to bynde and to vnbynde The fyrst herbe is contrycyon of whome thou sholdest make thy drynke of teeres Ambrose sayth that teeres wassheth synne where shame is to knowlege these two other herbes ben confessyon and satysfaccyon / yf these herbes be vsed in playster the synne without doubte shall receyue his helth and his soule shal be delyuered fro synne / and by all ryght he shall haue euerlastynge lyfe Vnto the whiche brynge vs our lorde Ihesus SOmtyme there reygned in the cyte of Rome a myghty Emperoure and a wyse named Frederyk whiche had onely but one sone whome he loued moche This Emperoure whan he lay in the poynte of deth he called vnto hyÌ„ his sone and sayd drede sone I haue a balle of golde whiche I gyue the vpon my blessynge that thou anone after my deth shall gyue it to the moost fole that thou mayest fynde Than sayd his sone My lorde without doubte thy wyll shall be fulfylled Anone this yonge lorde after the dethe of his fader wente and sought in many realmes and founde many foles rycheles / by cause he wolde satysfye his faders wyll laboured ferther tyll he came in to a realme where the lawe was suche that euery yere a newe kynge sholde be chose there / this kynge hath only the gydynge of that realme but a yere / at the yeres ende he shall be deposed and put in exyle in an ylende where as he sholde wretchedly fynysshe his lyf / whaÌ„ themperours sone came vnto this realme the newe kynge was chosen with grete honoure / al maner of mynstralsye wente afore hym brought hym with grete reuerence and worshyp vnto his regal sete And whan the Emperours sone sawe that he came vnto hym and salued hym reuerently and sayd My lorde lo I gyue to the this balle of golde on my faders behalfe Than sayd he I praye the tell me the cause why thou gyuest me this balle Than answerd this yonge lorde and sayd thus My fader quod he charged me in his deed bedde vnder payne of his blessynde that I sholde gyue this balle to the moost fole that I coude fynde / wherfore I haue sought many realmes and haue fouÌ„de / wherfore I haue sought many realmes and haue fouÌ„de many foles neuerthelesse a more fole than thou arte founde I neuer therfore this is the reason It is not vnknowen to the that thou shalt reygne but a yere at the yeres ende thou shalte be exyled in to suche a place where as thou shalt dye a myscheuous deth / wherfore I holde the for the moost fole that euer I founde that for that lordshyp of a yere thou woldest so wylfully lese thy selfe / therfore before all other I haue gyuen to the this balle of golde Than sayd the kynge with out doute thou sayeth me sothe / and therfore whan I am in full power of this Realme I shall sende byfore me grete tresoure and rychesse wherwith I may lyue and saue my selfe frome myscheuous deth whan that I shall be exyled put doune and so is was done / wherfore at the yeres ende he was exyled and lyued there in â—pease vpon suche goodes as he had sent before / and he deyed afterwarde a good dethe ¶ Dere frendes this Emperour is the fader of heuen the whiche byquethed the balle / that is for to saye worldely rychesse to foles ydeotes whiche sauereth no thyÌ„ge but that erthely is This Emperours sone / that is for to saye a prechour and a dyscrete confessoure serched about many realmes and londes to shewe to mysbeleuynge men and foles they peryll The realme wherin no kynge myght regne but a yere is this worlde For who so had lyued an hondred yere whan he cometh to the dethe hym shall seme that he hath lyued but the space of an houre therfore do as the kynge dyde whyle that ye be in power of lyfe / sende before you your tresour that is to saye almes dedes other good merytory werkes / certaynly whan ye be put in exyle out of this worlde ye shal lyue in pease shall fynde that mercy of god plentefull wherby ye shall opteyne euerlastynge lyfe Vnto yâ— whiche brynge vs he / that for vs deyed on her rode tree Amen OYoclesyan reygned in yâ— cyte of Rome / in whose Empyre dwelled a noble phylosopher the whiche sette vp by his crafte an ymage in the myddes of the cyte of Rome the whiche ymage or fygure streyght out his arme and his formest fynger where vpon stode this poyse wryten in latyÌ„ Percute hic Smyte here This ymage after that dethe of this phylosopher stode styll a longe tyme. And many grete clerkes came thyder for to rede the superscrypcyon that was on yâ— fynger / but none of them vnderstode what it mente / wherfore there was grete wonder amonge the people And at yâ— laste a longe tyme after there came a straunge clerke out of ferre countrees / and whan he sawe this ymage he redde the scrypture Smyte here ¶ And than vpon a daye whan he sawe the shadowe of the hande he toke a mattocke and brake vp the grounde vnder the hande where yâ— shadowe was accordynge too the vnderstandynge of the superscrypcyno And anone he founde an house all of marble vnderneth the grounde where in he dyde dyscende / and entred in to an halle were he founde so moche rychesse so many Iewelles soo grete meruaylles that he neuer herde ne sawe suche neyther so many before that tyme. At the laste he sawe a borde couered and all maner of necessarye thynges accordynge therto layde thereupon He hâ—helde ferder and sawe a carbuncle in a wall that lyghtened all the house And afore ayenst this Carbuncle on that other syde stode a man holdynge in his hande a bowe with an arowe râ—dy for to shote The clerke maruaylled moche whan he sawe al these thynges and thought in hym selfe / yf that I tell this forth there wyll no man beleue me / and therfore I wyll haue somwhat of these goodes in tokâ—n of proue And with that he sawe knyfe of golde vpon the borde whiche he toke and wolde haue put it in his bosome But anone the archer smote that Carbuncle and brake it wherwith all the hole house was shadowed and made derke And whan the clerke perceyued it he wepte more byttterly than ony man myght thynke / for he wyst not by what way that he myght go out For so moche that the house was made derke thorughe the brekynge of that carbuncle And that same derkenesse abode stylle for euer / more after / and so fynysshed yâ— clerke his lyfe there in that derkenesse ¶ Dere frendes this ymage so standynge is that deuyll / whiche sayth euermore Smyte here That is for to saye Take hede vnto erthely rychesse / not to heuenly tresoure This clerke whiche smote with the mattocke betokeneth the wyse men of this worlde as pleders of lawe / vocates / other worldly
his armure agayne in to the graue whan his blyssed body was buryed / but the cytezyns enuyed hym / that is to saye the Iewes the paynyms of Iewrye accused hym to pylate and layde the lawe afore them ayenst hym saynge / yf thou suffre hym thus thou arte not frende to Cesar themperour / we haue a lawe after that lawe he ought to dye / thus our lorde Ihesu cryste of his enmyes was dampned to deth hangynge on the crosse buryed in his graue arose the thyrde day fro deth to lyfe and after ascended vp to heuen Vnto the whiche Ihesu bryÌ„ge vs all Amen THere regned somtyme in the cyte of Rome a myghty Emperour a wyse named Betolve whiche ordeyned a lawe that what woman were taken in auoutry her husbonde beynge a lyue that she sholde be cast in to perpetuell pryson There was that tyme a knyght whiche had a fayre lady to his wyfe whiche dyde auoutry vnder her husbonde was with chylde therfore by the lawe she was put in pryson / where within shorte tyme after she was delyuered of a fayr sone This chylde grewe vp tyl he was seuen yere olde / his moder dayly wepte hertely And whan the chylde herde this he sayd to his moder thus O moder why wepe ye thus / for what cause is your body thus turmented Than sayd his moder O thou my swete sone I haue grete cause to morne thou also / for aboue oure hedes is the walkynge of people and the sonne shyneth in his clerenesse / grete solace hath all men that are aboue vs / we be here contynually in suche derkenes that I may not se the ne thou me / alas / alas / that euer I conceyued the. Than sayd the sone / suche Ioye ne suche lyght as thou spekest of sawe I neuer ne yet perceyued / for I was borne here in this derkenesse therfore yf I had mete and drynke ynough here wolde I lyue all the dayes of my lyfe Therfore moder wepe ye not but shewe vnto me solace The whyle the lamentacyon was bytwene the moder and the sone / themperours stywarde stode aboue theyr hedes herde all theyr mournynge / wherfore he had grete conpassyon of them and wente vnto the Emperour and knelynge be sought hym of his grace for the moder and the sone / that they myght be delyuered of pryson The Emperoure as a mercyfull lorde graunted that they sholde be delyuered Neuerthesse yf they tresspased soo in tyme to come they sholde be punysshed with double payne / after that they were delyuered this woman ended herlyfe in that cyte ¶ Dere frendes this Emperour is the fader of heuen whiche made this lawe that what wedded woman / that is to saye what soule whiche is wedded to our lorde do aduoutrye / that is to saye deedly synne sholde be caste in the pryson of helle / therfore a synfull soule hath grete cause to wepe for she is departed fro lyght / that is to saye frome the Ioye of heuen Her sone that desyred mete drynke ben the myghty men of this worlde whiche sayen to the prelates of that chirche and to the prechours whiche preche vnto them the Ioye of heuen / that whyle we may lyue and haue all the solace of the worlde we desyre none other Ioye of heuen The stuarde whiche herde theyr lamentacyon is oure lorde Ihesu the whiche knoweth all the preuytees of our hertes and contrycyon of out synnes besought the fader of heuen for vs that we myght be delyuered frome the pryson of synne / and that we may come to euerlastynge lyfe / vnto the whiche brynge vs our derelorde Ihesus Amen IN Rome dwelled somtyme an emperoure named Pomper whiche aboue all other thynges was mercyful This Emperour lete crye thoroughe al his Empyre a grete feest and that poore ryche sholde come to this feest And who soo euer came to that feest sholde not onely be well fed but also he sholde haue grete gyftes Whan the heraude had warned al maner of meÌ„ to come to this feest att the tyme there were two feble men lyenge by the waye and the one was lame and yâ— other was blynde This blynde man sayd vnto the lame man Alas and wo to me and the how shall we doo / for themperoure hath lete crye a feest and who soo eâ—er cometh therto shall not onely be well fedde but also he shall haue ryght grete gyftes / and I am blynde and thou arte lame how shall we do What sayd the lame man to the blynde man I shall tell the good counsell / yf thou wyll do after me thou shalte lette for no thynge I am lame and feble and may not goo neuerthelesse I may see / and thou art stronge and blynde and mayest not see / take thou me vpon thy backe and bere me and I shall lede the / the ryght waye and thus shall we bothe come to the Emperours feest Than sayd the blynde man after thy good counceyll I doo / come on my backe and I shall bere the and thou shalte lede me the ryght waye / and soo they dyd that bothe of theym came to that feest and receyued grete rewarde and gyftes amonge other men / and thus endeth theyr lyues in pease ¶ Dere frendes this Emperoure is oure lorde Ihesu cryst the whiche lete crye a generall feest / that is to saye the Ioye of heuen / vnto the whiche Ioye he called all mankynde and forsaketh noo man that wyll come vnto hym This lame man betokeneth the prelates of the chyrche prechours and confessours whiche that haue no thynge of theyrowne but lyuen by techynge and almes of other men And this blynde man betokeneth laye men whiche knoweth not the ryght waye vnto heuen It behoueth that the blynde man / that is to saye the laye men to bere the lame man / that is to saye the prelates of the chirche susteynynge and fedynge theym with the tythynge of almes and other oblatyons / than the prelates be beholden to teche and infourme vs the way towarde heuen where as we shall not onely haue a feest but also grete Ioye and rewarde / to the whiche god brynge vs therto Amen SOmtyme in Rome dwelled an Emperoure named Folliculus yâ— whiche was ryghte wyse mercyfull and ryghtfull in all his werkes this Emperoure buylded in the eest a noble cyte whe rein he put al his tresoure and precyous stones / and ryches to be kept / vnto this cyte was the waye stony and full of brymbles sharpe thornes / thre knyghtes were armed redy to fyght with theym that wolde come to that cyte Therfore themperour ordeyned that who soeuer ouercome these knyghtes sholde entre the cyte and take at his wyll of themperours tresoure After yâ— this Emperoure lete make in the northewest a cyte wherin he ordeyned all maner of payne tormentynge sorowe and myscheef to the whiche was a brode waye full delectable growynge ful of roses and fayle lelyes
.vii. yere sayd he lefte I a precyous nette in a preuy place / and nowe I wyll ryde and vysyte it / yf it be broken or to torne than wyl I leue it / and yf it be hole as I lefte it than shal it be to me ryght precyous I shall bere it with me Whan the Emperour herde this he cryed with a lowde voyce and sayd O ye my knyghtes and my seruauntes goo ye lyghtly vnto my doughters chamber for sothely that is the nette where of the knyght spake And anone his knyghtes and his seruauntes wente vnto his doughters chamber founde her not / the forsayd knyght had take her with hym And thus the kynge was dysceyued of the damoysell he wente home agayne to his owne countree confounded ¶ Dere frendes t is Emperoure is oure blyssed lorde Ihesus Cryste And this fayre doughter is euerlastynge lyfe the whiche that the emperoure hadde ordeyned for kynges knyghtes and for men The knyght that loued this yonge lady is euery good crysten soule whiche holdeth hym selfe not worthy to come in the syght of god vnto suche Ioye As the appostle sayth Non est condigne passionis huius temporis ad futuram gloriam The be not soo worthy of sufferynge to come vnto that glorye that is to come This knyght wente seuen yere on pylgrymage / lyke as a good crysten man all the dayes of his lyfe sholde laboure in fnlfllynge the seuen werkes of mercy By this kynge that cometh wtoute cloke in the rayne is to vndestande the myghty men of this worlde / as Iustyces Mayres balyes whiche had noclokes to couer al their other clothes by this cloke is vndstaÌ„de charyte / the whiche as the appostle sayth Caritas cooperit multitudinem peccatorum Charyte couerth all our synnes But many men haue not this cloke / wherfore they be wete in the rayne of pryde auaryce / and lechery This kynge was also almoost drowned for by cause he lacked his brydge / that is to saye parfyte fayth For we see dayly that there may no man passe ouer a grete water brode and horryble depe wtout a brydge or somme other thynge that is able for to bere hym Ryght to without fayth it is Impossyble for to please god / and thus may no man be saued withoute fayth whan they sette theyr lyfe in worldely Ioye or wordely helpe more than in the helpe of almyghty god whiche is myghty for to do all thynges / wherfore he sayth hymselfe thus Saluator si habueritis fidem sicut granuÌ„ sinapis poteritis et cetera Yf he haue fayth as the grayne of mustarde / than maye ye saye vnto the hylles Goo thou forth and it shall goo But many of vs now a dayes hath to ouer feble a fayth therfore they shall sodanly falle in the claye of desperacyon / and by deedly synne often tymes they offende god Also this kyÌ„ge had not brought with hym his fader and his moder By the father whiche is cause of gouernacyon is vnderstande humylyte without whome there is noo vertue in no man And therto accordeth saynt Gregory saynge thus Si quis ceteris virtutes sine humilitate congregat et cete He that gadereth al other vertues without humylyte is lyke a man that casteth duste in the wynde His moder betokeneth hope therfore he that wyll opteyne euerlastynge lyfe hym behoueth to haue the cloke of charyte / brydge of fayth a fader of mekenesse / and a moder of hope / as the appostle sayth Spe salut facti sumus Also this knyght wente the strayte pathe waye / and the kynge the brode waye / for he that wyll be saued behoueth to goo a strayte waye / that is to saye / the waye of fastynge / almes dedes / chastyte / and penaunce / of the whiche waye speketh the appostle ¶ Stricta est via que ducit ad vitam eternam The way is strayte that ledeth to euerlastynge lyfe But many men gone that other waye whiche ledeth to helle / that is to saye by the waye of flesshely luste and suche men gone oute of the waye of euerlastynge lyfe / but suche men be deceyued thrughe the waye Therfore study we to walke that waye wherby we may opteyne euerlastynge lyfe Amen SOmtyme dwelled in Rome a myghty stronge a bataylous Emperoure named Agias whiche had with hym a knyght whome men called Gerarde whiche was a doughty warryour neuerthe lesse he was as meke as a lambe in the Emperours hall / but in the felde he was lyke a lyon This Emperour had a fayre doughter whome the stronge and myghty exle of palaster rauysshed dysfloured neuerthesse it dysplesed more themperour the dyffoylnge of his doughter than the rauysshynge / wherfore he called vnto hym his counsel and sayd dere frendes it is not vnknowen to you the despyte vyolence done vnto me in deflourynge of my doughter and therfore Iaurpose to gyue barayle to the erle / wherfore I praye you to be redy at a daye sette to procede with me to batayle And they sayd lorde we redy to lyue and dye with you in batayle Whan the daye of batayll came they mette on bothe sydes a cruell harde betayle was gyuen on bothe sydes / all that were of themperours partye were slayne And as themperour sholde haue ben byheded the knyght Gerarde put hym selfe amonge this enemyes before themperour and fought manfully and so themperour escaped and the knyght abode and slewe the erle / neuertheles this knyght had dyuerse woundes This not withstondynge he abode fought styllâ—tyll the blode ranne to his helys And whaÌ„ his enemyes sawe that the Erle was slayne they fledde / and the knyght with his people folowed on the chace tyll he came to the place where themperours doughter was and ledde her with hyÌ„ and thus with tryumphe vyctory he retorned agayne to the emperour For the whiche vyctory and getynge agayn of themperours doughter he was gretely praysed of all people Not longe after it befell that this knyght had to do in themperours courte wherfore the knyghte came vnto themperour and prayed hym mekely to be fauourable in his cause / and ferthermore he prayed hym to do that reason asked Whan the emperour had herde hym he called to hym a Iustyce and sayd goo thou and do Iustyce to this knyght and that / that yâ— lawe wyll And whah the knyght herde this he cryed with a lowde voyce Alas alas who herde euer suche a thynge of an Emperour / thou were sayd he in batayle where thyn heed sholde haue be smyten of / and I in myn owne persone and none other men put my selfe in Ieoperdy for the and saued the / now thou hast assygned an other man to be Iuge in my cause / alas that euer thou were borne And with that worde the knyght dyde of all his clothes shewed the woundes that he had receyued in the batayle vnto all the men that wher there presente and sayd Loo what
duchelonde a fayre lady and gentyll whiche within shorte tyme was conceyued bare a sone Whan this chylde was borne the states of the Empyre came vnto the Emperour eueryche of them syngulerly besought the Emperour to nourysshe his sone The Emperour answered sayd / to morowe shall be a torneye there shall ye all be / whiche of you doth best opteyneth the vyctory shall haue kepynge of my sone / and yf he nourysshe hym wel I shall promote hym to grete dygnyte and honours And yf he do the contrary he shall dye the foulest dethe yâ— can be thought Thansayd they Ryght reuerent lorde all this pleaseth vs well On the morowe whaÌ„ euery man was come to the torney The states Iusted and scarmusshed full manfully longe tyme tyll at the last there came a doughty knyght named Iosyas the so manfully bare hym selfe amonge them all that he wanne the vyctory And anone whan all was done / this Iosyas toke the chylde and led hym forth with hy â— / bycause this Emperours sone shol de be receyued in his countree he sente before to his castell coÌ„maunded his offycers the it sholde be dyght bo the without and within / that the chyldes bedde sholde be made in the myddes of the castell / and also the seuen sâ—yences sholde be paynted aboue the chyldes bedde the whan the chylde wakened out of his slepe he myght lye in his bedde rede his lesson This knyght had a fructefull an holsome well by the chyldes beddes syde wherin he vsed to bathe hym selfe therin / the knyghtes wyfe bare the keye of this wellâ— there was a wyndowe yâ— the sonne myght come in shyne It fortuned vpon a daye the the lady the kepte the keye lefte the wyndowe open thrughe neclygence And whan the lady had done there came a bere sawe the wyndowe open wente vnto the wel and vathed hym therin / of whose bathynge the well sauoured after for grete hete the was the tyme / wherfore whose so euer dronke therof waxed lepre within shorte tyme. And soo it fortuned within a lytell space after the the lorde the lady and also theyr housholde were lepers not withstoÌ„d yÌ„ge it appâ—ered not sodeynly And in the meane tyme there came a 〈◊〉 Egle in at the wyndowe there as the Emperours sonclaye bare the chylde awaye oute of his cradell And whan the knyght perceyued this he wepte bytterly sayd Alas alas wo to me wretched creature the euer I was borne what shall I do for now I am the sone of deth / for I am a foule leper so is my wyfe also all myn housholde And the whyle he was thus mournynge there came vnto hym a physycyen sayd to hym in this maner Syr yf ye well do after my counceyll it shall not repente you Fyrste it behoueth you your wyfe all your housholde also for to be laten blode / after that to be hathed wasshen clene / than shall I laye to my medecyne And whan yâ— art hole thaÌ„ shall you your wyfe also all your housholde walke vnto the mountaynes and hylles and seke the Emperours sone for the Egle hath leten hym falle in to some place The knyght wrought all thynge by the counceyll of this physycyen / and anone after he was leten blode and had receyued the medecyne / and than he was hole and his wyfe also all his houssholde wherfore he lepte on his horse toke with hym thre squyers and robe forth and sought and chylde And at the last he founde hym hole and sounde lyenge in a baleye and thaÌ„ he was gretely reioysed And for the grete Ioye and gladnesse that was in hym for fyndynge of his lorde the Emperoures sone he made a grete feest / after the feest soo done he ledde the chylde home to the Emperour And whan the Emperour sawe his sone in good helthe he was ryght glade / wherfore he promotd hyÌ„ to grete worshyppe whiche lyued after that longe tyme in grete honoure and worshyp and atte the laste he ended his lyfe in pease and in reste ¶ This Emperour betokeneth the fader of heuen His sone betokeneth our lorde Ihesu cryste whome many men desyre to nourysshe at eester whan they receyue the sacrament Neuerthelesse he the hest Iusteth with the deuyl ouercometh hym thrughe penauÌ„ce The knyght the toke this chylde with hyÌ„ betokeneth a good crysten man the fasted truly blyssedly all the lente before / therfore do we as the knyght dyde sende we before messengers to dyght to make clene the castel of our herte frome all spotte of synne by werkes of mercy so shall this chylde Ihesu reste and lyght in the myddes of out herte The welle betokeneth mercy whiche ought to be next our lorde For who souer is without mercy and trouth may not nourysshe the blyssed chylde Ihesu But it hapned ofte the the knyghtes wyfe the is the flesshe of man bered the keye of mercy and ofte lefte the welle open / than cometh the bere the is the deuyll caste the venym in to the well of mercy / who the hast therof shall be Infected with the leper of synne The wyndowe wherin the sonne shyneth is the grace of the holy goost by whome men lyued and are comforted goostly by this wyndowe the Egle cometh in / that is to saye the power of almyghty god toke awaye the Chylde Ihesu from the herte of man than man had grete cause to wepe / but what shall he do whan the chylde is gone but sende for a subtyll physycien that is to saye a dyserete confessoure whiche shall gyue hym counseyll to lete hyÌ„ blode all his houshol de that is to saye to put out synne thrughe very confessyon of tonge before his ghoostly fader Than must be bathe hyÌ„selfe with teres of contrycyon coÌ„punccyon of tonge / after the take the medycyne of satysfaccyon than shall he be made clene from all maner of synne And whaÌ„ he hath done thus he must lepe on the palfray of good lyfe tyde forth w e his thre souyres / that is to saye w e fastynge prayer almesdedes / and than without doubte he shall fynde the chylde Ihesu in the valey of humylyte and not in a hyll / that is to saye pryde / and yf he do this doubtles he shall haue myght power to nourysshe that blyssed chylde Ihesu / for whose nourysshyÌ„ ge the fader of heuen shall promote hym vnto euerlastynge Ioye Vnto the whiche Ioye god brynge vs all Amen SOmtyme dwelled in Rome a myghty Emperour whiche was named Fulgenctê° whiche gouerned his people nobly / and loued them so moche the he made to proclame thrughe out all nacyons the who someuer wolde come to hyÌ„ryche or poore atte a certayne day sholde haue theyr petycyon what someuer it were Whan the myghty men herde this
yf ye wyll nedes haue her and forsake my foule doughter / you be houeth fyrste to Iuste for her he that wynneth her shall wedde her Than were the grettest states of the Empyre gretely gladded / and anone onely for her loue they wolde Iuste and also fyght / wherfore they sette a daye of batayle / and many worthy men were slayne on bothe sydes Neuerthelesse one opteyned the vyctory wedded that yonge and fayre lady The seconde doughter that was foule oughly sawe this that her syster was wedded with grete solempnyte mourned wepte dayly / wherfore the Emperour her fader came to her sayd / dere doughter why mornest thou thus Alas dere fader quod she it is no wonder thoughe I mourne seynge my syster wedded with so grete honoure and gladnesse and euery man is fayne of her and no man loueth my felaushyp / and therfore dere fader what may I do beste sothely I knowe it not Then sayd the Emperour O my swete doughter all yâ— is myn is thyne and that is not vnknowen to you that he whiche wedded thy syster had no thynge with her but her fayrnesse / and therfore I shal proclame in myn owne persone thrughe all myn Empyre that what man that weddeth you I shall make hym sure by letter patent of all myn Empyre after my deth Than this yonge lady thought she was foule and oughly neuerthelesse she reioysed in the promysse of her fader / and anone after the proclamacyon was made / than there came a yonge knyght and a gentyll and wedded that lady / and after the dethe of the Emperour he seased all the Empyre was crowned Emperour and she Empresse ¶ This Emperour betokeneth our lorde Ihesu cryste whyche hath two doughters / that one fayre and that other foule That one fayre betokeneth this worlde whiche is full fayre and delectable vnto many men That other foule betokeneth pouerte and trouble whome fewe men desyre to wedde Neuerthelesse a comen crye was made by holy scrypture that who so wolde haue his fayre doughter that is the worlde sholde haue nothynge with her but her fairnes / that is to saye the worldly vanytees whiche faden and fall awaye lyke as the fayrnesse of man But who that wyll wedde the foule doughter / that is to saye wylfully to receyue pouerte and trouble for goddes loue / without doubte he shall opteyne the Empyre of heuen accordynge to the scrypture saynge thus ye that haue forsaken all thynge for my loue to to folowe me shall haue euerlastynge lyfe Full many noble and worthy men haue Iusted for the fayre doughter / that is to saye haue foughten bothe by see and by londe for this worlde for couetyse of worldely rychesse / and arte laste there be many slayne / for there is no thynge here but pryde of lyfe or courtyse of eyen or of flesshe where thrughe all the worlde is put vnto grete myscheef But he that weddeth the fayre doughter that is the worlde is he that setteth all his affecte and desyre in the wretchednesse of this worlde wyll not for no thynge forsake this worlde / lyke as a wreetche and couetous man But he that wedded the foule doughter is a good crysten man whiche that loue of the kyngedome of heuen forsaketh all this worlde / and not onely he dooth thus but also despysed hym selfe bodely obeynge to his souereynes in all thynge / suche a man certaynly shall opteyne the Empyre of heuen Vnto the whiche Ihesu cryste brynge bothe you and me Amen SOmtyme there dwelled in Rome a myghty Emperour named Andromyke whiche aboue all thynge loued melody This emperour had with in his castel a welle of suche vertue that soo euer were dronken / and dranke of that water of this welle sholde be contynent fresshe agayn and be delyuered frome all maner of dronkenesse There was also dwellynge in this Emperours courte a knyghte named Yorony whome the Emperoure loued moche / but ofte tymes he was dronken the whiche vyce the Emperour hated aboue all thynge / whan this knyght vnderstode hym selfe that he was dronken Than wolde he goo to the welle and drynke of that water and refresche hym selfe soo well that what soeuer the Emperour put to hym he wolde answere hym soo reasonably / that no synne of dronkenesse myght he founde in hym / and for his wytty answere and his wysdome he was gretly beloued of the Emperour Neuerthelesse his felawes of yâ— courte enuyed hym moche and ymagyned amonge them selfe how they myght departe the Emperour loue fro hym It fortuned upon a daye that this Emperour wente to the forest as he herde the nyghtyngale whiche is a gentyll byrde synge merely / wherfore this Emperour ofte tymes after that wolde ryse erly in yâ— mornynge and also some tyme frome his mete and walke vnto the wode for the swetenesse of her songe / wherfore many of his men sayd amonge them selfe Thus our lorde delyteth soo moche in the nyghtyngales songe that he recketh lytell of our profyte in so moche that thrughe two thynges his loue is worawen from vs. That is to saye by ydronye the knyght and by the swete songe of the nyghtyngale Than sayd an olde knyght the whiche was amonge theym Syrs quod he yf ye do by my counceyll I shall delyuer you of the knyght Ydronye / and of the nyghtyngale without hurte or dethe They answered and sayd what thynge that ye bydde vs do we shall fulfyll anone with all our herte Whan this knyght herde this within a whyle after he aspyed this ydrony that he was dronke wherfore he locked the welle faste as this knyght ydrony came to refresshe hym selfe and founde the welle locked The Emperour hadde a grete mater to trete / wherfore he sente in hast for this knyght by cause of his gre fore he sente in hast for this knyght by cause of his grete wysdome that was in hym to haue his counceyll And whan he came before that Emperour he was so dronke that he myght not ones meue his tonge neyther he hadde wytte / reason nor vnderstondynge to answere yâ— Emperour to his mater But whan the Emperour sawe this he was gretely greued for so moche yâ— he hated namely that vyce / wherfore he coÌ„mauÌ„ded anone that frome that daye / forth he sholde not be seen within his londe vpon payne of deth This herynge his fomen gretely were gladded and sayd vnto the olde knyght in this maner of wyse Now be we delyuered of this knyght ydrony There is no more to do but that we myght fynde that waye and remedy that we were deiyuered of the nyghtyngale in the whiche the Emperour delyteth so moche the songe Then sayd this olde knyght your erys shall here your eyen shall see yâ— this nyghtyngale shall be destroyed in shorte tyme. Not longe after this olde knyght aspyed yâ— yâ— nyghtyngale vsed to sytte vpon a tree euyn aboue this same wel where as her make that was yâ—
this poore man and sayd My lorde I promyse you my fay the fullly for to be true vnto you as longe as that I lyue The Emperoure anone made hym knyght and gaue hȳ grete rychesse whan he was thus promoted he waxed so proude that he thought hym selfe more able for to be an Emperour than his lorde / wherfore he made suggestyon vnto dyuers lorde of that empyre that he myght vsurpe and take vpon hȳ thrughe strengthe of theym to be Emperour whan the Emperour herde this anone he exyled hym and all tho that were consentynge to hym soo that they were put in grete wretchednesse sorowe and than the Emperour ordeyned other men in theyr stede and gaue theym all the possessyons of the traytours and of there felawshyppe And whan the banysshed men herde that straungers had take possessyon in theyr lande and goodes Anone they conspyred agaynst hym thrughe treason prayed theym vnto a feeste / and they as Innocentes thynkynge no treason came at the daye assygned / and were serued with fyue meases / whiche were enpoysoned / wherfore as many as tasted of that vytayll dyed in contynent / whan the Emperour herde this / he was gretely moued and called his counceyll to wyte what was beste to be done of this treason and of theyr dethe Than sayd the Emperours sone My lorde I am youre sone / and ye be my fader / and therfore I shall gyue you good ceunsell and profytable to all men Not ferre hens is a lytell realme wherein dwelleth a fayre mayden and gracyous in the syght of euery man whiche hathe an orcherde wherin there is a welle / wherof the water is of suche vertue / that yf it be caste vpon a dede man / anone he shall lyue agayne and recouer his lyfe Therfore my lorde I shall descende vnto the realme and seke that water by the whiche they that were slayne at the feest myght ryse agayne to lyfe And whan the Emperour herde this / he was gretely gladded and sayd Sone thy coūcell is ryght good and anone the Emperours sone wente in to the sayd realme and felle in conceyte of the mayden in soo moche that he entred in to the gardyne and sayde of the welle And whan he hadde soo done he made fyue depe trenches in the grounde in the whiche the water ranne tylle it came where the deed men laye buryed / and anone whan the water touched theym they arose frome dethe to lyfe / and thenne the Emperours soone ledde theym vnto his fader And whan The Emperour sawe this he was ryghte Ioyes full / wherfore he crowned his sone with a lauryate croune in token of vyctorye / and soo he ended his lyfe in pease ¶ This Emperour betokeneth that fader of heuen The poore man that was promoted betokeneth Lucyfer y◠whiche was made of nought and exalted in the Empyre of heuen in so grete Ioye and clerenesse that hym semed thrughe his pryde that he wolde be lyke almyghty god / and not onely lyke hym selfe but also more than almyghty god / wherfore the fader of heuen exyled hym and all theym that consented vnto hym to helle / and in theyr place man was exalted to grete Ioye and honoure The deuyll seynge this enuyed hym that man sholde come to suche glorye and honoure / bad Adam and Eue. vnto a feest whan they ete of the apple agaynst goddes commaundement / and counceylled them thus saynge In what houre he ete of the apple ye shall be lyke goddes And in this cursed feest they were serued with fyue meases the whiche were enpoysoned / that is to saye / theyr fyue wyttes were accorded in etynge of that apple wherof man was infecte and dyed This herynge the Emperours sone meued with mercy came doune frome heuen in to this worlde and acquaynted hym soo well with the blyssed vyrgyne Mary that he founde in her the well of man hode and conioyned it to his godhede acordynge to the scrypture I am the well of lyfe who drynketh on it shall not thurste After that he lete make fyue trenches in the grounde / that is to laye fyue woundes in his body of the whiche ranne bothe blode water wherby all mankynde were reysed fro dethe to lyfe / and soo he ledde theym vp in to the palyce of heuen Vnto the whiche our blyssed lorde Ihesus Cryste that shed his blode vpon the rode tree for the and me and all mankynde Amen Amen Amen for saynt charyte SOmtyme there dwelled in Rome a myghty emperour the whiche was named Dunstane In whose Empyre dwelled a gentyll knyght the whiche had two sones One of his sayd sones wedded hym selfe astaynst his faders wyll to a comune woman of the bordell The knyght herynge this exyled his sone frome hym And whan he was thus exyled he begate on this woman a sone / and sone after that he wexed seke and nedefull wherfore he sente messengers to his fader besechynge hym of his mercy This herynge his fader had compassyon and ruthe of hym wherfore he was reconsyled And whan he was thus brought agayne to his faders grace / he gaue his sone whiche he had begoten afore of this nedeful woman to his fader And he kyndely receyued it as his sone and norysshed it whan his other sone herde this he sayd to is fader Fader quod he it semeth that thou arte out of thy ryght mynde the whiche I preue by this reason For he is out of his mynde that receyueth a false heyre / nouryssheth hym / whose fader hath done hym anguysshe dysease afore But my brother whiche begate this chylde hath done the grete Iniurye whan that he wedded the comune woman agaynst thy wyll and commaundement Therfore me semeth that thou arte oute of thy ryght mynde Thenne answered the fader and sayd By cause that thy brother is reconsyled thou arte enuyous to me and also vnkynde to thyn owne brother / wyllynge for to put hym from my felawshyp for euer more sothely none vnkynde man shall haue myn herytage but yf that he be reconsyled But yet thou were neuer reconsyled of his vnkyndnesse for thou myght haue reconsyled hym but thou woldest not / therfore of myn herytage get est thou no parte ¶ The fader of the two bretherne betokeneth the fader of heuen And this two sones betokeneth that nature of aungelles and nature of man For man was wedded vnto a comune woman of the bordelle whan he ete of the apple agaynst the commaundement of god wherfore he was exyled by that fader of heuen and putte fro the Ioyes of paradyce The sone of the comune woman hetokeneth mankynde This knyghtes sone that is to saye Adam began to be nedefull / for after his synne he was putte frome Ioye in to this wretched valey of teares and wepynge accordynge to this scrypture In sudore vultus c. In the swete of thy vysage thou shalte ete thy brede But after by the passyon of cryste he
Mary the emperours sone betokeneth our lorde Ihesu cryste The sergeaunt that was sente thrughe the cyte betokeneth saynt Iohan that baptist whiche was sente afore our lorde / to make redy for hym accordynge to the scrypture Ecce mitto angelū Lo I sende my aūgell afore me c. The states whiche desyreth the Emperours sone to nourysshe betoken the patryarkes and prophetes whiche desyre gretely to nourysshe our lorde so to se hym but they myght not se hym / ne norysshe hym for fyre and water whiche sholde be causet of theyr syght were not with hȳ persyghtly The fyre betokeneth the holy goost that had not yet a pered in them / for they were not wasshen the water of the fonte Also ye may vnderstonde by the fyre perfyght charyte / and by the water true contrycion whiche two now a dayes fayleth in many men / and therfore they may not haue the lytell thylde Ihesu in theyr hertes Ionathas that waked so well betokeneth a good crysten man whiche studyeth euer to wake in doynge of good werkes / yeldynge to god for synnes the fyre of charyte / the water of contrycyon But ofte tymes the tyraunt whiche betokeneth the deuyll putteth out the fyre of charyte fro mennes hertes and casteth out the water of contrycyon so that they may not Nourysshe this lytell chylde Ihesu Therfore awake we as Ionathas dyd that we entre not in temptacyon And calle we to vs masons that is to say dyscrete cōfessours / whiche can make in our hertes a chamber of stone / that is to saye a sure feyth hope Thā calle we to vs peynters that is to saye prechours of goddes wordes whiche can paynt in our hertes ten ymages / that is to saye ten cōmaūdementes whiche yf thou kepe and preserue dayly / deuoutly without doubte thou shalte behonoured in heuen And yf thou kepe well the Emperours sone thou shalt sytte in chayre of golde crowned with a crowne of golde / yf thou nourysshe not wel without doubte thou shalt be hanged on that galous of heil / frome the whiche saue vs our dere lorde Ihesus Amen IN Rome there dwelled somtyme a myghty Emperour named Menaly the whiche had wedded the kynges doughter of hungry a fayr lady gracious in all her werkes / specially she was merciful as the emperour lay in his bed he bethought hȳ the he wolde vysyte the holy londe / on the morne he called to hȳ the Empresse and his owne onely broder and thus he sayd dere lady I may not ne I wyll not hyde fro the / the preuytees of my herte I purpose to vysyte the holy londe / wherfore I ordeyne the pryncypally to be lady and gouernoure ouer all myn Empyre and ouer my people And vnder the I ordeyne here my broder to be thy stywarde for to prouyde all thynges that may be profytable to me and to my people Than sayd the Empresse Syth it wyll none other wyse be but nedes ye wyll go to the holy londe I shall be in your absence as true as ony turtyll that hath lost his felawe For as I byleue ye shall not escape thens with your lyfe The Emperour anone conforted her with fayre wordes and kyste her and after that toke his leue of her and of all other and so wente forth towarde the holy londe And anone after that the Emperour was gone his broder waxed soo proude that he opressed poore and robbed tyche men yet he dyd worse for dayly he styred the Empresse to synne with hym But euer she answered agayne as an holy and a deuoute woman and sayd I wyll quod she neuer consente to you / ne to none other as lōge as my lorde lyues Neuerthelesse this knyght wolde not leue by this answere but euer whā he founde her alone he made his compleynt to her / and styred her by all the wayes that he coude to synne with hym / whan this lady sawe that he wolde not seas for none answere ne wolde not amende hym selfe whan she sawe her tyme she called to her thre or foure of the worthyest of that Empyre and sayd to theym thus it is not vnknowen to you that my lorde the Emperour ordeyned me prȳcipally gouernour of this Empyre / and also he ordeyned his broder to be stewarde vnder me and that he sholde doo no thynge without my counceyl but he dooth all the contrary / for he oppresseth poore men gretely robbeth ryche men / yet he wolde do worse yf he myght haue his entente wherfore I commaunde you in my lordes name that ye bynde hym faste / and caste hym in pryson Thenne sayd they sothely he hath done many harmes syth out lorde wente / therfore we be redy to obey your commaandement / but in this mater ye muste answere for vs to our lorde the Emperour Than sayd she drede ye not for of my lorde knewe what he hath done as well as I he wolde putte hym to the fowlest dethe that can bethought Anone these men sette handes on hym and bounde hym faste with yron cheynes and putte hym faste in pryson / where as he laye longe tyme after / tylle atte the laste it fortuned there came tydynges that the Emperour was comynge home hadde opteyned grete worshyppe and vyctory / whan his broder herde of his comynge he sayd / wolde god my broder myght fynde me in pryson for thenne wolde he enquyre the cause of myn emprysonement of the Empresse / and she wyl tell hym all the trouth / and how I desyred her to synne / soo for her I shall haue no grace of my broder but lose my lyfe this knowe I well therfore it shall not be soo Thenne sente he a messenger vnto the Empresse praynge her for crystes passyon that she wolde vouchsafe to come vnto the pryson dore that he myght speke a worde with her The Empresse came to hym / and enquyred of hym what he wolde He answered and sayd thus O lady haue marcy vpon me For yf the Emperoure my brother fynde me in this pryson thenne I dye without remedy Thenne sayd the Empresse yf I myght knowe thou woldest be a good man and leue of thy foly thou sholdest haue grace Than dyde he behote her sykerly to be true and to amende all this trespasse / whan he had thus promysed the Empresse delyuered hym anone made hym to be bathed and shauen and arayed hym worshyppefully accordynge to his estate / and than she sayd vnto hym thus Nowe good broder lepe on thy stede and come with me that we may mete my lorde He answered sayd lady I am redy to fulfyll youre wyll and youre commaundement in all thynges And than the Empresse tooke hym with her and many other knyghtes and rode forth to mete with the Emperoure / and as they rode togyder by the way they sawe where a grete harte ranne afore them / wherfore euery man with suche houndes as they had chased hym on
of yâ— prelate is not acceptable to god ne man agaynst this scrypture saynge saynge thus Nolite iudicare c. Deme ye not be not demed But ofte tymes suche malycyous people accuseth ryghtwysse men / wherfor they shall be caste in euerlastynge fyre of helle where is waylynge wepyÌ„ge and mesyry without charyte And ryghtwysse men shall assende to euerlastynge lyfe Vnto the whiche brynge vs our lorde Ihesu cryste Amen THere dwelled in Rome amyghty Emperour named Delfynê° whiche had no chylde saue a doughter a fayre creature gretly beloued of her fader As this Emperour walked on a daye on huÌ„tynge in the forest sodenly he rode forth of his waye loste his men / wherfore he was gretly dysconforted for he wyste not whyther he rode ne in what place he was / tyll at the laste whan had ryden thus all the day alone / in the euynynge he sawe an house thyder he rode a grete pace and knocked at the gate Anone the good man of the house herde hym and asked the cause of his knockynge what he wolde Dere frende quod the Emperour / lo it is nyght as ye may se therfore I praye you of lodgynge for the loue of god / whan he had thus sayd the good man of the house vnware yâ— he was the Emperour answered thus / sayd Good frende quod he I am the emperours foster haue plence of venyson of other vytayles for you / whan the Emperoure herde this he was ryght glad Neuerthelesse he tolde hym not yâ— he was Emperour / and than the foster opened the gate receyued hym as worshypfully as he coude and sette hym to his souper / serued hyÌ„ honestly And whan he had supped the foster broughte hym to his chamber / and whan tyme was he wente to bed In that same tyme as it befelle the fosters wyfe was traueylynge of chylde in another chambre by / and was delyuered that same nyght of a fayre sone / the Emperoure lay in his bed slepyÌ„ge he herde a voyce saynge to hym as hyÌ„ semed these wordes thryes / take / take / take / with that he a woke and meruayled what it myght be Saynge thus to hym selfe / a voyce byddeth me / take / take / take / what shall I take / and he felle a slepe agayne / and the seconde tyme he harde a voyce saynge to hym these wordes / yelde / yelde / yelde / and with that he wokened and wondred gretely / saynge vnto hym selfe what may this be Fyrste and formeste I herde a voyce and that sayd Take / take / take / and no thynge I receyued And ryght nowe I dyde here another voyce and that sayd / yelde / yelde / yelde / what sholde I yelde I wote neuer And as he laye this thynkyngeto hyÌ„selfe fell a slepe agayne and than he herde the thyrde voyce sayÌ„ge these wordes thryes Fle / fle / fle For this nyght is a chylde borne whiche after thy desease shall be Emperour / whan the Emperour herde this he wakened and wondred gretly what it myght be In the mornynge erly folowynge yÌ„ Emperour arose called to hym the foster sayd / dere frende I praye the yâ— thou wylt tell me yf ony chylde be borne this nyght to thy knowelege My wyfe quod the foster this nyght is delyuered and hath borne a sone I praye the sayd the Emperour shewe me thy sone / whan the Emperour had sene yâ— chylde / he sawe a token in the childes vysage wherby he myÈt knowe hyÌ„ another tyme / sayd to the foster thus Dere fren de knowest thou who am I. Nay sothly sayd the foster For I sawe you neuer erste as I am remembred Neuerthelesse it semeth the ye sholde be gentyll man Than answered the Emperour sayd I am quod he the Emperour your lorde who me ye haue lodged this nyght wherfore I thanke you moche This herynge the foster fell doune vpon his knees at his foot / besought hyÌ„ of mercy / yf he had offended his hyghnesse in ony thyÌ„ge prayed hyÌ„ of forgyuenesse Than answered the Emperour sayd drede the not for I thanke the hertely of thy good chere / thy sone whiche was borne to nyghte I wyll haue for to nourysshe to morowe I shal sende for hyÌ„ A lorde quod the foster / it is not suffycient the suche a lorde sholde nourysshe the chylde of his seruaunt Neuerthelesse your wyll shall be done For whan your messengers come I shall delyuer them my sone / whan this was sayd the Emperoure toke his leue rode home towarde his palays And whan he was come home he called vnto hyÌ„ suche seruauntes as he trusted sayd to theym thus Do ye quod he vnto my forstere with whome I was lodged this nyght in the forest and receyue of hym his sone whiche his wyfe bare this nyght And vpon a payne of deth I commaunde you the ye slee hym by the awaye / and cast his flesshe to the dogges but brynge to me his herte with you And but ye fulfyll my commaundement ye shall dye the moest foulest dathe the can bethought Anone his seruauntes wente to the foreste and receyued yâ— fosters sone and brought hym with theym And whaÌ„ they were come nere the palays / one of them sayd How shall we do that we may fulfyll our lordes coÌ„maundement in sleynge of this chylde Some answered and sayd that the chylde sholde be slayne / and some wolde haue saued his lyfe And whyle they strofe thus amonge them selfe one of them the was moost mercyfull sayd O good frendes here my counceyll and ye shall not for thynke it / yf we murder this chylde Innocent we shal gretly offende our lorde god Therfore here be yonge pygges slee we one of theym than we may here with vs his herte / and presente the Emperour therwith saynge that it is the herte of the chylde / and thus shall we not shede the chyldes blode Than sayd they thy counceyll is good But what shall we do with the thylde Good frendes quod he Late vs wrappe hym in some clothes and laye hym in some holowe tree / for perauenture god wolde helpe hym and saue his lyfe / whan he had thus sayd they dyde after his counceyll in all thynges and slewe the pygge wente theyr way and bare home with theym the pygges herte to the Emperour / saynge thus to hym Loo gracyous lorde we haue slayne the chylde / and with that they shewed hym the pygges herte The Emperour supposyÌ„ge the it had be the chyldes herte and toke it kest it in to the fyre / dyspyteously sayÌ„ge Lo the is his herte whiche sholde haue ben Emperour after me Lo what it is to beleue in dremes vysyons whiche be not elles but fantasyes and vayne thynges The seconde day after the yâ— chylde was put in the holowe tre / there came an Erle to huÌ„te in the forest / as his houndes