I know one such who was ready enough to give this counsel to her daughter, and indeed spared no effort to bring it about, but the misfortune for her was that never could she have a child at all. Also I know a husband who, not being able to do aught to his wife, did yield his place to a big lackey he had, a handsome lad, to lie with his wife and deflower her as she slept, and in this way save his honour. But she did discover the trick and the lackey had no success. For which cause they had a long suit at law, and finally were separated. King Henry of Castile[53] did the like, who as Fulgosius[53] relates, seeing he could make no children with his wife, did call in the help of a handsome young gentleman of his Court to make them for him. The which he did; and for his pains the King gave him great estates and advanced him in all honours, distinctions and dignities. Little doubt the wife was grateful to him therefor, and did find the arrangement much to her liking. This is what I call an accommodating cuckold! As to these “knotted strings” spoken of above, there was lately a law process thereanent in the Court of the Parliament of Paris, between the Sieur de Bray, High Treasurer, and his wife, to whom he could do naught, suffering as he did from this or other like defect, for which the wife, once well married, did call him to account. It was ordered by the Court that they should be visited, the two of them, by great doctors expert in these matters. The husband did choose his, and the wife hers. And hereon was writ a right merry sonnet at the Court, the which a great lady read over to me herself, and gave me, whenas I was dining with her. ’Twas said a lady had writ it, though others said a man. Here it is: SONNET Entre les médecins renommés à Paris En sçavoir, en espreuve, en science, en doctrine, Pour juger l’imparfait de la coupe androgine, Par de Bray et sa femme ont esté sept choisis, De Bray a eu pour lui les trois de moindre prix, Le Court, l’Endormy, Piétre: et sa femme plus fine, Les quatre plus experts en l’art de médecine, Le Grand, le Gros, Duret et Vigoureux a pris. On peut par là juger qui des deux gaignera, Et si le Grand du Court victorieux sera, Vigoureux d’Endormy, le Gros, Duret, de Piètre. Et de Bray n’ayant point ces deux de son costé, Estant tant imparfait que mari le peut estre, A faute de bon droict en sera débouté.