Fortune at Rome." The companions of this louer seeing how
he was bent, promised him what they were able to doe, for
accomplishment of his will, for the which he thanked them very
heartely, offring like duty, where fortune should prepare the
proofe of their affection and neede of his amorous seruice: In
the mean time, conceiuing in his minde some new deuice, which so
soone as he had found out was not able to be brought to passe,
and knowing that the duke seldome would haue him out of his
sight, began to inuent lyes, doing hym to vnderstand that he had
necessary occasion, for a certain time, to remain and be at his
country house. The duke which loued him, and who thought that
either he had som secret sicknes, or els som wench which he was
loth to discouer before his companions, gaue him leaue for a
month, which so pleased this amorous Gentleman, as he lept for
ioye, and was not able to rest one hour before he had found out
his frends and companions, to mount on horsback to visit hir
that had vnder hir power and obeisance the best portion of him,
which was his hart and his most secret thought. When he was come
to his Countrey house, hee began to stalke abrode, and daunce a
round about the Mill, where his beloued did dwel, who was not so
foolish, but by and by suspected whereunto those goings and
commings of the Pilgrim tended, and for what pray he led his
Dogs in lease, and caused so many Nets and Cords to be displayed
by hunters of euery age and sexe, who to discouer the Countrey,
assayde by beating the Bushes, to take the Beaste at forme: For
which cause she also for hir part, began to fly the snares of
those Byrders, and the raunging of the Dogs that vented after
hir, strayinge not from the house of the good man hir Father:
whereof this poore louer conceyued great dispayre, not knowinge
by what meanes he might rouse the Game after which he hunted, ne
finde the meanes to do hir vnderstand his playnts and vnmeasured
griefe of heart, the firme loue, and sinceere mynde wherewyth he
was so earnestly bent, both to obay and loue hir aboue all
other: And that which most of all increased his payne, was that
of so great a troupe of messages whych he had sent, with giftes
and promisses the better to atchieue his purpose, no one was
able to take place or force (neuer so little) the chastity of
that sober and modest mayde. It chaunced one day as this
Gentleman was walking a long a wode side newly felled, hard
adioyning to his ho