smyteth the carbuncle that is to saye youth strength and power of man and than lyeth he wrapped in darknes of synne â–ª in whyche darknes oftentymes he dyeth Therfore study we to flee the worlde and hys desyres and than shall we be sure to wynne euerlastynge lyfe vnto the whyche Iesu brynge bothe you me Amen IN Rome dwelled somtyme a myghty Emperoure named Tytus a wyse man a dyscrete whyche ordeyned in his dayes suche a lawe that what knyght dyed in hys empyre sholde be buryed in hys armure who so euer presumed to spoyle any knyghtes armure after he were deed he shold dye wythout ony withstandyng or gaynsaying It befell after within fewe yeres that a cyte of y e empyre was besyeged of themperours ennemyes wherfore that cyte was in peryll of lesyng â–ª for nâ—ne that was wythin that cyte myght not defendâ— themselfe by no maner of crafte therfore great sorowe and lamentacyon was made thrugh out all y e cite But at the last win fewe days there came to the cite a yonge knyght and a fayre and doughty to do dedes of armes whome the worthy men of the cite beholdyng vnderstandyng his doughtynesâ—â— cryed w t one voyce O thou most noble knyght we beseche the yf it please thy worthynesse to helpe vs now at our most nede loo ye may so this cyte in is peryll of lesynge Than answered he sayd 〈◊〉 ye not syrs thâ—â— I haue none armure yf I had armure I wolde gladly defende your cyte Thys â—earynge a myghty man of the cyte sayd to hym in secrete wyse Syr here was somtyme doughty knyght whyche now is deed and buryed within this cite acâ—orâ—dynge to the lawe yf it please you to take his armure ye myght defende thys cite delyuer vs fro peryll and that shall be honour vnto you and profyte vnto all the empyre Whan thys yonge knyght had herde thys he wente to the graue toke y e armure arayed hym selfe therwyth fought myghtyly agaynst hys ennemyes and at the last he opteyned had the vyctory delyuered y e cite from peryll And whan he had so done he put the armure agayne in to the graue There were some men in the cite that had great indignacion and enuy at hym bycause he had opteyned the vyctory and accused hym to the iudge saying thus Syr a lawe was made by themperour y t who so euer despoyled a deed knyght of hys armure sholde dye thys yonge knyght founde a deed knyght toke away hys armure therfore we beseche y e that thou procede in the lawe agaynst hym as agaynst hym y t is breker of y e lawe Whan the Iustyce herde this he made y e knyght to be takeÌ„ to be brought a fore him And whaÌ„ he was examyned of this trespace agaynst the lawe he sayd thus Syr it is wryten in the lawe â–ª that of two harmes the leest is to be chosen it is not vnknowen to you that this cite was in peryll to be lost but I had taken thys armure I had neyther saued you ne the cyte therfore me thynketh ye ought rather to honour worshyp me for thys good dede that I haue done than thus shamefully to repreue me for I am ledde as he that is redy to be haÌ„ged and also good syrs an other reason I may laye for myne excuse He y t steleth or robbeth vyolently purposeth not to restore y e thynge that he robbeth but it is not thus wyth me for though I toke the armure of the deed knyght for your saluacyon whan I had opteyned the victory I bare it agayne to y e same place so the deed knyght hath that is hys by the lawe Than sayd the Iustyce a thefe that breketh a hous that he may stele bere away suche as he may fynde though he brynge agayn that he hath taken I aske of the yf that the brekyng of the hous be lawfull or not The knight answered somtyme the brekynge of an hous may be good where as it is made in feble place whych sholde cause the lorde of the hous to make hys wall stronger that the theues after y e breke not the walles so lyghtly in auoydyng of more harme Than sayd the Iustyce yf the brekyng of the hous be good neuerthelesse in that brekyng violence is done to the lorde of the hous And so though thou dydest good wyth the armure of y e deed knyght neuerthelesse thou dydest wronge to the deed knyght in takyng away hys armure The knyght sayd I haue tolde you how that of two harmes the leest is to be chosen and that harme where thrugh great goodnes coÌ„meth ought not to be called harme but it sholde rather be called good For yf that ony hous wythin the cite were on fyre began to brenne it were more better to throwe it to the grounde and thre or foure houses therby than they sholde be set on fyre also wherby all y e cyte myght be brente Ryght so yf the armure oft y e deed knyght had not ben taken the cyte and ye all had ben lost And whan the Iustyce herde y t he answered so well so reasonably he myght gyue no iudgemeÌ„t agaynst hym But the whyche had accused thys knyght slewe hym for whose deth there was great wepyng thrugh out all the cyte hys body was worshypfully buryed in a neeâ— tombe ¶ Dere frendes thys Emperour is the father of heuen and thys cite is y e worlde the whych is besyeged of the deuyll and deedly synne And as many as were within this cyte were al in peryl to be lost This yong knyght that came to the cyte is our lorde Iesu Chryst whyche had not the armure of our manhode tyll he went to the graue that is to saye to the wombe of y e gloryous vyrgyn Mary by the annuÌ„ciacyon of the aungell sayinge The holy goost shall lyght in the. c. Lo thou shalt conceyue bere a sone And thus in the wombe of the vyrgyn he toke the armure of y e deed knyght that is to say he toke the manhode of Adam ourfore father saued the cyte that is the worlde wyth maÌ„kynde from peryll by hys blessed passyon whych he suffred on the crosse than he put hys armure agayn in to y e graue whan his blessed body was buryed but y e cytezyns enuyed hym that is to saye the iewes of Iury accused hym to Pylate and layde the lawe agaynst hym saying Yf thou suffre hym thus thou arte not the Emperour Cesars frende we haue a lawe after y e lawe he ought to dye And thus our lorde Iesu Chryst of his ennemyes was coÌ„dempned to the deth of the crosse after ascended vp to heuen where our lorde Iesu brynge vs all Amen THere regned somtyme in Rome a myghty Emperour and a wysed named Betolde whych ordeyned a lawe that what woman were taken in anoutry her husbande beynge alyue she
we may obey god and than shal we haue euerlastyng lyfe Unto the whyche brynge vs our lorde Iesus Amen THere dwelled somtyme in Rome a myghty Emperour named Frederyke whyche had no chyldren saue a doughter tho whome this Emperour after his decese bequethed all hys empyre Thys vnderstandynge an erle that dwelte there besyde came vnto thys yonge lady wowed her stered her to synne all that he myght wherfore thys yonge lady in shorte processe of tyme enclyneh to the erle this erle anone lay with her defouled her after that he put her froÌ„ her herytage and chaced her out of her empyre wherfore she made great lamentacyon fledde vnto a realme there besyde where as she dayly wept mourned It befell after on a day that whyle she sate mournynge besyde a waye there came rydyng by her a fayre yonge knyght vpon a good hors whyche came towarde her a greate pâ—ce worshypfully salewed her and asked the cause why she mourned so sore Than answered she sayd My reuerend lord I am an Emperours doughter coÌ„men of a royall kynne my father is deed whyche lefte me all hys empyre bycause he had none other heyre after his decese an erle there besyde deceyued me toke from me my maydenheâ—e after that he put me vyoleÌ„tly out of myne herytage so that now I am fayne to begge my breed from dore to dore this is the cause of my sorowe Than sayd the knyght fayre damoysell I haue great coÌ„passyon on thy beaute and on thy gentylnes therfore yf thou wylte graunte me one thynge I shall fyght for the agaynst y e erle and I behote the the victory Than sayd she alas alas I haue nothynge y t I may gyue to the but my selfe And I aske no more of the sayd the knyght but that thou woldest be my wyfe and loue no man so moche as me Than sayd she Reuerende syr that wyll I do gladly more yf I myght Than sayd the knyght I wyll that thou do for me one thynge that yf it fortune me to dye in batayle for the opteyne the victory thou shalte take my blody sherte hange it vpon a perche in thy chambre and thys shalte thou do for two thynges The fyrst is y t whan so euer thou beholdest the sherte thou shalt wepe for me The seconde is that what so euer man comme to wowe the to be his wyfe than shalte thou hastely renne vnto thy chambre beholde my blody sherte thynke hertely wythin thy selfe thus The lorde of this sherte dyed for my loue in batayle the whyche recouered my herytage god forbede that I sholde take ony other maÌ„ after his deth Than sayd she Reuerende syr all thys I shall fulfyll bi the grace of god And whan y e knyght heâ—de this he gaue batayle agaynst the erle oâ—teyned the victory and y e erle was ouercome â—ledde And thys yonge lady was brought receyued agayne in to her herytage Neuerthelesse thys knyght was deedly wouÌ„ded in that batayle wherof he dyed but or he dyed he bequethed hys blody sherte vnto this damoysell desyrynge her to kepe her promesse Whan thys yonge lady herde of his deth she wepte sore made great lamentacyon for his deth And in hys sherte was wryteÌ„ this verse Thynke on hym haue mynde that to y e was so kynde Anone whan she had receyued the sherte she hanged it vpon a perche in her chambre as oftentymes as she behelde it she wepte bytterly It befell not longe after that the states of her Empyre came to her desyred her to take a husbande But than she wente to her chambre behelde the blody â—herte than waxed she sorowfull sayd oftentymes alas alas thou suffred deth for my loue thou also recouered agayn myne heritage god forbede that I shold take ony other man but the. And thus she answered euery man that came to her so they wente away vnsped and she ended her lyfe in peace and rest ¶ Dere frendes this Emperour is the father of heuen and his doughter is the soule of man made at the similitude of god to whome god gaue bequethed the empyre of paradyse But ther came an erle y t is the deuyl and styred her to synne whan she ete of the apple sayd to her thus In what houre ye â—ate of y e apple ye shall be lyke goddes wherfore we brekyng goddes comaundement we were all exiled out of paradyse chased to the realme of thys worlde here to lyue in greate wretchednes lyke as the psalmyst sayth In sudore vultus tui c. In the swete of thy vysage thou shalte eate thy breed But than came a fayre yonge knight a stronge that is to saye our lorde Iesu Chryst whych had compassyon vpon mankynde toke our flesshe our blode and gaue batayle to the deuyl and ouercame hym and thus wanne he agayne our herytage Therfore let vs do as thys yonge lady dyd put we thys blody sherte that is to saye the mynde of y e passyon of Chryst on the perche of our hert and thynke we how â—ur lorde Iesu Chryst shed hys precyous blode for vs. And yf ony maÌ„ that is to saye the deuylt or ony other wolde styre vs to synne anone thynke we on y e passyon of Chryst saye we thus I shall take none other but the whyche hast shedde thy blode for me thus shall we wynne euerlastyng lyfe Unto the whyche god brynge vs all Amen SOmtyme dwelled in Rome a myghty Emperour named Apolloninus whyche ordeyned for a lawe that euery man vpon payne of deth sholde worshyp the day of his natiuite This Emperour called to hym a clerke y t hyght Uirgyll sayd My dere mayster there be many heed synnes done contrary to the lawe therfore I praye the that thou by thy connynge wolde make some craft wherby I myght knowe who trespaceth agaynst y e lawe pryuely or pertly Than sayd Uirgyll My reuâ—â—eÌ„de lord your wyll shall be done Anone thys Uirgyll thrugh hys crafte made an ymage in the myddes of the cyte of Rome whyche dysceuered tolde themperours messengers who trespaced agaynst the lawe who not There was that tyme dwellyng in y e cyte of Rome a smyth that hyght Focus whych for no thynge wolde worshyp the natyuyte of the Emperour It befell vpon a nyght as the smyth laye in hys bedde he thought vpon the ymage that had accused so many men before dred leest the ymage wolde accuse hym wherfore he rose went to the ymage sayd I make a vowe to god yf thou accuse me I shall breke thy heed And whan he had thus sayd he went home The Emperour on the morowe after folowynge sent hys messeÌ„gers to the ymage as he was wont before to knowe to vnderstande who had trespaced agaynst the lawe And to them than sayd the ymage lyfte vp your eyen behold what
forest and defouled her of her maydenhede And whan he had so done he wolde haue slayne her and as he was despoylynge of her clothes there came rydyng by that forest a curteys a gentyll knyght whych herde the cryenge and lamentynge of a damoysell wherfore he smote hys horse wyth hys spurres and rode a greate pace in to the forest to wyte what it myght be And than he sawe a woman standynge naked saue her smocke than sayd the knyght Art thou she sayd he that cryed so lamentably Than answered the damoysell and sayde Ye sothly for thys man that standeth here hath rauysshed me and defouled me of my maydenhede and now he wolde slee me and therfore he hath despoyled me of my clothes that he myght smyte of my heed for the loue of god gentyll knyght helpe me now Than sayde the tyraunt She lyeth for she is my wyfe and I haue founde her in auoutry wyth an other man and therfore I wyll slee her Than sayde the knyght I byleue better the woman than the for lo the tokens of trouth appere openly in her vysage that thou hast rauysshed hâ—r and therfore wyll I fyght wyth the for her delyueraunce And anone they sterte togyther and fought egerly tyll they were bothe sore wounded Neuerthelesse the knyght optayned the vyctory and put the tyraunt to flyght Than sayde the knyght vnto the woman Loo I haue suffred for thy loue many sore woundes and haue saued the from y e deth wylte thou therfore be my wyfe That I desyre you quod she wyth all my herte thervpon I betake you my teouth Whan she was thus ensured than sayde the knyght Here besyde is my castell go ye thyder and abyde there tyll I haue vysyted my trendes and my kynnesmen to prouyde for al thynges nedefull for our weddynge for I purpose to make a greate feest for thyne honour and worshyp My lorde quod she I am redy to fulfyll your wyll Than wente she forth vnto the castell where as she was worshypfully receyued And the knyght went vnto hys frendes for to make hym redy agaynst the daye of maryage In the meane whyle came Poncyanus the tyraunt to the knyghtes castell and prayed her that he myght speke wyth her Than came she downe from the castell to hym Thys tyraunt subtylly flatered her and sayd Gentyll loue yf it please you to consent to me I shall gyue you bothe golde and syluer and greate rychesse and I shall be your seruaunt and ye my souerayne Whan the woman herde thys full lyghtly she was deceyued thrugh hys flateryng language and graunted hym to be hys wyfe and toke hym in wyth her into the castell It was not longe after but that thys knyght came home and fouÌ„de the castell gate sheâ—â—e 〈◊〉 therat but longe it was or he myght haue an answeâ—â— And at the last the woman came and demaunded why 〈◊〉 knocked so harde at the gate Than sayde he to her 〈◊〉 â—ere lady why hast thou so soone changed my loue 〈…〉 comme in Naye sothly sayd she thou shalte not 〈…〉 here for I haue here wyth me my loue whyche 〈◊〉 â—oued before Remembre quod the knyght that thou gaue me thy trouth to be my wyfe and how I saued the from deth and yf thou ponder not thy fayth beholde my woundes whyche I haue suffred in my body for thy loue And anone he vnclothed hymselfe naked saue hys breche that he myght shewe hys wouÌ„des openly But she wolde not se them ne speke more wyth hym but shette fast the gate and went her waye And whan the knyght sawe thys he wente to the Iustyce and made hys complaynte to hym prayenge hym to gyue ryghtwyse iudgement on thys tyraunt and thys woman The iudge called them before hym and whan they were coÌ„me the knyght sayd thus My lorde quod he I aske the benefytes of the lawe whyche is thys Yf a man rescowe a woman from rauysshynge the recower shall wedde her yf hym lyst and thys woman delyuered I from the handes of the tyraunt therfore I ought to haue her to my wyfe and farthermore she gaue me her fayth and trouâ—h to wedde me and thervpon she wente to my castell and I haue done great cost agaynst our weddynge and therfore as it semeth me she is my wyfe as by the lawe Than sayd y e iudge to the tyraunt Thou knowest well that thys knyght delyuered her from thy handes and for her loue he suffred many greuous woundes and therfore 〈◊〉 thou wotest that she is hys wyfe by the lawe yf 〈…〉 lyst But after her delyuerauÌ„ce wyth â—â—aterynge speche thou hast deceyued her therfore thys daye I iudge 〈◊〉 to be hanged Than sayde the iudge to the woman 〈◊〉 lyke wyse O woman thou knowest how thys 〈…〉 saued the from deth and therupon thou betokest 〈◊〉 thy fayth and trouth to be hys wyfe therfore by 〈◊〉 reasons thou art hys wyfe fyrst by the lawe and a 〈◊〉 by thy fayth and trouth Thys notwythstandyng thou coÌ„sented afterwarde to the tyraunt and brought hym in to the knyghtes castell and shette the gate agaynst the knyght an wolde not se hys woundes whyche he suffred for thy loue and therfore I iudge the to be hanged And so it was done bothe the rauyssher and she that was rauysshed were dampned to the deth wherfore euery man praysed the iudge for hys ryghtwyse iudgement ¶ Thys Emperoure betokeneth the father of heuen whyche ordeyned for a lawe that yf the soule of man were rauysshed from god by synne the sauer of the soule sholde wedde hym yf hym lyst The woman that was rauysshed betokeneth the soule of man whyche was rauysshed by synne of our fore father Adam and ledde out of paradyse in to the forest of thys wretched worlde by the tyraunt Poncyanus whych betokeneth the deuyll and he not onely defouled her by lesynge of the herytage of heuen but also he wolde slee her wyth euerlastyng payne But the soule cryed wyth an hygh voyce whose crye our lorde Iesu Chryst herde Thys crye was made whan Adam cryed after y e oyle of mercy 〈…〉 tyll 〈…〉 was nedefull 〈…〉 the ascencyon daye 〈…〉 a dwellynge place of 〈…〉 sholde dwell after the daye 〈…〉 in honour and glory But alas in 〈…〉 the deuyll and begyled the wretched 〈…〉 synne so he entred in to y e castell of our 〈…〉 sholde be the castell of god The knyght I 〈…〉 at the gate of our herte accordynge to 〈…〉 Eccesto ad hostium et pulso Lo I stande 〈…〉 and knocke yf ony man wyll open that I 〈…〉 But where as the deuyll is god may not entre but yâ— the synner wyll receyue hym by penaunce whyche seynge the gentyll knyght Iesu shewed hymselfe naked 〈…〉 〈…〉 of Geâ—â—a Romanâ—rum 〈…〉 London in Crede lane by 〈…〉 Kynge In the yere of our 〈…〉 god M. â— LUII
and his soule shall be delyuered from synne and by al ryght he shall haue euerlastyng lyfe Vnto the whyche brynge vs our lorde Iesus SOmtyme there regned in Rome a myghty Emperour and a wyse named Frederyke whyche had an onely sone whome he loued moche Thys Emperour whan he laye at the poynt of deth he called vnto hym his sone sayd Dere sone I haue a ball of gold whych I gyue the vpon my blessyng that thou anone after my deth shalt gyue it to the moost foole that thou mayst fynde Than sayd hys sone My lorde wothout doubte your wyll shall be fulfylled Anone thys yonge lorde after the deth of hys father went sought in many realmes founde many recheles fooles bycause he wolde satysfye hys fathers wyll laboured farther tyll he came in to a realme where the lawe was suche that euery yere a newe kyng was chosen there thys kyng had onely the guydynge of y e realme but a yere at the yeres ende he was deposed put in exile in an ylande where as he shold wretchedly fynysshe hys lyfe Whan themperours sone came to thys realme the newe kyng was chosen w t great honour all maner of mynstralsye wente afore hym brought hym wyth great reuerence and worshyp vnto hys regall sete And whan the Emperours sone sawe that he came vnto hym and salewed hym reuerently sayd My lorde loo I gyue the thys ball of gold on my fathers behalfe Than sayd he I praye the tell me the cause why thou gyuest me thys ball ThaÌ„ answered thys yonge lorde and sayd My father charged me in hys deth bedde vpon payn of forfeytynge of his blessynge that I sholde gyue this ball of y e moost foole y e I coude fynde wherfore I haue sought many realmes haue founde many fooles neuerthelesse a more foole than thou art founde I neuer therfore thys is the reason It is not vnknowen to the that thou shalt regne but a yere and at the yeres ende thou shalte be exiled into suche a place where as thou shalte dye a myscheuous deth wherfore I holde the for the moost foole that euer I founde that for the lordshyp of a yere thou woldest so wylfully lese thy selfe therfore before all other I haue gyuen to the thys ball of gold Than sayd the kyng wythout doubte thou sayst sothe and therfore whan I am in full power of thys realme I shall sende before me greate treasoure and rychesse wherwyth I may lyue and saue my selfe from my scheuous deth whan I shall be exiled put downe And so thys was done wherfore at the yeres ende he was exiled lyued there in peace vpon suche goodes as he had sente before and he dyed afterwarde a good deth ¶ Dere frendes thys Emperour is the father of heuen the whych byquethed the ball that is to saye worldly rychesse to fooles and ydyottes whyche sauoureth no thynge but that is erthly This Emperours sone that is to saye a precher and a discrete coÌ„fessour serched about many realmes landes to shewe to mysbyleuing men fooles theyr peryll The realme wherin no kyng myght regne but a yere is this worlde For who so had lyued an hondred yere whan he commeth to the deeth hym shall seme that he hath lyued but the space of an houre therfore do as the kyng dyd whyle that ye be in power of lyfe sende before you your treasour that is to say almes dede other merytoryus dedes certaynly whaÌ„ ye be put in exile out of thys world ye shall lyue in peace shall fynde y e mercy of god plentefull wherby ye shall optayne euerlastynge lyfe Unto the whych brynge vs he that for vs dyed on the rode tree Amen DIoclesyan regned in the cyte of Rome in whose empyre dwelled a noble phylosopher y e whych let vp by hys crafte an ymage in the myddes of yeâ—ite of Rome the whyche ymage stretched out hys arme hys formest fynger whervpon stode thys posy wryten in latyn Percute hic Smyte here Thys ymage after the deth of thys phylosopher stode styll a longe tyme many greate clerkes came thyder for to rede the superscripcyon that was on y e fynger but none of them vnderstode what it mente wherfore there was greate wondrynge amonge the people And at the last a longe tyme after there came a strauÌ„ge clerke out of ferre couÌ„trees whan he sawe thys ymage he redde y e scripture Smyte here And than vpon a daye whan he sawe the shadowe of the hande he toke a mattocke brake vp y e grounde vnder the hande where the shadowe was accordyng to the vnderstandyng of the superscripcyon anone he founde an house al of marble vndernethe the grouode wherin he entred came in to a hall where he founde so moche rychesse so many yewelles and so great meruayles that he neuer sawe ne herde of suche nor so many before that tyme. At y e last he sawe a borde couered and all maner of thynges necessary therto set ther vpon He be helde farther and sawe a carbuncle in a wall that lyghtened all y e hous And anenst thys carbuncle on that other syde stode a man holdynge in hys hande a bowe wyth an arowe redy to shote The clerke merualled moche whan be sawe all these thynges and thought in hymself yf that I tâ—ll thys forth there wyll no man byleue me therfore I wyll haue somwhat of these goodes in token of profe And wyth that he sawe a knyfe of golde vpon y e borde whyche he toke wolde haue put it in his bosome But anone the archer smote the carbuncle and brake it wherwyth all the hole hous was shadowed made darke And whan y e clerke perceyued it he wept more bytterly than ony man myght thynke for he wyst not by what way he myght go out for as moche as the hous was made darke thrugh the brekynge of the carbuncle And that darknesse abode styll for euermore after And so fynisshed the clerke his lyfe there in that darknesse ¶ Dere frendes thys ymage so standyng is the deuyll whyche sayth euermore Smyte here That is to saye take hede to erthly rycheâ—se not to heuenly treasour Thys clerke that smote with the mattocke betokeneth the wyse men of thys worlde as pleders of y e lawe atturneys and other wordly men that euer be smytyng what by ryght what by wronge so y t they may gete the vanytees of thys worlde in theyr smytynge they fynde great wonders meruayles that is to say they fynde therin the delytes of the worlde wherin many men reioyseth The carbuncle that gyueth lyght is the youth of man whyche gyueth hardynes to take theyr pleasure in worldly rychesse The archer w t hys arowe is deth whyche layeth watche anenst man to slee hym The clerke that toke vp y e knyfe is euery wordly man that weneth euer to haue all thynge at hys wyll Deth
couÌ„seyle I praye the that faythfull frendshyp may coÌ„tynue bytwene vs and in token of loue that thou wylt drynke my blode I shall drynke thyne that none of vs departe ne fayle other in this iourney The folysshe knyght sayd it pleaseth me ryght well all that ye say wherfore they were bothe letten blode and eueryche of them dranke others blode Whan thys was done they wente forth togyder on theyr iourney and whan they had gone thre dayes iourneys towarde the cyte where y e treasour was they came to a place where was two wayes one was sharpe stony full of thornes that other way was playne and fayre and full of swetnes delytes Than sayd the wyse knyght to hys felowe Dere frende here be two wayes one sharpe and thorny neuerthelesse yf we go thys waye we shall coÌ„me to thys cite that is so ryche there shall we haue that we desyre Than sayd thys folysshe knyght to hys felowe I wonder greatly of you that ye speke suche thynges for I wyll rather byleue myne eyen than your wordes I se here openly so do ye that here is an harde waye full of thornes as I haue herd say there be thre champyons armed in thys waye redy to â—yght agaynst all men that go that waye towarde the cite of y e eest therfore I wyll not go that waye but here is as ye may se an other waye playne and easy to walke in and in thys waye there ben thre knightes redy to serue vs gyue vs al maner thynges necessary to vs and therfore by this waye wyll I go not by that other waye Than sayde the wyse knyght certaynly yf we go by that way we shall be ledde in to the cyte of the north wherin there is no mercy but perpetuall payne sorowe and there shall we be taken bounde and cast in pryson Certaynly sayd the folysshe knyght thys waye is y e redy waye as I byleue it is more profytable than y e other waye Than wente they bothe forth y e fayre waye anone thre knyghtes mette wyth them whyche receyued them reuerently as for a nyght gaue them all maner of thynge that was necessary to them And on y e morowe they toke theyr iourney forth to warde y e cyte And whan they were wythin the cyte anone the Emperours offycers mette w t them sayd Dere frendes why coÌ„me ye hyther in so moche that ye knowe y e lawe of this cite so cruell of longe time here before sothly ye shall be serued now after y e lawe Anone they toke the wyse knyght and bouÌ„de hym and put hym in pryson â–ª and after that they toke the folysshe knyght bounde hym fast and kest hym in to a dyche Soone after it befell that the Iustyce came to the cyte to gyue iudgement on them that had trespaced y e lawe and anone all the prysoners were brought forth before the Iustyce amonge whome these two knyghtes were brought forth one from pryson and that other froÌ„ the dyche Than sayd the wyse knyght to the Iustyce Reuerende lorde I complayne of my felowe that is gylty of my deth for whan we two came to the two wayes wherof that one ledde to y e cyte in the eest that other to thys cyte I tolde hym all the peryll of this cite the rewarde of that other cyte he wolde not byleue me sayd to me in thys wyse I byleue myne owne eyen better than thy wordes and bycause he was my felowe I wolde not let hym go alone in thys waye thus came I wyth hym wherfore he is cause of my deth Than sayd the folysshe knyght I complayne that he is the cause of my deth â–ª for it is not vnknowen to you all that I am a foole he a wyse man therfore he sholde not so lyghtly haue folowed my foly for yf he had forsaken thys waye I wolde haue folowed hym therfore he is cause of my deth Than sayd the Iustyce to y e wyse knyght bycause that thou wyth all thy wysdome and great vnderstandyng so lyghtly coÌ„sented folowed the wyll of the foole his folysâ—he werkes thou foole bycause thou woldest not do after the counseyle ne fulfyll the holsome wordes of thys wyse man byleue hym I gyue iudgement that ye be bothe hanged for your trespace And so it was done wherfore al men praysed greatly the Iustyce for hys dyscrete iudgement ¶ Dere frendes thys emperour is almyghty god in the eest is y e cyte of heuen wherin is treasour infynyte And vnto this cyte is an harde waye full of thornes that is to say the waye of penauÌ„ce by y e whyche waye full fewe walketh for it is harde strayte accordynge to holy scrypture saying thus Est arta via que ducit ad vitaÌ„ It is a strayte way that ledeth to euerlastyng lyfe In thys waye ben thre armed knyghtes that is to saye the deuyll the worlde the flesshe w t whome it behoueth vs to fyght to optayne the vyctory or we may coÌ„me to heuen The seconde cyte that is in y e north is hell And to thys accordeth scrypture sayinge thus Ab aquilone pondetur oeÌ„ maluÌ„ Out of the north coÌ„meth all euyll Certaynly to this cyte is y e waye playne brode walled aboute on euery syde wyth all maner delycates wherfore many men walke by thys waye The thre knyghtes y t gyueth to euery man goynge this waye what thynge them nedeth ben these Pryde of lyfe couetyse of eyen concupyscence of the flesshe in whyche thre the wretched man greatly delyteth at y e last they lede hym in to hell Thys wytty knyght betokeneth the soule the folysshe knyght betokeneth the flesshe the whyche is alway folysshe at all tymes redy to do euyl These two be felowes knytte in one for eueryche of them drynketh others blode that is to say they shall drynke of one cup eyther ioye or payne shall they haue after the day of dome The soule chosech the waye of penauÌ„ce in as moche as she may she sâ—ereth the flesshe to do y e same But the flesshe thynketh neuer what shall coÌ„me after therfore she goth in the delyte of this worlde fleeth the delyte of penauÌ„ce And thus the soule after the deth is cast in to hell the flesshe is cast in to the dyche that is to saye in to the graue But than the Iustyce coÌ„meth that is our lorde Iesu chryst at the day of dome to deme al mankynde ThaÌ„ y e soule shal complayne vpon the flesshe the flesshe vpon the soule But whan y e Iustyce that wyll not be deceyued neyther by prayer ne by pryce shall condempne y e soule bycause she folowed y e fraylte of y e flesshe also he shal condempne the flesshe bycause it wolde not byleue the soule wherfore let vs study to tame our flesshe that
whych hangyng speketh the apostle saying Suspende elegit a iÌ„a mea My soule hath chosen to be hanged For lyke as a man is lyfte vp from the grounde by hangynge ryght so a synner is lyfte vp fro synne towarde heuen vnto god by the haÌ„gynge of satisfaccyoÌ„ vpon thys galous we shold hange tyll the byrdes of heuen came downe y t is to say tyll the apostles coÌ„me downe to fede vs wyth our good dedes For there is more ioye of one synner doynge hys penauÌ„ce a fore the auÌ„gels of god in heuen c. Lyke as the stewarde brought agayne themperours doughter So it behoueth vs to seke about by dyuerse werkes of mercy fynde our soule y t we lost brynge her agayn to the chyrche rule well our .v. wyttes and fede our greyhounde as we sholde make our lyfe so clene and pure that we fall not agayne to synne for drede that it fortune to vs worse y t we haue no leyser to aske mercy agayn at our nede And yf we fulfyll al this truly vnto to our lyues ende wtout doubte we shall optayne euerlastyng lyfe To y e whych our lord brynge vs all AmeÌ„ IN Rome dwelled somtyme a myghty Emperoure and a wyse named Edfenne whych ordeyned for a law that who so euer rauysshed a mayde shold be at her wyll whether she wolde put hym to deth or y t she wolde haue hym to her husbande It befell after that a man rauyâ—shed in a nyght two fayre maydeÌ„s y e fyrst damoysell desyred that he sholde dye the second desyred weddyng The rauyssher was taken â—edde before the iudge that sholde satisfye bothe these damoyselles thrugh hys wysdome ryghtfulnes The fyrst damoysell euer desyred the deth accordyng to the lawe Than sayd the seconde I desyre hym to be my husbande for in lyke wyse as thou hast the lawe for the in lyke wyse I haue it for me neuerthelesse my petycyon is more better than yours for it is more charytable therfore me thynketh in my reason that the iustyce sholde gyue sentence wyth me Than the iustyce vnderstaÌ„dyng the greate mercy of the seconde damoysell gaue iudgemeÌ„t that he sholde wedde her and so it was done ¶ Thys Emperour betokeneth our lord Iesu Chryst. The rauyssher betokeneth euery synner whyche rauyssheth goddes mercy as often as he defouleth the coÌ„mauÌ„demeÌ„tes of god by synne for the deuyl may neuer ouercoÌ„me man but yf it be suffred by wyll For saynt Austyn sayth Non est peccatuÌ„ nisi sit voluÌ„tariuÌ„ It is no synne but yf it be voluntary The synner rauyssheth the mercy of god as oft as he hath very coÌ„tricyon The rauysher also is called afore the Iustyce whan y e soule is departed from the body and anone the fyrst damoysell that is the deuyll layde agaynst the synner that he ought to dye euerlastyngly by y e lawe of ryghtwysnes But that other mayden that is Chryst layde for her how y e mercy of god ought to helpe by coÌ„tricyon coÌ„fessyon whyche is y e hygh waye to euerlastyng lyfe Unto the whyche god brynge bothe you me Amen SOmtyme dwelled in Rome a myghty emperour and a ryche named Lypodyus whyche toke to wyfe a fayre vyrgyn a gentyll and was the kynge of Assyryens doughter This yonge lady coÌ„ceyued bare a chylde in the byrth of her sone she dyed And anone after her decese thys Emperour wedded an other wyfe and begate her wyth chylde also And anone after that these chyldren were borne he sente them bothe in to a strauÌ„ge lande for to be nourysshed Than sayd the mother of the seconde chylde My reuerende lorde .x. yeres ben passed syth I bare my chylde and yet sawe I hym neuer but ones that was the fyrst daye of hys byrth therfore I beseche you my lorde to sende for hym that I may ones reioyce me of hys syght Than sayd y e Emperour I haue an other chylde by my fyrst wyfe yf I sende for thy sone than must I sende for bothe thaÌ„ anone he sente for them And whan they were coÌ„men they were passyng fayre wel nourysshed wel taught and passynge lyke in al maner thynges that vnnethes that one myght be knowen fro that other but yf it were onely of the father Than sayd the mother of y e seconde chylde A my lorde tell me whyche of these is my sone he called hym her sone that he begate on hys fyrst wyfe Whan thempresse herde thys she gaue all her cure to nourysshe to eeche hym despysed that other Whan the Emperour sawe thys he sayd to hys wyfe Sothly I haue deceyued the for hym that y e louest so moche is not thy sone but that other is thy sone Than set she all her cure vpon the second forsoke the fyrst Whan the Emperour sawe thys he sayd Truly I haue deceyued the yet without doubte this is not thy sone but one of them two is thy sone Than sayd y e mother A my lorde for hys loue that dyed on y e rode tell me wythout cauellacyon whyche of them is my sone The Emperour answered sayd certaynly I wyl not tell you tyll they be coÌ„me to maÌ„hode for this reason Fyrst I tolde you that thys was thy sone hym thou nourysshest as thy sone and forsokest that other whan I tolde you that thys was thy sone than y e despysed the fyrst cherysshedest the seconde therfore I wyll that thou cherysshe nourrysshe them bothe tyll they coÌ„me to that y e mayst haue ioye of them Whan thempresse herde thys â–ª she nourysshed them bothe a lyke And whaÌ„ they were bothe coÌ„me to age themperour made a great supper and before all hys gestes he tolde hys wyfe openly whyche of them was her chylde Than reioyced she greatly wyth her sone she ended her lyfe in peace and rest ¶ Thys Emperours sones betokeneth those y t be chosen to euerlastyng lyfe those y e be not chosen The mother of them is the chyrche y t nouryssheth them bothe Therfore our lorde wyl not y t the chyrche sholde knowe whyche be chosen and whyche be not chosen For yf she knewe that than wolde she loue y e one hate y e other so sholde charyte be ouerthrowen amonge vs sholde lyue in discorde stryfe but trouth at the daye of dome shall tell vs whyche of them shall be saued and whyche shall be dampned Therfore praye we in thys worlde that we may coÌ„me to the euerlastynge feest in heuen Unto the whyche god brynge bothe you me Amen SOmtyme dwelled in Rome a myghty emperour named PoleÌ„nus whyche had thre sones whom he loued moche It befell vpon a daye whan thys Emperour lay vpoÌ„ hys bedde he bethought hym to whych of hys sones he myght gyue hys empyre after hys decese Than called he to hym hys thre sones and sayde Whyche of you thre y t is slowest shall haue myne Empyre after
deth wyth all maner of turment thou shalte neuer haue me to consent to suche synne Whan he herde thys he vnclothed her all saue her smocke and henge her vp by the heare vpon a tree and â—yed her stede besyde her and so rode forth to hys felowes tolde them that great hoost of men meâ—te hym toke the Empresse away from hym And whan he had tolde them thys they made all greate sorowe It befell on the thyrde daye after there came an erle to hunte in that forest and as he rode beatyng the brakes there started a foxe whome hys houndes folowed fast tyll they came nere the tree where the Empresse henge And whan the dogges felte the sauour of her they left the foxe ranne towarde the tree as fast as they coude The erle seynge this wondred greatly and spurred his horse and folowed them tyll he came where as the Empresse henge Whan the erle sawe her thus hangynge he meruayled greatly for as moche as she was ryght fayre and gracyous to beholde wherfore he sayd vnto her in thys maner wyse O woman who art thou and of what countree and wherfore hangest thou here in thys maner wyse The Empresse that was not yet fully deed but in poynt redy to dye answered sayd I am quod she a straunge woman and I am comme out fro farre countree but how I came hyther god knoweth Than answered the erle and sayd Whose horse is thys that standeth here by the bouÌ„de to thys tree Than answered the lady â–ª and sayde that it was hers Whan the erle herde thys he knewe well that she was a gentylwoman and coÌ„me of some noble kynrede wherfore he was the rather moued wyth pyte and sayde vnto her O fayre lady thou semest of gentyll blode and therfore I purpose to delyuer the from thys myschefe yf thou wylte promyse to go wyth me and nourysshe my fayre yonge doughter and teche her at home in my castell for I haue no chylde but onely her yf y u kepe her well thou shalte haue a good rewarde for thy labour Than sayd she As farforth as I can or may I shall fulfyll thyne entent And whan she had thus promysed hym he toke her downe of the tree and ledde her home to his castell and gaue her the kepynge of hys doughter that he loued so moche and she was cherysshed so well that she laye euery nyght in the erles chambre his doughter wyth her in hys chambre euery nyght there brent a lampe the whyche henge bytwene y e Empresse bedde and y e erles bedde Thys lady bare her so gentylly that she was beloued of euery creature There was that tyme in the erles courte a stewarde whyche moche loued thys Empresse aboue al thynges and oftentymes spake to her of his loue But she answered hym agayne sayd Knowe ye dere frende for certayne that I haue made a solempne vowe that I shall neuer loue man in suche wyse but onely hym whome I am greatly beholden to loue by goddes coÌ„maundement Than sayd the stewarde Thou wylte not than consent vnto me My lorde quod she what nedeth the ony more to aske suche thynge the vowe that I haue made truly shall I kepe and holde by the grace of god And whan the stewarde herde thys he wente hys waye in greate wrathe and angre thynkynge wythin hymselfe yf I may I shall bewroken on the. It befell vpon a nyght wythin shorte tyme after that the erles chambre dore was forgoten and lefte vnshette whych the stewarde had anone perceyued And whan they were all a slepe he wente and espyed by the lyght of the lampe where the Empresse and the yonge mayden laye togyder and wyth that he drewe out his knyfe cutte the throte of y e erles doughter and put the blody knyfe in to the Empresse hande she beynge a slepe nothynge knowynge therof to the entent that whan the erle awaked he sholde se y e knyfe in her hande that he sholde thynke that she had cutte hys doughters throte wherfore she sholde be put to a shameful deth for his myscheuous dede And whaÌ„ this damoysell was thus slayne and the blody knyfe in the Empresse hande the countesse awaked out of her slepe and sawe by the lyght of the lampe the blody knyfe in the Empresse hande wherfore she was almoost out of her mynde and sayd to the erle O my lorde beholde in yonder ladyes hande a wonderfull thynge Anone the erle awaked and behelde on the Empresse bedde sawe the blody knyfe as the countesse had sayd wherfore he was greatly moued and cryed to her and sayd Awake woman of thy slepe what thynge is thys that I se in thy hande Anone y e Empresse thrugh hys crye awaked out of her slepe and in her wakyng the knyfe fell out of her hande and wyth that she loked by her founde the erles doughter deed by her syde and all the bedde full of blode wherfore wyth an huge voyce she cryed sayd Alas alas welaway my lordes doughter is slayne Than cryed the countesse vnto the erle wyth a pyteous voyce and sayd A my lorde let that deuyllysshe womaÌ„ be put to the moost foule deth that can be thought that thus hath slayne our onely chylde And whan the countesse had sayd thus to the erle she sayd to the Empresse in thys wyse The hygh god knoweth that thou mischeuous woman hast slayne my doughter w t thyne owne handes for I sawe the blody knyfe in thy hande and therfore thou shalt dye a foule deth Than sayd the erle in thys wyse O thou woman were it not that I drede god greatly I shold cleue thy body wyth my swerde in two partes for I delyuered the from hangynge now thou hast slayne my doughter neuertheles for me thou shalte haue no harme therfore go thy waye out of this ciâ—e without ony delay for yf I fynde the here this day thou shalte dye an euyll deth Than arose thys wofull Empresse and dyd on her clothes and after lepte on her palfray rode towarde the eest alone without ony safe conduyte And as she rode thus mournynge by y e waye she espyed on the lefte syde of y e waye a payre of galous and seuen sergeauntes ledyng a man to the galous for to be haÌ„ged wherfore she was moued wyth great pyte and smote her horse wyth the spurres and rode to them prayinge them that she myght bye that mysdoâ—r yf he myght be saued froÌ„ deth for ony mede Than sayd they Lady it pleaseth vs well that thou bye hym Anone the Empresse accorded wyth them payed hys raunsom than he was delyuered Thus sayde she to hym Now dere frende be true tyl thou dye syth I haue delyuered the from dethe On my soule quod he I promyse you euer to be true And whaÌ„ he had thus sayd â–ª he folowed the lady styll tyll they came nygh a cyte and than sayd the empresse to
syluer hath blynded the eyen of iudges hath ouerthrowen wyse men so that equite and ryghtwysâ—es myght not entre but stode aferre and turned theyr backes Thys lady also bought a man froÌ„ hangynge that is to saye from euerlastyng deth whyche he had deserued by deedly synne Therfore do we as dyd thys lady smyte we our horse that is to say our flesshe wyth the spurres of penaunce so ryde we â—orth in all haste to saue our neyghbour from the galous of deedly synne helpynge hym bothe bodyly and goostly as Salomon sayth Wo be to that man lyenge in deedly synne that hath no man to lyfte hym out therof Therfore awake thy neyghbour and helpe hym For a brother that is holpen of an other is lyke a sure cyte yf he gyue no more but a cuppe of colde water to hym in the waye of helpe he shall not lose hys rewarde But many now a days be full vnkynde as was thys thefe whyche falsly deceyued hys lady after y t she had saued hym froÌ„ hangyng The mayster of y e shyppe betokeneth y e worlde by whome many men be deceyued But neuerthelesse as ofte as a man taketh on hym wylfully the charge of pouerte obeyeth vnto the coÌ„maundementes of god and forsaketh the worlde than breketh the shyppe For it is impossyble to please god man and the worlde at ones Whan thys lady had escaped the tempest of the see she wente to a nonry that is to saye the soule after y e troubles of thys worlde wente to the holy lyfe than she healed all maner sycke folke that is to saye euery man that is troubled in hys soule that is to say infecte wyth dyuerse sycknesses that this lady healeth thrugh holy lyfe But the soule myght not be seen of Chryst her husbande tyll she had knowleged openly all her .v. wyttes how she had spent them But whan she had made a pure coÌ„fessyoÌ„ than y e Emperour our lord god her husbande knewe her toke her in his armes ledde her home to the palays of heuen Unto the whyche almyghty god brynge vs all Amen IN Rome dwelled somtyme a myghty Emperour named Martyn whyche for loue kepte wyth hym hys brothers sone whome men called FulgeÌ„tyus Wyth thys Martyn dwelled also a knyght that was steward of hys Empyre and vncle vnto the Emperour whyche enuyed thys FulgeÌ„tius studyed day nyght how he myght brynge the Emperour thys chylde at debate wherfore the stewarde on a daye wente vnto the Emperour sayd My lorde quod he I that am your true seruauÌ„t owe of duty to warne your hyghnes yf I heare any thynge y t toucheth your honour wherfore I haue harde suche thynges that I must nedes vtter it in secrete vnto your lordshyp bytwene vs two Than sayde the Emperour Good frende quod he saye on what the lyst My moost dere lorde quod the stewarde Fulgentius your cosyn and your nye kynsman hath defamed you wonderfully and shamefully thrugh out all your Empyre sayinge that your breth stynketh and that it is deth to hym to serue you of your cup. Than the Emperour waxed wrothe and was almoost besyde hym selfe for anger and sayde to hym thus I praye the my good frende tell me the very trouth yf that my breth so stynketh as he sayth My lorde quod the stewarde ye may byleue me I neuer perceyued a swâ—ter breth in my dayes than yours is Than sayde the Emperoure I praye the good frende tell me how I may brynge thys thynge to a good profe The stewarde answered and sayd My lorde quod he ye shall ryght well vnderstande the trouth for to morowe nexte whan he serueth you of your cuppe ye shall se that he shall turne awaye hys face from you bycause of your brethe and thys is the moost veray profe that may be had of thys thynge Forsothe quod the Emperoure a truer profe can not be had of thys thynge Wherfore anone whan the stewarde herde thys he wente streyght to Fulgentius and toke hym asyde sayinge thus Dere frende thou art my kynsman and also nenewe vnto my lorde the Emperoure therfore yf thou wylte con me thanke I wyll tell the of the vyce wherof my lorde the Emperoure complayneth ofte and thynketh to put the from hym but yf it be the rather amended and that myght be a greate reprofe to the. Than sayd thys Fulgentius A good syr for hys loue that dyed vpon the crosse tell me why my lorde is so sore moued wyth me for I am redy to amedde my defaute in all that I can or may and for to be ruled by your good and dyscrete couÌ„seyle Thy breth quod the stewarde stynketh so sore that hys drynke dothe hym no good so greuous is vnto hym the stynkynge breth of thy mouth Than sayde Fulgentyus vnto the stewarde Truly that perceyued I neuer tyll now but what thynketh you of my brethe I praye you to tell me the very trouth Sothly quod the stewarde it stynketh greatly and foule And this Fulgentius byleued all that he sayde and was ryght sorowfull in hys mynde and prayed the stewarde of hys counseyle and helpe in thys wofull case Than sayd the stewarde vnto hym Yf that thou wylt do by my counseyle I shall brynge thys mate to a good conclusyon therfore do as I shal tell the. I counseyle the for y e best and also warne the that whan thou seruest my lorde the Emperoure of hys cuppe that than thou turne thy face away from hym so that he may not fele thy stynkynge brethe vnto the tyme that thou hast prouyded the of some remedy therfore Than was Fulgentyus ryght glad and sware to hym that he wolde do by hys couÌ„seyle Not longe after it befell that thys yonge man Fulgentyus â—erued hys lorde as he was wonte to do and therwyth sodeynly he turned his face froÌ„ hys lorde as the stewarde had taught hym And whan the Emperoure perceyued the auoydyng of hys heed he smote thys yonge Fulgentius on the brest wyth hys fote and sayd to hym thus O thou noughty rybawde now se I well it is true that I haue herde of the and therfore go thou anone out of my syght that I se the no more in thys place And wyth that thys yonge Fulgentyus wepte full sore and auoyded the place and wente out of hys syght And whan thys was so done the Emperour called vnto hym hys steward and sayd How may I put thys rybawde from the worlde that thus hath defamed me My moost dere lorde quod the stewarde ryght well ye shall haue your entent For here besyde wythyn these thre myle ye haue bryckmakers whyche dayly make greate fyres for to brenne brycke and also they make lyme therfore my lorde sende to them thys nyght and charge them vpon payne of deth that who so euer coÌ„meth to them fyrst on the morowe sayinge to them thus My lorde commaundeth you to fulfyll hys wyll that they take hym and cast hym
thy good chere thy sone that was borne to nyght I wyll haue for to nourysshe brynge vp in my courte and to morowe I shall sende for hym A my gracyous lorde quod the foster it is not agreable that suche a noble Emperour sholde nourysshe the chylde of hys subgecte and seruaunt neuerthelesse your wyll be fulfylled for whan your messengers comme I shall delyuer them my sone Whan thys was sayde the Emperoure toke hys leue and rode home towarde his palays And whan he was comme home he called vnto hym suche seruauntes as he trusted best and sayde to them thus Go ye quod he vnto my foster wyth whome I was lodged thys nyght in the forest and receyue of hym his sone of whyche hys wyfe was delyuered thys nyght and vpon payne of deth I commaunde you that ye flee hym by the waye and cast hys flesshe to the dogges but brynge wyth you the herte to me And but ye fulfyll my commauÌ„dement ye shall dye the moost foulest deth that can be thought Anone hys seruauÌ„tes wente to the forest and receyued the fosters sone and brought hym wyth them And whan they were comme nere vnto the palays one of them sayde How shall we do that we may fulfyll our lordes coÌ„maundement in sleynge of thys chylde Some answered sayde that the chylde sholde be slayne and some wolde haue saued hys lyfe and whyle they stroue thus amonge themselfe one of them that was moost mercyfull sayde vnto the other O my good frendes heare my counseyle and ye shall not forthynke it Yf we murther thys innocent chylde we shall greatly offende almyghty god therfore here be yonge pygges sleâ—we one of them and than may we beare wyth vs hys herte and present it vnto the Emperoure sayinge that it is the herte of the chylde and thus shall we not shede the chyldes blode Than sayde they thy couÌ„seyle is good but what shall we do wyth the chylde Good frendes quod he let vs wrappe hym in some clothes laye hym in some holowe tree for perauenture god wyl helpe hym and saue hys lyfe And whan he had thus sayd they dyd gladly after hys counseyle in all thynges and slewe the pygge wente theyr waye and bare home with them the pygges hertâ— to the Emperoure sayinge vnto hym thus Loo gracyous lorde we haue slayne the chylde as ye commauÌ„ded vs and wyth that they shewed hym the pygges herte The Emperoure supposynge that it had ben the chyldes herte toke it kest it in to the fyre despyteously sayinge Loo that is the herte of hym whyche sholde haue ben Emperoure after me Loo what is to byleue in dremes vysyons whyche be nought else but fantasyes and vayne thynges The seconde daye after that the chylde was put in to the holowe tree thâ—re came an erle for to hunte in the forest and as hys houndes chaced an harte they came to thys holowe tree where the chylde laye and whan they felte the sauour of the chylde they wolde go no farther The erle seynge thys meruaylled greatly why hys houÌ„des abode there and smote his horse with the spurres and rode a great pace tyll he came to them And whan he came vnto the tree wherin the chylde was layde he loked in at an hole sawe there the chylde lyenge and than was he ryght glad and toke vp the chylde in hys armes full louyngly and bare hym home vnto hys castell sayinge vnto the countesse hys wyfe Loo my dere wyfe thys daye by fortune I haue â—ounde a full fayre chylde in an holowe tree as I hunted in y e forest wherof I am ryght glad And bycause that I neuer begate sone ne doughter on the ne thou neuer yet conceyued a chylde therfore I exhorte the that thou wylte feyne thy selfe trauaylynge of chylde and saye that thou hast borne thys chylde The countesse fulfylled ryght gladly the erles wyll and desyre and sayde My moost dere lorde your wyll in thys thynge shall be done Not longe after this tydynges wente thrugh out all that countree that the countesse was delyuered of a fayâ—e sone wherfore euery man made great ioye The chylde began to growe and was ryght well beloued of euery man and moost specyally of the erle and of the countesse It befell after whan the chylde was .xv. yere of age the Emperoure made a solempne feest vnto all y e lordes of hys Empyre vnto the whyche feest thys erle was called And at the daye assygned he came and brought the chylde w t hym whyche was at that tyme a fayre yonge squyer carued at the borde before the erle The Emperour greatly behelde hym and espyed the token in hys forâ—heed whyche he had seen before in the fosters house â–ª wherfore he was greatly moued vexed wythin 〈…〉 and sayd vnto the erle in this wyse Whose sone is this Sothly sayd the erle he is my sone Than sayd y e Emperour By the fayth and trouth that thou owest vnto me tell me the trouth The erle seynge that he myght not excuse hymselfe by no maner wyse but that nedes he must tell hym the trewth than tolde he hym al togyther how he had founde hym in the forest in an holowe tree Thys hearyng the Emperoure was almoost out of his ryght mynde for anger and called vnto hym his seruauntes whyche he had sente before to slee y e chylde And whan they came before hym he made them for to swere vpon a boke that they sholde tell hym the trouth what they had done wyth the chylde Gracyous lorde sayde they we put vs vnto your grace goodnes for wythout doubte pyte so moued vs that we myght not â—lee hym and than we put hym in an holowe tree but what afterwarde befell of hym sothly we knowe not and in his stede we slewe a pygge and brought you the herte therof Whan the Emperoure had herde the very trewth of thys mater he sayd vnto y e erle Thys yonge man quod he shal abyde here wyth me The erle anone graunted though it was greatly agaynst hys wyll And whan the feest was ended euery man toke hys leue at the Emperoure and wente where as them lyst And at that tyme it fortuned that the Empresse her doughter soiourned in a greate countre farre fro thens by the coÌ„maundement of the Emperoure It befell not longe after the Emperour called vnto hym that yonge squyer and sayde The behoueth quod he to ryde vnto the Empresse my wyfe wyth my letters I am redy at your coÌ„maundement my lorde sayde he to fulfyll your desyre Anone the Emperoure let wryte letters wherof the entent was thys That the Empresse sholde take the bearer of these letters and let hym be drawen at a horse tayle and after that she sholde let hym be hanged tyll he were deed and that vpon payne of deth Whan the letters were all made and sealed than the Emperoure toke them vnto the yonge squyer coÌ„maundynge hym to spede hym on hys iourney And
man whych studyeth euer to watche in doynge of good werkes yeldynge to god for synnes the fyre of charyte and the water of contricyon But afteÌ„tymes the tyraunt whyche betokeneth the deuyll putteth out the fyre of charyte fro mennes hertes and casteth out y e water of contricyon so that they may not nourysshe the lyttel chylde Iesus Therfore let vs watche as Ionathas dyd that we entre not in to temptacyon And call we vnto vs masons that is to saye dyscrete confessours whyche can make in our hertes a chambre of stone that is to saye a sure fayth and hope Than call we to vs paynters that is to saye prechers of goddes worde whyche can paynt in our hertes ten ymages that is to saye .x. coÌ„maundementes whyche yf thou kepe and obserue dayly wythout doubte thou shalte be honoured in heuen And yf thou kepe well the Emperours sone thou shalte syt in a chayre of golde crowned with a crowne of gold And yf that thou nourysshe hym not well wythout doubte thou shalt be haÌ„ged on the galous of hell From the whych preserue vs our blessed sauyour Iesus Amen IN Rome dwelled somtyme a myghty Emperoure named Menaly whyche had wedded the kynges doughter of Hungary a fayre lady a gracyous in all her werkes and specyally she was mercyfull On a tyme as the Emperour lay in hys bedde he bethought hym that he wolde go vysyte the holy lande And on y e morowe he called to hym the Empresse hys wyfe hys owne onely brother thus he sayde Dere lady I may not ne I wyll not hyde from you the preuytees of my herte I purpose to vysyte the holy lande wherfore I ordeyne the princypally to be lady and gouernour ouer all myne Empyre all my people And vnder the I ordeyn here my brother to be thy stewarde for to prouyde all thynges that may be profytable to myne Empyre to my people Than sayde the Empresse Syth it wyll none otherwyse be but that nedes ye wyll go to the holy lande I shall be in your absence as true as ony turtyll that hath lost her make for as I byleue ye shal not escape thens wyth your lyfe The Emperour anone coÌ„forted her wyth fayre wordes and kyssed her and after that toke hys leue of her and of all other and so wente forth towarde the holy lande And anone after that the Emperour was gone hys brother became so proude that he oppressed poore men robbed ryche men yet dyd he worse thaÌ„ thys for dayly he sâ—erâ—d the Empresse to synne wyth hym But euer she answered agayne as an holy and a deuoute woman and sayd I wyll quod she neuer consent to you ne to none other as longe as my lorde lyueth Neuerthelesse thys knyght wolde not leue by thys auswere but euer whan he founde her alone he made hys complaynt to her and stered her by all the wayes that he coude to synne wyth hym Whan thys lady sawe that he wolde not cease for no answere ne wolde not amende hymselfe whaÌ„ she sawe her tyme she called to her thre or foure of y e worthyest men of the Empyre and sayd to them thus It is not vnknowen to you that my lorde the Emperour ordeyned me pryncipall gouernour of this Empyre and also he ordeyned hys brother to be stewarde vnder me and that he shold do nothynge wythout my conseyle but he dothe all the contrary for he oppresseth greatly poore men and robbet ryche men and yet he wolde do worse yf he myght haue hys entent wherfore I commaunde you in my lordes name that ye bynde hym fast cast hym in pryson Than sayd they Sothly he hath done many euyll dedes syth our lord themperour wente therfore be we redy to obey your coÌ„mauÌ„dement but in thys mater ye must answere for vs to our lorde the Emperour Than sayde she drede ye not for yf my lorde knewe what he hath done as welles I he wolde put hym to y e foulest deth that coude be thought Anone these men set hande on hym and bounde hym fast wyth yron chaynes and put hym fast in pryson where as he laye longe tyme after tyll at the last it fortuned there came tydynges that the Emperour was coÌ„mynge home and had optayned great worshyp and victory Whan his brother herde of hys coÌ„mynge he sayd Wolde to god my brother myght fynde me in pryson for than wolde he enquyre y e cause of myne enprysonment of the Empresse she wyll tell hym all the trouth how I desyrey her to synne and so for her I shall haue no grace of my brother but lose my lyfe thys knowe I well therfore it shall not be so Than sente he a messenger vnto y e Empresse prayinge her for Chrystes passyon that she wolde vouchesafe to coÌ„me vnto y e pryson dore that he myght speke a worde or two wyth her The Empresse came to hym enquyred of hym what he wolde haue He answered Tayde O lady haue mercy vpon me for yf the Emperoure my brother fynde me in thys pryson than shall I dye with out ony remedy Than sayd the Empresse yf I myght knowe that thou woldest be a good man leue thy foly thou sholdest haue grace Than dyd he promyse her sykerly to be true and to amende all hys frespace Whan he had thus promysed the Empresse delyuered hym anone and made hym to be bathed and shauen arayed hym worshypfully accordynge to hys estate and than she sayd vnto hym thus Now good brother lepe on thy stede and coÌ„me wyth me that we may mete my lorde He answered and sayd Lady I am redy to fulfyl your wyll and coÌ„maundement in all thynges And than the Empresse toke hym wyth her many other knyghtes and so rede forth to mete wyth the Emperoure and as they rode togyder by y e waye they sawe where a great harte ran afore them wherfore euery man wyth suche houndes as they had chased hym on horsbacke so that wyth y e Empresse was lefte no creature saue onely the Emperours brother whyche seynge that no man was there but they two thus he sayd vnto y e Empresse Loo lady here besyde is a preuy forest and longe it is agone that I spake to the of loue coÌ„me now and consent vnto me that I may lye wyth the. Than sayd the Empresse Al foole what may thys be yesterdaye I delyuered the out of pryson vpon thy ê“messe in hope of amendment and now thou arte returned to thy foly agayne wherfore I say now to the as I haue sayd before there shal no man do suche thynge wyth me saue onely my lorde the Emperour whyche oweth of very duty so for to do Than sayd he yf thou wylte not consent to me I shall hange the here vpon a tree in this forest where no man shall fynde the and so shalt thou dye an euyll deth The Empresse answered mekely and sayde Though thou smyte of my heed and put me to