o
bringe him a siluer potte, asking her where she had gotten all
those goodes. The poore woman sayde vnto him weeping, that it
was his wife, which hauing so great pitie vppon his ill
intreatie, had furnished her house, and had committed vnto her
the charge and regard of his health. Hee seing the greate
humilitie and goodnes of his wyfe, and that shee for the
vnkindnes he shewed vnto her, had requited him with that
curtesie and louing kindnes, well pondering and regarding his
owne frailtie, and the honeste demeanor of his wyfe, afterwards
rewarded the poore woman with money, and perswaded her from that
time foorth to liue an honest life. And then returned home to
his wyfe, confessing vnto her the negligence of his dutie, and
that excepte she had vsed that kinde of curtesie and goodnes
towards him, it had bin impossible for him to forsake and giue
ouer his vngodlye life: and afterwardes vtterly abandoning his
behauiour past, they liued together in great rest and quietnes.
Belieue me if ye list (to you good wiues I speake) that there be
verye few ill husbands, whom the pacience and loue of the wyfe,
is able at lengthe to winne, or els they be more harde then
stones, which the soft and feble water by continuance of time,
is able to weare and make holow: for when the wiue's lenitie
shall enter his carelesse stomacke, and her pacient suffraunce
renew remembraunce of dutie, then doth conscience bite, and gnaw
the cancred cord that tyeth vp the good consideracion of his
office, and regarde to maried life: then doth age abhorre the
lewdnes of former life, and commeth home to cherish the holsome
Nourice of his pleasant state. Then regardeth he the bande
wherewith matrimonie hath bound him, and both at bedde and borde
obserueth the ful perfections of the same.

THE SIXTY-FIFTH NOUELL.

_The simplicitie of an olde woman, that offered a burning candle to
S. Iohn of Lions._

In the Church of S. Iohn at Lions, there was a very darke
Chappell, and within the same a Tombe made of stone, erected for
great personages, with pictures liuely wroughte, and about the
same Tombe there doe lie manye worthie knightes of great fame
and valiaunce. Vpon a hote Sommer's daye, a souldiour walking vp
and downe the Church had great delight to sleape, and beholding
that darcke chappell which was colde and fresh of ayre, thoughte
to reste vpon the Tombe as other did, besides whom he layde him
downe to sleepe. It chaunced that a good old