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XII mery Iests, of the wyddow Edyth

[by Walter Smith]
Smith, Walter

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[section]
  
[This lying widow, false and craftie]
  
The Preface
 1. 
The fyrste merye Iest: declareth, how this faire & wel nurtured Damsel Edyth, was maryed to one Thomas Ellys: and how she ran away with another, by whome she had a bastard Doughter: and how she deceyued a Gentleman, who (for her worthinesse) preferred her to Sir Thomas Dēnys, before whom she auouched her Daughter to be Heire of faire landes.
 2. 
The second mery Iest: how this liynge Wydowe Edyth, made a poore man to vnthatch his House, and bore him in hand, she would bestow the coueryng of it with Lead: and how she deceiued a Barbour, makyng hym beleue she was a Wydowe, and had great abundance of Richesse.
 3. 
The thyrd merye Iest: how this Wydow Edyth, decyued her Hoste at Hormynger, and her Hoste at Brandonfery, and borowed money of them both: and also, one Mayster Guy, of whom she borrowed iii;. Marke.
 4. 
The fourth mery Iest, how this Wyddow Edyth deceiued a Doctor of Diuynitie at S. Thomas of Akers in London of fiue Nobles that he lay out for her, and how shee gaue him the slip.
 5. 
The fyfth mery Iest, how this wydow deceyued a man & his wife that were goynge on pilgremage: who layd out for her .iiij. Nobles: and how she deceiued a Scriuener in London, whose name was Rowse.
 6. 
The syxth mery Iest, how this wydow Edyth deceiued a Draper in London of a new Gowne: & a new Kyrtell, and how she sent him for a nest of Goblets to the Scriuener that she had deceiued afore.
 7. 
The seuenth mery Iest who this wydow Edyth deceiued a seruant of Syr Thomas Neuelles, who in hope to haue her in maryage with all her great riches kepte her company tyll all his money was spent: and then she went to seeke her Freendes.
 8. 
The eyght mery Iest, how this wydow Edyth deceiued a seruant oft he Byshop of Rochesters wt cogging and boastyng of her great Richesse: who likewise thought to haue had her in mariage.
 9. 
The nynth mery Iest, how this wydow Edyth deceyued a Lorde, somtime Earle of Arundell: and how he sent fiue of his men seruantes and a handmayden to beare her company, and fetch her daughter who as she boasted was Heyre of great Landes.
 10. 
The tenth mery Iest, how this Wydow Edyth deceiued three yong men of Chelsay that were seruants to syr Thomas More, and were all three suters vnto her for Maryage: and what mischaunce happened vnto her.
 11. 
The, xi. mery Iest, how this wydow Edyth: deceyued three yongmen of the Lorde Legates seruants with her great lying crakyng and boastyng of her great treasure and Iuelles.
 12. 
The, xii. mery Iest, how this wydow Edyth deceyued the goodman of the three Cuppes in Holburne, and one Iohn Cotes that ryd will, her to Saint Albans to euer see her lands and tenements, and how they were rewarded.

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The eyght mery Iest, how this wydow Edyth deceiued a seruant oft he Byshop of Rochesters wt cogging and boastyng of her great Richesse: who likewise thought to haue had her in mariage.

The Wydow northward tooke her way,
And came to Rochester the next day:
And there within a little space,
To a yongman that seruant was
Unto the Byshop in the Towne:
She promised him dale and downe
On that condition he wolde her wed.
And keepe her company at boord & in bed:
This yongman was glad and light,
Now thought he I shalbe made a knight:
By the meanes of this gentle womans store,
Gramercy Fortune I can no more:
He permytted in hast to be assembled,
With her at the church and there resembled:
Or ioyned in one flesh, that is dying
And two soules euermore liuyng.
Good cheare he made her in her Inne,
And eke be would not neuer blinne
Tyl he he had brought her to his Lorde,
Before whom they were at accorde
Upon a condition maryed to be,
Which condition was if that she.

Could performe all that she had sayd
He wolde then marry her, it should not be delayd
Here vpon they departed and forth went.
On the morow my Lorde for her sent.
To dyne with him and to commen further,
Then was she gone: but when and whether
No wyght any worde of her could tell,
But yet she walked to my Lorde of Arundell.
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