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honourable Lady his kinsewoman； requesting her （without revealing
whose child it was） to see it both nobly and carefully educated。
At time convenient afterward； being with child againe； and delivered
of a Princely Sonne （then which nothing could be more joyfull to the
Marquesse） yet all this was not sufficient for him； but with farre
ruder language then before； and lookes expressing harsh intentions； he
said unto her。 Grizelda； though thou pleasest me wonderfully； by the
birth of this Princely Boy； yet my subjects are not therewith
contented； but blunder abroad maliciously； that the grandchild of
Janiculo； a poore countrey pezant； when I am dead and gone； must be
their Soveraigne Lord and Master。 Which makes me stand in feare of
their expulsion； and to prevent that； I must be rid of this childe； as
well as the other； and then send thee away from hence； that I may take
another wife； more pleasing to them。
Grizelda； with a patient sufferent soule； hearing what he had
said； returned no other answere but this。 Most Gracious and Honourable
Lord； satisfie and please your owne Royall minde； and never use any
respect of me： for nothing is precious or pleasing to mee； but what
may agree with your good liking。 Within a while after； the Noble
Marquesse in the like manner as he did before for the Daughter； so
he sent the same servant for the Sonne； and seeming as if he had
sent it to have been slaine； conveighed it to be nursed at Bologna； in
company of his sweete Sister。 Whereat the Lady shewed no other
discontentment in any kinde； then formerly she had done for her
Daughter； to the no meane marvell of the Marquesse； who protested in
his soule； that the like woman was not in all the world beside。 And
were it not for his heedfull observation； how loving and carefull
she was of her children； prizing them as dearely as her owne life：
rash opinion might have perswaded him； that she had no more in her；
then a carnall affection； not caring how many she had； so shee might
thus easily be rid of them； but he knew her to be a truely vertuous
mother； and wisely liable to endure his severest impositions。
His Subjects beleeving； that he had caused the children to bee
slaine； blamed him greatly； thought him to be a most cruell man； and
did highly compassionate the Ladies case： who when shee came in
company of other Gentlewomen； which mourned for their deceassed
children； would answere nothing else： but that they could not be
more pleasing to her； then they were to the father that begot them。
Within certaine yeares after the birth of these children； the
Marquesse purposed with himselfe； to make his last and finall proofe
of faire Grizeldaes patience； and said to some neere about him： that
he could no longer endure； to keepe Grizelda as his wife；
confessing； he had done foolishly； and according to a young giddie
braine； when he was so rash in the marriage of her。 Wherfore he
would send to the Pope； and purchase a dispensation from him； to
repudiate Grizelda； and take another Wife。 Wherein although they
greatly reproved him； yet he told them plainely； that it must needes
be so。
The Lady hearing these newes； and thinking she must returne againe
to her poore father's house； and （perhaps） to her old occupation of
keeping sheepe； as in her yonger dayes she had done； understanding
withall； that another woman must enjoy him； whom shee dearely loved
and honoured； you may well thinke （worthy Ladies） that her patience
was now put to the maine proofe indeede。 Neverthelesse； as with an
invincible true vertuous courage； she had outstood all the other
injuries of Fortune； so did she constantly settle her soule； to
beare this with an undaunted countenance and behaviour。
At such time as was prefixed for the purpose； counterfeit Letters
came to the Marquesse （as sent from Rome） which he caused to be
publikely read in the hearing of his subjects： that the Pope had
dispensed with him； to leave Grizelda； and marry with another Wife；
wherefore sending for her immediatly； in presence of them all； thus he
spake to her。 Woman； by concession sent me from the Pope； he hath
dispensed with me； to make choyce of another Wife； and to free my
selfe from thee。 And because my predecessors have beene Noblemen；
and great Lords in this Country； thou being the daughter of a poore
Countrey Clowne； and their blood and mine notoriously imbased； by my
marriage with thee： I intend to have thee no longer my Wife； but
will returne thee home to thy Fathers house； with all the rich Dowry
thou broughtest me； and then I wil take another Wife； with whom I am
already contracted； better beseeming my birth； and farre more
contenting and pleasing to my people。
The Lady hearing these words （not without much paine and difficulty）
restrayned her teares； quite contrary to the naturall inclination of
women； and thus answered。 Great Marquesse； I never was so empty of
discretion； but did alwayes acknowledge； that my base and humble
condition； could not in any manner sute with your high blood and
Nobility； and my being with you； I ever acknowledged； to proceed
from heaven and you； not any merit of mine； but onely as a favour lent
me； which you being now pleased to recall backe againe； I ought to
be pleased （and so am） that it bee restored。 Here is the Ring；
wherewith you Espoused me； here （in all humility） I deliver it to you。
You command me； to carry home the marriage Dowry which I brought
with me： there is no need of a Treasurer to repay it me； neither any
new purse to carry it in； much lesse any Sumpter to be laden with
it。 For （Noble Lord） it was never out of my memory； that you tooke
me starke naked； and if it shall seeme sightly to you； that this
body which hath borne two children； and begotten by you； must againe
be seene naked； willingly must I depart hence naked。 But I humbly
beg of your Excellency； in recompence of my Virginity； which I brought
you blamelesse； so much as in thought： that I may have but one of my
wedding Smocks； onely to conceale the shame of nakednesse； and then
I depart rich enough。
The Marquesse whose heart wept bloody teares； as his eyes would
likewise gladly have yeelded their naturall tribute； covered all
with a dissembled angry countenance； and starting up； said。 Goe；
give her a Smocke onely； and so send her gadding。 All there present
about him； entreated him to let her have a petticote； because it might
not be said； that she who had been his Wife thirteene yeares and more；
was sent away so poorely in her Smocke： but all their perswasions
prevailed not with him。 Naked in her Smocke； without hose or shoes；
bareheaded； and not so much as a Cloth about her necke； to the great
griefe and mourning of all that saw her； she went home to her old
fathers house。
And he （good man） never beleeving； that the Marquesse would long
keepe his daughter as his Wife； but rather expected dally； what now
had happened： safely laid up the garments； whereof the Marquesse
despoyled her； the same morning when he espoused her。 Wherefore he
delivered them to her； and she fell to her fathers houshold businesse；
according as formerly she had done； sustayning with a great and
unconquerable