hostesse they wold not leue her but had her wyth them And as the mornynge cam she that sawe her dishonoured and so vylaynsly shamed toke in her self suche shame suche a sorowe that she thenne deyde at her lordes feet wherfore the good man was nyghe dede also as he was come to hym self ageyne he toke bare her body vnto his how 's thenne be made xij pyeces of her body vpon euery pyece he setâ—e a paper leef wherin was wreton al the maner how it befelle to her sent these xij pyeces to xij persones her parentes most nyhe of her kyn to th ende they shold among them take vengeaunce of it wherof it befelle that all her frendes her husbondes frendes also toke therof so grete yre wrath had so grete abhomynacion of it that they gadred assembled them to gyder wyth grete noÌ„bre of men of armes came to galga slewe thâ—r wel xxxiijM persones men wymmen This is to yow a good ensample how a woman ought not to leue her husbond lord for none yre ne maltalent that may be bitwene them a wyse good woman ouÈt to bere suffre the yre and wrath of her husbondes in the most fayr huÌ„ble wyse that she can to put her self in payne to appease hym by curtoys fayr wordes not leue go fro hym as dyd the said damoysel whiche lefte her lord wente fro hym her husbond must fetche her ageyn By the whiche her goynge she deyd and soo dyd many one as aboue is sayd And yf she had be in pees and styll with her lord al this grete euylle and sorowe had not fallen And therfore it is somtyme good to refreyne hir yre and amolysshe hir herte For this is the vsage of the wyse woman whiche tendeth to lyue peasybly and louyngly with her husbond and lord How a woman ought to obeye her husbond in alle thynge honest Capitulo lxxij I Wold ye knewe wel the tale and example of the lady whiche daygned not to come to her dyner for ony commaundement that her lord coude make to her and so many tyme he sent for her that at the last whanne he sawe she wold not come at his commaundement he made to come before hym his swyneherd he that kepte his swynes whiche was foule and ouermoche hydous and bad hym fetche the clowte of the kechyn wherwith men wype dysshes and platers And thenne he made a table or bord to be dressyd before hys wyf and made it to be couerd with the sayd cloute and commaunded to his swyneherd to sytte besyde her And thenne he sayd thus to her Lady yf ye ne wylle ete with me ne come at me ne come at my commaundement ye shalle haue the kepar of my swyne to hold yow company and good felauship And this cloute to wype your handes with al And whanne she that thenne was sore ashamed and more wrothe than she was tofore sawe and knewe that her lord mocked her refreyned her proude herte and knewe her foly Therfore a woman ought not in no wyse to refuse to come at the commaundement of her lord yf she wylle haue and kepe his loue and pees And also by good reason humylyte ought to come fyrste to the woman For euer she ought to shewe her self meke and humble toward her lord How men ought to kepe hem self fro flaterers Ca lxxiij hEre shall I telle yow an ensaÌ„ple of a grete lady named Susanna that had a sone a grete lord whiche was gone in to a feld or batayllâ— where he waâ— slayne The moder was in grete thought and sorowe what tydynges she shold here of hym In her companye she had a woman a flateresse a grete lyer whiche ofte sayd to her Madame be not in no wyse desmayed ne sorowful â—o my lord your sone hath victory vpon his enemyes therfor he must tary abyde there a whyle for to ordeyne of his affaryreâ— so this fals flateresse appeased her lady of fayre wordes nought For she ne sayd neuer to her lady ony word that myght displease her as done many flaterers and many flateresses whiche shal neuer saâ—e thynge that may displease theyr ladyes or lordes and sâ—alle hyde the trouthe and theyr wele and make them to haue ioâ—e of nought As dyd this fals woman to that good lady Whiche made her to vnderstonde that her sone had obteyned vyctory and brought With hym his prysoners And wel hit was the contrary For he deyde there wherfor it befell that whan the lady his moder knewe it she deyde nyghe for sorowe therfor is an euylle thyng to a man to haue aboute hym ony flaterers For they dare not gyue trewe counceylle but ofte they make theyr lordes to do grete folye They be lyke to the Iouglours whiche wylle make of a cole seme and shewe a fayr thynge For they preyse a thyng before the folk and behynde them they blame hit wherfor one ought not to byleue that what they sayen For they retche not what they say but that they may please yow to haue youre loue And yf ye be wyse ye ought to knowe them better than they shalle you put them fro yow take suche one that shall telle yow the trouthe your we le Suche flaterers deceyue the ryche men as dyd a flaterer to a woman that sold cheses whiche was fowle of vysage he made her to vnderstonde that she was fayr praty And the woman was so folyssh that she wende he had sayd trouthe Somtyme she gaf hym a chese and as he hadde it and was behynd her bak he mocked her of it I wold ye wyst thexample whiche I sawe in the toun of Angolosme as the duk of normaÌ„dy cam before Aguyllon ther were knyÈtes which for to take their dispâ—rte shotte at a marke And whanne the duke cam in to the wherin was the holy brede of the manna whiche cam and descended fro heuen wherof the holy faders were refresshâ— and fylled that for to worshipe god and the feste the kyng went and putte hym self among the prestes for to synge and harpe with them and made the grettest ioye that he coude for the loue and worship of god and of his chirche His wyf loked on hym that so dede and had of it grete desdayne and shame and mocked hym sayenge that he was bicome a mynystrelle And the good kynge answerd that one may not to moche meke ne humble hym self toward god ne do to moche worshyp and reuerence to his chirche For of god cometh alle the good and honour that man and woman may haue And therfore god was displeased of that she had spoken of it and made her barayn and seke by cause he wold shewe to her her folye For euery goode woman ought to Incyte and mene her lorde to worship god and the chirche and not mocke hym of that he dothe in the worship
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
Angre you with no thyng that he saith For ye knowe wel he is of hauÌ„tayn wordes of folissh answers wherfor I praye yow for your honour that ye take no debate ageynst hym I told her couÌ„ceiled feithfully as I wold haue said to my suster but she wold not bileue me but yet did chide more after this than to fore And she sayd to hym that he was nought worth· and many other wordes And he answerd to her that he was better for a man than she was for a woman she said that he said not trouth soo the wordes aroos that he said yf she had ben wyse and good she shold not come by nyght in to the mennes chambres and kysse them and embrace them without Candell And she supposed well to haue auenged her and sayd to hym that he lyed And he said he dyde not and that suche one suche one had sene it And there was moche peple that herd hit whiche knewe no thyng therof to fore And many of them sayd that a good stylle and not so to haue chyden had ben better for her that she was beten with her owne staf that is to saye by her tonge and by hir hasty spekyng And after these wordes she wepte and said that he had diffamed her and that it shold not be left so And she reassayled hym to fore them alle in suche wyse that he said yet more fowle and shameful wordes to the dishonoure of hyr that she shall neuer recouer for socoure that she can make And thus was she shamed by the haultesse of her herte And therfore this a good ensample how no woman ought to chyde nestryne ageynst a foole ne with peple that haue haultayn courage but they ought teschewe them For whan they see that they wil speke grossely and hyghe they sholde lete them alone· and holde them al styll and saye to them Fayr frende I see wel that ye speke hyhe and wylle ryotte Now wylle I leue yow and so departe and goo fro hym lyke as a knyght dyd to a lady that I knowe whiche had an euylle heede and saide many oultrages to the knyght to fore all the peple· To whome the knyght said Madame yf it plesyth yow saye ye as many merueyles as ye wylle And yf I here yow I doo yow no wrong I see well ye be maryed wherof I am sory But now for al that she wolde not be stylle but chode more than to fore And when the knyght sawe that she wolde not leue ne be stylle for no thyng he took a lytell wyspe of strawe that he fond And set it to fore her And saide to her Madame yf ye chyde more so chyde to this wyspe of strawe For I leue it here for me And wente his way and lefte hyr there and it was reputed for wâ—l done of the knyght that soo lefte her And she was holden for more foole than to fore For when she fonde not to whome she myght chyde she restreyned her yf she wolde· And thus ought hit to be done For hit is not honest ne good folke to stryue with fooles ne to chydars· ne to suche as haue euylle heedes and ben hasty and hoote but teschewe them lyke as the knyght dyd this lady of whome ye haue herd Of her that ete the Eele and plumed her pye Capitulo xv I Shall telle to yow an Ensample herof vpon the fayt of wymmen that ete the good morsels behynde theyr husbondes There was a damoyselle that had a pye in a cagâ— whiche spak and said all that she sawe And it happed that the lord of the how 's made to kepe a grete Ele in a tronke in a 〈◊〉 And he kepte it moche derworthely for to gyue it to som good lord of his or to somme frende yf they come to see hym And it 〈◊〉 that the lady saide to the Chamberere that it were good to ete the grete ele And they thought that they wold saye to theyr lord that theues had eten hym And when the lord cam home 〈…〉 began to telle and saye to hym My lady hath eten the Ele 〈◊〉 when the lord herd this he wente to his ponde and fonde not 〈◊〉 ele And cam home to his wyf and demaunded her what 〈◊〉 befallen of his ele And she supposed to haue excused her Aâ—â— he said that he was acerteyned therof And that the pye had 〈◊〉 hym And in the hous therfore was grete soâ—owe and noyse But when the lord was gone oute the lady and the chambereâ—e cam to the pye and plucked of alle the fethers of his hede· saâ—eng Thou hast discouered vs of the ele and thus was the pâ—ure pâ—eplumed and lost the fethers of his hede But fro than foâ—thâ—n yf ony man cam in to that howe that was balled or pylled or had an hyhe forhede the pye wolde saye to them ye haue told my lord of the ele And therfore this is a good ensample that no good woman sholde not ete for hir lycorousnes the swete or deyâ—â—â— morsels withoute the wytyng of her husboÌ„d but yf she emplâ—â—d it well with honoure This damoysell was after moâ—â—e scorned mocked for that ele by cause of the pye that so ofte remembryd 〈◊〉 to suche as cam thyder so ballyd or pylled How wymmen ought not to be Ielous Capitulo xvj I Shall saye to yow an ensample of this euyl thyng Ialousye There was a damoyselle maryed to a sâ—uyer whiche loued so wel her husbond that she was Ielouse of all them that he spak to wherfor her husbond blamed and repreuyd her ofte but it auayled no thynge· And among al other she was Ielouse of a damoyselle of the Countrey whiche was of haultayn courage And so it happed on a tyme that she dyd chyde ageynst this damoyselle And reproched her of her husbond· And that other said that by her fayth sÌ„he said not wel ne trouthe And that other said that she lyed And thus began they to fyght and smyte eche other fyersly And she that was accused tooke a staf and smote that other on the nose suche a stroke that she brack the bone wherof she had euer after a croked nose whiche is the moost syttyng membre that a man or woman may haue as it that stondeth in the myddes of the vysage So was this woman al blemysshed and blamed of her husband and oftymes reproched so that it had ben moche better for her not to haue ben Ielouse and to haue kept her vysage hoole withoute blemysshe And thus by the dysfyguryng of her nose and myschaunce her husbond myght not loue her soo parfytely after as he dyde to fore as he was woned to doo And other whyle took other And thus lost she the loue and thonoure of her husbond by her Ielousye and her folye This is a right good ensample for al good ladyes and gentyl wymmen how they ought to make semblaunt of suche thynges and to suffre fayre and curtoisly their
〈◊〉 lytel aduysement is moche worth at nede be it to man or woman Thenne I leue to speke more of this matere And come agâ—â—ne to speke of them that haue their herte all on the world as to be 〈◊〉 feestes Ioustes and carolles to goo on pilgremages more for disporte than for deuocion Of them that gladly go to festes and Ioustes capitulo xxiiij I Shall saye to yow an Ensample of a good lady that gaâ— a grete blame at a grete feste of a round table atte Ioustes· This good lady was yonge And her herte was set to the world for to daunce and synge well whefore the lordes and knyghtes loued her wel· Not withstondyng hir lord her husbond was no thyng plesid that she went so gladly but she ofte pâ—â—ide and requyred hym to gyue her leue And her husbonde dyde soo for fere to stande oute of the grace of other lordes And by cause they sholde not saye that he were not Ielouse And he hym self also spente largely for to acqueynte hym att the feestes And for the honoure of them bothe But she myght wel apperceyue that yf she had wold don the playsirâ— and wylle of her husbond that she shold not haue gone thyder Hit happed on a tyme as she was acustomed to daunce in a feste all nyght tyl hit was daye that sodenly the torches and lyghtes were al quenchid And there was made grete hues and cryes when the lyght was brought ageyne· the broder of the husbond of this lady sawe that a lord a knyght helde this lady and had put her a lytel a parte or a syde And in good feithe I thynke veryly that there was done thenne none harme ne vylonye But neuertheles the broder said so moche that her husbond knewe ther of And he had so grete sorowe in his herte therof that he mystruste her all his lyf after· ne neuer had syth that tyme to her soo grete loue ne playsaunce as he was woned to haue For he was a foole and so was she also And euer after eche arred at other lyke houndes And they lost all their goodes and housholde And all for a lytell occasion I knowe wel also another fayr lady that moche gladly wold be ledde to the feestes And was therfor blamed and sklaundred with a grete lord wherfore she took a thought bycam seke a long tyme of soo grete a sekenes that she she was all deffeted And had no thyng on her but skyn bone And began to drawe toward her deth wherfore the sacrament was brought to her Thenne said she to fore all that were there My lordes my frendes behold see In what poynt I am I was wonte to be whyte Rody fatte and the world preysed my beaute Now maye ye see what I am I am not lyke as I was wâ—ned to be I was acustomed to loue festes Ioustes torneyes but the tyme is passid me behoueth to goo to therthe that I cam fro And also my right dere frendes it is said and moch spoken of me and of my lord of Craon But by that god that I owe to receyue and on the dampnacion of my sowle he neuer requyred me of vylonye ne neuer did to me more than the fader that engendryd me I say not but that he lay in my bed but that was with oute vylonye or thynkyng of ony euyll Thenne were there moche peple abasshed that supposed wel it had ben all otherwyse Not withstondynge yet had she be sklaundred and blamed therfore a fore tyme and her honoure hurte And for these thynges it is grete perylle to alle good ladyes that haue their hertes ouermoche set on the world· ne be ouer desyrous to goo to suche feestes that they may kepe them honourably The feestes and reuelles ben cause of whiche many good ladyes and gentyl women gete moche blame and noyse withoute cause And neuertheles I say not but that they must somtyme obeye their husbondes and their frendes go thyder Bâ—t my doughters yf it happen that ye goo And that ye maye not refuse it goodly whan it cometh to nyght that they shal daunce and synge so kepe yow that for the speche of the world ye haue alwey by you somme of youre frendes or of youre â—eruâ—untes For yf it so happed that the torches or lyght were auenchyd and put oute that they myght abyde by yow nâ—t for â—â—â—tyng of ony euyl but for the perylle of euyll eyen and of 〈◊〉 tonges that alweye espye and seye more harme than ther is And also for more surely to kepe youre honoure youre name and youre good fame ageynst lyers that wylle alwey saye the euylle and leue the good Of them that wylle not were theyr good clothes on hyghe â—estes and holy dayes capitulo xxv aN other ensample I shalle telle you of them· that wylle not were theyr gounes ne clothes on hyhe festâ—s and on sondayes for the honoure of oure lord Thenne I wâ—â—lâ— that ye sholde take ensample how a damoyselle repreuyd her lâ—dy There was a lady whiche had good gounes ryche but she wolde not were them on sondayes ne on feâ—tful dayes but yf she supposed to fynde there noble men of estate So it happed at a feâ—te of oure lady whiche was on a sonday that her damoysell said to her Madame why clothe ye not with youre good gowne this day for the loue of oure lady and of the sonday I sayd she for I se no men of estate here a ha said the damoysell god and his moder ben more grete than ony other And they ought to be honoured more than ony worldly thyng For he may gyue and take awey alle thynges at his plaisire For all good and all honoure cometh of hym and of his blessid dere moder and on theyr hooly daâ—es we ought to arraye vs the better holde youre pees said the lady God and the preest and the peple see me al day but folke of estate see me not al wey therfor it is gretter honour to me to araâ— make me fresshe for them Madame said the damoisel that is euâ—l sayd It is not sayd the lady late come al that may come therof Anone with that worde there cam a wynde all hoote and smote her in suche wyse that she myght not stxre ne remeue more than a stone And thenne she confessid her and repentyd and auowed to many pylgremages And was caryed in a lytyer And she told to al men of worship that she fonde the cause of this maladye that had so taken her And that it was the vengeaunce of god And she said that she had more grete ioye and gretter playsyre for to make her queynt and gaye for peple of estate that cam from without forth in to suche a place where as she was for to playse them· and to haue parte of their beholdynges than she dyde for ony deuocion at the hyhe festes of oure lord ne of his sayntes And sithe
be they found a passynge fowle wey within a medowe Thenne said the yong lady We shalle wel go thorugh this medowe and leue the hyhe waye The Auncyent and wyse said they shold go the hyhe way For it was the best and more sure goynge and moost drye The yong ladyes that ful were of their wylle wold not folowe them and thought they shold be bifore them at the said place And soo they tooke their weye thorugh the medowe where were old cloddes all roten And as they were vpon them they brake vnder theyr feet And soo they felle in the myere and dyrte vnto the knees And with grete peyne cam they oute ageyne and took the hyghe weye They made clene their hosen and gownes with theyr knyues the best they couthe So long they were in wasshyng of their hoses and gownes that they myght not come to the begynnnyng of the dyner Euery one demaunded asked after them· but no body couth tell of them At the last they cam as the fyrst mes or cours was eten after they had taken their refectioÌ„ wel droÌ„ken they beganne to telle and recounte how they were falle in the myre vnto the knees to Ye said thenne a good auncyent and wyse lady that was come by the hyhe weye Ye wend to take the shortest way to th ende ye myght be the â— sonner fyrst at the place wold not folowe vs hit is wel bestowed For I telle yow for certayne that some wene to auaiâ—â—e them self that hyndreth them And suche one is that weneth to be the first and formest that ofte fyndeth her the last of all She gaf them these two notables to th ende they shold know their faute for as saith the said holy man thus is hit of this worlde they that first may haue noueltees of the world· wene to doo wel and be therfore enhaunced and to fore other ben holden and wysshed but as for one that holdeth hit wel done there ben ten that maken of hit For suche one preyseth their doynge before them that behynde their back putteth out his tonge scornynge and mockyng them Yet of the same capitulo l sHe holdeth her self the best welcome that firste bryngeth vpon her ony noueltees But as the good and hooly man saith they that firste take suche newe raymentis be lyke to the yong ladyes that fylle in the myere wherof they were mocked by the wyse ladyes that took the best and ryght wey for men may not mocke them that kepe suche wey And that vse their lyf after reason and not after theyr owne wylle I say not but that whan that manere of newe raymentis is taken comynly wered of euery one in euery towne it may be thenne worne taken but yet the wyse woman shal leue and forbere it yf she can And suche wymmen shalle not be lyke ne compared to them that fylle in the myere by cause they wold be first in the place they were the last Therfore my faire doughters hit is good that none hast her not but good is to holde the myddel estate The lesse is the moost certayne and seurest but as now is a cursed and shrewed world For yf somme folysshe woman full of her wylle taketh bryngeth vpon her ony noueltee newe estate euery other one shalle soone saye to her lorde Syre it is told to me that suche one hath suche a thynge that ouer faire is and that so wel becometh her I pray yow good syre that I may haue suche one for I am as good and as gentyll of blood And ye as Gentyl a man as she and her lord ben haue as wel for to paye as she hath And thus she shalle fynde soo many reasons that she shalle haue her wylle or els ryote and noyse shalle all day be at home and neuer shalle be ther pees tylle she haue her parte· be it right or wronge She shalle not loke yf ony of hir neyghbours haue that thynge that she wylle haue Also she shalle not abyde till euery one haue it but the hastlyest that she may she shalle doo shape make it And forthwith shalle were it It is merueyle of suche coyntyse and noueltees wherof the grete clerkes say that seynge the men and wymmen so desguysed and takyng euery day newe raiments they doute that the world shalle perysshe as it dyd in tyme of Noe that the wymmen desguysed them and also the men whiche displesid god And herupon I shalle reherce yow merueil whiche a good lady dyde recounte to me in this same yere She tolde and saide to me that she with many other ladyes were come to a feeste of seynt Margrete where as euery yere was grete assemble made There cam a lady moche coynt and Ioly and dyuersly disguysed and arraid more than ony other there And by cause of her strauÌ„ge and newe array euerychone of them cam to beholde and loke on her as it had be a wylde beest For her clothyng and araye was different and no thyng lyke to theyr And therfore she had wel her part beholdyng lokyng Thenne said the good lady esto her My frende telle ye vs yf it please yow how ye name that aray that ye haue on youre heed She answerde and saide the galhows aray God blesse vs said the good lady the name of hit is not faire And I ne wote how suche aray may plese yow The tydyng of this aray and of his name were borne al aboute hyghe and lowe· wherof euery one sâ—orned and mocked her· And as mockyng and scornynge cam there she was to beholde and loke vpon her I dyde aske of the good lady· the manere and facion of the same araye And she tolde me the manere of it but euylle I witheld it But as ferre as I me remembre of it Hit was hyghe culewed with longe pynnes of syluer vppon her hede after the makynge and maner of a gybet or galhows right straunge and merueylous to se And in good feyth after that tyme the yonge and folysshe lady that had that araye on her heede was euer mocked scorned nought set by Here shal I leue to speke of the newe and desguysed raymentis and of the good bisshop that so repreued them that hadde and wered suche araye And that dede shewe to them by Ensamples and hooly scripture how that suche noueltees that specially wymmen took on them was token and signe of somme grete meschyef to come as is werre famyne and pestylence Of the good knyght that had thre wyues and of their lyues Capitulo lj Ayre doughters I wold ye couthe and wel withheld the example of a knyght that had thre wyues A knyght was somtyme a right good man and of good and honest lyuynge whiche had an Heremyte to his vncle a good hooly man and of relygyous lyf This knyght and his first wyf whiche he moche loued were but a lytel space of tyme to geder
of god For as the sage sayth in the boke of sapyence whanne the man seeth hym mocked scorned specially before ony folke of his wyf his herte swelleth whiche causeth hym to answere outrageously And therfor it is good to a woman to be of fayre and swete spekynge in repreuynge her lord of ony thynge How a woman ought not to requyre of her husbond ony thynge but it be honeste and prouffitable to them bothe Capitulo lxxvj aN ensample shall I telle yow of Bersabee the wyf of Vrye whiche duellyd before the palais of kyng dauid This Bersabee ones kembed wesshed her heer at a wyndowe where as kyng dauid myght well see her She had ouer fayr here 's wherfor the kynge was tempted and sente for her and so moche he dyde that he laye with her and by cause of the folyssh plesaunce and delyte that he toke with her He dyde sende his lettres to Ioab whiche was Chyuetayne and capitayn of his hoost that he sholde put Vrye in suche place that he myght be slayne Vrye bare hym self the lettres of his dethe For in certayne it was done as the kynge had wreton And thus kynge dauyd made double synne for an homycyde he was and hadde accomplysshed and done the synne of lecherye wherfor god was displeased and sente to hym and to his reame many euyls wherof the nombre were to longe to reherce And all this meschyef cam by the pryde that bersabee had of her herte Therfore a woman ought not to be proude of ony beaute that she hath shewe her self only to please the world The demaunde or askyng that the moder of Salamon made Capitulo lxxvij tHe moder of kynge Salamon whiche was a good lady dyd requyre of Salamon her sone that he wold graunte and feaunce her to a man whiche was a paynym and theyr enemye Salamon ansuerd that this enemy shold neuer haue the wyf of his lord his fader She held her thenne for nyce and ashamed of that she had be warned of her demaunde and requeste Therfor euery woman ought to thynke or she requyre her lord of ony thynge yf her requeste be resonable or not I wold ye knewe the folysshe requeste which the duchesse of Athenes made to the duke her lord She had a bastard sone And therfor she made her requeste to her lord that he myght haue to his wyf his owne suster And the duk that sawe her symplenes beganne to lawghe and dyssymyled her requeste and sayd that he shold speke with his Frendes of it She thenne that wold fayn haue sene this maryage to be couenaunted and graunted rested not to speke to her lord of it tylle at the laste he sayd to her that it shold not be done wherfore she tooke suche a sorowe in her herte that she laye seke therof the duk prayd her and also made her to be prayd by other to come lye with hym but she wold not wherfore the duke was wrothe he sware and sayd that neuer she shold lye in his bedde and made her to be conueyed in a castel Here is thenne a good ensample how a woman ought to beware her self that she requyre not her lord of nothyng vnresonable or dishonest hou that she must obeye hym not do lyke as the duchesse of Athenes did wherfor her lord exyled put her fro hym The Iugement of the kynge Salamon capitulo lxxviij I Wylle telle yow an Ensample of a fals woman two wymmen were somtyme whiche bothe were lodged in one hows· and eche of them had a sone whiche children were bothe seke and bothe borne vpon one daye It befell on a nyght that one of them was by auenture smouldred His moder that sawe hym dede went anone as a fals woman and toke the other child whiche lyued in hir cradell leyd her sone whiche was dede And he that lyued she leyd in her cradel And thenne whanne the other woman cam to see and take heed to her child and sawe hym that was dede she anon knewe that it was not her sone wherof sourded a grete content and stryf bytwene these two wymmen In so moche that the cause and matere was brought to fore Salamon And after he had herd their debate and stryf he sayd lete a swerd be brought hyder And I shalle parte this child in two and gyue to eche of them one half She to whome the child apperteyned not answerd and sayd she was content And she that was moder of the child sayd Rather than it shold be done I haue leuer to quytte yow and gyue yow my parte soo that his lyf may be saued Thenne the kynge Iuged that the child shold be gyuen to her that wold haue hym to be saued And soo was the treason of the fals woman approuued and knowen How the synne of the fader is noyus to his Children Capitulo lxxix aNother ensample was of the wyf of kynge Roboam She had a child whiche was seke wherfor the kyng sente the quene to a holy prophete to praye hym that he wold Impetre to god the helthe of theyr child The quene wente to hym And as she was come to fore the dore of his how 's And or euer he sawe her by the grace of the holy ghost he knewe what she was and also what she wold and sayd to her with a hyghe voys Quene wyf to Roboam your sone deyd this nyght of a good dethe But alle thyne other children shalle deye of euylle dethe by cause of the synne of theyr fader thyn husbond whiche is a tyraunt ouer his peple lecherous of euylle conscyence The quene wente ageyne homeward and fonde her sone cold and dede and told her lord what he hadde sayd but therfor he amended hym not wherfor perysshed alle his children And thus is here a good ensample to vse and kepe honeste lyf and to loue and kepâ— in ryght his peple and not greue them as Roboam dyd For the synne of the fadâ—r and moder is noyous to the children as ye haue herd tofore How none ought to repreue other of his meschyef Capitulo lxxx I Shall telle you another ensample how Anna the wyf of Thobye spake folysshly to her lord whiche was a good and a hooly man and buryed the dede bodyes whiche a paynym made to be slayn in the despyte of god and of his lawe the whiche was callyd Senacherib It fortâ—â—â—d that the swalowe dyd foule within the eyen of Thobye and a long tyme he was blynd wherfor his wyf sayd to hym as â—n grete despyte I am merueyled how the god for whoo 's loue ye take so grete payne to burye these dede bodyes gyueth not your syght ageyne The good man had pacyence and ansuerd that of al thynge he may doo his pleasyr wherfor it fortuned to her that she was sore punysshed by sekenesse whicâ—e god sente her And as the pleasyr of god was Thobye â—aâ—de his syght restored ageyne And thus by this ensample
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
a trewe man to her lord and moche symple This good lady was moche charytable and loued moche holy men In the partyes of Iherusalem was that tyme a prophete whiche was named Helyseus This good lady had grete deuocion toward this hooly man and proâ—hete and prayd hym to come and be herberowed with her lord in her how 's They dyde anone make a chaÌ„bre redy for hym there as the sayd hooly prophete wered the hayre and made his prayers and had his afflyctions solytayrly and secretely This good lady thenne myght haue no children of her lord wherof she made her complaynt to the prophete but this holy man at her request prayd god soo longe that they had a sone merueyllously fayre whiche lyued wel xv yere and deyde in the chambre of this holy prophete And whanne this good lady sawe her sone dede she was fulle of sorowe and wente so ferre aboute the countrey that she fonde and mette with the forsayd Helyseus And whanne she had founde hym she had hym to the chambre and shewed to hym the child whiche was dede sayeng to hym in this manere Ha a holy prophete and good man this is the child whiche god sente me thurgh your prayer the whiche was al my ioye and my sustenaunce I pray yow that to hym ye wylle make your prayer and oryson that it please hym to restore hym his lyf ageyne or els to take me with hym For I wylle not abyde after hym Helyseus thenne whiche had pyte of the woman prayd god for the child and god gaf hym his lyf ageyne and lyued longe tyme after that and was an holy man by the whiche ensample my fayr doughters ye may see and knowe how good hit is to be knowen and aqueynted with holy men As this good lady was whiche myght haue no children but at the prayer of the holy man Helyseus of whome she was aqueynted she had a fayr sone whiche god resuscited at his prayer also And for certayne god is yet at this daye as myghty and debonayre as he was at that tyme to them that deseruen it These be they whiche put them in payne â—o haue an humble and meke herte Therfor men ought to kepe the felauship of the good and holy men whiche vsen holy lyf byleue them For al good may therof come as dyd to the sayd lady How no woman ought to chyden or brawle with folk whiche ben braynles Capitulo lxxxxv I Shalle reherâ—e and telle vnto yow another ensample of a lady whiche was named Sarra of the whiche ye haue wel herd to fore how she had seuen husbondes the whiche al seuen the deuylle slewe by cause they wold haue vsed her in vntrewe maryage And also how her godsep repreued her of that none of her husbondes myght abyde with her But the good lady that sawe that this foole wold chyde with her sayd moche humbly and as sage and wyse Fayre frend to the neyther to me apperteyneth not to speke of the Iugementes of god and nothynge more she sayd to her She resembled not to the doughter of a Senatour of Rome whiche was so felon so hyghe of herte that she dyd chyde in playn strete with one of her neyghbours And so moche grewe went vp her wordes that the other sayd to her that she was not hole ne clene of body wherof befelle that this word wente so fer were it trouthe or lesynge that she therby lost her maryage Therfor it is grete folye to euery woman to chyde ne ansuere folkes 〈…〉 fooles and cruels of theyr tongue wherof I shalle 〈…〉 an ensample that I sawe of a gentyll womaÌ„ that braâ—◠〈…〉 a man that had an euylle heed I sayd vnto her 〈…〉 I praye yow that ye answere not this foole For he 〈…〉 shapen to saye more euylle than good She wold not byleu◠〈◊〉 but chyd more than she dyd to fore sayenge to hym that he was nought And he ansuerd to her that he was as good for a man as she was for a woman And so ferforth wente theyr wordes that he sayd for certayne he wyste and knewe wel a man that dyd kysse her bothe daye and nyght whanne that he wold And thenne I called her a syde and told her that it was but folye to take hedâ— to the wordes of a foole and to answere and speke with hym The wordes were foule and dishonest and herd of many one wherfore she was diffamed And by her brawlyng she dyd do knowe to many one that whiche they wyst ne knewe not She resembled not to the wyse Sarra whiche made no grete ansuere to the wordes of her godsep For otherwhyle one put hym self fro his good ryght by his owne wordes in to grete wronge And also dishonest thynge is to ony gentylle womaÌ„ to braule with ony man wherfor I shalle telle yow thexample of the propriete of certayne beestes Loke and behold these grete dogges that men calle mastyns they shalle barke and shewe theyr tethe but a gentylle dogge shalle not do so And also in lyke wyse shold be of the gentylle men and wymmen wherfore I shalle reherce to yow thexample of themperour of Constantynople whiche was a man moche felon and cruel but neuer he chydde to no body It byfell ones that he founde his two doughters chydynge and brawlynge to gyder wherfore he wold bete them but the quene wente bytwene hym them And thenne sayd themperour that none gentyll herte shold neuer chyde ne say ony vylony For by the courage and herte ben the gentylmen knowen fro the other For he is a chorle and a vylayne that of his mouthe sayth ony vylonye And therfore they that haue pacyence and saye no vylonye shewen theyr gentyll courage and noblesse And for certayne oftyme hit befelle that one fowle word spoken engendreth other suche wordes whiche afterward bereth shame and dishonour And therfore my fayre doughters take ye here good ensample For the foole whiche is of hyghe courage shalle saye moche euylle and thynges that neuer were thouÈt for to auenge his grete yre And also ought wel euery good woman to kepe her self that she nothynge ansuere to her lord before the folke for many causes For in holdynge her pees she may haue and receyue but grete worship And yf she answere hym she shalle haue the euylle wylle of her husbond wherof no goood may come to her but grete shame and dishonour How no good woman ought to ansuere to her husbond whanne he is wrothe Capitulo lxxxxvj geteth his seruauntes socoured and helped her And maade danyel the prophete whiche as tho was but of fyue yere of age to come forth the whiche cryed with a hyghe voyce sayeng thus ye Iuges of Israel that is to say the peple of god lette not the trewe blood and ignoraunt of this faytte or dede be shadde but enquere yow of eche of them allone vnder what maner and forme they fonde her Thenne was the peple gretely
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
that they herd saye talke of the other they doubted drad ony thynge to do that was amys of whiche they myght be blamed as the other were But certaynly now vppn this daye men bere as grete worship to them that ben blamed as to the good and trewe wherof many one taketh euylle ensample and saye I see that men bere as grete honoure to them whiche shold be blamed and dyffamed as they do to the honest and trewe it is no force to doo euylle al thynge passeth forth awey but neuertheles it is euylle sayd For in good feythe how be it that they wene to â—â—â—eyue honour and worship of them that be wyth them whanâ—e they be departed they mocke and scorne with them sayenge one to other Suche one is full curtoys of her body suche a man taketh his disporte with her And thus somme maken good chere and beren honour before them and behynd theyr backes they pulle oute theyr tongues in scornynge of them But the folysshe wymmen perceyue them not but Ioyen them self in theyr folye and wene that none knowe theyr fawte shame Thus is the tyme chaunged otherwyse than hit was wonte to be wherfore hit is damage and grete pyte For hit were best that of theyr fawte and blame they were reproued before al as they were at that tyme Yet more I shalle telle yow as I haue herd reherced of many knyghtes whiche saw and knewe the sayd Syre Geffroy de lyege how that as he rode thorugh the Countrey and as he aspyed and sawe some place or manoyr he demaunded and asked the place and yf he vnderstode by ony maner that the lady of the manoyr or place were blamed of her honour and worship he shold haue gone oute of his ryght way Rather than he had not gone to the yate of the same place and make there a faytte and put and sette his signes ageynste the yate And thenne rode ageyne in to his ryght way And contrary to this dede yf hit happed to hym to passe before the place of a good and Renommed lady or damoyselle al had he neuer so grete haste he wente to see her And sayd to her my good Frende other my lady or els damoysell I praye to god that in this welthe and honoure he wylle euer hold and mayntene yow in to the nombre of the good wymmen For wel ye oughte to be preysed and worshipped And thus by this maner and way the good wymmen drad and held them more sure fro doynge ony thynge wherby they myght lese theyr worship and honoure wherfore I wold that tyme were come ageyne For as I wene many one shold not be blamed and diffamed as they be now How before this tyme men punysshed them that were diffamed Capitulo Cxvij wHerfore yf the wymmen recorded and thought the tyme past before the comynge of Cryst whiche lasted more than fyue thousand yere And how the badde and euylle wymmen specially they that were wedded were punysshed as they mysgyded them For yf it myght be proued only by two men that they had had companye or carnal felauship with ony other than to theyr lord she was brente eyther stoned with stones And for no gold ne syluer she myghte be saued al were she neuer so noble after the lawe of god and of Moyses And yet I ne knowe but fewe Reames this day sanf the Reame of Fraunce and of Englond and in the lowe or basse Almayne but that men doo Iustyse of them when the trouthe and certaynte of the dede may be openly knowen That is to wete in Romayne In Spayne In Aragon and in many other Reames In somme plares men kytte of theire throtes And in somme they be heded before the peple And in other places they be mewred or put bytwene two walles And therfore this Example is good and prouffytable to euery good woman For how be hit that in this Royamme Iustyce is not done of them as in other Reames Neuertheles they lese therfore theyr worship and they re estate the loue of god and of they re lordes and of they re frendes and world also For they ben separed and putte oute of the book of them that ben good and trewe as more playnly is reherced in the booke of the holy faders lyf wherof the tale shold be longe to reherce wherof I shalle telle yow a moche fayr-example the hyghest of alle other examples as hit is whiche god told of his mouthe as telleth the holy scrypture How god compared the good woman to the precious Margaryte Capitulo Cxviij gOd preyseth the good woman whiche is clene and pure And sayth how it is a noble thynge of a hooly and good woman And syth god of his owne mouthe preyseth her so by good reason the world and al the folk ought to loue and preyse her well It is conteyned in the Euangely of the vyrgyns how the swete Ihesu Cryst preched and taught the peple and spake vpon the matere of the good and clene wymmen where as he sayth Vna Margarita preciosa comparauit eam I telle yow sayd our lord that a woman whiche is pure and clene ouÈt to be compared to the preciouse Margaryte This was merueyllously spoken For a Margaryte is a grete perle and round bryght and whyte and clene without ony spotte or tatche This perle is named Margaryte preciouse And dyd god shewe the valour and worthe of the woman For she that is clene and withoute tatche that is to saye she that is not wedded that kepeth her vyrgynyte chastyte And also she that is wedded whiche kepeth and holdeth her self clenely in the holy sacramente of maryage and not suffreth her self to be shamed of her spouse the whiche god hath destyned and gyuen to her Also she that kepeth wel and clenely her wydowhede These be tho as the glose seyth of whome god spake in his holy euuangely These be lykened and compared as sayd our lord to the precious margaryte whiche is euer bryght and clene withoute ony macule or tatche For as sayth the holy scrypture nothynge is so agreable to god and to his Angels as a good woman and in a parte god preyseth more her than the man And by reason she ought to haue more meryte by cause she is of lyghter courage than the man is that is to saye that the woman was fourmed and made out of the mans body And in so moche that she is more feble than the man is And yf she resisteth ageynste the temptacions of the deuylle of the world and of the flesshe the more she is worthy to haue gretter meryte than the man And therfor god compareth her to the precious margaryte whiche is bryght and clene Also saith the glose in another place that as it is a foul thynge to spylle droppes of ynke in to a dysshe ful of mylke Ryght so is of her that ought to be a good mayd whanne she spylleth and gyueth her maydenhede to another
pryncipall cause She was an euylle goddesse fulle of euylle temptacion She is the goddesse of loue whiche kyndeleth and chauffeth the amerous hertes and maketh them to thynke bothe day and nyght to the Ioye and foule delytes of lechery And specially whan they be at the masse or heryng the dyuyn seruyse the deuyl causeth this for to trouble their feythe and theyr deuocion whiche they haue toward oure lord And knowe ye for certayne my fayr doughters that a womaÌ„ whiche is amerous shalle neuer sette her herte to god ne she shall not saye deuoutely her houres or matyns ne the hert open for to here the dyuyne seruyse of god wherof I shall telle yow an Ensample Two quenes were at this syde of the see which in lent vpon the holy thursday in the passion weke took theyr fowle delytes and playsaunce within the Chirche duryng the seruyse dyuyne And rested not of theyr foly tylle hit was alle done wherfore god whiche was displeased wyth them for theyr enorme and fowle synne made theyr fowle dede and faytte to be openly knowen amonge the folke In suche wyse that they were take and putte vnder a grete and heuy coope of lede And there they deyd of an euylle dethe And the two knyghtes they re putyers deyd also as they that were flayne they beynge yet on lyue Now maye ye see how theyr fals loue was euylle and dampnable And how the temptacion of Venus the goddesse of loue and lady of lechery tempted them so moche that she made them to take theyr fowle plesaunce In suche holy tyme as vpon the thursday and holy frydaye in the â—assyon weke By this Ensample is wel sene and knowen how that euery woman amerous is more tempted wythin the Chyrche than in eny other place And the same is the fyrst reason how a yonge woman must kepe her self fro suche folysshe loue and not be in no wyse amerous The other rayson is by cause of many gentylle men whiche ben so fals and deceyuabâ—e that they requyre euery gentylle woman that they may fynde And to them they swere that they shalle kepe to them their feythe and be trewe to them and shalle loue them without falshed or deceyuaunce and that rather they shold deye than to thynke ony vylonye or dyshonoure And that they shalle be the better preysed for the loue of them And that yf they haue ony good and worship it shalle come by them And thus they shalle shewe and saye to them so many reasons and abusions that a grete meruaylle is to here hem speke And yet more they gyue oute of theyr brestes grete and fayned syghes And make as they were thynkynge and Melancolyous And after they cast a fals loke And thenne the good and debonayr wymmen that sene them supposen that they be esprysed of trewe and feythfull loue but al suche maner of folke whiche vsen to make suche semblaunt ben but deceyuours or be gylers of the ladyes and damoysels For there is no lady ne damoysell that wold here them but that they shold be deceyued of them by theyr fals reasons whiche they shold not here These ben contrary to the feythfulle and trewe louers For he that loueth with god and trewe loue as he cometh before his peramours he is ferynge and dredefull lest he doo ony thyng that may displease her For he is not so hardy to discouere ne say one onely word And yf he loue her wel I wene that he shalle be thre or four yere er he dar saye his secrete vnto her But thus do not the fals louers For they praye al them that they fynd as aboue is sayd And are not in drede ne in fere to saye al that cometh vpon theyr fals tongues And no shame ne vergoyne they haue of hit And al that whiche they maye vnderstand of them they reherce and telle it amonge theyr felawes And of them they hold they re talkynge wherof they laugh and scorne and take theyr disporte of hit And thus by suche a waye they mocke and scorne the ladyes and damoysels and make newe talkynges and lesynges of them whiche before were neuer sayd ne spoken of For they to whom they tellen hit put to it rather somme euyll than somme good In so moche that fro word to word and by suche mockynge and fryuolles many ladyes and damoysels ben ofte blamed How a woman ought not to here the wordes or talkynge of hym that requyreth her of loue Capitulo Cxxiiij aNd to th ende ye be not deceyued kepe yow wel fro the talkynge of them And yf one begynne to resonne and talke with yow of suche mater lete hym alone or els calle to yow somme other body to here hym say what he wil And thus ye shalle voyde and breke his talkynge And knowe yow for certayne that yf ye doo thus ones or twyes he shalle nomore speke to yow therof but in good feyth at the last he shalle preyse and drede yow and shalle saye this woman is assured and ferme And by this maner of waye ye shalle not be put in theyr Ianglory and talkynges and shall not also haue no blame ne diffame of the world How the knyght answereth to his wyf Capitulo Cxxv tHenne I ansuerd Lady ye be moche hard euyll in as moche that ye wyll not suffre that your doughters be amerouse And yf so came that somme gentyl knyght worshipful myghty and puyssaunt ynough after they re degree had sette his herte on one of them and be wyllynge to loue her and take her to his wyf why shalle she not loue hym Syre sayd his wyf To this I shalle ansuere yow It is so as to me semeth that euery woman mayde or wydowe may wel bete her self with her owne staf For al men ben not of one coÌ„dycion ne of one manere for that thynge whiche pleseth to one is dyspleasyng to the other And somme ben the whiche taken grete playsyre of the grete chere and semblaunt that is done to them And that thynken but good and honeste And som also ben therfore more curyous to demauÌ„de and aske theyr peramours to be they re wyues But many other ben whiche are not of suche manere but all contrarye For whanne they see that theyr peramours paynen them self to make them chere they preyse them lesse And within theyr hertes ben doubtyng of them And as they see them so lyght of wylle and so enamowred they leue them and demaunde them not for to be theyr wyues And thus many one for to shewe them self to moche amerous and for to be to moche open in beholdynge and in gyuynge fayre semblaunt lese they re maryage For in certayne they that kepe them symply and the whiche gyuen noo fayre token or semblaunt to one nomore than to other ben most preysed and they be therfore the sooner wedded wherupon ye told me ones an ensample whiche I haue not forgeten which happed to yow of a lady to whome
after two bestes Therfore Impossyble is that she myght loue her peramour of trewe loue and her lord also withoute faute or deceyuaunce But god and Reson naturell constrayneth her For as the clerkes say and the predycatours god beganne the world by maryage of man and woman And god hym self whanne he came in to this world he spake and treated at a sermon that he made of maryage sayeng that maryage is a sacrament Ioyned and annexed of god to the man and the woman how they be but one body and that they oughte to loue eche other more than fader ne moder ne other creature And therfore syth that god hath assembled them no man mortal ouÈt not to separe them ne take fro them the loue whiche is bytwene them This sayd god of his owne mouthe And therfore at the dore where as the preest maketh them to swe re that they shalle loue and kepe eche other bothe seke and hole And that they shalle not gwerpysshe or leue eche other for none other better or worse And therfore I saye syth the creatour of al the creatures sayd so it is but one thynge and one body that men ought to gwerpysshe and leue al other worldly loue for to take the loue whiche oughte to be in maryage how thenne shold the wedded woman gyue her loue ne do ony oth to some other withoute consent of her lord I trowe that after the wylle of god and the commaundementes of holy chirche thâ—t this may not dewely be done withoute feythe be broken of one syde or of ther and many horryble dedes done For in good feythe I doubte not but that they whiche ben amerous gyuen theyr feythe to other men louen but lytel or nought they re husbondes and that they be cursed of god How a woman whiche wylle kepe her honour must doo ne shewe no maner of semblaunt to none Capitulo Cxxx tHere ben yet other Reasons for to kepe the loue of her lord clenely withoute daunger or parylle that is to wete ageynst enuyous folke that haue euylle and cursed tongues whiche maken the fals reportes that is to saye that yf ony woman maketh somme semblaunt of loue to some man And yf that somme other her seruaunt or ony other body perceyueth it As they shalle be departed fro her they anone shalle talke and speke therof before the folke And thus shal the wordes soo ferre goo that at the laste men shalle saye that she hath fawted in dede by this maner is a good trewe woman blamed and dishonoured And yf hit befalle that by somme aduenture her lord haue ony knowlechynge of hit he shalle take her in hate and of hertely loue he shalle neuer loue her And euer he shalle saye euylle of her And thus is the trewe loue of maryage lost and go fro them and neuer parfyght Ioye ne loue shalle they haue to gyder And therfore grete parylle is to euery wedded woman to put her lord and his estate the welthe Ioye of her maryage in this balauÌ„ce in suche peryllous aueÌ„ture wherfor I couÌ„ceyll not to no good woman to haue ony peramour ne to be amerous in so moch that she be subget to other than to her lord for by suche a cause many good maryages haue ben left forgoten for one word that is come therof an C euyls ben comen therfor I shal telle yow therof one example of them whiche ben dede haue fynysshed theyr lyues by the peryls whiche ben in folysshe loue The lady of Coussy her peramoure deide therof also dyd the Castellayne of the verger And after her the Duchesse And also many other deyde therof only for the loue and the most parte withoute Confessyon or shryfte wherfore I wote not how they doo in the other world But I doubte not but that the delytes and playsaunces whiche they tooke therof in this world shalle be to them derely sold And the delytes of them that ben amerous ben suche that for one Ioye that they receyue of hit they suffre and haue therfore an C dolours And for one worship honderd shames And euer I haue herd saye that a woman amerous shalle neuer after loue her lord with good herte but that she shalle euer be in Melancolye and in smalle thoughtes How a knyght loued the lady of the toure Ca Cxxxj lAdy ye make me to be merueylled how that ye so sore discounceylle them to loue Wene ye to doo me to by leue that ye be so trewe in your spekynge that ye neuer were amerous certaynly I haue wel herd the complaynte of some of whome ye hold wel your pees Syre sayd the lady I trowe that ye wold not byleue me yf I told to you the very trouthe therof but as for to saye I haue ben prayd of loue I haue many tymes perceyued how somme men were aboute to speke to me therof but euer I brake theyr wordes called to me somme other wherby I dyd breke theyr faytte wherof ones hit befelle as many knyghtes and ladyes were playenge with me that a knyght sayd to me how that he loue all the ladyes that ben in this world And I dyd demauÌ„de and asked hym yf hit was long syn that sekenes euylle had taken him he ansuerd that it was wel ij yere gone past and that neuer he durst telle it to me I thenne ansuerd to hym that it was nothynge of that space of tyme that he hasted hym to moche and that it was but a temptacion that he shold goo to the chirche for to cast vpon hym holy water and that he shold saye his Aue maria that his temptacion shold sone after go fro hym For the loue was newe And he demaunded of me why And thenne I sayd to hym that none peramoure or louer ought not to saye to his lady that he loueth her tyll the tyme of seuen yere and an half be passyd gone and that it was but a lytell temâ—tacion Thenne he wende to haue argued and put many reasons vnto me whanne I sayd al on hyghe Behold ye all what sayth this knyght whiche is but two yere syn he loued fyrst one lady and theÌ„ne he â—rayd that I shold kepe my pees therof and that in good feyâ—he he shold neuer speke to me therof But at the last he sayd to me Lâ—dy of the Towre ye be moche euylle and straunge and also after your wordes ouer prowd in loue I doubte that ye haue not be euer so straunge Ye be lyke the lady of the â—ualle whiche said to me thus that she wold neuer here ne vnderstaÌ„d the noote and wordes of none sauf one tyme that a knyghte praâ—d her but she had an vncle whiche she made to hyde hym self behynd her for to here and vnderstande what that the knyght shold seye wherin she dyd grete treason For he wende wel secretely to saye his rayson and wend not that ony one had
reward he offred to me The thyrd enseygnement was that I shold essaye my wyf or euer I shold discouere to her ony grete counceylle For therin is to grete paryll Neuertheles ther ben some that can wel kepe secretely what men saye to them and in the whiche men fynd good counceylle and comforte And other also whiche that can no thynge kepe in secrete And thenne as I me bethought how I had broken and done ageynst the ij enseygnementes of my fader I thought and sayd in my self that I shold preue and essaye the thyrd wherfore that other daye as I was a bedde wyth my wyf I awaked her and for to essaye her wylle I sayd to her that I had slayne the sone of themperour and that his herte confyted in spyeces I had made themperour and his wyf to ete hit And that for the loue of whiche she loued me she shold kepe this in secrete soo that none myght neuer knowe no thynge of hit Now haue I proued and essayed how she hath kepte secretely my counceylle as euery one maye now see and knowe But I gyue me not to grete merueylle therof For hit is not of newe how that a woman can not kepe secretely that whiche men sayâ—n to her in counceylle How Cathonet exposed his auenture or hap Capitulo xliiij nOw haue ye herd how it is happed to me by cause I dyd not byleue the counceylle of my Fader whiche was so trewe and wyse a man To me therfore is come almost a grete euylle And notwithstondynge thus sayd Cathonet to themperour Syre I rendre and discharge me of your offyce And from hensforth I shalle not be enâ—eched of hit And he therof was discharged with grete payne â— Neueâ—â—theles he was receyued for to be mayster of the grete 〈◊〉 of Rome And in especiall of the grete fayttes and dedes â— And themperour made hym to haue grete prouffitees and 〈◊〉 hym grete yeftes and loued hym aboue al other And 〈◊〉 moche holyly in the loue of god and of the peple 〈◊〉 therfore my fayre doughters this is here a good ensamâ—â—â—â— how ye ought to kepe the counceyll of your lord and not 〈◊〉 it to no body what someuer it be For ofte comen therof 〈◊〉 euyls and for to be secrete and specially in suche thyng 〈◊〉 is deffended may not come sauf only good And in lyke 〈◊〉 as the shafte is departed fro the bowe must take her flygâ—â— and cours and neuer cometh ageyne to the bowe tyll it hauâ— smyte somme thynge Soo is the word whiche yssued oute of the mouthe lyke it For after that he is put out of the mouâ—â— it may neuer be put in to the mouthe ageyne but that it shal be herd be it good or euylle wherfor we ought wel to haue 〈◊〉 our memorye the saynges and auctorytees of the wyse Sâ—lamon whiche sayth that men must thynke on the wordes twyes or thryes or they be putt oute of the mouthe And thus ought to doo al wyse folke For ouer many grete euyls haue ben done and engendered for to haue discouered the counceyll and suche thynges as haue ben sayd there in counceylle Therfore I pray yow fayr doughters that ye wylle haue this ensample in your memory and neuer forgete it For all good and worship may therof come to yow And hir is a vertue the whiche escheweth grete hate and grete enuye and many euyls also For many one I knowe whiche haue loste moche of theyr goodes suffred many grete euyls for to haue spoke to lyghtely of other and for to haue reported suche wordes as they herd saye of the whiche they had nought to doo at al For none soo wyse is that may knowe what to hym is to come And full of naturel wytte be they whiche kepe them self fro recordynge of ony wordes For he whiche wythsayeth them that blameth other as wel in ryght as in wronge he doth but wel And for to hold and kepe secretely the dommage and euylle of other may come but good as hit is reherced in the booke of my two sonnes And also in an Euangely Here fynysshed the booke whiche the knyght of the Toure made to the enseygnement and techyng of his doughters translated oute of Frenssh in to our maternall Englysshe tongue by me William Caxton whiche book was ended fynysshed the fyrst day of Iuyn the yere of oure lord MCCCClxxxiij And enprynted at westmynstre the last day of Ianyuer the fyrst yere of the regne of kynge Rychard the thyrd