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THE FIRST DAY, THE FIRST NOVELL
WHEREIN IS CONTAINED, HOW HARD A THING IT IS, TO DISTINGUISH
GOODNESSE FROM HYPOCRISIE; AND HOW (UNDER THE SHADOW OF HOLINESSE)
THE WICKEDNESSE OF ONE MAN, MAY DECEIVE MANY
Messire Chappelet du Prat, by making a false confession, beguyled
an holy Religious man, and after dyed. And having (during his life
time) bene a very bad man, at his death, was reputed for a saint,
and called S. Chappelet.
It is a matter most convenient (deare Ladies) that a man ought to
begin whatsoever he doth, in the great and glorious name of him, who
was the Creator of all things. Wherefore, seeing that I am the man
appointed, to begin this your invention of discoursing Novelties: I
intend to begin also with one of his wonderfull workes. To the end,
that this being heard, our hope may remaine on him, as the thing onely
permanent, and his name for ever to be praised by us. Now, as there is
nothing more certaine, but that even as temporall things are mortall
and transitory, so are they both in and out of themselves, full of
sorrow, paine, and anguish, and subjected to infinite dangers: So in
the same manner, we live mingled among them, seeming as part of
them, and cannot (without some error) continue or defend our selves,
if God by his especiall grace and favour, give us not strength and
good understanding. Which power we may not beleeve, that either it
descendeth to us, or liveth in us, by any merites of our owne; but
of his onely most gracious benignity. Mooved neverthelesse and
entreated by the intercessions of them, who were (as we are)
mortals; and having diligently observed his commandements, are now
with him in eternall blessednes. To whom (as to advocates and
procurators, informed by the experience of our frailty) wee are not to
present our prayers in the presence of so great a Judge; but onely
to himselfe, for the obtaining of all such things as his wisedome
knoweth to be most expedient for us. And well may we credit, that
his goodnesse is more fully enclined towards us, in his continuall
bounty and liberality; then the subtilty of mortall eye, can reach
into the secret of so divine a thought: and sometimes therefore we may
be beguiled in opinion, by electing such and such as our intercessors
before his high Majesty, who perhaps are farre off from him, or driven
into perpetuall exile, as unworthy to appeare in so glorious a
presence. For he, from whom nothing can be hidden, more regardeth
the sincerity of him that prayeth, then ignorant devotion, committed
to the trust of a heedlesse intercessor; and such prayers have alwaies
gracious acceptation in his sight. As manifestly will appeare, by
the Novell which I intend to relate; manifestly (I say) not as in
the judgement of God, but according to the apprehension of men.
There was one named, Musciatto Francesi, who from beeing a most rich
and great Merchant in France, was become a Knight, and preparing to
goe into Tuscany, with Mounsieur Charles without Land, Brother to
the King of France (who was desired and incited to come thither by
Pope Boniface) found his affaires greatly intricated heere and there
(as oftentimes the matters of Merchants fall out to bee) and that very
hardly hee should sodainly unintangle them, without referring the
charge of them to divers persons. And for all he tooke indifferent
good order, onely he remained doubtfull, whom he might sufficiently
leave, to recover his debts among many Burgundians. And the rather was
his care the more heerein, because he knew the Burgundians to be
people of badde nature, rioters, brablers, full of calumny, and
without any faithfulnesse: so that he could not bethinke himselfe of
any man (how wicked soever he was) in whom he might repose trust to
meete with their lewdnesse. Having a long while examined his
thoughts upon this point, at last hee remembred one Master Chappelet
du Prat, who ofttimes had resorted to his house in Paris. And
because he was a man of little stature, yet handsome enough, the
French not knowing what this word Chappelet might meane, esteeming
he should be called rather (in their tongue) Chappell; imagined,
that in regard of his small stature, they termed him Chappelet, and
not Chappell, and so by the name of Chappelet he was every where
known, and by few or none acknowledged for Chappell.
This Master Chappelet, was of so good and commendable life; that,
being a Notarie, he held it in high disdaine, that any of his
Contractes (although he made but few) should be found without
falshoode. And looke how many soever hee dealt withall, he would be
urged and required thereto, offering them his paines and travaile
for nothing, but to bee requited otherwise then by money; which
prooved to bee his much larger recompencing, and returned to him the
farre greater benefit. Hee tooke the onely pleasure of the world, to
beare false witnesse, if hee were thereto entreated, and
(oftentimes) when hee was not requested at all. Likewise because in
those times, great trust and beleefe was given to an oath, he making
no care or conscience to be perjured: greatly advantaged himselfe by
Law suites, in regard that many matters relyed upon his oath, and
delivering the truth according to his knowledge.
He delighted (beyond measure) and addicted his best studies, to
cause enmities and scandals betweene kindred and friends, or any other
persons, agreeing well together; and the more mischiefe he could
procure in this kind, so much the more pleasure and delight tooke he
therein. If he were called to kill any one, or to do any other
villanous deede, he never would make deniall, but go to it very
willingly; and divers times it was well knowen, that many were cruelly
beaten, ye slaine by his hands. Hee was a most horrible blasphemer
of God and his Saints, upon the very least occasion, as being more
addicted to choller, then any other man could be. Never would he
frequent the Church, but basely contemned it, with the Sacraments
and religious rites therein administred, accounting them for vile
and unprofitable things: but very voluntarily would visit Tavernes,
and other places of dishonest accesse, which were continually pleasing
unto him, to satisfie his lust and inordinate lubricitie. Hee would
steale both in publike and private, even with such a conscience, as if
it were given to him by nature so to do. He was a great glutton and
a drunkarde, even he was not able to take any more: being also a
continuall gamester, and carrier of false Dice, to cheate with them
the very best Friends he had.
But why do I waste time in such extent of words? When it may suffice
to say, that never was there a worse man borne; whose wickednesse
was for long time supported, by the favour, power, and Authoritie of
Monsieur Musciatto, for whose sake many wrongs and injuries were
patiently endured, as well by private persons (whom hee would abuse
notoriously) as others of the Court, betweene whom he made no
difference at all in his vile dealing. This Master Chappelet, being
thus remembred by Musciatto (who very well knew his life and
behaviour) he perfectly perswaded himselfe, that this was a man apt in
all respects, to meete with the treachery of the Burgundians:
whereupon, having sent for him, thus he beganne.
Chappelet, thou knowest how I am wholly to retreate my selfe from
hence, and having some affaires among the Burgundians, men full of
wickednesse and deceite; I can bethinke my selfe of no meeter a man
then Chappelet, to recover such debts as are due to mee among them.
And because it falleth out so well, that thou art not now hindered
by any other businesse; if thou wilt undergoe this office for me, I
will procure thee favourable Letters from the Court, and give thee a
reasonable portion in all thou recoverest. Master Chappelet, seeing
himselfe idle, and greedy after worldly goods, considering that
Mounsieur Musciatto (who had beene alwayes his best buckler) was now
to depart from thence, without any dreaming on the matter, and
constrained thereto (as it were) by necessity, set downe his
resolution, and answered, that hee would gladly doe it.
Having made their agreement together, and received from Musciatto
his expresse procuration, and also the Kings gracious Letters; after
that Musciatto was gone on his journey, Master Chappelet went to
Dijon, where he was unknowne (well-neere) of any. And there (quite
from his naturall disposition) he beganne benignely and graciously, in
recovering the debts due; which course he tooke the rather, because
they should have a further feeling of him in the end. Being lodged
in the house of two Florentine brethren, that living on their monies
usance; and (for Mounsieur Musciattoes sake) using him with honour and
respect: it fortuned that he fell sicke, and the two brethren sent for
Physitions to attend him, allowing their servants to be diligent about
him, making no spare of any thing, which gave the best likelyhood of
restoring his health. But all their paines proved to no purpose,
because he (honest man) being now growne aged, and having lived all
his life time very disorderly, fell day by day (according to the
Physicions judgement) from bad to worse, as no other way appeared
but death, whereat the brethren greatly grieved.
Upon a day, neere to the Chamber where the sicke man lay, they
entred into this communication. What shall we doe (quoth the one to
the other) with this man? We are much hindered by him: for to send him
away (sicke as he is) we shall be greatly blamed thereby, and it
will be a manifest note of our weake wisedome; the people knowing that
first of all we gave him entertainement, and have allowed him honest
physicall attendance, and he not having any way injuried or offended
us, to let him be suddenly expulsed our house (sicke to death as he
is) it can be no way for our credit.
On the other side, we are to consider also, that hee hath bin so
badde a man, as he will not now make any confession thereof, neither
receive the blessed Sacrament of the Church, and dying so without
confession; there is no Church that will accept his body, but it
must be buried in prophane ground, like to a Dogge. And yet if hee
would confesse himselfe, his sinnes are so many and monstrous, as
the like case also may happen, because there is not any Priest or
Religious person, that can or will absolve him. And being not
absolved, he must be cast into some ditch or pit, and then the
people of the Towne, as well in regard of the account we carry
heere, (which to them appeareth so little pleasing, as we are daily
pursued with their worst words) as also coveting our spoile and
overthrow, upon this accident will cry out and mutiny against us;
Behold these Lombard dogs, which are not to be received into the
Church, why should we suffer them to live heere among us? In furious
madnesse will they come upon us, and our house, where (peradventure)
not contended with robbing us of our goods, our lives will remaine
in their mercy and danger; so that, in what sort soever it happen,
this mans dying here, must needs be banefull to us.
Master Chappelet, who (as we have formerly saide) was lodged neere
to the place where they thus conferred, having a subtle attention
(as oftentimes we see sicke persons to be possessed withall) heard all
these speeches spoken of him, and causing them to bee called unto him,
thus hee spake.
I would not have you to be any way doubtfull of me; neither that you
should receive the least damage by me: I have heard what you have
said, and am certaine, that it will happen according to your words, if
matters should fall out as you conceite; but I am minded to deale
otherwise. I have committed so many offences against our Lord God,
in the whole current of my life; that now I intend one action at the
houre of my death, which I trust will make amends for all. Procure
therefore, I pray you, that the most holy and religious man that is to
be found (if there bee any one at all) may come unto me, and referre
the case then to me, for I will deale in such sort for you and my
selfe, that all shall be well, and you no way discontented.
The two Brethren, although they had no great hope in his speeches,
went yet to a Monastery of Gray-Friars, and requested; that some one
holy and learned man, might come to heare the confession of a Lombard,
that lay very weake and sicke in their house. And one was granted unto
them, being an aged religious Frier, a great read master in the sacred
Scripture, a very venerable person, who being of good and sanctified
life, all the Citizens held him in great respect and esteeme, and on
hee went with them to their house. When he was come up into the
Chamber where Master Chappelet lay, and being there seated downe by
him; he beganne first to comfort him very lovingly, demanding also
of him, how many times he had bin at confession? Whereto Master
Chappelet (who never had bin shrived in all his life time) thus
replied.
Holy Father, I alwayes used (as a common custome) to bee confessed
once (at the least) every weeke, albeit sometimes much more often; but
true it is, that being falne into this sicknesse, now eight daies
since I have not beene confest, so violent hath bene the extremity
of my weaknesse. My sonne (answered the good old man) thou hast done
well, and so keep thee still hereafter in that minde: but I plainly
perceive, seeing thou hast so often confessed thy selfe, that I
shall take the lesse labour in urging questions to thee.
Master Chappelet replyed; Say not so good Father, for albeit I
have bene so oftentimes confessed, yet am I willing now to make a
generall confession, even of all sinnes comming to my remembrance,
from the very day of my birth, until this instant houre of my
shrift. And therefore I entreat you (holy Father) to make a particular
demand of everie thing, even as if I had never bene confessed at
