m "ungracious books." The following is his saucy
philippic: "Which books but idle men wrote unlearned, and
set all upon filth and viciousness; in whom I wonder what
should delight men, but that vice pleaseth them so much. As
for learning, none is to be looked for in those men, which
saw never so much as a shadow of learning themselves. And
when they tell ought, what delight can be in those things
that be so plain and foolish lies? One killeth twenty by
himself alone, another killeth thirty; another, wounded with
a hundred wounds, and left for dead, riseth up again; and on
the next day, made whole and strong, overcometh two giants,
and then goeth away loaden with gold and silver and precious
stones, mo than a galley would carry away. What madness is
it of folks to have pleasure in these books! Also there is
no wit in them, but a few words of wanton lust; which be
spoken to move her mind with whom they love, if it chance
she be steadfast. And if they be read but for this, the best
were to make books of bawd's crafts, for in other things
what craft can be had of such a maker that is ignorant of
all good craft? Nor I never heard man say that he liked
these books, but those that never touched good
books."--_Instruction of a Christian Woman_, sign. D. 1.
rev., edit. 1593. From the fifth chapter (sufficiently
curious) of "What books be to be read, and what not."]

[Footnote 215: Vol. ii., p. 39, edit. 1808.]

[Footnote 216: "When the king saw that they were puissant
enough for to wield armour at their ease, he gave them
license for to do cry a Justing and Tournament. The which
OLIVER and ARTHUR made for to be cried, that three
aventurous knights should just against all comers, the which
should find them there the first day of the lusty month of
May, in complete harness, for to just against their
adversaries with sharp spears. And the said three champions
should just three days in three colours: that is to wit, in
black, grey and violet--and their shields of the same hue;
and them to find on the third day at the lists. There justed
divers young knights of the king's court: and the justing
was more _asperer_ of those young knights than ever they had
seen any in that country. And, by the report of the ladies,
they did so knightly, eve