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
and his soule shall be delyuered from synne and by al ryght he shall haue euerlastyng lyfe Vnto the whyche brynge vs our lorde Iesus SOmtyme there regned in Rome a myghty Emperour and a wyse named Frederyke whyche had an onely sone whome he loued moche Thys Emperour whan he laye at the poynt of deth he called vnto hym his sone sayd Dere sone I haue a ball of gold whych I gyue the vpon my blessyng that thou anone after my deth shalt gyue it to the moost foole that thou mayst fynde Than sayd hys sone My lorde wothout doubte your wyll shall be fulfylled Anone thys yonge lorde after the deth of hys father went sought in many realmes founde many recheles fooles bycause he wolde satysfye hys fathers wyll laboured farther tyll he came in to a realme where the lawe was suche that euery yere a newe kyng was chosen there thys kyng had onely the guydynge of y e realme but a yere at the yeres ende he was deposed put in exile in an ylande where as he shold wretchedly fynysshe hys lyfe Whan themperours sone came to thys realme the newe kyng was chosen w t great honour all maner of mynstralsye wente afore hym brought hym wyth great reuerence and worshyp vnto hys regall sete And whan the Emperours sone sawe that he came vnto hym and salewed hym reuerently sayd My lorde loo I gyue the thys ball of gold on my fathers behalfe Than sayd he I praye the tell me the cause why thou gyuest me thys ball ThaÌ„ answered thys yonge lorde and sayd My father charged me in hys deth bedde vpon payn of forfeytynge of his blessynge that I sholde gyue this ball of y e moost foole y e I coude fynde wherfore I haue sought many realmes haue founde many fooles neuerthelesse a more foole than thou art founde I neuer therfore thys is the reason It is not vnknowen to the that thou shalt regne but a yere and at the yeres ende thou shalte be exiled into suche a place where as thou shalte dye a myscheuous deth wherfore I holde the for the moost foole that euer I founde that for the lordshyp of a yere thou woldest so wylfully lese thy selfe therfore before all other I haue gyuen to the thys ball of gold Than sayd the kyng wythout doubte thou sayst sothe and therfore whan I am in full power of thys realme I shall sende before me greate treasoure and rychesse wherwyth I may lyue and saue my selfe from my scheuous deth whan I shall be exiled put downe And so thys was done wherfore at the yeres ende he was exiled lyued there in peace vpon suche goodes as he had sente before and he dyed afterwarde a good deth ¶ Dere frendes thys Emperour is the father of heuen the whych byquethed the ball that is to saye worldly rychesse to fooles and ydyottes whyche sauoureth no thynge but that is erthly This Emperours sone that is to saye a precher and a discrete coÌ„fessour serched about many realmes landes to shewe to mysbyleuing men fooles theyr peryll The realme wherin no kyng myght regne but a yere is this worlde For who so had lyued an hondred yere whan he commeth to the deeth hym shall seme that he hath lyued but the space of an houre therfore do as the kyng dyd whyle that ye be in power of lyfe sende before you your treasour that is to say almes dede other merytoryus dedes certaynly whaÌ„ ye be put in exile out of thys world ye shall lyue in peace shall fynde y e mercy of god plentefull wherby ye shall optayne euerlastynge lyfe Unto the whych brynge vs he that for vs dyed on the rode tree Amen DIoclesyan regned in the cyte of Rome in whose empyre dwelled a noble phylosopher y e whych let vp by hys crafte an ymage in the myddes of yeâ—ite of Rome the whyche ymage stretched out hys arme hys formest fynger whervpon stode thys posy wryten in latyn Percute hic Smyte here Thys ymage after the deth of thys phylosopher stode styll a longe tyme many greate clerkes came thyder for to rede the superscripcyon that was on y e fynger but none of them vnderstode what it mente wherfore there was greate wondrynge amonge the people And at the last a longe tyme after there came a strauÌ„ge clerke out of ferre couÌ„trees whan he sawe thys ymage he redde y e scripture Smyte here And than vpon a daye whan he sawe the shadowe of the hande he toke a mattocke brake vp y e grounde vnder the hande where the shadowe was accordyng to the vnderstandyng of the superscripcyon anone he founde an house al of marble vndernethe the grouode wherin he entred came in to a hall where he founde so moche rychesse so many yewelles and so great meruayles that he neuer sawe ne herde of suche nor so many before that tyme. At y e last he sawe a borde couered and all maner of thynges necessary therto set ther vpon He be helde farther and sawe a carbuncle in a wall that lyghtened all y e hous And anenst thys carbuncle on that other syde stode a man holdynge in hys hande a bowe wyth an arowe redy to shote The clerke merualled moche whan be sawe all these thynges and thought in hymself yf that I tâ—ll thys forth there wyll no man byleue me therfore I wyll haue somwhat of these goodes in token of profe And wyth that he sawe a knyfe of golde vpon y e borde whyche he toke wolde haue put it in his bosome But anone the archer smote the carbuncle and brake it wherwyth all the hole hous was shadowed made darke And whan y e clerke perceyued it he wept more bytterly than ony man myght thynke for he wyst not by what way he myght go out for as moche as the hous was made darke thrugh the brekynge of the carbuncle And that darknesse abode styll for euermore after And so fynisshed the clerke his lyfe there in that darknesse ¶ Dere frendes thys ymage so standyng is the deuyll whyche sayth euermore Smyte here That is to saye take hede to erthly rycheâ—se not to heuenly treasour Thys clerke that smote with the mattocke betokeneth the wyse men of thys worlde as pleders of y e lawe atturneys and other wordly men that euer be smytyng what by ryght what by wronge so y t they may gete the vanytees of thys worlde in theyr smytynge they fynde great wonders meruayles that is to say they fynde therin the delytes of the worlde wherin many men reioyseth The carbuncle that gyueth lyght is the youth of man whyche gyueth hardynes to take theyr pleasure in worldly rychesse The archer w t hys arowe is deth whyche layeth watche anenst man to slee hym The clerke that toke vp y e knyfe is euery wordly man that weneth euer to haue all thynge at hys wyll Deth
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
that were worthyer than he despysed suche as were symple poore It was not longe after that it befell that thys stewarde rode by a forest where as he mette wyth the foster charged hym y t he sholde make an hondreth pyttes in the grouÌ„de and couer them ouer wyth grene grasse smal bowes that yf wylde beestes fortuned to go in the forell that waye that they sholde than fall in and so shold they be taken brought to the Emperour The foster answered sayd syr as ye haue sayd it shall be done Not longe after it fortuned y t this stewarde rode to thys forest agayne to se yf these pytâ—es were made as he rode he be thought hym how great a man how myghty he was made how all thynge in y e Empyre obeyed to hym and was redy at his wyll And as he rode thus thynkynge he sayd to hymselfe There is no 〈◊〉 saue onely I and wyth that he smote hys horse wyth his spurâ—es sodeynly he fell in to one of y e depe pyttes that he had ordeyned before hymselfe for the wylde beestes and for y e great depnes therof he myght not aryse agayne by no maner of crafte wherfore he mourned greatly And anone after hym came a huÌ„gry lyon and fell in to y e same pyt after the lyon an ape and after y e ape a serpent And whan the stewarde was thus walled w t these thre beestes he was greatly moued and dred sore There was that tyme dwellyng in the cyte a poore man named Guy that had no good saue onely an asse wherw t dayly he caryed styckes and fallen wode suche as he coude gete in y e forest those he brought to y e market and solde theÌ„ in this wyfe he susteyned hymselfe hys wyfe as well as he myght It fortuned that this poore Guy went to this forest as he was wont and as he came by y e depe pyt he herde a man crye saye O dere frende what art y u for goddes sake helpe me I shall quyte the so well that y u shalte euer after be the better Whan thys poore Guy herde y t it was y e voyce of a man he meruayled greatly stode styll on the pyttes brynke sayd Lo good frende I am coÌ„me for y u hast called me Than sayde the knyght dere frende I am stewarde of all the Emperours landes thus by fortune I am fallen in to thys pyt here be w t me thre beestes that is to say a lyon an ape an horryble serpent whych I drede moost of all I wote not of whych of them I shall be fyrst deuoured therfore I praye the for goddes sake gete me a longe corde wherwyth thou mayst drawe me out of this depe pyt and I shall warauÌ„t y e to make the ryche in all thynge for euer more hereafter but I haue y e rather helpe I shall be deuoured of these beestes Than sayd this poore Guy I may fulâ— yll entende to helpe y e for I haue nothynge to lyue on but that I gâ—der wode cary it to y e market to sell wherwyth I am susteyned neuerthelesse I shal leue my labour fulfyl thy wyl yf ye rewarde me not it shall be great hyndraunce to me to my wyfe Than the stewarde made a great othe and sayd that he wolde ê“mote hym al his to great rychesse Than sayd Guy yf thou wylt fulfyll thy promesse I shall do y t ye byd me And with that went agayn to the cyte brought with hym a longe rope came to y e pyt sayd Syr stewarde lo I let downe a rope to the bynde thyselfe aboute the myddle therwyth that I may pull the vp Than was the steward glad sayd Good frende let downe y e rope And with y t he cast the ende of the rope downe into the pyt And whan the lyon sawe that he caught the rope helde it fast Guy drewe y e lyon vp wenynge to hym he had drawen vp the stewarde whan he had so done the lyon thanked hym in his maner ranne to y e wode The seconde tyme this Guy let downe the rope the ape lepte to it caught it fast whan he was drawen vp he thanked Guy as he coude ranne to the wode The thyrde tyme he let downe the rope drewe vp y e serpent whyche thanked hym went to y e wode The stewarde cryed wyth an hye voyce O dere frende now am I delyuered of thre venymous beestes now let downe the corde to me that I may coÌ„me vp And thys poore Guy let downe the rope the stewarde bouÌ„de hymselfe fast abouthe the myddle anone Guy drewe hym vp And whan he was thus holpe he sayde to Guy CoÌ„me to me at thre of the clocke to the palays than I shal make the ryche for euer Thys poore Guy reioyced therof went home wythout ony rewarde Than hys wyfe demaunded hym why he gadered no wode wherw t they myght lyue that day Than tolde he her all the processe as it befell how the stewarde fell in to y e pyt also the lyon the ape the serpent that he had made in y e sayd forest how he had holpen hym out wyth a corde saued hym from deuouryng of y e thre venymous beestes how he sholde go to the stewarde sethe hys rewarde on y e morowe Whan hys wyfe herde this she reioyced greatly and sayd Yf it shall be so good syr aryse to morowe at a due houre go to the palays receyue your rewarde that we may be conforted therby So in the mornynge Guy arose wente to y e palays knocked at the gate Than came the porter asked the cause of his knockyng I praye the quod this Guy go to y e stewarde and saye to hym that here abydeth a poore man at the gate that spake wyth hym yesterday in the forest The porter went in tolde the steward as y e poore man had sayd Than sayd the stewarde go thou agayne and tell hym that he lyeth for yesterday spake I wyth no man in the forest charge hym that he go hys waye that I se hym there neuer after The porter went forth and tolde poore Guy how the steward had sayd charged hym to go his waye Than was this Guy sorowfull wente home whan he came home he tolde hys wyfe how the stewarde answered hym Hys wyfe conforted hym in al that she myght sayde Syr go ye agayne proue hym thryse Than on y e morow this Guy arose went to the palays agayne praying the porter ones to do hys erande agayn to the stewarde Than the porter answered sayd gladly I wyl do thyne erande but I drede me sore that it shall be thy hurte And than went he in tolde y e stewarde
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