saying thus Est arta via que duâ—â—t ad vitam It is a strayte way that leadeth to euer lasting lyfe In this way are thrée armed knights that is to say the diuell the world and the flesh with whome it behoueth vs to fight and to obtaine the victory or wée may come to heauen The second Citie that is in the North is hell and to this accordeth Scripture saying thus Ab aquilone pondetur omne malum Out of the North commeth all euill Certainely to this Citie is the way playne and broad and walled about on euerie side with all maner delicates wherfore many men walk by this way The three Knights that giue to euery man going this way what thing them needeth are these Pride of lyfe couetousnesse of the eyes coÌ„cupicence of the flesh in which thrée the wretched man greatly deliteth at the last they leade him to hell This wittie knight betokeneth the soule the foolish knight betokeneth the flesh the which is alway foolish and at all times redie to doe euill These two are felowes knitte in one for either of them drinketh others blood that is to say they shall drinke of one cup either ioye or paine shall they haue after the daye of dome The soule chooseth the way of repentaunce and in as much as she may she stirreth the flesh to doe the same But the flesh thinketh neuer what shal come after and therefore she goeth in the delight of this world and fléeth the delight oâ— repentaunce and thus the soule after the death is cast into hell and the flesh is cast into the ditch that is to say into the graue But then the Justice commeth that is our Lord Jesus Christ at the daye of dome to iudge all mankind Than the Soule shall complaine vpon the slesh and the flesh vppon the Soule But than the Justice that will not bee deceiued neither by prayer ne by price shall condempne the Soule bicause shée folowed the fra â—tie of sleshe and allso hee shall condempne the flesh bycause it would not beleeue the Soule wherefore let vs studie to tame our flesh that wée may obay God and than shall wée haue euerlasting lyfe Unto the which bring vs our Lord Jesus Christ Amen The Argument The soule of man beeing possessed in the princely territory of Paradyse was by the diuell prouoked to sinne against hir creator and for the same transgression so beeing thence into this wide world exiled lost that hir former heritage But by Christes precious death and passion was restored vnto a more happie heritage of euerlasting felicitie The 11. History THERE dwelled sometime in Rome a mightie Emperour named Fredericke which had no childreÌ„ saue one only daughter to whom this Emperour after his decease béequethed all his Empyre This vnderstanding an Earle that dwelt there béeside came vnto this young Lady wooed hir and prouoked hir to sinne all that hée might wherefore this young ladie in short processe of tyme enclyned to the Earle and this Earle anone lay with hir and defiled hir and after that shée departed from hir heritage and exiled hir out of hir Empyre wherefore shée made a great lamentation and fled vnto a realme there beside where as she dayly wéept and mourned It befell after on a day that while she sat mourning by the hye way side there came riding by hir a fayre young knight vpon a good horse which came toward hir a great pace and very courteously saluted hir asked the cause why she mourned so sore Then answered she and saide My reuerend lord I am an Emperours daughter descended of roiall blood my father is dead which left me all his Empyre bicause he had none other heyre and after his decease an Earle there beside deceiued me deslowred my virginitie and after that he put me violently out of mine heritage so that now I am fayne to begge my bread from dore to dore and this is the cause of my sorrow Then sayde the knight farre damosell I haue great compassion on thy beautie and on thy gentlenesse therfore if thou wilt graunt me one thing I shall fight for thée against the Earle I protest vnto thée the purchase of the victory Then sayd shée alas good sir I haue nothing that I may giue vnto you but my selfe And I aske no more of thee said the knight but that thou wouldest be my wyfe and loue no man so much as mée Then sayde she Reuerend sir that I will doe gladly and more if I might Then said the knight I will that thou doe for mée one thing that if it fortune mée to dye in fight for thée and obtaine the victorie thou shalt take my bloodie shert and hang it vpon a beame in thy chamber and this shalt thou do for two things The first is that when so euer thou beholdest the shert thou shalt wéep for mee The second is that what so euer man come to wooâ— thee to be his wyfe then shalt thou hastely runne vnto thy chamber and béehould my bloodie shert and thinke heartelye within thy selfe thus The Lord of this shert dyed for my loue in baftayle the which recouered my heritage God forbid that I should take any other man after his death Then saide shée Reuerend sir all this shall I fulfill by the grace of God And when the knight heard this hee assaylled to fight against the said earle and obtained the victory and the Earle was ouercome and fledde and this yong lady was brought and receiued agayne into hir heritage Neuerthelesse this knight was deadly wounded in that battayle whereof hee died but or hée died hée béequeathed his bloody shert vnto this damosell desiring hir to keepe hir promise WheÌ„ this yong Lady heard of his death shée wept sore made great lamentation for his death And in his shert was cuÌ„ningly wrought this verse Think on him and haue in minde that to thee was so kinde Anon when she had receiued the shert shée haÌ„ged it vpon a beame in hir chamber and as oftentimes as she beheld it she wept bitterly It béefell not long after that the states of hir Empire came to hir desired hir to take a husband But then she went to hir chamber beeheld the bloody shert then wared shée sorofull sayd oftentunes woe alas thou sufferedst death for my loue thou also recoueredst againe myne heritage God forbid that I should take any other man moe but thee And thus shee answered euery man that came to hir and so they went away disapointed of their purpose and ended hir life in peace and rest The Morall Déere friends this Emperour is the father of heauen his daughter is the soule of man made to the similitude of God to whome God gaue and bequethed the Empyre of Paradise But ther came an Earle that is the diuell prouoked hir to sinne wheÌ„ shée eate of the apple and said to hir thus In what houre yee eat of the apple
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
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
to the forrest with his Asse to gather wood betookeneth euery iust and godly man fearing God in the forrest of this world the wood that he gathereth bâ—etokeneth his simple meaning to liue â—ell that hee carryeth on his Asse which béetokeneth the bodie of man wherewith his soule may ioye and liue in the taâ—â—â—na-cle of Heauen And as the Steward the Lyon the Ape and the Serpent that fell into the Pitte right so when a sinfull man falleth in the pitte of sinne The Lyon of the stocke of Iude that is Jesu Christ decendeth with him as oftentimes as the sinner hath will to come to grace Therfore saith the Psalmist Cum ipso sum in tribulatione That is to saie I am with him in tribulation This Guy draweth vp the Lyon that is to say Jesu Christ out of the pitte by the corde of vertues Hée drew vp the Ape also that is to saye contrary will to reason that hée might obay to reason For of all manner beasts the Ape is most lyke to manne right so among all the strengthes of the soule will ought to bée lykened vnto reason and to obey reason Hee drew vp also a Serpent by the which is vnderstoode repentaunce for two causes For the Serpent beareth in his mouth venim and his tayle is a medicine Right so repentaunce beareth at the beginning bitternesse to the doer neuerthelesse it is full swéete and medicinable vnto the soule at the ende therfore euery lust man should draw to him the serpent of repentaunce And at the last hée drew vp the Stewarde from the pyt of sinne according to Christes saying I am not come onely to call the righteous but sinners to repentance Also it is written that Seneca which taught an Emperour many lawes and vertues of truth and at the last like as this Steward dyd so dyd this Emperour seeke the death of his maister Seneca Also Christ gaue power to Iudas to worke myracles like as hée did to other Disciples neuerthelesse hée beetrayed him at the last Right so now a daies bée many children of Beliall which delight more to doe harme theÌ„ good in especiall to them that wouâ—d instruct them perfectly both for the soule and for the body The Lyon gaue to the iust and godly poore man tenne Asses charged with marchandise that is to saye our Lord Lesu Christ giueth to euery righteous man tenne commaundements charged with vertues by that which hée groweth to the riches of heauen The Ape also gathered him wood as oft as the iust man worketh the fruites of faith For wood voluntaryly is profitable for two thinges that is to saye to make fire and to builde houses Right so perfect charitie heateth the Angell according to scripture saying Quia magis gaudium est angelis c. That is to say More ioye is among angelis for one sinner doeing repentance c. Charitie also reyseth the house of heauen against the comming of the soule The Serpent also gaue him a stone of thrée diuers coulours the which betokneth our Lord Jesu Christ whome wée séeke by repentaunce Therefore sayth saint Ierome in the second table thus Post naufragium est penetendum That is to say We should repent vs after our trespasse That Christ is the stone may be proued by him selfe saying Ego sum lapis viuus That is to saye I am a liuing stone Christ hath three coullours which betokeneth the power of the father the wisdome of the sonne and the humilitie of the holy Ghost Therefore who so may get this stone shall haue the Empyre of heauen ioy without sorrow plentie without any want and light without darkenesse Unto which light bring vs our Lorde Jesu Christ that dyâ—d for all mankinde Amen The Argument ¶ By the natiuitie of Christ proceedeth ioyfull gladnesse to the world saluation vnto mankind Yet man is vnthankfull vnto God contrary to his promise made in Baptisme we are warned in all worldly tempestes to cleaue vnto Christ by faith hope to continue in well doing and to impugne the mallis of the diuell the prechers of gods woord are sent of god to confound the diuell by sound doctrine and good life life death is sette beefore man we ought then to chose that life that may be for our euerlasting comfort The 32. Historie IN Rome dwelt sometime a mightie Emperour named Anselme which had wedded the kings daughter of Ierusalem a fayre Ladie and a gracious in the sight of euery man but she was long tyme with the Emperour or shée bare him any childe wherefore the Nobles of the Empyre were right sorowful because their Lord had none heyre of his bodie begotten Till at the last it befell that this Anselme walked after supper in an euening in his garden and bethought himself how he had none heyre and how the king of Ampluy warred on him continually for so much as hée had no sonne to make defence in his absence wherefore he was right sorowful and went to his chamber and slept And at the last him thought hée saw a vision in his sléepe that the morning was more cléerer than it was wont to bée that the Moone was much more paller on the one syde than on the other And after he saw a bird of two colours and by that byrd stood two beasts which fed that little byrd with their heate And after that come many â—o beasts bowed their breasts toward the byrd and went theyr way And than came ther diuers byrds that soung so swéetly pleasantly that the Emperour awaked In the morning earely this Anselme remembred his vision and wondred much what it might signifie wherefore he called to him his Philosophers and also the states of his Empyre and tolde them his dreame charging them to tell him the signification therof vpon paine of death if they tolde him the true interpretation therof he promised them great reward Then sayde they Déere Lorde tell vs your dreame and wée shall declare vnto you what it betokeneth Than the Emperour tolde them from the beginning to the ending as it is afore sayd When the Philosophers heard this with glad cheere they answered sayd Lord the dreame that ye saw betokeneth good for the Empyre shall be more clearer than it is The Moone that is more pale on the one side than on the other béetokeneth the Empresse that hath lost part of hir coulour through the concepcion of a sonne that she hath conceiued The little byrd betokeneth the sonne that shée shall beare The two beastes that fedde this bird betokeneth all the wyse men and riche menne of this Empyre shall obey thy sonne These other beastes that bowed theyr brestes to the byrde béetokeneth that many other nations shall doe him homage The Byrd that soung so swéetly to this little Byrd betokeneth the Romaines which shall reioyce and sing bycause of his byrth Lo this is the verye interpretation of your dreame When the Emperour heard this he was right ioyfull Soone
lead read the superscription who so chooseth me shall finde that God hath disposed Thinking within hir selfe this vessell is not passing riche ne thorowly precious neuerthelesse the superscription saith who so chooseth mée shall finde that God hath disposed without doubt God neuer disposed any harme therefore as now I will choose this vessell by the leaue of God When the Emperour saw this he said O good Mayden open thy vessell for it is full of precious Stones and sée if thou hast well chosen or no. And when this yong Lady had opened it she found it full of fine gold and precious stones lyke as the Emperour had foretold hir béefore And than sayd the Emperour O my déere daughter because thou hast wisely chosen therefore shalt thou wed my sonne And when he had so said he ordained a marriage and wedded them together with great solempnitie much honour and so continued to theyr liues ende The Morall This Emperour betokeneth the Father of heauen that which was long tyme without a naturall Sonne wherefore many men were in danger of perishing in hell The Emprisse conceiued when the Angell Gabriell sayde Loe thou shalt conceiue and beare a childe And than the firmamēt began to cléere when this little childe lightened the world with his byrth The Moone that béegan to ware pale when the face of the Uirgin Mary was ouershadowed by vertue of the grace of the holy ghost and not onely hir face was thus shadolwed but also hir bodie for shée was conceiued with childe as an other Woman wherefore Ioseph would haue forsaken hir priuily and gone away The little byrd that came from the one side of the Moone betokeneth our Lord Jesu Christ which at mydnight was borne of our Ladie wrapped in clothes layd in an Oxe stall The two beasts beetokeneth the Oxe and the Asse that Ioseph brought with him which honoured him in his byrth These other beastes that came from farre béetokeneth your heards in the field to whom the Angell said thus Ecce nuncio vobis gaudium magnum Lo I shew to you great ioye The byrds that sung so swéetly béetokeneth the Angells of heauen which sung at his birth this ioyfull song Gloria in excelsis Joy to God aboue and peace to men in earth The king of Amply which held warre againe the Emperour beetokeneth all mankinde that was contrarie to God as long as he was in the diuells power But immediately when our Lord Jesu Christ was borne hée bowed himselfe to God béesought him of peace when he receiued his baptim for at our baptising we promised to drawonely to God and forsake the diuell and all his pomps This king gaue his daughter in marriage to the Emperours sonne Right so eche of vs ought to giue his soule in marriage to Gods sonne for hée is alwayes redye to receiue our soule to his spouse according to the scripture saying thus Desponfabo ipsam mihi I will spouse hir to mée But or the soule may come to the pallays of heauen hir béehoueth to sayle by the sea of this world in the Shippe of good lyfe but oftentimes there aryseth a Tempest in the Sea that is to saye trouble of this Worlde the temptation of the flesh and the suggestion of the diuell aryseth sodainely drowneth the vertues that the Soule receiueth in Baptisme neuerthelesse yet falleth shée not out of the shippe of charitie but kéepeth hir selfe surely therein by fayth and hope For as the Apostle saith Spe salui facti sumus By hope wée bée saued For it is impossible to be saued without hope or Faith The great Whale that followed the Maiden béetokeneth the diuell which by night and by day lyeth in a wayte to ouercome the Soule by sinne therfore doe wée as dyd the Maiden smyte wée fire of charitie and loue out of the stone that is Christ according to this saying Ego sum lapis I am a stone And certaynely the diuell shall haue no power to grieue vs. Many men begin wèll as did the Maiden but at the last they bée wery of their good workes and so sléepe they in sinne And anone when the diuell perceiueth this hée deuoureth the sinner in euill thoughts delights consent and worke Therefore if any of vs féele our selfe in such life vnder the power of the diuell let him doe as the Mayde dyd smite the diuell with the knife of bitter repentaunce than kindle the fire of charitie and without doubt he shall cast thée on the lande of good life The Earle that came with his seruants to slay the Whale betokeneth a discréet Preacher which dwelleth béeside the sea that is to say béeside the world and not in the worlde that is to saye not drawing to worldly delectation but euer is redye with good wordes of holye scripture to sly the diuell and to distroy his power wée must all crye with an high voice as did this Mayden knowledging our sinnes and than shall wée be deiliuered from the diuell and nourished with vertuous exercise The Emperour sheweth this Mayden thrée vessells that is to say God putteth before man life death good and euill which of these that he chooseth hée shall obtaine Therefore saith Sampson Ante hominem mors vita Death and lyfe is sette before man choose which him lyst And yet man is vncertaine whether he bée worthy to choose lyfe béefore death By the first vessell of golde full of dead mennes bones we shall vnderstand some worldly men both mightie men riche which outwardly shine as golde in riches and pomps of this world Neuerthelesse within they be full of dead mennes bones that is to saye the workes that they haue wrought in this world bene dead in the sight of god thorough deadly sinne Therefore if any man choose such life he shall haue that he deserueth that is to say hell And such men be like toumbes that be white and roially painted and arayed without and couered with cloth of gold and silke but within there is nothing but dry bones By the second vessell of siluer we ought to vnderstand some Justices wise men of this world which shine in faire speach but within they be full of wormes and earth that is to saye theyr faire speach shall auaile them no more at the day of iudgement than wormes of earth and paraduenture lesse for than shall they suffer euerlasting paine if they dye in deadly sinne By the third vessell of lead full of golde and precious stones we ought to vnderstand a simple life and a poore which the chosen men choose that they may be wedded to our blessed Lorde Jesu Christ by humilitie and obeysance and such men beare with them precious stones that is to saye faith and hir fruitfull workes pleasinge to God by the which at the iudgement day they be espoused to our Lord Jesu Christ and obtaine the heritage of heauen vnto the which bring vs he that dyed on the Crosse Amen The Argument ¶
the Emperour heard this anone hee exiled him and all those that were consenting to him so that they liued abiects in great wretchednesse and srrow and then the Emperour ordained other men in their stéedes and gaue them all the possessions of the traytors And when the banished men heard that straungers had taken possession of their lands and goods anone they conspyred against them and through treason requested them to a banquet And they as 〈◊〉 thinking vppon no such treason came at the day assigned and were serued with â—iuâ—â—â—â—sâ—s which were poysoned wherfore as many as tasted of that vice dyed incontinent When the Emperour heard this he was greatly moued and assembled his counsell to wit what was best to be don of this treason of their death Then said the Emperours sonne My Lord I am your sonne yée bee my Father therfore I shall giue you good counsell and profitable to all men Not far hence is a little nation wherin dwelleth a fayre Mayden and a gracious in the sight of euery man which hath an orchard wherein is a well the water therof hath such vertue that if it be cast vpon a dead man straight way he shall liue againe and recouer his life Therefore my â—ord I shall descende vnto that nation and seeke that water whereby they that were slayne at the Banquet might bée restored againe to lyfe And when the Emperour heard this he was greatly reioyced and sayde Sonne thy counsell is good And straight way the Emperours sonne went into the saide nation and fell inconceit with the Mayden in so much that hée entred in the garden and assayled to tast the water of the well And when hee had so done he made fiue déepe trenches in the ground in the which the water ranne till it came where the dead men lay buried thervpon when the water touched them they arose from death to life Then the Emperours sonne led them vnto his Father And when the Emperour saw this hée was right ioyefull wherfore hee crowned his sonne with a Laurate crowne in tooken of victorie so ended his life in rest and peace The Morall This Emperour béetokeneth the Father of Heauen The poore man that was promoted béetokeneth Lucifer the which was exalted of nought and enthroned in the Empyre of heauen with so great Joye and clearnesse that him séemed through his pride hée would bée like vnto almightie God and not onely lyke him but more than almightie God wherfore the Father of heauen exiled him all them that consented vnto him to hell and in their place man was exalted to great ioy honaur The diuell séeing this enuied him that man should come to such glory and honour and bad Adam and Eue to a banket when they eate of the Apple against Gods commaundement and counselled them thus saying In what houre yee eate of the Apple yee shall bée like gods And at this coursed banquet they were serued with v. mâ—sses that were poysoned that is to say their v. wits were accorded in eating of the Apple wherof man was insect and dyed This hearing the Emperours sonne moued with 〈…〉 ame downe from heauen into this world and acquainted him so wel with â— blessed Uirgin Mary that he sound in hir the well of manhoode and coâ—ioyned it to his Godhead according to the Scripture I am the well of lyâ—e who dunketh of it shall not thirst After that hee lette make fiue trenches in the ground that is to saye â—iue woundes in his bodie of the which ran both bloud and water whereby all mankinde was raised froÌ„ death to lyfe and led them vp into the pallace of heauen Unto the which bring vs our blessed Sauiour Jesu Christ Amen The Argument ¶ The Father of heauen extendeth his goodnesse diuers waies towards frail man yet hee taking contrarie waies liueth in spirituall fornication for the which being exiled from the state of felicitie he is coÌ„pelled to leade a miserable and painefull life But beeing reconciled by the death of his sauiour he possesseth the heritage of heauenly felicitie The 37. History SOmetime in Rome there raigned a mighty emperor named Dunstain in whose Empyre there dwelt a gentill Knight that had two sonnes One of his sonne matched himselfe against his fathers will with a common harlotte The knight hearing this exyled his son from him And when he was thus exiled he begot on this woman a sonne And soone after that he wared sicke and in penury wherfore he sent messengers to his father beseching him of his mercie This hearing his father had compassion and ruth on him wherfore he was reconciled And when hée was thus brought againe to his fathers grace hee gaue his chtide which he hadde gotten tofore on this common woman to his father And he full kindely receiued it as his sonne and nourished it When his other sonne heard this he said to his father father quod hee it séemeth to mée that thou arte out of thy right minde which I will proue by this reason For hée is out of his righte minde that receiueth a salse heare and nourisheth him whose Father hath endomage and disease tosore For my brother which begat this childe haue done thée great iniury when hée marryed the common woman against thy will and commaundement therefore me séemeth that thou art out of thy right minde Then answered the father and sayde Bicause thy brother is reconciled thou art enuious to mée and also vnkinde to thy nowne brother willing to put him from my felowshippe for euermore and sothly no vnkinde man shall haue mine heritage except he be reconciled But yet thou neuer reconciledst to him of his vnkindenesse for thou mightest haue reconciled him but thou woldest not therefore of mine heritage gettest thou no part The Morall The Father of the two bretheren betokeneth the Fether of Heauen And his two sonnes betokeneth the nature of Angels and the nature of man For man was marryed to a common woman or harlot when hee eate of the Apple against the commaundement of God wherfore he was exilled by the father of heauen and put from the Joyes of Paradise The sonne of the common woman béetokeneth mankinde This knights sonne that is to say A â—am liued in great misery for after his sin hée was put from ioy into this wretched vally of teares and wéeping according to this Scripture In suodore vultus c. In the sweat of thy brow thou shalt eate thy bread But after by the passion of Christ hée was reconsiled But the other Sonne that betokeneth the diuell was euer vnkinde and grudged dayely against our reconciling saying that by sinne wee ought not to come vnto the heritage of Heauen Unto the which bring vs our Lord Jesu Christ Amen The Argument ¶ we ought in euery vocation and calling to beehaue our selues iustly and to vse the poore man with equite we must not iniury the rich man The mightie men are to be honoured and not defrauded of their
thou mischeuous woman hast slain my daughter with thine owne hands for I saw the bloodie knife in thy hand therefore thou shalt dye a foule death Than sayde the Earle in this wise O thou woman were it not that I dread God greatly I should cleaue thy bodie with my sword in two parts for I deliuered thée from hanging now thou hast slaine my daughter neuerthelesse for mée thou shalt haue no harme therefore goe thy way out of this cittie without any delaye for if I doe finde thée here this daye thou shalt dye a most euill death Than arose this wofull Emprisse and dyd on hir clothes after leapt on hir palsry and rode toward the east alone without any safe conduct And as shée rode thus mourning by the way she espyed on the left side of the way a payre of gallous and seuen officers leading a man to the gallous to be hanged wherfore she was moued with great pittie and smote hir horse with the spurres rode to them praying them that she might redéeme that misdoer if he might be saued from death for any meede Than sayd they Lady it pleaseth vs well that thou redéeme him Anone the Emprisse accorded with them and payed his raunsome and than he was deliuered Thus sayde she to him Now déere friend be true till thou dye sith I haue deliuered thée from death On my soule quod he I promise you euer to be true And when hée had thus sayde he followed the Lady still till they came nigh a citie and than said the Emprisse to him Good friend quod shée goe foorth thy way afore mée out of the Cittie and take vp for vs an honest lodging for ther I purpose to rest a whilâ— This man went foorth as she commaunâ—â—â—â— tooke vp for hir a good lodging and an honest whereas she abode long tyme. Whan the men of the Citie perceined hir bewtie they wondred greatly wherefore many of them craued of hir vnlawfull loue but all was in vaine they might not speede in any wise It fortuned after on a day that there came a Shippe full of marchandise and ariued in the hauen of that Citie When the Ladys heard this she said vnto hir seruaunt Goe to the shippe and see if there be any câ—oth for myne vse Hir seruaunt went foorth to the shippe whereas he found many precious clothes wherefore hée prayed the master of the shippe that-hée would come into the Citie and speake with this Lady The master graunted him and so he came home to his lady beefore and warned hir of the comming of the master oâ— the shippe Anone after the master of the ship came and sâ—luted the Ladye worthyly And the lady receiued him according to his degrée praying him that she might haue for hir mony such cloth as might bâ— profitable for hir wearing Anone hee grauÌ„ted that shee should haue and soone they were agreed wherefore the seruaunt went emmediately again with the Maister of the Shippe And when they were both within the Ship boorde the Maister sayd to the Ladies seruant My déere friend to thée I wold open my counsaile if I might trust in thee help mee thou shalt haue of mee a great reward Then answered hée and sayd I shall quod hee bee sworne vnto thée on the holy Euangelist that I shall kéepe thy counsaile and fulfill thine intent as far foorth as I can Then said the Maister of the shippe I loue thy Lady more then I can tel thee for hir fayrenesse is so great that I would giue for the loue of hir all the gold that I haue and if I may obtaine the loue of hir through thy help I shall giue thée what so euer thou wilt desire of mée Then saide the Ladies seruaunt tell me by what meanes I may best speede Then sayd the Maister of the Shippe Goe home to thy Lady againe and tell hir that I will not deliuer to thee my cloth except she come hir selfe but bring hir to my Shippe except the winde bée good and able for then I purpose to lead hir away Thy counsell is alwayes good quod the Ladies seruant therfore giue me some reward I shall fulfil thyne intent And when he had receiued his reward hee went againe to his Lady and tolde hir that by no meanes the Master of the shippe would not deliuer him the cloth but if shée came hir selfe The Lady béeléeued hir seruaunt went to the ship And when she was within the ship bord hir seruaunt abode without When the Maister saw that she was within the Shippe and the winde was good hee drew vp the sayle and sayled foorth When the Lady perceiued this thus shée sayde to the master O Master quod shee what treason is this that thou hast done to mée The Maister answered and sayde Madame certainely it is so that I must needes lie with thée and afterwarde espouse thee For sooth quod shée I haue made a vowe that I shall neuer commit such sinne but with him vnto whom I am bound by right and by the law Soothly quod he if yée will not graunt mée with your good will I shall cast you out into the middest of the sea there shall yée die an euill death If it be so quod she that I must néedes consent or else dye than I pray thee to prepare a priuie place in the ende of the Shippe whereas I may fulfill thine entent or I dye but first I pray thée that I may say my prayers vnto the father of heauen that hée may haue mercy on mée The Master béeléeued hir wherfore hée let ordaine hir a Cabbin in the end of the Shippe wherevnto shée sette hir downe on both hir knees and made hir prayers saying on this wise O thou my Lord GOD that hast kept mée froÌ„ my youth in cleanenesse keepe mée now that I be not desâ—oured so that I may serue thée euer with a cleane heart and minde When shée had thus ended hir oryson ther arose sodenly a great tempest in the sea so that the Shippe all to brast and all that were within perished saue the lady that caught a Cable saued hir selfe the Master of the Ship an other neuerthelesse she knew not of him ne he of hir for they were driuen to diuerse coastes This ladie landed in hir owne Empyre beeside a Citie where in shée was worshipfully receiued and shee lyued so holy a life that GOD gaue hir grace and power to heale sicke folke of all manner of diseases wherfore there came much people to hir both crooked blinde and lame and euery man through the grace of God and hir good demeanure were healed wherfore hir name was knowne thorough diuerse regions Neuerthelesse she was not knowen as Emprisse In the same tyme the Emperours brother that had hanged hir beefore by the heyre was smitten with a foule Lepry The knight that slew the earles Daughter and put the bloody knife in hir hand was blynde deafe and had the palsey The