" If the husbande were ashamed, and offended
with him selfe to be founde in a bedde with such an vncleanly
matche, by his faire and honest wife, I referre the iudgement to
all indifferent men, that be coupled with like wiues. Then his
wyfe said vnto him: "Sir I haue assaied the space of one whole
yeare, to withdrawe you from this vile and wicked life, by
gentlenes and pacience, and shewed example by washing you
without, that you might also clense your selfe within. But when
I sawe myne endeuour could take no place, I attempted to helpe
my selfe with the element that shall ende and consume vs all:
assuring you, sir, that if this doe not amende you, I cannot
tell if the seconde time, I be able likewise to ridde you from
the daunger that may happen. I praye you sir to thinke and
consider that there is no greater dispayre or dispite, then that
whiche is conceiued of loue: and had I not set before mine eyes
the feare of God, I could not haue practised suche pacience, as
I haue done." The husband very glad, that he had escaped that
misfortune, promised her neuer to geue occasion, that shee
should take like payne to bring him to order. Whiche promise the
Gentlewoman very willingly beleued, and with her husbande's
consent, she expelled out of her house, that which did displease
her moste: and from that time forth, they louingly liued
together, and the former faultes of this reformed life, was an
increase of ioyful and mutuall delightes. I beseche you
Gentlewomen (if there be any in the place where this nouell is
redde) if God doe geue you such husbandes to beware of dispaire,
vntill ye haue assayed all possible meanes to reduce them to
good ordre. For there be in the daye XXIIII. houres, in euery of
whiche houres a man may chaunge opinion: and a woman ought to
accompt her selfe moste happie, if by pacience and long
suffraunce she wynne her husbande, excepte fortune and frendes
haue procured one that is alreadie perfecte. This example
therefore maye serue al sortes of maried women. Let her take
example that list (quod Dame Partelot) for it is impossible for
me to vse suche long pacience. But let Dame Partelot speake her
pleasure, I would aduise all husbandes to lyue honestly with
their honest wiues, and doe praie to God to plant mo sutch wiues
to store the barren worlde that neuer or seldome bryngeth forth
such increase.

THE SIXTY-FOURTH NOUELL.

_The notable charitie of a woman of Tours towards her husbande._