The Booke of Thenseygnementes and Techynge that the Knyght of the Towre made to his Doughters/Chapter 43
OF THE QUENE VASTIS.
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 y shold of ony thyng wythsaye & be disobedyent 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 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 commaundement of your lord, and obeysshe and bere hym honour, and euer shewe hym semblaūt 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 lyonnesse, 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.