and made their vaunts that they wer able to clime the skies, and both wold attempt and also bring to passe∣ny enterprise were it neuer so great, affirming their former offer by oth, and would gage all the landes and goods they had, that within the space of. v. months they would either of them obtaine the Gentlewomans good will to do what they list so that the Knight were 〈◊〉〈◊〉, neither to returne home, ne yet to aduertise hir of yt their determination. The Quéene and all the standers by laughed heartily at this their offer, mocking and iesting at their foolish and youthly conceites. Which the Barons perceiuing, sayd:
You thinke Madame that we speake triflingly, and be not able to accomplish this our proposed enterprise, but Madame, may it please you to giue vs leaue, we meane by earnest attempt to giue proofe therof.
And as they were thus in reasoning and debating the matter, the king (hearing tell of this large offer made by the Barons) came into the place where the Quéene was, at such time as she was about to dissuade them from their frātike deuise. Before whō he being entred the chamber, the two Barōs fel downe vpon their knées, and humbly besought his grace, that the compacte made betwene sir
Vlrico and them might procéede, disclosing vnto him in few words the effect of all their talke, which frankly was graunted by y
e king. But the Barons added a
Prouiso, that when they hadde wonne their wager, the Knight by no meanes should hurt his wife, and from that time forth shold giue ouer his false opinion, that women were not naturally giuen to the sutes and requests of amorous persones. The
Boeme Knighte, who was assured of his wiues great honesty and loyall fayth, beleued so true as the Gospell, the proportion and qualitie of the image, who in all the time that he was far off, neuer perceiued the