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in dutie to love you likewise。 But if your Love have any harshe or
unsavourie taste； which mine is no way able to endure； neyther dare
entertaine in anie kinde whatsoever： you must and shall hold mee
excused； because I am made of no such temper。 You are my ghostly and
spirituall Father； an Holy Priest。 Moreover； yeares have made you
honorably aged； all which severall weighty considerations； ought to
confirme you in continency and chastity。 Remember withall （good sir）
that I am but a child to you in years； and were I bent to any wanton
appetites； you shold justly correct me by fatherly counsell； such as
most beautifieth your sacred profession。 Beside； I am a Widdow； and
you are not ignorant； how requisite a thing honestie is in widdowes。
Wherefore； pardon mee （Holy Father：） for； in such manner as you make
the motion： I desire you not to love mee； because I neither can or
will at any time so affect you。
The Provoste gaining no other grace at this time； would not so
give over for this first repulse； but pursuing her still with
unbeseeming importunity； many private meanes he used to her by
Letters； tokens； and insinuating ambassages； yea； whensoever shee came
to the Church； he never ceased his wearisome solicitings。 Whereat
she growing greatly offended； and perceyving no likelyhood of his
desisting； became so tyred with his tedious suite； that she considered
with her selfe； how she might dispatch him as he deserved； because she
saw no other remedy。 Yet shee would not attempte anie thing in this
case； without acquainting her Bretheren first therwith。 And having
tolde them； how much shee was importuned by the Provost； and also what
course she meant to take （wherin they both counselled and encouraged
her：） within a few daies after； shee went to Church as she was wont to
do； where so soone as the Provost espyed her： forthwith he came to
her； and according to his continued course； he fell into his amorous
courting。 She looking upon him with a smiling countenance； and walking
aside with him out of any hearing： after he had spent many impertinent
speeches； shee （venting foorth manie a vehement sighe） at length
returned him this answer。
Reverend Father； I have often heard it saide： That there is not
any Fort or Castle； how strongly munited soever it bee； but by
continuall assayling； at length （of necessity） it must and will be
surprized。 Which comparison； I may full well allude to my selfe。
For； you having so long time solicited me； one while with affable
language； then againe with tokens and entisements； of such
prevailing power： as have broken the verie barricado of my former
deliberation； and yeelded mee uppe as your prisoner； to be commanded
at your pleasure for now I am onely devoted yours。
Well may you （Gentle Ladies） imagine； that this answere was not a
little welcome to the Provost； who； shrugging with conceyte of joy；
presently thus replyed。 I thanke you Madame Piccarda； and to tell
you true； I held it almost as that you could stand upon such long
resistance； considering； it never so fortuned to mee with anie
other。 And I have many times saide to my selfe； that if women were
made of silver； they hardly could be worth a pennie； because there can
scarsely one be found of so good allay； as to endure the test and
essay。 But let us breake off this frivolous conference； and resolve
upon a conclusion； How； when and where we may safely meete together。
Worthy Sir； answered Piccarda； your selfe may appoint the time
whensoever you please； because I have no Husband； to whom I should
render any account of my absence； or presence： but I am not provided
of any place。
A pretty while the Provoste stood musing； and at last saide。 A place
Madame？ where can be more privacie； then in your owne house？ Alas
Sir （quoth she） you know that I have two Gentlemen my brethren； who
continually are with me； and other of their friends beside： My house
also is not great； wherefore it is impossible to be there； except
you could be like a dumbe man； without speaking one word； or making
the very least noyse； beside； to remaine in darkenesse； as if you were
blinde； and who can be able to endure all these？ And yet （without
these） there is no adventuring； albeit they never come into my
Chamber： but their lodging is so close to mine； as there cannot any
word be spoken； be it never so low or in whispering manner； but they
heare it very easily。 Madame said the Provoste； for one or two nights；
I can make hard shift。 Why Sir （quoth she） the matter onely
remaineth in you； for if you be silent and suffering； as already you
have heard； there is no feare at all of safty。 Let me alone Madame；
replyed the Provoste； I will be governed by your directions： but； in
any case； let us begin this night。 With all my heart； saide shee。 So
appointing him how； and when hee should come； hee parted from her； and
shee returned home to her house。
Heere I am to tell you； that this Gentlewoman had a servant； in
the nature of an old maide； not indued with any well featured face；
but instead thereof； she had the ugliest and most counterfeit
countenance； as hardly could be seene a worse。 She had a wrie mouth；
huge great lippes； foule teeth； great and blacke； a monstrous stinking
breath； her eyes bleared； and alwayes running； the complexion of her
face betweene greene and yellow； as if shee had not spent the Summer
season in the Citie； but in the parching Countrey under a hedge； and
beside all these excellent parts； shee was crooke backt； poult footed；
and went like a lame Mare in Fetters。 Her name was Ciuta； but in
regard of her flat nose； lying as low as a Beagles； shee was called
Ciutazza。 Now； notwithstanding all this deformity in her； yet she
had a singuler opinion of her selfe； as commonly all such foule
Sluts have： in regard whereof； Madame Piccarda calling her aside； thus
began。
Ciutazza； if thou wilt doe for me one nights service； I shall bestow
on thee a faire new Smocke。 When Ciutazza heard her speake of a new
Smocke； instantly she answered。 Madame； if you please to bestow a
new Smocke on me； were it to runne thorow the fire for you； or any
businesse of farre greater danger； you onely have the power to command
me； and I will doe it。 I will not （said Piccarda） urge thee to any
dangerous action； but onely to lodge in my bed this night with a
man； and give him courteous entertainement； who shall reward thee
liberally for it。 But have an especiall care that thou speake not
one word； for feare thou shouldst be heard by my Brethren； who （as
thou knowest） lodge so neere by； doe this； and then demaund thy Smocke
of me。 Madame （quoth Ciutazza） if it were to lye with sixe men； rather
then one； if you say the word； it shall be done。
When night was come； the Provoste also came according to
appointment； even when two brethren were in their lodging； they easily
heard his entrance； as Piccarda （being present with them） had informed
them。 In went the Provoste without any candle； or making the least
noise to be heard； and being in Piccardaes Chamber； went to bed：
Ciutazza tarrying not long from him； but （as her Mistresse had
instructed her） she went to bed likewise； not speaking any word at
all； and the Provoste； imagining to have her there； whom he so
highly affected； fell to imbracing and kissing Ciutazza； who was as
forward in the same manner to him； and there for a while I intend to
leave them。
When Piccarda had performed this hot piece of businesse； she
referred the effecting of the remainder to her Brethren； in such
sort as it was compacted betweene them。 Faire and softly went the
two brethren forth of their Chamber； and going to the Market place；
Fortune was more favourable to them then they could wish； in
accomplishing the issue of their intent。 For the heat being somwhat
tedious； the Lord Bishop was walking abroad very late； with purpose to
visit the Brethren at the Widdowes house； because he tooke great
delight in their company； as being good Schollers； and endued with
other singular parts beside。 Meeting with them in the open Market
place； he acquainted them with his determination； whereof they were
not a little joyfull； it jumping so justly with their intent。
Be