familiar intercourses passed betweene them； both of Reynards kinde
offer； and Credulanoes as courteous acceptance； that hee was set downe
for a Gossippe。
Reynard being thus embraced for Madam Agnesiaes Gossip； and this
proving the onely colourable meanes； for his safer permission of
speech with her； to let her now understand by word of mouth； what long
before she collected by his lookes and behaviour： it fell out no way
beneficiall to him； albeit Agnesia seemed not nice or scrupulous in
hearing； yet she had a more precious care of her honor。 It came to
passe； within a while after （whether by seeing his labour vainly
spent； or some other urgent occasion moving him thereto； I know not）
Reynard would needs enter into Religion； and whatsoever strictnesse or
austeritie hee found to be in that kinde of life； yet he determined to
persevere therein； whether it were for his good or ill。 And although
within a short space； after he was thus become a Religious Monke；
hee seemed to forget the former love which he bare to his gossip
Agnesia； and divers other enormous vanities beside： yet let me tell
you； successe of time tutord him in them again（！； and； without any
respect to his poore ho habite； but rather in contempt thereof （as
it were） he tooke an especiall delight； in wearing garments of much
richer esteeme； yet favoured by the same Monasticall profession；
appearing （in all respects） like a Court…Minion or Favourite； of a
sprightly and Poeticall disposition； for composing Verses； Sonnets；
and Canzons； singing them to sundry excellent instruments； and yet not
greatly curious of his company； so they were some of the best； and
Madame Agnesia one； his former Gossip。
But why doe I trouble my selfe； in talking thus of our so lately
converted Friar； holy Father Reynard； when they of longer standing；
and reputed meerely for Saints in life； are rather much more vile then
hee？ Such is the wretched condition of this world； that they shame not
（fat； foggie； and nastie Abbey…lubbers） to shew how full…fedde they
live in their Cloysters； with cherry cheekes； and smooth shining
lookes； gay and gaudy garments； far from the least expression of
humility； not walking in the streets like Doves： but high…crested like
Cockes； with well cramd gorges。 Nay； which is worse； if you did but
see their Chambers furnished with Gally…pots of Electuaries；
precious Unguents； Apothecary Boxes； filled with various
Confections； Conserves； excellent Perfumes； and other goodly Glasses
of artificiall Oyles and Waters： beside Rundlets and small Barrels
full of Greeke Wine； Muscatella； Lachrime Christi； and other such like
most precious Wines； so that （to such as see them） they seeme not to
bee Chambers of Religious men； but rather Apothecaries Shoppes； or
appertaining to Druggists； Grocers； or Perfumers。
It is no disgrace to them to be Gowty； because when other men know
it not； they alledge； that strict fasting； feeding on grosse Meates
（though never so little；） continuall studying； and such like
restraints from the bodies freer exercise； maketh them subject to many
infirmities。 And yet； when any one of them chanceth to fall sicke； the
Physitian must minister no such counsell to them； as Chastity；
Abstinence from voluptuous meats； Discipline of the body； or any of
those matters appertaining to a modest religious life。 For； concerning
the plaine； vulgar； and Plebeian people； these holy Fathers are
perswaded； that they know nothing really belonging to a
sanctimonious life； as long watching； praying； discipline and fasting；
which （in themselves） are not able； to make men look leane；
wretched； and pale。 Because Saint Dominicke； Saint Fraunces； and
divers other holy Saints beside； observed the selfesame religious
orders and constitutions； as now their carefull successors do。
Moreover； in example of those fore…named Saints； who went wel
cloathed； though they had not three Garments for one； nor made of
the finest Woollen excellent cloath： but rather of the very coarsest
of all other； and of the common ordinary colour； to expell cold onely；
but not to appear brave or gallant； deceyving thereby infinite
simple credulous soules； whose purses （neverthelesse） are their best
pay…masters。
But leave we this； and returne wee backe to vertuous Fryar
Reynard； who falling again& to his former appetites； became an often
visitant of his Gossip Agnesia； and now hee had learned such a
blushlesse kinde of boldnesse； that he durst be more instant with
her （concerning his privie sute） then ever formerly he had bin； yea
even to solicite the enjoying of his immodest desires。 The good
Gentlewoman； seeing her selfe so importunately pursued； and Friar
Reynard appearing now （perhappes） of sweeter and more delicate
complexion； the at his entrance into Religion： at a set time of his
secret communing with her； she answered him in as apt tearmes； as they
use to do； who are not greatly sqeamish； in granting matters
demanded of them。
Why how now Friar Reynard？ quoth shee； Doe Godfathers use to move
such questions？ Whereto the Friar thus replyed。 Madam； when I have
laide off this holy habite （which is a matter very easie for mee to
do） I shall seeme in your eye； in all respects made like another
man； quite from the course of any Religious life。 Agnesia； biting
the lip with a prety smile； said； O my faire Starres！ You will never
bee so unfriendly to me。 What？ You being my Gossip； would you have
me consent unto such a sinne？ Our blessed Lady shield mee； for my
ghostly Father hath often told me； that it is utterly unpardonable：
but if it were； I feare too much confiding on mine owne strength。
Gossip； the Friar； you speake like a Foole； and feare （in this case）
is wholly frivolous； especially； when the motions mooved by such an
one as my selfe； who （upon repentance） can grant you pardon and
indulgence presently。 But I pray you let mee aske you one question；
Who is the neerest Kinsman to your Son； either I； that stood at the
Font for his Baptisme； or your Husband that begot him？ The Lady made
answere； that it was her Husband。 You say very true Gossip； replyed
the Friar； and yet notwithstanding； doth not your Husband （both at
boord and bed） enjoy the sweet benefit of your company？ Yes； said
the Lady； why shold he not？ Then Lady （quoth Reynard） I； who am not so
neere a Kinsman to your Sonne； as your Husband is； why may ye not
afford mee the like favour； as you do him？ Agnesia； who was no
Logitian； and therefore could not stand on any curious answer；
especially being so cuningly moved； beleeved； or rather made shew of
beleeving； that the Godfather said nothing but truth； and thus
answered。 What woman is she （Gossip） that knoweth how to answer your
strange speeches？ And； how it came to passe； I know not； but such an
agreement passed betweene them； that； for once onely （so it might
not infrindge the league of Gossip…ship； but that title to countenance
their further intent） such a favour should be affoorded； so it might
stand cleare from suspition。
An especiall time being appointed； when this amorous Combate
should be fought in loves field； Friar Reynard came to his Gossips
house； where none being present to hinder his purpose； but onely the
Nursse which attended on the child； who was an indifferent faire and
proper woman： his holy brother that came thither in his company
（because Friars were not allowed to walke alone） was sent aside with
her into the Pigeon loft； to enstruct her in a new kinde of Pater
noster； lately devised in their holy Convent。 In the meane while； as
Friar Reynard and Agnesia were entring into hir chamber； she leading
her little son by the hand； and making fast the doore for their better
safety： the Friar laide by his holie habit； Cowle； Hood； Booke； and
Beads； to bee （in all respects） as other men were。 No sooner were they
thus entred the Chamber； but her husband Credulano； being come into
the house； and unseen of any； staid not till he was at the Chamber
doore； where hee knockt； and called for his Wife。
She hearing his voice： Alas Gossip （quoth she） what shall I do？ My
Husband knocketh at the doore； and now he will perceive the occasion
of our so familiar acquaintance。 Reynard being stript into his
Trusse and straite Strouses； began to tremble and quake exceedingly。 I
heare your Husbands tongue Gossip； said he； and seeing no harme as yet
hath bin done； if I had but my garments on againe； wee would have
one excuse or other to serve the turne； but till then you may not open
the doore。 As womens wits are sildome gadding abroad； when any
necessitie concerneth them at home： even so Agnesia； being sodainly
provided of an invention； both how to speake and carry her selfe in
this extreamitie； saide to the Friar。 Get on your garments quickely；
and when you are cloathed； take your little God…son in your armes； and
listning wel what I shall say； shape your answeres according to my
words； and then refer the matter to me。 Credulano had scarsely ended
his knocking； but Agnesia stepping to the doore said： Husband； I
come to you。 So she opened the doore； and （going forth to him） with
a chearefull countenance thus spake。 Beleeve me Husband； you could not
have come in a more happy time； for our yong Son was sudainly
extreamly sicke； and （as good Fortune would have it） our loving Gossip
Reynard chanced to come in； and questionlesse； but by his good prayers
and other religious paynes； we had utterly lost our childe； for he had
no life left in him。
Credulano； being as credulous as his name imported； seemed ready
to swoune with sodaine conceit： Alas good wife （quoth he） how hapned
this？ Sit downe sweet Husband said she； and I wil tell you al。 Our
child was sodainly taken with a swouning； wherein I being unskilful；
did verily suppose him to be dead； not knowing what to doe； or say。 By
good hap； our Gossip Reynard came in； and taking the childe up in
his armes； said to me。 Gossip； this is nothing else but Wormes in
the bellie of the childe； which ascending to the heart； must needs
kill the child； without all question to the contrary。 But be of good
comfort Gossip； and feare not； for I can charme them in such sort；
that they shall all die； and before I depart hence； you shal