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thee； what I rather ought to conceale and hide from any person living。
I know thee to be honourable； discreete； and truely wise； though I
am a fraile； simple； and weake woman； therefore I dare discover to
thee； rather then any other that I know； by what strange and
unexpected misfortunes I have lived so long obscurely in the world。
And if in thy great and grave judgement （after the hearing of my
many miseries） thou canst any way restore me to my former estate； I
pray thee do it： but if thou perceive it impossible to be done； as
earnestly likewise I entreate thee； never to reveale to any living
person； that either thou hast seene mee； or heard any speech of me。
After these words； the teares still streaming from her faire eyes； she
recounted the whole passage of her rare mishappes； even from her
shipwracke in the sea of Majorica； untill that very instant houre；
speaking them in such harsh manner as they hapned； and not sparing any
jot of them。
Antigonus being mooved to much compassion； declared how hee pitied
her by his teares； and having bene silent an indifferent while； as
considering in this case what was best to be done； thus he began。
Madam； seeing you have past through such a multitude of misfortunes；
yet undiscovered； what and who you are： I will render you as
blamelesse to your Father； and estate you as fairely in his love； as
at the houre when you parted from him； and afterward make you wife
to the King of Colchos。 Shee demanding of him； by what meanes possibly
this could be accomplished； breefely he made it knowne to her； how；
and in what manner he would performe it。
To cut off further tedious circumstances； forthwith he returned to
Famagosta； and going before the King of the country； thus he spake
to him。 Sir； you may （if so you will be pleased） in an instant； do
me an exceeding honor； who have bene impoverished by your service； and
also a deed of great renowne to your selfe； without any much matter of
expence and cost。 The King demanding how？ Antigonus thus answered。 The
faire daughter of the Soldane； so generally reported to be drowned； is
arrived at Baffa； and to preserve her honor from blemishing； hath
suffered many crosses and calamities： being at this instant in very
poore estate； yet desirous to revisite her father。 If you please to
send her home under my conduct； it will be great honour to you； and no
meane benefite to me： which kindnesse will for ever be thankfully
remembred by the Soldan。
The King in royall magnificence； replied sodainly； that he was
highly pleased with these good tydings； and having sent honorably
for hir from Baffa； with great pompe she was conducted to Famagosta；
and there most graciously welcommed both by the King and Queene；
with solemne triumphes； bankets； and revelling； performed in most
Majesticke manner。 Being questioned by the King and Queene； concerning
so large a time of strange misfortunes： according as Antigonus had
formerly enstructed her； so did she shape the forme of her answers；
and satisfied （with honor） all their demands。 So； within few daies
after； upon her earnest and instant request； with an honourable traine
of Lords and Ladies； shee was sent thence； and conducted all the way
by Antigonus； untill she came unto the Soldans Court。
After some few dayes of her reposing there； the Soldan was
desirous to understand； how she could possibly live so long in any
Kingdome or Province whatsoever； and yet no knowledge to be taken of
her？ The Lady； who perfectly retained by heart； and had all her
lessons at her fingers ends； by the warie instruction which
Antigonus had given her； answered her father in this manner。 Sir；
about the twentieth day after my departure from you； a very terrible
and dreadfull tempest overtooke us； so that in dead time of the night；
our ship being split in sunder upon the sands； neere to a place called
Varna； what became of all the men that were aboord； I neither know；
nor ever heard of。 Onely I remember； then when death appeared； and I
being recovered from death to life； certaine Pezants of the
Countrey； comming to get what they could finde in the ship so
wrackt； I was first （with two of my women） brought and set safely on
the shore。
No sooner were we there； but certaine rude shagge…haird villaines
set upon us； carrying away from me both my women； then haling me along
by the haire of my head： neither teares or intercessions could draw
any pitty from them。 As thus they dragd me into a spacious Wood； foure
horsemen on a sodaine came riding by； who seeing how dishonourably the
villaines used me； rescued me from them； and forced them to flight。
But the foure horsemen； seeming （in my judgement） to bee persons of
power and authority； letting them go； came to me； urging sundry
questions to me； which neither I understood； or they mine answeres。
After many deliberations held among themselves； setting me upon one of
their horses； they brought me to a Monasterie of religious women；
according to the custome of their Law： and there； whatsoever they
did or sayde； I know not； but I was most benignely welcommed
thither； and honoured of them extraordinarily； where （with them in
Devotion） I dedicated my selfe to the Goddesse of chastity； who is
highly reverenced and regarded among the women of that Countrey； and
to her religious service they are wholly addicted。
After I had continued some time among them； and learned a little
of their language； they asked me； of whence； and what I was。 Reason
gave me so much understanding； to be fearefull of telling them the
trueth； for feare of expulsion from among them； as an enemy to their
Law and Religion： wherefore I answered （according as necessitie urged）
that I was daughter to a Gentleman of Cyprus who sent me to bee
married in Candie； but our fortunes （meaning such as had the charge of
me） fell out quite contrary to our expectation； by losses； shipwracke；
and other mischances； adding many matters more beside； onely in regard
of feare； and yeelding obediently to observe their customes。
At length； she that was in cheefest preheminence among these Women
（whom they termed by the name of their Ladie Abbesse） demaunded of
mee； whether I was willing to abide in that condition of life； or to
returne home againe into； Cyprus。 I answerd； that I desired nothing
more。 But shee； being very carefull of mine honour； would never repose
confidence in any that came for Cyprus； till two honest Gentlemen of
France who hapned thither about two moneths since； accompanied with
their wives； one of them being a neere kinswoman to the Lady
Abbesse。 And she well knowing； that they travelled in pilgrimage to
Jerusalem； to visite the holy Sepulcher； where （as they beleeve）
that he whom they held for their God was buried； after the jewes had
put him to death； recommended me to their loving trust； with especiall
charge； for delivering mee to my Father in Cyprus。 What honourable
love and respect I found in the company of those Gentlemen and their
Wives； during our voyage backe to Cyprus； the historie would be
overtedious in reporting； neither is it much materiall to our purpose；
because your demaund is to another end。
Sayling on prosperously in our Ship； it was not long before we
arrived at Baga； where being landed； and not knowing any person；
neither what I should say to the Gentlemen； who onely were carefull
for delivering me to my Father； according as they were charged by
the reverend Abbesse： it was the will of heaven doubtlesse （in pitty
and compassion of my passed disasters） that I was no sooner come on
shore at Baffa； but I should there haply meet with Antigonus； whom I
called unto in our Country language because I would not be
understood by the Gentlemen nor their wives； requesting him to
acknowledge me as his daughter。 Quickly he apprehended mine intention；
accomplishing what requested； and （according to his poore power）
most bounteously feasted the Gentlemen and their wives； conducting
me to the King of Cyprus； who received me royally； and sent me home to
you with so much honour； as I am no way able to relate。 What else
retnaineth to be said； Antigonus who hath oft heard the whole story of
my misfortunes； at better leysure will report。
Antigonus then turning to the Soldan； saide： My Lord； as shee hath
often told me； and by relation both of the Gentlemen and their
wives； she hath delivered nothing but truth。 Onely shee hath forgotten
somewhat worth the speaking； as thinking it not fit for her to
utter； because indeed it is not so convenient for her。 Namely； how
much the Gentlemen and their wives （with whom she came） commended
the rare honesty and integrity of life； as also the unspotted vertue
wherein shee lived among those chaste religious women； as they
constantly （both with teares and solemne protestations） avouched to
me； when kindly they resigned their charge to me。 Of all which
matters； and many more beside； if I should make discourse to your
Excellencie； this whole day； the night ensuing； and the next daies
full extendure； are not sufficient to acquaint you withall。 Let it
suffice then that I have said so much； as （both by the reports； and
mine owne understanding） may give you faithfull assurance； to make