trust me by the faith of a gentleman, I never spake to the woman, was never in her companye, neither doo I know her if I see her. At this they all fell in a laughing at Mutio, who was ashamde that Lionello had so scoft him: but all was well -they were made friends; but the jest went so to his hart, that he shortly after died, and Lionello enjoyed the ladye: and for that they two were the death of the old man, now are they plagued in purgatory, and he whips them with nettles.

No. VI.

[I print the following tale from a very curious and rare work, entitled, "Westward for Smelts," 4to., Lond., 1620; the only copy of which I have ever seen is in Trinity College Library, Cambridge. Steevens mentions an earlier copy, of the date of 1603, but, not finding any notice elsewhere of such an edition, and there being nothing in the Cambridge copy to indicate that it is a reprint, I am inclined to think that Steevens must have fallen into an error. It was entered in the books of the Stationers' Company in January, 1619-20. I insert the present tale in this place in deference to the opinion of Malone, who thinks" it probably led Shakespeare to lay the scene of Falstaff's love adventures at Windsor." See Malone's Shakespeare, by Boswell, vol. viii., p. 3.]

The Fishwife's Tale of Brainford.

In Windsor, not long agoe, dwelt a sumpter man, who had to wife a very faire (but something wanton) creature, ouer whom (not without cause) he was something iealous, yet had hee neuer any proofe of her inconstancie; but he feared he was, or should be a cuckold, and therefore preuented it so much as he could by restraining her libertie; but this did but set an edge to her wanton appetite, and was a prouocatiue to her lust (for what women are restrained from they desire), for long hee could not hold his watchfull eye ouer her, 'cause his businesse call'd him away, which alway lay farre from home. He being to depart from home, bethought himselfe what he were best to do; put another in trust with his wife he durst not (for no greater shame is there to a man then to be knowne iealous

ouer his wife); himselfe could tarry no longer at home for fear of losing his place, and then his liuing was gone: thus was hee troubled in minde, not knowing what to doe. Now he repented himselfe that he had vsed his wife so ill, which had giuen her cause to hate him, and procure him a mischiefe, for he saw that he had no other way now to take, but to put his credit into his wiue's hands; therefore, the day and night before he went from home, he vsed her extraordinary kindely, making more on her then the first day they were married. His wife maruelled at this suddaine change, and, though she liked this vsage well, yet she thought neuer the better of him in her heart, and in her outward carriage bare her selfe as before, which was euer modestly in his sight. The morning being come that he was to depart from home (after many sweet kisses and kinde embraces giuen him), he said, Sweet honey, I cannot blame thee that thou takest my vsage heretofore vnkindly; but if thou knewest (as I meane to shew thee) what my intent was, thou wilt change that bad thought for a better liking of me. Know then, my loue, that I vsed thee thus strangely, to know how deepe thy loue was settled on me (for to vse a friend frowardly, tryes her loue, in forbearance of his iniuries, and in seeking to please him), which I haue found by proofe immoueable. Oh, my more then deare wife, thy loue is fixed sure on me, and not to be remoued by any crosse whatsoeuer. Thus did hee seeke to vnsnare himselfe, but was caught faster, for his wife, perceiuing his iealousie, vowed to be reuenged, and giue him good and sufficient cause to thinke himselfe a cuckolde; and, with very ioy to see him creepe to her after this manner, she let fall a few teares, which proceeded rather of inward laughter then any griefe. Hee seeing this, thought they proceeded from pure loue, yet did hee not thorowly trust her, but minded to return ere she was aware of him. To be short, they broke their fasts together, and louingly parted. His wife, beeing glad of this, sent for a woman in the towne, one that was the procurer of her friend, to whom she told all that had hapned

betweene her husband and her selfe, requesting her in all haste to giue her friend notice that her husband was now from home, and that shee would meete him when and wheresoeuer he pleased. The old woman, glad of this, gaue her louer to vnderstand of this good hap, who soone met her at a place in the towne, where they vsually met, where they plumed the sumpterman's cap. There she gaue the old woman a key which would open her doore, by which meanes shee might come to the speech of her at any time of the night without knocking, so carefull was she to keepe her selfe cleere and spotlesse in the eyes of her neighbours, who would not haue thought well of her, if they had heard noise at her doore in the night, and her husband from home. Hauing passed the time away in louing complements, they parted, each going their seuerall wayes, not any one of her neighbours mistrusting her, she bare her selfe so cunningly modest. Her husband, being on his iourney, following his sumpter-horse, thought his wife at home, working like a good huswife (when, perchance, she was following a station she tooke more delight in then he, poore man, did in his); yet put he no more trust in her than he was forced to doe, for hee dispatches his businesse so soone as hee could, and returned three dayes sooner then he promised her. When he came home he knocked at the doore: there might he knocke long enough, for his wife, who was knocking the wintner's pots with her louer. He, hauing no answere, began to curse and ban, bidding a pope on all women. His neighbours began to perswade him, telling him that she went but new forth, and would returne suddenly againe; and iust at that instant came she homeward, not knowing her good man was returned, for she had appointed the old woman to come and call her that night. Seeing her husband, you may iudge what a taking this poore woman was in: back she durst not goe, for that would haue sharpened his rage; and, if shee went forward, she was sure of some seuere punishment; yet, taking courage, on she went. Her husband entertained her with halfe a doozen gadding

queans, and such like words, and she excused her selfe so well as she could. But, to be briefe, in a dores they went: then made he the doore fast, and came to her (who was almost dead with feare that her close play now would he descride), saying, Thou wretch, long time haue I doubted this looseness in thy life, which I now haue plaine proofe of by thy gadding in my absence, and doe thou at this present looke for no other thing at my hands then reward fit for so vilde a creature as a whore is. At these words she would haue skreeked out; but he stopped her mouth, pulling withall a rusty dagger from his side, vowing to scowre it with her bloud, if shee did but offer to open her mouth. She, poore creature, forced more with feare then with duty, held her peace, while hee bound her to a post hard by the dore, vowing she should stand there al night, to coole her hot bloud. Hauing done this, about ten of the clock, he went to bed, telling her that he meant not to sleepe, but watch her if she durst once open her mouth; but he was better then his word, though hee held it not, for he was no sooner in bed but he fell fast asleepe, being wearied with riding. Long had not he beene so, but the old woman came and opened the dore with the key that the sumpter-man's wife had giuen her, and was going to the bed which the sumpterman lay vpon to call his wife; but, as she passed by, the poor woman that was bound to her good behauiour, call'd her by name (yet very softly), saying, Mother Ione, I am heere, mother Ione, pray goe no furder, and speake softly, for my husband, mother Ione, is a bed. This good old woman went to her, and, finding her bound, asked her the cause; to whom the afflicted wife related (with still speech, which is contrary to women's nature) euery circumstance, for she knew her husband fast enough for three houres. Is that all? said the old woman; then feare not but you shal enioy your friend's bed: with that she vnloosed her. The sumpter-man's wife maruelled what she meant to doe, saying, Mother, what meane you? this is not the way that I must take to cleere my selfe. Alas,

should he wake and finde me gone to-morrow, he will kill mee in his rage. Content you, said the old wife, I will bide the brunt of all; and heere will I stand tyed to this post till you returne, which I pray let be so soone as you can. This wanton wife praised her counsell, and imbraces the same, and leauing the old woman bound (as she desired) in her place, she went to her lusty louer, who long time had expected her, to whom she related her husband's vnluckie comming home, her ill vsage, and the old woman's kindnesse; for all which he was sorrie, but could not mend, onely hee promised to reward this kinde woman, call'd Mother Jone: so leauing that talke they fell to other.

The sumpter-man, who could not soundly sleepe, because still he dreamed of hornes and cuckolds, wakened not long after his wife was gone, and, being wakened, he fell to talking after this manner: Now, you queene, is it good gadding? is your hote bloud cooled yet with cold ayre? Will your insatiable desires be allayed with hunger and cold? If they be not, thou arrant wretch, I will tye thee thus up, not onely nine dayes, but nineteene times nine dayes, till thou hast lost this hote and damnable pride of thine. Ile doo't, I will, I sweare I will. This good old woman, hearing him rayle thus frantickly, wished (with all her heart) her selfe out of doores, and his wife in her old place. Shee durst not speake to him, for feare she should be knowne by her speech to bee another, and not his wife; and hee lay still calling to her, asking if her hote desires were cooled. At length hee, hearing her make no answere, thought her to be sullen, and bid her speak to him, or else she should repent it (yet durst not the old wife speake.) He, hearing no speech, rose vp, and took his knife, swearing hee would marke her for a whore, and with those words he ranne to her, and cut her ouer the nose; all this the old woman indured quietly, knowing her words would haue but increased her punishment. To bed went he againe, with such words as hee vsed before, saying that, since her bloud would not coole,