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This her great retirement did set on fire and inflame the desires not only of those young gallants of that street where she dwelt but of all those that had but once had a sight of her. Hence they made night-music at her window, and by day careers with their jennets. And from this her not suffering herself to be seen, and from others much desiring to see her, increased their seeking out of cunning bawds which were mistresses in their art, and promised to show themselves no less in soliciting Isabella; and there were not some wanting who endeavoured to bring this their wicked purpose to pass by witchcraft, charms, sorcery, and the like lewd courses. But against all these Isabella was like a rock in the midst of the sea, against which the waves and the winds dash and beat, but do not move it.

A year and a half was now past when the approaching hope of those two years promised by Ricaredo began with more earnestness than hitherto it had done to vex and grieve the heart of Isabella; and whiles she was now and then thinking with herself that her husband was come, and that she had him before her eyes, and asked him what was the cause that hindered his coming and had kept him so long from her. And while again she imagined the just excuses that Ricaredo made her for his long absence, and how willingly she did believe and receive them, and how lovingly she embraced him in her arms and hugged him in her bosom as being the half part of her own soul. Then, even then when she was thinking on these love fancies, a letter came to her hands from the lady Catalina, bearing date from London some fifty days since. It was written in the English tongue, but she reading it in Spanish saw that it spake thus:

Daughter of my soul, thou knowest very well Guillarte, Ricaredo’s page; he went along with him in this his journey. And by a former of mine unto you I advertised you that Ricaredo made for France the second day after your departure, and from thence was to travel farther. Now this his servant Guillarte, at the end of sixteen months, in all which time we had no news of our son, came home to us yesterday, and brought us these sad tidings that the Earl Arnesto had by treachery killed Ricaredo in France.

Now then, daughter, consider in what case his father, myself, and his spouse are in with this heavy news; being such, I say, that they have not left us any hope of putting this our misfortune in doubt. That which Clotaldo and myself entreat of you again and again is that you will truly and earnestly remember Ricaredo, who well deserveth this good office from you, considering how dearly he loved you, as you yourself best know.

You shall likewise beg of God that He will give us patience and bring us to a good death; to whom we likewise will make the same request, and humbly beseech Him that He will give unto you and your parents many long and happy years of life.

By the letter, hand, and seal there was not any the least doubt left to Isabella for not giving credit to the death of her husband. She knew very well his page Guillarte, and knew that he was true and trusty, and that in his own nature he hated a lie, and that he had no reason in the world for to feign that his death, and as little his mother lady Catalina, being that it imported nothing to send her such sorrowful news. In conclusion, no discourse that she could make with herself, nothing that she could imagine, could put it out of her thought that this unfortunate news was not true.