him, she would not
breake the countrie's custome: and vppon this debate the husband
came in, to whom the Lord of Auannes said: "My father, I knowe
my selfe so much bounde to you and to your wife, as I besech you
for euer to repute me for your sonne." Which the good man
willingly did. "And for surety of that amitie, I pray you," said
Monsier D'Auannes, "that I may kisse you." Whiche he did. After
he said vnto him: "If it were not for feare to offend the Law,
I would do the like to my mother your wyfe." The husbande
hearinge him saye so, commaunded his wyfe to kisse him, which
she did although she made it straunge, either for the Lord's
desire or for husband's request to do the same: then the fier
(which words had begunne to kindle in the harte of the poore
Lorde) beganne to augmente by that desired kisse, so strongly
sued for, and so cruelly refused: which done the sayde Lord of
Auannes repayred to the Castell to the kinge his brother, where
he told many goodly tales of his voyage to Montferrat, and
vnderstode there, that the kinge his brother was determined to
remoue to Olly and Taffares, and thinking that the iorney woulde
be longe, conceiued great heauines, which made him to muse how
he mighte assaye before his departure, whether the wise
Gentlewoman bare him such good will, as shee made him beleeue
shee did: and therefore hee toke a house in the streate where
she dwelt, which was old and ill fauoured and built of Timber:
which house about midnight of purpose he set on fier, wherof the
crye was so great throughout the Citie as it was hard within the
rich man's house. Who demaunding at his window wher the fier
was, vnderstode it to be at the Lord of Auannes, wherunto he
incontinentlye repayred with all the people of his house, and
found the yonge Lord in his shirt in the middest of the streat,
whom for pitie he toke betweene his armes, and couering him with
his nighte Gowne, caried him home to his house with al possible
speede, and saide vnto his wife which was a bed: "Wife, I giue
you to kepe this prisoner, vse him as my selfe." So sone as he
was departed the sayd Lord of Auannes, who had good wil to be
interteigned for her husband, quicklie lept into the bed, hoping
that the occasion and place would make that wise woman to
chaunge her minde, which he founde to be contrary: for so sone
as he lept into the bed of thone side, shee speedelie went out
of the other, and putting on her night Gowne she repaired to the
be