¶ The deceyte of women to the instruction and ensample of all men yonge and olde newly corrected ¶ Prologue TAke on thy way thou lytle booke And feare not for no maner blame For though these wemen looke a crooke Take thou thereof hardly no shame For they that be good without deceyte Wyth this will not be greued But they that for false louers wayte Besode their husbandes be soone meued They that be good and not infecte For all that is sayde nede not to care For in this booke they be not electe Wherfore do thou not spare To shew of the lewde and theyr demeanour Throughout this booke where euer it be There came neuer good of their behauour Experience dayly ye may se Of women maried many one Which were right lewde and wyl not be knowen This booke right playnly maketh mencion For diuers of their husbandes were ouerthrowen Through their false wyles and arte mischeuous yet the good women herein be not named Wherfore to them it is nothing greuous That they be fauty be somewhat blamed Vyrgyll complayneth here and Hercules also For all their will great power and strength Sampson stronge with many worthies mo Haue bene begiled through women at length Finis WHan the creatour of al thinges had create and made heauen and erth of nought and all that is thei in saue man Than made he vpon the syxte daye of erth our fyrst father Adam in y e campe of Damasco he gaue vnto hym lyfe and made hym lorde and inherit our of all thynges that were creat vpon earth And also y e knoledge and vnderstandyng wyth the propertyes and vertues of all thynges and to eche thyng his proper name Than the lorde tooke from hym the place where he was made and set hym in Paradyse terrestre that he should in herit it And y e lorde sente into Adam a slepe and than tooke a rybbe of hym and made therof a woman And And whā Adam awoke and founde the woman by hym he sayd These bones bene of my bones and this fleshe is of my fleshe And God gaue commaundemente to thē bothe and sayd eate of all the fruytes of Paradice but touche not the tree the whiche standeth in the middes ¶ How the Serpent deceyued Eue and how she forthwyth deceyued Adam WHan that the Lorde had giuen the commaundement than the olde serpent the deuill practised how that he might make him disobediēt for he knew the strength of the man and so he thoughte for to deceyue the woman for she is of much febler nature to wtstande temptacion so he found the woman alone about the tree than sayd the serpent to eue where fore hath the Lorde for byden you to eate of y e fruyte of knowledge of good euyll Than sayde Eue we should peraduenture dye The serpent sayde no nat so but ye shall be lyke goddes knowyng good and euyll therfore take the fruite and eate therof and she saw that the apple was so fayre to se and so she toke the apple and eat there of and gaue it forth to her husband Adam y t whiche also eate thereof as one that wold not dysplease his wyfe and yet neuerthelesse he was one of the wisest mē that euer was vpon erth sauyng only the sonne of god And whan that they had eaten of the Apple than were bothe their eyes opened and the saw that they were naked and thus was the moste wysest and fayrest man of the worlde deceyued of his wyfe But whether y e Eue were to blame or no that Adam was deceyued that is in the great wysdum predestynacyon of almyghty god for y e secrete was closed in y e consistory of the holi trinitie that the sonne of god shuld ones die for the loue of man and the death of the Sonne of god should haue an occasion wherfore that he shoulde dye ¶ For bycause that the erthly paradyse is the place of all erthly pleasures and is receyued to be the worthyest and the moste precyouse place of the worlde and for as much as the woman is shaped and made in that place the man in the campe of Damasco therfore som womē haue an opinion and say that they be better than y e mē and wyll be mens maysters as it fortuneth yet nowe a dayes in the worlde But they allegate not the wordes that god spake to the woman after that the commaundement was broken and sayde ye shall bere your chyldren with payne and wo ye shall be vnder the power of your husband and he shall be your mayster and shal haue Lordshyp ouer you And thā the man must se that the woman haue that at shal be nedeful and necessarye for her for god hathe commaunded men to worke whan that he sayde in the sweate of thy labour thou shalt eat thy brede but alas there is now adayes muche people y t whiche obeyeth not the commaundement Also the man shal know the ordenaunce of god and how that he hath made the woman out of the middes of the man and not of the head betokening that she shal not be the maister of the man and also he hath not made her of a side set lytle regarde by her but he hath made her oute of y e myddes to the helpyng of man and that man and wyfe shall lyue wyth one accorde and one wyll in the state of wedlocke and shall be two soules and one body the whyche god hath so ordeyned to the saluacion of oursoules ¶ A new deceyte of a woman in Henegow of late dayes IN the Citie of Valenciē was a mighty ryche man the whiche was receyuer of the country of Henegowe and dwelte in an ende of the citie beside in a fayre house y t which house had many places and wayes to passe throughout to diuers stretes And so there was one gate that was the waye in to an out strete in the which strete dwelt a good simple man the which had a very fayre woman to his wife the receyuer went often times out at the gate for the amorouse sight of that louely woman so that he was taken wyth her loue and made such acquayntaunce wyth her loue that at last she consented to him in so much y t he lacked nothing but time and place And so past forth and the receyuer desyred often times this simple man and his wife to dinners and suppers in so muche that the receyuer and he were great freendes and so he had this poore symple man alwayes at his wyll and pleasure And so it fortuned vpon a tyme that this symple man should go to a castell the whiche was .iii. myte frō Valencyen and so he tooke his iourney thetherwardes and commaunded to his wyfe the kepyng of the house the whyche she was very glad and shewed the receyuer therof he also was very glad therof and toward night the backe gate was vnlocked and there the prenely cam through to the receyuer and he
doo afore wyth feare drede that dyd he now with a fre wyl and with a free heart And oftentymes as his maister rode forth he lefte his Clarke at whome for to kepe hys maistres And whā y t his wyfe rode out to pilgrymage or to weddinges or to any other festes than he had leuer that his clarke had ben wyth his wife thā any of his other maydens and thus had the clarke good fortune and chaūce for his mayster neuer knew therof And who that sayd ought therof let them say what they wolde thoughte euermore that he knew well cōtrary but his good wife knew it muche better thus was the poore mā foule deceyued of his wyfe ¶ How the woman Iahell deceyued the great Captayne Sysara THe captayne Sysara had great puysance of men of warre and was a great enemy agaynst them of Israell he had in hys batayle .ix. C. greate Charettes the whyche were beset on bothe sydes with sithes suche as they haue for to ma whay and Corne wythal wyth the whyche he dyd great morther amonges the people of Israell And whan that he had persued the chyldren of Israell .xx. yere wyth warre than vpon a day there came the propheresse Deelbora to Barache the captayne of Israell and sayd ryse vp this is thy day in the whyche the Lorde shall delyuer Sysaram into thy handes and so she and Barache went out wyth .x. M men Sysara heard that the people came vpon hun he was afrayd and lept from hys charet and fled away a foote And thus as he fled the woman Iahel met hym and sayde Lorde come with me and go to my house for thi sauegarde and he went wyth her and than he sayde I dye for thurst And Iahel heryng that gaue hym mylke to drynke And Sisara was very wery in so muche that he fell a slepe And Iahell tooke a great nayle and set it vpon the temple of hys head and droue the nayle crosse wise thorough hys head and so she kylde him Now behold the captaine the whyche all the power of Israell coulde not subdewe and one only woman hath wonne hym with her deceyte ¶ A deceyte doone in Artoys of a late tyme. IN the Erldome of Artoys was a mā of great power y e which had a fayre yonge gentilwomā to his wife and liued veri louingly to gether This knight had lost in a batayle one of hys eares his lord and captayne that was aboue him was duke of Burgon and erle of Artoys the which had made peace concorde wyth all the other kynges and lords in thrystendome And for because that man sayde that this knyght was a deuoute man Vpon a tyme he thought that he wolde not lede his lyfe in makyng of good chere and euer to lyue in Welthe and also coniectured in hys mynde that it was not the waye of saluacyō And so vpon a tyme he made hys vowe to the lande of Pruysse for to helpe to defende the chrysten fayth with the men and Lordes of the countrye And shortly after he tooke hys leue of the Duke of hys lordes and gentylmen and of hys good wyfe and so rode hys waye with proper compeny accordyng to hys estate tyl that he came in Pruyse where as he was ryght nobly receiued and there he dyd many noble feates of warre agaynste the infydeles in so muche that his name was spred through al the world And so it fortuned in the meane tyme whyl that he was out of hys countrey and hys wyfe beyng a fayre young gentyl woman the which laye alone it fortuned vpon a tyme there cames a yonge proper gentylman the whyche wooed her for to lye wyth her and so he desyred her that he myght haue the kepynge of the Cytye and be her husbandes liuetenant the whyche within a shorte tyme with a lyttel labour consented to hym And whan that her husband had bene certayne yeres forth he tooke his leue of the lordes of Pruyse is returned agayne homwardes sore longynge for to reste in the swete armes of hys fayre wyfe And so it fortuned vpon the last nyght that he laye but .iii. myle from his owne castel where as he dwelt longynge sore all the nyght for hys good wyfe the whyche was verye besy wyth an other and he was y e fyrste vp in the mornynge and toke hys horse and rode all alone in greate haste and wyth a feruente desyre towarde his castell to th entent that he might yet fynd his wyfe vpon her bed he to warm him by her swete dsyes whyche thought full lytle vpon his commynge and he rode so fast that he cam before day to his castel whan that he cam he found the vtter court open and there he left his horse standynge and wente so forthe boted and spored to fore his wiues chamber where that she laye had her pastauns with another mā and the lorde drew his sword and knocked at the chaumber doore whereof his wife and the keper of the Citie marheyled sore who that it myght be the wife axed who was there the lorde answered I am here what slepe ye yet opē y e dore The wyfe knowynge well the voyce was sore amasyd and sayde to her louer that he shuld incontinent rise and clothe hym the whyche he dyd by and by And the wyfe faried so longe tyll that he knocked agayne and sayd open quikly Thā sayd his wyfe alas my husband is farre from hens I beseche god sende hym well home agayne Than sayd the lord by my knyghthod woman I am he and knowe ye me not The woman said whan that it shal please my husband to com home he wyl gyue me good knowlege before by sume of his seruauntes to th ende that I maye mete hym and byd him welcome home with his cosins and his nexte kynred so I maye honourablye receiue him as it pertayneth to a Lorde Than said the lord what mene ye shal I stāde long here wyll ye not knowe your husband and forthwyth he named his name and whan that her louer had clothed hym she bad hyme that he should come stand by her behynd the doore Than sayde the woman alas good husbande yf it be you I requyre you y e you forgiue it me The lord sayde I am content than sayd the woman I wyll come and let you in yf I had a candell lyght And for a truth whan that ye knocked at the doore I had a marueylous good dreine of you what was that sayd the lord she answered My lord I dremed that ye were come home and that ye spake wyth me and me thought that ye sawe as clerely with your blynde eye as ye dyd wyth the other eye The lorde sayd I wolde it were so Than sayde the woman I beleue yet that it is so what sayde the lorde be ye foly she that ye beleue me not the woman sayd let me proue for my mynde sake and with that
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
secret tyll that my husband be gone so the yongmā did as the womā gaue hī coūsel sat styl in the chāber the which was very olde ful of holes And than she lept lustly frō her bed knowyng wel ynough y t it was not her husband y t knocked at y e doore let y e other yonge man in y t which she had apoynted at .ix. a clocke by by he dyd of hys clothes wēt to bed to this lusty trull for she was good ynough there had come .iiii. suche and besely went plowed Venus grounde there ocupyed the lustes of the fleshe so long til she had weried hī But he that sat aboue in the chāber saw y t I reken he was not very well pleased for he knew right well that it was not her husbād so he wist not whether it were best to speke or to holde his peace And so thei lay so lōg a bed til that her husbād came knocked at the doore and by and by she perceyued y t it was her husbande and than she wyst not what shyfte to make nor where she should hyde hym but bad him y t he should lye betwene the bed the wall she toke the clothes and the couerlet and caft thē vpon him And whā her husbād was com he be thought hym that he had heard mo than one in his house and whā that he saw the bed so cast out of order he maruayled for it semed not as though ther had layn a sycke womā but a though there had ben a fyghtyng a battell for stones for it loked more lyker a boulting trough than a sycke womās bed Thā said her husbād out thou my scheuous whore where is that knaue that hath laine wyth the if I finde hym ye shall both repent it by gods body and wyth that he caughte the couerlet and the clothes in his hand and than he sayd how properly is this gere done for hys bed shewed as thoughe here had lyne .ii. Than sayde the woman be my trouth I am sure thou arte droncke all tedye that thou raylest thus vpon me and call me hore thou knowest right well that I am none but alas I am to trew to suche a Cocold and rebald as thou arte I am sory that I haue ben so long so trew to the seynge that thou neuer founde no dyshonest in me Thys poore man west not what to say whan that he hard his wyfe say suche wordes begon for to chyde hym so ye he mighte be glad that he had no stripes And so the good mā as it was best for hym helde his prace and said mekely My gentyl wife I beseche thee be contente for I loue not to chyde and he that is here aboue ones shal pay for all but he mente our lorde that he wolde haue accompte of it ones But he that sat aboue in the chamber and heard al he wende that he had ment hym and that he had thretened hym Than sayd the yong man my frende it is ynough that I paye the halfe for he that lieth beside the bedsted may wel paye the other halfe for he is as wel culpable as I Than had the man great maruaile and thought y e god had spoke to hym and he that lay besyde the bed wylte not what to doo for he knew nothyng of the other that was aboue in the chamber but he was bolde and rose vp and the other came downe out of the chamber And whan they saw eche other they went together frō thens and none of them bothe that payde for theyr lyinge nor yet for theyr bed hyre and thus the man was troubled and she made her husbande beleue that the one was a doctour of physyke the which came to see her water and the other was a Surgyn that came to let her bloud and to chafe her vaynes and so she pleased her husband for al that she had made him cokcolde ye prety trulles that loue to cary stones learne this prety conceyt against ye be sycke ⧠An olde deceyte of Vergilius VYrgyll was a very wyse and experte man and was a mayster of many dyuers sciences y e whiche as some men say the deuel had learned him and also he was a wise man of councel ▪ in so muche that y e Emperour chose him to be one of the lordes of his counsell This Vyrgyl did many meruay els wyth Nicromaci for he made a gardē wherein were al maner of trees of al fruyte and fruytes what time that he wolde there they found euer more rype frute fayre floures and sede And also there was in the garden all maner of birdes the whiche songe nyght and daye And this garden had no inclosing but onely the lyght that shone ouer it and yet there could nobody come in Also he had made in Rome an Image of gret light the which might not fal And they of Rome might not open not her dore nor wīdow but they must nedes se the Image And who soeuer had sene that ymage y e daye he shoulde haue had no pleasure for to haue doone the workes of the flesshe of the which the women of Rome wente and shewed Vyrgilius the which at last cast downe the Image and thā the women had their pleasure agayne Also this Virgilius had made in the myddes of Rome to the profyte of the commen people a lampe of glasse the which shone lyghted all Rome ouer and ouer in so much that there was neuer so smal a strete but it was as lyghte of that lampe as though there had ben two torches burnynge and some men say it stode well .iii. C. yere And not fer from thens in an other place he had made a man of copper wyth a bow in his hande poyntynge wyth hys atowe to the Lampe And so it fortuned vpon a tyme the doughters of Rome wente a sportynge in an euenynge and there came one of the maydens of Rome the which smote vppon the strynge of the bowe wyth her finger and so the arow sprong louse and shot the lampe in peces the whiche was greate pitye And vpon an other tyme Vyrgilius did put out al the fyre that was in Reine that no man coulde get fyre but onelye at one womans ars the whyche had deceyued hym and none coulde lyghte an others fyre but that eche house myste goe vppon the Markete place and fetche hys fyre at that womans ars This Virgyl for all that he was so wyse and a mayster of all scyences yet not wythstandynge he was deceyued of women Vpon a tyme he set his loue vpon a fayre gentylwoman the whiche was of noble progeny and made suche meanes that it came to her knowlege and when that she knew that she bethought her how she myght deceyue him and than she sayd to him that it were very petilous for to beginne suche a thynge for a man cometh lyghtly in the bound of loue but he cannot
better knowledge that I am a man and so he caught the dogge by the eares agayne and made hym for to crye that the Lady hearde it and so the Lady caused her chamberlayn for to ryse and also the thirde tyme she arose and came for the dogge but the pore gentylmaÌ„ had not her power nor strength for to breke one spere And whan that she saw that there wolde come nothing she went away into her chamber and he perceyued her Than sayd the chamberlayn for to recompence hym of his great payne and for to please the lady awaye thou noughtye ape as thou arte for thou shall not come thys night in the house thou foule yll fauored beaste and wyth that she dyd shyt the camber doore And the ladye demaunded to whome that she spake and she sayde that it was to the other dogge the whiche hathe doone me great payne in seking of him for he had hyd him vnder the benche and whan that I had founde hym he wolde not aryse for all that I coulde doo to hym I woulde fayne haue had him in but he wolde not ones lyftre vp hys head and therfore I haue lefte him wythout and so she locked the doore wyth greate spyte to fore hys face The Lady sayd my doughter that is well done And thus was the gentylman deceyued ☞ A deceyte how that Sampson was deceyued of hys wyfe SAmpson beyng a strong yong maÌ„ came to ThaÌ„nats where that he saw one of the doughters of the philystins the which he desyred to haue to his wife And whan that he came to fore the Vinyarde of the Citie there came a yonge Lyon tonnyng to hym which he kylled And in short time after as he came from his father and mother it fortuned that he cam agayne to the place where that he had kylled this Lion so he found in the mouth of the Lion a swarme of Bees And whaÌ„ that his wedding should be there came .xxx. yonglings to his feast And Sampson sayd to them I wyll giue to yon a ryddle and if that ye can asoyle it win .vii. dayes after my feast I wyl gyue to you .xxx. silkeÌ„ poynts and as many cotes and if that ye assoyle not my ryddle ye shal lese as muche Than sayd the yonglinges shew to vs your ryddle Then sayd SampsoÌ„ of the etet is mete gone out and of the stronge is come suâ—tenâ—s And so they could not assoile that riddle thaÌ„ they came to his wife and sayd desyre your husband that he shew to you the ryddle what it sygnifieth And yf that ye wyl not we wyl set thy house and thy fathers in fyre And than she went to her husband Sampson wiping makyng her moue to hym and sayd I pray you shewe to methe solucyon of the ryddle and what ye meane wyth all or els I saye that ye loue me not Sampson answered and sayde I wolde not geuâ—nother father nor mother to know what it meÌ„t shuld I tel it you â–ª And so his wife wept made greate lamentacyon .vii dayes after he feast of theyr weddyng And vpon the seuenth day she croudled SaÌ„pson so sore y t he shewed it hir she forth w t sheweth it to the yonglynges y t whych sayd to SaÌ„pson what is shorter than heuy what is stronger thaÌ„ a Lyon Than said SaÌ„pson yf my â—tesshe â—alfe had not ben ye had not soyled my riddle Neere ye may see how Sampson was deceiued through y e weping lameÌ„tacion of a womaÌ„ and after y e SampsoÌ„ caâ—uâ—tâ— his wyfe for to haue doone as he was wont to do which his father had forbode hiÌ„ said to SaÌ„psoÌ„ I had went ye wold haue kylled her therfore I haue betake her to another husband ThaÌ„ was SaÌ„pson wreth did great mischef to the philystens And so the philistens sâ—eyng that SaÌ„psons wyfe was the cause of that myschef thaÌ„ went y e philistens and set her fathers house in fyre the father the doughter beynge in the house so dyd burne them both ¶ And after that he enterely loued a woman that dwelt in the valy of Soreth whose name was Dalida And so the cheefe hed prynce of the Phylystens came to Dalida sayd we requyre the that thou wylt deceyue Sampson and demaunde of hym wherein y t the strength of Sampson is to the ende that we may conquere hym And yf that ye doo it eche of vs shall gyue to you â— c M. syluerpence And so Dalida sought the occasioÌ„ to deceyue him Sampson caused hym selfe .iii. times to be bouÌ„de through the petitioÌ„ of Dalida w t .iii. maner of baÌ„des but euer more he brake the baÌ„des ouer cam his enemies .iii. tymes And whaÌ„ that Dalida had sene al this She came to SaÌ„pson w t sweet flatteryng wordes and sayd O my dere beloued SaÌ„pson ye saye that ye do â—ore me and your hart thynketh it not for ye haue denyed to me .vi. times for ye wold not shew me where that your strength testeth And so she troubled SaÌ„psoÌ„ many a day vnto the tyme that she brought him to his death And so at last SaÌ„pson shewed his wyfe the truth sayd yf my hed were shaue thaÌ„ were all my strength and power gon Than Dalida sent worde to the Phylystens and she caused Sampson for to slepe in her lap and she called to her a barbeur he dyd shaue of al the here of Sampsons head thaÌ„ she thrust hym from her and hys power and might was gone from hym And than cryed Dalida Sampson Sampson the phylistens ben come vpoÌ„ thee ThaÌ„ he arose out of his slope was incontinent as a prysoner his eyen were put out and so by that meanes he was killed Now behold ye men be the yonge and olde heave that the strange Sampson was deceyued of the false womaÌ„ Dalida who is y t may beleue the swete and flatteryng woordes and the bitter mourning and weping of women ⧠A new deceyte doone of late Ther was a gentylman y t which was very bold in the feares of warres and entyerly loued a yerge fayre Lady and had so oftentymes coÌ„munycacyoÌ„ wyth her that she consented to hym in all thynges that he wolde desyre of her And whaÌ„ y t he had done his wyl a certaine time with her thaÌ„ went he into spayne with hys lord for to kepe warre and in the meane while y t he was abseÌ„t his louer was maried to an olde knyght the which knew right wel y e other maÌ„ but this olde knyght knew not y t he was hys wyfes paramour but at last it caÌ„ to his knowledge of y t which he was not wel coÌ„tent And so it fortuned y t in shorte time after her paramour came home againe by chauÌ„ce in an euenyng caÌ„ to y e castel where y t his sweeting was the old knight made him good cheere for he was of his olde acquaintauÌ„ce but it was halfe agaynst his
wher that he dwelt to th end y t they should not fynde y e footing of theÌ„ for the footyng of the oxen did she wal wayes froÌ„ the caue ward where that he dwelt Also he coÌ„quered the great moÌ„nster of the sea â—afore Troye the which they must haue gyueÌ„ euery day for hys dyner a 〈◊〉 a shepe and y t ê¯tained so longe tyl the lot fel vpon the kynges doughter the which he delyuered subdued the greate monster and delyuered the Cytie of Troye and also he was a greate iuster for where that he heard y t there were any greate Lorde or kyng that was a tyraunt or an oppresser of the people thether wolde be go and aueÌ„ture his lyfe pursue theÌ„ to death Ha good lord yf y t an infidell hath doone suche thynges y t which had no hope of y e life eternal through loue of iustice how muche the more should euery christe lorde fyght for the trew iustyce and that same to exalt the which knoweth wel the great reward that is promised them of the lorde celestyall ¶ Vpon a tyme Hercules tooke his iourney towarde hys owne countrey of Ycoyien wyth hys wyfe Megera and her hand mayde And also he came into the land of Tassalian where that he must pusse ouer the water with the shyppe and the shyppe was so lytle that it coulde not cary theÌ„ all ouer at ones and so Hercules remayned and went not ouer wyth the shippe and the fery man behelde Dianira and whan thei came to lande the fery man tooke Hercules wyfe and wolde haue runne away wyth her and Hercules seynge that tooke hys bow and shot ouer the water towarde Nessums the feâ—y man and shot the arow in Nessums syde â–ª in so muche that he felt that he muste dye and than he sayd to Dianira Ye be a fayre woman therfore I requyre you take compassion vpon me for your husband Hercules is not true for he loueth other beside you Hold take this box for therin is such a thing that whan that ye anoynt therwyth his shert and that he put it vpon his body than shal all the straunge loue departe from hym And vpon a time Hercules subdued the kynge Prycus the which had many doughters and amonge them there was one that was the fayrest the whych he entyrely loued aboue al the other and her name was Yo le and Hercules sayde to her Yo le take me as your frend for so must it be for the goddes haue giueÌ„ to me this chaunce And whaÌ„ that yo le herde this that she must doo him freendshyp the whych had oppressed conquered her father than fel Yo le in a swound and in great sorow And than Hercules betooke Yo le in the kepyng of xii men that she should not escape him And Hercules desyred her that she wolde be his wife y t whiche at last she consented and so Hercules lay bi her and accomplished his pleasure so longe with her that he holy forgat hys wyfe Dianira Dianira heard of this so she wrote a letter to him remeÌ„bring him of y e great loue that was wonte to be betwene them and to knowe yf that should be so lost and forgotteÌ„ and that he the whyche all the worlde did drede wolde so suffre hym selfe to be ouercome of a straunge woman And whaÌ„ Hercules hadred this letter he was not well contente and was yll apayde therof in so muche y e none durst com by him nor also the fayre Yo le And so Hercules beynge in he up fantasy deuysed him selfe home he might best forget the fayre yo le and so he tooke his way and Iourney to the mounte Othes on pylgrymage and for to doo Sacryfice to the God Appollo and in the way met with hiÌ„ Lucas chamberlyn of Dianira â–ª and whan that Dianira knewe that than she tooke one of Hercules shertes the whiche was ouerstryken wyth the poyson that NessuÌ„s had geuen to her and sent it to Hercules for to put on knowing no otherwise but that the strauÌ„ge loue should therwyth haue departed from him as Nessums made her to beleue And than Hercules had made a great fyre for to doo sacrifice vnto the God Appollo w t an harte that Hercules had takeÌ„ tunnyng And Lucas gaue to hâ—m the sherte and for because that he sâ—et so sore through the great anguyshe hard sorow he tooke the shert of Lucas and put it on and whaÌ„ that the shert was warme vpon him it cleued so cast to his body and he felt suche great payne that he wiste not what to doo and wold haue drawen of the shert agayne but he could not but drew it of by great peeces from his body with the skinne and the fleshe to the bone in suche wyse that one might haue sene his bowels And so hercules saw and knewe wel that he muste dye than Hercules sayde to Philotes tel Yo le and all her frendes wyth habundauÌ„ce of teres of the miserable death of Hercules ThaÌ„ wayled Yo le so bytterly that her hart dyd brast and died for sorow whan that Dianira heard tell of the deathe of Hercules â–ª and how that it was through the shert the which she had sent hym â–ª she tooke a knife and kilde her selfe for sorow And thus was the valyaunt Hercules shamefully deceyued of a woman neuerthelesse it wâ—s without the knowledge of the woman though thaâ— the woman wss the causer therof ⧠A new deceyte of late doone in the Cytie of Tours IN the Citie of toures there was a marchauÌ„t of great power the whych had desyred vpoÌ„ a fryday his paison other mo of his louers freedes to dine w t hym had promised theÌ„ a certayne great fysshe the which was called a pyke and cost hym two shyllinges besyde the other smal fysshes as Carpes Bremes pykerel and other such smal fisshes This marchauÌ„tes wife loued wel a certayne frere and whaÌ„ the husband had brought home the pyke hys wyfe tooke it priuely sent it to the frere bi a Coblers wyfe the whych knew all her secretes and tolde her y t she should shewe the frere that she wolde come y t nyght and make mery wyth hym and remayne wyth hym all that nyght and helpe for to eat the Pyke ThaÌ„ was the Frere maruaylous glad and sayde if there be any good wyne for to get for money I wil prouide vs some we wyl teache the Pike for to swym therin Than went the good Frere musyng in hym selfe and thought how that he wolde cherishe this marchauÌ„tes wyfe And about xii a clocke the good man came home with his gestes the whyche he had desyred for to eat of the pyke brought them into the kitchyn for to see the great pyke y t he had bought sayd to hys wyfe shewe to my gestes what a great pyke that I haue bought what Pyke sayde hys wyfe Mary sayde he the great pyke that I sente home wyth the
aslepe vpon the preuy and than she arose vp from her husbande and dyd set before the bed a basyn and a stycke in it and sayde my beste beloued husband yf that I fall a slepe vpon the preuy I praye you than knocke vpō the basyn that I may with the noyse therof awake And her husbande promysed her that he wolde doo her request and than she went againe aboue where she was ioyfully receiued for he thought it very longe tyl that she came and her husband had dronk wel in so muche that incontynent he fel aslepe and slept tyl in the mornynge at .iiii. a clocke and than he starte out of his slepe groped roūde about the bed but he foūde not his wyfe of the whych he was a frayde lept from the bed and smote vpon the basyn in so much that incōtinent his wyfe came running and made her complaint sayd alas good husband I haue suffered very great coulde for I haue sit al this night sleapyng there vpon the preuy and I drede sore that I shall get a greate sickenes after this colde And so she went to bed to her husbande and lay there tyl it was fyue of the clocke in the mornyge And than arose her husband for to goe heare masse and for to doo such thinges as he had for to do And whan that her husband was gone out she wente incontynent aboue to her other louer and there she remayned tyl that the clocke smote .viii. for than it was lefull for them to aryse and so depart without the knowledge of any body sauyng only the mayde And so it fortuned whan y t they were departed this youg marchaūt wolde take his iourney toward his house that was in the cytie of Lubeck in Saxō and tooke his horse wēt thetherwardes And vpon the same daye this womans husband rode out of the cytie of Danswyke towarde y e citie Lubecke so whā that he had ryden a whyle vppon hys iourney he looked vp and saw a horse man ride afore hym and whan that he had seene hym he desyred gladly for to haue company and rode the faster tyll that he had ouer taken the other man that rode afore hym and so whan he had ouer taken him they rode together and than the elder mā sayde to the yonge marchaunt I pray you tel me some newes or els of youre chaunces for to shorte our way wythall Than sayde the yonge marchaūt there is no chaunce fortuned to me and therfore I can tel none Than sayde the marchaunt I haue maruayle of y t for in the cytie of Danswyke the yonge merchaunt men get many straūge chaūces for the marchaunces be comenly olde men and haue for the moste parte yonge lusty wyfes the wyhche haue more worke in their shoppes than theyr husbandes may wel awaye wyth all in so muche that they borowe nowe and than a lofe of you or of suche other Than sayd the marchaunt by cockes bones there is a prety chaunce fortuned to me of late of a Marchauntes wyfe and so he vp and tolde him al the story of the woman and how it was brought to passe and of the mayde of the bason lyke as is expressed afore The good man heard him tell his tale and was not well contente thereof in hys mynde and thought in him selfe that al chose thynges were fortunate to hym selfe but he laught therwith And whan that they had rydon a lytle forther the marchaunt held styl with his horse and sayd alas it is wrong with me for I should ryde to Lubeck for money I haue forgot tē my pryncipall oblygacyō y t I should requyre my money wythall therfore I must nedes returne home wardes again if ye haue no great busines I require you that ye wyll bere me companye to my house and I wyll paye for your costes and for your horse make you the best chere that I can Thā sayd the yong marchaunt if I can doo you any pleasure I wil be glad to beat your commaundemēt And so they tooke theyr iourney back warde agayne and rode home and came in at the back syde of the marchauntes house and came in at the horse stable so y t the yong man knew nat the house and than they went forth into the house whereas they founde y e good wyfe syttyng the whych he beheld knew wel in so muche that he was astonyed and sayde to hym selfe Alas what haue I done for it is not wel now but if I had kept my teth before my tongue thā had I done wel but there is no remedy it is doone that y t is sayd cannot be called agayn for it is said and so must it be And whan that they were with the wyfe than sayd her husband wife take money and go to market bye vs some good meat for I bryng here wyth me a good frende the which I wyll make good there to night But god knoweth the wyfe was not wel cōtent w t that frende to com in such maner But not wstandyng y e wife must obey the cōmaundemēt of her husband And whā it was nyght the meat was redy than the good man tooke hys gest and set them downe at the table and there thei were well but the wyfe went about the house and came not to supper in so muche y t her husbande was amoued with her and bad her that she shoulde come and syt by hym the whych she did at y e last was sore ashamed The good man made his geast the best chere y t he could and dronke eche to other plenty of wyne And so whan that the supper was doone and the meat taken from the table than he commaunded hys seruaunt and one of the maydens to depart out of the chambre and the other mayde that knewe of the bargaine remayned styll in the chambre and than he caused the chamber doore to be locked and sayd with a loude voyce Is here no honestly for he that byteth hys nose of shameth hys fate and so it is wyth me for yf I shame my wife I shame my selfe And than he sayd to his wyfe My wyfe ye be to costly for to be my wyfe yf ye cā wyn one night .l. nobles for thā wolde I hastely or ī short tyme spend al my goodes The wyfe sayd that is not trew than was her husband angri and said Gothy wayes and fetche me hether the money for God hath sent me ynoughe also I wyl haue no suche money in my house Thā the wife went with a moued myned and did fetche the money and layd it to fore her husband vpon the table and he tooke it and cold it and there was .xlix. nobles And thā he demaunded the yōg man sayinge is thys thy money no sayd the yong man but it was once my money Than said his hoste put it in thy purse Than the hoste had yet some syluer money that was remayning of the noble y t was
chaunged for the wyne And thā sayd the host yet not withstanding y e labour must be payd what shal I geue thy wife for her labour Than sayd the yong man mine host that I put to your good iudgement Than sayd the hoste she shal haue for her parte a payre of shewes a payre of Slippers and the mayde that kept the watche shall haue a payre of slyppers and the mynstrell that playde vpon the basyn at the fockynge shal haue for hys parte a pot of wyne And so the host gaue eche his money the whiche they must receyue And than Iohn Iohn the boste that was mynstrell gaue hys parte fyrst of all and sente for the wyne and dronke and made good chere and that that yet remayned of hys moneye he gaue it agayne to the yonge man and said holde take this and make good there therwyth to nyght and goe to morowe where it please you I requyre you that ye come here no more And yf ye haue founde anye good fortune I praye you be secret of your tounge and make no wordes of it for that y t is doone must so remayne for there is none other remedy And so the yonge man rode the next mornynge hys waye and was very glad of hys chaunce Now ye maye see what that women can brewe Now be holde ye ryche men of great power also yonge men the whych haue takē vpon you great busines take a good hede hardely of false and subtle womē But alas who is it that can take hede for scripture fayth that a man shal seldō fynde an honest woman or a worthy woman For there standeth wryttē Mulietem fortē quis inuentet procul hic c. who is that y t may fynde a strong honest womā or a substancy all honest woman farre from hence or at the ende of the worlde Thus euery man that wyl be sure he may abstaine the face of women and the conuersacyon theyr company and beyng wyth them ¶ An olde deceyte doone of olde tyme. THe seruauntes of Herode were sente forthe and haue take saynt Iohn brought him to y e gayle there set him fast in pryson for Herodias sake And Herodias layde agaynst him many thinges wold haue beheded him but they coulde not brynge it to passe and Herod drad Iohn for he knew wel that he was a Prophete and a holy man and tooke great heed to him and was obedient to him in many causes and also he hero him gladlye And so it fortuned vpon a day y t he madi a great supper for his gentyles principal states of Galyle Than cam in the doughter of Herodyas daūced of the whiche kynge Herode and they that were at hys table tooke great pleasure therin And incontinent said kyng Herode to Herodias doughter and sayd desyre of me what it please you and I wyl giue it you and with that he swore an other sayd what soeuer that ye wyll desyre I wyll geue it you ye to halfe my realme to thā sayd her mother to her desyre and aske the head of Iohn baptyst And than incontinent she went to the kyng in great hast and sayd I wyl that ye geue to me incontynent the hed of Iohn baptyst in a platter Thā was the kyng very sord wfull and so for hys othe sake for the company that were at his table he wolde not that she should desyre in vayne but gaue to her her desyre And incontinent the kyng sent the hangman to the pryson and caused him to hed Iohn baptyst brought y e hed in a platter and gaue it the doughter and the doughter gaue it forthwyth to her mother Now behold how y t y e holy prophet Iohn baptyst lost his hed lyfe thorow the cause falsed of the mischeuous womā Herodias Beholde what myschyef and what maruaylous thynges that women can bryng to passe ¶ A new decyte doone of late of a ⧠Ialowsy man that wolde not very well trust hys wyfe ⧠THere was in Italy a well learned man the which had a fayre yonge floure to hys wyfe This man had for the moste parte red all the practyces of the womē how that they were wont to deceyue their husbādes and therfore he wolde not well trust hys wyfe and also he thought that he wolde take good heed and to be wel ware that he wolde not be deceyued with suche deceyte and that perchaunce that his wyfe would spyn yl yarne like as many wiues had serued their husbandes before And so he abode in his ialousy wel .iii. or .iiii. yere in so much that his wyfe myght neuer be out of his presence but al wayes she must be by hym without that she went to the churche for to here masse incontynent to come home agayne And alwayes whan she went to church she had an olde woman bi her as it is the maner in Italye the whiche tooke heed to her And so it fortuned vppon a tyme that a yonge lustye man harde tell of the rule and how that the fayre gentyl woman was troublede of her husbande with the fore named ialousy And so yt fortuned vpon a tyme that thys yonge lusty man came and met with this fayre gentylwoman and spake to her secretly saying or tellynge to her his good wyll and intent and made his complaint with heuy sighes to her that she maryed suche a Ialouse man And he sayde to her that he loued her aboue all the women that were in the worlde and shewed her what that he wold doo for her loue and sayd yf that it pleased you I wyl write it to you in a letter for because that I may talke nolenger with you yf I wyst that my symple seruyce that cometh out of a good free hart should not be disdained nor put besyde but accepted and that my labour be not spente in vayne and that my hande be not ydle occupyde And whan the gentilwoman heard these wordes of the yōge gentyl man and marked them well how that they were made with a good wyl and wyth greate desyre And for because that y e olde trotte stode so nygh by her she gaue the yonge man no good answere nor yet no louynge token but she was contente desyred wyth good heart and mynde for to see the letter for to rede it ⧠Than the yonge man tooke hys leue wyth a glad chere for the fayre gentylwoman gaue hym a freendly farewell And so whan he was departed the olde trotte that stoode behynde her demaunded what he wolde wyth her Than answered her mastres and said he brought me tidinges of my mother of the whyche I am very glad for she is yet in good health and is mery thanked be god And so they went homewarde And the next day whan the gentyl womā went to churche her louer came and met wyth her and had made a freendlye and a louynge letter the whyche he put preuely in her hande that
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