, I knowe them not, albeit my
mind giueth me that these twayne do resemble the roabes which
sometimes I ware, and caused them to be giuen to three marchaunt
men that were lodged at my house." Then Saladine not able to
forbear any longer, tenderly imbraced him, saying: "You be
maister Thorello de Istria, and I am one of the three Marchaunts
to whom your wife gaue those roabes: and now the time is come to
make you certenly beleue what my marchaundise is, as I tolde you
when I departed from you that it myght come to passe." Maister
Thorello hearyng those wordes, began to be both ioyfull and
ashamed, ioyfull for that he had entertained sutch a guest, and
ashamed that his fare and lodging was so simple. To whom
Saladine said: {"}maister Thorello, sith it hath pleased god to
send you hither, thynke from henceforth that you be Lord of this
place and not I." and making great chere, and reioysing one wyth
an other, he caused him to be cloathed in royall vestures, and
brought him into the presence of al the Noble men of his
country: and after he had rehersed many thinges of his valor and
commendation, commaunded him to be honoured as his owne person,
of all those which desired to haue his fauor: Which thing euery
Man dyd from that time forth: but aboue the rest, the two Lords
that were in company with Saladine at his house. The greatnesse
of the sodain glory wherein maister Thorello sawe himselfe, did
remoue oute of his mind, his affayres of Lombardie, and
specially, bicause hee hoped that his letters should trustely be
deliuered to the hands of his vncle. Now there was in the camp
of the Christians the daye wherein they were taken by Saladine,
a Gentleman of Prouince, which dyed and was buryed, called
maister Thorello de Dignes, a man of great estimation: whereby
(maister Thorello of Istria known through out the whole army for
his nobility and prowesse) euery man that heard tell that
maister Thorello was dead, beleued that it was mayster Thorello
de Istria, and not he de Dignes, and by reason of his taking,
the truth whether of them was deade, was vnknown: Wherfore many
Italians returned with those newes, amongs whom som wer so
presumptuous, as they toke vpon them to saye and affyrme that
they saw him deade, and were at his burial: Whych knowen to his
wyfe and his friends, was an occasion of very great and
inestimable Sorrow, not onely to them: but to all other that
knewe him. Very long it were to tell what great sorrow,
heau