As that truly noble Marquess of Vico, Marcus Galeacius, whose story is famous, and will make him honourable in all succeeding ages; He was a Courtier to the Emperor Charles the fifth, Nephew to Pope Paul the fourth Marquess of Vico, which is one of the paradises of Naples, Naples the paradise of Italy, and Italy of Europe, & Europe ⟨p. 33⟩of the earth; his father was not only a Marquess, but was so in favour with the Emperor, as he was joined equally in commission with the viceroy of Naples, to sway the Sceptre of that Kingdom; his mother was of honourable parentage, her brother was Paul the fourth, his Lady was the daughter to the Duke of Niceria, one of the principal Peers of Italy: yet being brought to hear a Sermon of Peter Martyrs, God pleased so to work upon his spirit, that he began to enter into serious thoughts, whether his way were right or not, then to take up a constant exercise of reading the Scriptures, then to change his former company, and to make choice of better: his father was moved against him with sharpness, his lady wrought what she could by tears, complaints, entreaties, to take him off from that way: the most part of the noble men, in, and about Naples, being either his kindred or familiar friends, they continually resorted to him, to take him off to follow their old pleasures together, ⟨p. 34⟩yet at last having further light let into his soul, to see not only the necessity of some truths that he understood not before, but likewise of delivering himself from that idolatry that he apprehended himself defiled with; therefore his resolutions were strong to leave court, and father, and honours, and inheritance, to join himself to a true Church of God; and according to this his resolution he went away: much means were used to call him back, great offers of riches and preferments to draw him; his children hung about him with doleful cries, his friends standing by with watery eyes, which so wrought upon his tender heart (he being of a most loving and sweet disposition) that, as he hath often said, he thought that all his bowels rolled about within him, and that his heart would have burst presently, and he should there instantly have dyed:
As that truely noble Marquesse of Vico, Marcus Galeacius, whose story is famous, and will make him honorable in all succeeding ages; Hee was a Courtier to the Emperour Charles the fifth, Nephew to Pope Paul the fourth Marquesse of Vico, which is one of the paradises of Naples, Naples the paradise of Italy, and Italy of Europe, & Europe ⟨p. 33⟩of the earth; his father was not onely a Marquesse, but was so in favour with the Emperour, as hee was joyned equally in commission with the viceroy of Naples, to sway the Scepter of that Kingdome; his mother was of honorable parentage, her brother was Paul the fourth, his Lady was the daughter to the Duke of Niceria, one of the principall Peeres of Italy: yet being brought to heare a Sermon of Peter Martyrs, God pleased so to work upon his spirit, that he began to enter into serious thoughts, whether his way were right or not, then to take up a constant exercise of reading the Scriptures, then to change his former company, and to make choise of better: his father was moved against him with sharpenesse, his lady wrought what shee could by teares, complaints, intreaties, to take him off from that way: the most part of the noble men, in, and about Naples, being either his kinred or familiar friends, they continually resorted to him, to take him off to follow their old pleasures together, ⟨p. 34⟩yet at last having further light let into his soule, to see not onely the necessity of some truthes that he understood not before, but likewise of delivering himselfe from that idolatry that he apprehended himselfe defiled with; therefore his resolutions were strong to leave court, and father, and honours, and inheritance, to joyne himselfe to a true Church of God; and according to this his resolution he went away: much meanes were used to call him backe, great offers of riches and preferments to draw him; his children hung about him with dolefull cryes, his friends standing by with watery eyes, which so wrought vpon his tender heart (hee being of a most loving and sweet disposition) that, as he hath often said, he thought that all his bowells rouled about within him, and that his heart would have burst presently, and hee should there instantly have dyed:
