my onely beloued Siluio, whom I doe esteeme more then all the iewells in the worlde, whose personage I regard more then my owne life, is the onely cause of my attempted iourney, besechyng you, that all the whole displeasure, whiche I vnderstand you haue conceiued against hym, maie be imputed vnto my charge, and that it would please you louingly to deale with him, whom of my self I haue chosen rather for the satisfaction of mine honest likyng, then for the vaine preheminences or honourable dignities looked after by ambicious myndes.

The duke hauing heard this discourse, caused Siluio presently to be sent for, and to be brought before hym, to whom he saied: had it not been sufficient for thee, when I had reposed myself in thy fidelitie, and the trustinesse of thy seruice, that thou shouldest so traiterously deale with me, but since y^t tyme haste not spared, still to abuse me with so many forgeries, and periured protestations, not onely hatefull vnto me, whose simplicitie thou thinkest to bee suche that by the plotte of thy pleasaunt tongue, thou wouldest make mee beleeue a manifest vntrothe, but most habominable bee thy doynges in the presence and sight of God, that hast not spared to blaspheme his holy name, by callyng hym to bee a witnesse to maintaine thy leasynges, and so detestably wouldest forsweare thyself, in a matter that is so openly knowne.

Poore Siluio whose innocencie was suche y^t he might lawfully sweare, seing Iulina to be there in place, aunswered thus:

Moste noble duke, well vnderstandyng your conceiued greefe, moste humbly I beseche you patiently to heare my excuse, not mindyng thereby to aggrauate or heape vp youre wrathe and displeasure, protestyng before God, that there is nothyng in the worlde, whiche I regarde so much, or dooe esteeme so deare, as your good grace and fauour, but desirous that your grace should know my innocencie, and to cleare my self of suche impositions, wherewith I knowe I am wrongfully accused, whiche as I vnderstande should be in the practisyng of the Ladie Iulina, who standeth here in place, whose acquitaunce for my better discharge, now I moste humbly craue, protestyng before the almightie God, that neither in thought, worde, nor deede, I haue not otherwise vsed my self, then accordyng to the bonde and duetie of a seruaunte, that is bothe willing & desirous, to further his maisters sutes, which if I haue otherwise saied then that is true, you Madame Iulina, who can verie well deside in the depthes of all this doubte, I moste humbly beseche you to certifie a trothe, if I haue in any thyng missaied, or haue otherwise spoke, then is right and iust.

Iulina hauyng heard this discoorse whiche Siluio had made, perceiuing that he stoode in greate awe of the dukes displeasure, aunswered thus: think not my Siluio that my commyng hither is to accuse you of any misdemeanour towardes your maister, so I dooe not denaie, but in all suche imbassages wherein towardes me you haue been imployed, you haue vsed the office of a faithfull and trustie messenger, neither am I ashamed to confesse, that the first daie that mine eyes did beholde, the singuler behauiour, the notable curtesie, and other innumerable giftes wherwith my Siluio is endued, but that beyonde all measure my harte was so inflamed, that impossible it was for me, to quenche the feruente loue, or extinguishe the least parte of my conceiued torment, before I had bewraied the same vnto hym, and of my owne motion, craued his promised faithe and loialtie of marriage, and now is the tyme to manifest the same vnto the worlde, whiche hath been done before God, and betwene our selues: knowyng that it is not needefull, to keepe secret that, whiche is neither euill doen, nor hurtfull to any persone, therefore (as I saied before) Siluio is my housbande by plited faithe, whom I hope to obtaine without offence, or displeasure of any one, trustyng that there is no manne, that will so farre forget hym self, as to restraine that, whiche God hath left at libertie for euery wight, or that will seeke by crueltie, to force ladies to marrie otherwise, then accordyng to their owne likyng. Feare not then my Siluio to keepe your faith and promise, whiche you haue made vnto me, and as for the reste: I doubte not thynges will so fall out, as you shall haue no maner of cause to complaine.

Siluio amased to heare these woordes, for that Iulina by her speeche, semed to confirme that, whiche he moste of all desired to bee quite of, saied: who would haue thought that a ladie of so greate honour and reputation, would her self bee the embassadour, of a thyng so preiuditiall, and vncomely for her