_A Gentlewoman and Wydow called Camiola of hir owne minde
Raunsomed Roland the Kyng's Sonne of Sicilia, of purpose to
haue him to hir Husband, who when he was redeemed unkindly
denied hir, agaynst whom very Eloquently she Inueyed, and
although the Law proued him to be hir Husband, yet for his
vnkindnes, shee vtterly refused him._
Bvsa a Gentlewoman of Apulia, maynetayned ten Thousande Romayne
souldiers within the walles of Cannas, that were the remnaunte
of the army after the ouerthrow there: and yet hir State of
Rychesse was saulfe and nothynge dimynished, and left therby a
worthy Testimony of Lyberality as Valerius Maximus affirmeth. If
this worthy woman Busa for Liberality is commended by auncient
Authors: if she deserue a Monument amongs famous Wryters for
that splendent vertue which so brightly blasoneth the Heroicall
natures of Noble dames, then may I bee so bolde amonges these
Nouels to bring in (as it were by the hand) a Wyddow of Messina,
that was a Gentlewoman borne, adorned with passing beauty and
vertues. Amongs the rancke of which hir comely Qualities, the
vertue of Liberality glistered lyke the morninge Starre after
the Night hath cast of his darke and Cloudy Mantell. This
Gentlewoman remayning in Wyddowes state, and hearing tell that
one of the Sonnes of Federicke, and Brother to Peter that was
then King of the sayd Ilande called Rolande, was caried Prysoner
to Naples, and there kept in miserable Captiuity, and not like
to bee redeemed by his Brother for a displeasure conceyued, nor
by any other, pittying the state of the young Gentleman, and
mooued by hir gentle, and couragious disposition, and specially
with the vertue of liberality, raunsomed the sayd Rolande, and
craued no other interest or vsury for the same, but him to
husband, that ought upon his knees to haue made sute to be hir
slaue and seruaunte for respect of his miserable state of
Imprisonment. An affiaunce betweene them was concluded, and he
redeemed, and when hee was returned, hee falsed his former
fayth, and cared not for hir: for which vnkinde part, she before
his Frends inueyeth agaynst that ingratitude, and vtterly
forsaketh him, when (sore ashamed) he would very fayne haue
recouered hir good wil. But she like a wise gentlewoman well
waying his inconstant mynde before mariage, lusted not to taste
or put in proofe the fruicts and successe thereof. The intire
Discourse of whom you shall briefly and presently vnderstand.
Camiola a widow of the City of Siena, the Daughter of a gentle
Knight called Signor Lorenzo Toringo, was a Woman of great
renoume and fame for hir beauty liberality and shamefastnesse,
and led a life in Massina, (an auncient Citty of Sicile) no
lesse commendable than famous, in the company of hir parentes,
contenting hirself wyth one only Husbande, while she liued,
which was in the tyme when Federick the thirde was Kyng of that
Isle: And after their death she was an heyre of very great
wealth and ritchesse, which were alwayes by hir conserued and
kept in maruellous honest sort. Nowe it chaunced that after the
death of Federick, Peter succeedinge by his Commaundement,
a great Army by Sea was equipped from Messina, vnder the conduct
of Iohn Countee of Chiaramonte, (the most Renoumed in those
dayes in Feats of Warre,) for to ayde the people of Lippary,
which were so strongly and earnestly besieged, as they were
almost all dead and consumed for hunger. In this Army, ouer and
besides those that were in pay, many Barons and Gentlemen
willingly went vpon their own proper costes, and charges, as
well by Sea as Lande, onely for fame, and to be renoumed in
armes. This Castell of Lippari was assaulted by Godefrey of
Squilatio a valiaunt Man, and at that time Admiral to Robert
Kyng of Ierusalem and Sicile: Which Godefrey by long siege and
assault, had so famished the people within, as dayly he hoped
they would surrender. But hauing aduertisement (by certayne
Brigandens which he had sent abroade to scour the Seas) that the
Enimies Army (which was farre greater than his) was at hand,
after that he had assembled all his Nauy togeather in one sure
place, he expected the euent of Fortune. The Enimies so soone as
they were seased and possessed of the place, without any
resistaunce of the places abandoned by Godefrey, caried into the
Citty at their pleasure all their victualles. which they brought
wyth them, for which good happe and chaunce the sayde Countee
Iohn being very mutch encouraged and puffed vp wyth pryde,
offred Battell to Godefrey. Wherefore he not refusing the same,
being a man of great corage, in the Night time fortified his
Army with Boordes, Timber, and other Rampiers, and hauing put
his Nauy in good order, he encouraged his Men to fight, and to
doe valiauntly the next day, which done, hee caused the Ankers
to bee wayed, and gieuing the signe, tourned the prowees of hys
Shyppes agaynst the Sicilians Army, but Countee Iohn who thought
that Godefrey would not fight, and durst not once looke vpon the
great army of the Sicilians, did not put his Fleete in order to
fight, but rather in readinesse to pursue the enimies. But
seeing the Courage, and the approch of theym that came agaynste
him, began to feare, his heart almost fayling him, and repented
him that he had required his Enimy to that which he thought
neuer to haue obtayned. In sutch wise as mistrusting the
Battayle with troubled minde, changing the order giuen, and
notwithstanding not to seeme altogither fearefull, incontinently
caused his Ships to be put into order after the best maner he
could for so little tyme, himselfe gieuing the signe of battell.
In the meane while their enimies being approched neere vnto
them, and making a very great noyse with Cryes and Shoutes,
furiously entred the Sicilians, which came slowly forth, and
hauing first throwne their Hookes and Grapples to stay them,
they began the fight with Dartes, Crosse-bowes, and other Shot,
in sutch sort as the Sicilians being amazed for the sodayne
mutation of Councell, and all enuironned with feare, and the
Souldiers of Godefrey perceyuing the same, entred their enimies
Ships, and comming to blowes, even in a moment all was filled
with bloud, by reason whereof the Sicilians, then despayring of
themselues, and they that feared turning the prowes fled away:
But neuerthelesse the Victorye reclininge towardes Godefrey,
many of their Ships were drowned, many taken, and diuers
Pinnasses by force of their Oares escaped. In that fight died
fewe people, but many were hurt, and Ihon the Captayne Generall
taken Prysoner, and with him almost all the Barons, which of
their own accordes repayred to those Warres, and besides a great
number of Souldiers, many Ensignes as well of the field, as of
the Galleyes, and specially the mayne Standerd was taken. And in
the ende, the Castell being rendred after long Voyages, and
great Fortunes by Sea, they were al chayned, caried to Naples
and there imprisoned. Amongs those Prisoners, there was a
certayne Gentleman named Rowlande, the Naturall Sonne of King
Federick deceased, a yong prince very comely and valyaunt. Who
not being redeemed, taried alone in prison very sorrowfull to
see all others discharged after they had payd their Raunsome and
himselfe not to have wherewith to furnish the same. For king
Pietro (to whom the care of him appertayned by reason he was his
Brother), for that his warres had no better successe, and done
contrary to his commaundement, conceyued displeasure so wel
agaynst him, as all others which were at that battell. Nowe hee
then being prisoner without hope of any liberty, by meanes of
the dampishe prison, and his feete clogged with yrons, grewe to
bee sicke and feeble. It chaunced by fortune, that Camiola
remembred him, and seeing him forsaken of his brethren, had
compassyon vppon his missehappe in sutch wise, as she purposed
(if honestly she might doe the same) to set hym at liberty. For
the accomplishment whereof without preiudice of hir honour, she
sawe none other wayes but take him to husband. Wherefore shee
sent diuers vnto him secretely, to conferre if he would come
forth vpon that condition, whereunto he wilingly agreed. And
performing ech due ceremonie, vnder promised faith, vpon the
gift of a ring willingly by a deputy espoused Camiola, who with
so mutch diligence as she could, payed two thousand Crownes for
his ransome, and by that meanes he was deliuerd. When he was
retourned to Messina, he repayred not to his Wyfe, but fared as
though there had neuer bene any sutch talke beetwene theym:
whereof at the begynninge Camiola very mutch maruelled, and
afterwardes knowinge his vnkindenesse was greatly offended in
hir heart against him. Notwithstanding to the intent she might
not seeme to be grieued without reason, before she proceded any
further, caused him louingly to be talked withal, and to be
exhorted by folowing his promyse to consummate the mariage: and
seeing that he denied euer any sutch Contract to be made, she
caused him to be summoned before the Ecclesiastical Iudge, by
whome sentence was giuen that hee was hir husband euidence of
his owne letters, and by witnesse of certayne other personages
of good reputation, which afterwards he himself confessed,
his face blushyng for shame, for that he had forgotten sutch a
manifest benefit and good turne. When the kynde part of Camiola
done vnto him was throughly known, he was by hys Brethren
reproued and checked for hys villany, whereupon by their
instigation, and the persuasion of his frends, he was contented
by humble request to desire Camiola to perform the Nuptials. But
that gentlewoman which was of great corage in the presence of
diuers that were wyth him, when he required hir thereunto,
answered him in this maner: "Rowland I haue great cause to
render thankes to almyghty God, for that it pleased him to
declare vnto me the proofe of thine vnfaythfulnesse, before thou
didst by any meanes contaminate (vnder colour of mariage) the
purity of my body, and that through his fauour, by whose most
holy name thou wentest about to abuse me by false and periured
Oth, I haue foreseene thy Trumpery and deceypt, wherein I
beleeue that I have gayned more than I shoulde haue done by thee
in mariage. I suppose that when thou were in pryson, thou didst
meane no lesse, than now, by effect thou shewest, and diddest
thinke that I, forgetting of what house I was, presumptuously
desired a Husband of the Royal bloud, and therefore wholly
inflamed with thy love, did purpose to beguile mee by denying
the Trouth, when thou haddest recouered lyberty thorough my
Money, and thereby to reserue thy selfe for some other of more
famous Aliaunce, being restored to thy former degree. And
thereby thou hast gieuen proofe of thy will, and what minde thou
haddest so to do if thyne ability had bene correspondent. But
God, who from the lofty Skyes doth beholde the humble and low,
and who forsaketh none that hopeth in him, knowing the sincerity
of my Conscience, hath gieuen mee the grace by little trauayle,
to breake the bands of thy deceipts, to discouer thine
ingratitude, and make manifest thine infidelity, which I haue
not done only to display the wrong towardes me, but that thy
Brethren and other thy friends might from henceforth know what
thou art, what affiaunce they ought to repose in thy fayth,
and thereby what thy frends ought to looke for, and what thine
enimies ought to feare. I have lost my Money, thou thy good
name: I haue lost the hope which I had of thee, thou the fauour
of the Kinge, and of thy brethren: I the expectation of my
mariage, thou a true and constant Wife: I the fruits of charity,
thou the gayne of amity: I an vnfaythful husband, thou a most
pure and loyall Wyfe. Now the Gentlewomen of Sicilia doe
maruayle at my Magnificence, and Beauty, and by prayses aduaunce
the same vp into the heauens: and contrarywise euery of theym
doe mock thee, and deeme thee to be Infamous. The Renoumed
Wryters of ech Countrey will place me amongs the ranke of the
noblest Dames, where thou shalt be depressed, and throwne downe
amonges the Heapes of moste vnkynde. True it is, that I am
somewhat deceyued by deliuering out of Pryson, a yong man of
Royal, and noble race, in steede of whom I have redeemed a
Rascall, a Lier, a Falsifier of his faith, and a cruell Beast:
and take heede hardily how thou do greatly esteme thyselfe, and
I wish thee not to think that I was moued to draw thee out of
Pryson, and take thee to Husbande for the good qualities that
were in thee, but for the memory of auncient benefits which my
father receyued of thine (if Federick, a king of most sacred
remembraunce were thy father, for I can scarsly beleeue, that a
sonne so dishonest should proceede from so noble a Gentleman as
was that famous Prince.) I know well thou thinkest that it was
an vnworthy thing, that a Widow not being of the Royal bloud
should have to husband, the sonne of a Kinge, so strong and of
so goodly personage, which I willingly confesse: but I would
haue thee a little to make me aunswere (at the least wise if
thou canst by reason) when I payd so great a sum of money to
deliuer thee from bondage and captiuity, where was then the
nobility of thy Royall race? Where was thy force of Youth? And
where thy Beauty? If not that they were closed up in a terrible
Pryson, where thou wast detayned in bitter griefe, and sorrowe,
and there with those naturall qualities, couered also in obscure
darknesse, that compassed thee round about. The ill fauoured
noyse and iangling of thy chaines, the deformity of thy Face
forced for lack of light, and the stench of the infected Prison
that prouoked sicknesse, and the forsaking of thy Frends, had
quite debased al these perfections wherewith now thou seemest to
be so lusty. Thou thoughtest me then to be worthy, not onely of
a yong man of a royall bloud, but of a God, if it were possible
to haue him, and so soon as thou (contrary to all hope) didst
once visite thy natural Countrey, like a most pestilent person
without any difficulty, haste chaunged thy mynde, and neuer
since thou wast deliuered, once did call into thy remembraunce
how I was that Camiola, that I was shee (alone) that did
remembre thee: that I was shee (alone) that had compassion on
thy mishap, and that I was onely shee, who for thy health did
imploy all the goods I had. I am, I am (I say) that Camiola,
who by hir Money raunsomed thee out of the hands of the Capitall
enimies of thine Auncesters, from Fetters, from Pryson: and
finally deliuered thee from Misery extreme, before thou were
altogether settled in dispayre. I reduced thee agayne to hope,
I haue reuoked thee into thy Countrey, I haue brought thee into
the Royal Pallace, and restored thee into thy former Estate, and
of a Prisoner weake, and ill fauoured, haue made the a younge
Prynce, strong, and of fayre aspect. But wherefore haue I
remembred these things, whereof thou oughtest to bee very
mindefull thy selfe, and which thou art not able to deny? Sith
that for so great benefits thou hast rendred me sutch thanks,
as being my husband in deede, thou haddest the Face to deny me
mariage, already contracted by the deposition of honest
Witnesses, and approued by Lettres, Signed with thine owne hand.
Wherefore diddest thou despise me that hath delyuered thee? Yea
and if thou couldest haue stayned the Name of hir with Infamy,
that was thine onely Refuge, and Defender, thou wouldest gladly
haue giuen cause to the common people, to thinke lesse than
Honesty of hir. Art thou ashamed (thou Man of little Iudgement)
to haue to Wyfe a Wyddowe, the Daughter of a Knight? O how farre
better had it ben for thee to haue bene ashamed to breake thy
promised fayth, to haue dispised the holy and dreadfull name of
God, and to haue declared by thy curssed vnkindnes, how full
fraught thou art with Vice. I doe confesse in deede that I am
not of the Royall bloud: notwithstanding from the Cradle, being
Trayned, and brought vp in the Company of kinges Wyues, and
Daughters, no great maruayle it is, if I haue indued and put on
a Royall heart and manners, that is able to get, and purchase
royall Nobility: but wherefore doe I multiply so many wordes?
No, no, I will be very facile, and easie in that wherein thou
haste ben to me so difficult and hard by resisting the same with
all thy power. Thou haste refused heretofore to be mine, and
hauing vanquished thee, to be sutch, franckly of myne owne
accorde, I doe graunt that thou art not. Abide (on God's name)
with thy royall Nobility, neuerthelesse defiled with the spot of
Infidelity. Make mutch of thy youthly lustinesse, and of thy
transitory beauty, and I shal be contented with my Wyddow
apparell, and shall leaue the riches which God hath geuen me to
Heyres more honest than those that might haue come of thee.
Auaunt thou wycked yong man, and sith thou art coumpted to be
vnworthy of me, learne with thine own experience, by what
subtilty and guiles thou maiest betray other dames, suffiseth it
for me to be once deceyued. And I for my parte fully determine
neuer to tary longer with thee, but rather chastly to lyue
without husband, which lyfe I deeme farre more excellent than
with thy match continually to be coupled." After shee had spoken
these words, shee departed from him, and from that time forth,
it was impossible eyther by prayers, or Admonitions to cause hir
chaunge hir holy intent. But Rowland al confused, repenting
himself to late of hys Ingratitude, blamed of ech man, his eyes
fixed vpon the grounde, auoyding not onely the presence of his
brethren, but of all sorts of people, dayly led from that time
forth, a most miserable life, and neuer durst by reason to
demaunde hir againe to Wife, whom he had by disloyalty refused.
The King and the other Barons, marueyling of the noble heart of
the Lady, singularly commended hir, and exalted hir prayses vp
into the Skyes, vncertayne neuerthelesse wherein shee was most
worthy of prayse, eyther for that (contrary to the couetous
nature of Women) she had raunsomed a yong man with so great a
Summe of Money, or else after she had deliuered him, and
sentence gieuen that he was hir Husbande, she so couragiously
refused him, as an vnkinde man, vnworthy of hir company. But
leaue we for a tyme, to talke of Wydowes, and let vs see what
the Captayne, and Lieutenaunt of Nocera can alledge vpon the
discourse of his cruelties, which although an ouer cruell
Hystory, yet depaynteth the successe of those that apply their
myndes to the Sportes of Loue, sutch Loue I meane, as is
wantonly placed, and directed to no good purpose, but for
glutting of the Bodye's delight, which both corrupteth nature,
maketh feeble the body, lewdly spendeth the time, and specially
offendeth him who maketh proclamation, that Whooremongers and
adultrers shal neuer Inherite his Kyngdome.