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constitution of our Religion doth teach us； that a sinne so
assuredly concealed； is more then halfe absolved。
Ave Maria Sister （saide the other Nun） what kinde of words are these
you utter？ Doe not you know； that we have promised our virginity to
God？ Oh Sister （answered the other） how many things are promised to
him every day； and not one of a thousand kept or performed？ If wee
have made him such a promise； and some of our weakerwitted sisters
do performe it for us； no doubt but he will accept it in part of
payment。 Yea but Sister； replied the second Nun againe； there is
another danger lying in the way： If we prove to be with childe； how
shall we doe then？ Sister （quoth our couragious wench） thou art
affraide of harme before it happen： if it come so to passe； let us
consider on it then： thou art but a Novice in matters of such
moment； we are provided of a thousand meanes； whereby to prevent
conception。 Or； if they should faile； we are so surely fitted； that
the world shall never know it。 Let it suffice； our lives must not be
by any so much as suspected； our Monastery questioned； or our Religion
rashly scandalized。 Thus shee schooled her younger Sister in wit；
albeit as forward as shee in will； and longed as desirouslie； to
know what kinde of creature man was。
After some other questions； how this intention of theirs might bee
safely brought to full effect： the sprightly Nun that had wit at will；
thus answered。 You see Sister （quoth she） it is now the houre of
midday； when all the rest of our sisterhood are quiet in their
Chambers； because we are then allowed to sleep； for our earlier rising
to morning Mattins。 Here are none in the Garden now but our selves；
and while I awake him； bee you the watch； and afterward follow mee
in my fortune； for I will valiantly leade you the way。 Massetto
immitating a Dogges sleepe； heard all this conspiracie intended
against him； and longed as earnestly till shee came to awake him。
Which being done； he seeming very simple and sottish； and she chearing
him with flattering behaviour： into the close Arbour they went；
which the Sunnes bright eye could not pierce into； and there I leave
it to the Nunnes owne approbation； whether Massetto was a man
rationall； or no。 Ill deeds require longer time to contrive； then act；
and both the Nuns having bene with Massetto at this new forme of
confession； were enjoyned （by him） such an easie and silent penance；
as brought them the oftner to shrift； and made him to proove a very
perfect Confessour。
Desires obtayned； but not fully satisfied； doe commonly urge more
frequent accesse； then wisedome thinkes expedient； or can continue
without discovery。 Our two joviall Nunnes； not a little proud of their
private stolne pleasures； so long resorted to the close Arbour； till
another Sister； who had often observed their haunt thither； by
meanes of a little hole in her Window； that shee began to suspect them
with Massetto； and imparted the same to two other Sisters； all three
concluding； to accuse them before the Lady Abbesse。 But upon a further
conference had with the Offenders； they changed opinion； tooke the
same oath as the forewomen had done； and because they would be free
from any taxation at all： they revealed their adventures to the
other three ignorants； and so fell all eight into one formall
confederacie； but by good and warie observation； least the Abbesse her
selfe should descry them； finding poore Massetto such plenty of
Garden…worke； as made him verie doubtfull in pleasing them all。
It came to passe in the end； that the Lady Abbesse who all this
while imagined no such matter； walking all alone in the garden on a
day； found Massetto sleeping under an Almond tree； having then very
litle businesse to doe； because he had wrought hard all the night
before。 She observed him to be an hansome man； young； lusty；
well…limbde and proportioned； having a mercifull commisseration of his
dumbenesse and deafenes； being perswaded also in like manner； that
if hee were an Eunuch too； hee deserved a thousand times the more to
be pittied。 The season was exceeding hot； and he lay downe so
carelesly to sleepe； that somthing was noted wherein shee intended
to be better resolved； almost falling sicke of the other Nunnes
disease。 Having awaked him； she commanded him by signes that he should
follow her to her chamber； where he was kept close so long； that the
Nunnes grew offended； because the Gardiner came not to his daily
labour。
Well may you imagine that Massetto was no misse…proud man now； to be
thus advanced from the Garden to the Chamber； and by no worse woman
then the Lady Abbesse her selfe： what signes； shews； or what
language he speaks there； I am not able to expresse； onely it
appeared； that his behaviour pleased her so well； as it procured his
daily repairing thether； and acquainted her with such familiar
conversation； as she would have condemned in the Nunnes her daughters；
but that they were wise enough to keepe it from her。 Now began
Massetto to consider； that hee had undertaken a taske belonging to
great Hercules； in giving content to so many； and by continuing
dumbe in this maner； it would redound to his no meane detriment。
Whereupon； as he was one night sitting by the Abbesse； the string that
retained his tongue from speech； brake on a sodaine； and thus he
spake。
Madam； I have often heard it said； that one Cocke may doe service to
ten several Hennes； but ten men can very hardly even with all their
best endeavour； give full satisfaction every way to one woman； and yet
I am tied to content nine； which is farre beyond the compasse of my
power to do。 Already have I performed so much Garden and Chamber…work；
that I confesse my selfe starke tired； and can travaile no further；
and therefore let me entreate you to lycense my departure hence； or
finde some meanes for my better ease。 The Abbesse bearing him
speake； who had so long ben there stricken into admiration； and
accounting it almost a miracle； said。 How commeth this to passe？ I
verily beleeved thee to be dumbe。 Madam （quoth Massetto） so I was
indeed； but not by Nature； onely I had a long lingering sicknes
which bereft me of speech； and which I have not onely recovered againe
this night； but shal ever remaine thankfull to you for it。
The Abbesse verily credited his answer； demanding what he meant in
saying； that he did service to nine？ Madam； quoth he； this were a
dangerous question； and not easily answered before fore the eight
Sisters。 Upon this reply； the Abbesse plainely perceived； that not
onely she had fallen into foll but all the Nunnes likewise cried
guilty too： wherfore being a woman of sound discretion； she would
not grant that Massetto should depart； but to keepe him still about
the Nunnes businesse； because the Monastery should not be
scandalized by him。 And the Fac…totum being dead a little before；
his strange recovery of speech revealed； and some things else more
neerely concerning them： by generall consent； and with the good liking
of Massetto； he was created the Fac…totum of the Monasterie。
All the neighboring people dwelling thereabout； who knew Massetto to
be dumbe； by fetching home wood