Page:The booke of thenseygnementes and techynge that the Knyght of the Towre made to his doughters - 1902.pdf/181

whiche they myght be blamed as the other were. But certaynly now uppon this daye men bere as grete worship to them that ben blamed as to the good and trewe, wherof many one taketh euylle ensample, and saye, "I see that men bere as grete honoure to them whiche shold be blamed and dyffamed, as they do to the honest and trewe. It is no force to do euylle; al thynge passeth forth awey." But neuertheles it is euylle sayd, for in good feythe, how be it that they wene to receyue honour and worship of them that be wyth them, whanne they be departed they mocke and scorne with them, sayenge one to other, "Suche one is full curtoys of her body; suche a man taketh his disporte with her. And thus somme maken good chere and beren honour before them, and behynd theyr backes they pulle oute theyr tongues in scornynge of them. But the folysshe wymmen perceyue them not, but joyen them self in theyr folye, and wene that none knowe theyr fawte & shame. Thus is the tyme chaunged otherwyse than hit was wonte to be, wherfore hit is damage and grete pyte. For hit were best that of theyr fawte and blame they were reproued before al, as they were at that tyme. Yet more I shalle telle yow, as I haue herd reherced of many knyghtes whiche saw and knewe the sayd Syre Geffroy de lyege, how that as he rode thorugh the Countrey, and as he aspyed and sawe some place or manoyr, he demaunded and asked the place, and yf he understode by ony maner that the lady of the manoyr or place were blamed of her honour and worship, he shold haue gone oute of his ryght way, rather than he had not gone to the yate of the same place and make there a faytte and put and sette his signes ageynste the yate, and thenne rode ageyne in to his ryght way. And contrary to this dede, yf hit happed to hym to passe before the place of a good and Renommed lady or damoyselle, al had he neuer so grete haste, he wente to see her, and sayd to her, "My good Frende, other my lady, or els damoysell, I praye to god that in this welthe and honoure he