Three prose versions of the Secreta Secretorum / edited with an introduction and notes by Robert Steele and a glossary by T. Henderson

fforto kepe þe feith. Cam. 25m.

also kepe wel thi feith and thi word euermore, and alle thi hestis that thou hast made and false neuer thi tonge, for

that bilongith to no man þat coueytith to haue worshipe; it is a poynt þat perteyneth only to folke that be feithles, Strumpetis and thefes; and alle that it vsith comen to yville ende, alle though it seme þat it doth good for a tyme. And what good cometh therof þou maist vndirstonde in many weyes, for bi feith are citees and castellis holden, and gret worshipe vnto hem þat so trewe are founden in here feith; and tho that are false of her feith bitraye her lord and hem silf bothe, and comen vnto a shamefulle deth, and that is her ende. Also bi feith and bi heste men kepe the comaundementis of god, and haue euer lastyng lijf for her rewarde; and tho that breken her feith, ther is no man kan deme hem iustly, but only god aboue. And vndirstonde þat euery man hath two spiritis folowyng him, that on drawith him to yville and wikkidnes, and alle the yville he kan he drawith him to, and yet he is þe same that shalle recorde and reherse alle his defautis at the day of dome in shame and shenshipe of him þat haþ wrought hem thorugh his entisement. This mater shuld make the aferd forto do any yville there as þou myghtist do good; kepe the also fro sweryng, for þou owist neuyr to swere, but if necessite axe it, as that he be highly requyrid therto. ffor the destruccioun that was of þe Assiryenes, it was bicause her kyng made many othis in disseyt [folio 13a] of the citees that were next to him, and brake allyaunce of his hestis þat he had made vnto hem, and god sygh the falsnes of þe kyng and his counselle, and wold suffir it no lenger, but made her sugetis put hem into thraldome: dere sone, do so, that thi goodnes, thi lewte and thi curtesie be knowen and kid alle abowt, and þat shalle be kepyng of thi rentis and destruccioun of thyn enemyes.