HEPTAMERON , OR THE HISTORY OF THE FORTUNATE LOVERS ;

Written by the most Excellent and most Virtuous Princess , Margaret de Valoys , Queen of NAVARRE ;

Published in French by the Privilege and immediate Approbation of the KING ;

Now made English by Robert Codrington , Master of Arts.

LONDON , Printed by F. L. for Nath: Ekins , and are to be sold at his Shop at the Gun , by the West-End of St. Pauls . 1654.

THose who undertake to render in another Tongue the Conceptions of great Princesses , ought to be indued with the like Spirit . I will not be too vain to commend , nor too vile to undervalue my self . For the Divinity by this great Lady in many places here inserted , it is left to your Candor to interpret of it ; But for the Philosophy , you shall undoubtedly find , that most wisely she hath sorted her discourse , in fit persons , to the four Complexions of the Natural Body . Besides , you shall every where read most excellent Precepts of Moral Philosophy : The Canonists also , and the Casuists , will here have enough , in many passages , on which with admiration to reflect . I am informed that the Queen had fully finished the Tenth days work ; but the Friers and Religious Men , who have deprived us of the two last Journals , and of the greatest part of the eighth , would have deprived us also of all the Rest , if possibly they could have prevented it : And this is that of which Gruget doth implicitely complain , in his Epistle to the succeeding Queen of Navarre , which for your further satisfaction I have here inserted . If any thing in the whole Work shall appear too light , you must ballance it with that which shall be found more solid , and impute it to the simplicity of those times , and to the Condition of that Court , where Mars and Venus were for a long time the two culminating Planets .

I Had not presumed to present unto you this Book of the Novels of the late Queen your Mother , if the first Edition had not omitted or concealed her Name , and so changed the whole form of it , that many did not know it ; wherefore , to make it worthy of its Author , whenever it was divulged , I gathered together all the original and best written Copies that possibly I could procure , and justifying them by my own , I have reduced the Book to the true order in which she had dressed it . Since by the permission of the King , and your own consent , it hath been committed to the Presse to be published in that primitive integrity in which it ought to be , which doth prompt me to call into my memory what Count Balthazar , in the Preface of his Courtier doth affirm of Boccace , that his work of Recreation , meaning his Decameron , did bring him more honour than all those more serious pieces which he did compose in the Latin or the Italian tongue . In this same manner the Queen of Navarr , the true Ornament of our Age ( from whom you nothing do degenerate in the love and knowledge of good Letters ) exercising her witty mirth , and playing on the various Acts of human life , hath left such excellent instructions , that there is no Man but may be taught therby to improv his lif● & understanding , and according to the judgement of all , she hath surpassed Boccace in the ●leg●●●● discourses which she hath made on every one of her Accounts , for which she deserveth to be praised not only above all excellent Ladies , but also amongst the most learned Men : For of the three stiles of speaking described by Cicero , she hath made choice of the plain one , like unto that of Terence in Latin , which appeareth to every one to be easie to imitate , but he who undertaketh it , shall find nothing more difficult . True it is , that this present will not be new , and you will acknowledge it as descended to you by Inheritance ; Neverthelesse I assure my self , you will with a glad eye observe it in this second impression to be restored to its first condition , for I understand that the first was distastful to you , not that he was an unletterd Man Who took pains in it , and we may easily believe that he would not disguise it without some occasion , but his travel is not found to be acceptable . I therefore Madam do present it to you , not for any pretences of my own in it , but having only unmasked it , and rendord it in its Native lustre . It belongs to your Royal Greatnesse to favour it , being derived from your Illustrious Family . It carryeth also that Mark in the Forehead of it , which will be as a safe conduct to it through all the World , and render it acceptable to all good Companies . For my self , acknowledging the Honour you shall do me to receive from my hand this work digested into its first order , I shall be perpetually obliged to do you most humble service .

ON the first day of September , in which the Baths of the Pyrenaean mountains doe begin to enter into their greatest virtues , there were lodged in the Houses of those that kept the Baths several persons , as well of France & Spain as of other places , Some of them to drink the water , others of them to bath themselves in it , and some again to make use of the very mud thereof , which are so wonderfull in the effects , that the sick who have come thither , being forsaken by their Physicians , have returned all sound & in good health . It is not my intention to declare unto you the situation or virtue of these Baths , but to give you an account of that only which shall concern the subject of what I write . In these Baths the sick do continue three months and more , untill by their amendment they do find that they are in a good condition to return from whence they came . But at that very time there fell such great & wonderfull showrs , that it seemed God had forgot his promise which he made to Noah , to destroy the world no more by water ; for all the Cubans and Lodgings of the Hosts , that were toward the Baths , were so fill'd with water , that it was impossible to continue in them . Those who came from the Coast of Spain returned by the Mountains , making what shift they could , and those who knew which were the nearest and most compendious ways , were those who escaped best of all : But the Lords and Ladies of France thinking to return as pleasantly as they came forth , did find the small Brooks so greatly encreased , that they could not ford them , and when they came to passe over the River Gane in Bearn , which was not two foot in depth when they set forth , they found it on their return swolln so impetuous , that they turned another way to find the bridge , which being made of wood only , was carried away by the violence of the waters ; and some of them thinking that by the assembling together of many men , they should in their passage break the course of the raging stream , they were suddenly born down before it , so that those who were to follow , did lose both the power and the desire to go after them , wherfore as well to find out a new way , as for that they were of several opinions , they did separate themselves ; Some of them travelled over the hight of the hills , and passing by Arragon they came into the County of Rousillon , & from thence to Narbon ; Others repaired directly to Barcelona , where some took shipping , & passed by Sea to Marseilles , & others to Aiguemore : But an antient Gentlewoman , and of great experience , called Oysilla , did determin with her self to forget all the danger of the bad ways to reach unto our Ladies at Serrance , being assured that if she could find means to escape the danger , that the Monks there would give her courteous entertainment , and so much she laboured , that at last she arrived to that place , passing by strange ways , up hill and down hill , so difficult , that for all her age and the weight of her body , she was enforced to goe on foot the greatest part of the way , but the thing most to be pittied was that the greatest part of her Servants and Horses dyed on the unpassable places , so that she arrived at Serrance , attended only with one Man and one Woman , where she was charitably received by the Abbot . There was also at those Baths amongst the French two Gentlemen , who travelled thither rather to accompany the Ladies whose servants they were , than for any indisposition of their bodies . These Gentlemen observing the company to depart , and that the hushands of the Ladies did take them along with them , did resolve with themselves to follow them at some distance , that they might not be discovered by any . One Evening the two married Gentlemen and their Ladies taking up their lodging at the house of one who was rather a Nighway-man than a Peasant , the two young Gentlemen were contented to take their repose for that night in a Cottage not far from them : About midnight they heard a great noise , at the sound whereof they did arise and their Grooms with them , and demanded of the Host of the House what was the occasion of the Tumult , The poor man who did partake with them in the fear , told them that they were naughty boys who came to a Highway-man who kept an Inn close by him to take a part with him in the booty ; Whereupon the two Gentlemen with their Grooms did immediatly arm themselves , and made hast to the succour of the Ladies , for whom they esteemed Death to be more happy , than to live after them ; And as soon as they came unto the house , they found the first Gate broken open , and the two married Gentlemen gallantly defending themselves with their servants ; but because the Robbers were too numerous , and that they were sorely wounded , they began to retire themselves , having lost a great number of their servants ; the two young Gentlemen looking up to the window , beheld the two Ladies weeping and crying out so lowdly , that being transported with love and pity ( like two inraged Bears descending from the Mountains ) they fell upon the Robbers with so much sury , that having killed a great number of them , those that were lest not desiring to come under such violent blowes , did fly unto a place of retreat . The young Gentlemen having thus defeated those Assassinates , of whom the Host himself was one , did understand that the Hostess was worse than her Hushand , and therefore they did send her after him by a thrust of a Rapier , and entring into one of the lower Chambers , they found one of the married Gentlemen giving up the Ghost , the other had received no hurt at all , but onely his cloaths were much slashed , and run through with swords , and his sword was broken , and being very sensible of the relief which these two Gentlemen brought unto him , having embraced them , and thanked them , he desired that they would not forsake him , which was a request very easie unto them to grant , wherefore having interred the Gentleman that was dead , and comforted his Lady in the best manner that they could , they took their way as God did direct them , without knowing on what hand to go . If you please to understand the names of the three Gentlemen and the Ladies , he that was maried was called Hircan , and his wife Parlament ; the other Lady who so lately became a Widdow was called Longeren , the two Gentlemen who so happily came in to their succour , the one of them was named Dagoucin , and the other Saffredant . After they had been all day on horsback , on the Evening they heard a Bell , to which place , but not without pain and travail , they did their utmost endeavour to arrive , and were courteously entertained by the Abbot and the Monks ; It was the Abbey of Saint Savin . The Abbot who was of a noble family ( having brought them to their Lodgings , which were magnificent ) did demand them of their fortunes ; And having understood the truth thereof , he told them , That they were not alone who suffered in that Ruin , for in another Chamber there were two young Ladies who had escaped the like danger , and so much the greater , by how much there is more compassion in Man than in a Beast ; for the poor Ladies , half a mile on this side of Pyrchita , had discovered a great Bear comming down the Hill upon them , from whom they fled with so much speed , that at their entrance into his Gates their horses fell down dead under them , and two of their women who came a long time after them , did inform them , That the Bear had destroyed all their servants ; whereupon the two Ladies , and three Gentlemen , did enter into the Chamber where they were , and found them weeping , and knew that one of them was Nomerfide , and the other Emarsuite , who imbracing each other did recount what had happened , and began to comfort themselves , being more incited thereunto by the consolations of the good Abbot , that thus they met together . On the morning they heard Mass with great devotion , praysing God for their deliverance from their dangers . When they were all at Mass , Behold a Man who had nothing on him but his shirt only , did run into the Church , flying as some body had pursued him , and crying aloud for Help . Immediatly Hircan and the other Gentlemen made up to him to see what the business was , and they found two men following him at the heels with their swords drawn , who observing so great a company , would have betaken themselves to flight , but Hircan and those with him did follow them so close that they left their lives on the place . When Hircan had well observed the party that was relieved , and who was in his shirt only , he perceived that it was Guebron , who was one of their Companions , who did impart unto them , That lodging in a Cottage near unto Pyrchita , there came three men to assault him being in bed , who although he was in his shirt , he did wound one of them with his sword in such manner , that immediatly he died , and whiles the other were busie and in debate where to bestow him , he observing that he was naked , and they armed , did conceive that there was no other way to be too hard for them , but by flight only , which he might the better do being not charged with habiliments ; and he thanked God and them , who thus had executed vengeance for him on his Enemies . After that they had said Mass and dined , they sent to see if it were possible to passe the River of Gane , and understanding the impossibility of it , they were in a great distresse , although the Abbot had often offered them to continue there , untill such time as the waters were decreased , to which they only accorded for that day . As they were going to bed at night , there arived an old Monk , who every year never failed in September to have recourse unto our Lady at Serrance , who being demanded of the occurrences of his Journey , made answer , That by reason of the high waters he came all along the mountains , and the worst ways that were ever travelled , where he beheld one spectacle of great pity , which was , That he met with a Gentleman called Simontault , who being impatient at the long continuance of the over-flowing River , did resolve to force it , trusting in the goodness of his Horse ; to effect which , he did place his servants on each side of him , to break the furious eddy of the stream , but when they were in the middle of it , those who were worst of all mounted were carried away by the violence of the River , and never did return again . The Gentleman seeing himself alone , turned back his horse from whence he came ; but his horse for all his force and promptnesse did sink under him : But it pleased God that he was so near the Bank , that being but four foot from it , and having drank much water , he waded forth , and sat down upon two flints , so weak and feeble that he was not able to support himself . It so fell out , that a Shepherd driving homeward his flocks in the Evening , did find him almost covered with mud upon the stones , and no lesse sorrowfull for his people , whom he saw to be carried away by the River , and destroyed before him , than for himself : The Shepherd who understood his necessity , as well by hearing as by seeing him , did take him by the hand , and brought him into his poor House , where with small bushes he dried him as well as the poverty of his Chimney would permit . On that Evening God brought thither this old Monk , who did direct him in the way to our Ladies at Serrance , assuring him , that he should find better Lodging there than in any other place , and should meet with an antient Woman , called Oysilla , who would be his Companion in his Travels . When all the Company heard him speak of the good Lady Oysilla , and the gentle Cavalier Simontault , they were transported with an exilience of Joy , praising the Creator , who in contenting himself with the Servants , had preserved their Masters and their Mistresses , and above all Parlament was the devoutest in her praises ; for a time there was in which she esteemed him for her most affectionat servant . And having diligently enquired concerning the way to Serrance , although the good old Man did report it to be very difficult , yet they could not forbear to put it to the adventure , and the next morning they did set forth in so good order and equipage , that they wanted for no accommodation : For the Abbot did furnish them with the best horses that were in Lovedoon , and with good riding suits , and great store of provision , and with honest Gentlemen to be their Companions and guides over the Mountains , having travelled which , in great labour and sweat , and more on foot than on horsback , they arrived at our Ladies of Serrance . The Abbot , although he was a man churlish enough , did not dare to refuse to give them intertainment , by reason of the fear he had of Seigneur du Bear , by whom he knew that they were well beloved ; he therefore looked upon them with the best Countenance he could , and took them with him to see the good Lady Oysilla , and the Gentleman Simontault . So great was the joy of all this Company , being so miraculously assembled , that the night seemed but short unto them to praise God for the mercy bestowed on them ; & on the morning having taken a little rest , they did resort to hear Masse , and to receive the holy Sacrament of Communion , by which all Christians are united into one , beseeching him who had brought them together by his bounty , to put a good end to their travells to his glory . After dinner they sent to know if the waters were any thing diminished , and on the return of the Messenger hearing that they were rather encreased , and that it would be a long time before they could travell with any assurance , they determined with themselves to make a bridge between two Rocks which did stand very near to one another , where yet the planks are to be seen , and are of use to those that travel by foot , and coming from Cleron will not pass by the Gane . The Abbot who was glad that they were at that cost , because the number of Pilgrims , and Country , Travellers did encrease , did provide them with workmen , But his avarice would not permit him to pay one penny towards the work it self , and because the workmen did all affirm that they could not finish the bridge in 10 or 12 days , the whole Company , as well both of the Gentlemen as of the Ladies , began to be much perplexed . But Parlament the wife of Hircan , who was never seen either heavy or melancholy , having asked leave of her husband to speak , did say to the antient Lady Oysilla , Madam , I do much wonder that you who have so great experience , and are in the reputation of a Mother amongst Women , do not find out some pastime to mitigate the sorrows which we doe bear about us during our long aboad in this place ; for if we have no exercise pleasant and virtuous , we shall be in danger to fall sick ; The young widdow Longeren did add unto her words and said , Nay which is worse , we shall grow burthensom to one another , which is a sicknesse uncurable , for there is not one of us , if he looks upon his loss , who hath not an occasion of excessive sadnesse . Emarsuite replyed in smiles unto her , Every one hath not lost her husband as you have , and for the losse of our Servants we ought not to despair , for we may recover them time enough ; Howsoever I do joyn in opinion with you to have some pleasant exercise to passe away the time as delighfull as we can . The Company ( saith Nomerfide ) hath advised very well ; for she said , That if she were but one day without some Pastime , she should be dead on the next . All the Gentlemen did accord to the counsell , and besought Madam Oysilla that she would be pleased to order that which they had to do ; who made answer , My Children , you demand a task of me which I find very difficult for me to do , which is to shew unto you that Recreation which can divert you from your sorrows , for having through all the travails of my life sought out a Remedy for it , I never could find but one , which is the reading of the Holy Bible , in which is found the true and perfect joy of the Mind , from whence the Repose also and the health of the Body doth proceed ; And if you shall demand of me what Receit it is that keeps me so sound and unperplexed in my old age , It is , That as soon as ever I am up , I take into my hands the holy Scripture , and read it , beholding , and with my self contemplating the will of God , who hath sent his Son into the world for us , to declare the good News , by which he doth promise Remission of sins , and satisfaction for all offences , by the gift which he hath given us by his Love , Passion , and his Martyrdom . This Consideration doth administer so much joy unto me , that I take my Psalter , and as humbly as possibly I can , I sing with my heart , and pronounce with my voice the blessed Psalms and Hymns , which the Holy Ghost composed in the heart of David , and of other Authors : The Contentment which I receive from hence , doth do me so much good , that all the sorrows which the day can bring unto me , do seem to me to be so many Benedictions , seeing that I have him in my heart by faith who hath born them for me . In the like manner after Supper I retire my self to give some food to my Soul by reading some godly Book , and in the Evening having recollected with my self whatsoever I have done in the time of the day , I demand pardon of God for my faults , and giving him thanks for his mercies , I take my rest in his love , fear , and peace , being a●med and assured against all Dangers that can approach me . Behold ( my Children ) the Recreation to which for a long time I have devoted my self , having searched all things , and found no other coutentment for my spirit . I am confident that if every morning you would lay forth one hour in reading , and afterwards in the most humble manner exercise your Devotions at the Mass , that even in this wilderness you would find that beauty which it may be you cannot in the greatest Cities : For he who knoweth God beholde h●all things that are beautifull , in him , and without him all things are deformed ; Wherefore I beseech you to receive my counse● if you will live well , and with Comfort . Hircan took the word from her , and said , Madam , Those who have read the holy Bible ( as I believe that all of us have ) will confess that you speak the truth ; but you must regard that we are not yet so mortifyed as to deprive our selves of all Pastime and Corporal Recreation : For if we are in our own houses , we have Dogs to hunt , and Hawks for the flight ; which make us to pass over and to forget a thousand foolish thoughts . And the Ladies have their works of Housewifry , and sometimes their dancings , in which they honestly do delight themselves , which causeth me ( speaking only on the behalf of the men ) to desire that you who are the most antient amongst us , would every Morning read the life unto us which our Saviour Jesus Christ did lead , and the great and admirable works which he hath done for us ; And after dinner untill Vespers , that you will make choice of some Pastime which may not be prejudiciall to the Soul , and be pleasant to the Body , and so with comfort we shall pass over the ten days . Madam Oysilla made answer to him ; That she had so much laboured with her self to forget all the vanities of the world , that she was afraid , they had made a bad choice of her for such pastimes ; howsoever she would submit to the plurality of voices , desiring Hircan to understand what was his opinion first of all . For my part ( said he ) If I thought the pastime I would choose were as agreeable to any of the Company as to my self , my opiniö should quickly be known ; wherfore for this time I will hold my peace , and will believe that which others shall speak . Parlament began to blush , thinking that ●e spoke of her , and half in choler , and half in laughter said , Hircan , It may be that she whom you speak of can find enough to recompense her self if she hath a mind thereunto ; but let us leave off this pastime wherein two of us only can bear part , and let us speak of that which ought to be common to us all ; whereupon Hircan said to all the Ladies , Since my Wife hath so well understood and expounded , and glossed upon my sense , and allegeth that a particular pastime doth not please her , I believe that she will be able better than any other to speak of that in which every one will take pleasure , and from this time I shall be of her opinion , as being he who hath no other opinion but her own . To this all the Company did agree . Parlament perceiving that the Lot was fallen upon her , did speak in this manner , If I knew my self as sufficient as the Antients who found out the Arts , I would invent some play or pastime to satisfy the charge which you have imposed on me , but being conscious to my self of my knowledge and faculties , which with much trouble can hardly remember things well clone , I shall esteem my self happy to follow close unto those who have already satisfied your demand . Amongst others I do believe that there is not any of you who hath not read over the hundred Novels of John Boccace , newly translated out of Italian into French , which the most Christian King Francis the first of that Name , Monseigneur the Daulphin , Madam the Daulphinesse , Madam Margaret have and do so highly esteem , that if Boccace could but hear them in the place where he is , he would be revived at the prayses of such persons . I have heard that the two Ladies above-named , with many others of the Court , have determined with themselves to make the like work , and only different from Boccace in one particular , which is , not to make mention of any Novell which is not a perfect History . And first of all the said Ladies and Monseigneur the Daulphin did conclude amongst themselves to make every one of them Ten , and to have a List of Ten persons whom they conceived to be most worthy to give an account of them , those being to be excepted out of that number who were given to their study , and were lettered men ; for Monsteur the Daulphin would not that their art should be mingled in these Novells , and was also afraid that the beauty of their Rhetorick should in some part be prejudiciall to the truth of this History . But the great affairs which since have taken up the King , and the Peace betwixt him and the King of England , and the lying down of Madam the Daulphinesse , and many other things worthy to divert the whole Court , have made all that enterprise to be forgotten , which now by reason of our long leisure may be brought unto a period , attending till the Bridge be made . And if you please that every day presently after twelve of the clock we shall meet , and continue untill four in yonder Meadow by the River of the Gauve , where the Trees are so leavie , that the Sun can neither prejudice the shade , nor grow so hot as to vex the freshnesse of the air , being there sat at ease , every one ma● repeat a story which he hath seen or heard from some Man of Reputation ; at the end of ten days we shall have finished the Century . And if God shall please that our labour shall be found worthy of the eyes of the Princes and Ladies above-named , we will give it them at our Return , and I dare assure you that it will be a present very acceptable to them . Neverthelesse ( whatsoever I have said ) if any amongst us shall find out a subject that shall be more pleasant , I will accord in opinion with them . All the Company made answer , That it was impossible to have advised better , and that the time seemed tedious to them , that the next day was not already come to begin the Assembly . In this manner they with delight passed away the travell of that day , rehearsing to one another that which they had seen in their own times . As soon as the Morning was come , they resorted to the Chumber of Madam Oysilla , whom they found already at her Devotions , and when for the space of a full hour they had heard her Lecture , and afterward the Masse , about ten of the clock they went to Dinner , and afterwards every one of them did retire into his own Chamber to do that which was to be done , and failed not at twelve of the clock to be in the Meadow , according as it was appointed , which was so pleasant a place that they had need of a Boccace in earnest to set it forth to the life , but you may content your selves that the like unto it was never seen . When the Assembly were all sat down upon the green grass , so soft and delicate , that they needed not either Cushion or Cloath of Arras , Simontault began to speak , Who shall be that Person amongst us that shall have Command over the rest ? Hircan made answer , Because you have first made the motion , it is reason you command , for at Game we are all equal . I would to God , said Simontault , that I had the power to command all this Company , I would desire no other happinesse in this world . Parlament did well understand what he intended by those words , who began to look red upon it ; but Hircan perceived not the colour which mounted into her cheeks , but said unto Simontault , Begin to speak on some good Subject , and we are ready to hear you , who being likewise invited to it by all the Company , did speak in this manner , Ladies , I have been so ill requited for my long services , that to revenge my self on Love , and on her who hath been so cruell to me , I will endeavour to make a repetition of all the ill offices & the injuries under which Women do make poor men to suffer , and I will speak nothing but what shall be perfect Truth .