thus beynge there the elder doughter sayde to her syster Our father is olde there be no meÌ„ vpon the earth that we may haue conuersacion withal after the maner of the world therfore come and let vs make our father dronke with wine let vs golye with him to th ende y t we may kepe the seede of our father And so at euen they gaue theyr father wyne to drinke and soo the elder doughter went and lay with her father Loth but Loth knew not of his doughter nor whan that she rose vp agayne and the next night they made theyr father dronke agayne and than the yonger doughter went and lay by hym but Loth knewe not whan that he was by her nor whan that she arose from him and bothe the doughters conceyued of theyr father and the elder doughter bare a son the which was called Moas and he was the father of the Moabices And the yonger bare a sonne called Amon that is as muche to say the sonne of my people and was the father of the Amonytes thus was Loth deceiued of hys doughters with the wyne but for to saye the truthe it was no deceyte for it was throughe loue and for the generation and multyplying of the worlde for they thought that there had ben no more people in the world and that ther had ben no more in the world but they for they knewe none otherwyse therfore they made not theyr father dronke throughe decyte to obtayne theyr flesshelye lustes lyke as now many a man y e hath a fayre wyfe y e which drinketh the wine with marchauntes wyth preestes and so they make theyr husbandes good chere and make them dronke so that they fall aslepe and than they go a sporting wyth the woman in venus pastaunce But so dyd not Loths doughters for they dyd it in a good intent and for a good purpose howbeit there was great dysceyte doone ⧠A new deceyte fortuned of late in England THere was in England in the Cytie of London a proctour of the Arches the whiche was an olde man and had to hys wyfe a fayre yonge gentilwoman And this proctour had amonge his seruauÌ„tes one that was a mery and a fayre yonge man the which was his principal clarke y e wrote for him This clarke through the dayly preseÌ„s of his masters wife set his loue vpon her and spoke so often and so louyngly to her that her hart also was set afyre with the loue of hym in so much that she loued him aboue all men and she consented to him in al thynges that he desyred of him so they vsed theyr louely pastyme as often as they wolde Vpon a tyme they spake together and tooke counsell how they myght best obtayne doo theyr pleasure together without any drede or sorow of enuyous toÌ„ges or knowledge of her husbaÌ„d the which was soÌ„what ialeous of hys wife And than he found a suttel craft for euer he was as seruysable to hys mayster as he was to his mastres And whan that the clarke saw that he stode well in the fauour of his master thaÌ„ he thought to blynd y e ialousy of his maister and so vpon a time he came a fore him and wept very bytterly wherof hys maister had greate maruayle and said beloued soÌ„ne shewe to me what thou aylest for I wyl helpe thee if it be in my power Than sayd the clarke God thanke you good mayster for that haue I not deserued the cause is so shameful that I â—aâ—e not shewe it you nor let it be knowen wel sayd the mayster shewe it me hardyle wythout any drede for I wyl kepe it as secrete as thou wylt thy selfe ThaÌ„ said the clarke my beloued mayster euery maÌ„ thinketh and you your selfe perchaunce that I am a maÌ„ as a nother man is and for to lyue with women in bodely pleasure as other doth but alas I am not so for I haue not wher with and he had couered his preuy membres with a lytle thinge with shepes fleshe and he had steyken vp his preuy member towarde his nauell warde as farre as he could and thaÌ„ he shewed it to his mayster the which saw nothing but a cleane voyde place and it was to see to as though that he had nothing there thaÌ„ the clarke sayd my beloued maister there is no man that knoweth this but you only And therfore for the trew seruice that I haue doone to you I requyre you that it wyl please you to doo so muche for me as to helpe me in to suÌ„ cloyster or abbey where that I may haue my meate drynke and that I may serue god for I am not mete to be in the worlde and wyth that he beganne bytterlye to wepe and so he blynded the eyes of his mayster and by cause that he thought that he was a trewe seruaunt to hym his mayster counseled him that he should not goo to no abbay nor cloyster sayde that he hym selfe wolde prouyde for hym that he shoulde remayne styll wyth him and so his mayster entreated him with so fayre promyses that the clark promysed him for to serue him to doo hym pleasure yet a certayne yeres wherof his maister was very glad for he could endyte wryte very well coulde ordeyne all other thinges belongyng to his office as well as hym selfe And for bycause that he dyd trust his maister had shewed opened to him all hys secretes his master thought that he wold not kepe hys owne secretes froÌ„ hym but opened hys hart to hys seruaunt in lykewyse sayde to hym I am sory for thyne impediment that god hath sent to the therfore I haue great pitie on y e but one thinge I shal geue the to know for y u maye doo me good seruyce therin y u knowest wel y t I haue a fayre yonge wyfe y e whiche is somwhat light hatred and quick spirited ye know wel y t I am an olde man not very lusti therfore perchaunce I might be y e occasioÌ„ y e yong lusty felowes should come proue her for to bryng her to dishonestye and therefore I wyll betake her in thy keping I requyre thee that thou take so heed to her that I may haue no occasion to be ialous or amoued agaynst her ThaÌ„ y e clarke prayesed his maystres maruaylosly wel sayd y t she was thereto to good and to honest he promised his maister y t wold keep and take good hede to her shew him if he fynde her in any suspect place lyke as a good seruauÌ„t was houÌ„d to do And of this was y e maister glad let al sorow passe and so went about his busynes coÌ„mauÌ„ding his house his wyfe to the keping of his clark incoÌ„tineÌ„t the seruaunt went to his maistres the whiche was commauÌ„ded to hym and tolde her all how that his maister was deceyued that that he was wont to
ioningly receyued her and she went with him into his house for to make better acquayntaunce with him where as al thinges stode redy of al sortes and plentye of wyne and so they past foorth the euenynge makynge good there and gaue and receyued many a friendly kysse And in makynge of this chere cam y e good man from his iorney and cam by the receyuers daore saw that there was much light in the chaÌ„ber and because that y e good maÌ„ of the house and he were good freendes he knocked boldly at y e dore and so the receyuer demaunded who was there and the good man answered your freend and hys wyfe incontynent harde and knew the voyce of her goodman than was she fo sore agast and afrayde that she could skant speake and she wyst not what she should doo ¶ How that the receyuer dyd comfort his louer ¶ Whan the receyuer saw y t the woman was so afrayde be sayd my loue come by and by to bed for I shall couer you that no man shall se you And thus they laye arme in arnie with her backe toward thee doore and the good man was let in and cam in the chamber where he found the table well arayed and well be set wyth good meate drynke and saw the receyuer lye wythe his louer in the bed the goodman seinge thys was in doubte and sayde to the receuer what hore haue ye there wyth you in the badde and with that the good man was set at the table where he eate and dranke and made good chere But the good man hauing some suspeccion rose froÌ„ the table and came afore the bed of the receyuer and sayd I muste see this woman ones ere that I departe and he lyfte vp the clothes where his honest wyfe laye vnder but the receyuer did let him and the good poore man seinge thys he wolde fayne haue lyfte vp the couerlet the shete wyth force wherewyth the receyuer hys freend was halfe an gey for they made a compacte together that he shoulde show her hynder parte and her backe to hym the whiche was so fayre and so whyte And whan this was done that he had seene her so behynde he sayde that he neuer see a fayrer woman as pertaynynge the hynder parte and swore that he neuer sawe hinde castell so lyke hys wyfes ars For yf I knewe not that my wyfe were honest and that she were now at home I wolde saye that it were she and wyth that she was couered agayne and the receyuer rebuked hym sayd why doo ye say suche thinges by your wyfe and suche dyhosty by her and so at last he is departed from theÌ„ce taking his leue of the receiuer and bad him good night with his concubine And he desyred hartely that they wolde let him go home through the backe gate but they made an excuse sayd that the keye was lost and so he muste go a great waye aboute the receiuers seruaunt went wyth him home ward and kept him with talking so longe as he could And the good woman rose and plucked on her hoseÌ„ and cast her gowne vpon her arme and so she was let out at the backe gate and she came incontinent home to her house and so abode the commyng of her good man the whyche came froÌ„ his iorney And whan y t he came afore his house he sawe that there was yet lyght in it knocked at the doore and hys wyfe went with a brome and swept the house and she asked who was there and he sayd I am he thy husban and she sayd thou art not my husband for my husband is not in the towne neuerthelesse he knocked agayne sayd I am thy husbande hys wyfe answered and sayd go from my doore for I know well the voyce of my husbande And also it is not my husbandes custome for to come and knocke this late at the doore And so at the thyrde tyme he sayd so muche y t she knewe hym for he was sore amoued and laid vpon the doore as though he wolde haue brokeÌ„ it in pieces â— so at last she let him in she set her handes on her side sayde thou noughty knaue this haste thou doone for to proue me and I tell thee y t thou arte not worthy for to haue so honest a wyfe The good maÌ„ saw y t he had wroÌ„g he spake feendly to his wyfe and sayd I beseche y e geÌ„tyl wife be coÌ„tent For of great necessitie I must nedes returne agayne for I haue forgotten the principall letter y t I went for But his wife wolde not be content sayd y t he caÌ„ from the tauerne from the shewes she cursed the houre that euer she was maryed to hym The poore simple maÌ„ whan he saw y t his wife was to angry thinkyng him selfe to be the occasion therof cam to his wife bare head wyth his cap in his haÌ„d sayd my most trewest wife I beseche thee if I haue myssayd or my soone any thyng against thee I beseche the for the loue of god forgeue it me For I com from a place where that I had good cheere there as I thoughte that I had sene thee and through thee I was sore moueâ— wythout cause I am very sory for it therfore I beseche thee forgeue it me so at last she was som what content but she sayd y u humanetly caytife thou comest froÌ„ thyne hores there y u hast sene theyr lewdnes now wilt cast thi good wife in cheteth there wych The good man answered alas good wyfe say not so I beseche y e speke no more therof but forgeue it me and I wyll neuer doo so agayne as longe as I lyue Nowe after thys tyme hath the good wife gone ofteÌ„times throughe the backe gate wyth lesse sorow and drede wythout the knowledge of the symple maÌ„ her husbaÌ„d the whiche neuer knew no more therof after that day as it is shewed mee Thus ye may heare how that men be oftentymes deceyued by their wyfes ⧠How the patriarche Loth was deceyued by hys two doughters THat tyme whan Loth was departed out of Sodom with hys wyfe and his two doughters thaÌ„ the Angeâ—l coÌ„maunded hym that what so euer he hearde that he should not loke backwarde the which coÌ„mauÌ„dement Lothes wife brake and soo she remayned there standyng and was traÌ„sfygured into the Image of a salt stone there to remayne for euer Than went Loth into a small Cytye called Segor the whyche throughe the prayer of thys Loth was spared for a wyhle and remaynyned standing so longe as Lot was therin but Loth seynge that they wolde not leue their foule synne wolde not abide no lenger therin so he fled froÌ„ thens and in continent the citie was also destroyed so Loth was in a speluncke or caue of an hyll ther about with his two doughters and they had with them meat and drinke and
Than said his wyfe wel husband I requyre you be not angry for our chamberlain shal take them out for therin is part of my clothes Than sayd her husbande my semes that the male is ouer lytell for to put your clothes in wythout crokynge for they be large and longe The gentyl woman sayde the male is great ynough the lorde sayde my semes naye well sayde the gentyll woman yf it please you I wyll lay w t you a dosen of teuen shertes agaynst a satyn kertyll that we wyl put you in the male as ye be for all that the male is solytle The lorde sayde I holde ye that ye doo not Than sayde the hande mayde we shall sée who shal wynne it Than he drew the clothes out of the male and then the maydē toke hym and made suche shyft that she put him in the male to his mā hode to and all that were there laught and had good sporte at it and so playenge and mockynge wyth hym they bonnde hym faste in the male and so brought him into a lytle out chamber ferre from his owne chamber and they cryed all we haue wonne it and for that he coulde crye or call abode all that nyght there in short tyme after that he was put in the male came the gentylwomans louer the whiche she had apeynted pryuily by her of whome he was louyngly receyued and the vp tolde him what was fortuned and how she had put her husbande in the male and shewed hym that all thinges was well and therfore sayd she ye shal remayne thys night by me and kepe my husbādes place And thus bē these two louers gon to bed together louynglye haue helsed and kyssed eche other laborynge so sore that they both did swete in obtayning theyr louely purpose And in the mornyng thys gentyl woman and her louer departed heuely from eche other and she wente vnto the out chāber where her husband lay and cryed ful loude let me out for my semes ye mocke gest with me Than sayd the gentylwoman alas good husbande be ye here yet now of trouth I knew it not for yesternight I cōmaunded my chamberlin that she shuld lose the male let ye out and one of my chamberlyns said that ye wer losed and that ye were hastely send for for certayn causes and sayd that ye wold not com home as this night and whan I herde that I wente to bed and slepte for I wēt that it had bene so Than said her husbād to her I beseche you let me out for I trow I haue bene here lōg ynough And so this gentil wife vnlosed the male and her husbād exept out and was almost lame with lieng and than she tooke him in her armes kist hym swetely and prayed him hertely that he wold not be angry w t her Than sāid her good husband I know wel it is not your faute but the chamberleyns shal repent it than he made his mone and said that they had him in dirisiō and mocked with him and also the moost greefe was y t he had lost his reuen shertes And for this he shall neuer know wythout a myschaunce fall that this booke come to his hand for to read the whiche God forbyd Amen ⧠In olde deceyt how the Prince Naboth was killed of the foule woman Iesabel THe Kynge Achab kyng of Israell dwelt in Syry had to his wyfe the mischeuous womā Iesabel the whyche pursued holy prophetes in al that she myght And this king Achab had by him in his garden a great prince called Naboth the whiche Naboth had a goodly vinyard by this king Achabs house y t which the kyng entyerly desyred saide to Naboth I beseche thee let me haue thy Vynyarde and Naboth wold not forgo his Viniarde where vpon this king Achab went and layd hym in the bed and turned his face to the wal and wolde nother eat nor drynke His wyfe Iesabell seynge this demaunded what him ayled Than he sayde my louer Naboth hath sayd to me nay that he wyll not sell to me his vineyard Than Iesabel caused the prince Naboth to be stoned to death And than came Iesabel a gayne to her kynge saying Ryse vp and drynke and make good cheere and take the Vynyarde to thee for Naboth is dead And whan that Achab heared this hearose vp and dyd enherit the Vinyarde Here may ye see how that the good prynce Naboth hath loste hys lyfe thorough the myscheuous woman Iesabell But the bloud of Naboth was auenged vpon Achab him selfe For Helyas sayde to hym There that the dogges haue lycked the bloud of Naboth there shall they also lycke thy bloud And the dogges shal eat the fleshe and body of the mischeuous womā Iesabel And it fortuned in short tyme after for she was stoned to death in a lytle oute strete and there she remayned lying tyl the tyme that the wordes of Helyas were fulfylled O most myscheuous women take her ensample for God is a ryghtwyse Iudge for he sayth in the Gospell wyth what measure ye mete out wythall wyth the same measure shall be measured in wyth all againe lyke as it fortuned to the cursed woman Iesabell as it is wrytten Therfore ye women let be your disceyte than ye shal not be deceyued for what God sayth that is nolye ⧠A new deceyt doone of late THere was a wedded womā y t which was of lyght cōtenaūce muche more lighter of hert for smal labour and expensis wolde obteyne her grace and fauour if one had sought vpō her for loue for she was so gentyl and so fre herted And so it fortuned vpō a tyme she thought for to haue two yonge men vpon one day y t the one should not knowe of y e other for she had apointed eche vpō a certayne houre that was the one at .viii. a clocke and the other at .ix. And so in the morninge the good man arise vp from hys wyfe and clothed him and went and woke hys wyfe asked her if she wolde not aryse and she answered ye knowe well that I am halfe acrased haue not slept of all the nyght therfore I cannot aryse yet And so her husband let her lye and weare his way into the cytie to worke and in the meane while hys wyfe was not ydle for as soone as the clocke had smytten .viii. there caue the yongmā the which she had apoynted the day afore and he knocked at the doore and by and bi he was let in and hastely vnclothed him and went to bed to her so they two laye so longe together passyng the tyme tyl that another sued cam knocking at the doore Than sayde the woman alas there is my hasband than said the yongman where shal I hyde me y t your husbād finde me not for yf he finde me it wolde cost vs both our liues The womā sayd take your clothes and go vp in the chamber and be there styl and
the olde trotte knew nothing therof And whaÌ„ she was secretly alone she opened the letter and dyd rede howe depelye that he was taken in the loue of her and wythout that she wolde shewe grace to hym he shoulde suffre death and desyred her hertely that it might remayne secretly and that his loue might growe in her like as the loue of her dyd growe in hym And whan the gentyll woman had red his letter she tooke compassyon vpon hym for her hette brenned in the loue of hym and wolde gladly haue spoken with him to the ende that his loue should not haue ben vnrewarded but she was so sharply watched that she could not speake to hym for she might not go one foote out of her house but whaÌ„ that she went vnto churche and thaÌ„ had she auoide totheles whore that tooke hede to her and neuer went from her This yonge man the next daye dyd clothe hym in an other taymence and came and met wyth the gentylwoman the whyche knew him wel and she passed so nygh by him that she tooke hym her letter in his haÌ„d so priuely that no body sawe it and he louingly receiued it and dylygently rede it in the whiche he founde whole contracte and coÌ„pacte in so muche that they lacked nothinge but time place And so he was very glad of the confortable letter that he had of her And so he wente to a good frende of hys whyche dwelt in the way as shewent to churchward and shewed her all the bondage of his heart how he was set in the loue of her desyrynge her that she wolde helpe hym in hys cause and in tyme commynge for to doo as muche for her gayne so she promysed hym for to helpe hym as muche as lay in her power for to doo whan he hearde that he thanked her and sayd be ye content that I may speake priuely with her in your house yea said the wyfe speake wyth her as longe as it pleaseth you if it please her for to come in my house for I wyll be gladde to shewe you all the pleasure that I can Than was the yonge man very glad and wrote a letter to his louer in whyche letter was conteyned this folowing O my most fayrest and gracious louer comfort of my heart y e hope of my entent mynde the whyche hath so stroÌ„gly caught my heart in the snare of your loue for ye be among al womeÌ„ the most gracius the most comliest and one that nature hath not forgotten please it you to wytte howe that I your worthy seruaunt haue a secrete freend the whiche knoweth you well And so she knoweth what a foule vyllayne that ye haue to youre husband she dwelleth in the way as ye goe to church warde and wyth your licence I wil be there in y e one for mere chaÌ„bers in straunge clothes y t no body shal know me I wil haue by me a kettell of water mingled w t asshes whaÌ„ y t ye come therby I wil pore it vpoÌ„ your clothes And whan ye be thus fouled ye shall take it scornefully and go into y e house for to make you cleane than ye shal sende your keper home for other rayment and in the meane seasoÌ„ we wil talke together of our loue whaÌ„ she had red thys letter she wrote to hiÌ„ againe y t she was content w t al such thinges as he had writteÌ„ to her And the next day as she should go to y e church warde her typet her raile her gowne al her clothes were al arayed w t asshes water and than was this gentilwomaÌ„ angry and sore amoued so weÌ„t into y e house as yf she had bene ashamed but it was but her countenauÌ„ce and thaÌ„ her keper tooke a knife scraped her gowne as she thought it best Then sayd the gentyl woman no no let it alone for we doo labour in vaine for it wil not be incontinent cleane And therfore seynge there is no remedy run quyckly home fetche me another gowne a typet and a taile come quickly agayn y t we lese not our masse And thus is the olde trotte gon home for other clothes and incoÌ„tinent y e gentyl womaÌ„ weÌ„t aboue to her swete hert of the whiche she was louingly receyned and kissed her sweetly and louingly embraced eche other and there was loue by loue there loue spake to loue a longe tyme together And whan her keper came home wythout her maistres thaÌ„ her mayster demauÌ„ded of her where she had left his wyfe Than sayde the olde trot gent I mayster we haue had a greate mysfortune and so she vp tolde him all y t was fortuned and therfore I â—uÌ„ for another gowne for another typpet for my mastres is ashamed for to goo so in the strete Than sayd her mayster is it of a truthe her keper sayde syr it is as I haue shewed you Than sayde her mayster goo to thy mastres for I know well what it is For I haue redde of muche deceyte myschefe and manye subtil wayes that woman haue to begyle their husbandes wythal but thys subtyl meanes I neuer saw nor red afore this tyme. And therfore he fel in gret melancholy and dyed in short tyme after for because that he had studied so longe in vayne and for because that he was so falselye deceyued and by such subtyll meanes And therfore euery man take heede to his wyfe and beware of deceytfulnes ⧠An olde deceyte doone in olde tyme. THe stronge and worthy Hercules was ouercome in all hys power and strength throughe the loue of a yonge maide the fayre Yo le y t kynges doughter of Calido ny in y e whiche the worthiest of the worlde could not ouercom bryng hiÌ„ to shame This kyng her father had promysed Hercules that hys doughter Yo le should be hys wyfe the whyche in short tyme after he repented of the whyche Hercules was very wroth and tooke warre agaynst the kyng and ouercame hym and tooke all the countrey with the fayre yo le the whych he so entyrely loued But yo le the whyche thought more vpon the death of her father than on the loue of Hercules vnder a colour of false loue and with subtil meanes smylyng and with flatteryng wordes hath draweÌ„ Hercules to such great loue y t she caused him for to do what it pleased her and so she hath caused hym for to do lay a way his yron staffe wherwith he was wont for to rule the stronge mosters and beastes wythall She caused hym for to lay a way the lyons skynne and caused him to be clothed w t soft clothes of sylke she caused hym for to were a crowne of to semary vpon his head and goldeÌ„ tynges vpon his fyngers his rough here was kembed and after the best maner trymmed set a crowne vpon his hed and other costly ornamentes suche as the maydens and women dyd were She caused hys toughe
berde to be anoynted with costlye oyle of Cypres Thys yo le was well feene in deceite thought in her selfe that it was more laudable to deceiue such a grosse stronge man wyth aduoutry than to kyl hym wyth the sword of myschyef and so to reuenge her fathers death yet to the dishonour of y e worthy Hercules she caused hym for to gyue hym selfe to womēs busynes and ydlenes in so muche that he went and sate among the womē and tolde ryddels and fortunes as the chyldren did and fate and spon yarne at the dystaffe as the women dyd ⧠Now beholde how the worthy Hercules is brought to femynyne workes thorough the deceyt of yo le to his vtter confusyon the whych was wont to be so manly in all his feares Now beholde what myschyefe what maruayles and what foly shites that the false and subtil women can brynge to passe yea that semeth vnpossyble for to be that can they doo and bryng to passe ¶ A new deceyte doone of late IN the Ereledom of Henegou dwelt a riche marehaūt the which had a fayre honeste yonge woman to hys wyfe which marchaunt was most part from home for because of his marchaundyse the whiche is not good for yonge womē for women be nyce and slypper specyally whā they seldome see y t they loue for than lightly truneth there minde Like as it fortuned wyth this marchaūtes wyfe for the long beyng forth of her husbande was the cause that her hert was set a fyre in the loue of an other yonge man with the which she had had longe her pastyme secretly And this marchaunte had an vncle the which dwelt ouer agaynst him and saw euery night whan the marchaunt was out of towne an other came to his house and sawe him goo oute in the mornynge agayne And so when his vncle had seene thys manye tymes he wente and shewed the marchant what rule that his wyfe kept whan he was from home aboute hys profyt for whā he rode in colde and in rayne his wyfe laye wyth an other yonge man dalieng in the bed whan the marchaunt heard of this he was not wel contente and so it fortuned vpon a tune the marchaunt was at home and shortly made him redy and caused his horse to be sadled and sayd that he wolde ride a greate iourney and y t it wolde be longe ere that he came agayne soo he gaue his wite charge of his house and that she should se that all thinges were wel and in good order And in the mornyng erly the marchūt tooke hys iourney and rode forthe and in the euening whan it was somwhat darke he came home into the citie agayne and set his horse in a stable by and by and than came to his vncles house for to know y e trouth and for to watche y e wower to whome his wyfe had sende worde that her husband was oute of the towne And whan that the clocke had smytten .ix. the yonge man cā walkyng vp downe before the marchaūtes house watyng if there came any body to the doore and so the yonge man wente walkynge vp downe to fro .ii. or .iii. tymes before the marchauntes house The marchaūt seing that boldly went forth on his vnckles house and came to the yong mā sayd My mastres sayd that ye shal go with me here behynd in the barne there ye shal abyde for a seasō for perchaūce that our mayster come agayne so he tooke the yong man brought him preuely to the barne and locked the doore fast y t he coulde not come out And than he went out at the bake side and came home agayn to his vncles house and said y e mouse is in the trap what is now beste to be doone Than saide his vncles wife go and fetche her frendes that they may see what an honest wife y t ye haue And then the marchaūt went and fet his wiues father and mother her two brothers and two of her systers caused them al for to come to his vncles house there he shewed vnto them what a false hore y t he had to his wife how that he hadde locked her wower in the barne that he coulde not come out and there desyred her freendes that they wolde helpe to kyll the false knaue the whiche they all together y t were present promised for to doo And the meane whyle that the marchaunt went for to get her freendes together the gentyl woman his wife wente oute and walked too and fro for to looke for her louer and so as she wente vp and downe she came to fore the barne vnknowen to her that her louer was there and whan that he hearde that there was one about the barne he encouraged hym selfe and sayde who is there the gentyl womā his wyfe beinge al a frayde āswered sayd I am here your louer howe cam ye hether The yongmā sayd your seruaūt brought me hether sayd y t ye sayd y t I should tary here for perchaūce y t your husbond should come to night agayn Alas sayd his wife y t is not so I am afrayd it hath bene my husbād Thā sayd the yongemā let me out or els I wyll breke the barne Thā sayd y t gētilwomā I require y t do not so for thā were I vtterly dishonested vtterly shamed for euer she could not let him out for she had not the key so she went shortly into the house there she foūde a būdel of olde keyes amonge y e same keyes she foūde a key y t opened the barne dore so she let out her louer in the same barne she wēt set an asse for to saue her honesty than locked the barne fast agayne wyth a kysse they departed from thēs went to his rest And whan that all her freendes were assembled in hys vncles house than they toke wyth them burnynge torches and other lyghtes and so thei came before the marchauntes doore wyth halberdes swordes and knocked at the doore incontinent the gentylwomā let them in maruayled greatly and sayd O my freend what meneth this y t ye come so late here by night And incōtinēt the marchaunt her husband tooke his fist and beate her that her nose and mouth ran a bloud said thou whore thou shalt know anon wherfore And so forth they wēt al together to the barne and there they stoode wyth halberdes and naked swordes for to kyll the yonge man w t all And the marchaunt sayde to his wyfe vnlocke the barne The gentylwoman sayd I neuer had the key the key hath euermore bē w t your keyes And thā he fet hys keyes vnlocked the barne And whā the asse saw all the light he cryed very dredfully in so much y t they wer afrayde saw y t it was an asse that stoode there of the whiche the frendes were sore amoued and sayd y u art a foule knaue a ribalde a dishonester of womē fals lieng traytour and yf he had not ron a way her two fysters wolde haue killed him And the marchaunt seing y t was whole ashamed wist not what to say but sought for grace and mercy And so after that they ledde theyr life in peace and concorde And the betrayer was euer more hated so if one see know any suche thinges let him holde hys peace be styl let goddes water go ouer goddes lande and than ye shall haue no mysse thanke ¶ The conclusyon I Should haue wryttē much more of the deceite of womē for there was ye wtout nūber in the penne And for bycause that it should not be to redyous for the reder and that the women should not be dyscōtent and also it is agaynst my owne harte for the conuersacion of the women is so swete so louely and so delectable to beholde for without women may none be full made further there as is no women is none made Also besyde y t as we finde wryttē the face and beauty of the women kyndeleth the hart of man Therfore all ye good honest women and vyrgins be not myscontent for y t I haue wryttē heere is of the vntrew and noughty hariots the whych seeke nothing but good chere and concupyscēce of the fleshe the whych is the way to hel from the whiche our mercyful lorde Iesu Christ defende vs. Amen FINIS ☞ Imprynted at London in Paules Churche yarde at the sygne of the Lambe by Abraham Vele