“ Deidamia was mighty, thoughtful what this aged couple might be and, whether or no, for her apparel's sake, and that gold, and those jewels she had about her, she might not fall into as great a danger, as that she had formerly escaped, and though she was, at first glad of their company, she could have wished herself in her beloved cave again. But her fears were quickly over, when, by a French Bible, and other books she found in her room, and, by the hearty prayers of the good old man at night, she perceived they were Hugonots ”

“ Whilst Deidamia was wondering what that sudden alteration, in those who had lately so rudely treated her, might mean, Fronovius delivered her the letter; in which she read these words:
"My dear Deidamia,
THOUGH I know, that the news which these lines will acquaint you with, cannot be acceptable to you, yet I conjure you, by our mutual affections, that you suffer not yourself to be disturbed, but hear what I shall tell you, with that patience and serenity of mind which becomes you; as knowing it is our duty, in all things that happen to us, to submit to the Divine Will. ”

“ Nor was Bernard unwilling to go with his new master, finding providence had changed the death that was designed him, only into slavery, from whence he might hope in time to be released. But his care was greater for Deidamia than himself; for he had been used to misfortune, and inured to several hardships. And, her grief was no less that she found herself constrained, (as she supposed, for his safety,) so abruptly to part with the man that had been an instrument in the filling her heart so full of heavenly consolations ”

“ I might be a humble instrument in God's hand, to do any thing that may redound to his glory, and the good and welfare of your precious and immortal soul, without hazarding your temporal quiet and peace, or exposing you to any danger ”

“ The old gentleman not daring to go out of the wood with her, he being a proscribed person; and to go without him, was to endanger her own life; besides, she knew not how Antonio might have ordered matters, having the pretence of heresy to lay to her charge; and that, hearing nothing of him in all this time, she thought his affections might have been estranged from her. But Alanson assured her of the contrary, telling her, he could not but wonder at the unparalleled villainy of Fronovius and Antonio, and that he had turned them out of his service, soon after he came home from the camp. ”

“ Hence it is that we are told by the inspired penman, 'That the ways of God are in the deep, and his paths in the great waters, and his footsteps are not known.' And we see often, whatever pleasing prospect of felicity we have in view, some unforseen occasion, or sudden turn of providence, destroys it, and in a moment deprives us of that happinefs which we had promised to ourselves for many years: and yet these changes, to those that fear the Lord, are so disposed and ordered by God's providence, that in the end, they evidently work together for their good. ”

“ And it has been his frequent practice, when he could not withdraw the people of God, from the profession of the truth, by the bait of worldly advantage, to raise a flood of persecution against them, by that means to extirpate them, if it were possible, out of the earth; of which no people in Europe have, in this age, had more fatal experience, than the poor Protestants in France, who have been so barbarously used by the blood thirsty Papists there, that a true account of their sufferings, will appear to the next age, rather like romantic fictions, than (as indeed they are) realities. ”

“ In Britany, one of the finest provinces of France, there lately lived Count Alanson, a person of noble extraction, and of an eftate suitable to the greatness of his birth, and those noble qualities that enriched his mind. Who, being a lover of military actions, was easily persuaded to serve the king in the wars, where having an eminent command given him, he behaved himself with a bravery that gained him the admiration of his enemies, the love of his friends, and fresh honours of his king, who took particular notice of his great performances. ”

“ It is, in brief, the loss of Deidamia. I do not mean by death, for had heaven ordained it so, that would have been far more eligible: But, alas! she is lost both to herself and all of us; and, she is, since your departure, perverted to heresy and turned an obstinate Hugonot; which whilst we endeavoured to reclaim her from, by consenting, upon the advice of your Chaplain, father Antonio, that she should be put into a nunnery, she is escaped from thence no one knows whither. ”

“ Ah! (said the impudent priest, who could not long keep down his boiling pasfion) 'Your two fair eyes, sweet lady, like loadstones have drawn me to you that beauteous tempting face of yours, has made me forgot myself, with my duty to my Lord, and the trust he reposed in me.' Why! certainly, (said Deidamia, calling in patience, to bridle her passion) you are beside yourself, Antonio.—What mean you by this kind of discourse? 'If I am beside myself, (replied he, almost crying) your fair self is the cause of it: whose beauty, like arrows, has wounded my heart, and sickened my brain ”

“ Alanson ate but little, Deidamia's presence being more to him than all the dainties in the world; yet perceiving with what coarse fare his lady had been there contented, he praised her humility, and wondered at her virtue. Dinner being ended, Alanson was concerned for his servant, whom he had left in the entrance of the wood, and would have gone back to him; but the good old man would by no means let him, telling him he would go himself, because he better knew the way, and could more easily find it ”

“ To which the poor sufferer replied, with a Christian fortitude, worthy of the cause he suffered for; "Could you but see the secret pleasure my heart experiences, you would think me too happy." The priest told him, "The greatest sufferings did not entitle to the glory of martyrdom; unless he suffered for truth and justice." ”

“ This happy couple, having for a whole winter enjoyed the blessing of each others mutual love and endearing affections, without the least umbrage of any enterposing cloud that might give any allay to their happiness; at length the spring came on, and the armies gathering together, summoned Alanson from the repose he took in the soft embraces of his chaste and loving wife, so the field of war, to act his part again upon that stage of honour, where he had already acquired so much reputation. ”

“ The consideration whereof, was a mighty allay to her present sorrows, in the midst of that forlorn condition to which she was reduced; so that, a little supported thereby, they at last, fell into a sound sleep; having no other pillow than a turf of grass, nor covering, than the canopy of heaven. The morning being come, Deidamia again returned thanks to God, both for her late deliverance, and her last night's preservation: earnestly begging of him, That as he had graciously begun to deliver her, so he would, in his own good time, complete it to his own glory and her good ”

“ O strengthen my heart in the profession of thy truth! and grant that I may never return back again to the Popish idolatry and superstition, not be under the conduct of those blind guides any more, whatever sufferings and trials I may be liable to, or may undergo on that account."
These pious breathings of her soul, Antonio, to this great amazement, heard, and knew not what to think, whether he should discover himself, or retire; but, at last, wickedly suposing the fear she would conceive, lest he should discover what she had uttered, against the Romish Religion ”

“ Though Deidamia's mind, on those surprising attempts of her honour, was variously tossed, till, at last, she came to a settled resolution, prudently to conceal what had passed, at least, till her Lord came home, for fear of scandal and disturbance: yet Fronovius might well read in her countenance, whenever he came into her presence, that she had read his letter, and how she resented it, which made him struggle to overcome his passion, but in vain: For like oil thrown on fire, the opposition his lewd desires met with, made him burn the fiercer ”

“ But behold the inconstancy of worldly happinefs, and how little we can promise ourselves of it here! we may indeed, both purpose and resolve, but we cannot fecure ourselves from disappointments: the footsteps of Divine Providence are often hard to trace. ”

“ There are two things in it, that appear alike admirable; and they are the barbarous rage and cruelty of the persecutors, and the invincible courage and constancy of the poor sufferers, who are so mightily supported by divine grace, that they not only triumph over all their tortures, but suffer joyfully the loss of all, as knowing that they have in heaven a better and more enduring substance; But I will recite briefly, some instances of their sufferings. ”

“ This absolute denial and severe reprimand, filled Fronovius with confusion and almost made him hopeless; but, after some reflection, he strongly fancied that the opposition be met with, proceeded not from the lady's virtue, but from the great inclination she had to some rival, who enjoyed those favours which he had been pursuing; and he supposed the Gardener to be the man, because he had received some particular marks of her favour, since the departure of the Count Alanson. ”

“ The paying divine adoration to angels and saints, expressly contrary to God's commands, and derogatory to his honour, who alone ought to be worshipped in heaven and earth; and to worship any other, either saint or angel, or any creature, is idolatry, and a breach of the second commandment. ”

“ As an introduction to which, I will a little consider how the divine goodness delights to bring light out of darknefs, and makes even the wicked confound themselves in their own devices, that out of their evil designs he may bring good to pass. ”

“ They went to Antonio's chamber, where they entered into a combination so hellish and malicious, that it brought many woes and miseries, both to the virtuous Deidamia, and the Gardener; till by the mercy of God, to the shame and confusion of the contrivers, they were turned to blessings, to rejoice the injured, and to clear their innocence, after many inexpressible sufferings.
Whilst these wicked men were thus plotting to revenge their repulses, Deidamia was thoughtful of her safety: Sometimes she determined to write to Alanson, to remember his promise, and hasten his return ”

“ The word of God allows only heaven for those who shall be made vessels of mercy; and hell for those whose sins have provoked him to cast them down to those dismal regions of sorrow and eternal woe; no prayers after death being available. ”

“ The sun had not come to his meridian, when she heard an unusual rushing among the bushes, and standing still to know what it might mean, she perceived a grave old man, with two dogs following him, come from among the trees. They were both alike surprised at the interview; for the old man, having never seen any human creature in that place before, could not but be amazed to see a woman coming from the midst of the wood ”

“ Her cries were upon this redoubled, and she begged death rather than the loss of her chastity: opening her bosom, and tempting their swords to pierce it. But her beauty, in this sorrowful condition, was so charming in their lustful eyes, that they were inexorable to her cries and prayers. O! had Alanson been but there, with what vengeance, at this piteous fight, would his sword have been drawn to their destrutction and her rescue ”

“ Francis, to say a solemn mass for his success in the field, and the protection of his lady and family in his absence, recommending his dearest Deidamia to the care of Antonio his chaplain, and Fronovius his stew ard to his household, in these words: To your care, in my absence, I recommend the safety and welfare of my beloved lady, the most virtuous and loving of wives: and charge you, as you expect to answer it to God and me, be obedient to all her commands; comfort and cherish her in her solitude, and see that all my domestics pay the like exact respects. ”