‘Gower’s Englysh is old
And of no value is told,
His mater is worth gold
And worthy to be enrold.’
Barclay in the Preface of his Mirour of Good Manners (printed 1516) states that he has been desired by his ‘Master,’ Sir Giles Alington, to abridge and amend the Confessio Amantis, but has declined the task, chiefly on moral grounds. The work he says would not be suitable to his age and order (he was a priest and monk of Ely),
‘And though many passages therin be commendable,
Some processes appeare replete with wantonnes:
....... .
For age it is a folly and jeopardie doubtlesse,
And able for to rayse bad name contagious,