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fortune。 At the length； perceiving that Pedro came not to her at
all； she found a little path （which she lighted on by great good
fortune） even when dark night was apace drawing； and followed it so
long； till it brought her within the sight of a small poore Cottage；
whereto she rode on so fast as she could； and found therin a very
old man； having a wife rather more aged then he； who seeing her to
be without company； the old man spake thus unto her。
Faire Daughter （quoth he） whether wander you at such an unseasonable
houre； and all alone in a place so desolate？ The Damosell weeping；
replied； that she had lost her company in the Forrest； and enquired
how neere shee was to Alagna。 Daughter （answered the old man） this
is not the way to Alagna； for it is above six leagues hence。 Then shee
desired to know； how farre off she was from such houses； where she
might have any reasonable lodging？ There are none so neere； said the
old man； that day light will give you leave to reach。 May it please
you then good Father （replied Angelina） seeing I cannot travalle any
whether else； for Gods sake； to et me remaine heere with you this
night。 Daughter answered the good old man； we can gladly give you
entertainement here； for this night； in such poore manner as you
see： but let mee tell you withall； that up and downe these woods （as
well by night as day） walke companies of all conditions； and rather
enemies then friends； who do us many greevous displeasures and harmes。
Now if by misfortune； you being here； any such people should come； and
seeing you so lovely faire； as indeed you are； offer you any shame
or injurie： Alas you see； it lies not in our power to lend you any
help or succour。 I thought it good （therefore） to acquaint you
heerewith； because if any such mischance do happen； you should not
afterward complaine of us。
The yong Maiden； seeing the time to be so farre spent； albeit the
old mans words did much dismay her； yet she thus replyed。 If it be the
will of heaven； both you and I shall be defended from any
misfortune： but if any such mischance do happen； I account the
meanes lesse deserving grief； if I fall into the mercy of men； then to
be devoured by wild beasts in this Forrest。 So； being dismounted
from her horse； and entred into the homely house； shee supt poorely
with the old man and his wife； with such meane cates as their
provision affoorded： and after supper； lay downe in her garments on
the same poore pallet； where the aged couple tooke their rest； and was
very well contented therewith； albeit she could not refraine from
sighing and weeping； to be thus divided from her deare Pedro； of whose
life and welfare she greatly despaired。
When it was almost day； she heard a great noise of people travailing
by； whereupon sodainly slie arose； and ranne into a Garden plot； which
was on the backside of the poore Cottage； espying in one of the
corners a great stacke of Hay； wherein she hid her selfe； to the
end； that travelling strangers might not readily finde her there in
the house。 Scarsely was she fully hidden； but a great company of
Theeves and Villaines； finding the doore open； rushed into the
Cottage； where looking round about them for some booty； they saw the
Damosels horse stand ready sadled； which made them demand to whom it
belonged。 The good old man； not seeing the Maiden present there； but
immagining that she had made some shift for her selfe； answered
thus。 Gentlemen； there is no body here but my wife and my selfe： as
for this Horse； which seemeth to be escaped from the Owner； hee came
hither yesternight； and we gave him house…roome heere； rather then
to be devoured by Wolves abroad。 Then said the principall of the
Theevish crew： This horse shall be ours； in regard he hath no other
Master； and let the owner come claime him of us。
When they had searched every corner of the poore Cottage； and
found no such prey as they looked for； some of them went into the
backeside； where they had left their Javelins and Targets； wherwith
they used commonly to travaile。 It fortuned； that one of them； being
more subtily suspitious then the rest； thrust his javelin into the
stacke of Hay； in the very same place where the Damosell lay hidden；
missing very little of killing her； for it entred so farre； that the
iron head pierced quite thorough her Garments； and touched her left
bare brest： whereupon； shee was ready to cry out； as fearing that
she was wounded： but considering the place where she was； she lay
still； and spake not a word。 This disordered company； after they had
fed on some young Kids； and other flesh which they brought with them
thither； they went thence about their theeving exercise； taking the
Damosels horse along with them。
After they were gone a good distance off； the good old man began
thus to question his Wife。 What is become of （quoth hee） our young
Gentlewoman； which came so late to us yesternight？ I have not seen her
to day since our arising。 The old woman made answer； that she knew not
where she was； and sought all about to finde her。 Angelinaes feares
being well over…blowne； and hearing none of the former noise； which
made her the better hope of their departure； came forth of the
Hay…stack； wherof the good old man was not a little joyfull； and
because she had so well escaped from them： so seeing it was now
broad day…light； he said unto her。 Now that the morning is so
fairely begun； if you can be so well contented； we will bring you to a
Castle； which stands about two miles and an halfe hence； where you
will be sure to remaine in safety。 But you must needs travaile thither
on foot； because the nightwalkers that happened hither； have taken
away your horse with them。
Angelina making little or no account of such a losse； entreated them
for charities sake； to conduct her to that Castle； which accordingly
they did； and arrived there betweene seven and eight of the clock。 The
Castle belonged to one of the Orsini； being called； Liello di Campo di
Fiore； and by great good fortune； his wife was then there； she being a
very vertuous and religious Lady。 No sooner did she looke upon
Angelina； but she knew her immediately； and entertaining her very
willingly； requested； to know the reason of her thus arriving there：
which she at large related； and moved the Lady （who likewise knew
Pedro perfectly well） to much compassion； because he was a kinsman and
deare friend to her Husband； and understanding how the Theeves had
surprized him； she feared； that he was slaine among them； whereupon
she spake thus to Angelina。 Seeing you know not what is become of my
kinsman Pedro； you shall remaine here with me； untill such time； as
（if we heare no other tidings of him） you may with safety be sent
backe to Rome。
Pedro all this while sitting in the Tree； so full of griefe； as no
man could be more； about the houre of midnight （by the bright
splendour of the Moone） espied about some twenty Wolves； who； so soone
as they got a sight of the Horse； ran and engirt him round about。
The Horse when he perceived them so neere him； drew his head so
strongly back…ward； that breaking the reines of his bridle； he
laboured to escape from them。 But being beset on every side； and
utterly unable to helpe himself； he contended with his teeth and feete
in his owne defence； till they haled him violently to the ground；
and tearing his body in pieces； left not a jot of him but the bare
bones； and afterward ran ranging thorow the Forest。 At this sight；
poore Pedro was mightily dismaied； fearing to speed no better then his
Horse had done； and therefore could not devise what was best to be
done； for he saw no likelihood； of getting out of the Forest with
life。 But day…light drawing on apace； and he almost dead with cold；
having stood quaking so long in the Tree； at length by continuall
looking every where about him； to discerne the least glimpse of any
comfort； he espied a great fire； which seemed to be about halfe a mile
off from him。
By this time it was broad day； when he descended downe out of the
Tree； （yet not without much feare） and tooke his way towards the fire；
where being arrived； he found a company of Shepheards banquetting
about it； whom he curteously saluting； they tooke pity on his
distresse； and welcommed him kindly。 After he had tasted of such
cheare as they had； and was indifferently refreshed by the good
fire； he discoursed his hard disasters to them； as also how he
happened thither； desiring to know； if any Village or Castle were
neere there about； where he might in better manner releeve himselfe。
The Shepheards told him； that about a mile and an halfe from thence；
was the Castle of Signior Liello di Campo di Fiore； and that his
Lady was residing there； which was no meane comfort to poore Pedro；
requesting that one of them would accompany him thither； as two of
them did in loving manner； to rid him of all further feares。
When he was arrived at the Castle； and found there divers of his
familiar acquaintance： he laboured to procure some meanes； that the
Damosell might bee sought for in the Forrest。 Then the Lady calling
for her； and bringing her to him； he ran and caught her in his
armes； being ready to swoune with conceit