The fifteen joys of marriage.   

  


Summer passed/ and winter well begun  
The days short/ the dark nights long  
Have taken season/ and brynghtnes of the son  
Is little seen/ and small birds song  
Seldon is herd/ in fields or woods rung  
All strength and ventue/ of trees and herbs sote  
Dyscending be/ from crop in to the rote   

And every creature by course of kind  
For succour draweth to that country and place  
Where for a time/ they may purchase and find  
comfort and rest/ abiding after grace  
That clear Appolo with brightness of his face  
Will send/ when lusty ver shall come to town  
And give the ground/ of green a goodly gown   

And Flora goddess both of white and green  
Her mantel large/ over all the earth shall spread  
She wing herself/ appareled like a queen  
As well in fields/ woods/ as in meed  
Having so rich a crown upon her heed  
The which of foures/ shall be so fair and bright  
That all the world/ shall take thereof a light   

So now it is/ of late I was desired  
Out of the french to draw a little book  
Of xu joys/ of which though I were hired  
I can not tell/ and yet I undertook  
This enterprise/ with a full piteous look  
Remembering well/ the case that stood in  
living in hope/ this winter to begin   

Some joys to find that be in marriage  
For in my youth/ yet never acquaintance  
Had of them but now in mine old age  
I trust myself/ to further and advance  
If that in me/ there lack no suffisance  
which may dyspleasyr/ clearly set a part  
I want but all/ that longeth to that art   

yet will I speak/ though I may do no more  
Fully purposing/ in all these joys to treat  
According to my purpose made to fore  
All be it so/ I can not well forget  
The pain/ travail/ business and heat  
That some men have after they wedded be  
Because their wives/ want humility   

who shall I pray/ to help me to indite  
cupid or Venus'/ which have me in dysoayne  
And for my feebleness/ in great despite  
For years passed/ may not return again  
Now may I speak/ and show in words plain  
when youth is go/ and comen is stooping age  
Then worldly joys/ must go on pilgrimage   

If I should pray/ unto ymeneus  
The god of wedding/ to help me in this charge  
Then will he bid me go to Morpleus  
The god of sleep/ for he hath ways large  
which with his rod of lead doth steer his barge  
To bring for the age/ unto his sleepy cave  
Pray him of rest/ and nothing else crave   

I know right well/ it is but vanity  
All worldly joy/ meddled with bitterness  
Therefore these feigned gods I let them be  
And me betake to god/ whose steadfastness  
May never fail/ neither his soothfastness  
Beseeching him/ that for his mothers sake  
He will me teach his little book to make   

And with good will I shall me soon apply  
This treatise out of french to translate  
Of xu joys/ and if I might thereby  
Purchase but one/ myself though it be late  
I would be glad/ for old pains I hate  
Trusting to joy/ now somewhat in mine age  
As doth a bird that singeth in a cage   

Now to theffect of this translation  
with great desire shortly well I proceed  
But speak I must/ by protestation  
Touching this matter/ or else good forbid  
whom I beseech lowly to be my speed  
praying also/ each other manner wight  
Take no displeasure with my words light   
Here endeth the prologue of the translator.   

And the prohemye of the author beginneth.  

Mine author writeth in this prohemye  
That many men/ have travailed here tofore  
To she we by reason and authority  
That it is great wit/ and wisdom more  
For every manner wight/ of woman bore  
To live in franchise/ at his liberty  
Than servant to himself/ and thrall to be   

without constraint/ but of his negligence  
His will to folo we/ and his unclean delight  
As lusty folk in their adolescence  
Have such desire/ and so great appetite  
On Venus' bridle/ for to champ and bite  
Till they with love be stricken to the heart  
whereby full/ often they suffer pains smart   

Unto whose reason/ and opinion  
It may be said/ and answered thus again  
Man hath no good wit ne entencyou  
In his young time/ when nature doth conssrayne  
Saving in joys/ and delights vain  
Of this frail world unsure and transitory  
None other thing is in his memory   

As thus when men in youth courageous  
with fire will end wed and lustynes  
Of their desire/ and mind outrageous  
withouten need/ but of their foolishness  
from weal to woe/ from joy to heaviness  
Convey themself/ from all their liberty  
nothing content with their felicity   

For where as they may freely ride or go  
And at their choice/ disport them over all  
I you ensure these young men will not so  
when they least ween/ than sodanly they fall  
And unconstrained make their bodies thrall  
Like to a wight that in to prison deep  
without cause/ all hastily doth creep   

So do they often for lack of kindly wit  
And when they be within this prison straight  
The jailor cometh and fast the door doth shit  
which is ofyren strong/ and in a wait  
Helyeth often/ for dread that through desayte  
By night or day some should escape out  
Right busily he pryeth all about   

He barreth doors/ and maketh sure all the locks  
The strong bolts/ the fettres and the chain  
He searcheth well/ the holes and the stocks  
That woe be they/ that lieth in the pain  
And out thereof/ they shall not go again  
But ever endure/ in weeping care and sorrow  
For good ne prayer/ shall them never borrow   

And specially men may call him assoted  
Far from reason/ of wisdom desolate  
That thus his time miss used hath and doted  
when he had heard/ such prisoners but late  
weeping wailing/ and with themself debate  
dying in prison/ as he hath passed by  
And put himself therein so foolishly   

This author saith/ by cause mankind delighteth  
Always to have franchise and liberty  
without the which/ nature of man dyspyteth  
Right thus in plain words speaketh he  
That many lords great/ the which have be  
And lord ships have be lost and overthrow  
For taking fredomes from their subgets low   

He showeth eke in manner semblable  
That great cities/ with many an other town  
And common people of mind unreasonable  
Have been destroyed/ and suddenly cast down  
Against their princes/ taking opinion  
desiring fredomes/ more than here tofore  
Their elders had/ and thus they have be lore   

By reason whereof/ battles great and were  
Have been/ and many folks also slave  
sith Jesus' deyed/ was never thing bought dear  
When poor subgettes on folly will pretayne  
Against their prince/ or else their sovereign  
To move matters/ not being obeding  
such by the law been execute and shent   

Sometime the noble realm and men of France  
exempt were/ and utterly made fire  
By their great/ prows and valiance  
Of the emperors/ of Rome the city  
As of trybutes/ for which battles have be  
Between them/ and the Romayns long ago  
In which days I find it happened so   

Upon a time/ for cause that they ne were  
Of france in puissance/ able to withstand  
The great army and the mighty power  
Of an emperor entered in their land  
But for as much/ as they ne would be bond  
Them were liefer go from that region  
Than to remain under subjection   

Serving this emperor/ and tribute pay  
So of high courage/ and their great nobles  
All suddenly/ these nobles went away  
Conquering countries/ such was their worthiness  
And afterward returned nevertheless  
Home to their land/ in great prosperyre  
Which they till now have hold in liberty   

Unto their own use/ profit and avail  
Wherefore folks of many a nation  
living in servage/ constrained with travail  
Desired to have their habitation  
In france/ and there under domination  
To live in weal/ liberty/ and rest  
Whereby it grew/ sometime the noblest   

Realm of the world/ that known were or found.  
most fair in building/ and inhabit best  
The which in treasure/ and science died abound  
Then for asmuch/ as they be free at least  
Prudent in faith/ in living holiest  
They should their subgets/ in franchise keep & use  
After their law/ and never to refuse   

against all truth/ and inconuenyent  
It is certain/ and nothing chartable  
God knoweth well/ the lord omnipotent  
A man to have/ a custom reasonable  
Only for himself/ right profitable  
And for his neighbour/ use it otherwise  
Such usage should/ all well disposed men despise   

Herofit groweth that liberty is lost  
In people void/ of reason and science  
And thus vices and sins reigneth most  
Some give to virtues little reverence  
Wherein to god/ do they right great offence  
The common weal/ in generality  
All men should love of perfit charity   

Why it is thus/ a man may reason make  
Who loveth not his weal pertyculerly  
Hath but a little wit I undertake  
When he may have a profit singularly  
Hurting none other creature thereby  
And will not help himself when he so may  
But wilfully doth cast his grace away   

A fool is he/ that witting will go  
Into a cave/ a ditch/ or else a pit  
Which is above/ both narrow and straight also  
And all within/ full wide and deep is it  
So that when he therein/ is fall and shit  
Out may he not/ for there he must abide  
As wild beasts do in forestes side   

Trapped and taken/ right so this creature  
In like wise/ through his own negligence  
Is in the ditch/ where as he must endure  
Like as these beasts/ which gladly would go thence  
Seeking the ways with all their diligence  
Out to avoid/ but so it will not be  
Time is not then/ forth of the ditch to i'll   

Thus one may say/ and thereupon conclude  
By such as in to marriage be brought  
And hereupon to make a similitude  
Unto the fish which hath his pasture sought  
And in a leap/ that is often wygges wrought  
Is take/ and out can not escape net win  
But ever devil/ and tarry still therein   

The fish that swymmeth in the river clear  
As it shall fall him oft by adventure  
To rail about/ in places here and there  
Findeth this leap/ the which without measure  
Beholdeth he with all his busy cure  
And he therein/ the fishes and the bait  
Doth se/ supposing well in his conceit   

They be in joy and pleasure at their lust  
And all about the leap he gooth round  
With great desire/ having a very trust  
To come to them/ and when that he hath found  
The entry/ in he gooth glad and jocund  
And to the shining bait/ he hyeth fast  
Whereof anon/ he taketh his repast   

To go again/ he thinketh but a jape  
For the of the leap/ assaing busily  
A way to find/ how he thereout may scape  
And thence depart/ to other company  
He boreth with his bill all hastily  
His business/ and labour is in waste  
Abide a while/ he shall for all his haste   

Therein to devil in woe and heaviness  
And where as he hath deemed certainly  
Afore to have had joy/ and lustynes  
There shall he pass his time right heavily  
By men it falls thus most commonly  
That put them in to marriage all day  
Experience will witness as I say   

Though it so be/ that folks see before  
These wedded men/ within the leap enclosed  
In point to drown & drench/ yet not therefore  
Will they forbear/ ne till they be innosed  
As hounds be of bones/ it is supposed  
There is not one/ by other can be ware  
Till they be take/ and held in the snare   

Thus what by folly/ fortune or destene  
A man may see the people every day  
Demean themself/ forsaking liberty  
And shortly after that/ repenteth they  
desiring it to have/ but they ne may  
At any time/ unto such grace attain  
And all to late/ for them is to complain   

Moche more hereof/ mine author doth declare  
In his prologue/ or that he will begin  
To she we these xu joys/ but I must spare  
By loss of time/ there is nothing to win  
But poverty/ unthriftiness/ and sin  
Wherefore in words rude to make an end  
And of these joys to write now I intend   

Some men do call these joys sorrows great  
But yet they take them well in patience  
For of necessity they must forget  
The care/ trouble/ sorrow/ pain and offence  
The which they suffer at the reverence  
Of their wives/ which they may not forsake  
And though they often/ miss use their eloquence  
little regard thereto a man should take   
¶ Here endeth the proheme of the author.   


And here beginneth the first joy of marriage  
 

THe first joy of marriage is this  
As when a man oftenderyeres is  
Flowering in youth/ pleasant fresh and gay  
Then in this world/ nothing may him dysmay.  
He other mind/ desire nor appetite  
comfort/ liking/ pleasure/ joy/ ne delight  
Hath he except/ how he may tie his points  
To 'cause his hose/ to sit well on his joints  
And make his visage/ and his limbs fair  
He brussheth often his gown/ and other gayre  
His heed he combeth smooth right as him liketh  
Whereof the heres/ pruneth he and pyketh  
And maketh him as cleanly as he can  
That folk may say/ there gooth a goodly man  
So will he sing/ dance/ and ballads make  
And upon him/ more entrepryses take  
That he can do/ or may atchyeve perchance  
Thinking thereby/ himself so to enhance  
The fairest creature that he can espy  
He will behold/ with right a lusty eye  
As vysing well/ where he such one may find  
A jolynet according to his mind  
And when he hath her fast in his demayne  
joyous he is/ right merry/ glad and fain  
For peradventure so the case may stand  
That by his faders/ or his mothers land  
Or by their other goods he may maintain  
His jolynets/ and go right well beseen  
living in rest and ease habundauntly  
Beholding other folks certainly  
In to the bond of marriage ybrought  
Than in his mind he casts and his thought  
Like as the fish beheld the leap/ so he  
deemeth/ these wedded men in bliss be  
Having the bait/ and pasture at their will  
Whereof they may/ their appetite fulfil  
Right well he seethe the beatute of their wives  
Supposing that they have so merry lives  
With them so well appointed and arrayed  
For which the silly husband hath not paid  
It may so be percase/ at many season  
Some folk will say/ and she we this man by reason  
That so her own father/ or hermoder  
Her hath arrayed/ and deemeth he none oder  
And so this young man/ torneth him about  
The leap/ wherein of wedded a rout  
Enclosed be/ and then he doth inquire  
Of marriage/ a little here and there  
Soon here upon/ ariseth such a wind  
And smoke/ that he thereof is made so blind  
That he unware/ in to the leap is cast  
Wherein he shall be kept and held fast  
And where as he was wont in time afore  
To sing and dance/ that may well be forbore  
Of points buying/ purses/ or things like  
Hereof shall he not need/ whiles he may pike  
Upon the bait/ till he thereof be full  
His business may 'cause him to be dull  
Now joyeth he a while/ and him delighteth  
To do pleasance/ right well he him acquyteth  
Newly so entered/ in to the foresaid gin  
And for a time nothing dysmayed therein  
Supposing out to go/ but there yet still  
He must abide/ and devil maugre his will  
And to repent/ there is no time ne hour  
For with the sweet meet/ the sauces sour  
continuance will 'cause him to assay  
sith he can not escape by any way  
And for to put his wife in such degree  
As appertaineth of necessity  
It him behoveth honest to save  
Andlo may be/ his wife an heart may have  
Right good/ desiring to be fresh and gay  
For peradventure/ she this other day  
Was at a feest/ where she died well advise  
Women of her degree/ all otherwise  
Than she/ appointed/ clothed/ and arrayed  
Within her mind/ than to herself she said  
That by her birth/ she aught as well as they  
To be appareled and in as good arey  
So she compaceth/ casting in her mind▪  
The day and hour/ out craftily to find  
To her good man/ this matter to declare  
But her intent to show/ yet will she spare  
Till she with him/ at night be go to bed  
For there these wives trust well to be sped  
Of such petitions/ as they require  
According to their wills and desire  
When that this wife/ in bed is laid thus  
Sadly she saith/ for love of christ Jesus'  
Sir let me be in rest/ for evil at ease  
I am/ and he which gladly would her please  
Answereth and saith/ tell me wherefore it is  
That grieveth you/ she saith great cause y wys  
Have I/ for you care nothing what I say  
Or show to you/ in earnest or in play  
He sayeth than/ why speak you in such a wise  
By god and all his saints in paradise  
She saith/ no mister it is that you it knew  
For when I speak to you but words few  
little account thereof or reckoning  
you make certain/ deeming for other thing  
Such words I have/ and yet it is not so  
Which causeth me/ often times to be woe  
Truly saith he you shall tell your disease  
Than answereth she/ sir sith it may you please  
For so the I shall you tell/ this is the cas  
This other day at such a feest I was  
The which in troth/ me plased nothing weal  
And wherefore I shall tell you every deal  
When I there was/ I think it verily  
There was no wife arrayed so simply  
Though she were never of so low degree  
As I was than/ you may believe well me  
How be it sir/ surely I say not this  
For praising of myself/ but so it is  
I thaynke god of his mercy and grace  
That I am comen/ of as good a place  
As any gentle woman that was there  
I me report/ to such as known where  
My lineage and mine ancestor's but late  
Abiding were/ and for mine own estate  
This say I not/ saving I am ashamed  
That you or else/ my kin shall be defamed  
Nothing care I/ of clothing what I have  
So that alway/ your honour you may save  
And than saith he/ in what estate were they  
At thilk feest/ now tell me I you pray  
Now by my troth/ sith you will know algate  
She saith/ there was not one in her estate  
Equal to me/ but she a new gown had  
And was than better beseen and clad  
Of what cloth were/ these gowns saith he  
Of scarlet fine/ of green or pierce saith she  
Furred right weal/ with menyver or grey  
With trains long/ and sleeves large/ so they  
Had eke of read/ or green/ all gyrdelles good  
Hanging unto the ground/ and by the road  
Their gowns were made of the newest guise  
And of the best manner/ one could devise  
But there had I upon my wedding gown  
Well over worn/ and of the old fashion  
Which over little/ and to short for me  
Is waxed as you may perceive and see  
For I am grown more/ sith it was made  
Than at my marriage/ when I it had  
For when I given was to you alone  
I was but young and little of person  
And so much wasted am I now for pain  
Which I of late have had/ that in certain  
I seem now weal a mother for to be  
To her that might be mother unto me  
And in good saith so sore ashamed was I  
When that I was among this company  
That I ne could ne durst make countenance  
And yet had I more pain and displeasance  
When that a lady there/ of such a place  
Afore them all would say unto my face  
great shame it was my clotheses were so bad  
And wondered why that I no better had  
For which they took to me but little heed  
Unneth they turn them would/ so god me speed  
To ward me/ save of their gentleness  
Of very pity and of lowliness  
The good man than her husband answered though  
you know right weal that we have moche to do  
Wherefore my love now hearken what I say  
Remember you the same time and the day  
When in to marriage we entered were  
Plente of money/ plate or other gear  
We had but small right we'll herofye know  
For which yourself you may suppose and trow  
That it he hoveth us now for to buy  
Beds and other things hastily  
And at this time syluerne gold in store  
little have we how be it furthermore  
yet must we buy/ for winning and encres  
kine and other catelles nevertheless  
In such a place/ for our provision  
Also this other day there fallen a down  
The pygnon of our house/ for coverture  
It lacketh/ wherefore dame I you assure  
Made must it be in haast of very need  
And also other matters for to speed  
I have/ for which great money shall I spend  
Or I may bring my works to an end  
And over this certes within short space  
Unto thassise held at such a place  
For me to go it is well necessary  
Because of such a plea I may not tarry  
That for your land I have to pursue there  
Of which as yet I may say this and swear  
I have had little profit or avail  
But spend my goods/ labour and travail  
A sir she said/ now wot I well that you  
None otherwise can speak but reprove me  
Of my lands/ this may I not abide  
And in her bed/ unto that other side  
All hastily she turneth with a groan  
saying/ for god's love let me alone  
For never shall I speak to you aga●●●  
What devil saith this man why do y 〈…〉 lain  
And are so wroth/ without cause reasonable  
I am not fyr/ the say th'/ ne yet culpable  
Though you but little had/ when you me took  
For divers to me spoke/ that I forsook  
Of twenty places/ which would no good crave  
So that they might only my body have  
In marriage withouten gold or rent  
My person was to them suffycyente  
But so it was/ that you oft came and went  
And many a messenger unto me sent  
By such subtle manner craft and mean  
So that all other I refused clean  
And had no will/ any to have but you  
For which great blame & maugre have I now  
Both of my lord/ my father be you sure  
And of my mother/ out of all mesures  
Whereof I may have hate and great disdain  
And sir this question I ask again  
If any woman/ at this said feast there  
In such a wise clad or arrayed were  
As I being to me/ in like estate  
Nay sir not one/ I was infortunate  
thither to come/ for by saint johan I say  
The symplest gowns/ that they gave a way  
Unto their chamberers/ were better clot  
Than is the gown/ which on my body goth  
On londayes/ or on the holy day  
So wot I not hereof what is to say  
Moche people good out of this world depart  
Whereof great damage is/ but for my part  
I say/ if god were pleased I should decease  
To you it would be little heaviness  
For no displeasure/ would you for me take  
But hastily get you an other make  
By god saith he/ that is nothing well said  
Such simple words/ might apart be laid  
For there is nothing that I for you do  
But weal you aught to take regard thereto  
Turn you to me/ & what thing you like best  
I shall perform/ for god's sake let me rest  
Saith she/ now soothly nothing alyeth me  
And would our lord/ that in like caas were you  
But never shall you touch me after this  
No shall saith he/ no sir she saith y wys  
To make all we'll/ than thinketh he and saith  
If I were deed I know it by my faith  
Unto an other/ soon would you married be  
Nay sir by him that died on a tree  
Touching such pleasure/ as I unto this day  
Have had in marriage/ I swear and say  
During my life/ that never mouth of man  
Shall touch to mine/ and she to weep began  
saying these words/ to god I make avow  
If that I knew to live here after you  
I should so deal/ that I afore would go  
The tears fallen down fro her eyen two  
Thus he demandeth her with words fair  
All be it so/ she thinketh the contrary  
The good man deemeth than/ he is all eased  
But yet again/ in mind is he displeased  
Supposing/ that of nature she is cold  
Of body chaste/ & deal with no man would  
Also he troweth that she him loveth weal  
Thus he in heart is eased every deal  
Because he seethe her some what weep afore  
He trusteth that she loveth him the more  
Whereof he hath a piteous heart and mind  
And can not be in rest till that he find  
The ways how he may her content & ease  
All that he can/ he doth her for to please  
In divers wise/ with labour and travail  
But all for naught/ it may nothing avail  
For she alway a waiteth for to pike  
Upon the stroke that she afore died strike  
That is to say/ a new gown would she have  
The which for cruel stomocke nolde she crave  
She passeth time/ and no good will she do  
But at such hour as she was not wont to  
Up riseth she/ and after all that day  
A cursed angry there maketh she alway  
And not one fair word than will she speak  
So in her breast the malice doth she steke  
Soon after this cometh the second night  
That she to bed must go as is it right  
With her good man/ & when that she is laid  
In bed/ than he which is not weal apaid  
Beholdeth weal looketh and taketh keep  
On her to know/ whether that she wake or sleep  
He weal adviseth if her arms both  
Be covered weal and surely with the cloth  
And heleth them if need or master be  
Where with anon such countenance maketh she  
As though she were out of her sleep a waked  
Sleep you saith he/ I thought you had been naked  
Nay sir she said/ what be you not appeased  
Saith he/ no sir mine heart is little eased  
Sighing saith she I thank god of his sound  
I have yvoughe to live upon the ground  
By god saith he/ dame we shall have enough  
Of worldly goods/ and near to her he drowe  
saying I have be thought me of a thing  
you shall be at my cosynnes wedding  
And you shall have ordained as goodly gear  
For you as any gentle woman there  
Certes she saith/ all though you say the best  
Of all this year/ I will go to no feast  
Now by my faith he saith but yet you shall  
And what you will demand have gown & all  
What I demand she saith/ that is right naught  
For sir so god me help that all hath wrought  
I ask not to be jolly for envy  
Glad would I be forsooth if never I  
Out of your house but unto church should pass  
matins to here even song and mass  
I say it not ne yet no ways seek  
Saving only for such ungodly speech  
As was amongs other which I knew  
By my gossip/ whom I find ever true  
For she the words hard all openly  
The which she showed me full secretly  
Than thinketh much this poor new wedded man  
And in his mind to compass he began  
considering in what caas that he stood  
A new household having little good  
And moche to do he had by many a way  
Not purveyed weal great sums to pay  
And fifty scutes or sixty for this gown  
He must bestow/ and shortly lay it down  
And in his thought/ cast a chevisance  
For there may be none other way ne chance  
But that this gown nedely must be had  
Wherewith and other gear she shall be clad  
For he perceived hath/ by his advise  
His wife a woman is/ both good and wise  
He thanketh god/ the lord of heaven bliss  
So fair a jewel/ to give him as she is  
From one side to an other/ he turneth oft  
In bed he sleepeth not though he lie soft  
And it may happen so/ his wife this seethe  
Which subtle is/ and she within her teeth  
Will laugh/ when that she knoweth his conceit  
whom she hath overcome/ with her deceit  
After this night/ when comen is the morrow  
Ariseth up this good man full of sorrow  
All overcome with sighs/ that he hath take  
The night afore/ for his good wives sake  
And in adventure to the market goeth  
With pawn or credence/ for to by the cloth  
And straightly unto merchants he him bindeth  
Or else to them such jewels as he findeth  
Whether they be of silver/ or of gold  
Which he sometime had/ of his father old  
Than selleth he/ or else ten pound or more  
Of rent in mortgage layeth he therefore  
Shortly this man/ doth so his matters speed  
That he hath all such things as in that need  
Where with he cometh home all speedily  
And to have thank he deemeth verily  
She syenge this/ made semblant him before  
As though such cost might well have been forbore  
And that nothing/ she set by gown ne gayre  
That he home brought with him for her repair  
Cursing all them with tongue/ & not with thought  
That first so great estate and port up brought  
And when she knew that thing was sure she said  
To her good man and him besought and prayed  
He never should reprove her of the day  
That she had made him spend for her array  
His money or his goods/ and nevermore  
Her to rebuke/ or else umbrayde therefore  
For by the gown set I nothing she saith  
So that I may me keep from cold in faith  
And always have one penny in my purse  
Which will suffice to me though it were worse  
Anon was made this gown/ and eke an hood  
Also a girdle which was rich and good  
And now are comen the terms & the hours  
when that he must content his credytoures  
And this poor man not able is to pay  
Because his gold and silver been away  
And longer will they not forbear this man  
But execute in all the haast they can  
They curse on him/ & she the same perceiveth  
And thereof all the circumstance conceiveth  
And peradventure afore this curse proceed  
Or else after the law doth him sorbede  
In church to be/ wherefore his company  
Men will esche we and grudge all utterly  
Having disdain with him to drink & eat  
And he but little hath and none can get  
Of money out of danger him to bring  
God wot what joy he hath in his living  
His wife goth crying in the house about  
Where with a noise she maketh and a shout  
And thus she saith/ ha' cursed be the hour  
That I was ever in my mothers bower  
Forth brought or born/ alas it had not happened  
That in the clot/ wherein I was first lapped  
I had be buried/ for never so great shame  
betid to any woman ne diffame  
As to me and my kin/ now shall belayed  
Alas I labour sore/ and fast she said  
And all the labour business and cost  
That I have done of many a day is lost  
In twenty places or moo I had be married  
If I so would/ but like a fool I tarried  
For where I might great honour & avail  
Have had/ and richesse/ thereof now I fail  
I know how that their wives be bysene  
That would have married me/ which doth me  
And therefore have I heaviness and woe  
That death the life nill take my body fro  
Thus she complaineth her withouten care  
Of her husband/ or how the good man far  
For holy she hath set her mind upon  
Her own estate/ and shortly she is gone  
Unto this marriage/ and where she should  
Have thought upon her husband she ne would  
But to this poor man putteth all the wite  
Like as an horse that can both plain & bite  
This woman doth/ and she is cause of all  
For she this man hath made so bestial  
Some what for sorrow/ or else wise by play  
That well nigh wasted is his wit a way  
So that he will not understand ne know  
That she is in default/ will he not trow  
And though he see the matters evident  
yet of necessity he is content  
But of the thought & sorrows to inquire  
It is but waast/ sith you the causes here  
Of this man which can neither rest ne sleep  
That thinketh every hour and taketh keep  
How that he may in ease this woman set  
And find some remedy to pay his debt  
But yet is he more angry for his wife  
Which curseth him/ than all that other strife  
Thus sorroweth he/ in poverty down fall  
And from that pain recover never shall  
Pricked he is/ but smart can he none feel  
That all is joy/ to him it seemeth weal  
Thus is this man within the leap yclosed  
And peraventure so he is disposed  
That he nothing thereof doth him repent  
For if that he out of the same were hent  
Soon would he go again in to that give  
And all his pain and woe newly begin  
yet should he never be in so good cas  
As he hath been afore he married was  
And there this poor man shall use his life  
Ending his days in wretchedness & strife   
¶ Thus endeth the first joy of marriage.   

¶ Here begynnes the second joy of marriage.  
 

AS for the second joy of marriage  
It is when that this wife of her courage  
feeleth that she so richly is arrayed  
In such a wise as here tofore is said  
And knoweth well enough that she is fair  
Than will she go from home to take the air  
To many feestes and assembles eke  
And also holy saints for to seek  
On divers pylgrymages will she go  
All though the husband be not pleased so  
Her journey enterpryseth she to ride  
With her cosyon and gossyppes at a tide  
And specially for her kynnesmannes' sake  
Her pylg●●●●●… devoutly will she take  
And peradventure yet it may so be  
That this man is as nigh kin unto we  
As unto her/ but so him for to call  
wont and accustomed is she overall  
It may be thought for some intent or cause  
She calleth him so/ but there I leave a clause  
Her mother than saying her business  
Cometh sometime to this man I guess  
And as a woman can begin to clatter  
She saith his heart to tycle and flatter  
This foresaid man/ her cousin is of blood  
For her to go with such a company is good  
And other while the husband is loath  
That she should go/ saith sadly by his oath  
How he none horses hath ne other thing  
Her to convey to feast or gathering  
Than shall the gossip or her cousin say  
I am right loath by god and by this day  
To go/ for mine house so god me speed  
Moche thing have I to do of very need  
And were it not honour to you and me  
Speke would I not as now so moat I the  
For sir so god me help I know it weal  
your wife to go is pleased never a deal  
She is a woman least that loveth waast  
Of any living/ for ever she doth haast  
Home ward when she at any place is out  
For your expense & charge she hath such doubt  
So this good man/ whose wisdom is to seche  
And sore abused with their flattering speech  
Demandeth who goth in this campany  
Of men and other/ and she saith certainly  
My cosyon and my godfader also  
My god mother and many an other more  
your mother in law/ which is your wives mother  
My good cousin your wife/ and divers other  
Also the wives of such a place in deed  
And your cousin and hers have you no dread  
Other there be more/ dwelling in your street  
I dare well say this company is meet  
A kings daughter for to be among  
And be you sure she will not tarry long  
So is this silly man on honour set  
That in no wise will he this viage let  
And peradventure she that thus doth speak  
Shall have a gown or other things to break  
The matter that the person may be played  
And thus it falls oft as it is said  
He saith this company is good and fair  
But she moche hath to do/ and great reparre  
At home how be it/ for to go as than  
She hath a licence given by this man  
which to her saith/ be ware how by the days  
you be demeaned travailing on your ways  
Also take heed at night you lodge you sure  
And god you keep from evil adventure  
The good wife than/ which doth perceive & here  
That she hath leave/ maketh countenance & cheer  
At home for to abide yet had she liefer  
Than forth to ride/ & from her home dyssever  
She saith my love this time no cause have I  
Out for to go with such a company  
I pray you that I may not go this season  
Her cousin than was nigh hearing that reason  
Answered and said/ what cousin you shall go  
your gentle husband will that it be so  
The good man than a little aback doth draw  
And thus he saith unto his mother in law  
Ne were it for the trust I have in you  
She should not go/ this make I god avow  
Ha' my good son she saith by heaven king  
That made this world/ and every other thing  
you may as surely and withouten dread  
Suffer her to go as for to say your creed  
Thus they depart and on their way be go  
And as they go/ these words than saith one  
Unto an other he hath some jealousy  
It seemeth weal he dreadeth jeopardy  
Thus is he mocked by these women's art  
For now come galauntes forth on every part  
which at the feest afore by adventure  
This foresaid work have made and put in ure  
And there awaiting been upon their need  
For to conclude and so forth to proceed  
But how this wife now fested is & served  
For love of her good man all undeserved  
And god wot how she doth herself apply  
To revel dance/ and for to sing on high  
Also she maketh good and merry cheer  
But god wot how she praiseth her bedfere  
The husband left at home while she is out  
And seethe herself so praised among the rout  
Certes these galauntes than her do advise  
And see she is apparaylled in such wise  
Perceiving well her cheer and countenance  
Shortly to hex each one him doth advance  
One profreth moche/ an other offereth more  
Hard is to me the cause to tell wherefore  
The jolly cheer the praty trot and pace  
with the demeaning of a woman's face  
Will give these lovers cause & hardiness  
To sew for grace unto their worthiness  
One to her words gracious doth say  
And other cometh asnygh her as he may  
And setteth his foot a loft on hers plain  
Eke by the hand quickly he doth her strain  
Also an other his look casts a side  
Full piteously and sharply for a tide  
An other than unto her doth present  
A diamond right fair and oryente  
Or else a rich ruby with a ring  
Which she receiveth with some other thing  
By which things may she well understand  
Of their intent/ and feel it with her hand  
If she have any reason brain or wit  
And other whiles by fortune happeth it  
That from her chair alight will she adown  
To do some works of devotion  
Or unto Venus to do sacrifice  
But how can I not say ne in what wise  
This silly man at home in poor degree  
Is made and brought unto necessity  
For thilk estate that his wife doth pretend  
The matter thus hath driven to an end  
And made her go to gaderynges and feestes  
Among a wicked company of gests  
For unto her they yoleden be in trust  
To have their pleasures appetites and lust  
Upon none other thing do they aweyte  
But how they may do this poor man deceit  
The stroke whereof he hath without escape  
Which comynly is called but a jape  
So he is causer of his proper shame  
None other wight thereof is for to blame  
And thus it happeth by continuance  
That what by sygnesspeche or countenance  
Troth of the thing whereof he was in doubt  
All openly reported is about  
Whereby he falls jealous in a rage  
Out of the which there is no wight so sage  
That him can move/ for who that fervently  
Of woman feeleth the cruel malady  
There is no medicine that may him cure  
The sickness is so sharp without measure  
Than will he beat her bitterly and curse  
Whereby the works maketh he much worse  
For chastise can he not by day ne night  
His wife but by his beating maketh light  
And hot the love bytwne her & her friend  
Thus driveth he the matter to an end  
And so he other whiles fortune may  
One of her limbs break or kit a way  
Whereby his castle or his pile he loseth  
Than as a mased be'st he him dysposyth  
Withouten care and all he setteth at naught  
Thus hath he found the pain which he hath sought  
And never after will she love him more  
Because that he hath beaten her so sore  
But for to pass the time and make a she we  
And of fair words speaketh she but few  
There this poor man in tourment pain & woe  
liveth and yet he thinketh not so  
And all these sorrows/ he for joys doth take  
So in the leap he is I undertake  
Enclosed deep/ and yfhe were without  
Yet shortly would he in withouten doubt  
There useth he his life in pains always  
And wretchedly/ thus endeth he his days   
Thus endeth the second joy of marriage.   

¶ Here beginneth the third joy of marriage.  
 

ANother joy which named is the third  
Of marriage in no wise may be hid  
The which I purpose shortly to dclare  
According to mine author and not spare  
The which is when man in youth doth wed  
A young maid/ and when they both in bed  
Have had their pleasures largely and desire  
And well assuaged is the brenning fire  
The hoot harvest is well overblow  
As it with me and other is I trow  
Soon after this her belly doth arise  
And waxeth great/ as is the common guise  
Whereof the husband alway hath the name  
And peradventure he nothing to blame  
Is of the deed/ for so it happeth oft  
As some men say in privy counseyllsofte  
And thereat merrily will laugh or hum  
But this is de secrets mulierum  
The husband than in to such thought doth fall  
And turmentes that he run and trot shall  
To get the wife all she shall need  
Forth on his journey swiftly doth he speed  
And if he trip or stumble by the way  
He may fall in the mire by night or day  
And great adventure shall be if he bring  
Uytaylles that may be good to her liking  
All though he hath done never so great pain  
Whiles he was out/ till he came home again  
And oft it happeth so that for such meet  
As comynly she used hath to eat  
Both lust and appetite from her do pass  
Because her stomach is not as it was  
Than she desireth to have things strange  
And novelties her dyerte for to change  
For which this poor man must trot on foot  
Or else ride there is none other boat  
Both night & day/ to get where he may find  
Such delicates as may content her mind  
And in this tourment seven years and more  
Is this good man/ and yet she evermore  
Nothing will do but play the wanton so  
That thereof pity hath this husband though  
Which of the house alway the charge doth bear  
And see all things well ordered every where  
early to rise/ and late to go to bed  
He must and see all matters be wellspede  
And on his household/ after such estate  
As he is of remembreth he algate  
Now doth the time approach of travailing  
And she a child in to the world shall bring  
God faders than in haast/ god moders eke  
As she will order/ busily to seek  
He hath great thought and out goth in an heat  
The nourysses and gossyppes for to get  
Which must her keep of child while she lieth in  
What time his double sorrow doth begin  
For so they drink the wine in every hour  
As in to old botes one died it pour  
Now dying in her travail pain and woe  
This wife avoweth twenty way and more  
On pilgrimage to go for her good speed  
To be put out of her great pain and dread  
This poor man avoweth eke for toryde  
Unto all hallows/ and now on every side  
The gossyppes come/ and this good man must get  
Such vytayles as they may well drink and eat  
So that they may in such a wise be eased  
As they shall hold them well content & pleased  
This done/ the wife and gossyppes talk together  
And fast they carry in for dread of weather  
All be it so/ this good man hath the pain  
That travail must in wind snow hail or rain  
And when he is forth passed on his way  
One of the gossyppes will these words say  
Alas my gossip which now is without  
An hard fit hath/ that am I out of doubt  
A foul and evil weather now it is  
No force an other saith so have I bliss  
He is right weal at ease/ and so be we  
But if it fortune so/ sometime that he  
Fail of such thing as were unto their pay  
One of the gossyppes to the wife shall say  
Gossip I marvel much/ and so doth all  
This fellowship/ that it so is befall  
And we have wonder what it may amount  
That your husband doth make so little count  
Of you or of your young child here in truth  
A gentle heart would pity have and ruth  
Behold it we'll/ conceive what he would do  
if you had children five or two yet mother  
It doth appear he levoth you but light  
Whereof both you and we may have despite  
Consydred where you lust him for to take  
He hath more honour truly for your sake  
Than ever any of his lineage bore  
Have had in days passed heretofore  
By god I say/ that is our lord Jesus'  
Rather than my husband served me thus  
I had well liefer/ either he were deed  
Or else that he none eye had in his heed  
Than saith an other/ gossip find some boat  
Let not this man thus cast you underfote  
For he shall do to you when you be laid  
As much again or more/ now have I said  
An other saith/ my cosyon I marvel  
you take no more regard to your avail  
considered/ you be wise of good lineage  
And he not like to you/ though marriage  
Hath coupled you and all men high & low  
How you him suffer understand and know  
And he doth you so great damage alway  
Than doth the wife answer again and say  
Truly my dear gossyppes what is the best  
To do as in this caas so have I rest  
Nothing know I ne ways find I can  
To help myself he is so evil man  
An evil man he is/ one of them saith  
But I shall tell you truly by my faith  
My gossyppes that be here/ they know well when  
I was first married to mine husband than  
Men said he was so divers of his will  
That it was wonder but he would me kill  
By god my gossip though he so were named  
I thank our lord he is now right weal tamed  
For he had liefer fall and break his arm  
Than me to do displeasure hurt or harm  
But first when we together married were  
To speak than he began with angry cheer  
And for to strike as doth a carlysshe mon  
But by the sacrament of god anon  
Fast with my teeth I took the bridle so  
That he me bet no more, but times two  
Wherein he played the very fool and more  
For after was I much worse than before  
And he hath told my gossip sickerly  
That he in me could put no remedy  
Now may I speak and do all that I will  
And be it right or wrong untruth or, skill  
Alway with me the last word shall remain  
So when he speaketh I chekke him up again  
There is no game like it/ which is to play  
With players and put business away  
For gossip never man yet was so hard  
I you eusure but yfhe be answarde  
Well by his wife she shall soon make him free  
And debonarye/ if that she witty be  
An other saith/ my cousin be well were  
you speak to him/ and for no dread you spare  
When he cometh home/ and say the best you can  
And in this wise/ governed is this man  
Than drink they fast & say saint Iohn to borrow  
And take their leave unto the next moro we  
What time again they will return to see  
The manner all/ how she shall governed be  
But when this poor man cometh home again  
With vytaylles and with other thing certain  
And seethe there is great waast made in his house  
Of gods and he is inly covetous  
Than salleth he heaviness and pain  
For thought that him doth by the heart constrain  
An hour or two by night he doth aryue  
For he hath comen far to see his wyve  
And for to understand yet furthermore  
How that she doth/ he coveteth right sore  
Whether she be hole/ or how it with her is  
In any wise to know will he not miss  
One night from home he dare not lodge without  
Of his expense he hath such fere and doubt  
In to his house with joy entered is he  
And all his servants there in their degree  
Instructed be and taught in such a wise  
Like as the good wife list afore devise  
For else though never so good & true were they  
They should not tarry there well half a day  
Now he demandeth how the good wife doth  
And thereof will he understand the sooth  
Than saith her chamberer which doth her keep  
Sir she is very seek and may not sleep  
sith you departed hens eat might she not  
But little she amended is god wots  
Than is this man all sorrowful and sad  
Which hath been wet with rain & hard bestead  
For oftentime by him and other moo  
peraventure it may well happen so  
That he is faint and his horse at assay  
For he hath passed by an evil way  
And they percas of all the day afore  
Have neither drunk ne eaten lass ne more  
And yet will not this poor man eat a bit  
Till time that he may understand & wit  
How his wife doth/ & than the chambrerere  
Old matrons/ & the nouryse drawn near  
And servants which informed been how they  
After their charge shall them demean alway  
They she we their personages as they were wroth  
Than will not he abide/ but up he goth  
In to the chambre/ coming her again  
And at his entry/ softly she doth plain  
Upon the bed afore her leneth he  
saying my bestbyloved how do you  
Right seek she saith my lord/ and than he there  
Demandeth how in what a wise and where  
My love saith she/ you know well that oflate  
I am made feeble/ and in poor estate  
Than answereth he to her as in this wise  
Have you not ordained so that some colyse  
Of a fat capon for you may be made  
Now sir so god me help/ right so I had  
She saith of late/ but they it can not make  
In faith quoth he love I shall undertake  
To make you one full well and handsomely  
The which shall no man touch but you and I  
And you shall eat it for the love of me  
She saith my love I will well it so be  
This good man than goth to the coke in hast  
He stampeth fast and ordained herrepast  
Fast chideth he/ and saith they be but beasts  
For they can dight no metes at requests  
Than hastily he doth this souping bear  
Unto this wife/ and when he cometh there  
With prayer he enforceth her to take  
Somewhat thereof and eat well for his sake  
And so she doth and saith sir good it is  
But so was not that they have made or this  
For it was nothing worth a simple i'll  
And with that word from her departeth he  
To supper/ and adown he doth him fet  
And thereupon the vytaylles be forth fet  
None of the delicates that gossyppes eat  
The day afore/ which were not for him meet  
Not peradventure of the messes chief  
He had but of the fragments and belief  
Whereof the old wives have take their fill  
And god wot in what wise they drank theyrtyll  
Thus was this weary man at souper fed  
Where with he is content and goth to bed  
All sobrely with heaviness and sorrow we  
And when that comen is the next inoro we  
Unto his wife he góoth/ and in this wise  
He saith/ my love time is you a wake and rise  
And go to mass for we so moche do spend  
That all our money nigh is at an end  
This cost is great/ we may not bear out it  
And she answereth a sir it is not yet  
No while sith I was laid/ & so great pain  
I have that yet I can not well sustain  
Myself/ but now I wot it and believe  
You thing it long/ & sore it doth you grieve  
That I ne labour in the house again  
In such a wise as though I should be slain  
I understand it is your mind and will  
That in this wise I should myself do kill  
Alas I see in time to come that I  
Right moche shall have to suffer certainly  
If that I should have x or twelve. yet more  
Children/ but god defend that it be so  
For if it might him please I would be glad  
That never one after this time I had  
And please it to god that I more child have never  
But his commandment be performed ever  
In me and all his will lowly obeyed  
Ha said this man/ alas what have you said  
You moon yourself without cause or encheason  
For I dare say and make it good by reoson  
Was never poor man yet of mine estate  
That suffer hath so much as I of late  
from hens forth in it shall me like & please  
That when you will you arise or take your ease  
Than saith she thus/ my counsel is that one  
Go straight unto my gossyppes all anon  
And say to them they come no more to me  
For I am evil disposed in certainty  
My love saith he they shall come and have all  
Such things as may them please in special  
Sir than saith she/ no more let me be still  
And do you all things as it is your will  
Than cometh a matron with a wryngled face  
An old kepster with whom is little grace  
And to the good man out her mind doth break  
Pease sir she saith/ no more such words speak  
For to a woman that is void of brain  
And feeble/ and so tender in certain  
great peril is to speak so in her pain  
And there withal she draweth the curtain  
So doth this man live sorrowfully always  
And wretchedly so shall he end his days   
¶ Here endeth the third joy of marriage.   

¶ Here beginneth the fourth joy of marriage.  
 

THe fourth joy of marriage to tell  
Is as to go front purgatory to hell  
For it is when he which hath married be  
Keeping an household after his degree  
where he hath dwelled still viii years even  
And hath of young children six or seven  
Passing full many an evil night & day  
Unhappely as you have heard me say  
whereof he hath had many an evil end  
Thus is his youth greatly made cold & spend  
And it were time for him sore to re●●●te  
If that he could/ as sinners should in lente  
But of his house which he must keep algate  
He is so inly weary and so mate  
That what somever the wife will speak or do  
Naught careth he/ ne taketh heed thereto  
For he as hard and dull is as an ass  
which for no prick ne sporre will faster pass  
This poor man daughters hath yet one or twain  
The which may fortune would be married fain  
They ready be and on the hour they tarry  
Awaiting fast who will come them to mary  
They be in joy▪ and it may happen to  
The man is poor/ and liveth in care & woe  
Nigh moneyless/ and hath no great substance  
For marriage to make his chevisance  
Also unto his sons he must buy  
His daughters & his other small meinie  
Doublettes hosyn kyrtels and victual  
And many an other thing withouten fail  
His said daughters he must repair and keep  
All honestely and gay/ else will they weep  
And for three things this nedely must be done  
One is because they may be asked soon  
Of divers galauntes' dwelling them about  
An other is withouten any doubt  
All were it so that this good man ne would  
yet so to be/ for nothing it ne should  
For why the wife hath passed the same ways  
And she ne will it suffer by this day  
Also there is an other reason why  
Because they have good minds & hearts high  
And are accustomed to be fresh & gay  
For otherwise will they not be ne may  
And in adventure if they otherwise  
Entered were/ anon they would practise  
To have their jolynettes/ for help and ease  
But there an end/ of that I hold my pease  
So is this man on every part dismayed  
These charges bearing/ as afore is said  
And peradventure so he is bestead  
That symplely and poorly he is clad  
Of which array yet careth he nothing  
So he may have a pass time and living  
And this sufficeth well to him alway  
As to the fyss he doth in the leap to play  
Whiles he may have a time and sufferance  
Therein to live and languysshe in penance  
And yet thereby abbredged been his days  
So fareth it by such a man always  
The which in to the leap of housholding  
Is put where he shall suffer such turmenting  
As I have said/ and other innumerable  
And thus he seethe these things so chargeable  
That all he set at naught so he live may  
As doth an horse morfounded by the way  
Which none account doth set by sporre ne thing  
That may to him be done in travaylyage  
This not withstanding/ wheder he will or not  
Forth him behoveth for to go and troth  
To govern land and livelihood which is his  
Right after such estate as he of is  
And peradventure he hath horsest wain  
The which be lean & poor for lack of grain  
And it so fortune may he hath but one  
Or yet not one/ but forth he gooth anon  
And twenty mile or forty from his place  
He travaileth/ within a little space  
Unto the parliament/ or to thassise  
Where he hath for to sew in divers wise  
For such a cause▪ as other things among  
Hath been dependent in the law there long  
A pair of botes well of three years old  
Or four he hath to keep his legs from cold  
The which full oft have mended been allow  
Right craftily for dread it should be know  
So that part which was sometime on the knee  
Amyddes the shin must nedely used be  
Full oft they changed have their former face  
And that hath brought them from above so base  
A rusty pair of sporres he hath eke  
Whereof one of the rowelles be to seek  
Also of ten years old he hath a gown  
Not of the newest guise ne facyowne  
The which for dread that he should it appear  
Except on high feestes he nolde it were  
Or else when he from home should go or ride  
All other times it was laid clean a side  
The cause why it was of so old a shape  
May be for so it fallen is by hap  
That gowns be made all in a new gift  
But this to him doth well enough suffyfe  
And in his ways if that he see or here  
Only Instruments or plays aye they answer  
As seemeth him by so wing in his ere  
Of his household because his mind is there  
He lives hard and poorly by the ways  
So do his horses/ and his page always  
Which page is all to ragged and to rend  
As pluto was that road to parliament  
Upon his side a rusty sword and bad  
He ware the which his master gotten had  
In flanders at a battle/ also he  
Those bowges carried that were wont to be  
Oft used to convey both nigh and far  
His leg harneys always in time of war  
Sortely to speak/ he doth all that he may  
With little cost to travail by the way  
For he at home enough hath for to spend  
Also these advocates to him offend  
Sergeauntes gryffyers/ and such a company  
So largely take of him that he doth high  
Home ward as fast as he his horse can drive  
And peradventure when he cometh to his wife  
It is nigh the morning as the night  
And when he is at home he doth alight  
Where he no souper find can ne espy  
Because his wife and other company  
Unto their beds were go some what afore  
Or he came home/ but he dare say no more  
But taketh all in patience and gree  
For here unto accustomed hath he be  
And if it hap that he come in good hour  
Weary and sad with travail and labour  
pensive heavy/ and of his charges grieved  
Supposing to be welcomed and relieved  
How be it many times he hath had  
And he doth think right evil cheer & bad  
The good wife chideth than & clappeth fast  
As though a tempest were or thunder blast  
Within the house/ and if that this good man  
List to command/ or bid his servants than  
To get him any thing that he would have  
There is not in his house so lewd a knave  
That maketh account thereby ne will obey  
So by their dame afore taught been all they  
Wherefore to speak he loseth time and pain  
But she there with be pleased in certain  
And if his lad in any wise demand  
Meet for himself/ or for his horse provande  
He shall be checked and rebuked so  
That he shall not dare speak such words mother  
Also this poor man that is so lage  
Will make no noise for hymn for his page  
But taketh all in patience and saith  
Dame you do well/ and yours in good faith  
There with she answereth him all hastily  
you have more lost and spent now folyly  
Than you will win of all these yerest way  
I told you late in twenty devils way  
you should have made ourhenhous close or now  
A martron eaten hath this tell I you  
Three of mine old hens you shall perceive  
What harm we have thereby/ thus you deceive  
By god I know yfye may live your age  
you shall be poorest man of your lineage  
Fair dame saith heno mosuche words say  
I have enough/ and so shall have always  
Our lord I thank/ and if it do him please  
I am content/ and think me well at ease  
For of my kindred there been full right good men  
In your kindred/ hast now/ saith she then  
By saint Marry/ I know not where they be  
And at the least I could them never see  
Dame by my faith he saith/ some be right good  
Of my lineage/ I would you understood  
The which be worth as much or more than you  
What they/ she saith/ be they like unto me  
you dame saith he/ nay sir by god saith she  
I tell you well your deeds were but small  
without my friends help in especial  
Now fair dame/ for god's love saith he  
Have patience/ and let such words be  
Certes she saith/ if that my friends were here  
And you such/ words had/ they would answer  
you well enough/ then he the matter feres  
least it by her/ should come unto their ears  
Wherefore to keep all things in patience  
No more saith he/ but rests with silence  
And here with all/ beginneth for to weep  
A little child/ that can not go but creep  
And she anon/ a rod taketh in her hand  
And in despite/ of this good poor husband  
Moore than for other cause or chastising  
Upon the buttocks/ she doth it beat and ding  
This little babe/ and than he saith no more  
beat it fair dame/ and waxeth wroth therefore  
And she beginneth for to chide and cry  
In all the devils names of hell on high  
To govern them/ she saith you have no pain  
They cost you naught/ but I have cause to plain  
For always upon them I must attend  
God give it shameful death/ and evil end  
Ha' fair dame saith he/ that is foul said  
with that the nurse shortly doth out brayed  
And saith a sir/ full little do you know  
The sorrow that here is among us I trow  
And what pain that it were to you/ if you  
Should keep and nourish them so as do we  
Now by my troth/ than saith the chamberere  
It is great shame to you sir/ will you here  
For when that you come home/ we should be fain  
Of your coming/ but you make noise and plain  
And all your house/ you set in great debate  
This man saying this/ and their with is chekmate  
How he on every side is pricked sore  
And he can get no remedy therefore  
All weary goeth he souperles to bed  
And if he soup/ god wot how he is fed  
Or eased/ after he to sleep doth lie,  
And heareth all the night his children cry  
For wytyngly the nurse and the mother  
Do let them cry/ they will it be none other  
In great despite of him which all the night  
Doth pass in sorrow/ unto the days light  
All these torments/ he for joy doth hold  
For why/ none otherwise he live ne would  
Therefore he is/ and always shall abide  
In sorrow thought/ and care on every side  
And wretchedly his days in pain and woe  
He shall endure/ and make an end right so   
¶ Here endeth the fourth joy of marriage.   

¶ Here beginneth the fifth joy of marriage.  
 

OF marayge for to declare or write  
The fifth joy/ now god would I were quite  
So little fruit or pleasure stant therein  
That I am weary false or I begin  
Which is when that the good man which is married  
Long time in travail hath/ and woe tarried  
And many a pain endured hath before  
Whose youth is greatly over drawn therefore  
And he is very weary faint and mate  
But by adventure it may so be algate  
He hath a wife more greater of lineage  
Than he/ and eke more younger of heraege  
The which be two great and doubtful things  
To meddle with/ and namely in weddings  
For better none can do himself to waste  
Than in these twain/ to lap or put in haste  
His body/ and well understand it why  
For two repungnaunce/ they be truly  
Wherefore agaynge nature it were and right  
They should accord by day or else night  
And other whiles so is that he and she  
Some child may have/ or else that none there be  
This not withstanding she is nothing set  
To pain/ for why/ the good mau will not let  
But she be kept in pleasure ease and we'll  
Wherefore he traveleth/ and doth every deal  
Which is to maintain such a jolly state  
And costyous/ as she wyllkepe algate  
And if she would have thing that there is not  
That she may have it/ he will go or troth  
For she will not make lo were ne impair  
Her lineage by her diet ne her geyre  
The husband taketh all this for honour  
And thanketh god entirely of that hour  
In which he of his grace/ her hath him sent  
So what she doth or saith he is content  
And often time it happeth at a tide  
When they begin/ to vercyfy or chide  
She saith to him by manner of menace  
You know right well/ of what an house or place  
I comen am/ and was not given to the  
A drabble or else a drivel for to be  
She saith as soon/ as I will send or write  
Unto my kin and friends of this despite  
Anon they will come hither for tose  
How I do here/ and therefore dare not he  
For any cause/ one's touch her with his hand  
With staff ne stick/ for all his goods and land  
Though he with mouth/ great words hath said.  
As still he is/ and mute as a maid  
In bondage great/ me seemeth that he is  
And so it may well be that she or this  
Had by her friends married been aforne  
Unto/ a richer man/ and better born  
Than he/ and in a higher state be set  
If that in her had been no fault ne let  
But for there was before some little jape  
That in her youth fortuned for to scape  
To coal her thirst/ as divers folks well trow  
She had not else been married hafe so lo we  
Whereof the husband had no knowledging  
Or peradventure he hath herd some thing  
But this good man/ of such faith and believe  
Is made/ that this thing little doth him grieve  
For he hath herd it, said/ and so worn or then  
Of many folks/ and of right good men  
That all such cursed language was contrived  
Against his wife/ and he the same believed  
They say it is bostynges and avauntes  
Made by the means of jolly frsshe galauntes  
And other sklaundrers that speaketh shame  
Of women good/ and falsely them defame  
When they togyders in the streets walk  
Thus of good men and women will they talk  
What time that they nothing may else do  
Unthryfrely thus speak they ever mother  
Wherein god wot/ great sin do they & wrongs  
In such ungodly wise to use their tongues  
And if so be this wife behold and see  
Her husband being in so lo we degree  
That he all joy hath left/ disport and play  
Thinking to make a chevisance some way  
Upon her land/ or else it may be fall  
Of chevisance he hath enough at all  
And is a very niggard/ and a chynche  
That will not freely spend/ but spare and pinch  
The which no pleasant thing is to the wife  
That purposeth to live a lusty life  
Because that she in seasons of the year  
Will have these novelties/ though they be dear  
As well in victual/ gounes as attire  
Grydels and other things at her desire  
Like as she seethe her fellows use and were  
At feestes and dances every where  
There as her cousins/ and her gossyppes be  
And with an other man/ that always she  
Useth to call her cousin evermore  
And peradventure yet he is not so  
Also sometimes well it fortune may  
That for the great pleasures ease and play  
She hath/ and seethe in many a sundry wise  
disdain her husband she will and despise  
And make a friend/ such as she will desire  
Her hasbande then/ in water or in fire  
May lie/ for she will love him nevermore  
Some folk would dame she were to blame therefore  
But you must take the matter otherwise  
For all is long upon his covetise  
And he is sad/ and in perplexity  
But she is light/ and in prosperity  
Not entered into thought ne negardy▪  
She is but young/ and so she will apply  
Her youth in pleasure/ lusts and delight  
Aege is not meet unto her appetite  
So loving is she/ to her love and kind  
That to such place/ as she deemeth him to find  
Oft will she take/ her journey forth and walk  
Or secretly/ and softly forth will she stalk  
Unto her friend/ that lusty is and fresh  
For very love her limbs to refresh  
And it may happen many times that she  
Saving her worship/ seldom may him see  
Then for to speak her good name and honour  
Her messenger she sendeth at an hour  
That he shall come/ and see her hastily  
The which is done right well and honestly  
Soon after this/ when comen is the night  
And this good man and she withouten light  
Be laid in bed/ and he somewhat would play  
With her/ whose mind is with her friend away  
This gentle galant/ whom of viii days & mother  
She hath not seen/ and yet it may be so  
That on the moro we he will come for his wage  
All hot and hasty/ hungry in a rage  
For peradventure he hath such a tache  
That he hath mourned sore/ and keped watch  
Both in the gardyns/ also in the street  
And they ne might yet of long times meet  
Ne speak to guider/ but on the moro we when  
This man shall come/ he will be hasty than  
His appetite and hunger to assuage  
great and wonder is/ to speak of his courage  
And it may fortune otherwise I trow  
That they have had leisure enough to know  
And so such pleasure/ as a man may think  
But I dare neither speak ne look but wink  
Mine author writeth/ but so will not I  
That she demeaneth her right wanton  
He saith an hundred things she can make  
That toucheteth love/ for her good friends sake  
And many a token will show and sign  
Of love// the which I can not well divine  
She maketh eke melancolyes among  
Which to her husband made she not of long  
Also her love doth business and pain  
To do her pleasure/ as he can again  
So many praty japes he will begin  
That she great joy/ and comfort hath therein  
And those such manner japes been or play  
That wedded men can not/ ne will assay  
And if the can/ afore or that they wed  
Those they forbear/ and set at naught in bed  
Wherefore to she we it to a wife or teach  
The which more able is to read or preach  
Then for to learn percase moche more than he  
The good wife can in her necessity  
Therefore he will not teach her in that guise  
For she/ than he more cunning is and wise  
Now when this wife/ her love hath at her will  
And they have time/ and leaser to fulfil  
Their appetites/ such joys as they show  
together/ men have herd of but a few  
For there no wight is/ that can tell or say  
The pleasure that have been between them twaye  
And so she hath had such disport and speed  
That nothing praiseth she her husbands deed  
After the which pleasures/ joy and game  
As great delight/ and pleasure taketh the dame  
Of her good man/ as one that tasteth wine  
Which hath reboyled/ and will never fine  
After he hath drunk good wine or yopocras  
And other while yet/ thus may stand the case  
A drinker good which hath a fervent thirst  
And drinketh small and musty wines first  
He thinketh them good enough/ his thirst so great  
Is/ and the dryness of his mouth and heat  
But after he thereof hath drunk his fill  
He findeth a cursed tarage and an ill  
And if that he should draw again and taste  
yet though he might/ he nolde unto it haste  
But in default of better ween it were  
Right so know you that this good wife doth here  
The which her lover/ always hath at need  
At her desires/ such matters for to speed  
And taketh a taste sometime at request  
Of her husband/ for lack of her good gest  
To pass the time and drive the night away  
But other while/ when he hath lust to play  
And she not so/ she saith let me be still  
Abide/ and towards morning doyour will  
Nay certes dame/ so will I not saith he  
Wherefore I pray you/ torn you unto me  
Nay love she saith/ by god and by saint Mayre  
you shall do me great pleasure for to tarry  
Unto the moro we/ and than he torneth away  
And dare not touch her ne no more words say  
So all the night/ he lieth still in rest  
And sleepeth meetly well at her request  
Then this good wife/ that on her love doth thing  
Not caring whither her husband fleet or sing  
Intendeth for to see upon the morn  
Hero wne love/ whom she hath long forborn  
Saith to herself/ for she is not alone  
My husband shall not yet touch my person  
Tomoro we/ and therefore erly she arose  
And left her husband/ routing in the nose  
And maketh such a countenance as she  
A housewife good/ and houssholder should be  
And peradventure the husband is in bed  
Whiles that his wife's metres is well sped  
By her good love/ and she hath her desire  
And he content is/ with his wage and hire  
Thus all that day/ she is so well apaid  
That neither servant needeth she ne maid  
In every place/ so ordereth she the house  
And skyppeth about/ as qnyckely as a mouse  
She clappeth to the doors and the wykket  
And is as merry as it were a crykket  
And sometime it may fortune other wise  
When that she will not from her bed a rise  
But like a wanton or nycet play  
Then will she plain/ a little afore the day  
And this good man doth ask her what she eyleth  
In truth she saith/ I think my heart me feyleth  
Within my side/ I have so great a pain  
And in my belly which do me sore constrain  
That it is marvel/ but as Cryst me save  
I dame sir that the same sickness I have  
The which wont was afore time me to take  
And namely when I overmuch died wake  
Torn you to me saith he I you require  
By god saith she/ I am as hot as fire  
For this night have I had so sore a fit  
That little have I slept/ or nothing yet  
Then this good man her clepeth with his arm  
And feeleth well that she is very warm  
He saith then/ troth now say you certainly  
But she hath other manner malady  
Of fevers/ than that she will tell or she we  
For peradventure/ this false wile shre we  
Thought that she was with her love in her dream  
Which made the seating from her body stream  
Then this good man/ her feeling in this heat  
Doth cover her from wind/ jest that the sweet  
Should in ward pass/ all so daynly or drink  
Which were a perilous thing as he doth thing  
To her saith he/ dame keep you well and sure  
Lie still in bed/ while your sweet doth endure  
And I shall 'cause such works to be done  
As needful is/ and up he riseth soon  
Perchance withouten fire or candle light  
Some what afore the day/ within the night  
And when he so is up all hastily  
He maketh a fire for her/ which easily  
Lieth in her bed/ and laugheth by herself  
That in the dark/ he walketh like an elf  
another time/ if this good man play would  
With her/ as I here to fore have told  
She well excuseth her/ in luche a wise  
Full oft/ as you have heard me late devise  
To scape a way/ ever will she find a mean  
For she his deed/ not praiseth worth a been  
And yet hath he/ great business y Wysse  
At many a time/ her for to coll and kiss  
But god wot how she is eased therefore  
If she be such one/ as is said tofore  
Unto this man/ the good wife will say thus  
I would that it might please our lord Jesus'  
you nevermore should do/ ne yet assay  
Such things as you or this have heard me say  
you should forbear/ and how what would yet not  
Do it yourself saith he/ nay god it wots  
Saith she/ for if that you such thing would spare  
B oath you and I should much the better fare  
If I had known this or you died me wed  
I never would have go unto man's bed  
what say you dame/ now speaketh this good man  
For what encheason died you marry than  
I note quoth she/ but when I was a maid  
So as my father and my mother said  
I died/ and thought she spoke such words waste  
yet peradventure afore she took a taste  
what thing is this to say/ the good man saith  
I found you never afore this by my faith  
To saith truth in your intention  
But always fast in this opinion  
I wot not by my soul she saith my love  
This knoweth well the mighty lord above  
Ne were it not/ for your pleasure alone  
Now never would I do it by saint john  
This man well eased is/ as god it would  
And to himself he saith/ my wife is cold  
whereof he maketh none account ne tale  
And peradventure she is white or pale  
Of nature feeble/ and complexion  
But he hath her/ in his subjection  
And her he clepeth/ and he kysseth so  
That all his pleasure/ hath he or she go  
And this good wife/ which for the time is there  
thinketh on other things and else where  
She would she were/ and god wot heavily  
Is she content/ but well and womanly  
She keepeth her kill/ and doth him as rioche good  
As cast a stone against a piece of wood  
For help himself/ can he not ne succour  
And she nothing is glad of his labour  
How be it other died right well afore  
And she aside turneth her cheer therefore  
A little/ for that time/ so stant the cas  
For this is not/ the good wine hippocras  
which she afore at other times had  
This doth her sore annoy/ for it is bad  
My love she saith/ you make me all a fool  
Better it were for you upon a stole  
To sit/ and of such business you rest  
This good man which all taketh for the best  
Keepeth him as well/ and dearly as he may  
That he of long time will by no way  
Do her displeasure/ trespass or offence  
The pain he doth endure with patience  
He doubteth lore the good wife to displease  
And so he rests/ some what for his ease  
For he believeth well/ that of the game  
Nothing she would/ in any wise attame  
So putteth he himself in such dotage  
That he supposeth well it were damage  
To her complexion she is so low  
And simple eke such words for to know  
Because percase/ that lately of her hew  
She is dyscoloured in a manner new  
wherefore the matter better he believeth  
And it may fortune after thus it proveth  
That this good wife a gown or other thing  
Of her husband would have to her liking  
She knoweth well by his condition  
when time is best to make a motion  
Aduysing in her mind him to beguile  
To have all her desire/ and on this wile  
Remembreth she/ that when they and no more  
In chambre be/ and it doth fortune so  
That they in pleasures and delights be  
And in her mind/ she doth perceive and see  
That he with some thing would have to do  
Then will she put her good will there unto  
And to make him such dalliance and cheer  
That it is marvelous to tell or here  
For why/ a woman learned in that art  
A thousand things new upon her part  
Can do/ to make good cheer and dalliance  
To whom she lust/ such is the guise of fcaunce  
So in this deed the good man is well eased  
For he is not accustomed to be pleased  
with so good manner cheer/ and countenance  
She clepeth him with all the circumstance  
And on the visage/ kysseth she him oft  
where as she liketh/ with her lips soft  
Than this good man in this manner doth say  
I dame you will ask some thing by my faith  
Of me/ and she saith nay my trende as now  
Nothing but make good cheer I crave of you  
For if it pleased god/ I would devise  
To have none other joy ne paradise  
Than evermore between your arms twain  
To be/ whereby exiled were my pain  
Truly my love/ and also god me save  
None other bliss would I desire to have  
For my mouth touched not ne never shall  
No man's mouth/ but yours in special  
Saving your cousins and mine/ well may you wit.  
And not but when you list to command it  
Sir I believe so gracious and sweet  
There is no man as you/ ne to me meet  
My love saith he/ if it a squire were  
I would believe you for to be your fere  
By/ god she saith/ when one's I died you see  
Far of/ the same sight so ravished me  
And yet I died you but behold a light  
Than you had all mine heart/ love and delight  
I would have had none other by my choice  
Though it had been the dolphin of vyennoys  
I think almighty god/ will it so be  
That I shall live with you/ and you with me  
For why/ my father and my mother both  
displeased were with me/ and wonder wroth  
Because to have such one I nolde accord  
But never would I by our blessed lord  
Though that one would have stain me with a knife  
yet thought I ever for to be your wife  
And I ne know what thing that this may be  
Saving I think it is our destiny  
Than doth this man his pleasure as him liketh  
And she is yelden therewithal and pyketh  
A countenance and saith/ now wot you what  
I will demand/ my love refuse not that  
To promise me I you beseech and pray  
The good man saith/ I will it not denay  
if that it be such thing as I may do  
Right well disposed will I be thereto  
My love she saith/ the wife of such a man  
A furred gown with mynevers had on  
This other day/ and if that I dared crave  
I would pray you/ that such one I may have  
Sir by my soul/ for pride or for envy  
I say it not/ ne for to be jolly  
But for by cause sir/ that I think you be  
As able as her husband to keep me  
And of more sustance/ if I should not lie  
To maintain me/ both well and honestly  
And she is not to make comparison  
That know you well/ as unto my person  
Ne sir to have honour/ pray or laud  
I say it not for guile/ deceit/ ne fraud  
But for this woman hath so great a pride  
I would be gladds that she laid it aside  
And for none other thing so have I bliss  
Than this good man/ which peradventure is  
A great niggard/ thinketh in his intent  
That she of gounes hath sufficient  
And so a while he rests in a thought  
And saith my love if that it be well sought  
Have you not gounes enough you to suffice  
Of divers sorts furred in goodly wise  
yes sir she saith/ for if I but a gown  
Had and no more/ though it were a russet brown  
I would not reck/ and yet it were great shame  
Than saith this man/ now care you not good dame  
Now let them speak/ & talk enough with sorrow  
For we of them/ nothing do beg ne borrow  
By god you say the trout he/ but will you here  
I am not like unto a chamberere  
Of theirs/ and not so well clad ne beseen  
As is my sister/ ne as other been  
And yet of years/ more old I am than she  
which is a foul/ and an evil thing to see  
Then peradventure/ will this man consent  
That shortly she shall have all her intent  
And what she will desire in such a rage  
which unto him/ is nothing but damage  
For when that her demand/ and her request  
She hath/ for to be fresh than is she priest  
To go where feestes/ and these dances be  
whereof no manner profit getteth he  
Peradventure she shall her dress and paint  
And have so little virtue and restraint  
That she in such unthrifty wife shall prove  
And never man suppose would ne believe  
And if this gown her please not/ will you know  
She hath an other love/ you may well trow  
which peradtenture hath no riches great  
And is a galant fresh/ and can not get  
Moore than to hold/ and maytene his degree  
And therefore soon/ advise herself doth she  
Upon an other galant stout and gay  
The which a dyamounde this other day  
when that she was/ at such a manner feste  
Unto her would have given as a geste  
And sent unto her/ by her chamberere  
well twenty scutes/ in his best manner  
Or thirty/ but so soon she ne them took  
How be it/ she gave a goodly look  
All though she greatly/ died refuse as than  
whereby such comfort/ took this gentleman  
That he spoke to her chamberere again  
whom he met going/ to ward a fountain  
Or else where/ and to her thus he said  
O jane my very love/ come hyder maid  
I have to speak some things with you now  
well sir saith she/ when that it pleaseth you  
Good jane he saith/ you know right well the love  
That I unto your mistress have/ above  
All other creatures/ now I you pray  
Tell me if you have heard her of me say  
Only words/ sir by my faith saith she  
Nothing certain/ but good and honest  
And she would you none evil/ hurt ne harm  
with that he taketh her softly by the arm  
saying good jane my love remember me  
That I to her may recommaunded be  
And in good faith here a gown I you give  
with all my heart/ and service while I live  
Now certes saith the chamberere again  
That ready is to take the gown and fain  
which he to her presenteth as I say  
Sir I will not receive it by no way  
By god saith he fair jane/ but yet you shall  
It is god wot/ a simple gift at all  
And then he saith unto the chamberere  
I pray you that to morrow I may here  
Some news of you/ and thus god be your guide  
Far well sith you/ no longer may abide  
Than to her master straight she gooth/ and saith  
folks have I found/ in good point by my faith  
what be they saith her mistress/ tell me now  
The same it is/ the which right well you know  
And he as yet/ is in good cas and plight  
For he is taken/ with the fevers white  
In such a wise/ that what is best to do  
He knoweth not/ love doth constrain him so  
The wife saith than/ a goodly man he is  
And gracious/ you say full sooth y wys  
The chamberere than saith for in my days  
Such one I never knew at all assays  
He is most fair full rich/ and well y shape  
most true of love withouten deceit or jape  
And he can do enough/ his love to please  
A lady might/ with him be well at ease  
O jane she saith/ by god I can not have  
No such things of mine husband as I crave  
And yet if he me hate/ he playeth the fool  
For we shall bring him/ in to an other school  
By god my jane/ I have so loved long  
This gentleman/ though I have kept my tongue  
That to none other/ could I give mine heart  
So am I take/ that I can not asterte  
And this great folly is/ by god above  
For any woman thus to set her love  
On any man/ that in this world is here  
And I shall tell you why/ jane will you here  
For when these men/ on women lords be  
All sodoynly in most necessity  
Causeless theo will forsake them and betray  
And thereof make/ a trifle or play  
Then cometh this galaunt or that other part  
And to the chamberere he speaketh a part  
saying in this manner/ with hands up  
together joined/ close as any cup  
My fair love jane/ ryghthumbly I you pray  
Tharye will do/ and help all that you may  
So that my work you well achieve and speed  
And I shall never fail you at your need  
So you my mistress/ shall be evermore  
Then answereth she/ and saith if I might so  
Sir for your love/ I would speak what I might  
But never meddled I by day ne night  
Of things such/ alas my love saith he  
What shall I do/ for god's love council me  
By god she saith/ best is for you to speak  
yourself/ and unto her your stomach break  
All well to point/ the matter comen is  
For of her husband/ hath she late or this  
A gown desired/ only but of cloth  
Which he denayed her/ and she is wroth  
I council you/ tomorrow that you be  
Timely at church/ where as you may he●se  
And when it happeth you/ with her to meet  
So as it liketh you/ you may her great  
There may you show/ your matter and intent  
And such as you will/ give to her present  
All be it so/ that she it will not take  
yet more she will you praise I undertake  
your largesse and your bounty shall the le  
Alas my love/ me liefer were that she  
Take it that I will give her/ than refuse  
Now sir saith jane/ she will make her excuse  
But I shall say you/ what thing you shall do  
After that you/ have offered her unto  
That thing the which/ you would her give indeed  
And she refuse it/ than your cause to sped  
deliver it to me/ and at the jest  
To 'cause hex take it/ I shall do my best  
For janone/ can know her mind and feel  
Now truly gentle jane/ you say right we'll  
Then gooth the chamberere/ in Crystes name  
And when she cometh home/ she saith madame  
A long time it is/ if it you please  
Or that some folk be brought to hearts ease  
And who is that good Iahe/ tell me anon  
y wys madam/ you know the same mon  
What do away/ I pray you tell me how  
It is fair jane/ what tiding with you now  
Certes madame/ he will not fail tomorrow  
In church to speak with you/ and all his sorrow  
Unto you will he show/ so as he can  
you may be sure/ he is a gentleman  
But well and wisely/ govern you always  
And make it strange/ so as you goodly may  
Not over moche of strangeness ne disdain  
Use may you not/ but so between twain  
Demean yond womanly/ in hope that grace  
Thereof shall grow within a little space  
Upon the morrow this wife gooth to kirk  
As when a thing shall be/ needs must it wyrke  
So doth this galaunt/ which three hours & more  
In good devotion god wot afore  
Passeth the time/ and draweth to a place  
Where he the holy water/ in her face  
May cast/ and for to keep all thing from shame  
He unto other women doth the same  
The which with her/ be present than and there  
And they thanken him in their best manner  
But this poor man/ would do them more service  
If he so might/ and doth him well advise  
That this good wife/ still testeth in her seat  
living in hope/ some grace of her to get  
And saith his beads demeaning him with all  
As sweetly as an image in a brickwall  
And god wot/ she is dressed properly  
After her power/ which he well doth espy  
Beholding how she kneeleth in her pew  
So well appareled/ with so fresh a hew  
And unto her/ anon he draweth near  
Where at their leisure/ they do speak in fere  
But nothing will she say/ but herkeneth still  
Unto the time/ that he hath spoken his will  
Ne nothing of him/ then will she receive  
But so she answereth him/ that he perceive  
May well/ that she him loveth paramour  
And that she dreadeth not/ but dishonour  
Whereof he is well eased/ and ago  
from her/ and from the chamberere also  
And so he walketh forth his station  
Then entren they in to collation!  
That is to weet/ the mistress and her maid  
Remembering well/ such words as were said  
And shortly/ so conclude upon their deed  
How that their work/ they may perform & speed  
And then the chamberere saith secretly  
Madame I know well/ he hath great envy  
To speak to me but I will to him say  
That you nothing for him/ by any way  
Will do/ and therefore wroth I will me make  
For pure pity/ the which I on him take  
And I shall to him say/ our sire is out  
So he at night may come withouten doubt  
Into your chambre secretly I trow  
I shall him let/ as though you died not know  
And I shall show as I were wroth/ wherefore  
He shall you pray/ well better and the more  
And sith he afterward/ shall longer tarry  
The same thing I will do bring and carry  
Which he would give you/ for I know that he  
tomorrow will deliver it to me  
And I to him shall say/ so god me save  
That you it neither/ will receive ne have  
And when it happeth shall/ that after soon  
The process and the acts be well done  
Wherefore the gown/ he giveth you in reward  
The which afore he put in to my ward  
Then you therefore/ shall chide me fast and blame  
Afore him/ saying/ damosel fie for shame  
Wherefore died you/ this thing with you retain  
Why would not you deliver it again  
But how somever it come to pass/ know you  
That I shall put all thing in certainty  
For some there be that have right many a wile  
Whereby innumerable they beguile  
Of women good/ and never can be still  
Now jane/ from this day forward do your will  
Forth gooth this galaunt than/ and so doth meet  
The chamberere/ somdele without the street  
And asketh her/ what news the hath brought  
Of her mistress/ by god saith she right naught  
I have her found/ so dangerous and strange  
That sore I dread shame will make her to change  
But for because I meddled have so far  
Thinking no time is/ longer to defer  
This matter/ I shall say you what is best  
That you may do/ to bring your mind in rest  
thither shall you go this night to work and speed  
your matters/ and yet have I so great dread  
That she will to her husande me accuse  
Or to her friends/ but I think and muse  
That if she will receive/ such things as you  
To her would give/ your deed soon sped shall be  
And yet by god/ I shall prove and assay  
To 'cause her take it shortly if I may  
For well it is/ at point to bring about  
The matter/ for her husband riden out  
Is now/ and hath denied her utterly  
A gown/ whereof she hath so great envy  
That it is marvel/ and this galant though  
Twenty scutes/ or thirty/ else more  
delivereth unto her/ and jane saith than  
By god you be an honourable man  
But well you se/ how I advise me  
And yet I dread that troubled shall I be  
For never died I thus/ for man or now  
As I for you have done/ I make avow  
And will you know/ how great daungere that I  
Have put me in/ and I shall tell you why  
For if so be/ that known were one word  
That any thing I should do by our lord  
Herein/ I should have ever such a blame  
That never after/ might I look for shame  
But for because I trust you perfitly  
I shall me put/ in this great jeopardy  
Knowing that she/ you loveth well at all  
And that our sire is out/ wherefore you shall  
This same night/ come fair and honestly  
Unto her chambre/ and I secretly  
Will let you in/ for neither heart ne lock  
Shall 'cause you either/ for to call or knock  
And thus at xii hours within the night  
you must walk in the dark withouten light  
For that time sadly/ doth she sleep always  
And there is but a little child in say  
To her in bed than shall you go and lie  
For I can see/ none other remedy  
And peradventure your deed shall be good  
Now when a man/ all naked is by the road  
In bed with her/ that naked is and bore  
A full great thing it is and she unware  
And when she seethe none other choice ne rede  
As still she lieth then/ as she were deed  
So sore she dreadeth shame and villainy  
That in the dark she may not see to cry  
For though she answer strangely on the day  
At such a sudden country she ne may  
O jane my love/ this gentle galaunt saith  
I never shall have penny by my faith  
But you thereof that one half and well more  
Shall have always/ so weal you do therefore  
When night shall come the galaunt goeth a pace  
As jane him hath/ advised to the please  
And she unto her mistress secretly  
Hath showed all the process mannerly  
And when this galant comen is and crept  
Into the bed/ she letteth as she slept  
This galaunt there/ her shortly doth embras  
Then starteth she and saith/ who is there alas  
My love saith he/ no more for it is I  
A by the sacrament of god I cry  
She saith it shall not come to pass yet so  
And thinketh for to call/ on jane which though  
No word to her again answered or said  
Ha' now I see it we'll/ I am betrayed  
Mine author saith/ the fight together both  
In divers wise/ and she is passing wroth  
And fast she panteth/ both for fere and ire  
Wheihe is as angry/ as the brenning fire  
And sore abashed of this reckoning  
you may well know/ it is a piteous thing  
A woman only when she lacketh help  
No more of strength is then a little whelp  
But if it had not been for dread of shame  
Moore high she would have cried in god's name  
Than she died than but all was for the best  
That she to save her honour so died rest  
Was never fythyll/ shalmeulx/ pipe ne rote  
That better died accord in every note  
Of music/ or in gemetrye than they  
Which enterprise/ good time again to play  
Thus for the husband that time being onte  
Right well to point the work they bring about  
Now hath this wife the gown that was denayed  
By her good man/ and she is weal apaid  
And for because he nolde it to her give  
It shall cost him full dear if she may live  
All be it so that he in times afore  
We'll more than it was wroth hath paid therefore  
And this good wife/ all things to excuse  
And because no wight her of should muse  
Her mother will she 'cause with diligence  
This gown to give her in his presence  
All boubtes to avoid that he may have  
Thus honestly she can her worship save  
And she her mother maketh to believe  
That this cloth she hath bought as she can prove  
Of those little things which she sold  
Whereof her husband yet she never told  
So he thereof doth understende no deal  
Or peraventure he may know it weal  
And so it happeth oft with her and more  
After this gown another cometh also  
That is to wite/ a new thing must be had  
For her that she/ may honestly be clad  
Also of gyrdels harneysed two or three  
Of silver guilt/ else angry will she be  
Or other things/ whereof her husband than  
Will be as sore displeased as he can  
The which is very melancholious  
Or like to nabal avaricious  
As I have said afore/ and he doth doubt  
Or narrowly he pryeth and looketh out  
So that he we'll perceive hath some thing  
Wherein he took no pleasure nor liking  
Or unto him it hath be told or showed  
Or her good love/ this galant all be shrewed  
By some fast friend of his this hath he known  
For at long running out it shall be blown  
Then entreteth he in rage of jalousy  
And putteth him in to an agony  
Anon he maketh semblant to go out  
And cometh at night/ staring all about  
Full suddenly supposing in his mind  
Out of array some folks to find  
The which is not so easily to be done  
Then hideth he him in his chambre soon  
And by adventure/ some thing doth espy  
Wherefore he chideth and she can weal reply  
She feeleth that she wily is and sage  
And that she comen is of good lineage  
This silly man remembreth him again  
Of his friends how they have spoken plain  
So they in riot and great debate  
And sorrow and care/ shall rest upon his pate  
For joys shall he never have in deed  
Fro that time forth/ but ever gnaw and feed  
On heaviness/ and ever among a lie  
Shall cast be in the visage prately  
His chevisance/ shall lessen suddenly  
Also his poor body shall be dry  
So shall he cease of works and business  
And never live in weal nor lustiness  
Thus closed in the leap/ abide shall he  
These pains taking for prosperity  
For if that he this leap were not within  
yet never would he/ tarry rest ne blynne  
Unto the time that he thereto might creep  
And put himself in to the same more deep  
Thus he ne would that otherwise he were  
Right so this poor man/ as you may here  
Shall ever languysshe in captivity  
And deep within the leap shall barred be  
So wretchely his days shall he end  
Fro such adventure god us all defend   
¶ Here endeth the fifth joy of marriage.   

¶ Here beginneth the sixth joy of marriage.  
 

THe sixth joy of marriage it is so  
That he which was wedded long ago  
Endured hath the travails/ and the pain  
As I afore have said/ all or certain  
Of them/ and hath a wife especial  
divers of her conditions at all  
A very subtle false and wile shrew  
She is/ as I here after shall you show  
Cautelous wilful/ and eke malicious  
Fro ward/ wanton/ nice and dysdaynous  
And her husband a good man is and plain  
The which her loveth well/ and she again  
loveth him I trow/ wherefore always he  
So as he may by possibility  
Doth unto her/ all pleasures that he can  
For she of body is a good woman  
How be it wholly her intention  
Is set so fast and her opinion  
That ever by some craft or subtyllyte  
Fail will she not to have the sovereignty  
And or her husband works will she know  
wheder he of his degree be high or low  
So will she meddle oft answer and speak  
if mister be/ and many matters break  
Such is of her the disposition  
And after nature the condition  
Of all wives/ what husbands so they have  
Or at least/ the mastery will they crave  
For though this wife be weal & want right naught  
yet ever will she set her mind and thought  
To bring her husband/ into woe and care  
And make him think and muse/ evil fare  
And otherwiles it may fortune so  
That he and she in chambre and no more  
Be all the night and some what of the day  
In their delights joy disport and play  
And they together kiss and make good che  
But he ariseth first that their dinner  
May ready be/ and also he must think  
Do other things more than meet and drink  
The house about and when time is to dine  
He calleth her but she will not incline  
Unto his speech but sendeth down anon  
Her little child or of her servants one  
which unto him than shall these words say  
Sir in good faith she will not dine to day  
weal saith the good man/ go again in haste  
And bid her come anon to this repast  
Then goeth the servant or the child and saith  
My master biddeth you come now by my faith  
To dinner soon for he will nothing eat  
Till you be come and set with him at meet  
Go say to him I will not dine saith she  
Upon which answer straight to her goeth he  
And saith to her what aileth you my deer  
She speaketh not/ wherefore he draweth near  
And saith what cheer my love and is dismayed  
How be it he hath seen such pagentes played  
Afore that time/ but for request ne word  
That can be said she nill go to the board  
But play right so/ and perchance in no wise  
will dine that day for thing he can devise  
Another time/ under her arm a side  
He leadeth her as though she were a bride  
And they to dinner go/ but cold is all  
The vytaylles on the table great and small  
For so long hath she saused them to tarry▪  
Thus often times will she do contrary  
To reason/ and such countenance and cheer  
with manners will she make at her dinner  
That no thing will she eat/ ne bit  
For which so dull and mate he is of wit  
And like a mased be'st for weal the more  
He loveth her/ and hath her dear therefore  
For such melancolyes she doth him give  
In thought and heaviness to 'cause him live  
wherein right weal she doth and cunningly  
sith he will suffer it so courteously  
For why a woman for to get the grace  
Of him whom she hath bound in her lace  
Hath not to do/ sith that he loveth her weal  
With heart/ body/ mind and every deal  
And doth her all the pleasures that he may  
Her needeth not/ with such one for to play  
But she must set her thought holy to get  
The love of him/ the which her doth for yet  
And by her setteth/ none account ne tale  
She should assay to make such one avail  
Unto her hand by cheer and countenance  
By pleasant speech/ with all the circumstance  
A fair deed/ she thinketh to have wrought  
When she her husband/ in to care hath brought  
It happeth other while this man gooth out  
Her works/ and his business about  
And when he home ward doth return again  
With him he bringeth of his friends twain  
In to his house/ by cause he hath to do  
With them/ or else right well it may be so  
That they of him have perfit cognysaunce  
Or else they be of his acquaintance  
When he without is/ as is said before  
His yeoman or his page/ he sendeth afore  
Unto his wife/ and prayeth her heartily  
For to make ready/ well and honestly  
The houses all about/ and other thing  
For such friends as he would with him bring  
Because to them/ he greatly is behold  
Also he prayeth her hastily that she would  
Ordain vytayles to make them well at ease  
For what he can/ he will do them to please  
And he with them percase hath for to do  
Now gooth this messenger his wife unto  
And salueth her and saith/ madame truly  
My master cometh/ and in his company  
Two of his friends/ men of good estate  
For to be lodged here this night algate  
Wherefore he prayeth you right specially  
To see the supper dight be/ and ready  
And she doth answer saying/ what have I  
And do with/ feestes'/ or of his company  
Why cometh he not himself to see it dight  
I wot not sayeth the servant by this light  
But thus to say/ he hath commanded me  
Thou art accursed knave by god/ saith she  
This fellow than holdeth his peace anon  
And she in to a chambre is a go  
Such one she is/ which doth none otherwise  
And worse is/ she hath a praty guise  
For all the servants here and there about  
Both one and other/ shortly she/ sendeth out  
And over this/ if chamberere there be  
Or of her daughters/ one/ or two/ or three  
The which at home abide/ be taught how they  
Unto the good man of the house shall say  
When he cometh home/ and now he comen is  
And calleth upon a daughter first of his  
Or else a chamberere/ and saith is all  
Things ready made/ the which we need shall  
In faith she saith/ my mistress is full seek  
Your servants and your meinie be to seek  
And certainly as yet/ nothing is done  
Wherewith the good man waxeth angry soon  
How be it/ both his friends forth withal  
He bringeth them courteously in to the hall  
Or in to other places else where  
As they be of estate/ and findeth there  
Nothynges ready for to make them glad  
It is no need to alke/ if he be sad  
For peradventure his friends which he brought  
perceive right we'll enprynting in their thought  
That where he sent his servant or his page  
Afore unto his wife on his massage  
They might weal think that his commandment  
Was not so sure as act of parlayment  
This good man than doth call his folks on high  
But none of them he find can nor espy  
Except a poor knave or else a maid  
That naught can do/ and than he in a brayed  
Gothe to his wives chambre suddenly  
And her to speaketh high and hastily  
Wherefore have you not done I you demand  
As by my messenger I died command  
A sir she saith so many things you  
Command/ that by the holy trinity  
One shall not understand ne know weal how  
What for to do/ o saint Mary now  
Then saith this man/ clawing fast his heed  
Now of this world/ the most ungodely deed  
And evil have you done and uncourteously  
Se. here the folks/ that I most specially  
Am bound unto/ how may I do thereto  
Saith she/ what would you sir that I should do  
Now with your cousins moche to do have we  
It showeth weal an unwise man be you  
Do as you will after your guise for I  
Care not thereof a rysshe/ nor yet a fly  
Fair dame saith he I you demand wherefore  
You have sent out/ your servants here tofore  
knew I quoth she/ that you such business  
Had daken on hand/ how be it nevertheless  
She sent them for thee/ in despite wyttyngly  
Of this good man/ afore all by and by  
Then he the which will suffer and obey  
Unto her fault/ doth no more words say  
But fro her goeth with care and heavy cheer  
For peraventure such his gests were  
That he had liefer/ an hundreth scutes and more  
Have spent but she/ nothing doth care therefore  
She hath him seen and knoweth he will not bite  
And that afore he was not wont to smite  
Shortly to speak he torneth him about  
And of his folks gadreth in a rout  
such as he findeth and doth the best he can  
To wells of work he demandeth than  
Fair/ fine/ white and other naperye ware  
Of dyapre and biddeth that they none spare  
And table clotheses or they to souper go  
But of the good wife/ he is answered so  
To waylles she saith right good & fine there be  
And for moche better men/ in their degree  
Then be these folks/ and of as good a place  
They get none other as ever have I grace  
These other clotheses in vessels been to step  
As washing tub/ laid in the water deep  
How be it for the to waylles I say not this  
For erly have I lost the keys iwis  
Of the doors/ se how the chamberere  
Doth seek them busily both here and there  
And of the bed she torneth to and fro  
The straw/ also the good wife thus saith though  
I wot not what I have done of late so bad  
My wit and eke my heed is made so mad  
With business/ and mased is my brain  
That where for to run/ I ne wot certain  
Truly saith he/ I am beguiled weal▪  
The coffres shall I break now every deal  
A fair thing do you than/ the good wife saith  
And I shall tarry with you by my faith  
I would you had them all in pyeces broken  
So that they never should be shit ne looken  
Such thing sometime a man may do in haste  
That after ward he shall repent the waste  
Than how to do/ he knoweth not what is best  
But for all this/ he is in peace and rest  
Supposing that she showeth him the truth  
And forth with all/ without any sloth  
Unto the table go they for to sup  
Of fresh pipes/ then to fill the cup  
great need it were for wine whereof they spend  
Gooth low/ and draweth fast unto an end  
And it as now/ is neither good ne able  
Well for to serve these gentlemen at table  
And though that he bid one for to go  
He getteth none/ because she will not so  
And as for these fruit or other thing  
At his commandment/ or else bidding  
None can be had/ for if he will them have  
Unto his neighbour he must send his knave  
Afore the table his page and theirs stand  
And them among they count and understand  
saying the wives cursed look and cheer  
They say because our masters comen been here  
The wife is wroth but after souper than  
Time doth approach that these good gentlemen  
Shall go to bed/ and this man doth entrete  
His wife for sheets white/ but he can get  
None good ne fine/ because erly that day  
Afore the good wife lost hath every key  
Hedshetes would he have/ and pylowes white  
And she them keepeth from his guests quite  
In comen sheets so all that night they lie  
But erly in the morning hastily  
These friends arise/ and home ward them advance  
Which have weal known the wives countenance  
Their pages by the way have commoning  
Whereof the man's page made reckoning  
To them afore and laughen by the way  
Nothing content the which together say  
They will not thither come again of long  
Such commoning these pages have among  
Better had been this good man to have lost  
Moche of his good then to have been their host  
And so to bring them thither to his shame  
Whereof the wife all holly was to blame  
The same moro we/ I marvel moche saith he  
Unto his wife/ oh benedycyte  
Of your manners/ for why I know not how  
I shall demean or govern me with you  
Ane maria/ with me is moche to do  
She saith. I nourish chekyns ducks pigs also  
And evermore I labour and I spin  
And do all that I may some thing to win  
yet can I not one hour have on the day  
Ofrest ne ease/ and you travail always  
About nothing/ but ever waste and spend  
And of our goods destroy and make an end  
Upon such men with which I nothing have  
To do/ thus you will neither get ne save  
With them saith he/ yes these good men be they  
That both us help/ annoy or hyndre may  
Then sadly he remembreth in his mind  
How that his wife so gentle is and kind  
That when a galaunt cometh he doth think  
Anon she will 'cause him to eat and drink  
And upon him no good thing shall be spared  
Wherefore to her hath said and declared  
That he will not this galant come more there  
And there upon he biddeth her forbear  
To draw him to her house/ for he nothing  
There hath to do/ and she saith I shall bring  
Him when me Just and cause him to comeynne  
Where with great noise between them doth begin  
The good man angry than these words saith  
Wherein he showeth weal the fool he playeth  
Now by the sacrament of god if I  
After this time can find or else espy  
He with you speak/ I shall make you more wroth  
Than ever you were/ all be you leave or loath  
Now by my faith she saith nothing I reck  
All though he were high hanged by the neck  
But now I see right we'll/ it is full sooth  
A good woman the which no sins doth  
Shall have asmuch reprove/ & more dyffaine  
Than she the which doth wickedness attain  
She saith if that I such a woman were  
Which died her govern evil in manner  
I had no need then for to be dismayed  
For much better she had done she said  
Then I now do/ and thus he and the wife  
together make a noise/ and so they strive  
This in adventure/ by the malice great  
Of him or her/ in such a fume and heat  
They fall/ that they will not together lie  
Of long times in this melancholy  
And that it is/ that she desireth sores  
For this squire/ of whom he spoke afore  
Shall peradventure come within the night  
In at the back door out of his sight  
Or else climb in at a window high  
And to the wives bed go secretly  
Not for to sin/ ne do her hurt ne harm  
But in her good man's stead to keep her warm  
For other body she was good and true  
As it is said afore/ or else of new  
Mine author baryeth somewhat in his tale  
And taketh a knkko for the nightinggale  
After all this the thing is well appeased  
And for because the good wife shall be pleased  
This good man doth begin her for to flatter  
And she can suffer him to speak and clatre  
For ever would a woman flattered be  
And lightly/ troweth it in certainty  
if it in praising be of her goodness  
Of beauty bounty/ or of/ gentleness  
Thus passeth he the time till at the last  
His wife he findeth sometime speaking fast  
Unto this foresaid squire in his place  
Or in the church/ or else where as she was  
At such a feast and in to jealousy  
He entereth in his mind/ more fervently  
Then ever a days afore he died  
By mean whereof so now it is betide  
Of worldly joy he doth himself defayte  
And entereth in to the thought and await  
He lieth and requereth subtilely  
Her to espy or take with some folly  
Wherein he playeth the very fool alway  
Because the noble heart of man ne may  
Ne aught of women's works to inquire  
For yfhe should/ the fault know and here  
One's of his wife/ he might fall in such plight  
That medicine never should him hele ne quite  
And then his shame/ he searcheth in his mind  
Enquering fast and he the same doth find  
Good reason is that he endure thereby  
The shame which he afore sought busily  
As in this case I count him cast away  
And lost/ for on his body and goods always  
great peril runneth & age cometh him upon  
So is he foolish like a beestly man  
In every thing by reason of the play  
And he within the leap I dare well say  
Yclosed is/ in sorrow and heaviness  
Which he doth take/ for joy and gladness  
saying that he/ ne would but it were so  
Thus shall he devil in pains evermore  
And so shall end his days wretchedly  
sith he will find/ none other remedy   
¶ Here endeth the vi joy of marriage.   

¶ Here beginneth the vii joy of marriage  

THe vii joy of marriage to know  
Is as I find it written on the row  
When that sometime/ the man which married is  
Hath found a wife/ as I have said or this  
Which is a fellow good/ at every season  
And never will refuse nor forsake reason  
When it is proffered her/ but know you may  
Though she be good/ as you have heard me say  
And of her body chaste or other wise  
Yet ever hath she such manner guise  
The which a rule is named general  
In marriage and used over all  
For every wife believeth verily  
And holdeth this opinion stead fastly  
That her husband the weykest creature  
And most wretch is & least work may endure.  
As in regard/ unto the secret craft  
Of all other which in the world be lafte  
And so it happeth oft/ and hath bensene  
That when a young lusty man and green  
Doth mary him unto a good true maid  
And they their pleasures take and be apaid  
In such a wise that marvel is to here  
And take all that he may within a year  
Of their disport/ or else in two or three  
Or more in divers wise so may it be  
Whereby their youth is greatly waxen cold  
But yet the good wife by an hundredth fold  
Her wastes not so much/ as doth the man  
In no manner for she so wisely can  
Her body keep/ fro business and pain  
With labour will she not herself constrain  
Nor yet with pensyfnesse to say the sooth  
With care ne sorrow/ so as the good man doth  
And though they died but play/ and make solace  
Yet would she not waste in so short a space  
As her good man doth in this secret plays  
Where with then he/ she better may away  
But truth it is/ when women chyldrebere  
Andrea they be great/ living in dread and fere  
When they draw near their time of chyldes' birth  
They suffrs pains great withouten mirth  
Mine author saith that it is to account  
To man's pain/ the which all doth surmount  
He saith the husband pains be weal more  
The which must think/ and care all things fore  
About his household/ as he hath to do  
He suffereth anger trouble pain and woe  
But of the sorrow/ and the anguish great  
Of chyldes' birth/ all doth he clean forget  
How be it many words doth he speak  
Which in his breast he might well shut and steke  
For I will not those words put in rhyme  
But hold my tongue/ and speak when it is time  
He saith these husbands belly be to get  
But wives do no good/ but drink and eat  
And after this it falls sans fail  
That for such thoughts/ labours and travail  
The husband greatly wasted is and spent  
Wherefore his mind he setteth and intent  
Some else where/ applying not the game  
Moore than of custom/ for to please our dame  
And also yfhe would the fayte assay  
For lack of power/ perchance he ne may  
Perform his appetite/ desire and will  
Wherefore as in that case/ he holdeth him still  
But this good wife/ yet leaveth not the craft  
Her lust/ ne courage be not her bereft  
As hot she is as ever she was before  
And so it is that he may do no more  
then for be cause/ her lyveree/ and her fee  
Of her delights daily mynysshed be  
Which she was wont to have of her good money  
In noise riot both they fall anon  
Like as her levere/ mynyssheth light and light  
They so begin to gren as they would bite  
And though this liver/ will her not suffice  
Yet evil doth she not/ for she is wise  
But she ne leaveth of dame/ that he  
In power is/ moche worse then other be  
And she the more belueth it by reason  
Because afore she never in her season  
Non other man/ but him only assayed  
Of whom she neither was content ne paid  
And he to her was in suffycyente  
Without her liver oft she came and went  
And yet by reason/ and the ordinance  
Of holy church/ it is a suffisance  
One man unto one woman to be knit  
But other while/ the wife will jeopardy it  
For to assay of other/ two or three  
If they so simple as her husband be  
And then she which/ the craft so dare assay  
peraventure believeth it alway  
Moore certainly then she hath done afore  
And such a fela we taketh she therefore  
That of the craft/ the which she doth begin  
But if it be for dread/ she may not blin  
Or else/ with plenty/ she be satisfied  
She will not be content/ ne pacyfyed  
For when this fellow cometh happily  
He is enfamyned wherefore marvelously  
Doth he/ and she her husband thinketh on  
Reputing him/ a very semple mon  
Andrea of right little power she believeth  
The better for so surely she it proveth  
For such things as sometime cometh by stealth  
Is better for a sykely wives health  
Then such as she at home hath but a light  
Having thereto no lust nor appetite  
And thus she is in fast believe and sure  
Experience alway doth her assure  
And sometime so fortuneth it that she  
Another gossip/ which hath married be  
And knoweth reason/ when it is to her showed  
Good in her manners being and weal thewed  
The which believeth eke that her husband  
As doth that other/ for she can understand  
And peraventure she hath taken assay  
Of other more as you have heard me say  
Whereof weal greater is the work and deed  
Then of the good man having little meed  
Which giveth not himself to so great pain  
For why he knoweth we'll/ that for certain  
nigh him alway good plenty shall he find  
But knoweye we'll/ that many meu by kind  
Use contrary to this that women do  
For surely they byleven evermore  
What manner women so they have and wed  
They be most wise/ and best for them in bed  
Of all other/ but this rule other while  
Do fail/ and that is by deceit and gyie  
Among rybauldes living in despair  
To whom no wit ne reason doth repair  
Oft it is seen/ that married men will praise  
The manners of their wives and upreyse  
And every virtue which they in them find  
They show supposing/ surely in their mind  
That better women/ be there none than they  
Ne like to them none can be found they say  
In goodness far all other they exceed  
Such appetite to them have they at need  
Thus doth mine author speak of wedded men  
And forth withal thus he declereth then  
saying/ that gladly oft it hath been seen  
That when a woman/ hath a widow been  
Then shortly to another will she mary  
And other whiles she nill abide ne tarry  
A month but she will her wed again  
For to assay and prove in certain  
if that another of his power be  
So simple in his works as was he  
The which out of this world of late is past  
And thus in wedlock she is bound fast  
Wherein she keepeth neither truth ne faith  
But wastes folyly mine author saith  
Loseth and giveth much goods a way  
For which her husband many a weary day  
Hath had in loboure/ or that they have been gotten  
After his degree/ but all hath she forgotten  
By many manner ways doth she spend  
As well upon her leman/ or her friend  
As old bawds/ and on her confessor  
A frere preacher/ or else a lymatour  
Which yearly hath of her alpensyon  
For she of him hath absolution  
Such folks have great power of the pope  
For to absolve/ ensearch/ and for to grope  
The conscience of widows and of wives  
And them to teach how they shall lead their lives  
This man her husband on that other side  
As warily/ as he can doth him guide  
Withouten great expense or else cost  
And casts account/ what he hath won or lost  
Of marchaundyses/ after such degree  
As he is of/ and shortly findeth he  
That in his gods he goeth fast abakke  
And knoweth well enough there is great lakke  
then he ta sigh/ and sorrow doth begin  
And when that he/ his compter is within  
Unto his wife/ the which he loveth more  
then that he doth himself he speaketh therefore  
And thus he saith mine own love verayment  
I know not how our goods be waste or spent  
Or where they be become I can not tell  
Gold or silver wherewith/ we buy and sell  
Wine corn/ and other merchandise  
And yet alway I take heed and advise  
The be'st wise that I can look or espy  
And have to every thing/ as good an eye  
As is possible unto me to have  
Our goods for to govern rule and save  
So that one gown/ that good is for my corce  
I dare not have/ A sir she saith no force  
And when that he is/ in a secret place  
Unto his wife he speaketh/ this percase  
Truly/ but late it hath be showed to me  
Some words which displeasant to me be  
By god my love right so it doth appear  
For of long time you have made evil cheer  
She saith/ I have been sore afraid and dread  
That you some hurt or heaviness have had  
Or that some of your friends had been passed  
To god/ or had been kept in prison fast  
With english men/ tale at some affray  
Nay nothing so/ but moche worse than you do say  
It is/ ave maria saith she than  
If it please you/ tell me good gentleman  
What thing it is/ fain would I that I knew  
Certes saith he/ my faithful friend and true  
Hath showed me/ that such one maynteneth you  
And other things he hath said enough  
Then she beginneth for to cross and bliss  
And many marvels maketh she of this  
Demurely she beginneth for to smile  
My love she saith/ meek no worse cheer a while  
Of all my sins/ as quite I would I were  
And eke toward almighty god as clear  
As I of him am/ and she there withal  
Her hands lifteth/ and letteth them fall  
Upon her heed/ and saith mine own heart dear  
By this all only will I not now swear  
But to the devil give I all at one's  
Under my hands/ all be it flesh and bones  
If ever man's mouth yet touched mine  
Except your mouth/ your kynnesmen and cousin  
And never but at your commandment  
The which you know was but in good intent  
Fie/ fie saith thee/ what manner is it  
I am right glad that you doom to wit  
I doubted it had been some other thing  
But now I know from whence cometh this losing  
And all these words unto you showed ofnewe  
But for what cause would god that you knew  
He hath it said to you for by my faith  
Right sore abassed would you be she saith  
For so moche as he maketh him your good friend  
But I right well am eased in my mind  
For he awaked hath/ the sleeping cat  
My love saith he now tell me what is that  
Sir care you not thereof she saith but light  
An other time I shall do you to wite  
Truly saith he I will know it anon  
By god my love you be an hastily money  
She saith I was right wroth be cause that you  
Made him to come so oft for to be  
Within your house/ but I forbear to say  
Be cause that you loved him so well alway  
Tell me saith he/ certes my love as now  
She saith no need it is to tell it you  
I pray you she it me so as it is  
He saith. And the then sweetly doth him kiss  
And clip saying my dear love and mine lord  
Ha' that fall traitor which make would discord  
Bit wexte ust weyne/ and do you evil or gryfe  
God give him very vengeance and mischief  
Tell me my love saith he/ what manner wight  
He is that thus would do/ and what he height  
Now in good faith my lord whom I love best  
Above all things that in this world do rest  
That false traitor and that sclaunderour  
Hath prayed me to be his paramour  
The which you trust and loven so entire  
This hath he been about more then two year  
But I always have him full well refused  
With great pain/ and manners that I used  
And when he came in to your house you thought  
It for your your love had been/ but it was naught  
For with his false flattering words gay  
He came for no cause/ but you to betray  
Ne never ceased he till time that I  
Say hd that I would tell you it certainly  
Nothing her of to me was charge ne cure  
For of myself always was I so sure  
And though I such unthrifty manners hate  
yet would I not make noise wrath ne debate  
Bet ween you thus and him/ me thought no need  
It was/ because I kept him from the deed  
Alas there was no fault in him truly  
For to have done you shame and velony  
A saint Mary saith the good man though  
He is a traitor that I trusted so  
For never had I of him any doubt  
By god she saith/ if he come in and out  
And that I know that he doth with you speak  
Or deal then up/ our household may we break  
For after that I shall none with you hold  
If you so do/ for silver ne for gold  
She saith/ in faith you need not me to guard  
I am sufficient myself to ward  
If it please god/ I will not now begin  
Against his laws to do/ or use a sin  
With hands joined/ to god almight I pray  
That fire from heaven above descend may  
And burn my body all to naught and spill  
Well rather than I should be in such will  
Then the clepeth him in her arms twaye  
And saith my lord/ hearken what I say  
Over false I were/ if I should evil do  
To you that be so fair and good thereto  
For what I will/ my love you will the same  
But if I loved you well I were to blame  
I will that you so god me save and mend  
Your house from him forbid would and defend  
With whom your friend/ me falsely hath accused  
And you deceived thus/ and sore abused  
Now be it freely do I give or cell  
My soul unto the foulest fiend of hell  
If ever he to me spoke less or more  
But not withstanding yet by christ therefore  
I will not that he come in place where I  
Shall happen for to be in company  
Than she to weep began right tenderly  
And this good man appeased her speedily  
promising her with oaths great that he  
Would keep and hold all things which that she  
Afore had said/ except he nolde defend  
This fellow from his house/ and there an end  
All be it in his heart with some remorse  
He shall be charged sore/ but yet no force  
For so it happeth in conclusion  
That such displeasure and division  
Bet ween him and his friend hereof doth fall  
That he the greatest enemy of all  
To him shall be/ the which for love him told  
Hath all the truth/ whom he belevene would  
So this good man a very be'st is made  
Such joys of the household he hath had  
And in the leap he is yclosed deep  
Out of the which he shall not lightly creep  
And this good wife much better in her guise  
Shall do/ then ever she died or could devise  
And never man of her shall tell him thing  
For he will not believe such reckoning  
And he the which this velony hath done  
The best beloved friend shall be then soon  
That he shall have/ and thus age him upon  
Shortly doth fall/ and poverty anon  
Where with perchance so sore he may be grieved  
That never after shall he be relieved  
Such is the pleasure/ which this man hath found  
Within the leap/ and yet folks on the ground  
Will speak to him after their fantasy  
One saith of him/ thus as he passeth by  
He is good johan/ an other maketh a she we  
With his finger/ an other unthrifty shrew  
Saith that it is great damage for to see  
This silly man in such perplexity  
Another saith/ no force of him in faith  
It is nothing but good right of the play  
So liveth he/ with pain in patience  
And all these sore was doth him none offence  
The which for joys alway taketh he  
Because he will that it none other be  
So shall he evermore devil in distress  
And end his days in pain and wretchedness   
¶ Here endeth the seventh joy of marriage.   

¶ Here beginneth the eight joy of marriage.  
 

UNto the viii joy sith I must go  
Of marriage/ know you that it is so  
As when a man such mean hath found & skyft  
Thus he unware in to the leap is left  
Wherein he hath had great felicity  
Taking his pleasures/ years two or three  
And hath so busy been to reap and sow  
That well the hot harvest is over blow  
Then other men's work will he assay  
No man at base ne bars may sport always  
And peradventure he hath had grievance  
enough of trouble/ and of displeasance  
Whereof enfeebled greatly than is he  
So that regard taketh he none to i'll  
Perchance his wife/ hath children three or more  
And great with child again she gooth also  
But she more seek is or this child be born  
Than she of all these other was before  
Wherefore the good man is in thought and dread  
To get her such thing as she must have need  
But this good man/ doth his avows make  
To divers holy saints for her sake  
And also she avoweth in that hour  
Unto our blessed lady of Rochemadoure  
So happeth it/ as god will after this  
And saint Mary that she delivered is  
Of such a fair child and goodly thing  
As might be well the son unto a king  
She lieth long in bed/ now in this wise  
The gossyppes to her come/ as is the guise  
And maketh arete/ andtt merry sying up  
Where busily goeth round about the cup  
And so it falls she hath two or three  
Gossyppes/ the which abide with her/ and be  
Within the house to rule merely  
With her/ and gossip in her company  
And so shall peradventure be that they  
May talk of tryftles/ which I will not say  
And more goods spend they in such wise  
Then for to find the household would suffice  
The new time approacheth her/ and she  
Is puryfyed with solemnity  
Unto the fields then/ to rove and play  
She and her gossyppes take the ride way  
Where as they speak to go on pilgrimage  
And fast they enterprise for their viage  
For what thing so the husband hath to do  
They care nothing/ ne have regard thereto  
Then this good wife of whom we speak of now  
Saith to her gossyppes I wot never how  
I may have licence to perform this deed  
And they her answer saying have no dread  
Good gentle gossip/ for we have no doubt  
But you shall bring your purpose well about  
And we shall go and us disport together  
When god well send time and merry weather  
Now have they entreprysed as I say  
This forlaid viage and depart away  
One from an other a mile two or more  
And thenne this wife of whom we spoke afore  
Cometh to her house. And when she draweth near  
Unto her husband she maketh evil cheer  
And he is lately comen from the town  
Or else from other works and setteth down  
And her demandeth how it with her is  
Haraldus sir saith she I am right wroth y wys  
Our little child is evil at ease and seek  
Whereof the good man is as angry eke  
And sorrowful and cometh it to see  
When he it seethe/ the tears fall in his eye  
For pure pity/ and then cometh night upon  
And when they be in secret place alone  
The wife beginneth for to sigh and say  
Truly my love you me forget alway  
And how saith he think you not on saith she  
When that I was in great infirmity  
Of our young child/ and that I made avow  
Unto our lady of rochemadoure/ and now  
Thereof it seemeth you take little heed  
O god he saith/ my love you know what need  
There is/ and how moche that I have to do  
Good sir she saith. I put case it be so  
yet never shall I be at ease ne glad  
By god till I this pilgrimage have made  
And by my faith because we do not seek  
These saints therefore is our child so seek  
My love saith he god knoweth well your good will  
And mine also. Ha' sir she saith be still  
For certainly if it please god and you  
I will according unto mine avow  
Go with my cousins and my gossyppes als  
Unto our lady I will not be falls  
Then this good man the matter mindeth sore  
And peradventure hath not all in store  
That to this viage should be requisite  
According to his wife's appetite  
Now is he brought to such encumbrance  
That nedely must he must he make a chevisance  
Of horses/ and perchance for them shall pay  
A certain hire to travail by the way  
After such port/ estate or else degree  
As he is/ and it behoveth that she  
A new gown have to ride in honestly  
And peradventure in that company  
A gentle galaunt is/ the which shall do  
With right good will some service her unto  
Also this good man percase with her goeth  
On pilgrimage all be he never so wroth  
if he so do/ moche better were that tide  
For him at home to tarry or abide  
Always so sore she will him chide or chekke  
That he shall bear the stones upon his neck  
And never can she be content ne fain  
But when that he hath hurt mischief or pain  
Now in that journey/ as she sitteth soft  
Upon the horse/ she her complaineth oft  
Anon she saith/ one styrope is to long  
Another is to short and lacketh a thong  
Also she saith/ her horse doth trot to sore  
And eke to hard/ and she is seek therefore  
Then from her horse she must alight anon  
And she again shall set be him upon  
This good man then/ for he shall not be idle  
Over such a bridge/ must lead her by the bridle  
Or else a perilous path/ or a narrow way  
And when they come be from this journey  
If he thereby have had weal or disport  
That it of her long/ she will report  
And if that any loss/ or evil fall  
She chideth and saith/ on him it is long all  
So thus and other wise his goods wafte  
His household eke/ and his expense in haste  
Then mynysshed be/ and she saith him before  
How by his children which that she hath born  
She greatly wasted is/ and this man so  
yclosed is within the leap also  
In sorrows great/ and pains sharp and sore  
And taketh them for joys evermore  
In which always he shall be and remain  
And wretchedly his days end in pain   
¶ Here endeth the eight joy of marriage.   

¶ Here beginneth the ninth joy of marriage.  
 

THe ninth joy of marriage is when  
One of these young lusty and fresh men  
Is put in to the prison or the leap  
Of husbandry and can not go ne leap  
Out of the same/ and great pleasure hath had  
which newly hath be found in days glad  
And peradventure evil is his wife  
As many be/ whereby ariseth strife  
And he a man is of good governance  
The which none evil iuffre will perchance  
How be it divers arguments have been  
And other whiles strokes them between  
So in such war/ well thirty or more  
They have continued/ and you may know therefore  
He hath had moche to suffer and sustain  
For so may be that he hath had certain  
great part of sorrows/ and adversities  
The which afore be said/ in their degrees  
And many other such as been contained  
Here after in this little book unfeigned  
But nevertheless/ he doth remain always  
Uyctoryous/ what ever she do or say  
And hath not been in shame and velony  
Though moche to suffer he hath had thereby  
And for to think upon because that he  
perchauce hath daughters fair/ well two or three  
which wisely he hath married here and there  
To put them out of jeopardy and fere  
So happeth it that in a little space  
Such fortune hath this silly man and grace  
That for the evil nights and the days  
And cold which he hath taken many ways  
A chevisance to make/ this man doth fall  
In sickness of the gout/ then forth withal  
Or else for age/ he is unwieldy so  
That he can neither up arise ne go  
And when that he is set in such a place  
As he shall in remain his lives space  
In evil manner turned is the chance  
For than the war is ended and distance  
And worse it is for divers times a day  
Of very hate she will unto him say  
She is right well assured in certain  
How for his sins/ he hath all that pain  
And one may think/ when she afore him is  
Thus will he to her say/ my love y wys  
you be the thing that I owebest to love  
Of all the world/ except our lord above  
And you also of duty been ybound  
To love me most of all that live on ground  
But wite you well/ my love that it is so  
Some things be/ that folks unto me does  
wherewith I am not well content saith he  
you know of right I am and so shall be  
The lord and master of this house whiles I  
May live/ but yet folks do not like truly  
To me/ for if that I a poor man were  
which should go fetch his breed both far & near  
Men would not do to me as is done now  
And you my love may understanden how  
That I have done great pain and diligence  
To make a chevisance for our expense  
your doings to sustain/ and your estate  
And all our children which to me of late  
Behave themself full simply as you see  
Ha' what would you that one should do saith she  
To you is done the best we can or may  
And you wot not what we demand or say  
Now saith this man/ hold your peas good dame  
And keep your tongue in rest for worldly shame  
The sone also to him doth speak and rail  
So what this good man saith may not avail  
And thus she and the son depart him fro  
His heritage empering evernio  
And for the good man/ no provision  
Is made/ and thus they in conclusion  
Agree and make accord between them both  
That never creature/ which cometh or goeth  
Shall with him speak/ and then the sone anon  
The governance presume will him upon  
And take the rule more than he died afore  
And well content his mother is therefore  
For she so doth support him and maytene  
Also they make well every man to ween  
That he is fall in to a frenzy  
Or is returned to his Infancy  
Thus unto every wight saith she and he  
And this good man must take it all in gre  
For other remedy none may be had  
Among them so hard he is bestead  
And as to me I well believe certain  
This is one of the greatest earthly pain  
And sorrow/ that on the ground a man may feel  
Thus this good man his penance doth right weal  
And so shall be in morning evermore  
Endrnge his days wretchedly and sore  
Cursing the time that in the leap he came  
To be enclosed/ and in this wise made tame▪   
¶ Here endeth the ninth joy of marriage.   

¶ Here begnneth the tenth joy of marriage.  
 

THe tenth joy of marriage to wite  
Is as I find it in a book write  
When that he which in to the leap is brought  
Because that he hath seen so as he thought  
Other fishes them bayning in the same  
Which to his deeming/ had a merry game  
And so he travailed hath till time he  
In to the leap hath found the right entre  
And one may say that he by subtlety  
Made was to come/ in to that give and be  
Of marriage/ like as a fouler old  
These birds taketh in the winter cold  
With other birds which he afore hath had  
And for that feat hath them well taught and made▪  
And beareth them about upon his back  
Within his pannier or else a sack  
Which with a thread be teyed by the foot  
For to remain there is none other boat  
Moche eased were these poor birds if they  
Might be at liberty and i'll away  
As other do from a river or a dyke  
Unto an other where they might feed/ and pike  
Of every manner victual/ for them meet  
When other see these birds by the feet  
Yteyed fast/ they haste unto the give  
And suddenly they be taken therein  
But if it be some wile birds that have  
Experience them to preserve and save  
from such daungere/ and wisely can be ware  
Surely to keep them from the net or snare  
For they in time afore have herd and seen  
Of other birds which in that case have been  
This not withstanding they that wydded are  
Of which we show the pass time and declare  
Have them advised of this craft/ and they  
But little evil thought in it always  
Or else percase without advise in haste  
In to the gynne one hath his body cast  
Where as in joys deemed he to tarry  
Nevertheless/ he findeth the contrary  
And other whiles it may fortune so  
That for such things as showed are them to  
By totelers or flatterers that use  
To 'cause descorde/ and falsely folk accnse  
The wife shall never more for earthly thing  
Her husband love/ unto her last ending  
Then will she say unto her mother thus  
Or to our cousin/ by our lord Jesus'  
When I with him in bed am laid adoune  
His flesh it stynketh like a caryoune  
And he to her shall never plaesure do  
Ne love/ but ever live in malice so  
And oft it happeth/ many men that he  
In such estate/ of high and low degree  
And women both yet will they not live chaste  
But ease themself by other means in haste  
And when that she a while hath been away  
With her good love/ for to disport and play  
And largely hath her part had of the game  
Then her to keep from velony and shame  
Some of her friends good/ will she entrete  
Peace with her mother shortly sore to get  
The which by colour/ and craftily can say  
That she within her house hath been alway  
The poor daughter privily is go  
For she so sore her dread/ that her good mon  
Would her have bet/ as he hath done or than  
Wherefore unto her mothers house she ran  
And he hath wonder where that she may be  
But so it was that afterwards he  
Within her mothers house/ soon doth her find  
To whom he speaketh with an hasty mind  
What devil brought the hither/ and for why  
Departed thou from home so suddenly  
Sir by our lord she saith/ for dread that you  
Withouten cause/ sore would have stricken me  
Then saith the mother/ certes me were liefer  
That you soon/ and my daughter should dysse●…  
And that you leave her here with me to keep  
Then for to beat her always till she weep  
For I know well/ my daughter hath not done  
default to you/ but you be angry soon  
Behold this matter/ look thereon and see  
If she of evil governance had be  
She had be lost/ but you may see here  
from shame and misrule for to keep her clear  
Straight unto me she came/ for she ne had  
None other help/ whereof you may be glad  
And she by right/ her may repent and rue  
That she to you/ hath been so kind and true  
And it may fortune other whiles that they  
Demand to be departed bysome weigh  
Wherefore the husband doth accuse the wife  
And she again/ as sharp as sword or knife  
Unto the husband quickly doth the same  
you may be sure/ her tongue shall not be lame  
So are they in the leap/ and would be out  
But so it may not be withouten doubt  
It is no time them to repent/ for why  
Then is none other way ne remedy  
Afore the law/ fast do they plead their cause  
And by their advocates she we many a clause  
But other while allegge they no cause why  
They should have their intent so hastily  
Than saith the judge right plainly in judgement  
Unto them thus by good advisement  
The law it will that you together hold  
In company your lives and household  
And here unto the judge them doth advise  
But so to do/ yet be they not so wise  
For why/ such goods as they had afore  
They have miss used evil spent and lore  
And yet they be not weary but endure  
In their opinions stydfaste and sure  
So mock and scorn them folks far and near  
Which of the matter/ understand or here  
And other whiles/ causes reasonnable  
One doth allege/ and things acceptable  
For which the judge departeth them a sondre  
All be it so that folks upon it wondre  
then one of them or other foolishly  
Will use themself in living vycyousely  
Some time the woman goeth fro twone to town  
And in to the men's chambers up and down  
Where she her pleasures taketh of the game  
And peraventure he will do the same  
Supposing they been at their liberty  
Out of the leap of marriage and free  
But yet be they in worse cas thenne before  
And thus this man him wastes more and more  
Of what estate so ever that he be  
And in the same manner/ wastes she  
For never after may they wed again  
During their lives by the laws plain  
Of france but yet in England other wise  
They use and have a custom and a guise  
Which is an other for to take and wed  
Man or woman/ where best they can be sped  
Men think in france/ such shamed be for ever  
As in that wise continue and preserve  
And namely if they be of high parentage  
Born or descended/ for a good lineage  
For peraventure a galant openly  
Within his house shall keep her shame fully  
So shall he be within the leap adown  
In sorrow care and lamentation  
Where he alway in pains and distress  
Shall live and end his days in wretchedness   
¶ Here endeth the ten joy of marriage   

¶ Here beginneth the xi joy of marriage  
 

THe xi joy of marriage to say  
Is when a young lusty man and gay  
A gentle jolly galaunt wyllgo out  
For his disport/ the countries him about  
Into right many places all the year  
And in especial he will go where  
These ladies and the gentylwomen be  
After thestate condition or degree  
That he is of/ and for that he is young  
And amorous/ he preceth them among  
No charge hath he of any other thing  
So that he may continue his living  
In pleasures which by nights and by days  
Right many profres maketh and assays  
And if it fortune so that he may find  
A lady or a gentlewoman kind  
With whom he hath some thing to do or say  
His mind and will applieth he always  
And doth his best/ her for to please and serve  
To that intent he may her grace deserve  
And sometime cometh he in such place  
Where as a maid he findeth fair of face  
And peraventure not so great is he  
Of lineage/ ne of noble as is she  
And for that she so goodly is and fair  
These supplyauntes sometime to her repair  
And them among one is that doth entrete  
Her for to have/ and proffereth gifts great  
Whom she but light refuseth or denieth  
For every gentlewoman her applieth  
The which debonair is and hath pity  
compassion to have in that degree  
On such as them/ humbly beseech and pray  
In goodly wise/ they aught not to denay  
if their petition be resonnable  
Withouten villainy/ an 〈…〉 ourable  
Torn we again to this fair damosel  
That of her manners somewhat I may tell  
Of her conceits and disposition  
which by constraint or else oppressyone  
Of such a poor fellow is forlayne  
And never shall she▪ find ne get again  
That she hath lost/ for where she was a maid  
So hath this homely fellow her betrayed  
That she is great with child/ the which her dame  
perceiveth we'll/ for she knoweth of the game  
And in that craft she wily is and self  
For so it fortune may/ that she hath also  
Sometime been/ in like condition  
The better can she find provision  
And never shall this fellow touch her more  
Nor come to her as he was wont before  
The wife this matter will/ so rule and guide  
This counsel keeping close on every side  
All things must be taken as they be  
Of reason/ wisdom/ and necessity  
This poor damoseyll with child/ is great  
which of conceiving/ hath the time foryete  
For of herself knoweth she but light  
How she was brought in to such ease & plight  
And she nothynges knoweth of that art  
Ne what it is she took so little part  
But if it please our lord god she shall know  
How seeds groweth after they be sow  
The mother adviseth weal and seethe her hew  
which knoweth the old testament and new  
And calleth her into a secret place  
She saith come hither with an evil grace  
Have I not said to the afore this hour  
That thou hast lost thy worship and honour  
To do as thou hast done thus folyly  
But when a thing is done what remedy  
That thou art great with child I know it well/  
Tell me the truth and dread the never a deal  
Now fair mother I wot not as you say  
To tell you truth wheder it be so or nay  
Then saith the mother/ it seemeth me alway  
when that the morrow cometh every day  
I here the cough/ and pytously forbrake  
And divers other countenances make  
Now truly so it is she saith madame  
Ha' saith her mother hold thy pease for shame  
Thou art with child/ tell it not all about  
Ne to none earthly person break it out  
And alway take a good respect and heed  
To do as I the shall command and bid  
Madame so shall I do in every thing  
And lowly you obey/ and your bidding  
The mother than saith to her daughter though  
Hast thou not seen so often come and go  
Into our house such a young squire oft  
And she saith yes madame with words soft  
Now then advise the weal for incertain  
tomorrow heder will he come again  
Then take good heed that thou make him good cheer  
In godly wise and in thy best manner  
And when that other gentlemen and me  
Thou seest together talk/ then cast an eye  
On him alway/ and this good mother so  
Her daughter teacheth weal how she shall do  
Also I the command and charge if he  
Of any manner things speak to the  
hearken him we'll/ and answer curteylly  
And sweetly rule thy speech and mannerly  
And if he speak of love/ or things like  
then other whiles softly give a sick  
And thank him hertyly/ but say y wys  
Thou knowest not yet/ what manner thing love is  
Ne it to learn/ thou wilt not the apply  
Rule and demean the well and womanly  
And gold or silver if he proffre the  
then take it not in haste/ but hearken me  
if he the proffre jewel cross or ring  
girdle bracelet owcheor other thing  
Refuse it gracyovesely/ but at the last  
if he it often offer the and fast  
receive it thenne/ in goodly wise and take  
For love of him/ saying that for his sake  
Thou will it keep/ thinking no vyllonye  
Shame ne deceit/ that shall ensuye thereby  
And when he taketh leave of the to go  
then him demand or he depart the fro  
if one shall see him hastily again  
whereof say that/ thou would be glad and fain  
Here is this galant come which shall be cast  
into the leap/ and therein held fast  
For why the dame will 'cause him for to wed  
Her daughter son/ and with her do to bed  
if that she can by any carfte or wile  
This galaunt she porposeth to be guile  
For he moche hath/ of heritage and rent  
And is/ but simple and an Innocent  
Now cometh he this damosel to see  
In haste for over we'll at ease is he  
Right many galauntes bend have their engine  
To take this damosel/ and undermine  
The lady taketh a squire by the hand  
Or else a knight and other sit or stand  
which joyeously together talk and rail  
This galaunt eke draweth to the damoysayle  
And by the hand he doth her take and hold  
saying fair damosel good god it would  
That you my thought weal knew and understood  
And how may I she saith for any good  
Know it/ but if you will it to me say  
what do you think such things as you ne may  
Tell me/ nay by my faith I would that you  
knew it so that It were not said by me  
Truly she saith and laugheth pratyly  
you tell a thing to me/ so meruaylousely  
which to be done it is as/ in possible  
As for to 'cause an horse walk in visible  
if it had liked you this glaunt saith  
And no dyspleasyr taken in good faith  
I would have plainly showed you my thought  
Now sir saith she tell on and spare it naught  
So moche of you know I that by the road  
you will not say/ ne show thing/ but all good  
Mistress he saith/ you know right well that I  
Am but a poor gentleman for why  
I wot I am unworthy/ and unable  
To be your love/ or with you compaygnable  
For you be gentle fair and gracious  
And of all virtues full and beautevouse  
And if it pleased you to do to me  
Such honour that your lover I might be  
I dared mast mine avaunt that with good will  
I should do all the pleasyrs you until  
That any man/ by possibility  
May to his lady do in sovereignty  
I shall you serve/ and eke your honour keep  
Moore then mine own whether you wake or sleep  
Grant mercy sir then saith this damosel  
But for the love of god speak never addle  
Of such things unto me after this  
For I know not what manner thing love is  
Ne yet I will not learn it furthermore  
For it is not doctrine ne the lore  
The which my mother hath me taught alway  
then saith this squire damosel in faith  
My fair lady of whom you speak is good  
But I would not yet that she understood  
Such things as be said be twexte us twaye  
A sir she saith if you I have herd say  
This other day/ that you should married be  
Whereof I marvel and you come to me  
And speak such idle words/ and then he  
Saith damosel Obenedycyte  
Now by my faith if that it please you  
I shall never other wed I make avow  
While that I live/ so that you will me take  
As for your servant and I undertake  
That with my service you shall be content  
What would you have me deshonoured and shent  
She saith/ nay yet me liefer were to die  
Saith he/ then for to do you vyllonye  
For goods love be still and speak no more  
Hereof and I shall tell you sir wherefore  
if that/ my/ mother it perceive or wit  
I shall destroyed be I know weal it  
And peraventure the mother maketh a sign  
That of her speaking she shall cease and fine  
And then this galaunt giveth her a ring  
Under her hand or else some other thing  
saying to her/ fair lady I you pray  
Take this and keep it/ for my love always  
Certes saith she I will not take no  
Alas my love he saith/ why say you so  
I pray you heartily/ and in her hand  
He putteth it again so as they stand  
And she it taketh and saith/ this I receive  
To have your love as you may well perceive  
Without thought of thing/ but all honour  
I take wytenesse unto my saviour  
The lady of that house thus speaketh then  
In courtesy wise unto the gentle men  
To moro we must I go with god's grace  
Unto a blessed lady of such a place  
On pilgrimage to such a town here by  
Truly madame they say/ right virtuously  
And well you speak/ and forth withal they go  
To supper/ and this galant evermore  
Anent this damosel is put or set  
That he to her may talk withouten let  
And she so well can make her parsonage  
In such a wise/ that he half in a rage  
With love is take of her that was so bright  
And beautevous as seemed to his sight  
The moro we cometh this company must ride  
On pilgrimage/ and longer not abide  
And all men say they can not see ne find  
An horse among them all that beareth behind  
Except this galauntes' horse there by saint loy  
Whereof great pleasure taketh he and joy  
For one the damosel behind his back  
Doth set upon his horse/ and he no lack  
Findeth therein/ and she clyppeth him fast  
To hold her on the horse/ that he ne cast  
Her down/ and god wot there with he is eased  
As an hawk which hath an heron seized  
Now draweth he nigh the leap withouten boat  
They do this foresaid viage god it wot  
With perfit mind/ and good intention  
And home return/ as made is mention  
Where merely/ they set them down to meet  
With such vytayles as they can find and get  
And after meet the lady fair and well  
Gooth to her chambre/ and this damosel  
To whom she saith/ when thou speakest with this man  
Say unto him as sadly as thou can  
That there is one/ which spoken hath to the  
Of marriage but thou ne wilt accorded be  
As yet/ and if he offer the to take  
Thank him/ and say that he must means make  
To me/ and put the matter to my will  
And that I do therein thou shalt fulfil  
On my behalf/ and say that there is none  
living in this world I except not one  
That thou lovest half so we'll in certainty  
As him/ so as may stand with honest  
And all they after walketh twain and twain  
together arm in arm to the garden  
Where as among the herbs/ and the flowers  
They smell and taste the wholesome sweet odours  
And playing take the flowers by the stalk  
Which to their nose they put so as they walk  
One taketh a gelofer or vyolere  
An other plucketh of the englentere  
And every one of them as they espy  
Take herb or flower after their fantasy  
This galant squire with the daughter goeth  
And telleth her every thing/ but she is wroth  
Alas she saith/ speak no more so for I  
Shall if you do/ forsake your company  
What would you do me seemeth you suppose  
To 'cause me/ mine honour for to loose  
Have you not herd of late days ysayde  
That one to marry me hath spoken and prayed  
Now by my soul he saith I can not blame  
Him/ though to marry you/ he would attame  
But I think that of mine ability  
I am as good in value as is he  
And eke as able/ service you to do  
As is the man of whom that you speak so  
Now by my faith she saith than with a sick  
I would that he were to your person like  
Grant mercy fair damosel he saith  
For of your great courtesy in faith  
Well more than I am worthy/ you me praise  
But you mine honour greatly may up raise  
if you would take me as your man to grace  
To do you service all my lives space  
And she saith sir grant mercy there withal  
This must be spoken in especial  
Unto my father sadly and my mother  
And to my kin/ and friends divers oder  
Than saith he thus/ if I might know that they  
Should be content/ I would both speak & pray  
A sir she saith/ be ware that you ne say  
That you to me have spoken by any way  
For rather would I suffer death/ than you  
Should any words she we of privity  
That hath be said in any manner wise  
Bit ween ust wain/ nay that is not my guise  
Saith he/ which to the mother speaketh soon  
And as god would in such point was the moon  
when he unto the mother made request  
That he all his desire had at the least  
For she and other have them trouthes plight  
And peradventure caused them at night  
To guider/ for to lie in bed and sleep  
Now is this poor squire plonged deep  
within the leap/ and speedily they make  
The wedding/ for this gentle woman's sake  
And hastily they do this matter speed  
Because her friends have great doubt and dread  
lest any let may come in this matter  
For in the wind the weather was clear  
The night is come after they be wed  
This damosel with man must go to bed  
And knoweye we'll/ the old wile dame  
will teach her daughter/ some what of the game  
How she right may denly shall her demean  
As though she were an holy virgin clean  
Mine author saith her mother doth her teach  
That when her husband will unto her reach  
She shall for dread tremble/ quake and cry  
And him withstand/ and how that she shall lie  
In many manner wise as should a maid  
Upon the night when she first is assayed  
Also the mother doth her well inform  
How she shall her demean/ and in what form  
when that this galant her would enforce or strike  
Also suddenly than shall she start and sick  
As though she wrre cast in cold water deep  
Up to the breasts/ also she shall weep  
But in conclusion as to the deed  
She plaineth meetly weal when she must need  
And yet the father and the mother both  
For love and pity angry be and wroth  
which that they have upon their daughter young  
Supposing that this man hath done her wrong  
And causes them in presence to be brought  
Now hath this squire found that he hath sought  
Here may you see one of the greatest pain  
For she which with aladde hath been forlayne  
Or months three may pass and come about  
Shall have a baby lapped in a clout  
oft-times a go then joys and pleasance  
To heaviness be turned and penance  
And peradventure he shall her after beat  
And menace curse and chide with words great  
And never after shall good household keep  
So in the leap he put is for to step  
And out thereof he never shall depart  
Of sorrow we and heaviness he shall have part  
And ever more abide shall in distress  
Ending his days in care and wretchedness   
¶ Here endeth the enleveth joy of marriage.   

¶ Here beginneth the twelfth joy of marriage.  
 

THe twelfth joy of marriage for to say  
Is when ayonge man by many a day  
In such a manner comen hath and go  
That he in to the leap hath found anon  
The straight enter/ and also furthermore  
He hath her found whom he demanded fore  
And he some other might percas have had  
But for no thing he would/ and he is glad  
Of this/ for as him seemeth he hath seat  
His love so we'll/ that no man could do beat  
And that he was so happy her to find  
which so good is/ and meet unto his mind  
And peradventure such a man is he  
As by her council will well ruled be  
So that when any wight hath for to do  
with him/ he saith I shall go speak unto  
The good wife of our house/ and if she will  
It shall be done/ and if so be she nill  
In no wise shall the matter take effect  
As pleaseth her she will grant or reject  
And here it cometh to the point anon  
I put the case he be a gentylmon  
And that his prince an army do prepare  
with which he is commanded for to far  
Then if the wife it will for the shall he go  
And if she do reply/ he shall not so  
Unto the wife/ thus may he say perchance  
My love I must me speedily advance  
Straight to the kings army well arrayed  
And she shall say sir/ be you not afraid  
what will you go and 'cause you to be slain  
How should we do yfye come not again  
you think but light what shall become of me  
And in good point/ than should your children be  
But shortly for to speak/ if it her please  
He shall go forth/ and sometime for her ease  
Ofhym the house she can deliver clean  
when that her liketh best/ hear what I mean  
For whyder it pleaseth her him out to send  
He shall go quickly forth/ and there an end  
Unto such saints as she avo we hath made  
which to perform for her he will be glade  
And whither that it be wind/ snow hail or rain  
Upon her bidding shall he go certain  
And so may be a galaunt hearing this  
The which her leman or her lover is  
And knoweth the entres of the house about  
Well understanding that this man is out  
desiring with her for to speak and talk  
Withouten tarrying will to her walk  
For longer in no wise may he abide  
But on the night/ when come is the tide  
In to her house he entereth secretly  
And where as the good man was wont to lie  
This homely galaunt boldly lieth him down  
Which hath god wot a great devotion  
For to accomplish his desires and will  
And this good wife her keepeth close and still  
The which dysdeyneth for to cry or call  
Right well in paeyence she taketh all  
For when some woman seethe a man doth take  
great pain and labour only for her sake  
Of pity never will she him refuse  
And though that she should die he shall her use  
She hath a bow that by her standeth bend  
And he artillery that must be spent  
It happeth oft he in the house abideth  
And in a corner privily him hideth  
When that a little dog doth at him bay  
And if the good man/ what is that will say  
The wife will answer/ sir it is a rat  
That he doth bark/ or else at the cat  
For oft times afore he hath done so  
Thus will she say with many words mother  
So shortly for to speak this man is trapped  
And in the leap he closed is and lapped  
She maketh him the children for to bear  
When they would play/ and dady here and there  
Also she causeth him to take and hold  
Her spyndell and the threads to unfold  
Upon the saturday/ when she doth rele  
And she will chide if he do not weal  
Now hath he found a thing which he hath sought  
And upon him newly doth fall a thought  
For war beginneth in that region  
And every man unto the strongest town  
Will draw that he can find to save his life  
But he at home abide must with his wife  
And may not leave her wherefore he perchance  
Is take prisoner/ and great finance  
Then must he pay/ or else in prison devil  
This can this man of care and sorrow tell  
Which in his household keeping he hath found  
For night and day he must trot on the ground  
Uytayles to get/ or for some other need  
And shortly for to say so doth he speed  
That his poor body never shall have rest  
Unto the time he put be in his chest  
Then falls he in sickness and in age  
Whereby with him is past lust and courage  
Well less than prayed shall he be always  
And like a foulecover be cast away  
Which is not wroth to occupy that craft  
So is all joy and pleasure him bereft  
The wife hath daughters two or three or mother  
Which would be married/ and they be not so  
Wherefore they praise this good man but a light  
But have him in disdain/ and great despite  
In to the gout he falls seek and sore  
And help himself so shall he never more  
For evil pains such as he hath had  
Which with his wife/ hath thus been overlad  
Than may this poor man his sins weep  
Within the leap/ where he is closed deep  
Out of the which he never shall depart  
But still remain/ and ever take his part  
Of joys such as be in marriage  
Which he from youth hath found unto his age  
And yet him fallen is more heaviness  
For he ne dare cause for to sing a mess  
Ne make his last will and testament  
But if his wife there unto will consent  
For he to her so buxom is and bond  
That body and soul he putteth in her hand  
Thus useth he his life in languishing  
Always/ and eke a sorrowful ending  
He shall sustain and wretchedly his days  
This man shall end withouten mirth or plays  
And all is the cause of his good wife  
That causeth him so to be caitiff   
¶ Here endeth the twelfth joy of marriage.   

¶ Here beginneth the xiii joy of marriage  
 

The xiii joy of marriage is so  
That when that he which wedded is also  
Within the leap hath been and dwelled there  
With his good wife well six or seven year  
Or else peradventure more or less  
The certainty whereof I do but guess  
And deemeth he is sure by his advise  
That he hath found a woman good and wise  
With whom he rested hath in great pleasance  
And he a gentleman may be perchance  
Which for to get him worship and honour  
Would put him forth/ to do his best devour  
Then to his wife he will declare and say  
My love I must ride out on my journey  
To such a land nigh to the realm of france  
Where I may win great fame and valiance  
And she there with oft would him clip and kiss  
Weeping and sighing/ and say O what is this  
Alas my love will you depart so soon  
leaving me here with all this charge to done  
And in no wise you understand certain  
If once or never you shall come home again  
Both night and day she doth upon her side  
All that she can to 'cause him to abide  
My love saith he. I must of very need  
This journey take on me how so I speed  
Or else shall I lose/ both the fees and wage  
All that I have and eke mine heritage  
The which I hold/ and with god's grace  
I shall come home again in little space  
And in adventure he gooth over the se  
With such a prince or in a great arm  
To get him honour/ or for chyvalry  
So of his wife than taketh he congye  
Which maketh all the dole that one can make  
At such departing for her husbands sake  
For if he be such one as loveth honour  
There is no wife love ne paramour  
That from the deed of arms may him hold  
If he an hardy person be and bold  
Turn we again to this noble man anon  
The which upon his viage forth is go  
And unto god he recommaundeth all  
His wife and his children in especial  
It happeth that he over the see gooth clear  
And where his enemies are he draweth near  
His fortune may so by adventure vary  
That years three or four he shall out tarry  
How he is deed the wife than hath herd say  
Whereof she maketh sorrows night and day  
So great that for to here it is marvel  
But always may she not so weep and wail  
For blessed be god/ she doth appece at last  
And so it happeth that she is married fast  
Unto an other man/ and doth forget  
Her old husband/ and all the joys great  
And love/ that she unto him bore in her mind  
Here may you see/ that she can torn and wind  
For now the solace and the pleasures old  
And fervent love with her be waxed cold  
Which to her husband she was wont to make  
And reason why/ for she a new hath take  
The folks then/ such as afore have seen  
The manner of the dealing them between  
Saith that this new man she loveth more  
Than that she died her husband here tofore  
But so it is as fortune doth constrain  
Her other husband cometh home again  
Which old and feeble grown is to see  
For always at his pleasure was not he  
And when he to his country draweth near  
Of news hastily he doth inquire  
Both of his wife/ and of his children all  
great doubt he hath/ how it is with them all  
Supposing they be deed or else grieved  
Some otherwise which he would were relieved  
And prayeth god them for to save and keep  
Full pytously well nigh in point to weep  
And it may happen well in the same hour  
That this man prayed devoutly foro socure  
He which the wife so wedded late again  
embraceth her fast in his arms twain  
Than heareth he how that they married were  
But how he pleased is such news to here  
I trow the sorrow of Abraham & the pain  
Was not so great/ which his son should have slain  
Ne yet the sorrow of jacob and his sone  
To his were like/ ne none under the son  
For Tantalus which cheyned lieth in hell  
Can not of greater pain and sorrow tell  
Than this poor man which doth himself so cast  
In such a sorrow as shall endure and last  
Perpetuelly/ which he shall not recure  
Ne yet forget/ but in the same endure  
And other while the children have great shame  
To see their mother/ brought in such defame  
And never shall they marry one ne other  
Of many a year/ for misrule of the mother  
It fortune may/ sometime that in battle  
As it doth often/ some man doth not prevail  
But at askarmysshe/ slain is cruelly  
Or in a field mine author saith/ for why  
Oft happeth it/ that he which hath the right  
Shall vaynquysshed be/ or else put unto flight  
I put case that this man gooth to his wife  
And in his ire will make debate and strife  
With her and with her husband wedded new  
Now what a vengeance hereof may ensue  
He cometh home with swords snarpe and bright  
And peradventure late within the night  
Which findeth them together both in bed  
Than sweareth he by the blood that Jesus' bled  
They shall be slain withouten any remedy  
And they arise both all hastily  
afore that he the doors can up break  
And right piteously to him doth speak  
Alas my love she saith/ what do you now  
I wend you had been deed I make avow  
By many a man it hath benshewed and said  
That you were slain and in your grave ylayde  
But for that I would know the certainty  
I was unmarried more than years three  
And such a sorrow made I night and day  
That all my wit and reason fill away  
Helpless I was/ long time in woe and care  
And god it wot full evil died I far  
That you were deed/ each man said out of doubt  
And I ne could well bring the world about  
Wherefore my friends advised me to marry  
And so I died/ for what cause should I tarry  
You never sent me word/ how that you died  
But you always your council fro me hide  
And as this wily woman stood and talked  
The newly wedded husband/ softly stalked  
And took a bow in hand/ and died it bend  
And boldly said/ he would his place defend  
Than said the wife unto her husbands both  
Good gentle sirs/ yfye would not be wroth  
But well agree/ I trust you both to please  
Myself/ and you at every time well ease  
The old husband thus knowing of their deed  
Departeth suddenly/ for he must need  
With shame enough/ and hasteth him away  
And they within the house fast laugh and play  
And after this so seek he is and sad  
That he within a while is waxed mad  
Wherefore I say/ he that may fortune so  
As died this man which would for honour go  
The way in to the leap of marriage  
Straight hath he found as bird in to the cage  
How be it he afore was not so wise  
Of so great jeoperdyes to take advise  
So shall he lead his life and him enable  
To be a sole/ and meet to bear the babble  
And at the last in pains grievously  
He shall his days end/ and wretchedly   
¶ Here endeth the xiii joy of marriage.