Page:The booke of thenseygnementes and techynge that the Knyght of the Towre made to his doughters - 1902.pdf/151



SHALLE telle yow another Ensample of the newe testament. It is of saynt Elysabeth, moder vnto Saynte Iohan. This Elysabeth thene serued fyrste god, and afterward her lord, and aboue al wymmen he drad and doubted hym. And as he came oute of the Town, and that by aduenture somme thynge was befalle amys in her hows, she kepte it, and made it to be kepte secrete vnto the tyme that she sawe her poynt. Thenne wente she and told it to hym by soo fayre and attemperate langage that in no wyse he myght neuer be wroth. She euer coueyted the pees and loue of her lord, and also ought to doo euery good woman. This holy lady loued and dradde god, and bare feythe to her lord, and therfor god gaf her saynt Iohan Baptist to her sone, whiche was a good guerdon. For a woman that loueth god and holdeth her clenely, god rewardeth her on lyue, and after her dethe he guerdonneth and rewardeth her with c double mo, as he dyd to this holy lady, to whome he gaf celestyals and erthely goodes to suffysaunce, as he dothe to his frendes whiche kepeth and holdeth them clenely in theyr maryagep and that haue good hope in hym as had this good Susanne.