——similis si permutatio detur, Morte viri cupiunt animam servare catellæ.

Many of them seem to be precise and holy forsooth, and will go to such a Church, to hear such a good man by all means, an excellent man, when ’tis for no other intent (as he follows it) then to see and to be seen, to observe what fashions are in use, to meet some Pander, Bawd, Monk, Frier, or to entise some good fellow.

For they perswade themselves, as Nevisanus shews, That it is neither sin nor shame to lye with a Lord or a parish Priest, if he be a proper man: and though she kneele often, and pray devoutly, ’tis (saith Platina) not for her husbands welfare, or childrens good, or any friend, but for her sweet-hearts return, her Panders health.

If her husband would have her go, she fains her self sick, Et simulat subitò condoluisse caput: her head akes, and she cannot stir: but if her Paramour ask as much, she is for him in all seasons, at all houres of the night.

In the Kingdome of Malabar, and about Goa in the East-Indies, the women are so subtile, that with a certain drink they give them to drive away cares as they say, they will make them sleep for twenty foure houres, or so intoxicate them, that they can remember naught of that they saw done, or heard, and by washing of their feet, restore them again, and so make their husbands cuckolds to their faces.

Some are ill disposed at all times, to all persons they like, others more wary to some few, at such and such seasons, as Augusta, Livia, non nisi plena navi vectorem tollebat. But as he said,

No pen could write, no tongue attain to tell, By force of eloquence, or help of Art, Of womens treacheries the hundreth part.

Both, to say truth, are often faulty; Men and women give just occasions in this humor of discontent, aggravate and yield matter of suspition: but most part of the chief causes proceed from other adventitious accidents and circumstances, though the parties be free, and both well given themselves.

The undiscreet carriage of some lascivious gallant (& è contra of some light woman) by his often frequenting of an house, bold unseemly gestures, may make a breach, and by his over familiarity, if he be inclined to yellowness, colour him quite out. If he be poor, basely born, saith Benedetto Varchi, and otherwise unhandsome, he suspects him the less; but if a proper man, such as was Alcibiades in Greece, and Castruccius Castrucanus in Italy, well descended, commendable for his good parts, he taketh on the more, and watcheth his doings.

Theodosius the Emperour gave his wife Eudoxia a golden apple when he was a suiter to her, which she long after bestowed upon a young Gallant in the Court, of her especiall acquaintance. The Emperor espying this apple in his hand, suspected forthwith, more than was, his wives dishonesty, banished him the Court, and from that day following, forbare to accompany her any more.

A rich merchant had a fair wife; according to his custome he went to travell; in his absence a good fellow tempted his wife; she denied him; yet he dying a little after, gave her a legacy for the love he bore her. At his return her jealous husband because she had got more by land than he had done at Sea, turned her away upon suspition.

Now when those other circumstances of time and place, opportunity and importunity shall concurre, what will they not effect?

Fair opportunitie can win the coyest she that is, So wisely he takes time, as hee’ll be sure he will not miss: Then he that loves her gamesome vean, and tempers toyes with art, Brings love that swimmeth in her eye: to dive into her heart.

As at Playes, Masks, great feasts and banquets, one singles out his wife to dance, another courts her in his presence, a third tempts her, a fourth insinuates with a pleasing complement, a sweet smile, ingratiates himself with an amphibological speech, as that merry companion in the Satyrist did to his Glycerium, adsidens & interiorem palmam amabiliter concutiens,

Quod meus hortus habet sumas impunè licebit, Si dederis nobis quod tuus hortus habet,

with many such. &c. and then as he saith,

She may no while in chastity abide, That is assaid on every side.

For after a great feast, Vino sæpè suum nescit amica virum. Noah (saith Hierome) shewed his nakedness in his drunkenness, which for six hundred yeers he had covered in soberness. Lot lay with his daughters in his drink, as Cyneras with Myrrha,

——quid enim Venus ebria curat?

The most continent may be overcom, or if otherwise they keep bad company, they that are modest of themselves, and dare not offend, confirmed by others, grow impudent, and confident, and get an ill habit.

Alia quæstus gratiâ matrimonium corrumpit, Alia peccans multas vult morbi habere socias.

Or if they dwell in suspected places, as in an infamous Inne, neer some Stewes, neer Monkes, Friers, Nevisanus addes, where be many tempters and solliciters, idle persons that frequent their companies, it may give just cause of suspition. Martial of old enveighed against them that counterfeited a disease to go to the Bath; for so, many times,

——relicto Conjuge Penelope venit, abit Helene.

Æneas Sylvius puts in a caveat against Princes Courts, because there be tot formosi juvenes qui promittunt, so many brave suiters to tempt, &c. If you leave her in such a place, you shall likely finde her in company you like not, either they come to her, or she is gone to them.

Kornmannus makes a doubting jest in his lascivious Countrey, Virginis illibata censetur ne castitas ad quam frequenter accedant scholares? And Baldus the Lawyer scoffes on, quum scholaris, inquit, loquitur cum puellâ, non præsumitur ei dicere, pater noster, When a Scholler talkes with a maid, or another mans wife in private, it is presumed he saith not a Pater noster.

Or if I shall see a Monke or a Frier climb up by a ladder at midnight into a Virgins or Widowes chamber window, I shall hardly think he then goes to administer the Sacraments, or to take her confession. These are the ordinary causes of jealousie, which are intended or remitted as their circumstances vary.