The first Example of Radamentus.

In Capadocia was a Lady who kept a sumptuous Garden, in which was one of the vertuousest Wells in the world, that whosoever should be bit with any venomous beast; wash but in that water, they were immediately cured.

It happened on a day as the Lady was walking in her Garden a gathering of flow­ers, she espied in a corner of the Garden in the side of a little Rock, a small prill of wa­ter running fair and cristal, abundant more clear then the vertuous wel was, which caused her to imagine, that if the Rock were carved, there would issue a water more excel­lent then the well-water, and said unto the [Page]Gardiner, get me a workman that he may hew this Rock, whereby I may have a pre­cious Fountain here; and I give you charge over it, and to see it done. The Gardiner answered, your will shall be fulfilled. But another time the Lady came into the Gar­den, and viewed the little Spring; but it appeared not so strong in running as she thought it would: and she said, wherefore runs it not bet [...]er? her man said, the origi­nal spring was deep in the earth, and had two wayes, the one to the Weil, and the o­ther to the Rock; but that to the Well is greater, and by its strength draws more wa­ter to the well; and therefore its stream is so little. Then said the Lady, destroy the well then, for questionless this spring will prove the better water; so the Gardener dam'd up the vertuous water, that there was no more seen. And another day the Lady came again into the Garden to sée her yong Spring, and taste the water, and it proved very sad and bitter; and having its course through a tin mine, whatsoever sick person did bathe in it, it would putrifie their sore, and augment their pain; so that all people did curse the Counsellours that did advise the Lady to destroy the vertuous well. [Page]Then said Radamentus, understand you great Lady what I have said? yes, right well said the Empress, then said he, I will shew you the meaning thereof.

The Example of the first Mistriss.

In Syra lived a Quéen of great renown, and of such excellent beauty, that a fair­er woman was not in all the world, for which many Kings and Princes of Noble Blood came a suiting to her, each man con­fident she should be his: This Queen de­lighted much in seeing Iusts and Turneys; therefore it was a day appointed, and they all assembled together to shew their valour before the Quéen; amongst whom was Cras­sus a most valiant Prince, and of such in­comparable features and beauty, that his [Page]like was not among men. Vpon this Prince the Queen fixed her eye all that part of the day; in whose sight he did such worthy acts, that deserved perpetual memory: and to be brief, he had the day of all the Kings, Prin­ces, and Barons that were there; whereby he came off the Field with Trumpets soun­ing, and victorious Trophies bore before him. On the morrow after the Queen sent for him, and when be came he kneeled be­fore her to have kist her hand, but she refu­sed, and in a comely deportment tendered her lips: The Prince being somewhat bash­ful, the Queen gave him farther encourage­ment, so that by little and little they grew in a wonderful familiarity; and soon after the Queen took him for her Husband, and made him joynt King of Syra with her. He was a wise and gracious Prince, and belo­ved of all his Subjects, all people joyed at his presence, the whole land sorrowed in his absence; never no Queen loved King bet­ter, nor never was Queen more beloved of a King: and it came to pass afterwards, that the King of the Parthians lay very sick, whose Son this King was, and he received a Letter from his Father to make haste un­to him, that after his death he sh [...]uld take [Page]possession of the Realm; and after a while he was gone, an evil Counsellour in his Court being in love with the Queen, inter­cepted all the Kings Letters that passed be­twéen him and his Queen, and informed the Quéen he had married another Lady in his own Countrey; which raised such jealousis in the Quéen, that she tore the ornaments of her head, wringing her hands, saying, O my dear Lord, what evil have I done, what word have I mispla [...], wherein have I of­fended you, that another should reap the Consolation of your Love! The King in the mean time wondering be could never receive any Letter from the Queen, lament­ed, saying, O my Dear, wherein have I of­fended I can never hear how you do, nor how the affairs of our Kingdom standeth! All this while the wicked Counsellor intercept­ed their Letters on both sides to work the destruction of the King; and at last he in­dented a strong Person, and carried the same to the Queen, and told her it was of such a Vertue, that if the would cause a King to be made hollow, and put a little of this vertue in it, and sond it to the King as a ta­ken; and as oft as ever the King old lo [...] upon it, [...]would cause him to forsake all [Page]other women and haste home unto her: so the Quéen believed his wicked counsel, and was very glad, and without the advice of any other she caused a King to be made as he had said, and put therein this poison, and sent it away to her Husband: When the messenger came before him, he did him re­verence, and presented the King to him; the harmless King joyfully put it on, saying, [...]was the swéetest present he ever received: soon after his finger began to swell, and he sent for his Physicians, who said his finger was venomed with the strongest poyson in the world, and said he must cut it off, else 'twould venome his whole body: Then said the King cut it off, which accordingly was done; then his arm began to swell, and in like manner that was cut off to preserve his life: Then the good King groaned out this complaint, O thou vile woman, why hast thou done this to him who thou wert as dear to as his own soul, thou hast attempted that by poyson which the stoutest Champion durst not do by arms; I that hath won thée the greatest glory that ever came to Syra, hast thou now destroyed with inferiour poy­son, for which thou wilt gain reproach of all Nations, and be reviled of all women, for [Page]returning me malicious poyson for pure in flamed love; but all as I can say is, ingra­titude is the grandest insolency in the world, O woman why hast thou done this? There­upon he sunk down in his Chair, and gave up the ghost. The messenger hasted home, and told the Queen what had happened by the King, and that all the Counsellor had fold her of the King was false: then the Quéen fell a wéeping and wringing her hands, say­ing, O what hade I done, what have I done? I have by the advice of an evil Counsellor slain my dear Husband the King! O cursed Traytor, would to God I had ne [...]e receiv'd thy wicked counsel; but since I embraced thy hellish advice, with this hand that first handled the cursed King I will be revenged on my self, and so took a knife and thrust it into her breast, and so ended her life. Then said the Mistris to the Empress, understand you what I have said? Yes, right well said the Empress, you have shew'd me a good ex­ample; without doubt this day my Daugh­ter shall not dye: Then said the Mistris, if you do so, you will do wisely, and I thank you for sparing your Daughters life this day for my sake.

The second Example of Radamentus.

IN Pirus reigned a vertuous Quéen, her Husband being dead, she had one onely Daughter, whom she tendered above her life; this Daughter grew apace crafty and cunning, and often conversed with Sorce­rers, to whom she complained there was but one Nobleman which hindered her from ha­ding her will and liberty: said the Sorce­rer, Ile teach you a way to betray his life, and then you may do well enough with your mother. Pray shew me that way said she, that I will said the Sorcerer, that is this: When he is walking in the Garden, go you to him, and if he sit down, sit you by him, 'twill be a provocation to move his spi­rit, and as he doth precéed, then give him [Page]incouragement; if he refuse you, cry out, he has ravisht you: So this impudent wretch sate by this Nobleman, and smiled upon him and smute him with the palm of her hand upon the chéek, and said, come let us solace our selves in the bosom of love until the dark Evening: Then said the Lord, Great Lady, excuse me, for I am not furnisht with so much considence as to deflower the Pearls of our Land. At which words this Lady tore her locks down about her shoulders, and cryed out, alas, alas, what shall I do! The Quéen her Mother being in the Window heard the cry, and looking out, espied her Daughter in the Garden crying and wring­ing her hands; she sent down her Lords to know the matter; and she said, this man, meaning the harmless Lord, hath constrain­ed me by force under yonder trée, and he hath dest wr [...]d me of my Virginity: The Quéen hearing this said, surely he shall dye: Then said the Lords, it is good that you hear him before you put him to death: Nay, said the Quéen, I have heard my daughter, what [...] an [...] further witness, I will believe her testimony above all the worlds; and thereupon commanded the Lord to be led away and put to death, which accordingly [Page]was done. This Lord was the uprightest man and greatest Counsellor the Quéen had; from this time forth she alwayes sought the destruction of her mother: and thus she be­gan, Great Princess and Mother, through my obedience and diligent care I bear to you, I would wish you to speak not unto eve­ry mean subject when they come for justice, but that I between you and them may deli­ver their message, for too much familiarity will breed contempt; therefore the Queen reposing so much confidence in her daughter, thought all for good whatsoever she did do; and thereupon set forth a Proclamation, that all persons whatsoever having business at the Court, should address themselves to her Daughter; who alwayes sitting in an outward Chamber, as people came to her, she seemed very milde, amiable and courte­ous, so through her cunning and dissimula­tion all people took affections to her, and she would say to them, my mother is very rash being ancient; but if you will take me for your Sovereign, Ile do you justice accord­ing to the due administration of the law: at which words they were all very joyful, and promised faithfully to perform it, but said she, raise your army, stand in your own de­fence, [Page]and plead your Subsidies and heavy burthens ate too weighty for you to bear; this do till you hear from me: so the rude multitude did as this Imp had advis'd them. Then away she went to her mother, and ac­qu [...]inted her there was a factious people had rebell'd, and it were good to prevent them in time least they should grow too populous; so the Queen gave her the supream Authority, in granting Commissions to raise an Army; so when she had got the Seal, she told her mother she must have a great quantity of Gold to pay them: Then the Queen deli­vered two hundred thousand marks of Gold, and having got this money, she hasted with it all away to her factious Crew; and there paid then: all with her mothers own Trea­sure, and gave them Commissions under her own Seal, that all the rest of the Subjects were in a maze; for seeing their Commissi­ons under the Quéens Seal all lay still, and not one moved for the Quéen, thinking it had béen no Rebellion: At last this new Army advanced towards the Court, and be­ing come, this wicked Wretch the Quéens Daughter, hasted to her mother, and told her, that she by her fair spéeches had asswa­ged the fury of the people, and brought them [Page]there to beg their pardon, which she desired the Quéen to grant them; which being al­wayes betrayed through her subtle words, condescended; and as she was going out to sign their Pardons, and conducted by her daughter, she passed over a boarded Alloy, where underneath was a Room and Cauldron of boyling Oyl, that this wicked Daughter had provided, with a board wheron her mo­ther was to tread; tilting up, the Quéen sell in, and thereby was destroy'd: And af­ter was this wicked Wretch proclaimed Quéen, that through lascivious living and cruel Tyranny all Nations spighted her, and her own subjects hated her, that as she was coming through the City of Conbro, a Butchers man dasht out her brains with his Cleaver: The end of a Tyrant.

And Radamentus said to the Empress, un­derstand ye what I have said? and the Em­prese said right well, you have shew'd me a good Ex [...]mple; therefore to prevent these Evils that they shall not happen to me, this day my Daughter shall dye: And the se­cond time she sate in Indgement, and com­manded bar Daughter to be led away to the place of Execution; and as she was going, the second Mistries addressed her self to the [Page]Empress, doing her reverence, and said, O great Lady, if you will thus slay your daugh­ter for the words of Radamentus, if shall happen worse to you then it did to the Lady of Barbra and her Lyon. The Empress said good Mistris shew me that Example, O great Lady, I shall not do it, except you call your Daughter back again until it be told, and if it does not turn your minde, your will be fulfilled afterwards.

The Example of the second Mistriss.

UPon a time there was a Lady and her Husband which designed a long Voy­age by Sea, but the winde and weather pro­ving contrary, they were driven to great di­stress, and constrained to lye a tedious while at sea, insomuch that all their provision was spent; then they continued a whole fort­night without any kinde of food, and when nature could not subsist no longer, they threw dice for their lives who should be kill'd first, to make meat for his Fellows, so they eat one another in order as they began, until all were eat; so this poor Lady and her Husband with force of nature and pure love hindred from killing each other: Then they [Page]resolv'd to dye together, and so sowed them­selves in one Carpet, and laid them down upon the Deck, saying, the great God of heaven and earth holy them, and by that time they were full'd esléep by the rocking of the waves, there chanced to come upon the Deck a great Griffin, that's hall an Ea­gle, and half a Lyon, so that 'tis neither bird nor beast, but a Creature as strong as a Horse, and took up the Carpet in her claws with the Lady and her Husband as a prey for her young ones, and carried them in to a strange Island, inhabited with Lyons, Bears, Wolves, and such like Beasts: When the Griffin had brought them into his nest, he and his young began to peck at the Carpet, with which they awaked the Lady and her Husband, who being a stout Hero opened the Carpet, and espied Land; and having his sword with him, came out and fought a desperate fight with the Grif­fin, and slaw him and all his young. How to get off this Island they did not know, but in wandering up and down the man dyed, and then the poor Lady was alone, and com­forted by none but God above; so wander­ing about the Wilderness she chanced to meet a mighty he Lyon, whose roaring [Page]séem'd to her like claps of thunder: then when she saw him she fell to the ground, saying, O greet Ichovah, who holdeth the power of all creatures in thy hands, have mercy upon me. So she drew near unto him, and disco­vered that he halted, and the Lion groaned towards her, as thought to have some help: so she ventered to him, and took up his foot, and therein was a great thorn; and the Li­on patiently holding up his foot, she drew it out; which having done, the Lion fawn­ed upon her, and lickt her, and in his nature shewed as great love and kindness to her as ever humans nature could: inso­much that he led her to his Den, where she continued for a long season, feeding up­on nothing but what preys the Lion had brought her, and which may soever she walk­ed, the Lion would attend upon her, and preserve her from all other savage Beasts. At last as she was mourning to her self, de­ploring her condition in living in such ob­scurity in a forreign Countrey, whose daily companion was but a savage Beast, her minde yening after her own habitation, she thus complained, O how hath fortune frowned on me, that I am driven out from among all humane knowledge, and am glad [Page]to take my living with the Beast of the Field. As she thus complained to her self, the Devil chanced to appear unto her, and demanded the cause of her complaint, who told him all as you have heard. Then said be to her, What wilt thou give and Ile pro­vide a Ship shall carry thee home to thy own Countrey? she answered, half her Estate. Nay, said the Devil, if thou wilt give me thy soul at the tearm of twelve years, I'le set thée in thy own Countrey, and then shalt live and flourish so long? God forbid, said the Lady, I'le first end my wretched life in this solitary Island. Why then, said the Devil, I'le make this bargain with ye, that if you can abstain from sleeping all the time of our Voyage, which shall be but three dayes, I'le have nothing to do with your soul, if you sléep I'le hade it, as I have said: and upon this bargain the Lady ventered, provided she might have her Lion with her; so 'twas concluded, and a brave ship came and took in the Lady and her Lion: when she lay down the Lion lay by her, and if she slumbered, the Lion trould touch her with his paw; by which means he kept her awake all the Voyage, until she landed in her own Countrey; and being come to her Fathers [Page]house, she knocked at the Gate; then the Porter coming with all spéed, opened the Gate, and saw it was a Beggar, frowningly he shut it again, saying, Here's nothing for you: then she bounced at the Gate again, and asked the Porter if such a Knight li­ved there, meantng her Father, and he said, yes; then said she, pray deliver this piece of King unto him. Now this King was it she brake betwixt her Father and she, at her de­parture out of the Land: then the Porter delivered the King to his Master, saying, The Begger woman at the Gate willed me to deliver this piece of King unto you. When the Knight saw the King he fell down in a swound, but when he was revived be said, call her in, for she is my onely Daughter, whom I thought was dead. Then said the Porter, I dare not call her in, for there is a mighty he-Lion with her, though it be, said the Knight, call her in, then said the Porter, you are to come in; but leave your Lion out: no, said the Lady, my Lion walketh where I go, and where he is not, there will I not be; and when she came to her father, she fell down on her knées and wept: her father took her up in his arms and kist her, weeping as fast, and after he [Page]clothed her in Purple, and plac'd her by him in a chair, and demanded the relation of her Travels, who declared unto him all that happened, and how the Lion had saved her life, and was the greatest comfort she had in the Wilderness. It chanced after­wards that as the Knight was going into his Wood to view his young Horses, he met with a wilde Boar, with whom he fell in combat with. The Lion loved the old Knight, and by accident walking under the pale side, he sented the Boar, and as the Li­on ran towards the place where the Boar was, the Steward espied him, and he ran in­to the Palace, and cryed out, the Lion is running after my Master to destroy him. Then the Lady sent after him ten of her ser­vants who met the Lion with his mouth all bloody, and they ran back and told the Lady the Lion had destroyad her aged Father. Then said the Lady, O woe is me that ever I was born, that have brought a Lion from far to destroy my own Father; therefore she commanded her servants to slay the Lion, which no sooner was done but her Father come in, and said, O I have met with a wilde Boar, with whom I sought, and there came in the Lion to my aid, and slew the [Page]Boar, so saved my life, else I had dyed by the Boar. When the Lady heard this, O how she wept and wrung her hands, saying, For the words of a wicked Steward, I have slain my good Lion, who have saved both my life and my Fathers, cursed be the time I was advised by him.

Then said the Mistriss, understand you what I have said? yes, right well, said the Empress, you have shewed me a good exam­ple of a bad advise, which caused the Lady to slay so good a Lion, surely I'le beware such bad advice, my Daughter shall not dye this day. The Mistris said, if you do so you will do well, therefore I commit you to God, and stand obliged to your grace for sa­ving your-Daughter this day for my sake.

The third Example of Radamentus.

IN the Kingdome of Utergo there lived a Lady who had but one onely Daughter, whom she loved above her own eyes, and hearing there was a very learned woman, and one of great repute, lived not far from her own Court, to whom she put her Daugh­ter to be brought up, and instructed in all Arts and learning, and it proved that this learned woman was very skilful indèed, for she was the greatest Magician in all that Land, though unknown to the Lady, so that instead of teaching the childe natural Philo­sophy, she taught her all the whole art of Necromancy, and at the end of seven years she learnt her how to transform her self into the likeness of a Cat; and upon a time the Lady sent for this learned woman to come to her, and bring her Daughter with her, for to see how she had improved her self in learn­ing; [Page]and being come, the Lady asked her Daughter, three questions: First, what was most prone to nature when it was satiz­fied? she answered, ease, for when the belly is full, the bones destreth rest. Secondly, how far it was to the bottom of the Sea: she answered, a stones throw. Thirdly, she [...]sked her how long the Sun and Moon were going round the world? she answered, sower and twenty hours: then said the La­dy, you have answered me well, doubtless thou wilt prove a cunning woman: then she walked in her Parlour, and shewed the Mi­striss what a delicate and fine Cat she had, and the Mistriss said of a truth, it is a brave Cat; but after I return home I will pre­sent you with the finest Cat that ever was seen, for she will wait at the Table, and can interpret Riddles, resolving Answers and Questions, so that there is not the like of her in all the world, Then said the Lady, pray ye let me have that Cat? that I shall not do, said she, except you suffer your Daughter to be with me one seven years more, then shall I present you with the Cat; the Lady very willingly gave con­sent thereto, rendring great thanks: so the learned woman took leave, and away depar­ted [Page]with her young Disciple, and when she came home, she told her, that if she would act her part, she would teach her how she might enjoy all the pleasure the world did afford, and none was more ready to learn then she was. Then said the Magician, you must transform your self to the likeness of a Cat, and I will present you to your Mo­ther, to which they both accorded: then the Magician took her, and hasted away to the Lady, and presented her the Cat, being of four distinct colours, black, red, green, and yellow: Then said the Lady, this is the finest Cat that ever I saw, and took it into her lap, feeding it with white bread and milk, and would never sit down to meat but her Cat must be at her elbow; so the Ma­gician took her leave again, and the Lady gave her great thanks, so departed: soon af­ter this, the Cat began to play her pranks, for there was a maid living in the house, whose carriage was civil, and conversation honest, and a faithful servant all dayes of her life: this Cat had power to open any lock, and shut it again, so she would open the La­dies Cabinet, and take out money, and lay it in the way where the maid should finde it, some time in the Garden, some time in the [Page]Stréet, and the Lady still missing her mo­ney, and having no suspicion on the Maid in the least, wondered what should become of it; at last she lost her Bracelet out of her Closet, which the Cat had took and laid a mile from the house where the Maid should come along; so the Maid when she found it, little thought of her Ladies Bracelet, which oftentimes had béen inquired for, she put it up in her Trunck; and after upon a time, as the Maid was taking out clothes, her Lady stood by her, and it chanced that the Bracelet fell beside the Trunck, and the Cat snapt it up in her paws, and leapt upon the Ladies lap: when the Lady saw it she cryed out, O thou graceless creature, I bless the Lord I have found thée out, have I kept thee for so many years, and intrusted thee with all I had in the world, and never had the least suspicion of thee; God knows what thou hast robb'd me of in thy time. O thou wicked wretch! now thou shalt dye the shamefullest death as may be thought on. Then said the Maid, what have I done, I never offended you in thought, word, nor deed, neither ever wronged you in all my life hitherto? O villain, said the Lady, is not this my Bracelet, I have lost for above [Page]this half year, and hore I have found it in thy Trunk! God knows what thou hast rob'd me of besides, for I have lost a great deal of money; then she call'd more company in and searched her Trunk fur­ther, and found many péeces of money, which she knew by the marks; and when they saw that, they apprehended her, and sent her to prison for all dayes of her life; so the Lady continued her love towards the Cat, and would never eat of any dainties at her Table before she had cut her Cat the first bit, at last it happened that she sate at Dinner and forgot to carve first to her Cat, wherefore she leapt to the Ladies face and catcht her by the throat, that had it not béen for the help of some at the Table, the Cat had kill'd her: Then said the Lady, Ile kéep this Cat no longer; then it is good said her friends to destroy her: No, said she, for the sake of the learned Mistris which gave her me; then she returned her back from whence she came, and destred to have her Daughter home; when her Daughter came she took her in her arms and kissed her, and caused her to lye in bed with her every night, and in token of a motherly love to a child, she gave her a King of her finger out of [Page]love to wear, which King she had kept for many years; and it happened after that this Daughter procéeded in her wicked art of witchcraft still and could not break from it: So there was a Mill of the Ladies not far from the house, and every night this Daugh­ter when her mother was asléep, would go with others of her rabble, and at dead time of the night set the Mill a going, ripping the bags, and throwing all the Corn about the flour; at which the Miller wondered greatly, and complained on the morrow to the Lady and many others, saying, his Mill was haunted by evill spirits, doing great mischief, that he was like to be undone; and they counselled him to watch up one night with a good sword and a light to sée what it was; and about midnight there came in at the window a great Cat to his thinking, by and by another and another, till they were half a dozen, spitting and wawling like de­vils, and their eyes shining like coles of fire; then the Miller struck at them, and they slew at his face, and in short time destroy'd him: On the morrow the Lady sent to the Mill to sée how the Miller fared, and they found him dead, with his face and throat tore all to pieces, the next night another [Page]watcht, and on the morrow they went to sée how he sped, and they found him in the same condition; then they all marvelled greatly, so that none would live in that Mill. At last there came a stout fellow, and he would undertake to lye in the Mill all night if the Lady would give him the Mill, she consent­ed, and away goes the fellow, with a great Sword and Candle, and entered the Mill; so about the old hour he heard the Mill at work to the purpose; so he took his Sword and Candle in his hand, and went damn out of his Chamber to sée what guests he had got, and when he came into the Mill he saw nothing, but the Mill stood still, and as soon as he had entered his Chamber, the Mill was at it again as hard as 'twas be­fore; then he ran back again with his sword drawn, and there he beheld six great Cats and one little one, with such sparkling eyes glearing upon him, that he ne're saw the like before; whereupon he struck at them, and they leapt at his face, and on every side of him, that he was fain to lay about him lustily to defend himself; at last he worsted two, and they fled through the window, and the rest fought so furiously, that they put him almost out of breath, but in the end [Page]they all fled through the window, and he following close, smote the last and cut off her fore-foot; and so when day came, he went to look for the foot, and it proved to be a hand with a fair King upon the finger; when he saw that, then he knew they were Witches, so took on him little, and went home to the Lady, who asked him how it fared with him? He said he was never so hard put to it in his life; how so said the Lady? why said he, there came seven Cats, and set the Mill to work as well as I could, and if I had not defended my self stoutly, I had béen slain by them, but in the end I made them flye; and as the last went through the window, I cut off her fore-foot, look here it is: When the Lady saw that, she knew the hand by the Ring, and she remem­bred that night, when she awak't she felt her daughter come in the bed all in a sweat, and very cold; with this thought she was strick­en with a fear, that the drops of sweat trick­led down her face; so she went to the bed­side, and asked her daughter how she did? who said, I am not well, pray let me alone; her mother said, let me féel your hand, how your pulses beat, and she gave her the right hand, kéeping the other arm in the bed, and [Page]her mother said, give me the other hand, and she would not; then her mother went to sée by force, and there was no hand; then her mother knew what Cat she had kept before, and said thou shalt dye by [...] [...]ai [...] before thou deest any more mischief. O graceless Villain, what shame h [...]st sh [...] brought upon me for having such a wicked childe; so she was sentenced to be burnt at a stake, and as she was led to execution, she confest how she had stole the money and bracelet, and laid it where the maid found it, so to be accus'd of theft and hang'd unjustly; but at last she was burn'd to ashes at a stake, and the inno­cent maid redéemed out of prison.

Now said Radamentus, understand you what I have saids yes right well said the Empress; then said Radamentus I will shew you the declaration thereof.

The Example of the third Mistris.

IT came to pass upon a time, that as a Knight was travelling through a strange Countrey, he chanced to lose his way in a Wood, and could neither discover Churches nor Towns, the night being so dark, and he a stranger, knew not what to do, nor whither to go; and as he was complaining to himself, a [Page]Woodman issued through the thickets, hear­ing his complaint. and domanded the cause of it. O friend, said the Knight, I am a stranger to the Countrey, and I have lost my way, and know not whither to go for ac­commodations for me and my Horse, which is almost lost in the Brambles of this Wood. The man said, Sir Knight, it is far to any Inne, and the wayes are bad; but if you please to go with me, I shall bring you to my Cottage, and give you the best accommo­dation it doth yield. The Knight courte­ously returned him thanks, and went along with him, and when he came home, shewed the Knight a Chamber, and provided for his Horse: but the Knight through discon­tent of his Iourney did not go to bed but sate up, and about midnight he heard a great cry in the house, he being in such a lone house began to fear some danger might en­sue, and so knocked for to know what that cry did mean; and the Maid answered, that her Mistrisse was in Travail, and the Midwife was with her. This Knight being skill'd in Astrology, went down to sée how the Planets did serve, it being a bright Star­light night, and he saw a bad Planet going down, and a good one rising; signifying, if [Page]

the Childe was been under that, his fortune was to be h [...]nged; therefore he called the Maid and bid her tell the Midwife to held her hand one quarter of an hour, and the Childe would he born to good fortune: the Maid came out again, and told [...], that i [...] could not possibly b [...]: then [...] again, and tell the Midwife [...] st [...] b [...] [...] half quarter of an hour, and the [...] should be born to go [...]d fortune. [...] again, and bren the him word that [...] was delivered of [...] [...]lly [...] [...] ­ver the bad Planet, [...]hen [...] and said nothing [...] [Page]the Childe: but on the morrow the Father of it came to him, saying, Sir, since you have vouchsafed to lodge in my house all night, be pleased to honour me so far as to name my Childe, who answered, that I shall gladly do. And when the day was come he named the Childe, and writ in a bit of Parchment his destiny, with a charge also, that he should pray to God continually to ac­quit him from that sad fortune, so he sealed it up in a piece of wax, & tyed it about his neck with a Silk String, charging his Father and all his friends not to untye the string to read what it was, till such time the Childe was able to read it himself, destring them to kéep him at School very carefully, whereby he may attain to that knowledge as to read the writing perfectly himself; and thanking the Father for the favour done him, took his leave, and so departed. When the Childs was grown up and fit to be in­structed, he was put to School, and very carefully attended till he was ten years of age, at which time he was capable to read the writing that was about his neck: and upon a time as he was by himself, he took it off his neck, and opened it, and read it, wherein he found his destiny written in [Page]

these words, My good Childe, serve God, and pray to him continually to pass this fate over thée, else thy fortune is to be hanged. When the Childe had read this, he listed up his eyes to heaven and begg'd a blessing from the Lord, and went home very sad and melancholly, and destred of his Father to give him one new suit of clothes, and a little money in his pocket, and his blessing; his Father asked him the reason of his request: then said the Childe, pray give it me, for I will go seek my fortune; his Father did ac­cording as the Childe required, so he took [Page]

leave of his friends, and parted from his Father. Well, go, said he, and my blessing with thée; so the Boy travelled into a strange Countrey, still praying to God to acquit him of that unhappy fortune to which he was predicted to; and at last he came to a Knights house, and required a service, the Knight asked him what he could do, he said, swéep your Hall, draw Beer, and run upon your Arands, and what other service I am able to do. The Knight saw him a hope­ful boy, and very willingly entertained him, and he proved marvellous careful and dili­gent in whatsoever he took in hand, and at [Page]all spare times he would be upon his knées at prayers, desiring God to pass that unhappy fate over him. The Knight observing this, soon after plac'd him under Buttler, and there he continued in the same ruse, praying to God continually, whereby the Knight had a great discerning eye on him. In this place he had not been many years, but the head Buttler dyed, and he Knight put him in his place, and being there he was obedient to his Master, courteous to his fellow servants, & pleasing to all, but the baker and the brew­er murmured greatly, saying, how may this be, yonder fellow was taken up as a poor beggar boy at the door but the other day, and first he was under Buttler, now he is head Buttler, what will he come to: but this past on, he grew in favour still, and being a Schollar, his Master made him under Ste­ward, which place he discharged with great trust and faithfulness; then his two adver­saries murmured ten times more, yet he grew in favour more still with the Knight, till at last the head Steward dyed; then he was prefer'd in that place, and from that time forwards his adversaries sought his de­struction: yet when he was in this place, he never waxed proud nor ambitious, but al­wayes [Page]trusty, humble, meek, and lowly, and when he had served in the place of head Stewardship the space of five years, he had a minde to go sée his own Countrey, and therefore delivered up all his accounts just and square, he asked leave of the Knight, who granted his request very willingly, and lent him a Horse, and gave him great store of money to go with, saying, Thou hast béen a just and faithful servant to me, go, and my best word with thée; and when his horse was tyed at the door, and he ready to depart, there came to him the Baker and the Brewer, de­ceitfully to take their leaves of him, saying they must drink with him before parting, and as he was drinking with one in the Cel­lar, the other opened his Portmantle, and put therein a great Gilt Bowl, and so shut it again: then he went and drank with him, and so departed; but he had not béen gone above a mile, but these two fellows made in­quisition for the Bowl, and the Knight ask­ed who should have it, who should, said they, but your trusty friend and servant, that is newly gone, who hath béen as very a thief as ever breathed since he came to you, and has robb'd you daily, though you would not believe it; therefore you will not believe [Page]this except you saw it, therefore pray ride along with us, and we'l bring him back a­gain, and that you shall sée he has the Bowl: so the Knight rid after him, and overtook him, and praid him to come back, for he had a little business with him; so when he came, they searched his Portmantle, and found the Bowl: when the Knight saw that, he admi­red it, and said, O thou wicked wretch, I have béen told how thou hast rob'd me daily, and impoverished my Estate, but I would never believe it, now I sée it plainly with my eyes, for which fact thou shalt be hanged at the Gallows.

The young man stood up, and said, of this fact I am innocent, and thou eternal God, who holdeth the secrets of all men hearts in thy hands, knows that I am guiltless, send me justice now, O great Lord of heaven and earth, that thy everlasting truth may take place, and this hidden treachery be brought to light. And as they were leading him away to prison, he said, Well, now I perceive that Fortune is a Fortune, let the world go how it will; and his Master hear­ing him, said, what mean you by that? and he said, when my Mother was in Travail of me, there was a strange Knight lodged in [Page]tha house, and did foresée my destiny by his art in the Planets, and at the request of my Father he was my God-father, and then writ in a little piece of Parchment my sad fate in these words following, My good childe, serve God, and pray continually that the sad fate may pass over thee, for thy for­tune is to hanged: and he sealed it up in war, and tyed it with a silk String, and put it about my neck, charging my Father, that no one should read it till I was capable to read it my self; wherefore I came to travel, and also obeying the words, and praying con­tinually to God to escape it, I sée it doth fol­low me undeserved, as you now see. The Knight hearing this, demanded to sée the piece of writing, which specified his desti­ny, and he took the string from obout his neck: and gave it the Knight, who as soon as he saw it, he said, O the merry of the e­ternal God of Heaven, whose love to his servants is incompréhensible, this is my own hand-writing; I writ thy destiny, and I am thy God-farther, O bring him back again, let us examine the cause better; then [...]e called the two false accusers before him, and strictly examined each of them, threat­ning sad punishment if they would not con­fess, [Page]and at last they confest it were they stole the Cup, and put it in his P [...]rtmantle; for which they were both hanged, and the young man saved: And then said the Mi­stris [...], understand you what I h [...]ve said? yes, right well, said the Empress, Now I do perceive that very often the wicked commit­teth the fact, and the innocent are Condem­ned. You have shamed me a good example, therefore my Daughter shall not dye. Great Lady, said the Mistris, if you do so, you will do well, and I thank yo for sparing your Daughter this day for my sake, and there­fore to God I commend you.

The fourth Example of Radamentus.

SOmetime in Rome there lived a great Lady which had a famous Park of Déer, that a worthier was not in all the [Page]land; she had also a very gallant Hound, which was presented to her by the best Huntsman in the world: and this Lady de­lighting much in hunting, appointed a day for the tryal of this brave Dog; and when the day was come they rouzed a Buck, and followed the Chace, up the Hills, down the Dales, through the Thickets, Bracks, and Boggs, the like hunting ne'r [...] was known in that part of the world, for the Dog hunt­ed upon hot sent seven dayes together, till all the followers were tyred both foot and horse, and left the whole Game to the Dog; yet still the Buck maintained his ground, and the Dog his Chace, throughout the Kingdom of Thesaly three hundred mils an end; the Lady and her Noble Barons gave off all for lost, some of them cryed, we shall never see the Buck again; said the Lady, I shall never have my Dog again: and when they had yielded all as lost, there came a Let­ter from the King of Egypt, he knowing her so delightful in Hunting, and the tenure of it was, that there came a Buck chased by a Dog, through some part of his Domini­ons, and that they were come into the King­dom of Thesaly: The Lady hearing this, said, Doubtless, this Dog and this Buck by [Page] all description should be mine, and as she was thus musing, the Keeper brought in word that the Buck and Dog was come; then the Lady rejoyced and ran into the Park to see the Buck and Dog, and there they found the Buck leapt just ever the wall, and fell down, and the dog ran to the wall, and he fell down, onely wearied, but not to death: then said the Keeper, this Buck is the best runner in [...]t Thesaly; and the Lady said, this Dog is the best in all the world, and there­fore all the Nobles and Barons that ever came there a hunting praised that Dog and loved him wonderfully. Now there was an observation on this Dog, for he loved the Park ever after, and the same buck he be­fore chased above all others; so that he was observ'd to go every night about mid­night, to defend the Déer from any ravenous beast which should chance to come, as Wolves or such like Creatures, and this did he constantly upon his own accord, so that such a Dog was never heard of before. And it chanced after, that the same Huntsman which gave the Lady this brave Dog, pre­sented her with another wolf-dog, young and tender, and of a most curious sh [...]pe and form, which also won the affections of the Lady marvellously, so that she loved him as [Page]she lov'd her life; and whosoever should tell her that this wolf-dog would prove the better Courser, she would rejoyce, and give them great rewards; so that her love to the Hound began to decline, for he was wont to quarrel with her young dog, being of two contrary natures, for which she would kick him and much reject him; but the young dog grew apace well formed, fair and comely: Not far from her Court lived seven wise Mistrisses, whom she sent for to pass their judgements upon this young Dog, what

they thought of him? And the first said, it was the fairest dog that ever she saw, and it would make a good Courser; then the second [Page]said, it was the comeliest Dog that ever she saw, and he would make a stately kéeper; the third said, it was the tallest Dog that ever she saw, and would be fit for a Princely Game; the fourth said, it was the strongest Dog that ever she saw, and would be a brave companion in a forrest; the fifth said, it was the furicusest Dog that ever she saw, and was fit to kéep a treasury; the firth said, it was a dog in her judgement excéeded all others; and the seventh said, it was a Dog, if well taught and preserved, would paral­lel the whole world for his equal. Then said the Lady, I thank you all for your great accommodations you give of my dog; there­fore I shall prize him as I do the greatest Iewel I have, but I have an excellent Hound besides, which on his own accord doth watch my Déer every night, and pre­serve them from the Wolves, and the like savage beasts, and they two can never agrée. Then said the first Mistris, the Hound is something ancient, and probable might not live long; the wolf-dog is young and iusty, and the best of his dayes are to come; and since they cannot live both together quietly, it is expedient one should dye, therefore let the Hound be destroy'd: Then the Lady [Page]gave command that the Hound should be hang'd immediately; and soon after the Hound was dead, many Déer were lost out of the Park, therefore they put the Wolf-dog to watch, yet for all that a Déer in two or thrée nights was constantly lost, and still the Lady wondered how this might be, and the Wolf-dog watching too; so she put a man to watch all night in a trée, to espy out what beast came to vestry her Déer, and by the light of the Moon he discovered the Wolf-dog upon a lusty Buck, having tore his throat; when the morning came, the Lady sent for him to know what he had seen; and be said, I have séen what it is that kills the Déer now: declare said the Lady what it is, and he said, it is even your own Wolf-dog, whom you put to watch them; then the Lady looked sad in the face, and began to complain greatly, saying, Alas, have I de­stroy'd the Shepheard, and put a Wolf in his stead; have I then through the wicked advice of yonder foolish women hang'd my good and trusty Hound, which looked to my Herd, and preserv'd them from the ravenous wolves; the bravest Courser and flower of all Dogs in Thesaly, and have here put a ra­venous murtherer of my Deer to keep the [Page]Park: and with these words she struck the Dog three or four blows with her Cane, and the masterless Cur grumbled as if it had béen a Lyon; and then said the Lady, how now Déer-killer, and smote him again, but before she struck the fifth blow, he rear'd upon her breast, and slew her before the eyes of her servants: Then all people cursed the Counsellours which advised the Lady to kéep that evil Dog, and to kill the good Hound. Then said Radamentus, understand you what I have said? yes right well, said the Empress, then said he, I will shew you the Declaration thereof.

The Example of the fourth Mistris.

SOme time there lived in the Kingdom of Thracia a famous Queen named Hicuba, who built a strong City of defence, double wall'd, and moated round; she was a peace­able Queen, and at variance with none, save onely the King of Lycia, being a quar­relsome Prince; and be came against her [Page]with an invincible Army, and besseged her round; wherefore she call'd before her in Councel her two Counsellors named An­thinor and Eneus; and they assembled all the noble Citizens to advise how to preserve their City, and give their enemies battel; and when they had fortified their walls, and planted their Guards, Anthinor issued out with ten thousand men, and made a great slaughter among his enemies, and so return­ed back into the City; then their enemies recruited again, and fell on to scale the walls, but were driven back by the Citi­zens: then Eneus went out and sought with great valour, but lost many men, and so re­turn'd into the Town. At last Anthinor addressed himself to the Queen, and told her it were good to conclude peace with the enemies, for they had lost many noble per­sons of honour, among whom were the Queens two Sons, for which they made great moan; and therefore he advised the Queen to conclude a peace, that the Ene­mies may depart without destroying the Ci­ty, for they could not maintain it against such an invincible power, though the City was well fortified, and strength enough to have beaten twice as many; yet the Queen [Page]believed these two evil Counsellors, which proved arrand Traytors; than the harmless Queen asked them who they should have to go treat for them? Then Eneus stood up and said, if it seemeth good to the Queen and to all you Citizens, for the honour of the Queen, the safeguard of our City, and the preservation of our lives, Anthinor and I being expert in all Laws and Customs upon so weighty a matter as this, will go forth. The Queen liked well of what he said, re­posing more confidence in them then any

other, and all the Citizens accorded to it: and Anthinor and Eneus went forth and [Page]sounded a parley, and the Enemies Heralds came and fetcht them in; and Anthinor said, we have wrought so about with our Queen, that we have obtained Irave to come and couclude a league or truce with you; but if you will grant us two our demands, as we shall ask of you, we will betray the City in­to your hands, to do with it as it seemeth good to you; then they all promised to grant their demands. Then said Anthinor, you shall give us a thousand marks in Gold, and withall our Rights and Priviledges, and save all the lives of our Friends and Kin­dred, with the preservation of all our Houses, Lands, and Possessions; then said their Enemies, all these things are granted, and we are ready to swear the confirmation of it, which they immediately did: Then said An­thinor, we must be very private in this thing, for we must make a counterfeit truce with ye, and you must send this word in answer to our message, thus:

That you require a hundred thousand marks of gold to pay your Army, and ten thousand measures of wheat to make them bread, and to set up a brazen horse within the City in the Temple of Interva; and this [...]se said Anthinor must be cast hollow, [Page]wherein a thousand men may stand all arm­ed, and when it is in the Temple, and you have receiv'd your gold and wheat which I will order; then you must draw your Army off the Town, as they may suppose you are going away: then when the Citizens think all is secure, and are in bed asleep, then shall the armed men in the brazen Horse come forth, and Eneus and I will give you the sign by a light off the wall; and when you see that, advance with all your Army on the back side of the Town, and we will open the Gates again you come; then do with the City as you see good, onely remember Eneus and I of our contract: and said Anthinor, with those words, we will depart, & acquaint the Queen of it, and we shall come forth to morrow again to acquaint you of her answer; so took leaps of them, and departed ho [...] into the City, and fold the Queen what the Enemies requested, which was one hundred thousand marks of Gold, and ten thousand measures of Wheat, and they would depart home into their own Countrey, onely they would leave behinde them a brazen Horse, which they had pruvided as a memorandum or mark of Conquest. Then the Queen sighed deeply, and said, What, have I lost so [Page]many of my dearest friends, and so much of the stately walls of my City domollished, and now must I be constrain'd to pay so much Gold and Wheat unto my very Ene­mies, and hire them to go home into their Country [...] O was is me that ever I was born [...] but since it must be so, go tell them Anthinor, I do grant their demands; then Anthinor and Eneus went forth again, and said to the Enemies, your request is granted all what we have contrived, and you are to appoint the day to receive it, that we may make it ready; and after you have that, then we'l be for the City: so the day was appointed, and all was got ready, they receiving it all, then they draw the brazen Horse into the City, and plat't it in the Temple, though little thought the harmless Quéen what hollish plot lay in the belly of the Horse. On the morrow all the Enemies drew off from the City towards night, and the poor Citizens supposing they were all departed towards their own Countrey, rejoyced all, and through watchfulness being up very many nights before, went to bed, and at midnight in the dead time of sléep, Anthinor went to the brazen Horse, and call'd forth that thou­sand armed men, and Eneus went upon the [Page]back tower, and held up in his hand a bla­zing torch, which gave intelligences to the bloody Enemy; so they came and entred the Town, that all the stréets were full, and then Anthinor and Eneus the bloody Tray­tors shewed them their [...]ouses and Possessi­ons, but for the harmless Quéen in her Pa­lace was no respect at all; and this Quéen had a fair and beautiful Daughter named Palestina, the like was not in all the world; she wicked Anthinor would have radisht some time before the siege, and she refusing, cau­sed him to work this their utter destruction; and as the Quéen and her Daughter were at prayers, they heard a woful cry in the City, then they were struck with jealousie of wic­ked Anthinors treachery; so the Quéen ran into the Temple, and Palestina the young Lady poor soul ran and hid her self in an old Tower, by which time the Enemy had not left alive neither man, woman, nor childs throughout the whole City. Then Anthinor the Traytor came to the Temple, and seeing the Quéen there, asked where her Daughter was? who replied, O un­grateful Traytor, is not thy wicked bowels glutted yet with tyranny? Then he went to the old Tower, and there found her and [Page]drag'd her out, and gave her to the Enemy, who led her to the Altar, and before her mo­thers own eyes they cut her in four quarters, and threw them about the Temple: the Quéen at the horrid sight fell down in a swound, and when she recovered life again, said, Now Villains glu [...] your selves with tyranny, so fore the hair off her dead, and the clothes of her bo [...], and went s [...]ark mad out o [...] her sen­ses; wherefore the wicked Tyrants carri­ed her into a strange Island, and there miser­ably [...]on' [...] her to death, and after burnt her City to the ground, and retu [...]n'd home into their own Countrey. And then the Mi­stris said to the Empress, understand you what I have said? how a Queen by putting too much confidence, and took too much ad­vise of two evil Counsellors, came at last to have her Daugh [...]er cut in pieces before her own eyes, herself stoned to death, her Sub­jects massacred, and her whole City destroy'd; thererefor [...] [...]e advis'd, and put not your own D [...]ug [...]ter thus to death for the words of one Counsellor, lest it happen to you as it did to th [...] harmlese Queen. The Empress said, you have shown me a good Example, [...] t [...] g [...]eves my heart to think of it, for they were the wickedest Counsellors that [Page]ever were, surely I will take no such advice; for my Daughter shall not dye. The Mi­stris said, if you perform that you will do wisely, and I thank you for sparing your Daughter this day for my sake, and so I commit you to God.

The fifth Example of Radamentus.

SOmetimes in Rome there lived a famous Lady, whose worth and renown was spread far and near, being beloved of all people, for she was vertuous in conversati­on, modest in behaviour, gracious to her people, and amiable to all; and in reference to the poor, she was adorned with a frée and bountiful liberality, so that she had the prayers of all: This Lady had two Daugh­ters, both of them very beautiful and comely; the eldest she kept at home with her, and the youngest she put abroad to be taught and in­structed, having a motherly car [...], and in pro­cess of time, this Lady sent for her Daugh­ter home, expecting she had learnt much for her edification; but when she came home, alas, she was ne' [...]e the better, so she grieved very much for her Daughter, in regard of the tender love she [...]are her; and therefore she would kéep her at home, being the young­est, and set the other abroad: which being done, this young Girle began to do nothing but play, having what liberty she pleased; [Page]at last she grew to maturity, and then she would not go abroad without money; there­fore her Mother gave her money from time to time: at last she had wayes to spend more then her Mother allowed her if it had béen twice as much, for she kept a private lover in the City which her mother knew not of, and many nights when her Mother was asleep, she would rise and take the Keyes from under the Ladies head, and go out to her love, and towards break of day come in again, her mother never perceiving it, but towards morning she wondered how her Daughter came so cold, and asked her what was the reason she was so cold; she said, the Cramp had taken her in her leg, and being loath to wake her, she rose and walked about the Chamber to drive it away, so that excuse past for currant. The next night she awak't, and mist her out of the house, and wondering how she got out, put up her hand to feel for her Keyes, they were gone; so when her Daughter came in about break of day again, she asked her, O Lord Daugh­ter, where have you been now? Truly said she, I had a tooth did ake so grievously, that my [...]aw I thought would have broke, and you bring so sound a sleep, I was loath to di­sturb [Page]ye; therefore I took the Keyes and went forth to the Chyrurgion to draw it, but I could not make him hear me: so this se­cond excuse past as currant as the former, and her Mother said no more of it. Vpon another time she espied her Mothers Key of her Cabinet, and she took it and prest it in Clay that it made an impression; and from this impression she got another Key made whereby she could go to the Cabinet of mo­ney when she pleased; and her Mother mis­sing money so off, little thought of her own Daughter, but sometime fathered the crime upon the Maid, sometime upon the Man, that the Family was never but in strife and variance: and upon a time she went to her Mothers Cabinet for more money, and went away and left her Key behinde her in the Cabinet; her-Mother séeing a key in her Cabinet, and knew she had her own in her Pocket, let it alone, and watcht behinds the Curtain to sée who would fetch it out; by and by, in comes her Daughter, and snatcht the Key out, but her Mother catcht hold of her, and said, O thou graceless wrecth, is it thée that hast robb'd me these two years to­gether, now I have found thee out, O wic­ked imp; I have béen often cold of thee, but [Page]I would never believe it till now I do sée it, for which thou shalt dye a shameful death: but there was living not far off, an old woman, whom this young imp was wont to take advice of in all her wicked pranks; therefore in this time of necessity she did send for her to come, and by her craft and cunning to save her life. When she came she said, O vertuous Lady, let not your wrath be so [...]uriously bent against her, she is your Daughter whom you have bore of your body, and gave her suck nine moneths from your breast, for we were all guilty of faults in our infancy; therefore let her not come to shame for the first time, the se­ver [...] Law will give reprieve to the veriest Felon for the first fault, much more a natu­ral Mother ought to do for a Childe; and if she should thus dye, it will acrew great shame to her Family, and you will be brand­ed with rebuke for tyranny: Vpon these words the good Mother was pacified, and pardoned her. It happened afterwards as the Lady was walking in the evening in her Garden, she espied her Daughter l [...]ng with a strange man under a Bush, then said she, and cryed out with a loud voice, O thou [...]scivious creature, worse then any beast, I [Page]have pardoned thée for Theft already, and now thou art fallen into Whoredom, if I suffer this, all people will curse me, and the Paps that gave thee suck; therefore thou shalt dye, for I had rather see thée hanged then I should be sound guilty of thy crimes. Then the old woman came again, and said, O good Lady, save her life, consider she is young, and what she hath done, is through ignorance and foolishness; but remember the old Proverb, A naughty boy may make a good man, likewise she may amend and be­come a good woman; and remember what the Scripture saith, He that is without fault, let him throw the first stone; therefore let her shame be hidden this time, and if ever she commit the like again do your pleasure upon her: so through these strong delusions and foolish perswa [...]ions, the good Lady was again perswaded, and pardoned her, but said to the old woman, it is very seldom that any who are addicted to Theft and Whore­dom, but commonly are guilty of Murder also, God grant that I never hear of no such thing by her, though I fear it greatly: to prevent which, the godly Mother kept her within doors so strict, that she could not go abroad to her lover to féed him with mo­ney [Page]as she was wont to do; therefore he would come so her and speak to her through the window, where she threw him many of her Mothers pieces of Plats and other things; then the Lady marvelled greatly [...]ow her things should be lost, and her Daughter never go out of doors, no farther then to the great window, where she did ob­serve, she stood every night: and it came to pass that one night the Lady her self was standing under that window late, bearing the pretty Nightingale c [...]rping her several notes; and the Daughter supposing she had béen her lover, threw out the great stiver Goblet; the Lady perceiving out of what window it came, took it up and came in with it, and askt for her Daughter, and the maid said she was in the middle window; call her to me, said the Lady, when she came, she bid her go fetch her some wine in the Gob­let, and she said, she had béen looking for that and it could not be found: then the La­dy [...] the Goblet and shewed her, saying, W [...]t thou never lea [...]e thy tricks, thou graceless villain, now shalt thou dye surely a shameful death, the just reward of thy de­se [...]t [...]. Then news came again to the old wo­man that the Ladies Daughter was to dye, [Page]and she came in all haste, crying to the La­dy to save her li [...] but once more, and she would undertake to advise her, and bring her to goodness her self: Vpon this the La­dy pardoned her once more. Now this Daughter loved a man which was poor, and both a Thief and Murderer, whom her Mo­ther would not suffer her to marry with him without her consent; she had nothing to maintain him with, neither had he of him­self; therefore she took counsel of the old wo­man what to do, who advised her to take a little of her poisoned ball, and when her Mother called for Béer, to put in two drams, saying, that will dispatch your Mother, then you may have all, and take your lover. The wicked [...]mp was glad of this advice, and did execute it; her mother having took it, called for some more drink, the poison wrought so hot in her guts: when she [...]lled the cup again, she put in more, and the harm­less Lady took it out of the hand of the bloody villain, as from a friend, so drank it up, and gave up the ghost, being aged [...]escors and ten: for which horrid fact the wicked wretch was hurned at a stake. Thus was a harm­less Lady first robb [...]d of her goods, and after murdered by a wicked Daughter she best [Page]loved. Then said Radamentus, understand [...]e what I have said, yes right well, said the Empress, that was the wickedst Daughter that ever I heard of; to prevent such mis­chief, my Daughter shall not live a day langer: therefore she commanded her Offi­cers to lead her away to be burnt, and as she was leading through the stréets, the people ran out, and cryed, alas, alas, the Empress Daughter is leading again to be burnt; and as she past by, the fifth Mistris met her, and hasted away to the Empress, doing reve­rence as the others were went: then said the Empress, you are come, but it shall be the price of your life: the Mistris said, O Lady, I have not deserved to dys, for your Daughter hath not committed those crimes which ye say she hath done, as hereafter you shall finde; and that she speaketh not is of her wisdom, and know ye she will speak when her time cometh: and as for the sin of Fornication, believe it not, for a wise Virgin as she is, would never attempt so shameful a deed, and if ye put her to death for the words of one man, it shall happen to [...] worse then it did the Quéen of China. Then said the Empress, pray shew me that Example; that I shall not do, said wise De­bora, [Page]unless you call your Daughter back a­gain alse before I make an end your Daugh­ter may be dead: then the Empress com­manded her Daughter to [...] brought b [...]ck and put in prison; thea Debora sp [...]ke as followeth.

The Example of the fifth Mistris.

SOmetime in China lived a vertuous Quéen, reuo [...]ned far and near; for whose wisdom and good discretion she was e [...] ­poused to a great Eastern King, who b [...]d a grave Counsellour, without whom be would do nothing: this vertuous Quéen be­ing married to this great King, soon after there arose a great Rebellion in his Coun­trey from whence he came, whereby he was constrained to go to suppress the rude multi­tude, which soon he did, and to settle the uniformity, staid there for the space of half a year, by which time his Queen was grown big with childe: and [...]is old Counsellour whom the King left at home as Guarding of her, wrote Letters to the King, that she was very familiar with a Nobleman in [...], whose name wa [...] Palemed [...]s, and that [...] thought what she wont withall [...] [Page]Thus did he through wicked trea­chery, thinking to himself, the King was an­cient, and would be the more filled with jealousie, and if he could destroy the Quéen and that she went withal, soon after the King would dye, then said he. I shall rule the Land; and from that time forth he sought th [...]ir destruction. Now when the King had received his Letter he hasted home, and rail'd at his Quéen, saying, she was a Whore, and what she went withal was a Bastard, and would not suffer her to come into his company: then this old Traytour went to the Quéen, pretending friendship under a falsehood, and advised her to go in a merry way and present the King a Bowl of Wine; and she alwayes thinking he had been a most faithful friend did as he advised her, and before she brought it, he wrote a Libel and dr [...]pt it in the King [...] Chamber: This Libel expressed, that if the Quéen at such a time did present him with a Bowl of Wine, he was a dead man, for it was poi­son; and as the Queen came in, with inno­cent love, presented the King with the Bowl of Wine, he took his foot and kickt it all down, saying, Thou wicked wretch, now I do perceive the vile actions, thou hast de­filed [Page]my Bed, and defamed my Honour, and art thou now come to poison me, I swear thou shalt dye the cruellest death as may be thought on: so committed her to prison, and as she lay there she breathed out these com­plaints,

O Fortune, why hast thou used me thus, I am a Kings Daughter, and was b [...]n Heir­ess to a fl [...]urishing Kingdom, and instead of a Palace with rich perfumes, I am he [...]e ch [...]ked up in a dungeon of f [...]thy fogs, when I thought to be imbraced within Princely arms, and courted with Royal salutations, I am here accused with slanderous crimes, that the gods themselves do know I am in­nocent of; and thus through grief and sor­row, and her time being near, she sell in tra­vel, and was delivered of a comely Girl: then news was brought the King, that the Quéen was delivered of a Girl, said he, Take that brat and throw it into the Sea: when the Messenger came and told the Quéen, she wr [...]ng her Lilly white hands, and the tears gushed from her Cristal eyes, running down her Rosy che [...]ks▪ and she said, Ah wretched babe, hardly conceived in the Womb before envied, and now scarcely born before thy death determined, and must [Page]the wide Ocean be thy nursery, and the ra­ging waves thy rocking cradle, and nothing but the Firmament thy covering cloth or canopy! O, then let the gods of Fortune be thy guide, and the whistling billows sing thy lullaby, so kist her tender lips, bathing them with brinish tears, and so parted: and then they put the babe in a Cock-boat, co­vering

it with boughs and gréen leaves, and hoisted it a float the Sea, and it happened that the waves tost it ashore in a strange Countrey, that if lay by the Sea-side among the Segs, and as a Shepheard came that [Page]way looking stray Shéep, he heard the Childe cry, and he thinking it had béen his stray Sheep browsing upon the edge of the Rocks, he hasted down for to sée, and there he found the Cock-boat rested upon [...]he [...] sand; so he took the Childe and br [...]d [...], and it grew to be the beautiful'st Gi [...]l in all the world, and the Shepheard put her upon the Mountain to kéep Shéep; so it chanced, that the King her Father came a hunting that way, and looking upon her, said, Fact Shepheardess, what Flock do you belong to, or what may they be that the Goddesses themselves have made you Guardian to? she answered the King, I am a poor Shepheards Daughter, and bred up in yonder Cottage: Then said the King, fair Virgin, will you leave off your Flock and come to Court, there your eyes shall be ravished with tri­umphant Shews, and your ears glutted with delightful Musick, you shall drink out of Gold, and be clothed in Purple? and she answered the King, the greatest Musick the delighted in, was the bleating of the Shéep, and the greatest shews, were their new shor [...] Fleeces, a Shepheards wéed was greater content to her thou Purple, and a woodden dish more [...]ter then Gold. Then [Page]the King marvelled greatly, and went to the old Shepheard, and demanded of him whose Daughter she was, and he said 'twas his? nay, said the King, that cannot be, for her beauty shews her to be of Princely race, and said, if he would not tell him the truth, he should dye a cruel death, and commanded him to be led to the Gallows. Then the Shep­heard fell down upon his knées, and be­sought the King that he would spare his life and he would tell him: speak on, said the King; My Lord (said he) upon a time as I was by the Sea-side looking for stray Shéep, I heard something cry by the Sea side, and I supposing it had been my stray that I missed; I went to sée, and there I found a small Boat the Waves had cast ashore, and there­in a Childe wrapped in a Scarlet Mantle, and a piece of writing in these words.

When the King heard this, he knew she [Page]was his Daughter that he commanded to be thrown into the Sea, and saiv, sines the Gods and Fortune has favoured her, I have no reason to hate her; therefore he com­manded her to be brought home to the Pa­lace, and clothed her in most rich aray, and made her sit at his right hand, after that, he dispatch' [...] four of his Noblemen to the I stand of Delphos, to inquire of the Ora­cle of Apollo, whether the Queen was guilty of the charge laid against her, and when they came in the Temple before the Oracle, they did their reverence, and the Oracle spake, and said, Stand here two dayes, and speak not one word, and the third day you shall finde on the back side of the Oracle a scroll of Parchment sealed up; that take and haste away to the King, and break it not up till you come in the Judgement Hall, and before all the Councel, there the King shall finde the truth written; then they did their obeysance, and so departed, and took shipping, and the seventh day they arrived in their own Countrey: when they came before the King, they ac­quainted him what the Oracle had com­manded them to do, and forth with the King assembled all his Lords into the Iudgment Hall, every one expecting a sad doom for the [Page]Quéen; but when the Scroll was broke open, and read, it proved thus, saying, The Queen is innocent, her Childe is lawfully begotten, the old Counsellour is the Traytor; and the King shall dye without an Heir, if Equi­ty and Justice takes not place. When the Counsel heard this, they all rejoyced, and the King sent immediately for his Queen out of prison, but the messenger brought him word again, that the Quéen was dead; then the King fell a weeping and wringing his hands, saying, O miserable wretch am I, that believed such an old cursed Caitiff as I have done! O woe is me that ever I was born, I caus'd my Child to be drown'd in the Sea, had not the Gods and Fortune pre­serv'd her, and now I have slain my vertu­ous and innocent Quéen by false and bitter imprisonment, through the advice of an old cursed Villain; surely he shall dye the mi­serablest death as may be thought of: and spéedily he commanded two wilde Horses to be brought, and ty'd the Traytors two hands to one tail, and his two legs to the other; so drew him limb from limb, and threw his quarters to the beasts of the field and the f [...]wles of the air, a just reward for such an inhumane Traytor: And then he prepar'd [Page]the richest Tomb that ever was séen for his Quéen, and commanded all the Lords and Barons of the Land to appear at her great Funeral, which was solemnized in mighty state, and honourably interr'd her in his own Chappel, where upon her Tomb he caused to be ingraven these words following.

Then said the Empress, you have shewed me a good Example to beware of had Coun­sel; therefore my Daughter shall not dye: And the Mistris departed from her with a joyful heart.

The sixth Example of Radamentus.

SOmetime in Asia lived a Lady, who being with childe lunged for a young Lion, so that inquisition was made all over Asia for a young Lion; at last a Nobleman being a hunting in a wilde Fortest, chanced to catch a Lyons whel [...], and sent it to the La­dy, who no sooner receiv'd it, but fell in la­bour, and was delivered of a B [...]y, whom she loved marvellously, and kep [...] the Lion alwayes by her, feeding it with all the dain­ties she possible could get, and the Lion would follow her up and down the house, and seem'd as tame as a Dog: at last he would walk abroad, and run among the sheep but meddle with none, that caused the Lady to love him, and tender him like as she did a Childe, séeing he would run after her so pret­tily among the shéep, and not touch any; but why should he, when his belly was s [...]'d with all the Dainties that may be got. But it came to pass upon a time, the Lady want from home, and committed the charge of her young Lion to her maid, but alas she gave him not the attendance her Lady did; wherefore he ran out among the Flock, and [Page]slew one of the best shéep therein, and de­vouted him; when the Lady came home, the Shepheard complained to her, and said, the Lion had slain one of the best shéep in the Flock, and the Lady would not believe it, till the Stoward came, and also verified it; then said the Lady, alas, if he has slain one of the Flock, it is but through his foolishness, for he is but a whelp, and ten­der, and knew not what he did, but if we catch him again doing such a trick, we will correct him for it; and not long after he came into the Flock and slew two, and de­voured as much as he could, the rest that was left a Greyhound of the house found and eat it; the Lion being come home first, and got to his Couch, there was no suspition of him, but the poor Greyhound coming home with his chops all bloody, was apprehended of the Shepheard, and all the blame put upon him; wherefore the Lady commanded him to be hang'd, therefore according to the old Proverb, It is better for some to steal an horse, then another to look over the hedge: The third time the Lion went to the Flock, slew thrée, and glutted himself in their [...]; then the Shepheard complained the [...] time, but could have no redress, the [Page]Lady still pardoning him, hoping he would mend: and the fourth time he fell among the Flock, slaying and spoiling above twen­ty; then all people cry'd shame upon the Lady, for kéeping a ravenous Beast to de­stroy so good a Flock; yet the Lady would not kill him, nor hardly give credit to what they said, nevertheless she kept him in her Chamber close for two or thrée dayes, and he lay close by the Cradle where her young Son was; and it happened one morning

one morning, that his wrath began to rise, and his eyes séemed as red as blood, walking up and down the Chamber, he smelt to the [Page]Cradle where the Infant lay, and at last jumpt upon him, and fore him all to pieces, and eat him before the mothers face; then the Lady wrung her hands, and curst the time she refused to kill him: but that did not satisfie the savage beast, but after he had dispatcht the Childe, he jumpt upon the La­dy, and fore her joynt from joynt; and when the servants ran up and lookt through the key hole, all the Chamber was of a gore blood.

Then said Radamentus, I fear it will hap­pen to you as it did unto this poor Lady, in tendering and saving your wicked Daugh­ter so oft, that when she comes to have pow­er, she will destroy your Subjects the good Sheep, and after bring you to a miserable end. Then said the Empress, surely that shall not be, for to morrow my Daughter shall dye: then she commanded her Officers to lead her away to the stake, arrayed all over in a white rove signifying Death: then all the people cry'd out, alas, and for ever­more! the Empress Daughter is leading a­gain to dye, & they much lamented her death. Then the sixth Mistris when she heard of it, mounted on horseback, and hasted to the Em­press; who was no sooner come, but the Em­press [Page]disdainfully lookt upon her, and threat­ned her sorely that she should dye with her Daughter, for bringing her up in such hor­rid actions, that all the world was asham'd of her: The Mistris said, I have not de­serv'd as you say; and as for your Daughter you shall know she shall speak within three dayes, and all the truth shall come to light; but if you put her to death for the words of one man, it will surely happen to you as it rid to the Princess of Burgundy, who for the love of a foreign Prince, and the ad­vice of an evil Counsellour, caused her own precious Daughter to be put to death, for which after she would have given her own life. For the love of God said the Empress, shew me that Example; that shall I not do said the Mistris, except you send for your Daughter back again, otherwise she may be dead, and then I should talk to you in vain: Then the Empress commanded her Daugh­ter to be call'd back again; and the Mistris began as followeth.

The Example of the sixth Mistris.

SOme time in Burgundy lived a fair Prin­cess of famous worth and great [...]; [Page]this Princess took wonderful great delight in seeing Justs and Turnies: where upon a time there came several brave Princes and Nobles to shew their valour before this great Princess, and there assembled toge­ther seventy and thrée brave Heroes, and when the Princess baheld them all, she thought the magnificency of the whole world were that day assembled together: amongst whom was valiant Brutus, one of the Knights of Malts; and he behad'd him­self so valsantly, that all the honour of the day accrewed to him, that the Princess was so much enamoured on him, that her eye was fixed all day long upon the place where he stood; and when the day was over, this valiant Brutus came off the Field with ho­nour, T [...]umpets sounding, and victorious Trophies bore before him: Now the Lady was in the window of her Castl [...] all the while, and beheld his worthy acts, so that her love burned on him, but could not tell how to reveal it: Yet afterwards she invi­ted the Knight to a Banquet, and sent the massage by her own Steward, for which Bru­tus returned the Princess many thanks, and reputed her invitation as a great honour; and when the Day was come, the Knight [Page]

appeared before the Princess in such a brave gesture and comely deportment, that the Princess was ravisht to see the excellen­cy of his carriage; so they went to Dinnex that day, and passed away the time in com­plemental discouries: Now this Lady had a Daughter most beaufiful and fair, full of modesty and vertue, and of comoly seatures, and upon her the Knight had a fixed eye, but the Princess never minded that, for she thought the Knight was more ambitions to Court her then her Daughter, being young and of tenver years, therefore she was clear of any fealonsie of her Daughter: so after [Page]they had feasted together for the space of a wéek, the Knight most courteously took his leave of the Princess, and departed home into his own Countrey, promising to come again soon after; but failing to come, the Lady wondering the Knight did not come, she askt her Steward what may be the rea­son of it? he said, that he perceived the sight of her little Hound did displease him, therefore he would not come; now this Princess loved the Hound as she did the greatest Jewel she had, nevertheless by the Stewards advice she commanded him to be put to death. Now, said she, I hope I shall please the Knight when he comes; soon af­ter the Knight came, and courted the Prin­cess very highly, but as he was coming through a dark room in the Castle, he chan­ted to stumble; and he said to himself, Ile never come this way again: the Princess hearing the Knight say so, asked the Ste­ward why he said so? quoth he, because the Parret was in that room; O said the La­dy, though I prize the Parret as my life, yet go and kill it: So after they had pessed the time away in all Courtly Delights and Princely Sports for the space of a whole [...]th together, the Knight most courte­ously [Page]took his leave of the Princess, and went again into his own Countrey, for his affections were altogether knit upon the young Lady, though he bid it in obscurity, & the Princess thought it was upon her self, so the time passed beyond her expectation in looking for the Knights coming again, and admiring at his absence so long, asked her Steward what might be the reason of it, of whom she alwayes took advice? and he said, the Knight has more love for the young La­dy your Daughter, then he has to you; for alwayes when he is here, she is in his Cham­ber wantonly playing with him, and she does all what she can to conspire your Death; and if she live any longer, she will prove to be your utter ruins and destruction. Then the Princess commanded her to be sac [...]ifi [...]ed upon the Altar to the Oracle of Apollo; then there was an Altar erected before the Palace Gate, covered all over with black, upon which was placed four great War-Candles set in sockets of silver, by which was placed a Block of Ebony, a Chasing-dish of Coles, and a Knite for the Eracuti­oner: These being ready, the young Lady was brought upon the Altar, attended by twelve Ladies arrayed all in white Vest­ments; [Page]then the dying Lady spake to the Princess as followeth: Most reverend Mo­ther and dread Princess, I am here brought to be sacrificed for things laid to my Charge I know not of; and if you put me to death, there is a God of all things who knoweth the secrets of all mens hearts, that will in one day bring the truth to light, to the shame and dis­honour of the unjust, who are guilty of this my innocent Death. And thus having ended her Speech, and preparing for the Block, Brutus the valiant Knight rushed into the Palace pard, who demanded the cause of the multitude, and the people said, that the Princess Daughter that day was to be sacri­ficed; then the Knight spurred his Stéed, and rote among the people, making a lane which way he came, and rescued the Lady from the Altar, and brought her in before her mother again; and said to the Princess, Madam, you had but thrée things in your Palace beside your self, which I delighted in, and those you would destroy: The Princess asked him which were those? and the Knight said, Your Daughter, your Hound: and your Parret, and the Princess said, My Steward informed me the Hermd [...] essend you, and addised me to kill him, [Page]and another time told me the Parret dis­pleased you, and counselled me to destroy it, and thirdly, my Daughter had most wic­kedly conspired my death, for which he ad­vised me to sacrifice her to the Oracle of Apollo. Then said the Knight, call hither the Steward, who being come, he asked him, did I tell thee the Hound offended me? he said no: he asked him again, did I tell thee the Parret displeased me? and he said no: didst thou ever sée the Lady in my Chamber? and he answered nothing, but fell down upon his knées, and begg'd par­don of the Princess. Then said the Prin­cesse, O cursed Traytor, what hast thou made me to de, so slay my Hound I loved so dearly, and the Parret as I did my life, and to attempt the murther of my onely Daugh­ter, through thy treacherous, base, and wic­ked Counsel; surely thou shalt dys f [...]r [...], so commanded him to be led to the Gallows and hang'd: Thus was the vertuous Lady saved, and the unjust Traytor condemned. Now said the Mistris, understand ye what I have said? yes right well said the Em­press, and it rejoyceth my h [...]rt the young Lady was saved; therefore my Daughter this day shall not dye: Then said the [...] [Page] [...] you do to you will do well; therefore I commend you to God, and thank you for spa­ring yo [...] Daughter this day for my sake.

The seventh Example of Radamentus.

THere was a Quéen [...]? the Vandals upon a time who had a very beautifull Daughter, who she tendered very much, and loved as she did her own life; insomuch, that wheresoever she went, her Daughter must go along with her; and as they were walk­ing upon a time in the fields, the young Lady had a Bird in her hand, whom she

would very fain have to sing and because she could not make him s [...]g, the pecke out his [Page]two eyes with her Bookin, and turn'd it loose, and the Bird flew back, and by acci­dent lichted in the branch of a Vine which grew over the Queens window, and there hardented for a while singing very doleful­ly every morning at the Queens window: Then said the Queen, O that I knew but what this poor Bird doth so mournfully sing now his eyes be out? And then stood up an old man whose name was Mimnon, and said, if it may not offend the Queen, I shall declare the interpretation of the Song: then said the Queen, speak on; and he said, Gracious Lady, the contents of the song is a warning to you to beware and to cut off. The interpretation is, to beware that your Daughter peck not out your eyes as she did his; and that you cut her off before she come to that maturity, as to sit upon your Throne with the Crown upon her head, when you are on the pavement on your bare knees. And the Quéen answered, these are but fables, believe them not, my dear childe is of no such nature: so past it over like the old saying, till the time of repentance was too late; for she tender'd her Daughter so much, that she would make her Queen to rule one your, and her self another, and did [Page]ratifie and confirm by her own hand and Seal, that whatsoever her Daughter did en­act or do in her Reign, it should stand as law for ever established; so when her Daughter came to maturity the Quéen would néeds sée how the Crown would become her, and made her Daughter Quéen for that year, and Crowned her in great pomp: when her Daughter had on the Royal Robe and Crown, and all the power in her own hands, she thought it became her so well, that she was loath to part with it; and for to kéep it while she had it, that very year she tart her Mother, the late Quéen of high Treason for the death of her Father, and brought her upon her knees before the Bar of Iustice, and she sate upon the Royal Throne. The Quéen perceiving her Daughters tyranny began to spring alost, the night following she made her escape, thinking to raise an Army; but her Daughter being too cun­ning, laid watch and ward round the City and took her again, and to prevent her fu­ture escape, boared both her eyes out, and then the Queen remembred the singing of the poor blinde Bird, and wept most bitterly, saying, Cursed be the time that I refused to obey the voice of the [Page]Bird; after that this wicked Daughter brought her again to the Bar of Iustice, and sound her guilty for endeavouring her es­cape, that in one day she deposed her of Life, Crown, and Kingdom, and after [...]eigned a wicked Tyrant, that all people cust the day she was born: therefore I fear your wicked Daughter will prove so to you if you let her live. The Empress said, God forbid it should happen so; but to pre­vent it, to morrow I shall sit in Iudgement, and she shall surely dye: and on the morrow she commanded her Officers to lead her a­gain to the stake. When Penthisila the se­venth Mistriss heard that, away she hasted to the Empress, and did her obeysance, and the Empress frowningly lookt upon her, and said, O thou cursed Caitif, what hast thou done to my childe, how hast thou taught her to be a Whore, a Beast, and a Strum­pet, and also hast cut the tongue out of her head that she cannot speak? thou shalt dye as well as she, for I long to be avenged on thee and all the fellows. Then said Penthisila, Most gracious Empress, the accusation a­gainst your vertuous Daughter is fulse, and it is but a small time betwixt this and to morrow noon, and if you please to spare her [Page]till then, with the help of Almighty God she shall speak unto you in all vertuous learn­ing, and the truth of all things shall be made manifest; but if you will not, it shall, hap­pen to you as it did unto a rich widow which is mentioned in the Example. Then shew me that Example, said the Empress, that shall I not do, said the Mistris, except you call your Daughter gain; then shall you hear such a notable Example, as you shall beware the advice of one man as long as you live, and so began as followeth.

The Example of the seventh Mistris.

UPon a time there was a mighty rich Widow who had a bountiful Estate, and she had one onely Daughter, who was Heiress unto this Estate; but it chanced that this Widow being not capable altoge­ther to govern it all, she chose a grave Mi­nister to be her assistant in the government of i [...]. Now said this old man, if I could cut off the Heiress, I would quickly iuggle the Widow out of it, and then rule as chief Lord my self in it: And to begin his trea­chery, he said to the Widow, I hold it ve­ry convenient, since you are a Widow and [Page]I a Batchelor, to conclude a Marriage and spend our dayes together, provided that you will cut off the intail, and disinberit your Daughter, whereby we may injoy it while we do live, and after our decease we will give it to her again. The Widow lik't this very well, thinking he had advised her to the best, and thereupon disinherited her own childe: then she asked the old man to be as good as his promise, who said, I will marry ye if you will assign the whole Estate over to me, then I will marry ye on May day next, and be careful of your childe, loving to you, and govern it all. Then the Widow hearing that, reposed great confi­dence in him, made all her Estate over to him: When this was done, he neither look't after the Childe nor cared for the Widow, which made the Daughter run di­stracted, and dyed in the publick Field, and at May day the Widow wondered why he would not come and perform his promise, at last went to him, and ask't him, Sir, why do you not perform your promise, and marry me? why, said the old Minister, I am ready to marry ye if you have got a good Husband: sten said the Widow, Will not you be my Husband? no, said he, I promised but to [Page]marry ye, not to be your Husband; the ve­rier knave you, then, said the Widow; so the went out and wept bitterly, saying, That band which signed all my Estate to youder cursed Caitif from my own Childe, shall now end my miserable life, so stab [...] het self. Then said the Mistris, understand ye Madam what I have said, yes, right well said the Empress: then said the Mistris, beware, and believe not that old Counsel­lour, for he does but labour to cut off your onely Daughter, and after to ruins you, so 07 that he may reign as Lord and Emperour. You have shewed me a good Example, said the Empress, though it grieves my heart to hear it proved so fatal to the Widow; there­fore my Daughter shall not dye this day, but I shall rejoyce exceedingly to hear her speak to morrow: said the Mistris, by the assi­stance of the Divine Powers she shall speak, whereby she shall decide all the vari­ances betwixt Radamentus and us, and you shall see the truth brought to light, so took leave of the Empress, and departed.

The Example of Sabrina the Empress Daughter.

THere was a Queen which had but one Daughter, whom she loved as she did her life; therefore the Queen delivered her [...] a Wise Mistris to be brought up, and be instr [...]d in all vertuous Learning and Wisdom: and when she had béen with her Mistris a certain while, her Mother had a desire to see [...]er, and sent Letters to the Mi­stris to bring home her Daughter; when she came, she appeared to her Mother, so expert in learning, comely in behaviour, and ami­able unto all, that the Queen rejoyced ex­céedingly: and it happened on a time, as she [Page]delivered a bowl of Wine to her Mother, the Queen looked upon the wall and saw the shadow of a hand which wrote three lines in an unknown tongue, and the Quéen began to fear greatly, and said, happy were that person which could interpret what that wri­ting meant; then her Daughter said, if it may not offend the Quéen, I could give the true interpretation thereof: and the Quéen said, speak on my good Daughter; and the Childe said, Most honoured Mother, this writing doth signifie, that I shall become a mighty Princess, and shall be honoured of all people, especially my own Mother, who shall bring me a Bowl of Wine, and bow thrée times, and knéel in the delivery of it; and the Queen said, Thou shalt never be ho­noured so of me, nor have such service; there­fore she commanded her servants to take her into a Forest far from the Court, and there slay her, and bring her Heart to shew her, that she may know the truth of her death: so the servants took her away to the Forest, and having compassion on so sweet a Childe, said among themselves, let us de­ceive the Queen in this bloody [...], and save the Childe, and we will put her in this hol­low Tree, and kill a Lamb of the Mountain [Page]and bring the Heart to the Queen, which accordingly they did, and the Queen belie­ved it was the Heart of her Daughter: say­ing, Prophecies sometime prove not true. And it chanced that on the morrow after, a strange Knight hapned to hunt in the Fo­rest, where the Childe was to be slain, and his Dogs beyed about the tree, where the Queens Daughter was: at last the Knight looked in the hollow of the tree, and there he espied a young Girle of such incompara­ble beauty, that his eyes never beheld a fai­rer, which made him suspect that she was of some noble race; and so he commanded his servants to be careful of her, and to bring her into his own countrey, where he did bring her up in all learned Arts, and with royal attendants, till at last her fame began to ring throughout the whole Kingdome, for Vertue, Beauty and Learning; and the Emperour of that Land being very youthful, came to that Knights house for so view her. And no sooner did he behold her, but he was smitten with the inflamation of Love, and after dinner he danced with her, and in the evening he married her, and brought her in great triumph and solemnity home to his own Court. And after that, the thrée Eastern [Page]Kings hearing of her fame, came to see her beauty, and to bring her presents: thus for thrée years she lived with her husband the Emperour in all joy and happiness, and then he dyed, leaving the whole Empire unto

she, who was then called the great Empress of Blodermario. When she was thus in the height of all her glory, she viewed the Fir­mament, and perceived by her skill in Astrology, how her Mother that day was de­posed by the Prince of Moravia, of Crown and Kingdom, and banished out of her coun­trey; and laying to heart the distressed con­dition [Page]her mother was in, had compassion on her, (for pure Nature will never fall away) and therefore she raised a brave and mighty Army, and marched towards her mothers Countrey: which newes did slye before her, that it was told the Queen her mother, the great Empress of Blodermario was coming to her assistance; which made the Queen to rejoyce, and wonder greatly, knowing she had never no correspondency with her before. Wherefore she went to meet her, and when she came before the great Empress, she fell down upon her knees, and said O great Empress, how have I meritted so great honour and favour, that your m [...]st Excellent Majesty have vouchsafed to come in person, and establish me again in my kingdom! Then the Empress took her up, and have her come in [...]o the Chariot to her, and when they came home to the Court, the Queen brought the Empress a bowl of wine and bowed three times, and fell down upon her knees to present it: then the Empress commanded her servants to depart the room, and then she asked the Queen what Chil­dren she had; and the Queen answered, she had one Daughter but she was dead. Then the Empress said, tell me true, did she dye a [Page]natural death or no: tell me the truth, for I swea [...] by my Crown you shall come to no dammage. Then the Quéen answered, Most glorious Princess, I brought up my daugh­ter in all vertuous Learning, Arts and Sciences, that for her wisdom and comely behaviour she was honoured of all people, and beloved of every one; she was my onely delight, and in her absence was my greatest sorrow, that without her presence I was dis­content: when I was wont to sit down to meals, she was alwayes at my elbow, to give me a bowle of wine when I should please to call for it; for the pleasantest draught that ever I drank was out of her hand. And it happened upon a time as I sats at dinner, my Daughter waited upon me, and as she bare a bowle of wine to my hand, there ap­peared the shadow of an Arm upon the wall, and it wrote three lines to the great astonish­ment of us all: and I beheld it my self, and said, That person was happy which could read and interpret those Lines that were written upon the wall by a secret and an un­known band, that none but the Diverts pow­ers did know of. Having thus spoken, my Daughter stood up and spake unto me to [...] words, If it may please my most dear [Page]and reverend mother not to be offended with me, I could read those Lines upon the wall and interpret them, and give you the true meaning thereof. Then I answered and said, Speak on my Daughter, and you shall finde whether I shall be angry or no: them my Daughter stood up boldly and said, The Lines upon the wall written are in se­veral Languages, but the interpretation doth predict or signifie, that I shall become a mighty Princess, and be honoured by all people, especially by my own Parents; for the time shall come, that my Mother shall present a bowls of wine to me, and bow thrée times, and deliver it upon her knees. When the young Lady had thus made an end of declaring the interpretation of the Lines that were written upon the wall, her mo­ther was very wroth, and said to her self thus, I will never be so serviceable to my own daughter surely; and being in my fury I called my servants and commanded them to take her privately away, and conveigh her to the Forest of Bazar, and there destroy her; and for satisfaction thereof, to bring her Heart and shew it unto me, which accor­dingly was done, and she is dead; which for the reason you have heard I did destroy her.

Then said the Empress, you might well think it was much in vain to strive against tho determinations of the holy will of God; for now you shall know of truth that what is decréed in Heaven above the force of mor­tals can never frustrate below upon the earth; therefore be it known to you that I am your daughter whom you suppose to have been dead, and by the Providence of God I have been preserved, the Lord putting it into the hearts of your servants not to slay me, but to put me into a hollow trée, where a Knight chanced to come that way a hunt­ing, his Dogs did run and encompassed the said trée round about howling and crying, whereby the Knight looking in to sée what the reason was of his Dogs making such a howling, he there found me: the servants also to satisfie your implacable wrath a­gainst me, that you commanded to bring my Heart, to let you sée the Execution was ef­fected, they slew a Lamb on the side of the mountain and presented the Heart to you. The good Knight also that found me in the tree cartied me into his own Countrey, and presented me to the Emperour, where I was not long before I was espoused to him his Wise, and advanced to the Royal dignity of [Page]an Empress; and his most Excellent Ma­jesty soon after deceased, and left me sole Heir to his Empire, in which Honour and Glory I now remain. The Queen hearing these words, being ravished with soy, and all amazed, sell down to the earth in a swound, whom the Empress loving, took up in her arms, saying, Now you shall know that my exaltation and dignity accrew to your glory, s [...]y, and profit, so they kist each other: then the Quéen began to weep, but the Empress said Weep not my most dear and reverend mother, for you are restored to your Crown and Kingdom, whereby you shall be honour­ed by all people above me during my life and reign. And afterwards there was a great Feast prepared, and all the Nobles and Barons of the Land assembled together to congratulate and joy with the young Em­press, in magnificent Shewes and Tri­umphs. After the great Day was over, and the Celebration ended, the young Empress sent her Heraulds throughout all the King­dom, to the Dukes and Princes to repair to her Mothers Royal Standard, and render their duty and obedience to her Majesty, and to set the Crown again upon her Head. And after she had settled her mother in a firme [Page]and flourishing peace, she departed in great honour and glory, and returned into her own Empire.