THEXAMPLE OF A GOOD WYDOWE.
ANOTHER Ensample I wylle telle yow, contrary to this. It is of a good lady, whiche longe tyme was in wydowhere. She was of a holy lyf, and oche humble & honourable, as she whiche euery yere kepte and held a Feste vpon Crystemasse day of her neyghbours bothe ferre and nere, tyll her halle was ful of them. She serued and honoured eche one after his degree, and specially she bare grete reuerence to the good and trewe wymmen, and to them whiche had deseruyd to be worshipped. Also she was of suche customme, that yf she knewe ony poure gentyll woman that shold be wedded, she arayed her with her Iewels. Also she wente to the obsequye of the poure gentyll wymmen, and gaf there torches and all suche other lumynary as it neded therto. Her dayly ordenaunce was that she rose erly ynough, and had euer Freres and two or thre chappellaynes whiche sayd matyns before her within her oratorye. And after she herd a hyhe masse and two lowe, and sayd her seruyse full deuoutely. And after this she wente and arayed her self and walked in her gardyn or els aboute her place, sayenge her other deuocions & prayers. And as tyme was she wente to dyner, and after dyner, yf she wyste and knewe ony seke folke, or wymmen in theyr childbedde, she wente to see and vysyted them, and made to be brought to them of her best mete. And there as she myght not go her self, she had a seruaunt propyce therfore, whiche rode vpon a lytell hors, and bare with hym grete plente of good mete and drynke for to gyue to the poure and seke folke there as they were. And after she had herd euensonge, she wente to her souper, yf she fasted not, and tymely she wente to bedde, and made her styward to come to her to wete what mete sholde be had the next daye, and lyued by good ordenaunce, and wold be purueyed byfore of alle suche thynge that was nede full for her houshold.
