The decameron containing an hundred pleasant nouels. Wittily discoursed, betweene seauen honourable ladies, and three noble gentlemen.

Martellino counterfetting to be lame of his members, caused himselfe to be set on the body of Saint Arriguo, where he made shew of his sudden recouery; but when his dissimulation was discouered, he was well beaten, being after∣ward taken prisoner, and in great danger of being hanged and strangled by the necke, and yet he escaped in the ende.

The first Nouell.

Wherein is signified, how easie a thing it is, for wicked men to deceiue the world, vnder the shadow and colour of miracles: and that such trechery (oftentimes) redoundeth to the harme of the deuiser.

FAire Ladies, it hath happened many times, that hee who striueth to scorne and floute other men, and especially in occasions deseruing to be respected, proueth to mocke himselfe with the selfe-same matter, yea, and to his no meane danger beside. As you shall perceiue by a Tale, which I intend to tell you, obeying therein the command of our Queene, and according to the subiect by her enioyned. In which discourse, you may first obserue, what great mischance happened to one of our Citizens; and yet afterward, how (beyond all hope) he happily escaped.

Not long since there liued in the City of Treuers, an Almaine or Ger∣maine, named Arriguo, who being a poore man, serued as a Porter, or bur∣den-bearer for money, when any man pleased to employ him. And yet, notwithstanding his poore and meane condition, he was generally repu∣ted, 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 Treuers themselues affirmed) in the very instant houre of his de∣parting, all the Belles in the great Church of Treuers, (not being pulled by the helpe of any hand) beganne to ring: which being accounted for a miracle, euery one saide; that this Arriguo had been, 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 peo∣ple, halt, lame, and blinde, or troubled with any other diseases, were brought about it, euen as if euery one should forth-with be holpen, onely by their touching the bodie.

It came to passe; that in so great a concourse of people, as resorted thi∣ther from all parts; three of our Cittizens went to Treuers, one of them being named Stechio, the second Martellino, and the third Marquiso, all being men of such condition, as frequented Princes Courts, to giue them delight by pleasant & counterfeited qualities. None of these men hauing euer beene at Treuers before, seeing how the people crowded thorow the streetes, wondred 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. Hauing ordered all affaires at their lodging, Marquiso saide; It is fit for vs to see this Saint, but I know not how we shall attaine thereto, because (as I haue heard) the place is guar∣ded by Germane Souldiers, and other warlike men, commanded thither

by the Gouernours of this City, least any outrage should be there com∣mitted: And beside, the Church is so full of people, as wee shall neuer 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 goe to the very body of the Saint it selfe. But how? quoth Marquiso. I will tell thee, answered Martellino. I purpose to goe 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 su∣staining me, desiring to come neere the Saint to cure me; euery one will make way, and freely giue you leaue to goe on.

This deuise 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, fin∣gers, and armes, his legges, mouth, eyes, and whole countenance, that it was a dreadfull sight to looke vpon him, and whosoeuer beheld him, would verily haue imagined, that hee was vtterly 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 euery one that they met, to grant them free passage, whereto they charitably condis∣cended.

Thus leading him on, crying still; Beware there before, and giue way for Gods sake, they arriued at the body of Saint Arriguo, that (by his helpe) he might be healed. And while all eyes were diligently obseruing, what miracle would be wrought on Martellino, hee hauing sitten a small space vpon the Saints bodie, and being sufficiently skilfull in counterfeiting; be∣ganne first to extend for 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, euen as if it had thundered in the Chu••ch.

Now it chanced by ill fortune, that there stood a Florentine neere to the body, who knew Martellino very perfectly; but appearing so monstrou∣sly mishapen, when he was brought into the Church, hee could take no knowledge of him. But when he saw him stand vp 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 neuer 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 Floren∣tine) I know him to be as direct in his limbes and body, as you; I, or any of vs all are: but indeede, he knowes better how to dissemble counterfet trickes, then any man else that euer 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 a∣loude. Lay holde 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

vs, came hither in false and counterfet manner. So laying hands vppon him, they threw him against the ground, haling him by the haire on his head, and tearing the garments from his backe, spurning him vvith 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 cried, the more stil they did beat him, as meaning to leaue no life in him, which Stechio and Marquiso see∣ing, considered with themselues, that they were likewise in a desperate case; and therfore, fearing to be as much misvsed, they cryed out among the rest; Kill the counterfet knaue, lay on loade, and spare him not; ne∣uerthelesse, they tooke care how to get him out of the peoples handes, as doubting, least they would kill him indeede, by their extreame vio∣lence.

Sodainly, Marquiso bethought him how to do it, and proceeded thus. All the Sergeants for Iustice standing at the Church doore, hee ran with all possible speede to the Potestates Lieutenant, and said vnto him. Good my Lord Iustice, 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 haue my money againe. He hearing this, sent for a dozen of the Sergeants, who went to apprehend vnhappy Martellino, and recouer 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 Cut∣purse. Now durst they meddle no more with him, but assisted the Of∣ficers; some of them charging him in like manner, that he had cut theyr purses also.

Vpon these clamours and complaints, the Potestates Lieutenant (be∣ing 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 Iudge, waxing much displeased, deliuered him ouer to the Strappado, and stood by himselfe, to haue him confesse the crimes im∣posed on him, and then to hang him afterward. Beeing let downe to the ground, the Iudge still demaunded of him, whether the accusations a∣gainst him were true, or no? Affirming, that it nothing auayled him to deny it: whereupon hee thus spake to the Iudge. 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, & then I wil tell you that, which (as yet) I haue not done, otherwise I purpose to make you no more answers.

Well (quoth the Iudge) thou requirest but reason; & calling diuers of the accusers, one of them saide, that he lost his purse eight dayes be∣fore; another saide six, another foure, and some saide the very same day. Which Martellino hearing, replyed. My Lord, they al lie in their throats, as I will plainly proue before you. I would to God I had neuer set foote within this City, as it is not many houres since my first entrance, and pre∣sently

after mine arriuall, I went (in an euill 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 vnto you, the Seigneuries 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 haue said, I humbly entreate you, that vpon 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, vn∣derstanding how roughly the Potestates Lieutenant dealt with Martellino and that he had already giuen him the Strappado; were in heauy per∣plexity, saying to themselues; we haue 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, & 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 Treuers, and was in great cre∣dite 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 seruice, went with him to the Lord of Treuers; preuailing so vvell with him, that he sent to haue Martellino brought before him. The Messengers that went for him, found him standing in his shirt before the Iudge, very shrewdly shaken with the Strappado, trembling and quaking pittifully. For the Iudge would not heare any thing in his excuse; but hating him (perhaps) because hee was a Florentine: flatly determined to haue him hangde by the necke, and would not deliuer him to the Lorde, vntill in meere despight he was compeld to do it.

The Lord of Treuers, when Martellino came before him, and had ac∣quainted him truly with euery 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 han∣ging. The Lord, smiling (a long while) at the accident, & causing Mar∣tellino to be handsomely apparrelled, deliuering them also his Passe, they escaped out of further danger, and tarried no where, till they came vnto Florence.

Notes

• Or Arrigo.