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GENTLEWOMEN； THAT ARE OF A QUICKE AND APPREHENSIVE SPIRIT
Juliet of Narbona； cured the King of France of a daungerous Fistula；
in recompence whereof； she requested to enjoy as her husband in
marriage； Bertrand Count of Roussilion。 Hee having married her against
his will； as utterly despising her； went to Florence； where hee made
love to a young Gentlewoman。 Juliet； by a queint and cunning policy；
compassed the meanes （insted of his chosen new friend） to lye with her
owne husband； by whom shee conceived； and had two Sonnes； which
being afterward made knowne unto Count Bertrand； he accepted her
into his favour againe； and loved her as his loyall and honourable
wife。
Now there remained no more （to preserve the priviledge granted to
Dioneus uninfringed） but the Queene onely； to declare her Novell。
Wherefore； when the discourse of Madam Lauretta was ended； without
attending any motion to bee made for her next succeeding； with a
gracious and pleasing disposition； thus she began to speake。 Who shall
tell any Tale heereafter； to carry any hope or expectation of a
liking； having heard the rare and wittie discourse of Madame Lauretta？
Beleeve me； it was very advantageable to us all； that she was not this
dayes first beginner； because few or none would have had any courage
to follow after her； and therefore the rest yet remaining； are the
more to be feared and suspected。 Neverthelesse； to avoid the breach of
order； and to claime no priviledge by my place； of not performing what
I ought to do： prove as it may； a Tale you must have； and thus I
proceed。
There lived sometime in the kingdome of France； a Gentleman named
Isnarde； being the Count of Roussillion： who because hee was
continually weake； crazie； and sickly； kept a Physitian daily in his
house； who was called Master Gerard of Narbona。 Count Isnarde had
one onely Sonne； very young in yeares； yet of towardly hope； faire；
comely； and of pleasing person； named Bertrand； with whom； many
other children of his age； had their education： and among them； a
daughter of the fore…named Physitian； called juliet； who； even in
these tender yeares； fixed her affection upon young Bertrand； with
such an earnest and intimate resolution； as was most admirable in so
yong a Maiden； and more then many times is noted in yeares of
greater discretion。 Old Count Isnarde dying； young Bertrand fell as
a Ward to the King； and being sent to Paris； remained there under
his royall custodie and protection； to no little discomfort of young
Juliet； who became greevously afflicted in minde； because she had lost
the company of Bertrand。
Within some few yeares after； the Physitian her Father also dyed；
and then her desires grew wholly addicted； to visite Paris her selfe
in person； onely because she would see the young Count； awaiting but
time and opportunitie； to fit her stolne journey thither。 But her
kindred and friends； to whose care and trust she was committed； in
regard of her rich dowrie； and being left as a fatherlesse Orphane：
were so circumspect of her walks and daily behaviour； as she could not
compasse any meane； of escaping。 Her yeares made her now almost fit
for marriage； which so much more encreased her love to the Count；
making refusall of many woorthy husbands； and laboured by the
motions of her friends and kindred； yet all denyed； they not knowing
any reason for her refusalles。 By this time the Count was become a
gallant goodly Gentleman； and able to make election of his wife；
whereby her affections were the more violently enflamed； as fearing
least some other should be preferred before her； and so her hopes be
utterly disappointed。
It was noysed abroad by common report； that the King of France
was in a very dangerous condition； by reason of a strange swelling
on his stomacke； which failing of apt and convenient curing； became
a Fistula； afflicting him daily with extraordinary paine and
anguish； no Chirurgeon or Physitian being found； that could minister
any hope of healing； but rather encreased the greefe； and drove it
to more vehement extreamitie； compelling the King； as dispairing
utterly of all helpe； to give over any further counsell or advice。
Heereof faire Juliet was wondrously joyfull； as hoping that this
accident would prove the meanes； not onely of her journey to Paris；
but if the disease were no more then she imagined； she could easily
cure it； and thereby compasse Count Bertrand to be her husband。
Hereupon； quickning up her wits； with remembrance of those rules of
Art； which （by long practise and experience） she had learned of her
skilfull Father； she compounded certaine hearbes together； such as she
knew fitting for that kinde of infirmity； and having reduced her
compound into powder； away she rode forthwith to Paris。
Being there arrived； all other serious matters set aside； first
shee must needs have a sight of Count Bertrand； as being the onely
Saint that caused her pilgrimage。 Next she made meanes for her accesse
to the King； humbly entreating his Majesty； to vouchsafe her the sight
of his Fistula。 When the King saw her； her modest lookes did
plainely deliver； that she was a faire； comely； and discreete young
Gentlewoman； wherefore； he would no longer hide it； but layed it
open to her view。 When shee had seene and felt it； presently she put
the King in comfort； affirming； that she knew her selfe able to cure
his Fistula； saying： Sir； if your Highnesse will referre the matter to
me； without any perill of life； or any the least paine to your person；
I hope （by the helpe of heaven） to make you whole and sound within
eight dayes space。 The King hearing her words； beganne merrily to
smile at her； saying： How is it possible for thee； being a yong
Maiden； to do that which the best Physitians in Europe； are not able
to performe？ I commend thy kindnesse； and will not remaine
unthankefull for thy forward willingnesse： but I am fully
determined； to use no more counsell； or to make any further triall
of Physicke or Chirurgery。 Whereto faire Juliet thus replyed： Great
King； let not my skill and experience be despised； because I am young；
and a Maiden； for my profession is not Physicke； neither do I
undertake the ministering thereof； as depending on mine owne
knowledge； but by the gracious assistance of heaven； and some rules of
skilfull observation； which I learned of reverend Gerard of Narbona
who was my worthy Father； and a Physitian of no meane fame； all the
while he lived。
At the hearing of these words； the King began somewhat to admire
at her gracious carriage； and saide within himselfe。 What know I；
whether this Virgin is sent to me by the direction of heaven； or no？
Why should I disdaine to make proofe of her skill？ Her promise is；
to cure me in a small times compasse； and without any paine or
affliction to me： she shall not come so farre； to returne againe
with the losse of he labour； I am resolved to try her cunning； and
thereon saide。 Faire Virgin； if you cause me to breake my setled
determination； and faile of curing me； what can you expect to follow
thereon？ Whatsoever great King （quoth she） shall please you。 Let me be
strongly guarded； yet not hindered； when I am to prosecute the
businesse： and then if I do not perfectly heale you within eight
daies； let a good fire be made； and therein consume my body unto
ashes。 But if I accomplish the cure； and set your Highnesse free
from all further greevance； what recompence then shall remaine to me？
Much did the King commend the confident perswasion which she had
of her owne power； and presently replyed。 Faire beauty （quoth he） in
regard that thou art a Maide and unmaried； if thou keepe promise；
and I finde my selfe to be fully cured： I will match thee with some
such Gentleman in marriage； as shall be of honourable and worthy
reputation； with a sufficient dowry beside。 My gracious Soveraigne
saide she； willing am I； and most heirtily thankfull withall； that
your Highnesse shall bestow me in marriage： but I desire then； to have
such a husband； as I shall desire or demand by your gracious favour；
without presuming to crave any of your Sonnes； Kindred； or Alliance；
or appertaining unto your Royal blood。 Where