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found the gold； which Andrea indiscreetely carried alwayes about
him； as thinking it could no where else be so safe： This was all
shee aymed at； and for which shee had ensnared him； faigning her selfe
to be of Palermo； and Daughter to Piero of Perouse； so that not
regarding him any longer； but making fast the house of Office doore；
there she left him in that miserable taking。
Poore Andrea perceiving； that his calles could get no answere from
the Lad； cryed out louder； but all to no purpose： when seeing into his
owne simplicity； and understanding his error； though somewhat too
late； hee made such meanes constrainedly； that he got over a wall；
which severed that foule sinke from the Worlds eye； and being in the
open streete； went to the doore of the House； which then he knew too
well to his cost； making loud exclaimes with rapping and knocking； but
all as fruitelesse as before。 Sorrowing exceedingly； and manifestly
beholding his misfortune； Alas （quoth he） how soone have I lost a
Sister； and five hundred Crownes besides？ With many other words；
loud calles； and beatings uppon the doore without intermission； the
neighbours finding themselves disturbed； and unable to endure any such
ceaselesse vexation； rose from their beddes； and called to him；
desiring him to be gone； and let them rest。 A Maide also of the same
house； looking forth at the window； and seeming as newly raised from
sleepe； called to him； saying； What noyse is that beneath？ Why
Virgin （answered Andrea） know you not me？ I am Andrea de Piero；
Brother to your Mistresse Fiordeliza。 Thou art a drunken knave replyed
the Maide； more full of drinke then wit： goe sleepe； goe sleepe； and
come againe to morrow： for I know no Andrea de Piero； neither hath
my Mistresse any such Brother。 Get thee gone go ie good man； and
suffer us to sleepe I prythee。 How now （quoth Andrea） doest thou not
understand what I say？ Thou knowest that I supt with thy Mistresse
this night； but if our Sicilian kindred be so soone forgot； I
prythee give mee my Cloathes which I left in my Chamber； and then
verie gladly will I get mee gone。 Hereat the Maide laughing out
aloude； saide； Surely the man is mad； or walketh the streetes in a
dreame： and so clasping fast the Window； away she went and left him。
Now could Andrea assure himselfe； that his Golde and cloathes were
past recovery； which mooving him to the mor impatience； his former
intercessions became converted into furie； and what hee could not
compasse by faire intreats； he intended to winne by outrage and
violence： so that taking up a great stone in his hand； hee layed
upon the doore verie powerfull strokes。 The neighbors hearing this
mollestation still； admitting them not the least respite of rest；
reputed him for a troublesome fellow； and that he used those
counterfet words； onely to disturbe the Mistresse of the house； and
all that dwelled neere about her； looking againe out at their
windowes； they altogether beganne to rate and reprove him； even like
so many bawling Curres； barking at a strange dog passing through the
street。 This is shamefull villany （quoth one） and not to be
suffered； that honest women should thus be molested in their houses；
with foolish idle words； and at such an unseasonable time of the
night。 For Gods sake （good man） be gone； and let us sleepe； if thou
have any thing to say to the Gentlewoman of the house； come tomorrow
in the daytime； and no doubt but she will make thee sufficient answer。
Andrea； being some what pacified with these speeches； a
shagge…hayr'd swash…buckler； a grim visagde Ruffian （as sildome
bawdy houses are without such swaggering Champions） not seene or heard
by Andrea； all the while of his being in the house； rapping out two or
three terrible Oathes； opening a Casement； and with a stearne
dreadfull voyce； demanded； who durst keepe that noyse beneath？
Andrea fearefully looking up； and （by a little glimmering of the
Moone） seeing such a rough fellow； with a blacke beard； strowting like
the quilles of a Porcupine； and patches on his face； for hurts
received in no honest quarrels； yawning also and stretching； as
angry to have his sleepe disturbed： trembling and quaking； answered； I
am the Gentlewomans brother of the house。 The Ruffian interrupting
him； and speaking more fiercely then before； sealing his words with
horrible Oathes； said。 Sirra； Rascall； I know not of whence； or what
thou art； but if I come downe to thee； I will so bumbast thy prating
Coxecombe； as thou wast never so beaten in all thy life； like a
drunken slave and beast as thou art； that all this night wilt not
let us sleepe。 And so hee clapt to the window againe。
The Neighbours well acquainted with this Ruffians rude conditions；
speaking in gentle manner to Andrea； said。 Shift for thy selfe （good
man） in time； and tarrie not for his comming downe to thee； except
thou art weary of thy life： Be gone therefore； and say thou hast a
friendly warning。 These words dismaying Andrea； but much more the
sterne oathes and ougly sight of the Ruffian； incited also by the
Neighbours counsell； whom he imagined to advise him in charitable
manner： it caused him to depart thence； taking the way home…ward to
his Inne； in no mean affliction and torment of minde； for the
monstrous abuse offered him； and losse of his money。 Well he remembred
the passages； whereby the day before the young Gyrle had guided him；
but the loathsome smell about him； was so extreamely to himselfe； that
desiring to wash him at the Sea side； he strayed too farre wide on the
contrary hand； wandring up the street called Ruga Gatellana。
Proceeding on still； even to the highest part of the Citie； hee
espyed a Lanthorne and light； as also a man carrying it； and another
man with him in company； both of them comming towards him。 Now；
because he suspected them two of the watch； or some persons that would
apprehend him。； he stept aside to shunne them； and entred into an olde
house hard by at hand。 The other mens intention was to the very same
place； and going in； without any knowledge of Andreaes beeing there；
one of them layde downe divers instruments of Iron which he had
brought thither on his backe； and had much talke with his fellow
concerning those Engines。 At last one of them saide； I smell the
most abhominable stinke that ever I felt in all my life。 So； lifting
up the Lanthorn； he espied poore pittifull Andrea； closely couched
behinde the wall。 Which sight somewhat affrighting him； he yet
boldly demaunded； what and who he was？ Whereto Andrea answered
nothing； but lay still and held his peace。 Neerer they drew towards
him with their light； demanding how hee came thither； and in that
filthy manner。
Constraint having now no other evasion； but that （of necessitie） all
must out： hee related to them the whole adventure； in the same sort as
it had befalne him。 They greatly pittying his misfortune； one of
them said to the other： Questionlesse； this villanie was done in the
house of Scarabone Buttafucco。 And then turning to Andrea； proceeded
thus。 In good faith poore man； albeit thou hast lost thy money； yet
art thou much beholding to Fortune； for falling （though in a foule
place） yet in a succesfull manner； and entring no more backe into
the house。 For beleeve mee friend； if thou haddest not falne； but
quietly gone to sleepe in the house； that sleepe had beene thy last in
this world； and with thy money； thou hadst lost thy life likewise。 But
teares and lamentations are now helpelesse； because as easily mayest
thou plucke the Starres from the Firmament； as get againe the least
doyt of thy losse。 And for that shag…haird Slave in the house； he will
be thy deathsman； if hee but understand that thou makest any
enquirie after thy money。 When he had thus admonished him； he began
also in this manner to comfort him。 Honest fellow；… we cannot but
pitty thy present condition： wherfore if thou wilt frendly associate
us； in a businesse which we are instantly going to effect； thy losse
hath not bene so great； but on our words we will warrant thee； that
thine immediate gaine shall farre exceede it。 What will not a man
（in desperate extremity） both well like and allow of； especially
when it carryeth apparance of present comfort。 So fared it with
Andrea； hee perswaded himselfe； worse then had already happened； could
not befall him； and therefore he would gladly adventure with them。
The selfe same day preceding this disastrous night to Andrea； in the
cheefe Church of the Cittie； had beene buried the Archbishop of Naples
named Signior Phillippo Minutulo； in his richest pontificall Robes and
Ornaments； and a Ruby on his finger valued to be worth five hundred
duckets of gold： this dead body they purposed to rob and rifle；
acquainting Andrea with their whole intent； whose necessitie
（coupled with a covetous desire） made him more forward then well
advised； to joyne with them in this sacriligious enterprize。 On they
went towards the great Church； Andreaes unsavourie perfume much
displeasing them； whereupon the one said to his fellow： Can we
devise no ease for this foule and noysome inconveniences？ the very
smell of him will be a meanes to betray us。 There is a Well…pit hard
by； answered th