CONTENTS.

CHAPTER
I.[A Bolt from the Blue.]
II.[Ruin.]
III.[Madame D'Entrangues.]
IV.[A Fool's Cap and a Sore Heart.]
V.[D'Entrangues Scores a Point.]
VI.[Bernabo Ceci.]
VII.[The Garden of St. Michael.]
VIII.[Temptation.]
IX.[The Marzocco Inn.]
X.[Niccolo Machiavelli.]
XI.[The Letter to D'Amboise.]
XII.[The Ambuscade.]
XIII.[Rome.]
XIV.[George of Amboise.]
XV.[The Gift of Bayard.]
XVI.[Friend or Foe.]
XVII.[The Vatican.]
XVIII.[The Opal Ring.]
XIX.[Exit the Ancient Brico.]
XX.["A Brown Paul--a Little Copper."]
XXI.[The Rescue of Angiola.]
XXII.[The Ride to St. Jerome.]
XXIII.[The Pavilion of Tremouille.]
XXIV.[Too Dearly Bought.]
XXV.[The Vengeance of Corte.]
XXVI.[Concerning many Things.]
XXVII.[My Lord, the Count.]

PRELUDE.

I.

He rydes untoe ye Dragon's Gate,
And blowes a ryngynge calle:
A gallant Knyghte in armoure bryghte,
'Twere sadde toe see him falle.
Deare Sayntes of Mercy steele hys harte,
And nerve hys arme withalle!

II.

Noe glove bears he uponne hys creste,
And lettynge droppe hys visor's barres,
I sawe hys starke soule lookynge forthe,
Toe meete ye whysperes of ye starres.
True Knyghte of God, whose arme is stronge,
Whose harte is pure, whose lance is longe.

III.

Lette wyn, lette lose, belyke 'tis true,
Ye issue of ye daye will bee,
Notte toe ye dreamers; butte toe those
Who stayke their alle on victorie.
Notte to ye skiffes uponne ye streames,
Butte ye stronge shippes uponne ye sea.