THE TWENTY-FOURTH NOUELL.

_The disordered Lyfe of the Countesse of Celant, and how shee

(causinge the County of Masino to be murdered,) was beheaded

at Millan._

Not wythout good cause of long tyme haue the wyse, and discrete,

Prudently gouerned their Children, and taken great heede ouer

their Daughters, and those also whom they haue chosen to bee

their Wyues, not in vsing them lyke Bondwomen, and Slaues, to

beereiue them of all Liberty, but rather to auoyde the murmur,

and secrete slaunderous Speach of the common people, and

occasions offred for infection, and marrying of Youth, specially

circumspect of the assaultes bent agaynst Maydens, being yet in

the firste flames of fire, kindled by nature in the hearts, yea

of those that be the wysest, and best brought vp. Some doe deeme

it very straunge, that solempne Guard bee obserued ouer those

which ought to lyue at lyberty, and doe consider how lyberty and

the bridle of Lycence let slip vnto Youth, they breede vnto the

same most strong and tedious Bondage, that better it had bene

for youth to haue beene chayned, and closed in obscure Pryson,

than marked wyth those blottes of infamy, which Sutch Lycence

and Lyberty doe conduce. If England doe not by experience see

Maydens of Noble Houses Infamed through to mutch vnbrideled,

and frank maner of Lyfe, and their Parents desolate for sutch

villanyes, and the name of their houses become Fabulous and

Ridiculous to the people: surely that manner of Espiall and

watch ouer Children, may be noted in Nations not very farre

conuening from vs, where men be Ielous of the very Fantasie of

them, whom they think to be indued with great vertues, and of

those that dare with their very Lookes geue attaynt, to behold

their Daughters: but where examples be euident, where all the

World is assured of that which they see by daily experience,

that the fruicts of the disordered, breake out into light,

it behooueth no more to attend the daungerous customes of

Countreyes, to condescend to the sottish Opinions of those,

whych say that youth to narrowly looked vnto, is trayned vp in

sutch grosenesse, and blockishnesse of spyrite, as impossible it

is afterwardes the same shoulde do any thinge prayse worthy.

The Romayne maydens whilom were Cloystered within their Fathers

Pallaces, still at their Mothers Elbowes, and notwithstanding

were so wel brought vp, that those of best ciuility and finest

trained vp in our age, shall not be the seconde to one of the

least perfect in the Citty. But who can learne ciuility and

vertue in these our dayes? our Daughters nousled in companies,

whose mouthes run ouer with Whorish and filthy talke, wyth

behauiour full of Ribauldry, and many fraughted wyth facts lesse

honest than Speach is able to expresse. I doe not pretend

heereby to depriue that sexe of honest and seemely talke, and

company, and leste of exercise amonges the Noble Gentlemen of

our Englyshe Soyle, ne yet of the Liberty receyued from our

Auncestours, only (me thyncke) that requisite it were to

contemplate the manners and inclination of wils, and refrayne

those that be prone to wantonnesse, and by lyke meanes to

reioyce the mindes of them that be bent to heauinesse, deuided

from curtefie and Ciuility, by attendinge of whych choyse, and

considering of that difference, impossible it is but vertue must

shyne more bright in Noble houses than homelynesse in Cabanes of

Pesauntes, and Countrey Carles: who oftentymes better obserue

the Discipline of our Predecessours in education of their

Chyldren, than they which presume to prayse themselues for good

skil in vse and gouernment of that age, more troublesome and

payneful to rule, than any other wythin the compasse of man's

lyfe. Therefore the good and wise Emperour Marcus Aurelius would

not haue his Daughters to be trayned vp in Courts. "For

(quod he) what profit shall the Nurse receyue by learning hir

mayden honesty and vertue, when our workes intice them to

daliaunce and vice, apprehending the folly of those that bee

amorous?" I make this discourse, not that I am so rigorous a

Iudge for our maydens of England, but that I wish them so

reformed, as to see and be seene should be forbidden, as assured

that vertue in what place so euer she be, cannot but open things

that shall fauor of hir excellency. And now to talke of an

Italian Dame, who so long as hir first husband (knowing hir

inclination) kept hir subiect, liued in reputation of a modest

and sober wyfe. Nothing was seene in hir that could defame hir

renoume. But so soone as the shadow of that free captiuity was

made free by the death of hir husband, God knoweth what pageant

she played, and how shee soyled both hir owne reputation, and

the honour of hir second Mate, as yee shall vnderstande if with

pacience yee vouchsafe to reade the discourse of thys present

Hystory. Casal, (as it is not vnknowen) is a Citty of Piedmont,

and subiect to the Marquize of Montferrato, where dwelled one

that was very rich, although of base birth, named Giachomo

Scappardone, who being growne wealthy, more by wicked art, and

vsury, to mutch manifest, than by his owne diligence, toke to

Wife a yong Greeke mayden, which the Marchiones of Montferrato

mother of Marquize Guglielmo, had brought home wyth hir from the

voyage that shee made into Grætia wyth hir husbande, when the

Turkes ouerran the countrey of Macedonia, and seased vpon the

Citty of Modena which is in Morea. Of that mayden Scapperdone

had a Daughter indifferent fayre, and of behauiour liuely and

pleasaunt, called Bianca Maria. The Father dyed wythin a while

after hir birth, as one that was of good yeares, and had bin

greatly turmoyled in getting of riches, whose value amounted

about one Hundred Thousand Crownes. Bianca Maria arriued to the

age of sixteene, or seuenteene yeares, was required of many,

aswell for hir Beauty, Gentlenes, and good grace, as for her

goods, and riches. In the ende she was maried to the Vicecount

Hermes, the Sonne of one of the chiefest Houses in Millan, who

incontinently after the mariage, conueyed hir home to hys house,

leauing his Greeke mother to gouerne the vsuries gotten by hir

dead husband. The Gentleman which amongs two greene, knew one

that was ripe, hauing for a certayne tyme well knowen, and

learned the maners of hys Wyfe, saw that it behooued hym rather

to deale wyth the Bit and brydle than the spur, for that she was

wanton, full of desire, and coueted nothing so mutch as fond and

disordered liberty, and therefore without cruell dealing,

disquiet, or trouble, hee vsed by little and little to keepe hir

in, and cherished hir more than his nature willingly would

suffer, of purpose to holde hir wythin the boundes of duty. And

although the Millan Dames haue almost like lyberties that ours

haue, yet the Lord Hermes kept hir wythin Dores, and suffred hir

to frequent none other house and company, but the Lady Hippolita

Sforcia, who vppon a day demaunded of him wherefore hee kept in

his wyfe so short, and persuaded hym to geue her somewhat more

the Brydle, bicause diuers already murmured of this order, as to

strayte and Frowarde, esteeming hym eyther to be to mutch fond

ouer hir, or else to Jealous. "Madame," sayde the Millanoise,

"they whych at pleasure so speake of me, know not yet the nature

of my Wyfe, who I had rather should be somewhat restrayned, than

run at Rouers to hir dishonour, and my shame. I remember wel

madame the proper saying of Paulus Emilius that notable Romane:

who being demauned wherefore he had put away his Wyfe being a

Gentlewoman so fayre and beautifull. 'O,' quod he and lifted vp

his leg {(}whereupon was a new payre of Buskins) 'yee see this

fayre Buskin, meete and seemely for this Leg to outward

apparance not greeuous or noysome, but in what place it hurteth

me, or where it wringeth yee doe neyther see nor yet feele.{'}

So I, madame, do feele in what place my Hoase doeth hurt and

wring my Legge. I know madame what it is to graunt to so wanton

a dame as my Wyfe is, hir will, and how farre I ought to slip

the rayne: iealous I am not vpon the fayth I beare vnto God,

but I feare what may chaunce vnto me. And by my trouth, madame,

I geeue her Lycence to repayre to you both Day and Nyght,

at whatsoeuer hour you please, being assured of the vertuous

company that haunteth your house: otherwyse my Pallace shall

suffyce hir pleasure for the common ioy of vs both, and

therefore I wish no more talk hereof, least too importunate

suites do offend my nature, and make me thinke that to be true

whych of good will I am loth to suspect, contenting my selfe

with hir Chastity, for feare least to mutch liberty do corrupt

hir." These words were not spoken wythout cause, for the wyse

husband saw wel that sutch beasts, albeit rudely they ought not

to be vsed, yet stifly to be holden short, and not suffred too

mutch to wander at will. And verily his prophecy was to true for

respect of that which followed: who had not bene maried full

VI. yeares, but the Vicecount Hermes departed thys

World, whereof she was very sory bycause she loued him derely,

hauing as yet not tasted the licorous baites of sutch liberty,

as afterwards she drank in gluttonous draughts, when after hir

husband's obsequies, she retired to Montferrato, and then to

Casal to hir Father's house, hir mother being also dead, and she

a lone woman to ioy at pleasure the fruict of hir desires,

bendinge hir only study to gay and trimme Apparell, and imployed

the mornings with the vermilion rud to colour hir cheekes by

greater curiosity than the most shamelesse Curtisan of Rome,

fixing hir eyes vppon ech man, gyring, and laughing with open

mouth, and pleasantly disposed to talk and reason with euery

Gentleman that passed by the streate. This was the way to

attayne the glorious feast of hir triumphant filthines, who wan

the prise aboue the most famous women whych in hir tyme made

profession of those armes, wherewith Venus once dispoyled Mars,

and toke from him the strongest and best steeled armure of all

his furniture. Thinck not fayre maydes, that talk and clattering

with youth is of small regarde. For a Citty is halfe won when

they within demaunde for parle, as loth to indure the Canon

shot. So when the eare of yong Wyfe or mayde is pliant to

lasciuious talk, and deliteth in wanton words, albeit hir

chastity receyue no damage, yet occasion of speach is ministred

to the people, and perchaunce wyth sutch disaduantage, as neuer

after hir good name is recouered. Wherefore needefull it is,

not only to auoyde the effect of euill, but also the least

suspition: for good fame is requisite for the Woman, as honest

lyfe. The great Captain Iulius Cæsar, (which first of al reduced

the common wealth of Rome in fourme of monarchie) beinge once

demaunded wherefore hee hadde refused hys Wyfe before it was

proued that she had offended with Clodius, the night of the

sacrifices done to the Goddesse Bona, answered so wysely as

truely, that the house of Cæsar ought not onely to be voyde of

whordome but of suspition therof. Behold therfore what I haue

sayd, and yet doe say againe, that ye oughte to take greate

heede to youre selues, and to laugh in tyme, not reclinyng your

eares to vncomely talke, but rather to follow the nature of the

Serpent, that stoppeth his eare with his tayle, to auoide the

charms and sorceries of the Enchaunter. Now this Bianca Maria

was sued vnto, and pursued of many at Casall that desired hir to

Wyfe, and amonges the rest two did profer themselues, which were

the Lord Gismondo Gonzaga, the neere kinsman of the Duke of

Mantua, and the Counte of Celant, a great Baron of Sauoy, whose

landes lie in the vale of Agosta. A great pastyme it was to thys

fyne Gentlewoman to feede hir self wyth the Orations of those

two Lordes and a ioye it was to hir, to vse her owne discourse

and aunswers expressinge with right good grace sundry amorous

countenances, intermingling therwithall sighes, sobbes, and

alteration of cheere, that full well it might haue bene sayde,

of loue trickes that shee was the only dame and mistresse. The

Marchyonesse of Montferrato desirous to gratify the Lord of

Mantua his sonne in law, endeuored to induce this wanton Lady to

take for spouse Gismondo Gonzaga, and the sute so well

proceeded, as almost the mariage had bene concluded if the Sauoy

Earle had not come betwixte, and shewed forth his Noblenesse of

minde, when he vnderstode how things did passe, and that another

was ready to beare away the pryse, and recouer his mistresse.

For that cause he came to visit the Lady, who intertayned him

wel, as of custom she did al other. And for that he would not

employe hys tyme in vayne, when he founde hir alone and at

conuenyent leysure, began to preache vnto hir in thys wyse with

sutch countenaunce, as she perceyued the Counte to be far in

loue with hir.

_The Oration of the Counte of Celant to his Ladye._

"I am in doubt Madame, of whome chiefly I ought to make

complaynt, whether of you, or of my selfe, or rather of fortune

which guideth and bryngeth us together. I see wel that you

receiue some wrong, and that my cause is not very iust, you

taking no regarde vnto my passion which is outragious, and lesse

hearkeninge vnto my request that so many times I haue giuen you

to vnderstand onely grounded vpon the Honest loue I beare you.

But I am besides this more to be accused for suffering an other

to marche so far over my game and soyle, as I haue almost lost

the tracte of the pray after which I most desire, and specially

doe condemne my Fortune, for that I am in daunger to lose the

thyng which I deserue, and you in peryll to passe into that

place where your captiuity shalbe worse than the slaues by the

Portugales condemned to the mines of India. Doeth it not suffise

you that the Lord Hermes closed you vp the space of V.

or VI. yeares in his Chamber, but wil you nedes attempt

the rest of your youthly daies amid the Mantuanes, whose

suspicious heads are ful of hammers working in the same? Better

it were madame, that we approchynge neerer the gallante guise of

Fraunce, should live after the lyberty of that Countrey, than

bee captiue to an Italian house, whych wyll restrain you with

like bondage, as at other tymes you have felt the experience.

Moreover ye see what opinion is like to be conceiued of you,

when it shalbe bruted that for the Marquize feare, you haue

maried the Mantuan Lord. And I know well that you like not to be

esteemed as a pupil, your nature cannot abyde compulsion, you be

free from hir authority, it were no reason you should be

constrained. And not to stay in framing of orations, or stand

vpon discourse of Words, I humbly beseche you to behold the

constant loue I beare you, and being a Gentleman so Wealthy as I

am, none other cause induceth me to make this sute, but your

good grace and bryngynge vp, whych force me to loue you aboue

any other Gentlewoman that liueth. And althoughe I myghte

alleage other reasons to proue my saying, yet referre I my self

to the experience and bounty of youre mynd, and to the equity of

your Iudgement. If my passion were not vehement, and my torment

without comparison, I would wish my fained griefs to be laughed

to scorne, and my dissembled payne rewarded with flouts. But my

loue being sincere and pure, my trauail continuall, and my

griefs endlesse, for pity sake I beseche you madame to consider

my faithfull deserts with your duetiful curtesie, and then shall

you see how mutch I ought to be preferred before them, which

vnder the shadow of other mens puissance, do seke to purchase

power to commaund you: where I do faithfully bynd and tye my

word and deede continually to loue and serue you, wyth promyse

al the dayes of my Lyfe to accomplish your commaundements.

Beholde if it please you what I am, and with what affection I

make mine humble playnt, regard the Messanger, loue it is

himself that holdeth me within your snares, and maketh mee

captyue to your beauty and gallant graces, which haue no piere.

But if you refuse my sute, and cause me breath my words into the

aire, you shalbe accused of cruelty, ye shall see the entier

defaict of a gentleman which loueth you better than loue

himselfe is able to yelde flame and fire to force any wight to

loue mortal creature. But, verily, I beleue the heauens haue

departed in me sutch aboundance, to the intent in louyng you

with vehemence so greate, you may also thinke that it is I which

ought to be the Friend and spouse of that gentle and curteous

Lady Bianca Maria, which alone may cal her self the mistresse of

my Heart." The Ladye whych before was mocked and flouted wyth

the Counte his demaunds, hearing thys laste discourse, and

remembring his first mariage, and the natural iealosie of

Italyans, half wonne, without making other countenance, answered

the Counte in thys manner: "Syr counte, albeyt that I am

obedyente to the wyll and commaundemente of madame the

Marchyonesse, and am loth to dysplease hir, yet wil I not so

farre gage my lybertye, but still reserue one poynt to saye what

reasteth in my thoughte. And what shoulde lette me to chose

sutch one, to whome I shalbe both his life and death? And

whereof beinge once possed, it is impossyble to be rid and

acquited? I assure you, if I feared not the speach and suspition

of malycious mindes, and the venime of slaunderous Tongues,

neuer husband should bryng me more to bondage. And if I thought

that he whom I pretend to chose, would be so cruel to me, as

others whom I know, I would presently refuse mariage for euer.

I thanke you neuerthelesse, both of your aduertisements giuen

me, and of the honor you doe me, your self desiryng to

accomplish that honor by maryage to be celebrated betweene vs.

For the fidelity of which your talke, and the little

dissimulation I see to be in you, I promise you that there is no

gentleman in this countrey to whom I giue more puissance ouer

me, than to you, if I chaunce to mary, and thereof make you so

good assurance, as if it were already done." The Counte seeing

so good an entry would not suffer the tyme to slip, but beating

the Bushes vntill the praye was ready to spryng, replyed: "And

sith you know (madame) what thing is profitable, and what is

hurtfull, and that the benefite of lyberty is so mutch

recommended, why doe you not performe the thinge that may

redounde to your honor? Assure mee then of your word, and

promise me the faith and loyaltie of maryage, then let me alone

to deale wyth the rest, for I hope to attayn the effect without

offense and displeasure of any." And seeing hir to remaine in a

muse without speaking word, he toke hir by the hand and kissing

the same a million of tymes, added these Words: "How now,

madame, be you appalled for so pleasaunt an assault, wherin your

aduersary confesseth himselfe to be vanquished? Courage, madame,

I say courage, and beholde him heere which humbly praieth you to

receiue him for your lawfull husband, and who sweareth vnto you

all sutch amitye and reuerence that husband oweth to hys loyall

spouse." "Ah, syr Counte," sayd she, "and what wyll the Marquize

say, vnto whom I haue wholly referred my self for mariage? shal

not she haue iust occasion to frowne vppon mee, and frowardly to

vse me for little respect I beare vnto hir? God be my witnesse

if I would not that Gonzaga had neuer come into this countrey:

for although I loue him not, yet I haue almost made him a

promyse, which I can not kepe." "And sith there is nothing don,"

(said the Sauoy Lord) "what nede you to torment your selfe? wyl

the Marquize wrecke hir tyrannie ouer the will of hir subiectes,

and force Ladyes of hir Lande to marie againste their luste?

I thinke that so wyse a princesse, and so well nurtured, will

not so far forget hir self, as to straine that which God hath

left at lyberty to euerye wight: promise me onely maryage and

leaue me to deale wyth the rest: other thynges shalbe wel

prouided for." Bianca Maria vanquished with that importunity,

and fearing againe to fal into seruytude, hoping that the Counte

would mainteine sutch liberty as he had assured, agreed vnto hym

and plyghted vnto him her faithe, and for the tyme vsed mutuall

promises by wordes respectiuely one to another: and the better

to confirme the fact, and to let the knotte from breakyng, they

bedded themselues togethers. The Counte very ioyfull for that

encountre, yelded sutch good beginning by his countenance, and

by Famyliar and continuall haunte with Bianca Maria, as shortly

after the matter was knowen and came to the Marquesse eares,

that the Daughter of Scappardone had maryed the Counte of

Celant. The good lady albeit that shee was wroth beyond measure,

and willingly would haue ben reuenged vpon the bride, yet hauing

respect to the Counte, which was a noble man of great authority,

swallowed down that pille wythout chewing, and prayed the Lord

Gonzaga not to be offended, who seing the light behauiour of the

Ladie, laughed at the matter, and praysed God for that the thing

was so wel broken off: and he did foresee already what issue

that Comedye would haue, beynge very famylyar for certayne Dayes

in the House of Bianca Maria. Thys maryage then was publyshed,

and the solempnity of the Nuptyals were done very pryncely,

accordyng to the Nobylity of hym whych had maryed hir: but the

augurie and presage was heauy, and the melancholike face of the

season (which was obscured and darkened about the time they

should go to church) declared that the mirth and ioy should not

long continue in the house of the counte, according to the

common saying: _He that loketh not before he leapeth, may

chaunce to stumble before he sleepeth_. For the lord of Celant

being retird home to his valeys of the Sauoy mountains, began to

loke about his businesse, and perceiued that his wife surpassed

al others in light behauiour and vnbrideled desires, whereuppon

hee resolued to take order and stop hir passage before she had

won the field, and that frankly she should goe seke hir ventures

where shee list, if she would not be ruled by his aduise. The

foolish Countesse seeing that hir husband well espied hir fond

and foolysh behauior, and that wisely he went about to remedy

the same, was no whit astonied, or regarded his aduise, but

rather by forging complaints did cast him in the teeth sometymes

with hir riches that she brought him, sometime with those whom

she had refused for his sake, and with whom farre of she liued

lyke a sauage creature amid the mountaine deserts and baren

dales of Sauoy, and tolde him that by no meanes she minded to be

closed and shut vp like a tamelesse beast. The Counte which was

wyse, and would not breake the Ele vppon his knee, prouidently

admonished hir in what wise a Ladye ought to esteeme hir honor,

and how the lightest faults of Noble sorts appeare mortal sinnes

before the world: and that it was not sufficient for a

Gentlewoman to haue hir body chast, if hir speach were not

according, and the minde correspondent to that outward

semblance, and the conseruation agreable to the secret

conceiptes of Mynd: "And I shall be ful sory swete Wife" (sayd

the Counte) "to giue you cause of discontent: for wher you

shalbe vexed and molested, I shall receiue no ioy or pleasure,

you being [such one as ought to be the second my self,

determining] by God's grace to keepe my promise, and vse you

like a wyfe, if so be you regard me with duety semblable: for

reason will not that the head obey the members, if they shew not

themselues to be sutch as depend vpon the health and life of it.

The husband being the Wyue's chiefe, ought to be obeyd in that

which reason forbiddeth: and shee referring hir selfe to the

pleasure of hir head, forceth him to whom she is adioyned, to do

and assay all trauayle and payne for hir sake. Of one thinge I

must needes accuse you, which is, that for trifles you frame

complaynt: for the mynde occupied in folly, lusteth for nothinge

more than vayne things, and those that be of little profite,

specially where the pleasure of the Bodye is onely considered:

where if it follow reason, it dissembleth his griefes with

wordes of wysedome, and in knowing mutch, fayneth

notwithstanding a subtile and honest ignoraunce: but I may bee

mutch deceyued herein, by thinking that a Woman fraught with

fickle Opinions may recline her eares to what so euer thing,

except to that whych deliteth hir mynde, and pleaseth the

desires framed wyth in hir foolyshe fantasie. Let not thys

speach be straunge vnto you, for your woordes vttered without

discretion, make me vse thys language: finally (good madame) you

shall shew your selfe a Wyse and louing wyfe, if by takinge

heede to my requests, you faythfully follow the advise thereof."

The Countesse whych was so fine and malicious as the Earle was

good and wyse, dissembling her griefe, and coueringe the venome

hidden in hir mynde, began so well to play the hypocrite before

hir husbande, and to counterfayte the simple Dame, as albeit he

was right politike, yet he was within hir Snare intrapt, who

flattered him wyth so fayre Wordes, as she won him to goe to

Casal, to visite the lands of hir Inheritaunce. We see whereunto

the intent of this false Woman tended, and what checkmate she

ment to geue both to hir husband, and hir honour: whereby we

know that when a woman is disposed to giue hir selfe to

wickednesse, hir mynde is voyd of no malyce or inuention to sort

to ende any daunger or perill offered vnto hir. The factes of

one Medea (if credite may be gieuen to Poets) and of Phædra, the

Woman of Theseus, wel declare with what beastly zeale they began

and finished their attempts: the eagles flight is not so high,

as the Foolyshe desires, and Conceiptes of a Woman that trusteth

in hir owne opinion, and treadeth out of the tract of duety, and

way of Wysedome. Pardon me, good Ladies, if I speake so largely,

and yet think not that I mean to display any other but sutch, as

forget the degree wherin their Auncestours haue placed them,

and whych digresse from the true path of those that haue

immortalized the memory of themselues, of their husbands, and of

the houses also whereof they came. I am very lothe to take vppon

mee the office of a slaunderer, and no lesse do mean to flatter

those, whom I see to their great shame, offende openly in the

sight of the worlde: but why should I dyssemble that which I

know your selues would not conceyle, yf in conscyence yee were

requyred? It were extreame follye to decke and clothe vice wyth

the holy garment of Vertue, and to call that Curtesie and

Ciuylity, whych is manyfest whoredom and Trechery: let vs terme

ech thyng by his due Name, and not deface that whych of it selfe

is faire and pure: let vs not also staine the renoume of those,

whom their own Vertue do recommende. This gentle Countesse

beeing at Casal, making mutch of hir husbande, and kissing him

with the kisse of treason, and of him being vnfainedly beloued

and cherished, not able to forget his sermons, and mutch lesse

hir own filthy lyfe, seeyng that with hir Counte it was

impossyble for hir to liue and glut her lecherous lust,

determined to runne away and seeke hir aduenture: for the

brynging to passe wherof she had already taken order for money,

the interest wherof growing to hir daily profite at Millan:

and hauynge leuied a good summe of Ducates in hande, vntyll hir

other rents were ready, she fled away in the night in companye

of certayne of hir men which were priuie to her doeings. Hir

retire was to Pauie, a City subiecte to the state and Duchy of

Millan, where she hired a pryncely pallace, and apparelled the

same according to hir estate and Trayne of hir husband, and as

her owne reuenue was able to beare. I leaue for you to thinke

what buzzings entred the Counte's head, by the sodayne flight of

his wife, who would haue sent and gone him selfe after to seke

hir out, and bryng hir home againe, had he not well considered

and wayed his owne profite and aduantage, who knowing that hir

absence would rid out of his head a fardell of suspitions which

he before conceiued, was in the ende resolued to lette hir

alone, and suffer hir remaine in what place so euer she was

retired, and whence hee neuer minded to cal hir home agayne.

"I were a very foole," (said he) "to keepe in my House so

pernicious and fearfull an enimy, as that arrant whore is, who

one day before I beware will cause some of hir ruffians to cut

my throte, besides the Vyolatyon of hir holye Maryage Bed: God

defende that sutch a Strumpet by hir presence should any longer

profane the house of the Lord of Celant, who is well rewarded

and punished for the exessiue loue whych he bare hir: let hir

goe whether shee list, and lyue a God's name at hir ease, I do

content my self in knowing what Women be able to do, wythout

further attempt of fortune or other proofe of hir wycked Lyfe."

He added further, that the honor of so Noble a personage as he

was, depended not upon a woman's mischief: and assure your selfe

the whole race of woman kind was not spared by the Counte,

against whom he then inueyed more through rage than reason,

he considered not the honest sort of women, which deface the

vyllany of those that giue themselues ouer to theyr own lusts,

wythout regarde of modesty and shame, which oughte to be

Famylyar, as it were by a certain Naturall inclynatyon in all

degrees of Women and Maydens. But come we again to Bianca Maria,

holding now hir Courte and open house at Pauie, wher she got so

holy a fame, as mistresse Lais of Corinth did, whose trumprie

was neuer more common in Asia than that of this fayre dame,

almost in euery corner of Italy, and whose conuersation was

sutch as hir frank liberty and famyliar demeanor to ech wyghte,

well witnessed hir horryble Lyfe. True it was that her

reputatyon ther was very smal, and she hired not hir selfe,

ne yet toke pains by setting hir body to sale, but for some

resonable gayne and earnest pain: howbeit she (of whom somtimes

the famous Greke orator would not buy repentaunce for so high a

pryce) was more excessiue in Sale of hir Merchaundyse, but not

more wanton: for she no sooner espyed a comely Gentleman that

was youthly, and well made, but would presently shew him so good

countenance, as he had ben a very foole, that knewe not what

prouender this Colt did neigh: whose shamelesse Gesture

Massalina the Romane princesse dyd neuer surmount, except it

were in that shee visited and haunted common houses: and this

dame vsed hir disports wythin hir owne, the other also receiued

indyfferently Carters, Galleye slaues, and Porters: and thys

halfe Greeke did hir pastyme wyth Noble Men that were braue and

lustye: but in one thing shee well resembled hir, whych was,

that Messalina was soner wearye with trauayle, than she

satisfied with pleasure and the filthy vse of hir body, like

vnto a sink that receyueth al filth, wythout disgorgyng any

throwne into the same: this was the chaste lyfe which that good

Lady led, after she had taken flight from hir husband. Marke now

whether the Milanois that was hir first husbande, were a grosse

headed person or a foole, and whither hee were not learned and

skilful in the science of Phisiognomy, and time for him to make

ready the rods to make hir know hir duety, therwith to correct

hir wanton youth, and to cut of the lusty twigs and proud

sciences that soked the moisture and hart of the stock and

braunches. It chaunced whiles she liued at Pauie, in this good

and honorable port, the Counte of Massino called Ardizzino

Valperga came to the Emperour's service, and therby made hys

abode at Pauie with one of his brothers: the Counte being a

goodly Gentleman young and gallant in apparel, giuen to many

good quallities had but one onely fault, which was a mayme in

one of his legges, by reason of a certain aduenture and blow

receiued in the warres, although the same toke away no part of

his comelinesse and fyne behauyor. The Counte I say, remaining

certayne days at Pauie beheld the beauty and singularity of the

Countesse of Celant, and stayed with sutch deuotion to view and

gaze vpon hir, as manye times he romed vp and down the streate

wherein she dwelt to find meanes to speak vnto hir. His first

talke was but a _Bon iour_: and simple salutation, sutch as

gentlemen commonly vse in company of Ladies, and at the firste

brunte Valperga coulde settle none other iudgement vpon that

Goddesse, but that she was a wise and honest dame, and yet sutch

one as needed not the Emperor's camp to force the place, which

as he thought was not so well flanked and rampired but that a

good man of Armes myght easily winne, and the breache so liuely

and sautable, as any souldier might passe the same: he became so

famyliar with the Lady, and talked with hir so secretly, as vpon

a day being with hir alone, hee courted in this wise: "Were not

I of all men moste blame worthy, and of greatest folly to be

reproued, so long time to be acquainted with a Lady so faire and

curteous as you be, and not to offre my seruice life and goodes

to be disposed where you pleased? I speake not thys, Madame, for

any euil and sinister iudgement that I conceyue of you, for that

I prayse and esteeme you aboue any Gentlewoman that euer I knew

til this day, but rather for that I am so wonderfully attached

with your good graces, as wrong I should doe vnto your honor and

my loyal seruice towards you, if I continued dumbe, and did

conceyle that whych incessantly would consume my heart with

infynyte numbre of ardent desyres, and wast myne intrailes for

the extreame and burning loue I beare you. I do require you to

put no credite in me, if I refuse what it shall please you to

commaund me: wherfore Madame, I humbly besech you to accepte me

for your owne, and to fauor me as sutch one, whych with all

fidelity hopeth to passe hys time in your company." The

Countesse although she knew ful wel that the fire was not so

liuely kindled in the stomacke of the Counte as hee wente aboute

to make hir beleue, and that his wordes were to eloquent, and

countenance to ioyfull for so earnest a louer as hee semed to

be, at thys first incountry: yet for that he was a valiant

Gentleman, yong, lusty, and strongly made, minded to retaine

him, and for a tyme to staye hir stomacke by appeasying hir

gluttonous appetite in matters of loue, with a morsell so

dainty, as was thys Mynion and lustye young Lorde: and when the

Courage of hym began to coole, another shoulde enter the listes.

And therefore she aunswered hym in thys wise: "Although I

(knowying the vse and manners of men, and with what Baits they

Hoke for Ladies, if they take not heede, hauing proued their

malice and little loue,) determined neuer to loue other than

mine affection, ne yet to fauoure Man excepte it bee by shewyng

some Familiar manner to heare theyr talke, and for pastime to

hearken the braue requests of those which say they burne for

loue, in the mids of some delyghtsome brooke. And albeit I think

you no better than other bee, ne more fayhfully, more

affectyonate, or otherwyse moued than the rest, yet I am

contente for respecte of youre honoure, somewhat to beeleue you

and to accepte you for myne owne, sith your dyscretyon is sutch

(I truste) as so Noble a Gentleman as you bee, wyll hym selfe

declare in those Affayres, and when I see the effecte of my hope

succeede, I cannot be so vnkynde, but wyth all honesty shall

assaye to satisfy that your loue." The Countee seeing hir alone,

and receyuing the Ladie's language for his aduantage, and that

hir countenance by alteration of hir minde did ad a certayne

beauty to hir face, and perceyuing a desire in hir that he

should not vse delay, or be to squeimish, she demaunding naught

else but execucion, tooke the present offred time, forgetting

all ceremonies, and reuerence, he embraced hir and kissed hir a

Hundred Thousande tymes. And albeit shee made a certayne simple

and prouoking resistance, yet the louer notinge them to be but

preparatiues for the sport of loue, he strayed from the bounds

of honesty, and threw her vppon a fielde Bed wythin the Chambre,

where hee solaced hymselfe wyth hys long desired suite. And

finding hir worthy to be beloued, and she him a curteous

gentleman, consulted together for continuaunce of their amity,

in sutch wise as the Lorde Ardizzino spake no more but by the

mouth of Bianca Maria, and dyd nothynge but what she commaunded,

being so bewrapped wyth the heauy Mantell of hir Beastly Loue,

as hee still abode nyght and day in the house of his beloued:

whereby the brute was noysed throughout the Citty, and the

songes of their Loue more common in ech Citizen's mouth, than

Stanze or Sonnettes of Petrarch, Played and Fayned vpon the

Gittrone, Lute, or Lyra, more fine and witty than those vnsauery

Ballets that be tuned and chaunted in the mouthes of the common

sort. Beholde an Earle well serued, and dressed by enioying so

false a Woman, which had already falsified the fayth betrouthed

to hir husband, who was more honest, milde, and vertuous than

she deserued. Beholde also, yee Noble Gentlemen, the simplicity

of this good Earle, how it was deceyued by a false and filthy

strumpet, whose stincking lyfe and common vse of body woulde

haue withdrawen ech simple creature from mixture of their owne

wyth sutch a Carrion. A lesson to learne al youth to refrayne

the Whoorishe lookes of lighte conditioned Dames, a number (the

more to be pittied) shewinge foorth themselues to the Portsale

of euery Cheapener, that list demaunde the pryce, the grozenes

whereof before considered, were worthy to be defied and loathed.

This Ladye seeinge her Louer nousled in hir lust, dandled him

with a thousand trumperyes, and made hym holde the Mule, while

other enioyed the secrete sporte which earst hee vsed hymself.

This acquayntance was so dangerous to the Counte, as she hir

selfe was shamelesse to the Counte of Celant: for the one bare

the armes of Cornwall, and became a seconde Acteon, and the

other wickedly led his lyfe, and lost the chiefest of that hee

loked for by the seruice of great Princes, throughe the treason

of an arrante common queane. Whiles this Loue contynued in al

Pleasure and lyke contentation of either parts: fortune that was

ready to mounte the stage, and shew in sight that her mobylytye

was no more stable than a woman's wyll: for vnder sutch habite

and sexe Painters and Poets describe hir) made Ardizzino

suspecte what desire she had of chaunge: and within a while

after, sawe himselfe so farre misliked of his Lady, as though he

had neuer bene acquainted. The cause of which recoile was, for

that the Countesse was not contented with one kind of fare,

whose Eyes were more greedy than hir stomake able to digest, and

aboue al desired chaunge, not seking meanes to finde him that

was worthy to be beloued and intertayned of so great a Lady, as

she esteemed hir selfe to be, and as sutch of their owne opinion

thinke themselues, who counterfaicte more grauitie and

reputation than they doe, whome Nature and vertue for theyr

maiesty and holynes of lyfe make Noble and praise worthy. That

desire deceiued hir nothing at all, for a certaine time after

that Ardizzino possessed the forte of this fayre Countesse,

there came to Pauia, one Roberto Sanseuerino earle of Gaiazzo,

a yong and valiaunte gentleman, whose Countreye lyeth on this

side the Mountaines, and was verye famylyar with the Earle of

Massino. This vnfaythful Alcina and cruel Medea had no soner

cast hir Eye vppon Signor di Gaiazzo, but was pierced with loue

in sutch wise, as if forthwith shee had not attayned hir

desyres, she would haue run mad, bycause that Gentleman bare a

certayne statelye representatyon in hys Face, and promysed sutch

dexteritie in hys deedes, as sodaynly she thought him to be the

man that was able to staunch hir filthy thurst. And therfore so

gently as she could, gave ouer hir Ardizzino, with whom she

vtterly refused to speake, and shunned hys company when she saw

him, and by shutting the gates agaynst him: the Noble man was

notable to forbeare from throwing forth some words of choler,

wherby she tooke occasion both to expell him, and also to beare

hym sutch displeasure, as then she conspired his death, as

afterwards you shall perceyue. This greate hatred was the cause

that she fell in loue as you haue harde wyth the Counte of

Gaiazzo, who shewed vnto him all signe of Amitye, and seeing

that hee made no greate sute vnto hir, she wrote vnto him in

this manner.

_The Letter of Bianca Marie, to the Counte of Gaiazzo._

Sir, I doubt not by knowing the state of my degree, but that ye

blush to see the violence of my mynd, which passing the limites

of modesty, that ought to guard sutch a Lady as I am, forceth me

(vncertayn of the cause) to doe you vnderstand the gryef that

doeth torment me, which is of sutch constraynt, as if of

curtesie ye do not vouchsafe to come vnto me, you shall commyt

two faults, the one leauing the thing worthy for you to loue and

regard, and which deserueth not to be cast of, the other in

causing the Death of hir, that for Loue of you, is bereft of

rest: wherby loue hath uery little in me to sease vpon, either

of heart or liberty. The ease of which gryef proceedeth from

your only grace, which is able to vanquyshe hir, whose

victorious hap hath conquered all other, and who attending your

resolut aunswer, shal rest vnder the mercifull refuge of hope,

whych deceiuing hir, shal se by that very meanes the wretched

end of hir that is al your owne.

Bianca Maria Countesse of Celant.

The yong Lorde mutch maruelled at this message, were it for that

already hee was in loue with hir, and that for loue of his

friend Ardizzino, durst not be known therof, or for that he

feared she wold be straught of wits, if she were despised, he

determined to goe vnto hir, and yet stayed thinking it not to be

the part of a faythfull companyon to deceiue his Friend: but in

the end pleasure surmounting reason, and the beauty ioyned wyth

the good grace of the Lady hauing blinded him, and bewitched his

wits so wel as Ardizzino, he toke his way towards hir house,

who waited for him wyth good deuotion, whither being arriued, he

failed not to vse like spech that Valperga did, either of them

(after certain reuerences and other fewe words) minding and

desyringe one kinde of intertaynement. This practize dured

certayn months, and the Countesse was so farre rapt with her new

louer, as she only employed hir self to please him, and he

shewed himself so affected as therby she thought to rule and

gouerne him in all things: wherof she was afterwards deceiued as

you shall vnderstand the maner. Ardizzino seing himself wholly

abandoned the presence and loue of his Lady, knowing that she

railed vpon him in al places where she came, departed Pauia

halfe out of his wittes for Anger, and so strayed from comely

ordyr by reason of his rage, as hee displayed the Countesse thre

times more liuely in hir colours, than she could be paynted,

and reproued hir wyth the termes of the vilest and moste common

strumpet that euer ran at rouers, or shot at random. Bianca

Maria vnderstode hereof, and was aduertised of the vile report

that Ardizzino spread of hir, throughout Lombardie, which

chaffed hir in sutch wyse as she fared like the Bedlem fury,

ceasing night nor day to playne the vnkindnes and folly of hir

reiected louer: somtimes saying, that she had iust cause so to

do, then flattering hir selfe, alledged, that men were made of

purpose to suffer sutch follyes as were wroughte by hir, and

where they termed themselues to bee Women's Seruauntes, they

ought at theyr Mystresse Handes to endure what pleased them.

In the end, not able any longer to restrayne hir choler, ne

vanquish the appetite of reuenge, purposed at all aduenture to

prouide for the death of her auncient Enimy, and that by meanes

of him whom she had now tangled in her Nettes. See the

vnshamefastnesse of this mastife bitche, and the rage of that

Female Tiger, howe shee goeth about to arme one friend against

an other, and was not content onely to abuse the Counte Gaiazzo,

but deuised how to make him the manqueller. And as one night

they were in the middest of their embracements, she began

pitifully to weepe and sigh, in sutch wise as a man would haue

thought (by the vexation of hir hearte) that the soule and body

would haue parted. The younge Lorde louingly enquired the cause

of hir heauinesse: and sayd vnto hir, that if any had done hir

displeasure, hee would reuenge hir cause to hir contentment.

She hearing him say so, (then in studie vpon the deuice of hir

Enimie's death) spake to the Counte in this manner: "You know

sir, that the thing whych moste tormenteth the Gentle heart and

minde that can abide no wronge, is defamation of honoure and

infamous reporte. Thus mutch I say for that the Lord of Massino,

(who to say the trouth, was fauoured of me in like sorte as you

be now) hath not been ashamed to publishe open slaunders agaynst

me, as thoughe I were the arrantest Whore that euer had giuen

her self ouer to the Galley slaues alongs the shore of Scicile.

If he had vaunted the fauour which I haue done him but to

certayne of his privat Friendes, I had incurred no slaunder at

all, mutch lesse any lyttle suspition, but hearyng the common

reportes, the wrongfull Woordes and wycked brutes that he hath

raysed on me: I beseech you syr, to do me reason that he may

feele his offence and the smart for his committed fault against

hir that is al yours." The Lord Sanseuerino hearyng this

discourse, promised hir to do hys best, and to teache Valperga

to talke more soberly of hir, whom he was not worthy for to

serue, but in thought. Notwithstandyng, he sayde more than he

ment to do, for he knew Ardizzino to be so honest, sage and

curteous a personage, as hee would neyther doe nor say any thing

without good cause, and that Ardizzino had iuster quarell

agaynst him, by takyng that from hym whych hee loued (althoughe

it was after his discontinuance from that place, and vpon the

onely request of hir.) Thus he concluded in mind styl to remayne

the fryend of Ardizzino, and yet to spend his time with the

Countesse, which he did the space of certayn months without

quarelling with Valperga, that was retired to Pauie, with whom

he was conuersant, and liued familiarly, and most commonly vsed

one table and bed togither. Bianca Maria seeing that the Lord of

Gaiazzo cared not mutch for hir, but onely for his pleasure,

determined to vse like practise against him, as she did to hir

former louer, and to banish him from hir House. So that when he

came to see hir, either she was sicke, or hir affaires were

sutch, as she could not kepe hym company: or else hir gate was

shut vpon him. In the end (playing double or quit) she prayed

the sayd Lord to shewe hir sutch pleasure and friendship, as to

come no more vnto hir, bicause she was in termes to goe home to

hir husband the Counte of Celant, who had sent for hir, and

feared least his seruaunts shoulde finde her house ful of

suters, alleaging that she had liued long inoughe in that most

sinful life, the lighest faultes whereof were to heynous for

dames of hir port and calling, concluding that so long as she

lyued she would beare him good affection for the Honest Company

and conuersation had betwene them, and for hys curtesie towards

hir. The yong Earle, were it that he gaue creadit vnto hir tale

or not, made as though he did beleue the same, and without

longer dyscourse, forbare approche vnto hir house, and droue out

of his heade al the Amorous affection which he caried to the

Piedmont Circes. And to the ende he might haue no cause to

thinke vpon hir, or that his presence should make hym slaue

againe to hir that first pursued him, he retired in good time to

Millan: by which retire hee avoided that mishap, wherwith at

length this Pestilent women would haue cut him ouer the shinnes,

euen when his mind was least theron. Such was the malice and

mischief of hir heart, who ceasing to play the whore, applied

hir whole pastime to murder. Gaiazzo being departed from Pauie,

thys Venus once agayne assayed the embracements of hir

Ardizzino, and knew not wel how to recouer hym agayne, bycause

she feared that the other had discouered the Enterpryse of his

Murder. But what dare not shee attempte whose mynde is slaue to

sinne? The first assayes be harde, and the minde doubtfull, and

conscience gnaweth vpon the worme of repentaunce, but the same

once nousled in vice, and rooted in the heart, it is more

pleasaunte, and gladsome for the wicked to execute, than vertue

is familiar to those that follow hir: So that shame separate

from before the eyes of youth, riper age noursed in impudency,

their sight is so daseled, as they can see nothing that eyther

shame or feare can make them blush, which was the cause that

this Lady, continuinge still in hir mischiefe, so mutch

practised the freendes of hym whom she desired to kill, and made

sutch fit excuse by hir Ambassades, as hee was content to speake

to hir, and to here hir Iustifications, whych were easy inough

to doe, the Iudge being not very guilty. Shee promised and swore

that if the fault were proued not to be in him, neuer man should

see Bianca Maria, (so long as she lyued) to be other than a

friend and slaue to the Lord Ardizzino, wholly submitting

hirselfe vnto his will and pleasure. See how peace was

capitulated betweene the two reconciled Louers, and what were

the articles of the same, the Lorde of Massino entringe

Possession agayne of the fort that was reuolted, and was long

tyme in the power of another. But when he was seazed agayne, the

Lady saw full wel, that hir recouered friend was not so hard to

please, as the other was, and that wyth him she liued at greater

liberty. Continuing then their amorous Daunce, and Ardizzino

hauing no more care but to reioyce himselfe, nor hys Lady, but

to cherishe and make mutch of hir friend, beholde eftsoones the

desire of Bloud and wyll of murder, newly reuiued in that new

Megera, who incited (I knowe not with what rage,) fansied to

haue him slayne, whych refused to kill hym, whom at this present

shee loued as hirselfe. And he that had inquired the cause

thereof, I thyncke none other reason coulde he rendred, but that

a braynelesse heade and reasonlesse minde, doe thincke most

notable murders, and myschiefe be easie to be brought to passe,

who so strangely proceeded in disordred Lustes, which in fine

caused their myserable shame, and ruine, wyth the death of

hirselfe and hym, whom she had stirred to the fact, boldeninge

him by persuasion, to make him beleue Vyce to bee Vertue, and

Gloriously commended hym in hys follies, whych you shall heare

by readinge at lengthe the discourse of thys Hystory. Bianca

Maria, seeing hirselfe in full possession of hir Ardizzino,

purposed to make hym chiefe executioner of the murder, by hir

intended, vpon Gaiazzo, for the doing whereof one night holdinge

hym betwene hir armes, after shee had long time dalyed with hym,

like a cunninge Maistresse of hir Art, in the ende weauinge and

trayning hir treason at large, she sayd thus vnto him: "Syr, of

long time I haue bene desirous to require a good turne at your

hands, but fearing to trouble you, and thereupon to be denied,

I thought not to be importunate: and albeit the matter toucheth

you, yet did I rather holde my peace then to here refusall of a

thinge, which your selfe ought to profer, the same concerning

you." "Madame," sayd hir Louer, "you know the matter neede to be

haynous and of great importaunce, that I should deny you,

specially if it concerne the bleamish of your honor. But you say

the same doth touch mee somewhat neerely, and therefore if

ability be in me, spare not to vtter it, and I wyll assay your

satisfaction to the vttermost of my power." "Syr," sayd she,

"is the Counte of Gaiazzo one of your very frends?" "I thinke"

(aunswered Valperga) "that he is one of the surest freends I

haue, and in respect of whose frendship, I will hazarde my selfe

for him no lesse than for my Brother, being certaine that if I

have neede of him, he will not fayle to do the like for me. But

wherefore doe you aske me that question?" "I will then tel you,"

sayd the Traytresse (kissing him so sweetely as euer he felt the

like of any Woman,) "for somutch as you be so deceyued of your

opinion in him who is wicked in dissembling of that, which

maliciously lieth hidden in hys heart. And briefly to say the

effect: assure your selfe hee is the greatest and most mortall

Ennimy that you haue in the Worlde. And to the intent that you

do not think this to be some forged Tale, of light inuention, or

that I heard the report of some not worthy of credit, I will say

nothinge but that whych hymselfe did tell me, when in your

absence he vsed my company. He sware vnto me, without

declaration of the cause, that hee coulde neuer bee mery, nor

hys mynde in rest, before hee saw you cut in pieces, and shortly

woulde giue you sutch assaulte, as al the dayes of our lyfe,

you shoulde neuer haue lust or mynde on Ladies loue. And albeit

then, I was in choler agaynst you, and that you had ministred

some cause, and reason of hatred, yet our first loue had taken

sutch force in my hart, and I besought him not to do that

enterprise so long as I was in place where you did remayne,

because I cannot abide (wythout present death) to see your

finger ake, mutch lesse your lyfe berieued from you. Vnto which

my sute his Eare was deafe, swearing still and protesting that

either he would be slayne himselfe, or else dispatch the Countee

Ardizzino. I durst not" (quod she) "ne wel could as then

aduertise you thereof, for the smal accesse that my seruants had

vnto your lodging, but now I pray you to take good heede by

preuenting his diuelishe purpose: For better it were for you to

take his lyfe, than he to kill and murder you, or otherwyse work

you mischiefe, and you shal be esteemed the wiser man, and he

pronounced a traytor to seeke the death of him, that bare him

sutch good will. Doe then accordinge to myne aduice, and before

he begin, doe you kill hym, by the which you shall saue your

selfe, and doe the part of a valyaunt knight, bisides, the

satisfying of the mynde of hir that aboue al pleasures of the

World doth chiefly desire the same. Experience now will let me

proue whether you loue me or not, and what you will do for hir

that loueth you so dearly, who openeth this conspired murder,

aswell for your safety, as for lengthening of the lyfe of hir,

which wythout yours cannot endure: graunt this my sute (O friend

most deare) and suffer me not in sorrowfull plight to be

despoyled of thy presence: and wilt thou suffer that I shoulde

dy, and that yonder Proude, Trayterous, and vnfaythfull varlet

should liue to laugh mee to scorne?" If the Lady had not added

those last words to hir foolish sermon, perchaunce she might

haue prouoked Ardizzino to folow hir Counsell: but seeing hir so

obstinately continue hir request, and to prosecute the same with

sutch violence, concluding vpon hir owne quarrel, his conscience

throbbed, and his minde measured the malice of that Woman, with

the honesty of him, against whom that tale was told, who knew

his frend to be so sound and trusty, as willingly he would not

do the thinge that should offend him, and therefore would geue

no credit to false report without good, and apparant proofe:

for which cause hee was persuaded that it was a malicious tale

deuised by some that went about to sowe debate betweene those

two friendly earles. Notwithstanding, vpon further pause, and

not to make hir chafe, or force hir into rage, he promised the

execution of hir cursed wil, thanking hir for hir aduertisement,

and that he would prouide for hys defence and surety: and to the

intent that shee might thyncke he went about to performe his

promise, he tooke his leaue of hir to goe to Millan, which hee

did, not to follow the abhominable will of that rauenous

Mastife, but to reueale the matter to his companion, and direct

the same as it deserued. Being arriued at Millan, the chiefe

Citty of Lombardy, he imparted to Gaiazzo from poynct to poynct

the discourse of the Countesse, and the peticion shee made vnto

hym, vppon the conclusion of hir Tale: "O God" (sayd the lord

Sanseuerino,) "who can beware the traps of Whoores, if by thy

grace our hands be not forbidden, and our hearts and thoughts

guided by thy goodnes? Is it possible that the Earth can breede

a Monster more pernicious than this most Pestilent Beast? Thys

is truely the grift of hir Father's vsury, and the stench of all

hir Predecessours villanyes: it is impossible of a Kyte or

Cormerant to make a good Sparhauk, or Tercle gentle. This carion

no doubt is the Daughter of a Vilayne, sprong of the basest race

amongs the common people, whose mother was more fine than

chaste, more subtile than sober: this minion hath forsaken hir

husband, to erect bloudy Skaffoldes of murder amid the Nobles of

Italy: and were it not for the dishonour which I should get to

soyle my hands in the bloude of a Beast so corrupt, I woulde

teare hir with my Teeth in a hundreth Thousand peeces: how many

times hath she entreated mee before: in how many sundry sortes

with ioyned handes hath she besought mee to kill the Lorde

Ardizzino? Ah, my Companion, and right well beloued Freende, can

you thincke mee to bee so Trayterous, and Cowarde a Knaue, as

that I dare not tell to them to whome I beare displeasure what

mallice lurketh in my heart?" "By the fayth of a Gentleman,"

(sayd Ardizzino,) "I would be sory my mynd should seaze on sutch

Folly, but I am come to reueale thys vnto you, that the Song

might sound no more wythin myne eares. It behoueth vs then, sith

God hath kept vs hytherto, to avoyde the ayre of that infection,

that our braynes be not putrified, and from henceforth to fly

those Bloudsuckers, the Schollers of Venus: and truely great

dishonour would redound to vs, to kill one an other for the

onely pastime and sottish fansie of that mynion: I haue repented

me an hundred times when she first mooued mee of the deuice to

kill you, that I did not geeue a hundred Poignaladoes wyth my

Dagger, to stop the way by that example for all other to attempt

sutch Butcheries: for I am well assured that the mallyce whych

shee beareth you, proceedeth but of the delay you made for

satisfaction of hir murderous desire, whereof I thancke you, and

yelde my selfe in all causes to imploy my lyfe, and that I haue,

to do you seruice." "Leaue we of that talk" (sayd Gaiazzo) "for

I haue done but my duety, and that which ech Noble heart ought

to euery wight, doing wrong to none, but prone to help, and doe

good to all: whych is the true marke and Badge of Nobility.

Touching that malignant Strumpet, hir owne lyfe shall reuenge

the wrongs which she hath gone about to venge on vs. In meane

while let vs reioyce, and thincke the goods, and richesse shee

hath gotten of vs, wil not cause hir Bagges mutch to Strout and

Swel. To be short, she hath nothing whereby she may greatly

laugh vs to scorne, except our good entertainment of hir night

and day do prouoke hir: let other coyne the pence henceforth to

fill her Coafers, for of vs (so farre as I see) she is

deceyued." Thus the two Lordes passed forth their tyme, and in

all Companies where they came, they spent their Talke, and

Communication of the disordered lyfe of the Countesse of Celant.

The whole Citty also rang of the sleights and meanes she vsed to

trappe the Noblemen, and of her pollicies to be rid of them when

her thirst was stanched, or diet grew lothesome for want of

chaunge. And that whych greued hir most, an Italyan Epigram

blased forth hir prowes to hir great dishonour, whereof the Copy

I cannot get, and some say that Ardizzino was the author: for it

was composed, when he was dispossessed of pacience: and if shee

coulde haue wreked hir will on the knights, I beleeue in hir

rage she would haue made an Anathomy of their Bones. Of whych

hir two enimies, Ardizzino was the greatest, agaynst whom hir

displeasure was the more, for that he was the first with whom

she entred skirmish. Nothing was more frequent in Pauy, than

villanous Iests, and Playes vppon the filthy Behauiour of the

Countesse, which made hir ashamed to goe out of hir Gates. In

the ende shee purposed to chaunge the Ayre and place, hoping by

that alteration to stay the Infamous Brute, and Slaunder: so she

came to Millan, where first she was inuested wyth state of

honour, in honest Fame of Chaste lyfe so longe as Vicount Hermes

liued, and then was not pursued to staunch the thirst of those

that did ordinarily draw at hir Fountayne. About the tyme that

she departed from Pauy, Dom Pietro de Cardone a Scicilian, the

Bastard Brother of the Counte of Colisano, whose Lieuetenaunt he

was, and their father slayn at the Battayle of Bicocca wyth a

band of horsemen arriued at Milan. This Scicilian was about the

age of one or two and twenty yeres, somwhat black of face,

but well made and sterne of countenance: whiles the Countesse

soiorned at Milan, this gentleman fell in loue with hir, and

searched all meanes he coulde to make hir hys friende, and to

enioy hir: who perceyuing him to be young, and a Nouice in

Skirmishes of Loue, lyke a Pigeon of the first coate, determined

to lure him, and to serue hir turne in that which shee purposed

to doe on those agaynst whom shee was outragiously offended. Now

the better to entice thys younge Lorde vnto her Fantasye, and to

catch hym wyth hir bayte, when hee passed through the Streate,

and saluted hir, and when he Syghed after the manner of the

Spaniard, rominge before hys Lady, shee shewed him an

indifferent mery Countenaunce, and sodaynely restrayned that

Cheere, to make hym taste the pleasure mingled with the soure of

one desire, which he could not tel how to accomplish: and the

more faynt was his hardines for that he was neuer practised in

the daliance and seruice of Lady of noble house or calling,

who thincking that the Gentlewoman was one of the Principall of

Millan, he was straungely vexed, and tormented for hir loue, in

sutch wyse as in the night he could not rest for fantasing, and

thynking vpon hir, and in the Day passed up and downe before the

Doore of her lodging. One eueninge for his disport hee went

forth to walke in company of another Gentleman, which well could

play vppon the Lute, and desired him to gieue awake vnto hys

Lady, that then for iealousie was harkeninge at hir window, both

of the sounde of the Instrument, and the Ditty of hir amorous

Knight, where the Gentleman song thys Sonet.

The death with trenchant dart, doth brede in brest sutch il,

As I cannot forget the smart, that thereby riseth stil.

Yet neerthelesse I am, the ill it selfe in deede,

That death with daily dolours deepe, within my breast doth breede.

I am my Mistresse thrall, and yet I doe not kno,

If she beare me good will at all, or if she loue or no.

My wound is made so large, with bitter wo in brest,

That still my heart prepares a place to lodge a carefull guest.

O dame that hath my lyfe and death at thy desire.

Come ease my mind, wher fancies flames doth burne like Ethna fire,

For wanting thee my life is death and doleful cheere,

And finding fauor in thy sight, my dayes are happy heere.

Then he began to sigh so terribly, as if already she had geuen

sentence, and difinitiue Iudgement of his farewell, and disputed

with his fellow in sutch sort, and wyth Opinion so assured of

hys contempt, as if he had bene in loue with some one of the

Infants of Spayne: for which cause he began very pitifully to

sing these verses.

That God that made my soule, and knows what I haue felt,

Who causeth sighes and sorows oft, the sely soule to swelt,

Doth see my torments now, and what I suffer still,

And vnderstands I tast mo griefs, than I can shew by skill.

Hee doth consent I wot, to my ill hap and woe,

And hath accorded with the dame that is my pleasaunt foe,

To make my boyling brest abound in bitter blisse,

And so bereue me of my rest, when heart his hope shall misse.

O what are not the songs, and sighs that louers haue,

When night and day with sweete desires, they draw vnto their graue,

Their grief by frendship growes, where ruth nor pity raynes,

And so like snow against the Sun, they melt away with pains.

My dayes must finish so, my destny hath it set,

And as the candle out I goe, before hir grace I get.

Before my sute be heard, my seruice throughly knowne,

I shalbe layd in Toumbe ful low, so colde as Marble stone.

To thee fayre Dame I cry, that makes my senses arre,

And plantest peace within my brest and then makes sodain war:

Yet at thy pleasure still, thou must my sowre make sweete,

In graunting me the fauour due, for faythfull Louers meete.

Which fauor geue me now, and to thy Noble mynde,

I doe remayne a Galley slaue, as thou by proofe shall finde.

And so thou shalt release my heart from cruell bandes,

And haue his fredome at thy wil that yelds into thy handes.

So rendring all to thee, the gods may ioyne vs both

Within one lawe and league of loue, through force of constant troth.

Then shalt thou mistresse be, of lyfe, of Limme and all,

My goods, my golde, and honour, loe! shall so be at thy call.

Thys gentle order of loue greatly pleased the Lady, and

therefore opened hir gate to let the Scicilian lorde, who seeing

hymselfe fauoured (beyond all hope) of his Lady, and cheerefully

intertayned, and welcommed with great curtesie stoode so still

astonnied, as if hee had beene fallen from the Cloudes: but she

which coulde teache hym good manner, to make hym the minister of

hir myschiefe, takynge hym by the hande, made hym sit downe vpon

a greene Bed besydes hir, and seeing that he was not yet

imboldened, for all hee was a Souldiour, shee shewed hir selfe

more hardy than hee, and firste assayled hym wyth talke,

sayinge: "Syr, I praye you thinke it not straunge, if at thys

houre of the nyght, I am bolde to cause you enter my house,

beinge of no great acquayntaunce wyth you, but by hearinge your

curteous salutations: and wee of thys Countrey bee somewhat more

at liberty than they in those partes from whence you come:

besides it lyketh mee well (as I am able) to honour straunge

gentlemen, and to retayne theym with right good willinge heart,

sith it pleaseth theym to honour mee wyth repayre vnto my house:

so shall you be welcome styll when you please to knocke at my

Gate, whych at all tymes I wyll to be opened for you, wyth no

lesse good wyll than if yee were my naturall Brother, the same

wyth all the thinges therein, it may please you to dispose as if

they were your own." Dom Pietro of Cardonne well satisfied, and

contented wyth thys vnlooked for kyndnesse, thanked her very

Curteously, humbly praying hir besides to dayne it in good

parte, if he were so bolde to make requeste of loue, and that it

was the onelye thynge which hee aboue all other desyred moste,

so that if shee would receiue him for hir friende and Seruaunt,

shee shoulde vnderstande him to be a Gentleman, which lightly

woulde promise nothing excepte the accomplishment did followe:

she that sawe a greater onset than she loked for, answered hym

smilyng with a very good grace: "Sir, I haue knowne very many

that haue vouched slipperie promyses, and proffered lordly

seruices vnto Ladies, the effect wherof if I myght once see,

I would not thinke that they coulde vanishe so soone, and

consume like smoake." "Madame" (sayde the Scicilian) "yf I fayle

in any thing which you commaunde mee, I praye to God neuer to

receiue any fauor or grace of those Curtesies whych I craue."

"If then" (quod shee) "you wyl promise to employ your selfe

aboute a businesse that I haue to do when I make request, I wyll

also to accept you for a friende, and graunt sutch secrecie as a

faithful louer can desyre of his Lady." Dom Pietro which would

have offred hym selfe in Sacrifice for hir, not knowyng hir

demaunde, tooke an othe, and promysed hir so lyghtly as madly

afterwardes he did put the same in proofe. Beholde the

preparatiues of the obsequies of their first loue, and the

guages of a bloudie Bed: the one was prodigall of hir honoure,

the other the tormente of his reputation, and neglected the

duety and honor of his state, which the house wherof he came,

commaunded hym to kepe. Thus all the nyght he remained with

Bianca Maria, who made him so wel to like hir good entertaynment

and imbracementes, as he neuer was out of her Company. And the

warie Circes fayned her self so fare in loue wyth hym, and vsed

so many toyes and gametricks of her filthy science, as he not

onelye esteemed hym selfe the happiest Gentleman of Scicilia,

but the most fortunate wight of all the Worlde, and by bibbing

of hir Wyne was so straungely charmed with the Pleasures of his

fayre Mystresse, as for hir sake he would haue taken vpon him

the whole ouerthrowe of Milan, so well as Blose of Cumes to

sette the Cittye of Rome on fire, if Tyberius Gracchus the

sedicious, woulde haue giuen it him in charge. Sutch is the

manner of wilde and foolish youth, whych suffreth it selfe to be

caried beyonde the boundes of reason. The same in time past did

ouerthrow many Realmes, and caused the chaunge of diuers

Monarchies: and truely vnseemely it is for a man to be subdued

to the will of a common strumpet. And as it is vncomly to submit

him selfe to sutch one, so not requisite to an honest and

vertuous Dame, his maried Wyfe. Which vnmanly deedes, be

occasions that diuers Foolishe Women commit sutch filthy factes,

with their inspekable trumperies begiling the simple man, and

perchance through to mutch losing the Bridle raynes to the

lawfull Wyfe, the poore man is strangely deceyued by some

adulterous varlet, whych at the Wyue's commaundment, when she

seeth oportunity, wil not shrinke to hazarde the honour of them

both, in sutch wise as they serue for an example vppon a common

Scaffold to a whole generation and Posterity. I wyll not seeke

farre of for examples, being satisfied with the folly of the

Bastard Cardonne, to please the cruelty and malice of that

infernall fury the Countesse, who hauinge lulled, flattered,

and bewitched with hir louetricks (and peraduenture with some

charmed drinke) her new Pigeon, seeinge it time to solicite his

promise, to be reuenged of those, whych thought no more of hir

conspiracies and trayterous deuises, and also when the time was

come for punishinge of hir whoredome, and chastising of the

breach of fayth made to hir husbande, and of hir intended

murders, and some of them put in execution, she I say, desirous

to see the ende of that, which in thought she had contryued,

vppon a day tooke Dom Pietro aside, and secretly began this

Oration: "I take God to witnes (sir) that the request which I

pretend presently to make, proceedeth of desire rather that the

Worlde may know how iustly I seeke meanes to mayntayne myne

honour, than for desire of reuenge, knowinge very well, that

there is nothing so precious, and deere vnto a woman, as the

preseruation of that inestimable Iewell, specially in a Lady of

that honourable degre whych I mayntayne amonge the best. And to

the intent I seeme not tedious with prolixity of words, or vse

other than direct circumstances before him that hath offred iust

reuenge for the wrongs I haue receyued: knowe you sir, that for

a certain tyme I continued at Pauie, kepynge a house and Trayne

so honest, as the best Lords were contented wyth myne ordinarye.

It chaunced that two honest Gentlemen of Noble House haunted my

Palace in lyke sort, and with the same intertainment whych as

you see, I doe receiue ech Gentleman, who beyng well intreated

and honoured of me, in the ende forgat themselues so farre, as

without respect of my state and callinge, wythout regard of the

race and family wherof they come, haue attempted the slaunder of

my good name, and vtter subuersion of my renoume: and sufficient

it was not for them thus to deale with mee poore Gentlewoman,

without desert (excepte it were for admyttyng them to haue

accesse vnto my house) but also to continue their Blasphemies,

to myne extreame reproach and shame: and howe true the same is,

they that know me can well declare, by reason whereof, the

vulgar people prone and ready to wycked reportes, haue conceiued

sutch opynion of me, as for that they see me braue and fine in

Apparell, and specyally throughe the slaunderous speache of

those gallantes, do deeme and repute me for a common Whoore,

wherof I craue none other wytnesse than your selfe and my

conscience. And I sweare vnto you, that sith I came to Milan, it

is you alone that hath vanquished, and made the Triumphe of my

Chastytye: and yf you were absent from this Citye, I assure you

on my fayth that I would not tarry heere XXIIII. houres. These

infamous ruffians I say, these persecuters and termagantes of my

good name, haue chased mee out of all good Cityes, and made me

to be abhorred of ech honest company, that weary I am of my

lyfe, and lothe to lyue any longer except spedye redresse bee

had for reuengement of thys wronge: wherefore except I finde

some Noble Champion and Valyaunte Personage to requyte these

Vyllains for their spitefull Speach blased on me in euerye

Corner of Towne and Countreye, and to paye them theyr rewarde

and hire that I may lyue at Lybertye and quyet, Sorrowe wyll

eyther consume mee or myne owne handes shall hasten spedye

Death." And in speakyng those Woordes, shee beganne to weepe

with sutch abundance of teares streaming downe hir Cheekes and

Necke of Alabaster hewe, as the Scicilian whych almost had none

other God but the Countesse, sayd vnto hir: "And what is he,

that dare molest and slaunder hir that hath in hir puissaunce so

many Souldiers and men of Warre? I make a vow to God, that if I

know the names of those two arrant villaynes, the which haue so

defamed my Mystresse name, the whole worlde shall not saue their

liues, whose carrion Bodies I will hew into so many gobbets, as

they haue members vpon the same: wherefore Madame" (sayd he,

imbracing her) "I pray you to grieue your selfe no more, commit

your wronges to me, only tell me the names of those Gallaunts,

and afterwards you shall vnderstande what difference I make of

woorde and deede, and if I doe not trimme and dresse theym so

finely, as hereafter they shall haue no neede of Barber, neuer

trust me any more." Shee, as reuiued from death to lyfe, kyssed

and embraced him a thousand tymes, thankinge hym for his good

will, and offering him all that she had. In the ende she tolde

him that hir enimies were the counties of Massino and Gaiazzo,

which but by theyr deaths alone were not able to amend and

repayre hir honour. "Care not you" (sayde hee) "for before that

the Sunne shall spreade his Beames twice 24 houres vpon the

earth, you shall heare newes, and know what I am able to do for

the chastisement of those deuils." As he promised, hee fayled

not to do: for wythin a whyle after as Ardizzino was goinge to

supper into the Citty, he was espyed by hym, that had in company

attendaunt vppon hym fyue and twenty men of Armes, which waited

for Ardizzino, in a Lane on the left hand of the Streate called

Merauegli, leading towards the church of Sainct Iames, through

which the Countee must needes passe. Who as he was going very

pleasantly disposed with his brother, and 5 or 6 of his men, was

immediately assayled on euery side, and not knowinge what it

ment, would haue fled, but the Wayes, and Passages were stopped

rounde aboute: to defende himselfe it auayled not hauing but

their single Swords, and amid the troupe of sutch a bande that

were throughly armed, which in a moment had murdred, and cut in

peeces all that company. And although it was late, yet the

Countie Ardizzino many times named Dom Pietro, which caused hym

to be taken, and imprisoned by the Duke of Bourbon, that was

fled out of Fraunce, and then was Lieutenaunt for the Emperour

Charles the fifth in Milan. Whosoeuer was astonned and amazed

with that Imprisonment, it is to bee thoughte that the Scicilan

was not greatly at his ease and quiet, who needed no torments to

force him confesse the fact, for of his owne accorde voluntarily

he dysclosed the same, but he sayde he was prouoked thervnto by

the persuasion of Bianca Maria telling the whole discourse as

you haue heard before. She had already intelligence of this

chaunce, and might haue fled and saued hir selfe before the fact

(by the confession of Dom Pietro) had ben discouered, and

attended in some secrete place till that stormie time had bene

calmed and appeased. But God which is a rightfull iudge woulde

not suffer hir wickednesse stretch any further, sith she hauing

found out sutch a nimble and wilful executioner, the Countee of

Gaiazzo could not long haue remained aliue, who then in good

time and happy houre was absent out of the City. So soone as Dom

Pietro had accused the Countesse, the Lord of Bourbon sente her

to pryson, and being examined, confessed the whole matter,

trustinge that hir infinite numbre of Crownes woulde haue

corrupted the Duke, or those that represented his person. But

hir Crownes and Lyfe passed all one way. For the day after hir

imprisonment shee was condempned to lose hir heade: and in the

meane time Dom Pietro was saued, by the diligence and suite of

the Captaynes, and was employed in other Warres, to whom the

Duke gaue him, for that he was lothe to lose so notable a

Souldiour, the very right hand of his Brother the Countee of

Colisano. The Countesse hauing sentence pronounced vppon hir,

but trusting for pardon, would not prepare hir selfe to dy, ne

yet by any meanes craue forgiuenes of hir faults at the hands of

God, vntil she was conueyed out of the Castell, and ledde to the

common place of execution, where a Scaffolde was prepared for

hir to play the last Acte of thys Tragedy. Then the miserable

Lady began to know hirselfe, and to confesse hir faults before

the people, deuoutly praying God, not to haue regard to hir

demerites, ne yet to determine his wrath agaynst hir, or enter

with hir in iudgement, for so mutch as if the same were decreed

accordinge to hir iniquity, no saluation was to be looked for.

She besought the people to pray for hir, and the countee of

Gaiazzo that was absent, to pardon hir malice, and treason which

she had deuised agaynst him. Thus miserably and repentantly dyed

the Countesse, which in hir lyfe refused not to imbrace and

follow any wickednes, no mischiefe shee accompted euill done, so

the same were imployed for hir pleasure and pastime. A goodly

example truely for the youth of our present time, sith the most

part indifferently do launch into the gulfe of disordred lyfe,

suffring themselues to bee plunged in the puddles of their owne

vayne conceiptes, without consideration of the mischieues that

may ensue. If the Lord of Cardonne had not bene beloued of his

generall, into what calamity had he fallen for yeldinge himselfe

a pray to that bloudy Woman who had more regarde to the light,

and wilfull fansie of hir, whom he serued like a slaue, than to

his duety and estimation? And truely all sutch be voyde of their

right wits, which thincke themselues beloued of a Whoore. For

their amity endureth no longer than they sucke from their

pursses and bodies any profit or pleasure. And because almost

euery day semblable examples be seene, I will leaue of this

discourse, to take me to a matter, not farre more pleasaunt than

this, although founded vpon better grounde, and stablished upon

loue, the first onset of lawfull mariage, the successe whereof

chaunced to murderous ende, and yet the same intended by neyther

of the beloued: as you shall be iudge by the continuance of

reading of the history ensuing. Beare with me good Ladyes (for

of you alone I craue this pardon) for introducing the Whoorish

lyfe of the Countesse, and hir bloudy enterprise: bicause I know

right wel, that recitall of murders, and bloudy facts wearieth

the mindes of those that loue to lyue at rest, and wish for

fayre weather after the troublesome stormes of raging Seas, no

lesse than the Pilote and wise Mariner, hauing long time endured

and cut the perillous straicts of the Ocean Sea. And albeit the

corruption of our nature be so great, as follies delighte vs

more than ernest matters fraught wyth reason and wisedome, yet I

thinke not that our mindes be so peruerted and diuided from

trouth, but sometimes wee care and seeke to speake more grauely

than the countrey Hynde, or more soberly than they, whose lyues

do beare the marke of infamy, and be to euery wight notorious

for the onely name of their vocation. Suffiseth vs that an

Hystory, be it neuer so full of sporte and pleasure, do bring

with it instruction of our lyfe, and amendement of our maners.

And wee ought not to be so curious or scrupulous, to reiect

merry and pleasant deuises that be voide of harmeful talke, or

wythout sutch glee as may hynder the education of Youth

procliue, and ready to choose that is corrupt, and naught. The

very bookes of holy scriptures doe describe vnto vs persons that

bee vicious, and so detestable as nothing more, whose factes

vnto the simple may seeme vnseemely, vpon the least recitall of

the same. And shall wee therefore reiect the readinge, and

eschue those holy bookes? God forbid, but with diligence to

beware, that we do not resemble those that be remembred there

for example, forsomutch as speedely after sinne, ensueth

grieuous, and as sodayne punishment. For which cause I haue

selected these Historyes, of purpose to aduertise Youth, how

they that follow the way of damnable iniquity, fayle not shortly

after their great offences, and execution of their outragious

vices, to feele the iust and mighty hand of God, who guerdoneth

the good for their good works and deedes, and rewardeth the euil

for their wickednes and mischiefe. Now turne we then to the

Hystory of two, the rarest Louers that euer were, the

performaunce, and finishinge whereof, had it bene so prosperous

as the beginning, they had ioyed ioyfully the Fruicts of their

intent, and two noble houses of one City reconciled to

perpetuall frendship.