we may obey god and than shal we haue euerlastyng lyfe Unto the whyche brynge vs our lorde Iesus Amen THere dwelled somtyme in Rome a myghty Emperour named Frederyke whyche had no chyldren saue a doughter tho whome this Emperour after his decese bequethed all hys empyre Thys vnderstandynge an erle that dwelte there besyde came vnto thys yonge lady wowed her stered her to synne all that he myght wherfore thys yonge lady in shorte processe of tyme enclyneh to the erle this erle anone lay with her defouled her after that he put her froÌ„ her herytage and chaced her out of her empyre wherfore she made great lamentacyon fledde vnto a realme there besyde where as she dayly wept mourned It befell after on a day that whyle she sate mournynge besyde a waye there came rydyng by her a fayre yonge knyght vpon a good hors whyche came towarde her a greate pâ—ce worshypfully salewed her and asked the cause why she mourned so sore Than answered she sayd My reuerend lord I am an Emperours doughter coÌ„men of a royall kynne my father is deed whyche lefte me all hys empyre bycause he had none other heyre after his decese an erle there besyde deceyued me toke from me my maydenheâ—e after that he put me vyoleÌ„tly out of myne herytage so that now I am fayne to begge my breed from dore to dore this is the cause of my sorowe Than sayd the knyght fayre damoysell I haue great coÌ„passyon on thy beaute and on thy gentylnes therfore yf thou wylte graunte me one thynge I shall fyght for the agaynst y e erle and I behote the the victory Than sayd she alas alas I haue nothynge y t I may gyue to the but my selfe And I aske no more of the sayd the knyght but that thou woldest be my wyfe and loue no man so moche as me Than sayd she Reuerende syr that wyll I do gladly more yf I myght Than sayd the knyght I wyll that thou do for me one thynge that yf it fortune me to dye in batayle for the opteyne the victory thou shalte take my blody sherte hange it vpon a perche in thy chambre and thys shalte thou do for two thynges The fyrst is y t whan so euer thou beholdest the sherte thou shalt wepe for me The seconde is that what so euer man comme to wowe the to be his wyfe than shalte thou hastely renne vnto thy chambre beholde my blody sherte thynke hertely wythin thy selfe thus The lorde of this sherte dyed for my loue in batayle the whyche recouered my herytage god forbede that I sholde take ony other maÌ„ after his deth Than sayd she Reuerende syr all thys I shall fulfyll bi the grace of god And whan y e knyght heâ—de this he gaue batayle agaynst the erle oâ—teyned the victory and y e erle was ouercome â—ledde And thys yonge lady was brought receyued agayne in to her herytage Neuerthelesse thys knyght was deedly wouÌ„ded in that batayle wherof he dyed but or he dyed he bequethed hys blody sherte vnto this damoysell desyrynge her to kepe her promesse Whan thys yonge lady herde of his deth she wepte sore made great lamentacyon for his deth And in hys sherte was wryteÌ„ this verse Thynke on hym haue mynde that to y e was so kynde Anone whan she had receyued the sherte she hanged it vpon a perche in her chambre as oftentymes as she behelde it she wepte bytterly It befell not longe after that the states of her Empyre came to her desyred her to take a husbande But than she wente to her chambre behelde the blody â—herte than waxed she sorowfull sayd oftentymes alas alas thou suffred deth for my loue thou also recouered agayn myne heritage god forbede that I shold take ony other man but the. And thus she answered euery man that came to her so they wente away vnsped and she ended her lyfe in peace and rest ¶ Dere frendes this Emperour is the father of heuen and his doughter is the soule of man made at the similitude of god to whome god gaue bequethed the empyre of paradyse But ther came an erle y t is the deuyl and styred her to synne whan she ete of the apple sayd to her thus In what houre ye â—ate of y e apple ye shall be lyke goddes wherfore we brekyng goddes comaundement we were all exiled out of paradyse chased to the realme of thys worlde here to lyue in greate wretchednes lyke as the psalmyst sayth In sudore vultus tui c. In the swete of thy vysage thou shalte eate thy breed But than came a fayre yonge knight a stronge that is to saye our lorde Iesu Chryst whych had compassyon vpon mankynde toke our flesshe our blode and gaue batayle to the deuyl and ouercame hym and thus wanne he agayne our herytage Therfore let vs do as thys yonge lady dyd put we thys blody sherte that is to saye the mynde of y e passyon of Chryst on the perche of our hert and thynke we how â—ur lorde Iesu Chryst shed hys precyous blode for vs. And yf ony maÌ„ that is to saye the deuylt or ony other wolde styre vs to synne anone thynke we on y e passyon of Chryst saye we thus I shall take none other but the whyche hast shedde thy blode for me thus shall we wynne euerlastyng lyfe Unto the whyche god brynge vs all Amen SOmtyme dwelled in Rome a myghty Emperour named Apolloninus whyche ordeyned for a lawe that euery man vpon payne of deth sholde worshyp the day of his natiuite This Emperour called to hym a clerke y t hyght Uirgyll sayd My dere mayster there be many heed synnes done contrary to the lawe therfore I praye the that thou by thy connynge wolde make some craft wherby I myght knowe who trespaceth agaynst y e lawe pryuely or pertly Than sayd Uirgyll My reuâ—â—eÌ„de lord your wyll shall be done Anone thys Uirgyll thrugh hys crafte made an ymage in the myddes of the cyte of Rome whyche dysceuered tolde themperours messengers who trespaced agaynst the lawe who not There was that tyme dwellyng in y e cyte of Rome a smyth that hyght Focus whych for no thynge wolde worshyp the natyuyte of the Emperour It befell vpon a nyght as the smyth laye in hys bedde he thought vpon the ymage that had accused so many men before dred leest the ymage wolde accuse hym wherfore he rose went to the ymage sayd I make a vowe to god yf thou accuse me I shall breke thy heed And whan he had thus sayd he went home The Emperour on the morowe after folowynge sent hys messeÌ„gers to the ymage as he was wont before to knowe to vnderstande who had trespaced agaynst the lawe And to them than sayd the ymage lyfte vp your eyen behold what
in the forneys wyth the stones and thys nyght coÌ„mauÌ„de ye thys Fulgentius that he go erly in the mornynge to your werkmen and that he aske them whether they haue fulfylled your wyll or not and than shall they accordynge to your coÌ„maundement cast hym in the fyre and thus shall he dye an euyll deth Sothly quod the Emperour thy counseyle is good therfore call to me that rybaude Fulgentyus And whan thys yonge man was coÌ„me to the Emperour he sayde to hym thus I charge y e vpon payne of deth that thou ryse erly in the mornynge and go to the brenners of lyme and brycke and that thou be wyth them before y e sonne ryse thre myles from this house and charge them on my behalfe that they fulfyll my commauÌ„dement or else they shall dye a shamefull deth Than sayd thys FulgeÌ„tius My lorde yf god â—ende me my lyfe I shall fulfyll your wyll though I sholde go to the worldes ende Whan Fulgentyus had thys charge he coude not slepe for thought but that he must aryse erly for to fulfyll hys lordes coÌ„maundement The Emperoure aboute mydnyght sente a messenger on horsbacke vnto his brycke makers coÌ„maundyng them vpon payne of deth that who so euer came to them fyrst in the mornynge sayinge vnto them the Emperours commaundement whych is before rehersed that they sholde take hym cast hym in to the fyre and brenne hym to the bare bones The bryckmakers answered sayd it sholde be done And than the messenger rode home agayne and tolde the Emperoure that hys coÌ„mauÌ„dement sholde be fulfylled Erly in the mornynge folowynge Fulgentyus arose and arayed hym towardes hys waye and as he wente he herde a bell rynge to masse wherfore he went to that chyrche for to heare masse and after the eleuacyon of the blessed sacrament he fell a slepe there he slepte a longe whyle so that the preest ne none other myght awake hym The stewarde desyryng inwardly to heare of hys deth and how he dyd aboute one of the clocke he wente vnto the workmen and sayd to them thus Syrs quod he haue ye done the Emperours coÌ„maundement or not They answered hym agayn and sayde Nay sothly we haue not yet done hys commaundement but anone it shall be done And wyth that they set handes on hym Than cryed the stewarde wyth an hygh voyce sayde Good syrs saue my lyfe for the Emperour commaunded that Fulgentyus sholde be put to deth Than sayd they the messenger tolde not vs so but he bade vs tha who so euer came fyrst to vs in the mornynge saying as is before rehersed that we sholde take hym and cast hym in to the farneys and brenne hym to asshes And wyth that worde they threwe hym in to the fyre And whan he was brente Fulgentyus came to them and sayd Good syrs haue ye done my lordes commaundement Ye sothly sayde they and therfore go ye agayn to the Emperour and tell hym so Than sayd Fulgentius For Chrystes loue tell me that commaundement We had in commaundement sayd they vpon payne of deth that who so euer came to vs fyrst in the mornyng and sayd lyke as thou hast sayde that we sholde take hym and cast hym in to the forneys But afore the came the the whyche brynge vs our lorde Iesu Chryst. Amen THere dwelled somtyme in Rome a myghty Emperour named Delphinus whych had no chyldren saue onely a doughter whyche was a fayre creature and greatly beloued of her father As thys Emperour walked vpon a daye on huntynge in the forest sodeynly he rode forth out of hys waye and lost his men wherfore he was greatly disconforted â—or he wyst not whether he rode ne in what place he was tyll at the last whan he had rydden thus al the daye alone in the euenynge he sawe a house and thyder he rode a great pace and knocked at the gate Anone the good man of the house herde hym and asked the cause of hys knockyng and what he wolde haue Dere frende quod the Emperoure lo it is nyght as ye may se therfore I desyre you of lodgynge for the loue of god Whan he had thus sayde the good man of the house vnware that he was the Emperoure answered thus and sayde Good frende quod he I am the Emperours foster and haue plente of venyson and other vyteylles for you Whan the Emperoure herde thys he was ryght glad in hys mynde neuerthelesse he tolde hym not that he was the Emperoure And than the foster opened the gate and receyued hym as worshypfully as he coude set hym to hys supper and serued hym honestly And whan he had supped the foster brought hym to hys chambre and whan tyme was he wente to bedde In the same nyght it befell that the fosters wyfe was trauaylynge of chylde in an other chambre fast by and was delyuered that same nyght of a fayre sone And as the Emperour laye in hys bedde slepynge hym semed he herde a voyce saying to hym thryes these wordes Take take take And wyth that he awoke and meruayled greatly what it myght be sayinge to hymselfe thus A voyce byddeâ—h me take take take what shall I take And anone he fell a slepe agayne and the seconde tyme he herde a voyce sayinge vnto hym these wordes Yelde yelde yelde And wyth that he wakened agayne and wondred greatly sayinge vnto hymselfe What may thys sygnyfye Fyrst I herde a voyce that sayde take take take and nothynge I receyued And ryght now I herde another voyce that sayde yelde yelde yelde what sholde I yelde And as he laye thus thynkynge in hym selfe he fell a slepe agayne And than he herde the thyrde voyce sayinge these wordes thryes Flee flee flee for this nyght is a cyylde borne that after thy decese shall be Emperour Whan the Emperoure herde thys he wakened and wondred greatly what it myght be In the mornynge erly folowynge the Emperoure arose and called to hym the foster sayd Dere frende I praye the that thou wylte tell me yf ony chylde be borne thys nyght to thy knowlege My wyfe quod the foster thys nyght is delyuered of a fayre sone I praye the sayd the Emperoure shewe me thy sone Whan the Emperoure had seen the chylde he sawe a token in the chyldes visage wherby he myght knowe hym an other tyme and than he sayde to the foster thus Dere frende knowest thou who I am Nay sothly quod the foster for I sawe you neuer before thys tyme as farre as I am remembred neuerthelesse it semeth that ye sholde be a gentylman Than answered the Emperoure and sayd I am quod he the Emperour your lorde whome ye haue lodged thys nyght wherfore ryght hertely I thanke you This hearynge the foster fell downe vpon bothe hys knees at his fete and besought hym of mercy yf that he had offended hys hyghnes in ony thynge prayinge hym of forgyuenes Than answered y e Emperour sayde Drede the not for I thanke the hertely of
clere ynough that is to saye he is not apte to serue god And whan god may not haue of the second tonne than asketh he of the thyrde tonne that is to say of y e thyrde tonne of hys youth Than answereth the wycked man and sayth that wyne is to stronge myghty and therfore hys youth ought to be spente aboute dedes of this worlde and not in penaunce whyche sholde make hym feble weyke Whan god seeth that he may not haue of thys tonne than asketh he of the fourth tonne And than answereth the wycked man sayth that an aged man is feble may not fast ne do no harde penaunce yf he dyd he shold be cause of hys owne deth And than asketh our lorde of the fyfth tonne that is to say of his olde age whan he dothe crepe may not go wythout a staffe But the wycked man excuseth hymselfe sayth that thys wyne is to feble to gyue suche a feble man for yf he sholde fast one day it were tyme on y e morowe to make hys graue And whan our lorde seeth that he may not haue of the fyfth tonne than asketh he of the syxth tonne that is to saye whan a man is blynde and may not go to synne no more yet desyreth he of suche a man drynke that is to saye the helpe of hys soule But the wretched man lyenge in despeyre sayth Alas alas to me bycause I serued not almyghty god my maker redemer her in tyme past whyle I was in youth in prosperyte but now there is nothynge lefte but onely y e lyes the dregges of all wretchednes therfore what sholde it auayle me now to turne towarde god But for suche men we sholde mourne Neuerthelesse god is so mercyfull that though he myght haue no seruyce of man in all hys tyme yet is he coÌ„tent to haue the lyes of hys tonne that is to say his good wyll though he may not serue hym otherwyse so shal his good wyll staÌ„de hym in stede of penauÌ„ce For in what houre the synner doth hys penaunce he shall be saued as Ezechiel wytneâ—seth The apostle sayth Alas alas welawaye for there be many that wyll gyue no wyne ne none other thynge to hym wherfore god shal complayne vnto the kyng of Iherusalem that is to saye to hys godhede at the day of dome than god man shal gyue a sentence defensable agaynst suche men saying Esuriui et non dedistis c. I haue hungred ye gaue me no meate I haue thursted and ye gaue me no drynke Loo thus shall he reherse to the the seuen werkes of mercy And whan this is done than shall they be put to euerlastyng payne and the ryghtfull men into euerlastynge blysse where they shall haue ioye wythouten ende Unto the whyche brynge vs our lorde Iesu Chryst. Amen IN Rome dwelled somtyme a myghty Emperoure named Antony vnder whose reygne the rowers on the see had taken prysoner a myghty mannes sone of an other regyon brought hym to y e Emperours pryson fast bouÌ„de Whan this yonge man was thus in pryson he wrote to hys father for hys rauÌ„some but his father wold no rauÌ„some paye ne none other thyng sende to conforte hym This hearynge hys sone wepte sore myght not be coÌ„forted for the vnkyndnes of his father Thys Emperour had a fayre doughter whych visyted euery daye this prisoner conforted hym as moche as she myght To whome the prysoner answered sayd How shal I be mery or how may I ioye thus for to lye fast bounde in pryson froÌ„ the syght of man notwithstandyng thys it greueth me more that my father wyll not paye my raunsom Whan thys mayden herde thys she was moued wyth pyte and sayd Dere frende I am sory for the neuerthelesse yf thou wylte grauÌ„te me one thynge I shall delyuer the froÌ„ this anguysshe payne What thynge is that quod he That thou wylte take me to thy wyfe Than sayde the prysoner I promyse you surely to fulfyll your entent and desyre and for the more sykernes I plyght you my trouth Whan he had so done it was not longe after the damoysell delyuered hym out of pryson and fledde awaye wyth hym home to hys fathers hous Whan the father sawe hys sone the mayden togyder he asked y e cause why he brought her wyth hym Than sayd hys sone Syr thys daâ—oysell delyuered me out of pryson and therfore she shal be my wyfe Than sayd hys father I wyl not coÌ„sent that she shal be thy wyfe for two reasonable causes whych I shall shewe the. The fyrst is this it is not vnknowen to the that the Emperoure her father myght haue had for thy delyueraunce great good and for as moche as she was vntrue to her owne father and true to the it semeth well that thou sholde not trust longe in her for who is false to her owne father by reason shold be very false and vntrue to an other man The second reason is thys The cause why she delyuered the out of pryson it was neyther for pyte nor for loue but for flesshly lust that she had to the. For at thy delyueraunce she made couenaunt wyth the to be thy wyfe and had of the thy trouth and therfore sone it is not reason that she shold be thy wyfe The mayden answered to thys questyoÌ„ sayd As for the fyrst reason which thou layest agaynst me that I sholde be vntrue to my father that is false for my father hath plente of rychesse thy sone is but poore and therfore I holpe hym for pyte and for none other cause and neuerthelesse thou that art hys father wolde not paye hys raunsome that he myght be delyuered out of pryson Loo for thys cause I haue delyuered hym therfore I am kynder to hym than thou that art hys owne father he is more beholden to me than to the. Unto that other reason where as y e sayst that I delyuered hym bycause of flesshly lust I answere and saye playnli that it is not trouth For al maner of flesshly loue is cause of strengthe or else of fayrnes but thy sone is not stronge for his enprysonment hath done awaye hys strengthe He is not fayre for by the payne that he hath had in prison he is made lowe and vnlusty to the syght and therfore pyte onely moued me to delyuer hym and not flesshly lust Than sayd the sone vnto hys father Dere father for as moche as I was in peryll of deth and wrote vnto the that thou woldest paye my raunsome that I myght be delyuered and thou woldest not helpe me but this damoysel of her gentylnes and for pyte hath saued me from deth and delyuered me out of pryson and therfore sothly she shal be my wyfe wherfore forth wyth he wedded her wyth great honour and wyth her ended hys lyfe ¶ Dere frendes thys Emperour betokeneth the father of heuen The yonge man whyche was taken wyth the
sholde be cast in to ê‘petuall pryson There was that tyme a knyght that had a sayre lady to hys wyfe whyche dyd aâ—outry her husbande beynge alyue was wyth chylde therfore by y e 〈…〉 in pryson where wythin shorte tyme after she was delyuered of a fayre sone Thys chylde grewe vp tyll he was .vij. yere olde hys mother dayly wepte hertely And whan the chylde herde thys he sayd to hys mother O mother why wepe ye thus for what cause is your body thus turmented Than sayd hys mother O thou my swete sone I haue great cause to mourne and thou also for aboue our hedes is people walkyng y e sonne shyneth in clerenes great solace haue all men y t are aboue vs we be here contynually in suche darknes that I may not se the ne thou me alas that euer I conceyued the. Than sayd y e sone suche ioye ne suche lyght as ye speke of sawe I neuer for I was borne here in thys darknes therfore yf I had meate and drynke ynough here wolde I lyue all the dayes of my lyfe therfore mother wepe ye not but shewe me solace This lameÌ„tacyon that was bytwene the mother and the sone herde themperours stewarde that stode aboâ—â— theyr hedes wherof he had great compassioÌ„ wente vnto y e Emperour knelyng besought hym of hys grace that the mother and the sone myght be delyuered out of pryson The Emperour as a mercyfull lorde grauÌ„ted y t they sholde be delyuered Neuerthelesse yf they trespaced so in tyme to coÌ„me they shold be punysshed wyth double payne after that they were delyuered thys woman ended her lyfe in that cyte ¶ Dere frendes thys Emperour is the father of heuen that made thys lawe that what wedded woman that is to say what soule that is wedded to our lord doth auoutry that is to say deedly synne sholde be cast in y e pryson of hell therfore a synfull soule hath great cause to wepe for she is departed from lyght that is to saye from the ioyes of heuen Her sone that desyred meate drynke ben the myghty men of thys worlde that saye to the prelates of the chyrche to the prechers y t preche vnto them the ioyes of heuen that whyle we may lyue and haue all y e solace of y e worlde we desyre none other heuen The stewarde that herde theyr lamentacyon is our lorde Iesu that knoweth all the preuytees of our hertes contricyon of our synnes besought the father of heuen for vs that we myght be delyuered from the pryson of synne that we myght coÌ„me to euerlastyng lyfe to the whyche brynge vs our lorde Iesus Amen SOmtyme in Rome dwelled an Emperoure named Pomper whyche aboue all other thynges was mercyful Thys Emperour let crye thrugh our al hys empyre a great feest and that poore ryche sholde coÌ„me to thys feest And who so euer came to that feest sholde not onely be well fedde but also he sholde haue great gyftes Whan the herawde had warned all maner of men to comme to thys feest at y e tyme there were two poore men lyenge by the waye that one was lame and that other was blynde Thys blynde man sayd to the lame man Alas and woo to me the how shall we do for themperour hath let crye a feest who so euer coÌ„meth there shall not onely be well fedde but also he shall haue greate gyftes and I am blynde thou art lame how shall we do What sayd the lame man to the blynde man I shall tell the good counseyle yf y e wylte do after me thou shalte let for nothynge I am lame feble may not go neuerthelesse I may se thou art blynde stronge mayst not se take thou me vpon thy backe bere me and I shall lede the the ryght waye thus shall we bothe come to themperours feest Than sayd the blynde after thy counseyle let vs do coÌ„me on my baâ—k and I shall bere the thou shalt lede me the ryght waye so they dyd that they came bothe to that feest and receyued greate rewardes gyftes amonge other men And thus ended theyr lyues in peace ¶ Dere â—rendes thys Emperour is our sauyour Iesu Chryst that let crye a generall feest that is to saye the ioyes of heuen vnto y e whiche ioyes he calleth all mankynde forsaketh iiâ— man that wyll coÌ„me vnto hym This lame man betokeneth the prelates of the chyrche prechers and confessours that haue nothynge of theyr owne but lyuen by techynge and almes of other men And thys blynde man betokeneth the laye men whych knowe not the ryght waye to heuen It behoueth that the blynde man that is to say the laye men to bere the lame man that is to saye the prelates of the chyrche susteynynge fedyng them wyth the tythyng of almes and other oblacyons than the prelates be beholden to teche to enforme vs the waye to heuen where as we shal not onely haue a feest but also great rewarde and ioye vnto the whyche god brynge vs all Amen SOmtyme in Rome dwelled an Emperoure named Follyculus the whyche was ryght wyse mercyfull ryghtfull in all hys werkes Thys Emperour buylded in the eest a noble cyte wherin he put all hys treasour precyous stones rychesse to be kepte Unto thys cyte the waye was stony full of brymbles and sharpe thornes thre knyghtes were armed redy to fyght wyth them that wolde coÌ„me to that cyte Therfore themperour ordeyned that who so euer ouercame these knyghtes sholde entre the cite take at his wyll of themperours treasour After that thys Emperour let make in the northwest a cite wherin he ordeyned all maner of payne turmentyng sorowe myschefe to y e whyche was a brode waye full delectable growynge full of roses fayre lyllyes and in that way were thre knyghtes euer waytynge yf ony man came towarde the cyte of the north to serue hym wyth al maner of delycates and thynges necessary And yf it fortuned ony man to entre wythin that cyte the custome was suche that the people sholde take bynde hym handes fâ—te and cast hym in pryson there to abyde the coÌ„mynge of the Iustyce Whan thys was cryed thrugh out all the empyre there were two knyghtes dwellynge in a cyte there besyde one hyght Ionatas and he was a wyse man that other hyght Pyrrius he was a foole neuerthelesse there was bytwene them great loue Thys Ionatas sayd to Pyrrius Dere frende there is a commune crye made thrugh all landes that themperoure hath made a cyte in the eest wherin he hath put all his treasour who so euer may entre that cyte shall take of the treasour what hym lyst therfore my couÌ„seyle is that we go to y e cyte Than sayd Pyrryus thy couÌ„seyle is good I desyre to fulfyll it The wyse knyght sayd yf it be so that thou wylte folowe my
couÌ„seyle I praye the that faythfull frendshyp may coÌ„tynue bytwene vs and in token of loue that thou wylt drynke my blode I shall drynke thyne that none of vs departe ne fayle other in this iourney The folysshe knyght sayd it pleaseth me ryght well all that ye say wherfore they were bothe letten blode and eueryche of them dranke others blode Whan thys was done they wente forth togyder on theyr iourney and whan they had gone thre dayes iourneys towarde the cyte where y e treasour was they came to a place where was two wayes one was sharpe stony full of thornes that other way was playne and fayre and full of swetnes delytes Than sayd the wyse knyght to hys felowe Dere frende here be two wayes one sharpe and thorny neuerthelesse yf we go thys waye we shall coÌ„me to thys cite that is so ryche there shall we haue that we desyre Than sayd thys folysshe knyght to hys felowe I wonder greatly of you that ye speke suche thynges for I wyll rather byleue myne eyen than your wordes I se here openly so do ye that here is an harde waye full of thornes as I haue herd say there be thre champyons armed in thys waye redy to â—yght agaynst all men that go that waye towarde the cite of y e eest therfore I wyll not go that waye but here is as ye may se an other waye playne and easy to walke in and in thys waye there ben thre knightes redy to serue vs gyue vs al maner thynges necessary to vs and therfore by this waye wyll I go not by that other waye Than sayde the wyse knyght certaynly yf we go by that way we shall be ledde in to the cyte of the north wherin there is no mercy but perpetuall payne sorowe and there shall we be taken bounde and cast in pryson Certaynly sayd the folysshe knyght thys waye is y e redy waye as I byleue it is more profytable than y e other waye Than wente they bothe forth y e fayre waye anone thre knyghtes mette wyth them whyche receyued them reuerently as for a nyght gaue them all maner of thynge that was necessary to them And on y e morowe they toke theyr iourney forth to warde y e cyte And whan they were wythin the cyte anone the Emperours offycers mette w t them sayd Dere frendes why coÌ„me ye hyther in so moche that ye knowe y e lawe of this cite so cruell of longe time here before sothly ye shall be serued now after y e lawe Anone they toke the wyse knyght and bouÌ„de hym and put hym in pryson â–ª and after that they toke the folysshe knyght bounde hym fast and kest hym in to a dyche Soone after it befell that the Iustyce came to the cyte to gyue iudgement on them that had trespaced y e lawe and anone all the prysoners were brought forth before the Iustyce amonge whome these two knyghtes were brought forth one from pryson and that other froÌ„ the dyche Than sayd the wyse knyght to the Iustyce Reuerende lorde I complayne of my felowe that is gylty of my deth for whan we two came to the two wayes wherof that one ledde to y e cyte in the eest that other to thys cyte I tolde hym all the peryll of this cite the rewarde of that other cyte he wolde not byleue me sayd to me in thys wyse I byleue myne owne eyen better than thy wordes and bycause he was my felowe I wolde not let hym go alone in thys waye thus came I wyth hym wherfore he is cause of my deth Than sayd the folysshe knyght I complayne that he is the cause of my deth â–ª for it is not vnknowen to you all that I am a foole he a wyse man therfore he sholde not so lyghtly haue folowed my foly for yf he had forsaken thys waye I wolde haue folowed hym therfore he is cause of my deth Than sayd the Iustyce to y e wyse knyght bycause that thou wyth all thy wysdome and great vnderstandyng so lyghtly coÌ„sented folowed the wyll of the foole his folysâ—he werkes thou foole bycause thou woldest not do after the counseyle ne fulfyll the holsome wordes of thys wyse man byleue hym I gyue iudgement that ye be bothe hanged for your trespace And so it was done wherfore al men praysed greatly the Iustyce for hys dyscrete iudgement ¶ Dere frendes thys emperour is almyghty god in the eest is y e cyte of heuen wherin is treasour infynyte And vnto this cyte is an harde waye full of thornes that is to say the waye of penauÌ„ce by y e whyche waye full fewe walketh for it is harde strayte accordynge to holy scrypture saying thus Est arta via que ducit ad vitaÌ„ It is a strayte way that ledeth to euerlastyng lyfe In thys waye ben thre armed knyghtes that is to saye the deuyll the worlde the flesshe w t whome it behoueth vs to fyght to optayne the vyctory or we may coÌ„me to heuen The seconde cyte that is in y e north is hell And to thys accordeth scrypture sayinge thus Ab aquilone pondetur oeÌ„ maluÌ„ Out of the north coÌ„meth all euyll Certaynly to this cyte is y e waye playne brode walled aboute on euery syde wyth all maner delycates wherfore many men walke by thys waye The thre knyghtes y t gyueth to euery man goynge this waye what thynge them nedeth ben these Pryde of lyfe couetyse of eyen concupyscence of the flesshe in whyche thre the wretched man greatly delyteth at y e last they lede hym in to hell Thys wytty knyght betokeneth the soule the folysshe knyght betokeneth the flesshe the whyche is alway folysshe at all tymes redy to do euyl These two be felowes knytte in one for eueryche of them drynketh others blode that is to say they shall drynke of one cup eyther ioye or payne shall they haue after the day of dome The soule chosech the waye of penauÌ„ce in as moche as she may she sâ—ereth the flesshe to do y e same But the flesshe thynketh neuer what shall coÌ„me after therfore she goth in the delyte of this worlde fleeth the delyte of penauÌ„ce And thus the soule after the deth is cast in to hell the flesshe is cast in to the dyche that is to saye in to the graue But than the Iustyce coÌ„meth that is our lorde Iesu chryst at the day of dome to deme al mankynde ThaÌ„ y e soule shal complayne vpon the flesshe the flesshe vpon the soule But whan y e Iustyce that wyll not be deceyued neyther by prayer ne by pryce shall condempne y e soule bycause she folowed y e fraylte of y e flesshe also he shal condempne the flesshe bycause it wolde not byleue the soule wherfore let vs study to tame our flesshe that
lyfe in worldly ioye or worldly helpe more than in the helpe of god whyche is mighty to do al thinges wherfore he sayth hymselfe thus Saluator si habueritis fideÌ„ sicut granuÌ„ sinapis poteritis c. Yf ye haue fayth as y e grayne of mustarde than may ye saye to y e hylles go thou forth it shall go But many of vs now a dayes hath ouer feble fayth therfore they shall sodeynly fall in the claye of desperacyon by deedly synâ—e oftentymes they offende god Also thys kynge had not brought with hym his father and hys mother By the father whych is cause of generacyon is vnderstaÌ„de humylite wythout whome there is no vertue in no maÌ„ And therto accordeth saynt Gregory sayinge thus Si qis ceteris virtutes sine humilitate congregat c. He that gadereth al other vertues wythout humilite is lyke a man that casteth dust in y e wynde Hys mother betokeneth hope therfore he that wyll optayne euerlastyng lyfe hym behoueth to haue the cloke of charyte brydge of fayth a father of mekenes a mother of hope as y e apostle sayth Spe salui facti sumus Also thys knyght wente the strayte path waye the kynge the brode waye For he that wyll be saued behoueth to go a strayte waye that is to say the waye of fastynge almes dedes chastyte penauÌ„ce Of the whyche waye speketh the apostle Stricta est via que ducit ad vitaÌ„ eternaÌ„ The waye is strayte y e ledeth to euerlastyng lyfe But many men go that other way whyche ledeth to hell that is to say by y e waye of flesshly lust suche men ben gone out of the waye of euerlastynge lyfe but suche men be deceyued thrugh y â— waye Therfore study we to walke that waye wherby we may optayne euerlastynge lyfe Amen SOmtyme dwelled in Rome a noble Emperour named Agyas whyche had with hym a knyght called Gerarde whyche was a doughty warryour neuerthelesse he was as meke as a lambe in the Emperours hall but in y e felde he was lyke a lyon Thys Emperour had a fayre doughter whome the stronge and myghty erle of palester rauysshed defouled neuerthelesse it displeased more themperour y e defoulyng of his doughter than the rauysshynge wherfore he called vnto hym his counseyle sayd Dere frendes it is not vnknowen to you the despyte violence done to me in defoulyng of my doughter therfore I purpose to gyue batayle to the erle wherfore I praye you to be redy at a daye set to procede with me in batayle And they sayd lorde we be redy to lyue dye w t you in batayle Whan the daye of batayle came they mette on bothe sydes a cruell harde batayle was gyuen on bothe sydes all that were of themperours party were slayne And as themperour sholde haue ben byheded the knyght Gerard put hymselfe amonge hys ennemyes before theÌ„perour fought manfully so themperour escaped and the knyght abode and slewe the erle neuerthelesse thys knyght had dyuerse wouÌ„des This not withstandyng he abode fought styl tyl the blode ranne down to hys heles And whan hys ennemyes sawe that y e erle was slayne they â—edde and the knyght wyth hys people folowed on y â— chace tyll he came to y e place where themperours doughter was ledde her wyth hym And thus wyth triumphe vyctory he returned agayn to themperour For y â— whiche victory getyng agayne of themperours doughter he was greatly praysed of all people Not longe alter it befell that thys knyght had to do in themperours courte wherfore the knyght came vnto themperour prayed hym mekely to be fauourable in hys cause farthermore he prayed hym to do y e rayson asked Whan themperour had herde hym he called to hym a iustyce and sayd Go thou and do iustyce to thys knyght that that the lawe wyll And whan y e knyght herde thys he cryed w t a lowde voyce Alas alas who herde euer suche a thynge of an Emperour thou were sayd he in batayle where thy heed shold haue ben smytten of and I in myne owne persone none other men put mi selfe in ieopardy for the saued the now thou hast assigned an other maÌ„ to be iudge in my cause alas that euer y u were borne And wyth y t worde the knyght dyd of all hys clothes shewed y e woundes that he had receyued in the batayle vnto all y e men that were there present sayd Lo what I haue suffred for the and I put none other man in my stede now thou assygnest an other man in my cause Forsothe I saye to y e that I neuer serued suche a lorde before Whan themperour herde thys beynge almoost coÌ„fouÌ„ded in hymselfe sayd thus O dere frende all that thou sayth is trouth thou saued me froÌ„ deth thou wonnest my doughter agayne and for my sake y u hast suffred many wouÌ„des Forsothe it is ryght that I comme downe make an ende of thy cause suche as may be honour ioye to the. And than themperour laboured besyly in thys mater and made therof an ende accordyng to y e knyghtes entent wherfore all men greatly coÌ„mended the Emperour ¶ Dere frendes thys Emperoure may be called euery chrysten man or else al mankynde whyche had a fayre doughter that is to saye the soule made to the symilytude of god Thys erle betokeneth y e deuyll whyche rauysshed and defouled by synne the soule of man thrugh eatyng of the fruyte of y e tree knowynge good euyll wherfore al mankynde was in seruage tyll a stronge valyaunt knyght came put hymselfe on the crosse bytwene the deuyll mankynde For yf that had not ben we had all ben dampned euerlastyngly thys knyght brought agayn the foule of man vnto y e chyrche wherfore he suffred many great woundes in hys body And now thys knyght that is to say our lorde Iesu Chryst hath a mater to do amonge vs that is to saye to fynde in vs pâ—rfyte lyfe wherfore he calleth on vs dayly that we sholde be redy at all tymes saying thus in the apocalipse .iii. Ecce sto ad hostium et pulso si qs mihi aparuerit in troibo et cenabo That is to saye Lo I stande and knocke at the dore yf ony man wyll open to me I shall coÌ„me in soupe wyth hym But many men dothe as thys Emperour dyd the whyche gaue y e ynyght an other iudge than hymselfe But now a dayes there ben some men that wyll do no penauÌ„ce for the loue of hym whyche assygned no man but hymfelfe to fyght for vs. And therfore agaynst vnkynde meÌ„ it shal be sayd thus Lo he hangeth on y e crosse despoyled of all his clothyng and sheweth to vs all hys woundes y t he suffred for vs. Be we therfore kynde that we may suffre for hys loue some penaunce and that at the daye of dome we may