from King Charles; whereat Conrado (he being of the Ghibbiline
faction) not a little rejoyced. Jehannot having intelligence
thereof, by some of them that had him in custody, breathing foorth a
vehement sighe, spake in this manner. Alas poore miserable wretch as I
am! that have already gone begging thorough the world above foureteene
yeeres, in expectation of nothing else but this opportunity; and now
it is come, must I be in prison, to the end, that I should never
more hope for any future happinesse? And how can I get forth of this
prison, except it bee by death onely? How now, replyed the Officer
of the Guard? What doth this businesse of great Kings concerne thee?
What affayres hast thou in Sicily?
Once more Jehannot sighed extreamly, and returned him this answer.
Me thinkes my heart (quoth hee) doeth cleave in sunder, when I call to
minde the charge which my Father had there; for although I was but a
little boy when I fled thence, yet I can well remember, that I saw him
Governor there, at such time as King Manfred lived. The Guard,
pursuing on still his purpose, demanded of him, what and who his
Father was? My Father (replied Jehannot?) I may now securely speake of
him, being out of the perill which neerely concerned me if I had beene
discovered: he was the named (and so still if he be living) henriet
Capece, and my name is Geoffrey, and not Jehannot; and I make no
doubt, but if I were freed from hence, and might returned home to
Sicily, I should (for his sake) be placed in some authority.
The honest man of the Guard, without seeking after any further
information; so soone as he could compasse any leysure, reported all
to Messer Conrado, who having heard these newes (albeit he made no
shew thereof to the revealer) went to Madam Beritola, graciously
demaunding of her, if she had any sonne by her husband, who was called
Geoffrey. The Lady replyed in teares, that if her eldest sonne were as
yet living, he was so named, and now aged about two and twenty yeeres.
Conrado hearing this, imagined this same to be the man; considering
further withall, that if it fell out to prove so, hee might have the
better meanes of mercie, and closely concealing his daughters shame,
joyfully joyne them in marriage together.
Hereupon, he secretly called Jehannot before him, examining him
particularly of all his passed life, and finding (by most manifest
arguments) that his name was truly Geoffrey, and the eldest son of
Henriet Capece, he spake thus to him. Jehannot, thou knowest how great
the injuries are that thou hast done me, and my deere daughter; gently
intreating thee (as became an honest servant) that thou shouldest
alwayes have bene respective of mine honor, and all that appertaine
unto me. There are many noble Gentlemen, who sustaining the wrong
which thou hast offred me, they would have procured thy shamefull
death, which pitty and compassion will not suffer in me. Wherefore
seeing (as thou informest me) that thou art honourably derived both by
father and mother, I will give end to all thy anguishes, even when thy
selfe art so pleased, releasing thee from that captivity wherein I
have so long kept thee, and in one instant, reduce thine honor and
mine into compleat perfection. As thou knowest my daughter Spina, whom
thou hast embraced as a friend (although far unfitting for thee, or
her) is a widdow, and her marriage is both great and good; what her
manners and conditions are, thou indifferently knowest, and art not
ignorant of her father and mother: concerning thine owne estate, as
now I purpose not to speake any thing. Therefore, when thou wilt, I am
determined, that whereas thou hast immodestly affected her, she
shall become thy honest wife, and accepting thee as my sonne, to
remaine with me so long as you both please.
Imprisonment had somwhat mishapen Jehannot in his outward forme, but
not impaired a jot of his noble spirit; much lesse the true love which
he bare his friend. And although most earnestly he desired that
which now Conrado had so frankly offered him, and was in his power
onely to bestow on him; yet could he not cloud any part of his
greatnes, but with a resolved judgement, thus replied. My Lord,
affectation of rule, desire of welthy possessions, or any other matter
whatsoever could never make me a traitor to you or yours; but that I
have loved, do love, and for ever shal love your beauteous daughter:
if that be treason, I do free confesse it, and will die a thousand
deaths before you or any else shall enforce me to deny it, for I
hold her highly worthy of my love. If I have bin more unmannerly
with her then became me, I have committed but that error, which
evermore is so attendant uppon youth; that to deny, is to denie
youth also. And if reverend age would but remember, that once he was
young and measure others offences by his owne, they would not be
thoght so great, as you (and many more) account them to be, mine being
committed as a friend, and not as an enemy. What you make offer of
so willingly, I have alwayes desired; and if I had thought it would
have beene granted, long since I had most humbly requested it: and
so much the more acceptable would it have bin to me, by how much the
further off it stood from my hopes. But if you bee so forward as
your words doe witnesse, then feed me not with any further
fruitlesse expectation; but rather send me backe to prison, and lay as
many afflictions on me as you please. For my endeered love to your
daughter Spina, maketh mee to love you the more for her sake, how
hardly soever you intreat me; and bindeth me in the greater
reverence to you, as being the Father of my fairest friend.
Messer Conrado hearing these words, stood as one confounded with
admiration, reputing him to be a man of loftie spirit, and his
affection most fervent to his Daughter, which was not a little to
his liking. Wherefore, embracing him, and kissing his cheeke,
without any longer dallying, hee sent in like manner for his Daughter.
Her restraint in prison, had made her lookes meager, pale, and
wanne, and very weake was she also of her person, faire differing from
the Woman she was wont to be, before be, before her affection to
Jehannot. There in presence of her Father, and with free consent of
either, they were contracted as man and wife, and the espousals agreed
on according to custome. Some few dayes after, (without any ones
knowledge of that which was done) having furnished them with all
things fit for the purpose, and time aptly serving, that the Mothers
should be partakers in this joy; he called his wife, and Madam
Beritola, to whom first he spake in this manner.
What will you say Madame, if I cause you to see your eldest Son, not
long since married to one of my daughters? Whereunto Beritola thus
replied. My Lord, I can say nothing else unto you, but that I shal
be much more obliged to you, then already I am; and the rather,
because you will let me see the thing which is deerer then mine owne
life; and rendering it unto me in such manner as you speake of, you
will recall backe some part of my former lost hopes: and with these
words, the teares streamed aboundantly from her eyes. Then turning
to his wife, he said: And you deere Love, if I shew you such a Son
in law, what will you thinke of it? Sir (quoth she) what pleaseth you,
must and shall satisfie me, be he gentleman or beggar. Well said
Madam, answered Messer Conrado, I hope shortly, to make you both
joyfull. So when the amorous couple had recovered their former
feature, and honorable garments prepared for them, privately thus he
said to Geoffrey; Beyond the joy which already thou art inriched
withall, how would it please thee to meete thine owne Mother here? I
cannot beleeve Sir (replied Geoffrey) that her greevous misfortunes
have suffered her to live so long; and yet, if heaven hath bin so
mercifull to her, my joyes were incomparable, for by her gracious
counsel, I might well hope to recover no meane happines in Sicily.
Soone after, both the mothers were sent for, who were transported with
unspeakable joy, when they beheld the so lately married couple:
being much amazed what inspiration had guided Messer Conrado to this
extraordinary benignity, in joyning Jehannot in marriage with Spina.
Hereupon, Madam Beritola remembring the speeches betweene her and
Messer Conrado, began to observe him very advisedly; and by a hidden
vertue which long had silently slept in her, and now with joy of
spirit awaked, calling to mind the lineatures of her sonnes infancy,
without awaiting for any other demonstration, she folded him in her
armes with earnest affection. Motherly joy and pity now contended so
violently togither, that she was not able to utter one word, the
sensitive vertues being so closely combined, that (even as dead) she
fell downe in the armes of her Son. And he wondering greatly
thereat, making a better recollection of his thoughts, did well
remember, that hee had often before seene her in the Castle, without
any other knowledge of her. Neverthelesse, by meere instinct of
Nature, whose power in such actions declares it selfe to be highly
predominant; his very soule assured him, that she was his Mother,
and blaming his understanding, that he had not before bene better
advised, he threw his armes about her, and wept exceedingly.
Afterward, by the loving paines of Conradoes wife, as also her
daughter Spina, Madam Beritola (being recovered from her passionate
traunce, and her vitall spirits executing their Offices againe) fell
once more to the embracing of her Sonne, kissing him infinite times,
with teares and speeches of motherly kindnesse, he likewise expressing
the same dutifull humanity to her. Which ceremonious courtesies
being passed over and over, to no little joy in all the beholders,
beside repetition of their severall misfortunes, Messer Conrado made
all knowne to his friends, who were very glad of this new alliance
made by him, which was honoured with many solemne feastings. Which
being all concluded, Geoffrey having found out fit place and
opportunity, for conference with his new created Father, without any
sinister opposition, began as followeth.
Honourable Father, you have raised my contentment to the highest
degree, and have heaped also many gracious favours on my Noble Mother;
but now in the finall conclusion, that nothing may remaine uneffected,
which consisteth in your power to performe: I would humbly entreate
you, to honour my Mother with your company, at a Feast of my making,
where I would gladly also have my Brother present. Messer Gasparino
d'Oria (as I have heretofore told you) questing as a common Pyrat on
the Seas, tooke us and sent us home to his house as slaves, where
(as yet) he detaineth him. I would likewise have you send into Sicily,
who informing himselfe more amply in the state of the Countrey, may
understand what is become of Henriet my Father, and whether he be
living or no. If he be alive, then to know in what condition he is;
and being secretly instructed in all things, then to returne backe
againe to you.
This motion made by Geoffrey, was so pleasing to Conrado, that
without any reference to further leysure, hee dispatched thence two
discreete persons, the one to Geneway, and the other to Sicily: he
which went for Geneway, having met with Gasparino, earnestly entreated
him (on the behalfe of Conrado) to send him the Poore expelled; and
his Nurse recounting every thing in order, which Conrado had tolde
him, concerning Geoffrey and his mother. When Gasparino had heard
the whole discourse, he marvelled greatly thereat, and saide; True
it is, that I will doe any thing for Messer Conrado, which may bee
to his love and liking, provided, that it lye in my power to performe;
and (about some foureteene yeeres since) I brought such a Lad as you
seeke for, with his mother, home to my house, whom I will gladly
send unto him. But you may tell him from me, that I advise him from
over-rash crediting the Fables of Jehannot, that now termes himselfe
by the name of Geoffrey, because he is a more wicked boy then he
taketh him to be, and so did I finde him.
Having thus spoken, and giving kinde welcome to the Messenger,
secretly he called the Nurse unto him, whom hee heedfully examined
concerning this case. She having heard the rebellion in the Kingdome
of Sicily; and understanding withall that Henriet was yet living,
joyfully threw off all her former feare, relating every thing to him
orderly, and the reasons moving her to conceale the whole businesse in
such manner as shee had done. Gasparino well perceiving, that the
report of the Nurse, and the message received from Conrado, varied not
in any one circumstance, began the better to credit her words. And
being a man most ingenious, making further inquisition into the
businesse, by all the possible meanes hee could devise; and finding
every thing to yeeld undoubted assurance, ashamed of the vile and base
usage wherein he had so long time kept the Lad, and desiring (by his
best meanes) to make him amends, he had a beautifull daughter, aged
about thirteene yeares, and knowing what manner of man he was, his
Father Henriet also yet living, he gave her to him in marriage, with a
very bountifull and honourable dowry.
The joviall dayes of feasting being past, he went aboord a Galley
with the Poore expelled, his Daughter, the Ambassador, and the
Nurse, departing thence to Lericy, where they were nobly welcommed
by Messer Conrado, and his Castle being not farre from thence, with an
honourable traine they were conducted thither, and entertained with
all possible kindnesse. Now concerning the comfort of the Mother,
meeting so happily with both her sonnes, the joy of the brethren and
mother together, having also found the faithful Nurse, Gasparino and
his daughter, in company now with Conrado and his wife, friends,
familiars, and all generally in a jubilee of rejoycing: it exceedeth
capacity in mee to expresse it, and therefore I referre it to your
more able imagination.
In the time of this mutuall contentment, to the end that nothing
might be wanting to compleat and perfect this universall joy; our
