a tyme goynge thrugh a cyte in the myddes therof they founde chyldren playnge ater them came a man with a talente or florene of golde sayd to them Good maysters this nyght I haue dremed a dreme thenterpretacoÌ„n therof I wolde fayne knowe Wherfore I pray you shewe me what it sygnyfyeth take this golde to you That herde one of the chyldren that played among the other sayd too hyÌ„ gyue me the golde not them I shall expowne thy dreme The man sayde I dremed this nyghte that in the myddes of myn orchyerde was a grete sprynge of water wherof came many smal spryÌ„ges that all myn orchyerde was full ouerflowen with water The chylde sayd take a spade dygge in the same place there as ye thought that the water out sprange there shall ye fynde an horde of golde so grete that ye all your chylderne lynage shall be for euer ryche The man dyde as the chylde had shewed hym found the tresoure accordynge to his wordes Tho went the maÌ„ to the chylde offred hym a pounde weyght of the golde the he had founde for the interpretacyon of his dreme he wold none receyue but coÌ„mytted hym to the prayers of the man The .vii. maysters whan they herde the chylde soo wysely expowne the dreme they sayd to hym gode chylde what is youre name he answered sayde I called Merlyne Then sayd the maysters we se clerely grete wysedome in you we shal shewe vnto you a grete mater of that we wolde gladly that ye coude fynde a remedy The chylde sayd Shewe me your mater And they sayd themperour of rome as longe as he is in his palays he hath his syght clere wtout ony impedymeÌ„t And as sone as he is gone out of his palays he is soo blyÌ„de that he may not se Yf ye can now determyne the cause herof fyÌ„de a remedy that he may be eased haue hê syght ayen ye shall haue grete rewardes honoures of theÌ„perour The chylde sayd I know the cause as wel of his blyÌ„dhede as of the remedy They sayd to hyÌ„ Come with vs to themperour ye shal be rewarded so largely that ye shall be pleased To whom the chylde sayd I am redy to go with you And whan they came with the chylde before themperour they sayd to hyÌ„ Lorde loo here this childe that we haue brought afore you that which shal fulfyll your desyre as touchyÌ„ge the cause of your blyÌ„denes as the recoueryÌ„ge of your syghte Themperour sayd Good maysters woll ye take it vpon you abyde therby that the chylde shall do with me They all sayd ye for we be experte in his wysedome Themperour torned hymself towardes the chylde and sayde wyll ye vndertake to tell me the cause of my blyndnesse the remedye The chylde answered sayd My lorde the emperour lede me in to your bedchamber there I shal shewe you what is to be done And as he was ther in broughte he sayd to the seruauÌ„tis take of the clothes of the bedde all thapparayle ye shall se wonders And as that was done they sawe a well smokyng that had vii spryÌ„ges or floodes the whiche whan theÌ„perour sawe meruayled gretly the chyld sayd ye se this wel wtout it be queÌ„ched ye shal neuer haue your syÈt theÌ„perour sayd how may that be the chyld sayd but by one way Themperour sayde Shewe vs than the meane yf it be possyble to me it shall be done that I maye recouer ayen my syght as well wtout as wtin To whome the chylde sayd my lorde the .vii. sprynges of this well are thyse .vii. wyse maysters the whiche you your Empyre hythertoo haue trayterously gouerned haue you made blyÌ„de as ye be wtoute your palays that they youre subgettes by extorcyon myght plucke pyll ye not seynge but nowe they knowe not the remedy Here ye nowe my counseyll this well shal be quenched extyÌ„cte do stryke of the fyrste maysters hede anone ye shall the fyrste sprynge quenched so by ordre one after an other tyll that they are all beheded anone all the sprynges with the well shall be vanysshed and gone awaye / ye shall haue ayen your syght as ye had afore And as this was done fulfylled / the well with the .vii. sprynges were vanysshed And as themperour had his syghte ayen he made the chylde a grete lorde gaue hyÌ„ grete habundauÌ„ce of goodes After that spake them presse my lorde haue ye this example well perceyued that I haue tolde you he sayd ye in the best wyse ye haue recyted a good and a ryall example Than sayd she In the same wyse your .vii. wyse maysters intende too doo with you by they re false narracyons that your sone may reygne vpon you / that god forbede ¶ The declaratyon of the example ¶ This welle is youre sone wherof oute flowen seuen sprynges that sygnefye the seuen wyse maysters the whiche soone ye maye not destroye withoute the. vii maysters be made feble broughte too noughte that done this well that is your sone with all his cauyllacyons wyles shal not scape / but lete hym be hanged fyrste leste that he haue helpe of his maysters forth after cosequently the .vii. maysters And so ye shall gouerne guyde your empyre in reste peas Themperour anone coÌ„maunded his seruauntes to lede his so to the galowes whiche they were lothe to do So was there than a grete multytude of people gadred with grete noyse bewaylynge so that the noyse came to the ere 's of the fourth mayster named Malquydrac the whiche lepte vpon his hors / hasted hym to the palays So mette with hym his dyscyple dyde reuerence to hyÌ„ / recommaunded hym vnto hym / whan he came be fore themperour had done his obeysaunce reuereÌ„ce as apperteyned Themperour answered sayde Lytell thanke haue ye olde cursed caytyfe for the techyÌ„ge of my sone for I delyuered you my sone well spekyÌ„ge in all thynge ryght vertuous And ye haue sent hym a fole dompe / a rybaude / for he wolde haue belayne with force my wyfe / therfore all ye with him togyder shall be hanged Tho sayd the mayster My lorde I haue not that deserued of you god knoweth why your sone speketh not in shorte tyme ye shal perceyue other thyÌ„ges but the tyme is not yet comen But in the ye say he wolde haue oppressed your wyfe the is not gospel ne proued ne for one syÌ„guler ê‘sone ye shold not iuge to deth your sone yf now for the wordes of your wyfe ye iuge your sone to dye it wil be wors to you than to an olde man of his wyse that I shall proue Too whome themperour sayd Thynke ye to doo with me ye olde dotarde as somtyme seuen wyse men dyde to an emperour Therto sayd sayd the mayster The offence or
trespace of one or yet of twenty may not founde to the rebuke blame of all other for ouer al the worlde there bee bothe good euyll But one thynge of a trouth I shall shewe you that euyll shall come to you yf ye this daye do your sone to deth for the wordes of your wyfe the whiche I wolde shewe by a notable example Than sayd the emperoure woll ye that recyte for our lernynge The mayster sayde yt ye wyll calle ayen your sone kepe hym tyll I haue made recytacyon of the example than what someuer ye shal thīke best to done with hym doo it I shall reherce this example or elles not The emperour cōmaunded that he sholde be called ayen / and desyred the mayster to say as here after ensueth or foloweth ¶ The example of the fourthe mayster THere was an olde knyght a ryght wyse mā that longe lyued without wyfe chylde His frendes came to hym many tymes counseyled and exhorted him that he sholde take a wyfe The knyght thus counseyled styred by his frendes soo oftymes that at the laste he agreed too theym And they gaue hym to wyfe the doughter of the prouost of rome that ryche was ryght fayre whome whan he had seene anone he was made blynde taken in her loue began to loue her meruaylously wel and whan they had ben a certayne space togyder had no fruyte ne chylde Vpon a tyme in a mornynge it happened that she went to the chyrche where she met with her moder saluted her as it behoued My dere doughter sayd the moder how pleaseth you your maryage your husbōde She sayd ryght euyll for ye haue gyuen to me an olde lame man / me in al thȳges dyspleasynge I wolde ye had that same tyme buryed me for I had leuer lye ete with a swyne than with hym and therfore I may no longer thus eudure but I must loue an other Tho sayd the moder god forbede that My dere doughter howe longe tyme I haue be with your fader yet hytherto I neuer medled me with suche folysshenes The doughter sayde moder it is noo meruayle for ye bothe in your youth met togyder the one toke solace of the other I may receyue of hym noo maner of solace corporall for he is colde / vpon the bed he lyeth as styll as a stone or as a thyng immouable The moder answered yf ye wyll ioue an other say me what he is The doughter sayd a preest I wyl loue to whome the moder sayd it were better to you lesse syn to loue a knyght or a squyer than a preest the doughter sayde If I shold loue a knyght or a gentel squyer in shorte tyme he wolde be wery of me after that he wolde do me shame tell it ouer all so it is not of the preest for he wyll holde and kepe his owne honoure counseyll as well as myn̄ And also spyrytuell men be more true to theyr loues than the seculer men The moder sayd Here my counseyll it shall be good for you Olde folkes are wylly fell tempte your husbonde fyrst yf ye scape hym wtout doynge ony harme or smytȳge than loue the preest The dought sayd I maye not so longe abyde The moder sayd vpon my blessynge abyde tyll ye haue proued hym The doughter sayde vpon your blessynge I wyll abyde so longe tyll I haue attempted hȳ but fyrst say me how that I shal proue hym The moder sayde He hath in his orchyerde a tree whiche he loueth moche do that to besmyten downe whyles he is oute at hontynge ayenst his comynge make hym there a fyre yf he forgyue it you thā maye surely loue the preest As she had herde the coūseyl of her moder she went to her house To whom her husbonde sayd Where haue ye ben so longe She answered I haue ben in the chyrche where as I met with my moder with her a lytell I haue talked comyned so began proprely for to dyssymyle After mydday the knighte rode out for to hūte Then she thynkȳge vpon the counseyll of her moder went to the gardyner sayde to hȳ Cut downe this yonge tree newly planted that I may make a fyre therof to warme my lorde withal at his comynge from huntȳge For it is a grete wynd a ryght sharpe colde The gardyner sayde Madame that wyll I not do for my lorde loueth better that tre than he dothe all the other trees neuertheles I shal wel helpe you to gadre wood ynough for to make withall a good fyre but in ony wyse this I wyl not hewe downe She herde that boldly she toke the axe from the gardyner hewed downe the tree her selfe made the gardyner with other to bere it home At euyn whan the lorde came from huntynge he was sore a colde The lady lete make a grete fyre went met with hym set hym ou a stole afore the fyre to warme And as he a lytell whyle had sytten he perceyued the odoure of the fyre called to hym the gardyner sayd I fele by this odour that my newe plante brenneth in the fyre The gardiner sayde Lorde it is trewe my lady your wyfe hath felled it down The knyght sayd to her god forbede that my plante sholde be cut downe by you She answerd anone sayd Lorde I haue done it knowyng the weder colde you also colde therfore I haue ordeyned this fyre for your cōforte As the knyght that herde he loked angrely vpon her sayd O cursed woman how werest thou so hardy to hewe down so gentyl a yonge tre the whiche thou knowest wel that I loued aboue al other trees As she that herde she began to wepe excuse her selfe sayd My lorde I haue done it for your good prouffyte ye take it so greuously began to cry wo wo be to me Anone as the knyght sawe the wepȳge teeres of his wyfe herde her cause we was meued with mercy saynge to her Cesse of your wepȳg be ware how the ye ony more angre or trouble me in ony thȳge / that I loue The next daye erly in the mornȳge / she went ayen to the chyrchewarde met with her moder comȳge ayenst her they salued eche other Than the doughter sayd to her moder O dere moder I wyll loue the preest for I haue attempted my lorde as ye coūseyled me / but all for nought for he anone forgaue it whan he sawe me a lytell wepe Tho sayd the moder though olde men one tyme forgyue / they double the payn vpon an other tyme. therfore I counseyll you that ye an other tyme attempte hym Tho sayde the doughter I maye no lenger abyde for I suffer so moche payn for the loue of the preest that with my tonge I canne not tell therfore ye shall perdone me
whiche is false And therfore from hens forth thou shalt make no mo lesynges ne dyscorde betwix me and my wyfe / toke the pye and brake her necke As the wyfe sawe that she was ryght glad sayd now haue ye done well now maye we all our lyue dayes lyue in reste peas And whan he had slayne the pye he loked vp sawe in the top of the house a laddre a vessel with water sande stones and as he that behelde he perceyued the falshede of his wyfe and cryed with a loude voyce Woo be too me that for my wyues wordes I haue my pye slayne and all my solace and ioye loste that why the in all thynges sayd to me trouthe And as he had thus doone anone for sorowe lefte his marchaundyse and all his house and went to wardes the holy londe and neuer retorned ayen towardes his wyfe ThanÌ„e the mayster sayd to themperour Syr haue ye vnder stande what I haue sayd he answered ryght well the mayster sayd was not that a false cursed wyfe that so by her lesynges caused the pye for to be slayne The emperour sayd In trouthe she was full of falsenesse I forthynke gretly the pye the whiche for her true saynge lost her lyfe Verely I say to you the ye haue tolde me a fayr exaÌ„ple therfore thê day my sone shal not dy Tho sayd the master Syr yf ye do so ye do wysely I thaÌ„ke you that ye haue spared your sone this day for my wyll and to god I commende you ¶ The fourth complaynte of the empresse ¶ Whan thempresse herde that the chylde was not yet dede she made grete noyse cryenges in suche wyse that she was herde thrugh the palays sayd Woo be to me that euer I was made Empresse wolde god I had dyed whan I was broughte in too thyse partyes whan the emperour herde the noyse crye that she made he entred in to the chamber conforted her as moche as he myght demaunded the cause of her lamencacyon / whiche sayd O myn owne lorde haue no woÌ„der though that I be in this grete sorowe and agony for I am your wyfe in your company by your sone I am shamed as ye sawe me lately all be bled scratched ye haue promysed me that he sholde therfor be hanged / yet he lyueth wherfore sholde I not sorow Themperour answered be content pleased / and I shall do iustyse vpon my sone to morowe But in that I forbare hym yesterday was at the meuyng of one of the maysters by an example Than sayd she Haue ye forboren to do iustyce for one worde were it soo for all the worlde ye sholde not let to do iustyce / ye saye for the example of one mayster ye haue lefte it I fere me it shall happen with you with youre maysters as vpon a tyme it fortuned too an Emperoure with his seuen wyse maysters ¶ The empeperoure sayde I praye you tell me that example ¶ Shesayd ¶ To what entent sholde I laboure in vayne / for yesterdaye I shewed you a good example and it auayled not For what someuer I shewe for your honoure and proufyte that the maysters of your sone torne vp and downe to your destructyon as in this present example I shall clerely shewe you To whome themperour sayd / O my best beloued lady tell me that example that by the same I maye the better beware / for though that I respyted my sones lyfe for one daye / I shal not therfore gyue hym his lyfe / for that is dyfferred it is not therfore auferred And she sayde gladly I shall shewe it for your proufyte and began to tell it as here after foloweth SOmtyme was in the cyte of rome seuen wyse maysters by whome all the empyre was gouerned ruled And themperour that than was dyde no no thynge or attempte wtout the counseyll of them as they vnderstode that themperour was to them soo inclyned that without theym he sholde ordeyne or doo noo thynge in the meane tyme they made by theyr arte and connyÌ„g that themperour sholde clerely se as longe as he was in his palays but anone as he was out of his palays he was made blynde / that dyde they to the enteÌ„t that they myght the more frely intromytte themself of all thynges that apperteyned to themperour by the whiche they gate wanne too theym grete profyte lucre of goodes after that they had made wroughte that experymeut they coude neuer chaunge it ne fordo it afterwarde but themperour abode styl blyÌ„d many yeres Then the vii maysters made ordeyned through out th empyre that yf ony man had dremed a dreme he sholde come vnto them with a florene of golde or of syluer they sholde expowne declare vnto them the Interpretacyon of theyr dremes wherby by other vniuste meanes they obteyned moche more substaunce money of the people than themperour dyde Soo vpon a tyme whan he sate at the table with the empresse he began to syghe sorowe in hymselfe and whan she perceyued that she enquyred dylygently of hym the cause of his heuynesse doloure Themperour sayde / sholde not that to me be heuy sorowfull that I so longe haue ben blynde out of my palays / of that can haue or fynde no remedy To whome spake thempresse sayd my lorde here my counseyll it shall neuer repent you yf ye do therafter In your courte ye haue vii wyse maysters by whome ye all the empyre is gouerned yf ye nowe beholde marke this in your myÌ„de / ye shall fynde that they are the cause of your blyndnesse dysease yf it be so they are worthy too dye a shamefull deth therfore take hede to my couÌ„seyl and aduyse Sende ye for them shewe vnto them youre dysease infyrmyte threte them on payne of theyr lyues that they sholde fynde a remedy to make you hole of your fyknesse blyndnes This couÌ„seyl pleased the emperour well anone sent for the maysters And whaÌ„ they were come themperour anone shewed vnto theÌ„ his infyrmyte blyndenes charge them vpon puyne deth / that they sholde seke a rememedy make hym hole therof Tho answered they Ye desyre of vs a thiÌ„ge that is dyffusyfe harde for vs to do thus shortly but gyue vs respyte dayes in the tenth day we shall gyue you answere Themperour was therwith well content pleased Then the seuen wyse maysters went to counseyll how they myght the best chaunge alter / that in noo maner coude they fynde the meane howe they myght put awaye the blyndnes from the Emperour wherfore they were all ryght sorowfull sayde amonge them self wtoute we fynde a remedye we are all but dede men Soo went they from thens thrugh out al th eÌ„pyre sought yf they coude fynde ony remedy or couÌ„seyll therfore It hapned them vpon
hym and solde hym there to a duke The chylde grewe goodly and fayre the duke loued hym moche hadde him gretely in his fauoure Vppon a tyme the kynge of that realme lete calle and assemble all the greate lordes noble men of his londe to a generall couÌ„sell This duke prepared ordeyned hym to go to the couÌ„sell marked the wysdome the wytte of the chylde toke the thylde with hym And whan they were all gadred assembled before the kynge in his couÌ„seyll My welbeloued lordes frendes sayd the kynge wylle ye wete the cause wherfore that I haue called you to this counseylle Then sayd they all we be all souerayne lorde at your commauÌ„demente Then the kynge sayd It is a secrete mater that I shall shewe you yf that ony maÌ„ can open it declare what that it sygnyfyeth I swere promytte vnto hym by my crowne that I shall gyue too hym myn only doughter in maryage he shal be my felowe in my realme duryng my lyfe after my dethe he shall haue possede all the hole kyngedome the mystery of the counseyll is this Thre rauons alwayes folowe me where so euer that I goo they leue me not but cry with suche horryble voyces that it is grete payne for me to here them to beholde theyr lokynges therfore yf ther be ony man the whiche that knoweth the cause of theyr folowynge can shewe what they mene by theyr cryenge voyde theym fro me wtout doubte I shall fulfyll this promyse that I haue made as the kynge had thus sayd there was none fouÌ„de in all the couÌ„seyll that wyst the cause or coude moue or put awaye the rauons Then sayd the chylde too the duke Mylorde thynke ye that the kynge wyl holde his promyse or worde yf I accomplysshe his wyll and desyre Than the duke sayde I thynke he wyll holde that he hath promysed but wyl ye that I gyue the kynge knowlege of you what ye can do Then the chylde sayd I wyl my lyfe set in pledge I shall perfourme make it good that I haue sayde whan the duke herde that he went to the kynge sayd My lorde the kyng here is a yonge maÌ„ that is ryght connynge wyse the whiche promyseth for to satysfye fulfyl in al thyÌ„ges your desyre as touchyÌ„ge the rauons yf ye wyll fulfyll that ye haue promysed The kynge swore by the crowne of his kyngedome what I haue promysed in al thynges shal be ful fylled Tho brought he the chylde before the kynge and whan the kynge sawe hym he spake to hym O fayre chylde can ye gyue answere to my questyon The chylde sayd My lorde ye in the best wyse your questyon if wherfore that the rauons folowe you horrybly crye vpon you To whiche I answere Vpon a tyme it hapned that two rauons a male a female had brought forthe bytwene them the thyrde rauon vpon the sayd se was so grete famyne scarsytee of all maner of thyÌ„ges that men bestes foules dyed perysshed for defaute The thyrde rauon that tyme beynge yonge in the nest the moder lefte it sekynge where she myght best gete her lyuynge came nomore to the neste The male rauon seynge that with grete penurye and laboure fed the yong rauon tyll that he was able to flye and. whaÌ„ the dere tyde was passed and gone then the female rauon came ayen too the yonge rauon and wolde holde felysshyppe and company with hym And as the male rauon sawe that he wolde haue dryuen her away saynge thus that she in his grete myscheyf and necessyte lefte hym and his company and therfore nowe she sholde wante his company and felysshyppe She alledged and sayd that she had in his byrthe grete laboure and sorowe and suffred penurye And therfore of his company she sholde rather Ioye than the fader For this my souerayne lorde they folowe you as kynge the ryght Iugement whiche of them both shal haue the yonge rauon in theyr company and this is the cause of theyr horryble clamour and noyse that they make dayly vpon you But my lorde hadde ye hereupon a ryghtwysse sentence gyuen ye sholde neuer more see theym or be troubled with theyr cryenge Tho sayd the kynge for the cause that the moder hath lett forsaken the yonge rauen in his mooste necessyte it standeth with reason iustyce that she shall wante be without his felyshyp And where that she sayth alledgethe that in the berynge byrth of hym she hadde greate payne and traueyle that helpeth her not for that payne was torned in to Ioye as sone as she sawe the yonge rauen in the worlde But for that the male is the cause of produccyon generacyon in euery beste also that he the yonge rauon in his necessyte sustayned fedde in to the recoueryng nourysshynge of his body therfore I gyue for a iugement for a sentence dyffinityue that the yonge rauen shall abyde holde company with the fader and not with the moder And whan the rauons herde this sentence with a greate noyse crye they flâ—we vp in the ayre were no more seen nefouÌ„de in all that Regyon whanne that this was doone the kynge demaunded of the yonge man wha this name was He answered I am called Alexander Tho sayd the kynge I wyll haue one thynge of you that ye frome hens forth shal name take me none other for your fader but me for ye shall marye my doughter and ye shall be possessour of all my realme The yonge Alexander abode and dwelled stylle with the kynge and euery man hadde too hym fauour and loue for he began to haunt and occupy hymselfe in iustes in tourneys wherin at all tymes he had the pryse aboue all other that were in all Egypte soo that his pere or lyke was not founde there was not so harde nor so obscure a questyon put vnto hym but that he coude assoyle it At that tyme was there an Emperoure named Tytus that excelled in gentylnesse curtesy curposyte of all other Emperours kynges and prynces in the worlde In so moche that suche a fame noyse flewe ranne ouer all the worlde of it that what so euer he was that wolde prouffyte in connynge maners or behauynge that he sholde go to the Emperours courte And whan Alexander herd that he sayd to the kynge My most honourable fader lorde ye wote well that al the worlde is full of the fame of themperoure so that it is delectable to abide dwel in hys courte wherfore yf it please yow my lorde fader I wolde gladly go to hys court that I myght be wyser prompter in maners behauyÌ„ge than I am Thereupon answered the kynge It pleaseth me ryght well but I wolde that ye take with you plente of golde syluer other necessaryes so moche that ye myn honoure
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
ydell games came to so grete pouerte that he was dysposed to sel his herytage called to hym his sone and sayd My sone it behoueth me of your counseyll for necessyte and pouerte compelleth me to sell myn herytage or elles for to fynde all other way by the whiche I maye lyue for yf I sholde sell myn heritage ye your systers sholde perysshe The sone sayde Fader yf ye can fynde ony other meane without sellynge of the herytage I sholde be redy to helpe you To whome the fader sayd I am bethought vpon a good counseyll Themperour hath a toure full of golde / by nyght tyme lete vs go thyder with instrumentes and dygge and hewe through the toure and lete vs take of the golde as moche as shal suffyse vs. Therto answered the sone sayd that couÌ„seyl can not be amended for it is better of themperoures golde to take to helpe vs than our herytage to sell They rose vp bothe in a nyght and went to the toure and with instrumentes they made there thrugh an hole and toke as moche golde as they bothe coude cary awaye at that tyme. The knyght payed his dettes haunted ayen iustes as he dyde before tyll all was speÌ„te and consumed In the meane whyle the keper of the tresoure went in to the toure whan he sawe the tresoure stolen a grete hole made through the wall he began to waxe sore a ferde went to themperour and shewed how it was befallen To whome themperour sayd all angrely What nedest thou to shewe that haue I not delyuered to the my tresoure / therfore of the I wyll aske it Tho anone as the keper herde that went to the toure ayen set afore the hole a grete vessel ful of pytche medled with other gummes so subtely that noo man myght come in at that hole but that he must nedes fall in to that vessell yf he therin fyll he coude no more come out of it Not longe after the knyghte had all the golde consumed and spent went ayen with his sone to the toure to stele more golde and as the fader went in fyrste anone he was fallen in the ves with pytche to the necke whan he sawe that he was taken coude not gete out he sayd to his sone folow me not for yf thou doost thou may not escape to be taken Than the sone sayd god defende it that I sholde not helpe you for yf ye are founden we are all but dede yf that ye may not be holpen by me I shall seke counseyll how that ye maye be delyuered holpen The fader sayd / there is none other counseyll but with thy swerde smyte of myn heed / and as my body is founde without hede noo man shall knowe me so thou and my doughters may escape auoyde thê wordly shame dethe The sone sayde fader ye haue gyuen the best counseyll For yf it were so that ony man myght perceyue ony knolege of you none of vs sholde escape that deth therfore it is expedient that your hede be smyten of Anone he drewe out his swerde smote of his faders hede caste it in to a pytte afterwarde hyd it therin and yede and shewed to his systers all the mater whiche many dayes after pryuely bewayled the dethe of theyr fader After this the keper of the tresour came in to the toure founde a body wtout ony hede wherof he wondred sore and shewed it to the emperour To whome he sayde bynde that body at the tayle of an horse so drawe it by al the stretes of the cyte dyligently take good hede yf ye here ony crye or wepynge where soo euer ye here that he is lorde of the house take all them with the body drawe them to the galowes hange them The whiche themperours seruauntes fulfylled accordynge to his coÌ„mauÌ„demeÌ„t And as they came ayenst the house of the dede knyght as the doughters sawe body of they re dede fader they made a merueylous grete shryche wept pyteously as ther broder that herd anone he wounded hymself greuously in the mouthe with a knyfe so that grete plente of bloode came oute of the wounde The offycers whan the herde that noyse crye entred in to the house demaunded the cause of theyr noyse clamour Tho anwered the sone that I am thus wounded for whan my systers sawe my bloode so habundauntly go oute as ye see they began to wepe and crye And whan the offycer sawe the wounde they byleued his wordes so dysceyued went theyr wayes and hynge the body of the knyght vpon the galowes where it hynge long tyme his sone wolde neyther take his body downe frome the galowes ne yet bury his hede the Empresse sayd vnderstande ye what I haue sayd Themperour sayd ye ryght well ¶ The declaratyon of the example ¶ Tho spake thempresse thus my lorde I fere me it shal be of you of youre sone This knyght for loue of his sone was made poore fyrste he commytted thefte brake the toure secondary dyde hymself too be heded that his chyldren sholde haue no shame After that sone cast his hede in a dyke buryed it nether in chyrche nor in chyrcheyerde his body he suffred to hange styll vpon the galowes yf that he coude not haue taken it downe in the daye he myght wel haue done in the nyght In the same maner ye laboure nyght and day that ye maye promote your sone to honoure ryches But without doubte he dayly laboureth for your confusyon destructyon that he may regne after you in your empyre Therfore I aduyse you that ye do hyÌ„ to be hanged before or he you destroye Themperour sayd ye haue shewed me a good example The knyghtes so ne whan he had smyten of his faders hede wolde not bury it Without doute my fader shall not do so by me but he communded anone his offycers that they sholde lede hym to the galowes they obeyed his coÌ„mauÌ„dement hastely as they lad hym thrugh the stretes the people made grete noyse lamentacyon alas alas the onely sone of the emperour is lad ayen to wardes the galowes / as they thus ladde hym the thyrde mayster named Craton came rydyÌ„g vpon an hors / as the chylde sawe hym he bowed downe his hede to hym as though he had sayd haue mynde vpon me The people cryed sayng O good mayster hast you saue youre dyscyple He smote his horse with spores hasted him to the palays And whan he came before themperoure he honourably salued hym whiche sayd thy comyng hyther shall neuer auayll the / nor it that thou comest for The mayster sayd I hoped in my comynge to haue be welcome haue had a better rewarde not too haue be rebuked The emperour sayd / as ye haue deserued so shal it be to you To whom he sayd
ye are of hym quyte she thanked hyÌ„ went in to her chamber as though she had gone for wyne and began to crye with an hygh voyce the knyghte that was caste in to the see is come ayen As her brother that herde he wondred sore sayde gyue me hym I shall se yf he shall aryse ayen toke the body of the seconde knyght wende it had ben of the fyrst knyght went in to the see with a grete stone he drowned hym therin that done went ayen vnto his systers house say de nowe fyll me a cuppe with good wyne for I haue drowned hym so depe the he shall neuer come ayen she sayd thanked be god went ayen too her chamber sayned her to fetche wyne cryed with a grete voyce Alas wo be to me he is rysen ayen and come out of the see as her brother herde that with grete meruaylle sayd what deuyll is this knyght that I haue thus caste in to the water notwithstandynge is comen ayen Delyuer hyÌ„ me the thyrde tyme. I shall se yf he shall come ayen Tho gaue she hym the thyrde knxght whiche he byleued had ben the fyrste knyght yede wtoute the cyte to a grete foreste made a grete fyre caste the knyght therin whan he was almost brente the broder went thens a lytel dystauÌ„ce to do his nede Tho came there a knyght that wolde tyde to the cyte where on the mornyÌ„ge they sholde haue a tourneye a IustyÌ„g it was colde weder derke was not fer fro the cyte as that he had a syght of that fyre drewe therto alyghted from his horse warmed hyÌ„ The waker came sayd to hyÌ„ what arte yu. The knyght sayd I am a gentyl knyghte Tho spake the waker sayd thou arte no knyght but a deuyll for fyrste I caste the in to the water the .ij. tyme with a grete stone I drowned the. the .iii. tyme I haue put the in this fyre supposynge that thou haddest be brente yet thou standest here tho he toke the knyght with his hors cast them both in to the fyre after that he went ayeÌ„ to his syster tolde what had hapned hyÌ„ Nowe bryÌ„ge me of the best wyne for after the I had breute hym I fouÌ„de hym ayen by that fyre with his horse I haue caste them both in the fyre his syster perceyued well that he had brent a knyght of the tourney whiche anone broughte hyÌ„ of the best wyne habuÌ„dauÌ„tly after he had wel dronken he went thens Not longe tyme after that there fyll a grete debate coÌ„tencoÌ„n betwyx the knyghte his wyfe in suche wyse that he smote her which had indygnacyon therof waxed angry sayd that many myght here it O wretche wyll ye kylle me as ye haue done the thre knyghtê of themperours men that herynge layde handes on them brought them be fore the emperour the woman anone knowledged that hyr husbonde hadde slayne the thre knyghtes of themperours how he toke fro them thre hondred floreyns as it was thus in trouth fouÌ„de bothe were drawen atte an horse tayll and hanged vppon the galowes Than sayd the mayster to themperour haue ye vnderstande what I haue sayd He answered ryghte well I saye for certayne that wyfe was the worste woman that myght be of all wymmeÌ„ for she moued styred hyÌ„ to murdre afterwarde dyscouered hym The mayster sayd It is wtout doubte that it shall to you happen worse yf ye put to deth your sone by the aduyse of your wyfe Themperour sayd my sone shall not dye this day The mayster that herynge yaue thankynges to themperour and toke leue went his waye ¶ The seuenth complaynte of the Empresse ¶ Whan the empresse herde that the sone of themperour was yet lyuynge as a mad woman she ranne to them perour wepynge cryenge O vnhappy wyfe what shall I doo alas alas for I muste nedes sle my selfe that so am ashamed no punysshement there vpon done Themperour answered God defende you suche thyÌ„ges to haue in mynde but suffer a whyle ye shall haue a good ende in your cause She answered Syr the ende shall be euyll for of that shal folowe to you grete coÌ„fusyon to me Themperour sayd be styl of such thyÌ„ges She sayd Lorde it shall come to you your sonÌ„e as it happened to a kynge to his stewarde Themperour sayd I praye you tell me that example She sayde I wyll gladly tell it but I fere me that ye wyl here me no more for the next day the seueÌ„th mayster shal speke saue your sone from that deth as his felowes haue done The seconde day after this then your sone shal speke of whoo 's wordes ye shal haue take suche Ioy delectacyon that the loue berwyxte vs shall bee holy forgeten wasshed away Themperour sayd that is Impossyble to me for I shal neuer your loue forgete Tho sayd she O my best beloued lorde please it you I shal tel you one example by the whiche ye shall be ware before of many perylles in tyme comynge specyally of your cursed sone whiche entendeth to destroy me by his maysters The emperour sayd tell on your example and the Empresse began to tell in this wyse ensuynge The seuenth example of the Empresse THere was somtyme a kyng the whiche loued his wyfe aboue all thynge in so moche that he closed her in a stronge castell bare the keyes of the castel hymselfe The lady was therfore ryght heuy desolate Now in ferre partyes there was a valyaunte knyght the whiche in a nyght had a dreme after this effecte For he thought that he sawe one of the fayreste quenes that myght be the whiche aboue all thynges desyred to haue her loue that yf he myghte se her walkynge he sholde clerely haue knowlege of by whome to hym grete frendshyp worshyp sholde come To that quene in the same nyght by vysyon of the sayd knyght it was to her also shewed yet they hadde of eche other neyther knowlege of name neyther of fame whan the knyght had thus dremed seen in his slepe he thought determyned in his mynde that his fote sholde not reste vnto the tyme tyll he had founde that lady that to hym was shewed in his vysyon and lepte vpon his horse / and toke with hym all that to hym was necessarye for his journey and rode and laboured thrughe dyuerse regyons and londes soo longe tyll at the last he came vnto the same londe where that the quene was by her husbonde closed or kepte in a stronge castel And whaÌ„ this sayd knyght was come in to the same cyte and by a certayne season had theri soiourned it happened on a day as this knyght walked by the castell and knewe not that the quene was therin she sate in a wyÌ„dowe to
partes of his body sought all about the toure and serched tyll at laste he founde the hole or the secrete way the the knyght had made as he saw that than cryed he and weped and sayd Alas alas this knyght in whom I hadde so grete confydence truste hath taken away my wyfe was I not a fole that I gaue more fayth in to his wordê then I dyde to myne owne eyen ¶ Than sayd thempresse My lorde haue ye vnderstand what I haue sayde Themperour sayd ryght wel in the best wyse Then sayd thempresse remember how that he trusted the knyghte yet he deceyued hyÌ„ In the same manere wyse ye haue confydence in the. seuen wyse maysters / and they laboure for to destroye me that am your wyfe ye gyue more fayth vnto theyr wordes than ye do vnto your owne eyen for ye haue well sene how that youre sone rente and scratched me Wherof yet I bere and haue the tokens the markes as ye may see And also ye knowe well how that your cursed sone hath me ashamed ye marke not howe they defende hym in his foly and falshede Therfore it is to be dradde that it shall happen to you as it dyde to the kynge that too you I haue spoken of Themperour sayde I byleue myn eyen better than theyr wordes therfore I say you that to morowe I shall do Iustyce of hym On the morowe the Emperour commaunded that his sone sholde be hanged Tho began ayen a grete noyse in and THere was a knyght that had a fayre yonge wyfe whome he entyrely loued in so moche that he coude not be out of her syght It hapned on a tyme that they played togyder at the chesse the knyght by chauÌ„ce helde a knyfe in his hande she playng fortuned to smyte her hand vpon the knyf that a lytel blode began to appere Whan the knyght sawe that his wyfe bled he sorowed moche and was sore aferde of his wyfe that he fel to the grounde in a swoune his wyfe cast colde water vpon his vysage that he a lytell came ayen too hym selfe sayd lyghtely call the curate with the holy sacramente for I muste deye for the blood that I haue seen come out of your fyÌ„ger hath smyten the deth to my herte The preest came and houseled hym anone after he dyed wtout ony taryeng for whoo 's deth there was made grete sorowe bewaylyÌ„ges and specyally of the wyfe And after that the obsequyes buryenge was done accordynge She went and lay vpon the buryel or graue and there she made the gretest sorowe of the worlde and sayd that she wolde neuer departe from thens but as a turtyll douue she wolde for the loue of her husbonde there abyde dye Tho went her frenvnto her and sayd what auayleth this for his soule to lyue dy here it is better that ye go to your house gyue almes for the loue of god that shal more auayle his soule than in this place to abyde To whom she answerd be styll ye are euyll couÌ„selours CoÌ„syder not ye how I am fro hyÌ„ seperate departed by his deth for a lytell blode that he sawe com out of my hoÌ„d or fyÌ„ger therfore I shall neuer fro hens departe Her frendes heryÌ„ge that lete make a lytell house or lodgynge nygh vnto the graue put therin all thynges that to her was necessarye went theyr wayes thyÌ„kynge that within a whyle she sholde be wery to be alone so desolate from all company that therby she sholde desyre ayen the company of people In that cyte was thenne a lawes that whan a trespassour or offendour ayenst the lawe were hanged that the shyryf all that nyght sholde watche kepe the body all armed yf it hapned that the body of hym hanged were stolen away the seryf sholde lese all his londe his lyfe at the kynges pleasure At hapned sone after that the knyghte was dede a man too be hanged for trepasse that be had done so that the sheryf after the lawe of the londe all the nyght watched by the galowes that was not fer fro the cyte that chyrche yerde was not ferre from the walles of the same Tho became the sheryf so colde that he wyst not but to dye for colde wtout the rather that he myghte warme hym it was so feruent a colde so stronge a a froste and he behelde fro thens about hym sawe that fyre in that chyrcheyerde hasted hym came therto whan he was come he called knocked at the lytyll house The woman spake who is that that at this houre is knockynge at the house of this sorowfull woman I am the shyref that so moche colde suffreth that wtout anone ye late me in I shall frese to deth She sayd I fere me yf that I lete you come in ye sholde shewe me such wordes that sholde cause me for to be more heuyer he fayd I promyse vnto you that I shall saye no wordes to your dyspleasure Then lete she hym in and whan he a whyle had sytten by the fyre was well warmed he sayd to her O fayre woman with your lycence wolde I fayne speke but one worde vnto you She answered to hym syr say what it pleaseth you He sayd O lady ye be a fayr gentyl woman ryche yonge were it not better more conuenyent for you to dwell at home in your house to gyue almesse than to destroye consu me your lyfe here with wepynges cryenges She sayde syr knyght had I knowen this afore ye had not come herin for I say to you as I haue sayd too other oftentymes Ye knowe well that my husbonde loued me so well that for a lytyll bloode that he sawe me blede on one of my fyngers he is dede wherfore I shall here deye for the loue of hym As the knyght herde this he toke leue and wents to the galowes whan he was there come he sawe that the theef that he left there hangynge was stolen caryed a waye began therfore to wexe heuy full of sorowe sayd wo is me what shall I do for I haue loste my lyfe and all my good And he goynge thus full of sorowe heuynesse wyste not whyche waye to torne hym or to go at the laste bethought hym to go to that deuoute desolate lady she we vnto hyr the heuynesse of his herte to wyte of that she coude gyue hym ony gode counseyll And whan he was thenÌ„es come he called she axed the cause of his knockynge Tho sayd he madame I am the shyref that was here ryght no we with you I wolde feyne shewe you the secretes of myn herte Therfore I praye you for the loue of god open the dore and he wente in sayd to her O moost vertuous lady I come to haue your counseyll and aduys for ye knowe
well the lawe of the londes are that whan so euer ony man is hanged stolen a waye of the galowes than the shyref his lyfe and godes be in the kynges handes Nowe it is happened in the tyme that I was here with you warmed me the theefis stolen a way frome the galowes therfore I praye you for the loue of god gyue me your aduys what is me beste to do She answered I haue compassyon vpon you for by the lawe ye haue loste lyfe goodes to the kynge Do nowe after my couÌ„seyll ye shall neyther lese lyfe ne godes He answered therfore I came to you hopynge to haue gode comforth She sayd wyll ye than promyse to take me to your wyfe the knyght answered wolde god that ye wolde do yt. but I fere me leste that ye wolde dysdeyne so moche to humble you too me that am so pore a knyght She sayd I gyue you my wyl therto he yaue her ayen his wyll consented too be her knyght durynge his lyfe Tho sayd she ye knowe well that suche a day my lorde was buryed whiche for the loue of me deyed take hym oute of his sepulture go hange hym in stede of the theef The knyght answered lady your couÌ„seyll is good Tho went they togyder opened the graue drewe hym out The knyght sayd howe shall we nowe doo by cause or the theef was taken two of his vpper tethe were smyten oute I fere me yf that were perceyued I shold be dede She sayd to hym take a stone and stryke oute two of his tethe The knyght answerd madame that may not do for while he lyued he was my wel beloued felowe it sholde be to me a grete rebuke yf I coÌ„mytted soo dysloyall a dede vnto his body beynge dede She answered for your loue I shall do it toke a stone smote out two of his tethe sayd to the shyref take hyÌ„ hange him vpon the galowes lyke to the theef The knyght sayde I fere me to do it for the theef in takynge of hyÌ„ was wouÌ„ded in the hede he wanted both his ere 's therfore yf it were serched founde otherwyse it sholde be to my vtter vndoynge Than sayd she take out your swerde make hym a grete wounde on his hede cut of his ere 's O madame god forbede the I do that to the dede body that I loued so well in his lyfe Than sayd she gyue me your swerde I shal for the loue of you do it toke the swerde smote a manly stroke vpon the dede maÌ„nes forhede cut of bothe his ere 's And whan she hadde thus done sayd Now take hange hym wtout company than the knyght answered yet I fere me to haÌ„ge hyÌ„ for the theef wanted both his stones yf that were serched fouÌ„de wtout all our labour were in vayn Then sayd she I sawe neuer so feerfull a man seyng that mater so clere sure Take a knyfe cut of his slones And be answered that may I not do in no wyse and therfore I pray you spare me ye knowe well what a man is wtout his stones She sayd for the loue of you I shall do it And toke the knyf in her hande cutte of husbondes stones and to hym nowe take this churle thus dysfygured and hange hym vp withoute drede And went forth togyder and henge vp the body vpoÌ„ the galowes so was the shyref delyuered out of the kyÌ„ges daunger Tho sayd the lady now be ye quyte of all your daungeours fere all thy sorowes by my couÌ„seyll And therfore I wyll that ye wedde me in the face of the chyrche The knyght sayde I haue made a vowe that I shal neuer wed other as longe as ye lyue which I wyl holde but afterwarde he sayd O thou moost shameful worst womaÌ„ of al wyÌ„men who wolde take the to his wyfe An honourable a louynge knyght was thy husboÌ„de whiche for a lytel blode that he sawe of thy fyÌ„ger shed dyed now haste thou smyten out two of his tethe thou haste cutte of his ere 's his stones thou haste made hyÌ„ a grete wounde in his hede what deuyll wolde wed ye. by cause that thou shal neuer shame more good man I shal rede ye. drewe his swerde with one stroke he smote of her hede The mayster sayd My lorde haue ye vnderstande what I haue sayd The emperour sayd ryght well Amonges all wymmen was this the worste the knyght rewarded her accordynge so as she sholde no more men shame And theÌ„perour sayd more ouer O my good mayster myght I ones here my sone speke I sholde gyue no charge of my lyfe Tho sayd the mayster To morowe ye shall here hym speke afore you afore al the lordes of th empyre he shall shewe the very trouth of all the varyaunce betwyxte vs thempresse as I hope toke his leue of themperour departed ¶ How that Dyoclesyan themperours sone coÌ„playned on thempres how that he excused him of her coÌ„playnt ANd after that all the maysters assembled togyder toke theyr counseyll how in what maner they shold brynge out the chylde of pryson lede to the palays tho they went to the chylde there as he laye in pryson afore the mydday his wyll his couÌ„seyl to here To whome the chylde sayd what that shall please you shall please me but in no wyse besye you not howe that I shall answere or what I shall saye for with Ioye I shal answere to all thyÌ„ges that shal be demauÌ„ded of me whaÌ„ that seuen maysters herde that they were ryght glad clothed hym in purpure in clothe of golde two maysters went afore hym one on his ryght honde an other on his lyfte honde the other thre folowed hym after afore them al went xxiiii men with dyuerse instrumentê of musyke brought hym with grete melody and honour to the palays And whan themperour herde al this melody he demauÌ„ded what it was Then it was tolde hym Syr emperour it is your sone that whiche cometh tofore you afore all your lordes to speke excuse hyÌ„selfe of all thynges that are layde to his charge / Themperour sayd that is good tydyÌ„ges myght I here my sone speke And whan the chylde was come to the palays he ran vnto his fader sayd vnto hyÌ„ hayle fader my moost honourable And whan themperour herde the voyce of his sone he was so glad that for Ioye he fyl downe to the erthe but the chylde toke hym lyghtly vp ayen and whan he was come ayen to hyÌ„self Tho begaÌ„ THenne sayd the sone vnto the fader beholde this rybaude that many a nyghte hathe with your wyfe lyen in your chamber in auoutrye haue defouled your bedde therfore the Empresse loued hym so well the whiche ye knewe not