solemne earnest they made answer that they were all heartily ready to doe them any seruice And without any further delaying before they parted thence tooke order for their aptest furnishing withall conuenient necessaries and sent word to the place of their first appointment On the morrow being Wednesday about breake of day the Ladies with certaine of their attending Gentlewomen and the three Gentlemen hauing three seruants to waite on them left the City to beginne their iourney and hauing trauelled about a leagues distance arriued at the place of their first purpose of stay which was seated on a little hill distant on all sides from any high way plentifully stored with faire spreading Trees affoording no meane delight to the eye On the top of all stood a stately Pallace hauing a large and spacious Court in the middest round engirt with galleries hals and chambers euery one separate alone by themselues and beautified with pictures of admirable cunning Nor was there any want of Gardens Meadowes and other pleasant walkes with welles and springs of faire running waters all encompassed with branching vines fitter for curious and quaffing bibbers then women sober and singularly modest This Pallace the company found fully fitted and prepared the beddes in the Chambers made and daintily ordered thickly strewed with variety of flowres which could not but giue them the greater contentment Dioneus who aboue the other was a pleasant young gallant and full of infinite witty conceits saide Your wit faire Ladies hath better guided vs hither then our prouidence I know not how you haue determined to dispose of your cares as for mine owne I left them at the City gate when I came thence with you and therefore let your resolution be to spend the time here in smiles and singing I meane as may fittest agree with your dignity or else giue me leaue to goe seeke my sorrowes againe and so to remaine discontented in our desolate City Madam Pampinea hauing in like manner shaken off her sorrowes deliuering a modest and bashfull smile replied in this manner Dioneus well haue you spoken it is fit to liue merrily and no other occasion made vs forsake the sicke and sad Citie But because such things as are without meane or measure are subiect to no long continuance I who began the motion whereby this society is thus assembled and ayme at the long lasting thereof doe hold it very conuenient that wee should all agree to haue one chiefe commaunder among vs in whom the care and prouidence should consist for direction of our merriment performing honour and obedience to the party as to our Patrone and sole Gouernour And because euery one may feele the burthen of sollicitude as also the pleasure of commaunding and consequently haue a sensible taste of both whereby no enuie may arise on any side I could wish that each one of vs for a day onely should feele both the burthen and honour and the person so to be aduanced shall receiue it from the election of vs all As for such as are to succeede after him or her that hath had the dayes of dominion the party thought fit for succession must be named so soone as night approacheth And being in this eminencie according as he or she shall please hee may order and dispose how long the time of his rule shall last as also of the place and manner where best we may continue our delight These words were highly pleasing to them all and by generall voyce Madame Pampinea was chosen Queene for the first day Whereupon Madame Philomena ranne presently to a Bay-tree because she had often heard what honour belonged to those branches and how worthy of honour they were that rightfully were crowned with them plucking off diuers branches she made of them an apparant and honourable Chaplet placing it by generall consent vpon her head and this so long as their company continued manifested to all the rest the signall of dominion and Royall greatnesse After that Madame Pampinea was thus made Queene she commanded publique silence and causing the Gentlemens three seruants and the waiting women also being foure in number to be brought before her thus shee began Because I am to giue the first example to you all whereby proceeding on from good to better our company may liue in order and pleasure acceptable to all and without shame to any I create Parmeno seruant to Dioneus Maister of the Houshold hee taking the care and charge of all our tâ—ayne and for whatsoeuer appertaineth to our Hall seruice I appoint also that Silisco seruant to Pamphilus shall be our Dispencer and Treasurer performing that which Parmeno shall commaund him And that Tindaro serue as Groome of the Chamber to Philostratus his Maister and the other two when his fellowes impeached by their offices cannot be present Misia my Chambermaid and Licisca belonging to Philomena shall serue continually in the Kitchin and diligently make ready such vyands as shall be deliuered them by Parmeno Chimera wayting-woman to Lauretta and Stratilia appertaining to Fiammetta shall haue the charge and gouernement of the Ladies Chambers and preparing all places where we shall be present Moreouer we will and commaund euery one of them as they desire to deserue our grace that wheresoeuer they goe or come or whatsoeuer they heare or see they especially respect to bring vs tydings of them After shee had summarily deliuered them these orders very much commended of euery one shee arose fearefully saying Heere wee haue Gardens Orchards Meadowes and other places of sufficient pleasure where euery one may sport recreate themselues but so soone as the ninth houre striketh then all to meete here againe to dine in the coole shade This iocund company hauing receiued licence from their Queene to disport themselues the Gentlemen walked with the Ladies into a goodly Garden making Chaplets and Nosegayes of diuers flowers and singing silently to themselues When they had spent the time limitted by the Queene they returned into the house where they found that Parmeno had effectually executed his office For when they entred into the Hall they saw the Tables couered with delicate white naperie and the Glasses looking like siluer they were so transparantly cleare all the roome beside streamed with flames of Iuniper When the Queene and all the rest had washed according as Parmeno gaue order so euery one was seated at the Table the vyands delicately drest were serued in and excellent wines plentifully deliuered none attending but the three seruants and little or no loud table-talke passing among them Dinner being ended and the tables withdrawne all the Ladies and the Gentlemen likewise being skilfull both in singing and dauncing and playing on instruments artificially the Queene commaunded that diuers instruments should be brought and as she gaue charge Dioneus tooke a Lute and Fiammetta a Violl de gamba and began to play an excellent daunce Whereupon the Queene with the rest of the Ladies and the other two young Gentlemen hauing sent
obtaine this my very last request to wit that seeing I might not priuately enioy the benefit of Guiscardoes loue and while he liued let yet in death one publike graue containe both our bodies that death may affoord vs what you so cruelly in life denied vs. Extremity of griefe and sorrow with-held his tongue from returning any answer and shee perceiuing her end approaching held the heart still closed to her owne bare brest saying Here Fortune receiue two true hearts latest oblation for in this manner are we comming to thee So closing her eyes all sense forsooke her life leauing her body breathlesse Thus ended the haplesse loue of Guiscardo and Ghismonda for whose sad disaster when the King had mourned sufficiently and repented fruitlesly he caused both their bodies to be honourably embalmed and buried in a most royall Monument not without generall sorrow of the subiects of Salerne Fryar Albert made a young Venetian Gentlewoman beleeue that God Cupid was falne in loue with her and he resorted oftentimes vnto her in the disguise of the same God Afterward being frighted by the Gentlewomans kindred and friends he cast himselfe out of her Chamber window and was hidden in a poore mans House on the day following in the shape of a wilde or sauage man he was brought vpon the Rialto of Saint Marke and being there publikely knowne by the Brethren of his Order he was committed to Prison The second Nouell Reprehending the lewd liues of dissembling hypocrites and checking the arrogant pride of vaine-headed women THE Nouell recounted by Madam Fiammetta caused teares many times in the eyes of all the company but it being finished the King shewing a stearne countenance saide I should much haue commended the kindnesse of fortune if in the whole course of my life I had tasted the least moity of that delight which Guiscardo receiued by conuersing with faire Ghismonda Nor neede any of you to wonder thereat or how it can be otherwise because hourely I feele a thousand dying torments without enioying any hope of ease or pleasure but referring my fortunes to their owne poore condition it is my will that Madam Pampinea proceed next in the argument of successelesse loue according as Madam Fiammetta hath already begun to let fall more dew-drops on the fire of mine afflictions Madam Pampinea perceiuing what a taske was imposed on her knew well by her owne disposition the inclination of the company whereof shee was more respectiue then of the Kings command wherefore chusing rather to recreate their spirits then to satisfie the Kings melancholy humour shee determined to relate a Tale of mirthfull matter and yet to keepe within compasse of the purposed Argument It hath been continually vsed as a common Prouerbe that a bad man taken and reputed to be honest and good may commit many euils yet neither credited or suspected which prouerbe giueth mee very ample matter to speake of and yet not varying from our intention concerning the hypocrisie of some religious persons who hauing their garments long and large their faces made artificially pale their language meeke and humble to get mens goods from them yet fower harsh and stearne enough in checking and controuling other mens errours as also in vrging others to giue and themselues to take without any other hope or meanes of saluation Nor doe they endeauour like other men to worke out their soules health with feare and trembling but euen as if they were sole owners Lords and possessors of Paradice will appoint to euery dying person places there of greater or lesser excellency according as they thinke good or as the legacies left by them are in quantity whereby they not onely deceiue themselues but all such as giue credit to their subtile perswasions And were it lawfull for me to make knowne no more then is meerely necessary I could quickly disclose to simple credulous people what craft lieth concealed vnder their holy habites and I would wish that their lies and deluding should speed with them as they did with a Franciscane Friar none of the younger Nouices but one of them of greatest reputation and belonging to one of the best Monasteries in Venice Which I am the rather desirous to report to recreate your spirits after your teares for the death of faire Ghismonda Sometime Honourable Ladies there liued in the City of Imola a man of most lewd and wicked life named Bertho de la massa whose shamelesse deedes were so well knowne to all the Citizens and won such respect among them as all his lies could not compasse any beleefe no not when he deliuered a matter of sound truth Wherefore perceiuing that his lewdnesse allowed him no longer dwelling there like a desperate aduenturer he transported himselfe thence to Venice the receptacle of all foule sinne and abhomination intending there to exercise his wonted bad behauiour and liue as wickedly as euer he had done before It came to passe that some remorse of conscience tooke hold of him for the former passages of his dissolute life and he pretended to be surprized with very great deuotion becomming much more Catholike then any other man taking on him the profession of a Franciscane Cordelier and calling himselfe Fryar Albert of Imola In this habite and outward appearance hee seemed to leade an austere and sanctimonious life highly commending penance abstinence neuer eating flesh or drinking wine but when hee was prouided of both in a close corner And before any person could take notice thereof hee became of a theefe Ruffian forswearer and murtherer as formerly he had beene a great Preacher yet not abandoning the forenamed vices when secretly he could put any of them in execution Moreouer being made Priest when he was celebrating Masse at the Altar if he saw himselfe to be obserued by any he would most mournefully reade the passion of our Sauiour as one whose teares cost him little whensoeuer hee pleased to vse them so that in a short while by his preaching and teares he fed the humours of the Venetians so pleasingly that they made him executour well neere of all their Testaments yea many chose him as depositary or Guardion of their monies because he was both Confessour and Councellor almost to all the men and women By this well seeming out-side of sanctity the Wolfe became a Shepheard and his renown for holinesse was so famous in those parts as Saint Frances himselfe had hardly any more It fortuned that a young Gentlewoman being somewhat foolish wanton and proud minded named Madam Lisetta de Caquirino wife to a wealthy Merchant who went with certaine Gallies into Flanders and there lay as Lieger long time in company of other Gentlewomen went to be confessed by this ghostly Father kneeling at his feete although her heart was high enough like a proud minded woman for Venetians are presumptuous vaine-glorious and witted much like to their skittish Gondoloes she made a very short rehearsall of her sinnes At length Fryar Albert demanded of her whether
her Nouell but Madame Neiphila by the Kings command began to speake in this manner It seemeth to mee Gracious Ladies that there are some such people to be found who imagine themselues to know more then all other else in the world beside and yet indeede doe know nothing at all presuming thorough this arrogant opinion of theirs to imploy and oppose their senselesse vnderstanding against infallible grounded reason yea and to attempt courses not only contrary to the counsell and iudgment of men but also to crosse the nature of diuine ordination Out of which saucy ambitious presumption many mighty harmes haue already had beginning and more are like to ensue vppon such boldnesse because it is the ground of all euils Now in regard that among all other naturall things no one is lesse subiect to take counsell or can bee wrought to contrariety then Loue whose nature is such as rather to run vpon his owne rash consumption then to be ruled by admonitions of the very wisest my memory hath inspired it self with matter incident to this purpose effectually to approue what I haue already said For I am now to speake of a woman who would appeare to haue more wit then either she had indeed or appertained to her by any title The matter also wherein she would needs shew hir studious iudgement and capacity was of much more consequence then she could deserue to meddle withall Yet such was the issue of her fond presuming that in one instant she expelled both loue and the soule of her owne sonne out of his body where doubtlesse it was planted by diuine fauour and appointment In our owne City according to true ancient testimony there dwelt sometime a very worthy and wealthy Merchant named Leonardo Sighiero who by his wife had one onely Sonne called Ieronimo and within a short while after his birth Leonardo being very sicke and hauing setled al his affaires in good order departed out of this wretched life to a better The Tutors and Gouernours of the Childe thought it fittest to let him liue with his Mother where he had his whole education though schooled among many other worthy neighbours children according as in most Cities they vse to do Yong Ieronimo growing on in yeares and frequenting dayly the company of his Schoole-fellowes and others hee would often sport as the rest did with the neighbors and much prety pastime they found together In the harmlesse recreations of youth grauer iudgements haue often obserued that some especiall matter receiued then such original as greater effect hath followed thereon And many times parents and kindred haue bene the occasion although perhaps beyond their expectation of very strange and extraordinary accidents by names of familiarity passing betweene Boyes and Girles as King and Queene sweet heart and sweet heart friend and friend husband and wife and diuers other such like kind tearmes proouing afterwards to be true indeede It fell out so with our yong Ieronimo for among a number of pretty Damosels daughters to men of especiall respect and others of farre inferiour qualitie a Taylors daughter excelling the rest in fauour and feature albeit her Father was but poore Ieronimo most delighted to sport withall and no other titles passed betweene them euen in the hearing of their parents and friendes but wife and husband such was the beginning of their young affection presaging no doubt effectually to follow Nor grew this familiarity as yet any way distasted till by their dayly conuersing together and enterchange of infinite pretty speeches Ieronimo felt a strange alteration in his soule with such enforcing and powerfull afflictions as he was neuer well but in her company nor she enioyed any rest if Ieronimo were absent At the length this being noted by his Mother she beganne to rebuke him yea many times gaue him both threatnings and blowes which prouing to no purpose nor hindering his accesse to her she complained to his Tutors and like one that in regard of her riches thought to plant an Orange vpon a blacke thorne spake as followeth This Sonne of mine Ieronimo being as yet but fourteene years of age is so deeply enamored of a yong Girle named Siluestra daughter vnto a poore Tailor our neere dwelling neighbour that if we do not send him out of her company one day perhaps he may make her his wife and yet without any knowledge of ours which questionlesse would be my death Otherwise he may pine and consume himselfe away if he see vs procure her marriage to some other Wherefore I hold it good that to auoid so great an inconuenience we shold send Ieronimo some far distance hence to remaine where some of our Factors are employed because when he shall be out of her sight and their often meetings vtterly disappointed his affection to her will the sooner ceasse by frustrating his hope for euer enioying her and so we shall haue the better meanes to match him with one of greater quality The Tutors did like well of her aduice not doubting but it would take answerable effect and therefore calling Ieronimo into a priuate Parlor one of them began in this manner Ieronimo you are now growne to an indifferent stature and almost able to take gouernment of your selfe It cannot then seeme any way inconuenient to acquaint you with your deceased Fathers affaires and by what good courses he came to such wealth You are his onely sonne and heire to whom hee hath bequeathed his rich possessions your Mothers moity euermore remembred and trauaile would now seeme fitting for you as well to experience in Traffick and Merchandize as also to let you see the worlds occurrences Your Mother therfore and we haue thought it expedient that you should iourney from hence to Paris there to continue for some such fitting time as may grant you full and free opportunity to suruey what stocke of wealth is there employed for you and to make you vnderstand how your Factors are furtherous to your affayres Beside this is the way to make you a man of more solid apprehension perfect instruction in ciuill courses of life rather then by continuing here to see none but Lords Barons and Gentlemen whereof wee haue too great a number When you are sufficiently qualified there and haue learned what belongeth to a worthy Marchant such as was Leonardo Sighiero your famous Father you may returne home againe at your owne pleasure The youth gaue them attentiue hearing and in few words returned them answer That he would not giue way to any such trauaile because hee knew how to dispose of himselfe in Florence as well as in any other place he should be sent too Which when his Tutors heard they reproued him with many seuere speeches and seeing they could win no other answer from him they made returne thereof to his Mother Shee storming extreamly thereat yet not so much for denying the iourney to Paris as in regard of his violent affection to the Maide gaue him very bitter and
in the City of Laiazzo and the other Giosefo of Antioche trauailed together vnto Salomon the famous King of Great Britaine The one desiring to learne what he should do whereby to compasse and winne the loue of men The other craued to be enstructed by what meanes hee might reclaime an headstrong and vnruly wife And what answeres the wise King gaue vnto them both before they departed away from him The Ninth Nouell Containing an excellent admonition that such as couet to haue the loue of other men must first learne themselues how to loue Also by what meanes such women as are curst and self-willed may be reduced to ciuill obedience VPon the conclusion of Madame Laurettaes Nouell none now remained to succeede next in order but onely the Queene her selfe the priuiledge reserued granted to Dioneus wherefore after they had all smiled at the folly of Blondello with a chearfull countenance thus the Queene began Honourable Ladies if with aduised iudgement we do duly consider the order of all things we shall very easily perceyue That the whole vniuersall multiplicitie of Women by Nature custome and lawes are ought to be subiect to men yea and to be gouernd by their discretion Because euery one desiring to enioy peace repose and comfort with them vnder whose charge they are ought to be humble patient and obedient ouer and beside her spotlesse honesty which is the crowne and honour of euery good woman And although those lawes which respect the common good of all things or rather vse custome as our wonted saying is the powers wherof are very great and worthy to be reuerenced should not make vs wise in this case Yet Nature hath giuen vs a sufficient demonstration in creating our bodies more soft and delicate yea and our hearts timorous fearefull benigne and compassionable our strength feeble our voyces pleasing and the motion of our members sweetly plyant all which are apparant testimonies that wee haue neede of others gouernment Now it is not to be denyed that whosoeuer hath need of helpe and is to bee gouerned meerely reason commandeth that they should bee subiect and obedient to their gouernour Who then should we haue for our helps and gouernours if not men Wherfore we should be intirely subiect to them in giuing them due honour and reuerence and such a one as shall depart from this rule she in mine opinion is not onely worthy of grieuous reprehension but also seuere chastisement beside And to this exact consideration ouer and aboue diuers other important reasons I am the rather induced by the Nouel which Madame Pampinea so lately reported concerning the froward and wilfull wife of Talano who had a heauier punishment inflicted on her then her Husband could deuise to doe And therefore it is my peremptory sentence that all such women as will not be gracious benigne and pleasing doe iustly deserue as I haue already said rude rough and harsh handling as both nature custome and lawes haue commanded To make good what I haue said I wil declare vnto you the counsell aduise giuen by Salomon the wise and famous King of Great Britaine as a most wholesome and soueraigne medicine for the cure of such a dangerous disease in any woman so fouly infected Which counsel notwithstanding all such women as haue no need of this Phisicke I would not haue them to imagine that it was meant for them albeit men haue a common Prouerbe to wit As the good horse and bad horse doe both need the spurre So a good wife and bad wife a wand will make stirre Which saying whosoeuer doth interpret ioin such pleasing manner as they ought shal find it as you al wil affirm no lesse to be very true especially in the morall meaning it is beyond all contradiction Women are naturally all vnstable and easily enclining to misgouernment wherefore to correct the iniquity of such a distemperature in them that out-step the tearmes and bounds of womanhood a wand hath been allowed for especiall phisicke As in the like manner for support of vertue in those of contrary condition shaming to be sullyed with so grosse a sinne the correcting Wand may serue as a walking staffe to protect them from all other feares But forbearing to teach any longer let mee proceed to my purpose and tell you my Nouell In those ancient and reuerend dayes wherof I am now to speake the high renowne and admirable wisedome of Salomon King of Great Brittain was most famous throughout all parts of the world for answering all doubtfull questions and demaunds whatsoeuer that possibly could be propounded to him So that many resorted to him from the most remote and furthest off countreyes to heare his miraculous knowledge and experience yea and to craue his counsell in matters of greatest importance Among the rest of them which repaired thither was a rich yong Gentleman honourably descended named Melisso who came from the City of Laiazzo where he was both borne and dwelt In his riding towards France as he passed by Naples hee ouertooke another yong Gentleman a natiue of Antioch and named Giosefo whose iourney lay the same way as the others did Hauing ridden in company some few dayes together as it is a custome commonly obserued among Trauellers to vnderstand one anothers Countrey and condition as also to what part his occasions call him so happened it with them Giosefo directly telling him that he iourneyed towards the wise King Salomon to desire his aduise what meanes he should obserue in the reclaiming of a wilfull wife the most froward and selfe-willed woman that euer liued whom neither faire perswasions nor gentle courtesies could in any manner preuaile withall Afterward he demaunded of Melisso to know the occasion of his trauell and whither Now trust me Sir answered Melisso I am a natiue of Laiazzo and as you are vexed with one great mis-fortune euen so am I offended with another I am young wealthy well deriued by birth and allow liberall expences for maintaining a worthy table in my house without distinguishing persons by their rancke and quality but make it free for all commers both of the city all places els Notwithstanding all which bounty and houourable entertainement I cannot meet with any man that loueth me In which respect I iourney to the same place as you doe to craue the counsell of so wise a King what I should doe whereby I might procure men to loue me Thus like two well-met friendly companions they rode on together vntill they arriued in Great Britaine where by meanes of the Noble Barons attending on the King they were brought before him Melisso deliuered his minde in very few words whereto the King made no other answere but this Learne to loue Which was no sooner spoken but Melisso was dismissed from the Kings presence Giosefo also relating wherefore he came thither the King replyed onely thus Goe to the Goose Bridge and presently Giosefo had also his dismission from the King Comming forth he found Melisso
and wollen torne from a wretched body dead of that disease and hurled in the open streete two Swine going by and according to their naturall inclination seeking for foode on euery dung-hill tossed and tumbled the cloathes with their snouts rubbing their heads likewise vppon them and immediately each turning twice or thrice about they both fell downe dead on the saide cloathes as being fully infected with the contagion of them which accident and other the like if not far greater begat diuers feares and imaginations in them that beheld them all tending to a most inhumane and vncharitable end namely to flie thence from the sicke and touching any thing of theirs by which meanes they thought their health should be safely warranted Some there were who considered with themselues that liuing soberly with abstinence from all superfluity it would be a sufficient resistance against all hurtfull accidents So combining themselues in a sociable manner they liued as separatists from all other company being shut vp in such houses where no sicke body should be neere them And there for their more security they vsed delicate viands and excellent wines auoiding luxurie and refusing speech to one another not looking forth at the windowes to heare no cries of dying people or see any coarses carried to buriall but hauing musicall instruments liued there in all possible pleasure Others were of a contrary opinion who auouched that there was no other physicke more certaine for a disease so desperate then to drinke hard be merry among themselues singing continually walking euery where and satisfying their appetites with whatsoeuer they desired laughing and mocking at euery mournefull accident and so they vowed to spend day and night for now they would goe to one Tauerne then to another liuing without any rule or measure which they might very easilie doe because euery one of them as if he were to liue no longer in this World had euen forsaken all things that he had By meanes whereof the most part of the houses were become common and all strangers might doe the like if they pleased to aduenture it euen as boldly as the Lord or owner without any let or contradiction Yet in all this their beastly behauiour they were wise enough to shun so much as they might the weake and sickly In which misery and affliction of our City the venerable authority of the Lawes as well diuine as humane was euen destroyed as it were through want of the awefull Ministers of them For they being all dead or lying sicke with the rest or else liued so solitary in such great necessity of seruants and attendants as they could not execute any office whereby it was lawfull for euery one to doe as he listed Betweene these two rehearsed extremities of life there were other of a more moderate temper not being so daintily dieted as the first nor drinking so dissolutely as the second but vsed all things sufficient for their appetites and without shutting vp themselues walked abroade some carrying sweete nose-gayes of flowers in their hands others odoriferous herbes and others diuers kinds of spiceries holding them to their noses and thinking them most comfortable for the braine because the ayre seemed to be much infected by the noysome smell of dead carkases and other hurtfull sauours Some other there were also of more inhumane minde howbeit peraduenture it might be the surest saying that there was no better physicke against the pestilence nor yet so good as to flie away from it which argument mainely mouing them and caring for no body but themselues very many both men and women forsooke the City their owne houses their Parents kindred friends and goods flying to other mens dwellings else-where As if the wrath of God in punishing the sinnes of men with this plague would fall heauily vpon none but such as were enclosed within the City wals or else perswading themselues that not any one should there be left aliue but that the finall ending of all things was come Now albeit these persons in their diuersity of opinions died not all so vndoubtedly they did not all escape but many among them becomming sicke and making a generall example of their flight and folly among them that could not stirre out of their beds they languished more perplexedly then the other did Let vs omit that one Citizen fled after another and one neighbour had not any care of another Parents nor kinred neuer visiting them but vtterly they were forsaken on all sides this tribulation pierced into the hearts of men and with such a dreadfull terrour that one Brother forsooke another the Vnkle the Nephew the Sister the Brother and the Wife her Husband nay a matter much greater and almost incredible Fathers and Mothers fled away from their owne Children euen as if they had no way appertained to them In regard whereof it could be no otherwise but that a countlesse multitude of men and women fell sicke finding no charity among their friends except a very few and subiected to the auarice of seruants who attended them constrainedly for great and vnreasonable wages yet few of those attendants to be found any where too And they were men or women but of base condition as also of groser vnderstanding who neuer before had serued in any such necessities nor indeed were any way else to be imployed but to giue the sicke person such things as he called for or to awaite the houre of his death in the performance of which seruices oftentimes for gaine they lost their owne liues In this extreame calamity the sicke being thus forsaken of neighbors kinred and friends standing also in such need of seruants a custome came vp among them neuer heard of before that there was not any woman how noble young or faire soeuer shee was but falling sicke shee must of necessity haue a man to attend her were he young or otherwise respect of shame or modesty no way preuailing but all parts of her body must be discouered to him which in the like vrgency was not to be seene by any but women whereon ensued afterward that vpon the parties healing and recouery it was the occasion of further dishonesty which many being more modestly curious of refused such disgracefull attending chusing rather to die then by such helpe to be healed In regard whereof as well through the want of conuenient remedies which the sicke by no meanes could attain vnto as also the violence of the contagion the multitude of them that died night and day was so great that it was a dreadfull sight to behold and as much to heare spoken of So that meere necessity among them that remained liuing begat new behauiours quite contrary to all which had beene in former times and frequently vsed among the City Inhabitants The custome of precedent dayes as now againe it is was that women kinred neighbours and friends would meete together at the deceased parties house and there with them that were of neerest alliance expresse their hearts
sorrow for their friends losse If not thus they would assemble before the doore with many of the best Cittizens and kindred and according to the quality of the deceased the Clergy met there likewise and the dead body was carried in comely manner on mens shoulders with funerall pompe of Torch-light and singing to the Church appointed by the deceased But these seemely orders after that the fury of the pestilence began to encrease they in like manner altogether ceased and other new customes came in their place because not onely people died without hauing any women about them but infinites also past out of this life not hauing any witnesse how when or in what manner they departed So that few or none there were to deliuer outward shew of sorrow and grieuing but insteed thereof diuers declared idle ioy and reioycing a vse soone learned of immodest women hauing put off al feminine compassion yea or regard of their owne welfare Very few also would accompany the body to the graue and they not any of the Neighbours although it had beene an honourable Cittizen but onely the meanest kinde of people such as were graue-makers coffin-bearers or the like that did these seruices onely for money and the beere being mounted on their shoulders in all haste they would runne away with it not perhaps to the Church appointed by the dead but to the neerest at hand hauing some foure or sixe poore Priests following with lights or no lights and those of the silliest short seruice being said at the buriall and the body vnreuerently throwne into the first open graue they found Such was the pittifull misery of poore people and diuers who were of better condition as it was most lamentable to behold because the greater number of them vnder hope of healing or compelled by pouerty kept still within their houses weake and faint thousands falling sick daily and hauing no helpe or being succoured any way with foode or physicke all of them died few or none escaping Great store there were that died in the streetes by day or night and many more beside although they died in their houses yet first they made it knowne to their neighbours that their liues perished rather by the noysome smell of dead and putrified bodies then by any violence of the disease in themselues So that of these and the rest dying in this manner euery where the neighbours obserued one course of behauiour moued thereto no lesse by feare that the smell and corruption of dead bodies should harme them then charitable respect of the dead that themselues when they could or being assisted by some bearers of coarses when they wer able to procure theÌ„ wold hale the bodies alreadie dead out of their houses laying them before their doores where such as passed by especially in the mornings might see them lying in no meane numbers Afterward Bieres were brought thither and such as might not haue the helpe of Bieres were glad to lay them on tables and Bieres haue bin obserued not onely to be charged with two or three dead bodies at once but many times it was seene also that the wife with the husband two or three Brethren together yea the Father and the mother haue thus beene carried along to the graue vpon one Biere Moreouer oftentimes it hath bene seene that when two Priests went with one Crosse to fetch the body there would follow behind three or foure bearers with their Bieres and when the Priests intended the buriall but of one bodie sixe or eight more haue made vp the aduantage and yet none of them being attended by any seemly company lights teares or the very least decencie but it plainly appeared that the verie like account was then made of men or Women as if they had bene Dogges or Swine Wherein might manifestly bee noted that that which the naturall course of things could not shewe to the wise with rare and little losse to wit the patient support of miseries and misfortunes euen in their greatest height not onely the wise might now learne but also thâ— verie simplest people in such sort that they should alwaies be prepared against all infelicities whatsoeuer Hallowed ground could not now suffice for the great multitude of dead bodies which were daily brought to euery Church in the City and euery houre in the day neither could the bodies haue proper place of buriall according to our ancient custome wherfore after that the churches and Church-yards were filled they were constrained to make vse of great deepe ditches wherein they were buried by hundreds at once ranking dead bodies along in graues as Merchandizes are laide along in ships couering each after other with a small quantity of earth so they filled at last vp the whole ditch to the brim Now because I would wander no further in euerie particularity concerning the miseries happening in our Citie I tell you that extremities running on in such manner as you haue heard little lesse spare was made in the Villages round about wherein setting aside enclosed Castles which were now filled like to small Cities poore Labourers and Husband-men with their whole Families dyed most miserably in out-houses yea and in the open fieldes also without any assistance of physicke or helpe of seruants likewise in the high-wayes or their ploughed landes by day or night indifferently yet not as men but like brute beasts By meanes whereof they became lazie and slothfull in their daily endeuours euen like to our Citizens not minding or medling with their wonted affaires but as awaiting for death euery houre imployed all their paines not in caring any way for themselues their cattle or gathering the fruits of the earth or any of their accustomed labours but rather wasted and consumed euen such as were for their instant sustenance Whereupon it fell so out that their Oxen Asses Sheepe and Goates their Swine Pullen yea their verie Dogges the truest and faithfullest seruants to men being beaten and banished from their houses went wildly wandring abroad in the fields where the Corne grew still on the ground without gathering or being so much as reapt or cut Many of the foresaid beasts as endued with reason after they had pastured themselues in the day time would returne full fed at night home to their houses without any gouernment of Heardsmen or any other How many faire Palaces How many goodly Houses How many noble habitations filled before with families of Lords and Ladies were then to be seene emptie without any one there dwelling except some silly seruant How many Kindreds worthy of memory How many great inheritances And what plenty of riches were left without any true successours How many good men How many woorthy Women How many valiant and comely yong men whom none but Galen Hâ—ppocrates and Aesculapius if they were liuing could haue bene reputed any way vnhealthfull were seene to dine at morning with their Parents Friends and familiar confederates and went to sup in another world with their
Nouell recited by Pamphilus was highly pleasing to the company and much commended by the Ladies and after it had beene diligently obserued among them the Queen commanded Madam Neiphila who was seated neerest to Pamphilus that in relating another of hers she should follow on in the pastime thus begun She being no lesse gracious in countenance then merrily disposed made answer that shee would obey her charge and began in this manner Pamphilus hath declared to vs by his Tale how the goodnesse of God regardeth not our errors when they proceede from things which vvee cannot discerne And I intend to approoue by mine what argument of infallible truth the same benignity deliuereth of it selfe by enduring patiently the faults of them that both in word and worke should declare vnfaigned testimony of such gracious goodnesse and not to liue so dissolutely as they doe To the end that others illumined by their light of life may beleeue with the stronger constancy of minde As I haue heeretofore heard Gracious Ladies there liued a wealthy Marchant in Paris being a Mercer or seller of Silkes named Iehannot de Cheuigny a man of faithful honest and vpright dealing who held great affection and friendship with a very rich Iew named Abraham that was a Merchant also and a man of very direct conuersation Iehannot vvell noting the honesty and loyall dealing of this Iew began to haue a Religious kind of compassion in his soule much pittying that a man so good in behauiour so wise and discreete in all his actions should be in danger of perdition thorow want of Faith In which regard louingly he began to entreate him that he would leaue the errors of his Iewish beleefe and follow the truth of Christianity which he euidently saw as being good and holy daily to prosper and enlarge it selfe whereas on the contrary his profession decreased and grew to nothing The Iew made answer that he beleeued nothing to be so good holy as the Iewish Religion and hauing beene borne therein therein also he purposed to liue and dye no matter whatsoeuer being able to remoue him from that resolution For all this stiffe deniall Iehannot would not so giue him ouer but pursued him still day by day reitterating continually his former speeches to him deliuering infinite excellent and pregnant reasons that Merchants themselues were not ignorant how farre the Christian faith excelled the Iewish falshoods And albeit the Iew was a very learned man in his owne law yet notwithstanding the intire amity hee bare to Iehannot or perhaps his words fortified by the blessed Spirit were so preualent with him that the Iew felt a pleasing apprehension in them though his obstinacie stood as yet farre off from conuersion But as hee thus continued strong in opinion so Iehannot left not hourely to labour him in so much that the Iew being conquered by such earnest and continuall importunity one day spake to Iehannot thus My worthy friend Iehannot thou art extremely desirous that I should conuert to Christianity and I am well contended to doe it onely vpon this condition That first I will iourney to Rome to see him whom thou sayest is Gods generall vicar here on earth and to consider on the course of his life and manners and likewise of his Colledge of Cardinals If he and they doe appeare such men to me as thy speeches affirmes them to be and thereby I may comprehend that thy faith and Religion is better then mine as with no meane paines thou endeuourest to perswade me I will become a Christian as thou art but if I finde it otherwise I will continue a Iew as I am When Iehannot heard these words he became exceeding sorrowfull within himselfe I haue lost all the paines which I did thinke to be well imployed as hoping to haue this man conuerted here For if he goe to the Court of Rome and behold there the wickednes of the Priests liues farewell all hope in me of euer seeing him to become a Christian But rather were he already a Christian without all question he would turne Iew And so going neerer to Abraham he said Alas my louing friend why shouldst thou vndertake such a tedious trauell and so great a charge as thy iourney from hence to Rome will cost thee Consider that to a rich man as thou art trauaile by land or sea is full of infinite dangers Doest thou not thinke that here are Religious men enow who will gladly bestowe Baptisme vpon thee To me therefore it plainely appeareth that such a voyage is to no purpose If thou standest vpon any doubt or scruple concerning the faith whereto I wish thee where canst thou desire conference with greater Doctours or men more learned in all respects then this famous Citie doth affoord thee to resolue thee in any questionable case Thou must thinke that the Prelates are such there as here thou seest them to be and yet they must needes be in much better condition at Rome because they are neere to the principall Pastour And therefore if thou wilt credit my counsell reserue this iourney to some time more conuenient when the Iubilee of generall pardon happeneth and then perchance I will beare thee company and goe along with thee as in vowed pilgrimage Whereto the Iew replied I beleeue Iehannot that all which thou hast said may be so But to make short with thee I am fully determined if thou wouldst haue me a Christian as thou instantly vrgest me to be to goe thither for otherwise I will continue as I am Iehannot perceiuing his setled purpose said Goe then in Gods name But perswaded himselfe that hee would neuer become a Christian after hee had once seene the Court of Rome neuerthelesse he counted his labour not altogether lost in regard he bestowed it to a good end and honest intentions are to be commended The Iew mounted on horse-backe and made no lingering in his iourney to Rome where being arriued he was very honourably entertained by other Iewes dwelling in Rome And during the time of his abiding there without reuealing to any one the reason of his comming thither very heedfully he obserued the manner of the Popes life of the Cardinals Prelates and all the Courtiers And being a man very discreete and iudicious he apparantly perceiued both by his owne eye and further information of friends that from the highest to the lowest without any restraint remorse of conscience shame or feare of punishment all sinned in abhominable luxurie and not naturally onely but in foule Sodomie so that the credit of Strumpets and Boyes was not small and yet might be too easily obtained Moreouer drunkards belly-Gods and seruants of the paunch more then of any thing else euen like brutish beasts after their luxurie were euery where to be met withall And vpon further obseruation hee saw all men so couetous and greedy of coyne that euery thing was bought and solde for ready money not onely the blood of men but in plaine termes
the faith of Christians yea and matters of diuinest qualities how or to whomsoeuer appertaining were it for sacrifices or benefices whereof was made no meane Merchandize and more Brokers were there to be found then in Paris attending vpon all Trades of manifest Symonie vnder the nice name of Negotiation and for gluttony not sustentation euen as if God had not knowne the signification of vocables nor the intentions of wicked hearts but would suffer himselfe to be deceiued by the outward names of things as wretched men commonly vse to doe These things and many more fitter for silence then publication were so deepely displeasing to the Iew being a most sober and modest man that he had soone seene enough resoluing on his returne to Paris which very speedily he performed And when Iehannot heard of his arriuall crediting much rather other newes from him then euer to see him a conuerted Christian he went to welcome him and kindly they feasted one another After some fewe dayes of resting Iehannot demaunded of him what he thought of our holy father the Pope and his Cardinals and generally of all the other Courtiers Whereto the Iew readily answered It is strange Iehannot that God should giue them so much as he doth For I will truly tell thee that if I had beene able to consider all those things which there I haue both heard and seene I could then haue resolued my selfe neuer to haue found in any Priest either sanctity deuotion good worke example of honest life or any good thing else beside But if a man desire to see luxury auarice gluttony and such wicked things yea worse if worse may be and held in generall estimation of all men let him but goe to Rome which I thinke rather to be the forge of damnable actions then any way leaning to grace or goodnesse And for ought I could perceiue me thinkes your chiefe Pastour and consequently all the rest of his dependants doe striue so much as they may with all their engine arte and endeuour to bring to nothing or else to banish quite out of the world Christian Religion whereof they should be the support and foundation But because I perceiue that their wicked intent will neuer come to passe but contrariwise that your faith enlargeth it selfe shining euery day much more cleare and splendant I gather thereby euidently that the blessed Spirit is the true ground and defence thereof as being more true and holy then any other In which respect whereas I stood stiffe and obstinate against the good admonitions and neuer minded to become a Christian now I freely open my heart vnto thee that nothing in the world can or shall hinder me but I will be a Christian as thou art Let vs therefore presently goe to the Church and there according to the true custome of your holy faith helpe me to be baptized Iehannot who expected a farre contrary conclusion then this hearing him speake it with such constancy was the very gladdest man in the world and went with him to the Church of Nostre Dame in Paris where he requested the Priests there abiding to bestow baptisme on Abraham which they ioyfully did hearing him so earnestly to desire it Iehannot was his Godfather and named him Iobn and afterward by learned Diuines he was more fully instructed in the grounds of our faith wherein he grew of greatly vnderstanding and led a very vertuous life Melchisedech a Iew by recounting a Tale of three Rings to the great Soldam named Saladine preuented a great danger which was prepared for him The third Nouell Whereby the Author approuing the Christian Faith sheweth how beneficiall a sodaine and ingenious answer may fall out to bee especially when a man finds himselfe in some euident danger MAdame Neiphila hauing ended her Discourse which was well allowed of by all the company it pleased the Queene that Madam Philomena should next succeede in order who thus began The Tale deliuered by Neiphila maketh mee remember a doubtfull case which sometime hapned to another Iew. And because that God and the truth of his holy Faith hath bene already very wel discoursed on it shall not seeme vnfitting in my poore opinion to descend now into the accidents of men Wherefore I will relate a matter vnto you which being attentiuely heard and considered may make you much more circumspect in answering to diuers questions and demands then perhaps otherwise you would be Consider then most woorthy assembly that like as folly or dulnesse many times hath ouerthrowne some men from place of eminencie into most great and greeuous miseries euen so discrect sense and good vnderstanding hath deliuered many out of irksome perils and seated them in safest security And to proue it true that folly hath made many fall from high authority into poore and despised calamity may be auouched by infinite examples which now were needelesse to remember But that good sense and able vnderstanding may prooue to be the occasion of great desolation without happy preuention I will declare vnto you in very few words and make it good according to my promise Saladine was a man so powerfull and valiant as not onely his very valour made him Soldan of Babylon but also gaue him many signall victories ouer Kings of the Sarrazens and of Christians likewise Hauing in diuers Warres and other magnificent employments of his owne wasted all his treasure and by reason of some sodaine accident happening to him standing in neede to vse some great summe of money yet not readily knowing where or how to procure it he remembred a rich Iew named Melchisedech that lent out money to vse or interest in the City of Alexandria This man he imagined best able to furnish him if he could be won to do it willingly but he was knowne to be so gripple and miserable that hardly any meanes would drawe him to it In the end constrained by necessity and labouring his wits for some apt deuice whereby he might haue it he concluded though hee might not compell him to do it yet by a practise shadowed with good reason to ensnare him And hauing sent for him entertained him very familiarly in his Court and sitting downe by him thus began Honest man I haue often heard it reported by many that thou art very skilfull and in cases concerning God thou goest beyond all other of these times wherefore I would gladly be informed by thee vvhich of those three Lawes or Religions thou takest to be truest that of the Iew the other of the Sarazen or that of the Christian The Iew being a very wise man plainly perceiued that Saladine sought to entrap him in his answer and so to raise some quarrell against him For if he commended any one of those Lawes aboue the other he knew that Saladine had what he aymed at Wherefore bethinking himselfe to shape such an answer as might no way trouble or entangle him summoning all his sences together and considering that dallying with the Soldane might
her And she being a goodly creature and highly pleasing to beholde hauing put on her Crowne of Laurell and giuing a gracious countenance to the whole company commanding Madam Neiphila that her Tale should begin this daies delight Whereupon she without returning any excuse or deniall began in this manner Martellino counterfetting to be lame of his members caused himselfe to be set on the body of Saint Arriguo where he made shew of his sudden recouery but when his dissimulation was discouered he was well beaten being afterward taken prisoner and in great danger of being hanged and strangled by the necke and yet he escaped in the ende The first Nouell Wherein is signified how easie a thing it is for wicked men to deceiue the world vnder the shadow and colour of miracles and that such trechery oftentimes redoundeth to the harme of the deuiser FAire Ladies it hath happened many times that hee who striueth to scorne and floute other men and especially in occasions deseruing to be respected proueth to mocke himselfe with the selfe-same matter yea and to his no meane danger beside As you shall perceiue by a Tale which I intend to tell you obeying therein the command of our Queene and according to the subiect by her enioyned In which discourse you may first obserue what great mischance happened to one of our Citizens and yet afterward how beyond all hope he happily escaped Not long since there liued in the City of Treuers an Almaine or Germaine named Arriguo who being a poore man serued as a Porter or burden-bearer for money when any man pleased to employ him And yet notwithstanding his poore and meane condition he was generally reputed to be of good and sanctified life In which regard whether it were true or no I know not it happened that when he died at least as the men of Treuers themselues affirmed in the very instant houre of his departing all the Belles in the great Church of Treuers not being pulled by the helpe of any hand beganne to ring which being accounted for a miracle euery one saide that this Arriguo had been and was a Saint And presently all the people of the City ran to the house where the dead body lay and carried it as a sanctified body into the great Church where people halt lame and blinde or troubled with any other diseases were brought about it euen as if euery one should forth-with be holpen onely by their touching the bodie It came to passe that in so great a concourse of people as resorted thither from all parts three of our Cittizens went to Treuers one of them being named Stechio the second Martellino and the third Marquiso all being men of such condition as frequented Princes Courts to giue them delight by pleasant counterfeited qualities None of these men hauing euer beene at Treuers before seeing how the people crowded thorow the streetes wondred greatly thereat but when they knew the reason why the throngs ranne on heapes in such sort together they grew as desirous to see the Shrine as any of the rest Hauing ordered all affaires at their lodging Marquiso saide It is fit for vs to see this Saint but I know not how we shall attaine thereto because as I haue heard the place is guarded by Germane Souldiers and other warlike men commanded thither by the Gouernours of this City least any outrage should be there committed And beside the Church is so full of people as wee shall neuer compasse to get neere Martellino being also as forward in desire to see it presently replied All this difficulty cannot dismay me but I will goe to the very body of the Saint it selfe But how quoth Marquiso I will tell thee answered Martellino I purpose to goe in the disguise of an impotent lame person supported on the one side by thy selfe and on the other by Stechio as if I were not able to walke of my selfe And you two thus sustaining me desiring to come neere the Saint to cure me euery one will make way and freely giue you leaue to goe on This deuise was very pleasing to Marquiso and Stechio so that without any further delaying they all three left their lodging and resorting into a secret corner aside Martellino so writhed and mishaped his hands fingers and armes his legges mouth eyes and whole countenance that it was a dreadfull sight to looke vpon him and whosoeuer beheld him would verily haue imagined that hee was vtterly lame of his limbes and greatly deformed in his body Marquiso and Stechio seeing all sorted so well as they could wish tooke and led him towards the Church making very pitious moane and humbly desiring for Gods sake of euery one that they met to grant them free passage whereto they charitably condiscended Thus leading him on crying still Beware there before and giue way for Gods sake they arriued at the body of Saint Arriguo that by his helpe he might be healed And while all eyes were diligently obseruing what miracle would be wrought on Martellino hee hauing sitten a small space vpon the Saints bodie and being sufficiently skilfull in counterfeiting beganne first to extend for the one of his fingers next his hand then his arme and so by degrees the rest of his body Which when the people saw they made such a wonderfull noyse in praise of Saint Arriguo euen as if it had thundered in the Chuâ—ch Now it chanced by ill fortune that there stood a Florentine neere to the body who knew Martellino very perfectly but appearing so monstrously mishapen when he was brought into the Church hee could take no knowledge of him But when he saw him stand vp and walke hee knew him then to be the man indeede whereupon he saide How commeth it to passe that this fellow should be so miraculously cured that neuer truly was any way impotent Certaine men of the City hearing these words entred into further questioning with him demanding how he knew that the man had no such imperfection Well enough answered the Florentine I know him to be as direct in his limbes and body as you I or any of vs all are but indeede he knowes better how to dissemble counterfet trickes then any man else that euer I saw When they heard this they discoursed no further with the Florentine but pressed on mainely to the place where Martellino stood crying out aloude Lay holde on this Traytor a mocker of God and his holy Saints that had no lamenesse in his limbes but to make a mocke of our Saint and vs came hither in false and counterfet manner So laying hands vppon him they threw him against the ground haling him by the haire on his head and tearing the garments from his backe spurning him vvith their feete and beating him with their fists that many were much ashamed to see it Poore Martellino was in a pittifull case crying out for mercy but no man would heare him for the more he cried the more stil they
did beat him as meaning to leaue no life in him which Stechio and Marquiso seeing considered with themselues that they were likewise in a desperate case and therfore fearing to be as much misvsed they cryed out among the rest Kill the counterfet knaue lay on loade and spare him not neuerthelesse they tooke care how to get him out of the peoples handes as doubting least they would kill him indeede by their extreame violence Sodainly Marquiso bethought him how to do it and proceeded thus All the Sergeants for Iustice standing at the Church doore hee ran with all possible speede to the Potestates Lieutenant and said vnto him Good my Lord Iustice helpe me in an hard case yonder is a villaine that hath cut my purse I desire he may bee brought before you that I may haue my money againe He hearing this sent for a dozen of the Sergeants who went to apprehend vnhappy Martellino and recouer him from the peoples fury leading him on with them to the Palace no meane crowds thronging after him when they heard that he was accused to bee a Cutpurse Now durst they meddle no more with him but assisted the Officers some of them charging him in like manner that he had cut theyr purses also Vpon these clamours and complaints the Potestates Lieutenant being a man of rude quality tooke him sodainly aside and examined him of the crimes wherewith he was charged But Martellino as making no account of these accusations laughed and returned scoffing answeres Whereat the Iudge waxing much displeased deliuered him ouer to the Strappado and stood by himselfe to haue him confesse the crimes imposed on him and then to hang him afterward Beeing let downe to the ground the Iudge still demaunded of him whether the accusations against him were true or no Affirming that it nothing auayled him to deny it whereupon hee thus spake to the Iudge My Lord I am heere ready before you to confesse the truth but I pray you demaund of all them that accuse me when and where I did cut their purses then I wil tell you that which as yet I haue not done otherwise I purpose to make you no more answers Well quoth the Iudge thou requirest but reason calling diuers of the accusers one of them saide that he lost his purse eight dayes before another saide six another foure and some saide the very same day Which Martellino hearing replyed My Lord they al lie in their throats as I will plainly proue before you I would to God I had neuer set foote within this City as it is not many houres since my first entrance and presently after mine arriuall I went in an euill houre I may say for me to see the Saints body where I was thus beaten as you may beholde That all this is true which I say vnto you the Seigneuries Officer that keeps your Booke of presentations will testifie for me as also the Host where I am lodged Wherefore good my Lord if you finde all no otherwise then as I haue said I humbly entreate you that vpon these bad mens reportes and false informations I may not be thus tormented and put in perill of my life While matters proceeded in this manner Marquiso and Stechio vnderstanding how roughly the Potestates Lieutenant dealt with Martellino and that he had already giuen him the Strappado were in heauy perplexity saying to themselues we haue carried this businesse very badly redeeming him out of the Frying-pan and flinging him into the Fire Whereupon trudging about from place to place meeting at length with their Host they told him truly how all had happened whereat hee could not refraine from laughing Afterward he went with them to one Master Alexander Agolante who dwelt in Treuers and was in great credite with the Cities cheefe Magistrate to whom hee related the whole Discourse all three earnestly entreating him to commisserate the case of poore Martellino Master Alexander after he had laughed heartily at this hotte peece of seruice went with him to the Lord of Treuers preuailing so vvell with him that he sent to haue Martellino brought before him The Messengers that went for him found him standing in his shirt before the Iudge very shrewdly shaken with the Strappado trembling and quaking pittifully For the Iudge would not heare any thing in his excuse but hating him perhaps because hee was a Florentine flatly determined to haue him hangde by the necke and would not deliuer him to the Lorde vntill in meere despight he was compeld to do it The Lord of Treuers when Martellino came before him and had acquainted him truly with euery particular Master Alexander requested that he might be dispatched thence for Florence because he thought the halter to be about his necke and that there was no other helpe but hanging The Lord smiling a long while at the accident causing Martellino to be handsomely apparrelled deliuering them also his Passe they escaped out of further danger and tarried no where till they came vnto Florence Rinaldo de Este after he was robbed by Theeues arriued at Chasteaâ— Guillaume where he was friendly lodged by a faire widdow and recompenced likewise for all his losses returning afterward safe and well home vnto his owne house The second Nouell Whereby wee may learne that such things as sometime seeme hurtfull to vs may turne to our benefit and commodity MVch merriment was among the Ladies hearing this Tale of Martellinos misfortunes so familiarly reported by Madam Neiphila and of the men it was best respected by Philostratus who sitting neerest vnto Neiphila the Queene commanded his Tale to be the next when presently he began to speake thus Gracious Ladies I am to speake of vniuersall occasions mingled with some misfortunes in part and partly with matters leaning to loue as many times may happen to such people that trace the dangerous pathes of amorous desires or haue not learned perfectly to say S. Iulians pater noster hauing good beds of their owne yet casually meete with worser lodging In the time of Azzo Marquesse of Ferrara there was a Marchant named Rinaldo de Este who being one day at Bologna about some especiall businesse of his owne his occasions there ended and riding from thence towards Verona he fell in company with other Horsemen seeming to be Merchants like himselfe but indeede were Theeues men of most badde life and conuersation yet he hauing no such mistrust of them rode on conferring with them very familiarly They perceiuing him to be a Merchant and likely to haue some store of money about him concluded betweene themselues to rob him so soone as they found apt place and opportunity But because he should conceiue no such suspition they rode on like modest men talking honestly friendly with him of good parts and disposition appearing in him offering him all humble and gracious seruice accounting themselues happy by his companie as hee returned the same courtesie to them because he was alone and but one
both her selfe and all the wealth shee had into his hands but things ill done and so long time since are more easily controled then amended Being left so young at Palermo and growing well neere to the stature as now you see me my mother being wealthy gaue mee in marriage to one of the Gergentes Family a Gentleman and of great reuenewes who in his loue to me and my mother went and dwelt at Palermo where falling into the Guelphes faction and making one in the enterprize with Charles our King it came to passe that they were discouered to Fredericke King of Arragon before their intent could be put in execution whereupon we were enforced to flie from Sicilie euen when my hope stood fairely to haue beene the greatest Lady in all the Iland Packing vp then such few things as wee could take with vs few I may well call them in regard of our wealthy possessions both in Pallaces Houses and Lands all which we were constrained to forgoe we made our recourse to this City where wee found King Charles so benigne and gracious to vs that recompencing the greater part of our losses he bestowed Lands and Houses on vs here beside a continuall large pension to my husband your brother in Law as hereafter himselfe shall better acquaint you withall Thus came I hither and thus remaine here where I am able to welcome my brother Andrea thankes more to Fortune then any friendlinesse in him with which words she embraced and kissed him many times sighing and weeping as shee did before Andrea hearing this fable so artificially deliuered composed from point to point with such likely protestations without faltring or failing in any one words vtteranee and remembring perfectly for truth that his Father had formerly dwelt at Palermo knowing also by some sensible feeling in himselfe the custome of young people who are easily conquered by affection in their youthfull heate seeing beside the teares trembling speeches and earnest embracings of this cunning commodity he tooke all to be faithfully true by her thus spoken and vpon her silence thus he replied Lady let it not seeme strange to you that your words haue raised maruell in me because indeede I had no knowledge of you euen no more then as if I had neuer seene you neuer also hauing heard my Father to speake either of you or your Mother for some considerations best knowne to himselfe or if at any time he vsed such language either my youth then or defectiue memory since hath vtterly lost it But truly it is no little ioy and comfort to me to finde a sister here where I had no such hope or expectation and where also my selfe am a meere stranger For to speake my mind freely of you and the perfections gracefully appearing in you I know not any man of how great repute or quality soeuer but you may well beseeme his acceptance much rather then mine that am but a meane Merchant But faire sister I desire to be resolued in one thing to wit by what meanes you had vnderstanding of my being in this City whereto readily shee returned him this answer Brother a poore woman of this City whom I employ sometimes in houshold occasions came to me this morning and hauing seene you tolde me that shee dwelt a long while with our Father both at Palermo and Perouse And because I held it much better beseeming my condition to haue you visit me in mine owne dwelling then I to come see you at a common Inne I made the bolder to send for you hither After which words in very orderly manner shee enquired of his chiefest kindred and friends calling them readily by their proper names according to her former instructions Whereto Andrea still made her answer confirming thereby his beliefe of her the more strongly and crediting whatsoeuer shee saide farre better then before Their conference hauing long time continued and the heate of the day being somewhat extraordinary shee called for Greeke wine and banquetting stuffe drinking to Andrea and he pledging her very contentedly After which he would haue returned to his lodging because it drew neere supper time which by no meanes shee would permit but seeming more then halfe displeased shee saide Now I plainely perceiue brother how little account you make of me considering you are with your owne Sister who you say you neuer saw before and in her owne House whether you should alwayes resort when you come to this City and would you now refuse her to goe and sup at a common Inne Beleeue me brother you shall sup with me for although my Husband is now from home to my no little discontentment yet you shall find brother that his wife can bid you welcome and make you good cheere beside Now was Andrea so confounded with this extremity of courtesie that he knew not what to say but onely thus replied I loue you as a Sister ought to be loued and accept of your exceeding kindnesse but if I returne not to my lodging I shall wrong mine Host and his guests too much because they will not sup vntill I come For that quoth shee we haue a present remedy one of my seruants shal goe and giue warning whereby they shall not tarry your comming Albeit you might doe me a great kindnesse to send for your friends to sup with vs here where I assure ye they shall finde that your Sister for your sake will bid them welcome and after supper you may all walke together to your Inne Andrea answered that he had no such friends there as should be so burthenous to her but seeing shee vrged him so farre he would stay to sup with her and referred himselfe solely to her disposition Ceremonious shew was made of sending a seruant to the Inne for not expecting Andreas presence at Supper though no such matter was performed but after diuers other discoursings the table being couered and variety of costly viands placed thereon downe they sate to feeding with plenty of curious Wines liberally walking about so that it was darke night before they arose from the table Andrea then offring to take his leaue she would by no meanes suffer it but tolde him that Naples was a Citie of such strict Lawes and Ordinances as admitted no night-walkers although they were Natiues much lesse strangers but punished them with great seuerity And therefore as she had formerly sent word to his Inne that they should not expect his comming to supper the like had she done concerning his bed intending to giue her Brother Andrea one nights lodging which as easily she could affoord him as she hadde done a Supper All which this new-caught Woodcocke verily crediting and that he was in company of his owne Sister Fiordeliza for so did she cunningly stile her selfe and in which beleefe hee was meerely deluded he accepted the more gladly her gentle offer and concluded to stay there all that night After supper their conference lasted very long purposely dilated out in length that a
on foote out of the vally When he came to his Maister and had deliuered him her garments he assured him that he had not onely accomplished his commaund but also was most secure from any discouery because he had no sooner done the deede but foure or fiue very rauenous Wolfes came presently running to the dead body and gaue it buriall in their bellies Bernardo soone after returning to Geneway was much blamed for such vnkinde cruelty to his wife but his constant auouching of her treason to him according then to the Countries custome did cleare him from all pursuite of law Poore Geneura was left thus alone and disconsolate and night stealing fast vpon her shee went to a silly village neere adioyning where by the meanes of a good olde woman she got such prouision as the place afforded making the doublet fit to her body and conuerting her petticote to a paire of breeches according to the Mariners fashion then cutting her haire and queintly disguised like to a Sayler shee went to the Sea coast By good fortune she met there with a Gentleman of Cathalogna whose name was Signior Enchararcho who came on land from his Ship which lay hulling there about Albagia to refresh himselfe at a pleasant Spring Enchararcho taking her to be a man as shee appeared no otherwise by her habite vpon some conference passing betweene them shee was entertained into his seruice and being brought aboord the Ship she went vnder the name of Sicurano da Finale There shee had better apparell bestowne on her by the Gentleman and her seruice proued so pleasing and acceptable to him that hee liked her care and diligence beyond all comparison It came to passe within a short while after that this Gentleman of Cathalogna sayled with some charge of his into Alexandria carying thither câ—rtaine peregrine Faulcons which hee presented to the Soldane who oftentimes welcommed this Gentleman to his table where hee obserued the behauiour of Sicurano attending on his Maisters treâ—cher and therewith was so highly pleased that he requested to haue him from the Gentleman who for his more aduancement willingly parted with his so lately entertained seruant Sicurano was so ready and discreete in his dayly seruices that he grew in as great grace with the Soldane as before he had done with Enchararcho At a certaine season in the yeare as customarie order there obserued had formerly beene in the Citie of Acres which was vnder the Soldanes subiection there yearely met a great assembly of Merchants as Christians Moores Iewes Sarrazines and many other Nations beside as at a common Mart or Fayre And to the end that the Merchants for the better sale of their goods might be there in the safer assurance the Soldane vsed to send thither some of his ordinarie Officers and a strong guard of Souldiers beside to defend them from all iniuries and molestation because he reaped thereby no meane benefit And who should be now sent about this businesse but his new elected fauourite Sicurano because she was skilfull and perfect in the languages Sicurano being come to Acres as Lord and Captaine of the Guard for the Merchants and for the safety of their Merchandizes she discharged her office most commendably walking with her traine through euery part of the Fayre where shee obserued a worthy company of Merchants Sicilians Pisanes Genewayes Venetians and other Italians whom the more willingly shee noted in remembrance of her natiue Countrey At one especiall time among other chancing into a Shop or Boothe belonging to the Venetians she espied hanging vp with other costly wares a Purse and a Girdle which suddainly shee remembred to be sometime her owne whereat she was not a little abashed in her mind But without making any such outward shew courteously she requested to know whose they were and whether they should be sold or no. Ambroginolo of Placentia was likewise come thither and great store of Merchandizes hee had brought with him in a Carrack appertaining to the Venetians and hee hearing the Captaine of the Guard demaund whose they were stepped foorth before him and smiling answered That they wâ—re his but not to be solde yet if hee liked them gladly hee would bestowe them on him Sicurano seeing him smile suspected least himselfe had by some vnfitting behauiour beene the occasion thereof and therefore with a more setled countenance hee said Perhaps thou smilest because I that am a man professing Armes should question after such womanish toyes Ambroginolo replied My Lord pardon me Ismile not at you or your demaund but at the manner how I came by these things Sicurano vpon this answere was ten times more desirous then before and said If Fortune fauoured thee in friendly manner by the obtaining of these things if it may be spoken tell me how thou hadst them My Lord answered Ambroginolo these things with many more beside were giuen me by a Gentlewoman of Geneway named Madame Geneura the wife to one Bernardo Lomellino in recompence of one nights lodging with her and she desired me to keepe them for her sake Now the maine reason of my smiling was the remembrance of her husbands folly in waging fiue thousand Duckets of golde against one thousand of mine that I should not obtaine my will of his wife which I did and thereby wone the wager But hee who better deserued to be punished for his folly then shee who was but sicke of all womens disease returning from Paris to Geneway caused her to be slaine as afterward it was reported by himselfe When Sicurano heard this horrible lye immediatly shee conceiued that this was the occasion of her husbands hatred to her and all the hard haps which she had since suffered whereupon shee reputed it for more then a mortall sinne if such a villaine should passe without due punishment Sicurano seemed to like well this report and grew into such familiarity with Ambroginolo that by her perswasions when the Fayre was ended she tooke him higher with her into Alexandria and all his Wares along with him furnishing him with a fit and conuenient Shop where he made great benefit of his Merchandizes trusting all his monies in the Captaines custody because it was the safest course for him and so he continued there with no meane contentment Much did shee pitty her Husbands perplexity deuising by what good and warrantable meanes she might make knowne her innocency to him wherein her place and authority did greatly sted her and shee wrought with diuers gallant Merchants of Geneway that then remained in Alexandria and by vertue of the Soldans friendly Letters beside to bring him thither vpon an especiall occasion Come he did albeit in poore and meane order which soone was better altered by her appointment and he very honourably though in priuate entertained by diuers of her worthy friends till time did fauour what shee further intended In the expectation of Bernardoes arriuall shee had so preuailed with Ambroginolo that the same tale which he
acquaint thee with other matters according as I shall finde occasion When the Magnifico in the person of the Lady had spoken thus then hee returned her this answere Most vertuous Lady my spirits are so transported with extraordinary ioy for this your gracious and welcome answere that my sences so fayle mee and all my faculties quite forsake me as I cannot giue you such thankes as I would And if I could speake equally to my desire yet the season sutes not therewith neither were it conuenient that I should be so troublesome to you Let me therefore humbly beseech you that the desire I haue to accomplish your will which words auaile not to expresse may remaine in your kinde consideration And as you haue commaunded me so will I not faile to performe it accordingly and in more thankfull manner then as yet I am able to let you know Now there resteth nothing else to doe but vnder the protection of your gracious pardon I to giue ouer speech and you to attend your worthy husband Notwithstanding all that hee had spoken yet shee replied not one word wherefore the Magnifico arose and returned to the Knight who went to meete him saying in a loude laughter How now man haue I not kept my promise with thee No Sir answered the Magnifico for you promised I should speake with your wife and you haue made mee talke to a marble Statue This answere was greatly pleasing to the Knight who although hee had an vndoubted opinion of his wife yet this did much more strengthen his beliefe and hee said Now thou confessest thy Gelding to bee mine I doe replied the Magnifico but if I had thought that no better successe would haue ensued on the bargaine without your motion for the horse I would haue giuen him you and I am sorie that I did not because now you haue bought my horse and yet I haue not sold him The Knight laughed heartily at this answere and being thus prouided of so faire a beast he rode on his iourney to Millaine and there entred into his authory of Podesta The Lady remained now in liberty at home considering on the Magnificoes words and likewise the Gelding which for her sake was giuen to her husband Oftentimes shee saw him passe to and fro before her windowe still looking when the Flagge of defiance should be hanged forth that hee might fight valiantly vnder her Colours The Story saith that among many of her much better meditations she was heard to talke thus idely to her selfe What doe I meane Wherefore is my youth The olde miserable man is gone to Millaine and God knoweth when hee comes backe againe euer or neuer Is dignity preferred before wedlockes holy duty and pleasures abroade more then comforts at home Ill can age pay youths arrerages when time is spent and no hope sparde Actions omitted are often times repented but done in due season they are sildome sorrowed for Vpon these vn-Lady-like priuate consultations whether the window shewed the signall or no it is no matter belonging to my charge I say husbands are vnwise to graunt such ill aduantages and wiues much worse if they take hold of them onely iudge you the best and so the Tale is ended Ricciardo Minutolo fell in loue with the Wife of Philippello Fighinolfi and knowing her to be very iealous of her Husband gaue her to vnderstand that he was greatly enamoured of his Wife and had appointed to meete her priuately in a Bathing house on the next day following Where she hoping to take him tardie with his close compacted Mistresse found her selfe to be deceiued by the said Ricciardo The sixth Nouell Declaring how much perseuerance and a couragious spirit is auaileable in loue NO more remained to be spoken by Madame Eliza but the cunning of the Magnifico being much commended by all the company the Queene commanded Madame Fiammetta to succeede next in order with one of her Nouels who smilingly made answere that she would and began thus Gracious Ladies me thinkes wee haue spoken enough already concerning our owne Citie which as it aboundeth copiously in all commodities so is it an example also to euery conuenient purpose And as Madam Eliza hath done by recounting occasions happening in another World so must we now leape a little further off euen so farre as Naples to see how one of those Saint-like Dames that nicely seemes to shun Loues allurings was guided by the good spirit to a friend of hers and tasted of the fruite before shee knew the flowers A sufficient warning for you to apprehend before hand what may follow after and to let you see beside that when an errour is committed how to be discreete in keeping it from publike knowledge In the City of Naples it being of great antiquity and perhaps as pleasantly scituated as any other City in all Italie there dwelt sometime a young Gentleman of noble parentage and well knowne to be wealthy named Ricciardo Minutolo who although hee had a Gentlewoman of excellent beauty and worthy the very kindest affecting to his wife yet his gadding eye gazed else-where and he became enamoured of another which in generall opinion surpassed all the Neapolitane women else in feature fauour and the choysest perfections shee being named Madam Catulla wife to as gallant a young Gentleman called Philippello Fighinolfi who most dearely he loued beyond all other for her vertue and admired chastity Ricciardo louing this Madam Catulla and vsing all such meanes whereby the grace and liking of a Lady might be obtained found it yet a matter beyond possibility to compasse the height of his desire so that many desperate and dangerous resolutions beleagred his braine seeming so intricate and vnlikely to affoord any hopefull issue as he wished for nothing more then death And death as yet being deafe to all his earnest imprecations delayed him on in lingering afflictions and continuing still in such an extreame condition he was aduised by some of his best friends vtterly to abstaine from this fond pursuite because his hopes were meerely in vaine and Madam Catulla prized nothing more precious to her in the World then vnstayned loyaltie to her Husband and yet shee liued in such extreme iealousie of him as fearing least some bird flying in the Ayre should snatch him from her Ricciardo not vnacquainted with this her iealous humour as well by credible hearing thereof as also by daily obseruation began to consider with himselfe that it were best for him to dissemble amorous affection in some other place and hence-forward to set aside all hope of euer enioying the loue of Madam Catulla because he was now become the seruant to another Gentlewoman pretending in her honour to performe many worthy actions of Armes Iousts Tournaments and all such like noble exercises as he was wont to doe for Madam Catulla So that almost all the people of Naples but especially Madam Catulla became verily perswaded that his former fruitlesse loue to her was quite changed and the new
lamented Being deliuered out of the Court it was carried to buriall not like a Burgesse or ordinary Citizen but with such pompe as beseemed a Lord Baron and on the shoulders of very noble Gentlemen with very especiall honor and reuerence Within some few dayes after the Potestate pursuing his former motion of marriage and the Father mouing it to his daughter she wold not by any meanes listen thereto And he being desirous to giue her contentment deliuered her and her Chamber-maid into a Religious Abbey very famous for deuotion and sanctity where afterwardes they ended their liues Faire Simonida affecting Pasquino and walking with him in a pleasant garden it fortuned that Pasquino rubbed his teeth with a leafe of Sage and immediately fell downe dead Simonida being brought before the bench of Iustice and charged with the death of Pasquino she rubbed her teeth likewise with one of the leaues of the same Sage as declaring what shee saw him do and thereon she dyed also in the same manner The seauenth Nouell Whereby is giuen to vnderstand that Loue Death do vse their power equally alike as well vpon poore and meane persons as on them that are rich and Noble PAmphilus hauing ended his Tale the King declaring an outward shew of compassion in regard of Andreanaes disastrous Fortune fixed his eye on Madam Emillia and gaue her such an apparant signe as expressed his pleasure for her next succeeding in discourse which being sufficient for her vnderstanding thus she began Faire assembly the Nouel so lately deliuered by Pamphilus maketh me willing to report another to you varying from it in any kinde of resemblance onely this excepted that as Andreana lost her louer in a Garden euen so did shee of whome I am now to speake And being brought before the seate of Iustice according as Andreana was freed her selfe from the power of the Law yet neither by force or her owne vertue but by her sodaine and inopinate death And although the nature of Loue is such according as wee haue oftentimes heeretofore maintained to make his abiding in the houses of the Noblest persons yet men and women of poore and farre inferiour quality do not alwayes sit out of his reach though enclosed in their meanest Cottages declaring himselfe sometimes as powerfull a commaunder in those humble places as he doth in the richest and most imperious Palaces As will plainly appeare vnto you either in all or a great part of my Nouell whereto our Citie pleadeth some title though by the diuersity of our discourses talking of so many seuerall accidents we haue wandred into many other parts of the world to make all answerable to our owne liking It is not any long time since when there liued in our City of Florence a young and beautifull Damosell yet according to the nature of hir condition because she was the Daughter of a poore Father and called by the name of Simonida Now albeit shee was not supplied by any better meanes then to maintaine her selfe by her owne painfull trauell earne her bread before shee could eate it by carding and spinning to such as employed her yet was she not of so base or deiected a spirit but had both courage and sufficient vertue to vnderstand the secret solicitings of loue and to distinguish the parts of well deseruing both by priuate behauiour and outward ceremony As naturall instinct was her first tutor thereto so wanted she not a second maine and vrging motion a chip hewed out of the like Timber one no better in birth then her selfe a proper young springall named Pasquino whose generous behauiour and gracefull actions in bringing her daily wooll to spin by reason his master was a Clothier preuailed vpon her liking and affection Nor was he negligent in the obseruation of her amorous regards but the Tinder tooke and his soule flamed with the selfe-same fire making him as desirous of her louing acceptance as possibly she could bee of his so that the commanding power of loue could not easily be distinguished in which of them it had the greater predominance For euerie day as he brought her fresh supply of woolles and found her seriously busied at hir wheele her soule would vent forth many deepe sighes and those sighes fetch floods of teares from her eyes thorough the singular good opinion she had conceyued of him and earnest desire to enioy him Pasquino on the other side as leysure gaue him leaue for the least conuersing with her his disease was euery way answerable to her for teares stood in his eyes sighes flew abroad to ease the poore hearts afflicting oppressions which though he was vnable to conceale yet would hee seeme to clowd them cleanly by entreating her that his masters worke might be nearly performed and with such speed as time would permit her intermixing infinite praises of her artificiall spinning and affirming withall that the Quilles of Yearne receiued from her were the choisest beauty of the whole peece so that when other worke-women played Simonida was sure to want no employment Heereupon the one soliciting and the other taking delight in beeing solicited it came to passe that often accesse bred the bolder courage ouer-much bashfulnesse became abandoned yet no immodestie passing betweene them but affection grew the better setled in them both by interchangeable vowes of constant perseuerance so that death onely but no disaster else had power to diuide them Their mutuall delight continuing on in this manner with more forcible encreasing of their Loues equall flame it fortuned that Pasquino sitting by Simonida tolde her of a goodly Garden whereto hee was desirous to bring her to the end that they might the more safely conuerse together without the suspition of enuious eyes Simonida gaue answer of her well-liking the motion and acquainting her Father therewith he gaue her leaue on the Sunday following after dinner to go ferch the pardon of S. Gallo and afterwards to visit the Garden A modest yong maiden named Lagina following the same profession and being an intimate familiar friend Simonida tooke along in her company and came to the Garden appointed by Pasquino where shee found him readily expecting her comming and another friend also with him called Puccino albeit more vsually tearmed Strambo a secret well-willer to Lagina whose loue became the more furthered by this friendly meeting Each Louer delighting in his hearts chosen Mistresse caused them to walke alone by themselues as the spaciousnesse of the Garden gaue them ample liberty Puccino with his Lagina in one part Pasquino with his Simonida in another The walke which they had made choise of was by a long and goodly bed of Sage turning and returning by the same bed as their conference ministred occasion and as they pleased to recreate themselues affecting rather to continue still there then in any part of the Garden One while they would sit downe by the Sage bed and afterward rise to walke againe as ease or wearinesse seemed to inuite
Gracious Lord why thus I counsell you is to this end When the Archers on the Enemies side haue shot their Arrowes at your men and yours in the like maner at them it followeth that vpon meere constraint they must gather vp your Arrowes to shoote them backe againe at you for so long while as the battell endureth as no doubt but your men wil do the like to them But your enemies will finde themselues much deceiued because they can make no vse of your peoples Arrowes in regard that the nockes are too narrow to receiue their boysterous strings Which will fall out contrary with your followers for the pliant strings belonging to your Bowes are as apt for their enemies great nockt Arrowes as their owne and so they shall haue free vse of both reseruing them in plentifull store when your aduersaries must stand vnfurnished of any but them that they cannot any way vse This counsell pleased the King very highly and hee being a Prince of great vnderstanding gaue order to haue it accordingly followed and thereby valiantly vanquished his enemies Heereupon Martuccio came to be great in his grace as also consequently rich and seated in no meane place of authority Now as worthy and commendable actions are soone spread abroad in honor of the man by whome they hapned euen so the fame of this rare got victory was quickly noysed throughout the Countrey and came to the hearing of poore Constance that Martuccio Gomito whom she supposed so long since to be dead was liuing and in honourable condition The loue which formerly he bare vnto him being not altogether extinct in her heart of a small sparke brake foorth into a sodaine flame and so encreased day by day that her hope being before almost quite dead reuiued againe in chearfull manner Hauing imparted all her fortunes to the good olde Lady with whome she dwelt she told her beside that she had an earnest desire to see Thunis to satisfie her eyes as well as her eares concerning the rumor blazed abroad The good olde Lady commended her desire and euen as if she had bene her mother tooke her with her aboord a Barke and so sayled thence to Thunis where both she and Constance found honourable welcome in the house of a kinsman to the Sarazin Lady Carapresa also went along with them thither and her they sent abroad into the Citie to vnderstand the newes of Martuccio Gomito After they knew for a certaintie that hee was liuing and in great authority about the King according as the former report went of him Then the good old Lady being desirous to let Martuccio know that his faire friend Constance was come thither to see him went her selfe to the place of his abiding and spake vnto him in this manner Noble Martuccio there is a seruant of thine in my house which came from Liparis and requireth to haue a little priuate conference with thee but because I durst not trust any other with the message my selfe at her entreaty am come to acquaint thee therewith Martuccio gaue her kinde and hearty thankes and then went along with her to the house No sooner did Constance behold him but shee was ready to dye with conceite of ioy and being vnable to containe her passion sodainely she threw her armes about his necke and in meere compassion of her many misfortunes as also the instant solace of her soule not being able to vtter one word the teares trickled abundantly downe her cheekes Martuccio also seeing his faire friend was ouercome with exceeding admiration stood awhile as not knowing what to say till venting forth a vehement sighe thus he spake My deerest loue Constance art thou yet liuing It is a tedious long while since I heard thou wast lost and neuer any tydinges knowne of thee in thine owne Fathers house With which wordes the teares standing in his eyes most louingly he embraced her Constance recounâ—ed to him all her fortunes and what kindnesse she hadde receyued from the Sarazine Lady since her first houre of comming to her And after much other discourse passing betweene them Martuccio departed from her and returning to the King his master tolde him all the historie of his fortunes and those beside of his Loue Constance beeing purposely minded with his gracious liking to marry her according to the Christian Law The King was much amazed at so many strange accidents and sending for Constance to come before him from her own mouth he heard the whole relation of her continued affection to Martuccio whereuppon hee saide Now trust me faire Damosell thou hast dearly deserued him to be thy husband Then sending for very costly Iewels and rich presents the one halfe of them he gaue to her and the other to Martuccio graunting them license withall to marry according to their owne mindes Martuccio did many honors and gaue great giftes to the aged Sarazine Lady with whom Constance had liued so kindly respected which although she had no neede of neither euer expected any such rewarding yet conquered by their vrgent importunity especially Constance who could not be thankfull enough to her she was enforced to receiue them and taking her leaue of them weeping sayled backe againe to Susa Within a short while after the King licensing their departure thence they entred into a small Barke and Carapresa with them sailing on with prosperous gales of winde vntill they arriued at Liparis where they were entertained with generall reioycing And because their marriage was not sufficiently performed at Thunis in regard of diuers Christian ceremonies there wanting their Nuptials were againe most honourably solemnized and they liued many yeares after in health and much happinesse Pedro Bocamazzo escaping away with a yong Damosell which he loued named Angelina met with Theeues in his iourney The Damosell flying fearfully into a Forrest by chance arriueth at a Castle Pedro being taken by the Theeues and happening afterward to escape from them commeth accidentally to the same Castle where Angelina was And marrying her they then returned home to Rome The third Nouell Wherein the seuerall powers both of Loue and Fortune is more at large approued THere was not any one in the whole company but much commended the Nouell reported by Madam Emillia and when the Queene perceiued it was ended she turned towards Madam Eliza commanding her to continue on their delightfull exercise whereto shee declaring her willing obedience began to speak thus Courteous Ladies I remember one vnfortunate night which happened to two Louers that were not indued with the greatest discretion But because they had very many faire and happy dayes afterwardes I am the more willing for to let you heare it In the Citie of Rome which in times past was called the Ladie and Mistresse of the world though now scarsely so good as the waiting maid there dwelt sometime a yong Gentleman named Pedro Boccamazzo descended from one of the most honorable families in Rome who was much enamoured of a beautifull Gentlewoman called
he had made full proofe of the stones vertue And questionles the consideration of a matter so auaileable and important was quite taken from him because such an especiall happinesse should not belong to him only but in part to his friends whom he had acquainted therewith drew them to the plaine vvith him in companie vvhere they tooke as much paines in serch of the stone as possibly he did or could and yet dishonestly he would deceiue them and beare it away couetously for his owne priuate benefit After many other as wise and wholesome perswasions which he constantly credited because they spake them they reconciled him to his wife and she to him but not without some difficulty in him who falling into wonderfull greefe and melancholy for losse of such an admirable precious stone was in danger to haue dyed within lesse then a month after The Prouost belonging to the Cathedrall Church of Fiesola fell in loue with a Gentlewoman being a widdow and named Piccarda who hated him as much as he loued her He imagining that he lay with her by the Gentlewomans Bretheren and the Byshop vnder whom he serued was taken in bed with her Mayde an vgly soule deformed Slut. The Fourth Nouell Wherein is declared how loue oftentimes is so powerfull in aged men and driueth them to such doating that it redoundeth to their great disgrace and punishment LAdie Eliza hauing concluded her Nouell notwithout infinite commendations of the whole company the Queen turning her lookes to Madame Aemillia gaue her such an expresse signe as she must needs follow next after Madame Eliza whereupon she began in this manner Vertuous Ladies I very well remember by diuers Nouels formerly related that sufficient hath beene sayde concerning Priests and Religious persons and all other carrying shauen Crownes in their luxurious appetites and desires But because no one can at any time say so much as thereto no more may be added beside them alreadie spoken of I wil tel you another concerning the Prouost of a Cathedral Church who would needes in despight of all the vvorld loue a Gentlewoman whether she would or no and therefore in due chastisement both vnto his age and folly she gaue him such entertainment as he iustly deserued It is not vnknowne vnto you all that the Cittie of Fieosola the mountaine whereof we may very easily hither discerne hath bene in times past a very great and most ancient City although at this day it is well-neere all ruined yet neuerthelesse it alwaies was and yet is a Byshops See albeit not of the wealthiest In the same Citie and no long while since neere vnto the Cathedrall Church there dwelt a Gentlewoman being a Widdow and commonlie there stiled by the name of Madame Piccarda whose house and inheritance was but small wherewith yet she liued very contentedly hauing no wandering eye or wanton desires and no company but her two Brethren Gentlemen of especiall honest and gracious disposition This Gentlewoman being yet in the flourishing condition of her time did ordinarily resort to the Cathedrall Church in holie zeale and religious deuotion where the Prouost of the place became so enamored of her as nothing but the sight of her yeelded him any contentment Which fond affection of his was forwarded with such an audacious and bold carriage as hee dared to acquaint her with his loue requiring her enterchange of affection and the like opinion of him as he had of her True it is that he was very farre entred into yeares but yong and lustie in his own proud conceite presuming strangely beyond his capacity and thinking as well of his abilitie as the youthfullest gallant in the World could doe Whereas in verie deede his person was vtterly displeasing his behauiour immodest and scandalous and his vsuall Language sauouring of such sensualitie as very fewe or none cared for his company And if any Woman seemed respectiue of him it was in regard of his outside and profession and more for feare then the least affection and alwayes as welcome to them as the head-ake His fond and foolish carriage stil continuing to this Gentlewoman she being wise and vertuously aduised spake thus vnto him Holy Sir if you loue me according as you protest manifest by your outward behauiour I am the more to thanke you for it being bound in dutie to loue you likewise But if your Loue haue any harshe or vnsauourie taste vvhich mine is no way able to endure neyther dare entertaine in anie kinde what soeuer you must and shall hold mee excused because I am made of no such temper You are my ghostly and spirituall Father an Holy Priest Moreouer yeares haue made you honorably aged all which seuerall weighty considerations ought to confirme you in continency chastity Remember withall good sir that I am but a child to you in years were I bent to any wanton appetites you shold iustly correct me by fatherly counsell such as most beautifieth your sacred profession Beside I am a Widdow and you are not ignâ—rant how requisite a thing honestie is in widdowes Wherefore pardon mee Holy Father for in such manner as you make the motion I desire you not to loue mee because I neither can or will at any time so affect you The Prouoste gaining no other grace at this time would not so giue ouer for this first repulse but pursuing her still with vnbeseeming importunity many priuate meanes he vsed to her by Letters tokens and insinuating ambassages yea whensoeuer shee came to the Church he neuer ceased his wearisome solicitings Whereat she growing greatly offended and perceyuing no likelyhood of his desisting became so tyred with his tedious suite that she considered with her selfe how she might dispatch him as he deserued because she saw no other remedy Yet shee would not attempte anie thing in this case without acquainting her Bretheren first therwith And hauing tolde them how much shee was importuned by the Prouost and also what course she meant to take wherin they both counselled and encouraged her within a few daies after shee went to Church as she was wont to do where so soone as the Prouost espyed her forthwith he came to her and according to his continued course he fell into his amorous courting She looking vpon him with a smiling countenance and walking aside with him out of any hearing after he had spent many impertinent speeches shee venting foorth manie a vehement sighe at length returned him this answer Reuerend Father I haue often heard it saide That there is not any Fort or Castle how strongly munited soeuer it bee but by continuall assayling at length of necessity it must and will be surprized Which comparison I may full well allude to my selfe For you hauing so long time solicited me one while with affable language then againe vvith tokens and entisements of such preuailing power as haue broken the verie barricado of my former deliberation and yeelded mee vppe as your prisoner to be commanded at your
pleasure for now I am onely deuoted yours Well may you Gentle Ladies imagine that this answere was not a little welcome to the Prouost who shrugging with conceyte of ioy presently thus replyed I thanke you Madame Piccarda and to tell you true I held it almost as a miracle that you could stand vpon such long resistance considering it neuer so fortuned to mee with anie other And I haue many times saide to my selfe that if women vvere made of siluer they hardly could be worth a pennie because there can scarsely one be found of so good allay as to endure the test and essay But let vs breake off this friuolous conference and resolue vpon a conclusion How when and where we may safely meete together Worthy Sir answered Piccardâ— your selfe may appoint the time whensoeuer you please because I haue no Husband to whom I should render any account of my absence or presence but I am not prouided of any place A pretty while the Prouoste stood musing and at last saide A place Madame where can be more priuacie then in your owne house Alas Sir quoth she you know that I haue two Gentlemen my brethren who coÌ„tinually are with me other of their friends beside My house also is not great wherefore it is impossible to be there except you could be like a dumbe man without speaking one word or making the very least noyse beside to remaine in darkenesse as if you were blinde and who can be able to endure all these And yet without these there is no aduenturing albeit they neuer come into my Chamber but their lodging is so close to mine as there cannot any word be spoken be it neuer so low or in whispering manner but they heare it very easily Madame said the Prouoste for one or two nights I can make hard shift Why Sir quoth she the matter onely remaineth in you for if you be silent and suffering as already you haue heard there is no feare at all of safty Let me alone Madame replyed the Prouoste I will bee gouerned by your directions but in any case let vs begin this night With all my heart saide shee So appointing him how and when hee should come hee parted from her and shee returned home to her house Heere I am to tell you that this Gentlewoman had a seruant in the nature of an old maide not indued with any well featured face but instead thereof she had the vgliest and most countefeit countenance as hardly could be seene a worse She had a wrie mouth huge great lippes foule teeth great and blacke a monstrous stinking breath her eyes bleared and alwayes running the complexion of her face betweene greene and yellow as if shee had not spent the Summer season in the Citie but in the parching Countrey vnder a hedge and beside all these excellent parts shee was crooke backt poult footed and went like a lame Mare in Fetters Her name was Ciuta but in regard of her flat nose lying as low as a Beagles shee was called Ciutazza Now notwithstanding all this deformity in her yet she had a singuler opinion of her selfe as commonly all such foule Slâ—ts haue in regard whereof Madame Piccarda calling her aside Thus began Ciutazza if thou wilt doe for me one nights seruice I shall bestow on thee a faire new Smocke When Ciutazza heard her speake of a new Smocke instantly she answered Madame if you please to bestow a new Smocke on me were it to runne thorow the fire for you or any businesse of farre greater danger you onely haue the power to command me and I will doe it I will not said Piccarda vrge thee to any dangerous action but onely to lodge in my bed this night with a man and giue him courteous entertainement who shall reward thee liberally for it But haue an especiall care that thou speake not one word for feare thou shouldst be heard by my Brethren who as thou knowest lodge so neere by doe this and then demaund thy Smocke of me Madame quoth Ciutazza if it were to lye with sixe men rather then one if you say the word it shall be done When night was come the Prouoste also came according to appointment euen when the two brethren were in their lodging where they easily heard his entrance as Piccarda being present with them had informed them In went the Prouoste without any candle or making the least noise to be heard being in Piccardaes Chamber went to bed Ciutazza tarrying not long from him but as her Mistresse had instructed her she went to bed likewise not speaking any word at all and the Prouoste imagining to haue her there whom he so highly affected fell to imbracing and kissing Ciutazza who was as forward in the same manner to him and there for a while I intend to leaue them When Piccarda had performed this hot piece of businesse she referred the effecting of the remainder to her Brethren in such sort as it was compacted betweene them Faire and softly went the two brethren forth of their Chamber and going to the Market place Fortune was more fauourable to them then they could wish in accomplishing the issue of their intent For the heat being somwhat tedious the Lord Bishop was walking abroad very late with purpose to visit the Brethren at the Widdowes house because he tooke great delight in their company as being good Schollers and endued with other singular parts beside Meeting with them in the open Market place he acquainted them with his determination whereof they were not a little ioyfull it iumping so iustly with their intent Being come to the Widdowes house they passed through a smal nether Court where lights stood ready to welcome him thither and entring into a goodly Hall there was store of good wine and banquetting which the Bishop accepted in very thankefull manner and courteous complement being ouerpassed one of the Brethren thus spake My good Lord seeing it hath pleased you to honour our poore widdowed Sisters house with your presence for which wee shall thanke you while we liue We would intreate one fauour more of you onely but to see a sight which we will shew you The Lord Bishop was well contented with the motion so the Brethren conducting him by the hand brought him into their Sisters Chamber where the the Prouoste was in bed with Ciutazza both soundly sleeping but enfolded in his armes as wearied belike with their former wantonning and whereof his age had but little need The Courtaines being close drawne about the bed although the season was exceeding hot they hauing lighted Torches in their hands drew open the Curtaines and shewed the Bishop his Prouoste close snugging betweene the armes of Ciutazza Vpon a sudden the Prouoste awaked and seeing so great a light as also so many people about him shame and feare so daunted him that hee shrunke downe into the bed and hid his head But the Bishop being displeased at a sight so vnseemely made him to discouer his
and honoured and yet by thee is vtterly despised More cruell art thou then any sauage Beast thus to vexe and torment mee in such mercilesse manner What greater extreamity couldst thou inflict on me if I had bin the destruction of all thy Kindred and lefte no one man liuing of thy race I am verily perâ—waded that more cruelty cannot be vsed against a Traitor who was thâ— subuersion of an whole Cittie then this tyranny of thine roasting me thus in the beames of the Sun and suffering my body to be deuoured with Elies without so small a mercie as to giue mee a little coole water which murtherers are permitted to haue being condemned by Iustice and led to execution yea Wine also if they request it But seeing thou art so constant in thy pernitious resolue as neither thine owne good Nature nor this lamentable sufferance in me are able to alter thee I will prepare my self for death patiently to the end that Heauen may be mercifull to my soul and reward thee iustly according to thy cruelty Which words being ended she withdrew her selfe towards the middest of the Tarras despairing of escaping vvith life from the heates violence and not once onely but infinite times beside among her other grieuous extreamities she was ready to dye with drought bemoaning incessantly her dolorous condition By this time the day was well neere spent and night beganne to hasten on apace when the Scholler immagining that he afflicted her sufficiently tooke her Garments and wrapping them vp in his mans Cloake went thence to the Ladies house where he found Ancilla the Waiting-woman sitting at the doore sad and disconsolate for her Ladies long absence to whom thus he spake How now Ancilla Where is thy Lady and Mistris Alas Sir quoth she I know not I thought this morning to haue found her in her bed as vsually I was wont to do and where I left her yesternight at our parting but there she was not nor in any place else of my knowledge neyther can I imagine what is become of her which is to me no meane discomfort But can you Sir say any thing of her Ancilla said he I would thou hadst bin in her company and at the same place where now she is that some punishment for thy fault might haue falne vppon thee as already it hath done on her But beleeue it assuredly that thou shalt not freely escape from my fingers till I haue iustly paide thee for thy paines to teach thee to abuse any Gentleman as thou didst me Hauing thus spoken hee called to his seruant saying Giue her the Garments and bid her go looke her Lady if she will The Seruingman fulfilled his Masters command and Ancilla hauing receyued her Ladies cloaths knowing them perfectly and remembring withall what had bin said she waxed very doubtfull least they had slaine her hardly refraining from exclaiming on them but that greete and heauie weeping ouercame her so that vppon the Schollers departing she ranne in all hast with the garments towardes the Tower Vpon this fatall and vnfortunate day to Madame Helena it chanced that a Clowne or Countrey Peazant belonging to her Farme or Dairy house hauing two of his young Heyfers wandred astray and he labouring in diligent search to finde them within a while after the Schollers departure came to seeke them in Woods about the Tower and notwithstanding all his crying and calling for his beasts yet he heard the Ladies greeuous moanes and lamentations Wherefore he cryed out so lowd as he could saying Who is it that mourneth so aloft on the Tower Full well she knew the voyce of her peazant and therefore called vnto him and sayd in this maner Go quoth she I pray thee for my Waiting-woman Ancilla and bid her make some meanes to come vp hither to me The Clowne knowing his Lady sayde How now Madame Who hath carried you vp there so high Your Woman Ancilla hath sought for you all this day yet no one could euer haue immagined you to bee there So looking about him he espyed the two sides of the Ladder which the Scholler had pulled in sunder as also the steppes which he had scattered thereabout placing them in due order againe as they should bee and binding them fast with Withies and Willowes By this time Ancilla was come thither who so soone as shee was entred into the Tower could not refrain from teares complaints beating her hands each against other and crying out Madam Madam my deare Lady and Mistresse Alas Where are you So soone as she heard the tongue of Ancilla she replyed so well as she could saying Ah my sweet Woman I am heere aloft vppon the Tarras weepe not neyther make any noyse but quickely bring me some of my Garments When shee heard her answer in such comfortable maner she mounted vp the Ladder which the peazant had made very firme and strong holding it fast for her safer ascending by which meanes she went vp on the Tarras Beholding her Ladie in so strange a condition resembling no humane body but rather the trunke of a Tree halfe burned lying flat on her face naked scorched and strangely deformed shee beganne to teare the lockes of her owne hayre rauing and raging in as pittifull manner as if her Ladie had beene quite dead Which storming tempest Madame Helena soone pacified entreating her to vse silence and helpe to put on her garments Hauing vnderstood by her that no one knew of her being there but such as brought her cloathes and the poore peazant attending there still to do her any seruice shee became the better comforted entreating them by all meanes that it might bee concealed from any further discouery which was on eyther side most faithfullie protested The poore Clowne holpe to beare downe his Lady vppon his backe because the Ladder stood not conueniently enough for her descending neither were her limbes plyable for her owne vse by reason of their rifts and smarting Ancilla following after and being more respectiue of her Lady then her owne security in descending missing the step in the midst of the Ladder fell downe to the ground and quite brake her legge in the fall the paine whereof was so greeuous to her that she cried and roared extraordinarily euen like a Lyon in the desert When the Clowne had set his Lady safe on a faire green banke he returned to see what the waiting woman ayled and finding her leg to be quite broken he caried her also to the same banke there seated her by her Lady who perceiuing what a mischance had hapned and she from whom she expected her onely best helpe to bee now in far greater necessity her selfe shee lamented exceedingly complaining on Fortunes cruel malice toward her in thus heaping one misery vpon another and neuer ceasing to torment her especially now in the conclusion of all and when shee thought all future perils to be past Now was the Sun vpon his setting when the poore honest country-man because darke night
light they opened their bosomes shewed him their painted bodies and sodainly closed them vp againe The Physitian laboured to excuse himselfe declaring his misfortunes at large and into what a filthy place he was throwne It maketh no matter answered Buffalmaco I would you had bin throwen from off the Bridge into Arno where you might haue beene recommended to the Diuell and all his Saints Did not I tell you so much before In good sadnesse quoth the Doctor I neyther commended my selfe to God nor any of his Saints How sayde Buffalmaco I am sure you will maintaine an vntrueth you vsed a kinde of recommendation for our messenger told vs that you talked of God S. Dominicke and your good Angell whom you desired to assist you being so affrighted with feare that you trembled like a leafe vpon a tree not knowing indeede where you were Thus haue you vnfaithfully dealt with vs as neuer any man shall doe the like againe in seeking honour and losing it through your own negligence Master Doctor humbly entreated pardon and that they would not reuile him any more labouring to appease them by the best words he could vse as fearing least they should publish this great disgrace of him And whereas before he gaue them gracious welcomes now he redoubled them with farre greater courtesies feasting them daily at his own table and euermore delighting in their company Thus as you haue heard two poore Painters of Florence taught Master Doctor better Wit then all the Learned at Bologna A Cicilian Courtezane named Madame Biancafiore by her craftie wit and policie deceiued a young Merchant called Salabetto of all the money he had taken for his Wares at Palermo Afterward he making shew of comming hither againe with farre richer Merchandises then hee brought before made the meanes to borrow a great summe of Money of her leauing her so base a pawne as well requited her for her former cozenage The Tenth Nouell Whereby appeareth that such as meet with cunning Harlots and suffer themselues to be deceiued by them must sharpen their Wits to make them requitall in the selfesame kinde NEedlesse it were to question whether the Nouell related by the Queene in diuers passages thereof mooued the Ladies to hearty laughter and likewise to compassionate sighes and teares as pittying Madame Helena in her hard misfortune and yet applauding the Scholler for his iust reuenge But the discourse being ended Dioneus who knew it was his Office to be the last speaker euery day after silence was commanded he began in this manner Worthy Ladies it is a matter very manifest that deceits do appeare so much the more pleasing when by the selfe-same meanes the subtle deceyuer is artificially deceiued In which respect though you all haue reported very singular deceits yet I meane to tel you one that may proue as pleasing to you as any of your owne And so much the rather because the woman deceiued was a great and cunning Mistris in beguiling others equalling if not excelling any of your former beguilers It hath bene obserued heretofore and happily at this very day it is as frequent that in all Cities and Townes vpon the Sea-coasts hauing Ports for the benefit and venting Merchandises Merchants vse to bring their wealthy laden Vessels thither And when they vnlade any Ship of great fraught there are prepared Store-houses which in many places are called Magazines or Doganaes at the charge of the Communalty or Lord of the Towne or City for the vse whereof they receiue yearly gain and benefit Into those ware-houses they deliuer vnder writing and to the owners of them in especiall charge all their goods and merchandises of what price or valew soeuer they are Such as be the Owners of these Magazines when the Wares are thus stored vppe in them doe safely locke them vp there with their keyes hauing first registred downe truly all the goods in the Register belonging to the Custome-house that the Merchant may haue a iust account rendred him and the rights payed to the Custome-house according to the Register and as they are either in part or in all made sale of Brokers are continually there attending being informed in the quality of the Merchandises stored and likewise to what Merchants they appertaine by meanes of these men and according as the goods come to their hands they deuise to haue them exchaunged trucked vented and such other kinds of dispatches answerable to the mens minds and worth of the Commodities As in many other Kingdomes and Countries so was this custome obserued at Palermo in Sicily where likewise then were and no doubt now adayes are store of Women faire and comely of person but yet vowed enemies to honesty Neuerthelesse by such as know them not they are held and reputed to be blamelesse Women and by yeilding their bodyes vnto generall vse are the occasion of infinite misfortunes to men For so soone as they espy a Merchant-stranger there arriued they vvin information from the Booke belonging to the Magazin what wares are therein stored of what valew they bee and who is the Owner of them Afterwards by amorous actions and affable speeches they allure yong Merchants to take knowledge of them to bee familiar in their company till from some they get most part of their wealth from others all Nay diuers haue gone so farre as to make Port-sale of Ship Goods and Person so cunningly they haue bene shauen by these Barbers and yet without any Razor It came to passe and no long time since that a young Florentine of ours named Niccolo dâ— Cignano but more vsually called Salabetto imployed as Factor for his Maister arriued at Palermo his Ship stored with many Woollen Cloathes a remainder of such as had bin sold at the Mart of Salerno amounting in valew to aboue fiue hundred Florines of Gold When he had giuen in his packet to the Custome-house and made them vp safe in his Warehouse without making shew of desiring any speedy dispatch he delighted to view all parts of the City as mens minds are continuallie addicted to Nouelties He being a very faire and affable yong man easie to kindle affection in a very modest eie it fortuned that a Courtezane one of our before remembred shauers who termed hir selfe Madame Biancafiore hauing heard somewhat concerning his affairs beganne to dart amorous glances at him Which the indiscreete youth perceyuing and thinking her to be some great Lady began also to grow halfe perswaded that his comely person was pleasing to her and therefore he would carrie this good fortune of his somewhat cautelously Without imparting his mind vnto any one he would daily passe too and fro before her doore which she obseruing and hauing indifferently wounded him with her wanton piercing lookes she began to vse the first tricke of her Trade by pretending her enflamed affection towards him which made her pine and consume away in care except he might be moued to pitty her Whereupon she sent one of her Pandoraes vnto him
visit Florence any more Conigiano being much displeased at the repetition of his Follie sharply reproued him saying Thou hast done leudly in carying thy selfe so loosely and spending thy Masters goods so carelesly which though I cannot truly tearme spent but rather art meerely cousâ—ned and cheated of them yet thou seest at what a deere rate thou hast purchased pleasure which yet is not vtterly helplesse but may by one meanes or other be recouered And being a man of woonderfull apprehension aduised him instantly what was to bee done furnishing him also with a summe of money wherewith to aduenture a second losse in hope of recouering the first againe he caused diuers Packes to be well bound vp with the Merchants markes orderly made on them and bought about twenty Buttes or Barrelles all filled as it were with Oyle and these pretended commodities being shipt Salabetto returned with them to Palermo Where hauing giuen in his packets to the Custome-house and entred them all vnder his owne name as being both owner and factor all his Wares were lockt vp in his Magizine with open publication that he would not vent any of them before other merchandises which he daily expected were there also arriued Biancafiore hauing heard thereof and vnderstanding withall that he had brought Merchandises now with him amounting to aboue two thousand Florins staying also in expectation of other commodities valewing better then three thousand more she beganne to consider with her selfe that she had not yet gotten money enough from him and therefore would cast a figure for a farre bigger booty Which that she might the more fairely effect without so much as an imagination of the least mistrust she would repay him backe his fiue hundred Florines to winne from him a larger portion of two or three thousand at the least and hauing thus setled her determination she sent to haue him come speake with her Salabetto hauing bene soundly bitten before and therefore the better warranted from the like ranckling teeth willingly went to her not shewing any signe of former discontent she seeming as if she knew nothing of the wealth he brought with him gracing him in as louing manner as euer she had done thus she spake I am sure Salabetto you are angry with mee because I restored not your Florines at my promised day Salabetto smiling presently answered Beleeue me Lady quoth he it did a little distast me euen as I could haue bin offended with him that should plucke out my heart to bestow it on you if it would yeelde you any contentment But to let you know vnfainedly how much I am incensed with anger against you such and so great is the affection I beare you that I haue solde the better part of my whole estate conuerting the same into Wealthy Merchandises which I haue alreadie brought hither with mee and valewing aboue two thousand Florines all which are stored vp in my Magazine There must they remaine till another Ship come forth of the Westerne parts wherein I haue a much greater aduenture amounting vnto more then three thousand Florines And my purpose is to make my aboade heere in this City which hath won the sole possession of my heart onely in regard of my Biancafiore to whoÌ„ I am so intirely deuoted as both my selfe and whatsoeuer else is mine now or hereafter is dedicated onely to her seruice whereto thus she replyed Now trust me Salabetto whatsoeuer redoundeth to thy good and benefite is the cheefest comfort of my soule in regard I prize thy loue dearer then mine owne life and am most ioyfull of thy rerurne hither againe but much more of thy still abiding heere because I intend to liue onely with thee so soone as I haue taken order for some businesse of import In the meane while let me entreate thee to hold me excused because before thy departure hence thou camest sometimes to see me without thy entrance admitted and other-whiles againe found not such friendly entertainement as formerly had bene affoorded But indeede and aboue all the rest in not re-paying thy money according to my promise But consider good Salabetto in what great trouble and affliction of minde I then was both in regard of my Brothers danger and other important occurrences beside which mollestations do much distract the senses and hinder kinde courtesies which otherwise would bee extended liberally Last of all consider also how difficult a thing it is for a woman so sodainly to raise the summe of a thousand golden Florines when one friend promiseth and performeth not another protesteth yet hath no such meaning a third sweareth and yet proueth a false Lyar so that by being thus vngently vsed a breach is made betweene the best frends liuing From hence it proceeded and no other defect else that I made not due returne of your fiue hundred Florins No sooner were you departed hence but I had them readie and as many more and could I haue knowne whither to send them they had bene with you long time since which because I could not by any meanes compasse I kept them still for you in continuall readinesse as hoping of your comming hither againe So causing a purse to be brought wherein the same Florines were which hee had deliuered her she gaue it into his hand and prayed him to count them ouer whether there were so many or no. Neuer was Salabettoes heart halfe so ioyfull before and hauing counted them found them to be his owne fiue hundred Florines then putting them vp into his pocket he saide Comfort of my life Full well I know that whatsoeuer you haue saide is most certaine but let vs talke no more of falshood in friendship or casuall accidents happening vnexpected you haue dealt with mee like a most loyall Mistresse and heere I protest vnsainedly to you that as well in respect of this kinde courtesie as also the constancy of miâ—e affection to you you cannot request hereafter a far greater summe of me to supply any necessarie occasion of yours but if my power can performe it you shall assuredly finde it certaine make proofe thereof whensoeuer you please after my other goods are Landed and I haue established my estate here in your City Hauing in this manner renewed his wonted amity with her and with words farre enough off from all further meaning Salabetto began againe to frequent her company she expressing all former familiarity and shewing her selfe as lauishly bountifull to him in all respects as before she had done nay many times in more magnificent manner But he intending to punish her notorious trechery towards him when she left him as an open scorne to the World wounded with disgrace and quite out of credit with all his friends she hauing on a day solemnly inuited him to suppe and lodge in her house all night he went both with sad and melancholly lookes seeming as ouercome with extreamity of sorrow Biancafiore meruayling at this strange alteration in him sweetly kissing and embracing him would needs know
the reason of his passionate affliction he permitting her to vrge the question oftentimes together without returning any direct answere to quit her in her kind and with coine of her owne stampe after a few dissembled sighes he began in this manner Ah my dearest Loue I am vtterly vndone because the Shippe containing the rest of mine expected Merchandises is taken by the Pyrates of Monago and put to the ransome of tenne thousand Florines of Gold and my part particularly is to pay one thousand At this instant I am vtterly destitute of money because the fiue hundred Florines which I receiued of you I sent hence the next daie day following to Naples to buy more cloathes which likewise are to be sent hither And if I should now make sale of the Merchandizes in my Magazine the time of generall vtterance being not yet come I shall not make a pennyworth for a penny And my misfortune is the greater because I am not so well knowne heere in your City as to find some succour in such an important distresse wherfore I know not what to do or say Moreouer if the money be not speedily sent our goods will be carried into Monago and then they are past all redemption vtterly Biancafiore appearing greatly discontented as one verily perswaded that this pretended losse was rather hers then his because she aymed at the mainest part of all his wealth began to consider with her selfe which was the likeliest course to bee taken for sauing the goods from carriage to Monago wherupon thus she replied Heauen knoweth my dearest Salabetto how thy loue maketh me sorrowfull for this misfortune and it greeueth me to see thee any way distressed for if I had mony lying by mee as many times I haue thou shouldst finde succour from my selfe onely but indeede I am not able to helpe thee True it is there is a friend of mine who did lend me fiue hundred Florines in my need to make vppe the other summe which I borrowed of thee but he demandeth extreme interest because he will not abate any thing of thirty in the hundred and if you should bee forced to vse him you must giue him some good security Now for my part the most of my goods here I will pawne for thee but what pledge can you deliuer in to make vp the rest Wel did Salabetto conceiue the occasion why she vrged this motion and was so diligent in doing him such a pleasure for it appeared euidently to him that herselfe was to lend the mony wherof he was not a litle ioyful seeming very thankful to hir Then he told her that being driuen to such extremity how vnreasonable soeuer the vsury was yet he would gladly pay for it And for her Friends further security hee would pawne him all the goods in his Magazine entering them downe in the name of the party who lent the money Onely he desired to keepe the Keyes of the Ware-house as well to shew his Merchandises when any Merchant should bee so desirous as also to preserue them from ill vsing transporting or changing before his redemption of them She found no fault with his honest offer but sayde hee shewed himselfe a well-meaning man and the next morning shee sent for a Broker in whom she reposed especiall trust and after they had priuately consulted together shee deliuered him a thousand Golden Florines which were caried by him presently to Salabetto and the Bond made in the Brokers name of all the goods remaining in Salabettoes ware-house with composition and absolute agreement for the prefixed time of the monies repaiment No sooner was this tricke fully accomplished but Salabetto seeming as if he went to redeeme his taken goods set saile for Naples towards Pietro della Canigiano with fifteene hundred Florines of Gold from whence also he sent contentment to his Master at Florence who imployd him as his Factor at Palermo beside his owne packes of Cloathes He made repayment likewise to Canigniano for the monies which furnished him in this last voyage and any other to whom hee was indebted So there he stayed awhile with Canigniano whose counsel thus holpe him to out-reach the Sicillian Courtezane and meaning to deale in Merchandise no more afterward he returned to Florence and there liued in good reputation Now as concerning Biancafiore when she saw that Salabetto returned not againe to Palermo she beganne to grow somewhat aâ—â—shed as halfe suspecting that which followed After she had 〈◊〉 for him aboue two moneths space and perceiued hee came not nor any tydings heard of him shee caused the Broker to breake open the Magazine casting forth the Buttes or Barrels which shee beleeued to bee full of good Oyles But they were all filled with Sea-water each of them hauing a small quantity of Oyle floating on the toppe onely to serue when a tryall should bee made And then vnbinding the Packes made vp in formall and Merchantable manner there was nothing else in them but Logges and stumpes of Trees wrapt handsomely in hurdles of Hempe and Tow onely two had Cloathes in them So that to bee briefe the whole did not value two hundred Crownes which when she saw and obserued how cunningly she was deceiued a long while after shee sorrowed for repaying backe the fiue hundred Florines and folly in lending a thousand more vsing it as a Prouerbe alwaies after to hir selfe That whosoeuer dealt with a Tuscane had neede to haue sound sight and iudgement So remaining contented whither she would or no with her losse she plainly perceyued that although she liued by cheating others yet now at the length she had mette with her match SO soone as Dioneus had ended his Nouell Madame Lauretta also knew that the conclusion of her Regiment was come whereupon when the counsell of Canigiano had past with generall commendation and the wit of Salabetto no lesse applauded for fitting it with such an effectuall prosecution shee tooke the Crowne of Laurell from her owne head and set it vpon Madame Aemilliaes speaking graciously in this manner Madam I am not able to say how pleasant a Queene we shall haue of you but sure I am that we shall enioy a faire one let matters therefore be so honourably carried that your gouernment may be answerable to your beautifull perfections which words were no sooner deliuered but she sate downe in her mounted seate Madame Aemillia being somewhat bashfull not so much of hir being created Queene as to heare her selfe thus publikely praysed with that which Women do most of all desire her face then appearing like the opening of the Damaske Rose in the goodlyest morning But after she had a while deiected her lookes and the Vermillion blush was vanished away having taken order with the Master of the houshold for all needefull occasions befitting the assembly thus she began Gracious Ladies wee behold it daily that those Oxen which haue laboured in the yoake most part of the day for their more conuenient feeding are let forth at
it constantly that there is no man liuing whom I loue and honour as I do thee considering the greatnesse of thy minde which consisteth not in the heaping vp of money as wretched and miserable Worldlings make it their onely felicity but contending in bounty to spend what is thine didst hold it for no shame to kil me thereby to make thy selfe so much the more worthily famous Nor is it any matter to be wondred at in regard that Emperors and the greatest Kings hadde neuer made such extendure of their Dominions and consequently of their renowne by any other Art then killing yet not one man onely as thou wouldst haue done but infinite numbers burning whole Countries and making desolate huge Townes and Cities onely to enlarge their dominion and further spreading of their fame Wherfore if for the increasing of thine owne renowne thou wast desirous of my death it is no matter of nouelty and therefore deseruing the lesse meruaile seeing men are slaine daily and all for one purpose or other Mithridanes excusing no further his maleuolent deliberation but rather commending the honest defence which Nathan made on his behalfe proceeded so farre in after discoursing as to tel him plainely that it did wondrously amaze him how he durst come to the fatall appointed place himselfe hauing so exactly plotted and contriued his owne death whereunto Nathan returned this aunswere I would not haue thee Mithridanes to wonder at my counsel or determination because since age hath made mee Maister of mine owne will and I resolued to doe that wherein thou hast begun to follow me neuer came any man to mee whom I did not content if I could in any thing he demanded of me It was thy fortune to come for my life which when I saw thee so desirous to haue it I resolued immediately to bestow it on thee and so much the rather because thou shouldst not be the onely man that euer departed hence without enioying whatsoeuer hee demanded And to the end thou mightst the more assuredly haue it I gaue thee that aduice least by not enioying mine thou shouldest chance to loose thine owne I haue had the vse of it full fourescore yeares with the consummation of all my delights and pleasures and well I know that according to the course of Nature as it fares with other men and generally all things else it cannot bee long before it must leaue mee Wherefore I hold it much better for me to giue it away freely as I haue alwayes done my goods and treasure then bee curious in keeping it and suffer it to be taken from me whether I will or no by Nature A small gift it is if time make me vp the full summe of an hundred yeares how miserable is it then to stand beholding but for foure or fiue and all of them vexation too Take it then I intreate thee if thou wilt haue it for I neuer met with any man before but thy selfe that did desire it nor perhaps shall finde any other to request it for the longer I keepe it the worse it wil be esteemed and before it grow contemptible take it I pray thee Mithridanes being exceedingly confounded with shame bashfully sayde Fortune fore-fend that I should take away a thing so precious as your life is or once to haue so vile a thought of it as lately I had but rather then I would diminish one day thereof I could wish that my time might more amply enlarge it Forthwith aunswered Nathan saying Wouldst thou if thou couldst shorten thine owne dayes onely to lengthen mine Why then thou wouldest haue me to do that to thee which as yet I neuer did vnto any man namely robbe thee to enrich my selfe I will enstruct thee in a much better course if thou wilt be aduised by mee Lusty and young as now thou art thou shalt dwell heere in my house and be called by the name of Nathan Aged and spent with yeares as thou seest I am I will goe liue in thy house and bee called by the name of Mithridanes So both the name and place shall illustrate thy Glorie and I liue contentedly without the very least thought of enuie Deare Father answered Mithridanes if I knew so well howe to direct mine owne actions as you doe and alwayes haue done I would gladly accept your most liberall offer but because I plainlie perceiue that my very best endeauours must remayne darkened by the bright renowne of Nathan I will neuer seeke to impayre that in another which I cannot by any means increase in my selfe but as you haue worthily taught me liue contented with my owne condition After these and many more like louing speeches had passed between them according as Nathan very instantly requested Mithridanes returned back with him to the Pallace where many dayes he highly honored respected him comforting counselling him to perseuer alwayes in his honourable determination But in the end when Mithridanes could abide there no longer because necessary occasions called him home he departed thence with his men hauing found by good experience that hee could neuer goe beyond Nathan in liberality Signior Gentile de Carisendi being come from Modena took a Gentlewoman named Madam Catharina forth of a graue wherin she was buried for dead which act he did in regard of his former honest affection to the said Gentlewoman Madame Catharina remaining afterward and deliuered of a goodly Sonne was by Signior there Gentile deliuered to her owne Husband named Signior Nicoluccio Caccianimico and the yong infant with her The Fourth Nouell Wherein is shewne That true loue hath alwayes bin and so still is the occasion of many great and worthy courtesies BY iudgment of all the honorable assembly it was reputed wonderfull that a man should be so bountifull as to giue away his owne life and to his hatefull enemy In which respect it passed with generall affirmation that Nathan in the vertue of liberallity had exceeded Alphonso King of Spain but especially the Abbot of Clugny So after euery one had deliuered their opinion the King turning himselfe to Madame Lauretta gaue her such a signe as well instructed her vnderstanding that she should be the next in order whereto she gladly yeelding began in this manner Youthfull Ladies the discourses already past haue been so worthy and magnificent yea reaching to such a height of glorious splendour as me thinkes there remaineth no more matter for vs that are yet to speake whereby to enlarge so famous an Argument and in such manner as it ought to be except we lay hold on the actions of loue wherein is neuer any want of subiect it is so faire and spacious a field to walke in Wherefore as well in behalfe of the one as aduancement of the other whereto our instant age is most of all inclined I purpose to acquaint you with a generous and magnificent act of an amourous Gentleman which when it shall be duely considered on perhaps will appeare equall to any of the rest
At least if it may passe for currant that men may giue away their treasures forgiue mighty iniuries and lay downe life it selfe honour and renowne which is farre greater to infinite dangers only to attaine any thing esteemed and affected Vnderstand then Gracious hearers that in Bologna a very famous City of Lombardie there liued sometime a Knight most highly respected for his vertues named Signior Gentile de Carisendi who in his yonger dayes was enamoured of a Gentlewoman called Madam Catharina the Wife of Signior Nicoluccio Caccianimico And because during the time of his amourous pursuite he found but a sorry enterchange of affection from the Lady hee went as hopelesse of any successe to be Potestate of Modena whereto he was called by place and order At the sametime Signior Nicoluccio being absent from Bologna and his Lady at a Farme-house of his in the Countrey about three miles distant from the City because she was great with child and somewhat neere the time of her teeming it came to passe that some dangerous accident befell her which was so powerfull in operation as no signe of life appeared remained in her but she was reputed euen in the iudgement of the best Phisitians whereof she wanted no attendance to be verily dead And because in the opinion of her parents and neerest kinred the time for her deliuerance was yet so farre off as the Infant within her wanted much of a perfect creature they made the lesse mourning but in the next Church as also the vault belonging to her Ancestors they gaue her buriall very speedily Which tydings comming to the hearing of Signior Gentile by one that was his endeared friend Although while she liued he could neuer be gracious in her fauour yet her so sudden death did greatly grieue him whereupon he discoursed in this sort with himselfe Deare Madame Catharina I am not a little sorry for thy death although during thy life-time I was scarcely worthy of one kind looke Yet now being dead thou canst not prohibite me but I may robbe thee of a kisse No sooner had hee spoke the words but it beeing then night and taking such order as none might know of his departure hee mounted on horse-backe accompanied onely with one seruant and stayed no where till hee came to the vault where the Lady was buried Which when he had opened with instruments conuenient for the purpose he descended downe into the vault and kneeled downe by the Beere whereon she lay and in her wearing garments according to the vsuall manner with teares trickling mainly downe his cheekes he bestowed infinite sweet kisses on her But as we commonly see that mens desires are neuer contented but still will presume on further aduantages especially such as loue entirely so fared it with Gentile who being once minded to get him gone as satisfied with the oblation of his kisses would needs yet step backe againe saying Why should I not touch her yuory breast the Adamant that drew all desires to adore her Ah let me touch it now for neuer hereafter can I bee halfe so happy Ouercome with this alluring appetite gently he laid his hand vpon her breast with the like awefull respect as if she were liuing and holding it so an indifferent while either he felt or his imagination so perswaded him the heart of the Lady to beate and pant Casting off all fond feare and the warmth of his increasing the motion his inward soule assured him that she was not dead vtterly but had some small sense of life remaining in her whereof he would needs be further informed So gently as possible he could and with the helpe of his man he tooke her forth of the monument laying her softly on his horse before him conueighed her closely to his house in Bologna Signior Gentile had a worthy Lady to his Mother a woman of great wisdome and vertue who vnderstanding by her Sonne how matters had happened moued with compassion and suffering no one in the house to know what was done made a good fire and very excellent Bathe which recalled back againe wrong-wandering life Then fetching a vehement sigh opening her eyes looking very strangly about her she said Alas where am I now whereto the good old Lady kindly replyed saying Comfort your selfe Madame for you are in a good place Her spirits being in better manner met together and she still gazing euery way about her not knowing well where she was and seeing Signior Gentile standing before her he entreated his mother to tell her by what meanes she came thither which the good old Lady did Gentile himselfe helping to relate the whole history A while she grieued and lamented but afterward gaue them most hearty thankes humbly requesting that in regard of the loue he had formerly borne her in his house she might finde no other vsage varying from the honour of her selfe and her Husband and when day was come to be conueighed home to her owne house Madame answered Signior Gentile whatsoeuer I sought to gaine from you in former dayes I neuer meane either here or any where else to motion any more But seeing it hath been my happy fortune to proue the blessed means of reducing you from death to life you shal find no other entertainment here then as if you were mine owne Sister And yet the good deed which I haue this night done for you doth well deserue some courteous requitall in which respect I would haue you not to deny me one fauour which I will presume to craue of you Whereto the Lady louingly replyed that she was willing to grant it prouided it were honest and in her power whereto Signior Gentile thus answered Madame your parents kindred and friends and generally all throughout Bologna doe verily thinke you to be dead wherefore there is not any one that will make any inquisition after you in which regard the fauour I desire from you is no more but to abide here secretly with my Mother vntill such time as I returne from Modena which shall be very speedily The occasion why I moue this motion aymeth at this end that in presence of the chiefest persons of our City I may make a gladsome present of you to your Husband The Lady knowing her selfe highly beholding to the Knight and the request he made to be very honest disposed her selfe to doe as he desired although she earnestly longed to glad her parents and kindred with seeing her aliue and made her promise him on her faith to effect it in such manner as he pleased to appoint and giue her direction Scarcely were these words concluded but she felt the custome of women to come vpon her with the paines and throwes incident to childing wherefore with helpe of the aged Lady Mother to Signior Gentile it was not long before her deliuerance of a goodly Sonne which greatly augmented the ioy of her and Gentile who tooke order that all things belonging to a woman in such a case were not wanting
prouided for their entertainment which hee intended on the morrow to recompence with larger amends at dinner Heereupon hauing instructed one of his men with what hee intended he sent him to Pauia which was not farre off and where he kept no doore shut to his Wife named Madam Adialetta a Woman singularly wise and of a Noble spirit needing little or no direction especially when she knew her husbands minde As they were walking in the Garden Thorello desired to vnderstand of whence and what they were Whereto Saladine thus answered Sir wee are Cyprian Marchants comming now from Cyprus and are trauailing to Paris about affaires of importance Now trust me Syr replyed Thorello I could heartily wish that this Countrey of ours would yeeld such Gentlemen as your Cyprus affordeth Marchants So falling from one discourse vnto another Supper was serued in and looke howe best themselues pleased so they sate at the Table where we neede make no doubt they were respected in honourable order So soone as the Tables were withdrawne Thorello knowing they might be weary brought them againe to their Chambers where committing them to their good rest himselfe went to bed soone after The Seruant sent to Pauia deliuered the message to his Lady who not like a woman of ordinary disposition but rather truely Royall sent Thorelloes seruants into the City to make preparation for a Feast indeed and with lighted Torches because it was somewhat late they inuited the very greatest and noblest persons of the Citie all the roomes being hanged with the richest Arâ—s Clothes of Golde worke Veluets Silkes and all other rich adornments in such manner as her husband had commanded and answerable to her owne worthy mind being no way to learne in what manner to entertaine strangers On the morrow morning the Gentlemen arose and mounting on horsebacke with Signior Thorello he called for his Hawkes and Hounds brought them to the Riuer where he shewed two or three faire flights but Saladine desiring to know which was the fayrest Hostery in all Pauia Thorello answered Gentlemen I wil shew you that my selfe in regard I haue occasion to ride thither Which they beleeuing were the better contented and rode on directly vnto Pauia arriuing there about nine of the clocke and thinking he guided them to the best Inne he brought them to his owne house where aboue fifty of the worthiest Citizens stood ready to welcome the Gentlemen imbracing them as they lighted from their Horsses Which Saladine and his associates perceiuing they guessed as it was indeede and Saladine sayd Beleeue me worthy Thorello this is not answerable to my demand you did too much yester-night and much more then we could desire or deserue Wherefore you might wel be the sooner discharged of vs and let vs trauaile on our iourney Noble Gentlemen replyed Thorello for in mine eye you seeme no lesse that courtesie which you met with yester-night I am to thanke Fortune for more then you because you were then straited by such necessity as vrged your acceptance of my poore Country house But now this morning I shall account my selfe much beholding to you as the like will all these worthy Gentlemen here about you if you do but answer kindnes with kindnes and not refuse to take a homely dinner with them Saladine and his friends being conquerd with such potent perswasions and already dismounted from their horses saw that all deniall was meerly in vaine and therefore thankfully condiscenâ—ing after some few ceremonious complements were ouer-past the Gentlemen conducted them to their Chambers which were most sumptuously prepared for them and hauing laid aside their riding garments being a little refreshed with Cakes and choice Wines they descended into the dining Hall the pompe whereof I am not able to report When they had washed and were seated at the Tables dinner was serued in most magnificent sort so that if the Emperor himself had bin there he could not haue bin more sumptuously serued And although Saladine and his Baschaes were very Noble Lords and wonted to see matters of admiration yet could they do no lesse now but rather exceeded in maruaile considering the qualitie of the Knight whom they knew to bee a Citizen and no Prince or great Lord. Dinner being ended and diuers familiar conferences passing amongst them because it was exceeding hot the Gentlemen of Pauia as it pleased Thorello to appoint went to repose themselues awhile and he keeping company with his three guests brought them into a goodly Chamber where because he would not faile in the least scruple of courtesie or conceale from them the richest Iewell which he had he sent for his Lady and wife because as yet they had not seene her She was a Lady of extraordinary beauty tall stature very sumptuously attired and hauing two sweet Sonnes resembling Angels she came with them waiting before her and graciously saluted her guests At her comming they arose and hauing receiued hir with great reuerence they seated her in the midst kindly cherishing the two Children After some gracious Language past on eyther side she demanded of whence and what they were which they answered in the same kind as they had done before to her husband Afterward with a modest smiling countenance she sayd Worthy Gentlemen let not my weake Womanish discretion appeare distastable in desiring to craue one especiall fauour from you namely not to refuse or disdaine a small gift wherewith I purpose to present you But considering first that women according to their simple faculty are able to bestow but silly gifts so you would be pleased to respect more the person that is the giuer then the quality or quantity of the gift Then causing to be brought for each of them two goodly gowns or Robes made after the Persian manner the one lyned thorough with cloth of Gold and the other with the costlyest Fur not after such fashion as Citizens or Marchants vse to weare but rather beseeming Lords of greatest account and three light vnder-wearing Cassocks or Mandillions of Carnatian Sattin richly Imbroidred with Gold and Pearles and lined thorow with White Taffata presenting these gifts to him she sayd I desire you Gentlemen to receiue these meane trifles such as you see my Husband weares the like and these other beside considering you are so far from your Wiues hauing trauailed a long way already and many miles more yet to ouertake also Marchants being excellent men affect to be comely and handsome in their habits although these are of slender value yet in necessity they may do you seruice Now was Saladine and his Baschaes halfe astonyed with admiration at the magnificent minde of Signiour Thorello who would not forget the least part of courtesie towardes them and greatly doubted seeing the beauty and riches of the Garments least they were discouered by Thorello Neuerthelesse one of them thus answered the Lady Beleeue me Madame these are rich guiftes not lightly either to be giuen or receyued but in regard of your strict imposition
we are not able to deny them This being done with most gracious and courteous demeanour she departed from them leauing her Husband to keepe them still companie who furnished their seruants also with diuers worthy necessaries fitting for their iourney Afterward Thorello by very much importunitie wonne them to stay with him all the rest of the day wherefore when they had rested themselues awhile being attyred in their newly giuen robes they rode on Horsebacke thorow the Citty When supper time came they supt in most honourable and worthy company beeing afterwards Lodged in most faire and sumptuous Chambers and being risen in the morning in exchange of their hoâ—ses ouer-wearied with Trauaile they found three other very richly furnished and their men also in like manner prouided Which when Saladine had perceyued he tooke his Baschaes aside and spake in this manner By our greatest Gods I neuer met with any man more compleat in all noble perfections more courteous and kinde then Thorello is If all the Christian Kings in the true and heroicall nature of Kings do deale as honourably as I see this Knight doeth the Soldane of Babylon is not able to endure the comming of one of them much lesse so many as wee see preparing to make head against vs. But beholding that both refusall and acceptation was all one in the minde of Thorello after much kinde Language had bin intercoursed betweene them Saladine with his Attendants mounted on horsebacke Signiour Thorello with a number of his honourable Friends to the number of an hundred Horsse accompanied them a great distance from the Citie and although it greeued Saladine exceedingly to leaue the company of Thorello so dearely he was affected to him but necessity which controlleth the power of all lawes whatsoeuer must needs diuide them yet requesting his returne agayne that way if possibly it might be granted which Saladine promised but did not performe Well Gentlemen quoth Thorello at parting I know not what you are neither against your will do I desire it but whether you be Marchants or no remember me in your kindnesse and so to the heauenly powers I commend you Saladine hauing taken his leaue of all them that were with Thorello returned him this answer Sir it may one day hereafter so happen as we shal let you see some of our Marchandises for the better confirmation of your beleefe and our profession Thus parted Signior Thorello and his friends from Saladine and his company who verily determined in the heighth of his minde if he should be spared with life and the warre which he expected concluded to requite Thorello with no lesse courtesie then hee had already declared to him conferring a long while after with his Baschaes both of him and his beauteous Lady not forgetting any of their courteous actions but gracing them all with deserued commendation But after they had with very laborious paines surueyed most of the Westerne parts they all tooke Shipping and returned into Alexandria sufficiently informed what preparation was to be made for their owne defence And Signior Thorello being come backe againe to Pauia consulted with his priuat thoughts many times after what these three trauailers should be but came farre short of knowing the truth till by experience hee became better informed When the time was come that the Christians were to make their passage and wonderfull great preparations in all places performed Signiour Thorello notwithstanding the teares and intreaties of his Wife determined to be one in so woorthy and honourable a voyage and hauing made his prouision ready nothing wanting but mounting on Horsebacke to go where he should take shipping to his Wife whom he most intirely affected thus hee spake Madame I goe as thou seest in this famous Voyage as well for mine Honour as also the benefite of my soule all our goodes and possessions I commit to thy vertuous care And because I am not certaine of my returning backe againe in regard of a thousand accidents which may happen in such a Countrey as I goe vnto I desire onely but one fauour of thee whatsoeuer daunger shall befall mee Namely when any certaine tydings shall be brought mee of my death to stay no longer before thy second marriage but one yeare one month and one day to begin on this day of my departing from thee The Lady who wept exceedingly thus answered Alas Sir I know not how to carry my selfe in such extremity of greefe as now you leaue me but if my life surmount the fortitude of sorrow and whatsoeuer shall happen to you for certainty either life or death I will liue and dye the Wife of Signiour Thorello and make my obsequies in his memory onely Not so Madame replyed her Husband not so Be not ouerrash in promising any thing albeit I am well assured that so much as consisteth in thy strength I make no question of thy performance But consider withall deare heart thou art a yong woman beautifull of great parentage and no way thereto inferior in the blessings of Fortune Thy Vertues are many and vniuersally both divulged and knowen in which respect I make no doubt but diuers and sundrie great Lords and Gentlemen if but the least rumor of my death be noysed will make suite for thee to thy parents and brethren from whose violent solicitings wouldst thou neuer so resolutely make resistance yet thou canst not be able to defend thy selfe but whether thou wilt or no thou must yeeld to please them and this is the only reason why I would tie thee to this limited time and not one day or minute longer Adalietta sweetly hugging him in her armes and melting her selfe in kisses sighes and teares on his face said Well Sir I will do so much as I am able in this your most kinde and louing imposition and when I shall bee compelled to the contrary yet rest thus constantly assured that I will not breake this your charge so much as in thought Praying euer heartily to the heauenly powers that they will direct your course home againe to me before your prefixed date or else I shall liue in continual languishing In the knitting vp of this woful parting embracing and kissing either infinit times the Lady tooke a Ring from off her finger and giuing it to her husband said If I chaunce to die before I see you againe remember me when you looke on this He receiuing the Ring and bidding all the rest of his Friends farewell mounted on horsebacke and rode away wel attended Being come vnto Geneway he and his company boorded a Galley and in few dayes after arriued at Acres where they ioyned themselues with the Christian Army wherein there happened a verie dangerous mortality During which time of so sharpe visitation the cause vnknowne whence it proceeded whether thorough the industrie or rather the good Fortune of Saladine well-neere all the rest of the Christians which escaped death were surprized his prisoner without a blow strucken and sundred and imprisoned in diuers