to golde / & suthe other a precyosyte wherby they ben praysed /
what is [that] to the vyle carkas [that] it hangeth vpon / the
whiche is but a sachell of dounge brought forth of vnclene seed &
fynally shall be wormes mete.


¶ The wordes of saynt Ierom.

O Thou moost vylest & worse than ony beest how shamefast sholdest
[the] be in thy body yf thou woldest beholde thyself / [that] so
in thyn arraye auaûcest thyself. And this blessyd Ierom sayth. I
take them for no relygyous wymen [that] ben cladde in costlyous
araye or in a wanton & pynched habytes but he calleth them in
latyn. Pessimas meretrices et storta. Wherfore desyre ye to go in
vyle & vnshapely vesture. that wanton & dissolute persones may
rather be prouoked to scorne & laughe at you than to thynke euyl
or desyre you / for they say not trouthe that do ensure themself
with a glorye to kepe chastyte in a costely or ony shapely vesture
/ ye shal be called ladyes / for bycause that ye shall be spoused
to the kyng of all kynges. Beware than & take hede with all
mekenesse to your dygnyte / in lesse than your spouse be greued &
make a deuorce & to departe from you. Yf that ye wyst & ones had
tasted how swete your spouse were. ye sholde haue pleasyr ynough
that passeth all worldly pleasyrs. This Ioye & pleasye had saynt
Ierom & many other both of men & wymen / kepe the mansyon of
your spouse clene / & garnysshe it with floures of vertue / and
accompte your self moost vyle & outcaste of this worlde. Remembre
also how in your baptysme ye forsoke the worlde / the enuye / and
all theyr pryde & glory / the whiche now ye shall cõferme vnder
[the] grettest othe that may be / & therwith receyue our lorde god