Page:History of the seven wise mistresses of Rome.pdf/13

13

C H A P. V.

The third Mistress's Intercession.

RADAMANIUS having a third time obtained an order for the Princess execution, the third Mistress prevented it by telling the following story:

A Knight once traveling into foreign parts, lost his way in a wood and took up his lodging in a countryman's house. In the middle of the night the man's wife was delivered of a fine boy, which the Knight found by the stars was to be hanged; so the next day he named the child and departed homewards. In process of time this boy took it in his head to travel, and by chance came to the house of his godfather, where by degrees he was advanced to be his steward; but being envied by the rest of his servants, they resolved on his destruction. Accordingly, be having got leave to return to his own country, they put the Knight's cup in his portmenteauportmanteau [sic], which being missed, they told the Knight his steward had store it, & on searching his