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true； and acknowledged moreover； that these other things did belong to
his Wife： But （quoth he） this may be gotten； by corrupting some
servant of mine； both for intelligence of the Chamber； as also of
the Ring； Purse； and what else is beside； all which suffice not to win
the wager； without some other more apparant and pregnant token。 In
troth； answered Ambroginolo； me thinkes these should serve for
sufficient proofes； but seeing thou art so desirous to know more： I
plainely tell thee； that faire Genevra thy Wife； hath a small round
wart upon her left pappe； and some few little golden haires growing
thereon。
When Bernardo heard these words； they were as so many stabs to his
heart； yea； beyond all compasse of patient sufferance； and by the
changing of his colour； it was noted manifestly； （being unable to
utter one word） that Ambroginolo had spoken nothing but the truth。
Within a while after； he saide； Gentlemen； that which Ambroginolo hath
saide； is very true； wherefore let him come when he will； and he shall
be paide； which accordingly he performed on the very next day； even to
the utmost penny； departing then from Paris towards Geneway； with a
most malitious intention to his Wife： Being come neere to the City； he
would not enter it； but rode to a Country house of his； standing about
tenne miles distant thence。 Being there arrived； he called a
servant； in whom hee reposed especiall trust； sending him to Geneway
with two Horses； writing to his Wife； that he was returned； and shee
should come thither to see him。 But secretly he charged his servant；
that so soone as he had brought her to a convenient place； he should
there kill her； without any pitty or compassion； and then returne to
him againe。
When the servant was come to Geneway； and had delivered his Letter
and message； Genevra gave him most joyfull welcome； and on the
morrow morning mounting on Horse…backe with the servant； rode
merrily towards the Country house； divers things shee discoursed on by
the way； till they descended into a deepe solitary valey； very thickly
beset with high and huge spreading Trees； which the servant supposed
to be a meete place； for the execution of his Masters command。
Suddenly drawing forth his Sword； and holding Genevra fast by the
arme； he saide； Mistresse； quickly commend your soule to God； for
you must die； before you passe any further。 Genevra seeing the naked
Sword； and hearing the words so peremptorily delivered； fearefully
answered； Alas deare friend； mercy for Gods sake； and before thou kill
me； tell me wherein I have offended thee； and why thou must kill me？
Alas good Mistresse replied the servant； you have not any way offended
me； but in what occasion you have displeased your Husband； it is
utterly unknowne to me： for he hath strictly commanded me； without
respect of pitty or compassion； to kill you by the way as I bring you；
and if I doe it not； he hath sworne to hang me by the necke。 You
know good Mistresse； how much I stand obliged to him； and how
impossible it is for me； to contradict any thing that he commandeth。
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