DETAILED CONTENTS OF VOLUME IV.

FOURTH DAY.

Prologue Tale XXXI. Punishment of the wickedness of a Friar who sought to lie with a gentleman’s wife. Tale XXXII. How an ambassador of Charles VIII., moved by the repentance of a German lady, whom her husband compelled to drink out of her lover’s skull, reconciled husband and wife together. Tale XXXIII. The hypocrisy of a priest who, under the cloak of sanctity, had lain with his own sister, is discovered and punished by the wisdom of the Count of Angoulême. Tale XXXIV. The terror of two Friars who believed that a butcher intended to murder them, whereas the poor man was only speaking of his Pigs. Tale XXXV. How a husband’s prudence saves his wife from the risks she incurred while thinking to yield to merely a spiritual love. Tale XXXVI. The story of the President of Grenoble, who saves the honour of his house by poisoning his wife with a salad. Tale XXXVII. How the Lady of Loué regained her husband’s affection. Tale XXXVIII. The kindness of a townswoman of Tours to a poor farm-woman who is mistress to her husband, makes the latter so ashamed of his faithlessness that he returns to his wife. Tale XXXIX. How the Lord of Grignaulx rid one of his houses of a pretended ghost. Tale XL. The unhappy history of the Count de Jossebelin’s sister, who shut herself up in a hermitage because her brother caused her husband to be slain.

FIFTH DAY.

Prologue Tale XLI. Just punishment of a Grey Friar for the unwonted penance that he would have laid upon a maiden. Tale XLII. The virtuous resistance made by a young woman of Touraine causes a young Prince that is in love with her, to change his desire to respect, and to bestow her honourably in marriage. Tale XLIII. How a little chalk-mark revealed the hypocrisy of a lady called Jambicque, who was wont to hide the pleasures she indulged in, beneath the semblance of austerity. Tale XLIV. (A). Through telling the truth, a Grey Friar receives as alms from the Lord of Sedan two pigs instead of one. Tale XLIV. (B). Honourable conduct of a young citizen of Paris, who, after suddenly enjoying his sweetheart, at last happily marries. Tale XLV. Cleverness of an upholsterer of Touraine, who, to hide that he has given the Innocents to his serving-maid, contrives to give them afterwards to his wife. Tale XLVI. (A). Wicked acts of a Grey Friar of Angoulême called De Vale, who fails in his purpose with the wife of the Judge of the Exempts, but to whom a mother in blind confidence foolishly abandons her daughter. Tale XLVI. (B). Sermons of the Grey Friar De Vallès, at first against and afterwards on behalf of husbands that beat their wives. Tale XLVII. The undeserved jealousy of a gentleman of Le Perche towards another gentleman, his friend, leads the latter to deceive him. Tale XLVIII. Wicked act of a Grey Friar of Perigord, who, while a husband was dancing at his wedding, went and took his place with the bride. Tale XLIX. Story of a foreign Countess, who, not content with having King Charles as her lover, added to him three lords, to wit, Astillon, Durassier and Valnebon. Tale L. Melancholy fortune of Messire John Peter, a gentleman of Cremona, who dies just when he is winning the affection of the lady he loves. Appendix to Vol. IV.