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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 Justice standing at the Church doore； hee ran
with all possible speede to the Potestates Lieutenant； and said unto
him。 Good my Lord Justice； 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 have my money againe。 He hearing this； sent for a
dozen of the Sergeants； who went to apprehend unhappy Martellino；
and recover 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 hee had cut their purses also。
Upon 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 Judge； waxing much displeased； delivered him over to the
Strappado； and stood by himselfe； to have him confesse the crimes
imposed on him； and then to hang him afterward。 Being let downe to the
ground； the Judge still demaunded of him； whether the accusations
against him were true； or no？ Affirming； that it nothing avayled him
to deny it： whereupon hee thus spake to the Judge。 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； and
then I wil tell you that； which （as yet） I have not done； otherwise
I purpose to make you no more answers。
Well （quoth the Judge） thou requirest but reason； and calling
divers 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
all lie in their throats； as I will plainly prove before you。 I
would to God I had never set foot within this City； as it is not
many houres since my first entrance； and presently after mine
arrivall； I went （in evill 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 unto you； the Seigneurie 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 have said； I humbly entreate you； that upon 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；
understanding how roughly the Potestates Lieutenant dealt with
Martellino； and that he had already given him the Strappado； were in
heavy perplexity； saying to themselves； we have 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； and 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 Trevers；
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 service； went with him to the Lord of Trevers； prevailing
so well with him； that he sent to have Martellino brought before
him。 The Messengers that went for him； found him standing in his shirt
before the Judge； very shrewdly shaken with the Strappado； trembling
and quaking pitifully。 For the Judge would not heare any thing in
his excuse； but hating him （perhaps） because hee was a Florentine：
flatly determined to have him hanged by the necke； and would not
deliver him to the Lord； untill in meere despight he was compeld to do
it。
The Lord of Trevers； when Martellino came before him； and had
acquainted him truly with every 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； and causing Martellino to be handsomely apparrelled；
delivering them also his Passe； they escaped out of further danger；
and tarried no where； till they came unto Florence。
THE SECOND DAY； THE SECOND NOVELL
WHEREBY WEE MAY LEARNE； THAT SUCH THINGS AS SOMETIME SEEME
HURTFULL TO US； MAY TURNE TO OUR BENEFIT AND COMMODITY
Rinaldo de Este； after hee was robbed by Theeves； arrived at
Chasteau Guillaume； where he was friendly lodged by a faire Widdow；
and recompenced likewise for all his losses； returning afterward
safe and well home unto his owne house。
Much 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
unto Neiphila； the Queene commanded his Tale to be the next； when
presently he began to speake thus。
Gracious Ladies； I am to speake of universall occasions； mingled
with some misfortunes in part； and partly with matters leaning to
love； as many times may happen to such people； that trace the
dangerous pathes of amorous desires； or have not learned perfectly； to
say S。 Julians pater noster； having good beddes 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 Theeves； men
of most badde life and conversation； yet he having no such mistrust of
them； rode on； conferring with them very familiarly。 They perceiving
him to be a Merchant； and likely to have some store of money about
him； concluded betweene themselves to rob him； so soone as they
found apt place and opportunity。 But because he should conceive no
such suspition； they rode on like modest men； talking honestly and
friendly with him； of good parts and disposition appearing in him；
offering him all humble and gracious service； accounting themselves
happy by his companie； as hee returned the same courtesie to them；
because hee was alone； and but one servant with him。
Falling from one discourse to another； they beganne to talke of such
prayers； as men （in journey） use to salute God withall； and one of the
Theeves （they being three in number） spake thus to Rinaldo。 Sir； let
it be no offence to you； that I desire to know； what prayer you most
use when thus you travell on the way？ Whereto Rinaldo replyed in
this manner。 To tell you true Sir； I am a man grosse enough in such
Divine matters； as medling more with Merchandize； then I do with
Bookes。 Neverthelesse； at all times when I am thus in journey； in
the morning before I depart my Chamber； I say a Pater noster； and an
Ave Maria for the soules of the father and mother of Saint Julian； and
after that； I pray God and S。 Julian to send me a good lodging at
night。 And let me tell you Sir； that very oftentimes heeretofore； I
have met with many great dangers upon the way； from all which I
still escaped； and evermore （when night drew on） I came to an
exceeding good Lodging。 Which makes mee firmely beleeve； that Saint
Julian （in honour of whom I speake it） hath beggd of God such great
grace for me； and mee thinkes； that if any day I should faile of
this prayer in the morning： I cannot travaile securely； nor come to
a good lodging。 No doubt then Sir （quoth the other） but you have saide
that prayer this morning？ I would be sory else； said Rinaldo； such
an especiall matter is not to be neglected。
He and the rest； who had already determined how to handle him before
they parted； saide within themselves： Look thou hast said thy
praier； for when we have thy money； Saint Julian and thou shift for
thy lodging。 Afterward； the same man thus againe conferd with him。
As you Sir； so I have ridden many journies； and yet I never used any
such prayer； although I have heard it very much commended； and my
lodging hath proved never the worser。 Perhaps this verie night will
therein resolve us both； whether of us two shall be the best lodged；
you that have saide the Prayer； or I that never used it at all。 But
I must not deny； that in sted thereof； I have made use of some verses；
as Dirupisti； or the Intemerata； or De profundis； which are （as my
Grandmother hath often told mee） of very great vertue and efficacy。
Continuing thus in talke of divers things； winning way； and
beguiling the time； still waiting when their purpose should sort to
effect： it fortuned； that the Theeves seeing the