Sympathetic Theater

does not contract any impurity and is preserved in a natural and temperate state. Immediately these tidings reached the ears of the Duke of Buckingham, and a little later, the King himself, both of whom burned with great desire to know the outcome of this business, which was indeed such that, after lunch, I took the garter out of the water and dried it by a bright fire. It was barely well-dried (to accomplish which, it was necessary that it be well-warmed) when behold, the servant of Mr. Howel is present and tells me that it is not long since his master is being afflicted with a pain as bitter as he had ever felt until now; and that with such an excess of heat, as if his hand were covered with burning coals. I answered him that, although this evil had now happened to him, nevertheless nothing would prevent him from enjoying the best health in a short space of time; and that I was not ignorant of the cause of this new evil and would take care of it and the reason for it, and that Mr. Howel would be freed from all pain and inflammation sooner than he could return home to confirm this matter to the same; but if the thing should fall out beyond expectation, I could make him more certain of it, or else it was not for him to undergo this labor. Having understood these things well, the servant returns home; and at the same moment of time