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At first love led him on with only a kind of liking and complacency in beholding the unmatchable beauty of Isabella, and in considering her infinite virtues and graces, and loving her as if she had been his sister, his desires not going beyond their honest and virtuous bounds. But whenas Isabella began to grow towards woman (for then when Ricaredo burned in the flames of love she was twelve years of age) that his former goodwill and that complacency and liking was turned into most fervent desires of enjoying and possessing her; not that he did aspire thereunto by any other means than by those of being her husband, since that from the incomparable virtue of Isabella (for so did they call her) no other thing could be hoped for, neither would he himself, though he could, have expected that favour from her, because his noble condition and the high esteem wherein he held Isabella would not give the least way or consent that any the least evil thought should take any rooting in his soul.

A thousand times did he determine with himself to manifest the love he bare her to his parents, and again as oft did he not approve this his determination, because he knew that they had dedicated him for to be the husband of a very rich and principal gentlewoman, a Scottish damsel, who was likewise, like them, in secret a Catholic Christian; and it was clear and apparent, as he conceived and said with himself, that they would not be willing to give unto a slave (if this name may be given to Isabella) that which they had treated and in a manner concluded on to give to a gentlewoman; and therefore being much perplexed and pensive, not knowing what course to take for to attain to the end of his good desire, he passed such a kind of life as had almost brought him to the point of losing it. But it seeming unto him to be great cowardice and faint-heartedness to suffer himself to die without seeking out some kind of remedy for his grief, he did hearten and encourage himself to open his mind and declare his intent to Isabella.

All they of the house were very sad and heavy and much troubled by reason of Ricaredo’s sickness, for he was well beloved of them all; but his father and mother were exceeding sorrowful, as well for that they had no other child as also for that his great virtue, valour, and understanding did deserve it. The physicians did not hit right upon his disease, neither durst he, neither would he, discover it unto them.

In the end, being fully resolved to break through these difficulties which he imagined with himself, one day amongst the rest that Isabella came into serve and attend him, seeing her all alone, with a low voice and a troubled tongue he spake unto her after this manner:

“Fair Isabella, thy much worth, thy great virtue, and exceeding beauty, not to be equalled by any, have brought me to that extremity wherein you see me; and therefore if you will that I should leave my life in the hands of the greatest extremity that may be imagined, let thy good desire be answerable unto mine, which is no other than to receive thee for my spouse. But this must be carried closely, and kept hid from my parents, of whom I am afraid (who because they know not that which I know, thy great deservingness) that they will deny me that good which doth so much concern me. If thou wilt give me thy word to be mine, I shall forthwith pass mine as a true Christian to be thine. And put case that I should never come to enjoy thee, as I will not till that I have the Church’s benediction and my parents’ goodwill, yet, with this my imagining that thou wilt be assuredly mine, it will be sufficient to recover me my health and to make me live merrily and contented till that happy and desired time shall come.”