hewen in smal pyeces And thenne before all he said that wel right it was that she sholde be so detrenchid by whome so many had ben hewen and slayn Of thamar that hadde companye with hir husbondes fadre Capitulo lvij I Wylle that ye here thexample of Thamar whiche was wyf to Henam that was sone of Iuda sone of Iacob broder to Ioseph This Henam was yrous and felon and of euyl lyf of whiche I wylle not say moche nor al by cause god wold that he deyd sodenly and pytously And as Thamar sawe that of her lord she myht haue no lygnage she bethought her that the fader of her lord shold yet engendre gete children wel and that she was not barayn And coueyted and desyred to haue his flesshely cōpanye whiche was ageynst the lawe Neuertheles so moche she dide that she cam by nyght in his Chambre and leid her with hym And as I wene she conceyued of hym two Children of whiche the one was named phares And the other had to name Zaram wherfor many tribulacions and euylls befelle afterward For the children that ben not of trewe maryage they be they by whome the grete herytages and Auncestri ben loste wherof I shalle telle you an Ensample of a kynge of Naples as it is conteyned in the Cronycles of that lond There was somtyme a quene of that lōd whiche clenly ne truly kepte her body toward her lord in so moche she gate a sone by another than her lord It befelle afterward that this sone was made kynge of the lond after the dethe of the kynge This newe kynge was passynge prowde and loued not his lordis ne barons but was to them full hard and felon also to al his comyns he was vnresonable For he took fro them all that he couthe And enforced their wyues and vyoled their doughters And vsed all euyl dedes whiche he couthe ymagyne to doo He bigan werre to his neyghbours and to his Barons in so moche that alle the reame was put in exyle and brought to grete pouerte whiche longe tyme lasted In that tyme was ther a Baron a good man and a right good knyght whiche went vnto an Heremytage where as was an hooly heremyte moche relygious And that many thynges knewe· The knyght demaunded and asked of hym how and wherfore they had so long warre in the lond And yf it shold yet last long tyme And the hooly Here myte answerd hym Sire it is cōuenyent that the tyme haue his cours that is to saye that as long as this kynge and one his sone shalle be on lyue the tribulacion shalle not cesse And I shall telle yow why trouthe it is that this kyng that now regneth is not trewe heyr to the Crowne but is borne in aduoultrye And therfore he may not be peasyble to the reame ne haue the Ioysaūce of it wherfore he and his reame must haue sorowe and tribulacion as long as a fals heyr shall possesse it But his sone shal haue none heyr And so shalle fynysshe the fals lygnee and shall the reame come ageyne to the right heyre And thenne shalle lasse the pestylence and pees shalle be And al haboundaunce of goodes shalle come to the reame Ryght so as the good Heremyte had saide so it befelle He said more ouer For he spak of the fals quene and said she shold be punysshed in this world that the wyf of the kynge her sone shold accuse her toward her lord And hou she shold lye with one of her preestes and that the kynge her sone sholde fynde hem to geder and how both he shold do to be brent in a grete fornais And all this befelle afterwarde as he said For in certeyne the quene was destroyed and brente by the commaundement of the kyng her sone And therfore my good doughters a noble thyng is to kepe hym self clenly in his maryage And for a fals heyre ofte cometh in a lond many euyls and tribulacions For by the fals heyres ben lost the grete lordshipes the moders of them dampned perpetuelly in helle as longe as their sones shalle possesse ony groūd of theyr parastre that is to say of their moders husbond Of Ioseph that wold not haue the companye of the quene Capitulo lviij fAyre doughters I shalle telle yow an Ensample of a grete euylle that came by lokynge and folysshe plaisaunce It is of Ioseph the sone of Iacob he that was sold by his bretheren to the kyng Pharaon This Ioseph was of merueylous beaute wyse and right humble And for his good seruyse the kyng loued hym moche and gafe hym baundon ouer all the goodes that were in his reame The quene that sawe hym so faire gentyll meke and curteys was soone merueylously enamoured of hym And shewed hym many signes and tokenes of loue in beholdynge and lokynge on hym And when the quene sawe that for ony thyng that she couthe doo he wolde not consent to her euyll wyll she was sore troubled and nyghe oute of her wit At the last she called hym and hadde hym alone with her in a chambre and ther she preid hym of loue But he that was good and honest answerd to her that he neuer sholde be suche a traitoure to his lorde And thenne she with hir fyst tooke hym fast by the mantell and bigan to crye as lowde and hyghe as she myght in so moche alle came thyder She saide to the lord that he wolde haue haue forced her And forthwith the lord made hym to be take put in a pryson whiche was right derke obscure where he was a long space of tyme But afterward god that wold not forgete hym for his vertue and goodnes delyuerd hym oute of pryson And was gretter mayster than he was before in the reame and more better loued and honoured And therfore is here a good ensample For god enhaunceth euer the Iuste and trewe And the fals quene was punysshed for within a lytell tyme after she deide vylaynsly and sodenly of an euylle deth so god rewarded eche of them after their deserte and meryte Therfore is here a faire ensample to doo wel For of good delyng and of good guydynge cam neuer but worship and honoure And as saith theuāgelyst there is no good dede done but it shalle be remembryd rewarded Ne also none euylle dede done but that it shalle be punysshed Therfore getynge of fals heyres is grete sorowe and tribulacion to come in a land where as they become lordes of wherfore the moders of them shalle be delyuerd to the dolorous deth of helle wheroute they shalle neuer yssue as long as their children bastardys shall hold ony of the lond and goodes of their husbondes And alle this is very trouth as wytnesseth many that ben suscited ageyne and so doth the hooly scripture also Of the doughters of Moab of whom the euyll lygnee yssued Capitulo lix aNother ensample I shalle telle yow of the euylle
he fonde not that tale whiche his men had told hym of her trewe And so her pryde and ouermoche langage was cause of her dethe â— And therfor this ensample is very good to euery woman to see how she ought to be meke and humble and curtois in gyuyng ony answere ageynst the yre and wrathe of her lord For the wyse Salamon sayth that by curtosye and by swete langage ought the good wymmen to refreyne the yre wrathe of their lord For the lord of right ought to haue aboue his wyf the hyghe talkyng be it ryÈt or wrong specially in his yre wrath bifore ony folk but as his wrath is gone she may wel shewe to hym that he had no cause so to do so she shal euer hold the loue and pees of her lord and of all her how 's neyther she shalle not make her self to be blamed ne to be bete ne slayne by her lord as dyd the wyf of kynge Herodes Of the quene Vastis Capitulo lxiiij I Shal telle you another ensample of a quene that was named vastys She was wyf to the kynge Assuerus It befelle that the kynge held a feste with his barons and there were alle the grete lordes of his londe They satte att dyner in a hall and the quene in another And whanne the barons had dyned they prayd the kynge that he wold vouchesauf to shewe them the quene whiche was merueyllously fayr The kynge sente for her ones twyes and thryes but neuer she daygned to come wherof the kynge had grete shame and demaunded of his barons counceylle what therof he myght best do And suche was the counceylle gyuen that is to wete that he shold put her fro hym and made her to be lockked shette bitwene two wallys that euery other shold take therby ensample to be better obedyent to theyr lord than she was And so after theyr counceyll dyde the kyng his wyf to be mured and herof he made a lawe that fro thens forthon al wymmen that shold of ony thyng wythsaye be disobebedyent to her lord seynge that it be resonable that she shold be a yere within two wallys and with litil mete and drynke for her defaute And as yet they kepe and hold that custome in that londe The quene that sawe her put in mewe was sore ashamed wepte and sorowed moche but it was to late For notwithstondynge her mournynge and lamentacion she was putte in pryson as aboue is sayd where she was a yere Therfore wel ye ought to take here good ensample For specially before folke ye ought to doo the commaundment of your lord and obeysshe and bere hym honour and euer shewe hym semblauÌ„t of loue yf ye wylle haue the loue of hym and of the world But I saye not as ye shalle be pryuely and allone one by other but that ye may eslargysshe your self to say or do your wylle after the best wyse that ye maye and after ye knowe his maners I shall telle yow thensample of the lyon of his propryete As the lyonesse that is to vnderstond the female of the lyon hath done the lyon ony faute or despyte he shalle not go with her but fro her shalle kepe hym self one daye and a nyght And soo sheweth he his lordship and seygnorye that he hath ouer the lyonesse This ensample is fair prouffitable to all wymmen consyderynge how a sauage and wyld beest and withoute reason and that dothe but as nature enclyneth her maketh her self to be drawe and doubted of felawe Of a man and of his wyf capitulo lxv aNd yet I shalle telle yow another ensample vpon this matere There was one Amon whiche was the kynges Seneschal and came of nought and lowe degree He bicame thorugh his seruyse moche ryche and bought londes and possessions and gouerned and had as vnder hym almost the half of the reame And whanne he sawe hym so ryche And that he was bicome so grete a lord he wexyd bicame ouer proude and felon and presumptuous· and wold that men sholde knele bifore hym and that euery one shold bere vnto hym honour and reuerence It befelle that one Mardocheus that was a noble man which had nourysshed the noble quene Hester whiche was a good lady and trewe was aboue al other displeasyd of the pryde and presumpcion of the sayd Amon whiche come of nought therfor she daygned not to bere hym ony reuerence ne knele bifore hym as other dyd wherfor he bicame as a fole and almost oute of his wytte for angre and therof dyd complayne hym self to his wyf And his wyf that of so hyhe courage was and as proude was as he counceylled hym that he shold make a gallowes to be sette dressyd bifore his place and that he shold make hym and his wyf to be taken and honged theron to grete meschyef And that he shold accuse them of some grete treason and falshede And whanne he was take and the gallowes dressyd the frendes of mardocheus wente anone rennynge to the quene Hester and tolde her how Aaman wold make hym to be hanged that had nourysshed her And anone the quene made to be sent for Aaman he came and she had hym tofore the kynge Where as trouthe of the fayte or dede was dylygently Inquyred and knowen In so moche that it was fouÌ„de that Mardocheus was accused by the accusacion of Aaman was nothynge gylty And that suche treason he had putte on hym was by enuy theÌ„ne the good and noble quene Hester kneled bifore her lord the kynge and requyred and prayd hym that suche Iustyce shold be made of Aaman the Seneschalle as he wolde it had be done of Mardocheus and of his wyf And that he shold be hanged at the yate of his place to shewe that falsly by enuy he had accused Mardocheus of treson And as the good quene dyde requyre her lord so was hit done Thus was hanged Aaman by his grete pryde and surâ—uedrye And by the counceylle of his wyf Wherfore grete folye is to a man come fro lowe degree to Worship and grete estate to become and wexe prowde and surquydous for erthely good that he hath gadred amassed and to myspryse ony other but yf he be wyse he ought hym self shewe to euery one meke and humble to th ende he may falle in the grace and welwyllynge of alle folke and that none may haue enuye ouer hym For comynly men haue more enuye ouer them that ben come of nought to grete worship than of them that ben come of ryche and noble folke and of Auncestrye The wyf of Aaman was not wyse whanne she sawe the yre wrathe of her lorde to susteyne hym in his folye for euery good woman wyse ought by fayr and curtoys spekynge put aweye yf she may the yre and Wrathe of her lorde specially Whan she seeth hym meued and be Wyllynge to do somme euylle or somme shameful dede Wherof
dommage dishonour maye to them come as dyd Aamans wyf whiche repreuyd not her lord of his folye but gaf hym folysshe and euylle counceyll Wherby he dyd vylaynously Men ought not to susteyne his lord in his Wrathe and yre but curtoysly and by fayr Wordes men ought to repreue hym of his euylle thought and shewe vnto hym lytyl and lytyl the reasons and cause why he shold not do as he had purposed to do For Which thyng my fayr doughters I requyre and praye yow that ye here take good ensample and take hede what meschyef befelle to Aaman by the folysshe counceylle of his wyf Of the quene Gesabel whiche had many euylle condycions Capitulo lxvj nOw wylle I telle yow thexample of an euâ—lle cruel and dyuerse quene how it befelle to her It was the quene Gesabel whiche had many euyl ratcâ—â—â— Fyrst she hated the Indygent and power she hated the holy and good heremytes and al prestes and men of holy 〈◊〉 and alle them that to the laye peple taught the feytâ—◠〈◊〉 made them to be beten and robbed in soo moche that of neâ—â— they must voyde and goo oute of the reame she had of none mercy ne pyte wherfor she was cursed and hated of god â— and of al the peple A good man was at that tyme whicâ—â— was named Nabor whiche had an Aker of a vyne yerd ryght fertyle and good whiche the kynge coueyted and desyred moche to haue it by byenge or otherwyse but the good man Nabor consented not to hit with good wylle The kyng told to this quene his wyf that he was ryght sory that he myght not haue that vyneyerd And she sayd that well she shold make that he shold haue it as she dyde For by treson she made the good man Nabor to be murdred and slayne And thenne she brought forth and made to come fals men whiche wytnessid that he had gyuen the kyng Achas her lord his vyneyerd whiche thynge was moche displeasynge to god wherfor he sente Iosue to make werre ageynst hym in so moche he toke prysoner the kynge Achas and with hym lx children grete and smal And anone after Iosue made theyr bedes to be smyton of This was the punycion of the vengeaunce dyuyne And as for the euylle and cruell quene gesabell I shalle telle yow the ende of her She wente vp vnto a hyhe portayll or yate where as Iosue shold passe and there she coynted and arayed her with clothes of gold and flourynge of ryche ermyns with grete pleÌ„te of precious stones al desguysed and in other maner of clothynge than ony other woman of that lond was And as she sawe the kynge go by the waye she bigannne of a hyghe voys to curse hym and all his lygnage also and proudely she spake to hym sayenge of hym al the vylonye that her cruel and proude herte couthe thynke The kynge â–ª thenne beganne to loke vp and sawe the couetyse and desguysynge of her and herd her proud and shamefull Wordes wherof he was merueylled and wrothe And seyng she hâ—ld not her fals and venymed tongue but cursed and euer spake euylle commaunded to his men that they shold go where as she was And that they shold caste her before alle the peple the heed dounward fro the place where she was vnto the strete And so they dyde And thus by her cruell courage and pryde she shamefully and vylaynsly ended her lyf And for the grete crueltees and euyls that she in her lyf had done made to be done commaunded kynge Iosue that she shold haue sepulcre but that she shold be eten and deuoured of dogges as she was By suche wayes god taketh vengeaunce of tyme of them that haue no pyte of the power and Indygent And that loue not his chirche and his seruauntes and that by couetyse make grete crueltees and many euylle dedes and also them that brynge fals wytnes to disheryte other of his ryght as dyd the fals quene gesabel whiche susteyned her lord in his folye wherfor euylle happed to her Here ye maye take ensample to be pyteous charytable toward the poure folke and to loue holy chirche and the mynystres of hit and al so to kepe hym self fro gyuynge ony euylle counceyl to her lord Also to take no desguysed rayment but only thestate of the good nd worshipful wymmen of the lond Of Athalia quene of Iherusalem Capitulo lxvij I Athalye wylle telle yow another ensample of a quene of Ierusalem whiche was of euyll condycions diuerse and withoute pyte For whanne Ozias her sone was deed she made al the children of her sone to be slayne and alle his heyres also sauf only one that a good man named Zoadis made to be nourysshed secretely This quene toke the possession of alle the reame and goodes And made vnto the peple grete dyuersytees and sore trauaylled them and she taxed them so hyghe that they became poure And as she had so trauaylled the reame as she that was withoute reason and pyte the child whiche hadde be secretely nourissâ—â—d and brought vp cam to his enherytaunce and toke the quene Athalia and made her to deye of an euyl and shameful dethe And soo she hadde at the laste the reward and guerdon of her meryte For god gyueth to euery one the deserte of his merytâ— in his lyf or after his dethe For none euylle is done but 〈◊〉 shalle be punysshed soone or in tyme to come I wold 〈◊〉 doughters that ye knewe thensample and the tale of a 〈◊〉 of Fraunce whiche had to name Brunehault She was the quene of whome Sybile prophesyed sayenge thus Brunâ—hault shal come fro black Spayne in to the Reame of Gaule Fraunce whiche shal do many euylle dedes and afterwarde she shal be destroyed And so it befelle For she made somme of her children to be slayne and also the sones of her children other grete crueltees she procured and dyde whiche were to long to be reherced But at the laste as hit pleasyd god sâ—e was payd For a child that scaped her cruelte whiche was sone to her sone and the whiche knewe the grete crueltees and abhomynaltees that she had done and procured and maade to be done accused her And thenne al her fayttes and dedes were put to Iugement before al the barons of the londe and sentence of dethe was cast on her that she shold be bounden with the heres of her hede atte hors taylle And thus it was done And so she deyed of an euyl and shameful dethe Of Enuye Capitulo lxviij I Wylle telle yow an ensample of Enuye whiche is an euyl vyce of Marye the suster of Moyses the whiche sayd that she was as wel belouyd of god as her broder Moyses and that god herd her prayers and requestes as he dyd his wherof god was wrothe with her and made her to become lepre in soo moche she was put oute of the towne soo that she myght no more come amonge the folke
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
curtosye comen of a fre and a curtoys hert And the lytell or poure maÌ„ or woman to whome it is done thynketh that he is happy to receyue it and hath therin agrete playsyre And gyueth ageyne grete honoure to hym or her that hath done to hym suche curtosye and honoure And by this maner of the smal peple to whome is done suche curtosye or honoure cometh the grete loos and renomme whiche groweth fro day to day It hapned that I was in a companye of knyghtes and ladyes And a grete lady tooke of her hood and humbled her self curtoysly vnto a tayloure And ther was a knyght that said to her Madame why haue ye taken of youre hoode vnto a taylloure And she answerd that she had leuer to take it of to· hym than to haue lefte it vnto a gentyll man And that was reputed for ryght wel done and as for the best tauÈt of all the other How yonge maydens ought not to torne their heedes lyghtely here ne there Capitulo xj aFter this in sayeng to them le ye not like ne semblable the tortuse ne to the Crane whiche torne their visage and the heede aboue their sholders and wynde their hede here and there as a vane But haue youre regard and manere stedfast lyke as the hare hath which is a beest that seeth alwey to fore hym euen right forth withoute tornyng of his heede here· ne there Alwey see that ye be stedfast in lokyng playnly to fore you And yf ye wylle loke a syde torne youre vysage youre body to geder And so shalle ye hold you in youre estate more ferme sure· For they be mocqued that so lyghtely cast their sight and hede and torne their vysage here and there How the doughters of the kyng of denmarke lost their husbonde by cause of theyr maners Capitulo xijo. tHenne I wold wel that ye had vnderstonden thensample of the doughters of the kyng of denmarke whiche I shall acompte to yow Ther ben foure kynges on this side the see that auncyently maryed for honoure withoute couetyse of lond with doughters of kynges and hyghe prynces that were wel born and had good renomme of good maners of good mayntene and stedfast And they shold be sene yf they were wel sâ—apen and lyke to bere children and that they had suche thynges as wymmen ought to haue And these ben the foure kynges the kyng of FrauÌ„ce whiche is the moost grettest and noble the next is the kyng of Englond the thyrd is the kyng of spayne and the fourth is the kyngÌ„ of hongarye whiche is by right Marchal of Cristen men in werres ageynst the hethen men and sarasyns So it happed that the kyng of Englond was for to marye And he herd saye that the kynge of denmarke had thre fayre doughters and moche wel born And by cause this kyng was a moche wyse man And the quene a blessid woman and of good lyf be sente certayne knyghtes and ladyes of the mooste suffisaunt of his royamme for to see these doughters And so passed the see and camen in to denmark when the kyng the quene saw the messagers they had grete ioye honoured fested them foure dayes none knewe the trouthe whiche of them shold be chosen And they affayted arayed the doughters the best wyse they myÈt And ther was in this companye a knyght and a lady rigÌ„ht connyng and moche subtyl whiche took good heede and set their ententes for to see the manere of these thre yong ladyes their contenaunces otherwhyle spaken and had comynycacyon with hem And them semed that the oldest was the fayrest but she had not the mooste sure manere in her beholdyng but ofte loked here and there· And torned ofte her heede on her sholders had her sight ventillous lyke a vane The second doughter had moche talkyng and spacke ofte tofore she vnderstood that whiche was said to her The third was not the fayrest of them but she was moost agreable mayntened her manere more sure and sadly spak but litil that was wel demeurly her regard sight was more ferme huÌ„ble than of that other two and thembassatours took their aduys couÌ„ceil that they wold retorne vnto the kyng their lord saye to hym suche thyng as they had fouÌ„den theÌ„ne he myÈt take her that plesid hym Thenne they cam to the kyng quene for to take their lâ—ue thanked them moche of their good coÌ„panye of thonour that they had done to them that they wold wel reporte to their lorde suche thynges as they had sene of their douÈters vpon whiche he myght do his plaisir The kyng theÌ„ne lycencyd them gaf to them fair gyftes so they departed cam in to englond And recouÌ„ted to their lord thonoure that the kyng quene had done to them after they reported the beaultes of the doughters their maners mayntenes thus ther was ynough spoken of eche of them there were ynough that susteyned to take tholdest or the seconde for thonour that hit were best to take tholdest when all this mater had ben wel beten discussed the kyng whiche was wyse of naturell wytte spak of the yongest said thus Myn auncetours maryed them but for worship without couetyse for bounte of the woman not for plaisaunce but I haue herd ofter myshappe for to take a wyf for beaulte or for plaisauÌ„ce than to take her whiche is of stedfast manere that hath fair mayntene And there is not in the world so grete ease as to haue a wyfe sure stedfast ne none so grete fair noblesse therfor I chose the thyrd doughter For I wylle haue none of the other theÌ„ne he sent for to fetche her wherof the two older doughters had grete despyte grete desdayne And thus she that badde the better and the more sure manere was made quene of Englond and tholdest was refused for her wylde lokynge whiche was ouer ventyllous And that other suster by cause she spak ouermoche Now fayre doughters take ye ensample by the doughters of the kyng of denmarke And late not your eyen ben ouer ventyllous ne tourne not youre hede hyder ne thyder But when ye wille see ony thyng on ony syde torne your vysage and youre body to geder And be not ouer full of wordes For who that speketh ouermoche is not reputed for wyse And ye ought wel at leyser vnderstande to fore that ye answere· And yf ye make a lytell pause bytwene ye shall answere the better and the more wysely For the prouerbe sayth that as moche auayleth to hym that hereth and no thyng vnderstondeth as to hym that hunteth and no thyng taketh as is sayd to fore And yet my fayre doughters I shall saye to yow of a fayt that happed me of this mater It happed me ones that I was spoken to of maryage for to marye with a noble woman
reason of nature· And right soo as their hertes were brente and esprysed in that fowle synne of lechery oure lord god made them to be brent and with them their children goodes by thonder and stynkyng fire of sulphure whiche ouer hote and horryble is And this was the vengeaunce and punycion of oure creatoure the fader Here is a faire ensample how men ought wel to kepe hem self fro the forfait of maryage whiche is commaundement of god For in maryage men may doo many greuous synne After thenne as the wyf of Loth hadde loked behynd her for to see the torment of the synners that were perysshynge by fyre of sulphure as befoâ—â— is said she was transformed in to a stone by cause she trespassed the commaundement of god Here may the synnar take faire â—â—â—nyffyaunce or ensample in thynkyng how ofte god hath pardoâ—â—ned hym his mysdedes and faultes when he hath graunted hym grace to confesse them but the commaundement of god that is to say of the preest whiche hath defended hym that nomore hâ— shold see behynde that is to vnderstonde that he ne shold torne ony more to synne but eftsoone after he doth the contraire And suche men or wymmen be to compare to the wyf of Lothe· And as I trowe they shalle at the last be transformed in to a stone as she was that is to wete transported or borne in to the Abismes of helle I wolde ye couthe thexample of the lady that dyde leue her lord that was a faire knyght and went with a Monke and her bretheren pursewed her and dyde so moche that they found her that nyght lyenge with the said monke They kyt awey the Genytoryes of the monke and casted them in their susters vysage And they tooke them and bothe to geder they putted in a sakke with grete foyson or quantite of stones and casted them in to a depe water And so bothe to geder they were drowned For of euyll lyf cometh euer an euylle ende And it is a synne that nedes must at the last be knowen and punysshed And yet I shalle telle thexample of the two doughters of Loth how thenemy tempted them vylaynsly They sawe ones their fader withoute ony breche And forthwith bothe were tempted of his companye they discouered eche to other their secreâ—e and faitt And thenne went and took good wynes and good metes and festyed and chyered their fader· and soo moche they made hym drynk that he was dronke And anone they had hym to his bed and bothe all naked wente and leyd them self a bothe his sydes And meuyd hym to fornycacion in so moche he had the maydenhode of them bothe whiche were his doughters This was a perillous and abhomynable synne Neuertheles they were bothe grete with child And had two sones the one named Moab and the other was called Amon Of whiche two sones cam first the paynyms and the fals lawe And many euyls and sorowe cam by that synne And men saie they were bycome passynge proude after the transformacion of their moder And that all their entent was to coyntyse and arraye them self whiche caused the deuyll fyrst to tempâ—e them lyghtlyer and the sooner he brought them to that fowle synne of lechery I wold also ye couthe and well hadde withold within youre thoughtes thexample of the fowle damoysel the whiche for a hood that a knyght gaf her she dyde soo moche by certayne yeftes and promesses that her lady dyd his wylle and made her to be diffamed and dishonoured wherof grete meschyef befelle For a seruaunt of her lord whiche of yongth he hadde brought vp and norysshed perceyued hym of it and told it to his lord in so moche that soone after he toke fond the knyÈt with his wyf he kylde hym and dyde his wyf to be mewred and putte in pryson perpetuel where as she deyde in grete sorowe and â—angoure It happed ones or she was dede that her lord came forth by the pryson where she was in he thenne stood styll and harked what she said And she sorowed sore and cursid her that had counceyled her so to doo And thenne he sent one to wete what was she that so had counceyled her And she saide how it was her damoisell The lord made her come to fore hym and coÌ„maunded and straytly charged her that she sholde say trouthe And at the last she confessed that she was cause of her meschyef And that she had counceyled her for her laboure she had of the knyght a hoode And thenne the lord saide For a lytel thynge ye haue vndo yow and haue be to me traitresse And therfore I Iuge and gyue sentence that the hood and the neck be bothe cutte to geder And soo was her Iugement Now maye ye see how good is to take with hym good companye and in his seruyse good and trewe seruauntes that be not blamed of no man lyuynge For the saide damoysell was not wyse And therfore good is to take wyse seruauntes and not fooles For fooles and shrewd seruauntes be sooner brought to doo somme euylle and to gyue euylle counceylle to their lorde or lady than other as dyde the two doughters of lothe one to other And the same damoysel whiche had and receyued the gwerdon of her deserte Of the doughter of Iacob that was depuceled or her mayden hode taken fro her Capitulo lvj I Shalle telle you another Example of the doughter of Iacob whiche for lyghtnes and Iolyte of herte lefte the hous of her fader and of her bretheren for to goo and see the atoure or aray of the wymmen of another lande Wherfore hit happed that Sychem the sone of amor which was a grete lord in that londe sawe her so faire that he coueyted her and prayd her of loue in so moche he took fro her maydenhode thenne when her twelue bretheren wyste and knewe of hit come thyder and slewe hym and also the moost parte of his lygnage and of his folke for the shame that they had of their suster that so had be depuceld or defowled Now loke ye and see how by a foolysshe woman cometh many euyllis domages For by her yongthe and by her lyght courage was made grete occyflon and shedyng of bloode As it fortuned and happed by a doughter of a kyng of grece whiche by her foolyssh loue acoynted her of the sone of an erle of that Countre wherfore the kyng made hym werre duryng the which more than a thousande men were slayn And yet hadde the werre lenger lasted when the kynges broder whiche was a wyse man come to the kynge and saide to hym Syre quod he I merueyle moche that only for the sport and delyte of youre doughter so many good knyghtes ben lost also so many good men It were better that neuer she hadde be borne The kynge thenne saide ye saâ—e trouthe And anone he made his doughter to be take by whiche the meschyef was bygonne and made her to be
And not withstandynge her grete enuye yet had Moyses and Aaron pyte of her and made requeste that it wold please hym to hele and gwerysshe her And at theyr requeste god maade her hole ageyne Take ye here ensample how grete parylle is to haue enuye of other mens preferement and worship And how god dyd punysshe this lady whiche was the moost noble damoysel that was in alle the land Of the content that was bytwene Fenenna and Anna Capitulo lxix I Wold fayre doughters that ye knewe another ensample vpon this matere of a wyf to a grete lord whiche was named Helchana Whiche had two wyues after the lawe of the lond the one was named Anna and the other Fenenna Of Anna Helchana myght haue no children wherof Fenenna was ful glad and ioyeful For wyues that bare no children were lesse preysed than they that bare ony Fenenna scorned and mocked Anna and called her berhayn And was ouer proude that she had of her lord many fayr children And Anna had none Anna ofte wepte sorowed and complayned her to god And god whiche her pacyence and humylyte beheld and sawe the scornynge and mockynge of Fenenna took al her children fro her· And made Anna to wexe grete with child and many one she hadde of her lord afterward wherfor Helchana loued her more than he dyd Fenenna to whome her children were al dede And thus ben the Iugements of god merueyllous For he hateth alle maner of enuye And chastyseth the proude whan hym lyst and enhauÌ„ceth the meke and humble that requyreth hym of mercy And therfor ye haue here a good ensample how no woman ought to wexe proude of the goodes and graces that god gyueâ—h to her and not to haue enuye of ony other goodes ne to be glad and ioyefull of the meschyef of other As Fenenna was of that she sawe her haue many children and Anna none And therfor god punysshed her ouer her children For they deyde euerychone And gaf somme to her that to fore had none Suche ben the Iugements of god therfore men ought well to take here ensample and thanke god of al his bienfaittes Here I leue this matere And shalle telle yow of another vpon the faytte or dede of couetyse Of Dalida the euylle wyf Capitulo lâ—â— I Shalle telle yow another Ensample vpon the faytte or dede of an euylle wyf and a fals woman whicâ—e was named Dalida whiche was wyf of Sampson that moche loued her in so moche that he dyde nothyng but that he made her to knowe hit And for the grete loue that he had to her he lyke a foole discouered and told her that al his 〈◊〉 was in the heerys of the heed And whanne the fals woâ—aÌ„ wist it she made to telle the paynyms whiche were enemyes to her lord that yf they wold gyue her a good reward she sholde so do that they shold take hym And anone the paynyms promysed her that yf she couthe so doo as she sayd they shold gyue her a grete quantite of gold and of gownes and as many precious stones as she wold take of them And she that thorugh couetyse was deceyued made her lord to slepe in her lappe And whyle he fast slepte she cutte awey the heerys of his heede And anone sent for the paynyms whiche nyghe were embusshed and made hym to be taken of them Thenne he awoke and fonde alle his myght and strengthe loste and gone that before that tyme was wont to resiste and fyghte he al one ageynst thre thowsand men And whanne they hadde hym fast bounden they thrested and putte oute bothe his eyen And made hym to tourne aboute a mylle as a blynde hors Behold ye thenne and loke how couetyse deceyued this folissh woman that for a lytell gold bitrayed her lord that soo moche loued her whiche was moost doubted of all mâ—n that euer were and euer shall be A coueytous herte dar well saye vndertake to do moch euylle For he maketh the noble men to be rapynous tyrauÌ„ts ouer their men subgettes Couetyse also maketh many theues many vsurers many murderers many maydens wydowes to become harlottes and many secrete homycyde is done by this fals vyce of couetyse the â—hildren also to desyre and wysshe the dethe of theyr faders and moders onely for to haue and rauysshe their goodes after theyr dethe Also Iudas for couetyse of syluer he bitrayd oure lord Ihesu Cryst In suche maner done these dayes the aduocates and men of lawe whiche sellen theyr talkyng wordes tornynge fro the trouthe and pletynge ageynst hit For they doo the ryght of the good man to be dylayed for to haue and take of hym more syluer And many one of them is that taketh on bothe partyes And so they selle theyr speche whiche god gaaf them to prouffyte with for the comyn we le Therfor is couetyse moche deceyuable which brought the wyf of SaÌ„pson to doo grete folye Here ye haue good ensample to kepe your self fro the vyce of couetyse For soone after god sente to the sayd dalida the deserte of her meryte and dede She toke to spouse one of the paynyms and made a grete feste Sampson that knewe of it And to whom his heres were growen and his strengthe come ageyne made hym to be ledde there as they were sette at the dyner And thenne he toke the pyler in his armes whiche stode in the myddell of the halle and that susteyned and bare al the place and shoke it with so grete strengthe and myght that he brake it in to pyeces and the place fylle vpon them there was slayne dalida her newe lord and the moost parte of them that were at that dyner And thus Sampson venged hym of dalida his fals wyf whiche was there punysshed of her euylle dede and folye And well was reason and ryght that of euyl doynge euyl shold come to her How a Woman ought not to departe ne goo fro her husbond for ony Wrathe or euyl wyl that may growe or come emonge them Capitulo lxxj I wylle telle yow how of a lytel wrathe sourded and came grete euyll A good man was whiche was noble and of the mount Euffraym he maryed hym and took a damoysell of Bethlehem the whiche for a lytel occacion was wrothe with her husbond and wente ageyne to her faders how 's The good man her husbond was therof heuy and sorowful and wente and dyd fetche her home ageyne And her fader blamed her and sayd she dyde not as a good wyf shold do As they were goynge homeward they lodged in a toune named galga where as was many worldly folke ful of lechery This folke cam there where as this woman her lord were lodged they brake the dores and by force vyolence vylaynsly toke and rauysshed the sayd woman fro her husbond for nothyng that their hoost coude saye or do whiche wold haue gyuen one of his doughters for the warauntyse of his
merueylled as they sawe and herd this lytell child so speke wherfor they perceyued well that it was by myracle of god The Iuges theÌ„ne lete thenquest to be made of the two prestes eche one by hym self The one sayd that they had founde her with a man vnder a figge tree And the other sayd vnder a pynappel tree And therfore were they reproued and bothe Iuged to dye And at the last whanne they sawe that no remedye was but that they must dye they told the trouthe of hit before alle the peple that were there And sayd that they were well worthy to receyue deth and not she And therfore here may ye see and take axample how god kepeth them that haue their trust and confidence in hym as had the good lady the whiche wold rather suffre deth than to be fals to the lawe For she doubted more the perdycion or losse of her sowle and the perdurable or euerlastynge dethe than she dyd the pouere lyf of this world And thus by cause of her bounte god saued bothe her body and sowle And therfor euery good lady ought to haue her trust in god and for his loue to kepe trewely her maryage and also absteyne her of synne How the good lady ought to loue and drede and also to bere feythe vnto her lord Capitulo lxxxxviij I Shalle telle yow another Ensample of the newe testament It is of saynt Elysabeth moder vnto Saynte Iohan This Elysabeth theÌ„ne serued fyrste god and afterward her lord and aboue al wymmen he drad and doubted hym And as he came oute of the Town and that by aduenture somme thynge was befalle amys in her how 's she kepte it and made it to be kepte secrete vnto the tyme that she sawe her poynt Thenne wente she and told it to hym by soo fayre and attemperate langage that in no wyse he myght neuer be wroth She euer câ—ueyted the pees and loue of her lord And also ought to doo euery good woman This holy lady loued and dradde god and bare feythe to her lord and therfor god gaf her saynt Iohan Baptist to her sone whiche was a good guerdon For a woman that loueth god and holdeth her clenely god rewardeth her on lyue And after her dethe he guerdonneâ—h and rewardeth her with C double mo As he dyd to this holy lady to whome he gaf celestyals and erthely goodes to suffysaunce as he dothe to his frendes whiâ—he kepeth and holdeth them clenely in theyr maryage and that haue good hope in hym as had this good Susanne How men â—ught bewaylle and wepe for his synnes and mysdedes Capitulo lxxxxix aNother Ensample I shalle telle yow of Mary Magdalene whiche dyd wasshe and spurge awey her synnes and mysdedes by the water of her eyen as she wasshed the feet of oure lord Ihesu Cryste and wyped them with her here She wepte for her synnes for the loue of god and drede of her mysdede And thus at thexample of her we ought to do as she dyd For we ought to wepe for our synnes and mysdedes and haue pyte and be shamefull of that that we haue done and humbly goo to Confession and there to the preeste we ought to telle our synnes as we haue done them without hydyng or coueryng nothyng therof for the boldnes that men vndertake to say theyr mysdede synne also the shame that meÌ„ haue to telle them is to them a grete parte of their indulgeÌ„ces god whiche seeth the huÌ„ylyte the repentaunce moueth hym self to pyte eâ—largyssheth his misericorde as he did to Mary Magdalene to whome he pardonned her synnes and mysdedes for the grete contricion and repentaâ—nce that she had Another reason is wherof the holy magdalene ought to be preysed It is by cause that she loued and wonderly â—rad god And for certayne the grete myracle that she sawe whiche god made and that he had reysed her owne broder the whiche hadde told her tydynges of the other world and the paynes of hell And that she sawe wel that she must dye be punysshed there for her synnes and mysdedes made her al ferdfull sore abasshed And therfor she was thyrtty yere and more in a deserte makyng there her penaunce sorowynge and sore wepyng for her synnes and mysdedes And whanne she had ben there long tyme fastynge and withoute mete our lord beheld her and had on her pyte and sente her euery day the brede of heuen wherof she was rassasyed and fylde vnto her ende that god toke her And therfore is here good ensample how good is to wepe for his synnes and ofte to confesse hym self and to fasâ— and make abstynences and also to loue drede god as dyd this holy and good Magdaleyne that soo moche loued god that she wepte for her synnes vpon his feet And after fasted and suffred soo moche euylle and meschyef in the buscage desertes where as god comforted her by his aungels whiche euery day dyd brynge to her the brede of heuen And in suche wyse shal god doo to alle good wymmen and to alle them whiche with a contryte and good herte shalle wepe for theire synnes and that shalle loue god and doo abstynences as he dyd to this good woman The next chappytre sheweth how be it that a woman haue an euylle and felon husbond neuertheles she ought not therby to lene the seruyse of god Capitulo C aFter this ensample I shalle telle yow another of ij good wymen wyues of two paynyms The onewas wyf to the seneschall of Herode This goâ—d woman serued our lord at the time that he preched administred made his mete and drynke the best wyse they couthe Here iâ— good ensample how euery good woman al be it so that she haue neuer so peruers and euylle husbond yet this notwithstondyng she ne oughte to leue the seruyse of god and be obeysshynge to hym or els atte leste she ought to be more â—umble and deuoute for to Impetre and gete the grace of god for her and for her husbond For the good that she dothe appeaseth the yre of god and is cause of the sauement of they re temporall rychesse and goodes For the good that she dothe suporteth the euylle and mysdedes of her husbond as it is reherced in the lyf of the Auncyent faders where as he spekâ—th of an euylle man and a tyraunt the whiche was thre tâ—mes saued fro euylle dethe for goodnes and bounte of his wyf Wherfore hit befelle whanne she was dede and that he had no body more that prayd for hym he was for his grete synnes mysdedes brought in to a shamefull dethe by the kyng of that lond And therfor it is good and necessary to an euyl man to haue a good wyf and of holy lyf And the more that the good wyf knoweth her husbond more felon and cruel and grete synuar the more she ought to make gretter abstynences and good dedes for the loue of