¶ OF / the state of virgynyte Capitulo lxxijij (Book 74)
UIrgynyte. is so right hye estate & so. worthy / that it can not be onermoche preysed / For it is the lyf of Angellis celestyall and it is redde of many dyuerse sayntes whiche haue refused grete dignytes and haue suffred grete & hard tormēte•• & martyrdoms for theeyr virgynyte to kepe / O the right hye & noble tresour that he or sheleseth that playnly wold haue doon the synne of lecherye / but yf he doo soo nomore / and repenteth hym▪ of his eull wyll with good herte And confessyth hym therof / his / or hir virgynyte retourneth to hym or to hir agayn But & yf he or she accomplyssh the synne of the flesshe / he or she shal neuer be virgyne. yf one enforce a virgyne ayenst hir wyll the meryte of virgynyte lasseth not▪ But it encreaceth▪ wher∣of is wreton in the lyf of saynt lucye▪ the whiche sayde to the euyl tirannt that wold haue enforced and rauysshed hir yf thou ma¦ke me to be enforced and defouled ayenst my wyll The crow¦ne of my virgynite shal be doubled wherfor thou oughtest to be wel aduysed and resyste it strough /