Then the emperour had knowlege of his vyfage kyssed hym sayÌ„g O good alexander nowe I see you in that same forme whiche I haue often tymes dylected in blessed be god that euer I hadde thyse chyldern by the whome ye be holpen and made hole yet wyste no man of the deth of the chyldern saue oonly the emperoure alexander whan as the emperoure sawe that alexander was parfytly heled he sayd vnto hym I shall ordeyne to you an honeste companye ye shall go frome hens ten myle the next daye sende vnto me a messager that ye shew openly vnto me of youre comynge and I shall then with all solempnyte come mete you ye shall abyde with me vnto the tyme that we maye otherwyse prouyde for the recouerynge of youre realme This couÌ„seyll pleased alexander ryght well accordynge to the same it was done For on the nexte daye came the messager vnto the emperoure shewynge hym that comynge of kynge alexander whanne the empresse herde that she was ryghte gladde sayd vnto the emperoure O my lorde haue ye not nowe a cause of greate ioye that kyng alexander whome we of a longe tyme haue not seen and yf it please you to go and mete hym with youre lordes and seruauÌ„tes I shall folowe you with my ladyes gentylwymen yet wyste she not the dethe of hyr chyldern Then rode they forth with a grete companye and met with the kynge alexander and whan they mette togyder with greate reuerence and honoure they receyued hym and with grete gladnesse and Ioye they broughte hym in to the palays and whanne the tyme of dyner was come alexander was set at the table betwyxt the emperour the empresse all the chere that she coude make she dyd to hym and whan the Emperour perceyued that he was ryghte well pleased sayd O myne owne Florentyne I Ioye aboue all thynges that ye do make to kynge alexander soo gode chere Then sayd she wherfore sholde I not is not his comynge to vs bothe Ioye gladnesse but more to you my lorde for this dygnyte that ye are in by hym ye are promoted many tymes he hathe saued you fro the dethe Themperour sayd than I praye you myn owne Florentyne that ye wyll take hede to my wordes that I shall saye to you Sawe ye not the foule laser whiche the laste daye sate before oure table and prayed me for the loue of god kynge alexander that I shold gyue hym drynke she sayd My lorde I saw hym well a more horryble man I neuer behelde then sayd Themperoure I demaunde nowe this of you I put case that he were kynge alexander that he in ony wyse coude not be made hole but with the blood of your sones the whiche ye in one daye krought in to this worlde wolde ye not that theyr bloode were shed that he myght bathe hym therin to the entente that by the same he myght haue parfyte helthe as ye nowe se hym in She sayd my lorde wherfore demauÌ„de ye me that question I saye lete you haue knowlege for trouthe that yf I hadde ten sones I sholde gladly slee them with min owne handes to prepare ordeyne for hym a bayne sholde wasshe hym therin myne owne selfe rather than I sholde leue hym in suche peryll for god myght well sende vs mo chyldern but suche a true frende were as a thynge impossyble for vs to recouer or fynde whan themperour herde this of hyr he was well coÌ„tente pleased in his mynde sayd O wyfe had ye leuer haue your chyldern dede than alexander shold be in that sekenesse of lepery therfore shall I open and shewe to you nowe the trouthe of the mater That foule laser the whiche ye sawe was alexander that syttethe here by that maner he is made hole with the blode of our sones they are dede as the Empresse herde yt. she began to sorowe as nature wolde all thoughe she had sayd afore that she had leuer see hyr chyldern dede than she wolde suffre alexander in suche payne The nourysshes of the chyldern vnderstandynge this with grete cryenge wepynge went to the nourysshery or chamber of them grete sorowe bewaylynge was made thrughe themperours courte for his sones whan the nourysshes came into the chamber they fouÌ„de the chyldern playnge syngynge of the moost blessed vyrgyne Mary aue maria gracia plena dnÌ„s tecum tho went they ayen in all haste vnto the Emperour shewed hym that his sones were lyuynge that about theyr throtes there as they were cutte they haue a cercle of threde of golde therof was grete Ioye gladnesse in all the conrte gaue thankynges vnto alyghty god to the blessed vyrgyne mary his moder of the grete myracle after that themperoure with a grete multytude and company of people gadred assembled went with alexander in to Egypte set hym ayen into his royalte possessyon of his Realme the quene with the knyghte whiche lyued togyder in auoutry he dyd theÌ„ both to be brent in too poudre And whan this was all doÌ„ne the Emperoure hadde a syster oonly whom he gaue alexander vnto his wyfe And whanne kynge Alexander had all his Realme obteyned ayen was sette in gode reste peas the Emperoure wente ayen vnto his Empire the kynge Alexander ryght wysely maniy gouerned hymselfe in all his feates actes so that he ouercame all his enmyes rebelles And whan he was in al his glorye peas myght he hadde thought mynde vpon his fader moder by whome he was caste into the see whiche dwelled in ferre partyes frome thens he sent to them a messager dyd them to haue knowelege that the kynge of Egypte vpon suche a daye wolde be with them to ete to drynke make good chere and whan the messager was come too them they receyued hym with grete Ioye with gyftes largely to hym gyueÌ„ sent hym ayen saynge that theyr seruyces sholde be redy at all tymes to do the kynge plesure but that coude they neuer by powerfully deserue that he wolde wouchesauf to shewe them the hâ—noure wherto they were not worthy he for to come to them to ete to drynke sporte hym The messager wente ayen vnto the kynge shewed how gladlye that they wolde receyue hym what rewarde they had gyuen hym how faythfully they were redy to do hym seruyce at his coÌ„mauÌ„dement where with the kynge was well coÌ„tente And whan the daye was comen that was prefyxed the kynge with a fayre coÌ„pany rode towarde his faders house the whiche as well to the knyght his fader as to his moder was vnknowen that he was theyr sone whanne the kynge was come nygh vnto his faders castell the knyght rode to receyue and mete hym whan he come nyghe vnto the kynge he descended frome his horse reuerenced hym with
thynge or not this done he wakynge gretely marueyllynge lyftynge vp his eyen towarde the rofe of the chamber feruently The maysters seynge that sayd Wherfore lyft ye vp your eyen so sharply He answered it is no merueyll for in my slepe I saw the vppermost parte of the chamber inclyned towarde the erthe or vnder me it was lyfte vp This heryÌ„ge the maysters sayd amonge themselfe Yf this childe maye lyue he shal be a man of grete connyÌ„ge fame ¶ How the Emperour by the couÌ„seyll of the grete pryÌ„ces lordes of his Empyre wedded an other wyfe ¶ How themperour toke an other Wyfe THe prynces and grete lordes of the Empyre in the meane tyme came to the Emperour sayd My lorde ye haue only but one sone it is possyble that he myght happen to dye And therfore it were profytable that ye sholde wedde an other wyfe to engendre and make mo chyldren to thentente that the Empyre of Rome be not lefte without heyre Also ye are so myghty that yf it sholde happen you to gete many chyldren ye may promote auaunce them all to grete dygnytees and lordshyppes Therupon answerde themperour It is your counseyll that I shall take an other wyfe than seke me one that is gracyous / pure vyrgyne / fayre and gentyll borne than shall I folowe your counseyll and aduyse They wente sought and serched many kyngdomes and londes at the laste they founde the kynges doughter of Castyle that ryght fayre was beateuouse her they gaue the Emperour to wyf She behad her so well that anone in her loue he was taken so sore that he forgate and put in oblyuyon all the heuynesse sorowe of of his herte that he had taken for the deth of his fyrste wyfe And they lyued longe togyder wtout chyldren And as Thempresse sawe that she myght not coÌ„ceyue For she herde that themperour had a sone with seuen wyse maysters to lerne nourysshe to the behouffe ê“ufyte of Th empyre she thought in herself wysshed his deth And from that houre forth she ymagyned how she myght conspyre his deth It hapned on a nyght as the Emperour lay in his bed he sayd to thempresse My Howe themperour rode to mete his sone WHan themperour perceyued that his sone was comynge vpon the waye he rode with grete Ioye to mete hym The maysters vnderstandyng the comynge of themperour sayd to the chylde It is best that we departe in the meane whyle we maye ê“uyde how we may saue your lyfe The chylde sayd it pleaseth me well that ye so doo but haue mynde of me in tyme of my necessyte As they that herde they toke theyr leue and departed towardes the Cyte The chylde came after accompanyed ryght honourably And as he and his fader themperour were mette for ioye gladnesse he toke hym about the necke kyssed hym and sayd My dere sone how is it with you / is it longe sythen that I sawe you He bowed down his hede and and answerd no thynge The fader had grete wonder why that he spake not and thought in himselfe that his maysters had hym so enformed that he rydynge sholde not speke And whan they were comen to the palays and were descended from theyr horses The fader toke his sone by the honde lad hym in to the hall and set hym next hym behelde him sayde Say me how it is with your maysters how they haue enformed you for now it is many yeres syth I saw â—ou He enclyned downe his hede gaue none answere The fader sayd wherfore speke ye not to me And whan thempresse herde that themperours sone was comen she was ryght Ioyous and glad sayd I wyl goo to se hym She apparaylled her with ryche vesture atyre toke with her two of her gentylwymen Howe thempresse ladde Dyoclesyan in her chamber for to make good chere wente there as the emperour was syttyÌ„ge with his sone she sette her downe by the chylde she sayd to themperour is this your sone the hath ben nourysshed with the seuen wyse maysters he sayd / it is my sone / but he speketh not She sayd Delyuer to me your sone if euer he spake I shall do hym speke Tho sayd themperour ryse go with her The sone dyde reuereÌ„ce to the fader as thoughe he sayd I am redy too accoÌ„plysshe your wyll went with her ¶ Howe thempresse ladde Dioclesyan themperours sone with her in her chamber for to make good chere with hym the whiche he withstode THempresse lad hym with her in to her chamber commaunded all other to auoyde set hym by her afore her bedde sayd O my best beloued dyoclesyan I haue moche of your persone beaute herde but now I am glad that I may se you with myn eyen that my herte coueyteth loueth for I haue caused your fader to sende for you / that I haue solace Ioy of your persone Wherfore I wtout faute gyue you knowlege that I for your loue vnto this day haue kepte my vyrgynyte Speke to me lete vs goo bed togyder But he gaue her no worde to answer She seynge that sayd to hym O good dyoclesyan haue the half of my soule wherfore speke ye not not to me / or at the leest shewe me some token of loue / what shall I do speke to me I am redy to fulfyll and perfourme your wyll whan she had thus sayd she enbraced hyÌ„ wold haue kyssed hys mouth he torned his vysage from her in no wyse wolde coÌ„sent Tho sayd she ayen to hyÌ„ O sone wherfore do ye thus with me beholde there is none that may se vs. lete vs togyder slepe / than shall ye well ê‘ceyue that for your loue I haue kept my vyrgynyte and he torned his vysage frome her / She seynge that he was of her ashamed shewed vnto hym her naked body and brestes and sayde beholde my sone what body I haue att your wylle gyue me youre consent or elles it shall be herde for me to passe with my ryght myÌ„de He neyther with sygne ne with countenauÌ„ce of vysage shewed her ony maner of loue but as moche as he coude wtdrewe hyÌ„ from her whaÌ„ she sawe that she sayd O my moste swete sone yf it please you not to coÌ„sent to me ne yet speke haply for some resonable cause Lo here is paper pen ynke yf ye wyl not speke with your mouth than wryte your wyl yf I ony tyme herafter may trust in your loue or not The chylde wrote as hereafter folowed O lady god forbede that I sholde defoule my faders orcheyerde yf I shulde defoul it I wote not what fruyte I shold haue of it I knowe wel one thyÌ„ge that I sholde synÌ„ in the syghte of god I sholde ren in the maledictyon of my fader therfore from hensforth prouoke or styre me no more therto /
Whan she had that cedule seen red she brake it with her teth tare or rent her clothes with her nayles to her nauyll her vysage al to scratched it was al blody cast from her al the ornameÌ„tes of her hede cryed with a loude voyce come hither my lordê help me afore that thê rude euyll body / shame rauyssh me Howe thempresse complayned to themperour of the shame to her done by his sone THe Emperour was in his halle and herde the crye noyse of thempresse he hastely ranne towardes his chambre his knyghtes and other of his seruauntes folowed hym after for to see what there was to done Tho beganne thempresse to crye and to speke to themperour thus O my lorde haue pyte and compassyon vpon me beholde this yonge man is not your sone but the foulest rybaude harlot that euer was borne a defouler of wymmen for as ye knowe wel I lad and brought hym with me in to my chamber sholde haue exhorted and caused hym to haue spokeÌ„ I haue done asmoche therto as I can or may why les I with my wordes exhorted and meued hym for to haue spoken he hath endeuoyred hymself with me to haue synned by cause I wolde not to hym conseÌ„te but withstode as moche as I myght for to flee the shame he my vysage hath made all blody my vesture and ornamentes of my heed broken all to torne as ye may openly se And yf ye had not so sone comen vnto my callynge / he had accomplysshed in me his mooste foule and worste wyll whan themperoure this sawe and herd fulfylled with grete malyce woodnesse / commaunded his seruauntes that they sholde lede hym to the galowes hange hym And after his lordes herde that sayde / Lorde ye haue no moo but this sone only It is not good that ye thus lyghtely putt hym to deth / the lawe is put and ordeyned for transgressours mysdoers and yf it be so that he muste deye lete hym by the lawe dye leest that it be sayd that themperour in his grete furour and Ire without lawe and Iustyce he hath put his only sone to dethe As themperour this herde commaunded him to be put in pryson vnto the tyme that iugement were gyuen ayenst hym And whan thempresse vnderstode that the chylde was not put to dethe / she cryed weped bytterly wold haue no reste whan the nyght was comen the Emperour entred in to his chamber to go to bed and founde his wyfe wepynge sorowyng To whome he sayde O my mooste dere lady / for what cause are ye thus sorowfull She answered Knowe ye not how that your cursed sone hath me thus moche shame done offended / and ye haue commaunded hym too be hanged and yet he lyued / your worde is not performed ne my shame is not wroken To morowe sayde themperour he shall dye by the lawe Then sayd she Shalle he so longe lyue ThenÌ„e myght it happen to you as it dyd vpon a burgeys of Rome of whome an example is sayd The Emperoure sayd I praye you shewe me that example That shall I doo gladly sayd the Empresse ¶ The fyrst example of the Empresse this was The gardyner heryng his mayster obeyed hym hewe downe the tree And as this was done the yonge plante all holy perysshed and came to nought wherof came grete harme for whan the poore the seke people perceyued that the tree was so destroyed they cursed all them that were of counseyll helpers therto / by the whiche they all afore tyme were heled cured of theyr infyrmytees maladyes Then sayd the Empresse vnderstande ye what I haue sayd yes ryghte well than sayd she I shall declare to you what I haue sayde The declaratyon of the Example ¶ This tree my lorde betokeneth your moste noble persone / that with your counseyll and helpe many pore seke folke are gretly holpen conforted And the yonge ympe that vnder the grete tre is vp growen is your cursed sone that now by his cunnynge begyÌ„nith to growe and studyeth how he fyrste may the armes and bowes of your myght cutte of / and to wynne too hym the londe praysynge of the people and ouer that he ymagyneth to destroy your person that he may hyÌ„selfe reygne But what shall fall than therof come all poore and feble people shall curse all them the whiche myght haue destroyed your sone haue not done it / I counseyll you whyles ye are in your power helth that ye destroye hym leste that the curse of the people fall vpon you Tho sayde the Emperour ye haue gyuen me good counseyll To morowe I shall condempne hym to the moost vylest deth that can be thought whan the daye was come / the Emperour went sate in IugemeÌ„te commaunded his seruauntes that they sholde lede his sone to be hanged with trompettes blowynge in to kenynge of deth And as themperours sone was lad throughe the Cyte the comen people began too wepe crye alas the onely sone of themperour is lad towardes his deth / therwithall came Pancyllas rydyng vpon a hors the fyrste mayster whan the chylde sawe hym / he bowed his hede to hym as though he had sayde Haue mynde vpon me whan ye come afore my fader se how I am lad to wardes the galowes Than the mayster sayd to the seruauntes / make no haste for I hope by the grace of god this day to delyuer hym froÌ„ the deth Then sayde all the people O good mayster haste you to the palays and saue your dyscyple he smote his hors with the spores tyll he came to the palays / kneled before the Emperour dyde hym reuerence / To whome themperour sayd It shall neuer be to the good which answerd I haue deserued a better rewarde The Emperour sayd there lyest yu. for I delyuerd to the thy felowes my sone well spekynge / in alle thyng well manered now he is dompe that wors is he wolde haue oppressed my wyf therfore this day he shall dye ye all shall dye a shamefull dethe The mayster sayd O lorde as for your sone that ye saye that he speketh not that knoweth god without a cause it is not as ye shall vnderstande And that ye saye more / that he your Empresse wolde haue defowled I shall saye you of a trouth he hath ben in our company by the space of xvi yeres we neuer coude perceyue suche thinges by hym And therfore my dere lorde I shall shew you one thynge that yf ye put your sone to deth for the wordes of your wyfe it sholde happen too you wors than to a knyght the whiche that kylled his beste grey hounde thrugh the wordes of his wyfe whiche saued his sone from the deth Tho sayd themperour to the mayster tell me that example The mayster sayd Lorde that shall I not do
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
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
letters wherby that ye are acertayned that the lorde your fader is sore seke lyeth vppon his dede bed desyreth to se you speke with youre persone to dyspose his kyngdome his godes afore he departe out of this world desyre his lycence for the loue of your fader that ye maye go vysite hym that he wyll proroge lengthe the daye of bataylle whyles the ye maye go come And whan ye haue obteyned his congye or lycence as hastely as ye may go secretely to the kynge alexander whan ye are come to hym take hym aparte shewe hym the cause of youre comynge requyre hym in this youre vtter extremyte that he wylle vs helpe ayde and whan that Lodwyke had herd this coūseyll it pleased hym well dyde hereafter Hys leue goten lenger daye or terme of batayle prefyxed and assygned departed toke his iourneye to wardes the realme of Egypte neuer letted daye nor nyght tyll he came vnto kynge alexanders castell whan the kynge alexander hadde vnderstondynge of his comynge he was moche glad went to mete hym receyued him honourably had wonder of his comyn̄ge Tho sayd Lodwyk O my dere lorde my beste byloued frende my lyfe my dethe is in youre handes for as ye sayd to me afore that I sholde haue an other felowe the whiche sholde lye in awayte to aspye me too destroye me / wtout I save the more wysely to my selfe as longe as I myght I absented me tyll that I coude no lenger but afterwarde the kynges sone of Spayne makynge watch soo longe on me tyll that he perceyued the trouthe hathe accused me vnto the Emperoure so that frome this daye vnto the .viii. daye hereafter prefyxed it behoueth me to come fyght with hym body ayenst body and as ye knowe well he is a stronge an hardy man and I am weyke feble therfore hathe Florentyne coūseyled me that I sholde not hyde this my charge frome you For she knoweth you for a faythfull frende that ye wolde not leue vs in this necessyte Then sayd alexander is there ony body that knoweth of your comyng vnto me for this mater more than Florentyne He answered hym sayd no creature lyuynge for I toke leue of the Emperoure to go vysite my fader lyenge greuously seke Then axed alexander hym what coūseyll hathe Florentyne gyuen to you howe in what wyse I myght helpe you He sayd O moost constaūt faythfull frende in this wyse she hathe coūseylled me cōsyderynge that we be lyke that ye sholde come do the batayle wyth hym no man shall knowe you but she and the batayll done I shall come ayen to the court ye vnto youre coūtree Then he asked whan the day sholde be of the batayle and he sayd this daye .viii. dayes Thenne sayd alexander yf I sholde this daye tary then can I not come to that daye prefyxed Therfore se what I shall do I haue boden all my subgectes that to morowe they sholde come be at my weddynge brydale and yf I sholde go than is that daye loste / and yf I go not do the batayle than Florentyne ye are bothe vndone what thynke ye nowe beste for to doo whan Lodwyke herde that he fell to the erthe began to syghe sorowe oute of mesure saynge sorow and heuynesse come to me on all sydes Then sayd alexander vnto hym be of good comforte for I shall not forsake you thus thoughe that I sholde lese my wyf kyngdome but herken what that I haue thought in so moche as we are bothe lyke soo that the one of vs can not be knowen frome the other but we be bothe togyder I am not yet gretly knowen here but my barons other folke shall take you for me therfore here shall ye abyde tary mary my wyfe in my stede holde the feest brydale do in all thynges as though I were there my selfe present excepte whan as ye come to bedde with my wyfe loke that ye be there true faythfull I shall wtoute taryenge go take my horse ryde theder as the batayle shall be yf god gyue me the vyctorye that I maye ouercome vaynquysshe your enemye I shall come ayen secretlye and ye shall go ageyne to youre partyes and dwellynge place Thys done alexander badde Lodwyke fare well and toke his Iourneye towardes the Emperours courte for to fyght and to do the batayle with Guydo Lodwyk abode in Egypt in the stede of kynge Alexander and vpon the next mornynge came Lodwyke as though it hadde be kynge Alexander solemply in the face of the chirche maryed and spoused Alexanders wyfe helde the feest brydale with grete royalte of delycate precyous metes plente of all maner wynes dyuerse melodyes of instrumentes of musyke and he made greate Ioye chere to all the noble men to all other people the there was assembled And whan the nyghte was come he wente to bedde with the quene layd betwyxt hym and her a naked swerde wherof she had greate wonder but no thynge she sayd and also he laye with hir euery nyght as longe as Alexander was out ¶ The kynge Alexander at the daye that was prefixed sette came vnto the Emperoure sayd O most drad souerayne lorde it is so that I haue left my fader ryght seke Neuerthelesse I am come for to defende myn honoure my forwarde to performe The Emperoure sayd ye do ryght well accordynge to a noble man fortune shall fauoure you in your iuste ryght wysse quarell And whan the Emperours doughter vnderstode that Alexander was comen anone she sent for him whan as he was come to hyr she embraced hym with ioye gladnesse she kyste hym blessed the tyme that she myght see hym ayen demaūded hym where he that hadde lefte hyr frende and louer Lodwyke Then he shewed declared vnto hyr all the processe how he had left hym kyng in his realme toke his leue at hyr wente in to Lodwykes chamber there was no creature that thought otherwyse but it was lodwyk oonly excepte Florentyne The next daye folowynge afore er Alexander went vnto the batayle he sayd vnto the Emperoure in the presence of Guydo My moost redoubted souerayne lorde this Guydo hath falsely vntruely accused me vnto your noble grace that I sholde be of suche aqueyntaūce with youre doughter that sholde be vnto the dyshonoure of your moost noble persone hyrs vnto that I swere afferme by this holy euaūgelyes that she was neuer in ony maner by me in suche wyse knowen as he hathe to you alledged enformed that this daye with the ayde the helpe of god I shall proue make good vppon his body Then sayd Guydo yet ones I saye ayen swere by the