A certayn treatye moste wyttely deuysed orygynally wrytten in the spaynysshe, lately traducted in to frenche entytled, Lamant mal traicte de samye. And nowe out of frenche in to Englysshe, dedicat to the ryght honorable lorde henry Erle of Surrey, one of the knyghtes of the moste honorable ordre of the garter, son[n]e and heyre apparaunt to the ryght hygh and myghete prynce Thomas duke of Norfolke, hygh treasorour, and erle mershall of Englande.

¶ A certayn treatye moste wyttely deuysed orygynally wrytten in the spaynysshe , lately Traducted in to Frenche entytled , Lamant mal traicte de samye . And nowe out of Frenche in to Englysshe , dedicat to the ryght honorable lorde Henry Erle of Surrey , one of the knyghtes of the moste honorable ordre of the Gartier , Sonne and heyre apparaunt to the ryght hygh and myghtie prynce Thomas duke of Norfolke , hygh Treasorour , and Erle mershall of Englande .

¶ To the ryght honorable lorde Henry erle of Surrey . John Clerc , wysheth contynuall helthe .

ALbeit this worke ( right honorable lorde ) is in the Frenche entytled as aforesayd , & onelye dysposeth of suche lyght matyer of folysshe Loue , as by a longe season reygned betwene Atnalt and Lucenda . Yet neuertheles thynkynge assuredly your Lordshyp shall fynde that herein with per●●ce , the same shal mysse in some others . And knowyng by longe experyence , not onely the great wysdom and synguler iudgement ●●er ●●th God the dysposer of all thynges ▪ hath moste abundantly endowed you . But also the excedyng great paynes and trauayles susteyned by your selfe in traductions aswell out of the Laten , Italien as the Spanyshe . and Frenche , wherby your Lordshyp ●u●moūteth many others , not onely in knowledge . but also in laude and commendacyon , lyke as I distrust not the same , wyll rather prudently accordynge to your accustomed fasshyon regarde and consyder the wytty deuyse of the thynge , the maner of Locucyons , the wyse sentences and the subtyll and dyscret answeres made on bothe parties , in my power opynyon not vnworthy to be noted than otherwyse without 〈◊〉 ge the same , wyllengly reic●●● it . So I thought conuenyent by these to sygnyfye that in this traduction I haue not estemyd the order of the wordes in ● other tonges , as it is seen some haue done i sondry places of theyr translacions , wherby it is not only thought they publysshe theyr owne folye , but also vndoubtedly certayne that they by the same in the place of lybertie submyt themselfes to seruy eu ●e without hauyng res●●●●e to tho●seruacy●n of that thyng whiche in this case ●o moste specyally 〈◊〉 , wherby the sence of the Aucthour is often deproued , and the grace ne perfection of tho●●●e other tonge dewly expressed , but vnderstandynge that euery tonge hath his ꝓperties , maner of Locucyons perticuler vehemencies , dignyties , and rychesses , I haue arrested my self onely vpon the sentences & maiesties therof so curyously as I fyrmely trust thin●euciō of th author is truely expressed i ● declaration wherof , lyke as I humbly beseche your Lordshyp to take thyse my lytell laboures & great good wyll in acceptable yt & as the monument of my power herty affection alwayes borne to the same So hauyng most fyr●e confydence in your great bountie I dystrust not the same , wyll take for satisfaction , not that I do but that I desyre ▪

wrytten at Lamby the the .xvii. daye of Marche . 1●4● .

¶ The Auctour .

AFter that I had this somer passed en●prysed a voyage ( more for the necessyte of another , than for my pleasure ) for the accomplysshement , wherof it was conuenyent for me to absent my selfe , farre from this countree / & had after that also conforma blie therunto by a longe tyme trauay led in the same . I came by chaunce in to a great deserte no lesse solytarie of people , than displesaunt to passe thorughe . And as this countree was vnknowen to me . So thynkyng to go the right way , I strayed in such sorte , as I coulde not eftsones directe my self , aswel for the great displeasur that I had , as for the lacke of some one , of whom I might demaund the same , lyke as beyng in such necessytie / I knew that yf the pla te was abundaunt of solytude & desert that in me moch more excedyd the passyon . So than aduysynge all ꝑtes suthe vertue had myne ●yes , as they gaue some conforte to my tormented hert when that in a forest far from me ( beyng the wether fayre & clere ) I had know ●●dge that in the place ( by some smoke , that yssued from thense ) ther was ha ●yta●ion of people , wherfore I thoughte it beste to trauayle thyther . And albeit passing thorugh the thyckenes of the wode , I founde the way so rude , & diffycyle as I repented me no lesse to haue enterprysed it , than I desyred that yssue therof . Yet neuertheles euyn as I had begonne it . So determyned I ●●ot to surcease but to passe thorughe . And pursewyng in my Jorney , as the ●onne begon to ●ouche I arryued on ●n hygh hyl syde , from whens I might easelye deserne the origynall place of the sayd smokes , that yssued from the howse of a certayne gentylman , which ●he had newly in that place , caused to be edefyed , & was all paynted with coloure blacke , from the foundacyon , vnto the hygbest parte of the same . Wherof I receyued suche meruayle that aswell to mu●e ther of , as for the desyre that I had to repose me I forgat all my pa● sed trauayles , & approchyuge to the same , I was ( by chas●●e ) very nyghe vnto a place , where certayn men dyd walke , who in theyr countenaunces & apparell resembled to be replenysshed with great doloure and heuynes , of the whiche , one ( lykelye to be estemed mayster and gouernoure amonges them ) walked before , who with heuye syghes passed the tyme , yet neyther his coulour , ●● leane vysage , had not alte ●yd his gentyll noryture & educacyon .

¶ [ And albeit wel he shewed hym selfe ( aduysyng me beyng nere vnto hym ) howe woche at the fyrste syght , he was ther of estouned ▪ yet neuerthelsse he dis symuled it , & receyued me most genty● ly , desyrynge me to dyscende , & come a fote . After knowynge my trauayle , he caused furniture to be made for my repose , & toke me by the hand , to conduct me in to this his sorowfull house . Than ●● who of the straunge place , receyued great maruaile endeuored myself no ●sse ▪ than I could , well so note the syngularyties of the same , amonges the whiche beynge aryued at the gate , I ●awe aboue it , thre whyte rolles wher ●● was wrytten . ☞ ❧

This is the sorowfull howse verament Of one that dyeth , and doth lament Bycause death , to his death wyll not consent

WHen I had very intentyuely red them we passed further , & sawe that all thinges of that howse , repre●ented greuous dolour . For from the ●oundacyon of the same vnto the hygh ●st parte therof , other thynges appered not but sorowe & heuynes . Wher ●ore I wolde not than demaunde the ●ause therof , but reserued it , vnto a ty ●e more conuenyent . ❧ ❧ ❧

● From thense he brought me in to the halle where , without long● tary enge was brought , the supp●t , wit● great abundaunce of vitayles & goo● ordre of seruyse . ⚜ ❧ ☜

¶ Shortly after the sorowfull knyght knowynge the trauayle that I ha● sustayned , brought me hymself , in t● a chambre where he left me , and ret●red with so sorowfull a vysage , tha● it was meruayle . Than beynge alon● I caste me in my bed , but euyn as I thought to take repose / aboute the houre that the cockes by theyr crow ynge , wytnessed the mydnight , I hade them of the house synge in petiou● mus●●que complayntes , wepynges , lamentacions , mortall . Than ( not you● cause ) more than before , I mer uayled , by th occasyon wherof I was all togither depryued from slepe . But ( as afterwarde I was aduertysed euery nyght at that houre , the sorowfull knyght very eruellye tourmente● hymselfe , renewynge his doloure an● accustomed passyon . Wherfore ●● seruauntes , seyng hym in this marty rie / loue and pytie , obliged them to be ( by sorowfull wepynges ) conforme vnto hym that made doubt / who heryn ge suche thynges , as no more sodeynly taken with trouble and vexacyon , than depryued of slepe and repose . So passed the moste parte of the nyght , and the daye made all to be put to sylence . The sonne rose euyn whan I harde that in a churche nere vnto me it range to a masse , & that the sorowfull knyght came in to my chambre / who as he had done the day before , toke me by the hande , to go to here the deuyne seruyce . Than beyng aryued in his chapel I sawe a monument coueryd with blacke , whiche ( as I perceyued afterwardes ) was the last lodgynge that he lokyd for hymselfe , where aboutes were grauen suche wordes .

●●holde w●ll he●● the memorye Of one that lyueth in payne & smarte For want of seynge presently● Eyther hym or her to ease his harte .

ANd albeit the masse were a celebratyng I lefte not for all that ( durynge the same ) to note what the letters ment , and the sorow that they shewed , what soeuer it was the thyngꝭ that I sawe there , put me in great trouble , bycause I could not therin establysshe a Just iudgement / In goynge out of the churche , we went to dyner , after the whiche the sorowfull knyght , enforsynge hymselfe , to gyue me recreacion , moued me in dyuerse matyers / and demaunded me of many thynges amonge others he sayde , that the Kynge and Quene he knewe ryght well , prayenge me to tell hym , whether they were so tryūphāt lye accompanygned , as heretofore he bad sene them , and as to theyr great excellency dyd appertayne . Wherin I coulde very well satysfye hym . But than knewe I ryghte well that this matyer was more to enterteyne me , thaune for any dey●●e that he had to knowe any thynge , bycause he was so sorowfull , that without ceasynge ( ha uynge his doloure present ) dyd none other thynge but sygh . And somtyme bytwene gyuyng eare to my purpose sinyled . Than at th ende , thankynge me for that good that I had done hym , he began to say vnto me . ¶ Know thou my frende that not withoute cause I haue induced the in thyse ꝓposes the occasyon wherof , I wyll cause the to vnderstande , prouyded that before , thou wylte gyue me gayge of thy fayth , that all that I shall tell the thou shalte do it to vnderstande and put it in the puyssance of Ladyes nolesse scauant than dyscrete , to th entent that they perceyuynge the same may knowe the yll that a woman hathe caused me to suffre without reason , and agaynste theyr common condycyon , whiche is estemyd more pytefull , than that of the men / to th ende that they beyng aduertysed therof , may blame her and lament her crueltie . Nowe my dames hauynge at lengh conceaued his entencyon , & condescendyd ●accomphlysshe it , I haue determyned , for the perfection of the condycions by hym requyred to addresse vnto you the worke folowynge , whiche of ryghte apperteyneth more vnto you , than to others . And bycause his matter was longe , I thoughte good not onely to redacte it in wrytynge / but also to sende it you in this paper , Than after that the sorowfull knyght had receyued of me the suretie that he demaunded in this so●te , he began his mat●er . ❧ ⚜ ❧

¶ The Knyght to the Pylgryme .

ME thynketh syr I shuld do the great wronge , yf I shulde not declare vnto y● , the cause of the demaunde that ● made the.

¶ Understande thou that it is not lately that I knowe the Kynge and the Quene , theyr estate and magnyfycence . For theyr hyghe renowme and vertuous bountie is in all places , abundauntlye publysshed . Neuertheles I thanke y● for the payne , that thou hast taken intellyng me that , which thou dyddest know therin . But for another entent , I haue induced the in to thyse seuerall matiers , I truste to make ▪ the treasorer of my sorowfull passyones beynge assured , thou wylte haue pytie and receyue doloure of my troble empressyng in thy memorie that whiche I wyl tell y● , to publysshe it hereafter .

THou shalte vnderstande I was borne and norysshed at Thebes whiche heretofore , Cadmus the sone of Kynge Agenor dyd augment with people with whome I was longe nory●shed . My father longe sythe is pas ▪ sed this transytorie lyfe , who was named as my selfe . Arnalte , I leaue to tell the more what he was , bycause the prayse of hym , whose sone I am , wolde yll sounde in my mouthe .

¶ At that tyme the courte of this Kyng Cadmus , ordynarylye remayned at Thebes ▪ wherfore also I my self was there contynually abydynge , one day amonge others ( whenne my lybertie was more fre from the passyons of loue ) dyed one of the hed persones of the towne , at whose obsequies , and funerels , all the courtisans , and Citadins were present / & as the deed body was ●et in the myddes of the churche durynge the tyme of th accustomed cerymonies , there was made by his ner● ky●●esfolkes a great wepynge and extreme doloure , specyallie by the doughter of hym that was deed , who shew●d her selfe so sorowfull , that without ●epose , she had suche a mortell warre , bytwene her handes and her heer / as the most parte of the same , were plu●lred vpon her shulders & cseuered in suche sorte as the people that sawe such crueltie , meruayled no lesse of the beaultie of the same , than pytied of ther so straunge entraytement . None was there than that saw her , that had not pyteouse compassyon of the doloure that this sorowfull mayden suffred . Helas she of whom I speke is named Lucenda , For her becam I sorowfull abasshed and ferefull , abasshed of her so great beaultie , and fereful doubtynge her desperacyon .

¶ Nowe after that the deed body was commytted to his laste lodgynge , & that Lucenda retorned to her house , I toke the way to myne sekynge the solytarynes to accompanye my newe thoughtes , thynkyng by that meane , to fynde ease & comforte to myne yll / But it was in vayne . For I knewe incontynent / I was no lesse solytarye and habandoned of hope , than of people & pleasure .

¶ It happenyd that many dayes so passed / wherin albeit I endeuered to forget my delyveryd purpose , knowynge well yf at the begynnynge I founde a thorney way , that moch more sharp shulde be th yssue therof . Yet neuerthelesse the more the tyme passed , the more myne yll , vnder dissymulacion approched and like as my dolour dyd augment so my remedy decreassed I was in a straunge necessytie . Than nede ( thynuerter of all thyngꝭ ) gaue me counseyll , that by my payge ( who often frequentyd the house of Lucenda , taccompanye her brother ) I myghte make her knowe my passyon , by th occasyon wherof , I wylled he shuld hante yet more often with the other , than he had done before / whiche he dyd ryght sadlye and dylygentlye for my remedye in suche sorte , as beynge in nothynge suspected , he went when he wold to the lodging of Luceda . Wherfore after that many tymes I had shewed hym to be the secret offeryng hym dyuers chaste mentes , yf he were contrary I gaue hym a letter conteyning this that foloweth .

RAther wolde I Lucenda that thou knewest my faythe , than thou diddest the reding of my letter , for yf it so were in seynge me , thou shuldest easylye knowe the passyon that I beare , beyng the same , none other but suche as myght well , purchaise me that whiche I truste to gayne by wrytyng to the. For that onely by my letter , thou shalt vnderstand my sorofull proposes , but by my teares , thou shuldest se my desperate lyfe . So that my great dolour wolde supplye my lytell vnderstandynge , and make the certayne of that wherof thou mayst now douit For thoughe the ylles ( suche as I fele them ) can not be declared , yet thy Judgement shulde gyue the very fayth of them by my passyon , neuertheles aswell as I possyble may , I wyll make the to vnderstand them .

¶ Kuowe Lu●dena , that the selfe same day that thy father was put in the earth , myne affectyon , and thy great beaulte made me all thyne , yf that thou than dydest retorne to thy howse , and endyd to wepe his death , I enteryd in to myne to begyn to lament of the yll that thou haste done me , Whiche I pray that to byleue , For that I haue no lesse feblenes to vanquisshe me , Than thou hast force to constrayne me , And further I assure the , That more for the wekenes to resyste , Than of great wyll , I am gcuyn to be thyne , For yf it were in my power , I woldeste the And I seke the , Thou baste so moche domination vpon me , And I in me so little liberty , That whan I haue wylled not to loue the , I coulde not , Bycause my heuy harte , is ▪ By my constauncy , and thy good graces ) ioyned to the.

¶ I aduertyse the that yf it had ben possyble , I had rayther absented me from the , Than in any thyng to trust to y● , But yf by predestinacion , I were condempned to be thyne , I haue not had the power to eschewe the yll of this good otherwyse it can not be . Deny me not than thy good grace for by the greatnes of myne yil , I haue well me ●y●ed it seynge that in so lyttle tyme , thou haste so dysmesurely ault ●ayged me . ❧ ☞ ❧

¶ Consyder in what Obligacion thou arte bound agayn to me . That more wolde esteme my Perdycyon for the , than my Saluacyon without thyne occacyon , ❧ ❧ ❧

¶ And further that sythen thou arte the cause of my tormente . This trauayle is to me pleasure , And my destruccyon vyctorye . Yet wolde I not despere me of this begynnynge . But myne affection I declayre vnto the ▪ wherof albeit at this tyme I aske the no recompence , yet trust I that hereafter thou shalt know the state where in I lyue . And that where as shal be the knowlege , reason shall not fayle , yf there be reason the same can not be without recompence . ❧ ⚜

¶ So with suche trust wyll I neuer despere . But sythen I am moche more dysposed to fele my payn . Than to do maunde the remedy , I wyll ende this matter , to fynysshe my letter . And with an humble request I pray the , that thou wit●afe to s● me To th end that my vysage may be wy●●enes to the of ❧ my dolour . ❧

SO ended my letter , but before I gaue it to the Page , I enstructed hym in what sorte he shulde procede wysely to chose the place ▪ And the tyme conuenyent to the●ecutyon .

¶ And albeit that pe●case Lucenda wold not receyue it yet neuertheles he shulde leue it there . ☞ ❧

¶ Now were my commaundementes , and thobedy●●●e of my Payge confer mable in suche sort as for my conten tacyon he made suche extreme diligence as one day amonge other when he sawe Lucenda alone he founde meane to approche to her , And the moste secretly he coulde , Desyred her to wytsaufe to take that whiche I wrote to her . But she seynge her selfe importuned coulde not so dyssymule that she gaue not knowledge by mut●cyon of coulor howe moche she thought the mater straunge . ☞ ⚜ ☞ ❧

¶ This notwithstandynge my payge ( as wel aduysed ) consydering my torment , ●●●onned hymselfe of nothyng .

¶ Where vpon it happened that she seynge her selfe more and more constryued , thynckyng to redde her selfe of hym . Departed with great dysplea sure , from the place where she satte wherfore my payge , seynge her to go wente dylygently before , and cast my letter to her in such a place , as necessite forced her wyll , to take it vp howbeit the takynge ther of was suche as she tare it in a thousande peses , wherof afterwarde I was aduertysed which was a recharge and augmentacyon to my dolours . For seynge my lyttle hope and felynge , my dysmesured torment . I trusted no comforte , but with the death . For this cause I found me somoche enemie to my selfe , and frend to the payne , that more than before I wylled to haue recours to my sorowful thoughtꝭ , with the which a very long tyme I passed my dayes vnto y● one , Mournynge my Payge ( who carefull & dylygent was of myne affayre ) came taduertyse me , that Lucenda had determyned the nyght folowynge to go to matyns , which I casely beleued for it was Chrystmas yeuen . Wherfore to gyue some repose to my harte , I determyned to dresse me in maner of a damoysell , wherby I myght the more easely approche to her

¶ Trustynge by the meane , to auoyde all daunger ▪ So with suche habyt conferme to he●● , I went to put my selfe Joynynge to the place , where she had accustomed to be in suche festes . And not suspectynge this to be de●epte , at her arryuall she saluted me . Than thobs●urite of the nyght ▪ the place , and the lacke of company , fauoured me so moche , that I had ameane to saye to her .

Lucenda .

HA Lucenda , yf I had so moche wytte , to complayne me of the , as thou haste power to cause me to lament , I shuld be no lesse wyse than thou art fayre . Therfore I dysyer the , not to regarde that , whiche I shall say to the. But the passion of my harte , and th abundaunce of my syghes whiche nowe I put to the , to be wyttenes of my martyrie . I knowe not what gayne thou doste truste of my losse . ●e what good of my yll , I haue wrytten to the , that I am all thyne , And thou with great dyspyte hast torne my letter in pecys . It shuld haue suffised the to haue done the lyke to my lyfe by thy great beaultie . Thou oughtest to haue permitted hym to do his messayge . Than by the same thou haddest knowen in how many passions I haue lyued syth I sawe the. Perseuer not ( I pray the ) in suche an oultrageous purpose for it shuld to moch endoma ge thy renoume , & destroye my helth . Wher woldest thou serche an excuse ●ayllable to serue the in this straunge fation of doyng , Thou vnderstandest the paynes with the whiche my tong demaundeth the remedy . And knowest howe moche the vertue and rigor are dyfferent in condicyon . And that thou canst not be ●ert●ouse , vnles thou be gentle and gratiouse . Sythen than that thou with so lyttle , as with thyne onely worde , canst satysfye and recompence my seruises , deny me it not . For I desier no great benifite of y● , than that thy consent may call me thy seruaunt . Seynge that with the glorye to be thyne , The yll that I haue receyued by the shal be satysfyed ☞ ✚ ❧

¶ But thou causest me moche to mar uayle , sythen that for so lyttle a thyng thou consentest so longe to be importuned . Se that my syghes make the knowe alredy that my lyttle resystence ( seynge the rude assaulte and batayll that thou gy●est ) is so yll edyfyed , as the same is more redy sone to fall th● to kepe the fortresse of my lyfe .

¶ And yf thou thyncke that to speke with me ( fearynge to dystayne or fyle thy honour . ) it were to the to moche enterprysed . Beware thou be not deceaued therin , For thou shuldest receyue more blame to cause me to dye , Than faythfully to remedye me ,

¶ Wyll not than Lucenda to purchayse the name of an homicide . Ne wyll not I pray the , for so lyttle pryce to lose a seruaunt , & seruyces so affectioned . I can not tel what more to saye , to make the certayn of myn yl . For I am borne not to a certayne , but to be acertayned hauynge more lernyd to lament me , than to fynde remedy . And bycause that my wyll and thyne excellencye haue no measure I wyll not with longe mater molest the. Let it suffyce the to se with thyne eye , that yf thou dyffer me of hope short shal be my lyfe And hauing not as endyd my purpos with a trembely●ge voyce , she began to answere me . ☞ ❧ ❧ ❧

THou thynkeste well Arnalle by thyne affected proposes to vanquesshe the force of my vertue , But yf it so be thou abusest thy selfe , For thou oughtest to knowe that I haue no lesse trust to my awne defence than thou haste in thy great persuasyons . Therfore I counsell the to surcease from suche thy demaunde , sythen that thou mayst wel knew that thou shalt do ryght wysely in the same . And to th ende that thou be more assured , lyke as thou oughtes to byleue , that there is no force in the worlde , that can breke the porte of my determined purpos , So thou mayste see , that thou shalt put the out of great laboure cessynge from suche requeste . And where I haue at this tyme , wylled tanswere the , That hath only ben to th intente that hauynge of my selfe none assuraunce , thou trust not any recompence . For in suche case the truste by her condycyon prolongeth more than she satysfieth , So thou seest that in this behalfe the dyspayre conforteth , and the contrarye ( by a certayne meane ( weryeth and strayneth . ❧ ⚜ ❧

¶ And where in my wordes I shewe not the , the rygor that I shulde , that is somwhat to satysfy thy fayth which I knowe , I wyll not deny y● , but thou louest me , sythen that thou sercheste me , more than I wolde , So of theys trauayles , thou shalt be yl rewarded , For I tell the that so large shal be the trust as thy demaund is to me importuned . And bycause it maye be , thou shalte thynke that for asmoche as my wordes are pleasaunt , my workes shal not be rygorouse , by cause I wyll not deceaue the , I tell the that oneles thou altogythers tourne thyne oultragyouse affectyon , and peruerte thordr● therof , I wyll put it in thand of suche one , as shall well complayne and reuenge hym selfe of the , Therfore it is my desyre that without delaye thou go out of this stryfe , For thou seest it is better quyckely to heale , than by a longe season gyue meane to deathe . Wherof I haue wylled taduertyse that bicause that for the I haue more daunger than remedy , Therfore approue my counsayle , and to th entente thou saye not that by wordes I haue abused the , I tell the what great yll shall turne to the therof , whiche I lyttle regarde . Than from hensforthe thou oughteste to put thy desyres in repos and lyue in pease , whiche I beleue thou wylt do , seynge that accordynge to that thy teares and affection shew me , it shal be more agreable to the to gyue me pleasure , than the contrary , For yf thou do otherwyse I wyl haue that fayth doubtfull which thou publysshest certayne , & shalt cause to the dammage , and to me displeasure , Now to th entent that from hensforth thy purposes be so moche dyseret as thy syghes wytnes the amourous , I wyll no more teache , thethe waye that thou oughtest to kepe to do the pleasure .

SO frende suche answere of Lucenda was all a greable to my torment , and in suche sorte absent from my remedye , that by so moche as the trust fayled me , my desyre augmented , For seynge the grace of her speche ēriched with suche knowledge I felt me not to haue in me any part alyue out of my memory which was intentife to se yf afterwarde any good wolde dyscouer it selfe , notynge all that she tolde me , But in puttyng an ende to her thretenings she endyd her speche leuynge my recompence behynde to put before the daunger , wherfore the cause that least I feared was the death whiche wyllinge to make her t understande alytell after I sang one nyght before her lodgynge this songe .

¶ yf myne yll shall neuer achyeue And my great payne shall neuer lye Howe myght one better knowe my gryeue Than by my lyef , without to dye . ¶ yf to losse is turned my gayne And my torment so dis●●●●●ed Ought I not of death to be fayne Syn● that lyef therby is opened . ¶ yf thou refuse me to relyeue And wylt that styll to the I crye Howe myght one better knowe my grye●e Than by my lyef , without to dye .

THe singyng of this heuy Song myght per●ase empeache the slepe of Lucenda , But my playntꝭ and anguysshes coulde not atall awake her spyryte , wherfore seynge me altogether destytute of recompence lyke as than my do●our more augmented so my pa●●ō more af●ebled it self , And as the hope was than molested , it was necessarye also that the eyes by th occasion of teares blynded them selfe in suche sorte as by contumelyes / wepyngꝭ / and tormentes . I becam pale and dysfygured and that more is so , desperate that against my selfe I began to saye ❧ ☞ ❧

O Euer Infortunate the Edyfyce of trauayll what may now become of the in what place art thou arryued , halt thou yet any trust Seest thou not that it is impossyble for the to receyue helth of the yll , that thou hast , and that clerely the signes present make the knowe thy perdyo●ō to come bycause that thyne eyes or the ladde●s of thy fayth are situat in so hyghe a place , that thou oughtest fonner truste to ●alle than to mounte . Thou shalt be he that shal haue more yll , For thou were he the leaste of good ought to presume . ❧ ⚜ ❧

¶ O es●●a●●● of thy selfe that arte so wery of lyfe , and not of desyre , Alas howe great was thyne infortunye in brynging the forth I se that by lyttle and lyttle thouendyst and that thy desyre at th ende shall vanquisshe y● , Hast thou not than great reason to wyshe the death , yf for the welth of the hart thou desirest it , yet thou oughtest to refuse it to exchew the predicion of thy soule . ¶ Now knowe I not what to chose , what to saye , ne what to ▪ demaunde . O my sperite so dessolate , why haste thou choysen an habitacion so sorowfull . And thou myne eye ▪ the mortall ennemye of my sorowfull harte , haue I deserued that thou shuldest● so submyt y● to the deceipteful lawes of loue Thou knewest not that the recompenses of hym are vayn , whan the seruyses are moste great and mass●fe . And yet thou knewest ryght well that in the order of trew loue yf the lyef fall not , the tormentꝭ are euer at y ● ●ot● . Thou knewyst well thy feblenes , wherfore woldest thou than submyt the vnder so stronge an hande . But thou mayst answere me that thou hast had so lyttle power to dysobey hym at the fyrste as nowe to forget hym , whiche is all the yll that I se therin . O thou vnhappy than , that the more puysaunce lackyth the , the more thy playnt again renforceth it selfe . And where by thy dedes thou thoughteste to enryche thy memorye , thou haste now lesse meane to do it , wherof thou shalte receyue the more shame beyng thyne honnor affē dyd and thy lyefe in daunger , For accordyng to this recompence thou haste more occasyon to complayn the , than to allow the of eny well doynge .

¶ Than sythen it is so take pacyence in paymente of the warre that thou haste be gone , and in the same suffer the strokes that thou trusteste whiche hereafter shal be sharpe for the , but as yet easy and lyght , howbeit tendure them to th ende the lyef and vndrestandyng wyll war werye , and yf by that thou ease not thy selfe haue recouers to reason , wepe thy solytarynes and holde the gates open to deathe , For whan thou shalte not thynke therof thou shalt fynde that remedye whiche the understanding & reason shal denye the.

¶ Arnalte to the Auctoure .

MAnye other thynges aparte I tolde my selfe whiche to th entent not to moleste the , I wyll at this tyme commyte so sylence , But being so farre alyenat from my selfe I began to rowe the galle of my passyons , and yet beyng there tōrmented of so great anguyshe colde I not attayn the port of repose , wherfore with somache trouble I put in obliuion all myne accusto myd pleasures , withoute more to goo but verye seldome or lyttle with the kynge , or elswhere . And forasmoche as my frendes dyd contenually enquyre of myne estate I determeni● one euynynge to go to the palais , where so sone as the kynge had perceyued me after he had asked me of my helth , he commaunded me to be at a torney whiche certayn Jentylmen of the ●ourte had enterprysed , And albeit I was than more dysposed to solytarynes than to great assemble . Yet to obbey hym I determyned to force my wyll , tellyng hym that sythen he had commandyd me I was redy to doo it whereuppon he made me t understande in what sorte it shoulde be and the daye that euery one shoulde be redye . ❧ ❧

¶ Nowe the tyme appoynted beynge comme wherin it was necessarye texetute tha●●ayres by effect I desired the kynge he wolde caūse to commaunde the ladyes of the Citie to be as well at the mōmerye at nyght , as at the tornay in the day , wherunto he was agreable .

¶ So was I assured that Lucenda wolde not be left be hynde . Wherfore great trybulacyon sodenly inuadyd myne heuy hert and myne anguyshes were than medled with excedynge great and soubdayne motions , So that in one instaunt I was so ioyful as I was woont to be melancolique . The tyltes erected & prepared and the assaillaūt● begynnynge to put them vpon thee rankes I came to passe before the escaffaulte of the Quene makynge ●●y horsse to flynge and praunce , Than by chaunce through the syght of my ●rmet I sawe Lucenda , ba las howemuche agreable to me was this pleasaunt aduenture , Neuertheles for the busynes wherin I was occupyed the best that I could I dyssimuled it and to make y ● ●understand what was the tokyn that I bare it was a payre of balaunces with the● weyghtes th one of them was grene and tother blacke the grene was hygh and the blacke very lowe and wryten abowte .

¶ The lyttle that my trust doth pease Sheweth clery howe moche heuye To my suffrance styll without ease .

Bycause● the nyghte approched the ●orney endid wherfore the men of armes went to dyfa●●he them and the kynge with the ladyes retired them to the palais , After the howre comme to maske the maskers entred in to the hall , some toke them to daunce some to commen with he● that he woolde ch●wse , But alas I sorowfull put me more to complayne of my mysfortune than before seynge me so power of the good that was to me ne●ssarye , and so ryche in part●rbacion and syghes yet I assured my selfe and came raddresse me to Lu●enda dowting neuertheles more to be refused of her than otherwyse that not withstanding I desyred her to 〈◊〉 wherunto she had not wyllynglye agreed yf the custom had not forced her , So she rose & put me ●urth her hande , alas who coulde expresse the Joye and the yll that I felt than togyther . For my dolours to muche augmented them selfes seyng my benifete so nere , and my remedy so farre absent , th apparell that I ware witnessyd it ryghte well , For I had that daye a Cloke brodered wherein was wryten . ❧ ❧ ❧

¶ Doulefull he is as he that dyeth ▪ And yet the death doth hym not streke But more and more styll hym he flyeth whiche he most pensif , ●othe to seke .

WHen the dawnce was endyd Lucenda , retyred her so nere●● quene that it was not possyble for me that I colde holde her purpos without to be vnderstand of others , wherfore I determyned to god to make a letter and cause her to vnderstond by wrytynge that whiche I could not than tell her by mouth , Than I with drewe me in to a gardrobe , but so soone as I had the penne and the paper in my hande , I felt the passyons of the mynde ●●pproche me by the meane wherof with excedynge great payne I endyd my letter , which I foldyd short & narowe and returnynge towardes Lurenda I put it secretlye within the folde or tuckynge vp of her gowne , neue●theles I coulde not so hamsomlye do it that she parceyued it not but for the presence of the Quene she was constrayned to dyssymule it , And the letter conteynyd that whiche I wyll tell the

Lucenda yf the meane were so well geuyn me to remedy my selfe as I haue occasyon to wryte to that without doubte I coulde esteme me muche more content than sorowfull or dyspleasant , Neuertheles the power and the knowlege to be thyne haue al togethers refused me , and put me in great solytarines , desperynge of the any remedye I haue somuche sayde and wryten that I knowe not what more to tell the , Somu●he is there that yf thou retard and dyfferre my hope shortly shall end my purposes and my lyfe . Alas thou shuldest knowe the y● wherof I playn me rather by my we pyng , than by my wordes , bycause ● syns the anguis●hes are greuouse the eyes vsyage theyr office do supplie the defalt of the tongue . ❧ ❧ ❧

¶ O sorowful , beyng in the state that I am , what maye I do for so muche more as my faythe hath vinacitie somuche more my recompence is in ●lepynge , yf to put peace in my lyfe thou thynkyst to make warre to thyn honour I desyer not that thou do it nether that thou speake to me , sethen thou art not agreable therunto , but only that thou vouchesaulfe to loke vpon me seynge that by this onlye benefite all the yll shal be forgeuyn the that euer thou ●yddest me I praye the wyll not to be so mortall an ennemye to me , for yf thou haue desyre that I dye I haue yet the greater desyre lytle to lyue by this mean without great brount we both may be content , neuertheles consyder that yf by thyn occaston I dye thymfa mye of thy mishape shall slowly leaue the , & shalt purchase suche renowme that eternally mention shal be made of thy crueltye and of myn ende , But yf thou wylt folowe reason thou shalt thinke that it is y● done to gyue peyne where there is none offence , yf thou thinke not that the same is tobbey y● or the desyre that I haue to serue the in this case thou shal be ynough assoy led , and I onely worthy of tormente for recompence now sithen that accordyng to that thou hast tolde me thou beleuest that I loue the , rede my letter and in redynge it remembre the yll that I fele beynge assured that yf my trauayles be rep●esēyd to the thou wylte haue more repentance than occasion to continewe , of one thyng I maruel muche , what moueth the to wylt rather to be cruell than to be serued , yf thou mesure the passyon that thou geuyst me with the seruyce that thou mast receyue of me , I am sewre thou wylt know that thou hast not occasyon to prayse the of the gayne of my losse , And to end my letter I pray the that it may be the last , for the presence can wytnes that wherof the paper can not gyue knowledge . So wyll thou to se me or els the lyttle desyre that I haue more to lyue wyll set forthe my deth desyred . ❧ ☞ ❧ ☞

AFter that mi letter was commytted to the poure of Lucenda for the desyre that I had to knowe howe she vsed it , myne eye went not from her in any wyse , But nothynge parceyued I , whiche helde me in some repos , neuertheles the susspition that I had gaue me no truste and so was alienat from my self that I answe●●● hym that entretened me more in a boy●● tremblas●t than to his purpose . Alas he that than had put his hand to my herte had easly knowen a lytle the panges amou●eous that tormented it tyll the houre approched that euery one retyred hym selfe , than was I more dysposed to receyue the trauayll than the repose . And albeit I after that Lucenda had gottyn lycence of the Quene folowed her man habbyt dysguysed not only vnto the port of her lodgyng but also vnto within her chambre to se the sentence that she wolde gyue vnto my letter , yet neuertheles at any time durynge the space that I there taryed I sawe not her hold any paper wherfore so without other certan●ie I retorned , but the loue ( that neuer slepeth ) wolde not parmit me the nyght any lyttle whyle to repose by the mean wherof I determyned to sende erly in the mornyng my page to the lodgyng of Lucenda to se in all the places of the howse howe preuey so euer they were and specyally where the donge & fylthes were woont to be caste whether he could fynde any peces of my letter . ¶ Than the page dyd his deuoure but he had no newes therof whiche gaue me some lytle trust , But yet not suche as coulde diminysshe this myne accustomed heuynes . ❧ ⚜ ❧

¶ Soo the more I went forwarde the more my remedye in suche sorte taryed behynde as I could not so wel dyssym●e myne yll that it was not dyscouered by the smokes of my syghes and thymbrasment of my herte , For the more my torment augmentyd it selfe , the more that powre diminysshed wherof easily my passion was knowen And therfore I becam solitarye without more to goo out of my lodgynge , wherof a suster of myne callyd Bel●ss● who bare me loue so naturall that she was participaunt with me in a great part of myne yll receued so muche troble that on a daye as we commened togethers after dyuers purposes she pryade me with great abund●ū●●●● teares to make her t understande the cause of my dolor . ❧ ⚜ ☞

¶ Than hauynge compassyon of her wepynge I was enforced to declare vnto her that whiche I endeuered to ●epe secrete . Neuertheles before that I dyd it cessynge her lamē●acyon she began to saye to me . ❧ ❧

HElas mi brother for goddes sake I pray the y● thou wylte not hyde from me the cause of thy do●or for euer when I haue asked it of the , thou haste founde me many dissymulatrōs , Consyder therfore that yf thou wylt deny me the verite the loue that I bear that shal medle it selfe with my plaint , Thou sayest thou art my debt or and that yf I loue the thou wylt recompence me agayn with asmoch of thy part , But thou dostpublyshe y● with thy word●s whiche with thy workes thou de●i●s● Thou knowest well that suche dyss●●ulatyons oughte to be excused towardes me , Therfore I pray y● make my harte secretary● of thy passyons . ¶ To whome oughtest thou to g●ue suche thynges in kepynge , but only t● me seyuge that thou haste good assuraunce that yf thou wylt the death I desire not the lyef , yf thou abhorre the pleasure the displeasure is to me agreable , yf thou loue the trauayle the repose to me is dypleasunt . So that thyne yiles and my torment do po●yshe one selfsame hert , yf than thou haue determyned to put thy payne in repose with whome canst thou better do it than with her who neuer is wery to desyre thy benyfyte for yf thou wyl●e dyscharge it , thou and I to gethers may beare it , yf thou haue desire that we w●pe , neuer let vs do other thyng yf thou wylt that in thyne yll we comforte vs let it so be donne , yf thou wylt that it couer it self thou and I , better than thou alone can do it , yf thou wylt that the remedy do gyue mean , thou of thy syde and I of myne may easlye fynde it sh●we not I praye the so lyttle amyti● to her that hath no thing but is thyne . And beleue that thy dyssymulation hath no power to vanquishe my Judgement , For thy sighes ryght well do manyfest that whiche thou endeuerest to couer , Consyder thou that by reason lesse ought not to be the loue than the fraternitye , And that moste agreable shal be to me the death yf thou by the same mayste receiue the more ●oye use lyfe , seyng that I se the in the state ouer muche to suffer and longe tend●ure . But call agayn the ●perites and regarde that fortune is of the prosperus enemye , and of the myserables the moste great hope , So sythen that ver condycion is mouable and inconstant , yea and suche , as the most happye ought not to reioyse of her fauor , thou oughtest not than in any wyse to dispay●e the of her ●eueuolēce , for she con●u●●eth alwayes new accidentꝭ to folkes hertes , to then●e the necessyte haue ▪ not knowledge of her power . Therfore reserue not to the alone the solytarines dyspleasant in thy displesures , Thou knowest wel that the most sorowfull dothe comforte hym selfe / whan his passyon is communicate to his frende , for the recreation of the worde doth demynishe the dolor of the mynde . So than yf the keys of my consayll may open any remedy , wherfor refusest thou them , takyst thou pleasure so to thynke day & nyghte in thy paynes losenge so muche tyme , to speake to thy selfe alone . Beleue me I knowe that in the , greater is the yll that thou couerest than that whiche thou manyfestest , but how soeuer it be the daunger is greater to couer it , than to disclose it , Specyallye to me who berith the more Amyte in the mynde than the mouthe can tell . Nowe fearynge to be displeasant , I wyl no more Importune the of my requeste , but nowe ende this matter dyspleasant whiche endyd . Desyrynge to gyue my suster some contentacyon , I made her this answere ▪ ❧ ❧ ❧

THou holdeste me ( madame my suster ) so passyoned for thy passyon , that I muste of force declare to the that whiche my demonstrations shewe the , And that more for thyne importunytye than for the wyll that I haue therof . For that yf I had not se●e thy wepynge vnfayned thou haddeste neuer knowen of me this trew answer , neuertheles before thou knowe ●ny thyng I pray the the sythen that my tonge shall reuele the myne yll , that for the same wyll not to payne the. For my lyef shall ende before the begynnyng therof take ende .

¶ Thou shalt vnderstonde than ( my suller ) that more by an estrange force than by my propre wyl , I am constrayned to submit me to the lawes of lo●e Wherby my fortune hath made me so great in obeisance as lyttel in repose And more yet in suffrynge , For in the myddes of my sorowfull espryte all myne ylles haue assieged me , and yet of suche sorte holde me assiged , that for all the resystance that I can doo my good agaynst the yll by mynes in myneng , nether by ladders in mowntynge , can not attayne the victorye . For that the loue defendeth it selfe rudely agaynst my fortune , whiche dothe assaylle so slowlye that yf I haue no soccor by the deth , late otherwyse shal I recouer it . ❧ ❧ ❧ ❧

¶ Therfore ( suster ) I praye the payne not thyselfe for my dyspleasure but rather reioyce the that thou hast suche a brother as can by the force of his vertue endure so muche yll . And yf thou euer desyre me to do any thynge for the cause that I se no more thys● thy teres to water thy fayre vysage , for yf by wepynge I colde helpe me , myne alone without helpe of thyne shoulde warrant me . ☞ ❧ ☞

¶ Than sythen that for them the passion augmentith , and the yll dem●nisheth not , it is muche better to refrayn than , and to remoue th occasyon to empyre my torment . Accordynge to the whiche thou hast tolde me , thou closest the port of my consell and openest it not to my wyll , We a●●or●e , thou to lyue in Joye , and I in sorowe in this worlde For the pleasures that for me I woold choyse I remyt to the , for that only to the they are iustly d●we , and to me apperteynith the possession of displeasures ● trauayles , seynge that I can manly better suffer them than thou and considerynge that in the ther is to lytell lodgyng to lodge suche aduersities . Therfore I pray the be co●tē● that we lyue , thou in Joye , and I in sorow● . And yf otherwyse thou do , I wyl beleue that thou wylt not me the good that thou sayest , sythen that thou knowyst that it is my wyll , & that thou seest , that thy tormente doubleth my passyon , learne than nomore to sorow for the torment that I endeure , other wyse I shall haue more trauayle felynge the more to trauayle .

THis Purpose endyd my suster seynge that otherwyse I dyd not satisfy her request determined without more to importune me tenquyre by subtel meanes the cause & originall , wherof ꝓceded my very great ylles . And as th effectes a more ous do present to the Judgemement of men dyscrete the passyons of the tyme to come . So infynite sorowes and dyspleasures made me ordynarye compeny wherfore after that my suster was retyred I gaue place more than before to mine accustomid dolor . Helas who coulde nombre the quantytye of my passyons , yf it be not he that hath exthewyd lyke fortune , what anguishe , what playntes , gaue than knowledge to my tormentyd herte , of her great power , duryng the which I was without any repose weryeng without cessyng my varyable memorie to the sownde of my thoughtes . And as I aryued to the poynte of my desperation , it cam to my romembrance that albeit I had here tofore declared to a gentylman companyon and frende parte of the loue that I bare to Lucenda , and that he hymselfe had endeuored somwhat to tast it also , by th occasyon wherof I spake not sy●s to hym of the same for seynge the daunger that myghte ha● therof and knowyng also right wel that in suche affayres yf the silence be not of commendacyon / he that is in the pursewte putteth hymselfe in totall perdycyon , seynge that the only secret is the crowne of the louer , yet neuer the les omitting all theise doubtꝭ behynd I concludyd agayne to dyscouer to hym ( of whome I speake to the ) all my affections , trustyng that he wold haue petye , and wold besaythful , also that whiche harded me to do it was for that he was next neyghboure to Lucē●a whom I myght se yf I were loged in the howse of my frende .

¶ Therfore I sente to praye hym to comme to see me , whiche he dyd at his aryuall , I told hym the cawse wherfore I sent for hym , And the truste that I had in hym , wherfore he thankyd me affectuouslye . And so muche as at the fyrste he assayed to dystracte me frome this loue , so muche he shewyd me vysage to fynd it good , & to soccor me by th occasion wherof . The more to moue hym to take compassyon of me I sayde to hym . ❧ ☞ ⚜

My faythfull frende yerso yf nowe I shewe the and present before the that whiche hetherto I haue dylygenly kepte in sylence , The cause therof is , the trust that I haue of thy great vertue . And thou oughtest not to fynde yll the longe delay that I haue made therin , For thou knowist right well how muche in amoreus affection the splen●● is estemed , & the dysclosure worthy great reproche by the mean , wherof I was in great confusyon neuertheles thy bo●tye hath put an end to all this doubtes . So that therby I haue felt my payne wekyned , than sythen it is so , where sholde I knowe better to lodge my secret than betwen thy handes seynge that thy vertue , and the loue , that thou bearest me , shal be confome to kepe it well . Nowe Brother and ●r●nde I aduertyse the that agaynst the death and the lyfe I haue susteyned by a longe tyme . ❧ ❧

¶ The assault of a breche much dimynysshed , with the death , for the she wyll not haue me , and with the lyfe for that the greuyth me . Whiche assaulte so crewell I began whan the father of Lucenda dyed , whiche was the daye that fyrste I sawe her , and vnto this present hath contynewyd without knowynge any meane to peace me tr●uce in the same . For loue seynge me so submytted to his commaundementes hath wounded me with all his power by his panges enpoysonid in suhe sorte as he , beynge his fyght rude , and my force weke , hath brought me euen to amortall ende . So contynewell haue ben his assaultes , & my defence of so lytle effecte . That by this occasion the folkes of whome I was woont to ayde me haue betrayed me , leauynge me sole , retyrenge them selfes into other places . And that wors is , the trust doth leaue me , the remedye flyeth me , The reason hydeth it selfe , and the socoure hurteth me , so that by necessety forced I must yelde me into the handes of crewell death , And yf thou thinke that in tellynge that this I am alyenat of spyryte . ¶ Beleue yerso that it shoulde be to me a great benyfyte not to haue any iudgement , For hauynge not knowledge of my great losses , I sholde not ●e●ey●● for them any sorowe , for that beyng of understanding & iudgement depryued , 〈…〉 should neither trust to haue 〈…〉 ●● 〈…〉 , ●e ●et haue feare of yll . ●● So 〈…〉 not trusting for any thyng ● sh●●o● not despere of my soccor , & of 〈…〉 , as I doo at this tyme present Therfore de●e frende seyng me suche , as thou seest me , I haue not knowyn more wherof to fortyfie me , than by the force of thy amyte , and the armes of thy consayll , and to helpe me therin I ha●e thought that sethen thy lodgyng is so ●ere to the same of Lucenda , and that other good I can not haue therof , tha● to see her that at the leaste I may be ●f so lytell a thing satysfied , whiche is the cause that I haue sende to seke the ▪ To th ende that after that thou hast know in my torment , thou soccour me as muche as thou canst and as I truste of the , and as the amyte which knowith it selfe in y● , necessite wyl and entendeth seinge that now thou art come in tyme to do it . And for bycause I beleue that thou woldest haue more desyre therof , than I haue to demaund it I , wyll nomore imporune that of the same .

¶ The answere of yerso , to Arnalte .

FRende Arnalte I playne me to the , and of the for the doubt end dystruste that thou hast had of me and with greater reason that the● oughtest not by so longe tyme to dyssymule thyne yll towardis me , though it were so that by the lawes of trewe loue , it was otherwyse ordeynyd .

¶ But they that be so secret , lose com mōly by holding theyr peace , the which they shoulde obteyne without doubt , declarynge it . ❧ ❧ ❧

¶ Nowe Arnalte suffice y● , that more shall oure in me the yll , that I haue to see the yll to suff●e . Than the discours of my complaynt to lament the , for the which greuyth the , dysplesith me , so that I can not comprehende it in my memorye , aduertysyng thy surely that yf thy torment myght part it self in two , I woolde take wyllyngly the greatest part thereof , But to the wyll I remit that whiche with the worke I can not execute . ❧ ☞ ❧ ☞

¶ Thou sayest that the beaultye of Lucenda destroyeth thy lyfe , of one only occasyon , thy care & myne ꝓcede , for yf sh● cause the to haue passyon , she falleth myne helth . Neuertheles to th entent that dyuersyte knowe not it selfe in thy wyll and myne , I wyl fromhensforth forget to thynke so , geuyng the sewerty to doo the pleasure to put peas in my warres . Albeit greuouse payne it is to me , whiche thou beyng in the state that thou art haste no mean to knowe , and the lesse thanke shalt thou can me to do this , yet neuertheles aswel to render me fre , as to leaue the in the seruytude that thou desirest I wyll do it , to assewre so muche my lybertye , as I haue of dystrust of her recompence . And so by my withdrawynge I shal be free , and thou shalt rest in the puysance of her . Thou prayest me also to gyue the consaylt , and receyue thy playntes yf my consayle could pro●●et the so muche as thyne yll hath power to cause me to lament , thou shouldest tarry without any payne . But to tell the that whiche I thynke therof , I maruaylle howe thou hast wylled to consent that the force of thy vertue is vanquysshed by a thynge of so lytell pryse , And that thou that was vāquer or of thynges more daungerous , nowe art by a woman vanquysshed , Remember the how muche is dyspraysed the renowme , whiche rendrith it selfe infamyd , by suche infamye . And as far as I can parceyue thyne espyryte vnbyndeth thy fayth , and thy reason leauyth the , in suche sorte as thou thyselfe to thy power doste endomage thyne owne lyberty . Auoyde thou suche abuses , and resyst manly suche extremyte of loue , not that I wolde consayle the that thou altogyther absent thyselfe , But that thou esteme it , feare , serche , and refuse it , for there is no lesse danger to moche to auoyde loue , than to moche t obey to hym , so that with a meane thou oughtest to moderate thy selfe , & by apparences to deceaue hym , sythen he hymselfe in effecte is a deceyuour , and that his lawe is suche as he that least louyth , hath moste recompence and proffyte , Me thynketh thou woldest hym good , and that thou sayest the to be his , beynge not so dismesuredly despered . But beware the to trust all in hym , Consyder that the condicyon of the trust in thynges more easy , shewith lesse the way . And for this cause thou oughtest not to despayre , sythen that thou knowyst his maner of doyng , and the goodnes that commyth therof , Regarde that fortune geuyth ende to thynges variable , So yf she haue ben cause of thy dolor , she may in tyme be greued of thyne yll , & reioyse thy lyfe . And yf thou wilt take my consayle , thou shalt se that thou shalt obtayn the whiche thou art nowe assured to lose , in comyng to my lodgyng , which at all tymes that it shal please the thou mayste dyspose , as of any thing of thyne owne , Thou haste donne me great wronge , that so longe tyme thou haste dyfferred it / seynge that I am so muche thyne , that I wolde obey the as my master and companyon And bycause that from hensforth I wyll more payne me to remedy the , than to molest the , with longe matter I wyll hold my pease . To th entent in the rest temploy me in that whiche thou shalt commaunde , And fromhensforth let vs god wether it shall please the.

¶ Arnalte to the Pylgryme .

Thou haste lytell vnderstande ( maister my frende ) th answere that ( yerso ) made me . But whan he playned hym selfe of Lucenda . I assure the that suspycyon and Ja●ousye gaue me a new torment , neuer theles I made no semblaunt therof , for I thought it was the abundance of loue that nory●shed me in suche fantasy And in dede somtyme I had dystruste in hym . And a lytell after I consydered with myselfe , aswell that whiche he promysed me , as also remembred our olde amyte , that neuer had wylled to do me sh●ewde turne , and thervppon seynge that he had offered me so ly●●rally his lodgyng , I went thether wh●● I made no long demoure , before that I found myselfe dece●uyd of myne enterpryse , For notwithstondynge all the watche or payne that I toke du●●nge the tyme that I was there , I could not se her , for whome I was there lodgyd , so augmentd my torment and in so many dyuerse sortes shewyd it selfe that many people had knowledge of the same , and ymagyned therof in dyuers sortes , by meane wherof my suster Belisa of whome I haue tolde the alredy , consyderynge my payne to comme , and seyng my daunger present , imployed all her industry to knowe the cause of my sorowe , and so muche dyd that by her importunytyes she might fele that Lucenda was only th occasyon of my great anguysshes . Therfore without to cause me any thynge tunderstonde therof , she chaunged her accustomed fa●●ō to lyue , and peyned herselfe to frequent Lucenda more oftener than she had done albeit they had before great socialitie togyther nowe hapened it that in one after dyner as they to were retyred to take repose my suster opened to her suche a matter ,

¶ Belysa to Lucenda .

I Pray the Lucenda that in vsyng thyne accostomyd wysdome wyll not to blame me , for that whiche I wyll tell thee . For yf thou cōpr●hende wel myne entention I trust to be rather praysed , than for my wordes worthy of reprehensyon , for that the doloure of another that causyth my boldnes , shall honoure my shame .

¶ Nowe than Lucenda , vnderstonde my saynge , & thou shalt knowe that there is a long tyme , that Arnalt my brother cressyd in doloure , & decressed in helth , of suche sorte as all remedies to hym ar contrary , whiche knowing , and also seing , his lyfe to be short , for this yll so extreme , many tymes in wepyngꝭ , and teares , I haue desyred hym to dyscouer me his passions that , caused hym the death . But alwayes he wylled to kepe them secret , wherof I haue had reason greatly to lament me . So by subtyll meanes , with the coniecture , the suspycyon , and tokyn , that I could knowe therin . I haue ben certayn that thou only were th occasyon of his yll , and art the remedye of his lyfe . Wherby I haue determyned to lose me in telling the , that whiche I do to remedy hym . And to gyue fayth to my ma●ier , demaunde not any other proofe , than the playnte that I make to the of hym . For yf I had not seen his lyfe in daunger thou haddest not knowyn my boldnes , and ●emerytye , neuertheles I haue so muche desyre to sau●●e hym , that somuche as myne yll doth dystour●e me from this request , somuche his yll conductyth , and constraynith me to it , Bycause that the amyte which I bere hym is so great as for this occasyon I haue made my selfs e an enemye to myne honour , and by a stronger reason to put my lyfe for his it should be lytle in respect of this And so I ought to do as well for my solyc●tude as for his . For thou knowest that by the pestelence passyd oure father and mother haue lefte vs sole and yf thou wylt nowe dystroye the reast of our linage thou shalt be more worthy of r●prehension than of great prayse , S●ynge that I can assure the that yf thou deny hym y● remedye●●● only death shall put pease in his lyfe , and thou shal be by this meane ex●pt from the trouble that he geuyth the and he exempt to be more tormentyd , regarde in what oblygacyon thou arte dound to hym , that the more thou desdaynest hym , Somuche the more he louyth and seketh the. And somuche the more as thou causest his perdition somuche the more he estemith this be 〈◊〉 lo●●e , to be by the desyred suche , Than sythen that so straunge torment semeth to hym repose , & that the knowledge of thy crewell condycion is takyn away from euery one , thou arte ●wyse bound to hym , because that fea rynge that thyne honour be not troubled for his occasyon be fayneth his dolour in pleasure , whiche to hym is a moste peasant burden , for that suche pleasures a● enemyes to his desyres , that ●hich more ●oroweth hym is to shew by necessytey ●ysaige contrarye to his wyll . Therfore consent not that suche fydely●e peryshe for so lytell occasyon , and by so great ingratytude , yf thou do verely I can assure the that thyne oblyuyon , & his constancye shall make an ende of hym , & yf thou haue power to breake the bataylle of his passions by only to wryte to hym , I praye the deny hym not this , benyfyte and doo hym suche grace for my sake , yf thou wylt not do it for hym . Thus doynge in the place of a frende , as thou haste of Belysa from ●●sforth thou shalt haue of he● an esclaue , Suffyce the that there is two yeres that I haue leuyd in dy●nge . Take away than from me this passyon sp●h● that thou only mayst● chase it awaye .

¶ The answere of Luc●da ▪ ●o Belysa .

Dere frende belisa I pray the put from y● , the doubte that thou haste to receyue blame , for that whiche thou hast sayd . For thou ha●● not put thyne honour in somuche parell , that it may in any thynge be defyled , knowyng verely that I knowe what absoleth and dyschargyth the ▪ And therof be witnes thy renowne , & 〈◊〉 knowledge ▪ For yf thou haue offen 〈◊〉〈◊〉 by the matters , thou haste so 〈◊〉〈◊〉 me by thy shamefastnes , 〈◊〉 ●one●●e 〈◊〉 ▪ in suche sorte as 〈◊〉 ●h●● 〈◊〉 to lament the yll 〈◊〉 thy brother ▪ 〈◊〉 the faulte that thou 〈◊〉〈◊〉 towardes me . And 〈…〉 that myne answer 〈…〉 e pleasure . I doubt 〈…〉 of the payne of thy brother , 〈…〉 thy desyre ▪ 〈…〉 But yf he wyll that I 〈…〉 without that I 〈…〉 my selfe , he hymselfe shal do it . For 〈◊〉 I ought to feare ●● lesse ●●●●●owne , than his death . And ● ow● thou knowest well ▪ howe muche the honour of dammes doth demynishe it self , whan to soccour theyr louers ▪ they forget them selfes , Requyre me not than , to do that which thou thyselfe woldest not accōplysre , knowyst thou not in what obscuryte shoulde be my vertue , yf to the desyre of thy Brother . I shulde gyue lyght . Wolde to god , that of so graue and sadde a thynge , thou woldest not importune me . For by experyence thou shouldyst be certayn of the trouble that I haue of his torment .

¶ Haa howe many tymes haue I takyn to displeasure the●●i●a●iō he had of my beaultye , sythen it hath caused hym so moche myshap . Helas howe many tymes beynge alone , haue I wepte his wepyngꝭ , specially whan I consydered that he thynketh a thynge so impossyble . Beleue me that I haue more desyre to gyue hym remedy , than thou to seke it . And yf for other pryse , than for the honour I myght do it , I wolde be so redye ▪ to gyue it ●y●● , as he to receaue it . ❧ ☞ ❧ ❧

¶ But sythen that his g●yn can not be without my losse , he ought to content hym of the wyll , that I haue towardes hym , whiche I pray the cause hym tunderstand , and the yll that I haue , for the yll that he suffreth , whiche thou mayst assuredly wytnes to hym . And yf in myne answer thou fynd not that whiche thou sekest therin , put that fault and blame in myne honour and not in me . For yf without toffend my renowne ▪ I coulde soccoure thy brother , verely I woolde do it for the dolour that I haue of his . Therfore I pray that Belysa not to cō●eyue any dyspleasure towardes me herof , seyng that I haue deserued it in nowyse . And bycause that longe spekyng and lytell doynge is ●●s● trynge to a parson requyred I wyll leaue this mater without longer to declare . ❧ ✚ ❧

¶ The Auctoure .

A Lytell after , retourned my su●●er towardes me , who to ●●ioyce me , declared that she came from the syght of Lucenda , but she told me not th answer that she made her , for wysely she thoughte to cause me to thynke good , that whiche had ben refused to her . Neuertheles she coulde not so parswade me , that I wolde gyue fayth ther●●●to , or content my selfe so that I sawe not any thynge that wolde brynge Assurance of that , wherof she thoughte to dysguyse me . And also 〈…〉 lacketh , the saynge is 〈◊〉 doubtfull , by the meane wherof thynkynge very well that my sustes 〈◊〉〈◊〉 of her enterpryse , desper●● of all meane I determened to fay●● that I cared not for Lucenda , and ●● forget her I was aduertised that she 〈◊〉 caryd for my tormente ●●tho●● to haue any compassyon , and in de●● I dyd ●●●t ●●iche I had enterprysed 〈◊〉〈◊〉 my suster to cause her tu●● derstand that herafter I wold pey●● my selfe lytle to trauayle for her , and to learne to be from hensforth myne owne , without to alyenat my lyberty into the handes of a parson so ingrate , whiche my suster promysed me to do ▪ Neuertheles before that she wente thether I desyred her to take hede to the contenaunce that Lucenda wolde kepe whan she sholde shew her this message , for that better by her gesture than by her wordes she myght haue know ledge of her wyl . And aboue all thingꝭ that she notyd well yf she wold chaunge coulour . For by the vysage ( commonly ) is knowyn the thought of the herte , And also that whan she sholde cease her speche she shoulde marke well yf Lucenda wolde holde her peace , or make ●emblance lyttle to care therof . And yf than she wolde answere to the purpose , or without thynkynge theron or in wordes yl assured , For that scarsly may suche thyngꝭ be dyssimuled , whan they ar gouerned by passyons . Than after that my suster who intierly vnderstode my wyll , had wryten in her spyrite , and logid in her memory , that which I had told her , she departed to goo to se Lucenda , and after fyndyng her in a place conueuient , sayd vnto her .

¶ Belysa to Lucenda .

LUcenda yf my request do cause y● so muche dyspleasure as it rendreth me ashamed , I maruayle how thou canst ●oke vpon me . Neuer theles it is necessary that the ylles of this thy captife my brother gyue the dyspleasures , and that myne importunitie to the be dyspleasant , this not withstandynge I constrayned by the loue that I beare hym trustynge ( alwayes ) in thy vertu , haue ben bolde t appere before the with his lamētatyons , whiche I requyre the t understande , and suffer sythen that I my selfe ( without them ) can not endure . Knowe Lucenda that albeit my brother is determyned to refuse the bondage , that thy grace hath ioyned to his hert , yet the same is nayled so fyrmely , that notwithstandyngd that he wold do it , he fyndeth it impossyble , neuertheles he sayth he wyll assaye to do it , and wyll abandone the contrary makyng his absence mediatrice betwene thy slaughter and his death , thynkynge by this banyshement to fynde that whiche thy presence doth deny hym . ❧ ☞

¶ But yf thou consent to suche a thing and that by that he execute his thought , I assure the I shall lyue lyttell after hym , and thou shalt gyue me the death . Helas what batylmentes thou buyldyst , seynge that without longe taryeng thou fallest both his lyfe & myne , for that yf he absente hymselfe , it is impossyble that he lyue , neyther that I beynge sole dye not . So I shal be to the somuche out of fauore as I were thy mortall enemye , Surely thou takest more payne to resemble piteouse than thou arte , handlyng so yll the faythfull vinacitie of hym that wolde the more good than any other lyuynge wolde desyre to thee . And yet was there neuer seen so dere recompence for so lyberall an oblygacyon , Wylt thou haue his wyll hole , puttyng his lyfe in pieces . I praye the for the loue of me , establysshe new lawes to thy delyberacion Not that I wyll that by the same thou breake those , of thyne accustomed vertue . But yf thou doo that , whiche I wyll tell the , thou shalt loue & pray●e thy selfe , whiche is that with a very lytle meane thou shalt restore two lyties , in two parsones deed . Deny not than this benyfyte , sythen that by no thyng in the same thyne honour shal be molested . Consyder what shall come of my brother yf he absent hym selfe , and what on shall I remayne in his absence , haue respecte also to his pardicion , and forget not my solitarines .

¶ Helas remember the of his doloure and my payn , for godes sake , than be not so intier in thyne opinion , But do the contrarye without defylynge thy renowne , wherby thou shalt be serued and I conforted , rendre not the culpable of his dystruccion ▪ and of my torment . Endeuour to forget the remembraunce of thy wyll , and thynke that all thynges gouerned by the same , comonly comme more to repentaunce than to gayn or profyt seke not more , to be ennemy of myne importunities and be content to wryte to hym , to th entent he dy not Beynge yet in the mydest of his lyfe . For it is a worke most damnable there to gyue peyne where there is none offence . ❧ ❧ ☞ ❧ ⚜

¶ The answere of Lucenda , to Belysa .

BElisa I pray the to leaue this wepynge / And moderate thy passyons , for from hensforthe I wyll that whiche pleaseth the , Therfore reioyse the , wolde to god that nowe I had no tongue , for that without that same I sholde not speake a worde so farre absent from reason , but bycause I haue sayde it , let the fault therof be nowe extincte , and yet haue I ben to quycke to beleue thy counsayle , but I had no power to choise , So that I cannot saye I was by thy force forced , and by my wyll vanquyshed . And sythen that thou hast takyn the blame of this fault vpon the , thynke ( at the leaste ) to yelde me innocent therof without to gloryfye the of that thou canst do with me , for by thy teares thou haste had the wepons with the whiche myne auncient purpose hath ben vanquisshed Neuertheles I haue pleasure of my dyspleasure seyng thy comfort and repose . And bycause I haue somuche loued and affectyoned the , that I desyre my losse for thy gayne . I pray the that at the least thou recognyse towardes me somuche benefyt , as thou hast had of sportnuitie tobtayne the which thou shalt haue , puttynge not herafter to contempt this pryse that thou haste obteyned of me , for it is holden for a rule generall , that the thynges wherunto one can not attayne , ar muche estemed , But after they ar once put in his possession they ar holden for lytle & vilipended . Take hede than howe from this day forth thou art bownde agayn to me , and that the recompence therof be not put in oblyuyon day of thy lyfe . Consyder howe from hensforthe I open & lose the bonde of my renowne , which neuer came to woman of my lynage , and that worse is yf by that which I haue tolde the I be afore by the whiche I shall do I shall remayne fallen for that this begynnyng shall neuer take ende , I wyll than ( sythēit is so ) wryte to hym , and gyue hym amarke vpon me , by suche condycion , nenertheles y● ▪ my lettre shall put pease in his contynuall warres , And yf he purpose to demaunde agayn he shall percyue the losse of that whiche he hath recouered . Helas that it were the pleasure of god , that whan I receyued in my hert this determynacyon the yerth had swallowed me for euer . For the dolour is not heuy , that passyth quyckely , and also with the death myght finishe , that whiche remayneth immortall in my soule , but the spyryte shall suffer it , sythen that by petye he hath made so straunge an enterpryse agaynst hym selfe , and albeit Belysa I repent alredy of that which I haue graunted the. Yet neurtheles it is impossyble that I can reuoque me from it bycause that thou from hensforth shuldest conuerte thy peyne in to pleasure , I wyll than gyue place to thy requeste , and to th ende thou se what I wyll wryte to hym , I go here to begyn . ☞ ✚ ☜

¶ The letter of Lucenda to Arnalte .

I Beleue Arnalte that my letter shall fynde the ( whan thou shalt receyue it ) no lesse pleasaunt than agreed , my suster and I cam at sonne rysynge in to a churche of relygyon , after . I retyred me within a lytel selle where it was accustomed to here confessions , nete wherunto cam Lucenda to syt a lytel after , by the meane wherof seynge her in the place to vnderstande that whiche I wold tell her , I began to her suche a matt●er .

ALas Lucenda the grace that it maye please the nowe to extende to me is suche , that yf my power were not greatter or that this benyfyte were lesse , it should be impossible for me by any meane to satyffye it yf my payne were not taken of y● in comp tie of seruyces , And to make the to vnderstande that thou oughtest to receyue it , my face so desolate and thy faincte workes ar suffycyent , and that wors is , Thou haste not done to me onely wronge , but my suffraunce hath ( beyonde my pleasure ) gyuen knowledge to many of my torment , in suche sorte that many that wolde loue , haue ben put backe , and are ferefull to do it .

¶ Than sythen so it is , I pray the that in reputynge the of that whiche is passed thou emend it in tyme to come , being not herafter so intier to my desaduan tayge , to th ende that by thy workes , thou put pease to myne assaultes , I knowe not wherfore thou haste loste the wyll to be serued , consyderynge that all others desyre it , but thou alone , who refuseth it . It is than easy to knowe that I haue more necessytye of thy mercye , than thou hast desyer that I serue the. O what afflyctyons haue presented to me my so great fayth , and the lytle hope that I haue of the , whiche as thou knowest , haue intierly fallen my helth , in suche sorte , that whan leste of me thou hast playned the , more my dolour hath augmented it selfe helas yf it were possible for me to declare with the mouthe that which I haue thought in my spyryte , howe moche wronge sholdest thou gyue the for the yll that thou haste done me , Neuer man had lesse good , Neuer man suffred so , Neuer of so great memory was receiued so great obliu●on , myne affection , and thy myscōtentacyon gyue me the death whiche I haue wylled to make the to vnderstande to th end that hereafter , thou be to me a dame , maystres , and frende , and that thou haue knowledge by my great dyspleasure , of my moste great constancie , whiche for all these tormentes hath neuer varied nor hath not ben wery to suffer them , but rather hath estemed that for his gayn , whiche he hath loste by the , and not without great reason , For I haue not had lesse occasion to haue peyne , than thou hast beaultye to gyue it me . Sy then than that I am sure that thou knowest the loue , wherof I loue y● , thou shalte do iniustyre to reason & to my fayth yf in the thou establysshe not other facyons of doynge , restorynge by thy good dedes them , whome by desperation thou hast destayned , and to th ende that thou begyn to exercise workes of repentaunce , consent for the meryte , that is dew to me that I kys thy handes , desyring the humbly net to denye me this benyfyte , wout euer to requyre any other thynge of the , And yf thou se that I do the contrary , yelde me in payment by my payne and thyne obly●ion .

¶ The answer of Lucenda / to Arnalt .

Arnalt yf I had the word so muche at commaundement as y● , I wolde answere the so well as thou caust lamente thy selfe , and y● shuldest not be lesie cased of the which I should tell the , than thou remaynest sorowfull for that I do . Thy presence and my shame haue so strayetely assyeged me as I knowe not what to say , neyther wyshe seynge that alredy by that I haue done , I haue so hurt myne honoure , as it is harde to hele the same , for a thynge that I can tell the , for albeit that myne ●gnoraunce doth absoyle me , the reason neuertheles doth condempne my reputacion , which I haue put in daunger for not to offende the ▪ Thou sayest that I as repentaunt of myne ylles passed , should conuert thy harde payne in to grace present . But by a greater occasion ought I rather to wepe the faulte that I haue done than to lament the ylles that thou hast , sythen that by honour they are to the tollerable , and that the ercour whiche I haue nowe commytted doth tourne it selfe agaynst me , to my exceadynge great reproche , and the more is thou as a man canst endure that which to me a yonge dainosell is not parmitted to suffer . So the daunger that threteneth me , in speakynge to the , may● tourne the more to dysaduauntage than to any recompence , for that I fere thou canst not commyt this victorye to sylence , in so muche that the possession of semblable fauour constrayneth comtyme the tongue to forget that whiche the herte and reason endeuour to kepe secret . But yf thou so do it that shal be at my charge , Alas howe moche more hathe thyne importunitie had power than my defence what should she be that to beleue the shoulde not be vnfaythful to her selfe . Alas howe daungerous is the parsuasyon of men towardes vs , others symple wemen . The beginning wher of ( yf we were wyse ) we ought aboue all other thynges te●chewe . And bycause I fynd my selfe deceaued , other ought to take example by me .

¶ Haa sorowfull Lncenda , thou arte nowe abond woman , & thou Atnalte tryumphant in this vyctory , Neuertheles beware that th exceding great glorye of the same make the not to lose ( by extreme ioye ) that whiche thou haste gayned with so great doloure . Remembre the that the secret healeth that whiche the opener doth wounde Thou prayest me that thou mayste kys my handes , I am content therwith , prouyded that thou thynke not , that I take it for presumpsion , and vppon suche maner and condycyon , the frome hensforth thou shalt abstayne the to be so importunate towardesme . And of this be thy suster witnes , that hath alredy done so moche for the , as she hath gyuen occasyon that I haue so forgotten my selfe , as to do that whiche I do . ☞ ❧ ☞ ❧

¶ Arnalte to the Pylgryme .

Lucenda had not scarse ended her matter , but the houre forced vs to departe , bycause there cam so many people into the churche , that the were constrayned hastely to retyre from thens . Neuertheles it was not without receuinge the benefyte that she had promysed me , to kys her fayre hā●es . After my suster and I toke licens and departed , eyther into his house , O god yf I were put to chose the domynation of all the worlde , to lose the benyfite , that I had , I call to wytnes them that parfytly do loue , that my ioye was worth moche more than y● . So I departed thens content , by the meane wherof my suster seynge me , releued of so great a fall , contynewed by all meanes to entertayne me in pleasure . And in dede prayed me that I wolde go to solace me in a place of hers , that nere was to the Cytye of Che●es , wherunto I agreed wyllingly , wher●y at the same houre the enterpryse was executed , and bycause the situation of the place was accommodate to the pleasure of the chayse , I caused some sortes of hawkes to be brought with me , tastaye with this pastyine , and the ●enyfyte that I had lately receyued of Lucenda to retorne to my fyrst helth . ❧ ☞ ❧

¶ Now ●eyng there arryued , I was by my suster so well fested , and with so good ●her ▪ receyued , that a lytell after the coulour , and the force that I had lost retourned in me . But it happened that one day as I wold go a huntyng as I thoughte to leape to my horse , many south sayers came to me to declare my fall to come , for sodaynly the weather that was fayre and clere shewed it selfe cloudy , and full of tempest , and a spaynell that moche I loued ran bytwene my legges and quakynge , that one wold meruayle , hem began to baye and cry ferefully , And I that than lytell cared for the southsayers , neyther of cases semblable for all thes causes , fered not myne enterpryse . So puttyng a faulcon vppon my fyste , I went to the feldes , howbeit scarse had I commenced that which I sought . But I began to remembre , that ther was now a longe tyme syth I sawe the gentylman of whome hertofore I tolde the. And that neuer syth I had declared the affeccyon that I had to Lucenda , he shewed me so good countenaunce as he was wont for lytell & lytell he absented hym selfe from me , without more to vyset me , neyther tenquyre what I dyd , and bycause that the more parte of men at variable in amity , I thought that the same had ben the cause of his absence , & on thother part , I thought that it shoulde be impossyble to hym to se me to suffer yll , where he coulde gyue me remedye , But as I was in this thought the faulcon that I bare vppon my fyst , fell styffe deed vppon the grounde , whiche augment●d all togy ther the presumptyon that was sodenly come to me vppon my compaguyon Yerso . For my hert muche panted immediatly . And I began to thynke of my dog , that so cryeo in the morninge , by the meane wherof I wylled to departe to my lodgynge , than I came by chaunce by an hylles syde from the whiche easely I myght decerne the lodginge of Lucenda , where I harde a brute of taberdes and shalmes , that sownded in the mountaynes whiche I founde straunge , bycause the season was not conuenient for suche pastime . Wherfore I becam more pensyfe th● before , and entred in great suspicyon of my dammage to come , yet beynge in the place from whens , I myght deserne the lodgynge of the whiche proceded my truste , I helde me there so longetyme , that the nyght sodenly cam vppon me , before that I coulde retourne to my suster , who had accustomed to tary for me , whan I was abrode , and come to receiue me at the entre of her house , which she dyd not than , which augmentyd all my doubtes , and that yet worse was beynge arryued in the place wher she was , she spake not one word at all to me , but she had her face so sorowful that it was meruayle , than becam I muche abasshed , bicause she spake not to me , I durste not anye thynge enquyre of her , doubtynge to vnderstand by her purposes the newes that somuche I fered , yet at th end I coulde not forbere , that I demaunded her not , what moued her to be so melancolie . Than she put her somuche to wepe that for th abundaunce of her teares she coulde not answer me tyll her wepynge was diminisshed , & that she had the worde free , than she decla red to me that this day Lucenda was maryed to yerso , whom I estemed so muche for my frende . Whan I vnder stode this matter , I promyse the pylgryme my frende , that I thought to dye sodenly , for I had my herte so seased , that on euery poynt my forces fayled me , and my doloure renewed it selfe , in suche sorte as I coulde not speake , than my diuinatures were knowen . than the brute herd by me on the hylles syde was reueled to me , by the meane wherof I fell in the place so rudely that they that were present estemed me traun sed , after assone as I coulde recouer me , I toke the letters that I had receyued of Lucenda , and tare them in peces , enteringe in suche desperation , that I tare my berde , and my here . Albeit that suche effectes ar feminine yet loue by his lawes doth reduce often his subiectes in this extremytye , A lyttell whyle after that the confor●e of my suster and the reason had put to myne ylles some yease , I caused to apparell all my saruauntes with blake mournynge , And a lytell after a woman seruaunt in whome Lucenda had great truste cam to me to cause me to vnderstand the parte of her maystris that in this maryage she had ben forced , and that more by th importunytie of her parentes , than by her consent was constrayned to enclyne therunto . After I had longe hard her , and she accomplisshed her message she retourned from thence , leauyng me more than before in dolour and sorowfulnes , and it is necessarye that thou vnderstande , that she founde me apparelled in a blacke Cape , aboute the whiche were letters in broderye and scrypture suche .

¶ Tell her syne that she is pleased Of her captyfe to be the bonde That my lyfe I haue reserued Lyuynge by see , or els by londe .

THis chambryere wyse & wel aduised had great compassion of my dolour , and it is expedient that thou vnderstand she had charge of her maystres to take hede aswel to myne apparell , as to my fassyon of doynge By the meane wherof she cast her eye vppon this cape , & reteyned very wel the deuyse wrytten about it . After she departed towardes Lucenda leauynge me in no lesse despite of this mariage , than sorowful for the treason that yerso had done me . Whiche so empressed it selfe in my spyryte , that I concluded to fyght with hym , to cause hym to recoginse it before the kyng & euery other parson . And therfore I sent hym a cartell wherof the matyers were suche .

¶ The Cartell of Arnalt to yerso .

YErso to th ende that euery one knowe howe traytourous haue ben the mysoremyd purposes wherwith in secret thou hast abused me I wyl now inpublyke manifest them th entent that from hensforthe thy punysshement be for others eternall example , and to render to thy fault egall chastisment , I trust with y handes to vanquysshe the , and by wordes to dyf fame the , and that by the meane of thy mysoemeanoure , and th assuraunce that I haue in my good right . But to th end that thou iudge that thy selfe , and that none excuse the , haue remembraunce howe longe we haue had togythers amitie fraternell and sworne company by the meane wherof , thynkyng that thou were faythfull , I declared to the intierely my secrettes without councelyng any from the , & amonge others th affectyon that I had to Lucenda , wherin thou thy selfe haste entertayned me & promysed to ayde me , thou spakest well , than lyke an yll man to deceaue me , thou dyddest cause me to vnderstand ▪ by many meanes that thou were well content , gyuynge me thy fayth , that albeit thou were her saruaunt yet ( for the loue of me ) thou wouldest leaue it , whiche I beleued vnto that the effecte dyd iniurye to thy worde , & that in hydyng y● from me , thou haste robbed me , and taken her to thy wyfe makyng the vsurpateur of the recompence of my trauayles , this doinge y● hast wylled to become not onely mine enemye , but also thy owne , wherof I haue muche maruayle for I knowe vell that thou knowest how muche the vertue and the workes of amytie are conformable , yet before that thou regardest that thou dydest well to defyle & defame thy renowne by great treason nakynge the , different from the vertue of the parentes , no lesse than the whighte ●s knowen from the couloute blacke . Nowe to th ende that of so great vyany thou quyckely receaue shame .

¶ Thou shalte vnderstand that with he weapons that thou wylt chose , I wyll kyll the , and wyll put the by force out of the campe , where I wyll make the to know that thou haste done the greatest vylanye and disloialtie , that coulde be thought . For with the ayde of god my handes and the same thyne infydelytie shall gyue me entyer vengeance of the , therfore chose the weapons as it is the custome , after hauing herd thyne answere , I wyll assygne that the campe and the daye . ☞ ❧

¶ The answere of yerso to the Cartell .

ARnalt I haue receyued thy cartell , and accordynge to that thou sayest , yf thou haue th effect so muche at the aduauntage as thy wordes are dysmeasured , I yelde me all redy vanquyshed , and repute that the vanqueroure . But it shall goo well otherwyse , for in my handes y● shalt fynde no lesse force , than in thy wordes I haue founde infamye . But as far as I thynke thou art to saye , and I to execute , So thy pryde shal be the cause that the estraungers ( for the in ●urye that thou doste me ) and thy parentes and frendes ( by that which I wyll do to the shall lytell playne the , seynge that it shoulde be great iniustice yf with the death which thou so muche deseruest thou shouldest not receyue the chastisment of thy glorye . Thou sayest that to th end that my fault be clerly knowen , I shoulde remember me of our so comon amytie , with the which thou dyddest communicate to me thy moste secret affayres . Surely I wyll not deuy it , for than I should go much agaynst reason & verytie . But I haue knowen better to kepe it , than thou thy selfe to conferme it , so that yf openly thou haddest not so manyfestly dyffamed me , I had in secret satisfyed the , in that wherin thou chargest me , And surer I am that after thou haddest herde me speake thou shouldest haue holden me more for thy faythful frende thou for an yll man or deceauour , consyderynge that asmoche for thy reme dye and saluation , as for my pleasure or prosyte I haue taken Lucenda to wyfe , trustyng that this maryage should make an ende of thy tormente . And also that seynge the in dysposytion to lyue but a while & moche to suffer , me thought it for the best to do that I haue done . To th ende that hauynge not more truste therin thou myghtest recouer thy desperate helth , what so euer it be they that by apparence shall Judge therof , shal thynke it more for incertayn , than for lykely to be trewe , that wherof thou gyuest me the charge . But bycause that the intencion absoyleth or condempneth , I temyt me to the same and also the veryte of this dede ought to proue it selfe more by effecte than by wordes . Therfore the iudgement shall surcease vnto the daye of th erecution . Than thou shalt se how moche thou haddest gayned to holde thy peace , and that which thou shalt lose to haue so vniustly spoken , for my ryght , and thy pryde than shal be iudged . But sythen that to y● , and to thy lyke , I wolde lytle speke and rudely execute , I aduertyse the that I wyl make the vnsaye it as an yll and iniuste parson , and to do this I chose suche weapons , we shal be armed in estate of men of armes except the ryght arme whiche shal be bare , the speres egall / and eyther of vs , two swerdes the horses berdyd with chauffrens and crymeneres . ❧ ☞ ❧

¶ Therfore whan y● wylt , appoynte the daye and place , for with the ayde of hym that bytwene , thyne iniuste & myne ygnoraunce ought to be iudge , I trust to kyll the , or to put the out of the Campe or els to vanqueshe the as it is reason .

¶ Arnalte to the Auctoure .

Sythen that the wepons were apointed , I retyred me to the kyng , whom I enformed trewely of all that which was passed betwen yerso and me . And bycause that thyn fydelite of myne enemy was thought to hym very estraunge , he was content in obseruenge the lawes vppon suche seates establysshed , to gyue and parmyt vs the campe , after at the day assy gned yerso and I were before his maiestye who had caused to be made an esch affaulte to se who shuld remayne the vanquerour . Than he went to so our weapons , whiche he founde egall wherfore after the othes in suche cases accustomed , and that the Herauldes had done theyr debnoure we entred in to the Campe , to do our force and ranne the one agaynst thother , with suche strengh , that with the force of the metynge the lytle amytie that we bare th one to thother myght know it selfe . But as yerso was no lesse handsome than a good ryder he toke me in tharme that I bare dysarmed , and hurte me sore , as to me I gaue hym only in the vyser / but I coulde not so iustely take hym that I dyd hym any yll , how beit our speres flewe in pe●es by the meane wherof we had redely recours to our sword● , with the whiche by great endeuoure the medlynge began in suche sorte as the longnes and sharpnes of the fyght was suche that the assystence were werye to se vs and we to laye on , and to make it shorte to the , the lot fell vpon yerso , who remayned vanquysshed . And therby his iniustyce was knowen , and my good ryght opened and declared , howbeit yerso estemynge more the honoure both of hym and his , than this propre lyfe , wolde not in any wyse vnsay it , but rather receyue than with shame and dysonour lenger to lyue , So Lucenda remayned wedowe , I vyctoryouse , and he vanquysshed out of the campe . Wherfore the company seuered them selfs , & I reryred me in to my house . And as I caused my woundes to be loked on , I was by chau●se aduertysed of the great mournyng that Lucenda made for thin fortunie comme to her deed housbande . Therfore I determyned to offer me to her , and to receyue her for my wife , yf it were agre able to her , trustynge by this 〈◊〉 to cause her to forget the moruynge that she bare for my deed enemye , Th●● I wrote to her in this sorte .

¶ The Letter of Arnalte to Lucenda .

LUcenda yf in the tyme of so great warre I demaunde the peace , I pray that take it not in yll parte seynge that whiche I do , is for more testeme thy vertue great , than the fault that I haue commytted towardes the , as to the myschaunce come in the parsone of thy deed husbande , the vsurpateur of my moste great riches , th only god hath knowledge of the dyspleasure that I haue therof , howbeit yf he haue dyspleased me by his occasyon he hath pleased me for thyne , for that yf I had not offended the , thou had d●st not knowen to manyfest the vertue to pardon that is in the , the whiche amonge all is worthy of prayse . Than to th ●nde that in pardonynge me the same vertue may be apparaunt to all others , gouerne the dyspleasure by dyscretion . For yf thou do otherwise thy repu●acyon shall dyminysshe therby , and shall resnayne blamed , wyll not than to deney me the benefyte that I requyre y● to satysfye vs bothe , doinge mercy to hym of whom thou sholdest demaunde pardone . Helas I knowe thou arte so sorwfull , that I muche dought to come to myne entent , sythen I haue fayled therof in the tyme , that thou haddest more occasyon to do the same . But I proteste I wyll not demaunde the any thynge wherof thou mayst take displeasur , for yf my payn do constrayne me to do otherwyse , the feare doth tourne me from it . Neuertheles yf thou wylt order the by the waye of reason , thou oughtest testeme the more enemye of thy selfe then of me , that is thyne , for yf I haue kylled thyne husbande , his deathe hathe ben th ende of one lyfe . But thou that haste caused many to dye , neuer repen rest the of one sole . So than thynke of me that which y● wylt be presumed of the , and yf thou do that , I fele all redy myne offence remytted . Thy deed husbande hath wounded me , so that it is moche doubted of my healynge , yet I fere not in any wyse the daunger nor all the yll that I haue therof , nor it is no torment to me , for by a longe tyme I haue ben by the so mortally oultrayged , that this fyrste doloure whiche toucheth me in the spryte doth blemishe and stayne the other , y● onely doth empyre my bodye , so muche the more as the same shall receaue healynge , the more that of the spryte engreueth & augmentith it selfe , I am contynually dremynge a thousande thynges , in some I fynde confort thynkynge thy lyfe in repose , in others all the contrary , And one onely thyng gyueth me some trust , whiche I wyll declare to the ▪ To th ende that of my loyalty & great faythe thou be more assured . But before I do it haue remembraunce that whiche the death destroyeth is irrecuperable what so euer vowes , an gre or wepynges , be made therfore , trust not to call agayn thy husband by th abundaunce of teares , neyther by great mournynge . But for the better renewe in me the fayth that thou had dest in hym , and sythen I haue taken hym away from the , I wyll gyue my selfe to the , yf it be agreable to y● , Neuertheles ▪ ●f the loue of hym do blynd the so that thou thynkest that I am not worthy for the , gyue not fayth al togyther to thy iudgement , but take th aduyse of another , for this new accydent ( peraduenture ) hath all redy , vanquysshed thyne . Than thou shalt se , whether thyne aduyse shal be conforme to it , that thy frendes wolde gyue the , It is expedient I tell the , that by reason he that coulde vāquyshe thyne busbande may well meryte the place of hym , of my linage I wyl not speke to the , bycause thou knoweste it better than I coulde nowe wryte it to the. But wether thou oughtest to be my wyfe , for the merite of my trauayle I make the iudge therof , knowing that thou knoweste well , howe moche to loue the I haue hated my propre lyfe . Therfore yf thou haue desyre to gyue place , to my request I pray the aduer tyse me therof incontynent .

¶ The Auctoure foldweth his matter .

WHan my Letter was ended I caused my Suster to come who was no lesse sorowful for the woundes that I had , than glad for the vyctorye gayned . Albeit that in some sort the death of hym that was vanquysshed greued her moche , at her aryuall I declared to her myne enterpryse , praying her to tel me her aduise . Than she answered me that she found this delyberacyon very straunge , and yet that sythen my dolour myght slake it selfe , by this meane she counsayled me to do it , by somoche was her opynion conforme to myne , as she toke my letter . And than went to Lucenda who so soone as she parceyued my Suster prayed her that she wolde come to the maryage , wherof I had gyuen her the occasyon , my suster knewe not what she ment . But after she myght well kuowe it by th effecte , for at the same houre all her kynsfolkes were assembled togythers to conduct her in to a Relygyon , where she had choysen to lyue the rest of her lyfe . And bycause that my suster was arryued at that houre she wolde se what sholde be th ende of this enterpryse , whiche was suche that Lucenda was made a Nonne vyolate and entred into the monastery , where my suster conducted her , and bycause that rather she had not oprtunitie she than declared to her myne entencion , fyndynge her conuenyently , howbeit so sone as she vnderstode to name me onely she retired from my suster , and with a maruelous dysplesure left her sole sayenge to the Abbesse , that she was not entred in to her house to consente that the suster of her mortall enemye sholde come thether to importune her whiche my suster vnderstandynge departed out of the monastery and retorned towardes me , wyllyng subtylly to dysguyse frome me suche sorowfull newes , howbeit by my suspecyon the dyssymulatyon was at the last dyscouered , so that she was constrayned to cause me to vnderstande all the hole trouthe , helas what is that louer , the hauynge had lyke dysfauoure wolde not demaunde streyght the deathe / whiche incontynent were gyuen me , yf the force of the presentes had not preserued me there from , Helas the same had ben well agreable to me for that it had supplyed that faulte of myne infortuni● . So remayned I without more to truste any remedy for all meanes of comfort , habandoned me wherfore knoweng not to whome to haue recours , I retyred me towardes god , desyeryng hym most humbly to haue petye of me . But for my desertis I was not herde , and fyndyng not comforte of myne ylles towardes god , neyther in the worlde I determyned to go in to a place so solytarye that none shold euer se me , albeit whan my suster was aduertised therof , she was so afrayde that she thought to dye , and she came towardes me wepynge so bytterly that I had great pite therof , afterwardes she caste her to my fete , & thinkyng to breake myne enterpryse she tolde me .

¶ Belysa to her Brother .

HAa my Brother I haue knowen that for texecute thy wyll in absentynge thy selfe from reason , thou haste enterprysed a very straunge voyage wherin streyght thou wylte trauayle . Helas I praye the for goddes sake that thou wylt forget this fantazye and be not occasyon to cause folkes to speake of the to thy dysaduauntage ▪ Consyder that they that shall se the departe wyll say it is more for the feare of the kynsfolkes of yerso , then for the payne of the loue , forse incōueuiencꝭ to th ende of the same , before that thou come to repent the , whiche doth accustome to presente it selfe after the remedy is absent , seke not by thyne absence to make thy renowme to perysshe . And yf that constrayne the not , remember y● that thou leauest me sole , y● knowest well that myne honoure by thyne is conserued and that yf thou go I shal be estemed hereafter rather an estraunger , than a damoysell of Thebes , hast thou for gotten that by the laste pestelence we were depryued from our father & mother and of the most parte of our kyns folkes , and yet beynge with the I haue alwayes thought to be no lesse fathered and mothered & otherwyse frended , than whan they all lyued , consyderest thou not , what thou losest in losinge thy frendes , Regard that the kynge hath nourysshed the , the countrey that thou leauest , & the great benefytes that thou refusest to folow away so croked Beleue me my brother & beware to do that thynge wherof afterwardes thou be reprehended and yll estemed . The mountaynes knewe not any pray se the bestes cruell make no dyfference betwene the vertuouse & the yll neyther the byrdes haue no iudgement to conforte the. So who shall in this place prase suche feares of armes , as thou hast done or playne the tyme that thou shalt lose here in respect to contynew to get here praise and hygh renowme in battailes , hast thou forgotten that in thynges moste sharpe and dyfficyll the gentyll hertes efforce them , and augment theyr force , yf in this thou hast not regarde , thynke at the leaste , that thy workes & thy renowme shal perysshe with thy banishement , and the more is yf it happen that thou haue ylles , or trauayles in these solytary places who shall ayde y● to sustayn them is it not than better for the , not to refuse this countre nor them with whome thou haste accoustomed to lyue , with out to vse suche desperatyon , to go to lose the with the beastes in the desert so solytarye , where thou shalt fynde none that comforte the or do the ayde , and I sorowful to whome shall , may I complayne me , whan the kynsfolke of yer to after thy departure shall torment me . Ha my brother for the honour of god I praye the to moderate thy dolour , & comforte the in thy selfe . Than thou shalt se how much myne aduyse is better , yf thou tarye than the domage that thou shalt haue in absentynge the. Suffer neuer that by thy meane I dye in recompence of the amyte that I beare the. ❧ ☞ ❧

¶ The answere of Arnalte .

My dere suster I haue wel vnderstonde all that thou haste tolde me , wherin I wyll satysfye the. And therfore I praye the beleue that I haue well thought to an the whiche thou hast shewed me , and in th●nking theron receyued vpon euery poynte a very great passyon , so that all togythers haue gyuen me a torment worse than the death , specyally in the whiche towcheth the ( for others in respecte ) therof ar lyttle to me , bycause tha● the doloure that I receyue for loue , preserueth me as he that loueth , may know wherin of some I shal be excused , and of others by wrong condempned wherof I wyllytten care , for lyke as the vertue knowen , can not be offended so y ● ●udgementes that shal be made of me shal be founde comonly faulse , Thou tellest me that it shal be publyshed y ● ●ayther the feare of the kinsfolkes of yer so , than my martyre hath caused my departure , fearynge to receyue the payment of that whiche I haue done to hym . Assure the that they that knowe to loue wyll , neuer holde ▪ so fowle purposes . For they knowe that the vertue of the courage is famylyer to the loue . And further I am not so yll wylled , nor of all so lytell knowen that my renow me is not moche more than suffycyente , to breake suche false report ▪ Thou pray est me to haue remembraunce of my seruauntes , and of the great welth of the same , I haue suche memorye that suche as wyll folow me , more to cause them to knowe the loue that ▪ I ●ere them , than for the necessyte that I haue of them . I wyll cary them with me , and of myne other gooddes from hensforth , I make them thyne . As to the reste esteme me not so negligent that I wyll leaue the sole . But before my departure ▪ I wyll get the an husbande ▪ that shall bere the companye . Of one thynge newe . I pray the that is thou take courage ▪ to th end that whan the daye of my departure shall comme , thy dolour do not double my trouble . And for the faste request that euer I truste to make y● , I pray the , that without ende thou lameut the of Lurenda making eternall me morie of my perdicyon , and of her trueltye . Neuertheles yf thou se her some tyme in the termes of repentance , that onely without more , thou kepe the from vengeaunce , sythen the in that benyfyt consysteth the meane of my truste so desperate . And vpon this poynte , I wyll cesse frome lenger to fynde the communication , to take away from the th occasyon more timportune me thynkynge to tourne my voyage . And therfore my suster speake not to me therof at any tyme herafter , wherfore after I was hole of my woundes I went , to the kynge whom I prayed to gyue an husbande to my suster , whiche he promysed me to do . And after that in this case , his wyll and my desyre were executed , I was greatlye importuned by hym vpon the delaye of myne enterpryse . But for somoche as his wyll was contrarie , and discor daunte to myne intention , we taried in contraryete of opinion leuenge hym assured of my departure , whereof he was so dyspleased , that he wolde not gyue me lycence , but puttynge backe all thynges specyally the wepynges , and lamentacyons of my dere suster . After many farewellys and enbrasemētes of my frendes I toke my iourney , wherof the kynge beynge aduertysed wolde with his gentyluiē do me somoche honoure as to conducte me out of the Cytye . But bycause that with out to moleste the , I can not declare to the the matyers that than passed betwene vs . I am content to concele them . At th ende the wepynges of my suster and my teares made for euer the seperacyon of vs two , where by the kyng and his retourned in to the cytye , and I & myne entred in to our sorowfull iorney , folowynge the whiche a lytell whyle after , I felt my spyrite dyscharged moche of the heuynes of his fardell , therfore all resolute , I founde better the waye that I had chosen , than my taryenge at Thebes , for myne infortunye desyred more that I sholde lyue the rest of my dayes amonges the beastes brute , than among creatures reasonable , albeit that theyr condytours be entyerly different from ours . By the meane wherof hauyng iornied by a longe tyme I cam by chaunce into this sharpe & solitary mountayne , in the whiche consyderynge the sytuation . I determined here to edyfy this house so sorowfull of semblable matyer as a● made the workis of Lucenda . ¶ So master my frende thou knowest nowe the secret tormente & warre that I haue sustayned to loue . And yf my longe matyer hath dyfferred thy voiage , and that a parsone so infortunate hath not deserued that for hym thou sholdest receiue so moche dyspleasure , I pray the pardone hym . And to the rest sythen thou deternynest to departe hens this day haue remembraunce of the gayge the I haue of thy fayth , and of the promysses that thou haste made me , whiche ar that thou shalte vnyuersally publysshe , and cause the dames wyse and dyscreate to vnderstande the thynges that I haue commycate to the. ❧ ❧ ☞ ❧ ❧

¶ Finis .

¶ Imprynted by me Robert wyer / dwellynge in seynt Martyns parysshe at Charyng Crosse .

¶ Cum priuilegio / ad imprimendum solum .

ROBERT WYER .