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Caracalla。 This Henriet held the government of the Kingdome of Sicily；
and understanding that King Charles the first； had wonne the battle at
Beneventum； and slaine King Manfred； the whole Kingdome revolting also
to his devotion； and little trust to be reposed in the Sicillians；
or he willing to subject himselfe to his Lordes enemie； provided for
his secret flight from thence。 But this being discovered to the
Sicillians； he and many more； who had beene loyall servants to King
Manfred； were suddenly taken and imprisoned by King Charles； and the
sole possession of the Iland confirmed to him。
Madam Beritola not knowing （in so sudden and strange an alteration
of State affaires） what was become of her Husband； fearing also
greatly before； those inconveniences which afterward followed； being
overcome with many passionate considerations； having left and forsaken
all her goods； going aboord a small Barke with a Sonne of hers； aged
about some eight yeeres； named Geoffrey； and growne great with child
with another； she fled thence to Lapary； where she was brought to
bed of another Sonne； whom she named （answerable both to his and her
hard fortune；） The poore expelled。
Having provided her selfe of a Nurse； they altogether went aboard
againe； setting sayle for Naples to visit her Parents； but it
chanced quite contrary to her expectation； because by stormie windes
and weather； the vessell being bound for Naples； was hurried to the
Ile of Ponzo； where entring into a small Port of the Sea； they
concluded to make their aboade； till a time more furtherous should
favour their voyage。
As the rest； so did Madam Beritola goe on shore in the Iland；
where having found a separate and solitary place； fit for her silent
and sad meditations； secretly by her selfe； shee sorrowed for the
absence of her husband。 Resorting daily to this her sad exercise；
and continuing there her complaints； unseene by any of the
Marriners； or whosoever else： there arrived suddenly a Galley of
Pyrates； who seazing on the small Barke； carried it and all the rest
in it away with them。 When Beritola had finished het wofull
complaints； as daily shee was accustomed to doe； shee returned backe
to her children againe； but find no person there remayning； whereat
she wondered not a little： immediately （suspecting what had happened
indeede） she lent her lookes on the Sea； and saw the Galley； which
as yet had not gone farre； drawing the smaller vessell after her。
Hereby plainly she perceyved； that now she had lost her children； as
formerly shee had done her husband； being left there poore；
forsaken； and miserable； not knowing when； where； or how to finde
any of them againe； and calling for her Husband and Children； shee
fell downe in a swound uppon the shore。
Now was not any body neere； with coole water or any other remedy
to helpe the recovery of her lost powers； wherefore her spirits
might the more freely wander at their owne pleasure： but after they
were returned backe againe； and had won their wonted offices in her
body； drowned in teares； and wringing her hands； she did nothing but
call for her children and husband； straying all about in hope to finde
them； seeking in caves； dens； and every where else； that presented the
verie least glimpse of comfort。 But when she saw all her paines sort
to no purpose； and darke night drawing swiftly on； hope and dismay
raising infinite perturbations； made her yet to be somewhat respective
of her selfe； and therefore departing from the sea…shore； she returned
to the solitary place； where she used to sigh and mourne alone by
her selfe。
The night being over…past with infinite feares and afrights； and
bright day saluting the world againe； with the expence of nine
houres and more； she fell to her former fruitlesse travailes。 Being
somewhat sharply bitten with hunger； because the former day and
night shee had not tasted any foode： shee made therefore a benefit
of necessity； and fed on the greene hearbes so well as she could；
not without any piercing afflictions； what should become of her in
this extraordinary misery。 As shee walked in these pensive
meditations； she saw a Goate enter into a Cave； and （within a while
after） come forth againe； wandring along thorow the woods。 Whereupon
she stayed； and entred where she saw the beast issue foorth； where she
found two young Kids； yeaned （as it seemed） the selfesame day； which
sight was very pleasing to her； and nothing in that distresse could
more content her。
As yet； she had milke freshly running in both her brests； by
reason of her so late delivery in child bed； wherefore shee lay
downe unto the two yong Kids； and taking them tenderly in her armes；
suffered each of them to sucke a teate； whereof they made not any
refusall； but tooke them as lovingly as their dammes； and from that
time forward； they made no distinguishing betweene their damme and
her。 Thus this unfortunate Lady； having found some company in this
solitary desart； fed on herbes and roots； drinking faire running
water； and weeping silently to her selfe； so often as she remembred
her husband； children； and former dayes past in much better manner。
Heere she resolved now to live and dye； being at last deprived both of
the damme and yonger Kids also； by theyr wandering further into the
neere adjoyning Woods； according to their naturall inclinations；
whereby the poore distressed Ladie became more savage and wilde in her
daily conditions； then otherwise shee would have bene。
After many monthes were over…passed； at the very same place where
she tooke landing； by chance； there arrived another small vessell of
certaine Pisans； which remained there divers daies。 In this Barke
was a Gentleman； named Conrado de Marchesi Malespini； with his holy
and vertuous wife； who were returned backe from a Pilgrimage； having
visited all the sanctified places that then were in the kingdome of
Apulia； and now were bound homeward to their owne abiding。 This
Gentleman； for the expelling of melancholly perturbations； one
especiall day amongst other； with his wife； servants； and wainting
hounds； wandred up into the Iland not far from the place of Madam
Beritolaes desert dwelling。 The hounds questing after game； at last
happened on the two Kids where they were feeding； and （by this time）
had attained to indifferent growth； and finding themselves thus
pursued by the hounds； fled to no other part of the wood； then to
the cave where Beritola remained； and seeming as if they sought to
be rescued only by her； she sodainly caught up a staffe； and forced
the hounds thence to flight。
By this time； Conrado and his wife； who had followed closely after
the hounds； was come thither； and seeing what had hapned； looking on
the Lady； who was become blacke； swarthy； meager； and hairy； they
wondered not a little at her； and she a great deale more at them。 When
（uppon her request） Conrado had checkt backe his hounds； they
prevailed so much by earnest intreaties； to know what she was； and the
reason of her living there； that she intirely related her quality；
unfortunate accidents； and strange determination for living there。
Which when the Gentleman had heard； who very well knew her husband；
compassion forced teares from his eyes； and earnestly he laboured by
kinde perswasions； to alter so cruell a deliberation； making an
honourable offer； for conducting her home to his owne dwelling；
where shee should remaine with him in noble respect； as if she were
his owne sister； without parting from him； till Fortune should smile
as fairely on her； as ever she had done before。
When these gentle offers could not prevaile with her； the
Gentleman left his wife in her company； saying； that he would go fetch
some foode for her； and because her garments were all rent and
torne； hee would bring her other of his wives； not doubting but to
winne her thence with them。 His wife abode there with Beritola；
verie much bemoaning her great disasters： and when both viands and
garments were brought； by extremitie of intercession； they caused
her to put them on； and also to feede with them； albeit shee
protested； that shee would not part thence into any place； where any
knowledge should be