3 - A New Canterbury Tale

Summary

There were 2 Persons, intimate Acquaintance, one call'd Mrs Bargrove, the Wife of an Attorny near St. George's Gate in the City of Canterbury, and the other Mrs Veal, who lately lived at Dover, where Mrs Bargrove lived formerly, and contracted their Familiarity.

On Satterday Sept. 8 last Mrs Bargrave being in her little house alone She heard a little kind of a Rustle (It had just struck 12 at noon) & looking towards ye Door in came Mrs V[eal] with a Wrapping Gown & held it together with her hand to across, an handsome suit of Night Cloaths & hood & Silk handkerchief tyed about her neck.

This Gentlewoman was much overjoyed at ye sight of Mrs Veal, and went to salute her, but she rushed by her, and sat herself down in a great armed Chair, and fel into discourse of severall things yt had hapned when they lived together at Dover.

Mrs Bargrave sat down beside her and told Mrs Veal she had been in a sad Humour just before she came in yes said Mrs V[eal] I perceivd it by your eyes is it noe better with you and your Husband then it used to be to which Mrs B[argrave] Replieing noe Mrs Veal there upon undertook to Comfort her by giving her hope that in a little time it wold be other wais and then fell into some religious Discourses and Exhortations and seeing a book lie in the Window asked Mrs B: what Book it was she said it was a book they two had taken great delight in Reading in at Dover it was Drelincourts Discourse against the fear of Death Mrs Veal Replied it was an exelent Book and full of truth.

After this, She desired Mrs Bargrave to write a Letter to her Brother, and tell him, she wou'd have him give Rings to such and such; and that out of a Purse of Gold that was in her Cabinet, she wou'd have Two Broad-pieces given to her Cousin Watson.