a tyme goynge thrugh a cyte in the myddes therof they founde chyldren playnge ater them came a man with a talente or florene of golde sayd to them Good maysters this nyght I haue dremed a dreme thenterpretacoÌ„n therof I wolde fayne knowe Wherfore I pray you shewe me what it sygnyfyeth take this golde to you That herde one of the chyldren that played among the other sayd too hyÌ„ gyue me the golde not them I shall expowne thy dreme The man sayde I dremed this nyghte that in the myddes of myn orchyerde was a grete sprynge of water wherof came many smal spryÌ„ges that all myn orchyerde was full ouerflowen with water The chylde sayd take a spade dygge in the same place there as ye thought that the water out sprange there shall ye fynde an horde of golde so grete that ye all your chylderne lynage shall be for euer ryche The man dyde as the chylde had shewed hym found the tresoure accordynge to his wordes Tho went the maÌ„ to the chylde offred hym a pounde weyght of the golde the he had founde for the interpretacyon of his dreme he wold none receyue but coÌ„mytted hym to the prayers of the man The .vii. maysters whan they herde the chylde soo wysely expowne the dreme they sayd to hym gode chylde what is youre name he answered sayde I called Merlyne Then sayd the maysters we se clerely grete wysedome in you we shal shewe vnto you a grete mater of that we wolde gladly that ye coude fynde a remedy The chylde sayd Shewe me your mater And they sayd themperour of rome as longe as he is in his palays he hath his syght clere wtout ony impedymeÌ„t And as sone as he is gone out of his palays he is soo blyÌ„de that he may not se Yf ye can now determyne the cause herof fyÌ„de a remedy that he may be eased haue hê syght ayen ye shall haue grete rewardes honoures of theÌ„perour The chylde sayd I know the cause as wel of his blyÌ„dhede as of the remedy They sayd to hyÌ„ Come with vs to themperour ye shal be rewarded so largely that ye shall be pleased To whom the chylde sayd I am redy to go with you And whan they came with the chylde before themperour they sayd to hyÌ„ Lorde loo here this childe that we haue brought afore you that which shal fulfyll your desyre as touchyÌ„ge the cause of your blyÌ„denes as the recoueryÌ„ge of your syghte Themperour sayd Good maysters woll ye take it vpon you abyde therby that the chylde shall do with me They all sayd ye for we be experte in his wysedome Themperour torned hymself towardes the chylde and sayde wyll ye vndertake to tell me the cause of my blyndnesse the remedye The chylde answered sayd My lorde the emperour lede me in to your bedchamber there I shal shewe you what is to be done And as he was ther in broughte he sayd to the seruauÌ„tis take of the clothes of the bedde all thapparayle ye shall se wonders And as that was done they sawe a well smokyng that had vii spryÌ„ges or floodes the whiche whan theÌ„perour sawe meruayled gretly the chyld sayd ye se this wel wtout it be queÌ„ched ye shal neuer haue your syÈt theÌ„perour sayd how may that be the chyld sayd but by one way Themperour sayde Shewe vs than the meane yf it be possyble to me it shall be done that I maye recouer ayen my syght as well wtout as wtin To whome the chylde sayd my lorde the .vii. sprynges of this well are thyse .vii. wyse maysters the whiche you your Empyre hythertoo haue trayterously gouerned haue you made blyÌ„de as ye be wtoute your palays that they youre subgettes by extorcyon myght plucke pyll ye not seynge but nowe they knowe not the remedy Here ye nowe my counseyll this well shal be quenched extyÌ„cte do stryke of the fyrste maysters hede anone ye shall the fyrste sprynge quenched so by ordre one after an other tyll that they are all beheded anone all the sprynges with the well shall be vanysshed and gone awaye / ye shall haue ayen your syght as ye had afore And as this was done fulfylled / the well with the .vii. sprynges were vanysshed And as themperour had his syghte ayen he made the chylde a grete lorde gaue hyÌ„ grete habundauÌ„ce of goodes After that spake them presse my lorde haue ye this example well perceyued that I haue tolde you he sayd ye in the best wyse ye haue recyted a good and a ryall example Than sayd she In the same wyse your .vii. wyse maysters intende too doo with you by they re false narracyons that your sone may reygne vpon you / that god forbede ¶ The declaratyon of the example ¶ This welle is youre sone wherof oute flowen seuen sprynges that sygnefye the seuen wyse maysters the whiche soone ye maye not destroye withoute the. vii maysters be made feble broughte too noughte that done this well that is your sone with all his cauyllacyons wyles shal not scape / but lete hym be hanged fyrste leste that he haue helpe of his maysters forth after cosequently the .vii. maysters And so ye shall gouerne guyde your empyre in reste peas Themperour anone coÌ„maunded his seruauntes to lede his so to the galowes whiche they were lothe to do So was there than a grete multytude of people gadred with grete noyse bewaylynge so that the noyse came to the ere 's of the fourth mayster named Malquydrac the whiche lepte vpon his hors / hasted hym to the palays So mette with hym his dyscyple dyde reuerence to hyÌ„ / recommaunded hym vnto hym / whan he came be fore themperour had done his obeysaunce reuereÌ„ce as apperteyned Themperour answered sayde Lytell thanke haue ye olde cursed caytyfe for the techyÌ„ge of my sone for I delyuered you my sone well spekyÌ„ge in all thynge ryght vertuous And ye haue sent hym a fole dompe / a rybaude / for he wolde haue belayne with force my wyfe / therfore all ye with him togyder shall be hanged Tho sayd the mayster My lorde I haue not that deserued of you god knoweth why your sone speketh not in shorte tyme ye shal perceyue other thyÌ„ges but the tyme is not yet comen But in the ye say he wolde haue oppressed your wyfe the is not gospel ne proued ne for one syÌ„guler ê‘sone ye shold not iuge to deth your sone yf now for the wordes of your wyfe ye iuge your sone to dye it wil be wors to you than to an olde man of his wyse that I shall proue Too whome themperour sayd Thynke ye to doo with me ye olde dotarde as somtyme seuen wyse men dyde to an emperour Therto sayd sayd the mayster The offence or
whiche is false And therfore from hens forth thou shalt make no mo lesynges ne dyscorde betwix me and my wyfe / toke the pye and brake her necke As the wyfe sawe that she was ryght glad sayd now haue ye done well now maye we all our lyue dayes lyue in reste peas And whan he had slayne the pye he loked vp sawe in the top of the house a laddre a vessel with water sande stones and as he that behelde he perceyued the falshede of his wyfe and cryed with a loude voyce Woo be too me that for my wyues wordes I haue my pye slayne and all my solace and ioye loste that why the in all thynges sayd to me trouthe And as he had thus doone anone for sorowe lefte his marchaundyse and all his house and went to wardes the holy londe and neuer retorned ayen towardes his wyfe ThanÌ„e the mayster sayd to themperour Syr haue ye vnder stande what I haue sayd he answered ryght well the mayster sayd was not that a false cursed wyfe that so by her lesynges caused the pye for to be slayne The emperour sayd In trouthe she was full of falsenesse I forthynke gretly the pye the whiche for her true saynge lost her lyfe Verely I say to you the ye haue tolde me a fayr exaÌ„ple therfore thê day my sone shal not dy Tho sayd the master Syr yf ye do so ye do wysely I thaÌ„ke you that ye haue spared your sone this day for my wyll and to god I commende you ¶ The fourth complaynte of the empresse ¶ Whan thempresse herde that the chylde was not yet dede she made grete noyse cryenges in suche wyse that she was herde thrugh the palays sayd Woo be to me that euer I was made Empresse wolde god I had dyed whan I was broughte in too thyse partyes whan the emperour herde the noyse crye that she made he entred in to the chamber conforted her as moche as he myght demaunded the cause of her lamencacyon / whiche sayd O myn owne lorde haue no woÌ„der though that I be in this grete sorowe and agony for I am your wyfe in your company by your sone I am shamed as ye sawe me lately all be bled scratched ye haue promysed me that he sholde therfor be hanged / yet he lyueth wherfore sholde I not sorow Themperour answered be content pleased / and I shall do iustyse vpon my sone to morowe But in that I forbare hym yesterday was at the meuyng of one of the maysters by an example Than sayd she Haue ye forboren to do iustyce for one worde were it soo for all the worlde ye sholde not let to do iustyce / ye saye for the example of one mayster ye haue lefte it I fere me it shall happen with you with youre maysters as vpon a tyme it fortuned too an Emperoure with his seuen wyse maysters ¶ The empeperoure sayde I praye you tell me that example ¶ Shesayd ¶ To what entent sholde I laboure in vayne / for yesterdaye I shewed you a good example and it auayled not For what someuer I shewe for your honoure and proufyte that the maysters of your sone torne vp and downe to your destructyon as in this present example I shall clerely shewe you To whome themperour sayd / O my best beloued lady tell me that example that by the same I maye the better beware / for though that I respyted my sones lyfe for one daye / I shal not therfore gyue hym his lyfe / for that is dyfferred it is not therfore auferred And she sayde gladly I shall shewe it for your proufyte and began to tell it as here after foloweth SOmtyme was in the cyte of rome seuen wyse maysters by whome all the empyre was gouerned ruled And themperour that than was dyde no no thynge or attempte wtout the counseyll of them as they vnderstode that themperour was to them soo inclyned that without theym he sholde ordeyne or doo noo thynge in the meane tyme they made by theyr arte and connyÌ„g that themperour sholde clerely se as longe as he was in his palays but anone as he was out of his palays he was made blynde / that dyde they to the enteÌ„t that they myght the more frely intromytte themself of all thynges that apperteyned to themperour by the whiche they gate wanne too theym grete profyte lucre of goodes after that they had made wroughte that experymeut they coude neuer chaunge it ne fordo it afterwarde but themperour abode styl blyÌ„d many yeres Then the vii maysters made ordeyned through out th empyre that yf ony man had dremed a dreme he sholde come vnto them with a florene of golde or of syluer they sholde expowne declare vnto them the Interpretacyon of theyr dremes wherby by other vniuste meanes they obteyned moche more substaunce money of the people than themperour dyde Soo vpon a tyme whan he sate at the table with the empresse he began to syghe sorowe in hymselfe and whan she perceyued that she enquyred dylygently of hym the cause of his heuynesse doloure Themperour sayde / sholde not that to me be heuy sorowfull that I so longe haue ben blynde out of my palays / of that can haue or fynde no remedy To whome spake thempresse sayd my lorde here my counseyll it shall neuer repent you yf ye do therafter In your courte ye haue vii wyse maysters by whome ye all the empyre is gouerned yf ye nowe beholde marke this in your myÌ„de / ye shall fynde that they are the cause of your blyndnesse dysease yf it be so they are worthy too dye a shamefull deth therfore take hede to my couÌ„seyl and aduyse Sende ye for them shewe vnto them youre dysease infyrmyte threte them on payne of theyr lyues that they sholde fynde a remedy to make you hole of your fyknesse blyndnes This couÌ„seyl pleased the emperour well anone sent for the maysters And whaÌ„ they were come themperour anone shewed vnto theÌ„ his infyrmyte blyndenes charge them vpon puyne deth / that they sholde seke a rememedy make hym hole therof Tho answered they Ye desyre of vs a thiÌ„ge that is dyffusyfe harde for vs to do thus shortly but gyue vs respyte dayes in the tenth day we shall gyue you answere Themperour was therwith well content pleased Then the seuen wyse maysters went to counseyll how they myght the best chaunge alter / that in noo maner coude they fynde the meane howe they myght put awaye the blyndnes from the Emperour wherfore they were all ryght sorowfull sayde amonge them self wtoute we fynde a remedye we are all but dede men Soo went they from thens thrugh out al th eÌ„pyre sought yf they coude fynde ony remedy or couÌ„seyll therfore It hapned them vpon
in the ende to sle you the your sone may regne Therupon answered themperour sayd that shall not so be for my sone too morowe shal deye Than commauÌ„ded his seruauÌ„tes that they sholde lede his sone to hangynge And as the folke herde that there was a grete noyse a gaderynge of theym and bewayled the dethe of the only sone of themperour And as the syxte mayster herde that he hasted hym too the Emperour salued hym moche honourably he toke it vnthaÌ„kfully thretned hym or menaced him to dye with his sone for that he was with them made dompe and a rybaude the whiche he had shewed vpon his wyfe The mayster sayd I haue deserued no deth with your sone but grete large gyftes for he is not dompe as ye shall here with in thre dayes yf he may lyue soo longe and yf ye put hym too deth for wordes of your wyfe than shall I merueyll of your wysdome with out doute it shall happen to you as it somtyme happened to a knyght that so moche alowed the saynges of his wyfe that he was bounde to an horse tayle drawen thrugh out all the cyte to the galowes Themperour sayde for the loue of god shewe me that example that I may the better beware of that peryl That wyl I not doo sayd the mayster wtout ye do cal ayen your sone Than themperour commauÌ„ded to call his sone And the mayster began afore al the folke to tel in this maner folowynge ¶ The example of the syxte mayster THere was an Emperour of Rome the whiche had thre knyghtes whom he loued aboue al other And in that same Cyte was an auÌ„cyent knyght that had wedded a fayre yonge wyfe as ye do thempres whiche aboue al other thyÌ„ges he loued This lady coude synge ryght wel melodyously with suche swetnes the many drewe to her house desyred her company / It befell vpoÌ„ a season as she sate in her house the vysage torned in to the strete that she myght se them that weÌ„t by began swetely tu synge that all folke delyted for to here her By chaunce came that wayes a knyght of the Emperours courte herde that voyce lyft vp his eyeÌ„ behelde her Intentyfly anone he was taken in her loue and entred in to her house fyll in communycacyon with her of loue amonges al other he demauÌ„ded what he sholde gyue her too slepe by hym one nyght She answered an hondred floreyns The knyght sayde tell me whan I shall come I shall gyue you an hondred floreyns She sayd whan I may haue a conuenyent tyme I shal sende for you The nexte day she sange ayen in the same place and it fortuned the secoÌ„de knyght of themperour to come by that same way the whiche in lykewyse was smyten in her loue also ê“mysed her an hondred floreyns To whom also she promysed to shewe hym a tyme prouyded The thyrd day was the thyrd knyght in lyke wyse caught in her loue the whiche also promysed an hoÌ„dred floreyns she too gyue hym knowelege of the tyme. Thyse thre knyghtes haue so secretly spoken with that lady that none of them had knowledge of other The lady the was of malyce cautelous replenysshed came to her husbonde sayd syr I haue secrete maters too shewe you folowe therin my counseyll yf ye do it our necessite or pouerte ye may largely releue The knyght sayd tel it me I shal holde it secrete fulfyl it to my power She sayde thre knyghtes of theÌ„perours court haue ben with me one after an other in suche wyse the none knoweth of an other counseyll euery of them haue offred me an hondred floreyns myght we the thre C. florayns gete no knowledge therof be had sholde it not be to vs a grete helpe our pouerte well releued The knyght sayd forsoth yes therfore what someuer ye couÌ„seyl me to do I shall folowe it Tho sayd she I shall gyue you this counseyll whan they come with the floreyns ye shall stande behynde the yate with your swerde drawen in your hande bycause that euery of them comethe alone ye shall sle one after another so we shal haue the thre c floreyns of them without knowlege of ony other The knyght answered O my best beloued wif I fere me that this euyll can notte be hydde and we sholde therfore shamefully suffre dethe yf that it were knowen She sayd I shall this werke begynne I shall make therof a good ende and fere it not whaÌ„ the knyght sawe that she was so hardy it caused hym to be the more bolde and she sent for the fyrst knyght and he came to hyr anone with oute ony taryenge to the yate knocked she askyd yf he brought the c. floreyns and he sayd ye I haue theym here all redy Tho lete she hyÌ„ in anone at the entrynge in her husbonde kylled hym so he dyde the seconde the thyrde in to one secrete chamber they drewe the bodyes of them whan it was thus done the knyght sayd to his lady O dere wyfe yf thyse bodyes be founde with vs. we shall dye the moost shamefull deth that can be ymagyned for it is not possyble but that thyse knyghtes shall be myssed in themperours courte grete serche Inquysy on shall be for them made thrugh all this cyte where they are become She sayde Syr I haue this werke begonne shal make therof a good ende fere not as I afore sayd This lady had a brother the whiche had the gouernauÌ„ce of the watche of the cyte that on the nyghtis vpon stretes watched with his felowes She stode at her gate called her brother sayde O my best broder I haue a secrete mater the whiche in coÌ„fessyon I shal shewe you therfore come a lytyll withiÌ„ whan that he was come in the knyght receyued hym frendly gaue hym wyne to drynke sayd my well beloued broder this is the cause that I haue called you for of your couÌ„seyll I haue moche nede The broder answered say it boldely to me what someuer that I may do to my power that shall be at your desyre wtout lettyÌ„ge Tho sayd she yesterdaye came in a knyght in good frendshyp / but afterwarde he fyll in suche wordes varyaunce with my husbonde that he slewe hym lyeth in my chainber myn owne dere broder we haue noo man that we may truste but you yf the body were fouÌ„de by vs we sholde dye she made mencyon but of one the brother sayd delyuer it me in a sacke I shall bere hyÌ„ to the see she herynge that was full glad therof delyuered to hyÌ„ the body of the fyrste knyght he toke it went wtall a good pase cast it therin as this was done he came ayen to his syster sayde gyue me nowe of the beste wyne for
well the lawe of the londes are that whan so euer ony man is hanged stolen a waye of the galowes than the shyref his lyfe and godes be in the kynges handes Nowe it is happened in the tyme that I was here with you warmed me the theefis stolen a way frome the galowes therfore I praye you for the loue of god gyue me your aduys what is me beste to do She answered I haue compassyon vpon you for by the lawe ye haue loste lyfe goodes to the kynge Do nowe after my couÌ„seyll ye shall neyther lese lyfe ne godes He answered therfore I came to you hopynge to haue gode comforth She sayd wyll ye than promyse to take me to your wyfe the knyght answered wolde god that ye wolde do yt. but I fere me leste that ye wolde dysdeyne so moche to humble you too me that am so pore a knyght She sayd I gyue you my wyl therto he yaue her ayen his wyll consented too be her knyght durynge his lyfe Tho sayd she ye knowe well that suche a day my lorde was buryed whiche for the loue of me deyed take hym oute of his sepulture go hange hym in stede of the theef The knyght answered lady your couÌ„seyll is good Tho went they togyder opened the graue drewe hym out The knyght sayd howe shall we nowe doo by cause or the theef was taken two of his vpper tethe were smyten oute I fere me yf that were perceyued I shold be dede She sayd to hym take a stone and stryke oute two of his tethe The knyght answerd madame that may not do for while he lyued he was my wel beloued felowe it sholde be to me a grete rebuke yf I coÌ„mytted soo dysloyall a dede vnto his body beynge dede She answered for your loue I shall do it toke a stone smote out two of his tethe sayd to the shyref take hyÌ„ hange him vpon the galowes lyke to the theef The knyght sayde I fere me to do it for the theef in takynge of hyÌ„ was wouÌ„ded in the hede he wanted both his ere 's therfore yf it were serched founde otherwyse it sholde be to my vtter vndoynge Than sayd she take out your swerde make hym a grete wounde on his hede cut of his ere 's O madame god forbede the I do that to the dede body that I loued so well in his lyfe Than sayd she gyue me your swerde I shal for the loue of you do it toke the swerde smote a manly stroke vpon the dede maÌ„nes forhede cut of bothe his ere 's And whan she hadde thus done sayd Now take hange hym wtout company than the knyght answered yet I fere me to haÌ„ge hyÌ„ for the theef wanted both his stones yf that were serched fouÌ„de wtout all our labour were in vayn Then sayd she I sawe neuer so feerfull a man seyng that mater so clere sure Take a knyfe cut of his slones And be answered that may I not do in no wyse and therfore I pray you spare me ye knowe well what a man is wtout his stones She sayd for the loue of you I shall do it And toke the knyf in her hande cutte of husbondes stones and to hym nowe take this churle thus dysfygured and hange hym vp withoute drede And went forth togyder and henge vp the body vpoÌ„ the galowes so was the shyref delyuered out of the kyÌ„ges daunger Tho sayd the lady now be ye quyte of all your daungeours fere all thy sorowes by my couÌ„seyll And therfore I wyll that ye wedde me in the face of the chyrche The knyght sayde I haue made a vowe that I shal neuer wed other as longe as ye lyue which I wyl holde but afterwarde he sayd O thou moost shameful worst womaÌ„ of al wyÌ„men who wolde take the to his wyfe An honourable a louynge knyght was thy husboÌ„de whiche for a lytel blode that he sawe of thy fyÌ„ger shed dyed now haste thou smyten out two of his tethe thou haste cutte of his ere 's his stones thou haste made hyÌ„ a grete wounde in his hede what deuyll wolde wed ye. by cause that thou shal neuer shame more good man I shal rede ye. drewe his swerde with one stroke he smote of her hede The mayster sayd My lorde haue ye vnderstande what I haue sayd The emperour sayd ryght well Amonges all wymmen was this the worste the knyght rewarded her accordynge so as she sholde no more men shame And theÌ„perour sayd more ouer O my good mayster myght I ones here my sone speke I sholde gyue no charge of my lyfe Tho sayd the mayster To morowe ye shall here hym speke afore you afore al the lordes of th empyre he shall shewe the very trouth of all the varyaunce betwyxte vs thempresse as I hope toke his leue of themperour departed ¶ How that Dyoclesyan themperours sone coÌ„playned on thempres how that he excused him of her coÌ„playnt ANd after that all the maysters assembled togyder toke theyr counseyll how in what maner they shold brynge out the chylde of pryson lede to the palays tho they went to the chylde there as he laye in pryson afore the mydday his wyll his couÌ„seyl to here To whome the chylde sayd what that shall please you shall please me but in no wyse besye you not howe that I shall answere or what I shall saye for with Ioye I shal answere to all thyÌ„ges that shal be demauÌ„ded of me whaÌ„ that seuen maysters herde that they were ryght glad clothed hym in purpure in clothe of golde two maysters went afore hym one on his ryght honde an other on his lyfte honde the other thre folowed hym after afore them al went xxiiii men with dyuerse instrumentê of musyke brought hym with grete melody and honour to the palays And whan themperour herde al this melody he demauÌ„ded what it was Then it was tolde hym Syr emperour it is your sone that whiche cometh tofore you afore all your lordes to speke excuse hyÌ„selfe of all thynges that are layde to his charge / Themperour sayd that is good tydyÌ„ges myght I here my sone speke And whan the chylde was come to the palays he ran vnto his fader sayd vnto hyÌ„ hayle fader my moost honourable And whan themperour herde the voyce of his sone he was so glad that for Ioye he fyl downe to the erthe but the chylde toke hym lyghtly vp ayen and whan he was come ayen to hyÌ„self Tho begaÌ„ THenne sayd the sone vnto the fader beholde this rybaude that many a nyghte hathe with your wyfe lyen in your chamber in auoutrye haue defouled your bedde therfore the Empresse loued hym so well the whiche ye knewe not
whan the Emperour sawe yt. he was impacyent wrothe that he coÌ„mauÌ„ded that she with the rybaude sholde be brent the sone sayd lorde fader make no haste of that iugement before that I haue reproued her of the cryme that she layde vppon me falsely that she vntruly falsly hathe complayned lyed vpon me Tho sayd the fader My dere sone I coÌ„mytte all the iugemente in to your handê The sone answered yf she be founde false a lyer the lawe shall iuge her But my dere fader whan ye sent after me at the instaunce of hyr then I with my maysters behelde the sterres in the fyrmamente there we sawe that yf I sholde speke ony worde within seuen dayes I sholde haue deyed a shamefull dethe and therefore that was the cause that I spake not And where as the Empresse sayd put vnto me that I wolde haue oppressed rauysshed hyr in that she lyeth falsly but she dyd hyr best to haue caused me to do it And whaÌ„ she in no wyse coude bryng me therto she toke me paper penne ynke badde me wryte the cause why that I refused her And whan that I had wryten that I wolde not do or commytte so greate abhomynable synne and also wolde not my faders orcharde defoule Tho began she to tere hyr clothes scratche her vysage that it ran on blode cryed with a loude voyce coÌ„mytted vnto me the cryme or blame And whan the Emperoure herde this he behelde her with a fell couÌ„tenauÌ„ce and sayd to hyr in this maner O thou wretched woman was it not suffycyent to fulfyll thy foule lecherous appetyte I thy rybaude but wolde also haue hadde my sone Than fell the Empresse to themperours fote she cryed hym mercy Then the Emperoure sayd O thou cursyd most vnhappy woman thou askest forgyuenesse thou art worthy none to haue for thou haste deserued to dye in thre maner wyse The fyrst is that thou haste done auoutrye The seconde is that thou hastee prouoked and styred my sone to synne haste to hym commytted layde the cryme falsely vntruly And the thyrde that thou haste euery daye entyced prouoked me with thy false tales for to put hym to dethe therfore the lawe shall haue the course vpon ye. iuge the to the dethe Then sayd the sone Fader ye knowe well that for the lesynge that she lyed vpon me I was dayly lad to hangynge But god with the helpe of my maysters hathe delyuered me O my moost honourable fader it was sayd vnto you by the Empresse that I wolde also by the helpe of my maysters depose you out of youre Empyre that I laboured to dystroye you for to sette me in your place sholde not ye than haue sorowed ye haue the Empyre to gouerne wherfore shold I not holde you for my fader God defende that for of you I haue my lyuyng and I shall holde and repute you for my souerayne lorde and fader durynge the terme of my lyfe And I wyll not in ony manere depryue you of youre honoure but I shall laboure and besye my selfe aboute the gouernauÌ„ce of the same and all your coÌ„mauÌ„dementes I shall fulfyll in euery thyÌ„ ge But it is in lyke wyse as the fader caste his sone in to the see for too drowne hym bycause he sayd that he in tyme comynge sholde be his lorde yet the sone by the helpe of god was saued and was made a gretter lord than he was yet was it no hynderauÌ„ce to the fader but prouffyte Also ye sholde see remembre that my lyfe gouernauÌ„ce shall neuer hynder you but it shal be to your greate solace Ioye Than sayd the Emperoure blessed be almyghty god the houre that I euer begate you deserued to haue suche a sone the I fynde soo wyse good in all thynges Telle me nowe an example by the whiche I maye parfytly thy wysdome vnder stande that myn herte maye the better Ioye in the. Thenne sayd the sone fyrst coÌ„mauÌ„de sylence to your people that I be not letted in my wordes tyll the I haue done And whan that it is ended gyue sentence with the ryght wysnesse of the lawe vpon me and vpon the Empresse Tho coÌ„maunded the Emperoure sylence the chyld began to tell in maner as hereafter foloweth ¶ The example of Dyoclesyan the Emperours sone THere was a knyght whiche hadde but one sone that he loued ryght moche in begynnynge as ye nowe all onely haue me whome he delyuered to a mayster of ferre couÌ„trees to nourysshe to lerne the chylde was of a grete wytte prouffyted moche and grewe as well in lernynge as in body And whan he had dwelled with his mayster seuen yere his fader desyred to see hym sent letters to hym that he sholde come ayen in to his couÌ„tree vysyte his frendes in lyke wyse as ye haue sente for me The chylde was obedyent to his fader came at his coÌ„mauÌ„dement of whos comynge he Ioyed moche for that he was as well growen in his membres as in doctryne To euery man he appered pleasauÌ„t and gentylle It happened vpon a daye that the fader and the moder syttynge at the table the chylde seruynge theym A nyghtyngale came fleynge afore the wyndowe where as they satte began for to synge so swetely that they merueyled And the knyght sayd O how swetely this byrde syngeth well were hym that coude vnderstande his songe coude shew the interpretacyon therof Thenne the sone sayd my worshypfull fader the song of the nyghtyngale I coude well declare but I fere your dysplesure The fader sayd saye hardely my sone the interpretacyon of the byrde than ye shall proue whether I shall be angry or not but I shall marke well the reason of myn angre whan the sone herde that he sayd the nyghtyngale hath sayd in his songe that I shall become a grete lorde that I shall be honoured worshypped of all men namely of my fader the whiche shall brynge the water for to wasshe in myn handes and my moder shall holde the towell The fader sayd thou shall neuer see that day suche seruyce of vs to haue nor none suche dygnyte shall folowe the. and in greate malyce wodenesse he toke his sone vppon his sholders ranne to the see cast hym in it and sayd Lye there the interpretatour of the byrdes songe The chylde coude swymme and swymmed to a londe where he was foure dayes with out mete or drynke The fyft daye there came a shyp saylynge and as the chyld sawe that he called loude to the shypmenÌ„ sayd for the loue of god delyuer me frome the peryll of dethe The shypmen sawe that it was a fayre yonge man they had compassyon on hyÌ„ and went with theyr bote and fette hym aborde and in to ferre countrees with them shey ledde
ther with may saue that ye may haue also that is to you requysyte behouefull And also me semeth it were expedyent that ye afore your departyng sholde mary my doughter Tho answerd Alexander wyll it please you my lorde too spare me at this tyme at my comynge home ayen I shall wedde hir with all honoure as to her apperteyneth The kynge answered sythen it is your wyll to go to themperours court I lycence you and therto I consente Alexander toke leue of the kynge toke with hym tresoure ynoughe went to themperours courte And whan he was come with a fayre companye he wente afore the Emperoure felle on his knees and salued hym dyd hym reuerence Themperoure rose frome his sete imperyall and kyssed hym asked of hym of whens what he was wherfore he was comen He answered and sayd I am sone heyre to the kynge of Egypte am come to do seruyce to your moost hyghe maieste yf it please you to accepte me Themperour sayd that he was ryght welcome cōmytted hym to his stewarde and made hym his keruer The stewarde ordeyned hym a fayre chamber purueyed hym all thynges that were necessary to the same And Alexander behaued hym so well wysely that in shorte tyme of all people he was beloued Not longe after that came the kynges sone of Fraunce to do seruyse to themperoure to lerne nurture whome themperour receyued honourably and demaūded his name of what kynred he was come He answered I am sone to the kynge of Fraūce I haue to name Lodwyke your seruaūte Tho sayd the Emperoure I haue made Alexander my karuer ye shall be my cuppe berer that al wayes ye shall do seruyse afore me at my table cōmaūded his stewarde to assygne hym a lodgynge whome he assygned with Alexander in his chamber These were soo lyke in stature in vysage in condycyons that vnneth the one myght be dyscerned fro the other but that Alexander was more in cōnyng lyghtlyer in his dedes than Lodwyke was for Lodwyk was a femynyne man shamfast these two yong men loued well togyder This Emperoure had a doughter oonly named Florentyne the which was ryght fayr gracyous shold be his heyre whome he loued entyerly whiche had a courte by her selfe seruaūtes to her assygned To whome the Emperour euery daye was accustomed to sende frome his table of his deyntes in tokenyng of loue by the hande of alexander wherupon the doughter began to haue hym meruaylouslye in her fauoure bycause of his wysdome his gracyous demenure It hapned vpon a day alexander at the mete tyme had suche a besynesse that he serued not at the table nor none other gaue attendaūce for hym in his rowme Lodwyk perceyued that serued in his stede And whan he had serued the Emperoure in his laste seruyce vpon his knee the Emperoure cōmaūded hȳ to bere a dysshe vnto his doughter as he was wonte to do thynkyng hym to be Alexander Tho toke Lodwyke the dysshe yede to the palays of the Emperours doughter salued her with grete reuerence set the mete afore her but vnto that tyme he had not seen her she perceyued anone that it was not alexander sayd to hym in this manere what is your name whos sone are ye he answered to hyr sayd Madame I am the kynges sone of fraūce my name is Lodwyk She sayd I thanke you of your laboure he toke his leue departed In the mene tyme came Alexander to the table they fulfylled ther seruyce The dyner done anone Lodwyk went to his bedde sore seke And Alexander apperceyuynge that went to his chamber sayd to hym O my best beloued frende felowe Lodwyk how is it with you what is the cause of your infyrmite He answered hym sayd the cause of it I knowe not but I fele me soo seke that I fere me I can not escape the dethe Alexander sayd the cause of your infyrmyte and dysease I knowe well For to daye whan as ye bare the mete vnto the Emperours doughter ye behelde hyr vysage beaute so feruently that your herte is taken rauysshed with her loue Therupon he answered O Alexander all the physysyans in the worlde coude not more truly Iuge my sekenesse but I fere it shall be my dethe Then sayd Alexander Be of good comforth I shall helpe you vnto my power yede vnto the market bought with his owne moneye a fayre clothe sette with precyous stones vnknowynge to Lodwyke presented it on his behalue vnto the mayden as she sawe that she asked hym where he myght that costely precyouse cloth fynde to bye he sayd Madame it is the sone of the moost crysten kynge that sendeth it vnto you for youre loue for he but for one syght that he hathe had of you is so seke that he lyeth vpon his bed vnto the dethe therfore yf ye suffre hym to perysshe ye shall neuer recouer ayen your honoure Tho sayd she O Alexander wolde ye this coūseyll me the I shold soo lese my vyrgynyte god defende that be ye sure Alexander that of suche messages ye shall neuer more haue ne wyn thanke therfore go ye out of my syght speke no more therof to me whanne Alexander herde that he dyd his obeysaunce departed the nexte daye Alexander wente ayen to the cyte bought a chaplet that was two tymes more in value than the cloth and therwith he yede to the maydens chamber yaue it to hyr on the behalue of Lodwyke And whan she sawe that costely gyfte she sayd vnto hym in this manere I marueyle of you that soo oftentymes as ye haue seen and spoken with me that ye haue not done your owne erande or spoken for your selfe but for an other Then he answered O madame I haue not ben so disposed by cause that my byrthe is not to be compared with yours And also it happened me neuer suche a case that my herte was so wounded he that hathe a gode felawe is boūde for to doo hym good true felysshyp and therfore moost eccellent pryncesse of youre moost habundaūte pyte haue compassyon vpon hym make hym hole that ye haue se woūded vnto the deth that it be not for euer layde vnto your crueltee impyteouse herte she answered hym go your wayes for at this tyme I wyll gyue you none answere therof And as he herde ye. he toke his leue departed And the thyrde daye he wente vnto the market boughte a gyrdell that thre tymes was more in value costelyer than the chaplet was presented it vnto her on the behalue of Lodwyk And whan she sawe behelde the so precyouse she sayd vnto Alexander Saye to Lodwyk that he come to my chamber aboute the thyrde hour in the nyght and he shall fynde the dore open Alexander herynge that
he was gladde went to his felow and sayd My beste beloued felowe be ye of gode comforth for I haue conquered the mayden vnto you and in this nyght I shall brynge you vnto hyr chamber And whan that was sayd he stert vp as thoughe that he hadde wakened out of his slepe was well reuyued for grete ioye he was made all hole And the next nyght folowynge Alexander toke Lodwyke brought hym vnto the chamber of the lady with whome he was in solace Ioye all the nyght fro the tyme forth all hyr herte was vpon hym so that there was but one loue betwyxt them bothe And after that Lodwyke vsyd her oftentymes to vysyte so that it came by processe of tyme to the ere 's of the knyghtes of the courte how that the Emperours doughter was knowen by Lodwyke conspyred amonges them selfe how that they myght hym ther with all fynde hym to take or sle as Alexander had knowlege therof he armed hym to withstande them And whan the knyghtes vnderstode that they ferynge Alexander suffred his felowe to go in peas Alexander many tymes put hym selfe in ieoperdye for hym he not knowynge therof but the mayde knewe it welle In shorte tyme after that there came letters to Alexander of the dethe of the kynge of Egypt the he sholde has tely come and receyue his kyngdome with honour Ioye and that shewed he anone too the mayden and to Lodwyk and also of his departynge wherof they were sorowfull heuy he sayd also vnto the emperour My mooste redoubted lorde please it you for to vnderstande that I haue receyued letters of the deth of my fader wherfore it behoueth me to go receyue the kyngdome that ye wylll lycence me to depart and for all benefetes to done I offre my selfe all my godes rather then I sholde by my goynge awaye offende or dysplese you my lorde I shall forsake all my realme all that I haue in the world abyde with you styll Then sayd the Emperoure knowe ye for certayne that of your departynge I am ryght heuy for ye were vnto me the beste seruaut that was in all my house But it becometh not an Emperoure to lette his seruauntes frome ther promocyons or auaūcementes but soner to promote theym vnto hygher gretter honoure Therfore go ye vnto oure tresourer he shall delyuer you as moche golde as ye wyll haue in the name of god with my blessynge go in to your coūtre and thus Alexander had leue of the Emperoure bad fare well many of the courte were sorowfull of his departynge for of all he was beloued Lodwyk with the mayden brought hym on his waye well seuen myle After that Alexander wolde not suffre theym for to go further then fell they bothe to the groūde for grete sorow Alexander toke lyfte them bothe vp ayen from the erthe comforted theym with fayre swete wordes and sayd O Lodwyke my moost beloued felawe I warne you that the secretes beynge betwyxt you my lady ye hyde them kepe them as preuely as ye may take good hede to all thynges For I wote an other shall come and be in my stede that shall enuy you of the fauoure grace that ye stande in with the Emperoure and daye nyght shall lye in a wayte to take you with a faute to put you to a rebuke Then answered lodwyk sayd O Alexander I shall be ware as moche as to me is possyble but how shall I nowe do whan I wante your company therfore one thynge I shall desyre of you that ye wyl take this rynge of me for a remēbraūce Then sayd he I shall for the loue of you gladly receyue the rynge yet sholde I neuer wtoute the rynge forgete you cōmytted them too god Then they embraced eche other aboute the necke kyssed and so departed frome other Not longe after the the kynges sone of Spayne named Guydo was receyued of the Emperoure in the rowme place of Alexander to whome the stewarde assygned Alexanders place chamber whiche was sore ayenste the wyll of Lodwyke but he coude not amende it Guydo perceyuynge that Lodwyke ayenst his wyll had hym in his felysshyp anone he toke had enuye ayenst hym so that Lodwyke of a longe tyme for fere of the sayd Guydo kepte hym out of the company of the sayd mayde Neuerthelesse afterwarde ouercomen with the loue of the mayden somtyme haūted wente ayen to hyr as he afore tyme had done Guydo shortly perceyuynge awayted so longe therupon that he the trouthe knewe and was therof in surete that the mayden was by Lodwyke knowen hadde accompanyed with hym Vppon a tyme it happened the the Emperoure stode in hys halle praysed gretely Alexander of his gentylnes and wysedome That herynge Guydo sayde My lorde he is not soo moche worthy to be cōmended as ye wene for he hath ben a longe whyle a traytour in youre house thenne themperoure sayd telle me how Guydo sayd ye haue but one doughter oonly the whiche shall be your heyre and the Lodwyke hathe defouled lyen by hyr by the helpe of alexander he gothe to hyr euery nyght whan it pleaseth hym and whan the emperoure herde that he was sore meuyd wexed angry it happened Lodwyke vpon the same tyme to come thrugh the hall and whan the Emperour sawe hym he sayd what here I of the thou euyll and vntrue body yf it be founde proued true thou shalt deye the moost shamefull dethe that can be deuysed Lodwyke sayd My lorde the emperoure what is the cause Guydo answered I saye depose here afore my lorde ayenst the that thou haste defouled his oonly doughter euery nyght thou goost to hyr doost fornycacyou with her and that in batayle I shall proue make good vpon thy body with my body Thenne sayd Lodwyke I am innocente not defectyue in that cryme falsely thou puttest that and layest vpon me therupon I holde the batayle for I truste on god thy falshede shall come vpon thyn owne hede Then the Emperoure assygned theym the daye of batayle fyghtynge That done Lodwyke went vnto the mayden shewed to her the cause the daye of batayle by the Emperoure assygned and in what maner Guydo hadde hym accused and sayd to hyr Nowe it behoueth me to haue your coūseyll or els I muste deye for why as ye knowe it had not aueyled me to haue ayensayd the batayle wtout I wolde haue yelded myselfe gylty Guydo is stronge hardy in armes that his lyke is none but alexander I am weyke feble therfore yf I holde the batayle ayenst hym I am but a dede man so shall ye abyde shamed rebuked Then sayd she Do my coūseyle in that that ye mystrust youre selfe go hastely vnto my fader saye to hym that ye haue receyued