A merry Dialogue, declaring the properties of shroud shrews, and honest wives, not only very pleasant, but also not a little profitable: made by the famous clerk D. Erasmus Roterodamus. Translated in to english. ¶ Anno. M. CCCCC. IVII. EUlalia. God speed, & a thousand mine old acqueintance. xantippa. xan. As many again, my dear heart. Eulali. me seem is ye are waxen much fair now of late. Eula. say you so? give you me a mock at the first dash. xan. Nay verily but I take you so. Eula. Happily mi new gown maketh me to look fairer than I should do. xan. sooth you say, I have not seen a mynioner this many days, I reckon it English cloth. Eu. It is english stuff and died in Uenis. xan. It is softer than silk what an orient purpel colore here is who gave you so rich a gift. Eu. How should honest women come by their gear? but by their husbands. xan. Happy art thou that hath such an husband, but I would to god for his passion, that I had married an husband of clouts, when I had married col my good man. Eula. Why say, ye so. I pray you, are you at odds now. xan. I shall never be at one with him ye see how beggarly I go. I have not an hole smock to put on my back, and he is well content with all: I pray god I never come in heaven & I be not ashamed oftimes to show my head, when I see other wives how ner and trim they go that are matched with far poorer men than he is. Eula. The apparel of honest wives is not in the array of the body, nor in the tirementes of their head as saint Peter the apostle teacheth us (and that I learned a late at a sermon) but in good living and honest conversation and in the ornaments of the soul, the common buenes are painted up, to please many men's eyes we are trim enough if we please our husbands only. xan. But yet my good man so evil willing to bestow aught upon his wife, maketh good cheer, and lassheth out the dowry that he had with me no small pot of wine. Eulaly, Were upon? xantipha, whereon him like the best, at the tavern, at the stews, and at the dice. Eulalia Peace say not so. xan. Well yet thus it is, then when he cometh home to me at midnight, long watched for, he lieth rolling like a sloyne all the leave long night, yea and now and then he all bespeweth his bed, and worse than I will say at this time, Eulali. Peace thou dyshonesteth thyself, when thou dost dishonesteth thy husband. xantip. The devil take me body and bones but I had liefer lie by a sow with pigs, then with such a bedfelowe. Eulali. Dost thou not then take him up, well favouredly for stumbling. xantip. As he deserveth I spare no tongue. Eulalia. what doth he them. xantip. At the first break he took me up vengeably, trusting that he should have shaken me of and put me to silence with his crabid words. Eula Came never your hot words unto handstrokes. xantip. On a time we fell so far at words that we were almost by the ears together. Eula what say you woman? xan. He took up a staff wandering at me, as the devil had been on him ready to lay me on the bones. Eula. Were thou not ready to run in at the b●ch hole. xanti. Nay marry I warrant the. I got me a three footed stole in hand, & he had but ones laid his little finger on me, he should not have found me lame. I would have holden his nose to the grindstone Eulalia. A new found shield, ye wanted but your distaff to have made you a spear. xantip. And he should not greatly a laughed at his part. Eulali. Ah my friend. xantyppa. that way is neither good nor godly, xantippa what is neither good nor godly. if he will not use me, as his wife: I will not take him for my husband. Eulalya. But Paul sayeth that wives should be boner and buxume unto their husbands with all humility, and Peter also bringeth us an example of Sara, that called her husband Abrahame, Lord. xantippa. I know that as well as you then the same paul say that men should love their wives, as Christ loved his spouse the church let him do his duty I will do mine. Eula. But for all that, when the matter is so far that the one must forber the other it is reason that the woman give place unto the man, xan. Is he meet to be called my husband that maketh me his underling and his dry●el? Eula. But tell me dame xantip. Would he never offer the stripes after that xantip. Not a stripe, and there in he was the wiser man for & he had he should have repent every vain in his heart Eulali. But thou offered him foul words plenty, xantip. And will do. Eula. What doth he the mean season. xantip. What doth he sometime he cowcheth an hogeshed, sometime he doth nothing but stand and laugh at me, other while taketh his Lute whereon is scarcely three strings laying on that as fast as he may drive because he would not hear me. Eula. Doth that grieve thee? xantippa. To beyond home, many a time I have much a do to hold my hands. Eula. Neighbour. xantip. Wilt thou give me leave to be plain with the. xantippa. Good leave have you. Eula. Be as bold on me again our old acquaintance and amity, even from our childhood, would it should be so. xantippa. Truth you say, there was never woman kind that I favoured more Elaly Whatsoever thy husband be, mark well this, change thou canst not, In the old law, where the devil had cast aboone between the man and the wife, at the worst way they might be divorced, but now that remedy is past, even till death depart you he must needs be thy husband, and thou his wife, xan. Il might they thrive & they that taken away that liberty from us Eulalia. Beware what thou sayest, it was Christ's act. Xan. I can evil believe that Eula. It is none otherwise, now it is best that either of you one being with an other, ye labour to live at rest and peace. xantyppa. Why? can I forgive him a new. Eu. It lieth great part in the women, for the ordering of their husbands. xan. Leadest thou a merry life with thine. Eula Now all is well. xan. Ergo theridamas was somewhat to do at your first meeting Eula. Never no great business, but yet as it, happeneth now and than between man & woman, there was foul clouds a fit, that might have made a storm but that they were over blown with good humanity and wise handling. Every man hath his manner and every man hath his several aptite or mind, and thinks his own way best, & if we list not to lie there liveth no man without fault, which if any were else, iwis in wedlock they ought to know and not utterly hated xan, you say well. Eulalya. It happeneth many times that love days breaketh between man and wife, before the one be perfectly known unto the other beware of that in any wise, for when mali●e is one's begun, love is but barely redressed again, namely, if the matter grow forth unto bitter checks, & shameful railings such things as are fastened with glue, if a man will all to shake them straight way while the glue is warm, they soon fall in pieces, but after the glue is once dried up they cleave together so fast as any thing, wherefore at the beginning a means must be made, that love may increase and be made sure between the man & the wife, & that is best brought about by gentleness and fair conditions, for the love that beauty only causeth, is in a manner but a cherifaire Xan. But I pray you heartily tell me, by what policy ye brought your good man to follow your dance. Eula. I will tell you on this condition, that ye will follow me. xan. I can. Eula, It is as easy as water if ye can find in your heart to do it, nor yet no good time past for he is a young man, and you are but a girl of age, and I trow it is not a year full sins ye were married. Xan. All this is true Eulalia. I will show you then. But you must keep it secret xantip. with a right good will. Eula. This was my chief care, to keep me always in my husband's favour, that there should nothing anger him I observed his appetite and pleasure I marked the times both when he would be pleased and when he would be all by shrwed, as they tameth the Elephants and Lions or such beasts that can not be won by strength xantyppa. Such a beast have I at home. Eula. They that goth unto the Elephants wear no white garments, nor they that tame wild bulls, wear no blazing reeds, for experience teacheth, that such beasts be mad with those colours, like as the Tigers by the sound of tumbrels be made so wode, that they pluck themself in pieces. Also they that break horses have their terms and their sounds their hadlynges, and other knacks to break their wildness, with all. How much more than is it our duties that ye wives to use such crafts toward our husbands with whom all our life time will we, nyl we is one house, and one bed. xantip. Forthwith your tale. Eula, when I had ones marked there things. I applied myself unto him, well beware not to displease him. xantip. How could thou do that. Eulalya. first in the overseeing my household, which is the very charge and cure of wives, I waited ever, not only giving heed that nothing should be forgotten or undone, but that all things should as he would have it, were it ever so small a trifle. xan wherein. Eulalia. As thus. If mi good man had a fantasy to this thing, or to that thing, or if he would have his meat dressed on this fashion, or that fashion. xan. But how couldst thou fashion thy self after his will and mind, that either would not be at home or else be as fresh as a salt hearing. Elali. Abide a while. I come not at that yet, if my husband were very sad at any time, no time to speak to him. I laughed not nor trifled him as many a woman doth but I looked ruefully and heavily, for as a glass (if it be a true stone) representeth ever the physnamy of him that ●oketh in it, so likewise it becometh a wedded woman always to agree unto the appetite of her husband, that she be not merry when he murneth nor disposed to play when he is sad. And if that at any time he be wayward shrewshaken, either I pacify him with fair words, or I let him alone, until the wind be overblown giving him never a word at all, until the time come that I may either excuse my fault, or tell him of his. In likewise when he cometh home well whittled, I give him gentle and fair words, so with fair entreating I get him to bed. xantyppa, O careful state of wives, when they must be glad and fain to follow their husbands minds, be they elvish drunken, or doing what mischief they list. Eula. As who saith this gentle dealing serveth not for both parties, for they spite of their beards must suffer many things in our demeanour, yet a time there is, when in a weighty matter it is lawful that the wife tell the good man his fault, if that it be matter of substance, for at light trifles, it is best to play bill under wing. xantyp. what time is that Eula. when he is idle, neither angry, pensive, nor oversen, then betwixt you two secretly he must be told his fault gently, or rather entreated, that in this thing or that he play the better husband, to look better to his good name and fame and to his health and this telling must be mixed with merry conceits and pleasant words many times I make a mean to tell my tale after this fashion, that he shall promise me, he shall take no displeasure with my thing, that I a foolish woman shall break unto him, that pertaineth either to his health worship or wealth. When I have said that I would, I chop clean from that communication and fall into some other pastime, for this is all our faults, neighbour Xantippa, that when we begin once to chat our tongues never lie. Xantip. So men say Eulalia. Thus was I well ware on, that I never tell my husband his faults before company, nor I never carried any complaint forth a doors: the mends is sooner made when none knoweth it but two, and there were any such fault that might not be well borne nor amended by the wives tellige, it is more laudable that the wife make complaint unto the Parents and kinsfolk of her husband, then unto her own, and so to moderate her complaint that she seem not to hate him but his vice nor let her play all the blab, that in some point unutered, he may know & love his wives courtesy. Xantip. She had need be aswell learned woman, that should do all this. Eu. Marry through such demeanour, we shall star our husbands unto like gentleness. Xan: There be some that cannot be amended with all the gentle handling in the world. Eula: In faith I think nay, but case there be, mark this well the good man must be for borne, how soever the game goeth, then is it better to have him always at one point or else more kind and loving throw our gentle handling, then to have him worse and worse throw our cursedness, what will you say and I tell you of husbands that hath won their wives by such courtesy, how much more are we bound to use the same toward our husbands. Xantip. Than shall you tell of one far unlike unto thine husband. Eula. I am aquented with a certain gentleman well learned and a veri honest man, he married a young wife, a maiden of xvii year old breed and brought up of a child in the country under her fathers and mother wing (as gentlemen delight to dwell in the country) to hunt & hawk This young gentleman would have one that were unbroken, because he might the sooner break her after his own mind, he begun to entre her in learning singing, and playing, and by little and little to use here to repeat such things as she hard at sermons, and to instruct her with other things that might have done her more good in time to come. This gear, because it was strange unto this young woman which at home was brought up in all idleness, and with the light communication of her Father's servants, and other pastimes, begun to wax grievous & painful, unto her. She with drew her good mind and diligence and when her husband called upon her she put the finger in the eye, and wept and many times she would fall down on the ground, beating her head against the flower, as one that would be out of this world. When there was no help for this gear, the good man as though he had been well asked his wife if she would ride into the country with him a sporting unto her father's house, so that she granted anon. When they were comen thither, the gentleman left his wife with her mother & her sisters he went forth an huntynge with his father in law, there between them two, he showed all together, how that he had hoped to have had a loving companion to lead his life withal, now he hath one that is always blubbering and pyninge herself away without any remedy, he prayeth him to lay to his hand in amending his daughters faults her father answered that he had ones given him his daughter, and if that she would not be ruled by words (a god's name take Stafforde law) she was his own. Then the gentleman said again, I know that I may do but I had liefer have her amended either by your good counsel or commandment, then to come unto that extreme ways, her father promised that he would find a remedy. After a day or two, he espied time and place when be might be alone with his daughter. Then he looked soureli upon his daughter, as though he had been horn wood with her, he began to rehearse how foul a beast she was, how he feared many times that she never have bestowed her. And yet said he much a do, unto my great cost and charge, I have gotten the one that mought lie by any ladies side, and she were a queen and yet thou not perseiving what I have done for the nor knowing that thou hast such a man which but of his goodness might think thee to evil to be stoye in his kitchen, thou contrariest all his mind to make a short tale he spoke so sharply to her, that she feared that he would have beaten her. It is a man of a subtle and wily wit, which without a vysa●de is ready to play any manner of part. Then this young wife what for fear, and for truth of the matter, clean stricken out of countenance, fell down at her father's feet desiring him that he would forget and forgive her all that was past and ever after she would do her duty Her father forgave her, and promised that she should find him a kind and a loving father, if so be that she performed her promise. xantippa. How did she afterward? Eulalya, when she was departed from her father she came back into a chamber, and there by chance found her husband alone she fell on her knees to him and said. Man in times passed, I neither knew you nor myself, from this day froward ye shall see me clean changed, only pardon that is past, with that her husband took her in his arms & kissed her saying she should lack nothing if she would hold her in that mind. xantip. Why did she continued so. Eulalya. Even till her ending day, nor there was none so vile a thing but that she would lay hands on it readily with all her heart, if her husband would let her, so great love was be gone and assured between them and many a day after, she thanked god that ever she met with such a man. For if she had not she said she had been clean cast a way. xan. We have as great plenty of such husbands, as of white crows. Eulalya. Now, but for wearying you? I could tell you a thing that chanced a late in this same city. xantyppa. I have little to do, and I like your communication very well. Eulalia. There was a certain gentleman he as such sort of men do, used much hunting in the country, where he happened on a young damosel, a very poor woman's child on whom he doted a man well stricken in age, and for her sake he lay often out of his own house his excuse was hunting. This man's wife an exceeding honest woman, half deal suspect the matter, tried out her husbands falsehood, on a time when he had taken his journey fourth of the town unto some other ways, she went unto that poor cottage and bolted out all the hole matter, where he lay on nights, whereon he drank, what thing they had to welcome him withal. There was neither one thing nor other, but bare walls. This good woman returned home, and soon after came again bringing with her a good soft bed, and all thereto belonging and certain plate besides that she gave them money, charging them that if the Gentleman came again, they should entreat him better not being known all this while that she was his wife, but fayved her to be her sister. Not long after her husband stolen thither again, he saw the house otherwise decked, and better fare than he was wont to have. He asked, from whence cometh all this goodly gear? They said that an honest matron, a kynsewoman of his had brought it thither and commanded them that he should be well cherished when so ever he came, by and by his heart gave him that it was his wives deed, when he came home he demanded of her if she had been there or nay, she said yea. Then he asked her for what purpose she sent all that household stuff thither. Man (said she) ye have been tenderly brought up I perceived that ye were but corslie handled there, me thought that it was my part, seeing it was your will and pleasure to be there ye should be better looked to. Xantippa. She was one of god's fools. I would rather for a bed have laid under him a bundle of nettles: or a burden of thistles. Eula. But here the end her husband perceiving the honest of her great patience never after lay from her, but made good cheer at home with his own. I am sure ye know Gilberte the holander. xan. Very well. Eu. He (as it is not unknown married an old wife in his flourishing youth. Xan. adventure he married the good and not the woman. Eulalia. There said ye well, setting little store by his old wife, hunted a callette, with whom he kept much company abroad, he dined or supped little at home. What wouldst thou have said to the gear. Xantip. What would I a said? I would have flown to the hores top and I would have crowned mine husband at his out going to her with a pysbowle, that he so embawlmed might have gone unto his sovereign lady. Eula. But how much wiselier did this woman? she desired that young woman home unto her, and made her good cheer, so by that means she brought home also her husband without any witchcraft or sorserie, and if that at any season he supped abroad with her she would send unto them some good dainty morsel, and bid him make good cheer Xantippa. I had liefer be slain than I would be bawd unto mine own husband. Eulalia. Yea, but consider all things well, was not that much better, than she should be her shrewyshnesse, have put her husbands mind clean of from her, and so have led all her life in trouble and heaviness. Xantippa. I grant you well, that it was better so but I could not abide it. Eulalya. I will tell you a pretty story more, and so make an end One of our neighbours, a well disposed and a god's man, but that he is some what testy, on a day pomeld his wife well and thriftily about the pate and so good a woman as ever was borne, she picked her into a inner parlour, and there weeping and sobbing, eased her heavy heart, anon after, by chance her husband came into the same place, and found his wife weeping. What sittest thou hear saith he seighing & sobbing like a child Then she like a wise woman said. Is it not more honesty for me to lament my dolours here in a secret place, them to make wondering and on out cry in the street, as other women do. At so wisely and womanly a saying his heart melted, promising her faithfully and truly that he would never lay stroke on her afterward, nor never did. Xantippa. No more will mine god thank myself. Eulalya. But than ye are always one at another, agreeing like dogs and cats. Xan. What wouldst thou that I should do? Eu. first & formest, whatsoever thy husband doth said thou nothing, for his heart must be won by little and little by fair means, gentleness and forbearing, at the last thou shalt either win him or at the least way thou shalt lead a better life than thou dost now. Xantippa. He his beyond gods forbade, he will never amend Eulalia. Eye say not so, there is no be'st so wild but by fair handling be tamed, never mistrust man them. Assay a month or two, blame me and thou findest not that my counsel doth ease. There be some faults with you though thou see them, be wise of this especial that thou never give him foul words in the chamber, or inbed but be sure that all things there be full of pastime and pleasure. For if that place which is ordained to make amends for all faults and so to renew love, be polluted, either with strife or grugynges, then fair well all hope of love days, or atonementes, yet there be some beasts so wayward and mischievous, that when their husbands hath them in their arms a bed, they schooled & chide making the same pleasure their lewd conditions (that expelseth all displeasures out of their husbands mind unpleasant and little set by corrupting the medicine that should have cured all deadly griefs, & audible offences. xantip. That is no news to me. Eula. Though the woman should be well aware and wise that she should never be disobedient unto her husband yet she ought to be most circumspect that at that at meeting she show herself ready and pleasant unto him. xantyppa. Yea unto a man, hold well withal but I am cumbered with a beast. Eula. No more of those words, most commonly our husbands are evil through our own fault, but to return again unto our tail they that are seen in the old fables of poets sai that Venus whom they make chief lady of wedlock (hath a girdle made by the handy work of Vulcan her Lord, and in that is thrust all that enforceth love and with that she girdeth her when so ever she lieth with her husband xantippa. A tale of a ●ubbe. Eulalya. A tail it is, but hearken what the tail meaneth. xantippa. Tell me. Eulalia That teacheth us that the wife ought to dispose herself all that she may that lying by her husband she show him all the pleasure that she can. Whereby the honest love of matrimony may revive and be renewed, & that there with be clean dispatched all grudges & malice xant. But how shall we come by this girdle? Eula. We need neither wytchraft nor enchantment, there is none of them all, so sure as honest conditions accompanied with good fellowship. xan I can not favour such an husband as mine is. Eula, It is most thy profit that he be no longer such. If thou couldst by thy Circe's craft change thin husband into an hog, or a boar wouldst thou do it? xantip. God knoweth. Eu. Art thou in doubt? hadst thou leaver mary an hog than a man. xantip. Marry I had leaver have a man. Eulalia. well, what and thou couldst by sorcery make him of a drunkard a soober man, of a unthrift a good husband of an idle lozel a toward body, wouldest thou not do it? xantip. yes, hardly, would I do it. But where should I learn the cunning? Eula. For soothe that cunning hast thou in the if thou wouldst utter it, thine must he be, maugre thy head, the toward y● makest him, the better it is for thee, thou lookest on nothing but on his lewd conditions, and they make the half mad, thou wouldst amend him and thou puttest him farther out of frame, look rather on his good conditions, and so shalt thou make him better. It is to late call again yesterday before thou were married unto him. It was time to consider what his faults were for a woman should not only take her husband by the eyes but by the ears. Now it is more time to redress faults than to find faults. xanti. What woman ever took her gusband by the ears. Eulali. She taketh her husband by the eyes that looketh on nothing, but on the beauty and pulcritude of the body. She taketh him by the ears, that hearkeneth diligently what the common voice saith by him xantip. Thy counsel is good, but it cometh a day after the fair. Eula. Yet it cometh time enough to bring thine husband to a great furtherance to that shall be if God send you any fruit together. xantippa. We are speed already of that. Eulaly. How long ago. Xantip. A good while ago Eulalia. How many months old is it. Xantip. It lacketh little of vii Eula What a tale is this, ye reckon the months by nights and days double. xantippa. Not so. Eula. It can not be none otherwise, if ye reckon from the marriage day. xantippa. yea, but what then, I spoke with him before we were married. Eulalia. Be children gotten by speaking. xantip. It befell so that he met me alone and begun to tick at me, and tickled me under the arm holes and sides to make me laugh. I might not away with tickling, but fell down backward upon a bed and he a loft, never leaving kissing on me, what he did else I can not say, but by saint Marie within a while after my belly be gan to swell. Eula. Go now and dispraise thine husband which if he get children by play, what will he do when he goeth to it in good earnest. xantippa, I fear me I am paid agayin. Eula. Good lock God hath sent a fruitful ground, a good tylman. xantip. In that thing he might have less labour and more thank. Eula. Few wives find at their husbands in that behalf but were ye then sure together. xanti. yea that we were Eula. The offence is the less. Is it a man child. xantip. yea. Eula. He shall make you at one so that ye will bow & forbear. What saith other men by thin husband, they that be his companions, they delight with him abroad xan. They say that he is marvelous gentle, ready to do every man pleasure, liberal and sure to his friend. Eula. And that putteth me in good comfort that he will be ruled after our counsel. xantip. But I find him not so. Eula. Order thyself to him as I have told thee, and call me no more true sayer but a liar, if he be not so good unto the as to any creature living Again consider this he is yet but a child, I think he passeth not xxiiij the black ox never trod on his foot, now it is but lost labour to reckon upon any divorce. xantippa. Yet many a time and oft I have troubled my brains with all Eulalia. As for that fantasy whensoever it cometh into your mind first of all count how naked a thing woman is, divorced from man. It is the highest dignity that longeth to the wife to obsequious unto her spouse. So hath nature ordained so god hath appointed, that the woman should be ruled all by the man look only upon this which is troth, thine husband he is, other canst thou none have. Again forget not that sweet babe be gotten of both your bodies what thinkest thou to do with that, wilt thou take it away with thee? Thou shalt bereave thine husband his right wilt thou leave it with him? thou shalt spoil thyself of thy chief jewel thou haste. Beside all this tell me truth hast thou none evil willers. Beside all this tell me truth, hast thou none evil willers. xan. I have a stepdame I warrant you, and mine husbands mother even such another. Eula. Do they hate the so deadly. xantip. They would see me hanged. Eula. Then forget not then what greater pleasure couldst thou show them then to see the divorced from thine husband and to led a widows life. Yea and worse than a widow, for widows be at their choice. xantippa. I hold well with your counsel, but I can not away with the pains, Eulalia. yet reckon what pains ye took or ye cold teach your paret to speak. xantippa. exceeding much. Eu. And think you much to labour a little in reforming your husband with whom you may live merely all the days of your life? What business do men put themself to be well & easily horsed & shall we think ourselves to good to take pains that we may have our husbands gentle & curteise unto us. xantip What shall I do. Eu. I have told you all ready, see that all thing be clean & trim at home, that no sluttish or uncleanly sights drive him out a doors. Be yourself always ready at a beck, be ring continual in mind what reverence the wife oweth unto her husband. Be neither in your dumps, nor always on your merry pings go neither to homely nor to nicely. Let your meat be clean dressed, you know your husbands diet. What he loveth best that dress. Moreover show yourself loving and fair spoken unto them where he loveth, call them now and then unto your table. At meat, see that all things be well favoured, and make good cheer, And when that he is top heavy playing on his lute, sit thou by and sing to him so shalt thou make him keep home, and lessen his expenses This shall he think at length, in faith I am a fond fellow that maketh such cheer with a strumpet abroad with great lossee both of substance and name, seeing that I have a wife at home both much fairer, and one that loveth me ten times better, with whom I may be both cleanlier received and dayntelier cherished. xantip. believest thou that it will take and I put it into a proof. Eulali. Look on me. I warrant it or ought long I will in hand with thine husband, & I will tell him his part. xantippa. ye marry that is well said. But be wise that he espy not our cast, he would play his fages, all the house should be to little for him. Eulalia. Take no thought. I shall so convey my matters, that he shall disclose all together himself, what business is between you, that done I will handle him prettily as I think best, and I trust to make him a new man for the and when I see my time I will make a lie for thee, how loving thou hast spoken of him. xantippa. christ speed us and bring our purpose well about. Eulalia. He will not fail the so thou do thy good will THere was a man that married a woman which had great riches and beawtye. How be it she had such an impediment of nature that she was dumb and could not speak, which thing made him right pensive, and said, wherefore upon a day as he walked alone right heavy in heart thinking upon his wife. There came one to him and asked him what was the cause of his heaviness which answered that it was only because his wife was borne dumb. To whom this other said I shall show the soon a remedy and a medicine (therefore that is thus) go take an aspen leaf and lay it under her tongue this night she being a steape, and I warrant the that she shall speak on the morrow which man being glad of this medicine prepared therefore and gathered aspen leaves, wherefore he laid three of them under her tongue when she was a sleep. And on the morrow when he himself awaked he desirous to know how his medicine wrought being in bed with her, he demanded of her how she did, and suddenly she answered and said, I beshrew thy heart for waking me so early, and so by the virtue of that medicine she was restored to her speech. But in conclusion her speech increased day by day and she was so cursed of condition that every day she brauled and chid with her husband, so much at the last he was more vexed, and had much more trouble and disease with her shrewd words than he had before when she was dumb, wherefore as he walked another time alone he happened to meet again with the same person that taught him the said medicine and said to him this wise. Sir ye taught me a medicine but late to make my dumb wife to speak, bidding me lay an Aspen leaf under her tongue when she slept, and I laid three Aspen leaves there. Wherefore now she speaketh. But yet she speaketh so much & so shrewdly that I am more wearier of her now, than I was when she was dumb: Wherefore I pray you teach me a medicine to modyfye her that she speak not so much. This other answered and said thus. Sir I am a devil of hell but I am one of them that have least power there. All be yet I have power to make a woman to speak, but and if a woman begin ones to speak, I nor all the devils in hell that have the most power be not able to make a woman to be still, nor to cause her to leave her speaking. ¶ The end of this pleasant dialogue declaring the several properties of the two contrary disposers of the wives aforesaid. ¶ Imprinted at London in Paul's church yard, at the sign of the Sun, by Antony Kytson.