Page:The booke of thenseygnementes and techynge that the Knyght of the Towre made to his doughters - 1902.pdf/193

also cam to her, and prayd her to helpe and lene to them some of her good tyll a certayne tyme that they shold rendre it and paye her ageyne, and that she sware & made grete othes to them that she had no money, ne no syluer but suche plate as they sawe abrode, that was, a coup and a pyece only. And therfore was she moche merueylled to fynd there so grete a tresour. Thenne sayd the folke whiche were with her, "Madame, be not ye merueylled, for we ben therof more merueylled than yow, for yf she wold send on a message, or els as she had som other thyng to do, she borowed some money of oure seruauntes, & sayd that she had no money, by her feythe." The doughter tooke alle this good with her, and went her waye toward her lord, to whome she was welcome. And of all this tresour was neuer gyuen a halfpeny for the sowle of theyr moder, but soone they forgate her. For it is not yet longe tyme gone that I was where as she was buryed, and demaunded and asked of the Monkes of the Abbeye where she lay, and why she had no tombe on her, or some token of her. And they ansuerd to me that syn she was entered there, no masse, ne no seruyse at all, ne none other good, ther had be done for her. By this ensample may ye knowe how the deuylle is subtyll to tempte the folke of the synne where he seeth them most entatched, & soo fast he holdeth them in it that they maye not leue it withoute to be therof Cofessyd, and maketh them his seruauntes, as he dyd the forsayd lady. For he dyd soo moche that she was subgette and seruaunt to her gold, in suche wyse that she durst not take of hit to doo her ony good. And therfore, my fayre doughters, here is a good ensample, that yf it befelle that god of his grace sende yow ony grete good, that ye departe largely of hit to the poure folke, in the worship of god and for the loue of hym, and specially to youre poure parentes and neyghbours, and leue it not to be departed by the handes of your heyres, as dyde this lady, for whome after her dethe was neuer masse ne none other good done for her, as ye haue herd to fore.