Book of the Knight of La Tour-Landry : compiled for the instruction of his daughters : translated from the original French into English in the reign of Henry VI / [by Geoffroy de La Tour Landry] ; edited ... with an introduction and notes by Thomas Wright

CHAPTER XCVI.

[Of meekness in women.]

ANother ensaumple y wiƚƚ teƚƚ you of a good woman that hight Sarra. [Called by her father's name, Ragueƚƚ, on p. 102, above.] Ye haue weƚƚ herde how she had vij husbondes, the whiche were mischeued and slayne bi the Annemy of heƚƚ, bicause thei were vntrue in thaire mariage; and how her chaumbrere reproued her how that aƚƚ her husbondes mischeued and deied from her. And this good woman sawe her chaumbrere wolde haue chidde and striued with her, as a fole as she was, this good woman right wisly and humbly she saide vnto her, "Faire loue! nother to the ne to me it apertenithe not to speke of the Iugementis of God;" and more she saide not vnto her. She sembled not vnto the doughter of a senatour of Rome, that [fol/col 41/1] had so crueƚƚ hert

that she straue & chidde in the plaine strete wit her neygℏboures, wherfor she had suche renoune that she was hadde oute of her good helthe of body, as for frentyk and not of good mynde, for whiche cause she loste her mariage. And, therfor, it is gret foly to euery woman to chide, or ellys to ansuere vnto hem that be of suche vngoodly condiciones, fuƚƚ of noyse and striff, and cruel, and wilfuƚƚ [and] hasty, wherof y shaƚƚ teƚƚ you an ensaumple that y sawe by a gentiƚƚ woman testi and hasti; wherfor y saide vnto her, "Madamoiseƚƚ y praie you that ye ansuere not vnto this fole, that is of suche condicion rather to speke eueƚƚ than wele." But she wolde not do bi my counsaile, but chidde with hym, and ansuered worse thanne she hadde ydo before, sayeng vnto the man that he was not worthe. And he ansuered her that he was beter worthe a man thanne she for a woman. And somoche the wordes and the noyse encresed betwene hem bothe, tiƚƚ atte the laste the man saide vnto her, he knew suche one that had her atte his comaundement bothe day [and] nigℏt, whanne that he wolde, so that there was moche foule speche betuene hem, and before moche pepiƚƚ, and the woman defamed for her hautyuete and her foly and chidinge. And, therfor, her shame and disclaunder was shewed opinly there before the peple, that hadde no knowinge therof before. She was not lyke vnto the wise Sarra, þat made no gret ansueres vnto her chambrere ; for ofte tymes, by vnauised speche, of r[i]ght is made the wronge. And it is a myschaunt thinge for any gentiƚƚ [fol/col 41/2] woman, other to striue or to chide in ani manere, as y shaƚƚ shewe you ensaumple bi the properte of sum bestis, as ye may see bi these curre doggis; of thaire nature thei growne and berke euermore, but gentiƚƚ greyhoundes do not so. And so aught it to be of gentiƚƚ men and gentiƚƚ women.

ANd also y shaƚƚ teƚƚ you an ensaumple of an Emperoure that was ferce and right cruel, but he wolde neuer more chide with no creatoure. And it befeƚƚ on a tyme that he fonde his ij doughtres chidinge, wherfor that he wolde haue bete hem, ne hadde it be that other went betwene. And

thanne he saide vnto his doughtres, "Oute of a gentiƚƚ herte shulde neuer come velenye word̛ ne dede, for by chidynge is knowe the gentil from the vilanie, that spekithe it with his mouthe." And, therfor, it is gret gentilnesse and nobilnesse to be pacient and humble, and not to chide, nor to striue in speche with suche as be not wise. And for sertaine it befallithe often tymes, that a worde folyly saide or folily ansuered, engenderitℏ suche thinge as after causithe disworshippe and shame And therfor, faire doughtres, here is ensaumple how ofter tymes ye shaƚƚ finde, as foles that be of haultarie corage whanne there is holde noyse or Riotte ayenst hem, they wiƚƚ ansuere and speke velanie thingeȝ of thaire malice, suche as was neuer do ne thought, but forto auenge hem in her gret yre. And as weƚƚ euery woman aught to be ware in ansueringe her husbonde before pepiƚƚ, for mani causes, as forto holde her pees and be [fol/col 41b/1] stiƚƚ, she shaƚƚ haue worshipe and be holde wise of aƚƚ that know and see her. And yef she ansuere vnto his displesaunce, there shaƚƚ come vnto her harme and disworshipe, as it is saide before.