THE DECAMERON CONTAINING An hundred pleasant Novels. _Wittily discoursed, betweene seven Honourable Ladies, and three Noble Gentlemen._ The last Five Dayes. London, Printed by Isaac Jaggard, 1620. TO THE RIGHT HONOURABLE Sir PHILLIP HERBERT, Knight, Lord Baron of Sherland, Earle of Montgomery, and Knight of the most Noble order of the Garter. _Having (by your Honourable command) translated this_ Decameron, _or_ Cento Novelle, _sirnamed_ Il Principe Galeotto, _of ten dayes severall discourses, grounded on variable and singuler Arguments, happening betweene seaven Noble Ladies, and three very Honourable Gentlemen: Although not attyred in such elegantcy of phrase, or nice curiosity of stile, as a quicker and more sprightly wit could have performed, but in such home-borne language, as my ability could stretch unto; yet it commeth (in all duty) to kisse your Noble hand, and to shelter it selfe under your Gracious protection, though not from the leering eye, and over-lavish tongue of snarling Envy; yet from the power of his blasting poyson, and malice of his machinations._ _To the Reader._ Bookes (Courteous Reader) may rightly be compared to _Gardens_; wherein, let the painfull Gardiner expresse never so much care and diligent endeavour; yet among the very fairest, sweetest, and freshest Flowers, as also Plants of most precious Vertue; ill favouring and stinking Weeds, fit for no use but the fire or mucke-hill, will spring and sprout up. So fareth it with Bookes of the very best quality, let the Author bee never so indulgent, and the Printer vigilant: yet both may misse their ayme, by the escape of Errors and Mistakes, either in sense or matter, the one fault ensuing by a ragged Written Copy; and the other thorough want of wary Correction. If then the best Bookes cannot be free from this common infirmity; blame not this then, of farre lighter argument, wherein thy courtesie may helpe us both: His blame, in acknowledging his more sufficiency, then to write so grosse and absurdly: And mine, in pardoning unwilling Errours committed, which thy judgement finding, thy pen can as easily correct. _Farewell._ The Table Dedication. To the Reader. * * * * * THE SIXT DAY, Governed under Madame Eliza. _Wherein the Discourses or Novels there to bee recounted, doe concerne such persons; who by some witty words (when any have taunted them) have revenged themselves, in a sudden, unexpected and discreet answere, thereby preventing losse, danger, scorne and disgrace, retorting them on the busi-headed Questioners._ The Argument of the first Novell. _A Knight requested Madame_ Oretta, _to ride behinde him on horsebacke, and promised, to tell her an excellent Tale by the way. But the Lady perceiving, that his discourse was idle, and much worse delivered: entreated him to let her walke on foote againe._ _The Morall._