in manner of a
Closet gorgeously wrought, and in royall manner apparelled of
sutch amplitude as it was hable to receyue the whole trayn and
company attendant vpon the Persons of the two Quenes. Now it
came to passe that a Gentleman of Cremona in Italy called
Philippo di Nicuoli, whych in those dayes by reason of the
recouery of the Duchie of Milane, by the Frenche, departed
Lombardie, and went to Hispurge, and was Secretarie to Signa
Andrea Borgo, bicause he was well learned, and could wryte very
fayre, and therwithall a proper and very haundsome man. This
yong Gentleman very mutch frequenting the Church, and seeing the
beauty of Queene Anne, to excell all the reast of the Ladies,
adorned and garnished with princely behauiour and Queenelyke
qualytyes, not foreseeyng (when hee beheld hir) the nature of
loue, whych once being possessed, neuer leaueth the pacient til
it hath infebled his state lyke the quality of poyson,
distillinge through the vaynes, euen to the heart. Which louing
venim this Gentleman did drinke with the lookes of his eyes, to
satisefy and content his desired minde by vewinge and intentife
considering hir wonderful beauty, that rapt beyond measure, he
was myserably intangled wyth the snares of blind and deceiptfull
loue, wherewith he was so cruelly inflamed, as he was lyke to
sorte out of the bounds of reason and Wyt. And the more he did
beholde the hyghnesse of hir Maiesty, and the excellency of so
great a Lady, and therewithal did weigh and consider hys base
degree and Lignage, and the poore state whereunto frowarde
fortune that tyme had brought him, the more he thought hymselfe
frustrate and voyde of hope, and the more the perillous flames
of loue did assayle and fire his amorous heart, kindlinge hys
inward partes with loue so deepely ingraffed, as it was
impossible to be rooted out. Mayster Philippo then in this
manner (as you haue heard) knotted and intrapped within the
fillets and laces of loue, supposing all labour which hee should
imploy to be lost and consumed, throughly bent himselfe with all
care and diligence to atchieue this hygh and honorable
enterprise, whatsoeuer should come of it: whych effectually he
pursued. For alwayes when the Queenes were at church to heare
deuine seruice, he fayled not to bee there. And hauinge done his
duetyfull reuerence, whych very comely he could do, he vsed to
bestow himselfe dyrectly ouer agaynst hir: where delitinge in
the beauty of the Queene whych dayl