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
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
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
possesseth lyfe of euerlasting ioy and blisse The 15. History SOmetime dwelled in Rome a noble Emperour named Agias which had retaining vnto him a Knight called Gerard which was a worthy warrior neuerthelesse he was as méeke as a Lambe in the Emperours courte but in the field he was like a Lion This Emperour had a faire daughter whome the strong and mightie Earle of Palester carryed perforce away and defiled neuerthelesse it displeased more themperour the defiling of his daughter than the carrying of hir away wherefore he called vnto him his counsayle and sayde Déere friends it is not vnknowen to you the despite and violence done to mée in deflowring of my daughter and therefore I purpose to giue battaile to the Earle wherefore I pray you to be ready at a day that ye may procéede with me in battaile And they sayde Lord we be readie to liue and dye with you in battaile When the apointed day of battaile came they met on both sides and a cruell sharp conflict was prosecuted on both sides and all that were of themperours part were slaine And as themperour himselfe should haue bene sorceably assayled the knight Gerard put himselfe among his enimies before themperour and fought manfully and so Themperour escaped and the knight aboad and slew the earle neuerthelesse this knight had diuers wounds This notwithstaÌ„ding he aboad still till the blood ran downe to his foote And when his enimies saw that the Earle was slaine they fledde and the Knight with his people â—â—â—â—owed on the 〈…〉 till hée came to the place where themperours daughter was and â—â—dde hâ—r with him And thus with triumph and victory he â—â—â—urned againâ— to themperour For â—â—â— which victory and reobtaining of themperours daughter he was greatly peaâ—â—â—d of all people Not long after it befel that this knight had a suâ—e to moue themperours court wherefore the knight came vnto themperour prayed him méekely to be fauorable in his cause and furthermore he prayed him to doe the reason touching his honest demaund When Themperour had heard him he called to him a Justice and sayd â—ir Justice our will is that you performe all equitie vnto this knight and that that the Law will And wheÌ„ the knight heard this he cryed with a lowd voice Alas alas who heard euer such a thing of an Emperour thou wert said hee in battaile where thy head should haue béene smitten off and I in myne owne person and none other man put my selfe in ieopardy for thée and saued thée and now thou hast assigned an other man to bee Judge in my cause alas that euer thou wert borne And with that word the knight put of all his clothes sheweh his wounds that hée had receiued in the battâ—â—â—e vnto all the men that were there present and sayde Loâ— what I haue suffered for thee Oh Emperour and I put none other man in my stâ—de and now thou assignest an other man in my cause For sooth I say to thée that I neuer serued such a Lord béefore When the Emperour heard this being almost confounded in himselfe said thus O Déere friend all that thou sayest is trouth thou sauedst mée from death thou diddest reobtaine my daughter againe and for my sake thou hast suffered many wounds For sooth it is right that I in my owne person come downe and make an end of thy cause such as may bee honour and ioye to thée And when themperour labored busily in this matter and made thereof an ende according to the knights entente wherefore all men greatly commended the Emperour The Morall Déere friends this Emperour may bée called euery Christian man or else all mankinde which had a faire daughter that is to say the soule made to the similitude of God This Earle beetokeneth the diuell which carryeth away deflowreth by sinne the soule of man through eating of the fruite of the tree knowing good and euill wherefore all mankind was in thraldom til a strong and valiant knight came and put himselfe on the Crosse to suffer death as a redéemer of mankinde from the diuell For if that had not béene wée had all beene partakers of thraldome euerlaistngly and this Knight reduced and reobtayned the Soule of man vnto the Church wherefore hée suffered many great wounds in his body And now this knight that is to saye our Lord Jesu Christ hath a matter to doe among vs that is to saye to fynde in vs perfecte life wherefore hee calleth on vs dayly that wée shold bée redy at all times saying thus in the Apocalipse iii. Eccesto ab hostium pulso si quis mihi aparuerit introibo câ—nibo That is to say Loe I stand and knocke at the dore if any man will open to mee I shall come in suppe with him But many men doe as the Emperour dyd the which appointed the knight an other Judge then him selfe But now a dayes there bée some men that will doe no repentaunce for the loue of him which assigned no man but himselfe to fight for vs. And therefore against vnthankfull persons it shal bee sayde thus Loe hée suffered for vs on the Crosse despoyled of all his clothing and showeth to vs all his wouÌ„ds that hee suffered for vs. Bée wée therefore thankfull vnto God for his graces that wée may suffer for his loue some sorowfull repentaunce For hée that suffereth paine for the loue of God in this life shall receiue an hundrid tymes more reward in the lyfe euerlasting and also hée shall obtaine euerlasting life vnto the which our Lord Jesus bring all mankinde Amen The Argument The soule of man is heere warned to eschew the pleasant baites and subtill craft of the diuell that shee yeeld not to his allutments least shee bee ouercome of him and hee get the vantage of this mortall course from hir and bereue hir of the ioyes in the lyfe to come The 16. History THere dwelt somtimes in Rome a witty emperour namid Pompey which had a fayre daughter called Aglas This daughter had many vertues aboue all other women of that Empyre First shee was faire and gracious in the sight of euery man She was also swift in running that no man might ouertake hir by a great space When Themperour vnderstood these two vertues in his daughter hée was right ioyfull wherefore hée made to proclaime throughout all his Empyre that what man poore or riche would runne with his daughter should haue hir to wyfe with great riches if hée might ouerrunne hir and come sooner to the marke then shée and if shée ouer runne him and come sooner to the marke then hée his heade should bée smitten off When the states of that Empyre as Dukes Earles Barrons and knights heard this crye they offered themselues one after an other to runne with hir but euer this young Lady ouer-ranne them all wherfore they lost their heads according to the law That time there was a poore man dwelling in Rome which thought within himselfe 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
shauen and apparelled him worshipfully according to his estate and then shée said vnto him thus Now good brother take thy stéede and come with mée that wee may méete my Lord. Hée answered and sayd Lady I am redy to fulfil your will commaundement in all things And than the Empresse toke him with hir and many other knights and so rod foorth to meeâ— with the Emperour and as they rode together by the way they sawe where a great hart ranne afore them wherefore euery man with such hounds as they had chased him on horse backe so that with the Empresse was left no creature saue onely the Emperours brother which seeing that no man was there but they two thus hee saide vnto the Empresse Loe Lady heere beside is a priuie forrest and long it is agone that I spake to thée of Loue come now and consent vnto mee that I may lye with thee Then sayde the Empresse a foole what may this bee yesterday I deliuered thée out of prison vpon thy promise in hope of amendement and now thou art retoâ—rned to thy folly againe wherfore I saye now to thée as I haue sayde before there shall no man doe such thing with me saue onely my Lorde the Emperour which ought of very duty so for â—â— doe Then sayde â—ee if thou wilt not consent to mée I shall hang thée héere vpon a trée in this Forrest where no man shall finde thée so shalt thou dye an euill death The Empresse aunswered méekely and sayde Though thou smite of my head and put mée to death with all maner of torment thou shalt neuer haue mee to consent to such sinne When hee heard this hée vnciothed hir all saue hir smock and hanged hir vp by the haire vpon a trée tyed hir stéede beside hir and so rode foorth to his fellowes and tolde them that a great hoast of men met him and tooke the Empresse away from him And wheÌ„ he hadde tolde them this they made all great sorrow It befell on the third day after there came an Earle to hunt in that Forrest and as he rode beating the barks there started a Foxe whome his hounds followed fast till they came néere the trée where the Empresse hanged And when the dogges felt the sauour of hir they left the Fore and ranne towarde the Trée as fast as they could The Earle séeing this wondred greatly and spurred his horse and folowed them till he came wher as the Empresse hanged Whan the Earle â—aw hir thus hanging he maruailed greatly for as much as she was right fayre and gracious to behold wherefore he sayde vnto hir in this manner wise O woman who art thou and of what countrie and wherefore hangest thou héere in this manner wise The Emprisse that was not yet fully dead but in point ready to dye aunswered and said I am quod she a straunge woman and I am come out from far countrie but how I came hither God knoweth Than aunswered the Earle and said Whose horse is this that staÌ„deth by thée bound to this trée Than answered the lady and said that it was hirs WhaÌ„ the earle heard this he knew well that she was a gentle woman and came of noble linage wherfore he was the rather moued with pitty said vnto hir O faire lady thou seâ—est of gentle blood therfore I purpose to deliuer thée from this mischife if thou wilt promise to goe with mée nourish my faire yong daughter teach hir at home in my castell for I haue no childe but onely hir if thou kéepe hir well thou shalâ— haue a good reward for thy labour Than said she As far soorth as I can or may I shall fulfill thine entent And when she had thus promised him he tooke hir downe of the trée and led hir home to his castel and gaue hir the kéeping of his daughter that he loued so much and she was cherished so well that shée lay euery night in the earles chamber and his daughter with hir and in his chamber euery night there brent a lamp the which hanged beetwéene the Empresse bed and the earles bed This lady béehaued hir so gently that she was beloued of euery creature There was that time in the earls court a steward which much loued this Emprisse exceedingly aboue all things and oftentymes spake to hir of his loue But shée answered him againe and sayd Know yée déere friend for certainetie that I haue made a solempne vow to God that I shall neuer loue any man in such maner wise but onely him whom I am greatly beholden to loue by gods commaundement Than sayd the Steward Thou wilt not than consent vnto mée My Lorde quod shâ— what needeth thee any more to aske such thing the vow that I haue made truely I shall keepe hold by the grace of god And when the steward heard this hée went his way in great wrath and anger thincking within himselfe if I may I shall be reuenged on thée It befell vppon a night within short time after that the Earls chamber dore was forgotten and left vnshet which the steward had anone perceiued And when they were all a sleepe hee went and espied by the light of the lamp where the Emprisse and the young Mayden laye to gether and with that he drewe out his Knife and cut the throte of the Earles daughter put the bloody knife into the Emprisse hande shee beeing a sléepe and nothing knowing thereof to the intent that whan the Earle awaked he should see the knife in hir hande and that hée should think that she had cut his daughters throte wherfore she should bée put to a shameful death for this mischeuous déede And when this damosell was thus slaine and the bloody knife in the Emprisse hand the countesse awaked out of hir sléepe and sawe by the light of the Lampe the blouddie knife in the Emprisse hande wherefore she was almost out of hir wittes and sayd to the Earle O my Lorde behold in yonder Ladies hand a wonderfull thing Anone the Earle awaked and beheld on the Emprisse bed and saw the bloody knife as the countisse had sayd wherefore he was greatly moued and cried to hir and sayd Awake woman out of thy sléepe what thing is this that I sée in thy hand Anone the Emprisse through his crye awaked out of hir sleepe and in hir waking the knife fell out of hir hand and with that she looked by hir found the Earles daughter dead by hir side all the bed be sprent with blood wherefore with an huge voyce shée cryed and sayd Alas alas and welaway my lords daghter is slayne Than cryed the couÌ„tisse vnto the Earle with á pitious voyce said A my lord let the diuelish woman be put to the most foule death that can be thought which thus hath slaine our onely childe And when the countisse had sayde thus to the Earle she sayde to the Emprisse in this wise The high God knoweth that
the lust of flesh and of sinners ariseth before him after runneth great houndes that is to say euill thoughts so long they chase till the bodie and the soule be left alone and than the fleshe stirreth that noble Soule beeing the Spouse of Almyghtie God But the pure and vndesiled soule that is so wel beloued with God wil not forsake hir Lorde and consent to sinne wherefore the wretched flesh full ofte despoiâ—eth hir of all hir clothing that is to say of all hir vertues hangeth hir vp by the haire on an oake that is to say on lustes delights and there she hangeth till the good earle commeth that is to say a discréete preacher in the forrest of this world to preach and teach the woord of god and taketh hir downe and leadeth hir foorth to the Church to nourish his daughter that is to say to nourish consciens with fruitfull faith The earle had in his chamber a lamp right so euery discréet Preacher should haue afore him the Lamp of holy Scripture whereby he may see both the greuaunce and profit of the Soule in teaching of vertues and putting away of vice The steward that stirreth hir to sinne is none else but pride of life which is steward of this world by whome many men be deceiued But when the soule that is so well béeloued with Christ will not consent vnto the sinne of pryde than taketh thys euill steward the knife of couâ—tise wherwith he slaieth the earls daughter that is to say conscience according to Scripture saying Gold siluer hath blinded the eyes of Judges hath ouethrowen wise men so that equitie righteousnes might not enter but stoode afar turned their backs This Lady also redeemed a man from death that is to saye from euerlasting death which he had deserued by deadly sinne Therefore doe we as dyd this lady smite we oâ—r horse that is to say our flesh with the spurres of repentaunce so ryde we foorth in all hast to saue our neighbour from the sinck of deadly sinne helpe him both bodily ghostly as Saloman saith Wo be to that man lying in deadly sinne that hath no man to lift him out thereof Therefore awake thy neighbor and help him For a brother that is holpen of an other is like a sure citie and if he giue no more but a cup of cold water to him in the way of helpe hee shall not lose his reward But many now a dayes be very vnkinde as was this theife which falsely deceiued his lady after that she had saued him from hanging The maister of the ship betokeneth the world by whom many men be deceiued But neuerthelesse as oft as a man taketh on him voluntarily the charge of pouertie and obeyeth vnto the commaundements of God and forsaketh the worlde then breaketh the shippe For it is impossible to please God and man and the world all at one tyme. When this lady had espyed the tempest of the sea she went to a Citie that ie to say the soule after the troubles of this world went to the holy lyfe and than shee healed all maner sicke folke that is to saye euery man that is troubled in his soule that is to saye infecte with diuers sicknesses that this Lady healeth through holy lyfe But the Soule might not bée séene of Christ hir husbande till shée had knoweledged openly all hir fiue wittes But when she had made a pure acknowledgement of hir sinne than the Emperour our Lord God hir husband knew hir and tooke hir in his armes and ledde hir home to the pallaice of heauen Unto the which almightie God bring vs all for his sonnes sake Amen The Argument ¶ Euery supreme magistrate and other inferior is to be honoured and reuerenced Euery true Christian man ought to consider his dutie heerein euery false Christian peruerteth the wayes of the godlye the reward of such is hid vp in hell but the iust shal inherite the blessed life euerlasting The 41. History IN Rome dwelt sometime a mightie Emperour namid Martin which for entier affection kept with him his brothers son whom men called Fulgencius With this Martin dwelt also a knight that was steward of his Empyre and vncle vnto the Emperour which enuied this Fulgentius studying day and night how he might bring the Emperour and this child at debate wherfore the steward on a day went to the Emperour sayd My Lord quod hee I that am your true seruaunt am bound in dutie to warne your highnesse if I heare any thing that toucheth your honour wherfore I haue heard such things that I must needs vtter it in secrete to your Lordship béetwéene vs two Then sayde the Emperour Good friend quod hée say on what thée list My most déere Lord quod the steward Fulgeneious your cosâ—n and your nigh kinsman hath desamed you wonderfully and shamefully throughout all your Empyre saying that your breath stinketh and that it is death to him to serue you of your cuppe Than the Emperour was grieuously displeased and almost belide himselfe for anger sayde to him thus I pray thee my good friend tell mée the very trouth if that my breath so stincketh as he sayth My Lord quod the steward ye may beeléeue mee I neuer perceiued a swéeter breath in my dayes than yours is Then sayd the Emperour I pray thee good friend tell mée how I may bring this thing to a good proofe The steward answered and sayd My Lord quod hée yee shall right well vnderstand the troth for to morrow next when hée serueth you of your cuppe yée shall see that hée will turne away his face from you bicause of your breath and this is the most certain proofe that may be had of this thing Forelooth quod the Emperour a truer proofe can not be had of this thing Wherefore anone when the steward heard this hée went straight to Fulgencious and toke him a side saying thus Déere friend thou art my kinsman and also nephew vnto my Lord the Emperour therefore if thou wilt bée thankfull vnto mee I will tell thée of the vice whereof my Lord the Emperour complayneth oft and thinketh to put thée from him except it be the rather amended and that might bée a great reproofe to thee Then sayd this Fulgencious A good sir for his loue that dyed vpon the crosse tell mée why my Lord is so sore moued with mée for I am ready to amend my default in all that I can or may and for to be ruled by your good discréete counsaile Thy breath quod the steward stincketh so sore that his drinck doth him no good so gréeuous is vnto him thy stincking breath of thy Mouth Then sayd Fulgentious vnto the Steward Truely that perceiued I neuer till now but what thinke you of my breath I praie you to tell mée the verie truth Truely quod the steward it stinketh greatly and foule And this Fulgentious béeléeued all that hée saide and was right sorowfull in his
home and found the castell gate shutte and knocked there at but longe it was ere he might haue an aunswere And at the last the Woman came and demaunded why hee knocked at the gate Then saide hée to hir O déere lady why hast thou so soone chaunged my loue let me come in Nay surely said she thou shalt not come here for I haue here with me my loue which I loued before Remember quod the knight thou gauest me thy troth to be my wife and how I saued thée from death and if thou ponder not thy faith béehold my wounds which I haue suffred in my body for thy loue And anone he vnclothed himselfe naked saue his hosen that he might shew his woundes openly But she would not sée them ne speake more with him but shet fast the gate went hir way And when the knight saw this he went to the Justice made his complaint to him praying him to giue right wise iudgment on this tyrant and this woman The Judge called them béefore him and when they were come the Knight said thus My Lord quod hée I aske the benefite of the law which is this If a man rescew a woman from rauishinge the rescuer shall marrie hir if him list and this woman deliuered I from the hands of the tyrant therefore I ought to haue hir to my wyfe furthermore she gaue me hir faith trouth to marry with mee and therevpon shee went to my castle I haue done great cost against our wedding and therefore as it seemeth mee shee is my wife as by the law Then sayde the Judge to the tyrant Thou knowest well that this knight deliuered hir from thy hands for hir loue hath suffred many grieuous wounds and therefore well thou wottest that shée is his wife by the law if that him list But after hir deliuerance with flattering spech thou hast deceiued hir therfore I iudge thée to bee hanged Than said the Judge to the woman in lykewise O woman thou knowest how this knight saued thée from death and therevpon thou bée tookest him thy faith and troth to bee his wife therfore by two reasons thou art his wife first by the lawe and after by thy faith and trouth This notwithstanding thou concenâ—idst afterward to the tyraunt and broughtest him into the Knightes Castell shottest the gate against the knight and wouldst not sée his wounds which he suffered for thy loue and therfore I iudge thée to bée hanged And so it was done both the rauisher and shee that was rauished were condempned to the death wherefore euerie man praised the iudge for his right wise iudgement The Morall This Emperour béetokeneth the father of Heauen which ordained for a law that if the soule of man were rauished from God by sinne the sauer of the soule should espouse hir if him list The woman that was rauished béetokeneth the soule of man which was rauished by sinne of our forefather Adam led out of Paradise into the forrest of this wretched world by the tirant Poncianus which betokeneth the diuell and he not onely defouled hir by leasyng of the heritage of heauen but also hée would sley hir with euerlasting paine But the soule cryed with a high voice whose crye our Lord Jesu Christ heard This cry was made when Adam cryed after the oyle of mercie And the Patryarkes prophets cryed for remedy saying these wordes O thou highnesse in the Cast and so foorth visite thou vs. c. The knight betokeneth our Lord Jesu Christ which came from Heauen and fought with the tyrant that is to say the diuell both they were sore wounded For our Lord Jesu Christ was wounded in the flesh the diuell maymed in his kingdome wherfore the woman that is to say the soule gaue hir faith and troth vnto almightie GOD when he became christian saying these wordes I forsake the Diuell and all his pride and beléeue in God the father almightie Than ordayned our Lord Jesu Christ a marriage betwéene him and hir with the