The first Chapter .

Myletto King of Hungaria had a sonne and a daughter , the sonne called Brusanus the daughter Leonida .

AT that time when the most renowned Liberius gouerned the empire of Constantinople holding the parts of Cayre Soria , Calypha , and all Grecia in the most christian & catholicke faith , at that very instant ther raigned likewise in Hungaria the noble king Myletto a prince of such iustice as he neuer thought him selfe priuiledged in being a prince , nor did measure greatnes by any thing but by goodnes . This prince was so fauoured and fostered vp by fortune , his estate so established with honour , so beautified with wealth , so deckt with the diademe of dignitie , and so indued with fortunate prosperity , that he ●●med to want nothing which either fortune or the fates might aforde him , so that he was honoured with the sacred titles of good , iust , merciful , with many other like vertuous additions : But as the vices of children are swords which passe through the harts of their parents , so the happines of Myletto was greatly surcharged with this heauines , for hauing to wife a lady called Paulina , by byrth royall , by nature faire , by education learned , & by vertue mous , by this lady Myletto in the prime of his yeares had two children , the one a sonne called Brusanus , the other a daughter named Leonida ▪ so perfect in complextion , so pure in constitution , so adorned with outward beuty , and so indued with inward bounty , as her very countenaunce was full of bashfulnesse , loue and reuerence . Brusanus on the other side , was so contrarie to his sister ( though not in state of body , yet in the stay of his minde ) as it made al men maruell how two so contrary stems could spring of a selfe same stocke , yet his parsonage was most comelie , euery lineament gallantly proportioned , his face and countenance sweet and amiable , with an intising louelines to as many as did behold it : But in the quality of his minde , hee was so spotted with voluptuousnesse so nusled in wantonnes , so giuen ouer to licentiousnesse , so linked to wilfulnesse , and so caried away with all kind of wickednesse , that neither the feare of god , the displeasure of his parents , the sundry admonitions of his carefull and louing friendes , nor the regard of his owne honor could make him desiste , or driue him from this detestable kind of life : the day he consumed in such ryot , excesse , dronkenesse , dicing , gaming , swearing & swashing , as whole millions of gold , were insufficient to maintaine the expences of so witles prodigality : the night he spent in masking , mūming , dauncing , banqueting and hooring : do you thinke then there wanted ruffians , roysters , flaterers , brokers , bawdes , and such other like to follow him ? O no be sure there wil be to many counterfaites to imitate the naturall vice of princes but the good king his father hauing many times wasted his wind in fruitles exhortations to his sonne , being still gauled with this continuall griefe , fearing that after his death , his sonnes lascyuious life would be the ouerthrow of his house , the consumer of the kingdome , the wracke of the common weale , and the very man that should bring the state to mischeife and miserie , determined eyther to cut of the course of his liuing or of his life , thinking it better to want a sonne , then neuer to want sorrow , hauing soe gratious a daughter to whome he might leaue the inheritance of his crowne , in whose issue the kingdome might bee made more happye : but firste determined to seeke all other possible meanes . He caused his sonne to be sent for , to whom he said as foloweth .

The second Chapter .

The fatherlie exhortation of Myletto to Brusanus .

CAlling to mind ( Brusanus ) first the royall race from whence thou art descended , the vertuous education wherein thou hast beene nurtered , the sundry holsome preceptes where with thou hast beene instructed : with the lewed and shamles demeanure wherein thou art daily nusled , as I can but lament thy misfortune , so I must more wonder at thy follye , and yet the more I thinke , the more cause I haue of thinking & the lesse hope of thy amendment . Haue thy friendes hoped so long for a plentiful haruest , & now shal be constrained to gather weedes , hast thou from thy youth béene trained vp in learning , and after thou hast giuen a good soape to the payle , thou shouldest kicke it downe curstly with thy heels , O how much better had it beene for thee neuer to haue rypened , then so soone to haue rotted : thou seest ( Brusanus ) my white heaires are blossomes for the graue , and thy fresh coulour , fruit for time and fortune , so that it behoueth me to think how to dy , & for thée to care how to liue : my crowne I must leaue by death , and thou enioy my kingdome by succession : it is then requisite for thee so to fortifie thy minde with strong reasons , graue sentences , and learned preceptes of wisdome , that thy weake séedes of vertue be not drowned in the floudes of vaine delights : For as the prince being the head of his people , and most excelent of all : hee muste therfore by his good example be a paterne to al. What honor is it for a prince , to go farre beyonde the common sorte in pretious stones , beaten gold , coulloured silcks , and great traines of seruantes , when he shall be inferiour to all in vertues and honesty of life : For to instructe his people by precepts , is a longe and difficult way , but to teach them by example , is very shorte , and of greater efficacy , for where they shall sée vertue after a liuelie sorte imprinted in a visible paterne , and that the princes life is suche an example , they become wise of their one accord , then is force , constraint or threatning , néedlesse to bring them to their dutie : O consider my sonne the difference betwéen a vertuous king and a vitious prince , the one striueth to inrich his subiectes , the other to destroy them , the one spareth the honor of good women , the other triumpheth in their shame : the one taketh pleasure to be freely admonished , the other misliketh nothing so much as wise and vertuous councell : the one maketh great acompt of the loue of his people , the other is better pleased with their feare : the one is neuer in doubt of his owne subiectes , the other standeth in awe of none more then them : the one burdeneth them but as litle as may be vpon publique necessitie , the other gnaweth the flesh from their bones to satisfie his vaine pleasures , the one in time of warre hath no recourse but to his subiectes , the other kéepeth warre but only with his subiects : the one is honored in the time of his life and mourned for after his death : the other is hated in his life with perpetuall infamie after his deathe : A crewell prince will make a slaughter house of his common wealth , a hooremaister will make it a stewes , a prodigall will sucke the marowe of his subiectes , to glut some halfe dosine flattering parrisites , that wil be about his parson , disguised in the habit of fidelity : A good prince must not dedicate the common wealth to him selfe , but must addicte him selfe to the common wealth , and because no man asketh accompt of him in his life , hee ought to be so much the more stirred vp to demand a streighter rekoning of him selfe : bee must liue as it were vppon an open Theatre where he is séene on euery side , so that his life will be a discipline and instruction of good or ill liuing vnto others , therefore let him seeke to excell those whome he ruleth and to surmount them as farre in vertue , as hee surpasseth them in riches and honour . But what is to be hoped for from that prince , that only accompanieth him selfe with curtesans , flatterers , drunckards , diceplaiers , dauncers and inuenters of pleasures , breiflie in the midst of such caytiffes amongst whome he learneth nothing but pleasure , delight , pride , vanitie and such other . Why shouldest thou make such accompt of the beautie of thy bodye , which hauing inclosed in it the soule which is defiled with ougly vice & monsterous sinne , is nothing els but a proud sepulcher vnder which is contained a stinking and putrified carrion : Forsake such vaine delightes ( Brusanus ) and let vertue be thy guide if thou wilt attaine to happye honour . For For honor is the onely reward of vertue ▪ and onely vertue must open the gates of honour .

The Romanes builded two temples ioyned to gether , the one being dedicate to vertue the other to honor : but yet in such sorte , as no man could enter into that of honor , except hee first passed through that of vertue , which is the onely thing whereof al the greatnes , glory and honour of men dependeth , and not in the dignitie wherein they are placed : A small want to bragge of the scutchyons and armes of our auncestors , when ( to speake trulie ) there is no righte nobillitie but that which springeth of vertue : He boasteth in vaine of his great linage , that seeketh to be esteamed for the nobillitie and vertue of his ancestors , and hath no goodnes in him selfe : for what is it to vaunt of Hercules race , and not to follow his workes , which made him so famous through the world : Despise not my sonne thy fathers louing admonitions , for ( as the wise man saieth ) he that honoreth his father shall haue ioy of his owne children , and when hee maketh his praier he shall be hard : he that feareth the lord honoureth his parents , and doth seruice to his parents as to the lord : The blessings of the fathers establish the houses of the children , and the mothers cursse rooteth out the foundations : He that forsaketh his father shall come to shame , and he that angreth his mother is cursed of god : To conclude , there is no praier which god heareth more willingly then that of the father , which hee maketh for his child : O my sonne while thou hast yet time , apply thy selfe to that now in thy youthe , which will be profitable for thee in thy olde age , namely to the attaining of vertue and knowledge , which will procure vnto thée , honour , praise , safetie , happines , rest and tranquilitie in this life , and will in the end guide thee to eternall life .

Chapter third .

The demeanure of Brusanns after his fathers exhortations , and how he was handeled by Petrona a curtizane .

THe carefull old father , hauing discoursed thus far to his carelesse yoong sonne , was here interrupted with the abundance of teares which streamed downe his cheekes , but Brusanus who that very morning had appointed with certaine of his companions , to meete in the Citie at a curtezans house , where great reuell was appointed for , was all this while so busyed in the contemplation of his pleasures , that hee vnderstood neuer a worde what his father had deliuered , and was therfore able to make him no manner of answere , but seeking his best oportunity to giue his father that slip , in the end , conuaid himselfe away to his appointed place , where he found his companions attending his comming : The father wounderfully perplexed at his sonnes demeanure , had the narrower watch to the rest of his proseedinges , and finding his course of life rather to waxe worse then any whit to better , resolued himselfe of this last experyment , which was to cut him from all manner of meanes whereby to maintaine his lauish expences , and not only by shutting vppe his owne purse , but also by straight proclamation through his whole kingdome , he prohibyted all vnder great penaltie , neither to lend him mony , nor to render vnto him any manner of reliefe . But could there be a greater griefe to Brusanus then so sodainly to be brought to so extreame want , his father would affoord him no manner of allowance , the rest were restrained by the late proclamation , hys companions that hitherto had followed him in all his follyes , that were the very ministers of all his mischiefes , amongst whome he had consumed whole millions of treasure , and many of them made rich by his idle expences , did not onely refuse to helpe him in this necessity , but also lefte him alone , and refused to come in his company . Brusanus being nowe driuen to hys last refuge : calling to his rememberance an old acquaintance , called by the name of Madona petrona , a curtyzane that him self had aduaunced from base parentage , who by his prodigalitye was wonderfully inriched , both in apparell , Iewelles , and great store of money which she put out to vsurye , thinking to find her as kind of her coine as she was of her honesty , he imparted vnto her the extreamitye of his want , but shee hauing had former inteligence how matters had passed betweene hys father and him , and finding him now to bee growne so bare , determined to shake handes with his acquaintaunce , and notwithstanding the many benefites which before he had bestowed of her , she rather resolued to sée him begge , then shee would part with one crowne to doe him pleasure , but yet for her better excuse she answers him thus : Thrée yeares are fully expired ( my Lord Brusanus ) since you tooke the first frutes of my body , sith which time I haue remained altogether at your disposition , so often as it pleased your selfe to commaund , yet not without great infamye and slaunder to my person , beeing discredited through the whole Citie , by your continuall recourse and repayre to my house , and although I must confesse you haue bestowed of me many liberall rewardes , and from time to time haue gratified me with rich and costly presentes , yet sir when you shall consider well of your peny worthes , I haue greatest cause to complaine of my market , when the bargaine hath cost me the price of my maidenhead , my payne of pleasaunt yeares spent at your deuotion , with my name and reputation for euer infamed : where otherwise my beautie might haue proued a bayte to haue intangeled some amorous gentleman or other rich marchant , that might haue maintained me and made mée his wife , where nowe that hope were more then vaine to looke for : what resteth then for poore Petrona but to hold that shee hath , and to make account of no more , then what she doth allready possesse . Brusanus , who all this while had listened to hee speaches , was not a little pinched to heare her conclusion , but minding to make no other replye , imbrasing her in his armes he gaue her a frendly busse , adding these fewe words as followeth : I perceiue my Petrona , the old prouerbe must be newly veryfied , which saith , that pouertie will part good company , thou knowest I haue loued thée , and now I must leaue thée , but if thou thinkest I haue bought thy chaffer to cheape , blame but my fortune , which hath rather conducted me to craue new credite , then to paye old debts : with this hee gaue her an other frendly kisse , making semblaunce as though he would haue taken his leaue , thinking that for a farewell Petrona at the least would haue relieued him with some fiue hundered crownes , who had bestowed of her ( at seuerall times ) a great manye thousandes , but shee more lauishe of her lippes , then shee was of her purse , to shift him off by a prettyer meane replied in this manner . Alas Brusanus and must wee needes part , if ( as you say ) there bee no other remedy , knowe this by the way , Petrona cannot liue by kisses , but if you loue me as you haue protested in wordes , I hope I shall finde it confirmed in your deeds , and being fitted nowe by occation to make triall of your kindnesse , I stand in want at this instant of a thousande crownes , the which ( my Brusanus ) I hope you will not denye me for a farewell , being the last gifte ( as I perceiue by your owne wordes ) that I am euer like to receiue at your handes .

Brusanus finding himselfe to bee thus preuented , answered thus : Petrona , thy former experience ( I thinke ) hath taught thee , that my crownes haue been euer at thy commaundement , my swoord as ready to incounter thine enimies , my body as willing to satisfie thy pleasures , nay wherein haue I failed to fullfill all duties proper to a louer , but Petrona the world is chaunged with Brusanus , hast thou not hard , my father is displeased with me , dost thou not know my frendes haue forsaken me , and dost thou not see my seruantes haue lefte me , Brusanus hath beene honoured as a prince , but now more dispised then a poore pesaunt , what speakest thou of a thousand crownes ( Petrona ) to him that is not furnished of so many farthinges : yet the thing that doth most greue me , is to part with thy sweete company , but there is no remydye . Brusanus may not stay , Hungaria cannot hold him . Alas my Lord ( said Petrona ) and can you bestow nothing for a farewell , if you bee driuen to so narrowe a scantling , the paringes of your nay . es shall suffyce to content your louer petrona , the which as a relique in your rememberaunce , I would charily keepe , perswading my selfe that if you had had a better present , I know it would haue falne to my share . Brusanus seing the kindnes of the louing worme , cutting of the paringes of his nayles he deliuered them into her hand , vttring these wordes : Loe petrona , to satisfy thy request , hold heere the present , which I know thou hast desyred for the loue thou bearest vnto me , and although for thy sake I could hartely wishe them ▪ to bee Iewelles of inestimable price , yet knowing such wishes are euer but wast , I assure thée if my ability would stretch aswell to a whole million of gold , I would as willingly bestowe the one as I haue reddely giuen the other : And heere withall pressinge towardes her , thinking once a gaine to haue taken a kindly kisse , she thrust him from her and said : Nay softe Brusanus you mistake your texte , I am sure euery parish priest could learne you this lesson , No penny no pater noster , and I haue often hard it said , No lenger piping no lenger daunsing , and nowe thou hast nothing lefte , what should I doe with thy company , goe vaunt thée now Brusanus , thy louer petrona would neuer leaue thée , so long as thou hadest but the paringes of thy nayles left to bestow of her , the best aduise I can nowe affoord thée is , I would with thée presently to goe hang thy selfe , by meanes whereof both thy ill fortune and thyne ill life might both finish in an ill death : This said she speedely flung away from him , goeing into her chamber , where she shut fast the dore , leauing Brusanus standing all alone , who recounting with himselfe of these dispightfull taunts , had his fantasie so assailed with feare , griefe , dispaire , heate , coller , wrath , and desire of reuenge , that he raged against the gods , he railed on the destinies , he defied loue , hee cursed all woman kind : and hauing thus giuen allarume as well to all the powers of heauen as also to all the workes of the earth , after a little pause and that he had a while bitte on the bridell , he returned into these speaches .

The fourth Chapter .

How Brusanus sorrowing his former misled life , resolueth to trauaile .

ANd wilt thou now be discouraged Brunsaus , by remembring thine owne imperfections , seeing by labour and diligence thou maiest yet recouer what thou hast hitherto lost , hast thou seene so much and canst thou practise nothing , are thine eies cleare , and wilt thou still counterfeit blindnes , hast thou thy right fences and wilt thou seeme sencelesse , canst thou not make profite of thine owne folly , learne with the bée to gather sweetest honny from the bitterest hearbes , when both fortune , ocasion , and thine owne industry maye so well helpe forward the matter , let thy vice make thy vertue more to shine , so maist thou thinke thy pouerty a happy prosperity , yea most happy maist thou count thy mishap , that is the originall of thy true hap , while thou didest flourish , how wert thou fed with faire wordes , how many fained frendes , fine fauners and cunning flatterers did haunt thée , yea in thy wealth whole millions of frendes did compasse thée , but now in thy want , doest thou not see that both pleasure and company doth forsake thée , thou canst not find one that will affoord thee so much as a good looke . Sith then Brusanus , thou findest such falshoode in felloweship , and such faithlesse deeds in such painted speches , shake of these fauning curres with the flagge of defiance , and from henceforth trie ere thou trust : I but now to late to apply a plaister when the sore is past cure , to cry Alarume when the Citie is sackt , to seeke for couert , when the storme is past , and now thou wilt cry cauy , when thy coine is consumed , and beware of flatterers when thy wealth is wracked , to waxe more chary when thou hast nothing in thy charge , and when thou hast allready receiued the maate , thou seekest by cunninge to make voide the checke : But now thou triest it true that thy father foretould thée , that so long thou wouldest be carelesse , that at the last repentance would pull thée by the sleeue : but the flattering pleasures of this world can promise no other blisse , for worldly prosperity ( I sée ) is a spur to wickednes , it carrieth men willingly to the pleasant court of vanity . Leaue of therefore Brusanus if not for shame yet to avoid sinne : shake of this incumbraunce , striue to be verteous , leaue to be amorous , forsake misdemeanure , and since thou hast seene much , practise a little : it is a common imperfection to offend , but an extraordinary perfection to amend , the first springeth by nature , the other from vertue , & how often hath thy father told thée that honor is only to be sought for by the meanes of vertue . It onely resteth then that I imbrace thee ( o sweete repentance ) by whose onely meanes , we are drawne to mercie , and without whose winges we cannot flye from vengance . Brusanus thus thanked the Godes , that had wrought his honour out of his shame , that had made his owne finding to goe amise , to be the best meane euer after to hold him in the right pathes , and although before hee had shewed himselfe a braue gallante in the court of Venus , yet nowe he vowed himselfe a professed souldiour to march vnder the ensigne of vertue , and calling to mind his former mislede life , did not onely detest and hate loue , but so mightely contemned the whole feminine sex , that his hatred did so much exceed , by howe much hee remembred his present misfortunes . This was a sodain chaunge , but sure a happy chaunce , but Brusanus holding on a determinate minde to seeke after honor , resolued him selfe to trauell , the which when his father had got intelligence of the newes , was halfe a salue to his sorrowe , thinking that it woulde either bee a meane to end his life or mende his lewdnes , he therefore tooke secret order to haue him conueniently furnished as well with mony as all manner of other necessaries .

The fifth Chapter .

Brusanus iourneing through the country of Epirus , mett with Leonarchus king of that Region , disguised like a merchant , called himselfe Corynus , and what speaches passed betweene them .

BRusanus being thus appointed , called to his remembrance the order of many trauellers , who after their returne into their owne countrey are commonly so full fraught , with farre fette follies , that they are vtterly emptie of their home vertues , and can make no better returne then their heades ouerburthened with too many outlandishe vanities , he therefore armed him selfe with a determinate minde , to gather a platforme both of vertue & vice , imitating the good in their commendable qualities , & abhorring the bad in their foolish demeanures applyeng both presydents of good and bad to one vertuous purpose , & wholy to endeuor him selfe in al honorable enterprises hauing thus fortified him selfe with this vertuous imagination , directed his first course towards Epirus , wher Leonarchus then reigned kinge , a prince that was renowned for his vertue , fortunate for his peaceable gouernment , reuerenced for his grauity , obayed for his authoritie , loued for his mediocrity , and honored for his liberalitie , administring iustice with such sinceritie , yet tempering the extreamitie of the lawe with such limmite , as he gained the good wil of strangers in hearing his vertue , and wonne the heartes of his subiectes in feeling his bountie , counting him vnworthy to beare the name of a soueraigne which knew not ( according to deserte ) both to cherishe and chastice his subiectes . This noble prince vpon a priuate conceipt to him selfe , disguised in the habite of a marchant , had secretly left his courte , and trauelling through many partes of his owne dominions ( being not other-wise taken then for a marchant ) called him selfe by the name of Corynus , the which name ( because I perceiue hee was other wise loath to bee knowne ) I will therefore vse for the time . Brusanus , who in the meane space had iurnied many daies towards Epirus was now come to the confines , and taking his directe course towards the famous citie of Doretta ( where the court was still residente ) he fortuned ( in the way ) to ouer-take this kinglye marchante Corynus : and after friendly salutations passed betweene them , Corynus taking a through vewe of this gallant yonge prince , was wonderfully delighted in his comely personage , in his amiable countenance , and in his modest regards : and perceiuing by his apparell that hee was a stranger , to breake of their vnnecessarie silence he saide . Although ( curteous gentleman ) it bee no parte of good manners to desire to knowe a strangers secrets , yet if it pleased you but to recompt vnto me what country man you are borne , whether you are trauelling , and what I might call your name , if ( to requite your curtisie ) ther be any thing wherein I may stead you , you shall command me for a much greater matter then I haue yet requested . Brusanus hauinge heard the mild motion of this graue marchaunte whose outward shew of countenance , did manifest an inward stay of minde aunswered thus ? Sir , my country is Hungaria , my name Brusanus , by byrthe a gentleman , by fortune a traueller , and the cause standing of such nice poyntes , as peraduenture your grauity may hardly brooke : let this suffice , my yonge yeares ( as you sée ) subiecte to sundry impressions , at the last haue taken holdfast in trauelling to vnknowne citties , led by this resolution , that in séeing manye thinges , I should learne some thing , and intised by the generall reporte of the rare vertues , the maiesticall gouernmente , and most renowned demeanure of Leonarchus , who holdeth her the princely diademe , I haue left myne owne country , and am trauelling to his court to se if the brauery be correspondent to the brute , and the demeanure of the countries , so commendable as is reported . Corynus , secretly reioysing to heare himselfe so praised , aunswered thus . Truly , ( curtious gentleman ) the commendations you haue giuen to Leonarchus are so many , that my selfe ( being as much affected towards him as any subiecte may bee to his soueraigne ) canne deuise to say no more , and for that by your former spéeches , I perceiue your desire is to grow into the highe way of experience , being arriued heer to se the fassions of our court , whatsoeuer by eie your selfe shall perceiue , I by my experience can something lay open , hauing in my yoonger daies ventured amongst the rest to become a courtier , although not so formall as county Baldassare hath figured . The court here of Epirus , being so renowned ( as you would make it ) by the king that now holdeth the scepter , as it is replenished with men of diuerse calling , so it is frequented by men of as sundry dispositions . Some repaire thither hoping of preferment by their vertuous indeuors , who by their good deseruinges are to growe in fauour , or by their valor and force of armes , are to be confirmed with martiall honour . Other againe incited by vanitie ( hauing the raine in their one neckes ) resort thither to satisfie their youthfull humors with a little folish brauery , where their braines are so continually combred with deuising of new fashions , that many times of comly personages , they transforme them selues to disguised puppittes . By this you may perceiue that as the court is a schoole of vertue to such as can bridell their mindes with discretion , so it is a nursse of vice to suche as measure their wils with witlesse affection .

The sixte Chapter .

How Brusanus and this counterfaite Marchant were incountered by a courtier called Gloriosus , and lodged at Vtica .

COrynus had not scare ended these speaches , but they were ouertaken by a Gentleman that was ridinge to the court , and a courtier hee was , called by the name of Signior Gloriosus , the loftines of his lookes was much to bee marueld at , but the manner of his attire was more to bee laughed at . On his head he woare a hatte without a band like a Mallcontent , his haire hanging downe to both his shoulders , as they vse to figure a hagge of hell , his beard cut peecke a deuaunt , turnde vppe a little , like the vice of a playe , his countenance strained as far as it would stretch , like a great Monarcho : his coller turnde downe round about his necke that his throat might be séene , as one that were going to hanging should make way for the hallter , his dublet holstered with bumbast , as if he had béene diseased with the dropsie : vppon that hee wore a loose Mandilyon , like a counterfeit souldiour , in his hand a fanne of fethers , like a demye harlot : Riding thus along by them , casting his eies to and fro , seming by his demenure , as if he had had , a whole common wealth in his head , without any word speaking , Corynus who before had knowne him in the court , and therefore best aquainted with his humor , said vnto him : Gentleman , if I bee not much mistaken you are riding towardes the court , whither ( if it please you ) wee will be glad to beare you company : Gloriosus bending his browe answered : thou base borne fellowe , what doest thou thinke I would make a companion of thee , a pedling marchant , more fit for a ware house then a princes court : Corynus smiling to himselfe to heare the folly of this vaine headed courtier mildly made answere : Truly sir , I would not presume so far to make my selfe your companion , but I haue knowne right worshipfull Gentle men thus riding by the way , that would haue bene wel pleased with good company : This softe replye wonderfully qualified the fyerse nature of Gloriosus : whose colericke complection was as testy as a goose that hath yong goslinges , yet easy to be pleased againe with a handfull of otes , so after a little more frendly communication had betweene them , they were come to the gallant Citie of Vtica , where they all agreed to test for that night , and after they were come to the inne , Brusanus desirous to goe visit the monuments of the Citie , and to take a view of the brauery of the buildings , was accompanied by Corynus , Gloriosus keping his lodging as one disdaining to walk the streets with so simple company : but after they had walked themselues wery , and were returned againe to their chamber , Corynus demaunding of a seruant what other strangers were in the house , was answered there were two other , the one a souldiour , called by the name of Martianus , who was newly come from the court , the other called Castus , a countrey man that was trauelling towardes the court : Corynus willed the seruant to intreate them both to come vp , hoping to heare some newes , especially by Martianus , who was come from the court , the which both himselfe and the rest desired .

The seauenth Chapter .

What newes Martianus brought from the court , how the king was missing , and how the courtiers did generally bewaile his losse .

BEing both come vp into the chamber , after they had béene very frendly wellcomed , Corynus turning to Martianus said , as we vnderstand you are lately come from the court , and we being desirous to heare what noueltyes are newe coined , are to craue so much curtesy at your handes , to make vs partakers of your newes , and for myne owne part , I shall thinke my selfe greatly pleasured , that am accustomed by such particuler platformes , to gather an vniuersal : cogniseance either of good or bad : Martianus curtiouslye aunswereed : Truelye Gentlemen the newes at the courte are straunge , yet not so straunge as true , yet not more true then generally lamented by as many as ouer heareth them : Twentye daies are nowe fully expired , sith our most vertuous and noble prince Leonarchus hath beene missed at the courte , no man knoweing what should become of him , neither can it be immagined whether he be dead or aliue , gone he is , search there hath beene , inquiry is daily made euery way , and by all meanes , but no tidinges can be learned more then I haue told you . The lamentable clamours are vniuersall , the graue counsailers sheades their teares for the losse of their prince , the father of their counselers , the very stay and principall piller of all their consultations , the gallant courtiers haue lefte off their costly colours , betaking themselues to mourning hewe , hanging their heades , wringing their handes , lamenting the lacke of him that was a prince to defend them , a father to care for them , a companyon in their pleasures , a frend to reliue their wants , what should I say , the dolefull memory is generally bewailed , some remembring the nobility of his birth , some his peaceable gouernment , some his liberality , some his iustice , mixed with such mercie , some the greatnes of his authority , tempered with such familiar curtesies , that they did more feele the fruites of his clemency , then the pompes of his greatnesse , and all accounting him the father of his people , and the life of the country . The onely comfort that is left them , is the hope they haue receiued of the gratious yong prince Dorestus , who immitating his fathers vertues , and in whome they allready shine so cleere , that it is easy to discerne him to be a blossome of the same braunch , a stemme of the same stocke , and a sonne of the same sire : Tenne daies are ouer passed since ( as well by the consent of the counsaile , as by the requestes of the commons in generall ) they would haue established him in his fathers seat : but Dorestus more surcharged with sorrow , then couetous of a kingdome , and more fit to furnishe a funerall , then to syt in a princes throne , would in no wise consent to their requestes , vntill hee might heare what was become of his father : But they neuer ceasing their sute , and hee ouer woried with their importunityes , to satisfie their requestes , haue adiorned the day of his crownation for fyfueteene daies , if in the meane time they can learne no other tidinges , hee is then content to receiue the diademe , as his proper right and due inheritaunce : I will not further inlarge the seuerall coniectures that are gathered of his absence , some immagininge him to bee priuily murthered , some thinking him secretly vowed to some monestary or other religious house , some thinking so manye thinges , that some knowes not well what to thinke , and yet when they haue all thought , the good king cannot be hard of , neither will I trouble to tell you what seuerall examinations hath beene taken , howe many inquiries hath beene made , and what continuall posting there hath beene through the whole realme , let this suffice , he cannot be found , and it is thought necessary ( and that by generall opinion ) that there should be a soueraigne gouernour , to redresse wronges , to punish vice , to correct abuse , to maintaine iustice , and to chearish vertue : Dorestus ( though against his owne wil , yet to satisfie their requestes ) haue assigned the day of his crownation ( as I told you ) within fyueteene dayes , whereof there are yet fyue to come , if in the meane time there come no other newes , I haue then breefly told you all the newes .

The eight Chapter .

The sorrow Brusanus made to heare this newes , and howe Gloriosus vaunted vpon this report .

COrynus who was neerest toucht with this discourse , yet best pleasd to heere the tale , wherein both Leonarchus the king , and Dorestus his sonne were so vertuously commended , made neither semblaunce of ioy nor griefe , but listening what other men would answere kept himselfe silent : But Brusanus , whose heauy countenaunce bewraid his sodaine passion said : And is it possible that so renowned a king , so vertuous a prince , and so louing a soueraigne , should be thus consumed in his owne realme , nay in his owne court , nay more then that , in his owne priuy chamber , and amongst his owne subiectes , and yet cannot be learned how , well Brusanus thy hap is the harder , thou hast left thy parentes , thy kindred and thy country to become a traueller , thy hope was to haue bettered thine owne experience , by the example of him , whose vertues were so famed through euery nation , but thou findest thy selfe preuented by vniust fortune , and canst thou not draw her freakes to a platforme of thyne owne profit , arme thy selfe against all her assaults , and beware how thou dost heereafter trust her , and esteeme no better of these worldly honours , then as slipperie ioyes , sliding pleasures , and transitory delightes , and thus fixing his heauy eies vppon the ground , he ceased further speach : Gloriosus , who was all this while deuising how to speake wisely , after that he had a little roused himselfe , bending his browes and putting on his terrible countenaunce , said : Well Leonarchus , if thy conspiring enymies , haue shortened thy date , by vntimely cutting of thy thred of life , vnhappy was thy chaunce that Signior Gloriosus was absent , whose prouident eie , to looke into matters of state , is ynough to preuent all trayterous practises , conuey they neuer so closly , whose very lookes are leueled with such auster aspect , that they are able to fray the proudest practiser , from al vnlawful attempts , and these armes , ( that are the ministers of my displeasure should I but discontentedly stretch them forth , oh , who were able to abide it , neither strong Sampson amongst his philistians , nor valiaunt Hercules against his vgely monsters , were halfe so terrible as angrie Gloriosus against the troupes of traitors , then Leonarchus , nay , then infortunate Leonarchus , and in nothing so much infortunate , as thus to be sequestred from such a stay to thy state , from such a piller of thy preseruation , and from such a castell of thy comforte , as might haue preuented all perilles , what so euer thou art happined into , after the whole company had a little smiled to themselues , and had much adoe to forbeare open laughter , Corynus said : it may bee sir , you were vnknown to Leonarchus , otherwise he was shrewdly ouer séene , so much to neglect a gentleman of your quality : My frend ( answered Gloriosus ) thou dost presse me to fare , I pray thée haue care of thy selfe , and seeke not thine owne dismembring , by to much vrginge my patience ▪ with thy vnseasonable spéeches , dost thou thinke Gloriosus could be vnknowne to Leonarchus , when his court hath beene beautified with my presence , and whose pallaces were adorned with my person : No , no , and therefore I tell thée ( thou manne of little vnderstandinge ) thy woordes are to much preiudicial to the prerogatiue of my reputation , but it pleaseth me to impute thine erroure , to the want of knowledge , so that in beareing with the one , I am contented to pardon the other , and therefore I admonish thée heereafter to take heed how thou dost place thy phrase , to a gentleman of the kings court : Well sir answered Corynus , sith I doe find courtiers to be so captions , you shall sée heereafter that I will learne to speake more wiselier , when I haue occation to talke with them , in the meane time , me thinkes heere is a poore man that lookes heauily on the matter : then turning himselfe to Castus , he said , howe nowe my good frend , what newes with you in the country , it seemeth by thy cheare , that all should not be well .