The pleasant and sweet history of patient Grissell Shewing how she from a poore mans daughter, came to be a great lady in France, being a petterne for all vertuous vvomen. Translated out of Italian.

The pleasant and sweet History of patient Grissell shewing how she from a poor mans Daughter , came to bee a great Lady in France : being a patterne for all Vertuous Women .

CHAPTER I. How and in what place the Noble Ma●quesse was dwelling .

IN the Countrey of Salusa , which lyeth neere Ita●y and France , there lived a noble and worthy P●ince , named Gua●ter , Marquesse and Lord of Salusa , a man of such vertues that the world did ring of : beloved of his subiects for his good parts , that before his dayes nor since was very few the like , for his continuall care of his subiects good , and they in their dutifulnesse , sought to out-strip him in love , from his youth , his onely exer●ise was hunting , wherein he tooke such delight , that nothing was more pleasing unto him : withall , the subiects loyalty to this worthy Prince in their carefuln●sse , that such excellent vertues should not faile for want of issue , intreated him by humble petition to marry , that from his loynes their chi●dren might enioy the like happinesse . This speech thu● spoke to the Prince drave such love and aff●ction into his minde , that most graciously he made them answer , that when it shou●d please Go● that hee should see one that he could l●ve , ●ee most willingly w●u●d fulfil● their good and honest requ●st : with ll this answer gave them such content , that they prayed earnestly to see that day .

CHAP. 3 Of the good and honest life of faire Griss●● , and h●r old father I●nicol● .

NEre to the famous City of Sa●●se was a poore village named Clu● , in the way going to a great and spacious Forrest , where the Noble Marq●●●●e used daily his pleasure in hunting ; the poorer sort got their living , som by spinning som carding others by keeping sheep , amongst the rest of the inhabitants , there was an old man named Ianicola , whose wife being dead , shee left him one onely Daughter named G●issell , who by the Countrey manner , was named the faire . These two lived contented●y together the aged Father goes to get wood for fire the Maid makes his bed , gets his breakfast ready against his comming home , drives her sheepe to the common sets her house in order , and fals to her ordinary worke of spinning : when the old man comes home , she sets his meate , makes much of him , shewes al the obedience that may be to the aged man ; he in requitall of her love as an incouragement to all obedi●nt children , powrs out his hearty pra●ers in her behalf , praying the Almighty God to blesse her , & to give her that happines which belongs to so good a child , no doubt but his petition was heard for God gave a b●essing to her , as you may hear by the happy comming of the Marquesse that way , which may seeme suddenly after .

woodcut of knight on horseback CHAP. 3 How the Marquesse of Salusa , riding a hunting fell in love with the faire Grissell . A N●b●e Marquesse , As he did ride a hunting hard by a Forrest side , A faire and comely Maiden , As she did sit a spinning , his gentle eye espide , Most faire and comely , And of comely grace was she , although in simple attire , She sung full sweetly , With pleasant voyce melodiously which set the Lords heart on fire , The more he lookt , the more he might , Beauty bread his hearts delight , And to this comely Damsell then he went . God speed ( quoth he ) thou famous flower , Faire Mistresse of this homely bower , Where love and vertue dwels with sweet content , With comely gesture And modest mild behaviour , she bid him welcome then , She entertaind him In faithfull friendly manner , and all his gentlemen . The noble M●rquesse In 's h●art felt such a flame , which set his sences at strife ; Quoth he faire Maiden Shew me soone what is thy name , I meane to make thee my wife . Grisse is my name quoth she , Far unfit for your degree , A silly maiden and of parents poore . Nay Grissell thou art rich he said , A vertuous faire and comely maid , Grant me thy love and I will aske no more .

CHAPTER 4. How the Marqu●sse married faire Grissel , an● how the Lords desired him to put her away , because she was of so meane a blood . AT l●ngth sh● consented , And being both contented , they married were with speed : Her countrey russet Was chang'd to silke and Velvet , as to her state agreed ; And when that she Was trimly tyred in the same , her beauty shined most bright , Farre staining every , Other faire and Princely Dame , that did appeare in her sight . Many envied her therefore , Because she was of par●nts poore , And twixt her Lord and she great strife did raise . Some said this , and some said that , And some did call her beggars brat , And to her Lord they would her oft dispraise . O noble Marquesse , Quoth they why dost thou wrong us thus basely for to wed , That might have gotten An honourable Lady into your Princely bed ? Who will not now , Your noble issue still deride , which shall hereafter be borne : That are of blood so base , Borne by the Mothers side , the which will bring them in scorn ▪ Put her therefore quite away , And take to you a Lady gay , Whereby your linage may renowned be . Thus every day they seem'd to prate That malic't Grissels good estate , Who all this while tooke it most patiently .

CHAP. 5 How the noble Marquesse had two children by patient Grissell , how he sent for them , and told her they must be murthered , and of her patience . When that the Msrquesse , Did see that they w●re bent thus against his faithfull wife , Whom he most dearely , Tenderly and entirely , beloved as his life : Minding in secret For to prove her patient heart , thereby her foes to disgrace , Thinking to shew her A hard discourteou● part ; that men might pitty her case . Great with child this Lady was , And at last it c●me to passe , Two go●dly children at one birth ●e had . A son and daughter God had sent , Which did her father wel content , And which did make , their mothers heart full glad , G●eat royall feasting Was at these childrens christenin and princ●ly triumph made , Six weeks together , All Nobles that came thither , were entertain'd and staid , And when all these pleasant Sportings quite were done , the Marquesse a Messenger sent , For his young daughter An● his pretty smiling sonne , declaring his full intent , How that the Babes must murthred be , For so th● Marquesse did decres , Come , let me have the children then he said . With that faire Grissell wept full sore , She wrung her hands and said no more My graciou● Lord must have his will obey'd .

CHAP. 6. Of the gret sorrow that Patient Grissel , made for her Children . SHe tooke the Babies , Even from the nursing Ladies , betweene her tender armes , She often wishes With many sorrowfull kisses , that she might ease their harmes ; Farewell , farewell , A thous●nd times my children deare . never shall I sée you againe : 'T is long of me Your sad and wofull Mother here , for whose sake both must be slaine . Had I béene borne of royall race , You might have liv'd in happy case , But you must dye for my unworthinesse . Come messenger of death ( quoth she ) Take my dearest Babes to thée , And to their father my complaints expresse . He tooke the children And to his noble Master , be brought them both with speed , Who in secret sent them Vnto a noble Lady , to be brought up indeed ; Then to faire Grissell , With a heavy heart he goes , where she sate mildly all alone , A pleasant gesture , And a lovely looke she sh●wes , as if no griefe she had knowne . ( Qd he ) my children now are slaine , What thinks fair Grissel of the same , Sweet Grissel now dec●are thy mind to me . Sith you my Lord are pl●as d with it Poore Grissel thinks the action fit , Both I and mine at your command will be .

CHAP. 7. How patient Grissel was parted from the Nob●e Marqu●sse , and sent to her Father again , and of a great marriage was prepared the second match of the Marquesse . MY Nobles murmur , Faire Grissell at thy honour ,

woodcut of gentleman with sword and I no ioy can have , Till thou be banisht , Both from the Court & presence , as they uniustly crave , Thou must be stript Out of thy stately garments all , and as thou cam'st to me , In homely gray , Instead of bisse and purest Pall , now all thy cloathing must be ; My Lady thou m●st be no more , Nor I thy Lord , which grievs me sore The poorest life must now content thy mind , A groat to thee I m●st not give , Thee to maintaine while I doe live , Against my Grissell such great foes I find . When gentle Grissel Did heare these wofull tidings , the teares sto●d in her eyes , Nothing she answered , No words of discontentment did fr●m her lips arise ; Her Velvet gowne . Most patiently she stripped off , her Kirtle of silke with the same , Her russet gowne Was brought againe with many a scoffe to beare them her selfe she did frame When she was drest in this array , And was ready to part away , God send long life unto my Lord ( quoth she ) Let no offence be found in this , To give my Love a parting kisss . With watery eyes farewell my deare said he .

woodcut of woman with fan CHAP. 8. How patient Grissell was sent for to the wedding , and of her great humility and patience . FRom Princely Palace , Vnto her fathers Cottage , poore Grissell now is gone ; Full sixteene winters She lived there contented ; no wrong she thought upon , And at that time through All the Land the speeches went , the Marquesse should married be Vnto a noble Lady great , Of high descent , and to the same all parties did agree . The Marquesse sent for Grissel faire , The Brides bed chamber to prepare , That nothing therein might be found awry , The Bride was with her Brother come , Which was great ioy to all and some , But Grissel tooke all this most patiently . And in the morning , When as they should be wedded , her patience there was tride , Grissel was charged Her selfe in friendly manner for to attire the Bride : Most willingly She gave consent to doe the same , the Bride in bravery was drest , And presently The noble Marquesse thither came , with all his Lords at his request . O Grissell I would aske of thee , If to this match thou wilt agree , Methinks thy lookes are waxed wondrous coy . With that they all b●gan to smile , And Grissel she replide the while , God send Lord Ma●quesse many yeeres of ioy .

CHAP. 9. How the Marquesse being moved with her patience gave her two children were friends , and after lived in peace . THe Marquesse was moved To see his best beloved thus patient in distresse . He stept unto her , And by the hand he tooke her , these words he did expresse : Thou art my Bride And all the Bride I meane to have , these ●wo thy own children be . The youthfull Lady On her knees did blessing crave , her B●other as well as she , And you that envied her estate , Who I have made my loving mate , Now blush for shame , and honour vertuous life . The Chronicles of lasting fame , Shal evermore exiolthe name , Of patient Grissel , my most constant Wife .

CHAP. 10. Of the great feast that was made for patient Grissel , and her children , and old Ianicola .

THe Lords & Gentlemen being astonished looked one upon another , and séeing no remedy but that the noble Marquesse had set an unremoveable love upon her , besought her to pardon them of their envy towards her and to take them into her favour , which she with a modest behaviour promised to doe ; the noble Marquesse séeing all in peace , ordained a great and sumptuous feast ; where patient Grissel sate Mistresse of the feast , the Marquesse on her right hand , on her left , her aged Father , old Janicola ; her two children betweene them both , the Lords and Gentlemen doing them service . This feast continued fourtéene dayes , to the comfort of the Comomns .

When this solemne feast was ended , the Marquesse , to shew his love to his Grissell , made her Father one of his counsel , and Governour of his Palace , where for many yeares , he lived in the love of the whole Court : the noble Marquesse and his faire Grissel lived almost thirty yeeres , saw their childrens children , and then dyed , beloved and bewayled of their subiects ,

CHAP. 2. The Authors perswasion to all Women in Generall .

THus you may see by this History , you that are women , the great good which commeth by patience and humility , for had this vertuous woman bin of a churl●sh and crabbed disposition , she had lost that gr●at estate which she had , besides the happy love of a worthy and loving husband : Therfore , ye women , as you are helpers for men , & were so created for that use , give no distaste to your loving husbands : & men likewise , be not bitter to your wives , for the world hath not many Grissels ; for man and Wife living lovingly and peaceably in this world , shal dye with a good conscience , and enioy the happinesse of the world to come , which shall have no end .

FINIS .