The Decameron (Day 1 to Day 5)

  Martellino _counterfetting to be lame of his members, caused himselfeto be set on the body of Saint_ Arriguo, _where he made shew of hissudden recovery; but when his dissimulation was discovered, he was wellbeaten, being afterward taken prisoner, and in great danger of beinghanged and strangled by the necke, and yet he escaped in the ende._

  The first Novell.

  _Wherein is signified, how easie a thing it is, for wicked men todeceive the world, under the shadow and colour of miracles: and thatsuch trechery (oftentimes) redoundeth to the harme of the deviser._

  Faire Ladies, it hath happened many times, that hee who striveth toscorne and floute other men, and especially in occasions deserving tobe respected, proveth to mocke himselfe with the selfe-same matter,yea, and to his no meane danger beside. As you shall perceive by aTale, which I intend to tell you, obeying therein the command ofour Queene, and according to the subject by her enjoyned. In whichdiscourse, you may first observe, what great mischance happened to oneof our Citizens; and yet afterward, how (beyond all hope) he happilyescaped.

  Not long since there lived in the City of _Trevers_, an _Almaine_ or_Germaine_, named _Arriguo_, [Sidenote: Or Arrigo.] who being a pooreman, served as a Porter, or burden-bearer for money, when any manpleased to employ him. And yet, notwithstanding his poore and meanecondition, 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_ themselvesaffirmed) in the very instant houre of his departing, all the Belles inthe great Church of _Trevers_, (not being pulled by the helpe of anyhand) beganne to ring: which being accounted for a miracle, every onesaide; that this _Arriguo_ had been, and was a Saint. And presently allthe people of the City ran to the house where the dead body lay, andcarried it (as a sanctified body) into the great Church, where people,halt, lame, and blinde, or troubled with any other diseases, werebrought about it, even as if every 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 resortedthither from all parts; three of our Cittizens went to _Trevers_, oneof them being named _Stechio_, the second _Martellino_, and the third_Marquiso_, all being men of such condition, as frequented PrincesCourts, to give them delight by pleasant & counterfeited qualities.None of these men having ever beene at _Trevers_ before, seeing howthe people crowded thorow the streetes, wondred greatly thereat: butwhen they knew the reason, why the throngs ranne on heapes in suchsort together, they grew as desirous to see the Shrine, as any of therest. 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 attainethereto, because (as I have heard) the place is guarded by GermaneSouldiers, and other warlike men, commanded thither by the Governoursof this City, least any outrage should be there committed: And beside,the Church is so full of people, as wee shall never compasse toget neere. _Martellino_ being also as forward in desire to see it,presently replied: All this difficulty cannot dismay me, but I will goeto the very body of the Saint it selfe. But how? quoth _Marquiso_. Iwill tell thee, answered _Martellino_. I purpose to goe in the disguiseof an impotent lame person, supported on the one side by thy selfe, andon 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 tocure me; every one will make way, and freely give you leave to goe on.

  This devise was very pleasing to _Marquiso_ and _Stechio_, so that(without any further delaying) they all three left their lodging, andresorting into a secret corner aside, _Martellino_ so writhed andmishaped his hands, fingers, and armes, his legges, mouth, eyes, andwhole countenance, that it was a dreadfull sight to looke upon him, andwhosoever beheld him, would verily have imagined, that hee was utterlylame of his limbes, and greatly deformed in his body. _Marquiso_ and_Stechio_, seeing all sorted so well as they could wish, tooke and ledhim 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 still; Beware there before, and give wayfor Gods sake, they arrived at the body of Saint _Arriguo_, that (byhis helpe) he might be healed. And while all eyes were diligentlyobserving, what miracle would be wrought on _Martellino_, hee havingsitten a small space upon the Saints bodie, and being sufficientlyskilfull in counterfeiting; beganne first to extend forth one of hisfingers, next his hand, then his arme, and so (by degrees) the rest ofhis body. Which when the people saw, they made such a wonderfull noysein praise of Saint _Arriguo_, even as if it had thundered in the Church.

  Now it chanced by ill fortune, that there stood a _Florentine_ neereto the body, who knew _Martellino_ very perfectly; but appearing somonstrously misshapen, when he was brought into the Church, hee couldtake no knowledge of him. But when he saw him stand up and walke, heeknew him then to be the man indeede; whereupon he saide. How commethit to passe, that this fellow should be so miraculously cured, thatnever truly was any way impotent? Certaine men of the City hearingthese words, entred into further questioning with him, demanding, howhe knew that the man had no such imperfection? Well enough (answeredthe _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 todissemble counterfeit 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, cryingout aloude. Lay holde on this Traytor, a mocker of God, and his holySaints, that had no lamenesse in his limbes; but to make a mocke of ourSaint and us, came hither in false and counterfeit manner. So layinghands uppon him, they threw him against the ground, haling him by thehaire on his head, and tearing the garments from his backe, spurninghim with their feete, and beating him with their fists, that many weremuch ashamed to see it.

  Poore _Martellino_ was in a pittifull case, crying out for mercy, butno man would heare him; for, the more he cried, the more still theydid beat him, as meaning to leave no life in him, which _Stechio_ and_Marquiso_ seeing, considered with themselves, that they were likewisein a desperate case; and therefore, fearing to be as much misused, theycryed out among the rest; Kill the counterfeit knave, lay on loade, andspare him not; neverthelesse, they tooke care how to get him out ofthe peoples handes, as doubting, least they would kill him indeede, bytheir extreame violence.

  Sodainly, _Marquiso_ bethought him how to do it, and proceeded thus.All the Sergeants for Justice standing at the Church doore, hee ranwith all possible speede to the _Potestates_ Lieutenant, and saidunto him. Good my Lord Justice, helpe me in an hard case; yonder is avillaine that hath cut my purse, I desire he may bee brought beforeyou, that I may have my money againe. He hearing this, sent for adozen of the Sergeants, who went to apprehend unhappy _Martellino_,and recover him from the peoples fury, leading him on with them to thePalace, no meane crowds thronging after him, when they heard that hewas accused to bee a Cut-purse. Now durst they meddle no more with him,but assisted the Officers; some of them charging him in like manner,that he had cut theyr purses also.

  Upon these clamours and complaints, the _Potestates_ Lieutenant (beinga man of rude quality) tooke him sodainly aside, and examined him ofthe crimes wherewith he was charged. But _Martellino_, as making noaccount of these accusations, laughed, and returned scoffing answeres.Whereat the Judge, waxing much displeased, delivered him over to theStrappado, and stood by himselfe, to have him confesse the crimesimposed on him, and then to hang him afterward. Beeing let downe tothe ground, the Judge still demaunded of him, whether the accusationsagainst him were true, or no? Affirming, that it nothing avayled himto deny it: whereupon hee thus spake to the Judge. My Lord, I am heereready before you, to confesse the truth; but I pray you, demaund of allthem that accuse me, when and where I did cut their purses, & then Iwill tell you that, which (as yet) I have not done, otherwise I purposeto make you no more answers.
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  Well (quoth the Judge) thou requirest but reason; & calling divers ofthe accusers, one of them saide, that he lost his purse eight dayesbefore; another saide six, another foure, and some saide the very sameday. Which _Martellino_ hearing, replyed. My Lord, they al lie intheir throats, as I will plainly prove before you. I would to God Ihad never set foote within this City, as it is not many houres sincemy first entrance, and presently after mine arrivall, I went (in anevill houre I may say for me) to see the Saints body, where I was thusbeaten as you may beholde. That all this is true which I say unto you,the Seigneuries Officer that keeps your Booke of presentations, willtestifie for me, as also the Host where I am lodged. Wherefore goodmy Lord, if you finde all no otherwise, then as I have said, I humblyentreate 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 inheavy perplexity, saying to themselves; we have carried this businessevery badly, redeeming him out of the Frying-pan, and flinging him intothe Fire. Whereupon, trudging about from place to place, & meetingat length with their Host, they told him truly how all had happened,whereat hee could not refraine from laughing. Afterward, he went withthem to one Master _Alexander Agolante_, who dwelt in _Trevers_, andwas in great credite with the Cities cheefe Magistrate, to whom heerelated the whole Discourse; all three earnestly entreating him, tocommisserate the case of poore _Martellino_.

  Master _Alexander_, after he had laughed heartily at this hotte peeceof service, went with him to the Lord of _Trevers_; prevailing so wellwith him, that he sent to have _Martellino_ brought before him. TheMessengers that went for him, found him standing in his shirt beforethe Judge, very shrewdly shaken with the Strappado, trembling andquaking pittifully. For the Judge would not heare any thing in hisexcuse; but hating him (perhaps) because hee was a Florentine: flatlydetermined to have him hangde by the necke, and would not deliver himto the Lorde, untill in meere despight he was compeld to do it.

  The Lord of _Trevers_, when _Martellino_ came before him, and hadacquainted him truly with every particular: Master _Alexander_requested, that he might be dispatched thence for _Florence_, becausehe thought the halter to be about his necke, and that there wasno other helpe but hanging. The Lord, smiling (a long while) atthe accident, & causing _Martellino_ to be handsomely apparrelled,delivering them also his Passe, they escaped out of further danger, andtarried no where, till they came unto _Florence_.