she would return to him in no other way, he would demand her in legal
fashion of the Church. (2) The wife, dreading that if the law should
take the matter in hand she and her chanter would fare badly, devised a
stratagem worthy of such a woman as herself. Feigning sickness, she sent
for some honourable women of the town to come and see her, and this they
willingly did, hoping that her illness might be a means of withdrawing
her from her evil life, with which purpose they addressed the sagest
admonitions to her. Thereupon she, whilst pretending to be grievously
sick, made a show of weeping and acknowledging her sinfulness in such
sort that she gained the pity of the whole company, who quite believed
that she was speaking from the bottom of her heart. And, finding her
thus subdued and sorry, they began to comfort her, telling her that God
was in no wise so terrible as many preachers represented Him, and that
He would never refuse to show her mercy.

1 Louis XII.'s favourite place of residence.--Ed.

2 Implying the Officialité or episcopal court.--B. J.

After this excellent discourse, they sent for a virtuous man to come
and confess her, and on the morrow the priest of the parish came to
administer the Holy Sacrament. This she received so piously, that
all the virtuous women of the town who were present wept to see her
devoutness, praising God, who of His goodness had in this wise shown
compassion upon this poor creature.

Afterwards she pretended that she could no longer take food, whereupon
the extreme unction was brought by the priest and received by her with
many pious signs; for (as they thought) she was scarcely able to speak.
She continued thus for a great while, and it seemed as though she were