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severity of punishment。 But the earnest entreaties of the wounded
surviver； and their arrivall at Smirna soone after； delivered him from
the danger of death； gave some ease to her sorrow； and there with
him she went on shore。
Remaining there with him in a common Inne； while he continued in
the Chirurgians cure； the fame of her singular and much admired beauty
was soone spread abroad throughout all the City： and amongst the rest；
to the hearing of the Prince of Ionia； who lately before （on very
urgent occasions） was come to Smyrna。 This rare rumour； made him
desirous to see her； and after he had seene her； shee seemed farre
fairer in his eye； then common report had noised her to be； and
suddenly grew so enamored of her； that she was the onely Idea of his
best desires。 Afterward； understanding in what manner shee was brought
thither； he devised how to make her his own； practising all possible
meanes to accomplish it： which when the wounded Brothers Parents heard
of； they not onely made tender of their willingnesse therein； but also
immediately sent her to him： a matter most highly pleasing to the
Prince； and likewise to the Lady her selfe； because she thought now to
be freed from no meane perill； which （otherwise） the wounded Merchants
friends might have inflicted uppon her。
The Prince perceiving； that beside her matchlesse beauty； shee had
the true character of Royall behaviour； greeved the more； that he
could not be further informed of what Countrey shee was。 His opinion
being so stedfastly grounded； that （lesse then Noble） she could not
be； was a motive to set a keener edge on his affection towardes her；
yet not to enjoy her as in honoirable and loving complement onely； but
as his espoused Lady and Wife。 Which appearing to her by apparant
demonstrations； though entercourse of speech wanted to confirme it；
remembrance of her so many sad disasters； and being now in a most
noble and respected condition； her comfort enlarged it selfe with a
setled hope； her feares grew free from any more mollestations； and her
beauties became the onely theame and argument of private and publike
conference in all Natolia； that （well…neere） there was no other
discourse； in any Assembly whatsoever。
Heereupon the Duke of Athens； beeing young； goodly； and valiant of
person as also a neere Kinsman to the Prince； had a desire to see her；
and under colour of visiting his noble Kinsman； （as oftentimes
before he had done） attended with an honourable traine； to Smirna he
came； being there most royally welcommed； and bounteously feasted。
Within some few dayes of his there being； conference passed betweene
them； concerning the rare beauty of the Ladie； the Duke questioning
the Prince； whether shee was of such wonder； as fame had acquainted
the World withall？ Whereto the Prince replyed； Much more （Noble
kinsman） then can bee spoken of； as your owne eyes shall witnesse；
without crediting any words of mine。 The Duke soliciting the Prince
thereto very earnestly； they both went together to see her； and she
having before heard of their comming； adorned her selfe the more
Majestically； entertaining them with ceremonious demeanor （after her
Countries custome） which gave most gracious and unspeakable acception。
At the Princes affable motion； shee sate downe betweene them；
their delight being beyond expression； to behold her； but abridged
of much more felicitie； because they understood not any part of her
Language： so that they could have no other conference； but by lookes
and outward signes onely； and the more they beheld her； the more
they marvelled at her rare perfections； especially the Duke； who
hardly credited that shee was a mortall creature。 Thus not perceyving；
what deepe carowses of amorous poyson his eyes dranke downe by the
meere sight of her； yet thinking thereby onely to bee satisfied； hee
lost both himselfe and his best sences； growing in love （beyond all
measure） with her。 When the Prince and he were parted from her； and
hee was at his owne private amorous… meditations in his Chamber； he
reputed the Prince farre happier then any man else whatsoever； by
the enjoying of such a peerelesse beauty。
After many intricate and distracted cogitations； which molested
his braines incessantly； regarding more his loves wanton heate； then
reason； kindred； and honourable hospitality； he resolutely
determined （whatsoever ensued thereupon） to bereave the Prince of
his faire felicity； that none but himselfe might possesse such a
treasure； which he esteemed to bee the height of all happinesse。 His
courage being conformable to his bad intent； with all hast it must
be put in execution； so that equity； justice； and honesty； being quite
abandoned； nothing but subtile stratagems were now his meditations。
On a day； according to a fore…compacted treachery which he had
ordered with a Gentleman of the Princes Chamber； who was named
Churiacy； he prepared his horses to be in readinesse； and dispatched
all his affaires else for a sodaine departure。 The night following；
hee was secretly conveyed by the said Churiacy； and a friend of his
with him （being both armed） into the Princes Chamber； where he
（while the Ladie was soundly sleeping） stood at a gazing window
towards the Sea； naked in his shirt； to take the coole ayre； because
the season was exceeding hot。 Having formerly enstructed his friend
what was to be done； very softly they stept to the Prince； and running
their weapons quite thorow his bodie； immediately they threw him forth
of the window。
Here you are to observe； that the Pallace was seated on the Sea
shore； and verie high； and the Window whereat the Prince then stood
looking foorth； was directly over divers houses； which the long
continuance of time； and incessant beating on by the surges of the
Sea； had so defaced and ruined them； as seldome they were visited by
any person； whereof the Duke having knowledge before； was the easier
perswaded that the falling of the Princes body in so vast a place；
could neither bee heard or descryed by any。 The Duke and his
Companion； having thus executed what they came for； proceeded yet in
their cunning a little further； casting a strangling Cord about the
necke of Churiacy； seemed as if they hugged and imbraced him： but drew
it with so maine strength； that he never spake word after； and so
threw him downe after the Prince。
This done； and plainely perceiving that they were not heard or
seene； either by the Lady； or any other： the Duke tooke a light in his
hand； going on to the bed； where the Lady lay most sweetely
sleeping； whom the more he beheld； the more he admired and
commended： but if in her garments shee appeared so pleasing； what
did shee now in a bed of such state and Majestie？ Being no way daunted
with his so late committed sin； but swimming rather in surfet of
joy； his hands all bloody； and his soule much more ugly； he laide
him downe on the bed by her； bestowing infinite kisses and embraces on
her； she supposing him to be the Prince all this while； not opening
her eyes to bee otherwise resolved。 But this was not the delight he
aymed at； neither did he thinke it safe for him； to delay time with
any longer tarrying there： Wherefore； having his agents at hand fit
and convenient for the purpose； they surprized her in such sort；
that shee could not make any noyse or outcry； and carrying her through
the same false posterne； whereat themselves had entred； laying her
in a Princely litter； away they went with all possible speede； not
tarrying in any place； untill they were arrived neere Athens。 But
thither he would not bring her； because himselfe was a married man；
but rather to a goodly Castle of his owne； not distant farre from
the City； where he caused her to bee kept very secretly （to her no
little greefe and sorrow） yet attended on and served in most
honourable manner。
The Gentlemen usually attending on the Prince； having waited all the
next morning till noone； in expectation of his rising； and hearing
no stirring in the Chamber； did thrust at the doore； which was but
onely closed together； and finding no body there； they presently
imagined； that he was privately gone to some other place； where
（with the Ladie； whom he so deerely affected） hee might remaine some
few dayes for his more contentment； and so they rested verily
perswaded。 Within some few dayes following； while no other doubt
came in question； the Princes Foole； entering by chance among the
ruined houses； where lay the dead bodies of the Prince and Churiacy：
tooke hold of the cord about Churiacyes necke； and so went along
dragging it after him。 The dead body being knowne to many； with no
meane mervaile how he should bee murthered in so vile manner： by gifts
and faire perswasions they wonne him to bring them to the place
where he found it。 And there （to the no little greefe of the whole
Cittie） they found the Princes body also； which they caused to bee
intered with all the most Majesticke pompe that might be。
Upon further inquisition； who should commit horrid a deede；
perceyving likewise that the Duke of Athens was not to be found； but
was closely gone： they judged （according to the truth） that he had his
hand in this bloody b