THE FIRST NOVELL

 

      WHEREIN IS SIGNIFIED, HOW EASIE A THING IT IS, FOR WICKED MEN

      TO DECEIVE THE WORLD, UNDER THE SHADOW AND COLOUR OF MIRACLES:

         AND THAT SUCH TREACHERY (OFTENTIMES) REDOUNDETH TO

                       THE HARME OF THE DEVISER

 

  Martellino counterfeitting to be lame of his members, caused

himselfe to be set on the body of Saint Arriguo, where he made shew of

his sudden recovery; but when his dissimulation was discovered, he was

well beaten, being afterward taken prisoner, and in great danger of

being hanged and strangled by the necke, and yet he escaped in the

end.

 

  Faire Ladies, it hath happened many times, that he who striveth to

scorne and floute other men, and especially in occasions deserving

to be respected, proveth to mocke himselfe with the selfe same matter,

yea, and to his no meane danger beside. As you shall perceive by a

Tale, which I intend to tell you, obeying therein the command of our

Queene, and according to the subject by her enjoyned. In which

discourse, you may first observe, what great mischance happened to one

our Citizens; and yet afterward, how (beyond all hope) he happily

escaped.

  Not long since, there lived in the City of Trevers, an Almaine or

Germaine, named Arriguo, who being a poore man, served as a Porter, or

burden-bearer for money, when any man pleased to employ him. And

yet, notwithstanding his poore and meane condition, he was generally

reputed, to be of good and sanctified life. In which regard (whether

it were true or no, I know not) it happened, that when he died (at

least as the men of Trevers themselves affirmed) in the very instant

houre of his departing, all the Belles in the great Church of Trevers,

(not being pulled by the helpe of any hand) beganne to ring: which

being accounted for a miracle, every one saide; that this Arriguo

had bene, and was a Saint. And presently all the people of the City

ran to the house where the dead body lay, and carried it (as a

sanctified body) into the great Church, where people, halt, lame,

and blind, or troubled with any other diseases, were brought about it,

even as if every one should forth-with be holpen, onely by their

touching the body.

  It came to passe, that in so great a concourse of people, as

resorted thither from all parts; three of our Citizens went to

Trevers, one of them being named Stechio, the second Martellino, and

the third Marquiso, all being men of such condition, as frequented

Princes Courts, to give them delight by pleasant and counterfetted

qualities. None of these men having ever beene at Trevers before,

seeing how the people crowded thorow the streetes, wondered greatly

thereat: but when they knew the reason why the throngs ranne on heapes

in such sort together, they grew as desirous to see the Shrine, as any

of the rest. Having ordered all affaires at their lodging, Marquiso

saide; It is fit for us to see this Saint, but I know not how we shall

attaine thereto, because (as I have heard) the place is guarded by

Germaine Souldiers, and other warlike men, commanded thither by the

Governour of this City, least any outrage should be there committed:

And beside, the Church is so full of people, as we shall never

compasse to get neere. Martellino being also as forward in desire to

see it, presently replied. All this difficulty cannot dismay me, but I

will go to the very body of the Saint it selfe. But how? quoth

Marquiso. I will tell thee, answered Martellino. I purpose to go in

the disguise of an impotent lame person, supported on the one side

by thy selfe, and on the other by Stechio, as if I were not able to

walke of my selfe: And you two thus sustaining me, desiring to come

neere the Saint to cure me; every one will make way, and freely give

you leave to go on.

  This devise was very pleasing to Marquiso and Stechio, so that

(without any further delaying) they all three left their lodging,

and resorting into a secret corner aside, Martellino so writhed and

mishaped his hands, fingers, and armes, his legges, mouth, eyes, and

whole countenance, that it was a dreadfull sight to looke upon him,

and whosoever beheld him, would verily have imagined, that hee was

utterly lame of his limbes, and greatly deformed in his body. Marquiso

and Stechio, seeing all sorted so well as they could wish, tooke and

led him towards the Church, making very pitious moane, and humbly

desiring (for Gods sake) of every one that they met, to grant them

free passage: whereto they charitably condiscended.

  Thus leading him on, crying; Beware there before, and give way for

Gods sake, they arrived at the body of Saint Arriguo, that (by his

helpe) he might be healed. And while all eyes were diligently

observing, what miracle would be wrought on Martellino, he having

sitten a small space upon the Saints body, and being sufficiently

skilfull in counterfeiting, began first to extend forth the one of his

fingers, next his hand, then his arme, and so (by degrees) the rest of

his body. Which when the people saw, they made such a wonderfull noyse

in praise of Saint Arriguo, even as if it had thundered in the Church.

  Now it chanced by ill fortune, that there stood a Florentine neere

to the body, who knew Martellino very perfectly; but appearing so

monstrously mishapen, when he was brought into the Church, hee could

take no knowledge of him. But when he saw him stand up and walke,

hee knew him then to be the man indeede; whereupon he saide. How

commeth it to passe, that this fellow should be so miraculously cured,

that never truly was any way impotent? Certaine men of the City

hearing these words, entred into further questioning with him,

demanding, how he knew that the man had no such imperfection? Well

enough (answered the Florentine) I know him to be as direct in his

limbes and body, as you; I, or any of us all are: but indeede, he

knowes better how to dissemble counterfet trickes, then any man else

that ever I saw.

  When they heard this, they discoursed no further with the

Florentine, but pressed on mainely to the place where Martellino

stood, crying out aloude. Lay hold on this Traytor, a mocker of God,

and his holy Saints, that had no lamenesse in his limbes; but to

make a mocke of our Saint and us, came hither in false and counterfeit

manner. So laying hands uppon him, they threw him against the

ground, having him by the haire on his head, and tearing the

garments from his backe, spurning him with their feete, and beating

him with their fists, that many were much ashamed to see it.

  Poore Martellino was in a pittifull case, crying out for mercy,

but no man would heare him; for, the more he cryed, the more still

they did beat him, as meaning to leave no life in him: which Stechio

and Marquiso seeing, considered with themselves, that they were

likewise in a desperate case; and therefore, fearing to be as much

misused, they cryed out among the rest, Kill the counterfet knave, lay

on loade, and spare him not; neverthelesse, they tooke care how to get

him out of the peoples handes, as doubting, least they would kill

him indeede, by their extreame violence.

  Sodainly, Marquiso bethought him how to do it, and proceeded thus.

All the Sergeants for Justice standing at the Church doore, hee ran

with all possible speede to the Potestates Lieutenant, and said unto

him. Good my Lord Justice, helpe me in an hard case; yonder is a

villaine that hath cut my purse, I desire he may bee brought before

you, that I may have my money againe. He hearing this, sent for a

dozen of the Sergeants, who went to apprehend unhappy Martellino,

and recover him from the peoples fury, leading him on with them to the

Palace, no meane crowds thronging after him, when they heard that he

was accused to bee a Cutpurse. Now durst they meddle no more with him,

but assisted the Officers; some of them charging him in like manner,

that hee had cut their purses also.

  Upon these clamours and complaints, the Potestates Lieutenant (being

a man of rude quality) tooke him sodainly aside, and examined him of

the crimes wherewith he was charged. But Martellino, as making no

account of these accusations, laughed, and returned scoffing answeres.

Whereat the Judge, waxing much displeased, delivered him over to the

Strappado, and stood by himselfe, to have him confesse the crimes

imposed on him, and then to hang him afterward. Being let downe to the

ground, the Judge still demaunded of him, whether the accusations

against him were true, or no? Affirming, that it nothing avayled him

to deny it: whereupon hee thus spake to the Judge. My Lord, I am heere

ready before you, to confesse the truth; but I pray you, demaund of

all them that accuse me, when and where I did cut their purses, and

then I wil tell you that, which (as yet) I have not done, otherwise

I purpose to make you no more answers.

 Well (quoth the Judge) thou requirest but reason; and calling

divers of the accusers, one of them saide, that he lost his purse

eight dayes before; another saide six, another foure, and some saide

the very same day. Which Martellino hearing, replyed. My Lord, they

all lie in their throats, as I will plainly prove before you. I

would to God I had never set foot within this City, as it is not

many houres since my first entrance, and presently after mine

arrivall, I went (in evill houre I may say for me) to see the Saints

body, where I was thus beaten as you may beholde. That all this is

true which I say unto you, the Seigneurie Officer that keeps your

Booke of presentations, will testifie for me, as also the Host where I

am lodged. Wherefore good my Lord, if you finde all no otherwise, then

as I have said, I humbly entreate you, that upon these bad mens

reportes and false informations, I may not be thus tormented, and

put in perill of my life.

  While matters proceeded in this manner, Marquiso and Stechio,

understanding how roughly the Potestates Lieutenant dealt with

Martellino, and that he had already given him the Strappado; were in

heavy perplexity, saying to themselves; we have carried this businesse

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.