The first Nouell .

¶ Of a woman of Alancon that had two friends , one for pleasure , the other for profite , which caused one of them to be killed that first perceiued her deceit , for the which shee obtained a pardon both for her selfe and her husband that was fled , who after that to saue a peece of money wherein hee was condemned , sought counsell of a Coniurer ; but his enterprice being discouered , they were both punished .

IN the Towne of Alancon , in the time of Duke Charles that last deceased , there dwelt an Attourney that had married a gentlewoman of that countrey , more faire than honest ; who by reason of her beauty , together with her lightnes , was greatly sought vnto by a religious man , whose name I will conceale , for the reuerence of their state , who to attaine to his desire , entertained her husband so wel , and vsed him so friendly , that being blinded with simplicitie , could not perceiue the lewdnes of his wife : but which is more , caused him to forget the affection that hee alwayes had to the seruice of his master and mistris , in such sort , that of a faithful seruant , he became so contrary , that in fine he sought by Coniurations to bring the Dutchesse to her end . This priest liued long time , in that maner with this wicked woman , which obeyed him more for desire of money than for loue , as also that her husband ceased not to incite her thereunto . But there was a yong man in the said towne of Alancon , sonne to the lieutenant generall , whom she loued with so great affection , that for his loue she was in a maner halfe beside her wits . Wherin ofttimes she holp herselfe by the priests means , by sending her husband foorth , whereby hee beeing busied , shee might with better leisure visit the lieutenants sonne . This manner of behauiour continued so long time , that for her profit she entained the priest , and for her pleasure receiued the other , vnto whom she sware that al the entertainement she gaue vnto the priest was only by that means freely to vse his companie , and that whatsoeuer passed betweene them yet she saide the priest had obtained naught of her but wordes , and that he might be wel assured , that neuer any man but himselfe should reape other pleasure at her hands . Vpon a day as her husband went to see the priest , she asked him leaue to goe into the countrey , saying that the aire of the citie was somewhat contagious for her : and being at her country house , she wrote vnto the lieuetenants sonne that he shoulde not faile about ten of the clocke at night to come vnto her , which he failed not to doe : but at the doore he found the maid that vsed to let him in , who spake vnto him and said ; Friend , you must now go walke some other way , for your place is taken vp . Hee thinking her husband had bin come , asked her the cause : wherewith the poore maide pittying his estate , and perceiuing him to be so fayre , and honest a yong man , and one that loued so wel , and so litle beloued againe , opened her mistris folie vnto him , thinking that when he vnderstoode thereof , hee woulde blame himselfe for louing so constantly . She told him that the priest was but newly come thither , and gone to bed to her mistris , whom at that time she looked not for , in that she had not appointed him to come before the next day ; but he hauing busied her husband about his affaires , was secretly come that night to visite her . If any man euer dispaired , assure your selues it was the lieutenants sonne , who for that time would scant beleeue it , But to trie the trueth , he stayed at a house hard by till he sawe the priest come foorth , not so wel disguised but that he knew him better than he would . In which dispayre hee went to Alanson , whicher , not long time after , his counterfet friend returned , who thinking to abuse him , as she had often done , went to speake with him : but hee saide shee was too holy ( hauing touched consecrated things ) to speake with him being so miserable a sinner as he was , whose repentaunce was so great that he hoped it could soone be pardoned . When she perceiued her wanton life discouered , and that neither excuse , oathe , nor promise neuer to do it againe would aught preuaile , she made complaint vnto the Priest . And hauing consulted with him , went and told her husband , that shee coulde no longer stay in Alanson , because the lieutenants sonne whome shee accounted for her friend ▪ sought continually to dishonour her ; wherevpon she desired him to giue her leaue to stay at Argenton , thereby to cease suspition : her husband that suffered himselfe to be ruled by her , yeelded to her request . They were not long at Argenton , but this wicked woman sent worde vnto the lieutenants sonne , that shee thought him the wickedest man at that time liuing on earth , and that shee had heard that hee ceased not openly to speake euil of hir and of the priest , for the which she swore she would be reuenged . The yong man that neuer had spoken thereof but to her selfe , and that feared the priests displeasure , with two of his seruants went strait vnto Argenton , and found the woman in the Iacobins Church at euening prayer , where hee went and kneeled downe hard by her , and said vnto her : Gentlewoman , I am come hither to protest vnto you by the liuing God , that I neuer spake to any man of you to your dishonor , but only to your selfe , and yet you haue committed so heynous an offence in my behalfe , as I haue not vsed halfe so many iniurious speeches in your behalfe as you deserue , for if either man or woman wil affirme that euer they heard it from my mouth , I am come hither before your face to prooue them liers . Shee perceiuing many people to be in the church , and that he was accompanied with two lusty seruingmen , spake as softly as she could saying vnto him , she doubted not but he said the truth , & that she counted him too honest to speake euil of any woman in the world , specially of her , being one that loued him wel , but shee saide her husband had some inkling thereof , wherefore she desired him that he would cleare himselfe before him , whereby hee might be thorowly perswaded of her honestie , which hee agreed vnto ; and thinking to bring her home , tooke her by the arme : but she tolde him it was not good for him to goe with her , for if he should , her husband would conceiue that shee had caused him to come . And therewith taking one of his men by the cloke , she said vnto him , let your man goe with mee , and when time serueth , I wil send him to fetch you , meane time goe you vnto your lodging : hee not fearing her conspiracie , went thither , and she being at home made his man that went with her to stay to supper , who demanded of her oftentimes when hee should fetch his maister : she answered hee woulde come time enough . When midnight came , she sent one of her seruants secretly to fetch him , who nothing doubting her pretended mischiefe , went boldly to saint Aignans house , where the gentlewoman stayed his seruant , whereby he had but one with him . And when he was at the dore , her seruant told him , that his mistris would faine speake with him before her husband , and that she stayed for him in a chamber , only with his owne seruant , saying he should do wel to send his other home , which he presently did : and going vp a paire of darke-staires , the Attourney that had set men to watch in a chamber hard by , hearing the noyse of his feete , asked who went there ? and it was told him it was a man that woulde secretely come into his house . With that one Thomas Guerin a common murtherer , and by the Atturney hyred for the purpose , strooke so many blowes with his sword at the poore young man , that what defence soeuer he made , hee could not saue his life , but was presently slaine . His man that in the meane time was talking with the Gentlewoman , saide vnto her , I thinke I heard my maister on the staires , I will go see . But she made him stay and said ; take you no care he wil come soone enough . But not long after hearing his master say , alas , I am dead , Lord receiue my soule , he said he would go help him : yet shee stil held him saying , doubt not , it is nothing but that my husband hath taught him how to leaue his youthful tricks : let vs go see ; and looking downe from the staires head , asked her husband what the matter was , saying , what haue you done ? who replied , come downe and see . Nowe haue I reuenged you of him that lought you so much shame , & saying so , with a poinyard that he had , thrust ten or twelue blowes into his belly being dead , that liuing hee durst not assaise . After the murther done , and that the dead Gentlemans seruants were both fled , to certifie his father : the saide Aignan knowing it could not be concealed , and that the Gentlemans seruauntes could not be allowed as witnesses in lawe , and that not : anie man in the house had seene it done , but only the murtherers , an old maid , and a yong wench of fifteene yeres old , thought secretly to take the old maid , but she found meanes to escape away , and fled into the Iacobins church , being the surest witnesse to prooue the murther . The wench for a time stayed within the house ; but he found such meanes , that one of the murtherers inticed her , and he falling in loue with her led her to Paris , and there kept her in the common stewes , by the which meanes she was not a lawful witnesse . And the better to hide the murther , he caused the dead body to be burnt , and the bones that were not consumed , to bee putte into a morter and stamped to pouder : sending in al haste vnto the Court , to aske a pardon , giuing it to vnderstand , that he had oftentimes forbidden his house to a certaine yong man , whom he suspected in his wifes behalfe , who notwithstanding was come thither by night , secretly to speake with her , and finding him at her chamber doore , more filled with rage than reason , had slaine him . But hee coulde not so soone dispatch his letter to the chancellor , but the Duke and the Duchesse by the father of the dead man were certified therof , who to stay his pardon , wrote letters to the contrary . Whereuppon the vnhappy wretch perceiuing he could by no means obtaine it , fled with his wife , and diuers of his kinred into England : but before his departure he said vnto the murtherer , ( who at his request had done the deede ) that he had receiued expresse letters from the King to take him , and cause him to be hanged : but in respect of the seruice he had done , hee saide hee was content to saue his life , and therewith gaue him tenne crownes to flie out of the realme . Which he presently did , and neuer was seene againe . But the murther was so well prooued and iustified , not onely by the seruants of the dead man , but by the maide that saues her selfe in the Iacobins church , as also by the bones found within the morter , that in the absence of the said S. Aignan and his wife , the proces was made and sued against them , whereby they were both condemned by default , and iudged to be hanged , their goods confiseate to the prince , and 1500. crownes giuen to the father of the dead man , for the charge of the sute . Meane time the said S. Aignan being in England , and seeing that by course of law he was condemned in France , did so much by his seruice vnto diuers Noblemen , as also by the meanes of his wiues kinsmen , that the King of England wrote vnto the king to grant him pardon , and to restore him to his goodes and credite againe . But the king hauing vnderstoode the heinousnesse of the fact , sent the copie of the proces vnto the king of England , desiring him to looke into it , and to consider whether such a fact deserued pardon ; certifying him likewise , that the duke of Alancon onely had that priuiledge within his realme , to grant pardons for al faults committed within his Duchie . Al these excuses notwithstanding , the king of England did not content himselfe , but wrote so earnestly therein , that in fine at his request , the Attourney obtained his pardon , and thereby returned into Fraunce . But being at home , the better to accomplish his iniquities , hee acquainted himselfe with a certaine coniurer named Gallery , hoping by his meanes and diuellish art , to be exempted from paying the said fifteene hundred crownes to the dead mans father . Which to effect , hee and his wife went disguised vnto Paris , where his wife perceiuing her husband with the said Gallery to be so long time shut vp into a chamber , and made not her acquainted with the cause , one morning she watched them , and sawe . Gallery shew her husband fiue Images of wood , whereof three had their handes hanging downe , and two held vp their hands , and speaking vnto him said , we must make the like Images in waxe , and they that haue their armes hanging downe , shal be the Images of such persons as we meane to consume to death , but those that hold them vp , shall be for those of whom we meane to win the fauour . Then the Attourney said , this shal be for the king , of whome I will be loued , and this for Monsieur Brinon Chancellor of Alancon . Gallery said , you must set the Images vnder the alter where masse is vsually said , with certaine wordes , which as then ( said he ) I wil cause you to pronounce : and speaking of the images that held their armes downe , the Attourney saide , that one of them was for Maister Giles de Mesuil the dead mans father , as knowing wel , that as long as he liued , he would neuer leaue the sute , & one of the images , made for women that had the armes hanging downe shall be ( said he ) for my Lady the Dutches of Alanson the kings sister , because she loued her olde seruaunt Don Mesuil so wel , and to the contrary , knew so much of the atturneys villany , that if she died not he could not liue : and the second image of a woman hauing the armes downeward , hee said was for his wife , as being cause of all his mischiefe , being well assured , she neuer would amend her life . When his wife that saw all this through the key hole of the doore , and vnderstood he placed her among the dead , thought it better to send him thither first : so that making as though shee went to borrow money of her vncle , being maister of Requests vnto the duke , shewed him what she had heard and seene her husband do . Her vncle like a trusty old seruitor to the duke went vnto the Chancellor of Alancon ▪ aduertising him therof : and because the Duke and the Dutchesse of Alancon were not on that day at the Court , the Chancellor went and tolde it to the lady Regent the queene mother , and likewise to the Duchesse , who presently sent for the prouost of Paris called La-Barre , who made such haste , that he tooke the attourney and Gallery his Coniurer , who without 〈◊〉 or anie con●●raine confessed their fault . Whereupon their proces being made , was carried to the King , to whome ( some of the Court desirous to saue their liues ) said in their behalfe , that by their inchantme●ts , they sought but only to 〈◊〉 his fauor , and not to destroy him ▪ But the king hauing his sisters life as deere as his owne ; commanded that iudgement should bee giuen in as strict a maner as if they had practised his own death . Neuerthelesse the Duchesse of Alanson his sister , besought him to saue the Attunies life , and to change his death into some hard and grieuous corporall paine ; which was graunted her , so that he and Gallery were sent to Marseills , there to rowe in the galli●s of Saint Blanquart , where in they ended their dayes in great captiuitie ; and thereby had meanes to confesse and acknowledge the greatnesse of then sinnes : and the wicked woman in the absence of her husband continued in her wickedne● more than euer she did before , 〈◊〉 ●ie● miserably ▪

The second Nouel .

¶ The pitiful and chaste death of the wife of one of the Multiers of the Queene or Nauarre .

THere dwelt in the towne of Ambois a multier that serued the Queene of Nauarre ▪ sister to Frauncis the French king , whose wife lay in childbed of a sonne within the Cittie of Blois ; whither the s●id● multier 〈◊〉 receiue his quarters wages , leauing his wife at Ambois , lodging beyond the bridges : now he had a seruant that of long time had so desperately loued his wife , that vppon a certaine day hee could not choose but 〈◊〉 i● vnto her : bu● she b●ing an honest woman , tooke it 〈…〉 that 〈…〉 reprooued him , but threatned to cause her husband to beat him , whereby hemener after durst venture to speake vnto her , or once shew any countenaunce thereof , keeping it secret in his heart vntill such time his master was gone abroad , and his mistris in S. Florontines ( a church belonging to the castle , and standing farre from thence ) at euening prayer . And he being at home without company , it came in his minde to seeke that by force and violence , which by prayer and seruice he could neuer obtaine , and to that end brake a planke out of the wall , between the chamber of his mistris , and that where he lay , which , because the side of the hed , as wel of his maister and mistris , as of the seruauntes on the other side stoode close vnto the wall , could not be perceiued , whereby his wicked pretence coulde neuer be espied , till vpon a time , she being in bed with a yong wench of eleuen or twelue yeares old , and in her first sleepe , this villaine in his shirt entred through the saide hole into the chamber with his naked sword in his hand : but as soone as she felt him by her , she quickly sprang out of the bed , disswading him by all meanes and exhortations , that possibly an honest woman could deuise ; but he that had naught but beastly loue , and better vnderstood in the Mules language , than her honest reasons , shewed himselfe beastilier than those beasts with whome he had long continued : for perceiuing that shee ranne so fast about a table that he could not haue his will , as also that she was so strong , that she had twice loosed her selfe out of his hands , being in dispaire neuer to haue his pleasure while she liued , gaue her a great blowe vpon the reines , thinking , that if neither feare nor force could make her yeelde , yet paine would doe it : but he found the contrary , for that euen as a good souldier , perceiuing his blood , is therby more moued to reuenge himselfe , and winne his honour , so her chaste heart inforced her much more to runne and flie out of the villaines hands , alwaies giuing him the fairest words she could , thinking by such meanes to make him knowe his fault : but to the contrary he was so furious , that by no means he wold be ruled by her good counsel , giuing her diuers other blows , which to auoyd , she neuer ceased to runne , as long as her legs would hold . But in the end , when with the losse of so much blood she felt her death approach , listing her eies to heauen , and holding vp her hands , she yeelded thanks to God , whom she named her force , her vertue , her patience , and her chastitie , beseeching him to accept that bloud ( which to obey his commaundement ) she then had shead in reuerence of Christ Iesus his sonne , whereby she stedfastly beleeued all her sins to be forgiuen , and saying , Lord receiue the soule that by thy mercie hath freely beene redeemed , she fell with her face vpon the ground ; and being fallen , the wicked villaine gaue her diuers blows ; wherwith hauing lost her speech , and strength of body failing , the villaine tooke by force that which shee for want of strength could not defend . And hauing satisfied his filthy lust , fled so hastily , that neuer after ( what meanes soeuer was wrought ) he could be found . Meane time the young wench that lay with the Multiers wife , with feare crept vnder the bed : but perceiuing the man to be gone , came out , and finding her mistris to be without either speech or feeling , shee cried at the window to the neighbors round about for helps , whereat such as loued and liked her well came presently vnto her , bringing Surgeons with them , and found she had receyued fiue and twenty deadly wounds vpon hir body , which , as much as in them lay they sought to heale ; but all in vaine : neuerthelesse , shee languished without speech in that sort for the space of one whole houre , mooued her handes , and eyes , whereby she shewed not to haue lost her memorie ; and being by a priest examined of her faith , shee made thereof such euident signs , as that by word of mouth she could not have done better , shewing that her trust was in the death of Iesus Christ , whom she hoped shortly to behold within his heauenly seate : and so with a cheerefull countenance , her eies looking vp to heauen , she yeelded her chaste body vnto the earth , and her soule vnto the Lord : and being taken vp , and her bodie wownd and set before the doore , staying for company to bring her to her graue , her husband chaunced to come home , where he espied his dead wife standing at the doore before he knewe thereof : and hauing inquired of the cause , had double reason to be grieued thereat , whereby he fell so sicke , that hardly he escaped death . In this manner that martire of chastitie was buried in saint Florentines Church , whither all the honest wiues within the towne failed not to beare her company , accounting themselues most happy to be of such a towne where so vertuous a woman was found : and therewith those that were not so wise , but lighter of behauiour , seeing the honour done vnto that body , determined from that time forwardes to change their wicked liues .

The third Nouell .

¶ A King of Naples abusing a Gentlemans wife , in the end ware hornes himselfe .

BEcause Gentlewomen ( saide Saffredant ) I have often wished my selfe to be companion in the fortune of him , whereof I meane to speake , I will shew you that in the cittie of Naples in the time of king Alphonsus , whose lasciuious life was his Scepter , there was a Gentleman so honest , faire and curteous , that by reason of his perfections an olde Gentleman gaue him his daughter in marriage , that for beautie and good grace was nothing inferior to him , who loued well together , vntill Shrouetide after , that the King in masking went from house to house to sport himselfe , wherein eache man inforced themselues , to honour him as they could : and when he came to the Gentlemans house , he was receiued and entertained much better than else-where , as well with banquets , as with musike , and the fairest wife ( in his mind ) that euer he had seene , who after the banquet was doone , shee and her husband sang a song with so good grace , that it increased her beuty : wherwith the king perceiuing two perfections in one body , tooke not so much delight in their pleasant voyces , as in deuising how to breake th accord : but the difficultie he found , was , the great and perfect loue he saw to be in them , which made him heare that : passion in his minde as couertly as he could : but to ●ase himselfe , he caused certaine banquets to be made , for all the Ladies and Gentlewomen within the Citie of Naples , where the Gentleman and his wife were not forgotten . And because a man is easily induced to beleeue whatsoeuer he seeth , it seemed the Gentlewomans eies promised him some good fortune , if the husbands presence were no hinderance thereunto : and to proue it , he sent her husband for 15. dayes or three weekes on message vnto Rome : who was no sooner gone , but his wife that neuer had bin so long without his company , made exceeding sorrow : but being in his absence often visited by the king , as time and leasure serued , both with faire speeches , presents , and with gifts , she was not onely comforted , but well content her husband should stay longer : and before the three weekes ended , wherin he should returne , she waxed so amorous of the king , that she was as much grieued at his comming againe , as she had beene sorrowefull for his going . And not to loose the presence of the king , they agreed , that when her husband went into the country , she would make it known to him , who therby might assuredly come to her , and so secretly , that the man whome she feared more than her owne conscience , should not he burt : in hope whereof this Gentlewoman was ioyfull , so that at her husbands returne she seemed very glad , who although he heard that in his absence , the king had often visited his wife , yet he suspected no ill , but in proces of time , that ●●re so hardly to be couered , beganne by little and little to shew , in such maner , that the husband in th end doubted some deceit , keeping so good watch , that he was therof assured : but by reson of the feare he had of him , that did him iniury , he made no shew thereof , determining to dissemble , as desiring rather to liue in secret griefe than once to hazard his life for a women that had no loue in her . Neuerthelesse , in that despight hee thought to yeelde the like vnto the king , if possibly he might : and knowing that oftentimes despight : maketh women doe more than loue , specially such as haue great heartes , and honorable mindes , he being in the queenes presence was so bold to say vnto her , that it pittied him to see her not so well beloued of the King as shee deserued . Whereunto the Queene that knew the loue the king bare to his wife , answered him , and said , I cannot both haue honor and pleasure at one time , I know I haue the honour , but another reapeth the pleasure , and she that hath my pleasure yet hath she not my honour . He that perceiued ful wel why she vttered that speech , answered her and saide : Madam , your honour proceedes from birth , as being so nobly born , that any degree cannot augment your glory , but your highnesse beutie , grace , and honestie , hath deserued so much pleasure , that she which taketh that from you that is your due , doth her selfe more wrong than you , for that for a certaine glorie , which turneth to shame , shee looseth as much pleasure as you or any Gentlewoman in this land can haue . An● 〈◊〉 much Madam I wil tell you , that if the king would lay his ●●owne aside , I thinke he should haue smal aduantage at my hands to please a woman , being well assured hereof , that to conte●● so honest a person as your self , it would be better for him that 〈◊〉 were of my complexion . The queene laughing answered him & said , although the king my husband be of more de●icate complexion than your selfe ; yet it is the loue he be●●●th m●● contenteth mee so well , that I preferre the sa●● before all other thinges . The Gentleman replied and said : 〈◊〉 , if it were so , you would not pittie me , for hereof am I assured , that the honest loue which resteth in your heart would 〈…〉 you more conten●ment , if it founde the like within the king ; but God hath well prouided otherwise , to them that you not finding that in him which you desire , you should not vse him for your God on earth . I assure you , said the Queene , the loue I beare him is so great , that in no woman● heart but mine the lik● is to be found . Pardon me Mada● ▪ ( said the Gentleman ) you haue not yet well tried the loue of all mens hearts : for this I dare wel say , there is one that loueth you , whose loue is so importable , that yours in his respect is not to be compared ; and for that he seeth the kings loue much quenched towards you , his doth so much in crease , that if you like thereof , you shal be satisfied for all your losses past . The Queene therewith beganne as wel by outward gesture , as by wordes , to finde his speech proceeded from his heart : and calling to minde , that of long time her sought to do her seruice , with such affection , that hee wholie seemed melancholy , which shee esteemed because of his bad wife , but as then the stedfastly beleeued it was for the loue of her , as also the vertue of loue , which maketh it selfe felt not being done , assured her of that which no man else could tell : And beholding the Gentleman to be of greater beautie than the king , perceiuing him also cleane cast off by his wife , as she was of the king , being vrged with despite and ielousie of her husband , and mooued with the loue of the Gentleman , with teares ready to droppe out of her eies , sighing shee spake and said , O God! must reuenge of wrong work that in me , which loue could neuer do : Which the Gentleman hearing , answered her and said : Madam the reuenge is easie to him , that in place of killing his enemy giueth life to a perfect friend : me thinketh it is time that truth should take from you the foolish loue you beare to him that loueth you not againe ; and that the iust and reasonable loue should driue that fear out of your mind , which neuer can remaine within a vertuous hart . Now Madam , let vs lay aside the greatnesse of your state , and consider our selues to be the man and wife in this worlde , most mocked and betrayed of those we dearely loued : let vs reuenge our selues ( good Madam ) not so much to giue them their desert , as to satisfie the loue which on my behalfe can no longer be forborue , vnles it cost me my life : and this I think if your heart be not hardened more than a Diamond , it is impossible you should not feele some sparke of fire which increaseth so much more , as I seeke to couer it , if pity of me , which for your loue stil die , cannot mooue you to loue me , at least , the loue of your owne selfe should constraine you thereunto , who being so perfect , deserue the hearts of all the honest Gentlemen in the world : being dispised and forsaken of him , for whome you haue disdained all the rest .

The queene hearing these words was therwith in such a transe , that fearing once by countenance to shew hir troubled minde , and leaning on the Gentlemans arme , went into a Garden adioyning to her chamber , where shee walked long before that she could vtter any word , but the gentleman perceauing her to be halfe wonne , being at the Allies end where no man could discouer what they did , shewd her by effect the loue he had so long conceald from her , & finding themselues to be of one consent they tooke reuenge in that , whereof the passion seemed intollerable , and there ▪ they did agree , that as often as he went into the Countrie , and the King into the Towne , he would not faile to come vnto the Castell to see the Queene , and in that maner deceiuing the deceiuers , they shuld be foure participants of that pleasure which two alone thought onely to inioye : this agreement made , the gentleman returned home , and the Queene into her Chamber , with such contented mindes , that all their former griefe was cleane consumed , and the feare that each of them might haue of the Kings repaire vnto the gentlwoman , was wholy turned to desire , which caused the gentleman oftener to go ( then he had vsed ) to his country house , being but halfe a mile from thence . Which the King no sooner knew , but he went to see the gentlewoman : and the gentlman when night came went likewise to the Queene , as lieuetenant to the King so secretly , as it neuer could be spied : which life continued long , notwithstanding the King , being no common person , could not so well dissemble his loue , but that the world perceiued it full well , whereby all honest men tooke pitie of the gentlemans estate in that some bad companions refrained not to mocke and scorne him , which he perceiued wel , where with he was so well content , that he esteemed his hornes as much as the king esteemed his crowne . Who on a time being with the Gentleman , could not refraine ( seeing a harts head nailed vp in the Gentlemans house ) to smile before him , saying that such a head became the house ful well . But the gentleman in courage not inferior to the King , wrote ouer the head , saying , I beare these hornes as euery one may see , but some do beare them that beleeue it not . And when the king came thither againe , and found the same writing there , he asked the gentleman the meaning thereof , who made him answer : if the kings secret be hidden from the heart , it is no reason why the harts should be declared to the king : but comtent your selfe ( my Lord ) said he , that all those which beare hornes go not bare head , for that they are thought , that they vncouer no man , and he beareth them lightest , that thinketh he hath none . The king knew wel by th●se words that somwhat was discouered , yet neuer suspected the loue between the queene & him : for that the more the queene contented her selfe with the kings behauior , so much the more she seemed discontent , whereby long time they liued in that sort , on all partes , vntill by age they were constrained to leaue .