¶ The xj fable is of an old harlotte or bawde
Noble man was ſomtyme / whiche
had a wyf moche chaſte and was
wonder fayr / This noble man
wold haue go on pylgrimage to
Rome / and lefte his wyf at home /
by cauſe that he knewe her for a chaſte and a
good woman / ¶ It happed on a daye as ſhe
wente in to the toun A fayre yonge man was
eſpryſed of her loue / and took on hym hardynes /
and requyred her of loue / and promyſed to her
many grete yeftes / But ſhe whiche was good had
leuer deye than to conſente her therto / wherfore
the yonge man deyde almooſte for ſorowe / to
the whiche felawe came an old woman / whiche
demaunded of hym the cauſe of his ſekeneſe /
And the yonge man manyfeſted or deſcouered
vnto her alle his courage and herte / aſkynge help
and counceylle of her / And the old woman
wyly and malycious ſayd to hym / Be thow
gladde and Joyous / and take good courage / For
wel I ſhalle doo / and brynge aboute thy faytte /
in ſoo moche thow ſhalt haue thy wyll fulfylled /
And after thys the old bawde wente to her hows /
