text:  For a mandate was issued by the papal legate in Germany in the 14th century decreeing that "the apparel of women which ought to be consistent with modesty but now through their foolishness is degenerated into wantonness and extravagance more particularly the immoderate length of their petticoats with which they sweep the ground be restrained to a moderate fashion agreeably to the decency of the sex under pain of the sentence of excommunication