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of your office； which priviledgeth you to correct such abuses； not
onely in friends； but also in strangers。 Enow other women there are；
（more is the pitty） who perhaps are better disposed to such suites
then I am； and can both like and allow of such courting； otherwise
then I can doe； as being willing to embrace such offers； and （happily）
loath to yeeld deniall。 Wherefore； most humbly I entreate you good
Father （even for our blessed Ladies sake） that you would give him a
friendly reprehension； and advise him to use such unmanly meanes no
more heereafter。 With which words； she hung downe her bead in her
bosome； cunningly dissembling； as if shee wept； wiping her eyes with
her Handkerchife； when not a teare fel from them； but indeed were
dry enough。
The holy Religious man； so soone as he heard her description of
the man； presently knew whom shee meant； and highly commending the
Gentlewoman for her good and vertuous seeming disposition； beleeved
faithfully all that shee had said： promising her； to order the
matter so well and discreetly； as shee should not any more bee
offended。 And knowing her to be a woman of great wealth （after all
their usuall manner； when they cast forth their fishing nets for
gaine：） liberally he commeuned Almesdeeds； and dayly workes of
Charity； recounting to her beside his owne particular necessities。
Then； giving him two peeces of Gold； she said： I pray you （good
Father） to be mindfull of me； and if he chance to make any deniall；
tell him； that I spake it my selfe to you； and by the way of a sad
complaint her confession being ended； and penance easie enough
enjoyned her； she promised to make her parents bountifull
Benefactors to the Convent； and put more money into his hand； desiring
him in his Masses； to remember the soules of her deceased friends； and
so returned home to her house。
Within a short while after her departure； the Gentleman； of whome
she made this counterfeit complaint； came thither； as was his usuall
manner； and having done his duty to the holy Father； they sate downe
together privately； falling out of one discourse into another。 At
the length； the Friar （in very loving and friendly sort） mildly
reproved him for such amorous glaunces； and other pursuites； which （as
he thought） he dayly used to the Gentlewoman； according to her owne
speeches。 The Gentleman mervalled greatly thereat； as one that had
never seene her； and very sildome passed by the way where shee
dwelt； which made him the bolder in his answeres； wherein the
Confessour interrupting him； saide。 Never make such admiration at
the matter； neyther waste more words in deniall； because they cannot
serve thy turne； I tell thee plainely； I heard these words even from
her owne selfe； in a very sorowfull and sad complaint。 And though
（perhaps） heereafter； thou canst very hardly refraine such follies；
yet let me tell thee so much of her （and under the seale of absolute
assurance） that she is the onely woman of the world； who to my
judgement； doth abhorre all such base behaviour。 In regard therefore
of thine owne honour； as also not to vex and prejudice so vertuous a
Gentlewoman； I pray thee refraine such idlenesse henceforward； and
suffer her to live in peace。
The Gentleman being a little wiser then his ghostly Father；
perceived immediately； the notable pollicy of the Woman。 Whereupon；
making somewhat bashfull appearance of any error already committed； he
said； He would afterward be better advised。 So departing from the
Friar； hee went on directly； to passe by the house where the
Gentlewoman dwelt； and shee stood alwayes ready on her watch； at a
little Window； to observe when he would walke that way。 And seeing him
comming； shee shewed her selfe so joyfull and gracious to him； as he
easily understood； whereto the substance of the holy Fathers chiding
tended。 And from that time forward； he used dayly though in covert
manner （to the no litle liking of the Gentlewoman and himselfe） to
make his passage thorough that street； under colour of some
important occasions there concerning him。
Soone after； it being plainely discerned on either side； that the
one was as well contented with these walkes； as the other could be：
she desired to enflame him a little further； by a more liberall
illustration of her affection towards him； when time and place
affoorded convenient opportunity。 To the holy Father againe she
went； （for she had beene too long from shrift） and kneeling downe at
his feete； intended to begin her confession in teares； which the Friar
perceiving； sorrowfully demanded of her； what accident had happened？
Holy Father （quoth shee） no novell accident； only your wicked and
ungracious friend； by whom （since I was heere with you； yea； no longer
agoe then yesterday） I have been so wronged； as I verily beleeve
that he was borne to bee my mortall enemy； and to make me do
somthing to my utter disgrace for ever； and whereby I shall not dare
to be seene any more of you my deare Father。 How is this？ answered the
Friar； hath he not refrained from afflicting you so abusively？
Pausing a while； and breathing foorth many a dissembled sighe；
thus shee replyed。 No truely； holy Father； there is no likelyhood of
his abstaining； for since I made my complaint to you； he belike taking
it in evil part； to bee contraried in his wanton humours； hath
（meerely in despight） walked seaven times in a day by my doore；
whereas formerly he never used it above once or twice。 And well were
it （good Father） if he could be contented with those walkes； and
gazing glances which hee dartes at me： but growne he is so bolde and
shamelesse； that even yesterday； （as I tolde you） hee sent a woman
to me； one of his Pandoraes； as it appeared； and as if I had wanted
either Purses or Girdies； hee sent me by her； a Purse and a Girdle。
Whereat I grew so greevously offended； as had it not bene for my due
respect and feare of God； and next the sacred reverence I beare to you
my ghostly Father； doubtlesse I had done some wicked deede。
Neverthelesse； happily I withstood it； and wil neither say or do any
thing in this case； till first I have made it knowne to you。
Then I called to minde； that having redelivered the Purse and Girdle
to his shee…Messenger； which brought them with lookes sufficient to
declare my discontentment： I called her backe againe； fearing least
she would keep them to her selfe； and make him beleeve that I had
received them （as I have heard such kinde of women use to do
sometimes） and in anger I snatcht them from her； and have brought them
you； to the end； that you may give him them againe； and tell him； I
have no need of any such things； thankes be to heaven and my
husband； as no woman can be better stored then I am。 Wherefore good
Father； purposely am I now come to you； to let him know； that if he
will not abstaine from thus molesting me； I will disclose it to my
Husband； Father； and Brethren； whatsoever befall。 For I had rather
he should receive the injury； then I to be causelessly blamed for him；
wherein good Father tell me； if I dooe not well。 With many
counterfet sobbes； sighes； and teares these words were delivered；
and drawing foorth from under her gowne； a very faire and rich
purse； as also a Girdle of great worth； she threw them into the Friars
lappe。
He verily beleeving all this false report； being troubled in his
minde thereat beyond measure； tooke the Gentlewoman by the hand；
saying： Daughter； if thou be offended at these impudent follies；
assuredly I cannot blame thee； nor will any wiseman reproove thee
for it； and I commend thee for following my counsell。 But let me alone
for schooling of my Gentleman； ill hath he kept his promise made to
me； wherefore； in regard of his former offence； as also this other
so lately committed； I hope to set him in such heate； as shall make
him leave off from further injurying thee。 Suffer not thy selfe to
be conquerd by choller； in disclosing this to thy kindred or
husband； because too much harme may ensue thereon。 But feare not any
wrong to thy selfe； for I am a true witnesse of thine honesty and
vertue。
Now began she to seeme better comforted； and forbearing to play on
this string any longer； as well knowing the covetousnes of him and his
equals； she said： Holy Father； some few nights past； me thought in
my sleepe； that divers spirits of my kindred appeared to me in a
vision； who me thought were in very great pains； and desired nothing
els but Almes； especially my Godmother； who seemed to be afflicted
with such extrem poverty； that it was most Pittifull to behold。 And
I am halfe perswaded； that her torments are the greater； seeing me
troubled with such an enemy to goodnesse。 Wherefore （good Father） to
deliver her soule and the others out of those fearfull flames； among
your infinite other devout prayers； I would have you to say the
forty Masses of S。 Gregory； as a means for their happy deliverance；
and so she put ten ducates into his hand。 Which the holy man accepted
thankfully； and with good words； as also many singular examples；
confirmed her bountifull devotion： and when he had given her his
benediction； home she departed。
After that the Gentlewoman was gone； hee sent for his frien