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God is my witnesse； that I am truly compassionate of you； and yet
（by no meanes） may I let you live。
Genevra kneeling before him weeping； wringing her hands； thus
replyed。 Wilt thou turne Monster； and be a murtherer of her that never
wronged thee； to please another man； and on a bare command？ God； who
truly knoweth all things； is my faithfull witnesse； that I never
committed any offence； whereby to deserve the dislike of my Husband；
much lesse so harsh a recompence as this is。 But flying from mine owne
justification； and appealing to thy manly mercy； thou mayest （wert
thou but so well pleased） in a moment satisfie both thy Master and me；
in such manner as I will make plaine and apparant to thee。 Take thou
my garments； spare me onely thy doublet； and such a Bonnet as is
fitting for a man； so returne with my habite to thy Master； assuring
him； that the deede is done。 And here I sweare to thee； by that life
which I enjoy but by thy mercy； I will so strangely disguise my selfe；
and wander so far off from these Countries； as neither he or thou； nor
any person belonging to these parts； shall ever heare any tydings of
me。
The servant； who had no great good will to kill her； very easily
grew pittifull； tooke off her upper garments； and gave her a poore
ragged doublet； a sillie Chapperone； and such small store of money
as he had； desiring her to forsake that Country； and so left her to
walke on foote out of the valley。 When he came to his Maister； and had
delivered him her garments； he assured him； that he had not onely
accomplished his commaund； but also was most secure from any
discovery： because he had no sooner done the deede； but foure or
five very ravenous Woolves； came presently running to the dead
bodie； and gave it buriall in their bellyes。 Bernardo soone after
returning to Geneway； was much blamed for such unkinde cruelty to
his wife； but his constant avouching of her treason to him
（according then to the Countries custome） did cleare him from all
pursuite of Law。
Poor Genevra was left thus alone and disconsolate； and night
stealing fast upon her； shee went to a silly village neere
adjoyning； where （by the meanes of a good olde woman） she got such
provision as the place afforded； making the doublet fit to her body；
and converting her petticoate to a paire of breeches； according to the
Mariners fashion： then cutting her haire； and quaintly disguised
like unto a Saylor； she went to the Sea coast。 By good fortune； she
met there with a Gentleman of Cathalogna； whose name was Signior
Enchararcho； who came on land from his Ship； which lay hulling there
about Albagia； to refresh himselfe at a pleasant Spring。 Enchararcho
taking her to be a man； as shee appeared no otherwise by her habite；
upon some conference passing betweene them； shee was entertayned
into his service； and being brought aboord the Ship； she went under
the name of Sicurano da Finale。 There shee had better apparrell
bestowne on her by the Gentleman； and her service proved so pleasing
and acceptable to him； that hee liked her care and diligence beyond
all comparison。
It came to passe within a short while after； that this Gentleman
of Cathalogna sayled （with some charge of his） into Alexandria；
carrying thither certaine Faulcons； which he presented to the
Soldan； who oftentimes welcommed this Gentleman to his table； where he
observed the behaviour of Sicurano； attending on his Maisters
Trencher； and therewith was so highly pleased； that hee requested to
have him from the Gentleman； who （for his more advancement）
willingly parted with his so lately entertained servant。 Sicurano
was so ready and discreet in his daily services； that he grew in as
great grace with the Soldan； as before hee had done with Enchararcho。
At a certaine season in the yeare； as customary order （there
observed） had formerly beene； in the City of Acres which was under the
Soldanes subjection； there yeerely met a great assembly of
Merchants； as Christians； Moores； jewes； Sarazens； and many other
Nations besides； as at a common Mart or Fayre。 And to the end； that
the Merchants （for the better sale of their goods） might be there in
the safer assurance； the Soldane used to send thither some of his
ordinarie Officers； and a strong guard of Souldiers beside； to
defend them from all injuries and molestation； because he reaped
thereby no meane benefit。 And who should be now sent about this
businesse； but his new elected favourite Sicurano； because she was
skilfull and。 perfect in the Languages。
Sicurano being come to Acres； as Lord and Captaine of the Guard
for the Merchants； and for the safety of their Merchandizes； she
discharged her office most commendably； walking with her traine
thorough every part of the Fayre； where she observed a worthy
company of Merchants； Sicilians； Pisans； Genewayes； Venetians； and
other Italians； whom the more willingly she noted； in remembrance of
her native Country。 At one especiall time among other； chancing into a
Shop or Booth belonging to the Venetians； she espied （hanging up
with other costly wares） a Purse and a Girdle； which sodainly she
remembred to be sometime her owne； whereat she was not a little
abashed in her minde。 But without making any such outward shew；
courteously she requested to know whose they were； and whether they
should be sold； or no。
Ambroginolo of Placentia； was likewise come thither； and great store
of Merchandizes hee had brought with him； in a Carracke appertaining
to the Venetians； and hee hearing the Captaine of the Guard demaund
whose they were； stepped foorth before him； and smiling； answered：
That they were his； but not to be solde； yet if hee liked them； gladly
he would bestow them on him。 Sicurano seeing him smile； suspected
least himselfe had （by some unfitting behaviour） beene the occasion
thereof： and therefore； with a more setled countenance； hee said：
Perhaps thou smilest； because I that am a man； professing Armes；
should question after such womanish toyes。 Ambroginolo replyed； My
Lord； pardon mee； I smile not at you； or at your demaund； but at the
manner how I came by these things。
Sicurano； upon this answere； was ten times more desirous then
before； and saide： If Fortune favoured thee in friendly maner； by
the obtaining of these things： if it may be spoken； tell mee how
thou hadst them。 My Lord （answered Ambroginolo） these things （with
many more besides） were given me by a Gentlewoman of Geneway； named
Madam Genevra； the wife to one Bernardo Lomellino； in recompence of
one nights lodging with her； and she desired me to keepe them for
her sake。 Now； the maine reason of my smiling； was the remembrance
of her husbands folly； in waging five thousand Duckets of Gold；
against one thousand of mine； that I should not obtaine my will of his
Wife； which I did； and thereby won the wager。 But hee； who better
deserved to be punished for his folly； then shee； who was but sicke of
all womens disease； returning from Paris to Geneway； caused her to
be slaine； as afterward it was reported by himselfe。
When Sicurano heard this horrible lye； immediately shee conceived；
that this was the occasion of her husbands hatred to her； and all
the hard haps which she had since suffered： whereupon； shee reputed it
for more then a mortall sinne； if such a villaine should passe without
due punishment。 Sicurano seemed to like well this report； and grew
into such familiarity with Ambroginolo； that （by her perswasions） when
the Fayre was ended； she tooke him higher with her into Alexandria；
and all his Wares along with him； furnishing him with a fit and
convenient shop； where he made great benefite of his Merchandizes；
trusting all his monies in the Captaines custody； because it was the
safest course for him； and so hee continued there with no meane
contentment。
Much did shee pitty her Husbands perplexity； devising by what good
and warrantable meanes she might make knowne her innocency to him；
wherein her place and authority did greatly sted her； and she
wrought with divers gallant Merchants of Geneway that then remained in
Alexandria； and by vertue of the Soldans friendly letters beside； to
bring him thither upon an lall occasion。 Come he did； albeit in
especiall in poore and meane order； which soone was better altered
by her appointment； and he verie honourably （though in private）
entertained by divers of her woorthie friends； till time did favour
what she further intended。
In the expectation of Bernardoes arrivall； shee had so prevayled
with Ambrogiriolo； that the same tale which he formerly told to her；
he delivered againe in presence of the Soldan； who seemed to be wel
pleased with it。 But after shee had once seene her Husband； shee
thought upon her more serious businesse； providing her selfe of an apt
opportunity； when shee entreated such favour of the Soldan； that
both the men might bee brought before him； where if Ambroginolo
would not confesse （without constraint） that which he had made his
vaunt of concerning Bernardoes wife； he might be compelled thereto
perforce。
Sicuranoes word was a Law with the Soldane； so that Ambroginolo and
Bernardo being brought face to face； the Soldane with a sterne and
angry