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should bee most heartily welcome。 Afterward； entring into further
consideration with her selfe； what the King might meane by his private
visitation； knowing her Husband to be from home； and it to bee no
meane barre to his apter entertainement： at last she discreetly
conceited （and therin was not deceived） that babling report of her
beauty and perfections； might thus occasion the Kings comming thither；
his journey lying else a quite contrary way。 Notwithstanding； being
a Princely Lady； and so loyal a wife as ever lived shee intended to
give him her best entertainement： summoning the chiefest Gentlemen
in the Country together； to take due order （by their advice） for
giving the King a gracious Welcome。 But concerning the dinner； and
diet for service to his Table； that remained onely at her own
disposing。
Sending presently abroad； and buying all the Hennes that the Country
affoorded； shee commaunded her Cookes； that onely of them （without any
other provision beside） they should prepare all the services that they
could devise。 On the morrow； the King came according to his promise；
and was most honourably welcomed by the Lady； who seemed in his eye
（far beyond the Knights speeches of her） the fairest creature that
ever he had seene before； whereat he mervailed not a little； extolling
her perfections to be peerelesse； which much the more enflamed his
affections； and （almost） made his desires impatient。 The King beeing
withdrawne into such Chambers； as orderly were prepared for him； and
as beseemed so great a Prince： the houre of dinner drawing on； the
King and the Lady Marquesse were seated at one Table； and his
attendants placed at other tables； answerable to their degrees of
honour。
Plenty of dishes being served in； and the rarest Wines that the
Countrey yeelded； the King had more minde to the faire Lady Marques；
then any meate that stood on the Table。 Neverthelesse； observing
each service after other； and that all the Viands （though variously
cooked； and in divers kindes） were nothing else but Hennes onely； he
began to wonder； and so much the rather； because he knew the Country
to be of such quality； that it afforded all plenty both of Fowles
and Venison： beside； after the time of his comming was heard； they had
respite enough； both for hawking and hunting； and therefore it
encreased his marvell the more； that nothing was provided for him； but
Hennes onely： wherein to be the better resolved； turning a merry
countenance to the Lady； thus he spake。 Madam； are Hennes onely bred
in this Country； and no Cockes？ The Lady Marquesse； very well
understanding his demand； which fitted her with an apt opportunity； to
thwart his idle hope； and defend her owne honour； boldly returned
the King this answere。 Not so my Lord； but women and wives；
howsoever they differ in garments and graces one from another； yet
notwithstanding； they are all heere as they bee in other places。
When the King heard this reply； he knew well enough the occasion
of his Henne dinner； as also； what vertue lay couched under her
answere； perceiving apparantly； that wanton words would prove but in
vaine； and such a woman was not easily to be seduced； wherefore； as
hee grew enamored on her inconsiderately； so he found it best
fitting for his honour； to quench this heate with wisedome discreetly。
And so； without any more words； or further hope of speeding in so
unkingly a purpose； dinner being ended； by a sudden departing； he
smoothly shadowed the cause of his comming； and thanking her for the
honour shee had done him； commended her to her chaste disposition； and
posted away with speede to Gennes。
THE FIRST DAY； THE SIXT NOVELL
DECLARING； THAT IN FEW； DISCREETE； AND WELL PLACED WORDS；
THE COVERED CRAFT OF CHURCH…MEN MAY BEE JUSTLY REPROVED； AND
THEIR HYPOCRISIE HONESTLY DISCOVERED
An honest plaine meaning man； （simply and conscionably）
reprehended the malignity； hypocrisie； and misdemeanour of many
Religious persons。
Madam Aemilia sitting next to the gentle Lady Fiammetta；
perceiving the modest chastisement； which the vertuous Lady
Marquesse had given to the King of France； was generally graced by the
whole Assembly； began （after the Queene had thereto appointed her）
in these words。 Nor will I conceale the deserved reprehension； which
an honest simple lay…man； gave to a covetous holy Father； in very
few words； yet more to be commended； then derided。
Not long since （worthy Ladies） there dwelt in our owne native
City； a Friar Minor； an Inquisitor after matters of Faith； who；
although he laboured greatly to seeme a sanctified man； and an earnest
affecter of Christian Religion； （as all of them appeare to be in
outward shew；） yet he was a much better Inquisitor after them that had
their purses plenteously stored with money； then of such as were
slenderly grounded in Faith。 By which diligent continued care in
him； he found out a man； more rich in purse； then understanding； and
yet not so defective in matters of faith； as misguided by his owne
simple speaking； and （perhaps） when his braine was well warmed with
wine； words fell more foolishly from him； then in better judgement
they could have done。
Being on a day in company； （very little differing in quality from
him selfe） he chanced to say； that he had beene at such good wine；
as God himselfe did never drinke better。 Which words （by some
Sicophant then in presence） being carried to this curious
Inquisitor； and he well knowing； that the mans faculties were great；
and his bagges swolne up full with no meane abundance： Cum gladijs
et fustibus； With Booke； Bell； and Candle； he raysed an hoast of
execrations against him； and the Sumner cited him with a solemne
Processe to appeare before him； understanding sufficiently； that
this course would sooner fetch money from him； then amend any
misbeliefe in the man； for no further reformation did he seeke after。
The man comming before him； hee demanded； if the accusation
intimated against him； was true or no？ Whereto the honest man
answered； that he could not denie the speaking of such words； and
declared in what manner they were uttered。 Presently the Inquisitor；
most devoutly addicted to Saint John with the golden beard； saide；
What？ Doest thou make our Lord a drinker； and a curious quaffer of
wines； as if he were a glutton； a belly…god； or a Taverne haunter；
as thou； and other drunkards are。 Being an hypocrite； as thou art；
thou thinkest this to be but a light matter； because it may seeme so
in thine owne opinion： but I tell thee plainely； that it deserveth
fire and faggot； if I should proceede in justice to inflict it on
thee： with these； and other such like threatning words； as also a very
stearne and angry countenance； he made the man beleeve himselfe to
be an Epicure； and that hee denied the eternity of the soule；
whereby he fell into such a trembling feare； as doubting indeede；
least he should be burned； that； to be more mercifully dealt withal；
he rounded him in the eare； and by secret meanes； so annointed his
hands with Saint Johns golden grease （a verie singular remedie against
the Disease Pestilentiall in covetous Priests； especially Friars
Minors； that dare touch no money） as the case became very quickly
altered。
This soveraigne Unction was of such vertue （though Galen speakes not
a word thereof among all his cheefest Medicines） and so farre
prevailed； that the terrible threatning words of fire and faggot；
became meerly frozen up； and gracious language blew a more gentle
and calmer ayre； the Inquisitor delivering him an hallowed
Crucifixe； creating him a Soldier of the Crosse （because he had
payed Crosses good store for it；） and even as if he were to travell
under that Standard to the holy Land； so did hee appoint him a
home…paying pennance； namely； to visit him thrice every weeke in his
Chamber； and to annoint his hands with the selfe…same yellow
unguent； and afterward； to heare Masse of the holy Crosse； visiting
him also at dinner time； which being ended； to do nothing all the rest
of the day； but according as he directed him。
The simple man； yet not so simple； but seeing that this weekely
greazing the Inquisitors hands； would in time graspe away all his
gold； grew weary of this annointing； and began to consider with
himselfe； how to stay the course of this chargeable penance。 And
comming one morning （according to his injunction） to heare Masse； in
the Gospell he observed these words； You shall receive an hundred
for one； and so possesse eternall life； which saying； he kept
perfectly in his memory： and as he was commanded； at dinner time； he
came to the Inquisitor； finding him （among his fellowes） seated at the
Table。 The Inquisitor presently demaunded of him； whether he had heard
Masse that morning； or no？ Yes Sir； replyed the man very readily。 Hast
thou heard any thing therein （quoth the Inquisitor） whereof thou art
doubtfull； or desirst to be further informed？ Surely Sir； answered the
plaine…meaning man； I make no doubt of any thing I have heard； but
do beleeve all constantly： onely one thing troubleth me much； and
maketh me very compassionate of you； and of all thes