My Gracious Lord (quoth Madame _Æmillia_) it had bene a matter highly pleasing to mee, that any other (rather than my selfe) should have begun to speake of this argument, which it hath pleased you to apoint. But seeing it is your Highnesse pleasure, that I must make a passage of assurance for all the rest; I will not be irregular, because obedience is our cheefe Article. I shall therefore (Gracious Ladies) strive, to speake something, which may bee advantageable to you heereafter, in regard, that if other women bee as fearfull as we, especially of Spirits, of which all our sexe have generally bin timorous (although, upon my credite, I know not what they are, nor ever could meete with any, to tell me what they be) you may by the diligent observation of my Novell: learne a wholesome and holy prayer, very availeable, and of precious power, to conjure and drive them away, whensoever they shall presume to assault you in any place. There dwelt sometime in _Florence_, and in the street of Saint _Brancazio_, a woollen Weaver, named _John_ of _Lorrayne_; a man more happy in his Art, then wise in any thing else beside: because, favouring somewhat of the _Gregorie_, and (in very deede) little lesse then an Ideot; Hee was many times made Captain of the Woollen-Weavers, in the quarters belonging to _Santa Maria Novella_, and his house was the Schoole or receptacle, for all their meetings and assemblies. He had divers other petty Offices beside, by the dignity and authority whereof, hee supposed himselfe much exalted or elevated, above the common pitch of other men. And this humour became the more tractable to him, because he addicted himselfe oftentimes (as being a man of an easie inclination) to be a benefactor to the holy Fathers of _Santa Maria Novella_, giving (beside his other charitable Almes) to someone a paire of Breeches, to another a Hood, and to another a whole habit. In reward whereof, they taught him (by heart) many wholesome prayers, as the _Pater noster_ in the vulgar tongue; the Song of Saint _Alexis_; the Lamentations of Saint _Bernard_, the Hymne of Madame _Matilda_, and many other such like matters, which he kept charily, and repeated usually, as tending to the salvation of his soule. This man, had a very faire and lovely wife, named _Monna Tessa_, the daughter of _Manuccio della Cuculia_, wise and well advised; who knowing the simplicity of her Husband, and affecting _Frederigo di Neri Pegolotti_, who was a comely yong Gentleman, fresh, and in the floure of his time, even as she was, therefore they agreed the better together. By meanes of her Chamber-maid, _Frederigo_ and shee met often together, at a Countrie Farme of _John_ of _Lorraynes_, which hee had neere to _Florence_, and where she used to lodge all the Summer time, called _Camerata_, whether _John_ resorted somtimes to Supper, and lodge for a night, returning home againe to his City house the next morning; yet often he would stay there longer with his owne companions.