rich and vicious worldlings The 21. History SOmetime there dwelt in Rome a noble Emperour named Polenus which had thrée sonnes whome hee loued much It béefell vpon a daie when this Emperour lay vpon his bed he bethought him to which of his sonnes he might giue his Empyre after his decease Then called hée to him his thrée sonnes and saide Which of you three that is slowest shall haue mine Empyre after my decease The first sonne answered and sayde Thyne Empyre by reason shall bée myne For I am so slow that if my foote were in the fyre I had rather it should be brent then I to take it out Then said the second I am quod hée more apt to the Empyre then thou for though ther were a rope about my neck wherwith I should bée hanged and if I had a sharp sword in my hand for great slouth that I haue I would not put soorth my hande to cutte the rope for to saue my life And when these two brethren had said the third saide for him thus I ought to be Emperour béefore you both for I passe you in slouth and that will I proue thus I lye vpright in my bed there droppeth water vpon both mine eyen for great slouth that I haue I moue not my head neither to the right side of the bedde nor to the lefte side for sauing of my selfe When the Emperour heard this hée béequethed the Empyre vnto the youngest sonne as to the slowest of the bretheren The Morall This Emperour béetokeneth the diuell which is lord father ouer the vngodly in this world by the first son is vnderstood a man that chauÌ„ceth into euil compainy by whom he falleth into misdemenour and had leuer to be brent in the fire of sin then depart from them The second sonne betokeneth him that knoweth himselfe bound with the band of sin wherwith he is to be hanged on the gallous of hell is so slouthfull that hee wil not put them away with the lawfull sword of repentance By the third sonne is vnderstood a man that heareth the teaching of the ioyes of heauen and of the paines of hell and will not moue him selfe to the right for loue and desire of reward nor to the left side to forlake his sinnes for feare of eternall paine Such a man without doubt for his sloth shall obtaine the kingdome of hell from the which kéepe vs our Lord Jesus Amen The 22. Historie ALexander the mightie Emperour sometime ruled which beséeged a citie of the kinge of Egipt with a great hoast neuer the lesse this Emperour lost many mightie Knights without any hurt of stroke And thus froÌ„ day to day his people dyed sodenly whereat this Alexander wondred greatly was full sorowfull therof in his minde and anone let call afore him the wisest Philosophers that might bée found and praied them to tell him why his people dyed thus sodainly without wouÌ„d The Philosophers answered and said My Lord it is no wonder for vpon the walls of that Castell within the Citie is a Cocatrice through whose sight your men dye for they are infected with the venime that commeth of his eyen and there vpon they dye Than this Alexander asketh if there wer any remedy against that cocatrice The Philosophers answered and said My Lord there is good remedy which is this pleaseth it you to set vp a large myrrour of cléere glasse ouer against this Cocatrice between your hoast the wall of the citie when the cocatrice beholdeth him selfe in the myrrour the deadly nature of this venimous sight shall returne againe to himselfe thus he shall die and your men shal be saued The Emperour wrought by the counsell of the Philosophers and let set vp straight a large myrrour of glasse and thus was the Cocatrice slayne and the Emperour with his hoast made an assault to the Citie and obtained the victory The Morall This Emperour may bée called euery Christian man which ought to gather an hoast of vertues for without vertue there may no man fight ghostly The Citie against whom yee shall fight is the worlde wherein there is an high Castell that is to saye vanitie of vanities Vanitas vanitatum And all vanitie in this vanitie standeth the Cocatrice that is to say pride of life desire of the eyes and lust of the flesh wherfore this pride infecteth so many that they dy at the last euerlastingly Therfore the greatest remedy against this pride is the consideration of our vncleannes how wée came naked into this world if it be asked why a man is proude certainely it may bée answered thus for defanlte of robbing himselfe with vertues what shall wée doe wheÌ„ wee die thus gostly but set vp a pure mirrour of conscience and by that conscience wée may coÌ„sider our wil our brittilnes as in a glasse where thou maist sée thy owne default if wée doe thus without doubt the Cocatrice that is pride of life desire of the eyes and lust of the flesh wee shall vtterly destroy and obtaine the victory of this worldly citie then be we sure to winne euerlasting life vnto the which God bring both you and mée Anen The Argument The soule of man being occupied in the body with the flesh she seeketh by sinister meanes to ouerthrow the soule with hir vncleane lusts after the world wher though the soule for a time suffereth shipwrack of worldly felicitie yet the Lyon of the tribe of Iuda is of power not onely to comfort him in necessitie but also to reueÌ„ge his miury make him to repossesse with his former estate a more firmer euerlasting felicity in the world to come The 23. Historie A Mightie Emperour sometyme ruled the Romaynes maned Archelaus the which in his olde age espowsed a fayre young ladye whome a young knight loued had to doe with hir as oft as him list It béefell on a night that this Emperour beethought him in his bedde to visit the citie Ierusalem wherfore without any more delay he ordainâ—d al thing necessary to his iourney and tooke his leaue of the Emprisse and of the states of th empyre went towards the sayd Citie When the Emprisse heard this shée tooke the master of the shippe and sayd If thou wilt consent to mee bée true aske of me what thou wilt thou shalt haue it The master of the shippe was corrupt with couetousnesse and said O my déere ladye what so euer you will commaund mée I shall without fayle fulfill it so that yée will reward mée for my labour Then saide the Empresse or thou doe ought for mée I shall giue thée what thée list to haue so that thou wilt sweare to bée true to mée kéepe my counsaile The maister of the shippe anone made his oath to bée true to hir Than saide the Empresse My Lord goeth with you in your ship therefore when he is in the middest of the sea cast him out that hée may bee drowned and
treasure felicitie is a narrow crâ—ked craggy and painfull way hauing three enemies the d uell the world and the flesh To hell being the citie or cincke of sorrow and sadnesse a â—ayâ—e way broad plaine easâ—e hauing three guâ—â—es to wit pride of life couetise of the eyen concupiscence of the flesh The tenth History SOmetime in Rome dwelt an Emperour named Folliculus the which was right wise mercifull rightfull in all his works This Emperour builded in the East a noble Citie wherein hée put all his treasure and precious stones and riches to bee kept Unto this Citie the waie was stonie and full of brambles and sharp thorns and thrée knihgts were armed ready to fight with theÌ„ that would come to that Citie Therefore themperour ordained that whosoeuer ouercame these knightes should enter the Citie take at his wil of the emperours treasure After that this Emperour did make in the North west a citie wherin he ordained all maner of paine formeÌ„ting sorrow mischiefe for malefactors to the which was a broad way verte delectable growing full of Roses and sayre Lâ—â—kes and in that way were thrée knights euer waiting if any man came towards the citie of the north to serue him with all maner of delicates and necessary prouision And if it fortuned any man to enter within that Citie the custome was such that the people should take binde him hand and foote and cast him in prison there to abide the comming of the Justice When this was cryed through out all the Empyre there were two Knights dwelling in a citie there beeside one named Ionatas who was a wise man the other hight Pirrius which was a foole neuerthelesse there had continued betwne them great loue This Ionatas sayde to Pyrrius Déere friend there is a common crye made throughout al laÌ„ds that the Emeperour hath made a Citie in the East wherein hee hath put all his treasure who so euer may enter that citie shall take of the treasure that hée list therefore my counsell is that wee goe to that Citie Then sayd Pyrryus thy counsell is good and I desire to fulfill it The wise Knight saide if it bée so that thou wilt follow my counsell I pray thée that faithfull friendship may continue beetwéene vs and in token of loue that thou wilt drinke my blood and I shall drinke thine that none of vs depart ne faile other in this iourney The foolish knight saide it pleaseth mée right well all that yée saye wherefore they were both letten blood and eche of them dranke others blood When this was done they went foorth together on theyr iourny and when they had done thrée dayes iourneis toowardes the Citie where the treasure was they came to a place where was two wayes one was sharpe stonie full of thornes the other was plain and fayre and full of swéetnesse and delites Then sayde the wise Knight to his fellow Deere friend héere are two wayes one sharpe and thornie neuerthelesse if we go this way we shall come to this Citie that is so riche and there shall we haue that we desire Then saide the folish Knight to his felow I wonder greatly of you that you speake such thinges for I will rather beeleue mine eyes than your wordes I see heere openly and so doe yée that here is a hard way and full of thornes and as I haue heard saye there bée three Champions armed in this waye redy to fight against all men that goe that way towardes the Citie of the East and therfore I will not goe that way but here is as ye may see another way playne and easie to walk in and in this waâ— there are three knights readie to serue vs and giue vs all maner things necessary to vs therefore by this way will I goe and not by that other way Then sayde the wise knight certainely if we goe by that way we shall be ledde into the Citie of the North wherein there is no mercie but perpetuall paine and sorrow and there shall we be taken and bound and cast in prison Certainely sayde the foolish Knight this way is the ready way and as I beléeue it is more profitable then the other way Then went they both foorth the fayre way and anone thrée knights met with them which receiued them curteously for one night and gaue them all maner of thing that was necessarie to them And on the morow they tooke their tourney foorth towarde the Citie And when they were within the Citie anone the Emperours officers met with them and said deere friends why come ye hether in so much that ye know the law of this citie is so cruel of long time heere before soothâ—y ye shal be seâ—uâ—d now after the law Anone they tooke the wise knight and bound him and put him in prison and after that they tooke the foolish knight and bound him fast and cast him into a dich Sone after it befel that the Justice came to the Citie to giue iudgment on them that had tresspassed the law and anone all the prisoners wer brought foorth before the iustice among whome these two knights wer brought foorth one from prison the other from the dich Then said the wise Knight to the Justice Reuerend Lorde I complaine of my fellow that is guiltie of my death for when we two came to the two wayes whereof the one ledde to the Citie in the East and the other to this citie I told him all the perill of this Citie and the reward of that other Citie and he would not beleeue mée and said to mée in this wise I beléeue mine owne eyen better than thy words and because he was my fellow I would not lette him goe alone in this way and thus came I with him wherefore hee is the cause of my death Then said the foolish knight I complaine that hée is the cause of my dâ—ath for it is not vnknowen to you â—ll that I am a foole and hâ—â— wise man and therfore he should not to â—â—ghtly haue folowed my folly for if hâ— had forsaken this way I should haue followed him and therfore he is cause of my death Then saide the Justice to the wise knight because that thou with all thy wisedome and great vnderstanding so lightly contented and followed the wil of the foole and his foolish works thou foole because that thou wouldest not do after the counâ—aile ne fullfill the holesom words of this wise man beléeue him I giue iudgmeÌ„t that ye be both hanged for your trespasse And so it was done wherfore all men praised greatly the Justice for his discrete iudgment The Morall Déere friends this Emperour is almightie God and in the East is the citie of heauen wherein is treasure infinit And vnto this citie is an hard way full of thornes that is to say the way of repentance by the which waye full few walketh for it is hard straite according to holy Scripture
there in that darknesse The Morall Déere friends this ymage so standing is the diuel which saith euermore Strike héere That is to say séeke after earthly riches and not for heauenly treasure This clarke that diggeth with the mattocke betokneth the wicked wise men of this world as some euill disposed pleaders in the law crafty atturneyes and other wicked worldlings that euer be smiting what by right and what by wrong so that they may get the vanities of this world and in their smiting they finde great wonders maruails that is to say they finde therein the delgihts of the world wherin many men reioyseth The carbuncle that giueth light is the youth of man which giueth hardines to take their plesure in worldly riches The archer with his arrow is death which laâ—eth watch against man to slay him The clarke that tooke vp the knife is euery worldly man that coueteth euer to haue all thing at his will Death smiteth the carbuncle that is to say youth strength and power of man than lyeth he wrapped in darkenes of sinne in which darknesse oftentymes he dyeth Therefore studie wee to flee the world and his desires and then shall wée bée sure to winne euerlasting life vnto the which Jesu bring vs all Amen The Argument We are generally here put in mind that the diuell beseeging the world our champion Christ Iesus is ready to take our quarell in hand who defending sauing vs from the inuasion circumuention of sathan is yet accused for vs as a transgressor and is for our sakes moreouer content to suffer death for our full iustification The seuenth History IN Rome dwelled sometime a mightie Emperour named Titus a wise man a diseréete which ordained in his daies such a law that what knight dyed in his empire should be buried in his armour and who so euer presumed to spoile any knights armour after he were dead he should die without any withstanding or gaine saying It befell after within fewe yéeres that a citie of the Empire was beseged of themperours enemies wherfore that Citie was in perill of leesing for none that was within that Citie might not defend themselues by no maner of craft therefore great sorrow lamentation was made through out all the Citie But at the last within few dayes there came to the Citie a young Knight and a well fauored valiaunt in feates of Armes whome the worthy men of the Citie beholding and vnderstanding his prowesâ—e cryed with one voyce O thou most noble Knight wée beséech thée if it please thy worthinesse to help vs now at our most néede lo ye may see this Citie is in perill of léesing Then answered he and sayd Seye not sirs that I haue none armour and if I had Armour I would gladly defend your Citie This hearing a mightie man of the citie sayd to him in secrete wise Sir héere was sometime a doughtie knight which now is dead buried with in this citie according to the law if it please you to take his armour ye might defend this citie deliuer vs froÌ„ perill and that shall bee honour vnto you and profit vnto all the Empyre When this young knight had heard this he went to the graue and toke the armour and arayed himselfe therwith sought mightely againste his enimies and at the last he obtained and had the victory and deliuered the citie from perill and whan he had so done hée layd the Artâ—our againâ— in the graue There were some menne in the Citie that had great indignation and enuie at him bycause he had obtained the victorie and accused him to the Judge saing thus Syr a law was made by themperour that wâ—oâ—oâ—uer â—â—spoiled a dead Knight of his Armour should dye this young Knight â—ennd aâ—d ad Knight tooke away his Aâ—mour therfore we beseech thee that thou prâ—ceede in the lawe against him as against him that hath offended the law When the Justice heard this hee made the Knight to bee takeÌ„ and to be brought afore him And wheÌ„ hee was examined of this trespasse against the law hee said thus Sye it is written in the law that of two harms the least is to bée chosen it is not vnknowen to you that this Citie was in perill to bee lost but I had taken this armour I had neither saued you ne the Citie therefore me thinketh yee ought rather to honour worship me for this good deede that I haue done than thus shamefully to reproue me for I am led as he that is ready to be hanged and also good sirs an other reason I may laye for mine excuse He that stealeth or robbeth violently purposeth not to restore that thing that he robeth but it is not thus with mée for though I tooke the armour of the dead knight for your defence and sauegard when I had obtained the victory I bare it againe to the same place and so the dead knight hath that is his by the law Then saide the Justice a thefe that breaketh a house that he may steale and beare away such as he may find and though he bringe againe that he hath taken I aske of thée if that the breaking of the house be lawfull or not The knight answered sometyme the breaking of an House may bée good where as it is made in féeble place which should cause the Lorde of the house to make his wall stronger that the théeues after that breake not the walls â—o lightly in aâ—â—oâ—ing of more harme Then saide the Justice if the breaking of the house be good neuerthelesse in that breaking violence is done to the Lorde of the house And so though thou dâ—ddâ—st good with the Armour of the dead Knight neuerthelesse thou diddest wrong to the dead knight in taking away his armour The knight sayde I haue told you that of two harmes the least is to be chosen and that harme wher through great goodnsse commeth ought not to be called harme but it should rather be called good For if that any house within the citie were on fire and began to burne it were more better to throw it to the ground and thrée or foure houses thereby theÌ„ they should be set on fire also whereby all the citie might be brente Right so if the Armour of the dead knight had not beene taken the citie and ye all had bene lost And when the Justice heard that he answered so well and so reasonably hée might giue no iudgment against him But he that which had accused this knight slew him for whose death there was great wéeping throughout all the citie and his body was worshipfully buried in a new tombe The Morall ¶ Déere friendes this Emperour is the Father of Heauen and this citie is the world the which is besieged of the diuell and deadly ssnne And as many as were within this citie were all in perill to be lost This young knight that came to the citie is our Lord Jesu Christ which hadde not the
armour of our humanitie till he went to the graue that is to say to the wombe of the glorious virgin Mary by the annunciation of the Angel saying The holy Ghost shall light in thee c. Lo thou shalt conceiue and beare a sonne And thus in the wombe of the virgin he toke the armour of the dead knight that is to say hée toke the manhood of Adam our forefather and saued the Citie that is the world with mankinde from perill by his blessed passion that he uffered on the crosse and that he put the armour againe into the graue when his blessed body was buried but the citizens â—nâ—ied him that is to saye the Jewes of Iury accused him to Pilate and laid the law against him saying If thou suffer him thus thou arte not the Emperour Caesars freinde we haue a law and after the law hee ought to dye And thus our Lord Jesu Christ of his enimies was condempned to the death of the crosse and after ascended vp to heauen where our Lord Jesu bring vs all Amen The Argument ¶ The fornication of wicked worldly men is here detected by the prouidence of God and by his gratious fauour deliuered out of the thraldom of sinne vnto the libertie of life euerlasting The History THere raigned sometime in Rome a mightie Emperour a wyse named Betolde which ordained a law that what woman were taken in aduoutry hir husband beeing a liue shée should bee cast into perpetuall prison There was that time a knight that had a fayre lady to his wife which committed aduoutry hir husband being a liue and was with childe therefore by the law shee was put in prison wher within short tyme after shee was deliuered of a fayre sonne This childe grew vp till hée was seuen yeeres old his mother dayly wept hartely And when the child haâ—d this hee said to his mother O mother why wéepe yée thus and for what cause are you thus perplexed Then saide his mother O my swéete sonne I haue great cause to mourne and thou also for aboue our heads is people walking and the sunne shineth in cléerenes and great solace haue all men that are aboue vs and wee bée héere continually in such darknes that I may not sée thée ne thou me alas that euer I conceiued thee Then sayd the sonne such ioye ne such light as yée spake of sawe I neuer for I was borne here in this darknes therfore if I had meate and drink ynough heere would I liue all the dayes of my life therefore mother weepe yée not but show mee solace This lamentation that was betwéene the mother the sonne heard the Emperours Stewarde that stoode aboue their heads wherof he had great compassion and wept vnto the Emperour and kneeling beesought him of his grace that the mother the sonne might bee deliuered out of prison The Emperour as a mercifull Lord graunted that they should bee deliuered Neuerthelesse if they trespassed so in time to come they should bée punished with double paine and after that they were deliuered this woman ended hir life in that Citie The Morall Déere friends this Emperour is the Father of heauen that made this law that what wedded woman that is to saye what soule that is wedded to our Lord doth commit aduoutry that is to say doth worship strange gods should be cast in the prison of hell therefore a sinfull soule hath great cause to wéepe for shee is departed from light that is to saâ—e from the ioys of heauen Hir sonne that desired meate and drinck are the weaâ—thie wicked worldlings of this worlde that say to the prelates of the Church and to the preachers that preach vnto them the ioyes of Heauen that while wee may liue and haue all the solace of the world wee desire none other heauen The Steward that heard their lamentation is our Lord Jesu that knoweth all the priuities of our sorowful and repentant harts for our sinnes bâ— sought the Father of heauen for vs that wée might bee deliuered from the prison of sinne and that wee might come to euerlasting life to that which bring vs all our Lord Jesus Amen The Argument ¶ Christ proclaimeth the ioyfull feast of heauen wherin the Lambe to say the poore Preachers of the Gospell hauing their sight or knowledge iâ— gods word are suppoâ—ed of the blind layâ—â— and ech doe mutuâ—lly comfort other till they approch vnto the proclaymed feast of perpetual felicitie The Morall SOmetime in Rome dwelt an Emperour named Pompeâ— which aboue all other things was mercifull This Emrerour procliamed throughout all his Empire a great feast and that poore and rich should come to this feast And whosoeuer came to that feast should not onely bee well fed but also hee should haue great giftes When the herawld had warned all maner of men to come to this feast at that time there ware two poore men lying by the way the one was lame and the other was blinde This blinde man sayde to the lame man Alas and wo to vs both how shall wée doe for themperour hath proclaimed a feast and who so euer commeth there shall not onely bée well fedde but also hee shall haue great guifts and I am blinde and thou arts lame how shall wee doe Then sayde the lame man to the blinde man I shall tell thée counsell if thou wilt doe after mée thou shalt let for nothing I am lame and feeble may not goe neuerthelesse I may see thou art blinde and strong and maist not see take thou mée vpon thy beack and beare mee and I shall leade thee the right way thus shall wée both come to the Emperours feast Then sayde the blind after thy counsell let vs doe come on my back I shall beare thee and thou shalt leadâ— mee the right way and so they did that they came both to the feast recuied great rewards and giftes among other men And thus ended their liues in peace The Morall Déere friends this Emperour is our sauiour Jesu Christ that proclaymeth a feast that is to say the ioyes of heauen vnto the which ioyes he called all mankinde and forsakeht no man that will come vnto hâ—m This lame man betokeneth the poore mini sters of the gospel which wanting worldly pleasures liue by the prouideÌ„ce of God And this blinde man béetokeneth the lay men which konw not the right way to heauen It bée loueth the the blind man to wit the late mâ—n to beare the lame man that is to saie the ministers of the gospell sustaining feeding theÌ„ with the duties of the church then the ministers for gods cause are bound to teach to enforme vs the way to heaueÌ„ wher as we shall not onely haue a feast but also great rewarde ioy vnto that which god bring vs all Amen The Argument Heauen hell are heere â—oÌ„pared to two cities to theâ—e two cities are two contrary waies To heauen which is the city of all heauenly
espyed at the ende of the forrest a poore man sitting beside a water playing on a harpe so swéetly that themperour before that day heard neuer so swéete a melody Then saide themperour good friend procéedeth this melody from thy harpe or no. The poore man answered sayd My reuerend Lord I shal tell you the trouth Beside this water my wife and my childe and I haue dwelled xxx yéere God hath giuen me such grace that when so euer I touch my harpe I make so swéete melody that the fishes of this water come out to my hand and so I take them where with my wife my childe and I be sustained dayly in great plenty But alâ—s welaway on the other side of this water there commeth a whistler whisteleth so sweetly that many times the fishes forsake mée and goe to his whistling and therefore my reuerend Lord I besech you of help against his hissing whisteling Then said themperour I shall giue thée good help couÌ„saile I haue héere in my pursse a golden hooke which I will giue thée take thou it binde it fast at the ende of a rod with some worme for the bait vpon the hooke then cast thy rod into the water forthwith ply thy play vpon thy harp and when thou perceiuest the fish to byte on the baite draw them vp to the lande with that hooke then his whisteling ne hissing shall not auaile When the poore man heard this he reioysed him greatly and did all thing as hée had taught him And wheÌ„ this poore man began to touch his harpe the fishes came to the bayte than he tooke them vp with his hooke liued there by in better estate long time and at the last ended gratiousiy his life in peace and rest The Morall ¶ This Emperour betokeneth Jesu Christ which greatly delighteth to hunt the soule of mankinde in the forrest that is holy Church Hee loueth also the melody of the harpe that is to say he loueth much those that teach the holy word of god This poore man that sate by the water side betokeneth the prelats of the church and the preachers of the word of god which ought to sit beside the world and not in the world that is to say they should not set their delight in worldly things The preachers ought to haue the harp of holy seripture wherewith they may praise and honour God and also therewith draw out of this world the sinners Therfore saith the psalmist thus Praise ye god in timpanes and sing ye to him on the harpe the psalter of the x stringes But now a dayes the preacher may say alas for when I preach and teach holy scripture the diuell commeth whsteleth so swéetly that the sinners draw to him and will not heere the word of god but they turne themselues onely to the delight of sinne The diuell deceiueth also mankinde by diuerse wayes First in time of preaching he maketh some to sléepe and them that he cannot make to sléepe he causeth them to talke clatter and them that he cannot make to clatter hée maketh them so dull that they may not vnderstand what the preacher saith and them that he cannot beguile by these meanes hée putteth in them businesse and causeth them to goe out of the Church Lo so many waies the diuell hath to deceiue mankinde and to let the woord of God Theresore euery prelate euery Preacher béehoueth to haue the golden hooke of gods grace against this whiseeling by the which grace they may draw sinners out of this world vp to heauen vnto the which bring vs our Lord Jesus Amen The Argument ¶ Mans soule the daughter of our Sauiuiour is so deere vnto him that he being careful for the conuersation of hir in state of sincere liâ—e is yet seduced by the sugestion of the flesh which beeing a greeuous transgressor is by earnest repentance and amendemeÌ„t of life enforced to bâ—ing the said soule againe vnto dutifull obedience towards God man that thence forwards coÌ„tinuing she may attayn vnto the â—oâ—es of euerlasting blislednesse c. The 18. Historie THere dwelled sometime in Rome a mightie Emperour and a wise named Polemus which had no childe saue onely a daughter whom he loued so much that daye and night hée ordayned to haue hir garded with armed knights And aboue these knightes he ordayned a comptroller well erperienced in euery thing for to teach and instruct them how they should doe Hée ordayned also a steward for to guide his household And when all this was done on a night as hée lay in his bed hée béethought him that hée would goe visit the holy land And then when all thing was ready for his iourney according to his purpose hée called vnto him his steward and sayd My trusty seruant I purpose now to goe see the holy land and therfore I leaue my daughter in thy kéeping also I charge thée that she lack nothing but that shee haue all maner of ioye and gladnesse that pertaineth to a virgin Secondly I leaue in thy kéeping fiue knights that beene hir kéepers and charge thée that they lack nothing which to them beehoueth Also I leaue to thée my greyhound commaunding that thou nourish and féede him as it appertaineth and if thou fulfill all this that I haue sayd thou shalt at my comming againe receiue a great reward TheÌ„ said the steward my dere Lord in all that I may I shall fulfill your will When this was said the emperour tooke his iourney toward the citie of Ierusalem and the steward a long time kept well and truely themeperours ordinaÌ„ce and charge enioyned him But at the last it befell vpon a day that this steward had espyed this yong Lady walking alone in an Orcheyard with whose loue hee was sodainly surprised wherfore straitway against hir will hée desâ—oured hir And when he had committed sinne with 〈◊〉 hee gaue hir â—ll language and hated hir more after thâ—n euer hee loued hir 〈…〉 and dr 〈…〉 hir out of the pallais wherfore this da 〈…〉 by this meanes being driuen to 〈…〉 and great po 〈…〉 went from dore to dore begged hir bread But when the knightes that were hir kepers heard of this they reâ—orâ—ed shamefully the steward of that sinfull deede Then the steward waxed wroth and for great hate that he had in his hart he dispoiled the hâ—ights of their goods droue them fro the pallayes And when they were thus robbed exiled some for lack of liuings became theeues and some mankillers which through this inconuenience they wrought great harme Soone after this ther came tidings that themperour was arriued in far lands comming homeward And when the steward heard this hée was greatly troubled and moued in himselfe and thus thinking in himselfe hée said thus This may not bée but néedes I shall bée accused for my treaspasse that I haue committed against themperours coÌ„mandemeÌ„t hée is my God and mercifull Lord therfore
to sinne after his acknowledged sinne like as a dogge that maketh a vomit and casteth vp the meate that he hath eaten before afterwarde when he is hungry commeth and eateth it againe Neuerthelesse if a man that hath sinned thus will drinck of the well of acknowledgeing his sinne he shall receiue his ghostly strength The Nightingale that sat on the trée betokeneth the soule that sitteth on the trée of holy doctrine And hir song betokeneth the soule that sitteth on the trée in deâ—out praiers to God But this soule doeth commit euill as oftentimes as she consenteth to sinne Neuerthelesse if she runne to the well of acknowledged sinne and bath hir with the water of contricion God shall loue hir But hir foes that be the fendes of hell séeing this that God is so mercifull they stoppe the well of acknowledgement of sinne that is to say they would withdraw vs from dutiful acknowledgemeÌ„t from due reconciliation of our selues betwéene vs and God and betwéene vs and man without shame and dread of repentaunce not to declare our sinnes And thus béene many exiled and put to death euerlasting And therefore study we to bath our life in the well of acknowledging of sinnes with the water of contrycion and than may we be sure to coms to euerlasting life Unto the which God bring vs all Amen The Argument ¶ The soule of euery good Christian man hath to prepare him armed vertues to withstand the assaultes of the diuell we are heere put in minde of our deliuerance out of thraldome by the precious bloud shedding of Iesus Christ which is a terrour to all the hagges of hell not to dare to assault vs so long as we liue firme in Christes faith and beleeue in him the bulwark of our saluation The 29. Historie IN Rome there dwelt sometime a mightie Emperour named Darmes which had a mightie strong Citie excéeding strongly walled about a Bell hanging in the middest of the Citie and when so euer this Emperour went to battayle with out the Cittie this Bell should be roâ—ng but there should no manne ring the Bell but a virgin Within short time after it béefell that Dragons Serpents and many other venimous beastes empoysoned much people so that the Citie was almost destroyed wherefore the states of the Citie went with one assent to the Emperour and sayde Lord what shall wée doe lo our goods and our Citie is almost destroyed and you and wée be in perill to perish through these fell beasts that consume vs therfore take wée good counsaile or else wée are but lost Then saide the Emperour what say you is best to be done in this matter and how may wée best be defended Than answered one of the wisest and sayde My Lord heare my counsaile and doe there after and yée shall not forethinke it ye haue quod he in your place a Lyon and set vppe a péece of timber for the purpose and therevpon let the Lyon be nailed made fast and when other venimous beastes sée him thus vsed and dealt withall they will dread and so shall they forsake this Citie and we shall be in rest and ease Then sayd the Emperour it pleaseth me well that he be hanged in sauing of you Than tooke they the Lyon vsed him in maner as aforesaid And when the other Lyons venimous dragons came toward the citie and saw the Lyon thus hanging they sled away for dread and durst come no nearer The Morall This Emperour betokeneth the Father of heauen the Citie well walled with the bell in the middest betokeneth the soule walled about with vertues The bell betokeneth a cleane consciens that warneth a man to battayle when he should fight against the diuell that he might arme himself before with vertues The virgin that should ring this bell is reason the which as a virgin enclineth all vnto rightfull clennesse The venemous dragon that beareth the fire betokeneth the flesh of man which beareth fire of gluttony lechery that which brent Adam our forefather when he eate of the forbidden Apple The venemous beastes that poysoned the men béetokeneth the fiendes of hell which for the most part haue destroyed mankind The states of the Citie betokeneth the Patriarks Prophets which besought God of couÌ„sayle remedy that mankind might he saued and anon it was counsayled for the best remedy that a Lyon that is Christ should be nayled vppon the Crosse according to the Scripture saying thus Expedit vnus moâ—iâ—tur homo pro populo vt gens non pereat c. That is to say It was requisit that one man should dye for the people least all flesh should perish ThaÌ„ toke they Christ and hong him on the Crosse for that which the diuell dreadeth Châ—sten people and dare not come nigh them And thus by the grace of God christen men shall come to euerlasting blisse Unto the which bring vs the Lambe of God which shed his precious blood for vs. Amen The Argument ¶ Heere is signified the thraldome of man vnto sathan by sinfull life till Chirst the sonne of God descended with the power of the holy Ghost to set him at libertie and put him in possession of the pallais of euerlasting felicity The 30. Historie IN Rome dwelled sometime a mighty emperour a merciful named Menalay which ordained such a lawe that what misdoer were taken put in prison if hée might escape come to the Emperours pallais he should be there safe for all maner felony treason or any other trespasse that he had done in his life It was not long after but it befell that a knight trespassed wherefore hée was taken put in a strong darke prison wher hée lay long time had no light but at a litle window whereas scant light shone in that lightened him to eate his simple meate that was brought him by his keeper wherfore hée mourned greatly made sorrow that hée was thus fast shette vp from the sight of men Neuerthelesse when the kéeper was gone there came dayly a Nightingale in at the window and sang full sweetly of whose songe this woefull knight oft times was fed with ioye and when this byrd ceased of hir song then would shee flye into the knights bosome and there this knight fedde hir many a daye of the vittayle that God sent him It beefell after on a day that this knight was greatly desolate of comfort Neuerthelesse the byrd that sat in his bosome feeding vpon kyrnells of Nuts and thus hee said vnto the byrd Sweet bird I haue sustained thée many a day what wilt thou giue me now in my desolation to comfort mée remember thee well that thou art the creature of God I also therefore help mée now in my grert néede WheÌ„ the byrd heard this shee flew forth froÌ„ his bosom taryed from him three daies But the third day she came againe brought in hir mouth a precious stone laid it in the knights bosome And
heard that it was the voyce of a man he meruayled greatly and stoode still on the Pittes brinck and sayde Loe good friend I am come for thou hast called mée Than sayde the knight déere friende I am Steward of all the Emperours lands and thus by fortune I am fallen into the Pitte and heere be with mee thrée beastes that is to say a Lyon an Ape and an horrible Serpent which I feare most of all and I wot not of which of them I shall be first deuoured therefore I pray thee for gods sake get me a long cord wherwith thou maist draw me out of this deepe pit and I shall warrant thée to make thée rich in all thing for euermore héere after and but I haue help the rather I shall be deuoured of these beastes TheÌ„ said this poore Guy I may full ill entend to helpe thée for I haue nothing to liue on but that I gather wood and carry it to the market to sell wherewith I am sustained neuerthelesse I shall leaue my pretended labour and fulfill thy will and if ye rewarde mée not it shall be great hinderance to mee and to my wife Than the steward made a great oath and sayde that hée would promote him all his to great riches Then sayde Guy if you will fulfill your promise I shall doe that you byd mée And with that went againe to the Citie and brought with him a long rope and came to the pit and sayd Sir steward lo I let downe a rope to thée binde thy selfe about the middle therewith that I may pul thée vp Than was the steward glad and saide Good friend let down the rope And with that he cast the ende of the rope downe into the pit And when the Lyon saw that he caught the rope hild it fast and Guy drew the Lyon vp wening to him he had drawen vp the steward and when he had so done the Lyon thanked him in his maner and ranne to the wood The second time that Guy let downe the rope the Ape lept to it and caught it fast when he was drawen vp he thanked Guy as he could and ranne to the wood The third tyme he let downe the rope and drew vp the Serpent which thanked him and went to the wood The steward cryed with an high voice O déere friend now I am deliuered of thrée venimous beastes now let downe the corde to mée that I may come vp And this poore Guy let downe the rope and the steward bound himself fast about the middle and anone Guy drew him vp And when he was thus holpe out of this déepe pitte hée saide to Guy as followeth Come to me at thrée of the clock to the pallaies and than I shall make thée rich for euer This poore Guy reioised therof and went home without any reward Than his wife demaunded of him why hee 〈…〉 no wood wherewith they 〈…〉 that day Then told hée hir all the 〈…〉 as it beâ—ell how the steward 〈…〉 into the prt and also the Lyon the 〈…〉 the serpent that he had made in the said forrest and how he had holpen him with a cord and saued him from deuouring of the three veâ—â—mous beastes and how he should goe to the Steward and fetch his reward on the morrow When his wife heard this she reioysed greatly and saide If it shall be so good â—â—r arise to morrow at a due houre goe to the pallayes and receiue your reward that we may be comforted thereby So in the morning Guy arose went to the Pallays and knocked at the gate Than came the Porter and asked the cause of his knocking I pray thée quod this Guy goe to the steward and say to him that here abideth a poore man at the gate that spake with him yesterday in the forrest The porter went and tolde the steward as the poore man had sayd Than sayde the Stewarde goe thou againe tell him that hée lyeth for yesterday spake I with no man in the forrest and charge him that he goe away and that I sée him there neuer after The porter went foorth and told poore Guy how the steward had sayd and charged him to goe away Then was this poore Guy sorowfull went home and when he was come he told his wyfe how the steward had answered him His wyfe comforted him in all that she might and sayd Sir goe ye againe and proue him thrise Then on the morow this Guy arose went to the palays againe praying the porter to doe his errand once againe to the steward The porter answered and sayd gladly I wil doe thine errand but I feare mée sore that it shall be thy hurt And then went he in and told the steward of the comming of this poore man When the steward heard that he went out and all to beate this silly Guy and left him in peril of death WheÌ„ his wife heard this shée came with hir Asse and led him home as she might and all that she had she spent vpon surgions Phisitions to help him And when hée was perfectly whole he went to the forrest as hee was wont for to gather sticks and small wood for his liuing And as hée went about in the Forrest hee saw a strange Lyon driuing before him Asses that were loden with chaffer and marchandise This Lyon droue forth the Asses before Guy which dread sore the Lyon least he would haue deuoured him neuerthelesse wheÌ„ he beheld the Lyon better he knew well that he was the same Lyon that he drew out of the pit This Lyon left not Guy till all the Asses with the marchandise were entred into hys house and than the Lyon dyd him obeysaunce and ranne to the wood This Guy obtained these fardells and found great riches therein wherefore he made to proclaime in diuerse Churches if any man had lost such goods but there was none that challenged them And when Guy saw this hée tooke the goods bought therewith house and land and so was made rich Neuerthelesse he haunted the Forrest as he did béefore And after that as he walked in the forrest to gather wood he espied the Ape in the tope of a trée the which brake bowes busely with hir téeth clawes threw them downe so that in short time Guy had laden his Asse And when the Ape had so done she went hir way and Guy went home And on the morrow Guy went to the forrest again and as he sate bynding his faggots he saw the Serpent that he drew out of the pytte come toward him bearing in his mouth a precious stone of thrée coulours the which stone the Serpent let fall at Guyes féete and when she had so done shée kissed his féete and went hir way This Guy tooke vp the stone and meruailed greatly of what vertue it might be wherefore hée arose vppe and went to a Jeweller named Peter and sayde Déere brother I pray thée tell mée the vertue of this precious stone and I
nourishing of him and after promoted him to great honor and worship The Morall This Emperour betokeneth the father of heauen The Empresse béetokeneth the blessed virgin Mary The Emperours sonne betokeneth our Lord Jesu Christ The Herauld that was sent throughout the Citie betokeneth saint Iohn Baptist which was sent before our Lord to prepare the way for him according to holy scripture Ecce mitto Angelum c. Loe I sende myne aungell before mée c. The states that desired the Emperours sonne to nourish beetoken the Patriarkes and Prophets which desired greatly to nourish our Lord Jesu Christ and also to see him but they might not see him ne nourish him for fyre and water which should haue béene cause of their sight was not with them perfectly The fyre betokeneth the holy Ghost which had not yet appered in them for they were not washed with the water of Baptisme Also yée may vnderstand by the fyre perfect charitie and by the water true contricion which two now a daies faileth in many men and therfore they may not haue the little childe Jesus in their hearts Ionathas that watched so diligently betokeneth euery good Christian man which studieth euer to watch in well doeing yéelding to GOD for sinnes the fyre of charitable repentaunce the watter of contrition But oftentimes the tyrant which béetokeneth the diuell putteth out the fire of charitie from out of mens harts and casteth out the water of contrition so that they may not nourishe the little childe Jesus Therefore lette vs watch as lonathas dyd that wâ—e enter not into temptation And call wee vnto vs Masons that is to saye descrete Preachers which can make in our hartes a chamber of stone that is to say a sure Faith and hope Than call wée to vs Painters that is to saye ministers of Gods word which canne painte in our harts ten Images that is to say the x. commaundements which if thou kéepe and obserue dayly without doubt thou shalt bée honoured in heauen And if thou kéepe well the Emperours sonne thou shalt sit in a chayre of Gold crowned with a crowne of Gold And if that thou nourish him not well without doubt thou shalt bée in daunger of torment in hell From the which preserue vs our blessed Sauiour Jesus Amen The Argument ¶ The soule of man espoused vnto Christ the flesh procureth the same to sinne The Christian soule by faith withstan death temptation The redemption of mankinde from sinne death The deceits of vnthankfull heartes The spirit healeth the defectes of the flesh after a pure repentaunce followeth perpetuall ioye and felicitie both of soule and body The 40. History IN Rome dwelt sometime a mightie Emperour named Menaly which had wedded the Kinges daughter of Hungary a fayre Lady and a gracious in all hir woorkes and specially shée was mercifull On a tyme as the Emperour lay in his bed hée bée thought him that hée would goâ— visitâ—e the holy lande And on the morrow he called to him the Emprisse his wife and his owne onely brother and thus he sayde Deere Lady I may not ne I will not hide from you the priuities of my heart I purpose to visit the holy land wherefore I ordaine thee principally to be Lady gouernour ouer all mine Empyre and all my people And vnder thee I ordaine héere my brother to be thy steward for to prouide all things that may bée profitable to mine Empyre and to my people Then said the Emprisse Sith it will none otherwise bee but the needs yée will goe to visit the Citie Ierusalem I shall bee in your absence as true as any turtle that hath lost hir mate for as I beeléeue yée shall not escape thence with your life The Emperour anone comforted hir with faire words and kissed hir and after that tooke his leaue of hir and of all other and so went foorth vnto the citie of Ierusalem And anone after that the Emperour was gone his brother became so proude that he oppressed poore men robbed rich men and yet did he worse theÌ„ this for dayly he stirred the Emprisse to commit sinne with him But euer she answered again as an holy and deuout woman saide I will quod shee neuer consent to you ne to none other as long as my Lord liueth Neuerthelesse this knight would not leaue with this answere but euer when he founde hir alone hee made his complaint to hir and stirred hir by all the wayes that hee could to sinne with him When this Ladie sawe that he would not cease for no answer ne wold not amend himselfe when shée sawe hir tyme shée called to hir three or foure of the worthiest men of the Empyre and sayd to them thus It is not vnknowen to you that my Lord the Emperour ordained mee principal gouernour of this Empyre also he ordained his brother to bee steward vnder mee and that hée should doe nothing without my counsel but he doth all the contrary for he oppresseth greatly poore men and likewiâ—e robbeth the rich men and yet he would doe worse then this if hee might haue his entent wherefore I commaund you in my Lords name that you binde him fast and cast him in prison Than said they sothly he hath done many euill déedes sith our Lord themperor wâ—nt therfore we be redy to obay your commaundement but in this matter ye must aunswere for vs to our Lord the Emperour Than said she dread ye not if my Lord knew what he hath done as well as I he would put him to the foulest death that could be thought Immediately these men sette hand on him and bound him fast with yron chaines and put him fast in prison where as he lay long tyme aâ—ter till at the last if fortuned there came tydings that the Emperour was comming home and had obtained great worship and victory When his brother heard of his comming hée said Would to God my brother might find mée in prison for than would he enquire the cause of myne enprisonment of the Emprisse she will tell him all the trouth and how I procured hir to commit sinne so for hir I shall haue no fauour of my Brother but loose my lyfe this know I well therefore it shall not bée so Then sent hée a messenger vnto the Emprissee praying hir for christes passion that shee would vouchsafe to come vnto the pryson dore that he might speake a word or two with hir The Emprisse came to him and enquired of him what hee would haue Hee answered and sayde O lady haue mercy vpon mée for if the Emperour my brother finde mée in this prison then shall I die without any remedy Then said the Emprisse if I might konw that thou wouldest be a good man and leaue thy folly thou shouldest haue grace Then dyd hée promise hir assuredlie to bee true and to amend all his trespasse When hee had thus promised the Emprisse deliuered him anon and made him to be bathed and
thou mischeuous woman hast slain my daughter with thine owne hands for I saw the bloodie knife in thy hand therefore thou shalt dye a foule death Than sayde the Earle in this wise O thou woman were it not that I dread God greatly I should cleaue thy bodie with my sword in two parts for I deliuered thée from hanging now thou hast slaine my daughter neuerthelesse for mée thou shalt haue no harme therefore goe thy way out of this cittie without any delaye for if I doe finde thée here this daye thou shalt dye a most euill death Than arose this wofull Emprisse and dyd on hir clothes after leapt on hir palsry and rode toward the east alone without any safe conduct And as shée rode thus mourning by the way she espyed on the left side of the way a payre of gallous and seuen officers leading a man to the gallous to be hanged wherfore she was moued with great pittie and smote hir horse with the spurres rode to them praying them that she might redéeme that misdoer if he might be saued from death for any meede Than sayd they Lady it pleaseth vs well that thou redéeme him Anone the Emprisse accorded with them and payed his raunsome and than he was deliuered Thus sayde she to him Now déere friend be true till thou dye sith I haue deliuered thée from death On my soule quod he I promise you euer to be true And when hée had thus sayde he followed the Lady still till they came nigh a citie and than said the Emprisse to him Good friend quod shée goe foorth thy way afore mée out of the Cittie and take vp for vs an honest lodging for ther I purpose to rest a whilâ— This man went foorth as she commaunâ—â—â—â— tooke vp for hir a good lodging and an honest whereas she abode long tyme. Whan the men of the Citie perceined hir bewtie they wondred greatly wherefore many of them craued of hir vnlawfull loue but all was in vaine they might not speede in any wise It fortuned after on a day that there came a Shippe full of marchandise and ariued in the hauen of that Citie When the Ladys heard this she said vnto hir seruaunt Goe to the shippe and see if there be any câ—oth for myne vse Hir seruaunt went foorth to the shippe whereas he found many precious clothes wherefore hée prayed the master of the shippe that-hée would come into the Citie and speake with this Lady The master graunted him and so he came home to his lady beefore and warned hir of the comming of the master oâ— the shippe Anone after the master of the ship came and sâ—luted the Ladye worthyly And the lady receiued him according to his degrée praying him that she might haue for hir mony such cloth as might bâ— profitable for hir wearing Anone hee grauÌ„ted that shee should haue and soone they were agreed wherefore the seruaunt went emmediately again with the Maister of the Shippe And when they were both within the Ship boorde the Maister sayd to the Ladies seruant My déere friend to thée I wold open my counsaile if I might trust in thee help mee thou shalt haue of mee a great reward Then answered hée and sayd I shall quod hee bee sworne vnto thée on the holy Euangelist that I shall kéepe thy counsaile and fulfill thine intent as far foorth as I can Then said the Maister of the shippe I loue thy Lady more then I can tel thee for hir fayrenesse is so great that I would giue for the loue of hir all the gold that I haue and if I may obtaine the loue of hir through thy help I shall giue thée what so euer thou wilt desire of mée Then saide the Ladies seruaunt tell me by what meanes I may best speede Then sayd the Maister of the Shippe Goe home to thy Lady againe and tell hir that I will not deliuer to thee my cloth except she come hir selfe but bring hir to my Shippe except the winde bée good and able for then I purpose to lead hir away Thy counsell is alwayes good quod the Ladies seruant therfore giue me some reward I shall fulfil thyne intent And when he had receiued his reward hee went againe to his Lady and tolde hir that by no meanes the Master of the shippe would not deliuer him the cloth but if shée came hir selfe The Lady béeléeued hir seruaunt went to the ship And when she was within the ship bord hir seruaunt abode without When the Maister saw that she was within the Shippe and the winde was good hee drew vp the sayle and sayled foorth When the Lady perceiued this thus shée sayde to the master O Master quod shee what treason is this that thou hast done to mée The Maister answered and sayde Madame certainely it is so that I must needes lie with thée and afterwarde espouse thee For sooth quod shée I haue made a vowe that I shall neuer commit such sinne but with him vnto whom I am bound by right and by the law Soothly quod he if yée will not graunt mée with your good will I shall cast you out into the middest of the sea there shall yée die an euill death If it be so quod she that I must néedes consent or else dye than I pray thee to prepare a priuie place in the ende of the Shippe whereas I may fulfill thine entent or I dye but first I pray thée that I may say my prayers vnto the father of heauen that hée may haue mercy on mée The Master béeléeued hir wherfore hée let ordaine hir a Cabbin in the end of the Shippe wherevnto shée sette hir downe on both hir knees and made hir prayers saying on this wise O thou my Lord GOD that hast kept mée froÌ„ my youth in cleanenesse keepe mée now that I be not desâ—oured so that I may serue thée euer with a cleane heart and minde When shée had thus ended hir oryson ther arose sodenly a great tempest in the sea so that the Shippe all to brast and all that were within perished saue the lady that caught a Cable saued hir selfe the Master of the Ship an other neuerthelesse she knew not of him ne he of hir for they were driuen to diuerse coastes This ladie landed in hir owne Empyre beeside a Citie where in shée was worshipfully receiued and shee lyued so holy a life that GOD gaue hir grace and power to heale sicke folke of all manner of diseases wherfore there came much people to hir both crooked blinde and lame and euery man through the grace of God and hir good demeanure were healed wherfore hir name was knowne thorough diuerse regions Neuerthelesse she was not knowen as Emprisse In the same tyme the Emperours brother that had hanged hir beefore by the heyre was smitten with a foule Lepry The knight that slew the earles Daughter and put the bloody knife in hir hand was blynde deafe and had the palsey The