After putting on his crimson satin doublet and his long robe, without
forgetting his coif of black silk, he bade his wife, who was still in
bed, good-bye, promising that he would come every evening to sup with
her, but that at dinner they must not wait for him. So he went away and
left his wife, who esteemed herself the happiest woman alive to have
found so excellent a match. And the young wedded Friar returned to the
old father and brought him the five hundred ducats, as had been agreed
between them when arranging the marriage.

In the evening he failed not to return and sup with her, who believed
him to be her husband, and so well did he make himself liked by her and
by his mother-in-law, that they would not have exchanged him for the
greatest Prince alive.

This manner of life continued for some time, but God in His kindness
takes pity upon those that are deceived without fault of their own, and
so in His mercy and goodness it came to pass that one morning the lady
and her daughter felt a great desire to go and hear mass at St. Francis,
(1) and visit their good father confessor through whose means they
deemed themselves so well provided, the one with a son-in-law and the
other with a husband.

1 The church of the Grey Friars' monastery, St Francis
being their patron.--B. J.

It chanced that they did not find the confessor aforesaid nor any other
that they knew, and, while waiting to see whether the father would
come, they were pleased to hear high mass, which was just beginning. And
whilst the young wife was giving close heed to the divine service and