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the inhabitants there dwelling； doe call the coast of Malfy； full of
small Townes； Gardens； Springs； and wealthy men； trading in as many
kindes of Merchandizes； as any other people that I know。 Among which
Townes； there is one； named Ravello； wherein （as yet to this day there
are rich people） there was （not long since） a very wealthy man；
named Landolpho Ruffolo； who being not contented with his riches；
but coveting to multiply them double and trebble； fell in danger； to
loose both himselfe and wealth together。 This man （as other
Merchants are wont to doe） after hee had considered on his affaires；
bought him a very goodly Ship； lading it with divers sorts of
Merchandizes； all belonging to himselfe onely； and making his voyage
to the Isle of Cyprus。 Where he found； over and beside the
Merchandizes he had brought thither； many Ships more there arrived；
and all laden with the same commodities； in regard whereof； it was
needefull for him； not onely to make a good Mart of his goods； but
also was further constrained （if hee meant to vent his commodities） to
sell them away （almost） for nothing； endangering his utter destruction
and overthrow。 Whereupon； grieving exceedingly at so great a losse；
not knowing what to doe； and seeing； that from very aboundant
wealth； hee was likely to fall into as low poverty： he resolved to
die； or to recompence his losses upon others； because he would not
returne home poore； having departed thence so rich。
Meeting with a Merchant； that bought his great Ship of him； with the
money made thereof； and also his other Merchandizes； hee purchased
another； being a lighter vessell； apt and proper for the use of a
Pirate； arming and furnishing it in ample manner； for roving and
robbing upon the Seas。 Thus hee began to make other mens goods his
owne； especially from the Turkes he tooke much wealth； Fortune being
alwayes therein so favourable to him； that hee could never compasse
the like by trading。 So that； within the space of one yeare； hee had
robd and taken so many Gallies from the Turke； that he found
himselfe well recovered； not onely of all his losses by Merchandize；
but likewise his wealth was wholly redoubled。 Finding his losses to be
very liberally requited； and having now sufficient； it were folly to
hazard a second fall； wherefore； conferring with his owne thoughts；
and finding that he had enough； and needed not to covet after more： he
fully concluded； now to returne home to his owne house againe； and
live upon his goods thus gotten。
Continuing still in feare of the losses he had sustained by
traffique； and minding never more to imploy his money that way； but to
keep this light vessell； which had holpen him to all his wealth： he
commanded his men to put forth their Oares； and shape；their course for
his owne dwelling。 Being aloft in the higher Seas； darke night
over…taking them； and a mighty winde suddainly comming upon them： it
not onely was contrary to their course； but held on with such
impetuous violence； that the small vessell； being unable to endure it；
made to land…ward speedily； and in expectation of a more friendly
wind； entred a little port of the Sea； directing up into a small
Island； and there safely sheltred it selfe。 Into the same port which
Landolpho had thus taken for his refuge； entred （soone after） two
great Carrackes of Genewayes； lately come from Constantinople。 When
the men in them had espied the small Barke； and lockt up her passage
from getting forth； understanding the Owners name； and that report had
famed him to be very rich； they determined （as men evermore addicted
naturally； to covet after money and spoile） to make it their owne as a
prize at Sea。
Landing some store of their men； well armed with Crossebowes and
other weapons； they tooke possession of such a place； where none durst
issue forth of the small Barke； but endangered his life with their
Darts and Arrowes。 Entering aboord the Barke； and making it their owne
by full possession； all the men they threw over…boord； without sparing
any but Landolpho himselfe； whom they mounted into one of the
Carrackes； leaving him nothing but a poore shirt of Maile on his
backe； and having rifled the Barke of all her riches； sunke it into
the bottome of the sea。 The day following； the rough windes being
calmed； the Carrackes set saile againe； having a prosperous passage
all the day long； but upon the entrance of darke night； the windes
blew more tempestuously then before； and sweld the Sea in such rude
stormes； that the two Carracks were sundered each from other； and by
violence of the tempest it came to passe； that the Carracke wherein
lay poore miserable Landolpho （beneath the Isle of Cephalonia） ran
against a rocke； and even as a glasse against a wall； so split the
Carracke in peeces； the goods and merchandize floating on the Sea；
Chests； Coffers； Beds； and such like other things； as often hapneth in
such lamentable accidents。
Now； notwithstanding the nights obscurity； and impetuous violence of
the billowes； such as could swimme； made shift to save their lives
by swimming。 Others caught hold on such things； as by Fortunes favour；
floated neerest to them； among whom； distressed Landolpho； desirous to
save his life； if possibly it might be； espied a Chest or Coffer
before him； ordained （no doubt） to be the meanes of his safety from
drowning。 Now although the day before； he had wished for death
infinite times； rather then to returne home in such wretched
poverty； yet； seeing how other men strove for safety of their lives by
any helpe； were it never so little； bee tooke advantage of this favour
offred him； and the rather in a necessitie so urgent。 Keeping fast
upon the Coffer so well as he could； and being driven by the winds and
waves； one while this way； and anon quite contrary； he made shift
for himselfe till day appeared； when looking every way about him；
seeing nothing but clouds； the seas and the Coffer； which one while
shrunke from under him； and another while supported him； according
as the windes and billowes carried it： all that day and night thus
he floated up and downe； drinking more then willingly hee would； but
almost hunger…starved thorow want of foode。 The next morning； either
by the appointment of heaven or power of the Windes； Landolpho who was
（well…neere） become a Spundge； holding his armes strongly about the
Chest； as we have seene some doe； who （dreading drowning） take hold on
any the very smallest helpe； drew neere unto the shore of the Iland
Corfu； where （by good fortune） a poore woman was scowring dishes
with the salt water and sand； to make them （housewife like） neate
and cleane。
When shee saw the Chest drawing neere her； and not discerning the
shape of any man； shee grew fearefull； and retyring from it； cried out
aloude。 He had no power of speaking to her； neither did his sight
doe him the smallest service； but even as the waves and windes
pleased； the Chest was driven still neerer to the Land； and then the
woman perceyved that it had the forme of a ofer； and looking more
advisedly； beheld two armes extended over it； and afterward； she
espied the face of a man； not being able to judge； whether he were
alive； or no。 Moved by charitable and womanly compassion； shee stept
in among the billowes； and getting fast holde on the hayre of his
head； drew both the Chest and him to the Land； and calling forth her
Daughters to helpe her； with much adoe she unfolded his armes from the
Chest； setting it up on her Daughters head； and then betweene them；
Landolpho was led into the Towne； and there conveyed into a warme
Stove； where quickly he recovered by her pains； his strength
benummed with extreame cold。
Good wines and comfortable broathes shee cherished him withall； that
his sences being indifferently restored； hee knew the place where
hee was； but not in what manner he was brought thither； till the
good woman shewed him the Cofer that had kept him floating upon the
waves； and （next under God） had saved his life。 The Chest seemed of
such slender weight； that nothing of any value could be expected in
it； either to recompence the womans great paines and kindnesse
bestowne on him； or any matter of his