very beautifull and faire, and amongst a greate nomber of others, there was dwellyng in Rome an auncient Citizen, whose name was Phylotus, a man very orderly in yeares, and wonderfully aboundyng in goodes, this Phylotus hauing many tymes taken the viewe of Emelia, beganne to growe very sore in loue with her, or rather I maie saie in his olde yeares beganne to doate after this young maiden, for it can not bee properly called loue in these olde men, whose dotage if it were not more then outragious, either their greate discretion would represse it, either their many yeares would mortifie it. But Phylotus in the ende desired Emelia of her father in the waie of Mariage, Alberto accordyng to the custome of Parentes, that desires to marrie their daughters, more for goods, then for good will betweene the parties, more for lucre then for loue, more for liuing then for learning, more for wealth then for wit, more for honour then for honestie, and so thei maie haue great store of money thei neuer consider farther of the man. Alberto in like maner knowyng the wealth wherewith Phylotus was indued, who had neuer a childe but one onely Daughter, whose name was Brisilla, gaue his full consent, without any farther consideration of the inequalitie [of the yeares that was betweene Phylotus and his daughter: he neuer remembred what strifes, what iarres, what debates, what discontentment, what counterfaiting, what dissembling, what louring, what loathing, what neuer liking, is euer had where there is such differences betweene the married, for perfect loue can neuer be without equalitie, and better were a married couple to continue without liuing, then without loue: and what are the occasions that make so many women to stray from their husbands, but when they be married to such as they cannot like of: but surely if women did throughly consider how dangerous it is for them to deale with these olde youthes, I thinke they would be better aduised in medling with them, for besides that they be unwildie, lothsome, (and, sir, reuerence of you,) very unlouely for you to lye by, so they be] commonly inspired with the spirite of Jelousie, and then thei will looke to you so narrowly, and mewe you vp so closely, that you will wishe a thousande tymes the Priest had bin hanged that maried you, but then to late.

But to retourne to our Historie: Alberto respectyng more the wealth of Phylotus, then the likyng of his daughter, gaue his consent to take hym for his sonne in lawe, and told Emelia how he had disposed on her: Emelia seyng what an olde babie her father had chosen to be her housebande, moste humbly desired hym to giue her leaue to choose for her self, whereat her father being very angrie, beganne sharply to rate her, saiyng: And arte thou then so muche wedded to thine owne will, that thou skornest to be derected by me thy louyng father, or thinkest thou that thy wisedome doeth so farre surmount my wit, that thou canst better prouide for thy self, then I whiche so carefully haue hetherto brought thee vp, or doeth the tender loue or the chargeable cost whiche I haue bestowed on thee, deserue no better recompence, then to despise those that I would haue thee to like of.

Emelia fallyng doune of her knees before her father saied: Moste deare and louyng father, moste humbly I beseech you, for the affection whiche by nature you beare me, not to think me so gracelesse a childe, that I would goe about to contrarie you, or stubbornly would refuse what soeuer you would think conuenient for my behoofe, and although you shall finde in me suche duetie as is meete for a daughter, and al obedience that is fit for a childe, yet sir consider the harte whiche can not bee compelled, neither by feare, neither by force, nor is not otherwise to be lured, then onely by fancies free consent, and as you haue bestowed on me this fraile and transitorie life, so my bodie shall be at your disposition as it shal please you to appoint it, and will conclude with this humble petition, desiryng you not to bestowe me of any that is not agreeable to my fancie and good likyng.

Well (quoth her father) then see you frame your liking to like well of my likyng. I haue promised you to Phylotus in mariage, and Phylotus is he that shall be your housband, and looke you goe not aboute to contende against that I haue determined, if you doe, neuer accompt me for father nor freende, and thus he departed.

Emelia hearyng this cruell conclusion of her father, was wonderfully abashed, and beeyng by her self in her Chamber, she beganne to consider of

her fathers wordes, and for feare to incurre any farther displeasure, she deused how she might frame her self to the likyng of her louer, and with a yong womans minde, she first beganne to consider of his wealth, of his callyng, of the reuerence wherewith he was vsed in the Citie, and that likewise in beyng his wife, she should also bee had in estimation, and bee preferred before other women of meaner credite, and to desire superioritie, it is commonly euery womans sicknesse, and therefore this could not choose but please her very well then she remembered how commodious it were to marrie one so wealthie as Phylotus, whereby she should not neede to beate her braines aboute the practising of housewiferie, but should haue seruauntes at commaundment to supplie that tourne, this likewise pleased her very well, but because she would well perswade her self, she beganne to coniecture how she should spende the tyme to her contentment, and therefore she beganne to thinke what a pleasure it was to bee well furnished with sondrie sutes of apparell, that in the mornyng when she should rise, she might call for what she list to put on, accordyng as the tyme and the fasshion did require, and her fancie serued best, for thus Phylotus was well able to keepe his wife, and this pleased her likewise very well, & then when she were vp, she might breake her fast with a cuppe of Malmsie, or Muskadine next her harte. It was very good for ill Ayres in a mornyng, and this she thought was but an easie matter, and likewise pleased her very well: when she had broken her fast, then she might stirre about the house, and looke to this, and see to that, and where she found any thyng amis, not to touche it with her owne fingers, for marryng the beautie of her hande, but to call for Cicelie, Ione, or Cate, and to chide them like Sluttes, that thei could not spie a fault but when thei must be tolde: this likewise pleased her very well, then to haue prouided for Dinner some iuncketts, that serued best her appetite, her housbāde had good store of coine, and how could it bee better spente, then vpon themselues: to make their fare the better, this likewise pleased her verie well, now when she had dined, then she might goe seeke out her examplers, and to peruse whiche woorke would doe beste in a Ruffe, whiche in a Gorget, whiche in a

Sleeue, whiche in a Quaife, whiche in a Caule, whiche in a Handkercheef, what Lace would doe beste to edge it, what seame, what stitche, what cut, what gard, and to sit her doune, and take it forthe by little and little and thus with her Nedle to passe the after noone, with deuising of thinges for her owne wearyng, this likewise pleased her passyng well: Then to prouide for Supper some shift of diet, and sondrie sauces, the better to help the stomacke, Oranges, Lemos, Oliues, Caphers, Salades of sondrie sortes, alas a Croune will goe a greate waie in suche trifles. This likewise pleased her verie well, whe she had supped, to vse some exercise, accordyng to the ceason: if it were in Sommer, to goe walke with her neighbours to take the aire, or in her Gardein to take the verdure of sweete and pleasaunt flower, this likewise pleased her verie well, when she was come in, and readie to goe to her Chamber, a Cup of cold Sacke to bedward, is verie good for digestion, and no coste to speake of, where suche abondaunce doeth remaine, and this likewise pleased her verie well.

But now although she had deuised, to passe the daie tyme with suche contentation, when she remembred at Night, she must goe to bed to bee lubber leapt : and with what cold courtesie she should be entertained by her graie hedded bedfelowe, what frosen embracementes he was able to bestowe of her, all was marde, and quite dashte out of remembraunce, and all the commodities before spoken of, that she should receiue in the tyme of the daie, would not serue to counteruaile that one incommoditie, in the season of the Night: Like as wee saie, one vice spilles a greate nomber of vertues. Thus Emelia was now to seeke, and could in nowise frame her self to loue Philotus: but when she had flattered her self with a thousande delightes, that she should receiue in the daie time by his wealth, when she remembred bedde tyme, she was as newe to beginne as before. Wherefore she remained in great perplexitie, thinkyng her happe to bee ouer hard, and the comforte verie bare, where the beste choice had suche assuraunce of doubtfull ende. For to Marrie after her Fathers mynde, she knewe would breede her lothed life: and to gainsaie what he had determined, would likewise loose her fathers

likyng, that she wiste not for her life whereon to resolue, and thus from daie to daie, as she continued in this doubt; there happened to hit into her companie a yong Romaine gentleman, whose name was Flanius, who sodainly fell in Loue with Emelia, and takyng the tyme whilest his oportunitie serued, he let Emelia to vnderstande, of the greate loue he bare her. Emelia, accordyng to the custome of women, made the matter verie coie at the firste, although in her harte she wer right glad, cōsideryng her case how it stood. Flanius was so muche the more importunate vppon her, and with suche nice termes as woers be accustomed: He so Courted, and followed Emelia, that she perceiuyng his feruente affection, tolde hym a verie short circumstaunce, how her father had disposed her, to one that she could not like of, and therfore, if he would firste promise to take her as his wife, and that he could finde suche meanes, to conueigh her from her Fathers house in secrete sorte (for otherwise she was sure her Father would bee a let to hinder their purpose) she was contented to harken to his speeche, and yeeld to his demaunde. Flanius the gladdest man in the world, to heare these ioyfull newes, sware vnto her, that all should bee accomplished, and that with as muche speede as her self would desire

There was no more to conclude of thē, but how she might be conueighed from out her fathers house. Flanius deuised that late in an Flanius deuised that late in an Euenyng, or in the Night tyme when euery one were quiete in their beddes, if she could finde the meanes to gette forthe of doores, then he would be readie to receiue her. But that could not be, for bothe her Father and Mather neuer failed, to bee at home in the Euenynges, and at Nightes she was lodged in her Fathers Chambers, that it was impossible for her to gett forthe. So that there was no remedie, but that the feate must bee wrought in some after Noone, when bothe her Father and Mother vsed to bee abroade, about their businesse: And then she knewe not how to come forthe alone, because she had not been accustomed so to dooe, and to followe a straunger, it would breede the greater suspition.

But Flanius to auoide all these surmises, deuised the nexte euenyng 'to