t contree begynnen alle hire thinges in the newe mone: and
thei worschipen moche the mone and the sonne, and often tyme knelen azenst
hem. And alle the folk of the contree ryden comounly with outen spores: but
thei beren alle weys a lytille whippe in hire hondes, for to chacen with
hire hors. And thei had gret conscience, and holden it for a gret synne, to
casten a knyf in the fuyr, and for to drawe flessche out of a pot with a
knyf, and for to smyte an hors with the handille of a whippe, or to smyte
an hors with a brydille, or to breke o bon with another, or for to caste
mylk or ony lykour, that men may drynke, upon the erthe, or for to take and
sle lytil children. And the moste synne, that ony man may do, is to pissen
in hire houses, that thei dwellen in. And who so that may be founden with
that synne, sykerly thei slen hym. And of everyche of theise synnes, it
behovethe hem to ben schryven of hire prestes, and to paye gret somme of
silver for hire penance. And it behovethe also, that the place, that men
han pissed in, be halewed azen; and elles dar no man entren there inne. And
whan thei han payed hire penance, men maken hem passen thorghe a fuyr or
thorghe 2, for to clensen hem of hire synnes. And also whan ony messangere
comethe and bryngethe lettres or ony present to the Emperour, it behovethe
him, that he with the thing that he bryngethe, passe thorghe 2 brennynge
fuyres, for to purgen hem, that he brynge no poysoun ne venym, ne no wykked
thing, that myght be grevance to the lord. And also, zif ony man or womman
be taken in avowtery or fornycacyoun, anon thei sleen him. Men of that
contree ben alle gode archeres, and schooten right welle, bothe men and
women, als wel on hors bak, prykynge, as on fote, rennynge. And the wommen
maken alle thinges and alle maner mysteres and craftes; as of clothes,
botes and other thinges; and thei dryven cartes, plowes and waynes and
chariottes; and thei maken houses and alle maner of mysteres, out taken
bowes and arwes and armures, that men maken. And alle the wommen weren
breech, as wel as men. Alle the folk of that contree ben fulle obeyssant to
hire sovereynes; ne thei fighten not ne chiden not, on with another. And
there ben nouther thefes ne robboures in that contree; and every man
worschipethe othere: but no man there dothe no reverence to no straungeres,
but zif thei ben grete princes. And thei eten houndes, lyounes, lyberdes,
mares and foles, asses, rattes and mees, and alle m