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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 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.

This wydow then walked withouten fere,
Tyll that she came to Hormynger:
within two myles of S. Edmundsbery,
And there she abode, full iocunde and mery.

For the space fully of .vi. weekes day,:
And borrowed money there as she lay
Her old lyes she occupied styll.
The people gaue credence her vntyll.
At Thetford she sayd her stuffe lay,
Which false was proued vpon a day:
Than one master Lee committed her to ward
And little or nought she dyd it regard:
On the vi day after deliuered she was,
And at her owne lyberty to passe and repasse.
Then straight way she toke to Brandonfery,
In all her lyfe was she neuer so mery.
And there she borrowed of her Hoste,
Thirteene shillings: with in {polgie} boste
Of her great substance, which she sayd she had,
To Bradefolde straight her Hoste she lad:
Where she sayde that she dwelled as than.
And when she came thyther, she fild him a can
Full with good Ale, and sayd he was welcome,
For his thirteene shillings, she bad him hum
And laughed tyghe no more could he haue.
An oth he sware so God hym saue:
The Iustice should know of her deceyt,
A whore (quod he) {heyd who}, [illeg.]eyt.
The Iustice {five was matter like}.
He sent her to Saint Edmundsberye,
And there in the Iayle halfe a yeare,
She continewed without good cheare.
But after she was deliuered out,
Upon withouten doute.
My Lorde Abbot commanded it should so bee,
When he was remembred of his charitye.

From thence she departed, & to Coulme she come
Wherwith her lyes all and some:
She sudiorned, and was at borde,
In an house of my Lord of Oxenforde
Wherin a seruant of his owne did dwell.
Which brewed bere: but none to sell,
The Brewer was called Iohn Douchmon.
With whom .vi. dayes she dyd won;
Then after to Stretford at the bow
She repayred right as I trow,
And .vii. dayes there the abode:
Spreding her lyes all abrode.
In which tyme one Maister Gye,
Supposing nought that she did lye:
And trustyng of her to haue some good
Fowre Marks, by the swete roode
He lent her out of his purs anon,
And asked ay, when she wold gon
To the place where her goods were layd,
Which was at Barking (as she sayd)
Master Guy and his sister both,
To ride with her; they were not loth,
Ne grudged nothing, till they perceiued
That she had them falslie deceiued
Than Master Guy with care moode,
In the place there as they stoode:
Raft her both Kyrtle, and gowne
And in her Peticote: to the Towne
He sent her forth, Mahound her saue,
For his .iiii. Marks, no more could he haue.
FINIS.
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