I you ask me about the monks, I speak from experience, not prejudice, and though I have no doubt that some foundations are well governed, my experience has been of waste and corruption. May I suggest to Your Majesty that, if you wish to see a parade of the seven deadly sins, you do not organise a masque at court but call without notice at a monastery?
The text reflects a critical perspective on monasteries, shared through the author's character who speaks from personal experience rather than bias. The character suggests that while some religious institutions might be well-managed, their own observations have revealed instances of wastefulness and corruption within monasteries.
This insight is provocatively presented to a royal audience, implying that instead of a grand court event, a surprise visit to a monastery would be a more authentic display of moral failings, potentially illustrating the contrast between public piety and private decadence in such establishments.
