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most part） they are all grosse…witted people； rather then any jot
judicious： but I would thou hadst seene me among the Doctors； in
manner as I was wont to be。 In troth Sir； replyed Buffalmaco； you
are much more Learned then ever I imagined； in which respect； speak
unto you as it becommeth me； to a man so excellent in wit and
understanding： I dare assure you； that （without any faile） I wit
procure you to be one of our Company。
After this promise thus made； the good cheare； favors and kindnesses
done by the Doctor to them； was beyond the compasse of all relation：
whereof they made no more then a meere mockery； flouting him to his
face； and yet his Wisedome could not discerne it。 Moreover； they
promised； that they would give him to Wife； the faire Countesse di
Civillari； who was the onely goodliest creature to be found in the
whole Culattario of humane generation。 The Doctor demanded； what
Countesse that was？ Oh Sir； answered Buffalmaco； she is a great
Lady； one worthy to have issue by； and few houses are there in the
world； where she hath not some jurisdiction and command： so that not
meane people onely； but even the greatest Lords； at the sound of her
Trumpets； do very gladlie pay her tribute。 And I dare boldly
affirme； that whensoever shee walketh to any place； she yeeldeth a hot
and sensible savour； albeit she keepeth most of all close。 Yet once
every night； shee duely observeth it （as a Custome） to passe from
her owne house； to bathe her feete in the River of Arno； and take a
little of the sweeter Ayre： albeit her continuall residencie； is
within the Kingdome of Laterino。
She seldome walketh abroad； but goeth with her attending Officers
about her； who （for more demonstration of her greatnesse） do carry the
Rod and plummet of Lead。 Store of her Lords and Barons are every where
to be seene； as the Tamagnino della porta； Don Meta di Sirropa； Manico
di Scopa； Signior Squacchera； and others beside； who are （as I
suppose） oftentimes your visitants； when of necessity they must be
remembred。 All our care and courtesie shall extend so farre （if we doe
not falle in our enterprize） to leave you in the armes of so Majestick
a Ladie； quite forgetting hir of Cacavinciglia。
The Physitian； who was borne and brought up at Bologna； and
therefore understoode not these Florentine tearmes： became fully
contented to enjoy the Ladie； and； within some few dayes following；
the Painters brought him tydings； that they had prepared the way for
his entertainment into the Societie of Rovers。 The day being come；
when the supposed assembly was to be made the night following： the
Physitian invited them both to dinner； when he demanding； what
provision he shold make for his entrance into their company；
Buffalmaco returned him this answer； whereto hee gave very heedfull
attention。
Master Doctor； you must be first of all； strongly armed with
resolution and confidence： for； if you be not； you may not only
receyve hindrance； but also do us great harme beside： and now you
shall heare； in what manner； and how you are to be bold and
constant。 You must procure the meanes； this instant night； when all
the people are in their soundest sleepe； to stand upon one of those
high exalted Tombs or Monuments； which are in the churchyard of
Santa Maria Novella； with the very fairest gowne you have about you；
because you may appeare in the more honorable condition； before the
assembly seated together； and likewise to make good our speeches
already delivered of you； concerning your qualitie and profession：
that the Countesse； perceyving you to bee a woorthie Gentleman； may
have you first honoured with the Bathe； and afterward Knighted at
her owne cost and charge。 But you must continue stil upon the Tombe
（dreadlesse of nightly apparitions and visions） untill such time as we
send for you。
And for your better information in every particulare； a Beaste；
blacke and horned； but of no great stature； will come to fetch you：
perhaps he will use some gastly noises； straunge leapes； and loftie
trickes； onely to terrifie and affright you： but when he perceiveth
that he cannot daunt you； hee will gently come neere you； which when
he hath done； you may descend from off the Tombe； and； without
naming or thinking on God； or any of his Saintes； mount boldly on
his backe； for he will stand ready to receive you。 Being so seated；
crosse your armes over your brest； without presuming to touch or
handle the Beast； for he will carry you thence softly； and so bring
you along to the company。 But if in all this time of your travaile；
you call on heaven； any Saint； or bee possessed with the least thought
of feare： I must plainely tell you； that either hee will cast you
dangerously； or throw you into some noysom place。 And therefore； if
you know your selfe； not to be of a constant courage； and sprightly
bold； to undertake such an adventure as this： never presume any
further； because you may doe us a great deale of injurie； without
any gaine or benefite to your selfe； but rather such wrong； as we
would be very sorry should happen unto so deere a Friend。
Alas honest Buffalmaco； answered the Physitian； thou art not halfe
acquainted with me as yet： because I walke with gloves upon my
hands； and in a long Gowne； thou perhappes doest imagine mee a
faint…hearted fellow。 If thou didst know； what I have heeretofore done
at Bologna in the night time； when I and my Consorts went to visite
pretty wenches； thou wouldst wonder at my couragious attempts。 As I am
a Gentleman； one night； we met with a young Bona Roba； a paltry
greene…sicknesse baggage； scarsely above a Cubite in height； and
because she refused to go with us willingly； I gave her a kicke on the
bum； and spurnde her more then a Crosse…bowe shoote in distance from
me； and made her walke with us whether she would； or no。 Another
time I remember； when having no other company but my boy； I went
thorow the Churchyard of the Fryars Minors； after the sounding of
Ave Maria： a woman hadde beene buried there the very same day； and yet
I was not a jotte affraid。
Wherefore； never be distrustfull of mee； but resolvedly builde
upon my courage。 And in regard of my more honourable entertainment；
I will then weare my Scarlet Gowne and Hood； wherein I receyved my
graduation； and then do both of you observe； what a rejoycing will
be among the whole company； at the entertaining of such a man as I am；
enough to create me Captaine immediatly。 You shall perceive also how
the case will go； after I have beene there but a while； in regard that
the Countesse （having as yet never seene me） is so deepely enamored of
mee： she cannot choose but bestow the Bathe and Knighthood on me；
which shee shall have the more honour of； in regard I am well able
to maintaine it； therefore referre all the rest to mee； and never
misdoubt your injurie or mine。
Spoken like a Gallant； replyed Buffalmaco； and I feare not now；
but we shall winne credite by your company。 But be carefull I pray
you； that you make not a mockery of us； and come not at all； or
fayle to be there； when the Beast shall be sent for you； I speake it
the rather； because it is cold weather； and you Gentlemen Physitians
can hardly endure it。 You are carefull of mee （quoth the Doctor） and I
thanke you for it； but I applaud my faire Starres； I am none of your
nice or easie…frozen fellowes； because cold weather is very familiar
to me。 I dare assure you； when I arise in the night time for that
naturall office whereto all men are subject； I weare no warmer
defence； then my thin wastcoat over my shirt； and finde it
sufficient for the coldest weather at any time。 When Bruno and
Buffalmaco had taken their leave； the Physitian； so soone as night
drew neere； used many apt excuses to his wife； stealing forth his
Scarlet Gowne and Hood unseene of any； wherewith being clothed： at the
time appointed； he got upon one of the Marble Tombes； staying there
（quaking with cold） awaiting when the Beast should come。 Buffalmaco；
being a lusty tall man of person； had got an ugly masking suite；
such as are made use of in Tragedies and Playes； the out…side being of
black shagged haire； wherwith being cloathed； he seemed like a strange
deformed Beare； and a Divels vizard over his face； with two gastly
horrible hornes； and thus disguised； Bruno following him； they went to
behold the issue of the businesse； so farre as the new Market place；
closely adjoining to Santa Maria Novella。
Having espyed Master Doctor uppon the Tombe； Buffalmaco in his
mishapen habite； began to bound； leape； and carriere； snuffling and
blowing in mad and raging manner： which when the Physitian saw； his
haire stood on end； he quaked and trembled； as being more fearfull
then a Woman； wishing himselfe at home againe in his house； rather
then to behold a sight so dreadfull。 But because he was come forth；
and had such an earnest desire； to see the wonders related to him；
he made himselfe so coragious as possibly he could； and bare all out
in formall manner。 After that Buiffalmaco had （an indifferent while）
plaide his horsetrickes； ramping and stamping somewhat strangely：
seeming as become of much milder temper； he went neere to the Tomb
whereon the Physi