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espoused him； refusing all the world； to be onely his： which being
on either side confirmed solemnly； by an holy Vow； and chaste
kisses； shee commanded him backe to his Chamber； and she returned to
her bed againe； sufficiently satisfied with her Loves acceptation； and
so they journied on till they came to Rome。
When they had rested themselves there for some few dayes； the
supposed Abbot； with the two Knights； and none else in company but
Alessandro； went before the Pope； and having done him such reverence
as beseemed； the Abbot began to speake in this manner。
Holy Father （as you know much better then any other） everie one that
desireth to live well and vertuously； ought to shunne （so farre as
in them lyeth） all occasions that may induce to the contrarie。 To
the end therefore； that I （who desire nothing more） then to live
within the compasse of a vertuous conversation； may perfect my hopes
in this behalfe： I have fled from my Fathers Court； and am come hither
in this habite as you see； to crave therein your holy and fatherly
furtherance。 I am daughter to the King of England； and have
sufficiently furnished my selfe with some of his Treasures； that
your Holinesse may bestow me in marriage； because mine unkind
Father； never regarding my youth and beauty （inferior to few in my
native country） would marry me to the King of North…Wales； an aged；
impotent； and sickely man。 Yet let me tell your sanctity； that his age
and weakenesse hath not so much occasioned my Right； as feare of
mine owne youth and frailety； when being married to him； instead of
loyall and unstained life； lewd and dishonest desires might make me to
wander； by breaking the divine Lawes of wedlocke； and abusing the
royall blood of my Father。
As I travailed hither with this vertuous intention； our Lord； who
onely knoweth perfectly； what is best fitting for all his creatures；
presented mine eyes （no doubt in his meere mercy and goodnesse） with a
man meete to be my husband； which （pointing to Alessandro） is this
young Gentleman standing by me； whose honest； vertuous； and civill
demeanour； deserveth a Lady of farre greater worth； although （perhaps）
Nobility in blood be denied him； and may make him seeme not so
excellent； as one derived from Royall discent。 Holy and religious
vowes have past betweene us both； and the Ring on his finger； is the
firme pledge of my faith and constancie； never to accept any other man
in marriage； but him onely； although my Father； or any else doe
dislike it。 Wherefore （holy Father） the principall cause of my comming
hither； being already effectually concluded on； I desire to compleat
the rest of my Pilgrimage； by visiting the sanctified places in this
City； whereof there are great plenty： And also； that sacred
marriage； being contracted in the presence of God onely； betweene
Alessandro and my selfe； may by you be publikely confirmed； and in
an open congregation。 For； seeing God hath so appointed it； and our
soules have so solemnely vowed it； that no disaster whatsoever can
alter it： you being Gods Vicar here on earth； I hope will not
gainesay； but confirme it with your fatherly benediction； that wee may
live in Gods feare； and dye in his favour。
Perswade your selves （faire Ladies） that Alessandro was in no
meane admiration； when hee heard； that his wife was daughter to the
King of England； unspeakable joy （questionlesse） wholly overcame
him： but the two Knights were not a little troubled and offended； at
such a straunge and unexpected accident； yea； so violent were their
passions； that had they beene any where else； then in the Popes
presence； Alessandro had felt their furie； and （perhaps） the Princesse
her selfe too。 On the other side； the Pope was much amazed at the
habite she went disguised in； and likewise at the election of her
husband； but； perceiving there was no resistance to be made against
it； hee yeelded the more willingly to satisfie her desire。 And
therefore； having first comforted the two Knights； and made peace
betweene them； the Princesse； and Alessandro； he gave order for the
rest that was to be done。
When the appointed day for the solemnity was come； hee caused the
Princesse （cloathed in most rich and royall garments） to appeare
before all the Cardinals； and many other great persons then in
presence； who were come to this worthy Feast； which hee had caused
purposely to bee prepared； where she seemed so faire and goodly a
Lady； that every eye was highly delighted to behold her； commending
her with no meane admiration。 In like manner was Alessandro greatly
honoured by the two Knights； being most sumptuous in appearance； and
not like a man that had lent money to usury； but rather of very royall
quality； the Pope himselfe celebrating the marriage betweene them；
which being finished； with the most magnificent pompe that could be
devised； hee gave them his benediction； and licenced their departure
thence。
Alessandro； his Princesse and her traine thus leaving Rome； they
would needes visite Florence； where the newes of this accident was
（long before） noysed； and they received by the Citizens in royall
manner。 There did shee deliver the three brethren out of prison；
having first payed all their debts； and reseated them againe （with
their wives） in their former inheritances and possessions。
Afterward； departing from Florence； and Agolanto； one of the Uncles
travailing with them to Paris； they were there also most honourably
entertained by the King of France。 From whence the two Knights went
before for England； and prevailed so successefully with the King； that
hee received his daughter into grace and favour； as also his Sonne
in law her husband； to whom hee gave the order of Knighthoode； and
（for his greater dignitie） created him Earle of Cornewall。
And such was the noble spirit of Alessandro； that he pacified the
troubles betweene the King and his sonne； whereon ensued great comfort
to the Kingdome； winning the love and favour of all the people； and
Agolanto （by the meanes of Alessandro） recovered all that was due to
him and his brethren in England； returning richly home to Florence；
Count Alessandro （his kinsman） having first dub'd him Knight。 Long
time he lived in peace and tranquility； with the faire Princesse his
wife； proving to be so absolute in wisedome； and so famous a Souldier；
that （as some report） by assistance of his Father in law； he conquered
the Realme of Ireland； and was crowned King thereof。
THE SECOND DAY； THE FOURTH NOVELL
WHEREBY MAY BE DISCERNED； INTO HOW MANY DANGERS A MAN MAY
FALL； THROUGH A COVETOUS DESIRE TO ENRICH HIMSELFE
Landolpho Ruffolo； falling into poverty； became a Pirate on the
Seas； and being taken by the Genewayes； hardly escaped drowning： Which
yet （neverthelesse） he did； upon a little Chest or Coffer； full of
very rich Jewels； being carried thereon to Corfu； where he was well
entertained by a good woman； And afterward； returned richly home to
his owne house。
Madam Lauretta； sitting next to Madam Pampinea； and seeing how
triumphantly she had finished her discourse； without attending any
thing else； spake thus。 Gracious Ladies； we shall never behold （in
mine opinion） a greater act of Fortune； then to see a man so suddainly
exalted； even from the lowest depth of poverty； to a Royall estate
of dignity； as the discourse of Madam Pampinea hath made good； by
the happy advancement of Alessandro。 And because it appeareth
necessary； that whosoever discourseth on the subject proposed；
should no way vary from the very same termes； I shall not shame to
tell a tale； which； though it containe far greater mishapes then the
former； may sort to as happy an issue； albeit not so noble and
magnificent。 In which respect； it may （perhaps） merit the lesse
attention； but howsoever that fault shall be found in you； I meane
to discharge mine owne duty。
Opinion hath made it famous for long time； that the Seacoast of
Rhegium to Gaieta； is the onely delactable part of all Italy； wherein；
somewhat neere to Salerno； is a shore looking upon the Sea； which
the inhabitants there dwelling； doe call the coast of Malfy； full of
small Townes； Gardens；