Lady

sayd vnto him: "Sir, for all the ioyes and pleasures which you

can do me, for God's sake saue your selfe and the litle infant

next you, who can well indure the galloping of the horse. For

sure I am, that you being out of our company, we shall not neede

to feare any hurt: but if you do tary, you wil be the cause of

the ruine and ouerthrow of vs all, and we shal receiue thereby

no profit or aduauntage: take this purse therefore, and saue

yourself, attending better fortune in time to come." The poore

Gentleman Bologna knowing that his wife had pronounced reason,

and fearing that it was impossible from that time forth that she

or hir Traine could escape their hands, taking leaue of hir, and

kissing his chyldren not forgetting the money which she offred

vnto him, willed his seruants to saue themselues by sutch meanes

as they thought best. So gieuing spurs vnto his horse, he began

to fly amayne, and his eldest sonne seeing his father gone,

began to followe in like sorte: and so for that time they two

were saued by breaking of the intended ill luck lyke to light

vpon them. And where he thought to rescue himselfe at Venice, he

turned another way, and by great Iourneys arriued at Millan. In

the meane time the horsemen were approched neere the Duchesse,

who seeing that Bologna had saued himselfe, very courteously

began to speake vnto the lady, were it that the Aragon brethren

had geuen theym that charge, or feared that the Lady would

trouble them with hir importunate Cries, and Lamentations. One

therefore amongs the Troupe sayde thus vnto hir: "Madam, we be

commaunded by the Lordes your brethren, to conduct you home vnto

your house, that you may receiue agayne the Gouernment of the

Duchy, and the order of the Duke your sonne, and do maruell very

mutch at your folly, for giuing your selfe thus to wander the

Countrey after a man of so smal reputation as Bologna is, who

when he had glutted his lusting lecherrous minde with the

comelines of your noble Personage, wil despoyle you of your

goods and honour, and then take his Legs into som straung

countrey." The simple Lady, albeit greeuous it was vnto hir to

heare sutch speech of hir husband, yet helde hir peace and

dissembled what she thought, glad and wel contented with the

curtesy done vnto hir, fearinge before that they came to kyll

hir and thought hirselfe already discharged, hopinge vppon their

courteous Dealinges, that shee, and hir Chyldren from that tyme

forth should lyue in good assuraunce. But she was greatly

deceyued, and knew within shorte space after, the good will that

hir Brethren bare hir: for so soone as these Gallants had

conducted hir into the kyngdome of Naples, to one of the Castels

of hir sonne, she was committed to pryson wyth hir chyldren, and

she also that was the secretary of hir infortunate mariage. Til

this time Fortune was contented to proceede with indifferent

quiet against those Louers, but henceforth yee shall heare the

Issue of theyr little prosperous loue, and how pleasure hauing

blinded them, neuer forsooke them vntil it had giuen them the

ouerthrow. It booteth not heere to recite any Fables or

Hystories, contenting my self that Ladies do reade wythout to

many weping teares, the pitifull end of that myserable

princesse, who seeing hir selfe a Prisoner in the company of hir

litle chyldren and welbeloued Mayden, paciently liued in hope to

see hir Brethren appaysed, comforting hir selfe for the escape

of hir husband out of the hands of his mortal foes. But hir

assurance was changed into an horrible feare and hir hope to no

expectation of surety, when certayne dayes after hir

imprisonment, hir gaoler came in, and sayde vnto hir: "Madame,

I do aduise you henceforth to consider and examine your

Conscience, for so mutch as I suppose that euen thys very day

your Lyfe shall be taken from you." I leaue for you to thinke

what horrour, and traunce assayled the feeble heart of this

poore Lady, and wyth what eares she receyued that cruell

message, but hir cryes, and moanes together with hir sighes and

lamentations declared with what chere she receyued the

aduertisement. "Alas" (sayd she) "is it possible that my

brethren should so far forget themselues, as for a fact nothing

preiudicial vnto them, cruelly to put to death their innocent

Sister, and to imbrue the memory of their fact, in the bloud of

one which neuer did offend them? Must I against al right and

equity be put to death before the Iudge or Maiestrate haue made

triall of my lyfe, and knowne the righteousnesse of my cause? Ah

God, most rightfull and bountifull father, beholde the mallice

of my Brethren, and the Tyrannous cruelty of those which

wrongfully doe seeke my bloud. Is it a sinne to marry? Is it a

fault to fly, and auoide the sinne of Whoredome? What Lawes be

these, where marriage bed, and ioyned matrimony is pursued wyth

lyke seuerity, that Murder, Theft, and Aduoutry are? And what

Christianity in a Cardinall, to shed the bloud which hee ought

to defend? What profession is thys, to assayle the innocent by

the hygh way side, and to reue them of lyfe in place to punish

Theeues and Murderers? O Lord God thou art iust, and dost al

things in equity, I see wel that I haue trespassed against thy

maiesty in some more notoryous crime than in marriage: I most

humbly therefore beseech thee to haue compassion on mee, and to

pardon myne offences, accepting the confession, and repentaunce

of mee thine humble seruaunt for satisfaction of my sinnes,

which it pleased thee to washe away in the precious bloud of thy

sonne our Sauiour, that being so purified, I may appeare at the

holy banket in thy glorious kingdome." When shee had thus

finished hir prayer, two or three of the ministers which had

taken hir besides Forly, came in, and said vnto hir: "Now Madame

make ready your selfe to goe to God, for beholde your houre is

come." "Praysed be that God" (sayd she) "for the wealth and woe

that it pleaseth hym to send vs. But I beseech you my friendes

to haue pitty vppon these lyttle Babes and innocent creatures:

let them not feele the smarte whych I am assured my Brethren

beare agaynste their Poore vnhappy Father." "Well well, madame,"

sayd they, "we wil conuey them to sutch place as they shal not

want." "I also recommend vnto you" (quod she) "this pore

imprisoned mayden, and entreate hir well, in consideration of

hir good service done to the infortunate Duchesse of Malfi." As

she had ended those words, the two Ruffians did put a coarde

about her neck, and strangled hir. The mayden seeing the pitious

Tragedy commensed vpon hir maystresse, cried out a maine,

cursing the cruell malice of those tormenters, and besought God

to be witnesse of the same, and crying out vpon his diuine

Maiesty, she humbly praied unto him to bend hys iudgement

agaynst them which causelesse (being no Magistrates,) had killed

so innocent creatures. "Reason it is" (sayd one of the Tyrants)

"that thou be partaker of thy maystresse innocency, sith thou

hast bene so faythfull a Minister, and messenger of hir fleshly

follies." And sodaynly caught hir by the hayre of the head, and

in steade of a Carcanet placed a roape about her necke. "How

nowe" (quoth shee,) "is this the promised fayth you made vnto my

lady?" But those words flew into the Ayre wyth hir Soule, in

company of the myserable Duchesse. And now hearken the most

sorowfull scene of all the Tragedy. The little Chyldren which

had seene all this furious game executed vpon their mother and

hir mayde, as nature prouoked them, or as some presage of their

myshap might leade them thereunto, kneeled vpon their knees

before those Tyrants, and embracinge their Legges, wayled in

sutch wyse, as I thinke that any other, except a pitilesse heart

spoyled of all humanity, would haue had compassion. And

impossible it was for them, to vnfolde the embracementes of

those innocent creatures, whych seemed to foreiudge their death

by Sauage lookes and Countenaunce of those Roysters: whereby I

think that needes it must be confessed, that nature hath in hir

selfe, and in vs imprinted some signe of diuination, and

specially at the Houre and tyme of death, so as the very beastes

doe feele some forewarninges, although they see neyther Sworde,

nor Staffe, and indeuoure to auoyde the cruell Passage of a

thynge so Fearefull, as the separation of two thynges so neerely

vnyted, euen the Body, and Soule, which for the motion that

chaunceth at the very instant, sheweth how narure is constrained

in that monstrous diuision, and more than horrible ouerthrow.

But who can appease a heart determined to worke mischief, and

hath sworne the death of another forced thereunto by some

special commaundment? The Aragon brethren ment hereby nothing

else, but to roote out the whole name and race of Bologna. And

therfore the two ministers of iniquity did like murder and

slaughter vpon those two tender babes, as they had done before

vpon their mother not without some motion of horror, for an act

so detestable. Behold here how far the cruelty of man extendeth,

when it coueteth nothing else but vengeance, and marke what

excessyue choler the mind of them produceth, whych suffer

themselues to be forced and ouerwhelmed with fury. Leaue we

apart the cruelty of Euchrates, the Sonne of the kinge of

Bactria, and of Phraates the Sonne of the Persian Prynce, of

Timon of Athenes, and of an infinit number of those which were

rulers and gouernors of the Empyre of Rome: and let vs match

with these Aragon brethren, one Vitoldus Duke of Lituania, the

cruelty of whom, constrained his own subiects to hang themselues

for feare leaste they should fall into his furious and bloudy

hands. We may confesse also these brutall brethren to be more

butcherly than euer Otho Erle of Monferrato, and prince of Vrbin

was, who caused a yeoman of his chamber to be wrapped in a

sheete poudred with sulpher and brimstone, and afterwards

kindled with a Candle, was scalded and consumed to death,

bicause he waked not at an hour by him appointed: let vs not

excuse them also from some affinity with Manfredus the sonne of

Henry the second emperor, who smoldered hys own father, being an

old man, between two Couerlets. These former furies might haue

some excuse to couer their cruelty, but these had no other color

but a certain beastly madnesse which moued them to kil those

litle Children their nephews, who by no means could preiudice or

anoy the Duke of Malfi or his title, in the succession of his

Duchie, the mother hauing withdrawen hir goods, and had her

dowrie assigned hir: but a wicked hart wrapt in malice must

nedes bring forth semblable workes. In the time of these murders

the infortunate Louer kept himself at Millan with his sonne

Frederick, and vowed himself to the Lord Siluio Sauello, who

that tyme besieged the Castell of Millan, in the behalf of

Maximilian Sforcia, which in the end he conquered and recouered

by composition wyth the French within. But that charge being

atchieued, the general Sauello marched from thence to Cremona

with hys Campe, whyther Bologna durst not folow, but repayred to

the Marquize of Britone, in whych tyme the Aragon brethren so

wroughte as hys goods were confiscate at Naples, and he dryuen

to hys shiftes to vse the Golden Duckates which the Duchesse

gaue him to relieue himselfe at Millan, whose Death althoughe it

were aduertised by many, yet hee could not be persuaded to

beleue the same, for that diuers which went about to betray him,

and feared he shoulde flie from Millan, kept his beake vnder the

water, (as the Prouerb is,) and assured him both of the Lyfe and

welfare of his Spouse, and that shortly his Brethren in law

would be reconciled because many Noble men fauored hym well, and

desired his returne home to hys countrey. Fed and filled with

that vaine hope, he remayned more than a yeare at Millan,

frequentyng good company, who was well entertayned of the

rychest marchaunts and best Gentlemen of the Cytye: and aboue

all other, he had famyliar accesse to the house of the Ladye

Hippolita Bentiuoglia, where vppon a Daye after Dynner, takyng

hys lute in hand, whereon he could exceedyngly well play, he

began to sing a sonnet, whych he had composed vppon the

discourse of hys mysfortune, the tenor whereof insueth.

_The Song of Antonio Bologna, the husband of the Duchesse of

Malfi._

If loue, the death, or tract of tyme, haue measured my distresse,

Or if my beatinge sorrowes may my languor well expresse:

Then loue come soone to visit me, which most my heart desires,

And so my dolor findes some ease, through flames of fansies fires.

The time runnes out his rollinge course, for to prolong myne ease,

To th' end I shall enioy my loue, and heart himselfe appease,

A cruell darte brings happy death, my soule then rest shall find:

And sleepinge body vnder Toumbe, shall dreame time out of mynde,

And yet the Loue, the Time, nor Death, lookes not how I decreace:

Nor geueth eare to any thinge, of this my wofull peace.

Full farre I am from my good hap, or halfe the ioye I craue,

Whereby I chaung my state wyth teares, and draw full neere my graue.

The courteous Gods that giues me lyfe, now mooues the Planets all:

For to arrest my groning ghost, and hence my sprite to call.

Yet from them still I am separd, by thinges vnequall heere,

Not ment the Gods may be vniust, that breedes my chaunging cheere.

For they prouide by their foresight, that none shall doe me harme:

But she whose blasing beauty bright, hath brought me in a charme.

My mistresse hath the powre alone, to rid me from this woe:

Whose thrall I am, for whom I die, to whom my sprite shall goe.

Away my soule, goe from the griefs, that thee oppresseth still,

And let thy dolor witnesse beare, how mutch I want my will.

For since that loue and death himselfe, delights in guiltlesse bloud,

Let time transport my troubled sprite, where destny seemeth good.

This song ended, the poor Gentleman could not forbeare from

pouring forth his luke warme Tears, which abundantly ran downe

his heauy Face, and his pantinge Sighes truly discouered the

alteration of his mynde, whych mooued ech wight of that assembly

to pitty his mournful State: and one specially of no

acquaintance, and yet knew the deuises that the Aragon Brethren

had trayned and contriued against hym: that vnacquaynted

gentleman his name was Delio, one very well learned, and of trim

inuention, who very excellently hath endited in the Italian

vulgar tongue. This Delio knowing the Gentleman to be husband to

the deceased Duchesse of Malfi, came vnto him, and taking him

aside, said: "Sir, albeit I haue no great acquaintance with you,

this being the first time that euer I saw you, to my

remembrance, so it is, that vertue hath sutch force, and maketh

gentle myndes so amorous of their like, as when they doe beholde

ech other, they feele themselues coupled as it were in a bande

of mindes, that impossible it is to diuide the same: now

knowinge what you be, and the good and commendable qualities in

you, I coumpt it my duty to reueale that which may chaunce to

breede you damage. Know you then, that I of late was in company

with a Noble man of Naples, whych is in this Citty, banded with

a certaine company of horsemen, who tolde mee that he had a

speciall charge to kill you, and therefore prayed me (as it

seemed) to require you not to come in his sight, to the intent

he might not be constrayned to doe that which should offend his

Conscience, and grieue the same all the dayes of his life:

moreouer I haue worse Tidinges to tell you: the Duchesse your

Wyfe deade by violent hand in prison, and the most part of them

that were in hir company: besides this assure your selfe, that

if you doe not take heede to that which this Neapolitane

Capitnyne hath differred, other wyll doe and execute the same.

This mutch I haue thought good to tell you, bicause it would

very mutch grieue me, that a Gentleman so excellent as you be,

should be murdered in that myserable wyse, and I should deeme my

selfe vnworthy of lyfe, if knowing these practises I should

dissemble the same." Whereunto Bologna aunswered: "Syr Delio,

I am greatly bound vnto you, and geue you hearty thankes for the

good will you beare me. But in the conspiracy of the brethren of

Aragon, and of the death of my lady, you be deceyued, and some

haue giuen you wrong intelligence: for within these two dayes I

receyued letters from Naples, wherein I am aduertised, that the

right honorable and reuerend Cardinal and his Brother be almost

appeased, and that my goods shall bee rendred agayne, and my

dear Wyfe restored." "Ah syr," sayde Delio, "how you be beguiled

and Fedde wyth Follyes, and nourished with sleights of Court:

assure your selfe that they which write these trifles, make

sutch shamefull sale of your lyfe, as the Butcher doth of his

flesh in the Shambles, and so wickedly betray you, as impossible

it is to inuent a treason more detestable: but bethinke you well

thereof." When he had sayd so, he tooke hys leaue, and ioyned

hymselfe in company of fine and pregnaunt Wyttes, there

assembled together. In the meane tyme, the cruell Spirite of the

Aragon Brethren were not yet appeased with the former murders,

but needes must finish the last act of Bologna hys Tragedy by

losse of hys Lyfe, to keepe hys Wyfe and Chyldren company, so

well in an other Worlde as he was vnited with them in Loue in

this frayle and transitory passage. The Neapolitan gentleman

before spoken of by Delio, whych had taken this enterprise to

satissie the barbarous Cardinall to berieue his Countreyman of

lyfe, hauinge chaunged his mynde, and differring from day to day

to sorte the same to effect, it chaunced that a Lombarde of

larger Conscience than the other, inueigled with Couetousnesse,

and hired for ready Money, practised the death of the Duchesse

poore husband: this bloudy beaste was called Daniel de Bozola

that had charge of a certayne bande of footemen in Millan. Thys

newe Iudas and pestilent manqueller, who wythin certayne dayes

after knowinge that Bologna oftentymes Repayred to heare Seruice

at the Church and conuent of S. Fraunces, secretly conueyed

himself in ambush, hard besides the church of S. Iames, (being

accompanied wyth a certayne troupe of Souldiers) to assayle

infortunate Bologna, who was sooner slayne than hee was able to

thinke vpon defence, and whose mishap was sutch, as hee whych

kylled hym had good leysure to saue himselfe by reason of the

little pursuite made after hym. Beholde heere the Noble fact of

a Cardinall, and what sauer it hath of Christian purity, to

commit a slaughter for a fact done many yeares past vpon a poore

Gentleman which neuer thought him hurt. Is thys the sweete

obseruation of the Apostles, of whom they vaunt themselues to be

the Successours and followers? And yet we cannot finde nor

reade, that the Apostles, or those that stept in their trade of

lyfe, hyred Ruffians, and Murderers to cut the Throates of them

which did them hurt. But what? it was in the tyme of Iulius the

second, who was more martiall than Christian, and loued better

to shed bloud than giue blessing to the people. Sutch ende had

the infortunate mariage of him, whych ought to haue contented

himselfe wyth that degree and honor that he had acquired by the

deedes and glory of his vertues, so mutch by ech wight

recommended: we ought neuer to climb higher than our force

permitteth, ne yet surmount the bounds of duty, and lesse suffer

our selues to be haled fondly forth with desire of brutal

sensuality. Which sinne is of sutch nature, that he neuer giueth

ouer the party whom he maystereth, vntil he hath brought him to

the shame of some Notable Folly. You see the miserable discourse

of a Princesse loue, that was not very wyse, and of a Gentleman

that had forgotten his estate, which ought to serue for a

lookinge Glasse to them which bee ouer hardy in makinge

Enterprises, and doe not measure their Ability wyth the

greatnesse of their Attemptes: where they ought to mayntayne

themselues in reputation, and beare the title of well aduised:

foreseeing their ruine to be example for all posterity, as may

bee seene by the death of Bologna, and by all them which sprang

of him, and of his infortunate Spouse his Lady and Maistresse.

But we haue discoursed inough hereof, sith diuersity of other

hystories do call vs to bring the same in place, which were not

mutch more happy than the bloudy end of those, whose Hystory ye

haue already heard.