had not take me for to haue lefte her Thus loste as ye haue herd theldest doughter her maryage by cause she coynted her self Now haue ye herd good Ensample how one ought not to coynte her body for to shewe it small and better shapen specially in the wynter in so moche that she lost her manere and colour As ones it befell to Syre Foucques delaual as he told me vpon the fayt of this Ensample of whome I shal speke and telle vnto yow what that happed to hym How loue wylle be kepte warme Capitulo Cxx sIre Foucques de laual was a fayr knyght clene wel besene emong other was of good maner and of fayr maynten It happed to hym as he told me that ones he was gone for to see his peramours in the wynter season that the froste was grete and the wether passyng cold He thenne hadde in the mornynge coynted hym self of a scarlatte gowne wel broudred of a hood of scarlatte sengle wythoute furrynge and nought els he had on hym sauf only his fyn sherte For he had no mantell neyther gloues in his handes The wynd and the cold were grete wherfore he had soo grete cold that he became of colour black and pale For the perles ne the precious stones wiche were on the broudryng of his sengle gowne couthe gyue hym no hete ne kepe hym fro the cold There came another knyght whiche also was amerous of that lady but he was not so gay aourned ne so sengle of clothes but he had on hym good and warme gownes had a mantell and a double hood and was reed as a cok and had a good lyuynge colour The lady thenne welcomed this knyght and maade to hym better chere than she dyd to Syre Foucques and held with hym better companye And sayd to Syre Foucques Syre hold yow nere the fyre for I doubte that ye be not al hool for your colour is dede and pale And he ansuerd that his herte was ioyous and well at his ease This other knyght was fayrer to the lady syght than Foucques But within a whyle after Syre Foucques aspyed the knyght whiche was goynge toward the place of his peramours He arayed hym otherwyse than he was wonte to doo And so moche hyed hym that he came thyder as soone as the other knyght dyd for to preue how the mater and his faytte shold ende But certaynly he was thenne take of his lady for the fayrest and best coloured wherfore he told me how loue wylle be kepte hote and warme And how that he had approuned hit Therfore hit is grete folye to kepe hys body sengle of clothes for to seme to the folkes syght better maad fayrer of body Yet vpon this matere I wylle reherce vnto you a grete merueylle how many one deyd for cold Of the folysshe loue whiche surprysed and ouercame the Galoys and the Galoyses wherfore many one of them deyd for cold Capitulo Cxxj Ayre doughters I shalle telle yow of the galoys and galoyses how the deuylle by his arte made many of them to deye for cold with the helpe of the flamme of venus goddesse of loue and of lecherye It byfelle thenne in the partyes of peytou and in other Countrees nyghe that the goddesse Venus whiche hath grete power vpon yongthe that is to wete vpon the yonge folke For somme she maketh to be amerous of loue resonable And other of folysshe loue and vnresonable wherof somme lese theyr honour and worshyp And other bothe body sowle made many knyghtes and squyers ladyes and damoysels to loue peramours eche other And to make an ordenaunce of a moche sauage and wyld guyse and ageynst the kynde of the tyme whiche ordenaunce was this that in the somer they shold be clothed hote and warme with theyr furred gownes and with mantels and double hoodes And euer fyre they shold haue in theyr chemenyes were it neuer so grete a hete And that they shold make of the somer wynter thus to the contrarye In the wynter tyme and as it was hard frosen these galoys galoyses dyd on they re shertes but only a shorte and sengle gown withoute lynyng and had no mantell ne hood but sengle for no grete cold ne wynd that myght come And yet more theyr chambres were withoute fyre and dayly made swyped clene And yf at that season ony herbe or grasse or somme thynge fresshe and grene myght be found it was had in to theyr chambres strawed on the floor And vpon theyr beddes they had thurgh al the nyght but only a sengle and lyght couerlet and nomore they myght haue after theyr owne ordynaunce Ferthermore it was ordeyned that as soone as a galoys cam ther as a galoyse was yf she had ony husbond he must by this ordenaunce go take the galoys horses whiche last was come thyder and ryde oute of his place neuer to come ageyne as long as the galoys shold be with his wyf And also yf her husbond were a galoys weÌ„t to see his peramours another galoyse fouÌ„d her husbond with her it had be grete shame to the husbond yf he had abyden at home neyther to haue ordeyned ony thynge whyles the galoys had be with his wyf for he had theÌ„ne no more power within his how 's than had a straunger This lyf lasted longe whyle vnto the tyme that the most parte of them was dede and perysshed of the grete cold whiche they suffred Many of the galoys deyde in theyr ladyes bedde And so dede in lyke wyse the galoyses with theyr frendes and peramours scornynge them that were warme and wel clothed And som of them were to whome men must dysseuere theyr teethe wyth knyues and toste and Rost them before the fyre as a chyken hard of â—roste Wherfore I doubte moche that these galoyses galoys whiche deyde by suche maner were martired by loue that as they deyde of cold they shalle haue to the contrarye a grete hete and a warme clothynge in the pytte of helle For yf they had suffred for the loue of god whiche suffred soo moche for them the tenthe parte of the payne and dolour whiche they dyd suffre for the fowle delyte of theyr stynkynge lecherye they shold haue hadde mercy and grete guerdon in the other world But the deuylle whiche euer is aboute to make the maÌ„ and the woman to dysobeye to god made them to fele gretter delyte and playsaunce in folysshe loue than to doo somme seruyse vnto god And by this reason whiche wel is approuued how the deuyll tempteth and essayeth man and woman And holdeth in perylle bothe the sowle and the body And hou he gyueth folysshe playsaunces and many euylle maners that is to wete somme by couetyse to drawe to hym the good substaunce of other And somme he holdeth in grete pryde by the praysyng of them self and dispraysynge of other Some also by enuye whanne they see other haue more
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
xlviijo. How yong ladyes were scorned mocked of the old auncyent ladyes Capitulo xlixo. Yet of the same Capitulo lo. Of the good knyght that had thre wyues of their lyues cap ljo. Of the second wyf capo. lijo. Of the thyrd wyf of the knyght capo. liijo. Of a lady that blanked and popped her capo. liiijo. Of the wyf of loth that brake the comauÌ„dement of god capo. lv Of the doughter of Iacob that lost her maydenhede capo. lvjo. Of Thamar that had coÌ„pany with her husbondes fader cao. lvij Of Ioseph that wold not haue coÌ„pany with the quene capo. lviij Of the doughters of Moab of whome the euyll lygnage yssued Capitulo lix Of the Iewe and a paynym that brocked wyth a swerd to gydre capo. lx How none ought to abyde allone in a place capo. lxio. Of a roper or maker of cordes of a fatte pryour capo. lxijo. Of Apomena quene of Surrye capo. lxiij Of the quene Vastis capo. lxiiij Of Amon and of his wyf capo. lxv Of the quene Gesabel whiche had many euyll condycions capitulo lxvjo. Of Athalia quene of Ierusalem capitulo lxvijo. Of Enuye capitulo lxviij Of the stryf bytwene Fenenna and Anne Capitulo lxixo. Of Dalida Sampsons wyf capitulo lxxo. How a woman ought not to departe ne goo fro her husbond for ony wrath or angre that may come bytwene them cao. lxxj How a woman ought to obeye to her lord or her husbond in alle thynges honest capitulo lxxijo. How men ought to kepe them self fro flaterers capo. lxxiijo. How a woman ought in no wyse discouere ne telle the secretes of her husbond for ouer many peryls capo. lxxiiijo. How euery good woman ought to enhorte her husbond to serue god with grete deuocion capitulo lxxv How a woman ought not to requyre of her husbond ony thyng but it be honest prouffytable to them bothe ca lxxvijo. The demauÌ„de or askyng that the moder of Salamon made capitulo lxxvij The Iugement of kynge Salamon capitulo lxxviijo. How the synne of the faders is noious to the Children capitulo lxxix How none ought to repreue other of his meschyef cap lxxxo. Of Herodias the cursyd and euylle woman whiche caused the hede of saynt Iohan to be smyton of capitulo lxxxjo. Of the noble woman Sara whiche kepte her self full clenely capitulo lxxxij Of the valyaunt lady Rebecca the wyf of Isaac ca lxxxiij How the faders and moders ought to praye for theyr children capitulo lxxxiiijo. How men ought to sette and put theyr children in the wylle of god capitulo lxxxv Of Charyte Capitulo lxxxvjo. How a bienfaytte done for the loue of god is rendryd of god an honderd fold gretter capitulo lxxxvij How he that wyll praye god must do abstynence ca lxxxviij How men ought to sette and put theyr children to scole Capitulo lxxxix Thensample of the noble lady Ruth capitulo lxxxxo. How euery good woman ought to ansuere for her lord in al thynge capitulo lxxxxj How a good woman ought to pease the yre of her husbond whan she seeth hym wrothe capitulo lxxxxij An ensample of the Quene of Saba and of the kyng Salamon capitulo lxxxxiij How it is good to acqueynte hym self with holy men Capitulo lxxxxiiij How no woman ought not to chyde ne brawle with folke that ben brawlers capitulo lxxxxv How no good woman ought to ansuere to her husbond whanne he is wrothe Capitulo lxxxxvjo. How god taketh in his kepynge them that haue affyaunce and trust in hym Capitulo lxxxxvij How a good lady oughte to loue and drede and also bere feythe vnto her husbond capitulo lxxxxviij How men ought bewaylle and wepe for they re synnes and mysdedes Capitulo lxxxxix This chapyter sheweth how be it that a woman haue an euyl and felon husbond Neuertheles she ought not therfore leue the sernyse of god Capitulo C How it is good to herberowe and receyue in his how 's the seruauntes and mynystres of god Capitulo Cj Of a burgeyses wyf whiche wold neuer pardonne her euylle wylle to her neyghbour wherfore she was dampned ca Cij Of them whiche ought to come to theyr carnal frendes in what someuer estate they be Capitulo Ciij Of a good knyght whiche fought ageynst a fals knyghte for the pyte of a mayde capitulo Ciiij Of the thre Maryes whiche came to the sepulâ—re so erly Capitulo 〈◊〉 Thexample of the folysshe vyrgyns and also of the 〈◊〉 prudente vyrgyns Capitulo 〈◊〉 Of the gloryous and blessyd vyrgyne Marye capiâ—â—â—◠〈◊〉 How euery good women ought to be meke and 〈◊〉 thexample of the blessyd vyrgyne Marye capitulo 〈◊〉 How euery good woman ought to be pyteous by 〈◊〉 of oure blessyd lady Marye capitulo 〈◊〉 How wymmen ought to be charytable by thexample of 〈◊〉 lady capitulo 〈◊〉 Of the quene Iane of Fraunce capitulo 〈◊〉 Example of good ladyes of the tyme presente capitulo 〈◊〉 How a woman ought not to marye her self without 〈…〉 ceylle of her parentes and Frendes capitulo 〈◊〉 How euery good woman ought wel to kepe her renommee capitulo 〈◊〉 How thauncyent were wonte to lerne the yonge ca 〈◊〉 How hit was wonte to departe the dyffamed wymmen 〈◊〉 felauship companye of the good and trewe capitulo 〈◊〉 How before this tyme men punysshed them that were dyffamed Capitulo 〈◊〉 How god compareth the good wymmen to the precious perle or Margaryte capitulo Cxviâ—â— How a doughter of a knyght lost her maryage capitulo Cxâ—â— How loue wylle be kepte warme capitulo Câ—â— Of the louysshe loue whiche surprysed and ouercame the gaâ—loys galoyses wherof many deyde for cold capitulo Cxxj The argument of the knyÈt of the toure his wyf ca Cxxij The ansuere whiche the lady of the Toure made to her lord Capitulo Cxxiij How a woman ought not to here the wordes or talkynge of hym that requyreth her of loue capitulo Cxxiiij How the knyght ansuereth to his wyf capitulo Cxxv How a man ouÈt to loue after his estate degre ca Cxxvjo. How wedded wymmen that sette they re loue to somme of lower degree than they be of be not worthy to be callyd wymmen capitulo Cxxvijo. How it is almesse to enhaunce a man in to grete valoyr capitulo Cxxviij Thansuer of the lady of the Toure capitulo Cxxix How a woman that wyl kepe her honour maye shewe no maner of semblaunt of folye capitulo Cxxx How a knyght loued the lady of the Toure capo. Cxxxjo. Yet speketh the knyght of the Towre capitulo Cxxxij How one must be wyly and subtyll for to discouere his loue capitulo Cxxxiijo. How an holy lady proued an Heremyte capitulo Cxxxiiij How the deuylle tempteth one in the synne that he fyndeth hym most enclyned to capitulo Cxxxv An Ensample of a good wydowe capitulo Cxxxvjo. The thre enseygnementes or lernynges whiche Cathon gaf to his sone capitulo Cxxxvij The fyrst and the second
enseygnement capitulo Cxxxviij The thyrd enseygnement capitulo Cxxxix How Cathonet after that he had done ageynst the two commaundements of his fader essayed the thyrd on his wyf capitulo Cxl How Cathonet shold haue ben hanged capitulo Cxlj How themperours sone came to saue his mayster Cathonet capitulo Cxlij How Cathonet escaped Capitulo Cxliij How Cathonet exposed his aduenture capitulo Cxliiij Explicit Here begynneth the book whiche the knyght of the toure made And speketh of many fayre ensamples and thensygnementys and techyng of his doughters Prologue IN the yere of oure lord a· M thre honderd 〈◊〉 as I was in a gardyn vnder a shadowe as it were in thyssue of Aprylle all moornyng and pensyf But a lytel I reioysed me in the sowne and songe of the fowles sauuage whiche songe in theyr langage as the Merle the Manys the thrustell and the nyghtyngale whiche were gay and lusty This swete songe enlustyed me and made myn herte all temâ—ye So that thenne I wente remembryng of the tyme passed in 〈◊〉 youthe How loue hadde holde me in that tyme in his seâ—uyeâ— bâ— grete distresse In whiche I was many an houre gladde and ioyeful and many another tyme sorowful lyke as it 〈◊〉 to many a louer But alle myn euylles â—aue rewarded me Sythe that the fayre and good hath gyuen to me whiche hath knowleche of alle honoure alle good and fayre mayntenyng And of alle good she semed me the best and the floure· In whomâ— I so moche me delytâ—d For in that tyme I made songes layes Roundels balades Vyrelayes and newe songes in the mooste best wyse I coude But the deth whiche spareth none hath taken her For whome I haue receyued many sorowes and heuynesses In suche wyse that I haue passed my lyf more than twenty yere heuy and sorowfull For the very herte of a trewe louer shall neuer in ony tyme ne day forgete good loue but euermore shal remembre it And thus in that tyme as I was in a grete pensyfnes and thought I beholde in the way and sawe my doughters comyng Of whome I hadde grete desyre that they shold torne to honoure aboue alle other thyng For they ben yong â—itil dysgarnysshed of al wytte reson wherfor they ought at begynnyng to be taught chastysed curtoisly by good ensamples docerynes as dide a quene I suppose she was quene of hongry whiche fayre and swetely chastysed hel doughters and them endoctryned as is conteyned in her book And therfor when I saw them come toward me I remembryd me of the tyme when I was yoÌ„g and roode with my felauship and companyes in poytou and in other places And I remembre me moche wel of the fayttes and sayenges that they told of suche thynges as they fond with the ladyes and damoyselles that they requyred and prayd of loue And yf one wold not entende to theyr prayer yet another wold requyre withoute abydyng And though so were that they had good or euyll answers of al that they rought not For they had neyther dirde ne shame so moche were they endurate and acustomed And were moche wel bespoken and had fayre langage For many tymes they wold haue oueral deduyte And thus they 〈◊〉 no thyng but deceyue good ladyes and damoysellys and beâ—â— ouerall the tydynges somme trewe and somme lesynges Wherof there happed many tymes iniuryes and many vylaynoâ—â— diffames withoute cause and withoute reason And in alle the world is no gretter treson than for to deceyue gentyll wymmen ne to encrece ony vylaynous blame For many ben deceyued by the grete othes· that they vse wherof I debate me oftyme with them And saye to them ye ouer false men how may the god 〈◊〉 suffre yow to lyue that soo oftymes ye periure and forswere 〈◊〉 selâ— For ye hold no feythe But none putt hit in araye by 〈◊〉 they be so moche and so ful of disaraye And by cause I 〈◊〉 that tyme soo ledde and disposed yet I doute me that somme 〈◊〉 suche in this tyme present Therfore I concluded that I wold 〈◊〉 make a lytel booke wherin I wold doo be wreton the good maners and good dedes of good ladyes and wymmen and of theyr lyues soo that for theyr vertues and bountees they ben honoured And that after theyr dethe ben renommed and preysed and shal be vnto the ende of the worlde for to take of them good ensample and contenaunce And also by the contrarye I shall doo wryte and set in a book the myshappe and vyces of euylle wymmen whiche haue vsyd theyr lyf and now haue blame To the ende that the euylle maye bee eschewed by whiche they myght erre Whiche yet ben blamed shamed and dyffamed And for this cause that I haue here sayd I haue thought on my wel bylouyd doughâ—ers· whome I see so lytel to make to them a litil book for to lerne to rede to th ende that they maye lerne and studye vnderstode the good and euylle that is passyd for to kepe them fro hym whiche is yet to come For suche ther be that lawgheth to fore yow whiche after youre back goo mockyng and lyeng Wherfor it is an hard thyng to knowe the world that is now present And for these resons as I haue sayd I went oute of the gardyn and fond in my weye two 〈◊〉 and two clerkes that I hadde and tolde to them· that I wolde make a book and an examplayre for my doughters to 〈…〉 and vnderstonde how they ought to gouerne them 〈…〉 kepe them from euylle And thenne I made them to 〈…〉 before me the book of the byble the gestes of the kyng 〈…〉 of fraunce and of Englond and many other 〈◊〉 historyes and made them to rede euery book And dyde doo makâ— of them this book whiche I wold not set in ryme but al 〈◊〉 in prose for to abredge and also for the better to be vnderstondeâ— And also for the grete loue that I haue to my doughters 〈◊〉 I loue as a fader ought to loue them And thenne myn 〈◊〉 shal haue parfyte ioye yf they torne to good and to honoure 〈◊〉 is to serue and loue god and to haue the loue and the grace 〈…〉 neyghbours and of the world And by cause euery 〈…〉 moder after god and nature ought to teche enforme their children and to distourne them fro the euyll waye and te shewe 〈◊〉 them the right weye and true pathe as wel for the saâ—aâ—cion of theyr sowles as for thonoure of the body 〈…〉 haue made two bookes that one for my sonnes and that â—ther for my doughters for to lerne to rede And thus in lernynge 〈◊〉 shalle not be but that they shalle reteyne somme good ensample or for to flee the euylle and reteyne the good For it may not be but in somtyme they shal remembre somme good ensample or som good lore after that hit shalle falle and come to theyr mynde in spekyng vpon this matere Thus
norysshed tendyrly And that she had gyuen her the reyne ouerlong in suffryng her to do all her wylle wherfore she was in an hard caas And by this ensample it is good to serue god· here all the masses that maye be herd fastyng And to take on her honeste and sobrenes of mete and drynke in due tyme as aboute the houre of tyerce at myd day at souper at houre couenable after the tyme For suche lyfe as ye haue vsed mayntened in your youthe ye wold mayntene and vse in your old age How good doughters ought to fast till they be maryed Capitulo septimo aLso my dere doughters ye ought to faste tyll that be maryed thre or foure dayes in the weke For 〈◊〉 to adaunte youre flesshe that it mâ—ue not 〈◊〉 for to kepe yow more clene and holyly in 〈◊〉 of god Whiche shal kepe and guerdome yow double And yf ye may not faste the thre dayes yet at the lest 〈…〉 in thonoure of the precious blood and of the passion of Ihesu 〈◊〉 that suffred deth for vs And yf ye faste it not to brede 〈◊〉 atte lest take no thyng that suffreth deth For it is a moche 〈◊〉 thyng as I haue herd telle of a knyght a moche noble man 〈◊〉 was in a batayle of Crysten men ageynst the sarasyne It 〈◊〉 that a Crysten man had his heede smyten of with a 〈◊〉 and spack after tyll that the preest cam and confessid hym And he demaunded of hym for what meryte it was that he 〈◊〉 speke withoute the body And the hede answerd hym that no 〈◊〉 ode dede was done to god but that it gate grace And that he 〈◊〉 kepte the wednesdaye fro etyng of flesshe in thonoure of the 〈◊〉 of god· that was thenne sold And the frydaye he ete no 〈◊〉 that suffred deth And for this seruyce god wold not that he shold be dampned ne that he shold deye in dedely synne wherof he was not confessid This is a moche fayre example and ought to be remembryd that suche thynge as suffreth deth ought not be eten on the fryday And also my faire doughters it is moche good to haste the saterday in thonoure of oure lady and of her hooly vyrgynyte to th ende that she gete grace for yow for to kepe clene youre vyrgynyte and youre chastyte in the grace of god and in the loue of youre frendes that none euyll temptacions ouer maystrye yow not And hit is a grete vyctory ageynst the flesshe and a moche hooly thyng And I saye to yow for trouthe that it shalle be to yow a lyght thyng yf ye acustomme yow therin For it is but acustomaunce for to here the masse and the seruyce of god for to saye your houres and to doo al other hooly werkes as haue done these holy wymmen lyke as it is conteyned in the legeÌ„dis And in the lyues of the sayntes of heuen Of a comyn woman that wente to see her loue and fylle in a pytte Capitulo Octauo tHenne I wolde that ye knewe thexample of a folysshe woman that fasted the fryday of whome I shall telle to yow the hystorye Ther was a folysshe woman in the Cyte of Rome that alwey fasted the fryday in thonoure of the passyon of swete Ihesu Criste· And the saterday in thonoure of the Vyrgynyte of oure lady And alwey these two dayes she kepte surely· Hit happed on a nyght that she went to ward her loue whâ—n it was derk And sodenly or she was ware she felle in to a pytte· whiche was twenty fadom depe And as she was fallyng she escryed with an hyhe voys lady helpe and she fylle vpon the water and fond it hard as a plank And there cam a voys to her that saide in thonoure of the vyrgyn Marye and of her sone for whome thou hast fasted thou art saued And fro hensforche kepe thy body clene fro the synne of thy flesshe And on the morn peple cam for to drawe water and fond the woman in the pytte oute wherof anone she was drawen vp and lete goo And the peple merueyled moche how she was saued And she said to them how that a voys had said to her that it was for the fastynges that she had kept the fryday and saterday as ye haue herd And for this grace that god and the blessid Vyrgyn oure lady saynt Marye had done to her she made a vowe to them that she shold kepe her chaste and clene And shold vse her lyf in the seruyce of god and of his chirche· and euer after nyght and day she sâ—rued in the chirche for to lyghte the torches tapres and lampes and to kepe clene the chirche Now on a nyght there cam to her a Vysyon that she drewe· and took oute of a donghylle a vessell lyke to a plater of syluer And when she beheld hit she sawe therin many black spottes and a voys cam sayeng scoure and make clene this plater· And take awey tho blak spottes so long tyll it be as clene and whyte as it was when it cam from the handes of the maystre goldsmythe And this aduysyon cam to her thre tymes And when she awoke she remembryd her aduysyon to god And when hit was hyhe day she wente for to confesse her to an hooly man and told to hym her aduysyon And when the good man had herd all the maner he said to her Fayre doughter ye ar moche beholden to serue god whan he wylle youre saluacion and warneth and sheweth to yow how ye ought to wasshe yow and make you clene by confession of your synnes And I shall shewe yow hou he hath shewed by youre aduysyon the Vessel of siluer whiche was foully bespottyd of the donghylle whiche sygnyfyeth the sowle that is in the body And yf the body consentid not to doo synne she shold be alwey whyte as the vessel of syluer that cometh fro the goldsmythe Ryght so is the sowle when hit cometh fro the fonte of bapteme And lyke as the Vessel that ye sawe was in the donge in lyke wyse is the sowle in the body whiche is no thynge but donge and fylthe For when the Chaytyf body hath synned by his fals delytes for euery synne that he hath done ther cometh a black spot in the sowle And that abydeth vnto the tyme that the body whiche dyde the trespas haue coÌ„fessid and bewaylyd it in suche manere as he dyde the dede and therof hath made satisfaction And therfor fayre doughter the voys of the vysyon hath said that ye shold make yow clene whyte lyke the syluer that cometh fro the goldsmyth For when ye come fro the fonte of baptesme after ye ought put it in place where it shold be kepte clene and withoute or dure that is to saye to kepe you fro goyng in to place where as ye ought absteyne you for to doo synne And kepe yow wel that ye synne nomore For it is a good thyng to be shryuen but it is better
after the confession to kepe hym that he falle not ageyne therto For the tornyng ageyne is wors than the first And when ye shold be shryuen ye ought to saye alle and reteyne no thyng behynde And it ought to be said in the manere as the dede was done Thenne my fair douÈters said the good man I shalle telle to yow an ensample of a bourgeyse a moche myghty woman Of her that deyde and durst not confesse hir synne capo. ixo. tHere was a woman of grete renomme and fame lyke to be a blessid woman and charitable For she fasted thre dayes in the weke of whiche she fasted tweyne to brede and to water and gafe moche almesse· vysyted the seke norysshed the orphanes and was at masse vnto mydday And said many orysons and prayers And lyued an hooly lyf as a good woman ought to doo And it happed that she departed oute of this world by whome oure lord wold shewe ensample how she was lost for one only dedely synne For the sepulture in whiche she was leyd bigan to fume smoken and the erth to brenne· and there had ben seen on the graue ouermoche torment And the peple of the Countrey merueyled moche what it mente For they wende veryly that she hadde be saued aboue alle other wymmen Thenne was there an hooly man in the Cyte which toke the crosse the stole and hooly water and coniured the sowle in the name of god And requyryd of almyghty god that it plesyd hym to shewe to hym wherfore this stenche and this tormente was there Thenne a voys was herd that sayd I am the poure synnar that am dampned to perpetuel fyre For god sheweth that my wretchyd body gyueth oute smoke and torment by ensample And I shall telle to yow how it hath bifalle me by the synne of my flesshe I laye ones with a Monk And I durst neuer confesse me therof for doubte to be accused for shame of the world And I doubted more the bobaunce of the world than the spyrytuel vengeaunce of my synne I fasted I gaf for goddes sake my good I herd masses and said many orysons heures And me semed the grete good dedes and abstynence that I dyde quenchyd and estyncted al my synnes whiche I durst not telle ne saye to the preest wherfore I am deceyued and loste For I telle wel vnto alle· that who that dyeth in dedely synne and wylle not forthynke it he is dampned perpetuelly For the synne ought to be confessid also foully as the dede· was done and by the same manere And when she had al said alle they that were there present were moche abasshed For there was none but that he thouÈt she had be saued And thus said this good man this ensample to this woman that confessyd her that she shold confesse and telle her synnes lyke as she had done them and she shold put aweye the spottes of the syluer vessel These ben the spottes of the sowle And thenne this woman confessid her and lyued after an holy lyf· And thus the begynnyng of her sauacion cam of the fastynges· that she fasted on the fryday in thonoure of the passion of oure lord and the saterday for thonoure of the vyrgynyte of our blessid lady By whiche she was saued from perylle For ther is no good dede done but it is rewarded And it is a moche hooly thyng to faste And the more payne it doth or hurte to the heede or body so moche is the fastyng more of meryte greter of valewe For yf the fastyng greuyd not there shold therof be no mede ne merite yet for to shewe an ensample how fastyng is of grete meryte It is trouthe that the kynge of Nynyue and alle his Cyte were saued therby as it is conteyned in the grete book of the byble For god had doo synken certayne Cytees and townes for the grete synnes that they delyted in And god commaunded his prophete to telle to this kyng and to the Cyte that yf they amended them not that they shold perysshe in lyke wyse Thenne the kyng and the peple of the cyte had grete drede and fere And for caâ—â—â—ase the yre of god alle they that were of age fasted fourty dayes and fourty nyghtes and kneled doune on her knees and putte sackes on theyr hedes in grete humylyte wherfore god took mercy on them and repeled his sentence And so by theyr mekenes and fastynge they were saued And therfore my fayre doughters fastyng is an abstynence and a vertu moche couenable whiche withdraweth and restreyneth the flesshe from euylle desyres· And humbleth the herte· and geteth pardon and grace of god And thenne all yong wymmen and specyally the maydens and wydowes ought to fast as I haue said here to fore by these ensamples whiche by the playsyre of god ye shall well reteyne and kepe How good wymmen ought to mayntene them self curtoysly capitulo Deamo aFter this my doughters see ye wel to that ye be curtois and humble For there is no gretter vertue for to cause yow to haue the grace of god and the loue of alle peple than for to be humble and curtoyse For curtosye ouercometh all them that ben felouns prowde by thensample of the sperhauk Take a sperhauke ramage And calle hym curtoysly and ye shal make hym come frely to yow· ye fro the tree he shalle come vppon youre fyste And yf ye be not curtoyse but rude and cruel he shal neuer come Thenne syth that curtosye vaynquysshyth a wylde byrde whiche hath in hym no reson Thenne ought she wel refrayne a man and woman moche more that they be not ne haue the herte orguyllous and fyers Curtosye is the fyrst ware and the entre of alle frendship and of alle worldly loue And she that vaynquyssheth hye courages and that amolysshyth thyre and wrathe of euery creature Therfore thenne hit is a fayre thyng to be curtoys· I knowe a lord in this Countrey whiche hath goten and conquerd moo knyghtes squyers and other peple to serue hym and to doo his playsyrs by his grete curtosye in the tyme that he bare armes than other dyd for money eyther for other thynges And this is my lord of Craon whiche ought wel to be honoured and to be preysyd for his curtosye aboue all other knyghtes that I know and I knowe that he hath goten by his curtosye moche loue and renomme of ryght grete ladyes and also of other grete and smale Therfor my fayre doughters shewe youre curtosye vnto the mene and smal peple for to do them honoure And to speke to them fayre and swetely And for to answere them curtoysly they shalle bere and doo the gretter reuerence gretter preysyng and renommee than the grete For thonour of the curtosye that is done and gyuen to the grete astates is but their ryght But that whiche is done vnto smal gentylmen and gentyl wymmen and to other of lasse degre that honoure and
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
suche thynges ne to 〈◊〉 flesshe ne lychorous metes to the houÌ„des For lack of whiche the poure peple of god dye for honger the whiche ben the creatures of god made to his semblaunce and lykenes and ben his seruauntes Suche wymmen vnderstande not the word of god in the gospel where as god sayth he that doth wel to the poure doth to me seruyce These wymmen resemble not vnto the good quene blaÌ„che that was moder of saynt lowys whiche dyd do gyue in hir syght the mete to the moost nedy and meseased And after saynt lowys dyd in lyke wyse For he vysyted the poure peple and fedde them with his own honde The plaisire of euery good woman is to see the faderles and moderles children and lytel poure children and them norysshe and clothe as dide the holy lady that was Countesse of Mauns whiche norysshed wel thyrtty orphanes and the lytel poure children for pyte and therin was al hir disporte And therfor she was louyd of god and had an holy lyf and a good ende And ther was sene at her deth a grete clerenes and lyght alle full of lytel children These were not the smale houndes that were black whiche were sene with the other as ye haue herd to fore Of them that take first newe gyses capitulo xx fAyre doughters I praye yow that ye ben not the fyrste for to take on yow newe arraye ne gyses and that ye in this caas be the last and tarye lengest And in especialle the newe gyses of wymmen of straunge Countre For I shalle saye yow of a debate whiche was f a baronnesse that duellyd in guyenne And of the lord of beaumont fader of hym that is now lord whiche was a subtyle and a wyse knyght This lady aresonned hym of his wyf And said fayre Cosyn· I am come fro brytayne and haue sene my fayre Cosyn your wyf whiche is not arayed ne aourned as ben the ladyes of guyenne ne of many other places For her pourfyls of her garnementes ne of her hodes ben not grete ynough after the gyse that now is vsed Thenne the knyght answerd to her· Madame syth she is not arayed after your gyse and that her pourfyls seme lytell wherfore ye blame me be ye certeyn that ye shal blame me nomore therfore For I shall doo araye her as queyntely and as nobly as ye or ony other ben and yet more For ye haue not but the half of your garnementes and of your hoode torned outward with grys and crmynes but I shalle doo to her better For I shaâ—le make her kirtels and hoodes alle the furre outward so she shalle be better pourfylled than ye ne the other And after this he said Madame thynke ye that I ne wylle wel that she be arayed after the good ladyes of the Countre yes veryly but I wylle not that she chaunge the guyse of good wymmen ne of the ladyes of worship of Fraunce and of this Countre whiche vse not the gyse of the loues ne of the lemmans of thenglysshe men ne of the peple of companyes For these ben they that first knewe this gyse in brytayne and in Guyenne of these grete pourfyls and of the Coursettys torned by the sydes For I was of that tyme and sawe it And for to take the guyse of suche wymmen that brought it firste hyther I holde them euyl counceyled and also them euyll aduysed that arraye them so and also them that take and vse hit how wel that the pryncesse and other ladyes of Englond whiche after theyr longe comyng maye wel do it But I haue herd of the sages that euery good lady woman ought to kepe the gyse state of the good ladyes and wymmen of theyr Countre comyn gyse of the Râ—yâ—â—mme of whiche they ben of And that they ben moost wyse that ben the laste that take suche noueltees and newe gyses And thus by renomme the ladyes of Fraunce and of these lowe marches ben holden the best ladyes that ben and lest blamed These wordes were said to fore moche peple wherof the lady â—â—ld her self nyce and wyst not what to answere And thenne many of them bigan to murmure and said among them that she had done better for to haue holden her stylle and said nought And therfore my fair doughters this is a faire Ensample for to take and holde astate moyen and the gyse of the good ladyâ—s of the Countre and of the comune of the royamme that they ben of That is to saye of that whiche the good ladyes vse comunely that is a noble thyng For to take a newe gyse comen by strauÌ„ge wymmen and fro other Countrees they ben more mocqued and scorned than for to kepe the gyse of their Countre as ye haue herd of the good knyght that was wyse and of grete gouernement in repreuyng of the lady And knowe ye for certayne that they that first done and take the newe gyses ben scorned mocked But god haue mercy on vs at this day after that som haue herd that ony newe facion or nouelte of goune or arraye shall neuer reste till they haue therof a Copye And shullen saye to their lord or husbond dayly Suche thyng and suche shold become me wel and it is right faire I praye yow that I may haue it yf their lord or husbond saye to her my loue yf suche one haue it other that ben holden as wyse as she haue it not And she thenne wylle saye what though they can not araye them what haue I doo with all Sith that suche one hath it I may wel haue it and were it as wel as she And I say you that they shal fynd so many resons that they must nedes haue theyr parte but these maner of wymmen ben not founde the moost wyse ne moost connyng but they haue their hert moost sette to the plesaunce of the world I speke not vpon the ladyes ne the damoysels that maye wel do at their lust and gyse For ageynst their estate I thynk not to speke ony thyng that may displese them yf I may knowe it For it apperteyneth not ne is syttyng to me but to honoure and obeye them to my powere ne I entende not to speke ageynst them by this book but to my owne doughters wymmen and seruauntes to whome I may say that as it shal plese me and after my wylle How me ought not to stryue ayenst them that ben langageurs and full of wordes Capitulo xxi fAyre doughters I shall saye to yow an Ensample how it is peryllous to speke and holde stryf to peple that haue the world in their hande and that haue manere and wytte to speke For gladly men ne wynne but lytel to holde stryf of bourdes and Iapes to suche men For it happed at a grete feste where as were many grete ladyes and lordes And that ther was the marchal of ClermoÌ„t whiche merueiloussly had the world in honde as of fayre
〈◊〉 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
Thenne thought the good lady that god hadde sente hym to her And thanked hym moche humbly and this is a faire Ensample how god purueyeth to them that haue deuocion in hym and in his seruyce But I trowe that ther ben many ladyes at this day that passe wel with lasse than thre masses For it suffyseth them ynowe of one masse only soo lyteâ—l loue and deuocion haue they in god in his seruyce Foâ— in herynge of his seruyse his propte persone fonde hym For who someuer loueth and dredeth hym he wyl oft see hym and here his hooly word And in lyke wyse the contrary For he that hath not wel set his hert to hym ward he passeth lyghtely as many doo in thise dayes whiche haue their herte more set on the world and on the delyte of the flesshe than on god Of a yong amorouse lady and of an esquyer Capitulo xxxiij I Shalle telle to yow an Ensample of a yong lady whiche had sette her hert on the world And vnto her repayred a squyer whiche was Ioly and amourous on her And she ne hated hym not And more for to haue ease and delyte for to speke and bourde to geder she made her lord and husbond to bileue that she had auowed to go a pylgremage her husbond whiche was a good man suffred her by cause he wold not displease her and so it happed on a tyme that she and this squyer went a pylgremage vnto a monastery of oure lady And they were in grete plaisire on the way for to speke to geder For they entended wel other thynges than to saye theyr matyns And they had grete playsyre and delyte on the wey wherof it happed that when they were comen in to the chirche and were in the myddel of the masse the fowle fende whiche is alwey in a wayte tenflamme tempte man and woman helde them so subget in this temptacion and fowle plaisire that they had theyr eyen and plesaunces more to beholde eche other and to make smale signes and tokenes of loue than they bad in the dyuyne seruyse or for to saye deuoutely theyr prayers And soo it happed by open myracle that soo grete a maladye tooke the said lady that sodenly she swouned And they knewe not whether she was dede or a lyue And so she was born thennes in mennes armes in to the towne as a dede body And her husbonde and frendes were sente fore whiche were moche sorowfull of this aduenture And they beheld hyr and wisâ— not whether she wold dye or lyue Thenne it happed that the lady whiche was in grete payne sawe a merueylous aduysyon for her semed that she sawe her fader and moder whiche had ben dede long to fore her moder shewed to her her brest sayeng Fayre doughter loo here thy noreture loue and honoure thy husbond and lord as thou dydest this brest that gaf the to sowke Sythe that the Chirche hath gyuen hym to the· And after her fader sayd to her Fair doughter why hast thou more plesaunce and gretter loue to other than to thyn owne lord and husbond Beholde this pytte that is beside the And know thou for certayn yf thou falle in this fire of euyll hete that thou shalt abyde therin And thenne she loked and sawe a pytte ful of fyre so nyghe to her that almoost she had fallen therin And she was thenne all effrayed And after this her fader and moder shewed to her wel an honderd preestes reuested al in whyte And the fader and moder said to her Fair doughter we thanke the by cause that thou hast reuested this folke here And after that her semed that she sawe thymage of oure lady holdyng a Cote and a sherte and sayd to her This Cote and this sherte kepe the fro fallyng in this pytte Thou hast defowled my how 's and mocked it And in this effraye she awoke and gaf a grete syghe· And thenne had her lord her frendes grete ioye and sawe well that she was not deed And this lady felt her self al wery and feble of the aduysyon drede of the fyre and of the flamme of the pytte in whiche she was almoost falle And she demaunded to haue a preest And anon was fette to her an hooly man a relygyous whiche was a grete Clerke and ware the hayre and lyued an hooly lyf And to hym she confessid her and tolde to hym all her aduysyons and the grete drede that she had to falle in to the pyt And there she tolde to hym all her synnes her yong wantoun lyf And the holy man declared to her hir aduysyon said to her in this wyse Yet of the same Capitulo xxxxiiij dAme ye ben moche beholdynge to god and to his swete moder whiche wylle not haue yow dampned ne the perdicion of youre sowle But they shewe to yow youre perylle and youre saluacion First they haue shewed to yow youre fader and moder And youre moder said to yow Fayre doughter see the breestes of whiche thou hast taken thyn noreture loue honoure thy husbond lyke as thou hast done these brestes That is to vnderstonde ye ought to loue fere hym like as ye loued the pappes of youre moder ther ye took youre norysshynge And like as the childe leueth alle thynges for loue of the 〈◊〉 for the swetenes of the mylke wherof he taketh his foode ryght so ought euery good woman next god and his hooly lawe loue her husbond aboue al other and leue all other loues for hym In lyke wyse as oure lord saith with his hooly mouthe that a man shold leue fader moder suster broder abyde with his wyf with wyf her husbonde that they be not tweyne but one flessh that god hath ioyned man may not departe also where he said that youre moder saide ye tooke youre noreture in her pappes your welthe that is to say yf ye loue youre husbond aboue al other thenne shall your noreture growe encrece from day to day like as the child groweth by his noreture of the pappe by the sâ—ettenes of the mylke which signyfyeth the grete swetenes the 〈◊〉 the loue that ouÈt to be in trewe mariage the grace of god duâ—lleth in them After your fader said faire douÈter why hast thou more gretter loue plaisauÌ„ce to other than to thyn husbond beholde the pitte that is beside the knowe thou verily yf thou fall in the pitte with grete hete that thou shalt be lost therin that is to saye that if thou loue more another than thy lord thou shalt fall in to the pyt where ye shal be brent broiled for the delyte of euil plaisauÌ„ce euyll hete And therfore he shewed to yow the pytte of fire of hete And the vengeauÌ„ce the pugnycion that behoueth to ensue for this delite the hete of the folissh plaisauÌ„ce After he shewed to you the prestes in white said that ye
her loue the most fowle and lothly wolf And soo dothe the folysshe wyf by the temptacion of the fende that euer incessauntly is aboute the synnar bet man or wyf to make them to falle in dedely synne Aind as the synne is gretter the more he hath myght and puyssaunce ouer the synnars And by cause he was a man of Relygyon and the woman wedded was the synne gretter And for certayne by the holy scrypture and wrytynge and as men may al aboute see yf a woman accomplysshe or doo that synne of lechery with one her kynne nygh of her blood she shall be the more temptyd shal be more brennyng to it shal haue more folyssh appetyte euyl plesauÌ„ce therfor it is trewe that so ofte is the pot borne to fetche water that atte laste it breketh in pyeces For this folysshe wyf whiche hadde a husbond ten tymes fayrer than the Monke was and more curteys and gracious And that soo ofte hadde escaped thorugh her fals Godseps delynge And that vpon the defence of her husbond wente ageyne to the pryours how 's as ye herd to fore And ouermore as the grete anguysshe and dolour that she had suffred of her legges was past yet she ne wold chastyse ne kepe her self clene of that fowle synne of lechery Thenne is it thyng trewe and approuued that al this is but temptacion of the deuylle whiche holdeth and kepeth the synnars with brennynge and enflammed hertes to th ende he may doo them to falle within his grynnes or nettes as he dyd the sayd foole woman and to the sayd pryour and made them bothe to receyue deth vylaynysly Now haue I shewed vnto yow by many ensamples of the byble and of the kynges gestes also by other wrytynge How the synne of lechery the desguysynge and werynge rayments and clothes of newe facion is moche displeasynge to god And how the deluge and assemblyng of waters cam therof and alle the world perysshed sauf only eyght persones And how Sodome and Gomorre with fyue other cytees were also brente and conbusted vnto thabismes by fyre of sulphur and of fouldre And how so many euylles werres famyns and pestylences and other trybulacions ben therof come and be comynge daye by daye in this world And how the stenche of hit is so gretely displeasynge to the angels of heuen And how the holy vyrgyns that ben in heuen in ioye and glorye gaf them self to martyrdome rather than they shold consente to hit ne goo fro they re good holy and pure wylle for ony yeftes ne for promesses as it is conteyned in theyr legendes as of saynt katheryn saynt Margaryte of saynte Crystyn the enleuen thowsand vyrgyns and of many other of whiche the grete constaunce and feruente courage of them were to longe to be recounted For they surmouÌ„ted many grete temptacions and vaynquysshed many tyrauÌ„ts wherby they gate conquered the grete reame of blysse and glorye where as they shalle euer be in perdurable ioye Now my fayr doughters I telle yow that no thynge or lytyll is to kepe hym self clenly It is drede and be of hertely louynge toward her lord and thynke what euylle what shame and what dolour and sorowe cometh therof vnto the world and how hit displeaseth god And how therof men lese bothe body sowle the loue of god and the loue of his parentes and frendes of the world wherfor moche affectuelly I praye yow as my ryght dere doughters that ye daye and nyght wyl thynke on it For many grete and euylle temptacions shall befyght and assaylle yow Be ye thenne stronge and valyaunt to resiste ouercome them And loke and behold the place wheroute ye be come of and what dishonour and shame myght come to yow therof Of Apomena quene of Surye Capitulo lxiij nOw shalle I telle yow of somme wymmen the whiche ben ouermoche proude of theyr grete worship and goodes· whiche god hath gyuen them As reherced is in the bylle ther was a woman whiche Was named Apomena doughter of a symple knyght named Bernard This Apomena was fayre and yonge in so moche that the kynge of Surye Whiche was a myghty kynge was enamoured of her and so moche that he loued her that by his grete folye he toke her in maryage and made her quene And whanne she sawe her self soo hyghe and so myghty and in so grete honour and worship brought she sette nought syn of her frendes and parentes and had shame and desdayne to see or mete with hem And became ouer proude and so moche grete of courage that also to the kynge her lord she bare not so grete reuerence as she ought to haue doo by cause she sawe hym symple and debonayr And also she by her grete pryde dayned not bere reuerence ne worship to none of the kynges parents And soo moche she dyd that of euery one she was hated and that the kynge was wrothe with her and chaced and sente her in exyle And so by grete pryde she lost the grete honour and worship where in of lowe degree she had fortunatly be brouÈt for many wymmen be that may not suffre ease worship to gyder can not reste tyl by their pryde enuy they falle in grete pouerte fro hyhe to lowe as dyd the folysshe quene whâ—che was come fro lowe degree vnto so hyghe and myghty estate and myght not suffre it And euery woman whan she seeth and knoweth her bord symple and debonayr to her she ought the more to bere hym honoure and worship for soo doynge she worshippeth and bereth honour to her self and hath the loue of them that seeth her soo doo And also therfore she ought to hold her the more cloos and symplya nd to force her self to kepe his loue and his pees For al hertes be not euer in one estate A stone slyteth And a hors falleth Men wene somtyme that suche one be symple whiche hath a malycious herte And therfor a woman may not bere to moche worship and honour to beâ— lord ne to moche be obeyssaunt to hym of what someuer condicion he be wherof I wylle telle yow an ensample of the wyf of the grete Herodes He hadde a wyf whiche he ouermoche loued He wente to Rome And in the mene whyle hit befelle that his men that were with hym the whiche in no wyse loued theyr lady his wyf by cause she was toward them to proude felon told hym how she had a prynce to her loue wherof Herodes was wrothe and at his retourne fro Rome he reprouued her of this grete faulte and vylonye whiche she had done to hym She answerd thenne to proudely and to lyghtly And had not her lord in honour by fayre wordes ne by curtosye neyther humbly she spake to hym as she oughte to haue do And therfor her lord that was felon and despytous and wrothe of her proud and hyghe spekynge toke a knyf and slewe her wherof he was after sory For
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
goodes than they Also by glotonye wherin the body delyteth hym self and maketh hym to falle in to the synne of dronkeship whiche synne taketh fro them reason and entendement and maketh them to fall in to carnal delyte Eyther also by lecherye makyng them to haue their peramours with them and to loue them wyth folysshe loue and playsaunce As dyd the folysshe galoys and galoyses and amonge them suche a folysshe and brennynge loue that he brought them to an euylle ende and to deye of dyuerse dethe But notwithstondyng al this I saye not but that there is a trewe loue without blame and dishonoure And wherof moche worship cometh These ben trewe the whiche requyre nothyng wherout may come ony falshed or abusion For he that loueth not trewely thynketh for to haue dishonoured his loue and her estate And suche loue is not trewe but is fals dyssymylynge and trecherye Therfore to grete Iustyse may not be made of them but so moche I telle yow well that ther be of suche folke whiche ben of dyuerse maners that is to wete some trewe somme fals and deceyuable and gyue no force at al but to haue theyr fowle delyte and wylle And many suche folk is as now in this world wherfore the world is hard to knowe and moche merueyllous And suche wene wel to knowe them self but wors they knowe them self than done ony other The Argument of the knyght of the Towre and of his wyf Capitulo Cxxiâ— mY dere doughters as for to loue peramours I shal tell yow alle the debate and stryf of me and of your moder I wold susteyne ageynste her that a lady or damoyselle myght loue peramours in certayne caas For in loue is but good worship withoute ony euyll be thought in it In this thenne wherin is thought ony euylle is not loue but rather it is grete falshede and mauuastye wherfore take ye â—â—de And here ye the grete debate and stryf whiche was bytwene her and me Thus thenne I sayd to your moder Lady wâ—y shalle not the ladyes and damoysels loue peramours For in certayne me semeth that in good loue and trewe maye be but welthe and honour and also the louer is the better therfore more gay and Ioly and also the more encouraged to excercyse hym self more ofte in armes And taketh therfore better maner in al estates for to please vnto his lady or lâ—ue And in lyke wyse dothe she of whome he is enamoured for to please hym the better as ferre as she loueth hym And also I tell yow that grete almesse it is whanne a lady or damoysell maketh a good knyght eyther a good squyer These ben my reasons The answere whiche the lady of the towre maad vnto her lord Capitulo Cxxij tHenne ansuerd to me your moder Syre I merueyll me not yf amonge yow men susteyne and holde this reason that al women oughte to loue peramours But sith this debate and stryf is come before our owne doughters I wylle answere after myn aduys and Intencion For vnto our children we must hyde nothynge Ye say and so done all other men that a lady or damoysell is the better worth whan she loueth peramours And that she shalle be the more gay of fayr maner and countenaunce And how she shalle do grete almesse to make a good knyght These wordes are but sport and esbatement of lordes and of felawes in a langage moche comyn For they that saye that alle the honour and worshyppe whiche they gete and haue is comynge to them by they re peramours And that theyr loue encourageth them to goo in vyages And for to plese to them by state of armes but these wordes coste to them but lytyll to say for to gete the better and sooner the grace and good wylle of theyr peramours For of suche wordes and other moche merueyllous many one vseth full ofte but how be hit that they saye that for them and for theyr loue they done hit In good feyth they done it only for to enhaunce them self and for to drawe vnto them the grace and vayne glory of the world Therfore I charge yow my fayre doughters that in this mater ye byleue not your fader But I pray yow that ye hold your self clenly and without blame and that ye be not amerous for many reasons whiche I shalle reherce vnto yow Fyrste I saye not but that euery good woman of age maye loue well and better the one than the other that is to wete folke of worship and honour And them also that shalle counceylle her for her owne helthe worship And thus men oughte to loue by this manere the one more than the other But as for to be so ferforth enamoured in soo moche that this loue be mayster of her and maketh them to falle in somme fowle and shamefull delyte somtyme with ryght and somtyme with wronge for the watche whiche men haue vpon this shameful dede or feate and also suche dishonour and escry whiche soone is not put oute And by the false watches bacbyters whiche ben neuer cessyng to talke of som euylle rather than of somme good wherby they take away dyffamen the good Renomme of the good wymmen and of many a good lady And therfore alle wymmen whiche ben not wedded may kepe and hold them self fro hit And that for many Reasons The fyrste Reason is by cause that a woman whiche is enamoured of a man maye not serue god of no good herte ne trewe as she dyd before For many one I haue herd saye the whiche haue ben amerous in theyr yongâ—â—e that when they were in the chirche they re thought and Melancolye made them ofte to thynke vnto theyr delytes and to theyr peramours more than they dyd to the seruyse of God And also the arte of loue is of suche kynde that whanne one is in the Chirche to here masse and the dyuyne seruyse and as the preest holdeth the body of oure lord bytwene his handes than cometh most to his mynde euylle and fowle thoughtes This is the arte or crafte of the goddesse that men calle Venus the whiche had the name of a planete as I herd saye of a good and trewe man whiche preched and sayd how ones the deuylle entred in to the body of a dampned woman whiche was Ioly and gaye and moche amerous The deuylle that was within her body made her to doo many fals myracles wherfor the paynyms helde her for a goddesse and worshipped her as a god And this Venus was she that gaf counâ—â—ylle to the Troians that they shold sende Parys the sone of kyng Priamus in to grece and that she shold make hym rauysshe and haue with hym the fayrest lady of al grece wherof she sayd trouthe For parys dyd rauysshe the fayr Helayne the wyf of the kynge Menelaus for the whiche faytte or dede were slayne afterward more than xl kynges and xiiCM other persones and mo wherof this Venus was of al thys grete meschyef
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
I gyue no name the whiche ye wente ones to see her wyllynge to take her in maryage She that wyst and knewe well how it was spoken of yow her for her maryage maade to yow as grete chere as she hadde loued and knowen your personne all the dayes of her lyf ye prayd her of loue but by cause that she whiche was not wyse ynough to ansuere yow curtoysly and wel ye demaunded her not And yf she had hold self more secrete and couered and more symply ye had take her to your wyf of whome I haue syn herd saye that she hath be blamed but I wote not for certayne yf it was so And certaynly Syre ye be not the fyrst to whome suche aduenture is happed For many wymmen haue lost theyr maryage by cause of theyr amerous loke and fayr semblaunt Therfore it is good to euery woman vnwedded for to behaue her symply and clenely and specially before them of whome is spoken for her maryage I saye not but that men must bere honoure to euery one after that they be How men ought to loue after his estate and degree Capitulo Cxxvj wHat saye yow lady wold ye haue kept them so straitly that they shold not take somme plesaunce more to somme than to the other Syre I wylle not that they haue or take ony plesaunce of them that ben of lower estate or degree than they be of that is to wete that no woman vnwedded shalle not sette her loue vpon no man of lower or lasse degree than she is of For yf she tooke hym her parentes and Frendes shold hold her lassed and hyndered These whiche louen suche folke done ageynste they re worship and honoure For men ought to desyre ne coueyte nothynge so moche in this world as worship and the frendship of the world and of hir Frendes the whiche is lost as soone as she draweth oute her self oute of the gouernement and fro the counceyll of them as I myght telle yf I wold an Ensample of many whiche therfore ben dyffamed and hated of theyr parents Frendes And therfore Syre as I theyr moder charge and deffende them that they take no playsaunce ne that in no wyse sette theyr loue to none of lower degree than they be come of Ne also to none of hyhe estate whiche they may not haue to their lord For the grete lordes shalle not take them to theyr wyues but alle theyr louynge loke and semblaunt they do it for to deceyue them and for to haue the delytes and playsaunce of theyr bodyes and for to brynge them in to the folye of the world How wedded wymmen whiche haue sette theyr loue to some of lower degree than they be of are not worthy to be callyd wymmen Capitulo Cxxvij aLso they whiche putte and sette theyr loue on thre maner of folke that is to wete wedded men prestes and monkes and as to seruauntes and folke of noughte These maner of wymmen whiche take to theyr peramours and loue suche folke I hold them of none extyme ne valewe but that they be more gretter harlottes than they that ben dayly at the bordell For many wymmen of the world done that synne of lechery but only for nede and pouerte or els by cause they haue ben deceyued of hit by false counceylle of bawdes But alle gentylle women whiche haue ynough to lyue on the whiche make they re peramours or louers suche maner of folke as before is sayd it is by the grete ease wherin they be and by tbe brennynge lecherye of theyr bodyes For they knowe wel that after the lawe of theyr maryage they may not haue for theyr lordes ne to be theyr husbondes men of the chirche ne other of no valewe This loue is not for to recouere ony worship but alle dishonour and shame How hit is almesse to enhaunce a man in to grete valour Capitulo Cxxviij aT the leste syth ye wylle not graunte ne accorde that youre doughters loue no man peramours as longe as they shalle be vnwedded please it yow to suffre that whanne they shall be wedded they may take somme plesaunce of loue for to hold and behaue them self the more gaye and Ioyefull and for the better knowe theyr behauynge and maner emonge folke of worship And as before this tyme I haue sayd to yow It were to them grete welthe and worship to make a man of none extyme ne of valewe to become of grete valour The answere of the lady of the Towre Capitulo Cxxix sIre to thys I ansuere yow I wylle well and am content that they make good chere to all worshipfulle men And more to somme than to the other that is to wete to them of gretter name and more gentyl or els better men of theyr persones And after that they bere to them worship and honour And that they synge and daunce before them honourably But as for to loue peramours sythe they shall be wedded withoute it be of suche loue as men ought to bere vnto folke of worshippe for to loue and worshippe them after that they be worthy and of valour And whiche haue had grete payne and trauaylle to gete and acquere glorye and worshyp by theyr valyaunce in armes These must be loued doubted serued and honoured withoute hauynge in them ony plesaūce sauf only for the bounte of them But to saye and hold hit good that a wedded woman shold loue and haue a peramour Ne take the othe and feythe of none to th ende that they be theyr louers and peramours Ne also to gyue their feith and othe to none I trowe and wene certaynly that no lady ne damoysell wedded ne woman of other estate shall not put her estate and worship in this balaunce for many reasons the whiche I shalle declare vnto yow wherof the fyrst is as before I told yow that none woman amerous shalle neuer be soo deuoute in her prayers ne to here the seruyse of god as she was before For oute of loue spryngen and comen to many thoughtes and Melancolye as men sayn And many one ben so enamoured and enflammed of loue that yf they herd ryng the last peel of a masse and that they knewe that theyr peramoure wold haue come to see them they shold lese the masse for to please to theyr peramoure This is no game egaly parted But suche is the temptacion of Venus the goddesse of lecherye The other Reason I doo compare to the mercer whiche weyeth his sylke whiche is fyn and lyght but yet he maye put so moche of it in to the balaunce that it shalle ouerbere the weyght whiche is at the other syde of the balaunce That is to saye that the woman may be soo moche enamoured that lasse she shalle loue her lord therfore and that the loue worship and cheuaunce whiche he shold haue she shalle take fro hym and gyue it to other And for certayne a woman may not haue two hertes no more than a greyhond may renne
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
herd hym but her self alone wherfore I dare almost say that bothe yow and she be but grete spekers and lytell pyteous of them that requyre mercy and grace And she is of your oppynyon that no ladyes or damoysels may not disporte them with none other thaÌ„ with theyr lord for the resons which ye haue sayd before but syre sayd theÌ„ne the lady of the tour to her lord as for your doughters ye may saye to them and charge them of that what shalle befalle yow but after the faytte or dede ryght shall be done Syre I pray to god that to worship and honour they may come as I desyre For myn entencion and wyll is not to ordeyne vpon none ladyes ne damoysels but yf hit be vpon myn owne doughters of whome I haue the chastysement and charge For euery good lady or damoyselle yf god be pleased shalle gouerne and kepe hem self well to theyr worship and honour withoute I that am of lytell wytte and lytell knowynge entremete me therof Yet speketh the knyght of the Toure Capitulo Cxxxij aT the lest my lady I wylle yet argue to yow sayeng that yf she may seme to come vnto worship and valour the whiche had neuer ne also shold haue courage ne hardynes to put hym self in payn to haue hit but it were for the loue and playsyr of his lady and by good trust to be a good knyght and Renommed amonge the valyaunt and hardy for to gete worship and the grace of his peramour And for a lytell chere a man comynge of lowe degree may be enhaunced by his loue and be compted amonge the worthy and valyaunt How one must be wyly and subtyll for to discouere his loue Capitulo Cxxxiij sIre hit semeth me that there be many maners of loue And as men saye the one is better than the other for yf hit be so that a knyght or squyer loueth somme lady or damoyselle by worshyp and honoure only And for to kepe her worship and the curtosye of her and for the good that she shalle do to hym suche loue is good whiche is wythout prayer or request What lady yf he requyreth her to kysse or embrace hym it is no force the wyndes blowen it awey Ha a Syre I answere vnto yow that as wel to my doughters as to other· that me semeth And therto I consente that they maye make to them good chere and that they kysse them before all to th ende that they lose not theyr valour but as for my doughters whiche ben here present I defende and withsaye to them the kyssyng and alle suche maners of disportes For the wyse lady Rebecca whiche was ryght gentylle and noble sayth the kyssynge is nyghe parente and Cosyn vnto the fowle faytte or dede And Sybylle sayth that the fyrst signe or token of loue is the loke or beholdyng And after the amerous loke they come to the kyssynge and thenne the dede or faytte Thâ— whiche dede taketh awey the loue worship of god of the world thus they come from one dede to another I lete you know that me semeth that assone as they suffre them to be kyssed they put them self in the subiection of the deuyll whiche is to subtyll For suche one weneth wel at the begynnyng to kepe hym fermely and be stronge the whiche he deceyueth by his subtyll arte and crafte and by suche kyssynges And thus as one kyssynge draweth to hym another And as the fyre kyndeleth a strawe and fro that strawe it cometh and kyndeleth another thus atte last the bedde is a fyre the how 's also In lyke wyse is it of suche loue And yet I charge yow my fayre doughters that ye be no players For suche playeng causeth oftyme many a folysshe loke and beholdynge by the whiche may perauentur come blame and euylle renomme I herd ones reherce and saye a tale of the duchesse of bauyere how that she had wel twenty subgettes as men sayd the whiche loued her and to eche of them she gaf signe and token of loue She playd wiâ—h them at the tables and wan of them coursers and hakneys and dere and ryche furrynges and also rynges and precious stones and many other Iewels and grete prouffyte she had by them But for certayne she coude neuer kepe her self so wel but that at the last sÌ„he was blamed and dyffamed And better it had be for her worshyp that she had bought and payed alle that she had of them half derer more than it was worthe Therfore grete perylle is to euery lady or damoysell and to all other good and worshipfull wymmen to vse suche playenge and be of suche lyf For the most appertyse and wyse fynd them self at the last by suche delynge mocked and blamed and fowle dyffamed And therfore my fayre doughters take ye here good ensample and be ye not to curyous to ony playe for to wynne suche ouches or ferâ—aylles For by the couetousnes to gete and haue suche Iewels for nought many a woman put her self in subiection and oftyme it befalleth therfor that they be deceyued And thus is it good to aduyse and beware hym self before the comynge of the stroke How the holy lady approuued the Heremyte Ca Cxxxv fAyr doughters I wylle telle yow one of the last ensamples of this book It is of a full good lady whiche is moche to be preysed And this ensample is reherced in the booke of Vitas Patrum how the wyf of the prouost of Acquylee approued an holy Heremyte by his bounte Ther was thenne an holy Heremyte in an heremytage the whiche had ben there by the space of xxv yere where as he ete but breed and herbes and Rotes And ofte he fasted and was of good and holy lyuynge This good and holy Here myte beganne ones vpon a tyme to saye A good lord my creatour and my maker yf ageynst the I haue ony thyng mysprysed I demaunde and crye to the mercy And yf I haue this xxv yere done ony good dwellyng stylle in this Heremytage what meryte shalle I haue therfore A vysyon came sone to hym by the whiche hym thought that he sawe oure lord whiche sayd to hym thow shalt haue the meryte of the prouost of Acquylee and of his wyf And thenne whanne he hed sene this vysyon he sayd that he shold neuer reste tylle he come in to Acquyllee for to enquere of the lyf and condycions of the prouost and of his wyf He wente thyder And as god wold thurgh the grace of the holy ghoost the prouost and his wyf knewe wel the comynge of this Heremyte and the cause also why he came thyder It befelle thenne as the Heremyte was nyghe by the Towne he sawe the prouost whiche yssued oute of hit with a grete companye of men and wente to make Iustyse of a Squyer whiche had slayne another Squyer And was the prouost rydynge vpon a fayr courser And had on hym a fayre gowne of sylke rychely
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
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