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said。 Alas my loving friend； why shouldst thou undertake such a
tedious travel； and so great a charge； as thy journey from hence to
Rome will cost thee？ Consider； that to a rich man （as thou art）
travaile by land or Sea is full of infinite dangers。 Doest thou not
thinke； that here are Religious men enow； who wil gladly bestow
Baptisme upon thee？ To mee therefore it plainely appeareth； that
such a voyage is to no purpose。 If thou standest upon any doubt or
scruple； concerning the faith whereto I wish thee； where canst thou
desire conference with greater Doctours； or men more learned in all
respects； then this famous Cittie doth affoord thee； to resolve thee
in any questionable case？ Thou must thinke； that the Prelates are such
there； as heere thou seest them to be； and yet they must needes be
in much better condition at Rome； because they are neere to the
principall Pastor。 And therefore； if thou wilt credit my counsell；
reserve this journey to some time more convenient； when the Jubilee of
generall Pardon happeneth； and then （perchance） I will beare thee
company； and go along with thee as in vowed Pilgrimage。
Whereto the Jew replyed： I beleeve Jehannot that all which thou hast
said； may be so。 But； to make short with thee； I am fully determined
（if thou wouldst have me a Christian； as thou instantly urgest me to
bee） to goe thither； for otherwise； I will continue as I am。
Jehannot perceyving his setled purpose； said： Goe then in Gods name。
But perswaded himselfe； that hee would never become a Christian； after
he had once seene the Court of Rome： neverthelesse； he counted his
labour not altogither lost； in regard he bestowed it to a good end；
and honest intentions are to be commended。
The Jew mounted on horse…backe； and made no lingering in his journey
to Rome； where being arrived； he was very honourably entertained by
other Jewes dwelling in Rome。 And during the time of his abiding there
（without revealing to any one the reason of his comming thither）
very heedfully he observed the maner of the Popes life； of the
Cardinals； Prelates； and all the Courtiers。 And being a man very
discreet and judicious； hee apparantly perceived； both by his owne
eye； and further information of friends； that from the highest to
the lowest （without any restraint； remorse of conscience； shame； or
feare of punishment） all sinned in abhominable luxurie； and not
naturally onely； but in foule Sodomie； so that the credite of
Strumpets and Boyes was not small； and yet might be too easily
obtayned。 Moreover； drunkards； belly…Gods； and servants of the paunch；
more then of any thing else （even like brutish beasts after their
luxury） were every where to be met withall。 And upon further
observation； hee saw all men so covetous and greedie of Coyne； that
every thing was bought and solde for ready money； not onely the
blood of men； but （in plaine termes） the faith of Christians； yea； and
matters of divinest qualities； how； or to whomsoever appertaining；
were it for Sacrifices or Benefices； whereof was made no mean
merchandize； and more Brokers were there to be found （then in Paris
attending upon all Trades） of manifest Symonie； under the nice name of
Negotiation； and for gluttony； not sustentation： even as if God had
not knowne the signification of vocables； nor the intentions of wicked
hearts； but would suffer himselfe to bee deceived by the outward names
of things； as wretched men commonly use to doe。
These things； and many more （fitter for silence； then for
publication） were so deepely displeasing to the Jew； being a most
sober and modest man； that he had soone seene enough； resolving on his
returne to Paris； which very speedily he performed。 And when
Jehannot heard of his arrivall； crediting much rather other newes from
him； then ever to see him a converted Christian； he went to welcome
him； and kindly they feasted one another。 After some few dayes of
resting； Jehannot demanded of him； what he thought of our holy
Father the Pope and his Cardinals； and generally of all the other
Courtiers？ Whereto the Jew readily answered； It is strange Jehannot；
that God should give them so much as he doth。 For I will truely tell
thee； that if I had beene able to consider all those things； which
there I have both heard and seene： I could then have resolved my
selfe； never to have found in any Priest； either sanctity； devotion；
good worke； example of honest life； or any good thing else beside。 But
if a man desire to see luxury； avarice； gluttony； and such wicked
things； yea； worse； if worse may be； and held in generall estimation
of all men； let him but goe to Rome； which I thinke rather to be the
forge of damnable actions； then any way leaning to grace or goodnesse。
And； for ought I could perceive； me thinkes your chiefe Pastour； and
（consequently） all the rest of his dependants； doe strive so much as
they may （with all their engine arte and endevour） to bring to
nothing； or else to banish quite out of the world； Christian Religion；
whereof they should be the support and foundation。
But because I perceive； that their wicked intent will never come
to passe； but contrariwise； that your faith enlargeth it selfe；
shining every day much more cleare and splendant： I gather thereby
evidently； that the blessed Spirit is the true ground and defence
thereof； as being more true and holy then any other。 In which respect；
whereas I stood stiffe and obstinate against the good admonitions； and
never minded to become a Christian： now I freely open my heart unto
thee； that nothing in the world can or shall hinder me； but I will
be a Christian； as thou art。 Let us therefore presently goe to the
Church； and there （according to the true custome of your holy
faiths） helpe me to be baptized。
Jehannot； who expected a farre contrary conclusion then this；
hearing him speake it with such constancy； was the very gladdest man
in the world； and went with him to the Church of Nostre Dame in Paris；
where he requested the Priests there abiding； to bestow baptisme on
Abraham； which they joyfully did； hearing him so earnestly to desire
it。 Jehannot was his Godfather； and named him John； and afterward；
by learned Divines he was more fully instructed in the grounds of
our faith； wherein he grew of great understanding； and led a very
vertuous life。
THE FIRST DAY； THE THIRD NOVELL
WHEREBY THE AUTHOR； APPROVING THE CHRISTIAN FAITH；
SHEWETH； HOW BENEFICIALL A SODAINE AND INGENIOUS ANSWERE
MAY FALL OUT TO BEE； ESPECIALLY WHEN A MAN FINDS HIMSELFE
IN SOME EVIDENT DANGER
Melchisedech a Jew； by recounting a Tale of three Rings； to the
great Soldan； named Saladine； prevented a great danger which was
prepared for him。
Madame Neiphila having ended her Discourse； which was well allowed
of by all the company； it pleased the Queene； that Madame Philomena
should next succeede in order； who thus began。
The Tale delivered by Neiphila； maketh mee remember a doubtfull
case； which sometime hapned to another Jew。 And because that God；
and the truth of his holy Faith； hath bene already very well
discoursed on： it shall not seeme unfitting （in my poore opinion） to
descend now into the accidents of men。 Wherefore； I will relate a
matter unto you； which being attentively heard and considered； may
make you much more circumspect； in answering to divers questions and
demands； then （perhaps） otherwise you would be。 Consider then （most
woorthy assembly） that like as folly or dulnesse； many times hath
overthrowne some men from place of eminencie； into most great and
greevous miseries： even so； discreet sense and good understanding；
hath delivered many out of irksome perils； and seated them in safest
security。 And to prove it true； that folly hath made many fall from
high authority； into poore and despised calamity； may be avouched by
infinite examples； which now were needelesse to remember： But； that
good sense and able understanding； may proove to be the occasion of
great desolation； without happy prevention； I will declare unto you in
very few words； and make it good according to my promise。
Saladine； was a man so powerfull and valiant； as not onely his
very valour made him Soldan of Babylon； and also gave him many signall
victories； over Kings of the Sarrazens； and of Christians likewise。
Having in divers Warres； and other magnificent employments； of his
owne； wasted all his treasure； and （by reason of some sodaine accident
happening to him） standing in neede to use some great summe of
money； yet not readily knowing where； or how to procure it； he
remembred a rich Jew named Melchisedech； that lent out money to use or
interest in the City of Alexandria。 This man he imagined best able
to furnish him； if he could be won to do it willingly： but he was
knowne to be so gripple and miserable； that hardly any meanes would
drawe him to it。 In the end； constrained by necessity； and labouring
his wits for some apt device whereby he might have it： he concluded；
though hee might not compell him to do it； yet by a practise
shadowed with good reason to ensnare him。 And having sent for him；
entertained him very familiarly