doore； where being found dead； and thy villanous jealousie so
apparantly knowne； beside thy more then beastly drunkennesse： all
the neighbours will constantly beleeve； that thou didst first strangle
me in the house； and afterwardes threw me into this Well。 So either
thou must flie upon the supposed offence； or lose all thy goodes by
banishment； or （which is much more fitting for thee） have thy head
smitten off； as a wilfull murtherer of thy wife； for all will Judge it
to be no otherwise。 All which wordes； mooved not Tofano a jot from his
obstinat determination： but he still persisting therin； thus she
spake。 I neither can nor will longer endure this base Villanie of
thine： to the mercy of heaven I commit my soul； and stand there my
wheele； a witnesse against so hard…hearted a murtherer。
No sooner had she thus spoke； but the night being so extreamly dark；
as they could not discerne one another； Cheta went to the Well；
where finding a verie great stone； which lay loose upon the brim of
the Well； even as if it had beene layde there on purpose； shee cried
out aloud； saying。 Forgive me faire heavens； and so threw the stone
downe into the Well。 The night being very still and silent； the fal of
the great stone made such a dreadfull noise in the Well； that he
hearing it at the Windowe； thought verily she had drowned her selfe
indeede。 Whereupon； running downe hastily； and taking a Bucket
fastened to a strong Cord： he left the doore wide open； intending
speedily to helpe her。 But she standing close at the doores
entrance； before he could get to the Wels side； she was within the
house； softly made the doore fast on the inside； and then went up to
the Window； where Tofano before had stood talking to her。
While he was thus dragging with his Bucket in the Well； crying and
calling Cheta； take hold good Cheta； and save thy life： she stood
laughing in the Window； saying。 Water should bee put into Wine
before a man drinkes it； and not when he hath drunke too much already。
Tofano hearing his Wife thus to flout him out of his Window； went back
to the doore； and finding it made fast against him： he willed hir to
grant him entrance。 But she； forgetting all gentle Language； which
formerly she had used to him： in meere mockery and derision （yet
intermixed with some sighes and teares； which women are saide to
have at command） out aloud （because the Neighbours should heare her）
thus she replyed。
Beastly drunken Knave as thou art； this night thou shalt not come
within these doores； I am no longer able to endure thy base behaviour；
it is more then high time； that thy course of life should bee
publiquely known； and at what drunken houres thou returnest home to
thy house。 Tofano； being a man of very impatient Nature； was as bitter
unto her in words on the other which the Neighbours about them （both
men and Women） hearing； looked forth of their Windowes； and demaunding
a reason for this their disquietnesse； Cheta （seeming as if she
wept） sayde。
Alas my good Neighbours； you see at what unfitting houres； this
bad man comes home to his house； after hee hath lyen in a Taverne
all day drunke； sleeping and snorting like a Swine。 You are my
honest witnesses； how long I have suffered this beastlinesse in him；
yet neyther your good counsell； nor my too often loving
adrionitions； can worke that good which wee have expected。
Wherefore； to try if shame can procure any amendment； I have shut
him out of doores； until his drunken fit be over…past； and so he shall
stand to coole his feet。
Tofano （but in very uncivill maner） told her being abroad that
night； and how she had used him： But the Neighbours seeing her to be
within the house； and beleeving her； rather then him； in regard of his
too well knowne ill qualities； very sharpely reproved him； gave him
grosse speeches； pittying that any honest Woman should be so
continually abused。 Now my good Neighbours （quoth she） you see what
manner of man he is。 What would you thinke of me； if I should walk the
streets thus in the night time； or be so late out of mine owne
house； as this dayly Drunkard is？ I was affraid least you would have
given credit to his dissembling speeches； when he told you； that I was
at the Welles side； and threw something into the Well： but that I know
your better opinion of me； and how sildome I am to be seene out of
doores； although he would induce your sharper judgement of me； and lay
that shame upon me； wherein he hath sinned himselfe。
The Neighbours； both men and Women； were all very severely
incensed against Tofano； condemning him for his great fault that night
committed； and avouching his wife to be vertuous and honest。 Within
a little while； the noise passing from Neighbour to Neighbour； at
the length it came to the eares of her Kindred； who forthwith resorted
thither； and hearing how sharpely the Neighbours reprehended Tofano：
they tooke him； soundly bastanadoed him； and hardly left any bone of
him unbruised。 Afterward； they went into the house； tooke all such
things thence as belonged to hir； taking hir also with them to their
dwelling； and threatning Tofano with further infliction of punishment；
both for his drunkennesse； and causlesse jealousie。
Tofano perceyving how curstly they had handled him； and what crooked
meanes might further be used against him； in regard her Kindred and
Friends were very mightie： thought it much better； patiently to suffer
the wrong alreadie done him； then by obstinate contending to proceed
further； and fare worse。 He became a suter to her Kindred； that al
might be forgotten and forgiven； in recompence whereof； he would not
onely refraine from drunkennesse； but also； never more be jelous of
his wife。 This being faithfully promised； and Cheta reconciled to
her Husband； all strife was ended； she enjoyed her friends favour；
as occasion served； but yet with such discretion； as it was not noted。
Thus the Coxcombe foole； was faine to purchase his peace； after a
notorious wrong sustained； and further injuries to bee offered。
THE SEVENTH DAY； THE FIFT NOVELL
IN JUST SCORNE AND MOCKERY OF SUCH JEALOUS HUSBANDS； THAT WILL BE
SO IDLE HEADED UPON NO OCCASION。 YET WHEN THEY HAVE GOOD REASON
FOR IT； DO LEAST OF ALL SUSPECT ANY SUCH INJURY
A jealous man； clouded with the habite of a Priest； became the
Confessour to his owne Wife； who made him beleeve； that she was
deepely in love with a Priest； which came every night； and lay with
her。 By meanes of which confession； while her jealous Husband
watched the doore of his house； to surprize the Priest when he came：
she that never meant to do amisse； had the company of a secret Friend；
who came over the toppe of the house to visite her； while her
foolish Husband kept the doore。
Madam Lauretta having ended her Novell； and every one commended
the Woman； for fitting Tofano in his kinde； and； as his jealousie
and drunkennesse justly deserved： the King （to prevent all losse of
time） turned to Madame Fiammetta； commaunding her to follow next：
whereuppon； very graciously； shee beganne in this manner。
Noble Ladies； the precedent Novell delivered by Madame Lauretta；
maketh me willing to speake of another jealous man； as being halfe
perswaded； that whatsoever is done to them by their Wives； and
especially upon no occasion given； they doe no more then well
becommeth them。 And if those grave heads； which were the first
instituters of lawes； had diligently observed all things； I am of
the minde； that they would have ordained no other penalty for Women；
then they appointed against such； as （in their owne defence） do offend
any other。 For jealous husbands； are meere insidiators of their
Wives lives； and most diligent pursuers of their deaths； being lockt
up in their houses all the Weeke long； imployed in nothing but
domesticke drudging affayres： which makes them desirous of high
Festivall dayes； to receive some litle comfort abroad； by an honest
recreation or pastime； as Husbandmen in the fields； Artizans in our
Citie； or Governours in our judiciall Courtes； yea； or as our Lord
himselfe； who rested the seaventh day from all his travailes。 In
like manner； it is so willed and ordained by the Lawes； as well divine
as humane； which have regard to the glory of God； and for the common
good of every one； making distinction betweene those dayes appointed
for labour； and the other determined for rest。 Whereto jealous persons
（in no case） will give consent； but all those dayes （which for other
women are pleasing and delightfull） unto such； over whom they command；
are most irksome； sadde and sorrowful； because then they are lockt up；
and very strictly restrained。 And if question wer urged； how many good
women do live and consume away in this torturing het of affliction：
I can make no other answere； but such as feele it； are best able to
discover it。 Wherefore to conclude the proheme to my present
purpose； let none be over rash in condemning women： for what they do
to their husbands； being jealous without occasion； but rather
commend their wit and providence。
Somtime （faire Ladies） there lived in Arimino； a Merchant； very rich
in wealth and worldly possessions； who having a beautifull Gentlewoman
to his wife； he became extreamly jelous of her。 And he had no other
reason for this foolish conceit； but； like as he loved hir dearly； and
found her to be very absolutely faire： even so he imagined； that
althogh she devised by her best meanes to give him content； yet others
would grow enamored of her； because she appeared so amiable to al。
In which respect； time might tutor her to affect some other beside
himselfe： the onely common argument of every bad minded man； being
weake and shallow in his owne understanding。 This jelous humor
increasing in him more and more； he kept her in such narrow restraint：
that many persons condemned to death； have enoyed larger libertie in
their imprisonment。 For； she might not bee present at Feasts；
Weddings； nor goe to Church； or so much as to be seen at her doore：
Nay； she durst not stand in her Window； nor looke out of her house；
for any occasion whatsoever。 By means whereof； life seemed most
tedious and offensive to her； and she