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life； in mervailous civill and modest manner。 Yet all these were but
traines to a further intention； for the Abbot must needes be her
ghostly Father； and she come to be confessed by him； which the foole
Ferando tooke as an especiall favour； and therefore he gave his
consent the sooner。
At the appointed time； when the woman came to confession to the
Abbot； and was on her knees before him； to his no small contentment；
before she would say any thing else； thus she began： Sacred Father； if
God had not given me such an husband as I have； or else had bestowed
on me none at all； I might have beene so happy； by the meanes of
your holy doctrine； very easily to have entred into the way； whereof
you spake the other day； which leadeth to eternall life。 But when I
consider with my selfe； what manner of man Ferando is； and thinke upon
his folly withall； I may well terme my selfe to be a widow； although I
am a maried wife； because while he liveth； I cannot have any other
husband。 And yet （as sottish as you see him） he is （without any
occasion given him） so extreamely jealous of me； as I am not able to
live with him； but only in continuall tribulation and hearts griefe。
In which respect； before I enter into confession； I most humbly
beseech you； that you would vouchsafe （in this distresse） to assist me
with your fatherly advice and counsell； because； if thereby I cannot
attaine to a more pleasing kinde of happinesse； neither confessior； or
any thing else； is able to doe me any good at all。
These words were not a little welcome to my Lord Abbot； because
（thereby） he halfe assured himselfe； that Fortune had laid open the
path to his hoped pleasures。 Whereupon he said。 Deare daughter； I make
no question to the contrary； but it must needes be an exceeding
infelicity； to so faire and goodly a young woman as you are； to be
plagued with so sottish an husband； brainsick； and without the use
of common understanding； but yet subject to a more hellish
affliction then all these； namely jealousie； and therefore you being
in this wofull manner tormented； your tribulations are not only so
much the more credited； but also as amply grieved for； and pittied。 In
which heavy and irksome perturbations； I see not any meanes of remedy；
but onely one； being a kinde of physicke （beyond all other） to cure
him of his foolish jealousie； which medicine is very familiar to me；
because I know best how to compound it； alwayes provided； that you can
be of so strong a capacity； as to be secret in what I shall say unto
you。
Good Father （answered the Woman） never make you any doubt thereof；
for I would rather endure death it selfe； then disclose any thing
which you enjoyne me to keepe secret： wherefore； I beseech you Sir
to tell me； how； and by what meanes it may be done。 If （quoth the
Abbot） you desire to have him perfectly cured； of disease so dangerous
and offensive； of necessity he Must be sent into Purgatory。 How may
that be done； saide the woman； he being alive？ He must needs die；
answered the Abbot； for his more speedy passage thither； and when he
hath endured so much punishment； as may expiate the quality of his
jealousie； we have certaine devoute and zealous prayers； whereby to
bring him backe againe to life； in as able manner as ever he was。
Why then； replyed the woman； I must remaine in the state of a
Widdow？ Very true； saide the Abbot； for a certaine time； in all
which space； you may not （by no meanes） marrie againe； because the
heavens will therewith be highly offended： but Ferando being
returned to life againe； you must repossesse him as your Husband；
but never to be jealous any more。 Alas Sir （quoth the woman） so that
he may be cured of his wicked jealousie； and I no longer live in
such an hellish imprisonment； do as you please。
Now was the Abbot （well neere） on the highest step of his hope；
making her constant promise； to accomplish it： But （quoth he） what
shall be my recompence when I have done it？ Father； saide she；
whatsoever you please to aske； if it remaine within the compasse of my
power： but you being such a vertuous and sanctified man； and I a woman
of so meane worth or merit； what sufficient recompence can I be able
to make you？ Whereunto the Abbot thus replyed。 Faire woman； you are
able to do as much for me； as I am for you； because I doe dispose my
selfe； to performe a matter for your comfort and consolation； even
so ought you to be as mindfull of me； in any action concerning my life
and welfare。 In any such matter Sir （quoth she） depending on your
benefit so strictly； you may safely presume to command me。 You must
then （saide the Abbot） grant me your love； and the kinde embracing
of your person； because so violent are mine affections； as I pine
and consume away daily； till I enjoy the fruition of my desires； and
none can helpe me therein but you。
When the woman heard these words； as one confounded with much
amazement； thus shee replied。 Alas； holy Father！ What a strange motion
have you made to me？ I beleeved very faithfully； that you were no
lesse then a Saint； and is it convenient； that when silly women come
to ask counsell of such sanctified men； they should returne them
such unfitting answeres？ Be not amazed good woman； saide the Abbot； at
the motion which I have made unto you； because holinesse is not
thereby impaired a jot in me； for it is the inhabitant of the soule；
the other is an imperfection attending on the body： but be it
whatsoever； your beauty hath so powerfully prevailed on me； that
entire love hath compelld me to let you know it。 And more may you
boast of your beauty； then any that ever I beheld before； considering；
it is so pleasing to a sanctified man； that it can draw him from
divine contemplations； to regard a matter of so humble an equalitie。
Let me tell you moreover； woorthy Woman； that see me reverenced here
as Lord Abbot； yet am I but as other men are； and in regard I am
neither aged； nor mishapen； me thinkes the motion I have made；
should be the lesse offensive to you； and therefore the sooner
granted。 For； all the while as Ferando remaineth in Purgatory； doe you
but imagine him to be present with you； and your perswasion will the
more absolutely be confirmed。 No man can； or shall be privy to our
close meetings； for I carry the same holy opinion among all men； as
you your selfe conceived of me； and none dare be so saucie； as to call
in question whatsoever I doe or say； because my words are Oracles； and
mine actions more than halfe miracles； doe you not then refuse so
gracious an offer。 Enow there are； who would gladly enjoy that；
which is francke and freely presented to you； and which （if you be a
wise Woman） is meerely impossible for you to refuse。 Richly am I
possessed of Gold and Jewels； which shall be all yours； if you
please in favour to be mine； wherein I will not be gaine…saide； except
your selfe do deny me。
The Woman having her eyes fixed on the ground； knew not well how
shee should denie him； and yet in plaine words； to say shee consented；
shee held it to be overbase and immodest； and ill agreeing with her
former reputation： when the Abbot had well noted this attention in
her； and how silent shee stood without returning any answere； he
accounted the conquest to be more then halfe his owne： so that
continuing on his former perswasions； hee never ceased； but allured
her still to beleeve whatsoever he saide。 And much ashamed of his
importunity； but more of her owne flexible yeelding weaknesse； made
answere； that shee would willingly accomplish his request； which yet
shee did not absolutely grant； untill Ferando were first sent into
Purgatory。 And till then （quoth the Abbot） I will not urge any more；
because I purpose his speedy sending thither： but yet； so farre lend
me your assistance； that either to morrow； or else the next day； he
may come hither once more to converse with me。 So putting a faire gold
Ring on her finger； they parted till the next meeting。
Not a little joyfull was the Woman of so rich a gift； hoping to
enjoy a great many more of them； and returning home to her neighbours；
acquainted them with wonderfull matters； all concerning the
sanctimonious life of the Abbot； a meere mi