For this cause then doe I saie of our Secretorie, that as hee is in one degree in place of a seruant, so is he in another degrée in place of a friend. A seruant meanlie trained in some Mechanicall Science, sheweth fidelitie to his Maister, in an vpright dealing and disposition of his wares or goodes. Another in like sort hauing the receyte of his Maisters reuenewes, becommeth a faithfull dispenser in his accountes and reckonings. Some on the other side haue asmuch or the like fidelitie in keeping of counsels. Others againe by a termed zeale vnto their masters, haue in recognizing their fidelitie died willinglie for their fauours.
Of all these sortes of Fidelitie, the last as I am sure it hath lesse seeming of credence or supposition of troth in common beléeuing then anie of the others, so is it (you will grant mee,) the most assured and most moouing pittie, prayse and commendation, in all reckoning aboue anie of the others. And that such are and haue beene, I could recite vnto you sundrie remembrances, and one but of late yeares, that in verie sufficient knowledge fell out to be effected, and thus was the circumstance, as my vnderstanding could beare it.
When sir Iohn of Desmond in Ireland, some number of years passed, of a rebellious and cruell minde to the state there being, and principallie to her Maiesty, had solemnly conspired, and most tyrannously sworne the death and destruction of all English men in his Countrey, there happened one Henrie Dauill an English Gentleman to lie, at that verie bloudie pretended season, in the house of the saide Knight, and for two causes of him was thought entirelie to bee fauoured, the one in respect that hee was his Christian Gossip, as they there terme it (a linke strong inough to haue purchased fauour in that Countrey, had it not beene with a most bloudie tyrant) the other, in that hee was a Gentleman both courteous, bountifull and valiant.
This Maister Dauill had at that time onelie an Irish boy attendant vpon him, the time conspired for this murder was at midnight, when all men careleslie were sleeping. About the watch whereof, sir Iohn and his companie entring the Chamber of maister Dauill, wakened him from sléepe, opened the conspiracie, and willed him to prepare him to his lot, assuring him that were it not he had without exception vowed in his heart, and sworn the death of all English men, he could desirouslie, aswell for that he was his Christian Gossip, as for other loue he ought him, haue suffered his life, but all being appointed to die, he must go with the rest.
The boy hauing receiued into his eares the sound of his masters death, and therewith sundrie menacing strokes seeing readie to bee proffered, stirred (no question) by a most zealous Fidelitie, clasped on his masters breast, and with such slender resistance as hee coulde, did beare off the blowes, receyued vppon his owne bodie diuers and sundrie wounds, and doe what they could, no one could pull or remooue him from thence, till fretting rage kindeled in these mercilesse creatures, made them kill the Boy vppon his maister, and his Maister vnder the Boy, both at one instant togithers.
The memorie of this acte, as it is most pitifull in rehearsall, so will it of a number bee thought verie strange. If anie Fidelitie, haue by feruencie beene accounted off, this you will iudge of anie others ought chieflie to be embraced. But yet not this, nor anie of the residue of those partes of Fidelitie by mee alreadie deliuered are such, as in this place I hold meete to be pursued. For howbeit the seruice of our Secretorie is properlie by it selfe with all assurance to be caried, yet doe wee not place him in so meane a degree as that by corruption of coine, he might be held for distrusted nor on the other side would we haue him of iudgement so disfurnished, but that touching the difference of counsels, or tender of his life, he should make a decernment.
In this Boy voluntarilie as hee did, in the verie weakenesse of his yeares, to seeke by death his Maisters safegarde, was no doubt, a thing woorthie to bee admired. But in manifestation of so great loue, and testimonie of so loyall affection, had hee beene by yeares more enabled, it would haue beene thought verie fondlie of to haue done it, without thereby his Masters death might haue beene reuenged, or his life preserued: Els to what end is Fidelitie applied, or what vse at all in reckoning, remaineth there of it?
By discretion to discerne, by vertue to iudge, and by wisdome to resolue, how and which way the efficacie and assurance of all trust and fidelitie ought to be caried, is a thing meetest in all reputation principallie to be obserued. How can there otherwise appeare anie worthinesse, if affections sort to bee equall, or what distinguishment may there be of spirits when mens iudgementes are common.
George Castrioth, surnamed Scanderbeg, the terrour while hee liued, and onlie man able to confound the Turkish forces, during his infancie, hauing bin trained vp with Amurath father to Mahomet the second Emperour of the Turkes (for that in the conquest of Epirus by the same Amurath, the father of Scanderbeg being slaine, and his Signory subdued vnto the Turke, hee was then with others led awaie into Turky a captiue.) When hee arriued to manlie yeares, and serued with great fortune and valour the saide Amurath in his warres: it happened that being in one great battell as generall of the Turkish Armie against the Christians, and fighting against Hungarie, a remorse of conscience tooke him, in that hee being the sonne of a Christian Prince, professed in Christianitie, and vowed to God, should so wickedlie become the confusion of his brethren, and warre against Christ and his kingdome.
And albeit he was neuer vnfortunate in anie fight, and at that time likeliest of al other to attaine the victory, yet regarding the state and maner of the conquest, he faintinglie withdrew, & with great discouragement vnto his people, gaue power vnto the enemy to be at that time a conquerour. Which done, himselfe with a few chiefe and principall persons his associates, tooke themselues together in flight.