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protested； that shee would not part thence into any place； where any
knowledge should be taken of her。 In the end； they perswaded her to go
w…th them into Lunigiana； carrying also with her the two yong Goats
and their damme； which were then in the cave altogether； prettily
playing before Beritola； to the great admiration of Conrado and his
wife； as also the servants attending on them。
When the windes and weather grew favourable for them； Madame
Beritola went aboord with Conrado and his Wife； being followed by
the two young Goates and their Damme； and because her name should
bee knowne to none but Conrado； and his wife onely； shee would be
stiled no otherwise but the Goatherdesse。 Merrily； yet gently blew the
gale； which brought them to enter the River of Maira； where going on
shore； and into their owne Castle； Beritola kept company with the wife
of Conrado； but in a mourning habite； and a waiting Gentlewoman of
theirs； honest； humble； and very dutifull； the Goates alwayes
familiarly keeping them company。
Returne wee now to the Pyrates； which at Ponzo seized on the small
Barke wherein Madame Beritola was brought thither； and carried
thence away； without any sight or knowledge of her。 With such other
spoyles as they had taken； they shaped their course for Geneway； and
there （by consent of the Patrones of the Galley） made a division of
their booties。 It came to passe； that （among other things） the Nurse
that attended on Beritola； and the two Children with her； fell to
the share of one Messer Gastarino d'Oria； who sent them together to
his owne House； there to be employed in service as Servants。 The Nurse
weeping beyond measure for the losse of her Ladie； and bemoaning her
owne miserable Fortune； whereinto shee was now fallen with the two
young Laddes； after long lamenting； which shee found utterly
fruitlesse and to none effect； though she was used as a servant with
them； and being but a very poore woman； yet was shee wise and
discreetly advised。 Wherefore； comforting both her selfe and them so
well as she could； and considering the depth of their disaster； shee
conceited thus； that if the Children should be knowne； it might
redound to their greater danger； and shee be no way advantaged
thereby。
Hereupon； hoping that Fortune （earely or late） would alter her
stearne malice； and that they might （if they lived） regaine once
more their former condition； shee would not disclose them to any one
whatsoever； till shee should see the time aptly disposed for THE
SECOND DAY； THE SIXT 75
it。 Being thus determined； to all such as questioned her
concerning them； she answered that they were her owne Children； naming
the eldest not Geoffrey； but Jehannot de Procida。 As for the
yongest； shee cared not greatly for changing his name； and therefore
wisely informed Geoffrey； upon what reason shee had altered his
name； and what danger he might fall into； if he should otherwise be
discovered； being not satisfied with thus telling him once； but
remembring him thereof verie often； which the gentle youth （being so
well instructed by the wise and carefull Nurse） did very warily
observe。
The two young Laddes； verie poorely garmented； but much worse
hosed and shodde； continued thus in the house of Gasparino； where both
they and the Nurse were long time employed about verie base and
drudging Offices； which yet they endured with admirable patience。
But Jehannot； aged already about sixteene yeeres； having a loftier
spirit； then belonged to a slavish servant； despising the basenesse of
his servile condition； departed from the drudgery of Messer Gasparino；
and going aboord the Gallies which were bound for Alexandria； fortuned
into many places； yet none of them affoording him any advancement。
In the end； about three or foure yeeres after his departure from
Gasparino； being now a brave yong man； and of very goodly forme： he
understood； that his father （whom he supposed to be dead） was as yet
living； but in captivity； and prisoner to King Charles。 Wherefore；
despairing of any successefull fortune； he wandred here and there；
till he came to Lunigiana； and there （by strange accident） he became
servant to Messer Conrado Malespino； where the service proved well
liking to them both。
Very sildome times hee had a sight of his Mother； because shee
alwayes kept company with Conradoes wife； and yet when they came
within view of each other； shee knew not him； nor he her； so much
yeres had altred them both from what they were wont to be； and when
they saw each other last。 Jehannot being thus in the service of Messer
Conrado； it fortuned that a daughter of his； named Sophia； being the
widdow of one Messer Nicolas Grignam； returned home to her Fathers
house。 Very beautifull and amiable she was； young likewise； aged but
little above sixteene； growing wonderously amorous of Jehannot； and he
of her； in extraordinary and most fervent manner： which love was not
long without full effect； continuing many moneths before any person
could perceyve it： which making them to build on the more assurance；
they began to carry their meanes with lesse discretion then is
required in such nice cases； and which cannot be too providently
managed。
Upon a day； he and she walking to a goodly Wood； plentifully
furnished with spreading Trees： having out gone the rest of their
company； they made choise of a pleasant place； very daintily shaded
and beautified with all sorts of flowers。 There they spent some time
in amorous talking； beside some other sweete embraces； which though it
seemed over…short to them； yet was it so unadvisedly prolonged； that
they were on a sodain surprized； first by the mother； and next by
Messer Conrado himselfe； who greeving beyond measure； to be thus
treacherously dealt withall； caused them to be apprehended by three of
his servants； and （without telling them any reason why） led bound to
another Castle of his； and fretting with extremity rage； concluded
in his minde； that they should both shamefully be put to death。
The Mother unto this regardlesse daughter； having heard the angrie
wordes of her Husband； and how hee would be revenged on the faulty；
could not endure that he should be so severe： wherefore； although shee
was likewise much afflicted in minde； and reputed her Daughter
worthy （for so great an offence） of all cruell punnishment； yet she
hasted to her displeased husband； and began to entreate； that hee
would not runne on in such a furious spleene； now in his aged yeeres
to be the murtherer of his owne childe； and soile his hands in the
blood of his servant。 Rather he might finde out some milde course
for the satisfaction of his anger； by committing them to close
imprisonment； there to remaine and mourne for their folly committed。
The vertuous and religious Lady alledged so many commendable examples；
and used such plenty of moving perswasions； that she quite altred
his minde from putting them to death； and hee commanded onely； that
they should separately be imprisoned； with little store of food； and
lodging of the uneasiest； untill he should otherwise determine of
them； and so it was done。 What their life now was in captivity and
continuall teares； with stricter abstinence then was needefull for
them； all this I must commit to your consideration。 Jehannot and Spina
remaining in this comfortlesse condition； and an whole yeere being now
out…worne； yet Conrado keeping them thus still imprisoned： it came
to passe； that Don Pedro King of Arragon； by the meanes of Messer John
de Procida； caused the Isle of Sicily to revolt； and tooke it away
from King Charles； whereat Conrado （he being of the Ghibbiline
faction） not a little rejoyced。 Jehannot having intelligence
thereof； by some of them that had him in custody； breathing foorth a
vehement sighe； spake in this manner。 Alas poore miserable wretch as I
am！ that have already gone begging thorough the world above foureteene
yeeres； in expectation of nothing else but this opportunity； and now
it is come； must I be in prison； to the end； that I should never
more hope for any future happinesse？ And how can I get forth of this
prison； except it bee by death onely？ How now； replyed the Officer
of the Guard？ What doth this businesse of great Kings concerne thee？
What affayres hast thou in Sicily？
Once more Jehannot sighed extreamly； and returned him this answer。
Me thinkes my heart （quoth hee） doeth cleave in sunder； when I call to
minde the charge which my Father had there； for although I was but a
little boy when I fled thence； yet I can well remember； that I saw him
Governor there； at such time as King Manfred lived。 The Guard；
pursuing on still his purpose； demanded of him； what and who his
Father was？ My Father （replied Jehannot？） I may now securely speake of
him； being out of the perill which neerely concerned me if I had beene
discovered： he was the named （and so still if he be living） henriet
Capece； and my name is Geoffrey； and not Jehannot； and I make no
doubt； but if I were freed from hence； and might returned home to
Sicily； I should （for his sake） be placed in some authority。
The honest man of the Guard； without seeking after any further
information； so soone as he could compasse