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Simonida； who had heard all this tempestuous conflict； perceiving
that her Husband had lockt the streete doore after him； and was gone
whether he pleased： unbolted the Chamber doore； lighted a waxe candle；
and went in to see her poore maide； whom she found to be most
pittifully misused。 She comforted her as well as she could； brought
her into her owne lodging Chamber； where washing her face and hurts in
very soveraigne waters； and rewarding her liberally with
Arriguccioes owne Gold； she held her selfe to be sufficiently
satisfyed。 So； leaving the maide in her lodging； and returning again
to her owne Chamber： she made up the bed in such former manner； as
if no body had lodged therein that night。 Then hanging up her Lampe
fresh fild with oyle； and clearly lighted； she deckt her selfe in so
decent sort； as if she had bin in no bed all that night。
Then taking sowing worke in her hand； either shirts or bands of
her Husbands； hanging the Lampe by her； and sitting downe at the
stayres head； she fell to worke in very serious manner； as if shee had
undertaken some imposed taske。
On the other side； Arriguccio had travelled so farre from his house；
till he came at last to the dwelling of Simonidaes brethren： where hee
knockt so soundly； that he was quickely heard； and （almost as
speedily） let in。 Simonidaes brethren； and her mother also； hearing of
Arriguccioes comming thither so late。 Rose from their beds； and each
of them having a Waxe Candle lighted； came presently to him； to
understand the cause of this his so unseasonable visitation。
Arriguccio； beginning at the originall of the matter； the thred
found tyed about his wives great toe； the fight and houshold
conflict after following： related every circumstance to them。 And
for the better proofe of his words； he shewed them the thred it selfe；
the lockes supposed of his wives haire； and adding withall； that
they might now dispose of Simonida as themselves pleased； because
she should remaine no longer in his house。
The brethren to Simonida were exceedingly offended at this relation；
in regard they beleeved it for truth； and in this fury； commanded
Torches to be lighted； preparing to part thence with Arriguccio home
to his house； for the more sharpe reprehension of their Sister。
Which when their mother saw； she followed them weeping； first
entreating one； and then the other； not to be over rash in crediting
such a slander； but rather to consider the truth thereof advisedly：
because the Husband might be angry with his Wife upon some other
occasion； and having outraged her； made this the meanes in excuse of
himselfe。 Moreover she said； that she could not chuse but wonder
greatly； how this matter should thus come to passe： because she had
good knowledge of her daughter； during the whole course of her
education； faultlesse and blamelesse in every degree； with many
other good words of her beside； as proceeding from naturall
affection of a mother。
Being come to the house of Arriguccio； entring in； and ascending
up the stayres： they heard Simonida sweetly singing at her working；
but pausing； upon hearing their rude trampling； shee demaunded； who
was there。 One of the angry brethren presently answered： Lewde woman
as thou art； thou shalt know soone enough who is heere： Our blessed
Lady be with us （quoth Simonida） and sweet Saint Frances helpe to
defend me； who dare use such unseemely speeches？ Starting up and
meeting them on the staire head： Kinde brethren； （said she） is it you？
What； and my loving mother too？ For sweet Saint Charities sake； what
may be the reason of your comming hither in this manner。 Shee being
set downe againe to her worke； so neatly apparelled； without any signe
of outrage offered her； her face unblemished； her haire comely
ordered； and differing wholly from the former speeches of her Husband：
the Brethren marvelled thereat not a little； and asswaging somewhat
the impetuous torrent of their rage； began to demaund in coole
blood； （as it were） from what ground her Husbands complaints
proceeded； and threatning her roughly； if she would not confesse the
truth intirely to them。
Ave Maria （quoth Simonida； crossing her selfe） Alas deare
Brethren； I know not what you say； or meane； nor wherein my Husband
should bee offended； or make any complaint at all of me。 Arriguccio
hearing this looked on her like a man that had lost his Senses： for
well he remembred； how many cruell blowes he had given her on the
face； beside scratches of his nailes； and spurnes of his feet； as also
the cutting of her haire； the least shew of all which misusage； was
not now to be seene。 Her brethren likewise briefly told her； the whole
effect of her Husbands speeches； shewing her the thred； and in what
cruell manner he sware hee did beate her。 Simonida； turning then to
her Husband； and seeming as confounded with amazement； said。 How is
this Husband？ what doe I heare？ would you have me supposed （to your
owne shame and disgrace） to be a bad woman； and your selfe a cruell
curst man； when （on either side） there is no such matter？ When were
you this night heere in the house with mee？ Or when should you beate
mee； and I not feele nor know it？ Beleeve me （sweete heart） all
these are meerely miracles to me。
Now was Arriguccio ten times more mad in his minde； then before；
saying。 Divell； and no woman； did wee not this night goe both together
to bed？ Did not I cut this thred from thy great toe； tyed it to
mine； and found the craftie compact betweene thee and thy Minnion？ Did
not I follow and fight with him in the streets？ Came I not backe
againe； and beate thee as a Strumpet should be？ And are not these
the locks of haire； which I my selfe did cut from thy bead？
Alas Sir （quoth she） where have you been？ doe you know what you say？
you did not lodge in this house this night； neither did I see you
all the whole day and night； till now。
But leaving this； and come to the matter now in question； because
I have no other testimony then mine owne words。 You say； that you
did beate me； and cut those lockes of haire from my head。 Alas Sir；
why should you slander your selfe？ In all your life time you did never
strike me。 And to approve the truth of my speeches； doe you your
selfe； and all else heere present； looke on me advisedly； if any signe
of blow or beating is to be seene on me。 Nor were it an easie matter
for you to doe either to smite； or so much as lay your hand （in anger）
on me； it would cost dearer then you thinke for。 And whereas you
say； that you did cut those lockes of haire from my head； it is more
then either I know； or felt； nor are they in colour like to mine： but；
because my Mother and brethren shall be my witnesses therein； and
whether you did it without my knowledge； you shall all see； if they be
cut； or no。 So； taking off her head attyre； she displayed her hayre
over her shoulders； which had suffered no violence； neither seemed
to bee so much as uncivilly or rudely handled。
When the mother and brethren saw this； they began to murmure against
Arriguccio； saying。 What thinke you of this Sir？ you tell us of
strange matters which you have done； and all proving false； we
wonder how you can make good the rest。 Arriguccio looked wilde； and
confusedly； striving still to maintaine his accusation： but seeing
every thing to bee flatly against him； he durst not attempt to
speake one word。 Simonida tooke advantage of this distraction in
him； and turning to her brethren； saide。 I see now the marke whereat
he aymeth； to make me doe what I never meante： Namely； that I should
acquaint you with his vile qualities； and what a wretched life I leade
with him； which seeing hee will needes have me to reveale； beare
with me if I doe it upon compulsion。
Mother and Brethren； I am verily perswaded； that those accidents
which he disclosed to you； hath doubtlesse （in the same manner）
happened to him； and you shall heare how。 Very true it is； that this
seeming honest man； to whom （in a lucklesse houre） you married me；
stileth himselfe by the name of a Merchant； coveting to be so
accounted and credited； as holy in outward appearance； as a
Religious Monke； and as demure in lookes； as the modestest Maide： like
a notorious common drunkard； is a Taverne hunter； where making his
luxurius matches； one while with one Whore； then againe with
another； hee causeth mee every night to sit tarrying for him； even
in the same sort as you found me： sometimes till midnight； and
otherwhiles till broad day light in the morning。
And questionlesse； being in his wounted drunken humour； hee hath
lyen with one of his sweet Consorts； about whose toe he found the
thred； and finding her as false to him； as he hath alwayes been to me：
Did not onely beat her； but also cut the haire from her head。 And
having not yet recovered his sences； is verily perswaded； and cannot
be altered from it； but that hee performed all this villany to me。 And
if you doe but advisedly observe his countenance； he appeareth yet
to be more then halfe drunke。
But whatsoever he hath said concerning me； I make no account at
all thereof； because he spake it in his drunkennesse； and as freely as
I forgive him； even so （good Mother and kinde Brethre