Alphabet of tales : an English 15th century translation of the Alphabetum narrationum of Etienne de Besançon, from Additional MS. 25,719 of the British Museum / by Etienne de Besançon

XXXV.
Adulterium. Adultera vxor non est tenenda.

We rede how þat one þat hight Genulphus in Frawnce, boght a weƚƚ, & he was a wed man̛ & he was a holie man [MS. repeats, & a wed man.] ; & when̛ he come home in-to Burgundie þer he dwelte, he fand̛ same weƚƚ sprongen̛ in his garthen̛. So on̛ a day, þis Genulphus [Lat. MSS., Gangulphus, Gengolphus.] & his wife walkid̛ samen in þer garthyn̛ & sett þaim down̛ be þe weƚƚ; & he reprovid̛ hur for avowtrie, & said̛ it was tellid̛ hym̛ at a noder man̛ held hur beside hym̛; & sho denyed̛ it & said̛ nay. Than̛ he said̛ vnto hur; "Bare þine arm̛ & take vp a little stone in þe bothom̛ of þis weƚƚ, & if þine arm̛ com̛ vp vnhurte I saƚƚ trow at þou ert innocent of þis at is put on̛ [MS. repeats, on.] the." And sho trowed at sho had bene sekur enogℏ, & showid̛ in hur arm̛ in-to þe weƚƚ. And when̛ sho drew it oute, it was as it had bene scaldid̛ with þe fyre. And

þan̛ þis holie man̛ said̛ vnto hur; "Lo! now aperis þe treutℏ of þi falssett, and þerfor̛ fro hens furtℏ þou saƚƚ neuer be my felow." & he devidid̛ his gude in two & gaff hur þe to halfe, & lete hur dweƚƚ be hur one. And with-in a litiƚƚ whiƚƚ a clerk þat held̛ þis Genulphus [Lat. MSS., a clerico adultero occisus est.] come to hym̛ on̛ a nyght when̛ he lay slepand in his bed, & slew hym̛. And when̛ he was berid̛ he did meracles. And when̛ his wife hard̛ teƚƚ at he did meracles, scho skornyd hym̛ & said̛ on̛ þis maner of wise; "It is als trew at Genulphus duse meracles, as it is at myne ars syngis." And onone hur ars made ane vglie noyse, and wolde not lefe for noght sho cutℏ do. And evur after, opon̛ þe fryday at hur husband suffred martyrdom̛ on̛, wekelie when̛ sho spakk any wurd̛, hur ars began̛ to syng & make ane vglie noyse, & wold̛ neuer lefe it on̛ þe fryday whils at sho liffid̛. et c̛.