SELWICK HALL, MARCH YE XXV. This morrow, _Milisent_ was avised to ask at _Walter_, in a tone somewhat satirical, if he wist how his _Excellency_ did. "Nay, _Milly_, mind me not of my follies, prithee," quoth he, flushing. "Never cast a man's past ill-deeds in his face, _Milly_," softly saith _Mother_. "His conscience (if it be awake) shall mind him of them oft enough." "I reckon she shall have forgotten by now how to spell his name," saith _Father_. "There be many such at Court." "Yet they have hearts in the Court, trow?" saith Aunt _Joyce_. "A few," quoth _Father_. "But they mostly come forth thereof. For one like my Lady of _Surrey_--(_Lettice_ will conceive me)--there is many a Lady of _Richmond_." "Oh, surely not, _Aubrey_!" crieth _Mother_, earnestly. "True, dear heart," answereth he. "Let but a woman enter the Court--any Court--and verily it should seem to change her heart to stone." "Now, son of _Adam_!" saith Aunt _Joyce_. "Well, daughter of _Eva_?" _Father_ makes answer. "Casting the blame on the women," saith she. "Right so did _Adam_, and all his sons have trod of his steps." "I thought she deserved it," saith _Father_. "She deserved it a deal less than he!" quoth Aunt _Joyce_, in an heat. "He sinned with his eyes open, and she was deceived of the serpent." "Look you, she blamed the serpent, belike," saith Sir _Robert_, laughing. "I take it, she was an epitome in little of all future women, as _Adam_ of all men to come," saith _Father_. "But, _Joyce_, methinks _Paul_ scarce beareth thee out." "I have heard folks to say _Paul_ was not a woman's friend," saith Sir _Robert_. "That's not true," quoth Aunt _Joyce_. "Why, how so, my mistress?" Sir _Robert_ makes merry answer. "He bade them keep silence in the churches, and be subject to the men, and not to teach: was that over courteous, think you?" "Call me a _Frenchman_, if I stand that!" crieth Aunt _Joyce_. "Sir _Robert Stafford_, be so good as listen to me." "So I do, with both mine ears, I do ensure you," saith he, laughing. "Now shall we meet with our demerits!" saith _Father_. "I pity thee not o'er much, _Robin_, for thou hast pulled it on thine own head." "My head will stand it," quoth Sir _Robert_. "Now then, Mistress _Joyce_, prithee go to." Then quoth she, standing afore him--"I know well you can find me places diverse where _Paul_ did bid wives that they should obey their husbands; and therein hold I with _Paul_. But I do defy you in this company to find me so much as one place wherein he biddeth women to obey men. And as for teaching, in his Epistle unto _Titus_, he plainly commandeth that the aged women shall teach the young ones. Moreover, I pray you, had not _Philip_ the evangelist four virgin daughters, which did prophesy-- to wit, preach? And did not _Priscilla_, no whit less than _Aquila_, instruct _Apollos_?" "Mistress _Joyce_, the Queen's Bench lost an eloquent advocate in you."