7
No, quoth she, it is your office to marry, not mine.
Then quoth the Tanner, will you make me your husband? Truly neighbour, said she, methinks you might better be my father; you are one of too great years to marry such a young and brisk widow as I am.
Then quoth the Taylor, widow, it is I that must enjoy you; shall you and I be married? Yes, I hope so, quoth the widow, when we and our sweethearts are agreed.
After this she desired to take her leave of them, thanking them for the costs they had been at for her, and then rose up to go away; but they desired a full answer from her, that they might be better satisfied in their requests. Accordingly she promised to give them full satisfaction the next Thursday. At which time they all attended and then she told them plainly that she would marry none of them, for that she had one nearer home, whom she loved to that degree, that she could not think of marrying any other man. So they all went away discontented.
