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street。 This is shamefull villany （quoth one） and not to be
suffered； that honest women should thus be molested in their houses；
with foolish idle words； and at such an unseasonable time of the
night。 For Gods sake （good man） be gone； and let us sleepe； if thou
have any thing to say to the Gentlewoman of the house； come tomorrow
in the daytime； and no doubt but she will make thee sufficient answer。
Andrea； being some what pacified with these speeches； a
shagge…hayr'd swash…buckler； a grim visagde Ruffian （as sildome
bawdy houses are without such swaggering Champions） not seene or heard
by Andrea； all the while of his being in the house； rapping out two or
three terrible Oathes； opening a Casement； and with a stearne
dreadfull voyce； demanded； who durst keepe that noyse beneath？
Andrea fearefully looking up； and （by a little glimmering of the
Moone） seeing such a rough fellow； with a blacke beard； strowting like
the quilles of a Porcupine； and patches on his face； for hurts
received in no honest quarrels； yawning also and stretching； as
angry to have his sleepe disturbed： trembling and quaking； answered； I
am the Gentlewomans brother of the house。 The Ruffian interrupting
him； and speaking more fiercely then before； sealing his words with
horrible Oathes； said。 Sirra； Rascall； I know not of whence； or what
thou art； but if I come downe to thee； I will so bumbast thy prating
Coxecombe； as thou wast never so beaten in all thy life； like a
drunken slave and beast as thou art； that all this night wilt not
let us sleepe。 And so hee clapt to the window againe。
The Neighbours well acquainted with this Ruffians rude conditions；
speaking in gentle manner to Andrea； said。 Shift for thy selfe （good
man） in time； and tarrie not for his comming downe to thee； except
thou art weary of thy life： Be gone therefore； and say thou hast a
friendly warning。 These words dismaying Andrea； but much more the
sterne oathes and ougly sight of the Ruffian； incited also by the
Neighbours counsell； whom he imagined to advise him in charitable
manner： it caused him to depart thence； taking the way home…ward to
his Inne； in no mean affliction and torment of minde； for the
monstrous abuse offered him； and losse of his money。 Well he remembred
the passages； whereby the day before the young Gyrle had guided him；
but the loathsome smell about him； was so extreamely to himselfe； that
desiring to wash him at the Sea side； he strayed too farre wide on the
contrary hand； wandring up the street called Ruga Gatellana。
Proceeding on still； even to the highest part of the Citie； hee
espyed a Lanthorne and light； as also a man carrying it； and another
man with him in company； both of them comming towards him。 Now；
because he suspected them two of the watch； or some persons that would
apprehend him。； he stept aside to shunne them； and entred into an olde
house hard by at hand。 The other mens intention was to the very same
place； and going in； without any knowledge of Andreaes beeing there；
one of them layde downe divers instruments of Iron which he had
brought thither on his backe； and had much talke with his fellow
concerning those Engines。 At last one of them saide； I smell the
most abhominable stinke that ever I felt in all my life。 So； lifting
up the Lanthorn； he espied poore pittifull Andrea； closely couched
behinde the wall。 Which sight somewhat affrighting him； he yet
boldly demaunded； what and who he was？ Whereto Andrea answered
nothing； but lay still and held his peace。 Neerer they drew towards
him with their light； demanding how hee came thither； and in that
filthy manner。
Constraint having now no other evasion； but that （of necessitie） all
must out： hee related to them the whole adventure； in the same sort as
it had befalne him。 They greatly pittying his misfortune； one of
them said to the other： Questionlesse； this villanie was done in the
house of Scarabone Buttafucco。 And then turning to Andrea； proceeded
thus。 In good faith poore man； albeit thou hast lost thy money； yet
art thou much beholding to Fortune； for falling （though in a foule
place） yet in a succesfull manner； and entring no more backe into
the house。 For beleeve mee friend； if thou haddest not falne； but
quietly gone to sleepe in the house； that sleepe had beene thy last in
this world； and with thy money； thou hadst lost thy life likewise。 But
teares and lamentations are now helpelesse； because as easily mayest
thou plucke the Starres from the Firmament； as get againe the least
doyt of thy losse。 And for that shag…haird Slave in the house； he will
be thy deathsman； if hee but understand that thou makest any
enquirie after thy money。 When he had thus admonished him； he began
also in this manner to comfort him。 Honest fellow；… we cannot but
pitty thy present condition： wherfore if thou wilt frendly associate
us； in a businesse which we are instantly going to effect； thy losse
hath not bene so great； but on our words we will warrant thee； that
thine immediate gaine shall farre exceede it。 What will not a man
（in desperate extremity） both well like and allow of； especially
when it carryeth apparance of present comfort。 So fared it with
Andrea； hee perswaded himselfe； worse then had already happened； could
not befall him； and therefore he would gladly adventure with them。
The selfe same day preceding this disastrous night to Andrea； in the
cheefe Church of the Cittie； had beene buried the Archbishop of Naples
named Signior Phillippo Minutulo； in his richest pontificall Robes and
Ornaments； and a Ruby on his finger valued to be worth five hundred
duckets of gold： this dead body they purposed to rob and rifle；
acquainting Andrea with their whole intent； whose necessitie
（coupled with a covetous desire） made him more forward then well
advised； to joyne with them in this sacriligious enterprize。 On they
went towards the great Church； Andreaes unsavourie perfume much
displeasing them； whereupon the one said to his fellow： Can we
devise no ease for this foule and noysome inconveniences？ the very
smell of him will be a meanes to betray us。 There is a Well…pit hard
by； answered the other； with a pulley and bucket descending downe into
it； and there we may wash him from this filthinesse。 To the Well…pit
they came； where they found the rope and pulley hanging readie； but
the bucket for safety was taken away； whereon they concluded； to
fasten the rope about him； and so let him downe into the Well…pit； and
when he had washed himselfe； hee should wagge the rope； and then
they would draw him up againe； which accordingly they forthwith
performed。
Now it came to passe； that while he was thus washing himselfe in the
Well…pit； the Watch of the Citie walking the round； and finding it
to bee a very hote and sweltring night； they grew dry and thirsty； and
therefore went to the Well to drinke。 The other two men； perceiving
the Watch so neere upon them； left Andrea in the pit to shift for
himselfe； running away to shelter themselves。 Their flight was not
discovered by the Watch； but they comming to the Wellpit； Andrea
remained still in the bottome； and having cleansed himselfe so well as
hee could； sate wagging the rope； expecting when hee should be haled
up。 This dumbe signe the Watch discerned not； but sitting downe by the
Welles side； they layde downe their Billes and other weapons；
tugging to draw up the rope； thinking the Bucket was fastened thereto；
and full of water。 Andrea being haled up to the Pits brim； left
holding the rope any longer； catching fast hold with his hands for his
better safety； and the Watch at the sight hereof being greatly
agrighted； as thinking that they had dragd up a Spirit； not daring
to speake one word； ran away with all the hast they could make。
Andrea hereat was not a little amazed； so that if he had not taken
very good hold on the brim： he might have falne to the bottome； and
doubtlesse there his life had perished。 Being come forth of the
Well； and treading on Billes and Halbards； which he well knew that his
companions had not brought thither with them； his mervaile so much the
more encreased； ignorance and feare still seizing him； with silent
bemoaning his many