together this very night, to steale it thence, and carry it home to
their house, as accordingly they did; finding it somewhat heavy, and
therefore imagining, that matter of woorth was contained therein. In
the Chamber where their wives lay, they left it; and so without any
further search till the next morning, they laid them downe to rest
likewise.
Ruggiero, who had now slept a long while, the drinke being digested,
and the vertue thereof fully consummated; began to awake before day.
And although his naturall sleepe was broken, and his senses had
recovered their former power, yet notwithstanding, there remained such
an astonishment in his braine, as not onely did afflict him all the
day following, but also divers dayes and nights afterward. Having
his eyes wide open, and yet not discerning any thing, he stretched
forth his armes every where about him, and finding himselfe to be
enclosed in the Chest, he grew more broad awake, and said to himselfe.
What is this? Where am I? Do I wake or steepe? Full well I remember,
that not long since I was in my sweet-hearts Chamber, and now (me
thinkes) I am mewed up in a Chest. What should I thinke hereof? Is
Master Doctor returned home, or hath some other inconvenience happned,
whereby finding me a sleepe, she was enforced to hide me thus?
Surely it is so, and otherwise it cannot be: wherefore, it is best for
me to lye still, and listen when I can heare any talking in the
Chamber.
Continuing thus a longer while then otherwise he would have done,
because his lying in the bare Chest was somewhat uneasie and
painfull to him; turning divers times on the one side, and then as
often againe on the other, coveting still for ease, yet could not
finde any: at length, he thrust his backe so strongly against the
Chests side, that (it standing on an un-even ground) it began to
totter, and after fell downe. In which fall, it made so loud a
noise, as the women (lying in the beds standing by) awaked, and were
so overcome with feare, that they had not the power to speake one
word. Ruggiero also being affrighted with the Chests fall, and
perceiving how by that meanes it was become open, he thought it
better, least some other sinister fortune should befall him, to be
at open liberty, then inclosed up so strictly. And because he knew not
where he was, as also hoping to meete with his Mistresse; he went
all about groping in the darke, to find either some staires or
doore, whereby to get forth.
When the Women (being then awake) heard his trampling, as also his
justling against the doores and windowes; they demaunded, Who was
there? Ruggiero, not knowing their voyces, made them no answer;
wherefore they called to their husbands, who lay very soundly sleeping
by them, by reason of their so late walking abroad, and therefore
heard not this noise in the house. This made the Women much more
timorous, and therefore rising out of their beddes, they opened the
Casement towards the streete, crying out aloude, Theeves, Theeves. The
neighbours arose upon this outcry, running up and downe from place
to place, some engirting the house, and others entering into it: by
means of which troublesome noise, the two Lombards awaked, and seizing
there upon poore Ruggiero (who was well-neere affrighted out of his
wittes, at so strange an accident, and his owne ignorance, how he
happened thither, and how to escape from them) he stood gazing on them
without any answer.
By this time, the Sergeants and other Officers of the City,
ordinarily attending on the Magistrate, being raised by the tumult
of this uproare, were come into the house, and had poore Ruggiero
committed unto their charge: who bringing him before the Governor, was
forthwith called in question, and known to be of a most wicked life, a
shame to all his friends and kindred. He could say little for
himselfe, never denying his taking in the house, and therefore
desiring to finish all his fortunes together, desperately confessed,
that he came with a fellonious intent to rob them, and the Governor
gave him sentence to be hanged.
Soone were the newes spread throughout Salerne; that Ruggiero was
apprehended, about robbing the house of the two usuring Lombardes:
which when Mistresse Doctor and her Chamber-maide heard, they were
confounded with most strange admiration, and scarsely credited what
they themselves had done the night before, but rather imagined all
matters past, to be no more than meerely a dreame, concerning
Ruggieroes dying in the house, and their putting him into the Chest,
so that by no likely or possible meanes, he could be the man in this
perillous extreamitie.
In a short while after, Master Doctor Mazzeo was returned from
Malfy, to proceede in his cure of the poore mans legge; and calling
for his glasse of Water, which he left standing in his owne Chamber
window, it was found quite empty, and not a drop in it: whereat he
raged so extreamly, as never had the like impatience bene noted in
him. His wife, and her Maide, who had another kinde of businesse in
their braine, about a dead man so strangely come to life againe,
knew not well what to say; but at the last, his Wife thus replyed
somewhat angerly. Sir (quoth she) what a coyle is here about a
paltry glasse of Water, which perhaps hath bene spilt, yet neyther
of us faulty therein? Is there no more such water to be had in the
world? Alas deere Wife (saide he) you might repute it to be a common
kinde of Water, but indeed it was not so; for I did purposely compound
it, onely to procure a dead seeming sleepe: And so related the whole
matter at large, of the Pacients legge, and his Waters losse.
When she had heard these words of her husband, presently she
conceived, that the water was drunke off by Ruggiero, which had so
sleepily entranced his sences, as they verily thought him to be
dead, wherefore she saide. Beleeve me Sir, you never acquainted us
with any such matter, which would have procured more carefull
respect of it: but seeing it is gone, your skill extendeth to make
more, for now there is no other remedy. While thus Master Doctor and
his Wife were conferring together, the Maide went speedily into the
City, to understand truly, whither the condemned man was Ruggiero, and
what would now become of him. Being returned home againe, and alone
with her Mistresse in the Chamber, thus she spake. Now trust me
Mistresse, not one in the City speaketh well of Ruggiero, who is the
man condemned to dye; and, for ought I can perceive, he hath neither
Kinsman nor Friend that will doe any thing for him; but he is left
with the Provost, and must be executed to morrow morning. Moreover
Mistresse, by such instructions as I have received, I can well-neere
informe you, by what meanes he came to the two Lombards house, if
all be true that I have heard.
You know the joyner before whose doore the Chest stoode, wherein
we did put Ruggiero; there is now a contention betweene him and
another man, to whom (it seemeth) the Chest doth belong; in regard
whereof, they are ready to quarrell extreamly each with other. For the
one owing the Chest, and trusting the joyner to sell it for him, would
have him to pay him for the Chest. The joyner denieth any sale
thereof, avouching, that the last night it was stolne from his
doore. Which the other man contrarying, maintaineth that he solde
the Chest to the two Lombard usurers, as himselfe is able to
affirme, because he found it in the house, when he (being present at
the apprehension of Ruggiero) sawe it there in the same house.
Hereupon, the joyner gave him the lye, because he never sold it to any
man; but if it were there, they had robd him of it, as he would make
it manifest to their faces. Then falling into clamerous speeches
they went together to the Lombardes house, even as I returned home.
Wherefore Mistresse, as you may easily perceive, Ruggiero was
(questionlesse) carried thither in the Chest, and so there found;
but how he revived againe, I cannot comprehend.
The Mistresse understanding now apparantly, the full effect of the
whole businesse, and in what manner it had bene carried, revealed to
the Maide her husbands speeches, concerning the glasse of sleepie
Water, which was the onely engine of all this trouble, clearly
acquitting Ruggiero of the robbery, howsoever (in desparate fury,
and to make an end of a life so contemptible) he had wrongfully
accused himselfe. And notwithstanding this his hard fortune, which
hath made him much more infamous then before, in all the dissolute
behaviour of his life: yet it could not quaile her affection towards
him; but being loath he should dye for some other mans offence, and
hoping his future reformation; she fell on her knees before her
Mistresse, and (drowned in her teares) most earnestly entreated her,
to advise her with some such happy course, as might be the safety of
poore Ruggieroes life. Mistresse Doctor, affecting her Maide
dearely, and plainely perceiving, that no disastrous fortune
whatsoever, could alter her love to condemned Ruggiero; hoping the
best hereafter, as the Maide her selfe did, and willing to save life
rather then suffer it to be lost without just cause, she directed
her in such discreet manner, as you will better conceive by the
successe.
According as she was instructed by her Mistresse, she fell at the
feete of Master Doctor, desiring him to pardon a great error,
whereby she had over-much offended him. As how? said Master Doctor. In
this manner (quoth the Maide) and thus proceeded. You are not ignorant
Sir, what a lewde liver Ruggiero de Jeroly is, and notwithstanding all
his imperfections, how deerely I love him, as he protesteth the like
to me, and thus hath our love continued a yeere, and more. You being
gone to Malfy, and your absence granting me apt opportunity, for
conference with so kinde a friend; I made the bolder, and gave him
entrance into your house, yea even into mine owne Chamber, yet free
from any abuse, neither did he (bad though he be) offer any. Thirsty
he was before his comming thither, either by salt meat, or distempered
diet, and I being unable to fetch him wine or water, by reason my
Mistresse sat in the Hall, seriously talking with her Sisters;
remembred, that I saw a violl of Water standing in your Chamber
Window, which he drinking quite off, I set it empty in the place
againe. I have heard your discontentment for the said Water, and
confesse my fault to you therein: but who liveth so justly, without
offending at one time or other? And I am heartily sory for my
transgression; yet not so much for the water, as the hard fortune that
hath followed thereon; because thereby Ruggiero is in danger to lose
his life, and all my hopes are utterly lost. Let me entreat you
therefore (gentle Master) first to pardon me, and then to grant me
permission, to succour my poore condemned friend, by all the best
meanes I can devise.
When the Doctor had heard all her discourse, angry though he were,
yet thus he answered with a smile. Much better had it bin, if thy
follies punishment had falne on thy selfe, that it might have paide
thee with deserved repentance, upon thy Mistresses finding thee
sleeping. But go and get his deliverance if thou canst, with this
caution, that if ever hereafter he be seene in my house, the perill
thereof shall light on thy selfe. Receiving this answer, for her first
entrance into the attempt, and as her Mistresse had advised her, in
all hast she went to the prison, where she prevailed so well with
the Jaylor, that hee granted her private conference with Ruggiero. She
having instructed him what he should say to the Provost, if he had any
purpose to escape with life; went thither before him to the Provost,
who admitting her into his presence, and knowing that shee was
Master Doctors Maid, a man especially respected of all the City, he
was the more willing to heare her message, he imagining that shee
was sent by her Master.
Sir (quoth shee) you have apprehended Ruggiero de Jeroly, as a
theefe, and judgement of death is (as I heare) pronounced against him:
but hee is wrongfully accused, and is clearly innocent of such a
heinous detection. So entring into the History, she declared every
circumstance, from the originall to the end: relating truly, that
being her Lover, shee brought him into her Masters house, where he
dranke the compounded sleepy water, and reputed for dead, she laide
him in the Chest. Afterward, she rehearsed the speeches betweene the
Joyner, and him that laide claime to the Chest, giving him to
understand thereby, how Ruggiero was taken in the Lombards house.
The Provost presently gathering, that the truth in this case was
easie to be knowne; sent first for Master Doctor Mazzeo, to know,
whether he compounded any such water, or no: which he affirmed to be
true, and upon what occasion he prepared it. Then the Joyner, the
owner of the Chest, and the two Lombards, being severally questioned
withall: it appeared evidently, that the Lombards did steale the Chest
in the night season, and carried it home to their owne house. In the
end, Ruggiero being brought from the prison, and demanded, where he
was lodged the night before, made answer, that he knew not where.
Onely he well remembred, that bearing affection to the Chamber-maide
of Master Doctor Mazzeo della Montagna, she brought him into a
Chamber, where a violl of water stoode in the Window, and he being
extreamly thirsty, dranke it off all. But what became of him afterward
(till being awake, he found himselfe enclosed in a Chest, and in the
house of the two Lombards) he could not say any thing.
When the Provost had heard all their answers, which he caused them
to repeate over divers times, in regard they were very pleasing to
him: he cleared Ruggiero from the crime imposed on him, and
condemned the Lombards in three hundred Ducates, to be given to
Ruggiero in way of an amends, and to enable his marriage with the
Doctors Mayde, whose constancie was much commended, and wrought such a
miracle on penitent Ruggiero; that after his marriage, which was
graced with great and honourable pompe, he regained the intimate
