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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 constanci