Page:The booke of thenseygnementes and techynge that the Knyght of the Towre made to his doughters - 1902.pdf/129

she promysed her that nomore shold she doo. "Soo god help me, my swete frende, a grete meruaylle is befallen to my lord my husbond, for in certayne he hath leyd thre egges." "Swete Mary!" sayd her godsep, "how may this be? It is a grete meruaylle." Her godsep kepte not longe this thynge secrete, but also went to one, her godsep, and told her how suche a squyer hadde leyd four egges. Sone after this other godsep wente to another, her godsep, and sayd he had leyd fyue egges. And at the last this thynge was so ferre knowen that men spak of nothynge but of the squyer that had leyd fyue egges. The Squyer thenne called to hym his wyf, and many of her parentes, and sayd thus to her: "Lady, ye haue wel encreaced that thynge whiche I told yow in counceylle, that is to wete, how i had leyd two egges, but now, blessyd be god, the nombre is well growen, for men sayen thurgh the toune that I haue leyd V egges. Thenne she was ashamed, and helde her self for a foole, and wyst not what she shold answere. And therfor by thys ensample al good wymmen ought to kepe secrete the secrete & counceylle of theyr lord, and not discouere it for nothyng to ony body.