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me； and I will doe so much as lieth in me； to make a full satisfaction
for it。 Madame； answered the Pilgrime； I know well enough what it
is； and will demand it no more of you； to winne any further
knowledge thereof； then I have already： but because in revealing it
your selfe； it may touch you with the more true compunction of
soule； let us goe to the point indeede； and tell mee； doe you
remember； that at any time you were married to an Husband； or no？
At the hearing of these words； shee breathed foorth a very
vehement sigh； and was stricken with admiration at this question；
beleeving that not any one had knowledge thereof。 Howbeit； since the
day of the supposed Theobaldaes buriall； such a rumour ran abroade； by
meanes of some speeches； rashly dispersed by a friend of
Theobaldoes； who （indeede） knew it； whereupon shee returned him this
answer。 It appeareth to me （good man） that divine ordinativation
hath revealed unto you all the secrets of men； and therefore I am
determined； not to conceale any of mine from you。 True it is； that
in my younger yeeres； being left a widdow； I entirely affected an
unfortunate young Gentleman； who （in secret） was my Husband； and whose
death is imposed on my Father。 The death of him I have the more
bemoaned； because （in reason） it did neerely concerne me； by shewing
my selfe so savage and rigorous to him before his departure：
neverthelesse； let me assure you Sir； that neither his parting long
absence from me； or his untimely death； never had the power to bereave
my heart of his remembrance。
Madame； saide the Pilgrime； the unfortinate young Gentleman that
is slaine； did never love you； but sure I am； that Theobaldo Elisei
loved you deerely。 But tell me； what was the occasion whereby you
conceived such hatred against him？ Did he at any time offend you？ No
truly Sir； quoth shee； but the reason of my anger towards him； was
by the words and threatnings of a religious Father； to whom once I
revealed （under confession） how faithfully I affected him； and what
private familiarity had passed betweene us。 When iristantly he used
such dreadfull threatnings to me； and which （even yet） doe afflict
my soule； that I did not abstaine； and utterly refuse him； the
Divell would fetch me quicke to Hell； and cast me into the bottome
of his quenchlesse and everlasting fire。
These menaces were so prevailing with me； as I refused all further
conversition with Theobaldo； in which regard； I would receive
neither letters or messages from him。 Howbeit； I am perswaded； that if
he had continued here still； and not departed hence in such
desperate manner as hee did； seeing him melt and consume dayly away；
even as Snow by power of the Sunne…beames： my austere deliberation had
beene long agoe quite altered； because not at any time （since then）
life hath allowed me one merry day； neither did I； or ever can love
any man like unto him。
At these wordes the Pilgrime sighed； and then proceeded on againe
thus。 Surely Madame； this one onely sin； may justly torment you；
because I know for a certainty； that Theobaldo never offered you any
in many； the day hee first became enamoured of you； and what grace
or favour you affoorded him； was your owne voluntary gift； and （as
he tooke it） no more then in modesty might well become you； for hee
loving you first； you had beene most cruell and unkinde； if you should
not have requited him with the like affection。 If then he continued so
just and loyall to you； as （of mine owne knowledge） I am able to say
he did； what should move you to repulse him so rudely？ Such matters
ought well to bee considered on before hand； for if you did imagine；
that you should repent it as an action ill done； yet you could not doe
it； because as hee became yours； so were you likewise onely his； and
he being yours； you might dispose of him at your pleasure； as being
truely obliged to none but you。 How could you then with…draw your
selfe from him； being onely his； and not commit most manifest theft； a
farre unfitting thing for you to doe； except you had gone with his
consent。
Now Madame； let me further give you to understand； that I am a
religious person； and a pilgrime； and therefore am well acquainted
with all the courses of their dealing； if therefore I speake
somewhat more amply of them； and for your good； it can not be so
unseeming for mee to doe it； as it would appeare ugly in another。 In
which respect； I will speake the more freely to you； to the ende； that
you may take better knowledge of them； then （as it seemeth） hitherto
you have done。 In former passed times such as professed Religion； were
learned and most holy persons； but our religious professours now
adayes； and such as covet to bee so esteemed； have no matter at all of
Religion in them； but onely the outward shew and habite。 Which yet
is no true badge of Religion neither； because it was ordained by
religious institutions； that their garments should bee made of
arrow； plaine； and coursest spun cloth； to make a publike
manifestation to the world； that （in meere devotion； and religious
disposition） by wrapping their bodies in such base clothing； they
condemned and despised all temporall occasions。 But now adaies they
make them large； deepe； glistering； and of the finest cloth or stuffes
to bee gotten； reducing those habites to so proude and pontificall a
forme； that they walke Peacock…like； rustling； and strouting with them
in the Churches； yea； and in open publike places； as if they were
ordinary secular persons； to have their pride more notoriously
observed。 And as the Angler bestoweth his best cunning； with one
line and baite to catch many fishes at one strike； even so do these
counterfeited habit…mongers； by their dissembling and crafty
dealing； beguile many credulous widdowes： simple women； yea； and men
of weake capacity； to credit whatsoever they doe or say； and herein
they doe most of all exercise themselves。
And to the end； that my speeches may not savor of any untruth
against them； these men which I speake of； have not any habite at
all of religious men； but onely the colour of their garments； and
whereas they in times past； desired nothing more then the salvation of
mens soules； these fresher witted fellowes； covet after women and
wealth； and employ all their paines by their whispering confessions；
and figures of painted fearefull examples； to affright and terrifie
unsetled and weake consciences； by horrible and blasphemous
speeches； yet adding perswasion withall； that their sinnes may be
purged by Almes…deedes and Masses。 To the end； that such as credit
them in these their dayly courses； being guided more by apparance of
devotion； then any true compunction of heart； to escape severe
penances by them enjoyned： may some of them bring bread； others
wine； others coyne； all of them matter of commoditie and benefit；
and simply say； these gifts are for the soules of their good friends
deceased。
I make not any doubt； but almes…deedes and prayers； are very mighty；
and prevailing meanes； to appease heavens anger for some sinnes
committed； but if such as bestow them； did either see or know； to whom
they give them： they would more warily keepe them； or else cast them
before Swine； in regard they are altogether so unworthy of them。 But
come we now to the case of your ghostly father； crying out in your
eare； that secret mariage was a most greevous sinne： Is not the breach
thereof farre greater？ Familiar conversation betweene man and man
and woman； is a concession meerely naturall： but to rob； kill； or
banish any one； proceedeth from the mindes malignity。 That thou did
rob Theobaldo； your selfe hath already sufficiently witnessed； by
taking that from him； which with free consent in mariage you gave him。
Next I must say； that by all the power remaining in you； you kild him；
because you would not permit him to remaine with you； declaring your
selfe in the very height of cruelty； that hee might destroy his life
by his owne hands。 In which case the Law requireth； that whosoever
is the occasion of an ill act committed； hee or she is as deepe in the
fault； as the party that did it。 Now concerning his banishment； and
wandring seaven yeeres in exile thorow the world； you cannot denie；
but that you were the onely occasion thereof。 In all which three
severall actions； farre more capitally have you offended； then by
contracting of mariage in such clandestine manner。
But let us see； whether Theobaldo deserved all these severall
castigations； or not。 In trueth he did not； your selfe have
confessed （beside that which I know） that hee loved you more deerely
then himselfe； and nothing could be more honoured； magnified and
exalted； then dayly you were by him； above all other women whatsoever。
When hee came in any place； where honestly； and without suspition
hee might speake to you： all his honour； and all his liberty； lay
wholly committed into your power。 Was hee not a noble young Gentleman？
Was he （among all those parts that most adorne a man； and appertaine
to the very choycest respect） inferiour to any one of best merit in
your Citie？ I know that you cannot make deniall to any of these
demands。 How could you then by the perswasion of a beast