She promised she would, and so they parted. Then goes he to the bridegroom and with protestations of entire affection, protests the great sorrow he takes at that which he must utter, whereon depended his especial credit, if it were known the matter by him should be discovered. After the bridegroom` promise of secrecy, the gentleman tells him that a friend of his received that morning from the bride a letter, wherein she willed him with some sixteen horse to await her coming at a park side; for that she detested him in her heart as a base country hind, whom her father compelled her to marry.
The bridegroom, almost out of his wits, began to bite his lip. “Nay,” said the gentleman, “if you will by me be advised, you shall save her credit, win her by kindness, and yet prevent her wanton corn- plot.” “As how?” said the bridegroom. “Marry, thus,” said the gentleman : “In the evening (for till the guests be gone she intends not to gad) get you on horseback, and seem to be of the company that attends her coming.
I am appointed to bring her from the house to the park, and from thence fetch a winding compass of a mile about, but to turn unto old Mother Gunby` house, where her lover (my friend) abides. When she alights, I will conduct her to a chamber far from his lodging, but when the lights are out and she expecting her adulterous copes-mate, yourself (as reason is) shall prove her bedfellow, where privately you may reprove her, and in the morning early return home without trouble. As for the gentleman my friend, I will excuse her absence to him by saying, She mocked thee with her maid instead of herself, whom, when I knew at her lighting, I disdained to bring her unto his presence.” The bridegroom gave his hand it should be so.
Mother Gunby
Now by the way we must understand this Mother Gunby had a daughter who all that day sat heavily at home with a willow garland, for that the bridegroom (if he had dealt faithfully) should have wedded her before any other. But men, Lamilia, are inconstant: money nowadays makes the match, or else the match is marred. But to the matter: the bridegroom and the gentleman thus agreed.
He took his time, conferred with the bride, persuaded her that her husband notwithstanding his fair show at the marriage had sworn to his old sweetheart, neighbor Gunby` daughter, to be that night her bedfellow, and if she would bring her father, his father and her friends to the house at midnight, they should find it so. At this the young gentlewoman, inwardly vexed to be by a peasant so abused, promised, if she saw likelihood of his slipping away, that then she would do as he directed.
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