sente to her word that for certayne he wolde neuer pursewe her more for suche fayte and that she had ouer grete a companye that kepte her And after he cam and spak to her and demaunded of her what was the grete companye that was with her And she said that she knewe of no thyng at that tyme whan he cam sauf that theÌ„ne she said the Vygylle for them that were deed And thenne thought the lord wel that they were they that kepte her And therfor this is a fayre example to praye for them that ben departed oute of this world at al tymes How we ought to saye oure houres and prayers cao. v o fAyre doughters whan ye ryse oute of youre bedde thenne entre in to the seruyse of the hyhe lord and begyn ye your matyne This ought be youre first werk and your firste labour And when ye shal say them· saye ye them with good herte And thynke ye on none other thyng yf ye may For ye may not goo two weyes at ones For ye must goo that one or that other Thus is it of the seruyce of god For as the wyseman saith in sapyence As moche auayleth it hym that redeth vnderstoÌ„deth not as it doth to hym that hunteth and taketh not And therfore he that thynketh on erthely thynges and seyth his Pater noster· or prayers that toucheth heueÌ„ly thynges· doth a thyng that is contrary And it proufyteth not it is not but for to mocke god And therfore saith the hooly scripture that the short prayer perceth heuen But that is to saye that more auayleth a short prayer and said with good herte and deuoutely than a grete and longe prayer and to thynke on other thynges And when more is said deuoutely than is it more worthe and more deseruyth he meryte And yet seith the hooly scripture that lyke as the swete dewe of Maye and of Aprylle pleseth moche vnto the erthe and attempreth it swetely in makyng to germyne and fructyfye Ryght so ben the heures and prayers deuoutely said playsaunt to fore god Thenne ye shall fynde in many places and specially in the legeÌ„de of hooly confessours· of vyrgyns and of other hooly wymmen whiche made her beddes of hard and roughe thynges and laye theron for to slepe the lasse to haue the lasse reste For to wepe ofte and many tymes to wake· for to entre in to prayers and in the seruyce of god wherin they held hem day and nyght And for that seruyce and laboure haue they goten as it is shewed openly to the world that they ben in the hooly ioye with hym by that that he doth for them euydent myracles For thus god rewardeth the seruyce that is done to hym an honderd fold double as I haue seid to fore And therfore fayre doughters saye your heures and prayers deuoutely· and with good herte· without thyâ—â—kyng on ony other thynge And beware that ye breke not you 〈◊〉 faste till that ye haue said youre matyns and heures For a 〈◊〉 bely shal neuer be humble ne deuoute Also see wel to 〈…〉 alle the masses that ye maye here For grete good shaâ—◠〈◊〉 therof· Wherof I shall saye an ensample of this materâ— How good doughters ought to faste Capitulo sâ—xto tHere was a knyght that hadde two doughters 〈◊〉 was by his first wyf And that other by his second And she that he had by his first wyf was meruaylâ—â—â—ly deuoute ne neuer wold ete till that she bad said all her houreâ— and herd all the masses that she myght here And that other dâ—â—â—â—ter was holden so tendyrly and so moche louyd that she was â—â—â—fred to haue alle her wylle For as soone as she had herd a 〈◊〉 masse and hadde saide twoo or thre pater nostres she wente in to the garderobe and there ete a soupe or somme lycorous thyng 〈◊〉 sayd that her hede oke for fastyng but all this was but an euylle customme And also when her fader and moder were a bedde â–ª thenne must she goo ete somme good morsell· or somme good 〈◊〉 And this lyf ledde she tyl she was maryed vnto a kynÈt whiche was wyse and subtyle Thenne it happed that her lord knewe her manere whiche was euyll̄· bothe for the body the soule and told and shewed this to her moche honestly and swetely many tymes and said she dyd euyll to vse suche a lyf but neuer shewe to leue it for faire spekyng ne for thyng that he couthe say or doo Thenne it happed that on a nyght he had slepte his first slepe And tasted beside hym and found her not wherof he was moch angry And aroos from his bed And cast aboute hym a furryd mantell and entred in to his garderobe where as his wyf was with his clerk and two of his seruauntes· and ete and played so that there was a grete noyse and the men and wymmen â—aped to geder eche with other And the lord that sawe all this arraye was moche wrothe and felle And helde a staf in his honde for to smyte one of his seruauÌ„tes whiche had embracid one of the wymmen of the chambre and smote so sore that seruauÌ„t that a splynt sprange out of the staf in to the one eye of his wyf which was by hym in suche manere that by mysauenture her eye was smeton oute and lost her eye And thus her husbond had her in suche hate that he tooke his herte fro her and set it in another in suche wyse that her houshold and menage wente all to nought and to perdicion This happed by the euyl gouernaunce of his wyf whiche was acustommed to lyue dyssolutely and disordynately bothe on mornynges and on euenynges wherof the grete part of the harme was here 's by cause she lost her eye and the loue of her husbond Thenne was she in an euyll astate moche lassed and lesse sette by of al men that knewe her And therfor it is goode to saye their houres and here al the masses fastyng And accustomme them to lyue sobyrly and honnestly For al cometh by accustommaunce and vsage as it happed to her suster She vsyd fro her youthe to serue god and to goo to the chirche as for to saye her matyns and houres deuoutely and here alle the masses fastyng And therfore it happed that god rewarded and gafe to her a knyght ryche and puyssaunt And she lyued with hym well and honestly and in good and grete pees And thenne it happed that theyr fader whiche was a wyse man wente for to see his two doughters And fonde with tholder grete honours and grete rychesse and was receyued there moche honourably And of that other whiche had her eye oute he fond her all oute of arraye And how she had gouerned her nycely and wantonly Thenne it happed that when he was comen home ageyne he recounted to his wyf And moche cruelly repreued her by cause she had lost her doughter by cause she had kokered her and
endeth the prologue Here foloweth the book of thensygnemens and techynges of the knyght of the Toure And first how god ought to be honoured aboue all thynges Capitulo primo IT is moche fayre and ryght a noble thyng for to see and beholde thauncyent hystoryes whiche haue ben wreton of oure predecessours for to shewe to vs good ensamples and to aduertyse vs how we may see the good dedes· that they foâ—owed and teschewe the euyll as may be sent that they eschewed Thenne I shalle speke and saye to them thus My ryght dere doughters for as moche as I am old and 〈◊〉 I haue sene the world more lenger than ye haue I shall 〈◊〉 to yow a partye of the world after my seyence whiche is nâ—t 〈◊〉 grete Bâ—t the grete loue that I haue to yow And the 〈…〉 I haue that ye torne youre hertes and youre thoughâ—◠〈◊〉 god and to serue hym by whiche ye may gete wele and 〈…〉 in this world and in that other For certeynly al the 〈…〉 honoure and al thoneste of man and of woman 〈…〉 and of the grace of his hooly spyryte And also gyueâ—◠〈◊〉 and shorte in worldly and erthely thynges suche as 〈…〉 hym For alle thyng falleth at his playsyre and 〈◊〉 And also gyueth for all suche we le and seruyce as is 〈…〉 an honderd fold double And therfore my right dere 〈…〉 is good to serue suche a lord whiche rewarded an honderd 〈…〉 How the matyns and houres ought to be said Capitulo 〈◊〉 aNd by cause that the fyrst werke labour that man or woman ought to doo is for to adâ—ure and worshipe oure lord and saye his seruyse That is to vnderstaÌ„de that as soone as he awaketh he ought to know leâ—â—che hym for his lord and maker and hym self to be his creature That is to wete· to saye his matyns houres and his orysâ—ns â–ª yf he be a clerk and to rendre and yelde to hym thankynges and â—â—â—synges As to say laudate dominuÌ„ omnes gencâ—s Benedicamus patrem et filium cum sancto spiritu or suche oâ—â—er thynges as yelde gyue thankynges preysynges vnto god For it is a gretter thyng to thanke and blysse oure lord god than to reâ—uyâ—â—e demaunde hym For requeste demaunde yefte of guerdon thâ—nkynges and to yelde preysynges is thâ—ffyce of angels â–ª which alwey gyue thankynges honoure and preysyng vnto god for it is better to thanke god than to requyre hym by cause he knoweth better what is good for a man or a woman than they wote them self After we ought to praye for them that ben dede to fore we goo to slepe And also the dede men praye for them that praye for hem And also forgete not the blessid and swete Vyrgyne Marye whiche nyght and day prayeth for vs And also to recommaunde yow to the hooly sayntes of heuen And when this is done thenne maye ye well goo slepe For this ought to be done as ofte as ye awake Of twoo doughters of the Emperoure that one synfull And that other deuoute Capitulo Tercio IT is conteyned in thystorye of Constantynople that an Emperour hadde two doughters Of whome the yongest was of good maners and loued god and honoured prayd to hym alwey when she awoke and moche deuoutely praâ—â— for the sowles of them that were dede And these two yong 〈…〉 lay bothe in one bedde And whan the oldest awoke and 〈◊〉 her suster saye her prayers she mocked and scorned her 〈◊〉 said to her that she letred her to slepe Thenne it happed that youthe and the grete ease that they hadde ben norysshed in 〈◊〉 them to loue two knyghtes bretheren whiche were twoo goodly men and moche gentyll And so long endured theyr playsyre and loue that they discouered eche to her loue the secrete of their amerous desyre in soo moche that they sett a certeyne houre to these knyghtes for to come to them pryuely by nyght And when he that shold come to the yonger supposyd to haue entryd within the Courteyns hym semed that he sawe moo than a thousand men in sudaryes lyke dede men whiche were aboute the damoysell he hadde so grete fere and hydoure that he was al affrayed Wherof he tooke the feures and was seke in his bedde But to that other knyght if happed no thyng so for he gate the oldest doughter of the emperoure with child And whan the Emperoure knewe that she was grete with child he made her to be drowned in a nyÈt dyd do the knyÈt to be flayn al quyck Thus for this false delyte they deyde both tweâ—n But that other doughter was saued lyke as I haue said shall saye when it cam on the morn it was said oueral that the knyght was seke in his bedde TheÌ„ne she for whome he tooke his maladye wente for to see hym And he told to her all the trouthe how when he supposid to haue entrid within the courteyns he sawe a merueylous grete nombre of dede men in sudaryes aboute her Of whome he said I had so grete drede and hydoure that I was taken with thaccesse or feures and also was al moost oute of my wytte for fere and yet am all affrayed And when the damoysel herd the trouthe she was merâ—â—ueylously ioyeful and thanked god moche humbly whiche 〈◊〉 saued her fro perisshyng and dishonoure And from than 〈◊〉 on she worshyped and prayed god alwey when she a 〈◊〉 And praid moche deuoutely for all Crysten sowles more 〈◊〉 fore and kepte her chastly and clene And it was 〈…〉 that a grete kyng of grece desyred and demaunded her 〈…〉 to haue her in maryage And her fader gafe her to 〈…〉 was after a good lady and deuoute and of moche 〈…〉 Thus was she saued for prayeng to god and 〈…〉 hym and also for prayeng for them that ben dede And 〈…〉 suster that scorned and mocked her was drâ—wned and â—â—â—â—â—noured And therfore my dere doughters remembre yow 〈◊〉 this example alwey whan ye awake And slepe not ageyne 〈◊〉 that ye haue praid for them that ben departed oute of this 〈◊〉 lyke as dyde the doughter of the emperour And yet 〈◊〉 wolde wel that ye shold knowe thensample of a Damoyselle whiche a greete lord wold haue for fayre or fowle for to accomâ—plysshe his fowle playsyr and delyte How we ought to praye for them that ben dede Capitulo quarto IT happed in suche wyse that this lord dyd do espye where as this Damoyselle was entred in to an hoole where as she entrid rested there for drede of hym that was in a busshe And she sayd vygylles for the dede men And this grete lord entryd in to the hoole â— And sawe her there And wende anone to haue accomplyssâ—yd his fowle delyte But when he supposed to haue taken her hym semed that he sawe more than ten thousand prysonners buryed that kepte her And had of them so grete fere and drede that anon he torned and fled
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
sorowe yf they haue ony Lyke as dide one myn AuÌ„te whiche hath told it me many tymes This good lady was lady of languyller whiche thenne had a lord to her husbond that myght wel and held of rente for· xv· C. pound a yere helde a merueylous noble estate but her husbond was lecherous so moche that he held alwey a woman or tweyne in his hous And oftymes he roos fro his wyf and wente to his concubynes And when he cam fro his folye he fond a candel lyght and water with a towayll to wesshe his hondes And when he was come ageyn she said no thyng but praid hym to wesshe his hondes And he said that he cam from the preuy chambre· And therfor said she by cause ye come fro thens ye haue the more nede to wasshe yow And otherwyse she repreuyd hym not But som tyme she said to hym pryuely bitwene them bothe only My lord I wote wel and knowe of youre fait with suche one and suche one but neuer for me by goddes grace sith that it is youre playsire And that I can by no mene remedye it I shal not make to yow the werse chere ne semblaunt ne to them also For I were wel a foole to breke my heede for the debate fo youre marchaundise sith it may be none other wyse but I pray you my lord atte leste that ye make me no worse chere ne that I lese not youre loue ne your good semblaunt For of the surplus I shall wel deporte and forbere And shal suffre all that it shall playse yow to commaunde me And truly by the softe and swete wordes that she said to hym his herte malte and wexe pytous and kept hym self from it a good whyle And duryng her lyf by grete curtosye and humble obeysaunce she vaynquysshâ—th hym For by other wey she had neuer done it And at the last he repentyd hym and kepte hym only to her This is a faire ensample how by curtosye and obeysaunce a woman may best ouercome and withdraw her lord and husbond fro suche feet and dedes and sonner than by rudesse For a man is of suche courage that when they be ronne â—n with fyersnes and rudesse they done hit the rather and ben 〈◊〉 worse And for so moche for to saye trouthe and ryght an husbond ought not to conne his wyf maulgre yf she be som what â—â—â—lons of hym For the wise man saith that Ialousye is 〈…〉 of loue And I trowe he saith sooth For I shold not moche reche of suche one as I set not by and that I had no cause to loue whether he dyde wel or euyll but of my neyghbour or of my frende I shold be sory and heuy at my herte yf he had ony harme or disease And therfore Ielousye is not withoute grete loue But hâ—â— is in two maners of whiche that one is werse than that other For it is in somme in whome ben no good resons And that is moche better to suffre for his honoure and for his estate than for to haue it And also a man ought to conne not ouermoche maulgre to his wyf yf she be a lytell Ialouse ouer hym For therby she sheweth how her herte doubteth and hath grete fere that another haue not the loue that she ought to haue of ryght after god and the chirche but she that is wyse maketh lytell semblaunt and she ought to refreyne her wel and to bere her euyll curtoisly and conuertly And in like wise ought a man to make as litell semblaunt as he maye It is wisedom to hym that may kepe hym but alweye the wif that seeth that her husbond be a lytell Ialouse of her yf she apperceyue that she hath caused it of ony folissh plesaunces whiche plese hym not the good wif thenne ought to deporte and forbere wisely withoute makyng semblaunt to fore ony how she speketh or maketh ony chere by ony were And ought to saye by twene them bothe wysely and the moost swetely that she may sayenge that she knoweth wel that the grete loue that he hath to her hath made hym to fere and doute that she turneth not her loue awey from hym And to saye to hym that he haue no doute ne be not aferd For by the grace of god she shalle kepe thonoure well of them bothe And thus by fayre and softe wordes to meue take from hym bryng hym fro his folissh Melancolye For yf she take it in angre and haue hyhe wordes she shalle enlumyne the fire and make it werse and to make it werse than it was to fore For many wymmen ben more fyers in theyr lesynges and lyes than in theyr trewe sayenges and wordes And therfore many haue grete doubte And thus I saye yow that the good wyf how wel that she haue a lytel suspection of Ryotte or greef she ought not the lesse to loue her lord and husbond for a lytell Ielousye For she ought to thynke that is the right grete loue that she hath to hym And how he hath grete doute and fere in his herte that another haue not the loue· that he ought to haue by his right after god and hooly chirche And to thynke and beholde that yf another withdrawe the loue that he ought to haue that neuer he shal loue her and that the loue and the ioye of theyr maryage shold be lost And theyr good and menage shold torne to declyne and faile fro day to day And this is a thyng that moche peple ought to remembre and trxpresse oft in theyr mynde And therfore this is a good ensample how the courage thought ought to be mesured How a good woman ought not to stryue with her husbond Capitulo xvij aFter this a woman in no maner wyse ought stryue ageynst her husbond ne answere hym so that he take therby displaysyre lyke as dyde the wyf of a burgeys whiche answerd to her husbond so noiously and shamefully to fore the peple that he bicam angry and felle to see hym self so rewlyd to fore the peple that he had therof shame And he said to her and bad her ones or twyes that she shold be stylle and leue but she wold not her husbond whiche was wrothe smote her with his fyste to the erthe· And smote her with his foote on the vysage so that he brake her nose by whiche she was euer after al disfygured And soo by her ryotte and ennoye she gate her a croked nose moche euyll It had ben moche better for her· that she had holden her stylle and hadde suffred yet it is reson and ryght that the husbonde haue the hyhe wordes and it is but honoure to a good woman to suffre and holde her in pees and leue the haultayn langage to her husbond and lord And it is in the contrarye to a woman grete shame and vylonye to stryue ageynst her husbond be it wrong or right And in especial to fore the peple I say not
but when she shall fynd hym alone and tyme but that she may wel reprehende hym and aduyse hym in shewyng curtoysly that he had wrong and vnright with hym And yf he be a man resonable he shal conne her thanke And yf he be other 〈◊〉 hath not she done but her parte For right so shold a wyse 〈◊〉 do by th ensample of the wyse quene hester wyf of the kyng Assuere whiche was moche melancolyque and hasty But the 〈◊〉 lady answerd not to his yre But after when she saâ—â—e hym 〈◊〉 attempryd place and tyme thenne dyde she what she 〈…〉 And it was grete wysedom of a woman And thus ought 〈◊〉 wymmen to do By this ensample the wymmen that ben 〈◊〉 and rampynge ben not of suche obeysaunce as was a 〈…〉 marchaunt of whome I shall saye and telle to yow· How a woman sprange vpon the table· Capitulo xvâ—â—â— IN a tyme it happed that Marchauntes of Fraunce cam from certayn Fayres where as they sought Draâ—â—erâ—â— And as they cam with Marchaundyse fro Roan that one of them said it is a moche fayre thynge a man to haue a wif obeysaunt in alle thynges to her husbond Verayly sayde that one my wyf obeyeth me well And the second said I trowe that my wyf obeye me better ye sayd the thyrd lede laye a wager that whiche wyf of vs thre that obeyeth best her husbond and doeth sonnest his commaundement that he wynne the wager wherupon they waged a Iewele and accorded al thre to the same sworen that none shold aduertyse his wyf of this bargayn sauâ— only to saye to her doo that whiche I shall commaunde what soÌ„euer it be After when they cam to the first mans how 's he sayd to his wyf Sprynge in to this bacyne and she answerd wherfore or what nede is it And he said by cause it playsâ—th me so and I wyll that thou do so Truly said she I shall knowe fyrst wherfor I shal sprynge And soo she wold not doo it· And her husbond waxe moche angry and felle and gafe her a buffet After thys they cam to the second mrachauntes how 's and he saide to his wyf lyke as that other saide that she wold doo his commaundement And it was not long after that he said to her Sprynge in to the basyn And she demaunded hym wherfore And at the last ende for ought that he dyde she dyd it not wherfore she was beten as that other was Thenne cam they to the thyrd mans hous And there was the table couered and mete set theron And the marchaunt said to thother marchauntes in theyr errs that after dyner he wold commaunde her to sprynge in to the bacyn And the husbond said to his wyf that what someuer he commaunded her she shold do it his wyf whiche that moche louyd hym and dred hym herd wel the word And it was so that they bygan to ete and there was no salt vpon the table And the good man sayd to his wyf Sail sur table And the good wyf whiche hadde fere to disobeye hym sprang vpon the table and ouerthrewe table mete wyn and platers to the ground How said the good man is this the manere CoÌ„ne ye none other playe but this are ye mad or oute of youre wyt Syre said she I haue done youre commauÌ„dement haue ye not said that youre commaundement shold be done what someuer it was Certaynly I haue it done to my power how be it that it is youre harme and hurte as moche as myn For ye said to me that I shold sprynge on the table I said he I sayd ther lacked salt vpon the table In good feyth I vnderstode 〈◊〉 she for to spryng theÌ„ne was ther laughter ynouÈ al was taken for a bourd and a mocquerye Thenne the other two Marchaunâ—â—s said it was no nede to late her sprynge in the basyn For she had done ynough And that her husbond had wonne the wager And she was more preised than the other two that wold not do the commaundement of theyr husbondes For moyen peple chastysen theyr wynes by buffettys and strokes but gentyl wymmen ought to be chastysed by fayre semblaunt and by curtosye 〈◊〉 For other wyse ought not to be done to them And therfore euery gentyl woman sheweth whether she haue gentyll courage or none That is to wyte that she sheweth by faire semblaunt and by curtosye that she obeyeth and hath euer doubte to disobeye leste ony harme come or myght happen or falle to her· For the other two wyues obeyed not their husbondes lyke as the good wyf dyde to the thyrdde marchaunt whiche for fere of disobeysaunce to her husbond sprange vpon the table and threwe doune alle And thus ought euery good woman to fere and obeye her lord husbonde and to doo his commaundement is hit right or wrong yf the commaundement be not ouer outrageous And yf ther be vyce therin she is not to blame but the blame abydeâ—h vppon her lord and husbonde And also that she ought not tansuere to euery word of euery husbond ne of other And that therin is perysâ—e lyke as was of the knyghtes doughter that sette her honoure in grete balaunce for to stryue and answere to the hasty squyer that sayd to her vylonye as a foole For many ben so haultayn and of soo euyl courage that they saye in hastynesse and hete alle that they knowe and cometh to mouthe Therfore it is grete peryll to begynne strif to suche peple For who soo doth he set his honoure in grete aduenture For many saye in theyr angre more than they knowe for to auenge them Of the woman that gaf the flesshe to her honndes capitulo xâ—x I Shal saye to yow an Ensample of a lady that yaf the flesshe and good morsels to her lytell houÌ„des Ther waâ— a lady whiche hadde two small houndes whome she moche loued and had soo derworthe that that she took in them greete playsaunce She made for them dayly dysshes of sowpes and after gaf to them flesshe and other fryandyses delycyous And on a tyme there was a frere mendyâ—aunt that said to her that it was euyll done to gyue suche metes to the houndes that were grete fatte where as there were moche poure peple lene and drye for â—â—gre Thus he prechyd vnto the lady but for al that she wold not leue it Sâ—o thenne a lytel afterward this lady bycam seke vnto the deth And ther happed a wonder thyng whiche was sene al apertely For ther cam vpon her bed two lytel black dogges And whan she drewe on and was in a traunce they were about her mouthe and lycked her lyppes And where as they lycked her on the mouthe it bycam as black as a Cole This I haue herd of a damoyselle that said that she had sene al this And named to me the lady This is a good enâ—ample to euery good lady and woman how they ought not to haue ouer grete plaisâ—re in
none good woman ought to mocke or scorne her husbond ne preyse hym the lesse for ony sekenesse or trybulacion that god sendeâ—â— hym For as wel is the axe or swerd lyft ouer the hoâ—â— as ouer the seke as ye haue herd of Thobye whiche was heled of his eyen and his wyf by cause of her folysshe spekynge felle in a grete sekenesse wherfor I wyl that ye knowe thensample of Sara whiche had seuen husbondes the whicâ—e the deuyl slewe by cause they wold vse her of an enorme and ouer foule faytte of which it neded not to be spoken of Thys by the smallyst worme that myght be founde in the world I haue spoken and told vnto yow of the euylle wymmen after hit is conteyned within the byble for to be vnto yow other an ensample for to kepe and beware yow of euylle doyng Now I shalle traytte and telle vnto yow of the good wymmen the whiche holy wrytyng preyseth moche And therfore it is good to recorde and brynge to memory the good condycions of the good wymmen whiche somtyme were the myrrour and exemplary to alle other of that tyme that now ben to them that ben yet to come And the fyrst ensample is of Sarra whiche the holy scrypture or wrytyng preyseth so moch Of the noble woman Sarra whiche kepte her self full clenly Capitulo lxxxij sArra was wyf to Abraham a moche good woman a wyse and god kepte her fro many paryls For as the kyng Pharao toke her god dyde sende hym so many euyls and so moche he was trauaylled of sekenes that of nede he must take yelde her ageyne to her owne lord so god saued her by cause of her holynes and good lyf As he dyde kepe many sayntes fro fyre and water and fro gleues or wepen and also fro many other grete torments as is conteyned in the bookes of theyr lyf and legendes For thus saueth God them that louen hym and ben his frendes Thys Sarra suffred many euyls and grete dolours She was the space of a honderd yere barayn but by cause of her holy feyth and for the sure trouthe that euer she bare vnto her lord and also for her humylyte God send and gaf her a sone whiche afterward was a good holy man It was Isaac of whome the xij lygnees yssued and came and God gaf hym to her for her grete bounte Of the Valyaunt lady Rebecca the wyf of ysaac Capitulo lxxxiij aNother ensample I shalle telle yow of Rebecca which was merueyllously good and fayre and full of good condycions The holy wrytynge preyseth moche this Rebecca as for her grete humylyte She was wyf to ysaac and moder of Iacob The scrypture wytnessyth how she loued and worshipped her lord aboue al thyng and shewed her to hym meke and humble and ansuerd hym swetely and for to haue be slayne she wold not haue sayd one worde that myght haue displeased hym And by cause of her grete humylyte shew shewed her more to be seruaunt than lady She was long tyme barayne but god whiche loueth holynesse and humylyte gaf and sente to her two children at ones and at one byrthe that were Ezau and Iacob of the whiche Iacob yssued twelue children the whiche afterward were prynces of the twelue lygnees of whom thepystle of al hallowen day maketh mencion This Rebecca loued more Iacob whiche was the last borne than she dyd Esau she made hym to haue the blessyng of his fader as in the byble is reherced She loued hym best that best couthe cheuysshe hym self and whiche was of grete purueaunce She was lyke the lyonesse whiche of alle her faons she loueth best hym that best can purchace for hym self Iacob was of grete purueaunce And Esau hadde alle his herte sette to the chace and to the veneson And so the children of one fader and moder ben not of one condycion manere For some louen one crafte and one maner of lyuyng and the other louen another I shall telle yow thensample of a good man and of a good woman whiche were long tyme to gyder withoute hauyng ony children And at theyr request god sente them a moche fayr sone And soone after another they had whiche was fowle and lame Trouthe hit is that they shold gyue to the Chirche theyr fyrst begoten sone But as they had the second and sawe hym so contrefayt they sayd he shold be gyuen to the Chirch And that the fayrest shold abyde with them for to be theyr heyr wherof god was wrothe and took them both and neuer syn they had none wherfore they lyued in grete sorowe And therfor is here a good ensample For none ought to make ony promesse to god but yf he wyll holde and accomplysshe it and none may mocke hym as these wold haue done in gyuynge to hym the fowlest of theyr two children and wold haue kepte the fayrest for them and the whiche they had promysed to gyue hym Ye shall neuer see good come therof to them that so do Ne to them that haue and take oute their sones and their doughters fro the monastery where ones they were gyuen and receyued wherof many ensamples I haue sene with myn eyâ—n as of many that haue be had oute of theyr Abbeyes for the landes possessions that to them were comynge by the succession of they re parentes whiche were passed oute of this world And after by couetyse somme made werre ageynste them and toke by force alle that they had fro them And for certayne I sawe neuer none soo had oute of the chirche that myght be peasyble but at the last he came euer to nouÈt And as wel I say of wymmen that for suche caas or other were had oute fro theyr monastery I wyst neuer none but that she had an euylle ende For at the last they were dyffamed and vyoled and deyde of theyr children or otherwyse vilaynsly they ended their lyf And therfor men ought not take fro god that whiche is his How the faders and moders ought to praye for theyr chilÌ„dren Capitulo lxxxiiij I Shalle telle yow thexample of lya the wyf of Iacob The byble preyseth her moche and sayth how she loued parfyghtely her lord the worship that she bare vnto hym And how as god sente to her ony child she thanked hym therof deuoutely therfore god gaf her Viij of the xij prynces of whome the twelue lygnees yssued that soo moche were good men and dradde and loued god aboue al thyng And their fader and moder praid euer god for them syn they were but yonge that he wold purueye them of his loue and of his grace And he wel herd theyr prayer For they were holy men worshipped aboue al folk Here is thenne good ensample hou the faders and moders ought euery day to pray god for theyr children as Iacob and Lia dyd And yet I saye that for no faute ne ryotte they neuer cursyd them but blamed and repreued them by
me coynte and Ioly how shold I doo on the hyghe feestes and holydayes And also as the lordes my parentes shalle come to see me For thenne as I shold araye me the best wyse I couthe yet men shold saye that al the day byfore I was fayrer and better besene wherof no thanke I shold haue of them whiche were come to see me And therfor I preyse her nothyng that can not amende her self in tyme and place as nede is For a thynge whiche is comyn and dayly sene is nothynge preysed ne sette by Of the good knyght whiche fought ageynst the fals knyghte for the pyte of a mayde Capitulo Ciiij I Wold ye wyst thexample of a knyght whiche fought for a mayde There was at the Courte of a grete lord a fals knyght whiche requyred and prayd a mayde of folyssh loue but she wold nought doo for hym for yeste ne for promesse but wold kepe her body clenely And whan the knyght sawe this he sayd that she shold repente her He tooke an Appel and poysonned it and fewe dayes after that he toke the appel to her for to gyue it to the yonge sone of her lord She toke the appel and gaf it to the child And soone after that he had eten it he deyde wherfor this mayde was take and shortly to say redy for to be brente She wepte and complayned her self to god sayenge that she had no culpe of this dede but that the fals knyght whiche took her thapple was therof gylty and none other And he deffended it ageynst her sayd he was redy to preue the contrary ageynst ony knyght in champ of batayll But she couthe fynde none that for her wolde fyght ageynst hym by cause he was so strong and so moche doubted in armes wherfor it befelle that oure lord god whiche forgeteth not the clamour and prayer of the trewe and Iuste had pyte of her And as it pleased hym a good knyght whiche had to name patrydes that was free and pyteous as men were aboute for to haue cast the mayd in to the fyre and beheld the mayde whiche wepte sore and made grete sorowe He had pyte of her and demaunded of her the trouthe of the fayt And fro the begynyynge vnto the ende she told hym how hit was And also the most parte of them that were there presente wytnessyd as she sayd Thenne the good knyght meued of pyte casted his gage ageynst this fals knyght The bataylle was bytwene them hard and cruel to see in so moche that aâ— the laste this fals knyght was disconfyted and openly dyd shewe his treason And thus was the mayde saued But the good knyght patryde receyued at that sorowe v mortall wouÌ„des wherfor as his armes were of he sente his sherâ—e whiche was broken in fyue places to the sayd mayde whiche kepte hit all her lyf and euery day she prayd for the knyght that suche dolour had suffred for her And thus for pyte and Fraunchyse fought the gentyll knyght and receyued v mortalle woundes As the swete Ihesu Cryst dyd whiche faught for the pyte of that they shold haue none by cause they were come to late wherfor I doubte after the purpos of this ensample that many one is a slepe and sorowfulle to the seruyse of god And as of them that ben not garnysshed of that whiche is apperteynynge to theyr sauement that is to wete to doo good and holy operacions and haue the grace of god doubte ye not but yf they tary longe to amende them before theyr ende Hit shall be sayd to them as it was seyd to the v vnwyse virgyns and shalle fynde the yate of the castell shette before them Thenne shalle not be tyme to repente them but sore abasshed they shall be as they shalle see them departed fro God and fro the good sowles and be cast and had in to the cruell pytte of helle where as they shalle be in contynuell payne and dolour whiche neuer shal take none ende Allas how dere shalle be sold the coyntyses and folysshe playsaunces and delytes wherof men shall haue vsed for to obeye to his careyn and to the world This way shal goo alle euylle wymmen And the good women to the contrary For they shalle goo with the espouse that is with god theyr creatour shalle fynde the grete yate open where thorugh they shalle goo in to the blysse and Ioye of paradys by cause they haue ben curyous and awaked wyth theyr lampes and lumynary abydynge the comynge of the spouse that is to saye that they haue made good and hooly operacions and haue watched for to abyde the houre of they re dethe and haue not be slepynge in synne but haue hold them self clene and haue confessyd them ofte and kepte them selfe clene fro synne to theyr poure And whiche loued and drad god These shalle be the good wymmen of whome god spake in his euangely as yâ— haue herd to fore Of the gloryous and blessyd vyrgyne Marye Capitulo Cvij aFter this I shalle speke of one vyrgyne whiche hath no pere It is of the holy and blessyd vyrgyne Marye moder to the sauyour of alle the world This blessyd vyrgyne is of soo hyghe exemplary that none maye wryte the good the bounte and the hyghenesse wherin her swete and blessyd sone enhaunceth her daye by daye This swete vyrgyne worshipped and drad her sone more than euer dyd ony other moder his by cause she knewe wel fro whens he came She was chamberere and Temple of God where as the weddynge of the deyte and of the humylyte was maade the whiche humanyte broughte the lyf and sauement of alle the world God wold that she shold take to her spouse the hooly man Ioseph whiche was a good old man and trewe For god wold be borne vnder the shadowe of maryage for to obeye to the lawe and for to eschewe the euylle talkynge of the world And also for to gyue her companye and gouerne lede her in to Egypte Wherof it befelle whanne Ioseph perceyued and sawe her grete with child he wold leue her and told her how he wel wyste and knewe that hit was not of hym but that same nyght oure lord sente hym vysybly his angel whiche sayd vnto hym that he shold not be desmayed ne abasshed And â—hat she was grete wyth the hooly ghoost for the sauemente of alle the world Ioseph hadde thenne therof grete Ioye and payned hym self to bere vnto her worship and honour more than he dyd before For he wyst well by the sayenge and wrytynge of the proâ—hetes that the sone of god shold be borne of a vyrgyn whiche shold haue to name Marye wherfore he thanked God moche humbly of the grete grace that he had done to hym in gyuyng to hym the kepynge and gouernaunce of his swete and blessyd moder And also the good moder and vyrgyne bare to hym honour and reuerence wherof in the holy scrypture she is moche preysed
Also she is moche preysed of that the Angel founde her alone wiâ—hin the Temple knelynge sayenge her prayers and orysons And thus ought euery good woman to be in deuocion and in the seruyse of god And yet the holy scrypture preyseth her by cause she dradde was aferd as the Aungel salewed her Of whome she demauÌ„ded how it myght be that she shold conceyue a child that hadde neuer knowen man thauÌ„gel ansuerd her said to her that she shold haue no fere that she shold not be merueylled for she shold be replenysshed with the holy ghost that nothyng was inpossyble as to god that was to saye that god myght do all thynge after his wylle and playsyre And that her Cosyn saynt Elyzabeth was grete with child and had as thenne born her fruyte the space of six monethes the whiche was barayne and was oute of the age to bere ony children And thenne as the Aungel had thus sayd to her she assewred her self sayd in this manere Here is the auncylle or chambrere of god Be done to me after thy wordes She wold fyrst knowe how it myght be But thus dyd not Eue she dyd byleue to lyÈtely As this day done many symple wymmen whiche lyghtely byleue the fooles wherfore afterward they be broughte to doo folye They enquere not ne behold not the ende to the whiche they shall come as dyd the gloryous and blessyd vyrgyn Marye whiche enquyred of the Aungel the ende of the faytte or dede the whiche he dyd announce to her Thus theÌ„ne ought the good wymmen to doo as men speketh to them of yongthe or of ony other thynge wherof dyshonoure and blame may come to them How euery good woman ought to be meke and humble at thexemplary of the blessyd vyrgyne Mary Capitulo Cxviij aLso the hooly wrytynge preyseth her for her greete humylyte For as the Aungel told her that she shold be the moder of the sone of God of whome the regne shold haue none ende She took no pryde therfore within he r self but sayd that she was his chamberere or seruaunt· And that hyt shold be done after his playsyre This word was ryght agreable vnto god in soo moche that he came doune fro heuen and daygned to take humanyte and the fourme of a child within her wombe virgynal Therfore is here good Ensample how euery good woman oughte to humble her self toward god toward her lord and toward the world For god sayd who that shalle mo re humble hym self and shalle kepe hym self mekely the more shalle he be ones enhaunced and worshipped And for certayne god and his Angels louen better humylyte than ony other vertue For humylyte fight ageynst pryde whiche god hateth more than ony other synne And thorugh the whiche the Aungels felle in to helle And therfore ought euery noble woman to humble her self and be curtoys to the leste as to the moost takynge exemplary to our blessyd lady moder and vyrgyne Mary whiche named her self chamberere of god Also she is preysed of the holy scrypture for her good kynde and nature of her curtosye whanne she wente and vysyted her cosyn saynte Elysabeth whiche wold serue her And the child of Elysabeth that was saynte Iohan baptist maade thenne Ioye within his moders bely In so moche that by the grace of the holy ghost saynte Elysabeth cryed sayd that blessid shold be the fruyt of her woÌ„be that she was blessyd aboue al wymmen that hit was not reson that the moder of god shold come to see and vysyte so poure a woman as she was And than bothe Cosyns humbled them self one toward the other wherfore good exemplary is here how that parentes and Frendes ought to see and vysyte eche other in theyr childbedde and in theyr dysease and sekenesse And humble them self the one ageynst the other as dyd these two holy and blessyd ladyes as ye haue herd and not say as doo some whiche of theyr prowde and folysshe herte saye thus I am the more noble the more gentylle eyther the more hyghe maystresse And therfor I ought to go before that other Ha a god how lytell they thynke to the curtosye and humylyte of these two hooly ladyes And also to that that god sayth in his euangely as ye haue herd that the mooste humble shalle be the moost hyghely enhaunced Allas how this folyssh enuye that they haue to be fyrst and before other and the preysynge of them self shalle to them be dere sold wherof the good quene Hester speketh and sayth ryght well sayeng that in as moche as a woman is of gretter lygnage or gretter maystresse the more ought she to be humble and debonayr And the more that she bereth her self curtoysly the more she receyueth worship and praysynge of other folke for the small folke holdeth them to be worshipped whanne the grete make to them ony chere and speke fayre to them wherfore the grete be preysed of them in euery place And therfore no better vertue maye be in a woman than the vertue of humylyte be curtoys bothe to grete and small And goo and vysyte the poure theyr Frendes and parentes as dyd the quene of heuen whiche wente and vysyted her Cosyn and how they huÌ„bled them self one toward the other How euery good woman oughte to be pyteous at the exemplary of the blessyd vyrgyne Marye Capitulo Cix aLso the hooly scrypture preyseth her in that she wente in to galylee to the weddynge and had pyte of that the wyn lacked there And in complaynyng her selfe of that the wyn wanted there requyred her sone that he wolde gyue remedye to it The swete Ihesu Criste had pyte of his moder And therfore is here good ensample how euery good woman oughte to haue pyte of her parentes and poure neyÈbours and to helpe and socoure them of that she may For hit is grete charyte and fredome comyng of kynde Also the swete vyrgyne Marye had and suffred dolour for her sone whiche was gone to dyspute ageynste the maystres of the lawe For she wend that he was ascended and gone in to heuen She sought hym al aboute and so moche she dyd that she found hym to whome she sayd Fayre sone your parentes and I haue be in grete fere for yow For we wend to haue lost yow And he ansuerd that his parentes were tho that dyd the commaundementes of god his fader The Iewes thenne and the maysters of the lawe were woÌ„derly abasshed of the grete wyt that they founde in hym whiche was of soo lytell age After this dolour theÌ„ne that she had wenyng her self to haue lost her sone she had another riÈt grete sorowe for as she offred hym in to the temple saynt Symeon receyued hym whiche before desyred moch to see hym hadde praid to god long tyme before that he myght not deye vnto the tyme that he first had sene the sone of god with his eyen Thenne thorugh the grace of god
than to her spouse And also is of her whiche is wedded that of her falshede fowle lecherye breketh and spylleth her holy sacrament of maryage and forswereth her feythe and her lawe toward God and the chirche and toward her lord also Also she whiche oughte to bere her self clenely in her wydowhede and that doth the contrarye This maner of wymmen be lyke the black tatches that ben vpon the whyte mylke and vpon the whyte couerchyef they be lyke in no thyng to the precious Margaryte For in the precious margaryte is no maner of tatche Allas a woman ought wel to hate her self and to curse her euyll lyf whanne she is put oute of the nombre of the good and trewe women Thenne yf they remembred wel them self of thre thynges the fyrste is how they that be not yet wedded lese they re maryage and theyr honour and acquere the shame and hate of theyr parentes and frendes and of the world And how euery one shewe them with the fynger Secondly how they that ben wedded lese al worship and the loue of god and of theyr lordes of theyr frendes and of al other for god letteth them to haue ony welthe or cheuaunce And to long were the fowle and euylle talkynge whiche is sayd of them to be reherced For somme shall do to them good chere before them but behynd them they shalle hold theyr talkynge scornyng mockyng them And neuer after they shalle loue theyr lord For the deuyll shalle make them as brennynge and to haue more delyte in that dampnable synne of fornycacion than in the dede of maryage For in the dede of maryage is no mortall synne for it is an operacion commaunded of god And therfore the deuylle hath nothynge to doo of hit but in puterye and in synne mortalle or dedely he hath grete power and is there in his persone to chauffe and meue the synnar to the fals delyte as the smyth whiche putteth the cole in the fornays and thenne he bloweth and kyndeleth hit And soo moche wayteth the deuylle to serue them wel in that fowle delyte and to kepe them stylle therin that at the last he caryeth and bereth wyth hym theyr soules in to the depe pytte of helle wherof he taketh as grete Ioye and holdeth hym therof as wel apayed as doth he that al the day hath chaced and atte euen he taketh the best and hath it with hym And in lyke wyse dothe the deuyll of al suche men and wymmen as rayson is For the holy wrytynge sayth they that ben chauffed and brennynge in the fyre of lecherye shalle be brente in the fyre of helle And it is well reson as a good heremyte sayth in vitas patrum that one hete be put with the other for as god sayth there is no good dede done but that it shalle be guerdonned Ne none euylle done but that it shal be punysshed How the doughter of a knyght lost her maryage Capitulo Cxix I Shalle telle yow another Ensample of the doughter of a noble knyght that loste her maryage by her coynted Raymentes clothynges A knyÈt was which had many doughters of the whiche theldest was wedded It happed that a knyght demaunded the second doughter to be his wyf the fader graunted her to hym He that neuer before had sene her came to be fyaunced with her And she whiche knewe wel of his comynge arayed coynted her self in the best manere that she coude to th ende that she myght seme the fayrer smaller of of body well shapen She had vpon her but a streyght cote furred It was at that season moche cold and grete wynde rose vp and blewe And she whiche was symply clothed had grete cold in so moche that for cold she wexed black Thenne arryued the knyght whiche cam for to see her and sawe her colour deed and pale also he beheld hir other suster whiche had the coâ—our rede and fresshe For she was clothed wyth gownes good and warme as she that thought not soone to be maryed The knyght beheld wel the one and the other And after dyner he callyd to hym two of his parentes whiche were come with hym And sayd to them Fayr lordes we be come hyder to see the doughters of the lord of this place And by cause I knowe well that to my wyf I may haue the whiche I wylle châ—se of them therfor I shalle haue the thyrd doughter Thenne sayd his parentes vnto hym Ye saye not wel for gretter worship shal be to yow to take the oldest Fayre frendes ansuerd the knyght I see in the choys but lytill auauntage ye wote and knowe well how they haue a suster wedded whiche is older than they be and fyrst born I see the thyrd more fair and fresshe and of better colour than the second of the whiche men haue spoken to me In the thyrd is my plesaunce my loue sette therfore before ony other I wylle haue her his parentes thenne ansuerd to hym that he shold doo after his playsyre And thenne he made to demaunde and aske the third doughter for to be his wyf And the fader dyd graunte her to hym wherof many one were merueylled And she specially whiche wend to be maryed was sore abasshed sorowful It befelle a lytell whyle after that this second douÈter which had loste the knyght by cause of the grete cold whiche caused her vysage to be of euylle colour whanne she was wel clothed and that she had on her suche a gowne as she was wonte to couere hir as it was cold wether her colour cam to her ageyn fressher by a grete dele than her suster dyd whiche the knyghte had wedded In soo moche that the knyght merueylled hym moche therof and sayd vnto her Fayre suster whanne I cam for to see yow and that I tooke your suster ye were not soo fayre by moche as ye now be For ye be now of colour fresshe whyte and rede and that tyme ye were black and pale and your suster was fayrer but now ye passe her of beaute wherfore I haue grete merueylle Thenne sayd his wyf whiche was there present Syre I shalle telle all the maner how hit was My suster that ye see here thought and wende and also dede we al that ye shold come for to haue fyaunced her wherfor she coynted and arayed her self in the most praty maner that she couthe for to shewe her body praty and small and well shapen but the cold was at that tyme grete the whiche made her black palysshed her colour and I whiche thought ne wend not to receyue soo grete worship as to be your wyf coynted not my self but I was wel clothed with furred gounes that kepte my body warme wherfore I had better colour than she had wherof I thanke god For therfore I gate your loue And blessyd be the houre that my suster clothed her self so lyght For yf it had not be so ye
not breke ne do ageynst the thyrd wherfore he wente to his wyf and sayd thus to her My good frende and my wyf I wold telle yow a grete counceylle whiche toucheth my persone and myghte be the cause of my dethe yf I wyst that ye shold kepe it secretely Ha a my lord sayd she on my feythe I hadde leuer be dede than to discouere to ony body youre counceylle Ha a my frend thenne shalle ye knowe hit sayd he Trouth it is that themperour toke to me his sone as ye wel knowe for to lerne and teche hym but certaynly hit is not longe tyme gone for somme wordes whiche he sayd to me that I as a dronken man and as he that was wrothe of other thynge hastely toke the Child and slewe hym and more I dyd for I tooke and arrached oute of his bely his herte the whiche I made to be confyte in sugre and other spyces and sente it to themperour his fader and to his moder And they ete hit And thus I auenged me of hym but I knowe wel now that it is an euyll and abhomynable dede done wherof I me repente but it is to late Therfore my good Frend and my wyf I praye yow as affectuelly as I can that ye kepe this counceyll secrete withyn your herte as I trust me to yow But the morowe after she beganne to wepe and maake grete sorowe And a woman whiche was with her demaunded of her Madame what haue ye that ye make suche sorowe Haue ye ony heuynesse wythin your herte Veryly sayd she thenne ye my Frend and that a grete but rather I shold deye er it shold be knowen Ha a madame she were wel oute of her wytte that shold telle and dyscouere suchâ— a counceylle yf ye had sayd hit And as for me rather I shold lete me drawe than I shold telle it ageyn Ye sayd the wyf of Cathonet maye I truste in yow Ye by feyth saith the other woman She tooke her feythe and her othe And thenne to her she told and discouered her secrete how her lord had slayne themperours sone and his herte confyted in spyces had sente to themperour his fader and to his moder how they had ete of hit This woman maade a Crosse as she were sore merueylled and sayd that she shold kepe hit secretely But certaynly her taryenge there after that she knewe hit thought her longe for to haue go and telle it to other For as soone as she was departed fro Cathons how 's she wente forthwith where themperours wyf was and came and kneled before her and sayd Madame to your good grace I wyll speke secretely of a grete counceylle And thenne themperesse commaunded her ladyes to go a parte And the sayd woman beganne thus to speke Madame the grete loue whiche I bere vnto yow and for the grete good that ye haue done to me And as I truste that ye yet wylle doo maketh me to come hyder for to telle yow a grete counceylle the whiche I wold not telle but to youre persone For I myght not suffix ne see your dishonour for none erthely good Madame it is so that ye loue and haue dere Cathonet more than ony other as it appyereth wel For ye haue made hym gouernour of the Cyte of Rome And ye shewed hym gretter loue whanne ye gaf to hym the kepynge of your sone to whome he hath hold such felauship that he hath slayne hym And hath take his hert out of his bely And wel dressyd and confyted in sugre and spyces and hath made yow to ete it What saye ye sayd themperours wyf Madame sayd she I telle yow trewe for certayn For I knowe this by the mouthe of Cathonets wyf whiche sorowful and wepynge told it to me in grete counceylle And whanne themperesse herd her to speke she with a hyghe voys beganne to crye and made suche a sorowe that it was pyte to see In soo moche that the tydynges came to themperour how the Emperesse made so grete sorowe Themperour was sore abasshed And came there as themperesse was and demaunded of her why she maade suche sorowe And she with hyghe pleynt ansuerd and reherced to hym al that the damoysell had told her of theyr sone And whan themperour wyst that they had eten the herte of theyr child he bicame ryght angre and sorowfull And commaunded that Cathonet shold forthwith be tâ—ke and hanged in the myddes of Rome there as the folke myght loke on hym as vpon a fals murderer and traytour His Sergeaunts wente and toke hym anone and told hym the commaundement of themperour and that it was for his sone whiche he had slayne Cathonet thenne sayd to them It is no nede that al that men sayn be trouthe ye shalle put me in pryson and shalle say that it is to late to make ony execucion of Iustyse And that to morowe I shalle be hanged beforâ— the peple The Sergeaunts loued hym moche and soo dyd alle manere of folke they dyd as he badde them to doo And thenne wente and sayd to the Emperoure and themperesse that hit were for the beste to make Iustyse of hym on the morowe nexte comynge and that hir was to late and how more people shold thenne be gadered and assembled for to see hym And the Emperour whiche made grete sorowe for his sone graunted hit And not withstondyne this in the meane whyle that Cathonet was conueyed to pryson he callyd to hym a Squyer of his And seyd to hym goo to suche a knyght that kepeth themperours sone and telle hym how the Emperour weneth that I haue put hym to dethe And that he faylle not to be here to morowe with hym before the houre of pryme or els I shalle be in grete perylle to receyue a shameful dethe This Squyer departed and soo faste rode and waloped that that nyght he came aboute one of the cloke after mydnyght there as Cathonet hadde take to kepe the sone of the Emperoure as to his trewe and good Frende whiche was a trewe man and moche wyse And merueyllously they loued eche other The Squyr beganne to calle wyth an hyghe voys And dyd soo moche that he came to fore the bedde there as the trewe and noble Baron laye And told hym how somme had done byleâ—e to the Emperour that Cathoneâ— hadde slayne his sone And how hit was ordeyned that he shold be on that next morowe hanged And as the Baron herd this he was sore abasshed moche merueylled of this auenture forthwith he rose oute of his bedde and made his men to be redy and came to the bedde where the sone of themperour laye and told to hym the merueyll And whanne the child vnderstood it he had grete sorowe in his herte For ouermoche he loued Cathonet his maystre Here I leue to speke of the Baron and of themperours sone and tourne ageyne to speke of Cathonet whiche was in pryson How they wold hange Cathonet Capitulo Cxli