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In conclusion, Isabella and her parents were delivered unto him, and Ricaredo carried them home, I mean to his father’s house. To those rich pearls and that diamond the Queen added other jewels and other changes of raiment, which were such and so costly that they discovered the great love which she bare to Isabella, who remained for the space of two months without being able to be reduced to her former beauty. But the time being past, her skin began to peel and fall away, and a fair and smooth grain of skin to disclose itself.

In this interim, Ricaredo’s parents presuming that it was not possible that Isabella should become the same woman which heretofore she was, resolved to send for that Scottish damsel with whom, before that ever they treated with Isabella, Ricaredo (by agreement) was to marry; and all this they did without his knowledge, not doubting but that the present beauty of this new bride would blot out of his son’s remembrance that of Isabella, which was now past; whom either they purposed to send into Spain, together with her father and mother, giving them such store of wealth and riches as should fully recompense their former received losses.

There passed not above a month and a half whenas, without Ricaredo’s privity, the new spouse entered within his father’s doors, accompanied as befitted her station, and so fair and beautiful a creature, that next to Isabella, when she was in her prime, there was not the like unto her in all London. Ricaredo was mightily startled with the sudden and unexpected sight of the damsel, and feared lest the suddenness of her coming would put Isabella into some passion, and make an end of her life; and therefore, for to remove this fear, he went to the bed’s side where Isabella lay, and finding her only accompanied with her father and mother, before them he spake unto her after this manner:

“Isabella of my soul, my parents out of the great love which they bear unto me, being not as yet well informed of that exceeding love which I still bear unto thee, have brought a damsel into this house, with whom they have treated and concluded to marry me, before that I should know the worth that is in thee, or that thou shouldst recover thy lost health. And this they have done, as I verily believe, with intention that the great beauty of this damsel should blot thine out of my soul, which is therein so deeply engraven. I, Isabella, from the very instant that I loved thee, it was with another kind of love than that which hath its aim and end in satisfying the sensual appetite. For albeit that thy corporal beauty did captivate my senses, yet thy infinite virtues were they which imprisoned my soul; so that if being fair I did love thee, being now foul I adore thee. And for the further confirming of this truth give me this hand”; and she giving him her right hand, and he holding it fast in his, prosecuted his speech, saying, “By that faith which my Christian parents taught me, and by that true God who heareth what we say, I promise thee, my dear Isabella, the one half of my heart. I vow myself thy husband, and am so even from this very hour, if thou wilt raise me to that height of happiness to be thine.”

Isabella remained in some suspense upon these words of Ricaredo, and her parents amazed and astonished. She knew not what to say, nor do any other thing save her often kissing of Ricaredo’s hand, and telling him with a voice intermingled with tears that she accepted him for hers, and rendered herself to be his servant. Ricaredo kissed that her foul face, which when it was fair he durst never presume to touch. Isabella’s parents with tender and many tears solemnized this nuptial feast. Ricaredo told them that he would put off his marrying with the Scottish damsel which was now in the house, in such manner as he would hereafter give them to understand. And in case that his parents should send all three of them into Spain, that they should not decline it, but by all means get them gone; and that they should look for him within two years, either in Cadiz or Seville; assuring them on the word of a gentleman that ere that time were expired he would not fail to be with them, if Heaven should so long lend him life; and that if the time prefixed should be preterlapsed they should then rest assured that some great impediment, or death, which was the more certain, had crossed his intended journey.