to kepe his house so
straight. Then Bernage tolde him the cause of his iourney,
wherein the Gentleman offered to doe to the king his maister all
seruice possible. Leading him into his house where he was
feasted and lodged very honorably. When supper was ready, the
Gentleman conueyed him into a parler wel hanged with fayre
Tapistrie. And the meate being set vpon the table, and he
required to sit down, he perceiued a woman comming forth behind
the hanging, which was so beautifull as might be seene, sauing
that her head was all shauen, and apparelled in Almaine blacke.
After bothe the Gentlemen had washed, water was brought to the
Gentlewoman, who when she had washed she sat down also, without
speaking to any, or any word spoken vnto her againe. The Lorde
Bernage beholding her well, thought her to be one of the fayrest
Ladies that euer he sawe, if her face had not bene so pale and
her countenaunce so sadde. After she had eaten a litle, she
called for drinke, which one of the seruauntes brought vnto her
in a straunge cup: for it was the head of a dead man trimmed
with siluer, wherof she drancke twice or thrice. When she had
supped and washed her handes, making a reuerence to the Lord of
the house, shee retourned backe againe that way shee came,
without speaking to any. Bernage was so much amased at that
straunge sighte, as he waxed very heauie and sadde. The
gentleman who marked hym, sayde vnto hym: "I see well that you
be astonned at that you saw at the table, but seyng your honest
demeanour, I wyll not keepe it secrete from you, because you
shal not note that crueltie to be done without greate occasion.
This gentlewoman whiche you see, is my wyfe, whom I loued better
than was possible for any man to loue his wyfe. In such sorte as
to marry her I forgat all feare of friendes, and brought her
hither in despite of her parentes. She likewyse shewed vnto me
suche signes of loue, as I attempted a thousande wayes to place
her here for her ioye and myne, where wee lyued a long tyme in
suche reste and contentation, as I thought my self the happiest
Gentleman in Christendome. But in a iourney whiche I made, the
attempt whereof myne honour forced me, shee forgot bothe her
selfe, her conscience, and the loue whiche shee bare towardes
mee, and fell in loue with a Gentleman that I brought vp in this
house, whiche her loue vpon my retourne I perceiued to be true.
Notwithstanding the loue that I bare her, was so great as I had
no mis