ild on whom he doted a man well stryken in age, and
for her sake he lay often out of his owne house his
excuse was hunting. This mans wife an exceding
honest woman, halfe deale suspecte the mater, tried
out her husbandes falshed, on a tyme when he had
taken his iourney fourth of the town vnto some other
waies, she wente vnto that poore cotage and boulted out
all the hoole matter, where he laye on nights, wheron
he dranke, what thyng thei had to welcom him
withall. There was neither one thyng nor other, but
bare walles. This good woman returned home, and sone
after came againe brynginge with her a good soft bed,
and al therto belongyng and certain plate besydes that
she gaue them moneye, chargynge them that if the
Gentilman came agayne, they shold entreate him better
not beyng knowen al this while that she was his wyfe,
but fayued her to be her sister. Not long after her
husband stale thether againe, he sawe the howse
otherwyse decked, and better fare then he was wounte to
haue. He asked, frome whence commeth al this goodly
gere? They sayde that an honeste matrone, a kynsewoman
of hys hadde broughte it thyther and commaunded thenm
that he should be well cherished when so euer he came,
by and by his hart gaue him that it was hys wiues dede,
whan he came home he demaunded of her yf she hadde
bene there or nay, she sayd yea. Then he asked her for
what purpose she sente all that housholde stuffe
thyther. Man (said she) ye haue ben tenderly brought
vp. I perceiued that ye were but corslie handled there,
me thought that it was my part, seing it was your wyll
and pleasure to be there ye shoulde be better loked to.
Xantippa. She was one of goddes fooles. I woulde rather
for a bed haue layd vnder him a bundel of nettels: or a
burden of thistels. Eula. But here the end her husbande
perceyuyng the honeste of her great pacience neuer
after laye from her, but made good cheare at home with
his owne. I am sure ye knowe Gilberte the holander.
Xan. Very well. Eu. He (as it is not vnknowen maried
an old wife in his florishing youth. Xan. Per
aduenture he maried the good and notthe woman.
Eulalia. There sayde ye well, setting lytell stoore by
hys olde wife, hunted a callette, with whom he kept
much companie abrode, he dined or supped litell at
home. What wouldest thou haue sayd to ye gere.
Xantip. What woulde I a said? I wolde haue flowen to
t