AT what time (as the Historicall Records of auncient Anualls make mention) the King of Tunis, through the attempting brauados of some insulting Rebels, held the holde of his royall seate in hazard, as daily awaiting his downe-fall, drawne through ciuil warres, and warlike muti­nies: There liued in Palermo, the chiefe Citie of Scicilia, two most renowned Families, by whose spée­dy helpes and strong supportes, both for men and Munition, prouided and sent forth both by sea & land, the distressed Kings enemies were mightily discomfited, and farre discarded from his territories of Tunis, and he himselfe quietly repossessed his right: to the no smal comfort of the rebellious foe.

For the Scicilian suffrages were so copious, and so corre­spondent to the Kings petition, wholy passionate for want of peace, as that the Rebels being conuinced and vtterly subiec­ted, were so scattered here and there with the suddaine assault of flie, flie, as that some ranne to the matchlesse mountaines, and there wrought on themselues ruthfull massacres: Others sought out shelters in the wilde Forrests, and there for want off [...]de, and surprized with feare of wilde beastes, remained in the iawes of dreadful death: Others as extrauagant vagabōds exiled themselues from their natiue homes into forraign lands: and fearing their owne Country would proue too hot for their rebellious hearts: Others became Gally-slaues, Rouers and Pyrates at sea, ventering the meane of their best liues, twixt Scilla & rauenous Charibdis: fewe submitting to their Liege, [Page] for feare of the penaltie of lawe: yet fewe or none through the iust decrée of the dooming heauens escaping punishment.

This inestimable benefite by the two Scicilian Nobles bestowed on this peace-minding King, wrought no small league of friendship and friendly amitie, both twixt Tunis and Scicilia: so farre forth, that whatsoeuer enemy séem'd repug­nant to the one, was accounted rebellious to the other: both esteeming themselues most fortunate, that euer the tantaras of warres so raigned, as to make their perdurable and pligh­ted peace on both parties so worthily royaliz'd mongst other nations, and their neighbour Countries.

The two famous, honourable and renowned Scicilian Families, that were with all prosperities so maiestically forti­fied, were Seigniour Iacomin Pierro, and Don Alexander Bartolo; whom Nature and Fortune séeking to inrich in the highest measure with prodigall gifts, straind themselues so far, as that Fortune could bestow no more wealth, for they raignd haile-copemates with kings; nor Nature any more worth, for that two swéete ofsprings brought to both parties more pleasure, than do the massie heapes of golden wealth comfort vnto the couetous.

Seignior Pierra had a sonne, and Don Bartolo a daugh­ter, the one as liuely, as the other was louely; both adornd and beautified with all exquisite perfections both of body & mind.

And héere (Gentles) would I wil you to haue some wor­thie Pharus erected, for the better direction of your longing spi­rites, to viewe the variable motion of this wandring Loade-starre: eying whose course, your eyes wil be carried beyond ken of some credulitie: your eares be replenished with the di­uers sounds of material varietie; and your hearts (I hope) be procurde to yéeld such materiall collusions some part of grate­full applauditie.

On a winters night, when the Sunne had trauerst in the clymate of the West, and was instantly entering into Aquarius; when brumall frosts and boystrous showres were most predominant, and men vse to expell the congealing colde [Page] with comfortable fires; About that season of the yeare, both these Families according to their high degrées, with diuers other Gentlemen and gallant dames of Palermo in their com­panies, attended on likewise by the cunningest Musitians, went to one Don Andrea Alizandras house to reuell: Where after their Maskes and Mummeries were shewed, their mea­sures with commendation traced, and the worthy Reuellers were reuealed, they fell to banquettings, and heauing Bac­chus bowles. None séeming melancholy, but all merry, the Musitians to grace their myrth the more, to the concordance of diuers s [...]ymphonying Instruments, sounded with harmo­nying voyces this Sonnet.

The Musitians hauing sung this Morrall Sonnet con­cerning mortalitie, were commended of the most part, disprai­sed by none, how soeuer contrary it séemde to their pleasaunt disposes: For it serued for sawce, among their Cates that pam­pred their bodies, to sharpen their mindes. So that Don Andrea Alizandra chearing his honourable guests, thus be­gan soberly to expostulate.

Not without good cause now I perceiue did the Thraci­ans accustome in their banquettings, to serue forth at the Ta­ble dead mens Sculles, to restraine their guests from glutto­nous appetites: For sith all worldly commodities are so mo­mentary; [Page] all pleasures so changeable, all estates so inconstant, what more excellent meane to attaine perfection can mortall men vse, than to meditate on their ende, and to remember death, as the Vltima linea rerum? No doubt (answered Signi­or Pierro) but that the remembrance of our latest home, is a most heauenly and Angelicall contemplation: For the re­nowned Philip of famous Macedonia, would euery mor­ning be admonished by his Page before his vprising, of his mortalitie. And Plato (surnamed the Diuine) would alway sléepe holding a Ball of Brasse in his hand, directly ouer a Ba­son, to the intent that with the fall thereof, he might be recald from [...]uggishnesse and drowsie sloth: vsed argumentall pro­positions, concerning the chiefe perficies of Summum Bonum or the chiefest good.

Some, (as that first of all I may remember our present pastimes) saide downe many groundes, touching pleasure, feastings, carowses, and such like, and therein to be containde a Summum Bonum: For what greater felicitie (according to mans carnall reason) may be enioyed on earth, than to liue merrily voyd of care, and frée from perturbations? We reade, that there were diuers festiualls celebrated and seriously obser­ued, with the common consent of whole Countries, by the Bacchinalls: Diuers games accustomed, as some ordained by Apollo, after the downfall of the huge Serpent Pithon, which were titled Pithonia; And far haue the games of Olimpus bin bruted, where all commers spent the time in myrth, iollitie, and abundant cheare. All which considered, it mou'd the Sect of the Epicures to aduaunce worldly pleasure vnto the height of Summum Bonum.

Whilst Pierro thus reasoned, there came a suddain mes­senger, that informed, how his sonne young lacomin was ta­ken in a suddaine traunce, and had lost both his spéech & sence, euen ready to yéeld vp the ghoast.

No sooner was that message done, but that newes was brought to Bartolo, that if he would euer behold his daughter Katherina liuing, he should hasten horne, for that she was [Page] falne into a suddaine consumption, and euen worne to skin and bone, as if she had bene ouer-looked by some outragious monster.

These sorrowfull tydings so amazed these Parents, that (as impatient as olde Priam, that sawe his children all lie gas­ping, and the Citie on fire) they began on both sides to be euen through outrage at their wittes ende: Lifting cries vp to the heauens, tearing their haires, and raging gainst the Deste­nies, that had so cruelly concluded the period of all their future hopes in so short a circuite: cutting off those braunches, by whose fruites they expected to liue after their olde barkes were withered. Don Andrea comforted them, the whole assem­bly intreated them, nought auailed; for their hearts burned with fire, and their mindes with feare, vntil their longing eies visited their distressed ofsprings: And so with paces as swift as their distempered féete could support, they hasted both to their seuerall homes.

Don Andrea Alizandra considering this vnexpected chaunge, through so vnfortunate a chaunce, set downe his cen­sure as a principle that Omnia humana mutabilia. But what (saith he) should I, that from my infancie haue bene attendant on the buckelings of couragious Mars, now séeme to muster in sentences vnder the correction of graue Minerua? Victa est fortuna ferendo. I haue indurde, and so haue ouercome: They are but Fortunes nouices, that cannot with patience oppugne any inconuenience; A death is due to nature, and the sooner that we die, the sooner are our debtt's satisfied.

Men may not be mortall, then would the creature aduance him beyond the Creator: As Prometheus would, attempting to steale the fire of eternall life from heauen: for which cause Iupiter adiudged him to be tyed at colde Caucasus, and there eternally to haue his limmes deuoured by a Uulture. Conten­tus sua sorte, beatior Policrate. I, I, a contented minde is all in all. Did we not sometime taste the sowre, we should not well perceiue the swéet: were we not now and then crost with mis­fortunes, we could not know what it were to be fortunate.

[Page]Peace is the mother of securitie, and securitie the nurse of pouertie, and pouertie the author of infamie: for, nil habet in­foelix, paupertas durius in se, quam quod ridiculos homi­nes facit. And yet must we gratefully welcome all, that the supernall Gods do send to worke our triall: and happie, yea thrice happy is that man that so may be purified. Hauing thus contemplated with himselfe on the foresaid accidents, to driue off that encreasing melancholy passion, he tooke in hand his Lute, and thereon recorded this Dittie.

By this time were Pierro and Bartolo come home, and made eye-witnesses of their former supposed mishappes: Ia­conim sawe his sonne shiuering as it were, surprized with a quartane feuer: Bartolo beheld his daughter shaking and [Page] quaking, as though she were set on by the falling sicknesse: Both of these patients made shews, gaue signes and tokens, to the amazement of all that were present in their bed-cham­bers: and so much the more, because they spake no word, but were alwaies silent. Some said, this miraculous maladie of these yoonglings, was bred by ill sight; some said, they were Plane [...] strooken: some againe saide, they were straungely be­witched: Scinditur incertum studia in contraria vulgus, &c. euery one vttered diuersly what their mindes gaue them to excogitate. But the wofull parents (hauing on both sides visited and reuisited these miserable Orphanes) had the skil­fullest Doctors sent for with all spéed possible: all preserua­tiues prouided, that had vertue cureable; leauing nothing vn­sought, nor meanes vnmade, that might be deuised auaile­able. Yet nought released them of their extreame traunces, nor mitigated their perillous maladies: Which encreased the sharper sorrowes of the parents, the griefe of their noble kindred, the vexatiō of their friends, and the discomfort of all the people of Palermo; Sic variat Fortuna vices.

You that haue séene a Merchant standing on the hate­full shore, beholding the Uessell which on the seas remai­neth fraught with his whole venture, in hazard of sincking; and lifting his eyes to the heauens, crieth out, O Gods! I am vndone, [...]tterly vndone; In the like passion, or a more vehe­ment, may you suppose all present to remaine, for these two distressed and diseased members. For if men take heauily common contrary casualties, as the husbandman receiuing an vnfruitfull haruest; the craftsman deceiued of his substance by beguilefull debters: the shepheard hauing his flocks peste­red, though the infection of some scabiosum pecus; and such like disparaging inconueniences: how may it happen other­wise, but that fathers take tenne times more grieuously the losse of their onely children? vnlesse they had the incompre­hensible Faith of the auncient Patriarch; that obeying his makers commaund, was content to sacrifice his onely sonne, of whom (he had tryple promise from his God) there should [Page] procéed so many renowned Tribes, and nations, multiplied in such number, as incomparabilitie shuld equal the innumerable starres of the resplendent heauens.

Now generous Readers must my pen shew the cunning of a Painters Pencil; as this, with shadowes and colours of varietie, so that, with some proper deciphering spéeches to por­traie a reuiuing noueltie.

The Destenies had not yet cancelled the date of those Lo­uers dayes, nor Atropos knife was yet preparde, to cut the twist, wheron hung the tenurs of their liues▪ The scars which both of their brests had receiued (as [...]mpression of wanton Cu­pids shafts) stucke so neare their tender hearts, as for a while (till the stintie sting and pricking wound thereof was delaied) their whole bodies in euery ioynt continued distemperate, and their hearts panting, and disconsolate. For the euening before that nights regiment, when both their Parents (as is before rehearsed) were feasting with Don Andrea Alizandra, these two prittie peates méeting eache other at their Fathers doore (for the two dwelling places, the beauteous building of that flourishing Citie, were ioynde hard the one with the other) at­tended on both sides with hansome hand-maides and propper Paces (for their yeares had not yet brought them to the state of man and woman, for he was then but a youth, and she but a girle, both of some twice fiue yeares of age, as faire a couple, as were the two beauties of the Goddes Sapho and Phao,) where after gentle salutations imparted, according to theyr kinde dispositions (bestowed on them by bountifull Nature at their births) they accorded (taking with them so many of their young followers as they thought conuenient) to walke into a groaue, which stood on the Westerne side of the Citie: accoun­ting such sheltring vallies farre more pleasaunt in the winters season, than are the plaine fields. What parley they had (wal­king on the way) it were tedious to recite: onely thus much would I wish you to note, that euery step of theirs, traced now towards that company, whose presence they in manner reiec­ted, because as vnbidden guests they came into their company [Page] disexpected. As they were walking by the groaues side, listning to the murmurings of a bubling brooke, Katherina espied a Uermin, that with gréedie gaping mouth was pursuing his praie: which she shewing to Iacomin, (for her name was Ka­therina; also he was calde Iacomin after his Father and hée perceiuing it to has [...]en the bo [...]t the swifter to lake his footing (as the common manner is) cried, So, ho, ho: which was an­swered by the calling Eccho, (as if in presence and despight of Katherina, she minded to court young Iacomin, as she had heretofore that scornefull yon [...]er Narcissus with an other So, ho ho▪ which Katherina hearing, moue [...] with suddaine mirth, brake out into a loude ha, ha, ha and the Eccho as if were with the same semblance of laughture, replied againe with Ha, ha, ha: Iacomin hearing Katherinas voyce so merrily doubled, rauishe with pleasant conceit to heare such a prat [...]ng, [...]ad come hither: come hither said the Eccho. Which sp [...]ch in [...]using into Katherinas minde an amorous motion, calde with high voice, Away, away: which was in like maner so shrilly resounded by the Eccho. Hauing soone wearied their winde-pipes with hard hallowings, they past forward to enter the groane, where pre­sently Aboron and his faire Aurelia, hath their troupes of Fa [...]ies and Syluane Satyres, (hauing taken Cupid captiue, for that he counterfeyted a Fa [...]erie, to winne the beauteous P [...]ches) were dauncing in ringed rounds, and some with low voices warbled this Roundelaie.

In midst of these Faieries sportings, Iacomin and Ka­therina came among tha [...], not perceiuing them, and hearing melodie as it were made by the Antipodes vnder grounde, were surprised euen with an e [...]tasie of admiration: supposing that some of Dianas darlings frequented about these places, where none euer to their knowledge or hearing did abide. So were they Inchaunted with these inuisible Musitians canta­zons, their watchfull sen [...]es wart sleéep [...],) and being orecom [...] with drowsinesse (as was that many eyed Heardsman of the Goddesse Iuno, by the melody of bewitching Mercurie) laie them downe all one by one, on a gréen bank of fragrant grasse: which yéelded so swéete a sauour to their smelles, as the vnma­nured plots of the all-fruitfull garden of the Hesperide [...]. How wanton the waggish Faieries we [...]e to behold these sluggards, especially the two Palermonian Scitilians, Iacomin & Ka­therina, who imbraced one another with inclosed armes, (as did the beauteous Venus, hugging y ^e gallant Adonis) I leaue to your singular censures. Yet by the way, I would haue you consider, that Cupid amazed with this noueltie, thinking Ka­therina had bin his beloued Psiches, (for whose sake the amo­rous wagge had endured so many and sundry mishaps) stret­ching his settred legges forward with all his power, euen vna­wares [Page] let flie a golden headed arrow at Iacomins brest, wher­with hée being wounded, gaue midst his slumbers gréeuous grones: wherby Cupid moued with pittie and compassion of his so rash a déed (procured through sonde suspition) sent an o­ther at Katherinas stomacke: mightie worke the same ef­fect in the one, as the former should in the other. And for a­mends of his folly, to mixe their corasi [...]es with some prittie caueat: commaunding his attendant Sylu [...]s to tune their Pipes, he recorded this pithie Madrigale.

Cupid hauing thus recorded his powerfull Deitie, and imprinted (as it were with pressing stampes) his mightinesse in the stomackes of these Nouices, with she wings stole from the frolick Faieries: who [...]e vnexpected flight, moued A boron and his Aurelia, to an infinite admiration. For Cupid inspec­ting [Page] the falshood of his bowerfull Loue (intending to sée if all with her were well) in rurall sort counterfaited the shape of Coridon, and in plaine Country spéech nea [...]e his owne bower thus bluntly courted her. Uaire Nymph (quoth he) zawst any Lambes grazing on these plaines? I haue mist a Yewe (ywis) and her young one; and it may be that some giddie Priapus (prying about my vieldes) hath droaue my vlocke from the vaire plaines, that (wandring by the by-waies of the woods and Fountaines here about) liue vnshéerde, vngrazde, vncoa­ted, without littering strawe, and voode to chawe, both within and without? Good friend (answered Psiches) no such Cattle haue mine eyes behelde wandring on these plaines, and yet they might happe to passe for mée as vnséene: But hast thou chancst to see any Faieries vpon yonder Mountaines, leading a faire and beautifull youth (a God indéed) like a captiued pri­soner? Whom in spight they haue made a bond slaue mongst them, moued through disdainfull and mercilesse enuie. For whose sake I spend the night in woe, and the day in lamenta­tions. Cupid hearing his Loue inquiring after himselfe (as did Mercury vnderstand himselfe, bewraied vnto himselfe by a couetous Swain) tooke compassion on her passions, and shew­ed him vnto her eyes apparantly: saying, Diuine and appro­ued Goddesse, (whom with glory, omnipotent Iupiter with all the powers celestiall haue deified, and the rusticke Semie­gods and Satyres, for vertue and worthinesse, with Hymnes and commendable Roundelaies haue glorified, as well for this sacred beautie, as for thy admired fortunes) Behold, thou hast sound him, whom thy wamenting words haue sought: behold, thine eyes sée him for whom thy selfe hast made enquiry, there­fore be chéerfull, enter my solemne bower: there are others gréeued with our disease. And after such spéeches vttered, he entred the Cabinet, comforted her, and kist her: and vnfolded his exployt performed towards the two tender Scicilians. In the meane time, the Faieries missing Cupid, (whose spéedy flight had bid thē adieu) being inraged, that he was so secretly escaped their fingers without any intreatie: with pace as swift [Page] as runs the light-footed Roe, forsooke that place, and trauerst too and fro, endeuouring to enquire him out. Thus they resting vncomfortable, le [...]t the drowsie Scicilians comfortlesse: who not long after awaked of their slumbers, were as faint, as the faintest: as sicke, as the sickest: and for the time, as ill apaide, as he that ( sanus credict) plaide for feare of arresting, least in sight: That scarce able to finde footing, or like yoong children to tappe and goe, were by their attendants (with much adoo) conducted and carried home to Palermo: where their Pa­rents, kindred and friends (not knowing what chaunce had happened them) bewailed their suddaine sicknesse with multi­plicitie of sorrowfull teares: endeuouring (as is before rehear­sed) by all meanes inuented, to haue their maladies cured.

But when all medicines performed for remedies, serued in small sort or in no value and efficacie at all to worke their ease, theyr worthy Parents were counsailed by the Scicilian Sooth-sayers, to send some, to aske the Oracles of Apollo at Del­phos: both concerning theyr vnsearchable disease, as also, how long the Destenies had decreed they should breath on earth: For these Oracles did not onely vnfold thinges present, and things past, but also could expresse things to come, though euer­more mysticallie. And this was their censure to the demaund of the Inquirers.

[Page]Which verdict pronounced by the Oracle, gaue them hope of their recoueries (the rest being not vnderstood, concerning what chaunges of their friendship in future time should fall through vnexpected chaunces) and the wofull Parents therby receiued comforts; which soone after, euen in the Aprill of their consolations, were scorched with blasts of boysterous confusi­ons. All which (that my pen may sufficiently portraie) for the augmentation of your more wished pleasures, I will vnfolde first their generall agréements, and would especially haue you consider that, that their ciuil mutinies growne on suddaine, may (with the frownes of frowarde Fortune gainst those ap­proued Louers) shewe them more apparant. For our Load-starre must continue a course for Decorams sake, in this pro­portioned Zodiacke: It hath now pest Aries and Taurus, (signes fit for those, whose foreheads are forked) as (it may be) was petie Aborons mongst his Fairries: Or (as tis manifest) Vulcans browes haue bene (by the wantonnesse of his Ve­nus) and now is it entring louely Gemini, and descending to­wards crabbed Cancer, is euen inforced to turne his progresse an other way; shewing vs long dayes of sorrow to vexe Lo­uers procéedings; but short nights of quiet, to driue off melan­cholies. So that when it shall returne home to the original Ho­rizon, his course wil séeme to procure causes of no small admi­ration.

What frolicke feastings on furnisht Tables do swarme in Palermo, when the well willing Commons knewe of the recouered healths of these Nob [...]e branches before diseased, are to be extold and equallizde with those costly Cates and curious carowses, that Marke Anthony receiued of loue-sicke Cleo­patra for a welcome: What reuellings were made, may séeme comparable to the games and gamboldes exploited by Melea­ger and his gallant companions, after the downfall of the fea­red and daungerous Boare of Calidon. And the better to maintaine their sportings, great summes of moneyes were most fréely bestowed, by both these commaunding Potentates: who thought themselues wholy indebted to the assisting gods, [Page] for their childrens welfares. So that both Families feasted to­gither in one place, and kept holiday: as doo Commaunders with their Captaines and martiall Officers, in time of pligh­ted peace togither in pitcht Pauilions. Yet was not all y ^e world made pleasaunt with these their pleasures, nor pleased with their pastimes: For the earth is Empresse Fortune, (whose wauering handes is alway turning the whéele of restlesse chance) pretended to plaie such a pranke, to sowre their swéets, as should set all Scicilia euen on fire, and put Palermo to the ouerthrow by the flames.

Yet ere you heare how she wrought this warfare, I would will you to ponderate in minde, the louely sparkes of inspired affections, that fed on the fuell of young Iacomins and Kathe­rinas hearts: whose stomackes in all these banqueting times, were not fed so much with the diuers dishes, as were their eies delighted with mutuall glaunces.

Many a time, would they walke in Orchard Allies, hand in hand: many a time tread garden knots, following one an o­ther mongst bankes of sauorie hearbes and flowers: many a time, to their noble Parents contentations, would they tread pacing measures, and daunce nimble Galliers, directing their [...]ootings with the set time of the Musitians: to the beholders eyes (that were somewhat dazeled with their beauties & bra­ueries) like two resplendent starres: That had Iuno séene Ka­therina, she would euen haue bene beside her selfe, through iea­lousie of her suspected Iupiter, as shée was gainst Inactius daughter Io. And wanton Mars would be far dismaied, as fea­ring least his Venus would fancie Iacomin, for an other A­donis. What should I séeme tedious? they were louely, and loued liuely: and as their youthfull dayes were by Tymes prescription multiplied, so were their beauties togither with their affections, made most perfect: and their hearts (both vni­ted and setled in one sympathie) expected but Hymens rightes to be performed, with the enioying of their generous Parents halfe-accomplisht and willing consents.

But Lady Fortune, that squint-eyed Goddesse, that on the [Page] Stage of this worlde loues Comicke merriments should bee mixed with Tragicke matter, bred dissentions twixt these two honourable and renowned Families, (first procured by some controuersies twixt their seruants) which by litle and litle grew so hot, that Enuies sparkes holding a furnace in their breasts, burst forth in fierie flames with such fury, as all the outcries of the Citizens for Clubbes, Clubbes, could not diminish: nor the moystning waters of the Commons entreaties pacifie the out­ragious wraths of those angry inkindled parties. They that before friendly feasted togither, now are daring to field one an other: They that before with inuented merriments sought to cheare themselues, now fretting with chasing melancholy, doo discontentedly disease themselues: both parties, in stéed of ban­quetings, follow bucklings: and reuiling all conuersing peace­makers, pronounce their angrye commotions with Si non nobiscum, sis contra nos: neither respecting the good of the Common weale, to their gouernment committed: nor the welfare, either of themselues, their friends, or kinsfolke. Now all degenerous Cauelairos and swash-bucklers (that in time of concord durst not shewe their seditious countenances, nor open their mutinous mouthes that commonly bred despight­full iarres) flockt in troupes to be partakers of these alarmes. The Communaltie was diuided, adioyning to what partie best their minde regarded: and Palermo was made euen a Pharsalian Tent: for martiall Mauors with bowles of bloud, and banquets of dismal massacres to be made frolicke. Such brauing, such bandying, such buckeling was euery day on both sides with brawles and broyles bestowed, that I may wel say with the illustrious Poet, Fit via vi, &c.

How should I compare Palermo, (whose stréets are now guarded with crackling armours) but to the Roman Synode, at such time as Catilines rebellious troupes harnised through­out with coates of male, vncald and vnwelcome, came to de­stroy the Senates Councell? Or vnto that murmuring assem­bly that were present, when Brutus and Cassius treacherously stabd conquering Caesar, clad in his Parliament Robes, with murdering Bodkins?

[Page]He that aboue all others was no medler in these hurly-burlies, was that valiant & euer vertuous minded man, Don Andrea Alizandra: who one day beholding Signior Iacomin Pierro, and Don Alexander Bartolo, bearding and bandying other, laught (with the Philosopher) at their outrage: and sayd within himselfe, that néeds must the inferiour members (mea­ning the vulgar sort) fall at iarres, sith the heades (minding them) cannot gouerne them, but are become giddie. And ther­vpon prouiding all conuenient necessaries, left dissentious Pa­lermo, and went to dwel in a goodly Farme of his owne in the country: and before he departed, gaue Palermo the like adieu, as did the wise Bias Boristhenes, towards sackt Priennium, viz. Now stand or fall, burne or quench, I care not: for Omnia mea mecum porto.

But what griefe were these deadly controuersies, to the concordant mindes of our heartie Louers? what annoyance was it for them to beholde their Parents browes eclipst and clouded with gloomy menaces of reuenge? and themselues with feare so seruilely subiected, as they durst not looke one another in the face? and yet could not this seperation of body (though they were ouerlookt with Argus eyes, by their hate-stomaking Syres) seperate the zealous coniunction of their louing minds. First when these broyles began, would they conuerse and par­ley (such Lynces eyes hath Loue) through a creuise twixt two walles; and so by talke euacuate the corasiues that opprest their tender stomackes, by vttering forth their mutuall sor­rowes. Which being at length vnderstood by Bartolo, who on a time vnespied, listned a while to their conference, and not en­during it, taking Katherina by the gowne-sléeue from her stande (where she beholding her Father, shiuered as if in an agonie) he leading her in, thus gan to rebuke her sharply.

And art thou (Girle) so led with fond affection, as to vse conference with thy Fathers enemy? who not only by raising ciuil iarres, and dreadful slaughters of our wel-willers and friends, séeke our ouerthrow? but also by all enuious meanes, séeke in pollicie to procure our disgrace? D [...]o not thy eyes be­hold [Page] (fondling as thou art) how Palermo murmureth on our behalfe, to behold these mischéeuous hurly-burlies? Doth not all Scicilia admire at their hautie hatred taken against vs, rai­sed by maintaining a sottish crewe of proude peacockes? Hath folly dazeled thine eyes, that voyd of confiderate regard, thou seemest so Béetle-blinde? Huswife, I charge thée, not only re­fraine the company, but take héed (on my heauy displeasure) vse no conference with that impious brat, whose flattery tends to no other ende, but to worke thine infamy: Let not faire words (you weake foole) make you faine to follow his fancie, least it bréed cause of repentance. Thy fresh wit cannot prie in­to mens wylie pollicies, and therefore take direction of thy Pa­rents: For if thou hast not the whirrie to perceiue thine owne good, and discerne thy losse and disparagement, and yet will séeme so headie, as a friende, to make choyce of thy Fathers foe: Receiue counsaile (thou wert best) and be aduised better hereafter: else in running the race of a stubborne fondling, (without regard, not rulde by reason, nor taught by experience) thou maist chaunce tread on thornes, and being déeply prickt, cry woe: when none shall pittie thy distresse. Thou knowest my minde, amend this amisse, or runne headlong to mischiefe, and haue no helpe. Go to thy mother, go; vile Girle. And so he left her.

This sharpe che [...]ke surprizde poore Katherinas passionate soule, with such vehement supposes, that halfe distracted of her sences, scarce able with her trembling féete to ascend the stairs craued her Closet, where when she entred, fetcht déepe and heartie-shiuering sighes, faintly drawing breath; fell into a suddaine sowne; and hauing againe recured her memorie, she vttered to her selfe this sorrowfull complaint.

Ah Loue, (quoth she) the onely Lampe and Load-starre of life; how peruersly art thou burthened with Atlas loade? Ah life, the greatest light of the world; how art thou clowded with the counterfait of death? Ah death, the onely phisitian to cure a gréeued heart: Why withdrawest thou (mercilesse as thou remainest) thy piercing dart to cut off my woful dayes, [Page] lengthned too long by the spitefull Destenies? Ah Destenies, the continual consumers of mortal life; cut, ah cut off the twist of my daies: for I abhorre all my liuing daies prolonged by the lingring slacknesse of doating Tyme. Ah Tyme, the de­uourer of all earthly things; suffer this hateful breath of mine to forsake my wretched breasts habitation, that my poore soule with the winges of a Doue may mount vnto the glorious hea­uens. Ah heauens, the predominant gouernours of mortal bodies, and blessed receptacles of deified soules; deliuer a wret­ched soule from a distressed bodies poyson, to haue some com­fortable content with your sacred selues, amongst the glorious Seraphins. Heauens, Destenies, Tyme and Death, accord in one, to the end my miserable life, and with my life, my inspi­red, and yet discomfortable loue.

Then she staide: from her wofull heart shooting footh vol­leys of sad sighes, and powring from the conduicts of her Chri­stall eyes, streames of teares, that trilled downe her Lilly dide chéekes: and hauing by these meanes a little lighte­ned her burthened stomacke, shée thus againe beganne to ruminate.

And shall my Fathers browes furrowed with frownes, or his words, as sharpe as the blastes sent foorth by Boreas, turne or driue away my Loue, that ought to me his dearest life? No (by the Gods) no: whilst I liue, if his heart remaine loyall (as though his heart too, would remaine otherwise, that thus thou pleadest with If [...]) oh! whilest I liue (I say) will I loue my Iacomin. But (and then she shoote foorth [...]alt teares) our Fathers, our froward and furious Fathers (ah! that Pa­rentes should séeme crosses to the godly proceedings of their children) our Fathers, that should be our best helpes, are our most hinderers▪ our Fathers who (in furthering our choyce) should chiefly pleasure vs, doo chiefly displeasure vs: their en­mitie, confuseth our amitie: their contentions, infrindge our contenta [...]i [...]ns: their armours, our amours: their aggreuates, our agreements: their frownes, our affections: their hardie spéeches, our heartie sportings.

[Page]Ah hard, hard, hard happe: Goe to thy mother, vile Girle (quoth he) and so [...]lung from his onely childe in anger. Should I tell my mother, what would she replie? I know what; I must not loue his ofspring, that Serpent-like intends my Pa­rents downfall. As though the faulte of the Father, were rightly to be reputed to the sonne, who wisheth peace if it were possible: requireth quiet, if it might bee graunted requisite: commendeth concord, thereby to haue all reconciled: And yet is he (ah! he, my ioy and comfort, my Iacomin) he is had as an Agent in these hurly-burlies. Therefore Katherina, wret­ched and miserable Katherina, sith thine eyes are debarred from beholding the light of thy vniuersall consolation, let thy Closette become a sollitarie Cell: which mantled all about with blacke sorrowe, may séeme (to thy best content) euen the shades of Cymmeria: for what more may excruciate a ma­cerated soule (whose eyes abhorre the light) than to behold the lightsome day?

Hauing thus said, abounding passions stopt the organons of her voice, and féeling her selfe faint, laid her féeble limmes on her woe-acceptable bed: there neither permitting her outward eyes, nor yet her inward minde to enioy any rest.

Now turne we on the other side to yong Iacomin, whose eares hauing heard in some part howe shée was ratled and rated at by Bartolo, stealing sadly to his Chamber, with eyes fu [...]l of teares, brest swolne with sobbes, and hart burdened with passion, hée burst forth into these disconsolate clamours.

O haplesse, helplesse, and hopelesse Caitiue: Haplesse, be­cause voide of all good happe, and therefore vnfortunate: Help­lesse, for that thou (wretched thou) wantst all comfortable help, and therefore accursed: And hopelesse, in that all hope of com­fort hath fled thy company, and therefore desperate. And sith thou art so vnfortunate, so accurst and desperate, banne For­tune, curse the Fates, and so dispaire and die: for onely death may bring thée some happe to win helpe, or some helpe to enioy hope of future comfort, where now thou remainest wholly comfortlesse. Then he pawsed a space, and with milder moode [Page] thus went forward. And yet ( Iacomin) remember thy selfe, be not driuen to dispaire through distrust: As thou hast lost thy ioyes, so may thy ioyes againe chaunce to be found. Poli­crates had a precious Iewel in the belly of a fish serued at his boord, which he let fall into the sea. This onely chaunce, hath made this chaunge.

Thou hadst (not long since) libertie and leaue, not only to behold, but also to imbrace thy Loue in thy Parents presence. But that libertie is lost, that leaue is out of date, that fréedome is past, and thou art made the bond-slaue of all miserie. And yet the caurse of time may restore them all: but when? And with that he stood as though he had beheld Medusas head, [...]ill after a while comming to himselfe, he procéeded with these exclaimes. O vnhappie estate of Princes: whose dignities placed on the whirling whéele of vnconstant Fortune, stand in such vncertaintie, as when they mount to the highest degree and loftiest altitude of honour & prosperitie, euen at an instant, they ar [...] lopsie turuie ouerturnd & tumbled downe to the lowe touch of the ground, with disgrace & beggery. Percutiunt fulmi­ [...]a montes, non valles i [...]fimos. Would I had bene of baser Pa­rentage, so might I haue obtained more patience, to endure misfortunes: I, patience, perfect patience is a salue, to heale all the smartful scourages of Fortune. But yet it is a vertue for co­wards and crauens, not for valiant & venterous youth, whose minds (couragious minds) dare with the Gyants again in the Phlaegraean fields, Bellare cum dijs. to threaten and pronounce wars against great loue, and all the other Gods: climbing vp the heauens, as did braue Belleropho [...] on winged Pegasus: and breaking the infernal gates of hel, bind trypl [...]-headed Cer­berus in chaines, as did Hercules in his labors of wonders, to appease the wrath of angry Iuno.

But why ( Iacomin) ouercome with rage, like to blinde bayards doest thou obraid y ^e glorious Sun? or with the witlesse Wolues séem to bark against the Moone? hope wel, & haue wel: intreat the gods ( Quid enim nisi vota super sunt?) with praiers, to pacifie those Parents, whose blondie broyles bréede your [Page] disaster disparagements: that in ioyes (for Olim meminisse muabit) abounding, your former penances in future memorie may support your pleasures with greater delights. But thine eyes, thy longing eyes may not view her beauteous eyes; nay, thine eares, thy wretched eares, now hencefoorth neuer shall againe receiue the melodious sounde of her swéete voyce: Ah wretch▪ ah wretch, of all others most miserable, confused, and accursed.

Hauing so saide, as he would haue giuen more scope to his complaint, he was by a seruant cald to conuerse with his Father: which made him suspect some [...]arther mishap: either fearing the checke, or at least the reproofe for awaiting counter­buffes for his loue-sicke sweats.

But it was otherwise, for his Father Pierro (hauing not séene him many houres before) welcomming certaine friends of his, newly come to Palermo: caused young Iacomin to come in presence (who then for the absence of one, hated the presence of all) to kéepe them conference, and beare them com­pany.

Who (after imparted salutations) as from a mind oue [...]-cloide with cares, vttered laconicall answeres to all their vaine questioning Items, with no, and I; without any other circum­stances. So that these new-come straungers could finde by supposes, that this faire yong-lings tender minde was benum­med by some agonizing maladie.

Thus did these ciuil iarres, not only ruinate the Scicilian state, and authoritie of the Péeres (all which were left now to roaue at randome like a maisterlesse shippe without a Marry­ner, mongst the swallowing surges, either to sincke or swim) but also shake the healths and well-fares, both of these illuste­rous Families and their children.

Whereby may séeme as apparant as in a Christ all glasse, what daungerous discommodities accompany ciuil warres, like daily seruitors. For these broyles in these Countries, made such a straunge metamorphosis, as that where Scicilia before was had in chiefe regard of her neighbour Countries, [Page] for polliticke and peaceful gouernment, now ruled by common Democracie, it was had in as great disgrace, and contemptible and dishonourable.

The crabbed clawes of Cancer, hath long detainde the course of our Load-starre, which now by the prescript rule of time, is entering Leo: which couragious signe, bringes our Louers some incouragement, to encounter Fortune face to face: and in despight of her power to worke their ioyes, by fearing no colours of disaster mishaps.

They on both winges expected their safeguardes, to pro­céed through sounding a retreate to their Parents controuer­sies: but theyr enuious hatred was growne so rancke, that their maligne mindes woulde entertaine no perswasions to peace, but wholy imployed their humours how best to worke reuenge. Which young Iacomin pondring and considering with himselfe, thus began to expostulate.

And wil it be no otherwise (quoth hée) can Eagles thirst be pacified by nothing else but bloud? Can men alwaies lyke Lyons, skirmish, possess with the heate and warmth of raging and furious wrath? I sée that old ages angers, represent Tor­ches flames; which the longer they burne, the fiercer waxeth their fire. Is it méete for youth to be shut vp in a continuall La­byrinth of displeasant crosses, daily indaungered by the moni­taure dispaire?

If Palermo (that was once accounted the glorius Scici­lian Metropolis, shining in his ornaments like an illusterous Mycrocosmus) now being metamorphosed from the Pallace of peace, to the Lent of tumultuous warre; can yéeld no qui­et, yet, yet what? (And there hauing pawsde, replide) yet may thy abiding in other Countries, affoord such a swéete habitati­on, as neuer is likely to be enioyed in thy natiue home. Skil­ful Dedalus remaining in bondage vnder domynering Mi­nus, by Art framed winges to flie from seruitude; and so got fréedome. And shall not Loue lend me Eagles winges to claspe (as did Ioues Armour-bearer, the beauteous Nymph Gani­mede) my deare Katherina; and beare her a matchlesse pitch, [Page] frée from the frownes of her froward Syre and mine? Calum non animum mutant quitrans mare currunt: If shée wil con­sent, wéele trudge, and sée Don Lorenzo, and the rest of our good friends in Spaine. And in this hastie resolue, with ynkie Penne on paper wrote as followeth to his louely Katherina.

Hauing written these fewe lines: he stood studying how to haue them deliuered. He would not aduenture to trust any of his Fathers family, for feare to haue his secrets reuealed: what should he doo? It were but madnesse for him to cast it ouer the wall; for her Father sooner than his Katherina, might happe to take it vp.

Standing a while in a maze, hauing twice or thrice wal­ked too and fro in his Chamber, heard at the staire foote a poore woman begging an alms: to whom he went, and questioning with her of her parentage, vnderstood that Fortune had plaid an aduerse part, and bereft her, not only of her friendes, but bereaued her of all her earthly substance. The circumstance of whose case, were too troublesome to be rehearsed, and too te­dious to be heard.

But her he thought the fittest bearer of his counsailes that the earth could yéelde: Wherefore giuing her Golde to make her gladsome; Woman (quoth hée) thy distresse hath bredde my good will thus much towardes thée, in that thy griefes haue made mée compassionate; hie thée now to the nexte Gate, and there craue their beneuolence, and watch a time when conueniently thou canst present this Paper closely to a young Gentlewoman there, whose vo­tion towardes the poore is neuer wanting: Tell her, I commende mée heartily vnto her, and doo intreate her to receiue on my behalfe this plaine Pasport, and thereto to returne a spéedie answere, by thée my vnsuspected messenger. Be aduised in this enterprise, and thou shalt not depart vnre­warded.

[Page]The aged woman (whose siluer haires were tokens of ex­periēce taught by time, perceiuing a litle which way the wind blew, hoping it would turne to her aduantage) with a lowe curchie receiued the writ, (he telling her, how the message she went in, was to faire Katherina) promising she would be cir­cumspect in euery respect to accomplish his desires. Doo so good woman (quoth he) and if her answere bréed me any plea­sure, thou shalt not remaine without profit. And so shée past to­ward Bartolos doore: where she had not long vsed her accu­stomed ceremonies, but that Katherina's presence presented it self before the womans eyes: of whom, she begged an alms, being by her demanded whence she came, and what benefites her earnest praiers had procured her: she mildly in humble maner answered. Uertuous and faire mistresse (quoth shée) amongst the commons my paines haue bene recompenced with slender profit: but the liberall hand of the gallant yoong Gentleman (your next neighbour) hath farre beyond any de­serts of mine, made me prosperous wi [...]h his bountie. Hath he so? (quoth Katherina) and for neighbourhoods amitie, thou shalt not be sent hence comfortlesse. And then being about to open her purse, the woman reacht her Iacomins Letter, with these words.

Good mistresse, my silly selfe hath by him bene made so happy, as to be trusted with deliuering this message, before many of my betters; and I hope your gentle nature will with patience conceale my rude nurture. I promised, and in that I promised, I will performe my dutie what so ere befide. For I trust (and in that trust am throughly perswaded) that his no­ble heart herein towards you imparteth no harme. But how (replied the Princesse) couldst thou tell whether my selfe were the partie to whom he minded this message? I hope (mistresse) it is your selfe (said she) for my aged eyes obserue in you the phistognominate tokens that the Gentleman willed me to consider. And thou hast hit the marke (good woman answe­red the Princesse. And yet not got the game (good mistresse) quoth the woman againe, vntill you vouchsafe to returne an [Page] answere. That shall not be awanting (said Katherina) be­cause (I knowe) it will bee best welcome. Stay a while and I will in some sort performe the Gentlemans pleasure. With that she entred her closet: where hauing ouerread the Letter; after a short studie, shee returned in writing, this answering Appeale.

Hauing framed this Appeale to her Loue, shee folded it closely vp: and comming to the old woman (who was busied in saying her Créede) told her she had framed an answere to the Gentleman; and (said she) for thy trustinesse, there (an­nointing her hand with the precious oyle of Angels) is some­what for to helpe thy want: and take good héed safely to redeli­uer backe this Letter. The poore woman humbly thanked her for her bountie, and stirring her aged stumps back againe toward Signeor Iacomins Pierro's doore, met gentle Iaco­min: who awaighted her returne. To whom she imparted Katherinas courtesie extended towards her, deliuering him her answerable Letter: whose superscription when he had be­held: rauished with admirable conceit, he slung the poore wo­man some more crownes, and so she merily departed: blessing the houre, time, and place of her so lucky arriuall thither, hap­pie for her owne behoofe, aduanced by the liberall gifts of these yoonglings.

Iacomin reading Katherinas exampled propositions, ad­miring at her feruent loue, and famous learning: (for she was as much addicted to the one, as adioynd in mind to the other) after some silent meditation, breathed sorth these spéeches.

Fire trieth gold, and I see that aduersitie can make best triall of friends. I am thine (saith she) and not mine owne; (Oh words of a louing heart!) and therefore if you loue me do not leaue me. No (Katherina) thy Iacomin list not leaue thée, till life leaue him: for if he would, he néed not to incurre (onely for thy sweete sake) all other his friends displeasures: which like­wise thy louely selfe for his sake hast sustaind. Ah sacred Dei­ties, [Page] the maintainers of Loues destinie: whose essence is im­mortall, and accidence fatall; be now propitious to our procée­dings, aid our enterprise, and support vs against perills: then shall your Altars be couered all ouer with our gratefull of­frings: and the swéetest perfumes of Myrrhe and Franken­cense shall purifie your temples. Ah sacred Iuno, with thy power protect our pretences: and Hymen, lighten those lamps of thine, to consecrate our liues to Loues obeysance. Is not Loue the hand maid of the immortall soule? the purified su­perficies of celestial motion, secretly inspired into the Cordials, the eyes prospectatiue contemplation of beauties Idaea? wher­by the Creator is made to admire at the obiectiue creature? Is it not a vertue metaphisicall, containing the perfect sub­stance, both of Art and nature? O diuine loue! and therefore diuine, because sent from aboue. O immortall beautie! and therefore immortall, because therein is insetled the summarie glory of the heauens. Damned then bee their raylings, and condemned their forgeries, that barke at Loue, calling it lustfull and intemperate: and title it vaine, wauering, and windie.

Can a celestiall vertue haue incontinencie? then what incontinencie is contained in Loue, whose vertue is celestiall? Can that effect proue inconstant that is decréed by the Dei­ties? Then how can Loue become light and inconstant, which is the immutable and vnchaungeable decree of the im­mortall Deities? I speake not of fained loue, whose im­pression is not made perfect in the inmost roomes of the heart; but standing without such entring, is seated for a while on the outward eye-lids: whose societie is warie with a looke, and lost with a winke: whose appendix is lust, and index leaudnesse. No, no, (quoth hee) such, all such doo I defie, not deifie: such doth my breast abhorre, and not vpholde; yea, such doth my very soule loathe, and neuer loue: because it is no loue. For euen as Ixion instead of Iuno embraced a cloud, of which he begate monsters; [Page] So they that followe that shadow of loue, in seate thereof (for want of infusoe substance from aboue) persist with lustfull sin: whose contagion is shames nurse, and confusion the ofspring. Here he breathed a while, and then thus proceeded. But whi­ther away ( Iacomin) that thou runnest so swift a pace in thy discourse? Thru canst sooner number the starres, then reckon the diuersities of loue. Some are Saturnists, and loue solita­ry conceits: Some are Martialists, and admire at the Tan­taras of warres: Some Bacchinalls, and are wholly addicted to pamper their stomacks: Some Midas mates, that will haue all they touch to turne to Gold: Some are like Miner­uas Owle, that delight to praise themselues, and disdaine o­thers. And let them (said he) so wallow through and through in their humourous loues, guided onely by their sensuall appetites. Perseuere thou in that heauenly affect, which through infused loyaltie thou hast delighted: continue that course, which is through inspiration in thée begun: whose perfection, not all the power of the earth can make imperfect: whose perdurance, no battle are of violent passion can in­frindge, nor the wide world by any meane disioyne the band thereof, nor diminish the vertue.

Hauing made a stoppe to his spéech, he vsed endeuour for their departure: and hauing prouided a Barke, and Marri­ners to conduct the vessell through Oceanus watry regiment: giuing a watch-word at a time well appointed by the parties, for their conueyance aboorde, fardling such necessaries vp as were thought requisite, Katherina and himselfe at once were shipt: and the Marriners launcht forth into the déepe.

I should haue giuen you (kind Gentles) to vnderstand, that at the very instant, that the poore woman (as is before re­cited) was their vnsuspected messenger, Virgo was predomi­nant: whose vertue containd betwixt these Louers such au­thoritie, as that neither thought of perillous dangers to come, nor the plagues (if their drifts had bene espied) then present, could confront them, or reuoke them from their enterprise. So were their thoughts connected in chaste resolue, and their [Page] brests coupled in firme fortitude.

Now are you to consider, how Libra tooke his raigne, as they entred the ballanced barke: and was to them during the time that they remained vnder his dominion) both luckie and gladsome.

For now the sailes were spread in quiet: whilest a plea­sant calme made the billowes still milde, and gentle: the Sea­surges were deprest, not once striuing to beate against th' op­posite vessell: Neptune was banqueting with Amphitrite and Trytons trumpe summond the water-Nimphes, the Syrenes, and Doris, and her darlings, and al the Ocean Dei­ties, to appeare vnder their Commmaunders tryple Scep­ter: to reuell, and ride on Dolphins, accompanying him at his royall Court, whose arriuall was there awaighted by the de­mie Gods of the lakes and riuers. The heauens were cleare, and the skie as brightsome to behold, as the péerelesse shells on the Libian shore. So that the Marryners past ken of the land, crying aloft boone fortune, and bidding Iacomin and Catherina be of good cheere; roundly rung out this Rowly by.

Thus they made merrily for Spaine, crost with no mis­fortune; till Scorpio (stretching forth his fierie clées) séemed to stoppe the peaceable course of our Lead-starre: enforcing it to take his abode in the other Equinoctiall point, quite oppo­site to that pleasant place, where it was resplendant at the be­ginning of the Spring. And hating to behold it in beautie, séemes violently to driue it thence, farther forth vnto Sagita­rie; as if the monster ment by some meteor or eclipticke cloude to haue it terrified, or at the least shadowed. [Page] Threatning it to haue winter-like weather, (in stead of a faire haruest season) and to be molested in some respects with foggy inclosures, and bitter cold, mixed with very cold and windie moistures. What néed I vse ambages? the sequell of our Louers euents will shewe, how there was some signe of chaungeable weather.

For they had not sailed thrée dayes from Palermo, but that some Gallies appertaining to certain Pyrates, that were whilome competitors in the conspiracie and rebellion (before in the beginning mentioned) gainst the King of Tunise, had espied them scowting: and being led with hope of getting some purchase or pettie prize, made hastily towards them. Whom when the Barksmen had descried, not able (by reason of the calme) to make away from them, mistrusting they should bée set on, prouided their shotin readinesse, as resolued to vse their best endeuors to saue their own. Soone had the Gallies ouer­ [...]ane them, and fiercely chased them: that the Barke at last was fetcht vp, and by them being boorded, yet valiantly resi­sted with hardie fight. Especially Iacomin, who (euen despe­rate, carelesse whether he liued or died, so that his Katherina might be saued harmlesse) fought against the enemie with har­tie courage, and valiantly (defending the distressed vessell) laid on loade round about him: till that he was sore wounded, through encountring so many at their first entrances. At last through much bléeding he became faint: and then the pyrates (driuing the wearied and maimed Marriners to corners) rife­led the Barke: And hauing found Katherina in the cabin (as they were searching for wealth) euen all amort and woe be­gone, for this extreame misfortune; hauing neither remorse of her laments, nor respect of her vowes, nor pittie of her plaints, nor any compassion of her praiers, pluckt her forth the cabin, carrying her perforce, conueyed her into their Gallies: And thus hauing taken all that was worth bearing away, turned towards Tunise.

Iacomin with wofull eyes (scarce able through faintnesse to lift vp his head) beholding his Katherina violently taken [Page] from him, vext so much in minde, as did Piramus (when hée sawe a part of Thisbes kertle, torne by the gripes of a gréedia Beare) determined at that present (had he not bene preuen­ted) with mortall blade to end his miseries. But vsing pati­ence perforce, through the Marriners helping meanes, as the winde and tide would afford, made after their enemies: ho­ping that way, sooner then on any other coast, to come a shore, and obtaine succour.

Was not this a shaking tempest (trowe yée) to bréed a­new their torments? It was Scorpio that incensed these Ro­uers to fiercenesse, but Sagitarius that made them so mightie and magnificent in their attempts. Which now hauing got­ten the spoiles, wende with as great triumph towards Tunise (though they had bene rebells) with beautious Katherina; as did Paris with the Grecian Dame, towards Troy. For these Pyrates hopes were laid (as you shall heare) on this foundation.

The lustie Tunisian Prince, being made frolicke (euer sithence the time that the two Scicilian families wrought meanes to beate downe his enemies) by continued peace, was become as wanton and effeminate, as Sardanapalus: placing all his felicitie in gallant womens beautie. And be­cause he would not lacke what his lustfull minde best liked: at one end of the Citie (where he held his royall Court had he built a stately Castle: where whose walls were of perdu­cable bricke, and couerings brasse, verie fairely flourisht with carued Images on the outmost lymites. But the artificiall diuisions and partitions, with glorious Galleries, and decked Chambers within, were by the skill of a cunning hand, made superexcellent. All the walls were garnished with cloath of Ar­ras, curiously wrought with rich knots of Gold, and spangled ouer with Carbuncles, Rubies, and precious Pearles: glezed in and out with singular shadowes and pictures, passing curi­ously proportioned. There also had Art with néedle-worke portraied the Histories of the Gods: Iupiter counterf [...]iting the shape of Amphitrio, to gaine the loue of Al [...]mena; like a [Page] Swan, to winne Laeda; like a golden Showre, to gaine Da­nae; and like a Bull, bearing on his backe Pasyphae. There was portrayed Apollo, pursuing with spéedy pace the Nymph Daphne: Luna shooting forth her hornes, to imbrace Endimi­on drowsily slumbring: Diana and her spotlesse darlings ba­thing in the brooke, holding in their hands Cypresse boughes, to shadow their beauties from the Sun-beames, ouer-pried by the gazing Forrester Actaeon, whom she chaunged by (let fly­ing at him a shaft) into a horned Harte. There might you haue séene a woman wooing a man (viz.) Venus courting Adonis: Eccho following Narcissus: and Narcissus séeming to follow his owne shadowe in the brooke. There was horned Pan por­traied, intreating Sirinx: whom at once he beheld metamor­phosed into an Daten Réede. There was starr-eyed Poliphe­mus, passionate through loue of the Nymph Galathea. There was Orpheus séene playing (on his Trée-and-stone-mouing Harpe) at the gates of Limbo, to bring backe his lost Euri­cide. There Pluto, riding on a Coach of Ebonie, lying in am­bush to steale away Proserpina gathering flowers, was with his blacke Lordes fitly deciphered. And not onely these of the Goddes, but also an infinit number of amorous counterfeits of loue-sicke men. There was imblazoned the Citie of Troy, and the glorious Pallaces of king Pryam: with all his valiant sons and daughters. There was Paris portraid, marching in pomp, with a troupe of gallants attending, through Troy, leading towards Ihum, the péerlesse Dame of Greece, hand in hand: whilest the princely Prophetesse Cassandra, with hands raisde to heauen, and haire hanging downe ouer her shoulders, cried out, Graia iuuenco venit, &c.

Such as these séemed common in that bowerly Paradise: for euery Chamber séemed a myrrour of delight. But that glo­rious edifice, which excéeded all the rest, was a Garret, which the king himselfe commonly at his pleasure would make his resting Pauilion. The side walles were ouerlaide with rich cloth of golo, ouer-diapred with admirable bright Margarites, and glorious Pirops: that in the night lightned with splendor the whole Chamber ouer with such cleare shine, as in continu­ance it séemed, the burnisht Sunne neuer was falne in the oc­dent. [Page] The vaulted couering was shadowed with a gorgious Canapie, branched about with Angelicall features and gliste­ring flowers.

In the midst (directly vnder the Canapie) was placed a Chaire, imbost with silke, and costly knobbes of gold, so high­ly lifted as a stately Throne. Ouer the head thereof, araied in liuely colours, was a Parliament of the Gods depainted, with gorgious roabes: Aboue all the troupe of which glorious Sy­node, was portrayd a beauteous seate, whereon sate Cupid and his Loue ouerlooking them all, and treading on great loue and Iunos Dyadems. Cupid held in his hand a faire Scepter, wherewith (it séemed) he beckened to all the rest, as if he com­maunded them: and his Loues browes were garnisht with a tryple Crowne, whereon Fortune laie figured bound in Fet­ters, and her whéele shiuered in péeces: On his Scepter was drawne in golden Letters this Poesie, Amor imperat astris: On her Crowne was this Motto, Sicforma, Diuos, fairly in­grauen. The frames of the faire windows made all with Ada­mantine stone and Christall, beautified throughout with bla­zures of honourable Armes, would oppose Apelles pencyll to portraie, much more my pen: for all was as admirable, as the Pallace of the radiant Sunne: describing the which, as Ouid did conclude the one, so may I likewise end the other (leauing the rest to your coniectures) and say, Artificem superabat opus.

This so glorious Castle, supplied the place of an Acade­my for beauteous dames: for therein were inclosed the choice dainties of the Country, for the kings onely taste. They had all ease enough, but little libertie: fed and feasted sumptuously, but were neuer suffered to walke without doores: euery one had a seuerall Chamber for her owne commoditie, but could welcome none but the king their Louer: many wisht (it may be) to haue chaunge of meates beyond commons: yet scarce any durst on deaths penaltie let enter other dishe, than such as with allowance came from their Liege. So that, these sweetes were crost, with some sowres: these dainties were constrainds from chaunge of delicates, and all remained mewed for one mans diet. So that their happinesse seemed not much more pleasant, than do their pleasures, that are imprisoned in courtly [Page] Towers, or mannacled with golden Fetters, or drinke Cyrce [...] drugges in a guilted Cup, &c.

This while (courteous Reader) had our Load-starre escaped with much adoo the fierce Sagitarie, (though somewhat to the an­noyance of his suscepted course) and had entred in the ninetéene de­grée of Capricornus, which signe is very predominant ouer al those horned heads that simply sing Cuckoe. At whose shaggie forme, it halfe seemd afraid, though his milde (which with him was not vsu­all) aspect now, did import, that for a season he had shaken off his natural qualitie, as vnaccustomed to any patience. For from his Goatish beard, in his rage would he shake, not only extreame win­terly showres; but also heart-cutting frosts and tempests; as that Sol himselfe is inforced for auoydance of his boysterous stormings, to forsake that house with haste (standing on his farthest limit in the South) and to drawe for his better quiet, neare vnto our clymate: yet notwithstanding he now séemed milde and vnwilde, like com­fortable Zephirus. Whether it were (also) for pretence of some mis­hap to happen to our Load-starre, or whether to shewe signe of a prosperous voyage, (it is farther to be doubted) but his moystned hoarie haire now distild faire dropping deawes: (as the Crocadile sheads teares) and it may be, it was signe of some lamentable way­lings. But to haue all resolued, I wil search through the whole pro­gresse of our Load-starre, and what I finde hapning, shall be vn­folded accordingly.

Now had the Pyrates (setting their Gallies to ride safely by casting Anchor within the harbour) brought Katherina on shoare: and intending to present her to the king, thereby to get pardon for their misdemeanours forepast, spake her fairely, willing her to be frolicke. And to depresse her sorrowes made merrie at an Inne, ta­king wholesome carowses both of Béere and Wine, in quaffing bowles: yet could not their li [...]our of life ingender any solace in sub­iected Katherina. Yet at last was she brought to the court, and pre­sented before the wantō Prince: whose hart was straight set on fire by the lustres (though now dimd with watry deawes) that sparke­led from her eyes: that the Pyrates were not only forgiuen▪ their amisse, but also were recompenced with royall rewards. So that they accounted the time and houre most lucky and [...]ortunate, when [Page] their eyes held in ken, and their hands beganne to incounter with those that had the carriage of such a worthie prize.

The king had great compassion on the discomfort of his newe Saint, vnto whose shrine he offered his perswasiue Orison.

Beauteous (quoth he) clowdie lookes (the messengers of care­ful mindes) are for rusticke Clownes of the Countrey, not compa­nions for the lookes of courtly Dames. Be blithe (beauteous) be blithe: bannish melancholy from thy delicate breast: let mirth hold holiday in thy chéekes, and let pinching melancholy be driuen vn­to extreame exile: Be thy minde iocund, thine heart frolicke, and thy thoughts light. Where as before thou wert Chaunces bond­slaue, now shalt thou raigne in the happie fauour of a King: whose smiles shal support thée, whose lookes shall comfort thée, and swéete words delight thée. Thou shalt haue pleasure, without penance: thou shalt reioyce, without any annoyance: and in thine owne handes holde swéete content, voide of all crossing and discontenting gréeuances.

Whilest thine yeares are tender, thy selfe youthful, and thy face flourishing with fragrant feature, follow the ioyes, that be­long vnto thy yeares: séeke the pleasures, that Nature hath allow­ed thine youth to possesse: and be partaker of these delightes, as are comparable to thy springing beautie. Let the auncient (whose haires old age hath made frostie, in whose browes time hath pain­ted furrowes, and whose backes the waightes of many colde win­ters haue bowde) séeme chollericke, because they are crustie: and disconsolate, because their blouds are become colde, their limmes weake and chillie. Be bliue and wanton (Girle) for seuen yeares longer liues a merrie minde, than a heauie heart. Let thine Ala­baster breast be a Bower, for Venus Doues, that Cupid atten­ding them, may with disport rent thine Aperne-strings.

What swéeter conceyt, what fi [...]ter humour, what pritti­er dispose, than for youth to be lustie, and liuely to entertaine and welcome loue? Then cleare (swéete beautie) the Christal couer­ture of thy eclipsed eyes; and thou shalt be brought into a bower, which to thy sight shall séeme no lesse pleasaunt, than portly: where thou shalt beholde seates, that euen excéed Ioues siluer foote-stoole; [Page] and treade in walkes, that in compare blemish not a little the milke-white way.

There shall diuers braue Dames and faire Damzels (whose features dashe with disgrace the beauteous Goddesses that str [...]ue before Paris for the golden Ball) shal bidde thée welcome with kinde salutes. The Girles, that shall awayt on thée (attendant both at becke and call) shall for gracious aspect, driue coy Cam­paspe out of countenance. The meate which thou shalt taste, shall farre surpasse the dainties that were serued before Damocles: or set before the cruel Belides, or presented euen to the very lippes of hungrie Tantalus. Thy drinke shal be swéeter than the iuice of those precious Apples that growe in the Gardens of the He­sperides: and rest more licorice in the receptacles, than the life-lengthning Nectar and Ambrosia. The mirth, which the curi­ous and well strooken Instruments shall yéelde foorth to glad thy pensiue minde, shall be as delightsome as the soundes of Apollos Lute, or as the tunes of the Heliconides. The bedde whereon thou at thine owne pleasure shalt take rest, shal be more soft then Downe, and more glorious than that Cubile where angrie Vul­can insnared amorous Mars, and his amiable Venus: the whole Synode of the Gods to their shame beholding both the louely cap­tiues.

All this receiue as truth (faire creature) for thine eyes & eares, and all thine other indued sences, shal witnesse it for truth. Onely would I wish thée, be merry; cast away all actoying care; looke liue­ly and louely; and thou shalt be as fortunate as Pirrha, Deucalions Phéere: and liue as auncient as Sibilla, Apollos Loue.

There he made a period to his oblatiue Antheme, the whole summe whereof, séemed as acceptable to woful Katherinas eares, as the talke of Will Summers, to a minde male-content: or the Tales of Mother Redde-cappe, to an heart-sicke Patient: or Scoggins Ieasts related to one meditating on the seuen Sobbes of a sorrowful Soule.

This Oblation béeing offered, hée calls for a siluer Bowle of Muscadine: which béeing brought him, hée vttered this Saluie.

[Page]Now (beauteous) bannish these deadly dumpes, the king him­selfe deignes to salute thée with the pure liquor of the Grape: héere's a health to thee (and therewithal dranke a heartie draught) to driue off thy agonies: Holde, take; I haue taken halfe, and therefore [...] me right, and drinke vp the remnant.

Katherina wiping her wayling eyes, as hauing tane some smal heart▪ agrace, framed modestly this reply. Although (egregious Prince) it fits not Fortunes meacocks, to séem courtly with kings; nor Captiues, to cry checkmate with their kéepers: yet sith your highnesse is so graciously bent towarde the welfare of me worth­lesse and vnworthie wretch, I wil not deny to pledge your high­nesse. And hauing so saide, tooke a good wholesome draught of the Wine.

The king then (pleasantly conceyted) asked her what bedfel­low she would desire to haue? And she answered, she desired such a one, as would for dishonour (like Lybidinous Tereus) séeke ney­ther to defile her, nor like a lewde Priapus to defame her: For it is better be kild than liue with crackt credit.

Whose so chaste answere, gaue a memorandum to the wan­ton demaunders meaning: and yet because he would not séeme to be rubd on the gall, bolted forth this insinuation.

But yet (beauteous) quoth he, if a louely wight would beare you company in bed, I déeme you not so disdainful, as to depel him with deniall? Why, and it please your royaltie (said she) vnbidden guests are neuer best welcome at a banquet; neither vnto a wo­man is acceptable any vnknowne bedfellowe.

Which dry buffet made him euen dumbe; for shame would not suffer him to reueale his owne lauishnesse, and therefore with the Lapwing, he thus cried farre from his neast.

Wel (prettie peate) quoth he, thy mind as yet disagreeth with­in it selfe, because it is not partaker of any pleasant good. To change which appalling and oppressing propertie, thou shalt be conducted to that place of pleasure, whence doth remaine exilde all melancho­ly passions. I cannot imagine thée greater good, neither wil I doo thée a lesse commoditie. And so prouided attendants to conduct Ka­therina to the Castle.

As the glorious Sunne beganne to drench his fire-breathing [Page] Stéeds in the colde Ocean, and the gladsome daylight was sha­dowe [...] by the nights gloomy clouds: Iacomin (almost made deaths Captiue through weakenesse) with his other sickly Companions, had gotten land, euen on the shoare of this same Cittie, where Ka­therina was brought for a present to the Prince. And hauing ob­tained lodging for himselfe and the rest of his heartlesse followers, was taken in cure by a cunning Surgian: all the company at the Inne (where he laie) bewayling the heartilesse downefal and di­stresse of so faire a person.

Katherina in the meane time being come to the Castle, be­holding it without, somewhat wondred: but when she beheld with­in the gresses and steppes guiding them vnto seueral Inclosures (whose imblazures were no lesse resplendent, than the glorious Iasper, or a multitude of goodly Emeraldes) shée was ouercome with incredible admiration. Some salutes being imparted towards her by many of the Dames there resident: she was placed by those of the Kings Guard (according to his Maiesties commaund) in a most prettie Closette, all about garnished with flowers so liuely portrayed, as that Arte séemed to goe beyonde Nature in her workes: For there were Roses so depaynted and framed, as if they were but then plucked and brought from the Garden: bearing so varnished a die, as did Zeuxes Artificiall Grapes, which the Byrdes beguilde, did often pricke at with reaching beakes.

There was a square Table, by the nimble Seruitors straight couered ouer with delicious dainties: To eate whereof Katherina was inuited, both by some Damzels, that at poynt-deuise awaited on her: and intreated by the other Dames, that welcommed her, as best allowed for that purpose.

Little was it, that Katherina tasted; lesse, that her passio­nate stomacke digested: and least of all, that her gréeued minde delighted. Only her wandring eyes euen fedde on diuers sightes, so farre foorth, that they séemed neuer satisfied sufficiently.

As shée satte at meate, shée helde in ken, portrayed with a most perfect plotforme in cloath of Arras, the proportion of the fa­mous Cittie Athens: to haue preheminence whereof, Minerua accompanied with all the Muses (whose fourmes were rarely [Page] pollisht, holding in theyr handes diuers Instruments, but Mi­nerua bearing a Booke) helde a controuersie with Neptune (who helde in her hand a thréefolde Mace) and all his Demi [...] Gods.

In the middest of which contention, there séemed to ap­peare vnto them an admirable water▪ Nymph, euen faire The­tis: whose admyrable lookes (lyke the Sunnes austers) so pier­cest Neptunes cordyalls, that to winne fauour, hée graun­ted to yéelde vp the dominion of all his lande-Citties vnto the handes of the contending Goddesse.

Taking hold on whose promise, Minerua for him wonne the Nymph, and gaind the frée gouernment of Athens. Underneath that Portrayture was set this Poesie: Arma quae violant, vinci­unt amores.

What Table-talke the wanton Wagtailes (that were her copesmates) to increase merriment, and decrease melancholy, for recreation their mindes then vsed, it skilles not to repeate: and therefore shal be omitted, to auoyd troublesome prolixitie.

For no man is so dunsticall, that cannot coniecture follie in the smiles, and vanitie in the spéeches, of suche vyle Hus­wiues.

The Table taken vp, they walked a while to behold the varie­tie of Arts ornaments, spred round about this metropolitane house.

And when Katherina had throughly viewde and reviewde all, shée sette downe her censure for a Principle, that Omnia vani­tas.

When time gaue Morpheus libertie, with his inchaun­ting noates, to bedull mens vigilant sences, summoning all humane bodies to recreating rest: (the skie being maskt with a duskie vaile, and onely made brightsome by the glimmering appearaunce of some set Starres) Katherina, by the compa­ny béeing brought againe vnto her setteled Chamber, (the place that was appoynted her to solace in) all bidding her good night, and the Kéeper locking fast the Chamber doore (as he commonly vsed and was accustomed euerye Night, to shut, locke, and bolte faste the reste) in place of slumbering, shée [Page] waxed againe sorrowfull: in stead (on that sumptuous bed) to take quiet, she stood at the windowe with [...]yes most carefull: in place of swéete content, entertaining within her breast sharpe dis­content: reckoning all proffered pleasure, as perill: all dilicates, but dregges: all courting, but counterfeit: and all the pleasant Uy­ands, but plaine vanitie. And from the aboundance of stri­uing thoughts, her voyce (the mindes enterpreter) vttered this Homilie.

Is it worthy the title of beautie, or blemish, to haue the body purpled, and the soule polluted? The Serpent (that in Paradice beguilde Eua) knew not how to entice her to eate the forbidden Ap­ple, but by bidding her behold the beautie thereof, (for the rinde see­med swéete, and the taste to sée the coare, bred a sowre infection) whose wittinesse ouerwinning their wits to agrée vnto that plea­sure, procured an vnrecitable punishment. The King ( Katherina) hath placed thée in a semblable delightsome Eden, promising thée pleasure, without paine: mirth, without moane: ioy, without an­noy: solace without sorrow: and all delight, without any dolours: whose allurements, if thou reiect not: whose blandishments, if thou banne not: and templations, if thou temperate not: thy mind wil be blemished, thy conscience stained, thy thoughts polluted, and thy heart infected.

What is it to view the glorious architecture of this depainted house? but (as it were) to looke on the Apple with Eua? And what will it be to taste the pleasures that this place presents, but euen to swallowe morsells of procuring penaltie with Eua? So that as that on the one side, so this on the other, imparts a mappe of horred mi­serie.

But more literately to define, what is this pollished place, but (like a painted Sepulchre) an habitation for rotten bones? What are these pretie couerings, but representments of shadowed euills? what are these drawn [...] flowers, but species of follies? these pic­tures, but the genus of vices? these golden spangling knobs, but the accident of il happes? to conclude, what is the cloath of Arras and all, but euen the proprium of all perills, the subiect of all polluti­ons, and the continent of all calamities?

Some Humerists in their Similies, compare women to Sy­rens: [Page] their faces to the fauor of Medusa: their spéeches to the laugh­tures of Hyena: and their wailings to Crocadiles teares. Al which slaunderous compares, are to be obiected to their Authors enuie, not to womens deserts: t [...]at (poore soules, being weaker vessels) are borne by the prouocations of men, vnto a thousand mischiefes. Though Medea were a sorceresse, yet could not her drugs (though mightie to worke miraculous metamorphoses) constraine men to kéepe their affections within the lists of continencie. For in fierce­nesse, they excéed the angry Tyger: in wilinesse, equalliz [...] the sub­till For: in wantonnesse, accompany the toyish Ape: in lust and leaudnesse, surpasse the libidynous Goate: in crueltie, goe beyond the rauenous Wolfe: and in anger, wax more wrathfull than the roaring Lyon: and onely through them, are women brought to wretchednesse.

Now doth the prospectiue of this contemplation present before my thoughts, a double genus contained mongst men ( viz.) a good and bad. On the one side stands (and then shaking her head, shée fetcht a grieuous sigh) my deare, ah! (and then groand) my dearest loue and life, estraunged Iacomin. On the other side sits the wan­ton King (ah! that these should séeme to protect and gouerne others, that cannot direct nor guide themselues) who séeketh the spoile of my chastitie. The one haue the vniust Deities throwne downe to distresse, the other haue they extold with partiall dignitie. The one was alway the Disciple of Uertue: the other remaines a seruitor vnto vice. The one directed and obedient to diuine loue, the other subiected and attendant on diuellish lust. And yet are they both men: and yet the one liues orderly like a reasonable crea­ture: and the other without good order, euen like a brutum quod­dam.

Ah! now I sée that the blinde Goddesse (whom men common­ly call Fortune) holdeth highest dominion on the earth (whose par­tiall hand (through her buzzardly blindnesse) deales gifts to the vn­deserued, and bestowes small benefites on good deserts) else am I surely perswaded, the vertuous should neuer be so continually crossed, and the vicious so pleasantly and maiestically suppor­ted.

Shall the faithfull and honest wight be thrust on thornes [Page] of tribulations? and shall dishonest and leaud veneri [...]s tread on Roses? Shall the good eate Cole-worts with the Cynicke? and the badde féed on dainties with the Courtier? Are the one con­strained to drinke the Worme-wood water, and the other suf­fered fréely to carowse bowles of Wine? Ah heauens! Ah Dei­ties!

What is the earth then, but the vpholder of iniquitie, and de­stroyer of iustice? And how may that be, when the Gods theron haue constituted mortall members, (till they are by death all cal­led thence) with vprightnesse to remaine? and spend their mor­tallitie with such Angelicall integritie, as that when their liues leaue the earth, they may be immortalized in the glorious heauens? Ah how blinde is the earth, that can be content to be mapt with the vaile of vanitie? Uertue bandieth daily against Uice, but Uice is had in such regard, as though the mightinesse of those vile multitudes (that Champion-like braue it, mangre Uertues wor­thy martialists, whose honours haue béene atchieued by sheading and sustaining the losse of their liuely bloud) that séeme to saue­guard that deceitfull Strumpet: the world is ledde captiue, to bée obseruant to all most wretched and villainous misdemea­nours.

And therefore, by how much the company of Uertues Souldiers are the scarcer, by so much more worthy are their famous Uictories to bée registred in the Records of eternall Re­membrance.

The renowned Virginius of Rome, rather respected his daughters virgin-like martyring death, than to saue her life, to liue in leaudnesse with dishonour.

Chaste Lucrece grieuing at her violent rape, to eschew the disgrace of her inforced offence, would by no meanes be perswaded to liue, but cut off her dayes (to auoyd discredit) with a deadly knife. Daphne the Nymph, to saue her honestie, wished rather to remaine for euer in the Barke of a Bay trée: than for leaudnesse to bee made a Beare, as was the Trull that afterwarde beeing in daunger (whilest shee wandred in the woods with Lycaon, Actaeon, Priapus, and such leaudones, like a beast) to be staine by the shaft of her owne sonne: was by Iupiter [Page] taken vp in a cloude, and made the Starre Vrsa Maior, and her sonne, Vrsa Minor. Biblis lamenting her misdemeanour with continuall and vncessant teares, neuer remitted her heart from sighes, and her breast from swelling sobbes, nor her minde from wofull thoughts, vntill shée became euen a watrie Foun­taine.

Hast thou read all these ( Katherina) or at leastwise heard these and many more? and yet doest thou refraine to follow any of their famous examples? Wilt thou be content to a be Kings Concubine, and spot thy soule with sinnes (that is new as white as the driuen Snowe) as blacke and vgly as pitch? Be mindfull (vile caitiffe) at thy birth: the sinceritie of thy parents, and vertues of thy friends: and wilt thou then become the onely blemish of thy kinred through vile folly?

Then she raged, and thus abandoned her ill haps. Auaunt (quoth she) you infernall Furies, and hellish hagges, that tempt a wofull Soule after the sufferance of disanulling miseries, to taste of sugred mischiefes. Why séeke you co ensuare me with your poy­soning baites, on guilded hookes? I am not yet prouided for the draught of your perditions nettes. My good Genius guide mée in these extreames, and helpe to vnloose me from their entangling snares: for if I rightly consider mine owne cause, I was neuer in such daungerous case. I am shut vp in a glorious prison, to serue sinne like a Iaile▪ whelpe: and there is no man that friends mée so much, as in my behalfe to set in baile, to frée me from this seruitude. But my noble minde (that tooke life from the loines of Princes) will neuer (I hope) debase it selfe so lowe, as to yéeld it selfe a ser­uile bondslaue to the greatest Monarch in the world, to serue his lust.

How are all comforts exilde ( Katherina) from this Cabine? The spangled imblazures glister like Silkwormes in the darke, as if they meant to sporte thine eyes with sparklings, as full of fairenesse, as the purple-coloured Topace. But by these art thou driuen to behold thine owne ruth: looke on the Starres, and con­template with the Moone-shine, (both which shut forth their raies against the Glasse-windowes) and in their glory sée thine owne griefe: in their feature, thy deformitie: in their speculation, the res­pect [Page] of thy estimation, which not long sithence séemed as glorious, as their radiant graces. Better had it bene, thou hadst with the setting Sunne, bene drenched in the Ocean déepe [...], than followe this course to thy confusion. Worthier of renowne mightest than haue bene reckoned, by the mercilesse blades of the butcherly Py­rates to haue lost thy life, than thus to lose the libertie of thy chast li­ [...]ing. Better to haue endured the outragious rebukes of thine an­gry Parents at Palermo, then here to be banqueted in a straunge land, with infecting and sinne-saluing blandishments. O times! O dayes! O intemperable manners! O times, of vicious liuing! O dayes, of vertuous abolishing! O intemperate manners, of abhominations engendring! The first to be hated, the other to bée reiected: and the third to be annihilated.

Ah wretched Katherina! distressed Katherina! molested and amazed Katherina! Thou escapest all the Monsters on Seas, and yet wert made a spoile vnto men: and by them, art made a pray for a cursed humane monster: as mightie as the Dragon that was to deuoure Andromeda, whom stout Theseus rescued: but there is no Theseus to rescue thée from expected scath. Couldest thou frame such a webbe for resistance as did the constant Dame of I­thica, the good Penelope; or inuent such a clewe to bring thée out of this Laborinth, as did Ariadne; then, ah! then, couldest thou hope to auoyd this daunger, and be requited of all dammage.

And yet dispaire not ( Katherina) in these extreames: Daie­nera found a shert, to wreake her wrongs on Hercules: Medea a Garland of poysoning flowers, to reuenge her quietly on faithlesse Iason: and the Gods may grace thée with the gift of some drift inuented, to stoppe the lustfull pretence of this leacherous Tu­nisian.

Doo no endure (O sacred Iuno) a modest maiden (that hath vowed vnto her Phéere the obseruance of nuptiall rights) to be de­filde; rather giue her courage to cut her breast (like the Carthagi­nian Dido) and end her life with chaste desire, than liue to be pol­luted, by the embracings of beastly lust.

Which hauing said, she fell flat on the floore, with her face to­wards the ground: and with heartie compunction of a passionate soule, prayed and called on all the blessed and deified powers of the [Page] Olympicke Regions, to be propitious vnto her plaints, and by on [...] good meane or other, in some good time to end her woes.

With these disquiet motions (oh that any modest maiden should haue such cause of disquiet) spent she the long and weari [...] winters night, till Aurora opened her purple doores in the East, strewing the places (there about her dwelling) with faire coloured Roses, and swéete Uiolets. About which time, her eyes dulled with heauinesse, began to inclose, as if then they would not séeme to be­hold. the glorious artsing of Phoebus raies: nor sée his horses breathe from their nosthrills flakes and fierce flames on the hugie mountaines: for the Chamber windowes lay directly by South-East; on which climate, the Sunne in winter season appeareth commonly twelue minutes after the eight houre in the fore noone. And then it seemed she fell into a slumber, and in her sléepe beheld a Uision, which I shall plainely versitie in this manner.

[Page]By that time that the Sunne was mounted neare (by [...]he ca­riage of his swift flying horses) vnto the Meridian, had Katherina cact off slumbring; and with receiued comfort, began to consider on her (foresaid) Dreame, and to contemplate on the Uision.

And may it be (said shée) that the iust Deities will deigne a wretch such fauour, as propitiously to rescue her in midst of hard extreames! Then (poore soule) prostrate thy selfe, and powre forth gratefull prayers, to their diuine powers.

Then she vttered a thankfull Hymne of praises and gratefull thankes, ledde with good hope that her ioyes should againe be reple­nished: which fell out indifferently, as I will specifie by these acci­dents, and first concerning our Load-starre.

Our Load-starre continuing vncessantly his course, will ap­peare this euening in Vespers place, at his appearance, somewhat beautifull, till Aquarius séeme to dash him out of countenance, with inclosures of mystie cloudes, and watrie showres: which for a time shall raigne in multitudes.

Iacomin had not long soiournied at the Inne, (hauing kept his bed a day or two, more to get ease in minde, than for trouble of any daungerous disease in body: marrie his wounds were some­what gréene) but that his hurts were cured, and his body currant; yet in his minde continued such a corasiue, as made his colour chaunge, his complexion alter, and his strong composition extenu­ate. And all these disparagements wore engendred by dispairing thoughts for Katherina, his dearest loue and delight: whom he ac­counted vtterly lost. With vacant steppes he treads through and through the stréetes of the Citie, enquiring of many (whom in his walkes he met) for a woman lately taken on the Seas by certain Gallies, but could neither be enformed of the one, nor heare of the other. Which made him in minde so outragious, as the furious Palatine, when he suspected, Medor had plaid false with his An­gelica, abandoned all lawes of reasonable consideration, and cried out, woe, woe, woe, accursed caytiffe. I will (quoth he) walke hence­forth poorely (as fits my fortunes) in Pilgrimage: and will with heartie deuotions offer oblations of peace, and Orysons to possesse quiet at the shrines of all Saints, as my wandring steppes shall conduct me to their Tombes and Temples. And when I chaunce [Page] to looke on any Louers mishaps, I wil adioyne as a note margi­nal, Sic Iacomin cum Katherina. In which impenitrable resolution, discharging and discarding his followers, acquiting their costs, and contenting his Hostesse, hauing paide all dues to all (sauing to Na­ture) with fardle at his backe (like a Trauayler) poasted out of Towne, and kept his course that way, where his Katherina was inclosed. Pacing by the Castle (at which he wondred, it seemed in shewe so flourishing) he staied his steppes a litle, gazing at the in­grauen and carued Images with earnest lookes, imagining it to be some worthie Monasterie. Hauing sufficiently satisfied his sight, as he began in his waie to foote it forward, Katherina (hauing before espied him) eying him from a Casement of the wide window, calde Iacomin by name, twice or thrice aloud: vnto the which voice, af­ter that a while he had listned, inquired, who calleth Iacomin? And therewithal lifting his eyes aloft at the windows, sawe her face, whom his heart so highly honoured. What Catherina (quoth he?) I, I, thy Katherina (my dears Iacomin) saide shee: And then for exceeding ioy both euen remained surprised with a sowning trance, hauing their sences euen ingaged by an extasie: But remembring themselues, Iacomin began to enquire how she happened into that hold, and to whom the house that held her so seuerely was belon­ging? Shée repeated the whole summe and substance briefly vnto him: which Iacomin hauing heard, And pittie tis, I trow (said he) that so faire a place, should serue for so fowle a purpose. But what remedie (sweete heart) replied Katherina: héere standes mine ho­nour in hazard, and my credite in suspence: euery houre awayt I, when he wil offer (shamelesse tyrant as he is) to giue an assault to cracke my chastitie: all which yet remaine sound and perfect, who­ly dedicated and deuoted vnto thee, as vnto their worthiest possessor and onely Patron. Protect them then (deare Iacomin) and enioy them: whilst thou liuest leaue them not, in the handes of others, if thou loue them: For as the Bird Atagen, is saide neuer to sing af­ter she is taken: no more can a modest maide reioyce, if once shée chaunce by lusts insnarings to be ouertaken. Then as we loue one another, so let vs liue togither: or if the date of our dayes hasten to­wards an end, let vs ende our hues at once togither. Returne til soone at night (good Loue) from whence you came, and when you [Page] behold the night beginnes to couer the Easterne clymate with pit­chie cloudes: repaire againe to this place, and bring with thée some strong cordes, by whose helpe thou maist hauing once climbed that [...]raunched Trée (for a troupe of Cedars, as loftie as those of Liba­ [...]us, flood prying with their stately toppe-boughes neare the win­towes) by my helpe winding thée vp, maist come into this open Casement. Or if thou fearest to aduenture thy selfe to ascende so high, for feare thou shouldst misse both thy footing and holdfast, and so sustaine a fall (which the heauens forebid, that thou in Katheri­nas sight shouldst suffer) yet wil thy countenance comfort me, whi­lest I remaine comforted by thy reclaiming conference.

Then answered Iacomin (his heart dauncing the while with­in his reconciled breast) vnto her motion mentioned with these feruent spéeches.

By the immortall Gods (faire and faithful Loue) saide hée, who with my good Angel haue gouerned my féete directly to finde this place (by following with prosperous pace a happie path) I so­lemnely here in the sight of heauen, and aspect of the heauenly po­wers, avow, euen anon in the twilight, to returne hither againe with all spéed conuenient: At which time ( Katherina) sée that thou set the Casement wide open, in signe thou doest expect my com­ming.

By that loue which loyallie I owe thée, (saide Katherina) I promise it: And performe it too, I trust (quoth Iacomin:) I, and I liue (saide shee) til that appoynted time: as sure as I kisse this hand in stead of your delicious lippes, I wil.

And (quoth hée) as certainly as I busse this fist, wishing I might as easily touch your faire chéekes, for requital of your tryed friendshippe, I will not faile to bée héere at that pre­sent.

Which spéeches by both parties, with many more protesta­tions being breathed foorth, and sundry beckenings made, after that they were silent, Iacomin repaired againe to his former Lod­ging.

His honest Hoste and Hostesse were excéeding glad to be­holde their Guest, and so were the rest, for that they percei­ued [Page] his outrage was now quelled by reason. Hée tolde them, hée had bene comforted by a Friend, and that hée would not trouble them to make any prouision for his Supper, because he was in a manner fore-syed, because fore-bidden to feaste that night a­broad. But yet wil I drinke (quoth he) a cuppe of Canarie in my Chamber, if you please. With a very good will saide his Hoste. And so the one went to his Chamber, and the other went til the Wine.

After that Katherina had lost the sight of her Loue, thinking euery minute a moneth, and euery houre a yeare, til he should returne: her minde beeing mooued with excéedyng admyra­tion, shée [...]éely lycenced her tongue thus to be talkatiue as fol­loweth.

What glorie, is comparable to gracious good will? or what life, equall to loue? Courtly pompe decayeth through pestiferous dissentions, as can my Parents broyles make manifest in Paler­mo: And life is alway in hazard to be lost: witnesse the miseries of the maimed, and mishappes of the mightiest: and the fall of these Kings and Emperours, can testifie, certifie and certificate thus commonly specified.

And yet good will (quoth shée) continueth after death; else had not Achilles so cruelly reuenged the fall of his deare friend (slaine by Hectors Launce) againe on valiaunt Hector. Nor Hercules with his Clubbe on shoulder, and cladde in his Ly­ons Case, woulde haue so striued to reuoke his deare Pirethous from the shades of Limbo: Oh, the surpassing vertue of friend­ly good-will, (which conioynes a Pelides with Orestes, and a Damon in firme league with Pitheas) is continuall, perdurable, and eternall.

And as for loue, more delicious, than y ^e swéet kernel of y ^e Nut; more comfortable, than the sugred iuice of the Grape; more sauory, than the wholsom smel of Myrrhe: indureth long, long after life is ended; [Page] else would not Orph [...]us stirred on through the essence of loue, haue sought by sounding musicke to pacifie the angrie powers of Hell: and so require of blacke Pluto, the restoring to life againe of his lost Loue, lately made his Bride. O the admirable and vnrehearse­able polver of good wil [...] O the glorious and gracious vertue of so­ueraigne loue! Without the which, light, is but like darknesse: life, but death: gold, but drosse: health, but sicknesse: might, but mise­rie: ioy, but annoyance: ease, but disease: and in fine, the whole Earth, but a confused Chaos.

If all the precepts of the Sages, al the principles of Philoso­phers, and al the praises that haue tooke procéedings from Poets braines, were setled on this subiect: yet could not the foresight of the one, the wisedome of that, nor the wit of the other, comprise a period, the efficacie, essence, & vertue therof. Then much lesse maist thou Katherina expresse the summarie effect, of so exquisite a quin­tescence: or shewe but the representing shadow, of such a rare su­perficies: Thy tongue faulters, though thy thoughts faile not: fée­ding on such an excellent substance, whose fulnesse séemes to satisfie thee, and yet in no respect remaineth lessened.

Hauing so said, she waxt silent, and had her minde exercised with muses: which rauisht her sences with such supernal conceits, as that her heart euen reckoned it selfe deified.

Iacomin in the meane time at his lodging rested careful, bea­ring an eye to the maine chance, and the dayes chaunge: that now was euen ouertaken by the fresh Horses of the night. High time was it now for him, to hasten, and loue so suffered him not to be slacke, that he was at the Castle, had climbde the Trée, and nimbly by agilitie, ascended and entred the Casement (which his Loue had set wide open) before that Katherina thought him halfe towardes her. For he minded not to call vnto her, vntil he had past the daun­ger of climbing, least that his downful (if so it chanced) should bréed her dolour.

When she beheld her Loue créeping in at the Casement (dri­uen with his suddaine presence from her momento) she ranne and receiued him in her armes with an heartie Saluie. And when they had imparted mutual congies, (their eyes courting each other with amorous glances and steadie lookes) they tel to louely imbracings: [Page] and thus questioned Iacomin whilst he held her about the middle with folding armes.

Katherina (said he) feruent loue hath made me light, to gaine thy company: and now suddaine doubt giues the onset against my brest, and suspect of afterclaps assaults my heart with hard battery, to make me yéeld vnto dispaire. But the heauens and all the celesti­all Godheads know, the vndaunted fortitude of my zealous affecti­ons, and the constant motion of my loue-hallowing minde. For though seuen-mouthed Nilus should waxe drie, and that I should endure the thirst of Tantalus; or if my bread should turn to stones, and I abide more toyle than Sisiphus: If the earth should he turnd to stéele, the sea be set a fire, and the starres forsake the skie and be­come barres of brasse to affright me, to the intent I should change the motion of my life, or forsake loue; yet would I rather endure ten thousand deaths, than he found for my mindes mutation, faith­lesse, faultring fickle and so faultie. And therefore (swéte Katheri­na) I coniure thée by the diuine essence of that loue, wherewith through the infusion of heauenly graces thou art inspired, towards me, tel me if the lewde king hath appointed any time to visit thée? By heauens innumerable ioyes (said she) possest by all the blessed Senate there, (deare Loue) I avow, thy Katherina neuer gaue consent that at any time the kings presence should repaire hither; neither haue I heard by any, that he mindes to visit me. Haue all bidden thée good night then (quoth Iacomin) and hath the kéeper fast lockt the doores, or is not yet departed the Castle? Long since (said she) and therefore you néed not doubt (I hope) of any danger: For no théefe on earth I protest whist I haue breath, shal rob you of your right and interest.

These Lampes had not long possest the oyle of their parley, to lighten their thoughts, but that (after they had both together made them vnreadie, and were laide in bed) dimme sléepe drowsily eclip­sed their eye beames, with clowdie slumbers. So that their mindes, ere while the mappes of cares, and entertainers of watchful woes, were now ( Endimion-like) growne carelesse; respecting neyther feareful Cautions, nor doubtful Caueats.

This while was the King with his Guard come to the Castle, to court with louely Rhetoricke his new-come Goddesse, déeming, [Page] that now her moodie minde, was by the pleasure of the place, be­come mirthfull; and her heart, erst harned with sorrow, to be now softned with solace. And causing the kéeper to vnlocke the gates, ascended the grosses, and came to Katherinas Chamber doore, wil­ling him to open it: wherein when he entred, and beheld other ly­ing there in bed, imbracing his Venus; not able to endure that sight, he flung forth the chamber, giuing them straight charge and command, that when these sléepers should awake, they should both be bound backe to backe to a stake, and end their liues (as traitors ought) in flames of fire: and hauing pronounced that wrathfull doome, with rage departed.

Here (Gentles) should I tell you, how Iuno being incensed with anger for this accident, committed through Fortunes spite, (descending downe from Olympus in her glorious Chariot, drawn by her byrds, whose starr- [...]ied prauncing plumes present before their mistresse eyes, so many prettie colours, as doth the Rain-bow in the heauens) checkt her presumption with an Egregiam vero laudem; and blamed the Faieries and Satyres for their slack­nesse; bidding them to binde fast her hands straighter, that she might not turne so thwartfully her maligning whéele. But that must I néeds cut off to auoyd tediousnesse: yet will I giue you to knowe, that after shée had rung a peale of scolding at Fortune (on the one side) and hadde gently (on the other side) chastised the negligence of her leaders; shée entreated Morphens to obserue his part yet in any case: avowing by all her Deitie, rather then this faire couple should endure any wracke, shee would her selfe at the instance brandish foorth with Ma­iestie, to withstand all those that should performe theyr executi­ons.

Flames? (said shée) shall scorching flames consume my worthy subiects? No, Ile send Boreas, both with windes and showers to quench the fires: Whilest with Hymenaeus helpe, Ile hide them, as erst I did Aeneas and Dido, in some vaultie Caue.

And so commaunded her glorious Foules (whose wings and taile-plumes stood proudly spread) in haste to carrie her vnto the highest heauens, from whence shée entred to behold the conse­quent: [Page] minding wholly to conserue them both in safetie, although she should sée them bound at stake, and stand in extreamest peril of kindeling flames.

Soundly yet rested these slumberings friends (little thinking what sowre sawce the King had ordained, minding it should bee mingled mongst their swéetes) til the trauayling Sunne was gone well onwarde in the East: All which time did the Kings Guard attend them. Assoone as their eyes awaking opened, they were in­formed of the Kings being there, and of his bloudie sentence, pro­nounced against them. Whereat first they mourned, but after­ward well resolued to endure their menaced death, made them­selues readie to take the end of their liues on earth.

Now (my Loue) quoth Katherina, shall the world beholde in vs, a spectacle, presenting fidelitie. In thée, loue; in mée, loyaltie; in thée, constancie: in mée, chastitie: in both, firme affection and sure confidence.

As shée would procéed, the Executioners came, and bounde their armes, which both indured with admired patience: the puni­shers pittying their distresse with some kinde remorse, and would haue spared them, had not they all bene bound on paine of death, to doo the Kings commaund.

This while were some busied in putting vp the stake, some prouiding Faggots, Pitch [...]ales, Strawe, and all other Fuell: Which bréeding a rumour with suddaine admiration, in vulgar eares, multitudes came in heapes vnto the place of execution, ex­pecting the performance of a wofull stratagem.

Foorth at last were brought these wofull Louers, guarded on each side with Billes and Holbards, like rebellious Traytors: and bound they were to the stake, backe to backe, contrary to their mindes: who earnestly intreated the araigners, to suffer them end their liues face to face. But the cruel King had otherwise giuen in charge, and that bred their greatest griefe. Yet patience preuailed with them in this their too seuere handling.

What, my deare, (quoth Iacomin) they may by this seperation robbe vs, of comfortable countenance in this fraile and transitorie life: but their crueltie cannot bereaue vs of sight in the glorious [Page] Sphere on hie, when our immortal ghoastes going towards Ioue [...] Pallace, shal méete in the milke-white way. Which words (vtte­red with gastly voice) moued at the beholders to bewaile the down­fall (with deawie teares) of so faire a couple.

Then were remorslesse brandes of fire brought to enkindle the Fuel: and Iuno had in readinesse placed watrie Iris directly ouer that clymate to shoote forth showres: When, loe (as pleased the iust pooming Deities, that at their good pleasures can preserue the vertuous from vniust persecutions, and vndeserued punish­ments) the Lorde high Admyrall (drawne in a costly Coache of Ebonie) code by, and of the people inquired what the prisoners were: but was not resolued by any, but was told by all, they were straungers that were to die.

His honour therefore standing on his saddle-cloth, questioned (comming neare vnto the stake) their names? He answered, Ia­comin mine: and mine Katherina said shée.

Of what Countrey (replied the Admirall) are ye? Of Scici­lia (saide they). Of what place in Scicilia? (quoth the Admirall) Both of Palermo answered Iacomin.

Of what Parents in Palermo are you sprung? (saide hée) I am the haplesse sonne of Signior Iacomin Pierro, (answered the one.) And I the daughter of Don Alexander Bartolo (saide the other.) Dooth the King, who hath condemned ye (quoth he then hastily) know either of you?

Neither of vs, and it shall please you, (answered they) neither skils it much that our extreame fortunes and perils indured should be knowne to his maiestie: for these flames shall ende our liues, and with our wretched liues, our extreame miseries. Yet be not driuen to dispaire (replied the Admirall) I wil to the Court, and conferre with the King concerning you: And then giuing in charge on paine of death that they should deferre a while (til they had word againe from him) to kindle the fires, he caused his Coach­man to yerke onwarde his light-hoofed Iennets to the Court: where when he was arriued, and dismist from his Coache, was come into the Kings presence: after some salute, he thus with bold stomacke breathed forth spéeches.

[Page]Can they (quoth he) that place Kings, pull downe Kings? then looke thou once again to be beaten out of Tunise: For Scicilia, once our chiefe aide, will become our cruellest enemie: and thou be en­forced to séeke a new Kingdome.

The King hauing heard these cracking thunders, strooken with feare of some scorching lightnings to follow, mildly answered the Admirall with these words.

Why, what is the cause my good Lord (said he) of these sudden threatnings? how haue I giuen occasion to make our friends foes? or Scicilia our enemies?

Thou séekest (replied the Admirall) to burne the flourishing braunches of those fruitefull stocks, which in thy greatest extreams stood as strongest supporters to hold thy féet from falling vnder Re­bells yoake. Doest thou not remember how scarce thrice seuen yeares sithens, Seigneor Iacomin Pierro, and Don Alexander Bartolo, the two egregious Uiceroyes of Scicilia (did by sending thée assistant Forces) seate thée (subduing valiantly thy insulting foes) safely in thy Kingdome? and now for requitall, doest thou séeme to burne the onely issue of them both? for that the two faithfull Louers séeke the fruition of their loues? why, the younge Gentleman that is yonder (like a Traytor) at the stake, is the sonne of Iacomin: and she, the daughter off Bartolo; both euen destroyed through thy vnknowne ignorance.

Oh heauens! (quoth the King, breaking off this Dréery tale ere it was ended) I would not for my Crowne and Kingdome haue proued so tyrannous.

So tyrannous? (replied the Admirall) I well know not, whe­ther they are not yet tortured and turned to ashes or no: the exe­cutioners were by thée so straightly charged, to hasten on their tor­ments, and inkindle the fires.

By Iupiter (then inraged said he) I am then vndone, vtterly vndone, vndone for euer. Ho whose there, ho? come hither one. Gallope to the stake yonder on a Courser, that can outrunne Pe­gasus in swift set race: and sée if the prisoners there standing, do yet breathe aliue: what not there yet? Oh how my heart houers for heauinesse in my breast, as though it would get forth, and run thi­ther before my posting seruant? had I ouer-carowst my selfe, and [Page] ouerdrenched my braines with wine, as would the great golbing Alexander? that so drunkenly I condemned these straungers, enquiring neither what they were, whence they came, nor whither they would? Oh infortunate chaunce! Oh synister chaunge! By the Gods, if they suruiue, I will excommunicate from my breast this ill humour of lustfull venerie (engendred in me through wan­ton sloath) and will banish from my hosome all those Curtezan-like Danies: whose blandishments and insnaring flatteries haue so liuely vpheld my youthes leaud lust: For now, and ne­uer till now, did I conceiue what was true Loue: with which im­proper tytle, my subtle Concubines (queanish and whorish drabs as they are) haue mantled my vnbridled lust. And so long, as that my behauiour hath beene more brutish than the vnreasonable beasts.

I now sée the vanitie thereof, for hereby was I ledde to worke this vnmercifull mischiefe on the liues of these two con­stant Louers, whose setled mindes may bée made subiect to no ex­chaunge.

My amendment shall be my best repentance, for now I re­member that, which long since I read, Optima paenitentia, vita noua; and yet doo I repent my franticke follies with hoartie griefe, and by the propitious helpes of the Gods, my modest liuing hereafter, shall wipe cleane away the blemishes of my former life, so viciously and vily ledde.

By this time were the two Louers (to the admirable ap­plause of all the beholders) redéemed from fierie death, wal­king (Magna comitante caterua) with great iollitie towards the Court.

Newes was brought to the woful King, that they were aliue, by some of the Guard, that posted apace before the res [...] for that purpose. And hauing heard that they were neare arriued, the Ad­mirall went forth, and fairely saluted them at the Gates, conduc­ting them vnto the King▪ who kindly receiued them (they both im­parting [...] vnto his grace) with these conforming spée­ches.

Faire Princes (said he) I doubt not but the Deities haue de­termined the long lengthening of your dated dayes; and well may [Page] your liues endure with happinesse. For by the lusters of your wel-willing and wel-liuing, doo I behold the leaudnesse of mine ill led life: by your vertues, my vices: by your loue, my lust: by your constancies, my incontinencies.

And ioy I doo with incredible gladnesse, that by the bright beames of (now praised be Gods) your liuely lookes, I am put to wit of both your royall Parents: And therefore (Princes) now fréely be frolicke: for we will feast away all perils forepast. And what pleasures I can wish or your selues will, do but (in token that you forgiue my intended iniuries vnwittingly minded against you) deigne to require or request: and commaund, rather than demaund: and I will performe it to the vttermost Ace.

Then replied Iacomin, saying: Dread Prince, our verie soules abhorre the sparkes of vnhumaine reuenge: and our minds (alway debonaire towarde our friendes) indure not to thinke on intended or inacted iniuries.

All the recompence that we would haue, is the hope, that our agréements shall amend all amisses: and our loue, exile all loosenesse, (as you haue plighted by promise) for euer heereafter from your royall person: which will not only lift your honor (loft) vnto the highest altitude: but driue all into an admiration by so luckie a chaunge.

Which being saide, the King taking his seate, willing also the rest so to take their ease: holding Iacomin by the hande (who then was placed nexte to his person) thus replied as follow­eth.

Uertuous Scicilian, mine owne motion for my amend­ment was much, but thy Princely words haue incensed me tenne times more. For proofe therefore that I am perfectly mooued with penitent compunction, behold what my minde wi [...]ls me in your presence, and before all these my honourable Lordes to haue performed, though it portray mine highly deserued shame.

Then calling foorthe the Kéeper of his Castle, hée com­maunded him, to bring before him, all these impudent dames, whose dishonesties had so mightily disgraced his honours and dignities.

[Page]And whilest the Kéeper went to accomplish his highnesse pleasure, he thus progressed in his spéech.

My Castle, where you, most chaste and modest Katherina (said he, turning toward the place where she sate) were inclosed, containes in holde a hundred lauish and licentious Dames, whose wanton dispositions, haue (like pitch) defiled the glory of my youth. These will I bannish farre from my Court, willing them to recall themselues: for (they say commonly) take away the cause, and the effect will die. I haue heard that Israels King, who before in the name of Iehoua his God, slew with a stone (which he sent from a sling) the huge Giant Goliath, consenting afterward to wanton sinne (that assaulted him whilest in a Gallerie he subiec­ted him to idle sloath) wrought the murther of one of his dearest Lords: therby inkindling against him, both the wrath of his God, and incurring dishonor vnto his name. The like had I (vile wretch) offensiuely against you almost committed: but that some good An­gell guided our Admirall, to withstand such a mischiefe. Sith there­fore so viciously to followe wantonnesse, is vily to be a bond slaue to all villainies: to shun the deadly seruitude of the one, I will vn­doo the diuellish instigation of the other.

And with that entred the virgins into place: wherefore hée commaunded his Treasuror, to bestowe on them seuerally an hun­dred markes: and so to conuey them from the Court, to leade the remnant of their liues in their natiue homes.

Whose liberalitie bestowed towards them for their maintei­nance, was by all there present much commended. And then the King to driue away melancholy from all (that séemed to maruell at the lookes of his halfe-discontent darlings, and choise minions) caused Tables and dice to be brought forth, to bréed disporte: and Cardes in packs to be throwne on boord, to passe away the time, till the Cooke and Cator were prouided to serue in dinner. Himselfe at the Chesse-boord stood as a Chalenger; and younge Iacomin to shewe himselfe a champion, vndertooke the combat at that wittie weapon: alway with caution (after he had to trie, entred the lists) kéeping him free from annoying checke. And when their gaming was ended, they feasted, and were frolicke.

After this maner past these nobles the time together, for the [Page] space of some thrée or foure dayes: in which time, the king had pro­uided a gallant Fléete to guide these Scicilians safely home to Pa­lermo. And the Admirall made him ready to beare them company in that conduct.

Now hath our Load-starre (Gentlemen) past Aquarius, and paceth like Athlantas Coursers, towards the exaltation of Pisces: whose scales shewing and shining bright and cleare, gaue him libertie now at last fréely to prognosticate happy successe. And ther­fore with the prosperous running of this wandring Starres race, am I in briefe to shut vp the Catostrophe of all the Scenes.

Our yoong Scicilians, giuing the Tunisian King abundant thankes for their gracious entertainments; with the Lord Admi­rall, departed from Tunise; and manned with a faire Fléete, shipt themselues, and crost the Seas; cutting through the Ocean, till peaceably they attained the Port of Palermo.

Fame resounding through common eares report of their safe arriuall, moued the dissentious Péeres, Pierro and Battolo, with seueral ioies, and yet could they not mittigate their rancord enuies, nor asswage their minds, from séeking mutual reuenge: in so much that they scarce deigned to bid welcome their owne children.

Which being noised in the eares of Don Andrea Alizandra (then dwelling in the countrey) in regard of his countreys weale, and Scicilians well-fare, with all conuenient spéed repaired to Pa­lermo; and informing the Tunisian Admirall how disorderly eue­ry thing stood in hap-hazard; caused him by sound of Trumpet to summon the Citizens to the Parliament house. Wherevpon the Aldermen and Elders presented themselues peaceably before the Admirall and Alizandra. Whilest they were imployed there in consultation, came Pierro with his troupe: and a litle after, Bar­tolo with a great traine. Who then at each other most wilfully shoote darts of sharpe reuilings, and with bitter raylings, make re­petitions of their wrongs mutually sustained by other: not con­tent to rest satisfied till they were reuenged; so that had they not by pollicie bene preuented, there would haue bene wrought a bloudy massacre on both parties. But the Admirall and Alizandra cau­sing silence, mongst all the assembly to be proclaimed by sound of Trumpet, on paine of death, to euery common man; and present [Page] imprisonment to euery noble man: whilest they were all silent, the wise Admirall thus vsed his Oration.

I [...] it possible (ye Scicilians) that men should be so possest with brutish rancour, as that their minds may be directed by no regard of humaine reason? May not the daily sheading of bloud, the mur­thering of the Commons, the dammages of your natiue countrey, continually proffered, procure your hearts to agreements, and per­swade your thoughts from hammering on furious reuenge? Shall the suckling waile, the child weepe, the innocent lament, the maiden moane, and the oppressed widow mourne, to behold these deadly discentious? Nay, shall the murthered Ghoasts, of those, that by these intestine hurliburlies haue traiterously bene brought to vn­timely deathes, with outcries prouoke the dooming heauens, to powre downe plaguie vengeance on your seditious heads? Behold, the Gods in mercie haue wrought myraculous meanes to vnite your discentious Families againe togither, and to settle them in one concordant sympathy. Sée your honourable issues, (euen dri­uen through your discords into deadly dispaire to haue any happie day, for condeigning of their loues) are beyond hope safely retur­ned home to amend your tyrannous liues. May not you ioy at the vertuous amitie of your children (whose indissoluble league is con­cluded both by the powers of heauen and earth) and abashed with shame, blush at your brutishnesse? Hath Tunise King, your friend­ly wel-wisher; and I, your present wel-willer, manned them hither with a gallant nauie, to haue this welcome? What shall we say, but as it is bruted of you in other countreys? that your two peace-fréezing heads, seeme to enforce the quiet of all the members of Sci­cilia, through cold choller to congeale? Is it not dishonour to hold such discord? is it not reproach to be accounted so rash? is it not infa­mous, without sufficient cause to persist so enuious? then for shame chaunge your outragious angers, and entertaine chearefully these couragious Louers: I meane not one without the other, (for they both are one) but both in one, and one in both. Then shall your rui­nous estate be corroborated, your honours standing (in hazard) remaine fortified; and your countreys commodities decaying, a­bundantly multiplied.

As he would haue said farther, the whole multitude gaue [Page] loud shoutes, and admirable shrill applaudities: wherewith the mindes of these powerful Péeres on both sides were so moued, that forgiuing and forgetting all euills forepast, reconciled themselues with mutual imbracings, and welcommed both their children, and the worthy Admirall with heartie gratulation: to their no small ioyes, and generall contentments of the whole Commons: that for seuen dayes space they continually rung bels, and made bonefires, whilest the Nobles of the Land, banqueted and made holy day: with Iacomin and Katherina, celebrating a vniuersall festiuall o­uer the whole Realme: that now séemed to compare this their peace (as the Oracles had foretold) so happily againe renewed, to the auntient Aureo seculo.