merueylled as they sawe and herd this lytell child so speke wherfor they perceyued well that it was by myracle of god The Iuges theÌ„ne lete thenquest to be made of the two prestes eche one by hym self The one sayd that they had founde her with a man vnder a figge tree And the other sayd vnder a pynappel tree And therfore were they reproued and bothe Iuged to dye And at the last whanne they sawe that no remedye was but that they must dye they told the trouthe of hit before alle the peple that were there And sayd that they were well worthy to receyue deth and not she And therfore here may ye see and take axample how god kepeth them that haue their trust and confidence in hym as had the good lady the whiche wold rather suffre deth than to be fals to the lawe For she doubted more the perdycion or losse of her sowle and the perdurable or euerlastynge dethe than she dyd the pouere lyf of this world And thus by cause of her bounte god saued bothe her body and sowle And therfor euery good lady ought to haue her trust in god and for his loue to kepe trewely her maryage and also absteyne her of synne How the good lady ought to loue and drede and also to bere feythe vnto her lord Capitulo lxxxxviij I Shalle telle yow another Ensample of the newe testament It is of saynt Elysabeth moder vnto Saynte Iohan This Elysabeth theÌ„ne serued fyrste god and afterward her lord and aboue al wymmen he drad and doubted hym And as he came oute of the Town and that by aduenture somme thynge was befalle amys in her how 's she kepte it and made it to be kepte secrete vnto the tyme that she sawe her poynt Thenne wente she and told it to hym by soo fayre and attemperate langage that in no wyse he myght neuer be wroth She euer câ—ueyted the pees and loue of her lord And also ought to doo euery good woman This holy lady loued and dradde god and bare feythe to her lord and therfor god gaf her saynt Iohan Baptist to her sone whiche was a good guerdon For a woman that loueth god and holdeth her clenely god rewardeth her on lyue And after her dethe he guerdonneâ—h and rewardeth her with C double mo As he dyd to this holy lady to whome he gaf celestyals and erthely goodes to suffysaunce as he dothe to his frendes whiâ—he kepeth and holdeth them clenely in theyr maryage and that haue good hope in hym as had this good Susanne How men â—ught bewaylle and wepe for his synnes and mysdedes Capitulo lxxxxix aNother Ensample I shalle telle yow of Mary Magdalene whiche dyd wasshe and spurge awey her synnes and mysdedes by the water of her eyen as she wasshed the feet of oure lord Ihesu Cryste and wyped them with her here She wepte for her synnes for the loue of god and drede of her mysdede And thus at thexample of her we ought to do as she dyd For we ought to wepe for our synnes and mysdedes and haue pyte and be shamefull of that that we haue done and humbly goo to Confession and there to the preeste we ought to telle our synnes as we haue done them without hydyng or coueryng nothyng therof for the boldnes that men vndertake to say theyr mysdede synne also the shame that meÌ„ haue to telle them is to them a grete parte of their indulgeÌ„ces god whiche seeth the huÌ„ylyte the repentaunce moueth hym self to pyte eâ—largyssheth his misericorde as he did to Mary Magdalene to whome he pardonned her synnes and mysdedes for the grete contricion and repentaâ—nce that she had Another reason is wherof the holy magdalene ought to be preysed It is by cause that she loued and wonderly â—rad god And for certayne the grete myracle that she sawe whiche god made and that he had reysed her owne broder the whiche hadde told her tydynges of the other world and the paynes of hell And that she sawe wel that she must dye be punysshed there for her synnes and mysdedes made her al ferdfull sore abasshed And therfor she was thyrtty yere and more in a deserte makyng there her penaunce sorowynge and sore wepyng for her synnes and mysdedes And whanne she had ben there long tyme fastynge and withoute mete our lord beheld her and had on her pyte and sente her euery day the brede of heuen wherof she was rassasyed and fylde vnto her ende that god toke her And therfore is here good ensample how good is to wepe for his synnes and ofte to confesse hym self and to fasâ— and make abstynences and also to loue drede god as dyd this holy and good Magdaleyne that soo moche loued god that she wepte for her synnes vpon his feet And after fasted and suffred soo moche euylle and meschyef in the buscage desertes where as god comforted her by his aungels whiche euery day dyd brynge to her the brede of heuen And in suche wyse shal god doo to alle good wymmen and to alle them whiche with a contryte and good herte shalle wepe for theire synnes and that shalle loue god and doo abstynences as he dyd to this good woman The next chappytre sheweth how be it that a woman haue an euylle and felon husbond neuertheles she ought not therby to lene the seruyse of god Capitulo C aFter this ensample I shalle telle yow another of ij good wymen wyues of two paynyms The onewas wyf to the seneschall of Herode This goâ—d woman serued our lord at the time that he preched administred made his mete and drynke the best wyse they couthe Here iâ— good ensample how euery good woman al be it so that she haue neuer so peruers and euylle husbond yet this notwithstondyng she ne oughte to leue the seruyse of god and be obeysshynge to hym or els atte leste she ought to be more â—umble and deuoute for to Impetre and gete the grace of god for her and for her husbond For the good that she dothe appeaseth the yre of god and is cause of the sauement of they re temporall rychesse and goodes For the good that she dothe suporteth the euylle and mysdedes of her husbond as it is reherced in the lyf of the Auncyent faders where as he spekâ—th of an euylle man and a tyraunt the whiche was thre tâ—mes saued fro euylle dethe for goodnes and bounte of his wyf Wherfore hit befelle whanne she was dede and that he had no body more that prayd for hym he was for his grete synnes mysdedes brought in to a shamefull dethe by the kyng of that lond And therfor it is good and necessary to an euyl man to haue a good wyf and of holy lyf And the more that the good wyf knoweth her husbond more felon and cruel and grete synuar the more she ought to make gretter abstynences and good dedes for the loue of
enseygnement capitulo Cxxxviij The thyrd enseygnement capitulo Cxxxix How Cathonet after that he had done ageynst the two commaundements of his fader essayed the thyrd on his wyf capitulo Cxl How Cathonet shold haue ben hanged capitulo Cxlj How themperours sone came to saue his mayster Cathonet capitulo Cxlij How Cathonet escaped Capitulo Cxliij How Cathonet exposed his aduenture capitulo Cxliiij Explicit Here begynneth the book whiche the knyght of the toure made And speketh of many fayre ensamples and thensygnementys and techyng of his doughters Prologue IN the yere of oure lord a· M thre honderd 〈◊〉 as I was in a gardyn vnder a shadowe as it were in thyssue of Aprylle all moornyng and pensyf But a lytel I reioysed me in the sowne and songe of the fowles sauuage whiche songe in theyr langage as the Merle the Manys the thrustell and the nyghtyngale whiche were gay and lusty This swete songe enlustyed me and made myn herte all temâ—ye So that thenne I wente remembryng of the tyme passed in 〈◊〉 youthe How loue hadde holde me in that tyme in his seâ—uyeâ— bâ— grete distresse In whiche I was many an houre gladde and ioyeful and many another tyme sorowful lyke as it 〈◊〉 to many a louer But alle myn euylles â—aue rewarded me Sythe that the fayre and good hath gyuen to me whiche hath knowleche of alle honoure alle good and fayre mayntenyng And of alle good she semed me the best and the floure· In whomâ— I so moche me delytâ—d For in that tyme I made songes layes Roundels balades Vyrelayes and newe songes in the mooste best wyse I coude But the deth whiche spareth none hath taken her For whome I haue receyued many sorowes and heuynesses In suche wyse that I haue passed my lyf more than twenty yere heuy and sorowfull For the very herte of a trewe louer shall neuer in ony tyme ne day forgete good loue but euermore shal remembre it And thus in that tyme as I was in a grete pensyfnes and thought I beholde in the way and sawe my doughters comyng Of whome I hadde grete desyre that they shold torne to honoure aboue alle other thyng For they ben yong â—itil dysgarnysshed of al wytte reson wherfor they ought at begynnyng to be taught chastysed curtoisly by good ensamples docerynes as dide a quene I suppose she was quene of hongry whiche fayre and swetely chastysed hel doughters and them endoctryned as is conteyned in her book And therfor when I saw them come toward me I remembryd me of the tyme when I was yoÌ„g and roode with my felauship and companyes in poytou and in other places And I remembre me moche wel of the fayttes and sayenges that they told of suche thynges as they fond with the ladyes and damoyselles that they requyred and prayd of loue And yf one wold not entende to theyr prayer yet another wold requyre withoute abydyng And though so were that they had good or euyll answers of al that they rought not For they had neyther dirde ne shame so moche were they endurate and acustomed And were moche wel bespoken and had fayre langage For many tymes they wold haue oueral deduyte And thus they 〈◊〉 no thyng but deceyue good ladyes and damoysellys and beâ—â— ouerall the tydynges somme trewe and somme lesynges Wherof there happed many tymes iniuryes and many vylaynoâ—â— diffames withoute cause and withoute reason And in alle the world is no gretter treson than for to deceyue gentyll wymmen ne to encrece ony vylaynous blame For many ben deceyued by the grete othes· that they vse wherof I debate me oftyme with them And saye to them ye ouer false men how may the god 〈◊〉 suffre yow to lyue that soo oftymes ye periure and forswere 〈◊〉 selâ— For ye hold no feythe But none putt hit in araye by 〈◊〉 they be so moche and so ful of disaraye And by cause I 〈◊〉 that tyme soo ledde and disposed yet I doute me that somme 〈◊〉 suche in this tyme present Therfore I concluded that I wold 〈◊〉 make a lytel booke wherin I wold doo be wreton the good maners and good dedes of good ladyes and wymmen and of theyr lyues soo that for theyr vertues and bountees they ben honoured And that after theyr dethe ben renommed and preysed and shal be vnto the ende of the worlde for to take of them good ensample and contenaunce And also by the contrarye I shall doo wryte and set in a book the myshappe and vyces of euylle wymmen whiche haue vsyd theyr lyf and now haue blame To the ende that the euylle maye bee eschewed by whiche they myght erre Whiche yet ben blamed shamed and dyffamed And for this cause that I haue here sayd I haue thought on my wel bylouyd doughâ—ers· whome I see so lytel to make to them a litil book for to lerne to rede to th ende that they maye lerne and studye vnderstode the good and euylle that is passyd for to kepe them fro hym whiche is yet to come For suche ther be that lawgheth to fore yow whiche after youre back goo mockyng and lyeng Wherfor it is an hard thyng to knowe the world that is now present And for these resons as I haue sayd I went oute of the gardyn and fond in my weye two 〈◊〉 and two clerkes that I hadde and tolde to them· that I wolde make a book and an examplayre for my doughters to 〈…〉 and vnderstonde how they ought to gouerne them 〈…〉 kepe them from euylle And thenne I made them to 〈…〉 before me the book of the byble the gestes of the kyng 〈…〉 of fraunce and of Englond and many other 〈◊〉 historyes and made them to rede euery book And dyde doo makâ— of them this book whiche I wold not set in ryme but al 〈◊〉 in prose for to abredge and also for the better to be vnderstondeâ— And also for the grete loue that I haue to my doughters 〈◊〉 I loue as a fader ought to loue them And thenne myn 〈◊〉 shal haue parfyte ioye yf they torne to good and to honoure 〈◊〉 is to serue and loue god and to haue the loue and the grace 〈…〉 neyghbours and of the world And by cause euery 〈…〉 moder after god and nature ought to teche enforme their children and to distourne them fro the euyll waye and te shewe 〈◊〉 them the right weye and true pathe as wel for the saâ—aâ—cion of theyr sowles as for thonoure of the body 〈…〉 haue made two bookes that one for my sonnes and that â—ther for my doughters for to lerne to rede And thus in lernynge 〈◊〉 shalle not be but that they shalle reteyne somme good ensample or for to flee the euylle and reteyne the good For it may not be but in somtyme they shal remembre somme good ensample or som good lore after that hit shalle falle and come to theyr mynde in spekyng vpon this matere Thus
curtosye comen of a fre and a curtoys hert And the lytell or poure maÌ„ or woman to whome it is done thynketh that he is happy to receyue it and hath therin agrete playsyre And gyueth ageyne grete honoure to hym or her that hath done to hym suche curtosye and honoure And by this maner of the smal peple to whome is done suche curtosye or honoure cometh the grete loos and renomme whiche groweth fro day to day It hapned that I was in a companye of knyghtes and ladyes And a grete lady tooke of her hood and humbled her self curtoysly vnto a tayloure And ther was a knyght that said to her Madame why haue ye taken of youre hoode vnto a taylloure And she answerd that she had leuer to take it of to· hym than to haue lefte it vnto a gentyll man And that was reputed for ryght wel done and as for the best tauÈt of all the other How yonge maydens ought not to torne their heedes lyghtely here ne there Capitulo xj aFter this in sayeng to them le ye not like ne semblable the tortuse ne to the Crane whiche torne their visage and the heede aboue their sholders and wynde their hede here and there as a vane But haue youre regard and manere stedfast lyke as the hare hath which is a beest that seeth alwey to fore hym euen right forth withoute tornyng of his heede here· ne there Alwey see that ye be stedfast in lokyng playnly to fore you And yf ye wylle loke a syde torne youre vysage youre body to geder And so shalle ye hold you in youre estate more ferme sure· For they be mocqued that so lyghtely cast their sight and hede and torne their vysage here and there How the doughters of the kyng of denmarke lost their husbonde by cause of theyr maners Capitulo xijo. tHenne I wold wel that ye had vnderstonden thensample of the doughters of the kyng of denmarke whiche I shall acompte to yow Ther ben foure kynges on this side the see that auncyently maryed for honoure withoute couetyse of lond with doughters of kynges and hyghe prynces that were wel born and had good renomme of good maners of good mayntene and stedfast And they shold be sene yf they were wel sâ—apen and lyke to bere children and that they had suche thynges as wymmen ought to haue And these ben the foure kynges the kyng of FrauÌ„ce whiche is the moost grettest and noble the next is the kyng of Englond the thyrd is the kyng of spayne and the fourth is the kyngÌ„ of hongarye whiche is by right Marchal of Cristen men in werres ageynst the hethen men and sarasyns So it happed that the kyng of Englond was for to marye And he herd saye that the kynge of denmarke had thre fayre doughters and moche wel born And by cause this kyng was a moche wyse man And the quene a blessid woman and of good lyf be sente certayne knyghtes and ladyes of the mooste suffisaunt of his royamme for to see these doughters And so passed the see and camen in to denmark when the kyng the quene saw the messagers they had grete ioye honoured fested them foure dayes none knewe the trouthe whiche of them shold be chosen And they affayted arayed the doughters the best wyse they myÈt And ther was in this companye a knyght and a lady rigÌ„ht connyng and moche subtyl whiche took good heede and set their ententes for to see the manere of these thre yong ladyes their contenaunces otherwhyle spaken and had comynycacyon with hem And them semed that the oldest was the fayrest but she had not the mooste sure manere in her beholdyng but ofte loked here and there· And torned ofte her heede on her sholders had her sight ventillous lyke a vane The second doughter had moche talkyng and spacke ofte tofore she vnderstood that whiche was said to her The third was not the fayrest of them but she was moost agreable mayntened her manere more sure and sadly spak but litil that was wel demeurly her regard sight was more ferme huÌ„ble than of that other two and thembassatours took their aduys couÌ„ceil that they wold retorne vnto the kyng their lord saye to hym suche thyng as they had fouÌ„den theÌ„ne he myÈt take her that plesid hym Thenne they cam to the kyng quene for to take their lâ—ue thanked them moche of their good coÌ„panye of thonour that they had done to them that they wold wel reporte to their lorde suche thynges as they had sene of their douÈters vpon whiche he myght do his plaisir The kyng theÌ„ne lycencyd them gaf to them fair gyftes so they departed cam in to englond And recouÌ„ted to their lord thonoure that the kyng quene had done to them after they reported the beaultes of the doughters their maners mayntenes thus ther was ynough spoken of eche of them there were ynough that susteyned to take tholdest or the seconde for thonour that hit were best to take tholdest when all this mater had ben wel beten discussed the kyng whiche was wyse of naturell wytte spak of the yongest said thus Myn auncetours maryed them but for worship without couetyse for bounte of the woman not for plaisaunce but I haue herd ofter myshappe for to take a wyf for beaulte or for plaisauÌ„ce than to take her whiche is of stedfast manere that hath fair mayntene And there is not in the world so grete ease as to haue a wyfe sure stedfast ne none so grete fair noblesse therfor I chose the thyrd doughter For I wylle haue none of the other theÌ„ne he sent for to fetche her wherof the two older doughters had grete despyte grete desdayne And thus she that badde the better and the more sure manere was made quene of Englond and tholdest was refused for her wylde lokynge whiche was ouer ventyllous And that other suster by cause she spak ouermoche Now fayre doughters take ye ensample by the doughters of the kyng of denmarke And late not your eyen ben ouer ventyllous ne tourne not youre hede hyder ne thyder But when ye wille see ony thyng on ony syde torne your vysage and youre body to geder And be not ouer full of wordes For who that speketh ouermoche is not reputed for wyse And ye ought wel at leyser vnderstande to fore that ye answere· And yf ye make a lytell pause bytwene ye shall answere the better and the more wysely For the prouerbe sayth that as moche auayleth to hym that hereth and no thyng vnderstondeth as to hym that hunteth and no thyng taketh as is sayd to fore And yet my fayre doughters I shall saye to yow of a fayt that happed me of this mater It happed me ones that I was spoken to of maryage for to marye with a noble woman
ye wyste and knewe thensample of kynge dauyd that only by a foule loke in beholdyng the wyf of Vrye his knyght he felle in fornycacion of auoutrye And after in homycyde in makyng hym to be put to dethe wherof god toke grete vengeaunce on hym and vpon his peple whiche occasion cam only by fowle beholdynge as it befelle by oure first moder Eue that by her foolysshe loke plaisir she felle in the fait or dede whiche alle the world and the humayne lygnage bought ful dere By this lokynge fait or dede cam the deth in to the world And therfore this is a good ensample for to kepe hym self fro suche folyssh and fals lokynge Of the fyfthe folye of Eue cap o xliij tHe fyfthe folye of Eue was when she took and touched the fruyte It hadde be better that she had had no handes For ouermoche peryllous was the touchynge of it But after the lokynge that sh had had And as the two vyces and her wyll were acordynge to geder she hadde no fere ne drede no thynge but touched it and tooke of it at her wylle And therfore saith the sage that men ought to kepe hym self fro touchynge of ony delyte wherby the sowle and the body myght be hurte in ony manere For foolisshe touchyng chaufe and enflamme the herte And when Reason is blynde whiche ought to rewle and gouerne both herte body men fall in synne and in foolysshe delâ—te And yet saith the sage who that surely wyl kepe hym 〈…〉 clenly he ought to locke his bandes twyes or thryes or that â—e come to towche or tast ony fowle thynge It is to saye that or 〈◊〉 enterprise or vndertake ony fait or dede he ought fyrst to thynkâ— two or thre tymes For touchynge and kyssyng meueth 〈◊〉 blood and flesshe in so moche that they forgete the fere and drede of god and the worship of the world And soo many euylle dedes bicomen by foolisshe attouchementis As in like wise bifelle to Eue that touchid to the fruyte forboden Of the sixthe folye of Eue capitulo xli ijo. tHe sixthe folye was that she ete of the fruyte this was the moost perillous poynt of the dolorous fait For by the same fait or dede we alle the world were delyuerd to the perille of the deth of helle and made straungers of the greete ioye of paradys how many an euylle dede and dolorous become in the world only by that etyng god knoweth it he god whiche is almyghty how sholde men knowe how and in whiche maner thou shalt punysshe them that done suche foolisshe and fowle faiteâ— And that delyteth them in delicious metes and in strong and swete wynes wherof they norysshe their body and fylle theyr bely by which delyte they be chaufed and meued to the fowle delyte of lechery and to many other synne Why take they no hede to the poure hongrye that deye for cold and for hongre and thurste of whiche god shalle aske and demaunde to them acompte the daye of his grete Iugement And knowe ye that synne is not only in takyng to moche of metes and wynes but gretter synne is of the delite that men take in the sauoure and etyng of them wherfore the sage sayth that the dethe lyeth vnder the delyces as the nette vnder the fisshe whiche is cause of his deth Lyke wyse the sauour and delite that men take in delycious metes bryngeth the sowle to deth And right soo as the delyte of the appell brought Eue to deth in suche wyse be brought to their ende may one by the delyte that they take in delicious metes and good wynes The seuenthe folye of Eue Capitulo xlv tHe seuenthe folye was that she byleued not what oure lord god had told her and to adam her lord that is that she shold dye yf she ete of the fruyte But he told her not that she shold soone deye of bodely dethe but symply had saide to her that she shold dye as she did Fyrst her sowle and after of bodely deth as she long tyme had be in the laboure and peyne of the world and that she hadde suffred moche sorowe and susteyned many meschyefs peynes and dolours as god told promysed her And after her deth she descended and fylle in a derke and obscure pryson wheroute none scapeth that was the lymbo of helle where she and her husbond with all their lygnage were in pryson vnto the tyme that oure lord Ihesu Crist was put on the Cros whiche space of tyme was fyue thousand yere and moo And that same tyme god delyuerd them also al tho that had serued hym and hadde be obeisshyng to his commaundements in the old and auncyent lawe And the cursed and euylle folke full of synne hâ— lete in the pryson of helle he took with hym the whete and the strawe he lete breÌ„ne Allas why thynk we not also they that be slepynge in synne to amende vs and not euer striue with the folysshe hope that we haue of longe lyf and not abyde tylle we see vs nyghe oure terme and ende Suche folk seeth not the deth that of nyghe foloweth them· whiche sodenly shalle come as the theef that cometh in atte back dore to robbe and kytte mennes throtes And no man knoweth when he cometh And after this theef stelyng day by day is destroyed Lyke wyse is of the synners that synne day by daye tyl the deth taketh them and destroyeth them Also as the theef that steleth and that can not hym self absteyne fro euylle doynge and hath a delyte in his theeftes tylle the tyme he is taken and put to deth Lyke wyse of the synner that so so moche goth and cometh to his folysshe playsaunce and to his delytes that men ben perceyuyng of it in so moche that he is ashamed and dyffamed of the world and hated of god and of the sages Of the eyghte folye of Eue capitulo xlvjo. tHe eight folye of Eue. was that she gaf thappel to her husbond and praid hym to ete of it as she dyde And as a foole wold not disobeye her And therfore they were bothe partyners of oure grete sorowe and euylle Here thenne is a good ensample For yf ony woman counceylle ony thyng to her husbond he ought first to thynke yf she said well or not and to what ende her counceylle shalle mowe come or that he to her couÌ„seylle gyue ony consent For none ought to be enclyned toward his wyf ne so obeysshynge but that he fyrst consydere yf she saith welÌ„ or not Many wymmen be that gyue no force and care of nothyng but that they may haue their wylle I my self knewe a Baron that byleued in all thynges his wyf in soo moche that by her foolysshe counceylle he tooke deth wherof it was grete pyte and damage But better it had be to hym that he had dredde her lesse and lesse byleued Lyke as Adam folysshly bileuyd hys wyf to his and oure
of fyre and thrested them vnto her face And in suche maner he tormented her and brente and enflammed her ouer alle sydes that the Heremyte was therof sore effrayed and trembled for fere But the Aungel assured hym and saide that she had wel deseruyd it And theremyte demaunded of hym why And the Angel saide that she had popped and polysshed her face for to seme more faire and plaisaunt to the world And that it was one of the synnes that was moost displesynge to god For she dyde hit by pryde by whiche men falle to the synne of lecherye And fynally in to all other For aboue alle thynge it displesith to the Creatour as one wylle haue by crafte more beaute than naâ—ure hath gyuen to hym And that hit suffyseth hym not to be made and compassid after the hooly ymage Of whome alle the Aungels in heuen take alle theyr ioye and delyte For yf god had wolde of his hooly purueauÌ„ce they had not be wymmen but they had be domme beestes or serpentes And why thenne take they no heede to the grete beaute whiche their creatoure hath gyuen hym And why doo they put to their faces other thynge than god hath gyuen hem It is therfore no merueyle yf they endure and suffre suche penaunce· And thenne said the Aungel she hath wel deserued it Go ye there as the body of her lyeth and ye shall see the vysage ryght hydous and affrayed And by cause he was eueer besy aboute her browes and aboute her temples and forheede to dresse and paynte them that she myghte be faire and playsaunt to the worlde it is conuenient and ryght that in euery place wheroute she plukked ony here of her face that there be put euery day a brennynge bronde Syre saide the Heremyte shalle she be longe in this torment Ye saide the angell a thousande yere and more he wold not discouere ne telle to hym of hit But as the deuylle dide putte the brounde in her face the power sowle cryed sore and cursed the houre that she euer was borne or engendryd And of the fere that thenne the hooly heremyte hadde he awoke alle affraid And cam to the Knyght And told hym his vysyon The knyght was sore abasshed and right sore meued of this auysyon And went to see the body that men wold haue supposed had be fair but they founde the vysage soo black and soo hydous and so horrible to see that it was grete confusion Thenne bileued wel the knyght for certeyne al that theremyte his vncle had told hym wherof he had grete horroure and grete abhomynacion and pyte in so moche that he lefte the world and dyde were the hayre euery fryday and euery wednesday and gaf for goddes sasake the third parte of all his reame and good And fro thennes forth he vsed and hooly lyf and had no cure more of the worldly bobaunces ne plaisire so moche he was ferful and agaste of that he had sene his last wyf and of that vncle had told hym Of the lady that blanked and popped her Capitulo lâ—â—ij â— aNd for to afferme this Ensample that it may for very certeyne haue be· I shalle telle yow of suche one that by felle but to late I sawe a baronnesse ryght a hyghe and noble lady of lygnage the whiche as men saide blanked and popped or peynted her self I sawe also hym that gaf to her euery yere suche thynges wherwith she popped her wherfore he tooke yerely grete pension of her as he hym self said as he was a parte at his seurte This lady was somtyme right moche honoured and worshiped and also right myghty her lord deyde wherfore euer syn her stat day by day dymynnyssed One tyme was that she had more than .lx payre of gownes as men said but at the last she had lesse and scant ynough And of her I herd saye that after she was dede her visage and all the body of her took suche forme and couÌ„trefaiture that men ne couthe saye what it was But well I wene that the peyntynge of her face wherof ofte she vsed as she lyued also the grete pryde of her and the grete wast and superfluyte of her gownes was cause and occasion of suche horryble countrefeture wherfore my faire doughters I pray you that here ye wylle take good Ensample and wel withold it and kepe hit in rememembraunce withynne youre hertes And that ye put no thynge to youre faces but loue them as god nature hath made and ordeyned them for ye maye fynde and see atte oure lady of Rukemadoure many tresses of ladyes and damoyselles that had wasshed them in wyn and other thynges And therfor they myght not entre in to the Chirche· tyll they had doo kyt of their tresses and brought them in to the Chappell of oure lady where as yet they be hangynnge This fayt or dede is approued And I telle you that that oure lady dyde shewe to them grete loue in doynge this myracle· for the gloryous vyrgyn wold not that they shold lese their peyne and tyme comyng thyder Also that they sholde not be lost for euer therfore she shewed the said myracle on them wherfor they that were in the weye of perdicion were brought to the weye of saluacion Here is a fair spectacle to euery woman to see in and conceyue the tyme comynge and the tyme also gone and passed as in the tyme of Noe when thorugh the synne of pryde god sent the deluge of waters wherof all the world was drowned for by that synne of pryde came amonge men and wymmen the fowle and vyle synne of lecherye And therof cam the grete perylle and of all the world scaped nomore but eyght persones Of the wyf of loth that trespassed the commaundement of god Capitulo .lv. aN Ensample I shall reherce vnto yow of Lothis wyf whiche god saued out of Gomore with her lord and her two doughters God defended her that she ne shold loke bebynde her but she dyd not his commandement but loked anon behynde her And therfore she bycam was tourned in to a salt stone Right so as seynt Martyn of verter dede doo falle and perysshe the Cytee of derbenges whiche was in the bisshopryche of Nantes whiche perisshed thorugh the synne of lechery and of pride as dide that Cyte wherout Loth was saued that was Gomore and Sodome and other fyue Cytees moo that god made to be conbusted and sonken vnto the Abysmes And bicame a grete water that men calle the lake of Gomore And the cause was the synne of lecherye that so merueylously stynketh that the stenche of it goth vnto the heuen and bestormeth all the ordre of nature And so were the seuen Cytees breÌ„ned and fourdryed in stynkyng sulphure by cause they that were moche vsed of the fylthe ordure of lechery For he that myght do it dyd it without hauyng ony shame And to it enforced them self withoute kepynge in their fowle and abhomynable doyng the lawe of
glory of the world and the worldly Ioye and ranne to hyde her secretely fro parys vnto Poytyers And there she rendryd her self in to thabbeye and bycame a Nonne and lefte the world to th ende she myght the better serue god withoute drede of ony man wherfore afterward god shewed for her sake a myracle For a tree whiche stode in the myddes of theyr cloystre the whiche was al drye god made hym to bycome and wexe fayr and grene And sprange oute of hit newe braunches and leues ageynste the cours of nature But no thynge is Impossible to god And many other grete myracles he dyd for the loue of her And therfore is here a good ensample to be charytable as aboue ye haue herd of these two holy ladyes and of this good lady Raab as they dyd and how at the last god gwerdoned and rewarded them for theyr good seruyse How he that wyll praye god must do abstynence ca lxxxviij aNother ensample shalle be reherced to yow of the Fader and moder of Sampson whiche were hooly folk in theyr maryage but they myght haue no Children and yet many clamours orysons they hadde therfore made vnto god This good lady was thenne vpon a day at a chirche whiche at that tyme was called temple And as she was there wepynge and prayenge god god toke pyte on her and sente vnto her an Angel whiche told her that she shold haue a sone that shold be the strongest man that euer was that by his strengthe the lawe sholÌ„d be enhaunced The good lady came soone to her lord and told hym this tydynge Her lord thenne kneled and prayd god that he wold shewe to hym this thynge by his angel And thenne god sente to them his aungel whiche sayd vnto them that they shold faste and doo abstynence and also that they shold kepe this child fro moch mete and drynke And yet sayd the aungel For ouermoche â—tynge and drynkyng fyghten ageynst the body and ageynst the sowle And whanne thus he had sayd to them he departed fro them They â—obeyed the commaundement of the Aungel fasted and made abstynence And soone after they had a chilÌ„de whiche whanne he was ful growen he fought ageynst the paynyms and kepte and mayntened the lawe of god ayensâ— them of whome he made grete occisyons and many grete merueylles as god susteyned and helped hym For he allone discomfyted and ouercame thre thousand persones Therfor ye haue here good ensample how ye shalle fast and do abstynence yf ye wylle requyre of god ony thynge For confession and fastynge done the request to be graunted of god as the Aungel told vnto them And yet after he sayd to them that they shold kepe theyr sone fro ouermoche mete specially of drynk Thenne syth the holy Aungel of god whiche al thyng knoweth defended to them this two vyces Hit is thenne good to euery man and woman to kepe them ther fro For by this synne of glotonye men falle in alle the other sixe dedely synnes as ye shalle more playnly knowe in the booke of your bretheren where as it is reherced how an heremyte chose his synne of glotonye and made it in so moche he bycame dronke And soone after by this synne he fylle and made alle the seuen And neuertheles he had supposed to haue chosen the most best of them alle Wherof I shall telle yow what Salamon therof seyth in the book of thenseygnements first he saith that wyn taken as they dyd cutte it they sawe a whyte doune that yssued oute of hit wherfor some of them by this ensample were conuertyd to the feythe of god And therfor after this ensample it is good to put his children to scole whanne they be yonge and make them to lerne the bookes of sapyence that is to saye the bookes of good techynge and enseygnementes where as men see the sauement of bothe the body and sowle And not putte them to lerne in the bookes of the fallaces and vanytres of the world For better thyng is and more noble to here speke of the good enseygnementes and techynges that may prouffyte bothe to the body and sowle than rede and studye the fables and lesynges wherof no good ne prouffyte may come And by cause somme folke sayen that they wold not that theyr wyues ne also theyr doughters wyst ony thynge of clergye ne of wrytynge therfor I say answerynge to them that as for wrytyng it is no force yf a woman can nought of hit but as for redynge I saye that good and prouffytable is to al wyâ—en For a woman that can rede may better knowe the peryls of the sowle and her sauement than she that can nouÈt of it for it hath be preued Thexample of the noble lady Ruth Capitulo lxxxx aNother ensample I shalle reherce vnto yow of a good lady whiche was named Ruth of the whiche yssued and cam kynge Dauyd The holy scrypture preyseth moche this good lady whiche merueyllously loued god and honoured and obeyed her lord And for the loue of hym she bare honour and loued his frendes and made to them better chere than she dyd to her owne frendes wherof hit befelle that after that her lord was dede his sone whiche he had of another wyf wold leue to her nothynge neyther land ne meuable good but wold haue al for hym self by cause he thoughte she was of ferre countrey and ferre fro her frendes but the parentes and frendes of her lord that loued her moche for her grete bounte and for the grete seruyce that she had done to them whyles that her lord was a lyue dyd helpe her ageynst theyr frendes and parentes In soo moche that they made her to haue al that of ryght apperteyned to her And soo this good lady saued her good thurgh the frendship and good companye that she had done the frendes and parentes of her lord And therfore is here good ensample how alle good wymmen ought to serue and bere worship to the frendes and parentes of they re lordes For gretter semblaunt of loue may they not shewe vnto them and alle good may therof come to her as dyd to the good lady Ruthe the whiche by cause she had loued and worshipped the parentes and frendes of her lord recouered and hadde her herytage as ye haue herd to fore How euery good woman ought to answere for her lord Capitulo lxxxxj I Wylle telle yow another Ensample of a good lady the whiche ought wel to be preysed It was the good lady Abygal whiche had a lord that was ful of yre dyuerse and ryotous to al his neyghbours He forfayted somme thynge toward the kynge dauyd wherfore he wold haue had hym to be destroyed and putte to dethe but the good lady whiche was sage and wyse wente toward the kyng and so moche humbled her self that by her swete and fayre wordes she made the pees of her lord Of many other peryls wherin he fylle and putte hym self thurgh
his fals tongue she saued hym also And thus this good lady amended euer his folye wherof she may be wel preysed Therfore ye haue here good ensample how euery good woman must suffre of her lord and ought to answere for hym ouer al al be he neuer so yrous ne cruel to her and saue and kepe hym fro all peryls I wolde ye wyst thexample of a good lady wyf vnto a Senatour of Rome as it is conteyned in the cronykles of the Romayns This Senatour was Ialous of his wyf withoute ony cause and was euylle and cruell to her Hit befelle that he accused one of treason the whiche anone casted his gage of bataylle vnto hym sayenge that wrongly he accused hym The day cam that they shold Iouste that one ageynst the other The Senatour was aferd and durst not come and sent word to the Senate how he was seke and that he shold sende one to Iouste for hym but he coude none fynde Wherfore the valyaunt lady his wyf that sawe the cowardnesse of her lord and the shame comynge to hym wente and armed her self cam to the felde And by cause god sawe her bounte and that she dyd her deuoyr he gaf her force and strengthe in soo moche that she obteyned the vyctory And whanne the Ioustynge was fynysshed themperour wold knowe who was the champyon of the Senatour wherfor the good ladyes helme was vnlocked and soo she was knowen wherfor themperour and alle they of the toune bare vnto her fro thens forthon gretter honour than they were wont to doo And therfor is here good ensample how euery good woman must humbly suffre of her lord that whiche she maye not amende For she that more suffreth of her lord withoute makynge therof no resemblaunt receyueth therof more worship x tymes than she that hath no cause to suffre of hym or that wyll not suffre nothyng of hym As Salamon sayth whiche moche wel spake of wymmen preysyng the one and blamynge the other How the good woman ought to pease the yre of her husbond whanne she seeth hym wrothe Capitulo lxxxxij aNother ensample I wylle reherce and shewe vnto you of one of the wyues of kynge dauyd how she peased the yre of her lord Ye haue well herd telle how amon despuceled his suster And how Absalon venged this shame and made hym to be put to dethe wherfor he fledde oute of the lÌ„and by cause the kynge dauyd wold haue hym to be slayne but this good lady gate hym his pees For so many good reasons she shewed to her lord that he graunted his grace and pardon and yet she was not his moder but only wyf of his fader but she kepte her lord in loue and his childâ—â—n also as a good lady that she was And so ought to doo euery good woman For gretter semblaunt of loue she may not shewe to her lord than to loue his children whiche ben goten of other wymmâ—n And soo doynge she worshippeth her self And atte last may come therof but good to her as dyd to this good lady For whanne the kyng was dede somme wold haue taken her ryght fro her but Absalon wold not suffre hit And sayd before them alle how be it that she be not my moder yet euer she loued me and many tyme she hath Impetred my pees toward the kynge my fader wherfor I shalle not suffre that she ony thynge lese of her ryght And therfore here is a good ensample how euery good woman ought to bere worship and loue her lordis children and his parentes Thexample of the Quene Saba and of the kynge Salamon Capitulo lxxxxiij I Shalle telle yow another ensample of the quene Saba whiche was a moche good lady and wyse the whiche cam fro oryent in to Ierusalem for to demaunde aske counceylle of the kynge Salamon and she loste not her waye For she had of hym good counceylle of the whiche wel it happed to her Therfore ye ought to take here good ensample For euery good lady oughte to châ—se a good and trewe man and also wyse of her lygnage or els of other and hold and kepe hym in loue and frendship of whome she may take counceylle of that she hath to doo And yf she falle in plâ—e or in ony contempte the good and wyse man shalle amodere hit And shalle make her to haue her ryght withoute grete costes and expenses And euer therof cometh somme good As did to the good quene Sa ba that fro so ferre came to haue counceylle of the kynge Salamon Yet wold I ye wyst thexample of an Emperour of Rome This emperour was seke and lay in the bedde of dethe Euery one of the lordes and Senatours for to please hym sayd to hym that he shold soone be hole yf he coude swette But ony frend that he had spake to hym noothyng of the prouffyte and saluacion of his sowle There was there with hym one his chamberlayne whiche he had nourysshed and brought vp of his yongthe This chamberlayne sawe wel that his lord couthe not scape fro dethe And how all they that were there sayd nought but for to please hym wherfor he cam to hym and sayd Syre how fele yow your herte And themperour ansuerd to hym Sore and feble is my hert Thenne beganne the chamberlayn to saye moche humbly Syre god hath gyuen to yow in this world alle worship honour And also grete quantite of worldly goodes wherfor ye must thanke hym and ye shal doo wel And of suche goodes as god hath sente to yow ye must ordeyne and departe to the poure folke a parte of them In suche wyse that he haue no cause to repreue yow therof whanne themperour had herd hym He was wel pleased with hym that he had so sayd and sayd two wordes More worthe is the frend whiche prycketh than the flaterynge frend whiche enoynteth Thus he spak by cause that his other frendes had spoken to hym of bodyly helthe only for to please hym but the same spake to hym of the saluacion of his sowle for who that loueth the body of very loue ought in especiall to loue the sowle And none oughte to cele or hyde nothynge fro his frend yf it be his prouffyte and honour And for loue ne for hate of ony body he ought not to counceylle hym but trewely after his power as a good and trewe frend shold doo and not flatere hym ne make the placebo As dyd the frendes of themperour whiche knewe wel that he coude not scape fro dethe and durste not saye ne shewe vnto hym the prouffyte of his soule the which his trewe frend and pouer chamberlayne putte in the waye of saluacion For themperour byleuyd hym and gaf and departed largely of his goodes to the poure for the loue of god How it is good to aqueynte hym self with holy men Capitulo lxxxxiiij aNother ensample I shalle telle yow of a moche good and trewe woman the whiche had