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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 they were come neere to a
Towne； called Chasteau Guillaume； by the foord of a River； the houre
somewhat late； the place solitarie； and thickely shaded with Trees；
they made their assault； and having robd him； left him there on foote；
stript into his shirt； saying to him。 Goe now and see； whether thy
Saint Julian will allow thee this night a good lodging； or no； for our
owne we are sufficiently provided； so passing the River； away they
rode。 Rinaldoes servant； seeing his Master so sharply assayled； like a
wicked villaine； would not assist him in any sort： but giving his
horse the spurres； never left gallopping； untill hee came to
Chasteau Guillaume； where hee entred upon the point of night；
providing himselfe of a lodging； but not caring what became of his
Master。
Rinaldo remaining there in his shirt； bare…foot and bare…legged；
the weather extremely colde； and snowing incessantly； not knowing what
to doe； darke night drawing on； and looking round about him； for
some place where to abide that night； to the end he might not dye with
colde： he found no helpe at all there for him； in regard that （no long
while before） the late warre had burnt and wasted all； and not so much
as the least Cottage left。 Compelled by the coldes violence； his teeth
quaking； and all his body trembling； hee trotted on towards
Chausteau Guillaume； not knowing； whether his man was gone thither
or no； or to what place else： but perswaded himselfe； that if he could
get entrance； there was no feare of finding succour。 But before he
came within halfe a mile of the Towne； the night grew extreamely
darke； and arriving there so late； hee found the gates fast lockt； and
the Bridges drawne up； so that no entrance might be admitted。
Grieving greatly heereat； and being much discomforted； rufully hee
went spying about the walls； for some place wherein to shrowd
himselfe； at least； to keepe the snow from falling upon him。 By good
hap； hee espied an house upon the wall of the Towne； which had a
terrace jutting out as a penthouse； under which he purpo