then a seruant of simple degree? with me thou mightest liue in pleasure, where here thou drawest thy dayes forth in paine; by my loue thou shouldst be made a Lady of great treasures: where now thou art poore and beggerly; all manner of delights should then attend on thee, and whatsoeuer thy heart desireth, thou shouldst haue: wherefore seeing it lyes in thy owne choice, make thy selfe happy, by consenting to my suite.

Sir, (quoth she) I confesse your loue deserues a Ladies fauour, your affection a faithful friend, such a one as could make but one heart and mind of two hearts and bodyes; but farre vnfit it is that the Turtle should match with the Eagle, though her loue be neuer so pure, her wings are vnfit to mount so high. While Thales gazed on the starres, he stumbled in a pit. And they that clime vnaduisedly, catch a fall suddenly: what auaileth high dignity in time of aduersity? it neither helpeth the sorrow of the heart, nor remoues the bodies misery: as for wealth and treasure, what are they, but fortunes baits to bring men in danger? good for nothing but to make people forget themselues: and whereas you alleadge pouerty to be a hinderer of the hearts comfort, I find it my selfe contrary, knowing more surety to rest vnder a simple habit, then a royall Robe: and verily there is none in the world poore, but they that think themselues poore: for such as are indued with content, are rich, hauing nothing else, but he that is possessed with riches, without content, is most wretched and mise

rable. Wherefore most Noble Duke, albeit I account my life vnworthy of your least fauour, yet I would desire you to match your loue to your like, and let me rest to my rake, and vse my forke for my liuing.

Consider, faire Margaret, (quoth he) that it lyes not in mans power to place his loue where he list, being the worke of an high deity. A bird was neuer seene in Pontus, nor true loue in a fleeting mind: neuer shall remoue the affection of my heart which in nature resembleth the stone Abiston, whose fire can neuer be cooled: wherefore sweet Maiden giue not obstinate deniall, where gentle acceptance ought to be receiued.

Faire sir, (quoth she) consider what high displeasure may rise by a rash match, what danger a Kings frownes may breed, my worthlesse matching with your Royalty, may perhaps regaine your liberty, and hazard my life; then call to mind how little you should enioy your loue, or I my wedded Lord.

The Duke at these words made this reply, that if she consented, she should not dread any danger. The thunder (quoth he) is driuen away by ringing of belles, the Lions wrath qualified by a yeelding body: how much more a Brothers anger with a Brothers intreaty? By me he hath receiued many fauors, and neuer yet did he requite any one of them: and who is ignorant that the Princely Crown which adorneth his head, is my right? all which I am content he shall still enioy, so he requite my kindnesse. But if he should not, then would I be like those men (that eating of the tree Lutes) forget

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the Country where they were borne, and neuer more should this clime couer my head, but with thee would I liue in a strange Land, being better content with an egge in thy company, then with all the delicates in England.

The Maiden hearing this, who with many other words was long wooed, at last consented; where yeelding to him her heart with her hand, hee departed, appointing to certifie her from Cardiffe Castle, what determination he would follow: so taking his leaue of Gray he went to his brothers, and with them posted to Cardiffe.

Now it is to be remembred, that sir William Ferrers within a day or two after came vnto Grayes house, as it was his ordinary custome, but not so much ywis for Grayes company, as for the minde he had to Margaret his Maide, who although he were a married man, and had a faire Lady to his wife, yet he laid hard siege to the fort of this Maidens chastity, hauing with many faire words sought to allure her, and by the offer of sundry rich gifts to tempt her. But whe she saw, that by a hundred denials she could not be rid of him, she now chanced on a sudden to giue him such an answer, as droue him from a deceit into such a conceit, as neuer after that time he troubled her.

Sir William Ferrers being very importunate to haue her grant his desire, and when after sundry assaults she gaue him still the repulse, hee would needes know the reason why shee would not loue him, quoth he, If thou didst but consider who he is that seeketh thy fauour,

what pleasure he may doe thee by his purse, and what credit by his countenance, thou wouldst neuer stand on such nice points. If I be thy friend, who dareth be thy foe? and what is he that will once call thy name in question for any thing? therefore sweet girle, be better aduised, and refuse not my offer being so large.

Truly sir William (quoth she) though there be many reasons to make me deny your suite, yet is there one aboue the rest that causes me I cannot loue you. Now, I pray thee, my wench let me know that, quoth he, and I will amend it whatsoeuer it be. Pardon me sir, said Margaret, if I should speake my mind, it would possibly offend you, and doe me no pleasure because it is a defect in nature, which no phisicke can cure. Sir William hearing on her so, being abashed at her speech, said, Faire Margaret, let me (if I may obtaine no more at thy hands) yet intreat thee to know what this defect should be; I am not wry-neckt, crook-legd, stub-footed, lamehanded, nor bleare-eyed: what can make this mislike? I neuer knew any body that tooke exceptions at my person before.

And the more sorry am I, quoth she, that I was so malapert to speake it, but pardon me my presumption, good sir William, I would I had beene like the Storke tonguelesse, then should I neuer haue caused your disquiet. Nay sweet Margaret, quoth he, tell me deare loue, I commend thy singlenesse of heart, good Margaret speake. Good sir William let it rest, quoth shee, I know you will not beleeue it when I haue reuealed it,

neither is it a thing that you can helpe: and yet such is my foolishnesse, had it not beene for that, I thinke verily I had granted your suite ere now. But seeing you vrge me so much to know what it is, I will tell you: it is sir, your ill-fauoured great nose, that hangs sagging so lothsomely to your lips, that I cannot finde in my heart so much as to kisse you.

What, my nose, quoth he? is my nose so great and I neuer knew it? certainely I thought my nose to be as comely as any mans: but this it is we are all apt to think well of our selues, and a great deale better then we ought: but let me see? my nose! by the masse tis true, I doe now feele it my selfe: Good Lord, how was I blinded before? Hereupon it is certaine, that the Knight was driuen into such a conceit, as none could perswade him but his nose was so great indeed; his Lady, or any other that spake to the contrarie, he would say they were flatterers, and that they lied, insomuch that he would be ready to strike some of them that commended and spake well of his nose. If they were men of worship, or any other that contraried him in his opinion, he would sweare they flowted him, and be ready to challenge them the field. He became so ashamed of himselfe, that after that day he would neuer goe abroad, whereby Margaret was well rid of his company.

On a time, a wise and graue Gentleman seeing him grounded in his conceit so strongly, gaue his Lady counsell, not to contrary him therein, but rather say that she would seeke out some cunning Physician to cure