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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
therefore aside this nice conceit of shame and feare； revealing the
truth boldly to me； if I may stead thee in thy love； resolving thy
selfe unfaignedly； that if my care stretch not to compasse thy
content； account me for the most cruell Mother living； and utterly
unworthy of such a Sonne。
The young Gentleman having heard these protestations made by his
Mother； was not a little ashamed of his owne follie； but
recollecting his better thoughts together； and knowing in his soule；
that no one could better further his hopes； then shee； forgetting
all his former feare； he returned her this answere； Madam； and my
dearely affected Mother； nothing hath more occasioned my loves so
strict concealement； but an especiall errour； which I finde by daily
proofe in many； who being growne to yeeres of grave discretion； doe
never remember； that they themselves have bin yong。 But because herein
I find you to be both discreet and wise； I will not onely affirme what
you have seen in me to be true； but also will confesse； to whom it is：
upon condition； that the effect of your promise may follow it；
according to the power remaining in you； whereby you onely may
secure my life。
His Mother； desirous to bee resolved； whether his confession would
agree with the Physitians words； or no； and reserving another
intention to her selfe： bad him feare nothing； but freely discover his
whole desire； and forthwith she doubted not to effect it。 Then
Madame （quoth hee） the matchlesse beauty； and commendable qualities of
your Maid Gianetta； to whom （as yet） I have made no motion； to
commisserate this my languishing extremity； nor acquainted any
living creature with my love： the concealing of these afflictions to
myselfe； hath brought mee to this desperate condition： and if some
meane bee not wrought； according to your constant promise； for the
full enjoying of my longing desires； assure your selfe （most Noble
Mother） that the date of my life is very short。 The Lady well knowing；
that the time now rather required kindest comfort； then any severe
or sharpe reprehension； smiling on him； said： Alas deere sonne； wast
thou sicke for this？ Be of good cheare； and when thy strength is
better restored； then referre the matter to me。 The young Gentleman；
being put in good hope by his Mothers promise； began （in short time）
to shew apparant signes of well…forwarded amendment； to the Mothers
great joy and comfort； disposing her selfe dayly to proove； how in
honor she might keepe promise with her sonne。
Within a short while after； calling Gianetta privately to her； in
gentle manner； and by the way of pleasant discourse； she demanded of
hir； whither she was provided of a Lover； or no。 Gianetta； being never
acquainted with any such questions； a scarlet Dye covering all her
modest countenance； thus replyed。 Madam； I have no neede of any Lover；
and very unseemely were it； for so poore a Damosell as I am； to have
so much as a thought of Lovers； being banished from my friends and
kinsfolke； and remaining in service as I do。
If you have none （answered the Ladie） wee will bestow one on you；
which shall content your minde； and bring you to a more pleasing kinde
of life； because it is farre unfit； that so faire a Maid as you
are。； should remaine destitute of a Lover。 Madam； said Gianetta；
considering with my selfe； that since you received me of my poore
Father； you have used me rather like your daughter； then a servant； it
becommeth mee to doe as pleaseth you。 Notwithstanding； I trust （in the
regard of mine owne good and honour） never to use any complaint in
such a case： but if you please to bestow a husband on me； I purpose to
love and honor him onely； and not any other。 For； of all the
inheritance left me by my progenitors； nothing remaineth to me but
honourable honesty； and that shall be my Legacie so long as I live。
These wordes； were of a quite contrary complexion； to those which
the Lady expected from her； and for effecting the promise made unto
hir Sonne： howbeit （like a wise and noble Ladie） much she inwardly
commended the maids answers； and said unto her。 But tell me
Gianetta； what if my Lord the King （who is a gallant youthfull Prince；
and you so bright a beautie as you are） should take pleasure in your
love； would ye denie him？ Sodainly the Maide returned this answer：
Madame； the King perhaps might enforce me； but with my free consent；
hee shall never have any thing of me that is not honest。 Nor did the
Lady dislike her Maides courage and resolution； but breaking of all
her further conference； intended shortly to put her project in proofe；
saying to her son； that when he was fully recovered； he should have
private accesse to Gianetta； whom shee doubted not but would be
tractable enough to him； for she helde it no meane blemish to her
honour； to moove the Maide any more in the matter； but let him
compasse it as he could。
Farre from the yong Gentlemans humour was this answer of his Mother；
because he aimed not at any dishonourable end： true； faithfull； and
honest love was the sole scope of his intention； foule and loathsome
lust he utterly defied； whereupon he fell into sickenesse againe；
rather more violently then before。 Which the Lady perceiving； revealed
her whole intent to Gianetta； and finding her constancie beyond common
comparison； acquainted her Lord with all she had done； and both
consented （though much against their mindes） to let him enjoy her in
honourable marriage： accounting it better； for preservation of their
onely sons life； to match him farre inferiour to his degree； then by
denying h desire； to let him pine and dye for her love。
After great consultation with Kindred and Friends； the match was
agreed upon； to the no little joy of Gianetta； who devoutly returned
infinite thankes to heaven； for so mercifully respecting her
dejected poore estate； after the bitter passage of so many miseries；
and never tearming her selfe any otherwise； but the daughter of a
poore Piccard。 Soone was the yong Gentleman recovered and married；
no man alive so well contented as he； and setting downe an absolute
determination； to lead a loving life with his Gianetta。
Let us now convert our lookes to Wales； to Perotto； being lefte
there with the other Lord Marshall； who was the President of that
Countrey。 On hee grew in yeeres； choisely respected by his Lord；
because hee was most comely of person； and forward to all valiant
attempts： so that in Tourneyes； joustes； and other actions of Armes；
his like was not to bee found in all the Island； being named onely
Perotto the valiant Piccard； and so was he famed farre and neere。 As
God had not forgotten his Sister； so in mercy he became as mindefull
of him； for； a contagious mortalitie hapning in the Country； the
greater part of the people peri