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THE SEVENTH DAY； THE THIRD NOVELL
SERVING AS A FRIENDLY ADVERTISEMENT TO MARRIED WOMEN； THAT MONKS；
FRIARS； AND PRIESTS MAY BE NONE OF THEIR GOSSIPS； IN
REGARD OF UNAVOYDABLE PERILLES ENSUING THEREBY
Friar Reynard； falling in love with a Gentlewoman； Wife to a man
of good account； found the meanes to become her Gossip。 Afterward；
he being conferring closely with her in her Chamber； and her Husband
coming sodainly thither： she made him beleeve； that he came thither
for no other end； but to cure his God…sonne by a charme； of a
dangerous disease which he had by Wormes。
Philostratus told not this Tale so covertly； concerning Lazaros
simplicity； and Peronellaes witty policy； but the Ladies found a
knot in the rush； and laughed not a little； at his queint manner of
discoursing it。 But upon the conclusion； the King looking upon Madam
Eliza； willed her to succeede next； which as willingly she granted；
and thus began。 Pleasant Ladies； the charme or conjuration wherwith
Madam Aemillia laid her night…walking Spirit； maketh me remember a
Novell of another enchantment； which although it carrieth not
commendation equall to the other； yet I intend to report it； because
it suteth with our present purpose； and I cannot sodainly be
furnisht with another； answerable thereto in nature。
You are to understand then； that there lived in Siena； a proper yong
man； of good birth and well friended； being named Reynard。 Earnestly
he affected his neere dwelling neighbour； a beautifull Gentlewoman；
and wife to a man of good esteeme： of whom hee grew halfe perswaded；
that if he could （without suspition） compasse private conference
with her； he should reach the height of his amorous desires。 Yet
seeing no likely meanes wherewith to further his hope； and shee
being great with childe； he resolved to become a Godfather to the
childe； at such time as it should be brought to Christening。 And being
inwardly acquainted with her Husband； who was named Credulano； such
familiar intercourses passed betweene them； both of Reynards kinde
offer； and Credulanoes as courteous acceptance； that hee was set downe
for a Gossippe。
Reynard being thus embraced for Madam Agnesiaes Gossip； and this
proving the onely colourable meanes； for his safer permission of
speech with her； to let her now understand by word of mouth； what long
before she collected by his lookes and behaviour： it fell out no way
beneficiall to him； albeit Agnesia seemed not nice or scrupulous in
hearing； yet she had a more precious care of her honor。 It came to
passe； within a while after （whether by seeing his labour vainly
spent； or some other urgent occasion moving him thereto； I know not）
Reynard would needs enter into Religion； and whatsoever strictnesse or
austeritie hee found to be in that kinde of life； yet he determined to
persevere therein； whether it were for his good or ill。 And although
within a short space； after he was thus become a Religious Monke；
hee seemed to forget the former love which he bare to his gossip
Agnesia； and divers other enormous vanities beside： yet let me tell
you； successe of time tutord him in them again（！； and； without any
respect to his poore ho habite； but rather in contempt thereof （as
it were） he tooke an especiall delight； in wearing garments of much
richer esteeme； yet favoured by the same Monasticall profession；
appearing （in all respects） like a Court…Minion or Favourite； of a
sprightly and Poeticall disposition； for composing Verses； Sonnets；
and Canzons； singing them to sundry excellent instruments； and yet not
greatly curious of his company； so they were some of the best； and
Madame Agnesia one； his former Gossip。
But why doe I trouble my selfe； in talking thus of our so lately
converted Friar； holy Father Reynard； when they of longer standing；
and reputed meerely for Saints in life； are rather much more vile then
hee？ Such is the wretched condition of this world； that they shame not
（fat； foggie； and nastie Abbey…lubbers） to shew how full…fedde they
live in their Cloysters； with cherry cheekes； and smooth shining
lookes； gay and gaudy garments； far from the least expression of
humility； not walking in the streets like Doves： but high…crested like
Cockes； with well cramd gorges。 Nay； which is worse； if you did but
see their Chambers furnished with Gally…pots of Electuaries；
precious Unguents； Apothecary Boxes； filled with various
Confections； Conserves； excellent Perfumes； and other goodly Glasses
of artificiall Oyles and Waters： beside Rundlets and small Barrels
full of Greeke Wine； Muscatella； Lachrime Christi； and other such like
most precious Wines； so that （to such as see them） they seeme not to
bee Chambers of Religious men； but rather Apothecaries Shoppes； or
appertaining to Druggists； Grocers； or Perfumers。
It is no disgrace to them to be Gowty； because when other men know
it not； they alledge； that strict fasting； feeding on grosse Meates
（though never so little；） continuall studying； and such like
restraints from the bodies freer exercise； maketh them subject to many
infirmities。 And yet； when any one of them chanceth to fall sicke； the
Physitian must minister no such counsell to them； as Chastity；
Abstinence from voluptuous meats； Discipline of the body； or any of
those matters appertaining to a modest religious life。 For； concerning
the plaine； vulgar； and Plebeian people； these holy Fathers are
perswaded； that they know nothing really belonging to a
sanctimonious life； as long watching； praying； discipline and fasting；
which （in themselves） are not able； to make men look leane；
wretched； and pale。 Because Saint Dominicke； Saint Fraunces； and
divers other holy Saints beside； observed the selfesame religious
orders and constitutions； as now their carefull successors do。
Moreover； in example of those fore…named Saints； who went wel
cloathed； though they had not three Garments for one； nor made of
the finest Woollen excellent cloath： but rather of the very coarsest
of all other； and of the common ordinary colour； to expell cold onely；
but not to appear brave or gallant； deceyving thereby infinite
simple credulous soules； whose purses （neverthelesse） are their best
pay…masters。
But leave we this； and returne wee backe to vertuous Fryar
Reynard； who falling again& to his former appetites； became an often
visitant of his Gossip Agnesia； and now hee had learned such a
blushlesse kinde of boldnesse； that he durst be more instant with
her （concerning his privie sute） then ever formerly he had bin； yea
even to solicite the enjoying of his immodest desires。 The good
Gentlewoman； seeing her selfe so importunately pursued； and Friar
Reynard appearing now （perhappes） of sweeter and more delicate
complexion； the at his entrance into Religion： at a set time of his
secret communing with her； she answered him in as apt tearmes； as they
use to do； who are not greatly sqeamish； in granting matters
demanded of them。
Why how now Friar Reynard？ quoth shee； Doe Godfathers use to move
such questions？ Whereto the Friar thus replyed。 Madam； when I have
laide off this holy habite （which is a matter very easie for mee to
do） I shall seeme in your eye； in all respects made like another
man； quite from the course of any Religious life。 Agnesia； biting
the lip with a prety smile； said； O my faire Starres！ You will never
bee so unfriendly to me。 What？ You being my Gossip； would you have
me consent unto such a sinne？ Our blessed Lady shield mee； for my
ghostly Father hath often told me； that it is utterly unpardonable：
but if it were； I feare too much confiding on mine owne strength。
Gossip； the Friar； you speake like a Foole； and feare （in this case）
is wholly frivolous； especially； when the motions mooved by such an
one as my selfe； who （upon repentance） can grant you pardon and
indulgence presently。 But I pray you let mee aske you one question；
Who is the neerest Kinsman to your Son； either I； that stood at the
Font for his Baptisme； or your Husband that begot him？ The Lady made
answere； that it was her Husband。 You say very true Gossip； replyed
the Friar； and yet notwithstanding； doth not your