¶ The deceit of women. to the instruction and ensample of all men, young and old, newly corrected.  
 depiction of Woman with whip sitting astride man, as if he were a horse   

¶ Prologue.  
TAke on thy way thou little book  
And fear not for no manner blame  
For though these women look a crook  
Take thou thereof hardly no shame  
For they that be good, without deceit  
With this will not be grieved  
But they that for false lovers wait  
Besode their husbands, be soon moved  
They that be good and not infect  
For all that is said/ need not to care  
For in this book they be not elect  
Wherefore do thou not spare.  
To show of the lewd, and their demeanour,  
Throughout this book, where ever it be  
There came never good, of their behaviour  
Experience daily ye may see  
Of women married many one  
Which were right lewd, and will not be known  
This book right plainly maketh mention  
For divers of their husbands, were overthrown  
Through their false wiles, and art mischievous  
yet the good women herein be not named  
Wherefore to them it is nothing grievous  
That they be fauty, be somewhat blamed  
Vyrgyll complaineth here and Hercules also  
For all their will great power and strength  
Samson strong, with many worthies more  
Have been beguiled through women at length.  
Finis.   

When the creator of all things had create and made heaven and earth of nought and all that is they in save man. Than made he upon the sixth day of earth, our first father Adam in the camp of Damascus, & he gave unto him life, and made him lord and inherit our of all things that were create upon earth. And also the knowledge and understanding with the properties and virtues of all things and to each thing his proper name Than the lord took from him the place where he was made and set him in paradise terrestre, that he should in herit it. And the lord sent into Adam a sleep and than took a rib of him and made thereof a woman. And And when Adam awoke and found the woman by him he said. These bones been of my bones, and this flesh is of my flesh. And God gave commandment to them both and said eat of all the fruits of Paradise, but touch not: the tree the which standeth in the mids.  

¶ How the Serpent deceived Eve, and how she forthwith deceived Adam.  
When that the Lord had given the commandment/ than the old serpent the devil practised how that he might make him disobedient for he knew the strength of the man and so he thought for to deceive the woman for she is of much feebler nature to withstand temptation; & so he found the woman alone about the tree, than said the serpent to eve wherefore hath the Lord for biden you to eat of the fruit of knowledge of good & evil? Than said Eve, we should peradventure die. The serpent said no not so, but ye shall be like gods knowing good and evil, therefore take the fruit and eat thereof. and she saw that the apple was so fair to see, and so she took the apple and eat there of and gave it forth to her husband Adam that which also eat thereof. as one that would not displease his wife and yet nevertheless he was one of the wisest men that ever was upon earth saving only the son of god. And when that they had eaten of the Apple, than were both their eyes opened. and the saw that they were naked, and thus was the most wisest and fairest man of the world deceived of his wife.  
But whether the Eve were to blame or no that Adam was deceived that is in the great wysdum & predestination of almighty god, for the secret was closed in the consistory of the holy trinity that the son of god should once die for the love of man, and the death of the Son of god should have an occasion wherefore that he should die.  
¶ For because that the earthly paradise, is the place of all earthly pleasures and is received to be the worthiest and the most precious place of the world, and for as much as the woman is shaped and made in that place & the man in the camp of Damascus, therefore some women have an opinion and say that they be better than the men and will be men's masters as it fortuneth, yet now a days in the world. But they allegate not the words that god spoke to the woman after that the commandment was broken, and said, ye shall bear your children with pain and woe ye shall be under the power of your husband, and he shall be your master, and shall have Lordship over you. And than the man must see that the woman have that at shallbe needful and necessary for her, for god hath commanded men to work when that he said, in the sweat of thy labour thou shalt eat thy breed, but alas there is now adays much people, that which obeyeth not the commandment. Also the man shall know the ordinance of god, and how that he hath made the woman out of the mids of the man, and not of the head, betokening that she shall not be the master of the man, and also he hath not made her of a side & set little regard by her/ but he hath made her out of the mids to the helping of man and that man and wife shall live with one accord and one will in the state of wedlock, and shall be two souls and one body, the which god hath so ordained to the salvation of oursoules,   

 depiction of woman waving at two men  
¶ A new deceit of a woman in Henegow, of late days.  
IN the City of Valencien was a mighty rich man the which was receiver of the country of Henegowe, and dwelt in an end of the city beside in a fair house that which house had many places and ways to pass throughout to divers streets. And so there was one gate that was the way in to an out street, in the which street dwelled a good simple man the which had a very fair woman to his wife, & the receiver went often times out at the gate for the amorous sight of that lovely woman so that he was taken with her love/ and made such acquaintance with her love/ that at last she consented to him, in so much that he lacked nothing but time and place. And so past forth and the receiver desired often times this simple man and his wife to dinners and suppers, in so much that the receiver and he were great friends, and so he had this poor simple man always at his will and pleasure. And so it fortuned upon a time that this simple man should go to a castle, the which was iii mite from Valencyen and so he took his journey thitherwards and commanded to his wife the keeping of the house the which she was very glad, and showed the receiver thereof, & he also was very glad thereof, and toward night the back gate was unlocked, and there the prenely came through to the receiver, and he ioningly received her and she went with him into his house, for to make better acquaintance with him, where as all things stood ready of all sorts, and plenty of wine, and so they passed forth the evening making good there, and gave and received many a friendly kiss. And in making of this cheer came the good man from his journey, and came by the receivers daore, & saw that there was much light in the chamber, and because that the good man of the house and he were good friends, he knocked boldly at the door and so the receiver demanded who was there, and the good man answered, your friend, and his wife incontinent hard and knew the voice of her goodman, than was she so sore aghast and afraid that she could scant speak, and she wist not what she should do.   

¶ How that the receiver did comfort his lover.  
¶ When the receiver saw that the woman was so afraid be said my love come by and by to bed for I shall cover you that no man shall see you. And thus they lay arm in arnie, with her back toward thee door and the good man was let in, and came in the chamber where he found the table well arrayed and well be set with good meat, & drink and saw the receiver lie with his lover in the bed the goodman seeing this, was in doubt and said to the receiver, what whore have ye there with you in the bad, and with that the good man was set at the table where he eat and drank, and made good cheer. But the good man having some suspection rose from the table and came afore the bed of the receiver, and said I must see this woman once ere that I depart and he lift up the clothes where his honest wife lay under, but the receiver did let him and the good poor man seeing this, he would fain have lift up the coverlet & the sheet with force, wherewith the receiver his friend, was half an gey, for they made a compact together, that he should show her hinder part and her back to him the which was so fair and so white. And when this was done that he had seen her so behind, he said that he never see a fairer woman as pertaining the hinder part and swore that he never saw hind castle so like his wife's arse. For if I knew not that my wife were honest and that she were now at home: I would say that it were she, and with that she was covered again, and the receiver rebuked him, & said, why do ye say such things by your wife, and such dyhosty by her, and so at last he is departed from thence, taking his leave of the receiver, and bade him good night, with his concubine, And he desired heartily that they would let him go home through the back gate, but they made an excuse & said that the key was lost, and so he must go a great way about, & the receivers servant went with him home ward, and kept him with talking so long as he could. And the good woman rose and plucked on her hoses and cast her gown upon her arm, and so she was let out at the back gate, and she came incontinent home to her house, and so abode the coming of her good man the which came from his journey. And when that he came afore his house he saw that there was yet light in it & knocked at the door, and his wife went with a broom and swept the house, and she asked who was there, and he said: I am he thy husban, and she said thou art not my husband for my husband is not in the town, nevertheless he knocked again, & said I am thy husband, his wife answered and said go from my door, for I know well the voice of my husband. And also it is not my husbands custom for to come and knock this late at the door. And so at the third time he said so much that she knew him, for he was sore amoved, and laid upon the door as though he would have broken it in pieces, ● so at last she let him in, & she set her hands on her side & said thou naughty knave this haste thou done for to prove me, and I tell thee that thou art not worthy for to have so honest a wife. The good man saw that he had wrong he spoke feendly to his wife and said I beseech the gentle wife be content, For of great necessity I must needs return again, for I have forgotten the principal letter that I went for, But his wife would not be content & said that he can from the tavern & from the shows & she cursed the hour that ever she was married to him, The poor simple man when he saw that his wife was to angry (thinking himself to be the occasion thereof) came to his wife bare head with his cap in his hand & said, my most truest wife I beseech thee if I have missaid or my soon any thing against thee: I beseech the for the love of god forgive it me, For I come from a place where that I had good cheer, & there as I thought that I had seen thee and through thee I was sore moue● & without cause, & I am very sorry for it, therefore I beseech thee forgive it me & so at last she was some what content, but she said thou humanetly caitiff thou comest from thine hores & there thou hast seen their lewdness, & now wilt cast thy good wife in cheteth there who. The good man answered alas good wife say not so, & I beseech the speak no more thereof but forgive it me, and I will never do so again as long as I live. Now after this time hath the good wife gone oftentimes through the back gate with less sorrow and dread without the knowledge of the simple man her husband (the which never knew no more thereof after that day) as it is showed me. Thus ye may hear how that men be oftentimes deceived by their wife's.   

❧ How the patriarch Loth was deceived by his two daughters.  
 depiction of Lot with two daughters  
THat time when Loth was departed out of Sodom with his wife and his two daughters: than the Angel commanded him that what so ever he heard that he should not look backward the which commandment Loathes wife brake, and so she remained there standing and was transfygured into the Image of a salt stone, there to remain for ever. Than went Loath into a small city called Segor, the which through the prayer of this Loath was spared for a wyhle, and remaynyned standing so long as Lot was therein, but Loath saying that they would not leave their foul sin, would not abide no longer therein, & so he fled from thence, and in continent the city was also destroyed, & so Loath was in a speluncke or cave of an hill (there about) with his two daughters, and they had with them meat and drink, and thus being there, the elder daughter said to her sister. Our father is old, & there be no men upon the earth that we may have conversation withal after the manner of the world therefore come and let us make our father drunk with wine & let us golye with him to th'end that we may keep the seed of our father. And so at even they gave their father wine to drink: and so the elder daughter went and lay with her father Loath, but Loth knew not of his daughter, nor when that she rose up again, and the next night they made their father drunk again, and than the younger daughter went and lay by him, but Loth knew not when that he was by her, nor when that she arose from him, and both the daughters conceived of their father, and the elder daughter bore a son the which was called Moas and he was the father of the Moabices. And the younger bore a son called Amon, that is as much to say, the son of my people, and was the father of the Amonytes, & thus was Loath deceived of his daughters with the wine but for to say the truth it was no deceit, for it was through love and for the generation, and multyplying of the world, for they thought that there had been no more people in the world and that there had been no more in the world but they, for they knew none otherwise, & therefore they made not their father drunk through decyte to obtain their flesshelye lusts, like as now many a man the hath a fair wife the which drinketh the wine with merchants, & with priests and so they make their husbands good cheer and make them drunk so that they fall asleep, and than they go a sporting with the woman in venus' pastance. But so did not Loathes daughters, for they did it in a good intent and for a good purpose, howbeit there was great deceit done.   

❧ A new deceit fortuned of late in England.  
THere was in England in the City of London a proctor of the Arches, the which was an old man, and had to his wife a fair young gentlewoman. And this proctor had among his servants one that was a merry and a fair young man, the which was his principal clerk the wrote for him. This clerk through the daily presence of his master's wife, set his love upon her, and spoke so often and so lovingly to her, that her heart also was set afyre with the love of him, in so much that she loved him above all men, and she consented to him in all things that he desired of him, & so they used their lovely pastime as often as they would, Upon a time they spoke together and took counsel how they might best obtain & do their pleasure together without any dread or sorrow of envious tongues or knowledge of her husband, the which was somewhat ialeous of his wife. And than he found a subtle craft, for ever he was as serviceable to his master as he was to his masters And when that the clerk saw that he stood well in the favour of his master, than he thought to blind the jealousy of his master, and so upon a time he came a fore him and wept very bitterly, whereof his master had great marvel and said beloved son show to me what thou ailest, for I will help thee if it be in my power. Than said the clerk, God thank you good master for that have I not deserved, & the cause is so shameful that I ●a●e not show it you nor let it be known, well said the master show it me hardyle without any dread, for I will keep it as secret as thou wilt thyself. Than said the clerk, my beloved master every man thinketh (and you yourself perchance) that I am a man as another man is, and for to live with women in bodily pleasure as other doth, but alas I am not so, for I have not where with, and he had covered his privy members with a little thing with sheeps flesh, and he had steyken up his privy member toward his navel ward as far as he could, and than he showed it to his master, the which saw nothing but a clean void place, and it was to see to: as though that he had nothing there, & than the clerk said, my beloved master there is no man that knoweth this but you only, And therefore for the true service that I have done to you I require you, that it will please you to do so much for me as to help me in to sum cloister or abbey where that I may have my meat & drink and that I may serve god for I am not meet to be in the world and with that he began bitterly to weep and so he blinded the eyes of his master, and by cause that he thought that he was a true servant to him his master counseled him that he should not go to no abbey nor cloister, & said that he himself would provide for him, & that he should remain still with him and so his master entreated him with so fair promises: that the clerk promised him for to serve him to do him pleasure yet a certain years, whereof his master was very glad, for he could indite & write very well & could ordain all other things belonging to his office as well as himself. And for because that he did trust his master & had showed & opened to him all his secrets: his master thought that he would not keep his own secrets from him but opened his heart to his servant in likewise & said to him, I am sorry for thine impediment that god hath sent to thee, therefore I have great pity on thee, but one thing I shall give the to know for thou may do me good service therein, thou knowest well that I have a fair young wife, the which is somewhat light hatred and quick spirited, & ye know well that I am an old man & not very lusti, & therefore perchance I might be the occasion the young lusty fellows should come & prove her for to bring her to dishonesty, and therefore I will betake her in thy keeping, & I require thee that thou take so heed to her that I may have no occasion to be jealous or amoved against her, Than the clerk prayesed his master maruaylosly well & said that she was thereto to good and to honest, & he promised his master that would keep and take good heed to her, & show him if he find her in any suspect place, like as a good servant was hound to do, And of this was the master glad, & let all sorrow pass and so went about his business, commanding his house & his wife to the keeping of his clerk, & incontinent the servant went to his masters (the which was commanded to him) and told her all, how that his master was deceived: & that that he was wont to do afore with fear & dread, that did he now with a free will and with a free heart, And oftentimes as his master road forth: he left his Clerk at whom for to keep his masters, And when that his wife road out to pilgrimage or to weddings or to any other feasts, than he had liefer that his clerk had been with his wife than any of his other maidens, and thus had the clerk good fortune and chance for his master never knew thereof. And who that said aught thereof: let them say what they would, & thought evermore that he knew well contrary, but his good wife knew it much better, & thus was the poor man foul deceived of his wife.   

 depiction of Jael hammering nail into the head of Sisera  
¶ How the woman jahel deceived the great Captain Sysara.  
THe captain Sysara had great puissance of men of war, and was a great enemy against them of Israel, he had in his battle ix C. great Chariots the which were beset on both sides with scythes, such as they have for to ma whey and Corn withal, with the which he did great murder amongs the people of Israel. And when that he had pursued the children of Israel twenty year with war, than upon a day there came the propheresse Deelbora, to Barache (the captain of Israel) and said rise up this is thy day, in the which the Lord shall deliver Sysaram into thy hands, and so she and Barache went out with ten M men, Sysara heard that the people came upon him, he was afraid and leapt from his chariot, and fled away a foot. And thus as he fled the woman jahel met him and said, Lord come with me and go to my house for thy safeguard, and he went with her, and than he said I die for thirst. And jahel hearing that gave him milk to drink. And Sisara was very weary in so much that he fell a sleep. And jahel took a great nail and set it upon the temple of his head and drove the nail cross through his head, and so she killed him. Now behold the captain the which all the power of Israel could not subdue, and one only woman hath won him with her deceit.   

¶ A deceit done in Artoys of a late time.  
 depiction of knights on horseback approaching women  
IN the earldom of Artoys was a man of great power, the which had a fair young gentilwoman to his wife and lived veri lovingly together, This knight had lost in a battle one of his ears & his lord and captain that was above him was duke of Burgon and earl of Artoys the which had made peace & concord with all the other kings and lords in thrystendome, And for because that man said that this knight was a devout man. Upon a time he thought that he would not lead his life in making of good cheer and ever to live in wealth, and also conjectured in his mind that it was not the way of salvation. And so upon a time he made his vow to the land of Pruysse for to help to defend the christian faith with the men and Lords of the country, And shortly after he took his leave of the Duke & of his lords and gentlemen, and of his good wife, and so road his way, with proper company according to his estate, till that he came in Pruyse where as he was right nobly received, and there he did many noble feats of war against the infidels, in so much that his name was spread through all the world And so it fortuned in the mean time while that he was out of his country, and his wife being a fair young gentle woman, the which lay alone: it fortuned upon a time there cames a young proper gentleman the which wooed her for to lie with her and so he desired her that he might have the keeping of the city and be her, husbands lieutenant, the which within a short time & with a little labour, consented to him. And when that her husband had been certain years forth, he took his leave of the lords of Pruyse, & is returned again homwardes, sore longing for to rest in the sweet arms of his fair wife. And so it fortuned upon the last night that he lay but iii mile from his own castle where as he dwelled, longing sore all the night for his good wife (the which was very busy with an other) and he was the first up in the morning and took his horse, and road all alone in great haste, and with a fervent desire toward his castle, to th'intent that he might yet find his wife upon her bed, & he to warm him by her sweet dsyes which thought full little upon his coming, and he road so fast that he came before day to his castle, & when that he came he found the utter court open. and there he left his horse standing and went so forth boted and spored to fore his wives chamber where that she lay & had her pastauns with another man, and the lord drew his sword and knocked at the chamber door, whereof his wife and the keeper of the City marheyled sore who that it might be & the wife axed who was there, & the lord answered I am here, what sleep ye yet? open the door The wife knowing well the voice was sore amassed and said to her lover, that he should incontinent rise and cloth him, the which he did by and by. And the wife faried so long till that he knocked again and said open quickly. Than said his wife alas my husband is far from hens, I beseech god send him well home again. Than said the lord by my knighthood, woman I am he, and know ye me not. The woman said when that it shall please my husband to come home, he will give me good knowledge before by sum of his servants to th'end that I may meet him and bid him welcome home with his cousins and his next kindred, & so I may honourably receive him as it pertaineth to a Lord, Than said the lord what mean ye, shall I stand long here will ye not know your husband? and forthwith he named his name and when that her lover had clothed him she bad him that he should come & stand by her behind the door. Than said the woman, alas good husband if it be you I require you the you forgive it me. The lord said I am content, than said the woman I will come and let you in if I had a candle light. And for a truth when that ye knocked at the door I had a marvelous good drain of you, what was that said the lord, she answered. My lord I dreamed that ye were come home and that ye spoke with me, and me thought that ye saw as clearly with your blind eye, as ye did with the other eye. The lord said I would it were so. Than said the woman I believe yet that it is so, what said the lord, be ye folly she that ye believe me not the woman, said let me prove for my mind sake, and with that she opened the door and held a candle burnying in her hand. And the poor lord suffered his wife to hide his eye with her hand and with the other hand she held the Candle before his blind eye and said lord I beseech you tell me the truth whether ye do see with your other eye orno, the lord said no by my knighthood, and with that his lieutenant of the town went be hind him out at the door so pryevely that the lord perceived him not, And then said the woman, now see I well that my dream is but deceit but thanked be god that ye be here. And than she took him in her arms & kissed him many times and her lord told her how that he had left his company behind, and how that he rose before them and road his way to th'end that he might yet find her a bed Than said the woman for a truth yet ye be a good man Than wet he to the hot house & bathed and washed him, and than forthwith went to bed to his lady with great solace & pleasure. And thus was the lord deceived of his wife, the which he took yet for a good honest woman for it lay dead, and was so secretly kept that mi lord knew never thereof. And if my lord had biden at home peradventure the woman had never fallen to that mysgydinge, for they never could perceive, but that she gydede herself well and honestelye all here life afore Now take example by this, for it is a common proverb car from home, near thy harm.   

¶ The deceit of Judith that won Holyfernus.  
 depiction of Judith with severed head of Holofernes  
THe king Holofernus besieged the City of Bethulien with a hundred &. xx.m. footmen, and twenty M horsemen so strongly that there was no drink to be gotten in the City but that they must drink the blood of beasts. The widow judith seeing this: tóoke great pity on the people, and prayed meekly to God for grace and for to be delivered out of captivity, and for to obtain the victory of their enemies, and then she went into her chamber and arrayed her with her best array very richly (for she was fair and comely of person) and God made her more fairer. And she took with her a maid & went to the gate of the City where that the Lords stood, and she said to them. Pray unto the lord god for grace for me, that it will please him that I may obtain my purpose. And she went out of the City, where she was taken and brought tofore Holofernus by his servants, and than she said to Holofernus I am come for to put my life in thy hand & that I may be preserved through thee for the City must come shortly into thy hands, and so by that men as she obtained his grace, and what that she desired of him she had it. And so she desired of him that she might go even and morning to the mountains that she might pray there to her god for him. And than he gave commandment to all his lords that where soever that the woman judith would go, the they should let her go free & no man say her nay, & upon the fourth day Holofernus made a costly dinner for his lords, & said to his chamberlain. Vaago? Tell the Hebrw woman the she come to me, the which he did, & he said to judith. O ye gentilwoman dread not to go in, to my lord Holofernus for he requireth you the ye will be merry and drink the wine with him. Than said judith who am I, that I shouldennot be obedient to my Lord. All that shall please my lord, if he think it good, I will be glad to do. And all that shall please him, shall be good for me as long as my life shall endure. Than Judith rose up secretly and arrayed her richly & went so forth within to Olephernus and she stood before him. Than was Olefernus heart troubled, and burned in the love of her, & so he thought that he would sleep by her the same night and was very merry & drunk more wine that night than he had done all his life time tofore, and so fell a sleep upon his bed And Judith was only alone with him in his chamber and her maid stood without and kept the door and at the beds head hung his sword, & she drew the sword out of the sheathe, and took him by the hear and lift up his head and so cut it of and put it into a leather baggen and took it to her maid and so brought it into the city of Bethulyen, and when that it was published & known that their king Olephernus was dead, they went all away, and so the City was delivered out of captivity and bondage. O behold how the great and mighty prince, the which could not be overcome with all their craft, how he was won through the lovely words and deceit of a woman, the which many a thousand men did repent, and lose their life therefore, who is it that can take heed of the deceit of women, except he do utterly abstain their company, for they be so false and so full of deceit, that all the heed that a man can take is to little.   

¶ A new deceit done of late in France.  
IN France was a gentleman of great puissance, the which entirely loved a young fair gentlewoman being married, which gentlewoman loved him no less than he did her, And therefore the gentleman made oftentimes his complaint to his lover of the great dolours & pains that he suffered for her sake, and she hearing him so piteously complain: comforted him the best that she could, saying to him, I am always ready and at your pleasure: but I can not be at your desire and will because of my husband. For ye know well that I must be obedient & evermore be ready at my husbands will and pleasure. Alas (said the gentleman) if there be no means for to shorten my great pains I wot not what to do. Than said the gentlewoman with a fervent desire to her lover: Come to night at one or two a clock and knocked at my chamber door. For I will find such means that I will depart from my husband except some fortune do let me. The gentleman hearing this: was comforted and was glad, & so departed from her, and abode the hour that she had pointed him, and so the young gentlewoman sat all the night and had many fantasies and sat musing and was very sad for she wist not what should fortune her, but her chance and fortune was that her husband himself gave the occasion and cause, that her heaviness was turned to mirth, for her husband saw a male dying in the chamber in the which male was his wife's clothes & for by cause that he saw that his wife sat in heaviness: he demanded what the male did in the chamber. & wherefore that it was not brought into his place where it was wont to lie. Than said his wife well husband I require you be not angry for our chamberlain shall take them out for therein is part of my clothes. Than said her husband my seems that the male is over little for to put your clothes in without croaking for they be large and long. The gentle woman said the male is great enough, the lord said my seems nay, well said the gentle woman if it please you I will lay which you a dozen of teven shirts against a satin kertyll, that we will put you in the male as ye be, for all that the male is solytle. The lord said I hold ye that ye do not. Than said the hand maid, we shall see who shall win it Than he drew the clothes out of the male, and then the maiden took him and made such shift that she put him in the male to his manhood to. and all that were there laughed and had good sport at it, and so playing and mocking with him they bonnde him fast in the male and so brought him into a little out chamber far from his own chamber, and they cried all, we have won it, and for that he could cry or call abode all that night there, & in short time after that he was put in the male came the gentylwomans' lover the which she had apeynted privily by her, of whom he was lovingly received, and the up & told him what was fortuned, and how she had put her husband in the male, and showed him that all things was well and therefore (said she) ye shall remain this night by me, and keep my husbands place. And thus been these two lovers gone to bed together & lovingly have helsed and kissed each other labouring so sore that they both did sweet in obtaining their lovely purpose. And in the morning this gentle woman and her lover departed heavily from each other and she went unto the out chamber where her husband lay and cried full loud let me out, for my seems ye mock & gest with me. Than said the gentlewoman alas good husband be ye here yet? now of troth I knew it not, for yesternight I commanded my chamberlain that she should lose the male & let ye out. and one of my chamberlyns said that ye were loosed and that ye were hastily send for, for certain causes, and said that ye would not come home as this night and when I heard that I went to bed and slept for I went that it had been so. Than said her husband to her I beseech you let me out, for I trow I have been here long enough. And so this gentle wife unlosed the male and her husband except out and was almost lame with lying, and than she took him in her arms & kissed him sweetly and prayed him heartily that he would not be angry with her. Than sanid her good husband I know well it is not your fault, but the chamberleyns shall repent it, & than he made his moan and said that they had him in derision and mocked with him, and also the most grief was that he had lost his riven shirts. And for this he shall never know without a mischance fall that this book come to his hand for to read, the which God forbid. Amen.   

❧ In old deceit how the Prince Naboth was killed, of the foul woman jesabel  
 depiction of King Ahab with Jezabel  
THe King Achab, king of Israel dwelled in Syry, & had to his wife the mischievous woman jesabel the which pursued holy prophets in all that she might. And this king Achab had by him in his garden a great prince called Naboth, the which Naboth had a goodly vineyard by this king Ahab'S house, that which the king entirely desired, & said to Naboth I beseech thee let me have thy vineyard, and Naboth would not forego his Viniarde, where upon this king Achab went and laid him in the bed and turned his face to the wall and would neither eat nor drink. His wife jesabel saying this: demanded what him ailed? Than he said my lover Naboth hath said to me nay, that he will not sell to me his vineyard. Than jesabel caused the prince Naboth to be stoned to death. And than came jesabel a gain to her king saying, Rise up and drink and make good cheer, and take the vineyard to thee, for Naboth is dead. And when that Achab heard this: hearose up and did inherit the vineyard. Here may ye see how that the good prince Naboth hath lost his life through the mischievous woman jesabel. But the blood of Naboth was avenged upon Achab himself. For Helyas said to him. There that the dogs have licked the blood of Naboth: there shall they also lick thy blood. And the dogs shall eat the flesh and body of the mischievous woman jesabel. And it fortuned in short time after, for she was stoned to death in a little out street and there she remained lying till the time that the words of Helyas were fulfilled. O most mischievous women take her ensample, for God is a rightwise judge. for he saith in the Gospel, with what measure ye meet out withal, with the same measure shall be measured in with all, again, like as it fortuned to the cursed woman jesabel, as it is written. Therefore ye women, let be your disobeyed, & than ye shall not be deceived, for what God saith that is nolye.   

❧ A new deceit done of late.  
THere was a wedded woman, that which was of light countenance, & much more lighter of heart for small labour and expensis would obtain her grace and favour if one had sought upon her for love for she was so gentle and so free hearted. And so it fortuned upon a time she thought for to have two young men upon one day, & that the one should not know of the other, for she had appointed each upon a certain hour, that was, the one at viii a clock, and the other at ix And so in the morning the good man arise up from his wife and clothed him and went and work his wife, & asked her if she would not arise, and she answered ye know well that I am half acrased, & have not slept of all the night, therefore I cannot arise yet. And so her husband let her lie and wear his way into the city to work, and in the mean while his wife was not idle, for as soon as the clock had smitten viii there cave the youngman the which she had appointed the day afore, and he knocked at the door and by and by he was let in and hastily unclothed him and went to bed to her, & so they two lay so long together passing the time till that another sued & came knocking at the door. Than said the woman, alas there is my husband: than said the youngman where shall I hide me that your husband find me not, for if he find me it would cost us both our lives. The woman said, take your clothes and go up in the chamber and be there still and secret till that my husband be gone, & so the youngman did as the woman gave him counsel & sat still in the chamber the which was very old & full of holes. And than she leapt lustily from her bed (knowing well enough that it was not her husband that knocked at the door) & let the other young man in, that which she had appointed at ix a clock, & by & by he did of his clothes, & went to bed to this lusty trull (for she was good enough & there had come four such) and busily went & ploughed Venus' ground, & there occupied the lusts of the flesh, so long till she had wearied him But he that sat above in the chamber & saw that, I reckon he was not very well pleased, for he knew right well that it was not her husband, & so he witted not whether it were best to speak or to hold his peace And so they lay so long a bed till that her husband came knocked at the door and by and by she perceived that it was her husband and than she wist not what shift to make nor where she should hide him, but bade him that he should lie between the bed & the wall & she took the clothes and the coverlet and caft them upon him. And when her husband was come he be thought him that he had heard more than one in his house, and when that he saw the bed so cast out of order, he marveled for it seemed not as though there had lain a sick woman, but a though there had been a fighting & a battle for stones, for it looked more lyker a bolting trough, than a sick woman's bed. Than said her husband out thou my schevous whore, where is that knave that hath lain with thee, if I find him ye shall both repent it by gods body, and with that he caught the coverlet and the clothes in his hand, and than he said, how properly is this gear done, for his bed showed as though here had line ii Than said the woman be my troth I am sure thou art drunk all tedye, that thou railest thus upon me, and call me hore & thou knowest right well that I am none, but alas I am to true to such a Cocold and rebald as thou art & I am sorry that I have been so long so true to thee, saying that thou never found no dishonest in me. This poor man west not what to say when that he hard his wife, say such words & begun for to chide him so, ye he might be glad that he had no stripes. And so the good man (as it was best for him) held his prace, and said meekly My gentle wife, I beseech thee be content, for I love not to chide, and he that is here above ones shall pay for all, but he mente our lord that he would have account of it ones. But he that sat above in the chamber and heard all: he wend that he had meant him and that he had threatened him. Than said the young man, my friend, it is enough that I pay the half, for he that lieth beside the bedstead may well pay the other half, for he is as well culpable as I, Than had the man great marvel and thought the god had spoke to him, and he that lay beside the bed wilt not what to do, for he knew nothing of the other that was above in the chamber, but he was bold and rose up, and the other came down out of the chamber. And when they saw each other they went together from thence and none of them both that paid for their lying, nor yet for their bed hire, and thus the man was troubled, and she made her husband believe that the one was a doctor of physic the which came to see her water, and the other was a Surgyn that came to let her blood and to chafe her veins, and so she pleased her husband, for all that she had made him cokcolde, ye pretty trulls that love to carry stones: learn this pretty conceit against ye be sick.   

❧ An old deceit of Vergilius.  
 depiction of Virgil in basket  
VYrgyll was a very wise and expert man, and was a master of many divers sciences the which (as some men say) the devil had learned him, and also he was a wise man of council▪ in so much that the Emperor chose him to be one of the lords of his counsel. This Vyrgyl did many meruay else with Nicromaci for he made a garden wherein were all manner of trees of all fruit and fruits, & what time that he would/ there they found ever more ripe fruit, fair flowers and seed And also there was in the garden all manner of birds, the which song, night and day. And this garden had no enclosing but only the light that shone over it, and yet there could nobody come in. Also he had made in Rome an Image of great light, the which might not fall And they of Rome might not open not her door nor window, but they must needs see the Image. And who soever had seen that image, the day he should have had no pleasure for to have done the works of the flesh, of the which the women of Rome went and showed Vyrgilius, the which at last cast down the Image, and than the women had their pleasure again. Also this Virgilius had made in the mids of Rome to the profit of the comen people, a lamp of glass the which shone & lighted all Rome over and over, in so much that there was never so small a street but it was as light of that lamp as though there had been two torches burning, and some men say it stood well iii C. year. And not far from thence in an other place he had made a man of copper with a bow in his hand, pointing with his atowe to the Lamp. And so it fortuned upon a time the daughters of Rome went a sporting in an evening, and there came one of the maidens of Rome the which smote upon the string of the bow with her finger, and so the a-row sprung louse, and shot the lamp in pieces the which was great pity, And upon an other time Vyrgilius did put out all the fire that was in rain, that no man could get fire but only at one woman's arse, the which had deceived him, and none could light an others fire, but that each house mist go upon the Markete place and fetch his fire, at that woman's arse. This Virgyl for all that he was so wise, and a master of all sciences yet not withstanding he was deceived of women. Upon a time he set his love upon a fair gentlewoman the which was of noble progeny, and made such means that it came to her knowledge, and when that she knew that: she bethought her how she might deceive him, and than she said to him that it were very petilous for to begin such a thing, for a man cometh lightly in the bound of love, but he cannot come so lightly out again. But well-beloved Vyrgil for to please you and that ye may have your pleasure, so come to night to fore my house when every body is gone to sleep: and I will let down a basket out the chamber window and there ye shall sit in, and so I will draw you up into my chamber, of the which Vyrgyll was very glad, and said that he would do so, when it was night: Vyrgil came to fore this gentylwomans' house, the which stood in the market place, and in the middle of Rome. And so when that Vyrgil was come: she let the basket down to the earth, And Vyrgyl went and sat in it, & than she drew him up till that he came to the middle of the house, and when that he was xl foot from her window she made the cord fast, and let him hang so in the basket, and said now men shall see thy iniquity, and how thou wouldest have lain by me, and there he remained hanging still in the basket till the next day, to his reproof before all men, the which he avenged after ward upon her. And thus was he deceived to his utter confusion. And also Vyrgill made to the profit of the romans (to th'end that they might have short law & that every man might incontinent know whether his cause were true or false) by the craft of Nycromancy a Lion of brass, and who that put his hand in the throat of the lion, and swore that his cause was true, and good and his oath being false lost his hand. And who that swore a true oath: drew his hand again, without dread or peril. And so it fortuned upon a time, that Vyrgyll said to his wife that she had to do with a gentleman the which she forsook, and said that it was not so, and said that she would take the law at the Lion, and so when this was done, and the day appointed that she should be judged by the Lion, and come to her answer than she found the means that the gentleman (her lover, was clothed in fools clothing, and so he went with her to the place where the Lion stood, and there in the presence of them all that was there: put her hand in the lions throat, and there she did swear that she had no more to do with that man that she was blamed for: than which the fool that stood there present, and so the woman drew her hand out again without any hurt, yet nevertheless Vyrgyl knew well that she had to do with the man of the which she was suspect with. Than was Vyrgyll wroth, and destroyed the Lion, in so much that never after that day was no justice done with the Lion. Here may ye see how the master Virgilius that was so wise and so crafty in all things: and yet he was deceived of a woman, ye of more than of one, as is rehearsed afore   

❧ A new deceit done of late.  
THere was a lady beyond the sea, which was a widow. This lady had a fair gentlewoman for her chamberlain, that did lie with her. And it fortuned upon a time that a lusty young gentleman did see his love upon this young woman, the which was the fairest and the most goodliest of stature that was in that country, and she was so beautiful & so virtuous that she lay by her lady, and the gentleman often times did talk & comen with this gentlewoman, and opened his heart and showed to her all his intent, and spoke so lovingly to her: that also her heart was set in the love of him, & so she consented to him to be ready at all times, that it should please him, but they wist not how nor by what means that they might come together. And so upon a time she came unto the gentleman and said, ye know well that I lie by my lady, the which is great honour to me, and I may not leave her except I should be utterly shamed and yet I would well that you had your desire, and also I will gladly be at your commandment and pleasure in all things that ye will desire of me, if that we may do it secretly, and also I will show you my mind, & what I will do. My lady hath a little dog, as ye know well that which she loveth well, and must ever lie in her chamber and to night I will lock it without the chamber, and will leave the next chamber open, and when that ye think that my lady is in bed, come secretly into the chamber & lock the chamber door and there ye shall find the little dog, the which knoweth you well, & take him by the ears and shake him that he may cry loud, and when my lady shall hear him. she shall know the voice, & then incontinent she shall cause me to rise, for to let the dog in, and than I will come secretly to you, but I pray you fail not, for if ye do, I will never speak with you a again, Than said the gentleman, O my most trusty and gracious lover, I will thank you heartily of your gracious and lonely words, & be ye sure that I will not fail, and so the gentleman abode his time, & came unto the place that was appointed according to his promise. And so the little dog thought to have gone into the ladies chamber as it was wont to do, and for by cause that the chamber door was locked. he abode in the chamber that was next unto the ladies. And so the lady is gone to bed, and her chamberlaen with her, and the lusty gentleman is come into the next chamber, and went upon hand and foot for to seek the dog, and at last he found him, & hath made him cry out a loud and so the lady heard the dog cry, and thought that he would come in, & said to her gentlewoman the chamberleyn that she should arise and let the dog in, for me seems that he is in the next chamber, and she said I will do it gladly, and so she arose and came to the door in her smock, and the gentleman came and met her, and when that he saw that she was so gracious and so goodly of person, he was so galdde that he lost all his power, and failed, and it was not in his power to do her swerely, and groped her round breestes, & all that he could do pertaining to love, but the fleshly operation excepted, and so the gentleman returned again without comfort and yet he would gladly have kept her: but she durst tarry no longer, and so the Lady went her may and shit the door again, and the Lady demanded her if she had let in the dog, and she said nay, for she could not find it. The lady said well let him alone, and so the chamberlain was sore aggrieved, but he took courage unto him and said, if that my lover came again, for all that she is so fair. I would give her better knowledge that I am a man, and so he caught the dog by the ears again, and made him for to cry, that the Lady heard it, and so the Lady caused her chamberlain for to rise, and also the third time she arose and came for the dog, but the poor gentleman had not her power nor strength for to break one spear And when that she saw that there would come nothing she went away into her chamber, and he perceived her Than said the chamberlain for to recompense him of his great pain, and for to please the lady, away thou naughty ape as thou art, for thou shall not come this night in the house, thou foul ill favoured beast, and with that she did shut the camber door, And the lady demanded to whom that she spoke, and she said that it was to the other dog, the which hath done me great pain in seeking of him, for he had hid him under the bench, and when that I had found him he would not arise, for all that I could do to him. I would fain have had him in, but he would not one's lyftre up his head, and therefore I have left him without, and so she locked the door with great spite to fore his face The Lady said my daughter that is well done, And thus was the gentleman deceived:   

☞ A deceit how that Samson was deceived of his wife.  
 depiction of Delilah cutting the hair of Samson  
SAmpson being a strong young man came to Thamnats where that he saw one of the daughters of the philystins, the which he desired to have to his wife And when that he came to fore the vineyard of the City there came a young Lion tonning to him, which he killed. And in short time after as he came from his father and mother, it fortuned that he came again to the place where that he had killed this Lion, & so he found in the mouth of the Lion, a swarm of Bees. And when that his wedding should be, there came xxx younglings to his feast. And Samson said to them I will give to yond a riddle, and if that ye can asoyle it win vii days after my feast: I will give to you xxx silken points, and as many coats, and if that ye assoil not my riddle: ye shall lose as much. Than said the younglings show to us your riddle. Then said Samson of the etet is meet gone out, and of the strong is come su●ten●s. And so they could not assoil that riddle, & than they came to his wife and said, desire your husband, that he show to you the riddle & what it signifieth. And if that ye will not we will set thy house and thy fathers in fire. And than she went to her husband Samson wiping & making her move to him, and said I pray you show to methe solution of the riddle, and what ye mean with all, or else I say that ye love me not. Samson answered and said I would not geu●nother father nor mother to know what it meant, & should I tell it you▪ And so his wife wept & made great lamentation vii, days after he feast of their wedding. And upon the seventh day she croudled Samson so sore, that he showed it her, & she forth which showeth it to the younglings, that which said to Samson, what is shorter than heavy, & what is stronger than a lion. Than said Samson, if my ●tesshe ●alfe had not been: ye had not soiled my riddle. near ye may see how Samson was deceived through thee, weeping & lamentation of a woman, and after the Sampson ca●u●t● his wife for to have done as he was wont to do, which his father had forbade him, & said to Sampson I had went ye would have killed her, & therefore I have betake her to another husband. Than was Samson wretch & did great mischief to the philystens. And so the philistens s●eyng that Sampsons' wife was the cause of that mischief than went the philistens and set her father's house in fire (the father & the daughter being in the house) & so did burn them both. ¶ And after that he entirely loved a woman that dwelled in the valley of Soreth, whose name was Dalida. And so the chief head prince of the Phylystens came to Dalida & said we require the that thou wilt deceive Samson, and demand of him wherein that the strength of Samson is, to the end that we may conquer him. And if that ye do it: each of us shall give to you ●. c. M. syluerpence. And so Dalida sought the occasion to deceive him & Samson caused himself iii times to be bound through the petition of Dalida with iii manner of bands, but ever more he broke the bands & over came his enemies iii times. And when that Dalida had seen all this: She came to Sampson with sweet flattering words and said, O my dear beloved Samson ye say that ye do ●ore me and your heart thinketh it not, for ye have denied to me vi times, for ye would not show me where that your strength testeth. And so she troubled Sampson many a day unto the time that she brought him to his death, And so at last Samson showed his wife the truth & said, if my head were shave: than were all my strength and power gone, Than Dalida sent word to the Phylystens, and she caused Samson for to sleep in her lap, and she called to her a barbeur, & he did shave of all the here of Sampsons' head & than she thrust him from her and his power and might was gone from him, And than cried Dalida, Samson Samson, the phylistens been come upon thee, Than he arose out of his slope & was incontinent as a prisoner, & his eyen were put out and so by that means he was killed, Now behold ye men, be the young and old, heave that the strange Samson was deceived of the false woman Dalida, who is that may believe the sweet and flattering words and the bitter mourning and weeping of women,   

❧ A new deceit done of late.  
 depiction of man on horse  
There was a gentleman that which was very bold in the fears of wars, and entirely loved a yerge fair Lady, and had so oftentimes communication with her: that she consented to him in all things that he would desire of her, And when that he had done his will a certain time with her: than went he into spain with his lord for to keep war and in the mean while that he was absent: his lover was married to an old knight the which knew right well the other man, but this old knight knew not that he was his wife's paramour, but at last it can to his knowledge, of that which he was not well content, And so it fortuned that in short time after, her paramour came home again, & by chance in an evening can to the castle where that his sweeting was, & the old knight made him good cheer, for he was of his old acquaintance, but it was half against his heart. And in the mean while yt●he old knight went about for to make all things ●●dy for to welcome his gest withal: he sat & talked with his lover his pretty fool that he was wont for to play with a●● & desired of her for to have the old freendshypp that he was went to have in time paster that she was wedded: she denied him & said that it was not possible for to have place & time sufficient. Than said her gest, O my dear beloved os●is, if it please you ye may do ●esō friendship, for your husband shall know nothing there of, when that he is a bed and a stepe that ye come and visit me in my chamber, or in any other place where that it shall please you, or if ye please I will come to you, than she said it may not be so, for my husband is very soon awake, and I should have great dread and sorrow, & also he never waketh, but he doth feel after me, & when that he misseth me: than he will think what there is to do. Than he demanded, what doth he more? More quod she: nothing, but turneth him again, for if he come once in a month that is much to him, for it is but fely for to fable with you, for if it came I would take it with all my heart, Than said he, I beseech the my sweet love make it so that I may lie with the to night. Than she answered and said, I know a remedy, I have a serving maid to the which I will show my secret, and with her I will take counsel. And so incontinent she called her and said, my beloved maid, ye must now help me in a matter, for I trust you best for to keep my privity, Than said the maid, what that shall please you I will be glad for to do. Than said her lady to her,. This knight I love above all men, & I would be sorry that he should depart from hens, except I had spoke privily with him and it is not possible that I may speak secretly with him without that ye will be so good as to keep my place by my husband in my bed this night, for it is his custom when that he waketh to feel after me, & than he layeth him to sleep again, but I pray what so every do ye may not speak one word but suffer all that he doth to you for I know of a very certain that ye shallbe without sorrow or dread for any thing that my husband thy master will do, Than said the young lustily maiden to her Lady, your commandment I will be glad to do it, So soon as they had supped: there wence all and walked abroad and the lady showed her paramour how that her maid should keep her place by her husband for the night of the which the knight was marvelous glad, And so after that when they had drunk, they went all to bed and the knight went into his chamber where that he should lie the which was gorgeously ordained, and there the table was beset with suckettes, confectes, & other costly things and of the best wine that might be got, And so incontinently the old knight and his lady hath both unclothed them, and went to bed and my lady did put out the candle, and the maid stood privily by the bed side, and when the candle was out: she went to bed to her master, & so lay with him, & my lady went incontinent to him that abode her coming, and about iii, a clock afore day: the old knight did turn him, and he groped for his wife, & thought that she had lain by him & so laid his hand upon her breasts, & he felt that they were hard and round & than incontinent he knew that it was not his wife, for her breasts were not so round nor so hard: Than he took her in his arms & gave her a kiss with that the longed thereto; All his business was hard for him, for she was a maid, And so the poor maid durst not speak one word for saving of her master honesty, when this was done: he begun to call to him that lay by his wife, & said how, how, syrknyght of whence be ye? speak once to me: The knight hearing this: was sore amazed, & my lady was whole aghast, but they held their pace, Than he called again, how my gest where be ye speak to me, Than said the knight what is your will sir, Than said he a ha' sir I will ever be glad of this exchange, the knight said what exchange good sir: Marry for an old hoore, to have a young proper maid for so have ye served me of the which I thank you & so this gest with his wife knew not what to say, And also the poor maid was hole ashamed, as well for the dyshhonestie of her lady, as for her own dishonesty & maidenhood, the which she had lost so piteously, & so departed from thence, & after had wept bitterly therefore, and the strange knight is departed from thence without any thanks giving to any body, nor said not once adieu, but left the lady in great sorrow and dread, & so the strange knight came never there after that, but how that the lady bid, and what chance she had: of that I had notinges, and therefore & can write no more thereof.   

❧ An old deceit done in old time  
 depiction of Hercules brandishing sword  
Hercules' the worthy champion was a man of great renown, and was the bastard of King jupiter, and of the Queen Alcumena, This Hercules when that he lay yet in the cradle: he strangled & killed two great serpents that would have killed him, the which his stepmother juno had brought to him. This Hercules overcame a mighty great greek, that which was called Phylotes, that which afterward became Hercules servant And through the information of juno his stepmother (the which would well that he had been dead) went into a forest or heath of Neemy; & there he overcame iii Lion's with great power & strength. This Hercules took his journey into the city of Molosen, & fetched again the fair Proserpina Orpheus wife, the which king Pluto had stolen, & he fought against the porter Cerberus, which was a mighty great Greek, but hercules overcame him and bound him hand & fore, and overcome iii C. cytiesens of Molosyn, the which would have taken Proserpina from him. This Hercules overcame the great monster of leerne, the upper part like a man, and: iether part like a sergent, by the which monster no man might pass without that he went which, iii. C. or mostrong men of arms And his food was the flesh of men & the swith he lived And he overcame the king C●cus, the which was a fers tyrant & oppressed all the people of that country, and upon a night he had stolen away Hercules Oxen in Italy, and Cacus had eyed them tail to tail and so brought them into the cave where that he dwelled, to th'end that they should not find the footing of them, for the footing of the oxen did she wall ways from the cave ward where that he dwelled. Also he conquered the great monnster of the sea ●afore Troy, the which they must have given every day for his dinner a 〈◊〉 a sheep, and that contained so long till the lot fell upon the kings daughter, the which he delivered, & subdued the great monster, and delivered the City of Troy, and also he was a great juster, for where that he heard that there were any great Lord, or king that was a tyrant, or an oppresser of the people? thither would be go, and adventure his life, & pursue them to death, Ha good lord if that an infidel hath done such things (that which had no hope of the life eternal) through love of justice, how much the more should every christ lord fight for the true justice, and that same to exalt, the which knoweth well the great reward that is promised them of the lord celestial? ¶ Upon a time Hercules took his journey toward his own country, of Ycoyien with his wife Megaera, and her hand maid And also he came into the land of Tassalian where that he must puss over the water with the ship, and the ship was so little that it could not carry them all over at ones, and so Hercules remained and went not over with the ship, and the ferry man beheld Dianira, and when they came to land: the ferry man took Hercules wife and would have run away with her, and Hercules saying that: took his bow and shot over the water toward Nessums the fe●y man, and shot the a-row in Nessums' side▪ in so much that he felt that he must die, and than he said to Dianira, Ye be a fair woman, & therefore I require you take compassion upon me, for your husband Hercules is not true, for he loveth other beside you. Hold take this box for therein is such a thing that when that ye anoint therewith his shirt, and that he put it upon his body: than shall all the strange love depart from him. And upon a time Hercules subdued the king Prycus, the which had many daughters, and among them there was one that was the fairest, the which he entirely loved above all the other and her name was you, and Hercules said to her Iole take me as your friend, for so must it be, for the gods have given to me this chance. And when that youheard this that she must do him friendship, the which had oppressed & conquered her father, than fell Iole in a swoon and in great sorrow. And than Hercules betook Iole in the keeping of, xii, men, that she should not escape him, And Hercules desired her that she would be his wife, that which at last she consented, and so Hercules lay by her and accomplished his pleasure so long with her that he holy forgot his wife Dianira, Dianira heard of this & so she wrote a letter to him, remembering him of the great love that was wont to be between them, and to know if that should be so lost and forgotten, and that he, the which all the world did dread, would so suffer himself to be overcome of a strange woman, And when Hercules hadred this letter he was not well content and was ill apaid thereof, in so much the none durst come by him nor also the fair Iole, And so Hercules being in he up fantasy, devised himself home he might best forget the fair you, and so he took his way and journey to the mount Oaths on pilgrimage, and for to do Sacrifice: to the God Apollo, and in the way met with him Lucas chamberlyn of Dianira▪ and when that Dianira knew that, than she took one of Hercules shirts, the which was overstryken with the poison that Nessuns had given to her and sent it to Hercules, for to put on, knowing no otherwise but that the strange love should therewith have departed from him, as Nessums made her to believe, And than Hercules had made a great fire for to do sacrifice unto the God Apollo with an heart that Hercules had taken tunning, And Lucas gave to h●m the shirt and for because that he s●et so sore through the great anguish & hard sorrow he took the shirt of Lucas and put it on, and when that the shirt was warm upon him, it cleaved so cast to his body, and he felt such great pain that he wist not what to do and would have drawn of the shirt again, but he could not but drew it of by great pieces from his body with the skin and the flesh to the bone, in such wise that one might have seen his bowels. And so hercules saw and knew well that he must die, than Hercules said to Philotes tel Iole and all her friends (with abundance of tears) of the miserable death of Hercules. Than wailed Iole so bitterly that her heart did braced and died for sorrow. when that Dianira heard tell of the death of Hercules▪ and how that it was through the shirt the which she had sent him▪ she took a knife and killed herself for sorrow. And thus was the valiant Hercules shamefully deceived of a woman, nevertheless it w●s without the knowledge of the woman, though tha● the woman wss the causer thereof.   

❧ A new deceit of late done in the City of Tours.  
 depiction of people seated at table, eating  
IN the City of towers there was a merchant of great power the which had desired upon a friday his paison & other more of his lovers & freedes to dine with him & had promised them a certain great fish, the which was called a pike. and cost him two shillings, beside the other small fishes, as carps, Bremes & pykerel, and other such small fishes, This merchants wife loved well a certain frere and when the husband had brought home the pike, his wife took it privily & sent it to the frere, by a cobblers wife, the which knew all her secrets, and told her that she should show the frere, that she would come that night and make merry with him, and remain with him all that night and help for to eat the Pike, Than was the Frere marvelous glad and said, if there be any good wine for to get for money I will provide us some, & we will teach the Pike for to swim therein, Than went the good Frere musing in himself and thought how that he would cherish this merchants wife, And about, xii a clock the good man came home with his gests, the which he had desired for to eat of the pike, & brought them into the kitchen for to see the great pike that he had bought, & said to his wife show to my gests what a great pike that I have bought, what Pike said his wife? Marry said he the great pike that I sent home with the other fishes, The good wife said that she had seen no pike, I think that ye dream, for here is a great carp, two, pykerels and, iiii, Bremes, with other river fishes but as for the pike, I have not seen, why (said her husband) ween ye that I dream? Than said the person and the other gests we believe that is not so for ye be very subtle and deceitful, Than said his wife by my troth, I suppose that he mocked with you, for I have seen no pike of all this year, and therefore I think that he had dreamed of a pike, Than said the goodman I promise you, it shallbe a dear pike for you And so he took a staff and would have beaten his wife, but his gests took him from her with force & did as much as they could, for to make the peace, & went from thence with the person for to make merry, And than his wife desired one of the neighbours (a young widow) to dine with her, and when she was come to her she said, O my beloved neighbour I beseech you do one thing for me, and I will reward you well therefore. Than said the widow what soeur please you I will be glad for to do. Tan said that woman, my hushande is marvelous hot upon his business, for he hath troubled me so muched the night past, that I should not be able to abide it this night, and therefore I require you heartily that ye will do so much as to keep my place to night, that which the widow consented gladly. And so when the good man had dined he went privily & got him sum rods, which he laid at his beds feet, for their with he would have chastised his wife in the night as he was wont to do, forth▪ knoweth well her husbands mind, for he cannot home to supper but abode so long out till he thought that his wife were to bed. But she caused her neighbour to unclothe her & to keep her place for her for that night and commanded her that when her husband came home that she should not speak to him, and his wife put out all the fire that was in the house. And when this was done she commanded her neighbour, that as soon as her husband did rise in the morning that she should go her way home to her own house which she did promise so for to do. And than went his good wife to the grey freres cloystet for to help to eat the good Pike with the frere, like as she had sent him word, and for her pardon, like as she was wont to do, and so made good there and drunk the wine merely with the frere. And so when it was night her husband came home and thought to have light a candle, but he found no fire. He seeing that went previly to bed, and slept almost till it was day light, and than he arose privily & took the rods & cast up the clothes & did beat his neighbour that the blood ran down of all sides. But his poor neighbour durst not speak one word. And so at last he let her alone and went his way out. And than the poor widow (his nedghboure) arose up and went her way home to her own house all morning, and complaining of her mischance, and cursed her neighbour, and the time that ever she came there. And in short time aftercan his wife home from the freres, & came in her chamber, & saw that it was all to be strawed with the rods, and saw that the sheets were all bloody, & than she perceived well that her neighbour had suffered penance. And incontinent she went & made the chamber clean, & made her bed & laid on a clean pair of sheets & went to bed, & lay there till her husband came home, & when that he can in the chamber he found his wife a bed fast a sleep & said, ha ladi will ye not arise yet why (said she) is it day I witted not that ye were up for I lay and dreamt, and that hath caused me for to lie so long a bed, I believe that ye dreamt of the Pike, for I gave you a good remembrance thereof. Than said his wife, I have no remembrance of you nor of the Pike, Than said he, is it all ready forgotten, how so said his wife, who should remember dreams. Than said her husband is that a dream, for to beat a handful of rods to peers upon thy body, And also I wot well that the sheets will testify whether it be so or not. Than said his wife, I wot not what ye mean, but I wot well that ye gave me a friendly kiss to day morning and so left me sleeping Than said her husband, I marvel of that, let me see the sheets, and than she showed to him the clean sheets that she had laid new upon the bed, and showed her naked body all hole and clean, and so when her husband saw that the sheets were clean, and her body hole he wist not what to say, and so he was full of fantasies and said of a truth (wife) I had went that I had beaten you well to day mourning, but I see well it is not so, and therefore I wot not what to say. Than said his wife put that fantasies out of your mind, for ye may see that ye have not touched me, for ye have dreamed, like as ye dreamed yesterday of the Pike. Than said her husband Now I know well that ye said the truth, and therefore I beseech you for the love of God forgive it me, for now I know well that I said not the truth yesterday of the Pike. And most of all I am ashamed that I spoke so to you in the presence of the worshipful men, & specially in the presence of our parson, and therefore I require thee forgive it me. And than his wife said I forgive you gladly, but I pray you be not so hasty another time. Than said he, My beloved wife it shall never be so more. And so what that he heard or saw after that: he thought all that he had dreamed of it. And thus was the good man deceived of his wife, and thought that he had dreamed of the Pike. And she went and made good there with this Frere, and evenings and mornings they were together. and this merchant man was a little jealous. And when he spoke a word to his wife: Than said she peace fool thou dremest of the Pike. And so this Merchant was deceived of his wife indeed.   

❧ An old deceit done in old time.  
 depiction of King Solomon  
THat time when david was departed out of the world: than was Solomon his son made king of Israel in his father's stead, & he put his trust in phararo the king of Egypt and took his daughter, and brought her into the City of David, Upon a time Solomon made sacrifice and offered to Gybeon. a. M offerings or sacrifices, that were burned, And than our lord made revelation to him in his sleep and said, Ask what thou wilt, I shall give it to thee. Than said Solomon, I am yet but young, and I know not myself which is good or ill, & Solomon thy servant requireth of the worthy heart, that he may know this people, and understand what is good and ill. Than said our lord for as much as ye have not desired long life, nor riches nor your enemies evil fare, but for a skilful perseverance,: therefore I give to thee according to thy words and desire, first a skilful heart, in so much that non like unto thee hath not been to fore thee, nor after thee shall none arise that shall have such a wit as thou hast, And also I give to thee that, that thou hast not desired, that is riches & honour, that there hath been none a 'mong the kings like unto thee. And Solomon builded well twenty year upon the house of god, & of the house of the king, and he had thereto. ixx.m. labouring men that bore the burdens, & lxxx M. workmen that laid stones and such other officers and. iii.m. and. iiii.c. rulers & overseers to govern the workmen, And the king Solomon was greater in riches & in wisdom than were all the kings that were upon earth, And all the people of the world desired for to see Solomon, and for to hear of his wisdom that God had given to him, and every man brought to him honourable gifts, as gold, silver, iewelis, and costly raiment, harness, and sweet smelling herbs, & horses and mules. But Solomon loved well outlandy she women, as the daughter of Pharaoh, the Moabites, the Amonytes, and the edomites, the which the lord of Israel had forbode saying beware go not to them and let them not come to thee for of a suettis they will cause thee to bow thy heart to their god And yet Solomon went to them with great love. And he had vii C, women to his wife's, and, iii, c. concubines, and his wives caused him to apply his heart to strange gods, in so much that his heart could not be whole with the lord god, as the heart of his father David was, And so Solomon and Amoche went to the god of zydon and to Meicon the god of the Amoytes, and he builded a house Chamos the God of the Moabites, upon the mount that lieth before jerusalem, and Moloch god of the Amonites, and Solomon caused all his outlandy she wives to offer frankincense to their god. And therefore god took wrath upon him and departed his kingdom. Now behold how the most wisest Solomon was deceived of the women, & how his heart was separated from the lord God. Alas who may with stand the deceit, the flattering, & the weeping of women.  
 depiction of two men and a woman   

❧ A new deceit done of late at Danswyke in Pruyse.  
Upon a time it fortuned in the worthy city of Danswyke: that two young merchants went walking together to ward a place called artus garden, which stood in the market place, & as they went walking: there came a young lusty fair gentle woman the which met them, and her maid waiting upon her for they came fro the church, and so one of the young men beheld this gentle woman, and said, without advisement to his companion, by my troth there goeth a fair we man by us, if that I might lie one night by her, I would spend l nobles, the maid (hearing the word) said unto her masters, hearken masters what one of those men saith, one of the men that passeth by us said to his companion that he would give l, nobles that he might lie one night with you, The wife turned and looked back ward, and saw that he was a lusty young man, & said unto her maid, abide a little till he be departed from his fellow, & than ask him if it please him to come to night to our house, he shallbe welcome and yet for all that her husband was in the street. The maid did like as her masters had commanded her, and she went unto the young merchant when he was departed fro his fellow and said to him gentle young man will ye yet abide by the words that ye said when the gentlewoman came by you? yes said the young merchant yet will I abide by my word if I may obtain my purpose of that woman. Than said the maid, if it please you to obtain your purpose: than come to night to her house when the clock hath smitten vii For it is the manner in Danswyke that the most part of all the merchant men have supped at vii a clock, and than they go to Artus garden to drink and there to take there recreation. and sometime to make bargains with their merchandise, so that it is fomtyme late in the night ere that they come home. And thus went this gentilwomans' husband to Artus garden at vii of the clock after supper, and than the young merchant came home to the wife of the house, and she brought him above in a fair chamber, where she had arrayed a costly bed after the goodliest manner, and there they embraced each other with many a friendly kiss, and there was given the earnest penny upon their merchandise. And in short time after the young man did give her the l nobles whereof she sent one of them for wine and laid a way the residue of the money and kept it secretly, and than they drunk the wine and made good cheer, and one began to other like as Venus' children should do, and so they went to bed together, and there she took him in her arms with great love: seeking the flowers of nature in the sweet rose garden: and in the mean while the maid lay looking out at the window for a spy, waiting the coming of her master, as her masters had commanded her. For she knew well of the merchandise that was made between the merchant and her masters. ❧ And so when the clock smote xi in the night: than came her master home, and incontinent the maid perceived him and ran to her masters, which by and by came down and went to bed in her own chamber, and when her husband came to his chamber: his wife lay and routed as though she had been fast a sleep, and so he put of his clothes & went to bed to his wife, and she spoke in her sleep (as he thought) & said, alas husband why do ye a wake me so hastily out of my sleep I lay and slept sweetly, ye said her husband, ye know well that I must come to bed, and so in short time after she longed for to have been above again, for to renew the good pastance, & so she found a subtle means to beguile her husband and said, good husband I have so great lust to sleep, that I wot not what to do, and also I have such a tumbling in my belly, that I must needs go to the privy house, and I am afraid that I should fall asleep upon the privy, and than she arose up from her husband, and did set before the bed a basin and a stick in it, and said my best beloved husband, if that I fall a sleep upon the privy. I pray you than knock upon the basin that I may with the noise thereof awake, And her husband promised her that he would do her request, and than she went again above where she was joyfully received, for he thought it very long till that she came and her husband had drunk well in so much, that incontinent he fell asleep, and slept till in the morning at four a clock, and than he start out of his sleep & groped round about the bed: but he found not his wife, of the which he was afraid & leapt from the bed and smote upon the basin in so much that incontinent his wife came running and made her complaint & said, alas good husband, I have suffered very great could, for I have sit all this night sleeping there upon the privy and I dread sore that I shall get a great sickness after this cold. And so she went to bed to her husband and lay there till it was five of the clock in the mornyge. And than arose her husband for to go hear mass and for to do such things as he had for to do. And when that her husband was gone out, she went incontinent above to her other lover, and there she remained till that the clock smote viii for than it was leeful for them to arise and so departed without the knowledge of any body saving only the maid. And so it fortuned when that they were departed this young merchant would take his journey toward his house, that was in the city of Lubeck in Saxon and took his horse & went thitherwards. And upon the same day this woman's husband road out of the city of Danswyke toward the city Lubeck & so when that he had riden a while upon his journey: he looked up and saw a horse man ride afore him and when that he had seen him: he desired gladly for to have company, and road the faster till that he had over taken the other man that road afore him, and so when he had over taken him they road together, and than the elder man said to the young merchant I pray you tell me some news or else of your chances for to short our way withal. Than said the young merchant there is no chance fortuned to me and therefore I can tell none. Than said the merchant I have marvel of that, for in the city of Danswyke the young merchant men get many strange chances, for the marchaunces be commonly old men, and have for the most part young lusty wives the wyhche have more work in their shops than their husbands may well away with all, in so much that they borrow now and than a loaf of you or of such other. Than said the merchant by cocks bones there is a pretty chance fortuned to me of late of a merchants wife, and so he up and told him all the story of the woman and how it was brought to pass, and of the maid, & of the basin, like as is expressed afore, The good man heard him tell his tale and was not well content thereof in his mind and thought in himself, that all chose things were fortunate to himself but he laughed therewith. And when that they had rydon a little further: the merchant held still with his horse, and said, alas it is wrong with me for I should ride to Lubeck for money, & I have forgot ten my principal obligation that I should require my money withal, & therefore I must needs return home wards again, & if ye have no great business: I require you that ye will bear me company to my house, and I will pay for your costs and for your horse, & make you the best cheer that I can, Than said the young merchant, if I can do you any pleasure: I will be glad to beat your commandment. And so they took their journey back ward again and road home and came in at the back side of the merchants house, and came in at the horse stable, so that the young man knew not the house and than they went forth into the house, whereas they found the good wife sitting, the which he beheld & knew well in so much that he was astonied and said to himself. Alas what have I done, for it is not well now, but if I had kept my teeth before my tongue: than had I done well but there is no remedy it is done, & that that is said: cannot be called again, for it is said, and so must it be. And when that they were with the wife, than said her husband, wife take money and go to market & buy us some good meat, for I bring here with me a good friend, the which I will make good there to night. But god knoweth the wife was not well content with that friend to come in such manner. But not wstanding the wife must obey the commandment of her husband. And when it was night: the meat was ready, than the good man took his gest and set them down at the table, and there they were well but the wife went about the house and came not to supper, in so much that her husband was amoved with her and bade her that she should come and sit by him, the which she did at the last, & was sore ashamed. The good man made his jest the best cheer that he could: and drunk each to other plenty of wine. And so when that the supper was done and the meat taken from the table: than he commanded his servant and one of the maidens to departed out of the chamber, and the other maid that knew of the bargain: remained still in the chamber, and than he caused the chamber door to be locked, and said with a loud voice, Is here no honestly? for he that biteth his nose of, shameth his fate, and so it is with me, for if I shame my wife: I shame myself. And than he said to his wife. My wife ye be to costly for to be my wife if ye can win one night l nobles: for than would I hastily or in short time spend all my goods. The wife said that is not true, than was her husband angri and said. Gothy ways and fetch me hither the money, for God hath sent me enough & also I will have no such money in my house. Than the wife went with a moved mined, and did fetch the money and laid it to fore her husband upon the table, and he took it and cold it, and there was xlix nobles. And than he demanded the young man saying, is this thy money? no said the young man but it was once my money. Than said his host, put it in thy purse. Than the host had yet some silver money that was remaining of the noble, that was changed for the wine. And than said the host, yet not withstanding the labour must be paid, what shall I give thy wife for her labour? Than said the young man mine host, that I put to your good judgement. Than said the host, she shall have for her part a pair of shows & a pair of Slippers, and the maid that kept the watch shall have a pair of slippers, and the minstrel that played upon the basin at the focking shall have for his part a pot of wine, And so the host gave each his money the which they must receive. And than john john the boast that was minstrel gave his part first of all and sent for the wine and drunk and made good cheer, and that that yet remained of his money: he gave it again to the young man and said, hold take this and make good there therewith to night, and go to morrow where it please you, I require you that ye come here no more. And if ye have found any good fortune: I pray you be secret of your tongue and make no words of it for that that is done: must so remain for there is none other remedy. And so the young man road the next morning his way and was very glad of his chance. Now ye may see what that women can brew. Now be hold ye rich men of great power, & also young men the which have taken upon you great business & take a good heed hardly of false and subtle women. But alas who is it that can take heed? for scripture faith that a man shall seldom find an honest woman, or a worthy woman. For there standeth written. Mulietem fortem quis inventet? procul hic. etc. who is that, that may find a strong honest woman or a substancy all honest woman, far from hence or at the end of the world. Thus every man that will be sure: he may abstain the face of women and the conversation, their company, and being with them.   

¶ An old deceit done of old time.  
 depiction of man with head of John the Baptist  
THe servants of Herode were sent forth: and have take saint john & brought him to the jail & there set him fast in prison for Herodias sake. And Herodias laid against him many things & would have beheaded him, but they could not bring it to pass, and Herod dread john, for he knew well that he was a Prophet and a holy man, and took great heed to him and was obedient to him in many causes, and also he hero him gladly. And so it fortuned upon a day that he madi a great supper for his gentiles & principal states of Galyle. Than came in the daughter of Herodyas & danced of the which king Herode and they that were at his table took great pleasure therein. And incontinent said king Herode to Herodias daughter and said, desire of me what it please you and I will give it you. and with that he swore an other & said, what soever that ye will desire: I will give it you, ye to half my realm to, than said her mother to her, desire and ask the head of john baptist And than incontinent she went to the king, in great haste, and said, I will that ye give to me incontinent the head of john baptist in a platter Than was the king very sord wfull and so for his oath sake, & for the company that were at his table: he would not that she should desire in vain but gave to her her desire, And incontinent the king sent the hangman to the prison, and caused him to head john baptist & brought the head in a platter and gave it the daughter, and the daughter gave it forthwith to her mother. Now behold how that the holy prophet john baptist lost his head & life thorough the cause & falsed of the mischievous woman Herodias Behold what mischief and what marvelous things that women can bring to pass,   

¶ A new decyte done of late of a ❧ jalowsy man that would not very well trust his wife. ❧  
 depiction of flower  
THere was in Italy a well learned man the which had a fair young flower to his wife. This man had for the most part red all the practyces of the women how that they were wont to deceive their husbands and therefore he would not well trust his wife, and also he thought that he would take good heed, and to be well aware that he would not be deceived with such deceit and that perchance that his wife would spin ill yarn like as many wives had served their husbands before And so he abode in his jealousy well iii or four year in so much that his wife might never be out of his presence but all ways she must be by him, without that she went to the church for to here mass, & incontinent to come home again. And always when she went to church she had an old woman by her, as it is the manner in italy, the which took heed to her. And so it fortuned upon a time that a young lusty man hard tell of the rule and how that the fair gentle woman was troubled of her husband with the forenamed jealousy, And so it fortuned upon a time that this young lusty man came and met with this fair gentlewoman, and spoke to her secretly saying or telling to her his good will and intent and made his complaint with heavy sighs to her that she married such a jealous man. And he said to her that he loved her above all the women that were in the world, and showed her what that he would do for her love, and said if that it pleased you I will write it to you in a letter, for because that I may talk nolenger with you, if I wist that my simple service that cometh out of a good free heart should not be disdained nor put beside but accepted, and that my labour be not spent in vain, and that my hand be not idle occupied. And when the gentlewoman heard these words of the young gentle man and marked them well how that they were made with a good will and with great desire. And for because that the old trot stood so nigh by her: she gave the young man no good answer nor yet no loving token, but she was content & desired with good heart and mind for to see the letter & for to read it. ❧ Than the young man took his leave with a glad cheer for the fair gentlewoman gave him a friendly farewell. And so when he was departed: the old trot that stood behind her, demanded what he would with her: Than answered her masters and said he brought me tidings of my mother, of the which I am very glad, for she is yet in good health and is merry thanked be god. And so they went homeward, And the next day when the gentle woman went to church: her lover came and met with her and had made a friendly and a loving letter the which he put privily in her hand that the old trot knew nothing thereof, And when she was secretly alone: she opened the letter and did read how deeply that he was taken in the love of her and without that she would show grace to him: he should suffer death, and desired her heartily that it might remain secretly, and that his love might grow in her like as the love of her did grow in him. And when the gentle woman had red his letter: she took compassion upon him for her heat burned in the love of him, and would gladly have spoken with him, to the end that his love should not have been unrewarded, but she was so sharply watched that she could not speak to him, for she might not go one foot out of her house, but when that she went unto church and than had she avoid totheles whore that took heed to her and never went from her. This young man the next day did cloth him in an other taymence and came and met with the gentlewoman the which knew him well, and she passed so nigh by him: that she took him her letter in his hand so privily that no body saw it, and he lovingly received it and diligently read it, in the which he found whole contract and compact in so much that they lacked nothing but time & place And so he was very glad of the comfortable letter that he had of her. And so he went to a good friend of his which dwelled in the way as shewent to churchward, and showed her all the bondage of his heart how he was set in the love of her, desiring her that she would help him in his cause, and in time coming for to do as much for her gain, & so she promised him for to help him as much as lay in her power for to do, when he heard that: he thanked her and said be ye content that I may speak privily with her in your house: yea said the wife, speak with her as long as it pleaseth you if it please her for to come in my house, for I will be glad to show you all the pleasure that I can. Than was the young man very glad and wrote a letter to his lover in which letter was contained this following. O my most fairest and gracious lover & comfort of my heart, the hope of my intent & mind, the which hath so strongly caught my heart in the snare of your love, for ye be among all women the most gracius the most comeliest and one that nature hath not forgotten, please it you to wit how that I your worthy servant have a secret friend the which knoweth you well. And so she knoweth what a foul villain that ye have to your husband she dwelleth in the way as ye go to church ward and with your licence I will be there in the one for mere chambers in strange clothes that no body shall know me, & I will have by me a kettle of water mingled with ashes & when that ye come thereby, I will poor it upon your clothes And when ye be thus fouled? ye shall take it scornfully, and go into the house for to make you clean, & than ye shall send your keeper home for other raiment, and in the mean season we will talk together of our love, when she had red this letter: she wrote to him again that she was content with all such things as he had written to her. And the next day as she should go to the church ward: her typet, her rail, her gown, & all her clothes were all arrayed with ashes & water, and than was this gentilwoman angry and sore amoved, & so went into the house as if she had been ashamed, but it was but her countenance, and than her keeper took a knife & scraped her gown, as she thought it best. Then said the gentle woman (no no) let it alone for we do labour in vain, for it will not be incontinent clean. And therefore saying there is no remedy: run quickly home & fetch me another gown: a typet, and a tail, & come quickly again, that we lose not our mass. And thus is the old trot gone home for other clothes, and incontinent the gentle woman went above to her sweet heart, of the which she was lovingly received, and kissed her sweetly, and lovingly embraced each other, and there was love by love, & there love spoke to love a long time together. And when her keeper came home without her masters: than her master demanded of her where she had left his wife. Than said the old trot gent: I master we have had a great misfortune, and so she up & told him all that was fortuned: and therefore I ●um for another gown, & for another tippet for my masters is ashamed for to go so in the street. Than said her master is it of a truth? her keeper said sir it is as I have showed you. Than said her master go to thy masters, for I know well what it is. For I have red of much deceit, mischief and many subtle ways that woman have to beguile their husbands withal, but this subtle means I never saw nor red afore this time. And therefore he fell in great melancholy and died in short time after, for because that he had studied so long in vain and for because that he was so falsely deceived and by such subtle means. And therefore every man take heed to his wife and beware of deceitfulness.   

 depiction of Hercules brandishing sword  
❧ An old deceit done in old time.  
THe strong and worthy Hercules was overcome in all his power and strength through the love of a young maid, the fair Iole that kings daughter of Calido ny in the which the worthiest of the world could not overcome & bring him to shame. This king her father had promised Hercules that his daughter Iole should be his wife, the which in short time after he repented, of the which Hercules was very wroth, and took war against the king and overcame him, and took all the country with the fair Iole the which he so entirely loved. But youthe which thought more upon the death of her father than on the love of Hercules under a colour of false love and with subtle means smiling and with flattering words: hath drawn Hercules to such great love, that she caused him for to do what it pleased her and so she hath caused him for to do lay a way his iron staff, wherewith he was wont for to rule the strong mosters and beasts withal. She caused him for to lay a way the lions skin and caused him to be clothed with soft clothes of silk, she caused him for to were a crown of to semary upon his head, and golden tynges upon his fingers, his rough here was kembed and after the best manner trimmed, & set a crown upon his head and other costly ornaments such as the maidens and women did were. She caused his tough beard to be anointed with costly oil of Cypress,  
This Iole was well feene in deceit & thought in herself that it was more laudable to deceive such a gross strong man with adultery, than to kill him with the sword of mischief, and so to revenge her father's death yet (to the dishonour of the worthy Hercules, she caused him for to give himself to women's business and idleness, in so much that he went and sat among the women and told ryddels and fortunes as the children did, and fate and spon yarn at the distaff as the women did.  
❧ Now behold how the worthy Hercules is brought to femynyne works through the deceit of Iole to his utter confusion, the which was wont to be so manly in all his fears. Now behold, what mischief, what marvels and what folly shites that the false and subtle women can bring to pass, yea that seemeth unpossible for to be, that can they do and bring to pass.   

 depiction of man next to woman who is in bed  
¶ A new deceit done of late.  
IN the Ereledom of Henegou dwelled a rich marehaunt the which had a fair honest young woman to his wife, which merchant was most part from home for because of his merchandise, the which is not good for young women for women be nice and sliper, & specially when they seldom see that they love, for than lightly truneth there mind. Like as it fortuned with this merchants wife, for the long being forth of her husband was the cause that her heart was set a fire in the love of an other young man, with the which she had had long her pastime secretly. And this merchant had an uncle the which dwelled over against him and saw every night when the merchant was out of town, an other came to his house and saw him go out in the morning again. And so when his uncle had seen this many times/ he went and showed the merchant what rule that his wife kept when he was from home about his profit, for when he road in cold and in rain, his wife lay with an other young man dalieng in the bed, when the merchant heard of this, he was not well content and so it fortuned upon a tune the merchant was at home and shortly made him ready and caused his horse to be saddled, and said that he would ride a great journey, and that it would be long ere that he came again, & so he gave his wit charge of his house, and that she should see that all things were well and in good order. And in the morning early the marchunt took his journey and road forth, and in the evening when it was somewhat dark he came home into the city again, and set his horse in a stable by and by, and than came to his uncles house for to know the troth, and for to watch the wooer to whom his wife had send word that her husband was out of the town. And when that the clock had smitten ix the young man can walking up & down before the merchants house, waiting if there came any body to the door, and so the young man went walking up & down to & fro ii or iii times before the merchants house. The merchant seeing that, boldly went forth on his uncles house and came to the young man & said, My masters said that ye shall go with me here behind in the barn & there ye shall abide for a season, for perchance that our master come again, & so he took the young man & brought him privily to the barn and locked the door fast that he could not come out. And than he went out at the bake side and came home again to his uncles house, and said the mouse is in the trap what is now best to be done? Than said his uncles wife, go and fetch her friends, that they may see what an honest wife that ye have. And then the merchant went and fet his wives father and mother & her two brothers and two of her sisters, & caused them all for to come to his uncles house, & there he showed unto them what a false whore that he had to his wife & how that he had locked her wooer in the barn that he could not come out, and there desired her friends that they would help to kill the false knave, the which they all together that were present promised for to do. And the mean while that the merchant went for to get her friends together, the gentle woman his wife went out and walked too and fro, for to look for her lover and so as she went up and down, she came to fore the barn unknown to her that her lover was there, and when that he heard that there was one about the barn, he encouraged himself and said, who is there? the gentle woman (his wife being all afraid answered & said I am here your lover, how came ye hither? The youngman said, your servant brought me hither, & said that ye said that I should tarry here, for perchance that your husband should come to night again. Alas said his wife, that is not so, I am afraid it hath been my husband. Than said the yongeman, let me out or else I will break the barn, Than said that gentilwoman I require that do not so, for than were I utterly dishonested & utterly shamed for ever, & she could not let him out for she had not the key, & so she went shortly into the house & there she found a bundle of old keys, & among the same keys she found a key that opened the barn door, & so she let out her lover, & in the same barn she went & set an ass for to save her honesty, & than locked the barn fast again, & with a kiss they departed from thence & went to his rest And when that all her friends were assembled in his uncles house than they took with them burning torches and other lights, and so they came before the merchants door with halberdes & sword and knocked at the door, & incontinent the gentylwoman let them in & marveled greatly and said, O my friend, what meaneth this that ye come so late here by night. And incontinent the merchant her husband took his fist and beat her that her nose and mouth ran a blood, & said thou whore thou shalt know anon wherefore. And so forth they went all together to the barn and there they stood with halberdes and naked sword for to kill the young man with all. And the merchant said to his wife unlock the barn. The gentlewoman said, I never had the key, the key hath evermore been with your keys. And than he fet his keys & unlocked the barn. And when the ass saw all the light: he cried very dreadfully, in so much that they were afraid, & saw that it was an ass that stood there of the which the friends were sore amoved and said, thou art a foul knave & a ribald & a dishonester of women & falls lying traitor, and if he had not run a way: her two fysters would have killed him. And the merchant seeing that was whole ashamed & witted not what to say, but sought for grace and mercy. And so after that: they led their life in peace and concord, And the betrayer was ever more hated & so if one see & know any such things, let him hold his peace & be still, & let god's water go over god's land and than ye shall have no miss thanke.   

¶ The conclusion,  
I Should have written much more of the deceit of women, for there was ye without number in the pen And for because that it should not be to redyous for the reder, and that the women should not be dyscontent, and also it is against my own heart, for the conversation of the women is so sweet, so lovely and so delectable to behold, for without women may none be full made, further, there as is no women is none made. Also beside that (as we find written, the face and beauty of the women kindleth the heart of man. Therefore all ye good honest women, and virgins be not miscontent, for that I have written here is of the untrue and naughty hariots, the which seek nothing but good cheer, and concupisbence of the flesh, the which is the way to hell, from the which our merciful lord jesus Christ defend us. Amen,  
FINIS,    

☞ Imprinted at London in Paul's Church yard at the sign of the Lamb, by Abraham Vele,