Page:The booke of thenseygnementes and techynge that the Knyght of the Towre made to his doughters - 1902.pdf/23

HERE FOLOWETH THE BOOK OF THENSYGNEMENS AND TECHYNGES OF THE KNYGHT OF THE TOURE. AND FIRST, HOW GOD OUGHT TO BE HONOURED ABOUE ALL THYNGES.

t is moche fayre and ryght a noble thyng for to see and beholde thauncyent hystoryes whiche haue ben wreton of oure predecessours for to shewe to vs good ensamples and to aduertyse vs how we may see the good dedes that they folowed and teschewe the euyll, as may be sene that they eschewed. Thenne I shalle speke and saye to them thus: My ryght dere doughters, for as moche as I am old, and that I haue sene the world more lenger than ye haue, I shall shewe to yow a partye of the world after my scyence, which is not ouer grete. But the grete loue that j have to yow, and the desyre that I haue that ye torne youre hertes and youre thoughtes to drede god and to serue hym, by whiche ye may gete wele and honoure in this world and in that other. For certeynly al the very wele, honoure, and al thoneste of man and of woman cometh of hym, and of the grace of his hooly spyryte, and also gyueth long lyf and shorte in worldly and erthely thynges, suche as hit plesyth hym, for alle thyng falleth at his playsyre and ordynaunce, and also gyueth for all suche wele and seruyce as is done to hym an honderd fold double. And therfore, my right dere doughters, it is good to serue suche a lord, whiche rewarded an hondred fold double.

17