Zilia lyke a disdaynefull Dame, made but a Iest at theese
Letters and Complayntes of the infortunate Louer, saying that
she was very well content with his Seruice: and that when he
should perfourme the tyme of his probation, shee shoulde see if
he were worthy to bee admitted into the Felowship of theym which
had made sufficient proofe of the Order, and Rule of Loue. In
the meane tyme Philiberto rode by great Iourneys (as we haue
sayde before) towardes the goodly, and pleasaunte countrey of
Fraunce, wherein Charles the Seuenth that tyme did raygne, who
miraculously (But gieue the Frencheman leaue to flatter, and
speake well of hys owne Countrey, accordinge to the flatteringe,
and vauntinge Nature of that Nation) chased the Englishemen out
of hys Landes, and Auncient Patrimony in the yeare of our Lord
1451. This Kynge had hys Campe then Warrefaringe in Gascoine,
whose Lucke was so Fortunate as hee expelled hys Ennymies, and
left no Place for theym to Fortyfy there, whych Incouraged the
Kynge to followe that good Occasion, and by Prosecutinge hys
Victoryous Fortune, to Profligate out of Normandie, and to
dispatch himselfe of that Ennemy, into whose Handes, and
seruitude the Countrey of Guyene was ryghtly delyuered, and
Victoryously wonne, and gotten by the Englishmen. The kynge then
beeinge in hys Campe in Normandie, the Piedmount Gentleman the
Lorde of Virle aforesayde, Repayred thereunto to Serue hym in
hys Person, where hee was well knowne of some Captaynes whych
had seene hym at other tymes, and in place where worthy
Gentlemen are wonte to Frequente, and in the Duke of Sauoyes
Courte, whych the Frenchemen dyd very mutch Haunte, because the
Earle of Piedmont that then was Duke of Sauoy had Marryed
Iolanta, the seconde daughter of Charles the Seuenth. Theese
Gentlemen of Fraunce were very mutch sory for the Mysfortune of
the Lord of Virle, and knowinge hym to be one of the Brauest,
and Lustyest Men of Armes that was in his tyme within the
Country of Piedmont, presented him before the King, commending
vnto hys grace the vertue, gentlenesse, and valiaunce of the man
of Warre: who after hee had done his reuerence accordinge to hys
duety, whych hee knew ful wel to doe, declared vnto him by
signes that he was come for none other intent, but in those
Warres to serue hys Maiestye: whom the King heard and
thankefully receyued assuryng himself and promising very mutch
of the dumbe Gentleman for respect of his personage which was
comely and wel proportioned, and therefore represented some
Force and greate Dexterity: and that whych made the king the
better to fantasie the Gentleman, was the reporte of so many
worthy men which extolled euen to the heauens the prowesse of
the Piedmont knight. Whereof he gaue assured testimony in the
assault which the king made to deliuer Roane, the Chyefe Citye
and defence of all Normandie, in the year of our Lord 1451.
where Philiberto behaued himself so valiantly as he was the
first that mounted upon the Wals, and by his Dexterity and
inuincyble force, made way to the souldiers in the breche,
whereby a little while after they entred and sacked the Enemies,
dryuing them out of the Citye, and wherein not long before, that
is to say 1430. the duke of Somerset caused Ioane the Pucelle to
be burnt. The king aduertised of the Seruice of the Dumbe
Gentleman, to recompence him according to his desert, and
bycause hee knewe hym to bee of a good house, he made him a
Gentleman of his Chambre, and gaue him a good pension, promysing
him moreouer to continue hys liberality, when he should see him
prosecute in time to come, the towardnesse of seruice which he
had so haply begon. The dumbe Gentleman thanking the King very
humbly, both for the present pryncely reward, and for promise in
time to come, lifted vp his hand to heauen as taking God to
witnesse of the faith, which inuiolable he promysed to keepe
vnto his Prynce: which he did so earnestly, as hardely he had
promysed, as well appeared in a Skirmishe betweene the Frrench,
and their auncient Enimies the Englysh-Men, on whose side was
the valiaunt and hardy Captayne the Lord Talbot, who hath
eternized his memory in the victories obtained vpon that People,
which sometimes made Europa and Asia to tremble, and appalled
the monstruous and Warlike Countrey of Affrica. In this
conflycte the Piedmont Knighte combated with the Lorde Talbot,
agaynste whome he had so happy successe, as vpon the shock and
incountre he ouerthrewe both man and Horse, which caused the
discomfiture of the Englishe Men: who after they had horsed
agayne their Captain fled amaine, leauing the field bespred with
dead Bodyes and bludshed of their Companions. This victory
recouered sutch corage and boldnes to the French, as from that
tyme forth the Englishmen began with their places and forts to
lose also theyr hartes to defend themselues. The king excedingly
wel contented wyth the prowesse and valiance of the dumbe
Gentleman, gaue him for seruice past the Charge of V.C.
men of armes, and indued him with some possessions, attending
better fortune to make him vnderstand howe mutch the vertue of
valiance ought to be rewarded and cheryshed by Prynces that be
aided in their Necessity with the Dylygence of sutch a vertuous
and noble Gentleman. In lyke manner when a Prynce hath something
good in himself, he can do no lesse but loue and fauor that
which resembleth himself by Pryncely Conditions, sith the Vertue
in what soeuer place it taketh roote, can not chose but produce
good fruicte, the vse whereof far surmounts them all which
approche the place, where these first seedes of Nobility were
throwen. Certaine dayes after the kinge desirous to reioyce his
Knights and Captaines that were in his trayne, and desirous to
extinguish quite the woefull time which so long space held
Fraunce in fearefull silence, caused a triumph of Turney to bee
proclaimed within the City of Roane, wherein the Lord of Virle
was deemed and esteemed one of the best, whych further did
increase in him the good wyl of the kyng, in sutch wyse as he
determined to procure his health, and to make him haue his
speache againe. For he was verye sorry that a Gentleman so
valiant was not able to expresse his minde, which if it might be
had in counsel it would serve the state of a commonwealth, so
wel as the force and valor of his body had til then serued for
defence and recovery of his country. And for that purpose he
made Proclamation by sound of Trumpet throughout the prouinces
as wel within his own kingdome, as the regions adioyning vpon
the same, that who so euer could heale that dumb Gentleman,
shoulde haue ten thousand Frankes for recompence. A Man myght
then haue seene thousands of Physitians assemble in fielde, not
to skirmish with the Englysh men, but to combat for reward in
recouery of the pacient's speache, who begon to make sutch Warre
against those ten thousand Frankes, as the kyng was afrayde that
the cure of that disease could take no effect: and for that
cause ordained furthermore, that whosoeuer would take in hand to
heale the dumbe, and did not keepe promyse within a certaine
prefixed time, should pay the sayd summe, or for default thereof
should pledge his head in gage. A Man myght then haue seene
those Phisicke Maysters, aswell beyonde the Mountaynes, as in
Fraunce it selfe, retire home againe, bleeding at the Nose,
cursing with great impiety their Patrones, Galen, Hypocrates,
and Auicen, and blamed with more than reprochful Woordes, the
Arte wherewith they fished for honor and richesse. This brute
was spred so far, and babblyng Fame had already by mouth of her
Trump publyshed the same throughout the most part of the
Prouinces, Townes, and Cities neare and farre off to Fraunce, in
sutch wyse as a Man woulde haue thought that the two young men
(which once in the tyme of the Macedonian Warres brought Tydings
to Varinius that the king of Macedon was taken by the Consul
Paulus Emilius) had ben vagarant and wandering abrode to carry
Newes of the king's edicte for the healing of the Lord of Virle.
Which caused that not only the brute of the Proclamation, but
also the Credyte and reputatyon wherein the sayd Lord was with
the French king arriued euen at Montcal and passed from mouth to
mouth, til at length Zilia the principal cause thereof
vnderstode the newes, which reioyced hir very mutch, seing the
firme Amitie of the dumbe Lord, and the syncere faith of hym in
a promise vnworthy to be kept, for so mutch as where Fraude and
feare doe rule in Heartes of Men, relygyon of promise, specially
the Place of the gyuen Fayth, surrendreth hys force and
reuolteth, and is no more bound but to that which by good wyll
he woulde obserue. Nowe thoughte shee, thoughte? nay rather shee
assured hir selfe, that the Gentleman for all hys wrytten Letter
was stil so surprysed wyth hir Loue, and kindled wyth her fire
in so ample wyse, as when hee was at Montcall: and therefore
determyned to goe to Paris, not for desire shee had to see hir
pacient and penetenciarie, but rather for couetise of the ten
thousand Francks, wherof already shee thought hir self assured,
making good accompt that the dumbe Gentleman when hee should see
himself discharged of his promise, for gratifying of hir, would
make no stay to speak to the intent she myght beare away both
the prayse and Money, whereof all others had failed tyll that
tyme. Thus you see that she, whome honest Amitye and long
service could lytle induce to compassion and desire to giue some
ease vnto hir moste earnest louer, yelded hir selfe to couetous
gaine and greadinesse for to encrease hir Rychesse. O cursed
hunger of Money, how long wilt thou thus blinde the reason and
Sprytes of men? Ah perillous gulfe, how many hast thou
ouerwhelmed within thy bottomlesse Throte, whose glory, had it
not bene for thee, had surpassed the Clouds, and bene equall
with the bryghtnesse of the Sunne, where now they bee obscured
wyth the thicknesse of thy fogges and Palpable darknesse. Alas,
the fruicts whych thou bryngest forth for all thine outewarde
apparance, conduce no felycity to them that bee thy possessors,
for the dropsey that is hydden in their Mynde, whych maketh them
so mutch the more drye, as they drynke ofte in that thirsty
Fountaine, is cause of their alteration: and moste miserable is
that insaciable desire the Couetous haue to glut their appetite,
whych can receiue no contentment. Thys onely Couetousnesse
sometimes procured the Death of the great and rych Romane
Crassus who through GOD's punyshment fell into the Handes of the
Persians, for violating and sacking the Temple of God that was
in Ierusalem. Sextimuleus burnyng with Avarice and greedynesse
of money, dyd once cut of the head of hys Patron and defender
Caius Gracchus the Tribune of the People, incyted by the Tirant,
which tormenteth the hearts of the couetous. I wil not speake of
a good number of other Examples of people of all kyndes, and
divers nations, to come again to Zilia. Who forgetting hir
virtue, the first ornament and shining quality of hir honest
behauiour, feared not the wearines and trauaile of way, to
commit her selfe to that danger of losse of honor, and to yeld
to the mercy of one, vnto whom she had don so great iniury, as
hir conscyence (if shee hadde not lost hir ryghte sence) oughte
to haue made hir thinke that hee was not without desire to
reuenge the wrong vniustly don vnto him, and specially being in
place where she was not known, and he greatly honoured and
esteemed, for whose loue that Proclamation and search of
Physicke was made and ordained. Zilia then hauing put in order
hir affaires at home departed from Montcall, and passing the
Mounts, arrived at Paris, in that time when greatest despayre
was of the dumbe Knight's recouery. Beynge arryued, wythin fewe
Dayes after she inquyred for them that had the charge to
entertayne sutch as came, for the cure of the pacient. "For
(sayd she) if ther be any in the world, by whom the knigt may
recouer his health, I hope in God that I am she that shal haue
the prayse." Heereof the Commissaries deputed hereunto, were
aduertysed, who caused the fayre Physitian to come before them,
and asked her if it were she, that would take vppon hir to cure
this dumbe Gentleman. To whom shee aunsweared. "My maysters it
hath pleased God to reueale vnto me a certayne secrete very
proper and meete for the healyng of hys Malady, wherewithal if
the pacyent wyll, I hope to make hym speake so well, as he dyd
these two yeares past and more." "I suppose, sayd one of the
Commissaries, that you be not ignoraunte of the Circumstances of
the Kynges Proclamation." "I knowe ful wel" (quod she) "the
Effecte therefore, and therefore doe say vnto you, that I wyll
loose my life yf I doe not accomplysh that which I doe promyse
so that I may haue Lycence, to tarry wyth hym alone, bycause it
is of no lesse importaunce than hys Health." "It is no maruell,"
sayde the Commissary, "consideryng your Beauty, which is
sufficient to frame a Newe Tongue in the moste dumbe Person that
is vnder the Heauens. And therefore doe your Endeuor, assuring
you that you shall doe a great pleasure vnto the King, and
besides the prayse you shall gette the good wyll of the dumbe
Gentleman, which is the most excellent man of the World and
therefore so well recompensed as you shall haue good cause to be
contented wyth the kynges Lyberalitye. But (to the intente you
be not deceyued) the meanynge of the Edicte is, that within
fiftene dayes after you begin the cure, you muste make hym
whole, or else to satisfie the Paynes ordayned in the same."
Whereunto she submitted hir selfe, blinded by Auarice and
presumption, thinking that she had like power nowe ouer the Lord
of Virle, as when she gaue him that sharpe and cruel penance.
These Conditions promysed, the Commissaries went to aduertise
the Knight, how a gentlewoman of Piedmont was of purpose come
into Fraunce to helpe him: whereof he was maruelously astonned.
Now he would neuer haue thoughte that Zilia had borne hym so
great good wil, as by abasing the pryde of hir Corage, would
haue come so farre to ease the griefe of him, whome by sutch
greate torments she had so wonderfully persecuted. He thought
againe that it was the Gentlewoman his Neighboure, whych
sometymes had done hir endeuor to helpe him, and that nowe she
had prouoked Zilia to absolue him of his faith, and requite him
of hys promise. Musing vpon the diuersitie of these things,
and not knowing wherevpon to settle hys iudgment, the deputies
commaunded that the Woman Physitian should be admitted to speake
with the patient. Which was done and brought in place, the
Commissaries presently withdrew themselues. The Lord of Virle
seeinge hys Ennemye come before him, whom sometimes hee loued
very dearely, iudged by and by the cause wherefore she came,
that onely Auaryce and greedy desire of gaine had rather
procured hir to passe the mountayns trauaile, than due and
honest Amitye, wherewith she was double bound through his
perseuerance and humble seruice, with whose sight hee was so
appalled, as he fared like a shadowe and Image of a deade man.
Wherefore callyng to mynd the rigour of his lady, hir inciuility
and fonde Commaundement, so longe time to forbidde hys Speach,
the Loue which once hee bare hir, with vehement desire to obey
hir, sodainly was so cooled and qualyfyed, that loue was turned
into hatred, and will to serue hir, into an appetite of reuenge:
whereupon he determined to vse that presente Fortune, and to
playe his parte wyth hir, vpon whom hee had so foolyshly doted,
and to pay hir with that Money wherewyth she made him feele the
Fruicts of vnspeakable crueltye, to giue example to fonde and
presumptuous dames, how they abuse Gentlemen of sutch Degree
whereof the Knyghte was, and that by hauing regarde to the
merite of sutch personages, they be not so prodigall of
themselues, as to set their honour in sale for vyle reward and
filthy mucke: whych was so constantly conserued and defended by
this Gentlewoman, agaynst the assaultes of the good grace,
beauty, valour, and gentlenesse, of that vertuous and honest
suter. And notwithstanding, in these dayes wee see some to
resiste the amity of those that loue, for an opynyon of a
certayne vertue, which they thinke to be hydden within the corps
of excellent beauty, who afterwards do set themselues to sale to
hym that giueth most, and offreth greatest reward. Sutch do not
deserue to be placed in rank of chast Gentlewomen, of whome they
haue no smacke at al, but amongs the throng of strumpets kynde,
that haue some sparke and outward shew of loue: for she which
loueth money and hunteth after gayne, wyl make no bones, by
treason's trap to betray that vnhappy man, which shall yelde
himselfe to hir: hir loue tending to vnsensible things, and
sutch in dede, as make the wisest sorte to falsifie their fayth,
and sel the ryghte and Equity of their Iudgment. The Lorde of
Virle, seeing Zilia then in his company, and almost at his
commaundement, fayned as though hee knew hir not, by reason of
his small regard and lesse intertaynment shewed vnto hir at hir
first comming. Which greatly made the poore Gentlewoman to muse.
Neuerthelesse she making a vertue of necessity, and seeing hir
selfe to bee in that place, from whence shee could not depart,
without the losse of hir honor and Lyfe, purposed to proue
Fortune, and to committe hir selfe vnto his mercy, for all the
mobilytie whych the auncients attribute vnto Fortune. Wherefore
shutting fast the doore, shee went vnto the Knight, to whom she
spake these words: "And what is the matter (sir knight) that now
you make so little accompte of your owne Zilia, who in times
past you sayd, had great power and Authorytye ouer you? what is
the cause that moueth you hereunto? haue you so soone forgotten
hir? Beholde me better, and you shal see hir before you that is
able to acquyte you of youre promyse, and therefore prayeth you
to pardon hir committed faultes done in tymes past by abusing so
cruelly the honest and firme loue which you bare hir. I am she,
which through follye and temeritie did stoppe your mouth, and
tyed vp your Tongue. Giue me leaue, I beseeche you, to open the
same agayne, and to breake the Lyne, whych letteth the liberty
of your Speache." She seeying that the dumbe Gentleman would
make no aunswere at all, but mumme, and shewed by signes, that
he was not able to vndoe his Tongue, weepyng began to kysse hym,
imbrace hym and make mutch of hym, in sutch wyse, as he whych
once studyed to make Eloquent Orations before hys Ladye, to
induce hir to pity, forgat then those Ceremonyes, and spared his
talke, to shewe hymselfe to be sutch one as shee had made at hir
Commaundement, mused and deuysed altogether vpon the executyon
of that, which sometyme hee hadde so paynefully pursued, both by
Woords and contynuall Seruyce, and coulde profite nothing. Thus
waked agayne by hir, whych once had Mortyfyed hys Mynde, assayed
to renue in hir that, whych long tyme before seemed to be a
sleepe. She more for feare of losse of Lyfe, and the pryce of
the rewarde, than for any true or earnest loue suffred hym to
receyue that of hir, whych the long Suter desireth to obtaine of
his mistresse. They liued in this ioy and Pleasure the space of
fiftene Dayes ordained for the assigned Terme of his Cure,
wherein the poore Gentlewoman was not able to conuert hir
offended Fryende to speake, although she humbly prayed him to
shewe so mutch favour as at least she might goe free, from
either losse: telling hym howe lyttle regard shee hadde to hir
honour, to come so farre to doe him pleasure, and to discharge
him of his promise. Mutch other gay and lowlye talke shee hadde.
But the knyghte nothing moued with what she sayde determined to
brynge hir in sutch feare, as he had bene vexed with heauinesse,
which came to passe at the expyred tyme. For the Commissaries
seeing that their pacyent spake not at all, summoned the
Gentlewoman to pay the Penaltye pronounced in the Edict, or else
to loose hyr lyfe. Alas, howe bytter seemed thys drynke to thys
poore gentlewoman who not able to dissemble the gryef that prest
on euery syde, beganne to saye: "Ah, I Wretched and Caytyfe
Woman, by thinking to deceiue an other, haue sharpened the
Sworde to finish myne owne lyfe. Was it not enough for me to vse
sutch crueltye towardes this myne Enemye, which most cruelly in
double wyse taketh Reuenge, but I must come to bee thus tangled
in his Snares, and in the Handes of him, who inioying the
Spoyles of myne Honour, will with my Lyfe, depryue me of my
Fame, by making mee a Common Fable, to all Posterity in tyme to
come? O what hap had I, that I was not rather deuoured by some
Furious and cruell beast, when I passed the mountaines, or else
that I brake not my Necke, downe some steepe and headlong hil,
of those high and hideous mountains, rather than to bee set
heare in stage, a Pageant to the whole Citye to gaze vppon, for
enterprysing a thing so vayne, done of purpose by him, whome I
haue offended. Ah, Signior Philiberto, what Euill rewardest thou
for pleasures receiued, and fauors felt in hir whom thou didst
loue so much, as to make hir dye sutch shameful, and dreadfull
death. But O GOD, I know that it is for worthy guerdon of my
folysh and wycked Lyfe. Ah disloyaltye and fickle trust, is it
possible that thou be harbored in the hearte of hym which hadde
the Brute to bee the most Loyall and Curteous Gentleman of hys
Countrey? Alas, I see well nowe that I must die through myne
onelye simplicity, and that I muste sacrifice mine Honoure to
the rygour of hym, which with two aduauntages, taketh ouer
cruell reuenge of the lyttle wrong, wherewith my chastity
touched him before." As she thus had finished hir complainte,
one came in to carrye hir to Pryson, whether willinglye shee
wente for that she was already resolued in desire, to lyue no
longer in that miserie. The Gentleman contented wyth that payne,
and not able for to dissemble the gryefe, which hee conceyued
for the passion whych hee sawe hys Welbeloued to endure, the
enioyinge of whome renued the heate of the flames forepast,
repayred to the Kyng, vnto whome to the great pleasure of the
Standers by, and exceding reioyce of hys Maiestye (to heare hym
speake) he told the whole discourse of the Loue betweene hym and
cruell Zilia, the cause of the losse of his speach, and the
somme of hys reuenge." By the fayth of a Gentleman (sayed the
king) but here is so straunge an hystorye as euer I heard: and
verely your fayth and loyaltye is no lesse to be praised and
commended than the cruelty and couetousnes of the Woman worthy
of reproch and blame, which truly deserueth some greeuous and
notable iustice, if so be she were not able to render some
apparant cause for the couerture and hiding of hir folly." "Alas
sir," (sayd the Gentleman) "pleaseth your maiesty to deliuer hir
(although she be worthy of punishment) and discharge the rest
that be in prison for not recouery of my speach, sith my onely
help did rest, eyther at hir Commaundemente whych had bounde me
to that wrong, or else in the expired time, for whych I had
pleadged my fayth." To which request, the Kinge very willingly
agreed, greatly praysing the Wisedome, Curtesie, and aboue all
the fidelity of the Lord of Virle, who causing his penitenciary
to be set at liberty, kept hir company certayne dayes, as well
to Feaste, and banket hir, in those Landes and Possessions which
the kinges maiesty had liberally bestowed vpon him, as to
saciate his Appetite with some fruictes whereof he had sauoured
his taste when he was voluntaryly Dumbe. Zilia founde that
fauour so pleasaunt, as in maner shee counted hir imprisonment
happy, and hir trauell rest, by reason that distresse made hir
then feele more liuely the force and pleasure of Liberty, which
shee had not founde to bee so delicate, had she not receyued the
experience and payne thereof. Marke heere how Fortune dealeth
with them which trustinge in their force, despise (in respect of
that which they doe themselues) the little portion that they
iudge to bee in others. If the Vayneglory, and arrogante
Presumption of a Chastity Impregnable had not deceiued this
Gentlewoman, if the sacred hunger of gold had not blinded hir,
it could not haue bene knowne, wherein hir incontinency
consisted, not in the Mynion delights, and alluring Toyes of a
passionate Louer, but in the couetous desire of filling hir
Purse, and Hypocriticall glory of praise among men. And
notwithstanding yee see hir gaine to serue hir turne nothing at
all but to the perpetuall reproch of hir name, and the slaunder
sutch as ill speakers and enimies of womankinde, do burden the
Sexe withall. But the fault of one Woman, which by hir owne
presumption deceyued hir selfe, ought not to obscure the glory
of so many vertuous, Fayre, and Honest dames, who by their
Chastity, Liberality, and Curtesy, be able to deface the blot of
Folly, Couetousnes and cruelty of this Gentlewoman heere, and of
all other that do resemble hir. Who taking leaue of hir Louer,
went home agayne to Piedmount, not without an ordinary griefe of
heart, which serued hir for a spur to hir Conscience, and
continually forced hir to thinke, that the force of man is lesse
than nothing, where God worketh not by his grace, which fayling
in vs, oure worckes can fauor but of the stench and corruption
of our nature, wherein it tumbleth and tosseth lyke the Sow that
walloweth in the puddle of filth and dirt. And because yee shall
not thincke in generall termes of Woman's chastity, and
discretion, that I am not able to vouche some particular example
of later years, I meane to tell you of one, that is not onely to
bee praysed for hir Chastity in the absence of hir husband,
but also of hir Courage and Pollicy in chastisinge the vaunting
natures of two Hungarian Lords that made their braggs they would
win hir to their Willes, and not only hir, but all other,
whatsoeuer they were of Womankynde.