Book of the Knight of La Tour-Landry : compiled for the instruction of his daughters : translated from the original French into English in the reign of Henry VI / [by Geoffroy de La Tour Landry] ; edited ... with an introduction and notes by Thomas Wright

[CHAPTER CXIII.]

[Of examples of good living and chastity.]

NOw here before y haue spoke of the glorious maide Marie [fol/col 50/2] , vnto whom there may be no comparison; and there shaƚƚ now be sheued you of the good ladyes that were vnaraied, duellynge in Rome, the bifore tyme thei had be maried, and how after that they leued chastely, clenly, and holyly in thaire manere, and wered crounes in token of clennesse and chastite; but it shulde be longe tyme to reherse and speke of hem aƚƚ before tyme and comynge of oure lorde Ihesu Crist, and it hathe be founde in the Bible. And after y teƚƚ you of sum good ladyes that haue be syn the nwe testament, that is to sein, sen God was borne of the holy mayden Marie; and, as the scripture praisithe the good ladies of that tyme, it is resone that we praisen sum ladies of the tyme whiche that we be, and of suche as in oure knowinge, as y shaƚƚ saie of euery astate an ensaumple or twey, forto shew ensaumple vnto other; for the goodnesse and worshippe of hem that be now in oure dayes shulde not be hidde nor withdrawe, but they shulde be praised and putte in memorie, and regestred perpetuelly, as weƚƚ as

they that were here before, withoute ani disdayne. And furst y shewe you of the noble princesse Johanne, now late quene of Fraunce, for she was a woman charitable and of good lyff, fuƚƚ of deuocion and of almesdedes; and she kepte her astate so noble, and of so good ordenaunce, that it were gret thinge to recorde from point to point and in aƚƚ wises. After, y putte the duchesse et cetera, that hathe had moche to suffre, and euermore she [fol/col 50b/1] hathe kepte her self in holy lyuinge, whiche were longe thinge to reherce and teƚƚ of her goodnesse and vertuous condicion. And also it is not to foryete the countesse moder vnto the erle et cetera, how that nobly she gouerned her selff and used holy lyff. Also, of a baronesse that was of this contree, faire and yonge, the age of xxv wynter whanne her lorde deide, the whiche was gretly required and desired of mani lordes and knigthis; but for the loue that she had vnto her lorde her husbonde, and vnto the children, she wolde neuer after be wedded, but lyued in gret perfeceion, wherof that she is higℏly forto be praised. And this good ladi was the baronesse Dartus.