_The notable charitie of a woman of Tours towards her husbande._
Another hystorie of like example I thincke meete to bee annexed:
which telleth howe in the Cittie of Tours in Fraunce, there was
a fayre and honest wyfe which for her vertues was not onelye
beloued, but also feared and esteemed of her husband. So it was
that he followinge the fragilitie of those men, which be wearie
of delicate fare, fill in loue with a woman of the Countrye that
kepte his house there, and many times departed from Tours to
visite his countrie woman, where he commonlye taried II. or III.
dayes before his retorne: and when he came home againe to Tours,
he ordinarely did take cold, whereof his good wife had much to
do to recouer him. And so sone as he was hole, hee failed not to
returne to the place, where pleasure made him forget all his
former griefe and sicknes. His wife which aboue all thinges
loued his life and tendred his health, seinge him commonly
broughte into so poore estate, went into the Countrye, where she
founde out the yong woman that her husband loued. Vnto whom (not
in choler but with smilinge cheere and countenaunce) shee sayd:
"How she knew well that oftentimes her husband repaired thither
to visite her, and that she was not well content that she vsed
him no more carefully, for when he came home from her he toke so
great cold as long time after she had much a doe to recouer
him." The poore woman as wel for the reuerence of the Dame, as
for the trouth of the matter, could not denie the facte, and
therefore fallinge downe vppon her knees, asked her forgiuenes.
The maistresse required to see the bedde and chamber, where her
husband laie, which she perceiued to be so cold, ill fauoured,
and out of order, as she pitied and lamented the case: wherefore
incontinently she sent for a good bedde furnished with sheetes,
blanquets and Couerlet, accordingly as she knew her husband
loued, causing the chamber to be repaired, hanged, and dressed
vp, after the best maner: she gaue her also plate and vessell to
serue her husband at meales, together with a punchion of wyne,
spice, and other confections: and then prayed the woman to sende
home her husbande, no more so sicke, but to interteigne and
cherishe him after the most delicate and carefull maner she
could. The husband taried not long at home, but after his olde
custome wente againe into the countrie to visit his woman, and
marueiled much to finde her poore lodging so trimlye garnished,
but much more he wondred when calling for drincke he sawe her to
bringe him a siluer potte, asking her where she had gotten all
those goodes. The poore woman sayde vnto him weeping, that it
was his wife, which hauing so great pitie vppon his ill
intreatie, had furnished her house, and had committed vnto her
the charge and regard of his health. Hee seing the greate
humilitie and goodnes of his wyfe, and that shee for the
vnkindnes he shewed vnto her, had requited him with that
curtesie and louing kindnes, well pondering and regarding his
owne frailtie, and the honeste demeanor of his wyfe, afterwards
rewarded the poore woman with money, and perswaded her from that
time foorth to liue an honest life. And then returned home to
his wyfe, confessing vnto her the negligence of his dutie, and
that excepte she had vsed that kinde of curtesie and goodnes
towards him, it had bin impossible for him to forsake and giue
ouer his vngodlye life: and afterwardes vtterly abandoning his
behauiour past, they liued together in great rest and quietnes.
Belieue me if ye list (to you good wiues I speake) that there be
verye few ill husbands, whom the pacience and loue of the wyfe,
is able at lengthe to winne, or els they be more harde then
stones, which the soft and feble water by continuance of time,
is able to weare and make holow: for when the wiue's lenitie
shall enter his carelesse stomacke, and her pacient suffraunce
renew remembraunce of dutie, then doth conscience bite, and gnaw
the cancred cord that tyeth vp the good consideracion of his
office, and regarde to maried life: then doth age abhorre the
lewdnes of former life, and commeth home to cherish the holsome
Nourice of his pleasant state. Then regardeth he the bande
wherewith matrimonie hath bound him, and both at bedde and borde
obserueth the ful perfections of the same.