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whereon if I should rely； and you faile me； it will be your owne
undoing as well as mine。 Speake then boldly； replied the old Lady； and
remaine constantly assured； that you shall no way be deceived by me。
Hereupon； the Countesse declared the whole course of her love； from
the very originall to the instant； revealing also what she was； and
the occasion of her comming thither； relating every thing so
perfectly； that the Lady verily beleeved her； by some reports which
she had formerly heard； and which mooved her the more to compassion。
Now； when all circumstances were at full discovered； thus spake the
Countesse。
Among my other miseries and misfortunes； which hath halfe broken
my heart in the meere repetition； beside the sad and afflicting
sufferance； two things there are； which if I cannot compasse to
have； all hope is quite frustrate for ever； of gaining the grace of my
Lord and Husband。 Yet these two things may I obtaine by your helpe； if
all be true which I have heard； and you can therein best resolve
mee。 Since my comming to this City； it hath credibly bene told me；
that the Count my husband； is deeply in love with your daughter。 If
the Count （quoth the Ladie） love my daughter； and have a wife of his
owne； he must thinke； and so shall surely finde it； that his
greatnesse is no priviledge for him； whereby to worke dishonour upon
her poverty。 But indeede； some apparances there are； and such a matter
as you speake of； may be so presumed； yet so farre from a very thought
of entertaining in her or me； as whatsoever I am able to doe； to yeeld
you any comfort and content； you shall find me therein both willing
and ready： for I prize my daughters spotlesse poverty at as high a
rate； as he can doe the pride of his honour。
Madame； quoth the Countesse； most heartily I thanke you。 But
before I presume any further on your kindnesse； let me first tell you；
what faithfully I intend to do for you； if I can bring my purpose to
effect。 I see that your daughter is beautifull； and of sufficient
yeeres for marriage； and is debarred thereof （as I have heard） onely
by lack of a competent dowry。 Wherefore Madame； in recompence of the
favour I expect from you； I will enrich her with so much ready money
as you shall thinke sufficient to match her in the degree of honour。
Poverty made the poore Lady； very well to like of such a bountifull
offer； and having a noble heart shee said： Great Countesse say；
wherein am I able to do you any service； as can deserve such a
gracious offer？ If the action be honest； without blame or scandall
to my poore； yet undetected reputation； gladly I will do it； and it
being accomplished； let the requitall rest in your owne noble nature。
Observe me then Madame； replied the Countesse。 It is most convenient
for my purpose； that by some trusty and faithfull messenger； you
should advertise the Count my husband； that your daughter is； and
shall be at his command： but that she may remaine absolutely
assured； that his love is constant to her； and above all other： shee
must entreat him； to send her （as a testimony thereof） the Ring
which he weareth upon his little finger； albeit shee hath heard；
that he loveth it deerly。 If he send the Ring； you shall give it me；
and afterward send him word； that your daughter is ready to accomplish
his pleasure； but； for the more safety and secrecie； he must repaire
hither to your house； where I being in bed insteed of your daughter；
faire Fortune may so favour mee； that （unknowne to him） I may conceive
with childe。 Upon which good successe； when time shall serve； having
the Ring on my finger； and a childe in my armes begotten by him； his
love and liking may be recovered； and （by your meanes） I continue with
my Husband； as every vertuous Wife ought to doe。
The good old Lady imagined； that this was a matter somewhat
difficult； and might lay a blamefull imputation on her daughter。
Neverthelesse； considering； what an honest office it was in her； to
bee the meanes； whereby so worthy a Countesse should recover an
unkinde husband； led altogether by lust； and not a jot of cordiall
love； she knew the intent to be honest； the Countesse vertuous； and
her promise religious； and therefore undertooke to effect it。 Within
few dayes after； verie ingeniously； and according to the instructed
order； the Ring was obtayned； albeit much against the Counts will； and
the Countesse； in sted of the Ladies vertuous daughter； was embraced
by him in bed： the houre proving so auspicious； and juno being Lady of
the ascendent； conjoyned with the witty Mercury； shee conceived of two
goodly Sonnes； and her deliverance agreed correspondently with the
just time。
Thus the old Lady； not at this time onely； but at many other meetings
besides； gave the Countesse free possession of her husbands pleasures；
yet alwayes in such darke and concealed secrecie； as it was never
suspected； nor knowne by any but themselves； the Count lying with
his owne wife； and disappointed of her whom he more deerely loved。
Alwayes at his uprising in the mornings （which usually was before
the break of day； for preventing the least scruple of suspicion）
many familiar conferences passed betweene them； with the gifts of
divers faire： and costly jewels； all which the Countesse carefully
kept； and perceiving assuredly； that shee was conceived with childe；
shee would no longer bee troublesome to the good old Lady； but calling
her aside； spake thus to her。 Madame； I must needes give thankes to
heaven and you； because my desires are amply accomplished； and both
time and your deserts doe justly challenge； that I should
accordingly quite you before my departure。 It remaineth now in your
owne power； to make what demand you please of me； which yet I will not
give you by way of reward； because that would seeme to bee base and
mercenary： but onely whatsoever you shall receive of me； is in
honourable recompence of faire and vertuous deservings； such as any
honest and well…minded Lady in the like distresse； may with good
credit allow； and yet no prejudice to her reputation。
Although poverty might well have tutored the Ladies tongue；
to…demand a liberall recompence for her paines； yet shee requested but
an 100 pounds； as a friendly helpe towards her daughters marriage； and
that with a bashfull blushing was uttered too； yet the Countesse
gave her five hundred pounds； besides so many rich and costly
jewels； as amounted to a farre greater summe。 So shee returned to
her wonted lodging； at the aged widdowes house； where first shee was
entertained at her comming to Florence； and the good old Lady； to
avoyde the Counts repairing to her house any more； departed thence
sodainly with her daughter； to divers friends of hers that dwelt in
the Country； whereat the Count was much discontented； albeit
afterward； he did never heare any more tidings of hir or her daughter；
who was worthily married； to her Mothers great comfort。
Not long after； Count Bertrand was recalled home by his people：
and he having heard of his wives absence； went to Roussillion so
much the more willingly。 And the Countesse knowing her husbands
departure from Florence； as also his safe arrivall at his owne
dwelling； remained still in Florence； untill the time of her
deliverance； which was of two goodly Sonnes； lively resembling the
lookes of their Father； and all the perfect lineaments of his body。
Perswade your selves； she was not a little carefull of their
nursing； and when she saw the time answerable to her determination；
she tooke her journey （unknowne to any） and arrived with them at
Montpellier； where she rested her selfe for divers dayes； after so
long and wearisome a journey。
Upon the day of all Saints； the Count kept a solemne Feastivall； for
the assembly of his Lords； Knights； Ladies； and Gentlewomen： upon
which Joviall day of generall rejoycing； the Countesse attired in
her wonted Pilgrimes weed； repaired thither； entring into the great
Hall where the Tables were readily covered for dinner。 Preassing
through the throng of people； with her two children in her armes； s
presumed unto the place where the Count sate； and falling on her knees
before him； the teares trickling abundantly downe her cheekes； thus
she spake。 Worthy Lord； I am thy poore； despised； and unfortunate
wife； who； that thou mightst returne home； and not be an exile from
thine owne abiding； have thus long gone begging through the world。 Yet
now at length； I hope thou wilt be so honourably…minded； as to
performe thine owne too strict imposed conditions； made to the two
Knights which I sent unto thee； and which （by thy command） I was
enjoyned to do。 Behold here in mine armes； not onely one Sonne by thee
begotten； but two Twins； and thy Ring beside。 High time is it now；
if men of honour respect their promises； and after so long and tedious
travell； I should at last be welcommed as thy true wife。
The Count hearing this； stoode as confounded with admiration； for
full well he knew the Ring： and both the children were so perfectly
like him； as he was confirmed to be their Father by generall
judgement。 Upon his urging by what possible meanes this could be
brought to passe： the Countesse in presence of the whole as