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this extraordinary kindnesse。 I promise thee （sweete heart） while I
was alive； I cannot remember； that ever any foode and wine was halfe
so pleasing to me。 O my deare Wife； O my hony Wife。 Canst thou
（quoth the Monke） prayse and commend her now； using her so
villainously in thy life time？ Then did he whip him more fiercely then
before； when Ferando holding up his hands； as craving for mercy；
demanded wherefore he was so severely punished？ I am so commanded
（quoth the Monke） by supreme power； and twice every day must thou be
thus disciplinde。 Upon what occasion？ replyed Ferando。 Because
（quoth the Monke） thou wast most notoriously jealous of thy Wife； shee
being the very kindest woman to thee； as all the Countrey containeth
not her equall。 It is too true； answered Ferando； I was over…much
jealous of her indeede： but had I knowne； that jealousie was such a
hatefull sinne against Heaven； I never would have offended therein。
Now （quoth the Monke） thou canst confesse thine owne wilfull follie；
but this should have beene thought on before； and whilest thou wast
living in the World。 But if the Fates vouchsafe to favour thee so
much； as hereafter to send thee to the World once more； remember thy
punishment here in Purgatory； and sinne no more in that foule sinne of
jealousie。 I pray you Sir tell me； replyed Ferando； after men are
dead； and put into Purgatory； is there any hope of their ever visiting
the World any more？ Yes； saide the Monke； if the fury of the Fates
be once appeased。 O that I knew （quoth Ferando） by what meanes they
would be appeased； and let me visite the World on againe： I would be
the best Husband that ever lived； and never more be jealous； never
wrong so good a Wife； nor ever use one unkind word against her。 In the
meane while； and till their anger may be qualified； when next my
Wife doth send me food； I pray you worke so much； that some Candles
may be sent me also； because I live here in uncomfortable
darkenesse； and what should I doe with food； if I have no light。
Shee sends Lights enow； answered the Monke； but they are burnt out
on the Altar in Masse…time； and thou canst have none other here； but
such as I must bring my selfe； neither are they allowed； but onely for
the time of thy feeding and correcting。
Ferando breathing foorth a vehement sigh； desired to know what he
was； being thus appointed to punish him in Purgatory？ I am （quoth
the Monke） a dead man； as thou art； borne in Sardignia； where I served
a very jealous Master； and because： I soothed him in his jealousie；
I had this pennance imposed on me； to serve thee here in Purgatory
with meate and drinke； and （twice every day） to discipline thy body；
untill the Fates have otherwise determined both for thee and me。
Why？ saide Ferando； are any other persons here； beside you and I？ Many
thousands； replyed the Monke； whom thou canst neither heare nor see；
no more then they are able to doe the like by us。 But how farre； saide
Ferando； is Purgatory distant from our native Countries？ About some
fifty thousand leagues； answered the Monke； but yet passable in a
moment； whensoever the offended Fates are pleased： and many Masses are
dally saide for thy soule； at the earnest entreaty of thy Wife； in
hope of thy conversion； and becomming a new man； hating to be
jealous any more hereafter。
In these and such like speeches； as thus they beguiled the time；
so did they observe it for a dayly course； sometime discipling；
other whiles eating and drinking； for the space of ten whole moneths
together： in the which time； the Abbot sildome failed to visite
Ferandoes wife； without the least suspition in any of the
neighbours； by reason of their setled opinion； concerning the
nightly walking Ferandoes ghost。 But； as all pleasures cannot bee
exempted from some following paine or other； so it came to passe； that
Ferandoes wife proved to be conceived with childe； and the time was
drawing on for her deliverance。 Now began the Abbot to consider；
that Ferandoes folly was sufficiently chastised； and he had beene long
enough in Purgatory： wherefore； the better to countenance all passed
inconveniences； it was now thought high time； that Ferando should be
sent to the world againe； and set free from the paines of Purgatory；
as having payed for his jealousie dearely； to teach him better
wisedome hereafter。
Late in the dead time of the night； the Abbot himselfe entred into
the darke dungeon； and in an hollow counterfeited voyce； called to
Ferando； saying。 Comfort thy selfe Ferando； for the Fates are now
pleased； that thou shalt bee released out of Purgatory； and sent to
live in the world againe。 Thou didst leave thy wife newly conceived
with childe； and this very morning she is delivered of a goodly Sonne；
whom thou shalt cause to be named Bennet： because； by the incessant
prayers of the holy Abbot； thine owne loving Wife； and for sweet Saint
Bennets sake； this grace and favour is afforded thee。 Ferando
hearing this； was exceeding joyfull； and returned this answere： For
ever honored be the Fates； the holy Lord Abbot； blessed Saint
Bennet； and my most dearely beloved Wife； whom I will faithfully
love for ever； and never more offend her by any jealous in me。
When the next foode was sent to Ferando； so much of the powder was
mingled with the wine； as would serve onely for foure houres
entrauncing； in which time； they clothed him in his owne wearing
apparell againe； the Abbot himselfe in person； and his honest trusty
Monke of Bologna； conveying and laying him in the same vault under the
Tombe； where at the first they gave him buriall。 The next morning
following； the breake of day； Ferando recovered his senses； and thorow
divers chinkes and crannies of the Tombe； descried daylight； which hee
had not see in tenne moneths space before。 Perceiving then plainely；
that he was alive； he cryed out aloude； saying： Open； open； and let
mee forth of Purgatory； for I have beene heere long enough in
conscience。 Thrusting up his head against the cover of the Tombe；
which was not of any great strength； neither well closed together； hee
put it quite off the Tombe； and so got forth upon his feete： at
which instant time； the Monks having ended their morning Mattins；
and hearing the noyse； ran in hast thither； and knowing the voyce of
Ferando； saw that he was come forth of the Monument。
Some of them were ancient Signiors of the house； and yet but meere
Novices （as all the rest were） in these cunning and politique
stratagems of the Lord Abbot； when hee intended to punish any one in
Purgatory： and therefore； being affrighted； and amazed at this rare
accident； they fled away from him； running to the Abbot； who making
a shew to them； as if he were but new come forth of his Oratory； in
a kinde of pacifying speeches； saide； Peace my deare Sonnes； be not
affraide； but fetch the Crosse and Holy…water hither； then follow
me； and I will shew you； what miracles the Fates have pleased to
shew in our Convent； therefore be silent； and make no more noise；
all which was performed according to his command。
Ferando looking leane and pale； as one； that in so long time hadde
not seene the light of heaven； and endured such strict discipline
twice every day： stood in a gastly amazement by the Tombesside； as not
daring to adventure any further； or knowing perfectly； whether he
was （as yet） truly alive； or no。 But when he saw the Monkes and
Abbot comming； with their lighted Torches； and singing in a solemne
manner of Procession； he humbled himselfe at the Abbots feete； saying。
Holy Father； by your zealous prayers （as hath bin miraculously
revealed to me） and the prayers of blessed S。 Bennet； as also of my
honest； deare； and loving Wife； I have bin delivered from the paines
of Purgatory； and brought againe to live in this world； for which
unspeakable grace and favour； most humbly I thanke the well…pleased
Fates； S。 Bennet； your Father…hood； and my kinde Wife； and will
remember all your loves to me for ever。 Blessed be the Fates； answered
the Abbot； for working so great a wonder heere in our Monastery。 Go
then my good Son； seeing the Fates have bin so gracious to thee； Go （I
say） home to thine owne house； and comfort thy kind wife； who ever
since thy departure out of this life； hath lived in continuall
mourning； love； cherish； and make much of her； never afflicting her
henceforth with causlesse jealousie。 No I warrant you good Father；
replyed Ferando； I have bin well whipt in Purgatory for such folly；
and therefore I might be called a starke foole； if I should that way
offend any more； either my loving wife； or any other。
The Abbot causing Miserere to be devoutly sung； sprinkling Ferando
well with Holy…water； and placing a lighted Taper in his hand； sent
him home so to his owne dwelling Village： where when the Neighbours
beheld him； as people halfe frighted out of their wits； they fled away
from him； so scared and terrified； as if they had seene some dreadfull
sight； or gastly apporition； his wife being as fearfull of him； as any
of the rest。 He called to them kindly by their severall names； telling
them； that he was newly risen out of his grave； and was a man as he
had bin before。 Then they began to touch