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hir； whither she was provided of a Lover； or no。 Gianetta； being never
acquainted with any such questions； a scarlet Dye covering all her
modest countenance； thus replyed。 Madam； I have no neede of any Lover；
and very unseemely were it； for so poore a Damosell as I am； to have
so much as a thought of Lovers； being banished from my friends and
kinsfolke； and remaining in service as I do。
If you have none （answered the Ladie） wee will bestow one on you；
which shall content your minde； and bring you to a more pleasing kinde
of life； because it is farre unfit； that so faire a Maid as you
are。； should remaine destitute of a Lover。 Madam； said Gianetta；
considering with my selfe； that since you received me of my poore
Father； you have used me rather like your daughter； then a servant； it
becommeth mee to doe as pleaseth you。 Notwithstanding； I trust （in the
regard of mine owne good and honour） never to use any complaint in
such a case： but if you please to bestow a husband on me； I purpose to
love and honor him onely； and not any other。 For； of all the
inheritance left me by my progenitors； nothing remaineth to me but
honourable honesty； and that shall be my Legacie so long as I live。
These wordes； were of a quite contrary complexion； to those which
the Lady expected from her； and for effecting the promise made unto
hir Sonne： howbeit （like a wise and noble Ladie） much she inwardly
commended the maids answers； and said unto her。 But tell me
Gianetta； what if my Lord the King （who is a gallant youthfull Prince；
and you so bright a beautie as you are） should take pleasure in your
love； would ye denie him？ Sodainly the Maide returned this answer：
Madame； the King perhaps might enforce me； but with my free consent；
hee shall never have any thing of me that is not honest。 Nor did the
Lady dislike her Maides courage and resolution； but breaking of all
her further conference； intended shortly to put her project in proofe；
saying to her son； that when he was fully recovered； he should have
private accesse to Gianetta； whom shee doubted not but would be
tractable enough to him； for she helde it no meane blemish to her
honour； to moove the Maide any more in the matter； but let him
compasse it as he could。
Farre from the yong Gentlemans humour was this answer of his Mother；
because he aimed not at any dishonourable end： true； faithfull； and
honest love was the sole scope of his intention； foule and loathsome
lust he utterly defied； whereupon he fell into sickenesse againe；
rather more violently then before。 Which the Lady perceiving； revealed
her whole intent to Gianetta； and finding her constancie beyond common
comparison； acquainted her Lord with all she had done； and both
consented （though much against their mindes） to let him enjoy her in
honourable marriage： accounting it better； for preservation of their
onely sons life； to match him farre inferiour to his degree； then by
denying h desire； to let him pine and dye for her love。
After great consultation with Kindred and Friends； the match was
agreed upon； to the no little joy of Gianetta； who devoutly returned
infinite thankes to heaven； for so mercifully respecting her
dejected poore estate； after the bitter passage of so many miseries；
and never tearming her selfe any otherwise； but the daughter of a
poore Piccard。 Soone was the yong Gentleman recovered and married；
no man alive so well contented as he； and setting downe an absolute
determination； to lead a loving life with his Gianetta。
Let us now convert our lookes to Wales； to Perotto； being lefte
there with the other Lord Marshall； who was the President of that
Countrey。 On hee grew in yeeres； choisely respected by his Lord；
because hee was most comely of person； and forward to all valiant
attempts： so that in Tourneyes； joustes； and other actions of Armes；
his like was not to bee found in all the Island； being named onely
Perotto the valiant Piccard； and so was he famed farre and neere。 As
God had not forgotten his Sister； so in mercy he became as mindefull
of him； for； a contagious mortalitie hapning in the Country； the
greater part of the people perished thereby； the rest flying thence
into other partes of the Land； whereby the whole Province became
dispeopled and desolate。
In the time of this plague and dreadful visitation； the Lord
President； his Lady； Sonnes； Daughters； Brothers； Nephewes； and
Kindred dyed； none remaining alive； but one onely Daughter
marriageable； a few of the houshold servants； beside Perotto； whom
（after the sickenesse was more mildly asswaged） with counsell and
consent of the Countrey people； the young Lady accepted to be her
husband； because hee was a man so worthy and valiant； and of all the
inheritance left by her deceased Father； she made him Lord； and sole
commander。 Within no long while after； the King of England
understanding that his President of Wales was dead； and Fame liberally
relating the vertues； valour； and good parts of Perotto the Piccard；
hee created him President thereof； and to supply the place of his
deceased Lord。 These faire fortunes； within the compasse of so short a
time； fell to the two innocent children of the Count D'Angiers after
they were left by him as lost and forlorne。
Eighteene yeeres were now fully overpast； since the Count
D'Angiers fled from Paris； having suffered （in miserable sort） many
hard and lamentable adversities； and seeing himselfe now to be
growne aged； hee was desirous to leave Ireland； and to know （if hee
might） what was become of both his Children。 Heereupon； perceiving his
wonted forme to be so altered； that such as formerly had conversed
most with him； could now not take any knowledge of him； and feeling
his body （through long labour and exercise endured in service） more
lustie then in his idle youthfull yeeres； especially when he left
the Court of France； hee purposed to proceede in his determination。
Being verie poore and simple in apparrel； he departed from the Irish
Earle his Master； with whom he had continued long in service； to no
advantage or advancement； and crossing over into England； travayled to
the place in Wales； where he left Perotto； and where he found him to
be Lord Marshall and President of the country； lusty and in good
health； a man of goodly feature； and most honorably respected and
reverenced of the people。
Well may you imagine； that this was no small comfort to the poore
aged Countes heart； yet would he not make himselfe knowne to him； or
any other about him； but referred his joy to a further enlarging and
diminishing； by sight of the other limbe of his life； his deerely
affected daughter Gianetta； denying rest to his bodie in any place；
until such time as he came to London。 Making there secret enquiry
concerning the Ladie with whom hee had left his daughter； hee
understoode； that a young Gentlewoman； named Gianetta； was married
to that Ladies onely Son； which made a second addition of joy to his
soule； accounting all his passed adversities of no valew； both his
children being living； and in so high honour。
Having found her dwelling； and （like a kinde Father） being earnestly
desirous to see her； he dayly resorted nere to the house； where Sir
Roger Mandevile （for so was Gianettaes husband named） chauncing to see
him； being moved to compassion； because he was both poore and aged：
commaunded one of his men； to take him into the house； and to give him
some foode for Gods sake； which （accordingly） the servant performed。
Gianetta had divers children by her husband； the eldest being but
eight yeeres of age； yet all of them so faire and comely as could
be。 As the old Count sate eating his meate in the Hall； the children
came all about him； embracing； hugging； and making much of him； even
as if Nature had truly instructed them； that this was their aged
（though poor） Grandfather； and hee as lovingly receiving these kilde
relations from them； wisely and silently kept all to himselfe； with
sighes； teares； and joyes intermixed together。 Insomuch that the
children would not part from him though their Tutor and Master
called them often； which being tolde to their Mother； shee came foorth
of the neere adjoyning Parlour； and threatned to beate them； if they
would not doe what their Maister commanded them。
Then the Children began to cry； saying； that they would tarrie
stil by the good olde man； because he loved them better then their
Master did； whereat both the Lady and the Count began to smile。 The
Count； a poore Begger； and not as Father to so great a Lady； arose；
and did her humble reverence； because she was now a Noble Woman；
conceyving wonderfull joy in his soule； to see her so faire and goodly
a creature： yet could she take no knowledge of him； Age； want； and
misery had so mightily altered him； his head all white； his beard
without any comly forme； his Garments so poore； and his face so
wrinkled； leane and meager； that he seemed rather some Carter； then
a Count。 And Gianetta perceiving that when her Children were fetcht
away； they returned againe to the olde man； and would not leave him；
she desired their Maister to let them alone。
While thus the Children continued making much of the good olde man；