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ers wife made ready a supper with abundance of wine and exquisite fare ： so that there lacked nothing； but the comming of the young man； for her husband supped at one of her neighbours houses。 When time came that my harnesse should be taken off and that I should rest my selfe； I was not so joyfull of my liberty； as when the vaile was taken from mine eyes； I should see all the abhomination of this mischievous queane。 When night was come and the Sunne gone downe； behold the old bawd and the young man； who seemed to be but a child； by reason he had no beard； came to the doore。 Then the Bakers wife kissed him a thousand times and received him courteously； placed him downe at the table ： but he had scarce eaten the first morsell； when the good man （contrary to his wives expectation） returned home； for she thought he would not have come so soone ： but Lord how she cursed him； praying God that he might breake his necke at the first entry in。 In the meane season； she caught her lover and thrust him into the bin where she bolted her flower； and dissembling the matter； finely came to her husband demanding why he came home so soone。 I could not abide （quoth he） to see so great a mischiefe and wicked fact； which my neighbours wife committed； but I must run away ： O harlot as she is； how hath she dishonoured her husband； I sweare by the goddesse Ceres； that if I had ＇not＇ seene it with mine eyes； I would never I have beleeved it。 His wife desirous to know the matter； desired him to tell what she had done： then hee accorded to the request of his wife； and ignorant of the estate of his own house； declared the mischance of another。 You shall understand （quoth he） that the wife of the Fuller my companion； who seemed to me a wise and chast woman； regarding her own honesty and profit of her house； was found this night with her knave。 For while we went to wash our hands； hee and she were together ： who being troubled with our presence ran into a corner； and she thrust him into a mow made with twigs； appoynted to lay on clothes to make them white with the smoake of fume and brymstone。 Then she sate down with us at the table to colour the matter ： in the meant season the young man covered in the mow； could not forbeare sneesing； by reason of the smoake of the brymstone。 The good man thinking it had beene his wife that sneesed； cryed； Christ helpe。 But when he sneesed more； he suspected the matter； and willing to know who it was； rose from the table； and went to the mow； where hee found a young man welnigh dead with smoke。 When hee understood the whole matter； he was so inflamed with anger that he called for a sword to kill him； and undoubtedly he had killed him； had I not restrained his violent hands from his purpose； assuring him； that his enemy would dye with the force of his brimstone； without the harme which he should doe。 Howbeit my words would not appease his fury； but as necessity required he tooke the young man well nigh choked； and carried him out at the doores。 In the meane season； I counsailed his wife to absent her selfe at some of her Neighbours houses； till the choller of her husband was pacified； lest he should be moved against her； as he was against the young man。 And so being weary of their supper； I forthwith returned home。 When the Baker had told his tale； his impudent wife began to curse and abhorre the wife of the Fuller； and generally all other wives； which abandon their bodies with any other then with their owne Husbands； breaking the faith and bond of marriage； whereby she said； they were worthy to be burned alive。 But knowing her owne guilty conscience and proper whoredome； lest her lover should be hurt lying in the bin； she willed her husband to goe to bed； but he having eaten nothing； said that he would sup before he went to rest ： whereby shee was compelled to maugre her eies； to set such things on the Table as she had prepared for her lover。
But I； considering the great mischiefe of this wicked queane； devised with my selfe how I might reveale the matter to my Master； and by kicking away the cover of the binne （where like a Snaile the young…man was couched） to make her whoredome apparent and knowne。 At length I was ayded by the providence of God； for there was an old man to whom the custody of us was committed； that drave me poore Asse； and the other Horses the same time to the water to drinke； then had I good occasion ministred； to revenge the injury of my master； for as I passed by； I perceived the fingers of the young…man upon the side of the binne； and lifting up my heeles； I spurned off the flesh with the force of my hoofes； whereby he was compelled to cry out； and to throw downe the binne on the ground； and so the whoredome of the Bakers wife was knowne and revealed。 The Baker seeing this was not a little moved at the dishonesty of his wife； but hee tooke the young…man trembling for feare by the hand； and with cold and courteous words spake in this sort ： Feare not my Sonne； nor thinke that I am so barbarous or cruell a person； that I would stiffle thee up with the smoke of Sulphur as our neighbour accustometh； nor I will not punish thee according to the rigour of the law of Julia； which commandeth the Adulterers should be put to death ： No no； I will not execute my cruelty against so faire and comely a young man as you be； but we will devide our pleasure betweene us； by lying all three in one bed； to the end there may be no debate nor dissention betweene us； but that either of us may be contented； for I have alwayes lived with my wife in such tranquillity ； that according to the saying of the wisemen； whatsoever I say； she holdeth for law； and indeed equity will not suffer； but that the husband should beare more authority then the wife ： with these and like words he led the young…man to his Chamber； and closed his wife in another Chamber。 On the next morrow； he called two of the most sturdiest Servants of his house； who held up the young… man； while he scourged his buttockes welfavouredly with rods like a child。 When he had well beaten him； he said ： Art not thou ashamed； thou that art so tender and delicate a child； to desire the violation of honest marriages； and to defame thy selfe with wicked living； whereby thou hast gotten the name of an Adulterer？ After he had spoken these and like words； he whipped him againe； and chased him out of his house。 The young…man who was the comeliest of all the adulterers； ran away； and did nothing else that night save onely bewaile his striped and painted buttockes。 Soone after the Baker sent one to his wife； who divorced her away in his name； but she beside her owne naturall mischiefe； （offended at this great contumely； though she had worthily deserved the same） had recourse to wicked arts and trumpery； never ceasing untill she had found out an Enchantresse； who （as it was thought） could doe what she would with her Sorcery and conjuration。 The Bakers wife began to intreate her； promising that she would largely recompence her； if shee could bring one of these things to passe； eyther to make that her husband may be reconciled to her againe； or else if hee would not agree thereto； to send an ill spirit into him； to dispossesse the spirit of her husband。 Then t