husband; for I account him as dead to me, when he denies me the duties
belonging to a wife. Wherefore, in regard of the unfained affection
I beare you, and compassion which you ought to have of a Royall
Princesse, even almost sicke to death for your sake, I earnestly
entreat you, not to deny mee your loving society, but pittying my
youth and fiery affections (never to be quenched but by your
kindnesse) I may enjoy my hearts desire.
As shee uttered these words, the teares streamed aboundantly downe
her faire cheekes, preventing her of any further speech: so that
dejecting her head into her bosome, overcome with the predominance
of her passions, she fell upon the Counts knee, whereas else shee
had falne uppon the ground. When he, like a loyall and most honourable
man, sharpely reprehended her fond and idle love: And when shee
would have embraced him about the necke to have kissed him; he
repulsed her roughly from him, protesting upon his honourable
reputation, that rather then hee would so wrong his Lord and
Maister, he would endure a thousand deaths.
The Ladie seeing her desire disappointed, and her fond expectation
utterly frustrated: grew instantly forgetfull of her intemperate love,
and falling into extremity of rage, converted her former gentle and
loving speeches, into this harsh and ruder language. Villaine (quoth
she) shall the longing comforts of my life, be abridged by thy base
and scornefull deniall? Shall my destruction be wrought by thy most
currish unkindenesse, and all my hoped joyes be defeated in a
moment? Know Slave, that I did not so earnestly desire thy sweete
embracements before, but now as deadly I hate and despise them;
which either thy death or banishment shall deerely pay for. No
sooner had she thus spoken, but tearing her haire, and renting her
garments in peeces, she ranne about like a distracted Woman, crying
out alowd; Helpe, helpe, the Count D'Angiers will forcibly dishonour
mee, the lustfull Count will violate mine honour.
D'Angiers seeing this, and fearing more the malice of the
over-credulous Court, then either his owne Conscience, or any
dishonourable act by him committed, beleeving likewise, that her
slanderous accusation would be credited, above his true and
spotlesse innocency: closely he conveyed himselfe out of the Court,
making what hast he could, home to his owne house, which being too
weake for warranting his safety upon such pursuite as would be used
against him, without any further advice or counsell, he seated his two
children on horsebacke, himselfe also being but meanly mounted, thus
away thence he went to Calice.
Upon the clamour and noise of the Lady, the Courtiers quickly
flocked thither; and, as lies soone winne beleefe in hasty opinions,
upon any silly or shallow surmise: so did her accusation passe for
currant, and the Counts advancement being envied by many, made his
honest carriage (in this case) the more suspected. In hast and madding
fury, they ran to the Counts houses, to arrest his person, and carry
him to prison: but when they could not finde him, they raced his
goodly buildings downe to the ground, and used all shamefull
violence to them. Now, as ill newes sildome wants a speedy
Messenger; so, in lesse space then you will imagine, the King and
Dolphin heard thereof in the Campe,-and were therewith so highly
offended, that the Count had a sodaine and severe condemnation, all
his progeny being sentenced with perpetuall exile, and promises of
great and bountifull rewards, to such as could bring his body alive or
dead.
Thus the innocent Count, by his overhasty and sodaine flight, made
himselfe guilty of this foule imputation: and arriving at Callice with
his children, their poore and homely habites, hid them from being
knowne, and thence they crossed over into England, staying no where
untill hee came to London. Before he would enter into the City, he
gave divers good advertisements to his children, but especially two
precepts above all the rest. First, with patient soules to support the
poore condition, whereto Fortune (without any offence in him or
them) had thus dejected them. Next, that they should have most
heedfull care, at no time to disclose from whence they came, or
whose children they were, because it extended to the perill of their
lives. His Sonne, being named Lewes, and now about nine yeares old,
his Daughter called Violenta, and aged seaven yeares, did both observe
their fathers direction, as afterward it did sufficiently appeare. And
because they might live in the safer securitie, hee thought it for the
best to change their names, calling his Sonne Perotto, and his
Daughter Gianetta, for thus they might best escape unknowne.
Being entred into the City, and in the poore estate of beggars, they
craved every bodies mercy and almes. It came to passe, that standing
one morning at the Cathedrall Church doore, a great Lady of England
being then wife to the Lord high Marshal, comming forth of the Church,
espied the Count and his children there begging. Of him she demanded
what Countrey-man he was? and whether those children were his owne, or
no? The Count replyed, that he was borne in Piccardy, and for an
unhappy fact committed by his eldest Sonne (a stripling of more
hopefull expectation, then proved) hee was enforced, with those his
two other children, to forsake his country. The Lady being by nature
very pittifull, looking advisedly on the young Girle beganne to grow
in good liking of her; because (indeede) she was amiable, gentle,
and beautifull, whereupon shee saide. Honest man, thy daughter hath
a pleasing countenance, and (perhaps) her inward disposition may
proove answerable to her outward good parts: if therefore thou canst
bee content to leave her with me, I will give her entertainment, and
upon her dutifull carriage and behaviour, if she live to such yeares
as may require it, I will have her honestly bestowne in marriage. This
motion was very pleasing to the Count, who readily declared his
willing consent thereto, and with the teares trickling downe his
cheekes, in thankfull maner he delivered his pretty daughter to the
Lady.
She being thus happily bestowne, he minded to tarry no longer in
London; but, in his wonted begging manner, travailing thorough the
Country with his sonne Perotto, at length he came into Wales: but
not without much weary paine and travell, being never used before,
to journey so far on foot. There dwelt another Lord, in office of
Marshalship to the King of England, whose power extended over those
parts: a man of very great authority, keeping a most noble and
bountifull house, which they termed the President of Wales his
Court; whereto the Count and his Son oftentimes resorted, as finding
there good releefe and comfort. On a day, one of the Presidents
sons, accompanied with divers other Gentlemens children, were
performing certaine youthfull sports, and pastimes, as running,
leaping, and such like, wherein Perotto presumed to make one among
them, excelling all the rest in such commendable manner, as none of
them came any thing nere him. Divers times the President had taken
notice thereof, and was so well pleased with the Lads behaviour,
that he enquired of whence he was? Answere was made, that he was a
poore mans Son, that every day came for an almes to his gate.
The President being desirous to make the boy his, the Count (whose
dayly prayers were to the same purpose) frankly gave his Son to the
Nobleman: albeit naturall and fatherly affection, urged some
unwillingnesse to part so with him; yet necessity and discretion,
found it best for the benefit of them both. Being thus eased of care
for his Son and Daughter, and they (though in different places) yet
under good and worthy government; the Count would continue no longer
in England: but, as best hee could procure the meanes, passed over
into Ireland, and being arrived at a place called Stanford, became
servant to an Earle of that Country, a Gentleman professing Armes,
on whom he attended as a serving man, and lived a long while in that
estate very painfully.
His daughter Violenta, clouded under the borrowed name of
Gianetta, dwelling with the Lady at London, grew so in yeares, beauty,
comelinesse of person, and was so gracefull in the favour of her
Lord and Lady, yea, of every one in the house beside, that it was
wonderfull to behold. Such as but observed her usuall carriage, and
what modesty shined clearely in her eyes, reputed her well worthy of
honourable preferment; in regard, the Lady that had received her of
her Father, not knowing of whence, or what shee was; but as himselfe
had made report, intended to match her in honourable marriage,
according as her vertues worthily deserved. But God, the just rewarder
of all good endeavours, knowing her to be noble by birth, and
(causelesse) to suffer for the sinnes of another; disposed otherwise
of her: and that so worthy a Virgin might be no mate for a man of
ill conditions, no doubt ordained what was to be done, according to
his owne good pleasure.
The Noble Lady, with whom poore Gianetta dwelt, had but one onely
Sonne by her Husband, and he most deerely affected of them both, as
well in regard he was to be their heire, as also for his vertues and
commendable qualities, wherein he excelled many young Gentlemen.
Endued he was with heroycall valour, compleate in all perfections of
person, and his minde every way answerable to his outward behaviour,
exceeding Gianetta about sixe yeeres in age. Hee perceiving her to
be a faire and comely Maiden, grew to affect her so entirely, that all
things else he held contemptible, and nothing pleasing in his eye
but shee. Now, in regard her parentage was reputed poore, he kept
his love concealed from his Parents, not daring to desire her in
marriage: for loath he was to loose their favour, by disclosing the
vehemency of his afflictions, which proved a greater torment to him,
then if it had beene openly knowne.
It came to passe, that love over-awed him in such sort, as he fell
into a violent sicknesse, and store of Physicions were sent for, to
save him from death, if possibly it might be. Their judgements
observing the course of his sicknesse, yet not reaching to the cause
of the disease, made a doubtfull question of his recovery; which was
so displeasing to his parents, that their griefe and sorrow grew
beyond measure. Many earnest entreaties they moved to him, to know the
occasion of his sickenesse, whereto he returned no other answere,
but heart-breaking sighes, and incessant teares, which drew him more
and more into weakenesse of body.
It chanced on a day, a Physicion was brought unto him, being young
in yeeres, but well experienced in his practise: and as hee made
triall of his pulse, Gianetta (who by his Mothers command, attended on
him very diligently) upon some especiall occasion entred into the
Chamber, which when the young Gentleman perceived, and that shee
neither spake word, nor so much as looked towards him, his heart
grew great in amorous desire, and his pulse did beate beyond the
compasse of ordinary custome; whereof the Physicion made good
observation, to note how long that fit would continue. No sooner was
Gianetta gone forth of the Chamber, but the pulse immediately gave
over beating, which perswaded the Physicion, that some part of the
disease had now discovered it selfe apparantly.
Within a while after, pretending to have some speech with
Gianetta, and holding the Gentleman still by the arme, the Physicion
caused her to be sent for; and immediately shee came. Upon her very
entrance into the Chamber, the pulse began to beate againe extreamely,
and when shee departed, it presently ceased. Now was he thorowly
perswaded, that he had found the true effect of his sicknesse, when
taking the Father and mother aside, thus he spake to them. If you be
desirous of your Sons health, it consisteth not either in Physicion or
physicke, but in the mercy of your faire Maide Gianetta; for
manifest signes have made it knowne to me, and he loveth the
Damosell very dearely: yet (for ought I can perceive, the Maide doth
not know it:) now if you have respect of his life, you know (in this
case) what is to be done. The Nobleman and his Wife hearing this,
became somewhat satisfied, because there remained a remedy to preserve
his life: but yet it was no meane griefe to them, if it should so
succeede, as they feared, namely, the marriage betweene this their
Sonne and Gianetta.
The Physicion being gone, and they repairing to their sicke Sonne,
the Mother began with him in this manner. Sonne, I was alwayes
perswaded, that thou wouldest not conceale any secret from me, or
the least part of thy desires; especially, when without enjoying them,
thou must remaine in the danger of death. Full well art thou
assured, or in reason oughtest to be, that there is not any thing
for thy contentment, be it of what quality soever, but it should
have beene provided for thee, and in as ample manner as for mine
owne selfe. But though thou hast wandred so farre from duty, and
hazarded both thy life and ours, it commeth so to passe, that Heaven
hath beene more mercifull to thee, then thou wouldest be to thy selfe,
or us. And to prevent thy dying of this disease, a dreame this night
hath acquainted me with the principall occasion of thy sickenesse,
to wit extraordinary affection to a young Maiden, in some such place
as thou hast seene her. I tell thee Sonne, it is a matter of no
disgrace to love, and why shouldst thou shame to manifest as much,
it being so apt and convenient for thy youth? For if I were perswaded,
that thou couldst not love, I should make the lesse esteeme of thee.
Therefore deare Sonne, be not dismayed, but freely discover thine
affections. Expell those disastrous drouping thoughts, that have
indangered thy life by this long lingering sicknesse. And let thy
soule be faithfully assured, that thou canst not require any thing
to be done, remaining within the compasse of my power, but I will
performe it; for I love thee as dearely as mine owne life. Set
